ã€ŠReborn Lady: Unparalleled Daughter of Concubineã€‹


 Chapter 1 Rebirth

    <h4>Chapter 1 Rebirth</h4>

    ¡°It¡¯s on fire! The marriage sedan is on fire!¡±

    Qin Yunuan managed to open her eyes slightly. She was not totally conscious after being drugged.

    The fire was burning from under the sedan chair, apanied by the acrid white phosphorus smell. The fire was out of control as the wind helped it burn. It looked like a firentern from afar.

    Thest thing Qin Yunuan remembered was being fed a bowl of blood bird¡¯s nest by her legal mother and carried into a ginkgo wood marriage sedan with relief sculptures covered in gold by the matchmaking woman. On the curtains of the sedan was an embroidery of a phoenix flying towards the sun. What a gorgeous sedan, or what a luxurious coffin in fact. All of this must be prepared for her by her legal mother and her sister.

    All along, Qin Yunuan had never wanted to fight for anything. She knew that her status was low in the big mansion of the Grand Commandant. She was just a daughter of a mistress who had passed, with her face destroyed. In what position was her to fight for the favor of themandant?

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s greatest wish was to see her younger brother grow up safely and live a nd and peaceful life in the mansion.

    However, Qin Yunuan had be a tool of the others afterpromising again and again.

    This time, her legal mother asked her to marry the cruel, impertinent Iron General, recing her sister, while her sister married the crown prince on the exact same day and became the princess.

    What a cruel contrast it was. One was humble as an insect, while the other was glorious as a peony.

    Right before the marriage sedan was lifted out of the Grand Commandant¡¯s Mansion, her brother was having a high fever and left unattended. Her wet nurse was beaten to death by the house servants. Her two maids Tong and Maner were sold to the brothel. Even the third concubine of her father who knelt to beg for her mercy was fined three years of expenses.

    After all these, her legal mother and her sister were not even willing to let her live.

    The raging fire made the whole sedan crackling like popping corns.

    Qin Yunuan looked at the deformed sedan frame. She could not move her body as she was intoxicated. She cried for help weakly, but her voice was drowned in the bustle fire.

    Right then, a big hand reached in through the smoke, approaching her fearlessly through the fervent me.

    It was so close that Qin Yunuan could clearly see the Kylin tattoo on the muscr arm. His powerful arm hooped around Qin Yunuan¡¯s wrist as if he had been trying to test the motion of the person inside. However, Qin Yunuan had no strength at all, just like a dead person.

    ¡°Master, the fire is too great. I¡¯m afraid she won¡¯t survive.¡± Outside the sedan, someone was carefully testing.

    ¡°Save her!¡± A cold voice that made people shivers said tly, ¡°She¡¯s still alive.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled bitterly, feeling thepassion and warmth the stranger gave her. The smoke was billowing, and the suffocation swept all over her senses, making it hard for her to breathe. At the moment, all the resentment and unwillingness appeared to be so powerless.

    How longing she was to have everything going all over again. If she had another life, she would definitely refuse topromise like she had. She must fight, for herself, for her brother, for her wet nurse. She must fight!

    The fire was burning stronger and stronger in front of her. Qin Yunuan¡¯s mind had gradually gone nk. She began to lose consciousness, and her breath. Vaguely, she saw the top of the sedan falling heavily on her, crushing Qin Yunuan along with her dreams for stability and her deep remorse.

    It appeared to be a lifetime of torment and unconsciousness before Qin Yunuan suddenly felt her body lightened. It was so light as if only her soul and her spirit had remained, fluttering with the wind.

    In the dark, it seemed that someone was calling her.

    ¡°Third Miss? Third Miss?¡±

    Could dead people hear too?

    ¡°Third Miss? Wake up. Wake up! First Miss has already got off the carriage. Why are you asleep?¡±

    Qin Yunuan was dragged by someone, and she yanked in her consciousness, as if she had been falling. In a panic, she opened her eyes hard.

    It was dim with yellow curtains surrounding her. It seemed to be a confined space that was depressing.

    ¡°You¡¯re finally awake, Third Miss. Hurry up. You don¡¯t want to bete.¡±

    ¡°Nurse Liao?¡± Qin Yunuan rubbered her eyes with some effort. She was shocked looking at the middle-aged woman with yellowish sunken cheeks. It was her wet nurse Liao, who should have been killed by her legal mother before she got married.

    Qin Yunuan seemed to be doubtful. After looking at her for a long time, she threw her arms around nurse Liao¡¯s neck and cried like a child, ¡°It¡¯s you, Liao! It¡¯s really you! I thought I¡¯d never see you again.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t say such unlucky words,¡± nurse Liao said, ¡°You¡¯re fourteen already but still coquettish with me. Besides, every one of the nobledies in the capital hopes to participate in the Flower Fairy Festival in the pce, while you, my Third Miss, treat it as life and death. That¡¯s not happening.¡±

    What? Fourteen? The pce? Flower Fairy Festival?

    ¡°Isn¡¯t... isn¡¯t it the prefecture?¡± Qin Yunuan was stunned. ¡°Wasn¡¯t I burnt to death in the sedan?¡±

    ¡°What are you saying? Third Miss.¡± Nurse Liao whispered, ¡°Even though the system is strict in the pce, you cannotpare it to the prefecture.¡±

    Only then did Qin Yunuan realize that the enclosed space where she was in was a gorgeously decorated carriage. Raising the carriage curtain slightly, what she saw were girls dressed up in flowery outfits. They were entering a vermilion pce gate with maids carrying their arms. On the que on the top of the pce gate were the characters ¡°Rosefinch Gate¡± ted with gold, which was strange and familiar.

    And a dozen steps away stood a young girl who was about sixteen years old. She had a pair of phoenix eyes with warped corners, delicate red lips and fine skin: a beauty indeed. She was wearing a narrow coat patterned with butterflies in flowers, covered by a cassia green silver gown, and an emerald sprinkled crepe skirt. There was a special charm in her motions, while she was talking cheerfully with two other nobledies.

    ¡°Today...Is today February 12th of Qianyuan 13th year?¡± Qin Yunuan clenched her fists tightly, trying hard to hold back the emotions in her heart.

    ¡°Yes, it is, Flower Fairy Festival is on February 12th. Did you sleep too much to make you dumb? Anyways, get out of the carriage now. Don¡¯t bete.¡± Nurse Liao eagerly said.

    Quanyuan 13th year, Qianyuan 13th year... Qin Yunuan thought to herself. It all came so suddenly that she couldn¡¯t believe it, but she secretly pinched the back of her hand. ¡°Ouch, it hurts!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. I am dead... but, I am alive again!¡±

    More than that, I went back to three years ago, when I went to the pce for the banquet. In the previous life, I was like an ugly duckling, contrasting my sister who was like an extremely glorious flower. And it was the very banquet that a mad cat scratched my face and ruined it. From then on, I was controlled by my legal mother and became a tool of her and my sister.

    But now, everything was all over again. The heavenly arrangement was so wonderful, as always, that it had me rebirthed at the key moment when my destiny started changing.

    Before she died, Qin Yunuan had told herself that if there had been one more chance for her, she would not have been as weak and avoiding as in her previous life. She would not smoothen her edges and pride again and again just for a moment of peace. She would not hide her mor and colors just for a moment of safety.

    Now that she had the opportunity to change everything, Qin Yunuan would only believe in one principle: If no one offends me, I shall not offend; if any one offends me, I shall pay back two-fold!

    Having made up her mind, Qin Yunuan bit her lip secretly until she tasted blood. It drove her slightly excited, for it did not only prove that she really went back to the past, but also that apletely different life was about to begin.

    Qin Yunuan set her sights on the girl again. It was someone she couldn¡¯t be more familiar with.

    She was her own sister, Qin Yunzhuang.

    Qin Yunuan got off the carriage, raised her eyes that had passed two lives and patted out her slightly wrinkled clothes. Before she even started talking, the two nobledies who were chatting with Qin Yunzhuang in the distance spoke first.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s the third girl of the Qin¡¯s. I thought that some prince was in the carriage who let sister Qin wait for so long.¡± A woman with round face and apricot eyes rushed to speak.

    ¡°Right. You¡¯re just a mistress¡¯ daughter. Sister Qin, with such kind heart, brings you to the Flower Fairy Festival, and yet you let her wait for you.¡±

    Huh, look. Before she even started talking, these girls had already got nasty. The sarcasm to her status of amoner¡¯s daughter was unobstructed.

    Qin Yunuan recognized the girl in white, the daughter of the Shangguan¡¯s family, Shangguan Yee. She was secretly close to her elder brother, the eldest son of the Grand Commandant, which was the reason why she deliberately approached Qin Yunzhuang. At this moment, especially, she was trying hard to prove her privilege.

    How poor she was to try pleasing a man so humbly.

    Qin Yunuan bowed slightly and slowly walked towards them, with a faint smile on her face. ¡°What sister Shangguan said just now was really strange. This was apparently the carriage of the Grand Commandant¡¯s Mansion sending the female rtives to the banquet. How would there be princes? Did you suspect that my sister has secret rtionships with some man?¡±

    Shangguan Yee was shocked for a moment. That¡¯s totally not what she meant. She would never dare to say something like that to the first girl of the Grand Commandant, the sister of whom she loved.

    Qin Yunzhuang pursed her lips andughed,¡± Oh, sister, sister Shangguan was just joking with you. Why so serious?¡±

    Shangguan Yee quickly answered, ¡°Yeah, yeah, it¡¯s nothing but a joke. I didn¡¯t expect you to be offended by such a small joke.¡±

    Qin Yunuan did not reply upon hearing it. Her clear and elegant smile was like a hook, making Qin Yunzhuang feel a bit uneasy.

    ¡°Sister, it¡¯s time to go.¡± Qin Yunuan boldly faced Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s curiosity. She looked calm and decent with her slightly curved eyebrows.

    Qin Yunzhuang caressed her chest secretly and thought that she must have lost her mind just now that she saw a trace of hatred and fierceness in Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°How ridiculous is that? She¡¯s no more than amoner¡¯s daughter. What hate could she have?¡±

    The nannies in front of the pce was already urging them. Qin Yunzhuang who was in front handed over her name post and identified herself.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s the elder girl of Grand Commandant Qin,¡± A fat nanny who was in the front immediately burst into a sunflower-like smile, as she looked up and down Qin Yunzhuang, ¡°What a beauty indeed!¡± She couldn¡¯t help but eximed, ¡°You are even more beautiful than that rumored. Go in there and wear a flower sachet,¡± then she whispered, ¡°Remember, girl, pick the red one. It¡¯s Hibiscus inside, which the queen likes the most.¡±

    ¡°My father is Qin Zhi, and my name is Yunuan.¡± Qin Yunuan was the next, and she identified herself politely.

    The fat nanny screened through several pages in the list, only to see the words ¡°Qin Yunuan¡± addedst minute to the bottom of it. She knew that she was only amoner¡¯s daughter, so she was a bit disdainful. She repliedzily, ¡°Go in there and get a flower sachet.¡±

    ¡°Thank you so much for your troubles. Yunuan wishes you good health.¡± Qin Yunuan did not leave immediately like the other noble girls, but she showed courtesy to the nanny. Her eyes were filled with gentleness, with a hint of rity and coldness from understanding the adult world. Even the fat nanny who had seen countless people was shocked.

    Just as Qin Yunuan was passing by, the fat nanny said, seemingly inadvertently, ¡°Oh, which one of you is careless enough to put the purple flower sachet in there? Don¡¯t you know that the Imperial Concubine Yun hates purple the most?¡±

 Chapter 2 Flattering and Insulting

    <h4>Chapter 2 ttering and Insulting</h4>

    Flower Fairy Festival was a feast for flower enjoyment but held in the twelfth month of the lunar year. There were no flowers in winter, so the festival was actually held to enjoy fake flowers¡ªmade of tissues and silks by maidens. Those ingenious maidens whose fake flowers were the most vivid and shining would be the queen in thispetition.

    Besides, there were also other activities, such as random draws of flowers and poetry singing. The winner would gain plentiful rewards from the empress. Even just a visit to the imperial pce and a look at the emperor and empress were aspirational dreams for many girls.

    Nanny Liao was waiting for service outside the pce together with the maidservants. Qin Yunuan, followed by Qin Yunzhuang, with her crescent color flower sachet hanging on her waist, was walking on the pce path made of ck bricks, together with two dozen maidservants. Those maidens were gossiping. To many of them, it was their first time to visit the imperial pce, so they felt so excited.

    ¡°Um, what do you think the Iron General¡¯s appearance? He wears the mask all day. I think it must be so choky to wear that.¡±

    ¡°I think he is definitely such a brave and strong hero no matter what kind of face he has, even if he has a pockmarked face. I have heard that he is so handsome that he has to wear a mask to cover his face for not getting some trouble.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was walking aside those gossiping girls and heard their words. The word ¡°Iron General¡± touched her heart. In thest life of her, she was forced to marry this person. Finally, she was burned to death before she knew the real appearance of him in the bridal sedan chair.

    Though they finally did not get married, her heart was touched when hearing the name. She just woke up from the nightmare of her previous life and she still remembered the torching heat of that fire.

    ¡°Humph,¡± Shangguan Yee heard that conversation and said in an arrogant voice, ¡°he is just an illegitimate member of Pce Ning, inferior to the concubine¡¯s children. Nobody would care about such a menial person. I think he must be an ugly guy.¡± She said to Qin Yunuan deliberately without any goodwill, ¡°Sister Qin, am I right?¡±

    Qin Yunuan knew that Shangguan Yee wanted to insult her.

    ¡°Bah,¡± before Qin Yunuan answered, one of the gossip girls shouted, ¡°Leng Changxi is the first-ss general. He once got the head of the enemy¡¯s general and stayed clean when riding a horse in yellow sand. You, Shangguan Yee, are just jealous of him. Because your elder brother is just an idiot. I heard that he failed five times in the examination of Imperial College. In our Qind, you can¡¯t find the second idiot like your brother.¡±

    Shangguan Yee almost cried, ¡°humph, my elder brother looks foolish, but he has great wisdom. Your family Fang has five daughters without a son. Your family line seems to get broken.¡±

    The words of Shangguan Yee were so malicious. Qin Yunuan frowned and thought she was such as big-mouth witch who teased and even cursed her family.

    The anger of Shangguan Yee did not disappear after she said that. Facing the tongue-tied girl from family Fang, she added, ¡°And if you really admire General Leng, you can ask for marriage awarding from the empress. I wonder if you still say that he¡¯s bold and strong after you marry such a cold and violent guy.¡±

    ¡°Forget it, sister Shangguan. Let it go.¡± It was for a long time before Qin Yunzhuang came out to persuade Shangguan Yee. For Qin Yunzhuang herself, she also thought lightly of Leng Changxi, the illegitimate member of family Leng. Though he had great military exploit and gained focus from the emperor, he was not the authentic member of family Fang, and even could not get listed in the ancestral temple.

    ¡°Fine, fine. There are always many differences between mistress¡¯ children or illegitimate children and the children of a legal wife.¡± Shangguan Yee squinted at Qin Yunuan and said arrogantly, ¡°Qin, am I right?¡±

    ¡°I think Shangguan Yee is incorrect.¡± A melodious female voice came and cooled the intense phenomenon like the babbling streams among mountains.

    Shangguan Yee turned back and found the words came from Qin Yunuan. She disdained Qin and rolled her eyes arrogantly.

    Qin Yunzhuang felt surprised at first but soon covered her emotion. She frowned, ¡°Yunuan, don¡¯t be naughty.¡±

    ¡°Sister, it was ShangguanYi that asked me first. If I do not answer her, it will be so impolite for me,¡± Qin Yunuan said confirmedly. Shangguan Yee apparently was insulting Qin Yunuan, and she should not tolerate it! Qin Yunuan suddenly smiled and asked Shangguan Yee, ¡°I am just wondering about the family background of Mr. Shangguan.¡±

    Shangguan Yee raised her head and said, ¡°my dad was sessful in the highest imperial examination and has worked as a higher-ss officer in the Pce for 22 years without any error.¡±

    ¡°Oh, so what about his father?¡±

    Shangguan Yee felt prouder, ¡°my grandpa Shangguan Yi was a famous Confucian schr in the regions south of the River and had many followers.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s true,¡± Qin Yunuan nodded and sighed, ¡°Mr. Shangguan Yi had great wisdom and delicate handwriting, and even the deceased emperor once sighed ¡®Mr. Shangguan in our Qind is just like an invaluable treasure in our country¡¯.¡±

    Qin¡¯s words made Shangguan Yee feel so happy but Qin Yunzhuang frowned. And even the girl from family Fang also felt confused. The third daughter of family Qin was retorting or ttering Shangguan Yee?

    ¡°OK, and then, what¡¯s the background of Mr. Shangguan Yi¡¯s father?¡± Qin Yunuan, now with cold eyes, said the words, just like a sharp knife poking to Shangguan Yee.

    The little face of Shangguan Yee became pale. She gritted her teeth without a word. Through her angry and furious face, the girl from family Fang suddenly understood something.

    ¡°You must forget that, sister Shangguan. Let me tell everybody here for you,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°the father of Shangguan Yi is Shangguan Cong. He was just an ordinary man who passed the imperial examination at the county level, working as a teacher. And, the father of Shangguan Cong is Shangguan Quan, a fisherman in the regions south of the River. And then the father of Shangguan Cong is Shangguan You. He was born in a noble family of Shangguan, one of the four famous families in the regions south of the River, but he was just an illegitimate member of the family, and he even could not be listed in the family pedigree.¡±

    Qin Yunuan underlined thest sentence. Actually, she just knew that from her father¡¯s wife. The wife admired Shangguan Yee and wanted to settle down the engagement of their children, so she searched for some information about family Shangguan. Qin knew this unconsciously when she sent the embroidery. The ability of remembering skills still existed.

    Looking at the bad face of ShangguanYi, Qin Yunuan said in a softer voice, ¡°so, sister Shangguan, please check your behavior before insulting others, and you will get involved with much disgrace if you keep insulting. What¡¯s the problem of a child of a mistress? What¡¯s the matter with a humble man? People don¡¯t care about the family background of heroes. The famous schr Zhang Lian in previous dynasty, the marshal of country-establishment Meng Zhen, and now, the Iron General, they are all the heroes fighting for the Qi Land. Without their struggling, there wouldn¡¯t have the present Qi Land. Miss Shangguan, you focus much on family background, but you do not know that the peace and prosperity in the capital are given by those soldiers who have ordinary family backgrounds. Miss Shangguan, all people are born equal.¡±

    Thest sentence was significant. It reminded us of the hard-won peace and underlined the family background of Shangguan Yee.

    Shangguan Yee felt so urgent and furious that her eyes seemed to ooze a drop of blood. She thought Qin Yunuan was just the menial daughter of the concubine, and Qin had no right to give her a lecture. Now Shangguan Yee felt extremely outrageous!

    Qin Yunzhuang pulled Shangguan Yee to stop her from keeping insulting others.

    Looking at the furious face of Shangguan Yee and the admirable eyes of the girl of family Fang, she felt the pleasure of the first counter-revenge. She understood the feeling of self-protesting.

    ¡°Why do you all stop here? Come on!¡± The fat guide nanny was about to curse them more, but she found it was Qin Yunuan standing in the center of the crowd.

    Qin Yunuan just nodded to the fat nanny with a lovely face. The fat nanny did not say anything. She thought she should not provoke the noble girls in the capital in this Flower Fairy Festival. Finally, she waved her hands to let them walk fast.

    Now there was no one saying anything, and all were just walking towards the garden for the festival.

    From other¡¯s gossiping, Qin Yunuan finally knew that it was not just an annual Flower Fairy Festival, and this one was also held to wee the victorious returning of Senior General Leng Changxi from East Qin.

    East Qin? Victorious returning? She felt so strange that in her previous life, Leng Chngxi would gain victory from East Qin one yearter, but now he did it ahead of time. But she then thought that it was not a strange thingpared with her resurgence.

    From their gossiping, it seemed that many people thought highly of Leng Changxi. He guided his troops to support the front army and then turned the whole circumstance. As soon as he and the other 100 thousand soldiers arrived, they sessfully conquered the capital of east Qin. They forced the emperor to give his Imperial Jade Seal and agreed to regard Qind as their suzerain.

    It was the utmost glory of Qind. The threat existing for 20 years of East Qin was solved by the 19- year-old young man so easily.

    Through the shyness and expectation from those gossiping noble girls, it seemed that so many girls like the girl from family Fang regarded Leng Changxi as a superhero.

    After they entered the garden, they found so many valuable and rare red plum. The guiding fat nanny said to them that the empress had not been to the garden yet, so they could idle around in this garden. The bored girls got excited and walked around, showing to each other and talking about everything around.

    When they came to a peculiar rockery, someone shouted, ¡°Look! There is a Persian cat!¡±

 Chapter 3 Is It Enough?

    <h4>Chapter 3 Is It Enough?</h4>

    Qin Yunuan caught the voice and found that there was actually an idle cat lying on the tiny stone table across the rockery. It had snowy fur and looked like a lovely sticky rice ball.

    However, Qin Yunuan knew that it was just not that simple. Qin Yunuan unconsciously touched her crescent-white flower sachet hanging on her waist, and then her eyes caught Qin Yunzhuang. She found the expectation and proudness in Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s eyes. Qin Yunzhuang quickly covered her face and Qin Yunuan still stayed calm and felt a little bit funny.

    White cat, scratching, being disfigured, she remembered all of those scenes in herst life. In this life, those could happen again, but the lead actress was not her.

    ¡°Oh! Such a cute and lovely cat,¡± Shangguan Yee now felt not so upset, ¡°sister Qin, shall me bring it here and y with it?¡±

    ¡°It is the empress¡¯s favorite cat Shishi. I am afraid that I am too ham-handed to hurt it and annoy the empress, but Yunuan likes cats very much. You can find her to y with the cat together.¡± Qin Yunzhuang refused the invitation and stared at Qin Yunuan.

    Shangguan Yee felt unhappy when she saw Qin Yunzhuang was watching Qin Yunuan. She said with anger, ¡°don¡¯t worry. It is just a cat, and the empress likes you, sister Qin Yunzhuang. Howe she mes you!? You can just fondle it for a while, and the cat will not get hurt.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang felt helpless. She thought that Shangguan Yee was so stupid and arrogant. Her mother said it was beneficial to get a rtionship with family Shangguan, or she would not let her move around and get involved with her elder brother.

    Shangguan Yee brought the cat to them. The white Persian cat was apparently not adaptable for being held by a stranger, and it kept struggling. Shangguan Yee now forgot the cat¡¯s struggle while she was so happy and proud to gain other¡¯s jealousy for holding the cat from those noble maidens.

    ¡°Sister Qin Yunzhuang, see? It is so cute!¡±

    Qin Yunuan saw Shangguan Yee holding the cat and showing off to Qin Yunzhuang, and she just backed up toward the rockery. Just after two steps back, she saw the cat¡¯s fur getting straight and scratching crazily Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s beautiful face.

    All the people got panic. Women here were screaming, and those eunuchs responsible for holding the pce lights were at a loss.

    Qin Yunuan knew well the situation. She was not the stupid girl in thest life. Just now the fat nanny let Qin Yunzhuang select the ref flower sachet first at the pce gate, but Qin Yunzhuang deliberately selected the crescent white sachet together with Qin Yunuan. Qin Yunuan knew the trick. She reced the sachet, but her act was so obvious and immature, full of loopholes.

    Qin Yunzhuang could rece the sachet and did some tricks on it, so could Qin Yunuan. Just at the moment when Qin Yunzhuang pulled Shangguan Yee, Qin Yunuan took her crescent-white flower sachet back and put Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s back to her.

    ¡°Security! Don¡¯t freeze there! Help her.¡± Shangguan Yee was so anxious. The cat scratched Qin Yunzhuang. If Qin got some serious trouble, she would have no chance to marry the boy from the mansion of Grand Commandant.

    Unfortunately, the garden today was used to hold the Flower Fairy Festival. All members here were female so as to avoid the sex harassment issue. All male safeguards were dispatched to other ces and the left were eunuchs without much strength. They dare not hurt Empress¡¯ baby cat. Some people got closer to help Qin Yunzhuang, but in vain.

    Qin Yunuan felt happy to see that scene behind the rockery. In herst life, she was scratched by that white cat in rut, but no one came closer to help her.

    Qin Yunuan was deepening into the memory of thest life. The absent-minded Qin Yunuan baked up for one step and almost fell down. She leaned the rockery aside and caught something hard. Finally, she stayed bnced.

    She refreshed up and touched her chest, but only to hear a cold voice, ¡°Is it enough? You have leaned on me for so long.¡±

    Qin Yunuan felt so surprised. That was a male¡¯s voice. Turning back, she saw cold and profound eyes. The rockery she just leaned on was turned out to be the wide and strong chest of that man.

    The man was standing straight in a purple robe. He had his ck hair tied up and wore a mask of ck color with silver stripes. The mask was like a bat covering his face tightly. She could only see his cold eyesight, like a freezing snowke.

    Qin Yunuan got surprised by the man¡¯s eyesight and just in a sh. She recovered her calmness. She backed up and saluted to the man, ¡°I just nearly fell down. Thanks for your holding.¡±

    Leng Changxi stayed still with his clothes waving by the wind, like a forceful pine tree lofting at the air opening. His eyes had browsed Qin Yunuan up and down.

    The girl was so smart. It was she that leaned the man, but she said the man held her on his own initiative. She gained dignity and also found a reason to avoid me from the man.

    Leng Changxi just saw the whole thing at the roof just now. The little girl tried her best to dispute for herself, and he thought she was just butter-tonsiled. However, he was attracted by the girl¡¯s movement of recing the flower sachets. He believed that her act was not so nimble but at an exact moment.

    He thought she just stole something, but he then understood after he saw the crazy white cat. There must be a trick in the flow sachet. She was not an ordinary maiden due to her actions in public.

    Qin Yunuan saw that Leng Changxi still had a poker face and thought the man was still angry at her. She thought it was reasonable that people always had a changeable expression. She got up her courage and said, ¡°Please forgive me if I just now offended you...¡±

    ¡°You are so noisy.¡± Leng Changxi answered but quickly closed his mouth, which seemed that he never opened his mouth when talking. He put his hands back and his long fingers were rubbing the jade ring worn in his thumb. It seemed that he was thinking about something.

    Qin Yunuan was a smart girl and definitely knew what he meant. She just gave him a salute as the man did not me her and didn¡¯t want to talk much to her. She saw the crowd got silent. Two middle-aged imperial physicians tried to get closer to Qin Yunzhuang who seemed to get heavy hurt, and even the imperial physicians came.

    ¡°Thanks for your generosity.¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her head, ¡°I don¡¯t bother your enjoyment of plum blossom.¡± She was a little bit nervous and afraid his eagle-like eyes saw her inner heart.

    Just at the moment, Qin Yunuan left the rockery. A voice behind her came, ¡°Enjoyment of plum blossom?¡±

    ¡°Uh?¡± Qin Yunuan turned back quickly, only to see Leng Changxi stand there, half of his body in the shadow of the rockery, and a half in the sunshine, which was hard to perceive his mystery.

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Leng Changxi said in the same voice, ¡°You can leave here.¡±

    The Persian cat stirring up trouble now was held by two eunuchs. Two maidservants supported Qin Yunzhuang and let her sit on a stone bench. The imperial physician now was checking her. From the words of the physician, it seemed that Qin Yunzhuang had no more big trouble, but three bloodstains from her eyelid to chin. There would be no scar if she applied the imperial medicine Huayulu three times a day for a month.

    But today, her face was really bad looking.

    Scarred face, untidy hair and dirty skirt, Qin Yunzhuang now had a really bad appearance. But that was what those noble maidens wanted. If Qin Yunzhuang could not attend the feast, they might have more chances to win. Further, the feast was held not only for the annual Flower Fairy Festival but also for the victory-weed feast of Senior General Leng Changxi. If Qin Yunzhuang did not show up, the general then could see them more.

    Each maiden had her own thoughts. Qin Yunuan perceived their secrets, and she knew that all of the maidens would be disappointed. Qin Yunzhuang was not that weak. Though Qin Yunuan put the flower sachet back, Qin YunZhuang was different from Qin Yunuan. Qin Yunuan was nothing but a daughter of a mistress, while Qin Yunzhuang was the legal daughter of her father¡ªGrand Commandant, and besides, the empress liked her very much.

    As expected, the empress soon knew that Qin Yunzhuang was scratched by the Persian Cat. She dispatched her closest nannies to look after Qin Yunzhuang and awarded the rare Huayulu, which was hard to see outside the pce, as well as white gauze for face covering.

    ¡°Sister Qin, I can apany you to go back home for a rest. The empress will not me us.¡± Shangguan Yee, seemed to care much about Qin Yunzhuang, and supported her who had already tidied her hair and wore the gauze.

    ¡°Thanks, but I am fine. The feast will start soon.¡± Qin Yunzhuang forced herself to stay. She knew that she could get supports from the empress. The gauze and the scars were nothing big deal. She could gain everything from his family, even the stars in the sky. She did not care about the gauze, disdains and Huayulu. She knew that she could be recovered within one month.

    Qin Yunzhuang knew well the situation. If she showed up, even without her face exposed, she could still win in the feast only by her tricks and talents.

    ¡°Sister, are you OK?¡± Qin Yunuan came closer to hold the hands of Qin Yunzhuang.

    Qin Yunzhuang unconsciously withdrew her hands. She reced the flower sachet with rhizoma curculiginis which had the effect of sexual sensation. She predicted the habit of the Persian cat of the empress: drinking pure water in the morning and then had a walk in the plum garden. It was exactly the rut season of cats. With the provoking of rhizoma curculiginis, the cat must hurt Qin Yunuan.

    She thought the cat was the new pet of the empress while Qin Yunuan was just the menial daughter of the concubine. If she failed to fight back against the cat, she would have her face scratched, and then she would not fear that face was more beautiful than hers. But if she managed to hurt the cat, the empress must punish her.

    She would gain benefits no matter what the situation was. But now she felt painful due to the scars on her face even she had already got cured by Huayulu. She got furious when she saw the calm face of Qin Yunuan. She got rid of the hands of Qin Yunuan, ¡°No. My face was scratched but my feet are OK. I don¡¯t need any support.¡±

    Shangguan Yee now was holding the arm of Qin Yunzhuang. When she heard Qin¡¯s words, she quickly withdrew her hands with more vicious eyes towards Qin Yunuan. ¡°If that b*tch did note together with me, Sister Qin would not treat me seriously.¡±

    ¡°Sister, there¡¯s no need to do that,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled, just like the tender peach blossom in Spring, ¡°I remember. Before we came into the pce, you had told me that the most important thing of the maidens was not the beautiful face, but the talent, morality and virtue. Though your face got broken, you have fine virtue and politeness. You can still win if you can face it sessfully.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s eyesight toward Qin Yunuan changed and turned softer, but rming, ¡°sister, you should also perform well in the feast.¡±

 Chapter 4 Going on the Stage

    <h4>Chapter 4 Going on the Stage</h4>

    The imperial physician and eunuchs had just left, before a loud voice of a young eunuch arose from red plum blossoms. ¡°Herees Her Majesty!¡±

    The maidens in the garden all knelt down at once, saluting respectfully, ¡°Wee, Your Majesty!¡±

    ¡°Well, get up.¡± A graceful and drawling voice went through the red plums, revealing a sense of grandeur of controlling the overall situation.

    Qin Yunuan got up together with other noble women, when she heard the Empress asking their feelings about entering the Imperial Pce and sending her regards to the family of several famous or high-ranking noble women.

    Her tone was gentle during the whole process, and it was so smooth that no mistakes could be found in her wording and order of greetings. Qin Yunuan waited aside quietly, thinking to herself that Empress Chen had covered all sides as beautifully as she always did. She was a smooth winner on the surface and a ruthless ruler underneath.

    ¡°Oh, where¡¯s Yunzhuang? I heard that she was scratched by Shishi. Is that true?¡± Empress Chen seemed to think of the chaos that happened just now.

    Qin Yunzhuang walked out of the line hurriedly and answered with a deep curtsey. ¡°It¡¯s my fault to have your royal highness concerned about me. Shishi looked so lovely that I wanted to take a good look at her. I didn¡¯t expect that she was also a loyal one that was close to your majesty only. So, when I picked her up, no surprisingly, I got some slight injuries by her struggling. It¡¯s really my fault.¡±

    Empress Chen looked quite satisfied at Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s answer. That girl did have a honey tongue. Though such a girl could be scheming, at present, she was the one that she and Ray needed. ¡°Get up. Let me have a look. Is there any other injury?¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang raised her head. After looking at her veiled face over, Empress Chen told her to take care with concern, which was an obvious sign that she intended to draw Qin over to her side. Qin Yunzhuang held her head slightly high, enjoying the pleasure brought by other girls¡¯ envy and jealousy.

    Empress Chen took the principal seat after showing her concern to Qin Yunzhuang, while all the other people got to their seats, and the banquet got ready to start. There were various kinds of fruits and snacks on the bright yellow tablecloth, but none of the maidens dared to eat first.

    On the left side of Qin Yunzhuang was Qin Yunuan. She had just caught sight of the guilty face of Shangguan Yee who also sat beside Qin Yunzhuang. She might be regretting that Sister Qin got hurt for her negligence, but she took her me in front of Empress. Qin Yunuan was clear that what Qin Yunzhuang said was not scapegoating. Instead, she earned a lot of sympathy and affection for herself.

    Empress Chen gave an easy smile to the maidens who were restrained. ¡°Rx. It¡¯s Flower Fairy Festival, a rejoicing day of the whole country. Make yourself at home,¡± she said. And then, she turned her eyes to the fat nanny beside her and told her, ¡°Come to see why Ray has note. He is busy learning politics and national affairs by Emperor¡¯s side these days and needs to take some time off.¡±

    When it came to Prince Ray, the girls present all blushed for coyness. It was acknowledged that the match of men with great talent must be beauties, and Prince Ray was the dream boat of countlessdies. An essay written by him when he was studying at the Imperial College was now priceless on the market.

    Empress Chen looked very proud. Prince Ray was not her own child, but they were closely connected by ten years¡¯ rtionship and theirmon interests. It urred to Qin Yunuan that in her previous life, Sima Ray had framed his eldest brother Sima Ruo for witchcraft. If she had not seen it with her own eyes by ident, she would never have believed that Prince Ray, who looked decent and dignified, would plot against his own brother.

    Right now, Qin Yunuan was sitting quietly on a rush cushion. The girls around her were bing more and more enthusiastic, while she remained indifferent and unswayed. However, the unnoticeable alienation and refinement in her eyes were caught by Sima Ray who had just arrived.

    ¡°I¡¯mte, Mother,¡± said Sima Ray. With a golden crown on his head, he wore a pair of long boots and an embroidery robe with sapphire hibiscus patterns on his cuffs. Such a dashing and exalted man was very pleasing to the eye.

    Empress Chen, with great affection and kindness, said yfully, ¡°Losing yourself in studying again? Learning is important, but you should also take care of yourself.¡±

    ¡°Yes, it surely is,¡± Sima Ray smiled faintly and said more respectfully.

    Then he nced at the dressed-up noble women, feeling more confident and prouder by their delight and enthusiasm that could not be held back. Unconsciously, he looked at the direction where Qin Yunuan sat again. That woman was calm, aloof and even scorning when everyone else was expecting his appearance. How could it be?

    Qin Yunuan felt Sima Ray¡¯s eyes were on her, so she looked up and nodded to him coldly, looking a little bit disagreeable. She never intended to please Prince Ray, a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. They had no contact in her previous life, and it was better to keep it that way now.

    Sima Ray frowned slightly. ¡°Am I not that pleasing?

    ¡°Ray, General Leng has just returned from East Qin and will show up at the banquet. You used to ask him topete in swordsmanship against you before. Do you still remember?¡± Empress Chen asked, trying to pull him back to reality secretly, as she saw that he was lost in thoughts.

    ¡°It¡¯s just childhood jokes, and you did not forget,¡± Sima Ray was stunned and then replied hurriedly.

    At the very moment, the eunuchs outside had already reported loudly, ¡°Herees General Leng!¡±

    The man in a dark purple robe had mounted the stairs before the girls straightened their clothes and sat properly again. There was a square jade embedded in his four-finger-wide belt. He looked impressive and invite.

    Leng Changxi held his head up slightly and took a quick nce at the banquet without showing any emotion. He did not greet the Empress until he walked close. ¡°Please pardon my offense, Your Majesty. I amte.¡±

    ¡°Never mind,¡± knowing his status at the court, Empress Chen put on her official smile, pointed to an empty seat on her right side and said, ¡°I have specially reserved this seat for you. It¡¯s the best ce to watch the girls¡¯ performances.¡±

    Hearing this, many girls¡¯ faces beamed with delight, and some of them even winked at Leng Changxi boldly. But unexpectedly, without sitting down, he bowed his head and said, ¡°I have something to doter. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t stay long.¡±

    With a weak smile, Empress Chen pointed to the seat again and said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Enjoy some delicacies and wine, General Leng.¡±

    Leng Changxi took the seat and peeked at somewhere. At this time, Qin Yunuan, who had just picked up a piece of fried fish, shuddered for a sharp glimpse and the fish crisp fell back to the bowl. She caught sight of Leng Changxi¡¯s glimpse, which made her uneasy like a gust of cool wind had blown over her heart.

    She knew she was moderate in appearance and skills, and her background was also inferior to those legal daughters. Her quick and idental encounter with General Leng in the Plum Garden should not have drawn the special attention of this indifferent general to her.

    Suddenly, Qin Yunuan became a little bit rmed. She had been worrying that she might have given some clues away when talking to Leng Changxi, and now, it urred to her that he could have been watching them quietly behind the rockery. Who knew whether he had seen her changing the flower sachet?

    ¡°I have to be more careful of him,¡± thought Qin Yunuan, who was looking at Leng Changxi examiningly. She could not lose this game, and even she was at a disadvantage, she would do whatever it took to find a way out.

    Sitting beside Qin Yunuan was Fang Ziying, the girl who had argued with Shangguan Yee just now. She was open-minded and easy-going, and got along well with Qin Yunuan. Seeing that Qin Yunuan was staring nkly, she jested, ¡°it is said that the lionhearted General Leng has won many girls¡¯ hearts without showing his real face. Now, even you, our cool Sister Yunuan, are lost in the charm of General Leng, so the rumors should be true.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not like that, Sister Fang,¡± answered Qin Yunuan, ¡°I was just wondering why General Leng always wore a mask. Look, it¡¯s not convenient to drink wine.¡±

    ¡°I know little about this matter either. I just heard that the mask was used to cover a long scar on his face which was left during a weapon practice in his childhood,¡± said Fang Ziying, who suddenly lowered her voice, ¡°but it¡¯s just a scar. Scars make a man more manly, don¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡°Yes, exactly. Now I know how an infatuated woman looks like by seeing your face, Sister Fang,¡± Qin Yunuan joked at Fang Ziying who was now filled with tenderness and admiration.

    Fang Ziying knew she was jesting her. The two of them chatted happily for a while before the dishes were all served.

    ¡°Be casual today.¡± Empress Chen announced with a calm and faint smile. However, before they start to eat, a sorrowful and shrill shriek arose from outside of the garden and it became noisy all of a sudden. It seemed that someone was crying for something.

    The Empress¡¯ face darkened, and the nanny knew what she meant immediately. ¡°Check out who is crying outside the garden at this very moment. He had ruined the good mood of Empress and the girls,¡± said the nanny to a maidservant.

    Since Empress Chen seemed to be in a bad mood, the maidens did not dare to eat. However, Leng Changxi was not affected by the unsettling atmosphere at all and continued to enjoy the wine leisurely.

    His eyes were fixed on the wine in the white jade cup for a while, and then he suddenly raised his head and met the inquiry peek of Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°That man is much too calm and detached,¡± thought Qin Yunuan.

    The maidservant who was sent for inquiry came back and reported what was going on honestly.

    ¡°It that true?¡± Empress Chen was a little surprised.

    ¡°Yes, it is true,¡± the maidservant replied, ¡°It was a soldier who was beaten for 80 times and crying. He said he was a member of the Leng Army, and he had gone through fire and water for the country for years. But it was unfair that he got the punishment of rod beating for 80 times for such a tiny thing. So, he hoped that General Leng and Empress could uphold justice for him.¡±

 Chapter 5 An Unnatural Death

    <h4>Chapter 5 An Unnatural Death</h4>

    The banquet¡¯s ambiance became weird with everyone¡¯s eyes falling on Leng Changxi. On the other hand, Leng Changxi was as calm and stable as an iceberg, neither moving nor saying anything. He ced his right hand naturally on the table, his left one resting on his leg. With a slight tilt of his head, he looked at Empress Chen, as if he had been waiting for her arrangement and her arrangement only.

    Empress Chen¡¯s oriental eyes narrowed, and after what seemed to be a long time for consideration, she ordered. ¡°Since there is still unwillingness in his heart, bring him up. I want to hear what he prepared to say to me.¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s reaction mattered more than what that man would say. It was a test for this newmander who had just made a good figure, to see if he could draw Leng to her side.

    Qin Yunuan rubbed her ss gently, sizing up secretly the expressions of Empress Chen and her attendants. The soldier was supposed to be executed miles away from the Plum Garden. Even if he had magic power, it would be extremely hard to escape the strong executor and ran all the way here, which could be really strange.

    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, sister?¡± Qin Yunzhuang took the rare initiative to speak to Qin Yunuan. She had been observing Qin Yunuan for a while and felt ufortable with her asional look of contemtion. Her smile was as pure and harmless as before, but it made people wonder if anything intriguing was hidden behind.

    ¡°I¡¯m just frustrated.¡± Qin Yunuan blinked. ¡°I¡¯ve only heard of the Meng army before. When did the Leng army emerge?¡±

    Hearing her visionless question, Qin Yunzhuang turned her head with a disgusted look. She fudged with a simple exnation, ¡°It¡¯s just a handful of people who emerged after the battle of East Qin. There¡¯s nothing much to talk about.¡±

    During the conversation, the man who was crying outside Plum Garden was brought up. He was thin and pallid, his hair hanging down loosely. Arge prison garment covered his body like an empty shelf as if he could be blown down by the wind.

    ¡°Your Highness...Allow Ding Yue to pay respects to you and Prince Ray.¡± He raised his dirty face and saluted twice. The man froze when he saw Leng Changxi. Crawling on the ground, he murmured, ¡°Leng, General Leng.¡± He lost the momentum of roaring outside the garden and was as humble as a grain of dust.

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t move. He was like an ice sculpture, except for the indifference and disdain in his eyes. He was not even willing to take a look at Ding Yue, who was at this time, kneeling on the ground.

    Empress Chen picked up his armor cover, as a hint that it was time for this prisoner imed to be Ding Yue to lift his head. ¡°You¡¯re too thin. Why keep screaming to see me and General Leng?¡±

    Qin Yunuan saw Ding Yue seemed to be choked by the words in his throat and appeared to be dodging from Leng Changxi. He just answered abruptly, ¡°Please, Empress, gave justice to me. I have served for fifteen years in the army. For those years I have always been a loyal servant and soldier for the country. On the march this time, the old wound on my back recurred. The pain was so unbearable that I asked a cookhouse maid to change the fresh dressing for me. Mutual affection grew after one or two times, and one day...I failed to control my love for her. General Leng discovered and insisted that I raped her, and he then... gave me the punishment. Rod beating for eighty times.¡±

    Eighty times of rod beating were not like tickling. He could be dead if the executorpleted the job seriously.

    Empress Chen sighed, ¡°If she loved you till the end of your time, I would never want to see more miserable lovers in the world.¡±

    Ding Yue leaned down hurriedly to the ground, shouting ¡°Your Majesty, I beg you.¡±

    Empress Chen didn¡¯t say much. She first turned to Sima Ray, ¡± Ray, what do you think?¡±

    Sima Ray prostrated, and then he stood with hands behind his back before speaking. ¡°General Ding served in the army for fifteen years. He could be called a veteran. This soldier had devoted all his life and his hot blood to the country but still was all by himself at his age. There were ancient sayings that even heroes fall for beauties. Moreover, eighty strokes were probably too much for a person like General Ding, who has rendered outstanding service.¡± He looked at Leng Changxi after finishing his words.¡± What do you think, General Leng?¡±

    The mother and son performed a nice y. They wrote a distinct guideline for Leng Changxi: We want Ding Yue alive. Watch your attitude.

    Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t be clearer in his heart, but hisplexion was still indifferent. He raised his eyes to nce at Ding Yue on the ground and said slowly, ¡°I, would give you another chance.¡±

    Ding Yue gave Empress Chen a glimpse. Whatever, his life depended on Leng¡¯s choice. If his tone softened, he might be acquitted on the charges and win Empress¡¯s favor. If he didn¡¯t, he would be a dead man sooner orter. mming his head heavily on the ground, he said, ¡°If there¡¯s a word that¡¯s not real, then I deserve an unnatural death.¡±

    ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± Leng Changxi sneered. ¡°Firstly, there has never been a woman in the Leng Army. Where did you meet that cookhouse maid? Secondly, the woman hanged herself the day after I discovered the incident. If this was love, why don¡¯t you die with her?¡± Speaking of this, Leng Changxi paused for a moment and continued, ¡°Thirdly, I didn¡¯t give you eighty times of rod. Instead, I give you 200.¡±

    Two hundred! Eighty was already hard to leave him a breath. Two hundred strokes would beat him to death. Three choking sentences hit the keys of Ding Yue¡¯s confession.

    ¡°General Leng, didn¡¯t he just say eighty strokes? How could it be...so inconsistent, so suddenly?¡± Sima Ray seemed to feel unfair for Ding Yue. The Ding family was a helpful instrument for Empress in the army and might also be a capable assistant for her political foundation. Although Ding Yue was only a distant rtive of the Ding Family, it was always necessary to be nice to the Dings.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be so emotional, Prince Ray.¡± Leng Changxi rubbed his white jade cup slowly. The liquid in his cup was warmed by the temperature of his fingertips, sending off intoxicating fragrance. ¡°The man said just then. If he had said anything untrue, he deserves an unnatural death. I can¡¯t predict nature, but I can at least help with an unnatural death. Changing the punishment was to his wish.¡±

    Qin Yunuan sighed in her heart. It seemed that Leng Changxi was a tough guy. Under the disguise of giving people another chance, he nned to expose the fact of this crime. In this way, even Empress Chen could do nothing.

    Ding Yue was making eye contact with the Empress repeatedly. Qin Yunuan felt the inextricable rtion in the pce. Empress Chen had already reached her hands out too far. However, Qin Yunuan felt that she might have encountered an impably rival this time.

    Empress Chen closed her eyes slightly. After a while, she opened her mouth, ¡°Even so, today is supposed to be a good day for the Flower Fairy Festival banquet. I¡¯m afraid it would be inauspicious if it¡¯s stained with blood.¡± Besides, she promised Ding¡¯s family to protect him.

    Now that the great prince Sima Ruo was supported by his uncle, Meng Hua, who was a descendant of the Meng Army and enjoyed high authority. The Ding was not high in status enough, but they have deep roots in the army.

    ¡°Simple.¡± Leng Changxi raised his eyebrows and responded firmly, ¡°I could bring Ding Yue back to the barracks in the suburbs of the Royal city. We would enforce militaryw there. He will never stain your highness¡¯s banquet.¡± His attitude was upromising, though he used respectful words.

    The light in Sima Ray¡¯s eyes dimmed down. Then those eyes sharpened and sized Leng Changxi up. Leng was about the age of his own. He was correct and hardly put a foot wrong in his words and deeds. Ray felt it hard to take advantage of him.

    Sima Ray met Empress Chen¡¯s misty eyes again in his thoughts. It seemed that they thought of the same thing.

    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Empress Chen nodded, not even giving a nce to Ding Yue, who was obviously on her side. She didn¡¯t intend to use up all her efforts to save him. It was more like a test for Leng Changxi¡¯s attitude. It would be great if he was saved. Otherwise, the Dings would also be satisfied if she gave one of his family members an exalted sinecure. But...¡±

    This Leng Changxi was ruthless indeed. Young but sophisticated and decisive, his manners reminded Ray of the Emperor as he sentenced the death of everyone in Weiyang Pce.

    Ding Yue screamed as if he had lost his mind when he heard that there would be no exemption, but his punishment would be aggravated to two hundred times of rod beating. ¡°Empress, your highness, you can¡¯t do this. You are...¡± He didn¡¯t finish his words before the maids covered his mouth up with silk cloth and dragged him out. Ding Yue widened his eyes. The woman promised to save his life before. She was holding that list of generals in Ding¡¯s family and smiling fearlessly, like a flower blossom.

    ¡°Too much noise.¡± Empress Chen sighed, covering her mouth with a handkerchief. The banquet went on. But Imperial Concubine Yun on the side couldn¡¯t help but grin. Her voice was a bit harsh that it gave everyone goosebumps.

    ¡°Sister, what are youughing about?¡± Empress Chen asked carelessly with her head down as she picked up the butterfly crackers in those fine, blue and white porcin saucers.

    Imperial Concubine Yun smiled gently, ¡°I just thought that this y was really good. Those unaware might mistook it that this was your arrangement.¡±

    ¡°This sister really knows how to joke.¡± Empress Chen chuckled. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to put on such a wonderful show.¡±

    The banquet continued with typical singing and dancing. Through the ribbons of those dancers, Qin Yunuan observed Leng Changxi. There was always some uneasiness in her heart. ¡°Does he know her trick of changing flower sachets? Will he show any hint at the banquet?¡±

    Such fearssted until the incense burned out. Leng Changxi stood suddenly after a song ended and saluted to Empress Chen. ¡°The banquet is fabulous. I would like to linger for a little while longer, but I have important things to be done. Please, excuse me.¡±

    Empress Chen smiled and nodded. She would never want such a person to stay here longer. Qin Yunuan was also suddenly relieved.

    Leng Changxi turned around, his eyes quickly swept across the noblewomen at the banquet. When his eyes met Qin Yunuan, his pupils narrowed, and a sh of inspection flowed through. Qin intended to turn a blind eye at him, but in avoidance of gossip, she held her head up and met with his eyes boldly. The two looked into each other¡¯s eyes for a moment and moved away. Nothing seemed to happen.

    As soon as Leng Changxi left the feast, Qin Yunzhuang said to Qin Yunuan immediately, ¡°I just saw General Leng peeking on you for a few times. Could it be that...¡± Her intention was clear without finishing the sentence.

    ¡°Not true, my sister.¡± Qin Yunuan pointed at the bit of rouge that she ced deliberately on her neckline andughed. ¡°I¡¯m an unscrupulous joke to General Leng.¡±

    Everything Qin Yunzhuang did was in vain, so she just said, ¡°Are you ready for the drawter?¡±

 Chapter 6 â€œTake Each Step Carefullyâ€

    <h4>Chapter 6 ¡°Take Each Step Carefully¡±</h4>

    Flower Draw was a popr game among thedies. First, two bamboo tubes were prepared. One was filled with the bamboo sticks with thedies¡¯ names on while the other was with bamboo sticks with different performance items on.

    First, the Empress would draw the name stick, and the girl who was drawn shalle forward and draw the performance stick. Whichever stick was drawn, the girl should perform ording to the item written on the stick, and it couldn¡¯t be rejected.

    This was a great chance for thedies to show their talents. Even though General Leng had left, Prince Ray was still present. If they could perform well to leave a refreshing impression to Prince Ray, that would be a great honor.

    Every time when it came to this game, Qin Yuzhuang was the proudest of herself. She learnt poems, calligraphy, paintings, music, and all other skills from the best teachers. She mastered all of them so that no matter which stick she drew, she could easily impress everyone.

    Qin Yunuan could clearly see Qin Yuzhuang¡¯s smug expression and expectation under her veil. She smiled slightly in response to Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s extremely inted vanity.

    During the banquet, the pce servants had already set up the desk with quite a lot of props on it. All the props were rted to the items to be performed in the Flower Draw. All the nobledies in the hall were eager to try. Empress Chen looked around for a while, thinking that the time was almost right. Just when she was about to speak, a cheesy voice came abruptly, ¡°Oh, sister Empress is about to start the Flower Draw. It seems that I have beente.¡±

    The voice was heard before the person showed up. With a tter of jade pendants, a woman in luxurious clothes and a red-colored dan came, wrapped up in lotus blue cloak. She walked in among the pce servants. A gorgeous phoenix flower was drawn between her brows. She was the Imperial Concubine Yun who had been the Emperor¡¯s favorite for twenty years.

    Empress Chen looked at the phoenix flower on Imperial Concubine Yun¡¯s forehead. The Imperial Concubine Yun was only thirty-six, and she was a good talker who always came up with fresh ideas to impress the Emperor. A few days back, the Emperor even named Yun¡¯s make-up and asked her to put it on for him every day. Empress Chen was inevitably unhappy, but she had to praise Imperial Concubine Yun congenially.

    ¡°It¡¯s not toote,¡± said Empress Chen with a smile, ¡°I heard that you had a cold recently. Are you feeling better now?¡±

    ¡°Much better,¡± Imperial Concubine Yun covered her mouth with a handkerchief and sat down beside Empress Chen. ¡°It¡¯s just that the Emperor is still worried and he visits me every day. It¡¯s really hard for him to work on the state affairs in the day and worry about me in the night. I dare not to let the Emperor worry so much about me, so I have to rest more and get well soon.¡± She said as she nodded towards Empress Chen, ¡°That¡¯s why I did note to the Ciren Pce to visit you these days. Forgive me, sister.¡±

    The Imperial Concubine Yun¡¯s arrogance was all over the ce, but Empress Chen still smiled and faced her nicely.

    Qin Yunuan was tired of seeing the two acting, so she rxed her body a bit. However, she heard the two girls next to her whispering something, with some surprised inhtion and subtle ns. She nned to stay out of it, but she heard them saying to Fang Ziying on her left, ¡°Sister Fang, your flower sachet is so pretty. What¡¯s in it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s lily,¡± said Fang Ziying frankly, as she shook the goose yellow sachet in her hand, ¡°It smells pretty nice.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I heard that sister Fang¡¯s favorite is Sweet Olive! It happens that I have Sweet Olive in my purple flower sachet, and my favorite is lily. Perhaps you can change yours with mine, sister.¡± The girl twitched her eyes smartly, but Qin Yunuan knew exactly what she was up to.

    ¡°Oh.¡± Fang Ziying didn¡¯t think much. Just before she was about to hand over the sachet that she took off from her waist, a slim hand stopped her. She took a nce, and it was Qin Yunuan with a warm and gentle smile, ¡°Sister Fang, did you forget that you got a rash after eating some Sweet Olive cakes at the mid-autumn festival dinnerst year? You rested for half a month before you recovered.¡± Then she smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t forget the lesson, sister.¡±

    The girl who tried to change the flower sachet was surprised, and Fang Ziying didn¡¯t get it at first. At the mid-autumn festival dinnerst year, she did eat some Sweet Olive cakes and got a rash. But the rash was merely because of ying with her sister¡¯s cat, which had nothing to do with the cakes.

    Just when Fang Ziying was confused, she saw the uneasiness in the eyes of the young girl who wanted to change her flower sachet. She knew immediately that there must be some secrets behind this, so she just kept with Qin Yunuan¡¯s words. ¡°Oh, right, I really forget about this. Thank you for reminding me.¡± She saw the rxed smile of Qin Yunuan right after she finished her words, and she blinked back.

    This girl Shang still wanted to argue, but she heard Empress Chen calling her name. Empress Chen was looking at Shang dominantly and smilingly while Shang was sweating heavily. She was not afraid of the cold but reasonable Empress. Instead, she was afraid of the Imperial Concubine Yun who yed a double game. Besides, it was just now that she knew that Imperial Concubine Yun disliked purple the most. No, it was hate. She hated it so much that there was no trace of purple in the huge Fuxi Pce of Imperial Concubine Yun.

    However, the girl Shang still had to present herself as she couldn¡¯t resist the Empress.

    ¡°Draw your stick.¡± Empress Chen took a sip of the tea and seemed to look forward to these youngdies¡¯ performances very much. To her surprise, there was a harsh woman¡¯s voice next to her, ¡°Purple!¡±

    Qin Yunuan sipped some fruit wine calmly, watching Imperial Concubine Yun¡¯s brows ticked into an angry curve. Then Imperial Concubine Yunzily leaned onto the chair bar and added, ¡°I hate purple the most!¡±

    All the attention was focused on the purple sachet hanging around Shang¡¯s waist. She stood in the middle of the banquet, clenching her hands. Her forehead was covered with sweat, and she felt like a monkey for people¡¯s amusement. She was so embarrassed that all the other girls with a purple sachet took off their sachets immediately and threw them under the table.

    ¡°Why, sister?¡± Empress Chen persuaded, still calm and elegant, ¡°It¡¯s just a sachet.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like it.¡± Imperial Concubine Yun said unequivocally. Her face was as cold as frost. She was never afraid of confronting the empress. It was no exception this time.

    Empress Chen paused for a while. She was very clear that Imperial Concubine Yun didn¡¯t like purple. Even the Emperor would move to her in the past banquets. However, it was her Flower Fairy Festival Banquet at her pce. Imperial Concubine Yun had been the Emperor¡¯s favorite for too long, which made her too arrogant. This time, she wanted to let her know that she was still the Empress of Qi, and she was the firstdy in the harem.

    ¡°Today is supposed to be a happy day,¡± said Empress Chen with much dignity, ¡°Even if sister hates it, please bear it this time.¡± Then she nodded towards Shang, ¡°Lady Shang, draw the stick.¡±

    However, Shang ignored the Empress who was trying to help her and kowtowed towards Imperial Concubine Yun directly. ¡°Your highness, I really don¡¯t know that you dislike purple. It, it was all a mistake this time. I would not use anything purple, not even blue or dark blue or anything rted to purple again after I return. Please forgive me.¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked at the slightly twitching face of Empress Chen. She couldn¡¯t me Shang for displeasing the Empress. If she recalled correctly, this Shang girl was the daughter of a general who served under the brother Meng Hua of Imperial Concubine Yun. She had to kowtow and confess towards Imperial Concubine Yun for her family¡¯s sake.

    As for Empress Chen, she could not hide her dissatisfaction anymore, and it was all on her face. However, she still tried to look forgiving, ¡°Get up,dy Shang. It is just a flower sachet. I don¡¯t think Imperial Concubine Yun would me you for it. Why this?¡±

    Fortunately, Shang confessed hard, and Empress Chen was there watching. Imperial Concubine Yun simply waved her hands in disgust and let the girl go home for her embroideries and never show up in front of her again.

    Seeing the absent-minded Shang was dragged out by two nannies, Qin Yunuan slightly lost her focus either. If it were not for the reminder of the fat nanny when she entered the pce gate, Qin Yunuan wouldn¡¯t know the preference of Imperial Concubine Yun. If she did not change her temper, she would not dare to argue with Shangguan Yee and connect with Fang Ziying, let alone caring about the flower sachet swap.

    These were all connected. Her reborn life was like a stone falling into a pond, which destined to cause the ripples and change the paths of some events.

    The departure of Shang did not disturb the banquet for much. The pce servants served the guests with snacks on high tes. The fruit wine would be immediately refilled by the maids behind them when the wine containers were empty.

    Empress Chen drew several sticks in session. With good luck, all those she picked out were the talented and well-known girls. There was singing and instrument ying. The Third Prince Sima Ray had his smile on while admiring the performances, which melted the hearts of many of the girls. The first half of the banquet was fun and harmonic.

    However, Qin Yunzhuang appeared to be a bit anxious. She knew that these performers were reserved, and she must be one of them. However, Empress Chen did not call her name, and she had no idea about the reason.

    Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t be clearer of Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s little thoughts.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sister.¡± Qin Yunuan slowly picked up a golden silk roll and put it on Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s te, and she soothingly said, ¡°Isn¡¯t the best show always the finale?¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang nced at her and said, ¡°Naturally,¡± as she managed a twitched smile.

    The conversation between the two seemed to have attracted the attention of Empress Chen. Qin Yunuan raised her head to see Empress Chen holding a bamboo stick and looking towards her. Empress Chen said, ¡°The final draw of today, is the Thirddy of the Qin¡¯s family, Yunuan.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang was shocked, yet Qin Yunuan was even more shocked. She did not get drawn in her previous life.

    Qin Yunuan secretly hid her confusion and revealed only a longing and ttering look. She saw a deep andplicated smile of Empress Chen.

    ¡°Come here, draw a stick.¡± Empress Chen said as she waved towards Qin Yunuan.

    Qin Yunuan obediently went forward, ignoring the nce with freshness from Sima Ray and the condescending contempt of Imperial Concubine Yun. And she drew a random stick from the bamboo tube. She thought to herself that she just followed the flow.

    ¡°Well, this is a nice one.¡± said Empress Chen with a smile, ¡°The title is blindfolded embroidery.¡±

 Chapter 7 Blindfold Embroidering

    <h4>Chapter 7 Blindfold Embroidering</h4>

    At the noon, the warm sunshine spread on the Baiyu Pce softly and clearly, which sparkled the Rosefinch Gate in front of the pce.

    At the middle gate, Leng Changxi held the halter tightly and heard the cries of a girl from behind. Now the poker-faced man just wanted to leave quickly, but he heard that those girls cried and cursed, ¡°It¡¯s all the fault of the concubine¡¯s daughter of Qin family. If she did not intervene, I might have exchanged the flower sachet so as not to offend Imperial Concubine Yun. Nanny Liu, what should I do? I offended Imperial Concubine Yun. If She mes all on my father, what should I do? My father must punish me to death.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t cry my second pearl of the family. Your father loves you very much, and he would not punish you.¡± A womanforted the girl.

    ¡°Nanny Liu, no. The Imperial Concubine Yun will revenge anybody who offended her. I am afraid that my father will lose his rank politically...¡± The girl then wept again.

    Looking at the two people who got into the carriage, Leng Changxi on the horse frowned and asked, ¡°Where does the girle from?¡±

    A man aside him answered, ¡°She is the daughter of General Shang.¡±

    Shang Xianhua? Leng Changxi tipped his mask with all-in-mind expression in his eyes.

    ¡°My master, you want to draw General Shang closer to you?¡± A man with bushy eyebrows asked, ¡°I heard that Shang Xianhua has much experience of wars for about 20 years, but he is still a five-grade official Huaiyuan General. Each time he came back from the frontier, he would hold a luxurious feast or hang out for enjoyment. The other day, ording to the report of an informant, he spent thousands of golds to buy a Ferghana horse, but he kept it in his barn for enjoyment instead of riding.¡±

    ¡°Xue Si, you talk too much,¡± Leng Changxi said words shortly with much solemnity. The saffron yellow sunshine exactly shined on his neck where his adman¡¯s apple was so conspicuous. Leng Changxi curled his finger to tip his nose and asked, ¡°The cinder of Zizhan was taken back?¡±

    ¡°Yes, already in Jianzhou,¡± Xue Si answered, ¡°Now it probably was taken into the ancestral hall of family Su.¡±

    At the feast, a cold breeze blew.

    Qin Yunuan stood in the middle of the feast in a green and moonlight-color skirt, which looked very refreshed and happy. Beside her, there were all colors of threads and all sizes of needles on the embroidering table. The eyes of Qin Yunuan had been covered by a white cloth, but her sensitive smell was not covered at all.

    There came the smell of a man¡¯s perspiration and grass, which lingered in the air. It was not like the delicate incense of Sima Ray. This smell was so cold, crazy, and tempting.

    ¡°Qin Yunuan, go ahead.¡± Empress Chenughed.

    The wrist of Qin Yunuan touched the embroidering shelf. She held the needle and started to embroider. After the incense was burned half, half winter jasmine bloomed on the white handkerchief, vivid, tender and lovely.

    Qin Yunzhuang felt upset to see that Qin Yunuan was so ingenious. But Fang Ziying aside her could not help but praise.

    ¡°To my surprise, sister Yunuan is such an ingenious girl. I can¡¯t embroider with covered eyes even if I train myself for three years.¡±

    After the incense was burned over, the embroidering was down. Qin Yunuan took off the white cloth. The maidservants took the shelf closer to Empress Chen for better appreciation.

    On the white cloth, yellow tender winter jasmine bloomed on the green branch vividly, which was so coincident to the season now.

    ¡°Nice,¡± Empress Chen smiled, ¡°It seems that the wife of family Qin taught daughters the needlework well.¡± The praise also covered Qin Yunzhuang.

    ¡°My sister, Empress Chen, you are so generous and kind to those young girls,¡± The Imperial Concubine Yun glimpsed at the work and said in disdain, ¡°There are some mistakes at the final needle. What¡¯s more, the joint ces of those branches also exist some mistakes. If the girl were in my pce, I would be so shameful about this.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Empress Chen touched the uneven ces on the work, ¡°Qin Yunuan is still young, and it is quite tough to embroider with covered eyes. I just wanted to check the embroidering ability of those girls, and she performed it quietly well.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Imperial Concubine Yun said with her higher eyebrows to the Qin Yunuan who stood politely at the table, ¡°Sister Empress Chen is so generous and kind, but you are so rude. You even do not tell us your less-ingenuity, and it may cause a misunderstanding that people all believe sister Empress is so strict, or you submit a bad work on purpose to annoy Empress Chen?¡±

    After hearing those words, Qin Yunzhuang, who had been upset just now, became refreshed, raising her head and waiting excitedly for the punishment on Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°I dare not to do that,¡± Qin Yunuan said with humble expression in her eyes, ¡°I just...¡±

    Just at the moment when Qin Yunuan hesitated to say something, the fat nanny aside Empress Chen quickly found the fingers hiding in the sleeves of Qin Yunuan and whistled to Empress Chen. Empress Chen frowned and waved her hands to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Come forward.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stepped forward.

    ¡°Reach your hands.¡±

    Qin Yunuan then did it.

    Empress Chen looked at the little hands of Qin Yunuan and felt strange. Sima Ray asked instantly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the hands of Qin Yunuan? The dactylus, how... due to the cold winter?¡±

    ¡°My third highness, these are chilins,¡± the nanny felt sorry and said, ¡°Only those servants who have no thick clothes and hot water to work will gain chilins. Why...¡± The fat nanny did not say the words out, but all were curious about the reason why Qin Yunuan, as the third daughter of the mansion of Grand Commandant, got chilins so seriously.

    Empress Chen glimpsed at Qin Yunzhuang below withplex expression. Qin Yunzhuang was panic and lowered her eyes. She held the rush cushion on the back tightly to vent her anger.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, sister Qin?¡± Shangguan Yee asked, ¡°You are sweating.¡±

    ¡°I am fine.¡± Qin Yunzhuang stared at the tform again. Looking at the weak figure of Qin Yunuan, she doubted if her younger sister was really simple and pour? Were all these things the coincidences?

    Qin Yunuan showed her tolerance and grievance, looking at the chapped and swollen chilins on her hands. The chilins witnessed her tough days when she had no warm clothes and stove in the poor yard of the mansion of Grand Commandant. Today, they were useful.

    ¡°That¡¯s not a problem,¡± Qin Yunuan withdrew her hands timidly, ¡°The chilins were due to my bad sleep the other day. It was a little bit painful just now when I did the embroidering, so I got some mistakes in needling. Please forgive me, Empress Chen.¡±

    Rome was not built in one day. Such serious chilins could not be caused by a cold in sleeping. It was so conspicuous that it was impossible.

    Imperial Concubine Yun did not give up, ¡°Just the chilins. Ruoer practices calligraphy daily, and his hands are also painful because of the chilins. Qin Yunuan did well in the first two needles, but why she got painter? I think she does that deliberately.¡±

    That was quite funny. Practicing in the warm charcoal-stove room was much easier than embroidering in the air-leak room.

    ¡°I am scared. It is my first time to see Empress Chen. You are so beautiful and elegant. So, I just got panic to do embroidering.¡± Qin Yunuan answered politely and seriously.

    Her words delighted Empress Chen.

    ¡°Huh, really?¡± Imperial Concubine Yun rolled her eyes to show her disdain and unhappiness to the low ss and words of Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Jinsu!¡± Empress Chen reproached Imperial Concubine Yun seriously. She waited for half a day to meet a chance to reproach Imperial Concubine Yun. She pointed at the hands of Qin Yunuan with a grieved face, ¡°Her hands are so horrible. Don¡¯t count this little matter.¡± And then she turned back to ask the fat nanny, ¡°Fetch my Huayulu here.¡±

    Empress Chen always acted as a generous and kind woman in front of others. Qin Yunuan knew it, but she did not predict Imperial Concubine was such a tough role.

    In a while, the fat nanny fetched the bottle. Huayulu was an invaluable cure for trauma inside the bottle.

    ¡°It¡¯s not serious.¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her head, ¡°I am just the daughter of a concubine in the mansion of Grand Commandant. I am too menial to use medicine.¡± The more menial Qin Yunuan acted, the more people believed that her hands were hurt by the mother of Qin Yunzhuang, the legal mother of the mansion.

    ¡°Please use it,¡± Sima Ray said in a soft voice, ¡°Take it since the Empress has granted it to you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan constantly said thanks, and she even saluted to Imperial Concubine Yun who satirized her just now heavily. And then she quitted. The more respect and carefulness the better.

    Looking at those gossiping girls, Qin Yunuan felt relieved. The scandal came from those girls. And just a few dayster, all people would know that the third daughter in the mansion of Grand Commandant got chilins. Her legal mother would be condemned by others, and then her younger brother and she would have chances to move out of the poor yard.

    In this life, she should not only protect herself but strived for a good future for her younger brother, Qin Baochuan.

    Qin Yunuan sat down. Fang Ziying pulled her hands and asked many things in a lower sound. Qin Yunzhuang still pinched the rush cushion more tightly, but her face was normal and kind, ¡°Sister, your hands are so horrible. but why don¡¯t you tell my mother? If you said it, my mother must handle it very well.¡±

    ¡°Sister, I did not say your mother will ignore me.¡± Qin Yunuan said with her pure and clear eyes.

    Qin Yunzhuang felt embarrassed and turned her body without a word. She did not want to see the bottle of Huayulu. She was scratched by the cat, and Empress Chen awarded her Huayulu. But now Huayulu was awarded to the menial girl too. That was the sarcasm that the menial girl was equal to herself.

    In thetter part of the feast, it was the section of poetry-singing and flower-hanging. Only noble girls or talented maidens could attend these activities, and Qin Yunuan had no right to attend them.

    Qin Yunuan sipped the wine while she was quickly browsing the characters in the poets at the center of the feast.

    Those smell existed still with the mixing of wine and plum fragrance, and the lingering smell attracted her.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, sister Qin?¡± Fang Ziying sent a crystal-clear sweet orange to the saucer of Qin Yunuan, ¡°You look not well.¡±

    ¡°Maybe I drink too much fruit wine,¡± Qin Yunuan perceived that Qin Yunzhuang now was leaning to hear their talks. She pretended to be drunk, ¡°I feel hot and dry. Let me walk out for relief.¡±

 Chapter 8 Provoking the Conflict

    <h4>Chapter 8 Provoking the Conflict</h4>

    Just at the moment Qin Yunuan left the table, a ck shadow shed away and disappeared in the cold windy winter like a strong wind.

    Few people crowded in the east of the plum garden.

    Qin Yunuan was watching the pond where there was a block of thin ice on the surface of the pond. The bridge in distance was like a rainbow reaching the Feihua Waterside Pavilion. There was an artificial high tform aside from the pavilion, which was like an ancient tree. After a while, the champion girl in the feast would rece the empress to hang her flower on the high flower so as to express the appreciation of God and pray the peace and prosperity of the country.

    The reason why Qin Yunuan left the table was that she was a little bit drunk and, for more important, she should produce the evidence of her absence. Because she knew that something must happen just after a while.

    In herst life, Qin Yunzhuang gained the champion in the feast without any doubt. But in this life, due to the intervene of Qin Yunuan, there was something different. Qin Yunzhuang had her face destroyed partly, and the flower sticks were gained by Qin Yunuan. However, there was still doubt that if the empress Chen would choose Qin Yunzhuang secretly as the champion in the feast.

    When all were singing poems, Qin Yunzhuang left for a while due to her dirty skirt caused by the upset of the fruit wine. When she came back, she wore a new dress. Even the ss-jade bracelet on her wrist disappeared. The bracelet was so valuable that Qin Yunzhuang always paid much attention to it. Now it disappeared suddenly, but Qin Yunzhuang did not notice that. Qin Yunuan knew that Qin Yunzhuang upset the wine deliberately.

    The section of drawing flower sticks had been finished, and Qin Yunzhuang performed well in the section of singing poems. It seemed that if Qin Yunzhuang got the top in the section of hanging flower, she just got the champion of the Flower Fair Festival.

    ¡°Shall we start hanging the flower. Sister Qin Yunuan? Shall we?¡± The maidservant aside asked carefully.

    ¡°Eh? Shall we?¡± Qin Yunuan pretended to be surprised. She raised her skirt and was about to go. But she fell down on the blue te.

    ¡°Sister Qin Yunuan, are you OK? Can you stand up?¡± The maidservants helped her at once.

    ¡°My gosh! No! My ankle hurts,¡± Qin Yunuan tried to reach her legs out. But when her tiptoe reached on the ground, she cried, ¡°My feet get sprained. I can¡¯t walk.¡±

    ¡°What shall we do?¡± The little maidservant got panic. She was timid and indecisive unlike those old craftily nannies. That was the reason why Qin Yunuan chose the poor maidservanting together with her.

    ¡°Um, what¡¯s your name?¡±

    ¡°Me... My name is Zhuer.¡±

    ¡°Zhuer? OK, Zhuer, listen,¡± Qin Yunuan softened her voice, ¡°Now the flower-hanging will start in a minute. It is bad to bother the empress. I am just a menial concubine¡¯s daughter. Zhuer, you can just inform my sister and tell her to dispatch someone to get me backter, OK?¡±

    ¡°But....¡± Zhuer pinched her gusset and thought it was against the rule.

    Qin Yunuan saw the hesitant Zhuer and pretended to be angry. She stood akimbo, ¡°So, you want to get punished? It is you that apany me out. If I got into some trouble, you must be punished.¡± And then, she pointed at the Huxin pavilion aside the pond, ¡°OK, you support me to that pavilion, and I will stay there to wait for my sister¡¯s help. You should know that my sister cares about me very much, and she will never abandon me.¡±

    Zhuer, lowering her head, now did not hesitate to kowtow to Qin Yunuan when she heard she might get punished. She persuaded Qin Yunuan to stay in the pavilion.

    Qin Yunuan pretended to massage her ankles and paid extreme attention to the circumstance around. It seemed that even a leap of the tiny insect could be heard by her.

    It was noisy on the high tform. Qin Yunuan stood up straight after she confirmed there were no other people around. She did not sprain her ankles. She leaned on the red pir and observed the situation across the pond.

    A mantis was catching a cicada while a siskin was behind the mantis. Now, what Qin Yunuan should do was waiting.

    This time, the noble maiden who reced the empress to hang the flower was the girl from family Fang¡ªFang Ziying who was friendly to QinYunuan.

    In distance, Fang Ziying was very pretty in a red-flower and butterfly-pattern dress. Qin Yunuan could imagine how outrageous Qin Yunzhuang was.

    Fang Ziying was walking onto the high tform stably. The courteous girl turned back to have a look at the near-cried Qin Yunzhuang when she stepped down the high tform. As Qin Yunuan expected, Qin Yunzhuang cared much about her fail in hanging the flower. It seemed that the outrageous girl would swallow Fang Ziying.

    When Fang Ziying left thest step of the stairs on the bridge, she would express her appreciation to the empress Chen. But now she suddenly straightened her body with her eyes rolling and finally fell down on the ground.

    ¡°Guard! Guard!¡±

    ¡°What happened to Ziying? She was well on the table.¡±

    Now all the people here got panic.

    ¡°Calm down!¡± the empress Chen uncharacteristically shouted and told her maidservants, ¡°Move her to the Feihua Waterside Pavilion and then notice the imperial doctors.¡±

    Fang Ziying seemed to wake up by the noises. She opened her eyes only to see the panic Qin Yunzhuang and Shangguan Yee, and then she got faint again.

    Though the distance prevented Qin Yunuan from knowing the whole situation, she almost knew what happened there. Compare with those panic people, she was calm and silent, sitting in the stone chair in the pavilion and waiting for what would happen next. She knew just in a minute someone would find her.

    As expected, just five minutester, three to four well-dressed noble maidens came along the pond bank. The leader was Shangguan Yee with four to five maidservants following her, and beside them was the fat nanny who had noticed Qin Yunuan at the gate of the pce. Qin Yunuan knew that the fat nanny was the trusted follower of the empress.

    ¡°Nanny Xing, it¡¯s her.¡± Shangguan Yee pointed at Qin Yunuan arrogantly with revenge in her eyes.

    Several noble girlsing together with Shangguan Yee crowded into the little pavilion. The malicious girls cursed Qin Yunuan, ¡°OK! You this menial daughter of a concubine, why are you so malicious to hurt Fang Ziying relying on the friendliness of sister Fang?¡±

    ¡°Right! Malicious!¡±

    ¡°Sister Fang got faint just due to her!¡±

    ¡°You... What are you talking about? Sister Fang? What happened to her?¡± Qin Yunuan opened her eyes with many tears.

    ¡°Shit! You bastard. I will kill you this menial bastard.¡± A rude girl raised her arms and was about to beat Qin Yunuan but was stopped by nanny Xing who had been standing aside for a long time.

    ¡°Sister Li, the empress just said we just found her and took her back rather than beat her. It seems that you are against the rule.¡± Nanny Xing now got serious and did not tter others just like she did at the door of the pce. Sister Li got a little bit scared.

    ¡°Sister Shangguan, tell me what happened to sister Fang? Why did she get faint? Is there anyone who hurts her? And where is my sister?¡± Shangguan Yee shouted just after Qin Yunuan finished her words, ¡°Shameful! That was because of you...¡± Shangguan Yee stopped and remembered the words Qin Yunzhuang had told her just now. Qin Yunzhuang asked Shangguan Yee not to talk too much.

    ¡°Qin Yunzhuang is serving the empress,¡± Nanny Xing answered and reached her hands, ¡°Sister Yunuan please follow me to meet the empress. She is waiting for you.¡±

    In the Feihua Waterside Pavilion, the highest-ranking Imperial concubine Yun sat aside, and the empress Chen sat in the middle of the high tform with Qin Yunzhuang standing aside for tea service. Qi Yunzhuang saw Qin Yunuan kneeling down outside. Qin Yunzhuang raised her head a little with a secret smile. She was so happy that Qin Yunuan was generally trapped in her tricks.

    ¡°Come in.¡± The empress Chen sipped the tea, sitting straight with her hands ovepping. She asked straightly, ¡°Are you absent when hanging the flower?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Yunuan answered politely.

    ¡°It seems that you are not here in the section of singing poems. Right?¡± The empress Chen asked slowly.

    Qin Yunuan thought for a while and answered frankly, ¡°Yes.¡±

    The Imperial Concubine Yun interrupted and said, ¡°Oh, my empress, it is too slow to question her,¡± and then she said to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Just tell us! Did you add something into the fruit wine of sister Fang? So, you had already known that something bad would happen and just left to produce the evidence of your absence?¡±

    ¡°Imperial Concubine Yun, ording to your words, If I added something into the fruit wine, I must stay there to observe the situation. If I just left for this reason, I must look so stupid.¡± Qin Yunuan argued.

    ¡°Holy,¡± The Imperial Concubine Yun was not a simple woman. She said straightly, ¡°See, she had already plotted how to do the malicious thing to avoid anybody noticing her. Such a sly girl.¡±

    The empress Chen red at Imperial Concubine Yun. She knew that Imperial Concubine Yun was bothering her.

    ¡°Then you just tell us where you go during these two hours?¡± The empress Chen was so shrewd that she must figure out the person who destroyed the feast.

    ¡°I sprained my ankles and stayed in the Huxin Pavilion in the plum garden. I authorized a maidservant to tell some words to my sister and let my sistere to take me back.¡± Qin Yunuan unconsciously looked at Qin Yunzhuang and underlined the word SISTER in herst sentence.

    Qin Yunzhuang wanted to say something but stopped. She just shook her head towards the empress Chen and expressed she was innocent.

    ¡°Who can prove your words?¡± The empress Chen shook her head a little.

    ¡°Zhuer.¡± Qin Yunuan said and added, ¡°The maidservant works in the plum garden.¡±

    ¡°Security, take Zhuer here.¡± After the order of empress Chen, the security held the left fruit wine of Fang Ziying and stated the check oue of the imperial doctors.

    ¡°Distinguished empress Chen, the imperial Zhang, Zhao, and Yan have checked. There is actually something added into the fruit wine.¡±

    ¡°What had been added into the fruit wine?¡± The empress Chen straightened her body.

    ¡°It¡¯s sweet olive, Your majesty.¡±

 Chapter 9 All Is Under Control

    <h4>Chapter 9 All Is Under Control</h4>

    ¡°Sweet Olive?¡± Empress Chen seemed to be confused about the rtionship between Sweet Olive and the faint of Fang Ziying.

    Qin Yunzhuang lowered her head and said in a low voice, ¡°Empress Chen, I heard that Sister Fang was allergic to Sweet Olive heavily. And even if she smelled it for a while, she would get rashes on her body, or worse, she gets faint.¡±

    After her words, Qin Yunzhuang was watching Qin Yunuan on purpose, ¡°Sister, am I right? you are familiar with sister Fang, and you must know her allergy, right?¡±

    Before Qin Yunuan responded to the words, Empress Chen watched Qin Yunuan with her cold-knife-liked eyes. Empress Chen tipped her fingers on the rosewood tea table and seemed to be pondering something.

    ¡°I....¡± Qin Yunuan opened her month with an irrefutable face.

    Qin Yunzhuang glimpsed at Shangguan Yee aside, and Shangguan Yee said at once, ¡°Uh, what¡¯s in the bulging cuff of sister Qin Yunuan?¡±

    Just in a moment, sister Li, who got angry just now, stepped forward to pull out a red rope in the cuff of Qin Yunuan in spite of the courtesy. A tiny flower sachet came out in a red background and yellow stripes. It was half-index-finger long, which was inconspicuous in the cuff if someone was not careful to find it.

    Sister Li acted so quickly to open the flower sachet only to smell the fragrance of Sweet Olive. The fragrance now was so aggressive on this asion. It seemed to have a smell of alert in the air.

    ¡°That is Sweet Olive.¡± Shangguan Yee shouted proudly and seemed to find something valuable, ¡°It¡¯s you! Sister Fang got faint just when you left the table. She is allergic to Sweet Olive, and you just right know it. We find the Sweet Olive in the wine, and you just have it in your cuff. Qin Yunuan, you are such a malicious girl.¡±

    Qin Yunuan just glimpsed at the flower sachet and answered quickly, ¡°That is not my flower sachet.¡±

    ¡°Not yours?¡± Shangguan Yee asked quickly without any disguise, ¡°You mean you are framed by someone of us? She stuffed the flower sachet into your cuff?¡±

    ¡°Sister Shangguan, why are you so excited?¡± Qin Yunuan said with a smile, and her eyebrows now were a pretty radian. Compared to the impatient Shangguan Yee, Qin Yunuan now was so calm, ¡°I just said the flower sachet was not mine. It was you that said I was framed.¡±

    Shangguan Yee¡¯s face now turned to pale, and she just looked at Qin Yunzhuang asking for help. Qin Yunzhuang was speechless and thought that the whole thing was not going smoothly as she expected.

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Empress Chen got serious, ¡°I am here. You all maidens forget the politeness.¡± And then she stared at ShangguanYee for a long time.

    Just at this moment a maidservant came and said she found Zhuer in the Plum Garden. A weedy maidservant was supported by the Nanny Xing, and she keeled down after she saw the Empress.

    ¡°M... my name is Zhuer...Greetings, Your majesty.¡± Zhuer gave a big salute to Empress Chen. She saw Qin Yunuan aside, and her eyes seemed to be light.

    ¡°Wow, look at the eyes of the little maidservant. She seems to know Sister Qin Yunuan well.¡± Shangguan Yee still tried her best to nder Qin Yunuan.

    Empress Chenpressed her lips and said, ¡°Zhuer, raise your head. I have some questions to ask you. Was it you that apanied Qin Yunuan after she left the table?¡±

    Zhuer nodded.

    ¡°And then you came back alone without Qin Yunuan. For what?¡±

    Zhuer raised her head slowly and saw Qin Yunzhuang aside Empress Chen. She knew that Qin Yunzhuang was the girl whom she should pass the message to. Finally, Zhuer kowtowed and said, ¡°Sister Qin Yunuan sprained her ankle in the Plum Garden andmissioned me to tell her conditions to Qin Yunzhuang. Qin Yunuan said that she wanted to let Qin Yunzhuang send some people to get her back after the flower hanging was over.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang got panic after she heard those words. At this moment, Qin Yunuan was watching Qin Yunzhuang timidly. A serious face and an aggrieved face were seen by Empress Chen.

    Empress Chen nced at Qin Yunzhuang and said to Zhuer with a softer voice, ¡°And then? ¡±

    Zhuer shrank her neck and dared not see the cold eyes of Qin Yunzhuang. She lowered her head and said bravely, ¡°And then I went to find Qin Yunzhuang and just said the words ¡®Qin Yunuan sprained her ankle in the Plum Garden¡¯. But then I was drummed out by a girl aside Qin Yunzhuang.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Empress Chen seemed to be very curious.

    Zhuer gritted her teeth and seemed to made her mind bravely, ¡°That girl said Qin Yunzhuang felt disgusted when she heard the name of Qin Yunuan. The girl condemned me for being not polite and provoking Qin Yunzhuang deliberately.¡±

    Just in a sh, the whole room turned to silent. As Qin Yunuan expected, she knew Qin Yunzhuang would not send people to take her back. To Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s surprise, another thing happened now. All was going smoothly as Qin Yunuan expected.

    Qin Yunuan opened her eyesrgely and pretended to be very surprised with an aggrieved face when she heard the words from Zhuer.

    Imperial Concubine Yun broke the silence. She held a handheld stove, ¡°Huh, unbelievable. The elder sister did not care about her young sister. And she even ignored that her younger sister sprained her ankle.¡± Then, she pretended to be very surprised, ¡°So, Qin Yunzhuang had already known her younger sister left the table. That¡¯s interesting.¡±

    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t me my elder sister,¡± Qin Yunuan almost cried and avoided the sharp eyes of Qin Yunzhuang, ¡°Zhuer has said just now that it was possible that some maiden around my sister said something wrong. My sister is my kin sister, and she would not ignore me.¡± And then Qin Yunuan raised her head and turned to the shivering Qin Yunzhuang, and asked, ¡°Am I right? My sister.¡±

    The pale-faced Qin Yunzhuang now was outrageous and pinched her handkerchief tightly. But just in a moment, she recovered a soft face, ¡°Right. There must be someone who wanted to drive a wedge between my younger sister and I. If I knew that she got hurt in the Plum Garden, apart from dispatching people to help her, I should evene to get her back by myself.¡±

    And then Qin Yunzhuang nced at Shangguan Yee who now lowered her head. Shangguan Yee was so arrogant and rebuked Zhuer when Zhuer came to ask for help just now. Now, Qin Yunuan med all on Shangguan Yee.

    Empress Chen kept silent all the way and just looked at their faces coldly. Someone hid something; someone exposed something; someone feared something, and someone looked very surprise. All was perceived by her, but only the...

    Empress Chen saw the tears in the eyes of Qin Yunuan and her straight backside, which seemed to show her grievance and determination. Empress Chen thought it wouldn¡¯t be fake, or Qin Yunuan must be a seasoned actress.

    Suddenly, Nanny Xing came in and whispered to Empress Chen. She frowned and waved her hands to let the nanny quit, and then she sipped the tea, ¡°The imperial doctors just told me Fang Ziying was fine now.¡±

    The news relieved all people here. Empress Chen then turned her head to Qin Yunzhuang and asked, ¡°Is it true that Fang Ziying is allergic to Sweet Olive? How did you know it?¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang said with a handkerchief covering her face, ¡°It can¡¯t be fake. I sat aside Yunuan and sister Fang, and I heard they were talking about it at that time. But...¡± She did not say all out but just sighed heavily. She said to Qin Yunuan, ¡°My sister, how silly you are! It is so lucky that sister Fang now is fine...¡±

    Qin Yunuan shook her head constantly and seemed to start to refute. But now Empress Chen said in a low voice, ¡°But ording to the imperial doctors, Fang Ziying got faint due to something dirty instead of the allergy to Sweet Olive.¡± She sipped the tea again and found the tea was a little bit cold, so she asked the nanny to fetch a hot one here.

    The hot tea was taken to her and then she said slowly, ¡°Or, Fang Ziying is actually not allergic to Sweet Olive.¡± Empress Chen stared at Qin Yunzhuang and seemed to check her up and down. She nodded and said, ¡°So, you said you had heard that Fang Ziying was allergic to Sweet Olive. How on earth did you get the news?¡±

    The lips of Qin Yunzhuang were shivering. She quickly kneeled down and cried, ¡°Forgive me, Empress. I just heard it from the talk between Qin Yunuan and sister Fang in the feast. I do not say anything else.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded too. She told the whole thing that in the feast sister Shang wanted to exchange their flower sachets with Fang Ziying, and then she bent, ¡°I said that sister Fang was allergic to Sweet Olive just because I wanted to help sister Fang at that time. Someone heard it and framed meter.¡± the word someone was said so obviously. Qin Yunuan glimpsed at Qin Yunzhuang, and she did not know if Empress Chen had understood what she meant.

    ¡°Huh, listen to your words. It seems that I am like a tiger. Just a flower sachet. I did not punish sister Shang finally.¡± Imperial Concubine Yun mocked.

    Huh. Qin Yunuan said in her heart. Imperial Concubine Yun just condemned the girl who now cried. It seemed that the thing would bother the emperor.

    ¡°Jinsu,¡± It was the second time that Empress Chen called the name of Imperial Concubine Yun, ¡°Let it go. Do not mention it again. You need to be tolerant facing those maidens.¡±

    It was obvious that Empress Chen had understood what Qin Yunuan meant. She glimpsed at Qin Yunzhuang and felt disgusted at her. She always believed that the daughter of the legal wife in the Qin family was clever. But now things came to this bad situation, especially in the feast that was prepared carefully by her.

    Imperial Concubine Yun did not get silent but became more aggressive, ¡°You did not tell the whole thing, my sister, Empress,¡± She would be happier if Empress Chen got panic, ¡°You just said that Fang Ziying got faint due to something dirty. So, what is that? Just tell us, Empress.¡±

    Empress Chen glimpsed at Imperial Concubine Yun who now was arrogant and proud, and she straightened her body again and said straightly, ¡°It is Rhizoma Curculiginis.¡±

 Chapter 10 Who Did That?

    <h4>Chapter 10 Who Did That?</h4>

    It was an open secret that Rhizoma Curculiginis was an aphrodisiac. But anyway, framing a maiden in such a sordid way was quite shameful.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s easy,¡± Imperial Concubine Yun ogled and said, ¡°Can¡¯t we just find out the one who carries Rhizoma Curculiginis?¡±

    ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Empress Chen said solemnly. ¡°The medicine may not be taken along with after it took effect.¡±

    ¡°Well then, it¡¯s still easy,¡± Imperial Concubine Yun raised her eyebrows and smiled, ¡°Make a body search of everyone¡¯s belongings. We¡¯ll surely find it.¡±

    That sounded easy. But Empress Chen was not sure about it. The guests present all came from noble families that were politically powerful in the capital. Such an abrupt search might give rise to political unrest. As she was still specting, a slow voice arose from the girls. ¡°Actually, it doesn¡¯t have to be soplicated,¡± said Qin Yunuan.

    Seeing that it was Qin Yunuan who was talking, Empress Chen was a little surprised, and she also got interested in her. A moment ago, she was a target for all, and she tried to defend herself. But now, she was calm enough to make suggestions.

    ¡°Tell us about it,¡± Empress Chen said peacefully.

    Qin Yunuan collected her thoughts and then spoke up, ¡°My nanny once told me that we should reduce the usage of some medicines like Rhizoma Curculiginis in the early spring. Because spring is the heat period for animals. A faint smell of Rhizoma Curculiginis would make those sensitive animals wild and hurt people.¡±

    After she finished, Qin Yunuan bowed her head and ignored the ring eyes of Qin Yunzhuang, looking quiet and innocent. It seemed that she was just trying to help the Empress out.

    ¡°You mean that I need to get an animal to search for Rhizoma Curculiginis?¡± Empress Chen seemed to think the idea was strange. But leaning against the chair, she was still thinking about its feasibility. Shishi was frightened. Besides, it was her precious little pet, and she was reluctant to use it.

    At this moment, Imperial Concubine Yun cut in, ¡°Ruo has a Chow Chow dog that seems to have a good nose. It has been in idleness for a while since Ruo went to the southern regions of the River for an inspection tour on behalf of His Majesty. We can use it.¡± She held her head high proudly because it was a great honor for her that her son was inspecting the south for the Emperor. The maid standing beside her knew she had to second her highness. ¡°That¡¯s right. His Majesty once praised that dog for being brave and intelligent,¡± she said.

    Empress Chen turned away from thecent face of Imperial Concubine Yun, and she instructed Nanny Xing to get everything done. At this time, someone sent by the imperial doctors came to inform that Miss Fang had woken up.

    Well, what bad timing! Qin Yunzhuang raised a wry smile. It seemed that all she could do now was to await her doom. Mercifully, she still had a chance. Clenching a light-yellow flower sachet in the sleeve secretly, she nced at Shangguan Yee who was unrest. And she felt relieved when she saw the crescent-white flower sachet hanging on Shangguan Yee¡¯s belt.

    Sorry, sister Shangguan. It was every man for himself. If we were that unlucky, it would be a good move to sacrifice you in order to safeguard major interests.

    Knowing that Fang Ziying had revived, people all squeezed into the small wing-room with caring looks, until the doctors came out.

    ¡°Excuse me, Miss Li and Miss Qiao. Miss Fang has just woken up, and she needs some rest. Please don¡¯t put me on the spot.¡±

    As people were blocked outside, a weak voice arose from the veil. ¡°Sister Yunuan? Is that you?¡± asked Fang Ziying.

    Holding her hemline, Qin Yunuan made a curtsey to the imperial doctors by the door, and then she walked into the room filled with an herbal smell. Fang Ziying was leaning against a feather-padded mattress on the couch with a hurt look in her eyes. Empress Chen was sitting by her side, holding her hands and trying tofort her.

    There were two imperial doctors guarding outside the folding screen, who made way for Qin Yunuan at the sight of her. One of them was in his twenties and looked familiar, if not mistaken, to Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Sister Yunuan,¡± Fang Ziying called again.

    Qin Yunuan came close to her at once. Having greeted the Empress, she held Fang Ziying¡¯s hands and asked carefully. ¡°Do you feel any better, sister Fang? Are you still dizzy? Did you get hurt when you fell? Is there any injury?¡±

    ¡°Sister Yunuan,¡± Fang Ziying whimpered with her lips clenched together, ¡°Please find out who tried to murder me, please!¡±

    Qin Yunuan took a nce at Empress Chen, who looked dignified, and she nodded, ¡°Take it easy, sister Fang. Her Majesty is there. She will find out the truth and deal with it impartially.¡±

    After she finished those words, Empress Chen joined in the conversation, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Miss Fang. I am an impartial person. I will not forgive those who dared to y tricks under my eyes.¡±

    The two of themforted Fang Ziying for a while. It could tell from the eyes that Fang Ziying trusted in Qin Yunuan very much. When she heard that Shangguan Yee denounced Qin Yunuan at the Plum Garden, she was so angry that she coughed several times, and then she looked at Empress Chen with tearful eyes, ¡°Your Royal Highness, though I had just known sister Yunuan, I know exactly what kind of person she is. She will not do harm to me.¡±

    Qin Yunuan appeased Fang Ziying who looked a little excited for a while. At this time, with the curtain lifted, Nanny Xing returned from searching at this time.

    ¡°Found it?¡± Empress Chen asked.

    Nanny Xing leaned over to whisper in the Empress¡¯ ear, but Empress Chen refused directly, ¡°Say it directly.¡±

    Nanny Xing was stunned by these words, and then she replied honestly, ¡°Rhizoma Curculiginis was only found at one ce in the Plum Garden.¡±

    Empress Chen nodded and let her continue.

    ¡°It¡¯s in the flower sachet of Miss Shangguan.¡±

    Empress Chen was a little surprised, and then she narrowed her eyes. She always thought that this matter had something to do with Qin Yunzhuang, but now the evidence showed that it was Shangguan Yee. Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s father was one of the Grand Commandants, which was high-ranking but not politically powerful. However, Shangguan Yee¡¯s father was the prime minister of the imperial court with huge powers. Now that Shangguan Yee was the wrongdoer, things were getting trickier.

    Qin Yunuan and Fang Ziying were not surprised by this result. Thetter one clenched the corner of the mattress at the proper time and said bitterly, ¡°We just had some quarrels. I didn¡¯t expect she would hurt me in this way.¡±

    Empress Chen had already heard the quarrel between Shangguan Yee and Fang Ziying on their way to the feast. And what Fang Ziying just said had confirmed Shangguan Yee¡¯s crime.

    Empress Chen still wanted to think more, but Nanny Xing confused her thoughts, ¡°Your Majesty, Miss Shangguan is crying and screaming in the outer hall, begging to see you. Is that okay?¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t see her. Let her cry if she wants to,¡± Empress Chen said with a cold face. ¡°Now she is crying and can¡¯t say anything clearly. Inform me when she calms down.¡± After saying this, she frowned and pressed her forehead slightly, ¡°I have a bad headache today. Come with me, Nanny Xing. I need some rest.¡±

    Every one of them was so upsetting and troublesome. Empress Chen put on her elegant face grudgingly and told Fang Ziying to have a good rest. When she walked out of the room, she revealed her true colors and turned into a cold and stiff face.

    After Empress Chen went away, Fang Ziying stopped crying and grinned, ¡°What do you think? Am I a good actress?¡± She put her arms around Qin Yunuan and asked her joyfully.

    ¡°Yes, yes, you really are.¡± Qin Yunuan also smiled, but then she calmed down suddenly, ¡°But I didn¡¯t expect that Empress Chen would send the best two imperial doctors to examine you. Thanks to your cousin¡¯s help, we got Rhizoma Curculiginis into it. Or, we could not make it usible.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Fang Ziying said calmly, ¡°If there is really no way out, I will find Shishi and give it a hug. In that way, I will be allergic.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t say that, sister Fang,¡± said Qin Yunuan, who covered Fang Ziying¡¯s mouth hurriedly, ¡°I¡¯m very sorry to get you into this trouble and let you lie with me.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± Fang Ziying said firmly, ¡°At the banquet, we mentioned that I was allergic to Sweet Olive once, and there was someone who put the flower into my wine. Humph, I am fine just because I¡¯m not allergic to it. But I may not be so lucky next time. It was quite fair for us to answer blows with blows.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was finally relieved, and she smiled after listening to what Fang Ziying said. She was a little bit guilty because she never really wanted to make use of Fang Ziying. But to save her own skin, she had to hold back and deceive her sometimes. Fang Ziying had to be on the same side with her under such conditions.

    Qin Yunuan served a cup of tea for Fang Ziying and took a chair beside the couch where Fang Ziying was lying on. Before they could say a few words, they heard a burst of heart-wrenching cries and shouting that was about to tear people¡¯s hearts and livers.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Qin Yunuan asked the servant standing by the door.

    ¡°Her Majesty ordered to carry out the punishment,¡± the servants replied honestly, ¡°It was said that Miss Shangguan was punished by 20 times of nk beatings because she plotted to murder Miss Fang out of jealousy.¡±

    Humph, only 20 times of nk beatings, Qin Yunuan thought to herself. In her previous life, she was punished by 80 times of nk beatings because she pulled two wisps of Shishi¡¯s feather when she struggled to escape from its scratching. nk beatings in the Imperial Pce did not hurt so much as rod beatings at barracks. However, for a girl like Qin Yunuan, 80 times of nk beatings made her skin yed-open and her flesh torn.

    It all depended on social status, thought Qin Yunuan. But what she said was totally different, ¡°Oh, dear me! For a fragile girl like sister Shangguan, such punishment will require a long time to recover.¡±

    ¡°Exactly! At first, Her Majesty was going to punish her by 30 times of nk beatings. Thanks to the tearful pleading and kneeling of the elder girl of the Qin Family, the number was reduced to 20. Or, it would be more serious,¡± the servant gossiped.

    Kneeling and pleading? Qin Yunuan knew quite well about Qin Yunzhuang. She had to do some posturing to make up for her scapegoating. Besides, she must have gained a better reputation by kneeling and pleading for her friend.

    But it did not matter. After this, Shangguan Yee would not be of one heart with Qin Yunzhuang like before. Without the help of Shangguan Yee, it would be much easier for her to deal with Qin Yunzhuang and her legal mother Dou Qing¡¯e.

    Qin Yunuan did note to herself until a servant informed her that the hot water prepared for Fang Ziying had arrived. Before she came in with the water, an unfamiliar eunuch came to her.

    ¡°Are you the third daughter of the Qin Family?¡± The eunuch was all smiles, ¡°Dr. Zhang is waiting for you there,¡± he said and pointed to a winding corridor in the west.

    ¡°Dr. Zhang?¡± Qin Yunuan could not remember who he was.

    ¡°Dr. Zhang Ruting is the cousin of Miss Fang,¡± the eunuch lowered his voice and said to her hurriedly.

 Chapter 11 Eyes to Eyes

    <h4>Chapter 11 Eyes to Eyes</h4>

    All Qin Yunuan knew about Zhang Ruting was from Fang Ziying. She had described her cousin with two sentences. One was that he was glowing and towering, and the other was that his medical skills were outstanding.

    Zhang Ruting had been waiting at the winding corridor for a long time. He looked gentle and modest with his white robe and the white ribbon on his neatly tied-up hair.

    However, his greeting to Qin Yunuan who was walking towards him slowly was very offensive. ¡°Atst, The Third Miss of the Qin Family came.¡±

    In his eyes, there was watchfulness, vignce, and unspeakable disdain. Qin Yunuan understood all the emotions in his eyes in just a moment.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to keep you waiting.¡± Qin Yunuan made a curtsey politely and kept a three-step distance from Zhang Ruting carefully. She always bore in mind that between the sexes, there should be a prudent reserve.

    ¡°I am not going to beat around the bush,¡± Zhang Ruting frowned, ¡°From now on, please stay away from Ziying.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Qin Yunuan smiled with her head tilted. Her smile was pure and innocent, with nothing else added, just like the first handful of melting snow in the spring.

    Zhang Ruting was dazed by her smile. Then he turned his head, not looking at her face, and said with a cold voice, ¡°I could help you this time, but next time... No, there won¡¯t be another time. You are smart, but please do not use your mind on Ziying.¡±

    Fang Ziying was Zhang Ruting¡¯s cousin. Even if she had done something bad, Zhang Ruting would me Qin Yunuan for her instigation rather than me Fang Ziying. That was human nature. So, Qin Yunuan was not annoyed at all. Instead, her smile was more innocent than before.

    She fixed her ear lock with seemingly careless actions and answered slowly, ¡°If Dr. Zhang is confident that you can cover all the bases, then I will set my mind at rest and not bother myself with the safety of sister Fang.¡±

    Qin Yunuan never really wanted to win Zhang Ruting¡¯s understanding, but she had to let him know that she cared about Fang Ziying. She knew that one more enemy in the Imperial Pce would ce her in a more dangerous ce.

    Zhang Ruting was a little numb. He replied nkly, ¡°Anyway, do not involve Ziying in your scheme. She is just a little girl, and she knows nothing about these things.¡± Zhang Ruting turned back decidedly as soon as he finished those words.

    Seeing that Zhang Ruting was not as serious as before, Qin Yunuan heaved a sigh and went back to the room without thinking twice.

    The punishment on Shangguan Yee had finished while Qin Yunuan was supporting Fang Ziying who still looked paleing out of the room. Shangguan Yee was held firmly by two maidservants to walk. She felt as miserable as she had fallen apart. Fortunately, the imperial servants who carried out the punishment were not silly. Though nk beatings seemed scary, it was actually done with little strength. However, what Shangguan Yee could not bear was the insult. She could not suppress her indignation!

    ¡°Are you going to confess your wrongdoing?¡± Empress Chen sat on the redwood armchair and looked down at Shangguan Yee who was at the bottom of the stairs, looking miserable.

    ¡°I... I never did that.¡± Shangguan Yee expressed her unwillingness in such a low voice that even the two maidservants beside her did not hear what she said clearly.

    Empress Chen put aside the teacup and knocked the table with her fingernail guard, ¡°Louder. I cannot hear you.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, sister Shangguan said that she lost her mind for the moment, and she would never do that again. May Your Highness take care of yourself and do not exhaust yourself on those tiny things.¡± Qin Yunzhuang replied to Empress Chen while she was hinting Shangguan Yee with her eyes that she should keep quiet and not make any trouble.

    ¡°If that was what she said, then it would be the best.¡± Empress Chen also turned a blind eye. She looked at Qin Yunzhuang with sharper eyes for a long time. Qin Yunzhuang, the eldest daughter of Qin Family, did have a way with words, but that was also her w. The more she ttered, the easier it would be to see her intentions just like now.

    The carriage ran slowly to the Grand Commandant¡¯s Mansion. Qin Yunuan was resting on the bolster in the carriage after a day of turbulence. Her carriage was arranged by her legal mother Dou Qing¡¯e. It was clean and tidy, though it was not as beautiful andfortable as Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s carriage that had many tassels. Its inner space was so small that it could only allow one person to lean in there.

    Nurse Liao whispered to Qin Yunuan who was inside the carriage while she was walking by its left side, ¡°I guess the imperial banquet should be rigorous, so I prepared a pack of wick cakes under the bolster for you. The cakes were sent by your brother Dashi yesterday. You can eat some if you are not full. It¡¯s very sweet.¡±

    Brother Dashi was the son of nurse Liao, but she devoted more attention to Qin Yunuan than to her own son. However, brother Dashi was good-natured, and he had never fussed about those things. Instead, he tried his best to take care of Qin Yunuan as his mother did.

    Qin Yunuan followed nurse Liao¡¯s instructions and found a yellow paper bag from behind the bolster. The wick cakes inside were intact. With a nce, she knew that it was bought from Furui, thergest bakeshop in the Royal City.

    ¡°Have you found it? Have you?¡± Liao asked caringly.

    ¡°Yes, I found it.¡± Qin Yunuan answered quickly, and her eyes became red unconsciously. What happened was like a dream. But now, the schemes that she had experienced in the Imperial Pce were not that important to her. She had a caring nurse, two loyal servant girls, and a five-year-old brother. What mattered to her now was being alive and being together with dear people.

    The carriage ran at a steady speed. Suddenly, it stopped. The way ahead was noisy, and there seemed to be a quarrel.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Qin Yunuan leaned out her head and asked. But then she got back to the carriage under nurse Liao¡¯s persuasion.

    ¡°We met the carriage of Prince Ning¡¯s family. Now the intersection was blocked, and the two sides are quarreling. Look at the decoration of the carriage. I guess it is a young master or ady of Prince Ning¡¯s family.¡± Nurse Liao rubbed her hands and frowned.

    Somehow, it reminded Qin Yunuan of the Iron General. Wasn¡¯t he the third son of Prince Ning?

    The quarrel ahead was getting fiercer.

    ¡°Our miss said that we would give you three hundred taels of silver in the name of the Grand Commandant as yourpensation. Now, get out of the way.¡± It was Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s nurse, nurse Gui, who was arguing.

    ¡°It was your people of Grand Commandant who blocked the way first and hit our coachman. If our Master had not stopped you, he might have been beaten to death by you. And now you wanted to let it go with only three hundred taels of silver? Are you taking we people of Prince Ning as beggars?¡± Standing beside the carriage, a big fellow of Prince Ning¡¯s family shouted.

    Wow. Three hundred taels of silver were just almsgiving to beggars for them? How rich was the family of Prince Ning? Qin Yunuan thought to herself.

    ¡°Who is in the carriage behind? We are not so stingy as you are. Our Master said that let that carriage go first, and we do not block other people¡¯s way,¡± said the big fellow who had given a look at the carriage of Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Humph,¡± nurse Gui sneered, ¡°The carriage behind also belongs to the Grand Commandant.¡± The reason why she did not say the name of Qin Yunuan was probably that she thought the name of a concubine¡¯s daughter did not deserve to be known by the public.

    ¡°Well, such a shabby carriage... Those who do not know may think it belongs to....¡±

    ¡°Xue Si.¡± Before the man finished speaking, the one who sat in the carriage of Prince Ning¡¯s family stopped him, ¡°Today is the Flower Fairy Festival. Maybe the twodies just return from the banquet in the Imperial Pce. Give way to them.¡±

    Leng Changxi never liked taking a carriage. But since his mother had specially arranged one to pick him up, he could only ept it instead of riding a horse. Unexpectedly, they ran into the carriage of the Grand Commandant. What a strangebination of circumstances!

    ¡°Master,¡± Xue Si said dissatisfiedly, ¡°It was they...¡± Their Master was a valiant and invincible general on the battlefield. Why would he let two young chicks go that easy?

    ¡°Thank you, sir,¡± Qin Yunzhuang said behind the curtain, ¡°Please save the money for the medical costs of the coachman, and let the servants have the remaining money for a cup of tea.¡± In her mind, Leng Changxi, an illegitimate child, had few chances to see so much money. At the same time, he would take her as a rich and generous person.

    ¡°No need. This is not over,¡± said Leng Changxi. His voice was very cold. Other people felt that it was like a pot of ice water had been poured on their backs. ¡°I will remember you, Miss Qin, the elder.¡± Lao Wang, who drove the carriage for Leng Changxi, had followed him for a long time. He knew that anyone who hurt his master¡¯s man had to pay a price. There was no exception yet.

    ¡°Strange man.¡± Qin Yunuan said in a low voice, but deep in her heart, she was panic. She could not help thinking of the scene when Leng Changxi dealt with Ding Yue at the banquet. But she still looked down upon the illegitimate child who knew nothing but killing from all aspects.

    Every word of Qin Yunzhuang was heard by Leng Changxi. Sitting in the carriage, he showed his scorn with a sardonic smile. But what he said was still very polite, ¡°Please.¡±

    The road became wide immediately as soon as Leng Changxi¡¯s carriage moved. Qin Yunuan¡¯s carriage followed suit. ¡°This Master was expectedly generous,¡± nurse Liao murmured outside.

    However, out of no reason, Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart thumped wildly several times. Just as Qin Yunuan¡¯s carriage met Leng Changxi¡¯s, Qin Yunuan could not help but lift the carriage curtain, and Leng Changxi did the same thing at the same time.

    For an instant, they looked at each other eyes to eyes. Leng Changxi looked over Qin Yunuan calmly. His eyes were sharp and clear, without the coldness at the banquet. But they were not so kind as the eyes of nurse Liao. Even Qin Yunuan was afraid of his means and decisiveness.

    After a second, Qin Yunuan put down the curtain in a hurry.

    However, Leng Changxi did not put the curtain down until all the carriages of the Grand Commandant had passed. He was still thinking about the eye contact with Qin Yunuan and her shabby carriage. And then, he thought of her switching flower sachets in the Imperial Pce and the report from his entourage about the banquet.

    ¡°Do embroidery with eyes covered? The girl from the Fang family?¡± Leng Changxi spoke out unconsciously with a smile on his face.

    Well, what you said might be right, Zizhan. Her life in the Grand Commandant¡¯s mansion was not good. Leng Changxi changed into a morefortable position and smiled suddenly. But she was not that weak and helpless. Why did I think that she had protected herself very well?

 Chapter 12 Seeing Her Legal Mother again

    <h4>Chapter 12 Seeing Her Legal Mother again</h4>

    The carriage stopped at the main entrance of the Grand Commandant¡¯s Mansion. The horizontal inscribed board was radiant in the evening glow as if it had been gilded. Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows and nced at the vermilion courtyard wall. This was the ce she lived for ten years or so. And this was also the ce where her simple dream was buried. She counted days and years, but she never figured out how her story would end. The return was mixed with feelings.

    Her feelings were set aside when Qin Yunuan saw Dou Qing¡¯e, her legal mother, in the courtyard. She hid all her emotions under a nd and gentle expression, ¡°Good evening, mother.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e had bright eyes, white teeth, and decorous appearance, wearing a jade headband on her forehead. As a woman already in her thirties, she had no wrinkles around her eyes, which was surprising. But her face of grace disappeared after Qin Yunzhuang stepped out of the carriage.

    ¡°Yun Zhuang, Yun Zhuang, my good daughter, what happened?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e shouted and held Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s veiled face. After careful observation, she discovered the three blood stains under the white veil. Her heart was dripping with blood. Dou Qing¡¯e had never scolded or hit her daughter ever since her birth. She had been looking for the best recipe everywhere to nourish her appearance and body. Her daughter would marry The Man in the future.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Qin Yunzhuang lowered her eyes, ¡°The imperial doctor said that it would leave no scars.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e turned and red at Qin Yunuan as if she had wanted to spit all her anger out and pour it on Qin Yunuan. But Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes turned red unexpectedly, speaking timidly, ¡°It was my fault. If I was more alert, if I found out earlier about that white cat, I could have taken the scratches for my sister.¡±

    ¡°White cat?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e asked back.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Yunuan appeared to be very honest, ¡°The Empress¡¯s cat, Shishi. I¡¯m afraid that cats are in heat during springtime, and they love to scratch people. Sister Shangguan grabbed her, and Shishi seemed to be stimted by something and started scratching.¡±

    ¡°The girl of Shangguan Family?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e changed her look again. She turned to Qin Yunzhuang and asked, ¡°Is your third sister telling the truth?¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang figured that her mother took Shangguan Yee as the culprit. After all, her rtionship with Shangguan Yee was almost soured. So, she just nodded and admitted.

    Seeing Dou Qing¡¯e frowned suddenly and stopped talking, nurse Gui, who stood by her side, got nervous. She thought Dou was ming her girl, and therefore she was eager to exin, ¡°Yes. I heard from herter that she refused to hold the Persian cat, but Miss Shangguan insisted on handing it. And it was not polite to refuse, so.... ¡±

    ¡°Enough. Too much noise. Now that she was hurt, you¡¯d better treat her nicely. It¡¯s no use gossiping.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e severely reprimanded, and her eyes ran down everyone with indifference. Now that the Master of the Qin Family, Qin Zhi, was traveling the south with the Grand Prince Sima Ruo, Dou Qing¡¯e was able to manage household affairs on her own, which emboldened her.

    After Dou Qing¡¯e calmed down, she peeked at Qin Yunuan from the corner of her eye. Qin Yunuan stood aside quietly, and she couldn¡¯t pick out any problems. Therefore, Dou held Qin Yunzhuang by her hand and said with distress, ¡°Back to your room and rest. The veil might cause airtight skin.¡± She knew her daughter¡¯s temper. She would never go out of her room with such ugly scars.

    Dou Qing¡¯e squinted at Qin Yunuan. Qin Yunuan understood instantly and said with a courteous bow, ¡°Please allow Yunuan to retreat as well.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang lived in the Caizhi Courtyard, which faced south and took at most a fifteen-minute-walk to reach. Besides, Dou Qing¡¯e prepared a soft sedan chair with green curtains for her precious, wounded daughter and herself. Qin Yunuan felt relieved as they went away.

    ¡°Third Miss, shall we return as well? It¡¯s windy at night.¡± Nurse Liao really cared about Qin Yunuan.

    Returning to the back room where Qin Yunuan lived, the fragrance of porridge made by the servant girl next door still lingered. When hungry at night, even a servant girl was free to make porridge herself. But Qin Yunuan and her people could hardly eat a steamed corn bread if anyone disagreed.

    It was empty in the yard. The reflection of the silver moonlight on the blue tiles made the room lonesome and serene. A vague silhouette leaned on the doorstep, seemingly waiting for Qin Yunuan to return.

    ¡°Third Miss is back! Third Miss is back. Second Master,e out!e out!¡±

    Tong¡¯s voice came. She was a stocky and lovely girl.

    Barely had Qin Yunuan entered the room while Qin Baochuan, half of his hair down, rushed into her arms. The little guy was about to hit the sack before Tong¡¯s voice triggered him out.

    ¡°Sister, you¡¯re back,¡± Qin Baochuan¡¯s cheeks were pink and tender, with his eyes as dark as ck grapes. He grabbed Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand and wouldn¡¯t let it go. ¡°Sister, Concubine Liu was here in the evening.¡±

    ¡°What was she doing here?¡± Qin Yunuan became alert.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. She just walked around the yard for a few times, said a few jumbled words, and then left.¡± Tong replied.

    Just for a walk? Qin Yunuan snorted coldly in her heart. It could never be as simple as it seemed.

    Concubine Liu was a servant¡¯s child in the Grand Commandant¡¯s Mansion, andter she became the servant girl for Qin Zhi. After Qin Zhi reached adult age, she became his concubine naturally. Liu acted insolently because she stayed in the house longer than almost everyone. However, this honey-lipped woman won the favor of Qin Zhi. Even Dou Qing¡¯e, the Lady of the house, could hardly pick ws. The two women had a muddled rtionship.

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t rest her heart after she tucked Qin Baochuan in. Gently pushing the door open, she saw Tonging with a basin of hot water.

    ¡°Third Miss, did the Second Master...?¡± The hot water was prepared for Second Master¡¯s bath. Qin Yunuan¡¯s ce couldn¡¯tpare with the Caizhi Courtyard of Qin Yunzhuang, which was with the toiletries avable in all varieties. Even in winter, they could only boil some hot water in the iron pot to wipe their bodies.

    ¡°He was asleep.¡± Qin Yunuan closed the door gently, ¡°He didn¡¯t sweat today. Don¡¯t bother wiping his body. Tong,e with me.¡±

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t light a candle after entering the room. It was too expensive for her.

    ¡°After 1 A.M., you and Maner go and search all the ces that Concubine Liu visited.¡± Qin Yunuan remained quiet and calm, rubbing her face with a towel in the hot water. The heat rose to her face, making herplexion rosy.

    ¡°Third Miss.¡± Tong was obviously surprised. After thinking through, she covered her mouth and understood. ¡°Third Miss is afraid that...¡±

    Qin Yunuan replied with few words, ¡°We could never be too careful. I got some spotlight in the pce today, and I¡¯m not sure if I provoked anyone. Everyone in our yard must be more careful after today.¡±

    Tong was an unsophisticated girl. She would do whatever the girl of her house said.

    Qin Yunuany on her bed early this night, but she was too conscious to fall asleep. She remembered well that in her previous life, Concubine Liu imed that she had lost a white jade hairpin the second day after she returned from the pce. The whole Mansion turned upside down to search for that hairpin. Though Dou Qing¡¯e was not willing to do that, she could do nothing when Concubine Liu said that it was a gift from Master Qin for their wedding. And she cherished it a lot.

    It turned out in the end that the hairpin was found in Qin Yunuan¡¯s dpidated courtyard. Qin Yunuan just returned with eighty strokes of rod beating punishment from the pce. Concubine Liu poured her me onto Qin Baochuan, giving him twenty sticks of beating and also bad-mouthing Baochuan in front of his father. Baochuan had therefore gone down considerably in Qin Zhi¡¯s estimation.

    By the time the first ray of sun shined into the room the next day, it was already noisy outside.

    ¡°Third Miss, Third Miss, there are so many noisy people outside. I don¡¯t know what they are going to do.¡± The little concierge girl rushed into Qin Yunuan¡¯s room. She was sent here by Dou Qing¡¯e, seemingly after a mistake when serving tea in Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s room. After all, she was on her legal mother¡¯s side.

    ¡°Stop.¡± Maner raised an eyebrow and yelled, ¡°I think you are noisy.¡± The girl was not only sluggish in her work but also sneaky. Maner didn¡¯t like her.

    The little girl stopped speaking and retreated with a grievance. It was as if she had been wronged.

    Maner was preparing to continuebing Qin Yunuan¡¯s hair when she met with Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes. She sat up and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for being too frank. The little girl always likes to eavesdrop behind windows and doors, and I have discovered several times. I was impulsive to me the girl....¡± She was going to kneel down as she talked.

    ¡°Get up,¡± Qin Yunuan pulled her up hurriedly, ¡°I wasn¡¯t ming you. I was just saying that I didn¡¯t find it out in the past. You are a careful girl with lots of ideas.¡± Tong was honest and simple, but Maner was considerate and clever. Those were the things she failed to notice in the past.

    ¡°Third Miss is joking.¡± Maner was a little embarrassed.

    ¡°I don¡¯t misread people.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled, holding Maner by her hands, ¡°You should care more about everything going on in my yard in the future. An able woman is always busy. You did a great job.¡±

    Maner sighed in her heart. Everyone praised the richness and hearty rewards of working in the Grand Miss¡¯s yard. But nowhere was more peaceful and fuller of human emotions than in Third Miss¡¯s ce. Those words warmed her heart.

    Maner put Qin Yunuan¡¯s hair into a refreshing and simple hanging bun, decorating it with two pale pink silk flowers, which made her more elegant with her blue dress.

    ¡°That¡¯s good-looking,¡± nurse Liao praised as she came in, ¡°It is simple and elegant. You look like a little girl.¡± She lowered her voice and said, ¡°Unlike the Second Miss, she dresses like a flower every day. She must have learned that from Concubine Liu.¡±

    ¡°Come here, search for me.¡± A woman shrilled in the yard. Speaking of the devil, Concubine Liu appeared with a beautiful bright red skirt and all kinds of gold and silver jewelry on her head, looking like a miser.

    As soon as Concubine Liu opened her mouth, the twenty or so servant girls and nannies spread out, preparing for a thorough search. And two of them went straight to the backyard with a very clear intention.

    ¡°So lively.¡± Qin Yunuan appeared, leaning against the door frame. She was eye-catching in the warm sunshine with her eyes shining brightly. Qin Yunuan¡¯s servant girls and nannies also lifted their moods, ¡°Concubine Liu seemed to be in a good mood,ing to Yunuan¡¯s ce so early for a visit? I also heard from nurse Liao that the cousin from Jianzhou ising. I thought the whole family should be busy hosting him.¡±

 Chapter 13 Shameless Concubine

    <h4>Chapter 13 Shameless Concubine</h4>

    She should have known the answers. A concubine would never visit her courtyard for fun with such arge troop behind her. Besides, being a daughter of ate concubine, the Third Miss had the most broken courtyard that didn¡¯t even worth a visit.

    Concubine Liu put one finger with a bright red polished nail on the corner of her lipszily and smiled, ¡°Ah, Third Miss loves to joke. I¡¯m a bit of a boor, and I don¡¯t have that high spirits. It¡¯s just that I had lost a hairpin and was looking around for it since I can¡¯t remember where it was.¡±

    She said so, giving Qin Yunuan a meaningful nce. If this little girl dared to stop, her disrespect for elders could be added to her crime.

    ¡°Well, I see.¡± Qin Yunuan dragged her tone and smiled indifferently. ¡°Then please, Concubine. Baochuan was about to rise, and I have to go and see.¡± Finishing her words, she went straight to the tiny room eastside, without paying any attention to those searching servant girls that crowded the yard.

    ¡°You guys, search for me carefully. Don¡¯t even miss a single mouse hole.¡± Concubine Liu put on airs as she thought, ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll make you pay when I find that white jade hairpin.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s yard was not that big, but Concubine Liu took almost two hours in searching. She stood anxiously in the middle of the yard at this time, firing questions in a low voice over and over again, to those servant girls and nannies who reported to her. ¡°How could there be nothing? Don¡¯t bezy. Search for me carefully, one by one.¡±

    Compared with Concubine Liu¡¯s anxiety, Qin Yunuan seemed extremely calm. The sun was shining brightly today, so she moved her embroidery frame to the yard. While doing needlework, she supervised Qin Baochuan to write with a wooden stick on the sand.

    As they couldn¡¯t afford pens, ink or rice paper, Qin Baochuan could only write on the sand. Fortunately, Qin Baochuan was patient, discerning and intelligent. He learned quickly.

    Qin Baochuan was devoting effort to the four words, ¡°propriety, righteousness, honesty, and shame¡±, but he stopped after three words.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Qin Yunuan observed as Qin Baochuan meditated, holding a small wooden stick. She stopped her work as well. ¡°Why not write the word ¡®shame¡¯?¡±

    Qin Baochuan¡¯s ck eyes turned and nced at Concubine Liu. Then he looked back at Qin Yunuan eagerly. Yunuan suddenly understood.

    ¡°Really?¡± Qin Yunuanughed, pointing at those words on the sand. ¡°People can be ¡®shameless¡¯, but we shouldn¡¯t. Add ¡®shame¡¯ now, or I¡¯ll not teach you literacy again.¡±

    She lifted her head and looked at Concubine Liu after finishing her words. Liu was utterly difited, so she said, ¡°Excuse us, please. Did you find the thing?¡±

    Concubine Liu was badly battered at that time. She didn¡¯t even realize the sarcasm in the words of the brother and sister Qin. Now that Qin Yunuan asked, she had to respond stiffly, ¡°No.¡± Raising her tone, she added, ¡°But I¡¯ll find it sooner orter.¡±

    ¡°Concubine, we¡¯ve searched all over the yard. We couldn¡¯t find the jade hairpin.¡± The nanny came, looking perturbed.

    ¡°Fine, let¡¯s go.¡± It¡¯s no use staying here for too long. Things would go against her favor if she became the subject for ridicule.

    Concubine Liu didn¡¯t cross the threshold before a little servant girl came to report. ¡°Concubine, your white jade hairpin was found.¡±

    ¡°Found?¡± Concubine Liu didn¡¯t buy it. ¡°Where?¡±

    ¡°In the stable of the backyard.¡±

    The stable was located at the outer courtyard, where most male servants gathered and lived just steps away from it. Concubine Liu was ady of the inner courtyard. It made people wonder how her hairpin could have been found in the outer courtyard.

    ¡°It must be a thief. It must be.¡± Concubine Liu squeezed her handkerchief on the side, cursing and gritting her teeth.

    Dou Qing¡¯e was wearing a lc Chinese gown today, matching nicely with the golden finch-shape hairpin on her head. Compared to Concubine Liu¡¯s heavy makeup, her light one was more attractive. Wiping off tea dust with the teacup cover, she replied without lifting her head. ¡°I just ordered them to check about it. Those in the backyard were either at work yesterday or proved to have no chance of stealing your hairpin.¡±

    ¡°Sister, believe me. This was the white jade hairpin given by Master Qin. I only wear it on special asions. If it weren¡¯t stolen, how could it appear in the backyard?¡± Concubine Liu stepped forward and said, ¡°Sister, you are always the fairest. Don¡¯t be partial this time.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m partial?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e thought funny of her. ¡°Who do I have a partiality for? Now that everyone¡¯s here, why don¡¯t you make it clear? From the beginning to the end, who has partiality?¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e and Concubine Liu were the only two holding their heads up. Concubine Chang, Qin Yunuan, all the servant girls and nanny stood silently in the yard with their heads down.

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s simple but elegant dress had been unspectacrpared to others today, but it also caused Dou Qing¡¯e to look twice. No wonder that her daughter would be so angryst night. To her, it was not only because of her temporarily ruined appearance, but it was also the emergence of another beauty in the Mansion, Qin Yunuan. She grew up more eye-catching day by day. But she was, after all, the daughter of a concubine. Everything was still in control.

    ¡°Anyway,¡± Concubine Liu said with confidence, ¡°I went to sister¡¯s ce firstly yesterday, then my own ce and the Third Miss¡¯ in the afternoon. I haven¡¯t been to other ces, not to mention the stable.¡± She stared at Qin Yunuan¡¯s elegant face after finishing her words. She threw her hairpin in the parterre of this little girl yesterday. How could she never find it today? It was weird.

    ¡°Oh, so you are suspecting me?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e tilted her head, with her voice provocative and arrogant.

    ¡°How would I ever dare to do that?¡± Concubine Liu fawned on her again. ¡°Sister, you won¡¯t even care about a house of gold or silver, let alone a white jade hairpin. You came out of a big family. There¡¯s no good thing that you haven¡¯t seen. And as for me, I can¡¯t put on a y. You¡¯re busy enough these days, so I don¡¯t have the reason to be mischievous. So, there¡¯s the only...¡± After that, her eyesnded on Qin Yunuan.

    Qin Yunuan stayed calm, however, not even blinking her eyes. Concubine Liu had to speak for herself, ¡°Third Miss, I know that you are in straitened circumstances. It¡¯s better to admit your mistake...¡±

    ¡°Concubine Liu, you¡¯re saying weird things again.¡± Qin Yunuan opened her cherry lips and said calmly. ¡°You¡¯ve found it in the stable, haven¡¯t you? Why it¡¯s my me?¡±

    Concubine Liu stopped being polite. ¡°There was a case some time ago, in Ministry Councilor Liu¡¯s house in the suburbs of the Royal City. The servant girl of the inner courtyard hid the jewelry of female family members in the stable, and then it would be taken out and pawned by the groom. It would be arge amount of money if you do this for a year.¡±

    ¡°But even so, I was not in the house yesterday. How much time do I have to hide things in the outer courtyard?¡± Qin Yunuan looked to be struggling for a reason. She was just a suspect by then, but now Concubine Liu used her by name. Under pressure, she grabbed a sachet tightly in her sleeve.

    ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t have that time. But your servant girls have, and you still have that little bastard in your yard, right?¡± Concubine Liu waved her hand and asked sternly.

    ¡°Baochuan is only five years old. How could he know so much?¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s small face turned red, and her fingertips buckled into the sleeve again. Dou Qing¡¯e, who was quietly observing, caught her on the spot.

    ¡°What¡¯s in your sleeve?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e opened her mouth slowly. Concubine Liu took the chance and continued on the topic. She shouted, ¡°Ha! You are a thief indeed! What are you hiding? Hand it out.¡± She reached out her hand and Qin Yunuan¡¯s sleeves without hesitation as if trying to drag something out of Qin Yunuan¡¯s sleeve.

    Qin Yunuan tried to struggle, but Concubine Liu was too brutal to defeat. A red-stained white sachet was dragged out and torn apart into two pieces during the rally of the two. A piece of yellow notepaper folded into a triangle shape fell along with dried flowers.

    ¡°Great.¡± Concubine Liu picked up the yellow rune paper on the ground quickly and shouted, ¡°Something unclean. Sister, have a look. I don¡¯t know what rune is painted on it. No wonder the house was restless these days. The return of Master¡¯s southern tour was postponed a few times, and many servant girls and nannies said they were losing their sry money. It could be the rune¡¯s fault!¡±

    ¡°Shut up,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e red. ¡°How dare you say such things like ¡®the house was restless¡¯? The master returnedte to apany the Grand Prince on experiencing and observing the conditions of people. Losing the money was only caused by the carelessness of those little servant girls.¡± However, she knew it well in her heart that the lost money either supported her mother¡¯s family or was spent in the shop. She was very careful and handed out the same amount of money and ordered her confidants secretly to take it back.

    It was not the time to care about this. Dou Qing¡¯e swallowed her anger and took the yellow rune paper that Concubine Liu handed to her. However, she froze when the paper was unfolded.

    ¡°Is this...?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e looked up at Qin Yunuan, whose eyes already turned red.

    Qin Yunuan seized the opportunity. She knelt and cried, ¡°The peace token of Lingtai temple. I have asked for it for a long time. I sewed it in the sachet especially, and I put your favorite dried peony flowers in it. I was nning to give it to you today, but Concubine Liu, she framed me for stealing her hairpin and used me of cursing the family for this yellow rune paper. Now that she tore my embroidered sachet for you. Mother, you have to make the right decision for your daughter.¡±

    ¡°All right, all right, you get up first.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e frowned. Although she always disliked her illegitimate daughter, she shouldn¡¯t behave in this way. Moreover, Liu was over the top this time.

 Chapter 14 â€œCousinâ€™s Hereâ€

    <h4>Chapter 14 ¡°Cousin¡¯s Here¡±</h4>

    The situation had suddenly turned around. Concubine Liu¡¯s face was pale and blushed at the same time because of the shock. She immediately did what she was best at and began to murmur in tears, ¡°Sis, don¡¯t listen to Third Miss. You¡¯ve seen it as well just now. Her little actions were quite suspicious, and it¡¯s normal that I suspect her.¡±

    ¡°What about the white jade hairpin? I was not in my yard yesterday. Baochuan is only five years old and he knows nothing. Your hairpin was already found in the stable, and yet you still try to me it on me. What¡¯s the reason?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just, just trying to be sure.¡± Concubine Liu¡¯s tone sank.

    ¡°Oh, just in case,¡± Qin Yunuan hold the tears that she squeezed out and said to Dou Qing¡¯e, ¡°Mother, you see. Even though I am a junior and have no say in this household, I couldn¡¯t let people suspect me without a course. My birth mother passed when I was young, which makes people think that I don¡¯t have a mother. Mother, you need to uphold the justice here.¡±

    The quarrel between Concubine Liu and Qin Yunuan had made Dou Qing¡¯e feel a bit noisy. Now that Qin Yunuan was seeking her as a protective shield, which had made her even more ufortable. However, she had to do it on the face, as she frowned and said agreeingly, ¡°Sis, this is your fault now. Yunuan¡¯s mother had passed early. Since Master entrusted Yunuan to me, I have to say something in certain cases. You did too much for today.¡±

    Right then, Butler Ye from the outer yard hurried in to report that the concierge received a letter saying that the young Master from Jianzhou was about to arrive tomorrow. This had made Dou Qing¡¯e busy again, and even more careless about this farce.

    ¡°Alright, off you go. It¡¯s merely a misunderstanding,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e said to the maids, and turned to Qin Yunuan, and said emotionlessly, ¡°As for the sachet, I thank you for it. Your auntie is clumsy. Don¡¯t me her too much.¡±

    ¡°Sis.¡± Concubine Liu was very grieved and wanted to say something. However, Dou Qing¡¯e gave her a cold re. She could only grip her handkerchief tightly to hold it down. No matter how arrogant she was, she knew who was in charge of the Grand Commandant Mansion.

    Just when Dou Qing¡¯e was about to turn away, she was stopped by Qin Yunuan calling her, ¡°Mother.¡±

    ¡°What? What else do you have to say?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e sounded annoyed. She did not me her for anything. What else could she be unsatisfied with?

    ¡°I didn¡¯t dare to say anything more to annoy you, mother, but I still have a small wish, and I hope you can satisfy it.¡± Qin Yunuan bowed her head nicely and quietly, ¡°I know that at the beginning of the year, you had agreed to deliver half a bundle of paper to Baochuan each month to practice calligraphy. But now, it seems that it is not quite enough. Baochuan was being more and more hardworking at practicing calligraphy, which is a good thing too.¡±

    In fact, even half a bundle of paper was an empty cheque. Either the ountant did not have it in mind, or he took the paper himself. The head of the ountants was brought here by Dou Qing¡¯e from her family, so there were still quite a few things like this.

    ¡°Okay, I know.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e promised without much hesitation. ¡°Fine, just give this concubine¡¯s daughter a littlepensation today.¡± She said to the butler, ¡°Butler Ye, tell the ountants tomorrow, deliver three bundles of Huizhou paper and two wolf-hair writing brushes to the second young master every month.¡± She tilted her head and looked at Qin Yunuan again, ¡°Now you¡¯re satisfied?¡±

    Qin Yunuan quickly bowed and thanked her, and she kept the weak and happy smile until Dou Qing¡¯e and Concubine Liu both left.

    Qin Yunuan pinched the corner of her clothes and looked at the distance with a clear look. ¡°In the previous life, you punished Baochuan twenty clubs. I just asked for some paper in this life. That¡¯s not too much.¡± Suddenly, she smiled again. She knew that the best part was yet toe.

    When she got back to her room, Nurse Liao served some hot water. Looking at Qin Yunuan wiping her tired face carefully, she said seriously, ¡°You have finally toughened up, Miss.¡±

    ¡°Nurse Liao?¡±

    ¡°I have always felt that Third Miss is too easily manipted by others and suffers too much, but I don¡¯t have the chance to say it, now that you are like this,¡± Nurse Liao couldn¡¯t hold her tears back at this point, but she soon wiped them off. ¡°I am so happy for you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was a bit stunned. She didn¡¯t tell nurse Liao her ns. The sachet torn by Concubine Liu was originally prepared for Baochuan. Since nurse Liao had said that, she must have known it too. However, she was surprised only by nurse Liao¡¯s attitude.

    ¡°You don¡¯t think I¡¯ve turned bad? Or intrigued?¡±

    ¡°You have to protect yourself. You didn¡¯t start this. This is your ability. You can¡¯t say that it¡¯s bad.¡± Nurse Liao¡¯s tone was sincere and gentle.

    Qin Yunuan was a bit touched, but she just called again, ¡°Nurse Liao.¡± Her soft and delicate hands held the vicissitude and warm hand of her wet nurse. She felt profoundly relieved.

    The efficiency of Butler Ye was fairly high indeed. It was only in the evening that the three bundles of Huizhou paper and two writing brushes were delivered. Qin Baochuan liked them so much he wouldn¡¯t let them go. Qin Yunuan let Tong and Maner cut the paper into smaller pieces for future use.

    At night, the water in the stove was still boiling. After Qin Yunuan tucked Qin Baochuan into bed, she couldn¡¯t sleep. Consequently, she went outside to sit by the stove with Tong and Maner.

    ¡°The second young master is really happy today. He practiced several pages of calligraphy with the wolf-hair writing brush.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, he wrote several pages non-stop, and put on the appearance of a little adult, saying that it was necessary to save some forter use. He asked me to put it somewhere safe and away from the mice.¡±

    ¡°The second young master is sensible,¡± Nurse Liao whispered, and looked at Qin Yunuan, ¡°It¡¯s just that it has been hard for the Miss.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s face was rosy and shiny being next to the fire. She smiled calmly without saying a word. She was longing for tomorrow, as her cousin from Jianzhou would be here.

    Ten years ago, she was four and her cousin was nine. This was the second and thest time that her fourth aunt paid a return visit.

    Her cousin blocked the mud ball Qin Linfeng, her elder brother, threw at her, got covered in mud and was scolded.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here.¡± At that time, her cousin was as tall as arge tree, guarding her in his shade. Her cousin should be the one she trusted the most apart from nurse Liao and her maids.

    However, she was unsure whether her cousin still remembered her now, even though there were differences between men and women and they couldn¡¯t be as close as before.

    ¡°I heard that the fourth aunt¡¯s husband is now a senior official in Jianzhou. You have such good rtionship with your cousin. This is the moment when you can stand up for yourself.¡± Tong said cheerfully.

    ¡°You silly girl,¡± Nurse Liao said seriously, ¡°Now everyone is older. It is not like when they were kids.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re wrong, nurse. Why not?¡± Manerughed, ¡°You see. Tong is as silly as she was when she was a kid.¡±

    They chatted andughed next to the stove, and the atmosphere warmed again.

    At about nine in the morning, a carriage with green droopy curtains stopped at the main entrance of Grand Commandant¡¯s Mansion.

    A slender hand slowly opened the curtain, and a pair of white auspicious cloud boots took the lead to step out of the carriage. Immediately, a servant sent him the steps for him to get off. The man in the carriage dismounted slowly. The winter sun shined on the visitor¡¯s jade-like face and added a beautiful golden lining to it.

    He was such a romantic young man, decent like a jade.

    The visitor was the only son of Grand Commandant Qin¡¯s fourth sister, Su Chenghai.

    ¡°Master, please.¡± The butler immediately greeted him, trying hard to please him. ¡°I really don¡¯t know that young master wille today. Madam had promised Madam of Left Chancellorst month to worship the Buddha together at Lingtai Temple today. She can¡¯t decline the visit, so she arranged me here to wait for you, master.¡±

    In short, the mistress wasn¡¯t here today. Suit yourself. This was the statement that Dou Qing¡¯e ordered Butler Ye to repeat yesterday. The reason was merely...

    ¡°Why is your father not here with you, master?¡± Butler Ye was still ttering.

    ¡°My father is busy with his work and can¡¯t get away.¡± Su Chenghai replied lightly. Su Rian was now the transhipment officer in Jianzhou, which was a nice job indeed. Many people wanted to befriend with him. Su Chenghai¡¯s mother, Qin Siniang, was amoner¡¯s daughter. Su Rian, on the other hand, was amon person too when she married him. However, time had changed everything. He had great luck in the government and reached the position of the transhipment officer finally.

    If you can¡¯t befriend with the father, befriend with the son could be an alternative. However, Dou Qing¡¯e heard that Su Chenghai and Su Rian had a great fight that nearly got him expelled from the family. The tiny hope she had waspletely gone. She was counting on the nice job of Su Rian to get herself some benefits.

    ¡°When will auntiee back?¡± Su Chenghai asked naturally.

    ¡°Well... how would I know?¡± Butler Ye was trying to avoid the question, ¡°Maybe noon, maybe the evening, or maybe tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I have to bother you to show me the way then.¡± Su Chenghai raised his eyebrows lightly. He did not hear the meaning of the butler at all, but he entered the gate naturally following the stairs.

    ¡°Oh, Master.¡± Butler Ye wanted to stop him for a few more words, but Su Chenghai didn¡¯t look back at all. ¡°Oh right, I forgot. Si, tip the servants and maidens by the door.¡± After speaking, he went inside without looking back.

    With Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s absence, Concubine Chang and Concubine Liu hurried to the drawing room.

    Concubine Chang had a calm personality, and she was still a bit weak from giving birth, so she stayed behind Concubine Liu humbly. As for Concubine Liu, she was quite arrogant. Even though she said, ¡°Oh, the young master is such a torture. With Master and Madam both absent, he still insists to visit.¡± However, she was really joyful in her heart. Naturally, she wouldn¡¯t have the chance to see the visitors with her status.

    As they entered the drawing room, before Concubine Liu even had the chance to speak, she was stunned by a dazzling light of gold. Ha, so luxurious.

    ¡°This must be the two aunties.¡± Su Chenghai was very polite, as he bowed to Concubine Chang and Concubine Liu separately. After that, he pointed casually towards thecquered gold boxes full of jewelries behind him and said, ¡°It¡¯s just some small gifts. Please ept it.¡±

 Chapter 15 â€œSo Richâ€

    <h4>Chapter 15 ¡°So Rich¡±</h4>

    This cousin was no ordinary. This was the first thought of Qin Yunuan after hearing the report from Maner.

    ¡°By the way, Tong said yesterday that the fourth aunt¡¯s husband is a key official in Jianzhou. What kind of official position is that?¡± Qin Yunuan finished herst stitch and a vivid picture of plum blossom in the snow waspleted on the handkerchief. She was going to let Maner find a way to sell these embroideries so as to save money for a few more poem copies for Baochuan.

    Maner thought for a while and said, ¡°I heard that he is the transshipment officer of Jianzhou.¡± ¡°Miss, is this a high official rank?¡±

    ¡°Well, the rank is not high, but it¡¯s quite well paid.¡± Thinking of this, it was reasonable that Su Chenghai was so generous.

    ¡°However, I heard that the young master had a bad rtionship with him since a few years back,¡± Maner looked out of the window and whispered, ¡°I heard that the young master wanted to travel far away to study medicine and cure his mother, but the old master refused, and then...¡±

    Before Maner had even finished, the cheerful voice of Tong came from the courtyard. ¡°Third Miss, Third Miss, the young master sent a lot of things over here. Oh, I can¡¯t hold them anymore.¡±

    As soon as Tong shouted, nurse Liao said anxiously, ¡°Oh my dear silly girl, these are good silkwood boxes. If you stack them up like this, what if you scratched them?¡±

    ¡°Stacking them?¡± Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows. ¡°Huh, so there¡¯s more than one box.¡±

    There was actually more than one. When Tong and nurse Liao put the three wooden chests onto the table, even Qin Yunuan was dazzled.

    Only looking at the boxes themselves, made with fine silkwood, iid with gold, and carved with pictures of looking for plum blossoms in the snow. They were extremely fine and luxurious.

    ¡°Timble, silk, more silk.¡± Tong picked the smallest box and took a look inside. She muttered with disappointment, ¡°I heard that the box young master gave First Miss was all filled with pearl earrings and nes. The pearls were huge.¡± Just after she finished, she was stared at by nurse Liao.

    ¡°That you don¡¯t know,¡± Qin Yunuan picked up a golden thread seriously and stared at it for a while. Then she said, ¡°This thread is nothing usual. It is the purest golden thread. Do you know how much effort it takes to draw such a thin thread out of a thick gold bar?¡± Such a gold thread had only been seen once in her life. Her mother used it for his father¡¯s birthday.

    As soon as Qin Yunuan¡¯s words came out, Tong, Maner and nurse Liao all took a deep breath and eximed secretly, the young master was so generous. However, at second thoughts, he gave such precious things to third miss, so apparently, First Miss and Madam got more. They felt a bit ufortable over this.

    ¡°Let me see this one,¡± Maner said as she opened anotherrger box and chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s a piece of clothes and a cloud paper fan.¡±

    ¡°Ok.¡± Qin Yunuan nodded. She did not expect Su Chenghai to give her anything too precious. After all, the childhood rtionship had faded long ago. Given her identity, if Su Chenghai took too much care of her, that was real trouble.

    However, when she held the clothes in her hands, Qin Yunuan was surprised again.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Third Miss? Anything wrong?¡± Nurse Liao was extra cautious.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled warmly, but the touch of her fingertips told her that despite the simple look of this dress, it was made of Tian silk. Tian silk was worth a fortune, and it cost more than money. It was chilly when getting into contact with bare skin, therefore a perfect material for summer clothes.

    Looking at the delicate and pleasing lotus flowers on the clothes, Qin Yunuan felt that her cousin really paid much effort this time. Thread, clothes, each of the seemingly in gift was valuable and fitted her preferences exceptionally well. Or it could be that this cousin was so rich that whatever he gave people was worth a fortune.

    ¡°Would you open the biggest one?¡± nurse Liao¡¯s wrinkled eyes were covered with a smile, thinking that the biggest one must have the best gifts inside, so that her miss could be pleased.

    Qin Yunuan did not refuse, and she opened the lock. Her expression froze when she saw the contents inside.

    ¡°What¡¯s inside?¡± Tong was curious.

    ¡°Books.¡± Qin Yunuan said inly and emotionlessly. Tong thought that her miss was disappointed, so she shrank her head and kept silent.

    Qin Yunuan touched the soft and smooth pages of the books inside the box. She casually flipped through the cover pages of a few of them but got more and more doubtful as she looked.

    ¡°Look,¡± Qin Yunuan flipped through the book¡¯s cover one by one, ¡°Pond¡¯s Spring and Autumn¡±, ¡°Mo Zi¡¯s Art of War¡±, ¡°Notes to Xiao¡¯an Chapters¡±, ¡°The Tales of the Mountains and Rivers¡±... ¡± Qin Yunuan had no attention in counting anymore, as each of the titles of the books was so familiar to her.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t these all the books that Miss asked me to borrow from the academy yesterday?¡± Although nurse Liao was illiterate, she found the characters quite familiar. As Qin Yunuan read them out, everything was clear to her.

    Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t afford books. However, yesterday she heard that nurse Liao¡¯s son brother Dashi was working as a carpenter for the White Horse Academy, so she let him ask for her whether she could rent the books and pay ording to the rented days. Before brother Dashi had even replied, the dream books of hers had already arrived.

    ¡°Nurse Liao,¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s tone was slightly fluttering, ¡°The book list I gave you...¡±

    ¡°I really didn¡¯t tell anyone,¡± Nurse Liao insisted. ¡°After you gave me the book list yesterday, I passed it on directly to Dashi.¡± Nurse Liao paused and patted her thigh, ¡°I¡¯ll go ask my kid Dashi.¡±

    ¡°Hey, nurse, don¡¯t rush.¡± Qin Yunuan stopped the panicking nurse Liao. Leaking things out of the house was her taboo, but she trusted nurse Liao and brother Dashi. Besides, the book list was not some kind of secret recipe, so there was no value in leaking it.

    Tong and Maner also tried to stop the rarely excited nurse Liao and seed after a round of persuasion.

    ¡°Nurse Liao, don¡¯t worry,¡± Qin Yunuanughed, ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. These books are ssic good books. Every reader would read them a dozen times. It might be a coincidence. Besides, cousin had just arrived in the capital. Howe he had such information? Right?¡±

    Nurse Liao responded with her head down.

    ¡°OK, put everything away. As for the books, give the thinnest to Baochuan, and put the rest away too.¡± Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t want to show off to cause herself troubles, although there was nothing to show off, to be fair.

    Maner, Tong and nurse Liao were all busy again. Qin Yunuan was holding the hot water for warming her hands and leaning against the red pir by the door. It seemed that she was basking in the sunzily, but there was rity in her mind. Her cousin had not seen her in ten years, but he sent gifts that fit her preferences perfectly. And those books! ¡°Cousin, my cousin, are you still the silly cousin I know who only knows how to protect me?¡±

    A snapping sound interrupted Qin Yunuan¡¯s thoughts. In the middle of the yard, a thin little girl was looking at Qin Yunuan, shacking. Under her feet was a copper basin toppled. The hot water was flowing out and it was steamy.

    ¡°Always clumsy,¡± nurse Liao scowled, frowning. ¡°Always sneaking casually, and have no energy left for work?¡±

    Qin Yunuan tilted her head. She recognized the little maid, the one Maner said who loved eavesdropping. Just now nurse Liao described her as sneaky. It seemed that her yard was really messed with someone ¡°unclean¡±.

    ¡°Hurry and clean it up.¡± Nurse Liao gave a push to the slightly retarded little girl. Her direct nce at the room made her feel ufortable.

    ¡°Forget it, Mother Liao,¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly said, warm like the winter sun. She looked at the little maid and said, ¡°Return to your room and get changed first. See if you¡¯re burnt by the hot water.¡±

    ¡°Third Miss.¡± Nurse Liao was confused.

    Qin Yunuan smiled more brightly to the little girl and said, like to a child, ¡°Go.¡±

    Looking at the little maid ran away like flying, Qin Yunuan¡¯s smile was even deeper.

    ¡°Third Miss, the little girl is called Fusheng. She was not only the madam¡¯s maid, but also an eavesdropper. Why did you...¡± Nurse Liao had just praised her miss¡¯ toughness, but now she was worried again. Seeing Fusheng running away like that made her feel unsettled.

    ¡°Don¡¯t rush, nurse,¡± Qin Yunuan stroked her dark hair, ¡°You have to remove its roots to chop off the weed.¡± Arranging people in her yard. Since her legal mother did that, she would remove thempletely.

    Just as Qin Yunuan predicted, today, Dou Qing¡¯e was not home, Fusheng appeared in Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s room after a quarter.

    ¡°Is everything you said true?¡± Qin Yunzhuang was still veiled, and her tone was slightly excited. She directly blocked nurse Gui who was pouring tea for her, just because she blocked her sight, ¡°Look at me, and say it again honestly. Did cousin Su really give Qin Yunuan some needlework tools and clothes?¡± In private, she had always been calling Qin Yunuan with her name.

    ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Fusheng had an oval face and a pretty look, but there was fear in her eyes, as if someone had been holding her neck and she couldn¡¯t breathe properly. ¡°There¡¯s a big chest that I didn¡¯t see clearly, but by listening to their conversations, it should be some books.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just some useless books,¡± Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s eyes curved into crescent shapes, as she arrogantly took out the small box on the mahogany desk. It was a box full of pearls. Every one of them was round and smooth, all of the best quality. ¡°I told you. How could cousin do such dumb things like caring more about a motherlessmoner¡¯s daughter instead of his first cousin girl? What happened in the childhood happened in childhood after all.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang smiled, looking satisfied. She randomly picked a pearl from the box and gave it to Fusheng, ¡°Here, it¡¯s your reward.¡±

    Fusheng kotowed and thanked her. Just when nurse Gui was about to lead her out, Qin Yunzhuang added slowly, ¡°You are my mother¡¯s maid, and she loves me always. Her people are my people. Whenever you hear anything about my cousin in the future, you should report to me first, understand?¡±

 Chapter 16 Collusion

    <h4>Chapter 16 Collusion</h4>

    Nanny Gui sent Fusheng out and she was about to persuade him. She knew Yunzhuang was kind of obsessed with the young master of family Su, but Yunzhuang grew up and cousins should not be over close. What¡¯s more, Yunzhuang should have known the n of his mother that she should be the daughter-inw of the Emperor. Nanny Gui should tolerate her words and thought it was not so appropriate to persuade happy Yunzhuang at present when she saw Yunzhuang¡¯s eyes full of love towards the young master.

    Su Chenghai who had spread his money out earned some praises. Nearly just in a moment, the whole mansion of Grand Commandant knew that there was a rich and generous, handsome and outstanding guesting to the mansion. After the dinner, Concubine Liu determined to let Su Chenghai stay at the mansion for the night.

    In the evening, heavy snow fell down again.

    At Cui Xuan courtyard, a teacup fell down on the ground. Dou Qing¡¯e blushed and did not want to see the Concubine Liu.

    ¡°Ah, my elder female cousin, yes, I let the young master Su Chenghai stay for the night.¡± In the morning, Dou Qing¡¯e made an excuse to avoid the young master Su Chenghai, so he visited Concubine Liu and Chang. Dou Qing¡¯e did not know how the Su Chenghai persuaded Concubine Liu to let himself stay for the night.

    ¡°Bah, I dare not to be your distant elder cousin,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e was angry, ¡°If our great-great fathers were not male cousins and your mother begged for you to let you be a maidservant in the mansion and asked me to take care of you, I would let you miscarry at that time.¡±

    Concubine Liu lowered her body but heard Dou Qing¡¯e cursed, ¡°Don¡¯t call me your cousin even in private and don¡¯t let others know our rtionship.¡±

    ¡°No, nobody knows it,¡± Concubine Liu waved her hands, ¡°I did not mention it even in front of Yuwan and Yuzhao.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e doubted, ¡°Huh, I think you will be a usurper when I am absent at the mansion and believe you are the hostess of the mansion.¡± The topic fell down on Su Chenghai again.

    ¡°Sister, I have my reason to let Su Chenghai stay for the night.¡± Concubine Liu rolled her eyes and lowered her voice, ¡°The young master Su Chenghai is rich. He awarded ten tael of silver to the maidservants who weed him at the gate. See? I am just a concubine at the mansion, but he gave me a ck pearl from East Qin¡±

    ¡°Huh, just some silver, and you are bribed.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e felt ashamed at the snobbishness of Concubine Liu.

    ¡°Well,¡± the concubine said patiently, ¡°I have heard that the young master Su Chenghai came to the capital for business and I thought he must know little about business as a medicine learner. But now he looks so rich and I think he must have some channels to earn much money.¡±

    ¡°So funny. Do you mean the mansion of Grand Commandantcks money?¡±

    Concubine Liu thought Dou Qing¡¯e opposed to letting Su Chenghai stay for the night, just because she was afraid that her treasured daughter fell in love with Su Chenghai and wanted to send her daughter into the pce to be an imperial noblewoman. Concubine Liu still smelled and ttered, ¡°Sister, if the channel of his money earning is rted to the bigwigs of the capital?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e was alert now.

    Seeing Dou Qing¡¯e was interested in her words, Dou Qing¡¯e added instantly, ¡°Money earning is not a big point, but the most important is to gain connections with the royal household by business, which is beneficial for Yunzhuang to enter the royal family, right?¡±

    ¡°Huh! Are you sincere to consider that for Yunzhuang? Yuwan and Yuzhao both are in marriage age.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e squinted at Concubine Liu and thought the woman was so cunning.

    ¡°Come on,¡± Concubine Liu pretended to care much about Yunzhuang, ¡°Sister, don¡¯t say that. Yunzhuang is my lovely niece, and Yuwan and Yuzhao both are her sisters. We are one family. If Yunzhuang managed to enter the royal family, her two sisters would get much honor from her sister to marry the outstanding family. Am I right? My sister.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e thought Concubine Liu¡¯s words were true, but she still said, ¡°Fine. Let me consider it clearly. Business is not a child¡¯s y, and our master always thinks lowly of the business family. You should be humble in this issue.¡±

    Concubine Liu answered sweetly, ¡°OK.¡± She twisted her waist happily and walked out of the room rushing to let her two daughters enjoy her ck pearl.

    After Concubine Liu left, Dou Qing¡¯e called nanny Gui who served Qin Yunzhuang to ask her carefully to let Qin Yunzhuang stay away from Su Chenghai.

    ¡°Do you catch my words?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e felt a little bit angry by the absent-minded nanny Gui, ¡°You are my dowry maidservant and now you are a senior maidservant at the mansion. Why now are you so impolite? None of the people at this mansion can help me a lot.¡±

    Nanny Gui instantly kneeled down and lowered her head. She seemed to ponder for a while and then raised her head, ¡°I, I have something to report to you.¡±

    It snowed the whole night. In the morning the next day, there umted much snow on the ground. Qin Yunuan got up early, only to see Tong was sweeping snow with her chilled face in the yard.

    ¡°Cold?¡± Qin Yunuan wore a cotton cloak leaning the door frame and asked Tong toe to her side, ¡°Come here. Drink some warm water.¡±

    ¡°No, I am not cold,¡± Tong shook her head, ¡°In my hometown, the snow is heavier than this. I used to sweep out all snow at my yard.¡±

    Tong was several months younger than Qin Yunuan. When Yunuan was the first time to meet Tong, she was holding a broken bowl for begging meal. The mother of Qin Yunuan, Mrs. Yang, took pity on the little girl and took her back. The father Qin Zhi did not dislike what Yang did but praised her kindness and goodness.

    However, such a kind woman died in this mansion full of conspiracy without any reason.

    Maybe because of the visit of the young master Su Chenghai, the breakfast this morning was very substantial: a little dish of soy-preserved radish and a green vegetable, and two little bowls of millet congee with four steamed stuffed buns. That delicious food delighted Qin Baochuan very much.

    ¡°Sister, eat this steamed stuffed bun. There is shrimp meet inside it.¡± Qin Baochuan sent half shrimp meat bun into the bowl of Qin Yunuan. And then he added, ¡°Sister, eat this one. There is crab roe inside it.¡± He then sent half one into the bowl of Qin Yunuan, too.

    Four kinds of stuffing in for buns, Qin Yunuan knew that those must be the ort left yesterday. She had no such a delicate mealpared with Dou Qing¡¯e. She now felt happy and warm when she saw Qin Baochuan ate them happily.

    They did not finish the meal, but the servants dispatched by the legal wife of this mansion. Dou Qing¡¯e came and told them that there held a wee feast for the young master Su Chenghai in the flower hall and all girls in this mansion should be present.

    It was half a dayter that Dou Qing¡¯e decided to hold a wee feast for the young master Su Chenghai. Qin Yunuan pondered that she thought Dou Qing¡¯e would think lightly of him who had been kicked out from family Su due to his business but now it was clear that Dou Qing¡¯e believed that the young man had some values in use.

    Qin Yunuan knew well that Dou Qing¡¯e wouldn¡¯t do anything useless.

    ¡°Girls, shall we wear the clothes the young master Su Chenghai gave us yesterday?¡± Tong looked at Qin Yunuan happily.

    ¡°Silly girl, that is made of natural silk, which could be worn only in summer. Do you want our Miss to get sick?¡± Maner imitated the words of nanny Liao, ¡°Silly girl.¡±

    ¡°Fine, this one is ok.¡± Qin Yunuan chose a lotus-leaf -color skirt and a colorful scarf, which looked very elegant, ¡°I should not steal the show of my second sister in the feast.¡±

    The second daughter Qin Yuwan of family Qin inherited the behavior style of her mother that she kept being gorgeously dressed in colorful clothes and luxurious essories. Such a young girl looked like a pottery figurine and Dou Qing¡¯e always disliked her. But now, Dou Qing¡¯e wanted the girl to be an inferior contrast for Qin Yunzhuang.

    The round wooden table in the flower hall had been settled. When Qin Yunuan came, she found Concubine Chang had already sat down together with Qin Baoduan. Mistress Chang now looked delicate withnceted eyebrows and beautiful eyes, holding his three-month son Qin Baoduan. The little baby was in a sleepy age.

    ¡°You came early, aunty.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled. In thest life, Concubine Chang had keeled down to intercede for Yunuan. She appreciated the aunty.

    ¡°You came, Yunuan,¡± Concubine Chang smiled sweetly. She moved to let Yunuan hold her baby without any doubt and alert, ¡°Come on, Yunuan. You haven¡¯t met the baby Baoduan. Want to hold him?¡±

    ¡°No thanks, I am silly and afraid to hurt him.¡± Qin Yunuan knew that Concubine Chang would not hurt her, but she feared that others might take this chance to hurt her. In this hall, nannies and maidservants crowded. If she got some mistake to hurt the baby, Concubine Chang would be sad and she, herself, would be punished. Others would feel happy.

    Concubine Liu came, together with the second daughter Qin Yuwan and the fourth daughter Qin Yuzhao. Qin Yuwan at this time did not make up herself extremely shining and Qin Yuzhao still smiled always. Qin Yuzhao always smiled stupidly to everything and people outside said the fourth girl in the mansion of Grand Commandant was an idiot. Now it seemed to be true and that might be why Concubine Liu paid much attention to Qin Yuwan.

    Dou Qing¡¯e was thest one toe with a serious face. She sat down straightly and glimpsed at the sleeping Baodan, ¡°Baoduan is too young and cannot suffer the wind. You should not take him here. Master had this son in hister age, and you may destroy his son.¡± Those words sounded weird: Concubine Chang was the mother of Baoduan, not the stepmother. Dou Qing¡¯e just envied Concubine Chang gave birth to a son.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Concubine Chang answered timidly and asked the nanny to take Baoduan back.

    Qin Yunuan thought that Dou Qing¡¯e had a bad mood today. Dou Qing¡¯e then asked her, ¡°Where is Baochuan? Why is he not here? Now it¡¯s a big feast to wee your cousin young master Su Chenghai of family Su.¡±

    ¡°Baochuan got ill. I am afraid you are infected, so I let him stay in the yard.¡± Qin Yunuan answered politely. Today, all roles came to this feast and she dared not let Baochuan join this dangerous feast.

    ¡°Hum.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e saw the giggling Qin Yuzhao and felt more annoyed. She received a letter from the master of this family and all in the letter were some regr greetings. But at the end of the letter, the master said he would bring a person home. Dou Qing¡¯e knew that it was not a normal person, and it must be a slut who dreamed to be the Concubine of the family.

    Dou Qing¡¯e now felt very angry. She shouted at Xiu Gu aside her, ¡°Where is the young master Su Chenghai? Why does he note till now? Go to find him.¡± Though Su Chenghai was the guest of the family and everyone in this mansion should respect him, but he was just a junior out of this family. It was so inappropriate to let them wait for him for so long.

    Just in a moment after Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s words, a clear but calm voice came out of the flower hall, ¡°Please forgive me, my aunties. As a junior, I amte.¡±

 Chapter 17 Deterioration

    <h4>Chapter 17 Deterioration</h4>

    It seemed that the present Su Chenghai was a little bit different. He wore a long gown with a belt, which looked very straight and tall, but the nt jade pendant and his sweaty forehead expressed hising in a hurry. All of these were perceived by Qin Yunuan only because others paid much attention to the red coral behind him.

    ¡°Beautiful red coral!¡± Concubine Liu was delighted, ¡°My Young Master Su Chenghai, is that from East Qin too?¡± That red coral was much valuable than her ck pearl.

    ¡°Right,¡± Su Chenghai answered with a smile, ¡°It is a first meeting gift for my aunties from me, a junior. Yesterday I came here in a hurry and I had no enough time to carry it to the mansion. It was taken here just now, and please forgive my impoliteness.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s upset was relived. Though the officials were very different from businessmen, everyone loved money. She tolerated her happiness and craziness and pretended to be calm, ¡°Thanks for your sincere gift.¡±

    Su Chenghai said in a calm voice, ¡°Fine.¡± And then he glimpsed at Qin Yunuan and his eyesight met the eyesight of Qin Yunuan exactly. Just at that moment, Qin Yunuan could not tell the mood of Su Chenghai shortly. She thought their childish friendship was not intimate any longer.

    In the family host, Dou Qing¡¯e gave stereotyped greet to Su Chenghai and Su answered in a calm voice. Qin Yunuan glimpsed at her male cousin whom she had not seen for ten years. He acted so politely but still kept away from others to some extent. He awarded much money to others in the mansion but from his eyes, Qin Yunuan could not find some profane thoughts.

    He was disguising or just always exclusive from others in nature?

    ¡°My third cousin, do you love the gift I gave you yesterday?¡± Su Chenghai asked those maidens to present one by one. And when he asked Qin Yunuan, the maidservant scooped up some ginseng chicken soup for him. Qin Yunuan was moony when she saw his handsome face through the vapor.

    Qin Yuwan raised her head gently with a disdainful face. She knew yesterday Qin Yunuan only received some silk thread and clothes and herself, as a concubine¡¯s daughter, too, received Sichuan Brocade. She was happy to see that Qin Yunuan was so menial.

    ¡°I like it very much,¡± Qin Yunuan gave him a calm and humble smile, and added, ¡°so does Baochuan.¡±

    A delightful mood shed in Su Chenghai¡¯s eyes and he nodded. Their talk was polite and gentle, as light as their vanished friendship as expected by many people.

    After greetings, nanny Gui from the Caizhi Courtyard came in a hurry to whisper to Dou Qing¡¯e, and her face turned unhappy suddenly.

    ¡°Go and find the doctor. Don¡¯t tell me.¡± Though she lowered her voice, each word was caught by Qin Yunuan.

    All were here except Qin Yunzhuang who was rxing for being scratched by the cat, and now the maidservant who just came was from Qin Yunzhuang. Qin Yunuan was observing the development of the whole thing. Looking at the pressed face of Dou Qing¡¯e, she knew that something very bad must happen about Qin Yunzhuang.

    Nanny Gui was embarrassed and just said timidly though she was at the feast, ¡°The Imperial Concubine Ning at the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion fell down and all famous doctors in the capital were called to her mansion.¡±

    ¡°Then you take the pass permit of the master to the imperial pce to find the imperial doctor.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e shouted in a low voice.

    Nanny Gui was more embarrassed, ¡°The top and second leaders in the Imperial Hospital both dispatched to the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion by the emperor for checking Imperial Concubine Ning.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e gritted her teeth and frowned, saying in a low voice, ¡°Always Imperial Concubine Ning! She just fell down and my daughter¡¯s face is more urgent!¡±

    Just in a moment, Qin Yunuan saw Su Chenghai frowned heavily but recovered quickly. He took a chicken bouillon eggnt into his saucer made of blue and white porcin, asking towards Dou Qing¡¯e, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, my aunty?¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e wanted to ignore him but she remembered Su Chenghai knew some medical skills and might know some talent when he did his business nationwide. Concubine Liu asked her too. She put down the chopsticks and said, ¡°She feels not well about her face.¡±

    The words Dou Qing¡¯e answered were so simple, but from her frowning face, Qin Yunuan knew that it was not just ¡°feels not well¡±.

    ¡°What? The face,¡± Concubine Liu was worried to say, ¡°it¡¯s the wounds on her face...¡± She immediately covered her mouth and lowered her head to avoid the cold-knife-like eyesight.

    Suddenly, a little maidservant came in a hurry and said straightly, ¡°Madam, Miss Qin Yunzhuang said she could not tolerate the pruritus on her face. If you do note to see her, she would keep scratching her face till it was broken.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e stood up seriously and pointed at the little maidservant, ¡°How dare youing here to shout. Get out of here. Ye San, punish her.¡±

    ¡°No, my sister, it is not an appropriate time to punish the servant,¡± Concubine Liu tried to persuade, ¡°It sounds bad about Yunzhuang¡¯s face,¡± and then she shouted at those nannies outside, ¡°Don¡¯t freeze there. Go to find doctors.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e said gloomy, ¡°all famous doctors in the capital have been summoned to the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion and some old imperial doctors in Imperial Hospital too,¡± and then she stared at Su Chenghai in suggesting eyesight. She had heard that Su Chenghai was the apprentice of the top doctor Sun Miaoyang in the regions south of the River and she wanted to see how skilled Su Chenghai could be.

    But Su Chenghai was chewing the chicken bouillon eggnt and put down the chopsticks with her eyebrow frowning, ¡°There is still a young imperial doctor on duty in the Imperial Hospital. He is the only Young Master of family Zhang and very skilled in medicine.¡± And then he turned slowly to look at Qin Yunuan, ¡°You must have met him in the pce.¡± He frowned to look at Qin Yunuan, with clear and fresh eyesight, like a cool fountain and seemed to wait for something.

    Qin Yunuan was called and got panic, but she still stood up naturally, ¡°You mean the imperial doctor Zhang, Zhang Ruting? Yes, I met him at the pce. He was so polite and humble.¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s words were true. After all, expect those warnings given by Zhang Ruting, he was really a decent person.

    ¡°A childe?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e felt surprised, and shook her head, ¡°No way.¡± She had already felt tough to handle with the dissolute Su Chenghai and she could not let another one in. And Yunzhuang always was amorous to handsome men. It was intractable...

    ¡°My sister, don¡¯t be hesitant,¡± Concubine Chang advised her sincerely, ¡°It¡¯s important to handle with the face problem of Yunzhuang.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e pondered for a while and struggled to tell Xiu Gu, ¡°Go to find the pass permit and invite the imperial doctor Zhang here.¡±

    When Zhang Ruting came, the whole Caizhi Courtyard was in a mess.

    Every corner in the Yard had the sharp and wretched shouting of Qin Yunzhuang. With a heavy Dong of knocking the door, Qin Yuwan stumbled toe out from her room. She almost fell down or she would fall down without the support of her little maidservant. Otherwise, her delicate dress would be destroyed.

    ¡°Get out! All of you get out! You all think I am a joke.¡± The wretched voice of Qin Yunzhuang came from the room and then she sobbed.

    Qin Yuwan stood stably and suggested at the door, ¡°Sister, don¡¯t misunderstand me. I aming to bring some medicine. Howe I think you are a joke? You are my blood sister.¡± She said sincerely but a secret proudness and smile could be found on her face. When she turned and found Qin Yunuan was watching her, she felt embarrassed and stopped her emotion. She said to Qin Yunuan embarrassedly, ¡°Sister is angry now. Don¡¯t bother her.¡± Her words were intimating that Qin Yunuan came here on purpose to see how miserable her sister was.

    Qin Yunuan nodded to show that she was holding a basin of water, ¡°I juste to help hold the basin.¡±

    Just almost at the moment, Qin Yunuan said the first word, Qin Yunzhuang then shouted, ¡°Who? Who was there? Qin Yunuan? Don¡¯t enter my room. Where is my mother? Where is my mother?¡±

    ¡°Your mother is busy now.¡± Qin Yunuan answered shortly, ¡°Sister, I juste to bring you some fresh water.¡±

    Qin Yunzhanng was about to add more words, but a lower male voice came from the room, serious and unhappy, ¡°Miss, if you kept intervening in my treatment, I would have no idea to cure your face.¡± This is the voice of Zhang Ruting.

    ¡°Sister, this is freshwater.¡± Qin Yunuan did not want to stay here for so long.

    The little maidservant at the door was about to hold the water from Qin Yunuan but Qin Yunzhuang shouted, ¡°I just now asked Hong Luan to fetch fresh water.¡± Hong Luan was the close lead maidservant of Qin Yunzhuang. Expect nanny Gui, Hong Luan was the most important person Qin Yunzhuang could believe. It was obvious that Qin Yunzhuang thought Qin Yunuan¡¯s show-up was weird.

    Qin Yunuan answered slowly, ¡°Sister Hong Luan was called to answer something to your mother, and she met me exactly and let me help her to do that.¡± Qin Yunuan raised her eyes and just saw Zhang Ruting was turning back to look at her in an informal dress. He was expressionless with cold eyesight. Qin Yunzhuang sat on the bed behind an octahedral padauk screen. The physician was feeling the pause by a silk thread just now, but the treatment was suspended due to Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s constant struggling. Now the little maidservant was re-tying the silk thread.

    The whole room was silent. Qin Yunuan stood at the door awkwardly holding a basin of freshwater and Qin Yunzhuang behind the screen was speechless. It was so clear that Qin Yunzhuang would not use anything Qin Yunuan had touched. Her face was destroyed just because Qin Yunuan followed her to enter the pce.

    Zhang Ruting broke the cold silence. He nodded at the little maidservant at the door, ¡°Please fetch another freshwater here.¡±

 Chapter 18 The Beautyâ€™s Face

    <h4>Chapter 18 The Beauty¡¯s Face</h4>

    To a beauty, what mattered most was the face. This time, Qin Yunzhuang must be very mad.

    It did not take long before Dou Qing¡¯e rushed into the yard. Hong Luan stood behind her, with her face swollen, as if she had been pped.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Yunzhuang?¡± Although Dong Qing¡¯e maintained her demeanor as the head woman of the family, her unease face had betrayed her real feelings.

    ¡°Dr. Zhang is treating sister Yunzhuang in the room,¡± said Qin Yuwan, who was a honey-mouthed person, just like her mother, Concubine Liu. ¡°Rx, mother. Sister Yunzhuang¡¯s face will be fine.¡± Unfortunately, she was also as thoughtless as her mother.

    Not surprisingly, Qin Yuwan observed the scornful look of Dou Qing¡¯e. But then, her hatred was reced by sadness when Zhang Ruting pushed the door open and came out. Zhang Ruting greeted Dou Qing¡¯e first and then began to talk about the condition of Qin Yunzhuang.

    ¡°From now on, please pay special attention to her diet and articles for daily use. It is easy to get allergic in the spring. If she did not get medical treatment in time, the wounds on her face would have be scars.¡± Zhang Ruting said coherently. And the face of Dou Qing¡¯e darkened after he finished speaking.

    ¡°Do you...do you mean that Yunzhuang had eaten something bad?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e said in a drawl. Her voice was cold and chilly, like the peaceful lull before the storm started.

    ¡°Maybe it was not the food she ate. The daily essentials of Grand Miss, like incense, tea and cosmetics, could also make her wounds itchy if they interacted with her body. You¡¯d better pay more attention,¡± Zhang Ruting said and frowned.

    It sounded like she had not taken care of that! The veins on Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s forehead stood out slightly.

    Inside the room, the sobbing sound of Qin Yunzhuang lingered on incessantly, and the heart of Dou Qing¡¯e was also in turmoil. After ordering Xiu Gu to see Zhang Ruting off, Dou Qing¡¯e stood on the steps with a stern face, thinking about the ins and outs of this thing.

    ¡°Mother.¡± Qin Yuwan intended tofort Dou Qing¡¯e to show her phony affection, but Dou Qing¡¯e pped her hands away in a sudden and violent reaction that almost pushed Qin Yuwan down the stairs. Thankfully, she was supported by Qin Yunuan who stood behind her.

    Finally, Dou Qing¡¯e stopped putting on her gentle and elegant look as usual. ring at Qin Yuwan, she thought of the legal son of the Shangguan family. He had proposed to take Qin Yuwan as his concubine but was refused by her. It was said that Qin Yuwan had a good cry for this. Thinking of this, Dou Qing¡¯e was now quite annoyed with her suddenly. That b*tch must be craving for Yunzhuang¡¯s disfigurement and hoping that she could not marry into royalty.

    When Qin Yunuan saw the ring eyes of Dou Qing¡¯e that were about to kill, she tried to persuade her at once. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, mother. At present, Sister Yunzhuang may not be emotionally stable. If wee to see her rashly, she might be more disturbed.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e cast a sidelong nce at Qin Yunuan. Having no way to give vent to her fury, Dou Qing¡¯e waved to Hong Luan, who had been waiting aside and retracting her head. ¡°What did you say when I asked you? You told me that Yunzhuang had been taking medicine exactly as the prescription said. But what is going on now? Why should I let you, a maidservant who failed to take care of your miss and let someone else fiddle with her stuff, stay here any longer?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e reproached her while giving order to the nannies at the bottom of the steps, ¡°Servants! Exercise the rod punishment right now. Do not stop until she tells the truth. Find out who had served food to Grand Miss, and who had sent things to the Caizhi Courtyard recently.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart thumped when she heard this. Since her big sister Yunzhuang was ill, she had been sending the best things to her under Concubine Liu¡¯s urging. Her mother told her that her marriage was dependent on Yunzhuang, the legal daughter in the family. So, much as she wanted Qin Yunzhuang to be disfigured, she did not do any harm to her in any way. However, if Dou Qing¡¯e wanted to make things difficult for her, she would get what she wanted anyway. How many times had she created groundless rumors and crimes on the sly?

    ¡°Mother, mother.¡± Anxiously, Qin Yuwan tried to grab the sleeves of Dou Qing¡¯e, but Dou Qing¡¯e flicked her sleeves unexpectedly and shouted at the nannies sternly. ¡°Why are you still standing here? Do you hear me? Start searching, right now. ¡±

    Suddenly, Qin Yuwan was mentally disturbed. What she sent was all right, but what about the thing she asked her to take to Qin Yunzhuang? No, no way. Anyway, she was the daughter of an influential family and would never take cheap shots like this.

    ¡°Sister, sister Yuwan, is there anything wrong?¡± Qin Yunuan asked gently with a quiet smile. ¡°Why do you look a little bit flustered? Are you worried about Grand Sister?¡±

    ¡°Yeah... Yes.¡± Qin Yuwan nodded. She pretended to be calm and pulled her hemline awkwardly. ¡°Well, I got something to do in my courtyard. I have to leave.¡± It was not toote to discuss countermeasures with mother right now.

    ¡°Yunuan, Yuwan and Yuzhao,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e called their name slowly. ¡°Go to the wing-room for some rest.¡± It was clear that she would not let anyone leave.

    A raging search was soon in full swing. After Qin Yunzhuang became ill, people in the mansion had sent quite a few things to her. So, before Qin Yunuan finished half a cup of her tea, Concubine Chang, Concubine Liu and even Su Chenghai were all driven to the small wing-room.

    Earlier this day, Concubine Liu had been told that her daughter was driven there by a servant girl. Now, when she saw the fearful look on Qin Yuwan¡¯s face, she thought that her daughter was treated unfairly. Without a second thought, she made a crack to Dou Qing¡¯e. ¡°Oh, my dear sister! What¡¯s the big deal again? Why is everybody here?¡±

    Sitting right in the middle, Dou Qing¡¯e looked solemn. Having heard what Concubine Liu said, she just turned around slowly and tidied her dress, not taking her seriously. Her indulgence in the past really spoiled her. But she would not let off anyone who harmed her daughter.

    Qin Yunuan had been sitting aside all the time. After adjusting the cup lid with her finger, she examined Su Chenghai who sat right opposite through the mist of hot tea.

    His thin lips that were pursed slightly were on the white porcin lid, and his long fingers were fixed on the blue and white porcin teacup, as if he had been focusing on the tea only. asionally, when Dou Qing¡¯e said something, he looked up and nced at all people present with indifferent eyes, not showing support or disapproval. His actions were as gentle as a schr, but his eyes and bearing were as cold as a warrior who had just returned from the battlefield.

    Such feelings were a little bit strange for Qin Yunuan. In her impression, Su Chenghai seemed to be a different person. But somehow, he also looked familiar, like they had met somewhere before.

    After a while, Xiu Gu came in and reported their findings.

    ¡°We have checked everything. There¡¯s nothing wrong.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s face darkened as soon as Xiu Gu stopped speaking. It would be better if they could find something, because at least, it could prove that things were still under her control. But now, the situation was trickier than she had expected.

    ¡°Check again.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e clenched her fists, unwilling to give up.

    ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Qin Yunuan stood up suddenly. It took great courage to say something at this moment. Dou Qing¡¯e peered at Qin Yunuan. She wanted to see how courageous the girl was. ¡°Mother, have you changed your incense recently?¡±

    Just an irrelevant question!

    ¡°Humph, aren¡¯t you all clear about what my incense is?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e raised her eyebrows and sent Xiu Gu out again.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Qin Yunuan had a careful sniff around and said, ¡°I thought mother fell in love with Ningxianglu as well. I heard that many madams in the capital city loved to use it recently. This kind of incense has a good aroma when it is properly used. But if it is excessively used, it will make the skin itch fiercely and even ulcerate. I was just about to warn you, mother.¡±

    ¡°I do not have those evil things.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e said arrogantly. Ningxianglu had a sweet smell, but it could also be a kind of philter if it was used internally. Those who used it properly would enjoy nights of sexual bliss every day. Some of her intimate friends had been using Ningxianglu to win the favor of their husbands from beauties. She disdained to do such contemptible things, so slowly, she was not in close touch with them.

    ¡°Oh, well then, I¡¯m relieved.¡± Qin Yunuan patted her chest, and the anxious look in her eyes faded away slowly, like she really cared about the health of Dou Qing¡¯e.

    Dou Qing¡¯e just waved her sleeves, and suddenly, her eyes became cold. ¡°Bring me the incense burner of Yunzhuang,¡± she said to Xiu Gu. She had never used such incense. If there was some strange smell, then it shoulde from Yunzhuang¡¯s room when sheforted her there.

    The wing-room was not far from Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s room. So, it did not take a long time before Xiu Gu came back, holding the incense burner. She poked the residue in it with a small bronze spoon and then showed it to several old nannies. They all came to the same conclusion: It was the Ningxianglu indeed.

    ¡°So much Ningxianglu!¡± said an old nanny. ¡°Burning such arge amount of Ningxianglu will be harmful to health.¡±

    ¡°How dare you!¡± Dou Qing¡¯e whacked the table. Her anger could not be restrained.

    That was exactly what Qin Yunuan wanted. She peered at the clenched hands of Qin Yuwan with cold eyes and could almost feel the sweating on her forehead. In her previous life, Concubine Liu and her daughter were solid allies of Dou Qing¡¯e on framing her and Baochuan. Now, it would be more beneficial to Baochuan and herself if they were alienated. Besides, she was clear that the bad-mouthed Qin Yuwan had spoken ill of her and Baochuan many times.

    ¡°This is definitely not Yunzhuang¡¯s own incense. Find out who had mixed it into her stuff.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e said decisively. She knew all the stuff in her daughter¡¯s room because every little bit of those things was collected by herself. Her daughter was going to marry the prince, so she had to be careful.

    ¡°Ma¡¯am, Hong Luan had confessed everything.¡± A round-faced servant girl called outside. She came in, knelt down and then said, ¡°Hong Luan said that on the day when Grand Miss returned, Second Miss came to her and gave her a pack of incense, asking her to give it to Grand Miss privately.¡±

 Chapter 19 Fanning the Flames

    <h4>Chapter 19 Fanning the mes</h4>

    In a moment, Dou Qing¡¯e red at Qin Yuwan and asked her in a loud voice. ¡°Prince Ray?¡± That was ridiculous! If Qin Yuwan really did that, then she was a bad liar. First, Prince Ray would not entrust a concubine¡¯s daughter to send things for him. Second, an exalted royal member like him would not take those evil things like Ningxianglu as presents.

    Before Qin Yuwan replied, Concubine Liu stood up angrily and pointed to the servant girl on the ground. ¡°What are you talking about? I heard that Hong Luan was almost beaten to death when I passed by. How could she say anything? You must have made this up,¡± she scolded.

    The round-faced servant girl trembled and then kowtowed to Dou Qing¡¯e. ¡°I do not dare to cheat you, ma¡¯am. Sister Hong Luan did confess those things before she fainted. I just passed on what she said exactly.¡±

    ¡°Humph,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e squinted at Concubine Liu. ¡°You do wish for her saying nothing, do you?¡±

    Concubine Liu had nothing to say. She turned back and pulled Qin Yuwan¡¯s sleeves. ¡°Come here. Exin for yourself. Why would you do harm to Yunzhuang? You two are sisters. You must have been framed by someone.¡± She was exasperated at her daughter¡¯s failure.

    Qin Yuwan was standing in the middle of the room in a daze, not knowing where to put her hands. She had hoped that her mother could protect her, because whether she did it or not, she might make mistakes if she said anything, and that would be an opportunity to Dou Qing¡¯e. But now, it seemed that her mother could not do anything to help her.

    As she hesitated, Su Chenghai spoke up emotionlessly. ¡°We businessmen all believe in one saying when we travel around the country.¡± He raised his eyebrows, casting a teasing glimpse at Qin Yuwan who was in tears, and said slowly. ¡°That is, cats hide their ws.¡±

    Was he fanning the mes? Qin Yunuan¡¯s finger on the redwood tea table quivered. She tilted her head and stared at Su Chenghai. At the same time, she felt that he was ncing at her from time to time. So, she turned over without a trace, escaping from the cold and concentrated eyes.

    What Su Chenghai said became the straw that broke Qin Yuwan¡¯s back. She knelt suddenly and cried to Dou Qing¡¯e. ¡°Mother, it was not me. I was just a go-between.¡±

    ¡°A go-between?¡± The eyes of Dou Qing¡¯e were as cold as an ice de that could kill people. ¡°Why? Do you still insist that you were entrusted by Prince Ray to send Ningxianglu to Yunzhuang? If your answer is yes, then I wille to the Imperial Pce with master¡¯s name card and prove your innocence.¡±

    ¡°No... No.¡± Qin Yuwan was afraid to tell lies. The legal mother was much too scary, and she knew she couldn¡¯t hide the truth anymore.

    ¡°Then tell us the truth.¡± Concubine Liu shouted anxiously.

    ¡°It¡¯s... it¡¯s Shangguan Yee. That day, when sister Yunzhuang returned from the Imperial Pce, Shangguan Yee¡¯s personal maid came to me in private and told me that sister Yunzhuang was irritated by Miss Shangguan. To make amends, Miss Shangguan had found the best incense in the city and entrusted me to pass it on to Grand Sister. She said for fear of annoying Miss Yunzhuang again, I had to tell her it was from Prince Ray, so that she would not refuse.¡± Qin Yuwan said sobbingly, tears running down her face. Now, she was ugly and disgraceful, as her delicate makeup was totally ruined.

    The plot thickened if the Shangguan family was involved. Dou Qing¡¯e squinted. Her eyes narrowed with a shrewd look, and then she knocked the table cape. ¡°That¡¯s just a one-sided story. Do you have any evidence?¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Qin Yuwan took out a butterfly-embroidered handkerchief hurriedly from her cuff. Fortunately, she asked the maid for a token as a proof of her favor to the Shangguan Family, so that she could contact themter. She did not expect to use the handkerchief in this way at this critical moment. ¡°Mother, this is the token that the maid had given me. Look, she said it was embroidered by Shangguan Yee herself. This should prove my innocence.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e was not as serious as before. She only asked Xiu Gu to bring the handkerchief to her. As she was thinking about it, a soft and clear voice arose from the crowd. ¡°This handkerchief looks very familiar.¡±

    Qin Yuwan looked back and found that it was Qin Yunuan who was speaking. Without thinking about it, she followed Qin Yunuan¡¯s words. ¡°Exactly, Third Miss. It looks familiar to you, right? You had met Shangguan Yee in the Imperial Pce. It¡¯s her handkerchief, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Qin Yuwan¡¯s eyes were full of hope and expectations. It seemed that she had taken Qin Yunuan as her lifesaver.

    In the face of the tentative inquiry from Dou Qing¡¯e, Qin Yunuan answered with a more peaceful look. ¡°You misunderstood me, Second Miss. I said it looked familiar because I had seen the handkerchief at Yuman Embroidery Shop. If I was right, there will be an orchid symbol of Yuman Embroidery Shop on its right bottom.

    Qin Yuwan was quite shocked now. She hurried to unfold the handkerchief and check its right bottom, and then she was dumbfounded by what she saw and tried to hide it. The sharp-eyed nanny Xiu Gu snatched the handkerchief with her agile hands and handed it to Dou Qing¡¯e. ¡°Ma¡¯am, look, there surely is an orchid symbol,¡± said Xiu Gu.

    ¡°Well, well,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e retracted her eyes and said as loudly as a great bell. ¡°You tried to fool me with a handkerchief and involve Miss Shangguan and Prince Ray into your evil-doing. How scheming you are!¡±

    ¡°No, mother. I really didn¡¯t do that. And I don¡¯t have the ability to get Ningxianglu. Even if I have some abilities, I dare not to hurt my own sister.¡± Qin Yuwan pleaded. Even Concubine Liu gave up her dignity and groveled with tearful eyes.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have the ability?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s voice was getting louder and louder. ¡°You have the ability to induce the young Master Shangguan to propose to you, what else are you unable to do?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e had no idea how she had charmed the legal son of Shangguan family. Thankfully, Shangguan Rang, the only legal son of Master Shangguan, was a loose man in his nature. After being refused by Dou Qing¡¯e, he turned to other girls after a while.

    ¡°Mother.¡± Qin Yuwan knew that it would be useless to say anything. She groveled in front of Dou Qing¡¯e in a very humble way, but inwardly, she hated Dou Qing¡¯e to the core. Why? Why was she a concubine¡¯s daughter? Because of that, her marriage was dependent on Dou Qing¡¯e. Shangguan Rang was such a good man. He was handsome and attractive and was very gentle with her.

    The calmness on Qin Yunuan¡¯s face was reced by worries. ¡°Mother, don¡¯t we need to check things out again? Though I am humble, I want to say that sister Yuwan would not have done this to sister Yunzhuang despite their conflicts.¡± Qin Yunuan said cautiously and heaved a long sigh.

    ¡°No need to check again. Now things are very clear.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e said without any hesitation. She was irresolute before, but after listening to Qin Yunuan¡¯s words, she firmly believed in her decision. Besides, were they going to involve Shangguan family in this matter? If so, further contact between the two families would be impossible. Although their private rtionship had been broken, she had to save their face.

    ¡°Okay, fortunately, Yunzhuang is all right now,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e said with an indifferent face. Then she said to Qin Yuwan exhaustedly, ¡°After all, you two are sisters. Maybe you didn¡¯t know how to use Ningxianglu for theck of experience. For the present, you must shut yourself and ponder over your mistakes. You cannot leave your yard without my permission.¡±

    Qin Yuwan was absent-minded. The annual Temple Festival wasing in half a month. It was the only time when young women coulde out of their homes. In addition, she had special arrangements with Shangguan Rang.

    ¡°Mother, it really was Shangguan....¡± Qin Yuwan still wanted to exin, but Concubine Liu covered her mouth directly and forced her to kowtow to Dou Qing¡¯e for several times before she took her back to the yard.

    Dou Qing¡¯e was unwilling to offend the Shangguan family, so was Concubine Liu. Both of them did not want to continue the investigation, so they could only let Qin Yuwan take the me. Now, the punishment was appropriately given by one and willingly epted by the other. And Qin Yunuan enjoyed a great show as a bystander.

    ¡°That being the case, please excuse me for my leaving now.¡± Qin Yunuan stood up and greeted the elders. At the same time, Su Chenghai also stood up and made his farewells. ¡°Please excuse me as well.¡± He said calmly, as if he had not been affected by the farce at all. It seemed that he was unconcerned about everything.

    Qin Yunuan was greatly relieved as Qin Yuwan got grounded. In her previous life, though they did not have direct conflicts, Qin Yuwan had defamed Baochuan in front of their father Qin Zhi many times. Just like Concubine Liu, she had a glib tongue and turned matters upside down. Now, as the father Qin Zhi wasing back, Qin Yunuan was determined to help Baochuan set a good image in Qin Zhi¡¯s heart. Women born in the families of officials only needed to find a good husband, but for men, what they had to do was to start their career, make contributions and realize their aspirations.

    On the way back, Su Chenghai went ahead silently, followed by the servant named Xiao Si, who had a broad face and a pair of bushy eyebrows. Every time young servant girls cast nces at Su Chenghai, Xiao Si would make scary faces and made them look away.

    But it was not his fault. Su Chenghai was really very good-looking and mesmerizing. No wonder many girls made eyes to him.

    Seeing that no one was around, Maner was unable to refrain her admiration to Qin Yunuan. ¡°Third Miss, how meticulous you are! We were so far apart from them at that time, but you recognized the personal maid of Shangguan Yee at just one nce!¡± Maner praised.

    That was true. On that day, Qin Yunuan, who was at a remote corner of the back room, caught the sight of Qin Yuwan exchanging things with a servant girl, who turned out to be Shangguan Yee¡¯s personal maid. At first, she thought Qin Yuwan requested the girl to sell some embroideries for her. But the longer she looked, the stronger she felt that there was something wrong. The servant girl looked quite familiar. What¡¯s more, Qin Yuwan would not be so hard up that she had to make money by selling her embroideries. Although she was also a concubine¡¯s daughter, she had a tough mother to protect her.

    ¡°But miss, how do you know that the token from the maid was not a real one?¡± Maner asked puzzledly.

    ¡°You underestimated Shangguan Yee.¡± Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t know much about her, but she could make some spections about their interactions in her previous life. ¡°She¡¯s reckless, but not silly. She would not let Qin Yuwan get the goods on her for her wrong doings. That would be shooting herself in the foot. So, I paid more attention to them and found the orchid symbol on the handkerchief. But I did not expect that Qin Yunzhuang would be taken in. She did believe that the handkerchief was from Prince Ray. Maybe girls be unreasonable when they fall in love? Or maybe Qin Yunzhuang was too confident that she thought Prince Ray favored her?¡±

    Frankly speaking, Sima Ray was really a good husband for Qin Yunzhuang. He gave her everything she had ever wanted. Although their marriage was based on interests, it was not surprising that he had some tender affection for such a beauty as they were closely associated.

    ¡°Who knows,¡± Maner pursed her lips and said. ¡°But there is a popr saying among the people. That is, Qin Yunzhuang is the belle of the north, and Li Qiqi is the beauty of the south.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang and Li Qiqi were the two beauties in Qi. One had a gorgeous face, and the other had a beautiful voice. However, Qin Yunzhuang, the legal daughter of the Grand Commandant, enjoyed a better reputation than Li Qiqi, who made a living by singing at brothels.

    ¡°Really?¡± Qin Yunuan replied coolly. Things like fame and reputation had never been in her consideration. All she ever wanted was a life without grievances, where her loved ones were safe and sound and Baochuan could amount to something.

 Chapter 20 Someone Better

    <h4>Chapter 20 Someone Better</h4>

    Back in the yard, nurse Liao had prepared hot tea for Qin Yunuan as soon as she went in. Qin Baochuan had been practicing writing characters in the room obediently. A thick stack of copy paper was ced next Qin Yunuan¡¯s embroidery frame, waiting for her to check.

    White steam wrapped around Qin Yunuan¡¯s cheek, hot tea made her cheeks rosy and her heart warmed.

    ¡°Third Miss, everything was done as you said.¡± Nurse Liao reported the situation of this afternoon as it really was. ¡°I took out your makeup box at noon and basked it in the sunshine to get rid of mold. When I came to collect it, the jade bracelet that Concubine left you was missing. Everyone¡¯s room had to be searched because it was lost in the yard. Finally, we found it in Fusheng¡¯s room.¡± She lowered her voice. ¡°Now Fusheng was locked in that empty house of the backyard.¡±

    Qin Yunuan frowned. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say that it should be handed over to Mother?¡± She was confused, but she knew that nurse Liao was sensible enough that she wouldn¡¯t go against her will without any reason.

    ¡°Yes, and I did.¡± nurse Liao said with slight embarrassment. ¡°But then Grand Miss had such a horrible ident. I was stopped by the gatekeeper of Cui Xuan courtyard, saying that the Lady was in a bad mood. However, I also scored a lucky hit.¡± After nurse Liao finished, she took out a round white bead from her waist and told Qin, ¡°When I came back and asked Fusheng, this fell from her and she seemed to be very nervous about the bead.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s fingertips paused, but she still took the bead. This was a mellow East Sea pearl of high quality. Qin Yunuan had seen such pearl in her past life when embroidering for her sister on the Coronation suit of Prince Sima Ray. No other ce except East Qin could produce pearls of this excellency.

    ¡°The pearl of East Qin.¡± Qin Yunuan murmured to herself. This was very likely the same pearl that Su Chenghai gifted to Qin Yunzhuang. Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s rewards for her servants are indeed luxurious. Fusheng was not only Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s informer but also helped Qin Yunzhuang in many ways. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be granted a big reward like this. The fragrance flew into Qin Yunuan¡¯s nose, she sniffed and turned around to ask nurse Liao. ¡°What tea are you making today? It smells extraordinarily aromatic and good.¡±

    Nurse Liao was surprised and then answered, ¡°Isn¡¯t it just the usual green tea? Third Miss, you have been drinking this for some time.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s weird.¡± Qin Yunuan sniffed carefully around the teacup and found the soft, mellow fragrance much lighter. It seemed that the aroma did not rise from her tea.

    Nurse Liao smiled, ¡°Third Miss has a better sense of smell and memory ever since childhood. It¡¯s probably the fragrance of flowers or incense in other yards.¡±

    ¡°My nose is far from being sensitive,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled, tilting her head slightly. Then she saw the pearl at hand. Doubtfully, she pinched the pearl to the tip of her nose and sniffed. She became serious suddenly. ¡°Nurse Liao, bring me all the spices in our room.¡±

    ¡°Third Miss, you want some spice?¡± Nurse Liao was amazed. ¡°Those are only used when the Lady and the Grand Miss came. I could send Da Shi to the fair tomorrow for some white plum blossom. What about that?¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e and Qin Yunzhuang came to Qin Yunuan¡¯s yard rarely, for her ce was remote and had a smell of dust. Qin Yunuan would save some money for fine spices when the two came in her past life. Now she didn¡¯t have the time to care much about what her ce smelled like.

    ¡°Nurse, just please take them here. I¡¯m not using them.¡±

    Qin Yunuan had her doubt for a long time. Roughly speaking, Shangguan Yee resented Qin Yunzhuang for bing a scapegoat. So she sent the spices secretly to frame her. Then those spices made Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s face ufortable, and Qin Yuwan was punished. Everything seemed to be perfectly reasonable. But one of the most basic issues was ignored, which was time.

    It was only two or three days from the day Qin Yunzhuang returned from the pce. Ningxianglu had to take seven or eight days to be effective. That was too weird, having such an effect in just three days.

    ¡°Third Miss, all the spices are here.¡± Nurse Liao ced the sealed wooden boxes with spices on the table in a line of Qin Yunuan to select.

    Each small box was as big as a fist, carrying spices not of great quantity but variety. Qin Yunuan opened and sniffed each one twice under uncertainty. Nurse Liao stood aside worriedly, handing the tea over when Qin Yunuan was confused by various types of fragrance. She asked, ¡°How was it, Third Miss?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Qin Yunuan held the pearl firmly and said, ¡°This pearl was soaked in white sandalwood.¡±

    White sandalwood was more valuable and fragrant than other types of sandalwood, without the acrid smell of spices. It also had medicinal value.

    Soaking pearls in spices were popr in recent years. The dazzling pearls giving off fragrance were more popr among the nobledies.

    However...

    Qin Yunuan frowned. All things on earth mutually reinforce and neutralize. Ningxianglu was ipatible with white sandalwood. When taking in both at the same time, the side effects of Ningxianglu could be catalyzed by the white sandalwood.

    This pearl...was a gift of Su Chenghai!

    Did he know about the white sandalwood on it? If he did, was it his intention sending the pearl to Qin Yunzhuang? Why did he add insult to Qin Yuwan¡¯s injury? Was he the boss behind everything and was hurriedly in search of a scapegoat? No, he had just met Qin Yunzhuang after being apart for a long time. There could be hardly any contradictions or conflicts of interest between them. Why bother circling to hurt Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s appearance?

    Why did this cousin give her so many questions to wonder about, after arriving for just two days? She couldn¡¯t understand him.

    Seeing Qin Yunuan was out of her mind, nurse Liao reminded gently, ¡°Third Miss, what should we do about Fusheng?¡±

    A hint of shrewdness bloomed in Qin Yunuan¡¯s deep dark eyes. ¡°Now that Mother was annoyed, don¡¯t trouble her. But punishment is necessary.¡± Pursing her lips, Qin Yunuan said, ¡°Now that Second Miss was put in confinement without anyone around her for amusement. Fusheng had studied Yue opera for a few years, why not send her to Second Miss¡¯ yard? I could also show some appreciation for my sister.¡±

    One wanted to keep her under her eyes, while the other was eager to defame Baochuan. Now it¡¯s time for the two to fight in one house.

    Nurse Liao was amazed. Looking at the calm Qin Yunuan with admiration and surprise in her eyes, she felt as if Third Miss had been reborn. She knew it well that Third Miss was clever enough, but she had been hiding. Now that Third Miss grew up to know how to protect herself. She couldn¡¯t be happier.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, nurse Liao?¡± Qin Yunuan asked, tilting her head.

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Nurse Liao bowed quickly. ¡°I¡¯ll do it right away.¡± Her girl had lived up to her expectation, so she couldn¡¯t let her down either.

    Nurse Liao was very efficient. Early in the next morning, Fusheng was sent to Qin Yuwan¡¯s yard. When she came back to report, Qin Baochuan was taking a cold shower in the yard under Qin Yunuan¡¯s supervision. The snow was melting, and it was even colder than the snowy days. People would rather hidezily inside their house, drinking wine for warmth. This five-year-old persisted, however, gritting teeth in the yard.

    ¡°Can you carry on? Just say it if you can¡¯t.¡± Qin Yunuan spoke in a firm and unquestionable tone. Though seemingly dignified, she cared for her brother deeply in her heart. She was too protective of Qin Baochuan in the past life, which made him timid and shy. Although this time Qin Yuwan was temporarily locked in the house, other people would nder him as well. She¡¯d better start shaping Qin Baochuan¡¯s perseverance now.

    ¡°I can.¡± Qin Baochuan gritted his teeth, his small arms and face were frozen red, but his expression was very serious. ¡°Sister, please continue to pour down cold water. Baochuan is not cold, not cold at all. Just like sister said, ¡®To be bestowed with great responsibility, one must be crucified with ordeal and tribtion so as to break one¡¯s will, subdue one¡¯s spirit, exhaust one¡¯s muscles, starve one¡¯s flesh¡¯. I could do this little thing.¡±

    Even Qin Yunuan was a little moved by Baochuan¡¯s sensibility. She poured the remaining half of the cold water with a few scoops, and then called for Maner hurriedly to carry Qin Baochuan into the house. Qin Baochuan waved his hands with a tough look. ¡°I can walk by myself. I¡¯m a grown man.¡± He limped into the room with two freezing and stiff legs.

    ¡°Third Miss, everything was done.¡± Nurse Liao came to her and nced at where Qin Baochuan bathed subconsciously. Water ran into the stream of melting snow. Nurse Liao sighed. She understood Qin Yunuan¡¯s intention.

    ¡°But I heard a message on the way back.¡± Following Qin Yunuan into the room, nurse Liao made sure that no one was around and then said. ¡°I heard from Cui Xuan courtyard that the Lady chose you for the Temple Festival this time. Third Miss, you will go to the temple and pray.¡±

    Seeing nurse Liao¡¯s worried face, Qin Yunuanughed. ¡°Is nurse Liao afraid that I would be in trouble or doubt that Mother had ulterior motives?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± nurse Liao replied hurriedly with embarrassment on her face. ¡°It¡¯s just that Third Miss seldom goes out and couldn¡¯t be that familiar with the outside world. I felt uneasy.¡± If Qin Yunuan went to the temple on behalf of the whole mansion of Grand Commandant, the Lady would definitely send servant girls of her side to apany her. Being surrounded by the Lady¡¯s people was what worried her.

    Qin Yunuan also understood this. Frankly speaking, she was afraid that Dou Qing¡¯e would take advantage of her using this asion. Though she was nothing but a daughter of a concubine, Dou Qing¡¯e was domineering and cautious. She would never let anyone get in the way of Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s road to power. Words of what happened on the Flower Fairy Festival also spread out these days. It was not surprising that she turned against her deliberately.

    However, to relieve nurse Liao, Qin Yunuan said with a smile on her face, ¡°Don¡¯t think too much, nurse Liao. Now that the Brother was traveling far away, our oldest sister had scars on her face, and Second Miss was in confinement. So now I¡¯m the only one who could go and pray for the family. That¡¯s the rule. There¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡±

    Nurse Liao was a little hesitant and said, ¡°We could also discuss with Master Su...¡±

    ¡°There would be no need.¡± Qin Yunuan seemed a little ufortable at the sudden mention of Su Chenghai. ¡°My cousin came to Beijing to do business. He was out traveling every day. Besides, although he was a rtive, it¡¯s still inappropriate to contact with other men in private. Don¡¯t you worry, nurse Liao. It¡¯s useless to fight against destiny. I will counter every trick as I go.¡±

 Chapter 21 â€œReunionâ€

    <h4>Chapter 21 ¡°Reunion¡±</h4>

    At dinner time, theplexion of Qin Baochuan had returned rosy, and he was more active than usual. He even pped his chest andughed, saying that he could do it longer next time.

    Nurse Liao made some good doughball for dinner tonight. The warm soup dispelled the coldness of the winter. Compared with the peace and warmth in Qin Yunuan¡¯s yard, the Caizhi Courtyard was all a mess.

    ¡°Alright, you¡¯re all dismissed.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e yelled towards the maids and the nannies outside the door, and looked at quilts and embroidered pillows scattering all over the floor. Then, she turned around and closed the door. She sighed as she saw Qin Yunzhuang sitting on the bed with a grumpy look, and said slowly, ¡°Now you¡¯re more sensible. You used to throw antique vases and potteries, but now you know that those are expensive, so you only throw some soft stuff.¡±

    When Qin Yunzhuang heard it, she almost cooled down at once. She coquettishly held Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s arm and said softly, ¡°Mother, why did you send Qin Yunuan the little b*tch to pray at the Temple Festival? Although the custom of the Temple Festival is to let the younger generation of the family attend the worship at the temple and pray for peace for the whole family, Qin Yunuan is just a daughter of a concubine! Wouldn¡¯t it be too shameful if you send her? ¡±

    ¡°What else could I do?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e raised her eyebrows. ¡°Among all the younger generation in the family, your elder brother is traveling far away and you look at yourself. You cannot attend, can you? Originally Qin Yuwan is suitable, but this mess turned up. Baochuan and Baoduan are too young to go. Hence, all leave us with only one option left, which is Qin Yunuan.¡±

    ¡°Mother,¡± Qin Yunzhuang stillined, ¡°For god¡¯s sake, it¡¯s such a great advantage for her.¡±

    ¡°Hum, do you think it will be an advantage?¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e was crystal clear about Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s thoughts. Qin Yunuan had attracted a lot of attention at thest Flower Fairy Festival in the pce. There were many people talking about her in the bigwigs circletely. As they talked about the Empress finding frostbite on Qin Yunuan, it seemed that they were testing Dou Qing¡¯e if she had neglected or abused the daughter of a concubine. This made her quite embarrassed.

    She found it even more unexpected when Qin Yunuan actually sent the informer she had nted around her to Qin Yuwan. ¡°She¡¯d better be unintentional,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e thought, ¡°Otherwise, my tricks will be far more than that.¡±

    She also thought of the news from the maid Cui¡¯e, whom she sent to spy on Qin Yunuan temporarily, saying that Qin Yunuan was training Qin Baochuan to take a cold shower this morning. If Qin Yunuan was a spike in her flesh, Qin Baochuan would be a needle poked in her heart. She wouldn¡¯t be satisfied until she removed it.

    Seeing that Qin Yunzhuang really cared about this matter, sheid out her n to herpletely, thinking that it would be done in half a month and there was no need to hide it anymore.

    ¡°Mother, seriously?¡± Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s eyes were shing with expectation and a special kind of enthusiasm, ¡°Mother, do you really have a way to drive Qin Yunuan and Qin Baochuan out of the Qin¡¯s family?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s just a daughter of a concubine. How hard could it be?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e said calmly, and she petntly stroked Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s forehead, ¡°You¡¯re my sweetheart. I would remove anything or anyone that would trouble you.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e showed a strong motherly love, and she touched Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s cheek in distress. ¡°Your task now is to rest nicely at home. I assure that I would find a way to heal your face even if losing everything I have.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang lifted her face and there was fierceness in her eyes. She clenched her teeth and said, ¡°From now on, Shangguan Yee and I are enemies.¡±

    Time flies. After Qin Yuwan was punished, the mansion of Grand Commandant was peaceful for quite a while. It was a sunny day. The water jasmine at the corner of the yard had sprouted buds after the cold winter. Qin Yunuan was in a good mood after waking up to see those small and delicate buds in wind.

    ¡°Third Miss, young master Su Chenghai has sent two honey pomelos here. I¡¯ve put them in the room for you.¡± Tong said happily to Qin Yunuan. She lowered her voice and added, ¡°From my point of view, it¡¯s even better than that given to the Grand Miss and Madam.¡±

    Qin Yunuan put down her needlework and raised her head. She saw two smooth and shiny yellow pomelos on the table, carefully tied with two red ropes for easy handling.

    For the past half month, Su Chenghai had been sending seasonal fruits or southern snacks to Qin Yunuan¡¯s yard every day. Surely, he would also send double to Qin Yunzhuang and Dou Qing¡¯e. Su Chenghai was always aware of his manners and knew the difference between the elders and the youngers.

    But...

    ¡°I do find that young master Su Chenghai sends these things sincerely,¡± Maner was helping Qin Yunuan pulling threads, but she smiled when she saw the pomelos on the table and said, ¡°Third Miss, what a coincidence! Whether the oranges the day before yesterday or the Tendrils cake yesterday, every time young master Su Chenghai sends what you like to eat.¡±

    Qin Yunuan acted to knock on Maner¡¯s forehead and said, pretending to be angry, ¡°Now that I don¡¯t discipline you both, you have grown bolder and bolder. Now you dare make up stories about me!¡±

    It was true that Qin Yunuan and Su Chenghai had a great friendship in their childhood. However, time flies. Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t understand Su Chenghai¡¯s thoughts anymore. Sometimes Su Chenghai made her feel like a total stranger, such as his indifferent sight and icy words. Sometimes he was extremely warm, such as the greeting gifts he had sent her, and the snacks and fruits he had sent during the past half-month.

    ¡°Third Miss, it¡¯s time to go.¡± Nurse Liao came in to remind her that today was the annual Temple Festival, the day when all the juniors of the rich and famous families in the capital went to pray at Lingtai Temple together. As a result, she should be able to see many people today, like Fang Ziying, or Shangguan Yee.

    The delicate carriage cover was fringed with purple-embroidered fringe, and the white horse pulling it was apparently well-fed and full of spirit. They set off from Qingshui Lane, and the scenery changed from the prosperous bazaar to a dense wood of pine trees. Wan¡¯an temple could be almost seen.

    Maner and Tong could only follow that carriage from far behind, and an older servant girl named Lvliu, whom Dou Qing¡¯e chose personally, was following the carriage aside. All the way, she kept reminding Qin Yunuan repeatedly about how to talk to the young men, how to bless them properly, and the rules of having the vegetarian meal in the temple.

    It sounded that Lvliu was an experienced servant girl, but in the end she was sent by Dou Qing¡¯e. Therefore, Qin Yunuan had been on guard against her.

    ¡°Third Miss, we¡¯re there.¡± The carriage stopped outside the gate of the temple. Lvliu just bowed slightly, with no intention to open the curtain for Qin Yunuan. After all, she was serving the Madam, so not everyone was worthy of her service.

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t care about it. She opened the curtain with a smile. Her elegant pinkish purple skirt touched the ground slightly. The pale green flowery cor matched the wet moss on the stairs perfectly, and her mour stood out. She was like a freshly carved jade sculpture, clear, elegant, natural and bright.

    The gatekeeping young monk came over to greet her, ¡°Benefactor, the other benefactors are waiting in the East Side Hall.¡±

    ¡°Please, young master, show me the way,¡± Qin Yunuan nodded her head. Every move of hers just made others couldn¡¯t help adoring her.

    Suddenly, a frivolous and teasing male voice came behind her, ¡°We are destined to meet each other. The Third Miss of the Qin¡¯s family is such a beauty, even from a distant look. It must be fate that I have the chance to see you here.¡±

    How tant flirting it was. Qin Yunuan was certain that the man was Shangguan Rang, a useless son of the Shangguan family. In her past life, Qin Yunuan had seen Shangguan Rang asionally. However, he had a high standard. He would not even pay a look at any woman apart from the famousdies and belles in the capital. The way he praised her today really surprised Qin Yunuan.

    Qin Yunuan turned around with a reserved manner, and saw Shangguan Rang striding towards her. He had a luscious forehead, dazzling eyes and white teeth. He had the most romantic face in the world, and he knew how to please women with his words. No wonder so many youngdies in the capital were captivated by him. There were plenty youngdies like Qin Yuwan who was in love with the wrong guy.

    ¡°Greetings, young master Shangguan.¡± The peaceful and unhurried attitude of hers made Shangguan Rang feel refreshed. He was used to the enchanting and affectionate women, as well as self-respected nobledies. Qin Yunuan was exotic for him, but aroused his interest.

    ¡°Oh? You know my name?¡± Shangguan Rang was a bit excited and pleased.

    Qin Yunuan smiled faintly, as she hinted with her sight, ¡°Young master came out from that carriage with the symbol of the Shangguan¡¯s family. Apart from Shangguan Rang, the first son of the Shangguan¡¯s family, who could afford such a gorgeous and exquisite carriage?¡±

    Shangguan didn¡¯t get the ridicule of Qin Yunuan at all. All he felt was ttery, so he got more proud of himself, ¡°Naturally, I have very particr standards for every detail of my life. Take the silk I am about to give my sister for an example, if she likes it, I don¡¯t care how much it costs.¡±

    Silk? Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows. She saw a young servant behind Shangguan Rang holding a long brocade box. The golden cloud-shaped carving was brilliant, and it must be the silk inside which Shangguan Rang was about to give Shangguan Yee.

    ¡°Third Miss Qin, you don¡¯t know how expensive the silk is in the capital these days,¡± Shangguan Rang continued to boast, ¡°These silk are usually only from East Qin, but since we are at war now, and the trading has stopped, only two families are able to get goods from East Qin.¡± Shangguan Rang blinked at Qin Yunuan, as he wanted to arouse her interest.

    However, Qin Yunuan almost figured them out in her heart. They were General Meng Hua and the ¡°Cool Face General¡± Leng Changxi, who were in charge of the East Qin affairs. They were the only two people who could easily get the East Qin goods.

    Shangguan Rang threw pleasing gazes towards Qin Yunuan repeatedly, but the girl was unmoved at all. This made him a bit frustrated.

    As they arrived at the gate of the hall, Qin Yunuan finally asked gently, ¡°Where is Miss Shangguan? Why does not she go with you?¡± She wasn¡¯t worried about Shangguan Yee¡¯s whereabouts. She just heard that Shangguan Yee and Shangguan Rang had a great rtionship. As they did not show up together, it made her think deeply.

    Shangguan Rang stretched himself and kneaded his chin, which was a bit thin because of excessive indulgence. He said without hesitation, ¡°There is a noblemaning today, and my little sister takes order from our father to apany him.¡±

    What kind of nobleman actually made the Left Chancellor treat him so carefully? Shangguan Rang even used the word ¡°apany¡±.

    ¡°Third Miss Qin, do you want to know who this nobleman is?¡± Shangguan Rang intentionally tried to raise Qin Yunuan¡¯s curiosity again.

    Qin Yunuan turned her head aside and kept silent. Her nce swept over the slightly happy face of Shangguan Rang lightly, and she turned around again and said quietly towards the gate of the hall, ¡°I will find out when I enter the hall.¡±

    ¡°What an uninteresting girl!¡± Thought Shangguan Rang as he was quite embarrassed due to her. However, the more estranged the woman was, the more she aroused his interest. He quickly followed Qin Yunuan. However, before he was able to talk to her, there was the sound of a tea cup cracking from inside the hall.

    ¡°Leng Changxi, I am kind enough to serve you a cup of tea, don¡¯t test my limits!¡± A female¡¯s voice which sounded extremely angry came out from the East Side Hall. The voice was sharp and slightly trembling. Qin Yunuan immediately recognized that it was the voice of Shangguan Yee.

    ¡°That sounds bad,¡± Shangguan Rang was anxious, ¡°My little sister is impetuous. It would be a disaster if she offends the nobleman.¡± After saying that, he ran straight in.

    Qin Yunuan stretched her neck. She didn¡¯t expect that they would meet again so soon.

 Chapter 22 Constant Dangers

    <h4>Chapter 22 Constant Dangers</h4>

    At the East Side Hall, there crowded many noble maidens and young masters and Qin Yunuan had met many of them in the banquet for the Flower Fairy Festival. Now those maidens all sat aside, looking at outrageous Shangguan Yee and calm Leng Changxi.

    They all stayed aside, who dared not and had no right to mediate this dispute because one was a general with shining war achievements and the other was the daughter of the Left Chancellor.

    ¡°Leng Changxi, I am not those timid people who are afraid of you. You have to drink the cup of tea and have no other choices!¡± Shangguan Yee put her hands on her waist and turned red in eyes with anger.

    She turned back and exactly saw Qin Yunuan standing with Shangguan Rang. She pulled Shangguan Rang closer to her and fawned, ¡°Rang, there you are. Go home to tell our father that it is Leng Changxi that makes difficulties for me on purpose. I make the Tieguanyin Tea kindly for him, but he looks down on me.¡±

    Shangguan Rang felt a little embarrassed and looked at the two maidens back and forth. He felt that he fell down into a wind bellow, both sides of which blew with the cold wind.

    ¡°Miss Shangguan, why are you so aggressive?¡± Compared with impatient Shangguan Yee, Leng Changxi was so calm. He tapped the white-jade Linglong tea board with his index finger and jeered scornfully and coldly, ¡°The tea is obsolete, definitely the stale tea and is fractured, clearly the tea residue. Besides, the water used in the tea,¡± Leng Changxi tapped the tip of his nose, and turned at the Shangguan Yee, ¡°Miss Shangguan, the water has not yet boiled, right?¡±

    ¡°Rang,¡± Shangguan Yee turned back and stared at Shangguan Rang with her invocative eyes. When she was alone, she could curse others, but now her brother was here, and she relied more on her brother.

    However, Shangguan Rang was an ipetent cob. He was weak in the academy and said, ¡°General Leng, the tea is made by my sister, and it is out of her kind intention.¡±

    Leng Changxi stood with his hands sped behind his back and turned back, ¡°A cup of tea without being delicate made is the same as nothing. Miss Shangguan, I do not deserve the tea.¡± His words were not vulgar but made Shangguan Yee lose her face again.

    Shangguan Rang now was in a dilemma. He turned back and saw Qin Yunuan who came in with him. He even pushed Qin Yunuan out without any consideration, ¡°Miss Qin Yunuan, please help persuade General Leng.¡±

    There crowded so many noble maidens and young masters, but why did Shangguan Rang choose Qin Yunuan to persuade Leng Changxi? Qin Yunuan thought about it with her lips pursing and her eyebrow frowning gently. All the small acts were perceived by Leng Changxi.

    Before Qin Yunuan was about to say, Leng Changxi said in a higher voice, ¡°Young master Shangguan, you are too serious. We alle here praying for our families respectively. Don¡¯t let the situation so embarrassing and just should behave ourselves.¡±

    ¡°Hump, you mean I am a naive girl and break our rtionship deliberately? Your elder brother once praised my smartness when I was a little girl. Howe you are so different from your brother!¡± Shangguan Yee was just a spoiled maiden and could not tolerate any unkindness.

    Leng Changxi looked gloomy with his sword-like eyebrows curved at a beautiful radian, ¡°Don¡¯t mention anything before twelve years old. My elder brother was ignorant at that time. Don¡¯t make it serious.¡±

    At once, gossips rose around and even Qin Yunuan could not help smiling. She thought Leng Changxi in front of him was so different from other brave generals in battlefields.

    At this moment, a monk came and reported, ¡°Great Buddhist¡¯s Hall is well prepared, and the praying could start at once. Please do not miss the good asion.¡±

    All went there. At the Great Buddhist¡¯s Hall, 16 basins were burning charcoal, which made the whole hall as warm as the spring. 64 rush cushions were put tidily, and maidservants stood outside.

    There were five Buddhas in the hall. The Sakyamuni Buddha was seated cross-leggedly in the center, with his left hand cing at his left foot, and his right fingers curling upside as a circle. The whole Buddha statue looked majestic and solemn and the gold body shined with an irresistible stateliness.

    The host for the praying ceremony was a strange monk, about 50 years old. He had a benign face and a little bit fat in a red and gold cassock. He gave a salute, ¡°My monastic name is Hui An and my senior fellow monk Hui Neng feels not well today, so he lets me host the praying ceremony.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter of Master Hui Neng?¡± Fang Ziying asked, ¡°Normally the ceremony is hosted by Master Hui Neng, and we have some mortal connections with him. It is reasonable for us to visit him today.¡±

    ¡°No, don¡¯t bother,¡± Hui An answered at once, ¡°He just catches a cold and needs a quiet rest. If you visit him, the situation will be worse due to the cold wind.¡±

    Qin Yunuan and Fang Ziying looked at each other and kneeled down on the rush cushion hand in hand.

    The praying ceremony went smoothly. Though Master Hui Neng was absent, Master Hui An hosted it well. His Buddhist preaching waspelling.

    ¡°Wish my family be safe and healthy and be promoted smoothly; wish the younger sisters find their right husbands; wish the married elder sisters have a happy family.¡± Fang Ziying put her palms together very devoutly.

    Qin Yunuan followed her and made a vow, ¡°Wish my life be safe and healthy; wish evil people die out. If Baochuan bes a talent and people around me have a carefree life forever, I will bring incense, candles and red silk here to fulfill my promise.¡±

    While they were making vows, suddenly somebody pointed at the Sakyamuni Buddha statue and shouted, ¡°The Buddha is crying!¡±

    ¡°Yes, the Buddha is crying, with blood tears.¡±

    All got panicked. It was an ill omen when the Buddha was crying.

    Qin Yunuan raised her head and found that on the over-3-meter high Buddha, the eyes shed red liquid, dripping down along theteral gold cheek, which seemed the Buddha was crying.

    Howe the Buddha statue could cry! It must be someone ying tricks.

    ¡°It¡¯s bad. It is an ill omen when the Buddha is crying. It is definitely true that someone here has offended the Buddha, and this is the retribution.¡± Someone shouted timidly.

    ¡°Just a Buddha statue,¡± Fang Ziying tried to calm down and said, ¡°It may be that the pigment is still wet, and the air is humid, so the pigment drips down.¡±

    ¡°I am afraid that it is not so.¡± Li Weijun who kept silent all the time suddenly said to Qin Yunuan and Fang Ziying, ¡°Maybe there is something ominous or an evil monster. Is it Sister Qin Yunuan?¡±

    Qin Yunuan seldom met Li Weijun. Last time at the banquet for the Flow Fairing Festival, Li Weijun came with arrogant Shangguan Yee. But this time she nominated Qin Yunuan. It seemed that her target was Qin Yunuan. If not, then she just did it for the one behind her.

    ¡°It may be not so,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°all things have their own rules and...¡±

    ¡°The Buddha is epiphanic and there must be some monsters in his hall!¡± Before Qin Yunuan expressed her thoughts, a resonant and straight sound came and lingered in the hall, from the host of the praying ceremony, Master Hui An.

    All got shocked and looked at each other.

    ¡°You, this blind monk, don¡¯t tell bullshit,¡± Shangguan Yee disliked these monster-ghost things and she shouted outrageously, ¡°Peopleing here for praying are from noble families in the capital. There is no monster here. If you keep telling lies, I will ask my daddy to punish you.¡±

    ¡°If there does have?¡± Li Weijun said with a gloomy face, ¡°Master Hui An, go on.¡±

    Half a month ago, Shangguan Yee and Li Weijun still stood on the same side, helping Qin Yunzhuang, but today they were against each other. It seemed that Shangguan Yee had nothing to do with this issue, but this spoiled girl turned back and said, ¡°We alle here for praying but why you keep stirring up troubles?¡±

    ¡°Sister Shangguan, you are wrong,¡± Li Weijun turned back, ¡°I do this just for all of us. If this doubt is cleared, we all will have no misunderstanding.¡± And then she urged, ¡°Master Hui An, you are a highly cultivated monk in Buddhism. You must have known the inner truth.¡±

    Master Hui An just closed his eyes and rotated Dragon-eye Buddha Beads. He then said ¡°Amitabha¡± and opened his eyes, ¡°Is there anybody who was born in May?¡±

    Qin Yunuan got shocked a little but soon calmed down. She looked silent but somebody had known her tension. The so-called almighty and sophisticated maiden would be nervous too.

    Leng Changxi was staring at Qin Yunuan sideways. Their eyes jointed in this warm but gloomy air. Leng Changxi¡¯s straight body shined with a solemn coldness, which seemed to make Qin Yunuan trapped in the dark and couldn¡¯t find the exit.

    ¡°I remember that sister Yunuan was born in May, right?¡± At the hall, a ringing sound came, ¡°You are 15 years old on May fifth in the lunar calendar this year.¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned back and found the sound came from Li Weijun, who pointed at her. It seemed that Dou Qing¡¯e tried her best to hurt Qin Yunuan.

    Qin Yunuan answered calmly, ¡°I just met you once, but sister Li, you remember my birthday so clearly. I am very surprised and happy.¡±

    ¡°Anybody else?¡± Master Hui An opened his eyes with Buddha Beads in hands

    All shook heads and looked at Qin Yunuan strangely.

    Master Hui An held the Buddha Beads and added, ¡°One who was born in February will be the bad sign for her parents; one who was born in May will be the bad sign for her whole family. They are all ill omen.¡±

    Qin Yunuan answered slowly, ¡°It is well-known to us all, but you seemed to get something wrong. The one in February refers to girls while that in May refers to boys.¡±

    Master Hui An walked towards Qin Yunuan, pointing at her, ¡°The one born in May refers to a boy. That is right. But you are female outside while male inside, which is more ominous.¡±

    ¡°You are talking nonsense,¡± Fang Ziying broke out, ¡°my sister Qin Yunuan was born pure and beautiful. Howe she is female outside while male inside?¡±

    Master Hui An seemed to make it profound, shook his head and asked, ¡°Then, in recent days, was there any woman who had difficulty in giving birth at the mansion of Qin?¡±

    Qin Yunuan frowned and nodded, ¡°Yes, a concubine of my father had difficulty in giving birth two months ago, and finally she survived thanks to Ginseng.¡±

    Master Hui An seemed not to predict that Qin Yunuan answered so quickly, and he asked confidently, ¡°Recently, is there any elder brother of you who has note back yet and your father and even the maidservants in Qin family got hurt?¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°You are right. One of my elder brothers is travelling outside and haven¡¯t told us when he would be back. My father who apanied the Grand Prince for the south tour in the region of the Yangtze River was attacked by an assassin. He sprained his arm for taking a risk to safeguard the Grand Prince. As for my two elder sisters, one hurt her face in the pce and the other was punished not to go outside for making a mistake. All of your words are right.¡±

    After Qin Yunuan¡¯s words, gossiping was louder but only Leng Changxi kept silent like a fir at night, straight but cold. No one would know what he was waiting for. It might be for the dawn or darker night.

    ¡°Humph, you are a real hoodoo,¡± Li Weijun raised her voice, ¡°This daughter of a concubine hurt the family Qin. Why could she still live in this family?¡±

    ¡°So, the Grand Prince was attacked due to sister Qin Yunuan? It is concerned about the safety of the prince.¡± Somebody shouted.

    Master Hui An just closed her eyes disappointedly, soliloquizing, ¡°Amitabha, it¡¯s sin! Sin!¡±

    ¡°Master, you are right. But Yunuan had something to say.¡± Qin Yunuan stood sideways with a silent and pure face.

 Chapter 23 Contemptible Scoundrel

    <h4>Chapter 23 Contemptible Scoundrel</h4>

    ¡°You get nothing to report, just because of you, a concubine¡¯s daughter¡ªfemale inside but male outside, who was born in May. You led to the dystocia of a concubine of the mansion and almost disfigurement of your sister Qin, and caused your father and elder brother had no way to return home. Besides, I heard that your mother died of disease several years ago. You are really a hoodoo of your family.¡± Li Weijun turned back suddenly with her golden jade-gold-made hair sp shining. Family Li hade down now and Li Weijun was just the daughter of the stepmother of family Li. How could she buy such valuable jewelry?

    Qin Yunuan suddenly understood something. It seemed that Dou Qing¡¯e paid much money to n to hurt her.

    ¡°Sister Li, you have shown the evidence,¡± Qin Yunuan straightened her body and fought back, ¡°The concubine Chang in family Qin had difficulty in giving birth just because she was too exhausted before. My elder brother travelled far away just because he inherited my father¡¯s lecture ¡®Man should have higher ambition to conquer the world¡¯ to expand his horizon. My father was attacked just by the leftover evil people from East Qin. My elder sister got hurt on her face just by the unexpectedly crazy pet cat Shishi of the Empress, and finally my second sister was punished just because she mistrusted someone and did something wrong. All have nothing to do with me.¡±

    At this moment, someone in the crowd shook suddenly and said nothing. Qin Yunuan glimpsed at Shangguan Yee in a casual way who was upset now. Qin Yunuan just wanted Shangguan Yee to know that all her acts were well known by Dou Qing¡¯e and her daughter. The more the enemies¡¯ enemies were, the more benefits Qin Yunuan had.

    Li Weijun answered quickly, ¡°Even so, you, an evil girl, should be responsible for the constant misfortunes of family Qin. It was you that made the concubine had difficulty in giving birth. It was you that made your brother travel far away and could not return home. It was you that made your father get an attack, and it was you that made your two sisters turn unfortunate. You hurt the whole family. All have something to do with you!¡±

    While Li Weijun shouted there, Hui An kept rotating the dragon-eye Buddha Beads constantly aside. Suddenly, the beads were broken and all fell down on the marble bricks with ringing sounds, shaking all the hearts in this pce.

    ¡°It¡¯s a sin! Sin,¡± Hui An now turned to be miserable. He crouched and held the left beads, ¡°The dragon-eye Buddha Beads can suppress evil things, but now they were broken for no reason. The evil thing here has such a superpower.¡± He was staring at Qin Yunuan with bitter hatred, ¡°All are the dignity! Miss Qin Yunuan, I have no idea to save you.¡±

    ¡°Even master Hui An has no idea to save you. The solution is to kick Qin Yunuan out of the family so the family Qin can be exempt from the misfortune.¡± Li Weijun finally threw off her mask.

    Fang Ziying said calmly, ¡°That¡¯s the business of the family Qin. Anyone out of the family has no right to intervene. Li Weijun, you go too far.¡±

    Li Weijun disdained to humph and stared at Qin Yunuan only with aggressive eyes.

    Qin Yunuan suddenly said, ¡°¡¯He who has a mind to beat his dog will easily find his stick.¡¯ The Buddha delivers all living creatures from torment and will not nder anyone in his followers. I always behave myself all the time with a pure and kind heart. But now I am framed to be a hoodoo and that¡¯s why the Buddha cried.¡±

    All paid men would do what he needs to do. Master Hui An took the money from Madam Qin and added medicine in the meal of his senior fellow master Hui Neng to let him sleep all the time. He would not give up easily since he hade into this situation.

    ¡°How dare you,¡± Master Hui An clenched the cassock, ¡°The Buddha was epiphanic just now, howe it was just a misunderstanding? Sister Qin Yunuan, you exined too much but how do you exin that the Buddha was crying just now?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s simple,¡± Qin Yunuan said in a gentle voice as light as spring water, but there was something delight in her eyes, ¡°If you were willing to dispatch somebody to fetch the bloody tear and study it for a while, the whole thing would be clear very much.¡±

    Hui An was so surprised and shouted, ¡°The Buddha is saintly and no one can touch it, or he will be punished due to his impoliteness.¡±

    ¡°Qin Yunuan, you are so rude,¡± Li Weijun added, ¡°You are sullying the Buddha. This is a huge mistake!¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°So Master Hui An, you are not willing to investigate the whole thing?¡± She suddenly turned back to look at Leng Changxi, ¡°General Leng is the top rank officer here. So General Leng, what do you think of it?¡±

    Leng Changxi knew that this girl was sounding out him. He rubbed his index finger constantly and used his eagle-like sharp eyes to stared at QinYunuan¡¯s eyes as pure and clear as exquisite jades. The pure eyes also hid endless conspiracies. It was just at this moment that Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyesight made Leng Changxi shocked a little and absent-minded.

    ¡°If the Buddha is hurt due to misbehavior when someone climbs to take the blood tears, it will be a great disgrace to the Buddha. It is undesirable.¡± Hui An felt released after he heard Leng¡¯s words. But Leng Changxi then turned back and said to the servant behind him, ¡°You are good at flying Kung Fu. Go ahead to fetch the tea and remember that do not hurt the Buddha.¡±

    Hui An was shocked and his chin almost fell down. He blocked the servant, ¡°No, no! I need to ask for instructions toward my senior fellow.¡± He thought that he could dy for a while.

    ¡°Master Hui An, you just now said that Master Hui Neng was ill and no one could visit him. So you should not bother him only for asking for instructions. It is not a big thing. My servant is the mostpetent one who is good at flying Kung Fu in my military group, and he would not hurt the Buddha at all.¡± Leng Changxi raised his head and was like an audience who was watching a good show.

    ¡°But...¡± Master Hui An still tried to stop him but Qin Yunuan added, ¡°So Master Hui An, you want the bloody tear to remain on the face of the Buddha? If someone else sees it, gossiping will be the great disgrace toward the Buddha.¡±

    Master Hui An was in a dilemma and turned to be pale. He could not stop the servant. The servant just jumped higher sharply and wiped the face of the Buddha by a piece of purdah without treading anything, and then he fell down on the ground stably. He gave the white cloth full of blood to Leng Changxi and said, ¡°General, here is the bloody tear.¡±

    Qin Yunuan eximed in her heart that there were so many talented people around Leng Changxi.

    Leng Changxi sniffed closely the red water that looked like blood on the white cloth, and suddenlyughed scornfully and gave the cloth to someone aside him, ¡°Childish tricks.¡±

    Fang Ziying was urgent, ¡°So what is on earth the blood tear?¡±

    A young master in blue held the white cloth and sniffed clearly. He seemed to find something and raised his head, ¡°It is Red Flower Powder, used for boiling red eggs for weddings.¡±

    His words were definitely a thunder exploding here.

    ¡°Such a cheeky trick.¡± Someone sighed.

    Someone further added, ¡°This menial trick almost destroys our praying. If I can find the initiator, I will send him to the government.¡±

    Suddenly, the focus changed, and only Li Weijun did not give up, ¡°Whatever the blood tear is, the crying Buddha is the instruction from the Heaven, and it must be the evil omen.¡±

    The harder Li Weijun was, the funnier Qin Yunuan felt. She said to Master Hui An, ¡°Master Hui An, Master Hui Neng was ill and you are the only person who can make a decision in this temple. At present, someone uses Red Flower Powder trick to destroy our praying, and you must tell us if you will check the whole thing or not.¡± It was just a question but apparently, the answer was clear now.

    Master Hui An was in an urgent situation and had no other choices. He still insisted, ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll investigate! Even if the Buddha will be disdained, I will investigate this radically,¡± he called a young monk toe in and asked, ¡°Call all fellows together in Arhat Hall. I want to know who hade into the Great Buddha¡¯s Hall today.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, but there is no need to call together all people here,¡± Qin Yunuan stopped the young monk with a smile who was about to go out. All here were confused and Qin Yunuan waved her hands outward, ¡°Take the person in.¡±

    Just for a while, Tong and Maner controlled a young monk whose hands and feet were bound. The young monk was only 15 or 16 years old but with cunning eyes. He saw Master Hui An in the crowd. He seemed to find a life-saving straw and tried toe closer to him in a hurry.

    ¡°This time, my mother specially asked me to borrow a Buddhist scripture at Sutra Collection Pavilion in Wan¡¯an Temple for her singing and incense burning. So when we all rested in the East Side Hall, I dispatched two maidservants to fetch it. To their surprise, on their way, they met a young monk called Jie Chen who was furtive outside the pce. When we called him, he got panic and ran away, leaving a red candle. I nned to bind him and sent him to Master Hui Neng after the praying ceremony but now he should show up.¡±

    While she said those words, she took out the red candle from Jie Chen, ¡°He firstly added the Red Flower Powder into the candle and then dripped the candle onto the eyelids of the Buddha, waiting for the solidification of the candle when all did not notice the statue. The Buddha was high and it was hard to find a little candle on it. However, when we came in and started to pray, the temperature in this pce rose due to the burning charcoals. And then the candle melted and that¡¯s why the Buddha seemed to be crying at that time.¡±

    Qin Yunuan said in a gentle and calm voice. Her hair waved subtly due to the warm air caused by charcoals¡¯ burning. Leng Changxi listened to each word of her words carefully and thought her words were like tough pampas grass. She just disguised herself and remained aloof from the noisy world.

    ¡°But,¡± Qin Yunuan did not feel ufortable due to Leng Changxi¡¯s staring. She just tilted her head and said, ¡°There must be some reasons that such a young monk took a risk to insult the Buddha. Or he was guided by someone. Otherwise, he will pay the price.¡±

    ¡°Speak it out,¡± Fang Ziying pointed at Jie Chen, ¡°There must be someone behind you! Who is the person?¡±

    Jie Chen rotated her eyeballs and held the leg of Master Hui An, crying, ¡°Senior uncle, please forgive me. I have served you for so long. I know a lot of things about you. Your hobbies are well known to me. Uncle, if I got some trouble, you would not gain afortable life.¡±

    Master Hui An now had a serious face. He knew that Jie Chen was threatening him. If he punished Jie Chen, Jie Chen must say all out. He still wanted to live in Wan¡¯an Temple to earn more donations. Now he clenched his fist and decided not to let off Jie Chen.

    ¡°Go away,¡± Master Hui An suddenly raised his hand and pped Jie Chen, roaring, ¡°Master Hui Neng is absent, and now I will punish you, this menial guy, for my senior fellow.¡± And then he pped Jie Chen heavily again.

 Chapter 24 Endless Evil Plots

    <h4>Chapter 24 Endless Evil Plots</h4>

    ¡°Why are you so angry, Dignitary?¡± Leng Changxi cast a nce at Hui An, who was frozen with fear and did not dare to continue to p. He stood still, feeling terrified. The eyes of Leng Changxi were as cold as those of Asura.

    Being hit sharply by Hui An, Jie Chen rolled over several times and finally stopped by the feet of Qin Yunuan, who was pulled away by Maner and Tong in a hurry. She saw that Jie Chen opened his eyes widely and tried to say something with his hands holding the jaw. He stared at her in a begging way, like he was giving her a hint or just impressing his resentment.

    Qin Yunuan knew that his jaw was dislocated by Hui An, so that he would shut up.

    ¡°Drag him out and lock him in the wood-shed. His punishment will be releasedter,¡± said Hui An.

    Inside the hall, the cone incense was still burning quietly, and asionally, some ashes dropped off and scattered into the hot air. It took a long time for Hui An to calm down. He lowered his head and made an apology to Qin Yunuan. ¡°Please excuse us, Miss Qin. It was myck of rule that resulted in this matter. I don¡¯t know what had led to his irreverence, but I will surely find it out. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡±

    ¡°Although the Buddha¡¯s tears are not real, it might be true that Qin Yunuan had brought troubles to the Qin family.¡± Li Weijun insisted with uncertainty. She did not expect that Hui An would give up so soon. After all, on her way to the temple, she was so confident that they would make it.

    ¡°Why are you so obsessed with the family matters of sister Yunuan, Miss Li? Do you know anything, I guess?¡± Fang Ziying snorted coldly.

    That was true. The abnormal persistence of Li Weijun had attracted other people¡¯s attention. Everyone else was examining her, except one person¡ª that Childe in blue. Instead, he persuaded her gently, ¡°Knock it off, Weijun.¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows slightly. It seemed that they had a special rtionship.

    Li Weijun lost her tongue and presence of mind. She was just an inexperienced young girl who was not scheming enough. Such a bad choice showed that Dou Qing¡¯e was getting sort of desperate.

    Meanwhile, Hui An had preserved himself by betraying his disciple Jie Chen, which was worthwhile for him. As he was drawing a long sigh, Leng Changxi gave an oral instruction coldly. ¡°To find out the truth, you have to go to the bottom of this matter. Dignitary Hui An has to deal with the affairs of the temple, so he may not have enough energy to investigate. Leng Wu, stays there and assists Dignitary Hui An to reveal the whole truth.¡± The words ¡°reveal the whole truth¡± shot Hui An in the heart like arrows and he looked up fearfully. ¡°Do you have any problems, Dignitary Hui An?¡± Leng Changxi asked abruptly.

    Hui An did not dare to say too much. He knew Leng Changxi was a High General and also a favorite of the emperor. ¡°I have no problem.¡± He answered, with sweats trickling down his forehead.

    Inevitably, people were unpleasant as the praying ceremony ended up in a haste. At present, they all went back to their own room, ready to take a rest.

    Maner was loosening Qin Yunuan¡¯s hair when Lvliu pushed the door open and came in. ¡°Third Miss, I had borrowed four Buddhist scriptures Madam asked for from the Sutra Collection Pavilion.¡± She reported.

    Lvliu appeared to be a little bit exhausted. It could tell from her eyes that she was worried about something. Qin Yunuan looked up with a smile and took the Buddhist scriptures from her. ¡°That¡¯s great. Mother had specially reminded me to borrow the scriptures before taking off. But Maner and Tong were ck in their work and borrowed the wrong books. They are not as considerate as you are.¡±

    ¡°You are very modest, Third Miss. Your servant girls are not only helpful, but also good at catching bad people.¡± Lvliu said sarcastically.

    Although she said this in a low voice, everyone had heard what she said clearly. The faces of Maner and Tong turned red at those words. It seemed that they were trying to control their tempers.

    ¡°You are right, sister Lvliu.¡± Qin Yunuan untied her hair band leisurely and loosened her chignon. Her hair was brilliantly ck and soft, like the waterfall pouring down or the waterweeds dancing along with the waves, which made her face with light make-up look smarter and more attractive. ¡°If it were not for their prompt discovery of Jie Chen¡¯s evil doing, I could not exin myself away even if I have a thousand mouths. Is that right, Lvliu?¡±

    Qin Yunuanbed her long hair and looked at Lvliu who was annoyed. She did not believe that she had nothing to do with this matter. But right now, her father, the head of the family, had not returned to the Royal City and they were still under the control of Dou Qing¡¯e. Or else, she would definitely reveal the true nature of these treacherous viins.

    However, Lvliu was also a tough person. ¡°It was very admirable for two servant girls to protect their Miss out of loyalty. But you¡¯d better keep the ethics and rites in your mind, Third Miss. Do not do anything indiscreet at the Buddha Dharma Sermonter.¡± She said this with her neck straightened up, and then left after making a curtsey.

    ¡°Bah, what an arrogant maidservant! How dare she speak to you in this way.¡± Tong was a candid person. She stamped her foot and said angrily, ¡°She just took advantage of Grand Madam and assumed great airs. She showed no respect to you, Miss.¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised her hand slowly and poured herself a cup of hot tea. The fragrance of the tea was diffused all around and her lips had sweet perfumes. ¡°That¡¯s just what people said: a dog bites on the strength of its master¡¯s position.¡±

    Maner stroked her chest and said, ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect that Lvliu would do such things. If we had not found out her intention and followed her secretly, we would not have seen her meeting with Jie Chen, and then the rumors that you were a hoodoo would have been spread out in the Royal City. Grand Madam was really cold-hearted.¡±

    Qin Yunuan shook her head and said, ¡°Dou Qing¡¯e is a detail-minded person. Now that she failed this time, she woulde out with a better n. Besides, have you noticed the reaction of Lvliu? She was calm and hurried and even a little confident. I¡¯m afraid that this is not the end.¡±

    ¡°Please rest assured, Third Miss,¡± Maner said confidently, ¡°We will be more careful and make no mistakes.¡±

    Tong also looked at her and nodded repeatedly like a pecking chicken. Qin Yunuan knew about their loyalty very well in her previous life. Now, the two faithful girls were busy helping her again. Thinking about this, Qin Yunuan held their hands tightly and made a firm promise to them. ¡°I will never let anyone hurt any of you, ever.¡±

    During the break, Maner and Tong guarded the door for Qin Yunuan in turns. During the period between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., the Misses woke up one after another. Qin Yunuan also called Maner and Tong to help her change dresses andb hair.

    Hardly had Qin Yunuan hold her hair with a hairpin when Fang Ziying showed up with her servant girls. ¡°Well, well. Who¡¯s this beautiful girl? Oops, it¡¯s my sister Yunuan.¡± She joked at her as soon as she came in.

    Qin Yunuan, who was amused by Fang Ziying, covered her smile with a handkerchief and said to her, ¡°You are getting more and more smooth-tongued, sister Fang. Tell me, do you learn this from any young master?¡±

    ¡°That was not sweet talk.¡± Fang Ziying ordered her servant girl to bring her a seat. She sat beside Qin Yunuan and then said to her, ¡°They all take Qin Yunzhuang as the No.1 beauty in the Royal City, but I like you more than her. You have delicate features as well as simple and elegant bearings. Speaking of Childe...¡± Fang Ziying took the brocade box handed over by the servant girl and continued speaking with a sly grin. ¡°Actually, I was entrusted by a young master to bring something for you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s ¡®The Lotus Sutra¡¯.¡± Qin Yunuan stroked the delicately packed manuscript in the brocade box. Its spine was as smooth as silk. From the vigorous handwriting of ¡®The Lotus Sutra¡¯ on the dark blue cover, it could tell that the calligraphy was written by Dignitary Hui Neng. ¡°It was the manuscript of Dignitary Hui Neng. How precious it is! Who gave it to you?¡±

    ¡°Well, you do like it. I was worrying that he might have chosen the wrong gift when he asked me to give it to you in order to make amends.¡± It seemed that Fang Ziying was teasing Qin Yunuan. She took a sip of the tea served by the maid and then said with a smile. ¡°Who could it be? It¡¯s the young master in blue who had spoken for you at the Great Buddhist¡¯s Hall.¡±

    ¡°We only met once and have no further contact. Why would he make amends by sending me a gift?¡± Qin Yunuan frowned and tried to figure out what was going on.

    ¡°Oh, silly girl. He wasn¡¯t doing it for himself. He was making amends for his sister¡¯s wrong-doing.¡± Fang Ziying said with her eyes widened. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that the young master in blue is the third legal son of the Li family? He is Li Weijun¡¯s third brother, Li Jiaxuan.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s from the Li Family.¡± Qin Yunuan murmured. All of a sudden, she felt that the manuscript became a hot potato that made her mentally disturbed. From the crying Buddha statue, she had learned a lesson about how hard it was to guard herself against the evil plots. Hui An must have something to do with Dou Qing¡¯e. And she had no idea how Dignitary Hui Neng was. Right now, she was not on her own turf.

    Fang Ziying was not aware of Qin Yunuan¡¯s worries. ¡°It is said that the nine sons of the dragon differed from each other. I think Li Jiaxuan was very different from Li Weijun in their characters. He is upright and polite, but she is.... s. I just heard that Li Weijun was getting closer to Qin Yunzhuang these days. You¡¯d better be more careful in your family, sister Yunuan.¡± She sighed.

    ¡°I know that.¡± Qin Yunuan forced a smile and patted Fang Ziying¡¯s knee. Maner came to her side instantly as Qin Yunuan cast a nce at the manuscript on the table. ¡°Please allow me to keep the manuscript for you, Third Miss.¡± Maner was a smart girl. If Lvliu saw the scripture, then Dou Qing¡¯e would know it as well.

    ¡°Come on. The Buddha Dharma Sermon is about to start. We need to hurry up.¡± Fang Ziying took hold of Qin Yunuan¡¯s arm and they went out of the room together.

    There were eighteen arhats at the Arhats Hall in the Wan¡¯an Temple. They had different facial expressions and postures. Some of them were lying and the others looked angry. However, they all looked serious and dignified, which made people feel peaceful and solemn as soon as they entered the Arhats Hall.

    Qin Yunuan and Fang Ziying came early. There were only a couple of people there, and Leng Changxi was one of them. Under the plum tree in the courtyard, he stood still by himself like a stone sculpture, looking lonesome and icy.

    ¡°General Leng.¡± This was the first time Qin Yunuan had initiated a conversation with Leng Changxi. Her voice was a bit dry and unapproachable, but it still made his heart thumped. ¡°What?¡± He turned his head leisurely and answered in a voice as smooth as theke surface. The enthusiasm bubbling up inside him was concealedpletely by himself.

 Chapter 25 Burn All the Bridges

    <h4>Chapter 25 Burn All the Bridges</h4>

    Qin Yunuan was used to his cold and distant appearance. She lowered her head and asked even more politely, ¡°I was just wondering whether the mastermind behind Jie Chen was found? How did it go?¡± She raised her head. Her eyes were as clear as the guiding stars in the night sky. No mirror could be this clear after times of wiping and cleaning.

    ¡°Miss Qin, you will knowter.¡± Leng Changxi stroked the corners of his mask with his long, bamboo-like fingers. The icy mask made out a rhythm. ¡°Third Miss, you seemed to be very concerned.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded, ¡°I shall even the score. The one who did this was trying to ruin my reputation, using such a low-ss method.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Leng Changxi stretched his neck. Theziness in his tone was slightly inconsistent with his cold temperament, ¡°You are always that kind of person who wants an eye for an eye.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s startled eyes met him, and then her eyes went as if she had wanted to look deep into his heart. ¡°I had only met General twice. Don¡¯t you feel a bit arbitrary saying this?¡±

    Fang Ziying wasing out of the hall, calling Qin Yunuan. Taking a deep breath, Qin Yunuan turned her face to Leng Changxi and said, ¡°General Leng, excuse me.¡± She then left.

    ¡°Qin Yunuan, we know each other more than you do.¡± Leng Changxi smirked.

    Qin Yunuan left in a hurry, without noticing Leng Changxi¡¯s ridiculous words.

    After burning half a column of incense, everyone was here except two. One was today¡¯s lecture, the dignitary Hui An. The other was Leng Changxi, who was still appreciating snow in the courtyard.

    ¡°Master, was the dignitary Hui An well? Why hasn¡¯t hee out after such a long period of time?¡± Li Jiaxuan looked elegant in his blue-based white robe. He asked the young monk at the door, joining hands together in salute.

    The young monk seemed a little embarrassed. He bowed his head and did not answer.

    ¡°Oh? General Leng is gone, too.¡±

    Hardly had Shangguan Rang finished his words, A dark, blue shadow appeared at the door. It was Leng Changxi who arrived early but disappeared. His athletic body covered most of the frame. The blue robe seemed casual and elegant, but it couldn¡¯t conceal the cold light shing in his eyes. The coldness made whoever met his eyes fell from the warm spring into the frosty winter.

    Leng Changxi looked more gloomy than before.

    Everyone raised their heads. Someone said, ¡°It¡¯s freezing outside, General. Come in quickly and warm up.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Leng Changxi looked up, secretly counting the number of people in the lobby. It would be best if everyone was here.

    ¡°We have found out,¡± said Leng Changxi, walking down the steps, ¡°that Jie Chen confessed about the Buddha¡¯s tears.¡±

    ¡°Who was the person behind?¡± Someone asked.

    ¡°Hui An,¡± Leng Changxi replied, ¡°Hui An put medicine in the meal of the dignitary Hui Nengst night, leaving Master Hui Neng unconscious so that he could take the ce of Hui Neng and host the blessing today. He also gave Jie Chen his acquiescence to go into the Great Buddhist¡¯s Hall and ce red wax.¡±

    ¡°No, Hui An is highly respected. How could a dignitary...¡± Someone doubted, ¡°Do you, General Leng, have any evidence?¡±

    Leng Changxi leaned to the side, and Leng Wu beside him spread out a bag in his hands to everyone.

    ¡°We found these in Hui An¡¯s room. Red wax, drugs and a stack of money from an unknown origin. How can a monk obtain so much money?¡±

    Looking at the neatly arranged evidence in the bag, Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help but sigh in her heart with amazement. Leng Changxi carried out his task resolutely. No other people could find out through investigation and gave solid evidence in such a short time like him.

    Qin Yunuan looked at Leng Changxi with suspicion. Hui An pped Jie Chen in the face, making him speechless. It could never be that simple, Qin Yunuan recalled.

    Leng Changxi seemed to ignore this deliberately. Qin Yunuan felt the difficulty in making a detailed inquiry, but she knew that Leng had his reason in doing so.

    ¡°So he bluffed intentionally, fooled us with a crying Buddha statue and answered our questions with a sophisticated look. He did all this to raise his reputation. That was not what gentlemen do!¡± Li Jiaxuan mmed resentfully on the table. His elegant face was full of anger.

    Li Jiaxuan understood the incident in this way. Facing the series of discussions triggered by his words, Qin Yunuan calmed down. She heard that Li Jiaxuan had been studying at the Imperial College. Just as she expected, the less one was involved in family businesses, the less they would understand about the cruelty of it. Li Jiaxuan could never figure out through his life, that everything was carefully arranged by her legal mother, Dou Qing¡¯e, to ruin her reputation.

    ¡°Shameless.¡± Someone said angrily, following Li Jiaxuan¡¯s words, ¡°He did not deserve the fame.¡±

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t open her mouth. She looked at Leng Changxi out of the corner of her eye. Leng was calm and indifferent as if he had been waiting for the discussion to end. After a while, he said gently, ¡°If so, it¡¯s reasonable to understand Hui An in creating a false appearance of the Buddha statue crying. But in this Arhats Hall, another person is also involved.¡±

    Silence fell again.

    Leng Changxi smirked with a wicked charm. He lifted the loose sleeve of his embroidered robe and pointed at Qin Yunuan. ¡°It¡¯s the Third Miss of Qin.¡± He didn¡¯t finish the sentence, seemingly waiting for Qin Yunuan¡¯s reaction. Qin Yunuan though pretended to stay calm under the inspection of everyone, her confused and blinking eyes revealed her heart. Look, she could be scared. Leng¡¯s mood brightened up inexplicably. He then continued, ¡°It¡¯s Third Miss¡¯ servant girl, Lvliu. Bring her up.¡±

    The tension in Qin Yunuan¡¯s gaze disappeared. As those eyes of disdain and inspection were taken off from her, she remained to focus on Leng Changxi. It was as if her heart had been stuffed with cotton. Emotions and words choked in her throat.

    With a quick flick of the finger, Lvliu was sent in. Her hands and feet were tied up by Leng Changxi¡¯s men. Dead silence filled her eyes, and her dark pupil lost vitality.

    ¡°How could the servant girl of Third Miss be rted to this matter?¡± Fang Ziying tried to rify the innocence of Qin Yunuan. ¡°General Leng, did you catch the wrong person?¡±

    Leng Changxi nced at Fang Ziying, and said quietly, ¡°If this Lvliu had always stayed by Third Miss¡¯ side, nothing could be fishy. But there was ck dirt on her soles. Wan¡¯an Temple was located in rugged terrain. The soil was usually scarce, mostly alkaline and red if any. Only one ce around the Wan¡¯an Temple had ck soil.¡±

    Leng Changxi turned to look at Lvliu, who bowed her head with low spirits. ¡°That is the ce behind the Great Buddhist¡¯s Hall. The dignitary Hui Neng took the nutritious ck soil downhill to grow begonia flowers. Miss Lvliu, the mud on your shoes is semi-dry. At least two hours have passed after the shoes were contaminated. We were resting in the East Side Hall. Why didn¡¯t you wait for Third Miss but ran to the back of the Great Buddhist¡¯s Hall?¡±

    After Leng Changxi finished, the servant beside him, named Deng San, also took out a yellow paper bag in his arms and unfolded it for everyone to see. ¡°We just found this from the girl.¡±

    ¡°Red Flower Powder.¡± Li Jiaxuan recognized the red powder in the paper bag at a nce. ¡°You are saying that this servant girl, Lvliu, gave Jie Chen the Red Flower Powder to create the bloody tears?

    Lvliu lowered her head, hiding under her hair. She refused to say anything.

    ¡°It must be that way.¡± Fang Ziying bit her teeth, ¡°It¡¯s difficult to prevent the thief inside one¡¯s house. The bitchy little girl colluded with Jie Chen and Hui An to destroy sister Yunuan¡¯s reputation. These are all lies, saying the Buddha statue was crying, or it was unlucky to be born in May.

    Li Jiaxuan nodded and then said, ¡°In this way, Third Miss would be the target of public criticism, and her reputation would also be damaged. That¡¯s such a merciless scheme. Third Miss Qin, have you offended anyone in the past?¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised her eyes gently with distress.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Qin Yunuan bit her lips and appeared to forbear from speaking. ¡°I thought of myself as a humble woman. Ipromised even after my sister was scratched by a cat in the pce. She changed her temper and didn¡¯t treat me as nice as before. After my second sister was punished, I sent a girl who could sing the Yue opera to relieve her boredom. But on the second day, she was beaten up. Yunuan knew that both sisters were just in a bad mood and didn¡¯t dare to provoke them. I have been living inside the mansion since my childhood. There were no other people that I might have offended.¡±

    A careless remark may reveal much to an attentive listener. Qin Yunuan¡¯s words sounded like a justification for Qin Yunzhuang and Qin Yuwan, but the fact was that she exposed the shaking viciousness of the two sisters inside the mansion.

    Those girls that Qin Yunzhuang had offended came immediately tofort Qin Yunuan.

    Leng Changxi raised an eyebrow, ¡°Unfortunately, this Lvliu wouldn¡¯t say anything, otherwise, I can find some clues for you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked up slowly. Leng Changxi was tall and Qin Yunuan needed to raise her head slightly to meet his eyes. If she ignored the details, everything would make sense. However, Dou Qing¡¯e was very cautious. How could Lvliu, the person that she chose, to be so careless that she didn¡¯t even wipe off the mud on her shoes or even get rid of the Red Flower Powder after it happened?

    Leng Changxi was a man of mystery to her. Qin Yunuan looked straight into his cold eyes. The secrets for him seemed to be endless. Qin Yunuan¡¯s heartbeats synchronized with the sound of the golden bell ringing in the distance. She thought that she would stay calm despite everything. But she was still panic in front of Leng Changxi.

 Chapter 26 Beg for Oneâ€™s Own Luck

    <h4>Chapter 26 Beg for One¡¯s Own Luck</h4>

    The blessing ceremony was ruined, and the lecture was ridiculous. When everyone was at loose ends about the bad luck, a young monk ran into the door and reported, ¡°Xuan Zhi, the dignitary Xuan Zhi is here.¡±

    ¡°Today¡¯s Buddha Dharma Sermon was disturbed for the detention of Hui An, and I feel extremely sorry for that. Therefore, I invited the dignitary Xuan Zhi who, luckily, was traveling in the surrounding area. Master Xuan Zhi¡¯s Dharma is profound. I believe that his words can be thought-provoking.¡± Leng Changxi continued his words slowly, ¡°For the three of them, Hui An, Jie Chen, and Lvliu, they should be liable for disturbing the ceremony, showing disrespect for the Buddha and also ndering Third Miss Qin. Since it happened in the Wan¡¯an Temple, Jie Chen and Hui An were all disciples of the temple. I am going to leave them to the dignitary Hui Neng. Does anyone have an opinion about that?¡±

    Xuan Zhi was as famous as Hui Neng in the Qi Empire. However, he was always cultivating himself behind closed doors and seldom met guests. Those who could invite him were by no means ordinary. Everyone looked at Leng Changxi with quite different eyes. There was naturally no objection to Leng Changxi¡¯s proposal and people nodded in agreement.

    After the Sermon, Qin Yunuan was about to go back to the side room to pack things up for the return. A young monk ran to her with a letter in his hand and saluted. ¡°Third Miss Qin, this was a letter to Madam Qin from our Master Hui Neng.¡± Then he pointed to Lvliu in the distance, ¡°Master would like that girl to stay in the temple and take punishment. Master thought that he should notice Madam Qin. I would appreciate it if Third Miss could hand it over.¡±

    ¡°Master Hui Neng waspassionate and I should learn from him.¡± Qin Yunuan returned a salute respectfully. The young monk walked away, scratching his head. He couldn¡¯t understand Qin Yunuan¡¯s words. Howpassionate could the punishment be?

    Qin Yunuan sighed slightly. This young monk might never understand. If Lvliu returned to the Qin Mansion as a servant whose mischief was revealed, Dou Qing¡¯e would not spare her. She might rather die to live. Leaving her at the temple was saving her life. The dignitary Hui Neng was wise enough to decide in this way.

    Qin Yunuan was about to leave when a sharp cry sounded behind her, ¡°Third Miss, please stay for a moment. Lvliu had something to say.¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned around slowly and saw Lvliu breaking free from the two monks and running towards her. As she stepped back subconsciously, Maner and Tong blocked in front to prevent her froming closer.

    ¡°Our Miss has nothing to say with you. What evil tricks are you ying this time?¡± Tong put malicious words on Lvliu.

    Lvliu was overwhelmed by sadness. Gritting her teeth, she kneeled in front of Qin Yunuan. ¡°Third Miss, I knew that I was wrong. I was possessed by the devil, but I had no choice. My father and mother passed away early, and I struggled my life with my younger sister in the Qin family. I had to obey Madam¡¯s order, or my sister would be in danger. I had to...¡±

    ¡°Bah,¡± Tong didn¡¯t show any sympathy for this arrogant and vicious girl, ¡°You came to hurt our Miss for your sister¡¯s safety. You are selfish.¡±

    ¡°Who is your sister?¡± Qin Yunuan asked gently.

    Lvliu said with tears in her eyes, ¡°Fusheng, the porter girl you sent to Second Miss¡¯ courtyard.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you two are sisters,¡± Maner couldn¡¯t help and said, ¡°Having such an evil elder sister, no wonder the younger one is also wicked.¡±

    Qin Yunuan frowned slightly and spoke to Lvliu, ¡°Why do you say these to me?¡±

    What could Lvliu do? What could she do after she had been arrested? She had dealt with the ck dirt on her soles and the Red Flower Powder, but those things appeared again under General Leng¡¯s inspection. Now that she had nowhere to hide under their eyes, it was already a miracle to live.

    ¡°I begged for nothing but the mercy of Third Miss for my sister. Fusheng was threatened by Madam to report to her. Now that she had been sent to Second Miss. She was beaten and scolded every day. Her life was not good.¡± Lvliu said with a trembling voice. She would kowtow for the happiness of her sister¡¯s life.

    ¡°Do you want me to protect your sister at the Qin house?¡± Qin Yunuan snorted. Lvliu was daydreaming if she thought so.

    Lvliu choked and did not dare to speak. After a while, she said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t that arrogant. I just wish that Third Miss would stop embarrassing my sister.¡±

    ¡°Stop embarrassing?¡± Qin Yunuan leaned over. The hot breath condensed into a white mist and gradually spread in the cold air. However, sorrow congealed on her eyebrows. ¡°Was my embarrassment harsher than your suppression? Why would I fight back if you don¡¯t even start the war with one trick after another? Now you are lucky enough to live in the Wan¡¯an Temple, under the surveince of the Leng Army. Fusheng had to beg for her own luck. You were born in the Qin¡¯s Mansion, and you know best what the inner yard was like.¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned to leave. Lvliu suddenly shouted, ¡°Something was in the scriptures. Third Miss, there was something in the scriptures.¡±

    As dusk approached, a few strokes of turquoise color were added to the sky. Under the snow that had not yet melt, tender green grass sprang up. The condensed mist was burning in the golden sunset, peaceful and warm.

    Qin Yunuan stood by the Qin Family¡¯s carriage, saying farewell to Fang Ziying.

    ¡°I know it is not easy for you toe out. If there is a chance in the future, I will go to the mansion of Grand Commandant for a chat.¡± Fang Ziying held Qin Yunuan by the hand, unwilling to part. It was not easy to find a close friend.

    ¡°Never mind,¡± Qin Yunuan was also reluctant. She was locked in the yard by her legal mother every day and had no friends in her previous life. She was like a domesticated animal, embroidering for her sister constantly. Fang Ziying was her first friend. ¡°You are the legal daughter of the Grand Tutor. They may criticize if you lower your status ande to see me, which was not good for you or me. We will meet someday if we had the chance.¡±

    Around them, youngdies and masters were boarding the carriage to return. Few people lingered in front of the gate.

    The two were about to continue their chat when a high-pitched male voice came in the distance, ¡°Fourth Miss Fang and Third Miss Qin had such a deep friendship. I¡¯m starting to envy.¡±

    Shangguan Rang strode towards them, expanded his folding fan in front of Qin Yunuan and started waving pretentiously.

    ¡°Why do you envy the friendship of girls?¡± Fang Ziying nced. She had always looked down on those silly heads of the Shangguan Family. She even argued with Shangguan Yeest time on the road to the pce.

    Shangguan Yee was sitting on a troika, of which the dark purple curtains were neatly tasseled and shook in the mountain wind. She was obviously in a bad mood, leaning on the carriage window and stared at them.

    Maner said that Shangguan Yee was furious when returning to her room at noon, giving her servant girl two ps in the face. She must have got the news of Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s face recovered and was very upset about it.

    Shangguan Rang failed to notice the fury in Shangguan Yee¡¯s eyes. He reached to Qin Yunuan and said more cheekily, ¡°What I envy about was not your friendship but Fourth Miss Fang. She was unforgettable in your mind. I wish that someday, I will also have this honor.¡±

    ¡°You are shameless to say it in public, young master Shangguan.¡± Qin Yunuan gazed coldly at Shangguan Rang, who thought he was romantic.

    Shangguan Rang stroke his fan and smiled as if he had been enchanted, ¡°I speak from the bottom of my heart. Why would I be shameless?¡±

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t want to have much involvement with this kind of man. She turned around to leave, but Shangguan Rang caught her up and asked, ¡°I spent thousands on a piece of luxurious silk. Would you appreciate it with me?¡±

    ¡°My carriage is ready. Appreciating will postpone the returning time.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s ok.¡± Shangguan Rang continued to ask, ¡°I heard that Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion was in charge of refurbishing the White Horse Academy. It can bepleted on the third day of March. Third Miss Qin, may I invite you on a trip to the Academy next time?¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded politely. ¡°I am a female family member. It is not easy for me to go out of the house. Besides, going out alone with young master Shangguan might be inappropriate.¡±

    ¡°Well...¡± Shangguan Rang was trying to invite again, but a voice cold like the abyss murmured, ¡°Young Master Shangguan, aren¡¯t you cold? You¡¯re waving your fan in winter.¡±

    Who else would have it been if this charismatic voice hadn¡¯t been from Leng Changxi?

    Qin Yunuan was already sitting on the carriage. She lifted the curtain subconsciously when hearing the voice. Leng Changxi stood straight like a pine tree, but the dark stubble around his jaw revealed his fatigue. Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion was in charge of the refurbishing of the White Horse Academy, and Leng Changxi was also responsible for some follow-up affairs with the East Qin, plus everything that happened on today¡¯s blessing. Things had been tough for a 19-year-old boy like him.

    Leng Changxi stood with his hands behind his back under the carriage and said to Shangguan Rang coldly, ¡°This is the carriage of the Third Miss Qin. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not good manners if a young master lingers around here.¡±

    Shangguan Rang was a little awkward. He nodded with a smile and said, ¡°I just want to invite...¡±

    ¡°I heard that.¡± Disdain lingered on Leng Changxi¡¯s lips. ¡°Firstly, the silk that you bought was a secondary product from the Yuman Embroidery Shop in the east of our Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. It took far less than thousands of tael of gold. Secondly, the White Horse Academy would bepleted not on the third day of March, but the first day. If you really want a trip here, don¡¯t get it wrong. Thirdly...¡±

    Hearing this, Shangguan Rang had a burst ofplexion and was even more astonished to hear an extra ¡°third¡±. As he lifted his head, he saw Leng Changxi reaching out and pointing towards the carriage of the Shangguan Mansion. ¡°Miss Shangguan has been waiting for a long time. If you don¡¯t return, she might be angry.¡±

    Shangguan Rang put on airs outside the house, but he was afraid of his father and would listen to his younger sister. Everyone knew that secret.

    Watching Shangguan Rang¡¯s back retreating hurriedly, Qin Yunuan sighed in relief and lowered the carriage curtain. She held up a hand warmer on the small wooden table.

    ¡°I have something to tell you.¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s voice prated through the thick cotton curtain like a sharp arrow, shaking Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart. She leaned towards the cotton curtain, and said in an even more polite tone, ¡°What do you have to say?¡±

 Chapter 27 Hidden Mystery

    <h4>Chapter 27 Hidden Mystery</h4>

    Leng Changxi focused his sight. There seemed to be light glowing in his dark pupil, as if he had wanted to look through the thick carriage curtain to take a good look at the eyes that sometimes indulged him. She was not a woman with the perfect face, but Leng Changxi found it difficult to keep his eyes off her. However, she seemed to be pretty defensive against him.

    ¡°General Leng?¡± Maner called him softly, ¡°If you have nothing else to say, our miss has to return home now. The mansion of Grand Commandant is quite far from here. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s already toote.¡±

    ¡°This, give this to your miss.¡± Leng Changxi took out a three-inch tall white porcin bottle from his sleeve and handed it to Maner. ¡°It was also found from Lvliu. After careful consideration, I didn¡¯t take it out at Arhats Hall. However, I think it¡¯s necessary that she knows about this.¡± Leng Changxi finished his words, then he flicked his sleeves and leave, bringing a wave of light and shadow.

    ¡°Weirdo.¡± Maner turned around and handed the porcin container to Qin Yunuan, and muttered, ¡°He was so focused when staring at your carriage that I thought he was going to do something bad.¡±

    ¡°Alright now, you can¡¯t talk about others like that behind their back.¡± Qin Yunuan whispered softly, ¡°It¡¯s cold outside, let Tonge in to sit in the carriage together.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s inappropriate,¡± Maner wanted to refuse, ¡°You¡¯re the mistress and we are just your maids.¡±

    Qin Yunuan held Maner¡¯s hand and smiled, ¡°Now that Lvliu¡¯s not here, don¡¯t be so constrained. You¡¯re treating me like an outsider now. Besides, it would be warmer with more people.¡±

    Maner and Tong couldn¡¯t refuse it anymore. Besides, the sun was about to set, and wind started blowing.

    Maner and Tong got on the carriage. Maner covered Qin Yunuan with a quilt and Tong was doing massage for Qin Yunuan¡¯s leg. She said, ¡°You¡¯re either kneeling or standing today, miss. You must be tired.¡±

    Qin Yunuan felt a bit tired and she pressed on her eyebrows, squinting her eyes. What happened today shed through her mind again and again. Suddenly, she thought of the hysteric final call of Lvliu, ¡°There¡¯s something in the sutra.¡± She opened her eyes and said, ¡°Give me the bottle that General Leng gave me, and the four sutra Lvliu took from Sutra Collection Pavilion.

    The horse-drawn carriage moved slowly, and asionally bumped due to the curve and scattered stones on the mountain road.

    Qin Yunuan sat in the carriage, leaned on the pillow, and looked at the several sutras one by one. She did not want to miss a single word. Sure enough. When she was halfway through the second sutra, she saw a thin piece of paper falling out from it. There was a verse written on it, ¡°Where there¡¯s drought was once the sea, there¡¯s no cloud except in Wushan. I didn¡¯t even bother looking at the flowers, as I am half devoted to Buddhism and half devoted to you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a love poem,¡± Qin Yunuan frowned, ¡°What about the bottle? What¡¯s in it? Let me see.¡± Qin Yunuan sniffed at the opening of the bottle. There¡¯s no smell at all. She directly poured out a small amount of powder, picked a little bit, hesitated for a moment, and was about to taste it.

    ¡°Third Miss, don¡¯t!¡± Maner stopped her quickly, ¡°Who knows if this powder is poison or not? Let me try it for you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. No matter how confused she was, my mother won¡¯t poison me. Poisoning is way too low for her.¡± Before Qin Yunuan finished her sentence, she licked a bit of the powder and shut her mouth. After a short while, she felt her body getting warm. She quickly swallowed some water and came to the conclusion, ¡°It¡¯s Cold-Food Powder.¡±

    In her past life, Qin Yunuan¡¯s eldest brother, Qin Linfeng was addicted to Cold-Food Powder before Qin Yunzhuang got married for no reason. Qin Yunuan had seen him taking Cold-Food Powder during seizures and naturally got familiar with it.

    However, Qin Yunuan did not expect that Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s way would be so vicious and vulgar. If Lvliu did not get caught for what she did, she would be adding the Cold-Food Powder to Qin Yunuan¡¯s food and drinks. By that time, the Cold-Food Powder would hallucinate her and drive her crazy. She could then find a random man to use her of misbehavior with the love poem in the sutra as the prove. Then, the reputation of the mansion of Grand Commandant would be ruined. For Qin Yunuan¡¯s father, a conservative and reputable person, he would chase her out of the mansion to protect his reputation. Dou Qing¡¯e had a very clear purpose for this trip. Apparently, she can¡¯t tolerate Qin Yunuan anymore.

    ¡°I should have known that Dou Qing¡¯e has a second move if the first move fails. The love poem in the sutra, the hallucinating Cold-Food Powder.¡± The more Qin Yunuan thought of it, the creepier it got. She slumped on the table with one hand, ¡°She did not ruin my name by making the buddha cry, and yet she tried to ruin my reputation by using me of having a private affair.¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart was heavily shaded. If Leng Changxi did not discover Lvliu¡¯s tricks promptly, or if he did not hand the porcin bottle to her afterwards, Qin Yunuan would only know it when it happens, but not having the advantage of being preemptive now.

    ¡°Luckily Lvliu told Third Miss due to conscience and guilt at thest moment,¡± Maner sighed.

    ¡°No,¡± Qin Yunuan was utterly calm, ¡°It was not guilt. She was just betting on the secret in exchange if her sister¡¯s safety.¡±

    ¡°Third Miss, shall I throw the love poem away? If anyone discovers....¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t, Maner. Keep it. The sutra is for my mother. If she found out that it¡¯s missing, she would know that I am expecting her n.¡± Qin Yunuan half leaned on the pillow. She just applied Huayulu to the frostbite on her hand. The clear texture soothed her pain. Her wound was almost healed after using it for half a month. At this moment, Qin Yunuan was like a warrior who was ready. She opened the curtain and looked far away, mumbling, ¡°Father ising back, right? It¡¯s time that he realizes how madam, who he trusted so much, maniptes and controls the whole Qin Family.¡±

    At about six, the carriage stopped at the gate of the mansion of Grand Commandant. The only person waiting there to greet them was Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s maid, Xiu Gu.

    ¡°Master will return tomorrow so madam is busy at the moment and couldn¡¯te out to meet you, Third Miss.¡± Xiu Gu smiled and directed her subordinates to remove things from the carriage for Qin Yunuan. Especially when she noticed the extra books, her face lit up immediately. She praised,¡± Madam has been longing for the sutra for a long time. Now that Third Miss had borrowed them all, Madam must be very happy.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, my father ising back tomorrow.¡± Qin Yunuan muttered, with rosy joy on her face, looking pure and innocent.

    ¡°Sister,¡± apanied by a loud shout, Qin Yunuan saw a figure rushing out of the corner door, running out of the yard to Qin Yunuan. He was wearing a brown robe and he cried, ¡°Sister, you¡¯re finally back. See, this is the little robe nurse Liao made me from your old robe. It¡¯s ugly! So ugly! I am the Second Master of Qin Family. Why can¡¯t I have new robe and new clothes?¡±

    Qin Yunuan was stunned. Baochuan had always been sensible. However, she saw the savvy eyes of Xiu Gu looking at Baochuan constantly, seemingly guessing whether Qin Baochuan¡¯s words and emotions were real. Qin Yunuan got it immediately and she persuaded Baochuan, ¡°Baochuan, I¡¯ve tolerated you making troubles in the yard, but now you are making troubles out here. If father sees you like this tomorrow, he will get angry again. Come on, let¡¯s go back inside with me.¡±

    Qin Baochuan turned his head, posing a look of dissatisfaction, and continued to mutter that he was the Second Master of the Qin family and he deserves good food and drinks.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry that you have to see all these, Xiu Gu.¡± Qin Yunuan looked as if she¡¯s disappointed.

    Xiu Gu¡¯s eyes shed sharply, and she immediately said, ¡°It¡¯s alright. If there¡¯s nothing else I could help you, Third Miss, I would return to Cui Xuan courtyard now. Madam¡¯s waiting for me to send her the sutra.¡±

    After Xiu Gu left, Qin Yunuan took Qin Baochuan and hurried back to the yard. Nurse Liao had already set the fire. As soon as they entered the room, Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help but poked Qin Baochuan¡¯s head andughed, ¡°Tell me, where did you learn these tricks from?¡±

    Qin Baochuan smiled. Recently, the snacks sent by Su Chenghai nourished him good that he grew some baby fat. His cheeks were soft and trembled with theughter, ¡°I was reminded by cousin a few days ago.¡±

    ¡°Cousin?¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand paused.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Qin Baochuan nodded, ¡°Sister, haven¡¯t you let me start taking cold showers recently? You were not here a few days back. Cousin came to ask me if you are quite busy recently, as he sees Madam¡¯s servant girl Cui¡¯eing out of our yard every morning. He thought that Madam was asking you for some help in embroidery work.¡±

    ¡°Then?¡± Qin Yunuan asked anxiously.

    ¡°Later, I observed for several days and found that whenever I take a cold shower every morning, Cui¡¯e would really hide behind the yard. However, she won¡¯te in, like, emm, like watching me. I guess that the reason Madam sends Cui¡¯e to watch on me is the same as the reason she chased us to this bad yard.¡± Qin Baochuan was firm and calm, overly mature for his age.

    ¡°What do you think is the purpose?¡± Qin Yunuan asked tentatively. She had nevermunicated with Baochuan like this in the previous life. All she knew was to behave well in exchange of Baochuan¡¯s safety. Now, she couldn¡¯t believe that Baochuan was such a young adult.

    ¡°She simply doesn¡¯t want us to be prosperous, and she doesn¡¯t want our father to notice us.¡± It was so heavy a sentence, but still feels a little innocent when said by Qin Baochuan. ¡°Sister, I know that you do everything for my good. You tried to protect me even though it risks yourself. However, Baochuan would like to see sister living happily too. Although I am young now, but I will grow up. By that time, Baochuan can protect you, trust me.¡±

    After hearing Qin Baochuan¡¯s words, Qin Yunuan was even more touched. She held Qin Baochuan¡¯s small hands tightly, her nce gentle like the sea. ¡°You can rest assured,¡± Qin Yunuan said firmly, ¡°Father will be back tomorrow. One day, sister will try my best toe up with a way so that father would know that you are not as unskilled as Dou Qing¡¯e and Qin Yuwan rumored. I¡¯ll let father know what a good son he has.¡±

    ¡°Well, sure,¡± Qin Baochuan nodded solemnly like an adult, ¡°Baochuan will also study hard, practice calligraphy, exercise well, and not let sister care for me too much.¡±

 Chapter 28 Broken Dream

    <h4>Chapter 28 Broken Dream</h4>

    The sister and brother hugged each other and said many warmhearted words, and even Nurse Liao serving aside could not help but shed tears. The two people, one was the daughter of a concubine and the other was the son of the concubine. It was extremely hard to live well without their mother at the mansion of Grand Commandant controlled by Dou Qing¡¯e.

    At the same time, Cui Xuan courtyard was brightly lit all the time.

    Stars were shining and the room of Dou Qing¡¯e was brightly lit all the time too.

    Dou Qing¡¯e put down the letter which was taken back by Qin Yunuan from Master Hui Neng, and frowned heavily. She held the soothing tea on the table but then put it down. She was uneasy and her palm was sweating, ¡°No. So Lvliu has been perceived. I feel very uneasy if Lvliu is still alive and stays in Wan¡¯an Temple like a malignant tumor growing in my heart.¡±

    ¡°So madam, you mean?¡± Xiu Gu asked carefully while taking off the hairpin for Dou Qing¡¯e andbing her long hair.

    ¡°When I got married, my mother had dispatched several master-hands in my family around me.¡± The thought of killing Lvliu had emerged in Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s mind. She believed that even if one thousand people were killed, the target one should escape. Her belief was that it should be decisive to do anything without much fear, ¡°They have been free for many years and now it is the right time to let them do their jobs.¡±

    Xiu Gu nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll arrange people to do that right now.¡±

    ¡± But Qin Yunuan,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s delighting eyes became trickier, ¡°I want to know if she knows the background of Lvliu. The man who was dispatched this afternoon for detecting the information reported that the whole thing was investigated by Leng Changxi in a very short time, but Qin Yunuan was not silly at all. Besides, there is a young master in her yard. It is not horrible for a concubine¡¯s daughter to be smart, but it does be horrible for a concubine¡¯s son to be shrewd. Do you remember that when Qin Baochuan was doing Zhua Zhou (grabbing test on the asion of a baby¡¯s first birthday), he chose a Jade te, which was exined by a fortune-teller that he had an auspicious face and would be a talent for the country.¡±

    ¡°So what? Now the master is very taboo about the second young master,¡± Xiu Gu said in a deeper sound, ¡°And I want to report one thing to madam.¡± Xiu Gu got closer to whisper the whole thing to Dou Qing¡¯e that Qin Baochuan in this evening thought the clothes were very ugly and said many words unruly and impolitely. She added, ¡°The other days, Cui¡¯e went to observe the second young master and said he took a cold shower every day to train his will power. So, it is clear that the young man is just a mediocre person. I have much experience in recognizing people and I know that the second young master is just a yboy.¡±

    ¡°You are right,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e nodded, ¡°The boy is only five years old and he is naughty and needs a favor. The more he is ignorant, the more we gain benefits from him. Maybe the little boy will hate Qin Yunuan due to the cold shower. Xiu Gu, this is the right point we can use. Let Cui¡¯e keep observing them and report to me three times a day. The master wille back tomorrow morning and I have sent a letter to Lin Feng to urge him to go home quickly. The family Qin will finally belong to us.¡±

    ¡°And,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e turned back, ¡°Lvliu is trapped into that temple and I am not sure if she has added the thing into the meal of Qin Yunuan. You dispatch someone to give her more. All in all, I need the whole thing going smoothly without any mistake tomorrow.¡±

    Xiu Gu lowered his head and promised, adding, ¡°Well, the young master Su Chenghai is not in the mansion for the whole day. I don¡¯t know if he wille back tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°He muste back,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e now was more delighted, ¡°His uncle who is a high-ranking officiales back to his mansion and he as the nephew muste back to tter his uncle if he wants to stay stably in the royal City. All in all, tomorrow, we will watch a good show.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e smiled to the pretty her in the bronze mirror, just like she could take a fresh breath after near drowning into water. She thought she was not too old and still the queen of the family Qin.

    In the early morning the next day, there were drums and gongs outside with crowded people. Wine steamer of restaurants for attracting customers flew in the sky. People all lined the East Avenue to wee the Grand Prince Sima Ruoing back from southern tour and the apanying Grand Commandant Qin.

    Golden carriages and first-ss horses proceeded with flying gs. Troops with 200 people lined up in two, from the start of the street to the end. Since the people in the troops stayed for a rest in the suburbs of the Royal City for one day, the whole people in the troops were in fine fig. Tall men and strong horses manifested a hazy vigor that happened three years ago when the Emperor had royal progress.

    The East Avenue was flooded with crowned people while Leng Changxi whose face was as gloomy as dark night now was sitting beside the window on the third floor of the first-ss restaurant in the royal City. He used his slender fingers to rub the carven red clover Blossom on the window bar and could overlook the whole scene of the East Avenue.

    His eyes were like an eagle waiting for hunting his prey. Cold winds blew into the opened window and north winds made the sweet ferment rice on the table be cold. But Leng Changxi did not raise his eyes and still drunk his wine.

    ¡°General, cold wine hurt your stomach. Let me warm a bottle of wine for you.¡± Leng Wu, his subordinate, bowed his fists and said.

    Leng Changxi moved his head a little and said in a cold voice as chill as the winter-spring water in woods, ¡°Cold wine makes people sober while warm wine makes people addicted.¡± And then he waved his sleeves quickly and wiped the word NUAN written by water on the table somehow. He asked in a lower voice, ¡°How? Catch the person?¡±

    ¡°Got it,¡± Leng Wu pretended not to find the move of Leng Changxi just now, ¡°The three assassins from East Qin who still nned to assassinate the Grand Prince and Grand Commandant have been caught. General, your prediction was right. It was right to deploy people into the East Avenue and caught them before they were about to act, so as not to frighten the ordinary people and bothered the Grand Prince.¡±

    Leng Changxi did not say anything and looked at the distance, ¡°How about Wan¡¯an Temple?¡±

    Leng Wu bowed his fists again, ¡°Last night, though we caught the assassin, he killed himself by biting his tongue when we forced him to confess. It was lucky that Lvliu had been transited to somewhere safe and was not hurt. As for Master Hui An, though we observed him tightly and bound his hands and feet to avoid his suicide, he used his internal work to impact his weak spots on his body to kill himself.¡±

    ¡°He seemed to be the man of sacrifice, with profound internal work,¡± Half of Leng Changxi¡¯s body sat on the chair, ¡°Xue Si has once fought against one of them. ording to his description, the assassin maye from the power cultivated secretly by the top four families in the south. Family Guan in Yangzhou, Family Dou in Hangzhou and Zhenyuan Marquis and Family Cui in Baling City. You investigate them all.¡±

    Leng Wu nodded and went out. Leng Changxi poured another cup of cold Li Hua Bai for himself. The long ritual team had passed his window and noise generally vanished. Leng Changxi was not such kind of person who liked meddling other¡¯s business, but now he cared much about the girl. However, the girl still stayed away from him.

    Leng Changxi was helpless at the girl. A cup of cold wine¡¯s aroma did not let him drunk but soberer.

    ¡°General, Xue Si is waiting outside.¡±

    ¡°OK.¡± Leng Changxi quitted the reporter and tidied his tousy clothes. Now it was the right time for him to leave.

    The first thing the Grand Prince and Grand Commandant Qin Zhi did after they came back to the Royal City was to enter the pce to visit the emperor. They would note back until noon but now people in Family Qin were busy.

    Dou Qing¡¯e had already heard about the news that her master took a risk to protect the Grand Prince from being attacked by a knife and caused himself to get stabbed by the knife. The emperor intended to award him. If the master was awarded the title of nobility, the position of Family Qin would be raised high. Dou Qing¡¯e knew well the difference of officials and descendent nobilities. The title of nobility was descendent, and Qin Linfeng was the first son of the family. Thus, Dou Qing¡¯e would be the biggest winner.

    She never did things without much preparation. She had gained information from his fellows thatst time, the emperor had written the imperial edit of awarding nobility, and the edit was taken to the Imperial n Court to register. It meant that if the master visited the emperor today and was awarded the title of nobility, he would be the real nobility.

    ¡°Madam, madam, the sedan of our master hade at the entrance of thene.¡±

    ¡°Come on, let Ye San set off the firecrackers,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e carrying her skirt, led others to walk towards the front door. On her way, she asked Xiu Gu discreetly, ¡°Are you sure that you have added Cold-Food Powder into the porridge of Qin Yunuan?¡±

    ¡°All have been added. Don¡¯t worry, madam.¡± Xiu Gu nodded.

    Good. Whether Qin Yunuan had found her conspiracy deployed in Wan¡¯an Temple, after today, the name of Qin Yunuan and Qin Baochuan would vanish from the family tree of family Qin. And then the master gained more achievements and higher position. Her son woulde back and the face of Qin Yunzhuang would be cured. There would be no power that could stop her from bing the super queen of family Qin.

    At the entrance of thene, 24 firecrackers were fired with many fumes. A sedan chair carried by four people came out of the fume and even the bearer got a cough by the fumes. Before the sedan chair was put onto the ground stably, Qin Zhi put aside the curtain and came out.

    Qin Zhi was about 40 years old and pined away due to the busy life. His handsome check showed his long journey life and even a purple and cotton robe did not refresh him but show his decadency.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Qin Zhi covered his mouth and nose to avoid the fume, asking Dou Qing¡¯e and shouting, ¡°There is no sacrifice ceremony and big things at my mansion, why do you use such big firecrackers? So....¡± Qin Zhi frowned and shook his head and her eyes showed his loneliness. But he still struggled. He did not care about anything but fame and reputation even if he lost something that almost belonged to him already. All he wanted was to hold his arrogance in front of others apart from his family.

    Dou Qing¡¯e now was shocked and silent, but still smiled, ¡°I just want to celebrate your promotion of gaining the title of nobility for you.¡±

    Suddenly Qin Zhi¡¯s face was turning into a piece of cold ice and his eyes seemed to light the firecrackers immediately. He stared at Dou Qing¡¯e for a while, ¡°How dare you, a female, to guess the thought of the emperor? It is the emperor that determines things, not you!¡± And then he waved his sleeves and walked into the mansion straightly.

    Dou Qing¡¯e suddenly froze and stood there. What did the master mean? The title of nobility, failed?

 Chapter 29 Moral Bankruptcy

    <h4>Chapter 29 Moral Bankruptcy</h4>

    At the study of the east yard at the mansion of Grand Commandant, the debris of colored zes and ceramics were scattered all over the floor.

    Qin Zhi sat on the armchair and his face expressed his anger conspicuously and exhaustion after a long journey. Suddenly the house kept silent for nearly half an hour and even a falling hair sounded extreme loudly like a thunder.

    ¡°What you said just now was true?¡± Qin Zhi took a deep breath.

    ¡°My master, I dare not to tell a lie,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e said with love and tears, ¡°It was said that I abused the concubine¡¯s daughter and made Qin Yunuan¡¯s hands get chilin. That¡¯s not true. After the death of Yunuan¡¯s mother, you let me take care of Yunuan and Baochuan, and the whole family knows that Baochuan is spoiled. But this time... due to the mistake of Yunuan, I punished her to wash clothes for several days. To my surprise, Yunuan was too slender and got chilin just after three days.¡±

    Arrogance, timidity and self-reliance privilege, Qin Zhi disliked all of them, and especially those existed on his children.

    ¡°I am asking you that you just now said Yunuan had taken Cold-Food Powder for half a month. Is that true?¡±

    ¡°It is true indeed,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e exined in a hurry, ¡°Xiu Gu and Cui¡¯e can prove that. Today Yunuan was absent from the wee ceremony just because she did not feel well. My master, I punished her because I found Yunuan took the banned medicine first. I did not abuse her as others out of the family said.¡±

    Qin Zhi stood up with his hands sped behind his back. He remembered clearly what the emperor said to him at the court. The emperor praised his loyalty and patriotism for his protection of the Grand Prince. He nned to award Qin Zhi the title of nobility but thought his family was not tranquil and harmonious. A family without harmony would have no right to help the governance of the country. So, the emperor suspended the award. The emperor meant that ording to the news in the Royal City, Dou Qing¡¯e abused the concubine¡¯s daughter of family Qin and caused her to get chilin, which was found by the Emperor at the feast. What¡¯s more, somebody said the crying Buddha at the praying ceremony in Wan¡¯an Temple had something to do with madam Qin.

    The Grand Commandant, Chambein for Ceremonials, Grand Tutor, should be a great moral example to ordinary people. At the key time, it was reasonable to suspend the award of nobility. But he felt very upset that his reputation and promotion failed by a woman.

    However, if the news that concubine¡¯s daughter of family Qin took Cold-Food Powder was spread out, he would get trouble. So, he made up his mind that he must investigate the whole thing secretly before the news came out.

    Qin Yunuan wiped out the corner of the desk where there was some medicine juice after she grinded thest bottle of medicine mash. Tong waiting at the door rushed in and shouted: ¡°The third Miss, the master and madam dispatched people to take you there for asking something and those people now were at the door of the yard.¡±

    ¡°Third Miss,¡± Nurse Liao stood forward to protect Qin Yunuan by instinct. The wrinkle at the corner of her eyes showed her worry, ¡°Miss, let me apany you to go there.¡±

    ¡°No. It is better for you to stay in the yard,¡± Qin Yunuan stood up and brushed off some medicine dregs on her skirt, and then tidied her simple and pure butterfly-shaped silver hair sp. She gave a salute to the nanny, ¡°I feel not very well and let you wait for so long.¡±

    At the south study of Shunchang Courtyard, the bronze stove was settled in the center of the house, where vored cakes were put inside. The falling drop at the Bronze Water Column Copper sounded harsh and beat the heart of Qin Yunuan repeatedly.

    At this moment, Qin Yunuan kneeled down silently. Besides, doctor Chen who was familiar with family Qin was feeling the pulse of Qin Yunuan. He frowned to feel her pulse and looked so discreetly.

    When half of the incense was burned, Qin Zhi still kept silent. He asked until doctor Chen asked the drug boy to put away the medicine box, ¡°How is she?¡±

    ¡°Master, miss Qin¡¯s pulse is strong andsts long, which is a forceful pulse, and caused by over Yang energy and lung-spleen problem. If she had not a weak and cold body, she must take the Cold-Food Powder.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t it be the final conclusion?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e was urgent.

    ¡°Mother, I have dispatched Nurse Liao to tell you that I felt not very well today and caught a cold. What kind of conclusion do you want?¡± Qin Yunuan kneeled down. The freezing floor did not cool her inner drastic emotion. She did not have much affection with her father. But he was her father indeed, and she felt disappointed because her father suspected her just from Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s words.

    ¡°Father,¡± Qin Yunuan stared at Qin Zhi who sat on the Zen chair, ¡°Father, if you are angry that I did not wee you at the door because I am sick today, I apologize to you.¡± And then Qin Yunuan kowtowed politely again.

    Qin Zhi squinted, looking at sincere Qin Yunuan through the penholder on the long wooden desk. He asked, ¡°That¡¯s not I am angry at or I won¡¯t dispatch people to take you here secretly.¡± Qin Zhi thought he was disciplined all the time, but his colleagues in the court knew that his family was not harmonious. If Qin Yunuan did take the Cold-Food Powder, he had to kick her out of the family to protect his good reputation.

    Qin Yunuan just lowered her head politely, ¡°I don¡¯t know what mistake I have made and why you, my father turned so angry at me on the first day youe back.¡±

    ¡°Miss Qin Yunuan, if you do not tell the whole thing, your father and I will punish you badly. Don¡¯t me us.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e sat aside, holding a warm stove. Now she was not upset but arrogant, confident, determined.

    Qin Zhi still sat on the Zen chair without a word. He interlocked his fingers and pondered. After a trade-off, he said slowly, ¡°If you do not confess, Yunuan, there will be a bad consequence.¡±

    Qin Yunuan straightened her back further, ¡°I am innocent, always following rules, and I have done nothing bad and dirty. There is no need for me to confess.¡±

    ¡°Fine!¡± Dou Qing¡¯e was exactly waiting for this moment, ¡°Since you are not willing to say anything, master, see? You have left some leeway already, but she did not ept it. Please allow Xiu Gu to search her yard with our maidservants. She must have nothing to refute if we find those dirty things.¡±

    Qin Zhi looked at Qin Yunuan for a while just like looking at a criminal, and then nodded, which meant he epted the suggestion of Dou Qing¡¯e.

    Xiu Gu heard the order and went out. Qin Yunuan pretended to be surprised and asked timidly with her big eyes, ¡°Father and mother, do you suspect me to take the banned medicine Cold-Food Powder?¡±

    ¡°The answer will be clear justter.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e said with some imperceptible delight. She thought she would be very annoyed if the concubine¡¯s daughter and her younger brother were not kicked out of the family.

    It was hard to wait for the result. The leaves on the withered Chinese parasol tree in the backyard behind the study were blown off and fell down straightly. The sound was beating each heart of the people here. When the incense was burned up, Xiu Gu led some nannies who attended the yard toe and report.

    ¡°Master, madam, we have searched all the food and ce which can hide things, and we have not found the Cold-Food Powder.¡±

    The old doctor following Xiu Gu also nodded, ¡°Right, I checked all and found all food is clear.¡± Qin Yunuan had ordered Nurse Liao to handle with the porridge she had this morning. So, they did not find anything. She left Nurse Liao, Tong and Maner to stay at the yard, because she wanted to observe the searching crowds so as to avoid the things in the yard were moved.

    ¡°But,¡± Xiu Gu added and Qin Zhi moved forwards for listening clearly, ¡°We found some bottles of medicine in the makeup box in miss Qin Yunuan¡¯s room. The cork is so tight, and we take them here to check in front of master and madam.¡±

    Xiu Gu took those bottles back just because she recognized at her first sight that those bottles were the ones that had been given to Lvliu ording to the order of Dou Qing¡¯e. Those bottles contained Cold-Food Powder. Xiu Gu and Dou Qing¡¯e looked at each other and both of them thought things would be done.

    ¡°Security, open the two china bottles.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e waved her sleeve with great power.

    ¡°Wait,¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly stopped, ¡°Mother, my father is still sitting in this house. Why don¡¯t you ask him and make an order without the permit of the master? You have no such right.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e looked at Qin Zhi dully and wanted to exin something for herself. She saw Qin Zhi nodded uneasily, which meant he allowed the order by Dou Qing¡¯e.

    ¡°See?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e now was intable, ¡°Today, I want to show to master that you, the third daughter of the family who had never gone out, was unfilial. ording to the rule of the family, anyone who takes Cold-Food Powder, will be kicked out of the family.¡±

    ¡°Mother, you believe strongly that I have taken Cold-Food Powder, but what if I have not taken it?¡± Qin Yunuan said with her determined eyes, which seemed to be provoking Dou Qing¡¯e, specifically her promise.

    Now Dou Qing¡¯e was gambling. She believed if she opened the bottles, the situation could be changed. She said with her congestive eyes, ¡°If not, I will worship the Buddha and abstain from meat and wine for one month in my room. Xiu Gu, open it!¡±

    Xiu Gu opened it quickly and the aroma of herb medicine came out. Xiu Gu poured out the bottle onto a te. It was not the white Cold-Food Powder, but some thick green medicine mash clinging in the mouth of the bottle. Xiu Gu turned to be very embarrassed and Dou Qing¡¯e clenched her clothes tightly. All was not going smoothly as her expectation.

    Dou Qing¡¯e looked at Qin Yunuan unbelievably. The weak and ipetent concubine¡¯s daughter showed her grievance and tenacity. She knew that she was tricked. Dou Qing¡¯e made a conclusion quickly. She was the one who always made a trick to others, but now...

    Qin Zhi felt a little bit disdained to her, and said slowly to Dou Qing¡¯e, ¡°This, is what you called Cold-Food Powder?¡±

    Doctor Chen came forward immediately and took a little medicine mash, stiffing and saying: ¡°Master, the grinded medicine mash was made of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort, radix cyathe, radix angelicae, corydalis tuber, red flower, clove, menthol, and borneol.¡±

    ¡°What is it used for?¡±

    ¡°My master, this is a folk prescription in Qingzhou,¡± Doctor Chen bowed his fist, ¡°For external application, it can promote blood cirction to remove blood stasis, and strengthen bones. It is a good prescription to cure spraining and swelling.¡±

 Chapter 30 A Bigger Mess

    <h4>Chapter 30 A Bigger Mess</h4>

    Unconsciously, Qin Zhi stroked his right arm that was sprained before and cast a look at Qin Yunuan. He was wavering, just like the fallen leaves in the pond.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. I prepared this medicine mash for you, father,¡± Qin Yunuan said feelingly, ¡°I know that you got hurt during the inspection tour to the regions south of the River. So, I grinded the medicine mash especially for you. It may not be so effective as the medicine prescribed by imperial doctors, but I made this with all my heart. Now, mother said that was Cold-Food Powder which... which was so filthy. I was wronged, father.¡±

    After she said this, her eyes were filled with tears, which touched Qi Zhi¡¯s heart slightly. He had never paid any attention to this concubine¡¯s daughter, but what she did made him feel warm. At least, the medicine mash proved that she had put him in her heart.

    But Dou Qing¡¯e did not give up. Gnashing her teeth, she said, ¡°Master, even though it was not there, it did not mean she had never taken it. Only her personal maids know those hidden things.¡±

    ¡°Ask nurse Liao, Tong or Maner if you want, mother,¡± Qin Yunuan straightened up, ¡°They are my personal servants and they know all the things I have done.¡±

    ¡°I will not ask them since they were your people,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e patted her chest and figured out what to do next, ¡°Liao is your nurse. As for the two girls, one is an orphan who was saved by your mother, and the other has been with you since childhood. Sure enough, they will cover for you.¡± Then, Dou Qing¡¯e reclined against the chair and ordered, ¡°Take Fusheng over there.¡±

    Fusheng was weak and thin as she always was. After she was sent to Qin Yuwan¡¯s ce, she had been beaten and scolded by her every single day for her delicate appearance. However, Qin Yuwan was also careful not to leave any evidence. The wounds on Fusheng¡¯s skin were hard to find even when you lifted her clothes to check, because what Qin Yuwan used was needles that were as thin as ox hair.

    Fusheng knelt on the ground like a frightened fawn. She was too afraid to say anything at a glimpse at Qin Yunuan who knelt along with her.

    ¡°You. Tell Master honestly. Did you ever see Third Miss take strange things when you were on duty at her ce?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e narrowed her eyes and looked right into Fusheng¡¯s eyes with a provocative and threatening look. ¡°Your sister had been my maid and she did a good job. So, I guess you are also a good girl just like her, right?¡±

    Qin Zhi was now exhausted by the twists and turns of this matter. ¡°Be honest. If there¡¯s anything fake, you will be punished ording to family rules.¡± He said to Fusheng coldly.

    At this time, the frightened girl Fusheng was like a straw surrounded by a storm. There was no safe ce for her, and she was about to fall. Just now, she was caught and dragged here by Xiu Gu, not knowing what was going on. But she took the hint from the scary glint of Dou Qing¡¯e and knew what she was supposed to do in a sudden. Just as she was about to answer with her trembling voice, Qin Yunuan, who knelt aside, spoke up slowly ahead of her, ¡°Speaking of Lvliu, I had something to say. Being punished at Wan¡¯an Temple, her heart was in the Qin Family with her sister Fusheng. So, as we had been together for a while, she asked me to take a message to Fusheng.¡±

    Fusheng straightened up suddenly. Her gloomy eyes lit up with hope when she heard her sister¡¯s name.

    ¡°She said...,¡± Qin Yunuan said with a drawl, ¡°She said that one had to keep his conscience clear. She regretted her previous mistakes and said that she would not have knocked over the tribute candlestick if she had another chance. Or else, she would not have been left at Wan¡¯an Temple and narrowly escaped from being murderedst night. So, sometimes, a single slip can cause asting sorrow indeed.¡±

    That Lvliu narrowly escaped from being murdered was just Qin Yunuan¡¯s spection. Earlier this morning, she sent Maner to Wan¡¯an Temple to visit Dignitary Hui Neng. To her surprise, Maner was so careful that she found evidences of struggle there. She also heard thatst night, Hui An came to a violent death out of no reason and the servant girl of the Qin Family in the wing-room was transferred secretly. Qin Yunuan did not know who sent the assassins, nor did she know whether Lvliu was alive or not. But it could not be denied that Wan¡¯an Temple had been attackedst night. The soldiers at Wan¡¯an Temple were at Leng Changxi¡¯smand, so he would know the truth.

    ¡°Enough,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e could not bear to hear Qin Yunuan¡¯s calm voice, ¡°Fusheng, tell the truth. What have you heard at that courtyard? What have you seen?¡±

    Fusheng heard them very well. She knew what Dou Qing¡¯e did in private even though she hadn¡¯t served her for a long time. Once people could not do things for her, she would not keep them alive any longer. ¡°My sister had gone through fire and water for her for so many times, but she ended up being discarded like rubbish. If I help her this time, Third Miss will get into trouble and I will also lose my value as a snoop. Maybe I will end up like sister.... But if I set myself against Madam....¡±

    Fusheng took a deep breath, as if she had made a big decision. Suddenly, she started kowtowing and said, ¡°Master, Madam, I worked at Third Miss¡¯s court for only two months. During that time, Third Miss had followed the rules and she had done nothing wrong. I was telling the truth.¡±

    Qin Zhi looked a little bit relieved. Maybe he had inclined to believe Qin Yunuan when he saw the bottle of medicine that she had prepared for him.

    Fusheng¡¯s words were beyond the expectation of Dou Qing¡¯e. Her eyes narrowed, revealing her intention to kill.

    Qin Yunuan said calmly, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s irrational to say that I had taken Cold-Food Powder. My monthly allowance is only two taels of silver, while a small amount of Cold-Food Powder worth a thousand tael of silver. Even if I did not eat or drink, I could not have so much money.¡±

    ¡°Two tael of silver?¡± Qin Zhi was surprised. He had always left domestic affairs for Dou Qing¡¯e to deal with because he believed that a man should have higher aspirations. In their family, the monthly sry of a first-ss servant girl should be more than two tael of silver. So, it was understandable that he was quite astonished when he heard that Qin Yunuan only had two tael of silver every month. After all, she was still his own child despite her status as a concubine¡¯s daughter.

    ¡°What can she do with only two tael of silver? Some needlework, handkerchiefs, preserves and stationeries will cost all her money.¡± Qin Zhi murmured. Nobody knew who he was speaking to.

    ¡°You have no idea, father. The money cannot be used on those sundries. I must spend it on food first to support all the people at my ce, and the money left can be spent on some old books for Baochuan. Paper and writing brushes are luxury for us. Baochuan usually learn to write on sand, yet he has neverined about it. Seeing that he works so hard makes me feel warm. The money is trifling but the feeling is profound.¡±

    Qin Yunuan did not point out the misappropriation and hypocrisy of Dou Qing¡¯e, but these seemingly fulfilled words had revealed the true colors of Dou Qing¡¯e very well.

    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e showed a strange look, ¡°The expenditure of all the courtyards was kept on the ounts. Besides, we all know that Baochuan is arrogant and willful. Yesterday, many people had seen himining about his clothes. I¡¯m afraid that it was your overspending that makes you hard up. I¡¯m in charge of the domestic affairs of our family for years. How dare you point a finger at these things!¡±

    The more arrogant Dou Qing¡¯e appeared, the more panicked she was. As for the ounts, she herself might not remember how many times she had falsified the ounts.

    Outside the study, the old housekeeper who led the way for Su Chenghai was about to step up and make an announcement, when a thunderous sound crashed from the room.

    Qin Zhi was furious. The piercing pain on his palm could not take his attention away from the rage. What made him angry was not her embezzlement and abuse of Qin Yunuan, but her conceit and arrogance. It seemed that she had taken herself as the master of this family and wanted to control everything behind his back. Now, he had to let her know who the real master was.

    ¡°Master... Master.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e shed a few tears, which dropped on her pale purple silk dress embroidered with clouds, leaving an ugly mark.

    ¡°You have the nerves to say that! For years, I have let you take charge of the family affairs. But our family became a bigger mess with a pestilential atmosphere under your control. Now, even His Majesty knows that my family is not harmonious.¡± Finally, Qin Zhi gave vent to his grievance like an erupting volcano. He would have been awarded since the imperial edict had been written, but because of that, the emperor changed his mind atst.

    Dou Qing¡¯e was frightened by him. ¡°Master, all this is the plot of Qin Yunuan, can¡¯t you see? It was that bitch who trapped me into this. It was her!¡± She pleaded.

    A flush of blood reddened Qin Zhi¡¯s forehead and made him more dazed. ¡°All I see was you. It was you who told on Yunuan in front of me that she had taken Cold-Food Powder. It was you who continued to hurl usations at her to disturb the peace when no evidence was found. All this thing was started by you vulgar shrew. Remember this, Dou Qing¡¯e. You are at the Qin Family in the Royal City, not your own home in Hangzhou.

    Qin Zhi became angrier as he said this. Suddenly, the thin string in his mind that kept him being sensible was broken from tension, which resulted from upwelling emotions. He fainted and fell straight onto the ground after feeling dizzy.

    ¡°Father, father! Dr. Chen, please look over my father. Security! Move father into the house.¡± Qin Yunuan knelt beside Qin Zhi, whose face was as pale as a sheet, and then stared at Dou Qing¡¯e. ¡°Mother, can¡¯t you just let go before father fainted with anger?¡±

    Two agile servants lifted Qin Zhi with their hands crossed together and carried him into the house. Dou Qing¡¯e had recovered from bewilderment and followed them into the room. Thankfully, the old doctor who searched the courtyard with Dou Qing¡¯e was also a well-known doctor in the Royal City.

    The servant girls went in and out with hot water, which made Dou Qing¡¯e feel more annoyed. She was stopped by Dr. Chen for several times as she tried to get into the room and took after her husband by herself.

    ¡°Madam, His Excellency fainted out of exhaustion and irritation. My suggestion is that you¡¯d better keep away from him right now. Besides, there are too many people inside. They might dirty your clothes.¡±

 Chapter 31 Yearnings of Hearts

    <h4>Chapter 31 Yearnings of Hearts</h4>

    Doctor Chen¡¯s voice was soft, but it bound Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s heart tightly like a band. She found it hard to breath. Her face darkened as soon as she saw Qin Yunuan, who was waiting aside peacefully.

    ¡°It was you!¡± Dou Qing¡¯e red at her fiercely, ¡°You set up the trap and waited for me to fall into your snare. Watching me being med, are you satisfied? You feel good, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned around slowly. At this moment, it seemed to her that Dou Qing¡¯e was acting like a shrew. ¡°Did you hear what Dr. Chen said, mother? Father fainted suddenly because he was exhausted and needed some rest. If you want to make a noise and me me, at least wait until father gets better.¡±

    ¡°You have grown up,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e said more loudly, ¡°And you have better tricks. I had misjudged you.¡±

    ¡°Mother,¡± Qin Yunuan tilted her head. Her face was as innocent as snow lotuspared with the fierce and hateful face of Dou Qing¡¯e. ¡°Father had just said it was you who smeared me, led the search and summoned Fusheng, hadn¡¯t he? What did I do to trick you?¡±

    What Dou Qing¡¯e could not stand most was Qing Yunuan¡¯s calm action in face of her anger. As she was about to p this little b*tch, the door was opened by Dr. Chen, who stood still by the door and looked amazed at her hand. Then he said, ¡°Master Qin had revived. He wanted to see the Third Miss.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Dr. Chen.¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her head and thanked him, and then stepped into the room.

    ¡°Did Master say when to see me?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e softened her voice suddenly. She had to humble herself for Yunzhuang instead of her own good.

    Dr. Chen shook his head and sighed, ¡°At present, His Excellency is not in a good mood. You¡¯d better not provoke him, Madam.¡±

    Inside the room, the Lingmaoxiang was burning to calm the nerves and rest the mind. The furnishings there were simple and elegant, matching the schrly bearing of Qin Zhi. Walking past the screen, Qin Yunuan saw her father lying by the bed edge.

    Qin Zhi¡¯s cheeks curved inward and his lips were pale. A servant girl was preparing a higher soft pillow for him, but the work was not well-done.

    ¡°Let me do that,¡± Qin Yunuan took the buckwheat pillow from the maid and asked her to do other things. She talked to Qin Zhi as she adjusted the pillow. ¡°Buckwheat pillows are good for the waist. Father used to rest on goose feather pillows with mother, and I¡¯m afraid that you may feel ufortable now.¡±

    ¡°Ufortable?¡± Qin Zhi said weakly, ¡°When I was still a student, a steamed bun left overnight was a delicacy for me.¡± He coughed after this, and then continued to speak. ¡°Actually, I know a little about the difficulties of you and Baochuan. But my sess today had much to do with the help from the Dou Family. Though I am the Grand Commandant now, I cannot punish your mother seriously. I hope you know that.¡±

    ¡°I understand.¡± Qin Yunuan looked down. She never thought about using her father¡¯s power to deal with Dou Qing¡¯e. She knew that a slight move in one part may affect the situation as a whole and she tried not to make that move. Moreover, she never really longed for the understanding and support from her father. For a man who had risen from humble beginnings and finally attained such a high status, there was nothing more important than his hard-earned status and power.

    Qin Zhi patted Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand and told her, ¡°Sometimes, one has to tolerate.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡± Qin Yunuan nodded obediently. But that did not mean she would do so and let Dou Qing¡¯e abuse her. She had had some illusions and expectations about her father after the rebirth, but all these beautiful bubbles had burst and vanished now. His inaction in the previous life could be attributed to his unawareness to these dirty plots. But now he knew about everything, and he still turned a blind eye to them and let her swallow the insults in meek submission. Although she was not a legal daughter, it was selfish of him to sacrifice a daughter¡¯s soul for the sake of fame and power. Qin Yunuan would never have any foolish hopes about him.

    Dou Qing¡¯e darkened her face as soon as she saw Qin Yunuan walking out of the room.

    ¡°Mother,¡± Qin Yunuan said as she stepped down, ¡°Father asked me to take a message for you.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e turned her head away crossly, but that did not stop Qin Yunuan. ¡°He reminded you of your promise.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e looked up at her suddenly. She felt that Qin Yunuan was looking at her sneeringly, and her eyes were like a downpour. Dou Qing¡¯e turned over her head, only to see Qin Yunuan¡¯s quiet and peaceful smile.

    ¡°Mother, you said that if you were wrong, you would worship the Buddha and abstain from meat and wine for one month in your own room. ¡± Then Qin Yunuan made a deep curtsey to her. ¡°Father had taken medicine and slept. And I am leaving now.¡±

    In the yard, the bare branches were moving violently with the wind. Dou Qing¡¯e stood rigidly, feeling that she was covered by coldness. She had underestimated Qin Yunuan this time. She always thought that Qin Yunuan was just a coward like her mother and could be trampled by her. Now, she had toe up with new plots.

    A crescent moon was hanging on the deep sky, casting moon lights over the graceful body of Qin Yunuan and left the shadow on the ground. As she walked out of the Chuihua Gate, she caught sight of Su Chenghai standing by the red pir whose painting had peeled off. The Grecian nose and chiseled jawline on his face looked more charming under the moonlight. He was still there.

    ¡°Cousin?¡± Qin Yunuan stepped forward and called him softly.

    Su Chenghai did not answer. For a while, his eyes were fixed on the glorious moon. Then suddenly, he pointed at the moon and said, ¡°The moon is beautiful tonight, with cold and clear shimmer, like we are in winter.¡±

    Qin Yunuan tilted slightly, ¡°When did youe here, cousin?¡±

    While Su Chenghai¡¯s face showed a hint of drunkenness, his eyes were as clear as usual. ¡°What do you think?¡± He smiled, but it was hard to tell whether he was happy or not. ¡°Maybe it was when uncle whacked the table. I didn¡¯t see youe out.¡±

    ¡°Then you¡¯ve been waiting outside?¡± Qin Yunuan gathered herself up and tried to sound out him. But inwardly, she was a little flustered.

    ¡°Well,¡± Su Chenghai raised his eyebrow, and said lightly, ¡°I was entrusted to bring a letter to you, so I didn¡¯t dare to dy.¡± Then he took out a letter which said ¡°Opened Only by Third Miss of Qin Family¡± with Shangguan Rang¡¯s signature on it. The letter was still his invitation to Qin Yunuan to visit the White Horse Academy together a monthter.

    Qin Yunuan frowned slightly, but Su Chenghai continued speaking, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Shangguan Rang was a romantic man known for his generosity to women. It is not rare for him to spend a big sum of money on love affairs; thus, he has many admirers. Chances that he bothers to write a love letter to a woman happen once in a blue moon. Could it be that he is really in love with you, dear cousin Yunuan?¡±

    ¡°Are you joking with me, cousin?¡± Qin Yunuan said calmly, ¡°Shangguan Rang is a loose man who knows quite well about love affairs. That¡¯s why I do not like him. A man should either join the army and establish himself in the troop, or he should take up the pen as his sword and serve his nation. I don¡¯t like those who were born with a silver spoon in their mouth but make no progress.¡±

    After she said this, Su Chenghai looked more keenly at her while thinking about these words over and over again. His face beamed with delight in a sh, but then he calmed down again. ¡°As expected, you are not an ordinary girl, cousin Yunuan.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled lightly, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I have to go back.¡± Even though they were cousins, they still had to avoid meeting each other alone at night in case of arousing suspicion.

    Su Chenghai did not reply. He turned back to Qin Yunuan before going down the stairs, ¡°Except for the four scriptures that you brought to auntie, did you have the manuscript of The Lotus Sutra with Dignitary Hui Neng¡¯s annotation?¡±

    Qin Yunuan stayed silent for a moment. She didn¡¯t know where Su Chenghai got the news. After all, to be prudent, only Tong, Maner and Fang Ziying who brought the book to her knew this manuscript from Li Jiaxuan. However, thinking over for a while, she decided that there was nothing wrong about the manuscript, so she nodded and replied, ¡°That¡¯s right. How do you know that, cousin?¡±

    ¡°By chance. May I borrow it from you? I always admire Dignitary Hui Neng¡¯s deep interpretation over Buddha dharma.¡± Su Chenghai asked with a smile.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Qin Yunuan beamed, ¡°I will ask Tong to send it to youter. I am not in a hurry, you can take your time and read carefully.¡±

    What she said was courteous and polite; and what she did was decent and appropriate. But anyhow, Su Chenghai was stirred by her careful behaviors. He did not know what was going on with himself because he had never felt it that way.

    Su Chenghai did not go to bed after he came back to his room. Looking at the pile of documents on the desk, he knew that he had no time to sleep tonight.

    In less than a quarter of an hour, someone knocked the door. It was Tong who carried the manuscript for him.

    ¡°Master, allow me to put The Lotus Sutra on your shelf.¡±

    ¡°On the shelf? That would be a waste of space.¡± Su Chenghai flipped through the document on the table, and his eyes darkened at a glimpse of the book. It seemed that something bad was going to happen.

    ¡°But Master, you said that you wanted to read it slowly and carefully, didn¡¯t you?¡± Xiao Si was a frank man.

    The flipping motion slowed as Su Chenghai turned at Xiao Si leisurely. He said in an icy voice, ¡°Put it at the bottom of our chest.¡±

    Su Chenghai was not the only one who did not sleepst night. In the early morning of the next day, Qin Yunuan came early to Shunchang Courtyard to pay respects to Qin Zhi. She happened to see Qin Yunzhuang walking out of the room with her head down.

    Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s face had almost recovered, but she still wore a veil. She might have cried just now because her eyes were swollen like walnuts. Her curvy figure became skinny now. The heavy makeup on her face could not hide her haggard, and the tight ivory silk dress looked loose on her body. It appeared that she was having a hard time during this half of the month.

 Chapter 32 Tolerance as the Best Strategy

    <h4>Chapter 32 Tolerance as the Best Strategy</h4>

    Qin Yunzhuang nced at the arrival of Qin Yunuan. Anger rose from her heart. Thinking of her mother¡¯s warningsst night, telling her that Qin Yunuan was trickier than they thought, she forced herself to swallow her anger. She didn¡¯t manage to stay calm until she pinched a purple crescent on the palm with her nails and said hello to Qin Yunuan. ¡°Third Miss, you also came to see my father?¡±

    Since she could tolerate, Qin Yunuan would not reveal her actual self. She saluted to her gently and said, ¡°Father wasn¡¯t in good health. I think that I should treat him with filial piety. Aren¡¯t you here for the same reason?¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang tried hard to calm down, but she felt sorry for her mother when she saw Qin Yunuan keeping herself out of the affairs. She gritted her teeth and didn¡¯t want to stay any longer, ¡°Just go in and see Father, I should go.¡±

    After finishing her words, she lifted her skirt and disappeared behind the wall. Qin Yunuan stared at her figure, slightly surprised.

    ¡°What do you think?¡± Qin Yunuan asked Maner who stood by her side suddenly.

    Maner didn¡¯t expect that her master would ask for her opinion. After thinking for a while, she lowered her head and replied, ¡°Grand Miss showed excellent tolerance.¡±

    ¡°Yes, on the one hand, it¡¯s her tolerance.¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her eyes, ¡°On the other hand, I¡¯m afraid what the mother and daughter are waiting for. I heard that Dou Qing¡¯e had sent a letter to my eldest brother. He may be back soon.¡±

    Grand Young Master Qin Linfeng was twenty and had been studying outside for three years without returning home. Qin Yunuan¡¯s memory of him stayed in the previous life as an addict for Cold-Food Powder, pale and haggard. Why his temper changed suddenly and how he got addicted remained to be a mystery.

    Qin Yunuan never thought about hurting people. But if Qin Linfeng picked on her and Baochuan as he did in the past life, she wouldn¡¯t mind letting Qin Linfeng repeat the same mistakes.

    And just before Qin Linfeng returned, another joyful event happened to the Qin Family. Master Qin Zhi was going to marry another concubine. Servant girls of the new concubine said that Concubine Li was as beautiful as a fairy, and her voice was like a silver bell, every song she sang was fascinating enough for people to forget about their work.

    ¡°How could it be?¡± Qin Yunuan was busy cleaning the new house. Sheughed as Tong described the new concubine. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about Li Qiqi. People of the streets often say that ¡®In the north, there¡¯s Yunzhuang and Qiqi in the south¡¯. So, there would be no surprise that Li Qiqi is a beauty. She was also the most popr courtesan in the regions south of the River. It would bemon for her to sing well. I¡¯m just amazed that, how could someone as rigorous as my father decide to marry a famous prostitute?¡±

    Tong shook her head, indicating that she had no idea.

    ¡°Okay, I finished my cleaning in this room. Why not follow nurse Liao to the outside?¡±

    Just a few days ago, Qin Zhi decided to move Qin Baochuan and Qin Yunuan out of the shabby yard in the back room and ced them in the Fuxi Courtyard. It was not as luxurious as other yards, but it met the exquisiteness of a Lady¡¯s room and there was also afortable study room with all kinds of things needed in the south for Qin Baochuan specifically. The courtyard faced south and had excellent lighting. Qin Zhi put in his heart about this arrangement.

    Nurse Liao stood in the yard, instructing servants to move those wooden boxes to the rooms. Qin Yunuan and Baochuan had few things so it didn¡¯t take much effort. After a while, the courtyard was almost ready.

    ¡°Third Miss, Master also gave you two more servant girls. Are you seeing them now or...?¡± Nurse Liao asked Qin Yunuan for her idea but was pulled by Maner behind. After a small talk, their faces took on a ghastly expression. She said to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Third Miss, Maner said that Fusheng is kneeling at the gate of the courtyard and she wants to see you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan frowned, ¡°She knelt in front of everyone without knowing to avoid suspicions. It¡¯s obvious that she wanted to force me out.¡±

    Nurse Liao paused, and her tongue was dry. Then she heard Qin Yunuanmanding, ¡°Okay, you can bring her in.¡±

    After a while, Fusheng was led in by nurse Liao. She was a tiny girl trapped in arge gray outfit. Her cheeks sunk and her eyes seemed to be covered with thick dust. The only moment that her eyes lit up was when she saw Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Third Miss, you are willing to see me. Third Miss.¡±

    ¡°Say, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Qin Yunuan appeared to be decisive.

    Fusheng murmured for a while before saying aloud. ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m just concerned about my sister, now that, now....¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know her whereabouts.¡± Qin Yunuan had long expected that Fusheng would question about Lvliu. If the sisters didn¡¯t have deep feelings for each other, they might not be used by Dou Qing¡¯e. ¡°The only thing I know was that she is alive.¡±

    ¡°But I heard from people that my sister is no longer in Wan¡¯an Temple. And then Third Miss, you have said that there had been an assassination in Wan¡¯an Temple.¡± Fusheng dropped her tone down as she spoke.

    ¡°Yes, someone was stabbed, but General Leng¡¯s people were in charge of Lvliu. Not to mention how many of them are of great capability, if she died, they would have announced it with other excuses. Like Hui An, they said that he died of illness. Wan¡¯an Temple would exin if anyone died in it. There could be only one reason for Lvliu¡¯s disappearance. General Leng¡¯s people hid her away for a purpose that I don¡¯t know. ¡±

    Even though Qin Yunuan said so, she had doubts in her heart. At the Great Buddhist¡¯s Hall, Hui An shut Jie Chen up and made him look miserable with just two ps in the face. The constant moaning of Jie Chen lying on the ground made Qin Yunuan wondered that his chin might have been broken by Hui An.

    It¡¯s strange that people with such skills stayed in a temple to serve the buddha.

    ¡°Okay, if there¡¯re no other things, you can go back now. I heard that my mother had arranged a marriage for you. Since you are about to marry, take care.¡± Qin Yunuan knew that the marriage Dou Qing¡¯e arranged would be a torture for Fusheng.

    Since Dou Qing¡¯e was grounded, she started worshipping the Buddha, chanting the Heart Sutra with a wooden pper in the Cui Xuan courtyard every day. Moreover, she cleared his schedule for family affairs that she should handle in the name of worshipping Buddha.

    Qin Zhi thought what his wife did was in a fit of pique. Therefore, he handed the affairs over to Concubine Liu and Chang. Qin Yunuan knew that Dou Qing¡¯e was trying to prove that only she could handle the family affairs easily.

    The mess in the family these days showed that Dou Qing¡¯e had seeded.

    Qin Yunuan led Baochuan to greet Qin Zhi at a quarter to eighteen. While passing by the back garden, they heard quarrelsing from the front of the arched door at the end of the corridor.

    The one with the loudest voice was undoubtedly Concubine Liu, who was in charge of most things these days.

    ¡°Yesan, what did you do? I asked you to go and fetch the wedding dress ordered the day before at the Yuman Embroidery Shop, and you brought me a red one. Don¡¯t you know that a concubine can only wear pink? Did you do it on purpose or you are just that stupid?¡±

    Tomorrow would be the wedding ceremony of the new concubine, but the wedding dress was wrong. That was something big.

    Qin Yunuan frowned slightly and then heard Yesan replied unhurriedly, ¡°Concubine, I did it what you had ordered. You told me to ask for a customized wedding dress at the Yuman Embroidery Shop, but you didn¡¯t tell me whether it was red or pink. The embroiders must have thought it was red.¡±

    Yesan was working for Dou Qing¡¯e, what happened was clearly idleness under the direction of Dou Qing¡¯e. Qin Yunuan had heard a lot of simr incidents. Dou was well-connected after taking charge of the Qin Family for so many years.

    ¡°You ....¡± Concubine Liu was almost suffocated by anger, ¡°Yesan, you dare toply in appearance. Master has granted me and Sister Chang to manage the family affairs. I will tell Master, believe it or not.¡±

    Yesan replied frankly, ¡°You could go and tell him. I will say the same thing even if I am in front of the Master.¡±

    If Qin Zhi knew about it, Concubine Liu would most likely take the me. Also, the problem with the red wedding dress couldn¡¯t be solved.

    ¡°Forget it, Sister Liu. This is not the way to go. Let¡¯s just think about how to fix it.¡± Chang began her persuasion softly. Lifting her head, she noticed Qin Yunuan, who was standing aside for a long time. She went up quickly to greet them, ¡°Third Miss and Baochuan are here.¡±

    They were here to see the jokes. Concubine Liu rolled her eyes.

    ¡°Concubine Liu and Chang, nice to see you.¡± Qin Baochuan saluted the two concubines, following Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°So lovely!¡± Qin Baochuan had a cute and pleasing appearance, making most of the anxiety on Concubine Chang¡¯s face disappeared. She stroked his small face and asked Qin Yunuan, ¡°Where are you going, Third Miss?¡±

    ¡°Where else could she go,¡± Concubine Liu sharpened her tone, ¡°She was here to see the jokes.¡±

    Qin Yunuan bowed gently, ¡°I was going to my father¡¯s ce.¡± After finishing her words, she nced again at Yesan, who was standing there shapeless and acting innocent. ¡°Concubine Liu and Chang, what was the problem?¡±

    She didn¡¯t intend to ask, especially when Concubine Liu was involved. However, Concubine Chang knelt and begged for her in her previous life. She also took care of Qin Baochuan and her these days. She had to return the favor.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± ayer of sorrow covered Chang¡¯s beautiful eyebrows, ¡°Ever since sister Liu and I started housekeeping, we haven¡¯t met one issue that wasn¡¯t tricky. Nannies responsible for purchasing fell ill one after another, the favorite chef of our Master returned home to visit his mother suddenly, even the porter who lit the candles stopped working. Now to make it even worse, we made mistakes on the tailor-made wedding dress for the new Concubine Li tomorrow.

    ¡°Enough,¡± Concubine Liu was ashamed to reveal all her scandals in front of Qin Yunuan, ¡°We shouldn¡¯tin in front of the juniors, these little issues just added their troubles. What more can they do, anyway?¡±

 Chapter 33 Marrying A New Concubine

    <h4>Chapter 33 Marrying A New Concubine</h4>

    Concubine Chang appeared to be a little bit embarrassed, couldn¡¯t help but step back. Qin Yunuan spoke with a smile, ¡°Yunuan had no other way. But there is a man in the Mansion that could help.¡±

    Meeting the surprised eyes of Concubine Chang and the doubtful ones of Concubine Liuprehendingly, Qin Yunuan continued, ¡°My cousin Su in the east wing of the house. He has been in Beijing for more than half a month as a businessman. Maybe he knew someone or some ns that could help.

    They didn¡¯t have much time and Qin Zhi could never know about it. In this way, it was not a bad idea to seek help from Su Chenghai.

    Just as Concubine Chang head for the east wing along with Concubine Liu and Qin Yunuan, a blue shadow flew through the air above the quiet courtyard in the east wing. If you observed carefully enough, you could see the pping cross straps and the bloodstain on his shoulder. Stepping on the ridge of the grey tile-roofed house, he jumped down without a sound.

    ¡°Master.¡± Xiao Si opened the door quickly to greet Su Chenghai with blood on his shoulder.

    Xiao Si tore the clothes on Su Chenghai¡¯s shoulder neatly with a knife, exposing the narrow wound that was about half a finger deep. Crimson blood flowed out of the wound under pressure, making it even more hideous.

    ¡°Master, you are injured.¡±

    ¡°He escaped.¡± Su Chenghai was pale but calmly pointed in two of his acupoints to prevent excessive blood flow. ¡°They had slight wounds on their hands, the part between the thumb and the index finger. Sword-bearers of East Qin are most likely to get hurt in this way. Fortunately, everything transported was fine.¡± Tilting his head, he stopped Xiao Si from wrapping gauze onto his wound. ¡°Don¡¯t wrap too much. People will see it.¡±

    After simple treatment, Su Chenghai put on a loose-bodied reddish-blue robe made of brocade. Hardly had he covered up the wound and put away gauze and sters. The little servant girl came to report the arrival of two concubines and Third Miss.

    Su Chenghaiid down the hot tea that had been brought to his lips gently. His eyebrows stretched pleasantly when hearing the words ¡°Third Miss¡± as if the spring breeze was blowing on his face.

    Outside the door, Concubine Liu was stamping her feet anxiously. It was almost dusk, and this time tomorrow Qin Zhi would marry another concubine. The ready-made clothes they were looking for were not for typical asions but for the wedding. Even the clothing stores wouldn¡¯t always have one prepared.

    ¡°If it doesn¡¯t work, Third Miss, isn¡¯t your mother a tailor? I heard that she embroidered the cerise dress she wore at the wedding. We could take it as a substitute.¡± Concubine Liu was full of wicked ideas.

    ¡°Concubine Liu must be joking,¡± Qin Yunuan nodded slightly. She was too greedy to not even let go of her dead mother. ¡°My mother passed away. Her wedding dress is nothing more than her remains. Tomorrow was a day of great joy for my father. It could be too unlucky for the new Concubine Li to wear a dress like this. Aren¡¯t you afraid that my father would me?¡±

    Concubine Liu blinked her narrow eyes, ¡°Yes. Neers are entering the house, and the elders couldn¡¯t even say anything.¡± From a distance, she saw Su Chenghai striding and greeted softly, ¡°Master, you came finally. We have been waiting for a while.¡±

    ¡°Cousin, you don¡¯t seem to be in a good mood?¡± Qin Yunuan was the only one to notice Su Chenghai¡¯s pale lips and weary eyes.

    Su Chenghai bowed to greet them, ¡°It seemed that I didn¡¯t rest wellst night. I wonder what was the reason for your arrival?¡±

    While Concubine Liu and Chang told the details of the story, Su Chenghai kept a calm smile from beginning to end. Then he turned back casually to order Xiao Si, ¡°Take my seal to the Yuman Embroidery Shop. He would think of a resolution when he saw it.¡±

    Concubine Liu opened her mouth, finding it surprising that Su Chenghai solved the problem with few words. It was the same problem that gave her numerous headaches. Concubine Chang was so pleased with the burden lifted, and she thanked him again and again.

    ¡°That should be alright,¡± Qin Yunuan chimed in with Concubine Chang, ¡°Cousin Su was a relief for Concubine Chang¡¯s anxiety.¡± It also destroyed the purpose of Dou Qing¡¯e to do evil tricks. Dou Qing¡¯e had great ambitions. She was troubling around, creating obstacles for Concubine Chang and Liu in housekeeping before. But now she seemed willing to show her troubles to Qin Zhi.

    She had done everything, but she didn¡¯t expect that this cousin that she despised was a businessman of such capability.

    ¡°Two Concubines could rest assure that before noon tomorrow, an embroidered bright red wedding dress would be delivered to the Qin Mansion.¡± Su Chenghai said. His eyes were as tender as the moonlight. Having restrained and concealed his emotions sessfully for a long time, he found himself failed in the face of Qin Yunuan. His eyes could not help but linger on Qin Yunuan¡¯s body, on the tip of her eyebrow, and at the corner of her mouth. If Chang and Liu came without her, he will definitely find a reason to reject. He didn¡¯t like any involvement with the Qin Family, except for her.

    Concubine Chang and Liu returned first as they had a lot of work to do. Liu walked forward vigorously with her head holding high. Concubine Chang followed and crossed the threshold, lifting her skirt.

    Qin Yunuan and Su Chenghai were left alone in a warm atmosphere, warmth lingering between their noses.

    Su Chenghai didn¡¯t mention about sending Qin Yunuan back. Qin didn¡¯t leave, either. Her eyshes were gilded in the golden sunset. Half of her face was immersed in the warmth. Everything was tranquil and beautiful.

    Qin Yunuan chuckled suddenly, ¡°Cousin Su, you seemed to be well acquainted with Yuman Embroidery Shop?¡±

    Su Chenghai replied calmly, ¡°We had some transactions in business and became familiar.¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked into the distance, ¡°I guess you are also familiar with the White Horse Academy.¡± She tilted her head with a smile on her face, ¡°Chances are you met them in your business dealings, right?¡±

    Su Chenghai didn¡¯t answer, his silhouette was pulled long by the setting sun. Even the biting wind gentled when passing this yard, stroking faces almost like smooth satin. Su Chenghai turned back gently and met with Qin Yunuan¡¯s next sentence. ¡°I reckon that you also have some business dealings with East Qin, am I right?¡±

    Su Chenghai nodded faintly without particr emotions.

    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, and Yunuan should go back.¡±

    Fuxi Courtyard.

    As soon as Qin Yunuan stepped into the gate of the courtyard, she noticed the dim candlelight flickering in the small study room. This afternoon before visiting Su Chenghai with Concubine Chang and Liu, Qin Yunuan took Qin Baochuan to Qin Zhi. She thought of theplicated and slightly disgusted look on her father¡¯s face when he heard that Baochuan was waiting outside.

    ¡°I appreciate his kindness foring. My room is a mess. Don¡¯t bother letting him in.¡± Qin Zhi¡¯s words struck hard on Baochuan¡¯s immature heart. It was not the first time that his father refused to see him. In his memory, father was always a vague and indifferent figure, appearing mostly and only on the few family dinners he could attend.

    ¡°Father, Baochuan is waiting outside. He also brought a pair of ink bamboo from his recent painting. Baochuan is filial. Besides, you had recovered, so how can he be ill?¡± Qin Yunuan was confused about how her father avoided his son in every way. He was even willing to see her, the daughter of a concubine. Despite all the mud that Dou Qing¡¯e and Concubine Liu threw on Baochuan¡¯s name, he was the Second Master of the Qin Family.

    Was there any other reason?

    Qin Yunuan stood ten steps away from the study. In her mind, Baochuan was pouting and holding a pen to practice writing. Perhaps, stubbornness was in the blood of her mother, herself and her brother. As a child, Qin Yunuan heard unintentionally from her mother Yang that she came from a well-educated family in Yangzhou. She also had excellent handwriting, but she was kicked out by her brothers and struggled her way to the Royal City. She made a living on her embroidery before bing Qin Zhi¡¯s concubine. After giving birth to a girl and a boy, her temper was softened. After all, it took much stubbornness to live peacefully in a family full of conspiracy and thirst for power like the Qin¡¯ s.

    ¡°When the young master came back in the evening, he kept himself in the study and practiced writing for a long time. He didn¡¯t even take a break or eat dinner. Third Miss....¡± Nurse Liao¡¯s frowning expressed her concern.

    ¡°It¡¯s dim,¡± Qin Yunuan said quietly, ¡°send a soybean oilmp to Baochuan.¡±

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t try to persuade Qin Baochuan. She knew her brother too well, that he couldn¡¯t be convinced at this moment. Baochuan just wanted to prove himself by working hard.

    Maner and Tong waited upon Yunuan until she fell asleep. Two new servant girls were in charge of taking water and keeping watch at night.

    Taking thest hairpin off, Qin Yunuan started brushing the long hair around her waist with a mahoganyb and said to Maner beside her, ¡°Do me a favor tomorrow and inquire about the rtionship of young master Su Chenghai and the Iron General Leng Changxi. Did they know each other for a long time? Anything happened between them?¡±

    Maner was stunned, feeling that the two men were irrelevant. One was a young master, gentle and modest, spending thousands on business. The other was a gloomy General who had just returned from the battlefield, his des were as cold as his heart. Why would her girl feel that these two people were rted?

    Su Chenghai was trustworthy, sending a pink wedding dress to Concubine Chang before noon on the next day. In the evening, a soft sedan that four men carried on their shoulder sent Li Qiqi, the best singer in the regions south of the River from the temporary aisle on the west to the east end of the courtyard, Hai Tang Courtyard.

    Hai Tang Courtyard, as the name implied, grew begonias all over. In autumn, begonia flowers of four colors bloomed together like a fragrant sea. To wee Li Qiqi, Qin Zhi had ordered Dou Qing¡¯e in his letter before he returned, that he would like the Hai Tang Courtyard to be refurnished. The exquisite and magnificent courtyard became even more beautiful than the Cui Xuan courtyard nearby.

    Marrying a concubine was not the same as marrying a wife. There were fewer rules to follow and also fewer people came to congratte.

    Dou Qing¡¯e was in charge after all. Every concubine in the door should pour a cup of tea in a toast to her.

    Dou Qing¡¯e on the main seat looked thin and pallid, her tone also gentled like the flowing stream. ¡°Come on, get up.¡± Unexpectedly, Dou Qing¡¯e didn¡¯t embarrass Li Qiqi. She called Cui¡¯e out, handing her two sparrow-shaped hairpins made of colored ss. ¡°I want you, my sister to ept my wee gift.¡± She smiled and said

 Chapter 34 â€œThe Fire in Midnightâ€

    <h4>Chapter 34 ¡°The Fire in Midnight¡±</h4>

    Li Qiqi seemed a little ttered, a concubine did not need to cover her head with a cloth when she got married. At this moment, her beautiful face became more and more dazzling under the candlelight, forming an ironic contrast with the wrinkles at the corner of Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s eyes.

    Li Qiqi was still hesitant while Qin Zhi, who was on the side, spoke first, ¡°It¡¯s rare that my wife Qing¡¯e is so courteous. It seems that worshipping the Buddha for half a month can really purify a soul.¡±

    He called her ¡°my wife Qing¡¯e¡±. It had been years since hest called her like that. Dou Qing¡¯e forced a bitter smile. She had done so much for the Qin Family and yet Qin Zhi had never praised her for it. Now that she merely gave his new concubine a couple hairpins, he was full of tenderness. This was the man that she wanted so badly to keep to her own.

    ¡°Huh, it¡¯s all about her face.¡± After the tea was finished, naturally Qin Zhi carried Li Qiqi back for the wedding night. At this moment, Concubine Liu, who had been constrained for a long time, couldn¡¯t bear it anymore. She swore towards the wedding room with jubnt decorations, ¡°It¡¯s all because she looks like....¡±

    ¡°Sister Liu,¡± Concubine Chang suddenly held her and stopped her from speaking. She motioned to Qin Yunuan and Qin Baochuan sitting beside, frowning, ¡°The children are still here, why bother mentioning the old stories again?¡±

    In the night, it was supposed to be a very peaceful time, and when Qin Zhi was about to have a wonderful night with his new concubine.

    But just over midnight, a loud noise burst into Qin Yunuan¡¯s ears.

    ¡°It¡¯s on fire! The Hai Tang Courtyard is on fire! Someonees to fight the fire!¡±

    A fire broke out on the night of Qin Zhi¡¯s new wedding. It was unknown whether it was man-made or just an ident. Qin Yunuan quickly sat up and yelled at Ting Xue who¡¯s on her night duty to look after Qin Baochuan. Then she pulled over the coat on the hanger and rushed out of the door.

    Qin Yunuan saw nurse Liao had already held Qin Baochuan and took him out of the room, hurrying to her. She asked quickly,¡± What¡¯s going on here? What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± nurse Liao looked at the blistering fire on the east side. It seemed to illuminate the sky.

    Maner and Tong also rushed out and put on a warm cloak for Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°It¡¯s bad. My father is also at Hai Tang Courtyard.¡± Qin Yunuan was startled and hurried out her courtyard while carrying her skirt.

    ¡°Third Miss, Third Miss, everyone is fighting the fire. It¡¯s too dangerous for you to go.¡± nurse Liao quickly stopped Qin Yunuan. She did not want her to take the risk.

    ¡°It would be a real danger if I don¡¯t go.¡± Qin Yunuan turned around and said, ¡°The snow is melting recently, and the air is humid. We can¡¯t even light a firewood casually. However, the new courtyard is on fire suddenly. You know what I mean, nurse Liao?¡±

    Nurse Liao halted. She did understand, but she didn¡¯t dare saying it. The fire must be intentional. If it were aimed at Concubine Li, it could be treated as thedies fighting. However, if it affected Master Qin, it would be the worst crime.

    Thinking of the previous dangers happening to herself, Qin Yunuan dared not take the slightest risk anymore. It was not only for herself, but also for Baochuan, and for nurse Liao, Tong and Maner in the yard.

    Meanwhile in Hai Tang Courtyard, a huge fire was dancing on the roof tiles, and the sky became blood-red. Qin Yunuan could feel the heat from more than ten feet away. The heat was so real which made her think of the fire in the marriage sedan in her previous life.

    For a moment, Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart trembled and she took a few steps back. She was helped by a pair of powerful hands.

    ¡°Cousin Su?¡± Qin Yunuan raised her head. Su Chenghai was like a towering tree in a sea of flowers, steady and calm as always.

    They were surrounded by servants carrying buckets of water, trying to put out the fire. It was most likely that Su Chenghai hurried his way here, as he was only wearing a simple white shirt, with arge crane robe on the outside. He frowned when he saw Qin Yunuan wore only a cloak, although dressed tightly on the inside.

    ¡°Why did youe out like this?¡± Su Chenghai ttened his lips and he took off the warm crane robe and put it on for Qin Yunuan. Qin Yunuan was about to refuse subconsciously, while Su Chenghai said irrefutably, ¡°Put it on. If you catch a cold, Concubine Chang would make me find some good medicines for you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan knew that Chang was good to her, but she did not expect that Su Chenghai would talk like this, gently while overbearingly, which made people irresistible. This feeling was terrible. Qin Yunuan tucked her hands into her sleeves, trying to calm herself down.

    The fire was almost controlled. It was just that it came so suddenly, and Qin Zhi was in a good mood today having a new concubine, so he made an exception to send the servant girls off. That¡¯s the reason why the fire was only discovered when it had already burnt outside the window.

    Qin Zhi and the newly-wed Li Qiqi were resting in the wing-room of Cui Xuan courtyard. The servants went in and out to add charcoal fire and incense burners.

    ¡°Alright, alright. Don¡¯t bother anymore, off you go.¡± Qin Zhi was extremely irritated by the ident.

    The leading servant girl¡¯s eyes were flickering, she said, ¡°It was Madam who told us to do so. She said that we should serve you well. Concubine Li is weak, so we must burn enough charcoal to keep her warm. Master likes incense so we need to have the incense burner ready too. Besides, Madam said that she had ordered people to clean up a yard, so that Concubine Li could move in immediately. As for the cause of the fire, she said that she would investigate it with Master when the fire is put outpletely.¡±

    After listening to this remark, Qin Zhi was a bit moved. Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s arrangement was heart-warming and organized, calm and timely. She was in charge of the family for many years after all. Only in a crisis could she reveal such thoughts and courage.

    ¡°Tell my wife, I have to bother her with these matters in the future.¡± Qin Zhi¡¯s words were simple, but the meaning was pretty clear. It wouldn¡¯t be long till Dou Qing¡¯e regains power.

    Qin Yunuan, who was outside the door when Qin Zhi said that heard it very clearly. As she looked up, she saw Dou Qing¡¯e dressed in a magnolia and blue double-embroidered satin dress. She had an emerald hairpin on her, looking very decent. Her eyebrows did not twitch because of being grounded for half a month, but became more rxed than before.

    ¡°Mother.¡± Qin Yunuan greeted her. She heard the words very clearly just now. The dominant Dou Qing¡¯e had turned into a generous hostess. She didn¡¯t believe that Dou Qing¡¯e had really changed. Dou Qing¡¯e was from the Dou family in Hangzhou. They had gained fame from being officials for generations. Dou Qing¡¯e was the thirddy from the Dou family. She had been adored since she was a child and was used to conspiracies in the family. No one would believe that she had changed her temper just for Qin Zhi.

    Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s tone was gentle and graceful, as she nodded in return. They entered the room together without further contact.

    After greeting, Qin Yunzhuang, who had taken off the veil and revealed her good-looking face ran to Qin Zhi in tears, ¡°Father, it¡¯s so good that you¡¯re not hurt. I was so worried.¡±

    Qin Zhi pulled out a faint smile, ¡°Doctor Chen has already seen it, it¡¯s not a big deal, but for Qiqi....¡± He turned to look at Li Qiqi who was sitting beside him but found that a hint of surprise shed in the delicate beauty¡¯s eyes with her hand covering her mouth. Following her sight, Qin Zhi saw Su Chenghai, who was about to enter the house. One of them an eighteen-year-old beauty, the other a young man with a strong spirit. Qin Zhi put his fist over his mouth and coughed dryly, so that the somehow unscrupulous Li Qiqi returned to her mind. ¡°Qiqi, the doctor said you are frightened and need a good rest. Is there anything so important in the room that made you run back for it?¡±

    At this moment, Li Qiqi was only wearing a white lining, and a cloud-geese-patterned daisy dress on the outside. Apparently, she ran out in a panic, that there were burnt marks on her hair and her skirt, and ashes in her nails. Compared to Qin Zhi, who¡¯s still very neat and tidy though haggard, Li Qiqi seemed a bit embarrassed.

    ¡°Concubine Li, is there anything important in the house?¡± Qin Yunuan naturally noticed Li Qiqi¡¯s gaze at Su Chenghai. ¡°If it¡¯s some jewelries, you can tell the servant girls to be more careful. Perhaps they¡¯re not burnt out yet and still in there.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother.¡± Li Qiqi rejected Qin Yunuan¡¯s kindness, and her expression slowly faded, ¡°It¡¯s just a piece of clothes that is worthless.¡±

    There were frequent reports from the Hai Tang Courtyard, and the servant girls were all busy adding tea for the masters. Su Chenghai sat next to Qin Yunuan naturally. At this time, Qin Yunuan had already handed Su Chenghai¡¯s crane robe back to him, so as not to cause any misunderstandings. Qin Yunuan, who was wearing thin clothes wobbled a little as the brazier was too far apart, but she had to bear it for a while.

    ¡°Here.¡± Su Chenghai handed the freshly brewed hot tea to Qin Yunuan and brought the tea that Qin Yunuan used to warm her hands to himself, raised it to his mouth, and drank it.

    ¡°It¡¯s already cold.¡± Qin Yunuan murmured, trying to stop him.

    Su Chenghai pursed his lips and said, ¡°I like to drink it cold.¡±

    ¡°Master, the Hai Tang Courtyard has been checked. The dormitory has beenpletely burned down, and the other two auricles can be remedied. In addition,¡± the old housekeeper who came to deliver the message looked at Li Qiqi and bowed his head, ¡°As for the wedding dress Concubine Li asked me to save, I¡¯m afraid it must have beenpletely burned. ¡±

    Li Qiqi halted for a second, then waved her hand and said,¡± Never mind, it¡¯s just a piece of clothes.¡±

    Qin Zhi said quietly, ¡°It¡¯s just a piece of clothes. If you like it, I¡¯ll invite someone from Yuman Embroidery Shop tomorrow to make one for you each in spring, summer, autumn and winter.¡±

    Qin Zhi¡¯s pampering to Li Qiqi had hurt Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s eyes, but she still maintained a tolerant and generous appearance, and even took over the speech, ¡°How could that be enough? Now sister Li is part of the Qin Family, and she¡¯s so beautiful. If I am to decide, I would make three for her in each season. It happens that there is a satin brought from the regions south of the River by my brother. Unfortunately, the color is too gorgeous and doesn¡¯t suit me really well. If sister Li wears it, she must be looking great.¡±

    Seeing Qin Zhi nodding with satisfaction at Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s attitude nowadays, Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart tightened even more. If Dou Qing¡¯e was willing toe at her directly, like what she did previously, it¡¯s still fine. However, if Dou Qing¡¯e started to hide her conspiracies behind the surface, like today, she would not be so easy to handle.

    During the conversation, people gradually came together. Even Qin Baochuan was carried there by nurse Liao. Since he had sleptte because he practiced calligraphy too hard, Qin Baochuan was now lying to nurse Liao and sleeping.

    ¡°Last night Baochuan practiced calligraphy tillte, so he¡¯s a bit sleepy.¡± Qin Yunuan exined for Qin Baochuan. However, she knew that in Qin Zhi¡¯s heart, he hated Qin Baochuan more than he appeared to.

    But The only people missing in the room were the people in charge of the household, Concubine Liu and Concubine Chang.

 Chapter 35 Shoddy Goods for Quality Goods

    <h4>Chapter 35 Shoddy Goods for Quality Goods</h4>

    ¡°Where is Concubine Liu? Why wasn¡¯t she here?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e sipped the tea and pretended to worry her.

    Qin Yuwan¡¯s hands shook and the tea was almost spilled, ¡°My mother is busy in the counting house.¡±

    Qin Zhi felt unsatisfied and pped the table, ¡°What is happening now? The Hai Tang Courtyard now is on big fire, but why is she now busy in ounting, such little business?¡± What Qin Zhi really meant was that he and his lovely concubine got astonished and everyone should be here tofort them.

    Half of the people present here disliked Concubine Liu, but they felt unhappy when they saw Qin Zhi took side in Li Qiqi very much.

    ¡°Maybe not,¡± Qin Yunuan said calmly, ¡°It¡¯s windy very much tonight and it¡¯s blowing east wind. The counting house is very close to Hai Tang Courtyard and now everybody focuses on saving Hai Tang Courtyard. I am afraid of the security of counting house....¡±

    Before Qin Yunuan finished, at the door, a hurried female sound came from far to near.

    ¡°Master, master, something bad happened in the counting house, in the counting house.¡± The sound was harsh and gentle. It was Concubine Liu.

    Concubine Chang following Concubine Liu was in a hurry too. Both of them came with mess dress and their face got some stains by the fire.

    ¡°Master, the counting house was burned down, and the ount books inside are all burned out.¡± Concubine Liu looked at Qin Zhi timidly. She suddenly knelt down when she saw the extremely upset Qin Zhi. She was good at observing other¡¯s emotions because she worked at this mansion for many years from a maidservant to the concubine. The more serious Qin Zhi was, the more anger he had in his mind.

    ¡°It¡¯s my fault. It is I that do not manage those ount books. My master, you believe me so much and let me do the management of the house together with Concubine Chang. But I....¡± She said while observing the change of Qin Zhi¡¯s face.

    Concubine Chang aside knelt too, ¡°I have some mistakes too. I am willing to take responsibility with Concubine Liu.¡±

    The ount books recorded all kinds of financial ies and expenses of Qin Family, ranging fromnd rents in the suburbs near the Royal City to the purchase of a little needle and silk thread. It was just after the Spring Festival, so those ies and expenses were just recorded onto the books. Now if the books were burned out, the whole family would be upside down.

    Qin Yuwan saw her mother kneeling, she did it as well to plead, ¡°Father, my mother should not take the whole responsibilities. It is out of expectation of all people that the fire was burning. Look at my mother please. Her face was ckened due to the fire. It is obvious that she has tried her best to save those ount books.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e now pleaded too, ¡°Yes, it is not a big issue that those ount books are burned out. Sister Liu, have you prepared a brief backup for the ount books? If you had done it, it would not influence the following recording of ies and expenses.¡±

    Concubine Liu turned to be more serious, and she looked at Qin Zhi but just met the promising eyes of him. She kowtowed, ¡°Please forgive my silliness. I have never used this method to do the backup. My master, I know I am wrong. I know I have made a big mistake.¡±

    Qin Zhi turned to be upset, ¡°You always do more harm than good.¡± The big fire was an unavoidable ident, but the unprepared backup was the problem of Concubine Liu.

    Qin Yunuan sitting aside saw a sh arrogance on Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s face. Yes, she made it. She had proved that she was indispensable for the Qin Family through the previous things and the fire today. As expected, before Qin Zhi was about to vent his anger, Dou Qing¡¯e said with a smile, ¡°Sister Liu is the first time to do the ounting management. It is normal for her to ignore some rules. But luckily, I have made backups of all ounts since I started to manage the ounting. All backups are specially stored in a room in Cui Xuan Courtyard. All can be moved in the counting house just for a rough arrangement.¡±

    Concubine Liu was stunned and stared at Dou Qing¡¯e. She had no idea if she should thank her or hate her.

    Qin Zhi was delighted and bright. He now was not worried and sighed, ¡°My wife, Qing¡¯e, she is indispensable for this family.¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± The eyes of Dou Qing¡¯e were gentle as if it almost dripped water, ¡°It is my responsibility for the master to share the burdens.¡±

    It was bright generally. Soft and gentle sunshine was shining into the room through windows, casting a shadow.

    ¡°Master, the origin of the fire is figured out,¡± The old steward came followed by a young servant holding a fire pan. The servant bowed at the door and came in a hurry. He put the pan down and bowed his fists, ¡°This is the fire pan for raising room temperature.¡±

    Qin Yunuan had let nurse Liao hold Baochuan and took him back. She together with others stared at the fire pan which had already been out of shape. The golden flower onto the pan for ornament could not be seen clearly, and even the stoutest pan bottle also was burned to be out of shape, only remaining some ck residues inside in it.

    ¡°The charcoal?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e said with an extending tone but stopped.

    The mansion of Grand Commandant used to use the best silver charcoal in the market. It would create no fumes and raising-high sparks when it was burned but could make the room warmer. The inferior ck residues in the fire pan looked like the ck charcoal used in poorer families. However, the granted money from the counting house was used to purchase silver charcoals.

    ¡°Silver charcoals are warm but without mes. ck charcoals are smoky and choky with sparks. I think the big fire came from the sparks or mes. They origin from the burning ck charcoal and then lighted the curtains.¡± Qin Yunzhuang made her conclusion slowly. She and Dou Qing¡¯e looked at each other knowingly, which was perceived well by Qin Yunuan. Qin Yunuan sat backward and changed a morefortable posture. She was waiting for a good show.

    As expected, Qin Zhi waved his hands and ask the old steward, ¡°Go to find the manager of the counting house and the nanny responsible for purchasing. I will ask them how those inferior charcoal came into my house.¡± And then he turned back to look at upset Li Qiqi, asking in a gentle voice, ¡°Are you tired? If you are tired,e back to have a rest.¡±

    Li Qiqi was speechless. She just lowered and shook her head. She did not stare at Su Chenghai inexplicitly, but her hesitance was exactly perceived by Qin Yunuan.

    Qin Yunuan turned back to look at Su Chenghai. He was sipping the cold tea leisurely. He held the tea board with her slender fingers, which was very elegant. It could be vaguely seen that there were some calluses on his hands, which was yellow and had existed for a long time on his hands.

    ¡°Master, here they are.¡± Just for a while, the old steward led the Yesan and Nanny Qiao responsible for purchasing toe in.

    ¡°Nanny Qiao?¡± Concubine Chang turned nervous when she saw the calm Nanny Qiao, ¡°You said you needed half month¡¯s rest at home due to your waist and leg disease. Why are you here?¡±

    ¡°Humph, Concubine Chang hopes me to rest.¡± Nanny Qiao said, and her words were like a bomb. She knelt and said to Qin Zhi straightly, ¡°My master, I have worked in Qin Family for 30 years, and I have done the purchasing for 8 years. When madam Dou managed the family, she would give me a list for purchasing, and I would do the purchasing ording to the list. During thest half month, Concubine Chang and Liu managed the family, but they handled things without any rule and regtion. They let me use ordinary wooden charcoals instead of silver charcoals. I did not want to do those bad things any longer and I still wanted to remain in this position, so I had an idea that I woulde back home for curing my disease.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense!¡± Concubine Liu turned outrageous, ¡°I did not let you rece the silver charcoals with inferior wooden charcoals, and I just asked you to save more money when purchasing by carefulparison. Am I wrong?¡±

    Nanny Qiao was brave and asked straightly to Concubine Liu, ¡°You are not wrong. But You let me use inferior charcoals to rece superior charcoals. That money saved is caught by you.¡±

    Concubine Liu frowned and was about to vent her anger but pulled back by Concubine Chang aside. She looked at Qin Zhi and found his extremely gloomy face. She did not argue more and just said to Qin Zhi with tears, ¡°My master, I have apanied you for many years. Don¡¯t you believe me?¡± Concubine Liu had served closely Qin Zhi since he was 12 years old. They had sex when he was 14. Now they had been together for over 20 years. That¡¯s why Concubine Liu believed that she was one qualified and elder member of family Qin.

    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Qin Zhi ignored teary Concubine Liu and pointed at Yesan, ¡°You are in charge of the ounting. In recent days, you must know the specific ies and expenses of Qin Family.¡±

    He knew that definitely, but Yesan was in Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s side. Qin Yunuan sipped the strong tea. The sun rose and she felt exhausted due to theck of sleep for the whole night.

    Yesan knelt down. His thin check increased his honesty, ¡°Master, the expense that Concubine Liu recorded down on the ount was sufficient, and even she drew more money than madam did when madam was in charge. But I had no idea that what she used that money for.¡±

    ¡°Bah,¡± Concubine Liu cried, ¡°That¡¯s because you made a mistake in bottom drawer....¡± She nned to say that Yesan deliberately made a mistake about the color of the bottom drawer and she had to use more money to handle it. But she calmed down and thought clearly that it was the secret she should make to the master.

    ¡°No evidence? Yesan, show me the evidence.¡± Concubine Chang had less rtionship with Concubine Liu, but now they were sitting on one same boat. She had to help her.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Yesan said with little scorn, ¡°All of the ount books have been burned out in that big fire. So, I have no evidence.¡±

    ¡°Since you have no evidence,¡± Qin Yunuan said slowly, ¡°You said the two concubines used inferior goods to rece the superior goods; and the other said the two concubines misused the money drawn from the counting house. This is not a small thing. Why don¡¯t you two report to my father and mother earlier? Why do you stand out exactly after the fire is burning and all is burned out?¡±

 Chapter 36 The Battle of Argument

    <h4>Chapter 36 The Battle of Argument</h4>

    ¡°The two people were likely to be afraid of their masters,¡± Qin Yunzhuang just glimpsed at Concubine Liu kneeling on the ground, ¡°Or, the two concubines threatened them, but they dared not to do that.¡±

    ¡°Sister, why are you so urgent to defend these two people?¡± Qin Yunuan smiled, and said to Nanny Qiao, ¡°You mean it was the two concubines that forced you to purchase inferior goods. Apart from those wooden charcoals, is there any other evidence? Do you get the receipt?¡±

    Nanny Qiao was stunned, with her fingers rubbing her apron in her waist, ¡°I... I forget. We mansion Qin is so familiar with those merchants of goods. We usually settle the ounts every three months if there is no other reason.¡±

    ¡°Then, that¡¯s weird,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled with a handkerchief covering her face, ¡°Just now my mother said that it wasmonsense to do a backup when doing the ounting, and these two concubines were their first time to do the house management. Theycked relevant experience, so they did not do the ounting. However, you also said you have been responsible for purchasing at the mansion for 8 years. Why don¡¯t you know that it ismonsense that receipt is indispensable when purchasing goods?¡±

    After Concubine Liu heard Qin Yunuan¡¯s words, she suddenly straightened her body and shouted, ¡°It must be you that substituted the inferior charcoal and you gained the benefits.¡±

    Qin Zhi was shocked and slowly turned his eyes onto the panic Nanny Qiao. The nanny did not present any evidence about her charge, and now the receipt and ount book were all missing. It was hard to punish Concubine Liu and Concubine Chang. However, the inferior charcoal did cause the big fire and did destroy his wedding and the counting house. Qin Zhi must punish the initiator of this disaster or he will lose his prestige.

    It was not so appropriate to conclude before the whole thing was clear. Now Qin Zhi was in a dilemma.

    ¡°Since the two sides have their respective reasons,¡± Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows, ¡°Why not invite the merchants to be here to judge the thing.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e covered her mouth and smiled, ¡°Unfortunately, I just heard that boss Yuan went home for the funeral of his family, and he maybee back after two or three months.¡± Concubine Liu and Concubine Chang have to be punished without the person as the witness.

    Su Chenghai suddenly said gently, ¡°Aunty, do you think it is a pity?¡±

    Qin Yunuan and Dou Qing¡¯e simultaneously turned back to look at Su Chenghai, but one was trusting him but the other was doubting him.

    Dou Qing¡¯e was speechless but her eyes were evident. She thought Yuan Dao had already been in his hometown in South Fujian, which was far away from the Royal City. The money she gave to him was enough to help him open another goods shop.

    ¡°To be frank, aunty, you should not feel it a pity,¡± Su Chenghai pretended to be unconscious to tidy his cuff, and said, ¡°Because I have met boss Yuan the other day at the First House, and we regretted we didn¡¯t meet sooner, so I invited him to visit the mansion today. Now he maybe has arrived at the mansion.¡±

    After the incense burnt half, they did not see the alive boss Yuan, but received a thin letter.

    ¡°The gatekeeper said boss Yuan seemed to be urgent and drove his carriage away after leaving this letter in a hurry.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e moved her body forward spontaneously, some helpless emotions got involved in her calm and elegant face. She argued helplessly, ¡°We do not see his real body, and how can we make sure the letter is from him?¡±

    ¡°There must be a seal of him on the letter,¡± Su Chenghai held a cup of tea slowly, leaning the armchair made of Huanghuali wood, ¡°Aunty, if you do not believe it, you can check it by taking this letter to the shop of boss Yuan.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e said with her still kind face, ¡°No, I believe you all the way.¡± But secretly, she had pinched her hands tightly, leaving a crescent moon-shaped imprinting. She raised her head and looked at Qin Zhi. Qin Zhi now was frowning and looked at the letter. Surprise and anger emerged on his face, and he seemed to be about to vent his anger heavily.

    ¡°Tell me, you, a bad thief,¡± Qin Zhi pointed at Nanny Qiao kneeling on the ground, ¡°You have been in my house for many years, and you have been responsible for purchasing for many years. How much money did you get illegally?¡±

    The whole thing was going in the opposite direction Dou Qing¡¯e expected.

    ¡°Father, what does the letter say? Why do you get so angry?¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s question was like a big kick on Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s body.

    ¡°This is not a letter,¡± Qin Zhi squinted at trembling Nanny Qiao kneeling on the ground, ¡°This is an ount submitted by boss Yuan. It records clearly that the nanny, this menial thief, plotted with boss Yuan that she wrote down that the mansion purchased the superior goods on the receipt, but the shop only sent the inferior goods which were hard to sell in the shop to the mansion. This is a conspiracy. I am afraid that there are still numerous inferior things at the whole mansion.¡±

    ¡°What? The nanny is the real thief,¡± Qin Yuwan instantly defended her mother, ¡°And she mes all on my mother. Such a lousy motive. Father, I think she should not work in our family any longer.¡±

    Nanny Qiao constantly kowtowed. She did gain some illegal profits through her position, but she never signed the ount with boss Yuan. All they had plotted was oral secretly, and besides, what she did was well known by the madam. Madam also gained some shares.

    ¡°M... madam, you should....¡± Nanny Qiao lowered her head heavily into her shoulder shudderingly. She opened her mouth and showed her yellow teeth. It was so disgusting that she cried with her snots and tears. She dared not to say more after she caught the eyes of Dou Qing¡¯e.

    ¡°That¡¯s not enough,¡± It was the first time that gloom shed on the eyes of Qin Yunuan, ¡°We should check all the ounts of her family. All money from those dirty deals should be submitted.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Qin Zhi nodded to express his agreement. He cared less about that money, but what he cared about was the discipline of the family. That¡¯s also rted to the prestige of him, the master of the family, ¡°Butler Xie, you are in charge of this issue. And the dirty thief should be punished by the family¡¯s discipline. 50 sticks, not one less.¡±

    Butler Xie was an elder steward who was responsible for many things in the family. He had served Qin Zhi for many years and Qin Zhi trusted him very much.

    ¡°As for the counting house,¡± Qin Zhi made a long pause here, and his eyes fell onto Concubine Liu and Concubine Chang, and then rolled for a while. He looked at Dou Qing¡¯e aside, ¡°Qing¡¯e manages the counting house.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e felt relieved but still pretended to refuse. She received the power of managing the family after all thought she was the only right person.

    ¡°But I have promised that I needed to do the Buddha worshiping for one month. Now it is still some days left, so I am afraid that....¡± Dou Qing¡¯e said off and on.

    Qin Yunuan exactly found that Dou Qing¡¯e was looking up and down at her. She raised her eyes and was about to say something, but Su Chenghai aside said calmly, ¡°Now the Queen mother manages the whole Imperial Harem but still does the Buddha worshiping. She chants the Buddha texts every day. So, in my opinion, aunty can do the management of the family and the Buddha worshiping simultaneously.¡±

    That¡¯s what Qin Zhi wanted. It was he that let Dou Qing¡¯e do the Buddha worshiping at her room, and it also was he that let Dou Qing¡¯e re-manage the family. Su Chenghai¡¯s suggestion seemed to intervene in the inner issue of Qin Family, but Qin Zhi was more confident, ¡°Yes. So my wife Qing¡¯e, she will be more overworked.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e did not fear the overwork, but she feared the whole issues of the family had nothing to do with her. For Dou Qing¡¯e, the most terrible thing was to lose her management power of the family.

    ¡°Of course, I will try my best.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e stood and gave her salute to the master. Today she did not coil all her long hair deliberately, because she wanted to pretend toe here in a hurry, and Qin Zhi had ever said that he loved her long dark hair. She stepped forward and asked Qin Zhi where he chose to have a rest. Frankly, Cui Xuan Courtyard was the unique perfect ce. What she wanted was to let Qin Zhi stay at the courtyard.

    Before Dou Qing¡¯e said, Qin Zhi just turned back to ask Li Qiqi, ¡°Tired? Madam just now said that she had already prepared another courtyard, and we can move there right now.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e was stunned but quickly added, ¡°Right, though the new-prepared Furong Courtyard was small, it is well equipped. So, you can live there right now.¡±

    ¡°Furong Courtyard?¡± Qin Zhi seemed to be not satisfied.

    Qin Yunuan raised her head and looked at Dou Qing¡¯e. It seemed that after half a month, Dou Qing¡¯e was shrewder. Furong Courtyard was a serious taboo in Qin Family. Qin Yunuan, only about nine years old at that time, remembered that Concubine He lived in Furong Courtyard, who was very delicate and elegant. She was sick and never went out. She was dead and nobody found that until the next day. Qin Zhi blocked Furong Courtyard and believed that the disease energy would linger at the courtyard for a long time, and the ce was not very auspicious.

    ¡°Mother, Furong Courtyard, is not so suitable, right?¡± Qin Yunuan responded gently, ¡°Concubine Li just joined our family, and now it is the right time to enjoy the auspicious phenomenon. I think Furong Courtyard is not so auspicious.¡± Though QinYunuan did not know the plot Dou Qing¡¯e had on earth, she knew well that Dou Qing¡¯e must plot something evil.

    Qin Zhi¡¯s face was stiff and not so normal, ¡°There are so many courtyards at the mansion, but why do you choose that one?¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e was not panic, ¡°Master, I choose that one because I consider much. First, Furong Courtyard is close to Shunchang Courtyard. Second, though Furong Courtyard has been empty for so long, it is well equipped. Sister Li can move into the courtyard at once Third,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e nodded, ¡°I know you, my master, have not forgotten Sister He. She is a perfect woman. Since she died, you have been upset always. Now I see that you are very happy to marry Sister Li, and I am relieved for Sister He. ¡±

    Now the sky was bright enough. Butler Xie had recorded all the loss and items which were burned out in this fire in Hai Tang Courtyard and showed the record to Qin Zhi. It was a big loss this time and the renovation of Hai Tang Courtyard would spend one or two months. Qin Zhi seemed to be convinced. He believed that the love he gave to Li Qiqi would not be less than the love given to He Lian. Besides, they can move back after two month¡¯s renovation of Hai Tang Courtyard.

    ¡°OK, move to Furong Courtyard,¡± Qin Zhi massaged his sour corner of eyes, ¡°It¡¯ste, and everybody just quits.¡±

 Chapter 37 The Counterplot

    <h4>Chapter 37 The Counterplot</h4>

    The first thing Qin Yunuan did after returning to the Fuxi Courtyard was to take a look at Baochuan. Nurse Liao was guarding outside his room, and when she saw Qin Yunuaning, she said to her in a soft voice, ¡°Second Master has not woken up yet. He must be very sleepyst night.¡±

    Qin Yunuan gave her a smile and walked straight into the room. While a cold st of air poured into the room, Qin Baochuan still curled himself up in the quilt and remained unmoved.

    Qin Yunuan took a seat beside Qin Baochuan¡¯s bed. With a faint smile, her face was as still as the surface of ake.

    ¡°Having slept for a whole night, you should have had enough.¡± Qin Yunuan tipped the bedside and continued speaking, ¡°You are not a sleepyhead. So, tell me, why do you pretend to be sleeping in front of father?¡±

    The quilt moved slightly, but still, Qin Baochuan made no sound. After a while, a small head got out of the quilt and murmured, ¡°Father? I don¡¯t want such a father.¡±

    Qin Yunuan covered his mouth hurriedly and warned him, ¡°Walls have ears. You are too careless.¡±

    Qin Baochuan¡¯s eyes turned red. He pulled Qin Yunuan¡¯s sleeves and vented his grievances. ¡°For years, father has nevere to see us. He even refused to see me when I came to pay respects to him. But today, he cared about the concubine so much that he got furious for her. So, what are we, sister?¡±

    ¡°So, you pretended to sleep in nurse Liao¡¯s arms to avoid seeing father?¡± Qin Baochuan was a timid and timorous boy in the previous life. Qin Yunuan thought that he might be braver and calmer than before, but she did not expect that the ignorance of Qin Zhi during these years had left a scar in his mind.

    Holding back the tears that were about to drip, Qin Baochuan nodded and then shrank his head into Qin Yunuan¡¯s chest. He always reacted like this when he was afraid.

    Baochuan could not be like this any longer. Getting him straightened up, Qin Yunuan said seriously, ¡°That¡¯s what you think. I can understand that you did not want to see father because he ignored you. But what would other people think of you? They would take you as a weak and incapable young master who still had a good sleep when your parents were in danger. Being indifferent to the safety of parents is impiety.¡±

    Qin Baochuan was shocked. He had never thought of that in this way. It could tell from his round face that he was thinking about what Qin Yunuan said deeply.

    Qin Yunuan sighed and said, ¡°You are a thoughtful child. You can learn to write on the sand and take cold showers, but why are you so upset with this little thing? You said that you would protect me when you grew up, did you forget that? So, be tough and brave. Do not escape again, OK?¡±

    Qin Baochuan wiped away the tears in his eyes and said firmly, ¡°My bad, sis. From now on, I will never run away like this. Father does not like me because of the rumors from other people, but I believe that if I work hard enough, I can change his attitude towards me.¡±

    Baochuan was still innocent. Qin Yunuan thought while touching the soft hair on Baochuan¡¯s forehead. He could not understand that Qin Zhi¡¯s bad attitude came beyond the rumors. But right now, it was better for him to think about it in this way.

    Their intimate conversation did notst long, as nurse Liao knocked at the door and reported, ¡°Third Miss, heree Concubine Chang and young master Su Chenghai.¡±

    Right now, Qin Yunuan was really exhausted after soothing Baochuan. A busy day of arrangements and plotting together with a restless night made her feel like breaking apart. But she bucked up again as soon as she heard that Concubine Chang and Su Chenghai wereing.

    In the wing-room, Maner and Tong had served tea for the two guests. The tea was just some new Yinzhen of the medium quality. Though it was not expensive, the tea was much better than those tea dregs that she had been allocated before at the old courtyard.

    Qin Yunuan had changed into an elegant light green cardigan with half sleeves and tied her hair up into a coil casually. At the sight of her, Concubine Chang stood up and came to her immediately, ¡°I thought you might have slept, but this thing was too urgent, so I could not help bute to talk over with you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled and said, ¡°We are just helping each other. Those courtesies are not needed.¡± At a nce at Su Chenghai who was sitting aside, Qin Yunuan made a curtsy and then said, ¡°Thanks to cousin¡¯s help, we finally made it.¡±

    Su Chenghai just waved his hand slightly, ¡°Nothing big.¡±

    The three of them all stayed up all night, but only Su Chenghai was still in good spirits. His eyes were brimming with radiating vigor, and his long arms were put on the knees uprightly that made the dark purple sleeves straight. However, his face was a little pale without the redness of the skin, looking a little bit weak.

    Concubine Chang stroked her chest, as if she had just escaped from a narrow death. ¡°Speaking of that, was it not for the foresight of Third Miss, me and sister Liu must have been punished by rod beatings today. Thankfully, Third Miss had seen through the tricks of Dou Qing¡¯e.¡±

    Qin Yunuan sat down beside Concubine Chang and then said, ¡°Dou Qing¡¯e wanted to shoot three birds with one stone, so she asked Nanny Qiao and her servants to put the inferior charcoals into the stove that father and Concubine Li would use. She also mixed some white phosphorus into it so that there will be mes once it was lit up. Then, fire would be sure to break out in Hai Tang Courtyard due to the charcoal, and she could clear herself of the whole thing and regain the power of ruling family affairs. At the same time, she let Nanny Qiao frame you and Concubine Liu to make you fall out of favor. Judging from her usual acts, Nanny Qiao would not stay in the family any longer no matter she made it or not.¡±

    ¡°She is really merciless.¡± Concubine Chang squeezed the embroidered handkerchief in her hand and hissed. Concubine Chang had always been praised by Qin Zhi for her integrity. She was reluctant to do such things, but it did not mean that she had no ability to fight back. This time, Dou Qing¡¯e was going too far. Even if it was not for herself, she had to do something for Baoduan.

    ¡°She thought the fire in the counting house was a godsend for her that destroyed all the fake ounts and gave her a chance to unt herself,¡± Qin Yunuan snorted, ¡°She did not expect that we set fires to the counting house, just like what she did to the Hai Tang Courtyard. Concubine Chang, please put the transferred ount books away in a safe ce. One day, we will use these ount books to reveal her of extorting the servants and practicing usury outside.¡±

    Concubine Chang was different from Concubine Liu. Thetter one was just a servant girl at first who gained her status from her rtionship with Qin Zhi. So, he could only be humble and obedient before him. In contrast, Concubine Chang was born in a business family that was wealthy enough to support her studies, and she had received an education for some years. She was sent to be Qin Zhi¡¯s concubine by her father in exchange for a rtionship with officials, because nowadays, officials had a much higher social status than businessmen. All in all, Concubine Chang was the perfect person to keep the ount books.

    ¡°Third Miss, the urgent thing I had mentioned has something to do with the ount books.¡± Concubine Chang lowered her voice and whispered to Qin Yunuan, ¡°I had learned bookkeeping from my father when I was not married. After a careful check, I found that there were some tricky things in the ount books, to be correct, many tricky things. But what shocked me most was....¡± She drew out a slip of paper as she said this, on which there read ¡°Pudu Temple.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was a little confused, ¡°Do you mean that Dou Qing¡¯e may have something to do with the Pudu Temple?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Concubine Chang replied, ¡°I found in the ount books that Dou Qing¡¯e had been allocating arge amount of money to this temple as offerings every year.¡±

    ¡°The abbot of this temple has been arrested secretly by General Leng Changxi because he had private deals with a killer organization in East Qin.¡± Su Chenghai said with a frown.

    Qin Yunuan sighed. Her unloading heart was now being pressed by a heavy rock again. What she had gone through in this life was far moreplex and darker than those in her previous life. She knew that since she had chosen this way, she had no chance to get back.

    ¡°So, it is very likely that Dou Qing¡¯e has raised a group of top killers in secret who will kill people under hermand at any time?¡± Qin Yunuan uttered this sentence quietly. That being the case, Dou Qing¡¯e would be far more horrible than she had imagined.

    ¡°It¡¯s not necessarily hers,¡± Su Chenghai seemed to be very clear about this, even clearer than business things, ¡°The four major families in the regions south of the River all have their own forces that support them to stand for so many years. The Cui Family relies on its money shops all around the country and the Shen Family is due to its hereditary titles of nobility and contributions in suppressing rebellions. The Shangguan Family has the national treasure Shangguan Yi inmand, while the Dou Family had no high-ranking officials for generations, though many of its family members were officials. So, it is not surprising to say that the Dou Family might have raised a group of killers.¡±

    Qin Yunuan drew a deep breath for amazement. She stared at Su Chenghai, who was as calm as usual, and thought that he was really a deep-minded person. He never said much, but actually, he knew far more things than any other people. He was like a ck hole that had the power to absorb other things, but never had he shown his real abilities like today.

    ¡°Cousin?¡± Qin Yunuan called him with a question intonation.

    Su Chenghai turned to her slowly but avoided her intoxicating pupils on purpose. He had tried for so many times to refrain from his outpouring emotions, but it seemed that he had failed every time.

    ¡°Did you mention General Leng Changxi just now?¡±

    Su Chenghai quivered slightly and then put on a cold look. His wondering eyes were lit up, but the light faded in no time. ¡°Why?¡± He said.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°It¡¯s just that you had never mentioned General Leng before. The way you called him made me feel that you are familiar with him.¡±

    ¡°Oh, we did meet a few times.¡± Su Chenghai did not want to lie.

    Concubine Chang was worried about Qin Baoduan who was left in the yard by her. She took leave of them after a short stay and told Qin Yunuan to be careful. It made her tremble when she thought that Dou Qing¡¯e might have many top killers under hermand.

 Chapter 38 Starting in Business

    <h4>Chapter 38 Starting in Business</h4>

    Su Chenghai and Qin Yunuan were left in the room alone after Concubine Chang went back. Qin Yunuan seemed to have something private to say, so she asked Maner and Tong to stop serving tea and wait outside. Nurse Liao also went out in a hurry after putting down a stem-dish with Glutinous Rice Balls on the table.

    Qin Yunuan smiled warmly and pointed to the five-colored Glutinous Rice Balls in the te. ¡°Do you still remember this dessert, cousin? It was our favorite in the childhood. We had even fought over it. Have a try and see whether it is as delicious as before.¡±

    Su Chenghai made a big grin sincerely, ¡°It really was a long time ago. I could not remember clearly.¡±

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t say anything. She just stretched out her fair hand and picked one into the small porcin te for Su Chenghai. ¡°Have a try.¡± She smiled.

    As Su Chenghai was enjoying the dessert, Qin Yunuan continued speaking, ¡°Cousin, Yunuan has to thank you again for helping me out today.¡±

    Su Chenghai swallowed the sweet Glutinous Rice Ball and looked up with a smile. ¡°You have thanked me twice.¡±

    ¡°You deserve that,¡± Qin Yunuan said, ¡°Actually, the real Boss Yuan had already left the Royal City and there was no contract of those stealthy things between him and Nanny Qiao. It was you who sent someone in disguise and handed the ounts to father. Were it not for your bluffing, Concubine Chang might have been in trouble because of my n.¡± Concubine Chang and Concubine Liu would not be able to clear themselves if there was no such letter, as the ount books were all ¡°burnt in fire¡± at the same time.

    ¡°That¡¯s all your idea.¡± Tilting his head slightly, Su Chenghaiid down his chopsticks and looked at Qin Yunuan with an admiring gaze, like she was a work of art made by top-ss white porcin. ¡°You had realized the evil intentions of Dou Qing¡¯e from just a red wedding dress from Yesan and you entrusted me to inquire about Boss Chen in secret. While biding your time, you pushed the whole thing over until you had figured out her whole n. That¡¯s what people say, the wolf has a winning game when the shepherds quarrel,¡± Su Chenghai smiled admiringly, ¡°Dou Qing¡¯e thought she regained the power by her own plotting, but she did not know you were also a big helper.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t expect that Su Chenghai had seen through her n so thoroughly. ¡°If she set her mind on worshiping the Buddha and stopped causing troubles, I might not do things in this way. It might be toote when she finally realized that the power that she had regained was just the start of another nightmare.¡±

    Suddenly, Qin Yunuan felt disheartened. The plots, the conspiracy and the calctions were things that she tried to avoid in the previous life. She used to think that it was good to live a safe and happy life. However, until she was burnt to death in the marriage sedan, she finally realized that those things were inevitable for someone who was born in such a family. Now, she was full of tricks and schemes. She had be....

    ¡°Am I a horrible person? Do I look like a wicked woman?¡± Qin Yunuan asked Su Chenghai tentatively.

    ¡°No,¡± Su Chenghai had felt the caution of Qin Yunuan from her careful words. She had a different charm when she acted like this. ¡°I admire the way you are.¡±

    Qin Yunuan did not have a chance to take a break until the noon. Maner and nurse Liao guarded the door to make sure that their exhausted Third Miss would not be disturbed by anyone. But she did not have a good rest. In less than six hours, she had repeatedly dreamt of the big fire in her previous life. When the Hai Tang Courtyard was on fire, she concluded that the charcoal was mixed with something bad from the strong smell of white phosphorus. Nurse Liao simply thought that she was more sensitive than others. But that was not the case. She was familiar with the smell of burning wood and white phosphorus. Because it was the smell of death for her which had been branded in her memory.

    At the same time, she also remembered that in her previous life, an arm with a ck tattoo of Kylin had reached out into the fire, trying to save her. She never expected to encounter the owner of that arm again. For her, the greatest happiness was to be safe and sound.

    It was already the middle of the day when Qin Yunuan woke up in a daze. Maner came in with hot water when she was about to get up.

    ¡°You sweat a lot, Third Miss,¡± Maner said worryingly, as she twisted the wet towel, ¡°Did you have a bad dream?¡±

    Qin Yunuan shook her head. There was no way of telling Maner that she had dreamed about the scene before her death in the previous life. Taking a sip of water, she looked up and said, ¡°Did you get any information about the thing I had entrusted you to inquire?¡±

    Surely enough, Maner did not forget that Third Miss had asked her to inquire about the rtionship between General Leng and young master Su Chenghai, but....

    ¡°It¡¯s easy to enquire General Leng¡¯s whereabouts. Seemingly, he was busy investigating about Grand Prince¡¯s assassination by the assassins from East Qin. There¡¯s nothing strange about him. But about young master Su Chenghai....¡± Maner lowered her voice, ¡°A sister from his room had mentioned by chance that he did not rest there every night. Besides, he got some bottles of ointment in his room, so I guess he might have gotten hurt.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Qin Yunuan wiped her sweaty forehead with a wet towel. As expected, Leng Changxi was a cautious person and it was hard to make any deep inquiry. Besides, Su Chenghai had helped her again and again. At least, it proved that he had no bad intention towards them. What she could do from now on was to act ording to circumstances.

    A momentter, nurse Liao came in to report what she had learned under Qin Yunuan¡¯s instruction. It could tell from her worrying face that the result was not good.

    ¡°As instructed, I found the good friend of Concubine Yang whose name is Chungu at the embroidery shop, and I had requested her to ask about the cooperation intentions of shop owners with Third Miss. She replied today that many shops loved your embroideries but were scared by your requirement. The only one who was still interested required to speak to you face to face.¡±

    Face to face?

    In the previous life, Qin Yunuan only sold embroideries in private in order to buy some stationeries for Baochuan. But she got bigger ns this time. Her idea of making money by running business was strengthened especially after she saw Su Chenghai making big profits simply by selling the goods transferred from East Qin. With enough money, she could still live a good life with Baochuan even if she was defeated by Dou Qing¡¯e and got kicked out of the family in the future.

    Qin Yunuan nned to take charge of the embroidery patterns and styles, while the shop was supposed to offer the capital and follow-up funds. Unfortunately, it was a ridiculous idea in other people¡¯s eyes to share 30 percent of the profits simply by designing some colorful patterns. That was like getting something for nothing for them. As a result, nurse Liao had spent a lot of time on asking around and finally found someone who was interested. But meeting in person was not an easy thing for Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Third Miss, why don¡¯t we just give up,¡± Mother Liao said anxiously, ¡°Madam was back in power yesterday. She must have been keeping a close watch on you right now. If we get caught by her, I¡¯m afraid that she may make an issue of this thing and the situation could get out of control.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Qin Yunuan made up her mind, ¡°Our potential partner may doubt our sincerity if we do note. I already have a n for the meeting.¡±

    By noon of the next day, a in cyan carriage drove slowly out from the back door of the mansion of Grand Commandant. Covered with a thick curtain, it could not be recognized from the outside. Without maids and nannies following behind, the carriage drove off the Qingshui Alley quietly and went straight to the prosperous East Street.

    Driving in a hurry, the coachman and people inside the carriage did not notice that they were followed by two nimble men, who made an eye contact and rushed back to the Cui Xuan courtyard to report after the carriage left the alley.

    ¡°Third Miss, here it is.¡± The coachman was Huang Dashi, who was the son of nurse Liao. He was trustworthy.

    Qin Yunuan stepped down from the carriage. She looked more elegant in the light-yellow long dress, and even though her face was covered with a veil, her refined bearing had attracted the attention of passengers. Looking at the gilded signboard, Qin Yunuan was sure it was the right ce, the First Boite of the Royal City.

    ¡°Our miss came from afar and got some rashes for climate sickness. Arrange a quiet booth for us and do not let other people disturb our miss.¡± Huang Dashi asked the waiter to find a private room for Qin Yunuan deftly.

    The waiter served a cup of tea for Qin Yunuan quickly. There was sympathy in his eyes. Maybe he was wondering if the rashes would leave scars on this elegantdy¡¯s face.

    Qin Yunuan ordered two dishes of appetizers. At the same time, Huang Dashi was on duty at the door dutifully. A beam of sunlight shined into the room pleasantly, casting a short shadow on the ground. As the shadow extended for about one centimeter, someone knocked the door.

    ¡°Third Miss, it¡¯s me.¡± That was Chungu¡¯s voice, ¡°Boss Shen has arrived.¡±

    With a creak, the door was pushed open. Chungu, the good friend of Concubine Yang, came in first. She was in her forties, looking a little plump. Her hair was shiny, which meant that her life was not bad. From the thin soles of her shoes, it could tell that she had to run errands frequently. Nurse Liao said that Chungu had been pulling strings, doing matchmakings or working as an assistant after the chilin on her hands got worse and she could no longer do needlework. It seemed that they hade to the right person.

    The so-called Boss Shen seemed to be in his early twenties. He had good looks, with bright eyes and white teeth. The sword-shaped eyebrows on his stunning face would make people feel refreshed at first nce. His crimson clothing was very eye-catching. Qin Yunuan had never seen anyone who looked so dashing in crimson.

    ¡°This is Boss Shen, whoes from the regions south of the River. This time, hees to the Royal City in order to make a business expansion,¡± Chungu introduced him with a smile.

 Chapter 39 Make the Last Bet

    <h4>Chapter 39 Make the Last Bet</h4>

    Qin Yunuan saluted hurriedly. After general greetings, Chun Gu and Huang Dashi retreated to give them space to discuss the business affairs.

    ¡°Miss Yang, you have a very bold idea. But I wonder how confident you are about this sale?¡±

    To the boss, Qin Yunuan imed to have a surname ¡°Yang¡±. On the one hand, she was trying to hide her identity. On the other hand, all of her embroidery methods and patterns were learned from the handwriting notes of her birth mother, Yang. Qin Yunuan did nothing but sort the notes out in order. Boss Shen was testing Qin Yunuan¡¯s ability by asking this.

    Qin Yunuan thought of the previous life when Qin Yunzhuang asked her to embroider various samples and pieces to the pce and please the Empress. Confidence rose inside her when she recalled that the Empress often praised her for the embroidery. She questioned back, ¡°Boss Shen, you have seen my embroidery. What do you think?¡±

    Qin Yunuan kicked the ball back well. Shen was stunned for a short while, and thenughed out loud unscrupulously, ¡°What if I say, that you don¡¯t stand a chance?¡±

    Qin Yunuan grinned at his provocative tone, ¡°Why bother asking me toe out of the Mansion then?¡±

    Boss Shen stoppedughing, knocking the corner of the table with his fingertips, ¡°But the 30% profit that you demanded was too much, Miss Yang. These are after all just some samples and they could never worth this much. I can also find some good samples.¡± He admitted that the samples were good-looking, stylish and original, for him had never seen such in the market. Therefore, he made up his mind to make a trend of her embroidery. He needed to draw everyone¡¯s attention to these fashionable embroidery products, make them limited, and thenunch mass production. In this way, he would earn a lot, but first, the cost must be lowered.

    Time was limited. Qin Yunuan took some risk when she came out, and she wouldn¡¯t want too much involvement with Boss Shen. So, she continued bluntly, ¡°In fact, Boss Shen, you must have understood the opportunity since you agreed to meet me in person. Why keep circling and trying to cut the price? I want 30% of the profit, not one percent less. You know it better than anyone else whether it¡¯s worthwhile or not.¡±

    Every word of Qin Yunuan knocked into Boss Shen¡¯s heart. He yed with the bamboo chopsticks at hand with interest and silently observed Qin Yunuan with a cynical attitude. When he was about to speak, the tables and chairs outside collided violently. They could also hear men yelling in this chaos.

    ¡°F**k, you dare to take my seat. Are you tired of being alive?¡± A tough man had hardly finished this sentence when painful snoring burst out of his throat the next second.

    Boss Shen seemed to be very excited. He opened the window facing downstairs hurriedly, ¡°It looks like a good show was about to be on.¡±

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t want to show herself. She tried to stop him before she remembered that she was wearing a veil. At this very moment, the window opposite to their seats suddenly opened widely. A man in his forties appeared, wearing a beard. There was another who stood behind him....

    Qin Yunuan held her breath, in the seat opposite sat a person facing her. That bat-shaped mask, the cold and icy eyes, and the chilling atmosphere around him. Who else could it be, if he wasn¡¯t Leng Changxi?

    As soon as the window opened, Leng Changxi focused on Qin Yunuan almost at first nce, who was wearing an apricot dress and a veil. For some reason, even in this crowd and she was in a thick veil, he was able to recognize her. It seemed to have be instinct. But who was the man next to her? Why did she stay with a young man alone before she got married?

    Downstairs in the lobby, the tough man who was shouting fell to the ground, screaming in pain. Crowds of people watched in curiosity, and the people who did it¨Ca small, thin man was squeezing through a crowd, hurried to leave.

    ¡°General Shang?¡± Leng Changxi refrained himself from ncing at Qin Yunuan constantly and called out to the man who was leaning at the window, enjoying the show.

    ¡°Come and see,¡± instead of looking back, the man at the window led Leng Changxi to him, pointing at the man who fell to the ground, ¡°What can you see, General Leng?¡±

    Leng Changxi narrowed his eyes. He saw the nasty trick with his sharp eyes within seconds. From the outsider¡¯s point of view, this person had a dislocated arm. But in fact, his arm was crushed. Whoever did this was ruthless and well-trained, and his moves were too quick to trace.

    His eyes brightened. This was the East Qin swordsman¡¯s technique. ¡°Xue Si,¡± he tilted his head to instruct, ¡°Follow the small man.¡± Finally, there were some signs of the troubled gangs in East Qin.

    Xue Si jumped down immediately from the other window facing the street. When Leng Changxi looked up again, he found that the opposite window had been closed. Clearing his wandering thoughts, he asked General Shang to take his seat and said politely, which was rare for him, ¡± General Shang, what do you think about the things we have just discussed?¡±

    Shang Xianhua leaned forward, and his stout figure was squidgy round the edges. Sipping the top Chinese wine, Nv Er Hong, he smiled in a self-deprecating way, ¡°Everyone said that I was useless,zy and extravagant, and that¡¯s why I am still a fifth-grade general after so many years in the battlefield. Now that I¡¯m old, even my martial arts can¡¯tpare to young people. General Leng, you are one of those celebrities near the emperor. You can coborate with any general you want. Why did you choose me? ¡±

    ¡°What they saw was nothing more than appearance,¡± Leng Changxi had always been very confident in his eyesight, ¡°Others may say that General Shang had struggled in the battlefield for many years but still failed to be valued because of his ipetence. But I found that it was because General Shang had never given the Grand General Meng Hua any gifts so that he was crowded out by other generals. Others may say that General Shang bought a fine horse with thousands of money only for fun, but I know that the horseshoes used in the Shang Mansion monthly were even more than the ones in General Meng¡¯s. General Shang, you are never azy man, for you have been secretly practicing equestrian hard. As for thevish banquets after return, I believe that was the shows you put on.¡±

    Shang Xianhua stroked his thorny beard andughed mockingly, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, General Leng. I was kicked out of the Meng Army because of drunkenness in the barracks.¡± To be drunk in the barracks was something that must be banned.

    ¡°That¡¯s because Miss Shang had offended Imperial Concubine Yun on the Flower Fairy Festival. General Meng was angry for his sister and framed you deliberately.¡± Leng Changxi wouldn¡¯t waste time on a mediocre person. Likewise, he would attract the person that he was interested in his cause.

    ¡°General Shang, I have made it very clearly. I cherish the talented people. General Shang, you are outstanding but had to stand behind the stage. Ask yourself, are you satisfied?¡± Just then, if it weren¡¯t Shang Xianhua¡¯s sharp reminder, Leng Changxi would have to spend a few more days finding out where the remaining gangs of East Qin were hiding.

    Satisfied? Are you satisfied? The question lingered in Shang Xianhua¡¯s ears like magic. He groaned and then saluted with his hand, ¡°I hope you can give me three days to consider, General Leng. After three days, I will give you a certain answer.¡±

    After Shang Xianhua left, Leng Changxi turned his eyes to the closed, opposite window with coldness in his eyes.

    He saw her, and he knew that she saw him, too. There were a lot less defense and alienation in her eyes than before. But she was distant with her moderate and calm look, making him ufortable.

    It was evening and the setting was sinking slowly into the embrace of the mountains. A twilight was burning in the sun. A carriage with blue curtains stopped steadily at the main gate of the mansion of Grand Commandant. The person sitting inside reached out one hand with no jewelry on it. She was about to lift the curtains when Xiu Gu rushed out of the mansion gate, taking hold of the reins tightly, as if fearing that the carriage would run away. Proud was all over her face.

    Dou Qing¡¯e and Qin Yunzhuang stood at the gate. It seemed that they have been waiting for this moment for a long time.

    The sun shattered on Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s left cheek, highlighting her twisted smile. She grinned and opened her mouth, ¡°Third Miss. You are finally back home. It¡¯s a long journey for you.¡± She was an unmarried woman and also a government official¡¯s daughter who sneaked out of her house and went to the First Boite of the Royal City where all kinds of people flocked. With these excuses, she could catch this little girl tripping.

    The person in the carriage seemed to be scared. Her hands moved inward and remained motionless and silent.

    She was feeling guilty, and Dou Qing¡¯e became even more pleased. ¡°I understood how embarrassed you are in front of so many people. Why don¡¯te out first? Let¡¯s go into the room and discuss about it.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Qin Yunzhuang also persuaded hypocritically, ¡°You can¡¯t hide forever in that carriage.¡±

    Silence remained in the carriage. Dou Qing¡¯e got anxious and instructed Xiu Gu, ¡°Third Miss went out of the house without permission and refused to acknowledge her mistake. You, go and ask her to get off the carriage.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e gritted her teeth and stressed on the word ¡°ask¡±. The person sitting inside had to get out. She had learned enough from the previous two times. Now she had to catch Qin Yunuan on the spot and when she did that, Qin would be a dead cert for punishment.

    Xiu Gu stepped on the car immediately after Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s order, preparing to pull out the person in the carriage. She didn¡¯t expect her resistance was so strong that she could hardly pull out anything. Dou Qing¡¯e instructed with a wink and then several little servant girls joined in the battlefield, dragging the person by the arm. With everyone¡¯s effort, the person fell off the carriage. Her hair was a mess and she lowered her head. Also, her feet were injured.

    Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s face was glowing with glory. However, Xiu Gu who stood nearest to the carriage covered her mouth suddenly and shouted, ¡°This is not Third Miss, but Concubine Li.¡±

 Chapter 40 Repeated Failures

    <h4>Chapter 40 Repeated Failures</h4>

    Impossible! Dou Qing¡¯e rushed down the stairs with Qin Yunzhuang. Squatting down, the girl even took a look into Li Qiqi¡¯s eyes. ¡°Gosh, it¡¯s Concubine Li.¡± Qin Yunzhuang cried and put her hand at her heart.

    Li Qiqi sat on the ground with a distressed look. Rubbing her swollen ankle, she found creases of all over her newyered dress after the pulling and dragging. There was also an opening in the hemline that was about a finger long and half a finger wide. However, it seemed that the opening was torn before this incident.

    Dou Qing¡¯e was so surprised that she couldn¡¯t speak. It was not until a momentter did she open her mouth and stuttered, ¡°Sister Li, how are you? Why didn¡¯t you say it out clearly?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e knew it well that Li Qiqi meant a lot to Qin Zhi in his heart, so she had to calm Li down, ¡°Aw, if you said it just now and came out, everything wouldn¡¯t be like this....Come, let me see if this left any scars?¡±

    Li Qiqi was not pushover. After so many years in the pleasure quarters, she understood what Dou Qing¡¯e was thinking about. She just pulled her out of the carriage this time, maybe she would pull her off the stage the next time. She came to the Royal City alone and made a living on her own. Like many incidents, she had to deal with them in another way. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you are my sister. I¡¯m inferior to you. How dare I me you?¡± Li Qiqi struggled to stand up but immediately copsed on Xiu Gu¡¯s side with eyes full of grievances, ¡°Sister, it seemed that my ankle could no longer support me to walk.¡±

    If the injury were serious to this extend, Master would know about it anyway. Dou Qing¡¯e gritted her teeth and suddenly turned around to yell at the girls who were pulling, ¡°Which one of you showed ignorance of etiquette and hurt Concubine Li? Are you all tired of being alive? Xiu Gu, lock them up in the woodshed. I will deal with themter.¡±

    Following Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s order had be the ignorance of the etiquette for those little girls. It was almost too easy for her to shift the me.

    ¡°Oh, my mother is here.¡± A clear female voice came from behind Dou Qing¡¯e. ¡°My father called someone to Cui Xuan courtyard and waited for you to pick up a congrattory gift for my second uncle. It turned out that my mother was not in Cui Xuan courtyard but at the gate. Are you going out?¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e turned her head quickly and found Qin Yunuan, who she tried every means to frame, came to her. Her sweet and soft smile was like sticky amber that glued the embarrassed and astonished face of Dou Qing¡¯e.

    Concubine Chang who came along seemed to notice what happened just now and shouted in surprise, ¡°Isn¡¯t that sister Li? Why are you sitting on the ground? You servant girls, help her up.¡±

    Even though Concubine Chang said so, the servant girls didn¡¯t dare to move. The bolder one of them came out and said,¡± Concubine Li couldn¡¯t move. It looks like her ankle was hurt.¡±

    ¡°Is that serious? Why not send for a doctor?¡± Qin Yunuan frowned, looking worried. She med Tong, who stood beside her, ¡°Why don¡¯t you act ording to circumstances? Concubine Li was my father¡¯s sweetheart. Hurry up and go to tell him.¡±

    Tong turned her eyes and ran to Shunchang Courtyard in seconds. Dou Qing¡¯e couldn¡¯t have a chance to stop her.

    Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s face turned white like paper, and she still couldn¡¯t believe it. Impossible, she sent people to follow all the way. Qin Yunuan took the carriage with blue curtains and went out of the mansion. She also had eyes on the alley. Only one carriage returned during the time she was out. Why was the person inside Li Qiqi?

    She red at Qin Yunuan, feeling that this daughter of a concubine was filled with unbearable things and schemes. She had no idea how she returned, but there was one thing that Dou Qing¡¯e was sure about¨Cshe was framed by this filthy daughter of a concubine!

    Li Qiqi couldn¡¯t stay at the gate for long. While a few stout nannies were helping her into the Furong Courtyard, they met with Qin Zhi, who was rushing to the front. Some wet ink was on his neckline. When hearing about Li Qiqi getting pulled off the carriage at the gate and stomped, he was so anxious that he dropped the weasel hairbrush into his arms.

    ¡°Master.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e hurried to greet him, trying to exin first.

    Qin Zhi ¡¯s eyes were as horrifying as those of the ck demon. He turned around and said, ¡°We will talk about thister when Qiqi recovered.¡± Even though the message didn¡¯t involve the incident was rted to Dou Qing¡¯e, Qin Zhi understood everything by seeing Li Qiqi¡¯s terrified look at the sight of Dou Qing¡¯e. Li Qiqi was so like Lian, they both had a pair of eyes that could talk.

    After a while, the servant sent for Doctor Chen ran back, sweating heavily and reported, ¡°Doctor Chen went out for personal urgency.¡±

    ¡°Then take my name card and ask for an imperial doctor in the pce.¡±

    For a concubine, her husband called for an imperial doctor. Hatred filled up Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s eyes, mixing with jealousy. Qin Zhi had always been a man careful of his reputation, but he broke his rules twice for a courtesan.

    ¡°Father, I¡¯m afraid this isn¡¯t suitable,¡± Qin Yunzhuang stopped the servant who was about to leave hurriedly. ¡°The Qin Family is now in the teeth of the storm. If making such a blunt move, the emperor would probably me you for putting up pageantry for your concubine.¡±

    But the faint groaning in the room was likely killing Qin Zhi and reminding him how painfully Lian had been waiting for him before her death. It happened when he was not by her side.

    Qin Zhi hesitated for a while before he heard Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s idea again, ¡°I thought that the Doctor Zhang Ruting, who came to treat Yunzhuang the other day, has excellent skills. Today happens to be thest visit for Dr. Zhang. He might have arrived at the Caizhi Courtyard. If we invite him here, then there would be less trouble.¡± Qin Yunzhuang and Dou Qing¡¯e looked into each other, both understood their thoughts.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say it earlier,¡± Qin Zhi said hurriedly, his eyes nced at Dou Qing¡¯e with a slight dissatisfaction, ¡°Send for Dr. Zhang quickly. Yunzhuang¡¯s face is almost recovered, it¡¯s okay to postpone.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e agreed outwardly and seemed to care about the situation inside, but she saw it clearly. She had a more prating insight to see through the chaos of pulling. Li Qiqi fell stroke a pose and fell from the shaft by herself. It was her y when shey on the ground, screaming her pain. Her ankle was fine with no sprain at all.

    It¡¯s just a mean woman who turned the trick to her own use. She pretended to be pitiful so that the Master would care about her.

    She was worried about whether Li Qiqi would scheme her downfall by this incident. But now her doctor would be the famous Zhang Ruting, who closed his ears to everyone but the truth. Compared to any sophisticated doctors. The youngster was more energetic, stubborn and perseverance. Countless maidens and princesses had revealed their real intentions before Dr. Zhang. How could a person, who was not even afraid of princesses, be bribed by a concubine of the mansion of Grand Commandant?

    As she thought of this, Dou Qing¡¯e became more rxed. She looked at Qin Yunuan and then nced away quickly, feeling that the coldness and calmness on the girl¡¯s face stung her eyes.

    After what seemed no longer than a tea break, a little servant girl led Zhang Ruting, who was travel-worn and weary came in from the gate of the courtyard.

    Qin Yunuan and Zhang Ruting hadn¡¯t seen each other for a while. She just heard that the princess of East Qin who had just arrived in the pce days ago was unlimatized and she has been lying in bed ever since. The emperor issued a death order, which was tricky for the imperial doctors. Within seven days, the princess of East Qin¡¯s condition had to be improved. The doctors buried their heads into finding good treatment. Zhang Ruting seemed to have lost a lot of weight from thest time of meeting, and his skinny body looked more distressed than usual.

    ¡°Please, Dr. Zhang.¡± Qin Zhi joined his hands together in salute.

    ¡°Dr. Zhang, please be earnest about the diagnosis and treatment, do tell me everything truthfully.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e emphasized thetter sentence.

    Zhang Ruting responded quickly to the salute, nodding his head. Then he saw Qin Yunuan, who stood quietly behind Qin Zhi. His eyes narrowed immediately with full disdain. The despise in his eyes condensed into a beam of light so strong as if it could prate the heart, hitting on Qin Yunuan¡¯s calm pupil. Then Zhang Ruting returned to his normal self, lifted his clothes and walked into the door.

    The wait seemed endless. Qin Zhi was very anxious, and he spoke to Dou Qing¡¯e in a very bad mood, ¡°You have been housekeeping for only one day or two before everything became messy again. If you couldn¡¯t manage the house well, I¡¯d better take it back as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes. My master is right.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s temperament had be mild these days. She understood how to kill with kindness. Lifting her eyes, she said with her face full of sincerity. ¡°I admit that I was wrong and offensive. It¡¯s just that I received a report from the concierge, saying that at three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Third Miss left the house without telling anyone. She didn¡¯t say where she went, so I had people waiting at the door. What I did was to let the person in the carriagee down so as to avoid afterps. But my servant girls were too reckless to hurt Sister Li inside.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e made a clever remark. On the one hand, Qin Zhi was informed about Qin Yunuan leaving the house secretly. On the other hand, she made those powerless servant girls the bad guys for hurting Li Qiqi.

    As expected, Qin Zhi turned to look at Qin Yunuan the next moment, ¡°What your mother said was true?¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e raised her neck, she had certainty about Qin Yunuan¡¯s secret leave. It didn¡¯t matter if she refused to admit it. She had witnesses, anyway.

    ¡°Father, mother,¡± Qin Yunuan looked up, ¡°I know that leaving the house without your permission would lead to serious punishment. But I have been staying in the mansion of Grand Commandant the whole afternoon. I didn¡¯t go out.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e asked two dodge masters to follow Qin Yunuan¡¯s carriage, and they also confirmed that Qin Yunuan went to the First Boite of the Royal City. But somehow the person inside became Li Qiqi when it returned. Dou Qing¡¯e lifted her foxy eyes gently, ¡°But I sent Cui¡¯e to look for you a moment before, and you weren¡¯t in the Fuxi Courtyard.¡±

 Chapter 41 Continue with Triumphant Pursuit

    <h4>Chapter 41 Continue with Triumphant Pursuit</h4>

    In fact, Qin Yunuan was still in the First Boite of the Royal City a while ago. As for Dou Qing¡¯e sending Cui¡¯e to the Fuxi Courtyard to deliver a message was merely an excuse to make sure that Qin Yunuan had not returned yet.

    Qin Yunuan smiled slightly, ¡°Indeed, I was not in the Fuxi Courtyard.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s face immediately rekindled with joy but it was suppressed by her without any trace. ¡°At that time, I was in Concubine Chang¡¯s yard. I was there all day today.¡±

    Concubine Chang smiled and nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right. Yunuan came here early in the morning, saying that she wanted to discuss the congrattory gift to the second master for having a son.¡±

    The second master of the Qin Family, Qin Chang, was a fellow brother of Qin Zhi. They separated many years ago, but he became the sixth-ss official of the Dali Temple because of the identity of Qin Zhi as the Grand Commandant. His wife came from a merchant family. Therefore, he was very rich and gained great sess in both the business world and in politics. For this reason, the mansion of Grand Commandant treated the congrattory gift very seriously now that he had a son.

    How was that possible? Dou Qing¡¯e couldn¡¯t believe it. Her shadow guards told her that....

    ¡°I have a witness!¡± Dou Qing¡¯e shouted in a tone that was almost screaming.

    ¡°What witness?¡± Qin Yunuan was even more calm.

    Dou Qing¡¯e smiled scornfully, ¡°A witness who can prove that you disobey the rules of the house and left the house without permission. He is Su Shiqi, the waiter of the First Boite of the Royal City.¡±

    Qin Yunuan casually removed the tea powder and raised her eyes. She said, ¡°Yunuan has never heard of this person. I don¡¯t know him.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e paid no attention to Qin Zhi, whose face turned more and more stern. Sheughed, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if Third Miss doesn¡¯t know him. It would be enough if he knows you.¡±

    ¡°Master,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e said to Qin Zhi in an enchanting tone, ¡°As long as you have seen this Su Shiqi, you know that every word I said is true. Third Miss is still unmarried, and she left the mansion to secretly meet a man in the First Boite of the Royal City. Master, it¡¯s still fine if only insiders know. However, if words gone outside, it would not only ruin the reputation of Third Miss, but also the whole mansion of Grand Commandant.¡±

    Once it came to the reputation of the mansion of Grand Commandant, Qin Zhi always paid special attention. His nce towards Qin Yunuan had slightly changed. There¡¯s a hint of suspicion and questioning in his nce, as if he wanted to see her through.

    ¡°Bring him up,¡± Qin Zhi spoke.

    Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s eyes lighted up immediately. Qin Yunuan clearly felt the provocative look that fell on herself. She raised her white neck, like a breeze sweeping by, and her lips moved slightly, as if she were trying to say ¡°any time.¡± However, what she actually said was extremely respectful, ¡°If mother has such concerns, Yunuan can justify for myself.¡±

    Su Shiqi was the waiter who served Qin Yunuan at noon in the First Boite of the Royal City. He was strong and short, looking simple and honest. He knelt as soon as he saw Qin Zhi. Before Dou Qing¡¯e and Qin Zhi even started questioning him, he yelled, ¡°I would confess, whatever it is. Lord please forgive me.¡±

    ¡°Why are you yelling like that? We haven¡¯t even questioned you.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e scolded him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, this young mister.¡± Qin Yunuan said with a smile towards Su Shiqi, ¡°Just tell everyone loudly, have you seen me at the First Boite of the Royal City at noon today?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s not necessarily wearing these clothes. Look carefully and you must tell us honestly.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e added slowly.

    Su Shiqi stunned, then carefully and honestly looked at Qin Yunuan, as if he didn¡¯t want to miss a single hair of hers. He stared for such a long time, even Qin Zhi was a bit impatient. Then Su Shiqi nodded at Qin Zhi and said loudly, ¡°Master, I have never seen thisdy before.¡±

    When Dou Qing¡¯e heard it, she almost jumped on her feet. She tried hard to make herself look less anxious, ¡°You need to look carefully, the eyes, the nose and the mouth. Don¡¯t you have any impression at all?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled at Su Shiqi, ¡°You really have to look carefully, maybe I was veiled or something when I went, and then I imed to have a rash, and I couldn¡¯t see anyone.¡±

    Su Shiqi raised his head with a firm and solemn nce. He vowed to Qin Zhi, ¡°I, Su Shiqi, never tells lies. I have been working at the First Boite of the Royal City for more than ten years. Even though I couldn¡¯t remember every guest that I¡¯ve seen, I wouldn¡¯t forget a guest at noon in the night. I have never seen thisdy.¡±

    Su Shiqi wanted to say something more impassioned, but Qin Zhi waved his hand to interrupt his enthusiasm.

    ¡°Alright, off you go.¡± Qin Zhi leaned weakly on the swivel chair after he finished his words. His finger identally touched the hot tea by his hand and two drops of hot tea dripped. However, he did not bother wiping it and he asked, ¡°You satisfied?¡± Apparently, he said that to Dou Qing¡¯e.

    ¡°Master....¡± Dou Qing¡¯e dragged a long tone, and her words were helpless. She watched Su Shiqi stride out of the door. How could things go this way? She clearly gave Su Shiqi a pack of shredded silver, and now....

    ¡°Father,¡± Qin Yunuan leaned forward and put her hands on the tea table. She said seriously, ¡°I supposed that mother had recognized me wrong out of a rush. Father, mother was thinking of the whole family. The important thing here is the situation of Concubine Li. How¡¯s she doing now?¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e knew that Qin Yunuan wouldn¡¯t really speak for her. She went around in circles and came back to the topic of Li Qiqi.

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s n was very clever. She was identified by Dou Qing¡¯e to leave the house privately. However, the evidence was insufficient, and it could only be counted as a simple confusion. However, everyone saw Li Qiqi being dragged off the cart. Moreover, the status of Li Qiqi in Qin Zhi¡¯s mind was well known.

    ¡°Master, Dr. Zhang hase out.¡± Butler Xie lowered his head and came in to report.

    Qin Zhi subconsciously stood up. Out of his expectation, Zhang Ruting had arrived at the door the next moment. He was polite, graceful and full of charm, even the little servant girl couldn¡¯t help but looked up at him a few times.

    ¡°How is she?¡± Qin Zhi leaned forward and asked eagerly.

    ¡°Yeah, how is she?¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s words were clear and beautiful, but it sounded so harsh to Zhang Ruting. He couldn¡¯t stop looking at her. She could be so pure and innocent on the surface. How could he be the only person who knows her viciousness and brazenness? However, ....

    Dou Qing¡¯e was just scolded so she didn¡¯t dare to speak too loudly. She said quietly, ¡°Dr. Zhang must tell the truth.¡±

    Zhang Ruting took a deep breath, and said helplessly, ¡°Master Qin, Concubine Li¡¯s ankle is badly injured, and she needs to rest. During this period, she can¡¯t walk too much. I will write you some prescriptions for blood cirction and bruise removal. She would just need to take the medicine on time.¡± He nodded his head slightly and left after he finished his words.

    The wide and white sleeves danced like a cloud in front of Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes. She pursed her lips slightly, and felt a bit bitter. If she had been in the previous life, a fairy-like figure like Zhang Ruting would have been the prince in her dreams. However, she was already different in this life. She was not an admirer, and the rtionship between Zhang Ruting and herself was merely beneficial, but nothing else.

    ¡°Bang,¡± Qin Zhi took a palm shot on the redwood desk on his right hand side. He red at Dou Qing¡¯e, gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Now you can say it. It¡¯s your people who stopped the carriage. It¡¯s also your people who dragged Qiqi off the carriage. Again, it¡¯s your people who made her tripped and fell. Don¡¯t say that you have nothing to do with this.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s tone softened immediately, ¡°Master, I thought that it was Third Miss who was in the carriage.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re still mentioning this?¡± It had just been rified, could Dou Qing¡¯e still have a problem with it? Although he had neglected the daughter of a concubine for years, Qin Yunuan was still the daughter of Qin Zhi. If people said that she had secretly left the house to meet a man, such unclean act would be an insult to him.

    Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s learnt her lesson now and she no longer tried to get into a direct conflict with Qin Zhi. She clenched her handkerchief with hatred and said, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault that I didn¡¯t teach the servants well. Master, rests assured. I must punish those servant girls who offended sister Li. I would first practice the housew then drive them all out of the mansion.¡±

    Qin Zhi snorted coldly, ¡°I¡¯m starting to think that you haven¡¯t paid enough attention to the Buddhist scriptures recently.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e face turned rigid. She was afraid that what the master meant by the sentence was to let her surrender the power of managing the mansion again and continue to read the scriptures. She had enough such bitter days and she could not endure another day.

    ¡°Father, I think that mother was just too anxious for a moment. Then the servants tried to take the opportunity to please her and swarmed up to pull people out of the carriage. This can¡¯t all be med on mother.¡± Qin Yunuan actually pleaded for Dou Qing¡¯e. Qin Zhi looked at the serious and sincere nce of Qin Yunuan. It seemed that she wasn¡¯t against her mind saying that. Although his daughter of a concubine was not as pretty as her two elder sisters, she was kind-hearted. Thinking of the magical effect of the medicinal mud she made for him, Qin Zhi had some good impressions on her. In fact, he didn¡¯t n to punish Dou Qing¡¯e too much. After all, Dou Qing¡¯e was the only person who could bear the important task of managing the mansion at the moment.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll go inside to look at Qiqi. As for you....¡± Qin Zhi looked at Dou Qing¡¯e and said, ¡°Go back and reflect on the absurdity of what happened in front of the house. If there is another time, I will not just let it go so easily.¡±

    After Qin Zhi left, Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s hanging heart slowly let go. She looked at Qin Yunuan vigntly, and she would not believe that this little b*tch would plead for herself. If she would plead for her, she must have a n.

    Qin Yunuan raised her head slightly, smiling purely like the first snowkes in winter, without a trace of impurities. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much, mother. Yunuan has no ambition. If mother really let go of managing the household, I¡¯m afraid it would be more chaotic given that Concubine Liu and Concubine Chang are inexperienced.¡±

 Chapter 42 Attracting the Fish to Swallow the Bait

    <h4>Chapter 42 Attracting the Fish to Swallow the Bait</h4>

    It reminded Dou Qing¡¯e of thest fire. She did cause a big disgrace of Concubine Chang and Concubine Liu in front of Qin Zhi, but finally the emergence was resolved by the letter of boss Yuan. She had dispatched people to investigate. Boss Yuan hade back hometown early and he couldn¡¯t send a letter to the mansion. However, there was a seal on that letter. She had no idea how the seal was gained. If Qin Zhi allowed the discussion about this issue, she would figure out the whole thing and tell all to Qin Zhi.

    ¡°I¡¯m off if no more things here.¡± Concubine Chang gave a gentle salute. This time, she decided to help Qin Yunuan publicly, which meant that she chose a totally different way from Dou Qing¡¯e. Concubine Chang just ignored the malicious eyes of Dou Qing¡¯e. Dou Qing¡¯e had a strong family background, but if Concubine Chang kept relying on Dou Qing¡¯e, Baoduan would be an idiot like Qin Yuzhao. If she allied with Qin Yunuan, she could ensure Baoduan to grow up safely and soundly with the help of the wisdom of Qin Yunuan and the power of Su Chenghai.

    Seeing the leaving of Concubine Chang and Qin Yunuan sessively, Dou Qing¡¯e felt that she was shot in the back by two cold arrows, which made her freeze. She could not vent her anger now because she was at Furong Courtyard where Li Qiqi lived now. She glimpsed at Qin Yunzhuang who just now said a word and then kept silent. She vented her anger on Qin Yunzhuang, ¡°You are useless. Why did you keep silent just now?¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang was stunned. She had her reason. Beauties always loved gentlemen. She was obsessed with the charming and elegance of gentlemen like Zhang Ruting. Compared with those princes and young masters, Zhang Ruting was more catching. She thought her face was almost healed andst time she gave Zhang Ruting a hint wittingly or unwittingly. But he refused her straightly and said if she gave him a hint again, he would never visit Qin Family. Therefore, when Qin Yunzhuang heard that Dou Qing¡¯e invited Zhang Ruting to check and treat Li Qiqi, she felt upset. At the moment Zhang Ruting came in, she felt crazy in her heart and ignored the battle between her mother and Qin Yunuan.

    After almost all people quitted the hall, Dou Qing¡¯e saw Qin Yunzhuang was still absent-minded, she frowned, ¡°Do you fall in love with the only son of Zhang Family?¡±

    Her secret was perceived and her face blushed in a minute. She lowered her head and said, ¡°Young master Zhang is an excellent man.¡±

    ¡°Excellent man?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e said in a disdainful voice, ¡°There are so many excellent men in this world. But do they give the power to you? Do they give fame to you? Do they give you the better life you want? You have been amorous since you were young. I did not care you fell in love with your elder male cousin. Butter, you were obsessed with Zhang Ruting, Li Jiaxuan and even the spoiled son born of the legal wife of Shangguan Family. Besides, When Su Chenghai just visited the mansion, you let Fusheng report the news of him first to you. Luckily, I deliberately prevented you from staying alone with Su Chenghai, or you would cause much trouble.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang was very ashamed of her mom¡¯s words. She just loved those handsome men, so what? She did not do anything unruly. And then she heard again the low voice of Dou Qing¡¯e, ¡°Yun Zhuang, you should know that your luxurious life, such as valuable jewelry, your favorite cubilose,rge sedan chair carried by four people and imperial doctor for your treatment of even little disease, all relied on the position of the eldest daughter born of the legal wife of Qin Family, instead of your beauty. Your beauty cannot create a rich life, understand? Your rich and luxurious life should rely on marriage with a promising prince. Mom has told you much, do you understand me?¡±

    If Qin Yunzhuang, this spoiled princess, could not enjoy the cubilose, sedan chair and the fame of the eldest daughter born of the legal wife of the mansion of Grand Commandant, and had a much more menial marriage with much sarcasm than those maidens inferior to her in the Royal City, she would be extremely desperate.

    ¡°I understand, mother,¡± Qin Yunzhuang nodded and held the arm of Dou Qing¡¯e well-behavedly, ¡°I will follow you all the time, mom.¡±

    Finally, the first sincere smile emerged on the face of Dou Qing¡¯e today. She kindly fondled Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s long hair which es as soft as water nts. Dou Qing¡¯e had paid all her attention to his daughter. If Qin Yunzhuang could not marry a royal man to promote her position, all Dou Qing¡¯e had paid for decades would be in vain.

    ¡°Fine, let¡¯s go back to Cui Xuan Courtyard. I¡¯ll let Xiu Gu prepare your favorite cubilose roll.¡± Xiu Gu was very good at cooking. She was the dowry maidservant of Dou Qing¡¯e from Hangzhou and those south snacks were her specialty. Qin Yunzhuang nodded lovably and held the arm of Dou Qing¡¯e more passionately. They left Furong Courtyard.

    Looking at the backs of Dou Qing¡¯e and Qin Yunzhuang who had walked away, Qin Yunuan went out from a pyinma tree which was so strong that four arms of two people could hold it all. The two-storied pyinma tree had many tender buds that were shined with green lights under sunshine. At the root of the tree, there were many fallen leaves piledst winter. People did not sweep them out in time but left them as the nourishment for the pyinma tree to have new tender buds.

    The colorful butterflies-embroidered shoes trod those fallen leaves, generating some crisp sounds. Qin Yunuan looked at the distance with her profound eyes.

    ¡°Third miss, you have done a good step,¡± the sound was Concubine Chang behind. She could not help but praise, ¡°Howe Dou Qing¡¯e predicts that you have already known that today master has dispatched people to safeguard and protect Concubine Li for selecting essories. You chose the same time as Concubine Li to go out and deliberately decorated the horse carriage exactly like the carriage Concubine Li took. It was unexpected that the curtain you had prepared for the carriage was doubleyered with two colors¨C blue and ybank. When you came back, you put down the secret ybank curtain to substitute the blue curtain. But the carriage of Concubine Li which stopped at the First Boite of the Royal City was blue. Therefore, the scouts waiting at the gate were misguided and started to track the carriage of Concubine Li. When Concubine Li was about toe back to the mansion, you had already been at the mansion.¡±

    Concubine Chang praised Qin Yunuan, but she was a little bit confused, ¡°But howe you know that Concubine Li will choose a distant way to the First Boite of the Royal City after she purchases the jewelry?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s simple,¡± Qin Yunuan tided her light-yellow skirt¡¯s hemline, ¡°I just disclose some information to her deliberatelyst night to let her know that the big boss of the First Boite of the Royal City is the cousin Su Chenghai.¡±

    Concubine Chang was confused but understood right now. She felt very surprised and covered her mouth to lower her voice, ¡°Li Qiqi has an affair with young master Su Chenghai....¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Qin Yunuan said seriously, ¡°I can¡¯t figure out the mind of my cousin Su Chenghai. But in the fire that night, I noticed specially Li Qiqi¡¯s eyes towards Su Chenghai. I am sure that at least Li Qiqi fell in love with Su Chenghai. An 18-year-old beauty was in her age of puberty. If she knew that the guy she loved opened a boite, she was likely to show up there and took a chance to visit the boite. What do you think of it?

    Concubine Chang pondered and nodded.

    ¡°As to Su Shiqi,¡± Qin Yunuan added, ¡°Money can drive everything. Dou Qing¡¯e paid much and I can pay more money, double or triple than her.¡± Money should be used in the right ce. If she could make a sessful deal with that boss Shen, Qin Yunuan would be confident to earn much money.

    Qin Yunuan was quite upset and frowned, ¡°Concubine, what you said just now is true?¡±

    Concubine Chang turned sideways and said seriously, ¡°Actually at the first sight I met Li Qiqi, I feel familiar with her. Andter, I remember that her eyes, eyebrows and facial expressions are identical to the young Concubine He. I remember when Concubine He was dead that night, Baochuan was born exactly. So, I think that¡¯s why you and your little brother gained little love from your father. The other days, my maidservant A Shui went out for purchasing, and she just met some old servants who had ever worked in our mansion for a long time. They said that at that time, madam invited a barefoot nanny and the nanny said Baochuan was a bad sign for Concubine He¡¯s death. Besides, Concubine He was dead strangely. She scratched her bloody face, which was so horrible.¡±

    ¡°That nanny was invited by Dou Qing¡¯e and she followed Dou Qing¡¯e radically.¡± It was the first time that Qin Yunuan called the full name of the legal wife of the family. Due to her malicious tricks, she and Baochuan had suffered a lot of ignorance by the family for many years. Qin Yunuan was not able to pretend to be pious to Dou Qing¡¯e.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Concubine sighed, ¡°Now you see how master cares about Li Qiqi. That¡¯s because she was identical to Concubine He. It¡¯s clear that master has not forgotten Concubine He. The more love master gives to Li Qiqi, the more difficulties Baochuan will have.¡±

    The two people were talking as they were walking. Now they were at a crossing stone road. Those maidservants followed them far away and could not hear their talk.

    ¡°Today I hear that the carriage of Grand Young Master has arrived at the suburbs of the Royal City. Tomorrow he will arrive at the mansion. He is always on the side of Dou Qing¡¯e. You must be more careful.¡± Concubine Chang said as she held the cold little hands of Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Concubine, you too. Now you help me publicly which means that you tell Dou Qing¡¯e that we are on the same side. She hates me very much so she will hate you very much too and treat you more seriously. ¡± Qin Yunuan patted the back of the hands of Concubine Chang. They looked at each other and went back to their courtyards respectively.

    The next day, Qin Yunuan got up early and went to greet Dou Qing¡¯e. She wore a pure long dress and a hairpin with a pink silk flower. At the moment Xiu Gu was about to raise the door curtain to let her in, suddenly a cold and calm male voice came with the sounds of flower vine, ¡°Mother, I am Linfeng. I amte.¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned back and saw a twenty tall and handsome young man turning back from the flower-decorated winding corridor at the other end. The bright man with an upright face wore a light dress whose eyes and eyebrows resembled Qin Zhi, dark and profound. His thin lip line was like Dou Qing¡¯e. Qin Yunuan felt that his smile covered his inner tricks when his mouth up.

 Chapter 43 Deceptive Emotions

    <h4>Chapter 43 Deceptive Emotions</h4>

    Qin Yunzhuang who hade for greeting in the room stood out at once after she heard the sound, ¡°Brother, you must be very exhausted after a whole night¡¯s journey. Father has said that you could sleep longer for a rest. Why youe here so early, brother?¡± In front of Qin Linfeng, Qin Yunzhuang looked so innocent and lively, like a child who needed love all the time.

    As expected, Qin Linfeng liked her action. He touched boldly the smooth long hair of Qin Yunzhuang even in front of Qin Yunuan. He smiled, ¡°Howe I feel tired? Ie to see you and our mother.¡± Qin Linfeng cared much about his lovely sister since he was a child. Qin Yunuan also knew that now they both grew up and their intimate behavior seemed to be over spoiled.

    Qin Linfeng glimpsed at Qin Yunuan but ignored her, greeting Xiu Gu beside Dou Qing¡¯e, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you a year. Xiu Gu, you turn younger.¡±

    Xiu Gu nodded happily to respond to him. How harmonious they were. Qin Yunuan was like a stranger here, or for them, Qin Yunuan shouldn¡¯t be present.

    ¡°Wee home, brother.¡± Even though Qin Yunuan was not willing to greet him, but she should be courteous to avoid others to condemn her.

    ¡°Brother? To whom?¡± Qin Linfeng who just now was polite and gentle turned to be indifferent, as cold as the wind in winter, ¡°I, Qin Linfeng have only one sister.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang heard that and felt very proud. She pretended to be angry, ¡°Brother, mother has told you that the Third Miss lost her mom early, and master let our mother educate her and her brother. Thus, they are like the biological son and daughter of our mother and biological sister of mine.¡±

    Qin Linfeng said disdainfully, ¡°Maybe due to my absence from home for a long time, I even do not know that the child of the legal wife of the mansion isparable to the child of a concubine. A menial female embroider married into the mansion and her daughter turned to be the princess of the mansion?¡±

    ¡°Brother, your words will be misunderstood by others.¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes bypassed Qin Linfeng and seemed to look into the distance. Her eyes were blurred and profound and suddenly she got her eyes refreshed and pointed out her finger, ¡°Eh, is that the Butler Xie who worked for our father?¡±

    If his words were heard by someone....

    Qin Linfeng turned back nervously, only to find the flow vines of winter jasmine flowing by the wind. There was even no one fly outside, let alone a vivid person. And Butler Xie always followed Qin Zhi. Howe he came to Cui Xuan Courtyard alone.

    Qin Linfeng was at a young and aggressive age. He did not know the tricks inside the mansion because he always stayed out of the family and only knew something in society. He felt angry and turned back, cursing ¡°How dare you? Lie to me! You, this menial daughter of the concubine, always use contemptible tricks.¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked so sincere and aggrieved, ¡°I saw Butler Xie just now, really.¡±

    ¡°How dare you....¡± Qin Linfeng was gentle and elegant superficially but aggressive and impertinent inside. Qin Yunuan caught this point exactly. She felt a kind of pleasant sensation of revenge in her heart when she saw outrageous Qin Linfeng.

    When Qin Linfeng glowered at Qin Yunuan and was about to rebuke this arrogant daughter of the concubine, the hem of his clothes was pulled by Qin Yunzhuang tightly. Before he came to his senses, he saw Qin Zhi standing in front of a screen wall, and really, Butler Xie was behind him.

    Qin Zhi was expressionless with his hands behind his back. He stared at embarrassed Qin Linfeng at a loss for a long time. Three years ago, he sent him, as the eldest son born of the legal wife of the mansion, for a study tour due to his hot-headed characteristic. But now, a three-year study tour did not change him better. Master was very disappointed, and hundreds of emotions swarmed into his heart. Now the air seemed to be frozen into ice. He took a deep breath and walked away directly without any word.

    Butler Xie was also expressionless and answered with jointed hands, ¡°Grand Young Master, Grand Miss and Third Miss, Master let me prepare a meal at Water Loft and asked me to invite you there.¡±

    It was rear that Qin Zhi came to Cui Xuan Courtyard to invite the three people to have a meal. Qin Linfeng glowed at Qin Yunuan. If the menial girl did not stir it up....

    Dou Qing¡¯e came out of the room. She maybe knew what happened when she saw Qin Yunzhuang, Qin Linfeng and Qin Yunuan outside.

    ¡°Why do you all freeze here? Don¡¯t you hear that master invites us to have breakfast? Our family hasn¡¯t had a meal together for a long time.¡±

    How powerful this trick is: make an attack indirectly! The blood streaks in the eyes of Qin Linfeng were expanded and he ignored the prompt of Dou Qing¡¯e and Qin Yunzhuang. He was staring at Qin Yunuan. Last night, after he came back home in a hurry, he met Qin Zhi first and boasted himself about the experience and fruit ¨C true or otherwise ¨C of his study tour in thest year. Qin Zhi praised him but now he saw the scene just now. It was true that the mother said in the letter. They always thought lightly of the menial daughter of the concubine.

    Besides, he had known that the face of his lovely sister Qin Yunzhaung was hurt, which was rted to this daughter of the concubine. Therefore, he was outrageous and wanted to punish her very much. He knew very much that his sister paid much attention to her face.

    ¡°What did I say just now,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°I have told you that I saw Butler Xie. Brother, why didn¡¯t you believe me?¡±

    ¡°You are really a malicious girl,¡± Qin Linfeng sneered, ¡°Well, though you have many tricks, you are still the daughter of the concubine, and your brother Qin Baochuan is the son of the concubine. Be careful.¡±

    All came to the rare family breakfast feast, but only Li Qiqi waste very much.

    ¡°Huh, sister Li, here you are,¡± Concubine Liu looked at Li Qiqi with her delicate eyes, and she used a handkerchief to cover her mouth and satirized, ¡°Only you can beter than the master and madam by the love from the master.¡±

    Li Qiqi looked pale and weak, and even the rouge could not cover her dark circle around her eyes.

    ¡°Did you not sleep wellst night?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e expressed her light care about her, ¡°Is there anything short in Furong Courtyard? You can tell me.¡±

    Li Qiqi waved her hands quickly and her voice was as gentle and soft as catkins in spring. She only looked at Qin Zhi and said ¡°All is right. All in the courtyard which was arranged by master and madam is right.¡±

    Li Qiqi was smart. Her eyes had told Qin Zhi that she was aggrieved at Furong Courtyard.

    ¡°Concubine, your feet were still hurt. You must be so inconvenient.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled to bail her out. But Qin Yunuan¡¯s smile made Li Qiqi feel chill somehow.

    ¡°All right, let¡¯s have the meal.¡± Qin Zhi waved his hands uneasily.

    At this ordinary meal, all had their thoughts.

    In the evening, nurse Liao was about to shut the door of the courtyard. The maidservant Cui¡¯e who served Dou Qing¡¯e, together with two little maidservants came in.

    ¡°Third Miss,¡± Cui¡¯e gave a rough salute to Qin Yunuan, ¡°You are awake. Madam is afraid that we will bother you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan touched her lop chignon. She knew that they came here deliberately to bother her but use the ridiculous excuse. She said, ¡°Sister Cui¡¯e, it¡¯s OK. I sleep badly these days. You know my courtyard is a little bit close to Furong Courtyard. In the evening....¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly turned frightened as she saw some ghosts and monsters. She stepped close to Cui¡¯e and said in a very low voice, ¡°Sometimes, I can hear cries from Furong Courtyard at night. The voice was not like Concubine Li, so miserable. I am scared of that.¡±

    Cui¡¯e shuddered. Sweats emerged on her forehead unconsciously. Cui¡¯e and Lvliu both entered the mansion of Grand Commandant to be the maidservants at the age of 12 years old. Now she had worked at the mansion for a dozen years. She was over 20 years old but still unmarried, because Dou Qing¡¯e always controlled tightly her favorite followers. If Dou Qing¡¯e let them get married, they would threaten the control of Dou Qing¡¯e towards them in case their husbands got powers.

    It was only six years ago that Concubine He was dead. Qin Yunuan did not remember the details but the maidservants aside Dou Qing¡¯e must know something about it.

    ¡°Third Miss, what are you talking about,¡± Cui¡¯e said in her shuddering voice, ¡°Now it¡¯s in early spring, and the voice maye from the cries of wild cats in estrus. That¡¯s why you cannot sleep well.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s it,¡± Qin Yunuan pretended to be enlightened and touched her chest, ¡°I thought there was something wired in Furong Courtyard.¡± She said as she observed the face of Cui¡¯e. Qin Yunuan suddenly added after the cold sweats emerged on the tip of her nose, ¡°Well, is there any order from the madam since sister Cui¡¯e came here sote?¡±

    Cui¡¯e recovered her face and became a little bit arrogant. She let the maidservant pass something to her, ¡°This is two Buddha scriptures from Wan¡¯an Temple, which you borrowed for madam. But recently, madam takes over the ounting work of counting house and feels very exhausted. Her eyesight gets some trouble and she has heard that you can do pretty and tidy writings. So she wants you to transcribe the Buddha scriptures. You can write bigger characters so that madam can read them clearly.¡±

    It is fine that children do the Buddha scriptures transcribing for their parents. But for Dou Qing¡¯e....

    ¡°It is rare that the mother asks for help to me and I must do it piously.¡± Qin Yunuan showed unhidden happiness. Others might think that her happiness was real. Qin Yunuan asked Tong and Maner to receive the Buddha scriptures.

    ¡°And this,¡± Cui¡¯e took a brocade box from another maidservant, and she said to Qin Yunuan, ¡°This is the pine-oil ink, which is madam¡¯s favorite. She was afraid that youcked this and specially ordered me to send some to you.¡±

    She did notck it, and she had never used it. She was the daughter of the concubine and there was never pine-oil ink in her monthly sry.

    Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s sudden hospitality was unexpectedly too strong.

 Chapter 44 Confrontation with the Old Enemy

    <h4>Chapter 44 Confrontation with the Old Enemy</h4>

    Followed by Tonger and Maner, Qin Yunuan walked straight back to her room after sending off Cui¡¯e. The one who was cleaning the room was Tinghe. The servant girl was allocated to Qin Yunuan when she moved into the new courtyard. With delicate features and narrow shoulders, she looked very touching. But she was deft in working and was eager to do things.

    ¡°Okay, you can leave now, Tinghe. The room is clean enough.¡± Qin Yunuan said to Tinghe quietly with a kind smile. However, the expression on her face changed as long as Maner closed the door after Tinghe got out of the room. ¡°Have you figured out the history of this girl?¡±

    It was not that Qin Yunuan was gued by imaginary fears. In the previous life, Dou Qing¡¯e sent Tinghe to her when she was sewing the Crane Robe for the Empress. And then, out of nowhere, two silver needles were found in the Crane Robe. Now, as she thought about the whole thing, Qin Yunuan believed that Tinghe had something to do with the needles.

    ¡°I had asked around for you in private,¡± Maner lowered her voice, ¡°Tinghe was taken in our mansion this year. I heard that she was a distant rtive of Xiu Gu, the nanny of Madam. Before she was sent here, she had been doing chores at Grand Miss¡¯s ce.¡±

    ¡°It really has something to do with her,¡± Qin Yunuan frowned. She had just sent Fusheng away, and here came Tinghe. It was said that under themand of Dou Qing¡¯e, Fusheng had been married to an old crippled paranoid horse dealer in the west of the city after she had testified for Qin Yunuan. The horse dealer was over fifty years old and was fond of gambling and women. Fusheng had almost been tortured to death by him within half a month.

    Dou Qing¡¯e was really a master in torturing people.

    ¡°Third Miss, why don¡¯t we just send her away like what we did to Fusheng?¡± Tong said seriously.

    ¡°Well, we can¡¯t let her off that easy,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled slightly. Fusheng had not really harmed her, so Qin Yunuan left her thest hope of recovery. But Tinghe had framed her in the previous life. With a nce at the scriptures and the inkstone in the brocade box, Qin Yunuan said, ¡°I¡¯ll just meet plot with plot. She wanted me to copy scriptures, and I will do this job carefully and diligently.¡±

    It was the midnight, but Qin Yunuan¡¯s room was still brilliantly illuminated. She was copying scriptures quietly. The Buddhist scriptures could really calm the mind, ease the heart and make people feel more sensitive. All the sins and evil things could be tolerated there. However, living in a big family like this, even if she was willing to tolerate others, would others let her off?

    Qin Yunuan took a deep breath and calmed down. The strokes were smooth and natural, and she paused asionally, like she was waiting for something to happen.

    Suddenly, a shrill shriek of a woman came from the distance, which pierced the tranquility of the night like a sharp de.

    The cry was piercing and horrifying.

    ¡°Third Miss,¡± nurse Liao knocked on the door from the outside and reported anxiously, ¡°Something had happened in the Furong Courtyard!¡±

    When Qin Yunuan arrived at the Furong Courtyard with a surprising look, the intimate nannies and servant girls of Dou Qing¡¯e, as well as Butler Xie, had already been waiting outside the courtyard. As it was in midnight, they all looked drowsy, but no one dared to let their guard down. Seven or eight nannies and maids were searching for something. They all looked afraid as if some ghosts would emerge from the dark ce between the trees and grass.

    ¡°Father,¡± Qin Yunuan made a curtsy to Qin Zhi after entering the house, ¡°I heard that something had happened at the Furong Courtyard, so I came here in a hurry.¡± She said while peering at Li Qiqi, who was leaning against Qin Zhi¡¯s chest, looking disheveled, like she had just woken up from a nightmare. Her face was pale, and she was gasping hardly. She opened her mouth, but no one knew what she was going to say.

    ¡°Are you okay, Concubine Li? How are you feeling?¡± Qin Yunuan saw the bandaged ankle of Li Qiqi. The room was a total mess, with candlesticks and hangers lying on the ground, just like a battlefield.

    Dou Qing¡¯e arrived with her inferiors in a short time. She was poised and a little disdainful, saying, ¡°We had searched everywhere, master. There¡¯s no woman in white that sister Li had described.¡±

    Qin Zhi was stern and silent for a while. Li Qiqi, who nestled in his arms, finally looked up and quavered a whole sentence, ¡°Master, believe me, please. I did see a woman in white drifting from the window when I was changing my clothes. Her eyes were full of grievances, and her face was scratched all over. There was a lotus embroidery on her clothes. I remember it clearly.¡±

    Those words were like ghosts lingering in the air, which stirred up the inmost feelings of people in the room.

    Finally, Concubine Chang said timidly with a frightened and inconceivable look in her eyes, ¡°The white clothes embroidered with lotus and the scratches on the face, wasn¡¯t that how Concubine He looked when she died six years ago? Maybe the Furong Courtyard....¡±

    ¡°Bang!¡± Qin Zhi dashed the copper basin on the stand to the ground. His eyes were sinister and ruthless, ¡°I had said that no one should mention this thing anymore.¡±

    ¡°Exactly,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e seconded, ¡°We had drawn conclusions to those things. No more rumors should be spread.¡±

    At this moment, a servant girl ran into the yard in a panic, with a heavy copper basin in her hands. Inside the basin were some wet clothes.

    ¡°Master, master. Those were what we found from the lotus pond in this courtyard.¡±

    The expression on Qin Zhi¡¯s face changed as soon as he saw the white clothes with lotus embroidery. Li Qiqi hid behind Qin Zhi and pointed at the clothes in the copper basin. ¡°That¡¯s it! The woman I had seen wore this dress. Her long hair and white dress really scared me a lot. Master, it was so horrible. Master....¡± Li Qiqi sobbed harder as if she had been greatly frightened.

    Dou Qing¡¯e looked at the wet clothes in this copper basin in disbelief. That was impossible. She had just sent people to search the courtyard carefully and they did not find anything suspicious. Even if they did find something, she would have had it disappeared before Qin Zhi arrived.

    ¡°Though I was a young girl at that time, I also heard from others that the death of Concubine He was very strange,¡± Qin Yunuan spoke up leisurely, ¡°This time, Concubine Li had seen the suspected woman soon after she moved into the Furong Courtyard. Besides, rumors about this thing have been spreading in the mansion. Father, no matter it is true or not, we¡¯d better check it out to reassure Concubine Li and console the spirit of Concubine He.¡±

    ¡°Third Miss, it¡¯s understandable that you were too young to know better about this at that time. But do you know that master was heartbroken for the death of sister He? You are making master sad by talking about that repeatedly.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e said kindly. She had put on her usual behavior as a dignified hostess.

    ¡°You misunderstood me, mother,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°The Buddhist scriptures that I have been copying today said that everything happened for a reason. The presence of Concubine He¡¯s ghost meant that she had some needs or grievance. Why don¡¯t we just fulfill her wishes and give her an exnation?¡±

    Li Qiqi shivered when she heard the word ¡°presence.¡± She grabbed Qin Zhi¡¯s clothes more nervously, ¡°Master, I also heard some rumors after I married you, saying that when sister He died, her face was scary, and her cheeks were ck. Her lips were strangely blue, like she was poisoned instead of dying of illness suddenly. If that was true, sister He must have been very grieving.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stroked her chest and said fearfully, ¡°No wonder I heard woman¡¯s tearful cry asionally at the Fuxi Courtyard. I thought I was wrong, but if that was true....¡± She stopped at a proper end, knowing that was enough.

    Looking at Li Qiqi who was nestling in Qin Zhi¡¯s chest like a trembling willow branch, Dou Qing¡¯e was burning with jealousy. She frowned and snored at Qin Yunuan, ¡°You have really grown up to say those things.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang spoke in support of her mother immediately, ¡°Yes. Yunuan was around eight or nine years old at that time. She knew nothing about it. She had just talked some nonsense to annoy father.¡±

    Qin Linfeng also sneered, ¡°Birth decides manners. In my view, you heard those noises because you have done some discreditable affairs.¡±

    The three of them stood in sharp opposition to Qin Yunuan and kept taunting her. Finally, when they all stopped, Qin Yunuan made a bow and said, ¡°Mother, big brother, sister, what you said made sense. I was a junior and did not know much about that thing. The final decision should be made by father.¡±

    Like a ball, the thing was kicked back to Qin Zhi again.

    Qin Zhi held Li Qiqi in his arms and looked at her face that was almost the same as that of Lian. He seemed to see the scenes twenty years ago, when he held Lian¡¯s hands and promised to her, ¡°Lian, to collect money for my taking the imperial examination, you did not scruple to be a performer at the brothel. If I were to pass the examination, I promise I would give you a big wedding ceremony.¡±

    Lian looked down and replied quietly, ¡°You would be a high-ranking official if you passed the examination. I won¡¯t ask you to marry me. I just want to be with you. If you flunked, you cane back to me, and we will run a small business after I have enough money.¡±

    Later, he did pass the imperial examination. However, when he paraded himself through East Street proudly, he was chosen by Dou Family as a worthy husband for their daughter. The Dou Family was an aristocratic family of government officials for generations. At that time, the emperor transferred that family to Hangzhou for fear of their wide connections, and the son of the family was obstructed to be an official in the Royal City. As a result, they chose to marry their daughter to an official in the Royal City.

    Qin Zhi was thus in a bad fix. On the one hand, he could have a meteoric rise and bring wealth and rank to his family. On the other hand, his loved one, the woman he promised to marry, was waiting for him.

    In the end, Qin Zhi married Dou Qing¡¯e and was promoted for three ranks within two years. But deep in his heart, Lian was still there. Once, as he was inspecting the flood in the south, he took the opportunity to take her into his mansion, iming that she was just a girl he met during the inspection. He took her back as he was in love with this girl from a virtuous family.

    After that, he had tried to protect Lian by hiding her away from others. Never had he expected that she woulde to a violent death all of a sudden six years ago, leaving all the secrets for him to find out. By that time, he had been concentrating on political issues as the country was in a turbulent situation. Dou Qing¡¯e was also trying to reconcile him to her death. So, grieved as he was, he did not continue the investigation of that thing. He was not powerful enough to set himself against the will of the Dou Family at that time, but now, everything was different.

 Chapter 45 A Fright Night

    <h4>Chapter 45 A Fright Night</h4>

    Qin Zhi was still immersed in memories when a nanny came to report their findings. Under the withered willow roots by the side of the lotus pond, they found a strange wooden box made by agarwood.

    Butler Xie took the wooden box from the nanny and opened it under the permission of Qin Zhi. A repulsive smell flowed out as he opened a crack, which made him frown. The whole room was filled with the strong and suffocating smell.

    ¡°Master, it¡¯s musk,¡± Butler Xie bowed and reported.

    Many women in the room took several steps back after hearing what he said. The musk could be used for making perfume and medicines. But it could also do great harm to women by such a strong smell, especially to those who were pregnant.

    The agarwood box looked quite old and its openings became bigger because of the wet air from the lotus pond. It seemed that the box had been buried under the tree for several years.

    ¡°Master, I was wondering if I should tell you this thing,¡± Concubine Chang who stood aside cut in at the proper time, ¡°When I was a young girl living with my parents, one of my father¡¯s concubines took some medicines containing musk by mistake. As a result, her baby was born dead and she also passed away during the delivery. Later, the doctor told us that not only would musk lead to difficultbor, it could also cause sterility and a hard separation of the centa. We all knew how much master had favored sister He. So, wasn¡¯t it a strange thing that she had never gotten pregnant?¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded, ¡°The agarwood box was used to cover the smell of musk. And it was buried by the side of the lotus pond, which was the favorite ce of Concubine He. She could have been harmed by it during those years.¡±

    ¡°How ridiculous!¡± Dou Qing¡¯e said disdainfully and indifferently, ¡°You just draw the conclusion that sister He was murdered by one single boxing from nowhere? Isn¡¯t that unconvincing? Besides, the box was buried under the roots. Why did you get it so easy?¡±

    The nanny who sent the box lowered her head and replied, ¡°It should have been there for a rather long time. So, I guess that it was held up by the growing roots during that time.¡±

    Qin Zhi loosened his grip on Li Qiqi¡¯s hands slightly and his eyes became moist, as if they had been covered by a haze. Maybe in his heart, Lian was the only one that he had really loved and cared about with his heart. At present, those old things were hurting his eyes and heart like the gravels left on the beach after falling tides.

    ¡°Butler Xie,¡± Qin Zhi spoke up in a cold voice, ¡°I¡¯ll give you three days to find the nannies and maids that had served Concubine He. Don¡¯t forget Biddy Zhao living in the east of the city.¡± He did not know whether there were hidden things behind Lian¡¯s death or not. Despite that, he could still tell that there was no peace in this courtyard from the box of musk.

    Biddy Zhao used to be a barefoot midwife who was known as Biddy Zhao as her husband¡¯s family name was Zhao. She had done fortune-telling, evil spirits dispelling, children-delivering and disease curing during that time, and thus she had some reputation in suburban areas. That was why Dou Qing¡¯e fetched her when Concubine He was at herst gasp and no medicines worked. But what she said had led to the grudges of Qin Zhi over Qin Baochuan which hadsted for six years.

    It was time to disperse. Li Qiqi was arranged to stay at a loft in an inferior building for the moment, which was not far from the Fuxi Courtyard.

    Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s face was not as rosy as before. She looked a little bit pale, but she tried to maintain her demeanor. Suddenly, she stepped on something slippery and was about to fall.

    ¡°Be careful of the water on the ground, mother,¡± Qin Yunuan was going to support her with her hands. The water spots on the ground were left by the servant girl who carried the wet clothes. Dou Qing¡¯e drew back for several steps, as if she had been afraid of the water.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need your help.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e pushed Qin Yunuan away directly and took hold of Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s hand. She believed that Qin Yunuan had something to do with today¡¯s affair. Six years. Six years had passed since then. When she decided to do that, she had thought it over for thousands of times that master would investigate thoroughly and found out the murderer decisively for that bitch. Fortunately, it was an unsettling time for the royal court and Qin Zhi did not dare to do things without scruple. After all, even if he did not believe in herpletely, he had to be cautious about the influence of the Dou Family.

    However, it was different from today. Her rtionship with Qin Zhi had never been good. A few days ago, father mentioned in the letter that Qin Zhi might have been avoiding rmending the members of the Dou Family to the emperor. He warned her to pay more attention to him. That was what you would get from raising a ruthless ¡°wolf¡±. You thought that it would do things for you when it had sharp teeth and ws. To the opposite, the first one it would hurt was you, the one who tamed it like a beast.

    ¡°Cui¡¯e!¡± Dou Qing¡¯e called the dumbfound servant girl by the door discontentedly.

    Cui¡¯e looked anxious and sweats were all over her head. She was leaning against the door weakly before Dou Qing¡¯e called her. As she followed behind Dou Qing¡¯e, her eyes were still looking around warily, searching for the possible presence of ghosts in the Furong Courtyard. She staggered as if she had been about to fall.

    The moon faded away and the sky in the east was dyed red, just like the rosy cheeks of the girls in love. Qin Yunuan was tired. She walked slowly on the stonene. The air was wetted by moisture, and she did not notice that it had begun to drizzle.

    Qin Yunuan held up her head slightly. The rain fell on her thick and delicate eyshes and condensed into beads. Suddenly, the vast sky was covered by an oiled paper umbre and there was a faint smell of a man in the air. The one who stood behind herughed, with his hot breath fanning her fair neck.

    ¡°It¡¯s raining. Don¡¯t you walk faster?¡± That was Su Chenghai¡¯s voice, which was gentle and melodious, like the spring breeze.

    Looking back at Su Chenghai who was holding the umbre, Qin Yunuan pointed at the whirling drizzle and said with a smile, ¡°Look, the pall of rain has enveloped the whole world. Since I will still get wet if I walk faster, then what does it matter to walk slower?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Su Chenghai sighed lightly, ¡°You are beyond my reach.¡±

    Beyond his reach? Qin Yunuan was surprised by these words. It sounded that he was spoiling her. She nced at Su Chenghai, who was holding the umbre for her carefully, and wondered when they had be so close.

    After walking for a while, the drizzles had stopped, and the golden rays of the sun lit up the sky.

    ¡°Here we are.¡± Outside the Fuxi Courtyard, Su Chenghai closed his green paper umbre with twenty-four bamboo ribs. To get rid of the waterdrops on the umbre, he knocked it gently on the rockery beside the door of the courtyard.

    ¡°You did not have a good sleepst night. Are you going out again, cousin?¡± Qin Yunuan asked softly.

    Su Chenghaiughed, ¡°I¡¯ve been to the Royal City for only a short time, so I have to take care of many business things by myself. I cannot get rxed.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded and smiled faintly, ¡°People all say that General Leng Changxi is up to his ears nowadays for the East Qin issues. But I think you are even busier than General Leng.¡±

    Su Chenghai hesitated for a few minutes. The warm orange sunlight gradually expanded with the rising of the sun, which rimmed half of his face with golden rays. The smile on his face was like the quiet and gentle ripples caused by a tiny boat drifting with the current.

    ¡°I should go,¡± Su Chenghai closed his umbre and put his hands at the back.

    At this time, Tong came out to wee Qin Yunuan and saw her standing by the door with a frown.

    ¡°Third Miss,¡± Tong greeted. And what Qin Yunuan said enlivened her.

    ¡°Follow him,¡± Qin Yunuan ordered coldly, ¡°Follow after young master Su Chenghai and check out where he goes. Just y it by ear. If you are discovered,e back at once.¡±

    When Su Chenghai got closer, Qin Yunuan¡¯s uneasy heart finally calmed down like it was solidified. She never rejected Su Chenghai¡¯s kindness, but it was not because she epted or gave tacit consent to his actions. It was all due to his smell.

    When that warm masculine smell flooded to her like tides, Qin Yunuan was excited by what it made her feel. It was a tempting smell with coldness and the fresh smell of grass, which she seemed to have met before. She had a good nose and an excellent memory, and that was the smell that she would never forget.

    Besides, the callosity on the inner parts of his palms were also suspicious. Normally, those who used abacus all the time should have callosity on their fingers. Having callosity on the inner parts of palms usually happened to those who had been using arms for a long time.

    Qin Yunuan believed in his personality, but she could not totally trust in his carefully concealed identity.

    In less than an hour, Qin Yunuan was woken up by nurse Liao from her bed. She could also hear the noisesing from the outside.

    In the Furong Courtyard, someone was circled by Butler Xie and other inferiors. It was Cui¡¯e who was in the center of the circle, looking miserable and frightened. She was burning yellow papers. The ashes were blown away in a sh by the chilly spring wind.

    ¡°How dare you,¡± Butler Xie had been waiting in the Furong Courtyard for a whole night as he had got some information. As expected, before the daybreak, he caught sight of Cui¡¯e who came here stealthily to worship with yellow paper. ¡°Tell me, why did youe here alone and burn paper money at the Furong Courtyard at midnight?¡±

    Cui¡¯e was a smart and courteous servant girl during normal time. But now, with dark circles under her furtive eyes, she just shook her head worriedly and then murmured, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me. It really wasn¡¯t me. Don¡¯te to me if you make your presence, Concubine He. Go to that woman, please.¡±

    Cui¡¯e repeated this when Butler Xie asked her several more times. It looked that she had lost her mind.

    A servant beside Butler Xie approached him carefully, ¡°Butler Xie, does she lose her mind?¡±

    Butler Xie red at him and then gave orders, ¡°Inform master at the Shunchang Courtyard and madam at the Cui Xuan courtyard.¡± He was a prudent man. To begin with, he had to attach most importance to Qin Zhi, as he was under hismand to guard the yard. But the real ruler of family affairs had been Dou Qing¡¯e. He had to show due respect to her feelings. Without her support, even he could not get along all right in the family.

    ¡°No need.¡± The voice was gentle and pleasant, but the tone still sounded a little cruel.

    Nobody noticed that Dou Qing¡¯e had arrived. The make-up on her face that was done in a hurry could not cover her prostration. There was a murderous look in her eyes when she confirmed that it was her maid Cui¡¯e who was being surrounded.

 Chapter 46 The Intercept

    <h4>Chapter 46 The Intercept</h4>

    She narrowed her eyes and looked at Cui¡¯e, who was behaving quite dotty. As she rambled in her speech, Doug Qing¡¯e turned to Xiu Gu and instructed, ¡°Ssh water over her face, wake her up and take her back.¡±

    ¡°Ssh¡± went the basin of cold water down on Cui¡¯e. A cold shiver ran down her spine. Her eyes that were fixed on Dou Qing¡¯e suddenly brightened. She was delirious, grabbing Dou Qing¡¯e and murmuring, ¡°Madam, I saw Concubine He. She asked me so many questions. She med that....¡±

    ¡°Enough. The girl was discontented with her lot and drank my pear blossom wine yesterday. Now she was drunk. Xiu Gu! Bring her back,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e was anxious to cover up. Cui¡¯e had been her servant girl for a long time, and she was always cautious. Now she seemed to have lost her mind. She wouldn¡¯t mind if she was crazy, but Cui¡¯e was murmuring about the secret that happened six years ago. Dou Qing¡¯e was firm that someone made her behave this way. But who...?

    ¡°Mother, what are you doing?¡± Qin Yunuan saw the crowds in the distance. She went around the small stone bridge and walked to her mother, her steps were light and gay. With one nce she caught Cui¡¯e, who was clutched by the arms. Two stout nannies were about to drag her back to the courtyard. ¡°Ow, what happened to Cui¡¯e? She didn¡¯t seem to be in good health.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e snorted coldly. She didn¡¯t wish to continue this conversation with Qin Yunuan. It¡¯s urgent to seal up Cui¡¯s mouth. Cui¡¯e knew about what happened in the past. Now that she was insane with her mouth unblocked, she was like a cannonball buried next to Dou Qing¡¯e that might explode at any time.

    Butler Xie ran up to Dou Qing¡¯e before she could make her steps to leave. He saluted reluctantly and said, ¡°Madam, forgive me, Master ordered me to guard Furong Courtyardst night, where Cui¡¯e burned paper money and murmured things at midnight. It¡¯s suspicious and I must report it to Master. You couldn¡¯t take her away at will.¡±

    ¡°As I just have said,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e was anxious for the first time, ¡°Cui¡¯e was drunk while on duty, and now I want to take her back for her punishment.¡±

    ¡°On duty?¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s clear eyes blinked, ¡°But it didn¡¯t seem that Cui¡¯e was on dutyst night. Mother, aren¡¯t you mistaken?¡±

    ¡°Third Miss, how dare you, as a junior, ask me about things that happened in my yard?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e looked impatient. She needed to handle her crisply. Cui¡¯e had always been her confidante. She knew too much about everything. Her sudden escape to the Furong Courtyard was unexpected.

    ¡°It might not be appropriate for Yunuan to ask. But I could always ask you.¡± Just when Dou Qing¡¯e made a constrained and decent gesture, Qin Zhi was standing at the corner door of the courtyard. His eyes narrowed. All the lights in his eyes gathered into a sharp knife that could cut one¡¯s heart open right at the moment.

    ¡°Ma... master,¡± For the first time, the calm Dou Qing¡¯e stuttered. Her eyes flickered between Cui¡¯e and Qin Zhi, ¡°The girl was not obedient. She started to act crazily after drinking....¡±

    ¡°Enough. I heard about everything before.¡± Qin Zhi stood still, but his eyes told Dou Qing¡¯e clearly that no matter what the oue of this incident would be, she would never be the Madam of the Qin Family. The servant girl beside her was rted to the sudden death of his beloved Lian six years ago, which determined the misery and loneliness that Dou Qing¡¯e would experience for the rest of her life.

    Qin Zhi had guessed most of the cause and effect. He wanted to smash Dou Qing¡¯e corpse at this moment and revenge for his beloved after six years. But he couldn¡¯t do so. In the court, a heated dispute arose on whether the seventh prince should return to the pce. The seventh prince was the son of the first Empress. Ten years ago he was punished for practicing witchery. Witchery was always a serious crime. It was a grace for the Emperor to not kill him because of his love for the deceased empress. Embroiled in the argument, Qin Zhi didn¡¯t wish to cut off support from the Dou Family.

    Dou Qing¡¯e probably knew the trend in court. She had long lost her love for Qin Zhi, who saw only fame and power in his life. She even despised him. Although she was doubted six years ago, he couldn¡¯t remove her from the family because of the Dou¡¯s power. Six yearster, he still didn¡¯t dare to touch her because of the Dou Family.

    Qin Zhi finished his words and looked back at Qin Yunuan. She was saluting without hesitation and haste. It was this daughter of his concubine that first notified him of the news so he could get the message and arrive at the spot timely. He might have looked down upon this girl in the past.

    ¡°Lift up your head,¡± Qin Zhi said to Cui¡¯e, who was a little unconscious. He narrowed his eyes, saying, ¡°Butler Xie, wake her up.¡±

    Two portly nannies beside Qin Zhi scooped up the cold water directly from the lotus pond and took turns pouring water onto Cui¡¯e¡¯s face. The pond hadn¡¯t been cleaned for a long time. Dead leaves were stuck on Cui¡¯e¡¯s hair and her skirt. Qin Zhi didn¡¯t ask them to stop until Cui¡¯e struggled to block the ssh with her hand.

    ¡°You are awake? Good. Now say, why did you burn paper money at the Furong Courtyard in the midnight? Why was He¡¯s birthday horoscope on the wooden board you wrote? Was He murdered six years ago? Is the matter rted to you? Is there anyone behind you...who instructed you?¡± Qin Zhi threw his words at Cui¡¯e. Qin Yunuan felt that Dou Qing¡¯e tightened the grip on her handkerchief when Qin Zhi asked thest question.

    Everything was too obvious.

    It was a pity that although Cui¡¯e was almost awakened by water, she remained to act like a lunatic. She rambled to herself in a panicked voice, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I really don¡¯t know. Concubine He, your death has nothing to do with me. The musk and the poison in your medication. I didn¡¯t have the choice. No one in my family would be able to survive if I don¡¯t do this. They couldn¡¯t live.¡± Cui¡¯e grinned and cried in her words.

    ¡°Master, now Cui¡¯e is crazy and talking about crazy things. If you insist on asking, what she said may not be credible,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e exined hurriedly. But Qin Zhi¡¯s eyes were so cold that they choked her throat and she couldn¡¯t spit out another word.

    ¡°Father, I think that although Cui¡¯e is saying confusing things, judging from her description, she must know something about Concubine He¡¯s sudden death. She mentioned her family several times, suggesting that she might be threatened by someone. Now she may have qualms about saying it with so many people as witnesses. Why not take her back first and deal with herter?¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s words cleared out a way for Qin Zhi¡¯s idea.

    ¡°Bring her back,¡± Qin Zhi endured the fiery anger in his heart silently. Giving Dou Qing¡¯e a sidelong nce, his meaning was obvious. He wanted to tell her that he was not the one he was a decade ago, who had to parasitize in Dou¡¯s family to live.

    ¡°Master.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e chased after him, but she didn¡¯t intend to catch up. She just stroked the gold hairpin iid with eight kinds of treasure gemstone on her head casually.

    When Cui¡¯e heard that she was about to be taken back, she suddenly shouted, ¡°No, don¡¯t take me back. Don¡¯t leave me alone. Concubine He came back for me. I will tell. I will tell everything. Concubine He was poisoned, she didn¡¯t die suddenly. The one who made me do it was....¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e fondled her gold hairpin with a vicious grin. Seeing this, Qin Yunuan groaned inwardly. It all happened in an instant. Something poked into the nape of Cui¡¯e at a speed that her eyes could barely capture. It was moving unimaginably fast. At the same time, Cui¡¯e¡¯s neck froze. Her pupils erged immensely and copsed suddenly on the two nannies who supported her. She rolled up her eyes like she was dead.

    ¡°Master,¡± Butler Xie stepped forward to check, his voice trembled slightly, ¡°Cui¡¯e, she... she¡¯s dead.¡±

    Dead?

    Even if Qin Zhi strived to maintain an appearance of calm, the evident shock on his face exposed his anxiety inside. Subconsciously, he turned to Dou Qing¡¯e. Dou frowned with her eyes faint.

    ¡°Cui¡¯e was my servant girl for so many years. Eh....¡± As soon as Dou Qing¡¯e finished, Xiu Gu picked up immediately, ¡°Madam, you shouldn¡¯t be med. Cui¡¯e had suffered from epilepsy since childhood. It was Madam who gave her tender and love. It was her blessing to work for you.¡±

    Epilepsy? In Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart, the beginning shock transformed into endless peace. She knew it clearly why Cui¡¯e came to Furong Courtyard in insanity and burned paper money. She found out earlier that this Cui¡¯e besides Dou Qing¡¯e, who had not only followed Dou for a long time but also was terrified of those stories of gods, buddhas, ghosts, and monsters. Servant girls on duty shouldn¡¯t wear jewelry like bracelets or beads. But Cui¡¯e often hid a string of Buddha Beads in her sleeve. That was the reason why Qin Yunuan brought up about the crying at night in Furong Courtyard in front of Cui¡¯e deliberately. After the frightst night, Cui¡¯e would react definitely.

    As for the nonsense she spoke, it¡¯s just a return of favor from Qin Yunuan for the Cold-Food Powder that Dou Qing¡¯e failed to add into her meal.

    But Cui¡¯e¡¯s sudden death....

    ¡°She was your servant girl!¡± Qin Zhi¡¯s eyes turned red gradually with the appearance of scarlet blood streaks inside. It was as if he had been about to knead and crush Dou Qing¡¯e to vent his hatred. ¡°Your servant girl came to the Furong Courtyard at midnight, held a memorial ceremony and burned paper money. She even admitted that the events of that year were rted to her. Dou Qing¡¯e! How dare you to say that what happened that year had nothing to do with you?¡±

    ¡°Master, how can you say that?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e had tears on her cheek, ¡°I was wronged. When Sister He was still with us, I knew that my Master cared for her, and I always saved some of the good things that my birth parents sent me for her. She had not been pregnant for a long time, so I found nourishing medicine everywhere for her. When Sister He got ill, I asked the best doctor in the Royal City to give her long-term treatment. Why would I do extra superficial work if I had been meant to harm Sister He?¡±

 Chapter 47 Go Over Old Tales

    <h4>Chapter 47 Go Over Old Tales</h4>

    ¡°Huh. How dare you to mention that He had never been pregnant.¡± Qin Zhi felt chilly at the thought of the musk dug out from the lotus pondst night. If there hadn¡¯t been those evil things, maybe his Lian could have even given him a son. A daughter would also be great. A daughter who looked like Lian must be cute and touching.

    ¡°Master,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e shouted heartbreakingly, ¡°Now you think that Cui¡¯e is dead, and you could wrong me since there is no evidence of death? Six years ago Cui¡¯e had juste serving by my side. Who knows which master she obeyed to before? Or someone did this deliberately, using the girl next to me to harm Sister He as well as nder me.¡±

    Now that Cui¡¯e was dead with the regret that she failed to speak out at the end of her life, Dou Qing¡¯e made her words fall with tears, her emotions seemed to be out of control. But in fact, she spoke in a very organized manner, which meant she had been well prepared. Qin Yunuan snorted coldly in her heart. Virtue is one foot tall, the devil ten. Dou Qing¡¯e was using smarter strategies.

    Qin Zhi¡¯s light blue gown rustled in the wind. There were too many doubts in front of him. The white, lotus-embroidered dress was the same one worn by Lian, but he couldn¡¯t see any clue in the sandalwood box. He didn¡¯t sleep all night. Hearing about the Furong Courtyard¡¯s incident this morning, he came eagerly for evidence. Now, the only promising clue was also interrupted. No, there was still a person....

    That barefoot biddy of the Zhao Family!

    At the same moment, someone reported at the corner gate that Biddy Zhao had been found. She was waiting in the porter¡¯s lodge.

    Qin Zhi¡¯s eyes brightened, ¡°Bring her in.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s face suddenly turned pale. She had sent someonest night....

    ¡°Master, of all those ounders who came to the suburbs of the Royal City, how can you ensure that this Biddy Zhao is the true one after so many years?¡± Undoubtedly, Dou Qing¡¯e trusted in the ability of her people. They are top masters in the Dou Family and had never done anything wrong. The real Biddy Zhao must have died, but now this.... Dou Qing¡¯e stared at Qin Yunuan with a look of inquiry and inspection. She remembered that she also learned afterward about boss Yuan. It¡¯s most likely that she made another slinking exchange.

    ¡°Mother, what you said was strange,¡± A smile appeared on the corner of Qin Yunuan¡¯s lips. ¡°Why did you say that she was a fake before even seeing her? Could it be said that you know where the real one was hiding? Oops, that¡¯s wrong and even stranger. If the person my father was trying to find was hidden by mother, why didn¡¯t you give her out?¡±

    ¡°Bastard!¡± Dou Qing¡¯e couldn¡¯t help herself and spat the words at her. ¡°Is this the right talking manner of you, from a younger generation to me? I am just worried that someone might have bad intentions, advancing secretly by an unknown path and trying to blind the master.¡±

    Qin Yunuan gave her a slight curtsey, ¡°It turned out that our purpose was the same. We both want my father to know the truth about what happened that year. I made an indiscreet remark.¡±

    This girl! She had be more bitter in speech.

    After a while, an olddy about sixty was brought into the yard. She was wearing a pair of half-old embroidered shoes on her small bound feet like two three-inch golden lotuses. She stood in a gray skirt and on her upper body, she wore the clothes of the poor. Her body bent into an arch, and the hair on her temples was already white.

    It was difficult for Biddy Zhao¡¯s bound feet to walk. The porter tried and found a bamboo carriage to bring her in. Unexpectedly, as soon as she was brought into the yard, Biddy Zhao rolled down from the bamboo carriage and stumbled to Qin Zhi¡¯s feet. She started yelling with a hoarse voice, ¡°Master, master. I am guilty. I am guilty.¡±

    ¡°Grandma Zhao, get up and talk.¡± Qin Yunuan went up to help the old Biddy Zhao while ncing at Dou Qing¡¯e. The shock on her face was self-evident when Dou Qing¡¯e saw Biddy Zhao. Although six years had passed and Biddy Zhao had aged, but she recognized that the crying old woman was that Biddy Zhao.

    Dou Qing¡¯e squeezed her handkerchief tightly. Her chest was heaving with emotion. How could it be? Did her men make a mistake? No! She couldn¡¯t let Biddy Zhao betray her! When necessary, she could let this olddy die with no clear reason like Cui¡¯e.

    ¡°Grandma Zhao, you shouted that you were guilty as soon as you came in, why was that?¡± Qin Yunuan helped Biddy Zhao onto a Zen chair that Qin Zhi¡¯s people brought in.

    ¡°It¡¯s enmity and sin, enmity and sin,¡± Biddy Zhao was trembling. She stretched out a dead wood-like finger, pointed at the lotus pond in the distance, and took a deep breath. Her eyes were dim and unclear, as if she had been invited the ghosts before the magical practice. ¡°Six years ago, I was here and I told a fortune wrong, which led to unsessful things and repeated bad omens in the past six years. This is God¡¯s punishment for me.¡±

    Six years ago, due to the strange death of Mrs. He Lian, Dou Qing¡¯e invited Biddy Zhao especially to do divination in the Furong Courtyard. The conclusion was that there was a baby boy born in the direction of the North Star whose fate conflicted with Concubine He¡¯s. His Yang was too powerful to Concubine He in her sickness, and that was the reason for her death. The scratch on He¡¯s face before her death was because of her struggle.

    The direction of the North Star was to the north of the Furong courtyard. Only the Fuxi courtyard was in the north of the Furong Courtyard. Qin Yunuan¡¯s birth mother Yang had just given birth to Qin Baochuan. All signs seemed to suggest that Qin Baochuan¡¯s birth was the reason for Concubine He¡¯s sudden death.

    ¡°Grandma Zhao, you mean that...?¡± Qin Yunuan asked. She was slightly puzzled.

    Biddy Zhao narrowed her eyes mysteriously, calcting with her fingertips back and forth. Suddenly she opened her eyes and said, ¡°The second master of the Qin Family was born on March 27th of the Bing Zi year. It was the day that the seven stars gathered and appeared to be an ascending hexagram. It had the signs of Yu curving out the dragon¡¯s gate to dredge the source of water. Water flowed east into the sea and people were in peace. It was a sign of good fortune. As for that concubine, she would suffer many setbacks during her life. And there was a demon star in her life. Her death was man-made. But this demon star was not Second Master, but a woman.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e narrowed her eyes slowly, ¡°You old woman, on that day you had given an absolute assurance that Sister He was killed by a baby boy born in the direction of the North Star. But now you said that the whole thing was artificial. How could I believe your self-directed y that changed over and over again?¡±

    Qin Zhi ignored Dou Qing¡¯s sharp voicepletely, ¡°Woman? Huh, sure enough....¡± He implied Biddy Zhao to continue. Biddy Zhao paused and looked at Qin Yunuan, who was calm with closed eyes. She shook her head subtly, and Biddy Zhao sighed, ¡°God¡¯s design must not be revealed to mortal ears. I have said too much.¡±

    ¡°Make an exception for me then and fulfill my wish, how about that?¡± Qin Zhi appeared to be very eager.

    Qin Yunuan lifted her eyes and looked at Dou Qing¡¯e, who had already raised her hand to the ears. Her gold hairpin iid with eight kinds of treasure gemstone reflected a bunch of glorious brilliance under the sun¡¯s rays with the shivering taste of scarlet blood. As much as Qin Yunuan was willing to take off the hypocritical mask of Dou Qing¡¯e, Cui¡¯e death reminded her that everything needed to be discussed in the long run. In her previous life and before, she had only confronted Dou Qing¡¯e. But after this incident, she would be facing the whole unfathomable Dou Family. She couldn¡¯t take this risk casually. Moreover, her purpose was achieved.

    ¡°Master, I can¡¯t tell it even if you kill me.¡± The repeated words of Biddy Zhao sounded like an off-key rhythm sang by a Guqin with broken strings in Qin Zhi¡¯s ears. It made him so annoyed. Biddy Zhao just said that the devil was a woman but then refused to exin, which made him very impatient. In his heart, Qin Zhi was almost certain of the incident. Unfortunately, hecked evidence.

    ¡°You olddy, full of gibberish. Xiu Gu, p her in the face,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s eyes turned red. She pulled Xiu Gu to the front and pushed her to Biddy Zhao. Xiu Gu hesitated. After all, this was in front of the master.

    ¡°Dou, you are getting more and more daring!¡± Qin Zhi¡¯s tone was not emotional at all, ¡°Cui¡¯e was your servant girl. No matter what happened, you can¡¯t escape the punishment as the Madam of the Qin Family. I will prepare a carriage tomorrow and you will go to the Guo¡¯an Temple for recuperation. I will dere to the public that you are in bad health and need to rest. I will find a new manager for the counting house.¡±

    The arrest in disguise made Dou Qing¡¯e tremble in her heart, ¡°Master, I was responsible for my servant girl¡¯s fault. But if you used me of putting her up to this, all those people who knew were dead. You shouldn¡¯t criticize me without any reason.¡±

    ¡°Huh,¡± Qin Zhi snorted coldly, ¡°When did I say that you were behind the incident? Why are you anxious? Now there are too many family issues. We haven¡¯t gone over the old tales before something new came up. The rest is not only a time that you reflect upon your mistakes, but also good for you.¡±

    How could Dou Qing¡¯e not be anxious? She had such domineering influence in the Qin Family and was known as an artful person in the past. Now she had suffered losses many times and gone through self-examination while praying to Buddha for once. The house arrest period was indefinite this time, also Qin Zhi shifted her ountant in the counting house. She looked askance at Qin Yunuan, her fiery and resentful eyes shing with fire.

    Qin Zhi decided to change Yesan, who had been managing the counting house ever since. It was an unexpected gain.

    Back in the yard, Qin Baochuan was up, taking a cold shower alone. Seeing Qin Yunuan returned, he stopped scooping water and gave his sister a salute. Qin Yunuan smiled and simply reminded him to add clothes in time after the shower.

    ¡°Second Master is growing up more thoughtful,¡± nurse Liao and Maner greeted Qin Yunuan into the house. As the weather warmed up, there was no charcoal fire in the house, but a cup of hot tea was necessary for Qin Yunuan, who had worked all night.

 Chapter 48 Much Jealousness

    <h4>Chapter 48 Much Jealousness</h4>

    ¡°Baochuan always behaves well. Though he tried hard in the past, he is of weak character. He always tried to take to the woods, but now he turns independent.¡± Qin Yunuan said as she took the boiled Biluochun Tea from nurse Liao. She touched the cover of the tea up, looking at the tea leaves up and down in the teacup. She felt startled a little when she suddenly thought that the tea leaves were sent here by the people dispatched by Su Chenghai especially.

    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± nurse Liao touched her chest and said in a sincere and happy voice, ¡°The father and the son share the same mind. One day, if the master knows that the second young master is smart and clever, he will look at him with new eyes and do not believe the scandals outside. Blood is thicker than water. The second young master will have a good future.¡±

    As for this issue, Qin Yunuan could not help but frown. In the past, she thought that her father believed the words of Biddy Zhao because he was too sad and upset at that time. He thought it was Baochuan that caused the death of Concubine He. From the expression and response of his father, he seemed to have already known the tricks of Dou Qing¡¯e, but he was contained by a kind of potential power and dared not to fight back. He still chose to be silent even when the issue was about to be revealed today.

    It seemed that it was just fake that the master was obsessed heavily with He Lian. If he had been really into her, he would not marry Dou Qing¡¯e. He just hated the mighty power of Dou Qing¡¯e in this family and lost his dignity as a man, so he chose to vent his anger which he could find nowhere to release onto Baochuan.

    This man paid the most attention to his official career. Qin Yunuan felt an inexplicable chill at her father. She tried her best to make his father pay much more attention to Baochuan, but now she found that her father regarded his official career more important than his children.

    ¡°Maybe,¡± Qin Yunuan responded absently to the enthusiastic nurse Liao.

    ¡°Third Miss, you looked worried?¡±

    Qin Yunuan took a deep breath and answered slowly, ¡°I just realize suddenly that if I want to stay strong in this mansion, I should rely on myself instead of only depending on my father finally. You should not always tell Baochuan that he should y up to his father when you stayed with him. You need to tell him that he should live independently, and his hard work is not for everyone, not for me and not for making his father happy.¡±

    In this mansion was full of plots and each step should be finished carefully.

    ¡°Third Miss?¡± It was apparent that nurse Liao felt confused by Qin Yunuan¡¯s words.

    Qin Yunuan smiled and did not exin more.

    Maner pushed the door and came in with a basin of warm water where some dried lily flowers floated. Those dried flowers were kneaded into a ball, and then they bloomed after heated by warm water. It did color the gloomy mind these days of Qin Yunuan.

    Qin Yunuan put her hands into the flower water as she was listening to the report of Maner, ¡°Followed by your order, I gave Biddy Zhao more 20 tael of silver to let her bury her son quickly and leave the Royal City this night.¡±

    For the past Qin Yunuan, 20 teal of silver was an enormous figure. But today, she had opened her first embroidery store at the Baling City by coborating with Boss Shen at the regions south of the River. The girls anddies in the city loved its new-style samples and delicate workmanship. The share of this month added up to 120 tael of silver and wasparable to one month¡¯s expenses for decades of ordinary families.

    ¡°We are so lucky to find Biddy Zhao ahead of Dou Qing¡¯e, but it is a pity that we haven¡¯t saved herme son,¡± Qin Yunuan felt regretful. It was an innocent human life.

    After the son of nurse Liao, Huang Dashi, found Biddy Zhao who had moved the family many times, people dispatched by Dou Qing¡¯e got there in a minute. Huang Dashi nned to move the biddy to somewhere safe first. But to his surprise, when he came back to her house, he found the hall of her house had already been burned up together with the pigpen aside. The husband of the nanny passed away a few years ago and she lived with herme son. It was just few minutester that her son was burned to death. However, Dou Qing¡¯e had not predicted that her followers burned the sleeping incense when they set the fire, and the biddy had already been out of the house.

    ¡°Extermination can¡¯t kill conscience,¡± Qin Yunuan sighed, ¡°Dou Qing¡¯e thought she could kill everything to cover her sin, but she did not think that Biddy Zhao who was very greedy could tell the truth after her son was killed.¡±

    The original n of Qin Yunuan was different from reality. She knew that Biddy Zhao was greedy and she would tell the truth if she had gained sufficient money. Qin Yunuan nned to let Huang Dashi negotiate more with the nanny toe to an agreement. But to her surprise, before Huang Dashi provided the amount, Biddy Zhao agreed quickly. A sixty-year-old biddy must make up her mind determinedly after her son was killed at midnight. Though she could not revenge by herself, she still wanted to make Dou Qing¡¯e feel bad. At the final moment, the nanny was stopped by the eyes of Qin Yunuan.

    Even though Biddy Zhao told the whole thing happened in that year, Dou Qing¡¯e could not be defeated easily by her power and family background. Qin Yunuan did not want to sacrifice a sixty-year-old biddy who had lost her son since she had reached her original aim.

    As for the musk in the agwood box buried aside the lotus pond, that was totally the spection of Qin Yunuan. And after careful research of the ount books by Concubine Chang, she found that after Concubine He joined the family, Dou Qing¡¯e, who seldom used musk started to get fixed-shared musk every month till the death of Concubine He. As expected, Cui¡¯e who had already been uneasy felt more restless. What¡¯s more, Qin Yunuan spread deliberately the scandals towards Cui¡¯e and finally, Cui¡¯e who believed in ghosts and gods turned desperate.

    It says to know your enemy and to know yourself. You would have more opportunities if you could catch the weakness of rivals.

    The moment Qin Yunuan finished the cleaning of her hands, she heard the report of the little maidservant Ting Xue that Concubine Li came.

    Ting Xue was one of the two new maidservants who were dispatched to the Fuxi Courtyard when Qin Yunuan moved to the courtyard on that day. The other one was Tinghe. Both of them were sent here as second-ss maidservants. In daily time, apart from Maner and Tong, she was very close to the two girls. Ting Xue was an honest girl with white and tender skin. But Tinghe....

    Each time Qin Yunuan thought of the name, she would smile scornfully. She had taken precautions against her ording to her experience in herst life. Qin Yunuan felt ridiculous about Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s stereotyped trick.

    In Qin Yunuan¡¯sst life, It was Tinghe that yed some tricks on the birthday gift that Qin Yunuan nned to send to Qin Zhi, which caused Qin Yunuan not to be allowed to get out of her room for half a year. But now, she was not the silly girl any more who was cheated easily by her half-blooded elder sister.

    When Li Qiqi came in, Qin Yunuan was exactly wiping her hands with a handkerchief and smearing vanishing cream for moisturizing skin. Acute Li Qiqi saw the snow-white vanishing cream in a ceramic box on which red plum in the snow was drawn. She smiled, ¡°Third Miss, you own many treasures. It must be very expensive for the vanishing cream which was generated in the regions south of the River and sent to the Royal City.¡±

    Li Qiqi walked forwards flexibly, totally unlike the weak body lying on the bed in previous days.

    ¡°Ha-ha, you do have a good taste,¡± Qin Yunuan said as she let Maner offer a chair to Li Qiqi. The vanishing cream was actually generated in the regions south of the River and it was given to her by Boss Shen who came from there incidentally after she signed a contract with him. It was just a business gift but useful. ¡°Yunuan does the embroidering throughout the year. So my hands turn coarse and they are notparable to your hands as white and tender as cheese. That¡¯s why I care much about my hands,¡± Qin Yunuan said and held the teacup. She smiled and said straightly, ¡°Actually Concubine Li, you want to ask me that if the vanishing cream is from my cousin.¡±

    Li Qiqi stunned. In her heart, Su Chenghai was an unmentioned regret. In that year, she did not work in a brothel and was just a little girl following her master to sing for a living in a boite. At that time, Su Chenghai¡¯s mother, Qin, was seriously ill. His father Su Rian arranged Li Qiqi who was good at singing the north opera toe to the mansion forforting Qin.

    It was just at that time a blooming girl met a vigorous handsome young man. After the love seed was nted but did not grow up, Su Chenghai decided to follow highly-skilled Sun Miaoyang in thousands of miles away for learning medicine.

    The only thing Li Qiqi felt regretful at was that she did not express her inner feeling. If she had been braver at that time, maybe all the things would have been different today.

    ¡°Su Chenghai pays much attention to you.¡± Li Qiqi was upset like a pale flower and the somber sun and moon. Li Qiqi had to admit the fact of those words.

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°My cousin stayed for a few days in the Royal City and the mansion was her first foothold, so he will pay more attention.¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s words were prudent. She did not deny the care from Su Chenghai, and she transferred the focus from herself to the whole Qin Family.

    ¡°No! Not really!¡± Li Qiqi suddenly got excited with tears in her eyes, ¡°Not just in the Royal City. In Jianzhou, Su Chenghai had already cared much about you, and missed you every day.¡±

    At the moment Qin Yunuan felt stunned, Li Qiqi said sorrowfully, ¡°I knew that when I was in Su Family. Do you know what his favorite snack is? It¡¯s Glutinous Rice Balls. Actually, such sweet snacks were seldom popr among men. Later, I recognized that you had shared the snack with him when he was in Qin Family. Each time he saw the snack, he would think about you. And at his study, there were many pictures of you, smiling or standing. He hadn¡¯t seen you for such a long time but he still could draw you delicately. He said that he met you in his dream and the picture was drawn ording to his dream.¡±

    Qin Yunuan put down his teacup and saw the generally blushing face of Li Qiqi. She frowned, ¡°Concubine Li, you are drunk before you came here? You are drunk.¡±

    ¡°Drunk?¡± Li Qiqi reached her white jade-like wrist to hold her forehead, ¡°I actually live a befuddled life. I have dreamt many times that I lived with Su Chenghai in Su Family. He is the guy in my dream but in his dream, there is only you. Third Miss, how can you deserve it?¡±

 Chapter 49 Another Fright

    <h4>Chapter 49 Another Fright</h4>

    It was not convincing to say that Qin Yunuan had no feelings for Su Chenghai. But these veiled and unclear emotions had been weakened by the uncertainties around him. Just like what she thought before, she believed in his personality, but she could not fully trust in his background and identity. She had the intuition that this cousin that she had not seen for years had many secrets.

    If he really had been a businessman who had just arrived in the Royal City, then how could he get the precious goods from East Qin, the seal of boss Yuan and a wedding dress from the Yuman Embroidery Shop in such a short time? He was sometimes elusive and sometimes considerate as if he had been able to read her mind. Would a man like him be a mere businessman?

    Seeing that Qin Yunuan did not reply, Li Qiqi made a self-mockery, ¡°Well, my bad. I should not ask you that question. Third Miss has exceptional abilities. You have the situation well in your hand and have everything under your control. You could even fool around Madam. I¡¯ve heard that she has been sent to reflect at the temple. The y you asked me to perform with you was really very effective, Third Miss.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stirred the incense ashes in the burner calmly. Li Qiqi was not silly. It did not take long before she realized that Zhang Ruting covered for her ankle that day because of Qin Yunuan. She knew that no one in the womenfolk would do any unrequited favor for other people. There had to be a reason for Qin Yunuan¡¯s help. Besides, Qin Yunuan had caught her failing. Li Qiqi was a sophisticate that had a lot of experience with people. So when Qin Yunuan asked her to pretend that she had seen a ghost in the Furong Courtyard, the first thing that came to her mind was what benefits she would get from her.

    ¡°Benefits?¡± Standing under the moon, Qin Yunuan was wearing a bluish white trailing Crane Robe, which made her look like a shiny and elegant gardenia lit by the moon, ¡°Wasn¡¯t the disgrace of Dou a good thing for you? And I guess you don¡¯t want your secret to be known by the public, right, Lily?¡±

    Lily was Li Qiqi¡¯s stage name when she was a singer at the teahouse before she was sent to the brothel. The inferiors of the Su Family also called her ¡°Sister Lily¡±. Qin Yunuan was meant to tell her that she was clear about her experience in the Su Family by calling this name.

    Li Qiqi looked up with her misty eyes that seemed to be veiled by clouds. She gazed at Qin Yunuan, the daughter of a concubine, who was even younger than her. How could she know her background so clearly? What ability did she have? Li Qiqi did not buy that she might learn those things from Su Chenghai. She had met Su Chenghai at the winding corridor, the pavilion and outside the flower hall several times. But he always greeted and looked at her emotionlessly with an indifferent look, as if he had already forgotten her.

    She had changed her name, and he also abandoned medicine and started to do business. He looked more persevering and masculine than before. Maybe as time flew, he had already left Lily who was in the Su Family behind.

    Qin Yunuan stared at Li Qiqi, who looked at the ground all the time to hide her sadness with the long and thick eyshes. Qin Yunuan heaved a gentle sigh, ¡°Concubine, do not push around the bush. People all thought you had hurt your ankle and were taking a rest at the courtyard. You must have some requests since you had riskeding here.¡±

    Li Qiqi trembled as if she had been seen through. After a long while, she finally held her head high and said to Qin Yunuan in a steadfast way, ¡°Please do me a favor, Third Miss. Please arrange a private meeting for me with young master Su Chenghai.¡±

    Qin Yunuan examined the crystal tears in her eyes. Li Qiqi¡¯s affection for Su Chenghai was real.

    ¡°Concubine. You should bear in mind that you are my father¡¯s concubine as I just called you. Seriously, cousin Su has to address you as his aunt,¡± Qin Yunuan did not make it very clear that she should not meet in person with Su Chenghai. Li Qiqi was an alert person. Surely enough, she knew how damaging it would be to their reputation if she really met him as Concubine Li.

    ¡°Besides, I¡¯m just a concubine¡¯s daughter of the Grand Commandant. Since you wanted to see cousin Su, why would youe to me for help?¡±

    ¡°This family is big, but I only have an acquaintance with you,¡± Li Qiqi said in a more sorrowful tone, ¡°And we have cooperated before. I cannot find any other people that can be trusted except you. What¡¯s more important was that young master Su cared about you. He would show respect to your feelings ande to the meeting if you invited him.¡±

    With a sip of Biluochun tea, Qin Yunuan put the teacup on the table and wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, ¡°You have a thorough n. It is your best choice to ask me for help indeed. Well, what if I do not want to risk myself for you?¡± Everything would be just fine if she could set up the meeting between Su Chenghai and Li Qiqi sessfully. But if someone came between them or kicked down thedder, it would be Qin Yunuan¡¯s fault.

    However, Li Qiqi clenched her teeth and insisted, ¡°Third Miss, have you ever had feelings for anyone? Have you ever fallen in love with someone? There are things that I may regret my whole life if I don¡¯t tell young master Su. Please help me to achieve my wish, Third Miss.¡± After she finished this, she was going to kneel down. Qin Yunuan did not stop her, and when her knees were almost on the ground, Qin Yunuan smiled and then said, ¡°Fine, I promise you.¡±

    Li Qiqi raised her head. Her eyes were filled with tears that were about to drop, which made this morous woman look more appealing.

    ¡°Thank you, Third Miss.¡±

    ¡°I will send a servant girl to inform you once I finish the arrangements. Concubine Li, you have to remember that you own me once.¡± Qin Yunuan was as scrupulous as she always did.

    Li Qiqi¡¯s face was finally lit up. She thanked for many times and then rushed back while there were few people around.

    As soon as Li Qiqi left, Maner came in and closed the door carefully. ¡°Third Miss, Tinghe hase into the courtyard,¡± she said to Qin Yunuan.

    Humph. Tinghe? Here came another ¡°guest¡± after sending Li Qiqi off. Qin Yunuan took a sip of the Biluochun tea leisurely. Her lips and mouth were full of the unique aroma of the tea. After a nce at the small shadow on the window paper, Qin Yunuan raised an eyebrow and pouted her lips to Maner as a signal. Maner got to know what she meant at once, and then shouted, ¡°Third Miss, I have put that thing under the book on the thirdyer of the bookshelf. It¡¯s very concealed. No one would ever find it.¡±

    ¡°Why do you shout so loudly?¡± Qin Yunuan pretended to be exasperated, ¡°I just gave you a scolding, and now you are shouting at me? Thank god, only the two of us know that thing. If other people know we have such an important thing.... Never mind. Get out and get your things done quickly. You are making me annoyed.¡±

    Maner smiled faintly and then got out to add water to the teapot tacitly. After a second, her ringing voice arose from the outside. ¡°Oh, you are here, Tinghe. I did not see you just now. You¡¯vee here at the right time. Third Miss asked me to do some things today, and the chores of cleaning the room are all yours.¡± She greeted Tinghe.

    Tinghe got a fine oval face with small eyes and a tiny mouth. There was glowing light in her eyes when she heard what Maner said. But she repressed it at once. Without direct rejection, she held the hem of her clothes embroidered with azalea and came out the yard after the exchange of conventional greetings.

    Nurse Liao came in and changed Qin Yunuan¡¯s quilt into a thinner one. As long as shey down, she fell asleep because she had exhausted herself for almost a whole night. Afraid of getting upte, she asked nurse Liao toe in after sleeping for less than four hours. She put on a light green dress and a coat with a light cyan vest over it. Her hair was bound up loosely with a light-yellow ribbon, and several locks of hair hung down gently by her ears, which was as shiny as golden silk under the warm sunshine.

    Qin Yunuan had just checked Qin Baochuan¡¯s homework and calligraphy practice when Tong came back after tracking Su Chenghai. Her forehead was covered with sweats and her round face turned red.

    ¡°Come here. Sit down. Take it easy.¡± Qin Yunuan served a cup of tea for her in person. But she did not dare to take the seat. After closing the door, she took hold of the table and then reported to Qin Yunuan about what she had seen today.

    ¡°Young master Su Chenghai had nothing suspicious. After entering the First Boite of the Royal City, he came directly into a private room on the second floor. I supposed that he was to deal with some bosses here. I remembered that you told me not to keep very close, so I just did as you said. When I was about to return with no more findings, the servant of young master Su Chenghai whose name was Xiao Si sneaked away from the backyard on the first floor, which was weird in my mind. So, I followed him and found that he actually entered Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion from the alley. I waited outside for a long time, but he had nevere out after that.¡±

    ¡°Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion has always been very well-guarded. Other people cannot get in there freely without permission.¡± Qin Yunuan did not continue. There was a spection in her mind that she did not dare to think deeply. But it seemed that all those signs were suggesting her....

    ¡°Ah!¡± suddenly, the peaceful atmosphere in the room was broken by a panic shriek of a woman from the back of the house.

    Subconsciously, Tong rushed out of the room to see what had happened. At the same time, nurse Liao came hurriedly from the back of the yard to protect Qin Yunuan. When Qin Yunuan came to the ce where the sound came from, she saw that Ting Xue was trembling in the arms of Maner who came here in time. With red eyes and a scared look on her face, Ting Xue was still suffering from the shock.

    Under the rocks by the corner of the wall was a green bamboo snake that was more than three inches long. Its triangr head had been smashed and the scales on its body were covered with mmy blood and dust which made it look dirty. Although the snake had died, its body still kept twitching again and again, which frightened people who saw it.

    ¡°Snake? Why would a snake appear in this yard?¡± nurse Liao said with a lingering fear.

    Qin Yunuan narrowed her eyes and stayed calm. She was very clear that green bamboo snakes originated from the southeast area where the climate was warm and moist. This kind of snake was nevermon in the Royal City. And it should be more difficult to find such snakes in the bathroom of the mansion of Grand Commandant, as it was cleaned every day. Obviously, the snake was let in by someone on purpose.

 Chapter 50 Self-recommendation

    <h4>Chapter 50 Self-rmendation</h4>

    Maner kept stroking Ting Xue on her back. After a while, Ting Xue slowly recovered and choked with sobs, ¡°I had no idea. After Third Miss woke up, nurse Liao instructed me to boil water for her shower. It was during the boiling of my second pot when I came over to the corner, holding the copper kettle in my hand. And then I saw the snakeing out from a chink in the bathroom window, sticking its tongue out to me. I was terrified...Fortunately, Sister Maner came and smashed the snake with a rock.¡± Ting Xue was already rambling in her speech. If she had known how toxic that green bamboo snake was, she would have been too scared to move her legs.

    ¡°Okay, Ting Xue was frightened today. Go back and rest first. Let others do your work.¡± Qin Yunuan sent Ting Xue back and dismissed the nannies and servant girls who came after the sound, leaving only Tong, Maner and nurse Liao.

    ¡°Oh, Third Miss, don¡¯t get too close.¡± when she saw Qin Yunuan picking up a wooden stick to check the dead snake with great interest, nurse Liao was so nervous that she kept drawing her backward. The sight of the wriggling dead body froze her.

    Her bathroom was by the side. Qin Yunuan lifted her head to look at the bath window, which was about the height of a person. The window was usually closed, but this little servant girl named Ting Xue was diligent at work. Every time Ting Xue was in charge of heating the bathing water, she would open the bath window for venttion in advance. That gave the green bamboo snake the chance to get out. If had left the snake in the bathroom, when she came into the bath...Oh, someone had taken the trouble to give her such a great gift.

    Even if they couldn¡¯t make sure Qin Yunuan was bitten, it would have been a wish fulfilled if she had been frightened.

    ¡°Ah,¡± Maner suddenly returned from the trance, ¡°Ting Xue said it came out of the bathroom, what if there had been more snakes in it?¡±

    Tong took the word without thinking, ¡°I¡¯ll go and see.¡±

    ¡°Come back.¡± nurse Liao grabbed Tong angrily, ¡°Silly girl, you are a girl after all. How dare you walk into the room without having caught a snake before? I will let Da Shie and seeter. He was skilled after a few years catching snakes with an old widower.¡±

    ¡°That will work,¡± Qin Yunuan agreed, ¡°First, seal up the windows and doors. Be careful when you do this.¡±

    No sooner said than done. Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t want to make this incident widely known, therefore only nurse Liao, Tong, and Maner were in charge of this. After a while, they sealed the bathroom with shredded paper and rags. Even a mosquito couldn¡¯t fly out, not to mention the snake inside.

    The dead green bamboo snake was thrown in the brazier by nurse Liao and burned. As Qin Yunuan watched the me dying down gradually, her doubts rose endlessly.

    She had observed the green bamboo snake very carefully. It looked as if the snake had been killed by Maner¡¯s stone. But there was an inconspicuous needle hole at a finger¡¯s length from the back of the snakehead. Small as it seemed, it killed the snake with one stroke and was the real cause of its death.

    Qin Yunuan frowned, thinking of the sh of silver she saw when Cui¡¯e died and the faint, crisp sound behind her. She could not think much under that urgent situation. It seemed now that the sound was just like the collision of two silver needles. As she thought back of that scene, there seemed to be a forceing from behind, aiming straight for her nape. The force was then pushed away by some other force which came directly for her.

    Qin Yunuan was dripping cold sweat as she thought of this. ording to her spection, Dou Qing¡¯e didn¡¯t only want to kill Cui¡¯e, but she also wanted her life to end as well. The direct force and the needle hole on the snakehead told clearly that someone was helping her. The helper must be an equal opponent with Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s men. In the field of martial arts, the helper must be a master.

    Who? Who would help her? What was his or her n?

    As Qin Yunuan¡¯s pondered, a dark shadow quickly flew past the tile house of the mansion of Grand Commandant almost like a gust of wind. The shadow aimed straight toward the west of the Royal City and went into an antique mansion with white walls and ck tiles. He walked into a courtyard with purpose, kneeling on one knee as he fell. Saluting to the person reading in the room with a nightmp on, he said, ¡°Young master, Leng Wu has sent people to protect Third Miss under your instructions.¡±

    After those words, Leng Wu told in full detail what he had seen in the mansion of Grand Commandant. Including how he blocked the fatal shot in the Furong Courtyard for Qin Yunuan, and how the snake was killed secretly in the Fuxi Courtyard. He paid great attention to his technique and used great strength, making the silver needle prated deep into the ground and unable to find after piercing the snake¡¯s heart.

    Only the friction sound of paper was heard in the silence of this room. The person sitting behind the table didn¡¯t seem to be enthusiastic about the news his men reported. He simply tilted his head, looking at the words on the scroll carefully, as if he had been pondered on the wonderful meaning between the lines and something beyond books.

    It¡¯s weird. He would just simply read a book, but these days he thought of the little woman as soon as he picked up the pages. Her bright smile was like a sunflower. Her eyes were distant and precautious. Her thankful nod would appear after epting his help.

    This feeling was very strange. She was the one who stole his heart which got feverish in the end. But every time he saw her, he would always think that he was the thief.

    His gaze stayed on the scroll, but his thoughts kept wandering around every time they met and stayed together.

    ¡°General?¡± Leng Wu knelt on the ground for a long time, but Leng Changxi remained motionless behind the table.

    Leng Changxi drew his gaze back slowly, ¡°You should do this yourself.¡±

    Leng Wu froze. It seemed that he did not understand Leng Changxi¡¯s meaning.

    ¡°I mean, you should protect that girl. You are the most powerful deputy around me. I could only be rest assured if you are in charge of this.¡±

    ¡°What about my general?¡± Leng Wu said straightly, ¡°Leng Wu has always stayed close to and protected you. During thest crackdown campaign of the hidden dregs of East Qin, their leader Hei Xuan made a vow when he escaped, saying that he would take your head. Also, your wounds are not healed yet. I couldn¡¯t leave my general without permission.¡±

    When mentioning Hei Xuan, disdain appeared on Leng Changxi¡¯s face. Hei Xuan had first-ss skills and he was also sophisticated. He would be a great rival if a war began under bright daylight between them. But this man liked to y dirty. Leng Changxi took people secretly to wipe out the remaining supporters of East Qin, but they failed to capture Hei Xuan. Hei Xuan ran into the nearby vige and took a farmer¡¯s baby as a hostage. He was inconsistent in his words after exchanging their terms, and that was how he got out of the close siege.

    Hei Xuan was an enemy with equivalent power, but he didn¡¯t deserve to be called his ¡°opponent¡±.

    ¡°Do you think he can hurt me?¡± Leng Changxi said coldly, but his confidence was obvious.

    Leng Wu was stunned. Yes, the general¡¯s martial arts were undoubtedly on top of him. Even with injuries, Hei Xuan wouldn¡¯t get within ten steps of him with his scheming mind and craftiness. The words he said were like teaching the fish to swim. What he didn¡¯t understand was why the general was so attached to a humble daughter of a concubine in the mansion of Grand Commandant. And that girl didn¡¯t seem to appreciate his kindness.

    ¡°I understood.¡± Leng Wu retreated with his hand cupped in the other before his chest.

    At night, the rosa bankise in the yard bloomed perfectly, and the aroma blended with the peaceful moonlight. Leng Changxi walked back along the corridor. The mask on his face reflected a cold and quiet light. He rubbed the tired eyes under his mask, finding himself hard to remember how long he had been wearing this mask. He probably put this on when he realized how evil human hearts could be, or when the man in the pce told him how he looked like the woman.

    Changing the medicine on his wound carefully, Leng Changxi put on an unlined garment without fastening the waistband. Lying down on the bed, he looked at the soft blue curtain above and raised his hands to untie the ribbon behind the mask. However, he left the mask on his face. The incense in the room today was unfamiliar to him, making him sleepy almost instantly. Within minutes, he narrowed his eyes and was about to sleep.

    A fascinating aroma wasing to him from afar, and then a pair of soft, cloud-like hands moved slowly from Leng Changxi¡¯s outer shirt to his well-shaped, bronze chest. He could feel the coolness in her touch and a grassy fragrance.

    The owner of the hands continued with a glimmer of joy. She was about to lift up Leng Changxi¡¯s half-covered shirt when he opened his eyes suddenly. He twisted the white and soft hands backward as quickly as a sh of lightning and kicked her down the bed with her medicine bottle.

    The beauty on the ground clutched her wrist in pain. The lc skirt with flowers on her was too thin for an April day. Before entering the house, she dragged the garment down deliberately, exposing the jade-like breasts and the deep cleavage. But now only the four words ¡°like a drowned mouse¡± could describe her destion.

    ¡°Third Young Master,¡± The beauty said, shivering in a cold sweat, ¡°I, Ruying, came here to give you medicine.¡±

    Xie Ruying came to the Royal City from the countryside of Jianzhou a while ago to look for her rtives. She might be the most distant niece of Princess Ning. However, Miss Xie Ruying knew the art of speech well, and she also had a pretty face. Since Princess Ning had just recovered from a serious illness and was still resting, she stayed as herpanion.

    Xie Ruying understood how to be a good girl. Although she was not ady from the royal mansions, over time those servant girls who have received her favor began to call her ¡°Sister Ruying¡± instead of ¡°Sister from the Xie Family¡±.

    On the one hand, Princess Ning let Xie Ruying stay because she wanted a person to talk with. On the other hand, she had the intention to match Leng Changxi, who was about the age of twenty and didn¡¯t even have anyone around, with Xie Ruying. She didn¡¯t speak it out very clear. But her signs were obvious. Ruying was cheerful and beautiful. She couldn¡¯t be his legal wife because of her low status, but still she would be a good concubine.

    Xie Ruying also believed firmly that in those big families, there could never be too many women who climbed up young masters¡¯ beds. The most important thing was to seed and to gain power.

 Chapter 51 Another Trouble

    <h4>Chapter 51 Another Trouble</h4>

    ¡°Have youe to apply medicine dressing like this?¡± Leng Changxi sat upright, and the bat-shaped mask was steadily reattached to his face again before anyone knew it. He looked up at the incense that was about to burn out on the table, ¡°And for this incense, do you really think that I can¡¯t tell it¡¯s the knockout incense from the Western Region just by its smell?¡±

    All the tricks were revealed. Xie Ruying just lowered her head, and the tingling on her wrists passed straight to the heart with her blood, making her tremble and sweat coldly. She knew it in her heart that her hand must have been dislocated.

    If it hadn¡¯t been for Xie Ruying¡¯s apany which made Leng Changxi¡¯s mother much happier, and the fact that Leng Changxi didn¡¯t want to break his mother¡¯s heart, her wrist would not be the only part of her body that Leng Changxi broke.

    ¡°Miss Xie, my mother took you into the house because she was lonely in her old age. She wanted someone to talk to her. Please don¡¯t get your identity wrong.¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s voice was cold. Xie Ruying felt like she had fallen into the abyss of endless darkness. She knew what the third young Master was capable of, yet she still tried to try her tricks against him. She thought that he would not be too harsh on her since the princess valued her very much, and he had always been filial to the princess.

    A momentter, two sturdy young servants came in from the door. They each dragged an arm of Ruying and started dragging her out.

    ¡°Third young Master! Ruying just wanted to serve you, just give me a chance,¡± Ruying was struggling. She was born with a beautiful face, big eyes, and a delicate mouth as tempting as the cherry blossom. She wanted to be above the others. She wanted to have everything the nobledies have.

    However, Leng Changxi was unwilling to even look at her. He waved his hand and instructed Xue Si, who was waiting outside, ¡°In the future, let Miss Xie apany my mother well. She shall not leave the courtyard if not necessary.¡±

    In the past, even though Xie Ruying had the thought, she¡¯d never put it into action. Besides, Princess Ning fancied Xie Ruying a lot. That was the reason why Leng Changxi pretended that he knew nothing about it. However, Xie Ruying got herself into trouble today.

    Being dragged out dressing like that. If the talkative maids passed the news around with additional plots, Xie Ruying¡¯s future days in the Prince Mansion would be tough.

    Xie Ruying understood that very well. She was shouting loudly just now, but as soon as she left the courtyard, she shut her mouth obediently, forbearing bitterness and tears, for fear of causing a crowd to watch her.

    ¡°Master, how¡¯s your wound?¡± Xue Si returned to the house after his errand was done. The knockout incense burner on the table had been taken out long ago, but Leng Changxi¡¯s face had be paler. If it hadn¡¯t been for the poison on his wound, and that he had recently overworked, how would he haven¡¯t told the problem of the incense burner in the first ce? Although he had expelled the inhaled incense with his inner Qi at the fastest speed, he was d that it was Xie Ruying who came in instead of some other people who came after no good. Otherwise the consequences might be severe.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Leng Changxi slowly raised his Qi from his lower abdomen. The warm current of Qi filled his limbs and veins, and his face gradually became normal again. ¡°Three dayster, prepare a carriage for me in secret. I will go to find Xuan Zhi.¡±

    Xue Si seemed a little shocked, ¡°Master! Are you really going to try the bone curettage treatment of Master Xuan Zhi for your poison?¡±

    ¡°Xue Si,¡± Leng Changxi replied lightly, ¡°you talk too much.¡±

    Xue Si bowed his head and asked, ¡°Is Master still going to attend the birthday celebration of Grand Commandant Qin three dayster?¡±

    Hearing the word ¡°Qin¡±, although Leng Changxi¡¯s face was still indifferent and still, he felt as if he had been scratched by something from the inside. It tickled and it was satisfying. There was a smile on his face, soft and tender, an expression that rarely appeared for him.

    Meanwhile in the mansion of Grand Commandant, Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s original n to go to Guo¡¯an Temple was also dyed by Qin Zhi¡¯s birthday. It just didn¡¯t make sense if Madam Qin was not there for the Master¡¯s birthday.

    In Lixiang Courtyard, Concubine Liu was furious. Regarding the haunted incident in Furong Courtyard, she had been taking the advantage out of it. She and Dou Qing¡¯e had always been ipatible with each other. She was very happy when she heard that the Master was sending Dou Qing¡¯e to Guo¡¯an Temple to pray for blessing. However this was abruptly dyed.

    ¡°Don¡¯t panic, mother,¡± Qin Yuwan who was beside her ticked her beautiful eyebrow and said with her rosy lips, ¡°It¡¯s just a couple days. She¡¯ll have to leave the Qin¡¯s house sooner orter.¡±

    ¡°She¡± referred to Madam Qin, whom Qin Yuwan hated so much.

    ¡°What do you know?¡± Concubine Liu looked a little uneasy, ¡°I have learned more about Dou Qing¡¯e than you. She was capable of many things. Every extra day she stays in the Qin¡¯s house means an extra chance for her to earn something back. You have been longing to marry the master of the Shangguan Family, haven¡¯t you? You would get a much bigger chance if she were not here.¡±

    As soon as she mentioned Shangguan Rang, Qin Yuwan immediately revealed the shyness as a little girl. She had not seen him for days, and she did not know whether her young master Shangguan had be fatter or thinner, darker or paler. Qin Yuwan had decided that she would find a chance to talk with Shangguan Rang tomorrow.

    ¡°Never mind,¡± Concubine Liu held her forehead. She was a bit distressed, ¡°Let¡¯s just do it step by step.¡±

    This night, everyone was destined to have their own dreams and their own thoughts.

    In the early morning of the second day, Qin Yunuan got up early. Maner served Qin Yunuan tob her hair, while Tong brought her water to clean her face. When Tinghe came in to clean the house, the three exchanged nces and said nothing.

    Manerbed for Qin Yunuan an elegant cross-shaped bun, holding a pair of lotus-shaped jade iid hairpins, with silver fan-shaped tassels falling from it. She stuck a begonia flower jade against her forehead, which made her face more charming. She wore a turquoise narrow cored shirt with clouds, and a darker pomegranate skirt underneath. Nurse Liao couldn¡¯t help but praise as she entered the room, ¡°Our girl is really getting more and more good-looking!¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled lightly. For a daughter of a concubine, it was not a good thing to be too beautiful. She had deliberately dressed up to be refreshed and simpler. However, if she had been dressed too simply, it would have been rude for today¡¯s asion. It would be the best for her to be delicate but pure.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Baochuan?¡± After Qin Yunuan was done, she looked up and asked nurse Liao.

    ¡°The Second Master got up early and was studying,¡± nurse Liao said happily, but then she looked a bit distressed, ¡°The Second Master has been going to bedte and waking up early recently. I¡¯m afraid that he¡¯s too young to live like this.¡±

    Nurse Liao really treated Qin Yunuan and Qin Baochuan as her own children, so she spoiled them in the past life. Even though there were many restrictions and limitations, she tried her best to cherish Qin Baochuan, which also made Qin Baochuan timid. In this life, Qin Yunuan would never let the same mistake happen again.

    ¡°Baochuan is hard-working. Let him rest earlier tonight, and just stew more chicken soup he likes asionally.¡± Qin Yunuan packed her stuff and ordered Tong to deliver the Buddhist scriptures she copied to Cui Xuan courtyard. Then, she headed towards Qin Baochuan¡¯s study. From a distance, she could hear Qin Baochuan reading aloud, ¡°Ladies should be chaste; Gentlemen should be talented. You must amend your mistakes, so that you won¡¯t forget them....¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t avoid talking about your own weaknesses while don¡¯t be too arrogant on your strengths,¡± Qin Yunuan said the next sentence very naturally and entered through the door.

    ¡°Sister.¡± After all, he was a child. Qin Baochuan rushed towards Qin Yunuan like a fawn as soon as he saw her.

    Qin Yunuan carefully wiped the sweat on Qin Baochuan¡¯s forehead, and smiled, ¡°People who practice martial arts sweat after their morning practice. As for you, little schr, you sweat from reading.¡± After saying that, she looked at the half-old Thousand-Character ssic on the desk. The pages of the book had be a bit worn, and the binding threads were exposed. She could tell that this book had been read many times. ¡°You could recite it already a year ago, why did you take it out again?¡±

    Qin Baochuan embarrassedly touched his head and smiled, ¡°I just recite it back then, but there were many ces where I did not understand. As the saying goes, if I read a book a hundred times, it¡¯s meaning will reveal itself. I could naturally get its meaning if I read it more.¡±

    ¡°Not only that,¡± said Qin Yunuan, while taking a bowl of thick red bean barley porridge, a bowl of crab buns, and a small dish of Qin Baochuan¡¯s favorite salted radish from the tray Tinghe was carrying behind her. ¡°The most important thing is to understand it with your heart. If you don¡¯t think while reading, it would be useless.¡±

    ¡°Baochuan knows.¡± Qin Baochuan nodded his head very smartly, looking at the porridge and crab buns on the table. He had been hungry already. He moved his stool to sit by the table and asked Qin Yunuan again and again, ¡°Have you had breakfast already, sister?¡±

    Qin Yunuan replied with a smile, ¡°Naturally I had eaten already. Go ahead, these are all prepared for you.¡±

    Qin Baochuan smiled brightly. In the past, he had suffered too much in that worn yard. Now there was delicious food. It was the happiest thing ever for him. With chopsticks, he finished a crab bun within three or four mouthful bites. However, his face suddenly changed as he was about to drink the porridge. Sweat was oozing from his forehead. He covered his belly with one hand and grabbed Qin Yunuan¡¯s sleeves with the other. He shouted, ¡°Sister, my stomach hurts, it hurts really bad.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was terrified. She squatted down to hold Qin Baochuan, and asked, ¡°Did you eat something bad?¡± Then she looked at Tinghe and yelled, ¡°Why are you still watching? Go find nurse Liao, go!¡±

    Tinghe paused for a second and ran out of the door. When Tinghe finally returned with nurse Liao, Qin Baochuan was already carried by Qin Yunuan onto the soft couch. On the ground, there was a half-dried blood trail. Qin Baochuan was still coughing blood. Qin Yunuan tried her best to stop his bleeding but it didn¡¯t work at all. Blood wasing out from Qin Baochuan¡¯s throat non-stop. For such a little child as Qin Baochuan, the amount of blood was enough to take half of his life away. His face was deadly pale, and he was speaking nonsense while dragging Qin Yunuan¡¯s sleeve, ¡°Sister, Baochuan is going to father¡¯s birthday celebration. I have prepared a gift for father.¡±

    ¡°No, no,¡± nurse Liao looked at him briefly and judged, ¡°It¡¯s not just any stomach-ache. It seems like poison. Third Miss, we need to get a doctor as soon as possible.¡±

    After nurse Liao finished speaking, Qin Baochuan coughed more blood.

 Chapter 52 The Murder

    <h4>Chapter 52 The Murder</h4>

    ¡°No way,¡± Qin Yunuan frowned heavily, ¡°It is toote to find a doctor. Nurse Liao, shall we let brother Dashi drive a carriage to take Baochuan to the hospital?¡±

    Went out of the mansion secretly? During a big feast in the mansion?

    Even nurse Liao felt embarrassed, ¡°Third Miss, it is too dangerous. What if master and madam find us?¡±

    Going out of the mansion secretly was really against the serious rule made by Qin Zhi.

    ¡°We have no other way,¡± Qin Yunuan held Baochuan depressingly to try to relieve his pain, ¡°The nearest hospital was in the west of the city. If we dispatched someone to invite a doctor, I am afraid that Baochuan would be dead because it costs too much time. My poor Baochuan, there must be someone who do not want you to be present in the feast. Who is that person? Who is the cruel guy?¡± Qin Yunuan expressed her rare panic and desperate emotion. She said as she used her split vision to observe the expression change of Tinghe. She found that there was an unconcealed surprise on the face of Tinghe. Qin Yunuan squinted a little and turned to be panic again, ¡°Nurse Liao, I make up my mind. You go to find brother Dashi and I will undertake everything in the feast.¡±

    Since Qin Yunuan ordered, nurse Liao had to obey. She went out of the room, and only Tinghe left stood beside the bed embarrassingly in the room. Qin Yunuan said coldly, ¡°Fine, do not stand here. Do what you should do and do not let others find what we are doing.¡±

    Tinghe took a deep breath and felt relieved. She left the courtyard and chose a footpath. Trough winding path, she went across the pond and courtyard, and hid behind a rockery when nobody noticed her.

    The rockery was like a natural scherm and nobody would find there was a two-person space in the rockery even he looked carefully.

    Behind the rockery, somebody had already been there. He turned his back to Tinghe. The tall body cast a nted shadow by sunshine on the peculiar rockery, like a ck ghost shadow, which was very frightened.

    ¡°Grand Young Master.¡± Tinghe said carefully to the man in front of her who she loved and feared.

    Qin Linfeng turned back slowly. He wore a golden-rimmed brocade robe, which was waved in the wind. He said very gloomily, ¡°All done?¡±

    Tinghe lowered her head and said in a reproaching voice, ¡°Grand Young Master, you have told me that those were ordinary croton powders, but why the second young master split blood when he took them?¡±

    Qin Linfeng smiled outright, ¡°If I hadn¡¯t told you that, you would have observed my order to add the powders into the breakfast of that little jerk?¡±

    Having seen her upset face, a tender love emerged on the face of Qin Linfeng. He reached his big hands, touching her from her shoulder to her white and tender neck, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have told you that if you finished the issue, I would meet your request. You look not happy today. So what¡¯s your request that you have told me thest time?¡±

    Tinghe was indulged in Qin Lingfeng¡¯s caress. He constantly touched her shoulder, cheek and neck. She believed that was the tender love from the Grand Young Master, and she thought he loved her. Otherwise, after they had sex that night, he did not let her drink the contraceptive medicine and even granted her request. Tinghe was thinking and an expecting emotion emerged on her bluffing face, ¡°Grand Young Master, you have told me that if I observed your order, you would marry me as your concubine. But now I am the maidservant of the Grand Miss. Shall we tell her this issue?¡±

    Tinghe was the spy that Qin Yunzhuan arranged in the Fuxi Courtyard. Qin Linfeng knew that at that night, so he was relieved and thought she had the value in use. But now, she was useless.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Qin Linfeng gave her a smile as the spring wind. He touched the tender and long neck of Tinghe again. Suddenly, he squeezed her neck at full tilt which made Tinghe out of breath. She was choked by Qin Lingfeng¡¯s big hands and generally suffocated, but she opened her eyes wide, which seemed to be querying. She heard the answer of Qin Linfeng, cold and merciless, ¡°Yes, I will grant your request. When you are dead, I will set a memorial tablet for you. So, you are in my concubine. OK? Satisfied?¡±

    Out of the rockery, winter jasmine vine was blown by the wind with a rustling sound. And even some maidservants and nannies walked near the rockery. But inside the rockery, there was no noise but only death and fear after Tinghe¡¯s face turned pale. Until the breaking sound came from the fingers of Qin Linfeng and the beating heart of Qin Linfeng calmed down.

    Qin Linfeng was looking at the corpse of Tinghe. He believed that she deserved it. She even dreamed to be his concubine. If he hadn¡¯t gotten drunk and mistaken her for....

    ¡°Bang-bang,¡± Two sounds came. That was the fireworks, which interrupted the mind of Qin Linfeng. The feast was about to begin. Qin Linfeng took a deep breath, and quickly left, raising the hem of his clothes as if nothing had happened.

    The feast today was prepared for the birthday party of the humble Grand Commandant Qin. It was rare to hold a big feast in the mansion, so many nobles in the Royal City flooded in the mansion. They would not give up such a good chance to y up to the Grand Commandant in the present dynasty.

    The little servant shouting in front of the door got his throat hoarse. Each guest was exalted. Even the powerful Left Chancellor Shangguan Yuan and emperor-favored Prince Ray came here. All noble guests created much of a stir and showed the worshipful position of Qin Family.

    All were stunned when they heard that Grand General Leng Changxi came. Leng Changxi seldom showed up in feasts that many of his colleagues joined together. That was why people believed that he was a cold and unkind man. But today, he showed up. Everybody was surprised and felt that Qin Zhi was such a powerful man that even Leng Changxi came to greet him.

    Qin Zhi was stunned a little too. He did send an invitation to Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, but he never thought that Leng Changxi would show up. He was happy to have this honor. He smiled to greet his colleagues and was about to wee Leng Changxi at the door in person. But when he was at the door, the gatekeeper told him that general Leng had alreadye in the mansion and he was not allowed to let the guider servant follow him.

    He was really a freak. Qin Zhi cursed him in his heart. He nned to promote his position and reputation by Leng Changxi, but he was so surprised that Leng Changxi was still so weird.

    ¡°Master, shall we dispatch a person to follow him?¡± The gatekeeper was afraid that the respected guest was cold-shouldered.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Qin Zhi waved his hands helplessly. He snickered, ¡°He was changeable about his temperament. Besides, he was well-favored by the emperor. Do you dare to follow him?¡±

    The servant was astonished. Yes, it was frightening to follow behind a cold and changeable general. If he were allowed that you follow him, he might think that you were guiding his way. If he were not allowed, he might kill you.

    People were noisy outside. It was already in the evening before Qin Yunuan went out of the Fuxi Courtyard. She temporarily wore a piece of light yellow cappa and washed out blood on her hands. She was walking hurriedly on the road paved by cobblestones. The Fuxi Courtyard behind looked very deep and serene under the trees.

    ¡°All done?¡± Qin Yunuan was asking sideways Maner in a low voice while walking.

    ¡°Third Miss, don¡¯t worry. All go as you predict. Tong was observing in the courtyard and nurse Liao was observing at the back door. There won¡¯t be any mistake.¡± Maner tidied carefully the clothes of Qin Yunuan which were a little bit in a mess.

    Qin Yunuan walked in a hurry but when she found a lonely figure at the winding corridor, she stopped and felt familiar.

    Under the moon, Leng Changxi was so tall and his body was cast into a nt on the ground by the moon. He still wore a modena-rimmed brocade robe with a jade belt in his waist. The long hair was tied up half. Such dark hair made him kind of gentle and soft even he was a general always busy in the battle. He still wore the invariable bat-shaped ck mask. It expressed a mysterious and magic temperament under the moon like a melody sung by a charming woman in the foggy woods, which was deadly but attracting you toe closer.

    She was in a courtyard where the inner courtyard and outer courtyard jointed. It was the nearest road from The Fuxi Courtyard to the outer courtyard. There were few people staying here in daily time. Qin Yunuan was astonished by the appearance of Leng Changxi.

    Leng Changxi was standing rightly at the winding corridor where Qin Yunuan had to pass. She could not avoid him.

    ¡°Nice to meet you, general Leng,¡± Qin Yunuan stepped forwards. She lowered her head and curved her knees to greet him. When she was about to leave, she heard Leng who was always silent said, ¡°Are you in a hurry to go?¡±

    In a hurry to go? Qin Yunuan stopped. She did not want to meet those people in the front hall in a hurry who she did not want to see. Dou Qing¡¯e, Qin Linfeng and even Qin Zhi she once had the hope for, all taught much to her about the social and realistic cruelness. She might be a callow avenger but now she was already a vicious daughter of the concubine. She would haven¡¯t chosen this kind of life if she had had another choice.

    Before Qin Yunuan answered, Leng Changxi said straightly, ¡°Since you are not in a hurry, could you be here for a moment.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was stunned slightly but till normally stood beside Leng Changxi, ¡°It is noisy outside. General Leng, why do you stay here alone for scene-enjoyment?¡±

    After a long-time silence and tranquility with indistinct insects¡¯ chirping in the grass, Leng Changxi suddenly turned back. Through his mask, his clear but profound eyes turned much more gentle and softer. He smiled, ¡°I just want to see the person I am longing for.¡±

 Chapter 53 - Congratulation from Son of Concubine

    Chapter 53 - Congrattion from Son of Concubine

    Qin Yunuan smiled lightly, "General Leng, you mean my cousin. I have heard that you were a little bit familiar with my cousin Su Chenghai. And my cousin always said that he would invite you to the First Boite of the Royal City to have a cup of good tea and a dish of Glutinous Rice Balls. He wanted to talk about your old days with you."

    Leng Changxi slowly looked at the distance, "He did say that?"

    "Of course," Qin Yunuan answered with a smile, "His business will rely much on you in the future."

    "You care much about your cousin and think much for him," Leng Changxi said with various emotions full of happiness and jealousy, "But I can ept the nice tea, but not the Glutinous Rice Balls. I do not like sweet snacks."

    Smart people always did not talk about the whole thing. Qin Yunuan turned silent. The two people were just standing silently on the winding corridor, looking at the clear and bright full moon which seemed to be washed by the purest spring water in the southern Watertown. The wind blew mildly with the grass aroma from the opposite bank of the pond. Out of the hall, people turned to be noisier.

    It was time to get back to the feast. Leng Changxi deliberately stopped and let Qin Yunuan go first. After a while of half burning joss stick, he turned back to leave. Now he felt that the wound on her body which was well just now, but at present it was painful. It was intolerable for ordinary people to suffer the pain of deep treatment.

    When Qin Yunuan joined the feast, all guests had already been seated. Qin Yunuan was half-familiar with all the guests, who she had met at the Flower Fairy Festival and the praising ceremony. Fang Ziying came with her father. Theyout of the feast was a shape of "U", and the center was the tform of performance. Fang Ziying sat in the distance, and exactly was opposite to Qin Yunuan.

    The moment Qin Yunuan sat down, Fang Ziying opposite to her winked at her happily. Qin Yunuan happily responded to her too. The feast would start after half the time of a cup of tea. Qin Zhi was sitting at the supreme position of the feast, constantly greeting to his colleagues. Dou Qing''e who should go to Guo''an Temple now wore a jade-green long skirt with two gledes patterns and with golden hair essories, which was very elegant and luxurious. Following Qin Zhi, she also saluted all the guests, especially to Sima Ray who could be arranged to sit beside Qin Yunzhuang. She talked to him happily and seemed to forget the leading role of this feast was Qin Linfeng who sat on the right hand.

    Qin Linfeng was a little bit fretful. He unconsciously glimpsed at shy Qin Yunzhuang and handsome Sima Ray. The more Dou Qing''e talked about the two people, the pettier actions he had. He constantly knocked the corner of the table, or held the wine cup, answering the salutation from the guests insincerely.

    That was very interesting. Qin Yunuan sat in the feast silently, and kept observing the show yed by the three people: Dou Qing''e, Qin Yunzhuang and Qin Linfeng. The more restless Qin Linfeng was, the more smiles she had.

    "Oh," Dou Qing''e seemed to notice Qin Yunuan suddenly, "Where is Baochuan? Why isn''t he here? It is the birthday party of the master. It is not appropriate to bete for him."

    Qin Yunuan paused for a while and said with a pretty face and a gentle smile, "Don''t worry, mother. Wait for a minute. Baochuan has been waiting for a long time to present his father a surprise."

    After Qin Yunuan said, people could hear a sneer from Qin Linfeng. Qin Linfeng believed that Qin Yunuan was telling a rough lie. He did not say anything and even did not satirize her. He wanted to see how the daughter of a concubine ¨C a female embroider could make up her lie.

    "Really?" Dou Qing''e said in a higher voice, and used the cover of teacup to push aside the tea leaves, "I remember that Baochuan has not attended the family feast and family reunion dinner for many times. Um¡­ is he seriously ill?"

    Qin Yunuan looked at aggressive Dou Qing''e and then turned her eyes onto Qin Zhi who was silent but still observed what happened here. She smiled, "Baochuan caught a cold actually in the back room. But he moved into the Fuxi Courtyard where the house was warm and the food was sufficient and delicious. Now he is robust enough."

    Such an eloquent girl. Dou Qing''e squirted and thought that Qin Yunuan''s words suggested their old disputes.

    At this moment, Concubine Chang said, "The words of Third Miss are right. Master, I have met Baochuan twice. He is very smart and lovely now."

    Qin Zhi did not contradict and express his happiness. He just said ok. He had no much more memory about this son of the concubine. Since the sudden death of Lian six years ago, he cared less about him because the Biddy Zhao had said ording to her fortune-telling that the son was a bad sign which caused the death of He Lian. Apart from his grabbing test that he chose a jade tablet, he knew nothing about this son born of a concubine.

    With the fireworks emission, the feast started. All the lights around turned dark except therge tform in the center of the feast. A kind ofdy''s aroma came with eight dancers who took random steps from the left and right side. It was now in April but they wore gauzy skirts as thin as cicada''s wings. Their slim waists and cloud-like colorful cappa danced to the music yed with flute by the musician. The female singers yed the Chinese zither and sang folk music from the regions south of the River. They are giving a smooth and gentle performance, which charmed all the guests here with the music.

    During the performance, Leng Changxi was seated somehow. His seat was inferior to Qin Zhi but equal to Left Chancellor Shangguan Yuan and Sima Ray. He raised his hands to y with the wine bottle with his confusing andzy eyes. His floating eyes frozen till he looked at Qin Yunuan nearby. Suddenly he smiled gently and moved his eyes away from Qin Yunuan silently.

    Qin Yunuan noticed that. She could feel the non-cold and non-hot eyes of Leng Changxi. She just kept calm. Tonight, there was one more important thing that she should finish.

    The performance came to an end nearly. The moment those dancers were about to quit, a strong and sonorous reading sound of a child came from the end of the feast. Tender as the voice was, each word contained full sincereness.

    "Baochuan wishes father could be longevous, energetic, powerful and prestigious."

    Each word was so sonorous and smooth.

    Suddenly the face of Qin Linfeng turned pale. He could not believe that the little boy was well now in the feast though he ordered the menial girl Tinghe to add the poison which could cause the fester of human''s gut. Why? Why could the little boy show up at the feast normally. He was cheated by Tinghe? No, no way! That was impossible! The girl was dreaming to be his concubine, and furthermore she had no reason to y tricks to him.

    In a sh, Qin Linfeng red at Qin Yunuan with much anger. It was her! It must be her! He had heard from his mother that the girl now was very shrewd and changed totally. It was out of his expectation that she became such a canny girl.

    At the end of the feast, Qin Baochuan wore a crescent-white shirt inside and a bamboo-green robe outside with a two-finger wide belt in his waist, which looked very energetic. As he was walking forward, all guests were looking at him surprisingly. They had never heard of such a decent young master in the mansion of Grand Commandant.

    "Father, this is the birthday gift for you." Qin Baochuan came to his father, curling his knees and bowing his fist with a handsome posture. Before Qin Zhi got surprised, Tong behind Qin Baochuan had already presented a scroll.

    Qin Yunuan started to say, "This is an ink and wash painting that Baochuan paid much attention to finish for you. Father, please, ept it."

    It was just a painting but full of sincereness from this young boy born of a concubine. So, Qin Zhi gave him a rare smile and waved his hands to let Bulter Xie put away this scroll.

    "Don''t you open it, father?" Qin Yunuan said with a smile.

    "Huh, just a painting from a six-year-old son born of a concubine. How can this painting be released to the guests?" Qin Yunzhuang felt funny in her heart but still said in a soft and gentle voice, "Father wants to put away this painting for sake of the second brother. There are so many valuable and famous paintings from those nobles here. Second brother, that''s in vain. You would be defeated by other famous paintings."

    Qin Baochuan was a little bit upset and seemed to be scared. He looked at Qin Yunuan to ask for help, but only saw that his sister gave him determined eyes. Encouraged by his sister, Qin Baochuan plucked up and added with his bowed fists, "Please read the painting, father. I am sure that you will be satisfied with this unique ink and wash painting."

    Qin Zhi seemed to be uneasy about the sudden enthusiasm from Qin Baochuan, "Fine, thank you for this gift."

    Before Qin Yunuan said something, a leisure voice came nearby, "I want to see how unique the painting is."

    Looking at Leng Changxi, he smiled, "Since General Leng wants to see it. Come on, open the scroll."

    As the order was given out, two servants came forwards. One held the scroll and the other unfolded it slowly.

    When the three-meter scroll was unfolded totally, the mountains and thatched cottages were lively on the scroll. Qin Yunuan seemed to have heard that Qin Zhi took a deep breath. He mumbled, "Is this?"

    Qin Baochuan was like an adult and said proficiently, "I have ever heard from my sister about the study things of father. The nannies in the mansion also told me that you have left the hometown for nearly 20 years to seek for gaining an official position. You missed the thatched cottage built at the foot of Zhongnan mountain very much when you studied. Busy in government affairs, you cannot afford enough time to go back to the ce. Father, Baochuan painted the thatched cottage in your memory. Though it may be a little bit different from the one in your heart, I hope you can receive my sincereness."

    On this three-meter scroll, there were mountains, rivers, peculiar stones and falling waterfall, which made Qin Zhi recollected the mountain spring near the cottage. In the painting, all kinds of trees stood on the mountains, a small but delicate thatched cottage was located on the mountainside with two red-crowned cranes hovering above the cottage, which seemed to indicate that the man reading books loudly in the cottage would be sessful in the end.

    Such a skillful painting with greatposition was from a six-year-old child. How unbelievable!

 Chapter 54 Hatching a Catastrophe

    <h4>Chapter 54 Hatching a Catastrophe</h4>

    The sh of amazement and surprise in Qin Zhi¡¯s eyes made Dou Qing¡¯e feel very terrible. Sitting stiffly, she kept tipping Li Weijun the wink all the time. Li Weijun looked morenguish than before. Qin Yunuan had heard that she was in bad luck these days. For example, her carriage fell into the gully on her way to visit her rtives, and when she was enjoying the views by a pond, she slipped over and fell into the water. Even when she stayed in her own room and did embroideries, there would be several damned crows that burst into the room and made a big mess.

    The master of the Li Family worried so much about his daughter that he nearly fetched a Taoist priest to expel the evil spirits. However, after knowing that at the Wan¡¯an Temple, Li Weijun actually offended the Grand General Leng Changxi. He got furious and grounded Li Weijun at once. So, the birthday banquet of the Grand Commandant Qin was the first time that Li Weijun coulde out after being grounded.

    In fact, she knew the hint of the winks of Dou Qing¡¯e, but....

    ¡°I think this picture....¡±

    ¡°This picture conveys good messages.¡± Fang Ziying interrupted Li Weijun¡¯s words and praised the picture with a smile, ¡°The mountains and rivers are magnificent and the streams are flowing in a hearty way. There are also lucky clouds and red-crowned cranes on the top. I didn¡¯t expect that the second young master of the Qin Family could be so keen and sensitive.¡±

    The Grand Tutor Fang also seconded his dear daughter¡¯s words with a nod, ¡°This birthday present is very thoughtful indeed.¡±

    Now, things were different. Though Qin Baochuan could notpare with the famous painters in painting skills, his picture was still unique in the way that it showed his own ingenuity. Combined with Grand Tutor Fang¡¯sment, almost all other guests started to praise this picture as well. Standing in the middle of the banquet, Qin Baochuan had drawn great attention. Nevertheless, what really counted was the attitude of Qin Zhi.

    ¡°It¡¯s surely good,¡± Qin Zhi gave an appreciative smile to Qin Baochuan, and he even asked the servant to take the picture closer for a careful look. Such actions came once in a blue moon. Thinking of his school days in the mountains, Qin Zhi had all sorts of emotions. The emperor always took him as a model for the new official schrs because of his perseverance in studies and extensive readings. At present, Qin Zhi was greatly satisfied in his heart, ¡°Hang the picture in my study.¡±

    In the study!

    Qin Yunuan could not refrain from revealing her happiness anymore. She smiled in relief and nodded at Qin Baochuan continuously. epting the picture and hanging it in the study showed how much father valued this present. It only softened Qin Zhi¡¯s heart by proving that Baochuan had no rtions with Concubine He¡¯s death. Now, this picture named The Thatched Cottage with the Intermountain Streams finally opened Qin Zhi¡¯s heart. He finally epted this concubine¡¯s son that had been ignored by him for years.

    And yet, this was only the first step.

    Subsequently, several familiar adults asked Qin Baochuan a few simple questions, like the books he was reading recently and the number of words he could write, to which Qin Baochuan answered glibly and calmly. His confidence and alertness won more praises for him, and Qin Zhi also showed some pride on his face.

    Qin Yunuan also noticed that Qin Linfeng¡¯s face was getting darkened. With a smile, she picked out the bass¡¯s bones in her small te and then looked up at Qin Linfeng with a concerning look. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, big brother? You don¡¯t look well,¡± she asked.

    With a cold snort, Qin Linfeng put down the chopsticks heavily and squinted at Qin Yunuan. In his mind, he seemed to know that he was no match of her. But his ego did not allow him to show any weakness. When he learned that Qin Yunuan was going to rush Qin Baochuan for medical treatment, he had sent servants to guard the back door purposely, knowing that they would get out of the mansion privately by carriage. However, all these efforts had failed.

    Qin Zhi caught sight of the unpleasant expression on Qin Linfeng¡¯s face. He was somewhat disappointed with this eldest legal son. The three-year study tour outside had not corrected Qin Linfeng¡¯s flippancy. In contrast, young as Qin Baochuan was, he was eloquent and well-behaved, showing no arrogance as described by others. But that was only a conclusion for the moment. Qin Zhi needed to examine him for a longer time to see his nature.

    Dou Qing¡¯e was no less surprised than Qin Zhi, but she concealed her astonishment quite well. She even turned her head to Qin Baochuan and asked him about his living conditions gently, which seemed that she really took this concubine¡¯s son as her own child in other people¡¯s eyes.

    After those conventional greetings, Qin Yunuan beckoned Qin Baochuan and handed him a te of bass without bones. Bass was Qin Baochuan¡¯s favorite. Seeing the delicious flesh of fish half soaked in the soup, he could not help but start enjoying the fish at once.

    Halfway through the banquet, Leng Changxi had continued to cast nces at Qin Yunuan, as if it had be his instinct. The seat saved for Su Chenghai had been vacant during the time. It was said that he had left the Royal City in a hurry for some emergency. Even Qin Yunuan did not get the news until she hade to the banquet.

    Qin Yunuan had wined to satiety when nurse Liao came to find her from the back of the banquet. She was supposed to guard the back door. So, her appearance meant that something had happened. Not surprisingly, from the signal that they had agreed on before, Qin Yunuan knew what had happened at the back door at once. She took a sip of the Lihuabai wine, and then said to Concubine Liu who was gorgeously dressed, ¡°Well, sister Yuwan said that she did not feel well and wanted to take a walk. Howe she has note back after such a long time? Is she ok? Are there any servant girls waiting on her?¡±

    Concubine Liu smiled brightly and answered in a sweeter tone, ¡°Oh, it is a luxury for the Third Miss to care about your Second Sister. Don¡¯t worry. She was just ufortable. Maybe she has returned to the Lixiang Courtyard.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s rude of Second Sister to get back willfully while father is still at the banquet.¡± Half hidden by the hanky, Qin Yunzhuang looked around charmingly with her bright eyes. Atst, her eyes lingered on Sima Ray who sat beside her.

    Today, Sima Ray wore a dark green robe with purple embroideries. The white cloud pattern on his sleeves and the hairpin made of Yangzhi Jade added radiance and beauty to each other. His faint smile brightened Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s heart like the moonlight. Though Sima Ray looked very attractive, Qin Yunuan knew that he was also extremely dangerous.

    Qin Yunzhuang exined to Sima Ray with a smile, ¡°I wish Prince Ray could excuse my sister. She is not a good drinker.¡±

    Sima Ray just nodded with a smile. But it could tell from his gestures and expressions that he had been examining Qin Yunuan inquiringly. In his impression, Qin Yunuan used to a concubine¡¯s daughter who was not passionate about him. However, things became different these days. Recently, he heard from several shops that he had been running secretly that here came a Boss Shen who was a generous spender. While Sima Ray was seeking to cooperate with him, Boss Shen actually settled on the embroidery samples from a nobody. And this ¡°nobody¡± with concealed identity, under his exhaustive investigation, turned out to be the third daughter of Grand Commandant Qin. Right now, Qin Yunuan, this concubine¡¯s daughter, was sitting before him with cold looks in her eyes.

    Well, she was getting more and more interesting.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Sima Ray seemed to have a sense of elegance and romance when he smiled, which made him quite approachable, ¡°I saw that Second Miss left alone with no servant girls following her. What if there¡¯s something wrong?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Out of the yard is the pond. It would be dangerous if Second Miss were drunk and alone when she left,¡± Concubine Chang said after Sima Ray.

    Listening to what they said, Concubine Liu was not as calm as before. Driven by nervousness, she turned to a servant girl beside her and said to her, ¡°Find Second Miss and see if she¡¯s okay.¡±

    Suddenly, a crack arose after Concubine Liu¡¯s words. Not very loud, it was clear enough to be heard from the sound of singing and dancing.

    Frowning, Qin Zhi seemed to be holding back his anger. The chopsticks in his hand were broken into two pieces before other people noticed. Seeing the abnormal action of the master, the servant behind Qin Zhi, who came in from the back door to report message, paused for a while and then reported with extreme caution, ¡°Master, rumors have been spreading at the back door that Young Master Shangguan got very hot-tempered. He was drunk and felt offended after he was stopped by Grand Young Master¡¯s inferiors. Even Butler Xie cannot deal with him.¡±

    Taking a deep breath in his heart, Qin Zhi barely held back his anger and straightened up. He nodded to the present colleagues and exined that he wanted to take a break because he did not feel well. A short while after Qin Zhi left, Qin Linfeng and Concubine Liu were also fetched by servants. Seeing the surprised look on Concubine Liu¡¯s face, Qin Yunuan just looked down, as if it had been none of her business.

    Several guests took leave of the banquet after the hosts left the table. As it was gettingte at night, nurse Liao also took Qin Baochuan back to the Fuxi Courtyard to sleep. But Qin Yunuan became more clear-headed by the cool and wet wind from the pond in the midnight.

    In her eyes, the brightly decorated banquet in the distance that wasing to an end could notpare to this peaceful and quiet ce.

    As the wisteria flowers rustled with the wind, a long shadow was approaching alongside the bank of the pond. A pair of boots made of white buckskin walked on the soft mud of the bank without making any noise.

    Having noticed that someone wasing closer, she turned back with her eyes wide opened. But the lights in her eyes faded immediately after she saw who that was. She made a curtsy and said, ¡°My greetings, Prince Ray.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Sima Ray smiled lightly, ¡°You seemed to be disappointed seeing that it was me.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Qin Yunuan said modestly, ¡°Are you alsoing out for a rx, Prince Ray?¡±

    ¡°No. Actually, I followed you especially when I saw youe out in the middle of the banquet,¡± Sima Ray replied bluntly, and he continued as Qin Yunuan revealed a hint of surprise, ¡°Grand Commandant Qin, Grand Young Master Qin, and several concubines left one after another. So, I guess something important might have happened. Why? Won¡¯t you feel curious ande there for a look?¡±

    ¡°Things that will happen in the womenfolk are predictable. One day, it would be that something was broken or lost in a certain courtyard. The other day, it would be that someone used other people¡¯s hanky or rouge without permission,¡± Qin Yunuan said in a naughty and innocent tone, ¡°You should have seen those things a lot in the Imperial Pce.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Sima Ray had a pleasant feeling that he never had, ¡°There really are many trivial matters in the Imperial Pce. Sometimes, I really envy my seventh brother living far away from there. Though he was alone and in at the Imperial Mausoleum, he should have a secluded and undisturbed life there.¡±

    He sounded sincere. But in fact, he was the one who made his brother, the seventh prince Sima Qiu, leave the Imperial Pce for such a long time. He was really a ¡°good¡± brother.

    At this time, a servant girl ran along the pond bank to Sima Ray and Qin Yunuan. After greeting them separately, she said anxiously, ¡°Third Miss, master asked you toe to the backyard. Someone... someone had died.¡±

 Chapter 55 Matter of Life and Death

    <h4>Chapter 55 Matter of Life and Death</h4>

    The servant girl must be new to the mansion. When encountering such an incident, she even shouted out in front of their guest Sima Ray.

    ¡°Okay, I know.¡± Qin Yunuan seemed to be unexpectedly calm. She bent her knees and saluted to Sima Ray, ¡°Excuse for my absence.¡± Then she followed the young girl out of the yard and straight for the backyard. Her pace was fast, but not panicked. That was because she had long anticipated such a scene. The y continued constantly since Tong saw Tinghe putting something in those crab dumplings.

    Bypassing a rockery, she saw crowds gathering close to the back door. Besides Qin Zhi, Qin Linfeng and Concubine Liu who arrived earlier, Dou Qing¡¯e and Qin Yunzhuang came here as soon as they got the news. The banquet outside was nearing its end. Since only Concubine Chang was left to preside over the whole event, it might have ended earlier.

    Temporarily, lots of torches were lit in the dim backyard. Under the light of the fire, the gloom on Qin Zhi¡¯s face made him look inessible. Hiding in Concubine Liu¡¯s arms, Qin Yuwan¡¯s small face grew red in the orange res. She was trying her best to be buried into Concubine Liu¡¯s arms. It seemed that she wanted to hide herself as well as the five fingerprints visible on her cheek.

    Shangguan Rang, who was referred to by the servants as ¡°irritable¡±, was still half-drunk and supported by others. The Left Chancellor Shangguan Yuan stood in front of him, seemingly wanted to prevent others from seeing the troubled Shangguan Rang. He talked to Qin Zhi with his hands folded in a polite gesture.

    ¡°My son was discourteous today, phndering with Second Miss Qin. Please, my good colleague Qin, believe me. The Shangguan Family is never indifferent. I will not tarnish the reputation of the Second Miss. Both my son and the Second Miss have reached marriageable age. Within three months, betrothal presents would be sent to the mansion.¡± Shangguan Yuan kept a low profile in making this promise. His carefully educated son was secretly dating an unmarried girl in her backyard. Thankfully, the Grand Commandant was wise to agree to deal with the matter in private. If not, Qin Family¡¯s reputation would also be harmed groundlessly.

    Shangguan Rang didn¡¯t seem to appreciate his father¡¯s words, or he was too drunk to do so, ¡°Dad, what did you say just now? Let me marry her?¡± Shangguan Rang pointed at Qin Yuwan with his body staggering. Disdain was written all over his face. ¡°She was only one of those women outside who was desperate to crawl into our house, and you think I have phndered with her? She invited me in. I remember. I remember it clearly that a nanny led me in. I have witnesses.¡±

    ¡°B*stard! Shut up!¡± Shangguan Yuan¡¯s face turned pale, ¡°I just asked you who the leading nanny was, and you said that darkness blinded you. You are drunk.¡± After those words, he ordered the servants who came with her to carry Shangguan Rang back.

    Qin Zhi¡¯s face rxed a little, but his horrifying eyes still fixed on Qin Yuwan, who curled herself up. Seeing Qin Yunuan came, he asked straightforward without any warm-up conversation, ¡°Is there a servant girl called Tinghe in your courtyard?¡±

    Qin Yunuan felt two yful eyes puffed up with pride looked straight at her. As she lifted her head, she met with Qin Linfeng¡¯s narrowed eyes.

    ¡°Yes, Tinghe was indeed a secondary servant girl in my yard,¡± Qin Yunuan took a firm step forward, which was perceived as a joke in the eyes of Dou Qing¡¯e and Qin Yunzhuang. Dou Qing¡¯e was about to make a statement when Qin Zhi¡¯s previous warning rang in her mind, ¡°I should have sent you to the temple earlier, but my colleagues wille here today. You¡¯d better remember what to say and what not to. If you make any trouble, I will send Yunzhuang and Linfeng to the temple as yourpany.¡±

    It was eptable for her to leave, but Yunzhuang and Linfeng are the apples of her eye. How could she let her children suffer together with her? Moreover, leaving more of her people in the Qin Family meant higher hope for her.

    The hope happened toe to her today.

    As soon as Qin Yunuan spoke, the look of Concubine Liu and others who were present turned hideously diabolic.

    ¡°Well, Tinghe was your servant. Did you know that the servant girl in your yard was dead?¡± Concubine Liu screeched, as if had been tempted to shift Qin Zhi¡¯s attention from the humiliated Qin Yuwan to the wronged Qin Yunuan. But her trick failed. Qin Zhi was meticulous enough to see through Concubine Liu at first nce. He shocked Concubine Liu speechless by just staring at her.

    ¡°Dead?¡± the panic and shock on Qin Yunuan¡¯s face were real. She half-covered her mouth, and her fingertips seemed to tremble constantly. ¡°How could that be? Tinghe was alive this morning, and then I was busy going to the banquet. So I didn¡¯t pay attention to where she went. Why all of a sudden...? Father, was the news true?¡±

    Qin Zhi¡¯s gloomy nasal sound seemed to be squeezed out of his nasal cavity, ¡°The body is behind the backyard rockery. How could that be fake?¡±

    Qin Yunuan was stunned for a second, and then she looked at the rugged rockery ahead of her on the right with distant eyes.

    The truth of the matter was revealed instantly.

    Qin Linfeng thought that Qin Yunuan would send Qin Baochuan out through the back door. So he secretly sent someone to guard at the back. While waiting for gains without pains, Qin Linfeng¡¯s people didn¡¯t meet with Qin Baochuan¡¯s carriage, but they met with Shangguan Rang, who came to have a private meeting with Qin Yuwan. Shangguan Rang was a grand young master with spoiled-boy behaviors, so they had a conflict. In the chaos, they found Tinghe¡¯s cold dead body behind the rockery.

    In this way, the secret date of Shangguan Rang and Qin Yuwan became trivialpared to the death.

    An unnatural death happened in the mansion of Grand Commandant, and it was a servant girl from his own mansion. If rumors get out, sudden and perplexing changes could shake this ancient and quiet house.

    To avoid bad luck, only a few experienced family servants were inspecting the body and running to report from time to time. It seemed that Qin Zhi didn¡¯t notify the local government and would like to deal with the matter in private. The first step to solve the matter in private was to begin searching inside the mansion. And Qin Yunuan, who was standing elegantly in front of Qin Zhi became the first suspect in this search.

    ¡°Tinghe was your servant girl, Third Miss. Don¡¯t you have anything to say about her sudden death?¡± Qin Yunzhuang said behind her handkerchief. Her eyes dodged and fell on the rockery. These things remained to be a taboo for her, but this was an opportunity to step on Qin Yunuan and vent her mother¡¯s anger.

    Qin Yunuan was also straightforward and determined, ¡°The death of Tinghe has nothing to do with me.¡±

    ¡°Why are you so confident, Third Miss?¡± Qin Yunzhuang shook her head dismissively, ¡°I heard that Third Miss appointed people by favoritism. In the Fuxi Courtyard, only long-time servants were valued. New servant girls are poorly treated. Maybe some insensible servant girls in the Fuxi Courtyard bullied Tinghe under your encouragement, and then....¡±

    ¡°Are you joking, sister?¡± Qin Yunuan looked at Qin Yunzhuang with an indifferent attitude, ¡°The servants inspecting on Tinghe¡¯s death said just now that there were bruises on the neck. She was most likely strangled to death. The fingerprints on bruises were broad, strong and possibly from a male. My servants are all girls.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s smile became even weirder, ¡°Doesn¡¯t nurse Liao, who works for you, have a son called Huang Dashi? He had a pretty good rtionship with you.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang took a clever step. She drew the suspicion about the conflict between servants to Qin Yunuan within one sentence. If a servant girl had done this, Qin Yunuan would most likely have been used of her ineffective discipline. But when it came to nurse Liao and Huang Dashi, most people would understand without thinking. Who, besides Qin Yunuan, could order nurse Liao and Huang Dashi in the Fuxi Courtyard?

    Concubine Liu spotted the situation and echoed, ¡°Oh, in the end, this girl is working in the yard of Third Miss. She is Third Miss¡¯s people. Third Miss, you are gaining poprity in the Royal City now. We concubines are not qualified to judge how you dispose of your servants.¡±

    Qin Yunuan felt the icy winds blowing towards her, even Qin Zhi gazed deeper into her eyes. He hated it most when his status as the housemaster was challenged.

    ¡°Even though what Concubine Liu and Grand Miss said were reasonable, you have forgotten a key point,¡± Qin Yunuan tightened the grip in her heart, ¡°Motivation. What is my motivation to harm Tinghe. It has been only a month since she came to my yard. Tinghe was loyal and dutiful in her job without making any trouble. Why should I bother myself with a servant? Why would I kill her inside the mansion? Wouldn¡¯t that leave a dirty stain in the mansion of Grand Commandant?¡±

    Finally, it came to the topic. A smile of sess appeared on Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s face. Her voice was sweet and lingering, but every word could hurt, ¡°Sister Yunuan, what if there is? Chenyue, fetch me that contract Tinghe handed to me secretly in my yard yesterday.¡±

    While everyone was confused, the servant girl Chenyue went immediately to the Caizhi Courtyard. When she returned, she was holding a yellow-colored envelope with its surface slightly bulging.

    There was no signature on the envelope. But the insignificant cyan in the veins of the envelope paper suggested that the envelope was made of reeds unique in the regions south of the River.

    Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s eyebrows bent into a beautiful arc. Holding the envelope in her slender hand, she said, ¡°Tinghe handed this to me secretly yesterday, saying that it was discovered while cleaning the room for Sister Yunuan. She didn¡¯t know how serious the situation was, so she just let me decide whether to give it to my mother. Unfortunately, the only witness died for no reason before I could show it to my mother.¡±

    ¡°Witness?¡± Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrow and smiled gently, ¡°Grand Miss, your usage of the words is strange. It seemed as if I had done something that shouldn¡¯t be seen by others.¡±

    ¡°What do you say?¡± Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s gaze at Qin Yunuan became gradually profound in meanings, ¡°Third Miss, think about it carefully. If you admit in advance, maybe father can give you some mercy.¡±

 Chapter 56 Falsely Accuse

    <h4>Chapter 56 Falsely use</h4>

    ¡°Admit it?¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s words were filled with sarcasm, ¡°I¡¯m innocent. What should I admit? Sister Yunzhuang, you want to me me for Tinghe¡¯s death because of the unknown content in this letter?¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang was irritated. The executioner¡¯s homicidal intention and ferociousness appeared on her face. Even thick powder couldn¡¯t hide the thought of wiping Qin Yunuan out of the family in her heart.

    ¡°Okay, Third Miss, don¡¯t me me for not giving you a chance,¡± Qin Yunzhuang said as she handed the letter in hand to Qin Zhi, ¡°Father, please look at it. Last time my mother said that Sister Yunuan left the house secretly, and you said that she had no evidence. Now here is the evidence of her running out of the mansion and signing a contract with an unknown businessman. She wanted to share the profit. An unmarried girl went out of the house and made deals with those cheap businessmen. Tinghe discovered the contract which Third Miss hid on the bookshelf, and handed it to me. The second day she died inexplicably. Father, I didn¡¯t dare to surmise. Please make your decision.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang, saying that she didn¡¯t dare to surmise, sentenced Qin Yunuan within a few words. Qin Yunzhuang was easily jealous and wasn¡¯t a good girl in the past, but herpelling tone was rare. Qin Yunuan tilted her head to look at Dou Qing¡¯e who stood behind Qin Yunzhuang. She understood. Like mother, like daughter. Qin Yunzhuang was bing well educated under the instructions of Dou Qing¡¯e.

    ¡°I can¡¯t see why you dare not to surmise,¡± Qin Linfeng¡¯s tone was arrogant, but every word he said was to protect his sister and mother, ¡°It¡¯s all too obvious. This daughter of a concubine was blinded by wealth. She coborated with businessmen secretly to make profits but was discovered by the servant girl in her yard, so she had to kill her.¡±

    ¡°Evidence, brother, I only need evidence,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled at Qin Linfeng.

    Everyone focused their eyes on the thin envelope between Qin Zhi¡¯s thumb and forefinger. At the moment, Qin Zhi felt that his fingertips became hotter, but his eyes were getting colder.

    Qin Zhi held the envelope and stared at Qin Yunuan for a long time. Suddenly, he waved his hand and tore the envelope quickly. A four-fold ¡°contract¡±, which was about the length of an arm, was revealed. He looked very grave all of a sudden as if his face had been frozen by the snow and ice in the extreme north.

    The atmosphere turned weird. Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s confident heart suddenly fastened its beat. She felt inexplicably worried and her heart went cold. Especially when she saw Qin Yunuan¡¯s calm smile and the air of loneliness and detachment about her.

    ¡°B*stard!¡± Qin Zhi roared in anger, throwing the so-called, nk ¡°contract¡± on Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s feet. He said sharply, ¡°Is this the contract you mentioned? Does this prove the cooperation between Yunuan and those businessmen?¡±

    This was a dynasty that emphasized agriculture and restrainedmerce. Take Qin Zhi¡¯s nephew Su Chenghai for example, he was not warmly weed by Qin Zhi because of his identity as a merchant. It¡¯s already very nice of Qin Zhi to greet him while everyone was present. If Qin Zhi had known about Qin Yunuan¡¯s private sales of embroidery products, he would have been furious. That was Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s n. Now, everything seemed to be out of her expectations.

    The ¡°contract¡± at Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s foot was a nk piece of paper with the smooth lines visible, but no trace of ink.

    ¡°No, this is impossible,¡± Qin Yunzhuang whispered. She had read it in the morning. The words on it were very clear. It was a contract with a clear distribution of dividends and responsibilities. Qin Yunzhuang picked up the ¡°contract¡± in a haze and looked into it again and again. There wasn¡¯t even a ck spot on the paper, not to mention a word.

    ¡°Qin Yunuan, you switched the envelope,¡± Qin Yunzhuang shouted, pointing at Qin Yunuan¡¯s nose.

    ¡°I am ttered, Grand Miss,¡± Qin Yunuan responded without obvious emotions, ¡°I¡¯m not that capable. As you have said, the contract was given to you by Tinghe. You saw it and put it away by yourself. It was your servant girl who fetched the envelope, and I didn¡¯t even know about the contract. How can I switch it?¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s eyebrows twisted and then she turned towards Chenyue. Immediately, Chenyue knelt and kowtowed while saying, ¡°Grand Miss, I picked up the letter as you asked. I didn¡¯t do anything.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang knew that Chenyue didn¡¯t dare to do this. Apart from Hong Luan and nurse Gui, she had followed her for the longest time. But Chenyue¡¯s words made Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s crime a little more serious.

    Qin Linfeng grabbed the nk paper in Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s hand. He frowned and looked at it for a long time, and then he vowed to Qin Zhi, ¡°Father, there must be something nasty. Someone must have the intention to frame Yunzhuang.¡± Qin Linfeng said while observing the obedient Qin Yunuan, ¡°It must be her, must be her.¡±

    ¡°Brother, you can eat anything, but you can¡¯t say anything without evidence. Evidence, brother, what about your evidence?¡± Qin Yunuan smiled. The corner of her mouth lifted elegantly like a butterfly wing, but it stroke the nerves of Qin Linfeng fiercely.

    The word ¡°evidence¡± had rapped Qin Yunzhuang and Qin Linfeng so tightly that they could not breathe. They looked at Dou Qing¡¯e for help. In crucial times, they prayed that Dou Qing¡¯e could give them an idea.

    Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯splexion had long turned pale, but she covered it with her usual elegance and dignity. Stepping on the purple embroidered shoes, she approached Qin Zhi gently and said just one word, ¡°Master.¡± Qin Zhi snorted coldly and then turned his body, leaving her a well-defined profile only.

    ¡°Father, father, I have evidence!¡± Qin Yunzhuang dragged Qin Zhi¡¯s cuffs suddenly and said, ¡°I remembered the signature on the contract. The boss who signed the contract with Sister Yunuan has a name of Ciren and the surname was Wu. He is new to the Royal City for business. I heard that he is well-known in the regions south of the River. Father, you can find out yourself and you will know that your daughter is not lying.¡±

    ¡°Wu Ciren?¡± Qin Zhi repeated the unfamiliar name. He tilted his head to ask Butler Xie, ¡°Is there anyone with this name in the regions south of the River who came to the Royal City?¡±

    Butler Xie had been dealing with all kinds of major businessmen in the Royal City for the harvest of the mansion of Grand Commandant, therefore he had a widework of people. After thinking for a long time, he said, ¡°Speaking of the businessmen from the regions south of the River, there is only one boss Shen in the capital. I have never heard of the name Wu Ciren.¡±

    ¡°Impossible, Butler Xie. Think about it carefully. I remembered that the contract mentioned the Golden Butterfly Embroidery House of the regions south of the River. It was said to be the property owned by boss Wu.¡± Qin Yunzhuang was so anxious that her forehead was sweating.

    ¡°Grand Miss, the Golden Butterfly Embroidery House was owned by a Nobleman of Baling. I have never heard of it being passed on to outsiders.¡± Butler Xie¡¯s next sentence put out the small me in Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s heart. She looked at Qin Zhi eagerly and was panicked. She had to repeat, ¡°Father, believe me, believe me.¡±

    But Qin Zhi was certain in his heart, ¡°Hmm, your mother likes to make troubles out of nothing. Do you also like to mess the house up?¡±

    ¡°Father, my sister is not such a person,¡± Qin Linfeng rushed out to protect Qin Yunzhuang.

    ¡°Brother, did you mean that Yunuan had cheated?¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her head. She looked grieved as she hid her cries in those words, ¡°My servant girl died, and it made me ufortable. But from the beginning to the end, my elder brother and sister were talking about how vicious I am. How I wouldply in appearance but oppose in the heart and do private business. But now my elder sister was said to be framed. Father, I have been criticized without any reason and suffered grievances for many times since you came back. Father, despite my low status, I couldn¡¯t bear such injustice.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s moving words fell with the crystal tears falling down from her snow-white cheeks. This was the first time Qin Yunuan cried in front of Qin Zhi. She knew it well in her heart that tears were useless to an inflexible, old-fashioned person like Qin Zhi. But they worked this time as a catalyst and blew up Qin Zhi¡¯s chauvinistic heart filled with anger. Once touched, the anger would pour out like a volcanic eruption.

    Now she only needed to add a trigger.

    The servants inspecting on the other side of the rockery sent a man to report that they had found a ck pearl of unknown origin in the hand of Tinghe, which seemed to be ripped off from clothes. A trace of cotton fiber could also be found on it.

    Qin Linfeng¡¯s heart turned over. He raised his hand subconsciously to cover his belt which was embroidered with round ck pearls about the size of a little fingernail. He was too careless that the little girl pulled off his pearls while struggling. His eyes flickered with blurred and elusive, thoughtful light.

    Qin Zhi fell his eyes on Qin Linfeng¡¯s belt, which was not fully covered. He remembered the four-finger-wide,ke green belt very well. It was a gift for his adulthood ceremony, which he had spent a lot of effort to prepare. His son should enjoy a more glorious, delicate ceremony than others. The belt was called the Big Dipper, and the seven ck pearls on it are all selected with great caution and directly transported from the coast of East Qin. It was a first-ss product, and now....

    ¡°Put away your sleeve,¡± Qin Zhi said to Qin Linfeng without feelings or warmth.

    ¡°Father,¡± Qin Linfeng tried to refute, ¡°Actually, finding the owner of the ck pearl found on the girl might not exin what has to do with that girl¡¯s death. Maybe, it may just be that Tinghe¡¯s hands were unclean and she had stolen something.¡±

    ¡°Brother, you are saying strange things. If Tinghe had been a thief, she would have first hidden the stolen goods or sold them. How could anyone be stupid enough to keep them in her hands? And,¡± Qin Yunuan turned her eyes, ¡°brother, you dare to disobey father¡¯s words now?¡±

 Chapter 57 Step by Step

    <h4>Chapter 57 Step by Step</h4>

    The panic on Qin Linfeng¡¯s face onlysted for a moment. He tried to rece it with disdain, but Qin Yunuan¡¯s words were like needles piercing through his defence, ¡°If brother had just said it by mistake, then why was the seventh ck pearl of the Big Dipper pattern on your belt gone as well? Or was it that brother did not say it by mistake, but was guilty instead?¡±

    The word ¡°guilty¡± spoken by Qin Yunuan at this moment was rather meaningful. Those who could get it got it immediately, such as Qin Zhi.

    Qin Zhi was looking at Qin Linfeng as if he had been looked at an enemy. His tone did not soften at all, ¡°Why are you still covering it? I¡¯ll say it onest time, move away your sleeve.¡±

    Qin Linfeng reluctantly moved his wide sleeves sideways. There were only exposed thread ends on the end of the Big Dipper Belt. It looked very apparent without the ck pearl decoration.

    Qin Linfeng was panicked. Qin Yunzhuang was panicked, and even Dou Qing¡¯e, who had always been calm and elegant, became pale. She could never imagine that her son would make such a low-level mistake. Her heart was ufortable as if it had been thrown into the fire, burning and crackling.

    ¡°Maybe, maybe my brother¡¯s ck pearl just happened to fall off?¡± Qin Yunzhuang tried to intercede for Qin Linfeng.

    ¡°Then it just happened to fall into Tinghe¡¯s hands?¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s nce was full of sarcasm, but she was facing away from Qin Zhi. Only Qin Yunzhuang and Qin Linfeng could see her ruthlessness.

    Qin Yunuan at this moment had no room for softness and mercy.

    Ever since she made Tong keep an eye on Tinghe, she discovered that Tinghe poisoned Baochuan¡¯s breakfast. Luckily she had discovered it in advance then changed it and added a note to the Thousand-Character ssic recited by Baochuan every day, telling him to pretend to have a stomachache when eating the crab bun.

    Just when Qin Yunuan deliberately sent Tinghe off to find nurse Liao, she broke the dog¡¯s blood bag that she had hidden in her cuff. She had already tested the poison. It was the fatal gelsemium. The person who poisoned the food had never thought of letting Baochuan live.

    Baochuan was the precious of Qin Yunuan. Qin Yunuan would not show the slightest mercy to whomever dared to harm Qin Baochuan.

    After letting Maner follow Tinghe out, she found that the actual culprit was Qin Linfeng. Unfortunately, Tinghe never returned after entering the rockery. When Maner realized that something was wrong, Tinghe was already dead.

    She expected that Qin Linfeng must have thought that she would really send Baochuan out for medical treatment in a carriage. So he would send additional people to guard the back door. Therefore, she had already sent nurse Liao to wait by the back door. On the other hand, it was an open secret that Qin Yuwan wanted to see Shangguan Rang. With just a bit of leading, and sending nurse Liao to lead Shangguan Rang to a certain ce. Qin Yunuan had everything under control. Shangguan Rang was a luxurious young master, while Qin Linfeng¡¯s men were all arrogant from years of achievements. They would have a conflict when they encountered each other.

    And for the wordless book in Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s hands, it was also derived from the scriptures that Dou Qing¡¯e asked Qin Yunuan to help her copy. There were only two scriptures, but she gave Qin Yunuan arge piece of good pine oil ink stick. Even if she liked this ink so much, it shouldn¡¯t have bothered her so much. Moreover, it was to her natural enemy Qin Yunuan. The more Qin Yunuan thought about it, the more wrong she felt it was. Sure enough, she discovered the secret of the ink stick in a day.

    It turned out that the ink grinded out of the ink stick would disappear a whileter after written on paper, as if it had never been stained with ink. This was amon trick used by those women in the country who pretended to be witches. They use the disappearable red ink to draw on a yellow rune paper, and use a catalyst to elerate the disappearance of the ink, blinding people to achieve the look of driving away ghosts and evil spirits, as well as converging money. It was because that Biddy Zhao had reminded Qin Yunuanst time that she knew about the trick.

    Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s trick was wonderful. It could make the copies of the scriptures that Qin Yunuan worked so hard on disappear. So that she could have the excuse of scolding her. Perhaps she would do another trick in series and defeat Qin Yunuan once and for all. Qin Yunuan would not let go of the opportunity to get back at her with her exactly same way.

    That day, she and Maner deliberately told Tinghe outside the window that she hid something on the bookshelf. Tinghe couldn¡¯t wait any longer to steal the ¡°contract¡± Qin Yunuan left, written by the disappearing ink, while cleaning the house and handed it over. What Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t expect was that the person behind Tinghe was not Dou Qing¡¯e, but Qin Yunzhuang. It appeared that her sister was much smarter than in her past life.

    As for this ck pearl in the hands of Tinghe, Qin Yunuan looked at Qin Linfeng yfully, and in the chaos of life in an admiring manner. They wouldn¡¯t know that all their struggles, arguments and resistance were in vain. They couldn¡¯t escape the trap Qin Yunuan set. A trap nicely set by her to revenge for the injustice on Baochuan in the past life and in this life.

    ¡°Father, don¡¯t you believe in your own son?¡± Qin Linfeng remarked, ¡°What¡¯s more, I have just returned from a long journey. How could I have a rtionship with the servant girl in third sister¡¯s yard, and even try to murder her? Father always told me that a gentleman should know what to do and what not to. I have been strictly following your teaching and never forget it for one day.¡±

    Such a rebuttal was pale, but the bnce in Qin Zhi¡¯s heart was always on the side of his eldest son. Moreover, if Qin Linfeng were involved in a murder, the news would be in the streets sooner orter. It would harm his fame. However, the servant girl was a human being after all, someone had to be responsible for it eventually.

    But after Butler Xie carefullypared the ck pearls found from Tinghe¡¯s hands with the pearls on Qin Linfeng¡¯s belt, the conclusion made Qin Zhi¡¯s heart tremble again.

    ¡°Master, theparison is correct. It really fell from the Grand Young Master.¡±

    Qin Zhi squinted his eyes. Qin Linfeng was already guilty. He was too careless to let Tinghe tear off the pearl on his belt. When he sped her neck tightly, he didn¡¯t feel anything. Sure enough, a wrong step taken would lead him into the abyss.

    ¡°How do you exin this?¡± For the first time, Qin Zhi¡¯s eyes were filled with fierce resolve and hostility when he looked at Qin Linfeng.

    After being silent for a long time, Qin Linfeng suddenly said, ¡°Yes, I have seen Tinghe.¡± Qin Linfeng suddenly looked up and said eagerly, ¡°But it was this girl who didn¡¯t know what she should do. I have only met her several times, but she wanted to marry me as a concubine. She was refused many times. Yet she still came to me to harass me before the banquet and even threatened to frame me of taking her virginity. While she ran away madly, I was afraid that she would talk nonsense on such a jubnt day, so I sent a servant to follow her. However, he didn¡¯t return after that, and I heard the news of Tinghe died behind the rockery. I guess that it was my servant who had an argument with her, so... so....¡±

    Qin Linfeng had denied the responsibilitypletely this time. He did not only exin the cause of death of Tinghe, but also exined why the ck pearl on his belt was in Tinghe¡¯s hands. However Qin Yunuan would not let him off easily.

    ¡°What brother meant was that it was very possible that your men killed Tinghe?¡± Qin Yunuan turned to look at Qin Zhi, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say such important news immediately?¡±

    Qin Zhi¡¯s nce became sharper and sharper, but he saw Qin Linfeng suddenly knelt to the ground and said, ¡°It¡¯s my fault that my people were too indulgent. This time they had not only offended young master Shangguan, but also killed a servant girl. Father, I know I was wrong. I would find the missing servant as soon as possible.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang immediately followed and knelt, pleading, ¡°Father, the person who did that has to be naturally bad. It has nothing to do with brother.¡±

    Even Dou Qing¡¯e, who had not spoken, couldn¡¯t hold herself back any more. She said, ¡°Master, Linfeng is your biological son. Don¡¯t you believe in his nature? Think about it, killing someone in the mansion. That wasn¡¯t something that Linfeng would do. He always has a kind heart. When he was a kid, he went hunting and he couldn¡¯t even kill a mother rabbit with a bunny. Master, you have to trust Linfeng this time.¡±

    ¡°Seven days,¡± Qin Zhi paused on each word, as if he had said the most solemn deration in the world, ¡°I¡¯ll give you seven days to find the missing servant. However, since you can¡¯t even control your own people, you can¡¯t keep them anymore. Dismiss all your servants.¡±

    The seventeen servants brought back by Qin Linfeng from the long journey each have their own skills, and many of them were secretly arranged by the Dou Family to escort Qin Linfeng. Now Qin Zhi made the order to dismiss them. It was the same as breaking Qin Linfeng¡¯s both arms. It would be utterly difficult for Qin Linfeng to have an influence in the Qin Family, not to mention the Royal City.

    Qin Linfeng looked at the faint smile that appeared at the corner of Qin Yunuan¡¯s mouth, and looked at the implying look on Dou Qing¡¯e face. He gritted his teeth, and buried his head even lower, ¡°As you have said, father.¡±

    Qin Zhi took a deep breath, ¡°Now the reason of Tinghe¡¯s death is still unknown, while your words are just words. Before the truth ispletely revealed, you shall not leave the yard.¡±

    Qin Linfeng paused for a moment. Now that his mother would be sent to a temple outside, and he would be under house arrest. He looked at Qin Yunzhuang who burst into tears, delicate as a flower budded with tender petals. His nce towards Qin Yunuan got more and more vicious.

    That¡¯s right! It was all because of this woman! This lowly daughter of a concubine was pushing the three of them step by step into desperation. The steps were calm and unhurried. Each time, they were left with a chance to regain their breath, but what awaited for them were more and more vicious traps.

    If Qin Yunuan had been able to interpret Qin Linfeng¡¯s thoughts, she would have definitelyughed at him. She set the traps? She was vicious? Who were the ones who set traps and started troubles every time? She was merely returning them what they tried to do to her without counting an interest.

    ¡°Understood, father.¡± Qin Linfeng lowered his head and reluctantly epted such a cruel reality.

 Chapter 58 Dream in the Night

    <h4>Chapter 58 Dream in the Night</h4>

    Qin Yunuan would skin Qin Linfeng if she could.

    In these days of rebirth, she had always been holding the attitude of defense. If anyone had tried to hurt her, she would have let them suffer from it themselves. However, the poison gelsemium elegan in Baochuan¡¯s breakfast was like a p on Qin Yunuan¡¯s face.

    There was a murderous look in her eyes, and she stared at Qin Linfeng kneeling on the ground. After all, he was the eldest son of Qin Zhi, and behind him was the big backer of the Dou Family. They had recently won the bid for the operating right to the Grand Canal from the Royal City to Hangzhou. It seems that even though they were ¡°exiled¡± to the regions south of the River, they had be more prosperous instead of declined. This was something that Qin Yunuan needed to beware and consider. She would need a long-term n to take down Dou Qing¡¯e and her children.

    Tinghe¡¯s body was temporarily wrapped in a straw mat in a remote ce, and Xiu Gu was sobbing in the yard as the only rtive of Tinghe.

    Seven days were enough for Qin Linfeng to find a scapegoat for himself. However, the hold Qin Linfeng dug in Qin Zhi¡¯s heart wasn¡¯t so easy to fill.

    Qin Yunuan led Maner and nurse Liao back to the yard, while Tong had already put Baochuan into bed. When she saw her mistress return, she came out of the house with a letter in her hand.

    ¡°Third Miss, young master Su Chenghai sent this letter.¡±

    Su Chenghai?

    Thinking of cousin Su whose power was difficult to estimate, but helped her in many ways. Qin Yunuan felt some warmth in her heart.

    There were only a few words on the letter, ¡°The return date has been set. Ten in the morning in the First Boite of the Royal City.¡±

    After reading the letter, Qin Yunuan burned it together with the envelope and said gently, ¡°Cousin is leaving the Royal City.¡±

    ¡°So soon,¡± Tong eximed instinctively, ¡°Young master Su Chenghai treated Third Miss so well that I thought he would ask Master to....¡±

    ¡°Ask for father¡¯s permission to marry me?¡± Qin Yunuanughed. She knew well about the chemistry between them. It was just that Su Chenghai was not someone she could match. His identity was always a mystery in her heart. ¡°Alright now, what are you thinking, girl?¡± Qin Yunuan smiled and tried to knock on Tong¡¯s head. Tongughed and retreated, saying, ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time.¡±

    Theughter in the room seemed extraordinarily lively in this spring day.

    After reading thest few pages of the lone copy left by her birth mother Lady Yang, she was a bit tired. Just when she was about to go to bed, she looked into the darkness out of her window. A slight smile came out of the corner of her mouth. She called Maner, who was picking the wick, and said, ¡°Go put a bowl of water above the wall.¡±

    Maner was puzzled, ¡°The wall... above the wall?¡±

    ¡°Someone has been following us for a day. He must be tired,¡± Qin Yunuan rubbed her slightly swollen eyes and half closed them. Tiredness was all over her face. From the birthday banquet to the wordless contract, and the discovering of Tinghe¡¯s body. The debate and quarrels had already cost Qin Yunuan a lot of energy. As for the person who had been hiding in the dark, he was very likely to be tired.

    The light was off in Qin Yunuan¡¯s room. Although she was puzzled, Maner specially prepared a bowl of warm tea and climbed the wall with a longdder in a corner of the back wall. She deliberately put some ginger slices and nourishing wolfberries to drive away the cold. Maner was smelling the scent of the tea while muttering, apparently confused, ¡°Why would anyone be above the wall in the middle of the night?¡±

    While talking, Maner put the tea bowl there and was about to get down. However, thedder was left unused for a long time and thest step had been loose. As soon as she stepped on it, she heard a crack and fell down on the right. Within three steps there were sharp and small pebbles.

    Maner closed her eyes subconsciously, trying to cover her head with her arms, but only felt that there was a very strong force in her waist to pull her back. Maner opened her eyes in shock, finding herself standing straight in front of thedder, and the damaged section fell to the ground, making a slight but dull noise at night.

    Everything was almost like in a dream.

    There seemed to be a trace of warmth left around her waist. Maner was a little bit stunned, and she suddenly understood the words of her mistress. She lowered her head and turned away quickly.

    In night, bursts of floral scent flowed through the courtyard with the moonlight¡¯s coldness, together with the sound of time reporters far and near. The night was silent, thick and deep.

    Qin Linfeng, who was exhausted for the day, was lying on the bed diagonally. His posture was a bit twisted, just pressing to the position of his left heart. His eyebrows were wrinkled tightly, revealing extreme anxiety.

    His hand stroke back and forth on the satin, imagining that it was the skin of the woman he had been longing for which is as white as the fresh snow that just fell to the ground and as smooth as fresh cheese. He kissed her lips in his dream, licking it repeatedly, tasting its sweetness. While his hands were slightly moving down, flexible like loaches, rolling in the cloud silk brocade, seeking the white, tender and soft ce. Then he held it tightly, moving back and forth.

    His desire could no longer stay hidden. His body was no longer under his rational control, and he began to quickly unfasten his belt and removed his underwear. The heat underneath told him clearly that he loved this woman, and the love was driving him mad.

    ¡°Nannan, I want you. I want you now.¡± Qin Linfeng murmured and talked with his face flushed.

    He kissed the lips as beautiful as peach blossom again, and whispered repeatedly, ¡°Nannan, you know how much I miss you.¡± His hand stroked the face that he had thought about days and nights when he was studying abroad, but a slimy liquid slipped from his fingertips.

    He looked at his palm, and there was blood on it. He sat up in shock. Under him was not Nannan whom he couldn¡¯t even forget in his dreams, but was Tinghe who was dead. Blood streamed from Tinghe¡¯s face, from her mouth, her nose, her eyes... It was all red on her body too.

    ¡°You! How could it be you!¡±

    ¡°Grand Young Master, it was you who held me and dragged me into your roomst night. You called my name too. Grand Young Master, you....¡±

    ¡°Master, when will you take me as your concubine?¡±

    ¡°Master, if I had promised to drop this medicine powder into Second Master¡¯s breakfast, would you just have told Madam about the thing between us?¡±

    ¡°Grand Young Master, even if I had be a ghost, I wouldn¡¯t have let you go.¡±

    ¡°Go away! Bi*ch!¡± Qin Linfeng waved and roared on the bed, and he widened his tightly wrinkled eyes. His head was sweaty with hands shaking. The sound of the copper dripper in the corner of his room was dripping water methodically. Finally it pulled him back to reality.

    Qin Linfeng¡¯s chest was still rising and falling violently, and his mind seemed to still remember the scene in which he had just dreamed. He was not the one to be med. The servant girl Tinghe thought of herself too highly .Thinking that she was different with an aunt serving his mother, and wanted to be a concubine of his. If she hadn¡¯t threatened him, how would have he....

    Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted Qin Linfeng¡¯s thoughts.

    ¡°Master, the belt has been repaired and I brought it to you.¡± This was the voice of the maid in charge of Qin Linfeng¡¯s yard. It was strange that there were only servants of old nannies in Qin Linfeng¡¯s yard, but no young servant girls. Dou Qing¡¯e had been worried about it. An adult being the first child of the mansion of Grand Commandant did not even have a servant girl to sleep with him. How could it be well?

    ¡°What belt?¡± Qin Linfeng¡¯s tone was a little impatient. He poured himself a cup of cold tea to hold back the shock.

    ¡°The belt you wore to the banquet today. After you bathed, I saw that the seven pearls on it was one short. I spent a lot of time to find it behind the corner door of the yard. Then I just sew it up for you. Should I bring it in to you?¡±

    Qin Linfeng¡¯s hand holding the tea cup paused. He walked to the door in a few steps, and opened the door violently. His eyes were as red as a copper bell, ¡°What did you just say? ck pearls falling from my belt of the Big Dipper, where was it found? ¡±

    The old nanny at the door was obviously a little scared, and she only raised her hand with the belt, and said timidly, ¡°It was in the corner door of your own yard, Master.¡±

    Qin Linfeng only scratched some loose outer shirts and grabbed the belt from the nanny¡¯s hand directly. He saw that the third cket that had been dropped had just been sewed to it without a w. He had identally scratched the seventh one with a small seal. However, looking down the pearl, he saw the inconspicuous scratch that the nanny deliberately concealed by the thread. This was the ck pearl in the original position without doubt.

    Qin Lingfeng¡¯s mind was like poked through with countless holes, and breeze went through them.

    Clever! Really clever!

    Qin Linfeng threw the belt to the ground. His broad robe fluttered like a kite, flying with Qin Linfeng¡¯s rage.

    Qin Yunuan! Either you die or I die!

    In the morning of the second day, the mansion of Grand Commandant seemed extraordinarily quiet. Today was the day when Dou Qing¡¯e left the house. She knew about the contract Tinghe sent. She originally nned to go all in and go against Qin Yunuan. What she didn¡¯t expect was that she didn¡¯t get what she wanted, but lost instead. Failing her n was still fine, but she also ced her son under house arrest, and he couldn¡¯t evene to send her now that she was about to leave.

    Qin Zhi did not show up at all. He only sent Butler Xie, and his attitude was already obvious.

    ¡°Madam, it¡¯s gettingte.¡± Butler Xie hurried expressionlessly.

    ¡°Wait,¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s soft and affectionate voice stopped Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s action to release Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s hand and turn around. ¡°Mother, Guo¡¯an Temple is in the north of the suburbs of the Royal City. It is quite far away. Yunuan has nothing much to give you, but I¡¯d never have the chance to give mother the two scriptures you asked me to copy for you. I had deliberately written the words veryrge, in ck and white, so that mother must be able to see it clearly without worrying about your eyes being tired. Please take them, mother, as my regards.¡±

 Chapter 59 Parting Time

    <h4>Chapter 59 Parting Time</h4>

    Looking at the Confucian ssics which was put inside the brocade box carefully by Qin Yunuan and wrapped with white silk, Dou Qing¡¯e felt frustrated immediately and finally smiled reluctantly, ¡°You are so considerate.¡±

    As expected, Dou Qing¡¯e had already guessed that since there were no characters in the contract, there must be characters in the Confucian ssics. Her tricks had already been decoded by this daughter of the concubine. She had failed in this battle.

    With the sound of ¡°clumping, clumping¡±, Dou Qing¡¯e sitting on the horse carriage went away. Qin Yunzhuang was reluctant to take back her eyes till the carriage drove out of thene. She glimpsed at Qin Yunuan beside her and felt extremely unhappy. Yesterday, Qin Yunuan was so disgraced and humiliated. A normal contract was turned to be a white paper, and a proved evidence was turned to be a joke.

    Qin Yunzhuang hid her kind of malicious eyes and looked askance at Qin Yunuan, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you will go out of the mansionter?¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned sideling, facing to her directly. Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s question was so straight that Qin Yunuan just answered directly, ¡°Yesterday father agreed to let Baochuan joined the family school, so he let me purchase some necessary things together with him. My elder sister, you know, it is better to choose the writing brushes, ink sticks, paper and inkstones by ourselves lest somebody ys some tricks on those things.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang knew that Qin Yunuan was satirizing her, but now Qin Yunuan was favored by father. Father expelled the mother and put Qin Linfeng under the house arrest. He started to dislike her. All med to Qin Yunuan. A glimpse of Qin Yunzhuang made all maidservants around quit understandingly.

    Qin Yunzhuang said in a very low and gloomy voice to Qin Yunuan, ¡°I am afraid that you will take the chance to go out of the mansion and meet some perverted people. Third Miss, I remember that person was Wu Ciren. I¡¯ll investigate him. I will dispatch people to check the whole thing.¡±

    Now she even still didn¡¯t forget the fictive name on that contract. So ridiculous.

    Qin Yunuan walked closer slowly and said sideways. Her lips nearly touched the ear of Qin Yunzhuang. She smiled gently and then said the words to Qin Yunzhuang as tempting as the sound from a mermaid under the deep sea at night, ¡°Wu Ciren. It is fictive, my elder sister. You¡¯d better find something, or all you did will be in vain.¡±

    The pupil of Qin Yunzhuang became bigger immediately. Qin Yunuan left with a smiley face, which made her very outrageous. A little bit cold wind blew in the new-born bamboo leaves with steam, and the moist air met the stiff face of Qin Yunzhuang.

    The maidservant Chenyue was waiting for service beside her. She suddenly heard the kind of gloomy voice from Qin Yunzhuang, ¡°Last night the person said that she would coborate with us. You tell her that I will consider what she said.¡±

    April¡¯s spring breeze blew with those children¡¯s happy smiles. The flowers of apricot and buttonwood were in full bloom on two sides of the road with a happy phenomenon. In the full-bodied and aromatic flower fragrance in the Royal City, the business of the First Boite of the Royal City was getting better. Now almost every person knew that the boss of the boite was a 20-year-old young man. Besides, the rice store in East Street, the jewelry store in Bazi Gate and the cloth store in Que¡¯er Street, all were under the name of Boss Su.

    Although this young man never appeared on public asions, many people had already put their aims at this handsome young businessman with arge family fortune.

    In the wing-room on the second floor, Qin Yunuan saw that the servant at the gate ousted matchmaker woman Liu in the east of the city. She smiled and looked straight at the opposite Su Chenghai who was holding a cup of tea and sipped it elegantly.

    ¡°How many matchmaker women have you met this month?¡± Qin Yunuan, standing beside the window, pouted her lips to the direction of the departing carriage taken by woman matchmaker Liu to ask Su Chenghai.

    ¡°I have no idea,¡± Su Chenghai blew on the slightly hot tea. His handsome face was shining goldenly under the thin but warm sunshine. He raised his head slowly and hedged to answer, ¡°Why should I care about those trivial things?¡±

    His mood was very like one person.

    ¡°Though you don¡¯t care, Forth Uncle will do,¡± Qin Yunuan was picking the weever bones out of the saucer as glimpsing at Su Chenghai, ¡°After all, you are the only child of my uncle.¡±

    Su Chenghai answered lightly and found her tired corners of eyes currently, ¡°What¡¯s up? Slept not wellst night?¡±

    The eyes of Su Chenghai were full of care. Qin Yunuan tried her best to seek for a little confusion from his dark-night profound eyes. Did he know nothing about what happenedst night at the mansion? Wasn¡¯t he curious about that?

    ¡°Yes,st night I sleptte for some things. You did note to the birthday feast so you don¡¯t know what happened.¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her head unhappily and continued to pick out the bones of the tasty weever.

    ¡°I hope that I was therest night, or you wouldn¡¯t fight against them alone,¡± Su Chenghai said so sincerely. He turned back and saw Qin Yunuan poured carefully a small spoon of white and mellow fish soup onto the weever whose bones had already been picked out. He asked unconsciously, ¡°Baochuan wille here too?¡±

    Qin Yunuan stopped her movement with one of her elbows suspending, and then she pushed the small saucer towards Su Chenghai by another hand gently. She smiled, ¡°Today Baochuan will purchase the ¡®schr¡¯s four jewels¡¯ (writing brush, ink stick, ink b and paper) apanied by nurse Liao. They will spend much time on it.¡±

    Looking at the fresh and tender fish in the small blue-and-white porcin saucer, he showed his soft and satisfying smile.

    ¡°I have ordered specially your favorite Glutinous Rice Balls as your farewell snack and it will be sent here soon.¡±

    After Su Chenghai heard the word ¡°farewell¡±, he turned slowly to use the chopsticks and raised his head, ¡°I nned to stay here longer but there are so manyplicated things in the regions south of the River that need me to handle on the spot,¡± and then he suddenly looked at the window near the corridor and said louder, ¡°15 dayster, at the thatched cottage in the eastern suburb. My cousin, could youe and see me off?¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded lightly, ¡°Of course. See you at that ce 15 dayster.¡±

    After Qin Yunuan said that, the door of the wing-room burst open by some powers like the wind. Li Weijun was standing out of the room somehow. At the moment, she was intable with her lightly raising eyebrows. The pretty girl wore a set of jade hair essories, which made her prouder. She red at Qin Yunuan and said in a shrill and high voice, ¡°You are a daughter of a concubine. How dare you date with a man secretly in the boite. How ashamed!¡±

    The wing-room chosen by Su Chenghai was very devious. He liked silence so he chose an independent wing-room toward the south. The corridor out of the room, there was no exit on the left side, and there was the backyard on the right side. It was impossible for Li Weijun to pass the room unintentionally.

    Qin Yunuan was very calm beyond the expectations of Li Weijun, and even did not notice her vixenish words. She moved back and looked intentionally at the shank of Li Weijun covered by her skirt, and smiled, ¡°Yesterday I heard that your shank was injured when you practiced the etiquette in your house. Now it seems that you have recovered.¡±

    Li Weijun practiced the etiquette every day for the imperial concubine-selection ceremony three monthster. The Grand Prince Sima Ruo and Third Prince Sima Ray who both were 20 years old did not get married. It was the time for them to choose some elegant maidens with good moralities to serve them.

    People in this Royal City believed that Li Family was prosperous but the family had already declined by its worthless master. The whole family aimed at the sess of Li Weijun in the ceremony. Li Weijun felt humiliated by Qin Yunuan¡¯s causal words. But she did not care. Now it was uncertain that who could catch the adverse evidence?

    ¡°My broken leg cannot beparable to your secret dating with a man.¡± Li Weijun pushed Qin Yunuan away and went into the room directly. She quickly raised the bead curtains and purdah and then turned stunned by the empty chair. She became outrageous, ¡°Where is that man? I have heard clearly that you were talking with that man.¡±

    And then Li Weijun searched each part of the room. No one else was found in the room.

    Qin Yunuan aside was looking at her patiently. This room was secluded. Nobody would notice this ce even if Li Weijun had been shouting.

    ¡°Enough? Sister Li,¡± Qin Yunuan said in an ironic voice, ¡°Sister Li, you were shouting ¡®secret dating¡¯ before you came in this room, but now do you find the man who is dating with me?¡±

    Li Weijun turned back severely, pointing at the two porcin sauces on the table, ¡°If there had not been that man, why would you have prepared two sets of chopsticks and bowls?¡±

    Qin Yunuan said calmly, ¡°Baochuan wille here. As his sister, is it not right to prepare them for him?¡± Qin Yunuan stressed the word not right in a higher voice. The angry Li Weijun turned to be pale and panic. She quickly nced at the whole room and found nothing strange.

    The servant outside tried hard to look for Li Weijun, and now he nodded and bowed, ¡°Oh! The girl, you were in the next room, but why you came here. All the food you ordered had already been presented in your room. The young master who came with you urged you toe back.¡±

    Nothing was found. Li Weijun red at Qin Yunuan angrily. She turned back and warned her before she left, ¡°There are some evidences that prove what you have done. Qin Yunuan, wait to see.¡±

    QinYunuan just saluted lightly and smiled gently, ¡°OK, I¡¯ll wait to see.¡±

    Li Weijun came back to the room very close to the room where Qin Yunuan stayed. On the pearwood table in the center of the room, various foods had already been put down on the table: Fish Head of Bighead Carp Baked by Sauce, Steamed Eggs with Tofu Pudding, Braised Meat Balls in Brown Sauce, Cauliflower with Tomato Juice, and Cucumber in Cold Sauce. There were so many delicious foods with tasty soups.

    Li Jiaxuan who was sitting at the table was waiting for so long apparently. Having seen Li Weijun was back, he said reproachfully, ¡°We nned to go out for medicine purchasing for our mother, and then you said that you wanted to have a meal in the first boite. You ordered so many food but where did you go?¡±

    ¡°Where could I go,¡± Li Weijun sat down angrily, stirring at the fish and meat by chopsticks, ¡°I went to meet the daughter of the concubine of the Qin Family, the girl you praise.¡±

 Chapter 60 Before the Storm

    <h4>Chapter 60 Before the Storm</h4>

    ¡°Third Miss Qin?¡± Li Jiaxuan straightened his body almost instinctively and an expectation emerged on his slightly red face. With uncovered and surprising delight in his eyes, he put up and down the chopsticks repeatedly. A few minutester, he calmed down with no red on his face and said politely, ¡°Since we are acquainted with her, we should go to greet her.¡±

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t,¡± Li Weijun sneered, ¡°Now she was dating with her lover. Brother, you will disturb their sweet love.¡±

    ¡°Weijun!¡± Li Jiaxuan shouted seriously, ¡°You are a little maiden and you shouldn¡¯t speak that sultry words.

    Li Weijun was more unconvinced and she raised her head, shouting, ¡°What? She can do that but I can¡¯t say it?¡±

    ¡°Weijun!¡± Li Jiaxuan turned angry and stood up, looking up and down at Li Weijun as restive as himself. His voice seemed to be softer, ¡°Are you sure that you have seen that?¡±

    Li Weijun turned back, ¡°No, but I can make sure that there must be some tricks yed by Qin Yunuan. I would figure them out even if she had hidden them well.¡±

    Having seen Li Jiaxuan¡¯s expressional unhappiness and painful doubt, Li Weijun turned his mood the same as his brother and persuaded, ¡°Brother, I know what you are thinking about. You stayed at the Imperial College for so long and did not always get along with girls and maidens. Last time the daughter of a concubine from Qin Family showed off at Wan¡¯an Temple so you paid much attention to that girl. Now our Li Family can¡¯t beparable to the mansion of Grand Commandant. Although she was just the daughter of the concubine from Qin Family, I know well what the madam of Qin Family thinks. The madam wanted her to get married valuably. Brother, our family has no value at all.¡±

    Li Jiaxuan turned very upset. He lowered his eyes and normally turned his head to the other side, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. Don¡¯t let our parents know your words.¡±

    Li Weijun squinted at this half-blooded elder brother, seemingly raising her tone, ¡°It¡¯s fine that you know it.¡±

    In another room, Qin Yunuan packed off aggressive Li Weijun. The moment Qin Yunuan closed the door and turned back, Su Chenghai fell off from the beam andnded on the ground with his tiptoes, as quiet as a catkin falling. He looked at Qin Yunuan with a smile, and patted the dust from the beam on his cuff. Gentle and soft emotion was full of his eyes. He stepped towards the table and looked at the weever QinYunuan had picked the bones out of. He sighed sadly, ¡°It was a pity that the fish turned cold as you handled her arrogance. It was the fish you prepared for me.¡±

    ¡°The cold fish was fishy. If you liked the fish, I would prepare it for you again,¡± Qin Yunuan smile slightly and sat down beside the table, ¡°I do not know that you are good at martial arts.¡± She said as she used small silver chopsticks to pick carefully out the bones of the weever ording to the structure of the fish. It was a special interest for Su Chenghai to observe the busy girl who was preparing the fish for him.

    Su Chenghai leaned against the windowttice. The pure and gentle young man now expressed an unprecedented casual and elegant bearing. The spring breeze knew people¡¯s internal emotions. The wind blew exactly into the room from the window with a light pear-flower aroma. Su Chenghai turned his head and looked at the crowded street out of the window, ¡°I was not here so I couldn¡¯t help you. Now before I leave, I can help you set a trap. I hope I can give a hand to you.¡±

    ¡°Brother, you help me all the time,¡± Qin Yunuan pushed the fish whose bones had been picked out towards Su Chenghai and smiled, ¡°I know that, all the time.¡±

    After short greeting, Su Chenghai stood up and patted the lower hem of his clothes, smiling, ¡°It is a little bitte. I know you have another date with someone, so I am off.¡±

    Su Chenghai left quickly without any hesitance. He felt full and patted the slightly plump cuff. After he went out of the room, he smiled sincerely and satisfactorily. He held carefully the flower sachet in his cuff which was green-ck as the ground color with bright yellow stripes. It was the one Qin Yunuan sent to him for the parting gift. The precise needling and light but unique aroma of dried flowers made Su Chenghai rxed and happy.

    It was made by Qin Yunuan. Although he kept calm in from of her, in his heart he had already felt amorous like a stone falling into the water with ripples.

    To be frank, Qin Yunuan cared much about Su Chenghai. That was enough for him. Just in a minute, Su Chenghai became exclusive and quickly hid the flower sachet into his cuff. He left quickly because there were many things that he should handle.

    After Su Chenghai left, Qin Yunuan let servants remove those leftovers and presented a bottle of Biluochun Tea boiled by mountain spring water. She stroked her chin to enjoy the tea. Su Chenghai had ordered especially the boss of the boite to pay attention to the wing-room. Now it was more silent without any disturbing.

    Red color burst into the eyes of Qin Yunuan. That was Shen Xun. It was said that the boss Shen woulde to the Royal City to purchase some properties.

    Red clothes seemed to be the symbol of Shen Xun. He wore a loose-bodied brocade robe bound with tea-colored silk threads, and held a birdcage made of silkwood where a colorful little bird stayed. His eyes and eyebrows expressed a kind of immortal disposition with much romance. Qin Yunuan had never met such a person who had naturally upright and seductive characteristics.

    Due to his handsome face, Shen Xun gained much attention when he climbed the stairs. Nobody noticed him on his way to the secluded room when he was guided to go through the winding path.

    ¡°Here you are, Boss Shen,¡± Qin Yunuan weed him with a smile. She noticed the little bird in the cage and asked curiously, ¡°Which kind of bird is it? I have never seen this kind of bird.¡±

    ¡°Bird?¡± Shen Xun sneered slightly, ¡°It is just an immature little pheasant. I found this useless cage and decided to use it to keep the pheasant,¡± He looked sidelong at QinYunuan and leaned the chair armzily, said proudly, ¡°But, you are not the first person to ask me about this bird. People in cities seldom see the pheasant and always think it is some kind of valuable bird in the cage. And even several people once said they would buy an identical one. I couldn¡¯t refuse their enthusiasm, so I agreed to sell the birds. They bought the little pheasant whose cost was only 5 pennies with 50 tael of silver. Sometimes, nothing can stop fortuneing in.¡±

    What a poor judgment they had. QinYunuan saw gently cynical Shen Xun. This man was very good at business. It was not his fault. He used a valuable birdcage to keep a cheap pheasant which is even cheaper than a hook of that birdcage. ording to the normal thinking of people, a valuable bird should be kept in a valuable birdcage, so those noble masters also known as new-things lovers in the Royal City would strive to purchase the birds. Businessmen always focused on business. All was fair in business.

    It was beneficial and dangerous to coborate with people like Boss Shen. Qin Yunuan felt potentially that it was the best choice to let Shen Xun run the coborative store. He was smart and brave. Besides, they have the same aim: earning money. QinYunuan strove for a ce she could stay securely. As for Shen Xun, she did not know what he made money for.

    She knew his identity. He did notck money. Maybe as the guess of Maner, these noblemen just strove to seek for happiness.

    ¡°This is the ountst month.¡± Shen Xun took out a thin ount book and pushed it to Qin Yunuan to let her check. And then he poured a cup of Biluochun Tea. He sipped the tea as teasing the little pheasant in the birdcage.

    Qin Yunuan stared at the t yellow-cover ount book, which seemed to be ironed. She pondered for a while and reached her slender fingers to cover the envelope, and then pushed it back to Shen Xun.

    ¡°I do not need to check it,¡± Qin Yunuan raised her head to look at shrewd Shen Xun, smiling, ¡°I believe you, Boss Shen. You are fully responsible for interest division.¡±

    Shen Xun said arrogantly, ¡°What do you mean, miss Yang?¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded and smiled gently. She took out a wad of embroidering models which she had spent much time on from her carry-on hamper, ¡°This is the newest embroidering model I promised to offer to you every month.¡±

    Perennial business made Shen Xun¡¯s fingertips and hand feeling extremely sensitive. He just held them for a while. ¡°A dozen more than the number in the contract,¡± he stared sidelong at Qin Yunuan with much doubt, ¡°Why?¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s watery eyes winked slightly, ¡°In business, the first thing is trust, the second is strength. Boss Shen, you have proved your strength and now it is the time I prove my strength.¡±

    Shen Xun nodded contently and said in a purely proud voice, ¡°Though your embroidering model is gorgeous, you have no reason to judge me casually. After all, my strength should not be judged by others. Everyone knows my strength. Over praising judgment is ttering. Miss Yang, you are not that kind of person who is good at ttering.¡± Shen Xun suddenly winked at Qin Yunuan with happiness, and he added, ¡°So, I love it.¡±

    Qin Yunuan knew well the love. For the man like Shen Xun, love here meant appreciating.

    The two people negotiated some issues about the business in the embroidering store. Qin Yunuan knew that Shen Xun nned to start more subbranches in the eastern cities like Suzhou, Hangzhou and Jianzhou after the business of the store in the regions south of the River was stable. It was a bold idea but Qin Yunuan knew that he could do it.

    In the evening, nurse Liao came back with Qin Baochuan together with some books and brush pens. Qin Yunuan ordered his favorite Crab Dumplings in Soup and Weever Porridge. After the meal, they went back to the mansion.

    The moment Qin Baochuan came back, Qin Zhi called him in to know about his recent study. Apparently, Qin Zhi started to pay attention to this son of the concubine.

    Qin Yunuan came back to his room. She was very exhausted after the whole day¡¯s hustle. She half-leaned against the Imperial Concubine Chair exhaustedly. But soon, Maner came in to report, ¡°Third Miss, Concubine Li came.¡±

 Chapter 61 Her Concealment

    <h4>Chapter 61 Her Concealment</h4>

    ¡°She¡¯s really fast,¡± Qin Yunuan murmured and then stood up. With her dress tidied, she asked Maner to take Li Qiqi in.

    The door opened again after a short while. With her hair tied into a loose chignon, Li Qiqi wore a bright red skirt and a matching coat with ruffles today. Instead of being an exquisite like otherdies, she came out in full splendor of her beauty, which, due to her youth, made her look more attractive and charming. For those whose beauty was withering away like Dou Qing¡¯e, it might be inappropriate to dress up in this way.

    But what Qin Zhi wanted from Li Qiqi was her youth, wasn¡¯t it?

    ¡°Concubine Li, you should have informed me that you were going to pay a visit. Maner, serve tea for Concubine Li,¡± Qin Yunuan exchanged conventional greetings while pulling Li Qiqi onto the couch.

    ¡°No, no. Don¡¯t bother,¡± Li Qiqi waved her hand with a smile. Having witnessed the schemes in this family for long, Li Qiqi seemed more obedient, which could tell from her eyes and brows. She smiled faintly and said, ¡°Actually, I came here for the same old thing. I don¡¯t know whether you remember it or not, Third Miss.¡±

    ¡°Oh? What thing?¡± Qin Yunuan avoided the keen eyes of Li Qiqi deliberately.

    Li Qiqi choked for a while and then answered bashfully, ¡°My sister in Jianzhou wrote to me that the Su Family was not peaceful these days. White mourning cloths and paper flowers were hung outside the mansion. I guess young master Su may rush back any time since something important had happened in his family. I want to see him again before he leaves the Royal City.¡±

    As Li Qiqi said this, she bowed her head and sobbed. Her tears fell upon the handkerchief and blurred, like daisies blooming slowly.

    ¡°I remember that. I did promise you,¡± Qin Yunuan nodded, but her tone was not that sad, ¡°Well, I will make arrangements half a monthter.¡±

    Li Qiqi¡¯s eyes lit up suddenly. She looked up at Qin Yunuan, ¡°Will youe together, Third Miss?¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s lips quivered a little. She nodded, ¡°Of course, I also want to see off my cousin. But Concubine Li, the womenfolk is not a safe ce, and I never help anyone under no conditions. You have to remember that you own me once and you have to return my favor.¡±

    Li Qiqi nodded obediently with no more questions. However, as she got up, Qin Yunuan suddenly said, ¡°Concubine Li, you smelled good.¡±

    Li Qiqi turned back confusedly. These days, she had learned many things of the Qin Family. That the Third Miss had a good nose since childhood was one of these things. Though her heart tightened a little, her smile was still as sweet as flowers in the spring. ¡°Third Miss does have a keen sense of smell. I changed my bath wash recently, and master also likes the smell very much.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Yunuan sniffed again carefully and then asked, ¡°Is it Ningxianglu?¡±

    Li Qiqi¡¯s eyebrows knitted and her hands were squeezing into fists unconsciously.

    Qin Yunuan tilted her head and continued to ask, ¡°Or maybe it is some kind of perfume made of bamboo leaves in the southwest area?¡±

    Li Qiqi looked off into nowhere with her eyes unfocused and her hands rubbing blindly in the front. Then, Qin Yunuan smiled gently, ¡°I still have no idea of it. It should be some ancient secret recipe that you cannot tell me.¡±

    Li Qiqi looked a little perplexed. It seemed that she did not understand what the Third Miss was doing. But anyway, she put on her smile immediately, ¡°There¡¯s no secret recipe. You had helped me a lot. If you want some, I¡¯ll send a servant girl to bring you a few bottles over tomorrow morning. It¡¯s just a kind of perfume made of ordinary flower juice.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled and then said, ¡°I was just curious. You don¡¯t have to keep it in mind. I don¡¯t like to use cosmetics. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±

    After Li Qiqi left, Maner brought hot water for Qin Yunuan to freshen up. She took down the exquisitely carved hairpin with eight kinds of gems in Qin Yunuan¡¯s chignon carefully andbed her hair slowly. Qin Yunuan¡¯s hair was as ck and shiny as obsidian and it hung down like silk.

    Qin Yunuan took a sip of the scented tea from the tray and spat it into another clean spittoon after gargling.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure it was her,¡± Qin Yunuan said suddenly and took a deep breath, ¡°The one who put the snake in our courtyard before was Concubine Li. I¡¯m sure.¡±

    Maner halted, feeling cold in her heart. She still had a lingering fear about the poisonous green bamboo snake twitching its tongue.

    ¡°She was the only one who came to my yard that day. And when I asked her whether she had been using Ningxianglu, she frowned and clenched her fist, which were signs of holding back the anger. Li Qiqi is still young with a pretty face. She was confident that she could get father¡¯s love by her own charm. So, she disdained to use Ningxianglu which could promote sexual maturity. When I asked her that question, she was offended because she thought that I had belittled her charm.¡±

    Qin Yunuan bundled her long hair with a ribbon in a casual way and then turned back to Maner. ¡°When I asked her whether it was some kind of perfume made of bamboo leaves in the southwest area, her eyes flickered and she avoided to meet my eyes,¡± she continued, ¡°Even though she had tried to conceal the uneasiness in her heart, her efforts failed in that instant. Green bamboo snake is specific to the southwest area, so, it was not strange that Li Qiqi could get it. After all, she came from Jianzhou, a city in the southwest.¡±

    Details were things that were very likely to be overlooked. Thankfully, Qin Yunuan had notpletely believed in this woman who came out from brothels in the first ce. Now, she even found evidence from Li Qiqi¡¯s minute changes. Those two actions seemed simr but had totally different meanings. Then, why would Li Qiqi set herself against her? She was still very weak in this mansion.

    Wondering for a moment, Qin Yunuan knew the answer. It was very simple ¡ª she had found a stronger backer.

    ¡°I knew that Concubine Li was a little strange before, but I did not expect...,¡± Maner patted her chest subconsciously.

    ¡°Silly girl,¡± Qin Yunuan tipped Maner¡¯s nose with her forefinger, ¡°There are so many things that you can¡¯t imagine in this world. As long as we always did the right things and did nothing evil, it would be their losses to irritate us.¡±

    Later, Qin Baochuan came back from Shunchang Courtyard. The lights of the yard were still bright. Worried that Baochuan might be hungry, nurse Liao had heated a bowl of hot Tangyuan on the stove especially for him. Now, while devouring the sticky and delicious dumpling balls, Qin Baochuan told Qin Yunuan what father had quizzed him today at the same time.

    This was the first time Qin Zhi has paid attention to this son of his concubine, which made Qin Baochuan a bit ttered and also excited. When it came to some exciting parts, Baochuan even jumped off the chair and gesticted, imitating the way Qin Zhi had acted. Nurse Liao worried a lot when he did that.

    ¡°Oh dear, be careful. Don¡¯t get burned by the hot soup in the bowl.¡±

    ¡°Sis, you know, in the middle of the quiz, father suddenly nodded and said that since I had learned a great number of words, I could start to read The Collection of Mountains and Rivers. And I replied that I had already read this book half a year ago. Father was so surprised that his mouth was wide enough to ram an egg.¡± Qin Baochuan looked very funnier when he put on such a serious look.

    ¡°No way,¡± Qin Yunuanughed while blowing the Tangyuan for Baochuan, ¡°Besides, you didn¡¯t know many of the words when you read the book half a year ago. You were bragging in front of father.¡±

    ¡°So, a few days ago, I took this book out and read it carefully again. I had learned a lot from it this time. And I got the right answers to father¡¯s pop quiz about the names of several rivers.¡± Qin Baochuan opened his mouth wide, waiting to be fed by Qin Yunuan. He looked puerile as he always was, but the way he said was like a mature schr

    .

    ¡°You are growing up.¡± At this moment, looking at Baochuan¡¯s lively and motivated attitude, Qin Yunuan felt that all those plots, cheatings and tricks that she had recently were worth it. Her painstaking efforts and scheming were rewarded. And her heart that had been bearing the coldness was finally warmed up.

    Qin Baochuan was a well-behaved and keen child. He immediately noticed the relief and attachment in Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes. He stood upright and hugged Qin Yunuan¡¯s thin waist slowly, ¡°Sis, I¡¯m going to the family school tomorrow and cannot apany you all the time. Is it that you don¡¯t want me to go?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t want you to leave me, but no man would stay at home all the time. You are a little man now, Baochuan, and I want you to be responsible and work hard. I want you to take on the responsibility that you should bear.¡± Thinking of the previous life, Qin Yunuan was inevitably sad because Baochuan had hardly ever left her. But now, Qin Baochuan had to leave early and returnte for schooling. There would be so many risks of being hurt on his way back and forth and during his time at the school. Now, Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t help but get nervous again.

    She had to ensure the safety of Baochuan as well as his opportunity to go out to attend the family school. In order to protect Baochuan, nurse Liao had asked her son Huang Dashi to quit his job as a carpenter to guard Baochuan. Nurse Liao and her whole family had devoted too much for them, and it might put Huang Dashi¡¯s life at risk if someone really hatched a sinister plot to harm Baochuan. So, Qin Yunuan still needed to prepare some long-term countermeasures.

    In the past few days, everything went very smoothly in the mansion of Grand Commandant. The dispute over whether the Seventh Prince Sima Qiu could return to the Imperial Pce ended in a negative result that he was not old enough to get back. Being at leisure, Qin Zhi would ask about Qin Baochuan¡¯s performance at the family school once he had free time, and he got satisfying answers every time.

    Dou Qing¡¯e was staying far away at the Guo¡¯an Temple. Every day, Qin Yunzhuang would ask the steward to bring something to her mother. Yesan, the former steward of the counting house, was now removed earlier and he became a footman who ran errands. Qin Linfeng was quieter after he was grounded at his courtyard. He would y chess and practice his sword sometimes instead of making trouble.

    The mansion of Grand Commandant Qin was like a deep ocean with no end in sight. There would always be simmering undercurrents under the peaceful surface.

    Soon it was the day when Qin Yunuan promised to see Su Chenghai off. The sun seemed to have a special liking of this remote and quiet mountain road that it filled the whole way with golden shines. On this isted mountain road, a low-profile dark grey carriage quietly drove away. And hundreds of meters away, a bigger carriage followed behind slowly. The coachman was experienced, keeping a proper distance from the former one all the time.

 Chapter 62 Catch the Couple in Adultery

    <h4>Chapter 62 Catch the Couple in Adultery</h4>

    ¡°Concubine Li, we¡¯re here,¡± The driver spoke softly into the carriage.

    The grey-ck carriage parked on t ground. Further ahead was the wet riverside mud. The light greenke was rippling in the wind. A simple and ancient thatched cottage was hidden among the mountains. The room, as well as the bamboo fence in front of the house, was half-old. It remained unknown who set up such a quaint thatched cottage in this mountainous area years ago to reside in seclusion.

    Few people came to this ce. Li Qiqi got down from the carriage and looked around for Qin Yunuan. The concierge said to her that Qin Yunuan had already left the house for the east a little earlier before, about the time of a column of incense. She must have a date. It shouldn¡¯t be mistaken.

    There was only the sound of tits fluttering around, and the driver was waiting downhill. Li Qiqi could only climb up the stairs by herself. Watching the dark red carriage on the mountainside following far behind her, her heart settled down for a little. It was the carriage of Qin Yunzhuang. On the one hand, the following was to monitor her, and on the other hand to catch Qin Yunuan in the act.

    An unmarried woman scheduled a secret meeting with a man in the wild. Even though Qin Yunuan had a clever tongue, public mor could confound right and wrong.

    It was right that she cheated Qin Yunuan. But what about it? A fine fowl perches only on a fine tree. Everyone understood that principle. Qin Yunuan was born low, and she couldn¡¯t even decide on her marriage. On the other hand, the Dou Family had great power, and Qin Yunzhuang was confident about being chosen as the consort of the prince three monthster. People should always put themselves in the first ce.

    In the carriage on the hillside, Qin Yunzhuang rested on a soft couch. There was also Li Weijun with a submissive look.

    ¡°Sister Qin can rest assured. I heard them outside the room that day. They made a date to see each other off at the little thatched cottage today. Although I rushed in without catching them in the act, I remembered this sentence. Since Qin Yunuan dared to meet with her lovers, she should pay for it.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang didn¡¯t seem to be pleased by Li Weijun¡¯s ttering words. She just said, ¡°Okay, I know you are capable of this. It¡¯s very thoughtful.¡±

    Li Weijun took it as a great encouragement. Once again she asked boldly, ¡°Therefore, Sister Qin, please help me get chosen as the consort three monthster.¡±

    A gentle smile appeared on Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s face slowly, ¡°You just rest assured. I will take care of your business.¡± Qin Yunzhuang stretched out that soft and fair, jade-like hand, picked up a plump crystal candied date from the fruit te on the table. She opened her small cherry lips and gently bit about the size of a grain of rice but felt satisfaction beyond words.

    Li Weijuncked in sophistication. Did she take it for granted that Qin Yunzhuang was after Qin Yunuan and Su Chenghai?

    She had known earlier that Shangguan Rang was interested in Qin Yunuan. Noble young masters like Shangguan Rang wanted no more than two things: a generous appearance and women¡¯s bodies. She asked Li Qiqi deliberately to have Qin Yunuan arrived earlier. Shangguan Rang had already been waiting in the thatched cottage. As long as the drug was released and Qin Yunuan was unconscious, she wouldn¡¯t need to worry about what would happen.

    It could ruin her innocence, make Shangguan owe her a favor, provoke the rtionship between Qin Yuwan and Qin Yunuan, and finally allow her cousin, Su Chenghai, to see how kinky a woman could be in Qin Yunuan¡¯s bones. The strategy could kill four birds with one arrow. It was not perfect but at least ingenious.

    The only thing she was afraid of was that Qin Yunuan, this charming fox, found a w and didn¡¯te. However, the familiar figure that appeared by theke soon made Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s worries disappear.

    ¡°Third Miss, you came finally,¡± Li Qiqi, who was waiting in front of the bamboo fence, was relieved to see thete Qin Yunuan, ¡°I was worried that you¡¯ve got other things to deal with and decided not toe.¡±

    ¡°Howe. I have made an appointment with Concubine Li, and I will arrive on time.¡± Qin Yunuan was in a thin jacket with crocheted begonia flowers at its edge and a light skirt. She also covered her shoulder with a shawl to withstand the chill lingering in the mountains.

    Qin Yunuan dressed herself up today, wearing borate makeup. She stood gracefully as if she hade out of a painting.

    Qin Yunuan smiled and pushed open the front door made of firewood of the thatched cottage. The yard was covered with hollyhocks and impatiens. Costus and golden guineas were intertwined on the fence. A small painting of an unknown painter was hung in the center of the wall. In the side room, there was a whitewood couch.

    This was a very elegant courtyard, but Li Qiqi failed to be elegant. She hid her anxiety and asked gently, ¡°When will Master Sue?¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised the jug on the table rxedly, ¡°It¡¯s still early, Concubine Li. You said at first that you would be nervous and shy, so I shoulde earlier to apany you. But now you¡¯ve be nervous yourself.¡±

    A half bowl of cold water was poured into each of two coarse porcin bowls, and Qin Yunuan handed one to Li Qiqi, ¡°A cottage in the mountains was not like the mansion. There is hot tea but only cold spring water. Please don¡¯t me me for it.¡± She seemed to look around the room and sighed, ¡°This room is very elegant.¡±

    Li Qiqi caught the moment and shook the medicine hidden in her nails into the cold water bowl in Qin Yunuan¡¯s hands very quickly. The white medicine powder melted into the water instantly that no one could pick out the difference.

    She observed Qin Yunuan drink up the half bowl of cold water as if she hadn¡¯t noticed anything. A strange smile of evil sess appeared on the corner of Li Qiqi¡¯s mouth.

    She walked out of the house deliberately, pretending to appreciate the scenery. She raised her neck slightly in front of the hedge as if she had been watching the sparkling waves of fish leaping in the distance. This was her secret code with Qin Yunzhuang, leaving the room again and Qin Yunzhuang would know that everything was done. Just wait until the medicine worked, and then she would rush into the room and catch the couple. Qin Yunuan would have only two ways to go. Either she would be married into the Shangguan Mansion as a concubine or die in shame of her lost virginity. Dandies like Shangguan Rang treated public opinion as dung. They only wanted beautiful wives and cared little about the means to get them.

    Shangguan Rang even showed a touch of enthusiasm for Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s thrilling scheme, which he had never experienced before.

    ¡°Concubine Li, be careful of the strong wind outside. It might make you dizzy,¡± Qin Yunuan shouted in the room. Li Qiqi hadpleted her task. She walked back in peace. But her head became violently dizzy the moment she crossed the threshold. She also felt the fog covering her eyes. Her senses were gradually weakened as the eyelids became heavier. Qin Yunuan¡¯s smiling face shed into her eyes now and then and the ghostly voice came constantly, ¡°You see, Concubine Li. Just like I said, it will make you dizzy.¡±

    Li Qiqi struggled but failed and closed her eyes. After a while, she leaned slightly as if she had fallen asleep.

    Li Qiqi lost track of time. In a trance, she seemed to return to the age of thirteen or fourteen years old. Su Chenghai was blowing the flute in the courtyard with his clothes as white as snow, his high hat and a broad belt. She quietly hummed along. Then she shed back to when Su Chenghai insisted on leaving. She tried to stop him, but he was stubborn like a cow. Later, she went into a bawdy house as a virgin. She met Qin Zhi and entered the Qin Family. What happened then was that she received the bad news. She hid in the door and cried for three days.

    She loved him in her most beautiful times but he never knew, and will never know in the future.

    Li Qiqi was awakened by a violent collision and the scream of a woman. She felt ufortable as if her head had exploded. She tried to open her eyes desperately, and the first thing she saw was Qin Yunzhuang with disbelief written all over her face.

    ¡°What are you doing!¡± Qin Yunzhuang shouted at Li Qiqi. She had no time for respect for seniority, ¡°I¡¯m asking you to catch them, not to be caught.¡±

    As her senses gradually recovered, Li Qiqi felt the heavy load on her body. It seemed that countless burdens were on her body. She tilted her head and almost screamed. An adult man was lying on her body, and his head was buried in her shoulders. The pose looked ambiguous and intimate. His handsome face in profile was pale. His eyes were tightly closed, and he seemed to be asleep. With a nce at the man¡¯s costume, she recognized that he was Shangguan Rang, the romantic young master of the Shangguan Family.

    Thepels of the two were also loosely undressed with some impatient eagerness. Li Qiqi kept close to Shangguan Rang with only a thin garment between them and her face flushed instantly, ¡°I... I... I.¡±

    ¡°Stop talking!¡± Qin Yunzhuang took a deep breath, ¡°Get up quickly, now that there are only three of us here. Don¡¯t you drag on. Do you want more people to know that you are no longer a virgin?¡±

    Li Weijun was too afraid that she hid outside the door. Qin Yunzhuang looked at the timid Li Weijun on one side and on the other, Li Qiqi who did not do anything right. She turned her head to the side angrily.

    Qin Yunuan! It must be her! Only she could have done such devious tricks, and only she could be so vicious and shameless.

    Li Qiqi felt ashamed immediately. Her underwear was intact. She had gone through things that made her knew that nothing had happened between Shangguan and her, not to mention that Shangguan Rang was not such an easygoing person. Most likely that he was also drugged. But now how they looked made it hard to vindicate themselves.

    Li Qiqi tried to push Shangguan with her hands, but Shangguan Rang didn¡¯t move. He was so heavy that she had no choice but to use both hands and feet to push him off the soft bed. Li Qiqi watched Shangguan Rang lying on his back on the ground, and then she saw the blood on his chest....

    ¡°Ah!¡± Li Qiqi could no longer restrain her anxiety and fear. She shouted out loud, making Qin Yunzhuang unhappy for the second time

    ¡°What are you shouting....¡± Qin Yunzhuang also retreated before she could say the next word. She didn¡¯t stop until reaching the corner, and her eyes were filled with panic.

    Shangguan Rang was pale, lying on the ground. In front of his chest was arge pool of blood. The wound was in the center of his heart. He died with a single stroke. The blood was half dry, showing a gloomy crimson color, which bloomed in the front chest of Shangguan Rang¡¯s in white cor like a bloodthirsty rose. The scene stimted people¡¯s senses strongly.

    ¡°Grand Miss, young master Shangguan, he... he... he¡¯s dead.¡±

 Chapter 63 Servant Girl Protects her Master

    <h4>Chapter 63 Servant Girl Protects her Master</h4>

    Li Qiqi saw people fighting in the pleasure quarters, so she was rather calm. However, Li Weijun, who stood behind the door, was so scared that her face was pale like white paper. Pulling the door frame, she wouldn¡¯t stop crying, ¡°Sister Qin, how... How could this happen? Was Shangguan¡¯s young master dead for sure?¡±

    This girl from a wealthy and influential family had never seen a dead chicken, let alone a dead man.

    ¡°Enough, shut up.¡± Although Qin Yunzhuang scolded Li Weijun quite sternly, there was fear in her calm voice. Qin Yunuan was not in the house, and Li Qiqi was drugged. Everything strayed from her expectation and scheme. Now that Shangguan Rang died tragically for no reason. With a wounded chest but not murderous weapon in the house, a shivering fear climbed on her backbone.

    Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s throat choked. Desperately slowing down her heartbeat, she tried to think about what her mother would have done if she had been present.

    ¡°Concubine Li, hurry up,¡± Qin Yunzhuang called Li Qiqi to get up briskly. She looked at Li Qiqi¡¯s blood-stained shirt and ordered, ¡± Take off this piece of clothing, too, and dispose of it.¡± It was not bad to stay out of the way if she couldn¡¯t think of a perfect resolution.

    Shangguan Rang ¡¯s body was turning stiff and cold, Qin Yunzhuang looked away and tried to remove the dead face of Shangguan Rang from her mind. Keeping the original appearance of the scene, Qin Yunzhuang was about to leave quickly with her skirt lifted. However, the servant girl Chenyue broke into the door and gasped.

    ¡°Grand Miss, outside... There were a lot of police officers outside, and Deputy Governor of the Qingshui County also came.¡±

    This remote cottage is actually under the jurisdiction of Qingshui County. If a murder had happened here, it would be proper for Deputy Governor of the County, Yan Chengbing, toe and deal with it. What was strange was that it had been no more than the time of half a sip of tea since Qin Yunzhuang discovered Shangguan Rang¡¯s body and decided to leave. Qin Yunzhuang brought her trusted servant girls and loyal servants this time. No one would be the whistleblower. Even if they had done it, the officials would not havee so fast. The team of more than a dozen people rushing down the hill must be prepared.

    Qin Yunuan! It must be her again.

    The police officers in the county government were mostly part-time, working in fields on weekdays and wearing a small vest when in duty. They wouldn¡¯t be a threat to her. But this Yan Chengbing was impartial and had served in the penal department. Because of his stubborn temper that could not tolerate a grain of sand in his eyes, he was repeatedly demoted and finally became a seven-grade petty officer.

    His father, Qin Zhi, admired his talents and had solicited his support but was mocked. Now the two enemies were bound to meet on a narrow road.

    In the blink of an eye, Yan Chengbing led people to the bamboo fence. He saw the vague silhouette shing in the hollow bamboo window. He then knocked twice on the door, cupping his one hand in the other in front of his chest, ¡°Yan Chengbing, Deputy Governor of the Qingshui County, hase specially to send Third Miss Qin, and Second Miss Li back home.¡±

    Yan Chengbing was in his early forties, obviously a civil servant, but with a kind of military cold and dusty on his face, dark skin, sharp and clear eyes, and a pair of somewhat rough hands. His hands not only had written countless mantras to advise the emperor to reform the government policy, and also fought the gue and drought with local farmers.

    Yan Chengbing seemed unenthusiastic at the moment. Just a quarter of an hour ago, someone came to the county government office to report the missing of Grand Miss Qin Yunzhuang of the mansion of Grand Commandant and Second Miss of the Li Family on their way to the Guo¡¯an Temple. His subordinates had always handled such small cases. But Master Zhou, his colleague, persuaded him to do this himself. After all, though the Lis were inconspicuous, the Qin family was a big one in the Royal City.

    There was still no movement in the room a long time after Yan Chengbing¡¯s shouting. Yan Chengbing was a little impatient, but he heard a loud and clear p in the room. A woman was screaming in the dull sound of the falling furniture.

    ¡°Well, you Li Qiqi, it turns out that you went out early in the morning not to offer incense to Buddha but to have fun with some other men in the wilderness behind my father¡¯s back. I¡¯ll beat you to death! Let¡¯s see who this tightly wrapped adulterer in the bed is.¡±

    As an old saying goes, do not wash your dirty linen in public. The shouting of the woman inside reached the ears of those peasant policemen. Some of them looked interested, while others smirked. Cheating? This was exciting.

    Yan Chengbing frowned deeply at the words, but the next sentence stimted his eardrum.

    ¡°God, blood! It¡¯s blood! He¡¯s dead! Come on! Someone died!¡±

    There was a murder! Yan Chengbing was refreshed. He didn¡¯t expect such a situation.

    Qin Yunuan, who was rushing in the mountains, didn¡¯t expect her situations would be like this as well. Behind her, a burly man followed closely with a cold face. He was dressed in a ck, martial arts costume. An unconscious servant girl was on his back. This woman is petite, and it wouldn¡¯t be tiring to carry her on the t ground. However, carrying her on the road across the steep mountain, sweat also oozed from his forehead.

    Qin Yunuan was opening a new path in the front. The dense branches blocked her way, and Qin Yunuan had to stretch out her hand to push the pricking vines aside. She didn¡¯t mind that her fingertips and her wrists had been pierced with small blood holes. All she thought about was to fasten her pace, to hurry up. As long as she hurried, Maner would be saved.

    She knew that Li Qiqi would do something, so she had already taken the antidote drug and quietly burned knockout incense in the room. She also knew that Qin Yunzhuang took Li Weijun with her, so she sent Maner earlier to report to the government office in Qingshui County.

    But what she didn¡¯t expect was that when she carried Shangguan Rang, who was also stunned, into bed, a dagger flew into the house like a strong wind from the backyard window. Because she was carrying Shangguan Rang and fell by coincidence, the first dagger stabbed directly into the heart of Shangguan Rang. The second time Maner, the silly girl used her body to protect her in the front. She stopped a de for her, and the dagger poked into Maner¡¯s shoulder. Maner passed out on the spot.

    Whoever did this was very professional. The dagger was held by a thin iron chain. After stabbing the person, he could immediately pull the other end of the iron chain and retract the dagger without leaving a clue.

    But when the man outside the window tried to stab for the third time, he was knocked down by a ck shadow faster than him. The ck shadow raised his hand and by the time that hand fell the dagger fell along with it. The shadow traveled in the green bamboo forest like a killing wolf. It was a pity that there were too many people wereing, and even if the shadow had great martial art skills, one person alone couldn¡¯t defeat one hundred people. The assassin escaped at the end.

    Qin Yunuan was very familiar with the ck shadow. She had seen him at Wan¡¯an Temple.

    ¡°You are General Leng¡¯s man.¡± After Qin Yunuan found an open and t area in the forest, she supported Maner to lean against a pine tree that could be surrounded by two people and then squinted at the man following her.

    If Qin Yunuan had remembered correctly, his name was Leng Wu and he was the subordinate that Leng Changxi ordered to investigate with Hui An that day. Since he could use the surname of Leng, he must be a trusted family member of the Leng Family. Judging from what she saw his skills were far beyond those guards. His moves were neat and quick, and he quickly adapted to the steep bamboo forests. It was obvious that he had field experience of fighting.

    He should be the first choice to protect Leng Changxi personally ording to his level. But now, no, he had been around her for a while.

    Leng Wu was a little stunned, but he just clenched his fists and saluted to her. ording to Leng Changxi ¡®smand, he confessed his identity directly, ¡°I¡¯m Leng Wu, General Leng¡¯s personal guard.¡±

    That was exactly what Qin Yunuan guessed. Qin Yunuan nodded slightly, not seemed to be surprised. She looked at Maner, who was constantly sweating due to debility and slightly unconscious and then looked at the orange sky prating through the branches and leaves.

    The sun was about to set.

    It was not advisable to hurry on the journey at night and even more dangerous in such steep mountains. Besides, moving rashly with Maner in aa would be unsafe for the three. They didn¡¯t have to worry about what would happen in the mansion of Grand Commandant. She had requested Concubine Chang to manage everything before she went out. People in the Fuxi Courtyard would proceed with their daily schedule as usual, and nobody would see that she was no longer in the house. But she didn¡¯t know what was going on in the thatched cottage.

    Leng Wu did not object to Qin Yunuan ¡®s n of staying for a night¡¯s rest. He stood aside dully The Master asked him to protect Third Miss Qin. He was duly and habitually staying around Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°I want to look at Maner¡¯s wound,¡± Qin Yunuan was going to pick up Maner¡¯s shoulder covered with blood-stained clothes. ncing at Leng Wu, she said without emotions, ¡°Do you want to see it, too?¡±

    Leng Wu froze for a moment and turned around quickly, ¡°I¡¯m going to pick up some firewood.¡±

    Maner ¡®s wound was not big but very deep. There was a ck wound on her right shoulder and the blood was already semi-solidified. Maner seemed to still have some consciousness. When Qin Yunuan lifted her body, she hummed asionally. Although she was just snorting, it proved that she was still alive and conscious.

    Maner, you must live. You and I grew up together. You knew that our feelings had a friendship beyond what could happen between masters and servants. We are more like sisters. If you had died because of me in this life, the pain would be more than breaking my hands and feet or digging into my heart.

    Tears had wet Qin Yunuan¡¯s cheeks without noticing. She looked at Maner¡¯s ckened wounds and put her lips on it without any hesitation, sucking out the poisonous blood inside. The dagger was poisoned, and it aimed at Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart every time. Qin Yunuan knew it clearly that the assassin came for her.

    When Leng Wu came back, he happened to see Qin Yunuan spit out thest mouthful of poisonous blood on the ground, and slowly put Maner¡¯s clothes together.

    Leng Wu dropped a bundle of firewood and reported his findings, ¡°There is a bay of spring water not far down, and I can get some water backter.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Qin Yunuan touched Maner¡¯s hot forehead and nodded, ¡°Maner started to have a fever. The spring water is cold and could cover her forehead.¡± Raising her eyes slowly after her words, she looked at Leng Wu and said, ¡°Leng Wu, I have something to ask you.¡±

 Chapter 64 His Appearance

    <h4>Chapter 64 His Appearance</h4>

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s tone was as faint as the breeze sweeping through a pine forest, and her nce was as wide as the sea surface. Leng Wu couldn¡¯t help but stunned. He followed Leng Changxi at war for many years. Even men would be nervous and frightened when they first saw dead people on the battlefield, let alone a woman. However, the Third Miss Qin stayed so calm towards such a sudden incident, which really proved her better than the others. No wonder his general cared so much about this woman.

    Leng Wu didn¡¯t seem to show any resistance because of Leng Changxi¡¯smand. He arched his hands and said, ¡°Just ask me anything, Third Miss Qin.¡±

    He thought that Qin Yunuan would ask about why his general asked him to follow her, or why these people wanted to assassinate her today. He thought that she would either be emotional or angry, but what Qin Yunuan asked was, ¡°These people who tried to kill me, were they actually after your general?¡±

    Her guess was exactly right. Leng Wu returned to his mind, arched his hands and said, ¡°Yes. Those people have been bothering the general since he returned from East Qin.¡±

    Looking at Qin Yunuan¡¯s inquiry-like gaze, Leng Wu took a deep breath and said frankly, ¡°They are the remnants of the East Qin royal family, led by the youngest prince of different surname of East Qin, Prince Anyang, Zhao Huijin. They fled when the general conquered the capital of East Qin, and they had retreated to Tu¡¯er Mountain with their remaining men and hidden by the advantage of the terrain. Later, after the East Qin royal family surrendered by sending the first beauty of East Qin, Princess Yuanning, Wei Xian, into the Royal City, Zhao Huijin brought with him his best soldiers and lurked into Qi. He tried to recapture Princess Yuanning Wei Xian several times, but he was discovered by the general in advance. After several times, Zhao Huijin decided to aim at the general.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all for a woman,¡± Qin Yunuan shook her head, ¡°This Prince Anyang Zhao Huijin is really passionate to Princess Yuanning, but what I heard is that Princess Yuanning Wei Xian is now a favored imperial concubine of the emperor. Whether Zhao Huijin has the ability to get rid of General Leng, it¡¯s very likely that he couldn¡¯t take away an imperial concubine from the emperor of Qi in the well-guarded pce.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was suddenly stunned after she got the conclusion from her deduction. She said slowly, ¡°So, Zhao Huijin was not actually trying to kill me today, but to take me as a hostage instead?¡± One for one, he could not only guarantee the direct confrontation with Leng Changxi, but also increase his chance of sessfully taking away the imperial concubine. But why her?

    Leng Wu saw that Qin Yunuan had already figured out, so he did not try to keep the fact away from her, ¡°The general guess that Zhao Huijin wanted to exchange his beloved one with the general¡¯s beloved one.¡±

    Beloved one....

    These words hit Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart like heavy drumsticks, and her heart seemed to beat twice as fast.

    This was a very ridiculous title. Qin Yunuan figured a bitter smile. She had only met Leng Changxi a few times in general. How could it be....

    But she clearly knew that Leng Changxi had a different way of getting along with the others. Although all her conjectures had not been urately certified....

    In her past life, she had never experienced love. Nor had she owned true love or feelings from anyone else. In this life, she wanted to live smart, and she never thought about love and rtionships. The sudden tenderness left her a little flustered. But soon, she adjusted her emotions and reached out to gather the clothes for Maner. No one could tell what kind of rough feelings had just gone through her heart.

    The night in the mountains was extremely cold. Leng Wu was keeping watch. Even though he kept adding firewood to the fire, he didn¡¯t dare to go too far away in order to ensure Qin Yunuan¡¯s safety. Hence, the fire gradually became smaller.

    Maner¡¯s forehead became hotter, but fortunately, the venom on the wound had been almost cleared by Qin Yunuan, and there was no sign of pus or inmmation. Qin Yunuan was worried that Maner would get cold again, so she took off her cloak and outer shirt and put it on for Maner. She just slept next to Maner and spend the night.

    Her distracted mood couldn¡¯t resist her exhausted mind. Soon, in the symphony of the jackdaw call and the mountain breeze, Qin Yunuan fell deeply asleep.

    After some time, there was warmthing from her cheeks in her dreams. It was not the kind of fiery heat that warmed people up, but gentle like a stream, like a spring breeze kissing theke. There was a trace of tenderness in the gentle touch of the palm which brought safety and tranquility.

    It was a hand! A man¡¯s hand!

    Even in her sleep, Qin Yunuan was also extremely cautious. She opened her eyes violently, holding the sharpened wooden thorn in her right hand which she made before she went to bed, and pierced it towards the ck figure in front of her. Almost in an instant, a strong hand held her right wrist tightly. Although he was fast, he controlled the strength of his grip as he meant no harm to Qin Yunuan.

    Under the cold moonlight, Leng Changxi¡¯s bat-shaped mask seemed to add a bit of coldness. His pure ck costume seemed to be integrated into this deep night. His knuckles were strong and slender, and he pulled out the wooden thorn that Qin Yunuan held tightly in her hand with a bit of strength. It was just a wooden stick as thick as a writing brush, but Qin Yunuan sharpened it for self-defense.

    Leng Changxi yfully sandwiched the wooden thorn between the index finger and middle finger of his right hand. With a hard click, the wooden thorn easily broke into two pieces and fell to the ground.

    ¡°See? Your self-defense is not really good,¡± Leng Changxi said faintly.

    Qin Yunuan turned her head and said, ¡°Not every master like General Leng likes to embarrass a young girl like me.¡± Qin Yunuan was not surprised that Leng Changxi appeared. She knew that there was a set of strict internal contact system in the Leng Army. Maybe Leng Wu had already gotten in touch with Leng¡¯s people using smoke bombs or some signs while he was picking up firewood. What she didn¡¯t expect was that Leng Changxi would actuallye in person.

    However, recalling what Leng Wu said in the afternoon, Qin Yunuan inexplicably felt a bit embarrassed. She turned her head away with a stiff face, and saw seven or eight adult men dressed like Leng Wu suddenly appearing around the woods. They cleaned up the traces of fire on the ground and covered the footprints with pine leaves and mud. Leng Wu was carrying a special seat on his back. With this seat, Maner could be carried down the mountain more easily.

    Leng Changxi was helping her.

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart was warmed, but Leng Changxi¡¯s words floated in lightly like catkins, ¡°You made the right choice to stay here without hurrying to make your way. It¡¯s raining these days and the mountains are slippery. The steep cliff on the west side of the mountain has slipped on our way here.¡±

    ¡°How¡¯s it at the Qin Family now?¡± Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help asking.

    Leng Changxi stood up and looked at Qin Yunuan, who was so cold that her body was stiff and unable to move. He said numbly, ¡°This shouldn¡¯t be your concern.¡± Then, he took over a velvet-covered crane robe and wrapped it around Qin Yunuan tightly. Then he held Qin Yunuan across his chest with his big hands.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± In a hurry, Qin Yunuan had no time to take care of her image. She tried to push Leng Changxi away by her hands, but she was too cold that she had no strength to do so.

    The two were so intimate that if someone saw it, she would be chased out from the Qin Family. Qin Zhi was so stubborn that he wouldn¡¯t allow his daughter who hadn¡¯t gotten married to contact with any man. She still had Baochuan and nurse Liao to take care of. She couldn¡¯t be so careless.

    Leng Changxi¡¯s warm manly breath was blowing on Qin Yunuan¡¯s cheeks, which made her slightly distracted. Leng Changxi seemed to see Qin Yunuan through, and there seemed to be a smile on his face. He said, ¡°You can rest assured that no one will see us. There¡¯s not even anyone here to save you in this wilderness. Besides,¡± Leng Changxi raised his mouth diagonally, ¡°If it¡¯s me who have a rtionship with you, take it as a blessing.¡±

    ¡°To use the general¡¯s beloved one to exchange for his own beloved one.¡± Peculiarly, Qin Yunuan¡¯s mind sounded these words right when Leng Changxi finished his words.

    Qin Yunuan shrank the shyness which was apparent on her face. She bowed her head and said, ¡°I can walk on my own.¡±

    Leng Changxi paused and looked at Qin Yunuan, who was calm and indifferent in his arms. He was curious about her disparate personality with Zizhan¡¯s description. He used to sneer at her indiscriminate means. He had praised her calmness and courage and he had been doubting himself for his special feelings for her many times. However, he was sure about his feelings now.

    He had always disliked stupid women who were easily troubled by everything, and he also felt that none of those vulgar and scoundrel rich young masters deserve her. He liked her. He wanted to help her, and more, he wanted to own her, best for the rest of her life.

    And at this moment, the woman who made him wanted to own for the first time was in his arms. He was looking at her white neck, feeling her trembling slightly because of the cold, sniffing every hint of the floral fragrance fluttering out of her hair.

    Leng Changxi loosened his arms and slowly put Qin Yunuan down. He turned his face away slightly, so that the strange heat that just burnt inside him from nowhere could dissipate quicker.

    Qin Yunuan subconsciously supported herself against an old locust tree beside her, as her toes were already too cold that she couldn¡¯t stand stably.

    Leng Changxi narrowed his eyes and calmed down. He just looked at the somewhat embarrassed Qin Yunuan with a gentle gesture. Although it was already April, the mountains were colder than the cities. Moreover, the location they were at was facing away from the sun. The temperature at the moment was not much different from the snowing days. As for Qin Yunuan, she covered her cloak for Maner. She stayed cold for the night, and it was not so easy for her to recover.

    Seeing that Qin Yunuan had turned better, Leng Changxi dragged Qin Yunuan over and changed a posture to put Qin Yunuan on his back. He said in an irresistible tone, ¡°Don¡¯t try anymore if you can¡¯t walk. I¡¯ll throw you directly down the mountain if you are verbose.¡±

 Chapter 65 A Life for a Life

    <h4>Chapter 65 A Life for a Life</h4>

    The person behind didn¡¯t make a sound. She just rubbed a little bit like a little rabbit and shrunk in the thick crane robe. Leng Changxi was relieved, and his face even raised a never-before-seen satisfaction.

    The air in dawn was a bit thin, and the temperature of Mount Sheshan was even lower. Just as Leng Changxi said, the nearest road back had been destroyed because of andslide, so they could only choose a bumpy trail.

    Leng Changxi brought six people. Two of them were ahead leading the way. Leng Wu and Leng Changxi walked in the middle. Two were walking behind for protection and the remaining two were guarding on both sides. It was amonly seen formation in the army. It was practical.

    Leng Changxi really was a very strict and cautious person.

    Some bushes on their way had small thorns. Leng Changxi carefully guarded both sides of Qin Yunuan with his big hands, so as not to let her get scratched. Maner was asleep on Leng Wu¡¯s back. Maner was the one Qin Yunuan worries the most at the moment.

    After a while, the view of the dense woods suddenly widened. There was a rugged mountain road a hundred steps away, and two carriages were already waiting at the bottom of the mountain. They could leave the woods in a few more steps, but Leng Changxi suddenly released a hand and pointed forward with five fingers together.

    The men under him understood immediately. It was an internal code sign which meant that there might be danger ahead.

    Qin Yunuan was lying on Leng Changxi¡¯s back, watching sweat dripping like rain from the junction of Leng Changxi¡¯s ck mask and his hair. There was a unique smell of male sweat of Leng Changxi and a nice smell of grass. Vaguely, she seemed to smell danger and hostility.

    Suddenly, there was a whizzing arrow along with the crack of an arrowing off the string.

    Leng Changxi turned back and covered Qin Yunuan with his back, then he dragged Qin Yunuan behind a towering old tree with a circumference of three people¡¯ arms. Almost subconsciously, he tightly held Qin Yunuan¡¯s slim shoulder. Qin Yunuan was almostpletely in his arms.

    The rustling arrows were dense like battle drumbeats, like a sudden tropical rainstorm. The crackling sound was the muffled sound of the arrows nailed into the trees.

    In the Qin Family, Qin Yunuan was ustomed to the fighting intrigues of life and death. However, it was the first time she saw a real battlefield. Her heart couldn¡¯t help but trembled, and her fingertips pressed hard into her palms.

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s nervous little actions were all clearly seen by Leng Changxi. Of all the women in the world, Qin Yunuan was the first one he saw among the unsophisticated nobledies who could face the battlefield so calmly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look. Don¡¯t listen, then you won¡¯t be afraid.¡± Unpretentiously, a pair of big hands gently covered Qin Yunuan¡¯s ears. The heat of the palm rose slightly with moist sweat, and Qin Yunuan felt warm both her ears and her heart.

    It was Leng Changxi¡¯s hands, gentle and tender.

    This feeling made Qin Yunuan stunned slightly, but soon, the pouring arrows in reality made her willing to ept such a shelter.

    The time for such evasion was hard to pass. But suddenly, the sound of the arrows came to an abrupt end, and there was suddenly no sound outside. Such a situation was exactly like the sudden shot of arrow.

    Because of Leng Changxi¡¯s timely reminder, there were no casualties in the party. Only Maner¡¯s wound reemerged due to the bumps when Leng Wu shed to avoid the arrows. Everyone came out from the hiding trunks.

    Only now that Qin Yunuan found out that she was hiding in Leng Changxi¡¯s arms in a curled-up posture. She tried to calm herself down, but her face was still involuntarily blushed.

    Leng Changxi was quite natural on the other hand. He loosened Qin Yunuan with a kind of expression like holding a small pet in his arms for a while, and even helped Qin Yunuan get up naturally.

    Blood had flowed back to Qin Yunuan¡¯s limbs, and she felt that her whole body had warmed up. She politely took a step back, ¡°Now, I could really walk on my own.¡±

    Leng Changxi¡¯s inquiring gaze shot again from the pair of ink-colored pupils hidden behind the mask, almost just for a moment. After confirming that Qin Yunuan¡¯splexion had been recovered, he lightly said, ¡°Oh!¡±

    ¡°General, there are words outside,¡± Someone shouted behind the big tree where Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi were hiding.

    Leng Changxi¡¯s eyebrows tightened, and Qin Yunuan followed him quickly.

    The thick trunk was now filled with arrows. It was just a mess of arrows at a nce, but as they looked at it again from ten steps away, they could clearly see the hundreds of arrows pieced together intorge characters.

    ¡ª A life for a life

    Writing with arrows with such precision and speed was simply breathtaking. Even Leng Wu, who had followed Leng Changxi for many years, couldn¡¯t help but took a deep breath. He knew that even the best archer of the Leng Army couldn¡¯t guarantee a one-time sess, but the archer just now did it. He had known that the Prince Anyang, Zhao Huijin, of East Qin had a lot of elite soldiers following him, and he loved to keep assassins around him. Now, even though he was in danger, he still had the power.

    Leng Changxi¡¯s other men also couldn¡¯t help but showed the same worries as Leng Wu.

    But Leng Changxi didn¡¯t think so. He lifted his chin slightly, as arrogance appeared in the corner of his mouth. His eyes slowly nced away, as if had greeted the tough opponent. He said, ¡°People won¡¯t bet their lives before they have no other options.¡±

    Zhao Huijin was the only opponent that Leng Changxi had encountered in neen years who could fight with him for so many rounds. Zhao Huijin was a capable man who had a lot of tactics and skills, but it was a pity that now he was almost forced into the corner by Leng Changxi.

    ¡°Take care of all these arrows and don¡¯t leave any traces,¡± Leng Changxi ordered lightly.

    When he looked back, he saw Qin Yunuan, who had the same calm look. Her white cheeks radiated an indescribable light in the thin and dim morning light, and her hair drifted with the wind along with the particr spring dew which was moist, fresh and bright.

    Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t help but thought of the scene that he just hid behind the tree with her.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look, don¡¯t listen, then you won¡¯t be afraid.¡±

    When he finished saying this, he thought Qin Yunuan would immediately close her eyes and hide herself like an ostrich. But this youngdy just stared back at him stubbornly. The watery eyes seemed to speak which made him feelplicated. He was always the one who protected the others and made others feel at ease, but at that moment, Qin Yunuan¡¯s nce slowed his heartbeat down. The arrows around were like an illusion, only the eyes that were as clear as the pool water were real.

    And right now, Qin Yunuan was standing outside with him, looking at the characters ¡°a life for a life¡±. It seemed that there was a bit more of perseverance in her eyes. Unlike the panic that other women would show, it was all calmness and indifference in her eyes.

    He once questioned why Qin Yunuan¡¯s character was so different from what Zizhan described. He once scoffed at Qin Yunuan¡¯s little tricks. He had admired Qin Yunuan¡¯s more decisive strategies. If he doubted his feelings to Qin Yunuan in the past, now he was iparably certain.

    He didn¡¯t like stupid women. He also felt deeply that those vulgar and useless rich young masters were not good enough for her, and she suited him the most. Moreover, he liked her, as simple as that.

    Things had been dealt with, and the carriage was near.

    Qin Yunuan watched Leng Wu cautiously put Maner on the carriage. And she turned around, took off the crane robe she had been wearing, folded it and handed it to Leng Changxi, ¡°I would have to thank you for saving my life today, General Leng.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me,¡± Leng Changxi smiled unnoticeably , ¡°I know that even if I hadn¡¯te, you could have survived this.¡± He never underestimated the young woman¡¯s ability to trick and to survive.

    Despite that, Leng Changxi took the crane robe Qin Yunuan handed over seriously.

    Seeing the carriage gradually going away, Leng Changxi took his men on the hill and watched the sun gradually climb up from the mountain. The sky in the distance was rendered in red, like the embroidery meticulously done by a bride when she got married.

    Seeing Qin Yunuan¡¯s carriage bing as small as an ant in the distance, Leng Changxi turned tomand Leng Wu, ¡°Take three people with you and continue to protect her.¡± Everyone knew who this ¡°her¡± meant.

    Leng Wu gave a slight pause and seemed to think for a long time, but he still persuaded, ¡°General, Zhao Huijin is scheming. This time he made such a great determination. You only have eighteen personal guards. Now you want to send four out, won¡¯t it be....¡±

    ¡°Leng Wu, you don¡¯t know him too much,¡± Leng Changxi looked into the distance, as if it could have reached the sky, ¡°Yes, Zhao Huijin is capable, but he also treasures his life very much. Otherwise, he won¡¯t abandon the city on the day of the siege without even bringing his so-called beloved Princess Yuanning, Wei Xian, with him. Some time ago, it was rumored that the imperial concubine was seriously ill, and even the imperial doctors were helpless. It happened that a thousand-year-old Tianshan snow lotus in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion could save her. What Zhao Huijin meant by a life for a life was to make a bet with Yunuan¡¯s life, forcing me to treat his sweetheart with the Tianshan snow lotus.¡±

    Leng Changxi looked back slightly, and there was a disdainful sneer on his face, ¡°Forcing me? It¡¯s ridiculous. I want my woman, and I want my medicinal herb. What can he do to me?¡±

    But at the moment, in the pce of the rumored badly ill imperial concubine, it was soft and warm. A seductive incense was burning in the pce. The Imperial Concubine Xian was only wearing clothes as thin as a cicada¡¯s wings. Her waist was thin, smooth and luring.

    The beautiful face of Imperial Concubine Xian was still flushed, and her mind was constantly recalling the grace ofst night.

    The man next to her moved a bit, and Imperial Concubine Xian immediately approached him. Her voice was seductively charming. She asked, ¡°Third prince, are you awake?¡±

 Chapter 66 Beat the Trap

    <h4>Chapter 66 Beat the Trap</h4>

    The man turned over andy against Imperial Concubine Xian, but she was still determined and held Sima Ray¡¯s back tightly with her soft breasts, and touched the chest of him casually with her small hands, ¡°Third Prince, don¡¯t pretend to be sleepy.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Xian said in a very soft voice with a unique tone from East Qin.

    Sima Ray seemed to be tired of her. He got up, staring at Imperial Concubine Xian for a while. He quickly picked up the shirt at the end of the bed and put it on, and then wore the belt.

    ¡°Are you off? Third Prince¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I?¡± A creepy smile that was different from the gentle and humble smile in daily life emerged on his face. This kind of chilling smile only emerged on the face of a crucial headsman, ¡°Do you want to stay here and let the servants in your pce find us, or even we are found by all people in the Imperial Pce, and then the emperor executes us?¡±

    Imperial Concubine Xian did not want to give up but she dared not to say anything, so she lowered her head but heard the cold words from Sima Ray, ¡°Imperial Concubine Xian, you have been ill for many days and you have gained those things that father has given to you. I have got what I want. You should be recovered.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Xian lowered her head with her unwilling eyes. She had fallen in love with this man, but the man seemed not to care much about her. However, She could suffer and eptpletely all the pains and coldness the man gave to her, ¡°If I was fully recovered, you would note to look in me, right?¡±

    Sima Ray turned back slowly and suddenly leaned forward and pinched the small and delicate chin of Imperial Concubine Xian with his big and powerful hand. He said with his cold eyes, ¡°I heard that your lover in East Qin fought against Leng Changxi for saving you to escape. You¡¯d better remember your position. You are thedy of my father, the emperor. You are the imperial concubine of Qi Land. Though I dislike Leng Changxi, you¡¯d better know early that he can¡¯t sessively fight against Leng Changxi. When he died, you¡¯d better behave yourself and let father believe you well. Understand?¡±

    Imperial Concubine Xian got stunned and tears emerged in her eyes. She nodded.

    Sima Ray smiled evilly and put on the purple-golden long robe he wore when he came. He put on the belt and left straight.

    By passing the isted path, he stopped at the back gate. The henchman Liu Bao of Sima Ray had already waited at the door. When he saw Sima Ray, he held immediately the incense.

    Sima Ray reached his arms naturally and let Liu Bao use the incense to expel the disgusting fragrance in his body. He caught the fragrance with the smell of some rare perfume at the pce of Imperial Concubine Xian. He disliked that very much.

    ¡°The medicine almost runs out. You try to find more.¡± Sima Ray closed his eyes. Last night, he had a very bad dream, an unprecedented dream. His dream was always frothy but this time, a new figure emerged in this dream. It was ady, who feared him very much.

    Liu Bao nodded perplexedly, ¡°But Third Prince, we have little money left. A tael of the acid is worthy of one thousand catties of gold. The secret tribute submitted by those stores and the revenue from farnd in the suburbs of Royal City cannot meet our expenses.¡±

    Sima Ray was silent. He just opened his eyes slowly and looked at Liu Bao coldly, ¡°You just do that and I will find solutions. The woman will be useless quickly, very quickly.¡± Sima Ray paused and said in another mood, ¡°My mother gets up?¡±

    Liu Bao answered, ¡°She got up just now and now is waiting for your greeting, Third Prince.¡±

    Meanwhile, Family Qin was breeding a big store.

    The death of the eldest son of the legal wife of Family Shangguan, Shangguan Rang, who died in the suburb of the Royal City, had caused a sensation like the fire burning wheat. And the news had secretly swept the whole noble circle quickly. What¡¯s more, Yan Chengbing visited the mansion of Qin himself, which further added firewood into the boiled Qin Zhi.

    ¡°Your Honor, how dare you!¡± Qin Zhi put down the teacup heavily. In the flower hall, the maidservants of the mansion and the two police officersing with Yan Chengbing were astonished. They had not thought that the humble and gentle Grand Commandant Qin now was so threatened when he vented his anger.

    Qin Zhi red at Yan Chengbing, ¡°Your Honor Yan, we are not the imperial rtives, but I am the first-grade officer in the imperial court. Now youe here with the two police officers and tried to take my little daughter out for investigation. How flighty you are!¡±

    Qin Zhi was obstinate but Yan Chengbing was more indocile. He came from the ministry of penalty so he spoke in a harder tone, ¡°Law can¡¯t be fake. Your Grand Miss appeared in the room where Shangguan Rang died. Everybody saw that. It is my duty to check the whole thing and find the truth.¡±

    Qin Zhi had heard about the whole thing from Qin Yunzhuang. He was angry because Qin Yunzhuang did not know good from bad and was determined to visit Her mother Dou Qing¡¯e in Guo¡¯an Temple, and finally she met such tough trouble on the way to the temple. He was angrier because Li Qiqi cheated him and dated with other men. However, the two women were from his mansion and he cared much about the fame of the family. The scandal could not challenge the prestige and reputation of the Family Qin and himself.

    ¡°Law?¡± Qin Zhi suddenly sneered, ¡°You talk about thew, so I tell you what thew is. ording to thew of Qi Land, any case rted to the two or more officers in higher three-grade rank should be investigated by the officer with higher ranks personally. My Honor Yan, you are just seven-grade rank. How dare you threaten me?¡±

    Yan Chengbing was not stunned butughed. He seemed to be confident, ¡°Your Honor Qin, you are right. But as to thew of Qi Land, the case which belongs to imperialwsuits or should be handled by the emperor can be tried by the local officers first, and then the case can be transferred ording to the situation. Your Honor Qin, you together with the rted Shangguan, both are the officer in first-grade rank. The only officer higher than you is the emperor. Mountain Sheshan was in my jurisdictional limits. Your Honor Qin, will you let the emperor make a decision?¡±

    Qin Zhi, ¡°Are you threatening me?¡±

    Yan Chengbing bowed his fist, ¡°No! But I am just a menial lonely officer. But Your Honor Qin, you together with Shangguan, should care much about the reputation and interests of the whole family.¡±

    Yan Chengbing did not feel scared though he was just a lower-rank officer. On the contrary, he straightened his body tightly and responded to Qin Zhi without any fear. A man without any limit was not afraid of a man with many limits.

    Qin Yunuan who returned to the mansion in a hurry together with Maner now was sweaty. Huang Dashi at the back gate drove the showy horse carriage away after he picked the two girls up. The whole path from the back gate to the Fuxi Courtyard had been prepared all well by Concubine Chang. Nurse Liao and Tong had waited worriedly at the Fuxi Courtyard.

    ¡°Huh, how seriously you hurt.¡± Nurse Liao uncovered the cor of Maner and she almost cried.

    ¡°It is not the right time to be sad. How is the mansion?¡± Qin Yunuan was very calm. The moment she left, Leng Changxi told her that the poison in the wound of Maner had nearly been cleaned out and Maner was safe. The exhausting journey, as well as hunger and coldness, would cause the second hurt to the wound. Maner should rest well. Qin Yunuan believed the words of Leng Changxi.

    Tong told the whole thingst night shortly to Qin Yunuan when nurse Liao was cleaning the wound of Maner again. And then a loud sound from the little maidservant Ting Xue came, ¡°wow, nurse Zhao from Shunchang Courtyard. Nice to meet you and why do youe to this courtyard?¡±

    From Shunchang Courtyard? She served Qin Zhi. So Qin Zhi started to suspect her?

    ¡°Ie here for Third Miss,¡± A shrewd and capable voice answered.

    Hearing nurse Zhao stepped closer, Qin Yunuan looked at Maner whoy on her bed and her bloody clothes. She found a solution quickly. She threw a pair of mandarin-duck cups into the ground heavily.

    People outside only heard a crisp sound came from the room. Nurse Zhao stopped suddenly and then she heard Qin Yunuan¡¯s cursing, ¡°Such a menial girl! You even can¡¯t do a trivial job. Nurse Liao, don¡¯t freeze there. Take her to wood-shed, and imprison her for 7 days! Nobody could see her.¡±

    The door suddenly was opened. Nurse Liao raised the curtain made of green soft brocade. She together with Tong held Maner¡¯s arms respectively. They cursed Maner who lowered her head, ¡°You have served Third Miss for a long time. Howe you fail to finish your job.¡±

    Nurse Zhao looked doubtfully at Maner whose legs were dragged. She worked in this mansion for such a long time and nothing confusing could escape from her eyes. She was about to call them to stop but Ting Xue suddenly reached her foot and treaded the skirt of nurse Zhao. Nurse Zhao almost tumbled.

    ¡°Ah! Are you OK, nurse Zhao.¡± Ting Xue stepped forward to hold her but nurse Zhao shook off her hands.

    Qin Yunuan had already stood at the gate somehow and pretended to be surprised, ¡°Ah! What¡¯s wrong with you, nurse Zhao?¡± Qin Yunuan now had changed a piece of loose and white cloth with a light-yellow cloak. Her ipact hair seemed to show that she just got up.

    ¡°Nothing, I am fine,¡± Nurse Zhao stood up quickly. She saluted to Qin Yunuan and she had already caught the whole scene in Qin Yunuan¡¯s room. She found nothing confusing and then showed her fusty smile, ¡°Master is waiting for you in the flower hall. Grand Miss and Grand Young Master have already been there.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Qin Yunuan seemed to be still sleepy, ¡°Anything urgent?¡±

    Nurse Zhao lowered her head and answered frankly, ¡°I heard that they are discussing to handle awsuit.¡±

 Chapter 67 Families Battle

    <h4>Chapter 67 Families Battle</h4>

    Tong and nurse Liao stayed at the courtyard to look after the injured Maner and Baochuan who was called back from the family school temporarily. Little maidservant Ting Xue followed Qin Yunuan and told her what she had heard about the issue that Yan Chengbing came to the Family Qin.

    ¡°How righteous he is. Yan Chengbing is a promising talent,¡± Qin Yunuan puckered her lips. She admired the person who could suppress his father Qin Zhi.

    Qin Yunuan looked at Ting Xue again. This little girl was very dutiful and diligent to work in the courtyard. Qin Yunuan had ordered nurse Liao to observe those newe girls and she also let Maner investigate secretly the background of Ting Xue. Different from Tinghe, Ting Xue was very well-behaved.

    ¡°From tomorrow on, you are my maidservant. Tinghe was gone and now you are in her past position as the second-ss maidservant.¡± Qin Yunuan glimpsed at Ting Xue with praising eyes. Ting Xue acted so alert and resourceful when she reported loudly theing of nurse Zhao and treaded the skirt of nurse Zhao. Qin Yunuan needed this kind of smart talents.

    At the flower hall, the phenomenon was a little bit serious. Qin Yunzhuang stood timidly behind Qin Linfeng, eluding the gloomy eyes of Qin Zhi.

    Qin Linfeng clenched his fists. He had been put under house arrest for so long. Today he was suddenly summoned to be here. He thought his father finally realized that he was the eldest son of the legal wife of the mansion of the Grand Commandant and believed that how malicious the menial daughter of the concubine was. However, Qin Linfeng had never thought that he heard the bad news that his younger sister he loved very much got involved in a murder case.

    ¡°Master, Third Misses.¡±

    The moment Qin Yunuan stepped into the flower hall by her foot, Qin Linfeng rushed to pull the cloak of Qin Yunuan angrily. Blue veins emerged on his hands, ¡°It was you that set a trick to Yun Zhuang. You must have something to do with this issue.¡±

    ¡°Unfilial son! Let her off,¡± Qin Zhi shouted.

    Qin Linfeng was so impulsive that he considered nothing. The one who died was that dissolute Shangguan Rang, but now it was said in the Royal City that the Grand Miss appeared at the room where Shangguan Rang died. How could she face those noble girls anddies in the Royal City?

    ¡°Tell me! What kind of tricks have you yed? Insect-poison? Witchcraft? Tell us! How did you seduce Yunzhuang to be in that room? I know. That second miss from Li Family was guided by you, right?¡± Qin Linfeng red at Qin Yunuan. Actually he had known that Li Weijun was the close friend of Qin Yunzhuang, but he did not care about the life of that girl from Family Li who he had only met for a few times.

    Qin Yunuan just glimpsed at Qin Linfeng gently, with her calm and gloomy eyes, ¡°I don¡¯t have the ability of insect-poison and witchcraft, and I have no money to bribe the Grand Miss of Family Li. But brother, you put forward a good question. How can I have the ability to seduce Grand Miss to go to the deste ce?¡±

    What Qin Yunuan meant was that Qin Yunzhuang went to that ce willingly, which had nothing to do with her.

    The two people¡¯s arguments made Qin Zhi very impatient. Nurse Zhao had whispered the condition of the Fuxi Courtyard to Qin Zhi that Qin Yunuan seemed to stay at the courtyard for the whole night. Now Qin Zhi felt more satisfied with Qin Linfeng.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to order you again. Linfeng. Let her off,¡± Qin Zhi said coldly.

    Qin Yunzhuang rushed to pull back the arms of Qin Linfeng. Qin Lingfeng withdrew his hands unwillingly and red fiercely at Qin Yunuan.

    Qin Yunuan still kept a cold and pure face. Even though she was in a mess with her messy cor due to Qin Linfeng, her innate pure and aloof temperament was increased. Ting Xue secretly stepped forward and helped her tidy her clothes and remove the wrinkles on her cor.

    Yan Chengbing waiting outside dispatched a police officer to ask that if they could depart.

    Qin Zhi was upset and waved his hands. He looked at Qin Yunzhuang, Qin Linfeng and Qin Yunuan in the flower hall and then went out of the hall without words. He should always worry about his children.

    Butler Xie followed immediately the master together with the rest three people. He wanted to take the whole family to the court, but Qin Yuwan had a marriage engagement and could not go out. Qin Yuzhao was insane and impolite, and Qin Baochuan and Qin Baoduan were too young. He wanted to show his innocence by appearing in court with the whole family. But this time, he might have no way to escape safely.

    Qin Yunzhuang was the significant witness in this murder case, so two police officers beside the horse carriage were supervising her. Qin Linfeng was not content about this very much. He was about to argue but gave up by Qin Zhi¡¯s eyes as cold as ice.

    In the horse carriage, Qin Yunuan teased the whole thing carefully again and again.

    At that moment, she had arrived ahead of one incense-burning time. She had never trusted Li Qiqi and she did not believe that Li Qiqi made up her mind to say goodbye to Su Chenghai. So Su Chenghai did not show up because he had left the Royal City on the day before.

    All was clear when Qin Yunuan found the impatient Shangguan Rang waiting in thepartment of the small thatched cottage. Li Qiqi was just a concubine of the mansion of Grandmandant and she couldn¡¯t have a rtionship with other young masters. All were deployed by Qin Yunzhuang. She used knock-out drops to make Shangguan Rang conk and then Li Qiqi appeared. Afterward, when Qin Yunuan dragged conking Li Qiqi into the room, Prince Anyang, Zhao Huijin from East Qin appeared to assassinate her. Maner blocked the attack for Qin Yunuan

    After Qin Yunuan hid outside the room, she saw Qin Yunzhuang led Li Weijun to break in, and heard that they med all to Li Qiqi. Qin Yunzhuang, she was that kind of girl who could sacrifice each person who could be sacrificed. She always stayed innocent when ying tricks, which was very simr to the way Dou Qing¡¯e acted.

    Actually, what Qin Yunzhuang said to Yan Chengbing was believable partly. But there were two suspicious points. The first was the tool those assassins from East Qin used. They always used recyble ferric daggers, so there would be no tool and evidence left on the spot. The second was the words of Li Qiqi. Though Qin Yunzhuang and Li Weijun were on the same side, Li Qiqi might struggle to retract her words. There would be a good show in the court.

    Noisy people had not crowded at the police office of Qingshui County for a long time. Farmers around quit their farm work and came to the police office from miles away after they heard that several high-ranking officers in the imperial court woulde for a big case. They crowded at the gate of the county police office and saw a line of horse carriages of Qin Family proceeded from a distance. They first saw the noble luxury of Qin Family with forceful horses and elegant curtains.

    Dirt odor around and the smell of pig and cow faeces in the air made Qin Zhi very unsatisfied. He saw the onlookers and then raised the curtain to order Yan Chengbing who walked ahead, ¡°We enter the office from the back door. There are too many people.¡±

    Yan Chengbing answered calmly, ¡°Excuse me, Your Honor Qin, ording to thew of Qi Land, all witness and relevant people in the case shoulde into the court from the front door of the office.¡±

    Qin Zhi was dismal. He as the Grand Commandant should be a good example to other officers. But now, he was in the dilemma.

    He let Qin Yunzhuang and Qin Yunuan behind him got off the horse carriage. Uneasy Qin Yunzhuang, wearing a veil, felt very upset when she saw those ragged farmers stared at her and were gossiping about her.

    ¡°Stay away from me! You are all menial people!¡± Qin Linfeng shouted at those gossiping women and then supported Qin Yunzhuang to get off the horse carriage. Women around covered their mouths and stopped gossiping when they saw this violent-tempered young master from the Royal City. They feared to offend this nobleman. An about six-year-old little girl who carried a basket was so scared and tumbled on the ground. Potherbs in the basket were poured out. The girl was about to cry but stopped after she saw the outrageous big eyes of Qin Linfeng.

    When the people were gossiping, a fairy-liked slim maiden who wore a blue veil and a yellow and pink skirt came to the little girl. She crouched and lifted up the dirty little girl, and then let her maidservants pick up those potherbs for the girl. Finally, she even took out a pretty silk handkerchief to wipe the dirty face of that little girl.

    Some people noticed that this beautiful maiden came together with the Qin Family. Though they could not see the whole face of the maiden, they had noticed the fair water-liked eyes and the profile under the thin veil. They thought the maiden must be a prominent beauty with such an oval face.

    ¡°Honey, don¡¯t cry. That brother just said in a louder voice and he was not malicious to you,¡± Qin Yunuan coaxed that poor little girl.

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s words were like a sharp spine in Qin Lingfeng¡¯s body. He did not need such a daughter of a concubine to defend him.

    ¡°Third Miss, we shall go,¡± Ting Xue helped Qin Yunuan up.

    Wow, she was the Third Miss of Family Qin. People around suddenly knew who the maiden was. They praised this pretty and kind maiden.

    The horse carriage of the mansion of Shangguan came soon. It was the first time for the Left Chancellor Shangguan Yuan to be such a distant county police office to supervise the judgement. At first, he was unwilling toe, but his precious eldest son was dead. He hoped to let the emperor decide the case for a fair judgement. However, he feared to report that to the emperor because the death of his son had something to do with a concubine from Family Qin.

    He had heard about Yan Chengbing. Though the man was hard-tempered, he was upright and fair. With this righteous man, he believed that the murderer who caused the death of his son must be brought to justice and tortured to death.

    Shangguan Yee also came. Her eyes were inmed and tears strains were clear on her face. The dead was his lovely elder brother. When she saw Qin Yunzhang, she turned to be fevered and went at Qin Yunzhuang fiercely, shouting, ¡°Bitch! Bitch! I know it was you that killed my brother. Do you want me to show the evidence? I have the evidence, Your Honor Yan!¡±

 Chapter 68 Trial in Court

    <h4>Chapter 68 Trial in Court</h4>

    Fortunately, they had already entered the court, or else the hysterical reaction of Shangguan Yee would be seen by the country women standing outside who were good at gossiping. Qin Yunuan stared coldly at Shangguan Yee and Qin Yunzhuang. The former one red up in a fighting mood, while thetter one was as timid and innocent as a little rabbit.

    Shangguan Yee won in her imposing manner. But pitifully, the more insolent she behaved, the less favored she would be in the court.

    Fortunately, Shangguan Yuan had been in official circles for many years. He had a pair of thick eyebrows and bright eyes with a few beards on his cheeks, which made him look morenguished. Before Yan Chengbing whacked the table with the sounding block, Shangguan Yuan had ordered a servant girl to take hold of Shangguan Yee and reproached her in a low voice, ¡°Did you forget what I had told you before leaving?¡±

    After this, he cast a resentful nce at Qin Yunzhuang, who was hiding behind Qin Linfeng. Shangguan Yuan knew the so-called evidence of his daughter, and he believed that Qin Yunzhuang must have something to do with his son¡¯s death.

    After a while, Li Weijun also came in. Her father, master of the Li Family, did not show up. So her onlypany was Li Jiaxuan, who was standing aside, looking deste from his back as well. Escorting Li Weijun to enter the court, heforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Just tell the truth on the court. I will be there for you.¡±

    Shangguan Yuan and Qin Zhi sat on both sides of Yan Chengbing as observers. ording to Qi¡¯sws, officials who were above the higher third-grade of rank had the right to present as observers. And Yan Chengbing showed due respect to it. He did not open the trial until he got instructions from the two high-rank officials beside him, who were ipatible like water and fire right now.

    Li Qiqi was taken by two police officers to the court. She was still wearing the same clothes asst night which were dotted with blood. It was Shangguan Rang¡¯s blood, which made Shangguan Yuan¡¯s heart twitch.

    Li Qiqi had not suffered from any punishment during the detention. So, she only looked much more exhausted than before. Kneeling on the ground, she knew that she could not escape from her doom this time. She cast a nce at Qin Yunuan who stood aside, and the message in her eyes was like ¡°Once again, you won¡±.

    Li Qiqi was clear that the biggest trap was set by Qin Yunuan, but she didn¡¯t know that Shangguan Rang¡¯s death was also out of Qin Yunuan¡¯s expectation. With a cold snort, she seemed to be mocking, ¡°Well, how dare you tomit murder!¡±

    ¡°Last night, at around a quarter past 9, someone came to the county police office, reporting that the Grand Miss of the Qin Family and the Second Miss of the Li Family got lost in Mount Sheshan. At a quarter to 10, they were found after searching at a thatched cottage on the hillside of Mount Sheshan, as well as Ms. Li of the Qin Family and the dead young master Shangguan. At that time, Ms. Li was close to the deceased¡¯s body in an intimate way,¡± Yan Chengbing said while looking at Li Qiqi who was kneeling on the ground, ¡°But Ms. Li kept silent during the interrogation. And the one who reported the information to the office was not found yet. Bring the Grand Miss of the Qin Family.¡±

    ¡°Someone had reported that I got lost? No wonder Yan Chengbing came so fast. Hum, who would that person be?¡± Li Qiqi cast her nces at Qin Yunuan slowly. She always thought that Qin Yunuan escaped from her trap by chance. But she did not expect that she had been trapped by Qin Yunuan during the whole time.

    Qin Yunuan just smiled at her. But her light smile seemed like a mockery to Li Qiqi.

    ¡°Yes, your honor.¡± Qin Yunzhuang knelt on the ground squarely. It was her first time of kneeling for someone other than her family member, which made her feel miserable.

    ¡°Grand Miss Qin, please repeat what you had heard and seen.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang pulled her sleeves slightly and reported honestly the confession that she had tallied with Li Weijun before. Qin Zhi¡¯s face darkened greatly when she was describing the improper and shameful scene they had seen between Li Qiqi and Shangguan Rang. What a great shame!

    Before Qin Zhi lost his temper, Shangguan Yuan could not help but shout, ¡°Nonsense! Your Honor. Although my son is a romantic man as well as a frequent caller of the pleasure quarters, he had a sense of propriety and would never have crossed the bounds of decency to flirt with a married woman.¡±

    Shangguan Yuan was aware of his son¡¯s lustful temperament. He had subjected him to discipline for several times, but he managed to escape from the discipline every time. So, they formed a tacit agreement that his affairs with other women should be consensual and no married women should be involved. So that less trouble would be made. As Shangguan Rang had his way of dealing with such things, he had thought that they could just wait for a while before getting a wife for him. He would behave well as long as he got married to someone that could keep him under control. They did not reckon on him bing a civil official or rose in importance in the Imperial Court.

    However, while seeking a marriage alliance with the Fang Family, things happened one after another. First, there was his scandal with Qin Yuzhao, the Second Miss of the Qin Family, on the birthday banquet of Grand Commandant Qin. And then, he even lost his life because of a concubine in the Qin Family. Now, he was really at great odds with the Qin Family.

    Having heard the straightforward words of Shangguan Yuan, Yan Chengbing just bowed his fists and then said, ¡°Rest assured, Master Shangguan. This matter will be investigated thoroughly. Please stay calm and wait for a while.¡±

    Yan Chengbing raised his head slightly. Li Weijun was summoned to the court for an inquiry after Qin Yunzhuang finished her statement. Their testimonies were exactly the same. They all confirmed that when dating secretly, Li Qiqi and Shangguan Rang argued for something and then Li Qiqi killed Shangguan Rang with a dagger. Despite that the dagger was still missing, Qin Yunzhuang was clear that they could not let Li Qiqi live any longer as she had known too many things about them.

    The two of them turned against Li Qiqi. And Qin Linfeng was also fanning the mes aside, saying that Li Qiqi was not well-behaved in the mansion and even tried to seduce him in beautiful clothes.

    He who had a mind to beat his dog would easily find his stick. Right now, Li Qiqi bowed her head, looking like a drowning dog.

    ¡°Young Master Qin, here is the court. Do not speak unless I give you permission.¡± Yan Chengbing whacked with the sounding block for twice, and Qin Linfeng who acted against the rules stepped back.

    ¡°Grand Miss Qin, do you mean that you and Second Miss Li were just passing by for some rest? But...,¡± Yan Chengbing waved his hand and asked Shangguan Yee toe forward, ¡°Miss Shangguan said that she had the exhibit that could prove that you had a prearranged appointment with young master Shangguan.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang felt a slight twinge in her heart, as Shangguan Yee took out a letter from her arms angrily and handed it to Yan Chengbing. She then turned back to provoke Qin Yunzhuang, ¡°Well, well, Sister Qin, you didn¡¯t expect that, right? You thought you had a perfect n. But luckily, my brother¡¯s clothes were torn by a branch before going out and I helped him to change clothes. When I was to mend it for him, I found the letter from you that invited my brother out for an appointment. Thankfully, God has eyes. You made one step wrong. That was karma, Sister Qin. That was your karma!¡±

    Shangguan Yee, who was a little impulsive, was held on by police officers. Qin Yunzhuang was already blue in the face before, and now, her face even became ck. She knew that Shangguan Rang would burn the letters from women asking for private meetings after reading, but this time, why would he....

    After a careful check of the letter, Yan Chengbing seemed to be considering and weighing by himself. Qin Zhi frowned and finally decided to humble himself to read the so-called letter, but Yan Chengbing had put it away, ¡°The content and signature are verified. What else do you want to say, Grand Miss Qin?¡± The justice and overwhelming dignity in Yan Chengbing¡¯s eyes made Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s heart twitch violently.

    No! She could not give up easily!

    She red at Qin Yunuan fiercely. She did show up yesterday, and there must be some traces left.

    ¡°Young master Shangguan did invite me out,¡± Qin Yunzhang paused, ¡°but he had made a betrothal to my second sister. Much as I admired his talent, I felt sorry for this invitation and did note to meet him atst. Instead, I went to Guo¡¯an Temple with sister Li to pray for blessings as well as atone for my crime of having wrong thoughts. But when my third sister Yunuan knew about this thing, she said....¡± Qin Yunzhuang stopped abruptly, giving full y to people¡¯s imagination.

    People could not help but turn their eyes to Qin Yunuan. It seemed that none of them had expected that another miss of the Qin Family would get involved in thisplicated murder.

    Qin Yunzhuang lowered her head and looked down, as if she had been too scared to say more. Those who were unaware of the situation might think that the Grand Miss Qin was threatened by her sister, the Third Miss Qin.

    ¡°Go on, grand sister,¡± Qin Yunuan titled, looking at Qin Yunzhuang who was like a trapped beast making a desperate fight, ¡°We are all waiting for you.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang raised her head suddenly and pointed at the area between Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyebrows and said, ¡°Third sister, do you dare to say that you have stayed at the yard fromst night to this morning?¡±

    Qin Yunuan curled her lip, ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡±

    Yan Chengbing whacked the sounding block for twice, ¡°Grand Miss Qin, the court is not your boudoir. No unbridled behaviors will be allowed here.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s eyes turned red for desperation. She could not copse like this. ¡°Your honor, it would be the biggest crime to let the real murderer remain atrge. Qin Yunuan. It was her. It was all her. All these things were a trap set by this daughter of a concubine. She made a secret appointment with young master Shangguan and tricked Concubine Li toe there. Sister Li and I were also set up by her to pass by and find out the affair. All of these things, all of these were prearranged by her. So, if it hadn¡¯t been for her, young master Shangguan would not have died.¡±

    ¡°Grand sister,¡± Qin Yunuan said with a cold voice, ¡°You think too highly of me. I don¡¯t have the ability to make you, someone who always hate me, follow my arrangements.¡±

    That was right. Qin Yunuan was just the daughter of a concubine. How could she be able to do such things?

    ¡°Your honor, if you don¡¯t believe in my words, you can ask the servant girl beside her,¡± Suddenly, Qin Yunzhuang pointed at Ting Xue who was on-call beside Qin Yunuan, ¡°It¡¯s her. Just ask her whether Qin Yunuan was in the yard or not, and you will know the truthfulness of my words.¡±

    Qin Zhi couldn¡¯t bear it anymore. He reproached her coldly, ¡°Yunzhuang, don¡¯t you see it¡¯s already a mass here? What are you doing?¡± Qin Zhi did not understand. If Qin Yunzhuang wanted to get out of this, all she needed to do was to insist that she did not keep the appointment even though she had written a letter to him. After all, Li Weijun was still on her side and could testify for her. But the crazy intention of Qin Yunzhuang to drag Qin Yunuan into this thing was iprehensible for Qin Zhi. They could do whatever they wanted at home, but outside the house, they had to act like a family.

    What he didn¡¯t know was that in the previous life, after she was burnt to death in the marriage sedan by Dou and Qin Yunzhuang, Qin Yunuan had never really taken them as her family anymore.

    Yan Chengbing nced at Ting Xue and Qin Yunuan respectively and then nodded as if he had acquired a tacit permission. ¡°Bring the servant girl Ting Xue,¡± he ordered.

 Chapter 69 Pay Back the Favor

    <h4>Chapter 69 Pay Back the Favor</h4>

    Ting Xue was no more than fourteen years old, standing like a little chicken in the crowd. It was also her first time to go in the public court for a case. She turned her head and looked at Qin Yunuan. Qin Yunuan only gave her a reassuring expression in the eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯m... I¡¯m Ting Xue.¡±

    ¡°Servant girl Ting Xue, what do you do in Third Miss Qin¡¯s yard?¡± Yan Chengbing asked as a rule.

    Ting Xue answered, ¡°I did only the rough work before, like sweeping and boiling water. Today, I was promoted to a second-ss servant girl and will be responsible for cleaning Third Miss¡¯s room.¡±

    Although the voice was shaking, her answer was methodical.

    Yan Chengbing nodded, ¡°Last night, Did Third Miss Qin stay in the yard all the time?¡±

    Ting Xue¡¯s lips pressed suddenly, and she seemed to be going through a very difficult struggle. She looked at Qin Yunuan for a while and then turned to Qin Yunzhuang.

    ¡°Ting Xue, you¡¯d better tell the truth,¡± Qin Yunzhuang stared at Ting Xue harshly, ¡°You know, if you lie, I have ways to torture you and your family.¡±

    Ting Xue was stunned hearing this.

    But Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s words were heard by several officers and Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Sister Yunzhuang, this is a public court. Are you threatening my servant girl in public? Aren¡¯t you afraid of Master Yan¡¯s punishment?¡± Qin Yunuan smiled gently, but the smile was so dazzling in Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Grand Miss,¡± Ting Xue turned her head slowly to look at Qin Yunzhuang with tears in her eyes as if she had done it with great determination. She took out a hundred-tael silver note from her arms and said, ¡°Grand Miss, even if you had bought me with silver tael and threatened me with the lives of my family members, I can¡¯t do anything against my conscience. What hadn¡¯t been done shouldn¡¯t be said that it was done, Master Yan. Third Miss stayed in the roomst night. I served her tea twice and saw it.¡±

    ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Qin Yunzhuang straightened up, pointing at the silver note in Ting Xue¡¯s hand. She said with a terrified face, ¡°What is this? When did I give you the silver note? Why do you frame me?¡±

    ¡°Master Yan,¡± Ting Xue choked, ¡°I¡¯m just a little servant girl with a sry of one tael a month. If Grand Miss hadn¡¯t given me the hundred-tael silver note, how long would it take for me to save up to this amount?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t youe out like a mad dog and bite people,¡± Qin Yunzhuang knelt forward with her knees and cried to Yan Chengbing, ¡°Master Yan, this servant girl was ndering me. I never gave her any silver note, all those servant girls by my side could testify.¡±

    ¡°Oh, the servant girls by your side, elder sister?¡± Qin Yunuan especially emphasized the ¡°side¡± word. People would think in their hearts. Since Grand Miss Qin could even bribe her own sister¡¯s servant girl, the servant by her side should always be at her mercy and could only say the things that she wanted them to say.

    Qin Yunzhuang ¡®s mind was a mess at this time. She clearly remembered that Ting Xue was also an informant her mother put in Qin Yunuan¡¯s yard together with Tinghe. When Tinghe died behind the rockery, she wasn¡¯t very panicked because there was still a Ting Xue that could do her job.

    Qin Yunuan could never think of that after every means she tried to get rid of one informant, there was one more. But why did Ting Xue suddenly turned against her?

    Qin Yunzhuang turned to Qin Zhi for help, ¡°Father, father, believe me, it¡¯s all Qin Yunuan. It¡¯s her, this daughter of a concubine. She let the servant girl around her frame me deliberately. Isn¡¯t it the proof that she had a guilty conscience and was trying to bite me back?¡±

    ¡°My elder sister,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled, as if Qin Yunzhuang, who was kneeling on the ground and begging for mercy, had little to do with her, ¡°You just called Ting Xue out to testify for you. How could it be me that framed you?¡±

    Shangguan Yee couldn¡¯t help but also joined the verbal battle, ¡°So, it¡¯s obviously you, Qin Yunzhuang, who asked my brother and Li to go out at the same time. You are malicious. If you hadn¡¯t done that, my brother wouldn¡¯t have died tragically in the wild countryside.¡±

    ¡°So what? So what?¡± Qin Yunzhuang muttered to herself, seemingly not knowing what she was talking about. Suddenly she pointed at Li Qiqi as if she had seen a life-saving straw, ¡°But it¡¯s her. It¡¯s Li Qiqi who killed your brother. Even though I asked them to go out together, I didn¡¯t kill him. It was not me!¡±

    The public court was filled with noise for a while, and the women were out of control in their quarrel. Yan Chengbing knocked the sounding block for a few times with his face darkened before calming them down.

    ¡°Now that the murder weapon has not been found, nobody should throw all restraint to the winds in the court!¡±

    As soon as the words fell, a person came in a hurry outside the court. His feet were covered with mud. He seemed to be a bureaucrat who had returned from the work outside. He walked around the crowds and approached Yan Chengbing, whispering a few words into his ear. Yan Chengbing frowned tightly for a moment, and then his face eased down again.

    ¡°For this case, we have found new evidence,¡± Yan Chengbing lowered his head and gestured to Qin Zhi and Shangguan Yuan respectively, ¡°Please allow me to invite these two gentlemen to the inner hall and discuss about it.¡±

    Although Shangguan Yuan is unwilling, he would never let go of any clues that may help him find the murderer of his son. As for Qin Zhi, he nced at Qin Yunzhuang quickly with a gloomy look. His eyes were filled with disappointment and coldness.

    Qin Yunzhuang knew that after this incident, she would never be the precious daughter that Qin Zhi held in his hand. Maybe her status had already been doomed when her mother left the Qin Family for Guo¡¯an Temple.

    Officers had methodically arranged the Shangguan Family, Qin Family, and Li Family to take temporary breaks in different ces. Ting Xue followed Qin Yunuan with a timid look. Once others retreated, she plopped on her knees, bowed her head to Qin Yunuan and did not speak.

    In fact, even though Ting Xue didn¡¯t say a word, Qin Yunuan had already guessed about it.

    Raising her head slowly, Qin Yunuan looked at a pond in the courtyard afar, ¡°I gave you the hundred-tael note to redeem your sister in the brothel. Don¡¯t you regret that you¡¯ve used it in this way?¡± Ting Xue¡¯s younger sister had just been sold into the brothel but was still a virgin. She served as a servant girl and could still be redeemed in the price of a hundred tael.

    ¡°It was I who did the wrong thing first. I followed the wrong people.¡± Her younger sister was sold into the brothel because Dou tried to control her. She knew it very well. What she didn¡¯t know was that whether Qin Yunuan, who had always acted decisively, would believe that she had never betrayed her from the beginning to the end. She would feel uneasy if someone let her do those things that harm others. Moreover, she hated Dou Qing¡¯e but appreciated Qin Yunuan for her leniency.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to apologize to me,¡± Qin Yunuan crouched down slowly to look at Ting Xue horizontally, ¡°I knew it because you had never hurt me.¡± Qin Yunuan continued when Ting Xue was slightly surprised, ¡°I knew that you were not with her since you and Tinghe arrived in my yard. But fortunately, you chose to part with her finally. Otherwise, did you think I would still keep you by my side?¡±

    Ting Xue could hardly believe her ears. She raised her head nkly. Qin Yunuan¡¯s dark eyes were deep like wells, unpredictable and endless like a ck hole that would swallow people. A fantastic splendor seemed to glow in them.

    ¡°I knew every message you and Tinghe used to pass through the small hole in the corner from the beginning,¡± Qin Yunuan stopped hiding, and she didn¡¯t bother to hide, ¡°Tinghe was honest spreading out every situation and those details in my yard, or every message I wanted Dou Qing¡¯e to know. But you wrote every time that you failed to enter my room, so everything remained unknown, which was not the fact. I knew very well who helped me, who harmed me and who didn¡¯t want to. ¡±

    Ting Xue looked at Qin Yunuan in a daze. She had never thought about how thoughtful and prophetic this Third Miss Qin in front of her could be.

    ¡°I wanted to give you a hundred tael of silver so that you could redeem your sister and you two could leave the Royal City, away from thisnd of troubles. Now that you¡¯ve helped me, you have offended the Dou Family. I am afraid there won¡¯t be a safe ce for you even in this big world,¡± Qin Yunuan sighed quietly.

    ¡°I won¡¯t leave, I would follow you all the time, Third Miss.¡±

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t speak but only helped Ting Xue get up. With a nce, she noticed that someone was standing behind the bamboo forest. She wasn¡¯t sure when did that persone. She just stood quietly, looked at Qin Yunuan and didn¡¯t shy away when she was discovered.

    She was Shangguan Yee.

    ¡°Well, go and guard the gate of the yard.¡± Qin Yunuan ordered Ting Xue to step down, and then she saw the calm Shangguan Yee gave her a mocking and deste look.

    She bumbled to Qin Yunuan with tears in her eyes.

    ¡°The dead would nevere back.¡± Qin Yunuan saluted properly and said with coldness. Nobody knew whether this sentence wasforting or reminding.

    Shangguan Yee wiped tears from the corners of her eyes violently. She and Shangguan Rang had the same mother. Shangguan Rang was six years older than her and always tolerated her. She disdained her useless brother who liked buying her unpractical, luxury gifts. But now even these gifts were gone. Her brother was gone for real.

    Shangguan Yee appeared to be strong today. The power of hatred and the desire for revenge not only led her to the court of this homicide trial but also made here up with that piece of evidence, which she had forged perfectly.

    ¡°Speaking of which, this is the first time we are on the same front.¡± Shangguan Yee turned her head stubbornly and looked at Qin Yunuan.

    Qin Yunuan was cold to her and didn¡¯t reply.

    Shangguan Yee continued, ¡°I know it¡¯s Qin Yunzhuang. That bitch had never been kind. My brother was very happy to receive a letter from the little bitch a few days ago. How could he know that Qin Yunzhuang had nned this for him, arranging a private meeting of a married woman with my brother? My brother had better taste than this, how could he be in love with Li? Qin Yunzhuang did it for revenge. I hurt her face and my brother was about to marry her younger sister as a concubine. She didn¡¯t want that. So she used this filthy method. How could she be so mean?¡±

 Chapter 70 Confession

    <h4>Chapter 70 Confession</h4>

    Shangguan Yee had always behaved in that way. She was self-willed, self-centered, smart in her conceit. Every inference she made revolved around her. Qin Yunzhuang schemed this to revenge her and her brother. Qin Yunuan listened with indifference. But that would work, too. At least it irritated Shangguan Yee and woke her heart of potential vengeance. It could be terrifying when a powerful heiress of the Shangguan Family started her revenge.

    ¡°If Qin Yunzhuang had retaliated against you for her face, I would still have believed it. But if she had done it because Qin Yuwan was about to marry your brother as a concubine,¡± Qin Yunuan raised an eyebrow, ¡°Miss Shangguan, you have overestimated the friendship between my eldest and second sister.¡±

    Shangguan Yee was naive and immature, but also very passionate.

    ¡°By the way, don¡¯t you think that Grand Miss may just have arranged this meeting for your brother? Li might be the real killer for your brother. Maybe the person you hate should be Li.¡±

    ¡°Huh,¡± Shangguan Yee snorted coldly, ¡°Who do you think Li is, that she could kill my brother? Does she dare? My brother had skills in martial arts. Li is a weak woman. Moreover, she was a weak woman that my brother would look down upon. How could she hurt my brother?¡± After her words, Shangguan Yee moved closer and said in a mysterious tone, ¡°Actually, do you know that Qin Yunzhuang and her mother are far more powerful than you think. They have countless killers hidden behind their backs. Their skills were excellent, sealing throats with little blood.¡±

    In fact, Qin Yunuan knew this a long time ago. She nced at the gloomy expression of Shangguan Yee. She understood that she was no longer the lively and capricious Miss Shangguan.

    ¡°Thank you for sending me the notification in time,¡± Shangguan Yee raised her pitch, ¡°I have made fake letters ording to your instructions. The real one was burned by my brother after reading. So we¡¯re even. Later in the public court, I would continue toe up with evidence. I will watch that little bitch Qin Yunzhuang fall down to hell.¡± Shangguan Yee said smilingly, taking a step back, ¡°Looking forward to our second cooperation.¡±

    ¡°There won¡¯t be a second time,¡± Qin Yunuan turned around coldly, dropping her a sentence, ¡°I don¡¯t cooperate with lunatics.¡±

    After leaving the yard, Qin Yunuan nced at Ting Xue who was staying outside. Ting Xue immediately followed and looked back at Shangguan Yee, who was still standing in the same ce, ¡°Miss Shangguan seems to be a little different. She¡¯s bing....¡±

    ¡°Terrifying, isn¡¯t she?¡± Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t look back, ¡°Shangguan Yee¡¯s heart is filled with hatred. She blindly immerses herself in her judgment and reverie. No one could pull her out. Sooner orter, She will be caught in a trap of her own making like Qin Yunzhuang, so stay away from her.¡±

    Ting Xue listened and nodded firmly. The two walked to the back hall where Li Qiqi was temporarily held. Under the shade of the trees, a familiar figure shed out of the door from a distance.

    It¡¯s Qin Zhi....

    Qin Yunuan hid behind a silk tree unconsciously. She watched as Qin Zhi furrowed his brow and walked out of the house quickly. Looking around, he hurried out of the yard.

    Qin Zhi? Li Qiqi?

    Did Qin Zhi finally fail to sit still?

    The court trial started again, and the atmosphere was a bit weird. Qin Yunzhuang leaned in Qin Linfeng¡¯s arms and she was scared out of her wits. Shangguan Yee kept looking at her with a dark andplex look.

    Yan Chengbing looked around and was about to speak when a ghostly female voice reverberated in the court.

    ¡°Master, I plead guilty.¡±

    Li Qiqi spoke.

    It seemed unexpected, but Qin Zhi and Qin Yunuan appeared to be calm. Qin Yunuan leaned forward her body and continued to listen to what Li Qiqi said.

    ¡°I killed him, and it¡¯s also me who asked the young master Shangguan to go. I have loved the young master Shangguan for a long time. Unfortunately, I am now a married woman. I want to be with the young master Shangguan for thest time before he marries Second Miss Qin. But I didn¡¯t expect the young master had such a pure state of mind. He was upright and refused to ept my intentions. He also verbally insulted me for not having women¡¯s virtue. I got angry and killed him.¡±

    Li Qiqi said in a faint voice, but her words were clear and organized. She kept her head down. Some messy hair covered her eyes, making it hard to see the colors in them.

    She looked so helpless.

    Qin Yunuan knew that these must be what Qin Zhi had demanded Li Qiqi to say. He used some unknown things as a bargaining chip, forcing Li Qiqi to give such untrue testimony. Li Qiqi was a concubine, but Qin Yunzhuang was an heiress. It became very clear who should be sacrificed and who should be kept safe at a critical time like this. At the same time, it could give Shangguan Yuan an exnation. Li Qiqi even admitted the offense of arranging ¡°the private meeting of the two¡±, and Shangguan Rang suddenly became a straightforward gentleman.

    It was obvious that Yan Chengbing would not let it go so easily. He asked seriously, ¡°Li, as you have said that you killed the young master Shangguan, what about the murder weapon? Where did you leave the murder weapon? What kind of weapon did you use?¡±

    A bleak smile appeared on the corner of Li Qiqi¡¯s mouth, ¡°A pointed dagger with a pair of silver swallow wings at the handle. The dagger was six inches long. It cuts iron like mud. If you put hairs on the de and blow to it, they will break instantly. I left it behind a giant stone a hundred meter east to the thatched house.¡±

    How could it be... all correct? It was exactly the same as that police officer¡¯s report of the dagger found in the thatched house just now, the location and the details.

    Qin Yunuan looked at Qin Zhi. Yan Chengbing had invited Qin Zhi and Shangguan Yuan for a talk in the inner hall, mostly the talk would be about finding the murder weapon. The Qiw stipted that the observing officials were responsible for participation, assistance, and surveince throughout the whole process of the case. She did not expect that Qin Zhi used the convenience of the position, instructed Li Qiqi to fake to protect the fame of the heiress of the Qin Family.

    Someone should be responsible for this in the end. Qin Yunuan looked at Li Qiqi, who was not far from her death, and then at Qin Yunzhuang with tears all over her face and resentment for her. She had overachieved what she wanted.

    ¡°Master Yan, it¡¯s me who killed the young master Shangguan,¡± Li Qiqi smiled bitterly and admitted.

    ¡°Impossible,¡± Shangguan Yee shouted first, ¡°With your skills, how could you kill my brother?¡±

    ¡°I attacked while he wasn¡¯t paying attention. The young master Shangguan had no guard against me, so it was easy to seed.¡±

    ¡°Master Yan.¡± Qin Zhi turned his head slowly. It was unable to read joy or anger from his face, ¡°The matter had already be clear, was further examination necessary?¡± He spoke to Li Qiqi again, ¡°As a woman, you are of loose morals and ignorant of shame. You havemitted murder. You dirtied the Qin Family¡¯s face. Master Shangguan, you can rest assured that our Qin Family will never be tolerant with such a bitch, and she will be at your mercy.¡±

    Qin Yunuan twisted her lips with scorn. Her good father might have done a lot of those things, offering people favors while selling others out.

    Yan Chengbing frowned, ¡°Master Qin, we have only Li¡¯s words now. I¡¯m afraid,¡± Yan Chengbing and Qin Zhi¡¯s eyes met in the condensed cold air, but at that moment, Yan Chengbing stroke the sounding block and made a decision, ¡°Li will be retained for the trialter.¡±

    Faced with the obvious provocative behavior of Yan Chengbing, Qin Zhi did not object but simply saluted towards Shangguan Yuan with a righteous face, ¡°Master Shangguan, you can rest assured that I will never cover for anyone of the Qin Family.¡±

    It was approaching dusk when this serious trial ended with a bit frustrating ending. The vige women with loose tongues had long spread out Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s performance in the public court. She mored, tried to nder her sister, also had correspondence with the young master of the Shangguan Family before marriage. Though the rumors were about Qin Yunzhuang, Qin Linfeng was the most irritated one.

    ¡°What are you looking at? Get out of here.¡± As he got on the carriage back to the mansion, Qin Linfeng looked around all the unwanted attentions for Qin Yunzhuang and protected his sister like a cow protecting its cubs.

    Li Qiqi was only waiting for trial, but now she was a criminal who had pleaded guilty. Naturally, she was moved from the waiting room to the prison.

    ¡°Dine.¡± The jailer sent a bowl of white rice, with a few vegetable leaves drooping on top, and a little yellow soup underneath. It was already nice to be able to eat white rice in prison, but Li Qiqi had no appetite at all.

    She leaned against the icy and damp prison door and watched the reddish setting sun prating through the tall, little window. The glow spread out in the room, picturing a lustrous and dazzling view.

    Suddenly, the view disappeared and was reced by a thin ck figure. Li Qiqi was startled and turned back suddenly.

    ¡°Third Miss?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Qin Yunuan walked out of the corner where light and shadow inteced. She looked back at the following Ting Xue and she immediately turned around and started chatting with the jailer outside the door deliberately to cover the two people.

    Li Qiqi smiled sadly, ¡°It is rare that Third Miss would be so thoughtful to see me. It¡¯s really an honor.¡±

    Qin Yunuan slowly squatted down to meet with Li Qiqi¡¯s eyes horizontally. She spoke, ¡°I¡¯m here to find you, just because you are still valuable to me.¡±

    Li Qiqi pointed to the vain walls in the prison andughed, ¡°Value? Third Miss, are you kidding me?¡±

    Qin Yunuan said, ¡°I need to ask you, what was the poison on the dagger? Was it unique to East Qin? You have seen Shangguan Rang¡¯s wound, you must know.¡±

    When the carriage was halfway to the mansion, Huang Dashi suddenly stopped her carriage, saying that Maner¡¯s injury had deteriorated, and the blood that had been almost cleansed began toe out again. Maner¡¯s face was turning blue and purple. She seemed very ufortable. Qin Yunuan immediately turned around and ran towards the county government.

    She knew that Li Qiqi must know because she never felt that Li Qiqi¡¯s identity was that simple.

    ¡°Third Miss thinks too highly of me,¡± Li Qiqi turned her head, ¡°I am a woman from a bawdy house. I don¡¯t know anything but prostitution and singing. How could I know about the poison?¡±

    Qin Yunuan snorted coldly, ¡°I have sent someone to check. You said that when you sang in the Su mansion, you changed your name to Lily. The miracle-working doctor and also the Master of my cousin Su, Sun Miaoyang also had a female disciple with the name Lily. You were so affectionate to my cousin. How could you not follow along when he left home resolutely to study medicine? When the fire broke out on the first night you married into the Qin Family, your eyes that lingered around my cousin Su were not the expression of unwilling and nostalgic. You were more surprised and puzzled, I was afraid.¡±

 Chapter 71 Grown Men Long for Love

    <h4>Chapter 71 Grown Men Long for Love</h4>

    Li Qiqi suddenly looked at Qin Yunuan with a stern and curious look, as if she had wanted to see a few clues in Qin Yunuan¡¯s always elegant eyes. Unfortunately, she didn¡¯t get anything. But Qin Yunuan had looked through her.

    Time seemed to freeze. Li Qiqi said after a long time, ¡°Yes, I was surprised. I was puzzled. I felt it strange that although Master Su became a military doctor and marched with the army, and I never met him again, but we were together for many years after all. I couldn¡¯t believe that he looked at me like a stranger. No, more indifferent than strangers. He was very indifferent to everyone, except for you. At that moment, Iforted myself over and over again, that he was not the real young master Su. He must not be. He was just a person who looked like him. I didn¡¯t find out until I received a letter from my little sister from Jianzhou....¡±

    ¡°Enough,¡± Qin Yunuan interrupted the woman¡¯s lengthy remarks mercilessly, ¡°I¡¯m not here to listen to your tragedy. You just need to tell me. What is the poison on the wounded dagger?¡±

    ¡°Why should I tell you?¡± Li Qiqi smiled suddenly, ¡°I¡¯m going to die anyway, what¡¯s wrong with not being buried alone?¡±

    A cold light shed in Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes, but she was not angry. She slowly moved closer and only whispered something in Li Qiqi¡¯s ear. Li Qiqi¡¯splexion changed immediately. Her eyes widened. Her nails almost buckled into the wet bars of the prison door. She whispered, ¡°You are so like your father. Behind your polite appearances, you are evil wolves that eat people without spitting bones.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for yourpliment,¡± Qin Yunuan gently brushed Li Qiqi¡¯s hair blocking her eyes through the prison door, ¡°So, you can say it now.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Li Qiqi raised her head and took a deep breath. She had a mysterious smile on her face when speaking, ¡°The detoxication was simple, but I¡¯m afraid that you might not find one ingredient of the medicine, Third Miss. The snow lotus in the pr cier, Third Miss. It¡¯s early summer now. Even if you had gone to the ice sheet in the extreme north, your friend¡¯s body would have stunk when you return.¡±

    Qin Yunuan leaned backward. She seemed to be sizing up Li Qiqi and said with a click of the tongue, ¡°Li Qiqi, Li Qiqi. I used only to know that you are not a good person, but I don¡¯t know that you could be so poisonous in your heart.¡±

    ¡°Since everyone in the world has wronged me, why should I be worthy of all the people in the world.¡± Although she wasn¡¯t sentenced, Li Qiqi knew that she could no longer survive by Qin Zhi¡¯s means and the words that Qin Zhi said to her. What was ridiculous was that she was not afraid at all when she was near death.

    Qin Yunuan stood up, put away the prescription that Li Qiqi said just now, and smiled, ¡°Concubine Li, everyone is very busy. We have no time to wrong you. You overestimate yourself.¡±

    This woman had always been so confident and calm. No matter what kind of trap she was in. No matter how strong the enemy she faced. She looked down at the world even with a little arrogance and dignity. Li Qiqi knew that she had lost. She lostpletely.

    Qin Yunuan was about to turn around when Li Qiqi said with a faint voice behind, ¡°Since when did you start to suspect me? Was it when I beg you to take me to see Young Master Su for thest time? Or, did you also know that I put the green bamboo snake inside, right? Or....¡±

    Qin Yunuan paused and did not turn back, ¡°I didn¡¯t prepare to believe in all your stories from the moment you arrived in the mansion.¡±

    It turned out that she had never won from the beginning. When it came to men, Su Chenghai had always been thinking about this little cousin. As for strategy, she was like a buffoon messing around under the nose of this woman.

    She seemed to have gathered up great courage and shouted again as Qin Yunuan took a few strides forward, ¡°You are so right in your calction, but do you know that the Cousin Su that you have spent every day with, the Cousin Su that you would rip your heart out for was not the real Su Chenghai. The real young master Su had long been....¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Qin Yunuan interrupted her, tilting her head, ¡°dead.¡±

    The starry sky tonight was dark and depressing. A few scattered stars appeared to be lonesome in the night sky of early summer, which came in a sudden.

    Qin Yunuan settled her lc embroidered coat in the wagon. She borrowed this carriage from Fang Ziying temporarily to deceive the public. Also, the Grand Miss Fang, who was already married, returned today. Therefore, Qin Yunuan said to the gatekeeper when he was about to close the city gate, that she hade to visit rtives with Grand Miss Fang, but identally lost her way on the road. The janitor only nced at the carriage. He let her go after realizing that this was indeed carriage of the Fang Family.

    ¡°You go home first,¡± Qin Yunuan ordered Ting Xue.

    ¡°Third Miss, you....¡± Ting Xue felt a little uneasy in her heart. Now that the Qin Mansion got a lot of publicity, she was afraid that something would happen to Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°I need to beter. Maner was injured now, and nurse Liao had to look after Baochuan. We need someone clever in the yard.¡± Qin Yunuan urged Ting Xue to get off the wagon, and then she said to the driver Huang Dashi, ¡°Brother Dashi, let¡¯s go to Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.¡±

    In the Jiyu house at the east end of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, Leng Changxi was staying in the side study room, wearing only a dark purple robe and revealing most of his white underclothes. When raising his hand to turn over the pages, his outline of the chest was visible even when it was hidden under cover of underwear. His eyes were even brighter than the morning star in the night sky. They brightened up, especially when hearing Leng Wu¡¯s report. He said that Qin Yunuan wasing. The warmth and care flew out his eyes naturally like a hot spring.

    ¡°General, Third Miss Qin has been waiting at the back door. Do you want to see her or not?¡± Leng Wu reminded him.

    ¡°Let her in,¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s voice seemed to be quite calm. Putting away the book, he raised his hand to carry the teacup and looked as Leng Wu hurried out. After half a sip, he ordered nanny Yuan who was in charge of the house toe in.

    After a moment, nanny Yuan hurried out the gate. Later, she took three little servant girls with her, each holding a tray with almost the same bat-shaped mask on, which were simr to the one on Leng Changxi¡¯s face at the time.

    Xue Si, who guarded at the door, was curious and shot his mouth off, ¡°What is Master going to do?¡±

    Nanny Yuan red at Xue Si with a sneer and said, ¡°A guest ising. Master wanted to change his mask and asked me to pick a good-looking one.¡±

    Xue Si was stunned and scratched his head, ¡°Aren¡¯t all these masks sent in a batch, aren¡¯t they the same?¡±

    Nanny Yuan didn¡¯t give a direct answer. Instead, she gave a mischievous smile, squeezing out several folds on her face, ¡°Believe it or not, this guest must be a distinguished one, and also a woman.¡±

    Xue Si shook his head in disbelief, ¡°Impossible. Master has always regarded women as nothing. He never cared like this. It must be something new from Prince Anyang Zhao Huijin.¡±

    Nanny Yuan had her tricks of the trade after working for Leng Changxi for so long. She cheerfully coaxed the hot-blooded Xue Si into a bet of ten silver tael, which was equivalent to Xue Si¡¯s wage of two months without spending anything on food or drink.

    When he spotted Qin Yunuan, who was led by Leng Wu on the shortcut through the back door, Xue Si stood at the gate, extremely regretful that his ten tael was gone.

    ¡°The general is inside.¡± Leng Wu led Qin Yunuan to the door and instructed her to push it by herself.

    She needed much courage to open the door. It was the first time that Qin Yunuan met Leng Changxi in private. Just two people, he and she.

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s favorite Sweet Olive incense was burning in the room. A porcin bottle was ced on the elegant andfortable mahogany case, with a fresh apricot blossom in it.

    Leng Changxi held the scroll, but his mind had long drifted away from the lines in it. From the moment when Qin Yunuan pushed the door open, all his attention fixed on Qin Yunuan firmly. It was like being attracted by a ma, he looked at her gentle but heroic eyebrows, a small but not arched nose, those slightly pursed pale cherry lips, and her delicate corbone. Her full breast heaved as she breathed as he moved his eyes downward, which made Leng Changxi shivered all over. It seemed that a bonfire was scorching his body. A wave of heat was surging down in his abdomen. This was a feeling he had never experienced before.

    The heat of his abdomen tormented him. After a long time, Leng Changxi raised his head slowly and looked at Qin Yunuan, ¡°You are here.¡±

    It seemed that in his words, he had seen through the purpose of Qin Yunuan¡¯s visit. Qin Yunuan stood seven steps away from Leng Changxi. He dressed casually today, still wearing the ck mask that he had never taken off. His manner was also casual. It was terrifying that he could always control people casually and see through people¡¯s minds at will.

    Since she was speaking with a wise man, Qin Yunuan cut the crap, ¡°I¡¯m here to borrow an iceberg snow lotus from General Leng.¡±

    ¡°What for?¡±

    ¡°To save people?¡±

    ¡°To save your servant girl?¡±

    Qin Yunuan paused and nodded, ¡°Yes.¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled gently and closed the book in his hand, ¡°Do you know that this thing you want to borrow, Zhao Huijin tried everything possible but failed to get it from me. Wouldn¡¯t it be unreasonable for me to give it to you once you ask?¡±

    ¡°I have thought it over,¡± Qin Yunuan looked directly into the deep eyes of Leng Changxi, ¡°I will pay the bill monthly ording to the market price. And within ten years, I will definitely pay off.¡±

    For the first time, Leng Changxi saw Qin Yunuan asking for help. She was a little unconvinced and clever in trivial matters. But pride was nted deep in her bones. A little hedgehog with thorns turned into a little sheep asking for help for a servant girl. Leng Changxi felt both sweet and bitter in his heart.

    ¡°Ten years?¡± Leng Changxi raised his eyebrows. ¡°That¡¯s too long. It happened that my mother had a sore throat recently. I was thinking about giving her this Tianshan snow lotus tomorrow. Huh? What do you say?¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes turned cold, ¡°General Leng, to be honest, Zhao Huijin aimed at you when he tried to hurt me. But he killed the young master Shangguan and also injured Maner mistakenly. How could you shift all your responsibility?¡±

 Chapter 72 A Vague Profession of Love

    <h4>Chapter 72 A Vague Profession of Love</h4>

    Now that was right. Leng Changxi smiled as he looked at Qin Yunuan who was looking serious. He seemed to be satisfied with Qin Yunuan being serious with him, ¡°Since you know that the ultimate aim of Zhao Huijin to harm you is to seek revenge on me, you must know the reason behind it.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stunned. Leng Changxi¡¯s mind and hers were on totally different pages. After she thought of the description ¡°beloved¡±, Qin Yunuan blushed involuntarily. It turned from a light blushing into a honey peach red, and then a persimmon red. Finally, she couldn¡¯t help but turned her head around and said vaguely, ¡°I... I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°Yes, you do,¡± Leng Changxi seemed very stubborn about this question, and his tone became extremely gentle, ¡°Since you know, you should expect that in fact. If you want anything from me, I¡¯ll give it to you if I have it. If I don¡¯t, I¡¯ll get it from somebody else to give it to you.¡±

    After Leng Changxi finished his sentence, he touched the tip of his nose as if he suddenly had been realized something. Before Qin Yunuan was able to react, Leng Changxi muttered to himself, ¡°Oh, no wonder you are here.¡±

    Qin Yunuan tried to calm herself down, but her heart was beating so hard that it was almost out of her control. She lowered her voice and maintained a gentle tone, ¡°I have only met General Leng a few times.¡± There seemed to be some tentative emotions in the sentence.

    Leng Changxi suddenly smiled softly, and his wide and elegant cuffs waved up with the amplitude of the movement. There seemed to be a bit of lethal charm in Leng Changxi¡¯s tone, as he said, ¡°Isn¡¯t there a saying in the folks called love at first sight?¡±

    Love at first sight? Qin Yunuan could hardly believe her ears. She couldn¡¯t believe that these words came from the Cool Face General who had always kept his distance with thedies and rumored to be ruthless.

    At this moment, Leng Changxi slightly leaned his head sideways. He was waiting for Qin Yunuan¡¯s answer like a child. His nce was firm, but his tone was a bit overbearing, even the posture of crossing his hands over his chest seemed to announce that the woman in front of him was his and no one could take her away from him.

    Qin Yunuan lowered her head and said quietly, ¡°You must be joking, General Leng.¡±

    Was she shy? Leng Changxi pondered silently, and there was actually a hint of warmth in his heart. He enjoyed this way of getting along with people. He treated her differently from the others, and she treated him differently from the others, too. Years of military camp life had gained him a straight-forward temperament. So even saying love words to a girl would seem a bit overbearing and straightforward. He thought that she would be angry, or avoid the topic with some excellent talking tricks, but she didn¡¯t. Good. Leng Changxi smiled. He was very satisfied.

    Since he was satisfied....

    ¡°Follow nanny Yuan to get the Tianshan snow lotuster. She has worked for the mansion for a long time, don¡¯t worry.¡±

    After listening to Leng Changxi¡¯s words, Qin Yunuan felt much relieved suddenly, but she heard Leng Changxi continued, ¡°But it¡¯s conditional.¡±

    She knew it was not that simple. ¡°What conditions?¡± Qin Yunuan raised her head and asked.

    Leng Changxi turned around and walked to the desk in a few steps before picking up the scroll again, ¡°You will know by then.¡±

    When Qin Yunuan returned to the Fuxi Courtyard, it was almost midnight.

    ¡°Make the medicine ording to the prescription and ask Maner to take it.¡± Qin Yunuan handed the snow lotus in the brocade box and the prescription she got from Li Qiqi to Tong. Then, she headed to Baochuan¡¯s room to see him who had already fallen asleep.

    ¡°Second Master has been working harder recently.¡± Seeing that it was getting cold at night, nurse Liao carefully picked up a thin shirt and covered it on Qin Yunuan¡¯s shoulders while she followed her behind. ¡°The teachers in the family academy were all saying that Second Master is talented and willing to work hard.¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned her head and said, ¡°That¡¯s what Baochuan told you, right?¡±

    Nurse Liao didn¡¯t quite know what to say, but she nodded anyway.

    ¡°Dou Qing¡¯e has been in charge of the family for so long, and most of the people in the family academy are friends of the Dou Family. Although Dou Qing¡¯e is not physically in the mansion, but she could reach her hands far enough.¡± Thinking of Qin Yunzhuang sending letters to Dou Qing¡¯e to report the situation in the mansion every day, Qin Yunuan knew that it was still a long way to go to ensure Baochuan growing up safely and sessfully.

    Qin Yunuan looked at Baochuan, who was sleeping soundly, and she tucked him into bed. The desk was covered with books and scrolls, and there was not much bean oil left in themp.

    Aftering out of Qin Baochuan¡¯s room, Qin Yunuan stood alone in the courtyard to cool herself down, thinking about another news that nurse Liao told her.

    ¡°Third Miss, you¡¯ll turn fifteen in May. Now the Grand Miss is preparing to attend the Prince¡¯s selection of Princess in June. As for the Second Miss, her wedding was cancelled because of the ident of young master Shangguan, and wouldn¡¯t be able to find someone else in short term. Now, it seems that Master is nning to put your marriage on the agenda. It is said that the son of Officer Yuan fancies you a lot. You need to get prepared as early as possible, Third Miss.¡±

    Officer Yuan¡¯s son? Qin Yunuan had never heard of this person, let alone meeting or knowing. Marriages between families were often like this. As long as they were not crooked, and it was beneficial to the families, then they got married.

    Qin Yunuan did not have any emotional experience in the previous life. Even her marriage was arranged as she was pushed into the marriage sedan under much confusion. But in this life, the only thing and the most important thing that she wanted to do was to protect Baochuan. Her marriage was a bit too sudden for her.

    Inexplicably, Qin Yunuan thought of the words that Leng Changxi said to her when she was in his study. Even though his face was not in front of her, Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart seemed to beat more quickly as long as she thought of it.

    Qin Yunuan had been staying out there for quite some time. She didn¡¯t return to her own room until nurse Liao came to persuade her.

    Early the next morning, Qin Yunuan had just got up and rinsed her mouth with flower tea when she heard some noise from a distance.

    ¡°It seems toe from the Caizhi Courtyard,¡± Tong took a look outside and said, ¡°It seems that the Grand Miss was making a fuss.¡±

    She got so badly embarrassed yesterday. It would haven¡¯t been her if she hadn¡¯t made a fuss.

    While Qin Yunuan was about to head for the Shunchang Courtyard and passed by the Caizhi Courtyard, Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s voice got louder, maybe because of the appearance of Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°My father, I want to see my father. How can he do this? Mother was sent to the temple and the elder brother was put under house arrest. Now he¡¯s really ruthless. Why won¡¯t he let me go to the selection of Princess? Why? Butler Xie, find my father. I want to confront him.¡±

    Qin Yunuan paused, and heard Butler Xie¡¯s slightly cold voice, saying, ¡°Grand Miss, Master has no time to see you right now. That¡¯s his decision.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang was still preparing to shout loudly, but she choked as she saw Qin Yunuan approaching and leaned against the door. She stopped shouting but her nce was still full of unwillingness and resentment.

    And Qin Linfeng, who had been with Qin Yunzhuang tofort her all this time took the initiative to send Qin Yunuan off. He strode forward and stared at her with his blood-shot eyes, ¡°What are you doing here? Is Yunzhuang¡¯s courtyard somewhere you coulde at any time? You need to know about your identity.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was not in a hurry, and she turned her head slightly and said, ¡°It seems that brother is still in the house arrest announced by father. What are you doing here in sister¡¯s courtyard against father¡¯s will? Who¡¯s the one who doesn¡¯t know about his identity now?¡±

    ¡°You,¡± Qin Linfeng¡¯s hand pointing at Qin Yunuan paused and he yanked it back and said angrily, ¡°Anyway, you are just a daughter of a concubine who can¡¯t even have a say in your own marriage. Who do you think father will prefer, you or me?¡±

    Butler Xie was still there, yet Qin Linfeng dared to ask such a question. Even though Qin Zhi clearly separated the children of his wife and the children of the concubines in his mind, he needed to act fair and just on the surface.

    ¡°Father always prefers the more obedient one, the one who doesn¡¯t cause trouble, and the one who knows what is the right thing to do.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled and once again satirized Qin Linfeng¡¯s irascible manner.

    Qin Yunzhuang stepped forward, with faint tears on her face. She held Qin Linfeng back and said to Qin Yunuan teasingly, ¡°Now you are really capable. Anyway, I¡¯ll tell you since you¡¯ll know it sooner orter. Father has sent someone to inform me this morning that I don¡¯t need to attend the selection of the princess, as he already has a better candidate for it. There are only four daughters in the Qin Family. If I¡¯m not going, since the second sister Yuwan¡¯s marriage was cancelled, and the fourth sister Yuzhao is retarded, you¡¯re the only one left. Well yed, Qin Yunuan. I used to think that you were short-sighted and merely wanted to survive in the Qin Family, but I didn¡¯t know that you have nned it all for you to be a member of the royal family and to be superior. Congrattions, Qin Yunuan. Even though I couldn¡¯t make it to the Princess selection, naturally someone will get rid of you for me.¡±

    Taking Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s spot to attend the selection? This was something that even Qin Yunuan herself didn¡¯t expect, let alone nning in advance. She looked at the slightly haggard Qin Yunzhuang coldly, and watched the fringed lotus flower on her head trembling like a real blighted flower in strong wind. Qin Linfeng was like a towering tree at the moment, guarding Qin Yunzhuang on her side.

    Qin Yunuan smiled slightly, ¡°Surviving in the Qin Family? This is indeed too easy. I don¡¯t even bother mentioning it. But I am equally uninterested in attending the selection of Princess. Qin Yunzhuang, don¡¯t feel too good about yourself. Don¡¯t think that the others will be jealous of you and want what you treasure. Moreover, don¡¯t me me for all your pain, as there are so many things that you actually asked for.¡±

    Qin Yunuan left the Caizhi Courtyard without looking back after she was done. When she arrived at the Shunchang Courtyard of Qin Zhi, he had just returned from the pce. Qin Yunuan finished her routine to greet him as usual, and she heard Qin Zhi implying that he wanted Qin Yunuan to rece Qin Yunzhuang for the selection.

    If it hadn¡¯t been for the mistakes of yesterday, Qin Zhi waspletely unwilling to rece Qin Yunzhuang. To him, even though Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s temperament was simr to Dou Qing¡¯e and she had caused many troublestely, she was good at music, chess, painting, and calligraphy. She was even known as the most beautiful woman in Qi. She would surely be chosen as the Prince¡¯s wife in the Princess selection. However, Qin Yunuan had be more and more prettytely, and she had never done anything wrong. It was also crucial to survive in the royal family.

    Take the safer option. Qin Zhi always put his benefit in the first ce.

    ¡°There¡¯s one more thing,¡± Qin Zhi suddenly said when Qin Yunuan was about to get up and leave, ¡°Last night, Li Qiqimitted suicide in prison.¡±

 Chapter 73 Asked for It

    <h4>Chapter 73 Asked for It</h4>

    When Qin Zhi said ¡°suicide¡±, his nce stayed on Qin Yunuan¡¯s face deliberately for a long time. After confirming that the surprise and resentment on Qin Yunuan¡¯s face were real, he slowly withdrew his nce. It seemed that this daughter of a concubine still assured him.

    ¡°Father,¡± Qin Yunuan opened her mouth, but held her words back abruptly. She lowered her head and simply said, ¡°Don¡¯t be overly mournful, father. You were married to each other after all. Even though what Concubine Li did was wrong, Yunuan knows that father must feel bad about it.¡±

    Qin Zhi lowered his head in coordination, and sighed, ¡°It¡¯s alright. You can leave now.¡±

    Qin Yunuan went out of the study and saw that the cypresses nted in the yard had be more lush. The tender green buds exuded the vitality and strength of the early summer, forming a sharp contrast with Qin Yunuan¡¯s rather heavy mood.

    She knew exactly how Li Qiqi died. Suicide? How ridiculous was that? How could a person like Li Qiqi be stupid enough to die silently in the prison? Even she confessed her sins, she would live till thest moment of her life to hear that Qin Yunzhuang could not attend the princess selection, to see the Qin Family in chaos.

    In order to preserve the reputation of the Qin Family and Qin Yuzhuang, Qin Zhi had really invested heavily this time that he even took a life. She just didn¡¯t know whether the rumored strict rumor Yan Chengbing would investigate it thoroughly.

    When Qin Yunuan returned to the Fuxi Courtyard, nurse Liao told her that Maner was able to open her eyes and get up this morning. Qin Yunuan was very pleased with the news and she hurried to the wood-shed where Maner was rehabilitated. Compared to the tattered courtyard, the wood-shed was very neatly packed. The seat benches and ondol mattresses were all new. To help Maner rehabilitate better, Qin Yunuan also specifically let Huang Dashi open a small window on the south wall for easy venttion.

    The renovated wood-shed was more like a girl¡¯s room. It was very elegant.

    ¡°You¡¯re up! Are you feeling better?¡± Qin Yunuan pushed open the door and entered the wood-shed, and could not help but whimpered like an old nanny, ¡°Do you have enough quilts? Is your food alright? You have been in aa and I don¡¯t know whether have you felt hot or cold. Nurse Liao had arranged it all. If you don¡¯t like it, just tell her.¡±

    ¡°Third Miss, Maner is all good. You have already done everything you could to Maner, and I am very grateful for that.¡± Maner was leaning on a soft pillow. Her face was still pale, and the clothes on her shoulders were half open. She probably just had her medicine reced, as there was a fragrance of herbal medicine on her.

    ¡°But I still feel sorry for you,¡± Qin Yunuan sat on Maner¡¯s bedside and took away the medicine bowl for Maner, ¡°In order to cover the fact, I could only said that you were punished for mistakes at work to be locked up in the wood-shed. Hence, it was inappropriate for me toe to visit you. It was Tong and Ting Xue who were taking care of you, and I felt guilty in my heart.¡±

    Maner was flustered and she quickly said, ¡°Third Miss, what are you talking about? You have already treated me very well. Ting Xue had already told me that you went to Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion to ask for the snow lotus for me from General Leng. It¡¯s said that General Leng has a strange temper and violent personality. Third Miss, you have suffered all because of me.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was stunned.

    Strange temper? ¡ª ¡°Since you know it, you should already know that in fact. If youe to me for anything, as long as I have it, I will give it to you.¡±

    Violent personality? ¡ª ¡°If I don¡¯t have it, I will take someone else¡¯s and give it to you.¡±

    Well, Maner was not totally wrong after all. Qin Yunuan gathered the quilt for Maner, lowered her head and said, ¡°Actually, he¡¯s alright.¡±

    Suddenly, Qin Yunuan found that there was a hand stitched needlework under the bedding of Maner. It was in a nice silk material, with a ck background and yellow thread. It was apparently for a man.

    ¡°Now, why are you doing needlework all of a sudden?¡± Qin Yunuan smiled and put away the needle thread and embroidered stretchers hidden by Man¡¯er, and put them behind her back. Looking at Maner wanting to get them back anxiously but didn¡¯t dare to speak, Qin Yunuan tilted her head slightly and said, ¡°If you tell me who do you make it for, I¡¯ll give it back to you.¡±

    Maner lowered her head. Her face seemed to be stained with two red glows. For the first time since she got injured, her pale white face blushed, ¡°What are you talking about, Third Miss? I was just doing it myself as I had been quite freetely.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled and touched the material, ¡°I think this silk is very good. Are you nning to give it to brother Dashi? Nurse Liao had praised you earlier, saying that you are capable and you can take good care of the house. She said that she won¡¯t be worried for the rest of her life if brother Dashi marries someone like you. That¡¯s a good thing.¡±

    Stimted by Qin Yunuan, Maner¡¯s face became more blushed, and she even wanted to get up to take the needlework back, ¡°Who said that it was for brother Dashi? I¡¯ve given him one in the New Year, the knee pads are actually for....¡±

    Maner was half through her words but she covered her mouth and stopped abruptly.

    ¡°Hey, so it¡¯s a knee pad.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled happily and shrugged Maner¡¯s arms, ¡°so, he is a man who practices martial arts.¡±

    In fact, Qin Yunuan knew the answer in her heart. She just looked at Maner with a smile. Qin Yunuan¡¯s always treated emotions naturally, whether for others or for herself.

    Suddenly, there was a clear sound from the newly made small window to the south. There was a pear flower appeared out of nowhere. The white petals were as white as snow in a small porcin bottle, equally white. It was at the edge of the window sill. You could see the fresh luster of the pear flower under the sun from the bed.

    When Maner saw the pear flower, her face was filled with joy and shyness of a girl.

    When Qin Yunuan saw it, she knew it more clearly, but she said, for no reason, ¡°Wow, who just put a pear blossom on the window still? Isn¡¯t he afraid of it being smashed? Why doesn¡¯t he just deliver it into the room next time?¡±

    Maner was embarrassed, and she only dragged Qin Yunuan¡¯s sleeve and whispered, ¡°Third Miss, actually....¡±

    ¡°Okay, okay, I won¡¯t make fun of you anymore,¡± Qin Yunuan stopped teasing Maner and returned the embroidered stretcher to her. She smiled and said, ¡°I had made an appointment with sister Fang to go shopping today. It¡¯s time for me to go now. You need to take a good rest. I¡¯lle to see youter.¡±

    Before leaving, Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help but looked back at the pear flower on the window sill. She pursed her lips and smiled, as she took out the medicine bowl that Maner had drunk up.

    She said that she was going shopping with Fang Ziying. In fact, she also wanted to use it as an excuse to pay a visit to the Golden Butterfly Embroidery House branch that had been opened in the Royal City for quite some time. It was the result of the cooperation between her and Boss Shen, Shen Xun. She gained forty percent of the profit in it.

    The carriage stopped at the alley of the street of Golden Butterfly Embroidery House. The crowd in front of Golden Butterfly Embroidery House could be seen from afar. Recently, in the early summer, Golden Butterfly Embroidery House hadunched a new set of refreshing lotus flowers and apricot flowers pattern. They lookedfortable either on clothes, handkerchiefs or fans. The other embroidery houses wanted to copy them, but just a few dayster, Golden Butterfly Embroidery Houseunched another new set of patterns. The other embroidery houses could not keep up with the speed of Golden Butterfly Embroidery House, and were left far behind.

    As they entered the embroidery house, the shopkeeper in charge recognized Qin Yunuan at first sight. He didn¡¯t make it big. Instead, he simply took Qin Yunuan and Fang Ziying to the inner hall directly, and he asked the staffs to deliver them some of the best andtest garments.

    Fang Ziying was wearing ake green flower skirt embroidered with a bunch of flowers, with a silver hairpin on her head tipped with a lifelike begonia flower, and a tassel hanging on one of the petals. She looked refreshing and lively. For this reason, the clothing fabrics Qin Yunuan selected for her were mainly in bright colors. However, they were not too gorgeous and they fitted the temperament of Fang Ziying very well.

    Sure enough, Fang Ziying loved these garments as soon as she saw them and she couldn¡¯t let them go.

    Fang Ziying was picking the garments while Qin Yunuan was looking at the ount books on the side. She didn¡¯t hide her joint business with Shen Xun from Fang Ziying. One of the reasons was that Fang Ziying was trustworthy, the other was that Fang Ziying¡¯s uncle Xu Xianghuai was in charge of the canal section from the Royal City to the regions south of the River. The Dou Family was in charge of the overall transportation rights of the Canal from the Royal City to Hangzhou. Only with Xu Xianghuai¡¯s help could Golden Butterfly Embroidery House develops so quickly in the Royal City and along the canal.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll just choose these.¡± Fang Ziying decided happily. Fang Ziying only kept two satin and a sky blue shirt among dozens of garments and fabrics.

    ¡°Why have you just picked these?¡± Qin Yunuan put down the ount books, raised her eyebrows, and said to the shopkeeper in charge, ¡°Bring more, the good ones.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯m done,¡± Fang Ziying took Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand and sat down, drinking a cup of warm tea, ¡°I just like these pieces, don¡¯t bother to bring any more.¡± Then she added seriously, ¡°If I take too much, it would be on you after all. It¡¯s not easy for you to start a business in thepetitive world, and it bothers you a lot. You should save money whenever you can. I understand how you feel.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay to take a few more for your aunt perhaps. I can¡¯t thank Officer Xu personally, only you can deliver my gratitude to him.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Fang Ziying waved her hand generously, ¡°My uncle always loves me the most. It¡¯s just a trivial matter.¡±

    The two chatted for a while longer. The recent death of Shangguan Rang and the entanglement between the Shangguan Family and the Qin Family have made severalrge families in the government gloomy for a while. It was said that even the emperor was aware of it. Consequently, Fang Ziying had not been so happy and carefree at home for a while.

    If Shangguan Rang hadn¡¯t died, it would have been likely that the Fang Family would be rtives with the Shangguan Family. As Qin Yuwan would also marry Shangguan Rang as a concubine, it would be chaotic. It was better now that the situation was still good in general.

    The little servant girl in the shop came in to add tea for them. Just when she opened the flower curtain, they heard a noise outside. Among it was a woman¡¯s sharp voice which was extremely harsh.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong in the lobby?¡± Qin Yunuan asked, putting down the teacup.

 Chapter 74 Stirring up Troubles

    <h4>Chapter 74 Stirring up Troubles</h4>

    The little maidservant answered deferentially, ¡°Ady who said she was the infanta and took a fancy to the pale-purple brocade which was selected by Miss Fang just now. She required to purchase it. The shopkeeper had persuaded her outside.¡±

    After the exnation of the little maidservant, several sounds came from outside. Qin Yunuan heard the peevish and imperious voice of thatdy and said with her raising eyebrows, ¡°It seems that it is useless for your master to persuade her.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stood up and was about to walk toward the hall, but was stopped by that little maidservant, ¡°M... miss Qin, my master has said that you¡¯d better wait in the ce. Because apart from the infanta, the moody Iron General also came here.¡±

    She should go there, indeed. That was the first thought shing in her brain. She felt stunned and cleared her throat, ¡°Will you let her keep making such an unreasonable scene? Now Boss Shen returns to the regions south of the River. The shop has no leader, but you shouldn¡¯t let others bully you guys.¡±

    Maybe due to a kind of mission or a kind of attraction, Qin Yunuan felt that she should go outside to handle this issue indeed.

    In the hall, everything was in a mess.

    The most attractive was a crazy little girl standing in the center of the hall, about 16 to 17 years old. She had a delicate and elegant face and her eyebrows were the style of maidens in the regions south of the River. However, endless hostilities emerged in her eyes. She wore a shining golden-thread-made long dress with a valuable hairpin made of goldspink-shaped sapphire. Qin Yunuan felt dizzy about her.

    People near the street were always noble and powerful but nobility like the infanta seldom appeared in this street. Besides, she came with a supremelymanding general. Many people crowded outside the shop.

    Compared with the people of Infanta Shuhua, Qin Yunuan came silently and raised the dark-green curtain with a chopped-green-shallot pattern. Aely maiden stood gracefully at the door of the hall and her clothes were blown lightly by the breeze, like a dandelion waving by the wind under the summer sunshine. She wore a pure white skirt with a small flower pattern and the cor perfectly highlighted her slender and white neck. Compared with the luxuriant Intanta Shuhua, Qin Yunuan was a more elegant and refreshing beauty.

    It was rare to find such beauty in this embroidering shop. Infanta Shuhua raised her eyebrows and pointed at Qin Yunuan, ¡°You, are the master of this shop?¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled and gave a salute, ¡°Nice to meet you, my respected Infanta Shuhua. My father is Qin Zhi and I am the third daughter of the family. My name is Yunuan,¡± and then she looked at the dark-green brocade now held by the close high-level maidservant of Infanta Shuhua, ¡°I have paid the earnest money and it should not be sold to you by rights.¡±

    ¡°Humph,¡± Infanta Shuhua sneered to say, ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are. I want this brocade. You must quit in this deal.¡± She was about to catch the brocade. Qin Yunuan quickly winked at the master and he rushed to hold the brocade in the high-level maidservant. He said in apromising voice, ¡°Infanta, I just do the business. That girl has already paid the earnest money and I took out this brocade just for packaging it. Infanta, there are many other kinds of brocades. If you were to like them, I would package all of them and send them to your mansion. OK?¡±

    Infanta Shuhua was arrogant and aggressive. Her father was the martyr of the country and she had gained much love from the Queen Mother since she was a child. All people inside and outside the Imperial Pce knew that it was deadly and dangerous to contend for something with Infanta Shuhua. Anybody sane would not do that.

    ¡°The shopkeeper, you are wrong,¡± Qin Yunuan poured her cold words when Infanta Shuhua was very satisfied with the ttering words of the master, ¡°Infanta Shuhua is not that kind of unreasonabledy. What you said will cause others to believe that she is an overbearingdy who always bullies honest businessmen.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was speaking as she was observing the face of Infanta Shuhua. Infanta Shuhua had lived in the Imperial Pce full of cheatings and plots for a long time, so her embarrassed face vanished quickly and she shouted, ¡°Prodding? Useless! I know your tricks well.¡±

    This Infanta Shuhua was a hard role. Qin Yunuan raised her head to look outside. She saw the horse carriage of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion stopping at the gate. That little maidservant said just now that Leng Changxi came too, but he stayed at the carriage all the time somehow.

    Leng Changxi had celebrated the 20-year-old ceremony the other days, and he was old enough to marry but still single. Infanta Shuhua matched Leng Changxi perfectly by her family background and appearance. A person like Leng Changxi who was a noble in the Prince Pce and very powerful, should find a suitable wife benefit to his family.

    Somehow, Qin Yunuan felt a little bit disappointed but Infanta Shuhua just thought the upset face of Qin Yunuan expressed the depression caused by her failing of podding.

    Infanta Shuhua constantly touched the brocade defiantly, and said proudly in a charming voice, ¡°Listen, you will fail to fight things against me.¡±

    Such words made Qin Yunuan feel a little bit upset.

    Ignoring those counters and cloths in a mess on the ground, Yuanning tidied up her mood and was about to leave. She stopped again impatiently after Qin Yunuan said, ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Suddenly, a cold and somber came behind her, ¡°Give the brocade back.¡±

    Infanta Shuhua stunned. Nobody in the Imperial Pce could dare to speak to her in such a mandatory voice.

    ¡°If you were to hope that you could leave the pce,¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s words made Infanta Shuhua feel astonished. She had only known that the Imperial Grandmother dispatched a person to guide her in civilian clothes to go out of the pce, but she did not know the person was Leng Changxi. Besides, she did not know that her Imperial Grandmother wanted to find a good husband for her poor granddaughter. Although Leng Changxi suffered suspicion about his family background, he did have high military power. Besides, Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion had much reputation, so they would not slight her granddaughter.

    ¡°What did you say just now?¡± Infanta Shuhua said with suspicious eyes, which seemed to express that you were just a general who was ordered to apany me to travel out of the pce by my Imperial Granddaughter. How dared you to order me?

    Today Leng Changxi still wore a deep-purple girdling long gown. The mask of him seemed to shine a cold light. He even did not glimpse at Infanta Shuhua and raised his neck slightly, which expressed a kind of sharp coldness, ¡°Even if you had not heard my words, I would not have told you again.¡± Leng Changxi quickly glimpsed at the cloths in a mess on the ground and the counters pushed down by the angry Infanta Shuhua, adding, ¡°And the loss of the embroidering shop. The master, you make a list and send it to the pce. You will get yourpensation from her monthly expense deducted by someone in the pce.¡±

    ¡°Why!¡± Infanta Shuhua quickly changed her attacking into the officious Leng Changxi, ¡°Leng Changxi, who are you? How dare you discipline me? Even my Imperial Grandmother cossets me! You dare not punish me.¡±

    Leng Changxi turned his head slightly and exactly saw the light eyes and calm face of Qin Yunuan. He said, ¡°You gain much love from the Queen Mother and I give much love to mydy. That¡¯s not contradictory.¡±

    Hisdy? Infanta Shuhua looked at Qin Yunuan near him unconsciously. Now few people were in this shop and customers were all scared to leave. Only several close maidservants left tided the shop. Suddenly she raised her voice,

    ¡°Fine, I understand,¡± Infanta Shuhua pointed at Qin Yunuancently and then at Leng Changxi, ¡°You are what people always said cheating underground lovers.¡±

    ¡°Infanta Shuhua,¡± Qin Yunuan could not help but step forward to say, ¡°General Leng and I do not have such kind of rtionship which you believe.¡± And then, Qin Yunuan looked at the extremely calm Leng Changxi. Leng Changxi still looked at Qin Yunuan and his words to Infanta Shuhua were very cold, ¡°You got out of the horse carriage without permission. You burst into the ship and smashed the goods. You looted the brocade which had been already ordered by others. Would you wish me to add more bad behaviors you have done to the Queen Mother?¡±

    Infanta Shuhua calmed down a little finally after she heard about the Queen Mother. She said in a shallow voice, ¡°Don¡¯t try to threaten me by reporting to the Queen Mother.¡± Although she said that, she knew well that her Imperial Grandmother dispatched Leng Changxi to apany her just for supervising her behavior. If Leng Changxi were to report what she did actually, she would be punished under the house arrest. Though she couldpensate what she smashed easily, she would beughed by the disgusting Imperial Concubine Yun. Now she felt very annoyed.

    Leng Changxi turned his body and said nothing. And then he just lowered his head and said, ¡°So please go back to the horse carriage, Infanta Shuhua.¡±

    ¡°Humph, remember, you have defended me badly.¡± Infanta Shuhua red at Leng Changxi angrily. She reached her hands and let her close maidservants to support her to leave.

    ¡°Master,¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly ordered the master, ¡°It is a great honor for Infanta Shuhua toe to your shop. You should send the best brocades to the pce. It will be a good intention to Infanta Shuhua for you as a civilian.¡±

    The master caught it immediately and ordered quickly to some apprentices, ¡°Go ahead. Take out the best brocades and clothes in the warehouse.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Infanta Shuhua turned back to bark, ¡°There will be no fine brocades in this ratty shop. I will nevere here!¡±

    We were afraid that you came next time. Qin Yunuan smiled cunningly. She together with the master felt relieved. Those apprentices tidied up quickly the hall and they pretended not to hear the dialogue between Leng Changxi and Infanta Shuhua. Definitely, they would not tell others about the dialogue.

    But Qin Yunuan could not pretend to hear and see anything.

    She walked forward but did not know what to say. But it was necessary to say thanks to Leng Changxi.

    ¡°Today, thank you, General Leng. Though you just helped me by the way, you did clear much embarrassment for me,¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her head and answered. She could feel the hot air from a man in her neck. That was the most sensitive ce of her body. Leng Changxi was walking closer to her.

 Chapter 75 Dress up in the Feast

    <h4>Chapter 75 Dress up in the Feast</h4>

    Hot air made the face of Qin Yunuan blush. She could hear each word of Leng Changxi, ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure. I just heard that you were bullied and I came for you from the horse carriage on purpose.¡±

    Leng Changxi straightened his body. In his opinion, the girl he loved should not be bullied. It was so normal for him to protect her and it was also right to tell her that he was protecting her. He just wanted to let Qin Yunuan know that she should fight back when she met people like Infanta Shuhua.

    But in Qin Yunuan¡¯s view, what Leng Changxi did have another exnation. She stepped back unconsciously and made a buffer between her and Leng Changxi. They had different family backgrounds so she should not vite the rule even all people here were on her side.

    Noticing that Qin Yunuan stayed away from him deliberately, Leng Changxi just stood still silently and watched that the shop was well tidied up. As he said, he let the master give him a list of those things broken by Infanta Shuhua, and he would give it to Infanta Shuhua. And then heforted the master, ¡°You will gain thepensation of all of these within seven days.¡±

    Having seen that Leng Changxi turned back to get into the horse carriage to rein the carriage and then the carriage was driven away, Qin Yunuan tidied up her mood and raised the curtain to walk into the ce.

    As expected, people dispatched by the shop came to report to Qin Yunuan that thepensation of those broken things had been sent to the shop by a eunuch from the Imperial Pce. Qin Yunuan packed off the servant who came here to report and then picked up another letter paper on the table.

    It had been a few dayster after the death of Shangguan Rang. The sensation in the Royal City had calmed down due to the suicide of Li Qiqi for fear of punishment. Today the whole mansion of Grand Commandant stayed unobtrusive, and even Qin Zhi kept guilty and polite when he met Shangguan Yuan in the imperial court.

    The seeming silence was broken and stirred by the news that Shen Xun brought from the regions south of the River.

    In prison, Li Qiqi had once said with emotion that Su Chenghai what we saw now was not the real Su Chenghai. The result Qin Yunuan concluded at that time was totally her assumption. Li Qiqi loved Su Chenghai deeply. She followed him to enter the mansion Su and learn the medicine. After the disappearance of Su Chenghai as the military doctor in the battle of East Qin, she returned to Jianzhou to wait for him.

    Such a spoony woman became the concubine of Qin Family when Qin Zhi traveled to the regions south of the River. That was because the person she had been waiting for afflictively was gone.

    The letter from Shen Xun stated in detail the information he investigated for Qin Yunuan in Jianzhou. Four months ago, the bone ash of Su Chenghai had been put down into the ancestral hall of Su Family. Su Chenghai had been obsessed with medicine and his father Su Rian kicked him out of the family tree of Su Family, so the burial of his bone ash into the ancestral hall was caught out secretly. Few people knew this.

    Four months ago, it was before the feast of Flower Fairy Festival. Su Chenghai who stayed around Qin Yunuan and took much care of her was totally a fake one from the beginning to the end.

    The heart of Qin Yunuan seemed to be hit heavily. Though she had already guessed the whole thing, she still felt astonished when the truth was revealed. She seemed to be wetted out by rains beside the coast of the ocean and her uneasy heart was blown fiercely by the sea wind.

    Having sat dully on the Zen chair for half of the day, Qin Yunuan received an invitation card brought by Tong when Tong came to add hot tea for Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Qin Yunuan said as she opened the invitation card with golden purfle.

    Tong said, ¡°It¡¯s the invitation card from Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. They say it is for the birthday celebration for the Princess Ning in the Mansion. All the noble maidens and young masters have received this and even Forth Miss has one. It seems to be a great ceremony.¡±

    Princess Ning was 48 years old this year and it was her zodiac year. So the birthday ceremony would be very ceremonious. The mild and virtuous Princess Ning had many friends in the Royal City. A significant number of people came to congratte her and even the old princess who had settled down in Guo¡¯an Temple came back to celebrate the birthday of her daughter inw.

    Coincidentally, the birthday of Princess Ning was the 24th of May, the day before the birthday of Qin Yunuan.

    On May 24th, all various of horse carriage with luxurious decorations crowded outside the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. The whole mansion was decorated withnterns and streamers, and involved in a joyful phenomenon.

    Qin Yunzhuang who had been upset for a long time finally had a chance to go out. She sat on a carriage driven by three horses alone. She stepped down the longdder with the help of the support of her maidservants. She wore a long ivory-white and light-yellow brocade skirt with a shining silvery purfle on the hemline and cuff. Her long hair was curled into a horse-shaped chignon, and the white hairpin and several dark-flower patterns on her dress expressed her elegance and gentleness. She was like a pure lotus in the mire.

    Her appearance attracted much attention. Though there were many scandals about her, she was the first beauty in Qi. Besides, she was unmarried still so she did cause some remarks.

    When Qin Yunuan went out of the back horse carriage, she exactly saw a young master ttering Qin Yunzhuang with adtory smiles. Qin Yunzhuang now covered her face with a handkerchief and lowered her head with a smile. Her charming eyes seemed to catch the soul of those young men.

    ording to the rule, Qin Yunuan, Qin Yuwan and Qin Yuzhao should take the same horse carriage. Qin Yuwan felt a little bit ashamed because Qin Yuzhao, her silly sister, also came with her to attend the birthday ceremony of Princess Ning. She thought Qin Yuzhao would be burdensome.

    ¡°Come on, hurry up. Just get off the horse carriage, do you fear that?¡± Qin Yuwan pulled the sleeve of Qin Yuzhao impatiently. Suddenly, the sleeve of Qin Yuzhao was broken and she almost fell on the ground.

    The flower-embroidering skirt of Qin Yuzhao was from the abandoned dress of Qin Yuwan. The dress was a half-old one but Qin Yuzhao liked it very much. Having seen the dress was broken, she cried at the intersection, which caught the attention of many people.

    ¡°Ah! Enough,¡± Qin Yuwan said impatiently, ¡°Just a ragged skirt. There are many clothes in my closet. If you want a new one, I would give you the most beautiful one after we get back.¡±

    Qin Yuwan just wanted Qin Yuzhao not to cry here, but her words were distorted by those gossiping women. The daughters of concubines in the mansion of Grand Commandant lived a poor life. The younger sister wore the old clothes from her elder sister.

    Qin Yuzhao had been raised by Concubine Liu in their courtyard all the time. She seldommunicated with others so she was always tongue-shy, ¡°But... but, this dress I am wearing has been broken.¡±

    ¡°Why are you so carking?¡± Qin Yuwan pulled Qin Yuzhao and was about to check how big the breach was. But then she heard that Qin Yunzhuang front urged them, ¡°Miss Second, Third and Fourth, father and elder brother have been seated at the feast. We shall go there quickly.¡±

    Qin Yuwan loosened her hand. She looked at the boresome Qin Yuzhao, and she thought she should get rid of this silly girl but heard Qin Yunuan beside said, ¡°Fine, Tong, fetch the feather circr fan in the horse carriage.¡±

    Tong quickly fetched the white circr fan and gave it to Qin Yunuan, and then Qin Yunuan sent it to Qin Yuzhao. She directed how to use the fan in a gentle voice, ¡°Look at me. Use the circr fan to cover the sleeves. It will be hard to see the broken sleeve.¡±

    Qin Yuzhao used the fan as Qin Yunuan, and felt good. She finally smiled joyfully.

    They entered the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion under the guidance of the servant. Gossiping seemingly could be heard, including those maidens¡¯ whispering.

    ¡°Do you know that? Qin Yunzhuang actually has something to do with the death of young master Shangguan. The investigation ceased for the reputation of Left Chancellor and Qin Family.¡±

    ¡°As I said before, Qin Yunzhuang always ys with men, relying on her beautiful face. I have recognized such a slut in the earlier time.¡±

    ¡°To be frank, the Third Miss in Qin Family is easy to get along with. She has a low status in her family so she keeps humble and gentle.¡±

    Qin Yunuan heard all about the gossiping of those maidens. She looked at the rising mouth corner of Qin Yunzhuang and knew that Qin Yunzhuang also heard those gossiping. Qin Yunzhuang should tolerate that because she should keep her elegance among people.

    But the seated Qin Linfeng went forward after he heard those gossiping. Though Qin Linfeng lowered his voice, they could still be heard by Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°If you kept gossiping, I would twist your necks off,¡± Qin Linfeng threatened those gossiping maidens and red at them fiercely, and then he went back to his seat.

    Qin Linfeng protected and cared about Qin Yunzhuang meticulously, but sometimes Qin Yunuan felt that he did it overly, which had exceeded the pure brother-sister affection. He was more like a possessive male lion protecting hisnd and preys.

    The feast was about to start. Fang Ziying invited Qin Yunuan to sit beside her, two-seat away from Qin Yunzhuang and Qin Yuwan, so they could whisper without viting the courtesy.

    Fang Ziying was sipping the tea as introducing today¡¯s host to Qin Yunuan ¨C several young masters and madams in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.

    ¡°The man with heroic-temperament dashing eyebrows is Leng Changan, the eldest son of Prince Ning, and his wife is the daughter of the concubine of King Gaoyang. That is the second son of the concubine, Leng Changxuan. He is perfect but weak-willed,¡± The excited and happy Fang Ziying now turned to be a little bit cold. She turned to a pretty cold beauty who wore a simple white dress, ¡°That is the daughter of Prince Ning, Leng Suxin. She is very arrogant and hard to get along with. Each person who talked to her would be rebuked by her.¡±

    Qin Yunuan knew that Fang Ziying disliked Leng Suxin, and then she distracted the topic and pointed at a charming beauty there who was talking with someone, ¡°How about thatdy?¡±

    Fang Ziying said with a more disdainful voice, ¡°She? She is just a poor rtive adopted by the mansion. To be frank, she just wishes unpractically to be a nobledy.

    Thedy who was regarded like that by Fang Ziying was Xie Ruying. Just at the same time, she looked toward Qin Yunuan. Qin Yunuan thought that it was just a regr visual connection between strangers, but just in a minute, Xie Ruying suddenly stood up and walked toward Qin Yunuan.

 Chapter 76 An Uninvited Guest

    <h4>Chapter 76 An Uninvited Guest</h4>

    Qin Yunuan straightened her neck. She saw the defiance and seriousness in Xie Ruying¡¯s eyes as if she were interrogating a prisoner. In Qin Yunuan¡¯s memory, she had never really met this woman. But since she wasing to her, there was no reason to escape.

    By the time Xie Ruying was right in the middle of the banquet on her way to Qin Yunuan, she suddenly stopped and stood still as if she had been frozen and had no strength to make one more step. Qin Yunuan cast a nce at the direction she was looking at and saw that Leng Changxi, who was about to take a seat, was staring at Xie Ruying with terrifying coldness. The scary look in his eyes could almost kill people, which surprised Qin Yunuan as she had never seen him in this way when they were together.

    But a girl sitting beside Qin Yunuan was inured to it. Pulling her homie closer, she murmured, ¡°Look, the third young master Leng ising. He looks so harsh. Whoever marries him in the future will be down on her luck.¡±

    When Xie Ruying saw him, she turned back to her seat at once as if it were her natural response.

    The banquet began officially after they sat down.

    The seats with golden lotus carvings were arranged in two rows. At the end of the banquet was a more magnificently decorated table with jasper embedded in its four corners. It was specially prepared for the old princess who had returned from the Guo¡¯an Temple. Prince Ning and Princess Ning sat at the right-hand seats and other people were respectively arranged ording to their seniorities and birth, which showed respect for seniority and family status.

    ¡°You are reallyte, third brother,¡± Leng Changan greeted when Leng Changxi had just sat down, and then he nced at Princess Ning, today¡¯s protagonist, and said, ¡°You had kept mother waiting for a long time.¡±

    Leng Changan looked much alike with Prince Ning. He also had ck eyebrows, deep eyes with clear rims and a well-cut face which showed an unspeakable bearing. He looked dignified when speaking, with his back straightened up. Compared with Leng Changxi, he was much gentler and more approachable in his dark blue clothes with ck embroideries on the wide sleeves.

    However, even though he was the eldest son in the family, he was born by Madam Ru, the first concubine of Prince Ning, which made him an illegal son. So Princess Ning only favored her dear son Leng Changxi.

    Leng Changxi nced at Leng Changan emotionlessly and said in a calm tone, ¡°I¡¯m sorry that I have made you worried, mother. I had just dealt with some insubordinate people of the yard.¡±

    Today, Princess Ning was very well-dressed. Her hair was carefully bounded into a chignon by a pigeon-blood ruby flower hairpin with tassels that tinkled as she turned her head. She was in her forties, but her skin was still fair and clear, which made her look delicate and charming. She would be mistaken as a young woman if there were no subtle wrinkles around her eyes.

    ¡°Did Third brother drive away the two servant girls sent for pleasure again?¡± Ruan Ruyi chattered. She was Leng Changan¡¯s wife and the Grand Young Madam in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. ¡°Well, that was a thoughtful arrangement of your brother and me. You are over 20 years old now and will not stay in the barracks forever. You¡¯ll need a caring person by your side.¡±

    Leng Changxi turned to her and said, ¡°I have Xue Si and Leng Wu by my side, so I don¡¯t need other servants. If it were my wife who you referred to,¡± Leng Changxi looked at the ce where Qin Yunuan was sitting unintentionally. She wore a light green dress with a floral shirt today. The light makeup on her face made her look like the red and delicate strawberries that were freshly picked. It was tempting him to take a lick and bite. ¡°If it were my wife who you referred to,¡± Leng Changxi repeated, ¡°I already have my own choice in mind.¡±

    That was a piece of surprising news for all the people present. The third young master Leng who was always immune to woman¡¯s charms had someone in his mind?

    Princess Ning was the first one who recovered from the shock. She smiled slightly and was full of joy in her heart because she was so eager to have a grandson, ¡°Really? Whose daughter? Why don¡¯t we just pick a good day and propose marriage to her family in case of being forestalled by others?¡±

    Having heard these words, Prince Ning could not help but smile. He turned to Princess Ning and said, ¡°You are too anxious. This thing is still up in the air. We haven¡¯t known who the girles from and how about her family background and breeding. You actually want to make a marriage proposal right now.¡± These scornful words were said in a doting tone. It was well-known that Prince Ning and Princess Ning were very much in love. The way Prince Ning treated Princess Ning was also seen by everyone.

    Finally, to mediate, the old princessughed and mocked herself, ¡°Well, now my grandson has someone in his mind and there will be happy events soon. My son only spoils his wife. Nobody cares about me. s, I really shouldn¡¯t havee back.¡±

    Grand Young Madam Ruan Ruyi replied at once in an adoring way, ¡°That¡¯s not true, grandma. Second brother has no child yet. You mentioned grandson when speaking of third brother. Does it mean that only the offspring of a legal son like third brother is your grandchild and that of a concubine¡¯s son is not?¡±

    Although it was a joke that amused the people, she was actually using the unfairness of the old princess. Fortunately, the old princess was not irritated. She only pointed at Ruan Ruyi who looked innocent, ¡°You really like to show off your joking talent in front of me.¡±

    With cheering andughing arising from Prince Ning¡¯s family, the performances of singing and dancing on the banquet had also reached a climax. Only Leng Changxi did not fit in with the surroundings. He was answering the questions of the old princess and Leng Changan without any emotion and making conventional greetings out of courtesy. His real smile would only be seen when facing Princess Ning.

    The talkative girl beside Qin Yunuan began to gossip again, ¡°Look, the third young master Leng looks so out of ce among other young masters. He did notugh or speak. Is it possible that he is actually an illegitimate child of Prince Ning just as what people said?¡±

    Another girl seconded her said, ¡°Who knows? One of the servants in my family had worked temporarily at Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. He said that he did not see Princess Ning getting pregnant twenty years ago, but then there was a young master. Don¡¯t you think it is weird?¡±

    ¡°That must be true. Like I said.... Oops.¡± Suddenly, the girl beside Qin Yunuan shouted, which attracted the attention of the surrounding guests. The jug had fallen on the table. Inside the jug was some high-quality grape wine, which had a mellow smell and a dark color that was easy to put color on other things and difficult to wash away.

    The loquacious Miss Gu was very embarrassed at this moment. She jumped off the chair and wiped the big stain on her skirt in a rush with the handkerchief. With a nce at Qin Yunuan who sat beside her, she suddenly recovered from bewilderment and was about to reproach her with a re. However, Qin Yunuan made an apology before her, ¡°Oh, the wine spilled. Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean it.¡±

    ¡°Obviously, you did it on purpose,¡± Miss Gu said with confidence as the Gu Family was also well-known in the Royal City, ¡°Why would a jug fall on the table out of no reason? You are the closest people to it. Who would believe that you had nothing to do with it?¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised her head slightly with a contemptuous smile, ¡°You had no evidence, Miss Gu. Who would believe you? I didn¡¯t have any ill feelings towards you. What benefit would I get from dirtying your skirt? Besides, when the jug fell and the wine spilled by ident, your first action was not to clean your dress. Instead, you just let the wine be there and stained your skirt, wasn¡¯t that more suspicious? Miss Gu, was it fair to say that you knocked the jug over and then med me deliberately?¡±

    Miss Gu became anxious and said with red eyes, ¡°You are making unfounded judgments without any proof. It¡¯s rude of you to make malicious attacks upon others!¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled, looking a little bit surprised, ¡°Oh, it turns out that you also know this.¡±

    Miss Gu said angrily, ¡°I was talking about you, the low daughter of a concubine in the Qin Family.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s status in the family had always been attacked mercilessly by other people as her weakness, but she dealt with it rather calmly. She gave a faint smile and then said, ¡°Miss Gu, we are sitting beside each other. You said I was low, so wasn¡¯t that fit for you?¡±

    Miss Gu had beenpletely defeated by Qin Yunuan in the war of words. The ugly stain on her skirt had a strong fume of the wine, which doubled the sense of frustration of Miss Gu.

    She red at Qin Yunuan again and left the banquet directly. The surroundings became quiet once again. It was the time to present gifts and offer congrattions to Princess Ning. The present high officials and noble lords all aced up their sleeves. The gifts presented included ves bought from Beidi for errands and wondrous pine bonsai for appreciation. The old princess even gave her most cherished set of jewelry to Princess Ning.

    ¡°This... it¡¯s too expensive. I can¡¯t take it.¡± Princess Ning¡¯s eyes were fixed on the glorious set of jewelry made of Yangzhi Jade. A decade ago, Yangzhi Jade was not that expensive. But today, the set of hairpins and earrings made of a whole Yangzhi Jade was priceless. And the old princess was going to give it to her as a present. Thinking of that, how could she ept this gift?

    Prince Ning was at ease, ¡°Xunxiang, since mother had given it to you, just ept it.¡±

    Seeing that Princess Ning nodded and epted the gift, the load on the old princess¡¯s mind was finally off. She then said, ¡°Actually, I just found this set of jewelry when making an asional sorting. It came from an old friend. Now things have changed. My friend had passed away, leaving it as a token. Fortunately, when I was staying at the Guo¡¯an Temple for quietness, I came across the daughter of this friend. We had good talks and became friends despite great difference in age. I had learned that she was amodating at the temple because of her weak health. I thought that since I came back, it would be great with herpany. And it would not be a heavy burden to have one more person in our family. What do you think?¡±

    It turned out that the gift was just a guise for those words. Princess Ning had been in charge of the domestic affairs in the mansion. Now, with the personal requirement of the old princess and the expensive gift, Princess Ning had no other options but to say yes.

    ¡°We are surely very happy that you have someone as yourpany. But we haven¡¯t known her name yet.¡±

    The old princess rxed her eyebrows and smiled softly. ¡°The daughter of the Dou Family in Hangzhou. Her name is Qing¡¯e,¡± she said.

 Chapter 77 Seek for Revenge

    <h4>Chapter 77 Seek for Revenge</h4>

    ¡°The daughter of the Dou Family, her name is Qing¡¯e.¡± These words were clear and firmly thrown into Qin Yunuan¡¯s ears. She believed that Qin Zhi, who was sitting in front of her, must have heard it more clearly. No wonder Qin Yunzhuang seemed so confident today, and Qin Linfeng picked up his arrogance before he was under house arrest. Everything was just because of the return of their mainstay, their mother. Dou Qing¡¯e, who had been in charge of the Qin Family for many years, wasing back.

    Also, she came back in the light of the old princess of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t even know that the old princess had another old friend rted to the Dou Family.

    Seeing Princess Ning hesitated for a moment, the old princess seemed a little upset, ¡°What? Don¡¯t you agree? s, I just want someone to talk to.¡±

    ¡°Of course, I agree,¡± Princess Ning smiled apologetically in haste. Her eyes shifted to Qin Zhi, who was stunned, ¡°But this Dou was Grand Commandant Qin¡¯s married wife. Mother, wouldn¡¯t it be inconvenient if you force her to stay in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Prince Ning also helped Princess Ning humbly and modestly, ¡°Although you are in a good mood meeting the daughter of your old friend, and I shouldn¡¯t talk much as a son. But we should always consider Grand Commandant Qin¡¯s earnest longing after not seeing his wife for a long time. Mother....¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s easy,¡± the old princess cut into the conversation before Prince Ning could finish. ¡°Let her go back to the mansion of Grand Commandant. I¡¯ll ask her when I want someone to chat with. She would be visiting as a guest. That would be it.¡±

    The pure Princess Ning let out a sigh of relief in the end. She thought that the old princess was devoted to ying and tried to force Qin¡¯s wife to be herpanion. She smiled and said, ¡°It would be best if you thought it in this way. I will also find time to apany you from now on.¡±

    Prince Ning followed, ¡°I will also spend more time with you.¡±

    Leng Changan, Leng Changxuan, Ruan Ruyi, and all the concubines of Prince Ning followed up. It was a scene of family harmony.

    But Qin Yunuan knew it well in her heart. Letting Dou Qing¡¯e return to the Qin Family was the real purpose of the old princess. The old princess had fought with the old lord for political power and won military medals. Her vision and strategy were extraordinary. As the saying went, the older the wiser. The old princess¡¯s trick was unexpected.

    ¡°Master Qin,¡± the old princess said gracefully to Qin Zhi, ¡°Excuse me for taking back your Madam hastily this time.¡± The old princess reminded Qin Zhi indirectly that Dou Qing¡¯e was under her protection. Whether now or in the future, Dou Qing¡¯e always had a ce to stand in the Qin Family as long as she lived.

    ¡°It would be okay,¡± Qin Zhi appeared to be elegant and even had a look of joy on his face, ¡°I have been thinking about bringing my wife back to the family to reunite, but I don¡¯t know if she is in good health. Thanks to your care this time.¡±

    During their talk, Dou Qing¡¯e appeared on the other side and was led by the servant girl into the center of the banquet. Having left the mansion of Grand Commandant for a few months, Dou Qing¡¯e looked a lot thinner, which added to her charisma of quietness and peace. Her demure and gentle look was very lovable.

    Dou Qing¡¯e was in in clothes. Firstly, she thanked the old princess for taking care of her at Guo¡¯an Temple, and then she greeted Qin Zhi. ncing at Qin Linfeng and Qin Yunzhuang, she walked straight in front of Qin Yunuan¡¯s seat. Her red lips opened gently, and the words flew out like breezes in the mountains.

    ¡°Third Miss, we haven¡¯t met for a long time.¡±

    Qin Yunuan lifted her eyes slightly and watched Dou Qing¡¯e chuckling inwardly. Suddenly she smiled gently, ¡°Yes. From the time that you got seriously ill and went to the temple to recuperate, it has been much less lively in the house.¡± Much fewer troubles, to be exact.

    ¡°Please feel assured,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e leaned down gently and whispered in Qin Yunuan¡¯s ear, ¡°In the future, the Qin Family will be more lively than it was in the past.¡±

    Just after their talk, Qin Yunzhuang, who hadn¡¯t been able to talk about how she missed her mother during her absence, revealed the anxiety of a young daughter and called her mother over. The two were just about to talk when a male voice rang loudly and interrupted the slightly bizarre picture.

    ¡°Madam Qin, this is my mother¡¯s birthday banquet, not a boudoir for mothers and daughters like you two. If you have anything, please leave itter.¡± Leng Changxi looked at Dou Qing¡¯e sideways. There was irresistible majesty in his cold eyes. He never cared about these affairs in the inner houses, but because of Qin Yunuan, he knew a little about the Qin Family.

    Dou Qing¡¯e, Qin Yunzhuang, and Qin Linfeng were a family of viins he didn¡¯t like. Look, it turned out that his Yunuan also didn¡¯t like them. He matched her well.

    After a small episode, the banquet continued, followed by a few pieces of music prepared by some girls of noble birth. The distant sound of guzheng was apanied by a light, harmonious flute. The beautiful music seemed to flow in everyone¡¯s heart. The atmosphere wasfortable and cozy.

    Qin Yunuan also learned the stories between the old princess of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion and the Dou Family from Fang Ziying.

    ¡°It¡¯s just a promise,¡± Fang Ziying said in this way, ¡°The old lord was lost when he followed the Emperor to pacify the southern rebellion and waster rescued by the team of the Dou Family. After Dou Shaochun realized that he was a royal member following the army, he didn¡¯t only personally escort the old lord back to the camp but also sent ten thousand silver tael as military payment. Both the old lord and the Emperor were very moved. The Emperor gave the Dou Family a loyal que, which was the reason why the Dou Family took off. The old lord promised that Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion in Royal City would make every effort to assist if future generations of the Dou Family were in need.¡±

    Dou Shaochun was Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s biological father.

    Qin Yunuan savored the meaning carefully and nodded, ¡°So the old friend that the old princess mentioned about was the old master of the Dou Family, who had helped the old lord. The two families were not entangled in other ways.¡±

    ¡°Probably,¡± Fang Ziying nodded, ¡°It was a troubled time. Saving lives was indeed not an easy move. Also, the older generation valuedmitment the most. It was most likely that the old princess helped Madam Qin was just because she would like to return a favor for the old lord.¡±

    Huh, Qin Yunuan settled down in her heart. It seemed that the alliance between the old princess and Dou Qing¡¯e was not as reliable as she had imagined. The promise was only half the reason why the old princess was willing to help Dou Qing¡¯e. She must have made up some reasons why she was sent to the temple. After all, she could never say that she was punished for doing something wrong.

    Looking at Dou Qing¡¯e chatting cheerfully in the distance with rosy cheeks, she might not yet know that the daughter of a concubine, who she tried her best to destruct, had now found a way to break through the line of defense.

    Halfway through the banquet, the dishes were fully prepared. The table was filled with delicious food and wine. But someone seemed to be absent and eating without relish.

    Leng Suxin happened to be seated opposite of Qin Yunuan. In Fang Ziying¡¯s words, she was the onlydy in Leng Family whose temper was carved out of the same mold as Leng Changxi. Leng Suxin¡¯s expression was sullen. It was as if she had hated such a party very much. She didn¡¯t even move the cup or her te of dim sum in front of her. When the dancing girls exited, she suddenly stood up and took advantage of the crowd to get out of the banquet.

    It was probably the sense of closeness she had to people with cold temper, Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes also followed her involuntarily. When Leng Suxin left in a hurry, she identally bumped into a servant girl with dishes. The handkerchief in her hand fell on the ground not far from Qin Yunuan. It was a white handkerchief embroidered with a pair of butterflies.

    Fang Ziying was a little drunk and had been helped by her maid to take a rest in the littlekeside pavilion. No one was there to talk with, and the atmosphere at the banquet was bing overwhelming. Qin Yunuan also stood and picked up the handkerchief. She followed Leng Suxin¡¯s steps to the back of the yard.

    There was no one along the way. Most of the housekeepers and servant girls were busy ahead. Having walked a hundred meters away, Qin Yunuan finally felt that the suppressed atmosphere at the banquet was gone. Breezes came to her face in the early summer nights. The coolness of the water vapor patted on her cheeks. It was moist and made her veryfortable.

    Strangely, she didn¡¯t see Leng Suxin¡¯s figure in the yard, though she was just a few steps ahead of Qin Yunuan.

    Suddenly, a strange wind blew past. The smell of rust seemed to be mingled in the air.

    This was the smell of blood! By the time Qin Yunuan realized, a cold de had been ced on her neck. The chilling sensation of terror dipped into her bone, suffocating Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Who?¡± Qin Yunuan maintained to be stiff. She felt the intermittent breathing of the person behind her. The smell of rust came from him. Almost instantly, Qin Yunuan knew that this person was injured.

    Sometimes, a wounded wolf could be more terrible than a ferocious tiger.

    ¡°This is Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, you know who I am?¡± Qin Yunuan decided to be the fish in troubled waters. If she said nothing, perhaps this person would mistake her as people of the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. It was a much more useful identity than Third Miss Qin, who was the daughter of a concubine of the Qin Family.

    But the person behind didn¡¯t seem to fall for her tricks at all. Heughed insidiously, and his voice was like a hoarse duck making the final struggle, ¡°I know who you are, Third Miss Qin Yunuan. I¡¯m waiting for you especially. I wouldn¡¯t have spent so much time thinking if it weren¡¯t for you.¡±

    ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± Qin Yunuan frowned and began to calcte the possibility of survival. The coldness of the de at the neck seemed to have paralyzed her thinking ability, but Qin Yunuan always believed in one thing. She was going to survive! For Baochuan, she must survive!

    ¡°Who am I?¡± the man behind smiled dumbly but did not answer. He seemed to get some vague information from the shaking of the surrounding trees. He reached out to Qin Yunuan¡¯s acupuncture point and froze her. Carrying her body on his shoulders, he was light like a flying swallow, jumping directly on the ridge of the house. Then he hurried towards a forest east of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.

 Chapter 78 Truth Revealed

    <h4>Chapter 78 Truth Revealed</h4>

    The wind blew fiercely. The scenes caught by Qin Yunuan turned from the ck tiles and red walls at Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion into the lush woods. The person kidnapping Qin Yunuan stopped when they reached an open space in the woods. He put down Qin Yunuan and almost tumbled. Now Qin Yunuan could see clearly that the man got hurt on his left shoulder.

    The only sound in the woods was the rustle of wind blowing leaves. The man suddenly got alert and soliloquized, ¡°He chases us here.¡±

    At the moment Qin Yunuan was thinking about the ¡°he¡± he meant, Leng Changxi jumped lightly on the ground like a ghost falling at night. The slightly tight cardigan showed his muscr body. He stayed still with his half-tied ck hair blown a little by the wind. However, his eyes had already caught everything through the thick fog in the woods.

    Apparently, he was following them all the time.

    ¡°Don¡¯te closer even for one step!¡± the person kidnapping Qin Yunuan subconsciously put the dagger close to the neck of her when he saw Leng Changxi. Soft moonlight fell through the leaves, which exactly helped Qin Yunuan saw clearly the pattern on the dagger. She remembered that it was the same dagger that was used to kill Shangguan Rang but finally caused the hurt of Maner when they got attacked in the thatched cottage.

    So the person was....

    ¡°Prince Anyang Zhao Huijin,¡± Leng Changxi breathed a little and said slowly, ¡°You are such a poor man who should use a weak girl as your hostage. I thought highly of you before.¡±

    ¡°Me too,¡± Zhao Huijin smiled gloomily, ¡°I thought you were a frank and honest rival but you even yed despicable tricks.¡± Zhao Huijin looked subconsciously at his left shoulder. He would have had more time to y with Leng Changxi if he had not ignored the danger which caused that he was attacked by the ambush of Leng Changxi.

    Leng Changxi raised his eyebrows, ¡°You have no right to rebuke my dishonesty because you threaten me by hijacking an impotent girl.¡±

    Zhao Huijin sneered, ¡°But you will still be beaten by me today,¡± He put the dagger much closer to the white neck of Qin Yunuan. She seemed to feel the convulsion of the nervous skin, and heard the coarse shouting of Zhao Huijin, ¡°I know. You dare not hurt me considering her. Now let your fellows back, right now! And, prepare a quick horse and an official document for departure for me.¡±

    Leng Changxi sneered and nced quickly at the face of Qin Yunuan. The quick nce made Qin Yunuan feel safe and easy, ¡°Do you really believe that Beidi will help you?¡± Leng Changxi said while he was making gestures behind. The woods behind him gave out slight sounds. Those were the sound that his 18 shadow guards retreated. Zhao Huijin had profound inner power and he knew well if they had retreated, Leng Changxi would not take the risk here.

    Apart from the retreat of shadow guards, Leng Changxi unfastened his belt and threw a soft sword away hidden at his waist. The soft sword then was inserted straightly on the ground with sparkling silvery light.

    ¡°Even heroes fall for beauties,¡± Zhao Huijin sneered, ¡°Leng Changxi, you are the same as me. I could not rescue Xianer so I won¡¯t let this girl alive.¡± Zhao Huijin raised his gloomy and malicious eyes and added, ¡°And you will be dead too.¡±

    Just in a sh, Zhao Huijin threw the dagger in his hand out straightly to the face of Leng Changxi. No one could avoid the quick dagger, but Leng Changxi just turned his body slightly and the high-speed dagger flew away without hurting him. It was a failing sneak attack but Leng Changxi knew that what Zhao Huijin did was not for hurting him.

    As expected, Zhao Huijin sessfully attracted the attention of Leng Changxi by the dagger, and then took out the short dagger hidden in his boot. The short dagger was put down uprightly towards the heart of Qin Yunuan, but when the nose of the short dagger was one centimeter away from the heart of Qin Yunuan, time seemed to be frozen.

    Zhao Huijin suddenly got stiff and the short dagger seemed to be frozen at that ce. Big hands held that short dagger and the fingers gripped the de of the short dagger with great power. Thick red liquid shed into the fingertips of Qin Yunuan.

    Leng Changxi held the de of the short dagger with one hand, and stabbed the heart of Zhao Huijin urately with the soft sword. The sword was pierced the chest of Zhao Huijinpletely. Now thick sounds of footsteps emerged immediately. Those were Leng Changxi¡¯s 18 shadow guards chasing the heelers of Zhao Huijin. Ignoring the fighting scene around, Qin Yunuan just stared at the face of Leng Changxi who wore a mask and smiled.

    At this moment, her heartbeat seemed to cease due to his face.

    Leng Wu stepped forward to handle the corpse of Zhao Huijin. Poison was smeared on the soft sword so Zhao Huijin had been not cured and would die soon. Leng Changxi just looked at his injured left hand. The bloody wound with blood clots looked very scary.

    ¡°Your hand....¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her head and looked at the palm of Leng Changxi. She was about to say something but stopped.

    ¡°It¡¯s just a small wound,¡± Leng Changxi answered. Though he pretended not to care about the wound, he felt warm in his heart. After all, Qin Yunuan was caring about him.

    Qin Yunuan sighed a little, and said after she saw those men in ck who were clearing here retreated and her acupuncture point had been got through, ¡°Is he dead?¡± She meant Zhao Huijin.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Leng Changxi nodded, ¡°dead.¡±

    ¡°So, General Leng, your show is over?¡± Qin Yunuan said in a slightly cold voice.

    Leng Changxi said nothing and just looked at her silently. Moonlight covered hazily her face like a cloudy veil, which looked very crystal. No one would break the tranquil silence now.

    It was so silent around now and it only seemed to hear the breaths of the two people. Qin Yunuan went back for one step and took out an old jade pendant from her dress. The jade pendant was exactly put in her heart, so even if Zhao Huijin had stabbed down, she would not have got hurt.

    ¡°Actually, General Leng, it is not necessary for you to save me.¡± Qin Yunuan unfolded her palm and showed the jade pendant.

    Leng Changxi turned pale and seemed to have known what Qin Yunuan would say next.

    Qin Yunuan raised her eyes slowly and looked at the gold-thread mask of Leng Changxi, ¡°You helped me a lot all the time no matter when you were Su Chenghai or Leng Changxi.¡±

    Leng Changxi was stunned a little and lowered his eyes slowly. He kept silent without any facial change, but his eyes were still determined without any guilty conscience. All of what he did was not concealed. He looked at her as if he were enjoying the smartest artwork.

    Qin Yunuan said, ¡°General, maybe you have never wanted to conceal anything from me. I remembered that my cousin Su Chenghai took the gift when he first visited Qin Family ¨C yamamai silk from East Qin and books collected in the White Horse Academy. General, you were responsible for the issue rted East Qin and the renovation of the White Horse Academy at that time. It was very easy for you to find those two things. Besides, the rapidly-developing First Boite, could easily gain the seal of the shop of Yuan Family and the new bottom drawer of Yuman Embroidery Shop. It was very tough for Su Chenghai, a neer for business in the Royal City, to get all of those things. But for you, general, it was easy very much.¡±

    Leng Changxi turned back. The silvery moonlight seemed to coat silvery rim on his face, ¡°And then?¡± he added.

    ¡°The first time I made up my mind to suspect you was in that fire ident, namely Li Qiqi met you for the first time,¡± Qin Yunuan looked into the distance and seemed to recollect that memory, ¡°Li Qiqi looked at you with her soulful, surprised, happy and ecstatic eyes. But general, your eyes kept calm and even did not give her a glimpse. Anybody would have some reaction when he saw the person who had never met him for a long time even if he were heartless. The only exnation was that general, you did not know her at all.¡±

    Leng Changxi kept silent with his mouth up a little.

    ¡°Finally, I made sure when you saved me at Mount Sheshan. Before I saw my cousin Su Chenghai off, I sent him a flower sachet especially. I put the specially-made spices into the sachet. It gave out light fragrance but was unique and distinct. The fragrance would stay in the body for a dozen days if someone carried it for three days. On that day, when I came close to you, I could smell that fragrance clearly. From the moment I opened my eyes, I could make sure that my cousin Su Chenghai around me was not real, and all were the tricks yed by you, general.¡±

    After the words of Qin Yunuan, Leng Changxi finally turned back and said in a voice as mild as the sweetest lover¡¯s prattle, ¡°Tricks were yed for teasing people but what I did was not to tease you.¡± He did that for protecting her all the time. From the beginning, he protected her under the request of Zizhan, butter, he protected her out of his inner heart as if he were protecting a treasure that he tried his best to find.

    ¡°It¡¯s for making Zhao Huijin get exposed?¡± Qin Yunuan looked at Leng Changxi straightly, ¡°General, you have no weakness. So you cared about somebody deliberately for creating a fictive weakness so as to make Zhao Huijin swallow your bait?¡±

    Qin Yunuan did not believe it subconsciously but she still asked that question which was her worst guess about this issue. Qin Yunuan tried her best to believe Leng Changxi but the long journey of inner struggling in his family taught her not to believe anybody, any person out of her family, and any person who had ever deceived her.

    Her life did suffer threatening before no matter when she was attacked in the small thatched cottage or in that danger happening just now. All of those were indisputable. Qin Yunuan suddenly reached her hands to touch the mask of Leng Changxi which had never been removed. But her hands stopped halfway and she just said in a low voice, ¡°Let me see your face,¡± and then she continued.

    Leng Changxi, the Cool Face General, hated people touching his mask, but now, for no reason, he kept still and indulged Qin Yunuan¡¯s small hands to touch the knots on his mask, which felt like a little cat scratching him lightly.

    Although she could not remember those old memories clearly, Qin Yunuan found that Su Chenghai appeared in her life was not so different in the face from the one ten years ago. Or Dou Qing¡¯e and Qin Yunzhuang, even Qin Zhi would find the trick. Qin Yunuan thought before that there must be some masks made in human¡¯s face.

    But when she loosened the rope fastened tightly on the mask which was falling from the face of Leng Changxi....

 Chapter 79 A Forced Kiss

    <h4>Chapter 79 A Forced Kiss</h4>

    Blown by the dry and mild wind of the early summer, the shadow of trees was dancing with the wind and the mottled moonlight on leaves was cast on Leng Changxi¡¯s upwind face, eyelids, thin lips and the tip of his nose. He was all covered with bright silver light, which set off his handsome and beautiful face more perfectly.

    Leng Changxi¡¯s face was almost the same as that of real Su Chenghai. It turns out that the cousin Su that they had seen regrly was Leng Changxi who had taken off his mask.

    How could it be possible? How could two people look so much alike?

    ¡°It¡¯s you?¡± Qin Yunuan could hardly believe her eyes that the mask in her hand fell to the ground in an unimpeded way, ¡°Is that you?¡±

    Qin Yunuan remembered that she was only five years old when Cousin Su came to the capital ten years ago. She was so happy when she heard that her cousin who lived far away wasing that she asked nurse Liao to take her to the Shili Pavilion so as to wee him. However, in a shabby temple on the road, they witnessed a very bloody scene.

    A child of the same age and almost the same face as Cousin Su was holding a bloody dagger in his hand. His dark purple robe embroidered with gold edges had been stained with blood. The ruthless look in his eyes and the smile on his face exuded a sense that he would kill anyone who got closer. Beneath his foot was a dead body of a wiry adult man, whose heart was shedding bleed like water.

    At that time, she happened to get scattered from nurse Liao. The people present were only Su Chenghai, the killing boy out of nowhere, and herself.

    The blood guilty boy slowly raised his head and stared at Su Chenghai and Qin Yunuan, like he was looking for the next prey. At that time, she was so terrified that she hid behind Su Chenghai and pulled the corner of his clothes. As the boy got closer, her heart was beating faster and faster.

    ¡°My nurse was looking for me outside. If you kill us, you will not have any chance to run away.¡±

    That strange boy red at her as soon as she finished and she did not dare to continue the next sentence anymore.

    ¡°Thank you for leading him there,¡± The boy went up to Cousin Su. His voice was as cold as the ice stored in the icehouse and the calm and cruel look in his eyes was beyond his age. He nced at the dead body on the ground emotionlessly, ¡°This man had lurked around me for half a year, trying to kill me while I came out today to worship Buddha. Had it not for you, it would have been me whoid here.¡±

    He then turned toward Qin Yunuan, who was trembling, ¡°As for you, young girl, do not try in vain to be brave. Maybe the next time I meet you, I will really kill you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan remembered the lifted purple robe as the footsteps went away at that time. Cousin Su had already fallen to the ground after he left, but his arms were still around Qin Yunuan in a protective way. However, no matter what Qin Yunuan asked him, he shook his head confusedly and said he didn¡¯t know.

    And that boy who killed a man with a dagger turned out to be the one who was standing before her....

    Qin Yunuan choked up, and she looked at Leng Changxi with sharper eyes for a long time.

    ¡°We¡¯ve met before?¡± Leng Changxi tilted his head slightly, with a trace of ck hair falling right on his left eyelid. His blurred eyes suggested that he was recollecting his memories.

    ¡°Maybe the next time I meet you, I will really kill you.¡± Qin Yunuan would never forget these lingering words, the dark curtains and the scented air in the shabby temple. These words were like ghosts that echoed in her ears for years.

    ¡°Well, I remember,¡± Leng Changxi chuckled in an uninhibited way all of a sudden. His white teeth and deep eyes seemed to pull people into his charm, ¡°It was you, the young girl.¡±

    With a canny smile, he drew near slowly and his smell that was as thick as green hills also pressed on. Qin Yunuan stepped back instinctively and almost stumbled by a branch. When she was about to fall, a big hand supported her from the back. The warmth of the hand passed through her thin clothes, and Qin Yunuan felt that she seemed to be lying on burning hot pebbles.

    The next moment, her lips were touched by something warm. It was Leng Changxi¡¯s lips. They were a little bit cold at first, but then, the tepid lips moved gently around those of Qin Yunuan. Sometimes, his lips pressed against hers with a little force and sometimes they just touched hers softly.

    Unconsciously, Qin Yunuan wanted to push away the tall and sturdy frame against her body, only to find that she could not move at all. It was because Leng Changxi had hit a certain acupoint on her body while supporting her.

    The atmosphere was getting passional as his fingertips moved around. Though inexperienced, Leng Changxi showed a partiality for kissing. While holding Qin Yunuan¡¯s waist with his right hand, he propped the trembling right shoulder of Qin Yunuan firmly with his left hand. For several times, he had an almost uncontroble impulse to stoke her fine and tender face, but he managed to repress his urge after slight moves. He knew that once he yielded to his desires, he would not get enough from mere kisses.

    He would try to hold back before she became his official wife, but after they got married....

    So, the key question was how to win over this little hedgehog.

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s acupoint was hit by others twice within 2 hours. The first one aimed to take her life, and this one was meant to take her heart.

    Slowly, Leng Changxi loosened his arms around Qin Yunuan and stared closely at her rosy lips that were caused by him with great attachment. Having resisted the desire to kiss her again, he straightened up and looked quite satisfied at her blushing face. Then, he answered Qin Yunuan¡¯s question before.

    ¡°The purpose of my disguise as Zizhan was never to draw Zhao Huijin out. No one in this world would be that important to make me sacrifice your safety. At first, I just wanted to fulfill thest wish of Zizhan, but I didn¡¯t know when I started to disguise myself just to look at your face, hear your voice and smell your scent. It made me happy even when I got closer to you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan pursed her lips, where a trace of warmth still lingered there that remained her what had just happened. She could not stop the pounding of her heart. Though she was unable to move, Leng Changxi could tell from the look in her eyes that she believed him and was tempted by him. But his little hedgehog was not so easy to sumb, which was also the reason why he was so crazy about her.

    Leng Changxi hit Qin Yunuan¡¯s acupoint again to free her. Just as he had imagined, she did run away for fear like normal girls. Instead, she looked at him quietly, rubbing her stiff elbows and arms.

    She turned away, trying hard to avoid the topic and escaping from Leng Changxi¡¯s eyes, because her cheeks were like ming clouds. But still, she could feel that they were fixed on her.

    ¡°I... I¡¯ve been out for too long. It¡¯s time to go back.¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her head. If their private meeting at midnight were known by Dou Qing¡¯e or Qin Yunzhuang, they would have the cause to attack her.

    With a nod, Leng Changxi only replied ¡°Okay¡± and then whistled toward the woods. After a moment, a horse with ck and white color and snow-white hoofs galloped under the moonlight and stopped by Leng Changxi after a whinny with its head holding high. Its shiny fur was very slippery as if it had been coated with ayer of wax.

    Leng Changxi mounted the horse and gave his hand to Qin Yunuan, with his face covered by the mask again without being noticed.

    ¡°Come on!¡±

    This ce was several miles away from Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. The horseback ride would indeed be the fastest way, but....

    Just as Qin Yunuan was hesitating, Leng Changxi took the liberty of grabbing her arms and lifted her onto the horse with ease. He cuddled her and his arms were around her long hair with the color of ink and the faint fragrance of Sweet Olive. Holding the reins, Leng Changxi looked quite pleased.

    Qin Yunuan squirmed as she was a little embarrassed within Leng Changxi¡¯s arms and then whispered, ¡°I can sit at the back. It will be difficult to hold the reins when the horse gallops if I sit there.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Leng Changxi did not refuse, but then he said calmly, ¡°In this case, we can just go slowly and let it walk.¡±

    Well then, what did they ride a horse for?

    This awkward but warm period seemed to pass very slowly. And the forest was quiet, with asional noises made by insects and snaps of branches by the horse.

    Leng Changxi¡¯s arms were very warm and firm, which enchanted Qin Yunuan with its dizzying beauty. The moonlight became brighter and brighter, and the form of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion ahead could be seen dimly.

    Silent all the way, Qin Yunuan finally began to speak atst, ¡°May I know why did cousin... die?¡±

    This topic was finally brought up. The Su Family in Jianzhou never said a single word about Su Chenghai¡¯s death when Shen Xun came to the regions south of the River for investigation, not to mention the reason for his death.

    Leng Changxi paused and then said in a softer tone, ¡°Like ten years ago, the Leng Army was ambushed and we were in desperate need of a breakout. Since we looked very alike, Zizhan disguised himself as me in order to interfere with our enemies¡¯ view. The rest of us were all saved by him.¡±

    He made it very clear with just a few words. Qin Yunuan thought that he had finished, but he continued out of her expectation, ¡°I did not want to risk his life because any one of the eighteen shadow guards would have had a bigger chance to survive than him. Unfortunately, we were ambushed by the remaining force of Zhao Huijin, who would not be cheated easily as he had seen my face.¡± As he said, there was a pitiful look on his face which was very rare, ¡°Zizhan was the most responsible doctor in the army and my precious intimate friend. All in all, he died for me.¡±

    Zizhan was the pseudonym of Su Chenghai when he was in the army. Though Leng Changxi knew his real name, he still used to call him by the old name.

    So many years had passed. Qin Yunuan¡¯s memory of Su Chenghai remained when she was five years old. So, though she felt regretful and sighed with emotion, her heart did not contract in pain after Leng Changxi¡¯s description. Actually, his gloomy face evoked more feelings of Qin Yunuan.

    Cousin sacrificed his own life in exchange for the lives of other soldiers in the army. Forth Uncle would be proud of him after knowing this,¡± Qin Yunuan whispered, trying to persuade herself or Leng Changxi.

    ¡°So,¡± Qin Yunuan asked, ¡°Who was trying to kill you ten years ago?¡±

 Chapter 80 Iâ€™ll Marry Her

    <h4>Chapter 80 I¡¯ll Marry Her</h4>

    Who was the backstage maniptor?

    Leng Changxi looked down at Qin Yunuan¡¯s slightly raised face. The fair face was as beautiful as jade. The inquiry and anxiety in her nce implied that she was clearly concerned about him. At least that was what he thought.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Leng Changxi hastily avoided the question.

    Qin Yunuan lowered her head without further asking. When they were about a dozen steps away from the backyard of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, they dismounted the horses and walked on feet. The back door was already cleared by the eighteen shadow guards. It was the courtyard where the birthday banquet was held at the far end of the pavement. The singing and dancing sounded slowly, and the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion was still in a peaceful and joyous mood. No one would have imagined that just now. There was such a danger in the woods just a few miles away from Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.

    Leng Changxi was walking in front, as Qin Yunuan followed. They went back to the yard where Qin Yunuan was taken away, and it was time for their temporary separation.

    ¡°Today...¡± Qin Yunuan cleared her throat, ¡°Anyway, thank you. But in the future... we should take care of ourselves.¡± It was weird. She had been cautious to Leng Changxi after she knew that he had been pretending to be Su Chenghai to deceive her. However, when the truth was fully talked though between the two, she felt much calmer. Maybe it was because that he had always been helping her, whether as Leng Changxi or as Su Chenghai. Or maybe, it was just because of the affectionate kiss in the woods.

    Thinking of the kiss, Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help turning her face away.

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t want to embarrass her, so he just smiled and looked at Qin Yunuan. Even though there was a mask on his face, it seemed that Qin Yunuan could still see Leng Changxi¡¯s almost perfect face in the moonlight.

    When there were not many people, Qin Yunuan returned to the banquet. Fang Ziying had returned from being drunk. She asked with care where Qin Yunuan went, seeing that she had left for quite a while.

    ¡°I¡¯m drunk.¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s face was still ruddy. Tonight, she was really drunk.

    Then, Qin Yunuan looked up at the upper end of the table and saw an empty seat. She asked Fang Ziying, ¡°Why isn¡¯t Princess Ning there? She¡¯s the protagonist of today¡¯s banquet.¡±

    Fang Ziying rubbed her slightly swollen temple and said, ¡°She seems to be unwell, so she left to rest early.¡±

    In the dark and unlit courtyard, Leng Changxi watched Qin Yunuan¡¯s figure disappearing among the flowers, but he didn¡¯t retract his nces yet, and kept looking in that direction. It seemed that his mind could also turn around the corner and follow Qin Yunuan away.

    He was not going back to the banquet anyway. There were always some people who didn¡¯t want him there. More importantly, there were too many things that he needed to handle tonight. However, as he turned around, he saw a figure in the octagonal pavilion where a fishingmp was lit. There was a moment of surprise in his eyes. He bowed slightly, which was his most respectful action.

    ¡°Mother,¡± Leng Changxi softly called Princess Ning in the pavilion.

    Princess Ning was beautiful. Even when she was angry, she looked calm. She had raised Leng Changxi for 20 years, and knew him better than anyone else. When Leng Changxi left the banquet in a hurry, her heart seemed to tremble a bit as well. She knew that Leng Changxi¡¯s people were all around the courtyard. But she also knew that she was the only person they wouldn¡¯t dare stopping.

    Hence, she saw everything that just happened between Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan. She frowned slightly, as if she were extremely worried.

    ¡°Mother,¡± Leng Changxi approached, seeing the dim fishmp reflecting on Princess Ning¡¯s sad face, ¡°It¡¯s windy out here, why are you waiting here? Let me help you back.¡±

    Princess Ning turned her head like a child and said, ¡°Changxi, you are so confused.¡±

    Leng Changxi knew what she meant, as he withdrew his hands and asked, ¡°Why? Isn¡¯t that good?¡±

    Princess Ning said frankly, ¡°Do you know who she is? She¡¯s just a concubine¡¯s daughter of the mansion of Grand Commandant, whose mother was just an embroideress. Even though the recent rumors about her in the Royal City are mostly good, saying that she¡¯s smart, generous, kind and polite. But a concubine¡¯s daughter is a concubine¡¯s daughter anyway. It just like your elder brothers, no matter how much they want the position as the first heir, they could only think about it.¡±

    Leng Changxi replied lightly, ¡°Is identity the only thing mother cares about?¡±

    Princess Ning was stunned for a moment, as she looked back at her extremely determined son, and sighed, ¡°You know I¡¯ve always loved you the most. For the girl you fancy, how could I... However, your grandmother would definitely disagree.¡± The old princess was born in the mansion of Duke Jingguo, and she was most particr about social status. Besides, the old princess was rted to the legal mother of the Qin Family for some reason. Seeing the old princess¡¯s protection for Dou. It was hard for her to ept an enemy of this Dou.

    Princess Ning¡¯s mind was simple and pure, which was why the old princess could get along with her. It was hard for a smart mother-inw to live with a smart daughter-inw peacefully. However, Qin Yunuan was exactly a smart and sharp little girl. Leng Changxi had taken that into consideration.

    But... so what? He naturally had the ability to protect the woman he fancied.

    ¡°Mother,¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s words sounded deep and cool together with the summer breeze, ¡°I will marry her. I don¡¯t care if you are willing, or if grandmother is willing, or if the world is willing. I will marry her no matter what, and since I dare marrying her, I naturally dare promising her a peaceful life.¡±

    If Qin Yunuan had heard this, her heart must have been feeling warm again. The future that she once longed for was described so solidly by this man.

    That night, Qin Yunuan fell asleepte. While Dou Qing¡¯e, who was so proud of herself, got up very early the next day.

    After getting out of bed as usual, Tong immediately brought warm water in. She saw Qin Yunuan dazed in front of the makeup box, holding the peach woodb in her hand,bing her hair without paying attention. She teased, ¡°Third Miss, your face is blushed. Is there anything good happening to you?¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned back violently, but theb fell to the ground. She stared at Tong, pretending to be angry and said, ¡°It¡¯s only been a few days that I haven¡¯t disciplined you, and you¡¯re now naughtier than Baochuan!¡±

    After Qin Yunuan rinsed her mouth, she asked about Maner¡¯s condition again. Knowing that Maner¡¯s wounds had recovered very well, and herplexion had turned normal gradually, Qin Yunuan was much relieved.

    Qin Yunuan pulled the braided bun, and then bundled the long hair hanging down from her ears to the back, forming two beautiful arcs. It made her look decent and nice. Together with a pale yellow pearl flower on her head, it added a bit of young girl¡¯s tranquility.

    ¡°How about Baochuan?¡± Qin Yunuan asked, ¡°It¡¯s time to wake him up for breakfast. Don¡¯t miss the time for family academy.¡±

    Just when the words fell, nurse Liao ran in sweatingly and said, ¡°Third Miss, the Second Master is taken away by Xiu Gu on behalf of Madam.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Qin Yunuan stood up immediately. It was the first day Dou Qing¡¯e returned to the mansion, and she had already started torturing Baochuan. She must have thought that her status was still as in the old times, ¡°Don¡¯t rush, nurse Liao, tell me what happened.¡± Even though Baochuan was taken away, Qin Yunuan was confident that Dou Qing¡¯e wouldn¡¯t dare doing something too bad to him.

    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault,¡± nurse Liao said with tears in her eyes. ¡°In the morning, just after I woke Second Master up and got him dressed, Xiu Gu came. She said that Madam would like to see the Second Master¡¯s homework recently, and she wanted Second Master to go to the Cui Xuan courtyard. I was reluctant to let Xiu Gu take him away like that, so I said that I should ask Third Miss first. However, Xiu Gu was determined and had a rough attitude. Moreover, she ordered the two servant girls who came with her to beat Ting Xue who was trying to block them. I couldn¡¯t resist them, so I could only watch Xiu Gu taking Second Master away, and came to you immediately to discuss what we can do.¡±

    Taking Baochuan away hard, and hurting the servant girl. Dou Qing¡¯e, you really were more arrogant.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Qin Yunuan twisted her eyebrows and straightened her neck, ¡°Let¡¯s go to Cui Xuan courtyard.¡±

    She wanted to see how Dou Qing¡¯e, a tigress without paws, could still be arrogant.

    Just when she entered the door of Cui Xuan courtyard, Qin Yunuan saw the servant girls who were doing the sweeping were avoiding her and scattering one by one. It was most likely that they went to tell Dou Qing¡¯e about her visit.

    When Qin Yunuan stepped inside Chuihua Gate, she heard Baochuan reciting the poems loudly. He must have been doing this for a long time, that his sound was hoarse. As for Dou Qing¡¯e, she was leaningzily on the chair, with exquisite refreshments and fruits by her hand. She was closing her eyes and recuperating, while listening to Baochuan¡¯s recital. She asionally nodded, with a trace of disgusting smile at the corner of her mouth.

    Qin Yunzhuang was also there on the side.

    Xiu Gu saw that Qin Yunuan was there, and she turned towards Dou Qing¡¯e and said, ¡°Madam, Third Miss is here.¡±

    ¡°Greetings from Yunuan, mother.¡± Qin Yunuan bowed slightly with a faint smile on her face, looking obedient and honest. The smile on the corner of Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s mouth slowly expanded, but she opened her eyes with a surprised look and said, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Yunuan. I didn¡¯t even notice. It must because that Baochuan¡¯s recital was too loud and energetic. However, I didn¡¯t expect that the Third Miss of the mansion of Grand Commandant, a concubine¡¯s daughter, would know how to greet an elder.¡±

    This was a great sarcasm.

    Qin Yunuan leaned slightly and lifted Baochuan who was kneeling on the ground that his legs were a bit numb, and stopped Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s spiritual torture on Baochuan naturally. Then she replied, ¡°It¡¯s not that Yunuan iszy. It¡¯s because that mother had been in Guo¡¯an Temple before and father had ordered that we shouldn¡¯t disturb you if there had no serious matter. It¡¯s all trivial matters in Yunuan¡¯s yard, so I didn¡¯t dare bother mother. It was unlike in elder sister¡¯s yard, where everything happened was thrilling. Naturally, she would have more contact with mother.¡±

    These words had again reminded Dou Qing¡¯e and Qin Yunzhuang of their immoral deeds.

    Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯ nted her mouth and leaned back again. She waved her hand towards Baochuan and said, ¡°Why do you stop? Continue. I love listening to Baochuan¡¯s recital. I could sleep better listening to it.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s voice suddenly became extremely gloomy, ¡°Mother, enough is enough.¡±

 Chapter 81 As You Wish

    <h4>Chapter 81 As You Wish</h4>

    Qin Yunuan put Qin Baochuan behind her body to protect him. Now her eyes showed an iparable determination and untouchable arrogance.

    Dou Qing¡¯e widened her eyes. Qin Yunzhuang broke the silence first and shouted at Qin Yunuan, ¡°Who are you? You are just a daughter of a concubine. How dare you speak to my mother irreverently.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nced slowly with indifferent eyes at Qin Yunzhuang who dressed very showy today and slightly surprised Dou Qing¡¯e. She said lightly, ¡°We shall leave because Baochuan should go to the family academy. I would not know how to rey to my father if Baochuan were to be reported by the teacher due to histeness.¡± She looked at nurse Liao and indicated her to take Baochuan out.

    Nurse Liao was about to take Baochuan out, but Dou Qing¡¯e suddenly said in a higher voice, ¡°You could take him out if you said to your father that you did not want to attend the selection campaign of imperial concubines for princes. Only Yunzhuang could attend it.¡±

    It was ridiculous for these two women to strive to attend the selection campaign. But Qin Yunuan always looked down on this kind of activity full of the conspiracy of bigwigs.

    ¡°Mother,¡± Qin Yunuan said, ¡°I would have stayed away from such kind of activity if I had said to my father who must allow me to quit. But mother, do you think that my father will allow me to quit?¡±

    Qin Yunuan was right. Qing¡¯e knew her husband well. Nobody could change his mind easily, or she could not y tricks to threaten Qin Yunuan to quit. However, she must try even if there was only a small chance because the selection campaign was involved in the future of her daughter.

    ¡°But I have an idea if you really want to send sister into the imperial pce,¡± Qin Yunuan said lightly.

    Qin Yunzhuang responded quickly, ¡°Why should I believe you?¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°It is OK that you do not believe me. Nurse Liao, let¡¯s go back with Baochuan. If my father were to ask that why Baochuan waste to go to the family academy, you would say to him that Baochuan waste because he recited for coaxing Dou Qing¡¯e to sleep. Piety was more significant than others so father would not me it on you.¡± And then Qin Yunuan was about to leave with Baochuan.

    ¡°Wait,¡± Dou Qing¡¯s suddenly changed her mind, ¡°Baochuan can leave, you stay here.¡± She said in an arrogant voice, but Qin Yunuan could notice that Dou Qing¡¯e now hadpromised.

    With her back to Dou Qing¡¯e, Qin Yunuan smiled. She indicated nurse Liao to take Baochuan to the family academy and then turned back slowly, ¡°Mother, are you willing to know my idea?¡±

    ¡°Humph, just as a reference.¡±

    Qin Yunuan said with a smile, ¡°Although the concubine selection for princes determines the whole life of a maiden selected, before the selection, the Empress will hold a poetry feast where all daughters of the noble family will be invited and all princes will be present. Those princes will select their desirable maidens beforehand. Those maidens highlighting in the feast will give a good impression to those princes. So it is less important to gain the permission of father to attend the selection campaign. After all, no parents will stop the promotion of their daughters. Mother, am I right?¡±

    ¡°Why are you willing to help me? Are you really such a kind girl?¡± Qin Yunzhuang was touched at the beginning but then felt alert about Qin Yunuan. In her eyes, Qin Yunuan was a malicious girl who always yed dirty tricks.

    Qin Yunuanughed again, ¡°I am just a daughter of a concubine. I have no chance to be selected by any prince. Even if I were to be selected and have a chance to serve a prince, I would fail in thepetition against those noble maidens and live a solitary or miserable life because I had no any rich family background or mighty power. What I want is to live an ordinary life with Baochuan. I would have no chance to take care of Baochuan and myself in the pce, so that¡¯s why I am not willing to attend the selection.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s words were reasonable but Dou Qing¡¯e and Qin Yunzhuang still doubted her words.

    The poetry feast would start within seven days, so it was essential to prepare early.

    Having seen that Dou Qing¡¯e and Qin Yunzhang looked at each other silently, Qin Yunuan knew what they worried. She leaned back, ¡°Mother, you can consider my suggestion carefully. I have some trivial things to handle, and I am off.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e did not stop her and expelled all the maidservants, including Xiu Gu after Qin Yunuan left. She pulled back Qin Yunuan and asked, ¡°Yunzhuang, what do you think of her idea?¡±

    ¡°It is an opportunity,¡± Qin Yunuan frowned. She felt so sweet when she thought about the chance that she could meet with the Third Prince, Sima Ray. Such kind of handsome and prominent man was the dream lover of all young girls. If the trend that Sima Ray would be selected as the sessor of the country were real, she would be the imperial concubine of the sessor and naturally be the empress who mastered significant power.

    ¡°But,¡± Qin Yunzhuang hesitated and said, ¡°Qin Yunuan is a shrewd girl and I am afraid that she may y dirty tricks.¡±

    ¡°You must know that the older was the wiser,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e sipped the tea and put down the jade-green teacup onto the rosewood tea table, ¡°Now your father has alienated his wife and her two daughters. If we do not make a good n for us, we would be bullied and oppressed by others ¨C the daughter of the concubine, or some other sluts. You must attend the poetry feast, and as for Qin Yunuan, I have my n.¡±

    Though it was just a poetry feast, all the maidens who had the chance to attend the feast had paid much attention to it. They prepared for the feast early. Now many jewelry and clothes shops in the Royal City had received various orders. Each order contained nearly one hundred tael of silver.

    But Qin Yunuan was not busy with that. She designed the new patterns and checked the homework of Baochuan as usual. She earned much from many maidens who purchased many clothes from her shop, and then she purchased some new clothes and stationeries for Baochuan, and sent high-quality brocades to Maner, Tong, nurse Liao and Ting Xue. Besides, she also gave a pair of new cloth shoes to Huang Dashi.

    The night before the poetry feast, Qin Yunuan read the book by the light of the oilmp. She could hear some trivial sounds from the wall, but she just ignored them and thought that was the sound of a cat¡¯s running.

    The door was opened and that was Maner who held the clothes that Qin Yunuan would wear in the poetry feast tomorrow.

    They were cyan fine-gauze skirt, shortppet with flower pattern and soft light-green belt, which was well tidied up. A Golden Begonia-shaped hair essory with lovely silvery pendants was put on the clothes.

    Maner unfolded the clothes for Qin Yunuan and introduced, ¡°The clothese from Yuman Embroidery Shop. The master did not receive our money when he heard the clothes belonged to Third Miss. So finally, Maner and I ran away after leaving the money,¡± Maner tittered. Yuman Embroidery Shop was the property under the name of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. Qin Yunuan and Maner both knew that. Maner added, ¡°The hair essory is the product of Jewelry Shop in East Street. I heard that it is the newest pattern this year. I think it very pretty and Tong also believes that you will like it.¡±

    Qin Yunuan always felt satisfied with the assignment Maner and Tongpleted. She picked up the delicate Golden Begonia-shaped hair essory and checked it for just one glimpse, muttering, ¡°the newest pattern of Jewelry Shop in East Street? I heard that the shop had already stopped the purchase of the pattern of Golden Begonia-shaped jewelry.¡± Qin Yunuan had known more about various shops in the Royal City since she coborated with Shen Xun for business.

    Maner felt stunned and lowered her voice, ¡°So is there any trick in the Jewelry Shop in East Street?¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°The trick does note from Jewelry Shop. Humph! Ites from the two people in Cui Xuan Courtyard and Caizhi Courtyard. I know they are not such simple people.¡±

    The next day, Qin Yunuan got up very early. She waited at the flower hall at about 7. When the sunshine crept up to the third window pane at the west end of the gallery, Qin Yunzhuang finally showed up with a luxurious dress.

    She wore a rose flower-pattern skirt hidden in a cherry jacket-shirt. Her face was covered with light rouge, which more increased her iparable beauty:nceted eyebrows, clear eyes, delicate makeup, zing red lips and lily teeth. Qin Yunzhuang was the girl who always highlighted herself. Now she held her head high, and regarded herself as a luxurious blooming peony which had suffered crazy wind and rain.

    Qin Yunuan stepped forward with a smile, ¡°Sister, youe.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang answered ¡°hi¡± lightly. She noticed the Golden Begonia-shaped hair essory on the head of Qin Yunuan and gave out a smile. She pretended to care about Qin Yunuan and touched her hand, ¡°Now we both attend the feast in the imperial pce. Such a coincidence.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded, ¡°Yes, but now everything has been changed.¡± And then she went straight to the outside and got on the horse carriage first.

    Qin Yunzhuang gritted her teeth but in her heart, she felt outrageous. Sheforted herself that she would give thousands of hundreds of sarcasms and disgraces she had suffered back one day.

    The horse carriage still stopped at the Rosefinch Gate. This time the nanny who worked on duty at the gate was politer. Now the Third Miss Qin Yunuan had got a wide-spread reputation in the Royal City, especially in Qingshui County. All the people there said that though they did not know what Qin Yunuan looked like, they believed she was a beauty as pretty as a fairdy, kind and virtuous.

    The poetry feast was held in a garden with rockeries and ponds. At present, the Empress had not shown up, and several maidens got together to gossip. Today Fang Ziying would note. Fang Ziying nned to marry Shangguan Rang but he died. She seldom went out to avoid the gossiping, let alone the imperial selection for princes.

    Although many people had not thought that Qin Yunzhuang would show up, they pretended to be not so surprised. Especially Li Weijun who sought favor from Qin Yunzhuang now.

    Qin Yunuan did not want to join the group so she sat in a cool ce to have a rest. She enjoyed a cup of plum syrup given by the maids in the imperial pce.

    Suddenly, ayer of shadow seemed to be added onto the sparse shadow of the trees. A soft and gentle sound came above, ¡°Third Miss, long time no see.¡±

 Chapter 82 Step Aside! Bad Guy

    <h4>Chapter 82 Step Aside! Bad Guy</h4>

    The voice was strong and deep with a gentle and mild mood. Others might believe this man was a pious and kind prince with good characters in morality and ability, and he would be a promising one in the selection of the sessor of the country. But in Qin Yunuan¡¯s view, the man in front of her was a merciless executioner who killed people cruelly.

    He was the Third Prince, Sima Ray.

    In herst life, Qin Yunuan almost had no connection with this man, but in this life, the man always appeared in her life.

    Although she disliked him, Qin Yunuan still stood up and gave an imperial salute to Sima Ray ording to the rule of the imperial pce.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be so polite, Third Miss of Qin Family.¡± Sima Ray smiled happily and wanted to support her to stand up. Crossing Qin Yunuan, he nced at the very noisy distance, and then smiled to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Third Miss, why don¡¯t you join the talks of those maidens?¡±

    Qin Yunuan noticed that the eyes of Sima Ray fell on Qin Yunzhuang just for a short moment as same as the eyes heid on other girls. However, Qin Yunzhuang had paid much of her attention to here. She constantly looked at Sima Ray and Qin Yunuan, and felt very angry. Qin Yunzhuang thought thatst time Qin Yunuan could enter the imperial pce under the help of herself, but now the situation was reversed. Sima Ray stayed closer to Qin Yunuan. Qin Yunzhuang could be beaten by anyone but that menial girl, a daughter of a concubine.

    All dirty guys were collected here: the one who had many plots, and the other one who coveted Sima Ray. Besides, Qin Yunuan raised her head and saw Shangguan Yee stepping towards here along the path near the small pond.

    Qin Yunzhuang raised her skirt and came closer with her little steps over the path paved by bluestone. She was pretending to tide up her tousy hair. Sima Ray had noticed that. He squinted at this artificial girl without a word. Apart from the Imperial Concubine Xian, he had met with many easy girls but seldom with the exceedingly pretty girl like Qin Yunzhuang.

    People always loved to see beauties.

    But at the next moment, this elegant beauty fell and disappeared. Qin Yunzhuang tumbled in a very ugly and impolite position. Besides, she fell exactly beside the feet of Sima Ray.

    Qin Yunzhuang felt blind, only to feel hurt on her arms and fainting on her forehead. Her cheek, tip of nose and wrist were all on the dirt, which looked very uncollected.

    Qin Yunuan sneered in her heart but pretended to care much about Qin Yunzhuang and stepped forward to support her. She said, ¡°Ah, are you OK, sister? It is not so necessary to give such a formal salute to the Third Prince, Sima Ray.¡±

    Some maidens nearby snickered with their handkerchief covering their mouths. It was rare to see the embarrassed Qin Yunzhuang in such a ridiculous position.

    Qin Yunzhuang gritted her teeth and patted off the dirt on her dress, and then tidied up the tousy chignon. She gave a very formal imperial salute to Sima Ray, which expressed that she was still the elegant and virtuous Grand Miss from the mansion of Grand Commandant. And then she said to Qin Yunuan in a soft voice, ¡°It was not a very formal salute, my sister. It was you that reached your feet so far that I tumbled.¡± Qin Yunzhuang looked at Sima Ray with her delicate eyes and she seemed to feel wronged.

    Qin Yunuanughed, ¡°My sister, what do you mean? You meant that I made you tumble on purpose just now? The Third Prince stands in front of us, and I dare not do that. Besides, all maidens here have watched what happened just now!¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang only felt that her shank was hurt by a hard thing. Qin Yunuan stood nearby and Qin Yunzhuang believed that Qin Yunuan did not want her toe closer to Sima Ray. So finally, Qin Yunzhuang believed that it was Qin Yunuan who did that thing. Qin Yunzhuang raised her head slightly, ¡°Is not you? Eh, it would have been OK if you had done that. You are my full young sister. I could understand you even if you had various thoughts.¡±

    What Qin Yunzhuang meant was to warn Qin Yunuan did not care much about the Third Prince, or she would die.

    Qin Yunuan felt so astonished that Qin Yunzhuang was now an overconfident girl. She pursed her lips and then said in a calm voice, ¡°Sister, you knew why you tumbled just now. I do not want to exin more.¡±

    Sima Ray just gave out azy smile, and then thought about that sweet dream. In the beginning, he did not know why he cared much about the girl who he had heard and met for only a few times. To be frank, he was attracted by the light temperament of her. She disdained him but he admired her courage.

    Many maidens from governmental officials around here had good rtionships with Qin Yunzhuang. At this moment, they must stand out to help Qin Yunzhuang. But before Qin Yunzhuang asked them for help, Shangguan Yee nearby came here arrogantly. She put her hands on an imperial maidservantzily, satirizing, ¡°Wow, it that Miss Qin? I have seen the whole thing just now. You tumbled due to some barriers on the ground. Humph, the world is fair. One who has done many bad things will get punished.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang tried her best to keep her elegance, but still squinted at Shangguan Yee, shouting, ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Shangguan Yee felt a little bit proud, but still pretended to be panic by covering her mouth, ¡°Ah, what did I say just now? Look at me, Miss Qin. I am too young to behave myself. I just speak it out when I think about it. Do not mind my behavior.¡±

    Now Shangguan Yee also hid a dagger behind her smile. Qin Yunzhuang nced at Shangguan Yee and then Qin Yunuan who seemed to watch a funny show now, and then she stared at handsome Sima Ray who was about to uphold the justice after everybody here had finished their quarrels.

    ¡°Today, it is the poetry feast, a cultured feast. All of you should not quarrel for this trivial thing,¡± Sima Ray smiled and then made an order to Liu Bao, ¡°The dress of Grand Miss of Qin Family got dirty. You guide her to change another new one in the painting hall. You first dispatch people to light the incense in the painting hall.¡±

    Liu Bao responded, ¡°Yes.¡± But the poetry feast would start within a few minutes. The painting hall was not so far but Qin Yunzhuang must not havee back in time after she changed the dress and finished the makeup.

    Qin Yunzhuang felt disappointed.

    Qin Yunuan smiled in a mild voice, ¡°Third Prince, you handle everythingpletely and consider much for my elder sister.¡± Qin Yunuan then nced at Qin Yunzhuang consciously. As expected, Qin Yunzhuang felt a little bit happy, but she did not want to leave the feast now.

    Shangguan Yee raised her eyebrows, shouting, ¡°I think Miss Qin, you are not willing to leave. If you were absent, you would have no chance to please the Empress and Imperial Concubine Yun.¡±

    Shangguan Yee¡¯s prodding did work. Qin Yunzhuang turned back and her tousy chignon was unfolded. A bunch of index-finger-wide hair hung by her eyes. She raised the hair slowly and tried her best to keep her elegance. Ignoring the straight sarcasm from Shangguan Yee, she gave an imperial salute to Sima Ray and then said with her soft and mild eyes, ¡°Thank you, Third Prince.¡±

    Having seen that Liu Bao led Qin Yunzhuang to leave, Sima Ray nced at those busy imperial servants in the distance. He said to Qin Yunuan, ¡°The poetry feast is about to start, Third Miss, after you, please.¡±

    Sima Ray bowed his fists. His fair face expressed iparable elegance with inborn noble temperament. In this world, no girl could resist the charm of the perfect Third Prince of the country.

    But Qin Yunuan just gave back a polite salute and said politely, ¡°Third Prince, you go there first, and I want to talk to sister Shangguan for a while.¡±

    Again, she refused him. Sima Ray felt a little bit stunned but still kept his smile. And then He said, ¡°Fine.¡±

    Now, there were only two people here, Qin Yunuan and Shangguan Yee, in a subtle phenomenon.

    ¡°Well done,¡± Shangguan Yee raised her head proudly. She stared at Qin Yunuan like judging apetent heeler, ¡°Qin Yunzhuang was always overconfident and today I let all of you know how dirty she actually is.¡±

    Shangguan Yee still felt angry about the involvement of Qin Yunzhuang with the dead Shangguan Rang. Since Shangguan Rang died, Shangguan Yee had changed her character much. She was self-willed and arrogant in the past, but at present, she was like atent bald eagle. She would try her best to implement a more evil n when she got the chance to hit Qin Yunzhuang.

    Shangguan Yee said proudly, ¡°I have changed the incense in the painting hall early. Just in a minute, everyone will see a lewd and shameless Grand Miss of Qin Family. I let you guide her to the painting hall and you managed to do it surprisingly. You are not a simple girl.¡±

    Qin Yunuan squinted at Shangguan Yee. It was not an incident that Qin Yunuan tumbled just now. It was Leng Wu dispatched by Leng Changxi that did some tricks. As a master-hand, he could let a weak girl tumble even by just a small ss bead or a soybean.

    Qin Yunuan had no interest in the plot that Shangguan Yee was longing to make to Qin Yunzhuang. But for the issue benefit to Baochuan and herself, Qin Yunuan had much interest. She turned back and responded coldly, ¡°All would be OK if I could be clean all the time.¡±

    Shangguan Yee nodded, ¡°Definitely.¡±

    Even if Shangguan Yee wanted to pull Qin Yunuan into the water, Qin Yunuan would have solutions to get back to the bank.

    The poetry feast had started. When Qin Yunuan arrived at the feast, she exactly hear the high voice from the eunuch outside the courtyard, ¡°Herees the Empress, Imperial Concubine Yun, Imperial Concubine Duan, Imperial Concubine Yu and Imperial Concubine Xian.¡±

 Chapter 83 Death of the Pregnant

    <h4>Chapter 83 Death of the Pregnant</h4>

    Soon, the courtyard decorated with various flowers came into sight. Those elegant imperial concubines wearing gorgeous outfits entered through the front door. Each was followed by at least four eunuchs and pce maids, who stood behind in a neat row.

    Qin Yunuan curtseyed with other concubines. Among them, in the front stood the Empress Chen, still presenting dignified and amiable. For the others, Qin had already met Imperial Concubine Yun, and heard of Imperial Concubine Xian, the most beautiful woman in East Qin whose full name was Wei Xian.

    One of the other two was Imperial Concubine Duan, who had been promoted to take care of the fourth prince, Sima Han after his biological mother died of dystocia. This was because she was the younger sister of the deceased. As Imperial Concubine Duan was benevolent and kind, and that Sima Han was not so clever, she doted on her dear nephew so much that it was very likely to spoil him. That was why Sima Han had already had several personal pce maids at the age of eighteen. They were, in other words, his bed partners.

    Thest one was the Imperial Concubine Yu, who was having a baby bump, indicating her pregnancy. Since the emperor only had four sons alive, in which the youngest one, the seventh prince, was raised in the Imperial Mausoleum, he had a great expectation of the unborn child. Those nannies and pce maids around Imperial Concubine Yu who asked about her health and followed her order were evidence to that.

    After getting pregnant, Imperial Concubine Yu had always had a good appetite. The moment she sat down, she ate the white square rice cakes one after another.

    Qin Yunuan could see the facial expressions and behaviors of everyone present clearly from where she sat, close to the back row of the seats.

    Seeing Imperial Concubine Yu enjoying her desserts, Imperial Concubine Yun smiled, ¡°What a good appetite you have! When I was having Ruo, things were quite different. I didn¡¯t want to have meals in case something went wrong with my precious child. It made the emperor worried also. Every time he was off his early duty, he always sent a eunuch to ask what and how much I had eaten.¡±

    She was taking the chance to show off after all.

    Feeling embarrassed at her words, Imperial Concubine Yu took hands away from the cakes. Empress Chen tried to save her blushes with a smile back to Imperial Concubine Yun, ¡°You were born with a silver spoon in your mouth. No wonder that you are picky with your meals. Besides, did you everck the care from the emperor when you were not pregnant?¡±

    The empress¡¯s word made Imperial Concubine Yun more proud, ¡°You really don¡¯t know! Whether one gets pregnant or not makes lots of differences.¡± All of a sudden, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief, faking a guilty face for improper words, ¡°Ah! I forgot that you never got pregnant ever! What a terrible mistake I made to touch your sore spot!¡±

    ¡°What an obvious disy!¡± thought Qin Yunuan, taking a sip of fruit wine. She knew clearly that someone without caution like Imperial Concubine Yun was the least weed in the pce. It was her luck to have the emperor¡¯s continuous love. If one day she lost it, or the Meng Army was deprived of power, it would be the end of her days.

    At that time, the princes were all seated at the back seat. Although Empress Chen was annoyed at Imperial Concubine Yun¡¯s subtle satire, it only took her a nce to change to a gentle smile. She looked at Sima Ray and said, ¡°Even though the fate didn¡¯t give me a chance to have a child, I am happy to raise Ray, a thoughtful and promising child.¡±

    Hearing that, Sima Ray also smiled a little and agreed, ¡°I am also lucky to have a loving mother who takes me as her own child!¡± they acted like they really cared for each other.

    The Grand Prince who sat next to them, Sima Ruo, showed no surprise to their performance. Without extra movement, he transmitted a white chicken foot to Imperial Concubine Yun and said, ¡°Mother, this is your favorite.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Yun nced at Empress Chen triumphantly, and had it slowly in small portions after her personal maid removed the hard parts from the chicken foot.

    It was the first time for Qin Yunuan to see Sima Ruo herself, for she had only heard of him before. After Qin Zhi returned from the southern tour apanying the Grand Prince, he mentioned Sima Ruo from time to time, praising that he was both filial and incorrupt, acting so decisively and calmly like a politician should be. What¡¯s more, although he was not the biological son of the empress, his mother was much favored by the emperor and he was the first son of the emperor, so he was quite likely to be the crown prince.

    However, from what Qin Yunuan had seen today, Sima Ruo was not like a politician, but like a god in the painting, because he was so graceful and his eyes were so clear that they reminded her of the clean water in the ice pool at the top of Mount Tianshan.

    It would be hard to believe that he was a politician, because he appeared so different who actually was a free man. He showed no signs of fight from head to foot except for his delicate eyes and brows which resembled Imperial Concubine Yun¡¯s.

    Leng Changxi also mentioned him once. He helped Leng Changxi even at the critical moment when the rtionship between his biological uncle Meng Hua and Leng Changxi was too fragile to take the weight of a thread of hair.

    Thinking of Leng Changxi, Qin Yunuan came to a halt a little. Why did all the people she noticed now have connection to Leng Changxi? It happened almost subconsciously, more than what she could control.

    As Imperial Concubine Yun and Empress Chen just rested, Imperial Concubine Duan on the other side was busy. The fourth prince, Sima Han, acted like an eight-year-old child, even he was already eighteen. He pouted and frowned, making noise continuously. Everybody would mistake him as a child whose brain had not fully developed yet, were it not for his manly body and handsome face.

    ¡°I want to have escargots! I want to have escargots! Why can Imperial Concubine Yu have them but I can¡¯t? Mother, give me escargots, please!¡± Sima Han pulled the sleeves of Imperial Concubine Duan, making the finest silk crumpled, which embarrassed her a lot. Besides, this meeting was held to find proper suitable wives for the princes. Now the action of Sima Han was exactly like to give her a p in public.

    At Sima Han¡¯s words, Imperial Concubine Yu showed awkwardness. Imperial Concubine Duan coaxed Sima Han into sitting down by saying, ¡°All right! After the meeting, I will ask servants to buy the fresh escargots in Poyang Lake. Is that okay? I promise each of them will be the biggest and the most delicious.¡±

    Sima Han lost his temper. He stood up and strode towards Imperial Concubine Yu. The robes were shaking at that time, so Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t see what happened.

    ¡°Hurry up to stop him! It will be bad to run into something and get hurt,¡± Imperial Concubine Duan bade immediately.

    In this situation, Imperial Concubine Duan cared Sima Han, a strong man, but ignored Imperial Concubine Yu, a pregnant woman. It was true that she loved him very much. All people present thought so, but Qin Yunuan had another idea.

    As expected, the careless man threw the whole te to the ground because of his sleeves when he tried to grab the escargots on the te of Imperial Concubine Yu. The escargots in thick broth and chili were all on the ground, with the hot broth everywhere.

    Wrists getting scalded by the hot broth, Sima Han took a step back, just about to fall on the table in front of Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Your royal highness.¡± Qin Yunuan hurried to stand up supporting him. When Sima Han got to his feet, the pce maids beside Imperial Concubine Yu suddenly yelled.

    ¡°It¡¯s all done! She is bleeding!¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked at Sima Han subconsciously, who was the closest to Imperial Concubine Yu just now. However, Sima Han appeared so innocent, ignoring the fact that he had attracted everybody¡¯s attention. He covered his swelling wrists and whispered, ¡°Oops! My wrists are red.¡± It seemed that all the hubbubs had nothing to do with him.

    ¡°Your royal highness,¡± Qin Yunuan said. Seeing that Imperial Concubine Duan shot a warning look to him, she couldn¡¯t help reminding Sima Han, for he was quite like her sister, Qin Yuzhao. Both of them had been despised and isted since their childhood because of their retarded intelligence. After all, she still got some feelings to her poor sister more or less.

    s! What was she thinking about? There was no use to remind Sima Han, because he was doomed to act like that. It was just like what happened to Qin Yuzhao. Even if she had told her sister that those servants who gave her rotten leaves to eat were cheating on her, next time Qin Yuzhao would still eat them as she was beguiled to do without a second thought.

    Imperial Concubine Yu and her pce maids were in chaos. She had been nourishing the fetus so carefully, so the bleeding was out of expectation. She leaned over her seat, sweating heavily and groaning about pain with a hand covering her abdomen. Those nannies and maids beside her were all experienced, so they called imperial doctors immediately.

    Empress Chen made arrangements calmly. She first ordered servants to send Imperial Concubine Yu to Pce of Eternal Longevity, the nearest pce. Then she inviteddies to rest in the side hall of the pce. At the same time, Imperial Concubine Duan called Sima Han back at once.

    Imperial Concubine Yun beamed, waiting patiently in the side hall along with Sima Ruo.

    Bearing on the windowsill, Qin Yunuan felt as if the piercing cry of Imperial Concubine Yu were still lingering, like the cry from the most ferocious ghost at night, spreading heartbroken pain.

    Imperial doctors and pce maids carrying hot water were in and out of the pce repeatedly. Within the time to burn out a joss stick, the emperor Sima Xiu who was just off his early duty also arrived. With his royal robes not removed yet and the mark of wearing the crown on his head, he strode into the Pce of Eternal Longevity.

    ¡°How is Imperial Concubine Yu now?¡± asked the emperor.

    Empress Chen received him immediately. He ignored the tea served by his servants, frowning at the repeating cries and feeling much perturbed.

    ¡°Your majesty,¡± Empress Chen tried to speak in her most cautious tone, ¡°The doctor came just now. The fetus of Imperial Concubine Yu may not be preserved.¡±

    As soon she ended her words, the nanny who helped the doctor to rescue Imperial Concubine Yu ran out, sweating heavily. Seeing the emperor was present, she kneeled and kowtowed, ¡°Your majesty, Imperial Concubine Yu had bled much. She said if she lost her child, she would die with it too.¡±

    Bad news came one after another and the pce maids and servants were running around. Thosedies who had waited patiently in the side hall now all felt ufortable. Seeing the fat nanny at the empress¡¯s sideing, they approached at once, inquiring further information. However, she didn¡¯t answer anyone, showing an emotionless face, ¡°Where is the Third Miss of Qin? The Empress invites you.¡±

 Chapter 84 Tell the Truth and Receive a Lighter Sentence

    <h4>Chapter 84 Tell the Truth and Receive a Lighter Sentence</h4>

    At this moment, the one was an imperial concubine in the imperial pce, and the other one was a maiden from the mansion of Grand Commandant. The words of the fat nanny made people believe that Qin Yunuan seemed to gain some troubles again.

    Qin Yunuan stood straight in front of the window. She walked towards the nanny calmly after she heard the call from the fat nanny. She gave her a salute and said politely, ¡°I will follow you, please.¡±

    Qin Yunuan went out calmly but those maidens behind started to gossip again. Li Weijun said in a very sharp voice, ¡°Oh, I almost forget. Where is sister Qin. Why doesn¡¯t she stay with us?¡±

    Just for a moment, they arrived at the splendid main hall. Qin Yunuan could feel the solemn phenomenon even she did note closer to the hall. The Emperor Zhaoxuan, Sima Xiu was sitting at the center. On his right-hand seat, they were Empress Chen, Imperial Concubine Yun, Imperial Concubine Duan and Imperial Concubine Xian. And the back was the inner room where Imperial Concubine Yu was lying. She had taken ginseng to strengthen her body and now was treated by many imperial doctors around her.

    A man kneeled. He was Sima Han, who was regarded by many people as an idiot.

    He kneeled at the center of the hall with his head lowering and looked very aggrieved. He sobbed and seemed to mutter something like, ¡°Father, you are so ferocious. Why do you hit me?¡±

    It was the first time that Qin Yunuan met with the Emperor in this country. In herst life, she could not see the Emperor as a menial girl. She tidied her clothes and walked into the hall humbly, and then kneeled slowly to give the Emperor a standard imperial salute.

    ¡°My name is Qin Yunuan, my respected Emperor and Empress.¡±

    Emperor Zhaoxuan must be a handsome young man when he was young, judging by the appearance of those princes. Now he was nearly fifty years old but still kept a robust body shape. With an imperial robe, Emperor Zhaoxuan expressed a more prestigious and grand temperament.

    Now Sima Xiu sat there seriously with his two legs separating slightly and two arrow-shaped eyebrows rising slightly. A profound and serious mark was formed between the two eyebrows.

    Qin Yunuan kneeled beside Sima Han, and then observed Sima Xiu and Imperial Concubine Duan who looked a little bit worried. She almost knew what had happened. Sima Xiu wanted to rebuke this impious son who offended Imperial Concubine Yu and scared her, causing her miscarriage.

    Shewed people knew the whole thing. At that moment, Sima Han did not touch the body of Imperial Concubine Yu. Sima Xiu aimed to take this chance to educate Sima Han. After all, it would be time to select the imperial concubine for the prince.

    ¡°Are you the Third Miss of Qin Family, the daughter of Qin Zhi?¡± Sima Xiu said in a resonant and profound voice, which expressed his experienced and sharp-witted political life before.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°I heard from the Empress that you were the nearest one when the ident happened?¡±

    Qin Yunuan felt stunned and answered, ¡°Yes.¡±

    Sima Xiu moderated his serious eyes, ¡°What on earth happened at that time. Tell us what you have seen.¡±

    Qin Yunuan gave a salute again, ¡°At that time, the Fourth Prince was naughty and wanted to eat the red-oil field snails put on the tea table of Imperial Concubine Yu, but he upset the saucer carelessly. And Imperial Concubine Yu felt stomachache and her maidservants aside found that she was bleeding. I don¡¯t know what happened after the imperial doctors came.¡±

    Her words were objective, fair and straightforward. Qin Yunuan did not want to offend someone ¨C no matter who she was, the Empress Chen, Imperial Concubine Yun or Imperial Concubine Duan ¨C before she figured out the truth and the interest thereof.

    Imperial Concubine Duan said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Emperor, you know well Han. Though he is a little bit silly, he has never tried to hurt others. For the sake of the departed sister, Emperor, please forgive Han.¡±

    Sima Xiu seemed to take this chance to rebuke Imperial Concubine Duan who spoiled Han, ¡°Humph, he became a bastard just because of your over favor.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Yun raised her pretty eyes, ¡°Imperial Concubine Duan, my sister, Emperor has never said that the Forth Prince did that on purpose. But sometimes, carelessness also could hurt people to death.¡±

    Having heard the sarcasm from Imperial Concubine Yun, Sima Han became a crazy child again. He raised his head and refuted, ¡°You are such a malicious woman. You are telling nonsense. Emperor, please do not believe her words. They are malicious and want me to die. And my mother, she was malicious too.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Duan felt stunned and said quickly, ¡°Han, what are you talking about? Why are you so impolite in front of your father. Don¡¯t you remember what I have taught you? You are wrong this time. Stop talking back!¡±

    Imperial Concubine Yun felt funny, ¡°Wow, Imperial Concubine Duan, my sister, now you also admit that Imperial Concubine Yu is at death¡¯s door and her baby is gone. All are due to the Forth Prince?¡±

    The words of Imperial Concubine Yun had already irritated Sima Xiu. For the first time, he looked at Imperial Concubine Yun with very tyrannical eyes. The Empress Chen added quickly, ¡°Sister, you should not be so loose-lipped even if you were worried about Imperial Concubine Yu. We are all worried.¡±

    Suddenly, the imperial doctor inside the inner room went out in a hurry.

    ¡°Emperor, Imperial Concubine Yu now is fine overall, but the baby has been gone,¡± Imperial doctor Zhao added, ¡°The reason of miscarriage has been concluded.¡±

    Sima Xiu straightened and moved forward his body when he heard the words.

    They saw Imperial doctor Zhao took two things put in the sauce held by the servant behind him, and then showed them to Sima Xiu, ¡°They are field snail and gecko. People should not eat the two things together excessively because they will cause abdominal colic. And as for pregnant women, the two things taken together for a long time will be poisonous. It was lucky this time that the ident happened shortly before our doctors came to treat her. Otherwise, besides the baby, Imperial Concubine Yu would be dead possibly.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Yu came from the south region and loved to eat field snail as everyone knew in the pce. She would have a saucer of field snails in each meal, especially after she was pregnant. Gecko was used to add into the medicinal liquor. The pce stored the most expensive and valuable gecko and if there were no particr needs, the Imperial Hospital would not grant the use of this medicine easily.

    For no reason, Qin Yunuan thought there must be some plots hidden in this issue. When she was pondering, Qin Yunuan felt strange intensive eyes fell on her constantly. She raised her head and found Sima Ray whose eyes were deep and elusory, was staring at her.

    Sima Han who had kneeled for a long time now started to shout, ¡°See! It is not me that hurt Imperial Concubine Yu. It is those field snails. If I had not upset that saucer of field snails, Imperial Concubine Yu might have been sick more seriously.¡±

    ¡°Fourth Prince!¡± Qin Yunuan could not help but reach her hand to pull the clothes rim of Sima Han to indicate that he should not speak further. Sima Han pouted his mouth and shrank his neck. He glimpsed at Qin Yunuan without a word.

    Gecko was taken for a long time together with the favorite food of Imperial Concubine Yu. It was clear enough that there existed some tricks.

    Sima Xiu frowned. He did not intervene in the issue of the imperial harem all the time but this time, he should intervene because the ident was involved with his son, ¡°Zhao Quan, investigate the whole thing. In thest half-year, to which pces did the Imperial Hospital give the gecko. You need to investigate the specific concubine of each pce and the time of distribution.¡±

    In a short time, the manager of the imperial bodyguard Zhao Quan, took back a thin pile of books. He gave a salute and said, ¡°Emperor, the medicine distribution records are here. I have checked them. In thest half-year, Imperial Concubine Xian from Ruixue Courtyard was in serious disease, and Emperor indicated to send her many medicines for nourishment, including gecko.¡±

    Cold sweat emerged on the forehead of imperial Concubine Xian who was silent all the time. To be frank, she just had intercourse with the man she loved at those sick days and would not know what kind of medicines the Emperor send to her. And she did not know why the food of Imperial Concubine Yu would contain gecko which existed initially in his pce.

    Imperial Concubine Xian looked at Sima Ray to ask for help unconsciously, but she felt very astonished when she heard the words of Sima Ray.

    ¡°She has hidden her malicious heart deeply!¡± Sima Ray said, ¡°Father, you took in this woman as your concubine from East Qin in view of the surrendering of East Qin and their tributes. But East Qin did not surrender radically. They dispatched Prince Anyang Zhao Huijin to raise the devil in the Royal City. Now The princess of East Qin, Imperial Concubine Yun, wants to hurt the prince.¡±

    Empress Chen waved her hands to stop Sima Ray till he had med all on Imperial Concubine Yun, ¡°Stop, Ray, be quiet. Don¡¯t you see your father is sad now? General Meng and General Leng who were responsible for the issue of East Qin were so kind to moderate the attack towards East Qin, so people in East Qin became more barbaric.¡±

    At this moment, Qin Yunuan understood that Empress Chen and Sima Ray targeted at East Qin. She still kneeled straightly on the ground. From her orientation, she could see each of the wrinkles on the forehead of Sima Xiu, and his profound eyes.

    Now Sima Han was scared and pulled the clothes rim of Qin Yunuan and hid behind her.

    ¡°Big sister, protect me. When father frowns, he will do many scared things. Last time he frowned, he punished me and let people hit my ass. And now, my ass is still painful.¡±

    Qin Yunuan did not know Sima Han was really ridiculous or just pretended to be silly. Actually, he alerted her that something severe was about to happen, and she should prepare well. She knew it.

    As expected, Sima Xiu just kept silent for a while and then shouted severely, ¡°Imperial Concubine Xian, the evidence is clear. What else do you want to say?¡±

    Imperial Concubine Xian was panic and limp and then kneeled on the ground. She muttered, ¡°Em...Emperor, you should not treat me like that. I... I....¡± Imperial Concubine Xian stammered and suddenly vomited by holding the chair with a pale face.

    Those Imperial Concubines who gave birth before felt doubt at the vomiting of Imperial Concubine Xian. Imperial doctor Zhao stepped forward to feel the pulse of her under the indication of Sima Xiu. He felt surprised and then reported to Zhao Quan in a low voice. And then Zhao Quan responded in a low voice to the Emperor, ¡°Emperor, Imperial Concubine Xian has been pregnant for two months.¡±

 Chapter 85 Death Regardless of Time

    <h4>Chapter 85 Death Regardless of Time</h4>

    Two Month! Sima Xiu had been verypassionate since Imperial Concubine Xian¡¯s physical difort. He didn¡¯t ask her to sleep with him for nearly three months. Now, Imperial Concubine Xian had been pregnant for two months. What else could it be if it wasn¡¯t a sinful child inside her?

    The gazes were sharp like arrows, and everyone held back the sentence. Even Sima Xiu, Emperor Zhaoxuan, could only bear the anger of being a cuckold. Clenching his fists, he said nothing. There were too many people in the room, and a trivial event would be enough to set off a storm, not to mention adding this incident. What¡¯s more, for the royal family¡¯s reputation, the secret should also be buried deep in the pce.

    Qin Yunuan seemed to see her destion, her hardships, and the tiredness for the mundane life from the eyes of Imperial Concubine Xian. She had also seen such eyes when Li Qiqi looked at Su Chenghai. Those eyes wandered between Imperial Concubine Xian and Sima Ray.

    Qin Yunuan was an observer in the matter, from the beginning to the end. But those meaningful eyes that Sima Ray had cast on her kept her vignt. Fortunately, there was a burly Sima Han behind her. Although Sima Han had been moring to be protected, it was he who gave others warmth and peace of mind.

    Sima Xiu knew that the best way to keep the secret was to shut her up forever. Murdering the heir was enough to sentence Imperial Concubine Xian death, whether she was the princess of East Qin or the concubine of Qi.

    ¡°Drag her down,¡± Sima Xiu said coldly, ¡°Give her the beating punishment.¡±

    It was a pity that the dead could never save the child of Imperial Concubine Yu. Imperial Concubine Xian cried and was dragged down by two reliable nannies. The imperial doctor also diagnosed imperial Concubine Yu that she could no longer have children in this life. In the harem, a woman would lose the maximum value of use once she was infertile.

    Sima Xiu kneaded his temples. His eyes felt swollen, and he sounded exhausted, ¡°Empress, that will be all for today¡¯s poetry fiesta. Asking the maids to take those boudoir daughters around the garden sounds good. If someone want to leave, they could go back to the mansion first. I still have government affairs to deal with.¡±

    Sima Xiu left, leaving the whole situation to Empress Chen. Empress Chen could always stay calm in danger. She moved to a ce full of lotus flowers and invited all thedies in the boudoir to move.

    Sima Han, the prince with the same temperament as a little child, stuck to Qin Yunuan. He refused to leave even when his wet nurse called. Imperial Concubine Duan had to follow up and persuade him, ¡°Okay, good boy, I said something too harsh in the pce. You see, I had never said to you in this manner before. It was just a momentary outburst of anxiety. Forgive me this time.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Duan looked very elegant, with big eyes and an oval face. She could be mild like a woman from the southern riverside towns, making people unable to refuse.

    But Simahan didn¡¯t appreciate the kindness. Instead, he rubbed against Qin Yunuan. It seemed that he was deliberately irritating Imperial Concubine Duan, ¡°Mother is not good. I don¡¯t want my mother. I want this big sister.¡±

    Big sister? Qin Yunuan may be mentally his age, but she was just a 15-year-old little girl on appearance.

    Qin Yunuan saw some embarrassment on Imperial Concubine Duan¡¯s face. She smiled to rx the atmosphere, ¡°It has been a tiring day for Imperial Concubine Duan. Your Highness, why not apany me to walk around this lotus pond? There are fewrge lotus ponds outside the ce. It¡¯s fresh to me, and I like it.¡±

    This was a yard nearest to Imperial Concubine Duan¡¯s resting pce. Recently the garden was awarded by the Emperor especially to Imperial Concubine Duan for appreciating flowers. Qin Yunuan was praising the yard and also iming credit for the Imperial Concubine Duan, which would both be satisfying for her.

    Sure enough, Imperial Concubine Duan¡¯s face finally burst into a smile, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I also feel a little tired. Nanny, help me rest in that small pavilion.¡±

    After Imperial Concubine Duan left, only Qin Yunuan and Sima Han were left on the corridor. Watching Sima Han smirking, Qin Yunuan¡¯s mood seemed to be better.

    ¡°What? Are you happy?¡±

    Sima Han thought about it very seriously and suddenly shook his head, ¡°No. I haven¡¯t eaten escargots yet.¡±

    He pulled it back to thest thing.

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s look became serious. The scene of Sima Han overturning the te of red oil escargots in front of Imperial Concubine Yu shed back into her mind. To be frank, Sima Han was not only far from Imperial Concubine Yu, but also from that te. How could he overturn the te with his sleeves? Why was the te of escargots, which caused Imperial Concubine Yu¡¯s abortion, that happened to be overturned?

    If Sima Han had been deliberate, why? Although ording to ordinary people, a fool could be justifiable for doing everything. In Qin Yunuan¡¯s view, this was not the case.

    Qin Yunuan looked sideways at Sima Han, who enjoyed ying a dragonfly with broken wings in his hands. She asked tentatively, ¡°Fourth Prince, can I ask you a question?¡±

    Sima Han nodded, ¡°Well, I¡¯m in a good mood now, ask.¡±

    Qin Yunuan said with a smile, ¡°I see that Imperial Concubine Duan is very good to you. Why do you say that she is bad? Imperial Concubine Duan will be so sad. She was so nervous that she almost fainted when you overturned the te.¡±

    Sima Han suddenly stopped touching the wings of the dragonfly. He lowered his voice, pretending to be mysterious, ¡°She is not good. She didn¡¯t want the escargots to get overturned. She wanted Imperial Concubine Yu to eat a lot of escargots. It would have been best if all escargots in Poyang Lake had been eaten up. Do you know why?¡±

    Qin Yunuan froze for a moment, then said softly, ¡°I am stupid. I don¡¯t know why.¡±

    Sima Han poked a finger to Qin Yunuan¡¯s forehead andughed, ¡°I thought that, since you were so calm in front of my father, you were a smart person like brother Leng. But you are stupid. Of course, my mother was hoping Imperial Concubine Yu eat up the snails so that I won¡¯t have any of them.¡±

    Qin Yunuan rubbed her sore temple. Did brother Leng stand for Leng Changxi? A circle of ripples appeared in Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart, and it stretched just like the trace of water spiders crawling on the lotus pond surface. It expanded farther away, then dispersed gently.

    Suddenly, there was another ripple on the water surface. It was a fallen dragonfly. Qin Yunuan looked up but found that Sima Han had dropped the dragonfly that he had just yed within his hand.

    ¡°Why did you throw the dragonfly into the water?¡± Qin Yunuan leaned over slightly. She seemed to see the dragonfly with its wings broken after Sima Han¡¯s stroking and the p of the pool water. It was dying, but still struggling faintly.

    ¡°Why are you so stupid,¡± Sima Han said eloquently, but suddenly he lowered his tone and whispered, ¡°We are in the pce. Even if I hadn¡¯t thrown it into the pond, it was too small and had broken wings. How could this little dragonfly still want to fly out of the dark pce? That¡¯s why.¡±

    His tone was calm, and the breath was gentle. Even the rhythm of the speech was like a wise elder. Qin Yunuan looked at Sima Han, who continued to grin to her. He didn¡¯t look like the person who said those things to her.

    Sima Han¡¯s look was silly. When he opened his mouth and started grinning, it seemed that he could dribble down. Qin Yunuan was about to wipe his mouth with her handkerchief when a familiar but not very pleasant voice appeared behind him.

    ¡°Brother, you are bullying again.¡±

    It¡¯s Sima Ray.

    Qin Yunuan turned slowly. Without even looking up at Sima Ray, she saluted, ¡°Your Royal Highness.¡±

    Sima Ray nodded slightly and said to himself, ¡°I just handled a lot of chores with my mother, and now she had returned to the pce to rest. Today¡¯s events may have surprised you, Third Miss Qin.¡±

    She was not only surprised but also she saw a lot of things clearer. Qin Yunuan cast her eyes to the distance. She looked to the opposite of the blue, sea-like lotus pond, and watched those youngdies pouring out words on the Grand Prince Sima Ruo. Qin Yunuan seemed to sigh unintentionally, ¡°It was also a pity that Imperial Concubine Xian was sent to a strange ce when her country broke down. She was only one of the three thousand beauties in this forbidden pce. No wonder she would be lonely and do something that she shouldn¡¯t have done.¡±

    She was plowing around him. If she was right, there must have been some unspeakable secret between Sima Ray and Imperial Concubine Xian. The mysterious miscarriage of Imperial Concubine Yu and the death of Imperial Concubine Xian under rods must be beneficial to someone. This person could be the man behind the scenes.

    Qin Yunuan had never been afraid to guess anyone.

    Sima Ray behaved very calmly, even showing pity in his eyes. But he was more firm and indignant, ¡°Be that as it may, the remaining troops of East Qin were causing trouble everywhere, making my father and mother sleepless at night. It was no wonder that my father handled the incident so quickly.¡± Then, he looked up at Sima Han and said, ¡°Right, brother, I met Imperial Concubine Duan on the way. She was about to call you over and had prepared your favorite mung bean cake.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going!¡± Sima Han turned his head away, ¡°I want to y with this big sister.¡± His face was still childish.

    Sima Ray smiled slightly and said straightforwardly, ¡°Good brother, I have something to say with this big sister. You will leave for a little while, and I will buy you a big kite to y with tomorrow.¡±

    Sima Hanpromised. Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t know what Sima Ray wanted as he deliberately sent Sima Han away, leaving the two alone. But she was standing on open terrain. The ce was essible to everywhere and also had people passing by. Sima Ray wouldn¡¯t dare to do anything over the top.

    She waited till Sima Han went away, then nodded slightly and asked before Sima Ray could say anything, ¡°What¡¯s your order, Prince Ray?¡±

    Sima Ray stood still, and the wind blowing from the pond gently flicked his fur belt. His gentle smile rxed people, but Qin Yunuan only felt gloomy.

    ¡°Cooperation,¡± Sima Ray said softly, ¡°Qin Third Miss, I want to cooperate with you.¡±

 Chapter 86 Excessive Jealousy

    <h4>Chapter 86 Excessive Jealousy</h4>

    Cooperation? Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows, her jade eyes slightly nted, and his tone was a lot weaker, ¡°I don¡¯t seem to understand, Your Highness. I am just a daughter of a concubine. I don¡¯t have the qualification to work with you.¡±

    Though he knew that Qin Yunuan was only ttering, Sima Ray seemed to be extremely satisfied. He leaned closer, ¡°If the second boss of the Golden Butterfly Embroidery House weren¡¯t qualified, then nobody else in the world would have been able to catch my eye.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was not surprised. Instead, she responded very indifferently, ¡°Your Highness has eyes everywhere. But it is a pity that I don¡¯t intend to cooperate with you.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Sima Ray raised his neck with a bit of arrogance, ¡°I¡¯m indeed not economically powerful now. But soon, I have the confidence that I will take over the East Qin¡¯s affairs within three months.¡±

    Sima Ray¡¯s ambitions had never been small. Qin Yunuan was just wondering why he showed it so obviously in front of her. ording to his temper, Sima Ray liked to hide it deeply and strike a blow when the enemy lost defense.

    Qin Yunuan gave him a casual smile, ¡°You want to seize East Qin¡¯s jurisdiction from General Leng?¡±

    Sima Ray turned sideways, and his tone sounded full of confidence, ¡°In terms of fighting for things, I don¡¯t think I will lose. Whether it¡¯s power or anything else,¡± Sima Ray paused and nced at Qin Yunuan with an obscure look. Then he continued, ¡°or women.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s ck eyebrows shook slightly like willow leaves, and her clear pupils zoomed into the distance. Suddenly she became bright, and the corners of her cherry red lips were glowing. She smiled, ¡°Your Highness, the person you need to find is here. Please speak for yourself.¡±

    Sima Ray froze and looked back again. He discovered that Leng Changxi, who was supposed to be in the outer pce, appeared suddenly in the backyard garden. His lc clothes with silver linings rang with the wind. He was wearing the signature bat-shaped mask. A fierce and cold light shot out from his eyes, which seemed to be able to prate the red cherry and green willow in the early summer and hit the position of Sima Ray¡¯s heart directly.

    What Sima Ray cared about was not his eyes, but he felt ufortable and uneptable that Leng Changxi¡¯s appearance was the reason why Qin Yunuan suddenly smiled sincerely.

    Qin Yunuan had never shown this kind of smile in front of others.

    As Leng Changxi approached, Qin Yunuan realized that he was not alone. He was apanied by a middle-aged eunuch head. The man saluted towards Qin Yunuan and Sima Ray, then he nodded and bowed to Leng Changxi, ¡°Since this is the case, I will leave it to General Leng. Recently, Imperial Concubine Lu didn¡¯t want to eat or drink, and she couldn¡¯t sleepfortably. I had to rush back to Yuhua Pce. She is still waiting.¡±

    Talking about Imperial Concubine Lu, this eunuch was honey-lipped when ttering.

    Leng Changxi just nodded slightly, ¡°Take care.¡± Watching the eunuch turned and left the veranda, he slowly raised his eyes and looked at the Qin Yunuan and Sima Ray in front. The crocheted purple cor turned up slightly, and his eyes were as deep as midnight.

    Sima Ray was not willing to be outdone. He smiled and greeted, nodding, ¡°It is rare to see General Leng in the inner court. I don¡¯t know which noble person could invite General Leng.¡±

    The eunuch said the name ¡°Lu.¡± It was nothing more than showing it in front of Qin Yunuan that Sima Ray asked.

    ¡°I work for the Emperor.¡± Leng Changxi didn¡¯t seem to look at Sima Ray. His eyes only lingered on Qin Yunuan ¡®s body. He saw the two alone from a long distance. He felt ufortable as if he had eaten spoiled honey, and it stuck in his heart. As an official, he should normally leave the harem as soon as possible. But something led him here. He hadn¡¯t seen his little hedgehog for a while.

    Leng Changxi raised his eyebrows again, and continued impolitely to Sima Ray, ¡°It¡¯s like how you work for the Empress.¡±

    After all, Sima Ray was a dog who did things ording to the Empress¡¯s expression.

    Sima Ray frowned slightly. At the end of the winding corridor, there suddenly appeared an unfamiliar eunuch. He hurried over and said to Sima Ray, ¡°Prince Ray, the Empress has something urgent. She is waiting in the painting hall.¡±

    Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t help but sneer.

    Sima Ray waved to the eunuch, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go right away.¡± After that, he held back the tides rising in his heart, performed a humble salute towards Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi, and turned away.

    After Sima Ray left, Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi were left alone. Under the wisteria trellis, next to the lotus pond, and between the flowing fragrance, Leng Changxi¡¯s eyes softened. He stared at Qin Yunuan, who also stared into his eyes. His shadow guards had scattered around to prevent others froming, so he approached boldly to look at Qin Yunuan¡¯s slightly grunted mouth. His heart was filled with unspeakable joy.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You miss me too much?¡± Years of living in the military camp made Leng Changxi¡¯s expression bold and straightforward.

    Crimson clouds rolled up on Qin Yunuan¡¯s cheeks. She turned her head and looked away, ¡°We just said about the Empress, and then she sent someone. General Leng¡¯s premeditation was too meticulous.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t do it,¡± Leng Changxi shrugged, ¡°Do you think I would be happy to deal with those snobbish eunuchs?¡±

    Yeah, people like Leng Changxi always disdained these little details.

    Surprised, Qin Yunuan saw Shangguan Yee on the other side of the pond, gesturing while tipping winks to her. She intended to tell her that the n was proceeding as originally nned.

    Qin Yunuan took the signal and didn¡¯t care much. Leng Changxi, who stood aside, said leisurely, ¡°When did you get involved with the youngdy of Shangguan Family?¡±

    Qin Yunuan hesitated. She thought that in others¡¯ eyes, she seemed to be the loser with Shangguan Yee. But Leng Changxi then said, ¡°I kind of sympathizing with her. Don¡¯t work too hard on calction. Shangguan Yuan just lost his son.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± Qin Yunuan argued, ¡°In General Leng¡¯s mind, am I such a woman?¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled and stepped closer. The distance between the two was as close as the length of two fists. Qin Yunuan seemed to feel Leng Changxi¡¯s steady and powerful heartbeat which intertwined with her own thumping heartbeat.

    ¡°You are,¡± Leng Changxi joked, ¡°otherwise you won¡¯te to this poetry fiesta for choosing princess after stealing my heart.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have to be selected when Ie. And besides, I have never thought of being in a royal family.¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s tone was eager, and she seemed to want to exin to Leng Changxi desperately. She was afraid that there might be any misunderstanding.

    After the words, she realized how impatient she was.

    Leng Changxi smiled, ¡°Okay. Since you are so anxious to exin to me, I should believe you have me in your heart.¡±

    She didn¡¯t mean that. Okay, she did behave like that just now.

    ¡°Actually,¡± Qin Yunuan stretched her voice. Her slender, white index finger circled around the ancient wood-colored column on the winding corridor. ¡°I think the Fourth Prince is not bad. He is a bit stupid but honest.¡±

    ¡°He?¡± Leng Changxi raised an eyebrow, ¡°There are already seven or eight maidens in Han¡¯s pce. You would be the ninth once if you were in.¡±

    ¡°Then First Prince would also be good,¡± Qin Yunuan said like she was counting treasures, ¡°Humble, and he has a good appearance. It is even rarer to have filial piety and ambition.¡±

    ¡°The most terrible thing is to have filial piety,¡± Leng Changxi contained hisughter. He knew what Qin Yunuan meant, but he was willing to talk her down slowly, ¡°Are you sure that you could get Imperial Concubine Yun to like you? Besides, how good-looking is he?¡± Leng Changxi lowered his voice, ¡°You have seen my face. When ites to good-looking, he is not as good as me.¡±

    She had never seen such a confident person. Though Leng Changxi was telling the truth.

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°However bad it is, there is still Third Prince.¡±

    Leng Changxi turned his face and only tossed a sentence, ¡°No way!¡±

    ¡°In your words, I wouldn¡¯t have anything to do with the royals,¡± Qin Yunuan was talking from spite.

    Leng Changxi touched the smooth edge of his mask and said slowly, ¡°Although Prince Ning doesn¡¯t have the same family name as the royal princes¡¯, my grandmother was born in the mansion of Duke Jingguo. I should be considered that as rtions to the royals.¡±

    The conversation went back and forth and finallynded on the spot that Leng Changxi wanted. Qin Yunuan knew, but she couldn¡¯t misbehave in the inner court of the pce. She turned her head and said, ¡°General Leng, do you also speak to other girls in the same manner?¡±

    Leng Changxi said, ¡°I don¡¯t talk to other girls.¡±

    ...

    Qin Yunuan moved her eyes away awkwardly. Then she saw Shangguan Yee on the other side of the pond suddenly fell by the rockery. Her movements were stiff, and people with sharp eyes could see it through that she was faking at a nce. But those girls who were traveling together were anxious. All of them crowded up and asked if she was painful and needed an imperial doctor.

    ¡°No need,¡± Shangguan Yee said with tears in her eyes, ¡°It¡¯s just my ankle. By the way, isn¡¯t there a painting hall nearby? I¡¯ll just go and rest.¡±

    Seeing the group of people heading towards the painting hall on the east side, Qin Yunuan knew that Shangguan Yee¡¯s n wasing to an end.

    Leng Changxi also saw it through. Firstly, he had no interest in these little fights between girls. Secondly, he was aware of his little hedgehog¡¯s ability. He didn¡¯t need to worry about this kind of trivial matter.

    ¡°I can¡¯t stay too long,¡± Leng Changxi ¡®s words were reluctant. He was unsure how long the two would wait for such a private talk again.

    Qin Yunuan was slightly startled. She simply saluted to Leng Changxi. Watching him leave, there seemed to be a feeling of nostalgia in her heart. She sighed, turned his head, and followed the crowd to the painting hall.

    Although she didn¡¯t like to use dirty tricks to harm others, she wouldn¡¯t want to miss the excitement.

 Chapter 87 Shameless

    <h4>Chapter 87 Shameless</h4>

    In the painting hall, Sima Ray stepped over the threshold to discover that the little eunuch who had just led the way was nowhere to be found. The secluded and remote painting hall was surrounded by an intoxicating fragrance, and it seemed to be luring people¡¯s lust. Sima Ray was feeling ufortable in his chest. He realized that he had been set up, and he wanted to leave. However, his legs were already powerless.

    There seemed to be a lot of tranquillizing fragrance in the infatuation fragrance. Sima Ray¡¯s sight was getting more and more blurred. He only saw a pair of hands that were slowly closing the painting hall door. He tried to struggle, so that Liu Bao who was waiting outside coulde and save him, but he didn¡¯t even have the power to shout. His eyelids were as heavy as lead, and he lost his consciousness eventually.

    He was awakened by some loud screams.

    ¡°Oh my goodness, it¡¯s sister Qin and the Third Prince!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s so shameless!¡±

    ¡°They actually do ¡®that¡¯ in a ce like this!¡±

    The unmarried noble girls were saying what only the country women would say. Some younger girls who couldn¡¯t watch the scene anymore had already ran off. Through the carved windows, Qin Yunuan was able to see the situation in the hall clearly.

    Qin Yunzhuang, who said that she was going to change her clothes in the painting hall, had her hair all messed up like catkins after being torn by the wind. She was half naked, and the crowd was able to see her bare chest. The autumn skirt she deliberately prepared for the poetry fiesta today was down to her ankles. Her fine long legs were exposed to the air, and there was something at her crotch.

    Qin Yunzhuang looked as if she were drunk and confused, like a girl who fell in love. As for Sima Ray who was lying on her, his clothes had beenpletely torn apart, and his strong back muscles were clearly seen. The heat in his crotch seemed to be reminding him that he had been set up.

    Such a sexy scene had made many daughters of the officials blush.

    Shangguan Yee was a little surprised. Such a scene seemed somewhat unexpected to her. She looked at Qin Yunuan subconsciously, and saw a vicious and murderous look in her indifferent nce. She immediately understood that no wonder how vicious she was, she was nothingpared to the daughter of a concubine of the mansion of Grand Commandant.

    Themotion here rmed Liu Bao who was waiting outside. He hurried over and saw the scene dumbfounded. He quickly stepped forward and dressed his master who was still unable to move. On the other hand, Qin Yunzhuang was not that lucky. Everyone was looking at the half-naked Qin Yunzhuang as if she were a juggling monkey.

    The unrted people had been driven away. The only people staying were Shangguan Yee who first discovered the scene and Qin Yunuan who was a rtive to Qin Yunzhuang.

    Later, Empress Chen was also notified and came. Although she came a bitte, as soon as she saw Sima Ray¡¯s disheveled clothes and the tightly shut door of the painting hall, she knew what had happened. She pped on Sima Ray¡¯s face and scolded, ¡°You are useless thing.¡±

    Meanwhile in the painting hall, Qin Yunuan was picking up Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s scattered clothes one by one. Many of them had been torn, leaving strips as long as an arm.

    ¡°What had happened here between sister and the Third Prince was quite fierce.¡± Qin Yunuan folded the clothes neatly and put them in front of Qin Yunzhuang. But Qin Yunuan had no intention to put them on for her.

    Qin Yunzhuang didn¡¯t like Qin Yunuan¡¯s look at her at the moment, as if she were looking at a prey caught up in a trap, or she were mocking an unscrupulous adulteress.

    Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s face was beautiful and pleasant. When she was angry, it glowed with a pretty crimson.

    ¡°You did it.¡± If Qin Yunzhuang still had the strength, she would have definitely reached out and grabbed Qin Yunuan¡¯s neck, and buried her with the innocence of herself. ¡°No, no,¡± Qin Yunzhuang was back to her mind, ¡°It¡¯s not you. You don¡¯t have the ability to bribe all the maidens and eunuchs outside the painting hall.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I did it,¡± Qin Yunuan admitted boldly, ¡°Aren¡¯t I helping you, elder sister? You have always had a thing for the Third Prince. I¡¯m just helping you here to show my gratitude for you taking care of me all these years. As for the maidens and eunuchs, you still don¡¯t know about it right? They were all settled by your used-to bestie, Shangguan Yee. It¡¯s just that her ideas are too childish. Having you two caught for adultery is a way more direct than just having you two privately seeing each other. All I need to do is to prepare the fragrance in the painting hall in advance. I¡¯d love to do this kind of small effort.¡±

    ¡°Qin Yunuan, you are vicious woman.¡± Under the traction of hatred, Qin Yunzhuang managed to raise her bruised hand with all her strength. Before she could even wave it, Qin Yunuan softly caught it in her palm.

    ¡°Yes, I am vicious,¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes suddenly became bloodshot and scary, ¡°butpared to Dou, who added chronic arsenic to my mother¡¯s soup six years ago, I am not vicious enough.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang suddenly opened her eyes wide, ¡°What... what are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Qin Yunzhuang, don¡¯t act innocent anymore. Don¡¯t deny it, as you personally bring the soup several times. When my mother saw that it was you, she would drink it all to please you, even though she felt unwell. Qin Yunzhuang, you have always been good at acting, to be innocent, kind, and fair. Now that they are all torn off, are you still trying to act it?¡±

    It was actually a coincidence that she learnt about the cause of death of her mother, Lady Yang. But because of this coincidence, Qin Yunuan finally knew why her mother was healthy after giving birth to Baochuan, but suddenly died within the next month.

    ¡°You... how did you know?¡± Qin Yunzhuang was a little panicked. These secrets happened long ago, and not many people know. Apart from Xiu Gu who was serving her and her mother, there was this Li Qiqi who asked to cooperate with herself and her mother using this secret. Li Qiqi?

    ¡°Li Qiqi? It¡¯s her? Isn¡¯t she already dead?¡±

    ¡°Huh, people die, but they could talk before they do,¡± Qin Yunuan looked at Qin Yunzhuang coldly, ¡°if it had not been for you, Baochuan and I would not have been motherless. If it hadn¡¯t been for you, father would not have neglected Baochuan for so many years. If it hadn¡¯t been for you, Baochuan and I wouldn¡¯t have to suffer so many miserable days.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t me me,¡± Qin Yunzhuang burst into tears, and her eyes were red, ¡°It was all my mother. It had nothing to do with me. Actually, when the doctor diagnosed Concubine Yang¡¯s veins, he said it was a daughter, so mother didn¡¯t pay much attention. Who knew that it would be a boy. Actually, my mother....¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Qin Yunuan stood up and looked at Qin Yunzhuang with a predominant attitude. She suddenly stepped forward, stretched out her hand and pped Qin Yunzhuang with her full strength, ¡°This, is for my mother.¡± Then she did it again to Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s swollen face, ¡°This, is for Baochuan.¡± For thest one, Qin Yunuan seemed to drain everyst bit of her strength, ¡°This, is for myself.¡±

    After three ps, Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s face was already swollen. The clear five-finger print on her face was like a seal, smashing all the pride and highness she had.

    At that time, there was the urge of a nanny outside the door.

    ¡°Third Miss Qin, has Grand Miss Qin got dressed yet? The Empress has some questions for her.¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked at Qin Yunzhuang, who was a bit muddled after getting pped. There was a bitter smile at the corner of Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s mouth. There seemed to be a hint of provocation in her smile, as if she were saying, ¡°You let your anger out beating me like this, but how would you exin it to the Empress?¡±

    Qin Yunuan just took a few steps back, and suddenly took off the gold hairpin on her cross hair bun, and kneaded her hair till it was messy as a bunch of weeds. She hit herself against the door and shouted, ¡°Elder sister, I won¡¯t touch you if you don¡¯t want me to. But it hurts that you push me.¡±

    Just when Qin Yunzhuang was opening her eyes wide in shock, the door squeaked and was pushed open by the fat nanny who shouted outside. The fat nanny saw Qin Yunuan, who was falling in front of the door at first nce. The messy bun fitted to her face, and she acted well to be much aggrieved.

    ¡°Oh, Third Miss Qin, what¡¯s going on?¡± The fat nanny had quite a good impression on Qin Yunuan, and she helped Qin Yunuan up kindly. It seemed that the little girl was shoved hard enough that there were prints on her body.

    She took another look at Qin Yunzhuang, who was not even properly dressed. The fat nanny seemed to be disgusted. Nevertheless, when she saw the fingerprints on Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s face, she couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°What happened to Grand Miss Qin¡¯s face?¡±

    Qin Yunuan sighed and replied, ¡°Elder sister was so ashamed that she pped herself in the face fiercely. Yunuan tried to stop her, but I couldn¡¯t. Instead, elder sister shoved me against the door.¡±

    Huh, now that she did it, she knew it was shameful.

    The fat nanny thought, but she still urged gently, ¡°Alright, Grand Miss Qin. Now, the Empress is waiting. If you have anything to say, why don¡¯t you say it to the Empress?¡± After that, she turned to order the two maidens waiting outside the door, ¡°You two,e in and get Grand Miss Qin dressed.¡±

    With themanding tone, Qin Yunzhuang could no longer resist or struggle.

    She knew clearly that it was no different frommitting suicide to see the Empress under such situation.

    The fat nanny turned and left after she finished her words. Qin Yunuan nced at the set of goose-yellow gowns held by the maidens. Her nce only fell on Qin Yunzhuang for a short moment. The aggrieved look was long gone, what was instead were all sarcasm and ruthlessness.

    ¡°Elder sister, get changed.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was relieved only after she came out of the Chuihua Gate outside the painting hall. The day when Li Qiqi told her about her mother¡¯s death seemed to be echoing in her eardrum.

    That day, Li Qiqi was in the prison. When Qin Yunuan was about to leave, Li Qiqi shouted that the Su Chenghai now was not the real Su Chenghai.

    ¡°Concubine Li, don¡¯t y any tricks anymore. It¡¯s toote for you to beg me and draw me over. After all, it¡¯s not me who want to kill you. I guess she¡¯s going to do it in the midnight tonight. Just take care of yourself.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s one more thing,¡± Li Qiqi was leaning against the cell gate and screaming, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing that Third Miss must be interested in. It¡¯s about Concubine Yang.¡±

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    Chapter 88 Doomed Love

    ¡°It¡¯s about the cause of Concubine Yang¡¯s death,¡± Li Qiqi quickly added. What she feared the most was that Qin Yunuan would really walk away. She knew that she didn¡¯t have much time left. She¡¯d either be beheaded or killed by the vicious woman Dou. Qin Yunuan was the only one who could save her. ¡°Third Miss, you really do not want to know?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d better not tell lies.¡± Qin Yunuan turned her head around, only showing a third of her face. The obscure side face was filled with deep forbearance and longing for her mother.

    ¡°Qiqi naturally won¡¯t risk my life on this,¡± Li Qiqi swallowed her saliva, ¡°I identally discovered this after I became a part of Qin Family. The other night, I couldn¡¯t sleep so I decided to have a walk in the backyard. I saw Xiu Gu who served Dou burning paper money. While burning, she was saying, ¡®Concubine Yang, it wasn¡¯t me who murdered you. I didn¡¯t have a choice. Don¡¯te back for me like Concubine He.¡¯ That was just after we colluded for the haunting incident in Furong Courtyard. I guessed that Xiu Gu must have done something back then. I only realizedter when I saw you, Third Miss, that the day Xiu Gu was burning paper money was your mother, Concubine Yang¡¯s memorial day.¡±

    There was a ten-step distance between Qin Yunuan and Li Qiqi, but Li Qiqi¡¯s words were so powerful that it hurt her heart from the eardrum.

    Seeing Qin Yunuan¡¯s silence, Li Qiqi quickly added, ¡°Every word I said are true. Just go verify it by yourself if you don¡¯t trust me. With your ability, you could surely figure out what happened back then.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s for sure.¡± Qin Yunuan turned back somberly, and went straight out of the prison without saying much. It was always debatable whether the value of this message was worth for her to save Li Qiqi¡¯s life.

    It was only until a few dayster, when Huang Dashi found out the address of a retired old nanny of the mansion of Grand Commandant. She then found out what happened. After thinking about it, Qin Yunuan knew that Dou had put Saffron in her mother¡¯s embryo-settling medicine. It was lucky that her mother was allergic and had never used the medicine, so she was able to give birth to the six-pound boy. However, she wasn¡¯t able to escape the chronic poison in the postpartum soup.

    It was a small amount of arsenic every day which killed her mother.

    Thinking of this, Qin Yunuan took a deep breath and held back her tears. Instead, she grew more hatred and gritted her teeth as she felt that her mother didn¡¯t deserve that.

    Shangguan Yee on the side mistook it as the excitement that she would be able to see Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s embarrassment in front of the Empress. She lifted her eyebrows and said with sarcasm, ¡°I admit that you have better tricks than me, and you¡¯re always more vicious than I am. However, when ites to disguise, sister Qin, I can see your veins bulging on your fists. Even if you¡¯re happy, you don¡¯t have to show it like this.¡±

    Qin Yunuan rxed her tension andzily looked back at Shangguan Yee, ¡°I¡¯m not you. I¡¯ve got emotions.¡±

    Shangguan Yee sneered, ¡°I used to have them too.¡±

    Just after they finished talking, a young pce maiden led the haggard Qin Yunzhuang in from the left side of the door. At the same time, Sima Ray was already changed and came in from the right side of the door. When the two were exchanging nces by the door, Sima Ray seemed to give his most vicious look ever. His eyes narrowed slightly, and his nce was like ice cones that he wished to pierce the woman in front of him, who was nothing more than being beautiful.

    He had never made such a big mistake, and at such a critical time. His father, the Emperor had already started to consider about letting him coordinate the East Qin affairs. But now, it seemed that everything would no longer be the same for him.

    ¡°What are you doing standing at the door?¡± Empress Chen looked superiorly at the two of them standing like wooden sculptures at the door, and she got more dissatisfied, ¡°Come in.¡±

    There were still tears in Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s eyes. She thought that Sima Ray would at least show her a little pity like any normal man would. She was innocent either. However, as they went into the hall side by side, the only words she heard from Sima Ray were cold, ¡°You¡¯d better watch your mouth.¡±

    After they entered the hall, Sima Ray suddenly kneeled towards Empress Chen and buried his head low, ¡°Mother, sorry that I¡¯ve been unfilial.¡±

    Empress Chen didn¡¯t seem to expect that Sima Ray, who had always been arrogant and unruly, would also be obedient like this. She sent off the unrted people, including Shangguan Yee, leaving only a few trusted people of hers and Qin Yunuan, who was the sister of Qin Yunzhuang.

    Qin Yunuan took a deep breath when she saw Empress Chen. Nothing seemed to be able to disturb the beautiful disguise of such a calm and dignified woman. Such a person was the most terrible kind. No one ever knew what she was hiding, or how deep she was hiding it.

    ¡°Lady Shangguan has told me all about it,¡± Empress Chen sighed. She naturally would not believe the testimony of Shangguan Yeepletely, but at the moment, she didn¡¯t want to turn this into a chaos, ¡°Ray, why have I never heard about your crush with Grand Miss Qin?¡±

    Sima Ray was stunned, and he took a quick nce at Qin Yunzhuang kneeling by him. He became more disgusted by her cowardly look. He nned to use Qin Yunzhuang for seducing him first. He could say that Qin Yunzhuang wanted to enter the royal family, or Qin Yunzhuang had a thing for him since long ago, which he would be able to find evidence. Even if there was no evidence, he could make some up. In short, the cleaner he was, the better.

    But now ording to what Empress Chen meant, she wanted to let him....

    ¡°Ah,¡± Empress Chen sighed, ¡°well, feelings between men and women are natural. It happens that Third Miss Qin¡¯s here, she could be a witness for you two.¡±

    Just as Empress Chen paused, the three of them knew what was going on. Sima Ray clenched his fists unwillingly. Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s eyes were mixed with expectations, fears, and shyness, while Qin Yunuan just bowed slightly when Empress Chen called her name. Her expression was faint, as if this had nothing to do with her.

    ¡°Choose a date and get married,¡± Empress Chen¡¯s tone was a little tough, like an ultimatum.

    ¡°Mother!¡± Sima Ray could not help shouting loudly.

    ¡°There would be a once-in-a-lifetime day for marriage by the end of next month. I nned to find you some girls to marry on that day anyway. Since this incident happened now, it¡¯s kind of a coincidence,¡± Empress Chenpletely ignored Sima Ray¡¯s powerless resistance.

    ¡°Mother, the decision is too abrupt, and it has not been fully investigated, why do you...,¡± Sima Ray tried to argue.

    ¡°What¡¯s done is done! Do you want this to go to your father, the Emperor?¡± Empress Chen¡¯s tone suddenly got serious. Her voice was so stern that it waspletely different from her usual gentleness. She was staring at him angrily. If it weren¡¯t for Qin Yunuan¡¯s presence, she would have stood up and opened Sima Ray¡¯s head to see what was in his mind today that he had made such a low-level mistake. He had never got caught for seducing the Imperial Concubine Xian before.

    As soon as she mentioned the Emperor, Sima Ray¡¯s momentum suddenly weakened. His expression was sloppy, like an underdog.

    ¡°The twenty-third of next month,¡± Empress Chen said, a little softer. Then she asked Qin Yunuan, ¡°What do you think, Third Miss Qin?¡±

    When she asked Qin Yunuan, it was the same as asking the Qin Family¡¯s opinion. If Qin Yunuan said yes, she would have to help Qin Yunzhuang and Sima Ray to cover up when she returned. She could just say that the two were in love and decided to get married. Nannies arranged by Empress Chen were sent to the daughters of the officials who saw the incident, to tell them what to say and what not to after they left the pce. Now, the only one left was Qin Yunuan.

    Qin Yunuan bowed and said with a light smile, ¡°This is a jubnt thing, and naturally it is entirely up to the elders¡¯ decisions. Yunuan would listen to the Empress.¡±

    Luckily she knew the situation well. Empress Chen slowly kneaded her sore temple with her index finger, and her beautiful fingernail guard asionally brushed her well-knitted bun, ¡°Then so be it. I¡¯ll discuss with Imperial Concubine Yun and Imperial Concubine Duan tomorrow to arrange the marriage of the princes at the same time, so as not to be too eye-catching.¡±

    Sima Ray had kept silent, kind of epting the situation. He actually had to marry such a stupid and reckless woman. He raised his head slightly and looked at Qin Yunuan, as his unwillingness grew.

    In the silence, Qin Yunzhuang suddenly uttered, ¡°I don¡¯t want to marry the Third Prince.¡± She boldly said from her heart with tears. From the series of responses by Sima Ray just now, she was sure that Sima Ray didn¡¯t love her at all and he even hated her. She was used to rely on her beauty to think that all men in the world would take care of her and protect her. The huge contrast was even more painful to her than a knife stabbing into her heart. Her days would definitely be more unpleasant if she really got married.

    ¡°What are you talking about, elder sister?¡± Before Empress Chen had the chance to speak, Qin Yunuan took the initiative to step forward and hold Qin Yunzhuang in her arms tightly. It seemed to be aforting cuddle between sisters, but in fact, what Qin Yunuan said by Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s ears was, ¡°Don¡¯t you know the consequences for not marrying the Third Prince? Your reputation has been ruined, and father will no longer take you. Maybe even Dou will no longer take you. Not a single man in the world will ept you. Do you really think that the news won¡¯t spread as the Empress has told the nobledies not to say anything? Elder sister, I think you are very clear that you will be the shameless woman people talk about as soon as you leave the pce if I want it this way.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Qin Yunzhuang burst into tears, ¡°I¡¯ve never harmed you. Even if I had, it was in the past.¡±

    ¡°The past?¡± Qin Yunuan said as she touched the golden hairpin on her head. This was the one she felt strange before entering the pce. She looked for someone to check itter, it was poisoned with the most poisonous seven-step powder. It was the easiest for it to enter the body from the scalp, and it could kill people within two hours. She would have been a dead body now if she hadn¡¯t found out.

 Chapter 88 Doomed Love

    <h4>Chapter 88 Doomed Love</h4>

    ¡°It¡¯s about the cause of Concubine Yang¡¯s death,¡± Li Qiqi quickly added. What she feared the most was that Qin Yunuan would really walk away. She knew that she didn¡¯t have much time left. She¡¯d either be beheaded or killed by the vicious woman Dou. Qin Yunuan was the only one who could save her. ¡°Third Miss, you really do not want to know?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d better not tell lies.¡± Qin Yunuan turned her head around, only showing a third of her face. The obscure side face was filled with deep forbearance and longing for her mother.

    ¡°Qiqi naturally won¡¯t risk my life on this,¡± Li Qiqi swallowed her saliva, ¡°I identally discovered this after I became a part of Qin Family. The other night, I couldn¡¯t sleep so I decided to have a walk in the backyard. I saw Xiu Gu who served Dou burning paper money. While burning, she was saying, ¡®Concubine Yang, it wasn¡¯t me who murdered you. I didn¡¯t have a choice. Don¡¯te back for me like Concubine He.¡¯ That was just after we colluded for the haunting incident in Furong Courtyard. I guessed that Xiu Gu must have done something back then. I only realizedter when I saw you, Third Miss, that the day Xiu Gu was burning paper money was your mother, Concubine Yang¡¯s memorial day.¡±

    There was a ten-step distance between Qin Yunuan and Li Qiqi, but Li Qiqi¡¯s words were so powerful that it hurt her heart from the eardrum.

    Seeing Qin Yunuan¡¯s silence, Li Qiqi quickly added, ¡°Every word I said are true. Just go verify it by yourself if you don¡¯t trust me. With your ability, you could surely figure out what happened back then.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s for sure.¡± Qin Yunuan turned back somberly, and went straight out of the prison without saying much. It was always debatable whether the value of this message was worth for her to save Li Qiqi¡¯s life.

    It was only until a few dayster, when Huang Dashi found out the address of a retired old nanny of the mansion of Grand Commandant. She then found out what happened. After thinking about it, Qin Yunuan knew that Dou had put Saffron in her mother¡¯s embryo-settling medicine. It was lucky that her mother was allergic and had never used the medicine, so she was able to give birth to the six-pound boy. However, she wasn¡¯t able to escape the chronic poison in the postpartum soup.

    It was a small amount of arsenic every day which killed her mother.

    Thinking of this, Qin Yunuan took a deep breath and held back her tears. Instead, she grew more hatred and gritted her teeth as she felt that her mother didn¡¯t deserve that.

    Shangguan Yee on the side mistook it as the excitement that she would be able to see Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s embarrassment in front of the Empress. She lifted her eyebrows and said with sarcasm, ¡°I admit that you have better tricks than me, and you¡¯re always more vicious than I am. However, when ites to disguise, sister Qin, I can see your veins bulging on your fists. Even if you¡¯re happy, you don¡¯t have to show it like this.¡±

    Qin Yunuan rxed her tension andzily looked back at Shangguan Yee, ¡°I¡¯m not you. I¡¯ve got emotions.¡±

    Shangguan Yee sneered, ¡°I used to have them too.¡±

    Just after they finished talking, a young pce maiden led the haggard Qin Yunzhuang in from the left side of the door. At the same time, Sima Ray was already changed and came in from the right side of the door. When the two were exchanging nces by the door, Sima Ray seemed to give his most vicious look ever. His eyes narrowed slightly, and his nce was like ice cones that he wished to pierce the woman in front of him, who was nothing more than being beautiful.

    He had never made such a big mistake, and at such a critical time. His father, the Emperor had already started to consider about letting him coordinate the East Qin affairs. But now, it seemed that everything would no longer be the same for him.

    ¡°What are you doing standing at the door?¡± Empress Chen looked superiorly at the two of them standing like wooden sculptures at the door, and she got more dissatisfied, ¡°Come in.¡±

    There were still tears in Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s eyes. She thought that Sima Ray would at least show her a little pity like any normal man would. She was innocent either. However, as they went into the hall side by side, the only words she heard from Sima Ray were cold, ¡°You¡¯d better watch your mouth.¡±

    After they entered the hall, Sima Ray suddenly kneeled towards Empress Chen and buried his head low, ¡°Mother, sorry that I¡¯ve been unfilial.¡±

    Empress Chen didn¡¯t seem to expect that Sima Ray, who had always been arrogant and unruly, would also be obedient like this. She sent off the unrted people, including Shangguan Yee, leaving only a few trusted people of hers and Qin Yunuan, who was the sister of Qin Yunzhuang.

    Qin Yunuan took a deep breath when she saw Empress Chen. Nothing seemed to be able to disturb the beautiful disguise of such a calm and dignified woman. Such a person was the most terrible kind. No one ever knew what she was hiding, or how deep she was hiding it.

    ¡°Lady Shangguan has told me all about it,¡± Empress Chen sighed. She naturally would not believe the testimony of Shangguan Yeepletely, but at the moment, she didn¡¯t want to turn this into a chaos, ¡°Ray, why have I never heard about your crush with Grand Miss Qin?¡±

    Sima Ray was stunned, and he took a quick nce at Qin Yunzhuang kneeling by him. He became more disgusted by her cowardly look. He nned to use Qin Yunzhuang for seducing him first. He could say that Qin Yunzhuang wanted to enter the royal family, or Qin Yunzhuang had a thing for him since long ago, which he would be able to find evidence. Even if there was no evidence, he could make some up. In short, the cleaner he was, the better.

    But now ording to what Empress Chen meant, she wanted to let him....

    ¡°Ah,¡± Empress Chen sighed, ¡°well, feelings between men and women are natural. It happens that Third Miss Qin¡¯s here, she could be a witness for you two.¡±

    Just as Empress Chen paused, the three of them knew what was going on. Sima Ray clenched his fists unwillingly. Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s eyes were mixed with expectations, fears, and shyness, while Qin Yunuan just bowed slightly when Empress Chen called her name. Her expression was faint, as if this had nothing to do with her.

    ¡°Choose a date and get married,¡± Empress Chen¡¯s tone was a little tough, like an ultimatum.

    ¡°Mother!¡± Sima Ray could not help shouting loudly.

    ¡°There would be a once-in-a-lifetime day for marriage by the end of next month. I nned to find you some girls to marry on that day anyway. Since this incident happened now, it¡¯s kind of a coincidence,¡± Empress Chenpletely ignored Sima Ray¡¯s powerless resistance.

    ¡°Mother, the decision is too abrupt, and it has not been fully investigated, why do you...,¡± Sima Ray tried to argue.

    ¡°What¡¯s done is done! Do you want this to go to your father, the Emperor?¡± Empress Chen¡¯s tone suddenly got serious. Her voice was so stern that it waspletely different from her usual gentleness. She was staring at him angrily. If it weren¡¯t for Qin Yunuan¡¯s presence, she would have stood up and opened Sima Ray¡¯s head to see what was in his mind today that he had made such a low-level mistake. He had never got caught for seducing the Imperial Concubine Xian before.

    As soon as she mentioned the Emperor, Sima Ray¡¯s momentum suddenly weakened. His expression was sloppy, like an underdog.

    ¡°The twenty-third of next month,¡± Empress Chen said, a little softer. Then she asked Qin Yunuan, ¡°What do you think, Third Miss Qin?¡±

    When she asked Qin Yunuan, it was the same as asking the Qin Family¡¯s opinion. If Qin Yunuan said yes, she would have to help Qin Yunzhuang and Sima Ray to cover up when she returned. She could just say that the two were in love and decided to get married. Nannies arranged by Empress Chen were sent to the daughters of the officials who saw the incident, to tell them what to say and what not to after they left the pce. Now, the only one left was Qin Yunuan.

    Qin Yunuan bowed and said with a light smile, ¡°This is a jubnt thing, and naturally it is entirely up to the elders¡¯ decisions. Yunuan would listen to the Empress.¡±

    Luckily she knew the situation well. Empress Chen slowly kneaded her sore temple with her index finger, and her beautiful fingernail guard asionally brushed her well-knitted bun, ¡°Then so be it. I¡¯ll discuss with Imperial Concubine Yun and Imperial Concubine Duan tomorrow to arrange the marriage of the princes at the same time, so as not to be too eye-catching.¡±

    Sima Ray had kept silent, kind of epting the situation. He actually had to marry such a stupid and reckless woman. He raised his head slightly and looked at Qin Yunuan, as his unwillingness grew.

    In the silence, Qin Yunzhuang suddenly uttered, ¡°I don¡¯t want to marry the Third Prince.¡± She boldly said from her heart with tears. From the series of responses by Sima Ray just now, she was sure that Sima Ray didn¡¯t love her at all and he even hated her. She was used to rely on her beauty to think that all men in the world would take care of her and protect her. The huge contrast was even more painful to her than a knife stabbing into her heart. Her days would definitely be more unpleasant if she really got married.

    ¡°What are you talking about, elder sister?¡± Before Empress Chen had the chance to speak, Qin Yunuan took the initiative to step forward and hold Qin Yunzhuang in her arms tightly. It seemed to be aforting cuddle between sisters, but in fact, what Qin Yunuan said by Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s ears was, ¡°Don¡¯t you know the consequences for not marrying the Third Prince? Your reputation has been ruined, and father will no longer take you. Maybe even Dou will no longer take you. Not a single man in the world will ept you. Do you really think that the news won¡¯t spread as the Empress has told the nobledies not to say anything? Elder sister, I think you are very clear that you will be the shameless woman people talk about as soon as you leave the pce if I want it this way.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Qin Yunzhuang burst into tears, ¡°I¡¯ve never harmed you. Even if I had, it was in the past.¡±

    ¡°The past?¡± Qin Yunuan said as she touched the golden hairpin on her head. This was the one she felt strange before entering the pce. She looked for someone to check itter, it was poisoned with the most poisonous seven-step powder. It was the easiest for it to enter the body from the scalp, and it could kill people within two hours. She would have been a dead body now if she hadn¡¯t found out.

 Chapter 89 Meeting on a Narrow Road

    <h4>Chapter 89 Meeting on a Narrow Road</h4>

    Qin Yunuan took her hairpin off while talking, and then inserted backhand into Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s hair bun, causing Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s body seemed to be agitated by cold water and tremble all of a sudden.

    ¡°Yunzhuang, you are going to marry soon,¡± said Yunuan, ¡°I don¡¯t have much to give you so for now give you my hairpin as a gift.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled sideways and a bit of sincere joy showed up on her peachy face. It seemed that she was happy for her sister from her heart.

    After briefing misceneous stuff to Yunzhuang, the two knew it was time for them to leave. Qin Yunuan lent her support to somewhat paralyzed Qin Yunzhuang and walked down the path in garden slowly. Qin Yunzhuang was very unwilling to let Qin Yunuan to touch her but this time she was not able to walk by herself.

    Empress Chen made Sima Ray stay for a while longer. When Sima Ray came out, it was already dusk. The bloody afterglow smeared the sky with ayer of blush, shining on the blue tiles and showing a lightyer of strange dark green.

    ¡°Did you find it out?¡± Sima Ray asked Liu Bao in a deep voice as he walked out of the pce gate.

    ¡°I still have not found the young eunuch leading the way yet,¡± said Liu Bao, ¡°I guess he is not even a staff in our pce.¡±

    Sima Ray rubbed his nose. He had expected the result long before.

    ¡°Ok, you are free to leave.¡±

    Empress Chen did a great job on the surface. On the pce road, there were already two sedans parking there. Four people in the clothing of eunuch waited humbly for the two girls of Qin Family.

    Right before getting on the sedan, Qin Yunzhuang looked back painfully on Qin Yunuan and said, ¡°Now you are satisfied with my situation? Are you happy?¡±

    ¡°It is still early,¡± said Qin Yunuan in a cold voice, ¡°There is still a lot that I have not done for Mom and Baochuan.¡±

    Her words were as cold as the chilly wind. Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s heart came up and down in the pace of the sedan. She was so tired that she was not able to think carefully about it.

    Two rivals met on a narrow road. Not arriving at the Rosefinch Gate yet, Qin Yunuan saw a familiar shadow. In a pretty celestial dress, a bright and delicate golden phenix-shaped hair essory, being covered with a row of beaded curtains, the person in the sedan was so mysterious and elusive.

    That was Infanta Shuhua. Qin Yunuan recognized it immediately.

    When she thought about that Queen Mother intended to match Leng Changxi with Infanta Shuhua, she felt bitter. She became increasingly vignt when she saw the sedan approaching her.

    ording to the rules, Qin Yunzhuang and Qin Yunuan without a grade were supposed to salute grade-four Infanta Shuhua.

    When the two teams were a few steps away, Qin Yunuan and Qin Yunzhuang got off the sedan. When they were saluting Infanta Shuhua, Shuhua who was lyingzily on a soft pillow suddenly raised her voice, ¡°It is fine, you don¡¯t need to do this.¡±

    The pce was the turf of Infanta Shuhua. Qin Yunuan knew clearly that Infanta Shuhua didn¡¯t just want to waive their salute. She did not know the proud Infanta Shuhua well but she heard a lot about her and knew what a unreasonable person she was. She had already seen her temperament in the embroidery before.

    As a result, Infanta Shuhua said, ¡°Not everyone can salute me. You do not deserve it.¡±

    Qin Yunzhaung felt a little surprised and said in a deep voice, ¡°We know you are a noble woman and not the type of people with which we, the rural people, are qualified to associate.¡±

    Infanta Shuhua were very satisfied with the tter. Separated by the beaded curtain, she said, ¡°How about you? I assume you are less than a hillbilly.¡± She thenughed slightly. Her slivery voice had a feeling of arrogance. In the absence of Leng Changxi, who could help the baseborn girl?

    Qin Yunuan owed her body and said in a faint tone with a smile, ¡°I have never thought I am a hillbilly,¡± she had a look at Qin Yunzhuang, ¡°but I don¡¯t think there is anything wrong with hillbilly. The clothes you are in, the crop you have as food, the wine you drink are all from hard-working hillbilly. If I dislike them, I also offend you, Infanta Shuhua, which is thest thing I want to do.¡±

    Infanta Shuhua said only a sentence but responded by Qin Yunuan quite a few sentences and her argument was so rational and logical that Shuhua was supposed to feel guilty about herself. Nevertheless, Shuhua was not the kind of person that gave up a war without a fight.

    ¡°You are such an undisciplined girl! You want to be in a quarrel with me so much for my sentence?¡± Infanta Shuhua looked at a nanny next to her, ¡°Nanny Sun, how should I punish people who go against me?¡±

    Nanny Sun was also very good in ttering. She immediately bowed and said, ¡°ording to the rules, 80 times hit by the stick.¡±

    Infanta Shuhua looked at Qin Yunuan proudly. She seemed to say, ¡°You are screwed up.¡±

    But Qin Yunuan knew that Infanta Shuhua was not real about the punishment, she was just bluffing. If she was real about that, juts made her think about the money she owed so she did not dare to do anything arbitrarily.

    As Yunuan expected, infanta Shuhua shook her head and said, ¡°You heard that. I spare you the punishment today out of mercy. You owe me once this time.¡± The lotus-like arm climbed into her hair bun, slowly took off the gold hair essory, gently pinched the phoenix-shaped hair essory out of the beaded curtain and the hand deliberately loosened. People could hear the crunchy sound that the golden hair essory hit the ground on which a few white pearls as thin as hair scattered around. It was afraid that the golden hair essory was already broken.

    Qin Yunuan looked at Infanta Shuhua coldly. She wanted to find out what tricks she was going to y.

    ¡°Youe here,¡± infanta Shuhua hooked her finger at Qin Yunuan and then pointed down at the discrete hair essory, ¡°pick it up for me.¡±

    Qin Yunuan suddenly raised a disdainful smile at the corner of her mouth. Infanta Shuhua and Imperial Concubine Yun were the same kind of people. One was the favor of the Queen Mother, the other was the grace of the emperor. Their characters were kept the simplest.

    Infanta Shuhua seemed to be choked by Qin Yunuan¡¯sugh. She raised her voice, ¡°If you don¡¯t pick it up, I will tell others that this is broken by you. This golden hair essory is made of gold and pearls on it are imported from East Qin. One golden string on it is super expensive.¡±

    ¡°Why should I be afraid?¡± Qin Yunuan looked around. She could even see the sneering expressions of Qin Yunzhuang and these eunuchs and maids, ¡°People are all witnesses here. You cannot frame me for breaking the golden hair essory.¡±

    It was like a hard hit on the cotton. Infanta Shuhua opened her eyes, moved the beaded curtain and stared at Qin Yunuan angrily.

    Qin Yunuanughed again, ¡°I know everything you have done is just you want to pick up on me but you really don¡¯t need to do this. You live in the pce. I am a family living in the mansion of Grand Commandant. You can ask everything you want from Queen Mother. I am just the daughter of a concubine of Qin Family who lives carefully. We don¡¯t have rtionships and I don¡¯t deserve your attention at all.¡±

    These words made Infanta Shuhua feel a littlefortable. She pouted and said impatiently, ¡°Since then, you should stay away from Leng Changxi.¡±

    Qin Yunuan felt a little surprised. She did not expect Infanta Shuhua did all those for....

    ¡°Though I don¡¯t like him, he is the person recognized by Queen Mother and matched for me. He cannot be touched by other girls.¡± Infanta Shuhua said, ¡°Especially he cannot be touched by girls like you.¡±

    ¡°You are right. I am born by concubine.¡± Yunuan said coldly, ¡°but I have never intended to climb. I cannot determine who General Leng wants to marry and get close to.¡±

    ¡°So you don¡¯t want to marry him?¡± Infanta Shuhua said impatiently.

    Yunuan inclined towards Infanta Shuhua and said, ¡°The marriage does not depend on my willingness. Do you think anyone on the earth can force Leng Changxi, the first general of Qi, to do anything he doesn¡¯t want to do? I suggest you¡¯d better spend time with Queen Mother but not threaten me. You are so arbitrary because you are Queen Mother¡¯s favorite. What if one day you anger Queen Mother, I am afraid what you receive is more than a bill.¡±

    Infanta Shuhua wanted to keep on this bicker but Qin Yunuan took a few steps back and saluted to Infanta Shuhua politely and said, ¡°This is the salute I was spared moments ago. The pce gate is going to close and we need to leave soon.¡±

    After this, Yunuan stepped up the sedan right away. Qin Yunzhuang saw this and also saluted Infanta Shuhua politely. She wanted to take the opportunity topliment Infanta Shuhua and said, ¡°My sister is impolite....¡±

    ¡°Fuck off!¡± Infanta Shuhua did not want to involve in this dialogue anymore and scolded to Qin Yunzhuang, ¡°You are so pretentious, fuck off!¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang retreated and saw Yunuan¡¯s extremely cool eyes when she turned back. She knew Yunuan, the vicious women, saw through her trick. She felt as cold as ice on her back. Nevertheless, Qin Yunuan was only acubine-born daughter. Qin Yunzhaungforted herself. After getting home, She and her mother must figure out a way to destroy Qin Yunuanpletely. The best way is to marry her to someone in rural area, to marry her to a farmer and lead a poor life which should be overworked and anxious for meals every day.

    ¡°Bite me!¡± After Qin Yunuan left, Infanta Shuhua was still angry. She said to Nanny Sun, ¡°What a bad temper she has. What the hell is that I rely on Queen Mother. Am I such a disgraceful person? Cannot I live without Queen Mother?¡±

    Nanny Sun suddenly covered Infanta Shuhua¡¯s mouth and warned in a low voice, ¡°My dear, you cannot be so arbitrary. Everything we have now is given by Queen Mother. Be careful, there might be someone hearing us talking in confidence.¡±

 Chapter 90 Play Fire and Burn Yourself

    <h4>Chapter 90 y Fire and Burn Yourself</h4>

    In the mansion of Grand Commandant, right after Xiu Gu, the messager of Dou Qing¡¯e, informed her of what had happened in the pce, the mansion doorkeeper brought words back that Grand Miss and Third Miss already arrived at the gate.

    ¡°Now, Master will also know what Grand Miss did,¡± Xiu Gu said worriedly, ¡°Will he me her?¡±

    ¡°How will he?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e calmed down quickly and analyzed, ¡°We have been married for years. I know him very well. He will just pretend to me Yunzhuang. No matter how Yunzhuang gets engaged with Prince Ray, it does no harm to Master. Perhaps, this is exactly what he is longing for.¡±

    When Qin Yunuan just got off the carriage, Butler Xie was already there and said straightforwardly, ¡°Grand Miss. Third Miss. Master is waiting for you.¡±

    At the moment Qin Yunuan stepped into the room, Qin Zhi¡¯s face turned purple and he looked so serious.

    Shutting the door, Qin Zhi ordered, ¡°You two, kneel down.¡±

    Losing much strength already, Qin Yunzhuang freaked out and suddenly knelt down while Qin Yunuan was just stunned for a minute and stood still.

    Qin Zhi was not that angry after Qin Yunzhuang knelt. After all, it was Sima Ray, the most promising heir to the throne, who she had a rtionship with. But at the same time, this meant that he had to choose a side, and he was unable to remain neutral anymore.

    Looking at the other daughter who didn¡¯t kneel down, Qin Zhi raised his voice, ¡°Yunuan, didn¡¯t you hear what I said?¡±

    ¡°I did,¡± Yunuan said firmly, ¡°But I did not understand. I did nothing wrong. Why should I kneel down?¡±

    ¡°You did nothing wrong?¡± Qin Zhi pounded the desk, ¡°You know it clearly that Yunzhuang has been grounded for a long time to keep off rumors outside. The poem feast is so important. How can you decide by yourself to take her to the pce? It is so lucky that nothing bad happens. Otherwise, you definitely could not take the consequences.¡±

    Hearing this, Qin Yunuan started to weep, ¡°You just vent your anger on me and don¡¯t understand why I did this. Everyone wants to raise their status and lives a better life. So do I. Before I headed for the pce, the legal mother threatened me with Baochuan¡¯s life to take Yunzhuang together. We were lucky this time except that....¡±

    Qin Yunuan gritted her teeth. She sounded like she was jealous of Qin Yunzhuang for Sima Ray¡¯s favor. Besides, the shame and grievance mirrored in her eyes made Qin Zhi more convinced that everything was deliberately plotted by Dou Qing¡¯e and Qin Yunzhuang.

    ¡°How dare you!¡± Qin Zhi rebuked her, ¡°Dou Qing¡¯e after all is your mother! How can you backbite her like this?¡±

    Not doubting whether Qin Yunuan lied, Qin Zhi merely pointed out she was not supposed to talk about this in a straightforward way. He bought her theory by andrge. Still on her knees, Qin Yunzhuang moved forward a few steps and exined, ¡°Father, what she said is not true. In fact....¡±

    ¡°I can prove it,¡± Yunuan shouted out suddenly, ¡°To take away Baochuan, the legal mother¡¯s servants have hurt one of my maids. Father, you can interrogate Xiu Gu and the maid.¡±

    Qin Zhi frowned, ¡°Yunzhuang, is it true?¡± If they two really dared to y such tricks, it meant they treated him as nothing. He was the one to decide which girl could attend the poetry feast. No one could challenge him like this.

    Being so weak because of the knockout drops, Qin Yunzhuang could only lower her head and defend, ¡°Mother... mother, she did this for me and also for the whole family.¡±

    ¡°So you mean that I am not as good as you. Father made a wrong decision and those princes wouldn¡¯t have liked me even if I were in the pce?¡± Qin Yunuan pouted, showing her girlish temperament and little anger. At that moment, she didn¡¯t act in a poised manner as she usually did.

    Clearly remembering the conflict happened in the pce, Qin Yunzhuang said unmercifully, ¡°Qin Yunuan, don¡¯t ask for too much. If I have a hard time, so will you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned to Qin Zhi at once, ¡°Father, hear. She dares to threaten me even to your face. Now, you must believe in what I said.¡±

    Qin Zhi always believed that Dou Qing¡¯e dared and could do such things. He had long wanted to get rid of the Dou Family¡¯s control. But he didn¡¯t expect that the old Princess Ning was close to the Dou Family, which made him hesitate to overturn the Dou Family. However, it was said that the Dou Family was involved in the East Qin assassinator case. It seemed to be a good opportunity.

    Now, it was time to rify his authority.

    Qin Yunzhuang begged piteously, ¡°Father. Mother has wholeheartedly served this family for 20 years and she always puts our family in the first ce. You can¡¯t me her just for such trifles.¡±

    ¡°Trifles?¡± Qin Zhi went mad, ¡°Do you really think I buy your word that Prince Ray and you have already fallen in love with each other? I know exactly what happened. Your mother really brought up a good girl. What you did today may be beautified as the uncontroble intimacy with your love but it, frankly speaking, is fornication. If it had not been Prince Ray or if he had refused to marry you, you would have been tied up in a bamboo cage made for pigs and be sunk into water ording to the n rules.¡±

    Tied up in the bamboo cage made for pigs? She was always father¡¯s beloved daughter. How could he say that? Qin Yunzhuang felt dizzy and she wondered, ¡°Is she, the exalted daughter of the mansion of Grand Commandant, really no better than a lowborn one who is shrewd and eloquent?¡±

    ¡°I, I...¡± Qin Yunzhuang murmured, ¡°I¡¯m innocent. Father, trust me. I did not know when Prince Ray came in. I was just to get changed there and then I smelled some strange scent. After that....¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s of no use to defend now. Don¡¯t y fire; otherwise, you will surely pay the price.¡± Qin Zhi was unsatisfied and regretful. He poured so much effort to bring up this daughter and spent heavily hiring the best teachers to teach her to y string instruments, to paint and to sing. She should end up like this. Although she was going to marry Prince Ray, receive abundant betrothal presents and have a spectacr wedding, Qin Yunzhuang might not enjoy a good reputation considering the tricks she yed behind. Naturally, he was too shameful to brag about this wedding.

    It was supposed to be a grand wedding, but turned out to be an unspeakable shame. Qin Zhi regretted that it was such a pity.

    Although Qin Yunzhuang cried hard, Qin Zhi stayed cold and indifferent.

    Then, Qin Yunzhuang confessed and wept to make an apology, while Qin Zhi rebuked her with a serious face. At that time, it seemed that Qin Yunuan was an outsider.

    But....

    ¡°By the way, Officer Liu and Judge Li both have sent people to propose a marriage,¡± Qin Zhi looked at Qin Yunuan, ¡°Yuwan is still young while Yunzhuang has engaged. Now, it¡¯s time to choose a husband for you.¡±

    Anyhow, Qin Zhi would merely choose the one who could bring him the most benefits to marry Qin Yunuan. But her current status would not attract big shots at all.

    ¡°Yes, father,¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her head obediently and said in a light tone, ¡°But Baochuan still needs someone to take care of him. I¡¯m afraid that when I get married and leave here, he will....¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s my son. Is there anyone bold enough to bully him?¡± Qin Zhi sulked. He actually knew what a hard life Yunuan and Baochuan lived. It was shameful for him to scold her like this.

    Qin Yunuan just smiled and said, ¡°Now that father is willing to protect Baochuan from bullying, I have nothing to worry about.¡±

    Qin Yunuan subtly shifted the topic from her marriage to Baochuan¡¯s situation. She knew she would get married, but she already had her own choice.

    Later, they talked about some other trifles. Qin Zhi was busy so he asked two girls to leave. Qin Yunzhuang was grounded again and was not allowed to get out of her courtyard until the wedding. When the two just came out of the Shunchang Courtyard, they saw Dou Qing¡¯e and Xiu Gu waiting on the stone bridge. At a glimpse of Qin Yunuan, Dou Qing¡¯e put on a poker face. She did not pretend to be nice to Qin Yunuan now and directly taunted her.

    ¡°Come here!¡± Dou Qing¡¯e shouted at haggard Qin Yunzhuang in a cold voice and dragged her. ¡°Why you always do something disgraceful?¡± It sounded like she was ming Qin Yunzhuang for what she did in the pce, but she squinted at Qin Yunuan and quickly added, ¡°Yunzhuang, you are the exalted daughter of Qin Family. If you get into trouble, your father and uncle will help you. But look at her, a girl whose mother is a degrading concubine. I have taught you not to walk together with such low-status people. Otherwise, you will be as low as her.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e became even more brazen. Obviously, she was telling Qin Yunuan that she was incapable of defeating the powerful Dou Family on her own. Qin Yunuan just raised her eyebrows slightly and replied casually, ¡°Just now, father said something that I think is quite suitable for this asion. I don¡¯t know whether mother is interested in it.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e snorted and wore an aggressive and disdainful look. When she held Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s hands and turned away, Qin Yunuan said something quickly and powerfully.

    ¡°Father said, ¡®Don¡¯t y fire; otherwise you will surely pay the price¡¯.¡±

    ¡°How dare you!¡± Dou Qing¡¯e turned around suddenly. Qin Yunuan was the first one to be so rude to her. While speaking, Dou Qing¡¯e pulled all her strength together and raised her hand. She was definitely going to teach this disrespectful girl a lesson.

    But all of a sudden, a ck four-paw creature jumped towards Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s face.

 Chapter 91 Being Silly or Pretending to Be Silly

    <h4>Chapter 91 Being Silly or Pretending to Be Silly</h4>

    ¡°What the hell, go away! Go away!¡± Dou Qing¡¯e tried her best to scratch off the flocky thing on her face. She felt disgusted about this brute full of urine and acid smell.

    Xiu Gu and Qin Yunzhuang stepped forward in a hurry. The wild cat from nowhere had very prompt paws and the paws had been embedded into the face of Dou Qing¡¯e. They dared not pull heavily. When they pulled off the cat, they found many small bloody stains emerging on her temples, forehead, corners of her mouth and even eyelids. Though the cat did not disfigure her but now she was very in a mess.

    And Qin Yunuan, she felt satisfied with this funny show.

    ¡°Catch this brute! Peel its skin and vessel!¡± Dou Qing¡¯e shouted loudly, and then she saw a slovenly girl like a colorful butterflying here and grabbed the wild cat held by Xiu Gu. She held the cat tightly and fondled this troublemaker carefully.

    She was Qin Yuzhao. Having seen her dull fourth sister who felt frightened and dressed ragged tightly holding the wild cat, Qin Yunuan suddenly stepped forward to stop the p Xiu Gu was about to give to Qin Yuzhao.

    ¡°Xiu Gu, you are just a maidservant even if you are preferred by my mother. How dare you as a maidservant p the miss at this mansion?¡±

    Qin Yuzhao was silly and suffered a lot of bullies. Xiu Gu had always bullied her by right of the permission of Dou Qing¡¯e. Now Xiu Gu was stopped by Qin Yunuan and she felt embarrassed now.

    ¡°Take the bloody cat here!¡± Dou Qing¡¯e covered her face and said. She would not let the brute which hurt her go.

    ¡°No,¡± Qin Yuzhao held the little cat tightly, ¡°Nobody can touch my Sesame. It can only belong to me. Concubine Dou, if you like it, you can find one in the back courtyard. There were many cat babies recently.¡±

    ¡°What did you call me just now?¡± Dou Qing¡¯e felt outrageous and stepped forward, ¡°Concubine Dou? Silly girl, open your eyes and see clearly! I am the legal wife of Qin Family, and your mother is the concubine who was a menial maidservant responsible for footbath before.¡±

    ¡°Not really,¡± Qin Yuzhaoughed and suddenly turned to Dou Qing¡¯e in a lower voice, and then said mysteriously, ¡°I have heard that dad did not love you anymore, so you were degraded into the concubine. Ha-ha, it is also good for you to be a menial responsible for footbath.¡± Qin Yuzhao pped her hands, which looked very silly.

    ¡°Go away!¡± Dou Qing¡¯e hated those words extremely. Xiu Gu could not p her but she could as an elder. She rolled up her sleeves and pped Qin Yuzhao. Just the moment she pped Qin Yuzhao, a strong man¡¯s voice came with anger simultaneously.

    ¡°Dou, what are you doing?¡±

    Qin Zhi exactly appeared at the Chuihua gate. He was very angry with his fist gripped.

    Coincidence would not happen so coincidentally. It was Qin Yunuan that dispatched people to invite Qin Zhi here secretly. She aimed to let Qin Zhi see clearly the crazy and arrogant Dou Qing¡¯e.

    ¡°M...master,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e suddenly softened her anger but still contended, ¡°For no reason, this girl held a wild cat to scare me and then my face was hurt by this cat.¡±

    Qin Zhi just glimpsed lightly at the stains on the face of Dou Qing¡¯e. In his heart, though Dou Qing¡¯e was still a little bit charming, he felt that she was more disgusting and anile after he stayed with her for a long time and then met with Li Qiqi.

    ¡°Yuzhao, is that true? Did you take the cat here to scare your mother?¡± Qin Zhi felt a little bit sorry when he looked at Qin Yuzhao in a mess. He seldommunicated with Qin Yuzhao. He thought that Dou Qing¡¯e dared to p her casually and even let the maidservant do that, just because of his indifference.

    ¡°That¡¯s not true,¡± Qin Yuzhao suddenly felt so aggrieved and said with tears in her eyes, ¡°Sesame is always well-behaved. This woman told me that I couldn¡¯t take Sesame into this courtyard, and I told it that it should only y in the woodshed. But today, I did not know why it disappeared. I looked for it for so long and saw the bad nanny holding it when I entered the courtyard. The woman kept shouting that she would kill Sesame and peeled its bones.¡±

    ¡°Bull shit! It¡¯s not true!¡± Dou Qing¡¯e pointed at the stains on her face, ¡°The stains on my face are the best evidence. How could I have got hurt like this if the dog had not done that? Besides, Xiu Gu and Yunzhuang both saw the whole thing. Master, you can ask them and you will know the truth. This silly daughter of the concubine actually has pretended to be silly all the time. She is very shrewd.¡±

    ¡°Father, I didn¡¯t. I will not lie to you,¡± Qin Yuzhao said with saliva dripping from the corner of her mouth.

    Qin Zhi frowned and felt disgusted, but stillforted her shortly.

    ¡°Yuzhao became silly after a high fever which caused her mental handicap when she was four years old. Everybody knows it. Now you used her unreasonably. Don¡¯t you think it is so unnecessary to do that? And the stains on your face....¡±

    ¡°Yunuan saw the whole thing,¡± Qin Yunuan said lightly at this crucial moment. She gave a salute to Qin Zhi and said, ¡°The stains on the face of my mother were caused by the stones when she got tumbled.¡±

    And then Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows and said to Dou Qing¡¯e with a happy smile, ¡°Mother, why did you so uncareful? If Xiu Gu had not pulled you back, you would have fallen and covered Sesame of the fourth sister.¡±

    The truth became a lie. Dou Qing¡¯e turned to be outrageous and widened her eyes, ¡°You are such a blind bitch. Show me! Where are those stones on the b bridge which can make me tumble?

    The b bridge was Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s favorite strolling ce, so she ordered servants to clean the ce three times a day. Even one dust could not be found here in daily time. So how could those stones appear on the bridge? Dou Qing¡¯e knew that this menial girl was telling a lie.

    The moment Dou Qing¡¯e raised her head and looked at Qin Yunuan confidently, Qin Yunuan was about tough but ceased it. She indicated that an egg-sized stone suddenly appeared beside Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s feet. The sharp angle of the stone seemed to have the possibility to cause hurt to people¡¯s skin.

    Qin Yunuan thanked Leng Wu in her heart who set the trick well. But now Qin Zhi became very gloomy, ¡°Dou, I can tolerate you for a while but I can¡¯t tolerate you for the whole life. Now you are still the legal wife of Qin Family and people call you Madam Qin. You should appreciate that. Listen! Don¡¯t rock the boat and this is the rule you should follow in the next days in the mansion. Yunzhuang has been under the house arrest and now you too. Don¡¯te out of Cui Xuan courtyard and do the self-examination.¡±

    Qin Zhi felt shocked that Dou Qing¡¯e came back with Princess Ning this time, and now he just ignored the reason why Dou Qing¡¯e suffered hurt on her face and started to condemn her behaviors in her life. He was giving her an alert that Qin Family was not her site. Never would be.

    And then Qin Zhi rebuked Dou Qing¡¯e coldly for a while and then left with much anger. Dou Qing¡¯e red at Qin Yunuan and seemed to be eager to swallow her directly. And then She turned to Qin Yuzhao with her teeth gritted.

    ¡°Madam, please.¡± Bulter Xie had guided the road ahead with an icy face too.

    On the b bridge, there were only Qin Yuzhao and Qin Yunuan left. Qin Yuzhao still held the little wild cat called Sesame. The silly girl was still constantlyforting the troublemaker.

    Qin Yunuan crouched and kept the same horizontal eyes with Qin Yuzhao who shrank her neck and leaned against the fence.

    The eyes of Qin Yuzhao were dark enough like the sweetest purple grapes in fall. Her bright eyes were totally different from the silly eyes she had in daily life when Qin Yunuan observed carefully.

    Qin Yunuan raised her head and tidied up the tousy hair of Qin Yuzhao. She said gently, ¡°You should go back and do not take risks for me toe out.¡±

    Qin Yuzhao raised her head stupidly again with the saliva dripping. She looked very silly and just muttered, ¡°White fan, white fan. The white fan sister gave to me was thrown by mother.¡±

    Qin Yunuan wiped off the saliva on the corner of her mouth and the chin, ¡°It¡¯s OK. If you like it, I will send you another one next time. Although Concubine Liu had an impure motive, she cared much about you. She destroyed the fan just for your benefit.¡±

    Qin Yuzhao lowered her head like a leaked rubber ball, ¡°But I feel unhappy.¡±

    Qin Yunuan kept silent for a while and said, ¡°Go back. Listen to me. Don¡¯te out casually.¡±

    Having seen Qin Yuzhao walking away who constantly turned back, Qin Yunuan suddenly thought about the kind of person who pretended to be silly but was smart actually. There existed a sort of people who disguised themselves as ignorant people both in the imperial pce and the noble mansions full of conspiracies because they knew many things. They had to pretend to be silly because they knew too much.

    Maybe, Qin Yuzhao was a member of them.

    Just three dayster of the poetry feast, the affair of Sima Ray and Qin Yunzhuang had be a public secret in the circle of nobles. Besides, the secret had been known by ordinary people and even the kids in the streets made up a child song and sang every day rted to the affairs.

    All should thank Shangguan Yee. Of course, Qin Yunuan was happy to see the end. She felt rxed that she could stay away from the tricks.

    In a horse carriage with blue curtains stopping at Que¡¯er Street, Qin Yunuan was sitting at the jade cushionzily whose tentacles were very cold. A bowl of White Pear Fungus Soup was put on the table, which was taken out from a wooden box full of ice blocks. Qin Yunuan did not remember how many ice blocks for cooling Leng Changxi had dispatched people to send secretly in these hot days. She lived a rxed life in this summer with those ice blocks.

    Qin Yunuan feared high temperature very much.

    Today it was the time for Qin Yunuan to check the Embroidering Shop as usual. Many people were preparing their weddings recently in the Royal City, so the shop gained a blooming business. Qin Yunuan saw a ck horse carriage with specific golden-line decoration stopping at the door of the shop, which looked very luxurious.

    Without question, Qin Yunuan knew who hade.

 Chapter 92 I Want to See You

    <h4>Chapter 92 I Want to See You</h4>

    After she entered the inner hall, Qin Yunuan felt stunned. She turned to ask the master of the shop, ¡°This is our inner hall. Howe you let strangerse in.¡±

    Leng Changxi was leaning against an albizzia and had waited for her for so long. He looked at Qin Yunuan with a happy smile, and then walked towards her.

    ¡°Maybe, he think I am not a stranger.¡±

    This man was talking about nonsense again.

    Qin Yunuan lowered her voice, ¡°Howe youe here?¡± The master and Maner left tacitly to leave private time for the two people.

    ¡°Want to see you and thene here,¡± Leng Changxi answered with a smile.

    Such straightforward words and frank eyes made Qin Yunuan lower her head with her long eyshes blinking, which looked like a pretty pink butterfly. Leng Changxi felt touched by this girl. He could not specify which part of this hedgehog attracted him. He just wanted to see her, protect her, and let her stay beside him forever.

    ¡°Come in then,¡± Qin Yunuan raised the soft green curtain. They were in the small flower hall which was always used to receive guests. Now nobody else was here, so it was a convenient site for the two people to talk.

    After he entered the room, Qin Yunuan made a cup of flower tea for Leng Changxi. When she was about to add a spoon of honey, she suddenly stopped and said with a smile, ¡°I forget that you do not like sweet food.¡±

    ¡°Do you always add honey in your flower tea?¡± Leng Changxi said suddenly with a smile.

    Qin Yunuan felt a little bit surprised, and just nodded gently, ¡°Of course.¡±

    ¡°Then me too,¡± Leng Changxi said with a light smile, ¡°I want to have the taste you like.¡± Qin Yunuan re-opened the pot containing honey with her slender hands whose fingers were like bamboo in snow.

    Somehow, Qin Yunuan seemed to feel quicker heartbeats. A cup of fragrant flower tea was done and Qin Yunuan sipped it. She could taste its fragrance. Putting it down, she saw Leng Changxi was tasting the tea carefully. She asked him, ¡°I heard that there was much big news recently in the Royal City, really?¡±

    Leng Changxi was stunned a little. He tasted the flower tea with honey but felt overly sweet. There was actually big news sessively, which involved many parties. And even this honesty second brother Leng Changxuan came to ask some inner information secretly. He knew that his second brother must have cheated or utilized by others, and he felt exhausted to handle those uncertain or highly confidential things and the feelers thereof.

    In his busy life, the person he missed most was his hedgehog. But to his surprise, Qin Yunuan asked those confidential things first after he met with her. He felt a little bit upset and just looked at Qin Yunuan silently without a word.

    But Qin Yunuan did not find anything special about the change inside Leng Changxi. She just thought that he could not ept sweet tea so she made another cup of Biluochun Tea. She put it down and sighed, ¡°So as the First General in Qi, you must be very busy recently. You need to rx more and avoid overburdens in busy work.¡±

    Her words were sincere, but he thought they were a little bit....

    ¡°Look at what you said. It seems that we are a couple who have got married for many years.¡± Leng Changxi held Biluochun Tea and saw that Qin Yunuan blushed quickly. Heughed, ¡°Are you shy now? For what? I like it very much.¡±

    Qin Yunuan felt more embarrassed about his words, but she seemed to have been ustomed to the way he spoke. And more, she liked it a little.

    ¡°There was much big news in the Royal City, indeed,¡± Leng Changxi sighed. All his pressure and fatigue in recent days now were vented. He trusted Qin Yunuan highly, ¡°The North Di has sent emissaries to discuss the political marriage between the two country¡¯s royal families. The Emperor thinks it feasible. Qi and North Di have battled for many years and now they are willing topromise. The first selection is the Grand Prince.¡±

    The Grand Prince, Sima Ruo?

    Qin Yunuan rolled her eyes to think of something. She remembered his straight figure which likes a pine in the snow. Such a refined man would finally sacrifice for the politics?

    Qin Yunuan sighed in a low voice. She also received such news. She heard that the Emperor had made up his mind, and the marriage date was on 23th next month, together with the marriage of Sima Ray and Qin Yunzhuang. That would be a big day for the country.

    ¡°Though the North Di is a destend. Their people are wild and unruly. But they may send a princess with both beauty and talent. She, as a member of their royal family, can have a good sense, and she may be able to be a good-mannered woman,¡± Qin Yunuan said, which seemed to beforting herself and Leng Changxi.

    ¡°Actually, it is not a big deal. I seldom get involved in the issue of diplomacy. That is not what I worry about most,¡± Leng Changxi drunk the rest half cup of tea, ¡°The second thing is the most urgent because it has something to do with your Qin Family.¡±

    Something rted to Qin Family would be the thing rted to his hedgehog. It was the first time for Leng Changxi to be so worried about something like that, and it was rted to Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Dou Family will be in big trouble,¡± Leng Changxi said shortly and Qin Yunuan felt confused.

    ¡°Your father may have known it and started to prepare,¡± Leng Changxi added.

    ¡°Dou Family? In Hangzhou?¡± that was exactly the backer base of Dou Qing¡¯e, and that was why Dou Qing¡¯e could be so arrogant and overwhelming.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Leng Changxi frowned, ¡°Though Zhao Huijin had died, not all of his followers are dead. One of them failed to die by biting his tongue, and then he confessed by torturing. They could enter and leave Qi freely after the East Qin was copsed, and that was because they had gained help from a family with superpower. He was just a lower member and did not know the big boss, and what happened then. But, humph,¡± Leng Changxi smiled, ¡°But finally I have figured out all. Since they needed tomunicate, they must have in-betweeners. And then the big new was found. All had something to do with this case, including the mayor of the Royal City, transshipment officer and the magistrate of a prefecture of Suzhou, after I investigated from the Royal City to the south. They have something inmon, even though they have different rankings and positions.¡±

    Leng Changxi stunned and looked at Qin Yunuan with expecting eyes. He added, ¡°As usual, they will pray in the temple in the middle of each month, no matter what kind of weather condition.¡±

    Leng Changxi could investigate specifically those different irrelevant, including those seventh-grade officials from thousands of miles away. Qin Yunuan admired in her heart his excellent leading ability.

    ¡°Temples contain various crowded people and Buddhism is the biggest religion in Qi. So it is hard to find them who hid in those temples.¡±

    ¡°But finally, they were exposed,¡± Leng Changxiughed confidently. He unfolded his palms full of cocoons, ¡°they were defeated by me.¡±

    ¡°Dou Family donated thousands of silvers to those temples each year, and then people hidden in the temple gained that money and contacted the killers respectively from East Qin under the rule of Zhao Huijin. And then those killers were dispatched to carry out various missions. They killed people for Dou Family. People who were not satisfied with or impeached Dou Family would be murdered in recent years. That¡¯s why Dou Family can keep their high position until today. Dou Family always enjoyed the killing game,¡± Leng Changxi sneered, ¡°But unluckily, though the origin was dug out, Dou Family had already prepared. They destroyed all the evidence. When we came there, nothing special was left.¡±

    Hangzhou was thousands of miles away from the Royal City. The shadow guards of Leng Changxi could not go prior to Dou Family.

    After some quiet time for a while, Qin Yunuan added some hot tea for Leng Changxi quietly. Though it was just a subtle behavior, Leng Changxi felt so warm.

    ¡°What goes aroundes around. General, you don¡¯t need to be so worried. It would be an end one day.¡±

    Leng Changxi tasted the tea which was added new hot water. It was more fragrant. ¡°I tell you these today and just want you to prepare well. After all, this issue is involved in many cases, especially your legal mother. I am afraid that you....¡± For the first time, Grand General Leng who was extremely ferocious towards enemies in battlefields showed his tender affection.

    ¡°She is not a qualified mother of mine,¡± Qin Yunuan said seriously, ¡°She has been a female monster since she used chronic poisons to hurt my mom. I have never regarded her as my mother. She has no right to be my mother.¡±

    Leng Changxi stunned and did not know in which way he couldfort Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart. He just put one hand onto her back quietly and patted her lightly. And then he said gently, ¡°I know. I won¡¯t let her go.¡±

    After a short silence, their eyes met slowly as soft as thawy streams in spring. The two people fell into an ambiguous and warm phenomenon. Qin Yunuan lowered her head slightly and then seemed to think about something. She asked him, ¡°Last time you called the Fourth Prince as Han¡¯er, so you are familiar with him? Now Imperial Concubine Duan was busy in the selection of the wife of Fourth Prince, right?¡±

    Leng Changxi paused for a while and said, ¡°Yes, so you feel good about him?¡±

    Eh, such a jealous man.

    Qin Yunuan burst out augh. After she noticed the face and mood of Leng Changxi, she could not help but exin, ¡°No, I just know a girl and I think she is a perfect choice for the prince.¡±

    Leng Changxi seemed to feel proud and secure, ¡°I have some acquaintance with the Fourth Prince. I taught him horsemanship two years ago. He called me brother Leng so I called his nickname. Though he looks silly, he has a highprehension. I am willing to teach him. I won¡¯t waste any time in others.¡± Leng Changxi paused and added to Qin Yunuan seriously, ¡°Of course, you are an exception.¡±

    Qin Yunuan said coquettishly, ¡°I didn¡¯t say that I wanted to learn horse riding.¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded, ¡°Yes, you can just sit behind me when riding.¡± After the joke, he got back to the point, ¡°So who is the girl you said just now?¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°She is my fourth sister, Qin Yuzhao.¡±

 Chapter 93 A Quarrel Between Sisters

    <h4>Chapter 93 A Quarrel Between Sisters</h4>

    It was well-known that Imperial Concubine Duan was quite concerned over the marriage of Sima Han. Although he was the fourth son of the emperor and the family of Imperial Concubine Duan was prominent, those ministers who had unmarried daughters still wanted to avoid being involved in this issue. They all shuffled off the request. As a result, the girls rmended to Imperial Concubine Duan were either ugly or poor, some of which even couldn¡¯t afford meals.

    How could Imperial Concubine Duan find a satisfying daughter-inw among them? Sima Han was the only child of her deceased sister. She had to select the best for him. Therefore, while other princes had already chosen their fianc¨¦es, Sima Han was the only one remaining undecided.

    Why did Qin Yunuan bother to take this hot potato?

    Thinking for a moment, Leng Changxi decided that the idea made sense. Though Qin Yuzhao was not clever, she looked quite handsome, no less than Qin Yuwan did. What¡¯s more, her age was just fourteen, the same as Sima Han was. The most important thing was that she came from the mansion of Grand Commandant. With a background like that, she was suitable to be the concubine of Sima Han.

    ¡°The boy¡¯s own opinion also matters,¡± the unspoken word was that Leng Changxi agreed.

    ¡°So do I,¡± nodded Qin Yunuan. She didn¡¯t want to force two people to live together without any love. However, she thought if the marriage seeded, it could help Qin Yuzhao get rid of the embarrassing situation in the mansion of Grand Commandant as well as do a good deed. ¡°The love issue should not be solved by force. A true heart is better than a good family background in the selection of a futurepany.¡±

    The way Leng Changxi looked at Qin Yunuan was full of desire. Suddenly, he spoke in a tempting tone, ¡°My heart for you is definitely true.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was busy swallowing the tea in her mouth, so she didn¡¯t answer, but her face was blushed again.

    ¡°The emperor will hold a paddock hunting to wee the diplomatic corp of North Di to the Royal City in three days. All the princes and several imperial concubines will be present. As they will invite somedies to apany them, you can take the opportunity to bring your fourth sister,¡± Leng Changxi made the n calmly.

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°Why are you so sure that I will be invited?¡±

    Leng Changxi turned his face slowly and said, ¡°Because Sima Ray will try his best to see you. This is the way he does. He always likes to snatch. This time he wants to snatch at my person. He really has a nerve!¡± Leng Changxi spoke in a way he rarely did, with a wave of childish anger. Where was the broad-minded General Leng?

    Qin Yunuan mped off a smile and made a joke boldly, ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you? Are you jealous?¡±

    ¡°Well, yes,¡± to her surprise, Leng Changxi answered frankly, moving closer to her and said, ¡°Anyway, I wille too. You mustn¡¯t talk to him!¡±

    ...

    As Leng Changxi had expected, the moment Qin Yunuan returned to the mansion of Grand Commandant, the gatekeeper hurried to tell her that a royal invitation had arrived, asking her to attend the paddock hunting in three days. In the Royal City, the number of people receiving such invitations was less than twenty, and Qin Yunuan was a knockout among them.

    The person who was most mad about the fact was Qin Yunzhuang.

    The way back to the Fuxi Courtyard was passing the front door of the Caizhi Courtyard, in which Qin Yunzhuang had already made a racket and smashed lots of things, but she still felt angry. Hearing that Qin Yunuan was nearby, she rushed to the door with overweening arrogance and saw Qin Yunuan passed by with Maner.

    ¡°You bitch! Come here!¡± the voice of Qin Yunzhuang was hoarse.

    Qin Yunuan kept walking, pretending that she heard nothing.

    ¡°I am talking to you! Qin Yunuan,e here!¡±

    At this moment, Qin Yunuan stopped, turned around, and smiled at Qin Yunzhuang whose beautiful face was filled with anger, ¡°Were you calling me just now?¡±

    ¡°Then who?¡±

    Taking two steps forward, Qin Yunuan said, ¡°¡®Bitch¡¯ is the word used to call animals. I¡¯m not an animal, so I can¡¯t understand the word you said just now.¡±

    ¡°You...¡± Qin Yunzhuang pointed at Qin Yunuan angrily, with her beautiful eyebrows raising high, ¡°I know that you are insidious! What tricks have you yed? Howe you, a daughter of a concubine, received the invitation while I didn¡¯t? You are just a daughter of a concubine!¡±

    Qin Yunuan said nothing but smiled. Qin Yunzhuang continued, ¡°Ah, now I understand. All the things about you before are fake. You are the evilest person! You showed a cold face to Prince Ray, keeping him at an arm¡¯s length on purpose. You also framed Prince Ray and me up. All you do is to show how innocent and sensible you are, so that you will marry Prince Ray as his concubine. What, you want us to share a husband? Bah! You don¡¯t deserve it!¡±

    What ridiculous words! Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t find a word to describe Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s good feeling about herself.

    ¡°You are thinking too much. I don¡¯t care about the thing you cherish,¡± Qin Yunuan was telling the truth. Although Sima Ray looked mild and polite like a real gentleman, but Qin Yunuan knew exactly what he was behind the mask.

    Suddenly, Qin Yunzhuang changed her tone and said, ¡°Well, if things were not like what I said, what about you helping me to meet Prince Ray? What, I bet that you don¡¯t dare to do so!¡±

    It turned out to be a provocation. Qin Yunzhuang must have missed Sima Ray so much that she lost her mind. However, Sima Ray only saw her as a loose woman, one that couldn¡¯t wait to sleep with him.

    ¡°The invitation mentions that I can take one person with me,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°but I¡¯ve decided to take Qin Yuzhao. She seldom leaves home, so it will be great if she gets a chance to see outside.¡±

    Seeing that Qin Yunzhuang was going to go across the yard and keep quarreling, Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrow and pointed her thin finger at the stone threshold in front of the yard, ¡°Beware! Father has forbidden you from going out of the yard. One step forward and you are out.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang hesitated and then felt great resentment. If the nurse Gui beside her didn¡¯t stop her by asking her to tolerate, she would rush out and tear Qin Yunuan into pieces, who dared to talk to her like that!

    Qin Yunuan smiled again and turned to Maner, ¡°Well, Maner, we need to go home now. Qin Yuzhao hasn¡¯t known the good news yet. Later send some chamomile here. The eldest sister gets angry so easily. She needs it indeed.¡±

    Maner was also a clever one, just like her hostess. She said on purpose, ¡°Is the chamomile that only we have? Those from West Xia?¡± Those were rare and precious, sent by Leng Changxi after he learned that Qin Yunuan loved drinking scented tea.

    ¡°Yes, ¡± Qin Yunuan smiled at Qin Yunzhuang, ¡°Those are so rare that they can¡¯t be bought on the market. I just want you to try some fresh things.¡±

    ¡°You...¡± In the past, Qin Yunzhuang always had the best things. She used to be the almsgiver, but now she had to take the alms from the daughter of a concubine, who couldn¡¯tpete with her in every aspect. Nurse Gui hugged her around the waist tightly. Seeing that Qin Yunuan was far away, she told Qin Yunzhuang seriously, ¡°Grand Miss, you should restrain yourself. Nowadays even Madam doesn¡¯t dare to offend Third Miss without a reason. What can you do otherwise?¡±

    ¡°I am not convinced!¡± Qin Yunzhuang stamped her feet, ¡°I was born by Madam, but she was born by a concubine. My mother is the eldest daughter of the Dou Family. Even though my father is not fond of her, it won¡¯t harm our position. We have the Dou Family as a backer. My uncle promised that if I suffered any wrong in the Royal City, he would avenge me even if he was in Hangzhou. What¡¯s more, most officers are the students of my grandfather. Why should I be afraid?¡±

    ¡°Grand Miss,¡± nurse Gui lowered her voice. It seemed that the mistress didn¡¯t know that nowadays the Dou Family couldn¡¯t even protect themselves, so she had to persuade her in euphemism, ¡°Grand Miss, the time has changed and the good old days are gone. The Dou Family is no longer the prominent family they used to be twenty years ago.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang gave nurse Gui a sidelong nce, spoke disdainfully, ¡°Humph! I remember that you have betrayed me once.¡± She still remembered that nurse Gui had reported her to her mother in secret. ¡°This time I will give you a chance to make amends for your faults by good deeds. Go searching for the person who gave Qin Yunuan courage not to be scared of me at all. The chamomile from West Xia? If I can¡¯t figure out the answer, I am no longer Qin Yunzhuang!¡±

    In the evening, after Qin Yunuan had checked Baochuan¡¯s homework, she picked the clothes she was going to wear in the paddock hunting in three days along with Maner and Tong. Qin Yuzhao had never worn new clothes. Lucky that she was the same tall as Qin Yunuan even though she was half years younger than Qin Yunuan. So Qin Yunuan selected a Xiang skirt with pink grounding and white blossoms, a light-colored jacket, a long gown in light green and a bead sheet flower, and ordered Maner to send them to Qin Yuzhao.

    ¡°But what should I say to Concubine Liu?¡± Maner worried that the stingy Concubine Liu would misunderstand the kindness of Qin Yunnuan.

    ¡°She is not a fool, so she won¡¯t refuse these clothes because she knows the stake. However, we cannot expect that she will return the favor. I do all this for Qin Yuzhao. For her, we just keep not interfering with each other.¡±

    As soon as Maner was out, Ting Xue came in with a copper basin to help Qin Yunuan clean up. She wasn¡¯t focused, as if she were hiding some secrets.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Qin Yunuan spread the chignon, ¡°Did the brothel refuse to release your sister?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Ting Xue shook her head, ¡°The money you gave me was enough to buy back my sister¡¯s freedom. But I saw something that I shouldn¡¯t see several days ago. I was wondering if I should tell you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stood up to open the window. The silver moonlight shoot in, making the house more silent and romantic.

    ¡°Now that you mentioned it, it seemed that you chose to tell me. Just go straight.¡±

    Ting Xue gave a salute and said, ¡°Several days ago when I came to the brothel to free my sister, I saw Grand Young Master drinking in it identally. The procuress told me that Grand Young Master slept there every day and kept drinking heavily, crying for ¡®nannan¡¯, a nickname nobody knew whose it was.¡±

    ¡°Nannan?¡± Qin Yunuan felt shocked. Was it the nickname of Qin Yunzhuang when she was young?

 Chapter 94 The Foreign Prince

    <h4>Chapter 94 The Foreign Prince</h4>

    In the past, she had thought Qin Linfeng¡¯s care for Qin Yunzhuang was unusual. However, it never urred to her that Qin Linfeng¡¯s love was beyond the love between brother and sister, but the one between a man and a woman. The love ofmitting incest would be a burning shame and a great sin in the mansion of Grand Commandant, where people always emphasized moral rules and family characters.

    The reason why Ting Xue hesitated to tell hery in the fact that the truth was bad for her and the Qin Family. If the reputation of the Qin Family was ruined, Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t get away either.

    ¡°Have you told others the secret?¡± Qin Yunuan asked.

    ¡°Absolutely I won¡¯t tell others about this important thing. However, the longer Grand Young Master lingers in the brothel, the more people will get to know it. So I think it better to tell you first.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Qin Yunuan nodded, ¡°From now on if there is anything like that, you should only tell me. Remember, you are my servant girl first, then you are the servant girl of the Qin Family.¡±

    Ting Xue nodded to answer the order and asked what to do next.

    ¡°Keep watching him. He now uses the excuse of looking for further study to leave the mansion of Grand Commandant. We need to find a proper time to take off his mask of hypocrisy.¡±

    Three days soon passed. While summer was not the best season for paddock hunting, the Royal Paddock bought some reindeer and hares for free-range farming, so that the imperial envoys from North Di could enjoy themselves to the full.

    This day was fine, with no clouds in the sky. The emperor of Qi, Sima Xiu, sat on a carriage pulled by fiverge horses, which were carefully chosen. Their oily hair was the evidence of their purest blood.

    On the left side, there were princes responsible for guarding, riding the horses in the order of their age. Although Sima Han looked stupid, he was the best at the horse-riding among them. He alternated between ying on the back of the horse and performing his excellent equestrian skills in front of Sima Xiu, making himugh. More importantly, he was in the limelight in the face of Wanyan Su, the seventh prince of North Di who rode on the right side.

    North Di was a regime built by nomadic people. Horse riding, archery, and hunting were basic skills that every man of them would practice from childhood. At the beginning of the war between the two countries, the Qi army had suffered losses in battles of pursuit, because most Qi soldiers were infantry from the Central ins and Qi troopers were far worse than the ones in North Di in flexibility and power. After the practice in the passing years, the Qi troopers made progress, but they were still looked down upon by the North Di troopers. Thetter even gave the former an ironic nickname: ¡°Coward on the horse¡±.

    After Sima Han¡¯s performance of leaned horse riding, which was of great difficulty. Sima Xiu smiled, turned to his right side, and said to Wanyan Su, who kept silent, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that your horse-riding skill is great. What¡¯s yourment on my Fourth Prince¡¯s skills?¡±

    Wanyan Su was big-boned and a head taller than the Qi resident, which was the shape of a typical North Di resident. He got thick arms and his upper body was a standard inverted triangle, reflecting his long experience of learning martial arts and leading the army. However, his behavior was not so rude as most North Di residents did. He spoke in a low voice, good manner, and standard Central in ent, which was quite attractive adding his manly face with a delicate contour, thick eyebrows, andrge eyes.

    He nodded slightly, ¡°The horse-riding skill of that Qi prince can be counted as above the average in our North Di. It¡¯s estimable that he can reach the level at such a young age.¡±

    His word was pleasing to Sima Xiu¡¯s ears. He praised the skill of Sima Han as well as protecting the dignity of North Di people. The North Di prince was really good at speech.

    However, Sima Han was not happy. He turned his face to another side and spoke in a childish tone, ¡°Humph! If my masterpetes with you, he will definitely beat you!¡±

    ¡°Han, mind your words,¡± although Emperor Zhaoxuan, Sima Xiu, med Sima Han orally, a faint smile appeared on his face.

    ¡°Well, who is your master?¡± Wanyan Su seemed interested.

    Sima Han turned his face again and spoke arrogantly, ¡°His fame will scare you to death! Have you ever heard of Leng Changxi, the Cool Face General? He is my master. I¡¯ve studied for five years. Only to learn a little from him.¡±

    Wanyan Su nodded and smiled, ¡°I undoubtedly heard of the name of the first general in Qi. In the world nowadays, there is nobody but him having the ability to kill the general in millions of soldiers. Now that I¡¯vee here and got the luck to hunt with the emperor of Qi, I won¡¯t be happier if I can see the general in legend.¡±

    Sima Xiu remained calm to the surprising enthusiasm of Wanyan Su. Since the Qi and the North Di had been in war for such a long time, the imperial matrimony for peace was more or less suspicious. He looked straightforward and raised his head slightly, ¡°At the time of horseback archery race, you will see him.¡±

    He knew what Wanyan Su was thinking. Having said so much, he wanted nothing but apetition.

    While the men in the front were chatting passionately, Qin Yunuan sat in the carriage in the back, lifting the curtain and showing Qin Yuzhao who Sima Han was. He is the most active man in the crowd.

    ¡°Come, Yuzhao. Juste and see,¡± Qin Yunuan pulled Qin Yuzhao, who was busying chewing the fried dough.

    ¡°The man riding in the most front. Do you see him? What do you think of him?¡±

    Qin Yuzhao swallowed the fried dough when the appetizing oil of the pastry flowed from the corner of her mouth. With only one nce, she asserted, ¡°He is a fool.¡±

    Hearing this, Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help smiling. She used her handkerchief to wipe the corner of Qin Yuzhao¡¯s mouth. Good that the oil didn¡¯t drop on the clothes, or the time she spent dressing up Qin Yuzhao from the early morning would be wasted. Now Qin Yuzhao was just like a beautiful china doll, with a white face, pink lips, arched eyebrows, and delicate tip of the nose. When she didn¡¯t speak, she was extremely beautiful.

    ¡°Well, do you like the fool?¡± Qin Yunuan asked in a smile.

    ¡°Huh. Is he as foolish as I am?¡± Qin Yuzhao twinkled.

    Qin Yunuan thought for a while and said, ¡°He is the same as you. Foolish as he is, he is straightforward and innocent.¡±

    Qin Yuzhao felt happy, pping her palms, ¡°Well, I like him!¡±

    Reaching the campsite, people were not rushing to hunt. The temporary tents were already pitched. Thergest one in bright yellow in the center belonged to the emperor, Sima Xiu. The ones of the princes were all around it, like stars surrounding the moon. The ones in the periphery respectively belonged to imperial concubines, princes, and ministers. Qin Yunuan and otherdies being invited lived in the west corner.

    Although the paddock hunting only took several days, the tent was arranged in extreme delicacy inside. There were incense burners for the scent, folding screens for separating space, and copper basins for cleaning up. One tent wasrge enough for three people to live in. As soon as Qin Yunuan and Qin Yuzhao put down their luggage and Maner and Tong were ready to make the bed, they heard the sound of the third person to live with them entering.

    ¡°If Qin Yunzhuang marries Prince Ray this time, my good days will follow. I¡¯m the best friend of Qin Yunzhuang, and she has promised to support me. At that time, you will all have a good time with me.¡±

    The moment the curtain was lifted, Qin Yunuan saw Li Weijun standing at the entrance. What a coincidence! She is the roommate. Looking at the four servant girls following Li Weijun, Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°What ostentation! Even the Imperial Concubine only took six servant girls with her during the hunting. You, on the other hand, have brought four.¡±

    Seeing Qin Yunuan in the tent, Li Weijun stretched her neck and raised her head to cover her surprise, ¡°It makes sense. If ady has no servant girls to serve her with tea, perfume, bath, and books, she is too shabby. What do you think?¡±

    It seemed that Li Weijun had bet all she got on Qin Yunzhuang, thinking that Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s marriage to Prince Ray was like flying up into the branches. However, she didn¡¯t know that Qin Yunzhuang couldn¡¯t even protect herself anymore. But Qin Yunzhuang thought the same as Li Weijun did. They proved the saying that birds of a feather flock together.

    Qin Yunuan looked at Maner and Tong, and smiled, ¡°The most important thing about servant girls is their loyalty. Those two are enough for me. If there are too many servant girls, one day one of them might cause trouble. What a master fears most is being killed without knowing the reason.¡±

    Li Weijun gave a snort of contempt, acting like ady and ordering her servant girls behind, ¡°What are you waiting for? Xiaxiang, change the mattress. Chunxiang, burn the best eaglewood. Dongxiang, use hot water to clean the copper basins and wooden tubs. Qiuxiang, go outside and ask how to take a bath these days. Why didn¡¯t I see a ce for bathing? I can¡¯t bear it!¡±

    Wow, what hustle and bustle!

    Maner made the bed for Qin Yunuan and helped Tong spread the mattress. The two whispered to each other.

    ¡°Miss Li is so fond of ostentation and extravagance.¡±

    ¡°She must have learned that from Grand Miss. She learned no good habits but the bad habit of showing off.¡±

    ¡°Ah me! I didn¡¯t know that there was any good in Grand Miss to learn from!¡±

    Their whispering was not heard by people from the Li Family but was caught by Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°You two,¡± Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help reminding them, but sheughed like she was amused by the two servant girls, ¡°Those words should be spoken in private. Shut up and mind your own business.¡±

    The sun at noon was scorching, so people all stayed in their own tents for resting. Qin Yunuan just spread her chignon and opened her makeup box to put the hair sp in when she saw a scrip in it, which wrote: ¡°Come to the range to see me shooting.¡±

 Chapter 95 Tenderness at the Shooting Range

    <h4>Chapter 95 Tenderness at the Shooting Range</h4>

    His vigorous handwriting with harsh, evenmanding tone. His words warmed Qin Yunuan in a sudden.

    Qin Yunuan cautiously ignited the fire and burned the letter. While everyone was sleeping soundly during the lunch break, she sneaked outside of the tent in her shirt. The sun was zing. Qin Yunuan had been walking under the tent shadow. There was still a dense sweat on her forehead a momentter.

    The shooting range was tranquil at this time. Only when approached could Qin Yunuan hear the asional but clear rustling sound. It was the sound of mighty arrows leaving their bows which was clear and clean, without a trace of hesitation.

    The summer was hot, but Leng Changxi was still in heavy armor. He was wrapped tightly by the airtight metal, and the sweat dripped directly from the back along the corner of the clothes. But Leng Changxi didn¡¯t rx his fingers. His energetic body seemed to be sending a constant flow of power to the fingertips. Another arrow hit the red center.

    Leng Changxi stood alone in the huge shooting range. He still strived for excellence, with each arrow aimed at the red center. The red center of the target at hundred meters away was asrge as a fist, but it was filled with arrows. Some arrows even tried to prate the target. After Leng Changxi¡¯s practice, the targets were usually no longer usable.

    ¡°You came?¡± Leng Changxi noticed the turquoise figure at the entrance of the shooting range. Although she didn¡¯t have to ride a horse, Qin Yunuan was dressed in fitted clothes to match with the hunt. Her waist belt was tightened, and her hair was tied up more than usual, revealing the pearl-like earlobes, looking more lively and flexible.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Yunuan entered the shooting range and nced at the armor on Leng Changxi. She felt a bit distressed, ¡°Why don¡¯t you take off the armor on such a hot day? Isn¡¯t it stuffy?¡±

    ¡°Take it off?¡± Leng Changxi grinned suddenly, ¡°Okay.¡± After he finished, he untied the straps of his armor. Somehow Leng Changxi took off the armor so fast that almost at the moment, the armor fell to the ground. Leng Changxi revealed his sweaty inner shirt tightly attached to the body. The translucent shirt outlined Leng Changxi¡¯s perfect abdominal muscles and undting chest.

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t expect Leng Changxi to be so quick. When she reacted, Leng Changxi shook his inner shirt and continued, ¡°It seems to be hot still.¡± Then he tried to untie the shirt straps, preparing to take off everything.

    ¡°You,¡± Qin Yunuan turned around quickly. Her heart was beating noisier than those cicadas in the summer, ¡°wear some clothes.¡±

    Leng Changxi shrugged his shoulders, ¡°I¡¯m wearing clothes. Do you want to look back?¡±

    ¡°I mean...¡± Qin Yunuan, who had a sharp mouth, found that for the first time she couldn¡¯t find any word to refute Leng Changxi. He was a rogue. ¡°I mean, put the armor back on.¡±

    Leng Changxi grinned slyly, and his tone became extremely pitiful, ¡°You told me to take it off, and now you let me put it on again. Forget it. Give me a final word. Should I wear it or take it off. It depends on you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan pointed at the thin jacket on a temporary hanger on the shooting range, ¡°Put that on.¡±

    Dressing in something was at least better than letting Leng Changxi sweat like that.

    Leng Changxi nced at it and replied, ¡°That¡¯s not mine.¡±

    Was there anyone else in this shooting range?

    Qin Yunuan was surprised. Then she saw a pair of white riding boots with yellow patterns behind the hanger. The Kylin patterns embroidered on them were all in gold threads. Its owner hid behind the hanger, not realizing that his shoes had betrayed him.

    Who else could it be....

    Qin Yunuan smiled and said out loudly, ¡°Nice to meet you, Fourth Prince.¡±

    Sima Han suddenly popped his head out. He groaned towards Qin Yunuan stubbornly, ¡°I¡¯m not here. You didn¡¯t see me.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Come out, Han,¡± Leng Changxi said as a master. Although frankly speaking, Sima Han was a few months older than him.

    Sima Han moved out reluctantly, lowering his head. His eyes were timid when he looked at Leng Changxi, and he seemed to be afraid of his master Leng Changxi. Sima Han knew that he was not obedient. His master was strict and harsh at work, and he would definitely punish him with running circles.

    ¡°Hello, master,¡± Sima Han bowed 90 degrees to Leng Changxi. Then he straightened up, shouting in his iparably broad voice towards Qin Yunuan, ¡°Hello, master¡¯s wife.¡±

    ¡°Four Prince...¡± Qin Yunuan was used to Leng Changxi being a rogue, but now even Sima Han started to name people at random. She turned her head and looked at Leng Changxi. Since Sima Han was his apprentice, he should be in charge. Others would gossip hearing this.

    Unexpectedly, Leng Changxi said with praise, ¡°Well, good boy. Good, you are bing more polite.¡±

    So are you pleased?

    Leng Changxi looked Qin Yunuan¡¯s embarrassed face with a burst ofplexion. He thought that Qin Yunuan was unwilling to see a third person when they meet in private. So he waved decisively to Sima Han like petting small animals, ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve greeted her. Go back and rest.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± Sima Han nodded and was about to leave. Qin Yunuan was busy keeping him, ¡°Since you came here, why not see Yuzhao?¡±

    ¡°Is Fourth Miss Qin also here?¡± Leng Changxi asked.

    ¡°This is not the case,¡± Qin Yunuan had confirmed that Qin Yuzhao¡¯s mind was likely to be healthy after getting along with her and observing for these past few days. But she still didn¡¯t want too many people to know about her rtionship with Leng Changxi. Therefore she had to keep it as a secret to Qin Yuzhao, who lived with her. ¡°But I happened to bring a small portrait of Yuzhao. She asked me to draw for her before the lunch break. I didn¡¯t take it out of the jacketyer.¡±

    Qin Yunuan said as she took out a neatly folded drawing paper. The paper was as small as the palm of her hand as it spread out. In the portrait was a graceful girl. Her facial features were outstanding, especially those big bright eyes. They appeared to be even more vivid under Qin Yunuan¡¯s painting.

    ¡°Is this sister a fairy?¡± Sima Han opened his eyes wide and stared into the portrait.

    ¡°How do you think, Four Prince?¡± Qin Yunuan smiled gently. She didn¡¯t bring it by ident. Qin Yunuan had always remembered that Yuzhao got interested in Sima Han, yet she didn¡¯t know how Sima Han thought of Yuzhao. Judging from this, the two had predestined affinity.

    Sima Han nodded and almost drooled, ¡°She looks good. She looks great. Can you find this fairy sister for me? I want to take her back to the pce and keep admiring her every day.¡±

    ¡°It might be possible,¡± Qin Yunuan pretended to be mysterious, ¡°Just you know, the fairies in the sky were not like normal people on earth. There are too many servingdies in your pce. Fairies would lose their uniqueness living in such a mixed environment, and she won¡¯t look so good.¡±

    The servingdies in Qin Yunuan¡¯s words were those seven or eight maids who had spent the nights with Sima Han.

    ¡°Then I will drive them all away and leave none. I just want this fairy sister,¡± Sima Han was very decisive.

    Qin Yunuan smiled and let out a sigh of relief, ¡°Since you have got the determination, I would disclose this secret to you, Fourth Prince. You could see this fairy sister in the archerypetition this afternoon. Do you know what to do?¡±

    As soon as he heard that he was able to see this fairy-like girl, Sima Han got so happy that he pped his palms, ¡°I will ask my mother to grab her for me and treat her well in my pce.¡±

    Watching Sima Han walk away happily, Leng Changxi turned his head and grinned at Qin Yunuan, and his tone lifted a bit, ¡°You are getting more powerful now, using few words to persuade Han to send away all those beauties in the pce.¡±

    ¡°Fourth Prince should be willing to do it first.¡± Qin Yunuan said as she subconsciously pinched her sleeve to wipe away the sweat dripping on Leng Changxi¡¯s chin, ¡°If they haven¡¯t seen each other before or they have never had feelings, how can this be so easy?¡±

    This conclusion was made only days ago when Qin Yunuan asionally saw a string of antique emerald beads around Qin Yuzhao¡¯s waist. Qin Yuzhao was never particr about her clothes and hair, but the beads were carefully decorated with red string. The smallest decorative pendant underneath seemed to have been especially reced with a new one. She had worn it for some years.

    Qin Yuzhao was such a reckless girl. It was strange that those fragile emerald beads would be so well preserved.

    Qin Yunuan only happened to recall that at the poetry fiesta, she saw the same string of jade beads in Sima Han¡¯s waist. On such a momentous asion, a distinguished prince was wearing such a cheap jade. People would take him as stupid and ignorant. Still, Qin Yunuan knew that the beads, which were very inconsistent with the two¡¯s usual identities and behaviors, must indicate some connection between them.

    ¡°One is acting silly in the pce, and the other is acting silly in the mansion of Grand Commandant. The only chance for them to meet each year is during the New Year banquet, and they have only a nce.¡± Qin Yunuanmented, ¡°They are like the Cowherd and the Girl Weaver.¡±

    ¡°So we are fortunate. I can always see you when I want to,¡± Leng Changxi smiled softly. At this moment, the two had left the shooting range from the path and walked downhill to the mountainside. In the distance, they could see Eunuch You, who worked for the emperor. He was leading those young eunuchs to set up the shooting range, preparing for the archerypetition.

    Leng Changxi would certainly y the game in the afternoon.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired without a break at noon for the afternoon game?¡± Qin Yunuan asked with her head slightly raised.

    ¡°Who said that I didn¡¯t have a rest.¡± Leng Changxi suddenly approached her, leaned down, and kissed Qin Yunuan¡¯s cheeks. He chuckled in a low voice, ¡°Well, this is enough for my rest.¡±

 Chapter 96 Try It out

    <h4>Chapter 96 Try It out</h4>

    As Qin Yunuan hurried back to the tent, Qin Yuzhao happened to be up. Under Tong¡¯s service, she was wearing the multyer summer clothes awkwardly. It was hard being ady. Even in the hottest summer, a shirt should be wrapped around the tube top.

    Qin Yunuan wiped the thin sweat on her head, and right away, Maner handed her a veil with well water wisely for wiping her face.

    ¡°Yo,¡± Li Weijun, who was well-dressed, walked over from the screen and took a look at Qin Yuzhao. Her eyes widened obviously, but the tone was still disdainful, ¡°Tailors make men. It turns out that Fourth Miss Qin is still somewhat beautiful.¡±

    ¡°Sister Li, if I were you, I would not speak. I would only lift the curtain and go out without saying anything. And then I would wait till Yuzhao appears in front of everyone and praise her for a few words. That would make you look generous, not envy and jealous like you are now.¡± Qin Yunuan was expressionless at first, then smiled softly, ¡°Sister Li, don¡¯t you know that the easier women get jealous, the easier they would age?¡±

    ¡°Ungrateful!¡± Li Weijun red at Qin Yunuan fiercely, rushing out with four servant girls.

    There was a big difference between lineal and non-lineal descents in this dynasty. Even when the Li Family was losing its power, with its status falling and discourse power losing constantly, Li Weijun still considered herself as Li Family¡¯s legal daughter. It was usual for her, who has a higher social status, to scold Qin Yunuan.

    But when Li Weijun took this anger outside....

    ¡°Huh. She is, after all, a daughter of a concubine and couldn¡¯t get on the countertop. Listen to her tone just now,¡± Li Weijun strode forward, turning back asionally toin with the four servant girls behind her, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you. A concubine¡¯s daughter would be bullied even when she gets married. She could only climb up, holding onto some other men¡¯s thighs. Huh, shameless.¡±

    Chunxiang was about to stop Li Weijun when she looked up and saw the Imperial Concubine Duan appearing in front of her eyes. She shut her mouth immediately. The other three servant girls also remained silent.

    ¡°Shameless?¡± A vicious look appeared on Imperial Concubine Duan¡¯s always gentle and peaceful face for the first time. Although it was only a sh, it was enough to shock everyone present. Everyone in the pce knew that Imperial Concubine Duan was only the daughter of a concubine in the Duke Mansion. She was affectionate to her sister, the deceased Imperial Concubine Shu so that the emperor sent her into the pce after the concubine¡¯s death and gave her a name. To be frank, she was the wet nurse for Sima Han as a baby. Imperial Concubine Duan was usually affable. Therefore, the eunuchs and servant girls never mentioned it.

    But her family was like a thorn in her heart. It would never be pulled out, nor could it melt inside her.

    Li Weijun was also shocked by the high-pitched tone of Imperial Concubine Duan. She stared nkly at Imperial Concubine Duan, who was only ten steps away from her. Li Weijun was choked with words, ¡°I...I, just...¡± She was eager to exin, but couldn¡¯t say a word.

    Imperial Concubine Duan¡¯s fingertips seemed to be trembling because her patience was running out, and the smile on her face became stiff and icy. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say all you wanted to say? What, do you have another high-sounding statement about the difference between family backgrounds?¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t dare to,¡± Li Weijun¡¯s legs turned to jelly, and she almost knelt down, ¡°I was mean-mouthed and said the wrong thing.¡±

    The kneeling apology still couldn¡¯t calm the waves inside Imperial Concubine Duan¡¯s heart. The shame for her secrets, which had been umted for many years, waspletely evoked by Li Weijun¡¯s unintentional sentence. It seemed that she had been tolerant for too long, and now a declining aristocrat dared to crawl on her head.

    ¡°Since you have said the wrong thing, you should be punished.¡± Imperial Concubine Duan¡¯s every word was heavy and powerful. The solemnity made Imperial Concubine Duan¡¯s personal servants hold her breath. She had served Imperial Concubine Duan for more than ten years. It was her first time to see her master punish others.

    ¡°p her!¡± Imperial Concubine Duan ordered. After a while, a crisp p sounded on the open ground.

    Qin Yunuan happened to take Qin Yuzhao out of the tent. Seeing a circle of people surrounding something in the distance, Qin Yuzhao was very excited and pped, ¡°It¡¯s so lively. Is it a campfire party? Is there anything to eat?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a campfire party,¡± Qin Yunuan only nced, and a slight smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. ¡°It¡¯s Imperial Concubine Duan punishing Sister Li.¡±

    Qin Yunuan could guess the result without going. Did Li Weijun really think that Imperial Concubine Duan passed by ident?

    It was time to teach a lesson to this harsh and narrow, self-righteous heiress of Li Family. Because of the red and swollen face, Li Weijun hurriedly arrived when the archerypetition started halfway. It was a pity that no matter how much rouge and powder were applied, it was difficult to hide the five obvious fingerprints on her face.

    Fortunately, Li Weijun was born in a low profile, and her appearance was not the most outstanding. Therefore, no one noticed her.

    ¡°Good!¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan Sima Xiu called out his praises for several times today. Young people were ying better than normal. The cheers of hitting the targets were endless.

    Prince Ray was on the court at the moment. He was in a short-sleeved suit and performed very stable today. Every arrownded within the nine-point ring. Just now, he shot the second red target.

    In the cheers and apuse of everyone, Sima Ray smiled modestly and turned around. While his people were counting the score of his round, Sima Ray bent down and saluted to Sima Xiu and said, ¡°Please do notugh at my performance.¡± After that, he arched his hand towards Wanyan Su. The gesture was a courtesy and also a sign because the next one would be this guest from the faraway North Di.

    ¡°Very good! Ray performed very well today. Come and give him a reward!¡± It was easy to get praise from Sima Xiu, but his rewards were the real approval. When Eunuch You carried the incisive iron-cutting dagger to Sima Ray, even Imperial Concubine Yun stretched her neck. Sima Xiu used it when he was young, and this dagger saved his life when he was in danger. Now it was rewarded to Prince Ray.

    Sima Ray and Empress Chen nced at each other immediately. He didn¡¯t refuse and just said a few words to thank the emperor.

    Sima Ray suddenly stopped as he passed Leng Changxi, a hidden smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He nodded and said, ¡°I look forward to the performance of General Leng.¡±

    Leng Changxi was half a head higher than Sima Ray. At this moment, he kept his head high and didn¡¯t even give a single look to Sima Ray. Leng Changxi¡¯s tone was extremely cold when he replied, ¡°Prince Ray, you love to watch the scene of bustle.¡± After just a nce, he said, ¡°But I am afraid that you can¡¯t see my scene of the bustle as fun anymore.¡±

    Sima Ray didn¡¯t say anything, just reached out and patted on Leng Changxi¡¯s shoulder. People would view this as the mutual encouragement between a monarch and a minister. It seemed to be harmonious. But Qin Yunuan, who was sitting under the yellow perg opposite, felt her heart tightened. She didn¡¯t wish Sima Ray get too close to Leng Changxi. Although his ability exceeded Sima Ray more than enough, Sima Ray loved to use dirty tricks. Better the devil you know than the devil you don¡¯t know. She didn¡¯t want this 1 in 10,000 probability to happen.

    ¡°Third Miss, this is the iced Lily soup with pear Empress sent you.¡± Maner passed a cup with a lotus mouth from the tray of the little maid behind. The white porcin was cool on the surface.

    ¡°There is something to eat!¡± Qin Yuzhao quickly took her share. She picked up the spoon and scooped it back and forth, sighing, ¡°Wow, there are really many lilies. Sister Yunuan, Where is that silly big man you told me about? Why didn¡¯t I see him?¡±

    Sima Han was born so tall that he was almost the same size as Wanyan Su. Qin Yuzhao nicknamed him the ¡°silly big man¡± in private.

    ¡°He¡¯sing soon,¡± Qin Yunuanforted Qin Yuzhao. Suddenly there was a burst of cheers beside her. It turned out that Wanyan Su shot in the heart for the past few times. Eachpetitor had ten arrows, and then the score would be calcted ording to the arrow crater shot on the target.

    It was already the tenth arrow. Wanyan Su would be the winner if he could still shoot right on center. Even if Leng Changxi had hit all in the center, he would draw a tie with him.

    Sima Xiu¡¯s expression was not as pleasant as it was before.

    With a ¡°snap¡± sound, the arrow was off the bowstring, and the feathery, birch arrow flew straight out. It was again in the center.

    Ten arrows allnded in the center. Wanyan Su was undoubtedly the proudest winner in thispetition.

    ¡°Emperor, don¡¯t tter me.¡± Wanyan Su put away his bow and arrows. He arched his hand towards Sima Xiu with Han etiquette.

    Sima Xiu appeared to be joyful, praising, ¡°The Seventh Prince of North Di is superb in archery. Come, I¡¯ll give you a reward.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, emperor.¡± Wanyan Su smiled and arched his hands again, looking at Leng Changxi, who was still standing outside the range with an indifferent face that seemed to have no intention topete at all. He grinned and reminded him, ¡°General Leng of Qi, it¡¯s your turn.¡±

    Whether the nation could dete North Di seemed to be Leng Changxi¡¯s burden at the moment.

    From afar, Qin Yunuan met Leng Changxi¡¯s eyes. Their hearts matched the beat within a nce, and then Leng Changxi strode forward. His movement was natural and smooth, from picking arrows from the box to opening the bow. Every arrow hit the center. But when it came to the ninth one, Leng Changxi stopped for a long time.

    With a simple touch, Leng Changxi knew in his heart that the ninth arrow was different from others. The shaft was much more brittle. If he had shot without stopping, he might use strength in the wrong ce and miss because of inertia.

    Leng Changxi nced at Sima Ray with the corner of his eye. A trace of disdain lingered on his lips. He waved his hand and pulled out the remaining two arrows in the box. Did he mean to shoot double shots?

    But even if these two arrows had hit the center, he would end in a draw with Wanyan Su.

    Qin Yunuan not only straightened up but also fixed her eyes on the game.

    Two arrows were off the string with a snap.

 Chapter 97 Women Fighting for Husbands

    <h4>Chapter 97 Women Fighting for Husbands</h4>

    Seeing that there was no hesitation at all in Leng Changxi, Sima Ray couldn¡¯t help but sneer. He still got tricked. Leng Changxi was too powerful in the government these days. For people whom he couldn¡¯t make use of, Sima Ray¡¯s principle was to rather ruin them than giving them to the others.

    When the two arrows were shot, those with sharp eyes could see that they didn¡¯t go side by side. One of them was slightly in the front, seemingly lighter; while the other one was slightly behind, seemingly heavier, but equally powerful. Soon, the one behind caught up with the one in front and pierced it through. It urately divided the arrow in the front into two. Plop, the two arrows turned into three and punctured into the bullseye

    In the summer breeze, the three arrows firmly mmed in the bullseye seemed to have the same perseverance, courageous but slightly lonely temperament as Leng Changxi, as well as the fragrance of the grass.

    ¡°Nice!¡± Sima Xiu stood up from the dragon chair with excitement, taking the lead to apud Leng Changxi. Hence, all of the officials followed. Even Qin Yunuan nearly stood up as well. But she held herself back eventually, with joy on her face beyond words.

    While Qin Yuzhao boldly pped desperately, shouting out all the words that Qin Yunuan wanted to say, ¡°It¡¯s amazing! This big brother is amazing! He¡¯s the most amazing in the world!¡±

    Receiving the enthusiastic approval like the tides, Leng Changxi simply put down the long bow in his hand calmly. The first nce he took was towards Qin Yunuan¡¯s direction. His simple, warm and tender smile seemed to be reporting to Qin Yunuan that he didn¡¯t care what others think of him. The only thing he cared was her attitude towards him.

    It was the first time that Qin Yunuan smiled so cheerfully. She was even showing her white teeth. He was always the best, and this time, he represented Qi to prove the North Di¡¯s wrong.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Leng Changxi stepped forward and nodded towards Wanyan Su, ¡°The prince of North Di, you lost.¡±

    Wanyan Su also heartily praised him, ¡°I feel honored losing to you.¡± Turning two arrows into three. Without enough strength and precision, coupled with years of experience and calm judgment, it was absolutely impossible for ordinary people to do that.

    Sima Ray also catered and said, ¡°General Leng has really got some skills.¡±

    Leng Changxi turned sideways slightly, and his bat-shaped mask happened to form a strange arc, staring at Sima Ray coldly, as if it could eat people¡¯s souls and read people¡¯s minds. ¡°Thank you, Prince Ray.¡±

    Thank you for changing the arrow in the arrow box. The hardness of the arrows was different so that one arrow could pierce through the other so easily.

    Empress Chen was looking gentle, ¡°What a young hero. Emperor, what do you think?¡±

    ¡°He needs to be rewarded naturally!¡± Sima Xiu¡¯s mood was as relieved as a waterfall, ¡°General Leng, just tell me what you want for the reward.¡±

    Letting someone ask for the reward directly. What a great honor.

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t look as surprised as the others. He arched his hands and said, ¡°I don¡¯t really have anything indeed.¡± This was the truth. He could naturally get what he wanted, whether it was an object or a person.

    ¡°No,¡± Sima Xiu said decisively, ¡°in this case, I¡¯ll grant you a request. From now on, if General Leng has anything you want, as long as the request is reasonable, and I can afford it, I will definitely satisfy it for you.¡±

    Sima Xiu¡¯s words were determined, but Empress Chen¡¯s face red. If the Emperor gave himnds or jewelries, or raised his positions; even if the Emperor announced him a lord for the shot, she could have epted it. She feared the most about this situation. First, it was equivalent to giving Leng Changxi a great authority. Second, this showed that the Emperor¡¯s trust in General Leng had reached an extremely high level.

    No other Emperors would dare granting such a gift to their officials.

    It seemed that she could no longer get her hands on Leng Changxi anymore.

    Looking at Empress Chen and Sima Ray¡¯s thoughtful looks, Leng Changxi didn¡¯t refuse the Emperor. He arched his hands and said, ¡°Thank you, Emperor.¡±

    ¡°Oh, so he is General Leng who is known as the Qi¡¯s God of War,¡± Suddenly, a cute and bright female voice with a strong North Di ent sounded, ¡°He is indeed amazing, just like our Khan.¡±

    The one who was speaking was the princess of North Di who came a long way from North Di to Qi for the political marriage. Normally, thedies of Qi were not allowed to show up casually before they get married. However, the North Di was more open minded. They even had a male-leaving marriage custom a few years back, from which some of the habits were left behind. It was nothing for them to have an unmarried princess following the army for hunting.

    The women of North Di had low social status and no surname. The North Di princess was named Saichun. She was tall and slender, and her facial profile was quite characteristic of the North Di people. Her eye sockets were deep, with bright eyes like gems. Her nose bridge was high and her mouth was small. She was an exquisite beauty. At this moment, she was seating on Qin Yunuan¡¯s side where thedies sat, next to an imperial concubine.

    Saichun¡¯s words immediately attracted a lot of attention. She stood up straight and cheerfully, facing Sima Xiu and said heartily, ¡°Emperor of Qi, you Qi actually have such a capable person in archery. I have decided that I¡¯m not going to marry your Grand Prince. I want to marry such a warrior.¡± Saichun shouted towards Leng Changxi, ¡°Hey, what¡¯s your name?¡±

    Leng Changxi nced at her coldly, as if he hadn¡¯t meant to answer her. Saichun didn¡¯t really care and she answered herself, ¡°Forget it, the name doesn¡¯t matter. The point is that I like the way he shoots arrows. Emperor of Qi, I¡¯ve decided that I want to marry him.¡±

    Before Sima Xiu, whose face changed slightly, was able to respond, Wanyan Su immediately motioned to the maid next to Saichun to take her down and said softly, ¡°Sis, this is the Emperor of Qi. Don¡¯t talk about marriage so casually. It¡¯s impolite.¡±

    ¡°How am I fooling around?¡± Saichun couldn¡¯t be relieved, and shouted again, ¡°Didn¡¯t Khan say that I wasing for marriage when I left the grasnd? I didn¡¯t want it at first, but now I am willing, how¡¯s that not good?¡±

    The atmosphere was a bit awkward, and Sima Xiuughed out loud, ¡°The daughters of the grasnd are indeed more straightforward and cheerful than ourdies in the Central ins.¡±

    ¡°The Emperor of Qi, so you¡¯ve agreed?

    Sima Xiu sipped his tea and said, ¡°Well, matrimonial matters require long-term consideration.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t get it. I like him, then we get together. What else needs to be considered?¡± Saichun was a straight person.

    Leng Changxi looked at Qin Yunuan silently. He had imagined many cases where Qin Yunuan gets jealous. Would she frown? Would she pout? Would she lose her temper? However, at the moment, Qin Yunuan was just smiling faintly, and the time seemed to be frozen. Qin Yunuan¡¯s peaceful and radiant smile once again caught Leng Changxi¡¯s heart.

    He knew what she was thinking. That was because she trusted him without doubts, so why should she be jealous anyway?

    However, on Saichun¡¯s side....

    ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s why the princess haven¡¯t cared about Ruo these days, it turns out that the princess has someone in her heart already.¡± Imperial Concubine Yun seized the opportunity and spared no effort to secretly help her. She didn¡¯t like the arrangement of the Emperor in the first ce. Why should her good son marry an impolite North Di wife? Now that the princess of North Di had said that she wanted to marry Leng Changxi, it was a great opportunity to let Leng Changxi carry the responsibility.

    Sima Ruo didn¡¯t speak for the whole time. He remained silent, like a sculpture, as if whether this Princess Saichun would marry him or not had nothing to do with him. No one knew what he was thinking, even Imperial Concubine Yun might not know what her son was thinking now.

    Empress Chen sipped her light tea and said, ¡°Haven¡¯t the Queen Mother already begun to worry about General Leng¡¯s marriage?¡± This sentence was like a double-edged sword. It didn¡¯t only help Sima Xiu to relieve the awkwardness, but also remind Imperial Concubine Yun that her little n still had to fail.

    One of them was an orphan girl who was adopted by the Queen Mother, and was only named the infanta because of the merits of her family. The other one was a favored princess of North Di, with countless opportunities and mildnd behind her. Empress Chen clearly knew that avoiding the enemies of getting stronger was equivalent to strengthening herself.

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Sima Ray echoed, ¡°Grandmother has been matchmaking for General Leng and Infanta Shuhua, I¡¯m afraid that Princess Saichun¡¯s request....¡±

    Saichun suddenly turned her head, ¡°Aren¡¯t you Han people particr about concubines? Let her be a concubine then.¡±

    As soon as this sentence came out, Wanyan Su¡¯s eyes had be extremely cold. He even made a mute gesture behind his back, letting the maids directly cover Saichun¡¯s mouth. These maids were all brought by Wanyan Su from North Di, and they received direct orders from him. Hence, they didn¡¯t have much concern.

    Although Qin Yunuan still smiled faintly on the surface, it was absolutely impossible to say that she did not care indeed. A group of people were talking about the marriage of the man in her heart in front of her. Her heart was twitching painfully. It was ufortable. Her fingertip trembled and she overturned the teacup at hand and the hot tea poured out.

    ¡°Third Miss, get up quickly, beware of the hot tea,¡± Maner shouted loudly.

    But Qin Yunuan kept her eyes on Leng Changxi, and their nces met. At that moment, Leng Changxi suddenly stepped forward and talked the first time on this topic, ¡°Princess Saichun is very noble, and Infanta Shuhua is the Queen Mother¡¯s darling, but forgive me that Changxi would not marry either of them.¡±

    ¡°General Leng, what are you talking about?¡± Empress Chen narrowed her eyes, ¡°Does General Leng really have a cold heart? These two are both rare beauties, is General Leng really not interested at all?¡±

    ¡°Changxi is already interested in someone,¡± Leng Changxi lifted his firm but cold pupils, ¡°It¡¯s just that Changxi¡¯s heart will only move once in his life, and only for one person in a lifetime. I already have someone in my heart, and there¡¯s no room for anyone else.¡±

 Chapter 98 The Old Days in the Palace

    <h4>Chapter 98 The Old Days in the Pce</h4>

    It was just that the others didn¡¯t know. She had long been unique in his mind.

    Qin Yunuan knew that he was talking about her. She met Leng Changxi¡¯s gentle, sea-like eyes. At that moment, her heart was extremely peaceful. This kind of tranquility had never been seen in the mansion of Grand Commandant.

    Sima Xiu smiled and praised, ¡°General Leng¡¯s vision is really unique and insightful.¡± Followed by his sentence, Eunuch You smartly came back and said that the banquet seats were ready.

    Sima Xiu originally wanted to stop the topic just now cleverly. But he didn¡¯t expect that Saichun still didn¡¯t want to let it go. The children of the grasnd were born to be stubborn and straightforward. Now that she heard Leng Changxi¡¯s words, Saichun got angry for no reason. She stood up, broke free of the maid who pulled her down and shouted towards Leng Changxi, ¡°Is that what you mean? That I¡¯m not strong and clever enough for you.¡±

    Wanyan Su knew that his sister was a stubborn woman, but he didn¡¯t expect that she was as bold and carefree as in North Di. This was Qi, which was in war with North Di for decades. They were supposed to take extreme caution in this visit. He didn¡¯t want to ruin all his efforts because of his ignorant sister.

    He strode forward and held the somewhat impulsive Saichun, then apologized to Sima Xiu and Leng Changxi, ¡°My sister is used to being open-minded in the grasnd, and Khan has always loved her much. Please forgive her for talking nonsense, Emperor of Qi and General of QI.¡± As he spoke, Wanyan Su held a thin silver needle in his fingers and squeezed it into Saichun¡¯s neck.

    It was soaked with the most powerful anesthetic. It was often used when huntingrge preys on the grasnd and it was very effective.

    Leng Changxi just nodded slightly. How could Wanyan Su¡¯s little action hide from him? But it was none of his business, so he didn¡¯t bother checking it.

    ¡°My sister was tired from the travelling. She must be sleepy,¡± Wanyan Su held the drowsy Saichun and bowed to Sima Xiu, ¡°Please allow me to send my sister back to her tent first, then I will drink and talk with you, Emperor.¡±

    Sima Xiu was rather satisfied with such a result, so he nodded and his tone was quite polite.

    Sima Han hadn¡¯t appeared, from the shooting range to the banquet seats. Qin Yuzhao seemed to be a bit impatient.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the silly big guy? Did something happen?¡± Qin Yuzhao was extremely unsettled in her seat. She pulled Tong to let her peel the chestnuts for herself, and then leaned against Qin Yunuan¡¯s shoulder, asking her about the situation of Sima Han.

    The banquets of the hunting grounds were arranged in the style of a grasnd bonfire. The open seats were surrounded by thick and smooth beige canvas around thick oak pirs. With the mahogany table and no chairs, so the floor was only covered by thick nkets and everyone was sitting on the floor. Empress Chen was considerate enough to add ayer of cool jade cushion to each nket, and the roasted whole sheep was also grilled first outside before delivered in.

    Qin Yunuan sat with a group of women on the periphery, a very unobtrusive position, but she could see the inner situation clearly.

    Because of Qin Yuzhao¡¯s disturbance, the jade cushion under her butt had been rubbed out of the seat. Qin Yunuan picked it up for her, just to see that Maner, who had just been sent by her to investigate the news, came back.

    ¡°How¡¯s it?¡± Qin Yunuan asked while pretending to let Maner add fruit wine for her.

    ¡°Just as Third Miss guessed, the Fourth Prince has been put under house arrest by Imperial Concubine Duan. However, Imperial Concubine Duan just has told the Emperor that the Fourth Prince is unwell and needs rest.¡±

    ¡°Unwell? Sure enough,¡± Qin Yunuan took a sip of fruit wine, ¡°I knew something wrong when I saw Imperial Concubine Duan¡¯s look at the Fourth Princest time in the pce. Although she was usually very gentle and motherly, but right when the Fourth Prince overturned that te of snails, the sh of cruelty in her eyes was almost likeing from a different person.

    The more extreme people have more secrets. Recalling thatst time Sima Han told her that Imperial Concubine Duan would rather let Imperial Concubine Yu finish up the snails, Qin Yunuan was more certain that the miscarriage of the child of Imperial Concubine Yu had something to do with Imperial Concubine Duan.

    She couldn¡¯t do it alone. After all, it was not the snails but the ms that really caused Imperial Concubine Yu¡¯s miscarriage. The scapegoat Imperial Concubine Xian, Sima Ray whom Imperial Concubine Xian kept looking at, Empress Chen who told Sima Ray what to do. All the dots were connected.

    Qin Yunuan looked up at the dignified and graceful mother of a country sitting next to Sima Xiu. She was smiling gracefully and asking Wanyan Su if he could get used to living in Qi. She was so gentle as if she were shining mour. Together with Sima Ray, they walked flexibly in the heart of every officials, leaving people with the image of the gentle mother and the filial son.

    Qi emphasized on family integrity, and this pair of mother and son was obviously more pleasing than Imperial Concubine Yun and Sima Ruo.

    Like attracts like, Qin Yunuan sneered in her mind.

    ¡°Third sister, where¡¯s the silly big guy?¡± Qin Yuzhao had asked this question countless times tonight already.

    Qin Yunuan nced at Maner, and Maner nodded firmly.

    ¡°He¡¯ll be here immediately. You can rest assured.¡± Qin Yunuan patted Qin Yuzhao¡¯s little hand gently,forting her. Subconsciously, she put her sight far away, towards Leng Changxi, who was sitting on the opposite side with fingertips rubbing the wine container rhythmically but didn¡¯t drink. It seemed to be telepathic that at the moment when Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes cast on him, Leng Changxi also turned back with a tender smile. Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart felt warm.

    Tonight the banquet was quite exclusive. The attendees were mostly the women in the harem, princesses and nobledies in the Royal City like Qin Yunuan. Wanyan Su was talkingfortably, with someughing and some timelyments. Everything seemed harmonic.

    Right when the people were tipsy, there was suddenly a loud and firm shouting from outside, ¡°Bad mother, how can you shut me up?¡±

    As he spoke, Sima Han had rushed in from the outside, with sweat on his head. He kept on talking about Imperial Concubine Duan, ¡°It¡¯s hot in the tent and there¡¯s no food. Mother, you don¡¯t love me anymore. I was merely telling you that I wanted to bring the fairy sister back to the pce.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Duan¡¯s expression changed immediately. She clearly sent a few tall and strong guards to guard the door. But beyond her expectation that even so, the silly Sima Han escaped.

    ¡°Oh, sister, why did you lock the Fourth Prince up?¡± Imperial Concubine Yun¡¯s sweet voice was very handy when it came to say such harsh words, ¡°Look at the weather, how hot must it be in the tents. Surely you¡¯re not distressed because he¡¯s not your biological son.¡±

    Empress Chen came forward and said, ¡°It¡¯s not a day or two for sister Duan to take care of the Fourth Prince. Maybe the Fourth Prince was causing troubles again. Now that there are guests from far away, sister Duan really has no other way.¡±

    ¡°s, the Empress is so forgiving, and you always think about sister Duan. It¡¯s my bad.¡± Imperial Concubine Yun bowed, but her voice was indeed teasing the Empress¡¯ hypocrisy to always be the nicer one.

    Sima Xiu only nced sideways at these grumpy women. He frowned and said to Sima Han, ¡°Your mother has said that you¡¯re unwell, and you¡¯ve performed so many tricks on the horses when you get here. You need some rest. It¡¯s good for you.¡±

    Sima Han shouted immediately, ¡°How is it good for me? Father, look at your son. I¡¯m alive and kicking. I don¡¯t know how I am unwell. It¡¯s all my mother¡¯s bad. I heard that there¡¯s roasted whole sheep tonight, but mother is selfish. Last time, she won¡¯t let me eat the snails of Imperial Concubine Yu. This time, she won¡¯t let me eat the sheep that the North Di prince brought from the grasnd.¡±

    Sima Xiu¡¯splexion immediately changed when the previous incident was mentioned. Losing a child had already made him heartbroken, and now Sima Han was still fooling around about it. Consequently, his tone got a little tougher, ¡°Among all my sons, you¡¯re the most disobedient and worrying one. Now that there are guests from afar, your mother is doing the right thing. You should be kept away.¡±

    Hearing Sima Xiu said such angry words, Imperial Concubine Duan was relieved. She took a quick enquiring nce at Empress Chen, and got a look which was telling her to rest assured. Then she naturally gathered the anger on her face and said motherly, ¡°Han, look at you, why did youe out again? s, as soon as you get tired, your temper get worse. Now, apologize to your father.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Sima Han continued to shout, ¡°Mother, you just don¡¯t like me. You don¡¯t give me anything good to eat, but you saved a lot of roast goose, fruits and candles on the seventh day of July every year and headed for Weiyang Pce to eat them secretly. I don¡¯t like mother anymore.¡±

    The seventh day of July? Weiyang Pce?

    This was the second time Qin Yunuan heard the date and the name of the pce. Thest time was in her previous life. She tried to recall it and suddenly remembered it. The Queen Mother had given birth to a princess besides the current emperor. The previous emperor named her Yuanhe, and she was the eldest princess of Qi. As for the Weiyang Pce, it was where Princess Yuanhe lived before she went for the political marriage in West Xia. Later, Princess Yuanhe was separated from the group on the way to West Xia. The Queen Mother was heartbroken. The previous emperor had sent three thousand of the Meng Army to search for her in West Xia, but they found nothing. Yuanhe just simply went missing.

    The seventh day of July was more of a bizarre day. On that day, the rain was pouring, but Weiyang Pce, which had been idle for a long time, had a fire on this wet rainy day. The fire burned for three days and nights before it was extinguished. The Weiyang Pce had also beenpletely burnt down. And the Weiyang Pce today was reconstructed exactly after that day ording to the original drawings.

    The Queen Mother missed her daughter, and the emperor was distressed by his sister. After the reconstruction, the Weiyang Pce was heavily blocked. Except for the emperor and the Queen Mother, who asionally went in remembrance, no one else was allowed to enter. Especially on the seventh day of July every year. The emperor even executed a concubine who strayed into Weiyang Pce by mistake.

    And now, Sima Han¡¯s seemingly unintentional shouting had pushed Imperial Concubine Duan into the middle of the storm. Why would Imperial Concubine Duan appear in Weiyang Pce on the seventh day of July every year?

 Chapter 99 The Shadow Under the Moonlight

    <h4>Chapter 99 The Shadow Under the Moonlight</h4>

    On the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, Imperial Concubine Duan went to Weiyang Pce with roasted geese, fruit and candles. She obviously went here for condolence. Sima Xiu looked at her icily. He became more distressed at the thought of his old sister¡¯s tragic death, his heartbroken mother who couldn¡¯t stop crying for her dead daughter, and his poor nephew who had to hide and live as another person.

    Sima Han was still making noises, which embarrassed Imperial Concubine Duan. She forgot to behave gracefully for the first time by revealing her panic in eyes and twisting her mouth. She said, ¡°Fourth Prince must be so tired today and he¡¯s talking nonsense. Yuenan and Yuebei, you two take him to have a rest.¡±

    As bodyguards of Imperial Concubine Duan, Yuenan and Yuebei were good at martial arts. Despite feeling hesitant about her order, they still strode towards Sima Han and each one held one of his arms. Before putting forth their strength, they heard a voice as cold as ghosts.

    ¡°Who dare take Fourth Prince away?¡± Leng Changxi already stood up straight. His voice was t, but the ck mask he wore highlighted his absolute majesty. Yuenan and Yuebei were stunned and shocked by his mighty manner and words.

    Leng Changxi smiled wickedly and said, ¡°The emperor is still asking Fourth Prince questions. Why are you so hurried?¡± It seemed that he was talking about Yuenan and Yuebei but in fact, he was satirizing flustered Imperial Concubine Duan.

    The more flustered she was, the more she gave herself away. Therefore, Sima Xiu would be more suspicious of her.

    Although she was far away from them, Qin Yunuan saw everything clearly. Turning around to look at Qin Yuzhao who was nervous, Qin Yunuan held her hands and gave her a little squeeze to reassure her.

    Sima Xiu frowned and decided to investigate the whole thing. However, it was not appropriate to start the investigation now because Wanyan Su, a foreign guest, was still here. He could not allow him to hear the imperial scandals.

    Wanyan Su was discerning. He stood up and said to Sima Xiu, ¡°My little sister has been in sleep and note out of her tent for a long time. She may still be mad at me so I¡¯d betterfort her now.¡± Then, he left with his retinues.

    Seeing this, those youngdies from noble families followed and left too. Taking Qin Yuzhao to leave the banquet, Qin Yunuan remained worried.

    Walking to a quiet ce, Qin Yunuan made a hand gesture, a secret signal Leng Wu and she arranged. Normally, she would not call Leng Wu to show up to avoid drawing attention, but now, she had a task for him.

    Hearing what she said, Leng Wu frowned.

    ¡°Third Miss, there are a lot of skilled imperial guards. I¡¯m afraid I cannot hear what they are saying inside.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to eavesdrop on them,¡± Qin Yunuan said in a light tone, ¡°You only need to make sure your master and Fourth Prince stay safe. If anything goes wrong, inform me at once.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was restless. Wanyan Su left the banquet and so did maids and eunuchs who served the emperor. Only the emperor, empress, several imperial concubines and their cronies were there. However, Leng Changyi, an irrelevant official, also stayed. That meant he was involved or he was the insider. Either way, he faced aplicated situation.

    Cupping his hands before his chest, Leng Wu disappeared in the distance. Qin Yunuan asked Tong and Maner to send Qin Yuzhao back to the tent to have a rest. She alone was heading for the hillside near the shooting range where she had a talk with Leng Changxi in the afternoon.

    It was quiet. The moonlight shone through leaves, leaving sparse lightspots on the ground. Qin Yunuan was walking aimlessly. She was thinking of Princess Saichun¡¯s words, Queen Mother¡¯s intention to fix Infanta Shuhua up with Leng Changxi, and Leng Changxi¡¯s hard-hitting pledge. Unconsciously stepping on a pine branch which therefore cracked, Qin Yunuan heard a deep male voice with a North Di ent.

    ¡°Qin...Third Miss?¡± the man sounded like he was not sure about who he was talking to and he was confirming.

    Turning around, Qin Yunuan saw a smiling man under the tree. It was Wanyan Su who just left the table. The path Qin Yunuan chose was remote and barely walked. Obviously, Wanyan Su followed her. Why did the Seventh Prince of North Di follow her alone?

    Qin Yunuan became vignt and she heard Wanyan Su raised his voice. He said, ¡°Or should I call you Miss Yang, the co-owner of Golden Butterfly Embroidery House?¡±

    He came here for business.

    Qin Yunuan said slowly and calmly, ¡°You, the Seventh Prince of North Di, are really well-informed.¡±

    Wanyan Su, a foreign prince, just arrived in Qi for half a month. But he already knew that she was the owner of Golden Butterfly Embroidery House and found out her real identity in addition to the fake one, Miss Yang.

    Wanyan Su smiled, ¡°Third Miss, you can directly call me by my name.¡±

    ¡°I dare not.¡± Qin Yunuan kept Wanyan Su at a distance. Leng Wu was not here and she did not know his true intention. ¡°Coming here at midnight, you are not to enjoy the moon, are you?¡±

    ¡°How can the moon be more attractive than you, Third Miss?¡± Wanyan Su smiled at ease. Grown up in the prairie culture, he was straightforward and said, ¡°I¡¯m not talking nonsense. I really admire you for your business talent. You manage to run a 100-year-old near-bankrupt shop noticeably well. Now, I¡¯m afraid I am not the only one who knows your merits.¡±

    ¡°Shen Xun, the young master of the Shen Family, is a born business genius. I just offer him a little help.¡± Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t dare to take the credit to give herself away. Shen Xun was indeed smart, but he was too casual about everything, usually leaving the shop to have a trip. Besides, he was not as shrewd as average businessmen. Therefore, it was she who ran embroidery shops in the Royal City and four nearby prefectures. Each month, Qin Yunuan earned several thousand tael of silver as dividends so she was really rich now.

    ¡°Please,¡± Wanyan Su shook his head and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be humble, Third Miss. After all, I¡¯m here to cooperate with you instead ofpeting with you.¡±

    ¡°Cooperate with me?¡± Qin Yunuan felt puzzled. Owing to the longstanding war, the trade between North Di and Qi was under the strict government¡¯s control. Only two trade routes, Yan Pass and Lu Pass, were open and people traveling through had to provideplex clearance documents.

    It seemed that Wanyan Su knew what she was worried about and made this n long time ago. He said, ¡°Third Miss, perhaps you don¡¯t know all people pursue for individual interests. North Di is rich in spices, treasures and diamonds butck of silk, cloth and aquatic products. Inparison, Qi has cheap silk and expensive jade. Businessmen have racked their brains to explore new private trade routes. Simply near Lu Pass, I know there are 13 non-official routes. If you are willing to cooperate with me, I will integrate these routes to build a secureprehensive one. You merely need to provide cloth produced by Golden Butterfly Embroidery House. I promise that your shop will be the No.1 embroidery shop in Qi in three years, leaving Yuman Embroidery Shop behind.¡±

    ¡°Your offer is quite tempting,¡± Qin Yunuan really meant it, ¡°But why should I trust you? In addition to non-official trade routes, there are also official ones near Lu Pass. If officials or Pass generals find out our tricks, we will lose so much rather than just cloth.¡± If so, Golden Butterfly Embroidery House would be sealed up. At that time, not only Qin Yunuan herself would face money loss, but also Shen Xun, her career helper, would suffer from this.

    ¡°No need to worry about this, Third Miss,¡± Wanyan Su smiled, ¡°A new general will take office to manage affairs in Lu Pass on the second day of next month. And I am the general.¡±

    So that was his ultimate intention. Qin Yunuan curled her lips. She had long heard of the fierce fight between princes for the throne in North Di. The faction led by the Grand Prince, Wanyan Zun, enjoyed a strong momentum so they cracked down on other princes by all means. Undoubtedly, transferring Wanyan Su to Lu Pass, a politically sensitive area, from North Di was to push him out. Nevertheless, Wanyan Su took advantage of this change to grow stronger by cooperating with Qi businessmen who North Di was at feud with.

    Qin Yunuan had a look at Wanyan Su¡¯s shining blue eyes. He was ambitious and also patient.

    ¡°It¡¯s too risky,¡± Qin Yunuan already made a decision but she still hid her thoughts while negotiating with Wanyan Su, ¡°Besides, your offer, ¡®leaving Yuman Embroidery Shop behind¡¯, sounds not that tempting now. Even if my shop bes the No.1 embroidery shop, it, after all, is a shop.¡± Qin Yunuan wanted more. Moreover, the owner of Yuman Embroidery Shop was Leng Changxi. Competing with it was like fighting against Leng Changxi, which was meaningless.

    ¡°Third Miss, you are so ambitious. I¡¯m wondering what else you want?¡± Wanyan Su sighed but his words were full of praise for her. Working with ambitious people could help him achieve more.

    Qin Yunuan smiled lightly and said gracefully, ¡°I want a share of your business profits in North Di.¡±

    She was rather too ambitious. Wanyan Su squinted at her and he was thinking over this offer. Before he replied, a man appeared out of nowhere with a strong wind.

    It was Leng Wu.

    Leng Wu looked up at Qin Yunuan and he also noticed Wanyan Su. Being surprised, he wondered why thetter was here.

    Qin Yunuan had a nce at Wanyan Su whoter discerningly stepped back and stood over ten meters away. People in North Di never paid attention to inner cultivation so Leng Wu knew that Wanyan Su couldn¡¯t hear his words at such a distance. He reported, ¡°Imperial Concubine Duan has been put under house arrest.¡± Looking up at Qin Yunuan and Wanyan Su who stood far away again, Leng Wu said in a light tone, ¡°And, Prince Ray was attacked just now. Evidences point to North Di nning it.¡±

 Chapter 100 Battle of Words

    <h4>Chapter 100 Battle of Words</h4>

    When Leng Wu stopped speaking, Qin Yunuan turned her head unconsciously to Wanyan Su and noticed that he was nodding calmly in her direction. It seemed he had not known that Sima Ray was attacked at all.

    ¡°Third Miss Qin, you¡¯d better go back soon. Soldiers are searching for the assassinator all over and they areing to your tent,¡± Leng Wu reminded her.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Qin Yunuan left immediately and decidedly. North Di was under suspicion for Sima Ray¡¯s assassination. However, there were only four people from North Di. They were Prince Saichun, her two servant girls, and Wanyan Su himself. Leng Wu was always cautious about his words. He wouldn¡¯t say such words if the emperor had no direct evidence. The four people from North Di were bound to be thorns in the side of Qi.

    Although people came and went over the camp, everything was still in order. However, when Qin Yunuan was close to the tent of Princess Saichun, she heard women inside resisting in North Dinguage. Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t understand what they were talking about, but she guessed that the emperor Sima Xiu had ordered to siege Saichun¡¯s tent, which aroused the dissatisfaction of the two servant girls from North Di.

    ¡°Third Miss Qin, here.¡± Leng Wu chose a path less trodden on. A few minutester, they reached Qin Yunuan¡¯s tent. A noise of quarrelling was heard before they went in.

    ¡°You see, we are all here except your third sister. She must have done something stealthily outside. My dear sisters, do remember to have your makeup boxes and purses checked when returning. You never know who will steal your belongings in chaos,¡± Li Weijun mored ironically in her special voice, which was more special when those harsh words jumped out of her mouth.

    Qin Yuzhao whimpered, ¡°It is impossible. My third sister just goes out for some new air. Don¡¯t defile her.¡±

    Before Li Weijun started to speak again, Qin Yunuan lifted the tent curtains and walked in. There stood somedies from grand families in the capital with an appearance of hatred. They were somewhat disdainful and jealous when Qin Yunuan came in.

    They were so surprised to know that the miss unparalleled in the world mentioned by General Leng at the banquet was the Third Miss of the mansion of Grand Commandant, a daughter of a concubine. Put aside her capability, her appearance was just above average at most. They also had a huge gap in terms of their status. It must be that the seductive woman took the initiative to entice General Leng, the First General of Qi.

    ¡°How energetic Sister Li is!¡± Qin Yunuanughed as she slowly entered into the tent, ¡°The soldiers and guards outside are all mobilized to rummage the tent. Why doesn¡¯t Sister Li join them since you are so energetic?¡±

    ¡°My third sister, you finallye back,¡± Qin Yuzhao murmured behind Qin Yunuan, ¡°They rush in unexpectedly. I have told them that you just went out to have some new air. They don¡¯t believe me anyway and are making troubles.¡±

    Li Weijun pushed away Qin Yuzhao, ring at Qin Yunuan, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether I am energetic or not. What matters is where you were and who you met after leaving the banquet, my Sister Qin.¡±

    Qin Yunuan sneered, ¡°Is that important?¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t tell us, I¡¯ll go out and report to the nanny that our jewelry is stolen by you during the chaos,¡± Li Weijun threatened, ¡°Oh, Fourth Miss Qiao, what did you lose?¡±

    Ady with a petite figure stepped forward, ¡°My pearl earrings.¡±

    ¡°And my filigree hairpin with an engraved pattern of peony.¡±

    ¡°My limpid jade bracelet is gone as well.¡±

    Thedies there reported their lost items one by one. Hearing these, Qin Yunuan immediately understood it was Li Weijun¡¯s trick to force her to tell out her whereabouts.

    Qin Yunuan sat down directly and made herself a cup of tea, ¡°Find your pieces of jewelry elsewhere. They are not here.¡±

    ¡°You were seen going to the hillside behind the shooting range one hour ago,¡± Li Weijun stood closer, ¡°You want to deny?¡±

    Qin Yunuan took a sip of tea slowly, showing a confident appearance, and smiled calmly at Li Weijun, ¡°You take every pain for such a trifle? You are so determined. Why not find out the man you dered to have trysted with me to have a face-to-face conversation?¡±

    ¡°Qin Yunzhuang and I are in a league and it is time to teach her, daughter of a concubine, a lesson for Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s sake,¡± Li Weijun thought to herself and became more rampant. She said in an arrogant manner, ¡°Who knows what you cunning person wille up with. Behave yourself! You are watched by everyone. Never should you seduce the princes or General Leng.¡±

    ¡°Humph,¡± Qin Yunuan snorted. The fat nanny sent by Empress Chen lifted the curtain and stepped in. She happened to hear Li Weijun threatening Qin Yunuan from outside. Seeing Li Weijun and three youngdies standing in front of Qin Yunuan when she came in, the fat nanny was surer about that Li Weijun was bullying Qin Yunuan by taking advantage of her so-called identity.

    She was given a lot of beautiful cloth and garments by Qin Yunuan. Naturally, she inclined to help Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°What are you girls doing?¡± fat nanny med, ¡°There came an assassinator in the camp. All girls now are supposed to stay with Empress Chen as instructed for safety except you four. Don¡¯t you hear people urging outside?¡±

    ¡°There they are. But they are kept out by Li Weijun¡¯s four ¡°loyal¡± servant girls, Chunxiang Xiaxiang, Qiuxiang and Dongxiang.¡±

    Li Weijun stared at Qin Yunuan with extreme anger. Fat nanny reminded her before she continued, ¡°Lady Li, I will be med by Empress Chen if you are still not going.¡±

    Li Weijun stared at Qin Yunuan with her furious eyes and said in a low voice, ¡°I will get the goods on you sooner orter.¡±

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t care about her at all because she had no actual evidence. It was unnecessary to deal with people like Li Weijun who was all talk and no action.

    People soon gathered in the biggest bright yellow tent used for discussion in the center of the camp. Sima Xiu walked back and forth, leaving the crowd waiting in fright.

    The air was like frozen and no one dared take a deep breath.

    Leng Changxi just had asional eye contact with Sima Xiu, without any extra words.

    A deputy general, who suddenly came in, with his palms crossing in front of his chest, broke such a silent climate.

    ¡°Emperor, the North Di¡¯s Seventh Prince is here.¡±

    ¡°Let him in.¡± Sima Xiu waved his hands then sat on the tiger-skinned couch. Next to him was dignified and elegant Empress Chen who was touching his arm gently to reassure him.

    The next moment, Wanyan Su lifted the curtain and came in with a serious and sad look. He paid due respect to Sima Xiu by doing a palm-crossing gesture and said with extreme caution, ¡° Hearing Prince Ray was attacked, Su is preupied as well. Don¡¯t be too sad, emperor. Su will definitely make every effort to help emperor to find the assassinator.¡±

    Hearing these, some young generals couldn¡¯t stand anymore.

    ¡°Boo. Don¡¯t shed crocodile tears. We know it¡¯s nned by people of North Di. You just want to assassinate the Prince of Qi in the disguise of the imperial matrimony for peace!¡±

    An older liegeman stood up as well, ¡°I agree! I¡¯m afraid their real target is not Prince Ray but the emperor of Qi. Emperor, North Di has always been scheming. I have said the imperial matrimony for peace is unreliable. Now they really take advantage of it. Emperor, you must severely punish and seek justice for Prince Ray even if at the cost of war.¡±

    A sword to wear heart? Qin Yunuan only knew it was not a tiny thing this time. She did not expect that Sima Ray was seriously injured. No wonder Sima Xiu and Empress Chen were both restless.

    Sima Xiu seemed to have been disturbed by these chattering. He looked at Wanyan Su standing at the hall and suddenly stood up questioning, ¡°Seventh Prince Wanyan, I respect you because you are our guesting afar. I also cherish the first peace talk since the decades of wars between Qi and North Di. But Ray is one of my favorite sons. Now there are people testifying that someone broke into Ray¡¯s tent after the banquet. His skills and weapons are all from North Di. When he left, he said ¡°Long live North Di¡± in localnguage and belittled our Qi people asckeys. For these, don¡¯t you need to exin to me?¡±

    Wanyan Su was astonished and exined in a more sincere attitude, ¡°Emperor, North Di is truly seeking peace with Qi. Otherwise, we will not choose the most beloved youngest daughter of our Khan, Saichun, for the imperial matrimony for peace. Emperor, please find out the truth to certify North Di¡¯s innocence again and seek a fair justice for wounded Prince Ray.¡±

    However, the more exnations Wanyan Su made, the more dreadful Sima Xiu appeared to be. At this time, Leng Changxi retorted lightly but in state, ¡°But the problem now is that when the assassin was about to leave hurriedly after hurting Prince Ray, more than ten people there saw the his face since his ck cloth mask was torn down by those guards. And the man was none other than you. Of course, you can still insist there are people with the same outlook, skills and habits in the world. But who will believe you?¡±

    Wanyan Su showed his skills in the shooting range. Whoever noticed him would know Wanyan Su was left-handed. He shot with his left hand, which was in conformity with the characteristics of the assassinator. What¡¯s more, his face was exposed.

    Wanyan Su was pushed to a desperate situation by this sudden change. Who could prove his innocence? Suddenly, he turned his head to Qin Yunuan.

 Chapter 101 She Is Mine

    <h4>Chapter 101 She Is Mine</h4>

    When Sima Ray was attacked, Wanyan Su and Qin Yunuan were exactly behind the shooting range. If Qin Yunuan could stand out to bear witness....

    Wanyan Su squinted and had thought about all of the possible results of the issue. Now the clues included North Dinguage, North Di machete, and besides, the only person who knew his fighting preference was Wanyan Zun, his elder brother who was in the distant North Di Land. It seemed that his elder brother not only wanted to transfer him out of the capital but also nned to kill him secretly when he went to Qi as an emissary.

    It was such an excellent strategy to achieve two things with one price. It could not only cause the hurt to the mostpetitive Grand Prince, but also impute the hurt to Wanyan Su. If he couldn¡¯t show the evident evidence in time, he would trap into trouble. The emperor of North Di, Khan, would not help him or would sacrifice him to quiet down the anger of Qi if a war should burst out again due to him.

    To Wanyan Zun¡¯s surprise, a witness could prove that he was absent at that time. Wanyan Su must investigate the person who disguised him quickly by his means as long as he passed this trouble.

    As for the witness, Wan Yansu looked at Qin Yunuan silently. He knew that girls in Qi thought highly of reputation. If he dragged Qin Yunuan into the mire on purpose, if the emperor believed him, there would be only one path for him, namely marrying the daughter of the concubine. But if the emperor did not believe him....

    Wanyan Su looked the gloomier Sima Xiu. Now he was helpless and could not think much more.

    ¡°Emperor, I have the witness to prove that the man everybody had seen was not me,¡± Wanyan Su said very intensely, ¡°Because when the Third Prince was stabbed to death, I stayed with a maiden. The maiden can prove it for me that I had no time to assassinate the Third Prince.¡±

    ¡°Wait, a maiden?¡± Imperial Concubien Yun who had kept silent for a long time raised her voice, ¡°The Seventh Prince of Wanyan Family, you are so idle and I want to know which maiden can be chosen by you? You dated her at midnight. Speak it out, you can ask for a marriage bestowed by the emperor.¡±

    Wanyan Su seemed to have predicted the situation. He glimpsed at Qin Yunuan and said confidently, ¡°She is the Third Miss, the daughter of the concubine of Qin Family.¡±

    Suddenly all attention was paid to the slim and elegant Qin Yunuan. Those noble maidens beside Qin Yunuan could not help but step backward. Now Qin Yunuan stood there singly and was more conspicuous.

    Sima Xiu also turned his eyes on her. At the same time, Leng Changxi stared at her with his angry eyes.

    Qin Yunuan raised her eyes slowly. Her bushy eyes blinked and she walked forward to give a salute to Sima Xiu. She said gently, ¡°I don¡¯t know what the Seventh Prince from Wanyan Family is talking about.¡±

    Wanyan Su smiled coldly. He had predicted that such a cunning girl would not be at the mercy of him. He took out a pendant essory from his sleeve, ¡°All I said just now is true. You can see this. The ear pendant of the left ear of Miss Qincked a string of slivery pendant, right?¡±

    Wanyan Su was such a shrewd and agile man. Qin Yunuan glimpsed at the pendant and then saw the Eunuch You showed it to Sima Xiu. She said initially, ¡°It was from my ear pendant, but the string of pendant was left in the shooting range. I think the prince must pick it out there. It can¡¯t exin anything.¡±

    Qin Yunuan said with her quiet face. People could not perceive anything from her face but she had cursed him in her heart hundreds of times. He was seeking death to drag her into the mire to save himself temporarily.

    She turned to Leng Changxi unconsciously but found that he was silent and seemed to wait for a fantastic show. She could find his jealousy from his slightly rising corner of his mouth.

    Li Weijun now could not tolerate the intense situation and said bravely, ¡°I can prove that only Miss Qin did note back after the feast was over and everybody came to their tents. She came back in a hurry after the ident had happened. Besides, my maidservant, Dongxiang said that she saw a person who looked very simr to Qin Yunuan went to the back hillside behind the shooting range with a strange man. So it is clear that the man was the Seventh Prince of Wanyan Family.¡±

    The corner of Leng Changxi¡¯s mouth twitched again. He looked at Wanyan Su like a ferocious lion that had conquered other¡¯snd.

    ¡°Since the person was just very simr to me, it was not me possibly. Sister Li, your maidservant said it was a strange man, but why do you believe that man is the prince?¡± Qin Yunuan turned to ask her. Li Weijun now could not think about any word to retort her.

    ¡°Emperor,¡± Qin Yunuan said sincerely, ¡°We all feel so sad about the hurt of Third Prince, but I am still a single maiden, so I could not date with a foreign prince secretly who had met me for less than one day. However, I think what the prince said is a little bit reasonable. There are so many talents who can y peculiar tricks in this world. I have heard that there was a kind of Shape-shifting Art in the southwest region and people can disguise any person by the mask simr to a certain person. If the Seventh Prince from Wanyan Family had done that, he would not have stayed at the camping ground and waited for the emperor to dispatch bodyguards to find him when that man¡¯s real face was revealed. Besides, he could assassinate the Third Prince in the feast or on the way the prince came to the hunting ground, but he assassinated the prince in the camping ground, which was equipped with strict bodyguard-protection. Emperor, was it so strange?¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s words were reasonable but those stubborn officials did not believe her.

    A young general stood up and said, ¡°Maybe people from North Di utilized our thoughts to disguise themselves. Actually, people from North Di broke their words and plotted to hurt the imperial vein of Qi.¡±

    ¡°Humph, Official Chang, if people from North Di could have such subtle thoughts, the Seventh Prince from Wanyan Family would not be forced to drag me out to be his shield.¡± Qin Yunuan queried smartly. She not only defused the crisis of Wanyan Su, but also got away from this issue tactfully. She only called herself the shield of Wanyan Su.

    At the moment, someone reported outside that a skin mask was found half a mile away from our camping ground. The mask skin was identical with the face of Wanyan Su.

    Things got clearer. Those gossiping young generals kept silent and just waiting for the words of Sima Xiu.

    ¡°So, a stranger intruded the camping ground?¡± Sima Xiu said seriously, ¡°Investigate the whole thing radically. Contrast the lists of hunting one by one. I want to know who dared to be so unscrupulous to let strangers in.¡±

    ¡°And so,¡± Li Weijun suddenly said in the crowds in a low voice, ¡°If the person who stayed with Sister Qin was not the Seventh Prince from Wanyan Family, the person would be the man who was not in the list. Uh! That man must be the assassinator.¡± Although her voice was so low, her words did cause a great sensation in those timid and gossiping noble maidens. Qin Yunuan heard their words clearly.

    She raised her head slowly to look at Li Weijun. This trouble maker now wasughing proudly.

    Sima Xiu frowned slightly, looking at Qin Yunuan doubtfully.

    ¡°Don¡¯t doubt, maidens.¡± Suddenly, Leng Changxi aside who kept silent for a long time stepped forward, passing Wanyan Su straightly beside Qin Yunuan. Now he looked at Qin Yunuan so affectionately and the girdling long purple robe gave out sounds when he took big strides, which were like strong heartbeats in this very quiet phenomenon.

    Qin Yunuan stunned for a while. She thought Leng Changxi would stay away from this issue. Suddenly she found her tender hands were held by big hands. Soft and gentle breath came overwhelmingly. The unique aroma of green grass made his following words much brighter and warmer.

    ¡°Actually the unique woman I said before is her,¡± Leng Changxi turned back to look at Qin Yunuan with his mouth opening slightly, ¡°The Third Miss from Qin Family, Qin Yunuan. After the feast, I could not help but date with her secretly. I am sorry to cause so many misunderstandings. It¡¯s my fault.¡±

    Leng Changxi held the hands of Qin Yunuan, kneeling half on the ground. Qin Yunuan seemed to be confused still, only to hear those surprising gossiping and the sounds of maidens gritting their handkerchiefs.

    Sima Xiu softened his frowning eyebrows temporarily, ¡°Really?¡±

    Leng Changxi took out the flower sachet Qin Yunuan gave him when he was still Su Chenghai. He held it carefully, ¡°We have been decided to be a couple. Emperor, please bless us.¡±

    Sima Xiu had been nning the marriage of Leng Changxi for a long time. He admired Leng Changxi¡¯s supreme ability and besides, he always felt deep sorry to Leng Changxi for some reasons.

    ¡°OK, General Leng, you have won numerous feats for Qi but are still single. I have nned your marriage for a long time and will discuss it with Qin Zhi. The Third Miss Qin Yunuan, you are so smart and beautiful. It is your good marriage and fortune to serve General Leng.¡±

    ¡°Serve¡± made Qin Yunuan stun. The word meant she would be only a concubine of Leng Changxi, who should be under the rule and guide of his legal wife. She was just one of his concubines.

    Unconsciously, Qin Yunuan tried to get rid of the mighty hands of Leng Changxi but he dragged back and held tightly.

    ¡°Emperor, I mean I want to marry Qin Yunuan as my legal wife. The matchmaker, betrothal presents, martial fortune-teller would all be well prepared. I want her to be my only wife in my whole life. Nothing can change my mind.¡±

    Sima Xiu was about to say something but Leng Changxi added quickly, ¡°Emperor, you have promised to ede one request of mine. Now my request is so simple: marry a woman I like.¡±

 Chapter 102 Force a Kiss in the Wood

    <h4>Chapter 102 Force a Kiss in the Wood</h4>

    Higher first-grade National Grand General would marry a menial daughter of a concubine? All people here were astonished. Their focus now was transferred from the assassinators reported just now to the unusual behavior of Leng Changxi.

    ¡°Marriage matching should be the first consideration,¡± Imperial Concubine Yun added, ¡°General Leng, I believe your sincere heart to her, but your n destroyed the family-status equivalence. If the emperor granted your marriage, the rule of marriage-matching would be destroyed first and then all the following noble marriages would be in a mess.¡±

    Xima Xiu said reproachfully, ¡°You are the most unruly one in this pce, but now your words seem to be reasonable.¡±

    Qin Yunuan felt touched. Sima Xiu did not turn to be angry so he granted the marriage? The fingertips of Qin Yunuan shook a little and then she found her hands were still tightly held by Leng Changxi. She moved her hands and tried to withdraw her hands back first, but Leng Changxi suddenly raised their hands holding tightly and said seriously, ¡°Please grant the marriage, emperor.¡±

    The big wheat hands and fair and white small hands which were held together tightly attracted much attention. The scene hurt many people here. They thought General Leng was unduly brave.

    ¡°I prefer not to break loves, but the family status is a barrier indeed. Though I am willing to grant your marriage, people always gossip,¡± Sima Xiu added, ¡°How about this. Now the Queen Mother feels sick and I am busy in national affairs. The empress should take care of Ray. Weck a person to pray in the imperial temple for the Queen Mother. So I want to let the daughter of the concubine from Qin Family to the temple. She should burn incense tranquilly, and then has bathes and fast for 49 days. It will be a great merit. When she finishes the whole process, I will grant a title for her. How about this?¡±

    Praying for the Queen Mother? Qin Yunuan pondered immediately. She thought carefully that Sima Xiu was helping her. Now the Queen Mother was very anile and only had Infanta Shuhua beside her. But the Infanta always made troubles. Sima Xiu was making a right path for Qin Yunuan to gain the title and higher position after she could apple-polish the Queen Mother.

    But Leng Changxi refused the idea and said straightly with his head rising, ¡°49 days are too long.¡±

    Leng Changxi might be the only one to have a bargain with the emperor in thisnd.

    ¡°In this case, how about 81 days?¡±

    ¡°Well, 49 days will be more considerate.¡±

    Qin Yunuan felt surprised about the words of Leng Changxi and the emperor. They had a verymon daily talk in a natural mood without any solemnity between the emperor and his official.

    Empress Chen found this unusual phenomenon quickly and said, ¡°Emperor, the imperial doctor said just now that Ray woke up and wanted to see you.¡± Imperceptibly, Empress Chen distracted the topic back to the injured Sima Ray.

    It worked. Sima Xiu turned to be anxious again. He looked at Wanyan Su who kept silent all the time and then said in a less passionate mood, ¡°The Seventh Prince from Wanyan Family, we should not bother you before the whole thing was figured out. But this time, the investigation to the assassinator is involved in North Di. You coulde back to your tent for a rest. We must prove that you are innocent after the whole thing is clear.¡±

    To be frank, Sima Xiu did not believe Wanyan Supletely. After all, Qi had fought against North Di for many years. This time almost half of the officials in the imperial court suspected the imperial matrimony for peace between the two countries. Now Sima Xiu let Wanyan Su out of this investigation, and he aimed to make the whole thing clear smoothly.

    Wanyan Su did not mind that. He gave the emperor a fist-bowing salute which was the style of the Central ins and then left.

    Things came to an end. Sima Xiu and Empress Chen came together to look at Sima Ray. Those generals left after they received their tasks. Li Weijun and some maidens from the Royal City crowded around after few people were left here.

    There was a strange point here. A few maidens from the Royal City were invited to this hunting activity. They should be some prominent maidens or daughters of legal wives of noble families, but except Qin Yunuan, there were three daughters of concubines. Besides, those maidens who were the daughters of legal wives were just from ordinary family backgrounds or hadmon appearances.

    But Qin Yunuan could figure it out shortly. It must be the tricks arranged by Dou Qing¡¯e. Since Qin Yunzhuang could not show up in the feast, Dou Qing¡¯e had not allowed other prominent maidens to surpass the elegance and beauty of Qin Yunzhuang.

    So that was why Li Weijun from Siqing Li Family became the rtive shining maiden among those maidens presents. She was so shining by her foment dissension instead of her beauty and ability.

    ¡°You are so tricky, the daughter of the concubine of Qin Family,¡± Li Weijun stepped closer and glimpsed at Leng Changxi. She and Qin Yunzhuang both thought that though Leng Changxi was in a high position and powerful, he was not a fully qualified noble young masterpared with other eupatrid families. So she did not fear Leng Changxi, ¡°Could you teach me how to y those sultry tricks? You seduced men one by one, from the Third Prince to the Fourth Prince, and then today, you tempted Grand General Leng. How did you manage to do it? Tell me?¡±

    Qin Yunuan just glimpsed at that aggressive Li Weijun. Li Weijun¡¯s brother, Li Jiaxuan was such an elegant and humble man and they had the same father but different mother. How could these two people be so different? Suddenly, she figured it out. Qin Zhi had said that the third young master of Li Family was also in the list of match-making. That was Li Jiaxuan. So that was why Li Weijun was so aggressive to Qin Yunuan in the hunting activity.

    Before Qin Yunuan answered, Leng Changxi said coldly, ¡°The best advantage of Yunuan is that she never talks nonsense.¡± Leng Changxi stared at Li Weijun more gloomily. Just in a sh, Li Weijun felt nk and shuddered as if she had seen a frightening monster.

    ¡°Especially, she will not talk nonsense in front of many people.¡± And then Leng Changxi turned back and pulled Qin Yunuan with their hands holding tightly. They went out of the tent straightly. Those bodyguards saw it and just pretended that they never saw it, though their love news had already been given out.

    After a while, Qin Yunuan felt her wrist a little bit hurt. She tried to shake off but could not resist the powerful big hands of Leng Changxi who practiced martial arts throughout the year. They returned to the hillside behind the shooting range. Under the hillside, soldiers and bodyguards were searching, but on the hillside, there were no other people here.

    All went together to search for the assassinator all night. Now the sun rose, and golden sunshine was cast onto the hillside, like the bright color of the yolk of a salted duck egg.

    ¡°You hurt me.¡± Qin Yunuan tried hard to shake off the big hands of Leng Changxi which held her hands the whole time, and then turned around to massage her painful wrist. She seemed not to realize how charming her words were. She was like a little girl who was fawning.

    ¡°Did you meet with him here?¡± Leng Changxi tried to keep his voice stable and calm, but still said in a slightly rising voice with many emotions like anger, anxiety,promise and jealousy as sour as vinegar.

    Qin Yunuan lowered her head. She knew that ¡°he¡± Leng Changxi meant was Wanyan Su. She also knew that Leng Wu must have told Leng Changxi everything. She just grumbled, ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°How close did you stay with him at that time?¡± Leng Changxi added, and then he reached out hands to measure, ¡°20 centimeters like this? 50? 100?¡±

    Having seen Leng Changxi walked closer and was about to touch her body, Qin Yunuan reached out her hands to ward off Leng Changxi. Her soft small hands exactly touched his left atrium. The strong heartbeats seemed to be the elevated tum of ward drums, which expressed the unique charm of men.

    ¡°Not so close. Maybe three steps away. No, five steps away.¡± It was the first time that Qin Yunuan became so tolerant. She had never feared anything even when she faced the plot of Dou Qing¡¯e and sharp insult from Li Weijun. But this time, she felt very guilty like a kid who did something wrong. And Leng Changxi was like a strict official in the court who forced her to be frank about anything.

    She was afraid of his misunderstanding, and she could not tolerate it at all. The impulsion of her will to exin the issue made her raise her head bravely and said positively, ¡°Actually, I....¡±

    She opened her mouth slightly and was about to exin, but then Leng Changxi kissed her forcedly. The overwhelming masculine breath of Leng Changxi conquered Qin Yunuanpletely with some smell of sweat and light fragrance of green grass. All the smell was gathered on the tongue tip of Qin Yunuan.

    Leng Changxi seemed to show his professional ability to try hard to conquer a city. He went deep into it and swept each ce to consume the fighting capacity of the enemy¡¯s army. Finally, he could do anything willfully.

    Ambiguity and tendernesssted for so long. His sexual passion would be about to release even though he tried hard to suppress it.

    The sun rose from the east. After a long time, Leng Changxi let Qin Yunuan off who was tightly held by him all the time. The corner of his mouth seemed to have the sweet fragrance left by this hedgehog. He licked the corner of his mouth to enjoy each fragrance of her.

    His behavior made Qin Yunuan blushed more. She tried to turn her eyes into the distance, but she seemed to fail to control herself in front of Leng Changxi. She looked at him with her head ant and Leng Changxi seemed to fill her mindpletely.

    The passion still existed in the corner of her lips and her waist. She saw that Leng Changxi was trying hard to take a deep breath with his red face. Leng Changxi had never been so exhausted even when he was practicing shooting with his corselet under the hot sunshine in the afternoon.

    ¡°Are you OK?¡± Qin Yunuan asked gently.

    Leng Changxi raised his head to stare at Qin Yunuan. He could not tell her that he could not help but want to have sex with her. He used his internal force but failed to suppress the enthusiasm of his lower body. He waved hands to Qin Yunuan and said, ¡°Come here.¡±

 Chapter 103 Crazy Words

    <h4>Chapter 103 Crazy Words</h4>

    Qin Yunuan hadn¡¯t had any sexual experience before. In her previous life, she knew little about it. Although she was married in her previous life, she was killed in the marriage sedan before she entered the bridal chamber. Therefore, she thought that Leng Changxi¡¯s requirement was the result of his feeling ufortable.

    Qin Yunuan got closer to him by shuffling. But she was immediately pulled beneath Leng Changxi, whose face had been blushed just now. However, she didn¡¯t feel ufortable at all except that her view was suddenly reversed. This was because there was a thickyer of new leaves at the root of the tree, and the back of her head and her neck were protected by Leng Changxi¡¯s big hands.

    She felt heavy when Leng Changxi was over her body. Because he got a muscr body behind his slim figure as a result of his long experience of using spears and swords, learning martial arts, and leading the army.

    Leng Changxi pulled the hand behind Qin Yunuan¡¯s head away, held his arms on both sides of her head, and looked down at her, whose face was full of surprise. His ck mask implied a mystery that couldn¡¯t be told. His lips were slightly raised, forming a smile in the golden sunrise which was bright and warm like the second sun to her.

    ¡°When we were in the face of the emperor, why did you want to let go of my hand?¡± Leng Changxi asked about a tiny detail. The moment he blurted out the words, he was surprised at his attention on it. He never cared so much about a tiny detail. The reason why he did so was that it had something to do with her.

    Qin Yunuan had turned from panic to calm. From his eyes, she could see that he had no intention of hurting her. So she said with a smile, ¡°Did General Leng just tell others that the biggest advantage of me is never talking nonsense? I don¡¯t dare to say anything about the question.¡±

    ¡°I was just kidding,¡± Leng Changxi grinned cunningly. He bent over slowly until he was only a centimeter from the tip of Qin Yunuan¡¯s nose, which was so small and pretty that he even wanted to take a bite of it. He buried his head on her shoulder and whispered near her ear, ¡°You have so many advantages in my eyes. The only disadvantage of you is that you don¡¯t care for me so much. You see, it¡¯s always me who takes the initiative to kiss and hug.¡±

    Actually, Qin Yunuan had already cared for him very much. She opened her eyes and blurted out, ¡°Nonsense.¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled proudly, ¡°I know! You really care for me.¡± Finishing speaking, he shamelessly showed his side face, swinging back and forth near her mouth.

    Qin Yunuan looked around subconsciously. With no other nearby, it was extremely quiet. She then looked at the side face of Leng Changxi, which was close at hand. The outline of it was perfect and mysterious, and its edges seemed to be carved by some masters. Staring at him for a moment, Qin Yunuan was quite sure that she had truly fallen in love with the man before her eyes, who kept protecting her.

    Due to her shyness, Qin Yunuan only raised her head and pecked Leng Changxi on the cheek. Such a peck filled his heart with endless satisfaction.

    He lifted himself and raised a hand to pull her up. His cuff was rolled up by half because of the sudden movement, showing his muscr right arm and shoulder, and....

    A ck andplex tattoo of Kylin.

    Qin Yunuan hesitated for a moment. Then everything was clear to her. Actually she should have considered the possibility. In her previous life, her marriage sedan was on fire at the gate of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. So the one who could save her must be someone in it. However, it didn¡¯t ur to her that her salvation who risked the danger to help her was Leng Changxi. His ck tattoo of Kylin was the best evidence of that.

    Noticing that Qin Yunuan was focused on the tattoo on his arm, Leng Changxi simply gave a brief exnation, ¡°This arm had been injured before, leaving a long scar. So I covered it with a tattoo. If you don¡¯t like it, I¡¯ll scrape it off.¡± In fact, once a tattoo was gotten, it could not be removed. By ¡°scrape it off¡±, he meant that he would tear away all the skin of the arm and let it grow again.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to do that.¡± Qin Yunuan hugged Leng Changxi¡¯s neck suddenly. Leng Changxi was supposed to get up, but he had to bend over again, putting almost all his weight on Qin Yunuan.

    He was about to say something when he heard the melodious and emotional voice of Qin Yunuan, ¡°You don¡¯t need to do that. I really like it. Thank you, Changxi. Thank you very much!¡±

    Leng Changxi curled his lips, showing a satisfied smile. His voice became surprisingly gentle, ¡°I know that you will pity me.¡± He thought that she was worried about his pain. In fact, Qin Yunuan was expressing her feelings about the coincidental love between them in her two lives.

    She never had love in her previous life. Now it came to her, so she would definitely take the chance. Nobody could take it from her. She wouldn¡¯t let it happen.

    They lingered for a long time to talk to each other. At parting, Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t help kissing again and again on her forehead and cheek, ¡°It¡¯s good that you will go to the Royal Temple. Recently those issues about the Dou Family and North Di are tooplicated and dangerous. When you return forty-nine dayster, everything will be settled. At that time, I can marry you in a magnificent ceremony. And you will be my wife, my only wife.¡±

    Qin Yunuan lowered her head, tucked the straggly hair behind her ears, and nodded, ¡°OK.¡±

    ¡°General, General Shang has caught the assassin with his people at 1.5 kilometers south-east from the campsite. They are on their way back.¡± Xue Si reported again.

    He could not stay anymore.

    ¡°Remember, you can leave everything to me,¡± Leng Changxi told her finally.

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart was warmed and softened by his words. However, when she passed Imperial Concubine Duan¡¯s tent, she identally heard a familiar reproach.

    ¡°Imperial Concubine Duan, this is the ck-bone chicken soup with ginseng awarded by the empress. She knows that you spend so much time taking care of the Fourth Prince that you are weak now. So she orders it specifically for you for your health. Struggle no more!¡±

    The one who spoke was nobody else but the fat nanny by Empress Chen¡¯s side.

    Qin Yunuan stopped subconsciously. Then she heard a mournful wail from Imperial Concubine Duan, ¡°No! I won¡¯t have it! I want to see the empress! I want to ask her why she does this to me after so much I¡¯ve done for her in the passing years! I even killed my elder sister for her! She can¡¯t treat me like that! It¡¯s like ¡®hiding a good bow after hunting all the birds, cooking the hounds after killing all the rabbits¡¯. She can¡¯t!¡±

    Qin Yunuan was shocked by the words. When she wanted to keep listening, she found that the voice inside was broken. It seemed that Imperial Concubine Duan¡¯s mouth was covered tightly. After that, there was the fierce sound of forced swallowing. Well, the so-called ¡°ck-bone chicken soup with ginseng¡± by the fat nanny must have been drunkpletely by Imperial Concubine Duan.

    Following was the careful order by the fat nanny, ¡°You go to see around quickly whether there was anyone passing by just now. If there was someone, report it to the empress immediately.¡±

    Soon there were intensive voices of footsteps from the tent. Qin Yunuan had no time to hide, so she would absolutely be found. Seeing a row of walking shadowing, she gritted her teeth and took the courage to walk towards them. She strode and looked around in unison, shouting, ¡°Sister Li, where are you? It¡¯s all my fault! Please forgive me! Don¡¯t run everywhere. The nanny is looking for you.¡±

    As she had expected, she ran into something soft before she could finish her words. She turned her head and saw the fat nanny by the side of Empress Chen.

    Qin Yunuan pretended to be flustered and gave a salute, ¡°Hello, nanny. I was busy looking for someone just now, so I didn¡¯t notice you. I¡¯m terribly sorry.¡±

    The fat nanny didn¡¯t look kind as she always did. She spoke in a solemn and vignt tone, ¡°Why are you here?¡±

    Qin Yunuan answered fluently, ¡°Well, Li Weijun got angry because of my behavior in front of the emperor. I thought it was all because I was narrow-minded, so I wanted to apologize to her. However, she ran away once she saw me. I found her going here so I followed.¡± As she was saying, Qin Yunuan looked around as if there were such a thing, ¡°It¡¯s weird. Just now I saw her outside the tent, but now she isn¡¯t there. Nanny, have you seen her?¡±

    The fat nanny became nervous immediately. She gave a look to the maids beside her, suggesting them report the empress. Then she prevaricated harshly, ¡°This is the tent of Imperial Concubine Duan. Why will Li Weijune here? You must have misperceived. Now look for her there.¡±

    Qin Yunuan seemed serious, ¡°No way! I definitely saw hering here.¡±

    ¡°Maybe you really misperceived.¡± The fat nanny pushed two maids to Qin Yunuan and asked them, ¡°You two, follow the Third Miss of Qin Family to the tents in the east to look for Miss Li. Don¡¯t bezy.¡± The implied meaning was to ask them to supervise Qin Yunuan, making sure that she returned to the tent in the east so that she wouldn¡¯t see something which shouldn¡¯t be seen. Yes, the fat nanny was already asserted that Li Weijun had seen something just now. Even if she hadn¡¯t seen anything, she couldn¡¯t be tolerated.

    Qin Yunuan curtseyed to the fat nanny with a smile and praised her kindness. She left with the two maids immediately. As soon as she returned to her tent, she saw that Li Weijun was taken away by two old nannies. Poor Li Weijun! She seemed a little excited, not knowing what would happen to her.

    ¡°Is the empress going to see me? Only me? No other?¡± her tone was very happy.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Li Weijun confirmed her luck gained with difficulty. When she found Qin Yunuan was back with a nce, she raised her head up at once and snorted at Qin Yunuan with extreme pride.

    Soon, news came that Imperial Concubine Duan had admitted all the details of poisoning her sister, Imperial Concubine Shu. The emperor prepared to banish her to the cold pce in great anger. However, Imperial Concubine Duan didn¡¯t want to be humiliated, so shemitted suicide by taking poison in the tent.

    ¡°What about the Fourth Prince, Sima Han?¡± Qin Yunuan asked Leng Wu, the messenger.

 Chapter 104 Disturbance in the Harem

    <h4>Chapter 104 Disturbance in the Harem</h4>

    Well, the sudden ¡°suicide¡± of Imperial Concubine Duan left Sima Han alone. Adding that the evidence of Imperial Concubine Duan killing Imperial Concubine Shu, his biological mother, was irrefutable, Sima Han was in a quite embarrassing position.

    Leng Wu gave Qin Yuzhao a look subconsciously, lowered his voice, ¡°Now the Fourth Prince is wrangling in front of the emperor, insisting on moving outside the pce and have his own house. The emperor is persuading him by the fact that he hasn¡¯t married yet.¡±

    There was a tradition that when a prince grew up, he would get a feud, a title of nobility, and a house outside the pce. However, in this generation of the emperor, both Imperial Concubine Yun and Empress Chen didn¡¯t want to part with their sons, Sima Ruo and Sima Ray. So the tradition had been postponing. And Imperial Concubine Duan was no exception. What¡¯s more, ording to the stupid appearance of the Fourth Prince, it was not good for him to move out alone.

    ¡°Hasn¡¯t married yet?¡± Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrow, and hold Qin Yuzhao¡¯s hand with her right hand, ¡°Now that he hasn¡¯t married yet, it will be good for him to marry someone.¡±

    Easier said than done.

    The moment Qin Yunuan and Qin Yuzhao were outside Sima Xiu¡¯s tent, there were arguments inside. The officers that followed Sima Xiu to the hunting were not so many. Shangguan Yuan, the Left Chancellor was on behalf of the emperor to deal with part of the national issues together with Qin Zhi. Therefore, those in the tent were old officers and conservative schrs in the Imperial College, who were illustrating the infeasibility of the marriage raised by Sima Han by citing the ssics.

    ¡°¡®A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband.¡¯ I cannot see any virtue in the Fourth Miss of the Qin Family in the mansion of Grand Commandant.¡±

    ¡°I agree with Officer Ma. The Fourth Prince has both inherited the blood from a prominent family through Imperial Concubine Shu and the royal blood through the emperor. Despite the fact that the Fourth Miss of Qin Family is not mature mentally, she was born by a concubine. She doesn¡¯t deserve to be the wife of the Fourth Prince.¡±

    The voice of Sima Han called out immediately, ¡°Who cares about the blood? Blood is only important when ites to selecting horses. I am a human, not a horse.¡±

    Sima Han¡¯s voice showed only a little anxiety, but at once there were sounds of kneeling down as well as old and humble voices, ¡°Fourth Prince, please calm down.¡±

    ¡°s! You!¡± Sima Han lost his temper, ¡°You are such a bunch of fuddy-dudduddies! I won¡¯t speak to you anymore. I will speak to my father. Father, I just like the goddess! When I told mother that I wanted to marry the goddess in the afternoon, she asked servants to lock me up. Father, will you cage me? Well... I....¡± His voice became timid for a while, then was raised up suddenly, ¡°I still want to marry her!¡±

    The turn seemed to amuse Sima Xiu. His voice became bright and clear, ¡°Is it true that you like the Fourth Miss of the Qin Family?¡±

    Just at that time, Qin Yunuan shot a nce to the eunuch guarding the entrance, who had received money from her. He immediately lifted the curtain to report inside that the Third Miss and the Fourth Miss of the Qin Family arrived.

    Hearing the report, Sima Han¡¯s eyes lit up. Sima Xiupressed his lips and squinted slightly. He had told people guarding outside not to report if there were no important issues and people. He nced at the little eunuch, knowing that it must be Qin Yunuan who got around the restriction. She was quite smooth. If she became the wife of Leng Changxi, she could help him after she entered the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.

    ¡°Let them in,¡± Sima Xiu waved and ordered.

    Qin Yuzhao held the hand of Qin Yunuan, wanting toe in together with her sister. However, Qin Yunuan let go of Qin Yuzhao¡¯s hand with a smile, ¡°You juste in alone. Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± With a nce just now, she spotted Maner, who was hiding behind the opposite tent. So she knew that Maner must have something important to say. What¡¯s more, she knew that although both Sima Han and Qin Yuzhao looked foolish, they were clear of the truth from the bottom of their hearts. She didn¡¯t need to worry much.

    ¡°Third sister, are you noting? I want to be with you,¡± Qin Yuzhao twitched her mouth.

    ¡°One should fight for her own happiness,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled and touched Qin Yuzhao¡¯s temples, where still grew some fine hair, ¡°Juste in. The Fourth Prince is waiting for you.¡±

    There was ayer of mist in Qin Yuzhao¡¯s eyes without her knowing, making her clear eyes more beautiful and purer. Nobody had ever told her that one should fight for her own happiness. Ever since her sickness at four, her mother kept telling her that it was the legal mother¡¯s trick, aiming at killing her. She couldn¡¯t say anything, nor could she know too much, or she would die immediately.

    Her young and innocent heart was covered by ashes due to the filthy and worldly truth suddenly. Her future was ripped off vitality by the war and blood in the harem. At that time, she decided to pretend to be foolish. If she looked foolish enough to rx other¡¯s vignce, she could live longer. After witnessing the deaths and the inside stories behind them, she didn¡¯t dare to show others her true self.

    But now when she was facing Qin Yunuan, she felt a sense of safety which she never had before.

    ¡°Third sister, actually, the death of Concubine Yang in the past... had some facts hidden.¡± Qin Yuzhao picked up the topic suddenly. She appreciated Qin Yunuan, so she decided to get rid of her mask bravely and told her something she happened to witness. Although it might hurt Qin Yunuan¡¯s feelings temporarily, Qin Yuzhao hoped that she would no longer be deceived by the so-called truth.

    ¡°I know.¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her head a little. Qin Yuzhao didn¡¯t know that Li Qiqi had told her everything. She had figured out the cause and effect of the incident in the past. Those who killed her mother would get what they deserved.

    Qin Yuzhao nodded without doubting Qin Yunuan¡¯s words. She knew clearly about her sister¡¯s ability. She just stared at Qin Yunuan for some time, then she turned her head and followed the little eunuch into the tent.

    Seeing Qin Yuzhao¡¯s figure disappear behind the yellow vnces, Qin Yunuan inhaled deeply and walked towards Maner.

    Maner had waited for so long that sweat dripped from her face.

    ¡°What happened? Is there any message from the mansion of Grand Commandant?¡± Qin Yunuan asked. This time when she took Maner and Tong out, she divided their work clearly. Tong was responsible for taking care of Qin Yuzhao, while Maner was responsible for following her andmunicating through the carrier pigeon with nurse Liao and Ting Xue, who were left in the mansion of Grand Commandant. Now Maner came to her abruptly, indicating that nurse Liao and Ting Xue might send some message.

    ¡°Third Miss,¡± Maner seemed solemn, ¡°The carrier pigeon from the mansion of Grand Commandant just arrived. It brought a message, saying that Madam was crazy.¡±

    Madam Dou was crazy? Qin Yunuan twitched her mouth. No. It should be ¡°Madam Dou was finally crazy!¡±

    Seeing that Qin Yunuan was buried in her thought, Maner continued, ¡°This is what in the first letter. The second one was more detailed, saying that this morning Madam had told everyone she met, ¡®It wasn¡¯t me who killed you!¡¯ Xiu Gu couldn¡¯t even stop her. Nobody could control her when Master was working. But now it¡¯s time for Master toe back. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on in the mansion right now.¡±

    ¡°It must be in a mess.¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯eyes seemed chilling and scheming at that time. Madam Dou was crazy? I sent people to imitate the deceased Concubine He and my mother, pretending to be their ghost in your yard every night. I also bought over most of your servant girls, asking them to put the jewelry my mother wore when she was dying under your makeup box and pillow. For what I had done, I wanted more than your madness.

    Remember, blood will have blood!

    Because of the assassin, the paddock hunting was not as sessful as people had expected before. What¡¯s more, Sima Ray got injured. So manydies left in the acquiescence of the emperor and Empress Chen, staying away from the troublesome ce.

    Watching that the servant girls of somedies in the Royal City were busying clearing up the carriages back, Qin Yunuan sighed with expectation, ¡°Maner, now that Mother is crazy, I should hurry to return home to visit her and be a filial daughter.¡±

    When Qin Yuzhao came out of the tent again, she was together with Sima Han. Both of them showed excitement and joy. However, their long-term camouge made them still look stupid to others. Many even said privately that the Fourth Prince, Sima Han, was a fool without a doubt. Because he had lived so many years under the control of Imperial Concubine Duan, the killer of his biological mother, Imperial Concubine Shu. Now Imperial Concubine Duan was dead, howe he was able tough?

    Nobody except Qin Yuzhao knew that Sima Han had spent so much time learning medicine himself that finally, he detoxified the chronic toxicity that Imperial Concubine Duan asked servants to put in his daily diet. The toxicity did no harm when taken just little of it, but it could make people react slowly and mentally decline if it was taken in the long run. All the people, including Imperial Concubine Duan, thought that Sima Han was really foolish. Yet nobody knew that he was crystal clear of everything in his mind.

    ¡°Sister,¡± Sima Han shouted at Qin Yunuan loudly. His face showed immature and innocent, ¡°You know what? Just now my father entitled me as Prince Fu. I won¡¯t go to my feud but live in the Royal City. I will buy a big mansion, and let the goddess live in it! At that time, you will be wee!¡± as he was saying, he turned to dismay, ¡°But father said that the goddess could only be my concubine. I don¡¯t know what concubine is, but there must be something better than it. I will scrape it for my goddess.¡±

    Sima Han smirked at Qin Yuzhao, with his eyes full of happiness.

    ¡°It¡¯s good that you can be together,¡± Qin Yunuan watched them and smiled.

    ording to the etiquette, Qin Yunuan asked for the permission of the emperor and Empress Chen before she left with Qin Yuzhao. On their way home, Qin Yuzhao¡¯s smile never faded which just like the Venus, the brightest star in the north, would never fall.

    The carriage was bumping. As Qin Yunuan had done so many things, she leaned on the mat pillow covering a jade for resting. All of a sudden, the carriage stopped, causing her quiver.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± keeping close to the window of the carriage, Qin Yunuan asked Maner who was outside.

    ¡°The carriage of Prince Ray just passed by,¡± Maner answered in a low voice, ¡°Perhaps his servants are hurrying to take him back to the pce for a cure. We would have knocked into them had it not been the groom who managed to draw rein in time.¡±

    So hurried? Qin Yunuan lifted the curtain, only seeing the ashes raised by Prince Ray¡¯s carriage. It seemed that it had already gone far.

    Qin Yunuan thought for a while and smiled, ¡°With a sword stabbing at his heart, how could Sima Ray bear the bumping of the carriage like that? He must have other things to do urgently.¡±

 Chapter 105 Private Collusion

    <h4>Chapter 105 Private Collusion</h4>

    The speeding carriage quickly entered the Qinglong Gate of the Royal Pce. The imperial doctors, servants, and eunuchs waited outside the Jingchen Pce. But they were driven away by Liu Bao who had been guarding Sima Ray.

    ¡°What are you doing here? Go to the Imperial Hospital to find imperial doctor Zhao. Prince Ray¡¯s body has always been under his care. He knows Prince Ray¡¯s physical condition best.¡±

    The maidservant outside was stunned and hurriedly turned towards the Imperial Hospital. Dr. Zhao was indeed the leader of the Imperial Hospital. He had been taking daily care of Sima Ray recently. However, Sima Ray declined so many doctors good at treating knife cuts, who waited outside the pce as the emperor ordered long before he arrived. In an emergency, many people may ignore this detail. A little maid in the dark kept it in her heart. When everything was in chaos, she turned and escaped into a deeper shadow.

    It didn¡¯t take long for an unassuming little bird to fly out of the vast pce. It flew all the way to the south and didn¡¯t stop until itnded on a sycamore branch in a yard. From afar, it looked like amon sparrow. But a servant girl in the yard lifted her head. Her eyes rolled and took a handful of millet out of her pocket when no one was paying attention. She then drew the little sparrow down. The little servant girl grabbed the sparrow with backhand and quickly took a piece of cloth from the twig-like leg of the sparrow. The cloth was about the length of a human finger and was with dense writing, all of which came from the pce.

    The yard gate was opened with a squeak. Qin Yunuan, who fatigued with the journey back from the shooting range, rushed into the yard door. The small servant girl Ting Xue greeted her immediately, still holding that piece of cloth out from the pce.

    ¡°Third Miss, Pearl wrote something.¡± Ting Xue tucked the cloth into the hands of the restless Qin Yunuan.

    Pearl was a servant in the pce. Qin Yunuan met her a few months ago during the Flower Fairy Festival, and she was almost secretly killed by the incident. Qin Yunuan rescued her quietly and gave her a new identity. After all, she was involved in the affair by her own tactics. Pearl was unwilling when they tried to get her out of the pce. She even offered to notify Qin Yunuan of what happened in the pce with sparrow messengers.

    It was at that time that Qin Yunuan knew Pearl could speak thenguage of birds, which is extremely rare. Qin Yunuan hadn¡¯t valued her skills until today when this little bird brought the important news.

    ¡°Sure enough,¡± Qin Yunuan snorted coldly, ¡°Sima Ray¡¯s injury was indeed faked.¡± If the assassin was real, but Sima Ray¡¯s injury wasn¡¯t. Then it could only be exined in one way. That is, Sima Ray was unreliable. Maybe he teamed up with this assassin. Since the assassin was from the Grand Prince Wanyan Zun of North Di, then Sima Ray....

    ¡°Maner,¡± Qin Yunuan turned to order, ¡°You need to go to Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion with a message. General Leng should pay more attention to the practice of Sima Ray and North Di.¡± She said, handing the news after reading it to Maner, ¡°Together with this, you take this to General Leng. It is more useful to put this thing with him than with me.¡±

    Maner nced at Qin Yunuan. Apparently she noticed the different ruddy and crimsonplexion on Qin Yunuan¡¯s face when she mentioned General Leng, but she didn¡¯t point it out. After taking the message, she nodded and went out.

    This was the first thing after Qin Yunuan returned. The highlight, which was also the reason why Qin Yunuan came back, was still behind.

    ¡°Third Miss, Third Miss, hurry up and get into the house. Madam¡¯s nanny was negligent and let her run out. Now she was running madly to the Fuxi Courtyard.¡± Nurse Liao rushed into the yard from the outside. She instructed two little servant girls to lock up the courtyard door. She guarded the house against the insane Dou Qing¡¯e like she was guarding against the mobsters.

    Dou Qing¡¯e was confined in the courtyard under Qin Zhi¡¯s strict order. Now that the old princess of Prince Ning ¡¯s Mansion suddenly arrived, Qin Zhi was busy with guests. A momentarypse of attention made the crazy Dou Qing¡¯e slip out.

    Qin Yunuan smiled softly. Of course, Dou Qing¡¯e woulde to this yard. Without her, Dou Qing¡¯e would still be the powerful Madam Qin. She would still be the virtuous Lady Dou in everyone¡¯s mouths. Now her fame was gone, and so were her profits. Qin Yunuan destroyed them.

    Furthermore, Qin Yunuan only added fuel to the me in Dou¡¯s madness. Nobody could be sure whether Dou was driven crazy or just to escape the upheaval ahead for the Dou Family.

    Dou Qing¡¯e knocked the courtyard door loudly, even with some unpleasant words. Dou was fearless under the domination of her madness. No matter how many people were outside persuading her to go back, she refused and even pushed away Qin Yunzhuang, who came forward tofort her. She scolded, ¡°Go away, all of you. I¡¯m here to perform the Heavenly rule. There is a demon in the yard. I will destroy her for the God.¡±

    Qin Yunuan had also been standing in the yard for a while. She pinched her fingers, counting the approximate time. Then she raised her hand to nurse Liao, ¡°Open the door.¡±

    Nurse Liao hesitated, ¡°Third Miss, Madam is making a scene outside.¡±

    ¡°Hum, since she wants to act up, we should let her go.¡± Qin Yunuan looked very unimpressed. It was as if she hadn¡¯t thought about how she would react when Dou Qing¡¯e really broke in and fooled around in the yard.

    Although nurse Liao did not understand Qin Yunuan, she also promised to open the door. She was terrified when she thought of how Madam, in her sudden madness this morning, sshed a pot of boiling water directly on a servant girl¡¯s thigh. But fortunately, Ting Xue had already put away all the dangerous things in the yard. Besides, not to mention how many people outside were watching, those people in the Fuxi Courtyard could certainly take down a crazy person.

    ¡°Kuang¡±, the courtyard door that had a small slit was pushed open by Dou Qing¡¯e. She stood in front of the door and was haggard like a frosted eggnt. She had been haunted by those ghosts and the strange remains of the dead in these nights. She went to the doctor and got a prescription, but her anxiety increased. Until today when she was confined soberly in her yard, she ordered Butler Ye secretly. He took the prescription she had taken for days to the pharmacy outside and saw what happened.

    As a result, what seemed to be the prescription for peace of mind was obviously a dirty trick that would cause hallucinations and excessive anxiety. She knew who did it. There was only one person in the mansion of Grand Commandant who dared to do so and could do it ¡ª Qin Yunuan.

    Didn¡¯t she want to see herself crazy? She might as well show her. Using this madness, she wanted to get back what she had lost.

    ¡°Ah, ah, evil spirits, you are evil spirits. I will kill you for the Jade Emperor!¡± Dou Qing¡¯e shouted in her mouth, rushing over like those warriors in the Royal City operas. Her hair was scattered, and her hands stretched forward like a hungry wolf in the prey.

    She had just taken her first step when Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s left leg suddenly bent as if it had been broken from the middle. She puffed on the knees. Fortunately, none of the people present were martial arts masters or their eyes were sharp enough to find that Leng Wu shot a pebble in the dark, hitting Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s sinews and vessels on her left leg.

    Dou Qing¡¯e stared at Qin Yunuan ruthlessly and continued, ¡°So many evil spirits. You are really a devil. I will take you down.¡± Then she stepped forward, ready to drag down Qin Yunuan in front of her eyes. Hardly had her fingers stretched out when her wrists were bent and got shot again. Dou Qing¡¯e was lying on the ground in a very ugly posture, the pain spread with the blood. Not only her hands and legs, Dou Qing¡¯e seemed to feel her body numb.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, my mother?¡± Qin Yunuan slowly squatted, her eyesid down at Dou Qing¡¯e, who was about to crawl on the ground. Her eyebrows raised slightly, ¡°What? Are you ufortable?¡± After her words, she stretched out her slim hand and slowly touched Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s forehead in a cold sweat. She was speaking in a gentle rhythm, ¡°You don¡¯t seem to have any physical illness. Is it a mental one?¡±

    This was a great provocation. Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯sst nerve was hit by Qin Yunuan¡¯s words. Qin Yunzhuang tried to protect her immediately, but the long-term dieting kept her waist slim and she could no longer support the numb Dou Qing¡¯e.

    Qin Yunzhuang poured her anger on Qin Yunuan, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault, daughter of a concubine. Look what you had done to my mother!¡±

    ¡°My elder sister, you are saying strange words.¡± Qin Yunuan looked puzzled, ¡°I didn¡¯t even move, from the beginning to the end. How could I hurt my mother? Oh, yes, didn¡¯t our mother say that there was evil in my yard? Maybe some vindictive ghosts came for my mother. What do you say? Grand sister?¡±

    In fact, Dou Qing¡¯e¡®s current situation was unstable. Although she knew that something was wrong in the medication she had been taking for a long time, she cannot clear the effect of the medicine in a short period. Suddenly she straightened up after hearing the two words ¡°vindictive ghosts¡±. Her numbness seemed to disappear in a second, and it was reced by iparable fear.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t kill you, Concubine He. I didn¡¯t kill you. And Concubine Yang, you drank the medicine yourself. It was none of my business. I just, I just passed the medicine. Ha-ha, none of my business,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e mumbled. She was speaking loudly and then turned to whisper from time to time. Suddenly she red at Qin Yunuan and rushed towards her, shouting, ¡°Xiu Gu, Xiu Gu. I know it¡¯s you. You betrayed me, you all betrayed me. I murdered people. I had gotten away from it, but you are all talking about everywhere. How could you tell Master? I am Madam Qin, the only Madam Qin, ha-ha-ha....¡±

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t escape this time. She even appeared to be so weak that she let Dou Qing¡¯e pull her body until the hair bun was scattered and her clothes were torn open.

    Dou Qing¡¯e was still shouting frantically when a very cold voice rang in the air, ¡°Dou, what are you doing?¡±

 Chapter 106 Bullying Daughter of a Concubine

    <h4>Chapter 106 Bullying Daughter of a Concubine</h4>

    Outside the courtyard, two people suddenly appeared. Dou could never think of it in her life, that Qin Zhi and the old princess of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion would show up together, and it was still in her....

    Dou Qing¡¯e took a look at Qin Yunuan, who was crushed under her body. She was relieved, but what would happen next?

    She turned her head tremblingly and looked at the two people at the entrance of the courtyard. Qin Zhi¡¯s anger and the regret of the old princess were portrayed on their faces.

    Because the Dou Family once helped the deceased Prince Ning, so that the old princess would repeatedly take care of Dou ording to her husband¡¯s will. She did not only bring Dou back from Guo¡¯an Temple but also spent her dowry to return her to the Qin Family. Now hearing that she was crazy, the old princess went to visit in person and sent medicinal supplements. The so-called visit was a warning to Qin Zhi not to push it too far. After all, Dou was Madam of the Qin Family, and it was Qin Yunuan, that daughter of a concubine, who provoked things first without being reasonable.

    But now, she saw everything in her eyes.

    Dou was viciously clutching Qin Yunuan on the cor. Qin Yunuan¡¯s clothes had been cut rotten in several ces. The oppressing one and the oppressed one were immediately revealed.

    ¡°Ma... master,¡± Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s mind went nk. She murmured toward Qin Zhi, ¡°Not me, it was this little b*tch. She somehow numbed my body, and it was painful all over. Master, believe me. I was just anxious, so... so that....¡±

    Qin Zhi kicked away Dou Qing¡¯e, who was grabbing his ankle tightly, and he snorted coldly, ¡°I only saw you thrashing and hitting Yunuan. A young child was being bullied on the ground. You really are a good mistress to our family.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was lifted by Tong and Ting Xue. She leaned to one side and her head lowered, even seemed to be sobbing in grief. Her reaction fitted the scene. To cooperate with Qin Zhi¡¯s words, her shoulders started shaking. Even strangers would feel distressed for her.

    ¡°Father, don¡¯t be fooled by the acting of this daughter of a concubine,¡± Qin Yunzhuang hurriedly spoke for Dou Qing¡¯e, ¡°Everyone had seen it. Qin Yunuan bullied my mother first.¡±

    Qin Zhi nced at Qin Yunzhuang. Though Qin Yunzhuang was engaged with Prince Ray, this marriage started from a shameful reason after all. It would always be a lump inside Qin Zhi¡¯s heart. Therefore, he became even more unhappy seeing Qin Yunzhuang speaking for Dou Qing.

    ¡°Your mother is crazy. I can¡¯t see more clearly who was bullying,¡± Qin Zhi said coldly. Thinking that the old princess was still there, he restrained himself and didn¡¯t continue. Moving slightly, he saluted to the old princess and said, ¡°It¡¯s a shame that you see the mess inside our house.¡±

    Right, Dou Qing¡¯e remembered that she still had the old princess to support her. She got up at once. She knelt towards the old princess and said, ¡°The old princess, you must save me. I was wronged by the little b*tch. The servant girls saw it.¡±

    Qin Zhi nced at the surrounding servant girls. He randomly pointed at an honest looking one and asked, ¡°You say, what happened?¡±

    The little servant girl knelt on the ground quickly and said obediently, ¡°Master, Madam was moring for trouble with Third Miss, but her legs were unhandy when she walked down the stairs at the gate. She fell to the ground, but she still cursed Third Miss in her mouth. Then as Master just saw. Madam rode on Third Miss, she beat and scolded her.¡±

    ¡°What else do you have to say?¡± Qin Zhi waved his sleeve. The simple wave was enough to douse Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s heart. She knew Qin Zhi best. Whenever he did this action, he already had his nning. Dou was afraid that Qin Zhi had arranged a ce for her in his heart, a ce that couldn¡¯t be more terrible.

    Before Dou Qing¡¯e could speak, Qin Yunzhuang took the lead and cried out, ¡°Father, you can¡¯t me my mother. My mother is insane, and you know that. Father, spare my mother this time, for she is a patient.¡±

    ¡°Yunzhuang, stop.¡± Dou Qing¡¯e wanted to cover Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s mouth at once, but Qin Yunzhuang had already poured out. She thought this could impress Qin Zhi. However, Qin Zhi was waiting for this moment.

    Qin Zhi touched the jade wrench on his thumb and said, ¡°Since she was a patient, she should go to the ce where patients go. And that ce should be the Psycho Tower. As you have said, I would send your mother to the Psycho Tower in the suburbs of the Royal City. As for Yunuan....¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised her head slowly when hearing her name. A few tears lingered on her face very timely. It was like she was wronged and was crying sorrowfully for injustice.

    Seeing Qin Yunuan like this, Qin Zhi¡¯s heart also softened. He knew that he had neglected the daughter and son of this concubine, but didn¡¯t expect Dou to be so arrogant.

    ¡°The news came from inside the pce and they chose you to go to the Royal Xiangguo Temple to pray for Queen Mother. Although Xiangguo Temple is not far away, you won¡¯t return in forty-nine days. Yunuan, you don¡¯t have many servant girls, and also not too much surplus in the sry. Soter, Butler Xie will allocate a few more servant girls toe over, and then add 20 tael silver every month to give Yunuan.¡± Qin Zhi was gentle like evaluating his subordinates at work.

    Qin Yunuan bent slightly and thanked Qin Zhi with a grateful appearance. There must be rewards as well as punishments. One¡¯s ascending must lead to the other¡¯s descending. This is the style of the officialdom. When simply applied to the struggle inside the house, this would only cause more turbulence.

    ¡°No, father. You can¡¯t send my mother to that ce. She will be forced into a lunatic even if she was not in that haunting ce.¡± Qin Yunzhuang was still begging. She couldn¡¯t imagine the days without her mother around. What should she do if Qin Yunuan started again, and now what should she do when the marriage was approaching. Her elder brother Qin Linfeng was often not at home. She could only rely on Dou Qing¡¯e.

    Then she thought of the Dou Family who was still lingering on in a steadily worsening condition. Qin Yunzhuang tried to use the Dou Family as a bargaining chip and said, ¡°Father, you forgot the letter from my uncle a while ago, saying that emperor gave a third-grade office to my cousin, Dou Xianghuai. My cousin would go in the Royal City as soon as possible, and he would be arriving in two days. He must settle at the Qin Family by then. If he discovered that my mother had gone, how could you exin that?¡±

    Qin Yunuan chuckled in her heart. Qin Yunzhuang was raised in the deep boudoir without knowing the basic situation outside. Now the Dou Family was like trapped beasts. It was likely that the emperor gave a fake opportunity for Dou Xianghuai to enter Royal City and took the chance to control the old Master Dou in Hangzhou. Qin Yunzhuang said it out with so much confidence. How could she be so unafraid of being joked?

    Sure enough, Qin Zhi didn¡¯t even blink his eyes. He only said, ¡°If he really came and wanted to visit Dou, just take Dou Xianghuai to the Psycho Tower. Is there any problem?¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang was a little surprised. Dou Qing¡¯e couldn¡¯t even believe her ears. She knew that if she went to the Psycho Tower. Even if Qin Yunuan were not going to send someone to torture her, she would be tortured to death by those madmen and who pretended to be mad. She heard that because those people in the Psycho Tower were crazy, and the responsible nannies were not willing to take care of them. The food was in short and hunger once caused cannibal events.

    She didn¡¯t want to go there! She could never go there! Dou Qing¡¯e shouted in her heart.

    The old princess had already found a reason to leave in a hurry. She would not only stop helping Dou Qing¡¯e in the future, but she may also regret how she helped an incorrigible sludge.

    Qin Zhi was about to turn around when Dou Qing¡¯e put herst effort on holding Qin Zhi¡¯s leg. She tried to say something, but then she saw a blink in Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes, and her action was frozen. She opened her mouth and found that she could not speak any words, or even make any sound, just like she was paralyzed for some reason.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, my mother? Get up and talk,¡± Qin Yunuan said while letting Ting Xue by her side support Dou Qing¡¯e.

    Unexpectedly, Dou Qing¡¯e throw away Ting Xue. She was sping her throat hard, trying to say something but she couldn¡¯t make an exact voice.

    Seeing Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s distraught look, Qin Zhi couldn¡¯t be more disappointed, ¡°Okay, crazy. Xiu Gu, take Madam back to the yard for some rest. If shees out again and loses her face, I will me you for that.¡±

    Dou Qing¡¯e was dragged out by Xiu Gu and another tall and sturdy nanny, but she was very unwilling in her heart. She stared straight at Qin Yunuan, knowing that she had done everything. Qin Yunzhuang had been investigating, and she knew that Qin Yunuan had masters around her. But she didn¡¯t expect that their skills were above the Dou Family¡¯s assassins.

    The three elites she sent to investigate Qin Yunuan had been secretly killed by those around Qin Yunuan. Everything remained quiet. It wasn¡¯t until the second group of assassins discovered the secret signal left by the first before they realized that they had failed.

    Qin Yunuan. Dou Qing¡¯e gritted her teeth. Things wouldn¡¯t end that easily. Even though she was going to be sent away to the hell-like Psycho Tower, the Dou Family was still powerful. Even if the Dou family had lost its power, the Dou people would still be around. Dou Xianghuai, her good nephew, would definitely avenge her.

    Everyone was gone, and the courtyard quieted down immediately. Qin Yunuan looked at the mess on the ground that Dou Qing¡¯e made, and suddenly a faint smile appeared on the corner of her lips. Mother, I finally revenged for you.

    On the second day, Dou Qing¡¯e was picked up by a wagon covered with iron. Qin Yunzhuang had been crying behind the wagon. Qin Linfeng, who had not returned home for a long time, finally appeared. He looked at the wagon with some delusion in his eyes. Holding andforting Qin Yunzhuang, he would asionally cast a very vicious look at Qin Yunuan.

    Qin Yunuan was indifferent. She stood on the steps holding her veil.

    ¡°Many acts of unrighteousness must lead to one¡¯s end.¡± Qin Linfeng walked up the stairs and said abruptly to Qin Yunuan, ¡°I heard that you are going to pray at Xiangguo Temple. Huh, you have to be careful enough or you can¡¯t return safely.¡±

 Chapter 107 The Passion before Leaving

    <h4>Chapter 107 The Passion before Leaving</h4>

    Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s carriage had gone far, but the expression on Qin Linfeng¡¯s face was still grieved. Although he had sent people secretly to ensure that Dou Qing¡¯e would not receive the cruel treatment like the real lunatics in the Psycho Tower, thinking of his proud mother forced into this by Qin Yunuan, he felt uneasy.

    He hated her exceedingly that wished he could eat the flesh and drink the blood of that bitch and then send her into the limbo.

    ¡°Unjust is doomed to destruction,¡± Qin Yunuan repeated it slowly, as if she were slowly tasting it, ¡°Brother said it very well. When I watched mother¡¯s carriage going towards the Psycho Tower, that¡¯s exactly what I was thinking.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled faintly, and her eyes seemed to be gleaming like gems. However, to Qin Linfeng, it was just another curse of this vicious woman.

    ¡°Feel free to be proud. Let¡¯s see how long you can stay that way, daughter of a concubine.¡± Qin Linfeng narrowed his eyes, tilted his head and called out to Qin Yunzhuang, ¡°Come on, Yunzhuang. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned sideways slightly, seemingly politely giving way to the arrogant Qin Linfeng and Qin Yunzhuang. But her nce fell precisely on the tightly held hands of Qin Linfeng and Qin Yunzhuang.

    After the two went away, Maner whispered to Qin Yunuan, ¡°It seems that the Grand Young Master¡¯s feelings for Grand Miss is really unusual.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled and remained silent, but she knew everything clearly in her heart. Since Qin Linfeng had this feeling, sooner orter it couldn¡¯t be hidden. If the outsiders knew about the shameful rtionship between the brothers and sisters of Qin Family, it would definitely cause a scene. She tilted her head and asked, ¡°Have you given those things yesterday to General Leng yet?¡±

    Maner nodded.

    ¡°What does he think?¡± Qin Yunuan asked.

    Maner replied, ¡°Third Miss, his opinion is same as yours. General Leng also asked me to bring you something.¡± Maner said while handing a magpie-shaped small ceramic whistle to Qin Yunuan. She was speaking as quietly as possible, ¡°General Leng asked me to give you this, and he said that if you are in danger or you want to see him in Xiangguo Temple, just blow this whistle.¡±

    If it was Leng Changxi himself who said those words to Qin Yunuan, she was totallyfortable with it. However, when these words were said by Maner, they made Qin Yunuan blush slightly. She put the small ceramic whistle into her arms and turned her head away. Then, she just said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t bring everything back to the mansion. He never stays by the rules, and now you are starting not to stay by the rules as well.¡±

    Maner pursed her lips and smiled, ¡°I know, Third Miss has always been the one who stays by the rules. I¡¯ll not deliver anything for General Leng in the future then. Even if General Leng threaten me with a sword, I¡¯ll not deliver anything for him.¡±

    Hearing this, Qin Yunuan chuckled. While she stared at Maner with a smile, who was getting bolder in front of her, she saw Qin Linfeng¡¯s servant hurried out of the house.

    Qin Yunuan eavesdropped on the conversation between the servant and the steward. They were talking about moving Qin Linfeng¡¯s stuff outside back into the mansion. It seemed that after Dou Qing¡¯e left, Qin Linfeng was preparing to return to Qin Family and take care of Qin Yunzhuang wholeheartedly.

    But those stuff....

    Qin Yunuan pursed her lips slightly and returned to her yard. The first thing she did was to call Leng Wu out.

    ¡°Third Miss,¡± Leng Wu arched. His ck shirt was tightly fitted, without a trace of dust. Leng Changxi¡¯s people were really well-trained and efficient.

    ¡°Before Qin Linfeng transfers his stuff, hurry to his residence outside first.¡± Qin Yunuan lifted her eyebrows slightly, and the beautiful brows formed a sharp edge, ¡°Didn¡¯t he swear to turn my visit to Xiangguo Temple into one with no return? I would really like to see how desperate he would be when I return.¡±

    The visit to Xiangguo Temple was imminent, but Leng Changxi still took time out to meet Qin Yunuan.

    Just in the night before leaving, Qin Yunuan was by the table, seriously reading the lone book left by her mother. The candlelight flickered slightly, and the sultry summer breeze began to cool down as the night grew darker. Qin Yunuan squeezed her cor. Her sight was a bit blurry. Her fingertips flicked the pages of the book randomly, as they suddenly encountered a warm and soft thing.

    Qin Yunuan froze for a moment, and subconsciously wanted to call someone in. Then, she realized that it was a pair of familiar and powerful big hands. His tanned skin glowed nicely in the candlelight. Qin Yunuan looked up slightly, and her nce met that of Leng Changxi, who had been standing beside Qin Yunuan¡¯s table for some time.

    The air seemed to be frozen. Qin Yunuan¡¯s pupils slightly expanded, as she was so surprised. He actually came in, so easily, and appeared in front of her, right here and right now.

    Qin Yunuan knew that both Leng Changxi¡¯s light skills and internal skills were one of a kind, but she didn¡¯t expect him toe and go so freely. Wasn¡¯t her door guarded by....

    It was within a nce that Qin Yunuan noticed that Maner, who was supposed to be on vigil in front of the room door had disappeared without a trace for a long time. As she looked back again, she found Leng Changxi leaning against the bookshelf and smiling proudly. The grin on his face seemed to be waiting for Qin Yunuan¡¯s surprised look, and it was filled with great satisfaction.

    Leng Changxi turned his head slightly. It seemed that he did not expect that there would be so many books in Qin Yunuan¡¯s room. When he saw the books he previously sent Qin Yunuan as Su Chenghai were ced on the front of the shelf, he felt warm on the inside.

    ¡°Were you so focused that you didn¡¯t even realize that I¡¯m here?¡± Leng Changxi tilted his head and said with a smile.

    Qin Yunuan gathered the books on the table and put them neatly, ¡°Even if I¡¯m not so focused, I won¡¯t know that you¡¯re here.¡±

    Leng Changxi liked Qin Yunuan¡¯s deliberate grudge against him, which made him tickle like a kitten¡¯s scratch.

    ¡°You are leaving tomorrow,¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s tone was dull, but his eyes were as bright as the stars, ¡°Infanta Shuhua and Imperial Concubine Jing would also go to Xiangguo Temple to pray for the Queen Mother, so you need to be careful in everything.¡±

    Qin Yunuan had heard of Infanta Shuhua. She had been adopted by the Queen Mother. Now that the Queen Mother was very ill, she naturally needed to pray for her. But why Imperial Concubine Jing?

    Leng Changxi seemed to see through Qin Yunuan¡¯s thoughts and replied, ¡°She was the original Imperial Concubine Lu, and she had been promoted to Imperial Concubine Jing a couple days ago. She¡¯s a daughter of the nobles, and she had been ustomed to the tricks in noble families. Don¡¯t be fooled by her appearance.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Lu. Qin Yunuan had an impression on her. She recalled meeting Leng Changxi coincidentally by the lotus pond at the poetry feast the other day. The eunuch beside Leng Changxi was a servant of Imperial Concubine Lu. From the eunuch¡¯s words, it appeared that there were some entanglements between Imperial Concubine Lu and Leng Changxi. Thinking of this, Qin Yunuan¡¯s tone got colder, ¡°Appearance? General Leng seems to know well about Imperial Concubine Jing¡¯s appearance.¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled slightly, ¡°Everyone knows that there¡¯s this Imperial Concubine Jing in the harem, who¡¯s the most gentle and quiet. Otherwise, the emperor will not give her the title of ¡®Jing¡¯.¡±

    ¡°If everyone knows, why don¡¯t I know?¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s tone was a little softer, but her momentum increased. She was just afraid that Maner and Tong who were outside would hear her words, but she still felt ufortable. Suddenly, the candlelight in front of her seemed to be blocked by something. Qin Yunuan looked up, and found that Leng Changxi¡¯s handsome face which he normally hid under the mask waspletely exposed to her right now.

    The curvy lips, the nose with a high bridge, the slightly sunken eye sockets and the dark pupils like the deep sea. Half of his face was under the light, the other half hidden in the shadows. This made Leng Changxi¡¯s face more angr and nice-looking.

    Leng Changxi knew Qin Yunuan¡¯s little emotions. He stepped forward and kissed Qin Yunuan¡¯s nose gently, ¡°Silly girl, why would you want to know what an irrelevant woman looks like? Just remember what I look like.¡±

    The mask was ced by Leng Changxi¡¯s hand. The smooth and cold edge of the mask rubbed against Qin Yunuan¡¯s fingertips, which kind of made her numb.

    The atmosphere was romantic. Just when Qin Yunuan stayed still and frozen, her lips were covered with something warm and passionate. This kiss was nothing like the previous ones. There were more passion and lust in the kiss besides ndness. This was the first time Leng Changxi got so savage despite all the tenderness he had. He went all the way in, and used his tongue to open up Qin Yunuan¡¯s jaws. There seemed to be an inexplicable traction that attracted Leng Changxi to go in deeper and deeper, getting hold of the sweetness slowly like a siege.

    Qin Yunuan seemed to be surprised by this sudden enthusiasm. She subconsciously wanted to back off, but found that Leng Changxi¡¯s big hand firmly holding the back of her head. His other hand was holding her waist tightly like knowing that she would try to escape. He pressed his body against her, as he wouldn¡¯t allow her to leave him, not even by an inch. When thinking of the fact that he wouldn¡¯t be able to see her for forty-nine days, his heart hurt like being stuck by a needle. It was like something important suddenly kept out of his life.

    The summer was hot. Qin Yunuan was only wearing a thin gauze garment. Now she was closely leaning against Leng Changxi¡¯s chest. They seemed to hear each other¡¯s heartbeats as they were only ayer of gauze garment apart.

    It was only until Leng Changxi expressed his thoughts and desires when he slowly released his hands. He looked at Qin Yunuan, who was flushed and slightly panting, and a smile suddenly appeared on his face. He was satisfied, and he liked it when she was looking shy.

    His lips moved away, but his hand on Qin Yunuan¡¯s waist was still there. Leng Changxi pulled Qin Yunuan into his arms, and put his chin on Qin Yunuan¡¯s forehead. There seemed to be some remaining passion in the air.

    ¡°You....¡± Qin Yunuan uttered a word, but did not know what to say next.

    ¡°Trust me, don¡¯t get too close to Imperial Concubine Jing. She¡¯s not good for you,¡± Leng Changxi suddenly reminded.

 Chapter 108 Imperial Concubine Jingâ€™s Here

    <h4>Chapter 108 Imperial Concubine Jing¡¯s Here</h4>

    Because of the assassination on Prince Ray, not only the wedding of Sima Ray and Qin Yunzhuang was postponed, but also the marriage of Sima Ruo and Saichun, the North Di princess, was put on hold for now. The twenty third of this month was a perfectly lucky day for wedding, but only the Fourth Prince Sima Han would marry a concubine. When people knew that whom he married was actually a fool, some of them pointed out in bad faith, while others were concerned that if the fools get married, their babies might be fools too.

    This day was also the day on which Qin Yunuan would go to Xiangguo Temple.

    ¡°Fourth Miss, Third Miss is here.¡±

    Qin Yunuan lifted the curtain and entered the room to see that Qin Yuzhao¡¯s chaperone was putting on makeup for her. She was a concubine afterall, so she was not allowed to wear a bright red wedding dress. However, the crimson clothes on her had also made Qin Yuzhao appear more graceful and beautiful.

    Qin Yuzhao¡¯s eyes were still pure and innocent. Seeing Qin Yunuan, she just randomly found an excuse to drive all the servant girls and the chaperone out. Then, she held Qin Yunuan¡¯s hands and said unwillingly, ¡°Third sister, are you really going to Xiangguo Temple?¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded and smiled, ¡°The carriage is already outside.¡±

    Qin Yuzhao was a little frustrated, and she responded, ¡°Oh.¡± Qin Yunuan touched Qin Yuzhao¡¯s long hair, and slowly brushed it with a dark and shiny peach woodb. Her tone was soft and gentle, ¡°I would love to attend the marriage of you and the fourth prince.¡±

    Qin Yuzhao suddenly raised her head, and subconsciously grasped Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand which was still holding theb. ¡°I¡¯m not worried about this,¡± said Qin Yuzhao, ¡°I¡¯m worried that if you get along with Lu Jinghua....¡±

    Lu Jinghua? Qin Yunuan tilted her head. Could it be Imperial Concubine Lu¡¯s name? Or it should be Imperial Concubine Jing now.

    ¡°It¡¯s the new favorite of the emperor, Imperial Concubine Jing,¡± Qin Yuzhao exined, ¡°I¡¯ve heard from brother Han a while back. This Imperial Concubine Jing has a strong background, and she is good at ying a double game. She had secretly murdered countless Imperial maidens and imperial concubines. Moreover, do you know about Dou Xianghuai of the Dou Family, who ising to the Royal City recently?¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded.

    Qin Yuzhao lowered her voice again, ¡°I heard the servants say that when Lu Jinghua was a girl, she had a rtionship with this Dou Xianghuai. They were about to get married when Lu Jinghua suddenly entered the pce, and Dou Xianghuai sweared not to set foot in the Royal City again. If it hadn¡¯t been the emperor¡¯s order this time....¡±

    ¡°Yuzhao, why are you still not done yet? Oh, why did you chase the chaperone out?¡± outside, Concubine Liu¡¯s sharp and powerful voice suddenly sounded, interrupting the conversation between the two. However, Qin Yunuan already had what she needed to know.

    Ignoring the servant girls and the chaperone who were standing at the door, Concubine Liu opened the door directly, opened the curtain and came in. She was stillining that the servant girls outside actually dared to stop her, ¡°What do you mean by the Fourth Miss is getting changed? I gave birth to Fourth Miss, why can¡¯t I be in there?¡±

    Concubine Liu turned her head and found that Qin Yunuan was actually in the room too. She stunned for a moment, and her expression was subconsciously on guard, but only for a moment. Then, she immediately changed into a warm tone, ¡°Oh look, Third Miss is here too! Now that Yuzhao is able to marry the Fourth Prince, we should really thank Third Miss for it.¡±

    Qin Yunuan disdained to look at her. Concubine Liu and Qin Yuwan are the same kind of people. All they cared about is interest. Whenever there was interest, enemies could also be allies. If there was no benefit, they would turn against them immediately. They werepletely different from Qin Yuzhao, and Qin Yunuan was very clear about it. However, it was the day of Qin Yuzhao¡¯s wedding, so Qin Yunuan just stood up and bowed towards Concubine Liu. ¡°Yunuan should go. The carriage to Xiangguo Temple is already waiting outside.¡±

    Concubine Liu looked at Qin Yunuan striding out of the door and she immediately caught up. Concubine Liu always loved gorgeous and bright colors. Today she was dressed up in a flowery way that her tassels were ringing. Her own daughter was going to marry a prince now. Although he was a fool, he was still a legit prince, and he might be crowned king after the marriage. In this way, her daughter would be an imperial concubine. However, she was very clear on how her daughter could be an imperial concubine.

    ¡°Third Miss, please wait.¡± Concubine Liu always kept the most standard smile, so sweet that it was like she was about to drip honey.

    Qin Yunuan paused her steps and looked at her coldly. As soon as Concubine Liu approached, Qin Yunuan smelled a distinct fragrance. She looked up at Concubine Liu and sneered in her heart. She heard that Qin Zhi began to get intimate with Concubine Liu again these days, so this was the reason.

    ¡°Third Miss, here¡¯s the thing. Now you¡¯ve done Yuzhao such a great favor, and I¡¯ve heard that General Leng had asked the emperor to bless on the marriage between you two. After you return from the Xiangguo Temple, you would marry into Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion and it would be convenient for you to do different things. I¡¯m just wondering if Third Miss would...¡± Concubine Liu smiled in a ttering manner, kneading the good silk veil on her hand.

    ¡°I¡¯m not interested in helping you,¡± Qin Yunuan interrupted her boldly. Qin Yunuan knew what kind of people she should get along with.

    ¡°Naturally, I won¡¯t let you do me a favor for nothing,¡± Concubine Liu smiled embarrassingly and said, ¡°I was thinking that now it¡¯s about time for Yuwan to consider about her marriage. However, the misfortune of the Shangguan Family had affected Yuwan for no reason. Now, she doesn¡¯t even have matchmakers approaching her. I heard that the wife of the second young master of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, Leng Changxuan, passed away because of illness. Now Leng Changxuan is alone. If Third Miss and Yuwan could marry into Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion together, you¡¯ll be able to help each other out, right?¡±

    Whatever she said was about Qin Yuwan¡¯s marriage. Qin Yunuan leaned slightly, and her tone was a little floating,¡±Concubine Liu, I¡¯m sorry. I haven¡¯t finished my words. I¡¯m not interested in helping you, and I¡¯m equally not interested in working with you. Also, Concubine Liu, the smell of Ningxianglu on you is too heavy, be careful that others might notice.¡±

    Qin Yunuan knew that working with someone like Qin Yuwan and Concubine Liu would be like burying a time bomb next to herself. Just looked at where it led Dou Qing¡¯e now.

    Concubine Liu watched Qin Yunuan firmly walking away, and suddenly loosened the smile on her face. She suddenly spitted fiercely on the ground and muttered, ¡°You are just a motherless daughter of a concubine, and you really think that you¡¯re already the princess of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. Yuwan can go wherever you can go.¡±

    The carriage to Xiangguo Temple and the crowd heading for marriage left at the same time, one towards south and the other north. While the scenery outside the carriage slowly changed from the bustling street to the noise of cicadas in the mountains, Qin Yunuan was reading a book in the carriage. At the same time, she was also ying with the little magpie ceramic whistle in her hands. She didn¡¯t believe that Leng Changxi would appear if she blows the whistle, but....

    Qin Yunuan raised her eyes and looked at the little magpie, rubbing her fingertips back and forth against the uneven mark on it, and suddenly felt warm in her heart.

    After a half-day drive, they had arrived at Xiangguo Temple, the most magnificent Royal Temple in the suburbs of the Royal City.

    ¡°Be careful, Third Miss.¡± Ting Xue held Qin Yunuan as she got off the carriage, while Maner immediately opened a twenty-four bone sunshade to cover Qin Yunuan from the burning sun.

    The monk who was there to lead the way was already waiting at the gate. As soon as he saw Qin Yunuan¡¯s carriage, he came forward to greet her.

    ¡°Benefactress, this way please.¡±

    Qin Yunuan returned the greeting very politely and carried her skirt. Before she even stepped out, an arrogant and aggressive female voice interrupted her,¡±Oh look! Isn¡¯t this the daughter of a concubine of Qin Family? Nanny, check it for me, have wee to the wrong ce? This is the Royal Temple. It¡¯s not somewhere that anyone coulde casually.¡±

    Needless to say, Qin Yunuan could tell who it was just by listening to the voice.

    In fact, who else could it be? Who else in Qi would dare acting so presumptuously in the royal territory apart from Infanta Shuhua, who became unruly relying on Queen Mother¡¯s favor on her?

    Qin Yunuan turned back, and met the pretty sharp eyes of Infanta Shuhua. The mean and sharp look was like that she wanted to skin Qin Yunuan alive. Infanta Shuhua still remembered everything Qin Yunuan did to her in the pcest time. Now she was out of the pce, even the Queen Mother couldn¡¯t control her anymore. She was determined to pay back all the anger she had suffered in the past.

    Infanta Shuhua¡¯s carriage was magnificent, with four tall and strong horses, ck nanmu thills, and pearl beads. Even the coachmen were wearing silk clothes that only the rich young masters in the Royal City could afford.

    ¡°Yunuan greets Infanta Shuhua.¡± Qin Yunuan greeted Infanta Shuhua ording to the pce etiquette. She wouldn¡¯t let Infanta Shuhua take any advantage of her, but she wouldn¡¯t leave any chances for others to get the goods on her.

    Infanta Shuhua was as proud as ever, and she didn¡¯t even bother looking at Qin Yunuan. ¡°Now you know about greetings, good. However, I still don¡¯t know since when does the Royal Temple allow outsiders in,¡± Infanta Shuhua said as she deliberately looked at the monk who led the way, pretending to be serious. ¡°Tell me about it. If you don¡¯t know, ask your abbot about it. There has to be rules in the world, not to mention that it¡¯s the Royal Temple of Qi which is in charge of all the rituals and prayers in the world.¡±

    This monk was stunned for a moment and looked quite uneasy.

    Meanwhile, Qin Yunuan tilted her head and said inly, but extremely on point, ¡°The Royal Temple has been epting outsiders since long ago.¡± Qin Yunuan stared straightly at Infanta Shuhua and suddenly smiled, ¡°Isn¡¯t Infanta Shuhua an outsider yourself?¡±

    What she meant was that even Infanta Shuhua was titled the Infanta, that was all because of the merits of her ancestors that she was adopted by the good-hearted Queen Mother. After all, she was merely a homeless abandoned girl, who had no rtionship with the royal family of Qi at all.

    ¡°You...¡± Infanta Shuhua red.

    ¡°What?¡± Qin Yunuan smiled softly, ¡°Did Yunuan say the wrong thing? The original surname of Infanta Shuhua is Wu. How is that rted to the Sima Family of Qi? If you¡¯re not an outsider, then what are you?¡±

    Infanta Shuhua only pointed at Qin Yunuan fiercely. Just when she was about to make trouble, she heard the eunuch behind them chanting loudly, ¡°Imperial Concubine Jing is here.¡±

 Chapter 109 Duplicity

    <h4>Chapter 109 Duplicity</h4>

    Qin Yunuan had fantasized many times how Imperial Concubine Jing would show up. In reality, she was more dazzling and graceful than expected.

    In the distance, a blue-and-white sedan chair clustered around by maids and eunuchs was approaching. The transparent string beads hanging on the sedan chair were so glittering that people couldn¡¯t help thinking that what a delicate and meticulous beauty was sitting inside.

    Even vixenish Infanta Shuhua quieted down when hearing that Imperial Concubine Jing wasing. Full of girlish effeminacy, Infanta Shuhua greeted her immediately, ¡°Your Highness, you finallye. I have been waiting for you for a long time. The lotus honey you gave me before is so delicious and I really love it. Could you give me more?¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked askance at Infanta Shuhua who naturally acted like a spoiled child in front of Imperial Concubine Jing. They two must be close. Leng Changxi warned her to stay away from Imperial Concubine Jing. Although he didn¡¯t exin why, she trusted him. After all, she knew this man wholeheartedly loved her and always thought for her.

    ¡°Your Highness,¡± Qin Yunuan saluted behind the bead curtain, through which she could see Imperial Concubine Jing¡¯s figure. Her thin neck and high and elegant chignon. From these details, she knew this woman was unusual.

    Imperial Concubine Jing was as exquisite as the beauty in a painting. She had a small heart-shaped face and big eyes, showing grace and elegance in every move. At the age of 25, she was shy and tender like young girls and also inexpressibly unworldly and elegant. No wonder the emperor doted on her, the one least favored concubine, and even made an exception to promote her to a higher rank.

    This was the first time for Qin Yunuan to meet Imperial Concubine Jing. She had to admit that she was stunned by her beauty. However, after staring at her for a longer time, Qin Yunuan found her face looked unnatural. More importantly, it was said that Imperial Concubine Jing married the emperor when she was 16. Why did she just earn his favor nine yearster? What happened during this period?

    ¡°Are you... the Third Miss of the Qin Family who General Leng proposed a marriage for in the royal courttely?¡± Imperial Concubine Jing slowly asked. The discerning eunuch standing aside opened the bead curtain to respectfully wee her toe out. Under the sunshine, Imperial Concubine Jing¡¯s peach lips, snow-white skin and long hair as ck as the dark night were so charming that she immediately caught everyone¡¯s attention. Even the doorkeeper, an emotionless monk, was enchanted and unconsciously set his eyes on her.

    Unlike other people who deliberately mentioned ¡°the daughter of a concubine¡± while greeting Qin Yunuan, Imperial Concubine Jing was rather polite by directly calling her Third Miss.

    Thinking of Leng Changxi¡¯s warning, Qin Yunuan simply smiled and nodded, ¡°Yes.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Jing wore a kind and amiable smile, ¡°You are reallyely and elegant. General Leng and I are acquaintances, so I know the girl he falls in love with won¡¯t be ordinary.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stayed calm and said, ¡°Thank you for your praise, Your Highness.¡± But she well understood that Imperial Concubine Jing just wanted toy stress on ¡°acquaintances¡±. It seemed that for Leng Changxi, she had....

    ¡°All right. It¡¯s gettingte. We alle here to pray for Queen Mother¡¯s health. It¡¯s not appropriate to bete.¡± Imperial Concubine Jing smiled to ease tensions. Simply by a nce of how Infanta Shuhua looked at Qin Yunuan could she know her thoughts. She gently stroked Infanta Shuhua¡¯s hands tofort her and smiled, ¡°Shuhua, you are already grown up. Why are you still like a child? Queen Mother, the emperor and I can dote on you now. But in the future when you get married, who will love you like us?¡±

    Hearing this, Infanta Shuhua wasn¡¯t angry. Instead, she shrugged in Imperial Concubine Jing¡¯s arms, ¡°You give me most care and love. So, only when you give birth to a baby will it be reassuring for me to get married.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Jing gently poked at Infanta Shuhua¡¯s forehead with her white finger. She smiled, ¡°Fine. I know you just want to delight me to get the lotus honey. Xiao An, remember to check the inventory of our lotus honey after we go back to the pce. Give it all to Infanta Shuhua.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Jing and Infanta Shuhua were chatting with each other and totally ignored Qin Yunuan. Infanta Shuhua wascent, keeping her chin up and provocatively looking at Qin Yunuan at times. She was telling Qin Yunuan that she had a backer now and Qin Yunuan could not take advantage of her anymore. Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t care and just stood aside quietly. Although she said nothing, Qin Yunuan clearly saw a sh of awkwardness and cruelness on Imperial Concubine Jing¡¯s face when Infanta Shuhua spoke of giving birth to a baby.

    ¡°We are too indulged in chatting and leave Third Miss to stand here alone.¡± Imperial Concubine Jing indeed was a good icebreaker, ¡°Third Miss, it¡¯s alreadyte. We¡¯d better go back to our wing rooms to rest. In the following 49 days, we have to burn incenses and chant sutras every day. It must be tiring.¡±

    Qin Yunuan curtsied, ¡°We¡¯re praying for Queen Mother so it¡¯s worthwhile to spend so much effort.¡± Imperial Concubine Jing didn¡¯t even think about prying into any of her true feelings. How could she say something like that in public?

    Imperial Concubine Jing just smiled with a twinkle in her eyes and headed for the gate with her maids and eunuchs.

    As a Royal Temple, Xiangguo Temple was the grandest and most magnificently decorated temple in the suburbs of the Royal City. There were wing rooms on the east side and also the west one. In the northernmost tip stood a forest. The temple faced south, bearing a good geomantic omen. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been chosen as the royal heaven worship temple.

    Qin Yunuan, Infanta Shuhua and Imperial Concubine Jing, they three lived in brighter east wing rooms. Owing to her lower rank, Qin Yunuan had to live in the northernmost room, the worst one among all east wing rooms. Despite that, Tong and Maner still got surprised by the gorgeous decorations when they walked in to clean.

    ¡°This room is no worse than the one we live in the mansion of Grand Commandant. Third Miss,e in. Take a look,¡± Tong called Qin Yunuan delightfully.

    ¡°Look at you. You are too easy to get surprised. We are in a wolf den now, rather than our sweet home in the mansion of Grand Commandant.¡± Maner followed and reasoned with Tong with a smile.

    Lowering her head and covering her mouth, Tong stopped talking.

    Qin Yunuan wore a smile and had a look at Tong. However, when she walked in, she was shocked too. All items in this room, whether therge furniture or small decorations such as the folding screen, the tea table, the bed and tea cups, were perfectly ced. Qin Yunuan loved all of them.

    Stroking the silky mattress, Qin Yunuan went into a trance. She didn¡¯t know anyone in Xiangguo Temple. Who would be so considerate to furnish her room?

    At the moment, a young monk came and stood outside the room. He saluted in a very polite manner and asked, ¡°Benefactress, my master sends me to ask if everything in the room is fine for you.¡±

    ¡°Who is your master?¡± Maner fondled his head and tenderly asked a question that Qin Yunuan also wanted to ask at that time.

    The young monk tilted his head and directly answered, ¡°My master is Xuan Zhi. Have you heard of him?¡±

    Xuan Zhi? Qin Yunuan turned around to look at the young monk. She still remembered it. When everyone panicked because of the unexpected crying Buddha in Wan¡¯an Temple, it was Leng Changxi who invited Xuan Zhi, an eminent monk who liked to travel around, to give Dharma lectures to reassure them.

    The considerate man was Leng Changxi.

    Thinking of him, Qin Yunuan blushed immediately. She stood up and smiled brightly at the young monk, ¡°Please tell your master that I really appreciate this and I will keep this in my heart.¡±

    The young monk nodded happily and ran out of the room quickly.

    At dusk, Qin Yunuan heard another piece of news that Li Weijun died. It was said that she died all of a sudden. She was all good while having dinner with her family. However, she died shortly after she finished an almond biscuit in her room.

    Qin Yunuan knew exactly what happened. The almond biscuit Li Weijun ate was an award from Empress Chen who once had a private talk with her in the hunting field. Considering her personality, Li Weijun definitely would brag about the award Empress Chen gave. Therefore, even though everyone knew the almond biscuit was from Empress Chen, no one dared to use her of Li Weijun¡¯s death. Insiders, of course, would understand that Li Weijun must have provoked Empress Chen so she was awarded with a poisonous biscuit. Others might just think it was a bad luck falling on the Li Family, an originally declining family. Now, this family faced a more miserable situation by losing their only hope.

    The Li Family could only take this consequence andined nothing.

    Qin Yunuan got up early in the next morning. It was the first day to pray for Queen Mother. As required, she had to extend greetings to Imperial Concubine Jing first and then followed her to the Great Buddhist Hall to fast, bath, incense and pray.

    When Qin Yunuan waited before Imperial Concubine Jing¡¯s room, Infanta Shuhua also came and looked cheerful as if she were so happy to see Imperial Concubine Jing.

    Imperial Concubine Jing must be very good at winning people¡¯s favor. Even Infanta Shuhua, the most vixenish royal member, was so fond of her, which could be reflected by the different way she treated Imperial Concubine Jing from others..

    Seeing Qin Yunuan, Infanta Shuhua hid her smile and lightly kept her chin up. She said in a reserved andcent way, ¡°How can youeter than me? I wonder why the Grand Commandant is not good at educating his children.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled and replied, ¡°Compared with those prestigious and noble families, my family is rather humble so, of course, our family education is not that good.¡± She implied that Infanta Shuhua, who sneered at the Qin Family¡¯s education methods, had received no family education at all. Because she was an orphan.

    As expected, Infanta Shuhua frowned. When she was going to scold, the wing-room door opened. Imperial Concubine Jing gracefully showed up.

 Chapter 110 A Traitorous Servant Girl

    <h4>Chapter 110 A Traitorous Servant Girl</h4>

    Compared with herself in the imperial dressing, Imperial Concubine Jing in normal clothing, who remained elegant and gentle, was no less gorgeous. Instead, today¡¯s in outfit highlighted her delicacy and temperament.

    Noticing Infanta Shuhua¡¯s anger on her face, Imperial Concubine Jing covered her mouth with a handkerchief and smiled. Her voice was as clear as the sound of pearls that dropped on the jade te, ¡°Look at our Infanta Shuhua. What has upset you early in the morning?¡±

    Infanta Shuhua red at Qin Yunuan mercilessly and softened her voice, ¡°Never mind. I just came across a mad dog.¡±

    She meant that Qin Yunuan was just a mad dog.

    Qin Yunuan also smiled at Imperial Concubine Jing, ¡°Good morning, Your Highness.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Jing nodded with a smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s time to go. They already have everything prepared in the Great Buddhist¡¯s Hall. Now that everyone has bathed and incensed, we have to go there to transcribe sutras and fast for blessing.¡±

    This meant in the following 49 days, Qin Yunuan had to spend almost all daytime staying with Infanta Shuhua and Imperial Concubine Jing after about 7 in the morning. One of them hated her in a direct way while the other stealthily, so she needed to watch out for both of them.

    On the way to the Great Buddhist¡¯s Hall, Infanta Shuhua held Imperial Concubine Jing¡¯s hands and talked to her all the time. Finally in an interval, thetter apologized to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Shuhua is still young so inevitably reckless. Please don¡¯t be mad at her, Third Miss.¡±

    Qin Yunuan curtsied and smiled, ¡°Infanta Shuhua is outgoing and lively while I¡¯m dull. She¡¯s much more eye-catching.¡± She didn¡¯t me Infanta Shuhua orin, leaving no opportunity for Imperial Concubine Jing to take advantage of her.

    Imperial Concubine Jing just smiled and noticed that Qin Yunuan only had two servant girls, Maner and Tong. She asked, ¡°Are two servant girls enough for you? If not, you can order about mine. We bothe here to pray for Queen Mother. We must be destined to be close.¡±

    Looking back at silent Maner and Tong who lowered their heads, Qin Yunuan said, ¡°They two have attended on me for a long time and I¡¯m used to their care. Your Highness, your servant girls are so skilled that I¡¯d rather save them for you.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Jing nodded and put on a smile, ¡°Third Miss, you really have a silver tongue. Servants and maids should be loyal to their masters. Otherwise, they might easily betray their masters one day. Am I right, Third Miss?¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows and had a look at Imperial Concubine Jing. She replied with a smile, ¡°I can guarantee these two are loyal to me.¡± Noticing one of her servant girls was shaking, she kept her chin up and said with confidence, ¡°I¡¯m sincere to them and I believe they will treat me sincerely in return.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Jing said, ¡°That¡¯s great.¡±

    Conical incenses in the Great Buddhist¡¯s Hall were burning. Monks who got up so early had already cleaned the Hall up. Before the Shakyamuni Buddha were three rush cushions. After sorting out everything for their mistresses, servant girls were ready to leave.

    Tong had put in order the writing brush, ink stick, paper and inkstone Qin Yunuan needed while Maner carried Qin Yunuan to sit down on the rush cushion. Suddenly, Qin Yunuan tripped and seemed to fall down. Maner caught her in time. When leaning on Maner, Qin Yunuan said in a lower voice suddenly, ¡°Keep an eye on her.¡±

    Then she had a nce at Tong as if she had been unintentional. Maner got shocked, but she knew what Qin Yunuan meant at once. She nodded.

    ¡°Are you alright, Third Miss?¡± Imperial Concubine Jing saw that Qin Yunuan tripped and asked with concern.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. I don¡¯t know why, but these days, I¡¯m weak and dizzy sometimes.¡± Qin Yunuan stroked her chest and her quick pant sounded like she lost all strength.

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because the weather is getting hotter.¡± Imperial Concubine Jing wore a tender smile, ¡°After we go back, I send you some mint leaves and broadleaf holly leaves that are grown up in West Xia. They smell good and can effectively cool you down.¡±

    Hearing this, Infanta Shuhua was unhappy, ¡°Your Highness, I have no such good items, either. Why do you give them to an insignificant person?¡±

    She referred to Qin Yunuan as an insignificant person.

    Imperial Concubine Jing wasn¡¯t annoyed and teased her, ¡°Look at you, Shuhua. What a jealous girl! Alright. If you like those leaves, juste to my pce to get some. I have stored so many. I¡¯m sure you can fully enjoy yourself.¡±

    Shuhua smiled back, ¡°The emperor loves you so much. Every time he gets something wonderful, he shares with you first.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Jing just smiled, saying nothing. She lowered her head and peeked at Qin Yunuan who precisely caught the cruelness in her eyes.

    Frankly speaking, Qin Yunuan only met Imperial Concubine Jing, the original Imperial Concubine Lu, twice. Although she hid her feeling well, Qin Yunuan still managed to find her hatred which shocked her greatly. Qin Yunuan met so many people in her two lives and she knew Imperial Concubine Jing¡¯s hatred muste from the strong dissatisfaction inside. But Imperial Concubine Jing and she....

    What connection did they have?

    The three quietly transcribed sutras in the hall. Perhaps, they really hoped that Queen Mother could recover soon. The usually noisy Infanta Shuhua quieted down for the first time, and wholeheartedly transcribed every sutra. Also, Imperial Concubine Jing focused on transcribing. Time flew and it was at dusk. After having some in vegetarian food, they came back to their own room to rest.

    Right after Qin Yunuan came into her room, she called Maner and tied up her long hair. She said to Maner, ¡°Pull it out.¡±

    A several-centimeter-long silver needle as thin as the cowhair was stuck in a nape acupoint which Leng Wu told her yesterday. By doing so, Qin Yunuan¡¯s nose could be much more sensitive. However, the needle shouldn¡¯t stay in her body for more than 12 hours. Otherwise, it would do harm to her smell. Originally, Qin Yunuan had a more sensitive nose than others and the reason why she took risks doing so was to check one thing.

    The incense used in the Great Buddhist¡¯s Hall seemed to have a much stronger fragrance than any other incenses. Under such circumstances, Qin Yunuan could not smell anything different simply through her nose.

    With the fragrance and unnatural expression of Imperial Concubine Jing yesterday and what she found out after having a more sensitive nose, Qin Yunuan figured out one thing.

    Maner quickly pulled out the silver needle on Qin Yunuan¡¯s neck and wrapped it to throw away.

    ¡°What have you found out, Third Miss?¡±

    ¡°Imperial Concubine Jing wears a mask made of human skin.¡± Qin Yunuan waspletely sure about this, ¡°The assassin in the hunting field also wore a mask of the same kind. Leng Changxi once told me that the facial masks made by people in West Xia looked extremely like real faces. But people cannot wear it for a long time unless they match it with a spice, which prevents the wearers¡¯ skin from rotting and discoloring because of the blockage. I once smelled the fragrance of such spice and it was exactly the same as the fragrance on Imperial Concubine Jing. She had made some changes to the fragrance which therefore became lighter. But I knew it was the same fragrance.¡±

    ¡°So Imperial Concubine Jing¡¯s beautiful face was...¡± Maner covered her mouth and stopped saying.

    ¡°No,¡± Qin Yunuan concluded calmly, ¡°Her face is real; otherwise, a great transformation in the appearance of an imperial concubine would have drawn much attention. Leng Changxi has said that once stopping using the spice, people will face a faster skin aging process forck of the spice nourishment, even though they take off masks. Thus, it is possible that a 20-year-old person looks like 80 overnight. Imperial Concubine Jing may not change her face. There is only one exnation. She was disfigured. Simply on her own power, she could not reach the human-skin mask and the spice. It can be inferred that someone has controlled her with these two things.¡±

    ¡°Who did this?¡±

    Qin Yunuan frowned and said nothing. There were diverse factions in the pce so she couldn¡¯t casually jump into a conclusion. What she was sure about was that someone had already plotted against her and this person was in a high position. In addition to taking precautions and starting investigation meticulously, she had nothing else to do.

    ¡°What did she do today?¡± Qin Yunuan changed a topic and asked Maner.

    Seeing Maner¡¯s pale face, Qin Yunuan roughly knew what happened.

    ¡°Third Miss, Tong...¡± Maner didn¡¯t finish her sentence and they heard the voice of that cute young monk who came here yesterday. Holding a white porcin bottle, he was led by Tong to wait outside. He bowed to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Benefactress, my master asks me to send you some tranquilizing incenses he made. The incense can calm your mind and we hope it can help you sleep well.¡±

    The young monk called Qin Yunuan loudly and he sounded really cute.

    It was Xuan Zhi again. Qin Yunuan took the incenses over and expressed her thanks. She knew Leng Changxi must have entrusted Xuan Zhi to take good care of her. They two must be very close so that an unworldly eminent monk willingly spent a lot of effort caring a humble girl whose mother was just a concubine.

    ¡°Xuan Zhi is so considerate, but I think he must want to fawn on us given that Third Miss and General Leng are engaged.¡± Tongmented as if Xuan Zhi really wanted to tter Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Why are you long-tongued?¡± Maner scolded her in a low voice.

    Qin Yunuan said in a cold voice, ¡°Xuan Zhi is the most respectful monk in Qi and he needs no backer. Moreover, Tong, have you ever thought of the consequences if other people hear what you say? Or, do you say it on purpose?¡±

 Chapter 111 Plot Revealed

    <h4>Chapter 111 Plot Revealed</h4>

    What result did she expect? Tong felt astonished when she heard the words.

    ¡°Third Miss, I said something wrong? I just think that now you have engaged with General Leng, and many people muste to tter you. So naturally, I did that....¡±

    ¡°So you naturally epted bribes from those maidservants and promised them that you could arrange them to be the maidservants in my courtyard?¡± Qin Yunuan just said all out. She had found earlier that Tong did something dirty, but she ignored it because she was busy handling Dou Qing¡¯e at that time. Qin Yunuan paid much attention to the use of talent and she must use that kind of person who was trustworthy and valuable. Tong had touched her bottom line, so now she had to cope with this issue.

    ¡°Third Miss, Third Miss... I...¡± Tong turned to be nervous and shuddered, and she could not control herself. She looked at Qin Yunuan frightenedly and then suddenly knelt on the ground. She kowtowed towards Qin Yunuan and grumbled, ¡°I won¡¯t do that anymore. I just wanted to save some dowry for my future marriage. Third Miss, you know that I am too menial. If I were to have no enough money, I would not find a good husband through a well-qualified matchmaker.¡±

    Maner looked out to make sure there were no people outside. She did not want anybody else to hear something.

    ¡°Humph, marriage?¡± Qin Yunuan turned back and then sat on the Zen chair near the tea-table. She sat straight and looked down at Tong who knelt on the ground, ¡°I have said that you and Maner have suffered a lot with me so I will care much about your marriages. When you get married, I will give each one of you two a piece of Five Golden essories. Your weddings will be very morous, just like those ordinary maidens. And, you have much money and essories I award you. Besides, I give you many bonuses in the profits from the shop each time. Do you reallyck the money?¡±

    ¡°Third Miss, actually I just...¡± Tong suddenly became speechless. She even could not palter with some reasons.

    ¡°Tong, I remember your advantages and kindness because we have stayed together for many years. But how dare you hurt Baochuan!¡± Qin Yunuan took a deep breath and her eyes turned slowly to be cold like ice, ¡°I know better than you that what you did about the food of Baochuan when I went to the hunting ground.¡±

    ¡°Third Miss, I...¡± Tong could not speak more and seemed to confess. She gritted her teeth heavily and then said in a high voice suddenly, ¡°So you have known what I have done. It is a pity that I have disguised myself around you for a long time.¡±

    ¡°You are so kind all the time,¡± Qin Yuan said in a regretful voice, ¡°I don¡¯t know why you change yourself.¡±

    ¡°People always want to be in a higher position,¡± Tong¡¯s voice was not simple and straight like before, but more sophisticated and tackier like an experienced old woman. ¡°Third Miss, you may do not know my life before Concubine Yang saved me. Actually, my homelessness was not due to a flood in my hometown. My mother was not a simple countryside woman but a prostitute in a whorehouse. I did not know who my father was. My mother had a deal with the procuress of the whorehouse when I was eight years old. She wanted me to be a prostitute with her. I was only eight years old and she let me start to do prostitution. I knew that if I had not escaped from the ce, I would have lived such a miserable life like her, namely having sex with different men for gaining money. Third Miss, do you know what I did for escaping from there?¡±

    Tong showed a little of a bitter smile now without caring about the cold eyes of Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°I deceived the door-nanny and let her drink a bowl of arsenic. I told her that was a bowl of syrup and she drunk it. Finally, she died and I escaped,¡± Tong said with tears dripping from her eyes. She had never talked about her previous life because she thought that was very humiliating. Her mother was a cheeky prostitute. She still remembered her previous miserable life. Those carnal men looked her up and down when she was only eight years old. They seemed to look at a chick and were ready to maltreat her.

    Qin Yunuan turned her head, ¡°There are many misfortunes in this world but not all the people lose their confidence and hope about life. Tong, I feel very disappointed with you.¡± Qin Yunuan would not tell Tong what she had suffered in her previous life. At the beginning of her rebirth, she always dreamed about her miserable experience in herst life repeatedly. But now, or after she met with Leng Changxi especially, her nightmare had vanished. She believed that there would be a unique warmth waiting for her in this world if she did not give up.

    Actually, there were many people like Tong. Qin Yunuan had met with so many such kinds of people. They made themselves dirtier to fight against the dirt and filth in this world. They would finally destroy themselves.

    ¡°Third Miss, I have no such kind of luck like you to meet with the man who loved you so much,¡± Tong said coldly.

    ¡°Luck did not help me always,¡± Qin Yunuan said lightly. She knew that at this moment, Tong could not understand any word. Tong¡¯s heart had been clouded and could not be clear any longer, ¡°I rely on my effort and sincere heart. Tong, I have ever treated you sincerely, just like what I did to Maner, nurse Liao and Ting Xue. But now...¡± Qin Yunuan turned her head and said, ¡°You go away to receive your punishment.¡±

    To the surprise of Tong, she thought that she would be executed or punished by some more crucial way in view of Qin Yunuan¡¯s heartless and decisive characteristics. But she quickly understood. Qin Yunuan could not kill her because they were in the Xiangguo Temple instead of the mansion of Grand Commandant. It was harder for Qin Yunuan to handle her easily. Tong seemed to feel lucky and then straightened her body. She kowtowed toward Qin Yunuan heavily and said, ¡°Thanks, Third Miss.¡±

    In a moment, the sound of board-banging came from outside. It would be very painful when the board hit the body heavily.

    Qin Yunuan sitting inside the room heard the sound clearly.

    Maner passed a boiled cup of Honeysuckle tea to Qin Yunuan. Qin Yunuan seemed to be inmed recently because she always stayed upte.

    ¡°Third Miss, will you let Tong continue to serve you?¡± Maner looked worried. Afterall, Tong made big mistakes and for more critical, Tong touched the bottom line ¨C the Second Young Master, which could not be epted by Qin Yunuan entirely. But in the meanwhile, Maner had stayed with Tong for a long time. Though they had some disputes recently, they were close sisters. Maner frowned after she heard the sound outside.

    ¡°Do you think it is possible?¡± Qin Yunuan took out the unique embroidering pattern that was carried with her. She browsed it, ¡°She is not willing to serve me any longer. Why should I let her be on my side? Now she hurt Baochuan and I think she will dare to kill you and me in the future.¡±

    Maner felt chilled. Qin Yunuan was right. Maner felt frightened after she heard the experience of the previous life of Tong.

    ¡°And then, Third Miss... Since you did not want Tong to stay with you, why did you not kick out Tong?¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised her head and looked outside the window. A lush locust tree was nted outside the window. A big green mantis was staring at the food in front of it ¨C a chirping cicada in the summer. But above the mantis, there was a vertin which was preparing to hunt the mantis.

    ¡°A vertin is hunting a mantis when the mantis is hunting a cicada,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°Though Tong was so vile, she dared not to hurt Baochuan. If I killed her, it would be veryborious and the person behind Tong would be happy to see this result. I¡¯d better let her alive because I can investigate the whole thing, and,¡± Qin Yunuan sipped the tea and said slowly, ¡°And there will be someone else helping us to handle her.¡±

    Qin Yunuan believed strongly that person was not a simple role since the person had settled his spy into the courtyard of Qin Yunuan. Such kind of person had the characteristics of decisiveness, cleanness and practiced means. When the spy was exposed or cheated him, the only way to handle this case for the person was to kill the spy.

    The Xiangguo Temple was not sorge and the room was very close to other rooms. Quickly, Infanta Shuhua and Imperial Concubine Jing dispatched people to know about the situation here respectively. Infanta Shuhua thought the room of Qin Yunuan was so noisy and bothered her rest. She was venting her anger now. Imperial Concubine Jing dispatched people to ask what happened here.

    When the maidservants of the two sides went back, Qin Yunuan leaned against the door and saw Tong at herst gasp. She waved her hands to let the two servants stop and then stepped down along the stairs slowly towards Tong.

    The moment Tong looked at Aunty Qing, she seemed to know that she would be killed in a short time. Shey on the long bench and felt extremely painful on her bottom with sweats dripping from her head. The smell of aerugo made her more unalive.

    ¡°Third Miss, if you gave me another chance....¡±

    ¡°I have given you many chances,¡± Before Tong said, Qin Yunuan said first. She glimpsed at Tong coldly and then went back to the room.

    ¡°Prison her in the side room,¡± Qin Yunuan ordered, ¡°Someone wille to handle her in the evening.¡± And then Qin Yunuan let Maner find Leng Wu and ordered him to monitor the side room carefully in the evening.

    Atte night, Qin Yunuan still read the book by the candlelight, but she still thought about the issue rted to Imperial Concubine Jing and Tong. She thought there must be some certain connections between them. When she was pondering, the candlelight went out, which seemed to be caused by shooting. The room became silent quickly. In the dark, Qin Yunuan tried to find the dagger hidden under her pillow. But when she touched the hilt of the dagger, her lips were covered heavily by a ming thing.

    So familiar, so aggressive. Qin Yunuan knew that he came.

 Chapter 112 Who Was the More Malicious One

    <h4>Chapter 112 Who Was the More Malicious One</h4>

    With much tenderness and passion, Leng Changxi held Qin Yunuan down on the bed high-handedly. After he finished his work in the Royal City, he rode his piebald horse as rapid as the wind to meet with his little hedgehog before Qin Yunuan went to sleep. He should go back before dawn. Leng Changxi believed that he had the right to have a good taste of the hedgehog who was held down by him.

    ¡°Ah...¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s lips must turn to be red and swollen now. She groaned shyly by the strong muscle¡¯s suppression of Leng Changxi. Her groaning was deeply moving surprisingly, which made Qin Yunuan shudder, so did Leng Changxi who was lying on the body of Qin Yunuan and kissing her wantonly.

    Just due to the groaning of Qin Yunuan, Leng Changxi who was crazily digging the mouth of the sweet spring, stopped suddenly. He reached out his arms to support him. Under the moonlight, his face seemed to be carved subtly and even the slightly curving radian of his jaw was so perfect. With his wheat skin, he was involved into the mild moonlight. Qin Yunuan felt a quicker heartbeat even when she just glimpsed at Leng Changxi.

    Qin Yunuan noticed that Leng Changxi did not wear his mask. At this moment, he was so brave to show his real face in front of her. He trusted her very much as she always believed him too.

    Leng Changxi seemed to forbear his lust. Nobody would know that Leng Changxi was dying to upy Qin Yunuan and get integrated with her after she groaned slightly. He wanted to caress her passionately and hoped that he could take her with him, so he would not be so painful when he missed this girl.

    After the passionate caress, Qin Yunuan still blushed. She did not know how many lures she showed to Leng Changxi just now. She thought Leng Changxi was jealous of those trivial things because he was always stingy about Qin Yunuan¡¯smunication with other men. But she loved his jealousy.

    ¡°Why did youe here?¡± Qin Yunuan said with the remaining ambiguity. She pushed the chest of Leng Changxi lightly because he made her a little bit painful.

    But Leng Changxi suppressed her more closely and asked, ¡°What? Don¡¯t you want to see me here?¡± Nobody knew how toilsomely his piebald horse ran.

    Qin Yunuan lowered her eyes with her eysh blinking. Leng Changxi could not help but stared at her for a long time. How pretty this shy hedgehog was!

    ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Qin Yunuan said sincerely.

    ¡°I am happy to hear your response.¡± Leng Changxiughed and then turned his body to lie on the bed of Qin Yunuan naturally. He crossed her hands to put them back to his head, added casually, ¡°I miss you so Ie here.¡±

    Leng Changxi turned his head but found Qin Yunuan was tittering. Her titter seemed to contain much charm and words, which made him very curious.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned her head to look straightly at Leng Changxi¡¯s profound eyes. Shey down suddenly beside Leng Changxi and moved to the chest of Leng Changxi. A single maiden¡¯s intimate contact with a man was very undisciplined in the circle of nobles in Qi. But Leng Changxi was not an ordinary person so he could not obey those rules. Qin Yunuan experienced two lives and now she just knew that she should cherish the life and the people close to her. It was enough that she loved him and he loved her too.

    ¡°I miss you too and then youe.¡± Qin Yunuan said very gently but Leng Changxi heard her words clearly. He naturally reached his arm to hold the thin shoulder of Qin Yunuan, and he could feel the cold skin of her across the thinnish gauze. In the hot summer, Qin Yunuan was always cold so he wanted to stay closer to her.

    ¡°Why you feel so cold?¡± and then Leng Changxi reached his hand to touch the face of Qin Yunuan. He felt the warmth on her face, especially after their passionate caress just now, ¡°Do you catch a cold?¡±

    Qin Yunuan shook her head and expressed her satisfaction unconsciously. She felt content to lie on the arm of Leng Changxi.

    ¡°So why are you so cold?¡± Leng Changxi touched the arm of Qin Yunuan again.

    ¡°By nature,¡± Qin Yunuan said, ¡°When I was young, my mother found some doctors to check me. We thought it was just because cold-energy got pent-up in my body. Actually, I just have a lower body temperature in summerpared with others.¡±

    Leng Changxiughed and then put his head onto the neck of Qin Yunuan. He was still sweaty due to his journey in a hurry, and now the cold hedgehog could be the best soft pillow for lowering the temperature.

    ¡°I feel not so good,¡± Qin Yunuan did not stop Leng Changxi hiding in her hug like a child, ¡°In winter, I seem to be colder than others and my hands and feet are always chill.¡±

    Leng Changxi reached his head and kissed her blushing face passionately. He said in a hoarse voice with the unique sound ray and charm, ¡°I am here and I can warm you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan could not help butugh. But then a light sound came from outside, as gentle as a breeze blowing willows. Qin Yunuan knew that was not ordinary.

    Leng Changxi sat up suddenly, who had a more sensitive sense than others, and then he found Qin Yunuan was very calm. In a sh, he understood and said in a low voice, ¡°It¡¯s your plot?¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled rxingly after Qin Yunuan nodded with a smile, but soon he frowned again. Now there were only three noble people in Xiangguo Temple, Qin Yunuan, Infanta Shuhua and Imperial Concubine Jing.

    The moment Leng Changxi thought about that crazy woman, his face turned to be cold, ¡°Was it she that yed tricks to you?¡±

    Qin Yunuan shook her head, ¡°Not sure. But I know there is someone from the Imperial Pce who wants to kill me.¡±

    Leng Changxi felt guilty, ¡°It¡¯s my negligence.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± Qin Yunuan reached her hands tofort Leng Changxi, ¡°It¡¯s due to the backstab. Now many people are staring at us in the dark. You can protect me several times but you can¡¯t save me for the whole life. Don¡¯t worry. I can handle this by myself.¡±

    ¡°You are my girl and I have to protect you,¡± Leng Changxi said determinedly, ¡°Leng Wu is male so it is not convenient for him to protect you. I have let Leng Wu write a letter to invite his young sister Leng Shuang to protect you as your close maidservant. She is from a famous school of martial arts who isparable with Leng Wu.¡±

    ¡°That will waste her talent?¡± Qin Yunuan thought Leng Wu was so powerful and his job as a shadow guard following Leng Changxi would waste his talents. Now there was another swordswomanparable with Leng Wu. She is from a famous school of martial arts and she would be the close maidservant of Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°It is her pleasure to protect the girl I like,¡± Leng Changxi said seriously.

    And then they found that the sound seemed to be louder outside.

    ¡°The fish swallows the bait,¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly smile.

    Leng Changxi wore his mask after he looked at Qin Yunuan for a minute. He reached his hands to pull Qin Yunuan into his hug. Heughed after he saw Qin Yunuan felt a little bit surprised, ¡°It¡¯s not enough to see the fish swallowing the bite. We¡¯d better watch the whole show.¡±

    Almost in a sh, Leng Changxi held the waist of Qin Yunuan and then jumped up onto the beam of the room. Under the moonlight, a breeze in summer blew the tousy hair of Qin Yunuan, which showed a unique charm.

    ¡°I saw a person when I came here,¡± Leng Changxi said as he held Qin Yunuan and then jumped onto another beam without any sound. And then he stopped and said with a smile, ¡°He is Dou Xianghuai.¡±

    Qin Yunuan heard about this name for the first time from Qin Yuzhao. She remembered that Qin Yuzhao said Imperial Concubine Jing once had an affair with Dou Xianghuai. She was surprised that Dou Xianghuai came to Xiangguo Temple firstly after he entered the Royal City. She guessed that Dou Xianghuai came to see Imperial Concubine Jing. Nobody would know their meet was the lovers¡¯ reunion or brawl.

    After a while, Leng Changxi jumped exactly onto a room with somber lights. Qin Yunuan knew that was the room of Imperial Concubine Jing. People in that room seemed to be awake and they could hear the talk which was not between Imperial Concubine Jing and her eunuchs and maidservants. The two people seemed to be quarreling. Leng Changxi found a thin and light tile rightly and then lifted it stably without any sound.

    Now they could hear and saw clearly their talk and move. Qin Yunuan was held by Leng Changxi and observed the room.

    The man who was quarreling with Imperial Concubine Jing was a man. He was Dou Xianghuai that Leng Changxi had met.

    ¡°Why do youe here? It¡¯s Xiangguo Temple. Young Master Dou, you are more unscrupulous now.¡±

    ¡°Humph, unscrupulous? I am not as unbridled as you, Lu Jinghua. Your face was destroyed several months ago. How long does your skin mask maintain? Three years? Five years? Do you want to tter the old emperor by this skin mask always?¡±

    ¡°Bang,¡± that was a loud p.

    ¡°tter? Yes, I, Lu Jinghua, was a perverted woman. I have been ttering men for my whole life. I ttered you nine years ago. You let me be the imperial concubine to send you the intelligence. I did it but then? You married the daughter of Shen Family and got rid of me. Now I got love from my emperor. Why do youe here?¡±

    ¡°Leave him! Come back to me,¡± Dou Xianghuai said straightly.

    ¡°Leave who? Emperor? Why should I leave him? I gain much jewelry and attention by ttering him. How about you? Dou Family is declining by many powers and I am one of those powers. I am waiting for witnessing that your proudness is destroyed totally. I am happy to see that, and I am willing to see that.¡±

    ¡°No! I mean, you should leave Leng Changxi!¡±

 Chapter 113 The Crazy Woman

    <h4>Chapter 113 The Crazy Woman</h4>

    At the words, the whole world fell silent. Both Qin Yunuan who was on the beam and Leng Changxi whose facial expression was fixed said nothing, too.

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s nails dug deep into her palms. She leaned towards Leng Changxi subconsciously, who was so surprised that he was stiff. It seemed that he hadn¡¯t expected such a situation. Feeling her approaching, Leng Changxi seemed to rx a little. What he was afraid of most was that she might have other thoughts. He wouldn¡¯t allow his ¡°little hedgehog¡± to have any doubt and worry caused by others, especially by such a malicious and crazy woman like Imperial Concubine Jing.

    The conversation in the house was still continuing.

    ¡°What did you mean?¡±

    ¡°You knew what I meant. You drank the decoction that disfigured you several months ago. Then you got the mask made of human skin from the empress in order to strive for the emperor¡¯s favor for her. You knew better than I did about whom you learned the sexual skills for. A bastard in the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion as he is, do you really think he worth your sacrifice?¡±

    The silence was long. The voice of Imperial Concubine Jing suddenly became low and hoarse, ¡°Do you know his real identity? Do you know why the emperor trusts him so much? If you don¡¯t, you should be careful with your words.¡±

    ¡°Sure enough,¡± Dou Xianghuai¡¯s voice was insidious, ¡°It seems that our family got the right intelligence.¡±

    ¡°Are you sounding me out?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± the tone of Dou Xianghuai now was just like the one of Dou Qing¡¯e, with mystery and some scheme that could not be predicted, ¡°I am persuading you to stay with me. After all, we had a rtionship before. Besides, you own me a big favor this time. The servant girl you put beside the daughter of a concubine of the Qin Family was found out. I killed her before she could confess under torture that it was you behind the scheme. You¡¯re wee.¡±

    ¡°Dou Xianghuai,¡± Imperial Concubine Jing said angrily, ¡°have you never changed your arrogance? Why do I need you to help me? And I don¡¯t want to deal with the corpse. Don¡¯t leave it in my yard. Take it away before someone else find it.¡±

    ¡°Before someone else find it?¡± Dou Xianghuai hummed in a cold way suddenly, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that it¡¯s already toote.¡±

    At that time, Leng Changxi on the beam felt some genuine energying towards him. Dou Xianghuai had discovered him. He dodged the silver pin that came towards his Mingmen by turning over and jumping quickly. Then he took the opportunity to drag Qin Yunuan and hug her tightly. The moment both of them fell to the ground deftly, the gate of Imperial Concubine Jing¡¯s ce opened. The people standing at the gate were Dou Xianghuai, the trueborn young master of the Dou Family, and Imperial Concubine Jing, the newly favored concubine by the emperor.

    ¡°Leng Changxi, long time no see.¡± Dou Xianghuai was born to be delicate, like a magical jade in the celestial mountain. However, the expression in his eyes showed some evilness. His white clothes fluttered in the summer wind, with crape myrtle¡¯s fragrance. Opening his folding fan, he nced at the corpse of Tong in front of the gate, strode directly across the woman who couldn¡¯t speak anymore, and cupped one hand in the other before his chest to salute Leng Changxi, ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other for years. I wonder if General Leng still remembers me.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± replied Leng Changxi coldly, adding one sentence, ¡°I have no impression of anyone I don¡¯t care much.¡±

    There was no one but Leng Changxi in Qi who dared to y cool openly when he was found overhearing.

    Dou Xianghuai didn¡¯t change his countenance. Instead, he nodded with a smile, said modestly, ¡°You really like joking.¡±

    Leng Changxi raised his head slightly, ¡°Do I look like joking? By the way, you are supposed to report for duty at the Ministry of Revenue at 7 o¡¯clock tomorrow morning. It is only six hours left.¡±

    Nobody could guess what Dou Xianghuai thought in his mind. He was unbridled and arrogant. It seemed that he cared nothing and was not limited by thew. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business,¡± finishing his words, he nced at Qin Yunuan who was beside Leng Changxi, ¡°On the contrary, now that you are having a beauty in your arms, you should think how the emperor will me you if you miss the early duty tomorrow.¡±

    The expression in his eyes was not insidious, but there was disdain and malice in it. Indeed, Qin Yunuan, a little daughter of a concubine, made Dou Qing¡¯e fall from the matron of the Qin Family to a woman trapped in Psycho Tower. Dou Xianghuai might have already held the grudge.

    Leng Changxi turned back to look at Qin Yunuan with love and affection. The moment he looked at Dou Xianghuai again, he became cold again, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business too. My horse in ck and white color can run for 500 kilometers a day. However, I¡¯m sorry that I killed your ck horse by mistake on my way here.¡±

    Leng Changxi said slowly in a graceful and contained way. He extended his tone when saying the word ¡°killed.¡± Seeing that the facial expression of Dou Xianghuai only changed slightly, he continued, ¡°Well, I killed the 28 guards you brought here too.¡±

    A man flew from the beam when he finished his words. Qin Yunuan recognized him as one of the shadow guards beside Leng Changxi through his ck clothes. The shadow guard saluted Leng Changxi, ¡°General, we¡¯ve killed them all.¡±

    With a sidelong nce from Leng Changxi, the shadow guard left silently. Leng Changxi said nothing but kept staring at Dou Xianghuai with a smile for a long time with a winning manner. His long fingers crossed behind his back rhythmically. Dou Xianghuai became pale. He was just like a fish caught in the fishing, epting his fate helplessly after a powerless struggle. Seeing his reaction, Leng Changxi looked satisfied, adding one sentence, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry that I killed your 28 guards and 4 personal warriors by... mistake.¡±

    Dou Xianghuai¡¯s lips twisted. It seemed that Leng Changxi nned to do it in the Xiangguo Temple. Although he tried to calm himself down, his voice was not as unbridled and calm as it had been before, ¡°You are really decisive and bold in action. However, as you said before, I need to report for duty at the Ministry of Revenue at 7 o¡¯clock tomorrow morning. What will you exin if I amte?¡±

    ¡°Exin?¡± Leng Changxi found it amusing, ¡°Why should I exin? What do I need to exin? The fact that you met the imperial concubine secretly in Xiangguo Temple, the sacred Royal Temple? Or the fact that you and Imperial Concubine Jing nned together to kill the Second Master and Third Miss in the mansion of Grand Commandant?¡±

    Imperial Concubine Jing finally came to her sense when the conversation kept her involved. She looked at Leng Changxi with murmuring. Her eyes showededown and sadness which could only be found in someone in despair.

    Gapemouthed, she nced at Qin Yunuan, who was protected behind Leng Changxi by his arms. Every time he turned back to look at her, the expression in his eyes was so gentle, filled with love and affection that Imperial Concubine Jing had never seen before. He was so focused as if he would sacrifice both his body and mind to give Qin Yunuan love.

    ¡°Atst, I still cannotpete with her,¡± said Imperial Concubine Jing in sorrow. She didn¡¯t know the exact time when she began to love Leng Changxi. Nine years ago, she was ¡°cheated¡± by Dou Xianghuai to enter the pce.

    ¡°I will wee you back after the Dou Family seeds.¡±

    Nine years had passed. She gained nothing but endless yearning and loneliness. One year ago, she could not stand the fog covering her heart anymore and prepared tomit suicide in Weiyang Pce. However, she was saved by Leng Changxi who appeared suddenly. Weiyang Pce is the ce the Elder Princess had lived in. It was forbidden to enter because the Queen Mother and the emperor missed the Elder Princess. Therefore, she thought decisively that the appearance of Leng Changxi was not due to coincidence or simply dropping by.

    ¡°Don¡¯t ruin the ce. If you want to die, find somewhere else.¡± Although Leng Changxi¡¯s word at that time was cold, she insisted that he wasforting her.

    He was the first person who walked into her life in the nine years. So when she learned that Empress Chen decided to oppose Leng Changxi for her failure to rope him in, Imperial Concubine Jing decided to y the role of a chess piece. She wanted to be Leng Changxi¡¯s best spy in Empress Chen¡¯s side. Although he knew nothing about it, she wanted to finish the task regardless of the cost, including ruining her own appearance to gain Empress Chen¡¯s trust.

    However, Qin Yunuan broke all Imperial Concubine Jing¡¯s insistence and hope. Why was this woman? What virtue and ability did she have? She did nothing, but Leng Changxi protected her in such a careful way that he even risked his life.

    ¡°I did so much for you,¡± Imperial Concubine Jing cried at Leng Changxi. Her eyes were red and swollen in an unusual way, like the result of having some forbidden drugs. Even herplexion became weird, white like a piece of paper with no other color. It was in stark contrast with her red lips.

    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t you look at me?¡± Imperial Concubine Jing wrenched away Dou Xianghuai¡¯s arm and ran towards Leng Changxi. Pointing at Qin Yunuan, sheughed madly, ¡°Just because of her? A in woman? What advantage does she have? My love for you is deeper than hers! Indeed, Changxi! I¡¯ve done so much for you!¡±

    ¡°I never ask you to kill anybody, poison anybody, or gain Empress Chen¡¯s trust by ruining your own face,¡± the expression in Leng Changxi¡¯s was as cold as the water in the icyke in the Mount Tianshan, ¡°You brought this on yourself.¡±

    Brought this on herself? She had done so much for him in secret, but now it was her own fault?

    Imperial Concubine Jing¡¯s heart dropped suddenly as well as her whole body. However, cruelty appeared in her eyes. She rushed at Qin Yunuan abruptly, shouting, ¡°It¡¯s you! It¡¯s all because of you! If you never showed up, then Changxi would have been mine now. Do you know who he is? Do you know his real identity? With the low blood running in your body, how can you be the partner of him?¡±

    All of a sudden, Leng Changxi waved backhand, causing a huge wind that made Imperial Concubine Jing fall to the ground like a poor butterfly. Shey on her back on the ground, with her ck hair spreading like a beautiful but miserable peony.

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch her,¡± Leng Changxi stood in front of Qin Yunuan, said in a disdainful tone, ¡°Crazy woman.¡±

 Chapter 114 The Downfall of the Dou Family

    <h4>Chapter 114 The Downfall of the Dou Family</h4>

    Crazy woman, crazy woman... The two words kept reverberating in Imperial Concubine Jing¡¯s mind. She had done so much for him, but he....

    Imperial Concubine Jing gritted her teeth. A resolveing from nowhere shed in her eyes. Qin Yunuan was quite familiar with it. It indicated the resolve of someone longing for death after she had given up everything.

    ¡°Stop her quickly. She wants tomit suicide,¡± Qin Yunuan shouted suddenly, rushing at Imperial Concubine Jing. She tried to open Imperial Concubine Jing¡¯s teeth, which was closed tightly. However, she waste. The poison hidden in the gingiva was already swallowed and reacted. Imperial Concubine Jing¡¯s limbs began thrashing. Blood kepting out of her teeth, streaming along her perfect jaw and forming a weird pool of blood on the ground.

    She was suffering such great pain that her hands kept scratching on her face. The human skin mask that fit her face tightly was broken now, revealing the ugly scars on her real skin. Nobody could imagine her pain when her face was forced to be ruined.

    ¡°She can¡¯t live,¡± said Qin Yunuan to Leng Changxi. Imperial Concubine Jing had the higher third-grade of rank, and she was quite favored by the emperor. Now she died without a reason in the Xiangguo Temple. Not only Qin Yunuan but also Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t give the emperor a satisfying exnation to her death as well as Tong¡¯s death, who had been killed by Dou Xianghuai and nowy beside Imperial Concubine Jing.

    Qin Yunuan frowned. However, Leng Changxi was surprisingly calm. He touched his nose and said, ¡°Empress Chen never wants her to be alive, so you can¡¯t save her anyway.¡± After finishing his words, he looked at Dou Xianghuai, who witnessed Imperial Concubine Jing¡¯s suffering to death. He looked like it was none of his business, but his fingers that cuddled slightly revealed that his heart was being tortured.

    ¡°Your lover is dead,¡± Leng Changxi raised his eyes to look at Dou Xianghuai, cold and calm as if he hadn¡¯t belonged to the world.

    ¡°Lover?¡± replied Dou Xianghuai coldly, ¡°She was simply a tool that I had used. She meant nothing to me.¡±

    Qin Yunuan responded in a smile, ¡°If she was really a tool to you, why did you bother toe to the Xiangguo Temple in the midnight, only to see Imperial Concubine Jing? And you even took the risk to kill a person that could be a threat to her!¡±

    ¡°Third Miss Qin, if I don¡¯t get it wrong, the dead person was your servant girl whom you had been punished by flogging. If others learn her death, they will think that it¡¯s your punishment that causes her death. Who will think that I was the killer? And this woman,¡± Dou Xianghuai lowed his head to nce at Imperial Concubine Jing¡¯s body, ¡°It¡¯s Empress Chen who killed her. Howe it has any connection to me?¡±

    Leng Changxi raised his head proudly, ¡°Your words indicate that you think you can get out with no harm. How foolish you are!¡±

    Dou Xianghuai smiled cunningly, ¡°¡®The wily hare has three holes to his burrow.¡¯ Leng Changxi, although I never fight against you, I know your tricks well. ¡®Know your enemy and know yourself.¡¯ Of course, I have some preparation.¡± He put his index finger to his mouth and gave a loud whistle. ording to his arrangement, besides the 28 guards and 4 personal warriors he brought here, there were also some spies in the Xiangguo Temple, so he could escape in emergencies.

    To his surprise, followed by a series of footsteps were not his heelers disguising as Buddhists in the Xiangguo Temple, but four rows of archers, 20 people in a row. They surrounded the little yard in no time.

    The men Dou Xianghuai managed to put in the Xiangguo Temple were then pushed in with hands tied behind their backs. The man who took their lead was nobody else but Shang Xianhua, who promised to join in the Leng Army today.

    Shang Xianhua salute Leng Changxi reverently, ¡°General Leng, there were nine spies of the Dou Family in the Xiangguo Temple. Seven trainee Buddhists along with two Buddhists working in the kitchen were all caught.¡±

    Leng Changxi waved to let Shang Xianhua leave. Thanks to his sophisticated eyes and precise experience, this time they could catch the men hidden in the Xiangguo Temple by the Dou Family so easily and quickly. It was worthful for Leng Changxi to try so hard to invite him to join them.

    Seeing Dou Xianghuai¡¯s stunned face, Leng Changxi was obviously amused, ¡°By the way, what did you say just now? ¡®Know your enemy and know yourself.¡¯ Oh! It seemed that you didn¡¯t know me well enough.¡±

    Dou Xianghuai trembled, and cried, ¡°You don¡¯t dare to touch me. Most of the officers in provinces and many ministers are our people. ¡®A slight move in one part may affect the situation as a whole.¡¯ If you do something to the Dou Family, you are actually shaking the foundation and the lifeline of Qi.¡±

    Leng Changxi raised his head to give a longugh. How ridiculous Dou Xianghuai¡¯s ignorance and arrogance was at present! It was unbelievable that he took them as his pride.

    ¡°Use your brain,¡± the expression in Leng Changxi¡¯s eyes was cold, ¡°If the emperor hadn¡¯t agreed and participated in the n, how could it be realized perfectly? It was quite hard to make Lu Jinghua, who had sent messages for you, the elite guards in the Dou Family, and you, the son born by the legal mother of the Dou Family to ur at the same time in the same ce.¡±

    That is to say, the emperor¡¯s favor to Lu Jinghua was for others to watch. Firstly, it could eliminate Imperial Concubine Jing¡¯s alertness. Secondly, it couldy the foundation for Imperial Concubine Jing¡¯s promotion and her praying for Queen Mother in the Xiangguo Temple.

    Qin Yunuan took a tumble. The whole thing was nned ahead from the beginning to the end. So what about her? What role did she y in the n?

    Leng Changxi seemed to realize Qin Yunuan¡¯s strange mood. The moment she trembled, he put his hand backward and held hers tightly. He put her little soft hand in his palm, fingers intertwined with a little strength so that she wouldn¡¯t go far.

    On the other side, Leng Changxi raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at Dou Xianghuai, whose face turned ck and blue. He gave a cold ultimatum that wouldn¡¯t ept any resistance, ¡°Master Dou, you have nowhere to go.¡±

    Dou Xianghuai was still resisting stubbornly, ¡°This prayer in the Xiangguo Temple was for the better condition of Queen Mother¡¯s disease. Have you already decided to make the situation hard to end?¡±

    ¡°Queen Mother¡¯s disease?¡± Leng Changxi sneered, ¡°Master Dou, you know what? The biggest disease that the emperor and Queen Mother have been worrying about is that the Dou Family hasn¡¯t been removed yet. Just admit it. You¡¯ve already lost.¡±

    Indeed. He had already lost. Actually he had lostpletely since the time he decided to leave Hangzhou for the Royal City, or the time he couldn¡¯t bear his yearn, hoping to resume the rtionship with the girl of the Lu Family, whom he had loved, or the time he took the risk of death to intrude Xiangguo Temple. No, the truth was that he had never won.

    At first, he only thought that he could make good use of Lu Jinghua¡¯s beauty. Out of his expectation, he gave out his true heart to her. However, he ended up marrying a daughter of an eminent family and abandoning the women he loved most to serve the interest of his family. By the time he was able to dominate his own marriage and fate, the person in his heart was no longer the same.

    Just now when they were in the wing-room, he tried to give her a kiss like the soft one they once had in the season when phoenix tree flowers were dropping one by one in the past. It used to give them the same pleasure as having the forbidden fruit. However, her refusal was true, and her disdain was also true. His heart became cold at once. His intelligence was right. Her heart had given to a man named Leng Changxi and was no longer his.

    The dead Imperial Concubine Jingy on the ground silently. There had already been post-mortem examiners and servant girlsing near to deal with the corpse. With her spreading hair and red lips, it seemed that she just fell asleep.

    ¡°Yes, I lost,¡± murmured Dou Xianghuai, but his eyes were still lingering on the body of Imperial Concubine Jing. After all, he was reluctant to part with her, ¡°I lost mostly because of myself, not you, Leng Changxi.¡±

    Leng Changxi, ¡°You vastly overrated yourself.¡±

    All of a sudden, Dou Xianghuai smiled grimly. He looked at the soldiers around him, pulled out a short dagger from his arms and stabbed his heart directly. He did it deeply and severely with a resolve to death, making people wonder where his courage to prate his own body came from. Dou Xianghuai even repeated the process of pulling out the dagger and stabbing it to the heart again and again. Blood flew out from his body, and the scene was horrifying.

    Qin Yunuan frowned. Before she could feel disgusted, a pair ofrge hands covered her eyes. They were warm and rough, with thin calluses as the result of long experience of leading armies and fighting. They were his hands, gentle and filling her with the sense of safety.

    Turning back, Leng Changxi only gave Shang Xianhua one order, ¡°Clear it up.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    After that, Leng Changxi pulled Qin Yunuan to leave the yard, leading her to another yard, which was quiet and deep inside. It was hard to imagine that there was such a quiet yard in the Xiangguo Temple, which was famous for its magnificence. It might have been built especially for a retired superior. The yard was empty with the fragrance of orchid. In the east of it, there were quincuncial piles for practicing martial arts.

    Leng Changxi dragged Qin Yunuan to the quincuncial piles until she wretched his wrists.

    Before she could say something, Leng Changxi said in a ming tone, ¡°I¡¯ve already told you not to befriend with her.¡±

    ¡°How would I know that General Leng had such an arrangement. I thought...¡± Qin Yunuan said the first half of the sentence confidently, but she stopped suddenly before finishing the second half. This was because Leng Changxi drew near her abruptly. He strolled slowly, forcing her to a quincuncial pile at the height of one man. Its coldness stimted her senses, which was in sharp contrast with the heat she saw in Leng Changxi¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°You thought what?¡±

    ¡°I thought...¡± Qin Yunuan extended her tone. However, the next moment Leng Changxi¡¯s hot lips covered her mouth with an overbearing search. He pressed her on the quincuncial pile, licked her mouth, and put her hand into her clothes.

 Chapter 115 Bath the Royal City in Blood

    <h4>Chapter 115 Bath the Royal City in Blood</h4>

    His burning hands and the hot temperature lingered along the edge of Qin Yunuan¡¯s corbone and came gradually down and deeper into her sensitive and fragile parts. Leng Changxi was rusty but repeatedly kneading her tender breasts without stopping the kiss. He leaned Qin Yunuan against the wooden stakes and lowered his head. The other vacant hand was slightly pinching Qin Yunuan¡¯s small but full chin. The touch of his fingers brought her euphoria.

    ¡°Did you me me for risking you?¡± it took a long time before Leng Changxi let go of Qin Yunuan, but still, the messy clothes kept reminding the two of them what had just happened.

    Qin Yunuan lowered her head and whispered back, ¡°I know that you never do things that you are not sure about.¡±

    Leng Changxi¡¯s eyes shed, and then he took Qin Yunuan by the arm. His little hedgehog always understood him so much. He lowered his head and kissed Qin Yunuan¡¯s smooth forehead, which was cold like the midnight wind.

    Leng Changxi¡¯s voice was darker than the night, ¡°In the past, I wasn¡¯t afraid of anyone. That was because I had nothing left behind. I acted courageously because I had no worries. But now, I have you. I can¡¯t make you like me. I want to pave the way for you. The Emperor found Lu Jinghua¡¯s rtionship with the Dou Family as early as nine years ago when she just had entered the pce. Still, the Dou Family was the founder of this country, and the old Master Dou had students everywhere which made it uneasy. Nine years, it took the emperor and me nine years to slowly wipe the Dou Family out from the royal court and leave only our men.¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised her head slightly and happened to meet Leng Changxi¡¯s deep and dark eyes. In the cool summer breeze, the sparks of those meeting eyes vanished in a sh. Nine years ago, Leng Changxi was eleven years old. Since then, he had been drawn into Qi¡¯splicated political struggles. He was doing things as a child that some adults couldn¡¯t have aplished.

    Leng Changxi smiled gently. He only needed one nce and hardly any thoughts about it to understand the meaning in Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes. His little hedgehog was worried about himself. Leng Changxi reached out his hand and touched the scattered hair on Qin Yunuan¡¯s temple. His slender fingers arranged those sparse hairs gently to the back of Qin Yunuan¡¯s ears.

    ¡°The Dou Family had always been a serious problem for the emperor and Queen Mother,¡± Leng Changxi continued, ¡°I wanted to take the opportunity and nt you in. On the one hand, I can make you close to me. As you may know, you are definitely a hundred times safer in Xiangguo Temple than in the Qin Family tonight. On the other hand, I could also take the chance and ask for marriage approval from Queen Mother.¡±

    Qin Yunuan lowered her head, ¡°Well.¡±

    Leng Changxi grinned, his fingers kept kneading Qin Yunuan¡¯s soft little hands, ¡°In fact, if I had done it in my usual temper, nobody would have stood in the way of my marriage. But Queen Mother is a woman that I extremely respected. Furthermore, I want a grand wedding for you, and I won¡¯t stop before our love bes themon knowledge of the whole city.¡±

    Qin Yunuan snorted, giving a weak punch in Leng Changxi¡¯s heart, ¡°I used to think that you were a Cool Face General who didn¡¯t care many mundane affairs, but I didn¡¯t expect you to love the grand shows now.¡±

    Leng Changxi lowered his head and bit the tip of Qin Yunuan¡¯s nose gently. His voice was tender and endlessly lingering on her ears, ¡°That¡¯s because I haven¡¯t met you. Now I want to knock on every family¡¯s door, saying you are going to be my wife, the only wife of Leng Changxi.¡±

    Qin Yunuan leaned on Leng Changxi¡¯s chest. After so many incidents and disasters, they didn¡¯t need too muchnguage to understand each other. She nodded, and her voice was low, ¡°Well, the only.¡±

    The next day, when the carriage took Qin Yunuan back to her family, it confirmed the sentence of Leng Changxi that Xiangguo Temple was indeed a hundred times safer than the mansion of Grand Commandant.

    Almost overnight, many of the mansions in the Royal City were suddenly attacked by masters. The people who came seemed to be explicitly aiming at the officials of the third-grade or higher, and the purpose was obvious. They all came directly to the officials¡¯ residence. They sneaked in, killed them with a stroke, and ruined the corpse.

    This is thest stubborn resistance of the Dou family. It¡¯s a pity that Sima Xiu and Leng Changxi had already prepared for a long time. They strengthened the defense in the Royal City and secretly renewed the security around the ministers¡¯ mansions. However, five ministers went for wine in the brothel together and stayed out all night. When they were finally found, the bodies looked terrible after being soaked overnight in the ancient well backyard of the whorehouse.

    When Qin Yunuan returned to the Qin Family, it was already in a mess.

    Qin Zhi started his career with the help of the Dou Family, but finally, he sent Dou Qing¡¯e to the Psycho Tower. The Dou Family would definitely send the most skilled killers for Qin Zhi¡¯s head. Although Leng Changxi added guards here, after the chaosst night, the courtyard was a little messy, leaving many traces of fighting. When Qin Yunuan entered the yard, she saw a servant in the porter went out, holding his bloody arm.

    Qin Zhi stood in the yard, looking at the empty yard where the antiques and pots of bonsai were shattered. His hair seemed to have turned gray overnight.

    ¡°Father,¡± Qin Yunuan greeted softly.

    Qin Zhi slowly lowered his eyes and looked at Qin Yunuan under the steps. His eyes were gray with no vitality at all,pletely unlike the shrewd Grand Commandant Qin on weekdays.

    ¡°You are back.¡± Qin Zhi¡¯s voicecked the majesty he had in the past. For the first time, he sounded like a father when he talked to Qin Yunuan. He knew in his heart that if it had not been Leng Changxi¡¯s care for Qin Yunuan and her family, the assassin¡¯s sword would have killed him as fast as lightning. He could never have the chance to stand here still.

    For the first time, he relied on a daughter of his concubine to survive. He had just received the news fortunately that the Dou Family had all been conquered. The Dou Family¡¯s power was cleaned out from the Royal City and Hangzhou almost at the same time overnight, like pulling up radishes in the fields with mud. Having heard about what happened to the family, Dou Qing¡¯e hanged herself in Psycho Tower.

    Finally, Qin Zhi had nothing to do with the Dou Family, and no one could threaten him again. The end of the Dou Family was a signal, suggesting that his days of relying on women to seek power had gone forever. Thinking of this, he smiled. The corner of his aged lips raised, he seemed worn and weary.

    Qin Yunuan just nced at him lightly and bowed down, ¡°Father, I¡¯ll go back first.¡±

    After all, Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t feel much paternity and affection from Qin Zhi. Qin Zhi loved himself so much that he couldn¡¯t give out his love to care for his family genuinely.

    Qin Yunuan was most concerned about Baochuan, nurse Liao, Ting Xue, and Concubine Chang, who had helped her.

    Only two ces in the Royal City weren¡¯t affected. One was Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, and the other was the Fuxi Courtyard.

    Maner ran in front. The gate of the Fuxi Courtyard squeaked open before knocking. Ting Xue was the one who opened the door. Her eyes were red, looking like she had cried. Tears that once had stopped came down again at a nce of Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Third Miss, you came back finally.¡± Ting Xue, who had been so calm, choked for the first time, ¡°Last night, I was distraught. Come in.¡±

    Immediately, nurse Liao came out along with Concubine Chang, who temporarily hid in the Fuxi Courtyardst night. Seeing Qin Yunuan was safe, all the lifted hearts dropped down.

    ¡°Sister!¡± suddenly, Qin Baochuan flew out of the house and into Qin Yunuan¡¯s arms with a crisp sound. His little hands wrapped around Qin Yunuan¡¯s calf and refused to let go, fearing that Qin Yunuan would run away again.

    Qin Yunuan suddenly felt that all the upsets and thrills she had experienced were worth it.

    Qin Yunuan squatted down and hugged Baochuan tightly, stroking Baochuan¡¯s head andforting him, ¡°I am back and fine. It is my fault to have scared you, Baochuan.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Qin Baochuan raised his head, holding back his tears though his eyes turned red. His sister taught him that boys don¡¯t cry, so he must not cry, ¡°I am worried about you, sister.¡± Qin Baochuan wiped the tears on Qin Yunuan¡¯s face and said, ¡°I am a man and should have protected you. But unfortunately, I couldn¡¯t do anything except studying. I think I am too useless. I have decided to live in the future like my brother-inw. Not only will I study hard on books of poems and art of war, but also I will exercise my body to learn martial arts. I won¡¯t let anyone bully my sister.¡±

    ¡°Brother-inw?¡± Qin Yunuan stunned slightly. Was Baochuan referring to Leng Changxi? She thought that Baochuan was too young to change the title ¡°brother-inw¡± freely.

    ¡°Third Miss, you don¡¯t know yet,¡± Concubine Chang handed Qin Baoduan in her arms to the wet nurse, taking Qin Yunuan into the house and smiled, ¡°On your way back, Queen Mother sent her decree, saying that Third Miss was beautiful both outside and inside and that she had good character. She bestowed on you the title of Infanta Ping of the fifth-grade of rank. Furthermore, a date should be picked for your marriage to General Leng.¡± After that, she smiled, ¡°I think the Infanta title isn¡¯t enough for you. After Third Miss getting married, another honorary title conferred by imperial mandate mightnd on your head.¡±

    Concubine Chang¡¯s inference was reasonable. Leng Changxi was the High General, and he had made outstanding achievements taking down the Dou Family. Qin Yunuan had also provided a lot of important clues. The rewards were indispensable for them.

    Qin Yunuan lowered her head and smiled shyly. What she was happy about was not how much the rewards were, how honored she was. What made her happy was that everything went so naturally.

    Sure enough, the Queen Mother¡¯s decree and the emperor¡¯s arrived sessively at the Qin Family at noon.

    Infanta Ping of the fifth-grade of rank meant that people without sses, like Qin Linfeng and Qin Yunzhuang, must salute when seeing Qin Yunuan. Kneeling at the side, Qin Linfeng and Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s faces turned cold. Qin Yunuan smiled weakly and took over the decree in the eunuch¡¯s hands. She heard the ttering chuckle of the eunuch who delivered the order again, ¡°Queen Mother would hold a feast in the pce tomorrow in celebration of recovering from a serious illness. You are specially invited. Third Miss, you are ady from now on. Don¡¯t forget to help me when in need. I¡¯ll rely on Third Miss Qin.¡±

 Chapter 116 Want You Dead

    <h4>Chapter 116 Want You Dead</h4>

    Qin Yunzhuang had heard much about ttering words. Still, she was ufortable when seeing the popr Eunuch You around the emperor trying to cater to Qin Yunuan, this daughter of a concubine. It was like needles pinning her heart.

    Qin Yunuan nodded her head with a smile. She was very humble and honest, ¡°My pleasure. You are an important man next to the emperor. I still have to rely on your reminder to prevent from doing anything inappropriate.¡± Qin Yunuan signaled with her eyes. Maner, who was next to her, stepped forward immediately and put a jade bracelet of excellent color into Eunuch You¡¯s hand without any trace.

    Eunuch You was stunned but then heard Qin Yunuan continue very naturally, ¡°I have heard that you have a hobby of collecting antiques. This is just a jade bracelet bought from the market a while ago. It is said to be from before the Six Dynasties. I am clumsy in evaluating the object. So I want to ask Eunuch You to take it back for good identification. You have a unique vision and would, of course, understand it more than I do.¡±

    The bribery in such a delicate way was impossible to refuse. Eunuch You smiled happily and satisfied, touching the shiny and quaint jade bracelet with the other hand secretly. It was warm to the touch and felt good. He didn¡¯t have to look at the bracelet to know how expensive this must be.

    ¡°Of course, as you have entrusted, I would look into it carefully.¡± Eunuch You smiled back and returned.

    Qin Yunuan turned back. Qin Yunzhuang scolded to her face, ¡°You are indeed a slut.¡±

    Qin Yunuan paused, and her eyes moved indifferently to Qin Yunzhuang. She had lost a lot of weight, almost overnight. But Qin Zhi hadn¡¯t told her that Dou Qing¡¯e hanged herself in Psycho Tower.

    ¡°Are you talking about yourself?¡± Qin Yunuan smiled slightly.

    ¡°Do you really think you could turn from a sparrow to a phoenix fawning on Leng Changxi, that illegitimate son of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion?¡± Qin Linfeng held Qin Yunzhuang back and spoke for Qin Yunzhuang, ¡°You should know better than other people. What you are in your bones. Your mother was nothing more than an embroidery girl climbing up my father¡¯s bed.¡±

    With a snapping sound, Qin Yunuan pped Qin Linfeng¡¯s face hard, as if she were exhausting her life¡¯s strength. Qin Yunuan felt her arms numb.

    This p came very suddenly, and Qin Linfeng didn¡¯t react at all. After the p, he red, ¡°How dare you, as a daughter of a concubine, to hit me?¡±

    Qin Linfeng waved his arm and was about to teach Qin Yunuan a lesson. Suddenly another hand pped on his face again, at a fast speed and a fierce strength ten times greater than before. Although Qin Linfeng was prepared, he was toote to hide. The opponent was speedy, giving him another two ps almost in the blink of an eye.

    ¡°Leng Shuang, enough. He doesn¡¯t worth your third p.¡± Qin Yunuan shouted at Leng Shuang to stop, who was enjoying the good fight. She was the sister of Leng Wu that Leng Changxi once mentioned, following Qin Yunuan back from the Xiangguo Temple together. On the way, Qin Yunuan saw Leng Shuang¡¯s skill. She was decisive and used only effective, deadly tricks. Although she couldn¡¯t be as powerful as Leng Wu, she was sturdy and nimble. It was very safe to carry her along the journey.

    Qin Yunuan wondered why people with skills like Leng Wu and Leng Shuang would willingly stay by Leng Changxi as a follower. From Leng Shuang¡¯s words, she learned that Leng Changxi had rescued them unintentionally. Since then, the brother and sister had decided to follow Leng Changxi.

    ¡°My father said that a good deed should be repaid.¡± Leng Shuang spoke very little, and her expression was cold. But from her firm eyes and automatic reflex of shielding others, Qin Yunuan believed that she was a warmhearted person. She was also convinced that she could warm her heart and draw her close.

    And Leng Shuang¡¯s two ps had well confirmed that she had begun to think on the side of Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°A maidservant dare to beat me?¡± Qin Linfeng was very embarrassed. He yelled angrily towards the family servant next to him, ¡°You, go there and tie this maidservant up. I¡¯d like to see who is in charge of the family after all.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare to move her!¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly shouted, and she took out the token of Infanta Ping of the fifth-grade of rank, which was awarded together with her suit. The bright token was like a shiny sword, choking Qin Linfeng suddenly.

    ¡°I am the Infanta of the fifth-grade of rank. My eldest brother, you should salute me. But I understand that you had been studying for a long time and forgot the rules. Then you insulted my birth mother and origin. Insulting an Infanta should be punished with a bludgeon of 80 times. I was considerate of your reckless behavior, and that was the reason I rewarded you with only a p. Now, brother, do you still want to punish my underling?¡±

    Qin Linfeng¡¯s face changed slightly, but his anger did not diminish. Qin Yunuan said towards Maner again, ¡°Maner, tell my elder brother, what punishment would one get if hemits the offense to the Infanta?¡±

    Maner was downright honest. ¡°In minor circumstances, he will be fined for one year¡¯s sry. If the circumstances are serious, he should be sent to the army.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled contemptuously, ¡°Sent to the army. Now it was a tense time between North Di and Qi. Our bordercked strong men.¡± Qin Yunuan said to the fellows around, ¡°Who wants to try? It was said that North Di could be very cruel to its captives. They cut off the head of a living person, cut off the ears, dig out the nose, shrink the head into a fistrge with liquid medicine, and hang it in the waist as a loot. If any of you were interested....¡±

    Before her words were finished, the little servants all retreated.

    Qin Yunuannded her eyes lightly on Qin Linfeng and smiled, ¡°What? Brother, do you want to try?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t make a big fuss about the emperor¡¯s casual marks. Did you really take yourself as someone important?¡± Qin Linfeng turned his head. Although he was not convinced, his tone had softened by half. He was reckless but still knew that hecked strengthparing to Qin Yunuan. He just hated why he hadn¡¯t killed Qin Yunuan in the first ce. Otherwise, she would not be so arrogant now.

    ¡°I did not assume that I am important,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled and shrugged, ¡°It¡¯s Queen Mother who titled me, and she looked up upon me.¡±

    The porter suddenly came to report, saying that there was an invitation from the pce. Grand Miss Qin was also invited to the banquet of Queen Mother tomorrow. Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s gloomy face suddenly lit up. Holding the invitation in her hand, she was rejoiced and couldn¡¯t help but said to Qin Yunuan, ¡°See, even though you are an Infanta, I will also be Prince Ray¡¯s wife in the future. I can also go where you can.¡±

    Hearing the words ¡°Prince Ray¡¯s wife¡±, Qin Yunuan saw Qin Linfeng¡¯s body stiffen, and the expression on his face soon became unnatural. His little sister, who he had been in love with, was about to marry another man. Anyone would feel unhappy, let alone the possessive Qin Linfeng.

    ¡°Yeah, congrattions to my elder sister.¡± Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t mind Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s show off at all. She was about to leave Qin Linfeng and Qin Yunzhuang as usual, but her movements stopped suddenly. She straightened her spine brightly, ¡°Look. I forgot about it again. Now it¡¯s time for my elder sister and brother to salute me. Brother, why don¡¯t you make up for your negligence?¡±

    ¡°You...¡± Qin Linfeng was choked with words. He was just about to take a step forward and teach a lesson to this daughter of a concubine when he nced at Leng Shuang, whose expression was solemn and murderous. He swallowed down his anger, bowed his head, and said unwillingly, ¡°See you, Infanta Ping.¡±

    Qin Yunuan gave him a smile, raised her head and left without replying.

    Soon after Qin Yunuan left, Qin Linfeng angrily removed the jade pendant from the waist, dropping it on the ground like an emotional disclosure. The servants had left and scattered around early, leaving only Qin Yunzhuang and Qin Linfeng.

    ¡°Brother, what should we do?¡± Qin Yunzhuang was distraught, ¡°Now the Dou Family had lost its power, and our cousin killed himself in Xiangguo Temple. I don¡¯t know what happened to our mother in the Psycho Tower. What should we do?¡± Qin Yunzhuang said, her tears shed like blossoms that fell with rain, and Qin Linfeng¡¯s heart softened all at once.

    With an impulse of motion, Qin Linfeng hugged Qin Yunzhuang and said, ¡°Rx, you have me. Even if no one else wants you, your elder brother will still be with you.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang couldn¡¯t help but tremble in Qin Linfeng¡¯s arms while crying, ¡°Tomorrow, what about the banquet? I couldn¡¯t win Qin Yunuan. If I failed to leave a good impression in front of the Queen Mother and empress, my life would be hard in the future.¡±

    ¡°You can rest assured,¡± Qin Linfeng said, wrapping his arms tightly around Qin Yunzhuang, ¡°Tomorrow, I won¡¯t let her take away your glory even if I had to exchange it with my life.¡±

    In the Fuxi Courtyard, Qin Yunuan just finished making a pot of Lapsang Souchong when Ting Xue entered the door. She nodded to Qin Yunuan and said, ¡°Third Miss, it¡¯s all arranged. We had people at the Psycho Tower and in the Caizhi Courtyard. Grand Miss will definitely not receive the news that Madam had died.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Qin Yunuan took a sip of tea.¡± ording to my father¡¯s temper, he will not take the initiative to tell Qin Yunzhuang. Hum, let¡¯s see what kind of show Qin Yunzhuang will have to make tomorrow. It¡¯s her nature to wear the most gorgeous clothes and the most precious jewelry to attend the banquet tomorrow. How dare a girl who just had lost her mother dress up so gorgeously? I don¡¯t even need to do anything tomorrow. The saliva of noblewomen in the power circle will drown her. She must be delusional attempting to bully Baochuan and me with her power after bing Prince Ray¡¯s wife!¡±

    Qin Yunuan saw everything very clearly. Because of this, Qin Yunzhuang was a weak opponent to her, but there was also Qin Linfeng beside her. Although he acted recklessly, he was still the heir of the Grand Commandant. It was a bit tricky.

    After a while, Leng Shuang knocked on the door and came in. She only nced at Maner serving tea next to Qin Yunuan and said, ¡°As Third Miss Qin had expected, Qin Linfeng is ready to take action.¡±

 Chapter 117 Opinionated

    <h4>Chapter 117 Opinionated</h4>

    Leng Shuang didn¡¯t call Qin Linfeng the Grand Young Master. Even though she served Qin Yunuan, it didn¡¯t imply that she served the Qin Family as well. Qin Yunuan was very much satisfied with that. That was exactly what she wanted from loyal servant girls, always clear regarding their positions and perspectives. Nurse Liao, Maner and Ting Xue were all very good at this. She didn¡¯t want to see another one like Tong.

    ¡°Very good.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled contemptuously. Qin Linfeng was really as reckless as he was in the previous life. However, in this life, Qin Yunuan had the advantage of knowing Qin Linfeng¡¯s weakness, Qin Yunzhuang.

    Under the blockade of Qin Yunuan, Qin Yunzhuang still hadn¡¯t received the news from the Psycho Tower when she set off the next day.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you know? The Psycho Tower is only half a day¡¯s drive away from the Royal City, send someone again.¡± Qin Yunzhuang scolded nurse Gui coldly. If she weren¡¯t getting her manicure done by three servant girls, she must have pped nurse Gui to calm her uneasy heart down. Nurse Gui had be more and more inefficient recently, and had been absent-minded in her work. Humph, these servants only had their own thoughts as the Dou Family went down.

    ¡°Forget it, every one of you is ungrateful.¡± Qin Yunzhuang was annoyed. She tossed the dyed flower juice beside her hand to the ground, pushed away the servant girls who were serving her, stared at them fiercely for a while, and then looked at nurse Gui and said, ¡°I don¡¯t care. When I return from the pce in the evening, I must know the news from the Psycho Tower.¡± Then, she turned to the rest of the servant girls and yelled, ¡°Why are you still standing here? Go away! You can¡¯t even do a nice manicure.¡±

    These three servant girls were sent here to serve Qin Yunzhuang just a while ago. That was because Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s temperament changed a lot from a while ago, from the dignified and generous Grand Miss Qin to an irritable and unreasonabledy. Qin Yunzhuang changed her servant girls multiple times, but none of them satisfied her.

    The servant girls left as if they were pardoned. Qin Yunzhuang closed her eyes, thinking that she would set off in half an hour, but her mood seemed to sink to the bottom of the sea. She was uneasy as long as she didn¡¯t have any news from the Psycho Tower. She rested her head on her hand, and kneaded her slightly swollen temple with another hand.

    Suddenly, she heard the door squeak open, which was followed by a soothing and pleasant smell, and the sound of someone picking up the small porcin bottle filled with flower juice and tiding up the desk.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to go away?¡± Qin Yunzhuang opened her eyes furiously, but she saw an ugly and unfamiliar looking servant girl, who seemed to be honest, packing up the mess from just now. As soon as she heard Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s shout, she immediately stopped and waited aside. She didn¡¯t dare to make any noise.

    Beautiful people would easily loosen their guard against the ugly ones. Seeing the timid look of the servant girl, even though Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s tone was still irritable, she seemed to have calmed down a little on the inside. ¡°You stupid thing, who let you in?¡±

    ¡°Grand Miss, the servant girls who serve you said that your room is dirty, so they send me to clean it up.¡±

    Sending someone in while Qin Yunzhuang was losing her temper. Apparently this servant girl was tricked by the others. It seemed that the ugly servant girl was indeed quite silly.

    ¡°Alright, go after you finish,¡± Qin Yunzhuang said impatiently, then she suddenly shifted the subject and asked, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you before. Are you new here?¡±

    ¡°The Grand Young Master sent me to your courtyard a couple days ago, saying that I have good make-up andbing skills and that I should serve Grand Miss well.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s eyes suddenly lighted up. Knowing that the ugly servant girl was sent by his elder brother, she immediately felt much closer with her. ¡°Do you really have good make-up andbing skills? Why haven¡¯t I heard about it from anyone else?¡±

    ¡°I look ugly, unlike you, Grand Miss. You are the most beautiful woman in the country. You are as pretty as a fairy. I only dare looking at Grand Miss from afar usually, and I would exim in my heart that there actually is someone who is as beautiful as a painting. If I could have the chance to do the nails and the hair of such a beauty like Grand Miss, I could die without regrets.¡±

    These words fit the mind of Qin Yunzhuang very much. She loved to be pretty. She loved to be praised. Moreover, she loved this kind of admiration from the ugly servant girl.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll give you a chance.¡± Qin Yunzhuang pouted her lips at her nails and the unfinished manicure, ¡°Finish these for me. If it¡¯s good indeed, I¡¯ll naturally reward you.¡±

    Hearing this, the ugly servant girl knelt on the ground and kowtowed as if it were a big favor. Then, she held Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s hand as if it were a treasure and started mixing the flower juice for her.

    Because of this incident, Qin Yunzhuang was a quarter of an hourte when she finally appeared at the gate of the mansion of Grand Commandant.

    Qin Yunuan was wearing a crimson water-spun top today, and a piece of sky silk skirt that Leng Changxi gave her as Su Chenghai. She was putting on light make-up only, and her lips were naturally red without putting any colors on. There was a beautiful gardenia silk flower diagonally inserted in her hair. Yesterday, Leng Changxi deliberately sent someone to inform Qin Yunuan that the Queen Mother loved gardenia the most. Although it¡¯s unnecessary to try too hard to please the Queen Mother, Qin Yunuan remembered that Leng Changxi once said the Queen Mother was someone that he highly respected. Because of this, Qin Yunuan was willing to dress up for the banquet in an equally respectful attitude.

    Meanwhile, as the gorgeous and beautiful Qin Yunzhuang with red nails appeared at the gate of the mansion, she formed a sharp contrast with Qin Yunuan. Qin Yunzhuang was still morous and bright as always. But after all that had happened, everyone seemed to think that Qin Yunuan who was recently titled the Infantra and confirmed the wedding with General Leng, with the gentle smile and attitude, was even more pleasant.

    ¡°Elder sister¡¯s here,¡± Qin Yunuan greeted her with a smile.

    To Qin Yunzhuang, Qin Yunuan¡¯s attitude was undoubtedly disgusting, but she can¡¯t get angry. The carriage waiting outside was sent directly by the Queen Mother in the pce. Everyone from the driver to the nannies and eunuchs worked for the Queen Mother. She had to stay pretty and elegant, or at least pretend to be so.

    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I just feel unwell, so I¡¯m a bitte,¡± Qin Yunzhuang bowed slightly.

    ¡°Really? If elder sister was feeling unwell, then what about the banquet?¡± Qin Yunuan dragged her tone.

    ¡°Naturally I¡¯ming along,¡± Qin Yunzhuang rushed to say. She immediately realized that she was too excited and slightly lost her manner, so she stroke her chest and said, ¡°Since this is an invitation from the Queen Mother, Yunzhuang would insist on going regardless.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her head and smiled slightly.

    ¡°Oh, what a beautiful carriage.¡± Qin Yunzhuang saw the carriage with four horses parking in front of the gate at first nce. The wheels were wood-colored and well-polished. The carriage curtains were purple underneath with yellow covering. Even the spikes on the carriage windows were made of fine silk satin. The windows were hollowed out, and a skylight was specially done on the carriage roof for venttion in the hot summer. It already looked sofortable from the outside, which made people wonder how exquisite and gorgeous the carriage could be on the inside.

    ¡°Yunuan also think it¡¯s nice.¡± Compared with Qin Yunzhuang, Qin Yunuan seemed very indifferent, but her eyes still showed a little joy. Seeing this, the people sent by the Queen Mother all felt that the Third Miss Qin was more sensible and decent.

    ¡°Okay, elder sister, let¡¯s go. It¡¯ste already.¡± Qin Yunuan carried her skirt and was about to board the carriage, but found that Qin Yunzhuang followed her subconsciously. She naturally thought that such a beautiful carriage was prepared for the first daughter of the mansion of Grand Commandant, or in the worst case, she would share the carriage with the daughter of a concubine.

    ¡°Grand Miss Qin, this is the carriage of Third Miss.¡± Maner suddenly smiled slightly and blocked Qin Yunzhuang. Then she pointed to the back and said loudly, ¡°Grand Miss, your carriage is the one back there.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang was stunned. Looking at the direction which Maner was pointing at, Qin Yunzhuang only saw amon carriage with the g of the mansion of Grand Commandant. Even though it was also finely decorated and set up, it was nothingpared to the majestic carriage of Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to sit in that carriage,¡± she blurted. Qin Yunzhuang had a bad temper recently, but she forgot that she was surrounded by Queen Mother¡¯s people. Although she regretted it the moment she said it, what was done cannot be undone.

    Qin Yunuan had already got in the carriage. She heard Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s sentence clearly. Qin Yunuan smiled and lifted the soft carriage curtain, looked at Qin Yunzhuang and said, ¡°If you¡¯re not willing to go by carriage, you can choose to go on foot. Since the empress likes you so much, elder sister, she won¡¯t me you for sure, even if you arrive tomorrow.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s nce immediately shot at her viciously like flying arrows. Qin Yunuan merely smiled gently, and her nce raised and formed an invisible barrier with imposing momentum, blocking and reflecting all the dissatisfaction of Qin Yunzhuang. In terms of a stare down, how could Qin Yunzhuang fight her?

    Seeing Qin Yunzhuang reluctantly get on the carriage behind her, Qin Yunuan ordered Maner, ¡°It¡¯s hot in such a summer day. The nannies and eunuchs must be thirsty. Maner, give them some money for tea.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was no longer the poor girl who had to make every cent worth. Golden Butterfly Embroidery House was now getting bigger and bigger in the regions south of the River. As Shen Xun was letting go, Qin Yunuan took over the management. Now she was the greatest shareholder of Golden Butterfly Embroidery House, a veritable richdy indeed.

    The carriage stopped at Rosefinch Gate, and the inviteddies had already entered. However, there was another carriage that arrived aste as Qin Yunuan¡¯s, and was getting checked at the gate.

    Judging from the decoration of the carriage, Qin Yunuan could recognize at a nce that it was from the Shangguan Mansion.

 Chapter 118 Hung Herself

    <h4>Chapter 118 Hung Herself</h4>

    A carriage from Shangguan Mansion. Naturally Shangguan Yee was the person sitting inside.

    Sure enough, Qin Yunuan saw Shangguan Yee, who was very well-dressed today,ing down from the carriage. The ruby hairpin nged, making a nice silver-bell-like sound.

    Right at that moment, Shangguan Yee looked up to see Qin Yunuan and Qin Yunzhuang who were here for the banquet. She suddenly figured an unnoticeable grin, with some sort of excitement and joy in it, but also some kind of creep. Qin Yunuan had always felt that since the death of Shangguan Rang, even though Shangguan Yee had restored the lively and cheerful look in front of other people, her nce was no longer pure anymore. It had been mixed with someplication of jealousy, hatred and unwillingness.

    ¡°You¡¯re actually here too.¡± Shangguan Yee lifted her head and looked at Qin Yunzhuang, who was wearing a heavy makeup, with contempt at the corner of her mouth, ¡°The Dou Family had gone down, and yet you have the mood to attend a banquet?¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you here too?¡± Qin Yunzhuang was not willing to be outdone. This was her first confrontation with Shangguan Yee. Although she already knew that her rtionship with Shangguan Yee had long been broken, and this confrontation was inevitable, she still felt uneasy as she saw thepletely different Shangguan Yee.

    Suddenly, looking at Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s gorgeous dress, Shangguan Yee suddenly understood why Qin Yunuan would tolerate Qin Yunzhuang toe together with her, and an arrogant smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. She said to Qin Yunuan, ¡°You are really a true master.¡±

    The sentence waspletely nonsense, but it made Qin Yunuan bow slightly and made Qin Yunzhuang inexplicably nervous. As soon as she thought about the words Qin Linfeng told her while holding her in his arms. Saying that he would get into the pce with her to protect her secretly, her heart seemed to rx a bit again.

    When the three of them rushed to the banquet, it had already begun.

    The Queen Mother of Qi nowadays was the sister of the old princess of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. They were both born in the pure and noble lineage of Duke Jingguo¡¯s Mansion. However, although the two shared the same mother, their rtionship was not as solid as the outsiders imagined.

    It was reasonable though. The Queen Mother was a true heroine. She did not only give birth to a son and a daughter for the previous Emperor, but also followed the previous Emperor to war. She was pregnant when the Qi army was about to lose in the war, yet she yed the battle drum in the rain of arrows, whichrgely boosted the morale of the soldier. They eventually won more by less and achieved this military miracle. That war was the most crucial one for Qi to conquer the Central ins. Right after that, Qi hadpletely forced North Di to the north of Luguan and unified the Central ins.

    Such a Queen Mother was undoubtedly shining and courageous, that her deeds were also written in the history of Qi and the female disciplines and training for the enlightenment of youngdies.

    While the old princess of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion was also a strong woman. She followed Prince Ning to settle the rebellion and made suggestions and tactics. The story of her protecting Chanzhou City on her own was widely told among the people. There was even an exaggerating saying that if it hadn¡¯t been for the sisters of Duke Jingguo¡¯s Mansion, it would have needed 20 extra years for Qi to unify the Central ins.

    The more simr they were, the moreplicated the rtionship between the two heroic figures would be, especially between these two clever women.

    When Qin Yunuan got seated, the old princess of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion was making a toast to the Queen Mother, ¡°Congrattions, sister, for recovering from the illness. I wish you a long life and good health.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was very clear about what the old princess of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion meant by ¡°illness.¡± It was the Dou Family, which the previous Emperor and the Queen Mother regarded as poisonous tumors since the establishment of Qi.

    The Queen Mother¡¯s nce inadvertently fell on Qin Yunuan, who had just arrived. As a reply to the toast of the old princess of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, she lifted the ss and replied openly, ¡°Thanks to the treatment of the wonderful doctor, I have recovered so quickly.¡± After she finished her sentence, she happily drank half a ss of fruit wine.

    The old princess smiled and replied, ¡°It¡¯s best for you to drink less, sister. Don¡¯t get drunk, it¡¯s harmful for the body.¡±

    ¡°Harmful for the body?¡± the Queen Mother smiled slightly, ¡°I¡¯ve always been drunk, always harming myself. What harm could it do?¡±

    ¡°Why did you say that, sister?¡±

    The Queen Mother just smiled at the old princess, but didn¡¯t reply. She suddenly looked at Qin Yunuan, looking surprised and delighted, ¡°You¡¯re finally here, Third Miss Qin.¡±

    Qin Yunuan quickly got up and bowed, ¡°There was a dy on the way, please forgive me, Queen Mother.¡±

    The informationwork of the Queen Mother was far-reaching. Her people already told her what had happened by the gate of the Qin¡¯s Mansion, so she naturally knew the real reason why Qin Yunuan camete. She didn¡¯t even bother looking at the well-dressed Qin Yunzhuang, and said, ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re here. I¡¯ve previously heard General Leng talking about how virtuous and elegant Third Miss Qin is. Now that I¡¯ve seen you, I could tell that it¡¯s true. You really are a nicedy. General Leng has a good taste.¡±

    The Queen Mother was excited, and Empress Chen echoed, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Third Miss Qin had contributed to eradicating the Dou Family, is that true?¡±

    Empress Chen smiled dignifiedly. Sure enough, it didn¡¯t rain but it pours. Qin Yunuan¡¯s fingers trembled slightly. Qin Yunzhuang was sitting right beside her. It would be chaotic to talk about her contribution in eradicating the Dou Family in front of Qin Yunzhuang.

    Qin Yunuan nodded and said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ve always believed that heaven helps whoever is on the right path and destroys whoever is on the wrong path. Nevertheless, my legal mother was from the Dou Family. It¡¯s not the most appropriate for me to talk about the eradication of the Dou Family.¡± On one hand, she expressed her own opinion and attitude. The Dou Family secretly controlled the government, colluded with the East Qin assassins and threatened the imperial power, it was karma that they got eradicated. On the other hand, she had expressed her stance. Qin Yunuan gave a perfect answer, from the country¡¯s point of view and the family¡¯s point of view.

    However, Qin Yunzhuang who was beside her was shaking. What did Qin Yunuan just say? Was the Dou Family eradicated?

    Eradication meant total ughter for the n. All the family members, even the students of her grandfather, would be implicated. Then mother must have been....

    Just when she was absent-minded, Qin Yunzhuang identally knocked over the wine ss beside her. The turquoise fruit wine sshed out of the cup with a snap, and quickly flowed down the table.

    ¡°Oh, my clothes,¡± Qin Yunzhuang screamed and stood up, utterly embarrassed while patting her skirt covered with fruit wine and leaning backwards.

    But it happened that Qin Yunzhuang specially wore an extremely magnificent long skirt today, and wore a thickyer of yarn clothes in this summer day. Right now, she was like a crazy butterfly running around, crashing into people to her left and right.

    ¡°Ouch, don¡¯t push me.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re stepping on me.¡±

    Soon, the banquet became chaotic.

    Qin Yunuan held a ss of wine on the side and looked at Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s panic as if she were watching a drama. At the same time, she was observing the reaction of the Queen Mother, and actually found that the Queen Mother also had a kind of indifferent look. It seemed that she had no interest in this kind of trivial matter, or she was waiting for something. To be more precise, she was waiting for Qin Yunuan to do something.

    When the time was right, Qin Yunuan just made a gesture towards Leng Shuang who was behind him. Then, a stone of the size of a fingernail hit Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s calf at a speed that normal people can¡¯t see.

    There was a loud thump, as Qin Yunzhuang fell heavily on the ground, together with the table and the fruit and wine on it. Her hair bun had been scattered, and her clothes were already filthy. She was shamed and embarrassed in front of the crowd. The once extremely proud first beauty of Qi was now lying on the ground like an underdog. At this moment, Qin Yunzhuang would rather find a hole in the ground and hide in there forever.

    Her calves trembled as if she were cramping, but no one was willing to take the initiative to help her up. Queen Mother had invited the noble women in the Royal City today. These nobledies had all been bullied by the arrogant mother and daughter before, so now they were quite sarcastic.

    ¡°Hey, who is this? Howe she¡¯s so rude? She must be a daughter of a concubine from some insignificant family.¡±

    ¡®What are you talking about? I recognize this skirt. Isn¡¯t she sister Yunzhuang from the mansion of Grand Commandant?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense. Sister Yunzhuang is always polite, how could she be so rude? Besides, sister Yunzhuang always dresses up nicely. How could a woman like this, who looks like a prostitute, be sister Yunzhuang?¡±

    ¡°Fair enough. I heard this morning that Mrs. Qin of the mansion of Grand Commandant had hanged herself in the Psycho Tower. If this is really sister Yunzhuang, it would be too unfilial to dress like this and attend the banquet since her mother just passed away.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, this must not be sister Yunzhuang.¡±

    ¡°Hanged herself? Mother had already hanged herself in the Psycho Tower?¡±

    It was like a thunderbolt on a sunny day to her. Qin Yunzhuang got up from the ground immediately. She dragged her cramped legs and moved step by step to the woman who had just spoken. The forlorn and bitter sound was likeing from a ghost crawling out of an ancient well. ¡°What do you mean? What happened to my mother? How could my mother hang herself? Is my mother already... already dead?¡± she said the word ¡°dead¡± very lightly, because she couldn¡¯t believe it and didn¡¯t want to believe it.

    ¡°Oh, why? It turns out that Grand Miss Qin didn¡¯t know it yet. The people in the Royal City have heard about it though. In the morning right after the young master of the Dou Familymitted suicide in the Xiangguo Temple, Madam Qin also hanged herself with rope in the Psycho Tower. s. However, even if Madam Qin didn¡¯tmit suicide, she won¡¯t live long either. It was said that she was infected with leprosy in the Psycho Tower. It was a disease which patients feel extremely itchy. Some of them even scratch themselves to death, which is really....¡±

    ¡°You shut up! Don¡¯t talk about my mother like this!¡± Qin Yunzhuang was acting like crazy and rushed towards that woman.

    ¡°Stop her!¡± Empress Chen suddenly ordered sternly, ¡°This is the pce. How could we allow such a little crazy woman fooling around?¡±

 Chapter 119 Rumors Spread

    <h4>Chapter 119 Rumors Spread</h4>

    Two nannies who had strong arms acted immediately. However, it seemed that they were unable to stop Qin Yunzhuang who burst out. Getting rid of the constraint of these two nannies, she turned around to run to Qin Yunuan and kept yelling, ¡°I know it was you! You, a shameless bitch! Because of you, my mother was locked up in the Psycho Tower. Because of you, my mother got infected with the leprosy. Also because of you, my mothermitted suicide. Qin Yunuan, what do I owe you? Why did you treat my mother and me like this?¡±

    What did she owe her? Qin Yunuan took a light nce at Qin Yunzhuang. In the past when she just came back to life, she indeed bore a strong hatred for Qin Yunzhuang. Now, however, she didn¡¯t even want to waste time to hate her. In Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes, Qin Yunzhuang was just a mad dog, a cornered dog that bit people at will. At present, Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t have to do anything to humiliate Qin Yunzhuang and simply the gossip could kill her.

    ¡°Sister, what are you talking about? Yunuan is also unwilling to see this happen. It was our father who sent mother to the Psycho Tower. After all, mother went mad at that time. Everyone in the Fuxi Courtyard had seen how mother took me down to the ground, hit me and scolded me. The old princess of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion also saw that. Mother was as mad and crazy as you now, which scared me a lot.¡± Qin Yunuan took a step back and Leng Shuang guarded her closely. Although she thought she could easily hold down Qin Yunzhuang who acted like a virago, Leng Shuang still stayed close to Qin Yunuan owing to Leng Changxi¡¯s order.

    Qin Yunuan seized the opportunity to get the old princess of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion involved in. The old princess of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion who saw what happened was the most convincing witness and Qin Yunuan had deliberately nned to expose it to everyone. After Qin Yunuan finished her sentences, the gossip spread at once.

    ¡°Oh, God. So is it possible that sister Yunzhuang also goes crazy?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. Maybe the madness is hereditary.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not crazy! I¡¯m not!¡± Qin Yunzhuang tried hard to exin. However, the harder she tried, the crazier she looked. Even those nannies who came to hold her stepped back unconsciously.

    ¡°Come here to drag her down,¡± Empress Chen shouted at nannies who scattered.

    Hearing this, Qin Yunzhuang burst out and waved her arms to evade ¡°malicious people¡±. In her eyes, everyone in this world except Qin Linfeng was hostile to her.

    Empress Chen frowned. She remembered that Qin Yunzhuang was a polite and discerning girl despite herter inappropriate behaviors. She had never imagined that Qin Yunzhuang could be as crazy as a virago. Thinking of the terrible dead look of Dou Qing¡¯e, Empress Chen couldn¡¯t help worrying whether Qin Yunzhuang also went crazy, just like her mother.

    Besides, the Dou Family fell from power suddenly. Before this, she could still take advantage of Qin Yunzhuang to work closely with the Dou Family. But now, the marriage of Sima Ray and Qin Yunzhuang became useless. Moreover, Qin Yunzhuang was mad. The more Empress Chen thought of, the more indifferently she looked at Qin Yunzhuang. The look in her eyes was as cold as a frozen ice house and nothing but spooky chillness could be felt.

    Qin Yunuan carefully observed the look of everyone at the banquet and she thought now was the right time. Receiving the signal Qin Yunuan sent, Leng Shuang threw out a silver needle directly to Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s acupoint to make her faint.

    Qin Yunzhuang who was fiery just now suddenly stared nkly, thought nothing and fell down to the ground. Then, the scattered nannies dared to step forward to hold her arms and wrists, asking Empress Chen about instructions on how to deal with her.

    ¡°Queen Mother, how do you think she should be dealt with?¡± Empress Chen turned around and lowered her head to ask Queen Mother.

    Queen Mother squinted and said, ¡°Now that Grand Miss and Ray have engaged, she is already our family. When still having to mourn for her mother, she wears mboyant clothes. Obviously, she isn¡¯t rational or well-educated and needs more training. Send her to the Yeting Pce and let nannies there teach her how to be tolerant and polite.¡±

    People in the Yeting Pce specially undertook rough work such as washing clothes of eunuchs and maids. Losing a part of their bodies, eunuchs had urinary problems, so all their clothes were dirty, having a strong and awful smell. In general, only maids and eunuchs who made mistakes would work in the Yeting Pce as a punishment. Now, Qin Yunzhuang, the exalted daughter of the Grand Commandant and the future wife of Prince Ray, was going to work there too.

    Empress Chen was shocked. Originally, she intended to take this opportunity to break off the engagement between Ray and Qin Yunzhuang. Although they two had been seen naked by many people and gossiped, they still could cancel the wedding if Qin Yunzhuang were deemed crazy. It was because Qin Zhi definitely was not that thick-skinned to ask his mad daughter to marry Prince Ray, regardless of the emperor¡¯s decision.

    But now, Queen Mother not only epted Qin Yunzhuang as the wife of Prince Ray but also ordered to send her to the Yeting Pce. Wasn¡¯t she disparaging Empress Chen?

    ¡°What¡¯s your opinion?¡± Queen Mother slowly turned to Empress Chen and asked.

    ¡°Queen Mother, that¡¯s fine.¡± Empress Chen had no choice but to agree.

    Queen Mother turned her head back with satisfaction and smiled. She well knew Empress Chen who would always behave as a good daughter-inw in public.

    ¡°Speaking of the engagement,¡± Queen Mother changed a topic and said to Qin Yunuan, ¡°I have heard of that General Leng proposed a marriage in the court. The emperor hasn¡¯t permitted it considering your status gap. Third Miss, thanks to your sincere pray in Xiangguo Temple, I can recover soon. Now that you are honored with the infanta title, I think it¡¯s time for you two to choose a good day for wedding.¡±

    Full of shyness and blush, Qin Yunuan lowered her head slightly and replied, ¡°Queen Mother, could you choose a date for us?¡±

    Queen Mother didn¡¯t turn her request down and said with a smile, ¡°The 23rd day of this month is good. Empress Chen also ns to hold wedding on that day for Ray and Grand Miss. But it¡¯s a pity that Grand Miss now has to learn manners in the Yeting Pce. To make full use of the good omen, General Leng and you can get married on that day.¡±

    The 23rd day indeed was a good day, but there were only 7 days left for wedding preparation. In such a hurry....

    ¡°As for theplex wedding preparation,¡± Queen Mother seemed to know what Qin Yunuan worried about and said, ¡°General Leng started it long time ago. I also prepare something for you. Seven days is enough.¡±

    Right. If Leng Changxi was determined to marry her at the very beginning, he must start to prepare for the wedding long time ago. Thinking of this, Qin Yunuan was so happy and delightful as if she had eaten arge spoon of honey.

    After this episode, the banquet went on. When she woke up, Qin Yunzhuang already found herself in the smelly Yeting Pce. She struggled to get out of this ce, but the nanny aside told her in a cold voice that it was Queen Mother who sent her here.

    Used to be a gracefuldy who did no rough work, she now had to wash clothes for disgusting eunuchs.

    Wait. Where was Qin Linfeng, her big brother? Didn¡¯t he say that he would go into the pce to protect her?

    At the same time, Qin Linfeng was no better than Qin Yunzhuang. As nned, he would disguise himself as a eunuch and get into the Pce through the token bought from the ck market. Then at the banquet Queen Mother organized, he could closely protect Qin Yunzhuang, his true and only love, from the bullying of Qin Yunuan, a lowborn girl whose mother was a concubine.

    However, when he just put on a eunuch suit....

    ¡°Are you awake?¡± feeling dazed, Qin Linfeng heard a clear female voice. Suddenly, he shivered and opened his tired eyes. He knew well about this ghostly voice. It was from the malicious daughter of a concubine in the Fuxi Courtyard.

    ¡°It¡¯s really you.¡± At his first sight, he saw Qin Yunuan sitting opposite on a temple chair and leisurely drinking tea. Qin Linfeng wanted to move but only found out that his arms and legs were tied tightly with a hemp rope on a cross-shape wooden pole. He couldn¡¯t move at all.

    ¡°You, wicked woman! Set me free!¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled and put down the lukewarm tea cup, ¡°I don¡¯t think you now have the right to order me.¡±

    ¡°How can you treat me like this?¡± Qin Linfeng yelled. He still thought he was the exalted son of the mansion of Grand Commandant while Qin Yunuan was just a humble girl whose mother was an embroiderer.

    ¡°Because of this.¡± Qin Yunuan pulled out a small sealed blue-and-white porcin bottle, ¡°Brother, I remember how you threatened me before. You said you had traveled to many ces so you knew many methods to torture people. You could get venomous insects from southwest areas or North Di to torment me. To be honest, I thought you were kidding at that time. But now, I truly see how powerful these methods are.¡±

    Qin Linfeng turned away, trying to ignore Qin Yunuan. He was wholeheartedly worried about Qin Yunzhuang. Qin Yunuan was fine, so Qin Yunzhuang was not; because....

    ¡°This is called Qinghua Powder.¡± Qin Yunuan held the bottle and showed it to Qin Linfeng, ¡°You nned to put it in my food. Such powder can drive people extremely crazy and they behave as if they really went mad. I tricked Dou Qing¡¯e and locked her up in the Psycho Tower so you want a revenge. You want me to experience how it feels when I am clear-minded but deemed crazy.¡±

    Qin Linfeng snorted and said, ¡°Set me free if you are sensible.¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t finished my sentences.¡± Qin Yunuan blinked and wore an innocent look, ¡°I found out your trick. Brother, can you guess what I did then?¡±

 Chapter 120 Everything Settled

    <h4>Chapter 120 Everything Settled</h4>

    ¡°I¡¯m not interested,¡± Qin Linfeng said indifferently. But in his mind, he hade up with many possibilities. The worst one was that....

    ¡°I put this powder into sister¡¯s flower-made nail polish. Brother, I dose you with your own physique, so I may not have the chance to go mad as you think. If you are interested, you can go to the Yeting Pce to ask sister how profound and wonderful this feeling is.¡±

    ¡°You are so malicious,¡± Qin Linfeng gnashed. Speaking of Qin Yunzhuang, he felt deeply heartbroken.

    ¡°Not as malicious as you,¡± Qin Yunuan stood straight and smiled, ¡°An eye for an eye. If I¡¯m deemed malicious for doing so, how should you be described? Aren¡¯t you or Dou Qing¡¯e malicious?¡±

    ¡°Yunzhuang did nothing!¡± Qin Linfeng shouted out.

    ¡°She did way more than you knew,¡± Qin Yunuan replied lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t you know how she got engaged with Prince Ray? In the painting hall that day, so many people had seen what she did. Now in the Royal City, rumors go that Grand Miss used philter on Prince Ray so that....¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Qin Linfeng was unwilling to hear this. Qin Yunzhuang was not only his dear sister but also his secret love. Three years ago, he clearly realized that he loved this delicate and charming sister. Then, he chose to leave. He would rather travel outside for study than stay home to confront his embarrassing and abnormal love.

    However, when he came back after receiving an urgent letter from Dou Qing¡¯e, his love for Qin Yunzhuang which he thought died down red again at the sight of her. He was distressed when knowing that Dou Qing¡¯e was determined to send Qin Yunzhuang to the pce to marry Prince Ray and that Qin Yunzhuang was caught seducing Prince Ray in public. He felt like that his beloved treasure was stolen by a man who wouldn¡¯t cherish it and that he could never get it back.

    ¡°The wedding of sister and Prince Ray has been postponed.¡± Qin Yunuan whispered to Qin Linfeng, ¡°You still have a chance.¡± Then, Qin Yunuan straightened up and took a few steps back, giving Qin Linfeng a deep nce. She didn¡¯t like to get involved in such a mess but she was happy to be a troublemaking bystander. After all, in her previous life, Sima Ray, Qin Yunzhuang and Qin Linfeng made Baochuan and her suffer a lot. She just paid a little back to them.

    Stepping back to the door, Qin Yunuan left her back to tightly tied Qin Linfeng. With the sunshineing in, the light and shade were in stark contrast, dividing the inside and outside into two different worlds. Qin Linfeng squinted to get used to the strong sunshine that came in suddenly.

    ¡°Set him free.¡± Qin Yunuan turned her head slightly and ordered Leng Shuang who stood near the door.

    Leng Shuang was a little hesitant. Although she didn¡¯t fear Qin Linfeng, the exalted son of the mansion of Grand Commandant. She was afraid that setting him free without any preparation would do harm to Qin Yunuan who she should protect.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He¡¯s not that threatening.¡± Qin Yunuan kept her chin up. She already showed her attitude before Qin Linfeng and clearly told him that she knew every detail about the rtionship between Qin Yunzhuang and him. She knew his secret so he would not take risks for the sake of Qin Yunzhuang.

    A few dayster, the news about the wedding of Infanta Ping, or the daughter of the mansion of Grand Commandant, and Leng Changxi, High Guardian General, had spread in the Royal City.

    Workers in many shops in the Royal City became busy because a few months earlier, masters from the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion had ordered many wedding cakes and silk. Besides, Queen Mother also sent people to ce orders. Everything from engagement, divination, matchmaker invitation to betrothal gift preparation all went smoothly in just a few days. It seemed that seven days was fairly enough for preparing a wedding. Moreover, therge order of wedding cakes and the grand scene could predict that this wedding would be the most spectacr one in the past decade in the Royal City.

    In the mansion of Grand Commandant, peonies were in full bloom to ord with other blooming flowers in the city. Seemingly, this allowed people to temporarily forget the turmoil that happened a few days ago.

    Towards noon, it was the hottest time in a day. But Qin Yunuan¡¯s room was not hot thanks to an arm-long ice block which Leng Changxi sent to her for cooling down. Concubine Chang teased Qin Yunuan and said that they two weren¡¯t married yet, but Leng Changxi cared her so much.

    Earlier, Maner prepared a bowl of lotus-nuts and cubilose soup on which the translucent cubilose, lotus nuts and several ice cubes were floating. It looked really delicious.

    ¡°Third Miss, have some soup. You have read ount books for a long time.¡±

    Shen Xun had left all affairs in Golden Butterfly Embroidery House to Qin Yunuan but she was not very good at running shops at the very beginning. Later she learned how to read ount books and use abacuses from Concubine Chang. Although she was skilled at reading ount books now, it still took her a lot of time and energy.

    ¡°How¡¯s Qin Yunzhuang?¡± Qin Yunuan took a sip of the tasty cubilose soup and asked about Qin Yunzhuang.

    ¡°It¡¯s said that Grand Miss had a fight with nannies again. Grand Young Master was exasperated and went to pce at once, nning to argue with Empress Chen. Luckily, Master¡¯s servants had stopped him at the gate. Otherwise, he would have led to disasters.¡±

    Qin Yunuan snorted andmented, ¡°It seems that Qin Linfeng can seek trouble for himself and push himself to the hell. We can save much energy.¡± Qin Yunuan spooned up cubilose and tasted it carefully. Then, something more serious urred to her. She frowned and asked, ¡°How is North Di going? It¡¯s said that Sima Ruo and Princess Saichun have engaged. How is the assassin ident resolved?¡±

    Maner stood in amazement. When she nced at the door, she saw a familiar figure which showed up unexpectedly. Wearing a smile, she tilted her head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know this but someone knows.¡± After finishing her sentence, she pouted her lips towards the door and hinted Qin Yunuan to take a look.

    Confused, Qin Yunuan turned her head and saw Leng Changxi who stood straight at the door against the midday brightest sunshine. It was already dog days, but Leng Changxi still dressed in dark purple. His mask shone under the dazzling sunshine and it was as shiny as his star-like eyes. Leng Changxi grinned with his eyebrows naturally going up. He was really joyful, not pretending to be happy.

    He had been in such a happy mood for many days. He hadn¡¯t seen Qin Yunuan for a long time. Now, the girl he missed so much sat right before him. She read books quietly and drunk cubilose soup gracefully. Her charming gesture, perfect move and every part of her would all belong to him shortly. She was going to marry him, bing his own love and only wife.

    In Qi, engaged but unmarried couples should not meet each other in private as required. However, Leng Changxi never cared about such stereotypes and these wouldn¡¯t keep him from meeting Qin Yunuan.

    He missed her, so he went to meet her. That was it.

    Maner tittered. ¡°I¡¯m going to serve your future husband a cup of tea.¡± Then, she left and closed the door, leaving them alone to have a talk.

    ¡°You¡¯re really...¡± Qin Yunuan looked down, ¡°In the broad daylight, why are you so bold?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t want me to meet you?¡± Leng Changxi still wore a smile, ¡°So I¡¯d better go.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Qin Yunuan unconsciously grabbed his arm but Leng Changxi intentionally dragged her and held her in his arms. The thin summer clothes couldn¡¯t hide their beating hearts. Neither could the chillnessing from the ice block cool down their stronger passion.

    Qin Yunuan huddled up in his arms and couldn¡¯t move. Leng Changxi hugged her tightly and put his weight on her so that they leaned on the pir. The light yellow gauze curtain hung on the pir therefore fell down to cover Qin Yunuan¡¯s blush and tender face as well as her full and lustrous lips. This added some seducing and hazy vibe.

    Leng Changxi took a deep breath and he was stunned by Qin Yunuan¡¯s astonishing beauty. He took off his mask with one hand and showed his perfect and handsome face. He kissed on Qin Yunuan¡¯s lips gently.

    Through the silky gauze curtain, he kissed her hard and tasted her saliva. Her sweet and mellow taste was so good that Leng Changxi didn¡¯t want to stop.

    Indulged in intimacy, Leng Changxi moved his hand down until he reached the long and thin belt around Qin Yunuan¡¯s waist. Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t dress too much when she stayed in her room. The belt seemed to be the only barrier between Leng Changxi and her. The man gave her a deep kiss and bent down slowly to quickly tear off her belt.

    As the belt fell to the ground, Qin Yunuan¡¯s thin clothes fell too, exposing her dusty pink bra and white round shoulder. Leng Changxi¡¯s hands were as hot as a soldering iron.

    ¡°Can I?¡± Leng Changxi suddenly stopped to ask her in a low and hoarse voice.

 Chapter 121 Wedding Day

    <h4>Chapter 121 Wedding Day</h4>

    ¡°May I?¡± The words seemed to have some sort of after tones that swirled in Qin Yunuan¡¯s ears.

    Leng Changxi¡¯s eyes were as bright as the stars. His fingertips were as hot as fire. Qin Yunuan was feeling like floating between the stars and the fire as if she had lost control of herself. She was sinking indefinitely in Leng Changxi¡¯s tender embracement. It was like a misty and beautiful dream that made people unwilling to wake up.

    ¡°Hmm.¡± Qin Yunuan muttered dreamily.

    Leng Changxi shuddered as if he had been pardoned, and he removed his shirt quickly with one hand.

    Leng Changxi was extremely patient. He didn¡¯t ask for it anxiously. Instead, he kissed Qin Yunuan¡¯s neck, face and ruddy cute little earlobes more and more affectionately. He licked repeatedly, and Qin Yunuan trembled again and again. The atmosphere was fiery, and the breaths were romantic.

    Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t wait. He held Qin Yunuan across his chest with his big hands and walked directly towards the bed. He pressed her hard on the bed and lifted the other hand to release the bed curtain. He knew exactly what he wanted to do. He wanted the woman in front of him. He wanted her heart, her body, her everything. He extremely desired the post-marriage life between them. She would give birth to their child, no, children.

    Suddenly, thinking of the children, Leng Changxi slowed down. He stared at Qin Yunuan, who was underneath him, for a long time.

    The longsting passion made Qin Yunuan¡¯s breath short, but Leng Changxi tried hard to calm himself down. Right, the children. He couldn¡¯t make Qin Yunuan pregnant in this situation. Their children should be formed on the night of the most magnificent wedding in the Royal City in the past decade. It should be a wonderful wedding night envied by everyone.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qin Yunuan gently leaned on Leng Changxi¡¯s arm. She thought that Leng Changxi was annoyed by trivial things in the office again, or something big was going to happen. For a young man who just turned twenty, the responsibility on Leng Changxi was too great.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Leng Changxi gently leaned down and kissed Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes, ¡°Just, not yet, Yunuan. I love you. I really do. I am giving you the most solemn wedding. Give me yourselfpletely by then, is that fine?¡±

    This was the first time Leng Changxi said ¡°I love you¡± to Qin Yunuan. Although Leng Changxi¡¯s actions in the past had already proven that firmly, Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart still felt utterly warm when she heard him said those words so tenderly.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Yunuan hugged Leng Changxi¡¯s neck as she nodded and whispered, ¡°I love you too.¡±

    When Maner came in again, the two had already put on their clothes. Although nothing had really happened between the two, Maner and Ting Xue were both looking at them suspiciously.

    Qin Yunuan smiled shyly. She just added tea for Leng Changxi while sending nurse Liao to find Baochuan. In fact, after knowing what Leng Changxi was capable of, Baochuan had been shouting all day that he wanted to practice Kung Fu and learn military strategies and tactics in order to protect his sister.

    After a while, Qin Baochuan ran in with neat clothing. It was hot outside, so Qin Baochuan was sweaty after he ran.

    ¡°Look at you, why the rush?¡± Qin Yunuan smiled and pulled Qin Baochuan to herself. Then she took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat for Qin Baochuan. However, Qin Baochuan¡¯s attention was all on Leng Changxi.

    The little boy Qin Baochuan bowed down to Leng Changxi seriously with full sincerity and frankness, and said loudly, ¡°General Leng, please ept me as a disciple.¡±

    Leng Changxi had already put the mask on now. His deep and bright eyes seemed extraordinarily shiny under the ck mask. Qin Yunuan knew Qin Baochuan¡¯s admiration for Leng Changxi, but she didn¡¯t expect that Qin Baochuan would do this.

    Leng Changxi smiled casually and said, ¡°Get up first. Tell me, what do you want to learn?¡±

    Qin Baochuan thought about it seriously and then looked at Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan who was smiling by his side. Then he said firmly, ¡°Baochuan wants to learn swordsmanship. And when he learns well, he can be as powerful as General Leng and protect his sister from being bullied.¡±

    Leng Changxi only nced at Qin Yunuan, ¡°No one could bully her with my protection. Learn something else.¡±

    Qin Baochuan was unconvinced and said, ¡°But Baochuan wants to learn swordsmanship. Please fulfill my wish, general Leng.¡± After he said that, he knelt to the ground and saluted like a hero.

    ¡°Learning swordsmanship is not something that can be done overnight. Besides, your body is not the best for learning martial arts. However, you are smart and intelligent. It is better for you to be a literati. You could use your pen to defeat millions of soldiers.¡±

    What Leng Changxi said was the truth. Qin Zhi himself was originally a literati. The past three generations of the Qin family had nothing to do with martial arts at all. Besides, Qin Baochuan was weak since young. Even if Qin Yunuan trained him with cold bath, it only enhanced his resistance and made him less likely to get ill. However, Qin Baochuan¡¯s intelligence and cleverness were obvious to all. Even the teacher of the White Horse Academy, who often lent books to Qin Yunuan and Qin Baochuan, said that Qin Baochuan was quite talented with his own point of view from the reading.

    ¡°But Baochuan just wants to learn swordsmanship to protect his sister. Baochuan has read those books already but felt that they aren¡¯t really useful. It would be better to have good martial art skills.¡± Qin Baochuan insisted.

    Qin Yunuan frowned slightly. She didn¡¯t know since when did Qin Baochuan start having such thoughts. Qin Baochuan¡¯s changes made her a little worried. Maybe it was because of the recent events that happened to Qin Yunuan that made Qin Baochuan want to protect his sister. However, it didn¡¯t suit Qin Baochuan indeed.

    Leng Changxi just smiled and pulled a page of paper from the desk. He handed it to Qin Baochuan and said, ¡°Try your best and see how far you can throw this paper.¡±

    Although Qin Baochuan didn¡¯t know what he meant, he still did it. However, no matter how hard he tried, the light piece of paper just fell a step away, swaying back and forth, and swayed back again.

    Leng Changxi kept silent and looked at Qin Baochuan for a long time before saying, ¡°Now roll the paper into a ball and see how far you can throw it.¡±

    Qin Baochuan did so and easily threw the small paper ball out of the house.

    Looking at the white paper ball rolling into the yard, Qin Baochuan frowned. He seemed to understand something but didn¡¯t understand it thoroughly.

    ¡°This is the power of knowledge,¡± Leng Changxi said after a long while, ¡°If you only have brute strength, it¡¯s like throwing a piece of paper. You have the power, but you don¡¯t know how to make use of it. However, if you have sufficient vision and knowledge, you know the shortcuts to sess. Maybe books can¡¯t give you immediate feedback, but they can change you from the inside out. As long as you want, you can be extremely powerful because of knowledge.¡±

    Qin Baochuan listened thoughtfully, and Leng Changxi added, ¡°The great schr Mr. Shangguan Yi was already sixty-three years old when he guarded the city of Mai on his own and protected the people in the city. He knew nothing about martial arts, and he was physically weak. All he had was the arrogance and pride of a literati. The so-called literati and military men seem to be clearly differentiated, but the logic behind is the same.¡±

    Qin Baochuan¡¯s eyes lit up, and he finally understood. He arched his hands towards Leng Changxi and said, ¡°Baochuan understands.¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded slightly but heard Qin Baochuan loudly shouting again, ¡°Thank you, brother-inw.¡± After that, the little boy ran out of the room, satisfied.

    ¡°I¡¯m now incapable of disciplining him anymore.¡± Qin Yunuan was ashamed, as she lowered her head and nced at Leng Changxi.

    Leng Changxi was quite calm. He touched the edge of his mask and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I think it¡¯s good. He¡¯s a child that can be taught.¡± No one knew whether the remark was for understanding the reason just now or Baochuan calling him ¡°brother-inw¡±.

    Leng Changxi sat for a while longer. Thinking of earning the trust of his to-be brother-inw so easily, he smiled more and more brightly. At dusk, Leng Changxi could stay no longer. As they separated, he kissed Qin Yunuan¡¯s cheeks again and again, bit Qin Yunuan¡¯s tiny earlobes and licked back and forth. He whispered, ¡°Wait for me. Three dayster, you¡¯re my legal wife.¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her head and whispered back. Even though her voice was small, Leng Changxi was very satisfied.

    Three dayster, early in the morning, the chaperones who had been invited to the mansion the previous night entered one by one. Qin Yunuan got up early and was cleaned and groomed by arge group of festively dressed chaperones and servant girls. They washed her face and put makeup on for her.

    The wedding gown had been delivered to Qin Yunuan¡¯s house on the day before. It was said to be the treasure of Yuman Embroidery Shop. The long skirt was adorned with the most brilliant East Qin pearls, with red gemstones as the buttons on the cor. Together with the gold thread embroidered pattern on the belt, the whole gown didn¡¯t only fit snugly, but also set off Qin Yunuan¡¯s slim waist and slender arms. It made Qin Yunuan look more feminine and charming than usual. After Qin Yunuan was done, both Maner and Ting Xue opened their mouths wide. Qin Yunuan was actually so stunning after heavy makeup.

    ¡°Third Miss is so pretty. General Leng will definitely like it as he sees it.¡±

    ¡°Really, how can you call him General Leng? You need to call him master soon.¡±

    ¡°Okay, you two,¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s shyness was apparent, ¡°You talk too much.¡±

    Everything was ready. Just as she was preparing to get on the marriage sedan, nurse Liao rushed in, looking panicked. She spoke against Qin Yunuan¡¯s ears, ¡°Third Miss, grand Miss is suddenly back.¡±

 Chapter 122 Auspicious Wedding Day

    <h4>Chapter 122 Auspicious Wedding Day</h4>

    Qin Yunuan looked calm when she found that nurse Liao looked a little bit worried. Now Qin Yunzhuang could not destroy her happy mood, especially today, such a special day.

    But nurse Liao felt really worried, ¡°I heard that the master got the Grand Miss back from the imperial pce, and she looked so skinny. The master thought she was very poor, so he arranged many nurses and maidservants to take care of her.¡±

    ¡°When did shee back?¡± Qin Yunuan looked into the bronze mirror. She looked very spirited with her fair face and red lips, like a colorful butterfly ready to get out of the shell. Today, she was the leading role.

    ¡°Last night.¡± Nurse Liao said honestly.

    ¡°That¡¯s reasonable,¡± Qin Yunuan tided up her tousy hair on the temples by holding a half-palm-long little jadeb. Now she looked more refreshed, ¡°It is my wedding day today. It is not so appropriate for the daughter of the legal wife of Qin Family to still suffer a lot in the imperial pce. Even if the father had not got her back, the Queen Mother would not let her stay in the pce to do hard work. Actually, they just gave excuses to each other.¡±

    ¡°But,¡± Nurse Liao stopped and then added, ¡°the Grand Miss now is standing out of our courtyard. She said she wanted to see you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan glimpsed slightly at outside. Her calm face emerged a light smile with confidence and frankness. She said lightly, ¡°OK, let her in. I don¡¯t want to miss the auspicious time for stepping into my marriage sedan¡± Actually, she almost had known why Qin Yunzhuang wanted to see her. Qin Yunzhuang was likely to say and do those things like before. Qin Yunuan was not thedy before, and she knew what she should do.

    After a while, Qin Yunzhuang came with nurse Liao. She looked more toilworn thanst time with her darker skin. Qin Yunzhuang tried to hide her hands back, which were not smooth and delicate anymore. Her hands were the evidence that she, as the Grand Miss of the legal wife in the mansion of Grand Commandant, did hard work in the imperial pce. Qin Yunzhuang knew that Qin Yunuan had ordered the nannies in the Yeting Pce that they would not reduce the hard work of Qin Yunzhuang even if Qin Yunzhuang bribed them. Every day, Qin Yunzhuang worked like an ordinary maidservant in the imperial pce. What made her uneptable most was the contempt nearby.

    She felt enough. Now she came back.

    ¡°Ie here to say congrattion to you for marrying an excellent guy, my Third Sister.¡± Qin Yunzhuang said in an aged voice, which was not so clear as before.

    ¡°Thank you, my Grand Sister. General Leng was a treasure, indeed. I feel happy.¡± Qin Yunuan stood up, and her ten-feet long skirt¡¯s hemline was put down on the ground hemline, making a sound. Qin Yunzhuang was irritated by the scene. This piece of the bottom drawer was a treasure that was eager by all thedies in the Royal City. And now the dress was worn by a daughter of a concubine who was notparable with Qin Yunzhuang half a year ago.

    And the words Qin Yunuan said just now. She said she was happy! The biggest wish of Qin Yunzhuang was that Qin Yunuan turned to be unhappy. But now the reality was reversed.

    Suddenly, Qin Yunzhuangughed, ¡°You are the daughter of the concubine, and you marry the illegitimate child of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. I will be the imperial concubine of the Third Prince. We can battle again at that time.¡±

    ¡°It is not necessary to say these words here, my Grand Sister.¡± Qin Yunuan walked closely. The fragrance of cosmetics gave out and made Qin Yunzhuang blinked. There was only a distance of one fist, and the phenomenon was intense. Qin Yunuan suddenly smiled and looked so kind, but her words were freezing, ¡°Because you, my Grand Sister, you can never beat me. You failed before, and can you win in the future?¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang shuddered but still said arrogantly and coldly, ¡°Wait and see.¡± And then she turned back and left.

    Qin Yunzhuang thought she would be an imperialdy if she married Sima Ray. Qin Yunuan felt funny about that. It seemed that Qin Yunzhuang did not change her personality. She was still overconfident and silly to believe that she could gain everything by her beauty.

    ¡°Third Miss, it is the time to take the marriage sedan.¡± The Chaperon outside was urging Qin Yunuan.

    Maner and Ting Xue came in immediately and put on the bridal veil for Qin Yunuan. But the moment the red bridal veil was picked up, Qin Yunuan suddenly frowned.

    ¡°Wait.¡± Qin Yunuan said carefully, ¡°Who has scattered the face powder on the bridal veil?¡±

    Maner and Ting Xue looked at each other and then felt nervous too.

    ¡°There can¡¯t be face powder on the bridal veil. Third Miss has ordered that all personal things, including candles and bridal veil that should be kept by Ting Xue and me separately. Anybody else should not touch them.¡± Maner said honestly.

    ¡°I know who did that.¡± Qin Yunuan squinted slowly. Nobody would use such a menial trick except Qin Yunzhuang. She must take the chance to add something on the bridal veil when she came in.

    But luckily, Qin Yunuan had prepared the solution.

    ¡°Fetch the stand-by bridal veil identical to the original one.¡± Qin Yunuan constantly said in a calm voice. She called Leng Shuang and passed the bridal veil to her, ¡°You go to check what the powder on the bridal veil is. The wedding day of Qin Yuzhuang and the Third Prince has been set on one day next month. At that time, we will send her an identical one as my sincere present.¡±

    Leng Shuang nodded and received the order.

    The ranks of escorting had arrived. ording to the custom of Qi, the civil officer used a sedan chair, and the military officer used horse riding. The High General, like Leng Changxi, usually did not show up in person, but he came and guided majestic ranks, parading along the Que¡¯er Street, which almost upied the whole street. Today, the ranks led to many sensations in the Royal City, and even people who just entered the city had known the news: It was the big wedding day of Infanta Ping and Zhenguo Grand General Leng Changxi.

    ¡°I heard that Infanta Ping was very beautiful and kind-hearted.¡±

    ¡°Yes, she can really match General Leng with equal family background. Such a happy couple.¡±

    ¡°Wow, such luxurious ranks I have never seen. General Leng must take much care of Infanta Ping.¡±

    People were talking about their marriage, and Leng Changxi was riding a piebald horse. He seldom cared about the gossip of ordinary people. But now it was his first time to feel happy by those ordinary gossip. He would give the best things to his wife. If he hadn¡¯t them, he would try his best to find them and even loot them.

    And at the mansion of Grand Commandant, the worried Concubine Chang afforded the time to see Qin Yunuan when Qin Yunuan was about to step into the marriage sedan.

    ¡°I feel relieved for your great marriage,¡± Concubine Chang said with tears, ¡°Your mother, Sister Yang, always took care of me. Now you find a good man. Your mother will feel relieved too in heaven.¡±

    Qin Yunuan knew the thoughts of Concubine Chang. She would remember forever that in herst life, Concubine Chang knelt to plead for her.

    ¡°Thanks, Concubine Chang,¡± Qin Yunuan did not cry. In her heart, she felt very happy, ¡°Now I am married. Thank you for taking much care of Baochuan when I am not here.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely, I will regard Baochuan as my child. He will be the elder brother of Baoduan.¡± Concubine Chang said and then added in a lower voice, ¡°Later, if you had some questions about sex, you could ask me. Women should use some tricks to hold their men¡¯s heart.¡±

    Qin Yunuan just lowered her head without a word. She remembered that she stayed with Leng Changxi passionately in her room, and Leng Changxi said they would have their first sex on the evening of their wedding day. Yes, it¡¯s tonight.

    Luckily, she wore the bridal veil so that nobody saw her shyness. The matchmaking woman carried Qin Yunuan into the marriage sedan happily. All were like a wonderful dream: golden-edged sedan chair, luxurious bride-escorting ranks and crowded people outside the mansion.

    But it was a pity that Qin Yunuan could not see the effusive happy face of Leng Changxi because she wore the bridal veil. The close soldiers from the Leng army in the bride-escorting ranks and the shadow guards hiding in the crowds who were responsible for protecting the two people were both confused. They had never seen that General Leng was so cheerful andughed so loudly and brightly among strangers. They all felt surprised. But when they thought of the future madam Leng in the sedan chair, they believed that General Leng thought highly of this maiden. They knew how they would treat the madam in the future.

    ¡°Let¡¯s set off.¡± The officiate cried loudly. Qin Yunuan was sitting on the sedan. In herst life, she was in her wedding party and sat on the same sedan, but finally, she had a miserable ending. She was burned to death in the marriage sedan. But in this life, she could marry the man she loved, so happy and so sweet.

    When they arrived at the Ning¡¯s Mansion, the scene was more bustling. Qin Yunuan strode the fire pan with the firecracker set off. And then the auspicious nanny held the hands of Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi and said many auspicious blessing words. Qin Yunuan was wearing the red bridal veil, but she could hear the happy words from Princess Ning and brightugh from Prince Ning. She knew that they were really happy because Leng Changxi married the girl he loved, and now she had a higher position ¨C Five-grade Infanta Ping, which could beparable with Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. Besides, Qin Yunuan had a celebrated family background, the Mansion of Grand Commandant.

    It was the time to kowtow to the old princess.

    ¡°OK, you can stand up.¡± The old princess said in a slightly cold voice, which could not tell the mood. But her words seemed to be unmatched with the happy phenomenon today. Qin Yunuan felt stunned and felt Leng Changxi held her wrists. He pinched her hands and then stood up together with her.

    They had worshiped the elders, and now they should worship the Heaven and the Earth, and then they should bow to each other.

    ¡°Rites done!¡± The officiate cried loudly.

    ording to the custom, Qin Yunuan should be sent into the wedding room. Leng Changxi should toast and greet those guests outside. And then they would have sex in the room. Qin Yunuan felt shy when she thought of that.

    But to the surprise of those guests, Leng Changxi said straightly to his noisy subordinates, ¡°I can¡¯t drink more. I won¡¯t drink with you guys. If you really want to drink wine, you can find my elder brother or Leng Wu. They can drink with you guys.¡±

 Chapter 123 The Wedding Night

    <h4>Chapter 123 The Wedding Night</h4>

    Everybody knew that though Leng Changxi did not drink wine in daily time, he did be a good drinker. The Leng Army always called this Grand General as Stay Sober After A Thousand Bottle of Wine.

    People nearby understood what Leng Changxi meant immediately. He just wanted to have intercourse with his pretty bride. Now his subordinates who were disciplined in daily time turned to be fearless and shouted to Leng Changxi, ¡°General, NO! We can¡¯t drink wine in the military camp, but today you have to drink with us.¡±

    Shang Xianhua stood out and said, ¡°Fine, I drink the wine for Grand General. OK?¡±

    Somebody shouted, ¡°No way. Though General Shang was the close henchman of General Leng, it is the wedding day of General Leng. You were not from Qin Family or Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. You have no right to drink for General Leng.¡±

    Noisy people did not let Leng Changxi off. Princess Ning was busy receiving guests and only glimpsed at Leng Changxi at times. She knew well the thoughts of his son that he wanted to get back the room early and did not think that was inappropriate. It was not bad for a man to be a family person. Besides, it would be good for him to worry about his wife when he went out for battling.

    ¡°Fine, I drink it for my Third Brother.¡± At this time, Leng Chang¡¯an stepped forwards from the crowds with a happy smile. He seemed to be affected by the happy phenomenon today and wanted to rescue Leng Changxi.

    ¡°My Third Brother is eager to see his bride. You should not stop him.¡± Leng Chang¡¯an patted the shoulder of Leng Changxi with a smile, and said in an elder mood, ¡°I know you are urgent. Go to apany your wife. I heard that North Di was restless, and the war maybe break out at any time.¡±

    On such a happy day, although Leng Changxi expressed his care andfort superficially, Leng Changxi knew that Leng Chang¡¯an did not want him to stay at home. He was the eldest son of the family, while Leng Changxi was the son of the concubine. In Leng Chang¡¯an¡¯s view, he should have a higher family position than Leng Changxi.

    ¡°It is impossible,¡± Leng Changxi glimpsed lightly at Leng Chang¡¯an, ¡°The issue of North Di hase to an end in general. But brother, you are not the officer in the imperial court, so I can¡¯t talk much more about this with you. What you should know is that nobody could hurt my mother and Yunuan even if I were not at home.¡±

    The eyes of Leng Changxi turned to be sharp suddenly. He was staring at Leng Chang¡¯an, and their eyes seemed to battle intensely in the air. The gloomy emotion was also hidden in the deep eyes of Leng Chang¡¯an, but his words were still bright and happy, ¡°Wow, don¡¯t so serious. I am just kidding. Emperor thinks highly of you, and I believe that Emperor won¡¯t dispatch you in a hurry when there are some emergencies in the border considering your new marriage. Right?¡±

    The eyes of Leng Chang¡¯an showed his provocation, but further, he was sounding out Leng Changxi.

    Leng Changxi knew when to break the deadlock. He justughed, ¡°Brother, thank you for drinking for me.¡± And then he left with his hands in the back, giving a code signal to Leng Wu. Leng Wu and Leng Changxi both knew that Leng Chang¡¯an would regret that he drunk for Leng Changxi this time.

    ¡°Come on, Grand Young Master. Cheers!¡± Leng Wu stepped forward holding the biggest bowl and proposed a toast to Leng Chang¡¯an.

    And now Leng Changxi could not help but walk faster. He held his breath and used his tick in light skills to bypass the small garden towards his wedding room. There seemed to be a fire burning in his heart. His whole body felt boiling when he thought that he could really have the pretty and tender girl who was held by him three days ago.

    Qin Yunuan was sitting uprightly and quietly on the bed with a red bridal veil covering his head. Just in a moment, the door was opened quickly, and a breeze with the green grass fragrance blew her face. She knew the fragrance, and it was him.

    ¡°You....¡± Before Qin Yunuan said all her words out, her lips were covered by a hot thing totally. She could feel a stifling and fierce passion, which was like an overwhelming tsunami without any warning even if she was wearing a red bridal veil.

    Leng Changxi unfastened his mask. He would like to expose his real face in front of Qin Yunuan. She was like a harbor affectionally when he exposed himself to her.

    ¡°You are mine.¡± Leng Changxi said in a horse but charming voice while he took off the red bridal on the head of Qin Yunuan. His heartbeat elerated with his higher sexual passion when he looked at the small delicate face of Qin Yunuan under the light of candles.

    ¡°Yes, I am yours.¡± Qin Yunuan answered bravely and even kissed the lips of Leng Changxi actively, like a dragonfly kissing the surface of the water. And then Leng Changxi grasped her clothes tightly and grunted, ¡°It¡¯s hard to take off the clothes. I should....¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Qin Yunuan raised her neck with her tousy hair. As dark as night, her hair hung down over her bottom. A lock of hair hung down on his breast and ears.

    ¡°I should have learned how to take off clothes.¡± Leng Changxi smiled. And then he quickly tore up theplicated wedding dress of Qin Yunuan.

    Qin Yunuan pushed away Leng Changxi with a smile, ¡°You are wasting a good dress.¡±

    ¡°It should be worn only in the wedding ceremony,¡± Leng Changxi could not wait unbuttoned, ¡°You have married me, or you want to have another marriage in the future? I forbid you to do that! Definitely!¡±

    Men were like children when they got serious. Qin Yunuan lowered her head by the eyes of Leng Changxi, ¡°Why are you staring at me?¡± Though her voice was so low like a mosquito, Leng Changxi caught her words keenly.

    ¡°You are pretty.¡± And then Leng Changxi kissed the lips of Qin Yunuan again with his hands holding Qin Yunuan whose legs were put on the waist of him. The kiss of Leng Changxi was overbearing but also soft enough. The constant hot kiss made Qin Yunuan raised his neck slightly and unconsciously. She did not know her position expressed her weing attitude. It was easier for Leng Changxi to show his overwhelming love.

 Chapter 124 Newlywed

    <h4>Chapter 124 Newlywed</h4>

    On the second day, just after dawn, Qin Yunuan opened her eyes in a daze. It already seemed early in the mansion of Grand Commandant, and today was the first day after her marriage.

    Thinking of this, Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help looking at her side. She saw Leng Changxi, who was still asleep. His face was so beautiful under the golden sunlight as if it had been carefully polished by the creator. It was so unique and perfect.

    Qin Yunuan turned her head, enjoying the unique tranquility in the morning. A smile appeared on her face without her knowing it. Last night, she gave herself to himpletely, and she was happy about it.

    Suddenly, Leng Changxi, who had been sleeping, suddenly said, ¡°If you look at me like this again, I would think that this is an invitation to some actions.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Qin Yunuan was confused.

    Leng Changxi suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Qin Yunuan for a long time. His dark pupil solely reflected Qin Yunuan¡¯s image. He reached out his slender arms and hugged Qin Yunuan who was pulling the quilt. The two of them were still naked, which made Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart beat faster.

    Gradually, Qin Yunuan felt the obvious change in Leng Changxi¡¯s lower body, as well as Leng Changxi¡¯s somehow evil smile.

    ¡°What do you think? What else actions could there be?¡±

    Qin Yunuan shyly hid her head in the quilt, as she remembered the gentleness and indulgence of Leng Changxist night. She pouted shyly, ¡°You¡¯re so bad.¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled softly and hugged Qin Yunuan with his arms, ¡°But you like it.¡± He knew that he was indeed too capablest night, as he couldn¡¯t control himself. Therefore, he would definitely not touch the exhausted little hedgehog again.

    ¡°You must be exhausted.¡± Leng Changxi hugged Qin Yunuan, stroking her slightly bruised arm sorrily. He subconsciously ced her little hand to his mouth and kissed it affectionately. Such natural behavior made Qin Yunuan¡¯s body excited again, as she clearly sensed the weird difference from her lower body.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Leng Changxi realized that Qin Yunuan was uneasy.

    ¡°It¡¯s time to get up,¡± Qin Yunuan pushed Leng Changxi shyly, ¡°We still need to greet the prince, the princess and old Madam with tea.¡±

    Leng Changxi frowned slightly and then gently nibbled at Qin Yunuan¡¯s small and beautiful nose tip, ¡°What did you say?¡±

    Qin Yunuan knew what Leng Changxi meant. Since they were already a family, Qin Yunuan¡¯s been regarding them as outsiders. ¡°I meant that we need to greet mother with tea.¡± If she served teate for her mother-inw on the first day after the wedding, only because it was too crazyst night, it would inevitably make Princess Ning having doubts.

    Leng Changxi smiled. He was extremely cheerful with Qin Yunuan in his arms, ¡°No hurry.¡±

    Just after he finished his words, a servant girl came to their door. It was Moju who served Princess Ning. Princess Ning sent her to deliver a message.

    ¡°The princess said that she understands that third young Master and third young Madam might not be able to get up early today. Therefore it¡¯s fine if you are a bitte for greetings and serving tea. Please, third young Master and third young Madam, rest well. There¡¯s no need to hurry.¡±

    Although Moju¡¯s voice was not loud, it was extremely clear. Looking at Leng Changxi¡¯s nod as he listened, Qin Yunuan only felt utterly embarrassed.

    ¡°Listen, how considerate mother is to us.¡± Leng Changxi said as his hands were already rubbing on Qin Yunuan¡¯s smooth back, and getting lower, gently pinching her small rounded buttocks.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get ourselves up.¡± Qin Yunuan reached out her index finger and pointed it against Leng Changxi¡¯s chest. The shapely and full pectoral muscles were stic. It was true that Leng Changxi¡¯s figure was really perfect.

    Leng Changxi knew that his little hedgehog was shy, so he stopped teasing her. He lifted the quilt and walked directly to the screen naked. The bare back and long legs were exposed to Qin Yunuan fully. Even though they had sexst night already, but it was in the dark, and the candlelight was turned off. Therefore, strictly speaking, it was the first time Qin Yunuan saw Leng Changxi naked.

    Leng Changxi naturally took his clothes on the screen, but he didn¡¯t rush to put it on, and simply wrapped it around himself. Then he looked back at Qin Yunuan with an evil smile and said, ¡°You¡¯re looking so carefully that your mouth is watering.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was looking straight at this perfect sexy figure in front of her, and she lost her mind for a while. As she heard Leng Changxi said that, she subconsciously wanted to reach out and touch her chin. Then she came to realization and smiled, ¡°I was just thinking that the third young Master of the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion should have countless servant girls serving him since young. Why do you have to put on your own clothes?¡±

    This was the case for the prestigious families. Taking Qin Linfeng as an example, he didn¡¯t need to do his own work in dressing and rinsing from an early age. The servant girls would serve his dressing and bathing before he got married. This was also the reason why many young masters of those families had experienced sex at a very young age. However, judging from Leng Changxi¡¯s proficiency in wearing clothes, it didn¡¯t seem like he was used to be served.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like them touching me.¡± Leng Changxi smiled embarrassingly, ¡°I only like you touching me.¡± Then he sighed in a pretense, ¡°How should you reward me now that you know I¡¯ve kept my virginity for you for so many years?¡±

    It was the first time Qin Yunuan found a man talking about his own virginity. She was anxious, and she said, ¡°I am also...¡± The words came to an abrupt end as the topic was indeed a bit....

    Leng Changxi put on his clothes, leaned over and kissed Qin Yunuan. A smile appeared on his face, ¡°I knew itst night.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stared at Leng Changxi with her beautiful eyes. Leng Changxi smiled and said, ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t tease you anymore. I know you¡¯re easily shy.¡± As he spoke, Leng Changxi tied his belt and dressed up neatly. Then he opened the door and saw two columns of servant girls already waiting outside, carrying toiletry, fragrance and tea. He turned sideways and said to Qin Yunuan, ¡°I¡¯ll go wait for you outside.¡±

    The two columns of servant girls went in and helped Qin Yunuan with her grooming. It was the first time Qin Yunuan was served by so many servant girls, so she was inevitably ufortable about it. However, she still put up afortable attitude as she was now the official wife of Leng Changxi. She had to watch her words and actions so as not to harm Leng Changxi¡¯s reputation.

    A dignified hair bun and a branch of begonia silk flower obliquely inserted into the hair. A golden bird hairpin was on both left and right, with a golden peach-shaped pendant hanging from the tails of the birds. She was wearing a butterfly patterned scarlet shirt, which was romantic. The four-finger wide waistband made Qin Yunuan¡¯s waist seem slimmer. She wore a lc skirt. Looking decent as she walked. She seemed energetic overall.

    ¡°How¡¯s it?¡± After she was done, Qin Yunuan nodded slightly and called for Leng Changxi, who had been waiting in the yard, toe and see.

    Leng Changxi was shocked as soon as he turned back. He thought that Qin Yunuan had enough surprises for himself in the past, and his love for her had already reached the climax. However, as soon as he saw Qin Yunuan dressed as a married woman instead of a girl, the surprise and affection flooded out from his heart.

    ¡°It looks good.¡± Leng Changxi grinned, which surprised the servant girls. God, was this still the harsh third young Master who was unsmiling in the past? If they remembered correctly, the third young Master had smiled so openly and sincerely several times in just a short while in front of this new young Madam.

    ¡°Is it already toote to greet mother?¡± Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi had been lingering for a while after they woke up. Now that they had to get dressed, it was eventer.

    ¡°Did you forget mother¡¯s words?¡± Leng Changxi leaned over to Qin Yunuan andughed by her ear.

    Before Qin Yunuan had any response, Leng Changxi directly held Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand and followed the nanny who came to lead the way towards Princess Ning¡¯s Twilight ce. Leng Changxi didn¡¯t lose his hand as they walked along the long corridor, and they just walked quietly. Even though it was the first day after the two got married, they seemed to be an old couple who had been together for many years to the others.

    Twilight ce was very elegantly decorated. Judging from the name of this ce and the servant girls serving Princess Ning, Qingzhu and Moju, one could tell that Princess Ning was also an elegant person. When they came to the door of the house, they heard theughter and chatter from the inside.

    A younger voice wasughing pleasantly and cheerfully. It should be Ruan Ruyi, the wife of Leng Chang¡¯an and the daughter of a concubine from Prince Gaoyang¡¯s Mansion. She was granted the title of county princess because of her marriage with Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. However, she was only seventh grade, and her status was much lower than Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Last time I saw the third sister-inw, and I found her very beautiful. Now that she had been titled Infantra. Hey, speaking of which, the marriage between the third brother-inw and the third sister-inw is a bit like that of mine and my hubby.¡± Apparently, she wanted to use this as a way for enhancing the rtionship with them.

    ¡°Naturally it is,¡± this was the voice of Leng Chang¡¯an¡¯s mother, Tang, Madam Ru of the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. ¡°Chang¡¯an and Changxi were brothers, and they shall naturally help each other in the future. Sister, am I right?¡±

    Qin Yunuan listened outside. She knew that such a prestigious family like Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion had arge and mixed poption, and the fighting for power within was bound to be crueler than the mansion of Grand Commandant. However, she didn¡¯t expect it toe so quickly.

    As for Leng Changxi, he had already opened the soft curtain and walked straight, ¡°Concubine Tang and sister-inw are really in a leisurely mood,ing to my mother so early in the morning.¡±

    Tang¡¯s and Ruan Ruyi¡¯s faces turned pale for a moment as they saw Leng Changxie in, but they immediately regained a happy look.

    Just when the two wanted to say something auspicious, Leng Changxi interrupted them stiffly. ¡°If I remember correctly, sister-inw, you are merely a county princess, unlike Yunuan. If you meet Yunuan outside the mansion, ording to your grade, you should greet Yunuan.¡±

 Chapter 125 Confrontation Between the Sisters-in-law

    <h4>Chapter 125 Confrontation Between the Sisters-inw</h4>

    The forced smile on Ruan Ruyi¡¯s face froze when she heard what Leng Changxi said. With an embarrassed look, Concubine Tan stepped forward to greet Qin Yunuan at once, who looked agreeable behind Leng Changxi. She held her hand and ttered, ¡°Well, I guess you are Infanta Ping, right? You are as pretty as I had thought. I¡¯m very pleased with you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all right,¡± Leng Changxi said indifferently. Fired from the ck mask, his severe eyes showed that he was distant to persons not concerned, ¡°But what really matters is whether mother likes or not. After all, Yunuan is her daughter-inw. Yours is standing beside you, Concubine Tang.¡±

    These words were sharp and straightforward, which dispelled the fake enthusiasm of Concubine Tang right away, who intended to put on a good face at first. Leaning against the pillow on the worn dark green couch, Princess Ning only gave a gentle smile, instead of stopping Leng Changxi from ying it off against Concubine Tang in such an obvious way. Deep in her heart, she never liked Concubine Tang for she was a fence-sitter.

    Before Princess Ning married into Prince Ning¡¯s family, Cao Shuxin, one of the concubines of Prince Ning, had the power in her grip at Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, and Concubine Tang had fawned upon her in every possible way. However, not long after Princess Ning came here, Concubine Tang gave herself up to Princess Ning like an ingratiating dog. She told her all the secrets and weaknesses of Consort Cao that she knew. Luckily, Princess Ning had kept her mother¡¯s warnings in mind¡ª such a ttering and insincere person should not be trusted because she could turn against you one day just like what she did to others.

    So, during these years, Princess Ning had kept an appropriate distance with Consort Cao and Concubine Tang even though she was the hostess of this family. She had learned from her mother that it would be a good way to hide when you could not win.

    ¡°Don¡¯t take it to heart, sis,¡± Princess Ning said to Tang with a smile, ¡°Changxi was spoiled by me since childhood. He is used toing straight to the point.¡± The implication was that she also agreed with what Leng Changxi said.

    ¡°That¡¯s good. It¡¯s good to be straightforward,¡± Tang echoed and sat down with an awkward expression.

    But Ruan Ruyi hadn¡¯t given up yet. She actually had the cheek to ask Princess Ning, ¡°Well, mother, about the matter that we had talked about, do you think we can...?¡±

    ¡°Do you mean the shops in the east of the city?¡± It seemed that Princess Ning hade to understand suddenly.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Ruan Ruyi said shamelessly, ¡°Although these shops were originally under the management of the West House, they have been poorly managed and assisted by our people from the East House. So, it would be easier if we run the shops on our own in case of the West House gaining extra advantage from us. What do you think, mother?¡±

    Actually, in the West House that Ruan Ruyi had just mentioned lived the family of Leng Zhongxiao, Prince Ning¡¯s younger brother. As the second branch of the family, they should have moved out and gone on their own ording to the convention. But Leng Zhongxiao was azy and impetuous person in nature who cared for nothing but eating, which bothered Prince Ning a lot. Thus, Prince Ning allocated a quarter of the mansion to Leng Zhongxiao and his wives, which was then called the West House. However, though living in the same mansion, the two branches were not that close as imagined. The reason was probably that the Second Master of the West House had stirred up so many troubles that disturbed Prince Ning.

    The shops in the east of the city were a good example. These shops, which included a jewelry shop, a draper, and a rice shop, had a good location with convenient traffic that made it a prime area for business. However, after being taken over by Second Master, the business that should have been lucrative took a dramatic turn downward. Thanks to the secret help from Princess Ning¡¯s family under her instruction, it showed signs of recovery these years. But then, these shops were coveted by some annoying people, among whom was Tang and her sly daughter-inw Ruan Ruyi.

    ¡°Well, that makes sense,¡± Princess Ning nodded. But just as Ruan Ruyi was about to show her delights, Princess Ning changed the subject, ¡°Since I have not prepared any wee gift for Yunuan, I¡¯d like to hand those shops over to her as the wee gift to my new daughter-inw. Just like you said, charity begins at home, right?¡±

    Froze for a moment, Qin Yunuan was aware of the hostile eyes of Concubine Tang and Ruan Ruyi that were sweeping her like sharp knives. She knew that they would certainly me her as their spections were dashed, but she had been well-prepared for the destined fights when she decided to marry Leng Changxi.

    Qin Yunuan raised her head gracefully and gave a gentle smile to Ruan Ruyi and Tang. ¡°Excuse me.¡± Then she made a courteous curtsy to Princess Ning. ¡°Thank you, mother. I really like this wee gift.¡±

    Seeing that Qin Yunuan had epted her kindness instead of retreating for fear of power, Princess Ning nodded with great satisfaction and then said to Ruan Ruyi and Tang, ¡°What? What else do you want to discuss with me?¡±

    Ruan Ruyi and Tang both retracted their head.

    ¡°Okay, then. You can go back if there¡¯s nothing else. I¡¯m tired now. Changxi and Yunuan can stay and talk with me.¡± Obviously, Princess Ning wanted to have a private talk with her son and daughter-inw. After all, there must be a gap between people from different courtyards.

    As Ruan Ruyi and Tang went back unwillingly, Qin Yunuan looked back at Princess Ning with a smile. It was whispered between servants and maids that Princess Ning was too kind topete so that Concubine Tang and Consort Cao were so arrogant. But in Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes, pretending not to know was a wise way. Maybe she was very aware of the stakes of all these things, and it was an assured deal to stick to the principles on big things while losing a little on small things.

    ¡°Come here. Take a seat.¡± Seeing the quiet and peaceful look of Qin Yunuan, Princess Ning couldn¡¯t help but beckon her to sit aside. Such an intimate and natural action reminded Qin Yunuan of her childhood when her own mother asked her toe to bed and look at her doing embroideries.

    Princess Ning leaned over to a more leisurely andfortable gesture, and then took Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand in her palms with a smile. ¡°Changxi had told me about your story,¡± Princess Ning said.

    Subconsciously, Qin Yunuan took a nce at Leng Changxi who was sitting next to her and drinking tea. She knew that Leng Changxi was always close to Princess Ning, and his intentions of telling those things would not be bad. But still, Qin Yunuan was afraid that Princess Ning might have some ill feelings about her. All along, she had been pointed at and abused by others as a daughter of a concubine who was just an embroiderer. Even though she was now crowned with the title of Infanta, if Princess Ning also had such impressions on her...

    ¡°What a poor girl,¡± Princess Ning caressed Qin Yunuan¡¯s face with affection. Her soft palm had the tenderness and warmth of a mother. ¡°I felt heartbroken at the thought of you supporting your brother by yourself at the mansion of Grand Commandant. You must have suffered a lot.¡±

    Qin Yunuan could tell the sincerity and genuinepassion in Princess Ning¡¯s tone.

    She lowered her head slightly and said softly after casting a nced at Leng Changxi, ¡°Now I have got my reward.¡± That was right. She had met Leng Changxi and so many good people in this life, which was much better than her previous one. Now Baochuan was her only concern. Luckily, Concubine Chang would look after him in the mansion of Grand Commandant. Qin Yunuan believed that there were more good people in this world.

    ¡°Yes, as long as you got your reward,¡± Princess Ning smiled kindly, and then turned back to Qingzhu, the personal maid who was waiting aside, ¡°Bring the wee gift that I had prepared.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that those shops were....¡±

    ¡°That was just a lie,¡± Princess Ning smiled. ¡°You are the love and wife of Changxi, how could you only get some shops?¡± As she said, she took the palm-size brocade box handed by Qingzhu and gave it to Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Open it.¡± Princess Ning said.

    Qin Yunuan bowed her head and opened the sapphire-blue brocade box carefully. On the red velvet cotton was a copper key that had a red rope tied to its head, which looked like a sign.

    ¡°This is the secondary key of the counting house in this mansion,¡± Princess Ning said simply.

    ¡°Oh, mother. How could I ept such a tremendous gift!¡± Qin Yunuan was really ttered. On her first day as Leng Changxi¡¯s wife, Princess Ning handed the key to the counting house over to her, which represented the administrative power of the fiscal expenditure ie of the whole mansion. Like a stroke of luck from heaven, this gift surprised Qin Yunuan so much that she did not know what to do.

    ¡°Don¡¯t refuse me at once,¡± Princess Ning smiled and pushed the key back into Qin Yunuan ¡®s hand. ¡°I give it to you for some reason. You still have a one-month-trial to run the shops that I had handed over to you. Let¡¯s see how you will do. Besides, this is just the secondary key. You cannot manage the counting house without the key in my hand. What do you think?¡±

    This would be a challenge but also an opportunity that stood for the trust and proactive intimacy of Princess Ning, so Qin Yunuan had no reason to refuse.

    ¡°Thank you, mother.¡± Qin Yunuan epted her kindness calmly.

    Leng Changxi left alone after talking for a while as he had some military affairs to handle. It was almost noon by the time Qin Yunuan went out. There was nobody around, and even the sparrows all came back to their nest to be away from the heat of the day. But by the Chaoshou Corridor, Qin Yunuan saw a familiar figure from afar.

    ¡°Yunuan,¡± Ruan Ruyi greeted Qin Yunuan actively when she saw her approaching. Wet with sweat, her hair was closely against her forehead, which showed that she had waited under the hot sun for a long time. Obviously, she was well-prepared.

    ¡°Why are you waiting here? Look at the sun. It¡¯s making me dizzy.¡± Qin Yunuan knew clearly that Ruan Ruyi was waiting for her, but she didn¡¯t make it clear. She was waiting for her to start.

 Chapter 126 Benefits Above All

    <h4>Chapter 126 Benefits Above All</h4>

    ¡°I¡¯m waiting for you, my third younger sister-inw.¡± Ruan Ruyi said twitchily. Although she is also the daughter of a concubine in the pce of Gaoyang, she was born in a royal family. Asking for help from a daughter of a concubine from the mansion of Grand Commandant was not what she wanted.

    ¡°It¡¯s still for the shops east of the city,¡± Ruan Ruyi said anxiously, ¡°You know, now that my third brother-inw is famous, his elder brother still has his work to be taken care of because of his official positions. As you may have known, it needs money. My dowry couldn¡¯tpare with your richness. Since our mother has given you three shops, I don¡¯t think it was difficult to give us one out of three. Chang¡¯an and Changxi are, after all, brothers. If Chang¡¯an had settled down on his official position, he could have also help Changxi. Am I right?¡±

    It was about benefits, after all. Qin Yunuan nodded, smiling and responding in a very polite manner, ¡°That was a nice talk, sister-inw. It was totally unlike what outsiders said of you, that you are the Grand Young Madam spreading rumors about my husband was not the biological son of Princess Ning. Anyway, I don¡¯t believe it. As for what you have said, it was decided by our mother-inw, and I couldn¡¯t say much. If you want to help with his official career, give him some extra nutrition during the imperial examination in autumn. I will also go to my home temple and pray for his elder brother to find a position on the road to the royal court.¡±

    Ruan Ruyi was choked by those few words of Qin Yunuan. She talked about the deep friendship between Grand Young Master and Third Master in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. Qin then exposed her gossiping behind. She mentioned how she wished Leng Changxi could help Leng Chang¡¯an in his career, but Qin advised her to study for the exam directly. She wanted the shop. Then Qin told her it was Princess Ning¡¯smand, and she could always talk to Princess Ning for the shop if she had the guts.

    ¡°Why are you saying things so absolutely?¡± Ruan Ruyi¡¯s tone was low. But there was still room for discussion.

    ¡°Sister-inw, you are too sensitive,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°I am only married on the first day. How could I be angry with my sister-inw? I am a new wife, and there must be many things I don¡¯t understand. I have to listen to my mother first. How dare I turn against her with outward meekness and inward rebellion?¡±Readtest chapters at L istnovel

    Ruan Ruyi¡¯s beautiful eyes lifted, and her tone immediately went cold, ¡°Since you refuse to help, I will not be shameless and ask for it. As sisters-inw, we couldn¡¯t be as close as real sisters, but we also have to get along well. You have just arrived in the mansion and will naturally know what to do in the future.¡±

    Ruan Ruyi thought to herself. After knowing that Leng Changxi was the illegitimate child, her sister-inw might take the initiative to seek her help. After all, his blood was impure. Even if Princess Ning had taken Leng Changxi as her child, the iron-d fact couldn¡¯t be changed.

    Qin Yunuan just smiled, turned around, and called Maner Ting Xue to keep up. They followed the same way back to the yard.

    Watching Qin Yunuan leaving unhurriedly, Ruan Ruyi felt extreme grievances in her heart. When she was in the pce of Gaoyang, people looked down upon her because she was the daughter of a concubine. Then her younger sister, born of her father¡¯s legal wife, died, and the person who got married into Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion changed to her temporarily. She thought that she could hold your head high in the future. But Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion was more particr about the rules of bloodlines than Gaoyang. It was of no help, although she was titled the county prince of the seventh grade.

    Although Leng Chang¡¯an is the eldest son, he was born of a concubine, and his biological mother hadn¡¯t even been called as a Madam. She was jumping from one fire pit into another.

    ¡°I¡¯m mad,¡± Ruan Ruyi said, dragging the veil fiercely. She had been waiting for Qin Yunuan under the burning sun for a long time. She thought that Qin Yunuan had the same origin as she had and that they were both daughters of the concubines. She might have felt empathy and said words in her consideration, ¡°She was nothing more than a daughter of a concubine in the mansion of Grand Commandant. Why could she be Infanta Ping of the fifth grades, having done meritorious deeds praying for Queen Mother? Anyone could go to Royal Temple and kneel for her health. How could she be so lucky?¡±

    Before Ruan Ruyi¡¯sints were finished, the wet nurse Ma beside her quickly pulled her arm.

    ¡°You mustn¡¯t say so, Grand Young Madam,¡± the wet nurse Ma looked around and said after finding themselves in private, ¡°I got the news this morning, saying that Third Young Master adores Third Young Madam extremely. Usually, he looks serious. Nowadays, as long as Third Young Madam is in front of him, his smile... And I just heard....¡±

    Nanny Maid down to Ruan Ruyi¡¯s ear and whispered for a while.

    Ruan Ruyi¡¯s eyes lightened immediately with an incredible surprise, ¡°What? Mother gave her the deputy key?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± nanny Ma nodded cautiously, ¡°I heard that Third Young Madam was to run the three shops in the east of the city for a while. If it worked, she would start to teach Third Young Madam how to manage the ounts.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s bad. I have to rush back and tell my mother-inw.¡± Ruan Ruyi¡¯s heart tightened. Although Tang¡¯s status had not improved in recent years, she was sly. She had a few small treasuries, and the main source of them was from the ounting house, which was umted from selling seconds at best quality prices or falsely reporting the gains.

    People said that Princess Ning was kind. In fact, it was because Princess Ning avoided and was unaware of the financial issues. Generally speaking, the yards got paid as much silver tael as they asked for, though other yards were not as obvious and bold as Tang¡¯s. All of the yards picked up some profits on the side. However, Qin Yunuan was not like Princess Ning. She might start checking the ounts. This Third Young Madam was said to be quite smart in doing business ounting. If she had started her investigation and traced after evidence, everything would be revealed.

    When Qin Yunuan returned to the yard, Leng Changxi hadn¡¯te back from the court yet. Emperor Zhaoxuan, Sima Xiu gave him enough freedom. He didn¡¯t need to go to the morning greetings every day. Dealing with military chores was enough for him. But today was the first day of Leng Changxi¡¯s marriage, which was bestowed by Sima Xiu himself. Leng Changxi still had to thank him in person.

    Luomei had already filled up a bowl of cool mung bean soup and put it on the table. When Qin Yunuan entered the yard, she weed her.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, Miss Leng just came back. She said that she had found what the powder on the red bridal veil was. It looked like a strong aphrodisiac powder.¡± Miss Leng was Leng Shuang. Though named a maid, the status of Leng Shuang was much higher than maids, so the little servant girls like Maner and Ting Xue called her ¡°Miss¡± respectfully.

    And Luomei herself was also a treasure. Brought to her yard by Concubine Chang a few days before Qin Yunuan ¡¯s marriage, this servant girl was from Concubine Chang ¡¯s natal family. The girl was obedient and honest. Most importantly, she had superb medical skills. To thank Qin Yunuan for the secret assistance to her family a while ago, Concubine Chang specially asked the family for this servant girl to apany her to Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.

    Qin Yunuan nced down at Luomei. The girl was full of heroic spirit. She believed in the character of people sent by Concubine Chang. But now there are already a few servant girls around her, Maner is the most loyal, Ting Xue acted decisively and made suggestions. Leng Shuang was needless to say, but she wasn¡¯t aware of Luomei¡¯s skills. In short, everyone by her side must be of value.

    Qin Yunuan sipped the mung bean soup and asked casually, ¡°I heard from Concubine Chang that you know medicine. In your view, what kind of aphrodisiac powder is this?¡±

    There were many kinds of aphrodisiac powders. Qin Yunuan had to understand them to revenge.

    Luo Mei nodded slightly and said with respect, ¡°If I didn¡¯t guess it wrong, it should be North Di¡¯s Hehuan San. This kind of aphrodisiac powder is extremely powerful and is normally used on breeding but not on humans. ording to the dose that Miss Leng brought us, if Third Young Madam hadn¡¯t found it in time, Third Young Master and Madam might be dying because of excessive indulgence.¡±

    Gee, what a vicious trick. Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows slightly. She didn¡¯t expect Qin Yunzhuang to be so daring. Harming her in this way would not only leave any trace, but outsiders would think Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan greedy and insatiable. Some people might even curse Qin Yunuan as a foxy woman who lured Leng Changxi. It¡¯s killing two birds with one stone. Huh, it¡¯s not what Qin Yunzhuang could have thought of alone.

    Yes, Qin Linfeng must have participated. It seemed that the lesson Qin Yunuan gave him was not enough.

    ¡°By the way, is the marriage between Grand Sister and Prince Ray already settled?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Maner replied, ¡°It¡¯s the neenth next month, and it¡¯s almost time.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Qin Yunuan snorted coldly, ¡°She¡¯s working so hard for my marriage, we have to give her a big gift, too.¡±

    At about noon, Leng Changxi came back. Once he entered the room, he couldn¡¯t wait but hold Qin Yunuan in her arms, who was embroidering. He smelled sweaty.

    ¡°I miss you.¡± Leng Changxi had always been so straightforward.

    Qin Yunuan smiled sweetly, ¡°Only half a day passed.¡±

    Leng Changxi just leaned on Qin Yunuan ¡®s neck, his tone was somehow bossy, ¡°But I just miss you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled, holding the sweaty, masked face of Leng Changxi. She reached her hand out and kneaded Leng Changxi¡¯s temples gently and rhythmically, ¡°You are tired. Let¡¯s rest. So much sweat.¡±

    ¡°I was in a hurry,¡± Leng Changxi smiled at Qin Yunuan, enjoying such intimate care, ¡°There are too many people on the street today. Oh yes, today the Grand Prince Sima Ruo is marrying Saichun, Princess of North Di.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stopped her hand, and when she thought of how the fairy-like Sima Ruo became a political tool, she felt a little worthless for him.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Leng Changxi noticed Qin Yunuan¡¯s changes.

    ¡°It¡¯s just a pity if you couldn¡¯t have spent a lifetime with someone you love but only had a perfunctory marriage. How painful should the rest of your life be?¡±

    Leng Changxi kissed on Qin Yunuan¡¯s lips lovingly and whispered, ¡°So, we are very happy.¡±,.....

 Chapter 127 Managers Competition

    <h4>Chapter 127 Managers Competition</h4>

    Qin Yunuan was nested in Leng Changxi¡¯s arms, surrounded by his love and tenderness. She nodded in response and seemed to speak unintentionally, ¡°I heard that my Grand sister would marry next month on the neenth.¡±

    Leng Changxi responded slowly, ¡°I will send them a great gift.¡±

    The two hugged for a while. Then Qingzhu, the maid who worked for Princess Ning, came again with gifts of all kinds.

    ¡°The caterpir fungus from West Xia is to build up the health of the Third Young Master. The Tianshan snow lotus of North Di is for Third Young Madam....¡± Qingzhu pointed at each object and introduced it to Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi.

    ¡°This is something even better,¡± Qingzhu said with a smile, ¡°The Lapsang souchong from Mountain Mao in the regions south of the River. It is said that only a dozen pounds are produced a year. The princess doesn¡¯t like tea, but she knows that Third Young Madam loves it. So she delivered them all. Though it¡¯s just one catty, we bought it with thousands of gold.¡±

    Qin Yunuan appeared to rejoice, saying to Qingzhu happily, ¡°Then you have to thank her for me first. I will go and thank her in person tomorrow.¡±

    Qingzhu smiled and nodded, ¡°Third Young Madam, you are really kind.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s expression turned from innocent joy to a faint worry when all the people in this yard were gone.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Leng Changxi only nced at these gifts. He knew Princess Ning¡¯s temper. As long as Princess Ning thought of someone as her own, she naturally wanted to share everything with him or her. It was her simple and lovely character that had always been attracting Prince Ning, and that the old princess had been quite satisfied with this daughter-inw.

    ¡°I have heard the name of Lapsang souchong, and I have drunk some.¡± Qin Yunuan singled out the pot of tea sealed with ceramics and let Maner transport the rest into the room. ¡°It grows in the deep mountains, and the tea trees are wild. It is indeed very difficult to collect. But I have never heard that the Lapsang souchong could be that outrageously expensive. I have heard from the young master of the Shen family that the most expensive Lapsang souchong was about twenty or thirty pounds of gold a catty. Did you hear what Qingzhu said? Princess Ning bought these for a thousand, I am worried....¡±

    ¡°Are you worried that my mother was deceived by the people underneath?¡± Leng Changxi hit the mark with a single sentence.

    Qin Yunuan nodded. She said after thinking deeply, ¡°But I saw mother today, and not like what other people say, I don¡¯t think she could be easily fooled. I think that our mother probably knew that the people under her hands had greedy habits. It was just that she couldn¡¯t find the reason to investigate all of them. After all, it involves the cost of the entire Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. If my guess was right, she gave me those three shops to create a reason for the investigation. The exercise she mentioned might not necessarily be about my business ability, but to find out if I could manage the situation, or do I have the courage to do so.¡±

    Qin Yunuan finished thoughtfully, turning her head to look at Leng Changxi. She seemed to be asking for his opinion, but Leng Changxi always kept an ambiguous smile. The two people looked at each other for a long time, and finally, Qin Yunuan could not bear it. She lifted her tiny fist and hammered it into Leng Changxi¡¯s shoulders. Her tone was tender, ¡°Talk. Do I have any reason?¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled, hugging his little hedgehog. He began to guide her gently, ¡°Do you know what this means?¡±

    Qin Yunuan shook her head.

    The smile lingered on the corner of Leng Changxi¡¯s mouth. He nibbled Qin Yunuan¡¯s ear, ¡°Since my mother has left it to you, she meant that in the future, Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion would be yours.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was surprised and subconsciously wanted to break free from Leng Changxi¡¯s arms but was still tightly held.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, and don¡¯t be nervous,¡± Leng Changxi was very calm because he had expected such an ending, ¡°Those events before had proved that my mother had good vision. She didn¡¯t misread you. You are capable of this. As for the concubines in the East House and the Second Old Master in West House, you don¡¯t need to worry about them. You¡¯ve got me, what are you still afraid of?¡±

    ¡°Huh.¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her head and responded sweetly. But then she felt that nothing could help express how deeply she was touched inside, so she raised his head again, gently pecked at Leng Changxi ¡®s beautiful and perfect chin, and immediately dropped her head.

    ¡°You are mine now, but still so shy. I¡¯m afraid I will be joked by our children in the future.¡± Leng Changxi stroked Qin Yunuan¡¯s head lovingly.

    ¡°In this case, I want to go to the shops in the east of the city tomorrow.¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded and kissed her on the cheek again, ¡°Well, you must let Leng Shuang apany you.¡±

    Early the next morning, an unpretentious carriage drove out of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion and went east along the Que¡¯er Street towards the three shops under the name of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. However, it didn¡¯t stop at the shop entrance but stayed in a small teahouse opposite.

    Ady got out of the carriage. Every movement of her could reveal her elegance and nobility. There were still few people in the teahouse in the morning, and the running waiter had his chin squinted on the table napping. Hearing that somebody entered, he raised his head and was shocked by the extravagance of thisdy.

    Having ordered some simple refreshments, Qin Yunuan sat by the window on the second floor and looked at the three shops that had just opened for business. Beside her was three businessmen. She picked them out yesterday from the Golden Butterfly Embroidery House. They were the three most capable managers.

    One was from Jingzhou. He was tall, sturdy, and the most sophisticated of all. But he was also steadfast and had done a lot for the Golden Butterfly Embroidery House to expand its business in Jingzhou.

    The other two managers were local in the Royal City. The younger one was only in his early twenties. There was a scar on his face, making him looked fierce, but he was often praised by the guys in the shop. Finally, there was the oldest and most experienced manager. Hadn¡¯t this manager reminded Qin Yunuan in advance before the flood in the southeast a while ago, Qin Yunuan would also have lost money like many merchants.

    These three managers were the elites of the Golden Butterfly Embroidery House. Now Qin Yunuan had gathered them not simply for tea.

    ¡°Big boss, what should we do?¡± The scarred manager asked.

    ¡°Each of you is responsible for one shop,¡± Qin Yunuan gave a sideways nce at the draper, the jewelry shop, and the rice shop on the opposite side. Since she had made her mind up to investigate, she should check it carefully. ¡°Watch out for three major issues. The flow of people, purchases and shipments, and the status of the shop assistants.¡±

    If Qin Yunuan was right, people said that those three shops were losing money, but they have started to make profits since Princess Ning took over. It was by no means so simple. These three shops were in the prime location of the Royal City. The people under Princess Ning¡¯s hands might have concealed a lot of profits. If Qin Yunuan hadn¡¯t checked in advance, the shops would be in a mess when she took over.

    The three managers were slightly stunned. Then they all nodded their heads. They weren¡¯t convinced of this woman as the shop¡¯s owner, but after a long time, they knew that this daughter of a concubine, who was now an Infanta, was a very intelligent person. And they were very lucky to work under her hands.

    As time passed, the sun was burning outside, and it was almost noon. Although it was cooler inside the tea house, the three managers were sweaty. They had maintained a highly concentrated state of mind, using their professional judgment to keep records of their respectively responsible shop¡¯s business situations.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Qin Yunuan stopped the three managers. ¡°Show it to me.¡±

    After reading the records of the three people, Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes were filled up with confidence. She nodded, it was as she had expected, ¡°The business of these three shops was surprisingly good, they are all catching up with our embroidery house.¡±

    Having read all the records, it was about the time. Qin Yunuan got up and helped the hair bun, ¡°It was about the time. We should also visit the managers of these three shops.¡±Readtest chapters at L istnovel

    The number of buyers started to decrease at noon. When Qin Yunuan appeared elegantly in the first draper, The manager at the counter stared straight at her and started his business talk with her familiarly.

    ¡°Madam, do you want clothes for yourself or your husband? Recently we have purchased a lot of good materials from the silk and water towns in the regions south of the River. Would you like toe in and see?¡±

    Qin Yunuan gave him a sideways nce, ¡°The silk from the Silk Town Baling City south of the River is indeed the best, but a bolt of cloth costs thousands of golds. With the profit you earned on your ount books, how could you have purchased a batch?¡±

    The manager became nervous. Though his tone was still respectful, he was more cautious and conservative, ¡°Oh, don¡¯t say that, Madam. Our draper had been in business on East Street for several years, and our excellency was recognized. We would never use bad satin to fool our customers. You are too worried about it. Do you want me to show you some?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± Qin Yunuan said faintly, ¡°I know that your silk materials are real. That only shows your ount books are faked.¡±

    The manager¡¯s shrewd eyes blinked, and he snorted coldly, ¡°It seemed that you didn¡¯te for the clothes. Everything you said was about our ount books. If you have anything to say, say it.¡±

    At this time, a little assistant recognized the scarred manager behind Qin Yunuan. He reminded his manager, ¡°Hey, wasn¡¯t that the major manager of the Golden Butterfly Embroidery House?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it turned out that you came to mess around.¡± The business of Golden Butterfly Embroidery House was getting bigger and bigger nowadays, and it would inevitably have oppressed these small shops.

    The manager looked to the Qin Yunuan once again, his eyes already filled with anger, ¡°Madam, you are from the Golden Butterfly Embroidery House. Don¡¯t me me for speaking bluntly. We don¡¯t want to deal with anyone from the Golden Butterfly Embroidery House.¡± After his words, he gathered several tall and strong men to drive away Qin Yunuan and her group of people.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you take another step forward!¡± Leng Shuang guarded Qin Yunuan in time. Just looking at the posture, they knew she had been trained in martial arts.

    Still, Qin Yunuan smiled gently, facing the draper manager, ¡°Do you know who I am?¡±......

 Chapter 128 Looking for Trouble

    <h4>Chapter 128 Looking for Trouble</h4>

    Qin Yunuan was born with fine features, which made her easy to gain others¡¯ trust. In addition, her faint smile and words that were as gentle as spring winds led the draper¡¯s manager to be more rampant.

    ¡°Humph! I don¡¯t care about your family background. Small as this draper is, it belongs to the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. Madam, you won¡¯t want to offend the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, will you?¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded and gave a hint to Maner with a nce. Then Maner raised her head and eximed, ¡°Open your eye wide! This is the Third Young Madam who was married to Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion recently. Princess Ning already arranged her to take charge of the three shops. That is to say....¡±

    ¡°That is to say,¡± Qin Yunuanpleted Maner¡¯s words, ¡°Manager, I won¡¯t be afraid of offending Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.¡±

    Finding the manager still suspicious, Maner took out the token of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion and put it right in front of the manager¡¯s eyes so that he could see every detail of it, ¡°Have you seen it clearly? Are you still doubting? Remember, Third Young Madam is not only the daughter-inw in the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, but she is also Infanta Ping in the fifth-grade of rank. ording to your words and behavior, she has enough reasons to punish you.¡± Of course, Maner was only talking about it without action. She knew that Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t want to worsen the problem. However, since Qin Yunuan, as one single woman, had to take over the shops from three wily old birds, it¡¯s necessary for her to give them a head-on blow at the first encounter by making trouble. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t gain their obedience.

    The manager of the draper immediately understood the hidden meaning between her lines. The reason why Qin Yunuan wouldn¡¯t be afraid of offending Qin Yunuan was that she belonged to it. He, on the other side, was nothingpared to her. He was no doubt looking for trouble by showing off right in front of his boss.

    The manager was a man of affairs after all. When the shop assistant beside him pulled his sleeves, he soon came to sense from his hesitation. He showed a sincere and ttering smile, making a pretense of pping himself, ¡°It¡¯s my fault! I fail to recognize you! I¡¯m too arrogant!¡±

    Just when the manager was saying, he tipped the shop assistant at the entrance a wink. Since the three shops were really close, the interests of the three managers were also closely tied to each other. If something happened to one of them, they would send information secretly to others, nning together.

    However, Qin Yunuan also thought of it.

    ¡°Don¡¯t hurry to send information to the jewelry store next door,¡± Qin Yunuan acted as a host, choosing the mostfortable seat to sit and pouring a cup of warm tea for herself, and raised her eyes with a smile, ¡°Right now, the managers of the two shops next door won¡¯t be in a situation as good as the one you¡¯re in. Manager Qian, you should not worry about them.¡±

    Startled, Manager Qian asked, ¡°Third Young Madam, are youing here for inspection? Oh, recently I purchased two batches of good material, which I was reluctant to sell. Third Young Madam, are you going to have a look?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not here for material,¡± Qin Yunuan made herself clear, ¡°I only want to check the ount books.¡±

    ¡°Well...,¡± Manager Qian showed an embarrassed look. He nced at only a few customers who came to view goods in the shop at noon, and saluted Qin Yunuan, ¡°Third Young Madam, if you are convenient, pleasee into the ce.¡±

    Of course, she was convenient, Qin Yunuan straightened her body, giving a hint that Maner and Ting Xue should guard outside, while Leng Shuang was left inside.

    The ce was extremely tidy with decoration much more gorgeous than the one outside. There were golden tumblebugs carved in relief in the winding corridor. The ce was as luxurious as the mansion of Grand Commandant. Even a ce for the manager and fixer to rest temporarily could be so splendid. Qin Yunuan winked. It seemed that there were lots of profits in the three shops.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, please go this way,¡± Manager Qian led the way in the front. Across two winding corridors, they finally reached a quiet and quaint house. Only with a nce, Qin Yunuan inferred that it must be the core of the satin shop by the two precious pine and cypress outside the house. However, the aim of Manager Qian to take her here remained unclear. She didn¡¯t believe that the business veteran would take out the ount books tamely, or, the real one.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, pleasee in,¡± Manager Qian took out aplicated series of keys around his waist. He bustled about opening the door of the house for a long time. The moment it was opened, there came a faint, sweet smell inside.

    Leading Qin Yunuan into the house, Manager Qian introduced, ¡°This batch is called ¡®Viburnums With Rain And Dew¡¯. There are only two batches of it produced every year. It touches cool and is as soft as clouds. That¡¯s why it is praised as the best. And this batch is called ¡®Fireflies In the Night Rain¡¯. This is because it can glow softly as fireflies do in the darkness, which is really beautiful! Also, this batch...¡±

    ¡°Manager Qian,¡± Qin Yunuan interrupted Manager Qian¡¯s endless introduction decisively and mercilessly, ¡°I don¡¯t know your meaning. I only want to check the ount books.¡± Actually, what Manager Qian meant was quite obvious, but Qin Yunuan must show a determined attitude at the beginning. There would be a long way to go, so she didn¡¯t want to make any possible mistake.

    ¡°Hey,¡± Manager Qian showed a ttering smile, ¡°Everyone loves beauty. Those batches of material are not avable even in the pce. Third Young Madam, I want to offer them to you. Therefore, could you give me more time before giving the ount books to you? After all....¡±

    ¡°Leng Shuang,¡± Qin Yunuan interrupted the sweet talk of Manager Qian. She asked Leng Shuang waiting outside the door toe in, pointed at those batches of gorgeous material in the house, and smiled to Manager Qian, ¡°Sorry that I don¡¯t quite get your meaning, Manager Qian. Are you saying that you will give them to me?¡±

    By only talking about giving material, Qin Yunuan covered Manager Qian¡¯s hint of not seeing the ount books secretly. Manager Qian couldn¡¯t make himself clear, so he nodded, ¡°Of course, yes! Third Young Madam, if you like any of them, just take it away. It¡¯s my shop¡¯s honor to offer something you like.¡±

    ¡°Well, I like all of them,¡± Qin Yunuan nodded with a smile. Manager Qian thought that this Third Young Madam was really as greedy as a lioness. When he was negotiating with Grand Young Madam, he detested her voracity. Now he regretted refusing her invitation of making money together.

    Although Manager Qian had such a thought, he still said reverently, ¡°Now that you like all of them, Third Young Madam, just take them with you.¡±

    ¡°Can I do whatever I want to them?¡±

    ¡°They are already given to you, so they are yours now. Of course, you can do whatever you want to them.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Qin Yunuan nodded. She asked Leng Shuang toe close to her and whispered something. Poker-faced, Leng Shuang answered and walked directly to those batches of material which were in the worth of a city. She used her power skillfully, spreading one batch of material and splitting it into pieces with the sword around her waist. She was like a goddess scattering blossoms. Her sword was moving like a silver snake. The pieces of the white silk material fell to the ground like heavy and expensive snow, cooling Manager Qian¡¯s heart as well.

    Then, there was the second batch, the third batch...

    Qin Yunuan watched the stunned Manager Qian calmly with a smile. It was not true that Manager Qian didn¡¯t love those treasures in the worth of a city, but he was too shocked to act. Besides, even if he could act, he wouldn¡¯t dare to oppose Third Young Madam in public.

    It was not until Leng Shuang finished handling with thest batch of material that Qin Yunuan said to Manager Qian, ¡°Manager Qian, I¡¯ve already epted the gift you give to me and finished dealing with them. Now, it¡¯s time for me to check the ount books.¡±

    ¡°Third Young Madam, I...,¡± Manager Qian was already speechless.

    ¡°What?¡± Qin Yunuan raise her tone a little with some doubt, ¡°Do you still have any question? Or, Manager Qian, do you have another gift to me? Just take it out,¡± as she was saying, she pointed at Leng Shuang, ¡°This maid of mine doesn¡¯t have other advantages, but she is a great helper when I receive gifts.¡±

    Having seen Leng Shuang¡¯s skill just now, Manager Qian knew that he could not be tough. His servants might be beaten by the heroine before they could enter the yard. Nevertheless, he didn¡¯t dare to be tough to the Third Young Madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, which was his old boss.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, please show mercy,¡± Manager Qian abandoned thest chance of struggling. He kneeled down suddenly, appearing quite cowardly and timid with his 7-chi-tall body in front of Qin Yunuan, who was a newly married woman at the age of 15. Manager Qian said seriously and regretfully, ¡°It¡¯s my fault! I¡¯m too greedy! However, I have parents and children...¡±

    Qin Yunuan had already heard such words for countless times.

    ¡°Leng Shuang,¡± Qin Yunuan only spoke out a name, and Manager Qian was dragged away, lifted up, and thrown to the floor by great strength.

    Leng Shuang stopped and nced at Manager Qian coldly. Her eyes were filled with the intention to kill.

    ¡°If you really worry about your family, you shouldn¡¯t cooperate with the managers of the other two shops to cook the books and cheat my mother-inw at the beginning. If you have overstated the cost and squeezed on profit once, you will do it twice. You cannot stay in the draper anymore.¡±

    Her words were determined.

    Manager Qian gritted his teeth, seeming to make a very strong decision, ¡°Then I would like to exchange a chance to stay with a secret about Grand Young Madam.¡±

    Obviously, he was trying to make mischief between Qin Yunuan and Ruan Ruyi. They could not be count as allies, but...

    Before Qin Yunuan could nod, Manager Qian couldn¡¯t wait to say, ¡°In fact, Grand Young Madam and Concubine Tang know that the three shops were hiding the profits during these years. What¡¯s more, they also get money from it. They both say that since Princess Ning doesn¡¯t take charge, they can ask her to get the shops and make money together with us.¡±

 Chapter 129 Clearing up Bad Ways and Customs

    <h4>Chapter 129 Clearing up Bad Ways and Customs</h4>

    Seeing that Qin Yunuan kept emotionless, Manager Qian thought that she didn¡¯t believe him. He continued with more confidence, ¡°Third Young Madam, please believe me. There are letters that Grand Young Madam wrote to me in private at my house. Third Young Madam, if you allow me to stay, I will give them to you. From now on, I will be your man, doing whatever you want.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone who is useless,¡± Qin Yunuan said coldly, ¡°Pack your things and leave the draper as soon as possible. Oh, you¡¯d better hurry. If my sister-inw knows that you¡¯ve told me her secret, the daughter of a concubine in Prince Gaoyang¡¯s Mansion as she is, she is totally able to punish a powerlessmon person like you.¡±

    ¡°Third Young Madam, I...,¡± Manager Qian prepared to catch Qin Yunuan¡¯s dress impertinently, but he was stopped by Leng Shuang, who leaned her body.

    Qin Yunuan nced at Manager Qian coldly across Leng Shuang and left determinedly. Outside, the three managers brought by Qin Yunuan had already found out the ount books of the draper and put it on the counter. Some shop assistants who had some prestige were still arguing with the three managers.

    ¡°How can you take the ount books out of our shop? Who do you think you are? Old man, beating you will make my hands dirty.¡±

    One is a fat manager with big shoulders and round waist, one is a manager of ferocious features with a scar, so the other one, the oldest manager of the three, became the target which those stupid shop assistants took turns to attack.

    However, the old manager was not flustered at all. He touched his grizzled goatee. Seeing Qin Yunuane out, he moved away with great respect, so that she could stand at the front.

    ¡°I¡¯ll answer your question just now,¡± Qin Yunuan told the shop assistant who kicked up a fuss in the rudest manner, ¡°You just asked who the old manager was. In the past, this Manager Yu yed second fiddle at the subbranch on Que¡¯er Street of our Golden Butterfly Embroidery House. Now he is the grand manager of your draper. Do you understand?¡±

    The change came so quickly that the shop assistants looked at each other in speechless surprise. Will the manager of the draper be changed so soon?

    Finding everyone stunned, Ting Xue took a step forward and raised her voice, ¡°Third Young Madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion is asking you a question. No matter you understand or not, answer her.¡±

    The words ¡°Third Young Madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion¡± reminded everyone present that the one who had the right to rule in the three shops was no longer the manager they knew, but Qin Yunuan, the one right in front of them. Although she was young, she had a strong mental aura.

    The old manager nodded and said politely, ¡°I hope that all of you will cooperate with me in the future.¡±

    It meant that he would take office right away.

    ¡°OK... OK...,¡± some people had alreadypromised.

    However, there were still a few stubborn people.

    ¡°I won¡¯t ept it! Why did you change the manager as soon as you arrived here? Third Young Madam, although you take charge of everything, you should not disrupt the morale! I, Wang San, don¡¯t care about my workce. I won¡¯t stay here to suffer wrong.¡± Finishing his words, the thin, sharp-eyed shop assistant looked back, calling several people whom he was on good terms with, ¡°Brothers! If we work hard, we won¡¯t worry about no meals to have. I know other ces to make money. Follow me, and you won¡¯t worry about raising your wives and kids.¡±

    At that time, the situation became more chaotic. Some cried that they would follow Wang San. Others were hesitating, waiting to see the new boss, Qin Yunuan¡¯s attitude.

    Qin Yunuan was not anxious at all. She even called the scarred manager and fat manager, ¡°See? They want to leave. You two hurry to open the front door wide. I want to see how much money thoseborers who signed long-term contracts had to buy their freedom.¡±

    When she finished her words, the atmosphere cooled down. Seeing that, the leader, Wang San, took courage to cry out, ¡°Brothers! The boss in the good workce I know was really kind. He promises that if I can take you with me, he will pay the money to buy our freedom. See? How can we miss a great chance like that?¡±

    The atmosphere arose again. When the trend was almostpletely led by Wang San, Qin Yunuan, standing in the very back of the house, spoke suddenly. Although her voice was not as powerful as the one of Wang San, she remained calm and clear, so her voice was easy to hear in the crowd.

    ¡°This man must be talking about boss Yuan¡¯s grocery store. Well, I¡¯ve heard that his shop has already lost many clients because it has an illegal rtionship with the nanny responsible for purchasing in the mansion of Grand Commandant. It can hardly maintain its business now. How can it take in so many people like you?¡± As Qin Yunuan was saying, she walked to the front of the crowd. The sun outside was about to set. The golden afterglow poured on Qin Yunuan¡¯s shoulder as if she had been glided with gold.

    ¡°For those who stay, there will be one copper coin adding to your wages every month. Your yearly holiday will prolong for three days. What¡¯s more, you will have shared revenue ording to customers¡¯ reward and performance. How much you will get each month depends on your own ability. For those who leave, you have to pay the penal sum for your freedom contracts and long-termbor contracts. If you arete, I can prosecute you to the government. I won¡¯t be bothered to do it, but I wonder whether you will insist to the end.¡±

    Just as she finished her words, someone raised hands and shouted, ¡°I will stay.¡±

    ¡°Liu Jiu! You!¡± Wang San, who cried that he would leave at the beginning, became anxious suddenly.

    ¡°Brother Wang, we¡¯ve already got used to the work in the draper. Now that my wage is raised and I have more time to apany my wife and children, I¡¯d rather stay here.¡±

    Following him, there were more and more people showing their attitude.

    ¡°I will stay, too!¡±

    ¡°Me, too!¡±

    ¡°Of course, I will stay! Why not?¡±

    At first, Wang San took eight people to leave in total. Now everyone except him decided to stay in the draper, leaving him standing at the gate alone and looking isted.

    Qin Yunuan smiled at Wang San, ¡°This ¡®Brother Wang¡¯, what about you?¡±

    To tell the truth, Wang San thought that Qin Yunuan¡¯s offer was quite attractive from the bottom of his heart. Raising the wage, prolonging the holiday, and adding shared revenue, how good it was! But...

    ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± teeth gritted, and face flushed, Wang San groaned. He had already epted money from other people. Although he failed to persuade those people to leave the draper, he could not keep staying in it.

    ¡°All right,¡± Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t flurry but smiled. She told the old manager and the shop assistants who would like to stay, ¡°You need to remember now that Wang San no longer belongs to our draper, you will block him outside the gate. The draper needs loyal shop assistants, not a jackal that lurks inside but put its ws and heart outside. Are you clear now?¡±

    Seeing that those shop assistants nodded submissively, Qin Yunuan turned her body in satisfaction. She smiled at Wang San, who was stunned at the gate, ¡°Well, Brother Wang, you can go now. Once you leave, you shall never return under any circumstances.¡±

    Wang San trembled again, gritted his teeth, and went out of the draper angrily.

    Looking back at those shop assistants who were still hesitating, Qin Yunuan suddenly smiled warmly and softened her voice, ¡°Do you have other things to say?¡±

    They all shook their heads.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t have other things to say, do what you should do now. The new manager will tell you about other changes in detail. You only need to remember that when you are working for me, you will get a reward as long as you are loyal and hard-working.¡±

    Solving the problem in the draper, Qin Yunuan met no obstacle in the jewelry store and the rice store left. They might have already heard the news that Manager Qian in the draper was forced to leave. Qin Yunuan didn¡¯te there, but she sent the scarred manager and the fat manager to keep the order and showing the business condition recorded by the three managers in the tea house. As a result, she got all the ount books and materials easily. Of course, it couldn¡¯t be done without Leng Shuang watching beside.

    Qin Yunuan only needed to enjoy the iced mung bean and lily soup in the carriage.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, it¡¯s all over,¡± near evening, Maner and Ting Xue had already put the real ount books of the three shops in the big box at the back of the carriage by themselves.

    ¡°Good,¡± Qin Yunuan straightened her body. She lifted the curtain and looked at the three shops with new signboards and the three new managers sent by her at the gates. She believed them deeply. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t give them such important work to do.

    And why did she begin from the draper? Firstly, she knew that the draper was the most profitable among the three, as well as the one with the most hidden profit. Secondly, since Manager Qian dared to lead the managers of the other two shops to cheat like that, there must be someone offering help behind him. So she never thought about the possibility of making Manager Qian stay. As for the other two managers, she allowed them to continue to help in the shops only for their rich experience.

    It¡¯s time for her to return to the mansion. Leng Shuang was protecting Qin Yunuan closely in the carriage, while Maner and Ting Xue followed at the two sides of it.

    ¡°What a pity,¡± Leng Shuang, who rarely had something to say, spoke suddenly. Then she turned to look at Qin Yunuan with lots of emotion, ¡°Third Young Madam, those batches of material you asked me to split were all in the worth of a city. Some of them weren¡¯t avable even in the pce. As Manager Qian had given them to you, why didn¡¯t you ept them?¡±

    ¡°It was because he said that they were not avable in the pce that I couldn¡¯t ept them,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°¡®Common fame is seldom to me.¡¯ If I wear a dress made of the material that is better than the one the empress has, it is equal to giving me a death sentence.¡±

    Leng Shuang lifted her lips with relief and appreciation, ¡°I¡¯ve already heard from General Leng that Third Young Madam is a woman with a special view and great wisdom. I used to doubt it, but today I believe it.¡± After that, she lifted the curtain casually and whispered, ¡°Is the girl named Maner, the one that my brother likes?¡±

 Chapter 130 Hold Power

    <h4>Chapter 130 Hold Power</h4>

    Having spent years visiting and learning martial arts from various martial factions, Leng Shuang was used to giving either straightforward or noments on things. Seeing that Qin Yunuan was in a trance, she said at the sight of Maner¡¯s back, ¡°She looks good. No wonder my brother cares about her so much.¡±

    Before Leng Shuang, Leng Wu, her brother, was the one to protect Qin Yunuan closely. Thus, it was understandable that Leng Wu became closer to Maner. But what Leng Shuang said revealed that Leng Wu seemingly had a crush on Maner a long time ago.

    ¡°Your brother...?¡± Qin Yunuan drawled deliberately while leisurely having the tasty green bean soup.

    ¡°My brother?¡± Leng Shuang seldom said such a long sentence. ¡°Although my brother merely works as General Leng¡¯s bodyguard, he has an official title, sixth-rank Armed Guard. Given this, he may be qualified to chase after your servant girl, right?¡±

    With a puff, Qin Yunuan swallowed the green bean soup in her mouth. Considering Leng Wu¡¯s official rank, he was indeed beyond Maner¡¯s reach rather than vice versa.

    Qin Yunuan hadn¡¯t thought of that Leng Wu was an official. She only deemed him as the most skilled guard among all 18 shadow guards of Leng Changxi. So, before she was honored with a title, she had ordered a sixth-rank official at will, and this man worked as her all-time guard?

    Qin Yunuan subtly shifted a topic instead of directly answering Leng Shuang¡¯s straightforward question. Shortly, they arrived at the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. Recognizing the carriage of Third Young Madam, the doorkeeper solicitously took over the gag rein and ced the wooden stairs.

    Just taking a few steps, Qin Yunuan saw that Qing Zhu, Princess Ning¡¯s servant girl, wasing towards her. Qing Zhu said, ¡°Third Young Madam, you¡¯re back. Princess Ning has prepared a good meal in the Muwei Courtyard. Prince Ning is going out for a feast tonight. Princess Ning is unwilling to have dinner alone, so she invites Third Young Master and you to eat with her.¡±

    Although it was known to all in the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion that Princess Ning loved the bustle and hustle of the family life, Qin Yunuan felt something different about the invitation this time. But hearing that Leng Changxi would go together with her, she became less worried.

    When she arrived at the Muwei Courtyard, two lines of servant girls already stood outside, ready to take orders. The first course, fried beef with tomato sauce, was already served. Beef was Leng Changxi¡¯s favorite, and he never had enough of this course.

    ¡°Look, sister Yunuan ising.¡± A young voice as clear as the bell sound reached Qin Yunuan. Hearing this, she knew it was Ruan Ruyi. Qin Yunuan turned down her request at noon yesterday, but now she sounded as if she had no censure or dissatisfaction at all. Qin Yunuan frowned. The young servant girl near the door opened the floral bead curtain to let Qin Yunuan walk in. Just stepping into the room, she put on a tender and gentle smile again.

    ¡°Sister, you are also here.¡± At the first nce, Qin Yunuan saw Ruan Ruyi who didn¡¯t look away from her. Then she turned her head and said, ¡°Concubine Tang is here, too.¡±

    Concubine Tang said nothing and just nodded. She now acted like an elder, not the ttering woman yesterday morning anymore.

    Princess Ning sat gracefully in the middle. A set of delicate silver tableware was before her, including chopsticks and spoons. Even the tableware which contained over 100 tools used for eating hairy crabs was all made of silver. The tableware handles were carved with small but lifelike winter sweet. The three-dimensional hollow design looked gorgeous.

    Concubine Tang was so jealous of Princess Ning because of this unique set of tableware, which Prince Ning especially found for her. She had nothing to do but felt envious. After all, Princess Ning was his wife while she was just a concubine. Normally, a concubine had to obey orders, but today...

    Concubine Tang turned her head to Qin Yunuan. Leng Changxi was not here, and Qin Yunuan, whose mother was a concubine, looked soely that she must be timid. Thinking of this, Concubine Tang said without fear, ¡°Prince Ning is out tonight. I assume that sister must eat alone, so I take Ruyi to apany her. We are not like you, Third Young Madam. You are outside all day long. I don¡¯t know what makes you so busy. ¡±

    This time, Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t tell Princess Ning in advance that she would go out. It was because Leng Changxi directly gave her a jade token with which she could walk freely out of the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. Moreover, Qin Yunuan was simply suspicious that the ount books of the three shops were falsified. She had no evidence yet, so she didn¡¯t want to inform Princess Ning of this without careful consideration.

    ¡°It¡¯s indeed my fault that I didn¡¯t spend time apanying mother. However, mother has handed over three shops to me, so I don¡¯t want to let her down. I was out to check these three shops today. It¡¯s really my fault not to apany mother.¡± Qin Yunuan curtsied only to Princess Ning. She was telling Concubine Tang that she merely apologized to Princess Ning who was her only mother-inw. Concubine Tang was just a concubine, and this was none of her business.

    Princess Ning smiled gently and said, ¡°I¡¯m not meant to me you. I¡¯m just worried that the weather is so hot. Going out will wear you out.¡± Then, she asked a servant girl to serve Qin Yunuan a bowl of cooling sweet pear soup. ¡°Pears in the soup are picked up from our manor in the suburbs and then directly sent there. They are quite fresh. Have a try.¡±

    Qin Yunuan wore a sweet smile and kept expressing her thanks. When she held a small spoon, ready to taste it, Princess Ning said, ¡°Hold on. Use my spoon.¡±

    Princess Ning pointed at the unused small silver spoon near her hand. The smile on her face was even more amiable.

    Because of this, Ruan Ruyi and Concubine Tang both were stunned. Princess Ning was obviously showing her favor and preference for Qin Yunuan. Also, she was warning them not to y tricks. For a moment, Concubine Tang thought Princess Ning was in fact smart and shrewd at the sight of the elusive expression in her eyes. Butter, seeing the innocent and kind smile of Princess Ning, Concubine Tang gave up this idea.

    ¡°Thank you, mother.¡± Qin Yunuan took over the spoon with great respect and held the delicate handle to spoon up the soup. It was refreshing, suitable for cooling people down.

    Princess Ning smiled with satisfaction. When looking at Concubine Tang, she remembered something and asked, ¡°Oh, just now, you said you would tell me something important, and this was about Yunuan. Since Yunuan is here, you can directly speak it out.¡±

    Hearing this, Qin Yunuan smiled and said in an exciting and kind voice, ¡°Right. Concubine Tang. Just say it out. If I do anything wrong, I will correct myself.¡±

    Just now, Princess Ning and Qin Yunuan showed their extremely close rtionship. Besides, the former had a strong preference for thetter. Under such circumstances, how could Concubine Tang say it out? She was embarrassed and squeezed Ruan Ruyi hard in secret.

    Ruan Ruyi knew that she had been pushed to a fiery pit, but she had no choice but to jump in. She got up her courage and said, ¡°It¡¯s about the three shops in the eastern Royal City.¡±

    Princess Ning put on a poker face. ¡°What else do we need to talk about this? I have already given them to Yunuan.¡±

    ¡°It is right because she takes over the shops that things were all messed up this afternoon.¡± Ruan Ruyi kept saying, ¡°Mother, you don¡¯t know how resolute Yunuan is. At noon, she directly went to shops and ordered to fire managers. Workers in shops were all dissatisfied and didn¡¯t want to work in the embroidery shop anymore.¡±

    Qin Yunuan chuckled. She already expected that Concubine Tang and Ruan Ruyi wouldn¡¯t give up those three shops. ¡°Sister, you are really well-informed. This just happened at noon, and now, you know it clearly.¡±

    Princess Ning frowned. ¡°Yunuan, is that true?¡±

    Qin Yunuan took a nce at Ruan Ruyi and Concubine Tang. They two were happily waiting for Qin Yunuan to deny so that they could present more evidence to prove her absolutely wrong. Qin Yunuan directly answered, ¡°Yes, mother. It¡¯s true.¡±

    Princess Ning made a small move but said nothing. It seemed that she was waiting for Qin Yunuan to finish her sentences.

    ¡°Mother, please allow me to exin.¡± Qin Yunuan calmly gave a full exnation of what happened today and kept her chin up slightly. ¡°Mother, if you don¡¯t believe what I¡¯m saying, you can carefully check the ount books I bring home. Then you will know how many profits were unreported. Also, you will understand why Concubine Tang and sister hold the grudge after I take over these three barely profitable shops and why they always want to take them back.¡±

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t mean to be straightforward and vicious like this. But she knew what attitude Princess Ning took towards Concubine Tang and Ruan Ruyi. Therefore, she had to rify her attitude to prevent Ruan Ruyi from doing the same thing she did yesterday. More importantly, she remembered that Leng Changxi warned her to stay away from people who had rtions with Leng Chang¡¯an.

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Ruan Ruyi was embarrassed and said, ¡°How can we know how many profits those shops generate? We just want to run idle shops well so that we can make a contribution to our family.¡±

    ¡°Run them well?¡± Qin Yunuan sneered. ¡°Those three shops are not as narrowly profitable as reported. Instead, they are way better and fairly lucrative. I keep the ount books outside. Mother, if you want to take a look, I will take them in now.¡±

    Princess Ning put down the chopsticks and said in a serious voice. ¡°You mean that the three managers I send to run shops steal my money and pocket it, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Qin Yunuan was also serious and nodded. ¡°Yes.¡±

    Princess Ning was so angry that her face turned red. ¡°How dare they! It¡¯s still unclear whether people in our mansion have pocketed more.¡±

    After Princess Ning finished her sentence, Qin Yunuan clearly noticed that Concubine Tang trembled suddenly.

 Chapter 131 An Inexplicable Warning

    <h4>Chapter 131 An Inexplicable Warning</h4>

    Everybody present seemed to understand the words clearly.

    ¡°Yunuan, what¡¯s your opinion?¡± Princess Ning distracted her eyes on Qin Yunuan.

    Qin Yunuan pondered for a while and said lowly, ¡°Since there is a problem, an investigation is needed definitely.¡±

    Princess Ning nodded satisfyingly, and then said to Concubine Tang, ¡°What¡¯s your opinion, sister?¡±

    Concubine Tang looked a little bit embarrassed and said reverently, ¡°Sister, you are the hostess of the family, and you have the final say. I dare not have any objection.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Princess Ning smiled lightly and muttered, ¡°Why is Changxi sote?¡±

    And then Qingzhu came back and reported that the Third Young Master just came back but immediately was summoned by the people dispatched by Emperor to the Imperial Pce. It seemed that he could not have a meal with Princess Ning.

    Just in a sh, Princess Ning expressed a little of dissatisfaction, and then she recovered her gentleness from her slightly frowning face, ¡°Now Emperor thinks highly of Changxi. That¡¯s great.¡±

    Concubine Tang and Ruan Ruyi nodded ordingly, but they both felt worried about Princess Ning¡¯s decision of ount books checking.

    Everybody here uneasy had dinner. Concubine Tang and Ruan Ruyi left after they just finished their meal. Qin Yunuan stayed here and talked with Princess Ning. She left at dusk, walking along the long corridor from Twilight ce to her courtyard.

    It was a little bit cold in the evening. With the borate decoration at Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, each courtyard has its own pond nearby. The cool breeze blew at night, which made people rxed.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Qin Yunuan had been observing the face of Maner and Ting Xue, and she found that they both frowned slightly and looked worried.

    Maner looked at Ting Xue, and then Ting Xue said straightly, ¡°I feel that it¡¯s not so appropriate for Princess Ning to do that.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled and seemed not to be surprised. She said in a softer and more elegant voice, ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    Ting Xue plucked up and said, ¡°I believe that Princess Ning has already known the corrupt condition in the mansion. She did not investigate it until you entered the mansion. Princess Ning let you use her unique silver tableware at the table. All of those express to the outside her high favor and trust on you superficially. But in fact, she is pushing you into hell.¡±

    Qin Yunuan slowed her pace, ying with a string of crystals on her wrist one by one by her slender and fair fingertips. Maner added in a low voice, ¡°I feel that too. Third Young Madam, you have no solid foundation in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, but heavy responsibility is still put on you, which may offend others. Third Young Master, please be very careful.¡±

    Qin Yunuan sighed leisurely and had a rest at a small pavilion near the winding corridor. She looked at the ripples far away in the ponder, and said, ¡°I know what you said. I doubted my mother-inw¡¯s purpose after she let me run the three shopsst morning. But I do not know the reason behind it. The olddy disliked me because I have some resentments with Dou Family, but I have no dispute with my mother-inw. I can¡¯t figure out why she put me in such a circumstance on purpose.¡±

    Maner persuaded in a low voice, ¡°In brief, Third Miss, you should be very careful with others. Ting Xue and I will stand with you no matter what decision you will make.¡±

    Maner suddenly called Qin Yunuan Third Miss instead of Third Young Madame, which expressed that Maner always remembered where she came from, and she belonged to Qin Yunuan, instead of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.

    Qin Yunuan looked at Maner and then Ting Xue. Compared with Qin Family, Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion was moreplicated. In Qin Family, she should only care how to protect herself and Baochuan, and she did not care Dou Qing¡¯e and her gangs. But in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, she was not single. She needed to consider those maidservants who relied on her and Leng Changxi to live. Princess Ning had been the mother of Leng Changxi for 20 years. Qin Yunuan should consider more before acting.

    When Qin Yunuan was pondering, a paper-made dragonfly flew toward her by the wind andnded on her hair bun.

    ¡°Third Young Madam.¡± Maner took off the dragonfly, and then she found more paper-made dragonflies flying toward them by the evening wind when she raised her head to have a check.

    ¡°Third Young Madam. Look, someone on that loft is flying those dragonflies.¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked at the loft in the direction Maner was pointing. She found ady with a snow-white dress was leaning against the window across the pond. She held a bamboo basket where full dragonflies were put tidily. One of her hands held a dragonfly and raised elegantly to fly it away gently in the wind.

    Thedy seemed to notice that Qin Yunuan was looking at her, and then she just glimpsed at Qin Yunuan with cold and indifferent eyes, which was like Chang¡¯e in Guanghan Pce in the moon. At this moment, thedy expressed an iparable reserved temperament.

    ¡°Who is that? Who dare to do such unruly things?¡±

    ¡°She is Leng Suxin, the Fourth Miss of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, and the only daughter of the prince.¡± Just in a sh, Qin Yunuan recognized her by the untouchable feature of Leng Suxin. Last time, she met Leng Suxin in the birthday feast of Princess Ning. Fang Ziyig sitting beside her introduced thisdy sand said she was an untouchable girl with odd temper.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Qin Yunuan turned back to order Maner while giving a salute to the loft as a greeting.

    Qin Yunuan just walked into the corridor near the pond. Leng Suxin stepped down from the loft and stood at Chuihua Gate, waiting for Qin Yunuan walking toward her.

    Having seen Qin Yunuan walk toward her, Leng Suxin nced at her lightly without a word. She just let her maidservant tell Qin Yunuan, ¡°Ourdy wants to talk with Third Young Madame. Is it okay for you?¡±

    Qin Yunuan nced far at Leng Suxin, who stood at Chuihua Gate. She did not know the intension of Leng Suxin.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled sweetly and ordered Ting Xue and Maner to stay here. She walked straight toward Leng Suxin.

    ¡°Fourth Miss.¡± Qin Yunuan said with a gentle and kind smile. At least, her smile would not make others unwell.

    ¡°My elder brother loves you very much.¡± Leng Suxin said suddenly. As expected, her voice was so cold, without any emotion. Such kind of people were the most fearful. They seemed to have no emotion and human feelings, and nobody could know what they were thinking.

    ¡°But I dislike you very much.¡± Leng Suxin said before Qin Yunuan responded. She added with her eyes shining the untouchable light, ¡°So, you¡¯d better guarantee that I cannot find you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan did not get mad. She just smiled more gently, ¡°Fourth Miss, you misunderstand me.¡± Qin Yunuan passed by the pond at this time, which was absolutely a coincidence.

    ¡°Everybody in this mansion knows that I fly the dragonflies on this day every year. You¡¯d better remember it. Next time, you detour.¡± Leng Suxin said in a mood that seemed to be simr to Leng Changxi partly, so overbearing and cold, ¡°Oh, maybe there is no next time,¡± Leng Suxin glimpsed at Qin Yunuan, ¡°You are not able to stay at the mansion for one year.¡± And then Leng Suxin left straightly. The chilly back of Leng Suxin reminded Qin Yunuan of a fact that the cold words just now were from the Fourth Miss of Prince Ning¡¯s mansion, an unmarried maiden.

    The Fourth Miss was so strange. No! Qin Yunuan suddenly felt shuddered. It was the whole mansion that was very odd. The abrupt unkindness from Princess Ning and the confusing warning from the Fourth Miss made Qin Yunuan at a loss.

    Back to the courtyard, Qin Yunuan felt so exhausted after the whole day¡¯s bustle. Luomei was busy preparing the medicated bath. The flowers of roses with mint water could relieve the fatigue.

    ¡°Third Young Madame, the bath has been prepared.¡±

    In the bathroom, water vapor made Qin Yunuan got thin sweat immediately.

    The belt of her dress was unfastened, and then her dress was half taken off, and her pink bellyband and fair shoulder were exposed. Qin Yunuan tried to touch the bath water full of flowers, with drops of water sshing, which made her thin bellyband more transparent and more clinging to his body. Now her perfect-shaped and slim underbelly was exposed.

    And then her whole dress was taken off. Maner put the bellyband on the dress hanger and left with her lowering head.

    Qin Yunuan entered the temperature-fit oak bathtub slowly. She closed her eyes to enjoy the rxing time and then started to ponder.

    In a daze, she seemed to hear the door was opened. Qin Yunuan thought Luomei came in to add medicinal herbs. She just ordered gently, ¡°Just put them on the shelf.¡± Her voice was a little bitzy. Some pleasant feelings emerged in this wet bathroom.

    Theer seemed not to leave but came closer. The person passed by the screen and stood at the shelf for a while where her underwear was put.

    Qin Yunaun felt strange and was about to open her eyes. Leng Changxi suddenly said in a charming voice, ¡°What do you want to put down? Me?¡±

    ¡°You....¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly realized that she was nude. Though those rose flowers were floating on the water, her looming body shape could be clearly seen. Qin Yunuan dared not move to avoid more exposure. She just muttered, ¡°Why do youe in so suddenly. My bath hasn¡¯t been over.¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled and felt the shy hedgehog was cuter. He said to Qin Yunuan on purpose, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. We can bath together.¡±

 Chapter 132 The Feast on Returning Day

    <h4>Chapter 132 The Feast on Returning Day</h4>

    And then Leng Changxi took off his clothes. It was in summer, and he wore fewer clothes, so the high-quality silk shirt was fallen on the ground along with his shapely back muscle just by a gentle pull. The thinyer of undershirt could not hide his abdominal muscle at all. Leng Changxi became sexier in the wet room when the half-transparent undershirt due to sweating was more clinging to his waist.

    After the passion, Leng Changxiy on the body of Qin Yunuan with a slight breath.

    Sweat and bathwater were mixed, covering their bodies. It was in the hot summer, but the cold wind still blew into the room through the skylight, which made Qin Yunuan get an ague suddenly.

    Leng Changxi looked at the shelf and found that those wet clothes could not be worn.

    Unconsciously, Leng Changxi was about to call the maidservant to send some clean clothes as usual.

    ¡°Wait.¡± Qin Yunuan pulled the arm of Leng Changxi and pointed at their nude bodies. She would be timid when the servants saw their nudities.

    ¡°Shy?¡± Leng Changxiughed, ¡°You have be mydy. Don¡¯t be so shy.¡±

    Qin Yunuan red at Leng Changxi, ¡°You are so weird. Why don¡¯t you choose the right time? Maner and Ting Xue have been waiting outside. They must hear since we made loud noise just now.¡±

    ¡°Those maidservants trained by you are always sensible. They must walk away. Do you believe it? Nobody was in the courtyard now.¡± Leng Changxiughed suddenly.

    It meant that all the people in the courtyard knew what she and Leng Changxi did.

    Qin Yunuan pouted when she thought of that. She stroked Leng Changxi yfully and lightly, ¡°OK, that¡¯s fine. Everybody knew it.¡±

    ¡°You are my wife obviously,¡± Leng Changxi gnawed the earlobe of Qin Yunuan lightly with love, and said in a charming voice, ¡°I want everybody to know how important you are to me. My mother said to me today that I forgot her after I got married. I think she is full right.¡±

    And then Leng Changxi kissed Qin Yunuan tightly, grunting, ¡°Nuan, we shall have a baby.¡±

    The passion of Qin Yunuan was raised again. She just contended, ¡°You marry me just because you want me to give birth to a baby for you?¡±

    Leng Changxi had contained his sexual passion for a long time. He said with a smile, ¡°No, I just enjoy the process.¡±

    And then they enjoy the passion again.

    In the evening, Qin Yunuan, wrapped with summer silk quilt, was held and then sent to her room by Leng Changxi. The evening breeze blew with some water vapor. There was no person in the courtyard, as Leng Changxi said. Qin Yunuan felt it a bad idea that she was sent to the room in such a weird way. But her clothes were wet, and Maner and Ting Xue were absent. On bnce, Leng Changxi¡¯s idea was not a bad one.

    But Leng Changxi harassed her after Qin Yunuan wrapped with the quilt was put on the bed.

    ¡°Enough,¡± Qin Yunuan felt itching by the teasing of Leng Changxi as she reached her hands to push light him, ¡°Three or four times! Aren¡¯t you exhausted?¡±

    Leng Changxi answered seriously, ¡°No, not at all.¡±

    Qin Yunuan could not help butugh, ¡°You know I am so tired. General Leng, forgive me.¡± Qin Yunuan was really exhausted. Though it was Leng Changxi who exerted the strength, Qin Yunuan felt so painful in the back after the sex. And her private part was puffed up more.

    Having found Qin Yunuan looked really tired, Leng Changxi calmed down and fetched some usual medicine for curing injuries. He would get hurt in the military camp. When he got spraining and aching in daily time, he just massaged the sore spots. But now, the girl lying on the bed was his lovely treasure.

    ¡°Lie down.¡± Leng Changxi let Qin Yunuan lie on the bed and then raised the quilt, with the fair back of Qin Yunuan exposed. To avoid that Qin Yunuan caught a cold, Leng Changxi covered her bottom and arms with the quilt carefully. He poured down the medicinal liquor on his hands, and massage Qin Yunuan along several acupoints and channels with moderate strength. Besides, he asked her if the strength was moderate at times.

    If the subordinates had looked at the scene, they would be shocked by the gentleness of General Leng, who was always bold and powerful at wars.

    Leng Changxi performed well. The neck of Qin Yunuan had been ufortable since she always lowered her head for embroidering throughout the year. Now she felt relieved after Leng Changxi¡¯s massage.

    ¡°You teach me next time. I massage you too.¡± Qin Yunuan feltfortable and said in a dazed voice.

    ¡°OK,¡± Leng Changxi came closer and said beside the ear of Qin Yunuan. The hot breath blew her earlobe, ¡°Next time, you should massage my whole body.¡± He emphasized the word WHOLE.

    Qin Yunuan felt a little bit stunned and said nothing.

    She seemed to think about something, and then turned back a little and said, ¡°I need toe back to Qin Family several dayster.¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll apany you to return Qin Family.¡± And then he kissed the earlobe of Qin Yunuan, ¡°I won¡¯t let you back alone.¡±

    ording to the convention of Qi, the married girl must go back to the home of the father on the returning day, but the son-inw might not go together. Especially, male chauvinism prevailed in Qi for generations. If a son-inw went to his wife¡¯s family, the people in the neighborhood would praise the daughter for marrying a good man. Leng Changxi, in such a high position, would earn much fame for Qin Family if he went back with his wife on returning day.

    In the early morning on the returning day, Qin Zhi dispatched people to wee Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan early since he heard the two people woulde back together.

 Chapter 133 You Are Inferior to Me

    <h4>Chapter 133 You Are Inferior to Me</h4>

    ¡°Third Young Master and Third Miss, the Master has waited for you in the flower hall, and Grand Miss and Miss Dou were also there.¡± Butler said with a smile. The whole family was waiting in the flower hall ahead of time, which expressed the significant attention of Qin Family on the return of Qin Yunuan. The big thing was their status and title: Qin Yunuan as the fifth-grade of rank, Infanta Ping, and Leng Changxi as the High General.

    Having given the tips to the gatekeeper, Qin Yunuan found that two lines of servants and maidservants had stood in the courtyard, respectively. It was a sunny day. Qin Yunuan wore a light-yellow soft-gauze-made long skirt, which showed her brightly beauty. She was adorned with a set of delicate and elegant jade-made hairpin and hair essories, which gave out a ringing sound. People here thought the Third Miss of Qin Family turned to be livelier with less maiden¡¯s tenderness after she got married. Her gestures expressed an enviable woman¡¯s lingering charm, which was not carnal but romantic.

    Concubine Chang had arrived at the Chuihua Gate with Baochuan to wee Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi. She knew that Qin Yunuan cared most about his younger brother in Qin Family.

    ¡°Sister.¡± Qin Baochuan ran faster towards when he saw in the distance that Leng Changxi came with Qin Yunuan. Just a few dayster, Qin Yunuan felt the words and behaviors of Qin Baochuan became a little bit steadier and even with a different mood.

    ¡°Baochuan.¡± Qin Yunuan crouched and measured. She pinched the nose of Baochuan and said intimately, ¡°You are taller. Were you obedient to Concubine Chang? Did you focus on your study? Did your teachers in the family academy say something about you?¡±

    Qin Baochuan knew the temper of his sister. Although she always chattered about his academy and study, she cared really about him. He answered the questions of Qin Yunuan patiently and then gave a salute to Leng Changxi politely, ¡°Nice to meet you, my brother-inw.¡±

    Fine. This little boy thought much about Leng Changxi, the Grand General.

    Leng Changxi nodded to polite Qin Baochuan satisfactorily and then added, ¡°What¡¯s your final answer about the issue I dispatched people to tell you yesterday?¡± Right. Leng Changxi said to Qin Baochuan, an only six-year-old little boy. He regarded him as an adult and asked for his opinion.

    Qin Baochuan answered seriously, ¡°Thanks for your kindness, my brother-inw. Although it is a kind of hard challenge for me, it is also an opportunity. I will make my full effort and never disappoint you and my sister.¡±

    ¡°It is not a thing which may disappoint us,¡± Leng Changxi wearing a dark mask, said with his determined and trustful eyes. He knew that Qin Baochuan was not just an ordinary young man but would be an extraordinary talent in the future ording to his experience of identifying people, ¡°What you do is to make yourself know that how excellent you are.¡±

    Qin Baochuan bowed his fists. Someone in the flower hall came to urge them to get there soon. Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan just greeted to others shortly. Because Qin Baochuan was just a son of a concubine, he had no right to visit Leng Changxi, so he would note with Leng Changxi to the flower hall. Leng Changxi said that he would discuss with Qin Baochuan in the courtyard of Concubine Chang when the feast in the flower hall ended.

    Having seen that Baochuan was taken away by Concubine Chang, Qin Yunuan asked her question, ¡°What is on earth the issue? Is there anything you and Baochuan conceal to me?¡±

    Leng Changxi tittered while walking, ¡°Brother and his brother-inw are intimate pals. It¡¯s the convention.¡±

    Qin Yunuan said in a low and flirting voice, ¡°Just tell me.¡±

    Leng Changxi did not n to conceal something, ¡°The issue is Baochuan entered the Imperial College. The other day, I sent an essay written by Baochuan to a professor at the Imperial College. He felt so satisfied with the essay and allowed Baochuan to attend the selection of the Imperial College in autumn.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Qin Yunnan felt so surprised. The Imperial College is the highest educational institution in Qi, and all the students studying there were the most excellent young men in Qi. Generally, the sons born of legal wives from big families would attend the selection of the Imperial College in autumn when they were 12 years old. The selection was a fierce campaign, but if they seeded in entering the college, they would like to be one member of the core power of the Imperial Court.

    The youngest man entering the Imperial College in history was Shangguan Yi who lived in the distant regions south of the River. He got exceptional admission due to an informal essay at 11 years old by the Imperial College. However, a six-year-old student at the Imperial College did not exist until now. Leng Changxi was so bold to rmend Qin Baochuan.

    ¡°What are you pondering?¡± Out of the flower hall, Leng Changxi seemed to feel the anxiety and attention of people inside the hall. He held Qin Yunuan, ¡°You need to believe Baochuan, and further, believe me.¡±

    Leng Changxi¡¯s words had a double meaning, and Qin Yunuan could catch it.

    ¡°Master, Third Miss and Third Son-inw.¡± The Butler Xie at the door reported ahead of time.

    Qin Zhi was sitting on the Zen chair and then straightened up after he heard the report. Suddenly he saw Leng Changxi held the hands of Qin Yunuan, walking into the hall. Yes, he held the hands of Qin Yunuan, in front of all people here. Leng Changxi never hid the love and care to Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°My father-inw.¡± Leng Changxi bowed his fists to Qin Zhi. Qin Zhi was the fourth man who could afford the salute from the High General in the imperial court, apart from Emperor, Empress and Queen Mother. It was such a rare glory that ordinary people could seldom have.

    ¡°Father.¡± Qin Yunuan curtsied slightly.

    There were no more people in the flower hall, but those critical roles were all here: Qin Zhi, Qin Linfeng and Qin Yunzhuang. Besides, at the corner, there was a delicate and tender girl who wore a simple flower-pattern dress with a simple coppery hairpin and a bronze lily flower. The two petals of the lily flower had a hole respectively and hung two string of rice-sized petunia-shaped pendants.

    When Qin Yunuan just entered the mansion, she heard Miss Dou from Butler Xie. She glimpsed at the girl and almost knew that was Miss Dou, who was homeless and then came here from Hangzhou when Dou Family copsed.

    Though she looked weak, she was definitely not a simple girl because she came from Hangzhou in such a sensitive period and managed to persuade Qin Zhi to let her stay in the mansion.

    As expected, after Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi greeted to people one by one ording to the family generations, the girl, Dou Meishuang stepped forwards with a smile, and gave a salute to them, ¡°Are you my younger female cousin and her husband?¡±

    She wanted to improve her rtionship with the family clearly. Dou Meishuang was the daughter born of the legal wife of Dou Family, and she was the elder female cousin of Qin Yunzhuang and the younger female cousin of Qin Linfeng. Now she called Qin Yunuan ¡°younger female cousin¡±, and she just wanted to boost the blood ties with Qin Yunzhuang and Qin Yunuan, which was so distant and indifferent.

    But Dou Meishuang could act so normal and elegant, which was so simr to Dou Qing¡¯e.

    ¡°Younger female cousin?¡± Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows and nced at Leng Changxi, ¡°I haven¡¯t heard that we have such an elder female cousin.¡± And then Qin Yunuan looked at Qin Zhi with a smile, ¡°Father, what do you think? Is she the distant rtive of our family? Why don¡¯t you dispatch someone to tell me? Or I will prepare another present.¡±

    Qin Zhi felt stunned. He knew that it was so inappropriate to let Dou Meishuang in, but hepromised because he heard that Dou Family had settled some properties and powers secretly in the Royal City. Now the imperial princes had already grown up, and the campaign of crown prince selection had been heated. Qin Zhi should n and prepare more assets for himself as many as possible. If he chose the wrong one, he would be impeached and punished when the new emperor ascended the throne.

    ¡°Cousin younger sister, you are telling a joke,¡± Dou Meishuang said with her thin and tendernceted eyebrows like a Crescent Moon. And her kind and watery eyes expressed an irresistible kindly charm, ¡°Yunzhuang is my cousin younger sister, and you and Yunzhuang are full sisters, so we are naturally family.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Qin Yunuan stepped forward Dou Meishuang and said with a smile, ¡°I have never heard that the girl who put the Hehuan Powder onto my red bridal veil at my wedding could be my full sister.¡± And then, Qin Yunuan could feel clearly that Qin Yunzhuang felt shuddered. Qin Zhi now turned to be serious.

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk about those dirty things since youe back to visit us.¡± Qin Zhi said without any reproaching mood. But he felt terrible that Qin Yunuan thought lightly of him after she was rewarded the title of Infanta Ping. And he knew well what Hehuan Powder was.

    ¡°I am sorry. My daughter has a hot temper. Don¡¯t be bothered by that.¡± Qin Zhi said and then apologized to Leng Changxi.

    ¡°It¡¯s OK,¡± Leng Changxi glimpsed at Qin Zhi with a poker face. He pulled the hands of Qin Yunuan gently and seemed to announce something, ¡°What Nuan said was my thoughts. I have not any objection.¡±

    Such words could really show his love for Qin Yunuan.

    Leng Changxi looked at Qin Yunuan with much soft affection. They knew each other well without any word.

    ¡°You twoe. Let¡¯s join the feast since the feast is ready.¡±

    Qin Linfeng now behaved himself. He never suffered a rough time and became so arrogant and aggressive as the son born of the legal wife of the mansion of Grand Commandant. He even tried to fight against Qin Yunuan after the death of Dou Qing¡¯e. The other day, he was beaten by people due to the usurious loan at the back of the gambling house. His family background did not stop the beat. Qin Linfeng knew that without the power and influence, nothing worked. But at that time, a man appeared and let those thugs keel and beg for mercy. For the first time, he knew the advantage of power and influence; for the first time, he also tasted the rough time; for the first time, he knew how to tolerate and umte his strength.

    Qin Linfeng smiled obsequiously, but Qin Yunuan did not buy the story of his good manner.

    ¡°Brother, why are you so hurried?¡± Qin Yunuan suddenlyughed and smiled at the nervous Qin Yunzhuang. Now Qin Yunzhuang seemed to recover the previous shining. She was definitely well-nourished, but now she was not as confident and bright as before.

    ¡°Grand sister, I just want to ask you why you put the hehuan Powder onto my red bridal veil, which was deadly enough?¡±

 Chapter 134 Confrontation

    <h4>Chapter 134 Confrontation</h4>

    Looking at Qin Yunzhuang in panic, Qin Linfeng stepped forward and said with a stiff smile to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Third Sister, don¡¯t say that. We are a family. Nobody will hurt you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan sneered, ¡°Third Sister? Brother, you have never called me like that. I regard my Grand Sister as my family, but she doesn¡¯t. Besides, I still keep the red bridal veil on my wedding day. That¡¯s the evidence. Grand Sister, do you admit that?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t. I haven¡¯t done that.¡± Qin Yunzhuang shook her head heavily. She knew that she should not admit to doing that. She gained the Hehuan Powder from Qin Linfeng and entered the room of Qin Yunuan to put it on the bridal veil. She could not admit that. That¡¯s her only existing dignity and bottom line.

    ¡°Good,¡± Qin Yunuan glimpsed at Qin Zhi and Qin Yunzhuang who pretended to be poor, ¡°Since you did not admit that, I have to get someone to prove that.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang raised her eyebrows when she heard that there was a witness. She thought she did that confidentially, and only Qin Linfeng and herself knew it. Nobody would know clearly that except them.

    ¡°Father, don¡¯t believe her. Father, I am innocent. I did not hurt her. You required me that I should behave myself after the death of my mother. I dared not add that kind of dirty thing on the wedding bridal veil. Besides, even if I had done that, I had no idea what Hehuan Powder was. Father, I am innocent.¡± Qin Yunzhuang knelt to Qin Zhi quickly, exining with tears. But this time, Qin Zhi looked so indifferent. Before, he would care much about his lovely daughter and would not let her kneel. But things got different. Now Qin Yunuan married Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion and was awarded the title of the fifth-grade of rank of Infanta Ping. Qin Yunzhuang was penniless, and Dou Family had copsed.

    ¡°The witness Yunuan said just now will prove your innocence or guiltiness.¡± Qin Zhi even did not glimpse at Qin Yunzhuang.

    Qin Yunuan smiled and raised her hands to order Maner to let the witness in, who was waiting outside all the time. The person entered the hall, who wore a brown flower-embroidering skirt and a pair of half-worn ssic flower-embroidering shoes.

    Qin Yunzhuang felt stunned when she saw the person. She felt twisty and helpless. That was a feeling that she was threatened with a knife by her most trusted person when she woke up someday.

    ¡°Nurse Gui, it¡¯s you?¡± Qin Yunzhuang could not believe her eyes. She was nurse Gui, her intimate wet nurse. Qin Yunzhuang knew that Xiu Gu, the wedding maidservant, who came to the mansion with her mother, finally betrayed her mother secretly. But to her surprise, her most trusted wet nurse would betray her just like the nurse betraying her mother.

    Nurse Gui lowered her head and greeted those masters and guests. Finally, her eyesid on the shoes of Qin Yunzhuang. She never raised her eyes to look at Qin Yunzhuang.

    ¡°Nurse Gui, you are the wet nurse of Grand Sister, and you have served her for a long time. You know well the characteristics of my Grand Sister. Now you tell us that what she did on my wedding day.¡± Qin Yunuan said lightly as she was observing the face of Qin Yunzhuang and Qin Linfeng.

    Nurse Gui feared them. But after she thought about the benefits Qin Yunuan had promised such as saving her daughter out of the whorehouse, giving her some money to run a small business in the Royal City, helping her daughter change her name and returning to the normal census register, she gritted her teeth and said all out, ¡°I felt the Grand Miss became more different than before when she came back the other day. I saw she took out a packet of medicine powder. She said that it was from North Di, and she nned to add the thing into the wedding essories of Third Miss. She wanted to let Third Miss feel painful.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Before nurse Gui said all out, Qin Yunzhuang got outrageous and was about to step forward to p the lying maidservant crazily, ¡°I did not say those to you! I did not! All were your lie.¡±

    ¡°I am not telling a lie,¡± Nurse Gui said more calmly. She took out a half-palm-sized package wrapped by the yellow paper. There was white medicine powder in it. She opened the package and said determinedly, ¡°This is that medicine powder left by Grand Miss on that day. Master, if you do not believe me, you can find someone to check it if this is Hehuan Powder or not.¡±

    Butler Xie held the package proactively and was about to pass it to Qin Zhi. Suddenly, Qin Yunzhuang rushed at him and caught that package, shouting, ¡°Father, don¡¯t believe her. I did not do that.¡±

    ¡°Grand Sister, if you had not done that, why would you not let father check what on earth the powder is?¡± Qin Yunuan stepped forward closely and said.

    ¡°The medicine powder in this package is fake. Nurse Gui was framing me up,¡± Qin Yunzhuang shouted, and then she said to nurse Gui in a regretting voice, ¡°Nurse Gui, you are so merciless. We have lived together for a long time. What benefit did Qin Yunuan have given to you so now you are framing me up? I have promised to help your daughter. It was you that owed the money of my mother. Mother was so kind, and she did not punish you. She just sent your daughter into the whorehouse to pay off your debt. How dare you quit love with hate!¡±

    ¡°Quit love with hate?¡± Nurse Gui turned to be very gloomy and said in a helpless querying voice, ¡°Grand Miss. My daughter, as young as you, was sent to the hell where dirty people would destroy her. You said that was love? If that was love, I would send back more love to you. I want everyone here to know how much love Grand Miss gave to me.¡±

    Nurse Gui kowtowed to Qin Zhi and said, ¡°Master, I have served Grand Miss for some time and know many things about her. Grand Miss looks so elegant, but inside, she is a jealousy girl. She added some dirty things into the fruit wine of the Fourth Miss of Fang Family because she envied that the Fourth Miss got the champion in the Flower Fairy Festival. What¡¯s more, when Third Miss went to pray in Wan¡¯an Temple, the crying Buddhist Statues also got involved with Grand Miss. She aimed to destroy the fame of Third Miss. Besides....¡±

    ¡°Enough!¡± Qin Linfeng suddenly stepped forward and shouted. His fluctuant chest showed her resistant anger. If he had kept his previous temper, he would turn furious and squeezed the neck of nurse Gui to let her shut up. But now he learned to behave himself, so he tried to make his mood more cid. He said to Qin Zhi, ¡°Father, now all of the evidence was only from the wet nurse. You are the father of Yunzhuang. You are the one who knows Yunzhuang best.¡±

    ¡°The evidence knows Yunzhuang best,¡± Qin Yunuan chipped in and said slowly, ¡°Father, you haven¡¯t checked the medicine powder in that paper package.¡±

    ¡°Third Younger Sister,¡± The veins in the arms of Qin Linfeng rose. He gritted his teeth and contained his anger, ¡°A harmonious family can nourish all of its members. It is not necessary to get thingsplicated and intense.¡±

    ¡°Harmonious family?¡± Qin Yunuan sneered, ¡°Brother, your words are right. If Grand Sister had known the meaning of your words, I would not have hardly suffered that danger.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s words distracted the topic back.

    ¡°Father.¡± Qin Yunzhuang said to Qin Zhi with bitter eyes in a pathetic mood. She expected that Qin Zhi could suppress this issue finally. If this issue got well-known, she would lose the marriage with Third Prince and even her high position of a daughter born of the legal wife of the Grand Commandant Mansion. Now it was not the time when Dou Family could hide the truth by its power. She took a big hit due to the death of her mother. But luckily, she had a brother to live together. Qin Yunzhuang believed she would have a great life if she got married to Third Prince, Sima Ray. But to her surprise, Qin Yunuan yed the trick on her. She was confused if Qin Yunuan was really her hoodoo, who she could not get rid of for the whole life.

    Qin Yunuan raised her head slightly and seemed to wait for the conclusion of Qin Zhi. Her light smile made Qin Zhi feel that it was unreal. With such a calm smile, she was like a seer waiting for an answer from Qin Zhi, but the answer was already in the heart of Qin Yunuan.

    Qin Zhi adjusted his position slightly and noticed Leng Changxi who stood aside without any word for a long time. He asked him tentatively, ¡°What¡¯s your opinion, General Leng?¡±

    Actually, Leng Changxi had been paying attention to this issue. He was just a guarantee who made sure that Qin Yunuan would not suffer any hurt in this issue. Now the issue seemed to be at a point where his hedgehog was totally dominant now. Great! She did not disgrace him.

    As for the question from Qin Zhi, Leng Changxi just shrugged carelessly, ¡°I have said that Nuan¡¯s opinion is my opinion. I have no idea.¡±

    Attention was transited to Qin Zhi again. He felt in a dilemma. If he did not check the whole thing, he would not be able to give a result to Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion since his third daughter was the fifth-grade of rank of Infanta Ping. But if he checked it, the truth seemed to be checked out, and then his grand miss would be in a dangerous ce.

    ¡°Check it.¡± Qin Zhi hesitated for a while and said.

    His words made Qin Yunzhuang turn to be pale.

    ¡°And this maidservant,¡± Qin Zhi looked at nurse Gui and said, ¡°She betrayed her master and said something bad about her master. Such a person can¡¯t stay in Qin Family.¡±

    Qin Zhi wanted to expel nurse Gui out of the mansion. Superficially, he was protecting Qin Yunzhuang, but profoundly, it was beneficial to Qin Yunuan. It would be a good ending for nurse Gui who nned to leave the mansion.

    Nurse Gui was taken out. Butler Xie carried the package of medicine powder and quitted, and then he let the old doctor in Qin Family, Doctor Chen, have a check. After several minutes, the result came out.

 Chapter 135 Pushing Her to Confess

    <h4>Chapter 135 Pushing Her to Confess</h4>

    ¡°Your Excellency, this is a kind of perfumed powder that is very warm in nature. It has a nourishing effect that improves one¡¯s looks and moisturizes one¡¯s skin when used externally, and it is quite effective for anti-aging and relieving fatigue to be taken orally.¡± Dr. Chen replied with his hands folded.

    ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± Qin Zhi nced at the peaceful expression on Qin Yunuan¡¯s face to seek for affirmation again.

    Dr. Chen nodded and replied, ¡°That¡¯s all.¡±

    Now, those who were surprised became Qin Yunzhuang and Qin Linfeng. They both stole a look at Qin Yunuan¡¯s look and were more perturbed and anxious in mind when seeing that instead of showing any trace of astonishment, the look on Qin Yunuan¡¯s face was like she had everything in her expectation.

    To be frank, Qin Yunuan did have prepared herself for this result. For one thing, Qin Yunzhuang had kept the whole as a secret. For another thing, what nurse Gui said was false statements as Qin Yunuan had no time to talk over the n with her, as she had just hurried back to the mansion of Grand Commandant. But the medicine powder was really Hehuan Powder, which was stealthily handed over by Qin Yunuan to nurse Gui. As Qin Yunzhuang was still the Grand Miss and her marriage with Prince Ray was not canceled, Qin Yunuan did not mean to reveal her true colors under the disguise because Qin Zhi would definitely try his best to protect her no matter what the purpose was.

    It was easy to exin why the final test result of Dr. Chen was not in line with the real fact. In Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes, either Qin Zhi had a secret agreement with Dr. Chen, or Butler Xie might have reced the real paper packet of medicine powder with a fake one. It was heard that Dr. Chen was a stick-in-the-mud, so it was more likely that the second assumption was true.

    With a nce at the serious and upright look on Qin Zhi¡¯s face, Qin Yunuan could not help but sneer. The Qin family were all good at acting, and Qin Yunuan herself was no exception. Putting on a show of surprise, she covered her mouth with her eyes wide-open, as if she could not ept this unexpected result, ¡°Howe, Dr. Chen? Is there any chance that you made a mistake?¡±

    Dr. Chen cupped his hand to Qin Yunuan and said in a firm tone, ¡°Infanta Ping, during my 40-year practice of medicines, I have never made any mistake in identification test for those simple drugs.¡±

    ¡°So, this is the Hehuan Powder that your said could kill people?¡± Speaking in a more energetic way, Qin Linfeng challenged Qin Yunuan for Qin Yunzhuang while raising his arm to protect her behind him like a protective mother hen.

    Before Qin Yunuan spoke, Nurse Gui, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly hugged Qin Yunuan¡¯s ankle and shouted, ¡°Third Miss, it wasn¡¯t me. I swear!¡±

    Qin Yunuan only cast a cold nce at her. She surely knew when it started to go wrong. All nurse Gui had been thought about was to save her daughter from the brothel, so, she would not have dared to act the contrary.

    Qin Zhi narrowed his eyes and looked at Qin Yunzhuang. He had tried to suppress this matter, because Yunzhuang¡¯s future and reputation, as well as that of the mansion of Grand Commandant, could be ruined if Hehuan Powder was involved.

    He opened his mouth, but what he said disgusted Qin Yunuan a lot. ¡°Yunzhuang, I know you had taken pains to make those arrangements. But it was due to yourck of consideration that had led to misunderstandings. You need to apologize to Yunuan.¡± It stood to reason that Qin Yunzhuang had to make an apology to Qin Yunuan even though she was the lineal descent. After all, Qin Yunuan was now Infanta Ping with official grade.

    Qin Yunzhuang froze for a moment and then took the turn at once. Since father had got her out of the fix and saved her from embarrassment, she¡¯d better followed his instruction. With a nk face, she said in a calm tone, ¡°Sis, I was....¡±

    Qin Zhi wanted Qin Yunzhuang to apologize to get her out, and Qin Yunzhuang also wanted to let it go. However, neither of them asked what Qin Yunuan thought. So, before Qin Yunzhuang finished, she cut in, ¡°No need. You¡¯d better worry about another thing instead, sis.¡±

    Qin Zhi and Qin Yunzhuang both looked puzzled. Seeing that, Qin Yunuan suddenly smiled and looked at Leng Changxi. Their hands were holding tightly all the time.

    The faint smile on Qin Yunuan¡¯s face made Qin Yunzhuang chilled.

    ¡°This medicine powder was found in your room by nurse Gui. Those found on the bridal veil had already been sent into the Royal Pce before I came out. Right now, I think it should have arrived at the gate of the pce.¡±

    ¡°What!¡± Qin Zhi almost jumped up. He could hardly believe what he had heard. When did this obedient concubine¡¯s daughter be so reckless? She had not consulted him for such a big thing!

    ¡°Father, did I do anything wrong?¡± Qin Yunuan blinked her eyes that were clear and bright as if they could talk, ¡°My bridal veil was bestowed by Queen Mother. So, I should surely let her know about this thing.¡±

    What! She was going to report it to the Queen Mother! Qin Zhi couldn¡¯t let this thing drift anymore. For him, nothing was more important than his reputation and honor. His achievement was founded on Dou Family, but after the Dou Family came down, he got rid of them right away.

    ¡°That¡¯s nonsense, Yunuan!¡± Qin Zhi did not dare to overreact as Leng Changxi was still there. But still, he couldn¡¯t hold back his anger but said this.

    ¡°Father-inw, that was not Nuan¡¯s fault. It was me who advised her to send it to the Royal Pce.¡± Leng Changxi touched the edge of the ck mask with his bamboo-like fingers. His voice was calm and vibrant that revealed his love for her.

    As Leng Changxi had been silent for a long time, those words attracted the attention of everyone including Dou Meishuang who was sitting in the corner. Leng Changxi took a cold nce at Qin Yunzhuang without showing a trace of mercy or kindness even though she was Qin Yunuan¡¯s sister. In his eyes, she was just a buffoon who tried to take things away from Yunuan by force every day. He should be clearer than Yunuan about what she had done in secret.

    ¡°After all, everyone has to pay for what they did.¡± Leng Changxi said to Qin Yunzhuang specifically.

    Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s pupils suddenly erged. To pay? What would she pay? Tomorrow, she would marry Prince Ray. The empress had promised her to the status as his legal wife, and from then on, she would be the wife of the third prince Sima Ray. But if Queen Mother knew about this thing...God! If that happened, the dreamed life of wealth and rank and her hope to grind Qin Yunuan beneath her heel would burst like a bubble.

    Qin Linfeng was still thinking about it, but Qin Yunzhuang had been frightened by the overwhelming fear in her heart. Suddenly, she hugged Qin Yunuan¡¯s thigh and started to beg her for the first time, ¡°Oh sister, it was all my fault! Don¡¯t do this to me. If you sent the evidence to the Royal Pce, my life and my future would be totally ruined. I don¡¯t wanna die!¡±

    ¡°So you admit it?¡± Qin Yunuan looked down at Qin Yunzhuang who was hugging her and begging like a maggot. Never had she been so low and embarrassed all her life. Just as Qin Yunuan had expected, people would sell their dignity and anything needed for life and wealth.

    Qin Yunzhuang couldn¡¯t care about anything else. The rouge on her face was messed up by tears. ¡°If I admit it, would you not send the evidence to the Royal Pce?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what I said?¡± Qin Yunuan smiled. The faint smile showed that she was able to control the overall situation. ¡°It is on the way.¡±

    Looking at the stiff face of Qin Yunzhuang, Leng Changxi followed up at the right time, ¡°But, my shadow guards may be able to stop it before it is sent to Queen Mother¡¯s pce.¡±

    Those words rekindled Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s hope.

    There were unknown emotions in Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s eyes that were flickering with hope and worry. She gritted her teeth after a scared nce at Qin Zhi and said, ¡°That¡¯s right. I did that.¡± But she got excited and defended herself all of a sudden, ¡°But I didn¡¯t do it wrong. I¡¯m the first lineal daughter of you, and my mother is also the lineal descendant of the Dou Family. But father, why did you help Yunuan out every time? I can understand now as she is now the dignified Infanta Ping. But what about the past?Never had you helped my brother and me once! You always protected this concubine¡¯s daughter. You said that I was your sweetheart, and you would always get me out no matter what I did. You lied!¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang had never changed her spoiled temperament. In her eyes, she was the genuine daughter of Qin Zhi, while others, like Qin Yunuan or Qin Yuwan, were just minor roles in the family. Qin Zhi should always take care of her and think for her all the time. So, for a long time, she had been disturbed by the imbnce between imagination and real-life and felt wronged.

    But those ¡°wronged¡± experience of Qin Yunzhuang seemed like a joke in Qin Zhi¡¯s eyes. Hadn¡¯t he done enough for her?

    ¡°Yunzhuang, you are so irrational.¡± Qin Zhi tried so hard to cover her, but in the end, she was the one who confessed everything.

    Qin Yunzhuang smiled bitterly, turning her head to Qin Yunuan, and said, ¡°I know you hate me, sister. Now, I just beg you to give me a way out.¡±

    The dreamy gaze of Qin Yunuan revealed that she might be thinking about some past things. That day, her mother met with a tragic death and passed away on the bed without closing her eyes.

    ¡°Have you ever thought of giving my mother a way out?¡± Those few words burst all the bubbles of Qin Yunzhuang. Did she mean...

    ¡°I...¡± Qin Yunzhuang was like a prisoner waiting for her trial. All her honors and status in the future were dependent on Qin Yunuan¡¯s words.

    ¡°Unless you return all the dowry and things left behind by my mother that had been taken away by Dou. I mean everything.¡± Qin Yunuan knew that there was an extremely important thing among them.

 Chapter 136 This Is the Threat

    <h4>Chapter 136 This Is the Threat</h4>

    ¡°In front of my father, take back the things robbed by you from my mother, one by one.¡± Qin Yunuan glimpsed at Qin Zhi and was not scared by the freezing eyes of Qin Zhi. She became more determined now.

    ¡°Yunuan, why do you cause the uneasiness of the whole family when youe back for the first time after getting married?¡± Qin Zhi contained his anger because of the presence of Leng Changxi, but his low-voiced words were already a little bit angry.

    ¡°Father, it was not I who caused the uneasiness.¡± Qin Yunuan glimpsed at Qin Zhi lightly as if she had been looking at a full stranger. She was wondering why Qin Zhi, who utilized his marriage to seek profits, would like to take a long-shot gamble to marry a menial embroidering maiden. She thought that Qin Zhi paid sincere love to his mother, but he was wrong.

    Qin Zhi married Yang for utilizing her but discarded her indifferently for being not able to utilize her.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know where those things are.¡± Qin Yunzhuang said with tears. She did not know that. Qin Yunzhuang knew that Qin Yunuan was so determined. If Qin Yunzhuang did not take out the things, the evidence would definitely be sent into the pce.

    ¡°It¡¯s OK,¡± Qin Yunuan took a deep breath. The attention seemed to be transited onto Qin Zhi, ¡°My Grand Sister does not know that but father, you must know.¡±

    ¡°Ridiculous!¡± Qin Zhi pounded the table so heavily, and the teacups on the table almost were upset, ¡°Do you really regard me as your father? How dare you query me like this!¡±

    To be frankly, Qin Yunuan felt indifferent for such a greedy father who put his interest first, ¡°I would dispatch people to search the whole mansion if I did not regard you as my father.¡±

    There seemed to be an overwhelming thunderp. Qin Zhi got outrageous, ¡°Bastard! How dare you!¡±

    ¡°I dare to do that.¡± Leng Changxi said slowly, and his cold and indifferent face were in stark contrast to the indignant Qin Zhi. In front of Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi, Qin Zhi was like a furious clown who could not contain his temper.

    ¡°It¡¯s easy,¡± Qin Yunuan stepped forward, ¡°Father, you just give me the hangover left to me by my mother, and then I will stop the delivery of the evidence to Queen Mother. If the evidence were not sent to the Queen Mother, Qin Family would still be the prosperous family, and father, you would still be a good example to ordinary people.¡±

    Qin Zhi had clenched his fists tightly. He would have never thought that Qin Yunuan spoke to him in such a voice. He widened his eyes and stared at Qin Yunuan. Each time Qin Zhi was outrageous, he would act like this, wherever in the imperial court or the mansion of Grand Commandant. Everybody knew from his face that he was at the top of the anger and would not bother him.

    ¡°Are you threatening me?¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled gently, like a beautiful lotus shining above the pond, ¡°Yes, father. I am threatening you.¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Qin Zhi¡¯s eyes had turned to be blooded. He could just try to restrain his extreme anger because Leng Changxi was protecting Qin Yunuan by his body, ¡°You are my daughter. You should observe my order all the way. I give you your life. You could not say NO for protecting the fame of Qin Family even if your life might be sacrificed. Now, how dare you palter with me?¡±

    ¡°You give me my life?¡± Qin Yunuan raised her head andughed, ¡°Father, I can call you father until now. My mother gave birth to me, and nurse Liao raised me. Have you ever visited Baochuan and me in the back room? Where were you when Dou Qing¡¯e bullied those servants and me and my brother?¡±

    Qin Zhi stunned and did not say anything. And then Qin Yunuanughed at his father so coldly and indifferently, ¡°Father, you should make up your mind quickly, or nothing would be changed even if the guy with the highest light skills in Qi chased the evidence.¡± And then, Qin Yunuan looked at Leng Changxi. He blinked and said thoughtfully, ¡°I won¡¯t chase the evidence.¡±

    Well, Leng Changxi was the guy with the highest light skills in Qi.

    ¡°Father, you hold the destiny of Qin Family.¡± Qin Yunuan adjusted her body, acting well-mannered. But in fact, she had forced Qin Zhi at the dead end. She knew the temper of Qin Zhi and could guess the final choice of him rightly.

    Time seemed to get so slow, and all things around seemed to freeze. All of the people in the flower hall were looking at Qin Zhi and waiting for his decision. His decision could determine the destiny and prosperity of the mansion of Grand Commandant.

    It was not a big thing to let her know the real identity of Lady Yang. After all...

    Qin Zhi was pondering, ¡°OK, I will give you. But you should dispatch someone to stop the person who sends the evidence to the pce.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Qin Yunuan would not concede, ¡°You take out the things first, and then I make the order.¡±

    ¡°You...¡± Qin Zhi was speechless. Was he really submitting to the little girl?

    ¡°Father, time is going by.¡± Qin Yunuan glimpsed slightly at the sunshine outside.

    ¡°Butler Xie, go to fetch the ck box in my room.¡± Qin Zhi sat back to the chair. He failed. He failed to a 15-year-old daughter of a concubine who was just got married.

    Just for a while, Butler Xie came in and held a sandalwood-made ck box. He put it down carefully in front of Qin Zhi.

    Qin Zhi squinted at it impatiently, and said to Qin Yunuan annoyedly, ¡°That¡¯s it. The things left by your mother is in the box.¡±

    ¡°Leng Shuang, hold it.¡± Qin Yunuan said, and Leng Chuang took it back easily from Butler Xie promptly. Leng Shuang held the heavy sandalwood box, which seemed to be as light as a piece of feather.

    Qin Yunuan did not open the box because she knew that Qin Zhi dared not to y tricks about the box.

    ¡°Right now! Immediately! At once! Go to dispatch people to stop the man entering the pce.¡± Qin Zhi ordered and shouted at Qin Yunuan in a more confident voice.

    ¡°Stop what?¡± Qin Yunuan looked so confused.

    ¡°Don¡¯t y tricks to me!¡± Qin Zhi¡¯s eyes suddenly got ferocious. In the imperial court, he was in a good temper. But though he was kind enough, he would not be at the mercy of others easily. Or, he would not have such high prestige in the imperial court.

    ¡°No, Yunuan always keeps my promise. But,¡± Qin Yunuan said with her rising eyebrows. She said, ¡°Don¡¯t you remember, father? It is the closing day today, and anybody cannot enter and get out of the imperial pce. There is only a little maidservant beside me.¡±

    Betray the promise? Qin Zhi stood up outrageously. He rushed at Qin Yunuan and was about to p her heavily, but suddenly stopped. Qin Zhi was astonished suddenly by Leng Changxi¡¯s eyes as cold as a sharp dagger. The cold feeling was like numerous steel daggers put in his neck.

    ¡°Father inw,¡± Leng Changxi said coldly, ¡°You have said that family harmony is important on the returning day of Yunuan.¡±

    Now Qin Zhi could not make the scene harmonious. He was more experienced than the younger, but today he was made fun by Qin Yunuan, this cunning girl.

    ¡°Qin Yunuan, you betrayed your promise!¡± Qin Yunzhuang felt extremely furious when he thought that he had admitted many things stupidly since Qin Yunuan did not send the evidence to the imperial pce.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Qin Yunuan admitted frankly, ¡°I betrayed my promise, so what?¡±

    ¡°You....¡± Qin Yunzhuang felt so fevered. She rushed at Qin Yunuan was about to argue, but she was pulled by Leng Shuang who appeared suddenly.

    ¡°My hands!¡±

    The pain came, and Qin Yunzhuang held his wrist and cried at once because she had never suffered such kind of pain.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Leng Shuang turned back and said lightly, ¡°Just dislocation.¡±

    ¡°Qin Yunuan, you are stirring up trouble.¡± Qin Linfeng felt so worried about the hurt of Qin Yunzhuang and forgot the situation. He held Qin Yunzhuang horizontally and put her on the chair aside,forting her.

    ¡°I dare not make trouble,¡± Qin Yunuan said with her head rising slightly, ¡°I came here just for taking Baochuan back.¡±

    ¡°No way. I can give you the hangovers of your mother. Yunzhuang made mistakes before, and now you hurt her hands. That¡¯s equal, and I don¡¯t want to punish you now. But Baochuan, he is the son of the concubine of Qin Family. He can¡¯t live in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion with you.¡± Qin Zhi was so stubborn about this issue. If others knew that Baochuan left the mansion and lived with his married sister, they would gossip that Qin Baochuan was mistreated by Qin Family.

    ¡°Baochaun is not only your son but also my younger brother. I regard him as my precious younger brother, but father, you don¡¯t regard him as your lovely son.¡± Qin Yunuan did not concede. She was busy handling the issues in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, and Concubine Chang could not guarantee Baochuan singly since Qin Linfeng and Qin Yunzhuang lived in Qin Family. She had made up her mind that she must take Baochuan back.

    ¡°Rude. How dare you speak to your elders in such an impolite mood!¡± Qin Zhi could not tolerate her defiant mood. Now he wanted to reshape his figure as the master of Qin Family regardless of Leng Changxi on the spot.

    ¡°Father, don¡¯t you remember?¡± Qin Yunuan sneered, ¡°I was rude just now. Let¡¯s get this straight. I must take Baochuan out today.¡±

    ¡°You are such an impious daughter!¡± Qin Zhi red at her and shouted, ¡°Fine. You can leave the mansion, and you can take Baochuan out. But I would eliminate your name from the family tree if you and your brother left the mansion. You and your brother are no longer the family members of Qin Family.¡±

 Chapter 137 Cut off the Relationship

    <h4>Chapter 137 Cut off the Rtionship</h4>

    Cut off the rtion? No longer one of the Qin family?

    Qin Yunuan narrowed her eyes and looked at Qin Zhi. In her mind, she mocked the old-fashioned idea of Qin Zhi. It seemed that Qin Zhi thought the surname Qin represented the greatest honor. The Qin Family was among the noblest family in Qi. But after Qin Yunuan saw through the source of the family glory and also the dirt behind it, the identity as one of the Qin Family was already insignificant. She simply didn¡¯t care.

    ¡°Father, you must be joking.¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her eyes, ¡°You spoke like how much I cared about this identity.¡±

    ¡°You...¡± Qin Zhi was speechless.

    ¡°It¡¯s just that ording to my current status, getting me out of the genealogy shouldn¡¯t be decided by you, father.¡± Qin Yunuan was now the Infanta of the fifth-grade of rank, whose name was engraved in the royal family. How could a small Grand Commandant determine Qin Yunuan¡¯s identity?

    ¡°Even when you be ashes, you are my daughter, and you¡¯ll have to listen to me.¡± Qin Zhi was angry and had lost his mind.

    Qin Yunuan only nced contemptuously at Qin Zhi. She had a hint of fantasies and nostalgia for the so-called father before. But now, after Qin Zhi¡¯s words, Qin Yunuan no longer had any attachments to the entire Qin family, except Baochuan and Concubine Chang.

    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I have already got what I want, and I won¡¯t stay for too long.¡±

    This daughter of a concubine took the mansion of Grand Commandant as a ce she could freelye and go. Qin Zhi wanted to stop her, but he was petrified by Leng Changxi¡¯s cold eyes and Leng Shuang tightening her grip of the sword in her waist.

    Qin Zhi had always been looking forward to his daughter marrying a good family. It would also help his career when his daughter flew up to the top of the branches and turn from a sparrow a phoenix. Unexpectedly, the daughter he raised had be ungrateful. He also thought of Lady Yang¡¯s remains, which were in the hands of Yunuan now. If Qin Yunuan had known the true identity of Lady Yang, she would only alienate more from the Qin Family.

    The banquet in the flower hall ended on a sour note. After all the people had walked away, Qin Zhi met with Butler Xie in private.

    ¡°Butler Xie, go to Dou Meishuang and tell her that I no longer have any patience to wait. The Seventh Prince would return from Imperial Mausoleum soon. If she couldn¡¯t make contact with participating killers of the Dou Family in Royal City within half a month, she doesn¡¯t have to freeload in my family.¡±

    At the same time, Leng Changxi carefully supported Qin Yunuan on the carriage back to their pce. The carriage was warmly arranged. Leng Changxi hugged Qin Yunuan with one arm. His other hand rolled up the curtain and ordered to set off.

    Compared with the time when they came, there was an extra carriage steadily following them. The little carriage was to take Qin Baochuan and his various books and notes back to Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got the things, and also Baochuan is with you. Are you at ease now?¡± Leng Changxi stroked Qin Yunuan¡¯s fragrant and soft hair. While stroking, he looked at Qin Yunuan sideways.

    Qin Yunuan squeezed the wooden box. She was uneasy in her heart, ¡°Everything is my guess. I don¡¯t know yet. I don¡¯t know if it is true. My mother never told me about her past life.¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded and said, ¡°It¡¯s strange that an ordinary embroidery maid could be proficient in lute-ying, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Plus, I secretly sent someone to the regions south of the River. I learned that 20 years ago a daughter of a concubine in the Shangguan Family did have ran out of the house unbearable of her legal mother¡¯s abuse and hasn¡¯t returned yet. I thought it must be about her.¡±

    She was also the daughter of a concubine and had been through the abuse of her legal mother. If her mother was the long-lost legacy of the Shangguan Family in the rumor, Baochuan and herself would be the grandchildren of Mr. Shangguan Yi. She heard that Shangguan Yi woulde to the Royal City and give a lecture. The emperor highly valued this opportunity, as he came out of seclusion for the first time in two decades. This was also a good opportunity to pave the way for Baochuan.

    Taking a deep breath, Qin Yunuan opened the box in one go. Inside, there were several jade pendants and hairpins neatly packed. These are the remains left by Lady Yang, Qin Yunuan¡¯s birth mother. They were taken by Dou after her death andter was in Qin Zhi¡¯s hand after Dou went to Psycho Tower.

    ¡°Look.¡± Qin Yunuan pinched a piece of old jade that seemed ancient in color. The auspicious cloud pattern engraved on it was a little vague, but the golden bronzing iid was still discernible, ¡°It was the character ¡®Yu¡¯.¡±

    Qin Yunuan remembered seeing something like that on the waist of Shangguan Yee. It was a sign of the children of Shangguan Mansion. When a Shangguan woman reached twelve years old, and in men¡¯s case, it was fifteen years old, he or she would be distributed a jade pendant bearing her own name. It was a symbol of the Shangguan Family. If the pendant was real, then Lady Yang, Qin Yunuan¡¯s birth mother, would be the daughter of a concubine that the Shangguan Family lost 20 years ago- Shangguan Yu.

    ¡°Father knew the true identity of my mother.¡± Qin Yunuan murmured, ¡°From the beginning, my father tried to get in touch with the Shangguan Family, using the identity of my mother. He didn¡¯t expect that my mother shut the thoughts for family reunion and didn¡¯t want to show her identity at all. She just wanted to live her life in peace. That was why my father treated her more indifferentlyter.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t just Qin Yunuan¡¯s spection. Her birth mother, Lady Yang, who perhaps should now be called Shangguan Yu, died early. But there was still a little memory left in Qin Yunuan¡¯s mind. She remembered that her mother had constantly mentioned the beautiful scenery and snacks south of the River. She asked her mother why she knew so much about the regions south of the River since she had never been out of the Royal City. Her mother replied simply that she had seen it in her dream. And there were other memories about how her father oppressed mother privately. Those memories were not good, and Qin Yunuan wished that she didn¡¯t remember.

    After hearing Qin Yunuan¡¯s words, Leng Changxi nodded and said, ¡°Qin Zhi had his way climbing up in his career, he had never been ashamed of relying on women. Instead, he was very familiar with it. It is likely to be as you said.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not likely to be. It must be!¡± Qin Yunuan looked a little excited. ¡°I remember, I remember how my father forced my mother back then. He found her jade pendant and forced her to send letters to her family. My mother refused, so he pped her time after time.¡±

    As Qin Yunuan talked, her tears ran down the cheeks, and her eyes were swollen, making her look lovely. Leng Changxi hugged Qin Yunuan distressedly. His chin gently touched Qin Yunuan¡¯s forehead. He calmed her down with soft words, ¡°It¡¯s my fault, my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have mentioned it. All those things have passed. Sooner andter, Qin Zhi will pay for his hypocrisy. And Qin Yunzhuang, she will also pay for what she had done. As for you and Baochuan, let me take care of you and protect you. I will always be by your side. As long as you don¡¯t leave, I will protect you until the end of your life.¡±

    As long as you don¡¯t leave, I will protect you to the end. This sentence keeps echoing in Qin Yunuan ¡¯s mind, so warm and so voluminous. The promise makes her erratic heart finally take root. She raised her head and looked at herself in close proximity to Leng Changxi. His deep, deep, yet star-like eyes are enchanted by the mask under the shadow of the mask.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Qin Yunuan pouted, stretched her neck, and kissed Leng Changxi. She whispered again, ¡°Hubby.¡±

    The sentence and the kiss tasted sweet. Leng Changxi was instantly turned on. He got up and pressed on Qin Yunuan¡¯s breasts. Putting the box aside, he supported himself against the carriage and grinned.

    ¡°The gratitude was not enough.¡± Leng Changxi finished, biting Qin Yunuan¡¯s upper lip lightly. And then he went down. The lips covered each other. With his gasp thicker, Leng Changxi began to stick out his tongue and pry off Qin Yunuan¡¯s pearl-like teeth. They went all the way down until Qin Yunuan was a little out of breath and shoved him away.

    The carriage wobbled slightly. Qin Yunuan blushed and pointed to the carriage curtain, ¡°Someone is outside.¡±

    Leng Changxi shook his head childishly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. They won¡¯t care if I kiss my wife!¡±

    Suddenly, the carriage trembled. Apanied by the hissing of the horse, the entire carriage rocked violently like there had been an earthquake, and the sound of an arrow piercing the wood came from outside.

    ¡°General, there is an ambush.¡± Leng Wu¡¯s voice suddenly sounded.

    Leng Changxi only cares for Qin Yunuan. He wraps Qin Yunuan ¡®s waist tightly with one arm to help Qin Yunuan maintain bnce. The other hand firmly grasps a raised beam on the carriage to maintain bnce.

    ¡°Baochuan!¡± Qin Yunuan was most worried about Qin Baochuan in the carriage behind her.

    ¡°Leng Wu, go and protect Baochuan.¡± Leng Changxi immediatelymanded. With Leng Wu¡¯s martial arts skill, it should not be a problem to protect a six-year-old child. Moreover, although the arrow rain came suddenly, Leng Changxi could figure out that it directed towards his carriage. The purpose was very clear. Whoevering either wanted his own life or Qin Yunuan¡¯s, or he wanted both.

    The eighteen shadow guards around Leng Changxi was still no match for this sudden attack. It all happened in the narrow and secluded Qingshui Alley. Soon, there were casualties on Leng Changxi¡¯s side. The groom tried to block the door for Third Young Master and Madam. He was punctured with one arrow, dying suddenly and heroically.

    ¡°Nuan Nuan, don¡¯t be afraid. Come out with me.¡± Leng Changxi held the soft sword thrown by his subordinates in his hand, pulling Qin Yunuan out while blocking the rain of flying arrows.

    The sneaking archers were all hiding on the wall, upying the advantage position at the top. Leng Changxi and his men could not counterattack in a short time. Qin Yunuan bowed herself and tried to climb out of the crooked carriage several times. But she was blocked by the dense arrow rain. The carriage made of solid wood could temporarily shelter her for a while, but as more and more arrows nailed in, a brittle cracking sound came out from the wooden board.

    Thest shield also began to falter.

 Chapter 138 Blood Fight at the Lane Entrance

    <h4>Chapter 138 Blood Fight at the Lane Entrance</h4>

    Leng Changxi cleverly turned his backhand to pull up the sharp arrow in the wood. And then he twisted his wrist lightly again. The sharp arrow cut through the thick air with the smell of blood like a meteor. It shot the squinting archer behind the eaves opposite, directly hitting his eyes that aimed at Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan.

    Seemingly inspired by Leng Changxi, the troubled queue of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion began to fight back. Eighteen shadow guards had already circled the eaves and got behind the ambushing assassins. Taking out their short daggers, they cut their throats briskly.

    ¡°General, retreat.¡± Shang Xianhua pulled out the heavy sword from his waist. This sword made of ck iron was given to him by Leng Changxi on the first day of his entry into the Leng Army. It was no problem at all blocking the arrows.

    After a while, the alleyway returned to tranquility. Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion¡¯s queue had a total of fifty-three people, with thirteen dead and more than twenty injured. Their opponents had twenty-two people. Twenty of them were dead, and the other two were caught before they took the poison andmitted suicide.

    ¡°General, the men were here.¡± Leng Wu grabbed the cor of an assassin who was tied tightly and led him to Leng Changxi. His body was scratched by the de.

    Leng Changxi nced coldly at the captive, who was crushed to the ground. And then he looked around at the blue wall covered with blood. The mansion servants wereying on the ground, covering their wounds and sighing. He smiled, ¡°You guys are brave. Challenging Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion with only twenty people.¡±

    The assassin began gasping. The other was rolling his eyes.

    ¡°No.¡± Leng Wu strived to pry apart the two assassins¡¯ mouth. Before he sent them over, he had checked that there was no suicidal material on the two assassins, but why....

    ¡°Forget it.¡± Leng Changxi shook his head sharply as he watched the two continue to spit foam, twitching all over their bodies. After a while, theyy straight on the ground one after another with stiff bodies.

    ¡°It¡¯s my ipetence.¡± Leng Wu cupped his hands, and Shang Xianhua knelt afterward. The attack came too suddenly. Although the eighteen shadow guards and the Leng Army had no losses, Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion was already in an intolerable catastrophe. They failed to keep their captive alive, and even thest clue was broken.

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be med.¡± Leng Changxi calmly circled the body of the two, ¡°They had been forced to take poison before performing the mission. They were the legendary death fighters. Even if captured alive, he could say nothing. Instead, it¡¯s beneficial to us that they are dead now.¡±

    ¡°Sister.¡± A little man suddenly climbed out of the sedan behind him. That was Qin Baochuan. During the raid just now, he had been protected well by Leng Shuang and Leng Wu. Except for the shock, he didn¡¯t suffer from it even a little bit. Leng Wu hurried out to help Leng Changxi after everything was about to end, leaving Leng Shuang alone to protect Qin Baochuan. Only when Leng Shuang had fully confirmed that there was no threat around did she let Qin Baochuane out.

    ¡°Baochuan.¡± Qin Yunuan ran to him with weak legs. The sister and brother embraced each other. Qin Baochuan meant everything to Qin Yunuan. She would drown in sorrow if Baochuan were gone.

    Leng Changxi knew it well enough that he sent the most powerful subordinate, Leng Wu, to protect Qin Baochuan. As for Qin Yunuan, he could protect his own woman.

    Other children would certainly cry in such a situation, but Qin Baochuan did not. His eyes were determined, and he even looked like an adult, holding Qin Yunuan and asking if she was injured.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m very good.¡± Qin Yunuan said while looking at Leng Changxi subconsciously. Misfortune reveals true love. Qin Yunuan knew very clearly how Leng Changxi used his life to protect her in the face of disasters.

    ¡°Look, sister, that is the mark of the East Qin assassins.¡± Qin Baochuan suddenly pointed to the mark of a plum blossom petal on the ck waist belt of the two poisoned assassins.

    And that sentence was exactly what Leng Changxi wanted to say.

    ¡°Was them the remnants of East Qin?¡± Shang Xianhua said cautiously.

    ¡°Impossible,¡± Leng Changxi sneered, ¡°The party of East Qin had long been cleared. The Leng Army removed it. We knew that there would be no remains left. The mark was to deceive the public. Obviously, the person behind this is very shrewd and good at hiding. He doesn¡¯t want his true identity to be revealed, so he just used the best one to disguise himself.¡±

    Leng Changxi¡¯s remarks were very reasonable. Now the remnants of East Qin are already on the cusp of the storm. After the Leng Army had cleaned them up a while ago, even the party inside the territory of East Qin had calmed down. It was too risky tomit a crime at this time.

    ¡°However, the more he tried to disguise, the more he revealed himself,¡± Leng Changxi raised his neck slightly. His tone was confident and calm. If he was right... ¡°There are only two kinds of people who have the ability and knowledge of affairs in East Qin. They should be either in the pce or in the army. Who do you think will be?¡±

    After Leng Changxi finished, he nced at Shang Xianhua and Leng Wu. The subordinates all bowed their heads, ¡°We didn¡¯t dare to specte.¡±

    Leng Changxi shrugged indifferently. Behind the ck mask, his eyes showed iparable wisdom and sharpness, as if he could see through everything, ¡°I don¡¯t know, either.¡±

    The Leng Army was of high efficiency. Hardly had the messy ground been cleared up when a brand-new carriage came from the alley to take Qin Yunuan and Qin Baochuan back to Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you leaving?¡± Qin Yunuan felt distressed at Leng Changxi, although she believed his ability. He was sufficient to cope with all incidents just like before, but she still had a lingering fear. She was afraid and unsure if the other party wasing for Leng Changxi or herself.

    Leng Changxi smiled. In front of Qin Yunuan, he always showed his most tender side without hesitation. He kissed Qin Yunuan¡¯s forehead, ¡°Good girl, go back to rest early. I wille back to apany you before the sun goes down. Is that OK?¡±

    The attack happened, and it happened in Qingshui Alley, where the distinguished dignitaries crowded the street. Leng Changxi must have a lot of other chores to deal with.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Qin Yunuan stand on her tiptoe and gently pecked on Leng Changxi¡¯s perfect chin. ¡°I will make your favorite lotus soup and wait for your return.¡±

    Qin Baochuan had already got on the carriage. Leng Wu was standing on the shaft, preparing to bring Qin Baochuan up. But he didn¡¯t expect Qin Baochuan to just return him a salute, ¡°Thank you, Brother Leng. It¡¯s just that a man should get on the carriage by himself.¡± Then he gathered up his strength and climbed up.

    Waiting for Qin Yunuan toe in, Qin Baochuan looked firm. He seemed to be deep in thoughts. Nobody knew what the little guy was thinking.

    The carriage moved slowly. Leng Shuang and Leng Wu were guarding the two sides of the carriage, which was undoubtedly the safest for them. The only servant girl who followed Qin Yunuan was Maner. Her face was a bit pale, and she was trembling at the moment because it was the first time for her to see bloody scenes like this. Fortunately, Leng Wu had escorted Maner to a safe area in time when the incident happened, so that she was unscathed, but her heart didn¡¯t calm down.

    Walking beside Maner, Leng Wu would turn his head from time to time to look at Maner, who was not looking well.

    ¡°Are you still scared?¡± Leng Wu asked Maner softly. For the first time, the voice of an eight-foot-tall boy was so gentle and moving.

    Maner shook her head, lowered her eyes, and followed the carriage step by step. The only thing she was most afraid of was not seeing the dead man or the arrow rain. What Maner worried about was Qin Yunuan. When she saw those flying arrows aimed at Qin Yunuan¡¯s carriage, her heartbeat almost stopped. She could not imagine her life without Third Miss. Her love for Qin Yunuan had already surpassed the rtion of masters and servants. They treated each other as rtives.

    Qin Yunuan thought the same in her heart, but...

    ¡°Sister Maner seems scared,¡± Qin Baochuan murmured, ¡°Sister, let¡¯s pick up Maner and let her sit in the carriage with us.¡±

    Qin Yunuan just smiled and stroked Qin Baochuan¡¯s head, ¡°You are too young to understand, your sister Maner is now protected.¡±

    ¡°By whom?¡± Qin Baochuan was stunned. He lifted the carriage curtain and poked out his head, just to see Leng Wu stretching out his big hand, tightly clutching Maner¡¯s cold and white hand. He lowered his voice and asked, ¡°So, are you still afraid?¡±

    Mane blushed instantly because of shyness, but she kept her head low, and her voice was weak like mosquitos, ¡°No... I¡¯m not afraid.¡±

    Qin Baochuan widened his eyes. He seemed half understood, but Qin Yunuan pulled him off the carriage window by the side.

    ¡°You are not allowed to disturb sister Maner, do you know?¡± Qin Yunuan touched the tip of Qin Baochuan¡¯s nose. She would like to make some more jokes, but she was exhausted after such a thrilling event. The point was that if it had been as Leng Changxi said, either the people in the pce or the people in the army could do this, it would only be more troublesome.

    All thedies in the pce have their means and ways of living, and all the generals in the army have their background and connections. It must be a tough battle, with the enemy in the dark and them exposed in the light.

    ¡°Oh, and what were you wondering about?¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly remembered. She knew Qin Baochuan too well. They were, after all, brother and sister. She knew every expression of Qin Baochuan.

 Chapter 139 A New Guest Arrived

    <h4>Chapter 139 A New Guest Arrived</h4>

    ¡°Sister, don¡¯t you find any problem?¡± Qin Baochuan asked back. He knew that Qin Yunuan was not an ordinarydy. He always recognized her wisdom as well as her effort to protect him.

    Qin Yunuan stared at Qin Baochuan for long. For the first time, she felt that she could treat him as a grown-up, ¡°Say your thought first.¡±

    She was encouraging him to think.

    Qin Baochuan frowned, ¡°I just found it weird. The attack happened only half a tea break¡¯s time after we left the Qin Mansion, and the ce was near the mansion. However, the Qin Family didn¡¯t send anyone to look around. What¡¯s more, the eaves where those assassins ambushed were at the back room of the Qin Family, how could they feel nothing at all?¡±

    Qin Yunuan already thought of that. This was why Leng Changxi suddenly avoided talking about it and said he knew nothing. If the Qin Family was involved in the case, it would be moreplicated.

    Qin Zhi, Qin Linfeng, Qin Yunzhuang, Concubine Liu as well as Dou Meishuang who newly came, who was behind the case among those people?

    ¡°Third Young Madam, we have arrived,¡± Maner outside reminded Qin Yunuan that she arrived at Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. The cart driver had already moved wooden stairs here.

    When Qin Yunuan was leading Qin Baochuan, some gatekeepers came to greet them, bowing and scraping.

    ¡°Wow, hello, Third Young Madam! You returned so soon after visiting your parents¡¯ home.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded with a kind smile and asked, ¡°Is Old Madam at home?¡±

    It was said that recently the Old Madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion often entered the pce to visit Queen Mother. It was really odd. Although they were biological sisters, they seemed unfamiliar with each other. However, if you saw them as strangers, they still gathered to chat from time to time.

    The gatekeeper kept bowing and continued, ¡°Old Madam just came back from the Royal Pce. She seemed happy. Third Young Madam, are you going to greet her?¡±

    Qin Yunuan led Qin Baochuan. Although all issues in the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion were under the charge of Princess Ning, respect for seniority was still of the most importance. Now Qin Yunuan returned to the mansion taking Qin Baochuan, the first person they needed to visit was absolutely the Old Madam of the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.

    Apart froming to the Old Madam¡¯s yard to serve her tea on the first day after Qin Yunuan¡¯s marriage, this was the first time for her to step in the Old Madam¡¯s Lotus Fragrance Courtyard. Despite the simple name, it was suitable for the scenery. It was August now. The lotuses here were in full bloom. They swayed slowly with the wind, sending fragrance far away, just like goddesses in fine gauze dancing in the pool. Those lotuses were rare breeds unavable to any other ce. Just because Old Madam favored their fragrance much, Prince Ning found them and transnted them here for her in particr.

    When Qin Yunuan led Baochuan to bypass Chuihua Gate, they happened to see that Old Madam was lying on the cane chair in the small gazebo. Her loose eyelids were half-closed. Her senior personal servant girl was fanning her carefully with a cattail leaf fan. Even at such a silent time, Old Madam still seemed solemn and invible.

    It was the hottest time at present. The cicadas in the tree were chirping loudly, adding noise to the hot afternoon.

    ¡°Third Young Madames,¡± the servant girl guarding at the gate, Zhichan, saw Qin Yunuaning from far away, curtseyed a little and smiled, ¡°Old Madam was still resting. Third Young Madam, if you have something to fetch her, you can return in advance. When Old Madam is awake, I wille to inform you, so you won¡¯t need to wait in the sun and harm your own body.¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked inside. The Old Madam was sleeping soundly. She wouldn¡¯t be awake in a short time. Qin Yunuan then nced at Qin Baochuan, who was already sweating heavily in the sun.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°There is a long way between my yard and Lotus Fragrance Courtyard. If youe to inform me, it will take a long time. Keeping Old Madam waiting is not good, so I will stand here to wait for her.¡±

    Qin Yunuan spoke in a determined and gentle manner. Zhichan had learned a lot about dealing with others and reading their faces after serving Old Madam for many years. With a look to Qin Yunuan, there was a light shining in her eyes, but it was hidden immediately. She used the chance of receiving the incense burner sent by a small servant girl to step in the gazebo. Pretending to burn the incense that could calm the nerve, she whispered to Old Madam, ¡°Third Young Madam said that she was going to wait by the gate.¡±

    There was no sound for a while.

    The summer wind came with water vapor. After a long time, the Old Madam who, was supposed to fall asleep, whispered, ¡°Well, keep her waiting. I want to see how long she can wait for her brother.¡±

    The sun was burning. Let alone Qin Yunuan, ady who stayed at home every day, even those farmers in the manors in the suburbs of the Royal City didn¡¯t dare to stay under the zing sun for quite a long time in such weather. Although there was a winding to the small gazebo near a lotus pond, the sun at noon dissipating heat crazily cause the temperature to rise. Soon, Qin Baochuan¡¯s face turned pale, and his hands turned from hot to cold from time to time.

    ¡°Baochuan?¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her voice to call Qin Baochuan gently. In fact, she herself felt ufortable with oppression in the chest, ¡°Are you not feeling well? You return to my yard following Maner now. I will be backter.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Qin Baochuan perked up perversely, ¡°Sister, I want to wait with you. Although I am not as powerful as my brother-inw and I cannot protect you when you are in danger, I would like to shoulder the responsibility together with you.¡±

    ¡°Silly boy,¡± Qin Yunuan touched Qin Baochuan¡¯s head, tucked his wet hair on his forehead back, and wipe away his sweat on the forehead with her handkerchief.

    Time passed, and even the incense in the incense burner was about to burn out. When Qin Yunuan felt that she was near to faint, Zhichan finally lifted the curtain, came out, and curtseyed to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Third Young Madam, Old Madam has woken up. She asked you toe in and talk to her.¡±

    Though there was sweat all over her back and forehead, Qin Yunuan kept her good manner. She nodded to Zhichan, kept her spine straight, and appeared graceful and elegant in her behavior. Those details made Zhichan, who had seen a great deal, praise her secretly. Third Young Madam was undoubtedly an unusualdying from a prominent family.

    Seeing Qin Yunuan leading Qin Baochuan toe near, Old Madam showed a kind smile which could not be told whether it was sincere or not, ¡°When people get old, they will feel sleepy easily. Once I sleep, it¡¯s hard to predict the time I wake up. Have you waited for long?¡±

    ¡°Not long,¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her head and smiled gently.

    Old Madam sneered. She had already conferred the title of nobility as the first-grade of rank Madam Dexian when she was married to Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. What¡¯s more, the mansion of Duke Jingguo was always proud. Although there were not many people in the mansion with no son to inherit the title, Queen Mother and Princess Ning both came from it. This made peopleing from that mansion extremely proud. Therefore, Old Madam in the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion was afraid of nothing. Not only were her words sharp, but her action was also quick.

    ¡°Were you thinking just now that with your effort to get the title of the fifth-grade of rank Infanta, it was impossible for you to wait here. If you had been reced by another person, she would have been lifted the curtain and wake me up. Without a request to bother me, who is willing to suffer wrong?¡± Old Madam lowered her head, said coldly, and drank the Biluochun Tea at a suitable temperature.

    Qin Yunuan was in a daze at first, butter her mind was clear. What Old Madam said was indeed the thought most women would have.

    ¡°I never have such thought,¡± Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t debate, but only replied one sentence with her head low.

    Old Madam raised her eyebrows slowly, seeming to doubt the answer.

    Qin Yunuan curtseyed and continued, ¡°It¡¯s because I knew at the beginning that you were pretending to sleep. You thought it was an exam for me. Actually, I also wanted to see how long I worthed for you to spend time examining me in your heart. While I was waiting, the shadow of the pir gazebo moved the length of about one finger, so two hours passed. I was surprised to see that I worthed for two hours in your heart. Thank you very much for your praise.¡±

    Those words revealed Qin Yunuan¡¯s wisdom clearly. Others said that the secret of the harmony between Old Madam and Princess Ning in the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion was that Princess Ning was so kind and simple that she wouldn¡¯t outshine Old Madam. The rule that there was no need for two clever people toe together could also be applied in the battle in the backyard.

    However, clever people always wanted bosom friends. For those women who broke the limitation of the time and held power in most time of their life like Old Madam and Queen Mother, they had a strong desire for a person like them from the bottom of their hearts. By catching the characteristic, Qin Yunuan attracted Old Madam¡¯s attention sessfully.

    Old Madam frowned slightly. It seemed that the daughter of a concubine was moreplex than what she had learned. In the past, when she heard the cries by Dou, she thought that the daughter of a concubine only knew vicious, nasty, and dirty means. Last time when she met her in the mansion of Grand Commandant, she realized Qin Yunuan¡¯s scheme, which was not honorable but effective. Today, Qin Yunuan waited for such a long time in the burning sun and said her aim with a singlement. It seemed that there was more to dig on the daughter of a concubine.

    ¡°Do you know that those who are smart sometimes will make a fool of themselves?¡± Old Madam squinted at Qin Yunuan, who was somehow like her when she was young, looking brave, calm, capable of dealing with everything.

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°What I only know is that one should fight for her own fate. Since the chirping of cicada was so noisy here and Old Madam, you always like silence, how can you fall asleep? If you want to give me an exam, I will take it willingly. As long as you let me in the past, admitting that I¡¯ve passed your exam, I¡¯ve got what I want.¡±

    There was an unconscious smile at the corner of Old Madam¡¯s lip. However, her whole face was still cold. She nced at Qin Baochuan, ¡°Is he your brother in the Qin Family?¡±

    Hearing that, Qin Baochuan immediately stepped forward and curtseyed, ¡°Baochuan meets Old Madam.¡± His voice was clear and vigorous.

    However, Old Madam turned her head suddenly and said with a nk face, ¡°He cannot stay at Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.¡±

 Chapter 140 Enemies in the Dark

    <h4>Chapter 140 Enemies in the Dark</h4>

    Old Madam really meant it when she said something. No one could persuade her to change her mind.

    ¡°He is not allowed to live in the mansion anymore.¡± Old Madam said resolutely. It seemed that she already made this decision before Qin Yunuan came here.

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t ask why. She knew that Old Madam must have her own n. She kept her chin up slightly and said, ¡°I promised my mother I would take Baochuan with me forever.¡±

    Old Madam looked up at Qin Yunuan. The teacup near her hand had cooled off. As the sun went down, Qin Yunuan¡¯s shadow got longer. Old Madam¡¯s absolute voice was as loud as arge bell, revealing her majesty. ¡°This is Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, my ce. I am inmand of everything here. You should learn from your mother about how to get along with me. She¡¯s quite good at this. She never makes trouble, let alone the tricky one of being attacked.¡±

    Shortly after Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi were assaulted, Old Madam, who was far away from them at that time, already knew what happened. She really got something.

    ¡°This indeed is my fault.¡± Qin Yunuan apologized sincerely. Although she didn¡¯t know who the target was, Leng Changxi or she. She knew clearly that someone from the Qin Family was involved. Otherwise, those assassins wouldn¡¯t have shown up suddenly without a sign.

    ¡°But....¡±

    Before Qin Yunuan finished her sentence, Old Madam cut in, ¡°So, you can¡¯t bring people from the Qin Family here anymore.¡± Old Madam had a sip of tea and looked up again. ¡°I have no spare time to protect you.¡±

    Protect them? Qin Yunuan was surprised and curtsied. ¡°Young as Baochuan is, he is obedient, and he will not bring any trouble to you.¡±

    Old Madam snorted and turned her head away. Tilting her head, she raised her hand to ask Zhichan to bring her a piece of Osmanthus cake. The yellow Osmanthus cake was soft and sweet and dotted with some Osmanthus petals. This was Old Madam¡¯s favorite, and she must have this after the noon break.

    Doing so, Old Madam was obviously ignoring Qin Yunuan and Qin Baochuan.

    Just when Old Madam was ready to put the Osmanthus cake into her mouth, Qin Baochuan shouted out. ¡°Old Madam, don¡¯t eat it. It¡¯s poisonous.¡±

    He screamed out of a sudden, and his words were so terrifying that Zhichan left the whole tray to the ground. The Osmanthus cake, therefore, rolled out and ended up in kes.

    Old Madam paused and squinted at Qin Baochuan who suddenly shouted out just now. Then she had a nce at Zhichan.

    Zhichan was so frightened that she knelt down immediately and said, ¡°Old Madam, please pardon me. I forgot my manners just now.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine if you merely forget your manners. You¡¯d better not n evil tricks.¡± Old Madam was always straightforward. Zhichan had served Old Madam for a long time as her servant girl. Being over 20 years old, she should be the most poised servant girl. How could she be scared by a scream from a boy? Perhaps, she was just afraid of being caught doing evil.

    At once, no one made a sound. Qin Yunuan was observing Old Madam in silence. Old Madam looked serious, but she didn¡¯t frown. This meant that she was not angry but just suspicious.

    ¡°What did you say? Poisonous?¡± Even under such circumstances, Old Madam still spoke slowly and gracefully.

    ¡°Yes, it is.¡± Qin Baochuan nodded.

    ¡°It was Suxin who brought me the cake from the kitchen in the Xianghe Courtyard. People who work in that kitchen have served me for years. Who do you mean want to kill me, my granddaughter or people who go through fire and water together with me?¡±

    Leng Suxin had little connection with other people in the mansion, but she was close to Old Madam. This was why other people didn¡¯t dare to displease her, the indifferent Fourth Miss. After all, Old Madam was her backer.

    ¡°None of them.¡± Qin Baochuan shook his head and said with a serious look, ¡°Actually, the cake is not poisonous, but other things on this table are.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Old Madam raised her eyebrows and subconsciously looked at the orderly ced teacups, the chessboards and the blooming sagebrush, which was picked up not long ago. It was specially put before Old Madam to help her kill time.

    ¡°This is poisonous.¡± Qin Baochuan replied while picking up thentern-like sagebrush and shaking it over a clean white porcin te before Old Madam. Then, some yellow pollen fell off. ¡°This is not the sagebrush pollen, but the oleander one which is poisonous. Near the pond, the wind is heavy, so the pollen will definitely fall on the cake which is ced right under the flower. The Osmanthus cake is yellow, and so is the oleander pollen. Therefore, people may not be able to tell them apart and take it in. Old Madam, have you eaten the cake?¡±

    Having lunch, Old Madam just wanted to take a break in the pavilion. Later, when Qin Yunuan came here to find her, she directly pretended to fall asleep. Thus, she had no time to eat the cake yet. If what Qin Baochuan said was true, she...

    ¡°How do you know this is the oleander pollen at one nce?¡± Old Madam still had sharp eyes and was as shrewd as before. ¡°Since you say that people can hardly tell them apart. How do you know the difference?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s easy.¡± Qin Baochuan said in earnest. ¡°Brushes and grass near the pavilion attract mosquitoes, but there are no mosquitoes near the sagebrush which usually is attractive for mosquitoes too. It is because the oleander pollen is mosquito-repellent. More importantly, I was almost killed by such pollen before, so I remember it well.¡±

    This was not a perfectly reasonable exnation, but it was rare that a six-year-old child could be so smart. When he mentioned that he once suffered from the poisonous oleander pollen, it reminded Qin Yunuan that Qin Linfeng had instigated Tinghe to put poison into Baochuan¡¯s breakfast. Old Madam was also shocked when hearing this.

    After a long while, Old Madam set her eyes on Qin Yunuan who stood quietly next to Qin Baochuan. Qin Yunuan seemed not surprised that Qin Baochuan was so clear and logical. Actually, in her previous life, she already knew how smart Qin Baochuan was.

    Old Madam took the pollen-covered porcin te to closely observe the pollen. At her young age, she was plotted against by other people many times and plotted against others as well. It was easy for her to recognize the oleander pollen. Then she was shocked. That really was the oleander pollen.

    ¡°you and your little brother are alike.¡± Old Madam gave a vaguement which contained praise and inquiry. ¡°You both are smart, bold and good at leveraging your strength.¡±

    Qin Yunuan curtsied and remained calm. As expected, Old Madam said in a cold voice, ¡°And, you both displease me.¡±

    The words were not pleasant, from which Qin Yunuan clearly noticed Old Madam¡¯s preference for them.

    ¡°Zhichan.¡± Old Madam looked down at the shaking Zhichan who knelt down. Zhichan was the one who took care of her vases and incense. Old Madam knew clearly why the oleander pollen was in the sagebrush. ¡°There is no need for you to serve me anymore. I can¡¯t keep you at my side.¡±

    It sounded alright, but Zhichan knew Old Madam was meant to kill her. No one could be alive after harming Old Madam.

    ¡°Old Madam, please forgive me. I have served you for many years. You shouldn¡¯t doubt me simply because of his words. I really don¡¯t know where the oleander pollenes from. There must be someone framing me.¡± Zhichan was begging bitterly.

    ¡°You have served me for years so that I don¡¯t keep an eye on you now.¡± Old Madam never treated people who brought harm to her nicely. She was the same as Qin Yunuan in this regard.

    ¡°Old Madam....¡± Zhichuan was struggling, but suddenly she was dragged away by two slim servant girls who actually had muscr arms. They were well trained and sharp. Clearly, they were skilled in martial arts.

    ¡°Now, are you satisfied?¡± Old Madam lowered her head and took a sip of tea. It was unclear whether she was asking Qin Yunuan or Qin Baochuan.

    Qin Yunuan slowly took a step forward and said, ¡°I¡¯m worrying that someone plots this behind. After all, Zhichan is just a servant girl. Old Madam, why do you....¡±

    ¡°Find out the people behind through her?¡± Old Madam looked up, and she gave Qin Yunuan a sneering nce. She seemed tough at her innocence and ignorance. ¡°Since Zhichan came here to serve me ten years ago, I have already known who her real master is. I didn¡¯t kick her out because I want to let her master spy on me. I love to see howcent she was when she got those deliberately-revealed messages. She thinks she is smart, but everything is still in mymand. Without you, I would not kill Zhichan. At my old age, I¡¯m boring. Now that someone would like to fight with me to help kill time, why not y with her?¡±

    The Old Madam in the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, or Ge Yunying, a big name in the southern battlefield, had fought with people for half her lifetime. She already regarded fighting as a fun thing.

    At once, Qin Yunuan felt chillness inside. The Old Madam indeed lived in an unrestrained life but also a tiring life. Thinking of herself, Qin Yunuan also found her living amid fights. She was not sure whether she would remain in such a state when she grew old, just like the Old Madam.

    ¡°Old Madam, who are you talking about?¡± Qin Yunuan sounded out.

 Chapter 141 The Wedding of the Prince

    <h4>Chapter 141 The Wedding of the Prince</h4>

    The old Madam merely raised her head and looked at Qin Yunuan indifferently, and said inly, ¡°I¡¯ve allowed your brother to stay, but it doesn¡¯t mean that you could ask me anything. You¡¯ll naturally know about itter.¡± Then, she lowered her head and focused on taking a sip of her tea.

    Judging from her attitude, she was willing to ept Qin Baochuan. Qin Yunuan worried the most that the old Madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion would crowd out Qin Baochuan, as the Dou Family had a deal with the old Madam. Even though the Dou Family was eradicated, given the behavior of the old madam...

    Anyway, now that it had been settled. As for that ¡°her¡± the old Madam was referring to, Qin Yunuan subconsciously rted to the one in the Royal Pce. She was immediately daunted by the bold thought of herself. Sisters going against each other, that was too ridiculous. However, thinking of what happened between Qin Yunzhuang and herself, she suddenly felt that anything could be possible.

    Qin Yunuan wanted to say more, but the old Madam had already closed her eyes and leaned peacefully on the bamboo rattan chair as if nothing had happened at all.

    Just when Qin Yunuan led Qin Baochuan out of the pavilion, the servant girl outside the door had already been reced. The lean servant girl who dragged Zhichan away had reced Zhichan. Competition was always so cruel.

    Qin Baochuan didn¡¯t say a word as they walked back along the walkway. Qin Baochuan only dragged Qin Yunuan¡¯s sleeve as they were about to arrive at the courtyard of Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi. He said, ¡°Thank you, sister, for reminding me just now.¡±

    Qin Yunuan paused her steps slightly, but she didn¡¯t lower her head. ¡°I haven¡¯t reminded you.¡±

    ¡°The Oleander pollen.¡± Qin Baochuan was firm and sincere, ¡°Baochuan knows that sister wants Baochuan to perform well in front of the old Madam. If it wasn¡¯t for sister¡¯s expression and gesture, how would Baochuan have noticed?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just because you¡¯re clever.¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s tone softened. She crouched and looked at Qin Baochuan, who had be more mature and sensible. She stroked Qin Baochuan¡¯s head and said, ¡°Sister could help you asionally, but not always.¡±

    Qin Baochuan nodded and said, ¡°Baochuan knows. I¡¯ll definitely work hard on the Imperial College exam a month from now.¡±

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Qin Yunuan stood up as if she was avoiding Qin Baochuan¡¯s nce. She only said, ¡°Tomorrow is your elder sister¡¯s wedding day. The renowned people in the Royal City would all attend the wedding in the pce. Mr. Shangguan Yi will also be there by then. Remember, try your best to perform yourself in front of him. If you get his approval, it would be your honor.¡±

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t tell Qin Baochuan that their mother, Lady Yang, was the daughter of Shangguan family. After all, there was a reason for mother to hide the truth. Besides, with Qin Yunuan¡¯s capability now, she didn¡¯t need to rely on the Shangguan family to secure a good future for Qin Baochuan.

    Qin Baochuan had heard of Shangguan Yi¡¯s name long ago. His nce shined longingly and nodded strongly.

    When they returned to the yard, nurse Liao was overwhelmed with joy to know that Qin Baochuan hade to the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. Consequently, she had cleaned up two rooms, a bedroom and a study room for Qin Baochuan by the side courtyard, both cleaned carefully.

    Soon, Leng Changxi came back too, looking a bit tired. However, as soon as he entered the house and saw Qin Yunuan quietly embroidering under a Begonia, it seemed that he was brightened up, and all his tiredness was swept away.

    When they returned from the old Madam, Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t settle her mind. She could only embroider to sooth herself. She was zoning out, and she didn¡¯t notice Leng Changxiing in from the door.

    Leng Changxi quietly walked towards Qin Yunuan from behind as his hand slowly went down along Qin Yunuan¡¯s fair arm and held the needle in her fingertips. The silver needle was loosened immediately and bounced under the impact of the thread.

    ¡°Ahh,¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s sudden approaching made Qin Yunuan scream unintentionally. In addition, the fiery chest of Leng Changxi was closely pressing on Qin Yunuan¡¯s back, which lit Qin Yunuan up a bit.

    ¡°Did you wait for long?¡± Leng Changxi was kissing Qin Yunuan¡¯s petite earlobes. The slight roughness of his tongue was like a catalyst, quickly catalyzing the romantic atmosphere.

    ¡°No.¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her head, then raised it again. She gently looked at Leng Changxi. It seemed that Qin Yunuan could see only herself in Leng Changxi¡¯s ck pupils, even with his ck mask on. Qin Yunuan held Leng Changxi¡¯s arm and kissed him gently, ¡°I¡¯ve prepared lotus soup for you. Iced lotus soup.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Leng Changxi smiled, and responded aggressively to the rare kiss that Qin Yunuan initiated, ¡°Have you had some yourself?¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded, ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, then I¡¯ll just taste it from your mouth.¡± Leng Changxi grabbed Qin Yunuan¡¯s chin with his big hand, held her head and kissed her affectionately and fiercely as if Leng Changxi tried his best to reach in further each time.

    ¡°Hmm.¡± Just when Qin Yunuan was stretching her neck, trying her best to follow the tall Leng Changxi, Leng Changxi had already held Qin Yunuan¡¯s waist and held her against him. He took Qin Yunuan¡¯s slim legs and rounded them around his body. Meanwhile, their mouths had be one. This time, Leng Changxi easily went through Qin Yunuan¡¯s teeth and reached his tongue in, as if he really wanted to seek for the trace of sweetness of the lotus soup.

    It had been a long time. Leng Changxi slowly loosened his hands only when the breaths of the two were beyond control. He stared straight at the blushed Qin Yunuan and smiled. His words were luring, ¡°The lotus soup tastes good indeed.¡±

    How was it possible that he actually tasted the lotus soup? Qin Yunuan knew that Leng Changxi was ying with her. She merely pounded Leng Changxi¡¯s chest softly, leaned against his chest and asked, ¡°Have you figured out what happened this morning yet?¡±

    Leng Changxi narrowed his eyes, yet still decided to tell Qin Yunuan the truth, ¡°Your elder brother had sided with Prince Ray.¡±

    His words were simple, but the meaning was clear.

    And it was not far from Qin Yunuan¡¯s expectations.

    ¡°It surely is him.¡± Even though Qin Linfeng was still talking to Qin Yunuan politely, even with a hint of forbearance, in the Mansion of Qin, Qin Yunuan knew that he was just like a wolf waiting for its prey. After all, he was the son of Qin Zhi and Dou Qing¡¯e. He had well inherited the viciousness and cunning of the two.

    Something wasn¡¯t right. Qin Yunuan suddenly frowned.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    ¡°The union of Qin Linfeng and Prince Ray? Huh, what a coincidence. They should be rivals.¡± Qin Yunuan sneered and told Leng Changxi that the emotions of Qin Linfeng towards Qin Yunzhuang had exceeded the sibling rtionship long ago.

    Leng Changxi smiled as well after he heard it, ¡°His ally and the woman of his life. Guess what he will do tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°I used to be surprised by Qin Linfeng¡¯s emotion towards Qin Yunzhuang. He had protected her for so many years, and he fought for her every time, even risking himself. However, he¡¯s my father¡¯s son, after all. He could surely give up his lover for his future. Besides, not only that he didn¡¯t receive anything emotional in return from Qin Yunzhuang, but also that the world couldn¡¯t allow such rtionships.¡± It seemed that Qin Yunuan had known everything about the Qin family. In her past life and this life, she had learnt enough lessons from the Qin family.

    ¡°However, knowing this is beneficial rather than harmful to us.¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s eyes glittered smartly. He always knew how to grab the opportunities and make use of his resources. It was no exception this time. ¡°I don¡¯t mind giving Prince Ray a big present.¡± After Leng Changxi finished his words, his nce became blurry as he turned to climb over Qin Yunuan and whispered to her ear, ¡°But now, you have to give me a big present first.¡± As he spoke, he untied Qin Yunuan¡¯s belt.

    It was another night of lingering.

    The next morning, even though Qin Yunuan was still soring from the actionsst night, she managed to get up as she had to bring Qin Baochuan to greet Prince Ning and Princess Ning. When she went around the screen, she saw Leng Changxi already sitting by the table and poured her a bowl of Barley and red bean congee. He knew that Qin Yunuan loved red beans, so he deliberately gave her lots of red beans. There was a te of buns, a te of steamed rolls, and a small te of pickles on the table. The breakfast of Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi was always simple.

    Leng Changxi felt a bit sorry as he saw Qin Yunuan¡¯s waist soring, so he took the initiative to massage for Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough, it tickles!¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her head, looking shy. It was just an excuse. It was just that as soon as Leng Changxi¡¯s big hands rubbed on Qin Yunuan¡¯s waist and back, the heat of his hands made Qin Yunuan numb and feeble again.

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be more gentle next time.¡± Leng Changxi spoke next to Qin Yunuan¡¯s ear, and his hot breath spurted on her ear.

    ¡°Third young Madam, the princess was ready to go. She sent me to ask third young Madam that how long would it take you to be there?¡± It was Qingzhu, Princess Ning¡¯s servant girl, who was outside.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Qin Yunuan responded loudly. If it wasn¡¯t for Leng Changxi who was lit once again in the morning and made love with her, she wouldn¡¯t be sote.

    ¡°Be careful in the Royal Pce.¡± Leng Changxi hugged Qin Yunuan, who was striding towards the door and kissed her forehead gently. ¡°I¡¯ll go to see the Emperor first and attend the wedding banquetter.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡±

    The wedding banquet was in the early afternoon. Apart from the wedding banquets of Prince Fu and Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, it was a rarely seen banquet in the Royal City. In addition, the family of the empress had quite some power, so many of the rich and famous people had entered the pce early to congratte her. Their gifts were all precious.

    People all said that the Qin family was really fortunate. Among the three daughters of the Qin family, one had married Prince Fu, who was a fool but still had certain achievements. Another daughter was named the Infanta and became the legal wife of the general. The other daughter was about to enter the Royal Pce and be a royal concubine. The status of Qin Zhi had rocketed overnight.

    Outside the pce, many gorgeous carriages had lined up in order. The servant girls had all took out the invitation letters of their masters and mistresses and got prepared to enter the pce.

    ¡°Look, it¡¯s Mr. Shangguan Yi¡¯s carriage.¡± Someone in the crowd suddenly shouted.

 Chapter 142 When the Rivals Met

    <h4>Chapter 142 When the Rivals Met</h4>

    As people heard the name Shangguan Yi, they immediately made way for him. Even the third level officials nervously ordered their carriage drivers to move their carriage far aside so as not to block Mr. Shangguan Yi¡¯s way. Shangguan Yi, the founder of the Imperial College of Qi, renowned as precious by the past Emperor, was a legend in people¡¯s minds. However, Mr. Shangguan Yi lived in the regions south of the River in the past decade. Even though many schrs went to visit him, they all failed to actually meet him. Now that they were able to contact the precious of Qi so closely, it was an honor for them.

    A quaint carriage slowly came from the west side. The ck Phoebe wood carriage was luxurious but low-key. Following the ck carriage were two carriages with signs of the Shangguan mansion on. They must be the carriages of the Left Chancellor Shangguan Yuan and his daughter, Shangguan Yee.

    Princess Ning immediately held Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand and led her to the roadside to wait with the others, while saying, ¡°This Mr. Shangguan Yi is the most knowledgeable and respected schr of Qi, and he normally won¡¯t leave his home. However, the Left Chancellor Shangguan Yuan had invited him to the Royal City for some unknown reason this time. I assume he¡¯s staying for some time. It happens that your brother has moved into Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. I¡¯ll send an invitation to the Shangguan Mansion tomorrow. It would be great if the two families can gather, and Mr. Shangguan Yi will have the chance to meet your brother and maybe teach him something.¡±

    It was such sweet words. If it had been another asion, Qin Yunuan would have been so touched. However, she merely bowed slightly. Even though Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion and Shangguan Mansion always had a great rtionship, the personal rtionship between Shangguan Yee and Qin Yunuan was soplicated that it was best for them not to see each other often. Besides, the rtionship between Qin Baochuan and Mr. Shangguan Yi was much closer than what people would think. Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t need to rely on Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. She got her own way.

    ¡°Thank you, mother, it¡¯s just that Mr. Shangguan Yi is so famous that he might not be willing to see Baochuan.¡±

    Princess Ning just smiled faintly, ¡°Not necessarily.¡±

    The carriage came to a halt, and an old man dismounted it. He was in an off white gown, and his wide sleeves were swaying in the wind as if he was saintly. Mr. Shangguan Yi was seventy-two years old, yet he still looked full of spirits after the travel from the regions south of the River.

    ¡°Sir Shangguan.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you, Sir Shangguan.¡±

    All the people around took the initiative to arch their hands and greeted Shangguan Yi extremely humbly. While Mr. Shangguan Yi just nodded and smiled all the way. However, when Qin Yunuan took a closer look, his actions and his face reminded her of her mother. Qin Yunuan had to admit that if her mother, Lady Yang¡¯s jade pendant, with the word ¡°Yu¡± carved on it, couldn¡¯t prove her identity as the daughter of Shangguan family, now that she met Mr. Shangguan Yi, she was sure about it. They were so alike.

    ¡°You¡¯re here too?¡± Shangguan Yee followed her father off the carriage and noticed Qin Yunuan who was waiting in the crowd at first nce. She quietly approached her. Behind her was a crowd surrounding Mr. Shangguan Yi, but she didn¡¯t seem to care. In the past, she loved the bustling.

    ¡°Miss Shangguan.¡± Qin Yunuan greeted her, but Shangguan Yee said to her directly, ¡°Is everything in the letter you gave me true? Qin Linfeng loves no one else but Qin Yunzhuang? This is incest!¡±

    Princess Ning had walked away, and there were only the two trusted servant girls, Maner and Ting Xue, by Qin Yunuan¡¯s side. It was noisy, and they couldn¡¯t hear her conversation with Shangguan Yee.

    Qin Yunuan inly raised her sight, ¡°What letter?¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s nce was peaceful like the water in ake and so pure that it was as if she had known nothing about the letter.

    ¡°Huh, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know.¡± Shangguan Yee thought that she was smart and guessed, ¡°A few days ago, I found a note under my green bean cake when I was having snacks. It simply exined the hidden rtionship between Qin Linfeng and Qin Yunzhuang. Let me ask you something. If it wasn¡¯t you, who else is bold and capable enough? Besides, you lived with Qin Yunzhuang and Qin Linfeng, and it¡¯s reasonable for you to know this. I¡¯m simply asking you whether this is true or not.¡±

    Shangguan Yee¡¯s eyes turned red gradually. After all, she had a thing for Qin Linfeng for so long. She even bore being Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s follower for so long in order to approach Qin Linfeng. Now that she knew that the man she loved had a special feeling for his sister, she couldn¡¯t take it anymore, whether she was jealous or furious, or ming herself for choosing the wrong guy.

    However, Qin Yunuan failed to agree with Shangguan Yee¡¯s statement on there couldn¡¯t be anyone else apart from her. She knew who could do this. Or she should say that there were plenty capable of doing this. However, the only one who would really do so was...Readtest chapters at Listnovel

    ¡°I¡¯m asking you, is what¡¯s written in the letter real or fake?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t give you that letter,¡± Qin Yunuan blinked and continued, ¡°But the content is real indeed. Qin Linfeng loves Qin Yunzhuang, not as a sibling, but as a woman.¡±

    Receiving the confirmation from Qin Yunuan, Shangguan Yee nearly tripped. But soon, she resumed her normal state.

    ¡°I know now.¡± Shangguan Yee took a deep breath.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that I¡¯m lying to you?¡¯ Qin Yunuan tilted her head and asked.

    Shangguan Yee raised her head and stared at Qin Yunuan for a long time and suddenly said, ¡°I¡¯ll make sure that they won¡¯t be in peace.¡± After she finished her words, she turned and left.

    ¡°Third young Madam, Miss Shangguan is...¡± Seeing Shangguan Yee¡¯s expression growing more ferocious as she left, Maner was a bit worried. She wasn¡¯t worried about Qin Yunzhuang or Qin Yunuan, though. It was just that the Qin family was involved in the wedding today. If Shangguan Yee caused any troubles, she was afraid that it would affect Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°I heard that many famous families in the Royal City had been discussing the marriage of Shangguan Yee with the Shangguan Mansion.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°No wonder she was so irritated. She¡¯s born to be used by others with her temperament. We only need to take care of ourselves today.¡±

    It was a pce banquet today, and the wedding procedure was quite different from ordinary people. Apart from the vow, Qin Yunzhuang and Sima Ray had to offer the seniors with wine first before they return to their room.

    Qin Yunzhuang was gorgeous today. Her bright red wedding dress was embroidered with peonies in golden thread, and cloud patterns on the sleeves. The red tank top had perfectly shaped her plump breasts, but not decorously. She was wearing a phoenix crown on her hair bun, and the golden leaf-shaped cloth hanged from it, covering half of Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s face. The red lips and fine skin of hers under the golden shade had triggered people¡¯s wildest imaginations. The guests were all saying that Prince Ray was a lucky guy indeed to marry such a belle.

    However, even though the groom Sima Ray kept smiling, he didn¡¯t seem to be genuinely happy. It seemed that his nce kept staying on Qin Yunuan, who was already someone else¡¯s wife.

    Leng Changxi wasn¡¯t here yet, so there was an empty seat next to Qin Yunuan. This made Sima Ray even bolder when looking at Qin Yunuan today.

    Her lips, her hair, her smile, everything of hers seemed to be tickling Sima Ray¡¯s unsettled heart. However, Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t look at him at all, as if there had been no rtionship between their lives. Since she was no longer a virgin, the actions and movements of Qin Yunuan seemed to be more enchanting than before. Even Qin Yunuan herself didn¡¯t realize that, but it made Sima Ray, who hadn¡¯t seen Qin Yunuan for a long time, fell for her again. It was so obvious that even Qin Yunzhuang, who was next to him, could tell that he was odd.

    ¡°Ray.¡± Qin Yunzhuang dragged Sima Ray¡¯s chilly fingertips under cover of her dress and said, ¡°It¡¯s time for the ceremony, Ray.¡±

    Sima Ray returned to his mind and took a cold nce at Qin Yunzhuang. In his perspective, Qin Yunzhuang was a typical dumb woman with a beautiful face and a stupid brain. What he couldn¡¯t ept more was that he actually had to marry such a dumb woman as his legal wife.

    ¡°Have I said that you could touch me?¡± Sima Ray still had a gentle smile on his face, but the words that came out of his mouth were extremely vicious, ¡°Remember what I told you this morning. If you want to be my wife safely, you have a price to pay, which is to follow my orders unconditionally.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s heart trembled. Sima Ray¡¯s words were creepy and cold, like an ice dagger stabbing into her heat. However, she didn¡¯t fully get what Sima Ray meant. She thought Sima Ray was just talking about what he would do in bed, so she immediately blushed and lowered her head, ¡°We are officially husband and wife after the ceremony. I¡¯ll naturally follow your orders, Ray.¡±

    See, a dumb woman indeed.

    Sima Ray sneered and took over the giant red flower ball from the wedding master. Qin Yunzhuang and Sima Ray each took one side of it and carried out the vow. They vowed to the heaven, the Emperor and Empress, and then each other.

    Qin Yunuan was in her seat, smiling and looking at Qin Yunzhuang and Sima Ray on the stairs, looking like a perfect match. On the other hand, she was listening to Leng Shuang¡¯s report of her observation just now, ¡°Prince Ray has just looked at you seven times, pursed his lips once and his nce floated three times, third young Madam.¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± Qin Yunuan waved to dismiss Leng Shuang, then she quietly asked Maner, ¡°Have you prepared everything yet?¡±

    Maner nodded and said, ¡°It¡¯s all ready. Brother Leng is already guarding by the lotus pond to make sure no one woulde near there. As for the clothes and the Guzheng, I¡¯ve hidden them behind the rockery for you, third young Madam.¡±

    ¡°Brother Leng?¡± Qin Yunuan wanted to tease Maner for calling Leng Wu so intimately, ¡°Such an intimate referral. When have you started calling him that? Huh? Howe I didn¡¯t know about it?¡±

    Maner blushed immediately. She just got used to it and said it by ident, and it gave Qin Yunuan the chance to tease her.

    The two were about to make fun with each other further, while Qin Yunuan saw a figure leaving with the corner of her nce. She started to get alerted, ¡°It¡¯s time.¡±

 Chapter 143 Meet Grandfather

    <h4>Chapter 143 Meet Grandfather</h4>

    The wedding feast was proceeding, but the lotus pond across a courtyard nearby was so silent. There seemed to be an isted space that excluded the superficial noises and the wishes against people¡¯s will.

    The tranquil sound of Guzheng came from a stilted building. The tranquil melody was like Lingmaoxiang burning around people, which was so rxing andfortable.

    ¡°Sir Shangguan Yi, follow me.¡± A maidservant who was dressed as an imperial maidservant guided the gray-hair Shangguan Yi to the void lotus pond, ¡°Sir Shangguan Yi, please be cautious of the steps.¡±

    ¡°Wait,¡± Though Shangguan Yi was anile, he did not feel exhausted after a long walking but was uneasy in his heart. He saw the jade pendant with the word ¡°Jade¡± on it, worn by this little imperial maidservant who was pouring wine for him and exposed the jade pendant deliberately to him. And then he got the heartbeat faster. He asked, ¡°Where is the owner of the jade pendant?¡±

    Having seen there were no other people around, the little imperial maidservant pointed at the tall foot building, ¡°Sir Shangguan Yi, listen please.¡±

    With the psychological effect or the gradually louder sound, the impatient heart of Shangguan Yi was suddenly full of the melody like the fresh sound of mountain streams. He turned quiet gradually by the sound of Guzheng. The change of tones seemed to express a hoary and beautiful story.

    Suddenly, Shangguan Yi opened his eyes. He figured out that the song was rposed by a bad in the regions south of the River. He sang this bad every day when he apanied his youngest daughter to sleep.

    The tall foot building was only two-storied. Shangguan Yi went upstairs quickly and saw the back of a woman with a light-purple dress. The feeble and delicate back showed her tenacity and high power. With the up and down of his fingers, she yed the Guzhang, which was giving out a simr melody.

    ¡°Yuer?¡± Shangguan Yi asked tentatively.

    At this moment, thedy with purple clothes stopped ying and turned back slowly. The tranquil face was like his youngest daughter ying Guzheng on the loft very much. But unfortunately, they are a little bit different.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Shangguan Yi frowned. He wanted to know who the girl in front of him was. Her face was simr to Yuer, and she could y the bad in the regions south of the River.

    ¡°I am Qin Yunuan. Nice to meet you, Sir Shangguan Yi.¡± Qin Yunuan gave him a salute and raised her head. Her serene and determined eyes made Shangguan Yi doubted again that this girl was the reincarnation of his youngest daughter.

    ¡°Are you from Qin Family?¡± Shangguan Yi was a little bit unhappy when he heard about Qin Family. He had been living in seclusion in the regions south of the River and had no connection with his son, Shangguan Yuan, in the Royal City, who was born of the legal wife, because the death of his grandson Shangguan Rang made this over 70-year-old man sad for a long time. Shangguan Yi had a bad impression on Family Qin after he heard that the death of Shangguan Rang had something to do with Qin Family.

    ¡°My husband is from Leng Family.¡± Qin Yunuan added.

    The surname was Leng, and the girl could appear in the imperial pce. So the girl¡¯s husband was definitely from Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.

    ¡°You are from Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. So what? Shangguan Family will have no any connection with Qin Family.¡± Shangguan Yi said indignantly. And then he waved his sleeves and was about to leave.

    ¡°The surname of my mother is Yang, and her real name is Shangguan Yu.¡± Qin Yunuan raised her voice suddenly.

    Shangguan Yi felt stunned and turned back to look at Qin Yunuan with suspected eyes.

    ¡°And the jade pendant,¡± Qin Yunuan said, and then the little imperial maidservant took out the jade pendant hidden in her sleeve, passing it to Qin Yunuan. There was the word Jade on the jade pendant, ¡°OK, Zhuer, you quit. Don¡¯t let others find you.¡± Qin Yunuan ordered Zhuer to leave, and then she put the jade pendant on her hand, and showed to Shangguan Yi, ¡°This is the hangover of my dead mother.¡±

    ¡°Your mother is dead?¡± Shangguan Yi expressed his sorrow and then got serious, ¡°Why should I believe you?¡± For many years, he hasn¡¯t found his youngest daughter after his hard searching. It was so coincident that he met with his granddaughter in a wedding feast.

    Though the daughter of Shangguan Yi was born of the concubine, her mother was a gentle and talenteddy who got much love from him. But due to the ignorance of looking after his wife and daughter, the extremely jealous son born of his legal wife, Shangguan Yuan, kicked out the two women from the mansion when he was in his study tour outside. That was why he kept living in the distant regions south of the River and was not willing to live with Shangguan Yuan in the Royal City. He still felt angry about that and missed his sensible concubine and daughter.

    His daughter would be over 30 years if she were still alive. Shangguan Yi did not believe that his daughter had been dead, and she wanted to believe she was alive.

    Qin Yunuan understood the suspect of Shangguan Yi. The hardest part was to make Shangguan Yi believe her identity. Actually, Qin Yunuan knew that Qin Zhi had hidden other evidence. A simple jade pendant could not exin much. Qin Zhi had destroyed the key part in case that Qin Yunuan met with his grandfather by her identity. But Qin Zhi left something out.

    ¡°This is the manuscript of embroidering left by my mother. There is her handwriting on the manuscript. Sir Shangguan Yi, you can have a check, and you will know what I said was real.¡± Qin Yunuan picked up the half-old yellowed manuscript on the table. Yes, Qin Zhi forgot this. He did not know Lady Yang had already taught all her knowledge and experience to her daughter. And Shangguan Yi taught the handwriting of each word to Lady Yang. That was the mostpetitive evidence.

    Shangguan Yi held the thin book doubtfully. He browed only two pages, and then his eyes got tears. It was not fake. He remembered all.

    ¡°Yuer, my yuer.¡± A 70-year-old man now was as weak as a child, ¡°my girl,e here.¡± Shangguan Yi reached his hands and summoned Qin Yunuan to his side. He found the face of Qin Yunuan was very simr to Shangguan Yu and felt more touched, ¡°Honey, you suffered a lot. Tell me, how was your mother dead?¡±

    Qin Yunuan finally arrived at the moment. She gritted her teeth, ¡°She was hurt to death.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Shangguan Yi felt astonished. He thought the kick-out of his daughter was her most miserable time. This girl from Qin Family was his granddaughter, and his daughter became a menial concubine of Qin Family. He felt so sorry for his daughter. But now he heard that his daughter was killed by others...

    ¡°Really,¡± Qin Yunuan said slowly, ¡°The person who killed my mother was the legal wife of Qin Family, Dou Qing¡¯e who suicided in Psycho Tower.¡±

    Shangguan Yi sighed, ¡°All are due to my ignorance. Or. She would not....¡± Yes. His youngest daughter was killed, but the murderer was dead too. There was no person to hold responsibility. What else could Shangguan Yi do except sighing?

    ¡°But Sir Shangguan Yi. If there had been no permission of my father, Dou Qing¡¯e would have had no chance to kill a person and get exempted.¡± Qin Yunuan clenched his fists tightly. After Qin Yunuan broke up with Qin Zhi radically, she investigated all early things about Qin Zhi. Qin Zhi betrayed many women except He Lian. From the imperialpetitive examination, Qin Zhi got a higher position, almost relying on women. And as for Qin Yunuan¡¯s mother, Lady Yang, or Shangguan Yu, she was just a failing tool that Qin Zhi had once utilized.

    ¡°You mean?¡± Though Shangguan Yi always focused on the academy, he also knew much about plots as an older man. It was totally wrong to bully a Confucian.

    ¡°My father tried to utilize the real identity of my mother to make the acquaintance of Shangguan Family, but my mother refused his plot. My father believed that she was useless if she could not be utilized.¡± Qin Yunuan said with slightly cold eyes. Now in her words, her father was like a cold-blooded animal instead of her close rtive.

    ¡°What you said just now was your own father, your close blood father.¡± Shangguan Yi felt surprised by her straight words.

    ¡°Yes, what I said just now was my own father,¡± Qin Yunuan raised her head with determined and obstinate eyes, ¡°He was the father who stopped his son¡¯s official career secretly and plotted to destroy the future of his son.¡±

    Leng Changxi had paved the developing path for Qin Baochuan, and Qin Baochuan was waiting to attend the selection campaign of the Imperial College in autumn. But now things got trouble. Although those officials who were responsible for the selection examination promised to Leng Changxi seemingly, there was less than one month for the selection examination, and those officials started to break their promises. They seemed to refuse to surrender even if Leng Changxi put the dagger on their necks. Finally, Qin Yunuan knew that those officials were the followers of Qin Zhi.

    Qin Yunuan refused the more severe solutions of Leng Changxi. She wanted Baochuan to enter the college aboveboard and let all people know that Baochuan was qualified and intelligent.

    Qin Yunuan told all the doings of Qin ZHI TO Shangguan Yi. When he heard how Qin Zhi deserted Qin Yunuan and Qin Baochuan and threw them into the back room indifferently, this old but strong man felt extremely outrageous.

    ¡°Bastard! Qin Zhi was a bastard!¡± Shangguan Yi was the founder of Confucianism in Qi. He was qualified to denounce Qin Zhi.

    ¡°Grandpa,¡± Qin Yunuan said in a soft voice, ¡°My father has never regarded my brother and me as his children. You are the only rtive of Baochuan and me in this world.¡±

    Qin Yunuan called Shangguan Yi grandpa, which softened the heart of Shangguan Yi. He looked at Qin Yunuan and seemed to give all the love he once put on his daughter to his granddaughter, ¡°Where is Baochuan? Could I see him?¡±

 Chapter 144 Disclosure of the Plot

    <h4>Chapter 144 Disclosure of the Plot</h4>

    Shangguan Yi wanted to meet Qin Baochuan, and that was precisely the aim of Qin Yunuan. Qin Baochuan had already been taken previously into the imperial pce secretly. It was the big wedding day of Qin Family today, and Qin Zhi focused more on fame, so those concubines and their daughter of the Mansion of Grand Commandant had no chance to attend the wedding feast. If Qin Baochuan had not left Qin Family, he would have been under a house arrest like Qin Yuwan and Concubine Liu.

    When Qin Baochuan stepped down stably from the steps, Shangguan Yi got excited again that he had not only a granddaughter but also a grandson.

    ¡°I am Baochuan. Nice to meet you.¡± Shangguan Yi felt dense kinship when he saw the sensible and decent Qin Baochuan.

    ¡°OK, get up first. Let me have a look at you.¡± Shangguan Yi held the curtsying Qin Baochuan with much love and gentleness. Having seen this scene, Qin Yunuan just ordered Leng Wu and Maner to ensure nobody wasing closer, and then she went downstairs secretly, leaving a private time for the two people who hadn¡¯t met for a long time.

    Walking slowly along with lotus pond, Qin Yunuan massaged her aching shoulder and cheek. The feast went on for half a day, and now it was at dusk. The uneven jacinth clouds in the west were like a multipleyer gauze.

    Unconsciously, she walked into a tranquil ce. A kind of lightly stink smell of coppers spread in the air. Qin Yunuan had a sensitive smell better than others, so she quickly caught the smell with dangerous signals.

    She stopped, and then Leng Shuang, who was protecting her in the house beam, jumped suddenly.

    ¡°Is there any problem here?¡± Qin Yunuan dared not make noise and just asked by her eyes.

    Leng Shuang nodded and had a check around. Suddenly, her ears moved, and she found something. She pulled QinYunuan and hid behind the rockery. Immediately, a few people came from corner gate. The leader was a man who wore a ck mask with powerful arms. The leader could subdue a man who was struggling by one hand.

    The man was unkempt with clotted blood in his face. Qin Yunuan could not clearly see the face of the man, but she could estimate that the man was a rich young master, judging by his tall body and luxurious clothes.

    And behind them, it was Liu Bao, the closely trusted follower of Sima Ray. His eyes were so gloomy, which expressed a kind of indifference and heartlessness in the imperial pce.

    ¡°How dare you do incest with your sister! Though my master dislikes that woman, she has be the wife of my master. You have no right to covet her.¡± Liu Bao said in an evident and eunuch-like tone, which sounded very malicious.

    Now Qin Yunuan knew who the man was just by the words of Liu Bao.

    ¡°My dear young master of Qin Family, do you know how I will treat you? Do you know why it is I that dispose of you? Because I have full of experience with disposing of many people for my master Sima Ray. Give up escaping.¡± Liu Bao said with his very gloomy eyes, as threatening was the hell.

    As expected, Sima Ray did many hateful things. Qin Yunuan was pondering, and then she turned back and found Leng Shuang was looking at her with the eyes of inquiry. Leng Shuang was asking if Qin Yunuan should save Qin Linfeng because he was from Qin Family.

    Qin Yunuan closed her eyes and shook her head. Qin Yunuan would not let Qin Linfeng alive for longer, even if Sima Ray let him off.

    Now Qin Linfeng was in a half daze. He was thrown onto the wet dirt near the pond, and his arms were dislocated, which was very uncollected.

    ¡°My respected eunuch, please report to Third Prince that all are misunderstandings.¡± Qin Linfeng tried his best to say. In his heart, the only belief was to stay alive. He should revenge for his mother by Sima Ray, and he must beat Qin Yunuan down heavily and tortured her.

    ¡°Misunderstanding? The young master from Qin Family, prince won¡¯t meet you. You¡¯d better beg to me to let you die without much pain.¡± Liu Bao said. And then a person in red from the corner gate suddenly came in a sh, who was very moony with her long hair hanging down to her waist. The person rushed along with the path near the pond, and then speeded up when she saw the lying Qin Linfeng. Suddenly she felt down on the gging by treading her skirt¡¯s hemline, where was exactly in front of the rockery Qin Yunuan was hiding behind.

    Qin Yunuan could saw the person clearly.

    ¡°Yunzhuang!¡± Qin Linfeng shouted.

    ¡°Brother. Eunuch Liu, please, let my brother off,¡± Qin Yunzhuang had got her makeup in a mess and seemed to shed bloody tears with heavy rouge, which was so threatening and disgusting, ¡°I will exin to the prince, and he must believe me. My brother and I are innocent. And the informer must aim to break the rtionship between the prince and me, Qin Family and the empress.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang was always so confident. She still believed that Sima Ray had some affection with her, and the party centered on the empress must rely on Qin Family.

    ¡°Too stupid.¡± Qin Yunuan looked at the scene silently and sighed in her heart.

    ¡°Silly woman, how dare youe here.¡± Qin Yunzhuang was shuddered by Sima Ray at corner gate suddenly. She could not forget the scene happening in the bridal chamber just now. The time of the wedding feast and entering the bridal chamber was dainty very much. Different from the morning escorting and evening bridal chamber entrance among folk people, the time of wedding feast and entering the bridal chamber in Royal Family was calcted in advance by officials in the Imperial Board of Astronomy ording to the auspicious calendar. But just now, Sima Ray was so indifferent and was about to leave the bridal chamber where he and Qin Yunzhuang stayed together when the auspicious time came.

    ¡°Prince,¡± Qin Yunzhuang did not keep the elegance and raised her veil, exposing her beautiful face, ¡°Where are you going?¡±

    ¡°Go a ce without you.¡± Sima Ray said in a cold voice, without any affection.

    ¡°Prince, people from the Imperial Board of Astronomy and the Chores Department are waiting outside.¡± Qin Yunzhuang had never thought she would beg a man menially to see her since she had many pursuers and lovers before.

    ¡°OK? Really?¡± Sima Ray turned back slowly with his face turning sneering from coldness, ¡°In this case, I have no idea.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang lowered her head and bluffed like a shy girl. Suddenly her neck was pinched heavily by a big hand, and then she was pushed on the wall.

    ¡°P...prince.¡± Qin Yunzhuang looked at the bloody-eyed Sima Ray with scary eyes. She noticed the prisoner-like wildness and craziness of Sima Ray. Five blood stains emerged on her white neck, and the feeling of suffocating reminded Qin Yunzhuang of the fact that it was totally fake that Sima Ray was elegant and humble in daily time.

    ¡°No, prince, uh!¡± With the heavy and light strength of Sima Ray, Qin Yunzhuang could shout sometimes but then breathe heavily. Sima Ray nced at the outside. He knew that people from Chores Department were now recording.

    ¡°No? Do you like this? Right? Now you are happy?¡± Sima Ray said with an indescribably scary face. He still pinched her neck heavily, and now Qin Yunzhuang was like a canary held casually by a man, beautiful but unfree.

    Suddenly, Sima Ray felt a kind of weird smell, which made the bloody-eyed him feel spellbound. Impossible! He did not like the woman in front of him and would not pay much attention to her. At this moment, it was so strange for him to have such an erotic feeling.

    He came closer to smell clear. As expected, the smell came from the rouge on the face of Qin Yunzhuang.

    ¡°Silly woman, what¡¯s that on your face?¡± Sima Ray threw Qin Yunzhuang to the bed heavily, ring at her. He pinched her face and scraped the rough to have a smell, and then he frowned more, ¡°Hehuan Powder? Humph, the maiden from Qin Family even did such malicious trick of smearing the dirty medicine onto the face. It seems that you have made preparation ahead of time and knew I would ignore you. What a pity. I hate silly woman, and further, the conceited woman like you.¡±

    Hehuan Powder? Such a familiar name. Qin Yunzhuang suddenly understood that Qin Yunuan had said in Qin Family that the medicine was used by Qin Yunzhuang to hurt Qin Yunuan, but today...

    ¡°Grand Sister, I will send you a big present at your wedding feast.¡±

    The words seemed to be said just now. Qin Yunzhuang thought that Qin Yunuan was definitely a tough role. No, Qin Yunuan was always a hard girl to tackle. The one who was always so innocent was Qin Yunzhuang herself.

    ¡°Prince, I can exin it to you. I was framed. It¡¯s my third sister. She envied I married you, so....¡± Qin Yunzhuang tried to prove herself clear. She used such dirt medicine on the wedding night so evidently. She thought Sima Ray would think very lightly of her.

    But what she did not know was that Sima Ray had never had affection for her. When Qin Yunzhuang talked about Qin Yunuan, Sima Ray got touched a little in his heart.

    ¡°You have no right to talk about her name!¡± Sima Ray pped her heavily again. This silly woman could notpare with Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Prince,¡± Qin Yunzhuang cried, ¡°I am your wife and your imperial prince concubine.¡±

    ¡°So what?¡± Sima Ray raised his eyebrows, and then suddenly knocked the east part of the bedding room, an ordinaryndscape painting. A secret door opened, and there stood the bonded Qin Linfeng. Sima Ray loosened his clothes and asked Liu Bao toe in. He looked at Qin Yunzhuang and Qin Linfeng and then said in a cold voice, ¡°Serve the young master of Qin Family well. He is the kin brother of my imperial prince concubine, who fell in love with his sister.¡±

 Chapter 145 An Odd Death

    <h4>Chapter 145 An Odd Death</h4>

    ¡°Prince...¡± Qin Yunzhuang was at a loss for words. All she could do was to watch Qin Linfeng being taken away. She was still thinking about what Sima Ray¡¯s words meant.

    Sima Ray turned back. ¡°Why are you still here? I don¡¯t want to hear your voice.¡± Before he noticed, Qin Yunzhuang had followed Liu Bao through the secret path like she was crazy. The following things happened beside the lotus pond were what Qin Yunuan had seen.

    The rockery where Qin Yunuan hid behind was a perfect cover. She was having a good time watching them without worrying about being discovered as Leng Shuang was taking care of the surroundings carefully.

    ¡°Please, your highness. Please let my brother go.¡± Qin Yunzhuang knelt beside Sima Ray and begging him very hard. There were several masters beside Sima Ray. Leng Shuang made a rough estimate that there were more than three first-ss masters right now in this courtyard. And the man who was holding Qin Linfeng¡¯s arms had excellent arm strength and hawk-like piercing eyes.

    ¡°Tie her up and get her back,¡± Sima Ray ordered coldly to the men standing by his sides, ¡°Deal with him as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°No, Prince Ray! Please!¡± Before Qin Yunzhuang shouted anything else, her mouth was covered tightly. At the other side of the pond, Qin Linfeng was tied up with two big stones by the two men in ck. And Qin Yunzhuang could do nothing but watch him being tortured helplessly. One of the men stood up and trod on his body deliberately for several times. Then, Qin Linfeng was kicked into the pond by him together with the heavy stones which were used to drown him.

    Qin Yunzhuang froze at this scene and passed out after a choke.

    Sima Ray¡¯s eyes revealed his acuteness and ruthlessness, which was just the nature of him. Even though he had no feelings for Qin Yunzhuang, he could not stand the fact that his woman was coveted by another man. He did need a button man in the Qin Family, but he never trusted that Qin Linfeng would really surrender to him. So, a big problem was solved this time.

    Sima Ray stood by and watched the whole process. He did not smile until the ripples in the pond disappeared, and the surface became peaceful again. His clothes were waggling strangely.

    ¡°Well,¡± Sima Ray said to himself, ¡°The lotus will have a beautiful blossom next year.¡± He left after finished this sentence.

    Qin Yunuan and Leng Shuang walked out from the rockery after those uninvited people all left. Gazing at the ce where Qin Linfeng was drowned, Qin Yunuan seemed to be lost in thought, while Leng Shuang still looked serious.

    Qin Yunuan wanted to check out but was stopped by Leng Shuang all of a sudden. ¡°Third Young Madam, we¡¯d better leave right now.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Qin Yunuan asked cautiously, ¡°Is there anything wrong?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± She nodded, ¡°The genuine energy around us was still there even though the masters had all left. I was afraid that some Qigong masters were approaching,¡± she looked around cautiously, ¡°We¡¯d better leave now.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Qin Yunuan nodded, ¡°Grandpa and Baochuan are still on the loft. It¡¯s time toe back.¡±

    Leng Shuang also nodded. Before leaving, she looked back at the lotus pond subconsciously.

    Shangguan Yi¡¯s heartyughter lingered in the room when Qin Yunuan came back.

    ¡°Well, well! Bravo! You are excellent! Who taught you to match antithetical couplets?¡±

    Hearing thepliment, Qin Baochuan just smiled. There were innocence and modesty on his face. ¡°My mother died young, so it was my sister who urged me to read and write in usual times. As for matching antithetical couplets, my sister taught me some, and I also learn from the teacher from the family academy.¡±

    Before leaving, Qin Yunuan had told Shangguan Yi that Baochuan had no idea of the real identity of their mother. She really hoped that Shangguan Yi would hide the truth from him for a longer time because Baochuan was very aspirant and proud. That was why Qin Baochuan addressed him as Sir Shangguan, and their topic was mostly around poetry.

    Qin Baochuan got very excited at the sight of Qin Yunuan. ¡°Sis, Sir Shangguan had talked about the rhythm of poetry with me. I was very impressed by him! He really is the most respectful schr in Qi. How lucky I am to talk with Sir Shangguan!¡±

    Qin Yunuan took a nce at Shangguan Yi who looked kind and satisfied. Knowing that he was favorable with the behavior of Baochuan, she touched Baochuan¡¯s head and said warmly, ¡°That¡¯s what they called fate.¡±

    Shangguan Yi also nodded with his eyes sparkling with tears. The three of them talked for a long time, and it was gettingte. When they were about to leave, the sudden noises of footsteps, armor, and weapons made the atmosphere serious.

    In a minute, the hasty footsteps were going upstairs. It was a vice general in his armor. He cupped his hands to Qin Yunuan after a cold and short nce at all the people there. ¡°Third Young Madam from Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, pleasee with me,¡± he said.

    There were strict rules in the imperial pce that limited the entry and exit of the men who were not eunuchs. An armed man should be much harder to enter the pce.

    With a faint smile, Qin Yunuan asked, ¡°I have never met you before. Why would I leave with you?¡±

    The vice general squinted at Qin Yunuan contemptibly for a while and answered, ¡°We had just found the dead body of Grand Master of the Qin Family in the lotus pond. There are witnesses who saw you quarreling and having physical fights with him.¡± He sneered coldly and continued, ¡°Third Young Madam, I respect the family of General Leng because we are both soldiers, though not on the same side. But still, I have to follow the rules as murder is involved. Please give up resistance.¡±

    Qin Yunuan did have conflicts with Qin Linfeng. But the one who drowned him in the lotus pond was Sima Ray. It would not be him who used her because he had no idea that she was there behind the rockery. That person actually knew where she had gone and insisted that she had conflicts with Qin Linfeng. Who would that person be?

    ¡°General, I think you are mistaken,¡± Qin Baochuan tried to protect his sister, ¡°My sister felt ill during the feast and took me to the loft for a talk. We met Sir Shangguan there, and the three of us have been there all the time. How could she do that?¡±

    Qin Yunuan did leave for a while, but Baochuan lied to protect her this time. She looked at Shangguan Yi who was standing by and watching the whole thing. He was also aware of that, and it was neutral and natural for him to say nothing.

    ¡°Okay, I wille with you under one condition,¡± Qin Yunuan said bravely with firm eyes, ¡°My brother Qin Baochuan was talking with Sir Shangguan Yi the whole time, and they had nothing to do with the murder. In addition, I have to see the one who identified me at the lotus pond.¡±

    The vice general sneered and said, ¡°You will surely know who the person is before Her Majesty.¡±

    Qin Yunuan took a deep breath and then said something to Qin Baochuan who looked much more worried than her. Compared with him, she was so confident and calm.

    The fact that the dead body of the bride¡¯s brother was found in the lotus pond on the wedding day was humiliating for both the Qin Family and the royal family. That was why Qin Zhi choked back his tears and did not dare to defy the emperor¡¯s orders before him even though he was in deep sorrow for the death of his only lineal son.

    Emperor Zhaoxuan was sitting high on the dragon throne, trying tofort Qin Zhi with words. But Qin Zhi¡¯s darkened eyes showed that those efforts were in vain.

    He would find out the murder who killed his son. He would!

    At this time, Qin Yunuan was taken to the hall. There were just a few people in the hall, including the emperor, the empress, Qin Zhi, and the so-called witnesses. The death of Qin Linfeng was odd and abrupt, so they did not want to have new problems cropping up unexpectedly.

    ¡°My greetings, Your Majesty. I¡¯m your humble servant Qin Yunuan.¡± Qin Yunuan made a curtsy. She looked very calm, which was in sharp contrast with the tense atmosphere in the hall.

    ¡°You have been rewarded with a rank, and there¡¯s no need to address yourself as a ¡®humble servant¡¯. Didn¡¯t Queen Mother grant you a title?¡± Empress Chen smiled kindly, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

    But suddenly, Qin Yunuan looked up with tearful eyes, ¡°I don¡¯t dare to do that. The fifth-grade rank of infanta was a surprise that brought me honor as well as uncontroble idents. Infanta Ping was much too heavy for me. Please tell Queen Mother that it¡¯s my fault and let her withdraw the rank.¡±

    Before the emperor questioning the death of Qin Linfeng, she changed the subject to gain the initiative.

    ¡°Don¡¯t say that. The words of Queen Mother were valuable. She had given you the title, and it doesn¡¯t make sense to withdraw it,¡± said Empress Chen in aforting tone. She knew that Qin Yunuan was resourceful, and she would love to see what she was going to do.

    ¡°Oh, your Majesty, you don¡¯t know,¡± Qin Yunuan looked so wronged and threw a miserable nce at Qin Zhi as if that meant something, ¡°The title had made me a scapegoat in the Qin Family for so many times. I... I could not bear it anymore.¡±

 Chapter 146 Counteroffensive

    <h4>Chapter 146 Counteroffensive</h4>

    Facing theint and criticism of Qin Yunuan, Qin Zhi felt so angry. He stood up straightly, ignoring the courtesy. He contradicted, ¡°You are such an impious daughter. How dare you talk nonsense in front of the emperor and empress!¡±

    ¡°Each word I said is true. It is not nonsense.¡± Qin Yunuan said in a determined voice without any fear of power, ¡°Father, you have been ignored Baochuan and me for many years. You made Baochuan and I live like servants for a dozen years. It was you who pampered Dou Qing¡¯e to poison my mother. It was you who let officials in the Imperial College refuse the request of Leng Changxi, which caused that Baochuan would not attend the selection examination in autumn, in case that Baochuan would get in a higher position. Father, you dare to deny all of those? All I said have witnesses.¡±

    ¡°Bullshit!¡± Qin Zhi started to curse Qin Yunuan unscrupulously, ¡°I know your witnesses. They are the nannies and nurses around you so that they will stand with you. It is the big wedding day of Yunzhuang today. You keep going against me, so do you want me to die now?¡±

    And then, Qin Zhi bowed his fists and said to the emperor with bitter hatred, ¡°I did not teach my daughter well, and she is not well-behaved. Emperor, please punish me.¡±

    Emperor Zhaoxuan was not silent in his heart. He was observing, and then he raised his eyebrows slightly when he heard the words of Qin Zhi. He said suddenly, ¡°I just want to know if the words of Infanta Ping are true or not.¡±

    ¡°Emperor, all of these are the acting of my impious daughter,¡± Qin Zhi started to pretend to be sad with tears, ¡°It is the big wedding day of my daughter today. I feel so honored to let my daughter marry the Third Prince. But to my surprise, my son died tragically; There is an impious daughter of Qin Family. I feel I am not qualified to hold the post of the Grand Commandant, which is a good example for other officials. Emperor, please withdraw the title of this position. I will resign and never get involved in politics.¡±

    Qin Zhi said he would resign just after Qin Yunuan said she would quit the title of Infanta Ping. Obviously, he was going against Qin Yunuan. It was a gambling game, which could cause the emperor in a dilemma.

    But it seemed that Qin Zhi reached his aim.

    Emperor started to persuade patiently, ¡°Why do you say that, Grand Commandant Qin. I have dispatched people to investigate the inexplicable death of your young master carefully. And I have invited the most experienced coroner to help the investigation. They will give you a clear result.¡±

    Talking about the death of Qin Linfeng, Qin Zhi could not help but shudder. Although Qin Zhi felt so disappointed about the behavior of Qin Linfeng, and even he felt a little bit disagreeable about his son born of his legal wife, Qin Linfeng was the kin child of Qin Zhi. When someone reported that the corpse of Qin Linfeng was found in the lotus pond, all the hopes and expectations were gone suddenly. The only son born of the legal wife of Qin Family was gone.

    At this moment, the coroner at the gate came in, following the eunuch. He was about fifty years old with a grey mustache. His eyes showed some indifference and coldness, possibly due to checking many dead bodies.

    ¡°Emperor, I have checked the corpse of the young master of Qin Family entirely. The face was destroyedpletely. It was maybe caused by the hit on the stones on the bottom of the lotus pond. Although there was much lotus water dripping down from the mouth and nose of the young master, I found that the fatal injury was the hit on the back neck. He was dead due to the breaking of his cervical vertebra by the big strike.¡±

    And then the coroner stepped aside without a word.

    Emperor Zhaoxuan cleared his throat and looked at Qin Zhi and Qin Yunuan. Suddenly he ordered, ¡°Take in those eunuchs and imperial maidservants on duty at the lotus pond on that day.¡±

    After a while, some middle-aged imperial maidservants and young eunuchs were taken in. Each of them was so frightened. Qin Yunuan felt unfamiliar with them. At least she did not meet them on her way to the lotus pond.

    She squinted slightly but did not feel panic. She knew that somebody wound hurt her, but she would not let the person make it easy, or she would note to this wedding feast casually.

    ¡°You guys,¡± Empress Chen said forwardly after she saw the emperor was a little bit tired, ¡°Tell us all what you have seen on your duty. If there were fake words, each of you would be sent to Yeting Pce to do coolie for your whole lives.¡±

    The leader middle-aged imperial maidservant felt shuddered, and then knelt, ¡°I am an imperial maidservant on duty at the lotus pond, and I am in charge of trimming the bush and cleaning the corridor. Today when I was cleaning the corridor, I heard some noises at times. I dared not toe closer as a menial maidservant. But the noise was louder, and then I heard the words such as ¡®malicious woman¡¯, ¡®dead¡¯, and ¡®kill her¡¯. I felt so scared. Finally, I heard the sound of falling into the water and the noise of the footsteps of someone. And then I raised my head. To my surprise, I saw... I saw....¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. Go on.¡± Empress Chen said in a seemingly encouraging voice.

    ¡°I dare not. The person will kill me. I dare not.¡± The imperial maidservant started to kowtow to Empress Chen.

    ¡°I am here. Nobody dares to kill you.¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan seemed to notice something weird.

    ¡°It¡¯s... it¡¯s the Third Young Madam from Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.¡± The imperial maidservant nced at Qin Yunuan. She withdrew her eyes when she saw the freezing eyes of Qin Yunuan, ¡°I remembered that a maidservant in purple stood beside the Third Young Madam, who looked prompt and highly skilled.¡±

    The maidservant in purple was Leng Shuang. She was always fond of the purple dress. Everybody knew it.

    Qin Zhi heard the words and then got excitedly. He red at Qin Yunuan angrily, ¡°You are such an impious daughter. Now, what else do you want to say?¡±

    ¡°What else do I want to say?¡± Qin Yunuan looked at Qin Zhi coldly and started to pay attention to the imperial maidservant who tried to frame her obviously. She raised her head and request, ¡°Emperor, if you don¡¯t mind, I want to ask some questions to those imperial maidservants in front of us.¡±

    Emperor Zhaoxuan nodded, which showed his permission.

    Qin Yunuan walked around the imperial maidservant with slower steps. Her observing eyes looked a little bit frightening.

    ¡°Show me your unfolded hands.¡± Qin Yunuan said.

    The imperial maidservant dared not to vite the order. She unfolded her hands up and showed them to Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Certainly. This first question. You have said that you are in charge of trimming the bush and cleaning in the lotus pond. You need to use a scissor and whisk broom, which must cause the cocoon on your hands. But your palms are very clean and white. Why are the cocoons on your fingertips?¡±

    The imperial maidservant shuddered, but then said very confidently, ¡°Previously, I always did the job of stitching in the Clothes Department. I was transferred to the lotus pond recently.¡±

    ¡°OK, it works. Another question. Since you juste to the lotus pond shortly, why do you know my identity and even know the maidservant near me? Was it so weird for a neer who was just transferred into the front pce to recognize the people from Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion?¡± And then, Qin Yunuan sneered and waited for her answer.

    ¡°Um...¡± The imperial maidservant started to feel troubled, frowning and thinking about the answer.

    ¡°And the third question,¡± Qin Yunuan continued, ¡°You said you are trimming the bush when you saw me. What kind of nt were you trimming? Tell me its name, features, taboos and special items?¡±

    Now the imperial maidservant was utterly nk.

    ¡°You are the imperial maidservant and responsible for trimming nts at the lotus pond. Howe you don¡¯t know themon sense?¡± After a few simple questions asked by Qin Yunuan, the less experienced imperial maidservant felt so panic.

    ¡°I, I don¡¯t know. What I said was true. I felt so frightened and forgot many things. Third Young Madam, you forced me to answer those questions. I feel so scared.¡± The maidservant was blurring the focus.

    Qin Zhi stood out immediately, ¡°Don¡¯t quibble. I regretted to cultivate you, such an impious daughter. I educated you to be so elegant and cultivated, and let you marry into Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. And now, this is what you pay back to our family?¡±

    ¡°Father, I can¡¯t understand what you mean. Firstly, it was my mother who taught me how to write and how to be a well-mannered girl, which had nothing to do with you. Secondly, I am not quibbling. And why do you make sure that it was I who killed the brother? Are you happy to see the families hurt each other?¡±

    ¡°Impious daughter, I will beat you to death to revenge for your brother.¡± Qin Zhi shouted with bloody eyes. He was about to step forward but stopped by Leng Shuang, who was protecting Qin Yunuan all the time.

    ¡°Step aside. You are only a maidservant. How dare you intervene in the issue of Qin Family.¡± Qin Zhi tried to suppress arrogant Leng Shuang by his less-existing prestige.

    But the moment Qin Zhi was about to push Leng Shuang aside, another more powerful big hand suddenly appeared in front of Qin Zhi. The man wore a ck mask with clear and gloomy eyes like the water extracted by an iceberg. He expressed a kind of overwhelming pressure.

    ¡°My father inw, you are too inurbane in front of the emperor and those officials.¡± Leng Changxi said to his father inw in an indifferent voice. Now in his eyes, Qin Zhi was not his elder in the imperial court. He even respected more Meng Hua from the Meng Army who was at a stalemate with the Leng Army.

    Meng Hua was his fair rival, but the man in front of him was just a beast in the human face.

    ¡°Emperor, the case of the 18-people¡¯s corruption from the Imperial College and the registrar has been done. Those suspects have been sent in prison and were waiting for your proposal.¡± Leng Changxi nced at Qin Zhi and felt his subtle shudder. Right, most of the registrars and educators were the followers of Qin Zhi. The investigation was targeting Qin Zhi.

    ¡°Besides, I checked the corpse of the Grand Young Master just now. I can make sure that the corpse is fake.¡±

 Chapter 147 The Secret Affair

    <h4>Chapter 147 The Secret Affair</h4>

    ¡°What do you mean? Fake?¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan¡¯s brows knitted. A trace of gloom shed through his eyes.

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± on the contrary, Leng Changxi¡¯s knitted brows became smooth again. He looked coldly at Qin Zhi, who had a strange expression but then turned to Qin Yunuan with tender filled up in his eyes. ¡°In other words, the dead man was not the Grand Young Master of the Qin family.¡±

    ¡°How could that be? The deceased was dressed in his clothes, and the figure was also very simr. Even the knife wound on his back was exactly the same as the wound of Grand Young Master Qin, who had encountered idental injuries during his study tour. The coroner did not believe. He had never made any mistakes in the autopsy for so many years, and it was impossible to fail miserably in a very easy task.¡±

    Qin Yunuan believed in Leng Changxi¡¯s conjecture. After all, she saw it at the time that Sima Ray asked people to tie stones to Qin Linfeng¡¯s feet and sink him into theke. Even if Qin Linfeng had excellent swimming skills, he could not have enough time to untie the stones on his feet. As for the dead who pretended to be Qin Linfeng, who came up with it, and what was the purpose?

    ¡°As you have said, the rocks underneath theke badly mutted his face.¡± Leng Changxi held his head high, looking very confident, ¡°Even if it was a man with the same look, I could doubt whether he used a human skin mask like in thest hunting on the Royal paddock, let alone a man with a bloody face.¡±

    ¡°In General Leng¡¯s words, my son is still alive?¡± Qin Zhi asked tentatively.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Leng Changxi didn¡¯t give Qin Zhi a positive answer or a direct look in his eyes, ¡°After all, there are too many people who want your son dead.¡±

    There was a sudden silence in the pce. Only Empress Chen opened her mouth slowly, ¡°But the problem is, General Leng, you have only proposed that the dead person may not be the Grand Young Master of the Qin family. But you failed to have enough evidence to prove it. If you insist that he was someone else, I wonder who the real dead person could be?¡±

    Empress Chen raised a very important question, but Leng Changxi was not in a panic. He looked at Qin Yunuan and suddenly lifted the corner of his mouth. Just then, the eunuch waiting outside the door suddenly reported that Minister Liu was on his knees outside. He said that the little son who came to the wedding banquet with him suddenly disappeared. He heard about the floating corpse in the lotus pond and worried about his little son.

    Emperor Zhaoxuan frowned. He simply waved and let people bring Minister Liu up.

    In a short time, an old man in his sixties came, standing with a bow. His face was haggard and bleak. His son was gifted to himte in life, but now...

    ¡°Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be so polite. You came in a hurry to see me. What were you eager for?¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan bent his eyebrows. Such aplicated murder happened in the imperial pce. How could it not upset people?

    ¡°I came for my son,¡± said Liu, tears streaming down his cheeks. He knelt to Emperor Zhaoxuan suddenly, ¡°Your Highness, my eldest and second son devoted themselves to the country and died on the battlefield. My youngest son came to me when I was forty-three, but now he had disappeared in the pce without any reason. When I heard about the murder of lotus pond, it cut through my heart like a knife. Your Majesty, let me have a look at the body and stop my conjectures for the sake that I have been loyal to Qi in the past 40 years.¡±

    The floating corpse was dressed in Qin Linfeng¡¯s banquet outfit. That was why everyone took it for granted that the dead was Qin Linfeng. But after the talk, his identity became blurry again.

    ¡°Letting the corpse into the pce might affect the emperor¡¯s health.¡± Empress Chen tried to stop him. Qin Yunuan discovered carefully that Empress Chen¡¯splexion turned pale.

    Emperor Zhaoxuan nced at Empress Chen and hesitated for a while. Then of a sudden, he ordered decisively, ¡°Bring the body up.¡±

    Nobody dared to be disobedient to the emperor. Four eunuchs appeared in front of the pce, two in the front, and two at the back. Their mouths and noses were covered with white cloths. On their shoulders, there was a stretcher, on which a seven-foot-tall manid straight. White cloths covered his whole body. But the tip of garment underneath it revealed that he dressed like Qin Linfeng.

    As the body was carried in, Qin Zhi and Minister Liu both had a sad look on their faces.

    ¡°Linfeng,¡± Qin Zhi stretched out his hands and tried to take off the cloth covering the body. He was then stopped by the coroner.

    ¡°Mr. Qin, the dead had a ruined face. It was hideous. I don¡¯t suggest you see it.¡±

    ¡°This was my son.¡± Qin Zhi appeared to be agitated.

    ¡°Father, you are standing on a royal court.¡± Qin Yunuan said coldly, ¡°Even if you are not afraid, you have to worry about whether such behavior will offend the emperor and empress.¡±

    ¡°Shut up! You unfilial daughter!¡± Qin Zhi cursed angrily.

    Minister Liu silently lifted the white cloth on the corpse¡¯s arm. The aged hand trembled as he lifted the garment on the body¡¯s right arm. He was surprised when he took a close look.

    ¡°How could that be?¡± Minister Liu was unconvinced, ¡°My little son had a maple leaf birthmark on his right arm, but why....¡±

    Qin Yunuan walked forward subconsciously, but Leng Changxi stopped her. His warm words lingered around her ears, ¡°The body was dirty, don¡¯t get too close.¡±

    ¡°That couldn¡¯t be.¡± Minister Liu made up his mind and went to take off the shoes of the corpse. The corpse had been soaked in the lotus pond for a while and was slightly swollen, making the shoes very difficult to take off. But somehow, Minister Liu had the strength that came from nowhere. He pulled down the shoes of the corpse forcefully. Looking at the soles of the corpse¡¯s feet, he suddenly copsed and only murmured in his mouth, ¡°Impossible, how could that be?¡±

    ¡°Did you see it carefully, Minister Liu?¡± Leng Changxi nced coldly at Liu, who sat on the ground. He had already checked the ce Liu had seen. ¡°Was that strange? The birthmark on his arm and the ck mole on the sole disappeared. Instead, there were many scars. Looking at them, people would take it for scratches of the rocks under the pond. Although the wounds had been blistered by the pool water, if you look carefully, you can still recognize that the cut was neat. It was clear that someone killed young master Liu cruelly to deceive the public. They peeled off the skin with the birthmark and ck mole. Everything was in the disguise of an idental injury.¡±

    ¡°So... so...¡± Minister Liu stuttered. It¡¯s very inappropriate to be embarrassed in front of the emperor, but he had no extra strength to stand up from the ground.

    ¡°That¡¯s right, Minister Liu. I¡¯m sorry to tell you that the dead man lying in front of you was young master Liu, not Grand Young Master Qin. Or I could say that Mr. Liu is just a substitute for Qin.¡± Leng Changxi bowed as he finished speaking. Although he didn¡¯t like to deal with the old ministers, Liu was an elder with an excellent reputation in the court. Leng Changxi also respected him, but his character made him speechless inforting people. What he could only do was to keep investigating.

    The old man, who is over sixty years old, suddenly covered his face and sobbed on the ground. He kept murmuring his little son¡¯s name in his mouth.

    Qin Zhi sighed. His heart was suddenly lifted, but he felt it heavier inside. He walked forward, patted Liu¡¯s shoulder, and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss.¡±

    ¡°So, my father, do you still think of me as a killer?¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s sudden words stunned Qin Zhi. ¡°I¡¯m not in good rtionship with my brother, and I have nothing to say about that if you tried to nder me with this fact. But now we have determined that the dead man is master Liu, with whom I had no grievance or hatred. How can I kill him in the lotus pond? Even if I lost my mind, I couldn¡¯t have killed this man, who was a head taller than me in such a short time, and I had to strip off his feet and birthmark on his arm. I¡¯m just a weak woman. Don¡¯t look up to me too much.¡±

    ¡°Of course, you can¡¯t. But wasn¡¯t that a piece of cake for your servant girl Leng Shuang?¡± Qin Zhi mocked.

    ¡°Right. You stated categorically that I¡¯m a sinner. Then I don¡¯t have to be wary of paternal love anymore.¡±

    ¡°Huh. I would only believe you if you could find a witness proving that you had never been to the lotus pond.¡± Qin Zhi looked coldly at Qin Yunuan. It was like she was not his daughter but his mightiest enemy. ¡°As for the paternal rtionship, I have said that I would drive you out of the family the day you returned.¡±

    Just as Qin Zhi finished his words, an aged but powerful voice sounded outside the court.

    ¡°I could prove it. Third Young Madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion had never been to the lotus pond.¡±

    The voice shocked Qin Yunuan slightly. Shangguan Yi¡¯s figure on the royal court gave Qin Yunuan a feeling that she had found someone to depend on.

    ¡°Master Shangguan Yi.¡± Seeing the sudden appearance of him, Emperor Zhaoxuan couldn¡¯t help but leaned forward a little. His eyes were filled up with respect and politeness of a student. But the majesty of an emperor had kept him on the seat, looking dignified and generous.

    Like a banished immortal, Shangguan Yi walked pass the ornate pce in pure white clothes. It was as if he walked with a refreshing breeze until he reached the bottom of the steps and made a salute to Emperor Zhaoxuan, ¡°Greetings, your Majesties.¡±

    Hardly had Emperor Zhaoxuan opened his mouth, did Shangguan Yi said straightforward, ¡°I could prove for Third Young Madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. She had been with me since she left the banquet. We, together with Third Young Madam¡¯s brother, had been together until the homicide happened.¡±

 Chapter 148 Man Behind the Scene

    <h4>Chapter 148 Man Behind the Scene</h4>

    Shangguan Yi¡¯s testimony was undoubtedly the most favorable evidence. All the students of the Qi Dynasty knew that as the most elegant and upright man, Shangguan Yi looked up to the manners of men. Otherwise, he would not have abandoned glorious fame and wealth to live in the south of the river.

    However, Qin Yunuan had left for a long time during their meeting. By insisting that she had never left, Shangguan Yi was helping her and even willing to make false evidence for her.

    ¡°Since Master Shangguan is the witness, I have to believe in the innocence of Infanta Ping.¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan seemed to be impressed by Shangguan Yi. His words were without any hesitation.

    ¡°Apart from that, I have another word to say.¡± Shangguan Yi straightened up. His eyebrows had turned white, but his eyes were still sharp and wise, ¡°As for your proposition of me returning to the pce as the manager of the Imperial College, your Majesty, if you don¡¯t despise me of being an old man in his seventies, I would love to take the honor and continue to promote Qi¡¯s Confucianism.¡±

    ¡°Good!¡± Emperor Zhao Xuan felt joying from his heart. He showed an enraptured expression, pped and praised, ¡°It was blessing for Qi to have you again in the court.¡±

    ¡°On one condition,¡± Shangguan Yi shifted the conversation suddenly, ¡°All the personnel of the Imperial College should go through a thorough investigation. No government officials would ever gang up for selfish interests.¡±

    ¡°Sir Shangguan could rest assured about that,¡± Leng Changxi said faintly, ¡°I have taken people concerned into custody. I¡¯m just waiting for a chance to throw them at the mercy of the royal court.¡±

    Shangguan Yi¡¯s eyes were clear and free from vulgarity. He nodded approvingly to Leng Changxi. Then he turned to Qin Zhi suddenly. The perishing coldness in his eyes surprised him, reminding him of the look that Lady Yang gave him when she was dying six years ago. It was so cold and indifferent as if she had seen through her unfaithful lover, and all the hopes were dashed.

    When he first saw Yang, he knew it immediately that she was not an ordinary embroiderer. How could an embroiderer have such an excellent appearance and such adylike manner? What¡¯s stranger is that Lady Yang could even write poems and songs. Hiring a few investigators would be enough to discover her background. He wanted to make use of this rtionship, but he didn¡¯t expect that Yang would rather die than agree. When Lady Yang killed all his patience, the sweet words he performed turned vicious words and threatening. He even connived at Dou¡¯s torturing Yang.

    Thinking of Lady Yang, Qin Zhi felt guilty looking into Shangguan Yi¡¯s eyes. Shangguan Yi¡¯s protective act of Qin Yunuan and his involvement in the Imperial College seemed to tell him that Shangguan Yi had already known about Yang¡¯s affairs and the real identity of Qin Yunuan and Qin Baochuan.

    Minister Liu had retreated with his dead son. Emperor Zhaoxuan promised him that he would look into the incident. But where could Qin Linfeng have gone if he hadn¡¯t died?

    While Qin Zhi was standing up to Qin Yunuan as an equal, people outside the pce reported that a letter came from Miss Shangguan. She said that Qin Linfeng handed it to her when he left.

    Shangguan Yee and Qin Linfeng? Thinking of those vows and vicious curses Shangguan Yee said in front of her, Qin Yunuan stepped up her vignce.

    After Emperor Zhaoxuan browsed roughly through the letter, his eyes became very strange, and his tone was somehow unnatural. He looked at Qin Zhi and said, ¡°In the letter, Grand Young Master Qin called himself by his title. He imed that he had always been ambitious, but worried that his younger sister couldn¡¯t get her happiness. Now that Yunzhuang had found a good ce, and he would no longer have any worries. He left abruptly and hoped that his father would forgive him.¡±

    Huh. Qin Yunuan snorted coldly in her heart. Such a tone and statement was obviously fake. Qin Linfeng thought about Qin Yunzhuang all the time. How could he leave so easily? Moreover, Qin Yunuan saw Qin Linfeng sink into theke.

    Qin Zhi¡¯s hands were trembling as he took the letter. The tears had clouded his eyes, making it hard for him to read the one-page letter. After a long time, Qin Zhi lifted his head and said, ¡°This was indeed my son¡¯s writing.¡±

    ¡°It turned out to be a misunderstanding,¡± Empress Chen said awkwardly. ¡°Linfeng acted recklessly, saying goodbye without informing anyone. We had been worrying about it in vain. Young master Liu happened to wear almost the same clothes as Linfeng, and their body shapes were simr, which inevitably caused misunderstanding.¡± Empress Chen said, stroking her sleeve with a gentle look.

    ¡°Misunderstanding?¡± Shangguan Yi said abruptly, ¡°It turned out that in your eyes, Her Majesty, one life was just one misunderstanding?¡±

    ¡°I would look into it.¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan didn¡¯t dare to be careless in Shangguan Yi¡¯s questions and made a promise at the scene.

    Stepping out the pce, Qin Yunuan saw Shangguan Yi, who was over 70 years old, standing beside a copper pir outside the hall. His white and elegant sleeves danced in the wind. The dark made his figure more profound and verve. Shangguan Yi was waiting for her.

    Qin Yunuan turned to Leng Changxi and whispered gently, ¡°Wait for me in the carriage, will you?¡±

    Leng Changxi nced at Shangguan Yi. He knew the rtionship between Qin Yunuan and him. After witnessing Shangguan Yi¡¯s protection for Qin Yunuan at the royal court, he trusted him. This was his instinct. He would never put Qin Yunuan in an extremely dangerous ce. For example, even if he had been busy today and the things around him were excessivelyplicated, he would appear beside his little hedgehog at the most critical times.

    Seeing Leng Changxi left pleasantly, Qin Yunuan walked to Shangguan Yi¡¯s side and looked up at the bloody night sky within the pce wall.

    ¡°Thank you today for....¡±

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t finish before Shangguan Yi gestured her to stop talking. His eyes deepened as night fell, and his words cleanse people like chanting Buddhist scriptures, ¡°Stop talking. Yu was very focused on observing the stars as a child. She said that she was afraid of waking stars that were asleep, and that waking them would drive them away.¡±

    Shangguan Yi said with sorrow flowing unconsciously in his eyes, ¡°Now that my Yu was gone, you and Baochuan are my Yu. I believed in justice and equity, but neither of them couldn¡¯t have saved my loved ones. From now on, Yunuan, Baochuan and you will have a family. I won¡¯t let anyone hurt you this time.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, my grandfather.¡± Qin Yunuan got close to him and whispered. The pce was full of people and talking mouths. She dared not to talk too much, but the gratitude in her heart was almost overflowing.

    ¡°Grandfather, father was calling you.¡± Suddenly there was a loud female voice. Qin Yunuan turned around and saw Shangguan Yee standing behind them in a yellow light dress, looking at them quietly.

    A gentle smile was on Shangguan Yee¡¯s face. The smile had be more and more simr to Qin Yunuan¡¯s. Shangguan Yee was, after all, Qin Yunuan¡¯s cousin. No wonder they were simr in some aspects, such as ruthlessness. Shangguan Yee has started to learn it by herself.

    Shangguan Yi gave a meaningful look to Qin Yunuan before leaving. But Shangguan Yee stayed. Busy maids and eunuchs were walking in the corridor from time to time. Qin Yunuan and Shangguan Yee had always kept a certain distance.

    ¡°I looked down on you.¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly opened her mouth. A slight and imperceptible smile lingered on the corner of her lips. In her nature, there seemed to be a quiet but solemn temperament emanating from her body.

    ¡°Right?¡± Shangguan Yee grinned, ¡°It¡¯s not just you. I¡¯m surprised at my change.¡±

    ¡°How did you get the letter of Qin Linfeng?¡± Qin Yunuan asked and then smiled self-mockingly, ¡°Forget it. You could forge letters between Shangguan Rang and Qin Yunzhuang easily. It shouldn¡¯t be a big deal forging Qin Linfeng¡¯s handwriting.¡±

    Qin Yunuan meant to say that. She knew that Shangguan Rang was always the bitterest loss of Shangguan Yee. Sure enough, as Shangguan Yee¡¯s face turned ghastly pale, Qin Yunuan¡¯s smile widened.

    ¡°Don¡¯t say what you shouldn¡¯t say.¡±

    ¡°What shouldn¡¯t I say?¡± Qin Yunuan slightly tilted her head. ¡°Is it about Shangguan Rang? Well?¡±

    ¡°You...¡± Shangguan Yee¡¯s eyes turned red in an instant. ¡°Don¡¯t forget that I saved you with a letter when you were questioned by your father, the emperor, and the empress in the court.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Did you?¡± Qin Yunuan saw everything clearly. ¡°You saved me? Did you save me or hurt me? You know it deep in your heart. Didn¡¯t you buy over the maid who insisted that I pushed Qin Linfeng into the water? You hate Qin Linfeng for ignoring you, and Qin Yunzhuang for killing your brother and taking your sweetheart. You are scheming with the tiger. You sold the news to Prince Ray and also want to drag me down, shifting the me of Qin Linfeng¡¯s death onto my head. But you didn¡¯t expect that, hum, there will be someone better than you.¡±

    Shangguan Yee was stunned at the rity of Qin Yunuan¡¯s unreserved analysis. Everything she had done was thrown out of Qin Yunuan¡¯s mouth. It was like throwing her naked on the street to be criticized and scolded.

    ¡°So, you actually have killed young master Liu?¡± Shangguan Yee murmured.

    ¡°No,¡± Qin Yunuan nced sideways at Shangguan Yee. The Shangguan girl was still too naive with little experience. She was just a ruthless novice in ying tricks. ¡°I¡¯m not that cruel, and it should be another person who wanted to frame me. Miss Shangguan, you see, too many people want my life. You¡¯re not yet qualified for that.¡±

    ¡°You...¡± Shangguan Yee was enraged by Qin Yunuan¡¯s ¡°not qualified,¡± ¡°Who do you think you are? Why did you tell me that I wasn¡¯t qualified?¡±

 Chapter 149 Servant Girls

    <h4>Chapter 149 Servant Girls</h4>

    When Shangguan Yee opened her mouth to keep moring, there was a gust of cold wind. With a streak of silver light, Shangguan Yee felt something cold on her neck. It was a crape myrtle soft sword in the hand of Leng Shuang.

    The atmosphere became intense. Shangguan Yee felt that every breath she took was as ice-cold as the one from hell. The surrounding seemed to be quiet too, without anyone passing by.

    Qin Yunuan stared quietly at Shangguan Yee, whose body stiffened under the sword of Leng Shuang, ¡°Don¡¯t ask me what I relied on casually. If it had been not for the sake of an old friend, you should have paid your price after so many tricks you yed behind my back. Just leave now. However, I need to warn you that there won¡¯t be any tolerance next time.¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned her body. She let Shangguan Yee go only because Shangguan Yee and her have a kinship between them and Shangguan Yi couldn¡¯t bear any strike after his grandson¡¯s death. Otherwise, she would never release Shangguan Yee easily like that.

    Leng Shuang put back her crape myrtle soft sword and nced at the ground under Shangguan Yee¡¯s feet. There was a small puddle of water with a pungent smell, wetting the hemline of Shangguan Yee¡¯s dress. Leng Shuang sneered and walked away without hesitance.

    Following Qin Yunuan to hurry to the entrance of the pce, Leng Shuang said, ¡°Just now the Shangguan girl was nearly scared to death.¡± Then she told Qin Yunuan about Shangguan Yee¡¯s incontinence.

    Qin Yunuanughed, ¡°For a person loving keeping up appearance like Shangguan Yee, it was enough for her to continue to grudge us for a long time.¡±

    ¡°Third Young Madam, aren¡¯t you afraid?¡± Leng Shuang said scrupulously, ¡°I think that the Shangguan girl is not ordinary. Despite her reckless action, she is already quite treacherous. We need to keep an eye on her.¡±

    ¡°She is not the real treacherous one,¡± Qin Yunuan was certain of it, ¡°She can neverpete with that person in scheming. So that¡¯s why I say that she is asking a tiger for its skin. She thinks she can reach a win-win result, but in the end, she is used and tricked by the other one.¡±

    ¡°Third Young Madam, what do you mean?¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked around. The carriage for her to return to the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion was already waiting outside Rosefinch Gate. The wind was blowing the tassels on the curtain of the carriage like a gentle touch.

    ¡°I doubt that,¡± Qin Yunuan said in a low voice, ¡°All the things are part of a trick. Qin Linfeng is very likely alive now. You need to send people to watch the servants beside Sima Ray closely to see whether there will be several people popping up who shouldn¡¯t be there.¡±

    ¡°Third Young Madam, are you saying that Prince Ray....¡±

    ¡°I just doubt,¡± Qin Yunuan patted Leng Shuang on her shoulder. Leng Shuang was not like other servant girls. Although they all called themselves as maids and servants, Leng Shuang was in charge of several master-hands given by Leng Changxi. They listened to Leng Shuang, which meant that they acted on Qin Yunuan¡¯s order, ¡°Anyway, just be careful.¡±

    Leng Shuang nodded. At this moment, the carriage curtain was lifted by a wheat-coloredrge hand, showing Leng Changxi¡¯s face with a ck mask. The moment he saw Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes, all his solemnity and coldness turned into ocean-like tenderness and care.

    ¡°Get up,¡± Leng Changxi gave his hand to Qin Yunuan. The scene that Qin Yunuan¡¯s white small hand was held in his wide palm gave out a huge sense of safety.

    In the carriage, Qin Yunuan stayedfortably in Leng Changxi¡¯s arms. The soft pillow in the carriage and the curtain were made up of special ice silk, so they felt cool even in the hot summer.

    Leng Changxi let the little hedgehog in his arms worm her body to change positions until she fully settled down. Then Leng Changxi lifted Qin Yunuan¡¯s chin to kiss her and said, ¡°Sorry that I¡¯mte today.¡±

    ¡°Notte,¡± Qin Yunuan whispered.

    ¡°I¡¯ve cleaned up those people in the Imperial College. You don¡¯t need to worry about Baochuan being bullied by the teachers and teaching assistants once he starts school,¡± The big issue of putting 18 people in the Imperial College involving corruption into jail seemed easy in Leng Changxi¡¯s words.

    Qin Yunuan nodded. She knew that Leng Changxi was never willing to see her suffer losses. Although Qin Yunuan said that she herself could handle the problem that Qin Zhi used students of the Imperial College to prevent Qin Baochuan from attending the autumn exam, Leng Changxi still used extreme means. Since now what the emperor hated most was corruption among officials, the 18 people were either dead or being banished to the frontier. No matter which one was their ending, it was enough to hurt Qin Zhi¡¯s power badly.

    When they reached Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, Princess Ning sent a servant girl to inform them that because it was alreadyte and so much had happened in the Royal Pce, she canceled the greeting tradition. There was no need for them to greet her in the evening.

    ¡°Mother was so kind,¡± Qin Yunuan leaned against Leng Changxi in his arms and looked at Qingzhu reporting the information in a smile, ¡°Qingzhu, please tell mother that today there is some misapprehension. Both the emperor and the empress didn¡¯t make things difficult for me. I¡¯m sorry that I make mother worry about me.¡±

    Qingzhu twisted her lips, watching Leng Changxi¡¯s hand supporting Qin Yunuan tightly. Third Young Master had never done so to other women. It seemed that the Third Young Madam really had some tricks.

    However, Qingzhu was quite polite in appearance. She curtseyed, ¡°I will report your word truthfully.¡±

    After Qingzhu had left and there were only Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi, Leng Changxi rxed in his mostfortable posture. Hey on his back on the bed with two legs apart slightly and hands crossed under the head, looking at the blue-and-white silk curtain above his head.

    Qin Yunuan smiled. She tugged at a wet handkerchief, preparing to wipe Leng Changxi¡¯s face.

    ¡°Look at your sweat! Hurry to wipe it out,¡± Just when Qin Yunuan lowered her body, her wrists were grabbed by Leng Changxi suddenly. Leaning her body, she was pulled into Leng Changxi¡¯s arms sessfully. The wet handkerchief was pressed between them, immediately wetting their clothes. The feeling that the two stuck to each other tightly was half cold and half hot.

    ¡°What about my sweat? Do you dislike it?¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s eyes were shining, and he spoke like a child.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Qin Yunuan coaxed him, ¡°I dislike it. Hurry to wipe it out.¡± When speaking, her face was flushing.

    Leng Changxi smiled, hugged Qin Yunuan tightly in his arms backhand, and said a bit bossily, ¡°Even you dislike it, you have no other choice. You are already mine.¡±

    Qin Yunuan sniggered. Just when the two were about to trick each other, nurse Liao¡¯s voice came from outside the door, ¡°Third Young Madam, Concubine Tang sent two servant girls here, ordering them to serve Third Young Master.¡±

    People sent by Tang? Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows. This was exactly what the proverb ¡°the weasel pays respect to the hen without the best of intentions¡± was about. While there was no obvious conflict between Tang and Qin Yunuan, they were secretly against each other because of the three shops in the east of the city. Now Tang even sent servant girls here.

    Hesitating, Qin Yunuan heard nurse Liao shouted outside, ¡°They were led by Concubine Tang herself. Now they were waiting in the small wing-room.¡±

    Humph! Tang even came by herself! No wonder that nurse Liao, who knew Qin Yunuan¡¯s thought well, had to report the issue honestly to her.

    ¡°I¡¯lle right away,¡± Qin Yunuan shouted towards the door, then she turned to look at Leng Changxi. They both knew well that sending two servant girls to serve Third Young Master exined Tang¡¯s intention clearly. She wanted to arrange two people beside Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi. After all, she was the elder. They couldn¡¯t refuse her when she herself led people here.

    ¡°Go ahead. I said that I wouldn¡¯t look at any woman except you, so I don¡¯t go there. However,¡± Leng Changxi pinched his nose and understated, ¡°Don¡¯t go overboard. Just cut off their hands and feet but keep them alive.¡±

    His joke made Qin Yunuan snigger again. She rubbed Leng Changxi¡¯s temple and said gently, ¡°I know you are too tired,¡± Then she teased him, ¡°What about receiving the two servant girls? Adding more people to serve you so that I won¡¯t be so busy.¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled, ¡°I know that I¡¯m too strong. You don¡¯t need to be so kind,¡± Then he touched Qin Yunuan¡¯s face and said mischievously, ¡°Speaking of this, well,e back early for us tonight.¡±

    When Qin Yunuan was about to leave, Leng Changxi pinched her face with a little baby fat gently. The small wing-room was not far away from Qin Yunuan¡¯s bedroom, so it only took her half of a tea break¡¯s time to get there.

    The servant girl guarding the door saw Third Young Madame and hurried to lift the soft curtain for her. Entering the wing-room, Qin Yunuan saw Tang, who was sitting upright by the tea table and waiting impatiently. She was in high spirits the moment she saw Qin Yunuane in. Without any word, she stood up to wee Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Ah! Here you are. I¡¯ve waited for such a long time!¡± Tang said softly, with a tone like the ditty of the regions south of the River.

    ¡°I apologize for keeping you waiting for a long time. However, you know the reason. There are lots of rules to enter the pce to attend the wedding feast. Now that you haven¡¯t been there, it¡¯s okay that you don¡¯t know about it.¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her head and used her handkerchief to cover her smile. Her words just now were directly pricking the heart of Concubine Tang.

    The family she was born was not inferior as her biological brother was the third-grade war-horse general. What¡¯s more, she gave birth to the eldest son of the Master. However, her rank was always Madam Ru. Prince Ning would rather keep a side concubine¡¯s position empty than promote her rank, making her ufortable for a long time. If she had been side concubine, she could officially enter the pce to attend the wedding feast following people of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.

    Being unhappy for a second, Concubine Tang smiled craftily, ¡°Of course! How can wepare to Third Young Madam and Third Young Master! Third Young Master has his own great business. You see, I¡¯m thinking that since Third Young Master is busy every day, there should be more people to serve him by his side. I pick up the two servant girls after careful selection. Come, you two. Come to meet Third Young Madam.¡±

 Chapter 150 Burn Your Own Fingers

    <h4>Chapter 150 Burn Your Own Fingers</h4>

    While ordering the two servant girls behind her to step forward, Concubine Tang looked at Qin Yunuan with a smile. However, with that smile, she looked provocative and meddlesome.

    Qin Yunuan had to admit that two servant girls Concubine Tang brought here were indeed beautiful. One of them had an oval face, big eyes, a plump figure and thin limbs. In particr, her slim waist was so eye-catching. Inparison, the other girl didn¡¯t have a hot body, but her face was fairly pretty. She had a heart-shaped face and big watery eyes which were so seductive.

    ¡°I have picked up two girls specially for you. I know you now run three shops that stand in the eastern area, and your family, the Qin Family, has got into trouble. So, these two girls can help you and ease your burden. Besides, they are well trained, and they can surely serve Changxi well.¡±

    In fact, Concubine Tang wanted these two girls topete with Qin Yunuan for Leng Changxi¡¯s love. Qin Yunuan kept calm and observed the two girls carefully. She seemed very satisfied and stepped forward to ask the oval-face girl, ¡°What¡¯s your name? How old are you?¡±

    The oval-face girl lowered her head obediently and answered, ¡°My name is Lily, and I¡¯m 16.¡± Shortly, the heart-face girl got anxious and said quickly, ¡°I¡¯m Peony, and I¡¯m 17.¡±

    Qin Yunuan made an eye contact with Maner who stood near her. Thetter stepped forward immediately and pped Peony in the face with all her strength. At once, there was a mark left on Peony¡¯s beautiful face.

    ¡°Being a servant girl, do you know manners? Our Young Madam didn¡¯t even ask you. Don¡¯t you know not to answer if the mistress doesn¡¯t ask you?¡± Maner taught Peony a lesson on behalf of Qin Yunuan.

    Concubine Tang was shocked. Although it was Maner who pped Peony, she represented Qin Yunuan to show the attitude, because she was Qin Yunuan¡¯s closest servant girl.

    Qin Yunuan smiled at Concubine Tang and said, ¡°Please pardon me. I have set many rules. Maner is the one who teaches servants how to follow the rules, so she can¡¯t help correcting people who make mistakes. Concubine Tang, please forgive her for scolding the girl you send here.¡±

    Come on. How did Concubine Tang dare to me her? Concubine Tang put on an awkward smile. ¡°Never mind. It¡¯s absolutely fine to punish servants who break the rules. Now that I send them to you, you can discipline them at will.¡±

    ¡°Alright. As you agree, I will feel at ease.¡± Qin Yunuan wore a smile as bright as a spring flower. Despite that, her words were harsh. She spoke to Lily and Peony, ¡°Although you used to serve Concubine Tang, now you work in my courtyard where I treat all servants equally. Thus, you, neers, have to work together with third-ss servant girls. If you do a good job, you will, of course, get promoted and earn more. However, if you n some evil tricks, I will never forgive you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was obviously warning Lily and Peony not to y tricks.

    ¡°Tomorrow, you directly go to the wood-shed to carry water and chop firewoods. Maner will check you from time to time.¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s emotionless sentence crushed Lily and Peony¡¯s dream of bing concubines.

    Every ambitious servant girl must have been dreaming of bing mistresses one day and being served by others. Lily and Peony stood out among so many servant girls and were picked up by Concubine Tang to serve Leng Changxi. They thought they would live a good and easy life soon, not working as second-ss servant girls who basically did some light work anymore. However, they had to toil now.

    Lily was timid, and she didn¡¯t dare to say anything even though she was angry. But Peony directly put on an angry face with her mouth pouted to show her dissatisfaction.

    ¡°What makes you dissatisfied?¡± Qin Yunuan looked at Peony. The majesty and awe revealed in her eyes scared people. But for her better life, Peony tilted her head and rashly said as if she was negotiating. ¡°Third Young Madam, Concubine Tang sends me here to serve General Leng, not to toil.¡±

    Hearing this, Qin Yunuan merely snorted and took a nce at her. Concubine Tang took the chance to kick Peony first before Maner pped her. Concubine Tang made a loud sound, but Qin Yunuan knew she didn¡¯t exert all strength to hit Peony. Nevertheless, she already showed her attitude.

    ¡°Stupid and senseless. Haven¡¯t you figured out that Third Young Madam is testing you? You both have ulterior motives. Why did I choose you two? Shameful.¡± Concubine Tang wore an embarrassed smile and said to Qin Yunuan, ¡°They are really wicked. I¡¯m not discerning enough. I didn¡¯t bring the right people here. I will send you some other good girls tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother.¡± Qin Yunuan rejected resolutely. This time, one of the two girls Concubine Tang sent was timid while the other was bold and insolent. She could easily deal with these two. But nobody knew what kind of scheming people Concubine Tang would send next time.

    ¡°Alright. Maner, take them to work and train them well.¡± Qin Yunuan put the emphasis on the word ¡°train.¡± Then she added, ¡°Peony is a name too ostentatious for a servant girl. Now, you are called Haitang.¡±

    ¡°But I...¡± Peony still had something to say but sessfully held herself back after thinking of the p and kick she got just now.

    Two servant girls went away, and so did the happy Concubine Tang. Considering Qin Yunuan¡¯s character, Concubine Tang originally thought she wouldn¡¯t keep those two girls, so she hade up with many ns to respond to her rejection. Unexpectedly, Qin Yunuan directly kept them, although the whole process didn¡¯t go smoothly. People with weakness would be susceptible to evil tricks. As Qin Yunuan was busier now, she would not be able to keep a close eye on servant girls. At that time, Peony and Lily could take the opportunity to seduce Leng Changxi. As long as one of them could make it, that would be so wonderful.

    Seeing that Concubine Tang left with satisfaction, Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t helpughing at her at the thought of her stupid n.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, why do you keep those two girls. Are you not afraid that they can win master¡¯s favor and work together with Concubine Tang to bully you?¡± Ting Xue asked doubtfully while carrying Qin Yunuan back to the room. She knew that Qin Yunuan was cautious, always keeping risks at bay.

    Qin Yunuan leisurely looked into the distance and said, ¡°We¡¯re in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion now, not our own home. Even if I turn down Concubine Tang¡¯s request to send Peony and Lily here, other people will also find opportunities to send other girls to me. I can¡¯t refuse them all, right?¡±

    Hearing this, Ting Xue thought this was apromise because Qin Yunuan had no other choice. However, thetter smiled suddenly. ¡°I might as well keep those two wicked but naive girls. Use them as a warning for others. Let them know that nobody can freely do what they want to do here.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s true intention was to release a warning to others. Ting Xue nodded her head with admiration. Surely, her mistress never submitted easily. This was the reason why she admired Qin Yunuan and was willing to serve her wholeheartedly. Staying with her, Ting Xue could learn a lot.

    Walking through the Chuihua Gate, Qin Yunuan saw Leng Changxi was practicing swordy. He was waiting for her. Summer days were so hot that he had taken off his coat with his strong chest and perfect abdominal muscle exposed. He practiced the Songshan swordy in such a smooth way, able to control the speed and movements at will.

    Seeing this, Ting Xue discerningly went away and left Qin Yunuan standing alone to appreciate Leng Changxi¡¯s spectacr swordy.

    Halfway, Leng Changxi suddenly hooked up a yellow flower sachet on the stone chair. With a twist, the delicately made flower sachet was minced instantly. The fabric and spices inside ended up in pieces and dropped. Putting away the sword, Leng Changxi looked sharply at the submissive woman aside and said, ¡°I take your flower sachet. You are not allowed toe here anymore. Otherwise, I would break your hamstring and neck, rather than just tear up the flower sachet.¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned around a little, and then she found that there was a girl in red standing near the albizzia, next to which, Leng Changxi practiced the swordy. Her red clothes perfectly echoed with the color of albizzia flowers. Her tightly girdled waist was alluring. Plus her red lips and thin eyebrows, this woman looked a little like Li Qiqi although she was not that pretty. However, her charm and grace were really enticing, and people couldn¡¯t move their eyes from her.

    But Leng Changxi didn¡¯t even spare a nce to her. The woman in red couldn¡¯t figure out why. Was it because she was not pretty enough? God knew how many men in the mansion liked her. Every time she walked past the garden or the pond, countless people would flirt with her through eyes.

    ¡°Third Young Master, you used to treat me nicely.¡± Her soft voice sounded like a seductive erotic song from the regions south of the River.

    Walking closer, Qin Yunuan saw clearly what that woman looked like and she looked familiar. Then, the answer came to her. Qin Yunuan had seen this woman in the feast that Princess Ning organized. Fang Ziying told her that this woman was called Xie Ruying, a distant niece of Princess Ning.

    ¡°Funny.¡± Leng Changxi teased and scorned. ¡°I used to treat you nicely? I clearly remember this is how I always treat you.¡±

    Xie Ruying stood in a trance, and the admiration in her eyes was held up. Then she caught a glimpse of Qin Yunuan, a woman who she was so jealous of and was walking towards her with a gentle smile.

 Chapter 151 Tit for Tat

    <h4>Chapter 151 Tit for Tat</h4>

    ¡°Hubby,¡± Qin Yunuan slowly came close. Leng Changxi¡¯s nce melted immediately as soon as he saw Qin Yunuan. Tenderness rippled in his eyes as if a stone had been thrown into a pond.

    Qin Yunuan could see the spark of anger in the slightly embarrassed Xie Ruying¡¯s eyes, but she ignored it on purpose. She clung to Leng Changxi¡¯s arm intimately and wiped off the sweat on Leng Changxi¡¯s forehead with her handkerchief. Her every move intended to demonstrate the mutual affection between the two.

    ¡°You must have been exhausted,¡± Qin Yunuan pretended that she only saw Xie Ruying just then. She put on a surprised look and asked, ¡°Oh, who is this beauty? Why haven¡¯t I heard you talking about her before, hubby?¡±

    Leng Changxi sneered and replied, ¡°She¡¯s just a distant rtive of my mother.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled gently. She took the initiative to approach Xie Ruying and said, ¡°No wonder you look a bit like mother-inw. You look nice and honest, isn¡¯t that true, Miss Xie?¡± Nice and honest were the most sarcastic words to use under the circumstances. Xie Ruying had never been nice and honest since the first day she came to Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.

    Even though Xie Ruying had juste unstuck with Leng Changxi, the charming Xie Ruying had some sort of confidence for no reasonpared to the seemingly decorous and unromantic Qin Yunuan. Before today, she didn¡¯t have the chance to see Qin Yunuan from such a close distance. She was just jealous and disappointed on the inside. However, after she saw Qin Yunuan, not only did she not get desperate, she actually grew a desire of conquer instead. She firmly believed that conservative people like Qin Yunuan wouldn¡¯t know the fun in bed, while she was able to fully satisfy Leng Changxi.

    Xie Ruying squinted her eyes towards Qin Yunuan as if she was viewing the enemy before the duel. She suddenly smiled and said, ¡°I came here a long time ago before Third Young Madam and third young Master had met each other. If Third Young Madam has any questions in the future, feel free toe and ask me. Ruying would definitely tell you everything she knows.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s unnecessary.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled faintly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t really matter when did wee to the mansion. What matters are the positions we are in now.¡± Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows towards Xie Ruying and said, ¡°Mother had recently passed on quite some ounting rted matters to me. I guess you won¡¯t have the answer to them even if I ask you questions regarding these issues.¡±

    What she actually meant was, we were not on the same level.

    Xie Ruying¡¯s mouth twitched. The atmosphere had be awkward for her. She bowed and left without saying anything else.

    Seeing Xie Ruying leaving, the smile on Qin Yunuan¡¯s face slowly faded. She lightly threw the handkerchief she used to wipe Leng Changxi¡¯s sweat towards Leng Changxi, turned around and was about to leave. However, she was taken by a strong force and stumbled back for quite a few steps. She fell against a strong and powerful arm, and she could smell the sweat and hear the breath of Leng Changxi.

    ¡°What are you doing? You¡¯re stinking of sweat.¡± Qin Yunuan was a bit angry.

    ¡°You¡¯re jealous.¡± Leng Changxi grinned.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not jealous.¡± Qin Yunuan turned her head sideways to avoid the fiery and manly breath of Leng Changxi, ¡°I¡¯m very tolerant. From now on, feel free to practice swordsmanship in front of whoever you like for as long as you wish.¡±

    Leng Changxi reached out his index finger and tapped on Qin Yunuan¡¯s petite nose tip from behind, as he smiled and said, ¡°I like it when you get jealous.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was triggered, as she suddenly got herself free from Leng Changxi¡¯s arms and turned around, saying to Leng Changxi, ¡°I¡¯m serious, I¡¯m not...¡± Before she had the chance to say the word ¡°jealous,¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s mouth was upied by Leng Changxi¡¯s affectionate kiss. They entangled like vines, and their romance exploded at the moment.

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Qin Yunuan tried to make a struggling sound, but her attempt was in vain.

    After a long while, Leng Changxi let go of Qin Yunuan. His eyes were filled with tenderness and love, and his words were gentle like the breeze in spring. ¡°You went to meet Tang. I was bored, and I missed you, so I could only practice swordsmanship while waiting for you. I don¡¯t know how she got in, but I¡¯ll look into it.¡±

    Speaking of Tang, Qin Yunuan thought of the two servant girls Tang sent and immediately felt bad about it.

    ¡°What?¡± Leng Changxi noticed Qin Yunuan¡¯s emotion.

    ¡°Concubine Tang was just delivering two servant girls to serve you in bed.¡± Qin Yunuan said directly.

    Leng Changxi said expressionlessly, ¡°Oh.¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows, ¡°They look quite pretty.¡±

    Leng Changxi said, ¡°Oh.¡±

    Qin Yunuan said, ¡°I heard that mother knows about it too, and she kind of allows it to happen.¡±

    Leng Changxi looked at her, ¡°Then send them to the wood-shed.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I did.¡±

    Right then, Maner came in to report that Leng Wu was waiting outside for some emergencies.

    It was their romantic moment, but they both knew that Leng Wu wouldn¡¯t ask Maner to report to them without urgent matters.

    ¡°Let him in.¡± Leng Changxi said as he put on hisst coat. Qin Yunuan figured that Leng Changxi must have some important issues to deal with, so she was about to leave. However, Leng Changxi dragged her back to him.

    ¡°I have no secrets in front of you.¡± What Leng Changxi meant was to have Qin Yunuan staying by his side. He always knew that Qin Yunuan¡¯s not just any woman. He would like to hear Qin Yunuan¡¯s advice on certain strategies and tactics.

    Leng Wu followed Maner into the courtyard and arched towards Leng Changxi, ¡°General Leng, Minister Liu sent someone to deliver a message.¡±

    Minister Liu? The one who just lost a son and nearly passed out due to sorrow in the pce? It had just been a few hours since the confirmation of young master Liu¡¯s body, yet Minister Liu was here to find Leng Changxi, who was just an acquaintance.

    Leng Changxi felt weird about this too.

    ¡°What did he say?¡±

    ¡°The one who delivered the message used the form of an encrypted letter, and I didn¡¯t dare to peek it.¡± Leng Wu said as he took out a slip of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Leng Changxi. There were just a few words on it. It was like a poem or a proverb, but the words didn¡¯t seem rted. However, it made people feel like it was trying to deliver some message.

    Leng Changxi looked at it for a while, and his eyes lit up, as Qin Yunuan next to him had already revealed its secret, ¡°Connect the first word of the first sentence and the second word of the second sentence like this, hubby. Minister Liu wants to meet you at the First Boite of the Royal City tomorrow at noon.¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled, ¡°I just found out its secret too.¡±

    ¡°Are you going?¡± Qin Yunuan only cared about Leng Changxi¡¯s attitude.

    ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with Liu Yunshan.¡± Leng Changxi called Minister Liu¡¯s name directly. It looked like he was thinking and hadn¡¯t made up his decision yet.

    Leng Wu added, ¡°The one who delivered this message said that Minister Liu wants to ask you for a favor. But in return, he would exchange it with some information from ten years ago.¡±

    Ten years ago. Leng Changxi frowned, and Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She knew that Leng Changxi was responsible for investigating the fire in the Weiyang Pce ten years ago. What Minister Liu meant by ten years ago was....

    This night, Leng Changxi fell asleep after the lingering of the two, but his eyebrows were twisted even in his dreams.

    Before noon on the next day, it was already popted around the First Boite of the Royal City. The rich and famous people who had their seats booked in advance entered the Boite with servants and servant girls holding the parasols for them. Since the previous owner Su Chenghai sold the Boite, it seemed to have be even more popr.

    However, no one knew that the actual owner of the Boite was Leng Changxi. In fact, it was Leng Changxi all along.

    The First Boite of the Royal City, where the rich and famous gathered, had be the location where Leng Changxi obtained information secretly. Every waiter and manager here were carefully selected. Apart from being capable of martial arts, what was more important was being smart, sensitive and loyal. They had constantly been providing information and resources to Leng Changxi by talking to the guests.

    ¡°General, Minister Liu arrived a quarter of an hour ago. He¡¯s in room number one.¡± The manager saw Leng Changxi. On the surface, he was just talking to Leng Changxi like any other guests, but he told Leng Changxi much about the situation in the room.

    He also secretly made a gesture to Leng Changxi.

    ¡°What does this mean?¡± Qin Yunuan, who apanied him, repeated the manager¡¯s gesture just now as they walked around a corner.

    Leng Changxi held Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand and said faintly, ¡°It means that there are a first ss master and two third ss masters in the room.¡±

    Even though she didn¡¯t know how powerful they were, Qin Yunuan could tell from Leng Changxi¡¯s calm and confident look that the master guards of Minister Liu were like children to Leng Changxi.

    People had been arranged to secure the room, and no random people were allowed to go near. The one guarding the door was a servant of Minister Liu. He looked at Leng Changxi coldly and suddenly said, ¡°My master had only invited General Leng.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Leng Changxi nodded indifferently, and he suddenly held Qin Yunuan and said, ¡°Let¡¯s leave then.¡±

    At that moment, Minister Liu in the room said, ¡°Let them in.¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled cunningly under his chilly mask. He didn¡¯t mind about the courtesy and led Qin Yunuan into the room directly.

    ¡°I had heard that General Leng and Madam Leng are a pair of lovebirds, but I didn¡¯t expect General Leng to bring your wife to such an asion. General Leng is charismatic indeed.¡± Minister Liu was sitting straight by the table, which was already full of snacks and fruit wine. Even though Minister Liu was trying hard to keep his spirit up, he looked distressed from just losing his son.

    Leng Changxi merely grinned slightly, as he said directly, ¡°All I want to know is whether the information Minister Liu has is worth me paying a visit here.¡±

 Chapter 152 A New Problem

    <h4>Chapter 152 A New Problem</h4>

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t General Leng ask me why I have tried so hard to invite you to gather here?¡± Minister Liu had been trained to be cunning from years of experience in the government. The more Leng Changxi cared about this information, the greater the chance for him to achieve his goal.

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t hide the reason why he wanted the information so badly, as he was confident that he was able to obtain it.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have much time for you.¡± Under the ck mask was a pair of confident and plotful eyes. Leng Changxi raised the teacup on the table and took a sip of the tea. ¡°Besides, Minister Liu, you¡¯ve just lost your son yesterday. Aren¡¯t you supposed to be sorrowfully mourning over your son¡¯s dead body at home today? Minister Liu, I hate being threatened the most. Don¡¯t force me.¡±

    Minister Liu sat straight immediately upon hearing that, and he signaled his people to leave with his nce and spoke to Leng Changxi¡¯s ear, ¡°Believe it or not, general Leng. I promise that every word I said about the fire in the Weiyang Pce ten years ago was true. I haven¡¯t been lying at all.¡±

    Leng Changxi made a gesture and waited for Minister Liu to continue.

    ¡°Ten years ago,¡± Minister Liu¡¯s nce became hollow as he started to recall his memories, ¡°I remember that Prince Ray was just about twelve years old by then. He was an extremely nasty and unlucky kid at that time, and his mother was just a pce servant girl who received the grace of the Emperor after he was drunk. Even before she died, she only obtained the title of Pce Attendant. Moreover, as his mother used to work in the pce of Imperial Concubine Yun, the Imperial Concubine Yun¡¯s gang would more or less exclude Sima Ray. However, right after the fire in the Weiyang Pce, Prince Ray suddenly attended a banquet that he was not supposed to with his status. It was that very banquet which the Empress chose to adopt the slim and ignoble child. From then on, Prince Ray had raised to a high status quickly.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Leng Changxi looked at Minister Liu, who was talking non-stop, ¡°I was there at the banquet. It was the sixtieth birthday of the Queen Mother. Sima Ray yed the song ¡®Good Luck¡¯ with the musician, and the Empress chose him right on spot.¡±

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Minister Liu stroked his beard, ¡°Doesn¡¯t general Leng think that there is some sort of rtionship in these?¡±

    Leng Changxi looked at Liu Yunshan quietly and didn¡¯t say a word. Leng Changxi had various guesses and found countless evidence, but the incident happened too long ago. What he needed now were concrete proves and witnesses.

    Minister Liu¡¯s nce became deeper as if there had been infinite secrets hiding in it. He lowered his voice and said, ¡°Actually, we both know who was living in the Weiyang Pce at that time, and why the Emperor and the Queen Mother guarded the Weiyang Pce so heavily.¡± Minister Liu wrote ¡°elder¡± on the table with tea as he said, and his meaning was pretty clear.

    Seeing Leng Changxi frowning but remained silent, Minister Liu continued, ¡°People only know that the Emperor sent the Elder Princess to West Xia for the imperial matrimony for peace, and they know that the procession apanying the Elder Princess was robbed at the border of West Xia and Qi. They also know that arge squad was sent for the search and rescue of the princess, and the Elder Princess still went missing. Qi and West Xia had severed diplomatic rtions for a decade. However, no one has ever thought a step ahead. What was the oue of the search and rescue after all?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear your nonsense.¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s tone was determined.

    Minister Liu sneered, ¡°I had been an official for so many years. I¡¯m not good at plotting or scheming, but I¡¯m good at reading the Emperor¡¯s mind. By reading the tiniest facial expressions of the Emperor, I could tell what¡¯s going on or whom the Emperor¡¯s nning to kill. I don¡¯t quite remember the situation then, but I am certain that the Elder Princess had been rescued back then and sent to the Weiyang Pce privately after that.¡±

    ¡°If what Minister Liu said is true,¡± Qin Yunuan was sitting next to Leng Changxi and carefully listening to Minister Liu¡¯s words, ¡°Since the Emperor had already found the Elder Princess, why didn¡¯t he announce the good news to the world?¡±

    ¡°Huh,¡± Minister Liu stretched his body confidently, ¡°I would say that there were two reasons for the Emperor to hide the fact that the Elder Princess had returned to the pce. The first one is that the Elder Princess had lost her virginity already, and it would harm the reputation of Qi to announce it. The second reason is that the Emperor had some secret feelings towards the Elder Princess. The Elder Princess had a close rtionship with the Emperor. Just like the Emperor Wu of Zhou, who had married his elder sister, I¡¯m afraid the Emperor was nning to do the same after the incident was more or less forgotten. However, he didn¡¯t expect that a sudden fire didn¡¯t only destroy the most exquisite Weiyang Pce of Qi, but also the Elder Princess who lived in there secretly.¡±

    ¡°Ridiculous!¡± Leng Changxi struck the table heavily, ¡°What are you to doubt the rtionship between the Emperor and the Elder Princess?¡±

    ¡°What other possibilities could there be?¡± Minister Liu looked fearless, ¡°In fact, you could tell from the Emperor¡¯s order to you to investigate the fire in the Weiyang Pce thoroughly that he cares about it very much. So much that he cared for ten years.¡±

    ¡°If this is what Minister Liu¡¯s trying to tell me, I could only say that it¡¯s worthless to me.¡± Leng Changxi got up and held Qin Yunuan, looking as if he was about to leave.

    ¡°Of course, there¡¯s more than that,¡± Minister Liu quickly got up to block Leng Changxi and said, ¡°If all I have is some information that General Leng had already more or less investigated, how could I have the confidence to talk about conditions with General Leng?¡±

    Just when Leng Changxi¡¯s nce was getting cold, Minister Liu suddenly took out a note from his waist. However, Leng Changxi¡¯s nce was so cold that he was a bit unapproachable. Therefore, Minister Liu turned to hand the note to Qin Yunuan.

    Qin Yunuan quickly opened the note and took a nce at it. It was an address not far away, in the suburbs of the Royal City.

    ¡°It¡¯s the address of an old pce servant girl who worked in the Weiyang Pce back then. Even though the Emperor ordered to clear the Weiyang Pce, and the pce workers had either been exiled or killed, she happened to escape. If you don¡¯t believe it, general Leng, you can investigate it with this address, and you¡¯ll know whether I¡¯m telling the truth.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡± Leng Changxi didn¡¯t even look at the address and handed the note back to Minister Liu directly, ¡°Your bargaining chip isn¡¯t that attractive.¡±

    Even if the note was handed back, Qin Yunuan had the ability of reciting it on first sight. She just took a quick look at it just now, but she had already kept the address in her mind clearly. At the same time, Leng Changxi knew clearly about Qin Yunuan¡¯s extraordinary memory. Qin Yunuan knew that Leng Changxi was nning to take the information with no cost.

    ¡°This...¡± Minister Liu¡¯s confidence was totally destroyed by Leng Changxi¡¯s simple sentence.

    When he saw that Leng Changxi was actually leaving, Minister Liu raised his tone suddenly, ¡°General Leng, as we have amon rival, why can¡¯t we cooperate?¡±

    Leng Changxi stopped and turned around indifferently. His fierce nce swept all over Minister Liu from head to toe through his bat-shaped mask.

    ¡°General Leng might not know that after I took my son¡¯s body back to the mansion, I found that a ck spot appeared on my son¡¯s throat in the midnight. After I found someone professional to view it, I was told that it was a mark of a poisonous silver needle piercing through the throat. My son was apparently murdered, and I¡¯m certain that the one who killed him is somehow rted to Prince Ray. Moreover, the fire of the Weiyang Pce had to be somehow rted to Prince Ray too. General Leng, don¡¯t you think that it would be easy for us to reveal the evil deeds of Prince Ray and present Prince Ray¡¯s true self to the Emperor if we work together?¡±

    Minister Liu panted heavily after he finished his sentence. He was too anxious. He was afraid that Leng Changxi wouldn¡¯t work with him. It was true that he bragged. Even though he was one of the officials who established Qi with the previous Emperor, his power in the government was deteriorating fast. He couldn¡¯t do anything without Leng Changxi¡¯s help.

    ¡°You are underestimating Sima Ray,¡± Leng Changxi was disdainful, ¡°And you¡¯re underestimating me as well.¡±

    If it was a cooperating rtionship, he would be equal with Leng Changxi. Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t bear that.

    Minister Liu clenched his teeth and suddenly arched towards Leng Changxi and said, ¡°If I could avenge my son, I would do anything as general Leng says.¡±

    Leng Changxi¡¯s eyes were shining wisely, but his emotions didn¡¯t seem to fluctuate much on the surface. He was still looking calm as if nothing had actually mattered to him.

    ¡°The government was debating on who should be the crown prince, and I want you to submit a memorial to the throne.¡± Leng Changxi directly ordered.

    ¡°Do you want me to support the Grand Prince to be the crown prince?¡± Minister Liu guessed instinctively.

    ¡°No,¡± Leng Changxi shook his head. ¡°Just say that the seventh prince Sima Qiu was attacked in the Imperial Mausoleum and plead the Emperor to take him back to the pce.¡±

    The seventh prince Sima Qiu was the Emperor¡¯s youngest son. His mother came from a noble family. Not only was she from a prestigious family of Qi, but she was also titled as one of the four Imperial Concubine after giving birth to Sima Qiu. However, she was used for witcheryter, and it affected Sima Qiu, who was only six years old by then, as well. He was sent to the Imperial Mausoleum since then and lived in loneliness and monotony. However, regarding the witchery incident back in the years, there were many suspicions. However, no one dared to investigate it in depth. Who knew what kind of power was behind this? No one wanted to take the risk.

    Now that thepetition for the crown prince had be red-hot, taking Sima Qiu back to the pce was adding fuel to the fire. But that was exactly what Leng Changxi wanted.

    ¡°Was the seventh prince attacked?¡± Minister Liu looked very surprised.

    ¡°Not yet,¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s tone was in, ¡°But sooner orter he would be.¡±

    Minister Liu was surprised, and he looked at Leng Changxi speechlessly for quite a while. Right then, some noise came from the lobby, and there was some quarreling in North Di ent.

 Chapter 153 The Amorous Princess

    <h4>Chapter 153 The Amorous Princess</h4>

    The moment they heard the ent of North Di, people in this room got alert immediately. Now though Prince Saichun had married the Grand Prince Sima Ruo, the rtionship between Qi and North Di was still intense and weak due to the assassination happening in the paddock. Besides, they did not know how Wanyan Su would report the condition about Qi when he came back to North Di. But ording to the troop¡¯s condition in Luguan, the rtionship between the two countries was in a good trend.

    When talking about Luguan, Qin Yunuan thought about the deal Wanyan Su talked aboutst time. It was said that Wanyan Su would be transferred from the Royal City of North Di to guard the border Luguan, so Qin Yunuan would gain a new smooth channel of earning money in North Di. Yes, finally, Qin Yunuan chose to coborate with Wanyan Su. She had no result in refusing to earn money. And even if the issue was revealed, she had enough confidence to withdraw.

    Now the noise outside was louder. A maidservant with the ent of North Di said seriously, ¡°We like your cakes and wants to learn how to cook it. She wants to cook the cakes for the Queen Mother as the birthday present. But how dare you be so impolite! Don¡¯t you feel frightened to be beheaded one by one?¡±

    People from North Di were wilder, and it was not so weird for this maidservant to say something about killing casually.

    The window of the private room was half-opened. Qin Yunuan leaned back to Leng Changxi and observed the condition in the hall. From this clear visual angle, Qin Yunuan could see Princess Saichun in Han costume. No, now she should be called the Grand Prince¡¯s Wife. With her pretty lips and eyebrows, this refresheddy got her mouth corners down. Prince Saichun was such ady who expressed all of her emotions on her face. She was frank, but she would be very dangerous in thisplicated pce.

    The Grand Prince Sima Ruo also came. He was just observing the quarrel between the maidservants of Princess Saichun and the master of the First Boite of the Royal City and did not get involved. He wore white clothes with a low-key but luxurious gold-thread-embroidering waist belt. A kind of inconspicuous sadness could be found in his eyes, which was like the sorrow of schrs¡¯ concern about the country. Sima Ruo married a woman he didn¡¯t love, but as a political tool, he behaved so calmly unexpectedly.

    But except for silence, he had no other choice.

    Facing the arrogant questions from the maidservant of Princess Saichun, the master was in a dilemma. A guest aside could not help but chip in, ¡°You guys from North Di have no right to learn the cake cooking of Qi. You are wild and barbaric by nature, and you will never understand the inner thoughts of the Central ins in Qi. Besides, you will send the secret recipe to North Di after you learn it.¡±

    This man was absolutely an inexperienced noble guy, who was so boastful.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Saichun pushed the maidservants away and stared at the gossiping middle-aged man, ¡°There is no need for our North Di to learn the cooking of Qi. We have Kumiss, buttered tea and roastedmb. Unlike the people in Qi, we do not use chopsticks to have meals. So pretentious you people from Qi are.¡±

    ¡°Humph,¡± Another middle-aged woman added, ¡°If so, why do you, ady from North Di, want to learn our cooking? You just want to learn it to tter the Queen Mother of Qi. North Di has been battling with Qi for many years. I think your internal affairs must be in a mess earlier. Or, why do you surrender to make the imperial matrimony for peace with us?¡±

    In a sh, a teacup was thrown toward the face of Saichun, which was so fast unexpectedly.

    But when the teacup was one palm away from the head of Saichun, a powerful big hand suddenly appeared and held stably the teacup, which was used as a hidden weapon. The big hand withdrew and put the teacup on the table slowly. And then the person touched his ck mask.

    Qin Yunuan, standing behind Leng Changxi, recognized the short guy among many people, who still kept the cast position of attacking Saichun. Qin Yunuan squinted slightly. Before the short guy did it, Leng Changxi had found something unusual. Although Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi hadn¡¯t much connection with Saichun, Saichun would have caused a big sensation ording to her characteristics if the teacup had not been stopped.

    Qin Yunuan nced at the people present slowly and found that they looked hesitant except the two people who shouted just now. They felt scared about the position of the Grand Prince¡¯s Wife and hated the constant wars between North Di and Qi, which had once caused the miserable life of Qi people.

    ¡°The words of the two noblemen are reasonable,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled and stepped forward with Leng Changxi arm in arm, ¡°But I still think that now Qi and North Di has signed the agreement and established the diplomatic rtionship. So, we are not enemies no longer, and hatred should notst for so long. Princess Saichun left her hometown and went to Qi, and now she is our guest. Besides, she has married our Grand Prince, so she is our family. I believe Princess Saichun would know her position even if the war between Qi and North Di broke out again.¡± When Qin Yunuan said thest sentence, she turned to Saichun slowly with a soft smile, ¡°Princess, am I right?¡±

    The war between Qi and North Di broke out again? Princess Saichun stunned and did not answer. The silent Sima Ruo aside suddenly said in a cold voice, ¡°Since Saichun became my wife, there would have no princess of North Di. And our marriage was granted by the emperor,¡± Sima Ruo nced at the two people shouting just now with cold and misty eyes. His voice turned gloomy suddenly, ¡°You two are suspecting the decision made by the emperor?¡±

    No one in this world dared to suspect the emperor.

    ¡°No. No.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I dared not oppose the emperor absolutely.¡±

    ¡°Then, you should apologize to the Grand Prince¡¯s Wife!¡± Qin Yunuan followed Sima Ruo¡¯s words, and then she glimpsed at the short guy distantly who threw the teacup, ¡°And you, attacked the imperial family member. ording to thew of Qi, you will be exiled to the border.¡±

    The three people got pale immediately. The timid one felt frightened and was about to kneel, but Saichun waved her hands to stop him, ¡°Fine, fine. Men in our grasnd will never kneel to women. You guys in Central ins are so weak. Don¡¯t kneel.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°Be quick! Thank the grace of the Grand Prince¡¯s Wife.¡±

    The three people stunned and then understood suddenly. They nodded and expressed their thanks. And then they left quickly.

    Qin Yunuan saw that and then turned back to see the frank and childish Saichun. She knew that the troublesome princess had a rare kind heart, actually. Though she always said crazy words, she had a good heart indeed.

    Saichun raised her eyebrows and stared at Qin Yunuan, and then she looked at Leng Changxi who helped stop the attack of the teacup. She said proudly with a smile, ¡°See? I know you care about me, my Grand General. Though you refused me in the paddock, now you really care about me.¡±

    Saichun said it out in such a public asion, even in front of Sima Ruo and Qin Yunuan.

    Leng Changxi glimpsed at Sima Ruo lightly and found that Sima Ruo was so calm about this. Leng Changxi was familiar with Sima Ruo to some extent. Sima Ruo disliked the schrly honors or official ranks and hated seeking the title of the crown prince, which was ordered by Imperial Concubine Yun. But he was forced to be utilized and trapped into the political dispute, which had caused him so desperate. He had no more emotions to this Grand Prince¡¯s Wife who was granted to him. He could not change anything, whether he liked her or not.

    Saichun still smiled proudly. Leng Changxi just picked up the teacup slowly and said patiently, ¡°This teacup was made in Wuyun Town. The whole set consists of twelve, which was very valuable. If one of them were broken, the rest of the whole set would be penniless. I just don¡¯t want to waste this teacup.¡±

    Saichun turned unhappy immediately, but Sima Ruo suddenly came to his sense.

    ¡°We shall go.¡± Sima Ruo said suddenly. He bowed to Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi. And then, he left and ordered the maidservants to take Saichun away.

    In the evening, Leng Changi read the archives for the whole night. All of these were the testimonies of the relevant people after the fire of Weiyang Pce ten years ago. He felt sick about his eyes and then turned his head, staring at Qin Yunuan aside who was picking the embroidering patterns. She looked so pretty and fair, like a peeled litchi, which attracted people to have a taste.

    The eyes of Leng Changxi turned more enthusiastic, which made Qin Yunuan, who was embroidering, feel absent-minded.

    ¡°What?¡± Qin Yunuan stopped embroidering and turned to look at Leng Changxi, ¡°Do you agree with the issue about Minister Liu?¡±

    Leng Changxi lowered his mouth corners, ¡°You have remembered the address of the old imperial maidservant he said. I¡¯ll handle her son¡¯s hatred when I am free.¡±

    ¡°I do not understand one thing,¡± Qin Yunuan said with her wise eyes, ¡°It¡¯s about the issue of Princess Saichun this afternoon. There were so many people in the big hall. Why do they use valuable teacups? I know little about porcin, I can check it in part. The teacup can¡¯t be generated in Wuyun Town.¡±

    ¡°You are right,¡± Leng Changxi shrugged his shoulder, ¡°I guess that the master bought it wholesale from the small shops in the alley of East Street. But it doesn¡¯t matter that it was or not. It would be fine if someone got me at that time.¡±

    Qin Yunuan puckered her mouth, ¡°I know. You said that for the Grand Prince. You wanted him to know that he had been trapped deep into the struggle even if he did not struggle. If he did nothing, many people would be involved due to his copse. Many people would be dead due to him, just like the twelve teacups.¡±

    Leng Changxiughed and stepped closer. And then his lips touched the ear of Qin Yunuan, ¡°Nuan, you are so smart. So this smart girl, do you know what I am going to do with you next?¡±

 Chapter 154 Internecine Struggle

    <h4>Chapter 154 Internecine Struggle</h4>

    After a happy time for the whole night, Qin Yunuan felt constant backache the next morning. Nurse Liao felt so happy when she heard that Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi was in sweet love every day. She always talked that she hoped to take care of the daughters and sons of the couple in the future.

    Qin Yunuan reckoned that she had married to Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion for one month. She looked at her belly. She expected but felt a little bit worried. Now Qin Yunuan should care much about Baochuan, but if there were a new member, she would not know if she could handle all things well.

    Soon, it was the day of the selection examination of the Imperial College in autumn. On this day, Qin Baochuan got up early, and Qin Yunuan still slept due to the happy timest night. Leng Changxi tided up the quilt clearly for Qin Yunuan, and then put on a piece of clothing to encourage Baochuan.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be so worried,¡± Leng Changxi with hands sped behind his back looked at Qin Baochuan who was standing beside a horse carriage, ¡°You should just believe that you study hard for yourself, instead of your sister or the praise of Qin Family.¡±

    Qin Baochuan nodded like an adult. And then Leng Changxi ordered Leng Wu to safeguard Qin Baochuan closely. Having seen the horse carriage went far away, Leng Changxi turned back to the mansion.

    Just walking to the Chuihua Gate, Leng Changxi heard a cold female voice behind, ¡°Brother, you treat Third Sister-inw so well.¡±

    Leng Changxi would know who the voice was even if he did not turn back.

    In a sh, Leng Suxin came closer with her hand holding a flower sachet, and then she passed it to Leng Changxi, ¡°It is the enchantress from East Garden who let me give it to you.¡±

    Leng Changxi raised his eyes slightly and knew the enchantress Leng Suxin said just now was Xie Ruying. She had a weird rtionship with Xie Ruying. Xie Ruying ttered this miss from Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion so hard just because Leng Suxin had much speaking right in front of the Old Madam of the mansion. Leng Suxin was really a colddy who was hard toe closer. But she should consider the feeling of Princess Ning, so she could not reject Xie Ruying so toughly.

    ¡°Third Brother, I dislike the enchantress. Could you kill her for me?¡± Leng Suxin said suddenly. Such a pretty and kind girl spoke such things as killing someone, which was hard for others to understand. But Leng Changxi did not feel surprised about that.

    Leng Changxi said sincerely, ¡°Suxin, reduce that kind of words in the future.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Leng Suxin said with more profound eyes, ¡°You told me in our childhood that in this world, if you did not hurt others, others would hurt you. The best way was to kill those who were likely to hurt you, just like your killing in the deserted temple in your childhood.¡±

    Talking about the killing in the deserted temple, Leng Changxi remembered that he met with Qin Yunuan first there.

    Leng Changxi smiled, ¡°Now things get different. I was single at that time, and I could rampage without considering my life or others¡¯ life. But now I have my wife. Nuan has given all she has to me. I must protect her and people around her, and our children in the future.¡±

    ¡°As I guess, you do all for your wife.¡± Leng Suxin said in a slightly deste and hopeless voice, ¡°Third Brother, you know? I dislike Third Sister-inw. No. I do not dislike her, but I hate her. I don¡¯t know why I felt sick of her when I saw her back or heard her voice.¡±

    Suddenly, Leng Changxi squinted and then opened his eyes at once, ¡°It¡¯s OK. I love her. And I refuse to receive the flower sachet of Xie Ruying. I am afraid of the misunderstanding of Nuan. She is so sensitive, so I should not make her hurt at any time.¡± And then he turned back and left straightly without glimpsing at Leng Suxin.

    There only was Leng Suxin, who stood under the morning sunshine lonely. She kneaded the flower sachet until her close maidservant called her back in a gentle voice.

    Leng Suxin sighed leisurely towards the direction Leng Changxi left, and grunted, ¡°It was you who changed, or it was I who changed?¡± She sighed. And she threw the flower sachet into the pond and then left too.

    It was after dawn when Qin Yunuan got up. Leng Changxi had entered the imperial pce earlier, but he had prepared Qin Yunuan¡¯s favorite Hot-toffee Roll and White Fungus Broth on the table.

    After washing and tidying, Qin Yunuan was tasting a lotus seed carefully. And then Maner came in.

    The first thing she talked about was that Qin Baochuan got up early to attend the examination of the Imperial College in autumn. And the second thing was....

    ¡°I heard that Miss Xie pleaded for the whole night outside the courtyard of Fourth Miss. She hoped that Fourth Miss could send a flower sachet to Third Young Master. Finally, Fourth Miss was soft-hearted and agreed.¡±

    Qin Yunuan holding the warm bowl stunned. She remembered that she saw Xie Ruyingst time sending a flower sachet. Such a stubborndy. She remembered the flower sachet well. Or...

    ¡°And then?¡±

    Maner continued, ¡°I guess Third Young Master did not receive it, because somebody saw that the flower sachet was floating in the pond outside.¡±

    ¡°Pick it up.¡± Qin Yunuan ordered decisively, ¡°Don¡¯t let others find you. Do it secretly.¡±

    Maner nodded immediately. After a while, Ting Xue and Maner came in, holding a tray where a wet flower sachet was put down. The surface of the flower sachet was wrinkle due to soaking. But the perfect seal did not let the spice inside out.

    Qin Yunuan frowned and glimpsed at it. And then she held a scissor to open the flower sachet entirely, and the wet spice was exposed. Although Qin Yunuan could not tell what kind of spice it was, the fragrance gave off. Qin Yunuan was good at remembering and smelling.

    ¡°You smell it. What¡¯s this?¡± Qin Yunuan used a silvery chopstick to pick a dark brown soybean-sized bead. There were seven or eight beads like this one in the flower sachet, with a pungent fragrance.

    Maner smelled it and frowned immediately. And Ting Xue said straightly, ¡°It was like musk.¡±

    Qin Yunuan put down the chopsticks, ¡°It is musk. To be precise, it is musk seed, which is the acutest medicinal part of musk.¡±

    Musk was a kind of spice and could be added to medicine. But for women, it could not be overused, which could cause infertility. Xie Ruying knew that Leng Changxi stayed with Qin Yunuan every day, and she sent it on purpose. How malicious she was.

    ¡°Such a malicious woman.¡± Maner gritted her teeth.

    Qin Yunuan smiled in disdain, ¡°Now I have married to this mansion for one month. There are more and more people who target my belly. Xie Ruying is one of them, but she was the most aggressive one. This time, I won¡¯t let her off.¡±

    At the moment, a maidservant reminded that it was the time to greet the Old Madam.

    Maner and Ting Xue prepared in a hurry. They were the close maidservants of Qin Yunuan and should go there together. But Qin Yunuan shook her head and said, ¡°This time, you two stay at the courtyard, and have a clear check whether there is something else dirty in the courtyard. Find all out.¡±

    ¡°I can stay here.¡± Maner said forwardly, ¡°Ting Xue follows Third Young Madam to go there. Madam, you need someone to serve.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Qin Yunuan twinkled and smiled, ¡°There are new maidservants in the wood house. This time, I will go there together with Baihe and Haitang. Besides, Leng Shuang is protecting me secretly so that I won¡¯t get hurt.¡±

    When Qin Yunuan walked outside the courtyard of the Old Madam, she met with Princess Ning, who came to greet the olddy too. Xie Ruying was the distant rtive of Princess Ning, and she had been serving Princess Ning all the time. Now she was supporting Princess Ning with her arm intimately, like a cute and elegant little white rabbit. Nobody would think that Xie Ruying had slept with many men.

    ¡°Mother.¡± Qin Yunuan curtsied to Princess Ning and then stood up. She nced at Xie Ruying and then smiled, ¡°Youe, Miss Xie.¡±

    Though it was a smile, Xie Ruying felt a little coldness in her heart suddenly.

    Princess Ning smiled softly. She said nothing after she saw there were new two pretty maidservants beside Qin Yunuan, instead of the formerely two girls. Qin Yunuan and Princess Ning entered the room together. They heard Leng Suxin was tasting the tea with the Old Madam.

    ¡°The tea leavese from Mount Wuyi and belong to Lapsang souchong, the highest grade. Suxin, you can find such rare tea leaves. So more efficient you are now.¡± The Old Madam said in a cheerful voice. Everybody in the mansion knew that the Old Madam was always serious and august, and she onlyughed happily in front of Leng Suxin.

    ¡°Old Madam.¡±

    ¡°Mother.¡±

    Princes Ning and Qin Yunuan entered the room together. At the moment they entered, the olddy withdrew herugh slightly. Although she was smiling, she did not show her emotion conspicuously.

    Princess Ning had a good temper and did not care. She said in a more pious voice, ¡°The other day, I heard from the nannies that you did not sleep well at night. Later, I asked someone to buy some rare Zhuyexiang in the regions south of the River for relieving the sleeplessness.¡±

    The Old Madam nodded without more emotions and said, ¡°Thanks.¡± And then she looked at Qin Yunuan. Last time, she heard more things about Qin Yunuan in the pavilion. Her view of her grandson¡¯s wife was unclear all the time. On the one hand, she admired the braveness and intelligence of Qin Yunuan. On the other hand, she feared such kind of person. After all, smart people caused more miserable consequences when they got malicious.

    The Old Madam saw the two maidservants behind Qin Yunuan, especially the one called Haitang. She thought Qin Yunuan took the two girls here to meet higher people. Now the girl seemed to make up on purpose and looked so showy. She almost grabbed the limelight of her master.

    ¡°New maidservants?¡± The Old Madam sipped the tea. She seemed to ask Qin Yunuan by ident.

 Chapter 155 They Are Yours

    <h4>Chapter 155 They Are Yours</h4>

    ¡°Yes,¡± said Qin Yunuan with a sweet smile. The dimples on her cheeks made her look more innocent and artless. ¡°They were sent by Concubine Tang to share responsibility for me. As they looked very pleasing to the eyes, I kept them at my disposal.¡±

    The two servant girls with pretty faces were sent by Concubine Tang to share responsibility. Everyone here knew what the so-called ¡°responsibility¡± really meant. It turned out that Concubine Tang wanted to nt her people into Qin Yunuan¡¯s courtyard and win the favor of Leng Changxi.

    Qin Yunuan kept a close eye on everybody¡¯s facial expressions while speaking. As was expected, Xie Ruying became ck in her face all of a sudden. Princess Ning frowned a little, and then her calm was restored. Leng Suxin was as emotionless as usual. The expression on her face was still cool and indifferent as if those things were none of her business.

    This time, the Old Madam cast a murderous nce at those servant girls. There was malice and sternness in her eyes. It was quite easy for Qin Yunuan to read her mind. Just like Queen Mother, what Old Madam valued most was the pureness and dignity of the blood of their family. Or else, she would not keep a distance with Qin Yunuan as she was born by a concubine.

    At least, Qin Yunuan had the title as Infanta Ping, but what about these two maids? In Qi, the strict household registration system created a world of difference between the noble people, themon people, and the humble people. And the social status of servants and maids was even lower than that of the humble people. Distant rtives like Xie Ruying were not noble enough in Old Madam¡¯s eyes, not to mention the maids. No matter how pretty they were, they did not deserve to conceive babies for Prince Ning¡¯s family.

    When Old Madam was thinking of that, her eyes were even colder than before. She was contemting the loyalty of Tang in her heart.

    Knowing that it was the perfect timing, Qin Yunuan suddenly smiled and said to Old Madam and Princess Ning, ¡°I take them with me as they look very pleasing. If you like, I don¡¯t mind sending them to you.¡± That was right. She never thought about taking Lily and Begonia back.

    Actually, she was getting rid of two time-bombs.

    ¡°They were really adorable,¡± answered Old Madam suddenly, who was disgusted by the ecstasy on Begonia¡¯s face at a nce. She really thought she was going to be a mistress. ¡°Xie, I remembered that you hadined that you were in ack of servant girls and asked for some. Now that Yunuan is so thoughtful, you can just take the two maids as yours.¡±

    Xie Ruying was in a daze. Then she said in a hurry, ¡°No need, I have had enough people tomand. How could I ept the personal maids of Third Young Madam?¡± It would be silly to keep two maids of easy virtue aside.

    ¡°That¡¯s Okay,¡± Qin Yunuan seconded, ¡°Just two maids. Though at different rooms, they are still in this mansion, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    Now, Xie Ruying was not as courageous as before, ¡°But they were from Concubine Tang. Is it proper to send them away to others, Third Young Madam?¡±

    Qin Yunuan just smiled. Now, a ripple ofughter came from the outside.

    ¡°Old Madam, look what I¡¯ve brought!¡± It was exactly the one who was mentioned so many times¡ª Concubine Tang. Seeing that everyone¡¯s attention was on her, Tang was very confused and asked the servant girl to hand the box to her. ¡°Well, what happened?¡±

    Princess Ning looked down to the tea that she was stirring and said in a rxed way, ¡°Youe at the right time.¡±

    ¡°Ah, why the right time?¡± Tang got a little excited though she still had no idea what was going on. Seeing that Lily and Begonia was standing beside Qin Yunuan, she realized that she had achieved her goal. Just as she had thought, Qin Yunuan did not want to refuse her.

    ¡°Nothing serious,¡± said Qin Yunuan, whose smile did not show any emotion, ¡°We had just mentioned you,¡± and then she changed the subject, ¡°What have you brought?¡±

    Speaking of the thing in the box, Tang stood upright and opened the box happily. ¡°That¡¯s something great. Old Madam, I got to the Wan¡¯an Temple very early yesterday morning to pray that for you. It is very efficacious!¡± said Tang.

    The present had been taken out of the box and unfolded to show around.

    It was a painting of children that was no longer new. On the yellow silk were many adorable kids in different motions. An olddy with white hair and a ruddyplexion was sitting in the middle, surrounded by the grandchildren, looking peaceful and satisfied. But Old Madam¡¯s face darkened when she saw this homey and sweet painting.

    However, Tang was still spouting, ¡°Old Madam, the reason why I did not choose a new painting was that this one had been hanging in the hall for many years during which the family is brimming with sons and grandsons. So, I was thinking that since Changxi and Chang¡¯an all got married and Changxuan was about to have a second wife, it would be a small token of my heart to bring this painting as a present for you. I hope you will like it.¡±

    Old Madam sneered, ¡°Like it? Of course, I like it.¡± She then turned back to Leng Suxin and ordered calmly, ¡°Suxin, cut it into pieces with scissors for me. What you do represents my attitude.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Leng Suxin nodded obediently. Though Tang was the biological mother of Leng Suxin, in Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes, they were not intimate. They had never really talked during the whole process as if they were people from different worlds.

    ¡°No, Old Madam! Why would you do that to me? I was just trying to be nice. Is that wrong, Old Madam?¡± Tang stretched her arms subconsciously to protect the painting like a mother hen. She had prayed a long time for that. ¡°Suxin, I¡¯m your mother. Do not do that to me! You have to listen to me!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Leng Suxin winked at the servant girls, and someone drugged Tang away at once without any hesitation. In a minute, this painting that represented hope for future generations was cut into pieces.

    Tang froze. Old Madam was reproaching her seriously, ¡°I¡¯m not old. I can wait patiently for my grandchildren. But what you did was unbearable. You exercised your wits for your personal gain to instigate a maid to carry the child of our family. And I tell you, even if they seed, I will not let the child be born. Do not do such things anymore. A concubine¡¯s child will always be a concubine¡¯s child, and those who are low will always be low.¡±

    Those words also startled Qin Yunuan a little bit. Why would Old Madam mention the concubine¡¯s child? Did she mean that she could not bear children to Leng Changxi? Qin Yunuan cast a nce at her and found that she was not looking at her. Instead, it was Tang whom she was staring at. And it suddenly urred to Qin Yunuan that Tang, who looked dumb right now, was a concubine.

    ¡°Priority in ranks and blood rtions is what really matters.¡± Old Madam held her head high and continued, ¡°Every one of you should remember that. Do not do those useless things anymore.¡±

    She closed her eyes after finishing the sentence, ¡°Suxin, I¡¯m tired. Let them all back.¡±

    Before anyone said anything, Old Madam went back directly to the inner room. Having recovered from astonishment, Tang saw the mess on the ground and realized that the one who cut her present was actually her own daughter. Filled with rage, she stood up and pulled Leng Suxin¡¯s hair, ¡°You betrayed your own mother? Who gave birth to you? Who supported you? You are really ungrateful!¡±

    Leng Suxin reeled back for a few steps for being pulled. Getting Qin Yunuan¡¯s eye hint, Leng Shuang walked forth and drew Tang back. However, Leng Suxin, who had been saved from the difficult position, only cast a nce at Qin Yunuan. In her eyes, there was only coldness instead of gratefulness.

    ¡°Have you finished, mother? If you are done, I¡¯lle back to the inner room.¡± Leng Suxin showed a strange alienation to her natural mother Tang.

    Tang sank down onto the ground after Leng Suxin lifted the curtain without looking back. With a cold nce at this troublemaker, Qin Yunuan made a curtsy to Princess Ning and decided to leave. But she realized that Lily and Begonia followed behind her after a few steps.

    ¡°Why are you still following me? Didn¡¯t you hear that Old Madam had sent you to Miss Xie? She¡¯s your owner from now on, and you should listen to her, got it?¡± Qin Yunuan threw a nce at Xie Ruying while speaking and found that she was also dissatisfied with them.

    Lily was scared by what she said and drew a few steps back. But Begonia actually had the strength toe forth, ¡°Third Young Madam, I¡¯m Peony. I knew that I made you feel unpleasant in your courtyard. But please don¡¯t send me to Miss Xie¡¯s ce. The East House is known as a mess. I¡¯m afraid I may never get out if Ie there.¡±

    ¡°What did you address yourself?¡± Qin Yunuan made no response to what Begonia said. Her calmness was in sharp contrast with Begonia¡¯s anxiety. ¡°I¡¯ve changed your name into Begonia, but you still addressed yourself as Peony. You¡¯ve shown no respect to me, and my courtyard is too small for you. I know the situation in the East House, and that¡¯s why I sent you there. If you hook up with someone, you will have a good life henceforth. So, I was just helping you.¡±

    Begonia was embarrassed after those words. She was not well-behaved in that courtyard indeed. At first, she hooked up with the cook in the wood-shed and the servant sending woods, and she also had some wicked ideas towards the strong and handsome boy around Maner.

    She was prettier and more charming than Maner, but he did not even notice her. She dreamed of being a concubine, but the reality was so harsh. Or the East House might be her chance?

    Qin Yunuan threw a cold nce at Begonia and knew what she was thinking about. With a sneer, she lifted the curtain and got out, only to find someone had been waiting for her in resentment.

 Chapter 156 Glorifying the Ancestors

    <h4>Chapter 156 Glorifying the Ancestors</h4>

    The blowing autumn wind was a little bit dry, but Xie Ruying outside felt so gloomy as rainy days. She felt very afflictive.

    ¡°Third Young Madam.¡± Xie Ruying stepped forward immediately after she saw Qin Yunuan came out.

    Qin Yunuan just glimpsed at her without much attention, but she still stopped. She said nothing and waited for Xie Ruying to speak first. Qin Yunuan wanted to know what else bullshit Xie Ruying could say. The must in the flower sachet had made Qin Yunuan refreshed utterly. There were many spies in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, could you listen to me for a while?¡± Xie Ruying stepped forward and gave a sign to Leng Shuang beside Qin Yunuan. Xie Ruying knew the ability of this maidservant well. The maidservant was rare to show up, but she could appear suddenly when there was an emergency. It seemed that the maidservant was so skilled.

    ¡°Leng Shuang, you quit first.¡± Qin Yunuan ordered, and then smiled to Xie Ruying, ¡°What do you want to tell me?¡±

    ¡°Third Young Madam, I made a mistake this time. I was wrong and got the punishment,¡± Xie Ruying pretended to be so miserable with her tears dripping from her cheek, ¡°But you misunderstood me, indeed. I just felt so grateful to Third Young Master. Many years ago, I came to the Royal City first and knew little about the city. I almost got hurt by some rogue in the street. It was the Third Young Master who saved me and protected my virginity. Thus, I can¡¯t forget his generous aid.¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked at Xie Ruying with pitiful eyes, but she sneered in her heart. The virginity of Xie Ruying must have been destroyed in some men¡¯s beds.

    ¡°Actually, Third Young Madam, what you need to beware of is the Fourth Miss.¡± Xie Ruying wiped her tears and said solemnly.

    Fourth Miss, Leng Suxin?

    Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows slightly and said seriously, ¡°Miss Xie. I don¡¯t understand. The Fourth Miss is the sister of my husband, and my husband treats her well. It is so appropriate. Why should I be careful?¡±

    ¡°Although they are siblings,¡± Xie Ruying said in a very low voice, ¡°But they are not kin siblings. The Fourth Miss and Third Young Master had an intense rtionship in their childhood. But since you entered the life of Third Young Master, he had paid much attention to you and cared less about the Four Miss. The Fourth Miss was so jealous. She looks so elegant and unique in daily life, but she is very sensitive in her heart. She remembers all the resentment. Maybe one day, she will revenge you, my Third Young Madam....¡±

    ¡°Enough.¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly interrupted the report of Xie Ruying, ¡°Miss Xie, I respect you because you have served my mother for so long. But you can¡¯t judge others casually. The Fourth Miss is the legal daughter of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, and she is the kin granddaughter of the Old Madam. Please pay attention to your position and the title of the Fourth Miss.¡±

    ¡°I...¡± Xie Ruying was speechless. She thought Qin Yunuan would be kinder to her due to the secret news revealed forwardly by her. After all, Qin Yunuan was the legal wife of Leng Changxi, and she was granted to be the Infanta. Qin Yunuan would destroy Xie Ruying so quickly if she wanted to do that.

    ¡°Leng Shuang, let¡¯s go.¡± Qin Yunuan left decisively without leaving a chance for Xie Ruying to exin. Qin Yunuan said to Leng Shuang in a low voice when they passed the corner of the wall, ¡°Thank you for reminding me, or I would not have noticed that someone was overhearing.¡±

    Leng Shuang bowed her fists and said, ¡°This is my responsibility. Third Young Master, you alerted mest time that there seemed to be two slim and high-skilled maidservants beside the Old Madam, so I used my genuine energy to check the circumstances around when you were talking with Miss Xie. As expected, I found that some high-skilled people hid behind the corner of the wall.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Qin Yunuan nodded. She was very satisfied with the carefulness and calm of Leng Shuang. Suddenly, she thought about another thing, ¡°Well, I let you have a check about those followers around Sima Ray, so did you find anything?¡±

    Leng Shuang frowned and added, ¡°I could not make sure of the specific condition. But I found that the Third Prince had collected many talented people who were settled in a mansion in the eastern city. I did not figure out if there was someone you suspected.¡±

    ¡°Talented people?¡± Qin Yunuan turned her head and pondered for a while, ¡°The birthday of the Queen Mother ising a few dayster. During these key days, Sima Ray does a lot. It seems that he will y a big trick. You still keep observing him.¡±

    Leng Shuang promised by bowing her fists.

    In the meanwhile, the Old Madam was in leisure time. Compared with her angry emotions outside just now, the Old Madam now was sitting on the rocking chair in a serene and kind mood. On her left hand, a maidservant was lighting the incense while on her right hand, Leng Suxin was massaging the legs of the Old Madam silently.

    After a while, a slim maidservant entered along with the corridor. The Old Madam glimpsed at her and then waved her hands to let other maidservants quit. Leng Suxin was about to leave, but the Old Madam called her back.

    ¡°It¡¯s OK. You stay here and listen to our words.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    The slim maidservant raised her eyes to nce at Leng Suxin, and then reported the specific dialogue she heard just now between Qin Yunuan and Xie Ruying to the Old Madam. When she mentioned Leng Suxin, she felt a little bit worried. But when she looked at the calm face of Leng Suxin, she got calm too.

    The Old Madam squinted after she heard the whole dialogue. She knew that though Qin Yunuan came from a menial status, the new bride was very prudent about the status hierarchy and did not do anything beyond the manners. The Old Madam nodded and then closed her eyes. She asked Leng Suxin, ¡°What do you think about it?¡±

    Leng Suxin answered indifferently, ¡°I dislike the two people, so I don¡¯t care.¡±

    The Old Madam opened her eyes slowly and knocked the arms of the rocking chair lightly. Suddenly she said in a slightly sincere mood, ¡°You should restrain your affection. After all, you are the sister of Leng Changxi nominally.¡±

    Leng Suxin said nothing and just lowered her head to continue massaging the legs of the Old Madam.

    At dusk, after Leng Changxi returned, the horse carriage of Qin Baochuan went back at the gate of the mansion. Qin Yunuan was busy in tidying for Leng Changxi. She helped him take off theplicated court dress and then covered a piece of white long shirt for him. When she heard that Baochuan was back, she rushed at the gate of the mansion to wee Baochuan.

    ¡°Sister.¡± Though Qin Baochuan felt a little bit tired, he got refreshed and cheered at once when he saw Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Come on. You¡¯ve had a long day. Look at you. So sweaty on your head.¡± Qin Yunuan hugged Baochuan affectionately and then took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat for him. She did not ask the result of the examination today. In her heart, the result was notparable with her lovely brother.

    ¡°Sister, guess whoes with me?¡± Qin Baochuan pointed at the horse marriage behind excitedly. At this moment, Qin Yunuan saw the white hemline of the clothes outside the carriage. And then, an old man in white stepped down. He was Shangguan Yi.

    Qin Yunuan felt a little bit surprised when she saw Shangguan Yi came. But Qin Baochuan was so proud and said happily, ¡°The invigtor today was Mr. Shangguan. After the examination, he said we had a happy talkst time, and expected moremunications with me. This time, he wanted to drop in on Prince Ning, who he hadn¡¯t met for a long time, so he came with me.¡±

    Qin Yunuan just smiled. She felt rxed with Shangguan Yi after they met with each other secretlyst time. Now she felt grateful to him when she saw Shangguan Yi treated Baochuan so kindly.

    ¡°Sister, do you want to know the result today?¡±

    Looking at Qin Baochuan who was confident and ambitious, Qin Yunuan had guessed the result. But she still nodded.

    Before Qin Baochuan said, Shangguan Yiughed, ¡°Qin Baochuan, now bes the youngest student in the Imperial College throughout the history of Qi. He can start to study at college one monthter. Third Young Master, I have to say that you teach your brother well, and he is so diligent and well-mannered.¡±

    ¡°Really? That¡¯s so great.¡± Qin Yunuan crouched excitedly and praised Baochuan, ¡°I know it. I know you are the best.¡±

    Leng Changxi stood aside. Having seen that Qin Yunuan was so happy and Qin Baochuan was very excellent, and the underground grandfather cared much about these two people, Leng Changxi thought all were so perfect. Just in a sh, Leng Changxi showed a very bright smile in front of others for the first time.

    ¡°Mr. Shangguan, please. My father is waiting for you in the study.¡± Someone had reported inside, and Leng Chang¡¯an went out to wee Shangguan Yi immediately after he knew that.

    Leng Chang¡¯an rushed out at his top speed but only found that Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi had already been there. He got serious, but in a sh turned to be humble with a smile as the eldest son in the mansion, ¡°Third Brother, you came out to wee Mr. Shangguan especially. It is the great honor of me as a younger generation and the Prince Ning¡¯s Manson for the visit of Mr. Shangguan.¡±

    ¡°No, I came out to wee Baochuan but found that Baochuan went back together with Shangguan Yi who admired my talented brother-inw.¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s words were like a basin of cold water, quenching the enthusiasm of Leng Chang¡¯an. Leng Changxi wanted to tell Leng Chang¡¯an that there was always someone who was not like him.

    ¡°Third Brother. You are so humorous.¡± In the view of Leng Chang¡¯an, no, in everyone¡¯s view, Qin Baochuan was just an ordinary kid, and he was not as talented as Leng Changxi mentioned indeed.

    Suddenly, Shangguan Yi added, ¡°Yes, what General Leng said is true.¡±

    The words of Shangguan Yi was like another basin of cold water pouring to Leng Chang¡¯an.

    Shangguan Yi glimpsed at Leng Chang¡¯an lightly and then looked at Qin Baochuan kindly. He believed that Qin Baochuan was as smart as him when he was in his school days. But it was pitiful that he could not show more affection toward Baochuan in front of other irrelevant people.

    Shangguan Yi entered under the guidance of a guiding servant. Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi were about to enter the mansion too, but when Qin Yunuan was about to leave, holding the arm of Qin Baochuan, Leng Chang¡¯an suddenly said, ¡°Third Sister-inw, wait. I have something to tell you.¡±

 Chapter 157 The Prince Returned

    <h4>Chapter 157 The Prince Returned</h4>

    ¡°May I?¡± Leng Chang¡¯an bowed again, modest and gentle.

    Qin Yunuan looked back to Leng Changxi. His eyes were cold but not rejecting. She nodded to Leng Chang¡¯an and said, ¡°Please, my brother-inw.¡±

    Leng Chang¡¯an looked apologetic, ¡°I heard about Ruyi and your conflictst night. Ruyi was wrong. She is a little arrogant, but not a bad woman. I hope you won¡¯t take it personally.¡±

    The conflict Leng Chang¡¯an mentioned was that Ruan Ruyi united with Tang and vied with Qin Yunuan for three shops. It was just a trivial matter. However, Leng Chang¡¯an took the initiative to apologize humbly. It made Qin Yunuan look like a woman who showed no mercy to those in the wrong when justice was on her side.

    Qin Yunuan only nodded, ¡°You are overly concerned, brother. My sister-inw and I just had a little friction. It¡¯s my fault to trouble you with all this exining.¡±

    Leng Chang¡¯an nodded and then looked to Leng Changxi, ¡°Have you heard about it, brother? The Seventh Prince was attacked at the Imperial Mausoleum.¡± Leng Chang¡¯an said as he sized his brother up with his deep and indifferent eyes.

    ¡°Oh, I heard about that.¡± Leng Changxi answered with no extra information, not even a look at Leng Chang¡¯an.

    Leng Chang¡¯an smiled awkwardly, ¡°You are indeed well-informed.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s normal to have known what you could hear about.¡± Leng Changxi didn¡¯t raise his eyebrows. He finished his words coldly, taking Qin Yunuan by the hand and left.

    Having returned to their yard, Maner and Ting Xue helped Qin Yunuan and Qin Baochuan tidy up the room. When Qin Yunuan was finally alone with Leng Changxi, Qin Yunuan asked as shebed Leng Changxi¡¯s dark long hair trailing over his shoulders, ¡°Your brother seemed to care much about the Seventh Prince.¡±

    Leng Changxi kept his eyes closed for a while and then said, ¡°Not only it¡¯s him, everyone in the court is worried about this matter. The dissenters tried to find ways to deal with it while the supporters were busy with how to remove the obstacles for the Seventh Prince.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t quite follow,¡± Qin Yunuan dissolved the hair bun and tied his hair up for Leng Changxi. ¡°Although his birth mother was from a famous family, the seventh prince was expelled to the Imperial Mausoleum at a young age. Only once after the Spring Festival could he return temporarily to the Pce. Why were the people in the court so nervous about this seemingly lost prince?¡±

    ¡°Because of a rumor,¡± Leng Changxi turned around, holding Qin Yunuan¡¯s small hand and kneading it repeatedly in his arms. ¡°When the Seventh Prince Sima Qiu, was born, a profound Taoist imed to see massive Dragon Qi in the sky above Imperial Concubine Shu¡¯s pce. At that time, he asserted that the seventh prince would be the dragon among the people. At first, the emperor had great expectations for the seventh prince, and Imperial Concubine Shu was favored. The emperor sent the best teacher to teach the seventh prince calligraphy and horse riding since he was a child. If not for the case of witchcraftter, the seventh prince would have been the most powerfulpetitor for the throne.¡±

    ¡°So for today¡¯s return, the Seventh Prince...¡± Qin Yunuan pondered.

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Leng Changxi replied firmly, ¡°He would turn over the current pattern of fighting for the crown in the Royal City.¡±

    ¡°No wonder.¡± Qin Yunuan thought of Leng Shuang¡¯s words suddenly. ¡°No wonder Sima Ray would have such great movement, and the Grand Prince who never goes out of the pce also took Princess Saichun to the First Boite of the Royal City for the birthday banquet cakes. The birthday banquet of Queen Mother next month will be the first appearance of the Seventh Prince, am I right?¡±

    ¡°Clever.¡± Leng Changxi pinched the tip of Qin Yunuan¡¯s nose. Then his hands moved downward, stroking her chin. His eyes fell on Qin Yunuan¡¯s t belly, and he said, ¡°Nuan-nuan, when will we have a baby?¡±

    Qin Yunuan has heard Leng Changxi¡¯s request many times, but...

    Thinking of the musk in the flower sachet, Qin Yunuan shivered with terror. When she went to the Old Madam¡¯s ce, Maner and Ting Xue were instructed to search carefully in the yard. The result shocked her. Not only the sachet, Qin Yunuan¡¯s daily powder, pancreas for shampooing, and even close-fitting clothes was smoked in musk.

    Sure enough, Qin Yunuan¡¯s health was damaged in the backroom for several years, but she waster taken good care of by nurse Liao. Even her yearly fever was cured after she got married into Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. Leng Changxi was strong and the lovemaking was constant. It made no sense that nothing came up after the two had been married for months. The simple answer was that Qin Yunuan set up. Careful though she was, she was still trapped.

    Leng Changxi noticed Qin Yunuan¡¯s worrying. He also knew the result after Maner and Ting Xue searched thoroughly in the yard this afternoon. He held Qin Yunuan tight in his arms, cupping her face and said, ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I knew how craving you are for a kid of our own. Now that Baochuan settled down here, I won¡¯t let this happen again. Believe me.¡±

    ¡°Um.¡± Qin Yunuan hugged Leng Changxi back.

    That night, Qin Yu Nuan was very tired and fell asleep early. When she woke up the next morning, Maner suddenly whispered to Qin Yunuan that Leng Changxi and Princess Ning had a big argumentst night. Nobody dared to mention this because Third Young Master had always been filial to Princess Ning. They never contradicted each other, and nobody knew what happened this time. And they suggest Qin Yunuan not to greet Princess Ning at her pce.

    Soon the birthday banquet for Queen Mother arrived. The nobles in the Royal City carefully prepared for the birthday ahead of time. Queen Mother was graceful and luxurious. She had seen every good thing, so those who want to make a good impression on her could only make the present novel. Some people heard that Queen Mother liked flowers and birds. They sent a variety of flowers and thrush birds. Some heard that she believed in Buddha and asked the eminent monks of those ancient temples to copy sutras. In short, they all had strange tricks.

    Qin Yunuan was early when she arrived. She happened to see Prince Fu Sima Han and Qin Yuzhao who went along. The two hadn¡¯t met ever since Qin Yunuan got married into Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. The brief encounter was a surprise to the sisters.

    ¡°Sister.¡± Qin Yuzhao was no longer the poor girl who could only wear left clothes. There was an exquisite pearl and white jade pin in her hair. She was wearing a gorgeous dress with many of begonia flowers embroidered on the cuffs. She could tell that Sima Han treated her well.

    ¡°Yuzhao.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled happily. She spotted Qin Yuzhao¡¯s court dress at first sight, which meant that Qin Yuzhao was also a noblewoman just like her. ¡°Let me see, did Prince Fu help you with your awarded grade?¡±

    ¡°Hum.¡± Qin Yuzhao nodded with happiness on her face, ¡°He had a long talk with the emperor, saying that I wouldn¡¯t be bullied after this going out alone. I didn¡¯t know whether the emperor showed empathy for his botched tender or was just bored, but I was awarded a title of six grades.¡±

    Qin Yuzhao didn¡¯t express how good Sima Han was, but sweetness and happiness flew in her eyes and words.

    ¡°Right.¡± Qin Yuzhao seemed to realize something, ¡°I returned to the Mansion days ago. My father said that he had driven you out the family, was that true?¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled. It was not at all a shame in her heart to be driven out of the genealogy by Qin Zhi. She had the blood of the Shangguan Family. Though nobody knew at the time, she felt blessed to have a dignified and elegant mother like Lady Yang and a kind grandpa like Shangguan Yi.

    ¡°Exactly. I could no longer go into the Qin Family Ancestral Hall and Temple, and Baochuan couldn¡¯t attend the family academy from now on,¡± Qin Yunuan finished, watching Qin Yuzhao bow her head regrettably. Qin Yunuan gave her a smile instead, ¡°But as a daughter of a concubine in the Qin family, I have never been valued by my father. There were few opportunities to enter the ancestral temples and ancestral halls, and Baochuan is already preparing to enroll in the Imperial College, the family academy could neverpete with that. Yuzhao, I live a better life after leaving this fire pit.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡± Qin Yuzhao was the same. She was looked down upon in the Qin Family, but Prince Fu treasured her, ¡°But you didn¡¯t understand.¡± Qin Yuzhao gave Qin Yunuan a look and then said, ¡°I guess you don¡¯t know yet. My mother had asked a matchmaking woman to arrange a rtionship between my sister and Second Master of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, who had lost his wife three years ago. They would get married on a good day.¡±

    Qin Yuzhao was talking about Qin Yuwan. The Second Miss, who once would die for Shangguan Rang, would get married soon. Moreover, she would be marrying Leng Changxi¡¯s second brother. Nobody knew what would happen when the sisters be sisters-inw.

    ¡°I heard.¡± Qin Yunuan nodded with no further expression. The banquet was readily prepared at the grandest and most exquisite courtyard in the pce¡ª Xianxi Courtyard. The golden pirs held the hall up high, making it majestic and solemn. Only nobles came. Qin Yunuan followed Princess Ning and seated on the east side. Leng Changxi sat near the emperor, talking to him from time to time. Everyone can see how much the emperor valued the first general of Qi.

    Princess Ning seemed pale and haggard. Qin Yunuan apanied her by her side. In her mind, she recalled thest time when Maner said that Leng Changxi and Princess Ning had an unreasonable quarrel. It seemed that the matter still affected Princess Ning.

    After almost everyone arrived, the banquet was about to start. The eunuch who guarded the door suddenly voiced, ¡°The Seventh Prince is here.¡±

 Chapter 158 The Mysterious Immortal

    <h4>Chapter 158 The Mysterious Immortal</h4>

    The cry absolutely attracted the attention of all the people present, who unconsciously stared at the entrance of the pce. Clenching her fingernail guard, Empress Chen felt that her heart was pinched.

    There was a teenage boy in blue at the entrance of the pce. With his hair half down, he looked at about the age of 15 or 16. He was delicate with red lips and white teeth. Despite his slim figure, the determination and resolution in his eyes revealed the maturity and tenacity beyond his age.

    ¡°My greetings, Your Majesty, Her Majesty, and Queen Mother,¡± Sima Qiu stood at the center of the pce. Years of living in the Imperial Mausoleum had left him a peaceful and quiet temperament.

    Today was the 60th birthday of Queen Mother, so the atmosphere was festive. In addition, many senior officials led by Minister Liu had mentioned the goodness and sensibility of the Seventh Prince multiple times, making the emperor remember his love for the son. Therefore, Emperor Zhaoxuan was a bit moved when he suddenly saw his youngest son, whom he hadn¡¯t seen for a long time.

    ¡°Come. Sit here,¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan pointed to the nearest seat to him, ordering Sima Qiu to sit there.

    Sima Qiu sat down quietly. However, Imperial Concubine Yun couldn¡¯t bear it. She cleared her throat and said softly, ¡°Well, the emperor really thinks highly of the Seventh Prince! My son, Ruo, has never had such an honor!¡±

    Trying to ease the situation, Empress Chen smiled, ¡°What are you talking about? Don¡¯t you remember, at the Grand Prince¡¯s 12th birthday, he wrote a poem? The emperor liked it so much that he went around the feast with the Grand Prince in his arms.¡±

    Hearing that, Emperor Zhaoxuan seemed to recall those wonderful memories. He asked the Grand Prince in his left side, ¡°Yes. However, speaking of writing poems, it seems a long time since you ever wrote anything as good as that.¡±

    The Grand Prince raised himself slightly. Before he could answer, Imperial Concubine Yun raised her beautiful eyebrows and said, ¡°A real man should take the world affairs as his duty. Ruo hasn¡¯t focused on those romantic poems for a long time. Now his task is to learn how to govern the country from the teachers of the Imperial College so that he can help you in the future. Is it correct?¡± Imperial Concubine Yun¡¯s voice was sweet. Her body was about to stick to the emperor¡¯s body.

    Her words made Emperor Zhaoxuan quite satisfied. He nodded without extra words.

    The feast soon began. At first, there was a group of dancing girls from Persian. This was a chorus that was found by an anonymous official in a foreign country. Their amazing and novel dancing postures were refreshing. Their passionate dance steps and the waists moving boldly attracted people¡¯s attention. When everybody was focusing on the dance, Sima Ray put up his wine cup to greet guests present one by one. When it came to Qin Yunuan, the song and the dance just reached their climax. The loud music and dancing girl¡¯s swaying skirts covered the conversation between the two people.

    ¡°Third Young Madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, please,¡± Carrying a cup of fruit wine, Sima Ray politely invited Qin Yunuan to raise the wine cup by her hand.

    Qin Yunuan was not surprised at the appearance of Sima Ray, because he had been toasting and interacting. However, when Qin Yunuan saw the obvious desire of possession in his eyes, she hesitated. Maybe it was because Sima Ray had drunk much before that his face flushed, and the emotion hidden in his eyes was more and more apparent.

    He liked the woman right before him. He liked her wisdom, her cruelty, her decisiveness to disconnect with the Qin Family, and her resolution to leave no chance for her enemies. This was the woman worthy of him, Sima Ray. He wanted her. No matter she had married to others or not, Sima Ray spoke to himself in his mind, he would have her sooner orter, even not now.

    ¡°I can¡¯t drink,¡± Qin Yunuan refused with a smile.

    ¡°Why?¡± After a few drinks, Sima Ray was more and more daring. What¡¯s more, the seats were a little far from each other. So even Princess Ning could not hear what they were talking about. Sima Ray pointed to Leng Changxi, who was sitting next to the emperor, ¡°Is it because of him? Because he was not by your side, you dare not to take a drink?¡±

    ¡°What about the Third Prince¡¯s Concubine?¡± Qin Yunuan replied coldly. The words and behavior of Sima Ray were a little too straightforward, ¡°The Third Prince¡¯s Concubine is my sister, so you are my brother-inw. When you said that to me just now, didn¡¯t you ever think of her?¡±

    At her refusal, Sima Ray didn¡¯t seem to give up. A wide smile suddenly appeared at the corner of his mouth, ¡°You really have a gift of the gab and are never willing to suffer losses. But you know what? I like women of this kind.¡±

    ¡°Third Prince, you drink too much,¡± Qin Yunuan turned her head. She felt Leng Changxi¡¯s look from far away, so she returned with a look, implying that everything was fine, and there was no need to worry. However, just in a sh, Sima Ray¡¯s words were much bolder.

    ¡°Qin Yunuan, you always refuse to give me a serious look. There seems to be no one but Leng Changxi in your heart. However, I believe that one day you will regret your choice of marrying him,¡± Sima Ray was tipsy. It also seemed that he took the chance to say what had been buried in his mind for long. Marrying Qin Yunzhuang was absolutely better than marrying Qin Yunuan to his future, so he bore it.

    ¡°The Grand Prince was drunk. Leng Shuang, send him back to his seat,¡± Qin Yunuan ordered Leng Shuang calmly.

    Sima Ray didn¡¯t refuse it, but he said when he was about to leave, ¡°Make yourself easy, Qin Yunuan. One day you will be my woman, the woman who only belongs to me, Sima Ray.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Seeing that Leng Shuang took Sima Ray away, Maner stood by Qin Yunuan¡¯s side to protect her, her heart still fluttering with fear, ¡°Third Young Madam, when you were unmarried in the Qin Family, I thought that Prince Ray liked you. Now it seems to be trouble.¡±

    ¡°Trouble?¡± Qin Yunuan picked up the silver chopsticks on the table leisurely and picked the Glutinous Rice Balls which seemed particrly delicious in the silver te. While the Glutinous Rice Balls made by the imperial cook didn¡¯t taste as typical as those on the market, they were stickier and more delicious, ¡°I¡¯ve already had much trouble now. Howe there is only this one?¡± Answering herself, she picked up a Glutinous Rice Ball in the vor of purple sweet potato. Taking just a bite, she had a sudden feeling of nausea as if her gastric juice were squeezed out. She vomited it back to the te.

    ¡°Third Young Madam,¡± Maner hurried to carry a cup of Jasmine Green Tea for Qin Yunuan, ¡°Have you choked? Come, drink it to relieve yourself.¡±

    Oddly, the scent of jasmine which Qin Yunuan used to love very much now smelled revolting.

    ¡°Take it away. Hurry to take it away,¡± Qin Yunuan pushed the cup of tea away. It was lucky that now there were songs and dances. Nobody discovered Qin Yunuan¡¯s difference except the people around her and Leng Changxi, who was looking at her silently.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, are you not feeling well? Have you eaten something wrong?¡± Maner was nervous. Qin Yunuan had never been so ufortable like that.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Qin Yunuan shook her head. Her face was pale, and her chest was suppressed, ¡°I¡¯ve been caring about the transporting route in Luguan, Golden Butterfly Embroidery House, and the three shops in the east of the city. With so many things, I feel tired. But it¡¯s all right. After the situation in Luguan is stable and young master Shen is back from his journey, I won¡¯t need to worry anymore.¡±

    Maner nodded and continued rubbing Qin Yunuan¡¯s back.

    The song and dance ended. Following was a Taoist with bare feet and strange clothes. His appearance was a little different from other Taoists. He was tall and thin, wearing clothes as dark as the night with the wide sleeves raised by the wind and his hair tied up high. Just like Leng Changxi, he wore a mask on his face. However, unlike Leng Changxi¡¯s mask covering only half of the face, his mask was like facial makeup. It has golden patterns in ck background, covering the whole face, and making a mysterious atmosphere.

    ¡°My name is Guo Shidong, Your Majesty, Her Majesty, and Queen Mother,¡± he saluted with neither humility nor arrogance. His confidence raised more curiosity.

    ¡°You are?¡±

    At this time, Sima Ray stood up. His face was no longer flushed because of the drunkenness, ¡°He is a living immortal whom I found for parents and Queen Mother after innumerable hardships. It is said that he knows astronomy, geography, and history. What¡¯s more, he is a master of astrology. He learned from Gui Lingzi, and he is one of the seven best students of him.¡±

    ¡°Guo Shidong?¡± Imperial Concubine Yun said in her sharp voice, ¡°I have never heard such a living immortal in Qi. Indeed, everyone in Qi knows that Gui Lingzi is the best person in augury. However, look at his strange clothes! We don¡¯t know whether he is Gui Lingzi¡¯s student or not. Third Prince, you might be tricked by your servants.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Sima Ray was not angry at all. He nodded calmly, ¡°Whether his identity is true or not will be clear by the test.¡±

    Finishing his words, he said to the ¡°Living Immortal,¡± ¡±Mr. Guo, please.¡±

    ¡°Third Young Madam, what¡¯s going on?¡± Maner asked Qin Yunuan in a low voice.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know either,¡± Qin Yunuan frowned slightly. Gui Lingzi lived in seclusion in Qi, but his fame was known by people of five countries. It was said that he had lived for more than 200 years, and he could know the future simply by pinching his fingers. Even those that happened in distant ces would not be ignored by him. Therefore, countless people wanted to learn from him. However, he only picked seven people to teach carefully by his side. Unluckily, he was harmed by his grand student, nearly losing his life. What¡¯s more, kings always came to harass Gui Lingzi to know about the future so that they could erge their territories. As a result, Gui Lingzi lived in seclusion angrily and dispatched his students to all ces, never seeing them again.

    While the teacher was gone, the students must have learned something. So these students became masters weed by many. Some of them followed the mainstream, while others chose to live in seclusion as Gui Lingzi did. If Guo Shidong was a real student of Gui Lingzi...

    When Qin Yunuan was still thinking, Guo Shidong had already begun to close his eyes and pinched his fingers. It seemed that he was calcting something. All of a sudden, he opened his eyes and said, ¡°The emperor, please forgive my straightforwardness. There is an evil spirit in the pce.¡±

 Chapter 159 The Prediction of an Earthquake

    <h4>Chapter 159 The Prediction of an Earthquake</h4>

    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Imperial Concubine Yun stood out firstly, looking extremely angry, ¡°Today is the 60th birthday of Queen Mother. This is her birthday banquet. The guests here are all royal rtives and senior officials. How can there be any evil spirit? You, lying chatan, are you taking the chance to make trouble?¡±

    ¡°No, no,¡± Guo Shidong shook his head indifferently with a determined look, ¡°I¡¯m reporting ording to what I have seen through my Inner Eye. I am not lying.¡±

    While Guo Shidong shook his head, Queen Mother and the emperor looked solemn. After all, Gui Lingzi¡¯s fame was so big. If the one right before them was really Gui Lingzi¡¯s best student, his ability should not be underestimated. What¡¯s more, he was found by Prince Ray, so he was more or less reliable.

    Then the Grand Prince, Sima Ruo, said, ¡°Everyone can talk at random. Before you speak, have you ever considered the consequence?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Princess Saichun next to Sima Ruo agreed, ¡°We people on the prairie have never believed in all sorts of evil-doers. We only believed in the sky, thend, and the spring rain. I don¡¯t know what you are talking about, nor do I find it important.¡±

    ¡°Ha-ha,¡± Guo Shidong lowered his head to smile and saluted, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter that the Grand Prince¡¯s Wife doesn¡¯t believe me. I have ways to prove my ability.¡± Finishing his words, he closed his eyes and pinched his fingers again. It was hard to know what he was calcting when his fingertips were moving up and down. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and said, ¡°I daresay that there are two pregnant women at the feast. Tell me if I¡¯m wrong.¡±

    Hearing Guo Shidong¡¯s words, people looked at each other in confusion. They looked around, seeing no female guests in pregnancy.

    Imperial Concubine Yun twitched her lips, ¡°It¡¯s ridiculous that when you said, so there must be any.¡±

    ¡°Imperial Concubine Yun, if you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask imperial doctors to diagnose. Although the pregnancy is not obvious, and even the two pregnant women themselves don¡¯t know about the thing, but I promise that one of them is two months pregnant and the other is one month and a half pregnant. They also have something inmon,¡± Guo Shidong lowered his head slightly. His face fully covered by the mask showed no emotion and facial expression, ¡°that is, their family names are both Qin.¡±

    At Guo Shidong¡¯s words, Qin Yunuan felt many eyes staring at her like many bare white knives, making her extremely ufortable because of the numerous investigation and plots in them.

    The women with the family name of Qin at the feast were only Qin Yuzhao, Qin Yunzhuang, and Qin Yunuan. Therefore, the two people Guo Shidong talked about must be among them. Qin Yunuan rubbed her belly subconsciously, feeling a touch at her heart. However, thinking of the musk everywhere, she was getting perturbed.

    Sima Ray helped Guo Shidong in time, ¡°Father, why not listen to the Taoist and have a try? Yunzhuang is also in the Qin Family. I want to know whether I am lucky enough to be a father so soon.¡±

    His words seemed reasonable. The way Sima Ray looked at Qin Yunzhuang was tender and loving, full of emotions. Others thought that Prince Ray and his wife had sincere and harmonious love for each other, making them a rare model couple. However, only Qin Yunzhuang and several people around her knew what kind of life she was having behind it.

    It was true that Sima Ray and Qin Yunzhuang had already consummated their marriage. However, it happened one night when Sima Ray was drunk. Sima Ray took Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s virginity by violence. There was no tenderness but plunder and wanton possession. When Sima Ray was at his climax, he called another woman¡¯s name. Although Qin Yunzhuang didn¡¯t hear it clearly, she knew well that there had been someone in Sima Ray¡¯s heart. Someone who was not her.

    Hearing Sima Ray¡¯s words, Qin Yunzhuang showed some expectation and delight, ¡°Yes, father. It¡¯s not bad to ask imperial doctors to diagnose. If the pregnancy unknown to the women themselves was calcted by the strange master, it would show that Master Guo has a genuine ability.¡±

    At the same time, Qin Yunzhuang expected in her mind that if she was pregnant, would Sima Ray pay more attention to her because of the child?

    At first, the emperor hesitated. Then he asked Queen Mother for permission. She nodded as an agreement.

    The several imperial doctors in the Imperial Hospital came quickly. After taking the pulses of Qin Yunzhuang, Qin Yuzhao, and Qin Yunuan sessively, they kneeled in front of the emperor and reported.

    ¡°Emperor, after our repeat diagnosis, we are sure that Princess Fu¡¯s two months pregnant, while Infanta Ping is one and a half months pregnant. Congrattion to Prince Fu. Congrattion to General Leng.¡±

    The congrattion came out of expectation. Sima Han immediately looked silly, asking the emperor eagerly when Yuzhao could give birth to a child. He wanted to y with the child tomorrow. Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s face darkened right away. Leng Changxi¡¯s facial expression was faint, but he kept watching Qin Yunuan.

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s hands hidden under the purdah of the feast held her handkerchief tightly so as to relieve her tension. It was impossible. It was impossible for her to be pregnant. Suddenly, she felt a look with extreme coldness and hostility shooting at her. When she raised her head, she found that all the officials were busy congratting Prince Fu and Leng Changxi. Nobody noticed her.

    Qin Yunuan shook her head at Leng Changxi. She knew that Leng Changxi would understand her.

    Finding the proper time, Sima Ray praised, ¡°Master Guo is indeed a master.¡±

    Leng Changxi, who hadn¡¯t spoken before, said slowly, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the doctors at the south of the Five Ridges have such a feature when they diagnose. They don¡¯t need to take the pulse. They can diagnose simply ording to their own experience and the patient¡¯s face. Let alone pregnancy. They can even diagnose hidden diseases clearly and correctly.¡±

    ¡°General Leng still doesn¡¯t believe me?¡± Guo Shidong faced Leng Changxi, said in a warning tone.

    Leng Changxi sneered, ¡°I¡¯m just talking about what I know. Taoist, why are you flustered?¡±

    ¡°Flustered?¡± Guo Shidong raised his tone, ¡°I never feel flustered. It is said that the secret of ¡®Tian¡¯ must not be revealed. However, I reveal it this time only to prove my innocence. Emperor, today I will vite the rule. At a quarter to twelve tonight, there will be an earthquake in the Royal City triggered by the evil spirit at the feast, which is a jinx from a distant ce. It will lead to disasters everywhere it reaches.¡±

    Pinching his fingers again, Guo Shidong assured, ¡°What¡¯s more, I already find out that the evil spirit is a high-profile figure. Although there was a dragon¡¯s gas rising up to the sky when he was born, it was only the outer image. What seemed to be a dragon¡¯s gas was actually the gas of Tao Tie, a mythical ferocious animal. It is said that the nine sons of the dragon are all different. Tao Tie, as the fifth son of the dragon, has the feature of swallowing everything, just like the evil spirit does. The moment it is away from his prison, he will swallow everything like a tiger or a wolf.¡±

    When Guo Shidong ended his speech, everyone looked at the Seventh Prince justing from the Imperial Mausoleum subconsciously. When the Seventh Prince, Sima Qiu, was born, there was a master saying that he had seen the dragon¡¯s gas. Nevertheless, the Seventh Prince ranked fifth among the sons of the emperor. He had juste back from the Imperial Mausoleum, like a ferocious dragoning out of his cave.

    Qin Yunuan squinted her eyes. It was obvious that Guo Shidong came for Sima Qiu, who was the hidden candidate of the crown prince because of the legend when he was born. Every sentence of Guo Shidong was cracking the legend of the dragon¡¯s gas. Although he did not point at Sima Qiu directly, his aim was quite clear.

    ¡°Ah! Anyway, whether the prediction is sessful or not, or you believe it or not, the answer lies tonight,¡± Guo Shidong left sweeping his sleeves once he finished his words without courtesy to the emperor and Queen Mother. He disappeared in no time. How mysterious he was! Coming and going without a trace!

    The Royal City? The earthquake?

    It was important to know that the ancestors chose the treasurednd as the capital after careful selection. It was t, locating at the center of the Central ins without any record of an earthquake. Guo Shidong reversed the atmosphere of the feastpletely with only a few words. People became nervous. Thinking that he found out the pregnancy of Qin Yuzhao and Qin Yunuan with a nce, many would like to assume that his words were true.

    ¡°Emperor, it¡¯s better to believe that the prediction is true. We need to have early preparation,¡± Some officials suggested.

    ¡°This is the birthday feast of Queen Mother,¡± other officials led by Minister Liu suggested, ¡°A Taoisting from nowhere speaks nonsense about an evil spirit, pregnant women and now an earthquake. It¡¯s not easy to evacuate all the citizens in the city. If the prediction is not true, we will beughed at. People will say that the emperor of Qi wastes manpower and money simply because of a crazy man¡¯s words.¡±

    ¡°Emperor, it is about the safety of all the citizens in the city. Please think twice before you make your decision,¡± at once, many senior officials kneeled down, looking loyal andpletely for the benefit of the country and the people.

    The emperor hesitated and turned to Queen Mother, ¡°Today is supposed to celebrate mother¡¯s birthday, but....¡±

    Queen Mother shook her head kindly and gracefully, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. My birthday is celebrated every year, so you needn¡¯t worry.¡±

    ¡°Mother, what¡¯s your opinion on the issue?¡± the courage of Queen Mother in the past was famous. Even though the emperor had the ability, he would respect Queen Mother¡¯s opinion when she was present.

    Without additional thinking, Queen Mother raised herself slightly, ¡°No matter what happens tonight, I will pray for the well-being of the Royal City in the pce.¡±

    It was again for the emperor to make the decision. Pinching the jade ring on his thumb, he ordered decisively, ¡°Give out my order. All the people present at the feast shall be transferred to the temporary imperial pce in the suburbs of the Royal City. The old, the young, the sick and the weak on the royal family tree shall be carried away from the Royal City. Everything else shall go on as usual.¡±

 Chapter 160 The Shadow in the Palace

    <h4>Chapter 160 The Shadow in the Pce</h4>

    After Emperor Zhaoxuan issued orders, everyone seemed relieved but also more worried. Qin Yunuan frowned, and she knew clearly about what Emperor Zhaoxuan nned to do. Undoubtedly, his n was the best one, because it could not only save lives of officials and nobles but also caused no other trouble. People here all had heard what Guo Shidong said, so they wouldn¡¯t bother to keep it as a secret.

    But...

    This meant Emperor Zhaoxuan was putting the lives of average people in the Royal City at risk. If Guo Shidong was right about his prediction, countless innocent people would lose their family or die. However, it was not easy to order all residents to leave the Royal City at midnight.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, take care of yourself.¡± Princess Ning was the happiest person after hearing that Qin Yunuan had already been pregnant for one and half a month. She even sent Qingzhu, her close servant girl, to serve Qin Yunuan in order to ensure Qin Yunuan was safe and sound.

    Qingzhu supported Qin Yunuan with her hands to help her stand up. Walking towards Qin Yunuan with a smile, Princess Ning said, ¡°Now you are pregnant, so you have to be very careful.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded and then took Qingzhu to walk out of the pce gate. As other people did, she also got on a carriage. This was the first time that so many people headed for one destination. As the chief general, Leng Changxi naturally had to lead them in front, so he didn¡¯t stay with Qin Yunuan in the carriage. But he had nothing to worry about because Leng Shuang followed by the side to protect Qin Yunuan.

    Putting her hands on the belly, Qin Yunuan remembered what Guo Shidong said and wondered whether she was really pregnant. No, it was impossible. They were walking on a rtively less traveled road. Some residents along the road came out to watch the spectacr march scene while others stayed away from them for fear of annoying the emperor. None of these residents knew it actually was the nobles in Qi that ran away from an earthquake which might not happen. Most people deemed it an unnned trip of the emperor to the pce for moon appreciation. After all, this happened before.

    People who led in front were fast and took no break. People behind, whom Qin Yunuan stayed with, found it hard to catch up with them. At night, it started to rain, and the road got muddy.

    Suddenly, the carriage, which Qin Yunuan took, tilted and jolted. Qin Yunuan was scared, but quickly, Leng Shuangforted her and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Third Young Madam. It¡¯s just that the carriage wheels are stuck in the puddle.¡±

    Maner immediately pulled the curtain back and carried Qin Yunuan to step out of the tilted carriage. She opened a cloth umbre to cover Qin Yunuan who was pale. Seeing this, Manner scolded the carter, ¡°What are you doing? Do you want to frighten our Madam?¡±

    The carter knew Qin Yunuan was good-tempered, and her servant girls wouldn¡¯t bully other people at will because they had an exalted mistress. But it was said that Third Young Madam was pregnant, so they had to be extremely careful. The carter apologized promptly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault. Just now, I saw a shadow. I was afraid to run into someone, so I pulled my strength to hold the rein. I didn¡¯t expect that there was a puddle on the right side. Third Young Madam, please forgive me.¡±

    ¡°A shadow?¡± Maner was suspicious, ¡°How could be so? I was staring in the front all the time, and I didn¡¯t see any shadow. Aren¡¯t you in a trance so blurring your vision?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not. I didn¡¯t dare to do so. I really saw a shadow heading for the woods.¡± The carter exined.

    ¡°Fine.¡± Qin Yunuan subconsciously had a nce at the woods. She saw nothing in the ck birch woods from which only some chilly wind blew. ¡°Keep going. We¡¯re already left behind.¡±

    Several servants and eunuchs pulled out the carriage from the puddle to the road together. At that time, Leng Changxi, who rode a tall horse, came back to check what happened. Seeing that Qin Yunuan held the umbre and stood in the rain, he said worriedly, ¡°What happened? Is everything ok? You are still weak, and you¡¯d better not get wet.¡± After finishing his sentence, Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t help peeking at Qin Yunuan¡¯s belly. Logically speaking, Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t be pregnant, but what if there was an exception? Or maybe it was because they had sex frequently? Anyhow, he was always expecting a baby.

    Leng Changxi wore a suit of silver armor and a silver helmet. Without an umbre, the ck feather on the helmet, a symbol of General, was already wet. Raindrops fell on his mask and dripped along the mask curve to converge at his chin into a drop whichter fell to the ground.

    ¡°There are not enough rooms in the pce. As I arranged, you will live near Princess Fu so that you two can take care of each other.¡± Leng Changxi held the rein tightly and turned around slightly to look at Qin Yunuan. Having a strong waist, he was able to bend down to kiss Qin Yunuan on her forehead.

    Qin Yunuan nodded and gave a gentle smile to Leng Changxi who deliberately put her to stay with Yuzhao who was also pregnant, rather than Princess Ning. He must have taken many considerations into ount.

    Back to the carriage, Qin Yunuan watched that Leng Changxi gradually disappeared in the rain and she even believed that maybe, she really carried a baby now.

    The pce was also grand and splendid but supplies there were limited. Besides, so many people had flooded there. As a result, the pce was as noisy as street markets, full of hustle and bustle, although everything went smoothly. Nobles at lower status or from less prestigious families were not taken good care of, but Qin Yunuan was.

    It was partly because Qin Yuzhao would look after her in secret, and more importantly, servants all knew Qin Yunuan was the beloved wife of General Leng, and they had spared no effort to sever her.

    Before midnight when everyone was worried about whether the earthquake would happen, Qin Yunuan heard a light sounding from the roof.

    ¡°Leng Shuang.¡± Qin Yunuan called Leng Shuang who guarded at the door and then held her breath, ¡°Listen. Someone is on the roof.¡±

    Just a nce, Leng Shuang understood what Qin Yunuan wanted to express. She leveraged her genuine energy to check whether there were martial arts masters on the roof. Then she shook her head, which meant that she didn¡¯t sense a martial arts master.

    Out of a sudden, a loud bang came to them. It seemed that a heavy object had fallen to the ground from the roof. It was especially harsh amid the pitter-patter sound of the rain.

    Leng Shuang made a decision quickly. She held the hilt of the sword tied to her waist and rushed out of the room. Qin Yunuan put on a piece of clothes and followed her. She thought Leng Shuang would have a fierce fight with the people falling down. However, when she came out, she saw Leng Shuang standing and pointing to the throat of a man in a singlet whoy on the ground with her sword. The man was covered with mud and was almost wet. He had gray hair and might be in his 50s or 60s. The naughty smile on his face didn¡¯t match his wrinkles, and he looked like an old urchin.

    ¡°Who are you? Why do you stay on the room roof under which our Third Young Madam lives at midnight? Who asks you to do so?¡± Leng Shuang asked many sharp questions but then shut up because of the man¡¯s loud fart.

    The fart was not only loud but also smelly. Leng Shuang turned around a little and covered her nose. But the sword was still pointed to the throat of the man.

    Qin Yunuan was also sick of the awful smell. The old man, however, stretched and saidcently, ¡°In terms of farts, nobody canpare to me. Give you a piece of advice. Don¡¯t hold yourself back. Just throw up if you want to. If you can¡¯t, I can give you a prescription which allows you to vomit for three consecutive days.¡±

    The old man¡¯s words irritated Leng Shuang who then looked sharper and moved the sword, nning to give a fatal attack to the old man.

    ¡°Wait.¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly had new findings. ¡°Leng Shuang, part his hair and show his face.¡±

    Leng Shuang poked at his hair with a soft sword. The old man was dirty and covered with mud, but his face gradually became clear after being washed by the rain. Seeing the old man¡¯s face, Qin Yunuan was surprised, not suspicious anymore.

    ¡°You are a famous doctor, Sun Miaoyang.¡± Qin Yunuan blurted out. ¡°Leng Shuang, help him up.¡±

    Sun Miaoyang was a household name in Qi, and he was as famous as Gui Lingzi, a well-known augur. However, unlike Gui Lingzi who escaped from the worldly hustle to cultivate himself, Sun Miaoyang, a glutton, traveled around frequently to search for delicacies. In his trip, he would treat patients from time to time and recruit multiple disciples. There were batches of stories about how Doctor Sun cured seriously ill patients. Su Chenghai, Qin Yunuan¡¯s cousin, was one of Doctor Sun¡¯s disciples.

    Sun Miaoyang stilly on the ground like a rascal. Supporting his head with his arm and crossing his legs, he smiled at Qin Yunuan, ¡°Little girl. I didn¡¯t expect you to remember me.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was not mad at the casual way how Sun Miaoyang spoke. ¡°Ten years ago, Mr. Sun, you once came to my family and praised Young Master Su who temporarily lived there for his talent. You wanted him to learn from you. I remember this clearly.¡± Unexpectedly, Su Chenghai,ter, really became Sun Miaoyang¡¯s disciple. Nevertheless, Sun Miaoyang had numerous disciples, and it was unknown whether he remembered Su Chenghai.

    ¡°You are talking about Chenghai, right?¡± Sun Miaoyang smacked. ¡°Chenghai is my most talented and hard-working disciple. But he is also the most stupid and spoony one.¡± When Sun Miaoyang said ¡°spoony,¡± his eyes twinkled. Su Chenghai¡¯s friends all knew that he had loved Qin Yunuan for over ten years, let alone his master who he stayed with every day.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for his death.¡± This was what Qin Yunuan could only say and do.

    ¡°No need to feel sorry.¡± Sun Miaoyang straightened suddenly and ran to Qin Yunuan quickly. He held her hands tightly, ¡°It¡¯s notte. As long as you go with me to a ce, you will not feel sorry.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Sun, please don¡¯t.¡± Leng Shuang stopped him, ¡°Third Young Madam is pregnant. Mr. Sun, you should be careful.¡±

    ¡°Pregnant?¡± Sun Miaoyang stopped and twisted his wrist to check Qin Yunuan¡¯s pulse. Shortly, he frowned and looked serious.

 Chapter 161 Hoodoo

    <h4>Chapter 161 Hoodoo</h4>

    Sun Miaoyang frowned. He checked Qin Yunuan¡¯s expression repeatedly and asked Qin Yunuan to show him her tongue. After a careful inspection, he said sincerely, ¡°Girl, did you recently eat something that you shouldn¡¯t?¡±

    Qin Yunuan shook her head. Seeing Sun Miaoyang looking troubled, she said openly, ¡°Doctor Sun, just tell me what¡¯s wrong.¡±

    ¡°If you didn¡¯t eat anything by mistake, then someone must have drugged you.¡± Sun Miaoyang nodded. ¡°Any normal doctor could tell that your pulse shows a sign of pregnancy. However, it¡¯s just part of it. Let me put it this way. Five percent of your pulse is weak. Apparently, you¡¯re drugged with agrimony.¡±

    ¡°Agrimony?¡± Qin Yunuan asked in confusion, ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°Agrimony is a precious herb from the remote areas of West Xia. Few people know about it, fewer could get hold of it. The local women use this herb on skincare. Although it has the effect of maintaining youth and beauty, it has some side effects, just like pregnancy. Not only would there be morning sickness, but even the pulses are the same. If I hadn¡¯t known about this herb, I couldn¡¯t tell the problem in your pulse.¡±

    After Sun Miaoyang finished exining, he asked Qin Yunuan cautiously, ¡°Girl, did you cross some big shots? Agrimony is extremely rare. Apart from people like me who deal with herbs for many years or those with years of street experiences, no one knows the use of the herb.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Qin Yunuan tilted her head to hide her anxiety, but the first person who came to her mind was Guo Shidong. That was because he was the first one who found out that she was ¡°pregnant.¡± However, they had never met before, why would he do that? Or actually, they had. Qin Yunuan shivered. Guo Shidong had been wearing a mask all this time, and no one had ever seen his face. Or actually, he was trying to hide the fact that everyone had seen his face before.

    ¡°Leng Shuang,¡± Qin Yunuan decisively ordered Leng Shuang against her ear, ¡°I want to know the truth in three days.¡±

    Leng Shuang bit her lips. It was quite a tough task that Qin Yunuan gave her, but the only thing she could do was to try her best.

    Seeing Qin Yunuan so decisive and powerful, Sun Miaoyang couldn¡¯t help but eximed, ¡°Apparently, you aren¡¯t the little girl Chenghai always thought about. You¡¯ve grown, and you¡¯re quite powerful now.¡±

    Qin Yunuan forced a smile and said, ¡°Here¡¯s a side room. If Doctor Sun don¡¯t mind, you can stay here first.¡±

    Sun Miaoyang carefully stared at Qin Yunuan for quite a while, before he suddenly returned to a childish manner, ¡°Sure, sure! I¡¯ve been to the pces of Qi, West Xia and North Di. Why should I care? I feel just like home being here.¡±

    Just when Sun Miaoyang finished his sentence, the earth started shaking tremendously, as if a dragon underneath was awake and was about to break itself free. A pavilion built on a far-away hill was beginning to copse. They could even see the mountains in the distance starting to sink. The shaking of earth was bing more and more drastic. Qin Yunuan knew that it was the earthquake.

    ¡°Nuan.¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s figure suddenly appeared by the courtyard door. The strong shock made it hard for him to walk. Seeing Qin Yunuan covering her head, he tried his best to run towards her. Meanwhile, Sun Miaoyang was nowhere to be found.

    ¡°Nuan, don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m here.¡± Leng Changxi closely protected Qin Yunuan in his arms. While he was running, his ankle was cut by a rock, with blood oozing from the wound. However, Leng Changxi seemed not to have noticed. He hugged Qin Yunuan tighter in his arms, as he was afraid that Qin Yunuan would get hurt at all.

    Crash, a rock fell on Leng Changxi¡¯s back heavily. The muffled sound was daunting.

    ¡°Honey, your shoulder¡¯s bleeding.¡± Qin Yunuan hurriedly tried to cover the bleeding wound for Leng Changxi, but she couldn¡¯t even stand firmly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Squat, it¡¯s better this way.¡± Leng Changxi was squatting in an open area, holding Qin Yunuan in his arms, who was unable to stand to her feet. His big hands were like a helmet, protecting Qin Yunuan¡¯s head, as heforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Nuan. I¡¯m here. Everything¡¯s going to be fine.¡±

    The earthquake happened suddenly and ended suddenly, like a storm. However, after the disaster, everything was a mess. Luckily, it took seven years to build the pce, and its structure was incredibly solid. Apart from the damage of nts in the garden, the most damaged buildings were only half-tilted but not copsed. Most of the people weren¡¯t hurt at all apart from the mental shock.

    Looking at the mess after the earthquake, Qin Yunuan became heavy in the mood. She knew that as soon as the emperor ordered to evacuate the pce overnight, Leng Changxi had sent people to evacuate the residents of the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, including nurse Liao and Baochuan. But what about the normal citizens in the royal city?

    Soon, people from the Leng Army came to report the loss of the earthquake. ¡°General, we¡¯ve done the headcount. There¡¯s a total of 531 people. There are 301 pce servant girls and eunuchs, all safe apart from a few who risked their lives to protect their masters. The other 230 are officials and nobles. It¡¯s just that....¡±

    ¡°Say it.¡± Leng Changxi held back the pain on his back, and his nce was still sharp and focused as always.

    ¡°It¡¯s just that more than half of the officials and nobles tried to retrieve their properties during the earthquake, and more than twenty of them get hurt. The more severe ones have their arms and legs hurt by the falling rocks.¡±

    ¡°Alright, dismiss. Everything will go on as nned. General Shang will be in charge of the east and west gates, while Leng Wu will be in charge of the south and north gates.¡± Leng Changxi managed to hold himself together until he finished giving every detailed order. Then, he leant towards Qin Yunuan weakly and said, ¡°Nuan, let me take a rest. I¡¯m a bit tired.¡±

    Qin Yunuan held Leng Changxi in her arms in distress, and she wanted to soothe him by patting his back. However, she felt some thick and sticky liquid. When she raised her hand to check it out, she found that her fingertips were stained with blood.

    ¡°Honey, honey, wake up!¡± Qin Yunuan shook the slightly dazed Leng Changxi. He lost so much blood and got hit by rocks on the ankle and the shoulder. Normal people would have passed out already. However, Leng Changxi held on for that long just because he wanted to protect Qin Yunuan, even risking his own life.

    Right then, Maner and Ting Xue came from the side room. As soon as they saw what happened, they became extremely anxious as well.

    ¡°Go, go find Doctor Sun.¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly reminded that there was a legendary doctor in the courtyard, she couldn¡¯t waste it.

    Maner and Ting Xue still didn¡¯t know about Sun Miaoyang¡¯s visit yet, but they understood as soon as they listened to Qin Yunuan¡¯s exnation.

    Soon, the unkempt Sun Miaoyang, looking even dirtier than before, was brought to Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Save him.¡± Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t say anything redundant.

    Sun Miaoyang rolled his rascally eyes and took a nce at Leng Changxi¡¯s arm and gasped, ¡°Tsk-tsk-tsk, his arm is dislocated, and the bone at his ankle is exposed. It¡¯s not hard to save him, but I¡¯ve not been saving someone for too long, and I¡¯m not used to it now. It would be easy for me to kill him though.¡± After he finished, he pretended that he wanted to twist Leng Changxi¡¯s neck but was stopped by Maner and Ting Xue.

    ¡°I¡¯m not pleading you. I¡¯m demanding you. Doctor Sun, you have to save my husband.¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s nce is filled with irresistible aggressiveness.

    ¡°Nope.¡± Sun Miaoyang turned his head sideways, ¡°I¡¯m here just because I want to see how the girl, whom my silly apprentice loved for so long, looks like. I¡¯m not here to save someone¡¯s life for you for free.¡±

    Old urchins wouldn¡¯t change their decisions easily. Qin Yunuan narrowed her eyes and suddenly drew a dagger from her waist, as long as a palm and as thin as paper. The moment that Sun Miaoyang raised his head, she put the dagger against Sun Miaoyang¡¯s neck. If Sun Miaoyang dared to move, the sharp dagger could easily slit his skin.

    Leng Changxi deliberately gave this dagger to Qin Yunuan so that she could protect herself. As the dagger was light and thin, people wouldn¡¯t notice even if she hides it on her.

    Sun Miaoyang finally yielded. He wasn¡¯t really afraid of Qin Yunuan, but he was shocked by the firmness in her eyes. He knew that the masked weirdo was irreceable to this little girl.

    An earthquake, a mess. After Sun Miaoyang cleared up Leng Changxi¡¯s wound, he had disappeared again. Right when Qin Yunuan sent Qin Yuzhao¡¯s servant girl, who came to ask about the situation, away, Maner came from the other side in a panic.

    ¡°Something¡¯s wrong. Something¡¯s happened to the emperor.¡± Maner said in a hurry, ¡°After the earthquake, the suspicious Taoist appeared again, saying that it was a disaster that he expected. He also said that it was all because of the Seventh Prince, and he is now asking the emperor to send the Seventh Prince on exile as far away from Qi as possible.¡±

    Guo Shidong, he¡¯s here again. Qin Yunuan stroked her abdomen. She was extremely suspicious about the identity of this Guo Shidong.

    When Qin Yunuan arrived at the main hall, Xuanyuan Hall of the Vacation Pce, the tension inside was red-hot. She clenched the thing she was tightly holding in her hands, took a deep breath, and saw the scene when she walked in.

    Emperor Zhaoxuan walked down the hall furiously and pped the Seventh Prince Sima Qiu on the face a couple of times in front of countless nobles and officials. Sima Qiu was kneeling on the ground and knocked to the ground by the ps. The sixteen-year-old young man was extremely not reconciled, and his eyes were full of viciousness.

    ¡°You Hoodoo! I shouldn¡¯t have listened to the officials¡¯ advice to take you back.¡±

    This time, the party led by Minister Liu dared not say an extra word.

    Just then, Eunuch You serving the emperor came in to report in a hurry, ¡°Your Majesty, Infanta Ping wants to see you. She said that she has some important information that is rted to everyone in the world.¡±

 Chapter 162 Exposure

    <h4>Chapter 162 Exposure</h4>

    ¡°Come in.¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan frowned. Actually, Emperor Zhaoxuan felt so embarrassed about the suggestion proposed by Guo Shidong. His child had been spoiled since childhood. If his child was expelled out of Qi, he must be in deadly danger.

    At this moment, Qin Yunuan came in slowly. In the eyes of Sima Ray, she was like a small delicate frightened bird, which attracted others to give much love.

    ¡°Your Majesty, her Majesty.¡± The Queen Mother was not present. She got frightened and had a rest in her chamber.

    Qin Yunuan nced at Sima Qiu who was kneeling beside her. She could clearly see the fingerprints on his face, and then she said in a grave voice, ¡°I have something to show you, your majesty.¡±

    The eunuch passed the handkerchief which was held by Qin Yunuan to the emperor at once. Something inside was tightly wrapped, and it was hard to guess what it is inside.

    Emperor Zhaoxuan glimpsed at it and just waved his hands. He had no much energy to figure out much and just indicated Eunuch You to open the handkerchief. The eunuch just shook the handkerchief lightly, and then two silvery needles fell out of the handkerchief on the ground. The ringing sound of falling silvery needles was very clear in the pce.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan looked at the silvery needle, which was then put on a crystal te and asked. The silvery needle was about middle-finger-sized, as tiny as the cow hair.

    Qin Yunuan nced at people present, and said with a smile, ¡°It seemed that my husband came to save me when the earthquake happened. But he was hit by giant stones and then got faint due to excessive bleeding. Luckily, my maidservant knew some medicinal knowledge. She found by incident that there were two silvery needles stabbed deeply into the cervical vertebra of my husband when she was treating him, which was hard to find by eyes from outside. We figured out finally that the two needles were used to block two main vessels of my husband, which aimed to make him faint after he got injured and bled.¡±

    Emperor Zhaoxuan stunned, ¡°How dare the attacker deliberately hurt the Grand General of Qi.¡±

    Qin Yunuan sneered in her heart. And then she looked at Guo Shidong, who stood beside the emperor, ¡°My husband is always robust and won¡¯t get faint just by stones. The two silvery needles are the key point. It is clear that the attacker not only knows well that my husband practices every day, but also masters the unpopr knowledge. I think among those people who I know, there is only one person who can do it except a man.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡±

    The words of Qin Yunuan had attracted the attention of all people in the court. She stepped forward and raised her head, ¡°He is my elder brother. The son of the legal wife of the Mansion of Grand Commandant, Qin Linfeng.¡±

    ¡°Your brother left a letter and has run away from home,¡± Qin Zhi said gloomily, ¡°Now you get strong. How dare you disgrace Qin Family?¡±

    Qin Yunuan even did not glimpse at Qin Zhi, ¡°No, my elder brother has never left. In other words, he is at the Royal City all the time with us. Besides, he is standing in the court.¡± Qin Yunuan said while she was walking toward Guo Shidong. Guo Shidong, though wore a mask, had expressed the cold and gloomy temperament from each pore of his body.

    After they could not hide their eyes, Qin Yunuan smiled to the talented Mr. Guo, who just appeared for only one day but had stirred up the whole royal family in a mess, ¡°Brother, long time no see. How are you?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand what Infanta Ping said just now,¡± Guo Shidong glimpsed at Qin Yunuan and turned his head, ¡°I have heard about the Grand Young Master of Qin Family. Infanta Ping and the Grand Commandant Qin, I also feel so sorry for the uninformed leaving of the Grand Young Master of Qin Family.¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised her eyes slightly. Without the information of Leng Shuang, Qin Yunuan would not make sure that Guo Shidong was Qin Linfeng. As her n, she just indicated Leng Shuang to investigate within three days Guo Shidong¡¯s residence in the Royal City and the people he had connected. But to her surprise, Guo Shidong followed secretly the troops of the nobles who left the Royal City and went to the pce nearby, and then he entered the pce secretly. He did not go to visit the emperor and the Third Prince Sima Ray, who was very intimate with him, but only went to the outside of the chamber of Qin Yunzhuang.

    ¡°The healer said Guo Shidong stood outside the chamber for the whole night. When the earthquake happened, he almost rushed into the chamber to save the Grand Prince¡¯s Wife. I guess that because he knew that he was not the imperial member, so he did not enter the chamber and then left.¡±

    In the whole world, there was only one person who treated so well to Qin Yunzhuang. The person was dead in front of her and Qin Yunuan. But surprisingly, all was a y conducted by Sima Ray. He let Qin Yunzhuang believe that Qin Linfeng had died, which could break all the hope of Qin Yunzhuang. To think more deeply, Sima Ray was likely to have known Qin Yunuan and Leng Shuang had hidden behind at that moment, but he did not mind that two more audiences were there.

    As for the son of Minister Liu who was the dead body, he was so hapless. His body height and shape were the same as Qin Linfeng, and he wore simr clothespared with Qin Linfeng. Thus, he was used as the corpse substitute of Qin Linfeng. Sima Ray must let everybody believe that Qin Linfeng had died. However, the careful Leng Changxi found the trick during the n of Sima Ray.

    In the beginning, Qin Yunuan doubted that Qin Linfeng was not dead. And with the information of Leng Shuang, now she could make sure that behind the mask of Guo Shidong, the man was Qin Linfeng.

    ¡°The Taoist Priest, please take off your mask.¡±

    ¡°No way,¡± Sima Ray suddenly stood up, ¡°The mask of the Taoist Priest was put on by his master Gui Lingzi personally. His master had done a fortelling for the Taoist Priest that if he left the mountain, he would have a bad misfortune. If he wanted to get away from the misfortune, he must wear a mask all the time. If he took off the mask, he would die immediately. Infanta Ping, don¡¯t tell a joke with the life of the Taoist Priest.¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked at Guo Shidong, and he nodded lightly, ¡°Yes, he is right. Infanta Ping, if you really suspect my identity, you can ask the official who was dispatched by the emperor to visit my master. He saw me and knew my identity. I am the real disciple of Gui Lingzi, not the Grand Young Master of Qin Family.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s easy,¡± Qin Yunuan had figured out the plots and tricks between Guo Shidong and Sima Ray, ¡°Well, my elder brother has a deep rtionship with my elder sister. Third Prince and the Taoist Priest, if you do not mind, I can invite my elder sister toe here. Without face recognition, she can recognize if the Taoist Priest was my elder brother just by close observation.¡±

    As expected, the moment Qin Yunuan mentioned Qin Yunzhunag, Guo Shidong shuddered clearly. Guo Shidong kept calm all the time but felt touched only when he heard about the name of Qin Yunzhuang.

    At this moment, an imperial maidservant rushed in the court. She was the maidservant of Qin Yunzhuang, Caiyue.

    ¡°Third Prince, Third Prince, something bad happened. The Third Prince¡¯s Wife was hit by a falling stone in the rockery. Now she got faint and bled excessively.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Guo Shidong and Sima Ray said simultaneously.

    Sima Ray quickly found the conspicuous reaction of Guo Shidong. He was about to remind Guo Shidong, who paid much attention to the injured Qin Yunzhuang, but Guo Shidong got absent-minded. Just in a sh, Qin Yunuan stepped back and shouted, ¡°Leng Shuang.¡±

    At this moment, a purple body shed across with silvery lights and then took off the mask of Guo Shidong, who was absent-minded. The ck mask fell on the ground with a weird sound.

    For the first time, the real face of Guo Shidong was exposed in front of all people here. But just in a sh, they all felt shocked. The face of Guo Shidong was not normal. His face turned so blurred and was covered by many skin ulcers and scars. His nose was no longer raised but copsed like a deep hole, which was so frightening.

    Unlike ordinary people who must retreat due to the scary face, Qin Yunuan suddenly shouted before everybody calmed down, ¡°Leng Wu.¡±

    Leng Shuang cooperated with Leng Wu, and nobody could resist their attack in a short time. Leng Wu shed into the court, holding a bottle of medicine water, and then he poured it into the face of the frightening Guo Shidong. Immediately, those scars and skin ulcers fell on the ground, and quickly the glossy half face was disclosed.

    ¡°This is the medicine water that is used to resolve the skin mask. Elder brother, I remember that you told me that you had 1000 methods to kill me by your abundant knowledge which was gained when you traveled outside. But unluckily, you are too weak.¡±

    The skin mask on the face of Guo Shidong had been resolvedpletely while Qin Yunuan was speaking. As expected, everybody here was astonished. The face of the Grand Young Master of Qin Family could prove well the real identity of Guo Shidong.

    ¡°How dare you!¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan got outrageous and stood suddenly, ¡°Qin Zhi, is he your well-educated son? You are the Grand Commandant of the imperial court and a good example of all officials. Is he your qualified son? He is even deceiving me!¡±

    At this moment, Qin Yunzhuang, in a simple dress, showed up in the court with her tousy and untidied hair. Qin Yunzhuang was frightened by the earthquake and just slept with a bad grace under theforting of the imperial maidservant. She rushed into here when she heard a big thing happened. She could not help but cry when she saw Qin Linfeng standing in the middle of the court.

    ¡°Brother, are you alive? Are you really alive? On that day, I saw you....¡± Qin Yunzhuang knew she said something wrong because she should not tell others the trace of Third Prince or she would die distressingly.

    The Third Prince exactly expressed his surprise. He said doubtfully, ¡°Impossible! Master Guo, no! Grand Young Master Qin, howe you? Father, I was cheated by him. I don¡¯t know Qin Linfeng pretended to be Master Guo.¡±

    The whole scene was in a mess. Qin Linfeng looked at Qin Yunzhuang who he had not seen for a long time. He missed her very much but felt confused, ¡°Yunzhuang, did you got hurt? Why do youe here?¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang shook her head, ¡°I did not get hurt. I was well protected by my servants when the earthquake. I am OK.¡±

    Qin Linfeng turned his eyes to Qin Yunuan and said with overwhelming outrageous eyes, ¡°Qin Yunuan, I am gonna kill you!¡±

 Chapter 163 Killed by a Single Stroke

    <h4>Chapter 163 Killed by a Single Stroke</h4>

    It was Qin Yunuan who killed his mother, made his beloved sister marry the double-dealer Prince Ray and forced him to y dead and go incognito with the mask. And now, she had driven him into a corner. The hatred would kill him if he did not avenge himself on her and hack her to pieces.

    Qin Linfeng took out two poisoned darts hidden in the sleeve and shot at Qin Yunuan right away. Leng Wu and Leng Shuang took actions at once and shielded the darts easily. They did not find that there was another dart in Qin Linfeng¡¯s sleeve until they saw the sinister smile on his face, which showed that he cared little about life or death. Missing the chance, they could do nothing but watch the dart shooting at Qin Yunuan.

    However, after a crack, the one who fell down to the ground was Qin Linfeng, the third dart inserted right into his chest, the spot where his heart was.

    Outside the hall stood Leng Changxi, who appeared quietly in a set of fluttering white clothes. He was standing sideways, holding a colorful marble with his fingers, which should be the gift for Baochuan that he had made a promise to him before leaving. The marble was the reason why the poisoned dart was rebound back to Qin Linfeng. Now, the yellow marble was jumping on the ground.

    Cheng Changxi¡¯s movement was as fast as the mechanical dart in Qin Linfeng¡¯s sleeve.

    ¡°Brother!¡± Qin Yunzhuang cried hard when she saw Qin Linfeng falling down rigidly. She dashed to his dead body regardless of all consequences. Her tears mixed up with the dark blood gushing out of Qin Linfeng¡¯s chest, which made it a mess.

    Getting the wink of Sima Ray, Liu Bao stepped forward and pulled Qin Yunzhuang up from Qin Linfeng¡¯s dead body.

    ¡°Third Prince¡¯s Wife, you are at the front of His Royal Highness. The one you are holding was the sinner who fooled with His Royal Highness and was to be put to death,¡± Liu Bao warned Qin Yunzhuang beside her ears in a low voice.

    Overwhelmed by distress, Qin Yunzhuang actually threw herself down at Qin Zhi¡¯s feet and begged, ¡°Father, you have to bring fair back to brother! He was plotted by that wicked woman! You have to take revenge for him!¡± Well, ¡°the wicked woman¡± that she mentioned should be Qin Yunuan.

    Qin Yunuan shook her head. Qin Yunzhuang was too stupid. Did she not know about Qin Zhi? Compared with a dead son, he would definitely choose his remaining reputation.

    ¡°Do you have anything else to say, Grand Commandant Qin?¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan said with a drawl. Obviously, he was disying his strength.

    With a nce at the dead body of his son and his daughter who was holding his leg, Qin Zhi ground his teeth and forced the words, ¡°It was my poor parenting that had led to all this thing. Linfeng deserved to be executed, and I do not have anything to say.¡±

    ¡°Father,¡± Qin Yunzhuang looked desperate. At this moment, she realized that the one who cared about her most was not her mother or her blinded father. It was her brother, the one who died in front of her. ¡°I hate you, father. I hate you forever!¡± She then pushed Qin Zhi away with all her force. Qin Zhi stumbled back suddenly and barely stood with the help of the Left Chancellor Shangguan Yuan, who was squinting andughing grimly at him.

    That did not work off Emperor Zhaoxuan¡¯s anger. Seeing the corpse of Qin Linfeng, he ordered, ¡°Drag this cheater¡¯s body to the wilderness. No one shall bury him.¡±

    Qin Zhi shuddered and then calmed down. Only Qin Yunzhuang cried and begged to Emperor Zhaoxuan, ¡°I beg your mercy, father, please! Though my brother cheated you, his prediction of the earthquake was right that he saved many lives. Please don¡¯t do that to him, for he had done something good.¡±

    ¡°I have something to report about the earthquake.¡± Now, Leng Changxi had stepped into the hall, his pale face being covered by the mask, ¡°Bring all the men we caught at the foot of the hill.¡±

    It did not take long before a dozen of men whose wrists were tied up in series showed up. They all dressed in ck with ck clothes hanging around their necks, which were used to cover their faces. The two of them still had dynamites around their waists.

    Leng Changxi ripped the dynamites down and exposed the niter and sulfur filled in them. Such a bag of dynamite would explode a building with a front and a back yard easily. ¡°That¡¯s why there was an earthquake,¡± Leng Changxi sneered.

    Some people did not understand. So Leng Changxi exined slowly, ¡°That there would be an earthquake was fake news that intended to get us to the pce. Dynamites were set under some key spots of the hill to make andslide so that we would believe it to be true. It was very easy toplete the deception. They just need to cut down some trees and ruin some houses on our way home, and we would surely believe that there was an earthquake in the Royal City.¡±

    ¡°So there¡¯s no earthquake?¡± A minister asked boldly.

    ¡°Yes, there is no earthquake.¡± Leng Changxi stared at Sima Ray during this time. ¡°Besides, Guo Shidong, or we may say Qin Linfeng, must have some connection with the people in the imperial pce. Or else, he would not know about His Royal Highness so well. Not only do they want to crack down the Seventh Prince, but they also want your Royal Highness and all the ministers to believe that Guo Shidong is a master that could tell the future so that they would do more things.¡±

    Emperor Zhaoxuan was so angry that his strike on the armrest made the decoration on the throne shake. ¡°I was actually fooled by this trick? Check it out! I need to know who it was that yed a part in the vile actions with the gaslighting Grand Young Master Qin.¡±

    Right at this time, Qin Yunzhuang got agitated, ¡°Father, please, please let my brother off! He is dead now. Please leave him a whole body.¡± She could not stand that her beloved brother¡¯s corpse was to be thrown away in the wilderness.

    ¡°Liu Bao, drag her away.¡± Sima Ray ordered in a sharp and impatient tone, ¡°She shall never get out of the courtyard without my permission,¡± and then he asked Emperor Zhaoxuan for pardon, ¡°It was my fault that I did not keep an eye on my wife, I beg your pardon, father.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang was dragged away by Liu Bao and several eunuchs, and the dead body of Qin Linfeng was taken away by some servants while the blood on the ground being cleaned. When all this finished, Qin Yunuan looked at the Seventh Prince Sima Qiu, who was kneeling all the time without saying anything. He looked calm, but the fingerprint on his face still remind everyone of what he had gone through.

    ¡°I heard that the so-called Master Guo was your advisor?¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan said coldly.

    With a quiver, Sima Ray kneeled at once and answered in an earnest way, ¡°Father, please listen to me! I did appreciate the skill of Guo Shidong, but I had no idea of who he really was. Nor did I know about his vicious intention.¡±

    ¡°Humph, you said you didn¡¯t know, but many among the men in ck that I¡¯ve caught are disciples of your personal servant Liu Bao.¡± While speaking, Leng Changxi pointed at some of these people casually, ¡°This one, this one, and the one next to thest, do you know them, Eunuch Liu?¡±

    For Sima Ray, Liu Bao was quite a help that he had assisted him to do many secret evil things, but now....

    Sima Ray cast a cold nce at Liu Bao suddenly.

    ¡°Third...¡± Before he finished, he was kicked to the ground by Sima Ray who was trampling on his chest that he could barely say anything for the pain.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never wronged you. And how could you betray your own patron and collude with other people to fool father? I have no reason to leave you.¡± Sima Ray got so exasperated that he even drew the sword of a nearby armed servant to behead Liu Bao.

    ¡°Calm down, Prince Ray.¡± Leng Changxi took hold of Sima Ray¡¯s arm all of a sudden. They stared at each other eye to eye, one being angry and the other being sharp and calm. ¡°Things have not been sorted out. Wouldn¡¯t you be too rash to behead him?¡±

    Sima Ray¡¯s eyesight froze, but then he spoke up, ¡°Not only did this flunky cheated on me, but he also ruined the birthday banquet of grandma. I¡¯m afraid that he¡¯s too unbridled.¡±

    Seeing the knitted eyebrows of Emperor Zhaoxuan, Empress Chen tried tofort him with a tender voice, ¡°Your Majesty, Ray just chose the wrong man and was cheated by him. But he intended to find the capable person for you. He meant to bring blessings to Qi and your sovereignty.¡±

    ¡°Humph, sovereignty,¡± Imperial Concubine Yun sneered, ¡°Now, Prince Ray had made a mess of the sovereignty.¡±

    ¡°Shut up.¡± That was the first time that Emperor Zhaoxuan talked so tough to Imperial Concubine Yun. She shouldn¡¯t have added fuel to the mes as the matter had gotten into such a mess.

    ¡°Bring them away,¡± Leng Changxi threw off Sima Ray¡¯s arm very hard. After Liu Bao, whose hands were still on the chest, was dragged off by Leng Wu and the other two subordinates, he cupped his hands to Emperor Zhaoxuan and then said, ¡°Please rest your heart, your Majesty. I will continue the investigation strictly and not let any maniptor off.¡±

    Sima Ray¡¯s heart strained. But he felt a little reassured when he saw Liu Bao who was suffering from the great pain. He was confident of his strike that Liu Bao would have no chance to speak before being questioned by Leng Changxi. That was him, one who was extremely cruel and merciless that would leave no room for others.

    Undoubtedly, the Seventh Prince Sima Qiu became the most innocent people in this mess. As he was quiet during this time, Emperor Zhaoxuan felt more guilty towards this son that he had not seen for years.

    Sima Qiu was taken back for recovery, and other guests all went back to their ces to take a rest before returning to the Royal City. Leng Changxi was not as exhausted as before. Thanks to the sharp eyes of Sun Miaoyang, the two silver needles did not cause much harm to him. The show that was put on by Qin Yunuan was to lower the guard of their enemies.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Maner suddenly asked Qin Yunuan on their way back.

 Chapter 164 A Crisis of the Mansion

    <h4>Chapter 164 A Crisis of the Mansion</h4>

    ¡°You have never minced your words. Speak straightly,¡± Qin Yunuan looked steadily forward without ncing at other sides.

    Maner cringed, ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Now that Doctor Sun has said Third Young Madam is having a fake pregnancy, why don¡¯t you me Grand Young Master, Guo Shidong, for the responsibility when you are facing the emperor? Third Young Madam, now your pulse condition implies your pregnancy which is not real. What will happen to you after ten months?¡±

    ¡°Are you worrying that if I miss the best opportunity to speak out the truth, more discussion will be aroused when it is revealedter?¡± Qin Yunuan hit the nail on the head.

    Maner nodded. Qin Yunuan sighed deeply, ¡°It¡¯s because I know that the one who drugged me with agrimony is not Qin Linfeng at all.¡± It¡¯s an easy conclusion to draw with careful thinking. Since Qin Linfeng worked for Prince Ray, his aim must be to remove obstacles for Prince Ray to be the crown price like the Grand Prince and the Seventh Prince. How would he involve someone without influence like Qin Yunuan? Besides, it was obvious that Sima Ray felt well-disposed toward her, looking forward to her renunciation of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion and Leng Changxi. How could he contradict himself by making Qin Yunuan have fake pregnancy?

    Therefore, Qin Yunuan could assert that there was someone else who drugged her with agrimony.

    In a pce in the east, when Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s servingdies were packing up for her before leaving, Sima Ray suddenly stormed in. He looked like an angry lion with red, aggressive eyes.

    ¡°Go! Get out of here!¡± Sima Ray drove away all the imperial maidservants, leaving only him and Qin Yunzhuang whose eyes were still red and swollen. ¡°Are you satisfied now?¡± Sima Ray whipped the tea ware on the small rosewood bedside tea table to the ground, ¡°I¡¯ve almost lost everything because of your foolishness. Why are you safe and intact now? Liu Bao is much more useful than you, but he is killed instead of you.¡±

    ¡°I...¡± Qin Yunzhuang clung to the edge of her bed, trembling, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it. I was just worried about my brother. He treated me so well and so carefully.¡±

    ¡°Of course, he did,¡± Sima Ray smiled in an extremely cold and horrifying way, ¡°You¡¯re his favorite woman. Maybe you still don¡¯t know, his love for you is beyond sibling affection. Dirty things alle out of your Qin Family! Fornication between brother and sister! I¡¯m telling you if you are disturbing me again, I don¡¯t mind let you die together with your good brother.¡± Finishing his words, Sima Ray kicked the bedside, making the curtain on the bedstead shake several times before leaving.

    ¡°Brother, I...¡± Qin Yunzhuang was stunned. She hadn¡¯te back to earth for a long time, murmuring Qin Linfeng continuously. Dead. He was totally dead. Why would she bear such pain for twice? Qin Yunuan, it was all your fault.

    Back to Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, nurse Liao had prepared water for washing feet for Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan to wash away their exhaustion.

    In the candlelight, Qin Yunuan looked at the basin of glistening water for washing feet within petals, lost in thought.

    ¡°What happened to Liu Bao?¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly asked Leng Changxi, who was opposite her with the same solemn look.

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t speak but shrugged his shoulders. Immediately, Qin Yunuan understood him, ¡°Dead?¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded, ¡°I knew he wouldn¡¯t survive in the first ce. However, his body is more useful to me. I studied his woundter, finding that the strength and way of attacking were the same as the ones when Jie Chen got a dislocated jaw in Wan¡¯an Temple. I doubted that Prince Ray and Hui An that time shared one teacher.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re so careful,¡± Qin Yunuan nodded, ¡°Others won¡¯t have such discrete observation and memory like you do.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± all of a sudden, Leng Changxi smiled mischievously and pinched Qin Yunuan¡¯s face which had be more and more round recently, with his eyes ncing her from head to toe, ¡°My observation and memory are always good. For example, I often remember that there is a butterfly-shaped birthmark on your left button, a fingernail-sized scar on the right side of your back, and...¡± Leng Changxi moved his eyes to Qin Yunuan¡¯s full breasts and said in a low, satisfied voice, ¡°and there is my bite mark.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s face flushed slightly. She thumped Leng Changxi softly with her hand clenched to a fist, ¡°All joking!¡±

    With a cheeky smile, Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t help kissing Qin Yunuan on her cheek. Counting the days, he hadn¡¯t touched his ¡°Little Hedgehog¡± for several days. A wave of heat attacked him as he pulled Qin Yunuan into his arms and held her across his chest with his big hands, walking directly towards the bed.

    After the lingering, Qin Yunuan panted slightly on Leng Changxi¡¯s chest. Face flushed, she drew circles slowly with her finger on Leng Changxi¡¯s chest when Maner knocked the door outside, ¡°Third Young Madam, your medicine is ready.¡±

    Each time after sex, a decoction of medicine nurturing the body was offered to Qin Yunuan ording to the tradition. This happened as soon as the second day after Qin Yunuan¡¯s marriage. It was made up of good materials in order to increase her chances of getting pregnant.

    ¡°Come in,¡± Qin Yunuan got up with a piece of clothes draped over her shoulders casually. Maner brought in the ck, thick decoction and exchanged a look quickly with Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°It¡¯s a little hot. Put it here. I¡¯ll drink itter,¡± Qin Yunuan raised her pitch on purpose.

    ¡°But the doctor has said that the hotter the decoction is, the more useful it will be. Third Young Madam, you¡¯d better drink it while it is still hot,¡± Maner chimed in. However, she poured it into a half-a-human-tall blue and white porcin bottle behind the door while she was speaking. She waited for a while before she curtseyed and left with the empty bowl.

    At this time, Leng Changxi draped a shirt over his shoulders and came from behind the folding screen. He held Qin Yunuan, whispering, ¡°Are you really going to let Sun Miaoyang live in the yard?¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded, ¡°It¡¯s good to keep Doctor Sun here. Without his warning, it will never ur to me that such kind of herb-like agrimony is added to the decoction that is used to nurture my body. But Doctor Sun also said that despite the false pregnancy it may cause, it is excellent to maintain the beauty and keep youth. So I¡¯ll take it as someone helped nourish me.¡±

    ¡®¡°How generous you are,¡± Leng Changxi bit Qin Yunuan¡¯s small earlobe gently. He really liked Qin Yunuan¡¯s confidence. How could his woman be out of mind and weep and wail endlessly when facing things?

    ¡°How good will it be if I¡¯m not generous?¡± Qin Yunuan selected a big round litchi from the fruit tray. She stripped off the crimson rind, squeezed out the pulp, and put it to Leng Changxi¡¯s mouth. Seeing he eat it with a smile, she also smiled, ¡°It¡¯s enough for me to have you. But it seems that there are two groups of people wanting to harm me. How ridiculous they are! One tries hard to put musk in my house to prevent me from getting pregnant. The other goes to great length to put agrimony in my decoction to cause my fake pregnancy. It¡¯s obvious that they are at two different levels. Fighting with thetter is more interesting and exciting.¡±

    ¡°You are crazy,¡± Leng Changxi kissed the corner of Qin Yunuan¡¯s mouth, whispering, ¡°but I like those who are crazy.¡±

    Early the next morning, Leng Changxi went out for his work. After Maner and Ting Xue helped Qin Yunuan clean up, Leng Shuang came to report.

    ¡°To Consort Cao¡¯s yard?¡± Qin Yunuan tied a flower-patterned fringe carefully to her waist. She had done many such fringes recently. Those servant girls and nannies all thought them pretty and asked for wearing. Almost everyone has one.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Leng Shuang curtseyed. After the conversation between Maner and Qin Yunuan, Leng Shuangy on the roof to watch the yard carefully. Before long, she found a little servant girl sneaked out of the yard at midnight. In the moonlight, she went to Consort Cao¡¯s yard in the west and talked to a nanny for a long time, looking ttering. She left after the time to burn out an incense.

    The consort of Prince Ning, Cao Shuxin, was born in a prominent family with three generations of ancestors as officials. She was very kind. Prince Ning loved her demureness much. She had a son named Leng Changxuan, who was going to marry the second daughter of the Qin Family, Qin Yuzhao, as his second wife. In the mansion, servants all kept silent about the death of the first wife of Second Master of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion as if it were a big secret. But it happened several years ago, so nobody cared about it.

    In the two months after Qin Yunuan¡¯s marriage, she never saw Consort Cao in the front. This was because Consort Cao had been worshipping the Buddha and abstaining from meat recently. She seldom went out and even rejected the invitation of the royal feast. However, her absence didn¡¯t mean that she didn¡¯t care about what happened in the mansion. Obviously, if the little servant girl belonged to Consort Cao, it implied that Consort Cao had been concerning about Qin Yunuan since her marriage.

    At this time, there was a strange servant girling to pass on a message. She said that Consort Cao had finished her fasting period. Now she invited all women in the mansion to her yard to appreciate the Begonia in autumn. So Consort Cao sent the servant girl to ask whether Third Young Madam would be present.

    It was really like ¡°talk to the devil.¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised her lips and answered in a passionate and sweet voice, ¡°I will go immediately.¡±

    ¡°Third Young Madam,¡± Leng Shuang scrupled.

    ¡°What are you worrying about? Do I worry that she will eat me?¡± Qin Yunuan ordered Maner and Ting Xue to select a more suitable piece of clothes for her. Wearing the clothes with the pattern of roses and Begonia, her ck hair was put into an upside-down bun. There was also a ruby and peony heart pendant on her ear, glittering and shining.

    The moment she reached Consort Cao¡¯s Qiu Ju Courtyard, she happened to meet Ruan Ruyi, who also came to appreciate the Begonia.

    ¡°Third Sister-inw, you look really beautiful today,¡± Ruan Ruyi hadn¡¯t greeted Qin Yunuan for a long time since the thingst time. Her enthusiasm must be the result of Leng Chang¡¯an¡¯s order.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Qin Yunuan nodded, smiled and said suddenly, ¡°Sister-inw, you smelled so sweet. What perfume is that? Musk?¡±

    Clearly, when Ruan Ruyi heard the word ¡°musk,¡± she trembled.

 Chapter 165 A Buddhaâ€™s Mouth but a Viperâ€™s Heart

    <h4>Chapter 165 A Buddha¡¯s Mouth but a Viper¡¯s Heart</h4>

    ¡°How could it be?¡± Ruan Ruyi shirked orally, but her facial expression became quite unnatural. Her hands were wringing the handkerchief under the sleeves, looking rather nervous, ¡°Third Sister-inw, didn¡¯t you know that married women should not take that incense with her?¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Qin Yunuan nced at Ruan Ruyi. She was quite sure that the one who put musk in her house belonged to Tang and Ruan Ruyi. However, seeing that Ruan Ruyi felt nervous about little things, she was no more than an essory criminal. Xie Ruying was only a helper. Qin Yunuan smiled at Ruan Ruyi, ¡°Now I know. Thank you for your reminding. Now that I am pregnant, when I¡¯m back, I will be very careful and examine everywhere.¡±

    ¡°Pregnant?¡± Ruan Ruyi was so surprised that she forgot about the manner and caught Qin Yunuan¡¯s sleeve directly, ¡°Are you pregnant?¡± It was impossible! With so much musk, how could she be pregnant?

    ¡°Yes,¡± Qin Yunuan replied happily, ¡°Yesterday, the royal doctor made a definite diagnosis in the pce. What? Haven¡¯t you heard about it?¡± How could she ever hear about it? Althoughst night Leng Changxi sent all rtives in the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion out of the Royal City and arranged them temporarily in a manor in the suburbs of the Royal City which belonged to Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion ording to Guo Shidong¡¯s prediction, all he did was to deceive the public so that Prince Ray and his people would lower their guard, thinking that even the famous General Leng believed Guo Shidong¡¯s words. But for what else happened, people like Ruan Ruyi knew nothing about it.

    ¡°Well. Congrattion to you,¡± Ruan Ruyi was a little absent-minded, looking disappointed. As the sister-inw in the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, it had been nearly three years since her marriage, but she showed no signal of getting pregnant. Since her husband was the legitimate son, she always wanted to get pregnant before others did and gave birth to a son, who would be, in this way, not a legitimate son but the eldest son. That was why she agreed on the method of Tang, her mother-inw, to prevent Qin Yunuan from getting pregnant as best as she could. Now she had run out of methods. She could only me herself for not getting pregnant quickly.

    Qin Yunuan gave out a small smile as bright as a sunflower, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that sister-inw has made friends with Miss Xie in the East Court. She will be present today. We can have a good talk.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Ruan Ruyi forced a smile. Xie Ruying¡¯s love for Leng Changxi was clear to everybody in the mansion. When she heard that Qin Yunuan was pregnant, she must be quite disappointed.

    With Ruan Ruyi in the front and Qin Yunuan following, they entered the Chrysanthemum Garden and heard the waves ofughter and cheerful voices in it.

    ¡°Aunt, the Begonia in your courtyard is so beautiful! There is also the most precious Green Begonia here. Prince indeed treats you well,¡± the ttering voice was familiar. By the form of address, it seemed to be Consort Cao¡¯s niece. However, Qin Yunuan had never heard there was such a person.

    There were lots of flowers in the garden, all of which were Begonias. Bright red ones, rose red ones and even the green ones supplied especially by West Xia, which cost much effort by gardeners in West Xia to develop such amazing color. Qin Yunuan only saw it from afar in the Royal Pce. To her surprise, it would also appear here.

    The flowers were beautiful, and the wind was gentle. Consort Cao wore the madder red bouffant. Bright color was not beneath her dignity but made her transcendent in the scenery. But the decoration on her hair was rather simple: a bead flower made by tortoiseshell agate and a pair of jade hair sp, which were what a person worshipping the Buddha should look like.

    Opposite Consort Cao, the one who was calling Consort Cao as ¡°aunt,¡± was nobody else but Dou Meishuang, whom Qin Yunuan had seen in the Qin Family. She was smiling so sweet that her eyes and eyebrows were all curved. There was no more upset that once appeared on her face when the Dou Family copsed, and she first came to the Royal City. She even greeted Qin Yunuan the moment she saw her, ¡°Third Young Madam, Grand Young Madam, youe.¡±

    ¡°My greetings, Consort Cao,¡± Ruan Ruyi and Qin Yunuan both curtseyed to Consort Cao.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be so polite. We are all families. There¡¯s no need to be so courteous.¡± Highly cultured and steeped in propriety, Consort Cao could easily gain good impressions from others. If Qin Yunuan hadn¡¯t known about agrimony, she would have liked Consort Cao.

    The moment everybody sat down, tea, fruit, and snacks were served to the table, in which sweet glutinous rice cakes were rather pretty. They were supposed to put right in front of Qin Yunuan, but Consort Cao asked servants to put the dish away from her.

    ¡°Now that you are pregnant and the glutinous rice was cold, you¡¯d better avoid having it,¡± that was her reason.

    Consort Cao said with a smile and much care in her voice. But all the guests were shocked.

    ¡°What?¡± Tang could hardly hide her surprise, ¡°Third Young Madam, are you pregnant? Have doctors diagnosed? Don¡¯t be a mistake.¡±

    Qin Yunuan saw Tang out of the corner of her eye and said calmly, ¡°The royal doctor in the pce has already diagnosed. I¡¯ve been pregnant for more than one month.¡±

    The moment she spoke, Qin Yunuan almost heard the voice of Xie Ruying grinding her teeth. Qin Yunuan¡¯s pregnancy meant that she had fewer chances.

    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Consort Cao smiled to rx the atmosphere, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time after a child was born in our mansion. This time, the mansion will be lively again.¡±

    With Consort Cao¡¯s words, others, especially Tang, had to chime in with her with some congratting words. Qin Yunuan replied with a gentle smile.

    During their conversation, there were servants offering fruit wine and cakes. Suddenly, there came a thud implying that a y pot was broken. When the people turned their heads, they saw a servant, who was tall and handsome, standing embarrassingly by the broken pot. There was light green in the wreckage and the mud. The servant had broken the most precious green Begonia!

    ¡°Hey! What are you doing? Didn¡¯t you know that it is the green Begonia that our consort likes most? Selling you won¡¯t pay one petal of it,¡± the old nanny in charge came immediately to criticize the servant and put in a good word to Consort Cao, ¡°It¡¯s my fault. It¡¯s my fault that I didn¡¯t manage the servants well.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t hurry,¡± Consort Cao seemed not to be angry at all, but raised hands to call the servant, ¡°Come here. I found you sad when you did things. What¡¯s more, you wiped the tears from time to time. Have you met with some difficulty?¡±

    Consort Cao¡¯s voice was natural and kind as if she had been the living Bodhisattva. While the servant was quite tall, he appeared inferior when bowing in front of his masters.

    He shrugged his shoulders, seeming to bear his tears. Suddenly he kneeled down, not towards Consort Cao but towards Qin Yunuan, kowtowed while cried in a trembling voice, ¡°Third Young Madam, please! Please let go of my old father. Our family has been having one single son for nine generations. You are Third Young Madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. I¡¯m not good enough for you. Please stop harassing my father.¡±

    The unexpected words braced everyone here up.

    ¡°Stand up,¡± although everybody was watching Qin Yunuan, she was very calm, ¡°What do you mean by ¡®old father¡¯ and ¡®not good enough for me¡¯? I don¡¯t understand.¡±

    ¡°Yes. Stand up and speak what you want to say slowly,¡± Tang seemed to realize the scheme behind it. She smiled coldly.

    Straightening up, the servant said slowly, ¡°My name is Li Long. I used to do rough work in the Carp Pool. Because I am strong, I was arranged more work than others did. One night, when I was thest one to leave the Carp Pool, I found Third Young Madam entered the yard totteringly. I was about to make a detour when Third Young Madam called me. She seemed not to be conscious at that time. She suddenly... suddenly....¡±

    ¡°Suddenly what?¡± Tang looked excited.

    Li Long gritted his teeth, ¡°She suddenly hugged me and said that she always liked me. She ordered me to obey her. Then she began to disrobe and forced me to have sex with her.¡±

    All at once, all the people gasped and thought in their minds. It was surprising that the Third Young Madam, who was intimate to Third Young Master, hadmitted adultery secretly.

    ¡°Howe I don¡¯t know about what you¡¯ve said?¡± Qin Yunuan nced at Li Long, who was really handsome, ¡°Everyone knows how to tell lies.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got a keepsake,¡± Li Long began to grope from his waist. Suddenly he pulled out a flower-patterned fringe, which Qin Yunuan recognized that it was indeed made by her, ¡°This is the keepsake that Third Young Madam gave to me. There is also the same one in her waist. She said that she only wanted to be with me and that it was the real happiness to be with me. But then I realized that I could not let Third Young Master down, so I refused many times. Third Young Madam sent people to make trouble in my home on purpose. My father has been scared toa. Now his medical fee hasn¡¯t been settled yet. That¡¯s why I....¡±

    Consort Cao frowned as if she had heard of something extremely dirty. She looked at Qin Yunuan and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you have anything to say?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Qin Yunuan nced at Li Long coldly and pointed at the flower-patterned fringe in his hand, ¡°I¡¯ve made many such flower-patterned fringes. Almost all servant girls and nannies in my yard have them. It¡¯s easy to get one, so it cannot prove anything. If it can be seen as proof, then anydy in the mansion can be used of adultery casually. I don¡¯t know this guy, neither will I send people to bully his old father. My husband is good to me, so there is no reason for me to betray him.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t hurry, Third Young Madam,¡± Tang pretended to persuade her, then asked Li Long, ¡°When did the thing you said happen?¡±

    Li Long thought before saying, ¡°About one and a half months ago.¡±

    It was silent. Only Consort Cao said slowly, ¡°I remember that Yunuan said just now that she had been pregnant for one and a half months.¡±

 Chapter 166 Good Temper Got Bullied

    <h4>Chapter 166 Good Temper Got Bullied</h4>

    It was exactly one month and a half!

    Hearing this, Concubine Tang became more excited and said, ¡°Ah, what a coincidence! Third Young Madam, if this was true, wasn¡¯t your baby a bastard? How could our family stand the existence of a bastard?¡± Then, she covered her mouth with the handkerchief immediately, rolled her eyes and said in a nifty voice, ¡°Oh! What did I say! Third Young Madam, please forgive me if I said something offensive.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all fine.¡± Qin Yunuan remained calm and even wore a light smile. ¡°It¡¯s better for us to talk about this openly and clearly so that I can be proved innocent. Now, to the face of Consort Cao, let¡¯s make it clear.¡± While speaking, Qin Yunuan put her hand on her belly which was still t. ¡°I know clearly who my baby¡¯s father is, and so do you.¡± Qin Yunuan looked at Li Long who knelt down and said. ¡°You said that I had an affair with you, but you cannot just prove this with a wintersweet-shaped knot, which can be found everywhere. To nder me, I think you should prepare more convincing evidence.¡±

    ¡°I do have evidence.¡± Li Long said with determination and cunningness revealed from his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that Third Young Madam will feel too ashamed if I present my evidence.¡±

    ¡°Just show your evidence.¡± Qin Yunuan leaned forward, a movement that pregnant women who gained weight usually did. This reassured people that she was absolutely pregnant.

    Li Long lowered his head and said, ¡°I clearly remember that Third Young Madam has a butterfly-shaped birthmark on her left hip and a scar at the size of a fingernail on her right back. When Third Young Madam was young, she was bullied by servants in the Qin Family and fell down to the firewood pile. The scar was left after she was stabbed by the thorn.¡± Li Long looked up at Qin Yunuan and asked, ¡°Third Young Madam, am I right?¡±

    This was what Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan talked about in their roomst night. How did Li Long know? It seemed that there were traitors among servants in their courtyard.

    Hearing Li Long¡¯s explicit words, Qin Yunuan was still poised and said, ¡°Servant girls who attend on me when I¡¯m in bath all know that I have a birthmark and a scar. This is not a secret at all.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled. ¡°But I do want to share with you a secret you all don¡¯t know.¡±

    Concubine Tang scolded, ¡°Ah. Third Young Madam, you haven¡¯t given us an exnation about the rtionship between Li Long and you yet. Consort Cao is still here. Not telling us the truth, are you intended to cover it and humiliate Consort Cao?¡±

    Qin Yunuan took a nce at Consort Cao calmly and said, ¡°What I want to say next is right about this. Consort Cao, please allow me to finish it.¡± Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t even spare a nce for Concubine Tang, which obviously told thetter that she was much less exalted, and she mattered nothing.

    Consort Cao nodded, and then Qin Yunuan pped three times. At once, Maner came in with a 4-cm-thick booklet in her hands.

    ¡°Consort Cao, please check it.¡± Qin Yunuan ordered Maner to handle the booklet to Consort Cao. Seeing that she turned to the page with a clip, Qin Yunuan said, ¡°This booklet records the names and portraits of 12-year-old boys who were castrated to work in the Pce ten years ago. Consort Cao, please check the information carefully. Is the Li Long on the booklet having the same hometown and look as the Li Long before us?¡±

    Consort Cao had never thought that Qin Yunuan was so well-prepared. Able to take out the imperial document that waspiled ten years ago, Qin Yunuan really got something.

    Hearing this, Li Long, who knelt down, was so scared, almost throwing himself to the ground. Qin Yunuan¡¯s logical but terrifying words still came to him. ¡°Li Long, you have been castrated, just like eunuchs. You can¡¯t even have sex but nder me to have an affair with you with a wintersweet-shaped knot whiches from nowhere and some eavesdropped facts about my body. You¡¯re just a servant. You can¡¯t be so powerful and meticulous. Li Long, who instigates you to do so?¡±

    ¡°I... no, I didn¡¯t lie. What I said is true.¡± Li Long suddenly kowtowed to Consort Cao and said, ¡°Consort Cao, please help me.¡±

    ¡°Everything is true?¡± Qin Yunuan turned around a little, making the green pearl sp in her hair ring. ¡°You will not tell us the truth until you¡¯re checked up, will you? Drag him down and check him carefully. Just show me how a castrated man can have an affair with me!¡±

    ¡°Third Young Madam.¡± Consort Cao became anxious for the first time. ¡°This, after all, is my ce, and Li Long works in my courtyard. Isn¡¯t it appropriate to dispose of my servant without asking me first?¡±

    Qin Yunuan had already expected Consort Cao would say so. But the two strong servants Qin Yunuan brought here had grasped Li Long¡¯s two arms tightly. Qin Yunuan said, ¡°Right, my fault. But the emperor has granted me the title of Infanta Ping which is equal to a fifth-grade rank official. When somebody discredits me, I, of course, have the right to dispose of him or her. I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t ask you about this in advance. So, Consort Cao, now, can I order my servants to drag this evildoer down to get a careful check?¡±

    Qin Yunuan was not asking for Consort Cao¡¯s agreement anymore. She was showing her status and power to give orders. If Consort Cao rejected her ¡°request,¡± it meant that she was saying no to the emperor¡¯s instructions.

    Consort Cao twitched her mouth. Always being pretty and m, she got embarrassed for the first time and said, ¡°Well, you can.¡±

    Li Long was dragged down but kept shouting at the same time, ¡°Consort Cao, please help me. Help me.¡±

    After a while, one of the servants came back to report, ¡°Li Long has indeed been castrated.¡±

    Qin Yunuan waved her hand, implying him to leave. She looked at Consort Cao serenely. Concubine Tang, who stood aside, didn¡¯t dare to say anything. It was Dou Meishuang who kept her mouth shut all the time that stood out to break the ice. ¡°The servant turned out to be a liar. Aunt has been totally engaged in Buddha worship recently, so the servants in charge must ck off. They should allow such people to serve in the courtyard.¡±

    Her words subtly helped Consort Cao pass the buck. Consort Cao shook her head and sighed, ¡°I¡¯m too negligent. Yunuan, please don¡¯t me me.¡±

    ¡°Negligence is unavoidable.¡± Qin Yunuan replied with a smile, ¡°Consort Cao, I¡¯m your junior, so even if you really do anything inappropriate, I don¡¯t dare to me you in public.¡± She could not me her in public, but she could fight back in secret.

    The flower appreciation feast just ended in haste. Consort Cao asked servant girls to pick up fresh crabapple petals and give them out to guests. The sundried crabapple petals could be used as ingredients in cakes or tea and also could be added into the bathtub when people were in bath.

    ¡°Since what Li Long said was not true, you all should keep your mouth shut and not reveal it to anyone else.¡± Before guests left, Consort Cao enjoined them.

    When Qin Yunuan went out of the courtyard, Ruan Ruyi and Concubine Tang had already walked far away. Maner held Qin Yunuan who acted like fat people. At this time, a clear female voice came from behind. ¡°Third Young Madam, please wait.¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned around slowly and saw Dou Meishuang who dressed up meticulously today. Wearing a piece of green dress, she walked towards Qin Yunuan gorgeously. She tended toe closer to Qin Yunuan but was stopped by Ting Xue. ¡°Sorry, Miss Dou. Our Madam is pregnant now, and you¡¯d better not get too close to her.¡±

    Dou Meishuang was slightly embarrassed. She smiled and said, ¡°Fine. It¡¯s alright for me to keep a few steps away. Uncle Qin is depressed about Cousin Linfeng¡¯s death. Besides, the emperor has suspended him and asked him to introspect at home. Now, Cousin Yunzhuang is married and doesn¡¯t live in the mansion anymore. Uncle Qin is really lonely. Third Young Madam, if you have time, can you go back to visit him from time to time?¡±

    Qin Yunuan knew what Dou Meishuang implied. Qin Zhi now lost power and influence. Qin Yunuan was his most outstanding child, so if she coulde back to visit Qin Zhi as the Third Young Madam of the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, this would surely reassure people. But, why would shee back?

    ¡°Miss Dou, you must be joking.¡± Qin Yunuan sounded cold and indifferent. ¡°First of all, if my father misses me, he will send people to tell me. But he has already cut all ties with me, and I have nothing to do with the Qin Family now. Second, Baoduan and Yuzhao still live together with my father and can apany him. Third, Miss Dou, what connection do you have with the Qin Family? Your aunt, Dou Qing¡¯e is already dead. Give you a piece of advice. Don¡¯t meddle in the Qin Family¡¯s affairs. It¡¯s none of your business. Plus, if you really have a hand in, Qin Zhi may not be grateful for what you do.¡±

    Well, this was Qin Zhi¡¯s true nature. He treated people who he thought useful like treasures but those who were not like trash.

    Dou Meishuang was in a trance because of her words, but Qin Yunuan had walked towards her courtyard without looking back.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, why did you warn Miss Dou just now?¡± Maner asked while holding Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°She¡¯s smart, so she will understand what I mean. Furthermore, considering that she is so smart, I dare not let her join the camp of Qin Zhi who is a sleeping tiger. It will be harder to deal with a tiger having a pair of wings.¡± Qin Yunuan said and put her hands on her belly. ¡°I¡¯d better not wake him up. As for his dismissal, he just asked for it. My current focus should be how to deal with ¡®the baby¡¯ I carry.¡±

    Since Qin Yunuan was pregnant, Princess Ning, Consort Cao, even Prince Ning and Old Madam had sent many nourishing foods to her. Moreover, Prince Ning asked servants to invite imperial doctors with his calling card to take good care of Qin Yunuan every day. With the ¡°special help¡± of Doctor Sun Miaoyang, those imperial doctors hadn¡¯t found anything wrong with Qin Yunuan and her baby yet.

    One day, the weather was so good. Qin Yunuan saw Consort Cao and her servant girls pick up petals in the garden when she was apanied by servant girls to enjoy flowers there.

    ¡°Consort Cao, good hobby.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled and greeted first.

    ¡°Thanks to the nice weather today.¡± Consort Cao also smiled. At this time, Qin Yunuan¡¯s silk handkerchief fell down to the gstone ground suddenly. Qin Yunuan¡¯s servant girls were not near, so Consort Cao called her personal servant girl, ¡°Luer, pick up the handkerchief for our Third Young Madam.¡±

    After Luer picked the handkerchief up and was going to stand up to hand it to Qin Yunuan, thetter suddenly leaned back and fell down to the ground.

    ¡°My belly. I¡¯m hurt.¡± As Qin Yunuan cried out sadly, there was blooding out from her dress.

    Maner gave a hand to Qin Yunuan immediately and shouted, ¡°Somebody, help! Third Young Madam has a miscarriage.¡±

 Chapter 167 Piss You off

    <h4>Chapter 167 Piss You off</h4>

    Miscarriage?

    Consort Cao could only see Qin Yunuan moaning on the floor. Her skirt looked dazzling bright stained in blood. She saw Qin Yunuan¡¯s smiling eyes, which seemed to beughing at her. She did all these, but in return, this was her ending. Consort Cao deeply felt that she was set-up bad.

    Qin Yunuan had it all considered. Prince Ning and Princess Ning were watching opera in the courtyard next door. When Princess Ning and Prince Ning came from the East yard, Leng Changxi also appeared by the corner door on time.

    ¡°Nuan.¡± Leng Changxi rushed forward to hold Qin Yunuan, his face full of distress. Looking at so much blood, he became furious, and said gloomily, ¡°Consort Cao, you are so vicious. You made my mother unable to give birth to children anymore, and now you caused Yunuan¡¯s miscarriage.¡±

    Prince Ning and Princess Ning happened to hear that by the winding corridor. They took a look at each other and hurried to the scene. Prince Ning stayed afar as Qin Yunuan was his daughter-inw after all, while Princess Ning was giving orders, ¡°Go find the imperial doctor immediately, or Doctor Qiao on the west side of the city, go find them both. Don¡¯t scare me, Yunuan. I¡¯ve been longing for a grandchild.¡± After she finished, Princess Ning raised her head and stared at Consort Cao fiercely. It was easy to see that even though Princess Ning and Consort Cao were normally getting along quite peacefully, there was still resentment between the two.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t me,¡± Consort Cao burst into tears immediately, as she knelt towards Prince Ning pitifully, ¡°Prince, you have to believe in me. I, Cao Shuxin, had done wrong things before, but I¡¯m a changed person now. Besides, the child is innocent. I wouldn¡¯t have harmed an unborn child no matter how vicious I am.¡±

    The nce of Prince Ning towards Consort Cao was no longer gentle anymore. He just said coldly, ¡°The child in Xunxiang¡¯s womb twenty years ago was also innocent.¡±

    Xunxiang was the name of Princess Ning. Twenty years ago, Princess Ning was pregnant, but she had an idental miscarriage. All the evidence was pointing at Consort Cao Shuxin. Just when Prince Ning was about to punish Consort Cao for this, he found that she was also pregnant. As a result, Consort Cao was only grounded for three years. Moreover, as Cao Shuxin gave birth to a boy, and showed her sincere regrets, everyone had a mutual understanding not to talk about this.

    However, this time, it was rted to the children of Prince Ning¡¯s mansion again, yet luck would not be on Consort Cao¡¯s side again.

    Princess Ning looked at the servants carefully carrying Qin Yunuan with a stretcher to a nearby attic, then stared at Consort Cao fiercely, ¡°If Yunuan¡¯s baby dies, I¡¯ll tell you what, even the Prince can¡¯t protect you anymore this time.¡±

    Servant girls were going in and out of the attic, carrying hot water stained with blood. The imperial doctor and Doctor Qiao came in turn to examine Qin Yunuan¡¯s condition. While outside, Luer, who caused the trouble, was kneeling in the pavilion, trembling and waiting for the questioning of Prince Ning and Princess Ning.

    Luer was trembling like a terrified bunny.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Luer. Just tell everyone the truth.¡± Consort Cao encouraged her. Apparently, Luer didn¡¯t run into Qin Yunuan. Obviously, she deliberately fell by herself. Luer was Cao Shuxin¡¯s trusted servant girl and had served her for years. Consort Cao had faith in Luer. However, Luer just started to say...

    ¡°It¡¯s not my fault. It was Consort Cao who asked me to do this. She said that the Second Master¡¯s second wife isn¡¯t married to him yet, and she couldn¡¯t have Third Young Madam give birth to a son before Second Young Madam. Because that way, the Second Master would have an even lower status in the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. Consequently, as Consort Cao knows that Third Young Madam ising to this garden for flower viewing, she asked me to take this chance and push Third Young Madam over.¡±

    ¡°Shut up.¡± Consort Cao was already furious, ¡°Who told you to say this? When have I ever asked you to harm Qin Yunuan?¡±

    Luer was still trembling and took a nce at Consort Cao. Then she turned to Princess Ning and pleaded with a crying tone, ¡°Princess, I was forced to do so. Consort Cao had sent my sister Chenger to Third Young Madam¡¯s yard. This was to have us watching each other and work for her. I couldn¡¯t take it anymore.¡±

    ¡°Shuxin, how dare you.¡± Prince Ning hit the rosewood coffee table angrily, even spilling out drips of tea from the teapot. Prince Ning shook his hand, and the droplet flew towards Consort Cao¡¯s face. It was cold and icy, just like her heart right now.

    ¡°Prince, you told me that you¡¯ll believe me. You told me.¡± Consort Cao was drastically shaking her head.

    Just then, imperial doctor Zhao and the two medical apprentices came to report the news.

    ¡°Your Highness, I¡¯ve tried my best. It¡¯s just that I can¡¯t keep the child that Third Young Madam was carrying.¡±

    It was like a thunder on a sunny day.

    Princess Ning urged and asked, ¡°Have you really tried every way you could?¡±

    The imperial doctor Zhao shook his head and said, ¡°Third Young Madam is not showing any pulse of pregnancy, and she is extremely pale. It is already fortunate that she is alright. With proper care, there is still a chance that she could be pregnant again.¡±

    This is already quite fortunate in all the misfortunes.

    When Prince Ning saw the imperial doctor leaving, her anger had reached the climax. It was going to be his first grandchild, and now it was gone.

    Consort Cao could only look at Prince Ning. She wanted to exin something, but she didn¡¯t say a word when she opened her mouth. The imperial doctor announcing that there was no sign of pregnancy had left her no chance at all. The fact that she was using Agrimony must be discovered by Qin Yunuan, or else the dots couldn¡¯t be connected so perfectly.

    ¡°I want to go in and check on Yunuan.¡± Leng Changxi lowered his head and said seriously.

    It was said that a bloody room was extremely unlucky, let alone a woman¡¯s room after a miscarriage. However, Leng Changxi¡¯s love for Qin Yunuan was firm, that Princess Ning couldn¡¯t turn down his request. She could only go in together to soothe Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Prince, Shuxin didn¡¯t do it. That servant girl was framing me.¡± Consort Cao dragged Prince Ning¡¯s clothes.

    ¡°Piss off.¡± Prince Ning kicked her heavily, and she stumbled away. He nced at her coldly, ¡°You should have left the mansion twenty years ago. I tolerated you for twenty years, yet you didn¡¯t treasure it. Why should I trust you anymore?¡±

    Meanwhile in the attic, even though a pain-soothing incense was burnt outside the rosewood screen, Qin Yunuan was still looking painful and helpless on the bed. She was clenching to the quilt tightly, to express her pain of losing her child.

    Leng Changxi took over the dark Chinese medicine Maner was holding, blow against it till it was cool and put it next to Qin Yunuan¡¯s mouth. Qin Yunuan just tilted her head and frowned, ¡°No, I don¡¯t want it.¡± Seeing this, others thought that Third Young Madam was too sorrowful for losing her child and didn¡¯t even want to take the medicine.

    ¡°You have to.¡± Leng Changxi persuaded. Seeing Qin Yunuan refusing a couple more times, Leng Changxi held some of the medicine in his mouth and fed it against Qin Yunuan¡¯s mouth. He only wiped his mouth after he made sure that Qin Yunuan had drunk it all. ¡°If you refuse to drink it, I¡¯ll do it this way.¡±

    Princess Ning¡¯s eyes twitched and flickered with embarrassment. But after a moment, she joined the persuasion, ¡°Yunuan, the imperial doctor said it already, that you¡¯re still young to be pregnant again. Listen to me, take the medicine, don¡¯t make us worry about you.¡±

    Only then did Qin Yunuan obediently drank all the medicine. After that, she only leaned against Leng Changxi¡¯s chest, looking sorrowful. Just then, Qingzhu, who served Princess Ning, reported, ¡°Princess, the Prince had thrown everything of the Consort out of the mansion and written the divorcing letter. However, the Consort wants to see Third Young Madam again before she leaves.¡±

    Princess Ning was calm, ¡°Since the divorcing letter has been written, why do you still call her consort? She should¡¯ve left twenty years ago. I¡¯ve bored her for so long. Now that Yunuan¡¯s weak and couldn¡¯t see her, just tell her to go away as far as she could.¡±

    Qin Yunuan knew that her ¡°miscarriage¡± was just a trigger. The resentment of Prince Ning and Princess Ning towards Consort Cao started from twenty years ago, but they just left it unsolved due to various reasons.

    ¡°Alright, Yunuan must be tired. Changxi, you don¡¯t have to stay here and bother Yunuan¡¯s resting. Let¡¯s all go out.¡± Princess Ning advised Qin Yunuan a lot and was about to leave with Leng Changxi. However, Leng Changxi shook his head and didn¡¯t seem to be moving at all. He bowed down and kissed Qin Yunuan¡¯s forehead, without looking at Princess Ning, ¡°I¡¯m staying here with her. She could only rest well when I¡¯m here.¡±

    Princess Ning forced a smile and ordered the servant girls in the house to serve Qin Yunuan well before she left.

    At the back gate of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, a ck carriage was parked there. The old carriage driver was struggling to load the carriage with irregr-sized chests.

    ¡°Old Chi, forget it. Why bringing this jewelry with us?¡± Cao Shuxin was wearing a ck curtain hat. She had removed all the jewelry on her. Twenty years in the Prince¡¯s Mansion was just like a dream to her, and now she was awake.

    With just simple luggage, the carriage suddenly stopped when it came to the end of the alley.

    ¡°Madam, there¡¯s someone by the end of the alley. It seems that she¡¯s waiting for you.¡±

    Cao Shuxin lifted the curtain, and her eyes suddenly sparkled when she saw the person waiting for her. With some shock and mockery, she said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Third Young Madam to have the energy to send me off after the miscarriage.¡±

    ¡°We both know what¡¯s going on. Why bother?¡± Qin Yunuan was dressing neatly. If it wasn¡¯t for her high spirits and rosy cheeks, she indeed looked like an unwell nobledy.

    ¡°What do you want to say to me?¡± Qin Yunuan asked directly. She didn¡¯t want any more contact with Cao Shuxin, but after all, Cao Shuxin knew more than her, having stayed in the mansion for more than twenty years.

    They came to somewhere obscure, and Cao Shuxin managed a grin, ¡°I just want to tell you that the ones, who appear close to you, are the ones who really want to hurt you. Do you really think that I am the culprit of the miscarriage twenty years ago? If I could do that, Sun Xunxiang would be long dead already.¡±

    ¡°Surely you hate her.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I hate her!¡± Cao Shuxin gritted her teeth and said, ¡°The one who lost a child was not her, it was me. Sun Xunxiang, the gentle Princess Ning in others¡¯ eyes! She is the most vicious person in Prince Ning¡¯s mansion!¡±

 Chapter 168 Good Wine and Poetry Party

    <h4>Chapter 168 Good Wine and Poetry Party</h4>

    Suddenly a kind of thick murderous emotion emerged in the eyes of Cao Shuxin, who had been a Buddha worshipper for 20 years. She talked about the old days, ¡°At that time, I was pregnant after I married into the Prince Mansion for three months. But one day, I bled by ident, and my baby went away for no reason. I thought that was just an incident until I found that my close maidservant came from Sun Xunxiang. She yed some tricks in my clothes and food, but unfortunately, I had no evidence, so I was not able to disclose that malicious woman in front of the master. I decided to use the same way to revenge her until Sun Xunxiang was pregnant too.¡±

    And then Cao Shuxin smiled bitterly, ¡°Unluckily, she was too shrewd, just like you. She had found my plot earlier but did not reveal to me. Finally, I became a criminal. She had never been pregnant, or, in other words, she was a woman with a hypostic vagina who could not get pregnant at all.¡±

    ¡°A woman with a hypostic vagina?¡± Qin Yunuan felt stunned slightly. So, the gossiping that Leng Changxi was an illegitimate child was true?

    Cao Shuxin seemed to catch the thought of Qin Yunuan, ¡°It was impossible that Leng Changxi was her son. He was just an abandoned child who was taken back from the Imperial Pce by the prince. So, Third Young Madam, now, do you still believe that you have a stable rtionship with your mother-inw Princess Ning? Does she really love you? Her son was not her kin child. Let alone you, a daughter-inw from another family.¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked at Cao Shuxin for a long time and then said leisurely, ¡°But you did hurt me by agrimony.¡± Cao Shuxin stunned and nodded unconsciously.

    Cao Shuxin stunned and seemed to nod unconsciously.

    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Qin Yunuan sneered, ¡°I have nothing to do with the dispute between you and my mother-inw. And you have nothing to do with my mother-inw and me. The winner takes it all in the family conflict. You hurt me, and you deserve the consequence.¡±

    ¡°You could even bribe my most trusted maidservant Luer,¡± Cao Shuxin felt very upset but could not change anything, ¡°You are so mighty.¡±

    ¡°Everybody can be bribed if he has much greed and desire.¡± And then Qin Yunuan turned to leave. ording to her prediction, at this moment, Luer was likely to take her younger sister, whose leg was broken to leave the Royal City with many banknotes.

    One monthter, Qin Yunuan heard the news that the depressed Cao Shuxin died after she went back to Cao Family in Yong Zhou. She, as thin as ath, was not as elegant and dignified as thedy who got married from Cao Family.

    Although Leng Changxuan stayed at the Prince Mansion, and Prince Ning forbade people in the mansion to express condolence to Cao Shuxin, Leng Changxuan still postponed the date of marrying step wife for the reason of being sick. He got fleshless in thest several days.

    At the end of November, the second miss of Qin Family, Qin Yuwan, formally married into Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. Although she just married the young master who was the son of a dead concubine and she was the step wife, Concubine Liu and Qin Yuwan had tried their best to achieve the result.

    One day, it was a nice sunny day. Qin Yuwan was browsing the ount books in the loft near the pond. The business channel of North Di to Qi had been established, and abundant silks and clothes were sent to North Di from Luguan. Her shops in the regions south of the River got more prosperous. Now though Qin Yunuan was not as rich as the wealthiest person in Qi, half of the business of silks in Qi was run by her.

    After a while, Ting Xue held a wine pot with a blue-flower pattern and went upstairs, ¡°Third Young Madam, here is the pear-flower wine.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded and raised her hand to pour the wine. And then she tasted its fresh and mellow fragrance. It was the top-ss pear-flower wine. Prince Ning fancied tasting wine, and two dayster, it was the wine and poetry party held each year by him. Qin Yunuan as his daughter-inw, needed to try to tter him.

    Suddenly some noises came from the lower pond. Qin Yunuan raised her eyes and found that two people were in bad dispute in the opposite winding corridor. They were the newly-married Leng Changxuan and Qin Yuwan.

    Though it was distant, their dispute was so loud. Qin Yunuan could hear something roughly.

    ¡°I just want to buy a hair sp. Why do you so mean? I am your wife. How dare you make me so embarrassed in public?¡± Qin Yuwan was still that bad-tempereddy.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to argue with you any longer,¡± Leng Changxuan said with a cold face. Since the death of Cao Shuxin in Yong Zhou, he always had a cold face, ¡°I feel not happy recently, and I don¡¯t want to see those colorful jade and pearl essories. I¡¯ll buy what you want next.¡± And then he waved his sleeves and left straightly.

    In the loft, Maner poured a cup of gardenia tea and passed it to Qin Yunuan, ¡°I heard that the second miss always put on airs after she married into the mansion. On the day after the wedding, she reced all the maidservants in her courtyard. Those pretty girls were demoted to the wood-shed, and those left were all ugly. She must learn this method from Concubine Liu.¡±

    Qin Yunuan put down the ount book and massaged her sore shoulder, ¡°Let it go. Now the Prince¡¯s Concubine Cao is dead, so she has no pressure from her mother-inw. She just wanted a piece of essory, but why the Second Young Master got so angry?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because,¡± Maner said in a lower voice, ¡°Consort Cao did not take those clothes and jewelry when she left the Royal City. Those servants stole the essories and sold them secretly. I heard that the jade hair sp the Second Young Madam chose in the morning was Concubine Cao¡¯s favorite one when she was alive. It¡¯s not weird that the Second Young Master became so outrageous.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Qin Yunuan raised her eyes. She saw that Qin Yuwan in the distance was looking at her with hostile eyes. Qin Yuwan envied Qin Yunuan¡¯s good destiny and further now her luxurious life. Two dayster, it was the wine and poetry party. Qin Yuwan cared much about her beauty, so she would dress up carefully this time.

    These days, Leng Changxi was not busy, and he stayed with Qin Yunuan on their chamber bed with the curtain drawn down every day. In daytime, Qin Yunuan went out and was busy in the issue of wine and poetry party together with Princess Ning, including dispatching invitation card, selecting snacks and arranging the feast. In the evening, she stayed in the chamber together with Leng Changxi. They had intercourse and hoped they had a baby soon.

    On the day of the poetry party, it was a bright sunny day with the blue sky as clear as the mountain water in Mount Tianshan.

    Qin Yunuan in a rose Pomegranate Skirt showed up with a simple but elegant horse-riding bun and a red-begonia-shaped silk flower sideling put on the back of the bun. She looked so charming and enchanting. Nobody would think that thedy who was the Third Young Madam from Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion had miscarried recently.

    ¡°Youe, Yunuan. Sit, please. Your Second Sister-inw and Fourth Sister willeter.¡± Princess Ning smiled and let Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi sit beside her. All people present were the rtives of Leng Family. The Second Master from the West House came with his wife and the only son Leng Qiguang.

    After a while, Leng Suxin came too. Now there was only Qin Yuwan who was still absent. It was not appropriate for her to be sote when the first family feast. The wife of Second Master from the West House, Lee, was a gossiping woman, and she sneered, ¡°Oh, the East House is the head mansion, so they should put on airs. Qiguang, see that? You must be promising, or your father and mother will be inferior to others and always wait for them. I hope there is one day when others always wait for us.¡±

    The Second Master from the West House was the kin younger brother of Prince Ning. He waszy and negative without any achievement, and his wife Lee was always arrogant. Now it seemed that the Second Master could not control his wife. She said such kind of words in front of Prince Ning and Princess Ning, which was disgracing him.

    ¡°Is there no enough food for you? Stop your aggressive words.¡± The Second Master Leng said to her in a low voice.

    At this moment, the madam Tang added gloomily, ¡°You are wrong, the Second Madam. Our East House does not put on airs. The Second Young Madam has just married into our mansion, and her behavior was taught by her own family. We can¡¯t condemn the lecture her own family has taught her.¡± And then Tang looked at Qin Yunuan. It is evident that Tang wanted to bring shame on Qin Yunuan since Qin Yuwan and her were both from Qin Family.

    ¡°Your words are not so appropriate, my sister.¡± Princess Ning said gravely, ¡°Yunuan and Yuwan are both from Qin Family. Yunuan does things so stably and reliably. Changxuan and Yuwan is just married. I think Yuwan iste because of their exhausting love night,¡± And then, Princess Ning said to Leng Changxuan in a soft voice, ¡°You should consider your wife more.¡±

    Leng Changxuan nodded with his stiff face.

    At this moment, the servant reported that the Second Young Madam came.

    With the sounds of essories on the head, ady in a pink gauze came. She wore a butterfly-shaped hair essory made of pearls and jades, and ruby-made earrings, which were very shining. Qin Yuwan made herself so luxurious and gorgeous, and Qin Yunuan smiled. As expected, Qin Yunuan kept her style when she was in Qin Family. She always wanted to wear all pretty essories.

    But now she looked like a person...

    ¡°How dare you dress up like this?¡± Leng Changxuan rushed at Qin Yuwan regardless of other people present, and then squeezed the wrist of Qin Yuwan. He looked down at the tender hand and found two green jade-made bracelets, ¡°And the bracelet, and the hair essories on your head. Where did you get these?¡±

    Qin Yuwan looked so aggrieved, ¡°You bought these for me. You were absent yesterday, and the bosses of the silk shops and jewelry shops sent many nice things here. They said somebody had paid for these. I thought it was you....¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s funny.¡± Leng Changxuan sneered and shook his head, ¡°Why did I send such things to you? Who are you? My mother? You have no right to wear that jewelry she had once worn before. Clear? You have no right!¡±

    Though Leng Changxuan said in a very low voice, Qin Yunuan sitting near could hear his words clearly. Leng Changxuan was quiet in daily time, but he would not let others touch the purest part in his heart, which was untouchable.

    Qin Yunuan sat in the middle dully. Her dress soon made Prince Ning and Princess Ning know something. Prince Ning frowned unconsciously.

    ¡°Father, Yuwan felt not so well. I take her back to have a rest.¡± Leng Changxuan lowered his head and pleaded.

    But suddenly, Qin Yuwan turned back to look at Qin Yunuan angrily, and shouted, ¡°Qin Yunuan, it¡¯s you! You did this! You let me wear the jewelry which belongs to a dead woman!¡±

 Chapter 169 Backfire

    <h4>Chapter 169 Backfire</h4>

    Qin Yuwan was in extreme rage and shouted in a loud voice. The word ¡°dead¡± had greatly stimted Leng Changxuan¡¯s long-suppressed emotion.

    Snapped. A palm fell violently. Leng Changxuan¡¯s eyes were wide open. The hand he used to hit was trembling slightly because of too much strength.

    ¡°Shut up! You, foolish woman!¡± Leng Changxuan was alwaysposed and silent. This outbreak was unexpected but made sense.

    Qin Yuwan had tears in her eyes. Her mouth was open slightly. She seemed to feel wronged that how could Leng Changxuan lose his temper so badly.

    ¡°Enough,¡± Prince Ning looked solemn with no more interest to taste the delicious wine, ¡°If you want to argue, go back to your own yard.¡±

    It was silent. However, everybody heard Qin Yuwan¡¯s words clearly. Qin Yuwan, Second Young Madam, seemed to imply that it was Third Young Madam who harmed her. Sisters as they were, it was unbelievable that they schemed against each other. So many were watching Qin Yunuan. Qin Yunuan smiled calmly and lifted Qin Yuwan up, who was pped to the ground just now. Then she curtseyed to Leng Changxuan, ¡°My second sister is new to the mansion. Many things are unfamiliar to her, so she might not be so thoughtful. Second brother, please forgive her for my sake.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t need your shed crocodile tears,¡± Qin Yuwan pulled Qin Yunuan away subconsciously, ¡°Get away from me. You hypocrite! You pretend to be good in public but stab others in the back in private.¡±

    Qin Yunuan blinked in an injured way, ¡°How can you say something like that? Before your marriage, your mother enjoined me specially that now that we were both in the mansion, we should take care of each other. I just want you and your husband to get along well.¡±

    Qin Yuwan didn¡¯t like to see Qin Yunuan pretend to be kind. She opened her mouth to refute but was interrupted by the firm Leng Changxuan, ¡°Now that third sister-inw said so, Qin Yuwan, you¡¯d bettere back and change your clothes and jewelry. Standing here only makes everyone unhappy,¡± actually, Leng Changxuan knew that Qin Yunuan was trying to save his face in front of the entire mansion. His behavior just now was a little improper.

    Qin Yuwan was still not reconciled. Although she was not as favored as Qin Yunzhuang was in the Qin Family, she had never been greatly wronged because of the feisty Liu. But today...

    At this time, someone at the gate reported that Old Madam hade. Hearing that, Leng Changxuan frowned more deeply. He ordered Qin Yuwan in a low voice, ¡°Go. Just go.¡±

    Seeing Qin Yuwan leave in anger, Qin Yunuan took a sip of tea with a smile. It was true that the jewelry sent to Qin Yuwan¡¯s yard was under her secret order. Although Princess Ning and Prince Ning didn¡¯t criticize in the whole process, Qin Yunuan knew that after this time, other¡¯s impression of Qin Yuwan would be fixed. Everybody would feel unhappy about wearing clothes and jewelry left by the dead consort.

    Old Madam had already heard servant girls reporting the poetry feast with wine in her yard. Today she was supposed to be absent because she felt a bit tired. However, she needed toe over when something like this happened.

    Seeing Old Madaming, all the people stood up and curtseyed. After the Old Madam took her seat and looked around, her eyes fell on Qin Yunuan, who dressed quiet and proper today. She asked caringly, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you miscarried. Are you well now?¡± Old Madam blinked her eyes. It seemed that she was probing.

    Qin Yunuan curtseyed calmly, ¡°Old Madam, thank you for your concern. I¡¯ve recovered now. I don¡¯t know that you¡¯reing. I prepared to send the pear flower wine after hard exploration to your yard. Now that you are here, you may taste it first.¡±

    Leng Changxi chimed in with her, ¡°There are three kinds of pear flower wine. The first one is from Baling with an annual output of 300 cers and a value of 100 taels of gold. The second one is from East Qin with an annual output of 30 cers and the value of a whole city. The third one is from North Di with an annual output of 3 cers. It is priceless because it is supplied only to the royal family of North Di. The one found by Yunuan is the kind supplied only for the royal family of North Di. Old Madam, Yunuan has taken great pains to find it.¡±

    Old Madam nodded. Before she could say anything, the Second Madam of the West House sneered, ¡°Oh! What treasure it is! We, ordinary people, don¡¯t even get a chance to have it. Look. Second Young Madam has only prepared one bottle of it. It¡¯s obvious that it is offered to Old Madam and princess. Humph, we can only watch.¡±

    Clearly, Second Madam was trying to make Qin Yunuan soften and give a bottle of pear flower wine to her. Qin Yunuan smiled slightly, ¡°Second Madam. If you like it, I can offer some help. You only need to prepare 3,000 taels of gold. Then the wine will be transported here in one month.¡±

    There was only her profiting at others¡¯ expense. Nobody could let her suffer losses. Second Madam curled her lips and peeled the Second Master Leng with her arms, who was busy drinking wine. However, the Second Master Leng was useless, so Second Madam had to suffer losses silently. Prince Ning couldn¡¯t help praising, ¡°The wine is so expensive! You¡¯ve taken much trouble.¡±

    The wine was poured into the ss. Old Madam was the first one to have it.

    ¡°I¡¯m notfortable today, so I¡¯ll only drink a little,¡± Then Old Madam only took half a sip. The fragrance stayed between her lips and teeth, delicious and sweet. The taste of the wine soothed Old Madam¡¯s brows.

    Old Madam nodded and was about to praise when she choked suddenly. Her pupils contracted. Her muscles twitched. Her body was stiff.

    ¡°Old Madam. What happens to her?¡±

    ¡°Somebodye! Come to take the name card to the Royal Pce and see royal doctors.¡±

    It was in a mess. A group of people was around the pale-looking Old Madam. Even Prince Ning, who was alwaysposed and calm, now became nervous.

    Qin Yunuan felt her heart tightened. She remembered that Old Madam happened to drink the pear flower wine brought by her before she was sick. And it was the only thing she had. Qin Yunuan wanted to stand up and see what was going on, but her arm was pulled by a powerful hand beside her. Leng Changxi shook his head calmly, giving Qin Yunuan the hint that don¡¯t panic.

    Old Madam was sent back to Lotus Fragrance Courtyard. The imperial doctor arrived. All the people at the feast now waited anxiously in the reception room of Lotus Fragrance Courtyard. Frowned, Prince Ning sat on the chair and looked restless.

    Qin Yunuan stood behind Princess Ning silently. Beside her was Leng Changxi, who was holding her hand tofort her.

    The imperial doctor¡¯s diagnosis soon came out.

    ¡°She was poisoned by nux vomica,¡± Imperial Doctor Zhao raised his hands and reported, ¡°I¡¯ve already given a prescription for her. Prepare mung beans, radix sileris, Ming cane, ginger and indigo naturalis. Decoct them along with three bowls of water to make a bowl of decoction. Drink it for three days, and she¡¯ll recover. The amount this time is quite small, so that she will be fine. I can¡¯t be sure whether it will the same next time.¡±

    Small amount? Someone was thinking.

    Suddenly, Tang stood and pointed at Qin Yunuan, ¡°It¡¯s you! Old Madam has only drunk the pear flower wine sent by you. It¡¯s you that deliberately ns to poison her.¡±

    ¡°Tang, you cannot frame someone up without any evidence,¡± Princess Ning looked solemn, ¡°Yunuan has nothing against mother. Why would she poison mother? If she has deliberately nned, she can hardly predict the sudden appearance of mother. Your charge makes no sense.¡±

    Tang was not reconciled, ¡°How can it not be counted as deliberately nned? Didn¡¯t you hear what Second Young Madam said? She said that it was Third Young Madam who made her wear the jewelry left by the dead Consort Cao. Maybe Third Young Madam organized all of this. First, make Second Young Madam be aughing stock to lure Old Madam toe. Then seize the opportunity to let Old Madam drink the poisonous wine. But Old Madam is lucky this time. She drank only a little so that she will be fine.¡±

    ¡°Ridiculous!¡± Prince Ning was so angry that he patted the tea table with great strength. The tea ware was nearly to fall down. ¡°You really like to stir up trouble. I should send you to the manor in the suburbs of the Royal City to reflect on yourself.¡±

    ¡°Forget it,¡± Princess Ning persuaded him, ¡°Now the most important thing is mother¡¯s health.¡±

    Hearing that, Prince Ning bore his anger. At this time, a servant girl passed by the reception room, carrying a half-old gallipot with her hands. She curtseyed to her masters inside. Qin Yunuan called her when she was about to leave.

    ¡°Wait,¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s nose was always sensitive. If she didn¡¯t get it wrong...

    ¡°Is it Old Madam¡¯s gallipot?¡± Qin Yunuan asked.

    The servant girl looked rather young and timid. However, seeing that Qin Yunuan looked kind and gentle without standing her dignity as other masters did, she replied bravely, ¡°Yes. Old Madam likes to use old gallipot. In recent years, she has been using this one.¡±

    ¡°What medicine was in it?¡± Qin Yunuan had smelled some scent that she was quite familiar with.

    ¡°Some medicine to cure rheumatism: fleece-flower root, wrinkled giant hyssop, gastrodia ta, nux vomica...¡± Before she could continue, Princess Ning questioned closely, ¡°Wait. Are you saying that there is nux vomica in the daily medicine for Old Madam?¡±

    The servant girl nodded. However, Imperial Doctor beside said, ¡°I¡¯ve read the prescription for Old Madam to cure rheumatism. The amount of nux vomica is proper. It is not enough to poison somebody. I¡¯ve also checked the dregs of Old Madam decoction this morning and the medicine pockets left. There¡¯s no problem.¡±

    When others felt shocked, Qin Yunuan stared at the gallipot for long. Suddenly, she raised her lips, ¡°There¡¯s no problem with the medicine inside, which doesn¡¯t mean that the gallipot itself has no problem.¡± Then she took it up and hit it to the ground with great strength. Before Princess Ning could stop, the gallipot had be the wreckage on the ground.

    Picking up one pottery shard among them, Qin Yunuan pointed at the light-colored liner, ¡°Just now the servant girl has said that Old Madam likes old things. The gallipot has been used for several years. If it is true, its color will change because of the dip in the medicine materials for long. However, this is the original color of the y. How can it be the gallipot used for years?¡±

    Prince Ning frowned and ordered, ¡°Go. Bring the servant girl in Old Madam¡¯s yard responsible for decocting the medicine here.¡±

    Not long, the servant left to report ran back in bewilderment. He staggered and entered the hall with a tumble, ¡°Ma... master, the servant girl... she... she... she hanged herself.¡±

 Chapter 170 Who Was the Final Winner

    <h4>Chapter 170 Who Was the Final Winner</h4>

    Died? How could a healthy person die so suddenly? At such a time when Prince was calling the servant girl.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Prince Ning frowned. There had been a long time since such a great event ever happened.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± the servant passing on the message kneeled down and said, ¡°When I pushed the door and walked in, I saw she hanged on the hemp rope. Her tongue and eyeballs are swollen. It seems that she has been dead for several hours.¡±

    At that time, Imperial Doctor Zhao, who was examining the gallipot, said, ¡°That¡¯s right. The liner of the gallipot has been soaked in the juice of nux vomica. If it is used to decoct herbal medicine every day, the nux vomica that permeated in its liner wille into the medicine. Besides, there is nux vomica in the decoction too. As a result, Old Madam is ill.¡±

    ¡°Who on earth has the nerve to poison mother,¡± Prince Ning felt angry. He stood up and looked around. All the people here lowered their head constrainedly except for Qin Yunuan and Princess Ning, who tried to persuade him one by one.

    ¡°Father, don¡¯t panic. It¡¯s good that Old Madam is of no harm now. As the schemer did it, there must be some clues.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Princess Ning patted Prince Ning on his back, ¡°God observes what people do.¡± Then she turned her head to make an order, ¡°Now that the servant girl responsible for the decoction in Old Madam¡¯s yard is dead. Gather all servant girls and nannies in the Lotus Fragrance Courtyard here. I don¡¯t believe that there¡¯s no clue at all.¡±

    Thinking for a while, Prince Ning nodded.

    Before long, the courtyard was full of servants. Even the gatekeepers who usually guarded at the entrance were here now. They all appeared obsequious, lowering their head and keeping as silent as they could.

    ¡°Among you, those who have once been to the kitchen or responsible for the purchase, distribution, and storage, stand out,¡± At Prince Ning¡¯s order, a dozen of people went out from the crowd. Their leader was an older nanny who looked familiar. She must be the chief nanny in the Lotus Fragrance Courtyard. Her family name was Sun. She had been working for Old Madam for years.

    ¡°Nanny Sun,¡± Princess Ning recognized the old nanny at one sight, ¡°You¡¯re responsible for the storage of the warehouse in Lotus Fragrance Courtyard. I ask you, has the gallipot that Old Madam is using ever been reced?¡±

    Nanny Sun, who felt quite nervous for her name mentioned independently, kneeled down immediately when the question was about the key point. She kowtowed, ¡°I¡¯m guilty. It¡¯s my fault. Recently I fell asleep when I dozed in the warehouse. I broke Old Madam¡¯s gallipot by ident. As Old Madam loved old things, I believed she must me me if she found out the truth. So... I took another gallipot which was the same as the old one to rece it.¡±

    ¡°How dare you! You reced it without your master¡¯s permission,¡± Second Madam upheld justice at this time, ¡°Did you know that the gallipot you took nearly killed Old Madam?¡±

    Nanny Sun trembled, ¡°I dare not. I¡¯ve heard that there was a gallipot which was exactly the same as the one of Old Madam in Third Young Madam¡¯s warehouse. So I found Nanny Li, a countryman whom I was familiar with as well as the chief nanny of Third Young Madam¡¯s warehouse, to borrow the gallipot. The rest, I know nothing at all. I never did other things.¡±

    All eyes were cast upon Qin Yunuan again. She immediately bowed down and exined, ¡°It¡¯s my negligence that there is such a severe mistake of my servants. Maner, take Nanny Li here. I want a face-to-face confrontation.¡±

    Before long, Nanny Li was also taken here. She looked nervous and careless as she nearly fell when she was walking.

    ¡°Kneel down,¡± Qingzhu, who was by the side of Princess Ning, shouted at Nanny Li, which made thetter more scared. The moment she saw Nanny Sun who was still kneeling, she knew what had happened. After Prince Ning raised his question coldly, she was silent. Hesitating for a moment, she suddenly cried out miserably.

    ¡°I... I was forced to do it. I will speak. I will speak out all I know.¡±

    ¡°What are you crying about?¡± Qin Yunuan felt an uneasy sense of foreboding, ¡°If you want to say something, be straightforward.¡±

    Second Madam showed an unpleasant smile, ¡°Yes. Nanny Li, if anyone has ever forced you to do something you shouldn¡¯t do, you should speak out boldly. Prince and Princess are both here. Nobody can trouble you as long as you are telling the truth.¡± When she finished, she nced at Qin Yunuan.

    Nanny Li kowtowed, ¡°Recently, Nanny Sun found me to borrow the gallipot. The chief nanny of the warehouse as I was, I couldn¡¯t lend my master¡¯s object without permission. So I reported it to Third Young Madam. Although I thought it was a minor matter, Third Young Madam asked me to take the gallipot which was going to be lent out to her. She gave it back to me the next day and agreed to lend it to Lotus Fragrance Courtyard. Ah. Besides, Third Young Madam asked much about Old Madam¡¯s disease and her medicine. I felt strange then. Why didn¡¯t she visit Lotus Fragrance Courtyard directly but chose to ask me in private?¡±

    ¡°Humph! Nonsense,¡± Qin Yunuan hummed coldly, ¡°When did I find you to look at the gallipot? When did I ask about Old Madam¡¯s disease? I went to Lotus Fragrance Courtyard to greet her every day. If I want to know her situation, why would I need to ask a servant in charge like you?¡±

    Now things were quite clear. Looking at Nanny Li¡¯s testimony, it was clear that there was someone who bought off Nanny Li to frame her up. Taking a deep breath, Qin Yunuan nodded at Prince Ning and Princess Ning, ¡°I have never done what the nanny said. What¡¯s more, Nanny Li was in charge of the outer courtyard. She has never been to the inner courtyard. Father and mother, you can ask all servant girls in my inner courtyard about it.¡±

    At her words, Maner and Ting Xue stepped forward and kneeled down at once. They said together, ¡°I can testify for Third Young Madam.¡±

    Nanny Li raised her head, ¡°Nurse Liao, Maner and Ting Xue in Third Young Madam¡¯s inner courtyard were all her family. Only those servant girls who were loyal to Third Young Madam can work in the inner courtyard. So, of course, they will speak for Third Young Madam. However, I¡¯m telling the truth. If any of my words were to nder Third Young Madam, may I be struck by lightning and split into two halves,¡± Nanny Li¡¯s attitude was firm and sincere. Her words seemed like truth from every perspective.

    At that time, there was continuous cynicism in the hall. Second Madam, who was holding the grudge that East House had taken back the three shops in the east of the city that used to belong to them, felt unhappy when she learned that those shops were now under Qin Yunuan¡¯s management. Therefore, this time she tried hard to add insult to injury.

    Leng Suxin, who was always indifferent, looked alone at Nanny Li on the ground. She sneered, ¡°I saw you were quite nervous just now. Why are you so confident now? You are the servant girl in the courtyard of Third Sister-inw, but you are unequivocal when you indict your master. Well, it¡¯s really hard to be a servant like you.¡± Leng Suxin took a sip of tea calmly when she finished her words as if she had said nothing.

    It never urred to Qin Yunuan that Leng Suxin, who used to threaten her, would say something fair for her at this key point. Nanny Li trembled, ¡°It¡¯s because my conscience stirs,¡± when she was saying, she touched her chest with her hand, ¡°Now that I have said it, I¡¯m afraid of nothing.¡±

    At this moment, a cold voice broke out suddenly, ¡°Take out your conscience then. Leng Wu!¡±

    With Leng Changxi¡¯s cold order, Leng Wu plunged into the house from outside. Almost between breaths, he dragged Nanny Li¡¯s wrists tightly. When he was about to use strength, he was stopped by Leng Changxi.

    ¡°Enough. Look at her fingernails. What¡¯s inside?¡± Leng Changxi pointed at Nanny Li¡¯s ck fingernails. The ck powder in it looked like dirt left when doing work, but with a closer look....

    ¡°Prince, it¡¯s nux vomica,¡± Imperial Doctor Zhao picked out some ck powder. He smelled it and assured, ¡°and it¡¯s the part whose medical properties are most severe.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stepped forward and pulled Nanny Li¡¯s fingers open. Finding that her ten fingernails were full of the powder of nux vomica, Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°Aren¡¯t you working in the warehouse? Why? Is there so much nux vomica in the warehouse?¡±

    At that time, there came people from Qin Yunuan¡¯s courtyard holding a pack wrapped up tightly. It was opened, and there was a pile of y fragments.

    ¡°When nurse Liao was decocting the medicine, she broke the gallipot by ident. In the end, she found some strange things inside. She felt worried about it, so she asked me to send them here,¡± the little servant girl¡¯s voice was clear. She was not afraid.

    Qin Yunuan opened the cloth pack carefully. As expected, she found there was some inexplicable ck powder on the liner of the wreckage of gallipot inside. Imperial Doctor Li looked at it and asserted, ¡°It¡¯s also nux vomica.¡±

    At his words, Nanny Li¡¯s heart was cold totally.

    Leng Changxi nced at Nanny Li, ¡°You. Have you got anything to say now?¡±

    ¡°You want to harm two people, Old Madam and me,¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes show sternness, ¡°Nanny Li, how dare you?¡± Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help felicitating in her mind. As she wasn¡¯t pregnant, she didn¡¯t drink the nurturing medicine recently. Otherwise, she might like Old Madam now.

    ¡°No. It¡¯s not the truth,¡± Nanny Li shook her head, eyes looking dull, ¡°The gallipot given to Old Madam was an ident. I never thought Nanny Sun would borrow gallipot from me. I really didn¡¯t. I was wrong. I was all the way wrong.¡±

    So the aim of the schemer was to harm Qin Yunuan alone? Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart tightened. However, it made sense. Old Madam was paramount and powerful in the mansion, so everyone tried hard to fawn on her. What good it was for the mansion if she was killed?

    ¡°Bring this servant away! I¡¯ll torture her until she confesses,¡± Prince Ning waved his sleeves. Two strong servants stepped forward to bring Nanny Li who was still shouting away.

    At this time, the grand servant girl in Old Madam¡¯s house came to report that Old Madam was awake now. She wanted to see Third Young Madam.

 Chapter 171 Secret Talk in the Woods

    <h4>Chapter 171 Secret Talk in the Woods</h4>

    The old madam woke up, but she exclusively asked for Qin Yunuan. Qin Yunuan was shocked for a moment, but the servant girl who came to summon her had already gestured an invitation.

    ¡°Third young madam, please.¡± The servant girl guarding the door lifted the door curtain and let Qin Yunuan in. Qin Yunuan paid extra attention and noticed that the old madam¡¯s servant girls had all been changed to the fit ones who had been trained with martial arts.

    ¡°Greetings, old madam. Are you feeling better now?¡± Qin Yunuan bowed towards the old madam, who was lying on the bed, through a couple of draperies. She could blurrily see the old madam leaning towards the pillow with an arm supporting her head, looking tired. The old madam raised her hand and gestured to make all the servants leave, and suddenly said loudly, ¡°It has caused such a scene out there, yet you could still stay calm. Within the younger generation of the Prince¡¯s Mansion, you¡¯re the only one whom I could see the young me in.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded. Before she was able to speak, the old madam continued, ¡°The servant girl responsible for my medication has died, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Yunuan nodded.

    ¡°This is the rule of my Hexiang courtyard. Whoever betrays me will end up this way.¡± The old madam got up slowly, lifted the draperies and walked towards Qin Yunuan, ¡°You should learn about it. It¡¯s time for you to clear the people in your courtyard.¡±

    The old madam had just lifted the second drapery, and she was now facing Qin Yunuan directly. To Qin Yunuan¡¯s surprise, the old madam didn¡¯t look poisoned at all, with her rosy cheeks and high spirits.

    Qin Yunuan suddenly understood that the one in charge of everything was no one else but the old madam. The woman in her sixties, the one in charge of the Prince¡¯s mansion, was the true winner of the incident. As for the servant girl¡¯s death, it seemed like part of the old madam¡¯s n judging from her tone.

    The old madam looked at Qin Yunuan with her wise eyes. She knew that Qin Yunuan had figured it out already, yet she just pointed her wrinkly index finger at Qin Yunuan¡¯s chest, and said slowly, ¡°I ask you toe so that I can tell you that don¡¯t judge people from their appearance or their deeds, look at their hearts.¡±

    When Qin Yunuan left the old madam¡¯s room, the old madam told her servant girls that she was tired today and wouldn¡¯t see anyone else. Prince Ning and Princess Ning naturally asked Qin Yunuan about every detail of the old madam. Qin Yunuan cleverly avoided the fact that the old madam was perfectly fine. Prince Ning heard most of the story, then sighed and ordered the servants to keep watch on nanny Li closely.

    Then the crowd dispersed. The second master and second madam returned to the west mansion, while the rest of them went back to their own yards.

    Qin Yunuan happened to see Leng Suxin passing by when she walked along the corridor on her way back. She wanted to greet Leng Suxin, but her icy nce stopped Qin Yunuan from doing so.

    ¡°This fourthdy is so weird,¡± Maner couldn¡¯t stop herself saying that. ¡°Normally, she doesn¡¯t seem easy going at all. However, she spoke for you at the most crucial moment.¡±

    ¡°Look at their hearts.¡±

    For some reason, Qin Yunuan thought of the words the old madam said to her.

    ¡°It seems that I¡¯ve made quite some enemies today,¡± Qin Yunuan frowned, ¡°The second madam of the west mansion, Consort Tang, sister-inw Ruan Ruyi, and my newly-wed second sister Qin Yuwan. They seem totally unrted, but their words are all pretty harsh. I have to admit that sometimes rumors are terrifying.¡± As she finished speaking, something crossed her mind. She asked, ¡°By the way, what¡¯s the name of the servant girl who brought the drug pot today?¡±

    ¡°Third young madam, the young servant girl¡¯s name is Xi¡¯er. She¡¯s been following nurse Liao and helping her. She¡¯s about fourteen years old.¡± Maner replied.

    ¡°She seems useful to me.¡± Qin Yunuan nodded. ¡°Teach her carefully. I urgently need some loyal servants now.¡±

    Maner nodded in acknowledgment, and she held Qin Yunuan¡¯s arm and made a turn towards a bamboo grove. It was a fast way back to their yard with fewer people but more trees and insects. Normally Qin Yunuan won¡¯t take this way, but she was in a rush today.

    Just as they approached the bamboo grove, they heard someone whispering. It was a woman¡¯s voice in a sobbing tone, mixed with helpless pleading.

    ¡°Young master, you can¡¯t do this anymore. You said that you would marry me as a concubine. It¡¯s been two months, and my belly is growing bigger. I can¡¯t hide it anymore. Please, young master, please.¡±

    A young master making a servant girl pregnant? This wasn¡¯t rare in the prestigious families. Qin Yunuan frowned. She wanted to leave quietly, without paying much attention to this sort of affairs, but she saw the crying face of the servant girl when she took a nce.

    Wasn¡¯t that Haitang? The pretty servant girl who had been longing to be a concubine by seducing men.

    Now that she got what wanted, it seemed that the man didn¡¯t care about her at all from his answer.

    ¡°Do you really think that I can marry you under these circumstances? I can¡¯t even guarantee my own situation now, don¡¯t push me. As for the child, it¡¯s nothing with a pack of red flowers.¡±

    ¡°Young master, you can¡¯t do this. It¡¯s your child.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t drive you out of the mansion only because it¡¯s my child.¡± The voice was so cold that it felt strange, which made it hard to tell which young master this was. ¡°Just go away, don¡¯t ever let me see you again.¡±

    Then, the sound of rapid footsteps approached from far to near. Qin Yunuan was startled, and she immediately backed off for a few steps and hid among the bamboos. Unfortunately, the bamboos blocked her sight, and she didn¡¯t see who the man was.

    However, there were not many ¡°young masters¡± in the mansion. Apart from Leng Changxi, there¡¯s the grand young master Leng Changxuan, the second young master Leng Chang¡¯an and Leng Qiguang from the West mansion. That ¡°young master¡± Haitang referred to must be one of them.

    The sound of Haitang crying came from the other side of the bamboo grove. Qin Yunuan had no intention to stay any longer and was about to leave via a side path. However, she saw a familiar figure by the corner door of the bamboo grove garden. The green figure shed by quickly, but Qin Yunuan saw her clearly. It was Qingzhu who served Princess Ning.

    When she returned to the yard, Leng Changxi had finished the chores and returned to their room. Seeing Qin Yunuan entering the room, he carefully handed a warm lotus soup to her, ¡°Try it. I made it.¡±

    ¡°You made it?¡± Qin Yunuan was shocked. She didn¡¯t know that Leng Changxi could do this.

    ¡°Yup.¡± Leng Changxi nodded seriously, ¡°I monitored the cook in the kitchen while he was making it.¡± Seeing Qin Yunuan¡¯s smile, Leng Changxi thought for a moment and added, ¡°I¡¯ve added two spoons of sugar.¡±

    For a man like Leng Changxi who had never cooked before, adding some sugar was equivalent to cooking. Qin Yunuan took over the lotus soup and smelled the fragrance of lotus immediately. She smiled warmly, ¡°Thank you for your effort, honey.¡±

    She had just taken a sip when nurse Liao hurried in from outside. She shut the door and lowered her voice, ¡°Third young master, third young madam. Something happened by the bamboo grove garden.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t rush. Just tell me about it slowly.¡± Qin Yunuan handed nurse Liao a cup of tea.

    Nurse Liao wasn¡¯t in a mood of drinking tea. She regted her breath and said, ¡°The prince had imprisoned nanny Li so that he could investigate the drug pot thoroughly, but nanny Li was drowned in the little pond of the bamboo grove garden. There was only one person in the garden at that time. It was the servant girl named Haitang, who was given to Miss Xie by third young madam. Now there are rumors that Haitang was arranged by third young madam to keep watch on Miss Xie. They also said that this time Haitang is killing nanny Li for third young madam so that there¡¯s no evidence.¡±

    Qin Yunuan frowned. She knew that she was a target of someone. Besides, the drug pots of hers and the old madam were both drugged, yet the old madam was poisoned, but she was not. It would cause suspicion indeed, and those people could make up stories about it.

    ¡°Where did the rumors started?¡± Leng Changxi asked calmly.

    Nurse Liao thought a while and said, ¡°I heard it from a nanny in the east court. She also said that Miss Xie was tortured by Haitang and Baihe that she couldn¡¯t sleep or eat peacefully. Now Miss Xie isining to the prince and the princess.¡±

    ¡°Huh,in?¡± Qin Yunuan said in disdain, ¡°Even the old madam agreed to have Haitang and Baihe serve Xie Ruying. Now that Xie Ruying still dares toin about it, it¡¯s total disobedience to the old madam.¡±

    Nurse Liao seemed very worried, ¡°Third young madam, now that the rumors and the news hadn¡¯t been wide-spread yet. Should we take some actions to make ns in advance?¡±

    Qin Yunuan thought about it quickly and smiled clearly, ¡°No. We don¡¯t need to do anything this time.¡± Thinking of what she saw in the bamboo grove garden, andter on, she saw Qingzhu¡¯s figure. Luck was on her side.

    Qin Yunuan finished the lotus soup and lightly wiped her mouth, ¡°We just need to take a good rest and watch the drama tomorrow.¡±

    It was a dreamless night. Qin Yunuan slept well in Leng Changxi¡¯s arms. The two slept while cuddling each other, and it was utterly sweet. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Prince¡¯s mansion, a woman wearing a butterfly embroidery robe was lying on the bed tiringly in the dim candlelight. In front of her was white fume from the incense and a woman kneeling towards her, lowering her head loyally.

    ¡°What you mean is, you¡¯re discovered?¡± The woman on the bed saidzily, with an extremely vicious tone.

    ¡°I¡¯m useless. Haitang from the east courtyard saw me when I leave. However, I had already med nanny Li¡¯s death on her.¡± While speaking, the woman who was kneeling on the ground raised her head. It was no one but Qingzhu who Qin Yunuan saw in the bamboo grove.

    The woman on the bed stood up and walked out of the cold and dense darkness. Half of her face was lit by the candlelight, which seemed even more creepy. At this moment, Princess Ning was as horrible as a demon from hell.

    ¡°Changxi is my son, mine alone. I don¡¯t allow other women to share him with me.¡± Princess Ning¡¯s nce became hollow and weird, ¡°Qin Yunuan, I won¡¯t let you die in peace.¡±

 Chapter 172 Insane Woman

    <h4>Chapter 172 Insane Woman</h4>

    The next day morning, it was a very sunny day. Nurse Liao took out all those bedclothes used in winter and hang out them in the courtyard. The winter wasing, and it was getting dry gradually. Qin Yunuan, sitting in front of her dresser, was penciling her eyebrows carefully. Suddenly, she felt the warmth in her hand. It was Leng Changxi who used his big hands to cover the hands of Qin Yunuan gently. She could feel the familiar smell of the man in her tender-skinned neck, which expressed the boundless sweet love.

    Leng Changxi took the eyebrow pencil held by Qin Yunuan and then used another hand to pinch her jaw softly. With a soft smile, he started to fill in the eyebrows of Qin Yunuan unaffectedly.

    ¡°Yesterday, I came to the Imperial Pce, and the Queen Mother granted me a bottle of Baihua Yulu. I do not often use such kind of thing, so I thought she must award it to you.¡± Leng Changxi suddenly took out a green bottle like performing magic and then put it on her dressing box. Just judging by the bottle, it was clear that the thing inside the bottle was definitely valuable.

    Qi Yunuan smiled, ¡°Baihua Yulu is the tribute from Jiangnan Yulu Shop, which only generates ten bottles each year. It is so popr in the Royal Pce. I think it was not the award from Queen Mother. Was it you who requested the award from the Queen Mother?¡±

    Leng Changxi shrugged and smiled gently, ¡°Is there any difference?¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled shyly and was speechless. She just took up the bottle and had a smell. As expected, it smelled so cool and watery.

    At this moment, Maner came in and gave a salute to Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan, ¡°Third Young Master, Third Young Madam, Haitang got insane.¡±

    Yesterday, nanny Li was drowned at the pond in the bamboo woods, and the witness said that Haitang pushed nanny Li into the pond. And then Haitang was taken into custody. Besides, Xie Ruyingint tearfully to Prince Ning and Princess Ning, those nannies who were responsible for watching were stricter to Haitang. They gave no water and food to her and put several ferocious hounds into the darkroom, which was used to prison Haitang. Though iron chains tied those hounds, Haitang was in a dark room and suffered hunger and cold. She must feel so frightened when she saw the green eyes and sharp teeth of those hounds.

    Qin Yunuan raised her hand to pick a crystal soup dumpling and put it into the bowl of Leng Changxi. She indicted Maner to continue.

    ¡°I heard from the nannies who were responsible for watching that in the morning. They were about to send food to the room, but when they opened the door, they found that Haitang with tousy hair crouched at the corner, and those seven to eight hounds died. When Haitang turned back, the nannies were almost frightened to death by the look of Haitang. Her eyes were bloody with much blood on her teeth, mouth corner and clothes. They said that those ferocious hounds were bitten to death by Haitang. The master is proud of those hounds, which are so ferocious and dare to fight with tigers.¡±

    Qin Yunuan sneered lightly, ¡°She was not crazy. She was hurt by others. If she had not been poisonous, such a delicate and weak girl would not have be so brave and powerful to fight against those hounds.¡±

    ¡°But, is there any benefit after Haitang bes crazy? Why don¡¯t they just kill her and me the death of nanny Li on her? But she is crazy now so that the whole thing will be in a mess.¡±

    ¡°It is too swanking to kill her. It is better to keep her crazy,¡± Qin Yunuan knew well the tricks her rival always yed which were so crack and quick, ¡°Do you remember Dou Qing¡¯e? Once she got crazy, nobody would believe her words any longer. So, from now on, what Haitang says will be nonsense, and nobody will believe her.¡±

    As expected by Qin Yunuan, Qin Yunuan heard the news that Haitang was too insane and had been sent to the Psycho Tower when she was on her way to Twilight ce for greeting Princess Ning. And the issue that the medicine pots of the Old Madam and Qin Yunuan were put nux vomica ended up with nothing definite with the death of nanny Li. The old Madam said she did not want to figure the issue out, so others got relived, and the whole thing got covered to some extent.

    But Qin Yunuan still remembered the words of the Old Madam on that day that people should know the inside thought of others when theymunicated with others.

    When Qin Yunuan walked at the door of the inner room of Princess Ning, she exactly heard the crying sound and the persuasion from Princess Ning inside.

    ¡°Ruying, now nanny Li has died. It¡¯s useless to say much. You¡¯d better nurse your health first.¡±

    Humph, Xie Ruying. She came again? Qin Yunuan sneered. But when she raised the curtain, she still showed her pretty and gentle face in front of Princess Ning and Xie Ruying.

    ¡°Yunuan, youe.¡± Princess Ning said with much love. She raised her hand to let the maidservant pass a little box of honey cream to Qin Yunuan, ¡°See, this is the cream purchased by our mansion in the North Di recently. It is suitable for nursing face in winter. The master gave me three boxes, and I want to give you and Ruying two boxes.¡±

    Qi Yunuan curtsied and was about to take it, but the new maidservant Xi¡¯er Qin Yunuan chose said loudly, ¡°Thanks, but our Third Young Master gave a bottle of Baihua Yulu to Third Young Madam this morning, and it was from the Imperial Pce. Better than this one.¡±

    ¡°Xi¡¯er,¡± Qin Yunuan rebuked her seriously, ¡°Rude! That is the gift my mother gave to me, and Baihua Yulu is the gift my husband gave to me. The two gifts are both precious. Maner, don¡¯t you teach Xi¡¯er how to do things and speak words in front of her master?¡±

    Though Qin Yunuan seemed to be so angry, she still squinted at Princess Ning and noticed the fleeting unhappiness and enviousness on her face, which was hardly seen on the face of Princess Ning before.

    ¡°It¡¯s my fault for not teaching the maidservant well and causing her rude words to Princess and Third Young Madam.¡± And then, Maner pulled Xi¡¯er and quitted at once.

    Qin Yunuan was looking at Princess Ning and Xie Ruying with a smile, but Xie Ruying rolled her eyes to Qin Yunuan. Actually, it was clear that the skin of Xie Ruying was very abnormal recently. Though it was as white as snow, it was not so bnced under the sun, and even looked uneven.

    ¡°You look so spirited, miss Xie.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled.

    Xie Ruying felt embarrassed. She distracted her eyes and pretended to hear nothing.

    ¡°Miss Xie, the tea gets cold. Let me take another cup of tea for you.¡± The little maidservant who was responsible for making tea held the cup beside Xie Ruying lightly, but for no reason, she raised her hand but suddenly shuddered. And then the full teacup was upset and was poured on the face of Xie Ruying. In a sh, the thick rouge on her face was resolved, just like pieces of flour with water falling on the ground.

    Xie Ruying¡¯s thick rouge was removed by the tea, just like a mask taken off suddenly. Now there were many sunken holes, raising pustules and dense red spots on her cheeks and forehead, which were exposed in the air. Such a beautiful face suddenly was turned to be an ugly and disgusting look.

    ¡°Ah.¡± With the screaming of the little maidservant, the other two young maidservants who did not see such kind of scene had been faint. They were likely to have not seen such kind of disgusting face in their whole lives.

    ¡°My face.¡± Xie Ruying crouched painfully with her hands covering her face. She was not willing to let others see her face now.

    In a sh, Princess Ning let all maidservants in this room quit, and only let Qingzhu and Moju stay.

    ¡°Quick! Help her up.¡± Princess Ning shouted at Qingzhu and Moju, but the two maidservants hesitated to move and just looked at each other. Qin Yunuan stepped forward quickly, but before she touched the arm of Xie Ruying, the woman turned to be insane, who was waving her arms and shouting, ¡°Stay away from me! Don¡¯t touch me. Qin Yunuan, I know youe to make a fool of me. Everything was due to you! You destroyed me!¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about? Miss Xie. I just want to help you up.¡± Qin Yunuan looked so innocent and stepped back with the protection of Leng Shuang. Leng Shuang also caused the upset of the tea by the little maidservant who was responsible for making tea. She just used a little red bean to hit the vein of the maidservant.

    ¡°It¡¯s you! It¡¯s you!¡± Xie Ruying shouted in a hoarse voice. She rushed at Qin Yunuan like an insane woman, ¡°You sent me two good maidservants. I felt uneasy when I looked at the gloomy face of Baihe. And as for Haitang, she was just a menial slut. She added something which could destroy my face into my rouge. She made me turn ugly, and then she showed her beauty to seduce men. Without any surprise, what she did followed her master. She learned those tricks from you.¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Qin Yunuan rebuked her coldly. And at the same time, with the instruction of Qin Yunuan, Leng Shuang pped Xie Ruying, leaving the clear fingers print. Leng Shuang practiced martial arts throughout the year. Her p was so powerful and made Xie Ruying feel swimmy. Xie Ruying even could not speak clearly for a long time and then covered her face and said, ¡°How dare you p me? Princess, you need to hold the scales even!¡±

    Princess Ning was the only support of Xie Ruying in the whole mansion. Now Xie Ruying held the leg of the princess tightly, but Princess Ning felt in a dilemma. She just nced at Qin Yunuan but only heard her serious and calm words, ¡°I am the Third Young Madam of Princess Ning¡¯s Mansion, and you are just a rtive from another family who just stays here temporarily. I am the Infanta Ping granted by the emperor, and you just an ordinary woman without any title. You nder me first, so I p you. Tell me, can I p you?¡±

    Xie Ruying felt stunned and heard the words from Qin Yunuan who lowered her body and said near the ear of Xie Ruying, ¡°Think about your unborn child. If you are still stubborn, I think you will be in a dark room with a baby who has not a legal identity, just like Haitang.¡±

    Xie Ruying fondled her still even underbelly by her fingertips. She had never told anybody that she was pregnant; even her close maidservants did not know that. How did Qin Yunuan know that?

    Looking at the profound and mysterious eyes of Qin Yunuan, Xie Ruying thought her inside heart was exposed. She loosened the leg of Princess Ning and said tragically, ¡°Forgive my rudeness. I feel not well, and I want to go back to have a rest.¡±

    Princess Ning nodded. Qin Yunuan did not stay here and just talked for a while, and then left the courtyard. Suddenly she found Xie Ruying, who re-tidied her face and hair was standing on the little stone bridge which was a way Qin Yunuan must go through when she came back. Xie Ruying was waiting for her.

 Chapter 173 Eyes for An Eye, Whole Jaw for a Tooth

    <h4>Chapter 173 Eyes for An Eye, Whole Jaw for a Tooth</h4>

    Lighted by the sunshine, Xie Ruying was still beautiful and gorgeous, as if she had been a beauty walking out of a painting. No one could tell that her real face had been disfigured.

    Walking towards Xie Ruying, Qin Yunuan fired the first shot before she spoke up. ¡°I will keep your secret from others, both there,¡± Qin Yunuan said coldly and nced at Xie Ruying¡¯s face. And then she looked down at her belly and continued, ¡°and there. I won¡¯t tell others.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was about to leave when Xie Ruying pulled her sleeve and asked anxiously, ¡°How did you know? I¡¯ve conceived everyone. I even spilled chicken blood on the underwear during my periods. No one has found out, except you, you monster.¡±

    ¡°Miss Xie,¡± Maner and Ting Xue had kept a distance from them, waiting quietly at the entrance and exit of the b bridge in case anyone should approach. So, Qin Yunuan did not need to worry about being heard, ¡°Was that your way to beg my help? Really?¡±

    ¡°Who said that I was going to beg you?¡±

    Qin Yunuan nced at Xie Ruying¡¯s face with her clear and calm eyesight. ¡°Aren¡¯t you intended to ask me who did that to your face?¡± she sneered.

    ¡°Oh, really, was it not you?¡± Xie Ruying said out of spite.

    ¡°Humph,¡± Qin Yunuan titled, looking at the ming maple leaves falling to the water, fluttering and causing ripples, ¡°If I had been you, I would first think about who¡¯s the father of the baby.¡±

    Xie Ruying cried out involuntarily, ¡°It was the Second Madam.¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised an eyebrow. She only knew that Xie Ruying was pregnant from Sun Miaoyang. He was a highly skilled doctor indeed. With just one nce, he concluded that Xie Ruying was two months pregnant. So, what Qin Yunuan did not know was the father. Xie Ruying was not a decent person in nature. But to Qin Yunuan¡¯s surprise, she actually had an affair with the Second Master of the West House who was about twenty years older than her. That was a more interesting discovery than what she had expected.

    Qin Yunuan remained silent, watching Xie Ruying getting angrier and angrier.

    ¡°I know it must be her,¡± Xie Ruying said to herself, ¡°She always dislike me. Now, she even destroyed my face in such a vicious way. She will have to pay back her whole jaw for a tooth.¡±

    Qin Yunuan titled to avoid eye contact. In a t tone, she seemed to persuade her, ¡°Revenge doesn¡¯te cheap. Miss Xie, I¡¯m afraid that you may lose more before paying off those scores. It¡¯s not worth it.¡±

    Xie Ruying red at Qin Yunuan and then left in a rage after saying that ¡°it was none of your business¡±.

    Watching Xie Ruying walking away, Maner took a silver gown for Qin Yunuan. Bleak and chilly, the weather of thete autumn was getting colder.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, why did you do her a favor? Would your warning do any good for us?¡± Xi¡¯er was too young to figure those things out.

    Holding the gown tightly, Qin Yunuan kept walking and then smiled at Xi¡¯er, ¡°First, even though I told her, she does not have the ability to bring down a principal wife. So, her efforts would be in vain. Second, I never said that it was the Second Madam of the West House that did her harm. It was just her own single consent. Besides, she would not dare to drag me into the dirty water even though she had realized that I knew about her baby. Last but not least,¡± Qin Yunuan fixed her hair and then continued in a t tone, ¡°The one who harmed her was not the Second Madam.¡±

    ¡°What...?¡± Now, even Maner was surprised.

    The courtyard appeared in a distance. Qin Yunuan slowed down, ¡°The Second Madam of the West House was mean and caustic indeed, but she¡¯s still a shallow person in nature. She doesn¡¯t have the nning or ability to disfigure others. Instead, the most generous and gorgeous one in this mansion is most likely to be the wire puller. Maner, Ting Xue, Xi¡¯er, you are the most trusted people of mine. From now on, remember that you should learn people by their hearts, not their faces.¡±

    They all agreed sincerely. As they had arrived at the gate, they noticed that nurse Liao was not guarding the inner court as usual. Instead, she was waiting by the gate, looking far into the distance anxiously. She came to them at once when she saw Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Why are you so anxious, nurse Liao? Today is the vacation of the Imperial College, isn¡¯t it? Baochuan should being back soon. I prepare to make some Green Bean Cookies for him.¡± Qin Yunuan, who looked exhausted all the way, finally smiled when speaking of Baochuan.

    Having checked around, nurse Liao said in a lower voice, ¡°Third Young Madam, do you still remember the brocade boxes that Third Young Master brought backst night?¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded, ¡°Yes. Yesterday, Changxi returned with Baihua Yulu and many other tributes from the imperial pce.¡±

    Nurse Liao continued, ¡°This morning, a servant girl was so careless that she knocked one of the brocade boxes down to the ground when cleaning. Besides an ink b, there was also a painting in there that was about an arm¡¯s length and width.¡±

    She then walked into the room. After Maner and Ting Xue closed the door, nurse Liao took out the painting from her sleeve right away. The painting used high-quality rice paper with tiger-skin patterns, and it could tell from the handwriting that the painter was quite skilled. But the painting looked very weird: In the pens made of thorns, a group of livestock were in tears; a gorgeous-lookingdy was standing outside of the fence, holding high of a sharp knife, as if she was going to kill them.

    ¡°What a strange painting,¡± Maner looked closely aside, ¡°The one who kills animals should be the butcher. Why would it be such a beautiful and dignifieddy?¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyebrows knitted, ¡°Which brocade box was it in?¡±

    Nurse Liao brought the sapphire blue brocade box with golden seaming at once. With just one nce, Maner concluded, ¡°I remember that this one was from Imperial Concubine Yang of the Haili Pce.¡±

    ¡°Imperial Concubine Yang? We had just met a few times at the banquet. Why did she send things to me while Changxi entering the pce?¡± Qin Yunuan thought to herself for a while, and then her eyes were lit with surprise. ¡°I got it! The Grand Prince is in trouble, and he was asking for our help in this way!¡±

    Again, Qin Yunuan checked the painting carefully. After Leng Changxi came back, she told him everything, including the painting and her own guess, in order to figure it out. They did not sleep the whole night, but the next day, they acted as if nothing had happened. The servant girls in the courtyard all remained silent.

    Seven dayster, it was the day of the imperial banquet held for ambassadors from North Di to celebrate the establishment of the diplomatic ties between North Di and Qi, which ended their war that hadsted for about 50 years. Surely enough, Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan were invited.

    The goblets sh from hand to hand at the banquet. But the ambassador of North Di was not the Seventh Prince Wanyan Su but the most powerful rival of the imperial throne, Wanyan Ba. He had been managing the national affairs of North Di since the old khan became seriously ill. He was also the biggest propellent and advocate behind the establishment of diplomatic rtions with Qi.

    Different from the refined behaviors of Wanyan Su, Wanyan Ba¡¯s action at the banquet was cavalier and rugged. He drank in big bowls and ate in chunks, not caring that he was in the Central ins where there were many rules and rites.

    ¡°Emperor Qi, your women are very beautiful. I like the one sitting opposite the most,¡± Wanyan Ba pointed at Qin Yunuan suddenly, his eyesight showing the desire of a wolf towards its prey. He even made clicks andplimented, ¡°Look at her tiny nose and mouth. Her skin is as white as tofu. She is much more beautiful than those women in my country who only know how to ride and fight. She¡¯s very adorable, and I could not take my eyes off her.¡±

    Before Emperor Zhaoxuan made any remarks, an ivory chopstick with gilded carvings was shot across the way to Wanyan Ba. As it went so near to Wanyan Ba¡¯s left eyeball, its direction changed all of a sudden and thrust into the red pir behind him deeply, which showed the great arm strength of the shooter.

    ¡°Grand Prince from North Di,¡± Leng Changxi said slowly, and then picked up a golden wine cup in an elegant and leisure way with the hand that flung the chopstick, ¡°You are in the imperial pce of Qi, drinking the rice wine made of our grains. And the one you looked at was my wife. So, you¡¯d better be careful about your behavior. Or next time, I¡¯m not sure whether my chopstick will diverge or not.¡± Leng Changxi drank the wine and stared at the left eyeball of Wanyan Ba coldly as if that was a trophy.

    Wanyan Ba felt that his left eyeball was burning. He was so angry that he was to stand up, but the civil officials aside that came along from the North Di stopped him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t do that, Grand Prince. Do you forget the crushing defeat at Jialing Pass? At that time, it was General Leng who led 50,000 troops and defeated our army of 250,000 soldiers. Please be careful, Grand Prince.¡±

    Wanyan Ba red at Leng Changxi ferociously for a while, and then whacked the table and said to Emperor Zhaoxuan, ¡°Fine, Emperor Qi, it is your blessing to have such a gifted man. But all I want is to take a look at my sister who married your prince. She is the most beloved daughter of khan. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s too much.¡±

    Qin Yunuan paused when she heard this. Empress Chenughed, trying to ease the embarrassment. ¡°That¡¯s a pity. Now, Saichun is suffering from vomiting during pregnancy, and she had note out of the Jingxi Pce for more than half a month. And the Grand Prince is always there for her and stayed in the pce the whole time.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t minding to the pce to look after her,¡± Wanyan Ba almost lost his patience.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that it¡¯s not appropriate,¡± Empress Chen exined, ¡°Now, Princess Saichun is the Prince¡¯s Wife of Qi. A female member of the royal family cannot meet other men freely.¡±

    At present, Qin Yunuan had left the banquet for sickness and was heading off to a lonely ce. She knew that someone was waiting for her there.

 Chapter 174 One Climax after Another

    <h4>Chapter 174 One Climax after Another</h4>

    The Jingxi Pce and the Jingchen Pce were built next to each other. The former was the residence of the Grand Prince Sima Ruo, and thetter was the residence of Prince Ray. The two princes had always been regarded as the most powerfulpetitors for the throne. Their pces were adjacent, and they werepared day by day. Thements made the two form opposite characters.

    Sima Ray was well adapted to this life of scams. He learned to be more ruthless than others, and Sima Ruo was undoubtedly the most tragic character in this political struggle. His rebellions each time was a cry at the end of his rope.

    At a hidden corner door of the Jingxi Pce, a woman in a ck cloak had been waiting for Qin Yunuan for a long time. Seeing Qin Yunuan from afar, she hurried up.

    ¡°Infanta Ping, you are finally here.¡±

    Qin Yunuan lifted off her brim and nced at the woman in front of her. She is a typical gentle beauty in the regions south of the River with slender eyebrows and beautiful eyes.

    ¡°Not everyone is as bold as Imperial Concubine Yang,¡± Qin Yunuan said, and the woman lowered her head in shame. Qin Yunuan softened her tone, ¡°But Imperial Concubine Yang was bold and careful to think of delivering news with the royal tributes.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Yang shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s not my credits. It was the Grand Prince who begged me to do it one day. The Imperial Concubine Yun once saved my life. I had to agree.¡±

    Did Yun Imperial Concubine have a life-saving grace for such a little-known concubine? Qin Yunuan immediately revealed a surprised look on her face. Imperial Concubine Yang said anxiously, ¡°Actually, the Imperial Concubine is not as bad as many people thought. She was forced on many asions. After all, in the Royal Pce, it is either your death or others....¡±

    ¡°Imperial Concubine Yang,¡± Qin Yunuan calmly interrupted Yang¡¯s words, ¡°If you really want me to help the Grand Prince and Princess, you should not continue your talk of nonsense here.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Yang quickly led Qin Yunuan into the back door, saying, ¡°Most of the courtdies and eunuchs in the Jingxi Pce are now for Her Majesty. Prince Ray could even observe the Jingxi Pce directly from the Jingchen Pce.¡±

    As they entered the inner hall, the trembling gloom contrasted with the singing and dancing banquet outside, and there is not even a waitress. Sometimes the sounds of a woman vomiting came from the dark corner, yelling as if it was tearing her heart out. The voice was dry, gloomy, with a desperate smell of dust.

    Imperial Concubine Yang had retreated silently. By the moonlight spilling from the window and the light of her candlestick, Qin Yunuan vaguely saw Saichun, who was lying on the edge of the bed, trying to vomit desperately with her fingers in her throat. After only several months, Saichun was no longer the young heroine on the hunting ground. She looked hungry, and herplexion was as terrible as a refugee. She looked up at Qin Yunuan. Surprise shed in her eyes. After just a moment, she said in a relieved tone, ¡°Why? You are here, too? Did Her Majesty send you to take me on the road?¡± Saichun said, clutching her lower abdomen tightly. ¡°You are so cruel to not even spare my unborn child a life. I know that every time the anti-abortifacient Her Majesty sent were actually harmful to me. I will spit out all of it. I will not let her seed.¡±

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t speak. Behind her, there¡¯s a crisp sound of a teacup falling. Sima Ruo was holding a cup of hot water at the door, and the appearance of Qin Yunuan was unbelievable in his eyes.

    ¡°Infanta Ping.¡± Sima Ruo stepped closer and supported Saichun, who was crooked and weak, ¡°You came. I know you would understand my drawing.¡±

    Qin Yunuan said indifferently, ¡°North Di abounds in cattle and sheep. Grand Prince, you use cattle and sheep to refer to you and the Grand Princess from North Di. You are blocked by a fence full of thorns, meaning that you are actually under house arrest. Thedy who holds a sharp dagger and wants to kill a sheep, if I guessed right, you mean that Empress Chen wants to remove you using Sima Ray¡¯s hands, right?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Sima Ruo shook his head. He looked a little nervous, ¡°I¡¯m worried that Empress Chen wants to kill my father, the emperor.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was startled, ¡°Her Majesty wants the emperor dead?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Sima Ruo said in a deep voice, ¡°I thought that Empress Chen¡¯s target was my concubine and me. My mother had been resting quietly in the Royal Pce for a long time because of the cold, and the Jingxi Pce was also cut off from the outside half a month ago. But since yesterday, I found that most of the masters who monitored the Jingxi Pce had retreated. I guessed that they all went to the Yongchang Pce, where the emperor was holding the banquet.¡±

    ¡°How could you be so sure?¡± Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows slightly. In the beginning, she thought that she was just going to help Sima Ruo escape. But now, if the emperor was involved, that could be more than a trivial matter.

    Sima Ruo smiled indifferently. His refined smile drew Qin Yunuan into a trance. In such a case, there were still people who canugh out so calmly.

    ¡°Mud.¡± Sima Ruo smiled, ¡°I found the mud that the Jingxi Pce could not have under the courtyard corner yesterday. The royal mud of West Xia, it was especially used to grow the green Begonia. For this banquet, my father had ordered all the green Begonia to be moved to the Yongchang Pce as an embellishment yesterday. I have eight in ten certainties. Infanta Ping, do you trust me?¡±

    Qin Yunuan was silent. Her ck eyes looked deep into Sima Ruo¡¯s dark eyes for a long time. The cause and effect could be unprecedented. If one move was wrong, they would losepletely.

    The night of the Jingxi Pce was so quiet that you could hear the thin but heavy breathing of the three people and the sound of the sword unsheathed between the songs and dances in the Yongchang Pce.

    Emperor Zhaoxuan sat at the front seat, squinting and watching the North Di dancers performing on the center stage with very admiring eyes. Leng Changxi pinched the wine cup, Leng Shuang was whispering thetest news in his ears. He frowned after the words finished, but soon his face returned to normal.

    Sima Ray, on his opposite, took the initiative to talk, ¡°General Leng was silent all night, are you worried about Madam Leng?¡±

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t even look at Sima Ray, ¡°Nuan always takes good care of herself.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Really?¡± Sima Ray¡¯s eyes inadvertently nced away. His fingertips slightly raised towards the wine cup. Leng Changxi spotted the unperceivable movement. He knew that it was a secret code.

    ¡°What did you do with your hand, Prince Ray?¡± Leng Changxi called out suddenly. While eyes gathered on Sima Ray in surprise, a ck assassin hidden among the musicians had already jumped into the air. He pulled out the soft sword in his sleeve and ran straight towards Emperor Zhaoxuan.

    This person had excellent light skills. His speed was very fast, like a flying arrow.

    But immediately, a faster shadow followed him up. The two people were shing swords on the table filled with delicious dishes. The noble ministers in the hall were all panicked and fled on their own.

    Seeing that their force was weakened, other assassins immediately came to help. In a few moments, three or five ck assassins rushed out of the servants and dancers with their daggers and soft swords. They thought that it would be easy to deal with a few fighters. But they didn¡¯t expect that two rows of ck armored soldiers rushed into the pce, each strong and powerful. The fight came to a stalemate.

    Leng Changxi caught the right moment and threw out a pair of ivory chopsticks in his hand, directly hitting the hearts of two assassins. The fight soon came to an end. Although the banquet was messy, the battle ended extremely cleanly and decisively, and no one was injured.

    Seeing that the ck assassins had been taken down one by one, Eunuch You climbed out from behind the pir, tremblingly under Emperor Zhaoxuan¡¯s feet, ¡°I camete to save... save you. My Majesty, I hope... I hope....¡±

    ¡°Go away.¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan kicked the fake minion away. Although he also experienced military life as a young man, he was unavoidably frightened under the haste. Empress Chen performed very well, instead of running away, her first reaction was protecting Emperor Zhaoxuan with her body in front of him. She identally sprained my ankle for it, which moved Emperor Zhaoxuan.

    ¡°Help Her Majesty to rest in the pce.¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan looked distressed.

    ¡°No,¡± tears circled in Empress Chen¡¯s eyes, ¡°I will not leave. I will apany you, my emperor.¡±

    Emperor Zhaoxuanforted Empress Chen, and the next sentence was directed at Leng Changxi. ¡°Leng General should be awarded for your sessful escort. These assassins were so bold that they dare to assassinate me when I feast the North Di messenger. Take him down and interrogate carefully. Grand Prince of North Di, you must be terrified.¡±

    At this moment, an assassin suddenly moved his jaw. Leng Changxi was sharp-eyed and immediately stepped forward, quickly grabbing his jaw and pulling hard until it dislocated.

    ¡°General Cold, you...¡± Sima Ray stood up, trembling. He concealed his emotions very well. Like everyone else, he was just a frightened prince.

    Leng Changxi nced at Sima Ray with cold eyes but ordered Leng Wu to take out a red bean-sized poison bag from the assassin¡¯s mouth. If Leng Changxi hadn¡¯t discovered it in time, the venom would have killed the assassin.

    ¡°This assassin wanted to kill himself,¡± Leng Changxi exined. ¡°I can¡¯t let him die. If he died, I wouldn¡¯t be able to ask anything.¡± Leng Changxi finished. His eyes sized Sima Ray up.

    Sima Ray¡¯s eyes twitched slightly, ¡°General Cold had sharp eyes.¡±

    The internal attendants who were in charge of clearing the scene suddenly came up with a wooden pallet. A few soft swords were ced in them, and the leading attendant bowed, ¡°Emperor, these are the murder weapons that fell from the assassins.¡±

    Emperor Zhaoxuan nced briefly only to clear the endgame. After all, the incident happened in front of the North Di prince, he did not want to lose face, but a loud voice suddenly came from the crowd, ¡°Hey? Wasn¡¯t that soft sword engraved with the unique crape myrtle flower sign of Grand Prince¡¯s Dragon and Tiger Cavalry?¡±

 Chapter 175 Wicked People Harassed Each Other

    <h4>Chapter 175 Wicked People Harassed Each Other</h4>

    The mother of the Grand Prince, Imperial Concubine Yun, was the sister of General Meng. He was paramount and powerful, as he was in charge of forty percent of the armies of Qi. What was more, he trained an elite cavalry called ¡°Dragon and Tiger Cavalry¡±. When the Grand Prince, Sima Ruo, was 20, he gave him 300 cavalrymen of Dragon and Tiger Cavalry as a gift. Even the emperor couldn¡¯t interfere with the issue. In order to distinguish them, General Meng¡¯s Dragon and Tiger Cavalry were marked by lily while Sima Ruo¡¯s Dragon and Tiger Cavalry were marked by crape myrtle.

    The words had a great effect. All the people looked at the crape myrtle mark on the soft sword. The words seemed to corrupt people¡¯s hearts.

    Emperor Zhaoxuan looked solemn. His fingers knocked on the golden armrest of dragon throne. Then he looked at Wanyan Ba apologetically, ¡°Sorry that it makes you scared, the Grand Prince of North Di. Today the state banquet is ruined, and guests have to return with their spirits dampened. The Grand Prince, please return to the hotel to have a rest first. The other day I will hold a much more magnificent wee ceremony for you.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that,¡± Seeing the pce of the royal family of Qi in a mess, there were triumph and delight hard to hide in Wanyan Ba¡¯s eyes, ¡°My trip this time is first to sign a contract and second to see Princess Saichun, the favored daughter of our king. There¡¯s no need to bother. Wang Qi, we¡¯d better go.¡± Wang Qi was the civil official following Wanyan Ba. He was responsible for trantion and secretarial work. Hearing Wanyan Ba calling him, he hurried to keep the peace treaty well and left with Wanyan Ba.

    Now, the people in the pce were all of the royal family of Qi.

    ¡°Father, I plead with you to investigate this issue thoroughly. Brother is honest and tolerant. His Dragon and Tiger Cavalry is loyal. How will theymit high treason like that?¡± Sima Ray kneeled down suddenly. Although he seemed to intercede for Sima Ruo, the word ¡°treason¡± made his ears prickle. He couldn¡¯t bear the fact that his once valued eldest son had a connection with the assassin who wanted to kill him.

    Before Emperor Zhaoxuan could make his judgment, Leng Changxi spoke to Sima Ray directly, ¡°Prince Ray, you are really a fast thinker. The truth hasn¡¯t been figured out yet now. In your words, you seem to assert that these assassins all belong to Dragon and Tiger Cavalry. Are you in haste?¡±

    Among officials, some were helping Sima Ray, ¡°General Leng, your words don¡¯t make sense. The truth is rather clear. Dragon and Tiger Cavalry belongs to the Meng Army, as its weapons and equipment are purchased and registered by the Meng Army. If they don¡¯t belong to Dragon and Tiger Cavalry, who can get the weapons that only appear in the Meng Army?¡±

    Then someone chimed in with him, ¡°Well, maybe the Meng Army is also a part of it?¡±

    ¡°Shut up,¡± immediately a general supporting the Meng Army said, ¡°General Meng has been going through fire and water those years. How can you ruin his honor like that?¡±

    ¡°The crape myrtle is the proof. The Grand Prince should be called here to testify for himself. He hasn¡¯t appeared for a while. Who will know what kind of treason he is nning?¡±

    ¡°Yes. The Grand Prince didn¡¯t appear from beginning to end. It seems that he has a guilty conscience.¡±

    For a moment, the atmosphere was turning to the direction pernicious to Sima Ruo.

    It was at this moment that the eunuch¡¯s high voice came from outside, ¡°The Grand Prince and the Grand Prince¡¯s Wifees.¡±

    Not only Sima Ray but also Empress Chen, who was behind the crowd, found it hard to hide the surprise and fear on their face. With such close guard of Jingxi Pce, how did the two people, one pregnant and the other weak, manage to escape?

    When Empress Chen saw Qin Yunuan, the answer was clear in her heart. Qin Yunuan was just like a moth that appears everywhere, eating into the web carefully knitted by Empress Chen and damaging it heavily.

    ¡°My greetings, father,¡± Sima Ruo led Saichun to kneel down, showing a great curtsey to Emperor Zhaoxuan sincerely and sedately, ¡°I¡¯m unfilial because I fail to appear in time when father¡¯s life is threatened.¡±

    ¡°Brother, you know that father¡¯s life is threatened. But did you know that the assassin attempting to kill father is your Dragon and Tiger Cavalry?¡± Sima Ray felt uneasy. He never thought that Sima Ruo would appear safely.

    Qin Yunuan stood behind Leng Changxi silently. Her hand touched Leng Changxi¡¯s long finger softly. The two knew what was going on simply by looking at each other. It seemed that things were settled.

    ¡°This is exactly what I want to report,¡± Sima Ruo strode forward. These days when he was put under home arrest made his body not as healthy as it used to be. Although he was unsteady on his feet, his eyes looked firm, ¡°Father, do you remember that one month ago Saichun was diagnosed to be pregnant? A pregnant woman is supposed to rest well. Father, you may call imperial doctors toe to cure Saichun. By feeling her pulse condition, you will know what kind of life we were living in the past half month.¡±

    Emperor Zhaoxuan nced at Saichun¡¯s face subconsciously. Although she was wearing the gorgeous court dress of royal women, her face was as yellow as an ancient New Year picture with no vitality at all.

    Empress Chen squinted at Sima Ray, who immediately understood and ordered the eunuch by his side, ¡°Hurry to call the Imperial Doctor Zhao in the Imperial Hospital.¡± Imperial Doctor Zhao was under Empress Chen¡¯s order. When he came, he would do as Empress Chen¡¯s facial expression implied.

    ¡°No need to bother,¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly interrupted with a smile, ¡°What a coincidence. Today the famous doctor, Sun Miaoyang, travels to the Royal City. I have some socialization with him. If the emperor doesn¡¯t mind, you can directly invite him to cure the Grand Prince¡¯s Wife.¡±

    Sima Ray felt his eyelid twitching, ¡°How can we bother such a famous doctor toe to diagnose?¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked at Sima Ray with a spurious smile, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Emperor, Doctor Sun is waiting outside the Yongchang Pce now. You only need to call him.¡±

    Emperor Zhaoxuan shot a meaningful look to Sima Ray and raised his hand to ask Sun Miaoyang to enter the pce. Many people present extremely admired Doctor Sun, who had superb medical skills that could bring the dying back to life. However, Sun Miaoyang looked like an old, naughty boy. It was good that Emperor Zhaoxuan knew him well, so he didn¡¯t me Sun Miaoyang¡¯s mischief. When Sun Miaoyang was feeling the pulse, however, he was quite earnest.

    ¡°Strange, it¡¯s really strange,¡± after a while, Sun Miaoyang took back his hand on Saichun¡¯s wrist and shook his head, ¡°Now that the Grand Prince¡¯s Wife is pregnant now, she should have a good rest. However, her pulse condition shows that her body is weakened by a drastic remedy. With all due respect, if the Grand Prince¡¯s Wife doesn¡¯t get enough nutrition, her own body will be an empty shell before her fetus turns viable.¡±

    Hearing that, Saichun trembled. She cried in a low voice in Sima Ruo¡¯s arms. Never had she ever suffered like this when she was in North Di.

    Comforting Saichun, Sima Ruo said loudly, ¡°There¡¯s more than that. Father, I heard from my uncle three months ago that several sets of soft swords and armors applied only by Dragon and Tiger Cavalry under the Meng Army were stolen without any reason, which was recorded on the volume. Every set of soft sword and armor of Dragon and Tiger Cavalry is numbered. Father, you canpare the numbers on the assassins¡¯ weapons with the numbers of the lost weapons recorded on the volume. Things will be clear after that.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s more,¡± Leng Changxi agreed, ¡°Dragon and Tiger Cavalry is the cavalry trained by General Meng especially for a quick attack on the prairie. Every one of them has been practicing horse riding for years, so there must be thick calluses on their palms. However, the assassins¡¯ calluses mainly focused on finger pulps, which are the result of practicing swords for years. Your Majesty, the trick of ¡®Roon for a prince¡¯ is both carefully nned and wicked. Its aim is to incite officials and irritate you, leading you to make the wrong decision.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Qin Yunuan continued boldly, pointing out the key issue with a few words, ¡°It¡¯s clear that someone has evil designs. He first puts poison into Imperial Concubine Yun¡¯s medicine, making her confined to her bed with a serious illness. Then he puts the Grand Prince and the Grand Prince¡¯s Wife under home arrest and ns a fake assassination, making the Grand Prince guilty. Therefore, not only the Grand Prince, the Grand Prince¡¯s Wife, and Imperial Concubine Yun are embroiled, but General Meng managing military forces of Qi will also be demoted. At that time, who will gain profit except for Prince Ray?¡±

    ¡°Wronged!¡± Sima Ray looked deeply sorrowful. He quickly kneeled down and said sincerely, ¡°I dare not. I know that although I was adopted by the empress, my real status was low. Therefore, I never dare to desire high position and great wealth. All I want is to help my father and brother. May the Sun and Moon witness my heart.¡±

    ¡°But who is capable of doing that except for you?¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s tone was cold and powerful, ¡°Plotting to murder Imperial Concubine Yun, detaining the Grand Prince and finding so many masters to work for you.¡±

    ¡°I...¡± Sima Ray fell silent for the moment. His eyes fell to Empress Chen. They weremunicating through eye contact originally. However, Empress Chen found the way Sima Ray looked at her changed, with cleverness and cruelty.

    No. The ungrateful soul.

    Before Empress Chen could make any reaction, Sima Ray flung himself down to Empress Chen¡¯s feet. He said with bitter hatred, ¡°Mother, mother! I know that you are for my sake. You always want me to make a rise in life. However, I always say that all I want is to assist my father and brother and contribute to Qi. Why are you...?¡±

    Sima Ray¡¯s acting was good. If Qin Yunuan hadn¡¯t known the truth, she would be moved by Sima Ray¡¯s eloquent speech.

    Empress Chen used all her strength to kick Sima Ray away. Her twisted ankle couldn¡¯t exert any strength. She stood up totteringly, pointed at Sima Ray, and swore, ¡°You bastard....¡± But she felt a sudden lump in her throat. She couldn¡¯t say anything at all. Eyes wide open, she looked at the imperial maidservant beside her. She only drank a cup of tea brought by this servant girl from beginning to end.

    Unbelievable, she stared at Sima Ray with anger trapped in her chest. Suddenly whiteness came over her eyes....

 Chapter 176 The Moribund Patient

    <h4>Chapter 176 The Moribund Patient</h4>

    ¡°Your Majesty!¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty! Somebody help. Empress Chen cks out!¡±

    At once, everyone flooded here. Servant girls and eunuchs went around to send the message that Empress Chen cked out. In spite of losing consciousness, Empress Chen was still able to hear what people around her said. She clearly realized that she had fallen into the trap of Sima Ray, a ruthless and ungrateful man who she spent ten years bringing up.

    In front of her, Sima Ray suddenly was not as obedient and humble as he used to be. She miserably grinned and wore a bitter smile. Then the knockout drops in her tea worked again, and shepletely lost her consciousness.

    Sima Ray, who looked excited, tended to step forward but was stopped by Leng Wu. He shook his right hand slightly but held himself back, merely staring at Leng Changxi who was indifferent.

    ¡°Empress Chen is under fierce emotional changes now. We don¡¯t know whether she is all right. Prince Ray, you¡¯d better not stay close to her.¡± Leng Changxi said while keeping up his chin slightly. How could he allow Sima Ray who was able to kill people without being noticed to get close to Empress Chen? Earlier, Leng Changxi had sent people to investigate him, but he hid himself so well. Nevertheless, Leng Changxi managed to find out his secret from an old servant girl living in the suburb of the Royal City whom Minister Liu mentioned before.

    Sima Ray! Back to the year when the Weiyang Pce caught fire, he was just ten years old, and someone had clearly seen him leave the fire scene in haste.

    Thinking of this, Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t help shaking his fingers. Qin Yunuan, who saw this gently, held his hands, which hurt Sima Ray again.

    ¡°Doctor Sun is taking care of Empress Chen, so Prince Ray, don¡¯t worry.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled at Sima Ray and said. She gave him an ironic nce. ¡°Doctor Sun will cure her.¡±

    Cure her? This must be the least thing Sima Ray wanted to see.

    The Fushou Pce, where Empress Chen lived, was always a peaceful and quiet ce. But today, there seemed to be an endless serious atmosphere here.

    Sun Miaoyang was treating Empress Chen in her living room. Meanwhile, Emperor Zhaoxuan called up all servant girls in charge and eunuchs working in the Fushou Pce to the side chamber. He put on a serious look to interrogate them one by one.

    However, all these people behaved as if they had rehearsed this before. Some answered that they worked in outer rooms, so they didn¡¯t know what happened inside, while others said that there was nothing wrong with Empress Chen who practiced Buddha worship every day. In their opinion, Empress Chen was graceful and virtuous, doing nothing inappropriate.

    Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi waited aside quietly. Next to them stood Sima Ruo and Sima Ray. Saichun, whose current top priority was to take good care of her unborn baby, had been sent back to the Jingxi Pce to rest.

    ¡°You all, go out.¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan pinched his nose bridge, looking tired.

    All servant girls and eunuchs left except one who dressed like a third-ss servant girl. When others had walked out of the inner room, she turned her head all of a sudden and kowtowed to the emperor.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± The emperor frowned.

    The servant girl had a long face and looked not pretty. Having rough skin, she might take on rough work. The longer she kowtowed, the more terribly she shivered. She didn¡¯t say anything until her forehead was swollen. ¡°I have seen something I shouldn¡¯t see, and thereafter, I live in fear of being killed every day. Now, I only hope that Your Highness can pardon and protect me. I will tell you everything I know.¡±

    Emperor Zhaoxuan said loudly and magisterially, ¡°Just say it out. I promise nobody in Qi can hurt you.¡±

    The long-face servant girl replied immediately, ¡°Not long ago when I did cleaning in the garden, I was so tired and fell asleep behind the rockery. When I woke up at midnight, I heard a man and a woman talking before the rockery, a ce barely walked. In the beginning, I thought it was a servant girl and her eunuch partner dating there. But after I heard what they said....¡±

    After a pause, the servant girl bent and went on, ¡°The servant girl was Chun¡¯er, Empress Chen¡¯s close maid. She took out several yellow packages from her sleeves and handed them to a eunuch who looked unfamiliar. Chun¡¯er told him which package should be added into the meal of Imperial Concubine Yun and which into the meal of the Grand Prince¡¯s Wife. She specially mentioned that Empress Chen didn¡¯t want Imperial Concubine Yun to recover and the Grand Prince and his wife to go out of the Pce.¡±

    ¡°Bring Chun¡¯er in.¡±

    Steadily and gradually, the situation came to one end. Qin Yunuan leaned towards Leng Changxi and lowered her voice, ¡°This time, Empress Chen may not be able to save herself.¡±

    Leng Changxi titled his head slightly but still looked straight ahead. ¡°I don¡¯t care about her. It¡¯s none of my business whether she is alive or dead. I¡¯m just a little surprised about how vicious Sima Ray is. But I can understand why he has such a personality. Living under the absolute control of Empress Chen for a long time, he can¡¯t help bing mentally disturbed.¡±

    Hearing this, Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help smiling. Then she felt someone looked straight at her coldly. It was Sima Ray. He looked at Qin Yunuan as if he was evaluating a prey. Qin Yunuan turned her head away, pretending that she didn¡¯t notice his nce. Then, Chun¡¯er came in.

    Chun¡¯er was pretty, and she said she didn¡¯t understand what the long-face servant girl said at all. After a while, however, knockout drops and drugs that were harmful to babies had been found in her room, which exined everything.

    ¡°Your Highness, I¡¯m not meant to do this. It is Empress Chen that forces me to do so.¡± Facing a series of evidence, Chun¡¯er started to pass the buck to Empress Chen.

    ¡°Evidence are here. How can you deny everything you did?¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan was furious. He always respected and thought highly of Empress Chen by regarding her as his wonderful helper and a good wife. However, she was actually a vicious woman who hurt imperial concubines, poisoned her unborn grandson and even found a killer to murder herself deliberately.

    At this time, Sun Miaoyang sent a servant girl to report that Empress Chen was awake, but she couldn¡¯t talk, undergoing emotional disturbance. She insisted on having a talk with the emperor.

    Emperor Zhaoxuan clenched his fist and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to see her.¡± Then he stood up. ¡°Inform everyone that Empress Chen was so frightened in the feast that it caused her palpitations. She needs rest, and servants in the Fushou Pce should leave and not bother her. From now on, Empress Chen is not allowed to leave the Pce, and no one can visit her.¡± After issuing the decree, he angrily turned to Sima Ray and said, ¡°You¡¯d better keep clear-minded and don¡¯t step on the road your mother chose.¡±

    Sima Ray knelt down quickly and made his promise as if he was a filial child and felt sorry for what Empress Chen did. When Emperor Zhaoxuan left, Sima Ruo walked to Sima Ray in silence and looked sad. Qin Yunuan subconsciously wanted to step forward but was stopped by Leng Changxi. He said, ¡°He knows what he¡¯s doing.¡±

    Sima Ray looked up slowly, and his face was left with tear stains. Before saying something, he was pped fiercely by Sima Ruo.

    Then, Sima Ruo¡¯s hands were shaking. ¡°I¡¯m on behalf of our mother and Saichun to p you. Ray, do you know who ned this? I know, and so does God. You will pay for what you did.¡±

    Sima Ray still knelt down and wore a bitter smile. Seeing Sima Ruo walking far away, he murmured, ¡°I will pay for it? Right. That day ising.¡±

    On the carriage which headed to the mansion, Qin Yunuan was a bit mind-absent. She knew the Grand Prince and Leng Changxi were in the same camp, and they two always helped each other. So, when the Grand Prince asked for help, she told Leng Changxi immediately. But unexpectedly, Sima Ray hadn¡¯t exposed all his tricks. He directly sacrificed ¡°his pawn¡± to save ¡°the queen.¡±

    Suddenly, a piece of scrip was passed to them from outside. It was a message from the Pce. ncing at it briefly, Leng Changxi said in a deep voice, ¡°Empress Chen suicided.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was shocked and stared at him.

    Leng Changxi took off his mask. When he stayed with Qin Yunuan alone, he rarely wore the mask. He massaged his temple and asked, ¡°Do you believe this is true?¡±

    After thinking for a while, Qin Yunuan shook her head and said, ¡°No, I don¡¯t. Empress Chen is sophisticated and tactful, never giving up easily. To achieve her ambitious goal, she is willing to adopt, raise and cultivate a child who shares no kinship with her. Although losing this battle, she will never give up. She must have ns to help herself rise again. Empress Chen will notmit suicide easily.¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded, and he agreed with Qin Yunuan. ¡°Right. Besides, scouts report that,¡± Leng Changxi took a pause, ¡°Before Empress Chen suicided, Sima Ray asked to enter her bedroom to fulfill his filial responsibility for thest time. About an hourter, it was said that Empress Chen suicided.¡±

    ¡°Hasn¡¯t nobody suspected that he killed her?¡±

    ¡°Some may feel suspicious, but they can do nothing.¡± Leng Changxi shook his head indifferently. ¡°When a person falls from power, his followers will disperse. The emperor has shown his attitude towards Empress Chen who ys hideous tricks. Therefore, it now doesn¡¯t matter too much when she is killed and who kills her.¡±

    All sorts of feelings flooded. A few dayster, another message from the Pce came that Imperial Concubine Yun had recovered. Imperial Concubines led by Imperial Concubine Yang went together to tell the emperor a years-long secret. The emperor was so furious and ordered not to bury Empress Chen in the Imperial Mausoleum. Being the mother of a nation, Empress Chen was even not allowed to be buried there, which must be the harshest insult for her.

    When the message came, Qin Yunuan was sewing a cloak for Leng Changxi. The weather was getting colder. Leng Changxi inspected the military camp three times a month. The journey from home to the camp was long and tiring, and Qin Yunuan worried that he would catch cold.

    ¡°A years-long secret?¡± Qin Yunuan finished sewing. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    Leng Shuang, who sent the message, said in a in tone, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that it is rted to Imperial Concubine Shu whomitted suicide to avoid punishment ten years ago.¡±

    Ten years ago? Qin Yunuan frowned. The fire ident Leng Changxi was investigating also happened ten years ago. Was there any connection between these two cases?

 Chapter 177 History

    <h4>Chapter 177 History</h4>

    People only remembered Empress Chen to be gentle and dignified, but little did people know that the Emperor loved the mother of the Seventh Prince Sima Qiu, Imperial Concubine Shu, the most. The Emperor loved her so much that he wanted to name Imperial Concubine Shu the Empress as Empress Chen wasn¡¯t able to get pregnant. However, the case of poisonous magic had touched the Emperor¡¯s nerves. Not only did he either kill or exile every eunuchs and pce servant girls in Imperial Concubine Shu¡¯s pce, but he also sent Sima Qiu, who was only six years old by then, to the remote Royal cemetery. He imed that he wanted to let Sima Qiu guard the cemetery for him, but it was just another form of exile.

    It was an eventful autumn ten years ago. Right after Imperial Concubine Shu was put into jail because of the case of poisonous magic, shemitted suicide in jail. It was also then when the Weiyang Pce was on fire. After that, Empress Chen became the crucial assistant of the Emperor, and the Emperor made her in charge of the harem. This marked the beginning of Empress Chen¡¯s glory in the past decade.

    Leng Changxi looked slightly tired when he returned in the evening. It must be because of the arguments in the courtroom. Qin Yunuan carefully poured him some hot tea. Before she spoke, Leng Changxi took the initiative to talk about it, ¡°The case regarding Empress Chen has been settled. Poisoning Imperial Concubine Yun and cing the Grand Prince under house arrest were already serious enough for a death penalty. Now that the case of poisonous magic from ten years ago was reviewed, there¡¯s evidence that Empress Chen used the servant girls of Imperial Concubine Shu to set her up and sent people to poison her in jail.¡±

    Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help but sneered, ¡°The evidence came so suddenly and thoroughly. It all happened such a long time ago. How could it be so easily re-investigated all in a sudden?¡±

    Leng Changxi exchanged nces with Qin Yunuan, and they understood each other. Who else? Apart from Sima Ray, who else had such ability and such hatred to Empress Chen?

    ¡°Nevertheless, the Emperor is really furious this time. He had ordered that Empress Chen¡¯s body would not be buried in the Royal cemetery, and nobody should be allowed to mourn her.¡±

    Qin Yunuan eximed, ¡°Empress Chen treasured her fame the most while she was alive. Now she would really die with her eyes wide open.¡±

    An empress buried out of the Royal cemetery. It had never happened since the establishment of Qi.

    Qin Yunuan was massaging Leng Changxi¡¯s shoulder, and Leng Changxi narrowed his eyesfortably. Right then, Leng Wu came in to report that a carriage suddenly came to the back door of Prince Ning¡¯s mansion. The owner of the carriage refused to identify himself, but he asked for Leng Changxi.

    ¡°People who want to see me are just as many as people who want to kill me.¡± Leng Changxi sneered, ¡°Is it that I have to see every one of them?¡±

    Leng Wu paused for a moment, then suddenly arched his hands and said, ¡°I understand.¡±

    In the dark and narrow back alley, a ck carriage stopped quietly by the back gate of Prince Ning¡¯s mansion. The carriage was all ck from the curtains to the wheels, even the clothes of the carriage driver, as if it had been fusing into the dark night.

    ¡°Dear guest, please return. It iste already, and our master isn¡¯t seeing anyone.¡± A servant by the door said. It was easy to tell that he was no ordinary servant from his sparkling eyes.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± The person on the carriage said softly. The voice was so light that it was hard to tell whether it came from a man or a woman. ¡°I can wait.¡±

    ¡°Humph, wait here then.¡±

    The night was getting darker, but the carriage was still there. It seemed that the horse understood the mind of its master, and it didn¡¯t make any sound.

    The carriage driver couldn¡¯t take it anymore. It was cold in the night, and he was shivering, ¡°Master, we should return. You have been unwell if you catch a cold...¡±

    ¡°So what?¡± The person inside sounded weak, ¡°I¡¯ve been staying in colder ces.¡±

    Suddenly, the person inside stopped moving. His ears moved slightly and seemed to hear the light sound of friction in the air. If he was right, it must be a pair of well-made martial boots stepping on the rooftoping this way. The owner of the boots must have excellent light skills, and no one couldpare to him in Qi.

    ¡°He¡¯s finally here.¡± The person in the carriage smiled as he heard a light sound ofnding. The carriage driver was shocked as if he had seen a ghost when he saw Leng Changxi suddenly appearing in front of the carriage, and he trembled and fell off the carriage.

    Meanwhile, the person in the carriage was extremely calm. He raised the curtain and revealed his unhealthily pale face. He smiled and said, ¡°General Leng is really putting on airs toe after such a long time.¡±

    Leng Changxi turned his body sideways and said frankly, ¡°Cut the crap. Just tell me why you¡¯re here, seventh prince.¡±

    Only then, the seventh prince Sima Qiu dismounted the carriage slowly. Even though he¡¯s already fifteen years old, he looked lean and pale as he stayed in the cold Royal cemetery for all these years. Apart from that, Empress Chen bribed the guards and nannies to be strict on Sima Qiu, and they even tortured him in every way.

    ¡°I like your frankness, General Leng.¡± Sima Qiu took a few steps forward, ¡°I just want to cooperate with General Leng.¡±

    Cooperation, again. Leng Changxi took a nce at Sima Qiu with the corner of his eyes, ¡°May I ask, why do you think I would cooperate with you?¡±

    ¡°We havemon enemies.¡± Sima Qiu¡¯s tone was getting emotional.

    ¡°Your enemy is Empress Chen, seventh prince.¡± Leng Changxi ticked his eyes, ¡°Now she¡¯s dead already.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not enough,¡± Sima Qiu shook his head and said, ¡°Empress Chen and Sima Ray, they owe me so much that death isn¡¯t enough to redeem their sins. Do you know how my life was in the Royal cemetery? Even though I am a prince, I was merely their toy and a joke back in the Royal cemetery. I could bear it when they cut my food short. I could bear it when they asked me to do the hard work. But did you know what Sima Ray do to meter? In order to please the local powers of the Royal City, he arranged the pedophiles working for the local powers into the Royal cemetery. I was good-looking, so I became their toy at night. Could you imagine that, General Leng? As a man, I have such a shameful past.¡±

    Then Sima Qiu punched the carriage powerfully with a muffled bang, ¡°Together with Empress Chen, they killed my mother. They took honor and peace away from me, and they even harmed my dignity as a person. I would never forgive Sima Ray without eating his flesh and drinking his blood.¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled faintly after hearing that, ¡°That¡¯s your own business, and it¡¯s nothing to me.¡± After that, he turned around and was about to leave. If it hadn¡¯t been for Qin Yunuan who told him that Imperial Concubine Shu¡¯s death was likely to be rted to the fire of Weiyang Pce, and Sima Qiu might know something, he wouldn¡¯t give up the warmth in his room ande here in the first ce.

    ¡°Don¡¯t General Leng want to know about your real self?¡± Sima Qiu yelled. ¡°You¡¯ve investigated the fire of Weiyang Pce for so long, but you¡¯re always a step away from the answer. With your ability, General Leng, you should have easily found the truth for such a small incident. Don¡¯t you wonder why, General Leng?¡±

    Leng Changxi turned back with a gloomy look, ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Sima Qiu smiled, ¡°General Leng, have you ever doubted the people around you?¡± Sima Qiu said as he slowly approached, ¡°I¡¯m unhealthy indeed, and my eyes don¡¯t work so well having stayed in a dark environment for too long. But that¡¯s also the reason why my ears work much better than normal people. I could hear something that you might not.¡±

    Leng Changxi stood still, ¡°Seventh prince, you should know that I hate being threatened.¡±

    ¡°No one dares to threaten you,¡± Sima Qiu shrugged, ¡°I was pleading, pleading you to cooperate with me.¡±

    Leng Changxi stared at Sima Qiu for a long time. He was unsure about it. In fact, he had already discovered what Sima Qiu told him, and he was secretly investigating it too, but the progress was very slow.

    The nces of the two met. After a while, Sima Qiu suddenly said, ¡°I have everything you want, the son of the grand princess of Weiyang Pce, Leng Changxi.¡±

    Leng Changxi¡¯s pupil contracted. Qin Yunuan, who was hiding in the dark, was also shocked. She had been doubting about it, but now that Sima Qiu said it, it was expected but surprising.

    The quiet air seemed to freeze. The masked face of Leng Changxi was emotionless. He suddenly turned around and ordered the shadow guards who were hiding in the dark, ¡°Kill him.¡±

    The next moment, shadows of des shined in the empty alley. It was the first time Sima Qiu saw such circumstances. His legs became powerless, and he fell onto the carriage driver. He tried his best to exin, ¡°My mother had a great rtionship with the grand princess when she was alive. The grand princess was taken on the way to her marriage, then she was rescued and hidden in the pce. My mother was the only one who went to visit her. General Leng, you shouldn¡¯t kill me so ruthlessly if you want to know more about your birth mother. I¡¯m still useful to you.¡±

    Leng Changxi raised his hand and gestured a stop sign, then said with a low voice, ¡°Then I¡¯ll kill youter.¡±

    Sima Qiu was relieved, and he boldly asked, ¡°General Leng, aren¡¯t you inviting me in to talk about it further?¡±

    Leng Changxi replied coldly, ¡°Go to the First Boite. I don¡¯t want to make Prince Ning¡¯s mansion dirty.¡± In fact, Leng Changxi knew clearly by now that there¡¯s someone in Prince Ning¡¯s mansion that he needed to beware.

    Qin Yunuan was worried, and she naturally followed him there. However, she stopped at the door of the third-floor secret room of the First Boite of Royal City. She held Leng Changxi¡¯s hand and said gently, ¡°If you don¡¯t want me to know, I¡¯ll not go in.¡±

    After Qin Yunuan said that, Leng Changxi dragged her to his chest powerfully.

    ¡°I wish you to be there with me. Everything of me isn¡¯t a secret to you.¡±

    In the room, Sima Qiu¡¯s cheeks finally looked a bit rosy. He calmly said, ¡°It all started twenty-three years ago. At that time, West Xia and Qi were at war, but like North Di and Qi nowadays, and the people of Qi were suffering. However, back then, Qi was the one which asked for peace by marriage. The one who was to be married was the noblest grand princess Qinghe of Qi, and the one who escorted her to West Xia was Prince Ning, Leng Zhongyi, who had admired the grand princess for years.¡±

 Chapter 178 Plots in Princeâ€™s Mansion

    <h4>Chapter 178 Plots in Prince¡¯s Mansion</h4>

    Prince Ning? To Elder Princess?

    Qin Yunuan frowned. She had never thought that the lifetime lover of Prince Ning, who was very fond of Princess Ning, was Elder Princess.

    Sima Qiu continued, ¡°It was said that when the Elder Princess¡¯s procession of imperial matrimony for peace arrived at Niutouling, the border of West Xia and Qi, they got robbed by bandits, and suffered heavy causalities. And even Elder Princess was missing. Prince Ning searched within fifty miles around for several months, and the emperor also dispatched troops to join the searching, and even the arrogant West Xia increased more people to search her. However, they all could not find her.¡±

    And then Sima Qiu smiled, ¡°There was a strange point. Niutouling was located in the area which contained only a few mountains, but people from three parties could not find anything.¡±

    ¡°Somebody hid Elder Princess on purpose?¡± Qin Yunuan posted a bold guess, though it was said that Elder Princess must fall from a cliff, and it was hard to find her body. People believed that was why Elder Princess could not be found.

    ¡°Infanta Ping, you are so smart.¡± Sima Qiu nodded, ¡°At that time, the person who hid Elder Princess was the prince of West Xia, Jing Donghua, who now is the emperor of West Xia.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Qin Yunuan was confused. Elder Princess had never met Jing Donghua at that time, so they did not get involved in the interest. And she would marry the old emperor of West Xia, who was the father of Jing Donghua.

    Sima Qiu sneered, ¡°Infanta Ping, don¡¯t you know that? A man was willing to deceive his father and sacrifice his future. There are only two reasons. The first is that he can gain more interest from the woman; the second is that he falls in love with the woman crazily.¡±

    Qin Yunuan frowned. She had guessed that Jing Donghua must fall in love with Elder Princess crazily.

    ¡°And then?¡±

    Sima Qiu was stunned. He sipped the tea and continued, ¡°At that period, West Xia was in the disturbance of Qianyuan, the first year of Qianyuan. The old emperor of West Xia passed away, and his three sons started to fight for the sessor. For the position of the next emperor, Jing Donghua fought against his two brothers in their Royal City and confronted each other for three months. At that time, Elder Princess was finally found by Prince Ning. He had been searching for her for a long time. And then she was sent back to the Imperial Pce.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Qin Yunuan said in a higher voice, ¡°It was said that Elder Princess had died in West Xia. But since she was back, why didn¡¯t they announce this good news?¡±

    ¡°Because she had been pregnant at that time.¡± Leng Changxi suddenly said. Actually, he had investigated those things that happened 23 years ago. He just did not say all out in detail like Sima Qiu.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Sima Qiu said, ¡°the proudest Elder Princess in Qi was very exalted and elegant. She got missing, and then came back but got pregnant. If the news were revealed, the royal family both in Qi and West Xia would suffer reproaching. At that time, nobody knew that the baby was the child of the emperor of West Xia, Jing Donghua and Elder Princess of Qi. The child was an absolute noble.¡± Sima Qiu said while he was shaking his head. He was sighing, which was unconsciously ttering Leng Changxi.

    Leng Changxi was still calm and did not show any emotion. He just sipped the tea and said lightly, ¡°Since nobody knew that news, how could you know that?¡±

    Sima Qiu lowered his head and said, ¡°I have told you that my mother was very intimate with Elder Princess. They always talked about many secret things.¡±

    Leng Changxi raised his head silently and stared at Sima Qiu like an eagle, ¡°Seventh Prince, I have no tolerance to lies. Don¡¯t try to challenge me easily.¡±

    Yes. Even Qin Yunuan knew that such a thing was an imperial secret that was only known by the emperor and the Queen Mother. Although Imperial Concubine Shu gained much love from the emperor, she could not have the chance to meet Elder Princess, who was protected in a very secret circumstance.

    Sima Qiu sighed and said in a weaker voice, ¡°I have said that I have a talented ability of listening. At that period, the pce of my mother was next to Weiyang Pce. I always heard the cries of a woman at midnight. The imperial maidservants and eunuchs believed that the cries were from those undeserved ghosts in the imperial pce. Many Taoist priests were invited to perform the exorcism. I was not allowed to go out at midnight, butter I went to the pce by tracing the cries. I found that the Elder Princess, who was said to have died in West Xia, was sobbing in Weiyang Pce at midnight. She was constantly mumbling many names, and all of those names were Donghua.¡±

    And then Sima Qiu sighed emotionally, but Leng Changxi turned to be very gloomy like a piece of ice. Qin Yunuan pulled his hand secretly under the table, but only heard, ¡°You get out.¡±

    Sima Qiu stunned. He said nothing and was about to leave. Qin Yunuan sighed lightly and thought that Leng Changxi now must want to calm down alone. She was about to leave too, but pulled back heavily by him and fell on his arms. Leng Changxi had taken off his mask, and his thin jaw leaned on the slender shoulder of Qin Yunuan. A little bit cold lips were kissing the fair neck of Qin Yunuan lightly.

    Qin Yunuan did not know how tofort Leng Changxi. She just raised her hands and caressed his back slowly, and the said, ¡°I am here.¡±

    She suddenly thought that Leng Changxi was just sighing for his previous life. But to her surprise, Leng Changxi just raised his head and said emotionally, ¡°My mother must suffer a lot when I was absent.¡±

    Yes. Leng Changxi was over ten years old when the big fire in Weiyang Pce happened, but he lived in the Prince¡¯s Mansion as the child born of the legal wife of the mansion. He had never seen his kin mother, Princess Qinghe. For thest ten years, Princess Qinghe suffered the pain of missing her lover and child.

    So Princess Ning...

    Qin Yunuan looked at Leng Changxi with confused eyes. Leng Changxi caught it immediately, and exined, ¡°I was taken to the mansion. From the beginning, my mother knew that I am not her kin son and even did not knew where I came from. At that period, she just miscarried and felt very upset, so she regarded me as her kin son. For these years, she raised me, and I felt grateful to her.¡±

    Leng Changxi said thest sentence in a very light voice. It seemed that he was grateful to Princess Ning but felt a little bit doubtful.

    At this moment, Qin Yunuan thought about the words when Consort Cao was about to leave. She said that Princess Ning was a woman with a hypostic vagina, and her pregnancy and miscarriage aimed to frame Consort Cao. What kind of person was Princess Ning was? If she wanted to frame Leng Changxi, why did she try hard to raise and educate him for many years?

    Maybe...

    Qin Yunuan felt terrible in a moment. Or, Princess Ning wanted to hurt Qin Yunuan?

    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Leng Changxi pinched the jaw of Qin Yunuan to let her watery and pure big eyes look at himself.

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled, and suddenly held Leng Changxi and said softly, ¡°We shalle back.¡±

    When they came out, Sima Qiu was still waiting outside. Leng Changxi glimpsed at him lightly and did not give him a specific answer. He just said, ¡°I am OK to coborate with you. But you should show me what else you can do besides eavesdropping.¡±

    Leng Changxi did not refuse Sima Qiu, which was the first step of his sessful n.

    It was bright when they came back to Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. Nobody knew Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi had gone out besides several close maidservants in their courtyard because they entered the mansion through the back door under the protection of shadow guards.

    It was time to greet Princess Ning. The two people were not sleepy. They cleaned themselves up and changed the clothes, respectively, and then went out of the courtyard early to Twilight ce of Princess Ning.

    On their way to Twilight ce, Qin Yunuan said less, and Leng Changxi held her hands tightly and had never let her hands go.

    Those maidservants in Twilight ce, who was responsible for cleaning, got up early to trim flowers and nts. The two people just entered the courtyard and then heard that the nanny rebuked two servants, ¡°What are you doing? Consort Cao had passed away for a long time. Why do you still put the green begonia in the courtyard of Princess Ning? It will displease Princess Ning. Take it away!¡±

    Consort Cao loved green begonia very much when she was alive. Before she died, she made a begonia feast. That¡¯s why the nanny thought it was not so auspicious.

    ¡°Wait,¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly stepped forward to chip in. She looked at the basin of green begonia held by two maidservants. The dirt in the pot was darker than other dirt in the courtyard. The dirt was explicitly used to cultivate green begonia, ¡°How often do you change the dirt?¡±

    The nanny on duty saw Qin Yunuan and walked closer with a smile bowing her body. She exined, ¡°Oh, Third Young Master, you do not know that. The green begonia is very delicate. We should change the dirt exactly and properly every fifteen days.¡±

    Fifteen days... Qin Yunuan pondered, ¡°OK, you quit first. Since my mother would feel unpleasant when she saw it, you just take it away.¡±

    Looking at the nanny and maidservants walking away, Qin Yunuan thought about the thing that happened fifteen days ago.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Leng Changxi asked.

    Qin Yunuan frowned and said in a low voice, ¡°I remember the Grand Prince has mentioned one thing. He guessed those assassins would attack the emperor because the dirt which was specifically used to cultivate green begonia was found on their shoe sole. In the whole imperial pce, only Yongchang Pce had the green begonia. But we neglected a detail.¡±

    Leng Changxi inhaled and then exhaled slowly, ¡°That is, there is also green begonia in the Prince Mansion. And fifteen days ago, it was exactly the day before the emperor got attack.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded. At this moment, the close maidservant of Princess Ning came and reported that Princess Ning had got up, and the Second Young Madam Qin Yuwan also came. There seemed to have some good news.

    When they entered the room, they found that Qin Yuwan hade early as expected. She looked bright and spirited, which was totally different from the crazy woman in the feastst time. The moment Princess Ning saw Qin Yunuan, she smiled brightly and gently, and then pointed at Qin Yuwan, ¡°Come on, there is good news from your second sister.¡±

    ¡°Ah?¡± Qin Yunuan sat down and immediately heard the wiry and enchanting sound of Qin Yuwan, ¡°Yes, third sister, I am pregnant.¡±

 Chapter 179 The Scandal to Be Exposed

    <h4>Chapter 179 The Scandal to Be Exposed</h4>

    ¡°Pregnant?¡± Qin Yunuan asked with a sweet smile, ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    Holding her head high proudly, Qin Yuwan started to unt, ¡°Of course. The doctor had confirmed. Well, I did not mean to tell you now. You were.... But you know, you had a miscarriage, and I don¡¯t want you to be ufortable.¡±

    Clearly, these words were intended to make her ufortable. Qin Yunuan sneered in her heart, but she did not show the emotion on her face. ¡°No, not at all. You are my sister. I¡¯m very happy for you.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Qin Yuwan pretended to be generous, ¡°Then I will not me you for sending me the jewelry used by Consort Cao on purpose.¡±

    What a silly woman! Qin Yuwan actually mentioned Consort Cao before Princess Ning.

    Not surprisingly, Princess Ning pretended to cough a few times to conceal her unhappiness. Qin Yunuan leaned forward slightly and then replied, ¡°You must be joking.¡±

    At this time, Tang came here together with Ruan Ruyi, who congratted Qin Yuwan for her pregnancy. However, Tang¡¯s ring eyes at Ruan Ruyi had betrayed her feelings. How disappointing her own daughter-inw was! After years of marriage, she still failed to conceive a child.

    As the women were still talking, Leng Changxi left early for he had some official affairs to deal with. It was the day when the diplomatic corps of North Di was about to leave the Royal City. The Grand Prince Wanyan Ba had finally met Saichun during thest few days of their stay. Though she was not that withered and haggard, Saichun still looked weak. But she had tried to put his brother off and held back the secret.

    Qin Yunuan knew that Saichun was in deep love with the Grand Prince Sima Ruo. Or else, why would a straightforward woman like Saichun stay there after she had been wronged like that? She would havee back to North Di with Wanyan Ba, not caring whether she was married or not.

    It was gettingte. Tang and Ruan Ruyi were the first to leave and then followed Qin Yuwan who excused herself for sickness. The servant girls helped her along carefully as if she became a treasure after pregnancy.

    Then, there were only Princess Ning and Qin Yunuan in the room, in which the atmosphere became ufortable. With a kind smile, Princess Ning ordered Qingzhu, ¡°Bring the gift that I had prepared for Yunuan. It¡¯s in the inner room.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that,¡± Qin Yunuan was being polite.

    ¡°Not at all. It¡¯s just one of my dowries,¡± Princess Ning stared at Qin Yunuan kindly, as if she had really taken her as her real daughter. When she finished, Qingzhu had walked in and presented a ck wooden box to Qin Yunuan agilely.

    ¡°Take a look.¡± Princess Ning changed her position slightly and took a sip of tea.

    Knowing that Princess Ning would not be that silly to harm her by this box in public, Qin Yunuan opened it calmly but was then amazed by the thing lying inside.

    It was a perfect jade pendant in the shape of a phoenix, which was exquisite in workmanship, smooth in touch, and gentle in gloss. The jade pendant was carved on a whole top-ss limpid jade that could not be found in the world anymore. So, it was of great value and quality.

    But why would Princess Ning give her such an expansive jade pendant all of a sudden?

    ¡°This was supposed to be a gift for my daughter-inw,¡± Princess Ning looked at Qin Yunuan with a smile, ¡°Take a look. Do you like it?¡±

    Qin Yunuan appreciated her kindness, ¡°Well, that¡¯s too precious for me to ept.¡±

    ¡°I insist. You can ept it. It¡¯s just like the second key of the counting-house that I had handed over to you,¡± Princess Ning said firmly, ¡°Take it if you like it. We are a family. Don¡¯t bother about the trivial formalities.¡±

    As there was no reason to refuse it, Qin Yunuan did not make any excuse anymore. She asked Maner to pack the box up again naturally and then talked with Princess Ning for a while before leaving.

    Maner could not hold back her curiosity on their way back, ¡°Third Young Madam, I still think that we¡¯d better not take credit for what we do not do. What did Princess Ning mean to hand you such a valuable jade pendant?¡±

    Qin Yunuan stopped her steps. Then she walked to a pavilion beside the pond, looking at the leaves of the phoenix trees that were dancing with the cold wind and falling to the pond and the ground.

    ¡°One never goes to the temple for no reason. If she does not have something to ask of me, well then,¡± Qin Yunuan sneered suddenly, ¡°she would use this to harm me.¡±

    Now, she was very clear of Princess Ning¡¯s intention and attitude towards her owing to Consort Cao¡¯s warning.

    Maner felt a twinge in her heart, ¡°Be careful, Third Young Madam.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Maner,¡± Qin Yunuan was very rxed this time, ¡°She was difficult to guard against because she was in the dark before. Now, as she bes an open enemy, I will surely defend us.¡± Qin Yunuan still could not take Princess Ning as a real enemy. After all, it was she who took care of Leng Changxi in thest twenty years. It was not easy to bite the hand that had fed you.

    At nightfall, Leng Changxi came back with a piece of new information: the escorting diplomatic corps of West Xia was on the mission to seek a marriage alliance for their Fourth Prince with Infanta Zhaojing, the daughter of Princess Jing. Princess Jing was also a beloved daughter of the dead emperor, second only to the Elder Princess. Able to wield both the pen and the sword, she had even gone into battle herself and crushed a rebellion with the dead emperor. Infanta Zhaojing was the apple of Princess Jing¡¯s eyes, which might make the imperial matrimony even harder.

    It seemed that the once-mighty West Xia had slipped after the fight for the imperial throne during the reign of Emperor Qianyuan. In former days, West Xia was much mightier than Qi, but now, it was seeking the imperial matrimony for peace with thetter.

    Leng Changxi described the whole thing calmly as if theing of the ambassadors from West Xia was just a simple diplomatic affair. But Qin Yunuan was disturbed by what Sima Qiu had told themst night and could not make light of it. She held Leng Changxi¡¯s arm quietly and made no remarks.

    ¡°Why?¡± Leng Changxi found that his little hedgehog was bing quieter these days, which was a big concern for him. Compared with her silence and keeping everything to herself, he would rather that she could y the woman or lose her temper or even act up.

    ¡°The ambassadors from West Xia areing, and you...¡± Qin Yunuan paused there. If what Sima Qiu said was true, then the real mothend of Leng Changxi should be West Xia.

    ¡°Come as they like,¡± Leng Changxi smiled, ¡°As long as you are not the one being chosen by them for the matrimony.¡±

    Qin Yunuan tapped Leng Changxi enchantingly with her small fist, ¡°Isn¡¯t it Infanta Zhaojing who had been chosen?¡±

    Leng Changxi caught her hand and pulled her into his arms, ¡°That¡¯s just the decision of the higher level. But Princess Jing was a resolute and strong-minded person. She might not let her daughter marry into a faraway ce.¡±

    It was night. The fragrance of perfume, together with that of the sweet Osmanthus, was wafted in the room. Romantic scenes were going on seductively in the room. After the passion, Qin Yunuany beside Leng Changxi, drawing circles repeatedly on his arms. Leng Changxi felt itching and caught her tempting hand suddenly. Qin Yunuan thought that he might be angry, but then, he took out a jade bracelet hidden under the pillow for a long time quickly.

    The bracelet was of high quality and was exquisitely carved. Showing it before Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes, Leng Changxi put it on for Qin Yunuan with a satisfied smile. ¡°Someone in the army told me that if a man sent a jade bracelet to a woman, it meant that he wanted to bind with her for a lifetime, and she would never get away from him anymore,¡± he said.

    Qin Yunuan could not help butugh, feeling amazed. She did not expect Leng Changxi to be so childish. But what she said was very pleasing, ¡°I could not get away from you ages ago.¡±

    Surprised by these words, Leng Changxi held Leng Changxi into his arms tightly and kissed her forehead. ¡°Yes, you are mine.¡±

    Qin Yunuan kissed back directly and answered in the same tone, ¡°And you are mine, too.¡±

    At this time, the call of Maner from outside broke their sweet talk.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, the phoenix tree sheds leaves.¡±

    That was a secret signal between Qin Yunuan and Maner, which meant that they could draw the that had been arranged before.

    Qin Yunuan got up after putting on her clothes. Maner and Ting Xue had been waiting outside. When Qin Yunuan walked out, Maner came to her at once and said, ¡°They were making a scene at the East Garden.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded and then walked to the East Garden. If she was right, Qin Yuwan should have been making an uproar at present. Her loud voice inherited from Concubine Liu must have attracted a lot of people.

    As expected, when Qin Yunuan arrived at the lotus pond in the East Garden, she saw Qin Yuwan crying and moaning on the ground with her hands covering her belly.

    ¡°Ah, my belly! Someone help me! I¡¯m carrying the descendant of Prince Ning. Can you bear the responsibility if anything happens to me? Where¡¯s the doctor? Why is the doctor not here?¡±

    Qin Yuwan¡¯s personal maid, Mujin, wasforting her anxiously, who got very agitated. However, the nannies and servant girls around them were gossipy, but not helpful. So they all came up to Qin Yunuan when she arrived as if she was a savior.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, please help Second Young Madam! She was so overwhelmed with the pain!¡±

    But she had not shed any blood. How would she be so overwhelmed? Qin Yunuan thought to herself and then pretended to be caring, ¡°But it was gettingte. I can do nothing about it. Why don¡¯t youe to mother?¡±

    Qin Yunuan winked at Maner, who left directly after receiving the signal. Qin Yuwan heard the voice of Qin Yunuan and turned over to yelled at her, ¡°Qin Yunuan, you¡¯ve finallye! It was you who harmed me! We are sisters, but you are so jealous of my pregnancy that you pushed me down the stairs! How vicious you are!¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about, sis?¡± Qin Yunuan looked so surprised and innocent.

    ¡°You are still denying?¡± Qin Yuwan took out a jade pendant under her body and said to her, ¡°That was grabbed from the person who pushed me before. It was the one that mother had given you this morning. And the jade pendant was unique that could not be copied. What do you say?¡±

 Chapter 180 Mix the False with the Genuine

    <h4>Chapter 180 Mix the False with the Genuine</h4>

    Qin Yuwan clutched the jade pendant, which glowed evilly in her hand. Qin Yunuan squinted and smiled, ¡°Sister, you must be joking. I had my own pendant. That one was not mine.¡±

    Not mine, not mine....

    How could Qin Yuwan believe it? She heard the pusher calling her ¡°second sister,¡± how could she not be Qin Yunuan?

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you unless you show me now.¡± Qin Yuwan held her belly. Fearing that Qin Yunuan might cheat on her, she held her servant girl Mujin by the hand hurriedly, ¡°Go and tell Princess. No, she favored Qin Yunuan and would help her. Please call Old Madam over and redress the scales for me.¡±

    Would Qin Yunuan be afraid of Old Madam?

    Qin Yunuan snorted with disdain. She was waiting for this moment.

    It waste at night. The lights in the Lotus Garden were dimming. Old Madam was almost at rest, but the maid by the door awakened her. After listening to the crying of Mujin, she immediately got up. Qin Yuwan, who had just yelled as if she had lost her life with her hands on her lower abdomen, appeared together with Qin Yunuan in the main hall of the Lotus Garden.

    Princess Ning came after a short while. She said down after just one bow.

    Old Madam sat with a tired face on the central seat. After listening to Qin Yuwan¡¯s sobbing andining, she asked worriedly, ¡°What about the child? Was the child hurt?¡± Old Madam cared most about her descendants.

    Qin Yuwan said with tears in her eyes, ¡°The doctor told me that we were both safe. But who knew about next time? I am Yunuan¡¯s sister, but she harms me. How cold-blooded!¡±

    Qin Yunuan nced at Qin Yuwan and said calmly, ¡°Second Sister, don¡¯t pour dirty water on me. The thing wasn¡¯t¡¯ taken to you yet.¡±

    Qin Yuwan said with sarcasm, ¡°Huh. If you had it in your hands, it would appear soon. Now an hour had passed. The servant girl you sent for the pendant didn¡¯t return. God knows what happened.¡±

    Maner, who was sent for the pendant, rushed back at this very moment. She reported to Qin Yunuan in a low voice, her forehead covered withyers of sweat, ¡°Third Young Madam, the pendant in our yard disappeared.¡±

    ¡°Disappeared?¡± Qin Yunuan changed ofplexion abruptly, as if she didn¡¯t believe it, ¡°How could that be? Did you look for it everywhere?¡±

    Maner nodded seriously, ¡°I looked for the casket that carried the pendants everywhere, the dresser, the room, even in the woodshed. It wasn¡¯t there.¡±

    Qin Yuwan hurriedly spoke before Old Madam could say a word, ¡°Old Madam, you heard all about it. We were from the same family, but she treated me this way because she was married to a better-off man.¡±

    Leng Changxi was the beloved, legitimate son of Princess and Prince Ning. But what about Leng Changxuan? He was born with a humble background, and Consort Cao had passed away recently. Qin Yuwan didn¡¯t even have a person with amon hatred.

    ¡°Why do you say that, Sister Yuwan? You and I are both wives of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, and we should be one family. How could your marriage be better or worse than me?¡±

    A charming female voice came from outside the courtyard. It was Tang¡¯sing to join the party.

    Tang had heard about Qin Yuwan¡¯s grumbles earlier outside the door. Holding the curtain to the side, she chimed in, ¡°Yeah, Second Young Madam¡¯s words seemed hurtful. We are all family members, why botherparing to each other? Am I right, sister?¡±

    Princess Ning looked at her sullenly, ¡°You¡¯ve got the carefree mood to visit mete at night.¡±

    Tang flipped her dress to sit straight down. Ruan Ruyi served obediently beside her, ¡°I have heard that something happened to Second Young Madam in the East Courtyard. I called Ruyi and hurried here to help, in case anything happened.¡±

    Prince Ning favored Tang recently, making her swollen with arrogance again.

    Even Tang came. It seemed that this incident was going to make a big noise. Princess Ning didn¡¯t pay much attention to the gorgeously dressed Tang, just said softly, ¡°Old Madam, since Yuwan stated categorically that the jade pendant was the one I gave to Yunuan. I¡¯d better let my maid identify it, and then we would know the truth.¡±

    This was the most straightforward method. Old Madam nodded in permission. Princess Ning then ordered, ¡°Qingzhu, you have always kept my dowry safe. Would you like to see if this Yunfeng jade is real?¡±

    Qingzhu nodded, taking the jade pendant in Qin Yuwan¡¯s hand. Afterparing back and forth, she said, ¡°Princess, this jade was the one you gave to Third Young Madam.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Qin Yunuan shouted.

    Qingzhu kneeled and pleaded, ¡°Princess, I have kept the pendant for such a long time. There couldn¡¯t be anyone who knows it better than me. Every word I said is true.¡±

    Princess Ning appeared to be disappointed. She murmured, ¡°Yunuan, how could you be so silly?¡±

    Tang grinned, ¡°Even sisters intrigue against each other. It seems that we have to be careful of stabs in our back from now on, Ruyi.¡±

    Qin Yunuan kept herposure. Just then, a servant girl reported outside the gate that Fourth Miss hade.

    Leng Suxin had never shown any enthusiasm for the party. How could shee? The message surprised everyone present. Old Madam was the only one who revealed a kind smile and waved her hand, ¡°Let her in.¡±

    Leng Suxin had very light steps that there was no sound when she walked in. She was still in white clothes, and her pale face made her look distressingly weaker than before.

    ¡°Greetings, Old Madam and Princess.¡± Leng Suxin saluted to Old Madam and Princess Ning. Then she turned to Tang and said indifferently, ¡°Mother.¡±

    Tang raised her eyebrows, ¡°Huh. If you still consider me as your mother, you¡¯d better agree with the marriage of the Sun Family.¡±

    Tang¡¯s rtionship with Leng Suxin had never been very close. Now that Leng Suxin had reached the age of marriage, Tang did a lot of work for her. Leng Suxin, on the contrary, didn¡¯t appreciate it at all. Hercking willingness to get married made Tang headache.

    Leng Suxin ignored Tang¡¯s nagging and faced Qin Yunuan, saying faintly, ¡°I came to return the things of Third Young Madam. I will leave soon.¡±

    After that, she just handed a small brocade box into Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand. Maner, who stood next to her, immediately took it over and opened it for Qin Yunuan. She eximed when she saw what was inside, ¡°It¡¯s the jade pendant.¡±

    Another jade pendant!

    How could that be? Everyone was confused.

    Qin Yunuan seemed to saw the light finally. Her fingertipsid loosely on the corner of her lips, ¡°Oh, look, I forgot. After Princess gave me this jade pendant in the morning, I heard that Fourth Miss loves jade, and so my maid sent it to Fourth Miss for appreciation. Then I forgot to take it back, which caused such a big misunderstanding.¡± Qin Yunuan said as the smile on her face turned more tranquil. She smiled at Qingzhu slightly, ¡°Will Qingzhue to check whether this jade was real?¡±

    Qingzhu was stunned, and her body froze. She was out of words and cast her eyes on Princess Ning for help. Before Princess Ning could respond, the olddy said as she took a sip of the tea, ¡°You should go and check it if Third Young Madam had asked you to.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡± Qingzhu walked submissively to the front of Qin Yunuan. Qin Yunuan immediately put the pendant in front of her,manding attentively, ¡°Qingzhu, remember, you must identify carefully.¡±

    Qingzhu lifted her eyes but didn¡¯t dare to look into Qin Yunuan¡¯s. She was very tangled in her heart. She knew the origin of these two jade pendants very well. The one in the hands of Second Young Madam was indeed fake. It was just made to me it on Qin Yunuan. But she had already dered it to be true. As for the other pendant in Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand, this was handed over from Fourth Miss who was most adored by Old Madam. She would offend Old Madam indirectly if she said it was a fake one.

    ¡°Qingzhu? You said that pendant was the real one with just one nce. Why did it take so long for this one to be identified?¡± Qin Yunuan called Qingzhu, who seemed to be petrified.

    The gentle voice scared Qingzhu, and she fell on the ground.

    The head of servant girls beside Old Madam rebuked, ¡°What happened? It was just an identification of the jade pendant. How dare you be so rude?¡±

    Tears streamed down Qingzhu¡¯s face immediately. She crawled to Old Madam¡¯s feet and whimpered, ¡°I was wrong. I identified it mistakenly. Third Young Madam had the real pendant. The one in Second Young Madam¡¯s hand was fake.¡± Under this situation, Qingzhu had no other option but to sacrifice Qin Yuwan.

    Qin Yuwan¡¯splexion changed immediately. Of course, she would think it Qin Yunuan¡¯s scheme. Qin Yunuan said indifferently to Qingzhu, ¡°You must be certain this time. Whether the pendant was real or not shouldn¡¯t be a joke for you.¡±

    Qingzhu kowtowed to Old Madam, ¡°I could guarantee with my life that the pendant in Second Young Madam¡¯s hand was fake.¡±

    The people present were breathless, and Qin Yuwan¡¯s face was already pale.

    Suddenly there was a m. The olddy patted her palm heavily on the mahogany case. Her face was filled with anger, and she shouted at Qin Yuwan, ¡°What the hell do you mean? Giving us so much trouble because you are just pregnant. The mansion was restless because of people like you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was shocked. She was the victim but now became a vicious woman. She was aggrieved, and she kept kowtowing towards Old Madam and shouted, ¡°I was wronged, someone did it on purpose. Old Madam, believe me, in addition to this jade pendant, I also have evidence. When I resisted, I not only grabbed the jade pendant from her waist but also scratched her left arm. You would see me as an innocent if you only check who has injured her left arm.¡±

    Qin Yunuan saw a shake in Qingzhu¡¯s right hand after the sentence finished.

 Chapter 181 Cut the Wing

    <h4>Chapter 181 Cut the Wing</h4>

    When Qin Yuwan finished her words, she said to Qin Yunuan with sharp eyes, ¡°Do you dare to pull up your sleeve to let us see your arm?¡±

    Qin Yunuan sneered and stretched out her wrist. Her left arm was as snow-white as a baby¡¯s skin. When Qin Yuwan saw this, her face became blue and white.

    ¡°I want to see Qingzhu¡¯s left hand,¡± Qin Yunuan said suddenly. Her eyes were focused on Qingzhu, who was trying to hide her left hand so obviously that even Old Madam noticed it.

    Old Madam didn¡¯t speak but quickly winked at the chief servant girl by her side. All the servant girls of Old Madam were skillful. The servant girl stepped forward and caught Qingzhu by her left hand. With the sleeve pulled up, people saw arge burn scar extending on the whole arm of Qingzhu. Seeing the little jade-like white skin beside it, people would wonder how perfect and delicate the arm used to be before getting a burn.

    However, it was doubtful that the wound was a new one running with pus and blood. Just looking at it would make people painful.

    Princess Ning half rose from her seat and said tly, ¡°Qingzhu got burned by ident when she poured tea for me this afternoon.¡±

    ¡°Qingzhu is the chief servant girl. It should not be her task to do such small duties like pouring water and serving tea,¡± Tang answered with a smile.

    Looking at Tang, cruelty shed in Princess Ning¡¯s eyes and then was reced by peace, ¡°The servant girl responsible for tea water in my courtyard was sick today, so she took over the work. What? Do you want to see the arms of others?¡±

    ¡°No need,¡± Old Madam ran her eyes over everyone present with a look of scrutiny, ¡°You¡¯ve quarreled until this hour for such a small matter. Now that all of you are already wives and mothers, you should have a second thought before you take action. As for Yuwan...¡± elongating the word, Old Madam stared hesitantly at Qin Yuwan, who was kneeling down with a depressed look. Old Madam knew clearly that in the whole issue, Second Miss Qin was the most innocent one because she didn¡¯t have so many schemes like others did, but she liked to unt her superiority. However, she should pay the price as she made the trouble.

    ¡°You are supposed to be driven to your parents¡¯ house to rethink profoundly ording to the family rules. However, you are pregnant now. You are forbidden to go out of your courtyard from today to your delivery. You should have a good thought of what you should do and what shouldn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Old Madam...¡± Qin Yuwan would not ept it, but she was stopped by the wet nurse beside her.

    ¡°Second Young Madam, the less trouble the better. We¡¯d better go back to our courtyard tamely,¡± the wet nurse dragged Qin Yuwan¡¯s arm tightly in order to calm her down.

    ¡°As for Qingzhu,¡± Old Madam nced at Qingzhu and said to Princess Ning, ¡°Her arm was hurt severely, so there¡¯s no need for her to serve you anymore. Let her return home to have a rest.¡± Old Madam didn¡¯t say when she shoulde back, meaning that she should never return. Since Qingzhu was Princess Ning¡¯s most important helper, her leave would make it more difficult for Princess Ning to do things in the future.

    Seeing that it waste, Old Madam felt rather tired. She waved and said, ¡°It¡¯s over today. You should return home now.¡±

    The crowd dispersed slowly one by one. Qin Yuwan looked disconste. The way she looked at Qin Yunuan was more and more vicious. There wasn¡¯t much expression on Princess Ning¡¯s face. Only Tang followed Leng Suxin silently on purpose. When there were only a few people, she seized the opportunity to talk to Leng Suxin, ¡°Listen to me. You should think about young master in the Sun Family. Disabled as he is, his family is extremely rich, and his ancestors were all officials. If you marry him, what luxurious life you will be living! When you livefortably in the end, you will surely thank me, your mother.¡±

    ¡°Mother,¡± Leng Suxin said calmly, ¡°I¡¯ve been living a simple life for a long time. The luxurious life is not what I desire.¡±

    She would like to let her own daughter marry a disabled person without learning his conduct just in exchange for fortune and status. Following the two quietly, Qin Yunuan knew in her mind why the mother and daughter were seemingly in harmony but actually at variance.

    Leng Suxin left firstly. Tang turned her head to see Qin Yunuan behind her. Looking embarrassed, she rubbed her hands and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know that Third Young Madam is also here. Please do notugh at me.¡±

    Smiling, Qin Yunuan was ready to leave. However, Tang said behind her in hot pursuit, ¡°Third Young Madam, I¡¯ve heard that you are in good rtionship with Suxin recently. Please help me to persuade her. She is prickly and hardly listens to others. Now that you are both young, it¡¯s better for you tomunicate with her.¡±

    Qin Yunuan replied politely, ¡°I cannot interfere with her personal emotion. However, I think that choosing a partner cannot only ording to his family background. Concubine, if you are really for the sake of Fourth Miss, you should choose a caring and kind man for her.¡±

    Tang changed her tone immediately, ¡°Don¡¯t ording to the family background? Hmmm, how can you be here today if you didn¡¯t marry to the legal son of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion? Now you are talking about not relying on the family background.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stopped and turned back. Staring at Tang, she smiled suddenly, ¡°Are you asking me a question? I¡¯ll answer it then. I will still be here today if I didn¡¯t marry into the mansion. Even Changxi is amon person or a beggar. I will still love him, marry him and live with him until death as long as he is him.¡± Finishing her words, Qin Yunuan took two steps backward and curtseyed, ¡°Please forgive my leaving. There are issues in my courtyard waiting for me so that I will leave now.¡±

    Watching Qin Yunuan leaving, Tang said in a worldly tone, ¡°Easier said than done! My daughter is destined to marry into a rich family.¡±

    Bypassing the small winding corridor, Qin Yunuan hastened the pace. Everything seemed to be covered with ayer of white gauze in the quiet, dim moonlight. Before she took more steps, she stopped suddenly. Qin Yunuan turned her face, watched behind her back, and said slowly, ¡°Fourth Miss, if you are waiting for me, why do you keep hiding?¡±

    A white figure paced out from the bush beside looking as beautiful as the white wintersweet blossoming in the winter days.

    ¡°I¡¯m not hiding from you,¡± Leng Suxin said in a way as peaceful as the moonlight, ¡°I just don¡¯t want to speak to you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°Fourth Miss Leng is half a year younger than me. Indeed, you speak like a child.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you think that you can criticize me casually because you are married,¡± Leng Suxin looked unkind, ¡°What¡¯s more, you are not truly my Third Sister-inw just because you are married to my third brother.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Qin Yunuan looked indifferent, ¡°Didn¡¯t you warn me of it the second day I married into the mansion?¡±

    Leng Suxin twisted her lips but didn¡¯t speak anymore. So the two were deadlocked. Maner and Ting Xue had left sensibly to act as a lookout for them.

    ¡°Fourth Miss Leng, I believe that you areing for me for no reason. If you have something to say, you¡¯d better be straightforward. I don¡¯t like beating around the bush.¡±

    Leng Suxin bit her lips subconsciously. Qin Yunuan knew that the movement meant that Leng Suxin was bewildered by something. She thought that Leng Suxin might need more time to adjust herself, but the next moment Leng Suxin spoke without hurry and haste, ¡°I know that the ambassador of West Xia hase for the imperial matrimony for peace. Two dayster, there will be a banquet held in the Royal Pce inviting all thedies suitable in age in the Royal City for the ambassador to pick one. Infanta Ping, I would like you to help me.¡±

    Qin Yunuan kept silent because she hadn¡¯t figure out what kind of idea Leng Suxin was having.

    Suxin stepped forward and said slowly, ¡°In the mansion, there are lots of people wishing me to marry a fickle man so that I, a girl who always shows a cold face, will leave the mansion and suffer for some time. Only Third Brother and Old Madam care about me. But I know that Third Brother¡¯s care is due to feeling guilt. And Old Madam¡¯s care is because I resemble my dead aunt. Old Madam wants me to apany her for my whole life, so she sent people to cross my name from the name list of the banquet. However, I know that I have to go. I have to attend the banquet, and I have to marry to West Xia.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stared at Leng Suxin silently. For the first time, she saw the sincerity in Leng Suxin¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Can I ask you why?¡± Qin Yunuan said serenely.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to know why,¡± Leng Suxin frowned, showing boredom.

    Qin Yunuanughed, ¡°What¡¯s the reason for me to help you, then? I will offend Old Madam but get nothing in the end. Is it really worthful?¡±

    ¡°I know that you have the ability to perform well in both ways,¡± Leng Suxin quite believed in Qin Yunuan¡¯s ability, ¡°If you cannot do that, why did Third Brother fall in love with you?¡±

    Qin Yunuan tossed her head. She found that every time Leng Suxin said ¡°Third Brother,¡± her eyes would always shine, and her tone changed slightly, not like the way a sister to her brother but adding more emotion.

    ¡°Got it,¡± Qin Yunuan looked into Leng Suxin¡¯s eyes and said, ¡°You like Changxi. The reason why you don¡¯t want to marry is because of him. And why you want to marry to a far ce is because you don¡¯t want to stay in the sorrowful ce in loneliness.¡±

    Leng Suxin¡¯s pupils dted instantly. Her eyebrows were knitted together. She flicked her sleeves and turned away, ¡°What do you know about?¡±

    Qin Yunuan knew that she had hit it, ¡°If it is true, you have more reasons not to go to the banquet. If you are chosen to marry far away to West Xia, besides the long distance, do you know the meaning of it? The rtionship between West Xia and Qi remains unclear. If any ident happens, you will be a hostage in West Xia. The emperor is merciless and cares for the whole country. How can you guarantee that he won¡¯t abandon you in the key point?¡±

    Leng Suxin looked at the moon high in the sky. The silver-te-like moon held on the branch was like a lily blossoming in the midnight, lighting up everyone¡¯s heart quietly. But why? Why was her heart still so cold? Her heart never beat. It would only be a little warm when she saw Leng Changxi.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to be dead?¡± Leng Suxin gave a bitter smile, ¡°Death is the best end for me.¡±

    ¡°Fourth Miss.¡± Qin Yunuan was about tofort her when Leng Suxin turned to her suddenly, ¡°Do you think that you are seeing my real appearance? Do you know what happened 10 years ago?¡± When Leng Suxin was speaking, her slim finger slid on her chin. Then she used her fingernails to pick up a corner of her skin.

    Qin Yunuan was surprised. She knew what it was. A mask made of human skin!

 Chapter 182 - Sneak Attack at Midnight

    Chapter 182 Sneak Attack at Midnight

    The exalted Fourth Miss in the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion should wear a mask made of human skin every day. Seeing Qin Yunuan got shocked, Leng Suxin put on a self-mocking look. She kept taking off the thin yellowish mask, and several brown concave scars gradually showed up.

    Leng Suxin merely tore off a bit of the mask, but the scar was so terrifying that Qin Yunuan had already been shocked. A girl, about 15 or 16, should go through such a terrible disaster.

    Qin Yunuan looked at Leng Suxin without saying anything. Thetter just smiled lightly and said, ¡°You want to ask me how and when I got these scars, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Qin Yunuan still kept silent. Leng Suxin walked forward and quietly sighed when looking at the moon, ¡°In this world, there are only two people knowing this, me and Leng Changxi, my brother. Do you remember the huge fire that happened in the Weiyang Pce ten years ago? That day, I was there.¡±

    So, were the scars on her face left because she was burned in the fire?

    Qin Yunuan frowned and waited for Leng Suxin to continue. ¡°I remember that there was an imperial feast that day, the first and also thest feast I attended. In the feast, I saw a really beautiful boy. I was bold at that time so that I talked to him first and fawned him. Later, he felt unwell and left the feast. I followed him in secret and found he walked on a remote road to a quiet and serene pce. After talking with a man in ck for a while, he set fire to a scroll and threw it to the pce bedroom. The bright alight scroll suddenly grew into a huge fire. I smelled kerosene and heard a woman crying. I didn¡¯t know who she was. Before this fire case became known to all, I didn¡¯t know I was the witness of this strangest fire case in Qi.¡±

    ¡°So, your scars were?¡± Qin Yunuan subconsciously looked at the 6-cm-long scar on Leng Suxin¡¯s left cheek.

    Leng Suxin touched her cheek and said calmly, ¡°I was frightened at that time so that I forgot to hide myself. I wanted to save the woman locked in the bedroom but only found that the whole room was poured with kerosene. The woman couldn¡¯t get out, and neither could I get in. Then I was hit by a heavy object. When I woke up, Leng Changxi was by my side.¡±

    If Qin Yunuan was right about her assumption, the woman locked in the bedroom must be the Elder Princess. She was burned alive. But the fire setter didn¡¯t expect that the Fourth Miss of the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion had seen everything.

    ¡°Do you remember who set the fire?¡± Qin Yunuan asked in peace.

    ¡°How can I forget? It was the beautiful boy.¡± Leng Suxin put on a self-mocking smile, ¡°That boy was Prince Ray or Sima Ray. I clearly remember that he said, ¡®To fawn on that woman, I have to kill you,¡¯ when he threw the scroll.¡±

    To fawn on that woman? It didn¡¯t take Qin Yunuan much time to figure out that the woman Sima Ray mentioned was the dead Empress Chen. Sima Ray¡¯s mother was just a servant girl, so he had no power or influence. If he wanted to gain power and sessfully came to throne in this dangerous and unpredictable Pce, joining in Empress Chen¡¯s camp was the best choice. Therefore, merely at 10 years old, he even dared to burn the Elder Prince who had no desire for power to death. This reflected that he was much more vicious than they thought.

    ¡°But why do you say Changxi treats you well out of guilt?¡±

    Leng Suxin didn¡¯t say anything for a long time. Then she looked up, ¡°Actually, he was the one who should go to the feast, but for some unknown reasons, he didn¡¯t show up. When I met him, he was covered with blood. He had been attacked in a deserted temple, and the attacker was his close servant. He was so desperate. Later on, we both thought we could only count on each other in this world.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nced meaningfully at Leng Suxin saying nothing. She knew Leng Changxi had been attacked in that temple too, because they met each other there.

    ¡°Until he met you,¡± Leng Suxin said abruptly.

    ¡°What?¡± Qin Yunuan was confused.

    Leng Suxin said to Qin Yunuan in earnest, ¡°I mean, I thought Changxi and I had agreed that we could only count on each other in this world. But after he met you, he protects and trusts you no matter what happens. This tells me that Leng Changxi just sees me as his little sister, so he takes good care of me. Also, this makes me understand how ridiculous I am to think I¡¯m important to him. Actually, I¡¯ve valued him above my life, but for him, you¡¯re the one who is more precious than his life.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was touched and felt sympathetic to her. She always deemed that Leng Suxin was cold and indifferent, caring about nothing. But for the first time, she found Leng Suxin was passionate inside. Leng Suxin had buried her strong passion and love, so nobody knew.

    ¡°You know Changxi¡¯s rtionship with Princess Ning, right?¡± After a while, Qin Yunuan said, ¡°You know she¡¯s not his biological mother, and you share no blood rtionship with him. Therefore, you show love to him, crazily and openly, and even threaten me.¡±

    Leng Suxin stared at Qin Yunuan in silence. After that cold nce, she seemed to figure out Qin Yunuan¡¯s inner thoughts. She said abruptly, ¡°Well, I need your help. Ha, isn¡¯t it what you want most to send a woman coveting your husband to West Xia which is thousands of miles away?¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t do this to you.¡± Qin Yunuan made every word clear. ¡°You¡¯re not even a threat to me. But, if you insist, I can give you a hand, but you have to take all consequences yourself.¡±

    ¡°No problem,¡± Leng Suxin sadly nodded, ¡°I will take them all.¡±

    The imperial feast for picking out a girl to marry West Xia¡¯s royal member for peace would be held two dayster. Murong Feng, a household brilliant noble, was West Xia¡¯ envoy. He was as graceful as God. At a young age, he won the favor of West Xia¡¯s emperor and then studied together with the crown prince. As long as the crown prince came to throne, he would naturally be granted with a high official rank, weing a bright future.

    The day before the feast, Qin Yunuan asked Maner and Ting Xue to bring various clothes and jewelry to Leng Suxin. She lived in the same side in East Courtyard as Xie Ruying did, but her ce was obviously grander and more elegant. Osmanthus petals fell to the ground so that this quiet courtyard looked as if it was covered with ayer of golden bricks.

    Leng Suxin sat before her bronze mirror. There was only one servant girl helping her coil her hair into a simple cross bun. On her bedid three pieces of in moon-white clothes.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to the Pce. How can you merely dress in in color?¡± Qin Yunuan walked in while speaking. She ordered Maner and Ting Xue to put down two big brocade boxes on the table. Wearing a smile, she took over theb that servant girl held and untucked the nearly done bun. ¡°The cross bun is too simple, and I suggest you tucking a flower bun. You¡¯re not married yet, so you can just put your hair on the bottom down, which can highlight your beauty in a different way.¡±

    Leng Suxin didn¡¯t stop her but showed no interest in her new hairstyle, ¡°I don¡¯t know much about hairstyles. Just tuck it as you suggest.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded and asked Maner and Ting Xue to take out clothes and jewelry in brocade boxes. Looking at Leng Suxin, she said, ¡°Since you ask me to bring you to the Pce, you have to dress up, talk and even give nces as I say. If you are selected, don¡¯t remember what I told you.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Leng Suxin lowered her head and said, ¡°I will be your informant. Ah, I haven¡¯t expected that I can be helpful one day, not as useless as before.¡±

    Qin Yunuan said in a low voice, ¡°Don¡¯t demean yourself.¡±

    Maner and Ting Xue were picking jewelry for Leng Suxin. Then Maner unfolded a piece ofrge-hemline dress embroidered with butterflies that were flying in flowers, ¡°Third Young Madam, do you think this can fit Fourth Miss well? It suits herplexion.¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned around and took a look. She nodded with satisfaction, but before she said something, an arrow directly flew in through the window leaving a crack. Ting Xue reacted fast and sheltered Qin Yunuan with her own body quickly.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, watch out.¡±

    At once, Ting Xue, Qin Yunuan and Leng Suxin all fell down to the ground. Therefore, the sharp arrow merely stabbed and stuck into the pir, from which it could be told that the shooter used much strength to throw the arrow.

    Worrying about Qin Yunuan, Maner walked towards her immediately.

    ¡°Third Young Madam,¡± When she just stood up, her arm was shot by another arrow threw in.

    The assassin was really cautious. He knew there were only girls who didn¡¯t practice martial arts in the room but still shot two arrows. When everyone was still in shock, a bang sound came from the roof of the opposite building. Leng Shuang had captured the shooter quickly. But Maner already went faint due to the excessive loss of blood.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, the assassin has been captured,¡± Soon, Leng Shuang said in a clear voice outside.

    Qin Yunuan was patting on her chest tofort herself while Leng Suxin was so scared that her back was wet.

    ¡°Tell Third Young Master what happened and let him deal with this. Besides, call Doctor Sun,¡± Qin Yunuan felt heartbroken while she saw Maner whoid on the ground.

    Leng Suxin calmed down, looked at Qin Yunuan quietly and said, ¡°Does someone want to prevent me from going to the feast?¡±

    Qin Yunuan took a nce at her and asked after thinking everything through, ¡°Are you sure nobody saw you on the fire scene ten years ago, and nobody knew you were the Fourth Miss of the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion who followed Prince Ray to the Weiyang Pce?¡±

    Leng Suxin recalled every detail and answered, ¡°No. Everyone was upied with the feast in the Yongchang Pce. I didn¡¯t see anybody on the path to the Weiyang Pce.¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows unconsciously. ¡°Was there really nobody passing? Or you just didn¡¯t notice them?¡±

 Chapter 182 Sneak Attack at Midnight

    <h4>Chapter 182 Sneak Attack at Midnight</h4>

    The exalted Fourth Miss in the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion should wear a mask made of human skin every day. Seeing Qin Yunuan got shocked, Leng Suxin put on a self-mocking look. She kept taking off the thin yellowish mask, and several brown concave scars gradually showed up.

    Leng Suxin merely tore off a bit of the mask, but the scar was so terrifying that Qin Yunuan had already been shocked. A girl, about 15 or 16, should go through such a terrible disaster.

    Qin Yunuan looked at Leng Suxin without saying anything. Thetter just smiled lightly and said, ¡°You want to ask me how and when I got these scars, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Qin Yunuan still kept silent. Leng Suxin walked forward and quietly sighed when looking at the moon, ¡°In this world, there are only two people knowing this, me and Leng Changxi, my brother. Do you remember the huge fire that happened in the Weiyang Pce ten years ago? That day, I was there.¡±

    So, were the scars on her face left because she was burned in the fire?

    Qin Yunuan frowned and waited for Leng Suxin to continue. ¡°I remember that there was an imperial feast that day, the first and also thest feast I attended. In the feast, I saw a really beautiful boy. I was bold at that time so that I talked to him first and fawned him. Later, he felt unwell and left the feast. I followed him in secret and found he walked on a remote road to a quiet and serene pce. After talking with a man in ck for a while, he set fire to a scroll and threw it to the pce bedroom. The bright alight scroll suddenly grew into a huge fire. I smelled kerosene and heard a woman crying. I didn¡¯t know who she was. Before this fire case became known to all, I didn¡¯t know I was the witness of this strangest fire case in Qi.¡±

    ¡°So, your scars were?¡± Qin Yunuan subconsciously looked at the 6-cm-long scar on Leng Suxin¡¯s left cheek.

    Leng Suxin touched her cheek and said calmly, ¡°I was frightened at that time so that I forgot to hide myself. I wanted to save the woman locked in the bedroom but only found that the whole room was poured with kerosene. The woman couldn¡¯t get out, and neither could I get in. Then I was hit by a heavy object. When I woke up, Leng Changxi was by my side.¡±

    If Qin Yunuan was right about her assumption, the woman locked in the bedroom must be the Elder Princess. She was burned alive. But the fire setter didn¡¯t expect that the Fourth Miss of the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion had seen everything.

    ¡°Do you remember who set the fire?¡± Qin Yunuan asked in peace.

    ¡°How can I forget? It was the beautiful boy.¡± Leng Suxin put on a self-mocking smile, ¡°That boy was Prince Ray or Sima Ray. I clearly remember that he said, ¡®To fawn on that woman, I have to kill you,¡¯ when he threw the scroll.¡±

    To fawn on that woman? It didn¡¯t take Qin Yunuan much time to figure out that the woman Sima Ray mentioned was the dead Empress Chen. Sima Ray¡¯s mother was just a servant girl, so he had no power or influence. If he wanted to gain power and sessfully came to throne in this dangerous and unpredictable Pce, joining in Empress Chen¡¯s camp was the best choice. Therefore, merely at 10 years old, he even dared to burn the Elder Prince who had no desire for power to death. This reflected that he was much more vicious than they thought.

    ¡°But why do you say Changxi treats you well out of guilt?¡±

    Leng Suxin didn¡¯t say anything for a long time. Then she looked up, ¡°Actually, he was the one who should go to the feast, but for some unknown reasons, he didn¡¯t show up. When I met him, he was covered with blood. He had been attacked in a deserted temple, and the attacker was his close servant. He was so desperate. Later on, we both thought we could only count on each other in this world.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nced meaningfully at Leng Suxin saying nothing. She knew Leng Changxi had been attacked in that temple too, because they met each other there.

    ¡°Until he met you,¡± Leng Suxin said abruptly.

    ¡°What?¡± Qin Yunuan was confused.

    Leng Suxin said to Qin Yunuan in earnest, ¡°I mean, I thought Changxi and I had agreed that we could only count on each other in this world. But after he met you, he protects and trusts you no matter what happens. This tells me that Leng Changxi just sees me as his little sister, so he takes good care of me. Also, this makes me understand how ridiculous I am to think I¡¯m important to him. Actually, I¡¯ve valued him above my life, but for him, you¡¯re the one who is more precious than his life.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was touched and felt sympathetic to her. She always deemed that Leng Suxin was cold and indifferent, caring about nothing. But for the first time, she found Leng Suxin was passionate inside. Leng Suxin had buried her strong passion and love, so nobody knew.

    ¡°You know Changxi¡¯s rtionship with Princess Ning, right?¡± After a while, Qin Yunuan said, ¡°You know she¡¯s not his biological mother, and you share no blood rtionship with him. Therefore, you show love to him, crazily and openly, and even threaten me.¡±

    Leng Suxin stared at Qin Yunuan in silence. After that cold nce, she seemed to figure out Qin Yunuan¡¯s inner thoughts. She said abruptly, ¡°Well, I need your help. Ha, isn¡¯t it what you want most to send a woman coveting your husband to West Xia which is thousands of miles away?¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t do this to you.¡± Qin Yunuan made every word clear. ¡°You¡¯re not even a threat to me. But, if you insist, I can give you a hand, but you have to take all consequences yourself.¡±

    ¡°No problem,¡± Leng Suxin sadly nodded, ¡°I will take them all.¡±

    The imperial feast for picking out a girl to marry West Xia¡¯s royal member for peace would be held two dayster. Murong Feng, a household brilliant noble, was West Xia¡¯ envoy. He was as graceful as God. At a young age, he won the favor of West Xia¡¯s emperor and then studied together with the crown prince. As long as the crown prince came to throne, he would naturally be granted with a high official rank, weing a bright future.

    The day before the feast, Qin Yunuan asked Maner and Ting Xue to bring various clothes and jewelry to Leng Suxin. She lived in the same side in East Courtyard as Xie Ruying did, but her ce was obviously grander and more elegant. Osmanthus petals fell to the ground so that this quiet courtyard looked as if it was covered with ayer of golden bricks.

    Leng Suxin sat before her bronze mirror. There was only one servant girl helping her coil her hair into a simple cross bun. On her bedid three pieces of in moon-white clothes.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to the Pce. How can you merely dress in in color?¡± Qin Yunuan walked in while speaking. She ordered Maner and Ting Xue to put down two big brocade boxes on the table. Wearing a smile, she took over theb that servant girl held and untucked the nearly done bun. ¡°The cross bun is too simple, and I suggest you tucking a flower bun. You¡¯re not married yet, so you can just put your hair on the bottom down, which can highlight your beauty in a different way.¡±

    Leng Suxin didn¡¯t stop her but showed no interest in her new hairstyle, ¡°I don¡¯t know much about hairstyles. Just tuck it as you suggest.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded and asked Maner and Ting Xue to take out clothes and jewelry in brocade boxes. Looking at Leng Suxin, she said, ¡°Since you ask me to bring you to the Pce, you have to dress up, talk and even give nces as I say. If you are selected, don¡¯t remember what I told you.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Leng Suxin lowered her head and said, ¡°I will be your informant. Ah, I haven¡¯t expected that I can be helpful one day, not as useless as before.¡±

    Qin Yunuan said in a low voice, ¡°Don¡¯t demean yourself.¡±

    Maner and Ting Xue were picking jewelry for Leng Suxin. Then Maner unfolded a piece ofrge-hemline dress embroidered with butterflies that were flying in flowers, ¡°Third Young Madam, do you think this can fit Fourth Miss well? It suits herplexion.¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned around and took a look. She nodded with satisfaction, but before she said something, an arrow directly flew in through the window leaving a crack. Ting Xue reacted fast and sheltered Qin Yunuan with her own body quickly.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, watch out.¡±

    At once, Ting Xue, Qin Yunuan and Leng Suxin all fell down to the ground. Therefore, the sharp arrow merely stabbed and stuck into the pir, from which it could be told that the shooter used much strength to throw the arrow.

    Worrying about Qin Yunuan, Maner walked towards her immediately.

    ¡°Third Young Madam,¡± When she just stood up, her arm was shot by another arrow threw in.

    The assassin was really cautious. He knew there were only girls who didn¡¯t practice martial arts in the room but still shot two arrows. When everyone was still in shock, a bang sound came from the roof of the opposite building. Leng Shuang had captured the shooter quickly. But Maner already went faint due to the excessive loss of blood.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, the assassin has been captured,¡± Soon, Leng Shuang said in a clear voice outside.

    Qin Yunuan was patting on her chest tofort herself while Leng Suxin was so scared that her back was wet.

    ¡°Tell Third Young Master what happened and let him deal with this. Besides, call Doctor Sun,¡± Qin Yunuan felt heartbroken while she saw Maner whoid on the ground.

    Leng Suxin calmed down, looked at Qin Yunuan quietly and said, ¡°Does someone want to prevent me from going to the feast?¡±

    Qin Yunuan took a nce at her and asked after thinking everything through, ¡°Are you sure nobody saw you on the fire scene ten years ago, and nobody knew you were the Fourth Miss of the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion who followed Prince Ray to the Weiyang Pce?¡±

    Leng Suxin recalled every detail and answered, ¡°No. Everyone was upied with the feast in the Yongchang Pce. I didn¡¯t see anybody on the path to the Weiyang Pce.¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows unconsciously. ¡°Was there really nobody passing? Or you just didn¡¯t notice them?¡±

 Chapter 183 Glamourous

    <h4>Chapter 183 mourous</h4>

    Leng Suxin paused, and her eyes flickered with confusion. Is it that there was actually someone else?

    Qin Yunuan knew what Leng Suxin was thinking. To soothe her, she just said, ¡°I was just guessing. After all, the third prince was just ten years old by then. No matter how vicious and careful he was, he couldn¡¯t figure out the secrets of the Weiyang Pce without any help, let alone sending people to cover Weiyang Pce in kerosene.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve doubted it as well.¡± Leng Suxin had thought about it. But she was too young at that time, all she knew was that she was afraid.

    ¡°It¡¯s not the perfect time for this.¡± Qin Yunuan looked at the mess on the ground and the broken arrows on the pirs. What was most important now was to cover everything up. She couldn¡¯t let the opponent know that there had been casualties on her side. She wanted to show that she had known the tricks of the opponents. The steadier she looked, the more nervous the opponents would be. By then, they would reveal their weaknesses.

    Leng Suxin was still startled, but she still looked calm and quiet as she didn¡¯t like to show her emotions on her face. Qin Yunuan soothed her for a while, then took the injured Maner back to the courtyard at night. More than half of the lights in the yard were out, but the candle was still lit in Leng Changxi¡¯s study.

    ¡°Maner.¡± Leng Wu was guarding by the door, but as soon as he saw Maner, who had passed out on Leng Shuang¡¯s back, he forgot his own duty.

    ¡°Brother,¡± Leng Shuang reminded him with a cool face, ¡°You¡¯re now responsible of the General¡¯s safety. Please be aware of what you should do.¡±

    It was rare that a younger sister told an elder brother off in public. However, Leng Wu was good-tempered and listened to her. It was just that his nce stayed with the injured Maner. Anyone could tell his affection towards her.

    Qin Yunuan hurried into the study room and quietly closed the door. Leng Changxi was at his desk studying the evidence provided by his men carefully, but he couldn¡¯t clearly figure it out after a while. Seeing Qin Yunuaning in, his brows slightly rxed a bit and waved Qin Yunuan to his side.

    ¡°Look, this was collected from the shoe of the assassin.¡± Leng Changxi pointed at a pack of ck mud wrapped in a white paper. ¡°Does it look familiar to you?¡±

    Qin Yunuan stared at Leng Changxi and said hollowly, ¡°Darling, we both remember that it was the culture mud of green Begonia.¡±

    Leng Changxi¡¯s slender fingers paused, and the wooden spoon in his hand holding mud unintentionally slipped. His expression hadn¡¯t changed at all, but his heart seemed to be hollowed.

    ¡°Do you think the green Begonia is from the pce or...¡± Leng Changxi choked. It was the first time he felt so powerless.

    Qin Yunuan knew what he was worried about, so she leaned forward, stretched her arms and hugged Leng Changxi¡¯s neck. Then she said softly, ¡°Darling, I am reluctant to say it out loud, but we both need to face the truth. The mud is so fresh, it must be just stuck to the shoe not long ago. It would take at least a couple hours to travel from Yongchang Pce to the courtyard of the fourth Miss, avoiding all the guards. This mud is from Mother¡¯s courtyard. She¡¯s the one who wants to kill me.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± Leng Changxi said subconsciously. It was like soothing himself or persuading others. ¡°Mother has raised me for twenty years. I remember every good she¡¯s done to me. Even if she¡¯s not my biological mother, she treats me better than a mother. She could sacrifice her life for me.¡±

    ¡°In fact, you know it long ago, don¡¯t you?¡± Qin Yunuan held Leng Changxi¡¯s cheeks with both hands. The deep and hollow pupils of Leng Changxi met Qin Yunuan¡¯s tender nce, ¡°You¡¯re so good at solving cases, you could easily solve the hardest ones quickly. However, you have been running in circles for the case of the fire of Weiyang Pce. The reason behind is that you deliberately avoid the truth whenever youe this far. Face it, darling.¡±

    Leng Changxi lowered his eyes and remained silent. He was as weak as a child at the moment, as he only spoke after a while, ¡°Mother treats me well, better than any mother would. She takes care of me in every way.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just because that she loves you too much,¡± Qin Yunuan continued, ¡°Therefore, she would do anything to keep you as her own. She found out your affection towards me, so she tried to kill me. She found out that you¡¯re the son of the grand princess, and the princess was still alive in Weiyang Pce, so she cooperated with the third prince to set fire on Weiyang Pce, in fear that the grand princess would take you back someday. It was all fake about her miscarriage. Mother is infertile. It¡¯s impossible for her to have a child. You are merely her fantasy of having many offspring.¡±

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t say a word, while Qin Yunuan just held him tighter. She kissed Leng Changxi on the forehead, ¡°Darling, I know you¡¯re feeling bad about it. You¡¯re able to read so many people¡¯s minds, yet you were wrong about mother. You love her, and she loves you. The only problem is that her love is too overwhelming. If you keep on spoiling her, I¡¯m afraid that she¡¯ll hurt people around you again and again.¡±

    That was right. Leng Changxi¡¯s birth mother, the grand princess, died like this. Now Princess Ning had been targeting Qin Yunuan. She had upgraded from setting her up to sending assassins boldly. Who knew what was going to happen next time?

    Leng Changxi nodded and took a deep breath as he resumed his expression and replied lightly, ¡°I understand.¡±

    The pce banquet was held at the Haitang Pce on time. The attendees were mostly unmarried girls, so that the ambassador of west Xia, Murong Feng, could choose among them. As for prestigious families like the Prince Ning¡¯s family, they should naturally send representatives to attend the banquet. Princess Ning attended the banquet with Qin Yunuan, and they greeted the nobledies around.

    Princess looked tired today. Even though she was smiling, the make-up of hers wasn¡¯t able to hide her thick under-eye bags.

    ¡°Have you not rested wellst night, mother?¡± Qin Yunuan asked, looking concerned.

    Princess Ning looked at Qin Yunuan with the corner of her eyes and smiled gently, ¡°I¡¯m alright. It was just that a mouse was squeaking in the dark, which really bothered me.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded and smiled, ¡°Oh? What next? Mother¡¯s always nice. I guess you wouldn¡¯t want to harm the mouse.¡±

    ¡°Well, not necessarily.¡± Princess Ning said implicatively, ¡°I am gentle indeed, but it depends on whom to. For animals which disturb me so much, I would like to get rid of it.¡±

    Afterst night, the rtionship between Princess Ning and Qin Yunuan had beplicated. Princess Ning had already made so many attempts to harm Qin Yunuan, and she even sent killersst night. Apparently, the tolerance of Princess Ning towards Qin Yunuan had reached the climax. She could no longer stay calm and gentle in front of Qin Yunuan.

    Empress Chen was dead, and the new Empress had not been decided yet. Consequently, Imperial Concubine Yun, who currently had the highest status in the harem, was the one apanying the Emperor in the banquet today. Recovering from her sickness, Imperial Concubine Yun looked unhealthily pretty. Her tender nce was following the Emperor, without any concern, even if it was in public. Now that the selection of the new Empress had been in the agenda, she needed to try harder indeed.

    Maner covered Qin Yunuan with a coat and quietly said, ¡°It seems that Imperial Concubine Yun is more arrogant than before. People all say that she must be the best candidate for the Empress. Third young madam, should we change our strategies too?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not necessary.¡± Qin Yunuan took a sip of the tea calmly. It was the best of Biluochun tea, boiled with snow water on cherry blossoms, and it was extremely fragrant. ¡°It isn¡¯t the appearance nor the love of the Emperor which made an Empress. It was about the charisma and the ability to manage the harem. A small trick of Empress Chen had made Imperial Concubine Yun sick for more than a month. She isn¡¯t qualified for the Empress. On the other hand, Imperial Concubine Yang next to her seems quite suitable though. She¡¯s smart, courageous and determined. I heard that she was recently promoted. She¡¯s worth paying extra attention.¡±

    Maner nodded in acknowledgment.

    Soon, all the guests had been seated. The ambassador of West Xia, Murong Feng, was wearing a West Xia style white rope and sitting at the far end. His handsomeness had attracted many of the girls at the banquet.

    Murong Feng spoke softly after viewing a dancing and singing performance, like the breeze in spring which made people feelfortable, ¡°The singing and dancing of Qi is morous indeed. West Xia couldn¡¯tpare to Qi in this at all.¡± He arched his hands to the Emperor.

    The Emperor was happy to be ttered, and he smiled, ¡°It¡¯s still too soon toe to that conclusion. What¡¯s next is the performance of Xiao Fengxian, the fairy of Qi. You will surely find it breathtaking.¡±

    After that, the servants cooperatively unlit half of the candles. The dim candlelight formed a mysterious vibe in the hall. That was when the Guqin sounded. A slim woman with a veil on her face came in. She slightly bowed before she moved her waist and waved her sleeves. The sleeves were sometimes soft yet sometimes powerful, constantly changing its form. Just when people thought that it was everything of the performance, Xiao Fengxian started singing. It was the most popr song in the southern regions of the river. The singing and the dancing were both utterly enjoyable.

    After the performance was done, the candles were all lit again. The emperor led the apuse. Then the hall was filled with praising and pping. The guest Murong Feng found it really refreshing, and he couldn¡¯t stop praising the performance. However, the woman who just surprised everyone in the hall was still wearing her veil. She remained quiet. Apart from thanking for the praise, she had no intention to take off her veil.

    This inevitably made the Emperor a bit displeased.

    ¡°Well, since everyone likes your performance, why don¡¯t you remove your veil so that we could see your face?¡±

    Qin Yunuan slowly raised a wine ss. She was not in a hurry to drink it. She only rubbed the edge of the ss repeatedly. It was a signal between her and Leng Suxin.

    The woman in the middle nodded and took off the veil. Just when the veil touched the ground, someone recognized her.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this the fourth Miss of Prince Ning¡¯s mansion?¡±

 Chapter 184 Deliberate Threatening

    <h4>Chapter 184 Deliberate Threatening</h4>

    Having seen Leng Suxin suddenly showed up, Princess Ning even felt so surprised.

    At the center of the feast, Leng Suxin, who used to look so offish, now gave a decent salute to Emperor Zhaoxuan and Imperial Concubine Yun, ¡°It¡¯s my great honor to be here, Your Majesty and Your Highness.¡± And then she nodded towards Murong Feng, ¡°Nice to meet you, young master Murong.¡±

    Murong Feng felt a little bit surprised by his wider eyes. He just nodded and praised, ¡°I have heard that there is a Forth Miss in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, but to my surprise, you are so versatile.¡±

    Leng Suxin always stayed in the mansion and had never gone out, but Murong Feng should investigate the information about Leng Suxin so clearly. Qin Yunuan praised in her heart that Murong Feng mastered a powerful intelligence system.

    When people here all praised the charming dance and melodious song of Leng Suxin, Imperial Concubine Yun suddenly sneered, ¡°Though the Fourth Miss from Leng Family shows her excellence, I remember that she is not in the member list of the feast. And just now, the emperor invited Xiao Fengxian. It seems that you have reced her. How dare you did it so unscrupulously?¡±

    The harmonious phenomenon suddenly turned to be cold. Emperor Zhaoxuan frowned and looked at Imperial Concubine Yun. Compared with the previous Empress Chen, Imperial Concubine Yun was too childish. She always thought for herself and wanted everybody here to know that her niece had attended this feast too, who tried to be an imperial nobledy.

    ¡°Yes. The Fourth Miss from Leng Family is not in the member list,¡± Qin Yunuan stood up and exined for Leng Suxin, ¡°I think none of you know that the Fourth Miss is the only disciple of the First Dancer Xiao Fengxian in Qi. Today Xiao Fengxian felt not well so that her disciple danced instead of herself. This case happened before, so it is not unruly.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s exnation praised Leng Suxin. And then somebody added, ¡°The Fourth Miss from Leng Family is the disciple of Xiao Fengxian. It was no wonder that she performed so elegant and natural.¡±

    Murong Feng then said, ¡°the beautiful and talented Fourth Miss from Leng Family and our Fourth Prince are perfectly matched.¡± It seemed that he thought Leng Suxin would be a member of the royal family. Emperor Zhaoxuan nodded. No matter which maiden Murong Feng chose, she would marry for the imperial matrimony for peace with Qi. Emperor Zhaoxuan once wanted Infanta Zhaojing to marry with Murong Feng, but her mother Princess Jing refused determinedly. If Murong Feng chose another maiden, this thing would be easily solved.

    The words of Murong Feng displeased Imperial Concubine Yun. She sat sidling and grumbled, ¡°Take it easy, Young Master Murong. There is another honorable and noble infanta who has note yet.¡±

    What she said was thete Infanta Zhaojing.

    ¡°Zhaojing felt not well today,¡± Princess Jing, who sat silently, said suddenly, ¡°So, she won¡¯te here.¡±

    When Infanta Zhaojing was born, her mother Princess Jing had been educating her in their mansion, and seldom attended the feasts held in the Royal Pce. What Qin Yunuan had heard about Princess Jing was true. Today, she appeared with her dark and thick eyebrows and determined eyes. Though she wore a luxurious dress, her slim waist and muscled arms showed her previous marital life. She was an excellent and formidabledy.

    ¡°Feel not well?¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan had not a close family affection to his half-blooded younger sister, and he just respected her, ¡°I saw her yesterday, and she was fine.¡±

    Princess Jing just sipped the fruit wine calmly, ¡°She caught a coldst night.¡±

    It was just an excuse that she did not want her lovely daughter to have a distant marriage.

    But at this moment, the eunuch outside the pce suddenly reported in a high voice, ¡°Infanta Zhaojinges.¡±

    Qin Yunuan frowned. She glimpsed that the wine cup held by Princess Jing almost fell. Princess Jing had told Princess Zhaojing for many times in the morning that Zhaojing should stay at the mansion. She would choose a son-inw better than the Fourth Prince of West Xia. Princess Zhaojing was too stubborn.

    ¡°I am d to be here, my emperor and Imperial Concubine Yun.¡± Infanta Zhaojing had an oval face, and her eyebrows and eyes looked like Princess Jing very much. Compared with Princess Jing, Zhaojing had less heroic spirit but more delicacy. She walked into the pce with her skirt¡¯s hemline hanging down, like a blooming small lily flower in the spring wind.

    ¡°Jing, who let youe here?¡± Princess Jing reproached, ¡°You felt not well, so you should stay at the mansion.¡±

    Infanta Zhaojing pouted, ¡°I am OK now. And I won¡¯t tolerate such a deceptive girl goes off with my brother Yuanchu.¡±

    And then Infanta Zhaojing pointed at Leng Suxin, who stood at the center of the feast. She had met with Jing Yuanchu, the Fourth Prince of West Xia, three years ago. At that moment, she fell in love with this handsome and elegant Fourth Prince and missed him for three years. When she heard that the envoys from West Xia came to seek a wife for their Fourth Prince, and the emperor nned to choose her, she felt extremely delighted. But to her surprise, her tyrannic mother broke her sweet dream.

    ¡°Jing, I refuse to let you be a hostage concubine in West Xia alone.¡±

    Infanta Zhaojing did not understand. It would be a great happy thing to marry her brother Yuanchu. Why would she be a hostage?

    Facing the reproaching of Infanta Zhaojing, Leng Suxin was very calm and indifferent, ¡°Infanta, I am confused. I don¡¯t know you, so why do you insult me?¡±

    Infanta Zhaojing distracted her squinting eyes on the feast. In a sh, Qin Yunuan felt burning eyes were looking at her. She just raised her head and heard that Infanta Zhaojing cursed her, ¡°Why do I insult you? It¡¯s easy. Because you act in collusion with this malicious woman, she is your biggest aplice. Leng Suxin, you are such an ugly woman who wears a mask made of human skin. You have no quality to attend the feast, marry to West Xia and be the prince¡¯s wife of brother Yuanchu.¡±

    And then she rushed at Leng Suxin straightly. Princess Jing could not stop her.

    ¡°Leng Shuang.¡± Qin Yunuan shouted. And then Leng Shuang quickly appeared in front of Leng Suxin, and she used her hands to protect Leng Suxin.

    ¡°Zhaojing, the envoys are here. How dare you act so unscrupulously.¡± Even Emperor Zhaoxuan could not tolerate her.

    Infanta Zhaojing did not withdraw but stared at Leng Shuang, ¡°See. You have a master-hand around you. Qin Yunuan, you are so mysterious. I thought you were just an impotent daughter of a concubine in the Mansion of Grand Commandant, so I did not believe what sister Shuhua said. Now I know it was you that hurt sister Shuhua.¡±

    Infanta Shuhua? Qin Yunuan forgot this person. She just remembered that the Queen Mother once wanted Infanta Shuhua to marry Leng Changxi. Qin Yunuan had not met her any longer since they met in the feastst time.

    ¡°Infanta Zhaojing, you must understand me.¡± Qin Yunuan stood up and looked at the angry Infanta Zhaojing. Infanta Zhaojing and Infanta Shuhua were both in the same age and rank and grew up together. It was OK that Infanta Zhaojing vented her anger for Infanta Shuhua, but Qin Yunuan should not be the scapegoat easily.

    ¡°Humph, how dare you ask this question?¡± Infanta Zhaojing said confidently, ¡°You are such a malicious woman. You knew that sister Shuhua loved General Leng, and the Queen Mother granted their marriage, but you intervened and looted the husband of sister Shuhua. And you dispatched people to y scary tricks in her pce, so she could not sleep well at night. She did each thing wrong, and even the Queen Mother, who always loved her, now refuses to meet her. She gets abandoned, and all me to you.¡±

    ¡°y scary tricks?¡± Qin Yunuan asked, ¡°You said that I looted the husband of Infanta Shuhua, but why should I y those tricks, which could expose my plot? And, what¡¯s more, the Queen Mother just had the n to grant their marriage, but she did not issue the imperial edict. Their marriage had not been finalized.¡±

    ¡°All in all, it¡¯s you!¡± Infanta Zhaojing refused to withdraw stubbornly.

    ¡°Jing,e back.¡± Princess Jing got panic. She had been stopping her daughter from getting involved in the plots and struggles in this Royal Pce. But now she was worried that others utilized her daughter, so her daughter dared to do that in the feast.

    ¡°Mother, no!¡± Infanta Zhaojing said very determinedly, ¡°Today I want to revenge for sister Shuhua. Qin Yunuan, you said I framed you, but I have evidence. The evidence is on the face of Leng Suxin.¡±

    Leng Suxin suddenly got nervous, and her face felt painful immediately. She was desperate and downhearted because she knew what happened on her face clearly.

    Qin Yunuan said nothing, but Infanta Zhaojing said reasonably, ¡°Sister Shuhua had some disputes with Empress Chen. Shortly after Empress Chen died, she said she saw the ghost of Empress Chene to hurt her. She believed that she could see clearly the face of Empress Chen, like a dead body. And then she could not sleep well. She mentioned that thing to the Queen Mother, but it irritated the Queen Mother. Finally, she was abandoned.¡±

    ¡°So?¡± Qin Yunuan sneered, ¡°Ghost came to hurt her? Is it rted to me? And Empress Chen suicided so there was no need for her ghost to revenge anybody.¡± Thest sentence was tofort Emperor Zhaoxuan. If she wanted to revenge, Empress Chen should find Sima Ray.

    ¡°I know you will deny,¡± Infanta Zhaojing raised her head, ¡°I have dispatched many high-master people of my mansion to protect my sister Shuhua. One night, they saw ady in a luxurious dress yed light skills above the eave. After she frightened sister Shuhua, she went to a remote ce to take off her luxurious dress and skin mask. The woman is the maidservant aside you who can y martial arts.¡±

    Infanta Zhaojing pointed at Leng Shuang, and then all people were staring at the high-skilled Leng Shuang.

 Chapter 185 A Trick Banquet

    <h4>Chapter 185 A Trick Banquet</h4>

    Everybody had seen how skilled Leng Shuang was. After all, she reacted so fast. But this time, Infanta Zhaojing was criticizing Infanta Ping who was at the fifth grade of rank and also General Leng¡¯s beloved wife. Everyone kept silent, looking at Infanta Zhaojing who stood out to do silly things.

    ¡°So you mean, my maid, Leng Shuang, wears a human-skin mask and disguises as Empress Chen every night to scare Infanta Shuhua? A human-skin mask is extremely precious and rare. You think I can get such a mask merely a month after Empress Chen passed away. Ah, I¡¯m really ttered.¡± Qin Yunuan turned her head a bit and looked at Infanta Zhaojing with a smile.

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s calmness undoubtedly provoked Infanta Zhaojing again. She said loudly, ¡°You can do everything, and this is why you dare to bully Shuhua.¡±

    Princess Jing couldn¡¯t just stand by anymore and scolded in the distance, ¡°Jing, you haven¡¯t recovered from the cold yet. Come here and stop saying nonsense.¡± Then she ordered two servant girls who had practiced martial arts to bring Infanta Zhaojing to her. However, Infanta Zhaojing kept shouting at Leng Suxin. ¡°The human-skin mask on this ugly woman¡¯s face is the evidence, and you can check it out. It is Qin Yunuan who helps her get this mask.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, Zhaojing is out of form, so talks nonsenses now. Please allow me to bring her back home in advance.¡± For the first time, Princess Jing stepped into such an embarrassing situation. She asked servant girls to grasp Infanta Zhaojing¡¯s arms and implied one of them to hit her mute acupoint. This way, Infanta Zhaojing couldn¡¯t make any sound, although she was saying something, just like a dumb person.

    Emperor Zhaoxuan had long wanted her to leave, so he nodded, allowing them to leave the table.

    However, everyone started to pay attention to Leng Suxin¡¯s face. She stood rigidly, just letting people look her up and down until Qin Yunuan left the seat and brought her to sit down.

    ¡°Suxin, it¡¯s alright. Infanta Zhaojing is not well, so she can¡¯t help behaving like that.¡± Qin Yunuanforted Leng Suxin and also reminded her in a low voice. ¡°Trust me. I bring you here, and I won¡¯t let you get hurt.¡±

    Right after Qin Yunuan took Leng Suxin back to seat, Princess Ning sent Moju to see what happened. Not as skilled as Qingzhu, Moju was not used to doing such things.

    Taking a look at Princess Ning who sat far away, Qin Yunuan nodded with a smile and answered, ¡°Tell her everything is fine. Now that Suxin is here, just let her attend the feast.¡±

    Emperor Zhaoxuan was still talking to Murong Feng. The feast went on in an awkward way and ended an hour earlier than expected. But Qin Yunuan knew for sure that Leng Suxin had left a good impression on Murong Feng. Besides, she had deployed people to every channel Murong Feng could find to inquire about information about Leng Suxin. If everything went well, Murong would know what Qin Yunuan wanted him to know.

    When guests were going to leave, Eunuch You, who served the emperor, suddenly came to Qin Yunuan and Leng Suxin while wearing an amiable smile. After thest assassin incident, the emperor no longer favored him who ran away himself without protecting the emperor when facing dangers.

    ¡°Infanta Ping, Fourth Miss, please wait. The Emperor and Imperial Concubine Yun have prepared a small banquet near the lotus pond for you two. Please follow me there.¡±

    Leng Suxin was hesitant, but Qin Yunuan replied in a natural way, ¡°We¡¯ll be right there. Please express our thanks to them.¡±

    Qin Yunuan hadrgely guessed why they invited Leng Suxin and her to a private banquet. Princess Ning walked towards them from a distance and asked them why Eunuch You came to them. After hearing Qin Yunuan¡¯s answer, she didn¡¯t show any expression and just said that it had been a long time since she paid a visit to Mother Queenst time. She would go to her pce to visit her and then wait for the two to go back to the mansion together.

    Seeing that Princess Ning left, Leng Suxin was in a trance.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qin Yunuan asked while clearing up wrinkles on her dress. No matter why the emperor and the imperial concubine wanted to see her, she had to make sure that she dressed properly.

    ¡°I¡¯m scared.¡± Leng Suxin expressed her panic and worries like a little girl for the first time. She was like a trapped deer, waiting for the hunter to tie her up and kill her.

    Qin Yunuan smiled and said, ¡°I thought nothing, and no one could scare you.¡±

    Leng Suxin lowered her head and answered, ¡°You are that bold, not me.¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked tender. ¡°I have Changxi inpany, so I¡¯m not afraid of seeing the emperor. Nothing can scare me now, except losing him.¡±

    ¡°I really wish I can fear nothing because of love.¡± Leng Suxin now viewed Qin Yunuan as her confidant, bearing no resentment anymore, ¡°Just like you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan sighed, ¡°If you are not willing to go to West Xia, tell me. I have ns to help you.¡±

    Leng Suxin put on a self-mocking smile. ¡°I know you are resourceful, so resourceful that you can even fake an identity, the disciple of Xiao Fengxian, for me. But going to West Xia is the only way for me to wake up from a fantasy. Working as an informant there is the only thing I can do for Changxi and you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan said nothing. Shortly, they arrived at the gate of the lotus pond. It was midwinter now, and lotuses in the pond had long withered. The strong cold wind flew over the chilly pond, making people passing by feel cold inside and also outside.

    They saw two lines of servant girls standing outside the painted pce near the pond. The emperor and Imperial Concubine Yun must be here. Qin Yunuan led on, and Leng Suxin followed her. Just when they arrived, ready to ask the eunuch near the door to report, a beautiful and charming female voice came to them from inside. ¡°Arrest them two.¡±

    Four or five strong and agile guards encircled them quickly. Before they figured out what happened, their arms were already grasped, and they couldn¡¯t move.

    Leng Suxin struggled subconsciously, but she was much weaker than guards. As for Qin Yunuan, she was quite calm because she had already expected this. Even she told Leng Shuang, who hid herself in the dark, not to act rashly.

    There was only Imperial Concubine Yun sitting in the middle. The emperor was not here. She wore a dainty smile withcencies reflected from her enchanting eyes.

    Despite that her arms were tied, Qin Yunuan remained unyielding. ¡°Eunuch You said the emperor, and you invited us to a private banquet. So, Your Highness, you just treat your guests in this way? Also, why is the emperor not here? Aren¡¯t you afraid of being censured for asking Eunuch You to make up the emperor¡¯s instruction?¡±

    ¡°Afraid?¡± Imperial Concubine Yun seemingly thought what Qin Yunuan said was very ridiculous. ¡°If I felt afraid, I would not ask you toe here. I truly have made up an instruction. So what? I did this for the emperor and the royal family. The emperor will understand my good intentions. Dr. Zhang, go and look at Fourth Miss¡¯s face carefully to check whether she really wears a human-skin mask.¡±

    It seemed that Imperial Concubine Yun had taken what Infanta Zhaojing said seriously. The Dr. Zhang, who Imperial Concubine Yun ordered, was Zhang Ruting. Qin Yunuan hadn¡¯t seen him for a long time, and he looked thinner now. Since Fang Ziying got married and moved to the southern region, he had lost his appetite, bing thinner and thinner. It was really obvious that Zhang Ruting loved Fang Ziying, but thetter just didn¡¯t find out. From the fact that Zhang Ruting was here, Qin Yunuan recognized that he had joined Imperial Concubine Yun¡¯s camp.

    After all, people in this pce were like a small boat in the ocean, and they could easily get into trouble if they had no backer.

    Zhang Ruting nodded and walked towards Leng Suxin. Qin Yunuan knew Zhang Ruting was peeking at her, but she just squinted, letting him check Leng Suxin¡¯s face carefully with wooden tweezers and needles. Leng Suxin closed her eyes with her heart beating so fast.

    ¡°Your Highness, if you really want to verify whether Suxin wears a mask, you can directly say it out. Why bother to do this? If we are proved innocent, I¡¯m afraid that you will ruin your good reputation by retaining an infanta at the fifth grade of rank and an official¡¯s daughter out of no reason.¡± Qin Yunuan said this calmly. However, the calmer she was, the surer Imperial Concubine Yun felt about her assumption.

    ¡°I have the right reason to do so.¡± Imperial Concubine Yun looked unusually excited. If she was right about this, the emperor would think highly of herter, and then she could easily get promoted to be the empress.

    Qin Yunuan sneered in her heart. Imperial Concubine Yun didn¡¯t take into consideration that many people in this pce were willing to see her to make fool of herself. This time, someone must have taken advantage of her eagerness to earn the emperor¡¯s favor and push her to make mistakes. Therefore, the person behind could reap all benefits doing nothing. This person was really cunning.

    ¡°Dr. Zhang, what do you find?¡± Imperial Concubine Yun asked anxiously.

    Zhang Ruting paused for a while and then handed all tools to the apprentice near him. He cupped his hands and replied, ¡°Your Highness, there is nothing wrong with Fourth Miss¡¯s face.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Imperial Concubine Yun opened her eyes wide and didn¡¯t believe in this result.

    Zhang Ruting said in a low voice, ¡°I mean she doesn¡¯t wear a mask. That¡¯s her real face.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s impossible.¡± Imperial Concubine Yun pounded on the table and stood up. Her scouts told her that they saw Leng Suxin took off her mask in front of Qin Yunuan, and her real face looked terrible. Their description of her horrible burnt scars sounded so true and real.

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe it.¡± Imperial Concubine Yun shouted at Zhang Ruting, ¡°Check it again and check it carefully.¡±

    Zhang Ruting seemed a bit embarrassed, and he looked at Qin Yunuan subconsciously.

    Qin Yunuan scolded, ¡°Dr. Zhang, Your Highness asks you to check it again, and you¡¯d better do as she says. You can¡¯t take the consequences if you make any mistake.¡±

    Right at this time, the eunuch outside said, ¡°Your Majesty arrives.¡±

 Chapter 186 Venturing out of Doubt

    <h4>Chapter 186 Venturing out of Doubt</h4>

    A bright-yellow figure was striding near from afar. Seeing this, Qin Yunuan raised her lips slightly but didn¡¯t struggle to free herself from the guard beside her. She wanted Emperor Zhaoxuan to witness what Imperial Concubine Yun had done.

    Imperial Concubine Yun felt as if her heart were beaten by something. She hurried toe out of the painting hall to wee the emperor.

    ¡°My greetings, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Humph,¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan sneered. He entered the painting hall directly without permitting Imperial Concubine Yun to stand up. He sat at the front seat and stared at Imperial Concubine who kept curtseying until her legs were trembling. Then he waved his hands, ¡°All right. Stand up.¡±

    Imperial Concubine strode in discreetly. The emperor cast a sidelong nce at Qin Yunuan who stood still. Imperial Concubine immediately said angrily, ¡°You senseless servants! Let go of Infanta Ping and Fourth Miss Leng!¡±

    Qin Yunuan responded with a sneer, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. Now that things aren¡¯t figured out yet, untying us will be of no use.¡±

    Emperor Zhaoxuan nced at Qin Yunuan. He saw the firm and calm expression on Qin Yunuan¡¯s face which really resembled Queen Mother when she was young. Emperor Zhaoxuan said to her in a teasing tone, ¡°You are rather strong-willed. Now that you have married to the Grand General of Qi, even the way you speak is different now. And you,¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan turned to Imperial Concubine Yun and continued, ¡°Ganging up with Eunuch You to fake my decree is cheating me, do you know that?¡±

    Imperial Concubine Yun kneeled down and apologized at once, ¡°I know I was wrong. I just wanted to share your worries, but I did it in a wrong way, so the result is unpleasant now.¡±

    Emperor Zhaoxuan still had a deep feeling to Imperial Concubine Yun at least in public. So his tone became gentle soon, ¡°Just this once.¡± It only implied that in Emperor Zhaoxuan¡¯s heart he would like to do the same as Imperial Concubine Yun had done.

    Emperor Zhaoxuan nced again at Qin Yunuan and Leng Suxin who were kneeling down to curtsey and waved, ¡°All right. You both stand up.¡±

    Leng Suxin was about to get up, but Qin Yunuan kept absolutely still, ¡°Since you came here, there must be something you want to ask. Compared to kneeling down again in response to being wronged, I prefer keeping kneeling.¡±

    ¡°Wronged?¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan asked her back, ¡°If you haven¡¯t done it, why are you feeling wronged?¡±

    Qin Yunuan nced at Imperial Concubine Yun and sighed in a helpless tone, ¡°He who has a mind to beat his dog will easily find his stick. Weak and lowly as I am, I¡¯m afraid that I won¡¯t have a chance to defend myselfter.¡±

    Emperor Zhaoxuan squinted. He knew what Qin Yunuan meant, so he said with great generosity, ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll give you the chance to speak, but I want to hear the truth,¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan took a sip of the new tea served by the imperial maidservant just now, ¡°Where is your servant girl? The one named Leng Shuang.¡±

    Emperor Zhaoxuan began to suspect Leng Shuang as expected. Indeed, rumors had swirled in the Royal Pce. Besides Infanta Shuhua¡¯s pce, many eunuchs and imperial maidservants in other pces also said that they had seen the ghost of Empress Chen wandering above the Royal Pce, especially in her chamber which was empty after her death, horrifying and frightening. There were even some people iming that they had heard Empress Chen crying every night as if she suffered from wrongful treatment.

    Qin Yunuan winked, and Leng Shuang went out of her hidden ce like she was waiting outside. She looked cool, dressed in purple and hair tied up high in a knot. The moment she stepped into the painting hall, she was attacked by someone¡¯s palm.

    Leng Shuang leaned back to avoid the strength of the attack. The attacker was good at using fists and palms, while Leng Shuang¡¯s advantage was that her body was light and flexible, so she did well in avoiding and light skills. In the painting hall, a man and a woman, a ck figure and a purple one fought furiously to and fro, with one keeping chasing and attacking closely and the other switching between defense and assault.

    Considering being in front of the emperor, Leng Shuang didn¡¯t dare to use all her strength, but the ck-dressed man was pressing on her at every move she did. Emperor Zhaoxuan watched their fight calmly with the easiness of enjoying tea. Qin Yunuan knew that it was sounding out Leng Shuang, so she didn¡¯t say anything else. However, when Leng Shuang was focusing on defense, her foot slipped suddenly, and she was about to fall down. The man in ck hurried to support her, but Leng Shuang gave a reflexive jump. After a deceptive movement, Leng Shuang buckled the weak spot on the man¡¯s wrist with her finger, and the right hand of the man in ck was touching her face. The two people were of about the same ability, so they were counted as a draw.

    ¡°Heiying, that¡¯s enough.¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan ordered the man in ck leisurely. It was at this time that Qin Yunuan was able to see the man¡¯s face clearly. He had a defined square face. However, there was a long scar on it, looking horrifying. No wonder that she had never seen this man among the emperor¡¯s personal retinue. Nevertheless, since he could fight with Leng Shuang for such a long time, he was definitely an expert.

    The man named Heiying turned around to curtsey to Emperor Zhaoxuan and replied coldly, ¡°Your Majesty, this woman¡¯s skill ispletely different from the woman appeared that night. I¡¯m sure that she is definitely not the one fighting with me that night.¡±

    As expected, the attack aimed at sounding out Leng Shuang¡¯s martial arts. Emperor Zhaoxuan nodded approvingly. Then Qin Yunuan said, ¡°Is that enough?¡±

    Emperor Zhaoxuan winced a little, looking discontented, ¡°Qin Yunuan, even though you are the Infanta entitled by Queen Mother herself and Leng Changxi¡¯s wife, it doesn¡¯t mean that you can speak to me like that.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t I?¡± Qin Yunuan stood up indifferently, ¡°In fact, you have already nned together with Imperial Concubine Yun. Firstly, she invited Fourth Miss Leng and me toe here in order to examine whether Fourth Miss Leng had worn a mask made of human skin. Secondly, you appeared after that, pretending that you were angry, and you would speak for me. This time when you asked to see Leng Shuang, I had no choice but to obey it so that you could figure out Leng Shuang¡¯s martial arts. Your Majesty, you were suspecting Leng Shuang and me in the first ce. It was you that gave me a chance just now to speak for myself so that I wouldn¡¯t be wronged. Therefore, can I speak to you in the way I spoke just now?¡±

    Emperor Zhaoxuan was so angry that he pounded the table and jumped to his feet, ¡°Qin Yunuan, it¡¯s true that your Golden Butterfly Embroidery House is the biggest taxpayer in Qi, donating much soldier¡¯s pay and provisions, and that you are the wife of Leng Changxi and the granddaughter of Sir Shangguan, to whom I promised to keep you safe and sound. However, it doesn¡¯t mean that you can do whatever you want.¡±

    For the first time ever, there was someone challenging Emperor Zhaoxuan¡¯s judgment in public and poking his weakness so boldly. Suspicious as he was, he wouldn¡¯t let go of the slightest clue. He would test it by himself.

    ¡°I have never thought of doing whatever I want,¡± Qin Yunuan said calmly. In fact, the words Emperor Zhaoxuan said just now had already indicated that Qin Yunuan was emboldened to speak to him like that, ¡°I just want to find out the one plotting the chain of events together with you.¡±

    ¡°You? How can you assure that you can do it?¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan looked disdainful. He never believed that women woulde up with some wonderful ideas. Even for Empress Chen previously, he just took her as a helper to take charge of the internal affairs. After the assassination, he was not willing to believe women in particr.

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°Because I¡¯m standing here now, safe and sound.¡±

    The twilight was deepening. The carriage back to the mansion passed the Rosefinch Gate golden and bright in the setting sun. On the high gate, there was a man wearing a ck cloak who was hard to be noticed. Standing in the warm sunset, he smiled coldly.

    There came the sound of someone hurrying to go upstairs. A man dressed like an internal attendant appeared beside the man and said with great respect, ¡°Prince Ray, the Third Young Madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion and Princess Ning has already left the Royal Pce.¡±

    Sima Ray didn¡¯t speak for some time before he turned his eyes from afar. He said coldly to the man, ¡°I knew that already. You should give me useful information in the future. If I get the information earlier than you do, why should I keep you?¡±

    The man trembled suddenly. Since Sima Ray lost Liu Bao, he became more fastidious to the people following him.

    Seeing the servant still standing here, Sima Ray became more impatient, ¡°That¡¯s enough. Go away.¡± In his mind, he thought that Liu Bao would absolutely know when to leave and what to say ording to the asions. He wascking a person knowing him well now. Sima Ray kept drifting away with his eyes empty as if he had seen a ce far away. He whispered to himself, ¡°Yunuan, how can you learn my love for you? We are the most suitable for each other.¡±

    Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion gradually sank into the tranquil night. Xie Ruying¡¯s courtyard in the East Garden was the first to put out the light. The winter night was getting colder, but Xie Ruying was wearing a light robe to sleep. The semitransparent clothes stuck to her skin tightly, sketching her delicate posture.

    The moon sshed into the window like ink. A plume of blue smoke with a distinctive scent flew into the room from a mysterious hole in the window. Xie Ruying had already fallen into sleep. The scent made her breathe more heavily.

    Suddenly, a ck shadow shed by. Xie Ruying waspletely unaware of it. However, she was awakened by the cold shing light, which was the moonlight reflected by the dagger.

    ¡°Who is it?¡± Xie Ruying sat up, draping her clothes. She was ready to scream, but her mouth was covered. Beside her ear was a low voice, ¡°One who wants your life.¡±

    As the dagger was about to stab Xie Ruying¡¯s heart, there suddenly flew a copper coin shooting the man¡¯s wrist holding the dagger. It fell onto the ground. Immediately there were dense shadows of people and footsteps on the beam and outside the house.

    Bad luck! The man sighed secretly. It was a trap. Although the assassin wanted to escape, Xie Ruying hugged the one¡¯s breast tightly all of a sudden, shouting, ¡°Third Young Master, I¡¯ve caught him!¡± To her surprise, she felt that she was touching something strange and soft. ¡°Are you a woman?¡± The one who wanted to kill her was a woman?

    The assassin got Xie Ruying in aa by hitting her backhand. As she was about to escape through the door, people outside flooded in, leading by Heiying beside Emperor Zhaoxuan. Then Leng Changxi entered the house and said to the assassin in ck, who was still in the defense gesture, ¡°The wrist you used to hold the weapon was hurt by my coin. Fold your hands for capture.¡± Leng Changxi abruptly lowered his voice, calling the assassin, ¡°Mother.¡±

 Chapter 187 â€œCrazy Love for her Sonâ€

    <h4>Chapter 187 ¡°Crazy Love for her Son¡±</h4>

    The candles were lit, which turned the small space brighter than the day. Leng Changxi looked at the petite masked assassin in front of him indifferently. The two looked at each other for a long time. Suddenly, the assassin turned her wrist, took out another dagger behind her back and stabbed it towards the nearest shadow guard. Because of Leng Changxi¡¯s order to capture her alive, and the special identity of the assassin, the shadow guards were quite conservative with their moves.

    ¡°Attack her injured right hand.¡± Leng Changxi ordered calmly. Immediately, Leng Wu and Heiying attacked her at the same time and easily captured her and took her to Leng Changxi within a moment.

    ¡°Remove her mask.¡± Leng Changxi ordered expressionlessly.

    Even though the assassin wanted to struggle, she couldn¡¯t move with both hands tied up. When the mask fell to the ground, everyone gasped in great shock. It was Princess Ning indeed. No one could have imagined that Princess Ning, who was known for being gentle and kind, was actually so vicious. The daggers on the ground were green, apparently soaked with poison. What was more unexpected was that Princess Ning actually hid the fact that she was good at martial arts so perfectly that even her husband Prince Ning didn¡¯t know about it.

    Princess Ning¡¯s deeds were exposed to everyone just like her face. Her nce was no longer tender, and her lips no longer gentle. She was filled with coldness from hell at the moment, which made people shiver.

    However, her eyes were still focused on Leng Changxi. She didn¡¯t say anything, because she had nothing to say.

    By then, Qin Yunuan entered the room under Leng Shuang¡¯s protection. Seeing Princess Ning tied up, she couldn¡¯t help but sighed, ¡°Mother, it¡¯s really you.¡±

    The silent Princess Ning became extremely aggressive when she saw Qin Yunuan. She bit her lips and growled towards Qin Yunuan, ¡°You bitch! You take Changxi away from me! He used to be mine and mine only. He¡¯s my son! No one can touch him. No one can upy him!¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised her eyes and exchanged nces with Leng Changxi. Apparently what Qin Yunuan guessed was right. Princess Ning loved her son so much that it was sick. Xie Ruying had a thing for Leng Changxi, so Princess Ning secretly set her up. The servant girl Haitang dreamed of sleeping with Leng Changxi, so Princess Ning made it look like Haitang pushed nanny Li into the pond. Princess Ning wouldn¡¯t even let go of infanta Shuhua who didn¡¯t even engage with Leng Changxi. She made use of the suspicion people had after Empress Chen¡¯s death to drive infanta Shuhua mad. As for Qin Yunuan, Princess Ning had never let go on her. It was just that Qin Yunuan was more cautious and cleverer than she was, so she never seeded.

    Qin Yunuan sighed lightly and said, ¡°Mother, Changxi is your son indeed, but he is also an independent person. You want to keep him as your belonging so madly, but the consequence will be driving either you or Changxi crazy.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± Princess Ning¡¯s tears came down her face as she said, ¡°He is my son, so he¡¯s only mine. Other women must stay away from him.¡±

    After that, Heiying ordered his people to take Princess Ning out, as he said in a cold and official tone, ¡°Even though it¡¯s reasonable for you to love your son, Princess Ning, you had broken thew of Qi and disturbed the order of the pce. I have to arrest you.¡±

    Murder, framing, pretending to be ghosts. Princess Ning could not get away with these crimes.

    Right then, Prince Ning heard the news and came. Seeing Princess Ning tied up in the courtyard, wearing ck martial art clothing, he paused. He only said after a while, ¡°Xunxiang, you...¡±

    Princess Ning saw hope when she saw Prince Ning. She struggled to move towards Prince Ning, and said eagerly, ¡°Prince, save me! Please tell them that I¡¯ve done nothing wrong but loving my own son. Changxi¡¯s our son. Why, why would I have to share him with other women? Tell them that, prince.¡±

    After he heard about the whole story, Prince Ning unintentionally took a couple steps back. He had never imagined that his wifemitted so many crimes. Prince Ning didn¡¯t know that Qin Yunuan faked her pregnancy, so he got angrier about Princess Ning harming Qin Yunuan¡¯s child.

    ¡°Bitch!¡± He pped Princess Ning on the face heavily that she spitted blood.

    Prince Ning¡¯s hand was still shaking. His whole body was shaking. ¡°Take her to the pce. Let the Emperor decide her punishments.¡±

    Looking at all these, Qin Yunuan knew clearly that Prince Ning still loved Princess Ning. He merely couldn¡¯t bare Princess Ning¡¯s deeds anymore.

    A few dayster, news came from the pce that Princess Ning admitted to pretending to be ghosts at night. Even in front of the Emperor, she kept yelling that Leng Changxi is her son and belongs to her. If she was just a normal person, disturbing the pce with paranormal behaviors would be punished with a cruel death penalty. However, the Sun family was rich and famous, and her ancestors had great contributions to Qi. The Emperor only decided to send her to the borders and let her live.

    Qin Yunuan was sewing leather riding boots for Leng Changxi when she heard the news. The hard leather could only be prated with a thick and hard needle. Qin Yunuan put some force on the needle and identally pierced it into her own fingertip. A drop of blood oozed out immediately, and Maner hurried to hand her a handkerchief to stop the bleeding.

    ¡°Why are you so careless, third young madam?¡±

    Qin Yunuan allowed Maner and Tingxue to hold the handkerchief for her and get the medication, as she sighed, ¡°Even though the Emperor spared her life, it was a long way for Princess Ning¡¯s exile. I¡¯m afraid that the one in the pce won¡¯t let her live, and she would kill her on her way.¡±

    Maner sighed lightly as well, and asked carefully, ¡°Do we need to send some people to make sure that she¡¯s safe?¡±

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t answer directly, but she asked back, ¡°How¡¯s darling these days? Is he doing alright in the court?¡±

    Tingxue answered, ¡°I heard it from the servants of third young master that he¡¯s normally doing just as usual.¡±

    Princess Ning had raised Leng Changxi for so long, and yet she ended up like this. Qin Yunuan was still worried that Leng Changxi would feel ufortable about it. Hearing Tingxue¡¯s news, she was much more relieved as she nodded and said, ¡°Since darling didn¡¯t change much, we don¡¯t have to do anything redundant. Just let everything happen naturally.¡±

    Sure enough, the troop sending Princess Ning to the border was attacked by bandits after half a month. The news of Princess Ning got shot by an arrow and died came back to the Royal city. That night, Leng Changxi came back reallyte.

    Qin Yunuan was focusing on finishing thest knits of the leather riding boots under the candlelight, when she felt something heavy on her shoulder. There was the familiar smell of her man around her neck. Leng Changxi hade in before she knew it, and he quietly put his head on Qin Yunuan¡¯s shoulder. He was tilting his head and kissing Qin Yunuan¡¯s neck bit by bit, making her numb and feeble.

    ¡°You back?¡± Qin Yunuan turned around and hugged Leng Changxi. The rumors of Princess Ning¡¯s craziness and pitiful death was all around the Royal City. All people had emotions. Qin Yunuan knew that Leng Changxi was troubled by it. He was the one who arrested Princess Ning after all.

    ¡°Hmm.¡± Leng Changxi quietly hummed. It was just that he put more force on his arms and held Qin Yunuan tightly. He could always find the warmest sense of security and the most tender sweetness in the world on Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°I have sent people to send Xie Ruying back to her birthce. She could never get out of that vige again in her whole life.¡± Leng Changxi suddenly said.

    ¡°But the child in her womb...¡± Qin Yunuan said, worried. It was only because Qin Yunuan knew this secret of Xie Ruying that she agreed to risk her life and cooperate with Leng Changxi and Heiying as a bait to lure Princess Ning out.

    ¡°Women like her don¡¯t deserve to give birth to offspring of the Prince Ning¡¯s mansion.¡± Leng Changxi said indifferently. Xie Ruying attempted to harm Qin Yunuan¡¯s child as well. Even though it was a fake pregnancy, Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t allow that act.

    Qin Yunuan looked at Leng Changxi¡¯s twisted brows, and subconsciously stroke his brows back and forth as if she wanted to wipe off his sadness. Meanwhile, Leng Changxi suddenly leaned forward and bit Qin Yunuan¡¯s lips lightly and repeatedly, tasting the sweetness of her lips, as well as the happiness and peacefulness after such a long time.

    Qin Yunuan held Leng Changxi¡¯s neck and cooperatively leaned forward too. Leng Changxi lifted Qin Yunuan and walked towards the warm bed with Qin Yunuan in his arms.

    It was a night of lingering. On the next day, Leng Changxi was still asleep when Qin Yunuan got up. So many things had happened to Leng Changxi recently, which really made him tired.

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t want to wake Leng Changxi, so she got up and put some make-up on her own. She was about to call Maner for breakfast to be served when she opened the door and saw Maner running in hurriedly.

    ¡°Third young madam, something¡¯s happened to fourth miss.¡± Maner lowered her voice and said, covered in sweat. Apparently, she ran back in a rush.

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t speak further, as she lifted her skirt and left the courtyard, ¡°Let¡¯s go and take a look.¡±

    There were few servant girls in the Xianbi courtyard, which made the cold and quiet courtyard even more mysterious. Qin Yunuan familiarly cut around the corridor and the pavilion. Just when she arrived at the door of Leng Suxin¡¯s room, Qin Yunuan saw Leng Suxin¡¯s servant girl driven out by Leng Suxin with a soft pillow.

    Qin Yunuan paused her steps. She had never seen Leng Suxin in a bad temper. It seemed a serious issue.

    Sun Miaoyang¡¯s voice came from inside. Since Qin Yunuan knew that Leng Suxin was wearing a human skin mask every day, she tried her best to find a bottle of good spirit to please Sun Miaoyang, so that he could treat Leng Suxin. Sun Miaoyang was not only good at medication but also a master in making human skin masks. Human skin masks were the key that Sun Miaoyang could hide among the people whenever he wanted to. Hence, when Leng Suxin was wearing the human skin mask improved by Sun Miaoyang, even Zhang Ruting couldn¡¯t tell that it was a fake face.

    Qin Yunuan could still hear Sun Miaoyang¡¯s words across the door.

    ¡°Fourth Miss Leng, if you continue to hide your face from my treatment, I¡¯m afraid that your face would be ruined.¡±

 Chapter 188 The Shocking Words

    <h4>Chapter 188 The Shocking Words</h4>

    Ruined?

    Qin Yunuan frowned slightly but was not about to enter. She just heard the persuasion from Sun Miaoyang, and then Leng Suxin said, ¡°Yes! Disabled. I am disabled all the time.¡±

    And then Qin Yunuan heard the sound of broking porcins. Sun Miaoyang sighed disappointedly and went out of the room. He saw Qin Yunuan, who had been standing outside all the time, and then shook his head, ¡°Don¡¯t save her. She abandons herself.¡± And then he left straightly.

    ¡°Since youe here,e in. I don¡¯t mind there is another person who can see me in a mess.¡± Leng Suxin seemed to have noticed Qin Yunuan came here.

    Qin Yunuan indicated Ting Xue and Maner to stay outside and then entered the room alone. She saw the fragments of porcins and Leng Suxin leaning against the window, who looked outside with miserable eyes. The cold north wind blew into the room through the curtain.

    ¡°I can¡¯t marry at West Xia,¡± Leng Suxin now still wore a fine skin mask which hid her face full of scarspletely, ¡°I can¡¯t. Sorry, Third Sister-inw. I can¡¯t.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stepped closer, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that you still love Changxi, and you can¡¯t leave him.¡±

    Leng Suxin lowered her eyes and sneered, ¡°you can think so.¡±

    ¡°Or,¡± Qin Yunuan added quickly, ¡°Somebody threatened you? Threatened you to use your face? The person forced you to give the chance to her?¡±

    Leng Suxin was speechless, but her absent-minded and threatened eyes had shown everything.

    ¡°The person is Infanta Zhaojing?¡± Qin Yunuan guessed boldly. Infanta Zhaojing had known Leng Suxin wore the mask made of human skin and tried her best to marry the Fourth Prince of West Xia, Jing Yuanchu. No matter who told Infanta Zhaojing the issue of skin mask, Qin Yunuan guessed reasonably that Infanta Zhaojing yed tricks on the liquid medicine used for wearing the mask. Or, the face of Leng Suxin would not be destroyed so badly just by Sun Miaoyang.

    Leng Suxin did not answer and just looked outside absent-mindedly. She suddenly said, ¡°Do you know how my face is?¡± Leng Suxin looked at Qin Yunuan and said with her head tilting, ¡°Do you want me to take off the mask to show my face?¡±

    Before Qin Yunuan responded, Leng Suxin opened the skin of underjaw slowly by her fingers. She did not care hesitant Qin Yunuan and uncovered the whole skin mask, and then she threw the skin mask away on the ground. Her face, which had been totally destroyed for ten years, was exposed under the sun first time.

    Her face was full of burning scars and looked uneven, which was like the surface of a nut. There were some parts of new flesh due to the new treatment of medicine, which looked more disgusting.

    Qin Yunuan could not help but close her eyes. She could not imagine how Leng Suxin could live under this condition for ten years.

    ¡°See, you feel scared too.¡± Leng Suxin smiled. And at this moment, the close grand maidservant of Leng Suxin, Chun¡¯er, broke into the room without a report in advance. She got out of breath, ¡°Fourth Miss, something bad happened on Concubine Tang. It was said that the Second Young Madam drank the drink sent by Concubine Tang...¡±

    Before Chun¡¯er finished, she had widened her eyes to look at the grisly Leng Suxin unbelievably. She covered her mouth frightenedly and could not say anything. And then she fell on the ground and tried to crawl toward the door, grunting, ¡°Fourth Miss, I...I did not mean to act like that. I...just...¡±

    Qin Yunuan acted so quickly. She called Leng Shuang in and let her lift Chun¡¯er up and then put her against the door. Now Chun¡¯er could not move and came out to report the situation. And then Leng Suxin wore the veil quickly to cover her real face barely.

    Qin Yunuan stepped forward with a cold face. She shouted at Chun¡¯er, ¡°After a while, I will let Maner give you thirty tael of silver, which could afford to buy a house for you to run a shop in your hometown. And then you should leave the Royal City and nevere back. As for the face of Third Miss, you should never mention it to anybody. If I heard that you tell others, you would die.¡±

    Leng Shuang covered the mouth of Chun¡¯er, who was widening her eyes.

    ¡°If you understand what I said, you just wink. I will send you out of the mansion immediately.¡± After Qin Yunuan said that, Chun¡¯er winked constantly.

    ¡°Let her off.¡±

    Leng Shuang loosened her hands but then pinched the wrist of Chun¡¯er. She was about to take Chun¡¯er out, but Leng Suxin appeared suddenly, shouting with fierce eyes, ¡°No! She can¡¯t go. I would be over if she should go away. Nobody alive can leave the room with the secret. Nobody!¡±

    ¡°Fourth Miss.¡± Qin Yunuan wanted to persuade her but was pulled back by Leng Shuang aside suddenly. Leng Suxin took out a candlestick suddenly where the candle had been taken away, and only the kin-edged copper-nail was exposed. And then she stabbed the belly of Chun¡¯er straightly by the candlestick.

    Leng Suxin loosened her hands slowly. Having seen the blood on her hands and Chun¡¯er, who fell on the ground insensibly, she looked a little bit frightened but immediately turned calm and indifferent.

    At this moment, Maner came in and reported that the Old Madam called in Qin Yunuan and Leng Suxin. Qin Yunuan remembered that Chun¡¯er had said that something bad happened on Concubine Tang, and it was rted to Qin Yuwan, so the call of the Old Madam must be rted to this issue.

    Looking at the blood in the room, Maner could not help but shudder. Qin Yunuan allocated the task, ¡°Xi¡¯er, you stay here to watch Chun¡¯er. Put her on the bed. Ting Xue, Doctor Sun has not gone far away, so you go to take him back. Chun¡¯er may still be alive. Maner, you go to Lotus Fragrance Courtyard together with Fourth Miss and me. Everybody, listen! Nothing happened just now.¡±

    Xi¡¯er, Ting Xue and Maner all were the capable maidservants. Each of them received the task. Qin Yunuan helped Leng Suxin wear the skin mask again, and said seriously, ¡°Keep refreshing today no matter how you feel now.¡±

    Now Leng Suxin was like a dead body that had no consciousness. She was almost dragged to Lotus Fragrance Courtyard by Qin Yunuan. The phenomenon of Lotus Fragrance Courtyard had been intense. And there was in a mess in the room of the Old Madam.

    Concubine Tang was well known for her loud voice. Qin Yunuan had already heard the cries of Concubine Tang even if she was several steps away from the room, ¡°Old Madam, you must believe me. I feel so happy for the pregnancy of the Second Young Madam because the baby will be the third young master of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. I dare not add Saffron into the nourishing medicine!¡±

    The Old Madam was speechless, but the silent Leng Changxuan suddenly stood up and spoke for Qin Yuwan, ¡°Concubine Tang, are you denying? Yuwan did drink the cubilose sent by you, and then she got a stomachache. And the doctor has checked the cubilose and found there was Saffron in it. Concubine Tang, though Yuwan did something wrong, you should not hurt her baby.¡±

    After all, that is the baby of Leng Changxuan. He got fevered and finally almost shed tears.

    At this moment, Qin Yunuan came into the room and saw the kneeling Concubine Tang. Ruan Ruyi and Leng Chang¡¯an aside also knelt aside. The Old Madam closed her eyes and sat there to ponder. Nobody knew what she was pondering. She opened her eyes until the maidservant aside reported that Qin Yunuan and Leng Suxin came.

    ¡°Yunuan and Suxin came,¡± The Old Madam said leisurely. She kept calm even in this situation, ¡°I heard that the famous Sun Miaoyang now stayed at our mansion temporarily, and Yunuan, you are familiar with him. Now the baby of your Second Sister is in danger. Could you invite the doctor to check your Second Sister?¡±

    The position of Sun Miaoyang in the medical world is as high as Shangguan Yi¡¯s in the academic world. People could rarely invite him to have a check, and even the Old Madam of the Prince Mansion should rely on Qin Yunuan to invite the doctor.

    ¡°Definitely, I have sent people to invite the famous Doctor Sun.¡±

    The Old Madam nodded and looked at Concubine Tang and the other two people disagreeably, rebuking, ¡°Don¡¯t cry! Now it is crucial to save the baby of Yuwan. Now we don¡¯t know if she and her baby are safe. Why do you try to pass the buck and rify the responsibility? And you,¡± The Old Madam looked at Leng Changxuan, ¡°Your wife is in serious danger. Why do you stay here instead of apanying her?¡±

    And then someone from Qin Yuwan came to report that Qin Yuwan had taken too much Saffron and got an abortion. And Qin Yuwan now was very weak and probably could not get pregnant any longer.

    Now everybody here focused on Concubine Tang. She could not figure out why her nourishing food got something wrong and contained Saffron since many people sent the nourishing food to Qin Yuwan. Now Qin Yuwan got miscarriage due to her, which was the usation she could not bear.

    ¡°Old Madam, my mother can¡¯t do that. Please have a clear investigation.¡± Leng Chang¡¯an and Ruan Ruyi knelt and constantly kowtowed toward the Old Madam.

    The Old Madam looked at Qin Yunuan and asked, ¡°Yunuan, what¡¯s your opinion?¡±

    The Old Madam started to ask the opinion of Qin yunuan somehow.

    Qin Yunuan said in a low voice, ¡°All the evidence seems to focus on Concubine Tang, but Yunuan still thinks that there is a big bug. Nobody will add Saffron into the nourishing food he sends so conspicuously, which will cause trouble for him.¡±

    Concubine Tang looked at Qin Yunuan touchingly. She had not thought Qin Yunuan would speak for her in such a crucial time.

    The Old Madam nodded and looked at the absent-minded Leng Suxin, ¡°Suxin, What¡¯s your opinion?¡±

    Leng Suxin glimpsed at Concubine Tang lightly. Concubine Tang felt depressed immediately when she saw the cold eyes of Leng Suxin. Concubine Tang had a bad rtionship with her kin daughter, Leng Suxin, so she did not expect the help from her daughter.

    ¡°My mother did not do that,¡± Leng Suxin said coldly, and her words astonished people here, ¡°I did that.¡±

 Chapter 189 Two Worthy Deaths

    <h4>Chapter 189 Two Worthy Deaths</h4>

    Those words were like a tossed stone into a pool, which raised a thousand ripples in no time. Leng Changxuan darted to Leng Suxin right away when he heard that and clutched her neck. ¡°Why? She is your sister-inw, and the baby is your nephew! How could you be so cruel?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Stop him, Yuanyang! He dared to start the fight!¡± Old Madam ordered the servant girl beside her named Yuanyang. She was about 26 or 27 years old and was nimble and tough. She pulled away Leng Changxuan who got agitated with just one arm. Old Madam fixed her eyes at Leng Suxin and squinted, ¡°What did you say? Say it again.¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned to Leng Suxin and saw the sorrowful smile on her face. ¡°It was me. I did put saffron into the cubilose that mother had given her as a present. I don¡¯t like children. They are bothering.¡±

    Bothering...Bothering...

    Ady had killed an unborn child for such a reason! At this moment, Leng Suxin became a devil in other people¡¯s eyes. She was so frightening and unapproachable. And Leng Changxuan almost fainted for rage. The one who was most surprised was Concubine Tang, who opened her eyes widely and said after a while, ¡°Suxin, why did you do such a silly thing?¡±

    Even her own mother believed that it was Leng Suxin. Only Qin Yunuan said quietly, ¡°You don¡¯t have evidence, Fourth Miss.¡±

    ¡°I was born a loner and was unreasonable in nature. Do I need any evidence?¡± As she said this, a servant girl rushed in hurriedly and knelt at Old Madam¡¯s feet. ¡°Died...Someone had died. She¡¯s dead, Old Madam.¡±

    ¡°Why the hurry,¡± Old Madam reproached her, ¡°Stand up and make it clear.¡±

    The trembling servant girl stood up with the help of the other two maids. ¡°I hade to Fourth Miss¡¯s courtyard to report before, and I returnedter because I had left something there. The door was open, and I saw Fourth Miss¡¯s personal maid Chun¡¯er lying on the ground. It was very strange. So I walked into the room, only to find that Chun¡¯er was covered all over with blood, and I could see her guts. She had...had been dead.¡±

    Death was a big thing in the mansion. And the one who died turned out to be the servant girl of Leng Suxin.

    ¡°What was going on?¡± Old Madam asked Leng Suxin seriously.

    Leng Suxin was to answer but was stopped by Qin Yunuan. She could not let her make the wrong choice again. However, Leng Suxin tried to get rid of Qin Yunuan and answered straightly, ¡°I killed her.¡±

    All were surprised.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that Fourth Miss was too excited for being chosen to marry into West Xia. She did not know what she was saying,¡± Qin Yunuan said coldly, ¡°Leng Shuang, take Fourth Miss to have a rest.¡±

    However, Leng Suxin did not appreciate it at all. With a scornful smile, she continued, ¡°You can go and check whether the wound was small and deep. I stabbed her with a candlestick. She made me upset, so I killed her. That¡¯s who I am. Do you believe me now? The baby of my Second Sister-inw was killed by me.¡±

    Old Madam would not believe what she said that easily. She always liked Leng Suxin because she looked like her own daughter who had died at six.

    ¡°Check it out,¡± Old Madam ordered coldly to Yuanyang.

    Yuanyang cupped her hands and came out. After a short while, she returned and reported with bowing fists, ¡°Old Madam, the wound on the body of Chun¡¯er is exactly the same as Fourth Miss¡¯s description. I did find blood on the candlestick beside.¡±

    Leng Suxin looked down andughed in a strange way. Old Madam had no other choice. She shook her head and said, ¡°Suxin, I cannot let you stay any longer. You are crazy. Very crazy.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I am crazy.¡± Leng Suxin held her head high, with tears welling from her eyes. She said in a way that only Qin Yunuan could hear, ¡°I have been insane. I even fall in love with my brother, a man that would never belong to me.¡±

    ¡°You, lunatic devil! Old Madam, I earnestly request to turn this vicious woman to the officials,¡± Leng Changxuan requested with his hands cupped.

    ¡°No,¡± Qin Yunuan objected, ¡°Domestic shame should not be made public. Besides, Fourth Miss has been chosen by the ambassadors from West Xia. If this thing is made public, some people might think that our family is turbulent or that we intend to set ourselves against West Xia.¡±

    ¡°That makes sense,¡± Old Madam nodded and then shook her head again, looking at the Leng Suxin disappointedly. ¡°You are too disappointing. Take her down and lock her into the darkroom. No one shall let her out without my permission.¡±

    As Qin Yuwan was still in aa, Leng Changxuan got back to the courtyard with frustration. Tang refused to leave by the time when Qin Yunuan asked off. She was still kowtowing to Old Madam to beg for leniency for Leng Suxin. After all, that was her daughter. She knew that Old Madam would not be softhearted as long as the people of the family were affected.

    Qin Yunuan walked along the winding corridor, followed by Ruan Ruyi and Leng Chang¡¯an who were walking abreast. She could hear their talk clearly.

    ¡°Mother was still kowtowing inside. Shall wee back and beg for sister, sweetheart?¡±

    Leng Chang¡¯an answered in a t tone that could not tell his real feelings, ¡°Old Madam is in a fit of anger. We might do bad things with good intentions if wee to her right now. This time, she is really doomed. I don¡¯t know why she would speak like that.¡±

    Ruan Ruyi heaved a sigh, ¡°I¡¯m worried about mother¡¯s health. Besides, though I had some disagreements with Suxin in usual times, I cannot just stand by and do nothing. It feels terrible.¡±

    Leng Chang¡¯an answered, ¡°If you really want to help her, it would be better for you toe to the darkroom and persuade her during the night. Old Madam likes her so much. As long as she denied, Old Madam would definitely cover for her. Or else...¡± Leng Chang¡¯an stopped and heaved a long sigh. At this time, he seemed to find Qin Yunuan walking in front of them. So, he shouted, ¡°hold on a minute there, Third Sister-inw.¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked back and found that Ruan Ruyi had been sent away by Leng Chang¡¯an. As she did not have much contact with Leng Chang¡¯an, Qin Yunuan only greeted him simply and asked in a polite way, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, brother?¡±

    Leng Chang¡¯an raised himself slightly and said with a smile, ¡°I heard that you often came to the imperial pce. As I had some contact with the Grand Prince, I want to ask you if he is alright these days.¡±

    Leng Chang¡¯an¡¯s sister was locked into the darkroom for two deaths, and he still asked about the situation about Sima Ruo so calmly. That made Qin Yunuan guard herself against him. Her answer was not very relevant, ¡°Mostly, Ie to the imperial pce for banquets or to pay respects to Queen Mother. I had a few chances to meet the Grand Prince. So, I don¡¯t know much about him.¡±

    ¡°You are kidding,¡± Leng Chang¡¯an kept smiling, ¡°I heard that it was you who helped the Grand Prince out from Empress Chen¡¯s house arrest. How could you not know him?¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled slightly, ¡°Since you said you had contact with the Grand Prince, why don¡¯t you enter the imperial pce to ask him in person?¡±

    Leng Chang¡¯an looked embarrassed, but his behavior was still refined, ¡°Don¡¯t joke about me. My official positiones from contributions, how could I get into the pce at will?¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled, not saying anything. Their conversation did notst long. Leng Chang¡¯an seemed to have many things to ask, but his questions were held back by the speechless smile of Qin Yunuan.

    On the way back, Qin Yunuan said to Maner secretly, ¡°Go and check for me. Find out who had touched the liquid medicine for the human-skin mask of Fourth Miss. It makes no sense that her face worsened while Sun Miaoyang was treating her.¡±

    Maner nodded and then asked confusedly, ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Princess Ning was the one who had been instigating incidents and making troubles in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. Since she had died on a strangend, who would do that to Fourth Miss? Was it really Infanta Zhaojing? But she is under house arrest by Princess Jing. Besides...¡±

    ¡°Not her,¡± Qin Yunuan made the judgment quickly, ¡°Though she was bad-tempered, she was just manipted by someone. What I¡¯m afraid of is that Princess Ning and Infanta Zhaojing are all marites, and we could not catch the wire puller no matter how strict our guard is.¡±

    After nightfall, the nightclubs in the Royal City were still aze with lights by twos and threes, just like the starlight dotted on the Milky Way. Deep in the pce, along with the roar of the winter wind, the charming breaths and manly gasps could be heard from time to time.

    Even the eunuchs waiting outside were teased by these sounds.

    When it was finished, these eunuchs were summoned by the people in the pce.

    ¡°Du Sheng, send Infanta Zhaojing back to her ce.¡± Behind the curtain, a slender man lifted the cover and got up to put on clothes, leaving behind the beauty wrapping in the quilt.

    ¡°Brother Ray, are you asking me to go?¡± Different from her innocent look in public, Infanta Zhaojing was quite tempting and sexually appealing now. She put her delicate arms around Sima Ray¡¯s shoulders and caressed his back with her thigh. ¡°I want to stay with you. We haven¡¯t met for a long time. Did you not miss me?¡±

    A trace of ruthlessness shed on Sima Ray¡¯s face, but when he turned back, he had put on a tender look again. He kissed on the forehead of Infanta Zhaojing and then persuaded, ¡°Of course I miss you, my sweetheart. But your mother was so strict with you that I couldn¡¯t take risks. If she finds out, it would be bad for you. Love needs long-term nning.¡±

    ¡°But I had done such a big thing for you,¡± Infanta Zhaojing twisted her waist, ¡°Haven¡¯t you got the message from Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion that the ugly woman Leng Suxin had given up hope for herself and owned up? Then she will surely die, won¡¯t she?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not enough,¡± Sima Ray said as his cheek leaning close to Infanta Zhaojing¡¯s, ¡°I want more, and more. Jing, my love, would you help me?¡±

 Chapter 190 Secret Message

    <h4>Chapter 190 Secret Message</h4>

    The ambiguous atmosphere continues to rise. Love always makes women dizzy. Princess Zhao Jing narrowed her eyes, enjoying the joy at the moment.

    Early in the next morning, Qin Yunuan got the news after she just sent Leng Changxi out the mansion.

    ¡°Fourth Miss swallowed gold andmitted suicide in the darkroom?¡± Qin Yunuan stood still for a second and looked at Ting Xue, who sent her the message. Ting Xue nodded calmly, ¡°That¡¯s right. Grand Young Madam went to visit her at midnight. But she didn¡¯t expect to see the cold body of Fourth Miss. The post-mortem examiner found a gold hairpin in her throat.¡±

    ¡°What about West Xia?¡± Qin Yunuan asked as she walked back, pinning her hair up.

    ¡°The emperor had chosen Infanta Zhaojing toplete the imperial matrimony for peace with West Xia. Princess Jing hurried into the pce this morning and was angry when she went out. She didn¡¯t get a satisfying answer.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stopped her pace, ¡°It was killing two birds with one stone.¡± She turned around and said to Ting Xue, ¡°Believe it or not, Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion must have let out the news that Fourth Miss was killed by a sudden illness, her servant girl Chun¡¯er was loyal and died after her. Hearing the death of Fourth Miss, Qin Yuwan was burdened by her inward feelings, and that led to the abortion.¡±

    Ting Xue widened her eyes and nodded, ¡°That would Old Madam had ordered us to say. Third Young Madam, you are awesomely urate.¡±

    Qin Yunuan shook her head, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who was awesome. I stood in the shoes of whoever wanted Fourth Miss dead. There was always a purpose for killing. My guess was that killer wanted a prime culprit for everything firstly. Second, he or she wanted Infanta Zhaojing sent to West Xia.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t Fourth Miss kill herself with gold?¡± Ting Xue couldn¡¯t quite follow.

    ¡°Silly girl.¡± Qin Yunuan chortled, ¡°Gold? Have you seen Fourth Miss dressed in gold after such a long time?¡±

    Ting Xue realized suddenly, ¡°Yeah, Fourth Miss looked down upon gold. She wore only jade hairpin.¡±

    At this time, Maner, whom Qin Yunuan sent to inquire about the news a few days ago, came in her direction. She whispered to Qin Yunuan¡¯s report, ¡°I have found out that the human skin masks Fourth Miss wore were bought by a coachman from outside. Fourth Miss did a favor for the coachman before, so he was willing to do those things.¡±

    ¡°Where is the coachman?¡± Qin Yunuan frowned. She wouldn¡¯t give up as long as there was a clue left.

    Maner shook her head, ¡°Dead. That¡¯s why I couldn¡¯t follow up and look into the ce where Fourth Miss bought her potion.¡±

    Seeing Qin Yunuan brows suddenly knitted, Maner knelt and confessed his mistake, ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I waste. The people who worked with this coachman said that he just came back from the suburbs of the Royal City with his goods yesterday. Unexpectedly, the horse suddenly went crazy on the road, and he rolled down the ravine with his car. He was rescued but died before being carried into the mansion.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Qin Yunuan quickly helped Maner up, ¡°Someone intended to kill him. It doesn¡¯t matter how early you go. I¡¯m afraid you would be in danger if you went earlier. As for Fourth Miss, her funeral would be in two days. Although I didn¡¯t get along very well with her, I still grieve for her death. I can only pray for her. I only pray that she will not be reborn in a wealthy family in her next life. I pray that she will marry a good man, and you can burn more paper money for her.¡±

    Qin Yunuan watched the people in the distance moving out the books in the Library of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion and bathing them under the sun. The sunshine was pleasant today, and winter was the driest season, making it perfect to dry up those books. Qin Yunuan thought alone as she watched. Her rival was quick enough to destroy all the possible clues at once.

    It was certain that the suspect in the Royal Pce must have a helper in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, and this helper should also be a big shot. But it seemed impossible for two people who are so eye-catching to meet in person or even to send people around to contact each other. How exactly was their message delivered?

    As she wondered, the servant responsible for drying books on the other side of the pond suddenly reprimanded to a young man, ¡°Please be careful, these scriptures were rewarded by the Pce. Look, now they are eaten by insects like this, and the words are gone. Does every one of you eat without paying?¡±

    Maner supported Qin Yunuan and said, ¡°Third Young Madam, we should go. The one in charge is Mr. Qiao. He was famous for his evil words and could be harsh when he calls names.¡±

    Qin Yunuan showed no signs of leaving. Her eyes focused on the scattered scripture book.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go and see.¡±

    Bypassing the small pond, manager Qiao didn¡¯t realize that Qin Yunuan was already standing behind him and cursed fiercely at the guilty servant. The boy looked aggrieved, and his only exnation was that ¡°Other books are fine. I don¡¯t know why those who came from the Royal Pce are eaten by worms.¡±

    ¡°Oh, now you dare to talk back, so you¡¯re saying that you frown upon the things in the Royal Pce, don¡¯t you?¡± Qiao cursed back, raising his arms to hit him, but the raised arm was suddenly caught by a more powerful hand. As soon as manager Qiao turned his head, he found that Third Young Madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion was standing behind him.

    ¡°Leng Shuang, enough. He was after all the manager. Save some face for him, will you?¡± Qin Yunuan smiled gently at manager Qiao. Mr. Qiao turned obedient at a second. He came over with a shameless face, ttering, ¡°What¡¯s your order, Third Young Madam?¡±

    Qin Yunuan walked towards the pile of scriptures. If she looked carefully, she could find that almost every scripture had several pages of paper eaten by insects. One word would fall exactly in each wormhole, which was not a pleasant view.

    Manager Qiao thought that Third Young Madam was going to me him for his inefficiency, so he pushed the young servant out, ¡°Third Young Madam, this servant didn¡¯t take care of the scriptures, and that led to the incident. I must teach them, it¡¯s for sure.¡±

    ¡°Enough.¡± Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t have the energy to cope with manager Qiao, ¡°I heard the strength you devoted to scolding the servant just then. Now that the books are like this, I would like to borrow them for a while. I would return them in half a month.¡±

    ¡°This...¡± Manager Qiaoughed, ¡°If you are into scriptures, Third Young Madam, I could ask the purchasing manager to buy some new ones for you.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Qin Yunuan turned and ordered Maner and Ting Xue, ¡°Take the scriptures back.¡±

    Maner and Ting Xue bent their knees and took the order. Holding one pile of scriptures, they followed Qin Yunuan back to the courtyard.

    The light in Qin Yunuan¡¯s room was on until veryte that night. When Leng Changxi came back, Qin Yunuan was lying on the desk. Her thin body was covered with only one woolen nket. Except for one candlestick to be extinguished, her desk was full of scriptures and Chinese charactersid out one by one. Qin Yunuan was looking them up, trying topare the missing words in the scriptures. If she was right, the secret would be in these few words that seemed to be worm-eaten.

    It was as Qin Yunuan expected. The words she made out were relevant to the recent incidents that had happened in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.

    But she couldn¡¯t figure out the meaning of the missing characters in the newest scripture.

    The four characters were ¡°Zi¡±, ¡°Qiu¡±, ¡°Jing¡±, ¡°Huai¡±. Leng Changxi stared at the four letters for a long while and swapped the order. Suddenly his eyes turned to cold, he hurriedly called Leng Wu in the room and asked, ¡°Leng Wu, do you know who else in Qi was awarded a title with the character ¡®Jing¡¯, except for Infanta Zhaojing?¡±

    Leng Wu said after thinking for a while,¡± The former emperor had a Thirteenth Princess, and she was called Princess Chengjing. But she was lost in the rebellion and didn¡¯t return.¡±

    ¡°That would be it.¡± Leng Changxi blew out the candle and carried Qin Yunuan to the bed carefully. Then he turned around to Leng Wu, who stood outside the door, ¡°Go with me to the pce, now.¡± After he finished, Leng Changxi reluctantly turned again and kissed Qin Yunuan¡¯s forehead. He spoke with an apologetic tone, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Nuan, I always made you take risks before and let you face so many anxieties. At this time, sleep well. I¡¯ll be back early in the morning.¡±

    Qin Yunuan woke at noon the next day. She found that for the first time, she could sleep for so long. Maner was holding a copper basin and smiled at Qin Yunuan, who still seemed sleepy, ¡°The soothing fragrance Third Young Master ordered me to light was effective. Third Young Madam, you had a long sleep.¡±

    Soothing fragrance? Leng Changxi used soothing fragrance on her? Before Qin Yunuan could think about it, she wiped her face with the veil to make herself sober. Then she asked, ¡°Where is Third Young Master?¡±

    Maner wasbing Qin Yunuan¡¯s hair, ¡°He hurried into the pcest night and hasn¡¯t returned yet.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be back early in the morning.¡±

    For some reason, the words echoed Qin Yunuan¡¯s ears. In a daze, she remembered someone telling her these words.

    Too bad!

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart tightened its grip. She quickly got dressed and sat down in front of the desk. The letters after Leng Changxi¡¯s swappingst night were ¡°Jing¡±, ¡°Huai¡±, ¡°Qiu¡± and ¡°Zi¡±.

    ¡°Qiu¡± meant the Seventh Prince Sima Qiu. As for ¡°Jing¡±, it would most likely be Infanta Zhaojing. They were going to frame that Infanta Zhaojing had an affair with the Seventh Prince Sima Qiu.

    As soon as she figured everything out, Ting Xue came in and reported breathlessly, ¡°Third Young Madam, something went wrong in the pce. The Seventh Prince was held up for some reason. The emperor also flushed into a rage.¡±

    Sima Qiu was indeed framed. But Changxi...

    Qin Yunuan found out the few letters left in the holes of this scripture, selected the missing words, and put them together. When she saw these four words, her heart was as deste as the autumn wind swept away.

    The four words made out a sentence¨C¡°Wee join the scheme¡±.

 Chapter 191 Deep into the Tigerâ€™s Nest

    <h4>Chapter 191 Deep into the Tiger¡¯s Nest</h4>

    Qin Yunuan violently leaned backward and crouched in the chair. She was holding the note with the word ¡°wee¡± on it in her fingertips. The people who they ¡°wee¡± could refer to no one else but Leng Changxi.

    Seeing Qin Yunuan reacting like this, Maner figured it out more or less. Just then, there was a muffled banging from the door. It sounded like something heavy was hit against the door. Maner opened the door cautiously and found Leng Wu panting, leaning against the door frame. There were wounds on his arm and bloodstains on his sleeves.

    ¡°Man...Maner.¡± Leng Wu leaned against Maner. Maner held the injured Leng Wu in her arms and burst into tears, ¡°How did this happen? Why were you injured so badly?¡±

    Hearing that it was Leng Wu, Qin Yunuan immediately stood up and ran towards the door, ¡°Where¡¯s Changxi?¡±

    Leng Wu took a deep breath as he spurted blood. He frowned, bearing his pain and said, ¡°We were set up by the third prince. General¡¯s missing, but he told me to run away before he found out that something¡¯s wrong. He asked me to tell you that you must not enter the pce. You must not!¡±

    After he said that, he immediately passed out. Qin Yunuan knew clearly about Leng Changxi¡¯s capability and Leng Wu¡¯s martial art skills. She well understood how dangerous it was when these two couldn¡¯t ensure their own safety. As a woman, how could she dare to risk it?

    ¡°Maner,¡± Qin Yunuan frowned and said, ¡°Carry Leng Wu back and take good care of him.¡±

    ¡°What about you, third young madam?¡± Maner was holding the slightly heavy Leng Wu while looking at Qin Yunuan with a worried look. She knew the deep affection of Qin Yunuan towards the third young master. She was afraid that Qin Yunuan would enter the pce despite third young master¡¯s suggestion due to anxiety.

    Qin Yunuan was extremely uneasy. She had no intention to answer Maner¡¯s question, as she was unsure either. Finally, she only summoned Tingxue and said, ¡°Do my makeup for me.¡± Qin Yunuan took a deep breath, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the Hexiang Court to find the old madam. Then, we¡¯ll go into the pce together.¡±

    How could she leave Leng Changxi alone? She would risk her life for him.

    It was the first time Qin Yunuan found the four-horse carriage of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion driving so slow on t road. It was an urgent situation, so for the first time, the old madam allowed someone else to sit with her in her personal carriage. It was delicately decorated, and some incense which smells nice was burnt, but Qin Yunuan had no attention in those.

    Seeing Qin Yunuan¡¯s uneasiness, the old madam merely leaned against a pillow, narrowed her eyes and said, ¡°Why the rush? As soon as the pce was not in chaos, it means that Changxi¡¯s fine. You¡¯re underestimating him.¡±

    Qin Yunuan sighed in her heart. Looking at old madam who was looking calm, Qin Yunuan was more settled somehow. She just said, ¡°Third prince is vicious, and he acts fast. The seventh prince¡¯s power is weak, so he¡¯s the easiest one to deal with. I¡¯m afraid that third prince would turn against Imperial Concubine Yun and the first prince after the seventh prince is eliminated.¡±

    ¡°Huh,¡± The old madamughed in disdain, ¡°It¡¯s still a long way to go for him. As long as there are any loyal people in Qi, how far could Sima Ray go?¡±

    As they talked, the carriage had arrived at the Rosefinch Gate. The weather was gloomy today as if it was shaded in mist. The guards at the Rosefinch Gate were not the usual ones. It seemed that some big changes had happened to the pcest night.

    The old madam¡¯s servant girl, Yuanyang, took out the pass familiarly.

    ¡°We have to check the carriage.¡± The guards said skillfully.

    ¡°Check the carriage?¡± Yuanyang¡¯s attitude was firm. ¡°Don¡¯t you know about the old madam of Prince Ning¡¯s mansion? She¡¯s the first grade Gaoming Madam, biological sister of the queen mother, does she still need to be checked?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s protocol.¡±

    ¡°You sure can check it. However, our old madam is not feeling well today, and she can¡¯t be exposed to wind, not even a little bit. If your checking makes her catch a cold, your heads will all be chopped off.¡± Yuanyang was stalling time deliberately. By the same time, under Qin Yunuan¡¯s signal, a purple figure leaped across the pce wall and dived into the inner pce.

    The old madam imed to talk with the queen mother. They entered the pce and changed to a soft sedan. They naturally headed for the queen mother¡¯s pce. Qin Yunuan got off the sedan when there was no one around.

    ¡°Be careful. If anything happens to you, I might not be able to help you anymore.¡± It was the truth. She couldn¡¯t be everywhere. The power of Sima Ray in the pce is unpredictable now, and he¡¯s cunning like an old fox.

    Qin Yunuan nodded. She took out two pce girl outfits from Tingxue¡¯s package and got changed with Ting Xue in a corner. Maner needed to take care of Leng Wu, while Xi¡¯er and Nurse Liao had to protect Qin Baochuan. Tingxue was a good assistant, as she was really careful.

    Seeing the old madam¡¯s sedan leaving, Qin Yunuan took a deep breath and asked Tingxue, ¡°Are you afraid?¡±

    Tingxue shook her head, ¡°My life is yours, third young madam. I¡¯m not afraid.¡±

    Even though the seventh prince Sima Qiu was in prison, he was a prince after all, so he was just temporarily locked up in the Imperial n Court and waited to be judged. Sima Qiu¡¯s clothes were dirty, leaning against the bars covered in mold. The guards had been changing around the clock, all new faces. It seemed that Sima Ray was actually taking over control of Qi¡¯s pce.

    Suddenly, his ears moved. His perfect hearing enabled him to notice the approaching of two strangers. The sounded like women, and they sounded familiar.

    In front of the gate of the Imperial n Court, a seemingly more dominant pce girl was scolding a timid one nonstop, ¡°Why are you crying? You can¡¯t even be trusted with delivering food. You deserve to lose your earring. No more crying and shut up.¡±

    The guard by the door couldn¡¯t take it anymore, as he yelled, ¡°What are you doing here? Don¡¯t you know what this ce is, yet you¡¯re still yelling. Have you lived enough already?¡±

    The more dominant pce girl immediately smiled like a ve, ¡°Sure we want to live longer. Mr. soldier, we¡¯re just two little pce girls in the royal kitchen. How could wepare with you? It was just that this young pce girl had juste to the pce, and she knew nothing about the rules. She dropped one of her earrings when she delivered lunch. Then she cried and said she wanted to find it, given that her mother gave it to her before she entered the pce. I scolded her for a long time, yet she was still crying. So without any other way, I could only take her here to the Imperial n Court. Tell her that someone like us can¡¯t get in so that she would lose hope.¡±

    The little pce girl was weeping even louder, ¡°Mr. soldier, please just do us a favor and let me in.¡±

    ¡°You sent lunch here?¡± The leading guard frowned, ¡°Why haven¡¯t I seen you before?¡±

    The little pce girl was burying her head even lower. ¡°It was another shift at noon. Besides, your soldiers are up to bigger businesses than us.¡±

    In the pce, guards always have higher status than eunuchs and pce girls. The leading guard was more satisfied after the ttering.

    Moreover, the more dominant pce girl suddenly turned to a ttering smile, as she actively leaned against the leading guard. She was rubbing him with her breast, and her leg under the skirt was touching his groin. Seeing the beauty of the pce girl, and the seductive look of hers, the guard had the urge to sleep with her right there if he hadn¡¯t been surrounded by people.

    ¡°Please, Mr. soldier. I couldn¡¯t listen to the little pce girl¡¯s weeping anymore.¡±

    ¡°Fine, fine. She¡¯s quite filial. I¡¯ll give you fifteen minutes, be fast.¡± The leading guard couldn¡¯t resist the beauty after all.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± The two thanked the guard.

    ¡°Be careful, third young madam.¡± Tingxue, the dominant pce girl, whispered to Qin Yunuan. Qin Yunuan nodded, and carefully touched the so-called missing earing she hid in her sleeve and followed another guard into the Imperial n Court.

    When they reached a creepy staircase, the guard who led the way suddenly stopped and said, ¡°The prisoners were in there. Just look around the door, don¡¯t get in there.¡± He was not as easy as the guard outside.

    Qin Yunuan acted obediently, but she quickly threw her earring into the prison. Then, she pointed down the staircase and said, ¡°Oh, there it is. My earring is just there.¡± Then, she quickly ran down the staircase.

    It was easy for her to find where Sima Qiu was locked up. She remembered that Sima Qiu liked to use civet perfume. She quickly found Sima Qiu¡¯s cell following the faint scent of civet.

    ¡°Seventh prince.¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her voice and called.

    Sima Qiu knew that Qin Yunuan was here as soon as he heard the conversation of Tingxue and the leading guard. He didn¡¯t show much surprise, and eximed pitifully, ¡°Third young miss of Prince Ning¡¯s mansion. You¡¯re really capable.¡±

    ¡°I only have three questions for you.¡± Qin Yunuan had no time for small talks. ¡°First, is Princess Zhaojing working with third prince? Second, where¡¯s Changxi? And third, is the Emperor controlled by Sima Ray?¡±

    Sima Qiu suddenly smiled weirdly, ¡°My answers to your questions are I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t know, and I don¡¯t know.¡±

    Bang, Qin Yunuan punched against the bars angrily. She shouldn¡¯t havee to this useless and weak seventh prince in the first ce. Then, the footsteps of the guard wereing closer and closer. Sima Qiu suddenly held the bars and stood up, as he said mysteriously to Qin Yunuan, ¡°However, I could tell you what I¡¯ve heard. I heard Sima Ray said that he didn¡¯t n to get rid of Leng Changxi so soon. Everything he did was because of you.¡±

    Before Sima Qiu was done, the guard hade in angrily and yelled towards Qin Yunuan, ¡°Why did you run? What do you think this ce is? Do you think it¡¯s somewhere you can juste and go?¡±

    Qin Yunuan was about to bow and apologize when an iparably vicious voice sounded by the entrance of the prison, ¡°It really is a ce that she coulde and go, for who she is.¡±

 Chapter 192 The Abnormal Love

    <h4>Chapter 192 The Abnormal Love</h4>

    With the sound of the gloomy and cold voice, Sima Ray came closer to the dark entrance. His every step seemed to force Qin Yunuan to fall into hell, which was so frightening.

    Sima Ray seemed to have predicted Qin Yunuan woulde here. He stepped closer with a gloomy smile, and then looked at Qin Yunuan, ¡°You came as I expected.¡±

    Qin Yunuan straightened her body. Though she was in a weak circumstance, she shouted powerfully, ¡°I have guessed that you have known early that I woulde to the Imperial n Court.¡±

    Sima Ray suddenlyughed out, ¡°So you still came and fell into the trap?¡±

    ¡°Because this is the fastest way to meet you.¡± If Qin Yunuan had figured it out right, Ting Xue would have left and reported to Leng Shuang before Sima Ray came.

    Sima Ray showed more extravagantugh and sneered, ¡°You miss me so much.¡±

    Qin Yunuan asked straightly, ¡°Where is Changxi?¡±

    Sima Ray turned cold immediately, ¡°So you just want to see your mask-general? He died.¡± Sima Ray said in a light and casual voice.

    ¡°Impossible.¡± Qin Yunuan knew well the trick yed by Sima Ray, ¡°You are alive. Changxi can¡¯t die.¡±

    ¡°I hate that you two trust each other,¡± Sima Ray came very closer, and his nose almost touched the forehead of Qin Yunuan, ¡°I hate it. I hate it.¡±

    ¡°Third Prince,¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly sneered, ¡°don¡¯t you know that now you are so abnormal? Indeed.¡±

    Sima Ray suddenly shuddered and took a few steps back. He stared at Qin Yunuan with ridiculous eyes, and then suddenlyughed out. The little eunuch who had served Sima Ray for some days had never seen that his master turned to be so crazy and insolent.

    ¡°Bind her back. No, take her back politely.¡± Sima Ray told the man in ck aside who appeared somehow, ¡°Remember, take her back politely. Give her the best clothes and wine. I want her to be my prettiest canary.¡±

    Qin Yunuan did not fear. She just turned back to stare at Sima Qiu for a long time, who was imprisoned. She opened her mouth slightly and said something in a weeny voice. But she knew that Sima Qiu could understand what she meant by his listening.

    When they got out of the Imperial n Court, Qin Yunuan saw the leading watchman who let her in had been beaten heavily. His arms and legs had been dislocatedpletely. He must be a disabled man, even if he could survive.

    Sima Ray looked at the disabled man lying on the ground arrogantly, and then treaded him heavily, ¡°Such an upetitive man can¡¯t be my follower.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was taken into the special horse carriage of Sima Ray and sat opposite him. Those eunuchs and imperial maidservants who walked on the imperial path lowered their heads and stepped aside after they saw the carriage. There were master-hands of Sima Ray who were disguised as eunuchs on both sides of the carriage. Thus, Qin Yunuan had no chance to escape. She did not want to escape because she hade here and would not leave before she figured all things out.

    ¡°How about the Qiankun Pce?¡± The silent Qin Yunuan suddenly asked, ¡°you controlled the pce too?¡±

    The Qiankun Pce was the chamber of Emperor Zhaoxuan. Sima Ray could enter and leave the Imperial n Court casually without the intervening of the emperor, so he was likely to have controlled the Qiankun Pce.

    The rxed Sima Ray suddenly opened his eyes and stared at Qin Yunuan. He smiled, ¡°In your heart, am I so powerful? So, at least I have a good impression in your heart.¡±

    Qin Yunuan tilted her head and quickly answered, ¡°So you did not control the pce.¡±

    Sima Ray fondled his long fingers of the right hand with much interest. His five fingers like umbre stands were supporting the hand powerfully. And then he clenched his fist quickly, which symbolized the master all things, ¡°Soon.¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised her eyes and looked at him. Sima Ray turned to be prouder, ¡°My father feels not well now. He stays in his chamber to nourish and recover his body. So now all he knows is what I want him to know.¡±

    ¡°You put the emperor under your house arrest.¡± Qin Yunuan said with fierce eyes, ¡°You should be punished to death by dismembering your body.¡±

    The horse carriage stopped slowly at the gate of the Jingchen Pce. Sima Ray raised his head andughed, ¡°Yes. I should be punished to death by dismembering my body. I should be dead when my mother gave birth to me in the Cold Pce. Empress Chen dispatched people to throttle my mother after she gave birth to me. And then they threw the baby who had no breathing at that time in the grass outside the Cold Pce. But the rain helped me survive hard. Leng Changxi was nobody. Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion gave all he had. He had the best master to teach him martial arts and warcraft. I climbed to this position from an abandoned baby by regarding Empress Chen as my mother menially. Leng Changxi can¡¯tpare to me.¡±

    His gloomy words were like the cold winter wind, which made Qin Yunuan feel more frightened to the man in front of her. Sima Ray knew clearly that Empress Chen killed his mother and even nned to kill him. But he had pretended to be a pious son for ten years. All he did was to revenge one day. Now Sima Ray had turned to be an extremely mentally abnormal demon. Each thing he wanted to destroy would be destroyed by him immediately.

    ¡°There is love in the heart of Changxi,¡± Qin Yunuan said lightly, ¡°Though he is cold externally, he is warm in his heart. Though you believe that you have gained the glory, your heart seems to be hollowed out half by borers. It¡¯s empty now. You are so poor and pathetic.¡±

    Sima Ray stepped down the horse carriage calmly and turned back. He said to Qin Yunuan, ¡°I regard all your words just now as the praise to me.¡± And then he reached out his hands and was about to help Qin Yunuan step down.

    ¡°No.¡± Qin Yunuan pushed the slender right hands of Sima Ray away and stepped down steadily by clenching the handrail of the horse carriage.

    Sima Ray said nothing and just smile. He let Qin Yunuan walk in front of him politely. Qin Yunuan saw a little imperial maidservant standing in front of the pce after they entered the Jingchen Pce. The imperial maidservant walked closer when she saw Sima Ray.

    Qin Yunuan felt a little bit familiar with the little imperial maidservant. She probably had met the girl in Qin Family.

    ¡°Third Prince, youe back. Third Princess felt not well today. She felt pain in the whole morning, and just mumbled your name.¡±

    She was the maidservant who came to the imperial pce with Qin Yunzhuang. Sima Ray nced at Qin Yunuan aside and then said to the little imperial maidservant coldly, ¡°She felt not well. Why didn¡¯t she report to the imperial doctors? It is useless to report to me.¡± The little imperial maidservant felt embarrassed but then found Sima Ray turned back. She thought Sima Ray woulde to see her master, but he just said in a disgusting voice, ¡°And, do not let her call my name again. I dislike it. Even if I did not heart it, I would feel disgusted.¡±

    The little imperial maidservant quit. Sima Ray turned to look at Qin Yunuan immediately, ¡°That woman hurt you together with Dou Qing¡¯e in Qin Family. Do you feel happy when you see how I treat her?¡±

    Qin Yunuan gave Sima Ray an angry stare. She thought this guy was totally mentally abnormal.

    Those imperial maidservants surrounded Qin Yunuan and sent her to the east side pce. The decoration of the pce was far more luxurious than Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. Emperor Zhaoxuan would feel outrageous if he knew that hispetent and frugal assistant Sima Ray lived in such an extravagant life secretly.

    On the way, Qin Yunuan paid attention to the circumstance around. The smell of the air proved that Leng Changxi hade here. The scent was so light, but she knew that Leng Changxi was likely to have left the most dangerous ce already.

    Qin Yunzhuang was the Third Prince¡¯s Wife, who had a formal marriage, so she knew quickly that Qin Yunuan hade. When she heard that Sima Ray did note to see her because he wanted to stay with Qin Yunuan, Qin Yunzhuang rushed at the east side pce with some people. Qin Yunuan was leaning against the carving pane, and she could see clearly the ugly Qin Yunzhuang, who was very noisy outside.

    ¡°You are such a mean and lewd woman, get out! How dare you seduce my husband. Why do you hide inside? Are you scared? Get out!¡± And then she took off her expensive embroidered shoes with Mandarin duck pattern, and then threw them to the pain.

    The sound of the hit made Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows slightly and then turned back silently. She did not want to make contact with Qin Yunzhuang. Qin Yunzhuang was insane like Sima Ray.

    ¡°Qin Yunuan, how dare you hide inside?¡± Qin Yunzhuang still kept her pretty face but now was like a shrew standing at the entrance of ane. She was about to rush into the room with her single shoe, but a gloomy low voice behind astonished her.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    Sima Ray had stood behind Qin Yunzhuang silently somehow.

    Qin Yunzhuang felt stunned and turned back. She saw Sima Ray, and her ferocious face immediately turned soft. She came closer to Sima Ray with a smile, ¡°Third Prince, youe back? But why didn¡¯t you tell me that you took Third Sister back as a guest in the imperial pce?¡±

    ¡°Why should I tell you?¡± Sima Ray looked so impatient, ¡°Who are you? I had told you on your first day when you married into the Jingchen Pce that you should not think highly of yourself. You are just my nominal wife.¡±

    Suddenly Qin Yunzhuang cried. She ignored the warning from the little imperial maidservant aside and responded bravely, ¡°The other day, you let me contact with my cousin sister from Dou Family secretly and wanted her to help you gain the achievement. Why didn¡¯t you say that I was your nominal wife on that day? Sima Ray, my elder brother, died due to you. And now Qin Family tried its best to support you, and I let my cousin sister from Dou Family give you all the remaining killers in Dou Family to help you. Why do you still treat me like that?¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Sima Ray felt funny about the words of Qin Yunzhuang, ¡°You tell me. Is there any other choice for you apart from helping me?¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang suddenly understood. Yes, now her life was at the mercy of Sima Ray. She had no other choice.

    At this moment, Du Sheng whispered to Sima Ray. Sima Ray frowned and thought that the man shoulde. And then he left quickly.

 Chapter 193 Win-win Co-operation

    <h4>Chapter 193 Win-win Co-operation</h4>

    The Fushou Pce had an empty main hall. Outside the hall stood two rows of eunuchs and courtdies respectfully, waiting to be dispatched. In the hall, eight gilt pirs propped up the entire beam. The quietness made even a needle falling on the ground sounded harsh. Only asionally, the sound of chess ying was heard. As thest chess piece fell on the white jade chessboard, the ck pieces surrounded the white ones and checkmated.

    Queen Mother, who used the ck chess, leaned back. Her eyes were full of carefreeness even though she knew that the pce maids and eunuchs outside had been changed to Sima Ray¡¯s people to monitor her words and deeds.

    ¡°Sister, you have lost again.¡± Queen Mother took a sip of tea and looked at Old Madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, who was sitting cross-legged on the woolen cushion in front of her. ¡°On chess, you have never beaten me. Your heart is too big, too aggressive, which is why I lose to you every time I hunt. Ick the courage you have, and you are not as calm as me.¡±

    Old Madam also smiled, ¡°You must be calm enough to sit on the throne of Queen Mother. On the contrary, I was just an ordinary olddy who wants to watch my children and grandchildren running up and down the hall. For them, I can keep fighting.¡± Old Madam raised her eyebrows slightly and ced a white jade-made chess piece in a seemingly inconspicuous ce. It reversed the situation on the chessboard, and the white chess turned defeat into victory.

    Queen Mother frowned. She seemed a little surprised, and then said bitterly, ¡°You forgot, my favorite Princess Qinghe was no longer here, I have no children and grandchildren to guard.¡±

    ¡°What about Changxi? Even though he was the son of Jing Donghua, the libertine of West Xia, he was also born by Qinghe after ten months of pregnancy. The blood inside him is also of the Qi royal family.¡± Old Madam said as her fingers yed with a white and a ck chess piece by her hand, ¡°Evil can¡¯t ovee righteousness, after all. Sister, you have been calm and indifferent in this Fushou Pce for too long. Have you thought that sometimes, it is not time that had polished your fighting spirit, but you gave yourself up.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m getting old.¡± Queen Mother closed her eyes, and the courtdy next to her immediately put on a warm fox fur cloak for her.

    Old Madam looked down and sighed, ¡°The country wasn¡¯t that old, and I dare not rest. Sister, how about you?¡±

    Outside the Qiankun Pce, Sima Han, who had already lived outside the pce and was named Prince Fu, suddenly took his concubine Qin Yuzhao into the pce to visit Emperor Zhaoxuan. The unfamiliar eunuchs along the way made Sima Han even more certain of the message that the mysterious man gave him. Sima Ray had secretly betrayed the Royal Pce.

    Sima Han didn¡¯t want Qin Yuzhao toe along, but she insisted.

    ¡°The husband and wife are birds of the same forest. When a disaster is approaching, I can¡¯t escape alone. I can only feel at ease where I can see you.¡±

    Sima Han stood outside the hall, apparently in the stalemate with the imperial physician. He looked like a child with a temper and said impatiently to the imperial physician guarding outside, ¡°I don¡¯t care, my father is sick, and I¡¯m worried. I have to go in and see.¡±

    ¡°My lord, your majesty has already fallen asleep. Your noise will only disturb his rest.¡± The head of the Imperial Hospital was the top doctor Zhao. He was also a long-time helper of Sima Ray in the hospital.

    Qin Yuzhao followed, ¡°Imperial doctor, our master came eagerly as soon as he heard that the emperor was unwell. You must let us do our filial piety.¡±

    ¡°I will convey your filial piety, Fourth brother.¡± A sharp male voice broke the deadlock, and Sima Ray walked leisurely from the side of the pce with a smile. He looked like an older brother cherishing his younger brother.

    ¡°Third Brother.¡± Sima Han looked innocent, greeting Sima Ray as soon as he saw him. Then he pointed to the imperial doctor Zhao and said to Sima Ray, ¡°Brother, this servant prevented me from going in to see the father. Scold him.¡±

    Sima Ray nced at the imperial doctor Zhao, who was obsequious and put on a kind face to persuade Sima Han, ¡°Han, imperial doctor Zhao is right. Going in now will only disturb our father¡¯s rest. Be careful of your ass when heins.¡±

    ¡°I want to go in.¡± Sima Han appeared to be angry, beckoning to call a minor servant next to him, ¡°You, open the way. Let¡¯s break in.¡±

    ¡°Take Fourth Prince down.¡± Sima Ray suddenly turned hostile. Anyway, he had reached this point, and he doesn¡¯t care about doing more.

    ¡°Who dares.¡± There was an angry shout in the air. The woman¡¯s voice was energetic and petrifying, making everyone present stunned. The person who came was Queen Mother, who had been enjoying peace in the Fushou Pce. She dressed in a gorgeous style that looked magnificent and dazzling in the winter sun. Sitting on a sedan chair carried by sixteen people, she watched everything that happened in front of the Qiankun Pce from above.

    Sima Ray realized after quite a while that the reason why he was so arrogant and bold was that he knew that Queen Mother had already left the field. But now she walked out of the Fushou Pce in such an arrogant manner, and none of his informants ced in the Fushou Pce came to tell him in advance.

    ¡°Queen Mother.¡± Sima Ray kneeled to greet her. The servants and imperial doctor Zhao also followed and kowtowed.

    Queen Mother nced at Sima Ray, speaking suddenly, ¡°Who stopped Han from going inside?¡±

    The two eunuchs who had just stopped Sima Han looked at each other, puzzled. Then they started to shiver, giving kowtows to Queen Mother.

    Queen Mother didn¡¯t seem to see it. She turned her head and said to the olddy of the Ning Pce, ¡°Sister, I have heard that there is a maid named Yuanyang with excellent skills next to you. Can I borrow her for a while?¡±

    Old Madam remained silent to show acquiescence.

    ¡°Yuanyang, take off the arms of those two servants who just touched Fourth Prince.¡±

    ¡°I beg for your mercy, Queen Mother. Please don¡¯t.¡±

    Queen Mother didn¡¯t show any sign of mercy, ¡°A servant should always be a servant. How could theypare with their masters? I just want to tell you, as people, you still have to know your own ability and identity, and don¡¯t do things you are not sure of.¡± After all, Queen Mother looked at Sima Ray. From her eyes, he felt absolute hostility. The appearance of Queen Mother was one situation he missed.

    He thought he had arranged everything sessfully long ago. First, he coaxed Qin Yunzhuang and got the support of the Qin family and the remaining power of the Dou family. Then he cooperated with Princess Ning. Althoughter it failed, he also decisively solved the underlying problem of Princess Ning. And Princess Zhaojing was used to get rid of Leng Suxin, the princess who suddenly popped out waiting to be married to West Xia.

    There was a characteristic of Sima Ray¡¯s work. He would have dealt with those who were used as soon as possible. So when he coaxed Princess Zhaojing to agree to cooperate with him in such a court scandal and sent Sima Qiu into the Imperial n Court, he immediately sent someone to spill the strongest cold poison over the hairpin of Princess Zhaojing. He guessed that Princess Zhaojing wouldn¡¯t have survived tonight. When people find her body the next day, they would only think Princess Zhaojing couldn¡¯t bear the humiliation and hanged herself.

    Queen Mother got down from the sedan and tried to walk inside the hall. Suddenly, Sima Ray fell on his knees, ¡°Queen Mother, my father was ill. If you rush in, I¡¯m afraid you would be infected.¡±

    ¡°He is my son. I will never be afraid of some illnesses. Stand by.¡± Queen Mother was very resolute, ¡°Do you want to have both arms removed like those two eunuchs?¡±

    Sima Han suddenly had the confidence, shouted to the young man just now, ¡°Lead the way ahead, Duofu.¡±

    Seeing such arge group of men and horses entering the inner hall like this, Sima Ray stood with his hands on his back and frowned at the end of the group. The imperial doctor Zhao on the side hurriedly stepped forward and said in a low voice, ¡°Please rest assured, Third Prince. We have been giving enchanting powder to the emperor forty-nine days. Now he is sleepy. Even if he wakes up, as long as the rosemary on my body continues to emit a fragrance, the emperor will do what we say.¡±

    Sima Ray frowned again, but his worries are half relieved, ¡°It would be the best. Remember, we are on the same boat.¡±

    The imperial doctor Zhao said faithfully, ¡°I only listen to your orders.¡±

    Inside the hall, there was the red sandalwood incense and swaying curtains. Queen Mother walked at the forefront. She stopped in front of the dragon couch where the emperor rested, turned around, and ordered the surrounding courtdies and eunuchs, ¡°You all go away.¡±

    The leading eunuch seemed to be confused, ¡°The emperor ordered that servants shouldn¡¯t leave the emperor alone, I...¡±

    ¡°Are you indicating that I couldn¡¯t serve the emperor well?¡± Queen Mother knitted her brows with irresistible majesty. Everyone underneath took a deep breath and pushed each other out one by one. When they encountered Sima Ray, who was standing outside the hall, they all had embarrassed expressions. The eunuch exined hurriedly, ¡°It¡¯s Queen Mother...¡±

    ¡°I know. Go away.¡±

    As they spoke, Old Madam¡¯s servant-maid Yuanyang came and mmed the door, shutting Sima Ray out intentionally. Outside the red sandalwood door, Sima Ray smiled coldly. If he was caught so easily, how could he have the confidence to set up such a big game?

    Queen Mother hurriedly raised Emperor Zhaoxuan in front of the dragon couch, calling out his name. Emperor Zhaoxuan seemed to have died in his sleep and didn¡¯t respond.

    ¡°How could this happen?¡± Queen Mother brought Old Madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion over.

    Old Madam frowned as she looked at him, worried, ¡°He was likely drugged.¡±

    Holding Emperor Zhaoxuan, Queen Mother¡¯s hand trembled. Things like witchery and enchanting powder had been banned in Qi for a long time, but now...

    ¡°Perhaps, I could give it a try.¡± Duofu, who had been with Sima Han, suddenly stepped forward. He looked nothing more than an ordinary young man. Why did he stand out at this moment? Did he hide his real ability?

    ¡°Sister, what do you think?¡±

    Queen Mother was very cautious, ¡°why should I believe you?¡±

    An inexplicable smile appeared on Duofu¡¯s face. He grabbed the edge of his chin with his hand and suddenly pulled hard. A mask that had been covering his face fell from his face.

    Old Madam was the first to realize.

    ¡°Changxi? Is it you?¡± Old Madam whispered, covering her mouth.

 Chapter 194 The Tunnel Monster

    <h4>Chapter 194 The Tunnel Monster</h4>

    Although dressed like a servant, Leng Changxi still showed a kind of majesty that specially belonged to a royal descendant because of his handsome face, persistency and dignity.

    ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m sorry for making you worry about me.¡± Leng Changxi stepped forward and cupped his hands towards Old Madam. Then, he turned to Queen Mother, who stared at him all the time, and said, ¡°Your Highness, thank you for your care.¡±

    It was reflected from her eyes that Queen Mother was moved. Leng Changxi nominally was Prince Ning¡¯s exalted son, but actually, he was her grandson, which was to say, he was her most beloved daughter¡¯s child.

    Queen Mother nodded and showed no expression. However, she was really emotional inside and couldn¡¯t calm down.

    Leng Changxi turned back and took a look at Sima Han who didn¡¯t look as dull as he was in the pce just now but smart and firm.

    ¡°I knew it was you who sent the message.¡± Sima Han nodded and said.

    Standing near the bed to check Emperor Zhaoxuan up, Leng Changxi frowned and said, ¡°Last night, I took my 18 shadow guards to the pce. But we werete to stop everything from happening. When we arrived, Your Majesty got angry in the Qiankun Pce, ordering to imprison Prince Qiu in the Imperial Court. Princess Jing forced Infanta Zhaojing toe back to their mansion. Then Your Majesty felt heart pain, went faint and fell to the ground. When I noticed dangers and tended to take shadow guards to leave, we were already trapped. But we had prepared for this in advance. Thus, all my guards have escaped sessfully, although they are not together now. Of them, Leng Wu is most seriously injured while some have minor injuries.¡±

    ¡°Why would you take risks toe here?¡± Old Madam couldn¡¯t help worrying about that Leng Changxi would be caught.

    Leng Changxi pulled on Emperor Zhaoxuan¡¯s eyelids and found from his eyes that he had no vital signs. Under such circumstances, he was either dead or temporarily losing the sensory perception, a result of taking a high dose of ecstasy powder.

    ¡°It is because I knew Yunuan woulde to find me out of worry.¡± After he finished, Old Madam sighed. He was right. Qin Yunuan indeed went here too, but she was missing. ¡°You two,¡± Old Madam shook her head and continued, ¡°You both are worrying.¡±

    Leng Changxi felt Emperor Zhaoxuan¡¯s pulse and concluded, ¡°Your Majesty is fine, but he has been controlled by some unknown drugs.¡±

    ¡°You mean?¡± Sima Han stepped forward and asked.

    Leng Changxi squinted and looked serious, ¡°It is a kind of mind-control ecstasy drugs from the Western Regions. It is made of five kinds of poisonous insects. People can use some special instructions, an action, an instrument or some scent for example, to control the drug taker. So when Your Majesty wakes up, it¡¯s highly possible that he is already under someone¡¯s control. We can¡¯t believe what he says.¡±

    ¡°It must be Sima Ray doing this.¡± Sima Han said immediately. ¡°We should carefully check what strange objects he hastter.¡±

    ¡°He disdains to do this by himself.¡± Leng Changxi knew Sima Ray very well. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember Doctor Zhao, Sima Ray¡¯s loyal henchman? I assume that it is Doctor Zhao who takes the object which can issue instructions.¡±

    ¡°But I wonder how Sima Ray managed to put the drug in father¡¯s meals that several eunuchs had tasted for safety and that many guards were protecting.¡± Sima Han was confused. ¡°Does he have some secret trump cards?¡±

    Leng Changxi shook his head. Although it was unclear how Sima Ray did this, one thing for sure was that he was a human, and every human had weak points.

    Right at this time, eunuchs outsides reported that Doctor Zhao was going to serve the emperor with the new medicine.

    People inside looked at each other. Then Leng Changxi put on the mask made of human skin. After walking in, Doctor Zhao saw Queen Mother, who sat near the bed, looked miserable and worried, which was right what Sima Ray expected.

    ¡°Doctor, the emperor is...¡±

    Doctor Zhao bowed and said, ¡°Your Highness, don¡¯t worry. Your Majesty is just taking a nap and he will wake up soon after I insert the needles.¡±

    As usual, Doctor Zhao took out a bunch of medical silver needles from his case and inserted them to the emperor¡¯s Baihui acupoint. His sleeve was sweeping over the emperor¡¯s nose. Soon, the emperor woke up but seemed to be in a daze as if he was still dreaming.

    ¡°Your Majesty, you are awake.¡±

    ¡°You all leave here. I¡¯m tired.¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan looked dull, and the first thing he did was to ask people around him to leave. They wouldn¡¯t be willing to do so if they didn¡¯t hear what Leng Changxi said. But now, they all understood that Doctor Zhao had controlled Emperor Zhaoxuan. All people in this pce had worked for Sima Ray now so they could do nothing.

    Emperor Zhaoxuan repeated to ask people to leave in a dull way. Queen Mother shook her head and seemed helpless. ¡°Fine. Send me back.¡±

    Duofu, who Leng Changxi disguised as, followed the crowd and got out of the Qiankun Pce.

    ¡°You. Wait.¡± Sima Ray stood near the pce gate. At the very beginning, he thought this servant was unusual. After all, Leng Changxi¡¯s every move and temperament were so distinct even if he changed his appearance and voice.

    ¡°Are you the servant working in Prince Fu¡¯s mansion?¡± Sima Ray asked loudly.

    When Leng Changxi, who lowered his head, was going to answer, Du Sheng walked in hurriedly and whispered to Sima Ray. Exerting his inner energy, Leng Changxi barely heard a few words like ¡°tunnel¡± and ¡°runaway¡±. Hearing what Du Sheng said, Sima Ray had no mood to interrogate Leng Changxi and just murmured, ¡°Damn. Qin Yunzhuang.¡± Then he directly headed to the Jingchen Pce.

    In the Jingchen Pce, Qin Yunzhuang looked at the empty East Side hall in a trance. She kept asking inside, ¡°Where is Qin Yunuan?¡±

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Sima Ray shouted in a cold way. Qin Yunzhuang was terrified, and she directly dropped the pastries she held.

    ¡°I...¡± Qin Yunzhuang had nothing to say and stammered, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that Yunuan will get hungry after staying here for a long time, so I bring her some pastries.¡±

    ¡°Bring her pastries?¡± Sima Ray angrily stamped on those delicate osmanthus pastries. ¡°You actually want to add something to the pastries, right? I know it is you that ask servants to break this door. Qin Yunzhuang, I know what you want to do. This is thest time I warn you. If you dare to hurt her, I will kill you.¡±

    While saying this, Sima Ray chocked Qin Yunzhuang and pressed her against the padauk-made carved door. The delicate makeup on her face was already massed up. Sima Ray was so indifferent and didn¡¯t stop chocking her. Moreover, she couldn¡¯t believe that she was the loser at the very beginning, namely before she married to him. She didn¡¯t expect that she would fail to earn Sima Ray¡¯s favor even after she helped him so much to trick people and usurp power. He still loved that bitch.

    ¡°Get out.¡± Sima Ray heavily kicked Qin Yunzhuang and ordered Du Sheng to take her back to the bedroom. Then, he rushed to the tunnel entrance which was on the wall.

    Only a few knew this entrance, and most of them already died. Last time, Sima Ray took Qin Yunzhuang to walk through this tunnel to the lotus pond, letting her see how Qin Linfeng was drowned in person. But at that time, he didn¡¯t take her directly to the destination. Instead, he covered her eyes and took a detour. He knew that Qin Yunzhuang wouldn¡¯t be that smart to figure out where the existence of the tunnel was.

    The switch used to open the tunnel was ced on a painting on which a garden in Spring was drawn. Sima Ray twisted the switch which was on the branch of a kapok tree. When the heavy gstone tunnel door opened, he took a deep breath. He started to secretly build this tunnel after he was adopted by Empress Chen and lived in the Jingchen Pce. It was finished three years ago, and in all, he spent ten years on this project.

    This tunnel was connected to many ces, including the emperor¡¯s Qiankun Pce, Empress Chen¡¯s pce and a path through which people could directly go out of the pce. Qin Yunuan must have escaped through this tunnel. It was fine if she just ran away from here. If she found out the biggest secret here, it would...While thinking of this, Sima Ray walked faster.

    The passage in the tunnel grew narrower and narrower until it reached a giant dug hole from which a cold breeze came. This three-meter-high hole was spacious, but people still could smell some copper-made objects and the stink of rotten wounds. From time to time, a kind of deep and lowering roar could be heard. It sounded as if a trapped monster was growling.

    Sima Ray walked in slowly. There was a dirty beast tied up with four arm-thick iron chains, of which a round lock was on the end. In the middle of the lock was the sharp and thin iron spike. Spikes had stabbed into the beast¡¯smbs, and in this way, it was locked up.

    As the beast struggled, its blood would fly along the iron chain, feeding bloodsuckers on the wet wall of the one-meter-deep hole under this ¡°cage¡±. These bloodsuckers were already full enough.

    Covering his mouth and nose, Sima Ray took a look at the hole. When he made sure everything was fine and was ready to leave, a cold female voice suddenly came to him. ¡°Good trick. If I didn¡¯t see this in person, I would never believe that the General Meng, who was training soldiers in the suburbs, was a fake. The real general should be here.¡±

    Sima Ray turned back abruptly and found that Qin Yunuan had followed him all the time. He squinted and knew he was tricked. This woman really got something. Before he opened the tunnel, she might merely know there was a tunnel but didn¡¯t know where it was, let alone the terrifying cage in it.

    Qin Yunuan knew Sima Ray was skeptical, so the first thing he would do aftering into the tunnel was to make sure everything was fine. However, he didn¡¯t notice that Qin Yunuan followed him and saw everything.

    Sima Ray put on a murderous look. ¡°Even though I love you, I won¡¯t easily set you free now that you have seen everything here.¡±

 Chapter 195 A Surprising Reversal

    <h4>Chapter 195 A Surprising Reversal</h4>

    Sima Ray¡¯s tone was scary. There were screams from Meng Hua, General Meng, who was tortured into the non-human form with his hamstrings cut off. Qin Yunuan walked near and smiled suddenly. She said to Sima Ray, ¡°Do you think that I follow you toe in without any preparation to get out?¡±

    To her surprise, Sima Ray grinned, ¡°Qin Yunuan, you¡¯re so arrogant and confident. That¡¯s why I like you so much.¡±

    ¡°Is it?¡± Qin Yunuan walked towards him slowly. There was a kind of enchantment in her eyes like a charming spell, which had never appeared before. Even the man with the strongest will would be lost in it for a moment. ¡°Do you like it, then?¡±

    While speaking, Qin Yunuan poured quicklime that had been hidden in her hands upon Sima Ray¡¯s eyes and drew back quickly.

    ¡°Leng Shuang.¡± With Qin Yunuan¡¯s order, a purple figure popped up like a ghost. She waved her soft sword like a silver snake. Apart from the darkness in the tunnel, Sima Ray couldn¡¯t open his eyes because of the prick brought by the quicklime on it. Before he could do anything, Leng Shuang¡¯s soft sword was already on his neck.

    The cold feeling made Sima Ray tremble, but he would never flog a dead horse.

    Sima Ray¡¯s eyes were already red and swollen. The smell of the quicklime, along with Qin Yunuan¡¯s light fragrance, titited Sima Ray again and again. Both could drive him to his death.

    ¡°Oh, just a trick,¡± Sima Ray said disdainfully, ¡°There are people of mine everywhere in the Jingchen Pce. I¡¯ve already controlled most of the whole Royal Pce. Even though you kill me, you won¡¯t be able to walk out of here.¡±

    ¡°Prince Ray, you really belittle my servant girl,¡± Qin Yunuan shook her head, ¡°Leng Shuang won¡¯t kill everyone. Someone like you will only contaminate her sword.¡±

    Sima Ray sneered, but his feet were moving backward slowly. His hand in his back touched a small bulge urately on the wall of the tunnel. He turned his fingers and was about to press it.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, he is sending out signals for help,¡± Leng Shuang saw through Sima Ray¡¯s trick with just a nce. She pricked him with her swords. The sharp pain made Sima Ray withdraw his hands subconsciously. There was red blood on his fingertips. However, he had already pressed the special button promptly. At the same time, a string of bells outside East Side Hall would ring so that people outside would know that he had an ident inside. Troops would arrive within the time for an incense to burn out.

    ¡°Let him be,¡± Qin Yunuan lookedpletely unworried, ¡°Just let him press! I¡¯ll wait together with him to see who wille to save him in the end.¡±

    Her calmness sent a chill to Sima Ray. Before long, there were heavy footsteps outside the tunnel. Sima Ray chuckled with obviouscent until the footsteps were nearer and nearer. He frowned. The footsteps were not familiar. They didn¡¯t belong to his people.

    A gust of strange wind came towards him. Sima Ray seemed to feel a cold, eerie smell, the smell of death.

    ¡°Prince Ray, we haven¡¯t seen each other for ages.¡±

    The voice...

    ¡°Leng Changxi! It¡¯s you!¡± Sima Ray wouldn¡¯t believe it. Last night, he had alreadyid out a thorough n to draw away Leng Changxi¡¯s eighteen shadow guards one by one. Although he hadn¡¯t caught them yet, their whereabouts were entirely in his control. As for Leng Changxi, while he didn¡¯t seize him, he had sent his best master-hands to tail after him. Now he hadn¡¯t received any message from them yet. It would never ur to him that Leng Changxi was still in the Royal Pce.

    The quicklime made Sima Ray unable to open his eyes, but he could feel cold winding towards him. It was Leng Changxi.

    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s me,¡± Leng Changxi watched with interest.

    Sima Ray had a moment of enlightenment, ¡°Are you the servant following Sima Han?¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled, ¡°There¡¯s more than that. You should have seen me for more than one time fromst night to today. From the guard outside your pce to the internal attendants who passed you on the way and even some of the people closest to you are probably me,¡± waving the mask made of human skin in his hand, Leng Changxi showed a smile of confidence.

    After all, Leng Changxi was good at making and using the mask made of human skin. It was reasonable. What was surprising was that the one who helped Leng Suxin to hide her appearance with the mask made of human skin was Leng Changxi himself. At that time, he was merely ten years old, but he could already make such a delicate mask.

    ¡°Nuan, are you alright?¡± Leng Changxi bypassed Leng Shuang, who was protecting Qin Yunuan, and held Qin Yunuan in his arms to kiss her on the forehead. His kiss was like a pill to relieve her. At that moment, all the worries and perturbation in her heart disappeared.

    In Leng Changxi¡¯s arms, Qin Yunuan nodded like a little cat, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±

    Before long, there was a messageing from outside, saying that Sun Miaoyang had already entered the Qiankun Pce to cure the emperor. Despite the unconsciousness as a long effect of the hallucinogenic drug, the emperor was not influenced in other aspects. What¡¯s more, Imperial Doctor Zhao, who had been poisoning in private, confessed everything when caught by the Leng Army, including how he and Prince Ray poisoned the Grand Prince¡¯s Wife and then scapegoated Empress Chen.

    ¡°Sima Ray, all your crimes are clear now,¡± Shang Xianhua, or General Shang, shouted. Two soldiers behind him came forward immediately and chained up Sima Ray tightly.

    Another group of people crossed the blood pool to save Meng Hua, who was tortured into a non-human form. However, his hands and feet were hurt so heavily that he wouldn¡¯t be able to use swords even after recovery.

    ¡°General, how should we deal with the fake General Meng in the suburbs of the Royal City?¡±

    Leng Changxi squinted, ¡°Of course, detain him and wait for the emperor¡¯s decision.¡±

    When it came to helpers, Liu Bao following Sima Ray, Imperial Doctor Zhao, forces of the Qin Family, and assassins of the Dou Family were all exposed. When it came to military strength, those people that he had gone to great lengths to put in the powerful Meng Army were killed. Even the secret tunnel that had taken him seven years to build was known to the public now.

    Nobody in Sima Ray¡¯s position could ept the fact.

    In the Qiankun Pce, after using the medicinal materials with special fragrance brought by Doctor Sun, Emperor Zhaoxuan was close to full recovery. Gradually, he could walk and talk to people.

    ¡°Queen Mother has arrived.¡±

    Before the eunuch finished his words, Queen Mother sprinted into the pce, ¡°Emperor, how is your health?¡±

    Touching the temple, which was still aching, Emperor Zhaoxuan shook his head, ¡°I feel as if I had a long dream. I¡¯m in a muddle. However, since Doctor Sun said that there was no more problem, I believe I¡¯ll soon recover. Mother, you needn¡¯t worry about me.¡±

    Queen Mother pped her sleeves seriously, ¡°How dare he! Sima Ray is so arrogant that he used hallucinogenic drugs to you.¡±

    Knowing the situation outside, Emperor Zhaoxuan felt angry at the time and patted on the mahogany stand beside his bed, ¡°What an ungrateful son! I wouldn¡¯t have indulged him so much to let him have so much power but for the recent death of the empress, the only person who can take care of him. How foolish I am!¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to me yourself,¡± Queen Motherforted Emperor Zhaoxuan, ¡°However, this time Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan have made a great contribution on pacify the rebels. Emperor, what do you think?¡±

    Of course, Emperor Zhaoxuan knew Leng Changxi¡¯s contribution. In his deep heart, he always took this son of his deceased sister as his own child. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t secretly invite the best teachers to teach Leng Changxi since his childhood or give him 20% of the military force of Qi when he was only 18.

    ¡°I will certainly reward them for that,¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan nodded to agree, ¡°However, now I¡¯m thinking how to deal with the rebellious son.¡±

    The rebellion of a prince must be supported by some officials. If the emperor handled the issue on arge scale, he would only alert his enemy. Emperor Zhaoxuan wanted to seize the chance that Sima Ray was arrested now and toe up with a perfect n to sweep out Prince Ray¡¯s forces before he got any chance tomunicate with his helper outside the pce.

    Queen Mother thought for a while, ¡°You may follow the example of your ancestors. Firstly, you send Prince Ray to Imperial Mausoleum to pray from ancestors in the excuse of the frequent disasters this year. Since there is a long way between Imperial Mausoleum and the Royal City, Prince Ray will certainly lose contact with his people in the Royal City as long as he is under watchful eyes. You may grab the chance to cast an escape-proof. After you clear his forces in the Royal City, you can kill him secretly in the Imperial Mausoleum, iming that he died of disease.¡±

    ¡°Good. I will do as you say,¡± At that moment, Emperor Zhaoxuan felt no kinship with Sima Ray. In his mind, Sima Ray was no more than a traitor. Killing him was easy.

    At the same time, Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi just came out of the tunnel. They didn¡¯t know that Queen Mother and Emperor Zhaoxuan had already decided on the death of Sima Ray easily in the Qiankun Pce.

    ¡°Take him down,¡± Leng Changxi asked Leng Wu to take Sima Ray away.

    Walking to the entrance of the Jingchen Pce, Sima Ray captured a familiar figure through his eyes that could barely see people. His eyes became bright immediately. He stared at the woman who had been obedient to him just now unbelievably.

    ¡°Qin Yunzhuang, it¡¯s you! You, foolish woman! Did you lead them there?¡± gritting one¡¯s teeth, Sima Ray said to Qin Yunzhuang, who looked scared, ¡°You, eating outside thing! Someday I will rip out your skin.¡± Sima Ray wanted to give a more trash talk, but Leng Wu wouldn¡¯t give him the chance. He sprayed some water from his kettle on a piece of worn-out clothes. Then he put it in Sima Ray¡¯s mouth so that he could say nothing.

    Standing on the eighteenth floor, Qin Yunuan watched that Sima Ray was sent away. She then looked at Qin Yunzhuang, who was ncing at her carefully. Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t speak until Qin Yunzhuang went near her. She smiled, ¡°Sister, hope that you are well.¡±

 Chapter 196 Problem Unsolved

    <h4>Chapter 196 Problem Unsolved</h4>

    Even though Qin Yunuan was the one who took the initiative to call Qin Yunzhuang, Qin Yunzhuang dared not to approach her. To Qin Yunzhuang, Qin Yunuan was no longer the concubine¡¯s daughter in the Grand Commandant¡¯s Mansion. She knew clearly that Qin Yunuan¡¯s capability was far stronger than herself.

    Qin Yunzhuang looked at Qin Yunuan timidly. She didn¡¯t say a word but merely stared at her.

    ¡°If elder sister has nothing else to say, I¡¯m leaving now.¡±

    ¡°Wait, third sister.¡± Qin Yunzhuang finally boosted her courage and stopped Qin Yunuan. By that time, Leng Changxi had left cleverly, leaving the two sisters with aplicated rtionship on the grand stairs.

    Qin Yunuan smiled, looking at Qin Yunzhuang, who wanted to talk but didn¡¯t.

    ¡°Third sister,¡± Qin Yunzhuang said timidly, ¡°I helped you this time, but father...¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Qin Yunuan sneered, ¡°I¡¯ve told you from the very beginning that father is on the same side with the third prince. As you dared to do it, you have to be prepared for him to abandon you.¡±

    ¡°But Sima Ray killed brother.¡± Qin Yunzhuang said in a panic, ¡°No, no. He didn¡¯t personally kill brother, but brother died because of him. What have I done wrong to seek revenge for him? Father, he loves me so much, as well as a brother. He won¡¯t do that.¡±

    ¡°Qin Yunzhuang, face it.¡± Qin Yunuan held Qin Yunzhuang¡¯s chin with her fingertips so that she had to look at her in the eyes. ¡°If father really treasures his children¡¯s lives, why would he agree to cooperate with third prince and have Qin Linfeng faking his death in the first ce? Why didn¡¯t he part with Sima Ray after Qin Linfeng died? Also, why would he send you into the pce like a tool? The reason is that he is very clear deep down that his glory and his future is more important than you are. Or another possibility is, just because he lost his son, and a woman that could help him. He has lost too much to turn back. I believe that it¡¯s also why Sima Ray won¡¯t let him go.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang suddenly appeared that she understood everything, ¡°Then what about tomorrow? Sima Ray is captured, then what about the Qin family?¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked at Qin Yunzhuang with the corner of her eyes and said, ¡°What do you think? Qin Zhi had his own way to get away with it, don¡¯t worry.¡±

    ¡°Naturally, you¡¯re not worried,¡± Qin Yunzhuang suddenly held on to Qin Yunuan¡¯s sleeves tightly and said, ¡°You and your brother are now all living in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. The Prince Ning¡¯s mansion had contributed a lot in settling the riot, and naturally, it would be rewarded generously. However, how could you abandon all these people in the Qin family?¡±

    ¡°I abandon them?¡± Qin Yunuan found it amusing, ¡°Elder sister, it was father who abandoned Baochuan and me in the back courtyard. It was you, the so-called family, who let us live on our own. It was your dearest mother, who always med us for everything. Yet, now you¡¯re ming me for all that might happen to the Qin family.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang immediately realized that she had spoken inappropriately. She could no longer yell at Qin Yunuan like the past. They were now different in status and even more different in capability. She had to admit it.

    ¡°Infanta Ping, I didn¡¯t want to...¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to say anything else.¡± Qin Yunuan turned around and summoned Leng Shuang, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Leng Shuang.¡±

    Qin Yunzhuang knew well about the martial art skills of the servant girl in purple clothes, so she dared not do anything inappropriate. She could only stand there and watch Qin Yunuan¡¯s figure walking away, until she met Leng Changxi, who was waiting outside the hall. The two held hands, looked at each other, and left.

    On the carriage, Leng Changxi didn¡¯t want to let go of the little hedgehog in his arms. He put his chin with a short beard on Qin Yunuan¡¯s forehead, and he lowered his head to kiss Qin Yunuan¡¯s earlobe, eyshes and nose tip from time to time.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Qin Yunuan straightened up shyly and asked softly, ¡°Now you could tell me, what actually happenedst night?¡±

    Leng Changxi only hugged Qin Yunuan tighter and told her about everything that happenedst night simply. He deliberately missed out the more dangerous part, and he rubbed against Qin Yunuan¡¯s neck when he was done. ¡°As for you, it was too risky. If I didn¡¯t know that you left a message at the seventh prince in the Imperial n Court, and you used scent to deliver your message and let me know about the secret pathway, you know how dangerous it is to stay with Sima Ray alone.¡±

    Qin Yunuan snuggled into Leng Changxi¡¯s arms, ¡°I only cared about your safety, and I didn¡¯t think about it that much.¡±

    The carriage was on the pce road when a brisk call came from behind.

    ¡°General Leng, please stop.¡±

    They thought it was some messenger from the Leng army, but it was the Grand prince, Sima Ruo.

    ¡°General Leng.¡± Sima Ruo was walking fast. Even though the carriage of Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi didn¡¯t go really fast, it made Sima Ruo sweat catching up with them, in such a cold winter day.

    Seeing Sima Ruo in such a rush, Leng Changxi narrowed his eyes and got off the carriage directly.

    ¡°Grand prince?¡±

    ¡°General Leng, I¡¯m here to ask for Infanta Ping¡¯s help.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stuck her head out. Sima Ruo looked around and lowered his voice as he spoke to Qin Yunuan, ¡°The fetus in Saichun¡¯s womb...¡±

    The grand princess Saichun was now eight-months pregnant. It was the most crucial time. Since the confinement incidentst time, Imperial concubine Yun and Sima Ruo had be more protective for Saichun. Qin Yunuan had no idea what happened now.

    ¡°Saichun¡¯s pulse had be very weak. Even the Imperial doctor Zhang Ruting couldn¡¯t tell what¡¯s going on. I was worried that someone sneaked something bad into Saichun¡¯s medication.¡± Sima Ruo was leading Qin Yunuan to Chenxi Pce as he anxiously exined.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, grand prince.¡± Qin Yunuan tried to calm Sima Ruo down. ¡°Probably, it¡¯s all just in your mind.¡±

    ¡°Nothing can happen to Saichun now.¡± Sima Ruo¡¯s face suddenly became strange for Qin Yunuan, as if there was some sort of ambition in it. ¡°Now that my third brother is going to be sent to the royal cemetery, and the government needs to be reformed. The seventh prince didn¡¯t have his own power yet. It is the best time for me to regain my power, don¡¯t you get it, Infanta Ping?¡±

    ¡°Grand prince?¡± Qin Yunuan looked at Sima Ruo, whose eyes were filled with hysteric desire for power. At that moment, the once fairy-like person looked as fierce as a demon.

    Qin Yunuan had a bad hunch. She asked something that she had long doubted but didn¡¯t dare to make sure of, ¡°Grand prince, where were you when seventh prince was captured?¡±

    Sima Ruo was shaken, and his eyes were already fierce-looking.

    However, Qin Yunuan approached him to step by step fearlessly, ¡°Something so big had happened in the pce, even the Queen mother was under Sima Ray¡¯s watch. But why did nothing happen to the Chenxi Pce? Why? Tell me, grand prince.¡±

    ¡°What do I have to tell you?¡± Sima Ruo¡¯s tone was turning unnatural.

    ¡°And Imperial concubine Yun, why hadn¡¯t her pce suffered any loss either?¡± Qin Yunuan opened her eyes wide, ¡°Grand prince, did you and imperial concubine Yun know about Sima Ray¡¯s action in advance, but didn¡¯t think of telling the Emperor and the Queen mother? You were hiding the whole thing so that you could watch Sima Ray and Changxi fight against each other and get benefits for yourselves. After this incident, Sima Ray must be imprisoned and killed by the Emperor, while the Leng army and the eighteen shadow guards would suffer either. By then, you could reach for your own benefits as nned.¡±

    The tiny body of Qin Yunuan was exerting extraordinary power, forcing Sima Ruo into the corner. Qin Yunuan could see Sima Ruo¡¯s struggles. Sima Ruo didn¡¯t want to fight for anything deep down. However, he had a mother who was fascinated by richness and fame. With the dominating Imperial concubine Yun, how could she let Sima Ruo let go of the status of the first heir?

    ¡°Why would I harm General Leng?¡± Sima Ruo forced a smile. ¡°Even if you¡¯re right, that I¡¯m fighting to be the first heir, General Leng is just an official. No matter how powerful he is, he¡¯s just an official.¡±

    Qin Yunuan suddenly bowed and said lightly, ¡°Grand prince, don¡¯t you know that ording to thew of Qi, not only the children of the Emperor can be the first heir, but also other princes?¡±

    Sima Ruo looked at Qin Yunuan, stunned.

    ¡°Actually, you knew that Leng Changxi is the son of the Grand Princess, just like Sima Ray, and you knew that he¡¯s qualified to be the heir of Qi, right?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I want.¡± Sima Ruo paused for a while, as his tone turned miserable. ¡°But I need to fight for it. My mother said that if I don¡¯t, more people will die. I¡¯ve seen too many of them leaving me. Xiao Fangzi who was my childhood friend, my wet nurse, and the first woman I¡¯d loved, they...¡±

    Qin Yunuan took a few steps back and seemed to have thought of something. Apparently, it was possible that Imperial concubine Yun and the grand prince knew about Sima Ray confining General Meng Hua.

    Oh God, General Meng Hua is supposed to be Imperial concubine Yun¡¯s biological brother. Was it possible that she could give up her own brother to lure Sima Ray in and let Meng Hua live as a prisoner in that dark and cold secret pathway?

    Or actually...

    ¡°Leng Shuang!¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly yelled. A servant girl in purple clothes leaped off the wall immediately and waited for further instructions. ¡°What¡¯s the news from the military camp?¡±

    Leng Shuang arched her hands and replied, ¡°The order of the Emperor to eliminate the fake General Meng is on the way.¡±

    ¡°Stop it.¡± Qin Yunuan ordered calmly. The order made Leng Shuang shocked. Blocking the Emperor¡¯s order, that¡¯s a quick way of suicide.

    ¡°Are you disobeying my words now?¡± Qin Yunuan yelled seriously, ¡°You must arrive before the order. Bring more people with you to protect General Meng if you could.¡±

    ¡°But third young madam...¡± Leng Shuang didn¡¯t get it. It was apparent that the one in the military camp was fake. The Emperor was angry at the moment sweeping off the impact of third prince in the Royal City.

    Qin Yunuan gripped the corner of her clothes with some strength, as she secretly eximed, ¡°Sima Ray, you¡¯re such a master. You actually almost fooled us all.¡±

 Chapter 197 Deception

    <h4>Chapter 197 Deception</h4>

    Though Leng Shuang was very confused, Qin Yunuan had no more time to exin it to her in such a short time. If they werete, there would be another grand general missing in Qi.

    In the meanwhile, Sima Ray was taken by Leng Wu secretly into custody in a secret room temporarily under the closest surveince in the Imperial n Court.

    ¡°Go in.¡± Leng Wu glimpsed at Sima Ray coldly with a poker face.

    ¡°You recover so quickly.¡± Sima Ray looked at the injured arm of Leng Wu with defiant eyes, but Leng Wu did not respond. Sima Ray smiled coldly and then raised his head to look at the three lights in the room through the window from outside. He said suddenly, ¡°What a pity! There will be another grand general missing in Qi within half an hour.¡±

    At dusk, Qin Yunuan had returned to the courtyard. For the safety of Qin Yunuan, Leng Changxi did not let her out anymore. He deployed Leng Shuang and two of the most careful master-hands among the 18 shadow guards in charge of the safeguarding. Maner collected all of the news Qin Yunuan from everywhere.

    ¡°How?¡± Qin Yunuan looked at Maner who rushed back from outside and pulled her sleeves to ask.

    Maner was out of breath and said, ¡°People dispatched by the emperor had been already in the military camp before Miss Leng arrived there. At that moment, they were in a deadlock and almost started to fight. But luckily, one of the eunuchs dispatched to announce the imperial edict knew Miss Leng, and he just said he would report to the emperor after he heard the words of Miss Leng.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s good to report to the emperor.¡± Qin Yunuan felt relieved.

    But Maner felt confused, ¡°Third Young Madam, how did you know that General Meng in the military camp was real, but the one imprisoned in the hidden path was fake? It was hard to tell their real identities. If we got it wrong...¡±

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t make sure at the beginning,¡± Qin Yunuan frowned, ¡°Actually, for most people, they must believe that the one outside was fake when they saw that the man in the hidden path was identical to General Meng. To the surprise of all of us, Sima Ray was so cunning. He knew the conventional thinking of people. I guessed that at that time, he had found my trace. He seduced me to enter the secret room, and he wanted everybody to believe that General Meng in the military camp was fake. The emperor was decisive and resolute, so he must order to kill General Meng in the military camp at once secretly. He would not confirm the news towards the Imperial Concubine Yun and the Grand Prince.¡±

    ¡°Third Prince is so cunning.¡± Maner sighed.

    ¡°No, he is not cunning. He is smart, smart too far,¡± Qin Yunuan sighed, ¡°We have to admit that that is a perfect trick for him. If his trick was done, he would eliminate the first martial art family in Qi, which was a half supporting power of the Imperial Concubine Yun and the Grand Prince. If he made it sessfully, he would transfer the fake Meng Hua into the real one, and then take the chance to master the military power in the imperial court.¡±

    ¡°But,¡± Maner frowned, ¡°The Third Prince has been...¡± Maner wanted to say that Sima Ray had exposed himself, and the emperor would never trust him forever.

    ¡°I know your confusion,¡± Qin Yunuan sighed slowly, ¡°Sima Ray yed secret tricks with the emperor, but this time I think he will be more unscrupulous. Do you believe that on the way to the Imperial Mausoleum, the horse carriage where the Third Prince was imprisoned will get some trouble.¡±

    ¡°Somebody will hurt him?¡± Maner asked.

    Qin Yunuan shook her head, ¡°No. He will save himself.¡± Having seen the hesitant Maner, Qin Yunuan just held the scissors on the table to cut the candlewick shorter to brighten the light, ¡°We can¡¯t stop the issue. It seems that the turmoil in the Royal Pce won¡¯t end but will get a new start.¡±

    In the evening, Leng Changxi was very exhausted when he came back. Qin Yunuan held the basin for feet-bath intimately. She let all maidservants and nannies quit and was about to wash his feet carefully. But suddenly, her tender hands were pulled up when her fingers just touched the hot water.

    It happened so surprisingly. The arms of Leng Changxi had held Qin Yunuan. Theyy down on the quilt of the bed.

    Leng Changxi seemed to look at a naughty animal. He touched the tip of her nose by his fingertip, ¡°I have told you that you should have a full rest here. I heard that you let Maner collect information outside in the afternoon. You are such a busy sweetie.¡±

    Qin Yunuan did not deny it. She just held him tightly and fawned on him, saying proudly, ¡°Without me, you guys would not know that General Meng in the military camp was true. Sima Ray was good at deception.¡±

    Qin Yunuan should be praised for this issue. Emperor Zhaoxuan felt outrageous when he knew at dusk that Qin Yunuan had stopped his secret imperial edict. But he felt astonished after the detailed news came from the military camp. General Meng rescued from the secret path was unconscious all the time, and nobody could tell which one was real and which one was fake, so the emperor had to order to judge the caseter.

    Qin Yunuan felt a little bit tired after she heard the whole thing happening in the imperial pce. Shey on the knees of Leng Changxi and almost fell asleep. In a daze, she felt that Leng Changxi bent and kissed her forehead lightly, and then he let her lie low on the bed and covered the quilt for her. They fell asleep without taking off their clothes.

    Later, Qin Yunuan was woken up by some noise. She got up and found Leng Changxi was not in the chamber. Ting Xue and Maner outside immediately came in with hot water and towel after they heard Qin Yunuan had got up.

    ¡°Why is it so noisy outside?¡± Qin Yunuan kneaded her sore temples. The noise seemed toe from outside the mansion. It was always silent in the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, and such sound was seldom heard in the mansion.

    Maner and Ting Xue looked at each other without a word.

    Qin Yunuan nced at these two little maidservants. She still pinched the spoon of almond soup leisurely, and just turned her eyes to the silent Xi¡¯er, ¡°Xi¡¯er, what happened?¡±

    Xi¡¯er was very bright and lively in daily time, but today she was very restrained. She nodded timidly, ¡°Third Young Madam, it is the wedding of Princess Jinhe outside.¡±

    ¡°Princess Jinhe? Wedding?¡± Qin Yunuan felt so surprised. She had never heard about such a princess in Qi, and the big wedding recently in Qi.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Xi¡¯er continued, ¡°After the death of the Forth Miss, the emperor nned to send Infanta Zhaojing to West Xia for the imperial matrimony for peace. But there was no end finally. Now Infanta Zhaojing was under house arrest in the Mansion of Princess Jing, and her title was almost removed. Princess Jinhe was conferred the title in a short time, and she was just a recement sent to West Xia.¡±

    In Qi, at this age when men were more powerful than woman, it was not strange to confer the title of the princess on a girl in a short time and send the girl into the marriage bridal sedan chair casually, because women here were just like goods waiting to be exchanged. And men would tell you that you were valuable only because you could be utilized.

    ¡°Where is the girl from?¡± Qin Yunuan asked specifically.

    ¡°She is Shangguan Yee in Shangguan Family.¡±

    Qin Yunuan felt a little bit stunned, ¡°Her? Impossible. Now there is still an intense phenomenon between West Xia and Qi. She is maybe in danger there. Why didn¡¯t Shangguan Yuan and the old man, Mr. Shangguan, stop it?¡±

    How ironic. The two people, one was the Left Chancellor in Qi, and the other was the leading academic schr in Qi. They even could not protect the weak girl in their family.

    ¡°But if she was willing to marry?¡± A soft voice like a yellowbird came from outside. Men would like the voice, but Qin Yunuan felt disgusted about such a lewd sound.

    It was Concubine Tang, who was punished for staying in her room by Prince Ning due to her provoking disputes.

    Facing Concubine Tang who had never entered the courtyard of Qin Yunuan proactively, Qin Yunuan would not give a smile to her because there were many disputes between the two women.

    ¡°Xi¡¯er, Maner, go to check if the maidservants at the door are working.¡± Qin Yunuan even did not give a glimpse at Concubine Tang, ¡°Now they neglected their duty. How dare they let such a person in.¡±

    Concubine Tang turned gloomy, but then became ttering after she saw Qin Yunuan let their maidservants quit, ¡°As my expectation, Third Young Madam will not be so stingy to stop such a trustworthy woman whoes to report.¡±

    Qin Yunuan squinted at Concubine Tang. After the death of Princess Ning, Concubine Tang seemed to find Qin Yunuan was a new moneybag and came to her courtyard frequently.

    ¡°Trustworthy?¡± Qin Yunuan rolled up her sleeves and walked to the shelter of embroidering. She started to embroider and ignored Concubine Tang, ¡°I have never found you are trustworthy to me, Concubine Tang.¡±

    ¡°But now,¡± Concubine Tang came closer, ¡°Now I have a very important piece of news to tell you, Third Young Madam.¡±

    ¡°If you want to tell me the issue that Shangguan Yee was conferred Princess Jinhe, thanks. I knew it already.¡±

    Concubine Tang continued with a smile, ¡°But Third Young Madam, you must do not know that why Miss Shangguan requested the imperial matrimony for peace to West Xia.¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked at Concubine Tang without a word.

    ¡°Huh, I just heard that the grand maidservant selected to serve Miss Shangguan recently was from the Royal Pce. And the maidservant and the eunuch Du Sheng, who served Third Prince Sima Ray, constituted an asexual couple when she served in the Royal Pce.¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised her eyes slightly. This issue was rted to Sima Ray again. And then Concubine Tang whispered to Qin Yunuan in a mysterious voice, ¡°And there is another thing. After the death of Sister Sun, Sun Family lost powerful support in the Royal City. I heard from those old nannies in the mansion that Sun Family seemed to n to select another eminent daughter of a concubine to marry into Princess Ning¡¯s Mansion. Now the application of granting the marriage has sent to the emperor. They are waiting for the agreement of the emperor.¡±

 Chapter 198 The Guests from Jinling

    <h4>Chapter 198 The Guests from Jinling</h4>

    Qin Yunuan cast a nce at the ttering look on Tang¡¯s face, and then looked down slowly and continued her work. She was preparing a painting of cranes for Prince Ning¡¯s birthday. The whole painting was of seven-foot-long and three-foot-wide, which was very majestic and graceful.

    ¡°Those two pieces of information from you is of no use to me,¡± Qin Yunuan did not look at her, ¡°First, Prince Ray has been taken into custody. So, even if he had some inglorious dealings with Shangguan Yee, it had all passed. As for the second thing that you¡¯ve told me, theing of Mrs. Sun is suppressing to you but fine with me, whether she is to be the legal wife or consort. After all, I am Infanta Ping with the fifth-grade rank conferred by Queen Mother. No new brides would threaten me.¡±

    ¡°Surely enough. It would not affect you, Third Young Madam. But...¡±

    ¡°But you are not reconciled?¡± Qin Yunuan nced at Tang. She could see through her thoughts at once. ¡°You thought that you have been in Prince Ning ¡®s mansion for so many years and had given birth to the eldest son for him, but you are still a concubine. Your status was lower than Consort Cao, who cameter than you and Princess Ning whose family was very influential. Now, the Sun Family is nning to marry a daughter to Princess Ning, and you would be more despised. If she gives birth to a son, you and your son would have no pride anymore. Am I right?¡±

    Concubine Tang froze and then straightened her back and said, ¡°That¡¯s right. Every man for himself and the devil takes the hindmost. You are born in a dignified and famous family as the daughter of Grand Commandant, and now you are married to Third Young Master. You won¡¯t understand those of us who are born low.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand?¡± Qin Yunuan only found it funny. She had suffered much more bitterness and injustices than Tang. ¡°Fine. Take it as I don¡¯t understand. I cannot help you with this. It¡¯s quite a normal thing that the Sun Family would like to marry their daughter into this mansion, and I had nothing to say about that. I suggest that you should also stir no troubles.¡±

    ¡°Fine with me, humph.¡± All that Concubine Tang was thinking about was her son¡¯s future. Instead of pretending to be pleasing as before, she walked out of the door in a seductive way without any words.

    At this time, Maner brought in an old nanny who looked familiar. She might be a steward of Prince Ning.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, Nanny Cui from Master¡¯s cees here.¡± Maner led her in. Nanny Cui greeted Qin Yunuan with her hands cupped, which was very tactful as it was neither submissive nor too tough.

    ¡°I came for the birthday party of Prince Ning,¡± Nanny Cui said kindly. ¡°Third Young Madam, Prince Ning trusts you as he had handed the administrative power of the birthday party to you. But since things had changed a lot in the imperial court these days, Prince Ning hopes that the banquet could be as simple as possible, instead of being too extravagant.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded. The main reason why Prince Ning could win the trust of the emperor for so long was that he knew how to keep a low profile and do suitable things in proper time.

    ¡°Besides,¡± Nanny Cui suddenly lowered her voice, ¡°ording to Prince Ning, a few more seats need to be added.¡±

    The list of guests had been set long ago, and Prince Ning¡¯s birthday was just half a monthter. To change it suddenly...

    Qin Yunuan was not upset at all. She just nodded and said, ¡°Just tell me how many extra seats are needed, and I will check around and add as more as possible.¡±

    Cui Nanny smiled and said, ¡°Not many, only four. But these are all nobles from Jinling, and one of the seats has to be arranged at the same status as Prince Ning so that neither Prince Ning nor the guest would be embarrassed.¡±

    Jinling? Wasn¡¯t it Prince Ning¡¯s hometown? It was also the birthce of the Sun family. So, these distinguished guests should be from the Sun family.

    Qin Yunuan also said with a smile, ¡°Only four. It should not be difficult.¡±

    ¡°Since I have finished my task, I¡¯d like toe back if you don¡¯t mind.¡± Looking at the back of Nanny Cui, Qin Yunuan leaned against the window frame and lost in thoughts.

    In the yard, the plum buds had just bloomed. The white petals were like the new snowkes, and the light-yellow stamens scrambled to get out of the buds. The flowers were squeezing into a crowd, cheering for the winning chance brought by the cold winter night.

    Opportunities were always reserved for those with strength.

    In the yard, Maner was decocting herbal medicine carefully in a small coal stove for Leng Wu. The swollen blue and ck wounds on his arm still needed a few times of coldpress to get better.

    ¡°Sister Maner, you are decocting medicine again!¡± The servant girls who passed by liked to tease Maner in this way, being all smiles, ¡°Who is so lucky to drink the medicine made by you every day?¡±

    Maner flushed when she heard this. Her rosy cheeks were like the red sunset, and her actions were a little flustered. She almost knocked down the medicine bag beside her.

    A jar beside Maner fell and made some noise as if someone had sat down. The servant girls that had just joked her all went away.

    Being startled, Maner burnt the ring finger of her left hand, which was taken hold by a big hand right away.

    ¡°Why are you so careless?¡± Maner shivered as the appearance of Leng Wu was very unexpected. She tried to draw back her hand gripped by Leng Wu. But Leng Wu was quick in action but slow in understanding. All he was thinking about was how careless she was and how important to deal with it in time.

    Leng Wu lowered his head and blew a cool breeze to Maner¡¯s fingertips.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. People are watching.¡± Blushed, Maner drew her finger back. At this time, Leng Wu finally realized what he had done and touched his head dully, not saying anything.

    Leng Wu was a top-ss Kung Fu exerciser, but he was rather dull in the things rted to girls. Maner nced at him and turned her head to take out a pendant with ck tassels, whose boration showed the painstaking effort of its maker. Maner held the pendant in her palm and threw it straight into Leng Wu¡¯s breast.

    ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s for you.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Leng Wu had not understood what happened.

    ¡°Booby, it was made for you,¡± Maner threw the pendant directly into Leng Wu¡¯s arms, her face still being red. Withdrawing a few steps back, she seemed to think of something again and took out a dark purple pendant, giving it to him again, ¡°and this is for Miss Leng.¡±

    Leng Wu smiled, ¡°She has never received any girlish things from others. She must be thrilled,¡± Touching his head, he shook the ck pendant with one hand and smiled honestly, showing his cute canines, ¡°And I...I¡¯m also thrilled.¡±

    ¡°Booby.¡± Maner lowered her head and groaned. She then went back to the house directly.

    Leng Wu was about to follow her. Well, wasn¡¯t she boiling medicine for him? Why did she leave without lighting the fire?

    Just at this time, Leng Shuang, who had just finished her task, hurried into the yard. The first one she saw was his silly brother, who was standing in the yard in a daze.

    Seeing that Leng Shuang hade back, Leng Wu was to hand the dark purple pendant to her directly. However, she just cast a cold nce at him and then said, ¡°Come to meter. I have something urgent to report to Third Young Madam.¡±

    Qin Yunuan had been leaning against the pane and staring at the courtyard for a long time. When she heard Leng Shuang¡¯s voice, she straightened her body at once.

    ¡°How is it?¡±

    Leng Shuang cupped her hands and reported, ¡°I had already visited the inn where the Sun Family stayed. They have a total of 24 people, including the coachman and the masters. This time, the Sun Family sent the Grand Miss Sun Baozhen of the Second Madam who is 18 years old and is famous for her talent in Jinling.¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised her hand leisurely to serve herself a cup of green tea. The overflowing fragrance of the tea had the calming power. ¡°What else? If she¡¯s just an ordinary girl, you wouldn¡¯t panic like that.¡±

    Leng Shuang nodded and said, ¡°Yes, if I¡¯m not mistaken, I had met her before when I was studying Kung Fu in Kongming Mountain. At that time, her name was Song Zhen. She was the first female disciple of Kongming Mountain and also the first one that I had to challenge in order to gain admission. But somehow, she bes the Grand Miss of the Second Madam Sun.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s possible,¡± Qin Yunuan was very calm in the face of those things. Leng Shuang had learned Kung Fu at many different schools in different ces those years, and she was gifted with an extraordinary retentive memory. So, Qin Yunuan was quite confident with her memory. Besides, ever since Leng Changxi approached her in the disguise of Su Chenghai, the identity was not that important to Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°But you had provided me with a very important clue,¡± Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows slightly, ¡°Do you remember Princess Ning? She was also a woman who was raised seclusively but was good at Kung Fu. And this Miss Sun, who was to be my mother-inw, had also learned Kung Fu from the outside world. People all say that the Sun Family is very powerful and influential and shall not be vited. But it remains a question of why they are so powerful. Now, it bes more and more interesting.¡±

    Leng Shuang seemed to understand those words. ¡°Third Young Madam, do you mean that the Sun Family has been taking the trade and business as a disguise of their Kung Fu attainments? But what are the benefits of doing this?¡±

    ¡°There are so many benefits.¡± Thinking about it carefully, Qin Yunuan found the thing more mysterious and irresistible to look at. The thing about Prince Ray was still in the air, and here came a mysterious Sun Family, which was rather interesting. ¡°Take Princess Ning as an example. Before she was caught, did anyone doubt the dignified and noble princess whenever something strange happened, or some masters appeared?¡±

    Leng Shuang nodded. And then Qin Yunuan asked, ¡°You said that you had yed against Sun Baozhen. I want to know how much your chance of winning is if you two have a fight.¡±

 Chapter 199 Clearing up Bad Customs

    <h4>Chapter 199 Clearing up Bad Customs</h4>

    Leng Shuang thought seriously and said, ¡°Three years ago, Ipeted with her one-on-one, and I won three moves. But I¡¯m not sure now.¡±

    ¡°Three moves was enough to win a fight.¡± Qin Yunuan pulled up her loose hair bun and looked at the plum tree with white flowers like the snow outside infatuatedly. It seemed that it was about to snow in this weather.

    Two days after, heavy, feather-like snow fell. It was a rare perishing winter in Qi. Two news came from the pce, one was that Prince Ray couldn¡¯t bear to see the country suffering from the disaster, and he stepped up to go to the Imperial Mausoleum and offer incense to the ancestors. Secondly, Shangguan Yuan was named Duke of Dingguo after Princess Jinhe got married.

    ¡°It¡¯s shameless of him to sell a daughter for the title.¡± Xi¡¯er was holding thest silk thread for Qin Yunuan. They were about to finish the embroidery of a crane about to bepleted but couldn¡¯t find a suitable color for the eye. The crow green was too impetuous, and the ck was dull.

    ¡°He may not be at ease with his title. Why do you bother worrying for him?¡± Qin Yunuan took a look at Xi¡¯er. She was a good girl in all but a little bit careless like Tong in the past. Qin Yunuan lowered her brows and prayed idents like Tong not to happen again. She couldn¡¯t bear another betrayal in this eventful season.

    There were a few noises from outside the yard. It sounded like a group of daughters gathering and chatting. Qin Yunuan nced out and saw a familiar figure. She frowned and asked Maner beside her, ¡°Nurse Liao seems to be very busy this time.¡±

    Maner couldn¡¯t help but also frowned and fenced with her question, ¡°Yes, now that Third Young Madam has be prominent and wealthy, ttery also came to us. Nurse Liao was the first one in charge of our yard. Those little maids would naturally try hard to please her.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid it will be more than that,¡± Xi¡¯er said sullenly, ¡°How could it just be pleasing nurse Liao now? I heard that Liao arranged two third-ss maids into our yard only yesterday. She let me take care of them. Those two maids couldn¡¯t even do one thing smoothly. I guess that Liao took advantage of it.¡±

    Xi¡¯er spoke rashly. Maner, who was friend with nurse Liao, became ufortable, but Xi¡¯er¡¯s words were true. She had to nod her head in agreement, ¡°It¡¯s true. I also heard about it.¡±

    Qin Yunuan cut off the bare threads and only left the eyes of the crane missing. She stretched her aching shoulders. Qin Yunuan said, ¡°Go to the two third-ss maids. Bring them in.¡±

    ¡°Third Young Madam.¡± Maner persuaded, ¡°Why should you be so angry with those two nameless juniors? I can go and teach them.¡±

    Qin Yunuan shook her head, ¡°They were introduced by nurse Liao after all. If you taught and scalded them, you wouldn¡¯t have shown due respect for nurse Liao. Now there¡¯s boisterous wind and great waves outside. I also have to let the people in my yard know that since they are working in my yard. They should keep their eyes and ears clean.¡±

    Maner nodded and took the order. After a while, the two third-ss maids came. They were helping in the kitchen, but their clothes were so clean with no perspiration or oil stains on. Those white-bottomed embroidered Yuanyang shoes were not even touched by mud, and the in silver hairpins on their heads were better than those of Ting Xue and Maner.

    Qin Yunuan looked up and down at these two people. She suddenly smiled and only nced at Maner before turning back into the inner room.

    Maner immediately greeted the two people with a smile and led them into the yard, pointing to a hill of firewood and said to the two maids, ¡°Recently, our young grandmother has a hobby. She liked to listen to the sound of woodcutting for a nap. It¡¯s your job today. Remember, chop well. Don¡¯t stop chopping before she gets up. Xi¡¯er will watch you.¡±

    Xi¡¯er smiled, handing them two blunt choppers, ¡°Right. Remember, chop well.¡±

    The two servant girls stood gazing at each other in nk dismay but dared to say anything.

    The chopping sound outside was endless. In the cold winter, sweat quickly broke out from those two maids. The sweaty coats were attached to their backs, making the wind even more piercingly cold. Inside the house, Qin Yunuan was enjoying a warm cup of wild jujube soup. Her appetite had be more awkward recently. Whatever was the sourest was what she liked most. The wild jujube in her soup was several times more than usual.

    Sure enough, in a short while, there was a soft knock on the door. Maner went out to open. The sophisticated, dumb voice must be nurse Liao.

    ¡°Is Young Madam awake?¡±

    ¡°Not yet. Young Madam has be sleepy these days. You knew that, nurse Liao.¡±

    ¡°Oh, but it¡¯s already this time. I¡¯m afraid sleeping for a long time is bad for the body.¡±

    Maner smiled and couldn¡¯t understand nurse Liao better. She replied, ¡°Nurse Liao, you and I are both servants only, so how dare I guess her thoughts at will?¡±

    A scream came from outside just then.

    ¡°Oops, sister Chenxiang cut her hand. s, a lot of blood came out.¡±

    Chenxiang was the slightly taller of the two maids. She looked delicate.

    Nurse Liao was about to continue her talk with Maner, but Qin Yunuan was standing at the door, already neatly dressed. Her hands were folded in front of the exquisite jade in the middle of her belt. Her dignity and grace were clearly telling nurse Liao that she was the master of the yard.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? So much noise.¡±

    ¡°Third Young Madam,¡± Xi¡¯er, who was supervising the two servant girls, came in and said, ¡°One servant called Chenxiang chopped off her finger. It¡¯s nothing but one little finger.¡±

    Nothing but one little finger?

    Nurse Liao trembled and looked at Qin Yunuan with horror, but she saw Qin Yunuan looking down even more indifferently at the emerald bracelet in her hand, ¡°Oh, a trivial thing. Just give her ten taels of silver and send her home. But I don¡¯t remember when there was a maid named Chenxiang in the yard.¡± Qin Yunuan gave Nurse Liao a nce, ¡°Nurse Liao, do you?¡±

    ¡°I... I...¡± nurse Liao stuttered. The two maids pleaded in the yard, ¡°Nurse Liao, we had given you all the wealth. You promised to give me riches and honor. You even said that in the yard of Third Young Madam we could see the Third Young Master more often. And then high positions and great wealth woulde to us. Nurse Liao, you have to help us.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense!¡± Mama Liao immediately rushed over with a ferocious look and pped the maid violently, ¡°When did I say that? You, shameless girl. How could I never know what you think about every day? I won¡¯t give you the opportunity to contact the Third Young Master.¡±

    ¡°Nurse Liao, how can you be like this?¡± Chenxiang, who cut her finger, had tears in her eyes. Although her family had adequate food and clothing, she took out all the family treasures at the bottom of the box to please nurse Liao. She didn¡¯t expect nurse Liao to go back upon her word. Chenxiang was not afraid anymore, ¡°Nurse Liao, you said it clearly, that even if you can¡¯t be taken by Third Young Master, Young Master Qin would marry when he grows up. Did I give you my twenty taels for nothing? I have a receipt, so don¡¯t deny it.¡±

    Twenty taels could be nurse Liao¡¯s payment for one year.

    ¡°How could you use Young Master, nurse Liao?¡± Maner couldn¡¯t constrain herself, ¡°He¡¯s six. You are insane, nurse Liao.¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned slowly to nurse Liao, who seemed pale, ¡°Nurse Liao, what more can you say?¡±

    Nurse Liao hurried up and stopped Chenxiang from finding the receipt. She kneeled and kowtowed to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Third Young Madam, I¡¯m too old to consider things correctly. I thought that my boy Da Shi needed the bride price. He is 24 now and not married yet.¡±

    ¡°Then what¡¯s the matter with the words you put outside?¡± Maner asked, ¡°You said that the new Madam Sun was just a second wife, and this family will be handed over to Third Young Madam after all. Do you know that such a rumor spread in the mansion before the bride move in? Didn¡¯t you deliberately provoke between the grandson and Third Young Madam?¡±

    ¡°I... I...¡±

    ¡°Enough.¡± Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t get too involved, ¡°Nurse Liao, from today, you will give Maner the key in your hand, and you will leave it to Ting Xue in charge of affairs and personnel. You don¡¯t need to wait in the yard for the time being. You should go home first. Think about what to do in the future. Think thoroughly beforeing back.¡±

    This was tantamount to conceal nurse Liao in disguise at the moment. Nurse Liao had temper in her heart, but Qin Yunuan was her boss, and she couldn¡¯t defy. She went down angrily. The people in the yard immediately dispersed. These two little maids were also sent out of the mansion. Maner and Ting Xue quickly picked out those without clean hands in the yard. Those who should return to their original ce were sent back, and whoever had done wrong was punished for working in the backroom or sent directly out of the pce.

    The investigation revealed that while Qin Yunuan was busy with the affairs of the pce, nurse Liao secretly sent many workers in. The firewood room and kitchen especially, with only two in three left. But on one side it¡¯s good. The servants left were all carefully selected by Maner and Ting Xue, and they were also honest in doing things.

    And just after the burning time of a short incense stick, in the first-ss wing of one of thergest and most luxurious hotels in the Royal City, a woman was drawing her eyebrows with charcoal. Her face was already beautiful with little powder. She carefully listened as her servant reported, a tinge of beauty emerged at the corner of her mouth. She spoke with a little disdain in her tone, ¡°I thought that Infanta Ping had so much ability. Now I see, she couldn¡¯t even discipline the people under her hand. Heh, how could I be afraid of her?¡±

    ¡°Grand Miss, you¡¯re wise.¡± The servant girl aside went along quickly.

    The woman raised her eyes slightly, ¡°By the way, the nanny Liao beside Infanta Ping. You just mentioned that she was sent home for her fault. Where does she live?¡±

 Chapter 200 The First Combat

    <h4>Chapter 200 The First Combat</h4>

    It was the eighth day of the second lunar month. There was still the coldness of snow in the early spring. Cotton-like edelweiss huddled together on the branches, like a group of joyful, naughty children climbing up the trees, not willing toe down.

    The feast was ready. Old Madam, who hadn¡¯t been out of the Lotus Fragrance Courtyard for a long time, arrived extremely early today. When the red glow from the sun just incarnadined the western sky, the seats of the feast were mostly taken.

    ¡°Old Madam, people of the Sun Family have arrived,¡± Yuanyang beside Old Madam whispered to her. Old Madam and Qin Yunuan exchanged a nce when the servant at the entrance reported the guests.

    People all looked askance at the neers. Immediately the two madams of the Sun Family walking in gracefully from the corner gate became the center of attention.

    There was something special about the Sun Family. All men in the family were short-lived. Even the one with the longest longevity failed to make it beyond 30. Therefore, Sun Family became a family in the hands of women. It was absolutely a kind of satire in a dynasty like Qi with the deep-rooted concept that men were superior to women. However, Old Madam and Grand Madam of the Sun Family, two widows as they were, managed to run the whole family sessfully.

    When it came to business, the canal transportation of the Sun Family covered Jinling and down all the way along the canal. In fact, it even took charge of one-fourth of the water-front terminals in Qi. When it came to studies, short-lived as the men of the Sun Family were, it used to be a schrly family, with many talented poetsing from it. However, maybe because it was in the hands of women, strong power as it had, its reputation and right of speech were not as much as what the four big families in the regions south of the River had. But its influence was indeed in the first tier of Qi.

    The Sun Family had the tradition that women should not leave Jinling unless they came from a faraway ce for marriage like Princess Ning. This time, however, two of the four major Madam in the Sun Family arrived, showing that the Sun Family attached much importance to the marriage between Sun Baozhen and Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.

    The leading one was Old Madam of the Sun Family, who was about the same age as Old Madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, but she looked much weaker. Not only was she as thin as ath, but she also spoke in a soft voice, which was in sharp contrast to Madam Sun, who was supporting her beside. Madam Sun had lost her husband at 24. Since then, she had been helping Old Madam run the Sun Family for 20 years. Having been mighty and decisive for such a time, she now looked cold and indifferent. Her dashing eyebrows implied a kind of heroic spirit, subtracting a woman¡¯s tenderness from her and adding a man¡¯s decisiveness to her.

    Thest woman in good shape wore a mask. She was definitely Sun Baozhen. Pretending to pick out fishbones in the golden te, Qin Yunuan saw the young woman who was going to be the head woman of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion out of the corner of her eye.

    With her slender waist and slim fingers, she looked like a graceful woman loving embroidering in thedy¡¯s chamber, hearing sounds of snow and brewing tea. If Leng Shuang didn¡¯t recognize her, others wouldn¡¯t attach her to the first female student on the Kongming Mountain.

    There was also a young boy following Sun Baozhen, who looked thin and weak. His skin was milky-white, which was nearly transparent as if he had never been in the sun. Sun Baozhen had been protecting the little boy tightly all the way. Maybe it was the first time for him to meet so many people, so he looked fearful, almost sticking to Sun Baozhen¡¯s thigh throughout the way.

    ¡°Old Madam Sun, please take your seat,¡± Prince Ning looked quite serious. He didn¡¯t announce the opening of the feast until he arranged seats for people of the Sun Family in order.

    ¡°Herees songs and dance.¡±

    The tweedle was echoing between cups and tes. Qin Yunuan poured a spoonful of delicious soup on the fish that she had been cleared fishbones from just now and pushed it in front of Leng Changxi. Then she picked up another fish with her chopsticks and began to clear the fishbones for Baochuan, who was sitting on the other side. Baochuan, who witnessed that the fish thought to be his was put in Leng Changxi¡¯s te, sighed like an old man.

    ¡°You are so young. Why do you appear to be an old pedant?¡± Qin Yunuan smiled. She said while picking out the fishbones, ¡°Are you silly because you focus on your study too much?¡±

    Qin Baochuan rubbed his head and raved, ¡°No. There¡¯s such a saying, ¡®Getting married, forgetting mother.¡¯ Now it¡¯s urate to describe you like that. But it should be ¡®Getting married, forgetting brother.''¡±

    ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Qin Yunuanughed, pretending to be angry, ¡°Where do you learn that?¡±

    Leng Changxi had heard the conversation clearly. He put fish into his mouth naturally and chewed it well as if having something delicious. Then he turned his head to shoot Qin Baochuan a look, ¡°¡®Getting married, forgetting brother?¡¯ Although the words make sense, I¡¯m surprised that you didn¡¯t know the simple principle until just now. Humph, it seems that you haven¡¯t mastered all the art of war.¡±

    Being despised by his brother-inw, his idol, Qin Baochuan felt disheartened, lowering his head. It was at that time when Taner, Qin Baochuan¡¯s chief servant girl, came to remind him that it was time for him to review his work. Qin Baochuan curtseyed to Prince Ning and Old Madam before leaving obediently.

    ¡°Facing such a grand feast, the young Master Qin can still calm down to study. He will make a great contribution in the future,¡± Old Madam Sun nodded and praised him. Then she said self-effacing words, ¡°Our Chengzhen is not as good as him. He is always so naughty.¡± Finishing her words, Old Madam Sun nced at the little boy of the Sun Family, but she didn¡¯t see him.

    ¡°Where is he?¡± Old Madam Sun asked Sun Baozhen.

    Sun Baozhen shook her head innocently, ¡°He was here when I fed him the glutinous rice porridge just now. He was gone when I turned my back. Xiangqiu, go to find Master.¡± A servant girl of very small stature beside Sun Baozhen immediately left in a quick response to her order.

    Qin Yunuan at once winked. Leng Shuang beside her promptly followed.

    It was extremely quiet in a garden outside the feast. There were only the sounds of melting snow falling to the ground and the floating ice on the pool cracking.

    Qin Baochuan draped a neckerchief made of fox fur by Qin Yunuan recently. When he was walking near the corner gate of the garden, he saw a little figure standing beside the small pool. He was draping a blue cloak. His snow-like skin made him look as if he had been about to melt in the snowy scene.

    Qin Baochuan remembered that he was the little boy on the feast, the Master of the Sun Family.

    ¡°Taner, what is he doing here?¡± Qin Baochuan pointed at Sun Chengzhen and asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± inquiring, Taner said discreetly, ¡°but Master, I think that you¡¯d better stay away from this young Master. Otherwise, you may find trouble for yourself.¡±

    Qin Baochuan waved his hands. He approached the little boy carefully. He found no reason, but he felt that the boy had a special smell making him infatuated like butterflies desiring flowers, moths flying to candles.

    At that moment, Qin Baochuan became confused, even forgetting himself.

    ¡°Master, be careful!¡± Taner behind him shouted in panic, but she failed to prevent Qin Baochuan from stepping on the floating ice. Missing his step, Qin Baochuan was about to fall into the freezing water in the pool. A purple figure skimmed over the pool and dragged Qin Baochuan out of it with only one hand. The movement was so fast that Qin Baochuan only got his trouser legs wet without any other damage.

    ¡°Master, are you alright?¡± Taner came towards him immediately, tearsing out, ¡°Master, what was wrong with you just now? You seemed to lose your soul. Why, are you bewitched?¡±

    Taner looked terrified. After all, Qin Baochuan¡¯s abnormal behavior made her too scared.

    ¡°Taner, mind your words,¡± Leng Shuang berated Taner coldly, then said to Qin Baochuan softly, ¡°All right. Go back and have a rest.¡±

    Qin Baochuan looked as if he had just woken from a dream. When he heard from Taner that he nearly stepped into the deep, cold water, he was more frightened. He only dared to look at Sun Chengzhen from the corner of his eyes when leaving. How dreadful this little boy was!

    Leng Shuang nced at Sun Chengzhen, who acted as if nothing had happened in the whole process. She saw through the little boy clearly and quickly, ¡°Your sister and grandmother are looking for you. Don¡¯t run around anymore.¡±

    The little boy still kept focusing on the rotten leaves in the pool as if he hadn¡¯t heard anything. Suddenly, he said, ¡°It¡¯s weird. Adults asked me toe here, but then said they were looking for me everywhere.¡± Finishing his words, he came towards the feast without looking back.

    The feast hade to the most harmonious part.

    Old Madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion smiled kindly, ¡°I¡¯ve already heard that Grand Miss of the Sun Family is good at ying the zither. Maybe today we can have the luck to appreciate it.¡±

    ¡°Old Madam, you are ttering me,¡± Sun Baozhen nodded and smiled, appearing elegant and graceful, which was exactly what the head woman of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion required, ¡°I¡¯ve only learned it for several years. Old Madam, if you love that, I will present a performance. However, the song I am best at, Serenade Of Peaceful Joy, is adapted from the wintersweet dance. It is coincidentally winter now, so wintersweet is suitable for the scenery. When I was in Jinling, I¡¯ve already heard that Third Young Madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion is second-to-no-one in talents and arts. I wonder if I can have the honor to invite Third Young Madam to dance.¡±

    Asking Qin Yunuan to dance?

    At her words, people all expressed agreement and approval. After all, Qin Yunuan was too famous. People all thought that Infanta Ping was definitely good at everything. Ladies, knowing that Qin Yunuan had never danced before, were much happier. They were waiting for Qin Yunuan to make a fool of herself.

    Now things had no way to back down.

    ¡°Nuan is not convenient,¡± Leng Changxi refused Sun Baozhen decisively, saving no face to her.

    ¡°Not convenient?¡± Concubine Tang said with sarcasm, ¡°Is she pregnant again? That¡¯s why she is not convenient.¡± She knew about Qin Yunuan¡¯s ¡°miscarriage¡±, but she intentionally stabbed at her heart with words.

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t give Concubine Tang a look, ¡°Isn¡¯t it just a matter of time?¡±

    ¡°Now that you are not inconvenient at all,¡± Sun Baozhen seized the opportunity to make a gesture of invitation, ¡°Third Young Madam, please.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was still hesitating, but she saw Leng Shuang return from the corner gate and nod at her, which was the cipher between them.

    ¡°Fine. I haven¡¯t practiced my dancing skill for a long time. If I did it wrong, Madam Sun and Old Madam, please forgive me,¡± Qin Yunuan was about to stand up, but she was dragged by Leng Changxi on her sleeves.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to dance, don¡¯t force yourself to do it then. You have me here. Do you ever need to be afraid of her?¡± Leng Changxi said solemnly.

    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid,¡± Qin Yunuan shook her head and smiled at Leng Changxi. As long as he was by her side, she wouldn¡¯t be afraid of anything.

    Qin Yunuan changed to a in dancing dress with long sleeves, which set her pure and unworldly temperament off well. Sun Baozhen sat beside on the mat with a tapestry. With a smile on her lips and a movement of her finger, the first note popped up.

 Chapter 201 The Bad Omen

    <h4>Chapter 201 The Bad Omen</h4>

    Leng Changxi thought the reason why Qin Yunuan agreed to dance was that she learned this before. But he was stunned when she started to rise and dance gracefully.

    Following the music, she waved the long sleeves made of white silk, making them into soft snakes some time and wintersweet blossoms the other time. Her light dance steps enchanted people, and they couldn¡¯t move their eyes away.

    All guests were immersed in it and didn¡¯t realize this until the music stopped.

    ¡°This piece of Serenade Of Peaceful Joy sounds not good. Let me y another song.¡± Sun Baozhen suddenly stopped ying, and there was sweat on her forehead.

    ¡°If so, please pardon me not to dance the second time.¡± Qin Yunuan rolled up sleeves and said calmly. ¡°I said before that I only dance once.¡± Although noticing that Sun Baozhen looked angry, Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t care and left the banquet after curtsying to Old Madam and Madam Sun to get changed.

    Qin Yunuan learned the wintersweet dance which stunned all guests just by ident. In the previous life, Sima Ray loved this dance most. So, after getting married, to please him, Qin Yunzhuang invited good dance teachers, including Xiao Fengxian, the best dancer in Qi, to teach her this wintersweet dance.

    Qin Yunuan remembered everything she saw. She had seen this dance once when she sent embroideries there. Then she remembered all and key dance steps. When getting tired from embroidery, she just danced for a while and saw it as a kind of workout which warmed herself up. She never deemed it as a talent, so she didn¡¯t tell anyone about this.

    When Qin Yunuan came back, guests were still praising her for this.

    ¡°Infanta Ping, I know you are pretty and kind, but I didn¡¯t know you were also good at dancing. I have never seen such a beautiful dance before.¡±

    ¡°Me neither. This is also my first time to see such a novel dance.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled and said humbly, ¡°It¡¯s merely a kind of normal dances. Inparison, Miss Sun¡¯s zither skills are way more unique.¡±

    Then it was time for them to send birthday gifts to Prince Ning in turn.

    ¡°Father, we have prepared a couple of Ruyi for you. We wish everything will go as you like and, you can enjoy double joy every time.¡± Leng Chang¡¯an and Ruan Ruyi said together. The shiny and transparent jade in the brocade box was of good quality, and they two must have spent much on getting this present.

    ¡°Nice. It really represents a good omen.¡± Prince Ning smiled so happily that he almost closed his eyes. Presents were not what he valued most, but the thought behind.

    Compared with Leng Chang¡¯an¡¯s gift, what Leng Changxuan and Qin Yuwan sent seemed less valuable.

    It was a pair of writing brushes made of weasel¡¯s hair. They were also hard to get but indeed less valuable than the jade. Seeing her grandchildren presenting their gifts one by one, Old Madam suddenly thought of Leng Suxin who was not here. Although she deserved what she got, she, after all, apanied Old Madam for years. Thetter couldn¡¯t help feeling lonely.

    ¡°Grand Young Master really sent an expensive gift.¡± Maner said while she poured the fruit wine for Qin Yunuan. ¡°I heard that the jade was sent from the southwest. The freight plus the money used to buy it are equal to the whole mansion¡¯s expenditure in a year.¡±

    Qin Yunuan took a nce at Concubine Tang who sat in the opposite and saw her happy look. ¡°Concubine Tang may find a new backer. Otherwise, how could they earn so much money in such a short time, given their low monthly allowance and low shop earnings?¡±

    ¡°Should I investigate this?¡±

    ¡°No need.¡± Qin Yunuan nced at Sun Baozhen who looked back then. They two just smiled at each other. ¡°Isn¡¯t it very clear who is her new backer?¡±

    When she finished, Concubine Tang smiled and asked, ¡°Third Young Madam, what do you prepare? You have a prestigious family and earn the infanta title from Queen Mother. I guess you must have the most valuable and rare present, right?¡±

    Concubine Tang knew well that the more praise one got, the more irony he would receive once he made a mistake.

    Putting on a light smile, Qin Yunuan exchanged nces with Leng Changxi and said, ¡°The folklore goes that, if family members embroider a crane painting for the elder as a birthday gift, the elder will be blessed and enjoy a long life. So I prepare an embroidery for father. But I¡¯m not good at this, so narrowly finished itst night. I¡¯ve asked people to frame this painting, and it will be sent here soon.¡±

    Leng Changxi also smiled and echoed, ¡°To embroider this painting, Nuan hasn¡¯t had a good sleep for half a month. Father, she really pours much energy into this, regardless of the painting quality.¡± He was reminding Prince Ning not to say anything bad if the embroidery was not pleasant or he disliked it.

    Prince Ningughed brightly and said, ¡°It¡¯s already rare that Yunuan takes time to prepare this. Moreover, everyone knows she is good at embroidery skills. I just can¡¯t wait to see it.¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised her hands, and then Xi¡¯er and Ting Xue each holding one side of the painting walked towards Prince Ning and unfolded the painting before him. Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan both stood up and knelt on one knee to express their blessing to Prince Ning in front of the painting.

    The crane in the painting looked alive and so pretty. Prince Ning nodded with satisfaction. Right at this time, someone said among guests, ¡°Why do the crane look fierce?¡±

    Qin Yunuan was in a trance and then heard more people talking about this.

    This simple sentence stirred up a heated discussion among guests.

    ¡°Indeed. Look at its eyes. They are sharp and fiery. Take a nce, and you may think that is a vulture, not a crane.¡±

    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s really not appropriate to send people a birthday gift which signifies a bad omen. Does Infanta Ping make a mistake in embroidery? Or does she intend to do this to curse Prince Ning?¡±

    Concubine Tang took this opportunity to scold Qin Yunuan. ¡°Oh, Chang¡¯an, Ruyi. You two, take a look. I also think the crane is a bit too fierce. It is like a raptor, not a bird of luck.¡±

    Leng Chang¡¯an pulled her by her sleeve and said a low voice, ¡°Mother, don¡¯t get in.¡±

    ¡°What happens?¡± Prince Ning frowned. Nanny Cui near him immediately went downstairs and looked up at Qin Yunuan. She said in a low voice, ¡°Third Young Madam, pardon me.¡± Then she put her hands on the painting and reported, ¡°Your Highness, this painting is fine.¡±

    ¡°If it is not the problem about the embroidery, it must be the thread.¡± Second Madam in East house sneered, ¡°Third Young Madam, how scheming you are. You should send such a painting to Prince Ning. If he really hangs it in the hall, he will bear the curse from day to night?¡±

    After finishing this, she covered her mouth and wore a silly smile, ¡°s, how do I say it out?¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t know, just shut up.¡± Leng Changxi said in a cold voice. ¡°Today is my father¡¯s birthday. How can you say that?¡±

    ¡°How dare you scold me?¡± Second Madam got angry at once and said, ¡°You should respect your seniors. How can you scold me?¡±

    Leng Changxi nced at her, ¡°If you were not my senior, I would directly ask people to kick you out.¡±

    Second Madam became speechless. Old Madam just looked up at Qin Yunuan and said, ¡°Yunuan, give us an exnation.¡±

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t say anything to disprove the crane looked like a raptor. She just turned around and ordered Maner, ¡°Get me some water.¡±

    Everyone was confused. Then, Maner held a bowl of water and poured it to the painting as Qin Yunuan hinted.

    ¡°What are you doing!¡± Second Madam, who was closest to the painting, saw her sleeves wet. She was not very near the painting. ring at Maner, she knew Maner was deliberate to make her wet.

    Instantly, everyone was drawn by the changes on the painting. The crane which sat on the pine branch with one leg suddenly spread its wings and then flew to the air. It looked alive, and when everyone thought the crane would fly out of the painting, it stopped in the blue sky, with wings spread. It looked peaceful.

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°Gosh, it¡¯s amazing.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not. That¡¯s just a small trick.¡± Concubine Tang disdained.

    ¡°This is Phantom Magic.¡± Madam Sun who said nothing in the banquet before suddenly spoke, ¡°There is a kind of phantom powder which can be added to pigments. Use such pigments to draw different postures of birds or animalsyer byyer on the same painting and sunbathe it. Then thoseyers will fade, and only thest one is left. Later, pour water to the painting, and those differentyers of painting will appear one by one to make it a motion graph.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled gently. ¡°Madam Sun, you¡¯re really knowledgeable.¡±

    From the expression in her eyes, it could be said that Madam Sun appreciated Qin Yunuan. She said, ¡°I¡¯m not as good as you. I merely saw people used the phantom powder in paintings, and this is my first time seeing a phantom-powder-made embroidery. You must have poured so many efforts into it. Those who thought the crane looked fierce really know nothing. How pathetic.¡± Madam Sun sounded sharp, but she felt free to directly say this out because she was in charge of the whole Sun Family and was granted with a title of the first rank.

    Prince Ning also nodded and praised, ¡°This gift is the best. Yunuan, you must have made so many efforts to finish thisplicated crane embroidery.¡±

    Qin Yunuan became humbler. ¡°Father, as long as you like it, it¡¯s fine for us no matter how hard this embroidery is.¡±

    Then, all guests were talking happily again. But a servant girl of Sun Baozhen walked away in secret and got out of the yard to a quiet alley near the mansion. A short beggar in rags was waiting here. Seeing the servant girl, he wore an ingratiating smile and weed her, ¡°How¡¯s everything going?¡±

    That girl pped him fiercely and scolded in a cold voice, ¡°Everything went in apletely different direction. Go tell that bitch. If she wants money and glory, show her sincerity before working with us.¡±

 Chapter 202 A Married Women with a Single Man

    <h4>Chapter 202 A Married Women with a Single Man</h4>

    After the feast, Qin Yunuan did not choose the usual path to go back to Jiyu Pavilion, and Maner went to a devious small pond through ane. A man was waiting in the distant pavilion in leisure and soft clothes, which looked unique and charming.

    Maner defended at the door, ording to an indication of Qin Yunuan. Before she left, she could not help but persuade, ¡°There is no need to meet him, Third Young Madam. There are many people in the mansion. If somebody saw us, we would get into trouble.¡±

    Qin Yunuan shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s OK. You and Ting Xue will watch if somebodyes in. Now the thing gets into this situation. If I did not get the thing clear with him, it would be harder to exin it in the future.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stepped slowly towards the man in the pavilion. The man who had waited for a long time here seemed to notice the smell of woman behind him and then turned back delightfully. He looked more pleased after he found the woman was Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Third Miss from Qin Family, youe.¡± The man was about to walk closer to Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Young Master Li, I am the young madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. You can call me Third Young Madam or Infanta Ping like others.¡± Qin Yunuan stepped back unconsciously. The man was Li Jiaxuan. After the death of Li Weijun due to disease, Li Jiaxuan became more peaked. He missed the entrance examination of the Imperial College in Autumn, which he was likely to win the membership. He could only attend the selection in Autumn next year. By his wisdom, it was easy for him to be listed in the imperial court.

    Li Jiaxuan was a little bit embarrassed. He lowered his eyes but still focused on Qin Yunuan. Thedy¡¯s smile, joy and sorrow had engraved on his mind after he met her in Wan¡¯an Temple. He felt extremely depressed when he heard that Qin Yunuan would marry into Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. He thought himself useless because he could not propose marriage to Qin Family aboveboard without the achievement.

    ¡°Well, I take the music scoreposed by me here.¡± Li Jiaxuan seemed to find a way to break the embarrassment. He said while taking out a pile of white paper where there were many special music symbols, ¡°This is the music score of Pure Serene Music yed by Miss Sun tonight. I wrote it down from my memory. If you have any questions about it, you cane to find me again.¡± The words e to find me again¡± was spoken in a low voice, which expressed his expectation and disappointment.

    That was why Qin Yunuan wanted to meet him. Li Jiaxuan was a famous talent of tonality in Royal Capital. He could write the music score down correctly no matter howplicated the music was if he heard the melody. When Qin Yunuan knew that Sun Baozhen was determined to request to dance together with her, she indicated Maner to find Li Jiaxuan secretly who came to the feast too.

    ¡°Thanks for your music score.¡± Qin Yunuan stayed away from Li Jiaxuan all the time. She turned back to give a sign to Maner at the door, and then Maner walked here to pass a pile of banknotes to her.

    A thick pile of banknotes was worth about several thousands of taels of silver.

    The moment Li Jiaxuan felt confused, Qin Yunuan put the banknotes in the hands of Li Jiaxuan, ¡°I heard that after the death of Sister Li, Li Family held a luxurious funeral for her, which cost too much. This is my hearted gift that repays your help this time.¡±

    Generally, people thought this was just a music score that was not worth several thousands of taels of silver, but for Qin Yunuan, the music score was more valuable. It might express that she had bought the biggest secret of Sun Family.

    Li Jiaxuan smiled bitterly, ¡°Actually, you know that, with my affection to you, I am willing to do everything for you no matter how dangerous the situation is. I wrote the music score for you, not because of the money notes.¡±

    Li Jiaxuan said with expectant eyes.

    ¡°Young Master Li, I know your affection, so I want to tell you this time. We are different in identity, position and ambition. And more importantly, Changxi is the only man in my heart. He treats me so well. I can¡¯t love other men except hi. Please, do not draw my portraiture in the picture gallery. If someone else knew it, both of us would be in great danger.¡±

    Li Jiaxuan felt a little bit surprise and then apologized, ¡°At that time, I did not overthink. I just thought about you, and then...¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s OK,¡± Qin Yunuan sighed, ¡°I have dispatched people to buy all of my picture drawn by you. Young Master Li, you are a good man, and you will find a gooddy to be your wife. Your couple will be happy with your children forever.¡±

    Li Jiaxuan shuddered a little but heard the sound that Ting Xue, who should be at the Chuihua Gate, rushed into the pavilion.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, something bad happened. Second Madam was leading many people toe to the pavilion aggressively.¡±

    At this moment, there were only two people, the madam Qin Yunuan and the young master Li Jiaxuan here. People would not believe them even if there were two maidservants here. Besides, Li Jiaxuan was holding the banknotes.

    Maner made up her mind decisively, ¡°Ting Xue. You take Third Young Madam away. I have an idea.¡±

    ¡°Maner, what are you going to do?¡± Qin Yunuan had almost guessed the idea of Maner.

    Li Jiaxuan waspletely in a daze without a word.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, we shall leave first. It will be bad to bete.¡± Ting Xue pulled Qin Yunuan, and Maner pushed Qin Yunuan away.

    When Second Madam led many maidservants and nannies to rush into the courtyard, they only saw two shadows in the pavilion faintly, one was tall and robust, and the other was short and delicate like Qin Yunuan. The eyes of the Second Madam became bloody immediately. She ran over there with her maidservants, and shouted, ¡°Qin Yunuan, how dare you! You are having an affair!¡±

    But everybody was astonished by thenterns¡¯ light on.

    ¡°Who is the little b*tch?¡± Second Madam frowned, but then recollected quickly, ¡°Oh! I know. You are the little maidservant of Third Young Madam. So, you came to this dark ce to date with the man instead of serving your master in Jiyu Pavilion. It¡¯s funny. When those above behave unworthily, those below will do the same.¡±

    ¡°Bah,¡± Maner shouted with her straight back, ¡°Don¡¯t frame me.¡±

    ¡°Frame you?¡± Second Madam suddenly came closer to pull out the bank notes hidden in Li Jiaxuan heavily. Several banknotes ofrge denomination fell on the ground, ¡°How about these? You are just a poor schr. The other days, your father came to my mother¡¯s home to beg for money. I thought Li Family had almost copsed, but to my surprise, you are still rich. Tell me. That money was used to redeem the bitch?¡±

    The word ¡°Bitch¡± spoken by Second Madam was so coarse, and even Li Jiaxuan could not help but refute, ¡°Second Madam, Maner and I are clear.¡±

    Li Jiaxuan wove his hand, and then one small and one bigger figure portrayals fell down on the ground from his sleeve. The delicate figure was a girl with long hair. They were the secret belongings when he was sleepless, and the figure was Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°There are more. Somebody takes the portrayal back! I want to figure out who the figure is.¡±

    Those nannies crowded to pick the portrayal, but Maner moved quickly. She hid it into her clothes. She could not let those ferocious nannies see the figure was her master, or the reputation of her master would be destroyed.

    ¡°Pinch the little b*tch¡¯s hands and take the portrayal back.¡± Second Young Madam frowned and ordered.

    Having seen that there were too many nannies in front of her, Maner threw the portrayal into a water potting in the pavilion. The portrayal was dissolved after touching the water, causing that the figure got so blurry.

    Second Madam got so vexed but did not give up, ¡°Fine. Take the two people back. The Old Madam will judge them. We must find more.¡±

    In Jiyu Pavillion, Qin Yunuan rushed back, and Xi¡¯er was waiting at the door.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, the Old Madam dispatched people just now to let you go there at once.¡±

    ¡°OK.¡± Qin Yunuan frowned and looked at the wet bottom of her skirt due to rain on her way back. She was about to enter her room to change another dress. When she came in, she found Leng Changxi was sitting in front of the table leisurely to read over the materials from the military camp.

    Qin Yunuan felt relieved somehow when she saw Leng Changxi was at ease.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Leng Changxi asked without raising his head.

    Qin Yunuan was taking off her skirt. She got stunned when Leng Changxi asked suddenly. She looked at Leng Changxi surprisingly and thought that Leng Changxi had known the whole thing in the pavilion.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Yunuan looked a little bit embarrassed. She did not tell Leng Changxi in advance that she met Li Jiaxuan.

    ¡°Will you unt your superiority next time?¡± Leng Changxi raised his head and asked in a preceptive tone.

    Qin Yunuanughed out. She was only wearing a skirt, but she still walked forwardly andy on the shoulder of Leng Changxi, ¡°No, I won¡¯t. With the help of General Leng, I don¡¯t need to think and do more. I just worried that you would be angry if I let you know that I went to meet Young Master Li. You know that you are always impulsive. You will kill each one who offends me.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that good?¡± Leng Changxi said seriously, ¡°I love you so much with all of my efforts, so I have no more energy to love others.¡± Leng Changxi said while he was touching her waist and moved down. He frowned when he found Qin Yunuan was only wearing a skirt and her legs were a little bit cold, ¡°You can¡¯t take care of yourself well.¡± And then he unfolded a cloak on the chair and covered it onto the legs of Qin Yunuan.

    Qin Yunuan nodded with satisfaction like a cute animal, but she had another question, ¡°Why don¡¯t you get worried after you know what happened in the pavilion?¡±

    ¡°For what?¡±

    ¡°Maner became the scapegoat for me, if...¡± Qin Yunuan felt a little bit worried.

    ¡°Are you afraid that the Old Madam will force Maner to marry Young Master Li?¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded. After all, though Maner and Leng Wu did not express their love publicly, they have fallen in love indeed.

    ¡°Leng Wu is such a shy and dull man. Don¡¯t you think it is a good chance for them to expose their love with each other?¡± Leng Changxi suddenly smiled, and then a loud pop came from outside.

    ¡°Bodyguard Leng? Are you OK? Don¡¯t be so hurried.¡±

 Chapter 203 Finally a Couple

    <h4>Chapter 203 Finally a Couple</h4>

    In the Hexiang Courtyard, the old madam was tired from guarding the tricks of the Sun family. The second madam sent her servant to beg Yuanyang several times before she finally agreed to ask the old madam about it.

    ¡°Always causing troubles.¡± The old madam was resting on a couch, with soothing incense burning on the red-paint tea table next to her. She had a headache recently, so she hadn¡¯t rested well for quite a while.

    ¡°Old madam, so you¡¯re not seeing them?¡± Yuanyang asked as she was about to send the servant girl off.

    ¡°Forget it,¡± The old madam straightened up and stopped Yuanyang, ¡°Let her in.¡±

    Soon, the second madam hurried in with four nannies. The nannies were separated into two groups, keeping watch on Li Jiaxuan and Maner. They smartly went out as soon as they came inside the room.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter this time?¡± The old madam was annoyed. ¡°You¡¯ve never been settled ever since your marriage.¡± Even though both her biological sons, Prince Ning had apletely different character with the second master Leng. Moreover, Li, second master Leng¡¯s wife, was a dominant woman. It was natural that the old madam likes prince Ning more.

    ¡°Don¡¯t make fun of me,¡± The second madam Li smiled tteringly. ¡°It¡¯s all for the good of the mansion. If what happened today was leaked, it¡¯ll be bad for the mansion¡¯s reputation.¡± The second madam looked at Li Jiaxuan and Maner, then told the old madam what happened in the pavilion, with lots of her own interpretations. Atst, she said firmly, ¡°There have been rumors in the streets that there are many paintings of the third young madam in a painting house in the royal city. Today, the servant girl of the third young madam acts so close with Mr. Li. Old madam, you really can¡¯t me me for thinking too much.¡±

    ¡°You just said that this Mr. Li was having some time with this servant girl, what does it have to do with Yunuan?¡± Li¡¯s words were apparently illogical and exaggerating. The old madam could tell that it was problematic.

    Li opened her mouth and only said after a while, ¡°This servant girl is close to Qin Yunuan. Mr. Li has a feeling for Qin Yunuan for a long time. If it wasn¡¯t for Qin Yunuan, how could he approach the servant girl?¡±

    Li Jiaxuan argued with a blush on his face, ¡°I¡¯m just a friend with third young madam. I didn¡¯t do anything inappropriate.¡±

    ¡°See,¡± The second madam covered her mouth with a handkerchief andughed, ¡°If you don¡¯t have a feeling for Qin Yunuan, why do you defend her so anxiously?¡±

    ¡°Third young madam has done nothing wrong. You¡¯re the one who frames her first.¡± Maner could help but said.

    ¡°How dare you call me ¡®you¡¯? You¡¯re no more than a servant, don¡¯t you know who¡¯s in charge here?¡± The second madam said angrily. Then she suddenly reacted something, and she turned to the serious old madam and smiled, ¡°What do you think, old madam?¡±

    ¡°Surely you should know who¡¯s in charge here.¡± The old madam sneered and looked at the second madam. Then she turned her nce to Li Jiaxuan. ¡°Mr. Li is our guest. We should treat him politely. As for the servant girl,¡± The old madam turned to Maner, ¡°For whatever reason, it¡¯s against the rules to meet a man alone in the backyard. I can¡¯t pretend that nothing happened, even if you¡¯re Yunuan¡¯s servant girl. You shall be beaten.¡±

    ¡°Old madam, it¡¯s nothing to do with her.¡± Li Jiaxuan didn¡¯t want to harm the innocent Maner. ¡°It¡¯s just that I have something to ask for, and Maner came to tell me to obey the rules. Old madam, please don¡¯t me the innocent.¡±

    ¡°A rule is a rule.¡± The old madam was determined about it. She signaled to Yuanyang, and people came in to drag Maner away. The old madam looked at the second madam, ¡°Are you satisfied now?¡±

    Apparently, the second madam wanted more than this. The old madam was clearly defending Qin Yunuan by closing the case so quickly.

    The sound of ps came in soon. The three-inch-thick timber nk was extremely rigid, and it could really hurt when hitting on flesh. Suddenly, the muffled sound stopped, and the sound of someone breaking the nk came next.

    ¡°Guard Leng, this is the old madam¡¯s order. I hope you won¡¯t disturb us.¡±

    ¡°I want to see the old madam.¡± Leng Wu¡¯s voice was cold but powerful.

    ¡°The old madam is talking to the second madam.¡±

    ¡°Piss off! I said I want to see the old madam.¡±

    The door curtain was opened in the next moment. Leng Wu held Maner across his chest and appeared at the door. There was sweat on Maner¡¯s forehead, and she fainted.

    ¡°How dare you? Don¡¯t you know what this ce is? It¡¯s not somewhere that a guard like you could enter on your own wish.¡± The second madam yelled.

    Leng Wu didn¡¯t bother looking at second madam, and he held Maner close to his chest. He loosened a badge from his waist and kicked it with his heel to Yuanyang. Yuan held it with her hands. It was a fourth-ss guard badge granted by the imperial court.

    ¡°I¡¯m now seeing the first-ss madam Jingguo as a fourth-ss guard.¡± Leng Wu looked at the second madam, ¡°As for you, the second madam, you have no title nor sses. I don¡¯t have to ask for your approval.¡±

    The second madam was embarrassed and said with a low volume, ¡°Surely one bes rude if he stays with a military man for too long.¡±

    The old madam didn¡¯t even raise her head, ¡°It¡¯s a special way to see me.¡±

    Leng Wu slowly put Maner in a chair. His eyes were bright as he suddenly knelt to the ground, determined. The loud thump daunted the other servant girls in the room. Leng Wu seriously kowtowed thrice to the old madam and said, ¡°Old madam, Leng Wu wants you to assign a marriage for me.¡±

    The old madam raised her brows, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that you¡¯re marrying this servant girl.¡±

    Leng Wu raised his head and said extremely firmly, ¡°I¡¯ll marry no one else.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not worth it.¡± The old madam took a sip of tea.

    ¡°It¡¯s worthy as long as I find it worthy.¡±

    The old madam sneered, ¡°Young people like you always live in fantasies. There¡¯s aw in Qi that officials can¡¯t marry servants. Servant girls like Maner, who was sold into the mansions since young, always sign live and death contracts with them, which means that she is a servant for the rest of her life. If you want to marry her, either you be a servant, or it¡¯s impossible.¡± The old madam twitched her mouth in disdain, ¡°Think about it. You¡¯re a fourth-ss guard. This is a title that so many people would dream of. You need to be certain about it.¡±

    Leng Wu said without any hesitation, ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind.¡±

    The old madam turned her head away, ¡°Well, I have no say in this, though. Maner¡¯s live and death contract is with the Qin family. Her belongings are also a decision of the Qin family.¡±

    Leng Wu was sad, but a soft woman¡¯s voice came in, ¡°Not necessarily.¡±

    ¡°Third young madam.¡± The servant girls outside greeted her as she came close.

    ¡°Greetings, old madam, and second madam.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled like a breeze in spring. It was refreshing. But it all seemed like teasing to the second madam.

    ¡°It¡¯s nice of you to talk with the old madam even when it¡¯s sote already.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled towards the second madam, but the second madam sneered hostilely.

    Seeing Qin Yunuan, the old madam¡¯s expression rxed a bit. She just pointed at Maner, who was still fainted and said, ¡°You¡¯re to decide the belonging of a Qin family servant girl.¡±

    ¡°I heard it all just now.¡± Qin Yunuan looked at Leng Wu. ¡°In face, Maner is not a servant.¡±

    People were stunned, as they heard Qin Yunuan continued, ¡°I was having a hard time with my mother in the back room of Qin¡¯s Mansion back then. My mother was kind, so she took out all the live and death contracts of the servants and set them free. Maner and nurse Liao were the only ones who stayed. However, mother didn¡¯t want to restrict them, so she burnt their contracts.¡±

    ¡°Huh,¡± The second madamughed, covering her face, ¡°Which means that this girl doesn¡¯t have an identity? That¡¯s even worse than a servant. She should be sent to the officials.¡±

    ¡°Not anymore.¡± Leng Changxi appeared at the door before anyone had noticed, with a brand-new identity certificate in his hands. ¡°Fifteen minutes ago, Maner had be the fourth Miss of the Shang family, who had gone missing twenty years ago. She¡¯s now a daughter of an official, which will make a perfect match with Leng Wu.¡±

    The second madam wasn¡¯t satisfied, ¡°But she didn¡¯t have an identity for the past many years.¡±

    Leng Changxi shrugged, ¡°So what? Not anymore.¡±

    ¡°You...¡± The second madam was speechless.

    ¡°Alright. If everything is settled, then return to your own ces. I¡¯m old now, and I just want some rest.¡± The old madam rubbed her brows. Lately, her headache was getting more severe. Even Sun Miaoyang can¡¯t improve her situation. Perhaps there was too much for her to worry about.

    ¡°Then what about my wedding and the maner?¡± Leng Wu asked rigidly.

    ¡°Dummy,¡± Maner had woken up and opened her eyes. She pinched Leng Wu¡¯s arm lightly, ¡°Everyone had understood, yet you¡¯re still asking.¡±

    Leng Wu was embarrassed, while Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan looked at each other and smiled.

    Everything was perfectly solved. Even Maner had regained her consciousness, Leng Wu wouldn¡¯t allow her to walk back on her own. He didn¡¯t care that so many people were watching them, and he put Maner on his back. Maner was shy and blushed.

    ¡°Look at him, third young madam.¡±

    ¡°He likes you a lot, so he naturally wants to treat you well. Just ept it.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled. The determination and directness of Leng Wu were just like Leng Changxi.

    The second madam was naturally dissatisfied. However, with Leng Changxi on Qin Yunuan¡¯s side, she couldn¡¯t even say nasty words to her.

    A whileter, when they were about to arrive at Jiyu Pavillion, some rapid foot sounded behind them.

    Qin Yunuan turned back and stunned, ¡°Yuanyang? Why are you here?¡±

    Yuanyang said with a low voice, ¡°Third young madam, the old madam had a heartache, and she wants Doctor Sun.¡±

    Qin Yunuan immediately turned around and was about to ask the nanny guarding the door to invite Sun Miaoyang. However, Yuanyang stopped her and said, ¡°Third young madam, what the old madam means was to tell no one else about it. It would be best if only you, Doctor Sun, and third young master know.¡±

    Qin Yunuan frowned. The old madam had been unwell recently. Everyone knew about Sun Miaoyang treating her in the past. Now that the old madam wanted to hide it, the situation must be quite severe.

 Chapter 204 Gold Treasure

    <h4>Chapter 204 Gold Treasure</h4>

    Qin Yunuan felt uneasy, so she decided to go there with Sun Miaoyang. The cold midnight wind was like sharp knives stabbing people¡¯s faces. Sun Miaoyang entered the room under the guidance of Yuanyang. He had stayed there to treat the Old Madam for nearly an hour. Qin Yunuany on the Zen chair sleepily and suddenly heard a dismal female voice, ¡°Third Young Madam, the Old Madam called you in.¡±

    Qin Yunuan opened her eyes and saw exactly that Sun Miaoyang shook his head while ordered the nanny topound the medicine.

    ¡°Predecessor Sun,¡± Qin Yunuan stepped forward and asked, ¡°How is the Old Madam?¡±

    Sun Miaoyang shook his head, ¡°Since the Old Madam called you in, you would know it when you meet her.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was speechless and had guessed the worst situation. Sun Miaoyang suddenly added, ¡°Do you know what the oak looks like when it is eaten awaypletely by termites?¡±

    ¡°Uh?¡±

    Sun Miaoyang sighed, ¡°Now the Old Madam is like a hollow oak, who looks normal from outside, but is totally feeble inside.¡±

    Yuanyang had almost the condition. She just lowered her head and said, ¡°Third Young Madam, the Old Madam is waiting for you.¡±

    Crescent-white gauze curtain drooping down on the ground was raised by golden hooks. Qin Yunuan could see vaguely that the Old Madam was lying sidling feebly. There was no any personal maidservant in the room, even including Yuanyang, the close maidservant around the Old Madam. The Old Madam was rebuking the Second Madam in the hall spiritedly just now, but just in a sh, she got so feeble, who was so helpless and poor.

    ¡°The Old Madam.¡±

    ¡°Yunuan? Youe. Come here.¡± The Old Madam raised the curtain by her sere and old hands, waving her hands towards Qin Yunuan faintly.

    Suddenly, Qin Yunuan felt so sorry and couldn¡¯t bear to step closer.

    The Old Madam did not force her to approach and just said to Qin Yunuan several steps away, ¡°You have seen that I have been unhealthy for many years. In the early years, I attended the battles with the Old Master and had miscarried twice. The doctor said that I had a cold womb so I could hardly get pregnant. And thenter, I tried my best to give birth to two children, Zhongxiao and Zhongyi, so I cherished my two children very much. I cared much about the marriage of them, the offspring of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. I wanted to select the girls with the best family background for my children of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. I disliked you when you married into the mansion at first. Please do not me me.¡±

    ¡°The Old Madam, don¡¯t say that,¡± Qin Yunuan still remembered that the Old Madam went to the Royal Pce together with her enterprisingly, and sought for help from the Queen Mother, ¡°You always master the overall situation, so it is natural for you to think much more.¡±

    ¡°Holiday words are over, and then I want to say something impolite.¡± The Old Madam moved her body with difficulty, ¡°You have a menial family background and offended many people. Now Qin Family suffers a strict investigation from the emperor due to the Third Prince. And those people in the Royal Pce have been making efforts to kill you. I just want to ask you if you make sure that you can protect yourself.¡±

    Qin Yunuan pondered for a while and then nodded, ¡°I can protect myself.¡±

    The Old Madam sighed and then suddenly asked, ¡°Can you protect Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion?¡±

    Qin Yunuan felt a little bit sunned. She could almost understand her words, so....

    ¡°Can you? I just want your answer.¡±

    Qin Yunuan said seriously, ¡°Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion is my root. The root is alive, so I am alive. The root is dead, so I am dead.¡±

    ¡°Nice.¡± The Old Madam nodded, and then suddenly called Yuanyang in. She ordered her to open a concealed cab in the bedside. Yuanyang seemed to be hesitant and even looked at Qin Yunuan with vignt eyes.

    ¡°Bastard, don¡¯t you obey my order?¡± The Old Madam cursed. Yuanyang opened the concealed cab with tears. She sobbed, ¡°The Old Madam, you have said that the concealed cab can only be opened after you are dead.¡±

    The Old Madam closed her eyes without a word. After Yuanyang passed the palm-sized agwood box to Qin Yunuan and then quitted, the Old Madam said in an aged voice slowly, ¡°Now the wildly recognized Four Families in Qi are Shangguan Family in the regions south of the River, Dou Family in Yangzhou, Shen Family and Cui Family in Baling. Do you know that the Four Families were totally different fifty years ago?¡±

    ¡°I heard about it roughly,¡± Qin Yunuan thought seriously and then said, ¡°Yunuan just knew that fifty years ago Sun Family was in its full bloom,pared to its position today.¡±

    ¡°Fifty years ago, the Fourth Family are Sun Family in Jinling, Meng Family in Luguan, Leng Family in the Southwest region and our Ge Family, Duke Jingguo.¡±

    ¡°So Leng Family is?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion you see today is just a branch of Leng Family. You must feel confused why the Four Families, which were powerful fifty years ago, now decline. At that age, the Four Families were in their prime and very united. Their members got married and helped each other. You know that the most terrible thing the emperor fears is that civil power is higher than the imperial power. So the previous emperor got a good idea. Without the loss of his military power, he made the Four Families fight against each other, which caused the severe damages of their power.¡±

    ¡°What idea?¡±

    The Old Madam took a deep breath and seemed to recall the whole thing when she was still a young girl, ¡°At that time, the emperor just conquered the capital of South Yue. South Yue abounded in gold. After the emperor of South Yue surrendered, he submitted thousands of gold. The problem was how to store thousands of gold safely. The previous wise emperor ordered people to dig a big cave in a mountain near North Di, and even the craftsmen did not know the specific location of the cave. Those craftsmen were taken into the cave with their eyes muffled. Finally, all of them were killed and buried into a big prit in front of the cave. The only man who knew the location was the supervisor, but he was poisoned to death after he finished the only map. The previous emperor divided the map into four parts and gave each part to the master of the Four Family.¡±

    ¡°So people could find the gold buried in the remote mountain only when the four parts got united?¡± Qin Yunuan almost guessed, ¡°But the Four Families had their disputes of interest, so each party wanted to gain the whole gold. Even if they did not want to gain the gold, people in the rivers andkes would hunt people from the Four families to unite the four parts of the map after they knew the news about the gold.¡±

    ¡°You are smart,¡± The Old Madam paused for a while and seemed to nod, ¡°That¡¯s almost the fact. The Four Families got copsed. The most well-known branch of Leng Family in Southwest regions is Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, but its power decreased a lot. And as for Meng Family, only Meng Hua and Imperial Concubine Yun left. You have seen that they have no more power. Ge Family surrendered to the emperor and finally got an empty title of Duke Jingguo. Only Sun Family, it was the most dreadful.¡±

    Qin Yunuan suddenly thought the weird little boy from Sun Family Baochuan had told her. She remembered that the little boy was called Sun Chengzhen. Baochuan was not a boldfaced man. ording to Baochuan, the moment he saw Sun Chengzhen, he felt that his soul was controlled. There was only one sound in his mind that drove him to walk forward. He kept walking forward and finally fell into a pond.

    ¡°So Sun Family relied on the witchcraft?¡± She felt doubtful when she thought that Madam Sun exined the magic so clearly in the feast.

    ¡°No,¡± The Old Madam shook her head, ¡°I should not have told you that, but I may die soon, so you would get ready if you knew it early. It is not an ability but a kind of curse. Just like the other three families, Sun Family experienced copse too. But thirty years ago, a male member of Sun Family suddenly stood out and reunited the family. He was Sun Chengzhen.¡±

    ¡°No way.¡± Qin Yunuan cried, ¡°The little boy was about the same age as Baochuan. He was five to six years old. How could he...thirty years ago.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± The Old Madam said slowly, ¡°Don¡¯t you remember that all the male members of Sun Family would die after thirty years old? Sun Chengzhen guided the family into its prime again and died at his birthday of thirty. Since then, Sun Family would select the most talented boy and named it Sun Chengzhen, in memory of him. They expected the boy to bring miracles to the family. You must feel funny about their superstition. No, there are more miraculous things in Sun Family. Although all of Sun Chengzhen would die after seventeen to eighteen years old, their mother became leaders to guide the family more prosperous. However, anyhow, there was a doom in Sun Family that was hard to escape. The male members of Sun Family became more and more short-lived, and someone even died after five years old.¡±

    ¡°You win some, and you lose some.¡± Qin Yunuan sighed helplessly, though she knew that the thing must be moreplicated.

    ¡°Yes, Sun Family has gained too much. Except for the part of the map from its own family, they have collected the maps from Meng Family and Ge Family. They could find the treasure if they found the part from Leng Family. If they could achieve that, Sun Family would be as rich as the country. They could collect more followers and would not fear the problem of male¡¯s short lives in Sun Family.¡±

    ¡°Sun Family, they are too frightening.¡± Qin Yunuan felt cold behind. Just for collecting all of the maps, they paid their whole family. Now it was clear that Sun Family sent their daughters constantly into Leng Family, probably for the map from the family.

    ¡°Frightening?¡± The Old Madam sneered, ¡°Finally, they were mastered by my elder sister.¡±

    The elder sister of the Old Madam was the Queen Mother?

    ¡°Do you know why I had a cold rtionship with my elder sister from the beginning?¡± The Old Madam tilted her head and said with her tired and weak eyes, ¡°Because the idea of dividing the Four Families by the map was from my elder sister. The Queen Mother gave the idea to the previous emperor. At that time, her heart was full of her ambitious husband. She even put the gun back to her family just to help the man to consolidate his power. I did want to give up, and I did not understand. How could love make a woman chaotic.¡±

    ¡°But now? The Queen Mother must have done more.¡± Or Sun Family must have gained the four maps already.

    ¡°Right,¡± The Old Madam gave a weird smile, ¡°My elder sister also yed tricks to let the male members short-lived in Sun Family. Thirty years ago, When Sun Chengzhen held the wedding, my elder sister had yed tricks on the bride secretly. The girl they gave birth to would be fine, but the boy would be dead early. My elder sister was such a high master-hand, and generally she tortured Sun Family into a small family.¡±

 Chapter 205 The Mysterious Suicide Note

    <h4>Chapter 205 The Mysterious Suicide Note</h4>

    Qin Yunuan felt more bitterly disappointed when she heard those things. Stunned, she stared at Old Madam and found that those words had consumed her so much that she looked weak and debilitated now. Telling those things was like she had experienced the miseries that she had witnessed again when she was still the daughter of the Ge Family. Her family had been deadly chased by non-governmental forces and trapped by other influential families. Those things did not end until the Ge Family pledged allegiance to the Imperial Court.

    The wooden box was still in Qin Yunuan¡¯s hands. At this moment, she felt that it was so heavy... If she was right...

    ¡°In this box is Leng Family¡¯s part of the map,¡± Old Madam¡¯s breath was feeble like she only had a faint breath of life left, ¡°Now, I give it to you. You shall bear in mind that this map is the lifeblood of the Leng Family. If the Sun Family gets it, our Family will be abandoned by both the Sun Family and the emperor. The root that you¡¯ve mentioned would no longer be in existence.¡±

    ¡°Old Madam.¡± It was the first time that Qin Yuan had to carry on such a heavy responsibility on her shoulders.

    ¡°You¡¯ve said that you had the capability to guard the family. Then show me what you¡¯ve got.¡± When she finished, Old Madam¡¯s lips were still open slightly, but no sound was made. Her eyes were closed tightly as if they would never open again.

    ¡°Old Madam,¡± Qin Yunuan came to sit by her side at once and called her softly. But Old Madam kept still, and her hands and feet were cold. When Qin Yunuan got up to summon Yuanyang, Old Madam finally opened her mouth emotionlessly after a long silence. ¡°Why the panic! Didn¡¯t Sun Miaoyang tell you that I would not die in a short time? The Sun Family ising. How could I pass away before facing off against the old friend that I haven¡¯t seen for years? I¡¯m very tired. You can leave now.¡±

    Qin Yunuan did not dare to bother her any longer. She held the ck box more tightly, which was the secret between them. Outside the house, Ting Xue and Xi¡¯er, who had been waiting, came up to Qin Yunuan immediately. However, Qin Yunuan passed them by and walked directly towards Yuanyang who looked frustrated.

    Yuanyang had been a major servant girl of Old Madam for a long time, who waspletely loyal to her. It was natural that she felt terrible after knowing the bad health condition of Old Madam.

    ¡°Old Madam is fine. If I were you, I will think about how to take care of her and protect her when the Sun Familyes around,¡± Qin Yunuan said and saw the light of awakening in Yuanyang¡¯s eyes, ¡°Sun Baozhen wille three dayster. We should be careful.¡±

    Yuanyang nodded in silence.

    It did not take long before the Second Madam of the East House learned about the message that Old Madam had given a mysterious box made of eaglewood to Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Pooh,¡± Second Madam said. The maid was smoothing toner made of flowers on her face, and that action made the toner ssh and messed it up. She then wiped up her face with a silk handkerchief andined to the Second Master who was lying on the bad and smoking hookahs leisurely, ¡°That old woman must have given something good to that little b*tch.¡±

    ¡°She can do whatever she wants,¡± Second Master¡¯s response was quite disappointing, ¡°I just don¡¯t understand. We have enough materials. Why do you always scramble with them?¡±

    ¡°I did it for our son,¡± Second Madam was annoyed by his indifferent personality, ¡°Humph, that old woman is too prejudiced. After her daughter-inw died, she would rather give things to her granddaughter-inw instead of us. Anyway, she doesn¡¯t want to give us any benefits.¡±

    ¡°Shut up,¡± Second Master covered his wife¡¯s mouth nervously, ¡°Grand Sister-inw passed away just a few days before. Those words were disrespectful. Aren¡¯t you afraid of being haunted by her ghost?¡±

    ¡°Bah. No evil influence can do any harm,¡± Second Madam hurried to cover his mouth, ¡°What are you talking about? I should be thest person that she would haunt. Besides, she had harmed so many people. She deserved the end.¡±

    Second Madam raised her eyebrows and turned over to smooth the toner left, not caring about what they had said about the ghost. However, a dark shadow fell down from the beam of the room and appeared outside the window with a bang. It could tell from the disheveled hair that it should be a woman. Its head raised slightly like it was hanging on the eave.

    ¡°Oh!¡± Second Madam screamed and pointed at the dark shadow with her quivering forefinger. Shaky with shock, she could not say any other words. Other servant girls in the room were also crying.

    ¡°Ghost! Ghost!¡±

    Second Master even cover his head with the quilt cowardly and stammered to scold his wife, ¡°Look what you did! I told you not to talk about ghosts. Sister-inw, it wasn¡¯t me who harmed you. Haunt other people. Don¡¯t...don¡¯te to me.¡±

    ¡°People! Someone helps! Who on earth was scaring me with a doll? If I find out, I will not let you off!¡± Second Madam screamed. At this time, the servants and nannies outside hade around. A bold servant even poked the woman hanging under the eave with a stick beside the parterre, and then he shouted to people inside, ¡°Second Madam, it¡¯s not like a doll. It...it looks like a dead person.¡±

    Some daring people even set the corpse right with a stick and poked her hair aside to take a closer look. At this time, someone realized who she was suddenly.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t she...wasn¡¯t she nurse Liao at Third Young Madam¡¯s courtyard?¡±

    Soon, the news that nurse Liao¡¯s dead body was found on Second Madam¡¯s eave spread to Jiyu Pavillion.

    It was almost daybreak. As expected, the force that escorted Prince Ray to Imperial Mausoleum got into trouble. Qin Yunuan had sent Leng Changxi out earlier. Both of them guessed that they must have lost track of Prince Ray.

    Ting Xue came to report the news hurriedly when Qin Yunuan was about to take a nap.

    ¡°Really?¡± Qin Yunuan was astonished by this news.

    ¡°Really and truly,¡± Ting Xue said seriously. She could not believe this thing, too. Because...

    ¡°Leng Shuang had sent people to guard nurse Liao¡¯s house. Why would this happen?¡± It needed great capability to escape from the protection of Leng Shuang¡¯s subordinates, move it from the suburbs of the Royal City into Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion and hang her on Second Madam¡¯s eave so fast. Qin Yunuan could only think of one person who had the capability.

    For the first time, Qin Yunuan felt that the situation was bing difficult.

    When Qin Yunuan headed off with Tingxue and Xi¡¯er, the servants were moving down nurse Liao¡¯s dead body from the eave with a hook. She looked very terrible, beingpletely blue in the face. Her eyes popped out, and her tongue stuck out for three inches. Her skirt was stained with some filth, which smelled bad.

    No one was willing to hold the corpse with hands. The youngest servant was pushed to the forefront. He frowned and then tried to touch nurse Liao¡¯s ankle gingerly with his eyes closed. However, when the rope was loosened, the heavy corpse fell to the ground directly. The servant opened his eyes and saw nurse Liao¡¯s eyes that were still open. He was so scared that he dropped the corpse and ran away, shouting, ¡°Shees back! Her eyes were moving!¡±

    Standing aside, Second Madam stamped her feet. ¡°Bastard,e back! You are all useless. It¡¯s just a dead maid. There¡¯s nothing to be afraid of.¡±

    Qin Yunuan had been standing by the door for a while. She took the chance toe in. ¡°You¡¯d better show some respect to the dead, Second Madam.¡±

    Second Madam red at Qin Yunuan when she caught the sight of her, ¡°Oh, Third Young Madames here. That was easy for you to say. The dead one was your nanny, but you did not care a bit. How strange it is!¡±

    Qin Yunuan nced at her, ¡°Nurse Liao had made some mistakes, and I asked her to go back home and think about it as punishment. I did not expect that she would die.¡±

    ¡°Huh, what you didn¡¯t expect was much more,¡± Second Madam frowned, regardless of the wink of Second Master. She asked a maid who was holding a tray toe closer. It was a letter lying in the tray. Though they could not tell the content, the letter was very long. ¡°This letter had dropped out of her arms. I did not touch it as it was from the dead. It was likely written for you, Third Young Madam. After all, she was your maid, wasn¡¯t she?¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded and said, ¡°This can be considered as nurse Liao¡¯s things. No matter whom the letter was written for, you¡¯d better hand it to Old Madam since nurse Liao is dead.¡±

    Second Madam nced at Qin Yunuan, ¡°Sure enough, your rtionship with Old Madam is different now. You are sure that Old Madam will side with you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan had no intention to talk more. ¡°I¡¯m just fact-oriented. Xi¡¯er, Old Madam had sent Yuanyang to inquire about the situation when we came out, hadn¡¯t she? Come to report to Old Madam that a suicide note from nurse Liao was found, and we hope that she would take a look.¡± Qin Yunuan ignored Second Madam directly.

    The death of nurse Liao in Second Madam¡¯s courtyard spread to the East Garden and Concubine Tang¡¯s ce like weeds. It has been a troublesome time in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, the Royal City, and even Qi. Before long, everyone had shown up at the Lotus Fragrance Courtyard. Even Prince Ning, who had been busy about imperial affairs, came back early and was sitting beside Old Madam.

    Old Madam still looked tired, but she was much better than yesterday. Everyone stayed away when the maid brought nurse Liao¡¯s suicide note. Only Yuanyang opened it quickly and read it under Old Madam¡¯s permission.

    The first half seemed to be recalling some past memories and telling Huang Dashi to marry a good wife. But the further she read, the stranger it became for Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, I¡¯mpletely loyal to you, but you drove me out of the mansion for your own benefit. I stay tight-lipped about the secret of your birth for the reputation of Concubine Yang as well as your life at Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. I could only prove my sincerity by death. Yours.¡±

    ¡°What does that mean?¡±

    Qin Yunuan frowned and had a foreboding.

    Ruan Ruyi guessed, ¡°Concubine Yang is Yunuan¡¯s mother. The letter mentioned the reputation of Concubine Yang. Does that mean...that Yunuan is not the biological daughter of Grand Commandant Qin but an illegitimate child?¡±

 Chapter 206 A Noble Family

    <h4>Chapter 206 A Noble Family</h4>

    The word ¡°illegitimate child¡± stimted Old Madam¡¯s nerves greatly. She had always paid attention to family lineage. When she knew that Qin Yunuan was the daughter of a concubine, Old Madam strongly opposed the marriage. However, Leng Changxi had a tough attitude, andter Qin Yunuan showed outstanding ability, so she let it go. But what if she wasn¡¯t the Qin family¡¯s blood? Old Madam grabbed the round handrail tightly.

    Concubine Tang poured oil on fire, ¡°No wonder Third Young Madam doesn¡¯t look like Grand Commandant Qin.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d better talk less of these unfounded words, Lady Tang.¡± Qin Yunuan said coldly. Comparing to Second Madam¡¯s fussing, Concubine Tang had a mouth that could stir up troubles.

    Prince Ning frowned and said, ¡°This maid died strangely. I don¡¯t know if the suicide note is real or not. Moreover, it has been such a long time. You can¡¯t make a random judgment based on one vague sentence.¡± After Prince Ning finished speaking, he looked at Old Madam, waiting for her opinion.

    Old Madam didn¡¯t speak for a while. Her eyes focused on Qin Yunuan. She had just handed her the biggest secret of the Leng Family yesterday, but now...

    ¡°In short, the blood of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion must be pure.¡± Old Madam closed her eyes. Her attitude was very clear.

    The servant girl outside went in and reported that an aged nanny came. She imed to be the midwife of Third Young Madam¡¯s birth and also a good friend of nurse Liao. The nanny came to collect the body of her.

    ¡°Oh, what a coincidence.¡± Concubine Tang quipped. ¡°We can now let her in and find out. Don¡¯t you agree, Third Young Madam?¡±

    Qin Yunuan was unperturbed, ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I agree on an opportunity that might prove my innocence?¡±

    After a short while, an old woman in her sixties stumbled into the room. She was wearing a pair of torn straw sandals, and her limbs were blue from the icy cold. As she stepped into the warm hall, herplexion turned red like fire.

    The old woman seemed to be from the country. When she saw the richly decorated inner hall, her eyes were about to fall out. Her greetings to the olddy and King Ning were even more exaggerated, kneeling on her knees and shouting auspicious words constantly.

    ¡°Olddy, stand up and talk.¡± Prince Ning ordered someone to bring a chair for the old woman, and the countrywoman immediately became equal to the wives and Young Madams in these houses.

    The nanny didn¡¯t speak very clearly regarding her age. It took a long conversation for them to learned that the woman¡¯s surname is Xu. She and nurse Liao had the same hometown. They also had a pair of auspicious locks that looked the same and would be passed on when they became inws. Sixteen years ago, it was because of this rtionship with nurse Liao that nanny Xu had the opportunity to enter the Qin family and deliver the baby for Lady Yang.

    ¡°Did you find anything strange during your delivery, olddy?¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked indifferent as Concubine Tang probed with excitement.

    Thisdy Xu considered seriously. After a while, she answered assuredly, ¡°I remembered that at that time three pennies were enough for my delivery fee, but Lady Yang was especiallyvish that day and gave me three taels of silver. I knew Concubine Yang was not in a good financial situation. It was strange that she was so generous all of a sudden. Later, sister Liao told me and asked me to tell the outsiders that this daughter was born prematurely, not full-term.¡±

    ¡°Yunuan was born prematurely?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Qin Yunuan answered honestly, ¡°Mother was not feeling well when she was pregnant. She was too tired sewing my father a coat, and I was born early.¡±

    ¡°No, no,¡± Nanny Xu shook her head sanctimoniously, ¡°I remembered it clearly that the girl was of a full-term pregnancy. Her crying was so loud. But that Lady asked me to say that she was of premature delivery, and I took her money. So she had a premature delivery. I know nothing about the secrets of this noble family.¡±

    Qin Yunuan snorted coldly, ¡°I was born early. The entire Qin Mansion knew that, and the nanny who came to serve meter also knew that my thin body was caused by premature birth.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± said Prince Ning, thinking the matter over, ¡°It happened so many years ago, olddy, did you remember it wrong?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± Nanny Xu shook her head repeatedly, ¡°I still remember that there was a butterfly-shaped birthmark on that daughter¡¯s back. If she was really Third Young Madam, you could check it.¡±

    ¡°This is not true,¡± Qin Yunuan said while looking at Xu with her cold and sharp eyes, ¡°When Consort Cao wronged me for having an affair with the young servant, she used the servant girl in my yard that eavesdropped on the mark on my body. An open secret cannot testify.¡±

    Prince Ning also nodded, ¡°Olddy, what other evidence do you have?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± said Nanny Xu as she took out a copper Yuanyang button from her purse. It was of primitive simplicity and cheap, ¡°Sister Liao asked me to deal with it then. It was a filthy thing, she said. It shouldn¡¯t be left in Qin¡¯s house. Otherwise, people would talk. The button was wrapped in a small kerchief, and I didn¡¯t know what it was. I just wondered if there was anything shameful about this Concubine Yang. After opening it, I realized that this button is from a pair of buttons, one for the man and one for the woman. Each pair was different. But the workmanship is too rough to the love token of Master Qin and Concubine Yang. I thought thisdy must have done something that vites the moral bottom line of a woman. I was about to take it to the pawnshop the next morning when I happened to see a man carrying another button to pawn. He looked familiar. Oh, isn¡¯t that the butler of the Qin Family? s, too many indecent things in a big noble family. We shouldn¡¯t talk too much as inferiors.¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Calm as Qin Yunuan was, she couldn¡¯t constrain herself in face of the constant wild talk of nanny Xu, ¡°How dare you discredit my mother? Being knowledgeable, reasonable, gentle, and loyal, she raised me and Baochuan up by herself. She was the best woman in the world. Leng Shuang, tear this woman¡¯s mouth for me.¡±

    Leng Shuang paused, and then stepped forward, Yuanyang immediately blocked in front, but she was still slightly inferior to Leng Shuang. When the olddy was about to stop Qin Yunuan, suddenly a powerful hand caught Leng Shuang¡¯s raising arm.

    It¡¯s Leng Wu.

    ¡°Yo, these servants have grown bold enough to break in.¡± Second Madam screeched.

    Leng Wu nced at her, and then at the terrified, shivering nanny Xu. He saluted and only said to Old Madam and Prince Ning, ¡°Old Madam, Master Prince, Sir Shangguan is here.¡±

    It became evident that this was not a casual visit. Shangguan Yi, the leading authority in the literature field of Qi, was no exception.

    ¡°Please lead him to the lobby to rest first. I will go right away.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± An old but powerful voice sounded from outside the door. In his white garment, Shangguan Yi suddenly appeared at the door, looking even more lofty and unyielding in the cold wind. Beside him stood no other men. It was Leng Changxi, wearing an icy mask. His eyes looking at Qin Yunuan, on the contrary, were very hot. For the first time, he saw such clear anger on Qin Yunuan¡¯s face. His little hedgehog has always been good at concealing her emotions in front of everyone, but today she was irritated for real.

    Prince Ning stood up to wee him immediately, ¡°It is my fault to have been so rude in not preparing for your sudden visit.¡±

    Shangguan Yi was a sage-like elder, and no one dared to underestimate his talent. Even the chatty Concubine Tang and Second Madam became cautious and humble. Old Madam and Shangguan Yi were of the same generation, but she also spoke to him very politely.

    ¡°I have no idea what drove you here in person, Sir Shangguan...¡± Old Madam smiled and ordered servants to ce a mahogany Zen chair for Shangguan Yi to sit beside her.

    ¡°I came for nothing else,¡± Shangguan Yi spoke in a calm manner, and took another look at Qin Yunuan, ¡°but only to find my rtives.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡±

    Shangguan Yi¡¯s eyes at Qin Yunuan were even morepassionate. He had long wanted to make Qin Baochuan and Qin Yunuan¡¯s identities public. Now that Baochuan¡¯s grades and hard work in the Imperial College are obvious to all, there was no need to worry about rumors. It was just that Qin Yunuan had always been low-key and unwilling to publicize, so he didn¡¯t force it. Hearing that Qin Yunuan was falsely used of being the wild species of the Qin family, he rushed over from the Imperial College as soon as Leng Changxi told him the news.

    Shangguan Yi held back his excitement, ¡°I only received the news yesterday. My long-lost little daughter floundered in the Royal City and became an embroiderer for a living. Later, she got married into the Qin family and became a concubine. My dearest, youngest daughter, Shangguan Yu, was the biological mother of Third Young Madam of your mansion. In other words, Qin Yunuan and Qin Baochuan are my granddaughter and grandson.¡±

    It struck everyone¡¯s heart like thunder.

    Second Madam and Concubine Tang couldn¡¯t believe it.

    ¡°Is Sir Shangguan for sure?¡± Prince Ning reconfirmed.

    Leng Changxi answered leisurely before Shangguan Yi could talk, ¡°Absolutely. The tokens, time, and birthmark are all consistent.¡±

    Second Madam was anxious, ¡°However, it¡¯s been so long. No one had seen how the Shangguan girl wandered all the way to the capital, became an embroiderer, and then entered the Qin Mansion. How could I believe it all?¡±

    Qin Yunuan snorted coldly, ¡°Then no one had seen with their own eyes that my mother broke her moral creeds and hooked up with men. No one had seen that she gave birth to a daughter who was obviously full-term but said to be premature. Second Madam, how could you believe it to be true?¡±

    Second Madam was silent. Shangguan Yi raised his tone in a timely manner, ¡°What? Someone wanted to nder Yu¡¯s innocence?¡±

    Second Madam shrank her neck, and Concubine Tang didn¡¯t dare to say anything. The nanny Xu only nced at Shangguan Yi before she was immediately scared to the ground by his stern eyes. She took her cue from other people¡¯s respect of Shangguan Yi. Knowing that he was a big role, she started kowtowing immediately.

    ¡°I need to confess my mistake. I need to confess. Forgive me. I remembered it wrong. I remembered that the daughter of the concubine was born prematurely. The newborn was like a kitten, so pitiful. I also made up the story of those Yuanyang buckles.¡±

 Chapter 207 The New Wife from Sun Family

    <h4>Chapter 207 The New Wife from Sun Family</h4>

    The urrence of Shangguan Yi made the previous posthumous papers and nanny Xu¡¯s words be a farce.

    Nanny Xu¡¯s eyes were turbid. She kept kowtowing to Shangguan Yi. She was bought to do so, so she didn¡¯t want to find trouble for herself.

    ¡°Kowtowing is useless,¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s words made nanny Xu stiff, ¡°ording to thew, the person incriminating the infanta of the fifth-grade of rank should be banished,¡± Leng Changxi looked at the old nanny Xu coldly without any pity, ¡°Pack your things and prepare to go.¡±

    Nanny Xu thought that Leng Changxi was joking. Subconsciously, she gave Second Madam an appealing look. Second Madam winced. Before she could say anything, Leng Changxi ordered Leng Wu quickly, ¡°Put her name on the list. If she refuses to leave, punish her ording to the militaryw.¡±

    Since nanny Xu had incriminated Qin Yunuan¡¯s mother, Qin Yunuan thought that it wouldn¡¯t be excessive to peel off her skin. However, she knew that nurse Liao¡¯s death and nanny Xu¡¯s popping up were not surprises at all. What Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi wanted to find out was the person behind them.

    Nanny Xu was taken away by force. Leng Changxi¡¯s decision made sense. If he let nanny Xu go out, she would end up being killed like nurse Liao.

    ¡°And the posthumous paper...¡± although it happened suddenly, Old Madam believed Shangguan Yi, because the Shangguan Family was a prominent family, it wouldn¡¯t take a daughter of a concubine as its granddaughter randomly. Thus, no matter whether Qin Yunuan¡¯s mother had done anything crossing the line or not, the bloodlines of Qin Yunuan and Qin Baochuan were perfect. What¡¯s more, nanny Xu¡¯s words were full of loopholes, and the posthumous paper showed up with questions.

    ¡°It should be investigated,¡± Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t believe that this posthumous paper was written by nurse Liao at all. While nurse Liao had learned some Chinese characters from Lady Yang, the wording of it was formal. It didn¡¯t seem to be what nurse Liao could write.

    Old Madam stared at Qin Yunuan. The expression in her eyes was changing with some unusual feeling. Simply by observing Qin Yunuan¡¯s reaction just now, she knew that Qin Yunuan had already been clear of her identity. It was good that she could keep it as a secret until today because it implied that this woman was capable of enduring, which was a virtue for sess. However, it was also bad because Old Madam thought that Qin Yunuan¡¯s capability was beyond hers.

    ¡°I¡¯m tired,¡± hearing Old Madam¡¯s words, everyone left. Nurse Liao¡¯s body had already been carried to the back gate. Huang Dashi drove a te trailer here, prepare to send nurse Liao back to bury her.

    Huang Dashi was tall and strong. However, he broke into tears the moment he saw nurse Liao covered by the white cloth.

    The servant at the gate dropped nurse Liao¡¯s body to Huang Dashi and left reluctantly, leaving Huang Dashi bend over nurse Liao¡¯s cold, stiff body to cry and shout.

    ¡°Mother, why didn¡¯t you judge things wisely? Wouldn¡¯t it be better if you followed Third Young Madam at the very beginning? Why did you ask for this?¡±

    Crying, Huang Dashi felt that there was a shadow over his head. Looking up, Maner stood beside him as expected. Huang Dashi grew up together with Maner and Qin Yunuan, so there was a deep friendship among them. Seeing Huang Dashi like this, Maner wasn¡¯tfortable either. Keeping tears in her eyes, Maner wanted nothing but handing over what Qin Yunuan had told her as quickly as she could.

    ¡°Third Young Madam gave this to you,¡± Maner put a heavy purse on Huang Dashi¡¯s hand, in which there were about fifty taels of silver, ¡°Bury nurse Liao well.¡±

    Lowering his head, Huang Dashi choked with sobs, ¡°My mother owes Third Young Madam. I tried to persuade her, but she didn¡¯t listen to me because she was so obsessed with the money.¡±

    Maner shook her head, ¡°Say no more. She is already dead.¡± Finishing her words, Maner turned around to enter the gate, but she was stopped by Huang Dashi.

    ¡°Maner, I have a few words to say. Please retell it to Third Young Madam.¡±

    After the time to drink half a cup of tea, Qin Yunuan listened to Maner in Jiyu Pavillion. She winced. Sure enough, it was exactly the same as what she had guessed. Before Maner finished her words, Qin Yunuan said, ¡°The Sun Family is more powerful than what we imagined. It was us who underestimated the enemy this time.¡±

    At that time, Leng Shuang came over to ask for punishment because she failed to observe nurse Liao¡¯s house closelyst night.

    ¡°It was my fault,¡± lowering her head, Leng Shuang med herself. It was the biggest irony to her to take away nurse Liao and hung her under the eave when the person was in her hand.

    ¡°It was not your fault,¡± Qin Yunuan took a deep breath, ¡°My useful helpers are fewer and fewer, but our situation is more and more dangerous. What¡¯s most important now is to focus on the matter before us. You know that Sun Baozhen will marry here after one month.¡±

    ¡°Third Young Madam, are you sure that Sun Family is responsible for it?¡± Maner felt rather frightened. It was the intrigue against each other before, but nurse Liao being hung up on Second Madam¡¯s eavest night was the result of consolidating step by step. It was extremely weird.

    ¡°Or?¡± Qin Yunuan stood up, ¡°ording to what you reported to me before, it was very likely that the Sun Family wanted to do something on the painting of crane which I gave to father by buying off nurse Liao in private. However, we found outter and counterplotted. Maner, Ting Xue, and I spent a whole night changing the painting with phantom powder. Although the Sun Family was in hands of women, they did things rather decisively. If my assumption was right, the Sun Family must think that nurse Liao had cheated them, or even that nurse Liao and I had nned together to gain their trust. That¡¯s why they chose to kill her and end this thing forever.¡±

    ¡°However, why did they hang her on Second Madam¡¯s eave?¡± Ting Xue was confused, ¡°Is there any rtionship between the Sun Family and Second Madam?¡±

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t speak. From her perspective, in the Sun Family, Madam Sun was well-informed and brisk. Old Madam Sun looked quiet and indifferent, but who knew whether she had something hidden? As for Sun Baozhen who was going to marry here, thinking of the music score Li Jiaxuan gave to Qin Yunuan yesterday...

    ¡°Oh, what did Shen Xun say about the music score I sent to himst night? Did he find anything?¡± After getting the music scorest night, Qin Yunuan asked Leng Shuang to send it to Shen Xun in the Golden Butterfly Embroidery House immediately. Shen Xun had traveled to many ces and seen many strange things, so he might know something about it.

    She just finished her words when Xi¡¯er came in to report that Shen Xun had written a response letter about the music score and asked Third Young Madam to read it herself.

    Qin Yunuan took over the envelope and unfolded it. Only after reading the first two paragraphs, her heart fell. She found that her dancing andpeting with Sun Baozhen that day was extremely dangerous.

    In the letter, Shen Xun used a serious tone rare to him. He told Qin Yunuan that although the music score seemed ordinary, every end of the sound was changed slightly, which could only be found out by superb yers. Shen Xun had once seen a performance simr to it when he had a study tour in a minority tribe in the southwest. The local minorities used a kind of special flutes to perform in the forest in order to attract preys. ording to what he had witnessed, at that time those preys came as if they were cursed. They wouldn¡¯t leave and did everything the performer asked them to do. Even when they were killed and cut, they didn¡¯t resist at all.

    That was to say, this kind of music score could control one¡¯s mind.

    At the end of the letter, Shen Xun told Qin Yunuan that ording to what local people had said, their greatest achievement was to tame a full-grown tiger using this method.

    If a tiger could listen to men¡¯s orders, what about people?

    All of a sudden, Qin Yunuan came up with a bold assumption about nurse Liao¡¯s weird death. Killing her first and then taking her into the mansion was too obvious and heavy. Capturing her first and then killing her would absolutely cause nurse Liao¡¯s resistance. The only exnation that made sense was that someone had used the music to control nurse Liao, asking her to return to the Qin Family by herself and hang up herself with the rope.

    As she had expected, the report from the post-mortem examiner came out in the afternoon. There was no trace of struggling and other scars on nurse Liao¡¯s body. It was clear that nurse Liao hadmitted suicide.

    The result confirmed Qin Yunuan¡¯s assumption.

    Nurse Liao¡¯s death was covered by the conclusion of suicide. Servants had discussed it in private, but they all became silent once seeing Qin Yunuan. When Shangguan Yi returned home, he dered the identities of Qin Yunuan and Qin Baochuan immediately. ording to tradition, their names should be written in the pedigree of the Shangguan Family.

    But Shangguan Yu was a married daughter after all. However, under Shangguan Yi¡¯s sincere requirement adding Shangguan Yuan¡¯s mistake of evicting Shangguan Yu out of the family, despite being not on the pedigree, all people of Qi knew that Qin Yunuan and Qin Baochuan were Shangguan Yi¡¯s lost grandchildren. At the same time, Qin Zhi was impeached for past mistakes. He was already in an embarrassing condition. Now things were worse for him.

    Old Madam had been resting quietly to recuperate, so she canceled the tradition of the young generation to greet her twice a day. She didn¡¯t leave Lotus Fragrance Courtyard until one monthter, Sun Baozhen was married to the mansion. A magnificent wedding was held in the mansion, and many nobles were invited. Therefore, Old Madam had to be present.

    This day, Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion was decorated withnterns and streamers. Nobody had slept for the whole night. Prince Ning was 48 this year. Although he was so well-preserved that he looked no more than 30, standing beside the 18-year-old Sun Baozhen, he made people think of the phrase ¡°an old man with a young wife¡±.

    In the Lotus Fragrance Courtyard, Old Madam half leaned on the couch tiredly. A little servant girl pinched the olddy¡¯s leg with moderate strength. Another nanny was reporting the situation of the newly-married couple politely with her head down.

    ¡°Not long after Master and the new concubine entered their wedding house, Master went to the study in the excuse of being busy. He hadn¡¯t returned for a long time. It seemed that he was about to spend the night there.¡±

    ¡°What about Sun Baozhen?¡± Old Madam squinted and asked.

    ¡°Concubine Sun has already rested alone.¡±

    Old Madam opened her eyes slowly, ¡°Forget it. It¡¯s fine. Having lesser contact with the person from the Sun Family is better than being too close to her. But you need to tell Master that they are married after all under the emperor¡¯s permission. He should do something on the cover as much as he can.¡±

    The nanny reporting issues nodded and left. Before long, Yuanyang came in, looking serious. She whispered to Old Madam. Old Madam¡¯s eyes rounded suddenly. To her surprise, the most important thing she gave to Qin Yunuan disappeared.

 Chapter 208 Strike First

    <h4>Chapter 208 Strike First</h4>

    Early in the next morning, Old Madam suddenly gathered all nannies and servant girls in her courtyard. This had been the first time for her to summon so many people together since she was ill and asked servants to leave for a good rest.

    Everyone arrived. Near the stairs, Old Madam closed her eyes to take a break on arge chair on which a brocade cushion was ced, while Qin Yunuan waited by her side quietly along with Maner and Ting Xue.

    Yuanyang looked around the courtyard in a majestic manner and then said seriously, ¡°Yesterday, Third Young Madam lost a valuable agarwood-made case. We¡¯ve searched all maids and servants in Jiyu Pavillion, but we didn¡¯t find it. This case is very precious. If any of you has seen this or has sticky fingers, you¡¯d better hand it over now. If so, Old Madam won¡¯t me you. Otherwise, she will punish you no matter what contribution you have made to our family.¡±

    Most people in the courtyard were obedient. But several veteran nannies who had worked here for 4 decades were bold. ¡°Your Grace, this is not fair to just suspect us of stealing Third Young Madam¡¯s case. You should treat everyone equally before catching the thief, so why not also interrogate people working in Concubine Sun¡¯s mansion?¡±

    Immediately, some people echoed, ¡°Right. We all are here to take interrogations except Concubine Sun¡¯s servants. There is nothing valuable getting lost before Concubine Sun moved in. Who knows whether one of her maids steals the case?¡±

    ¡°Shut up.¡± Old Madam suddenly scolded coldly and loudly. She opened her eyes which had seen so many changes. There were wisdom and cruelty mirrored in them. ¡°Yuanyang, search everywhere.¡±

    ¡°We protest.¡± The nanny who spoke first just now yelled again, ¡°Although Third Young Madam is an infant andes from a prestigious family, she can¡¯t treat us in this way. We have all worked here for a long time, but those of Concubine Sun have not. If you want to search for us, you should search for them first.¡±

    At once, all people asked loudly to search Concubine Sun¡¯s servants first. Qin Yunuan took a nce at Old Madam in silence. This actually was what they wanted. Qin Yunuan smiled. All idents that happened before had proved that the Sun Family had bunches of tricks nned for them. So this time, she had to strike first, or she would be held in y.

    Dongchun Courtyard, Sun Baozhen¡¯s ce, was quiet. Sun Baozhen already got up and Xiuru, her close maid, helpedb her hair on the temples. Sun Baozhen picked up a pomegranate-flower-shape sp made of rubine from her make-up case. This sp was her favorite. The rubine was glittering, and the flower shape was pretty and also cute.

    ¡°Your Grace,¡± Xiuru reminded her in a low voice, ¡°You¡¯ve already married, so such a mboyant sp is not suitable to wear.¡±

    Sun Baozhen was a bit angry and looked askance saying nothing. Then Xiuru said obediently, ¡°Madam has additionally prepared a set of jadeite jewelry as the dowry for you, and you can wear that when greeting and serving tea to Old Madam.¡±

    While speaking, Xiuru opened a small case nervously and handed it to Sun Baozhen. Thetter just took a nce and found the dark-green jadeite sp and bracelet in it looked gorgeous but a bit old-fashioned. She said lightly, ¡°At such a young age, should I wear these dated things?¡±

    ¡°Your Grace.¡±

    Sun Baozhen shook her head and sighed. She knew where she was now. ¡°Fine. Pin this sp for me.¡± Without checking, Sun Baozhen randomly took out a sp. For her, all things in the case were dated, so wearing which one made no difference.

    Right at this time, a servant girl waiting outside ran in breathlessly and said, ¡°Your Grace, Old Madam¡¯s nanny has led many people here, and they are asking to search our courtyard.¡±

    Sun Baozhen red and suddenly shook off Xiuru¡¯s hands. That delicate jadeite sp was broken into three pieces.

    ¡°y rough with me in the second day when I married Prince Ning. What does Ge Yunying want to do?¡±

    Hearing this, Xiuru covered Sun Baozhen¡¯s mouth at once and said, ¡°Your Grace, you can¡¯t directly call Old Madam by her name.¡±

    Sun Baozhen was a grumpy woman, but she could use the mesmerization spell better than anyone else in the Sun Family. So Madam Sun had spent most time and energy training her. Xiuru was cautious and skilled, so Madam Sun specially picked her out to serve Sun Baozhen. She would be a great help for Sun Baozhen in the Prince Ning¡¯s mansion.

    It was noisy outside. The leading person was a capable nanny who served Old madam, and she was arguing with Sun Baozhen¡¯s servant girl.

    ¡°Now that you work in our mansion, you have to obey all rules here. All people in the mansion will be searched. How can you be spared?¡±

    ¡°What on earth is missing, and you search for it in such a big way? If we see it, we¡¯ll send it back to Third Young Madam.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the heirloom Old Madam gave to her. It¡¯s priceless.¡± The nanny was resolute.

    ¡°Now that every corner is searched, my courtyard of course can¡¯t be spared.¡± Sun Baozhen already came out. She wore a piece of gorgeous aqua-blue dress embroidered with the golden Phoenix, with her waist tied tightly to show her good figure. Gorgeous as it was, this dress was a bit dull, not as bright as what young girls wore.

    ¡°Your Grace.¡± Seeing Sun Baozhen, servant girls outside all curtsied to her.

    Taking a nce at the nanny, Sun Baozhen said, ¡°Help yourself.¡±

    The nanny had no concern and directly took servant girls to walk in. Sun Baozhen gave a hint with eyes, and Xiuru followed them immediately. Sun Baozhen just lived here, and she had no time to search for the fourth map. However, she couldn¡¯t just let other people frame her at will in this search.

    Dongchun Courtyard was not big, but the nanny had searched it for a long time. Although she carefully searched every corner including Sun Baozhen¡¯s bedroom, she found no case.

    ¡°Now, you can go back to report the result to Old Madam.¡± Sun Baozhen wore a smile.

    ¡°Wait.¡± The nanny suddenly said, ¡°There is one ce we missed.¡± Then she nced at Xiuru who stood near her. ¡°That¡¯s Xiuru¡¯s bedroom.¡±

    Sun Baozhen snorted and expected that they wouldn¡¯t find the missing case in Xiuru¡¯s room. Because she knew well about Xiuru and other servants in her courtyard as well. All people who followed her to live here were outstanding and loyal.

    At once, the nanny took people to walk in Xiuru¡¯s room and searched everywhere, even Xiuru¡¯s cab and bedding. Not long, a young servant girl pointed at a bronze basin which was put upside down. She said, ¡°There is a wooden case in it.¡±

    Sun Baozhen frowned and saw that girl took out a palm-size agarwood case. The servant girl was bold and took a look at Sun Baozhen. At once, Sun Baozhen knew what was waiting for her. She remembered this unimpressive small girl, Xi¡¯er, who served Qin Yunuan.

    The leading nanny took a look and confirmed, ¡°Right. This is the missing case.¡±

    Sun Baozhen was furious inside, but she tried to remain m. ¡°Nanny, what do you mean?¡±

    The leading nanny said reverently, ¡°Your Grace, please follow us to see Old Madam.¡±

    Xiuru looked pale. She had never expected that there was such a case in her room. She kept a close eye on everyone who searched her room, and they had no chance to ce the case just now.

    ¡°Your Grace, I¡¯m innocent. Please save me!¡±

    Sun Baozhun didn¡¯t look at Xiuru, but Xi¡¯er, who seemed calm but a bit happy, happy about their half-done trick. She said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If it is someone that frames you, I won¡¯t easily spare her!¡±

    In the Lotus Fragrance Courtyard, Leng Shuang was reporting thetest news. Qin Yunuan and Old Madam were sitting under the pavilion to y chess. They were at the final phase which few could solve. Old Madam loved to y chess and had solved many difficult chess games except this one.

    ¡°Concubine Sun ising here.¡±

    Old Madam nodded and still focused on the chessboard. Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t know how to y chess, but Old Madam was in a good mood and asked her to watch and learn.

    ¡°My sister once thought I was too bold and not suitable to y chess.¡± Old Madam held a white chess piece and didn¡¯t decide where to put it. ¡°But I think you are even bolder.¡±

    ¡°Strike first.¡± Qin Yunuan still slowly analyzed this chess game along with Old Madam. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m taking risks.¡±

    Old Madam didn¡¯t look up and asked, ¡°Take a look. If you y this, how do you solve it?¡±

    Qin Yunuan merely knew how to y Go, and she barely understood that the ck side already put the white side into an impasse. No matter which stepped the white side chose to go next, the other side would hound it again. This was why there were only two people knowing how to solve this.

    ¡°Fine, you don¡¯t even know how to y chess.¡± Seeing Qin Yunuan said nothing for a long time, Old Madam shook her head.

    ¡°I figure it out.¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly smiled and swiped all chess pieces on the chessboard to the ground. The sound chess pieces made when they fell down was harsh. ¡°Old Madam, this is my solution.¡±

    Old Madam was in a trance, and Qin Yunuan said every word clearly, ¡°Now that we¡¯re in the impasse, we should not follow rules anymore. Feel fear-free to fight, and we can walk out of the impasse.¡±

    Old Madam looked at Qin Yunuan attentively. Right at this time, Yuanyang reported in a low voice, ¡°Old Madam, Third Young Madam, Concubine Sun has arrived.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled. When she looked back, she saw Sun Baozhen already stood gracefully near the pavilion stairs. Qin Yunuan smiled as majestic as a powerful hostess.

    ¡°Old Madam.¡± Sun Baozhen curtsied slowly and then suddenly turned back to shout at Xiuru who was behind her. ¡°You, kneel down.¡±

    Seeing Sun Baozhen changed her attitude suddenly, Xiuru was a bit frightened. ¡°Your...Your Grace.¡±

    ¡°Kneel down!¡± Sun Baozhen sounded very serious.

 Chapter 209 Close Cooperation

    <h4>Chapter 209 Close Cooperation</h4>

    At that time, Xi¡¯er stepped forward and handed over the agarwood box, ¡°Old Madam, it is found in Xiuru¡¯s room.¡±

    Seeing the familiar agarwood box, Old Madam nodded. The truth was quite clear now. Xiuru had been a thief. Sun Baozhen appeared that she was going to put righteousness above her emotion to Xiuru.

    ¡°Old Madam, I¡¯ve only heard that Third Young Madam lost the heirloom you gave to her. However, I don¡¯t know what it is. It¡¯s better to open the box to confirm it clearly.¡±

    Qin Yunuan and Old Madam exchanged a nce with each other. They had both guessed what Sun Baozhen thought. She wanted to know whether what in the box was the fourth map that the Sun Family was looking for. Qin Yunuan made a small smile and agreed, ¡°You are right. It will be very clear to open the box to see what is inside.¡±

    Following Old Madam¡¯s order, Yuanyang stepped forward and twisted the brass buckle on the box. In Sun Baozhen¡¯s expectation and Qin Yunuan¡¯s calmness, there was a good-looking, glossy, ssy specie of jade pendant appearing to them.

    A little embarrassed, Sun Baozhen looked extremely disappointed. What she used to think easy to obtain was a jade pendant of no value to her now. The key was that she was going to lose...

    ¡°Old Madam, Third Young Madam, is it right?¡± lowering her head, Yuanyang asked.

    Old Madam nodded. Qin Yunuan tipped Ting Xue a wink. Thetter immediately shouted to Xiuru, who was still kneeling, ¡°What sticky fingers you have! You dare to steal such a precious treasure like the heirloom of the mansion.¡±

    Xiuru felt deeply wronged. She didn¡¯t know why the box appeared in her house. However, since Sun Baozhen wouldn¡¯t speak for her, she could do nothing but beg desperately, ¡°I was wrong! Third Young Madam, Old Madam, please forgive me. I won¡¯t do it anymore.¡±

    ¡°There should be nobody with sticky fingers in the mansion,¡± Old Madam was decisive, ¡°Yuanyang, take her away. Punish her ording to the family discipline. You shall not stop hitting her with a nk until her legs were broken.¡±

    Qin Yunuan had asked Leng Shuang to observe the way Xiuru walked. She knew that Xiuru was a rare master-hand of light skills. Breaking her legs was equal to preventing her from using martial arts forever. Then Xiuru would be kicked out of the mansion. The Sun Family would definitely pay no attention to a useless person like her.

    On the first day for Sun Baozhen to enter the mansion, Qin Yunuan had already destroyed her most capable helper.

    Sun Baozhen¡¯s lip twisted. However, she dared not to oppose Old Madam directly. So she only nodded obediently, ¡°Old Madam has put the shoe on the right foot. Xiuru had asked it for herself.¡±

    Old Madam nced at Sun Baozhen imperturbably. Thinking that Qin Yunuan had shaken all the chess pieces to the ground aggressively with a flick of her sleeve just now, Old Madam closed her eyes, ¡°All right. Now that the criminal is found out, everybody just quits. It has made the mansion restless. Everybody should know her own ce.¡±

    Qin Yunuan bent her knees and curtseyed, preparing to leave with Ting Xue and Xi¡¯er. Sun Baozhen also took her little servant girl to Dongchun Courtyard. The servant girl was called Xiuying, looking young and timid when speaking. Although she entered the mansion together with Sun Baozhen just like Xiuru, she was only a chick that hadn¡¯t grown up yetparing to Xiuru, who could handle things neatly. Just looking at Xiuying would annoy Sun Baozhen.

    The punishment was going on in the next courtyard. The dull voice of nk hitting Xiuru and her grieved cries stimted people¡¯s nerves.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, your idea is really good,¡± on their way home, Xi¡¯er couldn¡¯t control her feelings, ¡°Second Madam was already watching you when you returned with the agarwood box. She thought that Old Madam must give you some treasure, so she has been concerned about it. Now there is such a case. Second Madam will no longer try to get the jade pendant. What¡¯s more, the arrogant servant girl beside Concubine Sun was droved away.¡±

    The matter of the map was a matter of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion¡¯s survival. Qin Yunuan had mentioned it to nobody except Leng Changxi, so Xi¡¯er, Ting Xue even Maner, who was closest to her, had been thinking that what inside the agarwood box was no more than a treasure. This was exactly what Qin Yunuan wanted. What she nned today aimed at cutting off Sun Baozhen¡¯s helper as well as dispelling her desire to the agarwood box.

    As for Second Madam, she had reminded Qin Yunuan of nurse Liao¡¯s death. She knew that it was no coincidence for nurse Liao to ur in Second Madam¡¯s courtyard. Or attend the suicide-like murder herself because of her temper. More likely, the Sun Family wanted to threaten Second Madam to cooperate with them through it.

    Returning to Jiyu Pavillion, Leng Changxi had juste back from the imperial court, looking rather tired. He only ordered Leng Wu to unload the armor for him. He wore thin underpants,y on the bed on his back, and refreshed his spirit by closing his eyes. Although the spring hade, silver charcoal was burned much in the room, making it quite warm.

    Maner was now engaged with Leng Wu. ording to the folk custom of Qi, the engaged couple should not see each other before the wedding. Adding that Maner was registered in General Shang¡¯s Mansion with the help of Leng Changxi, she had moved here temporarily to avoid some unnecessary trouble and suspicion. She would ask servants of General Shang¡¯s Mansion to take a message for her from time to time, telling Qin Yunuan that everything was alright.

    When Qin Yunuan entered the house, she found that Leng Wu was out of his mind because he hadn¡¯t seen Maner for ages. He hurried to curtsey and greet Qin Yunuan only when she was about to walk past him. Qin Yunuan smiled. When she was going to lift her legs, she turned back suddenly and said in a seemingly subconscious tone, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that General Shang will take his daughter separating for years to pray in Wan¡¯an Temple tomorrow. s! There are so many people in Wan¡¯an Temple! I¡¯m afraid that nobody will know it even when a man with evil intentions abducts the delicate Miss Shang.¡±

    Leng Wu went red at once. He said in embarrassment, ¡°Third Young Madam, I...¡±

    Pretending not to see him, Qin Yunuan raised her hand to call Ting Xue, ¡°It¡¯s so hot in the house. Ting Xue, bring the sweet pear soup on the cooking stove to me.¡±

    The word ¡°hot¡± made Leng Wu look redder.

    Qin Yunuan entered the bedroom and sat on the bed. Leng Changxi, who was squinting, hugged her immediately, ¡°You really care about Leng Wu and that servant girl. But you¡¯d better care for yourself first.¡±

    Qin Yunuan pouted, ¡°When do I not care about myself? See, I¡¯ve put on a lot of weight around my waist after a whole winter.¡±

    Smiling, Leng Changxi nipped Qin Yunuan¡¯s nose, ¡°You really like to act against me now. I like you to be fleshy. You used to be so thin that I worry about your health.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s face reddened. She turned back, flung her arms around Leng Changxi¡¯s neck, and kissed him on his face, ¡°Sorry to make you worry about me.¡± Then she humped up towards Leng Changxi¡¯s chest as a lovable puppy meeting her master.

    Her action seduced Leng Changxi. Neglecting the fact that it was still daytime now, he turned over and put Qin Yunuan beneath him. At that time, however, Ting Xue called at the door with the sweet pear soup.

    Leng Changxi straightened up and put on the cold bat-shaped mask again, ¡°I¡¯ll tell our child that without those servant girls in the courtyard, he may have several brothers and sisters. He should take it as a warning.¡±

    The words were the result of sullenness. However, Leng Changxi said it in a serious tone.

    Qin Yunuan shot a half-angry nce at him, ¡°How can you teach him that?¡±

    It was a mystery whether Ting Xue had heard their words inside. But when she came in, she didn¡¯t look good.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, Consort Cao says that there is a guest to the mansion. Since the guest is your acquaintance, she invites you toe over and have a chat.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nced at Leng Changxi, who was enjoying the sweet pear soup.

    ¡°Okay. I¡¯m on my way.¡±

    After Ting Xue left, Leng Changxi raised his head and said, ¡°I may know who hase.¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked askance at him. Leng Changxi sank his voice, ¡°I reckon that the guest has a connection to Prince Ray¡¯s mysterious disappearance.¡±

    ¡°Is there any clue about him?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Leng Changxi shook his head, ¡°All the routes to the Imperial Mausoleum have been investigated. However, nothing is found except some signs of fighting and bloodstains which can prove that there has been a fight at that time. ording to the emperor, he never expected Prince Ray toe back alive when sending him to the Imperial Mausoleum. Now the emperor only needs me to find proof that Prince Ray is dead. As for the rest, the royal family has its own method to make a reasonable exnation.¡±

    ¡°I reckon that you¡¯ve already found the proof,¡± Qin Yunuan looked at Leng Changxi and said.

    Nothing could be hidden from his ¡°Little Hedgehog¡±. Leng Changxi nodded, ¡°Indeed, I¡¯ve already found one. The scene seems that it had been robbed and burned, making people feel in the first ce that Prince Ray¡¯s group had met brigands. However, the problem is that the scene is too real to be true.¡±

    ¡°Are you suspecting that Sima Ray had crafted all these?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not suspecting. I¡¯m sure,¡± Leng Changxi said firmly, ¡°The only thing I worry is that all the information we get now is left by Sima Ray intentionally. It seems that he has external assistance besides the previous Qin Family and assassins from the Dou Family. What¡¯s more, the assistance is terrifying, more powerful.¡±

    Qin Yunuan shook her head, ¡°Sima Ray is no more than a prince. How can he make these big families go to great lengths to help him? If it is through women, it is not likely that every woman will be smitten with him.¡±

    Leng Changxi said calmly, ¡°There is only one thing that can bind a group of people with different origins and backgrounds together closely.¡±

    ¡°Benefit,¡± the two people spoke with one voice.

    Without knowing the reason, Qin Yunuan thought about the fourth map which had been transferred to another ce for custody. She thought for a while, ¡°Time to go. There is an honorable guest waiting for me in Consort Cao¡¯s courtyard.¡±

    It was peaceful in the Dongchun Courtyard. The tension in the morning had disappeared. Sun Baozhen was receiving the guest on the loft. Walking under the loft, Qin Yunuan saw only a woman chatting with Sun Baozhen happily with her back leaning the fence. It seemed that there was an unusual rtionship between the two people.

    ¡°Third Young Madam, this way,¡± Xiuying led Qin Yunuan to go up along the stairs.

    When seeing the ¡°honorable guest¡± clearly, Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart trembled. It was her!

 Chapter 210 The Bond Between Sisters

    <h4>Chapter 210 The Bond Between Sisters</h4>

    The ¡°guest¡± of Sun Baozhen was nobody else but Dou Meishuang, who had met Qin Yunuan before!

    Dou Meishuang had a pair of big and watery eyes as if they could take people¡¯s souls from them. At the moment, she was looking at Qin Yunuan with a smile on her face. Her smile was clean and unpretending, looking extremely natural and kind.

    Dou Meishuang was wearing a well knitted blue skirt, with neatly cut tassels hanging from her chest. She had a well-made jade orchid hairpin in her hair. Even though she only had a couple or two pieces of jewelry in her hair bun, every one of them was of the best quality. It was obvious that Dou Meishuang was livingfortably recently. Especially when Prince Ray was still missing, and the Qin family was in such trouble, it was really uneasy for her to live sofortably.

    Seeing Dou Meishuang¡¯s attitude towards Sun Baozhen, Qin Yunuan got the whole picture more or less. There was a slight trace of obedience and ttering in it, but it was obvious to thedies.

    ¡°Cousin Qin, it¡¯s been a while since west met.¡± Dou Meishuang greeted Qin Yunuan cheerfully.

    Qin Yunuan bowed towards Sun Baozhen and replied, ¡°You must have made a mistake, Miss Dou. Grand Commandant Qin had chased me and Baochuan out of the Qin family a long time ago. Now, we are both considered a member of the Shangguan family. Besides, I am a member of the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion now.¡±

    Dou Meishuang was slightly displeased, while Sun Baozhen took over the conversation and smiled, trying to relieve the tension, ¡°Third Young Madam is such a cautious person, who never makes mistakes. Meishuang, we should both learn from her.¡±

    Comparing to Sun Baozhen in the morning, she was now actively showing her generosity and elegance, trying to demonstrate her ability to be the mistress of the mansion.

    Qin Yunuan sat down, and a servant girl immediately served her rose tea. She heard Dou Meishuang calling Sun Baozhen ¡°cousin¡± while they talked.

    Qin Yunuan raised her head, as Sun Baozhen smiled and said, ¡°Oh, I guess you don¡¯t know about it yet. Meishuang¡¯s mother is my aunt. Strictly speaking, we are all rtives.¡±

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t really want to be rtives with you two.¡± Qin Yunuan said in her mind, but on the surface, she smiled and replied, ¡°So, why is Miss Dou staying in the Prince¡¯s Mansion this time?¡±

    Sun Baozhen sighed, ¡°You know that the Qin family is in danger now. Luckily, you no longer have anything to do with them, and you don¡¯t have to bear being watched in the Qin family every day. However, the poor Meishuang has no actual rtionship with the Qin family, yet she had to be interrogated every day. She hase to me today, and the Prince said I could make my own decision. I¡¯ve just sent someone to ask the Old Madam¡¯s opinion. They¡¯ve all agreed to let Meishuang stay temporarily.¡±

    Staying temporarily? Then it meant staying in the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion?

    Sun Baozhen was not asking Qin Yunuan¡¯s opinion on this one, but to clearly announce to her that Dou Meishuang was moving into the mansion.

    After Xiuru left, Dou Meishuang came in immediately. Sun Baozhen was really acting fast.

    ¡°Oh right, the Yellow Flower Festival ising in a couple days. They would set up the Yellow Flower Maze in the Royal Pce. Do you want toe and take a look, Third Young Madam?¡± Sun Baozhen suggested.

    Yellow Flower Maze was a game that had gone popr in the past two years. It was actually just a maze. On the day of the Yellow Flower Festival, every youngdy would wear a yellow flower on her head, and they would enter the maze at the same time. The first one of them who solved the maze and reached the octagonal pavilion could get rewards from the Emperor. As the maze was veryplicated, it really needed luck to solve the maze. Hence, the winner was different every year, which gave everyone the chance to be rewarded. Everyone was tempted to try it out during the festival.

    Especially this year, it was rumored that Imperial Concubine Yun put a lot of effort into the Yellow Flower Maze after she was in charge of the harem. She had ordered the workers to build a new maze, which was bigger and moreplicated. It seemed that the challenge this year was tougher, but the rewards would be more generous as well.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it.¡± Qin Yunuan wasn¡¯t quite interested in the Yellow Flower Maze, but since Sun Baozhen especially mentioned it, she added, ¡°I had received an invitation a while ago, so naturally I would go.¡±

    ¡°Great. You, Meishuang and I, we could really have some fun then.¡± Sun Baozhen giggled. Qin Yunuan, on the other hand, looked at Dou Meishuang cautiously. How could she ignore her?

    Dou Meishuang, who was able to have the Qin family keeping her when the Dou family was about to fall and have the Sun family protecting her when the Qin family was in trouble. It seemed that this woman had her way of surviving.

    On the way back, Ting Xue kept reporting to Qin Yunuan about the progress of the Shang¡¯s Mansion on preparing for the marriage. Shang Xianhua had a daughter and a son. As for this Miss Shang, Qin Yunuan barely remembered her as the youngdy who tried to swap the flower sachet with Fang Ziying at the flowers feast. She didn¡¯t make it in the end, and she received a round of sarcasm from Imperial Concubine Yun. She had to kowtow for Imperial Concubine Yun¡¯s forgiveness.

    Even though she had her little tricks, she wasn¡¯t a bad person after all. Judging from her behavior at that time, she was just worried that her father¡¯s position would be affected.

    ¡°It was uneasy for Miss Shang and young Master Shang to cover up for Maner.¡± Qin Yunuan eximed after hearing Ting Xue¡¯s report. ¡°We shall prepare more gifts for Maner at the wedding, so as to raise the Shang family¡¯s status somehow.¡±

    ¡°Third Young Madam, there¡¯s a letter from Jinling.¡± Just as Qin Yunuan entered their courtyard, Xi¡¯er handed her a letter.

    Qin Yunuan took the letter and got into the room directly. Ting Xue and Xi¡¯er were outside, so no one woulde in.

    It was a coincidence that Sun Family was based in Jinling, and Fang Ziying happened to marry the young Earl of Jinling. It was convenient for Qin Yunuan to receive news from her. The letter was hand-written by Fang Ziying, who had some nice writings. The first half was some updates of her life. Qin Yunuan could tell that Fang Ziying¡¯s post-marriage life was quite sweet. In the end, there was the news that Qin Yunuan asked for.

    It happened that Madam Sun gave birth to a pair of twins back then, a boy and a girl. However, the boy died as soon as he was born, and Sun Baozhen became the only child left. The whole Jinling knew about this incident, which was why Madam Sun was especially protective on Sun Baozhen. She took care of Sun Baozhen¡¯s studies and daily life. She¡¯d never let anyone touch Sun Baozhen before twelve years old.

    ¡°Not anyone?¡± Qin Yunuan thought of it for a while and put a circle around the word ¡°anyone¡± with red ink.

    What about Xiuru?

    The Yellow Flower Festival came soon. The noble women anddies in the Royal City had all received invitations to enter the pce. Qin Yunuan used to enter the pce with Princess Ning, but now, she was with Sun Baozhen. Qin Yunuan had prepared her own carriage originally, but just when she was about to set off, Xiuying, Sun Baozhen¡¯s servant girl, invited her to sit in the same carriage with Sun Baozhen.

    ¡°Madam said that she was in the period, and she was feeling unwell. She wants someone to talk with.¡±

    As Qin Yunuan entered the carriage, Sun Baozhen was lying on a soft pillow, and her face was pale. There was a nice scent of incense in the carriage, but Qin Yunuan still found a trace of rusted copper in the scent. It was the smell of blood.

    Sun Baozhen bowed and apologized, ¡°I heard that Third Young Madam could smell well. I¡¯m really sorry for the smell.¡±

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t say anything but smiled.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, then...¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± Qin Yunuan straightened up, and looked at Sun Baozhen meaningfully, ¡°I was just thinking that it was really uneasy for you to know about my characteristics and hobbies in just a couple of days after you got married into the Prince¡¯s Mansion.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that, Third Young Madam?¡± Sun Baozhen put on an innocent tone.

    Qin Yunuan looked calm, facing forward, ¡°Nothing. I was just trying to say that the Sweet Olive cake you sent me yesterday tasted really well. It happened to be my favorite.¡±

    The carriage stopped at the pce gate. They handed in their invitations, and the nannies led the way. Imperial Concubine Yun was the most powerful one in the pce at the moment. Everything was set up as she liked. There were red cherry blossoms in the garden, and a long red floormat wasid out in the middle of the banquet. The pce girls served the guests with fruits and snacks. Each one of the dishes was looking fabulous. Incensemps were burnt behind every seat, and twinkling powder was applied to each incense burner so that it would look starry at night.

    Imperial Concubine Yun was looking very different today, with less sexiness and more dignity. Even her tone was much humbler and softer, seemingly approaching the position of the Empress step by step. As for Imperial Concubine Yang who was recently promoted, it was said that she was pregnant. Three of her brothers got great results in the imperial exam as well, and they all had a bright future.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s about time. I believe that everyone can¡¯t wait.¡± Imperial Concubine Yun looked at the hourss beside her. ¡°The Yellow Flower Maze is moreplicated this year. Anyone interested can take the yellow flower and enter the maze. The Emperor is busy with his work today, and he can¡¯t wait for you in the pavilion in the middle of the maze. Ruo, you shall get in there first, and give the reward to whoever arrives the pavilion first.¡±

    Sima Ruo, who was on Imperial Concubine¡¯s side, didn¡¯t move at all, as if he hadn¡¯t heard it.

    ¡°Ruo?¡± Imperial Concubine called him once more, with a louder voice.

    ¡°Here I am.¡± Sima Ruo anxiously arched his hands and said, ¡°I know. I will go right now.¡±

    ¡°Why the rush?¡± Imperial Concubine Yun¡¯s expression turned gloomy. ¡°The banquet isn¡¯t finished yet. Lately the Emperor gave me some foreign dancers. I shall let them dance for the guests.¡±

    Soon, music sounded, and the dancing started.

    Looking at Sima Ruo, unsettled, Qin Yunuan was doubtful. However, with Sun Baozhen on her side, she couldn¡¯t pay too much attention. Halfway through the dancing performance, Sima Ruo suddenly stood up and left for the garden in a rush. Seeing this, Qin Yunuan got up after a short while and was about to leave as well.

    ¡°Where are you going, third young Madam?¡± Sun Baozhen, who was watching the performance, turned towards Qin Yunuan quickly.

    Qin Yunuan stared at Sun Baozhen for a while, and said slowly, ¡°The Queen Mother sent someone to me, saying that she wants me to take something to the Old Madam for her. I shall go first, Madam.¡±

    Seeing Qin Yunuan leaving, Sun Baozhen suddenly smiled weirdly. However, Qin Yunuan had no time to care about her. She looked around and soon found Sima Ruo, who left the banquet abruptly. At the moment, he was standing by a pond dumbly and mumbling to himself. When Qin Yunuan got closer, she heard him saying something such as ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, kid, I¡¯m a terrible father¡±.

 Chapter 211 Sowing Discord Secretly

    <h4>Chapter 211 Sowing Discord Secretly</h4>

    ¡°The Grand Prince?¡± Qin Yunuan tried shouting at Sima Ray. He seemed to be pondering intently, so he did not respond to Qin Yunuan. Qin Yunuan walked closer and said in a louder voice, ¡°Grand Prince?¡±

    Sima Ruo shuddered suddenly. He looked frightened when he saw the abrupt appearance of Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Grand Prince, what¡¯s the matter with you?¡± Qin Yunuan felt so confused about the response of Sima Ruo, ¡°The Fourth Prince of North Di let me collect the recent news of Saichun. But this time, I entered the Royal Pce and heard that the Grand Prince¡¯s Wife had stayed at her chamber for many days. Today, you looked out of mind. Grand Prince, is there anything happening to you?¡±

    ¡°Nothing!¡± Sima Ruo answered without any doubt. But her eyes were so carotic, ¡°Everything is fine. Everything!¡±

    Qin Yunuan walked closer again, ¡°Listen. Half a month ago, Grand Prince¡¯s Wife gave birth to a baby, the Grandson of the emperor, but why do people in the pce have never seen this baby?¡±

    Sima Ruo stunned, and his eyes expressed an inenarrable sorrow. He sneered bitterly, ¡°All are the retribution. I, Sima Ray, have a clear conscience all the time. Butst time, it was I that failed to report the fact and wanted to gain the interest. Finally, god found my sin.¡±

    ¡°If there were really the retribution, Sima Ray would not be so aggressive.¡± Qin Yunuan shook her head, ¡°Retribution is from the god. It was random. I would like to revenge by myself.¡±

    Sima Ruo glimpsed at Qin Yunuan slowly, ¡°You are right. Saichun did give birth to a boy, but he was dead the next day. And then my mother came to check and found that someone yed a trick on the nipple of the wet nurse. The person smeared the moist poisonous toxicant on her nipple. The baby was so cute with a pink face and would smile when he looked at me. He was like Saichun with his profound eyes. But in the end, he was dead just after he came to this world for only two days.¡±

    ¡°But the outside did not know the news at all,¡± Qin Yunuan looked at Sima Ruo calmly and said, ¡°And even yesterday, people outside the Royal Pce heard that the baby was so smart and clever.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Sima Ruo smiled bitterly, ¡°Because that was not my baby. My mother just found a boy to rece my unique son. I knew who killed my son, but I could do nothing. Sai Chun refused to have meals for three days. She was in her recovery period and got weaker day by day. I am afraid that someday she will demise, and I will pass away too.¡±

    ¡°But Imperial Concubine Yun can live well.¡± Qin Yunuan broke in the words of Sima Ruo. Imperial Concubine Yun was way stronger than Qin Yunuan estimated, and besides, more awful, ¡°And she forced you to live hard and pretended that nothing had happened. She wanted you to pretend that that boy was your son, just like Empress Chen before, who regarded Sima Ray as a tool. The boy will be the tool of Imperial Concubine Yun totally, which helps you to gain the position of the Prince, namely, the emperor in the future.¡±

    ¡°I have never thought that I will be the emperor.¡± Sima Ruo should shout loudly, ¡°I don¡¯t know what the benefit of bing the emperor is. I have given up many things I love. It¡¯s unworthy, unworthy.¡±

    ¡°It should be worthy when Imperial Concubine Yun feels it is worthy.¡± Having experienced the issuest time, Qin Yunuan had changed her attitude to Sima Ruo. She had no longer paid thick sympathy to him. He was poor,mentable and cowardly. ¡°Grand Prince, you should ponder how to protect the people around you, instead of repenting and dismaying. This time it was the baby who died, but Saichun likely died next time, instead of Imperial Concubine Yun. I just came to ask the recent condition of Prince Saichun. Now I know it, so I¡¯m off.¡±

    Qin Yunuan quit without hesitation. Leng Shuang followed Qin Yunuan and asked until they went out of the courtyard, ¡°Third Young Madam, you are about to tell the recent condition of Prince Saichun to the Fourth Prince of North Di?¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised the top right corner of her mouth slightly, ¡°I will do that if I want to provoke a war between Qi and North Di again. But once the war is started, I will gain no benefit. Saichun and Wanyan Su were only half-blooded. He let me investigate the recent condition of Prince Saichun so I can start the third route. He just wants to know the information about the royal family, so I should just tell him what he wants to know. There is no need and right for him to know more.¡±

    Right. Now Qin Yunuan and Wanyan Su had started more than one trade route between North Di and Qi. Except for Luguan, a new shortcut channel was alsounched behind Yeren Valley. The goods Qin Yunuan sent to North Di were far more than those clothes and cloths.

    North Dicked refined grains, so she purchased the redundant grains from the regions south of the River and sent them to North Di. The royal families were fond of spices, so she collected spices and sold them in North Di at a higher price. Merchants should obey no set form when doing business.

    Now the assets of Qin Yunuan could not beparable to the national treasury but to the Fourth Families. Of course, all were run underground. And even Leng Changxi only knew that his little hedgehog was an excellent money-maker, but he did not know how much she had earned, and he would not ask her about that.

    Qin Yunuan returned to the feast, and then Imperial Concubine Yun looked at her with malicious eyes. Qin Yunuan saw that Sun Baozhen looked very frightened and guilty suddenly, and then she almost knew what happened roughly.

    ¡°Infanta Ping, you are such a nobledy. You can join and leave the feast casually. We know that you gain much love from the Queen Mother, but others may believe that you disgraced me by your high rank.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Yun was a concubine of the first-grade of rank, but Qin Yunuan was just the fifth-grade of rank. It seemed that Imperial Concubine Yun would rebuke Qin Yunuan. As usual, the noble maidens who got drunk could quit if they dispatched a maidservant to report to the hostess concubine secretly. But now for no reason, Imperial Concubine Yun lost her temper heavily.

    Sun Baozhen said suddenly, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, Imperial Concubine. A good mood helps a healthy body. Infanta Ping is too young to do that rude behavior. It¡¯s my fault. I should not have told you that remissly, or Imperial Concubine and Infanta won¡¯t get unhappy now.¡±

    Remissly? Or Sun Baozhen told Imperial Concubine more things exaggeratedly.

    Qin Yunuan stood up and gave a salute to Imperial Concubine Yun, ¡°Queen Mother summoned me to go to her pce. I have dispatched my close maidservant to report to you, Imperial Concubine Yun.¡±

    ¡°Humph,¡± Imperial Concubine Yun sneered, ¡°I know you dispatched your maidservant to report to me. But to my surprise, you are double-dealing. You respect me publicly, but you think I am notparable to Queen Mother at all. You believe that you have apanied me for so long as an infanta, which was a gift to me. And you even rebuked me that I insulted the national dignity because I summoned those foreign dancing girls. Tell me, did you report those bad things about me to Queen Mother?¡±

    Qin Yunuan answered at once, ¡°Imperial Concubine, no. I have never said that kind of words, and I have never thought that.¡± Qin Yunuan said and then glimpsed at Sun Baozhen calmly.

    Sun Baozhen said immediately, ¡°All are my faults. I should not say those words.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡± Now Imperial Concubine Yun was over outrageous, ¡°The faults are from someone who is over arrogant.¡±

    Sun Baozhen lowered her head and sighed. Qin Yunuan felt very disgusted at her because she pretended to be so guilty. ording to the daily behavior of Sun Baozhen in the Prince Mansion, Qin Yunuan could almost guess what she had said. Humph, this woman was able to catch people¡¯s mental points. She could say some words which seemed to focus on nothing but distracted the topic into a dead end. Sun Baozhen was like a spark that could light a big string of firecrackers. She just provoked something lightly, and then she could gain benefit without getting involved in the dispute.

    At this moment, a close imperial maidservant of Imperial Concubine Yun reported something to her. Suddenly, Imperial Concubine Yun turned gloomier. This beautifuldy frowned, and the fire seemed to break out from her eyes.

    ¡°Qin Yunuan, how dare you tell a lie to me! You did not go to the pce of Queen Mother just now.¡±

    Qin Yunuan did not get panic. She knew that she was monitored by someone after she went out of the courtyard, ¡°I knew well if I went there just now.¡±

    ¡°You know well?¡± Imperial Concubine Yun mocked, ¡°I think you don¡¯t know what kind of punishment you will suffer because you transmitted a fake imperial decree. Your title of infanta will be deprived, and further, you will be exiled to some bloody ces.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Yun exaggerated the thing. Both Queen Mother and the Old Madam concentrated on rules and family status very much. In the opinion of Queen Mother, it was an unforgivable behavior to transmit a fake imperial decree. But if Queen Mother had already known it?

    Qin Yunuan smiled slightly, ¡°Thanks for your warning, Imperial Concubine Yun. I know it well, but I think someone does not know the punishment of spreading rumors.¡± Qin Yunuan said while looking at Sun Baozhen. Sun Baozhen got stunned and suddenly said with tears, ¡°What do you mean? Yunuan. Do you think it was I who provoke disputes underground? Do you think it was I who framed you?¡±

    Bah, didn¡¯t you?

    At this moment, some older imperial maidservants came outside the feast and asked toe in. They looked familiar, so Imperial Concubine Yun recognized easily that they were the Grand Maidservants in the pce of Queen Mother just after a few nces.

    ¡°Sorry for bothering your good mood, my imperial concubine,¡± The imperial maidservant gave a salute politely, ¡°Infanta Ping visited the pce of Queen Mother and forgot to take her handkerchief. Queen Mother found that the delicate handkerchief seemed toe from the embroidering of Infanta Ping. She dispatched me to send it here deliberately and let me ask Infanta Ping if infanta could embroider another one for her.¡±

    Both Imperial Concubine Yun and Sun Baozhen got stunned, especially Imperial Concubine Yun. The outrageous imperial concubine, who was always emotional, suddenly turned embarrassed and got beyond belief.

    ¡°Thanks, Sister Jinzhi, for sending the handkerchief back to me by yourself.¡± Qin Yunuan took the handkerchief with a smile and said, ¡°Sister, please report to Queen Mother that if she likes it, I will embroider four handkerchiefs with the patterns of four seasons.¡±

    Jinzhi squatted slightly to give a salute to Qin Yunuan, and said happily, ¡°Queen Mother would likely to fancy your embroidering, Infanta Ping.¡±

 Chapter 212 The Stealthy Assassination

    <h4>Chapter 212 The Stealthy Assassination</h4>

    As Jinzhi retreated, Qin Yunuan turned around slowly and said to Imperial Concubine Yun, ¡°Your Royal Highness, I don¡¯t know who the person was that told you the gossip, saying that I looked down up you and even faked Queen Mother¡¯s order. Now, you are acting on the empress¡¯s behalf and taking charge of the imperial harem. Everyone all admired your decisiveness very much, and so do I. I will never speak ill of you.¡± She cast a nce at Sun Baozhen when she finished these words, and Imperial Concubine Yun also looked at her doubtingly.

    However, Sun Baozhen was good at acting. With her tearful eyes and skillful words, she removed all doubts and looked innocent again in other people¡¯s eyes.

    But since it was almost the time for the Yellow Flower Maze, Imperial Concubine Yun did not want to waste time on those trivial things anymore. Besides, if Queen Mother learned about this thing, she could get more kicks than halfpence.

    ¡°Will you take part in thepetition, Third Young Madam?¡± Ting Xue asked Qin Yunuan while tidying the cape for her.

    Qin Yunuan saw that Sun Baozhen, who was in the distance, picked the most delicate silk flower with joyous enthusiasm from the tray just like a maiden. To her surprise, she thought that Sun Baozhen would be another Princess Ning ¡ª tender on the surface and evil in the dark, but that was not the case. Sun Baozhen was good at ying the innocent to gain others¡¯ sympathy. She would stab you from the back again and again that you could hardly guard yourself against her.

    Qin Yunuan did not want to participate in this activity at first. But when she saw Sun Baozhen walking towards the team, she also picked out a silk flower from the tray, ¡°Of course. Remember to let Leng Shuang follow me in the dark.¡±

    ¡°Are you afraid that...¡±, Ting Xue said worryingly.

    Qin Yunuan pinned the flower onto her bun with one hand, ¡°Just in case.¡±

    The new Yellow Flower Maze was built in the southeast corner of the Plum Garden. The wall was a head higher than normal women, and it was made of blue bricks that were warm in winter and cool in summer from the regions south of the River. There was only one exit in the maze. To lower the level of difficulty, Imperial Concubine had asked people to nt plums in the dead corners so that people would know they should find another way.

    The Grand Prince Sima Ruo followed Imperial Concubine Yun¡¯s instruction to go to the pavilion in the center of the Yellow Flower Maze in advance. At the same time, Imperial Concubine Yun was sitting on a higher tform at the other side, which enabled her to take a clearer look at the game and avoided the troubles of finding the way in the maze.

    As women with yellow flowers on their head were itching for a try at the entrance, Imperial Concubine Yun spoke up again, ¡°This year, I built a new maze for the Yellow Flower Festival, so there should be a new rule at the same time. It was boring that we justpeted for the first one to get out of the maze before. Now that you all have flowers, I suggest that during the game, the one whose silk flower dropped to the ground would be disqualified. So besides getting out of the maze, you can also get down your rivals¡¯ flowers to clear your way. What do you think?¡±

    That was quite a strange rule. Qin Yunuan took a look at Imperial Concubine Yun who wasughing happily. She just intended to intensify thepetition between those women. Women bear grudges. Even though this was just a game, they would hold a grudge against those who offended them in the process. It was quite true in the harem that a little leak would sink a great ship. So this scheme of Imperial Concubine Yun was very clever.

    People became more excited about this proposal. Those who were at odds with other people were eager to have a try.

    When the game began, all the noblewomen at the head of the team rushed to the entrance like a swarm of bees. Only Qin Yunuan walked rxedly at the end.

    ¡°So you are not in a hurry, too, Third Young Madam.¡± Someone said behind Qin Yunuan. Turning back, Qin Yunuan saw that it was Sun Baozhen.

    ¡°So are you, Your Grace.¡± Qin Yunuan turned back and stared at Sun Baozhen who looked much better now, ¡°It seems that you have a special fever for Yellow Flower Maze since you insisted on attending the game when you are not feeling well.¡±

    Sun Baozhen also said calmly, ¡°I feel much better now.¡± They had just reached a fork at this time. Sun Baozhen turned to Qin Yunuan and smiled, ¡°Third Young Madam, which way do you choose?¡±

    Qin Yunuan nced at her, ¡°I¡¯ll let you go first and choose the other way.¡±

    Sun Baozhen gave a beaming smile and walked towards a corner in the left without saying any words. So Qin Yunuan went to the left path naturally. She had no interest in the Yellow Flower Maze, but she had memorized the roadmap in her mind when she went up to the higher tform for sightseeing with Imperial Concubine Yun. Her photographic memory still worked very well. She was very clear that there were seven routes that led to the pavilion in the center.

    But Qin Yunuan did not intend to be busy running about for rewards. She chose a way that could be close to Sun Baozhen ording to her memory. Sun Baozhen would not expect that they were separated only by a wall the whole time.

    Qin Yunuan did not believe that Sun Baozhen would take part in the Yellow Flower Maze just for fun. For those women who came out of their family with such heavy tasks, everything that they did should have deeper purposes.

    With the signs from Leng Shuang who was in the dark, Qin Yunuan was quite clear about where Sun Baozhen was going. Every step of her was very purposeful. It seems that she was not finding the way. Instead, she seemed to know where she was going and was heading towards a certain direction.

    Suddenly, Leng Shuang made a gesture that warned danger. Qin Yunuan was surprised, and then she saw two youngdies wrestling together. One of them was familiar to Qin Yunuan. It was Shang Chunxiu, the daughter of Shang Xianhua, who had some links with her.

    Right now, Shang Chunxiu was trying to grab the silk flower on the head of a petite noble girl. From the method of her punches and strikes, it could tell clearly that Shang Chunxiu was a good Kung Fu practitioner of the martial bearing. She had proved herself to be the daughter of General Shang. The weak girl was no match for Shang Chunxiu, and her silk flower was taken by her in no time.

    ¡°Weak as a kitten,¡± Shang Chunxiu shed the silk flower in her hand proudly. If not mistaken, Shang Chunxiu already had three flowers. It meant that within 15 minutes after thepetition started, she had grabbed the opportunity of threedies by force.

    ¡°Go away.¡± Apparently, the girl whose silk flower was snatched Shang Chunxiu had a weaker family background. She did not dare to cry out after she was bullied and just walked away in tears with a handkerchief covering her face.

    Shang Chunxiu pped her hand swiftly to dust off. The way she looked right now was vastly different from that day when she kowtowed to Imperial Concubine Yun the obediently during the feast. Looking back, she saw Qin Yunuan, who had been watching the fight in the corner.

    The fierceness in her eyes did not disappear. She walked towards Qin Yunuan slowly and cast a nce at the silk flower on her head. Seeing that she still had the flower, she relented a little, but what she said was still aggressive, ¡°It¡¯s you. Are you the one who had forced to nt your maid into my family?¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked at her and then smiled, ¡°You are good at acting, Ms. Shang. Pretending to be delicate while being exceptionally skillful in martial arts.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s none of your business,¡± Shang Chunxiu was irritated, ¡°I was doing it for my father. My family was relying on the Meng Family at that time, so I was willing to kowtow to Imperial Concubine Yun. But I despise you, who force other people to work for you with your plotting and scheme.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t Imperial Concubine Yun the same?¡± Qin Yunuan mocked, ¡°Before, your family was relying on the Meng Family; but now, it is Leng Family that you are relying on. You could be servile to Imperial Concubine Yun, so I suggest you show some respect to me.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s different,¡± Shang Chunxiu said firmly, ¡°General Leng regards highly of my father, and he would surely do great things. But you are just a femme fatale that stands in the way of General Leng. You should be removed so that General Leng could be promoted.¡±

    Women knew women. Qin Yunuan approached her slowly until they were just several inches away, and then sheughed, ¡°I know what you are thinking. You like Changxi.¡±

    Shang Chunxiu looked embarrassed. She turned around and then answered, ¡°I just think you are not good enough for him.¡±

    Suddenly, Qin Yunuan took down her silk flower and shed it before Shang Chunxiu¡¯s eyes. She loosened her grip to let the flower fall down, but then, she caught it steadily before it reached the ground. ¡°Do you know what that means?¡±

    Surprised, Shang Chunxiu did not answer.

    ¡°The rule announced by Imperial Concubine Yun means that as long as the silk flower does not reach the ground, I will not be disqualified. Simrly, as long as I am still Third Young Madam in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, you should save those illusions. Whether Changxi seeds or is fails in the future, I will always be the one and the only one by his side. Ms. Shang, I know you are the one who spread the news that Young Master Li was hanging many portraits of me in the gallery. You are still young, so I hope that this will be thest time. Because the next time, I don¡¯t know whether I will show mercy to you or not.¡±

    Shang Chunxiu froze. She always thought that what she did was very secret, but Qin Yunuan had already seen through her tricks. Turning back, she said a few words, ¡°I don¡¯t need your mercy. Anyhow, you are a cruel person in nature.¡± Then she walked away without looking back.

    Qin Yunuan took a deep breath. She was wondering why Leng Shuang would make such a signal to her. It was just a fight between twodies, and Shang Chunxiu was not too much a threat to her. Leng Shuang was not a thoughtless person.

    Qin Yunuan looked at the ce where Leng Shuang was hiding, only to find that she had disappeared. In a daze, a blue shadow was heading to Qin Yunuan at a fast speed. And a gleaming thing shed before her eyes at the same time. It was a sharp knife!

    Qin Yunuan happened to be in a blind spot that could not be seen from the higher tform or the pavilion. She quickly dodged the first attack, but then, a sunflower-shaped hidden weapon was already shooting at her face.

 Chapter 213 Sudden Bad News

    <h4>Chapter 213 Sudden Bad News</h4>

    The concealed weapons came abruptly, making her unprepared. Qin Yunuan stepped back without noticing till her back was already against the cold wall. Suddenly, a purple-dressed woman jumped over the blue brick walls of the maze. With a bright sh, Leng Shuang took the soft sword out of the sheath on her waist. The tip of the sword collided with the dart and blocked it.

    ¡°Third Young Madam.¡± Leng Shuang guarded in front of Qin Yunuan. At the same time, with three swishes came three people in ck. They were all trim and petite. Qin Yunuan narrowed her eyes and noticed that all three of them had slightly uplifted breasts. They were women?

    ¡°Please leave first, Third Young Madam.¡± Leng Shuang was protecting Qin Yunuan on her side. Qin Yunuan raised her eyes and looked at Sima Ruo who was in the pavilion. Nobody could see here from the stand, but Sima Ruo was so close. Why didn¡¯t he move, but closed his eyes and ignored everything?

    The three women in ck have light footsteps, and their skills were absolutely extraordinary. Qin Yunuan was worried whether Leng Shuang couldpete with three of them. Then she suddenly remembered Shang Chunxiu she had just met. Although Shang Chunxiu was not as good as Leng Shuang, it was good to stall for a while. When Qin Yunuan¡¯s helpers came, these three women wouldn¡¯t be her opponents.

    But they seemed to have seen through Qin Yunuan¡¯s mind, aiming for a quick fight. Each resorted to fatal blows, and Leng Shuang barely managed to deal with the three people. Qin Yunuan could not escape, frequently looking at the Grand Prince in the small pavilion. Sima Ruo remained still, thest glimmer of hope seemed to be shattered.

    It was a tremendous maze with high walls. No one had passed by this dead end, even after several rounds of fighting between Leng Shuang and the three women. Qin Yunuan traced the route that Shang Chunxiu took as she left. Based on the memory, she drew a map of the maze in her mind.

    On the other side, Shang Chunxiu took down the yellow flower on anotherdy¡¯s head. She was very proud of getting her forth silk flowers. It wouldn¡¯t hurt her much, as she yed by rules.

    Just looking at the silk flowers in her hand with satisfaction, a new yellow silk flower suddenly floated down from the wall. Shang Chunxiu subconsciously reached out and caught it. After carefully examining the flower for a moment, she suddenly understood. She jumped over the wall with light skills. Crossing two walls, she happened to see Leng Shuang who was pushed to the corner. Qin Yunuan hid on the side but could not escape.

    Shang Chunxiu squinted at Qin Yunuan coldly. Unconsciously, she took down the attack for Leng Shuang. Shang Chunxiu was skilled at closebat. After a few rounds, the advantage of Leng Shuang¡¯s side increased significantly.

    In her spare time, Shang Chunxiu said to Qin Yunuan in a low and indifferent voice, ¡°You are, after all, a waste. If I could, I would never help you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan knew why they came to her in the maze. On the one hand, they were at a dead-end where no one woulde. On the other hand, it was also difficult for foreign aid toe in. The helpers could not find the right direction. In Shang Chunxiu¡¯s view, Qin Yunuan was wasting her time repeatedly showing the way for foreign aid, using the reflection of the ruby hairpin on her head.

    Leng Shuang was struck back again by the strongest martial artists among the three women in ck. A dark blue figure suddenly appeared in the air. In the blink of an eye, he pressed two women firmly against the wall. They could only hear the breaking sound of muscles and bones. After two cracking sounds, the women¡¯s neck was broken. He had unimaginable speed and unduplicated uracy and strength.

    ¡°Changxi.¡± Qin Yunuan recognized the master who came to rescue her.

    Leng Changxi¡¯s eyes were full of violence. His arms were tight, making the necks of the two women seem fragile to hold in his palm. He took a close look at everything surrounding, feeling sorry for his little hedgehog. He was angry that someone would have sent such a first-ss master to sneak attack when he was away. They aimed for Qin Yunuan¡¯s life.

    Two less skilled of three women in ck had died under Leng Changxi¡¯s hands. Seeing an unfavorable situation, the master turned and escaped.

    ¡°Leng Shuang, go after her!¡± Leng Changxi ordered. After a little gasp, Leng Shuang chased after her decisively.

    ¡°Nuan, are you alright?¡± Leng Changxi was distressed, holding Qin Yunuan in his arm. He looked at Qin Yunuan from head to toe carefully, holding her tightly after confirming that she was unscathed, ¡°It is my fault. I amte. I came as soon as I received the news. But I didn¡¯t expect that they would have started so early.¡±

    Yes, killing in the maze was unnoticeable for a while. As time went by, people would see through the scheme. Qin Yunuan nced at Sima Ruo. He was still sitting in the small pavilion with closed eyes as if he stood outside the world of mortals.

    Qin Yunuan was doubtful, but her thoughts were cut off by a muffled noise. Shang Chunxiu was seriously injured in the fight. A palm-length cut was on his arm. The wound was ck and dripping out blood. It seemed that the daggers of those assassins were poisoned.

    Shang Chunxiu was pale and fainted to the ground. She seemed to be muttering something.

    ¡°Miss Shang.¡± Qin Yunuan was about to step forward and check the situation. After all, Shang Chunxiu was also trying to help her. She knew it from the beginning that Shang Chunxiu had a good heart, and it was because that Qin Yunuan took advantage of her kind heart that Shang Chunxiu was hurt.

    ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Leng Changxi suddenly dragged Qin Yunuan back into his arms, rebuking arrogantly, ¡°From now on, you are not allowed to leave me farther than three feet away.¡± But a seriously injured person couldn¡¯t just be left here. Leng Changxi waved, and a shadow guard leaped off the fence lightly. He was about to lift the semi-conscious Shang Chunxiu and leave as a sudden scream broke the bloody atmosphere.

    Around the corner, a youngdy watched as she covered her mouth. It was likely the first time that she had seen such a bloody scene. The walls and the blue-brick floor are covered with blood and traces of fighting. The youngdy backed again. Leng Changxi was afraid that she would scream again, kicking a stone on the ground and striking it on her dumb acupoint to make her silent.

    ¡°He¡¯s dead!¡±

    Suddenly, a sharper yell spread throughout the huge Yellow Flower Maze. The voice did note from thedy who had been stroke on the dumb acupoint. Qin Yunuan followed the voice and found it in the small pavilion. Ady who arrived first was covering her mouth with her eyes wide open, looking terrified. She stepped back, almost fell on the steps. In front of her was Sima Ruo who seemed to be rxing with closed eyes all the time. Sima Ruo had copsed to the ground, his legs still bent stiffly, maintaining the sitting posture he had always been.

    Imperial Concubine Yun on the stand leaned out her body, ¡°Ruo, my Ruo.¡± She rushed down the stairs like crazy. It was the first time that she lost her elegance. Her son, the first son of the Royal Family, was her everything.

    Leng Changxi gave a look, and the shadow guard took Shang Chunxiu out of the Yellow Flower Maze. Qin Yunuan stepped forward and said to the dumb youngdy, ¡°If you want to live, shut your mouth up. You¡¯d better be clear what you should say and what you should not. If you agree with that, blink your eyes.¡±

    The youngdy blinked as hard as she could. Seeing that Imperial Concubine Yun wasing under the guidance of the eunuch and the fork in which Qin Yunuan was located happened to be the nearest road. Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan looked at each other. Leng Changxi left with light skills, and thedy who had just been acupunctured dumb was desperate and unable to speak. Noises came from the corner. Qin Yunuan knew that Concubine Yun was approaching, and hurriedly pulled thedy beside her to salute.

    Sure enough, Imperial Concubine Yun hurried over after a short while, lifting her skirt and was about to go out. But then she saw Qin Yunuan who was squatting in the corner. She paused and turned towards Qin Yunuan, saying, ¡°You? You again? Huh, Qin Yunuan, every time Ruo has an ident, you are always around. Come and arrest her. Now I don¡¯t care about it. I would rather catch three thousand innocents instead of letting go of one criminal.¡±

    ¡°He who has a mind to beat his dog will easily find his stick.¡± Qin Yunuan said seriously, ¡°You are absurd, Imperial Concubine. I have been finding a way out together with this Miss Qiao. We happened to be approaching the pavilion. You should be more worried about the Grand Prince than us being here.¡±

    The flinching girl Qiao could no longer speak. Seeing Qin Yunuan¡¯s sharp, suggestive gaze, she could only nod with approval. Imperial Concubine Yun refused to let go of them easily. She gave orders to the servants to take Qin Yunuan and Qiao back while she hurried up to check the situation in the pavilion.

    The firstdy who got to the pavilion and discovered Sima Ruo¡¯s abnormal condition had been helped down by the pce servants. Her legs were weak, and she repeated a sentence tremblingly, ¡°I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t know anything. The body of the Grand Prince is so cold, colder than the dead body. It¡¯s like a ghost, like a ghost from hell.¡±

    Thedy walked by Qin Yunuan, still repeating these words. Qin Yunuan leaned her body forward slightly, thinking carefully. The servant beside her had already politely urged, ¡°Infanta Ping, I take orders from Imperial Concubine. She is now in charge of the pce, and she would like you to have a trip to Qingping Pce, so don¡¯t let me be embarrassed.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Qin Yunuan had just finished her words than she heard Imperial Concubine Yun crying in the pavilion. ¡°Imperial doctor, send for an imperial doctor. I don¡¯t care if you say he¡¯s hopeless. If he couldn¡¯t live, you would all be buried with him.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Yun had enjoyed the honor and love for her whole life. It was her first time to cry with a wrenching heart.

    Miss Qiao gradually recovered and followed Qin Yunuan along the pce road to Qingping Pce, the pce of Imperial Concubine Yun. The eunuch who led the way probably knew that Qin Yunuan had high social status, and it was just because that Imperial Concubine Yun was in great anger. They walked deliberately far away to give the two girls plenty of space.

    ¡°How did the Grand, the Grand Prince died?¡± Miss Qiao seemed timid, didn¡¯t dare to look at Qin Yunuan. Yet she couldn¡¯t help but ask curiously, ¡°Who is it, who can kill him so easily? Gosh, would it be Sister Su? She was the first person to reach the pavilion.¡±

    ¡°Who said that the Grand Prince was killed?¡± Qin Yunuan nced at her and said.

 Chapter 214 Birds Die In Pursuit Of Food

    <h4>Chapter 214 Birds Die In Pursuit Of Food</h4>

    ¡°It¡¯s not murder?¡± Miss Qiao became wide-eyed and covered her mouth, looking surprised.

    Then they heard footsteps of many people from behind. Qin Yunuan dragged Miss Qiao to stand against the wall. They saw the emperor¡¯s sedan chair was heading to the Qingping Pce. Emperor Zhaoxuan sat on the chair. Although his face was covered by yellow vnces, they could still sense that he was serious and grave.

    Even the emperor knew it. It was highly likely that the Grand Prince was truly dead.

    As expected, when Qin Yunuan arrived at the Qingping Pce, she heard cries. Eunuchs and servant girls who knelt outside the pce all cried loudly. Required by imperial rules, servants should all cry loudly once their masters or mistresses died. The more loudly they cried, it meant the more loyal they were.

    Taking a look at those crying servants, Qin Yunuan sneered. Imperial Concubine Yun rushed out of the pce, having her hair down and a pale face.

    ¡°Get out of here. Stupidckeys, how dare you! Why are you crying! My son is not dead. You all stop. Stop.¡±

    Eunuch You, who served the emperor, rushed out and dragged Imperial Concubine Yun. He said, ¡°Your Grace, please don¡¯t get rash. The emperor is in the pce.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± Imperial Concubine Yun still behaved disgracefully and even kicked a eunuch near her fiercely and especially on his chest. ¡°You all stop crying. My son is still alive.¡±

    Seeing several servant girls persuaded and dragged Imperial Concubine Yun into the pce, Qin Yunuan then looked at eunuchs and servant girls who kept silent. She thought they were quite insensible. Imperial Concubine Yun originally expected much from Sima Ruo who was her dear son. However, these servants dared to cry before her, so they really asked for censure.

    The eunuch near the door led Qin Yunuan to walk in, and she was red at by Imperial Concubine Yun who held Sima Ruo in her arms. Sima Ruo, who looked pale,y on Imperial Concubine Yun¡¯s big carved bed hung with floor-length vnces. Imperial doctors knelt around the bed. The emperor frowned and looked away. Although he was heartbroken too, he couldn¡¯t help shaking his head when seeing Imperial Concubine Yun went mad.

    Zhang Ruting, who knelt in front, said sorrowfully, ¡°Your Grace, the Grand Prince has already passed away. Please restrain your grief.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Yun stood up and pushed Zhang Ruting to the ground fiercely. ¡°Get out. You, a bunch of useless rubbish. If you can¡¯t save my son, I will kill you all.¡±

    ¡°Your Grace, the Grand Prince has passed away for a long time, and no one can save him now. Your Grace, please calm down.¡±

    No matter how hard Zhang Ruting persuaded her, she just didn¡¯t believe her son was dead. Then she saw Qin Yunuan came in, so she walked to grasp thetter¡¯s arm with her long dress hemline covering the floor. She said, ¡°It¡¯s you. I know it¡¯s you who killed my son.¡±

    Imperial Concubine Yun¡¯s grasp was so tight that it hurt Qin Yunuan¡¯s wrist. ¡°Your Grace, we are all sorry for the Grand Prince¡¯s sudden death. But please calm down and don¡¯t me innocent people at your will.¡±

    ¡°What if I have this?¡± Imperial Concubine Yun took out a begonia-shaped hairpin which looked familiar to Qin Yunuan. Then Imperial Concubine Yun said aggressively, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t know who this hairpin belongs to. This is yours.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s pupils were dted. She remembered it. This was a poisoned hairpin that Qin Yunzhuang and Dou Qing¡¯e sent to her to frame her. She wore it once in the imperial feast and then threw it away. But why would it...

    ¡°I found this in Ruo¡¯s pocket. Doctors say this hairpin is poisoned. Although it¡¯s been a long time, it still can still kill people.¡± Imperial Concubine Yun looked at Qin Yunuan sharply. ¡°Qin Yunuan, how charming on earth are you? Leng Changxi is enchanted by you, and so is my son. Tell me. Are you deliberate to let my son get enchanted by you and then send this poisoned hairpin to him to kill him? You must do this on purpose. You must be feeling socent to see that Ruo, who I¡¯m most proud of, die of this small hairpin, right?¡±

    ¡°Your Grace, I didn¡¯t. In terms of this hairpin...¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t find excuses.¡± Imperial Concubine Yun cut in. She threw her sleeves and ordered, ¡°Drag this seductive woman down and beat her up until she pleads guilty.¡±

    ¡°Shut your mouth up!¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan couldn¡¯t stand anymore. He stood up angrily and pointed at Imperial Concubine Yun. ¡°I have had enough of you. If you were not that ambitious, Ruo wouldn¡¯t die. Doctors and servants have reported that there is no sign of a fight. And the poison that kills Ruo is not the one on this hairpin. It¡¯s highly possible that Ruo killed himself. Why can¡¯t you believe?¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, he won¡¯t. Ruo will make big achievements, and he will be the Crown Prince, the future emperor of Qi.¡±

    Emperor Zhaoxuan snorted and said, ¡°Merely given that you are his mother, I will never feel reassured to grant him the Crown Prince title.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s impossible.¡± Imperial Concubine Yun was already in her delirium. ¡°No, he won¡¯t kill himself. He¡¯s obedient and filial. He won¡¯t abandon me.¡± She turned around and vented her anger on Qin Yunuan. She rushed to Qin Yunuan and shouted, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault. I will kill you to take revenge for my son.¡± While saying this, she grabbed Qin Yunuan¡¯s arm, but before she did anything, someone shook her off fiercely. Moreover, this person seemed to hate her so much. He directly bent and dislocated her right arm.

    Imperial Concubine Yun said against the pain, ¡°Leng Changxi! You, again! Bastard!¡±

    Leng Changxi still wore the bat-shaped mask, and he looked so cold and fearless that he terrified and scared all people, including Emperor Zhaoxuan who couldn¡¯t help frowning.

    ¡°Nuanuan, are you alright?¡± Leng Changxi stood in front of Qin Yunuan in a close distance to protect her.

    ¡°Humph, even if you are the First General of Qi, so what?¡± Imperial Concubine Yun sneered, ¡°You were in the Meng Army to join your first military drill. It was because your father brazenly begged my brother to allow you to join through his impersonalwork. Do you think you are something? The whole country counts on my Meng Army. You¡¯re nothing.¡±

    Leng Changxi looked sharp and walked towards Imperial Concubine Yun to twist and dislocate her chin. At once, she couldn¡¯t say anything and even couldn¡¯t close her mouth. Soon, she drooled and was in a very awkward situation.

    ¡°You scolded my father and Nuannuan, two people I care most. So you ask for this.¡± Leng Changxi took a nce at Imperial Concubine Yun coldly. Then he knelt down towards Emperor Zhaoxuan to admit his error and ask for the punishment. ¡°I was reckless just now. Your Majesty, please punish me. But if she scolds them again, I will still do this.¡±

    He was not asking for any punishment but warning. However, Emperor Zhaoxuan didn¡¯t pay attention to him. He walked towards Imperial Concubine Yun. The makeup on her pretty face was messed up because of crying, and her originally silky hair was tangled like a mass of hay.

    ¡°You said the whole country counted on the Meng Army?¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan put his focus on this. Who an emperor feared most were civil officials having a big influence and military officials holdingrge military power.

    Imperial Concubine Yun couldn¡¯t talk. She just looked at the emperor piteously and shook her head desperately.

    Emperor Zhaoxuan squinted. Truly, the Meng Family had been established for a long time. It had been the most prestigious military family since the founding of Qi. He knew Imperial Concubine Yun was so arrogant, bossy and craving for power and sess. She spent more than half-year expenditure of the pce building the Yellow Flower Maze. Emperor Zhaoxuan didn¡¯t me her just because her backer was the strong Meng Army.

    However, the Meng Army ident that happened before warned him now.

    ¡°Your family truly has grasped much that you shouldn¡¯t have. And you, you also have lived at ease here for a long time.¡± Emperor Zhaoxuan walked to her and put his mouth near her ear. He said coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know how myst empress died. She found out you fornicated with a guard and wanted to report it to me. But you poisoned her, and she died. Now you know why I say I will never grant Ruo the Crown Prince title given that you are his mother?¡±

    Emperor Zhaoxuan patted her wrinkle-free face in a sarcastic way. He wore a quirky smile and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know whether he¡¯s my son. How will I allow a bastard to be the Crown Prince?¡±

    Imperial Concubine Yun shook her head desperately and still attempted to defend herself. But Emperor Zhaoxuan straightened up and ordered Eunuch You near him, ¡°Issue a decree to tell everyone that the Grand Prince suddenly became severely ill and passed away. Imperial Concubine Yun felt so heartbroken that she also passed away because of angina. Her posthumous title is Imperial Concubine Zhaojia.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was shocked. Imperial Concubine Yun was still alive, but the emperor issued such a decree. It obviously meant that he wanted to kill her. Or, he hated her long ago but didn¡¯t show his hatred for the sake of stabilizing the Qi army.

    It was understandable why he did this. Now, the Leng Army was at its heyday, and it could rece the long-established Meng Army at any time. No wonder Emperor Zhaoxuan could order to kill Imperial Concubine Yun without having any concern.

    ¡°Nuannuan, let¡¯s go.¡± Leng Changxi put his arms around Qin Yunuan and tended to take her to leave here. Outside the pce, Qin Yunuan saw servants already had a piece of white satin, poison and a dagger in their hands.

    Looking at Leng Changxi who was serious, Qin Yunuan suddenly felt a bit worried. Now Leng Changxi held more and more power so in the future...Leng Changxi seemed to know what she worried about and stroke her head gently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not Meng Hua.¡±

    Shortly, there was a sound of a woman screaming and strugglinging from the Qingping Pce. Qin Yunuan frowned, and then Leng Changxi covered her ears with his hands.

    Even if they were still on the passage where servants passed by frequently, Leng Changxi still kissed on her forehead tofort her, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to that.¡±

    Looking into Leng Changxi¡¯s eyes which were as clear as the lucid pond water, Qin Yunuan felt soothed. Then, she saw Zhang Ruting walked out of the pce gate in a trance.

    ¡°Doctor Zhang, please wait.¡± Qin Yunuan called him.

 Chapter 215 Kept Ourselves Before Anything

    <h4>Chapter 215 Kept Ourselves Before Anything</h4>

    Zhang Ruting hesitated. He was absent-minded when seeing Qin Yunuan oing. Then he found that Leng Changxi was waiting from afar.

    ¡°Infanta Ping,¡± Zhang Ruting curtseyed with his hand cupped in the other before his chest.

    ¡°Save it,¡± Qin Yunuan appeared indifferent, ¡°We don¡¯t need any extra manner for greeting each other. There¡¯s only one thing that I want to ask you. Why did the Grand Princemit suicide?¡±

    Zhang Ruting nced at Qin Yunuan imperturbably, ¡°Now everyone was guessing how the Grand Prince had been murdered. Only you believe that he killed himself. I wonder,¡± Zhang Ruting approached Qin Yunuan when speaking, ¡°Why are you capable of minimizing the influence every time?¡±

    ¡°Know your enemy and know yourself will ensure victory,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled slightly, ¡°I know what person the Grand Prince is, so I understand his behavior. He was put into a corner by Imperial Concubine Yun. If she continued, he would destroy himself or take all the people following Imperial Concubine Yun with him to death. He chose the first one, but it never urred to him that Imperial Concubine Yun was so persistent. Also, he would never find that the Meng Family had already irritated the emperor. Actually, the emperor had been waiting for the chance to catch them all.¡±

    Zhang Ruting showed a bitter smile, ¡°Yes. The Grand Prince was too bby. Facing all the problems, the only choice he would make was to escape from and cover them, just like me. If I could be brave and propose marriage to the Fang Family when Ziying was leaving, maybe everything...¡±

    ¡°It would still be the same,¡± before Zhang Ruting could finish his words, Qin Yunuan interrupted him decisively, ¡°Even though you were in a higher position and proposed marriage earlier, it would still be the same. Sister Fang wouldn¡¯t marry you. Those women of prominent families had their husbands ensured the moment they were born. Now the Young Master of Jinling¡¯s King treats Sister Fang very well. You shall not worry anymore.¡±

    Zhang Ruting looked painful with his lips tightened. He had always buried his feeling to this younger female cousin deep in his mind. However, he could never deceive himself. He loved her, protected her, and wanted to marry her. The most woeful thing was that Fang Ziying had never thought of marrying him and spending a lifetime with him. To her, he was always a brother.

    ¡°What about you?¡± Zhang Ruting tossed his head and asked Qin Yunuan, ¡°If the Grand Prince could be as brave as Leng Changxi, refusing the marriage the emperor granted to him and exining that the woman he wanted to marry was always you, would it change anything?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes looked cold as if she could see through everything.

    Zhang Ruting curled her lips, ¡°Can¡¯t you see? Although the Grand Prince had never said it aloud, the begonia-shaped hairpin he took with him when dying implied everything.¡±

    ¡°Are you saying that the person in his heart is me?¡± Qin Yunuan felt surprised. She had just met Sima Ruo for several times. Why would he remember her?

    ¡°Or what?¡± Zhang Ruting provoked, ¡°Let me be straightforward. Indeed, the Grand Prince killed himself. What¡¯s more, the poison he used was from me. When I got the poison for him, he was waiting under a pear tree. I had seen it clearly. When white pear flowers were falling, he was fondling the hairpin. The way he stared at it was like looking at his most beloved person in the world.¡±

    ¡°So what?¡± Qin Yunuan had nothing but the feeling to sigh when it came to thete Grand Prince, ¡°Firstly, his love for me is his own business, not mine. Secondly, about the question you asked me just now. Sima Ruo could never be as brave and firm as Leng Changxi. So your assumption makes no sense. Thirdly, even if he could do it, there was already someone in my heart, leaving no space for the second one.¡±

    When she finished her words, she saw Saichun hurrying up to the entrance of the pce in the golden sunset. She looked flustered with a baby in swaddling clothes in her hand. She must have hurried when receiving the message. The one led the way for her was not the eunuch of Qingping Pce but Eunuch You. From the malicious smile on his face, it was clear that what awaited Saichun was not good. ¡°When the tree falls, the monkeys will scatter.¡± When Imperial Concubine Yun lost her power, the situation in the pce soon changed.

    As expected, there was a message from the pce three dayster. Imperial Concubine Yang, who had been promoted with a special title ¡°Rong¡±, was promoted again. Queen Mother was in charge of the pce again. Imperial Concubine Yun and the Grand Prince both died. To people outside the pce, it was said that Saichun was so sad that she had to rest quietly in the Jingxi Pce every day.

    ¡°Imperial Concubine Yang was not an ordinary person,¡± after listening to Ting Xue¡¯s report, Qin Yunuan took a sip of the scented Biluochun Tea, ¡°The day I saw her, I only thought that she had a mind of her own. However, I never imagined that once she got a chance, she could be promoted at such a high speed.¡±

    Ting Xue said cautiously, ¡°Do we need to find people to observe Imperial Concubine Rong? I think that she has an unusual ability and an unkind intention.¡±

    ¡°In the pce, everyone will choose to sacrifice others in order to protect himself. Is there anyone who is kind?¡± Qin Yunuan sighed with emotion, ¡°As for Imperial Concubine Rong, we don¡¯t need to worry now. She hasn¡¯t made her position stable yet. She won¡¯t find trouble for us as long as there¡¯s no conflict of interest.¡±

    At this moment, the naughty Sun Miaoyang rushed in through the door without knocking. He looked rather excited.

    ¡°Haha! You lose! Diagnosing through looking at faces is my specialty. I¡¯ve found that Concubine Sun is not pregnant at all with one single nce.¡±

    Although Sun Miaoyang now lived in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion as an honored guest, he was still wearing his old clothes, looking like rags on his body. However, it wouldn¡¯t affect his position in the mansion as well as Qin Yunuan¡¯s respect for him.

    Ting Xue got scared by the sudden appearance of Sun Miaoyang. Qin Yunuan, however, smiled, ¡°Is that true?¡±

    Sun Miaoyang looked at Qin Yunuan disdainfully, ¡°Are you a doctor better than me? What¡¯s more, it is only a few days since the concubine arrived at the mansion. How can she get pregnant so easily? I can make assurance with my life.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°I know. Ting Xue, take the nice Nv Er Hong as the stake and give it to Doctor Sun.¡±

    Smiling, Sun Miaoyang went out following Ting Xue, leaving Qin Yunuan thought silently. There was only one reason for her to spend a stake asking Sun Miaoyang to test whether Sun Baozhen was pregnant or not. At the Yellow Flower Festival when they went to the pce, Sun Baozhen invited Qin Yunuan to her carriage.

    Qin Yunuan remembered that Sun Baozhen menstruated that day. Indeed, there was a thick smell of blood in the carriage. The problem was, however, that the smell was too strong to be normal. It was like the smell of fish. After that, Qin Yunuan made aparison carefully, finding that the blood in the carriage that day was not human blood at all. It was pigeon blood.

    What was Sun Baozhen¡¯s purpose of pretending menstruation with pigeon blood? She wasn¡¯t using it to cover the pregnancy intentionally. After she entered the mansion, Prince Ning never slept with her. If she really wanted to establish her own position in the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion for the Sun Family, shouldn¡¯t she try harder to fawn on Prince Ning and gain his trust? Her action would only drive Prince Ning away.

    Sun Baozhen, what were you up to? Qin Yunuan winced. It seemed that she needed a more thoughtful n and more exploration.

    In the Dongchun Courtyard, Sun Baozhen was closing her eyes and letting Xiuying pencil her eyebrows. After all, Xiuying could not do it as well as Xiuxin do. The thought that Xiuxin was kicked out due to Qin Yunuan¡¯s trick made Sun Baozhen grit her teeth in hatred.

    ¡°Cousin,¡± at the door, Dou Meishuang looked exactly like the peach blossom in March with a beautiful pink full-length dress. She also put a pretty gardenia on her head, smiling.

    ¡°Give it to me. I¡¯ll do it,¡± Dou Meishuang took the charcoal pencil for drawing eyebrows from Xiuying and began to draw ording to the shape of Sun Baozhen¡¯s eyebrow.

    When Dou Meishuang finished her work, Sun Baozhen nodded, ¡°Besides Xiuxin, you are the best one.¡±

    Dou Meishuang smiled radiantly, ¡°If you like it, I¡¯ll do it for you every day.¡±

    Sun Baozhen turned her head to the other side indifferently, ¡°No need for that.¡± After that, when she was about tob her hair on the temples with the hornb, a reporting voice came from outside.

    ¡°Your Grace, Third Young Madam¡¯s maid, Xi¡¯er, hase.¡±

    ¡°Let her in.¡±

    Before long, Xi¡¯er walked in, holding a brocade box at arm¡¯s length in both hands. Seeing Sun Baozhen, she curtseyed reverently, ¡°Your Grace, Young Madam has said that in the pce the way she spoke was not so polite. She is afraid that it may offend you, so she has prepared a present to express an apology to you.¡±

    Sun Baozhen looked calm, but deep in her eyes, there wascence.

    ¡°Alright, put it down and you can leave.¡±

    Xi¡¯er shook her head, ¡°No. Young Madam has asked me to see you open the present. If you don¡¯t like it, she can prepare another one immediately.¡±

    Sun Baozhen looked proud. Even Dou Meishuang beside her stood straighter. Look! No matter what grade Infanta Qin Yunuan was, or how Leng Changxi loved her, she had to lower her head before Sun Baozhen, who was seniority to her.

    ¡°Okay. Open it.¡±

    Xi¡¯er smiled happily and opened the brocade box quickly to show Sun Baozhen and Dou Meishuang what was inside.

    ¡°Oh dear,¡± the moment Dou Meishuang looked at it, she covered her mouth with her hand and eximed in a low voice, ¡°This is the newest fluorescent brocade from Golden Butterfly Embroidery House. There have been only ten bolts of it all together this year. Even one chi of it is hard to get now.¡±

    Sun Baozhen looked quite calmpared to Dou Meishuang, ¡°Oh? Fluorescent brocade? Is it expensive?¡± Her attitude was so insipid. She even didn¡¯t give the delicate, expensive brocade another nce except the first one.

    ¡°Of course it is,¡± Dou Meishuang exined carefully to Sun Baozhen, ¡°It is named as fluorescent brocade because it will glow softly as fireflies do in darkness. It is said that it¡¯s the result of adding secret ingredients from ancestors to the dye. Ordinary shops won¡¯t dare to imagine making it.¡±

    Hearing that, Sun Baozhen shot the brocade another nce without any passion or happiness, ¡°Alright, Xiuying. Put things away.¡±

    On the other side, when Xi¡¯er reported Sun Baozhen¡¯s reaction in detail to Qin Yunuan, Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes shined. She made a big guess.

    Sun Baozhen. It seemed to me that your biggest secret was clear now.

 Chapter 216 The Sun Familyâ€™s Secret

    <h4>Chapter 216 The Sun Family¡¯s Secret</h4>

    Sun Baozhen and Prince Ning had been married for a month, but they didn¡¯t sleep together once. Even Old Madam knew this. One day, Qin Yunuan was rubbing lower legs of Old Madam whose health condition was worsening. Although she still looked spirited in front of people, those who stayed close to her, such as Qin Yunuan and Yuanyang, knew she was very weak now. Old Madam couldn¡¯t take supplements anymore and just had some very simple diets every day.

    But she was optimistic, so she lived with an open heart. She didn¡¯t even get upset on hearing the news about Imperial Concubine Yun and the Grand Prince. However, there was one thing that worried her.

    ¡°Mother.¡± Coming back from the levee, Prince Ning was told by the doorman that Old Madam wanted to meet him immediately. Still togated, Prince Ning walked to the Lotus Fragrance Courtyard hastily.

    ¡°Humph.¡± Old Madam seemed annoyed and said angrily, ¡°How can you call me mother?¡±

    Prince Ning was in a trance and then took a look at Qin Yunuan who gave him a hint by shaking her head in silence. Then the former knelt down to ask for punishment at once and said, ¡°Mother, do I make any mistake? If so, please punish me.¡±

    Old Madam sighed and said, ¡°We¡¯re an influential family but not a big one. When Suxin left, I feel lonelier. I don¡¯t expect whether Ruyi will have a baby. She¡¯s not a good woman. Even if she has a baby, I won¡¯t like him or her. Now that you have a new concubine, why not cherish this chance to bring a baby to this world? I still expect our family to grow big.¡±

    Speaking of this, Old Madam gradually lowered her voice. Qin Yunuan knew Old Madam couldn¡¯t live to see a newborn baby given her current health condition.

    ¡°I know.¡± Prince Ning lowered his head as if he took an order.

    After Prince Ning left, Old Madam was tired and closed her eyes. Servant girls around were sensible, and all left. Then Old Madam said to Qin Yunuan who was still rubbing her legs leisurely, ¡°I really pamper you. I should take your advice and send my son to a wolf den.¡±

    ¡°Put up with it now, and you¡¯ll be carefree forever.¡± Qin Yunuan replied confidently, ¡°You taught me this. At night, the Sun Family will lose its biggest pride, and all threats facing our family will disappear.¡±

    That night, Prince Ning read in his study until veryte, and the nanny aside couldn¡¯t help reminding him at the risk of offending him.

    ¡°Your Highness, you promise Old Madam that...¡±

    Prince Ning put the book down sulkily and said, ¡°I know.¡±

    In the Dongchun Courtyard, the nanny who kept the door ran in excitedly and reported to Sun Baozhen who was ready to go to bed.

    ¡°Your Grace, dress yourself up. Prince Ning ising.¡±

    Sun Baozhen frowned and didn¡¯t sound happy. ¡°Doesn¡¯t he say he¡¯s busy with work this month, and he won¡¯te here?¡±

    ¡°Who knows?¡± The nanny was so happy that she kept rubbing her hands. ¡°Maybe he realizes that he should care more about you. Your Grace, I¡¯ve prepared bath water for you.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother.¡± Sun Baozhen waved her hand and refused. When she was back to her room, she ordered Xiuying immediately, ¡°Things have changed. Take Caidie here quickly.¡±

    Behind the silk bed curtain with mandarin duck buckles on, Prince Ning saw a vague figure against the candlelight when he walked in. He felt that the red curtain added some dim beauty. That vague figure looked soft and charming. The smell of aphrodisiac spices permeated the air, attracting people to get indulged. He could hear some tweedle afar sometimes. Every sound enchanted people.

    The woman sitting on the bed didn¡¯t say anything, but her good figure expressed more than a thousand beckoning sentences.

    For the first time, Prince Ning thought Sun Baozhen was good, at least as a sexual partner. While thinking of this, Prince Ning was a bit shocked, but he couldn¡¯t help pulling up the curtain to hold the smooth and soft wrist of the woman there.

    When he was ready to take off his clothes, he heard the sound of fights from outside. The rustling sound made by people stamping on the roof was a bit loud, and it was followed by a plump sound. Qin Yunuan¡¯s in but astonishing words came to Prince Ning. ¡°Your Grace, why aren¡¯t you staying in your room to serve father but hiding on the roof?¡±

    Prince Ning was in a trance, and he suddenly realized that the spices used in this room might be not only for the aphrodisiac use. Then the tweedle stopped, and Prince Ning sobered up. He still held a fair and soft hand, which sent a chill to him at once. He jumped out of the bed and held a candle to drag down the woman on the bed.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Prince Ning held the candle so close to that woman that the wax was nearly falling on her face.

    At that moment he saw that woman, Prince Ning just couldn¡¯t believe what he saw. That woman looked the same as Sun Baozhen from the forehead, chin even to a small scar near her sideburn.

    Take the fake for the real. For the first time, Prince Ning got so angry. He was cheated and tricked by a woman from the Sun Family.

    Leng Changxi said outside, ¡°Father, are you alright?¡±

    Prince Ning angrily dragged that sham Sun Baozhen to the door. Leng Changxi didn¡¯t get any reply and hesitated whether to break in but stopped by Qin Yunuan.

    She looked back at Sun Baozhen who was tied up and put on acent smile, ¡°Destroy the leader and the gang will copse. Now that her master is here, how dare she rebel?¡±

    Sun Baozhen squinted at Qin Yunuan and smiled in disdain. ¡°The Sun Family, my backer, is wealthy, and I am the concubine here. Qin Yunuan, you tie me up out of no reason. Believe it or not, I can let you die in the wildness and end up in a pile of ashes.¡±

    Qin Yunuan sneered. ¡°For no reason? Sun Baochen, do you know yourself is a piece of very powerful evidence.¡±

    Hearing the name of ¡°Sun Baochen¡±, Sun Baozhen suddenly became wide-eyed and stared at Qin Yunuan as if what thetter said was incredible. Right at this time, Prince Ning dragged that sham to walk out. He fiercely threw that woman to the ground, and he was so strong that the woman¡¯s pretty face was scratched when she fell down. A long cut was left on her face. But if people took a closer look at her skin, they would find that her skin was different from that of average people. It was thinner, as thin as the wing of cicadas, and as fragile as paper.

    ¡°Give me an exnation.¡± Prince Ning looked at Sun Baozhen who was near the stairs. His eyes were full of redness and anger.

    Sun Baozhen wore a weird smile and looked at Qin Yunuan. ¡°She knows everything. Why not ask her?¡±

    Qin Yunuan squinted at Sun Baozhen and ordered Leng Shuang who seized Sun Baozhen, ¡°Take off her clothes.¡±

    ¡°Third Young Madam, please don¡¯t.¡± Xiuying kowtowed to Qin Yunuan immediately. ¡°Although Concubine Sun has married, there is nothing between Prince Ning and her. So if she is stripped off and other people see this and talk about this, she will be so humiliated.¡±

    ¡°It is she that asks me to present my evidence, and I have said her body is the most convincing evidence. She knows clearly who she is, Sun Baozhen or Sun Baochen. I can stop people from stripping off her clothes now as long as she gives me the map of the Ge Family. Return it to its owner. I just want this. I think she can satisfy my requirement.¡± Sun Baozhen red at Qin Yunuan and was full of anger, but thetter directly looked back at her.

    The Sun Family had found three maps. The reason why Qin Yunuan proposed this request was to reassure Old Madam and let her die in peace.

    Sun Baozhen wore a bitter smile and spat at Qin Yunuan fiercely. ¡°You wish.¡± Then she took advantage of her anger to break free in a backhand way. Unexpectedly, such a weak woman should be so strong.

    ¡°Leng Shuang, grab her and strip her off.¡±

    Qin Yunuan had already fed Sun Baozhen with the bone meltdown powder that Sun Miaoyang made, just in case. Anyone who took that would be feeble and lose their inner Qi temporarily. So Sun Baozhen couldn¡¯t defeat Leng Shuang at all now. Leng Shuang easily grabbed Sun Baozhen and used the tiny knife she hid in her nail to cut Sun Baozhen¡¯s clothes. Then she put forth her strength to strip off Sun Baozhen¡¯s top all together.

    Prince Ning tended to look away, but Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan looked carefully at Sun Baozhen¡¯s t chest, just as t as that of a man.

    ¡°Set me free.¡± Sun Baozhen sounded like a charming girl. But the shadow guard to examine her seemed relentless and directly put his hand on her crotch. Then he cupped his hands and reported to Leng Changxi, ¡°General, this person is a man.¡±

    Prince Ning¡¯s concubine, also the Grand Miss of the Sun Family, was a man?

    Qin Yunuan kept her chin up slightly and said, ¡°I¡¯ve been suspicious of you since I heard that no one saw your body before. So when I knew Madam Sun gave birth to a twin, a girl and a boy, I began to assume that you were a man. You used the pigeon blood to pretend you had a period. Seeing the fluorescent brocade that every woman loves, you should be so calm. Also, you were not anxious but felt happy that father didn¡¯t sleep with you. Later when I saw that woman who looked almost the same as you, I finally figured it out. Miss Sun, or Mr. Sun, you are a man. You really got something to keep this secret, and people all don¡¯t know this. But you¡¯ve taken advantage of this to frame me and hurt people in this mansion, so I can¡¯t spare you.¡±

    Now, Sun Baozhen was like a drowned dog, but shadow guards who grabbed his arms and feet didn¡¯t dare to rx their vignce.

    Qin Yunuan walked downstairs and said, ¡°All male descendants of the Sun Family died before 18. After Madam Sun gave birth to you and your sister, to sustain your family, she poisoned the girl and raised you as a girl. She dressed you up like a girl and taught you to speak in a female voice. And over time, you became confused about whether you were a man or woman. But you knew clearly that if you got married, your secret would be exposed. Therefore, the Sun Family asked Caidie to serve you. She can rece you to have sex with your husband if you have to, and meanwhile, she¡¯s your sexual partner. She will give birth to babies, including boys, so as to break the curse that the male descendants of the Sun Family are doomed to die before 18. But it is a pity that you have pretended to be a girl for a long time, and you have no sexual desire for Caidie. Mr. Sun, you think you¡¯re something, but actually, you¡¯re nothing but a monster.¡±

 Chapter 217 Turn Everything Around

    <h4>Chapter 217 Turn Everything Around</h4>

    ¡°You¡¯re just a monster, who¡¯s neither a man nor a woman.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s words were like a spell which controlled people¡¯s minds. It whirled in Sun Baozhen¡¯s head repeatedly. Sun Baozhen moved his chin slightly. Leng Changxi immediately leaped towards him and pulled his chin downwards. A poisonous pill in his teeth fell out.

    ¡°You want to die? It¡¯s not that easy.¡± Leng Changxi shouted seriously.

    Sun Baozhen figured a weird smile, ¡°What? Don¡¯t you want me to die by setting me up? Or, in fact, you¡¯re scared? Oh right, tomorrow the Sun Family will return to Jinling. If they realize that something¡¯s wrong with me, huh, I¡¯m looking forward to seeing you all kneeling in front of me, begging for my pardon.¡±

    Sun Baozhen had returned to his own voice. But pretending to be a woman for all these years had changed his voice significantly. Now he just sounded like a eunuch in the pce. His squeaky voice was disgusting.

    Qin Yunuan slowly approached him, ¡°Young master Sun, you know better than I do on how indifferent the Sun Family is. You think that you¡¯re Madam Sun¡¯s precious, but in fact, you know better than we do that the Sun Family will note to save you, as a useless tool. Moreover, since I dare to expose you, I naturally have the way to deal with the Sun Family.¡±

    ¡°But it¡¯s already toote for you.¡± Sun Baozhen¡¯s smile was cold. ¡°I contact the Sun Family every night at midnight through fireworks. If there are no fireworks tonight, the Sun Family will know that something¡¯s happened to me.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled and turned her body sideways. She pointed at the sky and asked, ¡°Is that what you mean?¡±

    A spark flew into the night sky and exploded into a firework soundlessly, and it fell after a short pause as if nothing had happened. At the same time, on a high tower on the other side of the Royal City, a shadow carefully examined the firework and then leaped off the tower.

    After a while, there were some quarrels in the best room of the biggest hotel in the Royal City.

    ¡°It seems that Prince Ning didn¡¯t notice anything wrong.¡± Madam Sun concluded calmly. Then she carefully said to the Old Madam Sun, ¡°But I still think that it¡¯s too risky to put Baochen in such a dangerous ce, the Prince¡¯s Mansion. He¡¯s a man after all. Even if he could hide it for now, he can¡¯t hide it forever. Old Madam, he¡¯s the only man left in the Sun Family, Old Madam...¡±

    Different from her usual self who was quiet and calm, Old Madam looked steady at the moment, looking capable of being in charge of the family.

    Old Madam Sun looked at Madam Sun in disdain. She looked down on the worried look of Madam Sun. ¡°One man left? Who do you think Chengzhen is? Indeed, Chengzhen¡¯s mother is not as noble as you are, but Chengzhen is one of the Sun Family¡¯s heirs as well. Besides, I spent so much effort in picking Caidie, and I spent years turning her appearance and body to be the same as Baochen. How could it be so easily exposed?¡±

    ¡°But...¡± Madam Sun stuttered.

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go along with it then. As soon as Baochen gets hold of the map of the Leng¡¯s family, I¡¯ll find a way to get him out and restore his identity as a man.¡±

    Every time Madam Sun thought of her son pretending to be a woman in order to survive, she feltplicated about it. ¡°Old Madam, I¡¯m just worried that with the old Ge Yunying in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, it¡¯s not that easy for Baochen to seed.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about Ge Yunying.¡± Old Madam Sun looked at Madam Sun with the corner of her eyes, ¡°She¡¯s just an old fool, who¡¯s about to die soon. Can¡¯t you see that the most dangerous one in the Prince¡¯s Mansion is actually the Third Young Madam? She¡¯s an interesting opponent.¡±

    Right then, a servant girl came in to report the news.

    Madam Sun opened the door and took a quick nce at the secret message.

    ¡°There¡¯s news from Prince Ray¡¯s side.¡±

    Old Madam Sun said faintly, ¡°Huh, he¡¯s still alive?¡± It was an ironic sentence. That was because Prince Ray chose to cooperate with the Sun Family at his lowest times. To Old Madam Sun, he still had the slightest use to them. Whether he could seed or not depended purely on his own luck.

    Apart from the Prince Ray¡¯s request of asking the Sun Family to send some people to hijack the squad sending him to the Imperial Mausoleum as bandits, which made Old Madam Sun felt that this young man was courageous, she had no other impression on this unfamiliar Prince.

    ¡°Prince Ray said he wants to borrow themander¡¯s tally of Jinling.¡± Madam Sun said timidly.

    Qi adoptedmander¡¯s tallies to control the armies. There were twelvemander¡¯s tallies in Qi. The Central army was under the control of the Royal family. The half-tallies of the Queen Mother and the Emperorbined couldmand a hundred thousand central army soldiers. As for the remaining armies, the armies in Jinling and Qingzhou were the most powerful ones.

    Qingzhou was on the border with North Di. In order to defend Qi from its enemies, the army in Qingzhou was not only fierce and powerful, but they also had the best equipment as well. It could bemanded by the half-tallies of Leng Changxi and the local head-officer of Qingzhoubined. As for Jinling, it was a rich ce, well-guarded with a hundred and fifty thousand soldiers, who could bemanded by the half-tallies of Sun Family and the Earl of Jinlingbined. However, it was located in the mind. The stability made the local armyzy. As a result, the Sun Family especially trained part of the army in extra. Even though they don¡¯t have as much realbat experiences as the army in Qingzhou, they were considered the elites in Qi in terms of their physical strength andbat skills. The problem was, only people in the Sun Family knew about this secret.

    Since Sima Ray dared borrowing themander¡¯s tally of Sun Family so directly, it was apparent that he knew this secret clearly.

    Old Madam Sun frowned. It seemed that she needed to review this lone wolf, ¡°How many men does he want?¡±

    ¡°All of them.¡±

    ¡°For what?¡±

    Madam Sun¡¯s voice trembled as she said, ¡°Overthrowing the Emperor.¡±

    Old Madam Sun sneered, ¡°Huh, this Prince Ray is quite interesting.¡±

    The next day was the day that the Sun Family left the Royal City. The Sun Family came in a low profile, but as they were about to leave, everyone knew about it. The nobles in the Royal City sent invitation letters to the hotel which the Sun Family stayed in days ago, hoping to hold a feast for Old Madam Sun and Madam Sun, but they were all rejected. Hence, the departing feast was really simple. The Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion sent an invitation to them, inviting them to the First Boite of the Royal City before they were leaving.

    As soon as the carriage of the Sun Family arrived, Ting Xue and Xi¡¯er, who were at the door, went forward to greet them.

    Old Madam Sun and Madam Sun dismounted the carriage together, as they looked up at the sign of the First Boite of the Royal City. The gold-painted words shined under the sun.

    ¡°Old Madam Sun, Madam Sun, this way please.¡± Ting Xue showed the way decently. Old Madam Sun recognized her as the servant girl of Qin Yunuan at first sight, and she smiled. Very well, this was what she expected for, her long-awaited opponent.

    Qin Yunuan especially chose a spacious and sound-proof room, which was decorated elegantly. Apart from the Old Madam, all the important people of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion were there, including Prince Ning, Leng Changxi, Qin Yunuan, Leng Changxuan and Leng Chang¡¯an. Old Madam Sun looked around the room, but she didn¡¯t see Sun Baozhen. She couldn¡¯t help but felt confused.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Baozhen?¡± Madam Sun couldn¡¯t hold it back.

    Qin Yunuan invited the madams of the Sun family to their seats and smiled, ¡°She¡¯ll be here in a while.¡±

    Old Madam Sun looked calm, but Madam Sun was a bit unsettled already. Her heart was pounding, as she had a strong feeling that something bad was going to happen.

    Qin Yunuan reached out her fine wrist and pushed a te of nice-looking Glutinous Rice Balls towards Madam Sun.

    ¡°This is the best snacks here. Try some, Madam Sun.¡±

    Madam Sun was not paying attention. She just looked at the door. Just then, the wooden door painted in red was pushed open. Sun Baozhen appeared at the door, wearing a new pink skirt, smiling.

    ¡°Mother. Grandma.¡± Sun Baozhen greeted Madam Sun and Old Madam Sun with a smile. Prince Ning also went forward with a smile on his face, held Sun Baozhen¡¯s hand and lead her to her seat. They looked very much like a pair of lovebirds.

    After some small talks, the feast was almost finished. Madam Sun held Sun Baozhen¡¯s hands, and she didn¡¯t want to let go. She looked around, and requested with a smile, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Baozhen for a long time already. Is it alright to let us talk in private for a short while?¡±

    Leng Changxi exchanged nces with Qin Yunuan. Seeing Leng Changxi¡¯s almost unnoticeable wink, Qin Yunuan smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ve always heard of Concubine Sun talk about her missing Madam Sun a lot. Indeed it was hard for you to see each other again after today.¡±

    Prince Ning got it immediately, and he nodded generously, ¡°Naturally,¡± Then he looked at Sun Baozhen affectionately and said, ¡°Talk to your mother well.¡±

    Sun Baozhen nodded obediently. After the other people left, Madam Sun cautiously pulled Sun Baozhen towards her and asked, ¡°How¡¯s it going? How¡¯s it going in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion? Did they notice anything?¡±

    Just when Sun Baozhen was about to answer, Old Madam Sun interrupted them. ¡°Why you ask these useless questions? I have only one question for you, Baozhen. Have you found out the whereabouts of the map of the Leng Family?¡±

    Sun Baozhen lowered her head, ¡°Not for now.¡±

    Old Madam Sun sneered, ¡°Useless.¡±

    Hearing that, Sun Baozhen became more and more respectful. She lowered her head as she couldn¡¯t help but trembled.

    Old Madam Sun soon noticed the strangeness of Sun Baozhen. She cautiously looked at Sun Baozhen, ¡°Why are you shaking? I¡¯ve scolded you before, yet you weren¡¯t this scared before. You¡¯re just bing timider.¡±

    Hearing that, Sun Baozhen became more nervous. Old Madam Sun took a cautious step backward and suddenly ordered to her servant girl.

    ¡°Tie her up. This little b*tch is a fake.¡±

    Old Madam Sun¡¯s servant girl had practiced martial arts, as she held Sun Baozhen¡¯s shoulder right then so that she wasn¡¯t able to move. Old Madam Sun reached out to test Sun Baozhen¡¯s pulse, and sneered, ¡°You don¡¯t have any internal Qi. You¡¯re indeed an impersonator.¡± Then, she further ordered her servant girl.

    ¡°Peel off her skin mask. Let me see who dares fool me.¡±

 Chapter 218 Time to Catch Manipulator Behind

    <h4>Chapter 218 Time to Catch Maniptor Behind</h4>

    The maidservant checked Sun Baozhen by touching her underjaw but then frowned. Madam Sun felt confused too. She stepped forward to touch for a long time. Finally, she drew the conclusion, ¡°Old Madam, the face is real.¡±

    The Old Madam Sun was feeling uncertain, and Sun Baozhen had already knelt and started kowtowing, ¡°Old Madam, I am your granddaughter. Please save me.¡±

    Sun Baozhen looked very sincere. She got rid of the maidservant who was controlling her and then kowtowed heavily. After a while, she got her forehead swollen. Madam Sun thought Sun Baozhen was poor and helped her up. She hugged Sun Baozhen and looked at the Old Madam, saying, ¡°Old Madam, Baozhen must get upset by some unkindness in the Prince¡¯s Mansion. Or she would not be so impotent and even felt very frightened when she saw you.¡±

    Old Madam Sun frowned and seemed to feel doubtful. She asked, ¡°What have you experienced in the Prince¡¯s Mansion? You¡¯d better tell me all.¡± And then she raised her eyebrows, ¡°Was it the old widow Ge Yunying who yed some tricks on you and bullied you?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Sun Baozhen said with tears, ¡°The Old Madam in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion is so feeble and will die soon. Now the Third Young Madam Qin Yunuan has been in charge of all the affairs in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, and I have found that the Old Madam in that mansion has already given the map of Leng Family to Qin Yunuan early. Qin Yunuan always has trouble with me in the mansion, and besides, she kicked out Xiuxin and Caidie who were my good assistants in the mansion. I always feel difficult in living in the mansion. Qin Yunuan kept a famous doctor, Sun Miaoyang, in her courtyard and let him develop a kind of medical powder which could make people impotent totally. She added the medical powder into my food secretly, but I found it toote. I would have died if I had not caught the chance to escape.¡±

    ¡°My guess is right.¡± Old Madam Sun pounded the corner of the table, ¡°Qin Yunuan is just the daughter of a concubine in the Mansion of Grand Commandant. How dare she oppose our Sun Family! She must pay the price!¡±

    At dusk, arge troop moved out of the Royal Capital slowly. Qin Yunuan stood at the top of the gate tower. At the same time, a marriage sedan started off from the Shang Mansion in the east of the city. It was the marriage day of Maner today as the Second Miss in Shang Family. Now Maner changed her name to Shang Chunman ording to the name of the Grand Miss of Shang Family, Shang Chunxiu.

    Leng Wu owned a house in Qingshui Alley. Leng Wu cleaned specially the mansion from inside to outside for marrying Maner. He dispatched somepetent nannies and maidservants to serve Maner. Maner worked as a maidservant for a long time. Now she married Leng Wu, which was definitely her best ending.

    Unconsciously, Qin Yunuan thought about Tong and nurse Liao.

    Somehow Leng Changxi went upstairs gently. It was in spring, and the peach blossom bloomed all over the city. He picked a spray casually and hugged her from behind, and then passed the crystal peach flower to the hand of Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°What are you worrying about?¡± Leng Changxi hugged Qin Yunuan. Her hands were a little bit cold, which looked very poor.

    Looking at the clouds in the sky, Qin Yunuan said, ¡°I am happy to see Maner has such a good ending. But I am worried if her happiness will be short and uncertain in such a turbulent period.¡±

    ¡°Such an ending is better than nothing,¡± Leng Changxi hugged Qin Yunuan more tightly, ¡°You alwaysughed me that I expressed my love to you just after we met for such a short time. I just thought that it was uneasy to like a person and tougher to love a person. Since I loved you, I did not want to waste time. The early I expressed my love to you, the longer we were in love, even just for one more second.¡±

    Qin Yunuan moved closer to Leng Changxi. Leng Changxi was always cold in his body, but he did give unique warmth to her. She looked at the bloody sunset clouds in the west and a big dark cloud floating from the west, and then sighed, ¡°It seems that a rainstorm wille soon.¡±

    As expected, a big rainstorm at night came. The rain washed out each corner of the city. Leng Changxi still stayed in the study. Qin Yunuan was sitting alone in front of the embroidering shelter and was doing sowing work. The door was opened, and somebody came in with gentle steps. The person caused no noise under the noisy raining circumstance.

    Qin Yunuan did not raise her head to check and thought it was Ting Xue who came in to serve tea.

    ¡°Just put the teacups on the table.¡±

    The person did not leave, and Qin Yunuan stopped. A streak of lightning suddenly lightened the room. With the noise of a thunderp, a cold shout burst out.

    ¡°B*tch! Ie here to kill you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled without any panic. The person held a sword and poked quickly toward the face of Qin Yunuan with high power under the thunderstorm circumstance. At the same time, a subtle noise came from the room beam. A person in purple burst into the room thought the window. It was Leng Shuang, and she had been lurking for a long time for this moment.

    Suddenly, before Leng Shuang acted, the assassin stopped and was controlled by a force. Qin Yunuan squinted and suddenly saw Dou Meishuang behind the assassin held the waist of the assassin so tightly. On the ground, there was a bowl of lotus-nuts sweet soup sent by Dou Meishuang, especially for Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Third Younger Female Cousin, go! Quick!¡± Dou Meishuang held the assassin tightly. The assassin was a master-hand, so Dou Meishuang, a weak miss, could not control the person longer. The assassin elbowed back and made her back several meters away. Her afterbrain was hit by the door frame, and then she fainted.

    At the same time, Leng Shuang had used a crape myrtle soft sword to pierce the body of the assassin.

    Under the thunder, the sound of piercing the silk and internal organs was so weeny. All happened silently.

    Now, a person in ck clenching the wall was observing the room clearly. Another streak of lightning shed. With the noise of thunderp, the screaming of a woman was very miserable. The man in ck frowned and thought the assassin had finished the task. He leaped on the roof along the way he came. Just after the time for drinking a half cup of tea, the man in ck went to a ruined temple outside the Royal City.

    Though the temple was shabby, it could keep out the rain perfectly. The cold wind blew the window panes, which caused noises, and there was dim candlelight in the room. There were very gloomy eyes in the shadow.

    ¡°Old Madam, all were done there.¡±

    Old Madam Sun stood up from the chair slowly, and said with gloomy eyes, ¡°I want to see the head of the woman at dawn.¡±

    ¡°I am afraid that you have no chance to see that.¡± Suddenly, a powerful and resonant male sound came from the door of the temple, and then the intensive sound of footsteps came from the roof. The orderly but rapid sound of footsteps with pitter-patter seemed to be ying a march.

    ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Old Madam Sun moved back unconsciously. The four maidservants aside stood front and held long swords.

    ¡°Old Madam, long time no see.¡± At the door, with the touches lightening some withered old locust tree, Leng Changxi appeared in front of Old Madam Sun like a ghost. He wore a long dark robe with golden trims and a dark-green cloak drooping down. He got his clothes half wet. Eighteen shadow guards jumped down from the roof and encircled those people from Sun Family.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Old Madam raised her head, but her slightly shuddering fingertips showered her uneasiness.

    Leng Changxi stepped into the room, ¡°Nothing. I just wonder why Old Madam Sun and Madam Sun appear in the ruined temple in the suburbs of the Royal City since Sun Family has left the Royal City at noon, and now you should have arrived at the border of Jinzhou?¡±

    ¡°Humph,¡± Old Madam Sun squinted at Leng Changxi, ¡°The horse carriages did not work, and we had a rest here temporarily. So, General Leng, you are even in charge of this trivial thing?¡±

    ¡°I will not intervene in your reasonable rxing.¡± General Leng looked at Leng Wu, and then Leng Wu took the assassin who tried to kill Qin Yunuan into the room. The assassin was a female, which was the convention of Sun Family.

    Leng Changxi glimpsed at the kneeling assassin, ¡°she...is your intimate person? Old Madam Sun.¡±

    Old Madam Sun was staring at the face of Leng Changxi seriously. She seemed to ask him why he did this. She did not care if Leng Changxi wanted to fight against her.

    Old Madam Sun became silent, so Leng Changxi thought she was timid and admitted that she was the boss behind.

    ¡°How dare this maidservant assassinated Yunuan. One life for one life. She should pay the price.¡± Leng Changxi kicked the heart of the maidservant, and then she spat out blood and fainted.

    Old Madam Sun got stunned but felt confident immediately. The words from Leng Changxi ¡°One life for one life¡± made her believe the news she had heard was real, namely, Qin Yunuan had died.

    Old Madam Sun glimpsed at the fainted maidservant coldly. Since she had finished her task, she had no value in use. So it was nothing if the maidservant died.

    ¡°General Leng, you are such a decisive man as I expect,¡± Old Madam Sun looked at Leng Changxi gloomily, ¡°You help me to dispose of this maidservant, General Leng.¡±

    And Madam Sun asked timidly, ¡°The Third Young Madam of your mansion has really?¡±

    Leng Changxi glimpsed at Madam Sun coldly and said seriously, ¡°No, she is safe and sound.¡±

    ¡°But you just...¡±

    ¡°All who hurt Yunuan should die.¡± Leng Changxi sneered, ¡°And all who hurt Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion could not leave the Royal City lively.¡±

    ¡°Humph, funny.¡± A sneer emerged on the wrinkled face of Old Madam Sun, ¡°If I want to leave, are you able to stop me?¡±

    ¡°Old Madam Sun, you mean your 3000 supplying cavalrymen arranged in the border of Jinzhou?¡± Leng Changxi smiled and raised his head to look at the sky. The dark night became gloomier due to the heavy rain, ¡°It is estimated that now all of those 3000 people have been caught alive already.¡±

    Old Madam Sun was a little bit stunned. At this moment, Qin Yunuan appeared at the door. Sun Baozhen stood behind Qin Yunuan timidly, just like a prudent heeler.

    ¡°Baozhen?¡± Madam Sun stepped forward but stopped by Leng Shuang. She asked hurriedly, ¡°Baozhen, are you OK?¡±

    Old Madam Sun cursed Sun Baozhen immediately, ¡°You are such a turncoat! Sun Family has raised you for many years for nothing!¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°Take it easy, Old Madam Sun. The Concubine Sun was loyal, so she can¡¯t be a turncoat. As for this one, Old Madam Sun, do you remember Caidie?¡±

 Chapter 219 Falling into Eternal Sleep

    <h4>Chapter 219 Falling into Eternal Sleep</h4>

    ¡°You b*st*rd! You are Caidie?¡± Looking at her face that resembled Sun Baozhen, Old Madam Sun, who was leaning on a rosewood crutch with a dragon head carving, used its end as a weapon to poke Caidie¡¯s face. But the crutch was gripped by Leng Shuang who suddenly appeared.

    ¡°Old Madam Sun,¡± Qin Yunuan walked towards her with a smile, ¡°You had spent so much time to train Caidie, eager to make her look as much simr to Sun Baozhen as possible. I know that you have more alternates. The reason why Caidie could stay is that even you cannot tell them apart just by the appearance and facial expression. You take it as a sess, but it can also be a danger.¡±

    Old Madam Sun scolded in rage, ¡°Caidie, have you forgotten who saved you from the brothel? We have raised you for so many years, how could you return kindness with ingratitude?¡±

    ¡°Sure, you had raised her. But you people of the Sun Family all take her as a substitute to Sun Baozhen. You never cared about her feelings. Everyone is special and not a substitute for others.¡± Qin Yunuan stepped forward to protect Caidie. That night, when she saw the face of Caidie that was exactly the same as Sun Baozhen, she was shocked at first. But then the overcautious look in Caidie¡¯s eyes reminded her of Tong. Her eyes were also filled with horror, worries, and confusion when mother first took her back. Then, Qin Yunuan knew that she could take advantage of her desire for freedom and independent personality.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Baozhen? What happened to my child?¡± Madam Sun lost her wits.

    Leng Changxi said coldly, ¡°Dead.¡±

    Madam Sun fell to the ground suddenly, looking quite at a loss. For her, that news was like a bolt from the blue.

    ¡°Humph,¡± Old Madam sneered, ¡°So, you thought you had defeated me?¡±

    Qin Yunuan squinted at Old Madam Sun, ¡°Or what?¡±

    In thest few decades, the Sun Family had used all kinds of shameful means to seize the treasure maps from the Ge Family and the Meng Family. They had won every time. But now, the direction of the wind was about to change.

    It was still raining outside the window. But it was no longer the violent storm, just a patter of rain.

    Leng Changxi stepped forward, ¡°Mrs. Sun, the Sun Family is now suspected of murdering the head of the Ge Family and killing the widow of General Meng Zhen. You¡¯d better submit.¡±

    ¡°Submit?¡± Old Madam Sun looked at Madam Sun who had fainted when she heard the sad news, and then she grinned viciously, ¡°Even though I had lost, you may not win either. You also want the three maps, don¡¯t you? I¡¯m telling you: I will not give it to you, and you will never find them.¡± Her mouth started to bleed while she was speaking. Suddenly, blood gushed out like streams.

    ¡°That old woman had taken poison.¡± Leng Changxi came to her at once, trying to open her mouth, but it was toote. The smile on her face was weird, and she kept looking at Qin Yunuan, ¡°Qin Yunuan, right? I remember you. We shall fight in the next life.¡±

    At this time, a messenger from Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion came to report.

    ¡°Third Young Master, Third Young Madam, something happened! Old Madam is dying!¡±

    Hearing about this, Old Madam Sun, who was lying on the ground, suddenly became pleased. She eximed with herst strength, ¡°Well, well! Ge Yunying, I¡¯m dying, and you are also dying. Let¡¯s meet at the Acheron. This time, let¡¯s see who would win.¡±

    Leng Changxi frowned. Having instructed Leng Wu to clean up the mess and not let go of any clues, he called his personal mount that could travel thousands of miles a day. It was still raining outside, and his cloak was soaked by the raindrops.

    ¡°Changxi, I¡¯lle with you.¡± Qin Yunuan also got out of the shabby temple behind him. Seeing her wet hair, Leng Changxi felt sorry and did not want her to go on a bumpy journey with him.

    ¡°Old Madam has taken care of me a lot. This might be ourst meet, and I don¡¯t want to miss.¡± Qin Yunuan really meant it. She had learned a lot from Old Madam. During her early days in the mansion, Princess Ning was the most thoughtful and tender person for her. But she turned out to be a malicious person who had tried to kill Qin Yunuan all the time. Old Madam seemed to make things difficult for her, but whenever Qin Yunuan got into danger, she would do whatever she could do to help.

    In the Lotus Fragrance Courtyard of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, maids and nannies were busy hurrying to and fro. Prince Ning had been here already, and Doctor Sun was also fetched earlier. But after looking at Old Madam¡¯s face and feeling her pulse, Doctor Sun only said that they should prepare for the funeral.

    Prince Ning had a deep bond with Old Madam as he was her oldest son. Right now, his face covered with tears, but Old Madam still refused any visits, until Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi rushed back.

    Yuanyang was waiting by the door. Seeing that Qin Yunuan hade, she wept from sorrow, ¡°Third Young Madam, Old Madam has been waiting for you.¡±

    Leng Changxi slowly loosened his grip on Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand. Sun Miaoyang also stepped forward and said, ¡°Four hours ago, Old Madam¡¯s pupils had begun to dte. Now, I am afraid that it should be a momentary recovery of consciousness.¡±

    Qin Yunuan entered the room, holding her breath. The hanging curtains were still the same, but there was a wisp of herbal fragrance in the air. Passing through the silk curtains, Qin Yunuan saw Old Madam lying on the bed, breathing feebly. Her eyes were closed. This time, she was not resting for a while. She was sleeping so peacefully as if her eyes would never open up again.

    ¡°Old Madam,¡± Qin Yunuan called her softly.

    Old Madam did not answer for a long time. Qin Yunuan waited quietly for a while, and Old Madam finally opened her dry lips slightly, ¡°Youe. I have something to give you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan lowered her head, ¡°Old Madam, you have given so much to me. I¡¯m afraid that I could not bear your giving anymore.¡± From the management power to the part of the treasure map of the Leng Family, these things had shown that Old Madam was giving more trust to Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°This time, it is different.¡± Old Madam tilted, hinting that there was something under her pillow. Qin Yunuan reached into there, only to find a flower sachet.

    ¡°This is from my sister when I came into the pcest time. She told me that she had kept something in reserve. If I really want the Sun Family to be destroyed, I can use the things in the flower sachet. That would be herpensation for her betrayal to the Ge Family.¡± To destroy the Sun Family was the lifelong belief for Old Madam.

    Qin Yunuan squeezed the sachet tightly bending her lips to her ears and said softly, ¡°Old Madam, the days of the Sun Family is numbered. It won¡¯t be long before they copsepletely.¡±

    Old Madam¡¯s eyes were lit, and she suddenly said, ¡°Choosing you, is the right choice.¡± She drew herst breath after this. No matter how hard Qin Yunuan and Yuanyang called her, there was no response.

    The Old Madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion passed away.

    And the Old Madam of the Sun Family also perished.

    All the rest of the Sun Family were taken into custody.

    Suddenly, the political wind in the imperial court changed its direction. Luckily, Jinling was still under the guard of its Young Marquis, so things were not messed up. In the imperial pce, Queen Mother lit a holymp and chanted sutras every day to pray for her sister, Old Madam in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.

    This day, Maner paid a visit to Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion as Shang Chunman. She had been married for half a month.

    ¡°Queen Mother and Old Madam were sisters after all. They had intrigued against each other for such a long time. It finally came to an end.¡± Maner was coiling for Qin Yunuan. It had be a habit for her to do those things for Qin Yunuan.

    Ting Xue and Xi¡¯er were serving tea and milling the ink stick besides. It was not often for them to gather together, chatting and gossiping like before.

    ¡°Sisters¡¯ quarrels are soon mended,¡± Ting Xue remarked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Xi¡¯er was straight forward, ¡°I think Second Young Madam of the East Garden is difficult to deal with. She is our madam¡¯s blood sister, but these days, she was irritating our madam, relying on her pregnancy. Yesterday, she asked us for blood cubilose. And today, she said she felt that the incense burner in our madam¡¯s room is better than hers. How could she do that?¡±

    Recently, Qin Yuwan did make some troubles as she was pregnant. But Qin Yunuan was not annoyed because she did not have the energy to pay attention to such a small role, and she became very sensitive after pregnancy. Qin Yunuan did not want to get herself into trouble.

    A maid outside the house came in to report that Miss Dou came.

    Qin Yunuan raised his eyebrows slightly. Ever since the Sun Family was held in custody, all the people who had rtions with them became hot potatoes whom people were shunning from. But Dou Meishuang was an exception. That day, she had risked her life to put off the attack for Qin Yunuan. No matter she really cared about Qin Yunuan or not, they could not drive her out of the mansion now.

    Dou Meishuang was not a simple person. From the downfall of the Dou Family, the Qin Family, and Sun Family, Dou Meishuang was like a flexible loach. As long as there was a ce that could hide dirt, she could find it and made a good living.

    ¡°Let her in.¡± Qin Yunuan was still tidying silk threads, without even looking up.

    A melodious voice arose from the outside.

    ¡°Oh, you are also here, Ms. Shang. Well, look at my poor memory. I should have called you Mrs. Leng.¡± Dou Meishuang beamed. She did not look as grey as before when she was resting to recover.

    Maner stood up and greeted her.

    Then, Dou Meishuang smiled and said to Qin Yunuan, ¡°This time, Ie here for you, my dear cousin. Your sister has been pregnant for six months, but she has been grounded. I wanted to make some hometown snacks for her to relieve her boredom. But I don¡¯t know what she likes. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here.¡±

    Qin Yunuan squinted at her, looking calmly. ¡°If I were you, I wouldn¡¯t worry about so many things. Second Sister has her nannies to take care of her.¡±

    Dou Meishuang shook her head, ¡°That¡¯s not enough. Now she was grounded, and those nannies were snobbish. They won¡¯t take care of her with their hearts.¡±

    ¡°Humph,¡± Qin Yunuan was straight forward, ¡°Then I shall ask you, cousin. Though the Dou Family had been confiscated and the males have been exiled, you still have some basement in Hangzhou. But why you would rather stay in other people¡¯s ce thaning back to Hangzhou?¡±

    Dou Meishuang put on a sorrowful look, ¡°Oh, my cousin, are you driving me out?¡±

    ¡°I dare not,¡± Qin Yunuan did not look up, ¡°But if you want toe into my ce, you¡¯d better get rid of Ningxianglu. I don¡¯t use those useless things. But my nose could tell apart.¡±

    After all, Ningxianglu was an aphrodisiac!

 Chapter 221 Back Again

    <h4>Chapter 221 Back Again</h4>

    On the next day, Qin Yunuan woke up early, and let Ting Xue and Xi¡¯er dress her up. Her carriage was going slow along the alley. It was strange that Qin Yunuan woke up to find herself exceptionally tired. Ting Xue was serving Qin Yunuan in the carriage, rubbing her temple slowly. Xi¡¯er was watching the outside on the side of the carriage.

    Qin Yunuan suddenly thought of something, and asked, ¡°Xi¡¯er, is it thest exam of the Imperial College today? Is Baochuaning back in the evening?¡±

    There was no response outside. Qin Yunuan became suspicious, and she signaled to Ting Xue to lift up the carriage curtain for a tiny bit. However, the people outside seemed to have noticed immediately, and the carriage stopped immediately. She knew that something¡¯s wrong.

    But at the same time, Qin Yunuan knew that Leng Shuang had been leading some guards to protect her in the dark. She raised her voice, ¡°Who is it? If you dare to attack my carriage, why don¡¯t you dare to show yourself?¡±

    Suddenly, blunt sound came from outside, together with some painful moaning, which sounded familiar. Qin Yunuan lifted the carriage curtain to see Leng Shuang lying on the ground, with a short arrow in her shoulder. Someone who could knock Leng Shuang off so easily was rarely seen in Qi. Apparently, Qin Yunuan was ambushed, and the attacker knew well about her route and security arrangements.

    ¡°Leng Shuang.¡± Qin Yunuan called her. Leng Shuang tried her best to open her eyes, but then closed them immediately. It seemed that the arrow was drugged.

    The attacker came in no good intentions and was well prepared. Qin Yunuan thought about it for a while. Since they used drugs instead of poison on Leng Shuang, it meant that they didn¡¯t n to take her life directly. She boldly walked out of the carriage and stood up straight. The view around was unfamiliar, and there was no one around. However, Qin Yunuan knew that the attacker was just nearby.

    ¡°You took me here but didn¡¯t kill me immediately. It means that you want to bargain with me. What now? Now that I¡¯m here, you¡¯re hiding in the dark. Couldn¡¯t you possibly be afraid, could you?¡±

    Swish! A short arrow struck the carriage, missing Qin Yunuan barely. However, Qin Yunuan was as stable as a rock. She was fearless, as she knew that the attacker didn¡¯t want to hurt her, not even the slightest bit.

    ¡°You¡¯re so tiny, yet you like to use these ruthless tactics. Is it that Leng Changxi spoiled you too much?¡± A bright male¡¯s voice sounded. The familiar tone and voice made Qin Yunuan tremble.

    In between the woods, a man in dark green flipped his paper fan and approached Qin Yunuan¡¯s carriage slowly. A silk tree was painted on the paper fan. A woman was sitting on a rock under the tree, holding the red flower in her hands. She was looking familiar, and it seemed that it was Qin Yunuan.

    Qin Yunuan raised her head, looking at the person whom she was most familiar with. It had been a while since shest saw him. He had grown a beard on his chin and became slimmer, but the smile on his face had also be grimmer.

    ¡°Prince Ray, it¡¯s been a long while.¡± Qin Yunuan looked down at the confident Sima Ray. His expressions only made Qin Yunuan more disgusted.

    Sima Ray smiled, ¡°Normal people panic when they see me. They all thought that I¡¯m dead. You¡¯re the only one who¡¯s always so calm.¡± Sima Ray tilted his head and said, ¡°You know what? I like your cold attitude. The prouder you are, the more my desire to keep you as mine will be.¡±

    ¡°But you know what? Prince Ray, you look really disgusting and sick.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled.

    Sima Ray was not angry at all, but he yelled towards Du Sheng beside him. ¡°Why are you still standing here? Can¡¯t you see that Infanta Ping was still standing on the carriage? Go over and kneel down, let Infanta Ping dismount the carriage on your back.¡±

    Du Sheng hurried to the carriage and knelt down familiarly. Some of the nobles didn¡¯t like to use woodendders to dismount the carriage but preferred their servants as humandders. They said that it was softer and morefortable.

    Qin Yunuan looked at Du Sheng in disdain and leaped off the carriage on the other side with Ting Xue¡¯s help. She pointed at her shoes and said towards Sima Ray, ¡°Excuse me, Prince Ray. I have no habit of stepping on animals.¡±

    ¡°Interesting.¡± Sima Ray smiled wickedly. As he waved his hands, a dozen soldiers showed up behind him. Fang Ziying had mentioned the clothes of the Jinling army in the letter she wrote to Qin Yunuan. Qin Yunuan could recognize on first nce that these soldiers, and the countless soldiers hiding in the woods, were all from Jinling. Apparently, the Commander¡¯s Seal of Sun Family had fallen into Sima Ray¡¯s hands.

    Sima Ray strode towards Qin Yunuan. He was like a devil, making people daunting. He only stopped when he was only a foot away from Qin Yunuan. He tilted his head and whispered to Qin Yunuan¡¯s ear, ¡°What do you think Leng Changxi will do if you disappeared for three days? What about Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion? What about your dearest Brother?¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned her head sideways, ¡°They¡¯ll be better than you are.¡±

    Sima Ray suddenlyughed, ¡°Is it? Watch Infanta Ping closely. I¡¯ll show her how I am going to torture the people whom she treasures the most.¡±

    After that, two soldiers came forward to hold Qin Yunuan¡¯s arms. Ting Xue struggled at her best, trying to protect Qin Yunuan, but was kicked away by a strong man. Qin Yunuan had no intention of struggling. She knew that Sima Ray was more despicable and vicious than ever. The more discontent and pain she showed, the more pleasure Sima Ray would find in her.

    Qin Yunuan was blindfolded and pushed back to the carriage. The carriage shook. It seemed that a driver mounted the carriage as well. Sounds of men and horses gathered around her. Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t use her eyes for now, so she could only use her ears and her nose to catch every hint of information she could obtain. However, Sima Ray seemed to be well prepared either. He put some knockout incense in the carriage. Even though Qin Yunuan tried her best to keep awake, she passed out very soon.

    When she woke up again, Qin Yunuan saw the round curtain on top of her. It was a round bed she was lying on. There were no windows around, so the room was only lit by candles. Qin Yunuan was feeling bad about it. Apparently, it meant that she had no possibility to contact with the outside world. She couldn¡¯t even know the time ording to the angle of the sun. It seemed that Sima Ray¡¯s purpose was to cut off hope for Qin Yunuan.

    There was a blunt sound of a heavy door pushed open. Looking along the light, Qin Yunuan saw Sima Ray appearing on the stairs. There was a cold smile on Sima Ray¡¯s face.

    Sima Ray put the food box in his hands on the wooden table, approached Qin Yunuan¡¯s ear and said, ¡°Glutinous Rice Balls, your favorite. It¡¯s from the First Boite of the Royal City.¡±

    The First Boite of the Royal City was Leng Changxi¡¯s property. What Sima Ray meant was...

    ¡°It seems that Leng Changxi had no action yet since you disappeared on the way to the pce.¡± Sima Ray told her about the outside world with a smile.

    Qin Yunuan looked at Sima Ray and remained silent. To Sima Ray, the less Qin Yunuan reacted, the more he would talk. While what Qin Yunuan wanted was to know as much information as possible.

    ¡°Your servant girls are all loyal indeed.¡± Sima Ray said sarcastically, ¡°They wouldn¡¯t say a thing about you even after I tortured them.¡±

    Seeing Qin Yunuan¡¯s pupils shook, Sima Ray was more confident. ¡°However, I have my own way. They are all virgins, right? Huh, if they remain silent, I¡¯ll do everything I can. The soldiers from Jinling haven¡¯t seen women for quite a while. I¡¯m afraid that they...¡±

    ¡°Shameless!¡± Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help but swang her arm towards him. However, Sima Ray held her arm in his hands immediately. It was now that Qin Yunuan noticed the changes of her body. She was powerless.

    ¡°Don¡¯t try to go hard on me.¡± Sima Ray smiled. ¡°Even if I don¡¯t drug you, there¡¯s no chance that you can overpower me. The most capable servant girl of yours, Leng Shuang, right? I was thinking that I should start with her. I guess my soldiers will also enjoy wild women like her.¡±

    ¡°Sima Ray, I¡¯ll tell you what. If you dare to hurt them at all, I¡¯ll return their pain on you for thousands of times one day.¡±

    Sima Ray suddenly gripped Qin Yunuan¡¯s neck powerfully. Her fine neck was like a stray in Sima Ray¡¯s big palm. Sima Ray raised Qin Yunuan¡¯s chin with his thumb and said viciously, ¡°My little prisoner, do you know why I¡¯m better than you are? You¡¯re too emotional. You can¡¯t be constrained by your emotions if you want to seed. You should learn from me. I could hide behind the Empress for dozens of years; kill my brothers and sisters, even my father, the Emperor, in order to get what I want.¡±

    Hearing this, Qin Yunuan felt her heart trembled. Just then, a general came in from the outside, arched his hands to Sima Ray and said, ¡°Prince Ray, everything¡¯s ready. The army could leave at any time.¡±

    Sima Ray waved him off, yet Qin Yunuan rushed to ask, ¡°You¡¯re going to revolt?¡±

    Sima Ray just smiled and didn¡¯t say anything. Qin Yunuan stopped him, ¡°Are you going to kill the Emperor?¡±

    Sima Ray stopped his pace, ¡°There are only two choices for what¡¯s in my way. Either follow me or to be destroyed.¡±

    Qin Yunuan shook her head, ¡°You¡¯re mad, you¡¯re really mad. Do you really think that you can get everything that¡¯s yours after you kill the Emperor? Do you think the officials would all support you? Do you think all the people would support you?¡±

    Sima Ray smiled coldly, ¡°This is not my concern. Besides, Nuan, I like it when you¡¯re anxious. You¡¯ll never know how pretty you are when you¡¯re angry and frowning.¡±

 Chapter 222 Marching into the Palace

    <h4>Chapter 222 Marching into the Pce</h4>

    Sima Ray sneered, as he gripped Qin Yunuan¡¯s chin powerfully with his fingertips, forcing Qin Yunuan to look at him.

    ¡°Take your filthy hands off me.¡± Qin Yunuan looked directly at Sima Ray. His eyes were filled with desire for power.

    ¡°No, I won¡¯t.¡± Sima Ray smiled grimly and increased the force on his hands until his nails dented Qin Yunuan¡¯s chin. ¡°Nuan, I know you don¡¯t like it. But it doesn¡¯t really matter as long as I like you. Your wisdom and cleverness make you the best candidate to be the empress of my empire.¡±

    ¡°Stop dreaming.¡± Qin Yunuan spat in disdain.

    Sima Ray took a step back and slowly wiped off the spit on his face. He licked the spit in front of Qin Yunuan and put up an enjoying look, ¡°It tastes so nice.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re disgusting.¡±

    ¡°I am more disgusting than you think.¡± Sima Ray strode forward and held Qin Yunuan¡¯s wrist, trying to drag Qin Yunuan to him. However, Qin Yunuan struggled hard and tripped. She rolled her eyes back and passed out. Sima Ray frowned. He knew well about the little tricks of this woman, so he dared not approach her anymore. However, after quite a while, Qin Yunuan was still fainted by the bed.

    Sima Ray¡¯s eyes narrowed. He walked towards the door and opened the stone-made door by a secret switch on the wall.

    ¡°Find me a doctor right now.¡±

    There were military doctors in the army. After a while, a thirtyish doctor rushed in, carrying a medication box with him. He was dragged into the room by Sima Ray as soon as he arrived at the door. Sima Ray pointed at Qin Yunuan and said, ¡°Treat her. If you can¡¯t, then die together with her.¡±

    The doctor was quite young, but he was quite calm. ¡°I¡¯ll try my best.¡± The doctor ordered his apprentice to open the medication box. He pulled out a red thread and asked his apprentice to tie it on Qin Yunuan¡¯s wrist so that he could test her pulse through the thread. It seemed that the doctor was quite capable.

    When the pulse was clear, the doctor frowned.

    ¡°How is she doing?¡± Sima Ray couldn¡¯t help but urged.

    The doctor got up and saluted, ¡°Prince Ray, Infanta Ping is pregnant. She just fainted because of anxiety and anger.¡±

    ¡°Pregnant?¡± Sima Ray¡¯s expressions were unclear, ¡°For how long?¡±

    ¡°Not more than two months. Maybe Infanta Ping was too tiredtely, so her pulse is not really stable. She should rest well and not to be stimted anymore.¡± The doctor answered honestly. However, Sima Ray raised his leg and kicked towards his chest powerfully.

    ¡°Pregnant?¡± Sima Ray roared madly, ¡°Qin Yunuan, you¡¯re carrying Leng Changxi¡¯s child after all.¡± Sima Ray said as he reached his hand out for Qin Yunuan¡¯s abdomen. When his hand is an inch to Qin Yunuan¡¯s abdomen, the doctor on the ground reminded him, ¡°Prince Ray!¡±

    Sima Ray returned to his mind and smiled suddenly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter that she gets pregnant. I should say it¡¯s better this way. I just wanted to kidnap you, but now I have his child with me as well. Nuan, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take good care of you, and watch you give birth to the child. Then, I¡¯ll show Leng Changxi how his wife and his child live on me.¡±

    Sima Ray was exerting a weird and cold temperament. He suddenly raised his head andughed. The army outside was all ready, waiting for Sima Ray¡¯s order. Du Sheng put on the armor and helmet for Sima Ray. Sima Ray turned back to look at Qin Yunuan one more time, looking extremely affectionate. ¡°Nuan, wait for me.¡± Then, he ordered the doctor, ¡°Take care of her when I¡¯m not here. If she turned worse when I¡¯m back, you¡¯ll take its toll.¡±

    The doctor arched his hands and agreed. Fifty thousand soldiers were waiting on the field, all set. Sima Ray was inspecting them on a high tower and encouraging them. The Sun Family had a hundred thousand private soldiers in total, but the Sun Family still saved some for themselves. With the Commander¡¯s Seal Sun Family gave him, Sima Ray could onlymand seventy thousand of them. After the Sun Family was wiped out, there were many soldiers who fled. After knowing that they were heading to the pce in the Royal City, another half fled. Within the fifty thousand soldiers, half of it was from Sun Family, and the other half was gathered by Sima Ray along his way.

    Sima Ray would never fight a war that he was unconfident of.

    ¡°Prince Ray, there¡¯s news from the Royal Pce.¡± Du Sheng bowed and handed him a letter.

    Sima Ray unrolled the letter and took a quick nce, looking very pleased. ¡°Imperial Concubine Yang, she never lets me down. I¡¯ve already said it before that my ways are way more thoughtful than you think.¡±

    Just as Qin Yunuan guessed, Imperial Concubine Yang had always been on Sima Ray¡¯s side. Sima Ray was good at putting his spies everywhere. Even though Imperial Concubine Yang appeared to be insignificant before, she had gathered lots of information for Sima Ray in the dark. By the assassinationst time, Sima Ray made Imperial Concubine Yun trust Imperial Concubine Yang fully. After that, Imperial Concubine Yang raised her status step by step with the remaining people of Sima Ray and the trust of Imperial Concubine Yun. By then, no one would doubt that such an imperial concubine has any connection with an allegedly dead prince.

    The Jinling soldiers were well trained. They had arrived at the Tongming Gate of the Royal City without being noticed in a couple of hours. The people in the Royal City were all well asleep, and the general guarding the Tongming Gate was already reced by Imperial Concubine Yang¡¯s people. As soon as they saw the yellow g from afar, they opened the gate to let them in. No one had noticed that fifty thousand people entered the city quietly.

    Qin Yunuan was still sleeping when all these happened, and she wasn¡¯t aware of any of it. She had a dream. It was about her childhood, while her mother was still alive. On a warm winter day, her mother was washing her hair in the courtyard. Her mother rubbed her hair with warm water, and it feltfortable.

    ¡°Seeing the ck hair of Nuan, I know that you¡¯ll definitely find a husband who will treat you well.¡± Mother¡¯s smile was kind, like an angel.

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to marry anyone. I¡¯ll stay with mother for my whole life.¡±

    ¡°Silly girl,¡± Shangguan Yu wiped Qin Yunuan¡¯s hair and said, ¡°When you meet someone who makes your heart pound, you won¡¯t feel the same. He¡¯ll be like a surprise for your life, showing up suddenly and entering your life without a hint. He¡¯ll never leave you after that, and you¡¯ll carry his child and apany him for the rest of your life.¡±

    In her dream, Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyelids trembled, and she muttered, ¡°Changxi.¡± Where was he at the moment? Did he know that I was missing? I hoped that he coulde for me, but I also hoped that he could stay steady, so as not to be tricked by Sima Ray. I loved him, so I hoped that he could live well, for me and for himself, no matter what would happen to me.

    Faintly, there seemed to be another voice calling her.

    ¡°Infanta Ping, it¡¯s time for medicine.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart trembled, and she suddenly opened her eyes. She realized what situation she was in, and she got very cautious immediately. She saw a schr-like man standing respectfully by her bed, and a bowl of hot brown medicine on the tea table.

    ¡°Who are you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Lu Cheng, your doctor, Infanta Ping.¡± The doctor Lu Cheng bowed slightly.

    ¡°Huh, you¡¯re just Sima Ray¡¯s servant after all.¡± Qin Yunuan turned her head around without looking at the medicine on the tea table. She didn¡¯t trust Sima Ray, so she naturally wouldn¡¯t trust Lu Cheng either.

    Lu Cheng remained calm. He took the medicine and handed it to Qin Yunuan. ¡°Even if Infanta Ping isn¡¯t willing to take it, you should take it, for the child in your womb.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    It was true that she was easily asleep these days, and that she was getting to like sour food, and also that she was being easily tired. However, Qin Yunuan had never thought that she¡¯d got pregnant. If that was true...

    Qin Yunuan unconsciously touched her abdomen when she heard Lu Cheng said, ¡°I guess Master Su wouldn¡¯t rest in peace if he sees you like this.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stared at Lu Cheng. What did he just say? ¡°Master Su¡±?

    She looked at him doubtfully, as Lu Cheng arched his hands and said, ¡°My original name is Lu Wuyi, and Master Su Chenghai was my teacher.¡±

    Qin Yunuan had heard of Lu Wuyi. The Lu Family had been doctors in the regions south of the River for nine generations. Lu Wuyi was also nicknamed Tri-acupuncture Lu. It was said that he could cure any illness with three acupuncture needles. What she didn¡¯t expect was that Lu Wuyi¡¯s teacher was Su Chenghai, who was almost ten years younger than him.

    ¡°You¡¯re his apprentice?¡± Qin Yunuan looked at him doubtfully.

    ¡°Exactly.¡±

    ¡°Then why are you in the Jinling army? And why are you working for Sima Ray? Did you know that...¡±

    ¡°Wuyi¡¯s just a doctor.¡± Lu Wuyi handed the medicine to her and said, ¡°All I can do is to treat people. Now that you¡¯re weak, Infanta Ping, don¡¯t be so stubborn. Come on, drink the medicine before it¡¯s getting cold.¡±

    Qin Yunuan peeked at the medicine, ¡°You¡¯ve received Sima Ray¡¯s order to treat me so well, right? I heard your conversation. Even if I¡¯m weak, it was not that easy for me to pass out. I could take the medicine under one condition. You have to do me a favor.¡±

    Lu Wuyi held his breath. Qin Yunuan took the medicine bowl from him and put it against her lips. It was like threatening him, but also like asking for an old friend¡¯s help.

    ¡°My servant girls were still captured by Sima Ray.¡± Qin Yunuan frowned. ¡°Sima Ray is vicious, so I¡¯m not sure if they¡¯re still alive. The servant girl in purple clothes likes my hairpin a lot. Could you give it to her, so that she would be happy before she died?¡± Qin Yunuan said as she removed a butterfly-shaped golden hairpin from her hair. The tip of the hairpin was sharp as if it could pierce a person¡¯s chest.

    ¡°How about that?¡± Qin Yunuan smiled and looked at Lu Wuyi.

 Chapter 223 Turmoil

    <h4>Chapter 223 Turmoil</h4>

    ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary husband.¡± Lu Wuyi wanted to refuse.

    ¡°If you were really an ordinary husband, you would not show up here,¡± Qin Yunuan said with her cold and clear eyes. She seemed to have perceived each kind of subtle emotion in the heart of Lu Wuyi, ¡°Though Lu Family had been working on medicine for nine generations, your family suffered a lot in the period of thest emperor. Your family made a vow that the descendent of Lu Family should not serve the imperial court any longer. You went to Jinling and became a military doctor, which vited the rule made by your ancestor. I almost know why you did that and for whom you did that.¡±

    Lu Wuyi felt a little bit stunned. He had lurked in the army for such a long time and did the investigation secretly. All he did aimed to...

    ¡°You regarded your elder male cousin Su as your master because you wanted to know how he died,¡± Qin Yunuan disclosed the truth. Having seen the panic Lu Wuyi, Qin Yunuan knew that her guess was totally correct, ¡°I can tell you the truth. At that moment, the Leng Army got assaulted suddenly and was trapped in the Yueya Mountain. For the interests of the whole, elder male cousin Su took a risk to disguise Changxi to attract the army of East Qin away. The marching n was very confidential and well-considered, but it was so strange for them to get assaulted half-way. Later, after investigation, the lurking army was led to the ce by the news uncovered by Sima Ray.¡±

    ¡°Why should I believe your words?¡± Lu Wuyi said with her calm eyes, without any panic.

    Qin Yunuan shook her head and smile, ¡°You have been working with Sima Ray for such a long time, so you know him very much. You knew that Sima Ray would not miss such a thing that could achieve double effects simultaneously. If the assault was done and Changxi was killed, Sima Ray could continue to dispatch his army as the reinforcements. When East Qin capitted and was divided up, he could reap the benefit leisurely.¡±

    Qin Yunuan passed the butterfly-shaped gold hair sp in her hand to Lu Wuyi, ¡°you give this to my maidservant for me, so I will drink the medical soup. This is not a threat but just an exchange. I know you can let nobody find you and give it to her secretly.¡±

    As he was hesitating, the hair sp had been put on the hand of Lu Wuyi. Qin Yunuan lowered her eyebrows and smile. She drank the medical soup in the bowl entirely.

    In the evening, Sima Ray went back. He came straight to Qin Yunuan without taking off his corselet. When he entered her room, he found that Qin Yunuan stood quietly facing the wall. This room was built in the crypt underground, but Sima Ray controlled well the venttion and temperature of the room. People in this room would not feel the stuffiness and temperature imbnce at all.

    ¡°Useless,¡± Sima Ray strode down the steps, ¡°The wall of this room is made of granite, which was very firm and soundproof. You couldn¡¯t dig through the wall even if you did it for your whole life.¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned back calmly, ¡°Third Prince, everything smooths this time?¡±

    Sima Ray thought Qin Yunuan was mocking him. He raised his head andughed, and then said proudly, ¡°Smooth, super smooth. I kept a good lurker. Now my fifty-thousand army bypassed the eighty-thousand Imperial Guards outside the Royal City and arrived at the grand gate of the Royal Pce. There are only twenty thousand Imperial Guards in the Royal Pce now. Do you think they can fight against my army?¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Qin Yunuan tilted her head slightly with her admiring eyes. She touched the cold wall of the room and knew that it was night now. Though she was prisoned in the stone room where the wall was made of granite all around, Sima Ray ignored one point. The moist granite was warm in the daytime and cold at night. Qin Yunuan had felt the temperature change of the wall. By touching the wall, she could guess the time outside. She had stayed at the stone room for roughly three days and did not know how Changxi was and if he was looking for her.

    ¡°I know you do not believe it.¡± Sima Ray reached out his hand and pinched the jaw of Qin Yunuan. He seemed to be enjoying a private artwork, ¡°I am very happy today. My soldiers tried their best to fight, so I decided to award them. This time, your three maidservants be useful. I have said that I will pick the most ferocious one first. I have heard that the one in purple is called Leng Shuang, right? She learned martial arts from many schools and is high-skilled now. What she always practices is Yunyu swordsmanship, which requires the practicer to be a virgin. Now I want her to be a slut of men. Qin Yunuan, I regard you as my honey, but you dislike me. Thus, I can only torment the people around you. I failed to make you love me, so I prison you like this to let you remember me for your whole life.¡±

    Qin Yunuan shook her head and sigh, ¡°Sima Ray, do you know that you are such a rare psycho in this world?¡±

    Sima Rayughed and was about to say something. Suddenly, Du Sheng entered the room in a hurry. He said nervously, ¡°Third Prince, something bad happened. A riot happened in the water dungeon.¡±

    Leng Shuang, Xi¡¯er and Ting Xue were prisoned in the water dungeon. Sima Ray turned back to observe the reaction of Qin Yunuan. Having seen that Qin Yunuan was so calm, Sima Ray knew that he guessed right, ¡°It¡¯s you,¡± Sima Ray stepped forward to pinch the neck of Qin Yunuan, ¡°I know it¡¯s you! You are sopetent.¡±

    Though the neck of Qin Yunuan was pinched by Sima Ray tightly, her eyes were still determined. Sheughed with her hoarse voice, ¡°Third Prince, what are you talking about? It is an airtight room without any window. I even can¡¯t connect with anyone outside, so how can I save my three maidservants?¡±

    Her provoking words caused a more intense emotion of Sima Ray.

    He pushed Qin Yunuan against the wall heavily. He knew that the maidservant in purple who was called Leng Shuang was so high-skilled. If she seeded in escaping, she would report the condition to the outside.

    ¡°Third Prince,¡± Qin Yunuan shouted, ¡°Will you kill two of us?¡± She covered her belly simultaneously.

    Du Sheng said aside, ¡°Third Prince, all the guards in the water dungeon were killed just by one strike.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s that bitch.¡± Sima Ray red at Qin Yunuan angrily and then walked out of the stone room.

    After Sima Ray left, Lu Wuyi came in a short time. The guards at the door knew that Lu Wuyi came for treating Qin Yunuan, so they did not stop him. Lu Wuyi looked at Qi Yunuan, who was lying on the bed and pretended to be sick, but he did not expose her. He just ordered the medical boy to open the medicine chest as usual, ¡°What the matter with you, Infanta Ping?¡±

    Qin Yunuan straightened her body, and she had recovered from the craziness just now, ¡°I feel bad in my chest. In a word, ufortable.¡±

    Lu Wuyi hinted at the medical boy who was about 12 to 13 years old, and then the boy quit immediately. Lu Wuyi was not about to treat her seriously and just put away his medicine chest. He justughed, ¡°What is the else matter with you, Infanta Ping? I hid your hair sp in the food and sent it to the maidservant in purple ording to your demand. Now the water dungeon is in a mess, and that¡¯s your aim, right?¡±

    ¡°But, not enough.¡± Qin Yunuan bewitched Lu Wuyi generally. He was the only channel for her tomunicate with the outside, so she had to gain his full support. Although she knew that Lu Wuyi had not yielded to Sima Raypletely, now she could not ensure Lu Wuyi was willing to take risks for her.

    ¡°You have done enough.¡± Lu Wuyi stood up angrily. He was a conscientious doctor, and many of those guards in the water dungeon were familiar with him. When he saw the bloody wounds on the neck of those guards, he seemed to feel their pain before they died.

    As an apprentice who gained benefit from his benefactor, he wanted to revenge for his benefactor. But as a gentleman, he felt sorry to see the tragic scenes. Qin Yunuan hit exactly his weak point. She nned to force him into a hopeless situation. It would help if you made a person crazy before you convinced him.

    ¡°Enough? Really? But Sima Ray is still alive. Those soldiers nned to burst into the Royal Pce and kill the emperor. They were lewd and was about to rape my maidservants. My maidservants are ordinary girls, and those girls have their dads and rtives. Those soldiers have no right to insult my girls. They owe me, and all I do is to make them paid a little back.¡±

    ¡°An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.¡± Lu Wuyi covered his eyes painfully. The scene of those dying soldiers¡¯ widening eyes seemed to emerge in his mind. He wanted to save them but failed. Qin Yunuan¡¯s maidservant in purple was so shrewd. She broke the shackles¡¯ lock by the hair sp and used the hair sp to poke the carotid artery of those guards. Under such an intense circumstance, she still carried the other two impotent girls and escape.

    ¡°Your maidservant has her rtives, but those soldiers also have their mothers and wives, who are waiting for them toe back. You ruined many families.¡±

    ¡°Yes, each person has his family,¡± Qin Yunuan stepped closer slowly with intensifying eyes, ¡°But how many families are there in the Royal Family? How about in Jizhou, and even in the whole Qi? Doctor Lu, if you helped me, only several perverts who had their family but still insulted other girls would be ruined. But if you did not help me, numerous ordinary people in the Royal City and even in the whole Qi would be destroyed. It is clear that which is more important.¡±

    Lu Wuyi said nothing and seemed to be pondering.

    Qin Yunuan added, ¡°You are a doctor, and you always pay much attention to save people in the world. But just by your insignificant strength, howe you save all the patients in this world? Though you can spend your whole life treating people, you can only save the local patients. How about those evil abnormal people? Doctor Lu, you can¡¯t save them. Or, maybe some of your patients are perverted by nature. They will be living moths, but if they died, they would contribute to society. Doctor Lu, I have said much. You must be clear how to make your choice.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t force me.¡± Lu Wuyi was very grievous in his heart. He crouched and covered his heart, which had been stimted heavily and was constantly convulsive.

    Qin Yunuan crouched too. She gave a silk bag to him, which was from the dying Old Madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. Qin Yunuan always carried this silk bag. After Sima Ray started his army, she opened the silk bag secretly. She finally understood why the Old Madam said that it was apetitive weapon to destroy Sun Family after she saw the strange design with red-print pattern.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Lu Wuyi felt surprised to look at the token with golden and red pattern. He suddenly understood and shouted surprisingly, ¡°This is...¡±

 Chapter 224 Sending News Secretly

    <h4>Chapter 224 Sending News Secretly</h4>

    Lu Wuyi looked astonished, but Qin Yunuan was so calm, ¡°Yes, it is a Commander¡¯s Seal. It has been about one whole day since Sima Ray started off his armyst night. If the calling of help had been delivered to the outside, the army of Jizhou, which was stationed in the ce closest to the Royal City, would have arrived at the suburbs of the Royal City. But now there is no new report. Thus, it can be concluded that Sima Ray has already colluded with those officers of the districts near the Royal City.¡±

    ¡°You are right,¡± Lu Wuyi did not conceal what he knew, ¡°Actually, the Royal Pce was besieged, and then somebody had managed to get out to report. And the army of Jizhou had started off for saving the emperor. However, they had marched for a whole day but still did not arrive in the suburbs of the Royal City.¡±

    ¡°They are just not willing to save the emperor,¡± Qin Yunuan knew their trick well, ¡°If Sima Ray were to seed in overturning the regime, the prefectural governor of Jizhou would im his achievement by the military action this time. If there was a tendency that the emperor would gain the upper hand in the Royal Pce, the prefectural governor of Jizhou would turn back and im that his army saved the emperor and killed the traitors. He will be the meritorious official too.¡±

    ¡°The emperor won¡¯t tolerate those traitors¡¯ lie.¡± Lu Wuyi was very indignant and seemed to have forgotten that he was the military doctor of the rebel army. ¡°So the Commander¡¯s Seal?¡±

    ¡°It is the Commander¡¯s Seal of the thirty-thousand army stationed at Qingzhou.¡± Qin Yunuan answered calmly.

    Qingzhou was located at the border between Qi and North Di. The soldiers of Qi had rich experiences of battling due to perennial wars. After the peace talks between Qi and North Di, they decreased military trains generally. The imperial court had issued the dismissal decree to order those old, weak and disabled soldiers to return to their hometowns. Though those soldierscked realbat training, the thirty-thousand army stationed in Qingzhou was still one of the most powerful military strengths.

    This was the gift the Queen Mother gave to the Old Madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, for expressing her regret. And then the Old Madam sent it to Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°You want me to give this Commander¡¯s Seal for deploying the army to General Leng?¡± Lu Wuyi guessed. Although the Leng Army waspetitive in battles, as a new-emerging army, they were rtively small, with only less than eight thousand people, which was notparable with those thirty thousand people from Sima Ray¡¯s army. Besides, Imperial Concubine Rong in the Royal Pce was the spy of Sima Ray. Thus, General Leng was hard to break the dilemma.

    ¡°No.¡± Qin Yunuan shook her head. She guessed that Leng Changxi now must be protecting the emperor and Queen Mother in the Royal Pce. It was useless for Leng Changxi to gain the Commander¡¯s Seal even if Lu Wuyi could try to enter the Royal Pce secretly.

    Qin Yunuan needed a trustworthy person to take this Commander¡¯s Seal to Qingzhou. The person should be not only calm and loyal but also skilled in martial arts. Now the Royal Capital was in turmoil, and everyone was trying to survive. And the selected person...

    ¡°You go to the east of the city and find Miss Chen, who makes a living by embroidering. You tell her that you book a handkerchief with two embroidering butterflies, one red above and one blue below.¡±

    Lu Wuyi was confused but dared not ask more. Qin Yunuan glimpsed at him calmly, ¡°You just tell her what I said. She will know you are my person. Doctor Lu, the lives in this country are in your hands.¡±

    Lu Wuyi shuddered and said timidly, ¡°I...let me figure out how I can get out of the military camp. It¡¯s in the key period under the strict member checking. People can only enter the camp but are not allowed to leave. I am afraid that...¡±

    A subtle impact sound came. Qin Yunuan knew that someone outside the stone room was starting the switch of the door. Suddenly Qin Yunuan smiled and stared at Lu Wuyi with quirky eyes, ¡°It¡¯s OK, Doctor Lu. I will help you.¡±

    Suddenly, Qin Yunuan tore her clothes down heavily, and her fair corbone and half shoulder were exposed. When Lu Wuyi was at a loss, Qin Yunuan held his hands to stop him from leaving. In the chaos, both of the two people were with mess dresses.

    Lu Wuyi said in a lower voice, ¡°Are you insane? What are you doing?¡±

    At this moment, the stone door was open. Qin Yunuan glimpsed at the steps of the door and immersed into her y quickly. She held her clothes and said with tears, ¡°Doctor Lu, you can¡¯t do this. I am pregnant! You can¡¯t do this.¡±

    Suddenly, Lu Wuyi widened his eyes and looked at this instantly changing woman surprisingly. One second ago, she was ady who analyzed the situation calmly. But the next second, she was crying like an injured small rabbit.

    The moment the man at the door saw the scene, he rushed outrageously to grab theppet of Lu Wuyi. That man was Sima Ray with bloody eyes and increasingly anger.

    ¡°Bastard!¡± Sima Ray picked up Lu Wuyi and threw him to the corner of the wall heavily. The heavy impact made Lu Wuyi hard to move. The blood of Sima Ray seemed to be burned. He could not tolerate the scene that her favorite woman was insulted by a menial military doctor.

    Sima Ray lifted his feet and was about to kill Lu Wuyi, but suddenly Qin Yunuan came to stop Sima Ray, ¡°Third Prince, please don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Nuan?¡± Sima Ray was confused about why his decisive woman begged for this bastard.

    Lu Wuyi held her arm painfully, and he thought that his left wrist had been dislocated. He was staring at Qin Yunuan and wondered how this woman exined her abrupt change.

    ¡°I feel not enough if you kill him like this,¡± Qin Yunuan said, gritting his teeth. She seemed to suffer huge unkindness, ¡°I want him alive and then torture him generally. I want him to lose all reputation. A doctor thinks highly of reputation, but I will ruin his famepletely.¡±

    Sima Ray raised his eyebrows slightly. He liked Qin Yunuan¡¯s handling method. He was the kind of person like Qin Yunuan, who enjoyed people being tortured and begging sorely, ¡°Nice. I like the way too.¡± Sima Ray glimpsed at Lu Wuyi arrogantly and asked Qin Yunuan, ¡°So Nuan, how do you think he should be treated?¡±

    Qin Yunuan glimpsed at Lu Wuyi calmly, ¡°Kick him out of the military camp and destroy all of his medical books and researchful medicines. I want him to leave the camp without anything. Now the Royal Capital is in a mess. He is such an impotent doctor without any means of livelihood. I am waiting to see him be homeless and die far away from his hometown. Finally, there will be no one to help bury his body.¡±

    The air seemed to be frozen. No matter how Sima Ray started at Qin Yunuan with his iparable shrewd eyes, Qin Yunuan still looked at Lu Wuyi with her gloomy and vicious eyes. Lu Wuyi was still and even ignored the pain of his dislocated wrist. He finally figured out what Qin Yunuan had said. Now he couldn¡¯t go out of the military camp in private. Qin Yunuan wanted to let him go out in this way, but she did not consult with him at all. He felt stunned but admired the reaction capacity of Qin Yunuan. This woman must gain unparalleled achievement in the future.

    ¡°OK, nice. I like it.¡± Sima Ray stopped observing. He turned back leisurely and said to Lu Wuyi arrogantly, ¡°Do you hear that?¡±

    ¡°Third Prince.¡± Lu Wuyi implored ordingly. But for Sima Ray, he did not know the man in front of him was a treasure at all. Each one from Lu Family with nine-generation medical history had supreme medical skills, especially Lu Wuyi. He was good at detoxication and poison-making. But in the eyes of Sima Ray, he was just a desperate doctor called Lu Cheng who sought refuge and had slightly better medical skills than others.

    ¡°Go away.¡± Sima Ray was not hesitating. Having seen the leaving shadow of Lu Wuyi, who held his arm, Qin Yunuan estimated that her n was half sessful.

    After Lu Wuyi left, there were only Sima Ray and Qin Yunuan in the stone room again. Qin Yunuan felt disgusting at this phenomenon. Though tears were still on her face, she had been back to normal.

    Sima Ray came closer and tried to act soft, ¡°Are you frightened just now?¡±

    Qin Yunuan tilted her head, ¡°Thanks foring in time. I am fine.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Sima Ray suddenly lookedpletely different. He said hostilely, ¡°Since you are OK, then I¡¯ll ask you about one issue.¡±

    Qin Yunuan had tidied up her clothes. She just walked straight toward the bed and said with her head lowering, ¡°I am tired today. You cane to ask me another day. Third Prince.¡±

    Her words irritated Sima Ray again. He dragged Qin Yunuan over from the bed and pushed her on the wall gain. Sima Ray showed a butterfly-shaped hair sp to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Is this yours?¡±

    Qin Yunuan squinted, ¡°It was made by Qinggong workshop. I bought it once, but I am not sure if others have bought this kind of sp too.¡±

    ¡°Humph,¡± Sima Ray pushed the hair sp closer, ¡°It was found in the water dungeon. I remember that you wore this one when you first came here. But now, where is your hair sp? It was not on your head.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was just looking at crazy Sima Ray, without a word.

    Sima Ray said louder, ¡°Tell me, how can you do it? Did you bribe the guards at door? Or you bribed my people? You couldn¡¯t bribe me. If no traitor helped you, it was impossible for you to do that and for the three girls to escape. Qin Yunuan, you are such a cunning woman. I love you. I love you much more.¡±

    Qin Yunuan glimpsed at the madman coldly who said he loved her because Sima Ray should not suspect Lu Wuyi at all after the thing just now.

    Qin Yunuan was about to leave, but Sima Ray pinched her body tightly, ¡°Want to go? I won¡¯t let it happen any longer. I will figure it out. I will check one by one and find the person who helped you. No one can be neglected.¡±

    ¡°Third Prince, just now, you asked me where the butterfly-shaped hair sp was.¡± Qin Yunuan pushed away the arms of Sima Ray by her tender hands. She walked straight to the bed and took out a butterfly-shaped hair sp under a pillow, which was identical to the one on the hand of Sima Ray. She smiled coldly, ¡°Mine, is here.¡±

    ¡°You...¡± Sima Ray was stunned and thought the hair sp on his hand was a joke. He stared at Qin Yunuan for a long time. This woman...

    ¡°Third Prince, I am tired. Please go back.¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her head and made a gesture of farewell.

    Sima Ray got irritated. He waved his sleeves and said threatening words, and then left. There were many things outside which he should handle, and the most suspenseful thing was that Leng Changxi and his eighty-thousand followers now concentrated on Rosefinch Gate. It seemed that they would break out the circumstance. Sima Ray should not let anyone go out of the Royal Pce. If anyone escaped and reported to the outside, he would be over.

 Chapter 225 God of Warâ€™s Fatal Blow

    <h4>Chapter 225 God of War¡¯s Fatal Blow</h4>

    After Sima Ray left, Qin Yunuan held the butterfly-shaped hairpin all the time. Leng Changxi¡¯s face seemed to appeare in her eyes. Leng Changxi had never worn a mask when he was alone with Qin Yunuan. Once after making out, Changxi hugged Qin Yunuan, who had a reddishplexion. A hairpin appeared in his hands. It was softly fitted to her scalp from Qin Yunuan¡¯s ears.

    ¡°It was for you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s very beautiful.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not just beautiful,¡± Leng Changxi coddled her with a smile, and his big hand turned along the lines of the hairpin. It turned out that the copper handle could be unscrewed on the outside, revealing a silver cylinder with four edges on the top. It cut iron like mud.

    ¡°It was to protect you.¡±

    Leng Changxi¡¯s deep and sexy words seemed to echo in Qin Yunuan¡¯s ears, but now this hairpin had already killed seventeen correctional officers under Leng Shuang¡¯s hands. Sima Ray would never have expected that Leng Shuang not only caused casualties of the guards, but she also approached Qin Yunuan¡¯s stone chamber and returned the hairpin.

    Qin Yunuan left in a hurry. The hairpin was the only thing on her body that had Leng Changxi¡¯s mark. She couldn¡¯t throw it away. Qin Yunuan twisted the hairpin back and ced it on her heart. There was a burst of pain. She had no idea how Leng Changxi was doing now. Was he injured? Did he miss her?

    A bright moon was in the sky. Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t see the moon in her stone chamber. But those under the moon would spend this night of lovesickness with the bright moonlight.

    Under the full moon, the pce seemed to glow in gold, and it was a bit out of tune with the night. As Leng Changxi climbed up and looked into the distance, he saw the fire that rose in Sima Ray¡¯s camp on the street outside the Rosefinch Gate. He had to acknowledge that Sima Ray was a good yer in the dark. Since his disappearance on the road to Imperial Mausoleum, Leng Changxi had sent people to search Sima Ray¡¯s whereabouts in nearby state capitals, but they found nothing.

    It was as if he had vanished in the air.

    No one could have imagined that Sima Ray appeared again in Jinling. Strangely, Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t have collected any traces of his journey. Looking at the campfires of the distant enemy raging up, Leng Changxi felt the helplessness of a trapped animal for the first time. What froze his heart more was the fact that he knew there must be someone tricky among his men. Otherwise, Sima Ray couldn¡¯t have walked around so unscrupulously.

    Thinking of that, Leng Changxi felt his eyes darkened as he looked into the distance. Suddenly, he saw a small purple dot appearing in Sima Ray¡¯s camp, constantlying towards the Rosefinch Gate while contending with the soldiers.

    At this time, someone from below hurriedly reported, ¡°General, it seems that someone from the enemy has broken through and ising towards us.¡±

    The reporter had barely finished when Leng Wu, who stood beside Leng Changxi, recognized that ¡°someone¡± at first sight.

    ¡°Sister.¡± Leng Wu shouted. In a hurry, he even prompted to jump directly from the wall to help in Leng Shuang¡¯s fight.

    ¡°Leng Wu!¡± Leng Changxi gave him a loud shout to calm him down, ¡°Open the pce gate.¡±

    ¡°General, no,¡± Shang Xianhua persuaded from the side, ¡°If the enemy seizes this opportunity to enter the pce, the inner pce and the outer one are separated by only one wooden door, which is totally unstoppable.¡±

    ¡°Listen to me, open the pce door,¡± Leng Changxi had the confidence that came from nowhere. ¡°The Leng Army may not have exercised since the battle with East Qin.¡±

    Shang Xianhua seemed to hesitate for a while, then agreed with fortitude.

    The three-inch thick, vermilion pce door suddenly opened a small slit, then wider and wider. The Jinling army on the opposite side was busy dealing with the sudden appearance of the purple-clothed master. No one noticed the opening of the pce door as it was wide opened. The one who rushed out first on his horse was Leng Wu. He used a pair of sky-reaching halberds. His arm strength was incredible as he swung aggressively into the Jinling Army. With a stroke of the halberd, he smashed the skull of a Jinling soldier.

    ¡°Brother.¡± Leng Shuang, who was struggling to kill the enemy, had wounds on her arm. Half of her sleeve was wet with blood. Seeing her, Leng Wu was even more distressed. He brutally struck the two soldiers who wanted to attack Leng Shuang onto the ground.

    The appearance of Leng Wu attracted more Jinling soldiers. After a while, there was the sound of soldiers rushing towards the enemy under the Rosefinch Gate. It was like the roaring of a tiger or a dragon, full of momentum and murderous aura.

    ¡°The Leng Army is here!¡± There were men in Jinling soldiers who were terrified at the name of the Leng Army. Without this Leng Army, Jinling soldiers wouldn¡¯t have been scratching their ears and cheeks in embarrassment at the Rosefinch Gate for so long. They didn¡¯t dare to attack rashly but probe only. Every time, the explore team had no one returned.

    Suddenly, there was chaos in the Jinling Army. It was uneasy to reorganize the situation quickly, and no one even cared about the orders of generals.

    This was the purpose of Leng Changxi. The reason why the Jinling Army sent people to patrol day and night and guarded the pce wall strictly was to prevent the people from contacting the outside. Leng Shuang¡¯s sudden appearance and ferocious rushing soldiers gave the Jinling Army confusion first rather than fear.

    Following the appearance of Leng Wu, the Jinling soldiers would be at a loss again. At this time, the Jinling Army¡¯s military spirit was dissipated. Fear had already developed. They were attacking at this time would twice the result with half the effort.

    The general of the Jinling Army was could Chu Tang. He was tall, courageous and decisive. He was also an effective helper beside Sima Ray. He drove out and rushed into the Leng¡¯s army in ck iron armor. After a few fights, he was still at the upper hand. It seemed that he was a master in fighting.

    But what a pity...

    ¡°You¡¯re too impulsive.¡± Leng Changxi smiled softly. He heard this General Chu cursing humiliating words while waving a spear, fighting against one hundred enemies, ¡°F**k this. I see you, Leng Changxi, as nothing but a tortoise with a shrunken head. You let your people do their jobs for you, but you stand on the wall and watch. You guys follow a general like this. Hey, you are all spineless.¡±

    Provocation tactics?

    ¡°How dare you talk about our general?¡± There was an immediate uproar in the Leng army. They all saw what Leng Changxi did and knew his merit. They couldn¡¯t stand Chu Tang talking wildly.

    Immediately, dozens of soldiers of the Leng Army swarmed up at Chu Tang and surrounded him, but Chu Tang suddenly changed from the rampage posture he had just now. Instead, he retreated step by step towards the Jinling Barracks.

    This was...

    ¡°Leading the sheep into the tiger¡¯s prey? It¡¯s kind of interesting.¡± It seems that Chu Tang had a way. He deliberately provoked the Leng army, and then led the three hundred people to the Jinling barracks. No matter how brave these 300 people were, they could not defeat the overwhelming majority of the other side.

    ¡°Prepare the horse for me!¡± Leng Changxi yelled in anger. Under the pce wall, his ck and white horse was led to the pce gate immediately.

    On the battlefield, Leng Changxi used a shing spear with a silver spearhead and an iron handle. Holding the spear, he felt his eyes narrowed, and his feet were lifted as if he was in the wind. He jumped directly from the three-foot-high pce wall. Nobody would dare to try it at such a height if he was not among the best light skills masters in Qi.

    Leng Changxi¡¯s coat was roaring in the wind. Afternding, he turned over and drove directly on the horse. Opposite him was a fierce fight. Leng Wu had sessfully helped Leng Shuang to break through the encirclement. He brought a fast horse with him. Leng Shuang rode on with the bloody crape myrtle soft sword in her hand. The killing seems to have just begun.

    Like silver lightning, Leng Changxi was dressed in silver armor. Almost in an instant, his spear lifted up and down. The soldiers who were fighting with Chu were stunned. That living man in front of him suddenly lost his head. Leng Changxi took his spear back with a handsome posture and put his hands behind him.

    Someone suddenly eximed, ¡°General Chu¡¯s head is on the g.¡±

    Following the voice, they could see a head that was inserted into the spearhead of the yellow military g of the Jinling Army. The blood flowed down the gpole, while the blood on Leng Changxi¡¯s spear was coagted on the tip of the de and had not yet dropped.

    He was fast, precise and fierce to an extend that had never been heard of before.

    Just when everyone was extremely shocked, Leng Changxi¡¯s green horse neighed, as if he knew that his master was to talk.

    Leng Changxi had changed his mask to a silver one. Along with his silver armor, he seemed invulnerable.

    ¡°You are not killed today because we are all people of Qi. General Chu was a lesson. Whoever dares to nder me or the Leng Army will die!¡± Leng Changxi lifted his head slightly. He seemed to meet the gloomy eyes sitting in the chariot in the distance, ¡°Go back and tell Prince Ray, I will fight with him till the end. One day, he will pay for his ignorance and recklessness. It depends on his ability whether he could enter the pce or not. Return!¡±

    The g waved as the eight hundred soldiers of the Leng Army retreated to the pce gate in an orderly manner. During the whole process, no one in the entire Jinling army dared to move. Until the pce gate was heavily closed again, the soldiers of the Jinling army looked at each other, puzzled and still felt that what happened just now seemed to be a dream.

    The eight hundred Leng soldiers were excited after the battle. Courage and faith flew in their blood.

    ¡°General, Leng Shuang is injured. I want her to go back and rest first.¡± Leng Wu held Leng Shuang in his arms. Leng Shuang¡¯s arms and shoulders were bleeding. Although the injury was not serious, too much blood loss would also kill her.

    ¡°Zhang Ruting should still be in the pce. He was the best doctor. Go and find him.¡± Leng Changxi nodded in agreement.

    Leng Shuang struggled, ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask me where Third Young Madam is, General? Why don¡¯t you ask if she was safe?¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded and smiled, ¡°Since you escaped, Nuan must be alive. Although her martial arts were not as good as yours, she is smarter than you.¡±

    Leng Shuang¡¯s corner of the mouth twitched. She opened her mouth and said, ¡°Yes, it was Third Young Madam who helped me escape. She asked me to settle Xi¡¯er and Ting Xue down before going to the pce to help you. And she wanted you to rest assured. Old Madam gave her a body protector before passing away, and her maid Yuanyang now changed her name to Miss Chen in the east of the city. She would take care of Xi¡¯er and Ting Xue for her. She said that everything was fine for her, and you should not worry, General,¡± Leng Shuang hesitated and then told Leng Changxi of the news, ¡°Third Young Madam, she has been diagnosed that you will have a child.¡±

 Chapter 226 The Case of Blood

    <h4>Chapter 226 The Case of Blood</h4>

    A child? Leng Changxi¡¯s heart trembled violently. Even when his three thousand people were besieged by thirty thousand people at the Yueya Mountain of East Qin, his heart had never been so excited. A child, he and Nuan finally had a child.

    For the first time, Leng Changxi¡¯s voice started to tremble. He asked Leng Shuang, ¡°Do you still remember the detailed location of your detention?¡± Although he knew that with Sima Ray¡¯s caution and meticulousness, he would change the ce of detaining Qin Yunuan after Leng Shuang escaped, he would not give up even if there was only one clue.

    ¡°I did. And I made marks on the way, I...¡± Leng Shuang was sweating profusely as she spoke and fainted before she could finish.

    Leng Wu didn¡¯t dare to stall any moments. Carrying Leng Shuang, he headed towards the Imperial Hospital.

    Royal Pce was under siege. Many of the eunuchs and servantdies would rather bet on that one out of ten thousand chances to run out, but they all died at the pce gate without exception. Nobody even seeded in stepping on Que¡¯er Street. Therefore, the poption in this pce is already very sparse. Leng Wu ran all the way with Leng Shuang on his back, but he didn¡¯t see one person until he was in front of the hospital.

    In the night when Sima Ray attacked, Zhang Ruting was on duty with another middle-aged imperial doctor named Ren. He was therefore unable to escape. However, the Royal City was in great chaos. Being left in the pce could be a blessing as well as a curse.

    There were four coal stoves burning outside the resting house of the Imperial Hospital, and four pots of Chinese medicine were boiling on them. Leng Wu twitched his nose as if smelling something strange in the fragrance of the medicine. He slowed down and put Leng Shuang leaning against the corner then entered the resting house tentatively.

    ¡°Dr. Zhang?¡± Leng Wu listened to all directions and turned his head. Then he saw a shocking scene.

    Zhang Ruting, who was always elegant and only held medical books in both hands, was now holding a small scalpel for anatomical research. Blood was dripping down the scalpel, and the one lying at Zhang Ruting¡¯s feet was not anyone but Zhang Ruting¡¯s colleague, the Imperial Doctor Ren.

    Seeing Leng Wuing in, Zhang Ruting was shocked, and his eyes were suddenly full of panic. Leng Wu had rich experience and could judge by a rough nce that a fight happened just now. The medical books and herbs were scattered on the ground. Zhang Ruting and the Imperial Doctor Ren had bloodstains on both of their body, most of which belonged to Imperial Doctor Ren. Half of Zhang Ruting¡¯s sleeve had been torn apart during the fight, and his slender arms were still trembling in the early summer wind.

    ¡°He tried to kill me.¡± Zhang Ruting exined to Leng Wu, his voice trembling and his mind in a trance, ¡°I didn¡¯t have other option but to kill him. I didn¡¯t know why he wanted me dead. I really didn¡¯t. It wasn¡¯t on purpose.¡±

    Leng Wu approached him slowly. Being engaged in hot battles for too long made him hard to believe the statement of only one of the parties. ¡°Rx, I will deal with it.¡±

    Stepping close with a vignt and scrutinizing mood, Leng Wu found five poisonous needles on Ren Qianguang¡¯s body, all of them were poisoned. Looking at the traces of those needles, he realized that Ren Qianguang had already used three of them. There was already a hole on Zhang Ruting¡¯s arm.

    ¡°You are poisoned. Look after yourself first.¡± Leng Wu said and raised his eyes. Looking up, he saw a medicine box that was thrown in the corner.

    ¡°Did this belong to Imperial Doctor Ren?¡±

    Zhang Ruting nodded faintly. Hisplexion started to turn pale.

    Leng Wu opened the tightly locked medicine box with the blood-stained scalpel and checked the contents. It turned out as he expected. A hard object was wrapped in a piece of inconspicuous light white silk. Inside it was an exquisitely crafted ruby and gold hair essory. Twenty-eight small gems were embedded in the pure gold, as well as a red jewel of the size of a fingernail. The pigeon blood texture showed its invaluable price.

    Leng Wu remembered that it was the gift from North Di after the peace conference. The emperor praised and admired it before finally giving it to Imperial Concubine Rong.

    Ren Qianguang was on Imperial Concubine Rong¡¯s side.

    Leng Wu habitually checked Ren Qianguang¡¯s palms and arms, ¡°This person had Out-Fight skills, and he was on Imperial Concubine Rong¡¯s side. It seemed that Dr. Zhang, you have been taking the trouble to help those concubines and important officials in the pce recently. The medical treatment had caused Concubine Rong¡¯s dissatisfaction. She was determined to get rid of you.¡±

    ¡°I...¡± Zhang Ruting was terrified. He was just a schr, and the only thing he read and practiced was medicine skills. He knew none of those things.

    ¡°After all, you used to work for Imperial Concubine Yun, Dr. Zhang. It makes sense for her not to keep you alive.¡± Leng Wu stripped Zhang Ruting naked with a few words. Zhang Ruting was a little surprised, but still he cupped his hand and asked, ¡°Please save my life, Mr. Leng.¡±

    Leng Wu looked at the unconscious Leng Shuang outside the window. He made up his mind and said, ¡°You¡¯d better save my sister first, and I will bring you back to the general. It depends on your own destiny whether he would take you in or not.¡±

    The moon was nting west. Qin Yunuan was sitting alone in a daze in front of the candlestick, knowing nothing about the thrilling and wonderful scene happened outside Rosefinch Gate in the evening. Sima Ray found a new maid and a doctor for her, saying that it was for the sake of her body. In fact, he tried to keep her in custody. After Leng Shuang, Xi¡¯er and Ting Xue escaped, Sima Ray promptly moved Qin Yunuan to another ce. She was blindfolded by ck cloth along the way. The carriage driver also followed Sima Ray¡¯s orders and kept detouring, but Qin Yunuan could still figure out that the carriage was heading west.

    The cage moved from underground to above the ground, but the doors and windows were tightly sealed. Only the maid and the doctor could be seen in and out.

    Qin Yunuan counted the time. Lu Wuyi should have sent the Commander¡¯s Seal to East Street, and Xi¡¯er and Ting Xue should also have settled down at Yuanyang¡¯s. Since the death of Old Madam, her maids were either assigned to other yards and continued as the leading maid, or received severance pay and went home to get married. Only Yuanyang refused the money and used her years of savings to buy a small yard near Leng¡¯s ancestral hall to take care of Old Madam from time to time and to burn some paper money for the olddy. It could be seen that Yuanyang was a very loyal and very thoughtful person.

    A loyal servant was the most reliable person when it came to a crucial situation.

    ¡°Infanta Ping, Prince Ray wanted to ask if you are hungry. He bought back some midnight snack.¡± The maid Ning¡¯er shouted at the entrance. Sima Ray¡¯s servants were not as ordinary as she thought. She could see shrewdness in Ning¡¯er¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Tell him I¡¯m asleep.¡± Qin Yunuan tilted her head to blow out the candle. The door was suddenly opened. Sima Ray appeared wearily. A gloomy cloud appeared on his knitted brows. When Leng Changxi quickly took the head of Chu Tang, he had been watching the battle on the chariot. Leng Changxi, he didn¡¯t expect Leng Changxi to behave unhurriedly under siege for a long time. Leng Changxi even dared to provoke him. Well, let him see who wouldugh to the end.

    ¡°You are obviously not asleep, why do you have to say that?¡± Sima Ray turned around and closed the door. He put the one-foot-square wooden box in his hand on the pear wood table. If Qin Yunuan had seen it clearly, there were more than a dozen soldiers ready to go in the yard.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t that obvious?¡± Qin Yunuan smiled gently, ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Sima Ray approached slowly, the candlelight made his face even more gloomy, ¡°I want to see you. Didn¡¯t you find it? Anyway, I never care about how you think of me. You could think of me as a disgusting creature. You could refuse to see me, or even let me know that you already have that baby Leng in your stomach. As long as I still have desires for you and want you, I will keep you alive. You don¡¯t need to thank me. Just remember me forever.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nced at Sima Ray incredulously, ¡°Prince Ray. I couldn¡¯t figure out who gave you so much confidence to say this.¡±

    ¡°Who do you think?¡± Sima Ray suddenly stepped forward and pinched Qin Yunuan¡¯s chin with his right hand. The force of his fingertips seemed to crush her. ¡°Qin Yunuan, don¡¯t force me. Why are Leng Changxi and you so simr? You halt the troops and wait normally, but when you move you kill as if the world was falling apart.¡±

    Sima Ray opened the wooden box at hand as he squinted his eyes and looked at Qin Yunuan fiercely. He took out a tightly wrapped ball-shaped thing inside. A stinking smell came out. Qin Yunuan had some pregnancy reactions, and her stomach felt even more ufortable at the smell.

    Sima Ray shook off the ck cloth outside the ball neatly, exposing the head of a man with a miserable face. His eyes were wide open, and his neck had a clean incision. It was obvious that the person who took his head was fast.

    ¡°Leng Changxi did this,¡± said Sima Ray, who was pulling the braid of the head and enjoying the vomiting pain of Qin Yunuan. ¡°He killed my best general in one stroke. He was very fierce. I admit it, but I will be more ruthless than him, and do you know why? Yeah? Do you know why?¡±

    ¡°Because you don¡¯t have borderlines.¡± Qin Yunuan answered firmly, ¡°You are a man with no heart and human kindness. Sima Ray, you are miserable, a truly miserable man.¡±

    ¡°Hahaha,¡± Sima Ray raised his head andughed, throwing the head of his most trusted general in the corner. He pinched Qin Yunuan¡¯s white neck with his bloodied palms, ¡°No, because I have a final trick. Do you know that the Imperial Concubine Rong, who is the most favorite of the emperor, is my person? I had slept her countless times before shey under the emperor¡¯s crotch. And I still have you. As long as you are in my hand, Leng Changxi wouldn¡¯t dare to move me. Not to mention that you have a child now, he will definitely search for you like crazy. When the timees, he would step into my jar and couldn¡¯t escape even if he wanted to.¡±

    ¡°Sima Ray, I thought that you were domineering, perverted, but I didn¡¯t expect that you need women to this extent.¡±

    Sima Ray smiled evilly and was about to say something. Qin Yunuan changed her tone suddenly and said with a very strange voice, ¡°However, why are you so sure that the Imperial Concubine Rong, your insider at the pce, had sent you all the true messages?¡±

    Sima Ray shivered and said with vignce, ¡°What do you mean? Imperial Concubine Yang couldn¡¯t fool me. She had poison in her body. Without my antidote, she wouldn¡¯t survive for three months.¡±

    Qin Yunuan tilted her head and gave him a smile, ¡°I never said that. Prince Ray, think of it thoroughly. It might be that she was already killed. The person that has been giving you the messages is a substitute.¡±

    Someone reported outside the door at the moment.

    ¡°Prince Ray, news came from the pce.¡±

 Chapter 227 Fire Lighting Up the Sky

    <h4>Chapter 227 Fire Lighting Up the Sky</h4>

    From the Pce?

    Hearing that, Sima Ray felt his heart trembled. Qin Yunuan¡¯s words echoed in his mind. Was it true that Imperial Concubine Rong had been dead? The messages sent to him were all fake?

    Sima Ray snatched the letter from Du Sheng¡¯s hand. He nced over it and raised his eyebrows to look at Qin Yunuan. She showed a sudden smile, holding her head up slightly. She said smoothly, ¡°The emperor is terminally ill. Prince Ray, if you attack tomorrow, you will realize the great cause.¡±

    When Qin Yunuan finished, she turned to give Sima Ray a casual nce. Sima Ray¡¯s hands quivered imperceptibly. Words on the secret letter were exactly the same as what Qin Yunuan had said just now.

    ¡°Prince Ray, do you trust me now?¡± raising her eyebrows, Qin Yunuan looked extremely confident.

    ¡°Just trivial tricks,¡± Sima Ray threw the secret letter away contemptuously, ¡°Are you expecting that I will believe that?¡±

    ¡°Prince Ray, if you don¡¯t believe me, attack tomorrow then,¡± Qin Yunuan said in an ironic tone, ¡°However, I¡¯m afraid that you don¡¯t dare to.¡±

    Sima Ray turned and ordered to close the door. An evil smile appeared on his face, ¡°Provocation is useless to me.¡±

    Leaving the courtyard, Du Sheng had been following Sima Ray discreetly. Sima Ray looked rather unhappy. After all, Imperial Concubine Rong was now paramount and powerful. What¡¯s more, she was in the pce. He, however, was no more than a prince who attempted to rebel. If Imperial Concubine Rong had betrayed him...

    Thinking of this, Sima Ray would rather Imperial Concubine Rong had been dead.

    ¡°Take my order,¡± Sima Ray frowned, ¡°Stop providing Imperial Concubine Yang with the antidote.¡±

    Later the servant girl, Ning¡¯er, came again and added some soothing fragrance for Qin Yunuan. Seeing that Qin Yunuan slept soundly on her bed, she didn¡¯t dare to bother her, so she left with stealthy footsteps.

    The moonlight poured in through the gap of the windows which was as wide as a pin. The house was pitch-dark. The sound of Ning¡¯er closing the door was extremely distinct in the night. The moment the door was closed, a pair of clear, sharp pupils shone suddenly in the darkness. Qin Yunuan opened her eyes, calcted the time, and then closed her eyes slowly.

    In the midnight, Sima Ray didn¡¯t go to bed. He stared at theyout of the Royal Pce on the table. He drew a big, red circle on the sign of Rosefinch Gate. Thinking that Leng Changxi hacked off one¡¯s head through only one move today, Sima Ray felt bad.

    All of a sudden, there was a great noise outside. Since Sima Ray had ruled his army strictly, it shouldn¡¯t be so noisy in the midnight unless something unusual happened. Putting on a robe, as soon as Sima Ray went out, he met Du Shenging to report, frustrated and exhausted, ¡°Prince Ray, the house imprisoning Infanta Ping was on fire.¡±

    At first, Sima Ray frowned, feeling worried. Then he focused on the issue, ¡°Put out the fire, of course. But keep watching closely. I¡¯m afraid that this evil woman hase up with an idea to run away.¡±

    Qin Yunuan, a woman hard for him to predict and prevent.

    ¡°It¡¯s hard, Prince Ray,¡± Du Sheng said while gasping, ¡°It blows southeast wind tonight. When Infanta Ping¡¯s house was on fire, it immediately got the barn burned. Now we are saving crops as well as Infanta Ping. It¡¯s hard to distribute people here and there.¡±

    A cunning hare has three holes to hide, not to mention a cunning fox like Sima Ray. This hiding ce was only one of the barns Sima Ray had constructed secretly. It was very close to the pce, but it was really quiet. What¡¯s more, it was the main barn which provided crops to the 30,000 armies of Jinling.

    ¡°Slut!¡± angrily, Sima Ray threw the wolf-hair writing brush with cinnabar on the tip to the ground. The cinnabar sttered on his face in dots, as dark red as the blood.

    There were raging mes in the courtyard imprisoning Qin Yunuan. The fire had climbed up to the eave, keeping people from approaching it.

    When Sima Ray arrived, the door was burned out of shape. Not far away, the barn was burning with crackles. Inside there was the top-ss refined grain bought by Sima Ray from the regions south of the River, waiting for the day.

    ¡°What are you looking at? Save the person inside,¡± Sima Ray angrily rebuked those servant girls and soldiers who dared not toe forward because of the fire.

    ¡°Prince Ray. The fire is too big. The person inside must have been dead already,¡± a short one answered cautiously.

    ¡°Shut up,¡± Sima Ray snapped, ¡°Qin Yunuan¡¯s life belongs to me now. Even if she is going to die, she should be killed by me. Letting her be burned to death is too kind. You,¡± Sima Ray pointed at Du Sheng, ¡°Go and save the person inside. I¡¯ll see either the alive person or the body. Qin Yunuan, if you want to y tricks, I¡¯ll y with you.¡±

    Inside there were raging mes lighting up the sky. The beams were burned to nt. The crackles of the burning wood were terrifying. No matter how brave Du Sheng was, he didn¡¯t dare to rush into the fire scene. Seeing that the way Sima Ray was staring at Du Sheng was getting more and more murderous, Du Sheng went limp and became incontinent. He peed in his pants.

    Sima Ray kicked Du Sheng to his heart with great strength and scolded, ¡°Junk.¡± Then he pointed at another person casually and ordered, ¡°You go.¡±

    ¡°Prince Ray...¡± the people begged for mercy at once.

    ¡°Prince Ray, the way you behave is really heartless and uncaring,¡± all of a sudden, a familiar and strange voice of a woman came from behind Sima Ray¡¯s back. Sima Ray frowned. When he turned around, he saw Qin Yunuane in from outside the courtyard, spotless with a smile on her lips. However, she spoke with sarcasm, ¡°You ask your heeler rush into the fire instead of you and die for you. Have you ever done something for them?¡±

    ¡°Catch her!¡± Sima Ray squinted.

    The soldiers near Qin Yunuan stepped forward immediately. Thinking that Qin Yunuan was easy to catch because she was thin, they even threw away their personal weapons. To their surprise, they only took three steps before several secret darts shot from the darkness. After several rustling sounds, they directly pierced soldiers¡¯ arms and wrists. The strength was so big that those darts seemed to have stuck into the bone, leaving a short de outside only.

    Without any injury, Qin Yunuan strode ahead, ¡°What? Is there anybody who wants to try?¡±

    Sima Ray frowned. It only took several hours for those master-hands toe to protect Qin Yunuan. Obviously, she had got in touch with outside. However, Sima Ray still got a fluke mind. He had nothing to afraid as long as Leng Changxi was not here. As for master-hands, he also had some with him.

    Sima Ray stepped back and raised his hands suddenly. He waved his hands forwards. Several men wearing ck Chinese-style jackets and trousers jumped from the top of a wall at once. They had excellent agility and marvelous light skills, selected by Sima Ray from millions of people to protect him.

    ¡°Catch her alive.¡± With Sima Ray¡¯smand, these men in ck moved forward in order, forming a battle formation that would let nothing escape. Laying siege to Qin Yunuan, they approached her step by step. The fire was still spreading. Qin Yunuan¡¯s face appeared red in the light of the fire, but her eyes were still cool and calm like a pool in the autumn.

    As the men in ck were going to draw out the sword, a sh of cold light appeared, and there was the subtle sound of a sword striking the scabbard. The next moment, all the men in ck stopped, staring at theirpanion walking in front of them. Roughly, there was no injury. However, on his neck, there was a hairline scar, bleeding little by little. His whole body went stiff, making no move.

    Another man in ck who had the closest rtionship with him couldn¡¯t help stepping ahead and touched him softly, ¡°Big brother.¡±

    Bang! Just by a soft touch the head of the man in ck called ¡°Big brother¡± fell off directly to the ground. The cut was neat.

    Sima Ray¡¯s pupils immediately erged. The skill like that, except...

    ¡°Prince Ray, what good mood you¡¯re in! You have so many talented people working for you even if you are fleeing,¡± a pine-like figure strode out from the shadow when speaking leisurely. If not for the long sword holding in his hands, others would think that he was only a schr instead of Leng Changxi, the mighty god of war in Qi.

    ¡°Atst, you find here.¡± Although Sima Ray was worried about the appearance of Leng Changxi, he felt neither surprised nor afraid. The fact that Leng Changxi could find here in such a short time implied that Leng Changxi was qualified to be his opponent.

    While Leng Changxi was speaking, he walked to Qin Yunuan and held her hands intimately. They looked into each other¡¯s eyes with deep feelings, which with no doubt stimted Sima Ray greatly.

    ¡°Prince Ray, my wife has been in your care for such a long time. Now she shoulde back with me,¡± Leng Changxi said calmly. He turned back and left without hesitation.

    ¡°Stop!¡± Sima Ray shouted, ¡°Youe and go ording to your own will. Leng Changxi, you¡¯re too casual.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Leng Changxi turned back slowly and pointed at the man in ck who died distressingly, ¡°This man wouldn¡¯t let me go just now. Anyone who had the same idea with him will end up dying like him.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Sima Ray approached him slowly, looked into his eyes, and said, ¡°Leng Changxi, you¡¯re clever. However, do you know a saying ¡®A wise man can be ruined by his own wisdom¡¯? I admit that you are good at taking advantage of people¡¯s psychology. You know that I¡¯m of a suspicious nature. You only need to catch the secret letter Imperial Concubine Yang gives to me halfway without any modification. You tell Qin Yunuan what the letter is about because you know that after Qin Yunuan tells me the content of the secret letter, I will absolutely doubt it. This is a method killing two birds with one stone. Firstly, it can provoke the master-servant rtionship between Imperial Concubine Yang and me. Secondly, it will misguide my judgment on the situation. At first, I dare not to make a guess like that. After all, Qin Yunuan is your lifeblood. Aren¡¯t you afraid of the possibility of me killing Qin Yunuan in anger or torturing her in a crueler way? I don¡¯t know it until your appearance that instead of being afraid, you are sure that you can protect her well.¡±

    Leng Changxi felt a little surprised about Sima Ray¡¯s words just now. Sima Ray was definitely not a person who would ept the failure easily.

    As expected, Sima Ray sneered suddenly when looking at Leng Changxi. His lips raised a little, filled with duplicity andcency, ¡°While you are sure that you can protect her well, you seem not to be sure that your heelers won¡¯t betray you.¡±

    Leng Changxi squinted slightly. He had found that there was something wrong with his heelers, but he never expected that they were used by Sima Ray.

    Sima Ray snorted and pulled out a dark yellow secret letter. He threw it to the feet of Leng Changxi, raised his heads, and read its content aloud, ¡°At a quarter to twelve, the general will certainly leave to save Infanta Ping.¡± Then Sima Ray chuckled, ¡°Leng Changxi, you are sold out by the heeler you trust the most.¡±

 Chapter 228 Narrow Escape from Death

    <h4>Chapter 228 Narrow Escape from Death</h4>

    No matter Sima Ray¡¯s words were true or not, Leng Changxi protected Qin Yunuan behind him subconsciously. Of course, Leng Changxi wouldn¡¯te all by himself. 3,000 solders of the Leng Army were waiting at the foot of the hill. The reason why Leng Changxi dared to remove so many troops at one time was that he had taken advantage of Sima Ray¡¯s suspicion as well as the secret letter from the pce to keep Sima Ray from taking any action tomorrow so that he could get enough time to return.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you believe me?¡± Sima Ray showed a sly smile, ¡°Listen.¡±

    The sound of fighting came from the thick forest at the foot of the hill. Unprepared, 3,000 soldiers of the Leng Army were attacked by the troops that popped up. ording to intelligence, Sima Ray would only station his army here temporarily. Therefore, the number of soldiers guarding here was less than 1,000. However, judging from the situation that the enemies attacked as if they were dark clouds covering the Leng Army, there were at least 5,000 enemies.

    Leng Changxi frowned deeply. A smile appeared to Sima Ray¡¯s lips. He enjoyed this moment. It was really rare for him to see Leng Changxi frown.

    Sima Ray drew his eyes on Qin Yunuan and said ironically, ¡°Have you said just now that I know nothing of leading armies? That I don¡¯t know how to think for my heelers? See, although Leng Changxi shares weal and woe with those who follow him, there are still some traitors in the end.¡±

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t speak. His eyes reflected the raging mes, making his eyes red and scary.

    Unexpectedly, a person rushed out from the back of the house imprisoning Qin Yunuan with loose hair and haggard appearance. He was waving a huge ax anding to hack, ¡°You son of a bitch! Chunxiu, my Chunxiu! You¡¯ve already killed her.¡±

    This person was nobody else but Shang Xianhua, who fought with Leng Changxi side by side on the wall. Leng Changxi¡¯s pupils erged at the moment. He had never thought that the traitor would be this old general who treated friendship the same as his own life. He even sent Shang Xianhua to investigate the spy in his army.

    The master-hands in ck beside Sima Ray stepped forward immediately. Leng Changxi retreated a few steps to hold Qin Yunuan tightly.

    Qin Yunuan called softly in Leng Changxi¡¯s arms, ¡°Changxi.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid,¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s tone was extremely gentle. He covered Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes with his palms. The next moment there was the sound of the de cutting into the flesh. Qin Yunuan could even imagine that Shang Xianhua fought with many soldiers at the same time, and blood and flesh flew everywhere. Shang Xianhua cursed in a low, hard voice, ¡°Sima Ray, you already knew that Chunxiu was severely injured and lost all her martial arts. You used the chance to take her away and let your jackals abuse her. What¡¯s more, you use her to threaten me to betray the general. With what you¡¯ve done, you will certainly go to hell after death.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart trembled. After all, Shang Chunxiu got hurt in order to save her. However, followed were Sima Ray¡¯s teasing words, ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it after death. Also, how will I know that your daughter is staunch with moral integrity? Just several sexes, and she wouldn¡¯t ept it, killing herself by biting her tongue.¡±

    ¡°Bastard! You bastard!¡± Just when Shang Xianhua shouted aloud, a sharp broadsword had already stabbed into his heart. The de could be seen from his back. The man in ck holding the hilt seemed to think it not enough, twisting it a few times. It grounded Shang Xianhua¡¯s internal organs into a paste.

    Shang Xianhua¡¯s eyes opened wide as if he had died with evesting regret. He suddenly kneeled down to Leng Changxi¡¯s direction. Opening his mouth, he wanted to say something, but he couldn¡¯t. At that time, the man in ck added one hit. Sima Ray said coldly, ¡°People of the Leng Family had beheaded my heeler¡¯s head. You, chop off his head.¡±

    The man in ck closest to Shang Xianhua was about to do it. However, when he just raised the broadsword above his head, a cobblestone shot out suddenly and hit the man¡¯s wrist. Leng Changxi¡¯s hadn¡¯t retreated his hand throwing the cobblestone. He moved forward, eyes firm and cold.

    ¡°General Leng, how affectionate and faithful you are,¡± Sima Ray mocked, ¡°This man is a traitor. Is keeping his head worthy of the 3,000 sacrificed soldiers of yours?¡±

    Leng Changxi raised his head coldly, ¡°Sima Ray, I¡¯m different from you. You don¡¯t take humanity into concern when doing things. The Shang girl has once saved my wife. Keeping her brother¡¯s head is my way to pay a debt of gratitude to the Shang Family for Nuan.¡±

    Sima Ray raised up the sword himself and walked to Shang Xianhua¡¯s body, ¡°What a pity! You won¡¯t be able to keep it.¡±

    At that time, hinted by Sima Ray¡¯s eyes, several men in ck had besieged Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi from their back.

    Sima Ray smiledcently, ¡°If you want to protect Shang Xianhua¡¯s head, you can¡¯t care for Qin Yunuan. If you choose to protect her, I¡¯ll keep the head for you.¡±

    Just before Sima Ray could take action, a smoke bomb exploded on the empty ground suddenly, spreading quickly with the updraft formed by the burning fire. Before long, the whole courtyard was all white. One could barely see anything.

    Sima Ray originally wanted to give orders, but as soon as he opened his mouth, the choking smog directly entered it with a fishy smell. It was hard to know what it was.

    In the smog, Qin Yunuan felt that someone behind her was dragging her. Out of her instinct, she tried to hide in Leng Changxi¡¯s arms in order to guard herself. However, she heard the person said, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±

    What a familiar voice!

    After about the time to burn out an incense, the thick white smog finally clears. Sima Ray waved away thest white mist and opened his eyes, finding that the ce where Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan stood was empty as expected, and Shang Xianhua¡¯s body had disappeared.

    ¡°Search! Search for them all over the hill!¡± Sima Ray wouldn¡¯t take it. He had gone to such great lengths to put his deadly foe on the road to ruin. Was he going to give up like that?

    The wind was howling in her ears. Having been in the dark, cold environment for a long time, when Qin Yunuan came out just now, her eyes felt pain because of the fire and the smoke. She had been silent andy on Leng Changxi¡¯s back obediently, letting Leng Changxi show his light skills. In a moment, they went from Sima Ray¡¯s base to the foot of the hill. As they chose a footpath, they could see the killing and fights below from afar.

    ,000 people versus 3,000 people, adding that it was a sudden attack in the midnight on the familiarndscapes, it should be quite easy ording to logic. Now at the foot of the hill, however, casualties on both sides were equal. Seeing a soldier of the Leng Army closest to Leng Changxi fell down, his footsteps stopped a bit. Feeling his hesitation and trembling, Qin Yunuan called softly, ¡°Changxi?¡±

    At that moment, Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes had already been useless. In order to make the fire burn quickly, she poured coal oil everywhere in the house. She used to be scared of the fire because it would remind her of thest scene before her rebirth, in which she was burned to death in the marriage sedan. This time, however, she got the courageing from nowhere. She didn¡¯t leave until she witnessed the fire grew from a small one into licking me, and then into a fire lighting up the sky.

    ¡°I¡¯m fire,¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s tone was a little grieved. The 3,000 people below were all soldiers going through fire and water with him. But for the greater good, he could not expose himself and Qin Yunuan. More importantly, he could not expose the warrior who came to aid them.

    The troops leading the way in the front was the mysterious men who popped up to save them this time. They dressed as minorities. In the moonlight, it could be seen that they wore waistcoats made of animal skins, which was the unique costume of North Di. They were very likely to be people of North Di.

    Among them, a person from North Di of great stature was carrying Shang Xianhua¡¯s body. Even though the blood was flowing on his back and arms, he didn¡¯t mind it at all.

    The one closest to Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan was holding the machete of North Di and escorting the two people. Seeing that Leng Changxi moved so fast with a person on his back as if there were winds under his feet, he sighed with emotion, ¡°General of Qi, what excellent light skills you have! Shall we have apetition the other day?¡±

    Leng Changxi said in a low voice, ¡°We shall discuss it after we get out of here.¡±

    ¡°How easy it is,¡± the man thought it a piece of cake. When Leng Changxi shot him a sidelong nce, the man in the most front made a signal backward suddenly. The manughed, ¡°Here it is.¡±

    They hadn¡¯t arrived at the mountain pass yet. Where were they now?

    Leng Changxi thought carefully. Now that the group of people dared to rescue him from great danger, they wouldn¡¯t murder him easily. What¡¯s more, there was no hatred between him and North Di. He needn¡¯t be afraid.

    Following them, he found that the ¡°Here it is¡± by the man implied reaching a secret entrance.

    They seemed to believe firmly that Leng Changxi would be suspicious of them more or less, so the leader took two steps forward to ensure no abnormality inside before he waved to Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi, ¡°General of Qi and his wife,e in quickly. After we alle in, the entrance should be sealed so that it won¡¯t be found by the mad prince.¡±

    Leng Changxi frowned. He heard Qin Yunuan on his back said in a low voice, ¡°Believe them. They should belong to Wanyan Su.¡±

    The secret tunnel was moist and dark. Although Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes were useless now, her nose was sensitive. This sense was pushed to an extreme in the dark surrounding.

    ¡°Wanyan Su is indeed capable,¡± Qin Yunuan praised in a low voice, ¡°The soil is new. The roots haven¡¯t dehydrated yet. The secret tunnel must be dug up in eight hours.¡±

    Suddenly it was bright before them. The light with heat informed Qin Yunuan that they had arrived at the exit, and there were many torches.

    As expected, before long they heard Wanyan Su¡¯s familiar and happy voice, ¡°My good friend! I¡¯ve waited for you for a long time.¡± The words ¡°good friend¡± were about Qin Yunuan.

    Seeing Leng Changxi, Wanyan Su curtseyed with great respect, ¡°General Leng of Qi, we haven¡¯t seen each other for a long time.¡±

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t speak. What he was the most worried were Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes, which had been red and swollen by now, bulging like a peach pit. It hurt to look at them.

    Wanyan Su also found Qin Yunuan¡¯s difference, ¡°My good friend, what¡¯s wrong with your eyes? Don¡¯t worry. There is a folk prescription in North Di. Find some mare¡¯s milk or human milk and put it upon your eyes. Before long, you will recover.¡±

    Leng Changxi sneered suddenly, pulling out the dagger hidden in his boots to push against Wanyan Su¡¯s exposed Adam¡¯s apple, ¡°Why should I believe you? You popped up, dug such a secret tunnel, and saved our lives suddenly. If you hadn¡¯t nned all these in the first ce, how will you exin?¡±

    Seeing their prince being threatened, those men were all staring at them with hostility. Qin Yunuan squinted and pulled Leng Changxi, ¡°Changxi, calm down. Prince Wanyan is the helper I called.¡±

 Chapter 229 In A New Land

    <h4>Chapter 229 In A New Land</h4>

    Leng Changxi rxed a little bit, but he still held the dagger. Qin Yunuan walked to him to grab his arm through her blurry vision and stroke it. She knew after being through all these things, Leng Changxi already became a bit overstressed, and he didn¡¯t want to trust anyone else. But Qin Yunuan also knew they had to choose to trust Wanyan Su now.

    ¡°Let me exin.¡± Qin Yunuan began to exin slowly, ¡°Originally, I asked Yuanyang to take themander¡¯s token to ask help from Qingzhou officials. But unexpectedly, Sima Ray already bribed seven prefectural governors, including the one in Qingzhou. So Qingzhou governor refused to send his army to help us and even put Yuanyang into prison. At the risk of death, Yuanyang escaped to Luguan which Prince Wanyan governs. He recognized that Yuanyang was my servant girl and learned from her about what happened these days in the Royal City.¡±

    Leng Changxi gradually loosed his grip on the dagger but didn¡¯t rx his vignce. ¡°It¡¯s quite rare that North Di people didn¡¯t take the chance to loot in the chaotic Qi but to offer help.¡±

    Wanyan Su chuckled and said, ¡°To be honest, General Leng, you now are not a general who can order thousands of soldiers anymore. So give you a piece of advice. Be nice to me. How would I spend so much energy digging the tunnel to save you if ¡°my partner¡± hadn¡¯t transferred the ownership of trade routes?¡±

    Leng Changxi looked at Qin Yunuan with questions and asked, ¡°What does he mean?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal.¡± Qin Yunuan said lightly, ¡°There used to be two trade routes from Qi to Luguan. Later on, the Golden Butterfly Embroidery House opened three new routes and used them for our own purpose. As a return of saving us, I agreed to give these three routes to Prince Wanyan.¡± Qin Yunuan turned her head slightly to Wanyan Su. She couldn¡¯t see where he exactly was and just made an assumption based on his voice. ¡°Your Highness, I only hope you can keep your word to escort Changxi and me to leave Qi.¡±

    Wanyan Suughed heartily and said, ¡°We, North Di people, always keep our promise. But, it¡¯s really chaotic in Qi now. I can promise I won¡¯t meddle in, but I can¡¯t guarantee my brother won¡¯t. Besides, under such circumstances, business there will be affected, and the trade routes you gave to me are less valuable now.¡±

    ¡°Directly tell me what you want. Don¡¯t waste time.¡± Qin Yunuan knew what he meant.

    ¡°The quality of ready-made clothes in the Golden Butterfly Embroidery House is fairly good, but, Infanta Ping, you are in the switch trade of crops delivered from the regions south of the River to North Di. Therefore, their cost goes up a lot. So I think...¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not a problem.¡± Qin Yunuan said without even blinking, ¡°I give you all distribution channels of rice shops in Baling. From now on, you can directly buy crops from these shops and deliver them on those trade routes. I won¡¯t meddle in.¡±

    ¡°Good, deal.¡± Wanyan Su saw some firelight on the mountain top in the distance. It might be people Sima Ray sent to search the mountain. He shouted to his big guys nearby in North Dinguage. Having traded with Wanyan Su for a long time, Qin Yunuan could recognize several words from what he said, such as ¡°carriage¡± and ¡°hurry up¡±.

    Not long, a carriage arrived at the foot of the mountain. The dark curtain on it perfectly echoed with the darkness of the night. Wanyan Su pushed away the dagger Leng Changxi pointed to his neck with his index finger and said, ¡°General Leng, please.¡±

    Although Wanyan Su used a very polite gesture, for Leng Changxi who always was the winner and never had been a fugitive, that was rather ironic.

    Even though Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t see, she could feel Leng Changxi¡¯s unwillingness. She didn¡¯t say it out but cleverly chose to put her hand on Leng Changxi¡¯s arm. ¡°Changxi, help me. I can¡¯t see, and I can only rely on you now.¡±

    Right. Leng Changxi looked at his wife, the woman who seemed weak but actually was tougher than any other women. Even just for Nuan, he had to put up with all these until he gained the upper hand again.

    Four horses growing up in the North Di prairie were tied to the carriage. North Di was famous for its horses which were resilient and fast. On the fast-moving carriage, Qin Yunuan hugged Leng Changxi tightly. As a man who had achieved much, he was upset by what he had gone through, and all his past pride and honors were nothing now. He was betrayed by his most trusted fellow; he threw the Leng Army into an extremely dangerous situation and without him, the Rosefinch Gate would be broken in within three days. However, he became a fugitive for the so-called national interests. No, Leng Changxi shook his head. Imperial Concubine Rong was still in the pce, and with her, the rebels could break in less than three days. So even if he came back now, he couldn¡¯t change the ending.

    For the first time, Leng Changxi felt so desperate. He had no shadow guards who could show up right after an order and also lost Leng Wu and Leng Shuang who were in the pce now. No one knew whether they remained alive.

    Sima Ray had sent skilled soldiers to chase after them. However, Wanyan Su seemed not panic and even deliberately slowed down a bit sometimes. This trick made soldiers chasing after them so tired.

    ¡°There is a cross ahead, and carriages the same as what we take now are waiting for us here. When we arrive, Da will make a turn quickly. You, hold tight.¡±

    Da was a three-meter big guy who drove the carriage Qin Yunuan, and Leng Changxi took. But he was quite nimble. Before Qin Yunuan made any response, the carriage bumped suddenly, and it was turning nearly 90 degrees. Everything was as normal as before except the bump and the tilt. The whole carriage line, including the one Qin Yunuan was in, went to a wood where theyers ofrge leaves worked as a cover for them. On this road, a line of carriages the same as the previous one suddenly showed up. Even the tassels on the ck carriage curtain were very alike.

    Wanyan Su nned a perfect trick. Soon after the new line of carriages passed by, a troop of cavalries followed. The dust that flew in the air when they passed by was like a sandstorm. Every cavalry wore armor and held a spear, ready for a fight. It seemed that once they caught up with carriages ahead, they would inevitably start a fight.

    The carriage line in the wood didn¡¯t set off until everything quieted down outside. This time, the line moved slower. To prevent Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes from getting irritated by the strong light, Leng Changxi covered her eyes with a piece of white silk.

    Leng Changxi helped Qin Yunuan tie the silk behind her, and she clearly felt his trembling fingers. She turned back to put her arms around his neck. Unable to see him, she could only feel the stubble on his chin with fingers. She could even feel how withered and worried he was.

    Their servants and families were trapped in the Royal City. Prince Ning already lost his wife, mother, and now his most beloved and youngest son.

    As for the Qin Family, Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t have to worry about them. At the very beginning, Qin Zhi joined in Sima Ray¡¯s camp, butter, to protect the whole family, he restrained himself. If Sima Ray could be the emperor this time, Qin Zhi might bring honor to the family and ancestors, or at least, wouldn¡¯t make the whole family end up in death.

    ¡°Everything will be fine.¡± Qin Yunuanforted Leng Changxi. ¡°Father has followed the previous emperor to fight in many battlefields. He will protect the whole family. As for the pce, Leng Wu will take care of it. He can at least lead 5000 soldiers to escape there. And you, I¡¯m together with you. Although I can¡¯t see you clearly now, I still will wholeheartedly support you.¡±

    Leng Changxi said nothing for a long time and then hugged her tightly. He put his chin on her balmy hair. ¡°I¡¯m just unwilling, unwilling to make you take all these with me. I think I¡¯m useless. When I proposed to you, I said I would let you live in peace forever.¡±

    Qin Yunuan wore a light smile and said, ¡°Changxi, as long as I¡¯m together with you and you don¡¯t abandon me, I will feel peaceful. I love you not because you are the First General in Qi. I just love your eyes, your persistence and you. I won¡¯t stop loving you because you are not the First General anymore. In the past when I didn¡¯t respond to your love, you hoped I could understand your love. And now, I also hope you can understand mine. I beg you not to leave me to any other people for the so-called my sake. Only with you can I be intact and good.¡±

    ¡°For me, you left Baochuan who you deemed as precious as your life as well as many worries about him.¡±

    ¡°Baochuan will be fine.¡± Qin Yunuan rubbed his hair which became a bit messy with her finger. ¡°I have pleased Yuanyang to take care of him. Xi¡¯er, Ting Xue and Maner will also care about him. Vicious as Sima Ray is, he has no courage to kill all people in the Royal City. Moreover, the emperor is alive but just under control. He still has his majesty. So from now on, I only care about you.¡±

    Leng Changxi cupped her face with hands. Although they couldn¡¯t look into each other, he was so soulful. ¡°In this life, I will never betray you. No, not only this life, but also my every life. No matter who you are in your next life, I will find you, marry you, love you and dote on you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan tittered. ¡°You are talking silly words.¡±

    They didn¡¯t know how long it had been. In their journey, Wanyan Su asked people to send water to them twice. To avoid unexpected trouble, Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi didn¡¯t get off once. There was no station along the road, and Qin Yunuan could only rely on Leng Changxi to massage her eyes to relieve the pain.

    They imed to be North Di people and also dressed like them, so no one had stopped them for investigation. Moreover, Qi and North Di were in peace. It wouldn¡¯t be strange that there were North Di businessmen in Qi.

    Someday, under the bright sunshine, Wanyan Su suddenly rode the horse to their carriage and reminded them in a low voice, ¡°We¡¯re in Qingzhou now, and there are wanted posters of you two everywhere.¡±

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t pull back the curtain and answered in a deep voice, ¡°I see.¡±

 Chapter 230 Farewell

    <h4>Chapter 230 Farewell</h4>

    From what Wanyan Su told her, Qin Yunuan got two pieces of information. One was that Sima Ray already held power, or he wouldn¡¯t have the imperial seal to issue the arrest order. The other was that he had many henchmen in Qingzhou, given that the arrest order and they nearly showed up here at the same time.

    The entrance check near the gate was stricter than before. Even farmers, who lived in the suburb area and went to town to sell vegetables every day, would take strict security checks. The huge group Wanyan Su led had drawn many people¡¯s attention. So soldiers came to question them when they were still meters away from the gate.

    Wanyan Su and his men already disguised themselves to pretend they were a trade caravan, by specially filling three carriages with spices to cover the blood smell of Leng Changxi¡¯s wound. However, gate guards were too sharp.

    ¡°All people, get off.¡±

    Qin Yunuan sat bolt upright in the carriage while Leng Changxi slightly leaned forward with the dagger pulled out. He was ready to fight with people outside at the risk of life. Qin Yunuan pulled his sleeve to reassure him. He had be a bit too sensitive recently.

    Outside, Wanyan Su said humbly, ¡°My Lord, it¡¯s my little sister sitting in the carriage, but now she has an eye problem and can¡¯t be exposed to sunlight. Please pardon her for not going out.¡±

    ¡°This is not up to you.¡± The leading guard pointed to other carriages in the line and said, ¡°Everyone in this line should get off to get examined, and so should you.¡± Then he hinted a soldier near him to get on the carriage, but Wanyan Su raised his arm to stop him.

    ¡°We¡¯re truly a trade caravan who just wants to live a peaceful life. My sister really can¡¯t get out, so please forgive us.¡± While saying this, Wanyan Su handed a shiny silver ingot on his palm to the leading guard. ¡°Please, allow me to treat you to tea.¡±

    The leading guard looked cold and smiled. ¡°Sorry, we have no reason to take this.¡±

    Qin Yunuan heard everything they said in the carriage. No guards would refuse bribes, so obviously, this meant that Sima Ray was determined to find them.

    Wanyan Su was still persuading the guard. He had experienced this before. After all, there were many people waiting in the line. But as long as he kept saying something good to please the guard and insist to ¡°treat¡± him, thetter would give in.

    When Wanyan Su and the guard were arguing, someone pulled the carriage curtain back a bit. The hand she reached out was fair, and on it was a silver bracelet which only North Di women wore. Her sleeves were embroidered with galsang flowers, North Di women¡¯s favorite. Then, a young nimble woman jumped out of the carriage, and she had a voice as clear as the silver bell.

    ¡°Now that you want to check me up, well, do it now.¡± Qin Yunuan wore a bamboo hat covered with the ck vnce, and she sounded lively.

    ¡°Who asks you to get off?¡± Wanyan Su deliberately scolded her and said to her in a low voice, ¡°Go back to the carriage.¡±

    The leading guard stopped her immediately and said, ¡°Now that she¡¯s out, why not let us give her a check?¡± Then, he pulled back the vnce of Qin Yunuan¡¯s hat. Wanyan Su wanted to stop him, but it was toote.

    Her hat was falling down. The guard tended to take a careful look at Qin Yunuan¡¯s face but was scared by rashes on her face and kept stepping back Wanyan Su seemed very embarrassed. He picked up the hat and put it on Qin Yunuan, apologizing to the guard, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry that I forget to tell you that my sister has not only an eye problem but also rashes.¡±

    Hearing this, several guards who walked towards Qin Yunuan to check her up all stepped back and didn¡¯t dare to get close to her. The guard, who looked more ferocious than others, said in a scary tone, ¡°You, North Di boor, why not tell us earlier? How can you allow her to go outside and scare people with this look?¡±

    Wanyan Su smiled and apologized, ¡°It may after all ruin her reputation if I tell everyone about her rashes. And she cares so much about her face. So please pardon us.¡±

    The leading guard shouted in a cold voice, ¡°Now that she has leprosy, she¡¯d better go back to the carriage. Let them go.¡±

    Wanyan Su¡¯s carriages were all allowed to enter the town. Qin Yunuan was back to the carriage and took off the human-skin mask with rashes which Leng Changxi madest night for emergency. They were so lucky to pass the check.

    But Leng Changxi kept frowning.

    ¡°What are you worrying about?¡± Qin Yunuan put her fingers on his eyebrows, trying tofort him.

    Leng Changxi analyzed calmly, ¡°I was thinking that why those gate guards let us go so easily if Sima Ray really was that determined to arrest us.¡±

    ¡°Maybe, they are really scared by my face?¡±

    ¡°Leprosy is not the fatal pestilence. They don¡¯t have to rx their vignce because of this.¡±

    ¡°So you mean...?¡±

    Leng Changxi leaned forward a bit and gently took off the white silk covering Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes which already started to recover under the care of Leng Changxi. But Qin Yunuan still couldn¡¯t expose her eyes to the sunlight. Leng Changxi always wanted to find a safe ce to get her a good doctor. But Qin Yunuan knew clearly that before her rebirth, she already wore out her eyes for embroidering for Dou Qing¡¯e and Qin Yunzhuang all day and night. However, at that time, she died before her eye condition worsened.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just move ahead with caution.¡± Leng Changxi wiped away the tear mixed with blood around the Qin Yunuan¡¯s eye corner with clean silk. ¡°You have to see a doctor.¡±

    They already arrived in the suburb area. The breeze took the air mixed with the mist from the fresh leaves here to people and refreshed them. Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help pulling back the window curtain a bit, but she felt the carriage suddenly stopped.

    It was quiet outside, and she subconsciously put her hand on the dagger under the cushion that Wanyan Su gave to her for protecting herself.

    ¡°Changxi?¡± Qin Yunuan reached out to Leng Changxi but found out he was not in the carriage. Then she heard groan and scream outside.

    Seemingly, Qin Yunuan also heard that people quickly pulled out the sword and stabbed others. The heavy blood smell suddenly permeated the air.

    Then she heard Wanyan Su¡¯s straightforward praise. ¡°General Leng, you are really skilled. We just sensed that there were attackers, but you already killed them all.¡±

    Judging from Leng Changxi¡¯s cold voice, Qin Yunuan knew he was walking towards the carriage. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just prepared for this in advance.¡± He was in a hurry to take Qin Yunuan out.

    Qin Yunuan pulled back the carriage curtain. When she just reached out, Leng Changxi held her hands tightly and then put his hands around her to carry her out of the carriage.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Qin Yunuan already took off the white silk, and she could see things roughly now. She saw four vague corpses on the ground near whom there were blood and daggers that were specially designed for Qi¡¯s pce guards.

    While asking people to deal with those corpses, Wanyan Su answered Qin Yunuan, ¡°Those guards yed a trick. Although they let us go, they followed us. I¡¯m afraid other than these four. There are more.¡±

    Leng Changxi added, ¡°I felt that the leading guard looked very sharp. He was staring at the rut our carriage left in the mud. Based on this, he could estimate the weight our carriage carried. Those carriages full of spices are fine, but the one Nuan and I take is not. The true reason why he insisted on calling Nuan out is not to see what she looks like. But to check whether there is anyone else in the carriage. I am his target.¡±

    ¡°No wonder.¡± Qin Yunuan sighed.

    Leng Changxi cupped his hands towards Wanyan Su and said, ¡°Your Highness, I¡¯m really grateful that you saved Nuan and me. But now, if we continue to go with you, we will bring more trouble to you. If you trust me, can you borrow two horses to me? Nuan and I won¡¯t go with you anymore, and we¡¯d better bid farewell to each other here.¡±

    Wanyan Su frowned. ¡°But I promised Qin Yunuan to escort you to the border.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother.¡± Qin Yunuan declined resolutely. ¡°I listen to Changxi.¡± She believed in every decision Leng Changxi made.

    Wanyan Su still wanted to persuade them, but Qin Yunuan was determined. ¡°I¡¯ve repaid you by giving you three trade routes and all crop distribution channels. See you then.¡±

    Qin Yunuan said these words to shut Wanyan Su¡¯s mouth. Before he said anything, Leng Changxi already wielded the sword to cut off the rein, chose two bay horses from four and handed the rein of the milder one to Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Your Highness, farewell. Please take care.¡±

    Leng Changxi helped Qin Yunuan get on the horse and then jumped to another on his own. Before Wanyan Su found any excuse to stop them, they already left.

    Da, the servant standing near Wanyan Su, asked, ¡°Your Highness, do we have to chase after them?¡±

    Wanyan Su took a deep breath and said, ¡°No. We will meet again. I¡¯m not hurry.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes hadn¡¯t fully recovered, so they couldn¡¯t ride fast. After riding for about half a day, they stopped to take a rest in a cool wood. Then, Qin Yunuan asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you trust Wanyan Su anymore?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± Leng Changxi picked up a Japanese banana leaf to shelter Qin Yunuan from the sunshine. ¡°I just found out that the drug he gave us to treat your eyes is not that effective. I think he has no intention to hurt you but just wants to keep you at his side for a longer time. I don¡¯t like this. Besides, he has arge team. Although this can act as a shield sometimes, it will draw more and more attention in the long run.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded. She didn¡¯t know why Wanyan Su wanted her to stay, but she didn¡¯t want to spend time on thinking about this. What was most important for them was the future.

    ¡°Where do you want to go?¡± Qin Yunuan held his arm and asked gently. ¡°Never mind. No matter whether you go, I¡¯ll follow you.¡±

    Leng Changxi stroked her head and said, ¡°Sima Ray has locked every pass between Qi and West Xia, so we have to go to North Di first before entering West Xia. Now, there is only one man who can help us get everything back.¡±

    Leng Changxi squinted. ¡°That is Jing Donghua, the emperor of West Xia.¡±

 Chapter 231 An Ideal Couple

    <h4>Volume three Bring Peace and Stability to the Country Chapter 231 An Ideal Couple</h4>

    Sima Ray covered up everything that happened in the Qi pce well, and only imperial concubines, eunuchs and servant girls knew the truth. Residents in the Royal City merely knew someone plotted a rebellion in the pce, and Prince Ray, who imed to get lost out of no reason on his way to the Imperial Mausoleum, was the savior. Now, the emperor was seriously ill, so he entrusted Prince Ray to manage the court. Therefore, he had received praise constantly. Only a few innocent veteran officials knew it was Sima Ray himself spreading the praise.

    In the whole court, incumbent officials were either newly promoted ones who supported Sima Ray or old ones who joined in his camp long time ago. Meng Hua had been killed when escorting Imperial Concubine Yun, while Prince Ning had no ess to court affairs or power, even though people in the Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion were safe now. And in the pce, as Imperial Concubine Rong was in charge of everything, including Emperor Zhaoxuan¡¯s daily life, no one dared to rebel. This meant that the pce was also under the control of Sima Ray.

    The trickiest problem for Sima Ray now was the 3,000 soldiers from the Leng Army who had escaped. Their leader was a young man in his twenties whose weapon was a 50-kg-heavy halberd. He carried a woman on his back when he fought, but he still managed to lead the Leng Army to run theyers of blockades the Jinling Army enforced. Sima Ray had heard about him and knew he was Leng Wu, Leng Changxi¡¯s close guard. But it was a pity that Leng Wu didn¡¯t work for him.

    Later, Sima Ray learned that Leng Wu just got married not long ago, and his wife was Shang Chunman from the Shang Family. He intended to find this woman to force Leng Wu to give in. But he didn¡¯t find her even after searching every corner in the Royal City. Nevertheless, Sima Ray had a huge ambition of governing the whole country. So for him now, the most important thing was to find Leng Changxi and kill him.

    In the Ghost City in North Di, thousand miles away from the Royal City, however, things were different. Summer just kicked a start there. With the rising temperature, the ice on the mountain top melted, forming many streams whichter joined in together to be brooks andter a river called the Alxa River. It was a famous Mother River flowing across North Di. It nourished soil and North Di people along the banks. And, the Ghost City stood as the biggest and busiest city for business along the river.

    Despite having a scary name, this city was as lively and prosperous as the Royal City in Qi. People from different countries gathered there. On the street, Persian businessmen who had deep-set eyes, Liuli people who wore mboyant folk costumes and North Di natives all could be seen.

    Vendors were touting their products from fur to spices, and people were bargaining with each other there. Suddenly, a tall guy drew everyone¡¯s attention. He wore a piece of local half-sleeve top with his beautiful chest muscle exposed under the wet clothes because of sweat. His tanned skin implied his health and strength. Thin as he looked, he carried 14 bolts of white cloth on his shoulder with every 7 bolts tied up together with the cowhide rope. Those bolts of cloth piled up like a lofty hill, but that man still walked steadily.

    A clerk in the ready-made garment shop along the street saw that man and walked to him immediately. ¡°Hello, Da. Honestly, the cloth you sell to us is the best-seller in our shop, so we¡¯re wondering whether your wife can make more. My boss agrees to mark up.¡±

    North Di people usually called a man who was close to them Da. Also, some lowborn people who were given no name at birth would call themselves Da.

    That man wore a light smile and declined politely, ¡°Thank you for your care and support. But my wife¡¯s eyes are not good, and she can¡¯t make more. I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Then, he was ready to leave.

    ¡°Mr. Tuoba, please wait.¡± At this time, the door curtain which separated the hall and the room was pulled back. A charming woman in her thirties walked out gracefully and stopped the man who was out of the shop.

    This woman was the shop owner. She was called Ren Sanniang, a native born in the Central ins, but she ran a booming business in North Di.

    That man really stopped. The owner put on a serious look, not showing her charm anymore, and said to him, ¡°Mr. Tuoba, your wife¡¯s eyes haven¡¯t recovered for a long time. And you¡¯re so short of money that you can¡¯t afford to see a good doctor in the Ceiba Alley. I know you¡¯re skilled in martial arts. So I have a piece of advice for you, but I don¡¯t know whether you want to take it.¡±

    Speaking of his wife¡¯s eye problem, this man couldn¡¯t stay calm and immediately became worried and anxious.

    ¡°Please feel free to say it.¡±

    Ren Sanniang wore a charming smile and said, ¡°North Di people are strong, and they love to fight. Every summer, they will hold a fightpetition to pick out the strongest warrior. As long as you can qualify yourself to the final, you will get enough reward to cure your wife¡¯s eyes. What do you think of this?¡±

    The man looked down a bit and replied, ¡°I haven¡¯t practiced martial arts for a long time, and I may not be able to enter the final.¡±

    ¡°You must be joking. Last time when gangsters made trouble for me in my shop, you easily beat them up.¡± Ren Sanniangughed heartily but stopped when she saw that man¡¯s serious look. ¡°In fact, you don¡¯t have to make it to the final. Now, many princes are recruiting people to fight for them in thepetition. If you can win for them, this is also a great honor. You don¡¯t need to directly sign up for thepetition. How about trying to work for princes? If you are in, you will get sry every month. Stay frugal and you can also save money to cure your wife.¡±

    The man was hesitant and said, ¡°I will think about it.¡± Then he walked away fast. Ren Sanniang shouted behind him, ¡°Mr. Tuoba, be quick. Tomorrow is thest day for Wanyan Ba, the Grand Prince, to recruit his warriors. If you miss it, you won¡¯t be able to sign up.¡±

    The man walked so fast, and it was unclear whether he heard what Ren Sanniang said. He turned and turned until he walked into a quiet alley at the end of which a clean courtyard stood. In it, there were nted sweet potatoes and luffa vines entangled on the por branch. The soil was fresh, and it seemed that these vegetables were newly nted. Under the vines, a woman in in color sat there to embroider a mandarin duck painting. She was very skilled but embroidered slowly. Because of her eye problem, every stitch was not easy.

    Hearing the crack of the opening door, she looked to that direction immediately. Her eyes were covered with the white silk, but she had a keen sense of hearing and smell. She could even recognize people just by smell.

    ¡°Changxi?¡± Qin Yunuan wore costumes that North Di women wore and also braided her smooth and silky hair like them with several braids bound together at the back of her head. This gave her a different kind of beauty.

    And Mr. Tuoba, who Ren Sanniang shouted at in the market, was Leng Changxi.

    Worried about Qin Yunuan, Leng Changxi walked to her and held her hands. ¡°I have told you not to work so hard.¡±

    ¡°I have nothing to do. I do this just because I¡¯m too bored.¡± Qin Yunuan stroked his face and asked, ¡°What does Ren Sanniang think of our cloth? Does she like it?¡±

    ¡°She really loves it.¡± Leng Changxi lowered his head and looked a bit gloomy. ¡°But, I think, maybe it¡¯s time for us to leave here.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Qin Yunuan put her hand on Leng Changxi¡¯s mouth corner, and she felt he hung his lip, which meant he was not happy. ¡°We¡¯ve been here for just two weeks. This is a good ce, right? How about leaving after we save enough money to travel to West Xia?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯ll bete if we leave then.¡± Leng Changxi raised his voice and continued, ¡°And given your eye problem, we can¡¯t ride fast.¡±

    Qin Yunuan lowered her head and asked, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m your burden?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not meant that.¡± Leng Changxi stood up and turned back to her. He turned his head around and finally confessed to her. ¡°Do you still remember that I helped Ren Sanniang to drive away gangsters? I didn¡¯t restrain myself then, so they know I¡¯m skilled in martial arts. Luckily only residents saw that. But if some cautious people saw and recognized that the martial arts I practiced originated from the Central ins, I would bring more trouble to you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned her head to where Leng Changxi stood and said nothing. Later, Leng Changxi continued and told her everything about the fightpetition Ren Sanniang mentioned. He shook his head. ¡°Do you remember the hunting incident? It¡¯s been proved to be nned by Sima Ray and Wanyan Ba, the Grand Prince in North Di. That Ren Sanniang asks me to sign up for thepetition is equal to asking me to expose myself to my enemy. I know I¡¯m not the First General of Qi anymore. Now I care about nothing except for protecting you and curing your eyes.¡±

    Qin Yunuan already sensed that Leng Changxi became extremely insecure and unconfident after being betrayed by Shang Xianhua in the fire. He was distressed. In their journey, what he thought about was just to conceal that he was a skilled martial artist and live every day safely without being recognized. The fiercest tiger on the prairie now hid his paws to pretend to be a sheep. This was not real Leng Changxi. Qin Yunuan frowned. She understood that people would inevitably get a bit mentally distorted after suffering a lot, but she really hoped that he could go through this quickly.

    ¡°In fact, hiding from enemies doesn¡¯t mean we have to stay away from them as far as possible.¡± Qin Yunuan guided him slowly. ¡°The most dangerous ce is actually the safest one. A great hermit can live in a boisterous ce without being affected. Changxi, you know more about military strategies than me, but I know more about human than you.¡±

    ¡°You mean?¡±

    Qin Yunuan picked up the needle to embroider again and wore a bright smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go to bed early today. Tomorrow, I will go with you to sign up for the warrior qualification test the Grand Prince organizes.¡±

 Chapter 232 Reunited with An Acquaintance

    <h4>Chapter 232 Reunited with An Acquaintance</h4>

    Wanyan Ba, the Grand Prince in North Di, was the eldest son of Grand Khan. He usually followed Grand Khan to fight in the battlefield and had led the army alone to upy the Langya Mountain at a young age. He was an indispensable helper for North Di to conquer every tribe and achieve unity. And, Wanyan Ba was determined to be the next Khan of North Di.

    Therefore, the warrior qualificationpetition the Grand Prince organized was a big event in the Ghost City. Early in the morning, it was still dark, but a lot of people were queuing up in front of his mansion. They hoped to fight first and leave a profound impression on the Grand Prince.

    When Leng Changxi held Qin Yunuan to the mansion, the fightpetition was already on. A 3-meter sturdy man stood on the tform in an imposing manner, looking aggressive. He just defeated a skilled martial artist whose weapon was a mace, but there was only the ck-iron-made stick left on the tform. The spiked head on the mace was missing.

    With a piece of white silk covering her eyes, Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t see the crowd clearly. Suddenly, she heard they burst into an uproar, and some timid people screamed out.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Qin Yunuan asked in a low voice.

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Leng Changxi moved sideways to deliberately block Qin Yunuan¡¯s view. Those injured fighters were carried down, and people voluntarily stepped back, letting them pass. Those fighters died in different ways. Some had bled from their mouth and nose while others had their limbs cut off. Undoubtedly, the most miserable one was the man who was badly mutted by his own weapon, the mace.

    North Di men were naturally strong. Unlike martial artists in Qi who would stop fighting when the result was clear in apetition, North Di people would beat their opponents to death.

    ¡°Changxi.¡± Qin Yunuan was a bit regretful. She trusted in Leng Changxi¡¯s ability, but what if there was any contingency?

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Leng Changxi looked at that 3-meter man on the tform. He defeated an opponent again, but he seemed not tired at all. Even he felt more excited when seeing the bloodstain left by the loser who was dragged away.

    Wanyan Ba sat in front of the tform. Before him were the kumiss and agate grapes of the best quality in North Di. The servant girl near him poured some kumiss into his bowl and wiped clean the stained rim. Looking at the big guy who raised his arms to cheer for him on the tform, Wanyan Ba praised him loudly, ¡°North Di warrior, you did a good job. I give this cup of kumiss to you as a reward of defeating seven opponents. Also, you can pick up a beauty of mine as you like.¡±

    The man on the tform didn¡¯t refuse and replied in a gruff voice, ¡°I¡¯ll take it. You are the kind of masters I, Xiahou Mu, admire most.¡± Then he turned to the servant girl who poured kumiss just now and said, ¡°I want her. I like tender women. You,e home with me. Doundry and cook for me. Serve me now.¡±

    That servant girl trembled, and several drops of kumiss seeped out of the bottle to Wanyan Ba¡¯s finger. He pped her and cursed, ¡°Useless. It¡¯s your honor to win Warrior Xiahou¡¯s favor. From now on...¡±

    ¡°Your Highness, please don¡¯t.¡± That servant girl knelt down to implore, ¡°I¡¯ve served you for a long time, and I still hope to serve you in future. Your Highness, please reconsider this.¡±

    Wanyan Ba didn¡¯t look at her but just nced at his guard who then immediately dragged the servant girl to Xiahou Mu. As high as a hill, the 3-meter Xiahou Mu weighed himself on the servant girl and stroked her face in an obscene way. He talked dirty, ¡°You¡¯re just a servant girl. Don¡¯t pretend as if you are chaste. Go back with me, and I¡¯ll let you have fun.¡±

    ¡°That girl is doomed.¡± Qin Yunuan whispered to Leng Changxi, ¡°Even if I¡¯m far away from that man, I can hear his strong and fast heartbeat as well as his heavy breathing. He is loud, and I can smell beef, mutton and something rotten from him. This means he¡¯s a raunchy, rough, grumpy and lustful man. If that girl goes back with him, she will be tortured to death.¡±

    A bit surprised, Leng Changxi looked at Qin Yunuan who had been temporarily blind for a month. Now, her hearing became as sensitive as her smell. And more importantly, she knew how to make good use of her strength and made a clear analysis of everything in her mind.

    From time to time, people could hear that man¡¯s raspy and nastyughter and that girl¡¯s criesing from the tform. However, all people around stood by. Many hypocrites even wore a mocking smile and seemed to look forward to what happened next.

    The kind of people, who Qin Yunuan hated most, were those who took advantage of their power to bully others, just like Dou Qing¡¯e.

    ¡°Changxi, it¡¯s time.¡± Qin Yunuan frowned and nudged Leng Changxi.

    When Leng Changxi was ready to use his light skills to fly to the tform, he heard a deep voice. ¡°Let her go.¡±

    It sounded familiar. Qin Yunuan slightly turned her head and carefully confirmed where that voice came from with her hearing. Then she was held by a warm and big hand. She heard Leng Changxi said in excitement. ¡°It¡¯s Leng Wu.¡±

    Leng Wu?

    He was alive and tracked them to North Di?

    They didn¡¯t take rash actions. Standing close to Qin Yunuan for better protecting her, Leng Changxi just watched Leng Wu confronted Xiahou Mu in silence. But he already held his sword tightly.

    Leng Wu was still dressed like people living in the Central ins. With some mustaches, he looked less delicate than before. At the first nce, he didn¡¯t look familiar, but the heroic spirit reflected from his face was a proof of his identity.

    ¡°Little man, what are you here for? For this girl or the title of the Grand Prince¡¯s warrior?¡± Xiahou Mu looked down upon this warrior from the Central ins, who was much shorter and smaller than him and other average North Di people.

    Leng Wu took out his two halberds and said, ¡°I¡¯m here for nothing but justice.¡±

    Xiahou Mu sounded more disdainful. ¡°Look at you, people from the Central ins. You merely know to keep in line with rigid rules. But here, the strongest one makes rules. If you beg me to spare you when I beat you upter, I may consider setting you free.¡±

    Leng Wu raised his eyebrows. ¡°Don¡¯t bother.¡± Then, they started to fight. Xiahou Mu just fought with his great strength, and after winning seven people, he didn¡¯t feel tired. At the beginning, he didn¡¯t see Leng Wu as a powerful opponent and only wanted to put an end to this fight quickly. But he didn¡¯t expect that he would miss the target after punching. Then, Leng Wu took advantage of his strength to twist his elbow, so atst, Xiahou Mu hit himself on the nose.

    Xiahou Mu took two steps back and wiped away the blood on his philtrum. When they fought again, Xiahou Mu exerted all his strength. All spectators were booing and hooting. When Wanyan Ba was slowly eating a glittering grape, Song Lian, an adviser near him, lowered his head and said, ¡°Your Highness, this man is a very skilled martial artist. He will be a great help for you.¡±

    Wanyan Ba squinted at Song Lian and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to speak up for yourpatriot. Even if he wins, so what? I¡¯m the one having a say in recruiting which warrior.¡±

    The fight was in full swing. Obviously, Xiahou Mu, who only had an advantage on strength, couldn¡¯t win Leng Wu who was tactical. The fight was close to end.

    But suddenly, a gpole next to the tform cracked and broke into two. The spiked one fell right on Xiahou Mu and stabbed into his belly. Wanyan Ba immediately ordered the servant aside to save him. However, that servant was rash to take the spike out, and by ident, hooked Xiahou Mu¡¯s guts which left some disgusting bloodstains on the ground.

    Feeling sick, Wanyan Ba just took a nce at it and then ordered Song Lian, ¡°Ask people to clean the ground.¡± Then, he squinted at Leng Wu and smiled. ¡°Well done. This girl is yours now, and you will be my first warrior.¡± Later, he held three fingers out and said, ¡°And you can earn this much every month.¡±

    Leng Wu frowned, and he could hear spectators were discussing loudly.

    ¡°Three silver ingots each month? That¡¯s quite a lot.¡±

    ¡°You, ignorant. The Grand Prince doesn¡¯t use silver, but gold! So he means three real gold ingots.¡±

    Leng Wu seemed hesitant. He didn¡¯t fight for bing the Grand Prince¡¯s warrior here, so he tended to leave after winning. However, the broken gpole drew his attention. Other people might just think it was an ident, but after his careful observation, he thought it was someone deliberately breaking the pole off. And the trick that person used was familiar to him. Obviously, the broken gpole, which unexpectedly hit Xiahou Mu, was a message for him. Leng Wu quickly gave the crowd a once-over, and suddenly, a stony look grabbed his attention.

    Leng Wu opened his mouth slightly, and it seemed that he was saying ¡°General¡±.

    Then, Leng Changxi, who stood afar, knew Leng Wu had recognized him. He nodded to Leng Wu quietly, and then Leng Wu cupped his hands to Wanyan Ba, ¡°Your Highness, I¡¯m very willing to work for you.¡±

    Wanyan Baughed loudly and heartily. He turned to Song Lian. ¡°You are from Qi, and so is he. You, Qi people, always boast about your rich knowledge and martial arts skills. But look now, you all work for me. Give the golden armor to my first warrior. Seven dayster when we are back to the capital, I want him to defeat everyone else in thepetition.¡±

    Leng Wu frowned and subconsciously looked at where Leng Changxi stood. But he had gone, with only a group of North Di people who looked envious left here.

    In the alley, Leng Changxi held Qin Yunuan¡¯s hands and led her in front by carefully kicking away cobbles on the road.

    ¡°Nuan, I¡¯m sorry for not earning the money reward to cure your eyes.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Qin Yunuan reached out to stroke Leng Changxi¡¯s callous fingers. ¡°But, are you sure that Leng Wu knows we¡¯re here?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s smart.¡± Leng Changxi analyzed calmly, ¡°Trust me. He wille to find us before midnight. And, he can be our informant while staying in Wanyan Ba¡¯s mansion. Sima Ray is truly powerful in Qi now, but he has few backers. He will definitely ask help from Wanyan Ba.¡±

    Unwittingly, they already walked back to their courtyard, but Qin Yunuan suddenly stopped before the door and frowned. ¡°Watch out. I smell a stranger in the courtyard.¡±

 Chapter 233 Mutual Benefit

    <h4>Chapter 233 Mutual Benefit</h4>

    Leng Changxi stopped. His hands on the door paused. However, the door opened automatically without any strength. Protecting Qin Yunuan behind him, Leng Changxi saw a row of people standing in order under the luffa stems in the courtyard. The one in the middle was sitting on the rattan chair which Qin Yunuan usually sat on when she was embroidering, looking magnificent. He smiled when seeing Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi as if he had seen two old friends. He said, ¡°General of Qi, Infanta of Qi, we haven¡¯t seen each other for some time.¡±

    The man sitting in the center was nobody else but Wanyan Su. He stood up with a smile. His eyes bypassed Leng Changxi, fixing on the white gauze covering Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes, and said in a concerned tone, ¡°How about your eyes? They haven¡¯t recovered yet.¡±

    Qin Yunuan leaned to the side and said politely, ¡°I feel better now. Your Highness, thank you for your concern.¡±

    Although she could not see Wanyan Su, she could tell who he was through his voice. Besides, who else would know their true identities?

    Wanyan Su asked his servants to take out two chairs for Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan to sit. However, Leng Changxi merely waved his hands, ¡°Your Highness, if you have something to say, just be frank.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Wanyan Su smiled, ¡°General Leng, I know that you went to the warrior qualification test organized by the Grand Prince, but you didn¡¯t attend it. With all the amazing skills you have, you must be the final winner to beat them all if you attended. What a pity! It seems that my eldest brother doesn¡¯t have the luck to have you as his warrior. I, however, am in desperate need of talents like you. I wonder whether you are willing to...¡±

    ¡°No,¡± before Wanyan Su could finish his words, Leng Changxi turned his head to the other side slightly, ¡°Your Highness, please go back.¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t finished my words yet. General Leng, why do you refuse me so quickly?¡± Wanyan Su showed a mild smile, but his tone had be extremely solemn, ¡°Speaking of power, you have no soldiers following you already, not a single one. Although there are still 3,000 the Leng Army living in a hard corner, they are no more than remnants of a defeated army, which can aplish nothing. Infanta Ping, you have given me all the three trade routes you have, leaving only the ready-to-wear clothes and piece goods produced by Golden Butterfly Embroidery House in the rtion of rights and interest between us. Therefore, you are no longer a threat to me. I advise you to be wiser.¡±

    ¡°Is it so?¡± Qin Yunuan sidestepped and smiled charmingly, ¡°Now that we are useless to you, why have you kept sending people to track us since we entered North Di? Your surveints are everywhere from Luguan to the Ghost City. We haven¡¯t called you to ount for that yet.¡±

    Wanyan Su felt a little embarrassed. Qin Yunuan continued with a smile, ¡°And the ¡®threat¡¯ you mentioned just now? Oh, if everything is good about the three trade routes, the grain business is satisfying, and the ready-to-wear clothes and piece goods produced by Golden Butterfly Embroidery House you receive are all normal, why are you waiting for us in such a remote ce? What¡¯s more, you know clearly that nobody in the North Di can rival Changxi besides the over-90 master of Qigong. The so-called means of livelihood you offer us is actually serving your own benefit, asking Changxi to work himself to death for you. Your highness, look at what you are. Are you qualified?¡±

    Facing Qin Yunuan¡¯s rebuttal, Wanyan Su could barely say a word. Qin Yunuan was right. He should have thought that. How could a shrewd woman like Qin Yunuan hand over the three trade routes so easily?

    In fact, Qin Yunuan had made preparation in advance. None of the three trade routes was smooth, including problems either goods were trapped midway or local citizens ran riot. And the grain he was trading? Well, although the officials witnessed themselves that the white first-ss rice was put on the carriages, when the carriages reached the destination, inside was a pile of moldy yellow rice which nobody would like to deal with even when the trader was suffering from the loss. Questioning Shen Xun, Boss Shen in the regions south of the River? He insisted that the problem happened in transportation, which was not his business. After all, seeing is believing. The loading process was witnessed. Wanyan Su could do nothing about it. Golden Butterfly Embroidery House, on the other hand, was procrastinating on restocking in the excuse of natural disasters. Wanyan Su had already paid much liquidated damages to shops in North Di for that. When he asked Golden Butterfly Embroidery House for an exnation, it handed out the contract they signed in the first ce, on which wrote clearly, ¡°In the event of a shortage due to unforeseen circumstances caused by natural or man-made disasters, which causes the goods cannot be delivered as agreed, Golden Butterfly Embroidery House should not bear any responsibilities.¡±

    Within just three months, Wanyan Su¡¯s confidence when he took the business over had turned into frustration. It had been clear to him by now the reason why Qin Yunuan was at ease when handing it to him. She was sure that without her, the business between North Di and Qi wouldn¡¯t run without her. A prince as he was, he had to beg her on his knees one day.

    ¡°You are good at debating,¡± Wanyan Su moved closer to them slowly, ¡°However, you should know that as a wife, you¡¯d better not be too good,¡± he stared at Leng Changxi when speaking, ¡°Otherwise, it will make your man look good-for-nothing.¡±

    Sowing discord? Lifting an eyebrow, Qin Yunuan was about to speak when Leng Changxi¡¯s cold voice rang out, ¡°Her eloquence is exactly what I like. Besides, marrying her is enough to prove my capability. Your Highness, if you don¡¯t want to buy the loofah, please leave.¡±

    Leng Changxi pointed at several loofahs on the stem that was still shaping with his long, bamboo-like fingers. Looking at Wanyan Su, he seemed to intend to make the deal by force.

    Wanyan Su twisted his lips, ¡°I will buy. Who has said that I don¡¯t want to buy them? Name the price of these loofahs, and I will buy them all.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled. Her fingertip made a move in Leng Changxi¡¯s palm, ¡°The number is no more, no less. There are about five or six small loofahs on the stem. Each of them is worth 100 taels of silver. Your Highness, we ept cash only. If you don¡¯t have one, we will cancel the deal.¡±

    Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi spoke with confidence even though they had nobody else with them, which, surprisingly, forced Wanyan Su, a prince of North Di, to keep silent. He couldn¡¯t use violence because the two people were just making a shameless act, which could not be counted as a provocation.

    ¡°Just a few loofahs. I¡¯ll buy them,¡± Wanyan Su gestured to his heelers with eyes, asking them to hand several gold ingots to Leng Changxi, ¡°Is it enough?¡±

    Although Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t see it, she knew that Wanyan Su would only pay more money than the price, not less. So she smiled, ¡°No change. That¡¯s my style of business.¡±

    Wanyan Su pped his sleeves, ¡°No change is okay. There¡¯s only one thing I want to ask you. The three trade routes and the grains. Now the key moment ising, so I can¡¯t allow any ident,¡± gritting his teeth, Wanyan Su changed into a more modest, gentler tone, ¡°Madam Leng, please do not be too hard on me this time! I desire nothing but merely 10 percent of your benefit.¡±

    For Wanyan Su, what had changed was not only his address to Qin Yunuan but also his mindset. He used to think that Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan were too weak in North Di to reach West Xia all by themselves. Nevertheless, he burned a special spice on purpose in Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi¡¯s carriage when they were fleeing that would make Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes recover at an extremely low speed. The weaker they are, the more he could use during the negotiation. He was wrong. When it came to being bold but cautious and taking precautions, he was no rival to those people in the Central ins.

    ¡°10 percent?¡± Qin Yunuan said ironically as the sarcasm of Wanyan Su¡¯s greed and arrogance.

    Wanyan Su gritted his teeth, ¡°Well. All I crave is that the grains can be transported to North Di sessfully through the three trade routes. Everything else should be normal as usual.¡±

    A smile appeared on the corner of Qin Yunuan¡¯s mouth, ¡°Normal as usual?¡±

    Wanyan Su¡¯s lips twisted slightly. He didn¡¯t look as pompous as he did when he first came here. Most obviously, his Adam¡¯s apple was bobbing up and down frequently. He was going to touch his baseline.

    ¡°Madam Leng, name the price you prefer.¡±

    But this time Qin Yunuan retreated behind Leng Changxi¡¯s back, leaning to his arm like a lovable bird, ¡°My husband is the one to make the decision.¡±

    Leng Changxi was blunt, ¡°We would like to cooperate with you besides your money for the loofahs.¡±

    If the proposal to cooperate was mentioned earlier, Wanyan Su might have treated the two people as his inferiors. However, Qin Yunuan had been waiting for him patiently to find her himself. Therefore, their cooperation wouldn¡¯t be so easy.

    Leng Changxi smiled while saying, ¡°Your Highness, don¡¯t be nervous. I know that although you¡¯ve been pushed aside by the Grand Prince to guard the frontier all the year round, you are confident to be the crown prince of North Di. Otherwise, you won¡¯t risk cooperating with Nuan so actively. You opened the trade routes to gather military funds, imported the rice as grain for the army, and bought ready-to-wear clothes to prepare winter clothes for soldiers to wear in the cold winter of North Di. Your Highness, now that you¡¯ve tried so hard to prepare, you wouldn¡¯t like to see your n fail in the next two or three months.¡±

    Leng Changxi turned around and continued, ¡°Grand Khan of North Di is old now. Among all his sons, there are only two prominent ones: you, or Fourth Prince, and Wanyan Ba, the Grand Prince. Since Sima Ray has been in collusion with Wanyan Ba, Wanyan Ba can be counted as ourmon enemy. Therefore, we can cooperate. You have the determination to be the crown prince and advisors who will give you suggestions. Nuan has numerous business resources and material supplies while I have the advanced military training method of Qi and close fighting skills. Your Highness, don¡¯t you think that to reach your greater good, you cannot miss any one of the three things? What I ask for, on the other hand, is not much. I only need the clearance documents to Yeren Valley and West Xia after the sess.¡±

    All of a sudden, Wanyan Su asked discreetly, ¡°Why will you go to Yeren Valley?¡±

    Yeren Valley was the boundary between North Di and Liuli, a small country. It used to be thend of Qi 20 years ago. It was easy to guard but hard to attack. Qi had attacked it for many times since it was taken by North Di 20 years ago, but none of them seeded. A legend had said that the origin of the royal family of Qi was here. The royal family of North Di thought that it was because the legend that Qi kept attacking to get it back. It pushed North Di to guard Yeren Valley more carefully. In the past few years, however, Qi had been more peaceful in the frontier, so North Di lowered its guard a little.

    ¡°Fourth Prince, you don¡¯t need to ask. Just tell me whether you agree to the terms I offer.¡±

    Wanyan Su hesitated a little when Leng Changxi said, ¡°Exchanging the throne with two documents. It¡¯s a good deal, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Let me think,¡± Wanyan Su said solemnly, ¡°Grand Khan was angry when idents happened in Yeren Valley one after another, so nobody was allowed to enter here ever since. Your requirement is equal to asking me to challenge Grand Khan¡¯s authority.¡±

 Chapter 234 Unavoidable Confrontation

    <h4>Chapter 234 Unavoidable Confrontation</h4>

    ¡°Oh. So you won¡¯t ept it?¡± Leng Changxi handed the gold ingots to Qin Yunuan and said calmly, ¡°Nuan, keep the money for loofahs well. Farewell to our guest.¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡± Wanyan Su stopped him, looking much determined, ¡°My answer is yes. I promise you if you help me seed, not only will I send you two clearance documents, but I will also order 500 excellent troops to apany you to West Xia.¡±

    Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi looked at each other and smiled. Lifting his head, Leng Changxi nced at the shabby yard, ¡°Now that we are partners, it seems inappropriate if we keep living in this yard.¡±

    Wanyan Su gritted his teeth, ¡°It will be the warriorpetition in the capital in seven days. ording to the prediction, I will arrive there at that time. If General Leng and Madam Leng would like to, I hope that you cane along with me.¡±

    Smiling, Qin Yunuan entered the house, ¡°It¡¯s nice.¡±

    Seven dayster, at the capital of North Di, a neatly arranged queue entered the city through the entrance in the south of the city. The leading one was riding a tall horse, looking majestic. The sheepskin rope he wore had a gold rim, implying his fortune and nobility.

    The structure of the business areas in the capital was imitating the Royal City of Qi. Fromnes to markets, there were all signals of Chinesization. The businessmen on the streets were mostly North Di people and Persians. While they had seen much, they couldn¡¯t help making somements once seeing Wanyan Su, the leading one.

    ¡°Look! Although Fourth Prince was sent far away, his appearance and manners are much better than those of the brutal Grand Prince.¡±

    ¡°Hush! Don¡¯t you afraid that your words will be overheard by someone? I¡¯m telling you, the one butchering sheep in the east of the city had said something about the Grand Prince¡¯s fault. As a result, he was missing and hasn¡¯t been found by now.¡±

    ¡°You see. The ones sitting on thest carriage don¡¯t look like people in North Di.¡±

    Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi were sitting at thest four-in-hand covered by gauze curtain. Hearing the gossips, they simply nced at each other. Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes were still covered with the white gauze. However, there came a gust of wind blowing up the white gauze around by a corner. Now the people outside could see clearly the ones behind the curtain. At that moment, there were screams around them.

    ¡°My God! Why does Fourth Prince bring back such a terrifying person?¡±

    There was even a woman covering her child¡¯s eyes, whispering, ¡°My baby, don¡¯t look at him! Don¡¯t look at him, or you will be blind.¡±

    ¡°Monster! He is a monster!¡±

    The so-called monster was nobody else but Leng Changxi. Qin Yunuan knew that Leng Changxi was good at making masks with human skin. When she learned that he was going to change his appearance with the mask made of human skin, she agreed. It never urred to her, however, that he would go to the extreme. He changed his handsome face into a rough-looking man with sores all over the face and a scar on the forehead. He even changed his own voice.

    ¡°As long as you don¡¯t abhor it,¡± Leng Changxi smiled to Qin Yunuan while drawing the true-to-life mask made of human skin.

    ¡°Why will I abhor? No matter what kind of mask you are wearing, you are still my Changxi. I don¡¯t care about your appearance,¡± Qin Yunuan concentrated on watching Leng Changxi¡¯s work. Under his skillful hands, a mask with a nose and a whole face slowly formed. ¡°It¡¯s even better. There will no longer be young beauties keeping staring at you from now on. I have had the thought that Third Miss Ren has a liking for you for a long time.¡±

    Smiling, Leng Changxi skimmed the tip of Qin Yunuan¡¯s nose and said in a pampering tone, ¡°You are always thinking about things you shouldn¡¯t worry.¡±

    ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I?¡± Qin Yunuan pouted, ¡°My man is so great. It¡¯s natural for me to beware of those women up to no good.¡±

    Leng Changxi held Qin Yunuan into his arms backhand. His voice was low, ¡°Great, am I?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Of course.¡±

    Leng Changxi said in a self-deprecating manner, ¡°Am I still great when I have nothing now?¡±

    ¡°Who says that you have nothing?¡± Qin Yunuan answered without any hesitation, ¡°Judging whether a man is powerful or not is not ording to the power he holds in hand, the gold and silver he stores in his mansion or the number of pearls on his sleeves but ording to the courage, sense of responsibility and kindness in his heart. Changxi, you are rich in your heart. So you are great. This greatness will never be taken away by others.¡±

    Leng Changxi was moved so much that the corner of his mouth twisted. He hugged Qin Yunuan with much more strength, ¡°Nuan, thank you for understanding me. Thank you also for apanying me when I have lost everything.¡±

    While they were talking, the mask had been made. Leng Changxi tried to wear it. Its fitting his face perfectly implied Leng Changxi¡¯s mastery.

    Bringing his attention back, Leng Changxi lowered his head to touch the mask on his face. In others¡¯ eyes, the ugly monster was covering its face blushingly. The ironical voices were getting louder. At the front, Wanyan Su got worried, sending people to ask whether they needed to rest in the hotel for a moment before they went to the mansion.

    ¡°Not necessary,¡± Qin Yunuan was quite unperturbed, ¡°There are only two or three steps left. Don¡¯t mind it.¡±

    However, at this moment, there came another queue from the opposite direction at the other end of the street. Compared to Wanyan Su¡¯s nobility, the other queue could be called luxury. Made up of over 100 people, the queue was long enough to reach both ends of the street. 20 honor guards were holding the gs high. Their shoes were made of silk. 50 guards were riding horses beside the carriage in order to protect it. Their boots were all made of cowhide. The carriage was cabriolet, pulled by eight horses, on which there were handrails over gilded. On its waying, all the citizens were shocked. All the clothes and decorations on the servants in the queue were expensive enough to pay for all the living expenses of an ordinary family for a few years.

    Nobody else could have the disy of splendor equal to the one of Grand Khan of North Di except for Wanyan Ba, the Grand Prince who was most favored now.

    Since the two princes met each other in the street, the number of people to watch the scene of bustle was increasing.

    North Di attached much importance to the bloodline. Wanyan Ba, as the son of the empress, was born to be expected as the crown prince in the future. Wanyan Su, on the other hand, had a biological mother who was not only low in social position but also a woman of the Central ins. She volunteered to be the sacrifice to the ancestors of North Di in order not to bring trouble and gossips to Wanyan Su¡¯s future. Grand Khan was moved by her spirit more or less. That was why he treated Wanyan Su as a normal child reluctantly.

    However, Wanyan Su was still a man of a different n among the princes of North Di, which could be seen from Grand Khan¡¯s sending him to guard the frontier for years.

    Seeing Wanyan Ba¡¯s trooping from afar, Wanyan Su waved as the signal to tell his people to stop. However, the opposite troop was still getting closer. Wanyan Ba sat on the carriage, pompous and arrogant as if he hadn¡¯t seen Wanyan Su¡¯s troop at all. It was not until there were only 3 meters between the two troops when Wanyan Ba slowly ordered, ¡°Stop.¡±

    It had been the second time for Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi to see Wanyan Ba, the Grand Prince, since the warrior qualification test was held by him. Compared to thest time, now the way Wanyan Ba showed up was more exaggerated. His reckless luxury at the capital reflected Grand Khan of North Di¡¯s love and indulgence to Wanyan Ba.

    Others thought that Wanyan Su had no chance of winning at all, but Qin Yunuan wouldn¡¯t agree. Although there were many differences between the traditions of North Di and the ones of Qi, people all shared the same mind. Wanyan Ba treated his inferiors brutally and violently. He could give a maid who had served him for years to a harsh warrior casually, which would only make people working for him frightened and scared. Wanyan Su, however, treated his inferiors with a true heart. No wonder why there had been so many people willing to follow Wanyan Su to save Qin Yunuan in Qi.

    At the most front, Wanyan Su and Wanyan Ba nced at each other. Nobody would like to get off the carriage and greet first. Wanyan Su looked around. There were all citizens surrounding them. He frowned, then forced a smile and got off the horse by himself. He bowed his fists to Wanyan Ba, ¡°Big brother, long time no see.¡±

    ¡°Big brother?¡± Wanyan Ba¡¯s words were full of disdain and irony, ¡°Why don¡¯t I know that? When did my father have a son of Qi, and I have a brother of Qi like you?¡±

    To Wanyan Ba, embarrassing Wanyan Su in public needed no reason or excuse.

    Observing carefully what was happening in the front, Qin Yunuanmented in a low voice, ¡°Wanyan Ba is a man who has valor butcks strategy. He only cares about speaking out what he likes, but he ignores that there are so many people witnessing it. Later when his stigma of overlooking brotherhood and acting arrogantlye out, it¡¯s hard for him to whitewash himself.¡±

    Leng Changxi also nodded, ¡°Being arrogant is exactly what we wanted. The morecent he is, the more likely we are going to win.¡±

    Just when they finished their words, the actions and voices in the front seemed to berger and louder. Although Song Lian kept persuading beside Wanyan Ba, he still got angrier, ¡°What, you won¡¯t let me say it? People of Qi are all too stubborn to be educated. A man without the pureblood cannot be the descendant of our royal family of North Di.¡±

    Hearing the words, several people of Qi who had settled down in North Di were already unhappy.

    The more arrogant Wanyan Ba was, the more modest Wanyan Su appeared, ¡°There was already a peace treaty between North Di and Qi. The two countries have befriended each other. There¡¯s no need to insist on the difference between them.¡±

    ¡°Alright. I won¡¯t speak to you anymore,¡± Wanyan Ba leaned back and pointed at Leng Changxi¡¯s carriage, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you took in a man who was good at fighting on your way despite his ugly appearance. I have also employed a man doing well in martial arts recently. Let them have apetition. If your ugly ve wins, I¡¯ll make way for you.¡±

    Wanyan Su finally looked a little unhappy, ¡°Tuoba is my honored guest, not my ve. Please forgive me that he won¡¯t follow my orders.¡±

    Wanyan Ba sneered, ¡°How useless you are! You can¡¯t even order your servants.¡± He turned his head and said to Leng Wu beside the carriage, ¡°Chang Wu, now that the man won¡¯t get off the carriage, use your strength to force him.¡±

    Chang Wu was Leng Wu¡¯s pseudonym when he worked for Wanyan Ba. Having seen Qin Yunuan from afar, Chang Wu knew that the ugly monster beside her was very likely to be his general. Finding Leng Wu hesitated, Wanyan Ba raised the whip and chopped towards Leng Wu¡¯s back. It was lucky that Leng Wu was swift enough to escape from it.

    ¡°Be quick,¡± Wanyan Ba shouted coldly.

 Chapter 235 Three Women Makes a Play

    <h4>Chapter 235 Three Women Makes a y</h4>

    Leng Wu couldn¡¯t hesitate any longer. He turned around, grasping the sky-reaching halberds that his servants held for him. With his light skills, he stepped on the carriage canopies and flew to Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi like a light sparrow. The halberds thrust into the carriage. Leng Changxi only pushed Qin Yunuan aside, taking out a scimitar hidden on the edge of the carriage casually.

    There was a ttering sound of weapons joining, Leng Wu and Leng Changxi looked at each other. Leng Wu was able to see Leng Changxi¡¯s original appearance clearly from under this seemingly terrifying mask.

    In an instant, the two jumped onto the canopy headed by Wanyan Su. The two halberds in Leng Wu¡¯s hands danced in the haunting wind, and Leng Changxi¡¯s scimitar was flexible and sharp.

    Just as the halberd collided with the scimitar, Leng Changxi heard a clear whisper from Leng Wu, ¡°Tomorrow noon, the Khan of seven tribes will enter the capital. Princess Saichun¡¯s father, Bochaerji, is the leader of the northernmost Erqi prairie. He had also selected warriors to participate in thepetition this time.¡±

    Leng Changxi heard it clearly and understood that Leng Wu didn¡¯t waste his time at the Grand Prince¡¯s mansion.

    The two fought for more than a dozen rounds. Leng Changxi was struck backward by Leng Wu¡¯s halberd and almost fell off the canopy. He turned, got off the car cover, and sat back on his carriage. Qin Yunuan helped him and stroked his panting chest.

    ¡°I lost it.¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s blunt words made Wanyan Ba very excited. Heughed, recalled Leng Wu and gave him a generous reward that would make everyone around him jealous.

    Wanyan Ba even gave Wanyan Su a triumphant nce, ¡°Fourth brother, it seems that your servant is nothing more than a ve that still couldn¡¯t get on the stage. Why give him such a good carriage?¡±

    Wanyan Su was indifferent and said, ¡°He is a guest of mine, not a servant.¡±

    Wanyan Ba¡¯s smile faded a little, and he still said arrogantly, ¡°That¡¯s the same thing. But since you have lost, I can¡¯t let you go ahead. So, brother, would you...¡±

    Before Wanyan Ba could finish speaking, Wanyan Su had consciously ordered the front coachman to turn around.

    A long line of carriages ttened against the street, and the covers almost touched the g banners of the shop, all just to make way for Wanyan Ba. When the carriages of Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi approached the street, people around dispersed in an uproar. No one approached, for they were afraid of Leng Changxi¡¯s terrible face.

    On the contrary, Qin Yunuan held Leng Changxi tighter. Although Leng Wu was powerful, Qin Yunuan knew that his skills were definitely under Leng Changxi¡¯s. Leng Changxi lost it deliberately to Leng Wu to make Wanyan Ba even more arrogant and less vignt. Just as Leng Changxi said before, he was not terrifying because of being arrogant, but not being one day. Also, there was no benefit in revealing Leng Changxi¡¯s martial arts too much.

    Wanyan Ba¡¯s team passed in front of Wanyan Su. All of them were high spirited. Wanyan Ba even deliberately stopped in front of Wanyan Su. He stuck his head out of the carriage, looked up at the sky and then said, ¡°Oh, I see it¡¯s going to rain. Brother, if your house leaks, you cane to my residence for refuge. My residence has not only too many guest rooms but also arge stable. There will always be a ce for you to sleep.¡±

    He must have had reached a master level of unscrupulousness in insulting people. However, Wanyan Su just folded his hands and saluted politely, ¡°Thank you, brother, for your concern. My mansion is fine.¡±

    Wanyan Ba smiled and left him behind. He took it as a joke. Wanyan Su didn¡¯t lie to him, at least Qin Yunuan felt the elegance of his guest room under his detailed arrangement.

    The walls were made of thick brick, which was unique to North Di to cope with the extreme temperature difference between day and night. The heatable brick bed was covered with a thickyer of warm wool. Apart from these, the porcin, calligraphy and paintings in the house, as well as the curio box, were set up in the elegant and decent atmosphere of the regions south of the River in Qi. It could be seen that the room was specially furnished for the two Qi people, Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi.

    The maid who led the way had been waiting for the reaction of the two people at the door. Seeing that Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi remained silent, she asked with some trepidation, ¡°His Highness asked me to arrange this room ording to the characteristics of the Central ins. But I had never gone to the Central ins. I arranged the furniture ording to my imagination. If you, the two distinguished guests from afar, don¡¯t like it, I could refurnish the room.¡±

    ¡°No, no, no.¡± Qin Yunuan hurriedly stopped her. At this time, she had already taken off her veil, and her eyes could barely see things. Unexpectedly, she saw such a surprise opening her eyes, ¡°You did well. By the way, what is your name?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Yaqi. His Highness had sent me to serve you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°Yes, I have heard that Fourth Prince had a side concubine. Could you introduce me to her?¡±

    Yaqi hesitated for a moment. Seeing her expression, Qin Yunuan then said, ¡°I just think that we are guests. It¡¯s necessary to visit the host.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid...¡± Yaqi¡¯s voice was trembling, and she was hesitating.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, just say it.¡±

    Yaqi told them all the story, ¡°Well, I only heard that the side concubine had a younger sister. She went to Qi for the imperial matrimony for peace. After that, the prince she married had his family wiped out formitting a crime. She was afraid that her younger sister couldn¡¯t escape from the massacre. Unfortunately, the side concubine¡¯s family is not as prominent as before, and Grand Khan wouldn¡¯t negotiate with Qi for a woman.¡± Speaking of this, she sighed faintly, ¡°Women were treated like cheap goods in North Di. Sometimes, they were just like ves that can be bought and sold at will.¡±

    Qin Yunuan gave Yaqi someforting words. She was certain that the sister Saichun mentioned about in Qi was the side concubine of Fourth Prince.

    Judging from the news of Leng Wu to Leng Changxi, tomorrow Saichun¡¯s father, Bochaerji, the Grand Khan from the northern grasnds, would enter the capital. He would definitelye to see the daughter he had not seen for a long time. It was difficult to see Bochaerji. But this side concubine was right in front of her eyes. Qin Yunuan could never let go of such an opportunity.

    It was supposed to be a very peaceful and peaceful night. But in a courtyard north of the Fourth Prince¡¯s Mansion, candle lights were like the sparks in the sky. They stayed up all night.

    In the yard was a woman dressed in a gorgeous North Di dress, drinking alone to the moon. Judging from her dress and the gold jingle decorated on her head, the woman¡¯s high status in the Four Prince¡¯s Mansion was obvious. She had a jar of fine wine made with plum blossom snow water beside her. No servants were around to serve her, only an elderly nanny was in the distance, frowning at the woman who used the wine to relieve her sorrows.

    Women of the North Di could drink, but not in such a way. Seeing that the jar is about to see the bottom, the nanny could no longer stand it. She stepped forward and stopped the woman¡¯s hand from lifting the jar again. The nanny did her best to persuade her, ¡°Madam, you have been drinking for so long, and you haven¡¯t greeted Your Highness when he came back. If this goes on, I would be med by Grand Khan tomorrow when he came.¡±

    The woman was no one else but Yasu, the side concubine of Fourth Prince with whom Qin Yunuan would like to meet.

    Yasu ignored the nanny and poured another bowl of wine herself.

    The nanny couldn¡¯t help it anymore. She was sent by Fourth Prince to take care of the concubine. If the concubine continued to behave like this, she would have no choice but to walk away.

    ¡°Side concubine, you would be drunk if you drink more.¡±

    Yasu looked back at the mother and said bitterly, ¡°It¡¯s good to get drunk. I find that every time I get drunk, I can see my poor little sister who married to Qi. Peace, you asked for peace. It was fine, but why would you sacrifice my sister for peace? Now she could nevere back, but what about North Di¡¯s royal court? They are celebrating this hard-won victory. How hard-earned could it be just sacrificing a woman? For them, wasn¡¯t it decided in a blink of an eye?¡±

    The nanny said earnestly, ¡°You know that, side concubine. Fourth Prince doesn¡¯t like to hear about these. Your previous request was too much. Now you are ruining yourself. How sorry would Fourth Prince feel for you if he saw you in this way? You are drunk. You are really drunk.¡±

    ¡°Take it easy. The side concubine wouldn¡¯t be drunk.¡± Another woman¡¯s voice broke the mumbling. The two followed the sound and saw a woman they had never seen before appeared at the gate of the yard. The woman¡¯s eyes were covered with white gauze, and she was holding a stick to explore the way.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± The nanny became vignt of a sudden, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be inside your yard at such ate night?¡±

    Yasu was very calm. She looked at the woman in front of her who was born with the appearance features of the Central ins and then had confidence in her heart, ¡°I heard that Your Highness came back this time with two distinguished guests. You must be one of them.¡±

    ¡°I dare not to be distinguished,¡± Qin Yunuan came in with a smile. She tilted his head as if asking ¡°Can Ie in?¡±. Yasu did not stop her, so Qin Yunuan lifted her leg. She turned at Yasu¡¯s jar and smiled, ¡°I know this kind of wine. It¡¯s not intoxicating.¡±

    Yasu lifted her brows. The nanny couldn¡¯t help but took the words again, ¡°The kumiss brewed with plum blossom snow water was the mellowest one. It had the highest degree of alcohol and was the most intoxicating.¡±

    ¡°Have a rest, nanny.¡± Yasu ordered abruptly, ¡°I will call for you if anything happens.¡±

    After the nanny left, Qin Yunuan finished thetter half of her sentence leisurely, ¡°The most intoxicating? I had always thought that rice wine was not intoxicating.¡±

    Yasu was a little alert. She didn¡¯t know Qin Yunuan¡¯s position. Was she here to threaten her, or did she have other purposes?

    ¡°When did you find out?¡± Yasu turned around, ¡°No, you can¡¯t see. Who told you?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t need anyone to tell me,¡± Qin Yunuan touched the tip of her nose with fingertips, ¡°I have a nose, I can smell. The wine is mellow, but itcks the smell of mare cumin. I have ears, so I can listen. I can even hear that your pulse was not elerated by drinking. This showed that this wine had no effect on you.¡±

    Yasu was stunned for a moment. Qin Yunuan sighed and said, ¡°You must have used hundreds of tricks in order to get His Royal Highness to help your sister.¡±

 Chapter 236 Not Threatening

    <h4>Chapter 236 Not Threatening</h4>

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Yasu was nervous at Qin Yunuan¡¯s appearance, ¡°Also, who are you? Why are you telling me this?¡±

    Qin Yunuan was not petrified, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just said it? I am only the guest that Fourth Prince brought here.¡± Qin Yunuan said as she observed Yasu¡¯s expression. ¡°It¡¯s only that I am an acquaintance of your sister, Princess Saichun.¡±

    ¡°Are you from Qi?¡± Yasu asked with her eyes wide open. ¡°What happened to Saichun? Is she dead? She used to write to me all the time, but one day the letters suddenly stoppeding. My father refused to talk about it. Then I turned to His Highness, but he just coaxed me. I just wanted him to find out about Saichun for me, but he refused. Men are all liars. He had promised my father to take good care of me forever.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stared at Yasu for a long time. She opened her mouth and said slowly, ¡°Yes, Princess Saichun is dead, with the child of her and the Grand Prince of Qi.¡±

    Yasu was prepared, but she couldn¡¯t stop her tears from streaming down when she heard the word ¡°child¡±. ¡°She had a child. Saichun liked children very much. She shouldn¡¯t go to Qi. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have died.¡±

    ¡°It would be hard to save Princess Saichun¡¯s life even if she had stayed.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Yasu questioned.

    ¡°It¡¯s very simple,¡± Qin Yunuan carefully analyzed to Yasu, ¡°Prince Ray of Qi has an eye on the throne, but he can¡¯t get what he wants by himself. He could only cooperate. The man Sima Ray had chosen was Wanyan Ba, the Grand Prince of North Di. However, your father, Khan Bochaerji has been dissatisfied with the atrocities of the Grand Prince. His frequent letters to the emperor made himself resented by Wanyan Ba. Bochaerji was regarded as a thorn in the Grand Prince¡¯s eye, and one day he will want to pull it out. There was a saying in our Central ins. When a bird¡¯s nest is overturned, no egg can remain intact. If Bochaerji was overthrown, what do you think would happen to you and the entire northern grasnd? Can you still be safe and sound?¡±

    ¡°Grand Khan won¡¯t tolerate bumptious deeds of that boorish fellow.¡± Yasu called Wanyan Ba boor. It was obvious that she was also very dissatisfied with this fierce and violent prince.

    ¡°It would have been done if only Grand Khan could,¡± Qin Yunuan looked straight into Yasu¡¯s eyes, ¡°If he could have realized that Wanyan Ba had been way too indulged, how could he agree to send Princess Saichun to the imperial matrimony for peace with Qi?¡±

    ¡°What you said was that?¡±

    ¡°Also, why was she married to the long-time rival of Prince Ray, the Grand Prince Sima Ruo?¡±

    Yasu was in haste, but she still strove to persuade herself, ¡°There¡¯s no way. God bless my Grand Khan. He was so brave and wise in leading the seven tribes and clearing up the remaining evils of the northern Liao. He would not have made such a low-level mistake. He would not have believed in this ipetent boor.¡±

    ¡°But he is old.¡± Qin yunuan¡¯s light words were enough to defeat her hearts. ¡°Just like the emperors of Qi, they were once extremely brave, but they are old and would like to lie infort. Their views on things have changed a long time ago. Don¡¯tpare them with their past, because they are not the hot-blooded youngsters they were anymore,¡± Qin Yunuan stopped for a moment, then she said to Yasu in a charming tone, ¡°Today¡¯s world is of the younger generation. You always want to avenge Princess Saichun. Have you ever thought about what to do for Fourth Prince?¡±

    Yasu hesitated for a moment. She was silent, staring at Qin Yunuan. After a long time, she said, ¡°what do you need me to do?¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°A ruse of self-injury to win.¡±

    The next day, the Khans of the Seven Tribes entered the capital, making the capital bustling with rare excitement. Different from the street farce of Wanyan Ba and Wanyan Su yesterday, the seven Khans had all fought along with Grand Khan in those days. Although there were inevitably conflicts of interest and disagreements between the seven tribes, at least their faces were full of greetings and concerns.

    Yasu¡¯s father Bochaerji, the Khan of the northern grasnds, was the tallest of them all. He had a sturdy back and a strong back, and his arms were as thick as a bowl mouth. It was said that he killed a ck bear with his bare hands when he was fighting with Grand Khan. He was a great hero of North Di. It was just that in recent years Grand Khan heard some rumors and had alienated from this hero of North Di. If not, Bochaerji¡¯s reputation and status in North Di would never make the matter of imperial matrimony for peace fall onto his daughter¡¯s head.

    The one who came out of the city to greet them was Prince Regent, who was most favored by the Khan, except for the Grand Prince. He was only in his early thirties but already very outstanding. However, in front of those leaders of the seven tribes, he was a junior after all. He couldn¡¯t be more respectful and moderate in his speech.

    All the news was informed by Yaqi to Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi resting in the Fourth Prince¡¯s Mansion.

    Leng Changxi used herbal aromatherapy to smoke Qin Yu Nuan¡¯s eyes, while quietly listening to the little maid Yaqi¡¯s reply.

    ¡°Prince Regent?¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes remained close, but her brain acted quickly, ¡°What was he like?¡±

    Yaqi thought for a moment and said, ¡°He is a wonderful man.¡±

    Qin Yunuanughed, ¡°What is a wonderful person? To be honest, are there no bad people in your little brain, Yaqi?¡±

    Yaqi was young and lived in a simple environment. During her time with Yaqi, Qin Yunuan deeply felt that Yaqi¡¯s temperament was just like her mother¡¯s. They saw everyone as good and kind.

    ¡°Of course not,¡± Yaqi argued. ¡°All the people in the capital say so. Prince Regent organizes donations every year to provide funds for the herdsmen in the southernmost area invaded by Qi. He not only talks about it, but also withdraws from his sry. In North Di¡¯s sacred temples, Prince Regent gives the most sacrifices every year.¡±

    Leng Changxi listened and just smiled faintly. In order not to scare them, Leng Changxi wore a mask that covered his entire face when there was a human skin mask on his face, revealing only two eyes. These two eyes were so deep as if all the secrets in this world were hidden in those eyes. Sometimes, Yaqi would forget that this man was an extremely ugly person.

    ¡°Qi has never taken the initiative to invade the people of North Di, let alone upy yournd. Why would they move? Your Regent is lying.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡± Yaqi tried to persuade Leng Changxi but was interrupted by his cold words, ¡°Don¡¯t look at the surface. Sometimes, the real may not be true. The false was, however, mostly false.¡±

    At this moment, the side concubine sent people to inform Qin Yunuan, saying that the Khan Bochaerji had arrived at the Fourth Prince¡¯s Mansion, and Yasu was specially informing Qin Yunuan to ask if she needed to meet the Khan.

    In North Di, themunication between men and women was much more open than that of Qi. Many women eloped with others after seeing a certain man, but Qin Yunuan only tied up the white gauze again and said indifferently, ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± She didn¡¯t need to meet the Grand Khan. She just needed to wait for thepetition.

    Three dayster, they were in thergestpetition arena in the capital. The surrounding colorful gs were fluttering in the wind, and new red ribbons were wrapped around the arena of thepetition. Qi took Mid-Autumn and New Year¡¯s Eve as the nation¡¯s biggest festival, while in North Di, the nation that was wild and advocated force, only thepetition could attract the attention of the people all over the country.

    On this day, all alleys are empty, and the bustling crowd had long surrounded the martial arts arena. The Khan of the seven tribes and most of the nobles had all been seated, and standing behind them were those warriors carefully selected from countless of fighters. They only hoped that these warriors would shine in thepetition and thus put some gold on their faces.

    There were still a few princes between Wanyan Su and Wanyan Ba. It was maybe because Wanyan Su was half-blooded, other princes didn¡¯t like to see this brother very much. They speak coldly. After knowing the ugly monster named Tuoba Wukui standing behind him was beaten up on the street by Wanyan Ba¡¯s warrior with a few strokes, they even looked more down upon Fourth Prince.

    Grand Khan came a littlete. He used to be a hero of the army, but he was now over 70, and the hair around his temples had already turned white. Even with the help of the maids, his steps seemed a bit staggering.

    ¡°Grand Khan.¡±

    Seeing Grand Khan entering the arena, everyone stood up. Qin Yunuan had been quietly waiting behind Wanyan Su. She could not see clear but could still hear Grand Khan¡¯s heavy footsteps and his weak breathing. Although he was old, he was seventy years old with a ny-year-old body. People like Grand Khan of North Di had always paid great attention to exercising and riding horses when young. He should not have such bad health. It took less than half a cup of tea for Qin Yunuan to conclude that Grand Khan must have been given the medicine that made his body weak and empty.

    Qin Yunuan moved her steps gently and heard a strong heartbeat immediately. Not to mention that this body was strong, it was terrifying that this person had deep internal strength and extraordinary skills. He followed Great Khan closely. He would be too powerful being a personal guard.

    ¡°Uncle.¡±

    Wanyan Su and those princes stood up. The strong inner strength Qin Yunuan felt was from no one else but the great Prince Regent that Yaqi mentioned about.

    Qin Yunuan turned to the side and felt Leng Changxi¡¯s right hand. He must have felt the same inner strength.

    Prince Regent was handsome, beaming and buoyant in spirits. He had the look of Grand Khan when he was young. As the youngest brother of Grand Khan, he was very much loved.

    But how could a high-ranking prince have such a powerful internal strength? Qin Yunuan frowned slightly, and the courtesy officer beside Grand Khan of North Di had announced the start of the contest.

    Thepeting order was based on the draw which the masters select for their warriors. Number one wouldpete with number two, number three with number four, and so on. Qin Yunuan listened to the sound of the bamboo sticks wing on the wall inside the bamboo tube. She knew that those sticks had already been tampered with. The corner of her mouth rose slightly as she heard the courtesy officer reporting the serial number.

    ¡°Number one, a warrior of Khan Bochaerji.¡±

 Chapter 237 The Sneaker

    <h4>Chapter 237 The Sneaker</h4>

    Qin Yunuan glimpsed at Bochaerji in the banquet. She could vaguely recognize this khan from the north prairie was a very tall man. By contrast, those warriors behind her were conspicuously lean.

    The warrior of Bochaerji strode onto the arena with his half drooping woolen sleeves tucked into his belt, which looked very capable and resolute.

    The ritual official continued to report the serial number, ¡°The second is the warrior rmended by Prince Regent.¡±

    Prince Regent smiled and seemed to be very courageous. And then he turned back to tell the warrior behind him, ¡°Maomu, Bochaerji Khan is your eldership. Don¡¯t hurt the follower of the khan when battling.¡±

    The words of Prince Regent dissatisfied Bochaerji immediately. Bochaerji said in a husky voice, ¡°It¡¯s absurd, Your Highness. You ordered your follower to surrender to my warrior. I feel insulted. This time, we battle without preserving our fighting capacity,¡± And then he said to the lean man in the arena, ¡°Try your best. I will support your old mother for her whole life if you get injured or disabled.¡±

    And then he bowed his fists to Prince Regent, ¡°Your Highness, with all your forces, please.¡±

    Prince Regent just smiled and observed the arena silently.

    Although the man called Maomu was a head shorter than the lean man of Bochaerji, he was agile and had firm strength of legs. His eyes were full of shrewdness and ferociousness. Qin Yunuan could not see them clearly but heard their strong heartbeats explicitly. Qin Yunuan had a better ability of listening recently.

    Suddenly a strong wind came. That was the legs sweeping of Maomu. All present here could see the brute forces of the warrior from North Di and the skills of close fighting and wrestling. When the two warriors were fighting, the man from Bochaerji suddenly straightened his legs and widened his eyes, and then foams outflowed from his mouth.

    The audience watching the battling around suddenly got panic. The Grand Khan from North Di dispatched people to check the warrior instantly. Bochaerji looked very worried, but Prince Regent looked so calm.

    Qin Yunuan smiled slightly. As expected, she heard the answer she wanted from the ritual official who came to check, ¡°My Grand Khan, the warrior of Bochaerji seems to be poisoned, judging by his blue coated tongue and dark face.¡±

    Poisoned?

    The Grand Khan of North Di frowned more heavily after he heard the answer. Wanyan Ba took the chance to sow discord, ¡°Who did that? How dare the person yed tricks near Grand Khan. Song Lian, you are good at the medical skill. Go to check what happened on earth.¡±

    And then Wanyan Su added leisurely, ¡°Brother, khan still sits in the feast. You may not respect Grand Khan since you gave orders so arbitrarily.¡± Wanyan Su implicated that since Wanyan Ba acted so arrogantly in front of Grand Khan, it seemed that he could not wait for the position of Grand Khan.

    Wanyan Ba was hesitant for a second, but the Grand Khan of North Di had nodded to agree what Wanyan Ba said just now. Wanyan Su could only tolerate the rolling eyes and contempt from Wanyan Ba, who was disying his strength and iparable glory.

    Wanyan Su felt upset in his heart but heard the caution from Leng Changxi, ¡°Your Highness, you should remember that the more glories the Grand Prince disy, the less time he could enjoy his glory.¡±

    Song Lian obeyed the order of Wanyan Ba to check clearly the condition of Bochaerji¡¯s warrior. Qin Yunuan could describe his injury condition without checking.

    ¡°The wound is in the nape of Bochaerji¡¯s warrior. It is a needle-sized aperture with ck cruor around, which smells fishy. It should be the poison from Tripterygium wilfordii. The poison was first smeared in the silver needle, and then the assant attacked the warrior when nobody saw him.¡±

    What Qin Yunuan guessed in her heart was identical to Song Lian¡¯s report.

    Qin Yunuan nodded and smiled. She could hear that the Grand Khan of North Di swatted the chair arm wrapped by tiger skin.

    ¡°Investigate who made the sneak attack. How dare the assant hurt my warrior of North Di.¡±

    Wanyan Ba took the chance to add, ¡°Yes, investigate if there are some traces of bow and crossbow ced around.¡± It was amon way among hordes from North Di¡¯s prairie to use bow and crossbow to shoot silver needle with poisons for hunting.

    Suddenly, an ice-cold voice came, ¡°the assant might not shoot distantly. Actually, it is more convenient to shoot more closely.¡±

    ¡°Who was the bber?¡± Wanyan Ba looked very fiery.

    Leng Changxi walked out but heard the overwhelmingugh from Wanyan Ba, ¡°It is you, a useless ugly monster. Who are you? You have no right to speak here. Have your master ever taught you that do not chip in casually as a flunkey?¡±

    Facing the personal abuse from Wanyan Ba, Leng Changxi looked rxed. He knew that, facing such kind of person, he should act calm so the person would be crazy. The crazier the person was, the more advantageous Leng Changxi could be.

    Wanyan Su said slightly seriously, ¡°Brother, I have said Young Master Tuoba is my respected guest, not a flunkey.¡±

    Wanyan Ba glimpsed at Wanyan Su arrogantly, ¡°Any difference?¡±

    Prince Regent asked with great interest, ¡°You are from Tuoba Family? What is your rtionship with the emperor of West Xia?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter of Tuoba Family?¡± Wanyan Ba raised his head and said scornfully.

    Prince Regent smiled softly, ¡°Your Higness, you may not know that Tuoba is a very ancient surname in West Xia. Originally it was the same branch with the imperial surname of West Xia, Jing. Butter, it was separated from the branch for some reason but was still the most respected surname in West Xia. There are only a few people whose surname is Tuoba. That¡¯s why I asked this Young Master Tuoba about his rtionship with West Xia.¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded and answered casually, ¡°No, it is just a very ordinary surname.¡±

    And then the Grand Khan of North Di continued, ¡°You said just now that the silver needle might not be shot in the distance, and it was more convenient to shoot it closely. You did not give us a detailed exnation. So what on earth do you mean?¡±

    Leng Changxi shrugged, ¡°I mean, it is so easy to shoot the silver needle closely.¡± And then he pointed at the warrior called Maomu rmended by Prince Regent, ¡°You can search him to check if there is a silver needle with him.¡±

    ¡°Ridiculous!¡± Wanyan Ba, who was always impulsive, stood up first, instead of Prince Regent, ¡°Maomu is a famous warrior of our North Di. He couldn¡¯t do such a dirty thing. I don¡¯t care you are from Tuoba Family or others. You have to be responsible for what you said just now.¡± And then he took up the golden machete at hand with a vivid snake carving, and then jumped to point the machete nose straight at Leng Changxi. He moved so quickly, which made people here frightened.

    The abrupt ferociousness almost suffocated people. Leng Changxi held his breath and used his six-sense to feel the move of Wanyan Ba. The moment Wanyan Ba almost poked the face of Leng Changxi, another strong strength was tangled with the ferociousness. Leng Changxi was about to withdraw his gesture of exerting power, and then he opened his eyes and found Prince Regent had appeared near him somehow.

    Prince Regent held the handle of a golden cup, and the mouth of the golden cup faced the machete nose of Wanyan Ba. He just used an ordinary cup to stop the ferociousness of Wanyan Ba. How unusual his skill was.

    Leng Changxi looked at Prince Regent silently. Prince Regent was so distant from Leng Changxi, but he could act so lightly and quickly, just like standing near Leng Changxi.

    ¡°Uncle.¡± Wanyan Ba was stunned and a little bit surprised.

    Prince Regent turned back to glimpsed at Wanyan Ba coldly, but then quickly turned to look at Leng Changxi with softer eyes.

    ¡°Ba is still young and a little bit impulsive. Please forgive him, my respected guess.¡±

    Wanyan Ba could not understand why his uncle with supremacy treated such an unimpressive ugly monster so politely.

    Leng Changxi turned back calmly and just looked at the actionless warrior from Bochaerji and Maomu from Prince Regent, ¡°I am just a countryside boor. Don¡¯t be so polite to me, my prince. If you really want to know the truth, you can dispatch people to check the warrior called Maomu to figure out if there is a silver needle.¡±

    Wanyan Ba was about to rebuke but only saw Prince Regent raised his arm, which was an indication of the agreement for searching.

    After a while, the soldier for searching reported the conclusion.

    ¡°Your Higness, a ma with a silver needle, was found in the belt of Maomu.¡±

    Prince Regent frowned slightly, ¡°Take it here.¡±

    A tray was presented at once where an index-finger long and embroidery-needle sized silver needle was put down. The top of the needle was ck. The Grand Khan of North Di just glimpsed at it and seemed to be very exhausted.

    Song Lian checked the poison on the needle and nodded, ¡°There is poison on the needle, and it is Tripterygium wilfordii.¡±

    He felt the threatening eyes from Wanyan Ba immediately after he said those words, ¡°Song Lian, you are such a man from Qi. You should be cautious about your words.¡±

    Bochaerji sneered, ¡°Just ignore his warning. Mr. Song, say what you want to say. Prince Regent, your warrior assassinated my follower. This time, how do you handle this?¡±

    Prince Regent looked at Maomu coldly and seemed not to help him. Maomu felt feeble and had already knelt to beg for the forgiveness of Prince Regent. He said he had done nothing, but now there wereplete human testimony and material evidence.

    Bochaerji Khan was a man with good sense. He said straightly, ¡°A warrior winning by sneak attack won¡¯t live in this world with dignity.¡±

    Prince Regent agreed and nodded. He threw a cold dagger to Maomu, ¡°So Maomu, you just suicide.¡±

    Maomu dared notmit suicide. It was ominous to suicide in front of the emperor of Qi, but the thing was different in North Di. The Grand Khan of North Di had once killed his traitor minister in the imperial court. Having seen the shuddering Maomu, Leng Changxi suddenly stepped forward, ¡°Since this warrior dared not to suicide, let me help the prince to kill him.¡± And then he pinched the dagger handle wrapped by a piece of ck cloth and poked Maomu at the ce of three inches below his rib.

    ¡°How dare you!¡± With a roar of Wanyan Ba, blood spurted from the waist of Maomu. Leng Changxi raised his head and loosened the dagger in his hand. He looked at Wanyan Ba coldly and said aggressively, ¡°Your Highness, why are you so nervous? I just killed this traitor who yed dirty attacks, following the order of the prince.¡±

 Chapter 238 The Battered-Body Trick

    <h4>Chapter 238 The Battered-Body Trick</h4>

    Wanyan Ba withdrew his ring eyes immediately and glimpsed at Leng Changxi disdainfully, ¡°I just disdain a dog barks under the protection of its master.¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled and said nothing. Looking at Maomu on the ground in the bloody woolen gown, he did not sympathize with the man at all. He turned and went back behind Wanyan Su. The Grand Khan of North Di noticed this ugly butpetent stranger, and then he said to Wanyan Su, ¡°The respected guest beside you has excellent eyesight. He even could find such a small silver needle in the waist of Maomu.¡±

    What the Grand Khan said was not only praise and also a tentative to Leng Changxi. Wanyan Su gave a respectful salute to Grand Khan of North Di, ¡°Young Master Tuoba has some extraordinary capacities, indeed.¡±

    Prince Regent glimpsed at the bloody Maomu and then ordered people to drag him away. Maomu had worked for Prince Regent for over two years, who got a great reputation by many contests. It cost a whole life of a hero to gain his fame but only a while for him to be ruined. Now Maomu lost his life and fame. Prince Regent urged to get rid of Maomu because he just wanted to keep himself clear.

    ¡°It seems to be disappointing today,¡± Prince Regentughed, but Qin Yunuan could feel clearly his uneasiness by the rapid pulse, ¡°Brother, you look a little bit tired, and you need to have a rest. Shall we postpone the contest?¡±

    The Grand Khan of North Di nodded. Those servants had entirely cleaned the arena. The audience had never thought such an end. Prince Regent knew well how tofort people. They had dispatched people to exin to the ordinary people early.

    Qin Yunuan, covered by a filmy white veil, saw that the followers of Prince Regent were persuading thosemon people not to be so urgent. She thought something. It could be concluded that Prince Regent and the Grand Prince were in the same group, and at least they did not oppose each other, judging by the Grand Prince¡¯s aid for Prince Regent. Compared with Grand Prince, who was very reckless and impatient, Prince Regent gained not only the trust of Grand Khan of North Di, but also the trust of his followers and ordinary people.

    Prince Regent was the one who was more terrible than the Grand Prince. What was awful was that Prince Regent had never shown that he was eager and ambitious to gain the position of the emperor, which made the ordinary people and Grand Khan of North Di believe in him more.

    The most trusted man might not be the man with the least ambition. He might hide himself deeply. Qin Yunuan knew this clearly.

    Many people left the feast. Prince Regent arranged considerate singing and dancing show at the arena. The wild singing and dancing of North Di did not attract Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi. Quickly, there was only Wanyan Su in his seats who was drinking koumiss alone.

    At a nook, four servants of North Di were wrapping an adult man by a piece of old cowhide quickly. There was already a big hole near the corpse. They threw the man into the hole and filled in soil. In the end, they treaded the ground to tamp the hole. The four people should leave quickly as usual, but they were reluctant to go in front of the simple grave. They left until they paid the respects to the buried man ording to the tradition of North Di.

    The moment the four people left, several men in ck jumped from the wall. They targeted this corpse.

    ...

    The dim light made people sleepy. The waist of a man on the bed was wrapped by white gauze. He had been sleeping and seemed not to wake up anymore.

    The room had its back to the sun and was a little bit damp. The door was opened, and a woman in ck cloak approached slowly. She glimpsed at the man on the bed coldly and frowned. And then she just said to the man sideways who entered the room together with her, ¡°Ssh water to wake him up.¡±

    A barrel of cold water was sshed to the man, drenching the clothes and white gauze of the man on the bed. The cold stimtion of the wound made the man sit up, and the man¡¯s face was exposed to the orange sunset. He was Maomu who was killed by Leng Changxi publicly.

    ¡°You are awake finally.¡± The woman in a cloak took off her hat, which covered her face. A candlestick with a light on was taken into the room.

    Maomu on the bed looked at the man behind the woman in surprise. He said, ¡°You are from Bochaerji. I remember you have been poisoned.¡±

    Qin Yunuan took off the cloak and sat down with a smile. She poured a cup of tea, ¡°Warrior Maomu, you should have been dead now originally.¡±

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Maomu looked at Qin Yunuan doubtfully, ¡°Was it you who saved me?¡± And then he denied his guess, ¡°No. I remember you are from the Fourth Prince. It was the ugly monster beside the Fourth Prince who poked me by a dagger. You are from his group. Who on earth are you?¡±

    Qin Yunuan sipped the tea. Cool tea made her eyes clearer, ¡°I was the woman who framed you, and the woman who killed you, but the woman who saved you.¡±

    Maomu suddenly understood. That was a circle designed early, and he was just the one utilized in those tricks.

    Qin Yunuan decided to tell the truth. She took out the silver needle in her waist, which was identical to the one in the waist of Maomu, ¡°You did not assassinate the warrior of Bochaerji. His wound was made by the people I dispatched. The poison of Tripterygium wilfordii was just smeared on the surface of his wound. Song Lian did not think that the inside of the wound was not poisoned when he was checking. Warriors always carry mas in their waists for their safety. He just hid the silver needle on the ma in his waist. The silver needle would be attracted by the bigger ma in your waist when you two were battling. And as for your wound...¡±

    Qi Yunuan glimpsed at Maomu, ¡°Don¡¯t you know that the ce of three inches below of the rip would cause much bleeding but no life threat?¡±

    ¡°Why did you do that?¡± Maomu would rush to tear Qin Yunuan up if he was OK. Howe this woman made fun of her?

    ¡°Because we need you.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled. Her smile seemed to make sure that Maomu would not act easily, ¡°But I should not expose our rtionship. So you should be dead once, and by the way, I could check more details about Prince Regent. Judging by his reactionster, I think he is a nice prince and a good rival.¡±

    Maomu sneered, ¡°The prince is the most powerful man. In North Di, nobody dares to irritate the prince. He loves his people in this country, and he is very sincere and kindly...¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t say those words that you even don¡¯t believe,¡± Qin Yunuan glimpsed at Maomu disdainfully, ¡°If he loved his people really, why would he have poisoned you?¡±

    Maomu felt so astonished and then distracted the topic, ¡°You have not told you who you are. You are the person dispatched by the Fourth Prince, so was it he who dispatched you to loot me?¡±

    Facing the outrageous Maomu, Qin Yunuan just smiled slightly. Her smiled was like a tranquil seven-color flower in the middle of a desert, which made people quiet. But for Maomu, her smile was a bigger provocation.

    Maomu looked at Qin Yunuan, gritting his teeth. With the pain of the open wounds, he suddenly jumped up from the bed, and then reached his hands and was about to drag the neck of Qin Yunuan. The guards for protecting Qin Yunuan had withdrawn, so now there was only one feeble woman in this room. For Maomu, it was the best chance to strike her, but he was stopped by hands from the dark suddenly.

    The strong hand pinched the right hand of Maomu heavily. Maomu¡¯s thick wrist was like a toothpick, which was easy to be broken,pared with the arm. In the dark, a man with an ironic mask walked out. Maomu recognized that he was the ugly monster beside the Fourth Prince.

    ¡°You guys!¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled quietly. She had never worried about her safety when Leng Changxi was protecting her closely.

    ¡°I have told you that you have been poisoned for about three to four years. You have met with Prince Regent for about three to four years too.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s words were exact, but Maomu was still stubborn, ¡°Prince can¡¯t hurt me.¡±

    ¡°You do not believe my words. But if the mostpetent poison-maker told you the truth, would you believe?¡±

    Maomu was a little bit stunned. Qin Yunuan had turned back to introduce another person. The man was in Central ins dress but had the facial features in North Di, deep eyeholes and tall nose, which made her handsome face more charming.

    The man was very elegant. One who had worked for Qin Yunuan for a long time seemed to gain some calm and unique characteristics of thedy.

    ¡°I am Lu Wuyi.¡±

    Lu Wuyi, the first inheritor of Lu Family, was good at detoxification and poison-utilization. His high medical skills had been well known by all countries.

    Qin Yunuan smiled at Lu Wuyi. After Lu Wuyi escaped from Third Prince Sima Ray, he took the silk bag given by Qin Yunuan and went to the east of the city and found Yuanyang sessfully who was an ordinary person now. After Yuanyang went to Qingzhou with themander¡¯s seal in the silk bag by herself, Lu Wuyi stayed at the courtyard to take care of injured Maner and Ting Xue for a time. When the two people were healed, Sima Ray had controlled the Royal Citypletely. He knew that he should not stay in the city any longer and then went to North Di because he had some life experience in North Di from his study tour before. The moment he came to North Di, he received the invitation from the Fourth Prince of North Di, Wanyan Su.

    He was curious that he had no acquaintance with the prince of North Di. Later he knew that Qin Yunuan had been out of the woods. People in the Royal City believed the First General in Qi, Leng Changxi, and his wife Qin Yunuan had died in the fire.

    The reason why Lu Wuyi decided to help Qin Yunuan was the magical treasure Qin Yunuan mentioned. He was not eager to be rich, but he agreed to help Qin Yunuan after he knew that the treasure could help him go back to Qi, and he could kill Sima Ray to revenge for his respected master Su Chenghai. He tried his best to detoxify the warrior from North Di, Maomu, because this man was the key to find the treasure.

 Chapter 239 The Dead Menâ€™s Valley

    <h4>Chapter 239 The Dead Men¡¯s Valley</h4>

    Looking at Maomu who was cautious and shocked at the same time, Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t say anything. However, her faint smile was already threatening. Leng Changxi walked out from the dark and guarded by Qin Yunuan¡¯s side. He looked at Maomu and said, ¡°Prince Regent poisoned you. Even if I don¡¯t hurt you in the rings, you¡¯ll die sooner orter, in an unpleasant manner. So, after all, we actually saved you.¡±

    Maomu was talking with a heavy North Di ent. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for your help.¡±

    ¡°Oh, in that case,¡± Leng Changxi turned around and looked at Lu Wuyi, ¡°Doctor Lu, is there a way to put the poison back?¡±

    Lu Wuyi arched his hands and said seriously, ¡°It dies as soon as it leaves human body.¡± Maomu was immediately relieved, but Lu Wuyi continued, ¡°But I can put in a more powerful one. It goes around human¡¯s arteries on nights of full moon, and it eats human flesh until it breaks free from the skin.¡±

    Maomu trembled, ¡°What do you want me to do?¡±

    Leng Changxi turned his head away and said, ¡°I heard that you¡¯re the only one who walked out of Yeren Valley alive in the past decade. I need you to be my guide.¡±

    As soon as Leng Changxi mentioned the words Yeren Valley, Maomu looked extremely terrified. His pupils seemed to have erged immediately, as if he already saw the deadly snakes and traps in the wild. He felt that these people in front of him must be insane to fake his death just for getting into that haunted ce.

    ¡°You¡¯re insane.¡± Maomu voice was shaky. ¡°You¡¯re going to the Yeren Valley? It¡¯s cursed. No one can walk out from there alive, no one.¡±

    ¡°What about you?¡± Leng Changxi asked directly.

    ¡°You have no clue. You¡¯ll never know how terrifying that ce is.¡± Maomu¡¯s limbs started trembling too. ¡°There were twenty-four of us. We received orders from the Prince to find an herb which could cure the Princess¡¯ illness. However, one day morning, I woke up in my tent to find that everyone else was missing. I found them about a mile from the camp. To be precise, I found their bodies.¡±

    Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi stunned, as Maomu sorrowfully covered his face with his palms. ¡°The devils had taken their organs and hanged them to the trees. I saw their bloody bodies. I wished to have died together with them at the moment. I didn¡¯t understand why I was left alive. I wanted to carry their bodies out with me, but my hands were like on fire as soon as I touched the bodies. I seemed to hear the devils¡¯ugh as well. The only thing I could do was to return to the camp and brought along everything that I could make use of. It took us only three days to enter the valley, but half a month for me toe out. The elderly said that I must have gone round in circles. It¡¯s the devils¡¯ revenge as I had offended them.¡±

    After Maomu was finished, even Qin Yunuan got goose bumps because of fear. She seemed to be terrified of the haunted valley that Maomu described. However, Leng Changxi looked calm. He approached Maomu and looked him in the eyes.

    ¡°You are lying.¡± Leng Changxi didn¡¯t believe in Maomu¡¯s stories.

    ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Maomu argued, ¡°They all died. You have no idea how sad I was.¡±

    ¡°But you¡¯re lying.¡±

    ¡°This is not only an insult to me, but also mypanions who went searching the herb for the princess.¡± Maomu stood up. He was as tall as Leng Changxi, so he could look at Leng Changxi from the same height.

    ¡°Then, did the princess die?¡±

    Maomu lowered his head and said, ¡°No.¡±

    Leng Changxi sneered, so Maomu immediately added, ¡°That¡¯s because a famous doctor came to the Manson and cured the princess.¡±

    ¡°I know who that doctor was.¡± Qin Yunuan said. ¡°He happened to stay at my ce before. I heard him talk about his experiences in North Di. He said that the princess just got a severe cold. There¡¯s no need at all to search for an herb especially for her.¡±

    Maomu continued to exin himself, ¡°That¡¯s because the Prince loved the Princess too much, so he was anxious.¡±

    Leng Changxi sneered, ¡°Then let me ask you this. Did yourpanions really die because of the ¡°devils¡±?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± Maomu looked at Leng Changxi with the corner of his eyes and said, ¡°You West Xia people don¡¯t even know how to respect the spirits.¡± Leng Changxi alleged that his surname was Tuoba. Together with Prince Regent¡¯s words, it seemed that everyone just assumed that Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan were from West Xia.

    Leng Changxi sneered and suddenly took out a de from his waist. The de seemed to reflect Maomu¡¯s fear clearly.

    Maomu was stunned and took a step back, ¡°What do you want?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll ask you one more time.¡± Leng Changxi said as he pointed the de towards Maomu¡¯s chest. ¡°Did the devils take yourpanions¡¯ hearts, or something more terrifying than the devils?¡±

    Maomu¡¯s mouth twitched and he didn¡¯t dare to move a finger, as if he was frozen.

    Leng Changxi was like a mind-reader. The ups and downs in his life made him able to read the tiniest changes in people¡¯s expressions. He was testing Maomu before, but now he was sure about it. ¡°I think that you¡¯re the one who killed yourpanions, not the devils. Also, you didn¡¯t go to seek the herb for the princess. What are you looking for then? Treasure?¡±

    Maomu trembled, and Leng Changxi knew that he was right. Even though the treasure was a secret of Qi, the four major families had either scattered or lost power after all these years, and it was likely that the secret had been exposed. He had seen what the Prince Regent was capable of earlier. It was reasonable that he knew about it.

    Leng Changxi continued, ¡°If you¡¯re not saying anything, then I will continue to guess. You must have gone deep into the valley. Just when you thought that the treasure was very close, there was some disagreement between you. Maybe part of you was loyal to the Prince Regent all along, while the other part wanted to take the treasure as your own. I guess that there was a conflict between you, and you¡¯re the only one left. In order to cover up your crimes, and to avoid the Prince to send more people into the valley, which might probably find traces of the conflict, you made up a terrifying story to scare off the people who wanted to enter the valley. The Yeren Valley was naturally a dangerous ce. With your story, no one would want to head there anymore.¡±

    Maomu grinned, ¡°Then guess whether I¡¯m supportive of the Prince or against the prince?¡±

    To be fair, since Maomu returned to the Prince¡¯s mansion and worked humbly for Prince Regent for all this time, he should be loyal to the Prince. However, Leng Changxi didn¡¯t think so.

    ¡°I guess you¡¯re the leader of the rebels. You only want to gather more information by returning to the Prince¡¯s mansion. Even though you entered the valley back then, you didn¡¯t actually find the treasure. In fact, you have the same purpose as we do, hiding in the Prince¡¯s mansion for all these years.¡±

    Maomu didn¡¯t respond. Leng Changxi held Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand and was about to leave. He only turned back and said, ¡°You¡¯re a dead man to the outside world anyway. To be fair, I can¡¯t think of any other choices you have other than cooperating with us. Think about it. It¡¯s merely my suggestion. Just a suggestion!¡±

    He said that it was a suggestion, but Leng Changxi had opted out all other choices for Maomu. The sun was set already and hanging on the mountain like a fully ripe mandarin. Qin Yunuan¡¯s coat was keeping her warm at the moment. She wrapped the coat around herself. It was like this in North Di. It could be hot in the daytime, but really chilly after the sun was set.

    Seeing Qin Yunuan shivering, Leng Changxi took off his own coat and covered it up for Qin Yunuan, while wearing a thin shirt himself.

    ¡°Changxi?¡± Qin Yunuan blinked, looking at Leng Changxi.

    Leng Changxi only held Qin Yunuan tighter, and said gently, ¡°I¡¯m no longer the general of Qi. I can¡¯t give you good food and nice dress anymore. All I could do is to hold you tight when you¡¯re feeling cold.¡±

    Leng Changxi wanted to say more, but he was interrupted by someone.

    ¡°Mister Tuoba, the Prince would like to see you.¡±

    It was the guard of the Prince Regent. Normally speaking, the fight should have ended, but it was not like a calligraphy contest. It was reasonable for contestants who have simr strength with each other to fight for hours. Hence, after the incident of Maomu and Bochaerji¡¯s warrior, followed by a short break, the number three and number four contestants fought for the whole afternoon without a result. They had agreed to rematch tomorrow. Now was the time when the audience left for their own homes.

    If Leng Changxi was right, the number four warrior was Leng Wu. He had no idea who this number three was that he could actually fight Leng Wu for so many rounds. Apparently, there were masters everywhere, and he couldn¡¯t be too rxed.

    Leng Changxi looked at the guard who came to invite him. He was tall and strong. His eyes were bright. Leng Changxi became more cautious and said, ¡°The fourth Prince was still waiting for me. To be frank, I didn¡¯t know the Prince Regent before, and it was at times during the martial arts contest. In order to avoid misunderstandings, if the Prince Regent wants to see me, he could send someone to the fourth Prince¡¯s mansion and notice them.¡± Leng Changxi was being very humble, as if he really cared of what Wanyan Su thought.

    The guard was a bit embarrassed. Leng Changxi held Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand and was about to leave, as a carriage stopped slowly in front of him. There were golden-eagle patterns engraved on the carriage. The carriages of North Di were quite different from that of Qi. The carriages were exposed with only a top on it, from which hung white curtains. From the outside, the people in the carriage could be slightly seen.

    Leng Changxi narrowed his pupils, and his nce fell on the man in the carriage, who was wearing an official outfit of North Di. It was no one else but the Prince Regent.

 Chapter 240 A Well-Planned Temptation

    <h4>Chapter 240 A Well-nned Temptation</h4>

    Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan remained still. The Prince Regent opened the curtain for a slip, as if he was making a gesture, or that he was testing them.

    Leng Changxi slightly bowed, sort of saluting to the Prince Regent.

    ¡°Mister Tuoba is such a busy man.¡± Prince Regent said as he dismounted the carriage along the wooden stairs. Looking closer, he seemed decent and well-educated, unlike the naturally aggressive North Di people. The Prince Regent approached with a kind smile on his face, ¡°However, I havee to invite you in person. I¡¯m just nning to have a short gathering with you at the restaurant, please don¡¯t reject me.¡± After saying that, the Prince Regent politely turned to Qin Yunuan and said, ¡°It would be best if Mrs. Tuoba could join us as well.¡±

    The Prince Regent hade in person. Leng Changxi was afraid that he would get into trouble if he rejected this. While he remained silent, the Prince Regent had ordered his men to bring another carriage. The Prince Regent gestured towards the carriage and invited them to mount it. Even though the sun was set, there were many pedestrians on the streets, so it was unlikely for the Prince Regent to do anything bad to them right here.

    Leng Changxi held Qin Yunuan¡¯s hands and boarded the carriage. Comparing to Wanyan Ba, the Prince Regent¡¯s carriage was low-key but delicate. The seemingly normal ck handle was actually carved and polished with dozens of different skills. It was well polished and had an extremelyfortable touch.

    It was apparent that the Prince Regent was a person with nice taste. The location he chose was a ssic and delicate restaurant. It was not easy to find such a restaurant in North Di. Sure enough, the owner of the restaurant was ady from Qi. She looked familiar with the Prince Regent, as she greeted him warmly as soon as she saw him. However, when Leng Changxi saw thedy, his expressions froze.

    Thedy whom the Prince Regent referred to as the ¡°Lady Thirteen¡± looked exactly the same as Ren Sanniang in the Ghost City. Even though Leng Changxi was utterly shocked, he appeared to be calm on the surface. After all, he didn¡¯t know the real identity of ¡°Lady Thirteen¡±. Besides, he was wearing a human skin mask now. Even if his alleged surname was still Tuoba, he was no longer the handsome Mister Tuoba in the Ghost City.

    ¡°Your Highness, I¡¯ve saved your favorite seat for you. This way, please.¡± Lady Thirteen treated them naturally, and her look at Leng Changxi was no different from other guests.

    Prince Regent tilted his head and stopped her, ¡°It¡¯s unnecessary. I¡¯m treating my guests today, so my usual position is too small. Please lead me to one of the rooms. As for the dishes,¡± Prince Regent took a meaningful guess towards Leng Changxi and said, ¡°Serve us with some of the Central ins dishes that you¡¯re good at. The Glutinous Rice Ballsst time was quite nice.¡±

    After saying that, Prince Regent looked at Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan and asked, ¡°What do you want to eat?¡±

    Qin Yunuan quietly said, ¡°It seems that Prince likes the dishes of Qi too.¡±

    Prince Regent held the teacup on the desk and took a sip, ¡°I¡¯m just trying to please my guests.¡±

    There was a moment of silence. Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t believe that the Prince Regent knew about their identity already, that they were from Qi. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t tempt them with such an untruthful treat. Her tone remained calm, ¡°I do miss the naan from West Xia though.¡±

    Prince Regent smiled and ordered some naan for Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan.

    The dishes were all served, but the Prince Regent wasn¡¯t in a rush to eat them. He merely smiled towards Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan, ¡°No worries, I¡¯m still waiting for someone.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stunned. It seemed that this someone was the most important factor of today.

    Steady footsteps came from the stairs. Apparently, it was a military man judging from the sound of the footsteps. The curtains in front of the door were lifted, and the Prince Regent stood up as soon as he saw the person by the door.

    ¡°General Shang, thank you foring.¡±

    Leng Changxi turned his head and looked toward the man. It was Shang Xianhua¡¯s son, Shang Lindong.

    Shang Lindong was wearing military clothing at the moment, with a silver armor on the outside. The red decoration on his helmet was very eye-catching, and he looked just like Shang Xianhua back in the years. However, everyone knew that Shang Xianhua was dead. What was more terrible was the fact that Qin Yunuan had attended the wedding of Shang Chunman and Leng Wu, so Shang Lindong recognized her.

    Even though she covered her eyes with veil, Qin Yunuan had no other cover-ups other than putting up a West Xia ent and the West Xia clothing she wore. Seeing Shang Lindong getting closer, Qin Yunuan felt like the air around her exhausting. The suffocating anxiety made her face pale. She didn¡¯t know the stance of Shang Lindong yet, but he was not affected at all after Shang Xianhua died, and was promoted as the general of the borders instead. It proved his loyalty towards Sima Ray.

    Leng Changxi had already put his hand next to the de hidden by his waist. He was waiting for Shang Lindong to expose them before he fought for his life.

    Shang Lindong walked towards them. Looking at Qin Yunuan, who was pretending to be calm, he suddenly said, ¡°This madam here is looking nervous.¡±

    He actually didn¡¯t expose Qin Yunuan immediately. Qin Yunuan was assured. Since he didn¡¯t expose them immediately, he wouldn¡¯t say anything else to the Prince Regent then.

    Prince Regent closely observed the interaction between the three, and suddenly started introducing, ¡°This is General Shang of Qi. Now he is guarding the Yumen Fort between Qi and North Di. He is from a military family. His father Shang Xianhua sacrificed his life for his country. He was a hero.¡±

    ¡°Is he?¡± Leng Changxi asked inly, ¡°A hero?¡±

    Shang Lindong had no expression, as if he just heard a story that waspletely unrted to him.

    The Prince Regent smiled and introduced for Shang Lindong, ¡°These two are Mister and Missus Tuoba from West Xia. Do they look familiar to you, General Shang?¡±

    Shang Lindong took a quick nce at Qin Yunuan and said, ¡°No.¡± Then he added, ¡°I haven¡¯t even heard of them.¡±

    ¡°Oh, in this case,¡± Prince Regent stretched his neck and asked, ¡°What about the n I¡¯ve told youst time, General Shang?¡±

    Shang Lindong¡¯s tone was still cold, ¡°I haven¡¯t considered that yet.¡±

    Prince Regent¡¯s expression froze, ¡°What do you mean, General Shang?¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t consider any n that¡¯s harmful to Qi.¡± Shang Lindong was determined.

    ¡°Why would General Shang...¡±

    ¡°The Qi food in North Di is not as good as that in Qi after all.¡± Shang Lindong got up from the table, leaving the Prince Regent embarrassed. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else Prince wants to tell me, I¡¯m leaving.¡±

    He was just a general at the borders, yet he dared offending the Prince of North Di. Looking at Shang Lindong leaving, the guard of the Prince Regent couldn¡¯t help but made hisment, ¡°Your Highness, should I teach that general a lesson? You were so kind to offer him money and power, yet he pretended to be noble in front of you and rejected your kindness. How could you bear him like that, Your Highness?¡±

    ¡°Why can¡¯t I bear him?¡± The Prince Regent said as he looked at Leng Changxi with the corner of his eyes. ¡°Some people could bear pretending to be ugly and unpleasant people in order to hide themselves forter sess. General Shang was just an ungrateful animal, why should I be angry? Am I right, Mister Tuoba?¡±

    Leng Changxi raised his nce. There was a piece of delicious beef on his fork. He quietly put the beef into his mouth and chewed it slowly, ¡°This General Shang was special. However, special people usually die early.¡±

    After the banquet, Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan left early. Prince Regent was still sipping the pear vored horse milk wine in the room. Looking at the shadows of Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan leaving, he ordered his men, ¡°Keep watch on that General Shang closely. If Mister Tuoba is really the one Qi¡¯s looking for, they¡¯ll definitely meet in private.¡±

    As they returned to the Fourth Prince Mansion, Concubine Yasu was waiting by the door. Seeing Qin Yunuaning back, she immediately went forward to her.

    Avoiding Leng Changxi with a cold nce, Yasu pulled Qin Yunuan aside and said, ¡°Something was wrong. After the Fourth Prince knew that I helped you to contact the warrior of Bochaerji to frame Maomu with a silver needle, he was mad to me as soon as he came back. He said that I was unsound and that I made Grand Khan¡¯s illness worse.¡±

    ¡°How did he find out?¡±

    Yasu shrunk her neck and avoided Qin Yunuan¡¯s nce, ¡°He saw my letters to my father. It was an ident, really. I was too tired, so I fell asleep on the desk when he came into my room. I didn¡¯t put my letters away.¡±

    ¡°Grand Khan Bochaerji knows too?¡± Qin Yunuan was speechless of Yasu¡¯s behavior.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Yasu felt innocent. ¡°The warrior was my father¡¯s man. Women have no power in the North Di families. If I didn¡¯t beg my father, the warrior wouldn¡¯t even listen to me.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Qin Yunuan tried to calm Yasu down, as well as herself. ¡°Grand Khan¡¯s illness wasn¡¯t because of anger, but...¡± After saying this, Qin Yunuan paused abruptly. For a simple woman like Yasu, it was bad for her to know that the Grand Khan of North Di was poisoned.

    Yasu was still talking to Qin Yunuan, while Fourth Prince had sent someone to invite Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan over.

    ¡°Yasu, I had to tell you that there¡¯s something that you can¡¯t let others know too much about. I know that you trust your father a lot, but for my husband and me, we only trust ourselves.¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s words made Yasu afraid. But then, Qin Yunuan added, ¡°Don¡¯t think that I¡¯m trying to scare you. Princess Saichun ended up like that all because she trusted people too easily.¡±

    Fourth Prince had his own martial arts training field in his mansion so that the Fourth Prince and his warriors could train themselves. The servant girl who came to invite them said that the Fourth Prince was waiting for them at the training field. Qin Yunuan was walking with Leng Changxi, and they heard the sound of spears waving steps away from the training field.

    Fourth Prince wasn¡¯t wearing a shirt, exposing his fine muscles and figure, with drops of sweat adding to his manly charisma. He seemed to notice Leng Changxi¡¯s arrival, but his first reaction was to throw his spear towards Leng Changxi¡¯s direction. It seemed that he wanted to take Leng Changxi¡¯s life.

 Chapter 241 Fiend in the Dream

    <h4>Chapter 241 Fiend in the Dream</h4>

    The spear was as fast as a meteor with such momentum that made it look like a rainbow. Leng Changxi turned over and leaped into the air, hands grabbing downwards. The momentum of the spear made him take a step back, but it didn¡¯t stop him from standing still. With the spear in hand, Leng Changxi wouldn¡¯t ept the result as he turned the spear and threw it towards Wanyan Su, Fourth Prince. The spear had ripped into the pir with its entire sharp, which was a fist away from Wanyan Su.

    Wanyan Su looked solemn. Droplets of sweat all over his body seemed to curdle at once, ¡°Are you aware of the situation you¡¯re facing now?¡±

    Despite knowing the answer, Leng Changxi asked, ¡°What kind of situation?¡±

    Wanyan Su threw his bracer hard onto the ground and turned his head to the other side, ¡°I¡¯ve only heard that when Grand Khan came back yesterday, he had a nightmare that the crown prince of North Di would be killed by an ugly monster. Now all the officials are suspecting you. General of Qi, if you go to meet Prince Regent at this very moment, you will certainly be criticized.¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t it be Prince Regent to worry more about the present situation? Paramount and powerful as he is, he has the right topete for the crown from the beginning because he is Grand Khan¡¯s brother. What¡¯s more, it was he who invited me in the afternoon. The one being criticized more should be him, not me.¡±

    The way Wanyan Su stared at Leng Changxi was like watching a monster, ¡°Are you intentional? Did you n all of this?¡± Then he denied his own conclusion quickly, ¡°Impossible. How can you control other¡¯s dreams? It¡¯s impossible.¡±

    Leng Changxi said slowly, ¡°Now that there is the medicine which can control people¡¯s mind and make them obey orders, why can¡¯t I enter other¡¯s dreams?¡±

    ¡°You...¡±

    Leng Changxi sighed and made it straightforward, ¡°However, I¡¯m wrong about one thing.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Grand Khan of North Di has been given slow poison, causing him to feel tired and drained andck of good sleep every day. I wanted to take the opportunity to appear to him when he was mind-clouded by using the smoke, making him think it a dream. My only goal is to ask him to lift the blockade of Yeren Valley so that it will be easier for us to enter it. However, things didn¡¯t happen as I wish. His focus was on my face instead of what I said. What¡¯s more, I have enough reason to assume that he is conscious now.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°It is quite possible that Grand Khan has known that he is poisoned, but he cannot detoxify himselfpletely. What he can do is no more than to ease it. He has cast doubts on me after seeing me in thepetition arena today. All the words I said to him when he was hair asleep at nap time failed to make him believe. Rather, he begins to suspect that I¡¯m the one who uses the poison to control him.¡±

    Wanyan Su¡¯s heart had immediately cooled down by half a degree. Now that Leng Changxi was living in the mansion of Fourth Prince, he was afraid that it would cause trouble for him.

    ¡°But it was merely struggle of the trapped beast.¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s calm analysis made Wanyan Su unhappy.

    ¡°Nonsense! Grand Khan is strong and healthy now. There won¡¯t be any problem even if he reigns for another twenty years.¡±

    Leng Changxi sneered, ¡°Your Higness, you¡¯re loyal to Grand Khan, but others may not be all like you. What¡¯s even worse, others may try to convince Grand Khan that the first one to betray him is nobody else but you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all because of you,¡± Wanyan Su hit Leng Changxi in the face with his fist, ¡°It¡¯s you who have muddied the issue.¡±

    Leng Changxi clenched Wanyan Su¡¯s fist and warned coldly, ¡°Your Highness, if you ever want to get out of the trap, or to seize what you desire most, you¡¯d better cooperate with me.¡±

    ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Wanyan Su seemed to lose his patience, ¡°General of Qi, I¡¯m telling you, losing trade routes and crops may be troublesome to me, but it won¡¯t kill me. I don¡¯t want to take such a great risk for a stranger like you.¡±

    ¡°Your Highness, just trust me,¡± Leng Changxi looked quite confident, ¡°All depends on the secondpetition tomorrow.¡±

    The next day, the sky that used to be clear suddenly turned dark. Even the wind was blowing with coldness. The gs in thepetition arena were waving crazily. Dark clouds are scudding across the sky from a distance as if implying an oing downpour. In North Di, a downpour was really rare, but it couldn¡¯t affect all people¡¯s passion to watch the game and the fight between the two warriors.

    The twopetitors were still the number three warrior and the number four one who hadn¡¯t battle it out yet yesterday. The number four one was Leng Wu wearing the close-fitting armor with tiger stripes, whose equipment and weapons were much better than yesterday. It seemed that thepetition yesterday made Wanyan Ba, the Grand Prince, value Leng Wu a lot. After all, the number three warrior was the winner of two sessivepetitions. Having fought with him for such a long time and broken even in the end was enough to prove Leng Wu¡¯s ability.

    This time, the Grand Prince chose two warriors to take part in thepetition. He used to put his hope on the other warrior who was born and grew up in North Di. However, Leng Wu¡¯s appearance made him wild with joy. As soon as thepetition began, Wanyan Ba said bluntly on his seat.

    ¡°Warrior Chang Wu, if you can win your opponent, I¡¯ll give you a big house, eighteen beauties and countless delicious wine and dishes.¡±

    Chang Wu looked back and imitated the way warriors of North Di used to greet each other. He made a fist, put it near his heart, and lowered his head as an answer. However, when he lifted his head, he nced at Leng Changxi in a casual way. He knew who his real master was from the very beginning to the end.

    Thepetition had begun. Unlike the close race yesterday, this time number three warrior gave rather violent attacks while Chang Wu repeatedly retreated. Wanyan Ba¡¯s look was getting much unhappier. For several times, it seemed that he was going to stand up and attend the fight himself. Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi stood far away on the seats opposite to Wanyan Ba to watch his reaction. They also saw the reaction of other princes.

    Qin Yunuan hadn¡¯t been able to see ces too far away from her yet. She could only hear Leng Changxi¡¯s whisper to her ears, ¡°Second Prince is lean and thin. Every time Wanyan Ba gets angry, he always tolerates and caters to him. However, he is wearing expensive fur clothes and having delicious wine and dishes. It seems that he is living an affluent life.¡±

    ¡°Such a person won¡¯t follow Wanyan Ba,¡± Qin Yunuan analyzed, ¡°He is timid and likes fortune only. If he acts wrong in the war ofpeting for the position of the crown prince, he will lose everything. North Di is not like Qi. Even if he can¡¯t be Grand Khan, he can be the Khan of a small tribe as Bochaerji did. Then he can continue to enjoy the food and wine.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Leng Changxi nodded, ¡°The next one is Fifth Prince. I¡¯ve inquired about him. He is also the legitimate son born by the empress like the Grand Prince. However, the rtionship between him and the Grand Prince has always been cial. They are quite estranged from each other. The reason is unclear.¡±

    ¡°Estranged, of course,¡± Qin Yunuan said, ¡°They¡¯re both legitimate and capable. They will fight against each other sooner orter.¡±

    They talked about several princes in order, but all of them were denied by Qin Yunuan. There was only Prince Regent who was the most obvious following the Grand Prince now. It was not a good message. If there were only two people, the connection between them was fast and efficient, so they were not likely to have internal strife. However, when there were three people, things would be different. Three people all had their own opinion, so it was easy for two of them to iste the other one. Therefore, it would be easy to crush them one by one and sow discord.

    But for the recent situation, the conclusion shouldn¡¯t be drawn too fast. After all, Prince Regent had the right and power to inherit the throne himself. It remained unclear whether who would be the oneughing atst.

    A loud thump came from thepetition arena. Everyone turned to it. Surprisingly, Chang Wu was beaten to the ground by Zhigu, unable to move.

    Wanyan Ba stamped with rage, ¡°Rubbish! Rubbish!¡±

    Although the adviser beside Wanyan Ba, Song Lian, had been pulling Wanyan Ba desperately to prevent his reckless actions, he failed to block Wanyan Ba¡¯s roar towards his servants, ¡°Go and find Zhigu! I won¡¯t believe that the people from my mansion will lose to such a small potato.¡±

    While Wanyan Ba was saying, Fifth Prince trembled. This was because it was he who found the so-called small potato after innumerable trials and hardships, which was the winner of two sessive warriorpetitions. His power was extraordinary.

    His servant immediately came to find Zhigu, who was definitely another warrior collected by Wanyan Ba. However, after a while, the servant came to report in a hurry. He was out of breath when talking to Wanyan Ba, whose face had turned from red to the ugly cyan.

    What he had ordered the servant remained a mystery. Seeing that Song Lian followed the servant to leave in a hurry, other nobles felt curious about this weirdness. Even the Grand Khan of North Di couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Ba, why are you in such a hurry?¡±

    Wanyan Ba stood up immediately. The way he spoke to Grand Khan of North Di was still modest, ¡°It¡¯s because one of my warriors has an ident. Father, there¡¯s no need to worry.¡±

    Wanyan Su was watching what happened on the other side, always feeling uneasy in his heart. Looking straight ahead and appearing calm to the change, he asked Leng Changxi, ¡°Will your method really work? My eldest brother has a bad temper. He cannot be dealt with by ordinary people.¡±

    ¡°The aim is to piss him off,¡± Leng Changxi smiled, ¡°What I want most is to rile a lion.¡±

    A momentter, Zhigu, which Wanyan Ba had mentioned, appeared to everybody. However, it was weird that the warrior who was said to have a strange appearance and magical strength was wearing a silver mask, which was simr to the one on Leng Changxi¡¯s face. But it covered the face tighter, hiding the back of his ears as if hiding some secrets.

    Zhigu was born to be tall and strong, but his whole body seemed to be trembling, and the tips of his fingers were pale. Through the vibration and propagation of the air, Qin Yunuan seemed to feel his racing pulse. Wanyan Ba nced at him in disgust and urged him to go up the stage immediately, but even the leg Zhigu lifted to go upstairs was unsteady.

    The number three warrior raised his head. He was looking for Zhigu¡¯s weakness.

    The ringing gong marked the opening of thepetition. The number three warrior spared no effort to attack fiercely. His attack focused on nowhere else but the mask on Zhigu¡¯s face.

    After all, Zhigu was a warrior with a rich experience of fighting. He used offense as a defense all the way. But at the very moment when he was careless, the mask on his face was taken down by the number three warrior with one action. However, after seeing Zhigu¡¯s face, the number three warrior felt a wave of nausea and threw up at the edge of the arena.

 Chapter 242 Scapegoat

    <h4>Chapter 242 Scapegoat</h4>

    The violent reaction of warrior No.3 aroused even stronger curiosity in the surrounding seats. The youngest princess of North Di, the Ninth Princess, ran over immediately and wanted to take a closer look. She then started crying after only a look at it. A twelve-year-old child only said things as she wanted, ¡°This is an ugly monster. It looks too disgusting and terrible. Father, kill him soon.¡±

    How could that be? In addition to the courage of the warrior Zhigu, his handsome and mature appearance was also admired by many women. How could he be as unbearable as the Ninth Princess said?

    Zhigu lowered his head, his braids with intricate patterns hanging beside his cheeks, covering his face. A deeper red stain slowly oozed from the ring. It was blood dripping from Zhigu¡¯s face. The thick bloody water carried an indescribable stench, which was simr to the smell of a corpse that could make people around fainted if they step closer. The one who suffered most was warrior No.3.

    Grand Khan of North Di frowned and ordered, ¡°Bring me his mask.¡±

    His men picked up the silver mask that Zhigu threw on the side of the ring immediately. When Grand Khan saw it, his mood seemed to be even heavier. He thought of the person who appeared during his nap yesterday at noon. That man¡¯s dress and tone, his own mental state as well as the surrounding environment, everything was suggesting to him that it was nothing but a dream. However, he knew it was more than that. He hade through a lot to be the Grand Khan of North Di.

    To prevent him from being attacked when he was asleep, he had always put hexagonal wind chimes at the door and windows of the house before going to bed. This kind of wind chime could make extremely light sounds. On them, he applied the same strategy as blowing the whistle for training horses. It was impossible for humans to hear this sound. Only beasts could. But Grand Khan of North Di was born with the ability to hear this voice. The ability was also his magic weapon to unify the seven tribes so quickly.

    He had clearly heard the sound of the hexagonal copper bells, which indicated that someone hade in. If it was only a dream, why would the person in his dreame in through the door or the window?

    The man was wearing such a silver mask, and his physique was simr. Before that moment, Grand Khan had always thought that this strange man was the ugly man of the Fourth Prince¡¯s Mansion, but now he saw Zhigu on the ring...

    ¡°Look up.¡± Grand Khan¡¯s voice sounded likerge bells ringing, and his questioning tone made the people present shivered.

    Zhigu raised his head in pain and couldn¡¯t help covering his face with his hands. He didn¡¯t know what happened. For today¡¯s game, he went to bed early yesterday to umte enough energy. But this morning he woke up with his face in a burst of fiery pain. He was miserable in the burning heat.

    Seeing his bloody face in the basin, he almost copsed. But when he hurriedly found a servant to report to Wanyan Ba, the Grand Prince gave him a death order. He should participate in thepetition in any case.

    In desperation, Zhigu could only put on a mask temporarily. It was strange that the mask his new servant prepared for him was very suitable, and it fit himfortably.

    ¡°Was the mask yours?¡± Grand Khan of North Di asked an obvious question.

    With the mask gone, Zhigu¡¯s wound became fiercely painful again. He nodded with difficulty, ¡°It¡¯s mine.¡±

    Grand Khan answered in acknowledgment, and then just turned his head lightly and said, ¡°Drag him down and throw him into the snake cave.¡±

    Zhigu lifted his head in surprise, but he dared not argue with Grand Khan, so he could only look at Wanyan Ba for help.

    Wanyan Ba was also confused. He tried to exin. After all, he bought Zhigu from a prince at a high price, but Song Lian on his side stopped him and told him the nightmare of Grand Khan yesterday at noon.

    How could it be? That was Wanyan Ba¡¯s first reaction. How would a prince be killed by an ugly monster? He was the most favorable contender for the throne of North Di. Many ministers had tacitly epted him as the heir and were ttering him. Zhigu was his subordinate. He had always been loyal and had saved him from a wild wolf with one punch. How could he kill him?

    For some reason, Wanyan Ba cast his eyes on Leng Changxi in the opposite seat. Leng Changxi stood quietly through the whole event, watching the dramatic scene with cold eyes.

    Seeing that Zhigu, out of all recognition, was dragged out by a few powerful servants, there was not even one who spoke for him. The frightened Ninth Princess was still expressing that Grand Khan had done well.

    ¡°Such an ugly person should have been thrown into the wolf¡¯s den long ago.¡±

    Qin Yunuan listened to the princess saying such vicious words with her immature voice, thinking that she might grow up to be another sinister woman.

    The following warriors seemed to behave poorly because of the shock. At the end of thepetition, Leng Wu took first ce. ording to the rules, Grand Khan of North Di would bestow a golden belt to the victorious warrior, which symbolized infinite courage. Although the warrior of the Grand Prince¡¯s Mansion won, Wanyan Ba looked a little gloomy for what happened just then. Zhigu was his most powerful warrior. Leng Wu was also good, but after all, he was from Qi. He was an outsider, an inferior person that he couldn¡¯t bring on the table.

    Other princes and nobles sessively congratted the Grand Prince. Wanyan Su, on the contrary, had been far away and only stayed in his seat.

    Leng Changxi observed the lively celebration from a distance. He didn¡¯t look at Wanyan Su and asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you go, Your Higness?¡±

    Wanyan Su shook his head, ¡°They¡¯ve always pushed me out. What should I do there? It¡¯s better to look at them from afar, seemingly in harmony, but nobody knows how many knives they have stabbed each other behind their backs.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡± Leng Changxi nodded, thoughtfully knocking his chin with his fingertips, ¡°Anyway, the Grand Prince wille to you even if you don¡¯t go to them this time.¡±

    Wanyan Su¡¯s hand paused for a moment holding the golden wine ss. Leng Changxi was thinking the same thing on his mind.

    Leng Changxi raised his head slightly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Proud as the Grand Prince might seem now, many people are stabbing his back just like you said. When hees to you, you just have to deal with all kinds of changes with the same principle. There is no need to panic.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right. A man like the Grand Prince who became the most favored prince only by empress¡¯s will and her love had an unstable status. In addition, he acted arrogantly and domineering. Now that the empress had passed away for many years, Grand Khan wouldn¡¯t hand over North Di to such a person even if he had deep feelings for his mother. If this goes on, not only the people of North Di will suffer, but also Khan¡¯s other sons will be hard to escape. Grand Khan is very clever. He could think about what we think of.¡±

    Wanyan Su raised his head and looked at the couple who were cooperating perfectly, ¡°So you¡¯ve killed two birds with one stone. Not only did you rule out my father¡¯s suspicion, but you also dragged my eldest brother into the muddy water. Although Father didn¡¯t show it, his hurried execution seemed to be a defense of my big brother. In fact, he must be suspicious.¡±

    The three people had be highly consistent in views. Sure enough, within half a cup of tea, when Wanyan Su was about to leave, Wanyan Ba came directly from the opposite side, followed only by Song Lian and two or three servants. His facial expression was very amiable, different from his usual arrogance. It was the first time in so many years that Wanyan Su could see Wanyan Ba so simr to a real big brother.

    ¡°Are you in a rush?¡± Wanyan Ba approached,ughing.

    Wanyan Su tilted his head. Without looking at him, he said leisurely, ¡°I remembered someone once said that a man with Qi¡¯s blood like me was not worthy of being a prince.¡±

    Wanyan Ba had the same facial expression, but his tone was sullen, ¡°How could you be not worthy? Your people are ying my men around.¡±

    Wanyan Su smiled, ¡°I don¡¯t understand, big brother.¡±

    Wanyan Ba turned his head, ¡°You don¡¯t need to understand, you don¡¯t have the ability to. I only need him to understand!¡± Wanyan Ba pointed at Leng Changxi harshly, ¡°I don¡¯t care how noble it is to be a Tuoba in West Xia. I only tell you that North Di is my territory, don¡¯t mess around with me.¡±

    Leng Changxi put on a face that was devoid of feeling, ¡°Your territory? I had always thought that North Di was in the hands of Grand Khan.¡±

    Wanyan Ba was irritated, ¡°Don¡¯t y word games with me,¡± he said, throwing a porcin bottle held by the servant behind him at the feet of Leng Changxi, ¡°My man found it outside Zhigu¡¯s House. In it was a potent poison that could cause disfigurement, and the painting above was a green bamboo snake unique to West Xia.¡±

    Leng Changxi picked up the bottle on the ground coolly, ¡°Everybody can draw green bamboo snakes. It may not be made in Xixia. Even if it is, not only Xixia people can buy Xixia bottles and Xixia poison.¡±

    ¡°You...!¡±

    Compared with Wanyan Ba¡¯s anger, Leng Changxi was very calm, ¡°Your Highness, to arrest people, you must first have evidence. Your mansion was heavily guarded. Crowds of guards jammed your house that even a sparrow couldn¡¯t fly in easily. Rather than worrying about me, you might as well check if something is wrong with the people in your mansion.¡±

    Of course, something went wrong. Leng Wu was his ace card, standing on Leng Changxi¡¯s side while living in Wanyan Ba¡¯s mansion.

    Wanyan Ba¡¯s self-esteem was greatly challenged, ¡°No one of my people will betray me. Tuoba, don¡¯t try to provoke the rtionship between me and my men. In short, we are now enemies. Sooner orter, I will double my revenge back to you.¡± After speaking, he flicked his sleeves angrily and left.

    On the way back, Wanyan Su kept thinking about the conversation between him and Leng Changxi after Wanyan Ba left on the carriage.

    ¡°With your ability, you shouldn¡¯t have left such obvious clues to my brother. Could it be that you did it on purpose?¡±

    ¡°You are now thinking, Your Higness. Yes, I did it on purpose.¡±

    ¡°Why? My brother was grumpy. Did you know how dangerous you could be?¡±

    ¡°Is it dangerous? He should be the one who feels dangerous. Khan hasn¡¯t gone. We were surrounded by Grand Khan¡¯s informers. He dared to threaten you in front of so many people. Would Khan think us wrong or take him as domineering?¡±

    Thinking of this, Wanyan Su took a deep breath. Leng Changxi was too powerful, and he was a prophet in strategy. It seemed that it was time to tell Leng Changxi a secret.

 Chapter 243 Godâ€™s Will

    <h4>Chapter 243 God¡¯s Will</h4>

    It was a lovely day with a blue sky. It seemed that nothing had been influenced by the dramatic martial art contests held in the capital of North Di the other day.

    In a ssical courtyard in the capital, the overhang eaves with style in Central ins were built by gray tiles, which had the characteristics of regions south of the River. Under the eaves, a youngdy was speaking with fervor and assurance.

    ¡°Now news from the Royal Pce shows that the Grand Khan of North Di had been dissatisfied with the excess Grand Prince¡¯s aids and staff. He ordered that Grand Prince should dismiss his aids and staff in his mansion with half a year. In consequence, grumpy Grand Prince got out of control for the first time, which made Grand Khan more disgruntled. Now the Grand Khan had ordered the Grand Prince should be under house arrest and could not leave the mansion of Grand Prince for three months. Now it is the best time for us.¡±

    Opposite Qin Yunuan, there was Leng Changxi, the god of war in Qi, and Wanyan Su, the prince of North Di. These two men who both had higher positions and werepetitive now were listening to the analysis of Qin Yunuan. They nodded at times. And then a maidservant came with tea. Qin Yunuan turned back naturally when she heard the voice. But Yaqi, who served tea, shuddered, and the tea water was poured down without any noise. Luckily, Qin Yunuan moved agilely and avoided the water.

    Her move astonished Wanyan Su. He opened his mouth widely and pointed at Qin Yunuan, ¡°Madam Tuoba, your eyes...¡±

    Leng Changxi sipped the tea calmly, ¡°Just distinguish things by listening. I taught her.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled at Wanyan Su. She was thirsty due to the long speech just now. She drunk half of the cup of tea, and then turned back to Wanyan Su and said, ¡°Your Highness, can you finish what I said?¡±

    Wanyan Su was hesitant for a while and then said seriously, ¡°It¡¯s OK to dispatch people to enter Yeren Valley when my elder brother is in weak power. But Yeren Valley is the trigger point of my father. If I do so, are you afraid that my father alienates me?¡±

    Leng Changxi humphed, ¡°The Grand Khan has alienated you already. He can¡¯t alienate you more.¡±

    The face of Wanyan Su was stiff, and then Qin Yunuan said slowly, ¡°Grand Khan can¡¯t agree under themon situation. But don¡¯t you remember Song Lian beside Wanyan Ba?¡±

    ¡°The man from Qi?¡± Wanyan Su thought for a while and then said, ¡°You guys want to bribe him? But my elder brother saved him before. You guys from Qi always think highly of the kindness of saving a life. So that¡¯s why he was willing to serve my elder brother even if my elder brother abused him and mocked his identity.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°I heard that Song Lian not only knew much about war strategy and also could speaknguages of all countries, even the ancient Qidannguage. He is exactly our opportunity.¡±

    Qidan had once been thergest power ruling the whole continent. Its territory reached West Xia to the west, East Qin to the east, North Di to the north and south of five ridges of Qi to the south. However, this powerful empire copsed quickly due to the unknown internal dissension, which left many unsolved mysteries. And the legendary infinite treasure of this empire in its golden age was hidden in the history.

    North Di had upied thend, which was once the most important economic center and political center of Qidan. The Grand Khan of North Di had earlier searched for the treasure of Qidan at his young age but found nothing. He even did not figure out what the treasure exactly was.

    The dominator had an endless desire for power and fortune. In this old age, the Grand Khan would dream for the treasure of Qidan at silent night. For instance, tonight.

    The morning breeze blew with the fragrance of Sweet Olive, which was the perfume prepared by the imperial maidservants for calming the nerves of Grand Khan of North Di. He did not get up and heard some noises outside. He was too old to have a deep sleep and was woken up by those noises.

    ¡°Who is there?¡± Grand Khan of North Di was discontented, ¡°Who dared to bother me in the morning?¡±

    An imperial maidservant opened the door and entered quickly. She put a gown with silver-mouse patterns on him and answered, ¡°It¡¯s the ritual official. He said a big event happened in the north of the capital. It was said that a stone tablet was dug out when a family wasying the foundation of the house. There seemed to be ancient characters on the stone tablet. They believed that could prove the god¡¯s will.¡±

    The Grand Khan of North Di put on the gown and sat up at once. He said suddenly, ¡°Ancient characters? Is there a schr in the mansion of Grand Prince who knows manynguages? Has the Grand Prince disbanded him away? Summon him into the imperial pce.¡±

    The imperial maidservant curtseyed and quit at once. After a while, the news that an intelligent stone tablet with the god¡¯s will was found in the capital spread all over the country. Compared with people of Qi who believed in Buddhism, people in North Di had their own beliefs. They believed in the god of the sun who granted their grasnd, and the god of heaven who dominated the unseen world. For them, the god of heaven was the paramount immortal, and even the khan of the tribe and the Grand Khan of North Di were only his inferior official.

    The news was spread more overwhelmingly. Numerous people had believed that that stone tablet was the will of the god of heaven, as the discussion about this issue became more passionate.

    In the imperial court, Song Lian dressed like a schr. He touched the blurry the raised characters through a piece of silk, which was so weird and could hardly understand by people.

    After a long time, Song Lian raised his head and said to the Grand Khan of North Di, ¡°If I am correct, the characters on the stone tablet must be the ancient Qidannguage. Different from the stone tablet in North Di where the characters are sunken, characters in the stone tablet in Qidan are raised. From this difference, it can be concluded that the stone tablet is not from the present North Di.¡±

    Everybody was cheered up when hearing that stone tablet was from ancient Qidan.

    And somebody strove to ask, ¡°What¡¯s that on the stone tablet? What is god¡¯s will?¡±

    ¡°Many characters are blurry,¡± Song Lian shook his head, ¡°Only two words are clear. One is the treasure, and the other one is a ce name called Snake Valley.¡±

    Officials in the imperial court got more aroused. Is that the legendary treasure of Qidan? The Grand Khan had dispatched many people to search it but found nothing. Now is it the god¡¯s willing that came and helped North Di?

    ¡°Snake Valley?¡± Prince Regent frowned, ¡°There is no one valley called Snake Valley among the valleys in North Di, so, is the treasure in West Xia or Qi?¡±

    ¡°Uncle, you are wrong,¡± Wanyan Su said lightly, ¡°Do you remember that my father has once been to a valley where there were so many poisonous snakes and miasma in high concentration, so he named the valley as Snake Valley.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± the Grand Khan nodded. He remembered that the Fourth Prince Wanyan Su in front of him was about seven to eight years old when he fought here and there. The little boy was the first one toe back when he heard that snakes bit his father in the Snake Valley. He sucked the poison out without any hesitation. He was too young, so he fainted just after he sucked the wound for a while. But that time, Wanyan Su felt a kind of warmth of family. He had not felt that warmth for so many years. The Great Khan looked at Wanyan Su affectionately with the eyes full of father¡¯s love, ¡°In that time, the Snake Valley I passed now is called Yeren Valley.¡±

    The officials present suddenly were in an uproar. Though the treasure was so valuable, they also heard that the Yeren Valley was such an extremely dangerous ce. And then all turned silent. The Grand Khan nced at the people coldly, and then said suddenly, ¡°What? You guys said you would search for the treasure for North Di to make our country more prosperous. Why do you guys be so silent?¡±

    It would be dead for everyone to enter Yeren Valley. Everybody preferred to be cowards rather than heroes who would put them and their followers into danger.

    Prince Regent pondered for a while and persuaded, ¡°Brother, Yeren Valley is a tough terrain with few people. Everybody would die if they took the risk to enter the ce. Even if they found the treasure of ancient Qidan, would the cost be worthy? I think...¡±

    ¡°Worthy!¡± A powerful male voice resounded in the court. Everybody looked for the voice and then found that it was from Wanyan Su, who stepped forward and stood at the front.

    Wanyan Su was serious and was a little bit like the Grand Khan at his young age. He curtseyed, and half knelt, ¡°I would like to go there.¡±

    The Grand Khan of North Di widened his eyes, ¡°Are you serious?¡±

    Wanyan Su nodded solemnly. The eyes of the Grand Khan expressed a kind of delight. But all officials in the court got so surprised, and some of them even gloated. They seemed to wait for the tragic end of the rash Fourth Prince.

    The news that the Grand Prince would rece the Grand Khan of North Di to go to Yeren Valley to search for the lost treasure of ancient Qidan quickly reached the mansion of the Fourth Prince. Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi were the first couple to know the news. As they expected, the result was good.

    Their initial n was that since everybody feared Yeren Valley due to the gossip, a more attractive gossip was needed to make the Grand Khan became more expectation in Yeren Valley. The characters of ancient Qidan were easy. Though the ancestors of Lu Wuyi had been working as doctors in Qi, they had another forgotten identity. The surname of Lu came from ancient Qidan. It was so easy for Lu Wuyi to write the characters of ancient Qidan. As for the stone tablet, it was so effortless for Leng Changxi to put it into the foundation of that house.

    The well-off n was interrupted by the cry of a woman when Wanyan Su just entered the mansion.

    With the fitful sob, a woman in bright red hugged Wanyan Su and stroked his chest.

    ¡°You are such a bastard. You are so heartless. Why do you want to go to that bloody ce? You will die. Why are you so heartless to dump me?¡±

    ¡°Yasu.¡± Wanyan Su supported the woman. Yasu wailed, which made him so sad.

    ¡°Side Concubine, the Fourth Prince is to fight for the future. You should consider the situation for him.¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly appeared behind Wanyan Su and Yasu. Yasu turned angry immediately when she saw Qin Yunuan, ¡°You don¡¯t know how dangerous that ce is. The Fourth Prince will die if he goes there. You can go there by yourself, and then you will find how hard it is.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°Concubine, you are right. My husband and I will go there together with the Fourth Prince.¡±

 Chapter 244 The Mysterious Village

    <h4>Chapter 244 The Mysterious Vige</h4>

    Three months after the stone tablet with characters of ancient Qidan was found, the Fourth Prince Wanyan Su set off with his mighty troops. The leading troop was cavalries which had gone through tough training. The troop was awarded by the Grand Khan of North Di. Wanyan Su arranged this troop at the forefront, which was not only very imposing but also useful for the removal of mines when crucially necessary.

    ¡°The removal of mines means that if there were some dangers, the troop would be the first to die, which could warn the troop behind.¡± Leng Changxi exined the term carefully to Qin Yunuan. Wanyan Su had arranged a veryfortable horse carriage for the two respected guests, Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi, but Qin Yunuan refused. She felt so eye-catching for a woman with white gauze covering her eyes to ride a horse in the street.

    Qin Yunuan ignored the horse carriage and listened carefully to Leng Changxi¡¯s description of the troop.

    ¡°There are about one hundred and seventy people together with only seven women, including Yaqi, who is dispatched to serve you.¡±

    ¡°Seven women?¡± Qin Yunuan said in a slightly higher tone. She seemed to be a little bit surprised. The number was excess for a troop, which caught out this terribly dangerous task.

    Yaqi was necessary to serve Qin Yunuan herself. What about the other six women?

    ¡°The rest of the six women are maidservants and dispatched from the Royal Pce for serving the troop on the way.¡±

    Maidservants? Qin Yunuan knew clearly that those women were just for satisfying the sexual desires of those young and robust men. Qin Yunuan knew that it was so normal in North Di. Such an arrangement was considerate for those warriors who took the life risk to research for the treasure for North Di.

    On the way, strong winds blew with sands. Qin Yunuan wrapped thick white gauzes on her body to roughly avoid the attack of bean-sized grits. At dusk, the leader warrior said towards the dim outline of a house in the sandstorms, ¡°Prince, there is a vige in front. We can have a rest temporarily.¡±

    Wanyan Su felt unprepared with the sandstorm. He ordered the troop to proceed toward the vige at full speed.

    Qin Yunuan was about to ride a horse to proceed and exactly saw an imperial maidservant tumbled and luckily supported by a warrior. But the woman did not thank him and showed a disgusting face. She pushed the warrior away and even patted the ce reluctantly, where she was touched by the warrior.

    Qin Yunuan saw the whole scene and continued to proceed toward the vige with the troop. When they arrived at the vige, though the sandstorm was over, it was dark now. Only two solitary stone tablets were standing there as a milestone in front of the vige.

    ¡°Tamuer Vige.¡± Wanyan Su looked at those blurry characters and said, ¡°It seems that our journey goes smoothly. We can arrive at Yeren Valley the day after tomorrow at the present speed.¡±

    Yeren Valley was not far away from the capital of North Di. Few people dared to go there due to rare post houses and viges and the scary legend of Yeren Valley. This vige was the nearest one from Yeren Valley. There was no other ce to have a rest except this one.

    ¡°Yeren Valley? You guys will go to Yeren Valley?¡± Hearing the words of Wanyan Su, a short old man in a grey cotton-padded dress suddenly appeared behind the stone tablet. Such an inanimate man showed up abruptly, which made people doubt if he was stuck behind the stone tablet.

    ¡°My old friend.¡± Wanyan Su got down from the horse and supported the old man tumbling on the ground.

    But the old man refused. He pushed Wanyan Su away and then stepped back, ¡°Go away. You guys are insane. How dare you want to go such a terrible ce?¡±

    Wanyan Su smiled and tried to say with a soft smile, ¡°My old friend, we came here by order of the Grand Khan. I just wonder if there is a ce for us to have a rest in this vige?¡±

    The old man waved his hands and spit to the ground, ¡°No! No! There are few people in our vige. We have no inn. You guys are even more than out vige people, so we can¡¯t receive you guys. You should go back and nevere here.¡±

    Wanyan Su reached his hand to stop and said with a smile, ¡°OK, listen, my old friend. We do not want to bother the vige, but our water in the bottles had run out already on the way here. We want to buy some water. Could you save us? Please.¡±

    The old man was about to shook head to refuse, but a young man in medium height came out behind the old man. He was slim with charming dark eyes. Such kind of figure was seldom seen in North Di. Men from North Di were always tall and robust.

    ¡°Sorry, sorry,¡± The young man exined in a hurry, ¡°My father is a little bit silly. Sorry to slight your respected guys. Fine, there is a well inside our vige. But now some people in our vige have slept. To avoid making noises, you can dispatch two people to fetch water with me. If you are willing to eat some steamed buns at my house, you can fetch some.¡±

    ¡°OK.¡± Wanyan Su turned back to order the troop to pitch camps five miles away from the vige. The ce was sparse white aspens woods but could keep out of sandstorms and burning sun. The woods looked gloomy in the dark, which showed a kind of unspeakable fear.

    One hundred and seventy people pitched camps there. Wanyan Su selected two robust and shrewd men to fetch water together with the young man. Before entering the vige, Wanyan Su indicated the two that they should be shrewd and acted ordingly and tried their best to collect some useful intelligence.

    Qin Yunuan sat beside an aspen root. She took the ox-horn kettle Leng Changxi passed to her. Yaqi aside was untying the tightly wrapped roast cakes. She took a patch of cake for Qin Yunuan and put it into a clean handkerchief then passed it to her.

    Qin Yunuan was chewing a little bit hard roasted cake carefully. Her nose had caught the information agilely in the air.

    ¡°Something weird in the aspens.¡± Qin Yunuan said calmly and lowered her head to eat the still crisp edge of the cake.

    Leng Chanxi sat down and drank water, ¡°I think so. Under the burning sun for the whole day, the aspens are still humid. There must be someone pouring water for the woods. The nearest ce from here is the vige. Aspens need no watering when naturally growing. If no one came here to do watering from five miles away, the aspens must be nted just now.¡±

    ¡°I think so too,¡± Qin Yunuan continued, ¡°But it is not due to the aspens. The key is that vige,¡± Qin Yunuan looked at Leng Changxi and said, ¡°There must be a kind of smell. There must be fuel fume smell in the ce where people live. But the Tamuer Vige¡¯s air is too clean.¡±

    ¡°Maybe the strong wind blew the smell away?¡± Yaqi said.

    ¡°Yaqi, you should believe my nose. It never goes wrong.¡±

    Yaiqi withdrew her neck and held a piece of cake Qin Yunuan passed to her. At the same time, male¡¯s whoops came from the other side of the camp suddenly. They were speaking dirty words of the North Dinguage. Qin Yunuan frowned because she had mastered thenguage generally.

    Those whooping people also noticed the side of Qin Yunuan. They glimpsed at Qin Yunuan prudently. And then they pulled those imperial maidservants sieged by them toward the woods. It seemed that they would have sex with those women. Qin Yunuan did not stop them and just turned sideways to avoid hearing the noises from the woods. As usual, those imperial maidservants would probably know that their mission was to satisfy those soldiers when they went out together with the troops. But there was one imperial maidservant who showed resistance. With hands and feet, she lowered her head and resisted a soldier who was dragging her.

    ¡°Go away. You are such dirty perverts. How dare you touch me?¡± The woman said arrogantly.

    But then the seeming chaste woman was pped by that soldier. The red palm print seemed not to vent the anger of the warrior totally. He dragged the hair of the woman, shouting, ¡°You are just a bitch. Don¡¯t pretend to be chaste.¡±

    When the woman tidied her tousy hair back to her ears, she showed herely and pure face. Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi were astonished.

    ¡°Stop. What are you doing?¡± Wanyan Su showed up. He hugged the abused woman and felt sorry to touch the red fingerprint on her face, ¡°Yasu, howe you came here?¡±

    Right. The woman was Side Concubine Yasu in the Fourth Prince¡¯s Mansion, who tumbled and was noticed by Qin Yunuan but disliked the warrior who supported her.

    The close guard of the Fourth Prince rebuked that soldier at once, ¡°This is the Side Concubine of the Fourth Prince¡¯s Mansion. Your behaviors are so dirty. Even if you were dispatched by the Grand Khan, it would be not enough to be executed for your disrespect towards Side Concubine.¡±

    The soldier shuddered and knelt. Wanyan Su supported the frightened Suya and helped her sit down. Qin Yunuan gave the ox-horn kettle to them and heard their intermittent words.

    ¡°Why do youe here? You hid in the troop as an imperial maidservant. I even can¡¯t recognize you with makeup.¡±

    ¡°Your Highness, I realized that I¡¯d bettere with you to Yeren Valley instead of stopping you. If you were in danger, I would be beside you.¡±

    Whilemunicating, the close guard came to ask how to dispose of that solider who did not respect Side Concubine. Wanyan Su was hesitant because the soldier was dispatched by the Grand Khan, and he could not punish him badly.

    ¡°How to punish him? Behead him here.¡± Leng Changxi said coldly without any human kindness.

 Chapter 245 Cannibal Ancient Well

    <h4>Chapter 245 Cannibal Ancient Well</h4>

    Wanyan Su was a bit surprised. Then he heard Leng Changxi saying indifferently, ¡°Even kings can never have long hands. Fourth Prince, if you wish to be held by the informers of the Royal Court for the rest of your life, you can give them mercy. But what you have to know is that, in the end, when we find what we want, these people must also be dealt with. Rather than being unrighteous at that moment, it is best to find an excuse and kill them now.¡±

    Wanyan Su gritted his teeth and immediately ordered the soldier beheaded. This soldier had offended the concubine of the Fourth Prince. No one would have said anything for him even if he was cut a thousand times.

    The vige in the distance was sparkling in the dark. Everyone had different expressions. Yasu, who was assaulted by the soldiers and frightened, nestled in Wanyan Su¡¯s arms like a little rabbit. Wanyan Su wasforting Yasu softly. Look in his eyes, and you would be aware that they were deeply in love. Among the soldiers, Wanyan Su¡¯s own soldiers and the cavalry assigned by Grand Khan of North Di had split into two factions. After the lessons taught by Wanyan Su, the soldiers with strong animal desires dared not do anything to the five pce maids, and inevitably their faces showed some disappointment.

    Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi were drinking water in an ox horn kettle with a calm expression. After finishing the scones, their stomachs were full.

    Suddenly, a dark figure ran from the distance of the vige. It was a small and thin man that resembled the young man they saw at the entrance of the vige earlier. When this man approached, they found that it was him. He was panting, ¡°Sir, it¡¯s not okay. Of the two soldiers you sent, one fell into the well, and the other appeared to be crazy.¡±

    ¡°Crazy?¡± Wanyan Su was unconvinced. It had only been the burning time of half column incense. Howe these two normal people had be like this?

    Leng Changxi was calm. ¡°Where is that crazy one?¡±

    The young man took a deep breath and said, ¡°He was stopped by some of the strong men of our vige. Anyway, he had said a lot of strange things, such as gods and punishment. These people could bring us bad luck, sir. Please take them away quickly.¡±

    Wanyan Su seemed to be hesitant. Leng Changxi, on the contrary, stepped ahead, ¡°I¡¯ll go and see.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ming with you.¡± Qin Yunuan followed Leng Changxi and held his hand. The two of them had long believed that there was something wrong with this vige. It would be a good idea to go and take a look. Leng Changxi was there with her, after all. Nothing bad could have happened if Leng Changxi was by her side protecting her.

    Leng Changxi squatted next to one of the soldiers and said, ¡°Amu, you go too.¡± The soldier slowly raised his head and nced at Leng Changxi. His throat moved slightly and said, ¡°Yes.¡±

    Obviously, this soldier named Amu was Maomu, who was the only man that hade out of the Yeren Valley. Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi had searched hard for him.

    Together they formed a group of seven people. In addition to Wanyan Su, Leng Changxi, Qin Yunuan and Maomu, Wanyan Su also took three soldiers with the strongest bodies and skill of martial arts to protect them. Passing by those two stone tablets at the vige entrance they had seen before, a stray, trembling wind blew out.

    Besides the well in the middle of the vige, the drowned soldier had beenid on the stone b next to it. His wet clothes were dripping with water. The residents crowded around the well, keeping an eye on the excitement.

    One of them, a man who was in his thirties, said with a click of the tongue, ¡°It¡¯s an extravagant way to die by drowning in the water-scarce Gobi Desert.¡±

    ¡°How he died should be identified only after checking his wounds.¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s sudden sentence disturbed their interests.

    Some elders even said angrily to the youngster who brought them, ¡°Why did you bring outsiders into the vige? They came to grab our water. Now that people are dead, what if they trouble us? There are so many of them. All of them have knives, which makes them no different from the bandits.¡±

    Leng Changxi tilted his head and said, ¡°Mister, if we want to upy this vige, why would we wait till night? You worried too much about us.¡±

    The old man turned his head, telling people around how dangerous Leng Changxi¡¯s people could be stubborn.

    ¡°You don¡¯t know. Twenty years ago, there was such a group of people who came into the vige with all kinds of strange things. They upied the vige as a base and kept sending people and things into the Yeren Valley. They¡¯ve never been out. You are young and don¡¯t remember what happened back then, but I do.¡±

    ¡°Okay, Grandpa Tam, you are getting old. Go back and rest.¡±

    ¡°Bah, you never believe me when I mention that. One day, you will pay for your carelessness. When the timees, the fire will fall down the sky, and it will burn you, burn you to death.¡±

    ¡°Hurry up, take Grandpa Tam home.¡±

    In such a noisy environment, Leng Changxi calmly tore open the armor outside the drowned soldier. The velvet inside was crimson. Everything seemed to be usual, but the rusty smell floating in the air caught Qin Yunuan¡¯s attention. She squatted down, leveled with Leng Changxi, and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s the smell of blood.¡±

    That¡¯s right. He bled a lot. Leng Changxi tore off the soldier¡¯s clothes and saw that his well-knit body had severalrge holes on the waist and chest. The biggest hole was almost as big as the width of two fingers. However, the blood had clotted a long time ago. Touching the wound with his hand, Leng had found that it was somewhat colder than other parts of this soldier¡¯s body.

    ¡°He didn¡¯t drown.¡± Leng Changxi made a decisive decision. ¡°He was stabbed to death.¡± Leng Changxi raised his eyes and looked around. Vigers surrounded him. When they heard what Leng Changxi said, their eyes were all avoiding his nce. Only one person stood up and said unwillingly, ¡°What do you mean? Was it because the people in our vige did it? How could you suspect us?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t suspect you,¡± Leng Changxi retracted his gaze. At a nce, he was already certain that there was no problem with the people present, and their only fear came from the worries about this huge army. ¡°I¡¯m suspecting this well.¡±

    After Leng Changxi finished speaking, he turned towards the well. The well was dark, and no one could see its bottom. Only the uing vapor proved that there was water in it. Leng Changxi frowned slightly, reaching out towards the wall of the well. Sure enough, the wall got wetter as he went down, and the smooth touch made him feel a little puzzled.

    ¡°How many meters you go down this well to get water?¡±

    The young man who had been with them said, ¡°It¡¯s the dry season now. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll have to be seven or eight meters down.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s only seven or eight meters.¡± After Leng Changxi said, he jumped down. With such a narrow well, Leng Changxi could reach the deepest point in an instant with ease. Although the well is dry, the walls inside were slippery, and even those with excellent light skills could slip. Once they fall into the water, they would lose half their lives even if rescued.

    ¡°Is he crazy?¡± The young man rushed to the mouth of the well, but unfortunately, he could see nothing but darkness in the well. Even Wanyan Su was a little surprised. He knew that Leng Changxi was very powerful, but he didn¡¯t expect him to have such a reckless moment. Only Qin Yunuan seemed to be indifferent. She turned her head to a very kind-looking woman beside her and said, ¡°I would be grateful if you could lend me a nket. I was worried that my husband¡¯s clothes would get wet in the well.¡±

    After a while, a dark purple figure jumped out of the well andnded steadily. Qin Yunuan greeted him with a nket, only to find that Leng Changxi¡¯s body was not stained with a drop of water. Such powerful light skills made everyone present dumbfounded.

    Leng Changxi looked around and suddenly opened his tightly clenched fist. Countless small pieces of ice fell out from his palm crackling. Each of them was cone-shaped and had the size of an index finger. Though the points were rounded by the well water, people could imagine how precarious the seemingly harmless, cone-shaped ice could be in this bottomless well.

    Leng Changxi looked at the ice g under his feet, ¡°This was his real killer.¡±

    Regardless of the fact that the temperature difference between day and night was extreme on the Gobi Desert, it was not cold enough to have ice pieces in the well. It was evident that they were deliberately set in the well. Their purpose was to get rid of the two men who came to fetch water. As for the soldier who had gone mad...

    In the conversation, the mad soldier was escorted by two male vigers. He was tied up tightly with a cowhide rope soaked in sesame oil. His expression was perplexed, and his eyes drifted. He was constantly mumbling about the gods descending in the well. Those who wanted to forcibly enter the Yeren Valley will receive their retribution.

    Wanyan Su looked at the soldier in the madness, only turning his head and asking the guards around him to pour him awake with a bucket of cold water. Before icy water came up, Leng Changxi pped in the face of the crazy soldier.

    The soldier was mmed onto the well, and the water vapor from the well rushed toward his face. The soldier looked at Leng Changxi with horror, but he immediately returned to a lunatic being.

    Leng Changxi saw through his tricks quickly. He sneered and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that there were gods in the well? But when I drove you to its mouth, you just looked at me angrily subconsciously. You didn¡¯t seem to fear the well at all. You are not crazy. What are you pretending to be?¡±

    The soldier acted as if he could not hear Leng Changxi¡¯s words. He was still uttering his mantra-like curses. Qin Yunuan moved forward. Her eyes, bound with white gauze, looked weird in the dark night.

    ¡°Kill him.¡± Qin Yunuan said indifferently as if killing a person was as simple as trampling on an ant to her. ¡°It¡¯s useless to keep him anyway since he wouldn¡¯t say anything. He did not have any value anymore.¡±

 Chapter 246 One Dead, One Injured

    <h4>Chapter 246 One Dead, One Injured</h4>

    ¡°Alright.¡± Leng Changxi was about to chop the mad soldier with his hand as hard as an iron de, but the young man who led the way suddenly grabbed Leng Changxi¡¯s wrist, ¡°Our savior, he is a life after all. How could you decide arbitrarily?¡±

    A glimmer of luck shed in the eyes of the mad soldier, and Leng Changxi nced at the young man, ¡°There is always one going to die today. If you can¡¯t bear his death, then you get to be dead.¡±

    ¡°How can you think in this way?¡± The young man frowned, ¡°No matter how strong your skill of martial arts is, you can¡¯t kill innocent people indiscriminately.¡±

    Leng Changxi sneered. ¡°Even though you have good intentions in your heart, you can¡¯t demand a life for a life. And who said that he was innocent? Little brother, we have been disturbing in the vige for a long time. This soldier belonged to us. Let us take him back. As for the inconvenience of your vige, Your Highness will naturally give you an exnation.¡±

    Leng Changxi had shown off his authority, but the rest of the mess was left to Wanyan Su to take care of. Wanyan Su was probably used to being the good guy. He carefully ordered his men around to give these frightened vigers some silver taels and then took the mad soldiers back. The group¡¯s departure seemed to return peace and harmony to this small vige with a poption of no more than 20 households.

    As night fell, the bonfire in the por forest also dimmed down. The mad soldier was tied to the trunk of a dead por tree. He had long lost his exhrating mind. The lights went out one by one in Tamuer Vige. Only the buttermp in the tiny hut farthest from the vige was still brightly lit. It was the hut of that old man who made trouble. He was called Grandpa Tam by the vigers.

    He got up, closed the door, and turned around, only to find that there were other people in the room. Grandpa Tam could not help but shudder all over. Leng Changxi¡¯s silver mask covering his whole face looked even colder under the dim light. Qin Yunuan also appeared with him. The calm smile on her face made it difficult to associate her with the woman who killed decisively in front of the well.

    These two people appeared to be very kind and just in private. Why were they always doing cruel things in front of others?

    ¡°I don¡¯t wee you here,¡± Grandpa Tam crouched, without even looking at the two of them, ¡°Go away, both of you.¡±

    ¡°Grandpa Tam?¡± Leng Changxi sat down cheekily, ¡°People call you in that way. But what is your real name?¡±

    Grandpa Tam cast a sideways nce at Leng Changxi. He had an innate hatred for such aristocratic people.

    Grandpa Tam did not speak, so Leng Changxi continued, ¡°I think you look like a Qi man, and I know what happened here 20 years ago. North Di had not yet established an agreement with Qi 20 years ago. This Yeren Valley was still the territory of Qi. Did youe to the vige at that time?¡±

    ¡°Noment.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. You do not have to speak it out. I¡¯ll guess.¡± Leng Changxi continued, ¡°Twenty years ago, Qi did send such a team into the Yeren Valley. They were all carefully selected as Qi¡¯s best craftsmen and the third batch of workers in the weapons factory of Yeren Valley. They were the also most difficult batch of workers to control.¡±

    Speaking of this, the face of Grandpa Tam turned a little bit blue. Qin Yunuan believed that it was not only because of the cold evening weather but also some psychological factors.

    He was afraid.

    ¡°Because one craftsman ran out secretly,¡± Leng Changxi continued, ¡°What a terrifying thing that was at the time. This craftsman, who escaped, took the secrets and craftsmanship of the weapon factory, and he got rid of the Royal Court¡¯s control. Although such a thing would happen sooner orter, nobody had expected that the craftsman who escaped was the most skilled and hardworking craftsman among the team. Other craftsmen would only learn one process at hand, but the escaped one actually kept the seventeen processes in mind with his efforts. Great amounts of men and resources were assigned to search for him. They searched all over the territory of Qi but unfortunately found nobody. Nevertheless, in my opinion, there is a saying that the most dangerous ce is the safest. Maybe this person didn¡¯t go anywhere. Maybe he just settled down nearby because he wanted to look at this evil weapon factory to fall apart, to lose its original power in the struggle slowly. This was the greatest revenge he yearned for.¡±

    ¡°Why did you tell me this?¡± Grandpa Tam looked at Leng Changxi warily. His eyes were horrified. It was as though he was looking at a monster that could perceive human hearts.

    ¡°Because you killed the soldier.¡± Leng Changxi said confidently. ¡°You are proficient in mechanical manufacturing. It was easy to put ice cubes in the well. You thought that after the soldier was killed by the ice cones, the ice would melt in the water, and so no one would be judged. You bought another soldier with the secret of the weapon factory and made him pretend to be crazy, just to make the death more mysterious and exaggerate the legend before we enter the valley. You attempted to convince us to retreat in the face of difficulties. You are incisive in skills. Even if I don¡¯t kill the soldier who pretended to be crazy, you will do it. And your methods will be crueler because all you did was to create tragedy and prevent us from entering the valley.¡±

    Grandpa Tam seemed to tighten up even more. He nced at Qin Yunuan, who was silent by his side. The woman looked weak and vulnerable, but the man happened to take her extremely seriously.

    Grandpa Tam made a sudden dodge. His hands stretched out like eagle ws towards Qin Yunuan¡¯s neck. However, he was stopped by Leng Changxi¡¯s big hand. Leng Changxi turned his head and said harshly, ¡°Sun Chengzhen, if you dare to move us, you could never have what you think about day and night.¡±

    Sun Chengzhen? Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart was startled. She remembered that the Sun Family had been wiped out a long time ago. As for the name Sun Chengzhen, Qin Yunuan once remembered that the Sun family named their most promising son Sun Chengzhen, only because a man of this name appeared 30 years ago and changed the fate of the entire Sun family. However,ter this Sun Chengzhen didn¡¯t escape the Sun family curse and died young. Now that Leng Changxi called this aged man Sun Chengzhen, was it possible that he was not dead at all?

    When he called out the three-word name Sun Chengzhen, the old man became stiff.

    Leng Changxi shrugged and said, ¡°The Sun family thought they had deceived everyone, but they did not expect that Sun Chengzhen had also deceived the Sun family. Among the four great families, the Sun family wanted to take over the so-called treasure. Nheless, in that family, Sun Chengzhen tried to swallow it all by himself. Mister Sun, how have you been in the Gobi Desert for more than ten years? It was a condescension for you to enter the weapon factory as a craftsman.¡±

    ¡°Huh,¡± since his identity has been exposed, Grandpa Tam, or rather Mr. Sun, just took a ce on the tea table leisurely. ¡°What could you do even if you know all this? I¡¯ve been here for so many years, but I still haven¡¯t found a way back. Do you think you can enter the hintend of the weapons factory with your scattered troops of only one hundred and seventy people?¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t,¡± Leng Changxi smiled at Mr. Sun, ¡°I know it needs maps. The Sun family already had three maps, plus one from the Leng family. It could have formed aplete map. After the Sun house was destroyed, the three maps in their hands should belong to the Imperial Family of Qi. Unfortunately, those three maps were fakes.¡±

    The corners of Sun Chengzhen¡¯s mouth rose slightly, and a proud grin appeared on his wrinkled mouth.

    ¡°It¡¯s because,¡± Leng Changxi said seriously, looking at Sun Chengzhen, ¡°You had reced the real ones a long time ago. You had always thought that you could find the weapon factory based on your familiarity with Yeren Valley and the three maps, but you are wrong. The four maps are like four indispensable parts. It is impossible to do away with any of them.¡±

    Sun Chengzhen sneered disdainfully, ¡°You want to cooperate with me, young man? You need to know you have nothing. How could youpete with me?¡±

    ¡°Yes, my capital is not as much as yours,¡± Leng Changxiughed, ¡°but I have one thing you don¡¯t. That is the physical strength to walk there, Mr. Sun. Twenty years have passed. You are no longer the middle-aged, high-spirited Sun Chengzhen. You have to admit that you are old.¡±

    Sun Chengzhen tilted his head. He was an individual who had gone through the storms, but he did not expect that he would be threatened by a junior today. He lowered his head as if he hadpromised, ¡°The map is in the hidden drawer under my bed, go get it yourself.¡±

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t move. Sun Chengzhen sneered at him, ¡°What, are you afraid that there could be schemes?¡±

    ¡°You are a veteran in mechanical manufacturing. I ought to be more cautious.¡±

    Sun Chengzhen snorted coldly as if he was extremely despised of the timid Leng Changxi. He was about to get up and walk towards the bed, but a cold arrow passed through the paper window and shot directly into Sun Chengzhen¡¯s artery on the neck. He was killed by the arrow, and it did not give him the slightest chance to struggle.

    ¡°Who?¡± Leng Changxi stood up subconsciously, shielding Qin Yunuan behind him. The wooden door creaked and was pushed open. Maomu, who should be guarding the door for Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi, walked in. He was disguised as a soldier of the Fourth Prince and mingled with the rest of the army, but his skills were of the first-ss warriors of North Di. Maomu was holding a crossbow in his hand, and his eyes were sharp as he nced at Leng Changxi sideways, ¡°Why do you keep this kind of people alive?¡± He was referring to such impure people of North Di.

    Maomu ced the bow in his hand on the wooden table, ready to fetch the secret drawer that Sun Chengzhen talked about. At his feet was the blood spurted out from Sun¡¯s artery. Leng Changxi didn¡¯t stop Maomu¡¯s self-assertive action but watched with indifferent eyes. He knew that Sun Chengzhen would not let Maomu seed so easily.

    ¡°Ah, my eyes.¡± Sure enough, Maomu pulled the concealed drawer under the bed, and green mucus sprayed directly into his eyes. With white smoke and a burning smell, Leng Changxi knew that Maomu¡¯s eyes had been ruined.

 Chapter 247 Perilous Snake Valley

    <h4>Chapter 247 Perilous Snake Valley</h4>

    Maomu covered his eyes painfully. He went to great lengths in order not to make any noise. This was because he knew that if anybody else in the vige was disturbed, something worse would happen to him. He had been here once, so he knew only too well how terrifying this vige was. While the vigers appeared to be some skinny men and old women, they were all good at either poisoning or martial arts, like the young man who had tried hard to stop Leng Changxi from attacking with his arm next to the well.

    ¡°You have overrated your ability,¡± Leng Changxi said to Maomu viciously. He would have killed Maomu because he acted against orders and killed such an important mole, were it not for his remaining value.

    Maomu pushed Leng Changxi lightly and then gently stroked Qin Yunuan¡¯s feet, ¡°Help me! Please help me! Madam Tuoba, I know that you¡¯ve learned some leechcraft before. Help me.¡± Qin Yunuan raised her head. Since Sun Miaoyang had been in her courtyard for such a long time and liked to teach her some skills, she had learned the properties of some medicine and the diagnosis of some difficult andplicated diseases imperceptibly. However, she simply didn¡¯t want to save this man.

    ¡°This is exactly what you have asked for,¡± Qin Yunuan turned her head to the other side.

    ¡°But didn¡¯t you want to kill him? I just do this for you. This old man would expose us without a doubt because he wouldn¡¯t cooperate with us. Mr. Tuoba, I¡¯ve done it for your sake.¡±

    ¡°I have never thought of killing him,¡± Leng Changxi gave Maomu a kick indifferently, ¡°Although Mr. Sun has killed people before, all he did was to protect this old vige. I didn¡¯t even think of killing the crazy soldier. It is you who have a crooked mind and vicious intentions. Don¡¯t try to corrupt the rest of us with your words.¡±

    Qin Yunuan gently stroked the hidden shelf under her bed. She put up a bamboo pole hanging on the wall casually and dipped into the shelf with it for safety. Sun Chengzhen wouldn¡¯t set one checkpoint only. As an expert in the mechanism, he would naturally ransack his brain to protect the other three maps. As she had expected, the bamboo pole was cut into two pieces. From outside, she could see the shining chopper clearly with the light. If what was put into it was not a bamboo pole but a person¡¯s hand, it must be cut off. Ensuring no more danger, Qin Yunuan took out a ck wooden box. Opening it, she saw the three maps. When they were put together with the map that Old Madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion asked Qin Yunuan to keep, a whole map showed up.

    By coincidence, Maomu was blind now. Even though the map was put right in front of him, he got no chance to read it. Sounds came from outside, which might be made by someone in the vige who got up in the midnight and went out to urinate.

    ¡°Leave here as soon as possible,¡± Leng Changxi ordered decisively. He nced at Sun Chengzhen¡¯s body. Of course, Wanyan Su would send someone to clear it. What he felt regret for, however, was that a hero of the time, the man who had deceived the whole Sun Family and Qi, died so easily.

    Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan had no intention to care for Maomu at all. There was simply the rtionship of cooperation between them and their frenemy.

    The night was still deep. The campsite was extremely quiet because everyone had rested. Nobody had noticed the three people who returnedte. Yasu was sound asleep in Wanyan Su¡¯s arms. Yaqi was lying beside the soft straw mattressid for Qin Yunuan. She didn¡¯t sleep well because of the hard sand. Qin Yunuan changed Yaqi¡¯s side cautiously without any noise andy on the mattress. The next moment when she opened her eyes, it was already daybreak.

    The troop was ready. As for Maomu¡¯s injury, the exnation was that he had conflicted with the vigerster. Since it was Maomu who was guilty, ming the vigers was not possible. This had made the troop confirm that they should leave the ce as soon as possible. Preparing enough freshwater, the 170 people got ready for departure when the sun just rose. Wanyan Su ordered his servants to tie the crazy soldier yesterday to a tree.

    Before parting, Wanyan Su lifted the soldier¡¯s chin with the dagger in his hand so that the soldier had to look at him with his dull eyes, ¡°You are crazy now. Taking you to the trip is not convenient because you may influence the daily life of this vige. For the moment, you just wait here. Beside your hands are pancakes and water. Whether you can keep living to the time wee back is on your own luck.¡±

    Hearing that, the soldier got flustered at once, ¡°No. Your Highness, please take me with you! I won¡¯t stay at this ce where men will be eaten up. I don¡¯t want to, Your Highness!¡±

    However, everyone seemed to be deaf to his entreaty. Riding horses was forbidden after entering the valley. The troop all walked. The road at the beginning was not hard to go, but the vegetation was getting more and more luxuriant during the journey. The soldiers heading the procession cleared the path with the most ordinary scimitars by cutting off some leaves and branches which got in the way.

    ¡°It¡¯s getting moister,¡± while Qin Yunuan was walking, she could feel that the air was bing wetter and wetter, which implied that they were close to the center of the valley.

    Leading Qin Yunuan with his body a little ahead, Leng Changxi said in a low voice, ¡°Do you remember the unusual white por woods we found when we first arrived?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Qin Yunuan answered, ¡°We both think that the white por woods were nted recently, but the aim for that is a mystery.¡±

    ¡°Do you still remember what the mad soldier cried when we left?¡±

    Qin Yunuan had always had a good memory. ¡°I won¡¯t stay at this ce where men will be eaten up.¡± This was what the soldier had begged for.

    ¡°A ce where men will be eaten up?¡± Qin Yunuan said confusedly.

    ¡°I have tricked Maomu into telling the truth before. Seven years ago, when he came to this ce, he found that this vige was a ce where talents and masters were hiding. Its men are all good at martial arts, while its women are mostly raising poisonous worms originating from the Miao Family in the Southwest region, which needs luxuriant vegetation and moist air. I assume that nting the white por wood is very likely to rte to the cultivation of the poisonous worms.¡±

    Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help but gasp. The area of the white por woods was huge. If the trees were all used for cultivating the poisonous worms, what a vast and mighty work it was, and how many disasters it would cause in the future!

    ¡°Be careful! Snakes ahead!¡± a cry came from the head of the procession. The soldiers leading the way took a few steps back, making the people walking behind them lose orders. Many fell to the ground when soldiers pushed and shoved. They wanted to pat their pants and get up, but once they raised their heads, they saw poisonous snakes all over the mountains and ins. They twined around trees and crawled through the wet earth. There were even several scary water snakes swimming in the ponds beside them.

    Wanyan Su organized the procession in perfect order, ¡°Back up! Don¡¯t panic. Spread the realgar powder.¡±

    Having heard that there were many poisonous snakes in the Yeren Valley, Wanyan Su had made preparation before. The yellow powder was spread into the air, to the ground, and to the trees massively, making people unable to breathe temporarily. Even so, screams still came one after another.

    ¡°Ah! I got bitten.¡±

    ¡°Help!¡±

    Leng Changxi retreated calmly, leading Qin Yunuan with him. He killed the poisonous snakes near him at an incredible speed with the short sword in his hands. Then he seized the pack of realgar powder from Yaqi¡¯s trembling hands directly and said to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Nuan, close your eyes!¡±

    Qin Yunuan closed her eyes quickly. Leng Changxi sprayed the realgar powder. The yellow smoke enveloped Qin Yunuan. With her eyes closed, she heard a ssh of water suddenly. She thought that somebody had fallen into the pond, but what came next was a scared scream.

    ¡°A python! The python is going ashore!¡±

    ¡°Calm down,¡± Wanyan Su was dissatisfied with his bodyguards¡¯ reaction, ¡°You are all warriors of North Di, why are you afraid of some snakes? Keep your order.¡±

    Unfortunately, people were so insignificant in the power of nature.

    ¡°Big Brother! Please help my Big brother! He will be eaten by the python.¡±

    There came the sound of swords crossing with each other. When the smoke dissipated slowly, the poisonous snakes were beaten back by the realgar powder. However, in the middle of the procession, a huge python as thick as an iron bar was winding around a soldier with its body. The soldier couldn¡¯t breathe anymore. His face was pale and bloodless, and from time to time, there came the sound of broken ribs and arms.

    Everybody else was stepping back, daring not to go forward. There was only one person deeply grieved. He tried to rush forward and kill the huge python for several times, but he was unable to move because hispanions stopped him.

    ¡°Everybody, be quiet,¡± Qin Yunuan shouted suddenly, ¡°Snakes estimate the position and danger by the vibrations of the ground. If we don¡¯t move, it will think that the surrounding is safe now. When it begins to eat its prey without vignce, it will be its weakest moment. At that time, saving your brother will be easy.¡±

    What? He should wait until the huge python began to eat his brother?

    The soldier couldn¡¯t wait at all. To him, Qin Yunuan¡¯s suggestion was equal to sending his brother to death in advance. He wouldn¡¯t take it. Biting hispanion¡¯s arm, he shouted, ¡°Big Brother! I¡¯ming to save you!¡± Then he waved his broadsword and marched ahead. The huge python vibrated, clearly sensing the danger outside. It curled its body and crawled quickly through the grass. Before long, it vanished in the thick bush.

    Burning with indignation, the soldier ended uping away empty-handed. He could only watch helplessly that his brother was carried away by the huge python.

    ¡°It¡¯s all because of you! A woman!¡± Unable to chase the huge python, the soldier vented his anger on Qin Yunuan and sprang at her furiously. However, he was hit to the ground by Leng Changxi¡¯s p when he was still several steps away from Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Just now, Nuan told you not to take reckless action. Instead of bullying a woman, if you hurry to chase the python, you may have some chance.¡±

    While the soldier was still hesitating, Wanyan Su had ordered, ¡°You guys, follow him to chase the python. For the others, rest here for the time to burn up an incense.¡±

    Taking several goodpanies with him, the soldier chased along the path the huge python left, but the way he looked at Qin Yunuan was still filled with anger. Qin Yunuan, on the other hand, didn¡¯t care much about it because she couldn¡¯t see him clearly as her eyes were covered with the white gauze.

    After a while, however, these soldiers ran to report in a hurry, ¡°Your Highness, the huge python has dragged the man into a cave, which was really dark inside. Although there are traces of human activity, we don¡¯t dare to enter at will. Cha insists on entering it by himself to save his brother. Your Highness, we run back to ask your permission.¡±

    ¡°Are you saying that there are traces of human activities in the cave?¡± Wanyan Su focused on the key point, ¡°About how long ago?¡±

    ¡°There is residual heat. No more than two hours.¡±

 Chapter 248 Saving a Life from the Snake

    <h4>Chapter 248 Saving a Life from the Snake</h4>

    Two hours. Hearing that, Leng Changxi frowned a little. It implied that someone had started off at least two hours earlier than they did. Who indeed was following them so closely?No. He was not following them. The man was walking even ahead of them.

    In front of the snake cave, there was still residential heat on the faggots which hadn¡¯t been burned out yet. The grass and wood beside it were cleared, which obviously was done when the man was resting. The cave was dark inside. Cha was not seen anywhere. The soldier kidnapped by the huge python was very likely to have little chance of surviving.

    Wanyan Su ordered the soldiers to tie the torches. In the wild, fire and water were both of great importance. This time, however, he asked people to take out a dozen torches at one time. He also seemed to feel worried about the man showing up in Yeren Valley without reason.

    The torches were set to fire one after another. The smoke rose up slowly. Wanyan Su selected 12 of his agilest and strongest bodyguards to enter the cave. The 12 torches shone the entrance of the cave bright immediately. Seeing them going in one by one, people felt as if their hearts had been hanged up into the air. After a while, reporting voice came from inside, ¡°Your Highness, Cha and the huge python has died together. The snake¡¯s stomach was cut open, but the person in it had been totally dead already.¡±

    Clearly, the brave younger brother had risked his life to save his elder brother, but he ended up dying with regret. Before long, soldiers¡¯ voices came again from the inside, ¡°There was another person¡¯s body in the cave.¡±

    ¡°Drag him out.¡±

    A few momentster, the twelve soldiers in the cave came out, each three of them carrying a body. Cha¡¯s body was covered with drug wounds and bruises. The man in the python was covered with slime. Thest one, the body that was carried out, was only a half of it, to be precise. His lower body was eaten up by the huge python, but his upper body was recognizable with effort.

    The soldier put the body¡¯s hair to the other side, exposing his pale face. The dead man was the young man of Tamuer Vige.

    Immediately someone among the soldiers shouted, ¡°I¡¯ve known that there is something wrong with the vige. Brothers, we will level the vige to the ground and kill all the people there when wee back.¡±

    ¡°Shut up, all of you!¡± It was the first time for Wanyan Su to lose his temper in public. Leng Changxi once said, his good temper of being graceful and kind might cause his inferiors to vite his order causally. Although his temper was in sharp contrast with the Grand Prince¡¯s cruelty and foppery, he should not tolerate it if his authority was challenged. At this moment, Wanyan Su fully understood the words.

    ¡°Now that we have been in the valley, it¡¯s impossible for us toe back.¡± Yes. Although Wanyan Su had sent someone to bury Sun Chengzhen¡¯s body well in secret, if the viger found that Sun Chengzhen was missing or dead, they would absolutely me Wanyan Su and his people for it. While Sun Chengzhen had killed so many people, to those vigers, he had always been a kind old man with some madness. They were the only suspects.

    Maybe because it was the first time for Wanyan Su to get angry like that, more than 100 people present were shocked by that. Leng Changxi squatted to examine the young man¡¯s wound. It was undeniable that he was bitten to death by the python. At the scene, there was only his trace. It seemed that he had sneaked into the valley alone. If he had the same aim as Leng Changxi did, to find the lost treasure or weapon factory, shouldn¡¯t he take more people with him?

    Leng Changxi continued to go down. He saw that the young man¡¯s right hand was clenched tightly as if it were holding something. Something that he was protecting when dying must be more important than his own life. Leng Changxi took great strength to open the young man¡¯s cold, stiff right hand. Inside, there was no more than a map asrge as his palm, on which there were dried blood and the sticky slime in the huge python¡¯s stomach.

    The more he looked at the map, the more familiar he felt to it.

    Leng Changxi nced at Wanyan Su, expressing what he was thinking right now through his eyes. Wanyan Su looked around and counted the number of people quickly. Besides the one eaten by the huge python and the one died with it, there were many bitten to death or injury by the snake in the 170 people. Those servingdies following the troop all died without any exception. At such a key point, the soldiers couldn¡¯t spare time and effort to protect them.

    The troop was organized in a hurry. The people were walking in haste in the valley where poisonous snakes were the most crowded. The cool wind blew from a hillside. This was the first open ground the soldiers saw after walking through so many thick forests and bushes.

    Wanyan Su ordered the soldiers to encamp here. Although it was still early, everyone was scared out of their lives by the terrifying experience in the snake valley. When the tents were pitched, and the campfire was burning, the sun was about to set. Wanyan Su¡¯s tent was a white one in the center, also thergest. Yaqi came in, carrying the soup made just now. In the tent, Wanyan Su, Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi were discussing something important.

    On the table, there was the map taken from the young man¡¯s hand.

    Yaqi put down the soup behind the curtain for spacing. The ingredients were some fungi found by soldiers in the forest temporarily, giving out fragrance.

    Beside the table, Leng Changxi put silently the map of the four families he collected in front of Wanyan Su one by one. He exined, ¡°This one is made up of four maps which are kept by the four prominent families of Qi. And this one is found from the man of Tamuer Vige. Your Highness, have you seen something unusual?¡±

    Wanyan Su frowned and stared at them carefully for a long time before saying, ¡°The two maps are actually the same. That¡¯s right. They are the same but are put together in different ways.¡± While saying, Wanyan Su was fiddling with the four separate maps. He couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Oh my God! It¡¯s incredible. No matter what kind of way is used to put the four maps together, aplete route will form in the end. However, how can we know which one is the correct one?¡±

    Leng Changxi sighed deeply and pointed at the four maps, ¡°This is exactly where the intelligence of thest emperor of Qi lies. Queen Mother invented the four maps in order to make the four families fight with each other. Thest emperor was better than her. Even though the four families can cooperate with each other and collect these maps together, they can¡¯t reach the treasure. What they will get is more and more blood and tears.¡±

    ¡°What about this one?¡± Wanyan Su pointed at the smaller one, which was taken from the young man, ¡°This one isplete. Maybe it is real.¡±

    ¡°If it is real, why did the young man die of the snake?¡± Qin Yunuan said slowly, ¡°I¡¯ve checked the mud around the cave. The one on the surface is quite different from the one under it, which is mixed with the smell liked by the snake. When I went downhill, I paid attention to the surroundings. The mud on the surface of the whole mountain has been under special treatment. It can be said that it is actually an artificial snake mountain. If I¡¯m right, there must be a person good at mechanism and geomancy that has arranged the Yeren Valley urately and modified its structure, making it a hugebyrinth. Those knowing nothing of thebyrinth and having no correct map will step into the trap he set.¡±

    ¡°Who on earth designed it, then?¡± Wanyan Su frowned. It seemed that things were much worse than his imagination. What was scarier was that he had walked to the center of thebyrinth step by step. It would be too difficult for him to go out.

    Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan exchanged a nce.

    ¡°I guess it¡¯s Sun Chengzhen,¡± Leng Changxi said quietly.

    ¡°How can it be him?¡± Wanyan Su wouldn¡¯t believe it, ¡°You¡¯ve said that the reason for him to stay at the Tamuer Vige is to return to the weapon factory one day. If it was him who designed this, he could have entered it easily.¡±

    ¡°In my opinion, returning to the weapon factory may not be his real goal,¡± Qin Yunuan analyzed slowly, ¡°Talents are always lonely. Since he could set such a big structure in the Yeren Valley under the monitoring of the emperor, he must be waiting for someone who can break it. His escapeter was also challenging himself to see whether he could run away from thebyrinth he carefully constructed. His final sess made him even lonelier. He thought that nobody could beat him anymore, so he set barriers and horrible stories to stop people from entering the valley while waiting for someone really powerful who could break hisbyrinth. I guess that the fake map in the young man¡¯s hand was from Sun Chengzhen, too. He just wanted to see how smart the young man was and whether he could find out the w. What a pity! Facing such an attractive condition, who can still keep great observation and logical thinking?¡±

    ¡°If it is really him...¡± Wanyan Su elongated his voice, ¡°There must be methods to break thebyrinth in his house. I¡¯ll send people to search for his house immediately.¡±

    ¡°Unnecessary,¡± Qin Yunuan stopped him, ¡°I¡¯ve already seen everywhere in his house. There is nothing useful. It seems that he has ruined all the clues already.¡±

    Wanyan Su sighed. He was worried about the fate of the 170 people. At first, learning that Leng Changxi was confident of getting the whole map, he agreed to risk the danger to go because he believed in Leng Changxi. But now he suddenly learned that the map was not reliable at all.

    ¡°However, he can ruin the clue, but he can¡¯t ruin his own habits,¡± Qin Yunuan raised her lips suddenly, showing extreme confidence. There would always be clues in the world. What really mattered, however, was whether they could be found.

    ¡°My husband and I have examined it. Inside Sun Chengzhen¡¯s teapot was the Sparrow Tongue tea. Even the teacup was steeped with the aroma of it. It implied that he had drunk this tea for years. There was its aroma in the bamboo basket outside his house, which meant that the Sparrow Tongue tea was picked up by himself. The Sparrow Tongue tea was hard to grow. It only grew in the ce where there was thick, wet, red earth on the lee side, which was also good for bamboo to grow. Sun Chengzhen was old now, so he couldn¡¯t walk a long distance to pick the tea. Therefore, the map with the sign of bamboo forests is the one at the bottom.¡±

 Chapter 249 A Monster in the Water

    <h4>Chapter 249 A Monster in the Water</h4>

    While speaking, Qin Yunuan put the fourth map back. Wanyan Su tended to stop her and asked, ¡°Are you sure about this? What if you¡¯re wrong?¡±

    ¡°Or, do you have any better way?¡± Qin Yunuan stroked the other three map pieces and tried hard to recall every hint she saw in Sun Chengzhen¡¯s room. But he was so cautious and left a few messages. As for why she could infer a clue from the Sparrow Tongue tea, she had learned something about it, when she followed Shen Xun to make deals with tea traders in the regions south of the River.

    Wanyan Su was worried and said, ¡°Mrs. Leng, do you know you are putting 170 lives at risk by doing so?¡±

    ¡°So what?¡± Qin Yunuan turned her head slightly. Seemingly, Wanyan Su could look into her ck eyes through the white silk. Although she couldn¡¯t see now, she was still able to read other people¡¯s minds. ¡°If we choose to stay here or take rash actions, we¡¯re doomed to die too. Your Highness, please make it clear that you have no other people to rely on if you don¡¯t trust me now.¡±

    Wanyan Su clenched his fist and stroked the fourth map Qin Yunuan found out. After a long time, he pointed at the map and said, ¡°Tomorrow, I will send people to find the eagle-mouth-shaped megalith on this map.¡±

    As long as they found the right way, they could move ahead safely, which was the only thing Wanyan Su cared about now.

    When Qin Yunuan came out of Wanyan Su¡¯s tent, the sun had already gone down. And she saw Yaqi waited for her near the tent.

    ¡°Why are you here? Are you not cold?¡±

    ¡°Madam, I¡¯m afraid that you will feel cold.¡± Yaqi obediently handed out the cloak she held and helped Qin Yunuan to put it on. Yaqi already warmed the doubleyer cloak up by holding it close to herself.

    ¡°Thank you for specially sending the cloak to me and even warming it up.¡± Qin Yunuan looked at Yaqi with a smile and praised her.

    ¡°This is what I should do.¡± Yaqi lowered her head, and she seemed shy. Then Qin Yunuan came back to the tent where Leng Changxi and she lived. Soldiers on patrol would pass by from time to time. It was quiet in the valley which looked quirkier than the vige.

    Leng Changxi gently took off the white silk on Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes and carefully applied newly ground herbs to her eyes. Looking at Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes that were as clean as the washed diamond, Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t help sighing, ¡°Why haven¡¯t your eyes recovered?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve changed to use medicine Lu Wuyi prescribed, and I may get well soon.¡± Qin Yunuan reached out to Leng Changxi¡¯s stubby chin. Lu Wuyi was the apanying physician in the army, and thanks to him, many soldiers who were bit by vipers in the Viper Valley survived.

    Other than Leng Changxi, Qin Yunuan, Lu Wuyi, Wanyan Su and Maomu, all other peopleing to this valley thought they were here to find treasures the Qidan Nationality left. Only they five knew there were things way more precious than treasures such as gold and silver. As long as they found the rare weapons and the most advanced technologies, the whole world would change.

    It was exactly the desire for such huge power that bound Wanyan Su and Leng Changxi, who were entangled in two nations¡¯ politics, together. Now they were partners, but once they found the arsenal in this valley, they would definitely be opponents. It seemed that Leng Changxi was at a disadvantage but in fact...

    ¡°Who can guarantee that Wanyan Su¡¯s over 100 soldiers can find the arsenal alive?¡± Right after Leng Changxi had a deep and meaningful sigh, they heard soldiers outside were shouting.

    ¡°Help! There¡¯s a monster in the water! It kills our man!¡±

    Behind the hill, there originally was a small pond which was home to rain and brooks flowing down the hill. The pond was one of the reasons why Wanyan Su chose to encamp here, but unexpectedly, they still met with many troubles.

    Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi pulled back the curtain and walked out of their tent immediately. They saw a group of Wanyan Su¡¯s guards gathering around the pond. These veterans who had fought in numerous wars all stared at the water surface in shock as if even the ripple on it could appall them. Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi stood afar on the und so that they could see what happened in the pond clearly. Leng Changxi turned to Qin Yunuan a bit to hold her in his arms and told her everything that happened in the water.

    Suddenly, the crowd eximed, and a huge ssh drew everyone¡¯s attention. Leng Changxi stared at the surface and whispered to Qin Yunuan, ¡°A human-shaped thing jumps out. No, she has a human body and a fishtail. A man or more urately, a dead man is hung on her tail.¡±

    With another ssh, the monster took the corpse back to the pond again. A more solid ashore couldn¡¯t bear standing by, and he cursed unmercifully, ¡°D*mn it. She¡¯s just a big fish. Let me dive down to catch her.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be rash.¡± Wanyan Su showed up at the end of the line and said seriously, ¡°Most of us are good at horse riding but can¡¯t swim. If you dive down rashly, you¡¯ll step in that monster¡¯s trap.¡±

    ¡°Your Highness, that¡¯s our lieutenant who shared weal and woe with us.¡± Someone said angrily.

    Speaking of the lieutenant, Wanyan Su was in a trance, and he already kept all merits of this lieutenant in his mind. Then, someone shouted, ¡°Your Highness, he dived down to catch fish and cook fresh soup for you tomorrow morning. Please, please allow us to save him. We can¡¯t save his life by doing so, but at least we can save his body and bury him.¡±

    Seeing these excited soldiers afar, Leng Changxi whispered and exined to Qin Yunuan, ¡°See, Sun Chengzhen yed a wonderful trick. He doesn¡¯t have to kill a bunch of people all together but kill them one by one. He first demoralizes them and then stirs up a conflict between Wanyan Su, who won¡¯t agree to save the dead man for the sake of all people, and his followers, who are determined to save theirpanion. This will demoralize soldiers more. Therefore, it won¡¯t be easy for them to work together well in future.¡±

    ¡°Shake popr morale? What a smart trick.¡± Qin Yunuan frowned, and through the white silk, she could see the ssh on the shiny water surface. The extremely bright moonlight tonight seemed to foreshadow this fatal ident.

    Several soldiers had disobeyed Wanyan Su and jumped into the pond. They tried hard to p the water surface with their sword or stir the water with sticks, in order to attract the monster¡¯s attention. However, the pond suddenly quieted down, and nothing happened.

    Not long, a corpse floated in the water, and that was their lieutenant.

    After hearing Leng Changxi¡¯s detailed description of the situation, Qin Yunuan already figured out everything and said, ¡°That man must have been killed before being thrown into the pond. If he was drowned, he would definitely struggle in the water. In this way, pond water would fill his lung and mouth so that he couldn¡¯t float in a short time. In general, he would sink to the pond bottom and float after his limbs swelled.¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded to agree with her assumption.

    When soldiers carried the corpse to the shore in a bustle, someone pointed at the surface and shouted, ¡°See, that monster shows up.¡±

    When everyone looked back at the water surface, they saw that monster swing herrge carp-like tail over the water, and she jumped out of the pond. Her silvery scales, with glittering and translucent drops, seemed to be made of silver. Then, she dived back to the water and swam to soldiers ashore quickly. Although soldiers hated this monster very much, they were still scared for what she had done. The bunch of soldiers who stood nearest to the pond shuddered, and their fingers, which held machetes, were trembling.

    Leng Changxi stood on the und and issued an order suddenly, ¡°Everyone, gather in the campsite. Nose count!¡±

    Nearly at the same time, the ripples on the water surface disappeared, and that monster was back to the bottom immediately. All soldiers there were talking about what power Mr. Tuoba, Prince Wanyan¡¯s honored guest, had so that even the monster was scared of him?

    Not long, everyone gathered in the campsite, waiting for Leng Changxi to issue orders. That lieutenant had already been buried. His whole body was terrifyingly cold as if he had been stored in an icehouse before. Actually, no matter how low the temperature at night was and how cold the water he soaked in was, his body temperature couldn¡¯t be that low.

    After the nose count, one guard reported to Wanyan Su. Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi stood aside, and they could hear everything the guard said. ¡°We have 168 soldiers in total, and everyone is here.¡±

    Wanyan Su nodded. He didn¡¯t know why Leng Changxi suddenly asked for a nose count, but he had to listen to him for now. Because he needed Leng Changxi¡¯s map and he couldn¡¯t directly snatch it given that Leng Changxi was skilled in martial arts.

    ¡°Are you sure everyone is here?¡± Qin Yunuan smiled suddenly. She held Leng Changxi¡¯s hands and asked him to show her around these soldiers. Then sheughed and said, ¡°Indeed, all men are here but do you still remember that, other than me, there is another girl? Why isn¡¯t she here?¡±

    That guard was motionless for a moment. Qin Yunuan frowned and suddenly raised her voice, ¡°Take me to the tent.¡±

    Wanyan Su followed them in surprise, doing nothing but to ask his retinues to catch up. Qin Yunuan didn¡¯te back to her tent but to a small conical one nearby. That tent was simply built on fist-thick logs and covered with an earthy yellow felt. If people chose to hide there, they would definitely be found out.

    That was Yaqi¡¯s tent.

    ¡°Get in to take her out.¡± Qin Yunuan ordered Lu Wuyi. Immediately, a girl¡¯s charming voice came out, ¡°Who¡¯s there? I¡¯m getting changed. Don¡¯te in.¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled and said, ¡°Getting changed? Humph.¡± Then, he threw up his spear to break off the logs that were tied to the tent directly. The felt immediately fell down, and everyone saw clearly the woman inside. That was Yaqi. But she wasn¡¯t getting changed as she said. She was well dressed with hair sticking onto her face, and she looked a bit pale.

    ¡°Yaqi. Why is your hair wet?¡± Looking at Yaqi, Qin Yunuan smiled and asked.

 Chapter 250 Guard the Tribe

    <h4>Chapter 250 Guard the Tribe</h4>

    Hearing Qin Yunuan¡¯s question, Yaqi was on the alert, and then she stayed calm. Slowly coiling her wet hair at the back of her head, she answered reverently, ¡°Madam, it¡¯s because I¡¯m washing my hair.¡±

    ¡°Washing your hair?¡± Qin Yunuan raised her voice a bit and continued, ¡°It¡¯s dry in North Di, and people seldom wash their hair. We have no big event today. Why do you wash your hair?¡±

    ¡°Madam, today is my mother¡¯s death anniversary. I want to pray for her, so I¡¯m taking a shower.¡±

    ¡°Oh, really?¡± Qin Yunuan walked to her with a smile, making the log on the ground together with the felt creak. She reached out and put Yaqi¡¯s hand on her palm. This seemingly gentle gesture, however, made Yaqi tremble.

    ¡°If you just take a shower, why are your fingers so pale? Yaqi, how long have you been in the bath? Two hours or four? Eh?¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s words stabbed in Yaqi¡¯s chest like a poisonous hook, and she couldn¡¯t stand being sounded out by Qin Yunuan like this anymore. Her leader told her to conceal her identity, but now that she was found out, she had nothing to conceal.

    Suddenly, Yaqi reached out, attempting to grasp Qin Yunuan¡¯s neck. But Leng Changxi pulled Qin Yunuan back and stood in front of her to stab the spear in Yaqi¡¯s shoulder. He was so fast that Yaqi had no time to shun the spear.

    Yaqi grasped the spear and tended to pull it out. However, Leng Changxi was so strong. Yaqi had a few tries and finally gave up. Lowering her head, she said to Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan, ¡°When did you suspect me? Eh? When did you find out that I spied on you to pry into information?¡±

    ¡°Long time ago.¡± Qin Yunuan said leisurely. She raised her hands to untie the white silk that covered her eyes. Under the bright moonlight, her eyes looked so sharp as if she could read one¡¯s mind. No one would believe she couldn¡¯t see everything clearly If she didn¡¯t tell them about this. And, Yaqi didn¡¯t believe this, either.

    ¡°Your eyes?¡± Yaqi pointed at Qin Yunuan and asked.

    Qin Yunuan looked down and said, ¡°I recovered a long time ago, about 2 weekster when I met Lu Wuyi after leaving the Ghost City. If I didn¡¯t recover, I wouldn¡¯t see you secretly sent messages to your leader. I began to suspect you a long time ago, so I pretended to be blind to find out your true intention, your backer and your contact.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t find out.¡± Yaqi wore a bitter smile. The blood flowed down from the big wound on her arm. She would die of the excessive loss of blood in no more than 30 minutes. Suddenly, Yaqi got up the courage as if she was not afraid of death anymore. ¡°The God of the Sun will protect us and will help us to drive you who covet treasures in the Yeren Valley out.¡±

    ¡°It seems that you are a treasure guard.¡± Qin Yunuan crouched to look at Yaqi who lingered on because of her injury. ¡°You believe in Gods, so you maye from an ancient tribe. You have a forehead narrower than those of North Di people. You are not a native here. Are you from Qi?¡±

    Hearing that, Yaqi snorted with disdain.

    Then Qin Yunuan made a correction at once. ¡°You disdain Qi people, so you aren¡¯t from Qi. You were hostile when we chose to encamp in that vige. Did you have a fight with people there before? Is it because vigers there wanted to go into the valley?¡±

    Yaqi knew well that Qin Yunuan was a terrifying mind reader. She didn¡¯t have to talk to you. Simply by looking at your facial expression and gesture, she would know what you were thinking. It was so terrifying. Yaqi, therefore, lowered her head to prevent Qin Yunuan from reading her facial expression.

    ¡°You¡¯re avoiding me?¡± Qin Yunuan turned her head a bit and said, ¡°There are two cases when people avoid others. One is that you are sounded out, and you don¡¯t want to reveal more. And another is that you know you can¡¯t calmly deal with what I¡¯m going to say next.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled and continued, ¡°You¡¯re from a mysterious tribe in the Yeren Valley, right? 50 years ago, when Qi built a mysterious arsenal there and drove you out of your homnd, you had a fight with Qi. However, you were defeated and were driven to a more deserted ce. Later, you took revenge on them by using your magic witchcraft so that Qi found it hard to build the arsenal and even invited wizards to perform rites to help them. When Qi¡¯s arsenal declined, you thought you could be better off. However, more people were attracted by the treasures. It was in part due to Sun Chengzhen¡¯s array, but more importantly, it was your protection of the valley.¡±

    ¡°Ho, go on. I love your made-up story.¡± Yaqi looked up. Her face became pale because of the excessive loss of blood. At the beginning, Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t notice this. But based on her daily observation on Yaqi, she found that she had a unique lifestyle which was different from that of people in North Di and the Central ins. Even, Qin Yunuan had studied the culture of ancient Qidan and West Xia. Atst, she concluded that Yaqi might grow up in a unique culture in which people had their own lifestyle and even characters. It was highly likely that the tribe she lived in was untapped. Qin Yunuan had seen many times that Yaqi prayed in a low voice to the flower-carved silver bracelet she wore. Therefore, she was more convinced that Yaqi lived in an untapped ce.

    Meanwhile, because of this bracelet, Qin Yunuan was sure that the mermaid in the pond was Yaqi. When she jumped out of the water, the silver bracelet had reflected the moonlight. An array could make a hill full of vipers or a foggy world, but it couldn¡¯t make a mermaid. Yaqi, a scout who had lurked in the Wanyan Su¡¯s mansion for a long time, finally was found out.

    Qin Yunuan lifted Yaqi¡¯s chin and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know why your nsmen drove you out. Maybe, the reason why you made all efforts to disguise yourself as a mermaid and kill people is to earn the credit ande back to your tribe. But now, you have to make it clear that you killed a man, and you are not innocent anymore.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stood up, and Leng Changxi handed over a clean handkerchief for wiping the blood on her fingers away. When she turned around, she heard Yaqi sneer behind. ¡°Even if your assumption is right, so what? You can never get to where you want to go because you only figure out the secret of one map. Let me tell you. In the Yeren Valley, you will die if taking any false step. Madam, I have served you for a long time so give you a reminder. We will have the same ending, and the only difference is that I take it earlier than you. I will wait for you in the hell.¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned her head a bit and showed part of her face. ¡°The flower carved on your bracelet is azalea, and a mark on the map found in the Sun Family is a sea of flowers. Your tribe is the nearest ce to the arsenal so that map should be thest one. It¡¯s true I only figured out the secret of one map before but now, thank you. I figured out two.¡±

    Yaqi was surprised and then smiled bitterly. When Qin Yunuan looked back, she already fell down to the ground and killed herself.

    People on the site were all Wanyan Su¡¯s henchmen, and they cleaned the site quickly by dragging Yaqi away and burying her. Then they took away the fallen tent. Wanyan Su looked pale and blue, seeming perplexed.

    ¡°Your Highness, Side Concubine wants to see you.¡± Suddenly, a guard reported outside.

    ¡°Ask her to wait.¡±

    ¡°Umm...¡± Wanyan Su always thought highly of Yasu, and the guard didn¡¯t know why he refused her this time.

    ¡°Ask her to wait! It¡¯s not time for her to lose temper now. It¡¯s all up to me whether we can live or die. If she wants to survive, stop being that superiordy in Bochaerji.¡± It was the first time for Wanyan Su to act so seriously. The guard was in a trance and then went back to report immediately.

    Leng Changxi strode forward and said while looking at Wanyan Su, ¡°If you acted like this at the very beginning, your men wouldn¡¯t disobey your order. Once someone was injured or dead, in the viper hole and also near the pond just now, your men only cared about taking revenge. Your Highness, you truly are determined to run a country well, but you are not good at managing the army yet.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡± Wanyan Su said coldly and then added, ¡°I will never let this happen again.¡±

    True, he should allow a woman to lurk in the mansion as a servant girl for a long time. He thought she was obedient, so he chose her to serve Qin Yunuan. But he didn¡¯t expect that this nearly ruined all their n.

    Seeing the mess, Wanyan Su ordered his men, ¡°Get up before 5 tomorrow to search the Yingzui Mountain.¡± Then he went by Qin Yunuan. Seeing her bright eyes, he couldn¡¯t help tittering. ¡°You really got something, even keeping such a big secret from me.¡±

    ¡°I dare not.¡± Qin Yunuan looked down slightly and said, ¡°You are just too confident about the efficacy of the drug you used. You thought, with that, my eyes could never recover. Although I know little about leechcraft, I can tell beneficial herbs apart from the harmful ones.¡±

    Wanyan Su was a bit shocked. He indeed had added something into the drug he gave to Qin Yunuan, but he only did this in the journey from Qi to North Di. At that time, Leng Changxi insisted on going separately, soter, he couldn¡¯t add more things into her drug. Then suddenly, he thought of Yasu.

    Wanyan Su looked up at Qin Yunuan who wore a light smile. He stopped smiling and concealed his awkwardness rapidly. ¡°There¡¯s no need to talk about the past. At least, we are allies now.¡± After saying this, he left.

    Lu Wuyi checked the site to make sure Yaqi didn¡¯t leave any poison. After all, tribes that lived in the deep mountain and that believed in Gods always grew their own herbs and created their own spells. But it seemed that Yaqi was really kicked out of her tribe. She had nothing connected to the tribe on her except the silver bracelet she wore.

    ¡°We¡¯re not even halfway yet. But you are already on the verge of fight. What if you really fight with each otherter?¡± Lu Wuyi was a bit worried.

 Chapter 251 Internal Conflict in the Army

    <h4>Chapter 251 Internal Conflict in the Army</h4>

    ¡°This isn¡¯t something that you should worry about,¡± Leng Changxi turned sideways and said to Lu Wuyi, ¡°Your only tasks are to make poison and antidote.¡±

    ¡°Do you really think that there is a mystery tribe in the dangerous Yeren Valley?¡± Lu Wuyi raised his tone, ¡°All I can see are snakes and beasts here, but no traces of human beings.¡±

    The chilly wind in the night made Lu Wuyi sneeze. Somehow, he felt like there were eyes looking at him in the dark, demon-like eyes. They were looking at the throat, as if they were waiting for a chance to stab through it.

    ¡°That¡¯s only because we can¡¯t see them. It doesn¡¯t mean that they don¡¯t exist.¡± Leng Changxi turned around and said to Lu Wuyi, his cold eyes glittered through his silver mask.

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Qin Yunuan said, ¡°Did you still remember what Maomu said that when he came to the Yeren Valley seven years ago? There was a conflict between them, yet he was the only survivor. He would just need to bury the bodies up, or even leaving them there in the wild, exposing to the sun. Why would he bother pulling the guts out of the bodies and hang them on the trees?¡±

    ¡°Maybe he made that up,¡± Lu Wuyi shook his head, ¡°Maomu isn¡¯t trustworthy after all.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯ve tempted him before,¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her eyes and raised them suddenly. Her pupils were calm and unpredictable, like an old well. ¡°I once deliberately let him see butchers killingmbs. I told the butchers to pull the intestines of thembs out and hang them on bamboo sticks. He was extremely terrified then, and he even started shaking. He was afraid, because he had experienced it. If he really took out hispanions¡¯ guts, he wouldn¡¯t have been so afraid. The only exnation is that seven years ago, after the conflict between Maomu and his crew, someone stole the bodies and hung their organs on the trees. We don¡¯t know whether it was a warning or a religious ceremony, but we could be sure that there must be someone else in the valley.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have time to y such a mind game with you.¡± Lu Wuyi suddenly turned his head towards Qin Yunuan and said, in shock, ¡°Madam Leng. I¡¯m curious about it. Since when have you known so well about reading people¡¯s minds? It was as if you could know what others think just by their actions and moves. Why have I never heard that third Miss Qin has such ability?¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°If you have lived twice, and you have someone whom you love so dearly that you decided to follow him wherever he goes, you¡¯ll be stronger without knowing it. You¡¯ll do all you can without knowing it. Observing others and a good memory, these are what I can do. All I¡¯ve done is just to let myself bing stronger.¡±

    Lu Wuyi thought about her words for a while and looked at Leng Changxi. Leng Changxi¡¯s nce was tender, looking at Qin Yunuan just like the gentle young master he was when he first fell in love with her, but not the fierce General Leng.

    The sun in the forest always rises a bitter. After what happenedst night, Qin Yunuan only slept a few hours in the tent, before she was woken by the sound of the soldiers packing. As she put on a cloak and leave the tent, she saw a pot of rice porridge. The conditions were tough, as some of the food they brought along fell into the muddy pond during their fight with the snakes. A clever soldier handed Qin Yunuan a bowl of porridge as soon as he saw Qin Yunuaning out from the tent. There was some mushroom on it. It seems that the soldier collected it by himself.

    ¡°Where¡¯s my husband?¡± To avoid trouble, Qin Yunuan was still covering her face with veils. However, Leng Changxi took away a fewyers of the veil so that Qin Yunuan could see clearly through the white veil.

    ¡°Oh, Mr. Tuoba went out early in the morning. He was finding the way together with the pioneering squad. He should be back soon.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Qin Yunuan said, ¡°What about the Prince?¡±

    The soldier smiled tteringly, yet he didn¡¯t say it out directly. He just pointed his elbow in the southeast direction. Following this direction, Qin Yunuan saw Yasu arguing with Fourth Prince Wanyan Su about something. There was a face-down y bowl by their feet. The porridge was spilled out, and they were arguing fiercely.

    Qin Yunuan narrowed her eyes. Wanyan Su was looking serious, as if he was interrogating Yasu. Yasu looked innocent. Qin Yunuan suddenly remembered that the soldier who handed her porridge was still besides, so she said calmly, ¡°My eyes are not working properly, I couldn¡¯t see it clearly even if you pointed it out for me.¡±

    The soldier looked embarrassed. Suddenly, there was sound of horses. Qin Yunuan held her breath, and it was like she could hear the hooves stepping on the grass and breaking the grassroots. A familiar fragrant of grass flew into Qin Yunuan¡¯s nose. Leng Changxi smelled exactly the samest night.

    He was back.

    At the moment, the soldier who was on watch at the highest spot waved his g and yelled, ¡°They¡¯re back.¡±

    With the previous dangers, they deeply felt that it was the most fortunate thing to be able toe back alive.

    ¡°How was it?¡± Wanyan Su took over the reins for Leng Changxi in person.

    Leng Changxi hopped off the horse, patted off the dust on his armor and said, ¡°We¡¯re on the right track. We followed the map and found Yingzui Mountain. However, there was a slot canyon in our way, and we couldn¡¯t get through on our horses, so we have returned for now.¡±

    Wanyan Su frowned, ¡°Are there any other paths apart from that?¡±

    Leng Changxi took a quick nce at Wanyan Su and said, ¡°No, that¡¯s the only way.¡±

    There were no other paths other than the slot canyon, and horses couldn¡¯t get through. It meant that they had to abandon all their horses. It would be much slower without horses, and it meant that they had to abandon everything that could only be carried by horses.

    After a long while, a man next to Wanyan Su said with a blunt voice, ¡°How could there only be one path in such a big valley? Please wait here, my Highness. I¡¯ll lead the man and find another way. Horses are everything to us North Di people. How could we abandon them?¡± After saying that, the man turned to his counterparts and urged them, ¡°Brothers, the Prince treated us very well. It¡¯s time for us to repay that. It¡¯s just a valley, how dangerous could it be?¡±

    The people were excited by the man¡¯s speech, and they were all looking fearless with the des in their hands.

    ¡°If you coulde back alive after such a ruthless expedition, I¡¯ll cut my head off.¡± Suddenly, Leng Changxi¡¯s words put them off.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± The man was filled with discontent, ¡°Tuoba, don¡¯t think that you¡¯re special just because you¡¯re a noble from West Xia, and that our Prince treats you well. If you coulde back alive, I surely can.¡±

    Leng Changxi turned his head away, ignoring the unreasonable man.

    ¡°But what if you can¡¯t make it back?¡± A sudden shout stopped the man from leading his horse. He turned around and saw that the shout came from Wanyan Su, who was always gentle and reasonable.

    ¡°My Highness?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m asking you now, what if you can¡¯t make it back?¡± Wanyan Su was nothing like his usual self, who was always gentle. His nce was dominant and powerful, ¡°Then my soldiers will go to look for you. We¡¯ll dy further and further. When could we finally set off then? I¡¯ve told you all that Mr. Tuoba is my important guest. You¡¯ve all seen what he¡¯s capable of. Since he said that there¡¯s only one path, what else could you say? Since you¡¯re all my men, whenever you disobey my orders, you should know what consequences there are.¡±

    Seeing Wanyan Su¡¯s anger growing, soldiers were trying to save that man, ¡°My Highness, he was just too excited just now, please...¡±

    ¡°Too excited?¡± Wanyan Su sneered at the man, who was kneeling on the ground. He took out the sword of his guard and waved it against the man¡¯s neck. There was blood everywhere in the next moment. Everyone was shocked. Was this still the gentle Prince they knew?

    Wanyan Su was very quick. He handed the sword back to his guard, but the guard was too shaken to hold the sword.

    Wanyan Su looked around, ¡°Would you me me? Too emotionless or too violent? You should all know that you¡¯re not alone, and we are a team. What I need to do isn¡¯t securing the life of any individuals, but you all as a whole. It¡¯s a dangerous ce here. Whether we stay here or not, or whether we are on the right track, there might be loss of life.¡± Wanyan Su pointed firmly at the body of the man and said, ¡°Anyone who doesn¡¯t follow my orders would end up like him. If you don¡¯t agree with my way, feel free to leave now. I won¡¯t me you for that. However, if you¡¯re staying, remember that no one should disobey my orders.¡±

    After saying that, Wanyan Su looked at Leng Changxi. Seeing Leng Changxi¡¯s approving nce, he was getting more confident. Yasu held Wanyan Su¡¯s arm and said, ¡°My Highness, I¡¯ll always be with you.¡±

    Wanyan Su replied with a ¡°hmm¡±, but he didn¡¯t look so happy about it. Qin Yunuan knew that after what happened in the morning, there had been something else in the rtionship between Wanyan Su and Yasu.

    After a while, there was still no one leaving the army. It was only when Wanyan Su said, st chance¡±, when a few people pushed each other and stood out.

    ¡°My Highness, we all have children waiting for us at home, we...¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t say so much. You can go now.¡±

    The few people left one by one. When they walked past Qin Yunuan, she said faintly, ¡°Don¡¯t turn back. Keep going east. When you see a cliff, climb down the cliff slowly. Don¡¯t try to take any shortcuts.¡±

    She didn¡¯t know whether these people had heard her or not. When they left, Wanyan Su took a deep breath and said, ¡°For the rest of you, abandon your horses and carry everything you can with you. Let¡¯s march towards the slot canyon.¡±

 Chapter 252 Between Life and Death

    <h4>Chapter 252 Between Life and Death</h4>

    The tents, food and other necessities of the 160-man squad were originally carried by seven horses. Now that the horses could no longer proceed, every one of them was carrying much more weight. As for the horses, they let go of the older ones and killed the younger ones for their meat. They need to utilize everything they could.

    They killed the horses in tears. The North Di people treasured their horses a lot, even more than their own lives. Seeing the soldiers killing horses, Leng Changxi turned his head away. He knew clearly about their pain.

    As they were about to leave, someone was feeling unfair.

    ¡°Wait, why do we all have to carry so much stuff, apart from Madam Tuoba, who¡¯s ady, why is the rumored powerful Mr. Tuoba only carrying a spear with him?¡± After saying that, he threw a horse leg at Leng Changxi provocatively and said, ¡°Come on, Mr. Tuoba, carry this horse leg. We are all equal. Look around. Every one of us carries two horse legs at least. However, since you¡¯re weaker, I¡¯ll just have you carrying one of them.¡±

    His words triggered theughter of the others, yet Leng Changxi, who was totally shamed, remained calm. He slowly walked towards the soldier and untied the spear on his back. The spear happened to fell in Leng Changxi¡¯s hands. Leng Changxi pointed the spear forward without saying a word.

    The soldier who provoked Leng Changxi thought that he wanted to have a dual with him. They had all seen what Mr. Tuoba was capable of, and it was terrifying. He took a step back and yelled. ¡°What do you want? I just said something about you, yet you want to solve it the violent way.¡±

    ¡°Hold out your hands.¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s cold tone made the soldier had to obey him. He reached out his trembling hands. Just when he was about to ask why, Leng Changxi let go of his spear, and it fell into the soldier¡¯s hands. The soldier almost fell on the ground because of the weight of the spear.

    The others immediately came over to help, only to find that the spear was terribly heavy. They had no idea how Mr. Tuoba, who was leaner and smaller than the North Di warriors, could wave such a heavy weapon so easily.

    ¡°If you think I¡¯m not carrying enough, feel free to swap with me. I¡¯ll exchange my spear for two horse legs, how about that?¡±

    The spear was actually heavier than ten horse legs. The trouble-maker was speechless, but he wasn¡¯t willing to apologize yet. Leng Changxi didn¡¯t me him further. He took a side nce at the people, picked up his spear and left.

    ¡°This Mr. Tuoba is really somebody.¡± Someone quietly eximed.

    ¡°Sh*t somebody.¡± The trouble-making soldier patted his butt and stood up. He was the leader of the squad from the pce. He thought that he would get rewards from Fourth Prince as he was sent by the Grand Khan. However, he didn¡¯t get anything. What was more unbearable for him was that even a random person without fame or power could shame him like that.

    ¡°Just wait and see, I¡¯ll definitely seize the spear from that Tuoba.¡±

    The long line of the army had arrived at the narrow canyon. There was humid and cold winding from the canyon. Wanyan Su took a deep breath and ordered the soldiers to march on at full speed, so as to pass through the canyon as soon as possible.

    The narrowest spot in the slot canyon only allowed one man to pass. As the mountains on both sides were shading off the sunlight, it was really dark in the canyon. They had to light some torches when they were halfway through. As the surroundings were lit, they saw countless ck worms on both sides of the canyon, each of them as long as a finger.

    ¡°Holy, what are these?¡± North Di was quite dry, so many of them hadn¡¯t seen these worms, which only live in humid ces.

    ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t touch them, these are leeches.¡±

    Leeches feed on the blood of animals. After sucking in blood, a finger-long leech could swell as big as a fist. The North Di soldiers had never seen it before, and the horror in their eyes was apparent.

    ¡°Ahh, they got me.¡± One of the soldiers yelled and stumbled back. No matter how hard Leng Changxi tried tofort him and calm him down, he couldn¡¯t. He patted on a leech on his neck rapidly, but the leech had a strong suction force. It attached itself to the soldier¡¯s neck, sucked his blood and became swollen slowly. The soldier struggled but hit himself against the rocks. Instantly, the leeches on the rocks were all active, and they wriggled towards the soldier. Soon, he was covered in leeches. Some of them even went into his clothes and helmet.

    The soldier was wriggling in pain, but no one dared to help him. Everyone was standing far and avoiding him. At the same time, a scream came from above. It sounded familiar. It should the few soldiers who left earlier, and it came from above.

    Qin Yunuan felt bad about it. It seemed that they didn¡¯t follow her suggestions but still insisted on taking the shortcut.

    Sure enough, with a loud bang, they saw several armored soldiers falling from above. They were the four people who left.

    It was just that the slot canyon was wider on the top but narrower at the bottom. The four people got stuck between the rocks when they fell halfway. There was a broken bridge hanging on the top of the canyon. It seemed that the four of them saw the broken bridge here, and they totally ignored Qin Yunuan¡¯s words.

    The four of them were just hanging there. Falling from such a height andnded on these weird rocks, they must have been dead. Quickly, the leeches marched towards the bodies of the four, looking to enjoy their feast.

    Leng Changxi frowned slightly and shouted, ¡°Everyone, march on at full speed.¡±

    Just after he said that, they found out that the soldier who was just surrounded by leeches was dead. All his blood was sucked off, and all he left was his empty armor and his skeleton. It all happened in a second.

    The soldiers behind were terrified.

    ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± Leng Changxi pointed at the bone pile on the ground. ¡°Step over it to get here.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s like our brother.¡±

    ¡°Huh, brother?¡± Leng Changxi sneered, ¡°If he¡¯s really your brother, why was there no one who wanted to save him earlier?¡±

    Just then, a leech fell from the rock wall. It was about to fall on Qin Yunuan when Leng Changxi sliced the leech into two pieces in the air with a dagger. Then he said seriously, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to be skeletons like him, march at full speed.¡±

    The squad was finally on the move again. Everyone shivered when they heard the sound of boots stepping on their friend¡¯s bones. However, on the other side, he felt lucky that they were not attached by leeches.

    ¡°Cha, this Tuoba has really got it. Just then, I didn¡¯t even see him drawing his de, but he had already cut the worm in half.¡±

    This Cha was the trouble-making soldier who sworn to seize Leng Changxi¡¯s spear. His nce was evil. In fact, the soldier who was attacked by leeches was just walking normally, but Cha pushed him against the rocks. He had a beef with that man for a long time and had wished to kill him from long ago. Cha was someone who always got what he wanted. Even for opponents like Leng Changxi, he wouldn¡¯t back off.

    ¡°Just wait and see. When we settle downter, I¡¯m not only going to seize his spear, but I would make him more painful than dying. No one had ever dared to tell me what to do.¡±

    The troop walked out of the slot canyon carefully. Maybe it was because they had just experienced death. Everyone was quiet. It was quitete, so they settled down in an open space. As all the tents were left behind when they passed through the slot canyon, they could only sleep in the wild. Qin Yunuan found a hidden ce and started studying the maps. She only figured out the first and thest ones, but she couldn¡¯t be sure about the sequence of the remaining two. However, they had almost finished the first map. It was a hard choice, as her decision would determine the fate of a hundred and sixty men.

    Leng Changxi saw Qin Yunuan worried from afar, so he took a bowl of congee and approached her alone. Qin Yunuan was reading the maps carefully, when she saw someone heading towards her. She subconsciously covered her face with the white veil she was hanging on her neck. For most of the others, she was just Madam Tuoba, whose eyes didn¡¯t work well, instead of third Miss Qin, who was a master in strategies.

    ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Leng Changxi called out to her softly. He put down the congee in his hands and cuddled Qin Yunuan. He kissed Qin Yunuan forehead gently, and his warm and humid breath made Qin Yunuan fell for him again. They had been married for a long time, but Qin Yunuan still felt the same kind of affection every time she saw him.

    ¡°What are you thinking?¡±

    ¡°The map.¡± Qin Yunuan took over the congee. The boiling hot congee had been cooled down by Leng Changxi, and there were pieces of fresh horse meat in it. Qin Yunuan was looking at the map while drawing circles on Leng Changxi¡¯s chest with her finger. ¡°I don¡¯t know the paths ahead.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Leng Changxi squished Qin Yunuan¡¯s little face. However, Qin Yunuan was much thinner than before, so her face wasn¡¯t as squishy as before. ¡°Everything will be sorted out when the timees. We still have a long time to figure that out.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°Since when are you soy-back?¡±

    Leng Changxi leaned forward and breathed against Qin Yunuan¡¯s sensitive area, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m with you, and everything seems less horrible.¡±

    Just when the two were making out, there was a screaming from the other side of the bonfire, ¡°Oh no, there¡¯s poison in the congee.¡±

    When they got there, they saw Cha, who sworn to teach Leng Changxi a lesson, lying on the ground. There was half a bowl of congee next to him, and he had passed out, spitting white foam.

 Chapter 253 The Luminous Lake

    <h4>Chapter 253 The Luminous Lake</h4>

    The congee was toxic?

    Qin Yunuan looked at the porridge naturally. She had drunken most of the porridge. Leng Changxi got nervous and held the pulse of Qin Yunuan more tightly. Among all people here, there were only Cha and Qin Yunuan who drank the porridge, and the other people were fine. Lu Wuyi frowned and treated A Mo. He finally concluded that there was virulent gelsemium elegan in the porridge. Only a small amount could make people die in a short time.

    Suddenly, Leng Changxi felt a quiver in his heart heavily. He wanted to summon Lu Wuyi to treat Qin Yunuan, but Qin Yunuan stopped him.

    ¡°Did you feel anything abnormal about my pulse just now?¡±

    Leng Changxi calmed down. He pondered clearly and said, ¡°Nothing abnormal. Your pulse is stable and strong.¡±

    ¡°Cha and I drunk the porridge. Cha gets some trouble, but I am fine. There are only two possibilities. Someone wanted to hurt Cha and added poison into his porridge, or he just directed the whole thing by himself because he wanted to hurt other people. Changxi, what¡¯s your opinion? Which one is more possible?¡± Qin Yunuan smiled with her shining and wise eyes.

    Leng Changxi was afraid that Qin Yunuan got hungry. He stayed near the pot early and served her a bowl of porridge. Everybody did not know that Madam Tuoba had drunken the porridge first and thought it was Cha who drunk the porridge first. When everybody was warning the danger mutually, Qin Yunuan had poured the porridge on her hands away on the big stone behind her secretly.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Leng Changxi carried the long spear on his back sideways casually and finally found the abnormal condition here.

    Even Wanyan Su became so astonished. He had never thought that there was gelsemium elegan in their short food.

    ¡°Somebody got poisoned.¡± Wanyan Su straightened up his body. He got pale recently and looked so worried, ¡°After a preliminary check, the porridge is toxic. I have ordered people to pour all the porridge. Doctor Lu is checking the horsemeat and rice. I hope the other food will be clear.¡±

    At the same time, three to four soldiers tried to lift Cha to a cool ce for rest. Lu Wuyi had acupunctured him and required to find a lee ce for him. Cha was so tall and robust that three to four soldiers could not lift him up. Leng Changxi came here and called, ¡°Young Master Tuoba, please help us. We can¡¯t lift Cha up. You were born with superhuman strength and even can hold the super heavy long spear. You must have the ability to lift it easily.¡±

    The soldiers seemed to provoke Leng Changxi or asked him for help. People around Cha heard their words, and all consciously gave a way to him.

    Leng Changxi put away his long spear on his back. It was a good touch for the ck boot to tread on the wet and soft dirt after raining. He walked slowly and glimpsed at Cha lying on the ground.

    ¡°Look, Young Master Tuoba, over there. You just put Cha into that cool ce.¡± Looking along with the soldier¡¯s hand, Leng Changxi found that it was the back of a very secluded hill, where everyone camped.

    ¡°OK.¡± Leng Changxi smiled and reached his hands to drag the belt of Cha. He concentrated and hoisted Cha over his head easily. He put Cha on his shoulder and walked towards the hill. On his way, he found that there were fewer and fewer people. Leng Changxi put Cha down slowly until he reached the secluded hillside. He suddenly said unkind words, ¡°I feel so strange that they should find a ce with many people so they can look after you at any time if you feel sick. But they still chose such a cool ce.¡±

    Having heard the words, Cha on the back of Leng Changxi suddenly opened one of his eyes. The bright eye was like a polished bronze mirror. He jumped from Leng Changxi. He was about to drag the cor of Leng Changxi and lectured Leng Changxi. But with several light sounds, Leng Changxi suddenly exerted his strength and dragged Cha onto the ground. He used his arms to press Cha¡¯s body so as to keep him the posture of creeping. At the same time, Leng Changxi observed the surrounding prudently. There were two short upright arrows with special patterns on the moist dirt. The top of the arrows was weirdly red, which seemed to be a kind of unique mark.

    If Leng Changxi had not pressed Cha down, the two short arrows would have hit the heart of Cha instead of the ground. Cha checked the depth of the shot arrows in the dirt and estimated that the top of the arrow would go inside the bodypletely. Leng Changxi still saved Cha in such an emergent situation even if he knew that Cha would hurt him.

    Leng Changxi had no intention to observe the inside thinking of Cha but observed clearly the circumstance around. He suddenly noticed that the bush three meters away moved, and then he was about to chase it but found the brown bush had been gone.

    Leng Changxi had guessed that that was the mysterious tribe that was protecting Yeren Valley. They wore clothes whose color was simr to the bush in order to hide themselves and catch and kill prey. This was good news that could prove that Qin Yunuan¡¯s guess was right. But it might be bad news because it could prove that in such massive woods, a flock of people was monitoring this troop silently and attempted to kill them.

    The person only shot two short arrows and then left quickly, who might go back to report. Given this situation, Leng Changxi decided to negotiate with Wanyan Su and advised that they should leave this ce at night.

    Leng Changxi was about to leave, but Cha beside suddenly held the leg of Leng Changxi and said sincerely, ¡°Thanks for saving me, Young Master Tuoba. I am unable to pay back.¡±

    Leng Changxi lowered his head to glimpse at Cha. This man from North Di was not too malicious but more impatient. Though he was good at skills, he always brawled. Leng Changxi disliked that. And he had seen that Cha pushed out the soldier who was besieged and attacked by leeches.

    Cha thought Leng Changxi did not hear his words, and then shouted more loudly, ¡°I will do everything for you to pay back your kindness.¡±

    ¡°No need to do that,¡± Leng Changxi moved his legs which were held by Cha tightly, ¡°You let me go, and then you pay back my kindness.¡±

    Cha got stunned and let him go. Leng Changxi walked towards the campfire quickly. Wanyan Su, beside the campfire, was serving Suya a bowl of soup which was just boiled. Qin Yunuan was sitting beside to keep her warm. Wanyan Su stood up unconsciously when he saw Leng Changxi was approaching quickly.

    ¡°How about Cha?¡± Wanyan Su asked, ¡°Young Master Tuoba, thanks. You¡¯ve had a long journey.¡±

    ¡°I am just pretending,¡± Leng Changxi told Wanyan Su what happened there briefly and said seriously, ¡°Prince, we should leave at once.¡±

    Having heard Leng Changxi¡¯s exnation, Wanyan Su frowned again. He seemed to be always frowning after he entered Yeren Valley.

    ¡°The local tribe is familiar with the local terrain and weather. They were likely to attack us under the dark night fog. We have to be aware of this.¡±

    ¡°Even so,¡± Wanyan Su was a little bit hesitant, ¡°But marching at night is not a wise strategy in military actions. And we do not know the right way to continue for the rest of our journey. Madam Tuoba only put the first and the fourth map together. The route in the middle is the key.¡± Wanyan Su always considered many things.

    Leng Changxi looked at Qin Yunuan. Their eyes¡¯ contact showed that they were negotiating.

    ¡°Actually, maybe not,¡± Qin Yunuan said suddenly, ¡°I havepared the rest of two maps. We should choose the right or left way when we arrive at Yingguang Lake, which is t and wide with sufficient water. We can stay there and n the next journey tomorrow.¡±

    When they were talking, the wind was blowing the woods with noises. They felt that someone was approaching slowly. Even the sound of squirrel moves was like a people treading on deadwood very much.

    Leng Changxi looked at Wanyan Su with determined eyes. After a while, Wanyan Su ordered decisively, ¡°Everybody takes down the camps. We continue to march at night.¡±

    The potful of porridge was discarded away due to the prank yed by Cha. People here had someints because they had not taken this potful of soup fully. This time, Cha behaved himself and walked in front of the troop patiently. He evenforted those exhausted soldiers together with his followers.

    Qin Yunuan felt surprised at the change of Cha. She approached Leng Changxi and asked secretly, ¡°What did you do to that man?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea,¡± Leng Changxi pouted and said innocently, ¡°Maybe his head was ever kicked by a donkey.¡±

    A donkey? In such a secluded mountain?

    It was dark. There was only a lonely row of long troop marching slowly. For going across Yixiantian, Wanyan Su ordered all his subordinates to throw away many torches. Now they just used little grease from horsemeat to smear onto the thick sticks with rags as torches. Leng Changxi was walking in the front, and Wanyan Su, like all people, was waking.

    In the distance, glowing blue ripples were found. And they seemed to sniff the smell of water when approaching.

    That was Yingguang Lake.

    Yingguang Lake was famous for the unite microorganisms in theke. Each night, those microorganisms would glow with blue, gloomy and mysterious lights. From a distance, they were like a dark blue jewel in a fairnd.

    ¡°We are at Yingguang Lake!¡± The scout who waked in the front waved the g to the troop behind. People behind cheered up immediately because Wanyan Su had said that they could have a rest when they arrived at Yingguang Lake.

    ¡°Wait.¡± Leng Changxi suddenly made a gesture of silence. Everybody held his breath. Cha even kept the silence in the back, and even the scout in the front was still.

    The air seemed to be frozen. Everybody was waiting for the indication from Leng Changxi. Leng Changxi had be the leader of the troop of 160 people somehow.

    ¡°Get out!¡± Leng Changxi suddenly took a big step forwardly and took out the long spear behind to poke toward another side of the hillside heavily.

 Chapter 254 Soul-plundering

    <h4>Chapter 254 Soul-plundering</h4>

    The long spear of Leng Changxi was made of dark iron, which was extremely sharp. He poked the long spear deeply into a person¡¯s body and caused a massive hemorrhage. The scout in the front evaded quickly but still got bloody stains on her arm.

    Cha rushed to the front first. After he made sure that it was safe around, he checked the poked male adult in coarse brown gown. Leng Changxi had poked his carotid and caused blood sshing. The male adult seemed to still alive. Cha squinted and then trod the face of this man who was almost dead. After a ringing sound, the man diedpletely.

    The dark brown coarse gown was exactly identical to what Leng Changxi saw on the hillside. It could conclude that this man was a member of that mysterious tribe. His hair was tousy and dirty, and there was a middle-sized scar that seemed to be caused by some ferocious animals. It might be the reason why he fell behind and stayed in Yingguang Lake.

    ¡°What a pity,¡± Wanyan Su stepped forward and sighed, ¡°If we let him alive, we would know the right routine next.¡±

    Having heard Wanyan Su¡¯s words, many soldiersined that Leng Changxi was too arbitrary to kill that man. But only the scout in the front felt grateful to Leng Changxi. The moment Leng Changxi poked the long spear, the scout clearly felt a cold wind behind. And the dead man held a bone dagger made of bovine bone tightly, which could prove his intuition. If Leng Changxi did not save him, he would be dead at such a close distance.

    ¡°Not really.¡± Qin Yunuan stepped forward suddenly and unfolded a silk thread on her wrist. She pinched one end of the silk thread, and the other end hung in the wind, ¡°Look at the direction of the silk threads¡¯ swinging.¡±

    Wanyan Su was about to answer but found that the ma he brought here suddenly lost its directivity in Yingguang Lake.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Wanyan Su took the ma from a soldier. The curved-handle spoon made of a ma in the middle was continually rotating.

    ¡°Something weird in theke.¡± Somebody answered at once.

    ¡°OK.¡± Wanyan Su put the ma aside. Everything in Yeren Valley was weird.

    ¡°Ma is not the only way to direct our way.¡± Qin Yunuan tilted her head slightly. She stood under the moonlight with her jade-like oval face. With the blue light in Yingguang Lake, her face was like a glowing cloud, making people feel warm.

    ¡°Changxi, the wind is strong near theke. Look. Pleasepare the direction of my silk thread¡¯s swinging and the front and back of the man¡¯s clothes.¡±

    Leng Changxi checked and said, ¡°There are sands in the front but nothing in the back.¡±

    The bank of Yingguang Lake was full of silver sands, which was rare to be found in the woods area. Just by these sands, Qin Yunuan knew much more.

    ¡°It¡¯s clear. It can prove that the man was walking against the wind. Prince, you can order the soldiers to march with the wind. It¡¯s the right direction.¡±

    Really?

    Wanyan Su seemed not to believe the very decisive judgment of Qin Yunuan.

    Qin Yunuan shrugged her shoulder, ¡°Prince, do you have any other choice except my idea?¡±

    Yes. Now the whole troop was trapped here, and they should leave the ce as soon as possible.

    Wanyan Su made the order immediately to let all soldiers march with the wind along with the bank. And the man¡¯s corpse from the mysterious tribe was buried into sands in a hurry. Cha took the initiative to help Leng Changxi. After Leng Changxi saved him, he changed his attitude toward Leng Changxi totally.

    The water of Yingguang Lake was blue, and the ripples with blue nkton were like women whose fingertips were flirting with the tranquil and mysteriouske. The surface of theke was like a mirror, and the moonlight lighted up all people. Soldiers were exhausted, and many of them walking near theke could not help but use hands to take water to quench their thirst. And even Wanyan Su walking in the front was bewildered by theke water. It was as beautiful as a fairnd.

    Ayer of white gauze covered the eyes of Qin Yunuan. She just felt something blue in the front and thought nothing wrong. But Lu Wuyi suddenly sniffed and said, ¡°Something weird in the water.¡±

    Suddenly, a soldier from the troop rushed into the deepest ce of theke directly and shouted, ¡°My son, papa is here. Papaes to save you. Don¡¯t feel scared.¡±

    Somebody stopped the running soldier at once. But the soldier suddenly had great strength and got rid of the two people who were grasping his arms, and then ran into the center of theke unconsciously.

    Leng Changxi took a step, and Wanyan Su controlled the situation in a hurry. But Lu Wuyi just said calmly, ¡°The solider is in a trance unconsciously. Apparently, his soul has been plundered by theke water.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Qin Yunuan asked with her head tilting.

    Lu Wuyi nced at theke with blue light. He tried his best not to be bewildered by the blue light in theke, ¡°My father has once treated a patient. He started to believe that his wife, who had passed away for many years, was still alive, and he saw her after a long journey. The local people thought that he was bewitched and kicked him away. But his old mother, who was eighty years old, begged for my father¡¯s treatment. My father made a great effort but still did not find the cause. It was not hysteria or psychiatric disorders. One day, the man told my father the cause. He said he saw ake in a remote area in the north region. In theke, he could see the love scenes of his wife and himself. To see his wife at any time, he always went for a long journey and met his wife in theke each year. But one day, he could not see his wife in theke any longer. Thus, he believed that his wife had left theke and went back to meet him.¡±

    ¡°Saw his wife in theke?¡± Qin Yunuan frowned, ¡°How?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea,¡± Lu Wuyi suddenly smiled lightly, ¡°ording to his exnation, theke could expose the deepest secret and desire of people, but conditions differed. Someone could see that his dream was achieved in theke, and someone could see the secret hidden for a long time. However, all was just a legend.¡±

    Leng Changxi in the front listened to the talk of the two people silently. He turned back until they talked about this topic. He pointed at those soldiers in mental disorder in the water and then said, ¡°Look at them. Is it still a legend?¡±

    In theke, the solider who shouted that he was looking for his son had moved to the waist-deep level. He constantly yelled at his son¡¯s name. And those soldiers who tried to pull him back behaved weirdly in theke. They turned happy or sad and totally soaked themselves into the emotions.

    In the evening, a bunch of people acted like zombies with strange words. It seemed that the wind turned uncanny.

    Wanyan Su dispatched people to correct the troop, but nothing changed.

    ¡°Yasu, don¡¯t look at theke.¡± Wanyan Su saw that Yasu standing near theke turned unconscious and seemed to lose her mind.

    But to everyone¡¯s surprise, Yasu turned back suddenly and pointed at her inverted image in theke, ¡°Prince, look. Our baby is back.¡±

    ¡°Yasu!¡± Wanyan Su shouted.

    Qin Yunuan knew that Yasu got pregnant one year ago but for no reason, she miscarried in the third month suddenly. Yasu got upset for a long time after that. Theke was really quirky. It was like a demon that could see clearly the inside desires of people, which was so frightening because it could control the mind of people entirely, just like a gambler who wanted gambling every day.

    Wanyan Su was about to pull Yasu back but was dragged to the bank. Yasu forced him to lower his head to see the blueke.

    ¡°Prince, look. Our baby is one year old. Is it cute?¡±

    Wanyan Su wanted to struggle but feared that he would hurt Yasu. Now Leng Changxi strode forward, pulled Wanyan Su from Yasu and then pulled Yasu to the back.

    Yasu almost fell down by the heavy force, but luckily, she fell in the arms of Qin Yunuan. Yasu got out of breath and recovered after a long time. A vice general of Wanyan Su was correcting the troop over there. The soldier who shouted his son¡¯s name had entered the center of theke, and the water almost overflowed his head, but he was still calling the nickname of his son repeatedly.

    ¡°Changxi, we shall go.¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly found that Leng Changxi was still near theke, like a statue. For no reason, Qin Yunuan felt uneasy.

    Theke water had wet out the trouser legs of Leng Changxi. Imperceptibly, Leng Changxi took a more step forward unconsciously. Qin Yunuan could not help but approach Leng Changxi, and the icy-coldke water stimted the lower legs of Qin Yunuan. She touched the hands of Leng Changxi but found that his hands were colder than theke water.

    Leng Changxi stared at theke water dully and saw a legendary image in the wavyke. He felt that he could touch the image and heard the roar in the battleground.

    Suddenly, a big red shadow emerged on theke. Leng Changxi was frightened and stepped back slightly. Luckily, it was only ady in a red wedding dress. She was nifty with her bright eyes. She gave a salute to the man in armor opposite. The salute had the style of the royal family. And beside her, there was Prince Ning, the nominal father of Leng Changxi. Prince Ning had guarded the Elder Princess to West Xia for the imperial matrimony for peace. So¡­

    ¡°Thanks for saving me. General Leng.¡± The Elder Princess treated the general so politely, but he said, ¡°Elder Princess of Qi? I killed many people who wanted to kill you. Should you pay back?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°The cost is very low. You just serve me for the whole night.¡±

 Chapter 255 Secret History of the Princess

    <h4>Chapter 255 Secret History of the Princess</h4>

    This man¡¯s eyebrows were slightly raised, with a trace of feminine temptation and charm. His appearance was womanly beautiful, but he was a man, a slutty man.

    ¡°Presumptuous!¡± In his illusion, Prince Ning was only in his mid-twenties, daring and high-spirited. This unknown general¡¯s teasing and flirting with the princess irritated him. He even shook the long sword in his hand, saying to the person in the silver armor, ¡°You have to pay for your own words.¡±

    After a fight, in the moving shadows of the sword, it was obvious that the man in silver armor showed mercy to Prince Ning and his men. However, Prince Ning became more aggressive. Then the silver armor shed, and Prince Ningy on the ground after an unguarded moment.

    The man in silver armor gave a faint, evil smile with a kind of elegant grace. His eyes were simr to those peerless beauties. They seemed to be able to knock people down.

    Normal people would avoid this man. But Elder Princess seemed cheerfully curious. She tilted her head and asked like a hard-working student asking her teacher in the private school, ¡°You look really good, what¡¯s your name?¡±

    ¡°Good-looking?¡± The man raised the corner of his mouth, ¡°At this time, you¡¯d better care about your own safety than to care about how I look.¡± There was a contemptuous expression in his eyes when he said this. He hated women who paid too much attention to appearance. There were too many women like this around him.

    ¡°No, I just know that you won¡¯t kill me.¡±

    ¡°I think you are too pampered in the pce of Qi that you have no scruples.¡± The man picked up the silver moon scimitar in his hand. It was the same texture and color as the armor on his body.

    The scimitar had touched the tip of Elder Princess¡¯s hair, but her eyes were still as clear as ake, ¡°If you are going to kill me, why would you bother saving me?¡± The princess¡¯s sensitive eyes rolled as if they could speak.

    ¡°Interesting.¡± The man in silver armor turned around, ridden onto his horse, and was about to leave.

    ¡°You haven¡¯t told me your name.¡± Elder Princess followed him and shouted.

    ¡°My family name is Jing, Jing Donghua.¡±

    ¡°Jing Donghua?¡± Elder Princess muttered in her mouth. When others heard these three words, theirplexion changed color out of fear. Only an ill-informed nanny stuck to Prince Ning¡¯s side and asked, ¡°Who is this Jing Donghua?¡±

    The corner of Prince Ning¡¯s mouth suddenly twitched, and he seemed to be choked, ¡°Prince of West Xia.¡±

    Jing Donghua had already left with his horse. He left only one sentence, ¡°The princess of Qi, remember, you are mine tonight.¡± This sentence pierced the hearts of all the family members. This was the supreme, the most distinguished princess of Qi. How could she be molested by her future husband¡¯s son in such a way? If the rumors ran out, her reputation would be destroyed.

    ¡°All of you must keep the matter just strictly confidential, and you can¡¯t disclose half a word. Otherwise, you will end up the same as yourpanions who died in the fight with thieves, and that would be your only ending.¡± Prince Ning threatened the present servants and the marching band for marriage. He nced at the dead pce people on the ground and wiped his finger on the throat, gesturing to the survivors.

    Elder Princess was the apple of Prince Ning¡¯s eyes. She was the one Prince Ning would like to protect. This time is no exception.

    Then the night fell. Elder Princess was resting with the servants in the post house. Her team had lost about one-third of the people because of the attack by the bandits. Although there were few guards at night, each of them was carefully instructed by Prince Ning. Nobody should enter the room of the princess. He still remembered the words of the West Xia Prince before he left.

    However, a thief in the family was the most difficult to detect. Elder Princess deliberately opened the window facing the bedside as she fell asleep. The moonlight spilled in quietly. Along with the wonderful moonlight, a man came in as fascinating as the moon. That night, the two were alone, but what worried Prince Ning did not happen. Jing Donghua just took the princess and rode around Yueya Mountain. They came back in the time of sunrise.

    ¡°Are youing tomorrow?¡±

    Jing Donghua smiled, ¡°Tomorrow would be my father¡¯s birthday. I couldn¡¯t get away.¡±

    ¡°Then what about tomorrow?¡± Elder Princess sounded childish but loveable.

    Jing Donghua tilted and grinned, ¡°You have clung to me. What I hate most is the woman who actively clings to me, but you are one exception.¡±

    The sentence made Elder Princess lowered her head shyly. The warm wind blew across her cheeks, leaving behind patches of crimson like those burning clouds.

    Jing Donghua leaned forward and grinned evilly, ¡°But if Ie again next time, it will not only be as simple as taking you on a ride. I will do bad things, very bad things.¡±

    In the days that followed, the two of them were like gods and goddesses deeply in love. But Jing Donghua never did the bad things. They were really just chatting on horseback.

    Until that day, the wedding was in front of them.

    ¡°They said I would be your father¡¯s woman, what should I do? Can I still see you?¡± Although the eldest princess was already seventeen when she got married, she was iparably pure, from the body to the soul. It was possibly because of the intensive care that the Queen Mother and emperor gave her. Her heart was as clear and bright as a crystal that had been polished countless times.

    ¡°You can.¡± Jing Donghua frowned, but his tone was still sweet as sugar, ¡°If you want to, you can see me every day.¡±

    On the second day, another robbery urred on the marching team.

    Jing Donghua nned it this time. He took Elder Princess to the Yueya Mountain. She lived under the blue sky and white clouds. The green mountain was like an emerald embedded in thisndscape picture, which made people fall in love with it.

    For some reason, Leng Changxi looked at this mountain and felt it very familiar, as if he had seen it not long ago.

    Jing Donghua hid the princess in a small hut. No one coulde in. One reason was that it was a remote spot on the mountain. Jing Donghua used to learn martial arts with a master. He knew the path. With the death of this master, the hut became Jing Donghua¡¯s secret paradise. Of course, it was now the secret paradise of Elder Princess of Qi and Jing Donghua.

    Perhaps to Elder Princess, it was not a secret to keep. She never walked out of the mountains after she entered.

    Right here, the two were congenial and got married in private. Three monthster, Elder Princess¡¯s underbelly had begun to bulge slightly. It was brewing a new life, and also brewing a storm.

    To take care of both ends, Jing Donghua always left early and returnedte. Every few days, he rode a horse from the back door to Yueya Mountain for the princess after everyone watched him enter the Prince¡¯s Pce. In the princess¡¯s heart, Jing Donghua was already her husband, and the princess was the favorite woman of Jing Donghua.

    Until one day, the sky was a little gloomy, and the dark clouds made the mountains covered with branches and leaves even more terrifying. There was an ominous omen everywhere.

    ¡°Now Royal City was in chaos. The four legitimate princes were fighting for the crown. Qinghe, I couldn¡¯t stay with you any longer. Three dayster, I will send a credible person and a midwife to take care of you. They are carefully selected, and they will definitely take good care of you. Just wait for me toe back. I want to watch our child born and give him a name. If it is a girl, she will learn poetry and etiquette with you. If it is a man, I will teach him martial arts and driving. If I seed, you will be my righteous wife, and our child will also be West Xia¡¯s first prince or princess.¡±

    The words were always beautiful. Jing Donghua left for three months and didn¡¯te back. What¡¯s terrifying was that the nanny Jing Donghua sent looked honest but secretly took the princess¡¯s child away after birth.

    ¡°Madam, you are an idiot. How could a man like our eldest prince ept a wilted flower like you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a wilted flower.¡±

    ¡°But you have been betrothed to the former emperor, which meant you are his wife. You are so shameless. Do you want the prince to suffer with you? For the sake of fame, the prince could only do this, and you must not me him.¡±

    ¡°Are you talking about the deceased emperor? Did you just use the word ¡®the former emperor¡¯? Tell me, was the emperor of West Xia dead?¡± Elder Princess had always been innocent, and she had lived in the most stable era. She could not have imagined the cruelty and bloodiness between the change of dynasty and the monarchs.

    ¡°Yeah, madam, don¡¯t you know?¡± The nannyughed wantonly. ¡°Our prince, no, he was our prince but should now be called our emperor. The enthronement was held as early as seven days ago, and the ceremony conferring the title of Queen was finished four days ago. Madam, I¡¯m afraid that you will miss the position of Queen of West Xia.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s impossible.¡± The nanny¡¯s words pierced into her heart, but Elder Princess was still holding thest thought.

    ¡°Madam, the impossible turned out to be quite possible. Just let me take you on the road to heaven.¡± The nanny lifted her hand, exposing the short dagger that had been hidden in her sleeve. The light of the dagger was cold enough to kill the desperate princess three hundred times.

    ¡°Qinghe.¡± A familiar shout suddenly came from outside. It was Prince Ning, rushing in with a dozen of his soldiers. Since the disappearance of the princess, West Xia and Qi have sent countless men to find her, but nothing was found. Among the folks, it was only said that Elder Princess was killed by robbers on the way to the imperial matrimony for peace. At least the honor of the princess was preserved.

    Only the young Prince Ning didn¡¯t give up. He kept searching for Elder Princess, and finally, he found her.

    Prince Ning killed the unkind nanny with a clean cut. He held the weak princess in his arms. When he saw Elder Princess desperately holding back the child in the hands of the nanny, he was slightly startled and looked straight into the eyes of the princess.

    Elder Princess said nothing. She was too bitter to say another word. She nested in Prince Ning¡¯s arms and murmured, ¡°Zhongyi, take me home.¡±

 Chapter 256 Revisit

    <h4>Chapter 256 Revisit</h4>

    It was a soft whisper, but it punched heavily on Leng Changxi¡¯s heart. Suddenly, there seemed to be a huge force pulling him out of this series of memories.

    ¡°Changxi?¡± Qin Yunuan quickly held on to the shaky Leng Changxi. She had known Leng Changxi for so long but had never seen him so flustered.

    Beads of sweat appeared on Leng Changxi¡¯s forehead, and he gasped quickly.

    ¡°What did you see, Changxi?¡± Qin Yunuan was a little worried. It was said that the fluorescentke was weird, and Qin Yunuan was afraid that Leng Changxi would be confused by some phantoms in theke and behave like the mad soldiers, nobody could pull them back. Fortunately, Leng Changxi raised his hand consciously to wipe off his sweat. He turned his head to Qin Yunuan and said gently, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±

    Seeing Leng Changxi safe and sound, Wanyan Su and Lu Wuyi behind them also let out a sigh of relief. Leng Changxi was their backbone and cannot be lost.

    The sun had slowly climbed up the mountain, and the emerald green mountain seems to be coated with ayer of gold. The blue fluorescence in theke gradually disappeared. Leng Changxi looked up at the mountain peak not far away. The peak was sharp like a sword. When viewed from above, it was like a big pocket or a crescent moon. This mountain was as green and leisurely as in Leng Changxi¡¯s illusion.

    Leng Changxi called up Maomu. Although he was blind and didn¡¯t y any guiding role along the way, he was the only survivor who had entered and exited the Savage Valley.

    ¡°When you entered the valley seven years ago, did you go up to the mountain east of Yingguang Lake?¡±

    ¡°Mountain?¡± Maomu raised his tone in surprise, ¡°Are you talking about that ghost mountain?¡±

    ¡°Is it called Ghost Mountain?¡± Leng Changxi stared at the mountain, ¡°Or, is it called Yueya Mountain?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know its real name,¡± Maomu shook his head. ¡°We made the name ourselves. We walked in this mountain only because we wanted a shortcut. But the ghost mountain was not only gloomy. There were ghosts in it.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense, there are no ghosts in this world.¡± Wanyan Su scolded Maomu. Because Yasu was by his side, he didn¡¯t want her to be scared, ¡°Even if there was, our sun god will protect us.¡±

    ¡°There is no sun god,¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s tone waszy and mocking. He looked at the tip of the mountain in the distance, ¡°If there was, those few people in your team will not die.¡±

    Wanyan Su was surprised. Leng Changxi tilted his head and said firmly, as if there was no room for negotiation, ¡°I¡¯m going to that mountain.¡±

    Lu Wuyi was dumbfounded, ¡°But that wasn¡¯t the right route for us. We should be heading southeast. Who knows what will be there in the east? What if ghosts were actually there?¡±

    ¡°You can leave first. I will go there and catch up with youter.¡±

    Wanyan Su was puzzled, ¡°Young Master Tuoba, why do you must go there?¡±

    Leng Changxi turned back and said one sentence, which was equivalent to not saying anything, ¡°I¡¯ve got a very important reason.¡±

    Wanyan Su choked and had to reply silently. Before he could speak, Cha on the side was already patting his chest and stood up and said, ¡°Mr. Tuoba, if you want to go, I will be with you. My life is yours.¡±

    Leng Changxi nced at the confident face of Cha, ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Compared to Leng Changxi, Cha¡¯s children and wife needed him back alive.

    ¡°Changxi.¡± Qin Yunuan stepped forward and held Leng Changxi¡¯s hand, ¡°I will apany you.¡±

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t speak but just pondered. He didn¡¯t know whether he should let Qin Yunuan take the risk with him, just to prove the truth of an illusion. But he couldn¡¯t leave Qin Yunuan alone with Wanyan Su and Yasu, who had always been hostile to Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Wanyan Su frowned and made a decision, ¡°Cha, lead your team to the ghost mountain with Mr. Tuoba. We set off toward the path on the map. When you are all set, use yellow fireworks to report, and we will wait for you two hours on the spot.¡±

    Wanyan Su was saying that if they spent more than two hours, these skirmishers would be ignored. His words made sense. In a ce like Savage Valley, people could cannibalize people without mercy, staying means dying.

    Cha was quite prestigious in the army. After a while, four of his thirteen-person team volunteered to enter Ghost Mountain with Leng Changxi, and Cha didn¡¯t make things difficult for the others.

    ¡°It¡¯s just,¡± watching a small team separate from therge one, Wanyan Su made a request tactfully, ¡°The lives of so many of us are in my hands. I don¡¯t dare to joke. Madam Tuoba, could I have the map?¡±

    Qin Yunuan had assembled all four mapsst night. As long as there was a map, Wanyan Su could walk to the ce where the endless treasure was hidden, as long as he was very careful.

    Wanyan Su stretched his hand towards Qin Yunuan, obviously asking for the life-saving map.

    Wanyan Su and Leng Changxi had frictions. From the day they set off from the capital of North Di, they were destined to finally part ways and fight with each other, but nobody had expected that this day woulde so suddenly and so quickly.

    ¡°That¡¯s for sure.¡± Unexpectedly, Qin Yunuan just smiled lightly and took out the four maps from a very ethnic purse at her waist. The serial numbers were carefully indicated on them, ¡°This was the map, your Highness. We should go now.¡±

    Wanyan Su raised his head a bit. A feeling of gloom and pride appeared on his elegant face, which was quite ipatible with his temperament, ¡°You should go early and return early.¡±

    The words ¡°go early and return early¡± sounded like sarcasm.

    As most of the troop walked away, Cha looked at the strange ghost mountain in the distance, took a deep breath, and said to Leng Changxi, ¡°Mr. Tuoba, let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to go with me. If you go, you will die in vain.¡± Leng Changxi had a firm attitude, ¡°While the team is not far away, go back.¡±

    Cha was also determined, ¡°Even if I went with everyone, it¡¯s hard to escape death. Mr. Tuoba, you are not going alone but also bring your wife. If something happened to Madam, no matter how bad that could be, we could at least protect your wife.¡±

    He persuaded Leng Changxi with Qin Yunuan, whom Leng worried the most. It was obvious that Leng Changxi was convinced. He didn¡¯t say anything else but looked at Yueya Mountain and whispered, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Yueya Mountain was now called a ghost mountain. Maybe it was because of the name that people would feel the gloomy wind as they walked close. The branch suddenly hung on the white gauze that Qin Yunuan bound her eyes, cutting out a finger-long opening. Qin Yunuan found the gauze troublesome and simply took it off. She had a pair of clear, bright and watery eyes, like gems in the desert. Those eyes robbed everyone¡¯s attention immediately.

    ¡°Madam Tuoba, your eyes¡­¡± Cha was protecting her from the left side. He was surprised at the scene.

    ¡°My eyes were healed a long time ago. In other words, I have never been blind. Because of this white gauze, I can see more clearly through the good and bad hearts of people and see what was true and what was false.¡± Qin Yunuan replied very calmly. Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t need to cover up in front of those people. First, since they were willing to risk their lives toe with Leng Changxi, they have enough loyalty. What was more, they came in but may not be able to go out alive.

    Cha and the other four people all sighed at how Qin Yunuan, this seemingly weak woman, could keep such a secret for so long and also from everyone.

    Before they knew it, they had already reached the depths of Yueya Mountain. The biting wind seemed to be cooler, piercing people¡¯s skin.

    Leng Changxi stopped suddenly. His keen senses caught the strange breath in the air. A ck figure shed across the woods at speed faster than lightning.

    ¡°Someone!¡± Cha shouted immediately, and the others made a defensive posture. Almost subconsciously, everyone surrounded Qin Yunuan as the key protected object.

    ¡°There.¡± Leng Changxi pointed towards the southeast, and Cha took out the short crossbow from his sleeve instantly. He shot at the shadow but missed. Cha was impatient and wanted to shoot the second one. When Leng Changxi was shouting ¡°Stop¡±, the short crossbow was out of its sheath. Leng Changxi threw the spear in his hand hard, and with a bang, the spear directly pierced into an old locust tree that could be surrounded by two people. Cha¡¯s short crossbow crushed onto the spearhead, nked andnded on the ground.

    Cha was surprised. Leng Changxi turned his head and said coldly, ¡°She is a woman.¡±

    After speaking, they saw the ck figure shing into the dense forest quickly.

    In this wilderness, this Yeren Valley full of traps and in the most terrifying ghost mountain of the valley, there lived a woman. She didn¡¯t look like a local, but strangely this woman was extraordinarily familiar with Yueya Mountain. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be so quick for her to appear and then disappear mysteriously.

    ¡°How do you know that she is a woman, Mr. Tuoba?¡± Cha took a deep breath. The ck creature suddenly rushed out and scared him, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a female ghost? By the way, Maomu mentioned that when they came seven years ago, they have encountered ghosts and monsters here, and it was also a dark mass.¡±

    Leng Changxi stared at the direction that the female left, ¡°She has slender limbs and dexterity. She is either a woman or a monkey. But have you ever seen monkeys in shoes? Although her shoes and clothes are messy, she tried to keep them as they were, and she didn¡¯t forget to lift the skirts even when she ran away. She must be well-educated.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not only that,¡± Qin Yunuan picked up a beautiful azalea on the ground, ¡°this fell from the dark shadow. This kind of azalea is only found at the foot of the mountain. It seems that this woman came down for it only. Not only does she have a good education, but also loves beauty very much?¡±

 Chapter 257 A Bizarre Woman

    <h4>Chapter 257 A Bizarre Woman</h4>

    In the remote mountain and the dense forest, a well-cultivated beautiful woman appeared suddenly.

    The group of people felt Yueya Mountain was getting weirder. Leng Changxi told others to be careful and led the way directly towards the trace left by the woman.

    ¡°Changxi?¡± Qin Yunuan grabbed Leng Changxi¡¯s belt. She knew what he was going to do, but she felt worried for no reason.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Leng Changxi stared at the direction in which the woman disappeared, ¡°I¡¯ve got an instinct that the woman will take me to a ce.¡±

    It was hard to distinguish between day and night in the forest. The trees they could see finally became fewer after the group of people had walked for a long time. The sun was shining golden light from afar, lighting their eyes. They had been following the woman¡¯s trace until her footprints disappeared beside a cliff. Cha looked down at the high cliff and eximed, ¡°My gosh! There is such a high cliff in such a small mountain! It must be at least 50 meters tall.¡± Then he scratched his head and said, ¡°Did the woman jump off the cliff?¡±

    After observing the terrain of the cliff, Qin Yunuan said, ¡°It may not be the case.¡± She picked up the vine on the ground which was as thick as her wrist, ¡°Perhaps she used the vine to go down.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s impossible! She is merely a wild woman. All of us would have fallen off if we used the extremely unstable vine to go down the cliff except Mr. Tuoba,¡± Cha shook his head. He wouldn¡¯t believe it.

    Looking at Qin Yunuan, Leng Changxi smiled, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s true.¡±

    Time was close to noon, indicating that Wanyan Su¡¯s troops had gone for at least three hours. It was hard for them to catch up. What if they were going to spend time on the mysterious cliff?

    ncing at Qin Yunuan, Leng Changxi said, ¡°Are you afraid?¡±

    Qin Yunuan shook her head. In a sh, Leng Changxi had already removed the leaves and thorns carefully from a bundle of vines and tied it around Qin Yunuan¡¯s waist. Then he turned over, keeping one arm around her waist and grabbing the longest and thickest vine with the other hand. Qin Yunuan felt the wind whistling beside her ear. With the blink of an eye, the two had reached the bottom of the cliff steadily. Looking up, Cha and the other four people waiting on the cliff were asrge as soybeans to them.

    The bottom of the cliff was much darker than the top of it. Besides, a stream was flowing in the middle of it. The water was clear and cold. Leng Changxi made a gesture, asking Cha to wait for his order on the spot. Then he led Qin Yunuan to walk along the stream.

    ¡°Changxi?¡± Qin Yunuan was surprised that Leng Changxi was so sure about the direction as if he had been here ever before.

    ¡°I know this is the way,¡± although Leng Changxi had never been here before, he saw clearly in the fairnd that the way led to the small hut where Jing Donghua and Elder Princess of Qi used to live in seclusion.

    The fog at the bottom of the cliff was getting thicker. It was so white that one could not see clearly anything 3 meters away from him. However, Leng Changxi heard vague and rhythmic sound. It was the sound of waterwheels! In the regions south of the River, several local families would share a waterwheel where there was a stream.

    ¡°Here we are,¡± Leng Changxi called softly. As he slowly walked ahead, the fog was gradually disappearing, and the small hut surrounded by the green bamboo forest appeared. The hut, clean and tidy in the past, now looked deste with half of its roof disappearing and the couch grass on the ground being trampled dirty. A bamboo fence enclosed the hut quietly. In contrast to the unsightly scene of the hut, outside the bamboo fence, there were azaleas around it in perfect order, which seemed to be under good care because they were blooming ten times prettier than those at the foot of the hill. The mysterious woman Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi used to see in the forest was gardening carefully beside azaleas. She was scarifying the soil and applying fertilizer, looking much happy and proud.

    Qin Yunuan got it. In fact, the reason why the woman went to great lengths to go down the mountain to pick up azaleas was not to dress up herself but to nt them. She took such a great risk of climbing up the 50-meter-tall cliff using the vine just to pick up azaleas. What hard work she had done! How deep her love for azaleas must be!

    Soon the woman sensed the movement of strange people. She turned her head around vigntly and felt surprised at the urrence of Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi.

    ¡°Who... Who are you?¡±

    The jabbering caused Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi to wince slightly. Qin Yunuan leaned over and whispered to Leng Changxi¡¯s ear, ¡°She is asking ¡®Who are you?¡¯. It seemed that she hasn¡¯tmunicated with people for a really long time. She can¡¯t even speak fluently.¡±

    Looking at the woman who looked a little flustered, Leng Changxi took a step closer to her. She immediately took out the handle of the hoe full of rust in her hand and held it towards Leng Changxi. Wincing and gritting her teeth, her appearance full of vignce aroused both fear and pity to her.

    Leng Changxi tossed his head. He tried to see clearly what the woman was like. However, she looked utterly miserable with her hair disheveled. Although it could be seen that her hair had been carefully treated, it still looked like a haystack.

    Without knowing the reason, Leng Changxi made a bold decision. He took off his mask silently, showing his extremely handsome face which had been covered by the mask. Smiling at the woman, he asked, ¡°Do you recognize me?¡±

    Seeming to be shocked by the sudden action, the woman in ck looked at Leng Changxi in concentration at once. Surprisingly, she turned from the guarding gesture to appreciation. With her head tilted to one side, she looked into Leng Changxi¡¯s face as if she were focusing on a piece of art. She even stepped closer and used her rough finger to gently stroke Leng Changxi¡¯s face back and forth.

    Suddenly, her eyes lit up, ¡°Donghua, you¡¯re back!¡±

    Hearing that, Leng Changxi was in a short daze. His assumption was right. A well-cultivated woman appeared in the Yueya Mountain and lived a hard life in the small hut with light skills. All of these indicated that there was another person, who was good at martial arts and taught her light skills.

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t speak but gave out a hum from his throat.

    However, the simple hum made the woman¡¯s tearse out like a river bursting the dam. She pulled Leng Changxi tightly as if holding a treasure which she hadn¡¯t seen for years, ¡°Donghua, do you know how much I miss you? You left me alone on the Yueya Mountain. At that time, Zhongyi came to rescue me. I wanted to leave with him, but I can¡¯t throw away the memories. I don¡¯t believe that you would send people to kill me or our child. Oh, where is our child?¡±

    The way the woman looked for something in a panic hurt Leng Changxi deeply. There was no need to say anything more. Qin Yunuan knew the true identity of the woman. She was exactly the real Elder Princess of Qi: Princess Qinghe.

    It turned out that Elder Princess of Qi didn¡¯t die on the way to the imperial matrimony for peace as the legend. She didn¡¯t live in Weiyang Pce in seclusion and end up dying in a mysterious fire as the secret story in the Royal Pce, either.

    But the problem was that if the woman was the real Elder Princess, who was the one burned to death in Weiyang Pce then? Who, after all, was able to pretend to be the Elder Princess so well that even the emperor and Queen Mother couldn¡¯t find out the truth?

    The woman tumbled suddenly. Luckily, she was dragged in time by Qin Yunuan. Mumbling came out from her mouth, ¡°My child! Donghua, I¡¯m sorry. I can¡¯t let him stay by my side. I asked Zhongyi to take him away. Zhongyi is a good man. He will treat our child well. When he grows up, maybe he won¡¯t know who his parents are. But still, I love him because he is our child.¡±

    Hearing that, Leng Changxi¡¯s eyes got wet mysteriously. He was seldom moved like that. The one right in front of him was exactly his biological mother who brought him to this world after ten months¡¯ pregnancy. However, she had waited alone at the bottom of the hill for over 20 years, just for an ungrateful and unfaithful lover.

    ¡°Hua,e here.¡± The woman dragged Leng Changxi¡¯s sleeve with her dirty hand. Her address to him turned to ¡°Hua¡±, which was very intimate. The shy look on her face would only appear on the face of an innocent maiden at the age of 18 or 19.

    ¡°These are your favorite flowers, azaleas. In the past, every time you came here, you would pick one for me at the bottom of the hill. Now I have nted so many azaleas for you. Are you happy for that?¡±

    ¡°M... Mum?¡± Choking, Leng Changxi called. His address to Princess Ning was always ¡°mother¡±. All his life, he never had a chance to say a real ¡°mum¡±.

    ¡°Donghua, what are you calling me?¡± Elder Princess stared at him in wide-eyed surprise.

    Seeing the embarrassment, Qin Yunuan stepped ahead to relieve the atmosphere at once, ¡°Elder Princess is tired. Luckily, there is clear water in the stream. Changxi, go to get some water. I¡¯ll dress Elder Princess up.¡±

    Qin Yunuan said to Elder Princess in the tone to coax a child, ¡°Your Highness, please go this way.¡±

    Having been in the small hut, Qin Yunuan came to realize the hardness Elder Princess had experienced to survive in such an environment alone. Due to the copse of half the hut, Elder Princess had moved all the useful furniture and objects to another room.

    Although the room was crowded to capacity, Elder Princess put a silver makeup box in the most conspicuous position. Polished as it was, there was nothing inside.

    ¡°The makeup box was a present from Donghua,¡± Elder Princess exined in a smile as she found Qin Yunuan was looking at the makeup box, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that putting things in it will break it, so I took out all the things inside several years ago. You see. How vulnerable things are in this room! But this one should never be broken.¡±

    So many things here! Having been in use for 20 years, it was natural for them to be broken. It had rained just now. There seemed to be a leak in the house. It could be seen that half of the hut left was about to fall. It was hard to imagine where Elder Princess would go if she lost the only shelter.

    ¡°Jinzhi, what are you waiting for? Didn¡¯t you say just now that you will help me take a bath? Don¡¯t you know how to serve people?¡± although Elder Princess had lived 20 years in solitude, she didn¡¯t lose her upbringing as a royal member. However, who was the ¡°Jinzhi¡± she mentioned just now?

 Chapter 258 Truth and Falsehood

    <h4>Chapter 258 Truth and Falsehood</h4>

    At that moment, Qin Yunuan became curious about the name suddenly mentioned by Elder Princess. She moved closer to her slowly and whispered by Elder Princess¡¯s ear, ¡°Your Highness, why are you calling Jinzhi?¡±

    ¡°Dressing me up, of course,¡± Elder Princess tilted her head to one side, and her tone was quite natural, ¡°Jinzhi, what¡¯s wrong with you? You¡¯ve been my personal maid for so many years. Yet you didn¡¯t know your responsibility?¡± While saying, Elder Princess sighed to herself, ¡°s, it must be difficult for you. Donghua sends you and the nanny into the valley, bothering you to live a hard life with me.¡±

    On their way there, Leng Changxi had actually told Qin Yunuan all he had seen and heard in the fairnd. Qin Yunuan remembered that Leng Changxi had mentioned that at first Jing Donghua sent two people to serve Elder Princess. One of them was the nanny whoter betrayed, but the other wasn¡¯t mentioned. Well, she must be the servant girl named Jinzhi.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to make you go through all this,¡± Elder Princess sighed, ¡°Mother said that you look like me when we are young. Later, we even look like twin sisters. So she likes you very much, too. She used to think that after you¡¯re 25, she will ask you to leave the pce and marry a good man.¡±

    They looked like twin sisters?

    Something touched Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart. At that moment, Leng Changxi happened to push the door ande in. He said that the water was ready, and Elder Princess could be dressed up now. The way Elder Princess looked at Leng Changxi was still weird, in which there was a little vignce, some affection, but most of it was curiosity.

    Yes. Two people without any ties of blood like Su Chenghai and Leng Changxi could resemble each other so much. Having grown up together with Elder Princess, Jinzhi must be like her in words and facial expressions. So the one returned to Weiyang Pce was very likely to be...

    ¡°Oh, yes, Jinzhi,¡± Elder Princess walked to the door and suddenly turned her head to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Didn¡¯t I ask you to take my child and follow Zhongyi back to Qi? Why do youe back! Why, is that because the fact that I asked you to pretend as I was found out by my mother and brother?¡± then, she shook her head, ¡°No. When we were young and changed our clothes, my mother and brother never recognized me. It¡¯s impossible. Or, are they bad for you?¡±

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t know how to answer. Leng Changxi bowed his fists and moved forward, ¡°Your Highness, the water for your bath is ready. Please have a bath and change your clothes.¡±

    Elder Princess was originally in a trance. Sometimes she was well, but sometimes she acted as if she were living in the time 20 years ago. She hesitated and nodded, saying ¡°alright¡± and stepped into thepartment covered by the curtain.

    Leng Changxi heard Elder Princess¡¯s words clearly. He sighed, ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s better to let her think it as a game and never wake her up. Don¡¯t let her know the man she missed so many years has already been the emperor of a country with so many beauties in his court. Don¡¯t let her know the servant girl who grew up with her was burned to death in the Weiyang Pce by the evil after disguising as her and returning to the mothend. Don¡¯t let her know her son has now be a heartless and cruel man.¡±

    ¡°Changxi,¡± Qin Yunuan hurried to hold Leng Changxi¡¯s trembling hands, ¡°Don¡¯t think like that. Many things we have done are forced to do. If we don¡¯t fight back, the dead will be us. If they don¡¯t drive us up the wall, they won¡¯t end up like that. For most of the time, it¡¯s not what we want to do, but what we have to do.¡±

    Leng Changxi looked like he regained his calmness, ¡°I get it.¡±

    Qin Yunuan went behind the curtain to help Elder Princess have a bath. Leng Changxi used the soil hearth outside the house which hadn¡¯t been used for a long time to boil water. The bottom of the pot had rusted. No matter how hard it was cleaned, the water boiled by it still looked a little yellow. However, it didn¡¯t affect Elder Princess¡¯s happiness to have a bath. It remained a mystery how long it was since thest time she had had a bath. She soaked in the hot water. Before long there was much dirt.

    Qin Yunuan rubbed the sludge on Elder Princess withoutint. This was the biological mother of Leng Changxi. There was nothing for her to dislike.

    After the sludge was washed away, Elder Princess¡¯s skin was exposed, white and delicate like coagted fat. A woman near 40 as she was, her skin was as soft and delicate as the one of the girls at the age of 17 or 18. It was said that the emperor and Queen Mother used to love Elder Princess very much. They selected the thickest ewe¡¯s milk for her to have baths. That was why she had such perfect skin.

    ¡°Jinzhi, what are you looking at? Put on the clothes for me.¡±

    While she was absent-minded, Qin Yunuan thought something else. Why did Jing Donghua, the emperor of West Xia, want to do something bad on such a beauty? If he worried about her identity, he could use other methods. Besides, West Xia didn¡¯t value so much about the status of generations in families as Qi. Qin Yunuan remembered what she had read in the book of West Xia, recording that a son married his father¡¯s concubine as his empress after the father¡¯s death.

    Jing Donghua, what kind of person was he?

    After Elder Princess finished dressing, she came out. When she saw Leng Changxi wait under the stairs of the small hut, she came towards him happily, ¡°Hua, where are you going to take me? Hush. Don¡¯t say it. Give me a surprise.¡±

    Although she was the biological mother of Leng Changxi, Qin Yunuan felt bitterness in her heart when she saw Elder Princess act intimately like a little girl. It was said that the rtionship between mother-inw and daughter-inw was the most difficult rtionship in the world. The previous Princess Ning was demanding already. Now there was a mother-inw whose intelligence was close to a little girl. How hard it was!

    ¡°I¡¯ll take you out,¡± Leng Changxi smiled at Elder Princess, ¡°What about leaving this ce?¡±

    Elder Princess thought that Leng Changxi was the ¡°Hua¡± whom she had missed day and night. Qin Yunuan walked behind her and kept silent until Leng Changxi came towards her and took her hand, ¡°What happened?¡±

    Qin Yunuan shook her head. She used to think that she was the most magnanimous and calmest woman in the world, capable of handling so much danger. However, she was a little woman in the end.

    Leng Changxi understood Qin Yunuan immediately. Smiling, he pointed at Elder Princess walking ahead of them, ¡°She is my biological mother.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Qin Yunuan mumbled, ¡°but in her mind, you¡¯re her husband.¡±

    Mentioning Jing Donghua, Leng Changxi¡¯s face became tense at once. To the so-called father, his feeling was rather weird. He didn¡¯t believe him. Either did he trust him.

    Since there were three people, whoever Leng Changxi took to go up, the one left was not safe. He sent a signal to Cha waiting up there. Soon the five people, including Cha, dragged the vine and pulled up the three people separately. They were quite surprised when they saw Elder Princess, who had dressed up to be clean and beautiful.

    Short-tempered as Cha was, he said directly, ¡°Is she the wild woman we saw the other day?¡±

    Seeing Elder Princess unhappy face, Qin Yunuan took the hint at once. She imitated the tone the nanny in the pce used to criticize the servant, ¡°How dare you! How can you insult our princess like that?¡± After that, she tipped Cha the wink, Cha understood immediately and curtseyed well to Elder Princess. The other four followed him too.

    The sun was setting. The twilight added some solitude and destion to Yueya Mountain. There came the thud of birds and beasts from the forest now and then. Looking at the dense forest, Leng Changxi sighed deeply. Now they were totally helpless. They could rely on nobody but themselves.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± While walking, Leng Changxi asked Cha and the others to pick up some branches thick enough to be made into simple torches at night. However, a more serious problem showed up. That was food.

    Fortunately, they had Elder Princess here. Having been in Yueya Mountain for 20 years, she must know how to fill the stomach and satisfy the hunger here.

    Elder Princess always appeared like a little girl. However, the moment people asked her where the food was, she trembled suddenly, hid behind Leng Changxi, and said to him in a shaking voice, ¡°Hua, are you going to eat in this forest? No! You can eat in the previous forest, but now you are here, don¡¯t you know? There is will-o¡¯-the-wisp in this forest at night. You need to be careful while walking. If those ghosts know that you are eating at their territory, they will kill you.¡±

    As soon as she finished her words, a chilly wind passed the forest. Cha was always courageous. He wanted to say that all of this was bullshit when a soldier beside him was pointing at the blue fire in front of them with trembling legs, ¡°Mr. Tuoba, do you see that? What is that?¡±

    Another was shouting, ¡°Will-o¡¯-the-wisp! It¡¯s the will-o¡¯-the-wisp!¡±

    Elder Princess was not scared. Instead, she said proudly, ¡°You see. I don¡¯t tell lies.¡±

    Leng Changxi stared at the blue fire several meters away from them in silence. The fire was erratic, moving with the wind. However, staring at it seemed to make people¡¯s minds flow with it. Nevertheless, people couldn¡¯t help themselves touching the fire. Luckily, Leng Changxi¡¯s willpower was strong enough to resist the temptation, but the other two soldiers had already been absorbed into the fire, unable to control themselves.

    Leng Changxi dragged them with strength. The two people didn¡¯t sober up until they were dragged directly to the ground. They looked as if they had a dream, and they kept asking what had happened just now.

    Qin Yunuan winced slightly. Didn¡¯t such a scene ur at the Yingguang Lake? The blue nkton in the Yingguang Lake could read and rob people¡¯s mind. Was the blue fire simr to them?

    Gradually, there were more and more fires giving out cold, blue light. It seemed that they were approaching Leng Changxi and his people slowly.

    Elder Princess watched fire happily as if she were looking at fireflies, ¡°Look! These are will-o¡¯-the-wisp. There are so many of them. They¡¯re all living in ake at the top of the mountain, in which there¡¯re all blue things shining like that. They¡¯re so beautiful! Hua, you used to love taking me there. Do you remember?¡±

    ¡°Ake?¡± Qin Yunuan was a little surprised.

    ¡°Yes. Ake,¡± Elder Princess said to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Jinzhi, didn¡¯t you follow me there too? The water in theke was giving out blue light, which rippled with the water. Beautiful.¡±

    Was Elder Princess talking about Yingguang Lake? But wasn¡¯t it at the foot of the hill?

 Chapter 259 Tribe Crisis

    <h4>Chapter 259 Tribe Crisis</h4>

    Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan had the same view again. Leng Changxi slightly frowned and then said to Elder Princess with a smile, ¡°Qinghe, it¡¯s always me taking you to theke. Why not you lead me this time?¡±

    Elder Princess joyfully agreed and led them to a pathway to go up the hill. While climbing the hill, she told them about things that happened before. Cha and other people were astonished, but they still didn¡¯t know who this woman was.

    ¡°Look, that¡¯s the luminouske.¡±

    Climbing over a hill, Qin Yunuan parted branches that blocked her view and took a look. Gosh, another Yingguang Lake?

    Same as theke at the foot of the hill, this vastke emitted blue light. But it looked way more beautiful.

    ¡°Look, there¡¯s a stele.¡± Cha turned over the wrecked stele covered withyers of dust and checked it. On it were ancient andplicated characters. Qin Yunuan could roughly recognize that they were ancient Qidan Nationality characters, but she didn¡¯t know them. If only Lu Wuyi was here. Atst, he chose Wanyan Su. It wasn¡¯t because he didn¡¯t want to follow Qin Yunuan to take risks. In fact, it was Qin Yunuan asking him to do so. She left Lu Wuyi to spy on Wanyan Su. If thetter intended to kill Leng Changxi and deliberately left them behind, Lu Wuyi could leave a message for them in secret.

    ¡°But it¡¯s a pity,¡± Qin Yunuan shook her head and said, ¡°We don¡¯t know these characters.¡± In this mysterious wood, anything that showed the trace of human beings was precious for them.

    ¡°I know them.¡± Elder Princess said in an innocent and lively tone, ¡°Hua, didn¡¯t you teach me thisnguage before? These characters mean ¡®Yingguang Lake¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Yingguang Lake?¡± Leng Changxi was a bit surprised.

    ¡°Right. It was given this name a long time ago.¡± Elder Princess looked so innocent with her eyes wide open.

    ¡°So... so... so, theke at the hill foot is not real?¡± Cha opened his mouth. If that was not the real Yingguang Lake, Wanyan Su and his followers were all heading to a wrong direction. True, people should watch out all the time when exploring the Yeren Valley, even if they had a map. If taking a wrong way, they were doomed to die.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Yunuan answered calmly. She had already checked the surrounding terrain and mountains. Although she gave the map to Wanyan Su, she in fact had kept in mind every detail on it because she could remember everything she saw. Thiske was the real Yingguang Lake. There were truly full of traps in the Yeren Valley. When seeing theke at the hill foot, people would get ecstatic and stop exploring. But beyond their expectation, thatke was just a derivedke of the real one.

    ¡°Ho, that¡¯s a blessing in disguise.¡± Cha said in delight and then frowned. ¡°But we have no map. Even though we find theke, we don¡¯t know where to go next.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Qin Yunuan gave a light smile and pointed at her head with her long finger. ¡°I have a map here.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡± Leng Changxi smiled and said, ¡°Nuan is a walking map. Cha, do you really think we really gave way to Wanyan Su that easily? How would we directly give him the map and throw ourselves into an impasse?¡±

    Cha was embarrassed. He already recalled how smart they were.

    ¡°Where should we go next?¡± A soldier asked.

    Yes, this was a tough question. Qin Yunuan frowned and recalled every detail on the map. If theke down was not the real one, the opposite direction of the wind that dead tribesman brought would lead them to a wrong ce. But now, there was no wind.

    ¡°When the sun rises high.¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly said.

    ¡± When the sun rises high?¡± Cha shouted it out. ¡°But there is no sun.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean that.¡± Qin Yunuan exined, ¡°On the map, this sentence isbeled near the Yingguang Lake. I thought it was a special terrain name at first. But what if it isn¡¯t? What if it¡¯s a riddle that signifies directions?¡±

    Cha is little educated, and he didn¡¯t get the point. Scratching his head, he asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t this just a phrase? What can it signify?¡±

    ¡°The full sentence is when the sun rises high, follow the shadow.¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly smiled and said, ¡°I figure it out. We need to wait until tomorrow midday and go where the tree shadow points at.¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded, ¡°Right. This makes sense.¡±

    Elder Princess seemed excited and asked, ¡°Wow, Hua, where are you going? Are you going to take me back to West Xia?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s early to go back now.¡± Leng Changxi patted her head in a coddling way and said, ¡°We¡¯ll travel to an interesting ce before we go back.¡±

    Leng Changxi would definitely go to West Xia. Sima Ray had colluded with the Grand Prince of North Di, so North Di was his helper. Other countries were too small, and all relied on Qi and North Di to survive. Only West Xia, a southwestern country, was strong enough to contend against Qi.

    ¡°But I don¡¯t want.¡± Elder Princess behaved like a spoiled girl. ¡°You promised you would take me to West Xia once you came back. You break your promise.¡±

    Then, she turned around and sat in the shade with her mouth pouting. At that time, Cha and two of his men who picked up many soft pine needles and branches as firewood came back. Leng Changxi took a look at Elder Princess but was stopped by Qin Yunuan before he took any action. She patted on his shoulder and said, ¡°Women know women best. She has been ignored by her beloved man for a long time, so naturally, she tends to throw a tantrum. Let mefort her first, and she wille round.¡±

    Leng Changxi agreed and helped Cha to make a fire. Cha took up courage to ask in a low voice, ¡°Mr. Tuoba, who is she? Why are Madam and you so nice to her?¡±

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t reply. When Cha thought he shouldn¡¯t ask this question, Leng Changxi answered slowly, ¡°She¡¯s a woman whom I have let down for years.¡± Although Princess Ning was nice to Leng Changxi, he felt so sorry to leave his birth mother alone in a mountain for long.

    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Suddenly, the soldier standing at the edge shouted loudly.

    Everyone paid attention to the dark bush, and they saw a movement. It looked as if something had scooted in it from east to west.

    Cha and several other people couldn¡¯t help pulling out their machetes and looked at the bush vigntly. Leng Changxi reached behind his back, almost to his spear.

    Suddenly, a brown shade rushed out of the bush and stooped. Under the dim moonlight, they couldn¡¯t see that thing clearly. He just arched his back like a reptile and vigntly looked at them.

    Qin Yunuan helped Elder Princess stand up and walked behind men. Cha and four other people naturally sheltered them. But one soldier was scared and asked in a trembling voice, ¡°Cha, it doesn¡¯t look like a human.¡±

    ¡°Craps. Even if it¡¯s not a human, so what? Even tigers can¡¯t scare you. Why are you afraid of this monster?¡± Cha said so, but his voice was also trembling. There were so many strange things in the Yeren Valley. Every day in this valley was tough for them.

    But unexpectedly, before they spoke more, that human whoy on the ground like a dog suddenly stood up. He even spoke to them in fluent North Dinguage, ¡°So, you all can speak.¡±

    Cha was in a trance. Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan only knew a little about North Dinguage. Then that man spoke in Qinguage, ¡°I mean that you are human beings.¡±

    Leng Changxi slightly frowned but said nothing. That man tended to speak again but was directly stopped by Leng Changxi. ¡°Enough. How manynguages can you speak?¡±

    That man kept his chin up proudly and said, ¡°Ancient Qidannguage, West Xianguage, North Dinguage and Qinguage, I know them all.¡±

    Ho, what a talent.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± The more calmly this man behaved, the more vignt Leng Changxi was. Because it meant this man was confident.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I ask you this question?¡± That man straightened up and looked totally different from what he was before. ¡°What are you doing this? This, is our ce.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Leng Changxi held his spear.

    That man smiled and looked cunning. ¡°Yes.¡±

    Suddenly, the bush behind that man rustled contiguously as if the whole wood was speaking. Soon, many people emerged out of the bush. They all dressed like that man with brown gowns roughly covering their bodies and green paint on their faces. In this way, they could better hide themselves in the wood.

    Although they were not skilled martial artists, they were inrge numbers, and they were familiar with the valley. So, Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t directly fight with them.

    He stepped forward and cupped his hand. ¡°What are youing for?¡±

    The leading young man wore a cold smile and said, ¡°For bringing you back to our ce. You¡¯ve killed Ya, so I will get back at you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan realized Ya that man referred to must be Yaqi, her previous servant girl. It seemed that Yaqi had a high position in this tribe. Otherwise, this man couldn¡¯t lead so many people to take revenge for her.

    ¡°Yaqi killed our soldier first. So it¡¯s just an eye for an eye.¡± Cha said calmly. Leng Changxi found out that Cha was quite judicious and sensible in face of serious situations.

    That man snorted and replied, ¡°It¡¯s because you broke in the Yeren Valley first, so you asked for it.¡± Then he ordered his men behind in anguage they hadn¡¯t heard of. At once, a flood of tribesmen surrounded them.

 Chapter 260 Kill Him for Heaven Worship

    <h4>Chapter 260 Kill Him for Heaven Worship</h4>

    Cha and the other five people tended to rush forward but were stopped by Leng Changxi. They only had a fewpanies, so he didn¡¯t want any of them to be killed in fight. Qin Yunuan guarded Elder Princess, and they stood behind Leng Changxi. Seeing his wide shoulder, she had a great sense of security. No matter how serious the problem was, she wouldn¡¯t be afraid.

    Seeing Leng Changxi calmed down, the leading man made a gesture. Then dozens of people behind him also stopped.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go with you, but I have one requirement.¡± Leng Changxi took a look at Qin Yunuan and Elder Princess and continued, ¡°No matter what happens, let them two go. They are just powerless women capable of nothing. Besides, there are many traps in the Yeren Valley. They may even not be able to walk out.¡± However, Leng Changxi knew clearly that Qin Yunuan was very smart, and she would go out sooner orter.

    The leading young manughed and said, ¡°Cool. No problem. Tie them up and take them back.¡±

    The man holding the thick hemp rope was about to walk to them, but Cha pulled his shiny machete out. Also, Leng Changxi took down the spear tied to his back and said leisurely, ¡°I think there¡¯s no need to, tie us up.¡±

    Leng Changxi mobilized his genuine energy in secret. That leading man sensed that Leng Changxi was a highly skilled martial artist, so he wore a light smile and said, ¡°Alright, as long as you go with us.¡±

    Qin Yunuan took a look at Leng Changxi, and thetter looked back to reassure her. Elder Princess, who was in Qin Yunuan¡¯s arms, asked timidly, ¡°Where are we going? Who are they?¡±

    ¡°Your Grace, we¡¯re ying a game now. I¡¯ll take you to y a game. Is that fine?¡± Qin Yunuan treated andforted Elder Princess as a child.

    Elder Princess looked up at Leng Changxi and felt reassured. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll be fine as long as I¡¯m together with Hua.¡±

    Then they were tightly guarded by tribesmen, with seven or eight walking in front and behind. In addition, there were four or five strong young men walking beside them each side. The bush ahead rustled again. Maybe it was a message the leading man sent out.

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t know why they insisted on bringing him back to the tribe. If these tribesmen deemed them as invaders who brought chaos to the tribe, they could directly kill them. Why did they bother to catch them alive? But, this might be an opportunity.

    They walked into a thicker wood. Qin Yunuan paid close attention to the direction they walked to. She had calcted the direction that riddle signified in her head. ¡°When the sun went three poles high¡± referred to the midday. Now, the sun was in the southeast, so trees¡¯ shadow was in the northwest. Judging from where the sun rose, Qin Yunuan could calcte that they were going northwest. So she was right.

    The leading tribesman seemed prestigious. Theckey near him called him Mengman, so that might be his name. It could be inferred that their tribe was strictly stratified and ssified. Everyone obediently did what Mengman ordered.

    The clothes Mengman wore were much more delicate than what those guards near Qin Yunuan wore. Moreover, he could speak Qidannguage, West Xianguage and so many othernguages. But these guards looked dull and reacted slowly as if they were just like animals. She didn¡¯t hear any of them speak. From their looks, Qin Yunuan could conclude that this group of ordinary guards couldn¡¯t speak.

    Only the ruling ss could learn how tomunicate and be civilized. No wonder this tribe was so united. But meanwhile, it was vulnerable.

    The view changed as they kept going. Walking out of the thick wood, they entered a tropical jungle. The humid air made Qin Yunuan¡¯s dress hemline wet. Leng Changxi was in front of her. Not looking back though, he kept holding her hand tightly.

    Around them were wet vines and old trees, tall andrge enough to block the sunshine. They pulled the green vines away to move along but suddenly, Elder Princess screamed out.

    ¡°A snake.¡±

    Originally, she thought the long soft green thing above her head was also a vine. However, it moved. It was a tongue-flicking green snake.

    A tribesman standing next to Qin Yunuan quickly grabbed that snake. He was way more nimble than Qin Yunuan expected, not the slowly walking man anymore. Then, that man did what Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t ept. He bit off the snake¡¯s head and chewed its flesh in delight. Qin Yunuan could even see the dead snake was still wriggling in his mouth.

    Later, people around became restless. Those who were as strong as that man gathered immediately, tending to grab his food while others just stood watching covetously. It looked as if the man had something extremely delicious.

    Mengman was rather dissatisfied with the chaos, and he hinted hisckey whoter took out a vine-made whip and threw it out. Precisely passing through the space between Qin Yunuan and Elder Princess, the whip hit the eating man on his mouth.

    Mengman cursed with dissatisfaction. That many down immediately to let theckey whip him. Theckey didn¡¯t stop until that man¡¯s back was badly mutted.

    ¡°It seems that they are not as scary as we imagine.¡± Leng Changxi whispered to Qin Yunuan while looking on indifferently. ¡°They merely have a ve-master rtionship. This is a very tribe and a very primitive very tribe. It means only a few people in it are civilized and only people at the top level hold the power. As long as one or two of their leaders are under control, this tribe will be overturned.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded, ¡°I think so.¡± While speaking, Qin Yunuan carefully listened to Mengman¡¯s intonation and wording. In the past, she learned some North Dinguage in this way. By listening to people¡¯s words, guessing their thoughts and observing their facial expressions, she couldrgely know what they were talking about.

    ¡°Here we are.¡±

    They had walked for about four hours. The sun already went up, but in the wood, it was still dark. They could vaguely see the rising white smoke and people in the distance.

    Walking past thest shield, a huge tribe appeared, surrounded by one-meter-wide stones that were as high as a man. These stones were used to protect the tribe from wood monsters and snakes. In the middle was a castle-like building made of stones. Though not as grand as Qi Pce, it was also a mammoth project, given that it was not easy to find such solid stones in the wood and polish them into a uniform shape.

    Qin Yunuan and other people were all stunned by such a grand scene.

    ¡°Alright, take them to see my father.¡± Mengman said in fluent Chinese. Obviously, he deliberately said this to Leng Changxi because he knew Leng Changxi was the leader.

    The tribesman behind Qin Yunuan wanted to urge her to hurry up, so pushed her, maybe on purpose. Qin Yunuan staggered and ran into Leng Changxi on his back. Leng Changxi turned around to put Qin Yunuan, who was small and thin, into his arms. He looked at that ve with abhorrence. The longer he looked, the more he wanted to kill him.

    It seemed that Leng Changxi was going to kill that ve. Theckey near Mengman wanted to ask whether to stop Leng Changxi, but Mengman stopped him in advance. He¡¯d like to see how far Leng Changxi dared to go.

    ¡°You have to pay for what you did to my wife.¡± Leng Changxi turned around slightly and pulled out his shiny spear, wielding it in the air. Not long, that ve¡¯s ears, eyes and nose were all gone.

    It happened so fast. The ve covered his face with hands and howled in pain. His lugubrious cries drew people¡¯s attention, and everyone looked at Leng Changxi.

    ves around were ready to fight with him. Because Leng Changxi was a dangerous invader for them.

    Mengman made a hand gesture to quiet down the crowd and asked people to drag the injured ve down. He looked at Leng Changxi coldly and said, ¡°You hurt my man in my ce. How dare you?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Leng Changxi calmly put the spear back to the sheath and nced at Mengman. ¡°So what?¡±

    Mengman paused and then put on a bitter smile. Meanwhile, behind the top window on the castle-like building in the middle stood a man, who watched everything with his sophisticated and shrewd eyes. Compared with those unkempt and dirty ves, he was as delicate as a king. The clothes he wore were embroidered with golden threads on the edge. But it could be told that his clothes were a bit old from some loose threads.

    Next to him was an old man who looked as if he was dying. People might just deem him as a dumb statue. Same as that ¡°King¡±, he also ran his eyes over the people down. After a long time, he spoke slowly, ¡°Do you think. he is the person you are waiting for?¡±

    The ¡°King¡± wore a bitter smile and asked, ¡°You are the most experienced augur in our tribe. Shouldn¡¯t I ask you this question?¡±

    The ¡°King¡± addressed him respectfully. Obviously, the old man enjoyed a high status in the tribe.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± The old man shook his head and said, ¡°I haven¡¯t divined for long. Don¡¯t you remember that an augur only has 13 chances to divine? Since I finished my twelfth augury seven years ago, I haven¡¯t divined.¡±

    ¡°Well, use yourst chance.¡± The ¡°King¡± sounded as if he was cing an order. ¡°It¡¯s been so long, and I can¡¯t wait anymore. If he is who I¡¯m waiting for, that¡¯s fine. If not, kill him for heaven worship.¡±

 Chapter 261 Warrior-Horse Array

    <h4>Chapter 261 Warrior-Horse Array</h4>

    Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan, who were downstairs, didn¡¯t know someone had decided their destiny. But they didn¡¯t have to know this because they always had their destiny in their own hands.

    Looking up along the countless steps, they felt like these steps were connected to the endless darkness. Mengman, who led the way, turned back and said indifferently, ¡°Follow me.¡±

    Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan looked at each other and then followed him calmly. Cha and the other four people were left at the bottom and guarded by tribesmen. Seemingly, not everyone could go upstairs at will.

    Walking on thest step, Qin Yunuan, who had a sensitive smell, had clearly smelt something burned. Although the room had been ventted and cleaned, Qin Yunuan was still able to smell it out. It smelt like the burned tortoiseshell.

    As she expected, there was a small furnace made of stones in the middle. In it were red-hot cobbles, and near it stood a grey-haired man who was holding a tortoiseshell and observing it. A man, maybe at 40, stood next to the window gazing at Leng Changxi. His shrewd eyes and decent clothes made him different from anyone else in the tribe. He looked like a royal noble, calm and leisured, no matter what he did. He was the ¡°King¡± who sat next to the window just now.

    ¡°Wee our honored guests.¡± The ¡°King¡± smiled and ordered theely woman near him to serve tea to them. ¡°Have a seat.¡±

    The woman quickly picked out two y-made cups from the cupboard and took some tea from a y-made jar. Their tea was darker than that of Qi. After a closer look, Qin Yunuan assumed that it was native to the Yeren Valley. This man seemed very good at exploiting the Valley. He truly could be seen as the ¡°King¡± here.

    Mengman made a simple introduction. ¡°This is my father, also the tribe leader. He gives us everything.¡±

    The ¡°King¡± wore a light smile, but it could be told that he was satisfied with the title.

    The ¡°King¡± titled his head and asked the augur, ¡°How¡¯s it going? Have you got the result?¡±

    The old augur seemed troubled and raised his grey eyebrows. ¡°I got a weird manifestation.¡± When he handed over the shell to the ¡°King¡±, the shell broke into pieces without any sign and fell to the ground.

    In augury, the broken shell was an ill omen. The ¡°King¡± stood up at once and ordered while pointing at Leng Changxi, ¡°Kill them.¡±

    Mengman was the first one to react. But when he came close to Leng Changxi, he was stopped by thetter¡¯s indifference and coldness.

    In an instant, they heard amotion downstairs. Because of the order, seven or eight men rushed upstairs.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Leng Changxi turned around a bit to shelter Qin Yunuan. He hinted to Cha and other people who followed tribesmen to rush upstairs to stay calm. ¡°Mr. Mengman invited us here with difficulty, but you directly treated us to this right after we arrived. I think you should give me an exnation.¡±

    The ¡°King¡± squinted at Leng Changxi and curled his lip. He said, ¡°Do I need a reason to kill you? Young man, why do you want an exnation? People like you are truly weird. In face of death, you still want a why as if this could change your fate. Sometimes, the truth is cruel, and it¡¯s better not to know it.¡±

    Leng Changxi held the spear and said, ¡°What if I insist?¡± Everything seemed to happen without any reason. But something had foreshadowed it, namely the biggest secret buried in the Yeren Valley.

    At once, the ¡°King¡± changed his facial expression. He waved his hand in silence, a sign telling people to leave. All people, even Mengman, left except Qin Yunuan, Leng Changxi and the old augur.

    It was quiet. After a long time, the ¡°King¡± said, ¡°You... you can practice Tongming Gate¡¯s Qigong?¡±

    Right at the moment Leng Changxi mobilized his genuine Qi to protect Qin Yunuan, the ¡°King¡± sensed it. But for Leng Changxi, he hadn¡¯t heard of Tongming Gate at all.

    ¡°Whether I can or cannot, so what?¡± Leng Changxi didn¡¯t want to directly answer the question.

    ¡°Tongming Gate is a royal martial arts section in West Xia. Only royal members can learn its Qigong, whose strength is that as ancestors teach descendants generation by generation, its power grows. This is worthwhile.¡± The ¡°King¡± exined.

    Was there such a kind of Qigong? Qin Yunuan listened to the ¡°King¡± carefully, and then he continued, ¡°But it also has a drawback. If those descendants, who want a revolt, can easily learn the skillfully contrived Qigong from their elder generation, such martial arts will help them to do evil. In the early years of West Xia¡¯s foundation, teaching descendants Qigong generation by generation indeed united the royal family to fight with foreign enemies together. But look at what happenedter. Jing Donahue, the incumbent emperor in West Xia, has clearly banned royal members from practicing Tongming Gate¡¯s Qigong. So, where did you learn it from?¡±

    Jing Donghua, Leng Changxi¡¯s father, was the most skilled Qigong master. So it made sense that Leng Changxi was better at internal skills than his peers. Even getting injured, he could recover sooner. Also, he learned martial arts faster than others.

    Leng Changxi mimicked how the ¡°King¡± spoke and asked, ¡°Do I need any reason to learn it?¡±

    The ¡°King¡± was in a trance and thenughed. ¡°Young man, I appreciate your arrogance. Despite that, you will still be killedter.¡± The ¡°King¡± picked up the y-made cup from the tea table near him. The cup was half full of lukewarm tea, and he emptied it. Then, he put his hands on the window and pushed, so leaving the window shade and exposing his whole body.

    Qin Yunuan was in a trance. Not until this moment did she find that the ¡°King¡±, who looked like an imposingmander just now, had a pair of atrophic lower legs. They were shriveled, weak and as thin as bamboos. Leng Changxi squinted because he saw that pair of deformed lower legs too.

    However, the ¡°King¡± wore a light smile. He pointed at his legs and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to show mercy. Compared with those who lost more for they didn¡¯t know when to let everything go, I¡¯m fine because they all died.¡±

    Two wheels were attached to his chair, which was very considerate; so that he could move around. The ¡°King¡± moved to Leng Changxi and said with a smile, ¡°20 years ago, I was a rtively famous cksmith in my neighborhood. One evening, a man suddenly came to me and appointed me to take an urgent job. Without any hesitation, I agreed. But since then, I have found no way toe back. I, along with several dozens of cksmiths, was locked in arge iron cage by a group of uniformed people. We were forced to take part in a cruelpetition by presenting our craftsmanship one by one. Less qualified cksmiths and those with poor skills were all killed right after their performance, even having no time to beg for their lives.¡±

    The ¡°King¡± sighed and continued, ¡°Many old cksmiths were really skilled, but they all died out of nervousness. Everyone was scared, but at that time, I was more thoughtful than them. Those uniformed men were in a hurry to find skilled cksmiths but still dared to kill them. It meant that they were powerful, so I didn¡¯t dare to confront them. Luckily, I survived and then was taken to this no-exit mountain after traveling a long way with my eyes covered.¡±

    ¡°You were taken to an arsenal?¡± Qin Yunuan asked.

    ¡°You really know something,¡± the ¡°King¡± was a bit surprised. Then he shook his head and said, ¡°At that time, we, cksmiths, all were not very experienced so unqualified to work in the arsenal. We were merely responsible for building the warrior-horse array ced around the arsenal.¡±

    ¡°Warrior-horse array?¡± Having read Leng Changxi¡¯s military works though, Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t know this array.

    ¡°Yes.¡± The ¡°King¡± seemed unwilling to exin more to Qin Yunuan. ¡°There are many arrays and tricks ced outside the arsenal. Even a person who has the arsenal map may not be able to enter the arsenal alive. Later, some outstanding cksmiths, including me, were picked out to work in the factory. However, we stressed out because of the three-year working system. Many of us ned a betrayal, intending to steal the weapon design drawing and sell parts of it to any country for a windfall. Therefore, factory workers started many revolts, and I joined thergest one. But on our way to escape, the design drawing we made much effort to steal fell to the ground. A man didn¡¯t want to lose it, so he ran back to pick it up. However, he forgot that there were warrior-horse arrays everywhere, and he was killed by the trick he built by himself. I saw he was killed in person and got stunned. But I felt grateful more, grateful that I didn¡¯t lose my life for those several design drawings.¡±

    ¡°Soter, you settled in the Yeren Valley, and tamed native residents there to build your own tribe and even create a civilization?¡± Leng Changxi looked at the ¡°King¡±, who truly was a king and a creator.

    ¡°You¡¯re a genius,¡± Leng Changxi praised him. At once,cency could be seen in the eyes of the ¡°King¡±. But Leng Changxi then lowered his head and smiled. ¡°But you¡¯re more of a fool. You simply felt grateful that you didn¡¯t die because of the drawings. However, you devoted more than half of your life to an arsenal which you haven¡¯t walked into. After seeing your leg injury, I know for sure that it¡¯s linked to the arsenal.¡±

    The ¡°King¡± said in a cold tone, ¡°Right. I haven¡¯t stopped finding the arsenal entrance, but I don¡¯t how where arrays around it are ced. My legs got injured by ident seven years ago when I looked for the entrance. Two years ago, I already found the entrance, but thest gate turned out to be the biggest barrier stopping me from entering. It¡¯s not because I have no key, but because the keyhole on the gate had been sealed by the melted iron. As a result, the only way to enter the arsenal is to break the gate through leveraging one¡¯s internal skills. That gate weighs several thousand kilograms, so only people with Tongming Gate¡¯s Qigong, the purest and most powerful Qigong in the world, can break it. There are not many Tongming Gate¡¯s inheritors, and now, West Xia¡¯s emperor has even banned people from cultivating it. So I spend much time finding the one who can break the gate and have waited for him for long. Finally, I find him.¡±

 Chapter 262 Continuous Conflicts

    <h4>Chapter 262 Continuous Conflicts</h4>

    Apparently, the ¡°King¡± wanted to take advantage of Leng Changxi¡¯s Qigong to break the gate. Under such circumstances, people who were trapped here generally would try hard to fawn on the ¡°King¡±. But unexpectedly, Leng Changxi just turned around slightly and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t know I was practicing Tongming Gate¡¯s Qigong until you told me just now. So I don¡¯t know how to employ it.¡±

    The ¡°King¡± looked stiff and said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. You will figure it out in face of death.¡±

    Right at this time, a man went upstairs to report, and he spoke the tribenguage that Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t understand. After hearing what the man reported, the ¡°King¡± was obviously in a trance. Then, he put on a weird smile, showing cruelty and maliciousness that people usually had before they killed others.

    ¡°A prince from North Di?¡± the ¡°King¡± saidcently. ¡°That¡¯s rather good. You mean, only 20 out of over 100 people survive?¡±

    The man nodded. Later, the ¡°King¡± suddenly smiled at Leng Changxi and asked, ¡°Do you know that prince?¡±

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t answer him but said, ¡°Only after seeing him will I know whether he¡¯s my acquaintance.¡±

    This was a good chance to meet Wanyan Su who took a wrong way even with the right map. Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan had expected this, but they didn¡¯t expect that they would meet each other here.

    Soon, Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan heard a noise downstairs. They poked their heads out of the window and saw those ves who escorted them before pushed 20 people toe in. Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan were treated nicely on their way to the tribe, while these 20 people suffered a lot. They were forced to lead in every dangerous road, so merely on the way, four people died.

    Wanyan Su led the group, and his eyes were not as bright as before. There was desperation mirrored in his slightly dull eyes. With soil on his hair on the temples, Wanyan Su, who was unkempt and in disarray, looked like a frustrated gangster on the street, rather than a prince of North Di. He sensed that someone was looking at him, so he looked up suddenly and saw Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan who stood near the castle window.

    He was in a trance as if he saw something incredible, so unconsciously stopped. The man behind him pushed him impatiently. Not prepared for this, Wanyan Su fell to the ground, and Yasu near him rushed to him, trying to help him up. However, he kept staring at Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan.

    Looking at Wanyan Su who behaved in an unusual way, the ¡°King¡± turned his head and asked Leng Changxi, ¡°You know him?¡±

    Leng Changxi said in a in tone, ¡°No.¡±

    The ¡°King¡± looked doubtful, but he saw nothing suspicious from Leng Changxi¡¯s expression. ¡°Now that so many guests visit today, let me make an exception of going downstairs.¡±

    The ¡°King¡± couldn¡¯t directly walk downstairs, given his leg injury. Besides, the stairs were too narrow to allow a wheel-attached chair to pass through. Thus, the ¡°King¡± asked people to build a lift next to the window. With the pulley on it, people could go down to the ground from a ten-meter-high ce.

    Qin Yunuan observed how that device was built, and she couldn¡¯t help praising the ¡°King¡± in silence. He indeed was an inventor greater than Sun Chengzhen.

    20 people, including Wanyan Su, were tied up tightly and stood in the middle. Around them were high stone walls and ves who stared at them in a hostile way. At first nce, Wanyan Su saw Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi who stood next to the ¡°King¡±, and he blurted out, ¡°Leng, it turns out that you are their helper. You must have nned to leave us at the Yingguang Lake before.¡±

    Leng Changxi said nothing. Then, Wanyan Su turned to Qin Yunuan and said, ¡°And you, Ms. Qin, you gave me a forged map.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nced at Wanyan Su calmly and said, ¡°I don¡¯t even know you. Why do I give you a map? Moreover, a map is a guide for people in the Yeren Valley. Why will I give it to you easily if I have one?¡±

    Wanyan Su paused. He seemed not to expect that Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi would pretend not to know him.

    The ¡°King¡± ordered the servant girl behind to push him towards Wanyan Su. ¡°You are a prince in North Di?¡±

    Wanyan Su kept his chin up and didn¡¯t answer him.

    The ¡°King¡± waved his hand, and the sensible servant girl pushed him to walk around those 20 people. After carefully observing all of them, he smiled at Wanyan Su and said, ¡°You truly are a prince. But now that my guests don¡¯t know you, I won¡¯t treat you as a guest. This valley is my ce, so even if you are a prince, you can¡¯t refuse when I want to kill you.¡±

    ¡°What have they promised you?¡± Wanyan Su asked while looking at Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan. He sounded aloof, a trait only royal members had. He looked different, not the modest and gentle Wanyan Su anymore.

    The ¡°King¡± took a nce at Leng Changxi and answered in a light tone, ¡°He can give everything I want.¡± He knew what Wanyan Su hinted, so he added, ¡°So, do you want to trade something for your life?¡±

    Wanyan Su didn¡¯t answer him but pressed his lips together and considered. The ¡°King¡±ughed to continue, ¡°Let me tell you. Seven years ago, we greeted another group of people here. They were so arrogant but still defeated by nature and died. I asked people to gut them and hang their organs on trees. Their greed and ambition are the best nutrition for the Yeren Valley. The next year, food growing in thend which had been nourished by their organs was especially tasty. So make a self-assessment before you conclude that you are valuable. Maybe, you are only fit for nourishing the Yeren Valley.¡±

    ¡°Status! I can give you high status.¡± Wanyan Su looked at the ¡°King¡± in a trance.

    ¡°Status?¡± The ¡°King¡±ughed in disdain. ¡°I¡¯m already the King here. What high status do you think I still need?¡±

    ¡°Oh? Really?¡± Wanyan Suughed and continued, ¡°But what status do you have outside the Yeren Valley? We all know what is hidden here, not the valuable treasures, but the most advanced weapons with great power. However, even if you find them, so what? No one helps you produce and send them out. So what you have are just piles of scrap copper and iron. Do you think you can aplish something just with the help of these little educated ves in the tribe? Admit it. You, after all, need others¡¯ help. And I can not only offer you this but also promise to appoint you as the most respectable Taoist master in North Di when you leave here. At that time, you can make things with your ability at will and be in charge of the whole arsenal management and production. We will be partners and benefit each other. Unlike people next to you, I won¡¯t easily betray you.¡±

    ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± The ¡°King¡± nodded leisurely. ¡°Even so, I still believe Mr. Leng, who you just called, is more valuable than you. I will consider your offer, but I have the right to refuse to work with you at any time. I will keep you alive, but as for your followers, I won¡¯t.¡± Then, the ¡°King¡± raised his hand to his neck and made a gesture. Soon, young and strong ves around rushed to drag North Di soldiers away. Two ves worked together to drag soldiers into the wood and killed them in the most primitive way by drowning them in the abyss or throwing them to the hound kennel which would bite them to death.

    After dealing with soldiers, those ves pulled Yasu rudely.

    ¡°No, Your Highness, save me.¡± Yasu cried loudly at once.

    ¡°Don¡¯t kill her.¡± Wanyan Su suddenly stood up and said nervously, ¡°You¡¯ve killed all my men. Can you just spare a woman?¡±

    The ¡°King¡± nced at Wanyan Su in a provocative way. ¡°She¡¯s too noisy. I don¡¯t like that.¡±

    Then, Yasu cried even more loudly. She grasped Wanyan Su¡¯s arm bitterly and shook her head hard. Despite that, Wanyan Su could help her nothing.

    ¡°She¡¯s just a woman.¡± Qin Yunuan said slowly, ¡°Now that you aim high, you won¡¯t mind feeding one more woman, will you?¡±

    Qin Yunuan, who kept silent all the time, should speak up for Yasu. The ¡°King¡± scanned her out of the corner of his eyes and then made a decision quickly. ¡°Alright. Now that my honored guest speaks up for you, I¡¯ll spare you. Take them two away. Others, listen to me. Prepare food, and we will head for Kexili tomorrow morning.¡±

    Since she arrived at the tribe, Qin Yunuan had heard ¡°Kexili¡± over ten times. This ce was a symbol of faith for people here, representing the soul of the tribe. Everyone here seemed to live for this ce. Qin Yunuan now could conclude that Kexili must be the ce where the arsenal was.

    The ¡°King¡± led them to leave. Only a few ves were left to escort Wanyan Su and Yasu to a small dark room near the stone castle. That was where they would be kept. Usually, when tribesmen had excessive prey and could finish all, this room would be used as a temporary pen for the prey.

    A prince now should be locked in a pen.

    When they walked by, Qin Yunuan heard Wanyan Su said ¡°Thank you¡± in a very low voice. She slightly turned her head, but then Wanyan Su said, ¡°But I won¡¯t forget how you, a brutal and conscienceless couple, led us to the trap.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not me leading you to the trap.¡± Qin Yunuan said lightly, ¡°But your ambition. Remember that it was you that gave us up, not the vice versa. And we happened to be rescued after going separately while you walked into an abyss due to your greed.¡±

    Wanyan Su gave her a cold smile. ¡°God won¡¯t bless you and ignore me forever. As long as I¡¯m alive, we have to get even. General Leng taught me not to be so softhearted as a leader before. Now I have learned it, and I will uphold justice for those over 100 dead warriors.¡±

 Chapter 263 The Bronze Array

    <h4>Chapter 263 The Bronze Array</h4>

    Wanyan Su¡¯s eyes kindled with the resolution he showed when leaving the capital of North Di. Seeing Wanyan Su¡¯s unexinable confidence, Leng Changxi said merely, ¡°Say it only after you reach Kexili alive.¡±

    On the other side, the ¡°King¡± had returned to the stone castle again. The servant girl beside him helped him change clothes, which was much more convenient for him to act. The ¡°King¡± kept staring firmly at the direction of the sunset, which was the West, and the direction of Kexili. He knew only too well about how much treasure there was in the huge arsenal.

    In the arsenal, there were cannons that never showed up in the world. Their barrels could hold ammunition asrge as bowls. Once they were shot, their power was infinite. Therefore, they were the best choice to take cities and seize territories. There were also iron chariots in the arsenal, which were never recorded in history. Different from the chariots pulled by four horses, the iron one was pulled by a special chain, which enabled it to run on any steepnd. Thoughts of those treasures filled the heart of the ¡°King¡± like maidens¡¯ memory, making him unable to forget.

    If he could return to the arsenal one day, he would be the ruler of the world.

    ¡°Mengman?¡± the ¡°King¡± turned his head to the other side and called Mengman, who had been waiting by his side.

    ¡°Father,¡± Mengman looked quite respectful.

    ¡°Now that the man hasn¡¯t mastered the Qigong of Tongming Gate yet, you will teach him.¡±

    ¡°But father,¡± Mengman hesitated a little, ¡°If he learns it and be more powerful, I¡¯m afraid that we can¡¯t control him. On the way here, I¡¯ve sounded out his martial arts. He may not be the greatest one in the world, but he is certainly a rare master-hand.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you remember that there is a woman beside him?¡± The ¡°King¡± harbored dark designs, ¡°To beat your enemy, don¡¯t attack his strength. You should focus on his weakness as if grabbing his neck. Then he will do as you ask for. Nanny Yu¡¯s poison will soon be ready. Just choose the best kind of it as our present to him for our first-time meeting.¡±

    On the morning three dayster, although the sun hadn¡¯t gone up yet, the whole tribe woke up early as if they were expecting a serious ceremony. During the three days, Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan had been living in a wing-room under the stone castle. Although the room was a little cold, there were fundamental things for daily life. The ¡°King¡± even sent people to give them a y tea set along with some ck tea, which was better than nothing despite its bitterness.

    Every day there was a woman who came specially to send meals to Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan. Every time she would check how much tea was consumed carefully and add in time. It was too caring for Qin Yunuan to bear. Their identities were embarrassing. They seemed like prisoners, but they were treated better than honored guests.

    However, one thing kept informing them that they were trapped now. Every day Mengman woulde to see how much Leng Changxi¡¯s inner Qi had grown and how far he had gone to use Tongming Gate¡¯s Qigong. It could be seen that Mengman disliked Leng Changxi very much. He had said more than once, ¡°Why should such a great Qigong be given to such a cold-blooded person like you?¡±

    Of course, during the three days, Qin Yunuan did more than eating and drinking. By listening carefully to the conversation between these people, she had basically felt out thenguage rule of the tribe. She could learn most of their feelings and contents when the people beside them talked.

    The tribe people were divided into three sses. The ¡°King¡±, Mengman and the previous Yaqi all belonged to the ruling ss, who had a good education. Second to them were those servant girls and nurses serving the ruling ss. They were able to read and write. The ones at the bottom were those ves who only had simple desires. They knew nothing except eating to ease hunger and drinking to fill thirst.

    Those people were the simplest and the most horrible because they had the strength that seemed never to be used up. It could be seen from the mere human strength those ves used to pull the vehicle of the ¡°King¡±.

    The ¡°King¡± was a cripple, so he designed a moving throne himself. It was 9-meter wide, nailed with the thick logs in the forest. The huge wheels at the bottom left deep traces wherever they pressed. Sitting on the high throne, the ¡°King¡± watched those ves indifferently pulling the vehicle in the front. Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi were at his right side, while Wanyan Su and Yasu were on the left.

    Staring at the West firmly, the ¡°King¡± said suddenly, ¡°If your inner Qi is not strong enough to break the Duanlong Stone when we arrive Kexili, there¡¯s no other way but death.¡±

    ¡°You mean all of us?¡± Leng Changxi looked at the direction the ¡°King¡± kept staring at.

    ¡°No,¡± The ¡°King¡± sneered, ¡°I mean you.¡±

    Leng Changxi lifted his lips, but his hand dragging Qin Yunuan tightened.

    In this way, they kept walking until the forest in front of them became thicker in the evening. Even the ¡°King¡± had to leave his throne and sat on the wheelchair alone to get a clear picture of the situation.

    ¡°Here it is. This is the warrior-horse array.¡±

    Leng Changxi took Qin Yunuan to go forward and parted the thick leaves blocking the view. In the thin orange sunlight, a group of warrior-horse array in the size of real humans and horses appeared to them. Each horse was made ording to the best Ferghana horse in North Di. Nevertheless, the man on the horse was also tall and strong in good spirits. Together, they were a bronze army.

    It was the first time for Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan to see such a scene. The ves soon cleared the trees on the way under the hint of the ¡°King¡±, broadening their view. It was at that time when Qin Yunuan found out the reason why it was called warrior-horse array. It was not because there were soldiers and horses, but because they were arranged carefully on arge scale. From the south of the mountain to the north of it, there were the tall bronze warriors and horses everywhere Qin Yunuan could see, surrounding the small hill in the center well.

    The bronze warriors and horses got a little rusty. Maybe it was the result of being exposed to the weather for a long time. Weeds were growing beside the horse¡¯s hooves, between which there were bloodstains and bones of animals from time to time. Obviously, no living things could go out of the array.

    Stunned by the scene, Wanyan Su stretched the neck and went forward with eyes fixed on the warrior-horse array, seeming to look for a way out of it.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look at it,¡± having been here countless times, the ¡°King¡± got used to the scene, ¡°There are warrior-horse arrays like this all around the mountain. There is no short cut, and there won¡¯t be any. I¡¯ve stayed at Yeren Valley for so many years. I know it better than you do.¡±

    ¡°Why is the warrior-horse array amazing?¡± Wanyan Su couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°They¡¯re just several bronze statues.¡±

    ¡°Several bronze statues?¡± The ¡°King¡± felt worried about Wanyan Su¡¯s intelligence. He waved his hands, giving Mengman the hint to draw the bow and shoot an arrow.

    Mengman was born with extraordinary arm strength. Taking the longbow hanging on his back, he drew the bow and shot an arrow. The arrow flew to the warrior-horse array as fast as a meteor. Ordinary people could not make any reaction in such a short time.

    Suddenly, the arrow fell to the ground with a snap. It was cut into two pieces by nobody else but the bronze man sitting on the bronze horse. He raised his hand and cut with his sword, which didn¡¯t be blunt because of time, but cut clean through iron as though it were mud.

    Seeing this, people on this side all froze. The ¡°King¡± raised his head slightly and said to Wanyan Su, ¡°Have you seen that? These are the ¡®just several bronze statues¡¯ in your words. Do you really believe that the one who designed them intended to make them a door-god?¡±

    ¡°How will we pass them, then?¡± Wanyan Su nced at the bronze statues and many animal bodies on the ground. They must be the remains of those animals intruding the array out of curiosity or confusion. ¡°We can bypass these animal bodies. Maybe then we can avoid the attack. Anyway, there must be a way.¡± If there was no way, how would the craftsmen sent into the factory at regr intervals enter?

    ¡°Impossible,¡± The ¡°King¡± denied again, ¡°The design here is strict. You never know which bronze man will attack and which will not. Maybe this year the route is here, and it will be on the other side next year. Even today¡¯s route is different from the one tomorrow. It will change every two hours. This shows the designer¡¯s greatness. The designer is a woman. Great as she is, she is also the most sinister woman in the world.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s Chen Wan,¡± Qin Yunuan leaned her head and said to the ¡°King¡±, ¡°I¡¯ve heard about her before. She is almost a goddess. Also, all the blueprints of weapons in it were her work.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± when the ¡°King¡± mentioned the woman, he wore an unnatural expression, ¡°But it doesn¡¯t matter. She has schemes while I have humans.¡± The ¡°King¡± nced at the ves at his feet with disdain, ¡°Otherwise, what do you think of my bringing so many people here?¡±

    How cruel he was! He wanted to take living people as his shields to explore.

    Witnessing thecence of the ¡°King¡±, Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help but look down upon him. Although Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan have been forced to kill so many people, they respected life all the time. They were not like the ¡°King¡±, who took living people as ves.

    The ¡°King¡± waved at Mengman, who understood immediately, kicked a ve beside him, and ordered him to step forward with rude words.

    Having witnessed himself how the arrow was cut in two, the ve wouldn¡¯t listen to the order. At that moment, Mengman upped with his whip and thrashed the ve on his back without hesitation, forcing him to move slowly.

    Mengman forced the ve to move to the array step by step in the way ofshing livestock. Three steps away from the ve was a tall bronze statue. Mengman waved his whip more fervently. However, the ve suddenly had courage. He gritted his teeth, turned over, and rushed at Mengman.

    It never urred to Mengman that the well-behaved ve would rebel. For a moment, the two people scuffled with each other with the bronze soldier holding the sword just in front of them. The two people rolled towards the bronze statue.

    There was a soft crack as if a trap was triggered. The bronze soldier closest to them moved suddenly. The shining sword in his hand cut down towards the two people.

 Chapter 264 True Identity

    <h4>Chapter 264 True Identity</h4>

    There was a sh of silver. Nothing was covering Mengman¡¯s body except for the whip made of vine, which could not bear one attack. Surprisingly, a spearhead made of dark iron saved their life.

    Appearing like a ghost, Leng Changxi held a long spear in his hand, with the spearhead against the long spear in the bronze soldier¡¯s hand. Powered by some mysterious machine, the bronze soldier had such great strength that even Leng Changxi, who was born with amazing strength, had a cold sweat.

    ¡°Leave! Be quick!¡± Leng Changxi lowered his head and excoriated Mengman.

    It was at that time when Mengman came back to earth. He quickly rose from the ground. ncing at the ve behind him, Mengman kicked him into the warrior-horse array suddenly. Soon, the intrusion of such a big man triggered the trap. Several bronze soldiers around him reacted fast. Using their swords and long spears, they stabbed the ve into a sifter with a few attacks.

    Leng Changxi had no intention to stop Mengman. He tried his best to remove the long spear from the bronze soldier. However, it seemed that every part of the bronze array was strictly connected as a whole. The bronze soldier at the other side of Leng Changxi immediately began to wave his sword. Although its attack was not as quick and urate as the one of a real person, its strength was surprisingly great.

    Resisting two at one time, Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t get away from the fight within a short time. Wincing slightly, Wanyan Su lifted the short sword he brought with him and rushed to help.

    ¡°Why are youing here?¡± It seemed that Leng Changxi didn¡¯t like others to help him.

    ¡°I simply don¡¯t want you to die so easily. You should be killed by me. Leng Changxi, do you hear that?¡± Wanyan Su resisted an attack for Leng Changxi, which came from a bronze soldier using a meteor hammer in the direction of 12 o¡¯clock. The groups of bronze soldiers all seemed to be activated, reacting one after another. They waved their weapons toward the two people. While they moved, there were soft cracks from their joint. It seemed that they hadn¡¯t moved for a long time. It was a rather fierce warm-uppetition.

    The ¡°King¡± was sitting high at his wheelchair, appreciating it with great interest. He was also observing the reaction of those bronze soldiers, which were built carefully by them in the past. Now it seemed that their effort was paid.

    Seeing the two people fighting hard in the bronze color, Qin Yunuan looked more and more worried. She always believed in Leng Changxi¡¯s ability. However, a man¡¯s physical strength was limited after all. How could hepare to those statues, which didn¡¯t need eating or drinking? What¡¯s worse, it seemed that once the trap was triggered, the machines would never stop. More and more bronze soldiers began to attack Leng Changxi and Wanyan Su. Although their lower limbs were fixed on the horse backs and couldn¡¯t move, the flying arrows and meteor hammers could kill Leng Changxi at any time.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you do something to help them?¡± Yasu couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. Crying, she begged the ¡°King¡±, ¡°They¡¯ll die if they keep fighting like this! They will either be killed or be exhausted to death.¡±

    The ¡°King¡± disliked Yasu¡¯s character very much, crying and howling so easily, ¡°So what? It¡¯s not me who ask them to fight. But it¡¯s good that theye to fight. They can help me find out the way and the rule of the bronze array. Nanny Yu, take out the rule I recorded before. I¡¯ll make aparison carefully.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was quite clear that the rule ¡°King¡± mentioned was also recorded at the price of human lives. If those bronze soldiers could not be stopped from awaking one by one, Leng Changxi and Wanyan Su would be stabbed into a sifter by those non-human soldiers, just like those ves used to explore in the past.

    The most important thing was to find out the principle of operating those bronze soldiers.

    All of a sudden, Qin Yunuan went forward and seized the thickly-written so-called record firmly from the ¡°King¡±, ¡°There¡¯s no need to read it. It¡¯s not helping at all. If there is any rule, you won¡¯t fail to walk out of the bronze array after so many years.¡±

    Compared to Yasu¡¯s crying and howling, Qin Yunuan¡¯s reaction made the ¡°King¡± amazed. He squinted slightly and looked at Qin Yunuan as if she were an angry kitten, ¡°How do you know that I have never gone out of the bronze array?¡±

    ¡°Just once,¡± Qin Yunuan looked sidelong at the ¡°King¡±, ¡°at the cost of countless lives. It¡¯s nothing to show off.¡±

    ¡°How dare you to be impolite to the god of our tribe?¡± The woman called nanny Yu used her crutch with a dragon head carving to hit the ground angrily. She stooped. It looked like she was over 100. Her voice was hoarse and low. The way she spoke was like an old bellow being blown by the fierce wind.

    ¡°I¡¯m just telling the truth,¡± Qin Yunuan stared at the eyes of the ¡°King¡±, ¡°Do you always focus on nothing else but the warrior-horse array?¡±

    The ¡°King¡± sneered, ¡°Madam, I need to remind you that it was us who built the whole array. Every bronze statue here was the result of our pouring and beating. I know them better than you do.¡±

    ¡°What you know about is the bronze statue,¡± Qin Yunuan said with much confidence, ¡°but not the whole array. You only see the detail, but you have never observed the whole effect of the warrior-horse array.¡±

    The ¡°King¡± didn¡¯t care much about the young woman, ¡°Well, do you know about that?¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled. In fact, Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t have any ingenious research on it. It was only because she and Baochuan didn¡¯t have many books to read in the past, so they had to read whatever they saw. She only remembered that she had read some strange knowledge in a book without cover among them, which was close to the Fengshui theory or essays of mountains and rivers.

    ¡°On my way here, I¡¯ve been observing the trend and the shape of the mountain,¡± Qin Yunuan raised her head and gazed at the thick forest finally, ¡°The mountain is in the shape of a pocket. The valley is exactly the ce nurturing Qi with its moist weather. ording to the Fengshui theory, it is called a treasure basin, a ce bringing luck. Therefore, the factory here will definitely be sessful. However, such arge factory met a mysterious disaster after producing so many products, causing so many great thoughts and machines buried in the forest. This implies that the Fengshui of this ce has changed.¡±

    Qin Yunuan spoke with fervor and assurance. The old man who had divined previously couldn¡¯t help turning around to listen. He studied divination and astrology and learned a little about Fengshui and the Eight Diagrams. However, he had nevere up with the idea of using the Fengshui theory to exin the mystery of the bronze array.

    ¡°There¡¯re many ways to change Fengshui,¡± Qin Yunuan continued to guess, ¡°Since it has been merely 20-30 years, the structure and shape of the mountain here won¡¯t have changed a lot, which indicates that a huge ma is buried under the weapon factory. I¡¯ve checked that there¡¯re traces ofndslide and mud-rock flow in the west and the south of the mountain. Although the trend of the whole mountain hasn¡¯t changed, changes of terrains will cause the direction of the ma buried under the mountain to change. If I don¡¯t get it wrong, those bronze soldiers are controlled by a huge ma.¡±

    The old man doubted the conclusion, ¡°Has a ma got such great power?¡±

    ¡°This is the secret of wisdom,¡± Qin Yunuan tried her best to recall what was on the book she read long ago. She remembered that the book was worn-out and written by hand. The writing on it was standard, and the writing style was brief, which was rare to see. It was a pity, however, that the author¡¯s name was lost and hard to find. ¡°I¡¯ve read it on a book,¡± Qin Yunuan said while recalling, ¡°As long as a ma exists, there will be a special maic field around it. Once the maic field is broken by something, reactions will be caused. I think that perhaps when those animals and we pass the warrior-horse array, we¡¯ve broken its original maic field. That leads to the bronze soldiers in the maic field to move.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Nanny Yu shouted at Qin Yunuan with a stern air, ¡°Those bronze soldiers are obviously the ghost armies guarding the weapon factory. They¡¯re the evilest thing, sent by the god to protect the treasure. You use nonsense to exin them. That¡¯s an insult to their sacred meanings.¡±

    ¡°Humph,¡± Qin Yunuan said while looking at the old woman with white hair, ¡°Nurse, if you really believe that those bronze soldiers are sacred, why are you following your master to challenge the authority of the sacred ghost soldiers?¡±

    Her master referred to the ¡°King¡±.

    Nanny Yu looked at the ¡°King¡± and said with extreme loyalty, ¡°Master, I¡¯ve tried to persuade you for countless times. The bronze array was unbreakable. You see, even the two young men good at martial arts are unable to continue the fight now. Master, please stop looking for the so-called treasure.¡±

    Nanny Yu¡¯s words were earnest and kind, but it led to more dislike from the ¡°King¡±. He waved, asking nanny Yu to leave. He stared at Qin Yunuan for a long time without saying a word. Then he slowly asked a question which surprised Qin Yunuan, ¡°Do you remember the author of the book? Does it have any feature?¡±

    Qin Yunuan was dumb to the question. She shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know. The book was very old. But I remember that there is one Chinese redbud on the corner of every page of the book.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± The ¡°King¡± sighed suddenly, ¡°That is her. In the end, she chose to leave everything she had learned for him as expected.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡± Qin Yunuan was a little surprised.

    The ¡°King¡± turned his head and slowly said a name, ¡°Chen Wan.¡±

    It was the third time for Qin Yunuan to hear the name of this miraculous woman. A woman¡¯s instinct told her that there must be some connection between the ¡°King¡± in front of her and the legend figure.

    ¡°Who are you, then?¡± Qin Yunuan squinted slightly and asked carefully, ¡°I mean, what¡¯s your name?¡±

    The ¡°King¡± sighed suddenly as if he had gone through half a century, ¡°Chen Jingrui.¡±

    Qin Yunuan remembered the name. However, before she could react to it, a shrilling cry came from the two people fighting with the bronze soldiers. Qin Yunuan looked back, only to find that Wanyan Su¡¯s right arm holding the short sword had been cut off. He was bleeding heavily and looking horrible. They could wait no more.

 Chapter 265 The Duanlong Gate

    <h4>Chapter 265 The Duanlong Gate</h4>

    Wanyan Su watched his arms fall in front of him. Yasu was so anxious that she wanted to rush forward several times but was still frightened by the bloody scene. Qin Yunuan tried hard to calm herself down. After carefully analyzing the surrounding terrain, she calcted the correct position of the ma ording to the method in the untitled book.

    ¡°It¡¯s there.¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly pointed to a ce less than a dozen steps away from Leng Changxi. Qin Yunuan looked back at the catapult developed by the tribe itself. It was a very simple machine and was made up with limited resources, for example, thick wooden sticks. Only a few simple cowhide tendons were twisted and used to fix the sling port. Although the tendons were full of sticity, the machine had never been tested. Its effect remained unknown. There was no guarantee that Leng Changxi wouldn¡¯t be hurt shooting from so far away.

    ¡°It¡¯s there,¡± Qin Yunuan repeated, ¡°throw a stone towards it. As long as you destroy the ma inside, these bronze sculptures would be gone.¡±

    The ¡°King¡± nced at Qin Yunuan coldly, ¡°Your husband is still there. Are you making fun of your husband¡¯s life?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Qin Yunuan said categorically, ¡°he will be fine unless you deliberately procrastinate and do not save him.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s words broke the calction in the heart of the ¡°King¡±. He had been observing the skills of Leng Changxi and Wanyan Su just now. The energy inside this seemingly cold man was really scary. Leng Changxi was like an invincible killing machine. Compared to those bronze sculptures, he was more unaware of tiredness. If the ¡°King¡± couldn¡¯tpletely control his wife by then, Leng Changxi would only be a greater enemy.

    Yes, Chen Jingrui couldn¡¯t help but save him now. He had to use Leng Changxi to open the Duanlong gate.

    ¡°Throw stones in that direction.¡± Chen Jingrui ordered Mengman.

    After several puffs, the millstone-sized stones were quickly thrown out. To avoid hitting Leng Changxi, Mengman asked the ves deliberately to move the position farther. The stones were limited in the jungle. This group of people didn¡¯t bring much when they came. Therge stones hit a few bronze statues only, and several of them fell to the ground.

    ¡°No,¡± Qin Yunuanmanded Mengman, ¡°We should hit the weak spot. Have you seen the ce where the density of the bronze statues was rtively sparse? That¡¯s where the ma is, hit that ce.¡±

    ¡°But that ce is too close to your man.¡± Mengman began to worry. He still remembered how Leng Changxi saved his life, although it did not prevent them from bing enemies.

    Qin Yunuan could not hesitate at this time. She knew Leng Changxi¡¯s strength. Although he could still stand up for a while, Leng Changxi was not the opponent of this group of killing machines. She nodded, and Mengman dared to give the order, and there were a few more puffs. They hit the spot!

    Suddenly, the seemingly thicknd copsed, and arge pit about ten feet square was exposed. There was a device simr to abination of gears in the pit. These gears, together with the iron rods, drive the activities of each bronze statue. The bottomyer was a huge ma. ording to Qin Yunuan¡¯s estimation, this ma should be at least the size of a courtyard to control so many bronze soldiers.

    Because the main control center was affected, the bronze soldiers who had besieged Leng Changxi suddenly stopped. The broadswords and spears in their hands were still hanging high, but the movement of the joints was no longer so sensitive.

    ¡°Changxi, destroy the gears there.¡± Qin Yunuan shouted at Leng Changxi¡¯s back. As long as the center was destroyed, these bronze soldiers would be a pile of scrap iron.

    Leng Changxi¡¯s eyes shed, and a determination suddenly appeared. At this moment, a bronze soldier, who had resumed action, waved his sword towards the skull of Leng Changxi. He dodged quickly, escaping the attack narrowly. Turning over, he stepped on the broad knife in the bronze soldier¡¯s hand and ran towards the center.

    The situation was a desperate bet, and even Chen Jingrui was sweating in his heart for him.

    Leng Changxi leaped, waving the spear. The silver spear stabbed into the biggest gear, and Leng Changxi stepped on the head of a bronze horse. All the bronze soldiers were still waving their weapons in front of Leng Changxi¡¯s face. The next moment they became motionless as if being hit at certain acupoints.

    Qin Yunuan knew that Leng Changxi seeded.

    Leng Changxi stood on the horse alone, the corners of his clothes turned up slightly, making him very handsome.

    Just when everyone was about to breathe a sigh of relief, there was a slight creak from the dull underground. Qin Yunuan frowned at the ominous signs. Leng Changxi turned his head to look at the spear stuck in the middle of the gear. It seemed that the spear could no longer withstand the huge maic power. In the friction, the gear seemed to have begun to move slowly. The ck iron head was also creaking along with the movement of the gear.

    While everyone was worried, Chen Jingrui suddenly issued an order, ¡°Throw stones.¡±

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Qin Yunuan rushed up immediately, trying to regain the rope in the ve¡¯s hands, which was used to control the sling. Unfortunately, the ve had let go, and the stones had quickly flown away. Fortunately, Leng Changxi responded quickly. He dodged in time andnded on another bronze statue nearby.

    ¡°You want to kill him?¡± Qin Yunuan shouted at Chen Jingrui hysterically, ¡°Don¡¯t forget it, if you kill him, who will open the Dragon Gate for you?¡±

    Chen Jingrui sneered disdainfully, ¡°There are so many ways to open the Duanlong gate. I don¡¯t have to ask him. Now that the warrior-horse array can be destroyed, I have ways to slowly open the gate as long as I get rid of these remaining bronze soldiers.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s merely your vain hope.¡± Qin Yunuan said viciously at Chen Jingrui, ¡°You don¡¯t get to open it for your entire life, even if you can, you wouldn¡¯t walk in alive.¡±

    ¡°Madam, you are too young and look too down upon me.¡± Chen Jingrui hinted in his eyes, the ve immediately shot two more big rocks, but Leng Changxi still managed to avoid them.

    ¡°You too, are underestimating my ability,¡± Qin Yunuan narrowed her eyes and suddenly said as she looked at Chen Jingrui, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to confirm the writer of the book I read? I¡¯ll tell you. It¡¯s Chen Wan, the goddess in your mind.¡±

    Chen Jingrui didn¡¯t seem surprised at the answer. He even seemed to have expected it from a long time ago.

    ¡°Sure enough, it was her.¡± Chen Jingrui murmured.

    ¡°If you want to know what else is in that book, just let my husband go.¡± Qin Yunuan said, half threateningly, ¡°You know that I have the ability to remember everything that I have read. The content of that book has been deeply imprinted in my mind. I remember every word, every sentence, and every detail. But if you hurt a hair of my husband,¡± Taking advantage of Mengman not paying attention, she took out the short dagger at Mengman¡¯s waist, pointed the sharp tip of the knife at her pale neck and said, ¡°You will never know what else is written in that book, you know which is more important.¡±

    Chen Jingrui¡¯s expression became a little nervous. Then he asked the people under him to stop. He raised his proud head to look at Qin Yunuan and said, ¡°You¡¯d better not y tricks on me.¡±

    Stopping the attack, Leng Changxi rushed over from a distance. He nced at Chen Jingrui vigntly and then held the brave Qin Yunuan in his arms. Chen Jingrui nced at them expressionlessly, ¡°The Duanlong gate is just ahead. It all depends on your performance.¡±

    The team continued to move forward, and Mengman worked hard to organize the ve to remove the remaining bronze statues. The real-life-sized statues that were the most powerful guards of the weapon factory became a pile of broken copper and iron. Several ves encountered the bronze soldiers who hadn¡¯t been broken. Their heads were chopped off at once, but Chen Jingrui would not slow down because of these unimportant people.

    He didn¡¯t even pay too much attention to Wanyan Su, who lost his right hand. Only Yasu kept crying beside him. After simply wrapping the wound with gauze, Wanyan Su insisted on advancing with the team, but his face was already pale with excessive blood loss.

    ¡°If you can¡¯t keep up, just stay. Life is always more important than treasure.¡± Qin Yunuan looked straight ahead, but her words offort were addressed to Wanyan Su.

    ¡°With treasure, I have status, and with status, I have all the capital and power. These things are more important than my life.¡±

    Qin Yunuan replied mockingly, ¡°I didn¡¯t see it in the past. It turns out that Fourth Prince is so fond of power.¡±

    The team stopped slowly, and in front of them was a cliff ten feet high, covered with dense vines, covering the original mountain tightly.

    Chen Jingrui gave a hint in his eyes. Mengman immediately ordered the two ves around him who seemed to be bowing all the time to climb up the steep mountain. The two men were like natural mountain climbers, and they were as sensitive as monkeys. As soon as they threw the vine to the side, Qin Yunuan discovered that the vine was artificially woven as a barrier to the broken dragon gate.

    The green vines fell to the ground in an uproar, and a huge stone gate appeared in front of everyone. This stone gate was almost as high as the cliff. People would have to hold their heads up to see the tip of the gate. The stone gate was full of dust, adding to its weight and history.

    Not to mention that such a heavy stone bridge couldn¡¯t be possibly blown open with sulfur and saltpeter, Chen Jingrui wanted to open it with Leng Changxi¡¯s Qigong.

    ¡°This stone gate is the back door of the weapon factory and is used to escape. The locks are inside, and it can only be opened from the outside by brute force.¡± Chen Jingrui exined.

    ¡°What about the main entrance?¡± Qin Yunuan asked.

    ¡°It had been sealed by molten iron. Ever since the war between Qi and North Di twenty years ago, Qi had blocked the main entrance with molten iron and rocks to prevent the weapons factory in the Savage Valley from falling into North Di¡¯s hands. You¡¯ll have to dig, and you won¡¯t be able to dig it out in eight lifetimes.¡± Chen Jingrui nced at Leng Changxi and said, ¡°Come on, guests from afar. It¡¯s time to prove your ability.¡±

 Chapter 266 Narrow Escape

    <h4>Chapter 266 Narrow Escape</h4>

    Chen Jingrui gave up the front position to Leng Changxi. He squinted, observing his performance.

    ¡°You¡¯d better step back a little. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll hurt you by mistake.¡± These days, Leng Changxi had been learning to control the powerful genuine energy in his body under the guidance of Mengman. But ording to Mengman¡¯s feedback, his efforts didn¡¯t seem to have an ideal payback. Otherwise, Chen Jingrui wouldn¡¯t have chosen Leng Changxi to sacrifice at thest minute.

    ¡°You better hurt me,¡± Chen Jingrui said, but ordered someone to push his wheelchair back. ¡°The hurting to me proves that you have some abilities.¡±

    Leng Changxi sneered coldly and didn¡¯t speak. He stepped in front of the Duanlong gate. The huge gate was like a huge wave breaking through the sky, and Leng Changxi, who stood in front of it, was as small as a tboat in the ocean. Qin Yunuan stood behind Leng Changxi, holding Leng Changxi¡¯s arm tightly with her hands. She was a little scared.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid,¡± Leng Changxi turned his head and whispered in Qin Yunuan¡¯s ear at a volume that only the two people could hear, ¡°No matter what happenster, just hold me, and I will take you to a safe ce. Now, three steps away from me. I¡¯m afraid I will hurt you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan did what she was told to. She had always believed in Leng Changxi, always and forever.

    Leng Changxi¡¯s legs separated slightly, and when he closed his eyes and concentrated, everyone seemed to feel the wind around him. There was a lingering air current surrounding the Duanlong gate. Even Mengman couldn¡¯t help but sigh in his heart. Leng Changxi had such strong genuine energy. Why did he never find the terrifying strength of it when he taught Leng Changxi these three days?

    God, had he been hiding his true strength? Mengman imed to be able to see through people. No one can fool his eyes, but Leng Changxi still...

    Just when Mengman had a bad premonition, Leng Changxi suddenly took out his palm. His hand made out a strong wind, which seemed to hover in the air like a golden dragon roaring. After wandering in the clouds, it ran towards the Duanlong gate like raptors. However, the Duanlong gate was worth its name. It could stand upright under the powerful attack of this dragon¡¯s head and ws. But very quickly, as the whole dragon rushed into the gate, it made a loud sound simr to the sky and the earth bursting and almost deafened everyone.

    At that moment, Qin Yunuan seemed to see the Duanlong gate gradually cracking. Leng Changxi seeded. Suddenly thinking of Leng Changxi¡¯s instructions to her, Qin Yunuan stepped forward and hugged Leng Changxi. Between the piles of falling rocks, Leng Changxi held Qin Yunuan¡¯s hands and drew her to his back. They avoided the countless falling rocks and ran directly into the door.

    Chen Jingrui reacted at once, pointing at the two people and shouting, ¡°Come, catch up with those two people. They wanted to go in first. Stop them for me.¡±

    As soon as he uttered the words, Mengman pushed a few ves forward. But they were smashed to death by the rock without taking a few steps.

    Everything was in chaos. As the Duanlong gate broke, more and more rocks fell. Even Chen Jingrui was almost injured. In desperation, he could only give a temporary order for everyone to find shelters.

    Behind the Duanlong gate, Leng Changxi took Qin Yunuan to a safe ce. It was a recessed corner on the inner side of the gate. Outside there was the sound of falling stones. When Leng Changxi made hisst move, he had already calcted the situation of the falling stones, so the two were unscathed.

    ¡°Cha should be moving.¡± Leng Changxi calcted the time. For safety reasons and also to save trouble, Chen Jingrui only brought Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan. As for Cha¡¯s team of five and Elder Princess, they were all under strict supervision in the tribe. But now Chen Jingrui took away most of the young and middle-agedbor from the tribe. Only some women and children were taking care of them. Before leaving, Leng Changxi handed a dagger to Cha secretly. The two agreed that after four hours of departure, Cha could help save himself. It happened to be at this time when Chen Jingrui had no spare effort to take care of someone who escaped in the tribe.

    The Duanlong gate was tall and huge, making it difficult to make out a path when the gate broken into countless stones. The movement outside was finally stopped. Behind the pile of debris, Qin Yunuan could vaguely hear Chen Jingrui ordering the ves angrily to move the stones.

    Leng Changxi held the wall. His face seemed a little pale.

    ¡°Changxi?¡± Qin Yunuan stepped forward and patted Leng Changxi¡¯s cold chest with concern. Gosh. Leng Changxi¡¯s body had never been so cold before, ¡°Changxi, do you feel ufortable?¡±

    Leng Changxi¡¯s forehead was already sweating, ¡°The Qigong of the Tongming Gate needed much yang energy. To break the Duanlong gate, I dispatched too much yang at a time. Now my genuine energy was unstable, running around in the body. I had to treat it now.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Qin Yunuan was already distressed, ¡°I will help you in. There is a lot of space inside. Let¡¯s find a ce to rest.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Leng Changxi waved his hand, ¡°No onees in the Weapon Factory all year round, and the person who designed the surrounding arrangements and institutions was Chen Wan. She was careful, and there must be traps. Don¡¯t go in rashly. I¡¯m afraid you will have trouble.¡±

    She just couldn¡¯t make himfortable either way. It was the first time that Qin Yunuan saw Leng Changxi so severely injured, and it was also the first time that she felt a little panicked.

    ¡°Then I will apany you to find a morefortable ce to stay first. People outside are cleaning the Duanlong Stone for at least one day or as long as three days.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Leng Changxi seemed to say to himself, ¡°one day is enough.¡±

    After Leng Changxi finished speaking, he was half unconscious with a weak breath. Qin Yunuan gritted her teeth and looked at the still bright sunshine outside. Inparison, the air was moist inside with a mold smell. Qin Yu Nuan¡¯s scalp tingled. Something was staring at them in the dark.

    Qin Yunuan had always been afraid of the dark. When in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, she always asked Maner to light her smallmp before going to sleep. Arriving at the Ghost City of North Di, she and Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t afford kerosene that could be light up for the whole night. Leng Changxi would put his arms around her and stroke her back. Little by little, Leng Changxi didn¡¯t leave until she fell asleep to make her feel at ease after knowing that. Now Qin Yunuan was a weak woman, dragging Leng Changxi¡¯s heavy body. However, she walked into the boundless darkness resolutely.

    Qin Yunuan dragged Leng Changxi, looking for a dry t ground to sit down. She squinted at the structure inside with the rays of sunlighting in from the outside. This was a very long corridor, enough for two carriages to drive side by side, and there were torches on the walls that had not been used for a long time. These torches must have shone brightly and brilliantly on the corridor twenty years ago. The corridor seemed to have no end. No one knew what its end was. Endless treasure? Advanced weapons? Or death?

    After settling Leng Changxi down, Qin Yunuan stood on tiptoe and walked along with the torches. The kerosene on the top of the torch was already dry and wouldn¡¯t burn at all. Fortunately, heaven never seals off all the exits. Qin Yunuan found a half-lit fire-scroll from one of the torch bowls. She blew it carefully and put it around her waist. Maybe she could use itter.

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t know how long it took him to wake up again, but when he did, he felt that something was pressing on his chest. Inside the gate, it was much colder. Leng Changxi felt that his limbs were extremely cold, but there were waves of heat on his chest. It was petite, but continuously warming him.

    He moved a little, finding that it was not someone else lying on his chest but his little hedgehog. To warm him, Qin Yunuan simply untied Leng Changxi¡¯s clothes and took off her outer shirt. Under the cover of clothes, Qin Yunuan used the temperature of her chest directly to warm the exhausted Leng Changxi.

    Those two breasts pressed softly and gently on Leng Changxi¡¯s chest, and they were warm. Leng Changxi, who was still stiff and numb, suddenly had a strange reaction, especially when he saw his little hedgehog¡¯s shoulders, partly hidden and partly visible. The mes of his lower body shot up high.

    Qin Yunuan noticed Leng Changxi¡¯s movements and shrugged. Her white and sleek shoulders moved like a little steamed bun, which made Leng Changxi covet even more and felt that Qin Yunuan had be cuter.

    ¡°Are you awake?¡± Qin Yunuan opened her eyes but didn¡¯t get up. With her watery big eyes wide open, she asked about his situation.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s voice was a little fuzzy, and Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t hear clearly, so she slid forward, ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    It didn¡¯t matter at first, but Qin Yu Nuan¡¯s squeeze happened to tease Leng Changxi¡¯s most sensitive ce. Leng Changxi smiled bitterly in his heart. If it hadn¡¯t been that he had consumed too much physical energy before, Qin Yunuan should have been ravaged by him a long time ago. He had to let this little hedgehog know how exciting her every move was.

    ¡°It was okay, but now, it doesn¡¯t seem to be great.¡± Leng Changxi looked at Qin Yunuan with a smirk. Just as Qin Yunuan was still confused, Leng Changxi directly pulled Qin Yunuan¡¯s little hand towards his lower part.

    ¡°Do you feel it?¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s tone was somewhat charming.

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s expression became embarrassed when she spotted Leng Changxi¡¯s hard object. She hurriedly got up and dressed, but Leng Changxi¡¯s molested words jumped out in bursts, ¡°It seemed that you felt it. I¡¯m okay, but it doesn¡¯t look good.¡±

    Qin Yunuan knew the ¡°it¡± Leng Changxi was referring to. She dressed up cutely and tied Leng Changxi¡¯s top and belt in a seemingly casual manner, ¡°It seemed that you have recovered. Now that you are babbling all those jokes, we should leave soon. A long dy may cause trouble.¡±

    Leng Changxi really felt his physical strength had recovered a lot. He sat up cross-legged for a while and suddenly sensed that the chaotic genuine energy in his body seemed to have gradually reced. After the overloaded use, his genuine energy didn¡¯t seem to decrease but increased. It seemed that the skill of Tongming Gate was really weird and worth studying.

    Qin Yunuan helped Leng Changxi up. It was dark in the front. Qin Yunuan had to take out the fire-scroll that she had wiped for a long time, and said helplessly, ¡°I only found this. It¡¯s still damp, and it can¡¯t be used.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s try.¡± Leng Changxi squeezed the fire-scroll. He only blew it twice, and a cluster of fire came out, shining the ce brightly, ¡°It seems to be very useful.¡± Leng Changxi said casually, but Qin Yunuan was stunned.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t the fire-scroll I found.¡±

 Chapter 267 The Tomb of the Living Dead

    <h4>Chapter 267 The Tomb of the Living Dead</h4>

    Qin Yunuan remembered clearly that the fire-scroll she picked was only half, and its end had been wetted outpletely. It was hard to ignite it. But this one was entirely unbroken and looked very new.

    Leng Changxi was astonished too, but then he felt he kicked something when he moved. He picked it up to check and found that a torch emerged on the empty stone tform. The head of the torch smelled of fresh kerosene, and the torch seemed to be made very recently.

    Qin Yunuan saw the scene and could not help but take a deep breath. The torch indicated that there was someone inside except Chen Jingrui. The person had been hiding in the weapon factory, which was like an ancient tomb.

    Leng Changxi held the hand of Qin Yunuan. The two people stared tightly at the infinite darkness in the front. They knew that the person who gave them fire-scroll and torch was hiding in the darkness. The person wanted to attract them to walk inside the darkness.

    Suddenly, an insubstantial voice came from the empty darkness.

    ¡°Since you were already in, just walk in.¡±

    The voice was exactly from the infinite darkness. It seemed toe from a woman but sounded very dreamlike.

    Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan looked at each other. Their eyes indicated that they had ensured that they did hear the voice just now. Compared with the outside, it was safer inside. After all, if the person wanted to kill them, she would not give them the tools for moving in.

    Leng Changxi ignited the torch quickly. The fire lighted up the darkness. By the me, Qin Yunuan could clearly see that Leng Changxi was still weak. It might be at dusk outside, so no light came in. There was only a small me in the whole space.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be scared,¡± Leng Changxi held the hand of Qin Yunuan andforted her, ¡°I am here.¡±

    Qin Yunuan withdrew her neck slightly and said OK in a very low voice.

    The two people walked forwards along with the dark and deep corridor. Due to the moist environment caused by the mountain and rainwater, there were many holes full of water in the corridor. Shoes must be wet out when treading in. The two people got their trousers wet along the way. Qin Yunuan had been observing the very old wall paintings. She had seen them in the ancestral hall in Qin Family, which was not so different from these. They were all wall paintings used for blessing. But the point was that in this weapon factory for whom the wall paintings were used.

    At the end of the corridor, a stone door generally appeared, but when there were only a few steps away from the stone door, Qin Yunuan almost tumbled. Leng Changxi reached his hands to support her, and the torch in his hand lighted up the wet trousers of Qin Yunuan. The water stains spreading up to her knee astonished the two people suddenly.

    The water... was red?

    Leng Changxi stunned. He took a torch on the wall and walked out of the corridor. There was drier outside the corridor. The ignited torch could emit small me, and then he ignited three to four torches and threw them into the corridor. The corridor was suddenly lighted up. By the me, there was all red. Qin Yunuan saw that the road she passed just now was full of bloody water. She felt frightened and tense.

    At this moment, the tightly closed stone door suddenly opened a small crack with the sound of grating, and a clear female voice came from inside.

    ¡°Don¡¯t feel confused about that. That is red mud washed out from the mountain. Though it is ab cave, there are no dead people except the person lying on the crystal coffin.¡±

    The voice was exactly from the woman who guided Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi. But here is a weapon factory, so what did theb cave she said just now mean? And who was the person lying on the crystal coffin? What kind of influential person on earth could build the tomb in such a mysterious weapon factory?

    A gust of warm wind blew off from the crack of the stone door with a light warm aroma. At such a dark space, this warm aroma was definitely a bewildering poison. Qin Yunuan stepped forward and reached her hands. She was about to open the stone door, but the door opened widely suddenly when Qin Yunuan¡¯s fingertips just touch the crack, which seemed to wee Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Come in.¡± The woman¡¯s voice sounded more sincere.

    When they came in, different from what Qin Yunuan thought, the space was not as gloomy as a tomb of the living dead but a ce with warm air and soft saffron yellow light glowing in the distance.

    Leng Changxi walked in front of Qin Yunuan, and their hands were always held together. There was no one in the space, but the woman¡¯s voice dide from here just now.

    Leng Changxi raised his head slightly and shouted at the inside, ¡°Are you here? My sister. You just guided us.¡±

    No one responded.

    Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan looked at each other. Leng Changxi bowed his fists and said to the air, ¡°I am Leng Changxi from Qi. I came here with my wife Qin Yunuan for...¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t speak nonsense.¡± The woman said determinedly, like heroin at this time.

    Qin Yunuan stared at the ce with warm glowing light. Intuitively, she believed that somebody was there.

    As expected, a long shadow approached here slowly. The shadow was turning shorter generally, and then Qin Yunuan saw a ck skirt. That was a tall but weak girl standing at the entrance to the cave closely. She looked so pretty, but she seemed to have never seen sunshine because her face looked so pale and unhealthy. She was like a corpse when she did not move, which made people feel that such a kind of beauty appeared at the end of her life.

    This woman was...

    ¡°Hu Shiniang?¡± The first person Leng Changxi thought about was Hu Shiniang. Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi met with Hu Shiniang when they settled at the Ghost City. At that time, Hu Shiniang, as thendy, introduced Leng Changxi to attend thepetition of martial art. Though Qin Yunuan had weak eyesight at that time, she still remembered the face of Hu Shiniang roughly. And then when they were at the capital of North Di, they met with a woman identical to Hu Shiniang in the party held by Wanyan Su. Those women were just the same person, or...

    ¡°Come in.¡± The girl in ck glimpsed at Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan coldly with calm eyes, but she seemed to be talking with her old friends.

    Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi walked forward quickly. The two people felt astonished because they knew many incredible things suddenly.

    The light was brighter when they walked inside more. The girl in ck walked in front of them without a word. The two people did not know where they would go.

    ¡°Well, what did you call me just now?¡± The girl in ck asked Leng Changxi suddenly, but she did not turn back.

    ¡°Hu Shiniang,¡± Leng Changxi responded tentatively, ¡°She was my old friend who helped me before. She looks a bit like you.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± The girl in ck suddenly turned back, ¡°Not a bit, but identical.¡±

    ¡°So, are you the sister of Hu Shiniang?¡± Qin Yunuan asked in a low voice. The girl in ck talked in a soft voice with a cold face, but she could be an easy-going girl.

    ¡°I do not have sisters like them.¡± The girl in ck was angry but still with a poker face.

    ¡°Them?¡± Qin Yunuan asked.

    The girl in ck stopped and turned back. She pointed at the front, ¡°We will arrive soon.¡±

    Qin Yunuan now found that the three people had been at the edge of a bluff unknowingly. More precisely-speaking, it was not a bluff but a raised tform. It was a bottomless chasm under the tform. And at the center of the chasm, there was a beautiful transparent oblong crystal coffin. There seemed to be someone lying in it, but Qin Yunuan could not see it clearly due to the long distance.

    The girl in ck suddenly knelt toward the crystal coffin several meters away. She said piously, ¡°Master, I take the people you want here. You will not worry that nobody knows your great conception anymore. They overcame various passes in Yeren Valley and steered by the attack of military formations. They also opened the Duanlong Gate. They can inherit your wisdom and kindness. Master, you can rest in peace.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was stunned and did not figure out what happened. It was so abrupt for Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi to be the inheritors of the person in the crystal coffin inexplicable.

    ¡°Sister.¡± Qin Yunuan asked sideways but stopped by the woman called A Mo. A Mo said to Qin Yunuan so arrogantly, ¡°You are lucky. Now you just attempt to reach the crystal coffin in the center and then kowtow three times to my master. The key in her hand will fall automatically. The key will open an iparable world for you. And then you will stay here like me to strive for our master¡¯s wisdom and undertakings. You are so lucky. There were so many people trying their best toe in, but they failed.¡±

    Qin Yunuan suddenly understood. The person lying on the crystal coffin selected the best-qualified inheritor for herself by using Yeren Valley and military formations. If Qin Yunuan was right, the person lying in the coffin must be Chen Wan, the woman who was regarded as an immortal person.

    Leng Changxi glimpsed at A Mo and smiled, ¡°Those people strove to be the first one toe in, but I think people staying here may not be happy at all. People outside want toe in, but people inside want to go out.¡±

    ¡°All people who went out were dead.¡± A Mo said angrily.

    ¡°You mean Hu Shiniang? And the woman from Du Family in the tavern?¡± Leng Changxi smiled.

    ¡°They have no right to be human. The two should have stayed here to guard our master and our undertakings, but they were impatient and escaped. They should have died.¡± A Mo ground her teeth and said.

    ¡°But they did not die. They live well.¡± Leng Changxi seemed to provoke A Mo deliberately, ¡°Now they live in the world outside and enjoy their fantastic lives, but you have been living in this tomb of the living dead for over thirty years.¡±

 Chapter 268 A Matter of Life and Death

    <h4>Chapter 268 A Matter of Life and Death</h4>

    ¡°Living well?¡± A Mo sneered at Leng Changxi¡¯s words, ¡°They are just the living dead without souls. They can¡¯t live well without their supreme faith.¡±

    ¡°But howe you make sure that we must stay here?¡± Leng Changxi Looked at A Mo with a smile, ¡°you always raise your heels slightly when walking, which demonstrates that you are good at light skills. It¡¯s no wonder that you can go to the crystal coffin in the center from the stone tform to serve your master every day. You must have the highlight skills, but I do not figure out that you are high-skilled. You would fail if you fought with me.¡±

    A Mo raised her head slightly. She just nced at Qin Yunuan and said to Leng Changxi, ¡°The woman beside you have got poisoned, and people outside are chasing you tightly. You can¡¯t escape here.¡±

    It was apparent that A Mo was shrewd.

    Poisoned?

    Qin Yunuan got nervous suddenly. She was very careful when she was in the tribe. She knew that the tribe had some connection with the vige outside. The vige cultivated poisons by using white pr, and there were many tree trunks of white pr around the tribe, which could not exist in the rainforest areas. They must be transferred from other ces. That¡¯s why Qin Yunuan paid great attention to the food of the two people very carefully.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be doubtful,¡± A Mo looked at Qin Yunuan and said, ¡°The poison they gave you was not amon kind of poison but the most sinister poison which could enter your blood vessels invisibly. They must give the poison to you guys when you both fell asleep. It was useless only to check your food.¡±

    ¡°The most sinister poison?¡± Qin Yunuan knew little about poison. Qi had banned such kind of mysterious and abnormal poison publicly, ¡°What kind of poison is it on earth?¡±

    A Mo glimpsed at Qin Yunuan and seemed not to answer seriously. She just said, ¡°You would not believe me even if I told you. You can just wait. At midnight, the poison in you will break out for the first time, and you will get a sharp pain. You will know I am right.¡±

    Having known Qin Yunuan had been poison, Leng Changxi became so nervous and worried. Looking at the indifferent A Mo, Leng Changxi got impulsive and then stopped A Mo who was about to leave. He said in a low and threatening voice, ¡°I am still confused by your words. You can¡¯t leave.¡±

    A Mo stepped back, alertly, ¡°What do you want?¡±

    ¡°Guide us to find the antidote.¡± Leng Changxi said in a mandatory voice. He got used to speaking in such a voice.

    A Mo squinted at Leng Changxi and sneered. She just ignored Leng Changxi and was about to leave, but Leng Changxi took out a long spear to block A Mo in the front, ¡°Miss, your sisters have once saved my life and my wife¡¯s life. But it doesn¡¯t mean that I should pay the gratitude on you.¡±

    ¡°If you are willing to stay...¡±

    ¡°We are willing to stay here.¡± Qin Yunuan responded quickly. She knew that the girl in ck called A Mo was not just a simple girl. They should obey her will under such a circumstance.

    A Mo glimpsed at Qin Yunuan. She turned back and said to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Follow me.¡±

    Leng Changxi wanted to follow too but was stopped by A Mo¡¯s unkind words, ¡°You stay here to guard the stone door and forbid others froming in. If they break into here, you just press the switch on the left side of the stone door.¡±

    Qin Yunuan just looked at Leng Changxi to ease his nerve. Quickly, she was led to a single stone room after they went through winding paths. On their way, Qin Yunuan tried to gain more information from A Mo.

    ¡°The whole mountain belongs to the tomb? Sister, are you the only one to stay here?¡±

    A Mo walked in the front and answered coldly at times, but she kept calm all the time, ¡°You came here for the weapon factory, so you must know what it is behind the tomb. As for anybody else here, do you see anyone else here except me?¡±

    ¡°Miss Chen Wan, you have a wonderful foresight. I just think that the rule made by your master was not so friendly. The person who enters the tomb for the first time should obey the rule that the person should stay in the tomb for his whole life. But if the person is ill-intentioned and escapes after he masters the way of making weapons, Miss Chen, what you guard for your whole life will be in vain.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± A Mo said while searching on a wooden tform by using her slender fingers. There were all kinds of bottles on the tform, including Blue and White Porcin and pure thin porcin, which seemed to have been used for a long time. Maybe they were used from the day when the tomb was built sessfully.

    ¡°We have our own way to avoid that condition.¡± A Mo smiled suddenly and pinched the jaw of Qin Yunuan quickly. She put a little pill into the throat of Qin Yunuan, and then smiled breezily, ¡°This is our way to avoid the condition.¡±

    ¡°What is this?¡± Qin Yunuan had swallowed the pill and could not take it out. She could only keep calm.

    ¡°Take it easy. It won¡¯t hurt you,¡± A Mo put away a Blue and White Porcin slowly, ¡°There is weak air cirction in the tomb. You cannot feel it in a short time, but if you stay here for a long time, you will not bear it. This is the pill developed by my master. You will adapt to the air condition if you take a pill once a day. But your body condition will still be influenced if you stay here for a long time. You will not adapt to the air condition outside. You maybe die due to suffocating or lose the ability to speak. My two sisters stopped taking the pills for getting out of here early and attempted to adapt to the air condition in the tomb by using their inner Qi. It¡¯s funny. Their ability of martial arts must have degraded when you saw them.¡±

    Qin Yunuan covered her throat by her hands unconsciously, ¡°I have never known that Hu Shiniang can y martial arts.¡±

    A Mo shook her head immediately and sigh, ¡°So, they are so poor.¡±

    A Mo stayed in the tomb and guarded the reachless dream alone for a long time. The silent and speechless crystal coffin guarded by A Mo alone had brainwashed A Mo apparently. She always thought that she had the supreme mission, and all people who could be selected into the tomb should feel grateful to her.

    Qin Yunuan Knew her mind and was not about to contest with her. She just asked tentatively, ¡°So, how about the poison in my body?¡±

    A Mo pulled the arm of Qin Yunuan suddenly and raised her sleeve. A thin ck wrinkle sprawling down along a blood vessel emerged on the fair arm of Qin Yunuan, somehow, but Qin Yunuan had never noticed this.

    ¡°So serious.¡± A Mo glimpsed at her arm and suddenly found detail about the belt of Qin Yunuan. The original belt of Qin Yunuan was used to bind up wounds for an injured soldier. This one on her waist was given by an old woman. It was woven with the traditional way of the tribe, which looked rough but extremely solid.

    A Mo got alerted suddenly, ¡°Are you in the same group with them?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°In the beginning, I found that you were poisoned and thought you were fighting against those demons. All who fight against demons are my friends. But the belt on your waist,¡± A Mo said and then took out a dagger hidden in her boot. She pointed at Qin Yunuan by the dagger, ¡°How dare you y the Battered-Body Trick!¡±

    Qin Yunuan touched the belt on her waist and immediately understood that the demon A Mo said was Chen Jingrui. Actually, Qin Yunuan always felt curious about the rtionship between Chen Jingrui and Chen Wan. The two people¡¯s surname was Chen, and Chen Jingrui always showed aplicated face each time people talked about Chen Wan. His face was full of admiration and resentment. What kind of person did Chen Jingrui loved but hated?

    ¡°There is a mistake,¡± Qin Yunuan exined slowly, ¡°We were threatened by Chen Jingrui to be here together with him. Or howe I got poisonous? As you said, the poison will break out at midnight tonight. Even if I yed the Battered-Body Trick, I would die when I miscalcted the time of entering the tomb or failed to see you. I won¡¯t make a joke about this.¡±

    ¡°Funny. I know that the guy whose surname is Chen has made much effort toe in. He can do anything.¡± A Mo said in a strained voice still, but her heart had been stirred.

    ¡°What¡¯s on earth the rtionship between Chen Jingrui and Chen Wan?¡± Qin Yunuan asked quickly, ¡°A Mo, you must know it.¡±

    ¡°He is a snob. Nothing to say.¡± A Mo did not want to continue this topic, apparently.

    Suddenly, a harsh voice came from the distance, which seemed to be from the outside of the stone door. The cries with the sound of iron-te-grilling-like noise sounded frightening.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Qin Yunuan became nervous.

    ¡°It seems that someone has tried toe in from the outside, and your husband has pressed the switch near the stone door.¡± A Mo looked not so strained, ¡°I remember I have told you that the bloody water outside is infiltrated from the mud in the mountain. Actually, it¡¯s not. It¡¯s a kind of weak vitriol that is safe in normal condition, but when the switch is pressed, nitric acid will outflow from the tubes near the corridor. Vitriol and nitric acid will produce a neutralization reaction and generate aqua regia, which can corrode all things such as gold and silver.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was listening to the exnation of A Mo and the cries outside. She could imagine that the ve who walked in the front got his feet corroded by aqua regia. Qin Yunuan leaning against the stone tform, he could not help but vomit when thinking of the scene.

    ¡°They are seeking trouble.¡± A Mo looked outside. She said to Qin Yunuan when she made sure that people outside could not enter, ¡°The man called Chen Jingrui is the biological nephew of our master.¡±

    ¡°Biological nephew?¡± Qin Yunuan recalled the previous things quickly. Chen Wan was from Yao in thest dynasty. Calcted by the age, Chen Wan was likely the nephew of the master. But how could the two people from the same family have such huge disputes?

    But the words A Mo said next astonished Qin Yunuan more, ¡°He did not only want to be the nephew of our master. He had had a strange affection for our master. He loved our master, and the love was not a kinship but a love between men and women. And even he wanted to upy our entire master crazily, even including her corpse.¡±

 Chapter 269 The Battle is Yet to Come

    <h4>Chapter 269 The Battle is Yet to Come</h4>

    He wouldn¡¯t even let go of her corpse? Qin Yunuan looked afar as if she could see the desire and determination in Chen Jingrui¡¯s eyes through the rock gate. Could it be possible that he insisted on entering the arsenal not only for the weapon blueprints but also to seize Chen Wan¡¯s corpse?

    ¡°He¡¯s just a psychopath, a demon.¡± A Mo continued fiercely. ¡°In order to approach our master, he pretended to be an ordinary smith to steal the work of our master and force our master to marry him. Later, there was an ident in the arsenal, and our master was dead. But he still wouldn¡¯t give up. He settled down near the arsenal and used the evil poison of the south-western regions on the others who escaped with him. They became idiots who couldn¡¯t even speak, and they became dumber generation after generation. He himself had be the leader of these idiots, and he nned to re-enter the arsenal with his men.¡±

    ¡°Who told you these?¡± Qin Yunuan was unlike the others, who would criticize Chen Jingrui immediately. She was just curious that if A Mo had never left this tomb, who told her about the news in the outside world?

    A Mo suddenly became silent. She lowered her head with a flickering nce.

    ¡°In fact, you¡¯ve left the tomb before, right?¡± Qin Yunuan softened her tone, with a bit of tempting in it. ¡°You must have, or else you couldn¡¯t know so well about the outside world. Also, even though everything here is old, there¡¯s one new thing, which is your hair flower. A normal one would be worn out in several years. If you¡¯ve never left the tomb for the past twenty years, how would you have a new hair flower?¡±

    A Mo was shocked. She looked at Qin Yunuan numbly, but she didn¡¯t want to exin anything.

    Qin Yunuan tilted her head and looked at A Mo, looking interested. ¡°Your nce reminds me of someone, Hu Shiniang in the Ghost City. I have to admit that it¡¯s reasonable if there are triplets who look exactly the same, but their motions would vary slightly after all. How long do you want to deny it, Hu Shiniang?¡±

    A Mo suddenly raised her head and squinted her eyes cautiously, ¡°Don¡¯t mention that traitor¡¯s name in front of me.¡±

    Qin Yunuan ignored her and continued, ¡°If I was right, Hu Shiniang of the Ghost City and Mrs. Du at the capital of North Di are just your different identities. You¡¯ve nned it very well. You are guarding the tomb of your master and collecting news from the outside world at the same time while spreading the news that the Yeren Valley is a haunted ce. It¡¯s all for stopping people froming, right? There are so many traps in this tomb, yet you¡¯ve never wanted to hurt my husband and me since we came in. It means that you know us.¡±

    A Mo raised her head, looked at the stone ceiling and said with a relieved tone, ¡°But you still entered the tomb after all. As long as there¡¯s interest, people will find their way in eventually. I¡¯ve guarded this tomb for twenty years, but since the very first day, I knew that someone woulde sooner orter.¡±

    Saying this, it meant that A Mo was just admitting that she was Hu Shiniang and Mrs. Du. Qin Yunuan only found her more extraordinary that she was able to travel between Yeren Valley, the Ghost City and the capital of north Di so quickly.

    Right then, Leng Changxi, who was guarding the rock gate, came quickly with his light skills. As hended, he said towards A Mo, ¡°It seems that they¡¯ve figured out a way toe here.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± A Mo couldn¡¯t believe it. The corrosive liquid had stopped countless intruders. How could Chen Jingrui have such an ability to walk past that?

    After that, A Mo rushed towards the rock gate. Qin Yunuan was following her. Leng Changxi took the chance to ask Qin Yunuan, ¡°Did she cure your poison yet?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Qin Yunuan shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s just that I know something that¡¯s more important.¡± After saying that, Qin Yunuan handed a pill to Leng Changxi, which was what A Mo gave her earlier. She deliberately saved one. If the air in the tomb was really toxic, she didn¡¯t want anything happening to Leng Changxi.

    A Mo touched the rock gate to make sure that it was shut, and then opened up a well-hidden hole on the top right corner of the gate. From this hole, she could see what happened on the outside clearly. To her surprise, even though the strong acid was still flowing, they were approaching slowly.

    There were some corroded leaves and branches in the acid. Apparently, Chen Jingrui wanted toy these on the acid so that he could walk through. However, it was useless. Compared to these, thick human flesh and sturdy human bone couldst longer. So, he came up with this cruel idea to let his ves make a way for him so that he could cross the acid on the bloody bodies. Chen Jingrui didn¡¯t act uneasy at all. As soon as they reached the end of the human bridge, the ve at the front would be pushed into the acid. Together with the painful scream, the great troop could move further.

    This time, it seemed that Chen Jingrui wouldn¡¯t stop until he got what he wanted.

    A Mo was looking uneasy. By the first time, she was feeling stressed.

    ¡°Could theye to this side of the rock gate?¡± Qin Yunuan asked, looking at A Mo.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± A Mo was looking at what happened on the outside. She was unsettled. The corridor was very long, and it was uneasy to walk through it with the acid. It was not a good way for Chen Jingrui to sacrifice his own people, but it was the quickest way, nheless.

    ¡°You two should go in first, to the crystal coffin.¡± A Mo turned her head to Leng Changxi and said.

    ¡°What about you?¡± Qin Yunuan felt that she couldn¡¯t leave A Mo here alone.

    ¡°I have my way naturally.¡± A Mo looked at Qin Yunuan and suddenly looked soft. She had stayed in the tomb and the outside world for a long time, but few people actually cared of her, not mentioning that it¡¯s a dangerous situation. ¡°As for your poison,¡± A Mo sighed, ¡°I couldn¡¯t cure it.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡± Leng Changxi raised his tone.

    ¡°Don¡¯t panic.¡± A Mo frowned and said towards Leng Changxi. In the Ghost City, when she was using the identity Hu Shiniang, she remembered that Leng Changxi was a calm man. That was why Leng Changxi attracted her so much. Apart from pity, it was also because of Hu Shiniang¡¯s personal feelings toward Leng Changxi which made her help them. It was the first time she saw Leng Changxi so anxious, and it was for a woman. It made A Mo upset and emotional.

    ¡°It was a very cold poison on her. I¡¯ve said that before, because the feeder of this poison had rare cold blood, normal people couldn¡¯t feed this poison. The usual way is to pull the poison out with the same cold blood, but we couldn¡¯t find such blood now. However, there¡¯s another way that I heard our master talk about once. It was to bnce yin-yang with warm blood. If we couldn¡¯t find cold blood, we could find the warmest blood to neutralize it and force the poison out.¡±

    A Mo was talking a lot, but she ended with, ¡°Don¡¯t General Leng know that you have the warmest blood?¡±

    ¡°Are you serious?¡± Leng Changxi didn¡¯t want to risk Qin Yunuan¡¯s life.

    ¡°Huh,¡± A Mo smiled coldly, ¡°Why do you think you could master the Qigong of Tongming Gate in such a short time? Apart from the fact that Jing Donghua, who gave you Qi, was the best West Xia Qigong master, it was because of your blood. It was fully supplementary with the Qigong of Tongming Gate. No one else could reach your level even with hard work for their whole life.¡±

    ¡°Then how could I...¡± Before Leng Changxi had finished the question, a powerful thunder sounded outside the rock gate. At the moment, the whole tomb was shaking as if the sky is falling.

    A Mo peeped through the hole and gritted, ¡°Damn, they¡¯re using dynamite now.¡± As a matter of fact, Chen Wan invented dynamite. It was just that the method of producing it was leakedter on. Chen Wan would never have thought that her own invention would be used against her after her death.

    ¡°Go, you two.¡± A Mo urged Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan, ¡°Remember that as soon as you reached the crystal coffin, turn the leftmost candlestand to shut the second rock gate. That gate was very sturdy. Even with dynamite, they couldn¡¯t blow it open.¡±

    ¡°What about you?¡± Qin Yunuan was still very worried about A Mo.

    ¡°I belong to the tomb.¡± A Mo smiled faintly, ¡°Guarding the master¡¯s tomb is my responsibility since I was born. I¡¯m a living dead in this tomb. How bad could it be even if I die?¡±

    Qin Yunuan wanted to say something else, but A Mo pushed her away. Leng Changxi didn¡¯t want to leave A Mo alone, but he dragged Qin Yunuan towards the space with the crystal coffin A Mo showed them before. On their way, the whole tomb was trembling. It seemed that Chen Jingrui was adding the amount of dynamite he used.

    As they arrived, Leng Changxi settled Qin Yunuan down and reached out his hand for the candlestand. Right then, he saw the rock gate from afar shattering. A Mo was guarding the gate with a thin de in her hands. She was prepared to fight till her death with the intruders. Her life-long belief was to defend the tomb. She had no choice.

    Leng Changxi gritted his teeth and turned the candlestand. Soon, the second rock gate fell. Qin Yunuan peeped through the slit on the gate. Seeing the chaos outside, she felt extremely uneasy.

    After the rock gate fell, the world seemed separated from the outside. Leng Changxi held Qin Yunuan, whose fingertips were chilling, in his arms, andforted her continuously, ¡°It¡¯s alright, Nuan. I¡¯m here. Don¡¯t be afraid.¡±

    ¡°I... I¡¯m fine, and I¡¯m not afraid.¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s voice was calm, but she was still trembling uncontrobly.

    ¡°But you¡¯re very cold,¡± Leng Changxi held Qin Yunuan face in his hands and looked at it carefully, ¡°And you¡¯re looking pale and shaken.¡±

    ¡°Am I?¡± Qin Yunuan was shocked, ¡°But I¡¯m not shaking, nor afraid.¡± After saying that, Leng Changxi felt that Qin Yunuan was shaking even more terribly.

    Looking at Leng Changxi¡¯s serious expression, Qin Yunuan suddenly thought of something. She rolled up her sleeves, only to see that the ck line on her arm had reached her fingertips.

    ¡°Is it midnight now?¡± Qin Yunuan asked numbly.

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t say a word, but they both know that it was midnight, and the poison on Qin Yunuan was effecting.

 Chapter 270 Crystal Coffin

    <h4>Chapter 270 Crystal Coffin</h4>

    Qin Yunuan watched the ck line starting to move through her veins, like a snake in her body. Leng Changxi knew that the ck line was the poisonous worm that had been nted in Qin Yunuan¡¯s body. It had grown from the size of sesame to this big.

    Qin Yunuan was shaking more and more drastically. Even with the Duanlong gate in between, Leng Changxi could still hear the fighting on the outside, with Chen Jingrui¡¯s calm orders in between.

    ¡°I¡¯ll carry you there.¡± Leng Changxi held the freezing cold Qin Yunuan, who was about to pass out, in his arms and walked along the edge of the rock tform. Soon, they saw a rock pavilion. From this angle, they could clearly see the body in the crystal coffin. It was a pretty and elegant woman. She still looked like that she was in her twenties. No one could have imagined that such a weak and lovely woman was the one who changed the world.

    For some reason, the unintentional nce at the crystal coffin made Leng Changxi felt chilly.

    ¡°Nuan, lie down first, I¡¯lle up with a way.¡± Leng Changxi wanted toy Qin Yunuan down in the middle of the rock pavilion, but Qin Yunuan held on to Leng Changxi¡¯s neck tight and leant towards Leng Changxi that he couldn¡¯t get away from her.

    Qin Yunuan was feeling cold. Terribly cold. She felt that Leng Changxi was like fire to her, and she craved for the warmth on his body.

    ¡°Nuan?¡± Leng Changxi called her gently, but it only made Qin Yunuan crave for his body even more. Qin Yunuan¡¯s hands were reaching out for Leng Changxi¡¯s chest, where there was even more warmth.

    ¡°Changxi, I¡¯m cold, very, very cold.¡± Qin Yunuan was starting to be unconscious, as she said that repeatedly. The poison in Qin Yunuan was the coldest poison, which made her feel like her veins were all frozen.

    Leng Changxi was thinking about the bnce of yin-yang that A Mo told him earlier. If the coldest blood could draw the poison out, could the warmest blood kill the poison?

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t have time to hesitate anymore. He cut his own finger with the sharp tip of his spear. Before he reached out, Qin Yunuan had already sucked his fingertip tight, licking it over and over again. She was like a baby longing for its mother¡¯s milk. Leng Changxi¡¯s blood made her feltfortable and warm.

    ¡°Nuan, are you okay?¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s action made Leng Changxi scared.

    However, the luring voice triggered Qin Yunuan¡¯s urge even more. Suddenly, Qin Yunuan pushed Leng Changxi against the floor and dominantly sat on his groin. She leant forward and held Leng Changxi¡¯s cor, and said with a seductive voice, ¡°Changxi, I¡¯m so cold. Hold me tight.¡± As she said that, she quickly untied Leng Changxi¡¯s clothes. Soon, his pounding chest was exposed in the air. Qin Yunuan got all over him, kissing Leng Changxi¡¯s neck and lips, and every inch of him.

    Leng Changxi wanted to push Qin Yunuan away. Even though Qin Yunuan¡¯s actions had tickled him so much that he couldn¡¯t hold himself back, but his sanity reminded him that it was a moment of life and death, that he couldn¡¯t touch Qin Yunuan now.

    However, Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t care about it anymore. The poison had controlled her. She was longing for the warmth of Leng Changxi, just like gamblers longing for the sound of rolling dice.

    Suddenly, Leng Changxi seemed to remember something. When he was young, Prince Ning hired the best masters to teach him Kung Fu. He once heard a travelling master talking about a practice called the bncing of yin-yang, which is done through a man and a woman¡¯sbination. This could improve the level of their training, but it had strict requirements on the physical conditions of both of them. As soon as the master saw Leng Changxi¡¯s condition, even though he didn¡¯t point it out, he said that it was hard for Leng Changxi to find a suitable woman to practice that with him for life with his body conditions.

    Thinking of which, if Leng Changxi had the warmest blood, as A Mo said, and now that Qin Yunuan had the coldest poison in her, which made her own the coldest blood condition. It made that practice possible.

    Thinking of which, there was hope in Leng Changxi¡¯s heart.

    Right then, Qin Yunuan was already removing Leng Changxi¡¯s pants. The heat in his groin was just what Qin Yunuan desired for. She was like a leech, asking for more and more.

    ¡°Nuan?¡± Leng Changxi suddenly held Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Qin Yunuan replied with herst bit of sanity.

    ¡°I¡¯ll save you.¡± Leng Changxi said firmly. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely save you.¡± After saying that, Leng Changxi leant forward and got on top of Qin Yunuan. Qin Yunuan¡¯s face had turned red because of the coldness in her, which made Leng Changxi love her even more.

    Right then, Leng Changxi focused all his Qi and controlled the Qi to move around his body. His hands slowly reached out for Qin Yunuan¡¯s cor. He kissed Qin Yunuan¡¯s forehead and said, ¡°Nuan, I will save you.¡± Then he reached his hands downwards.

    At that moment, they made out in the rock pavilion. Leng Changxi¡¯s sweat was first boiled on his skin and then froze on Qin Yunuan¡¯s wrist. It was a mixture of ice and fire, strange, yet dangerous.

    After a while, the person in Leng Changxi¡¯s arms gradually calmed down, and the pounding of her chest was reced with much slower and steadier panting. Leng Changxi held Qin Yunuan and turned her around, as he gently put on the clothes for Qin Yunuan. When he touched Qin Yunuan¡¯s smooth shoulder, Leng Changxi found that Qin Yunuan was actually much warmer than before. Even though she was still feeling chilly, as they were in a rock chamber after all, it was naturally cold.

    ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± Leng Changxi held Qin Yunuan and sat up. He carefully held Qin Yunuan in his arms, as if he was protecting a precious treasure.

    Qin Yunuan moved her trembling lips and said something, but her voice was too soft that even Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t hear her.

    Leng Changxi looked at Qin Yunuan¡¯s arm, in search of the ck line. He thought that the ck line would appear, but to his disappointment, it was still there on her fine wrist. What was different from before was that it was no longer growing nor moving, as if it was dead.

    Leng Changxi frowned. It disappointed him somehow. He tried to calm himself down with Qi but surprisingly found that his inner Qi was much stronger than before. It was some improvement that others could only get through years of training, but he achieved it in just about half an hour.

    Could it be that the practice actually worked?

    Leng Changxi reached out to test the pulse of Qin Yunuan. To his surprise, Qin Yunuan had grown a hint of inner Qi herself. Even though it was nearly unnoticeable, but it was steady and pure.

    Right then, Qin Yunuan returned to her consciousness. She was tortured by the coldest poison and Leng Changxi¡¯s passion, so she was very weak at the moment, looking even prettier than usual.

    ¡°I¡¯m much better.¡± Qin Yunuan looked at Leng Changxi with her big eyes, ¡°Really. I¡¯m much better.¡±

    Leng Changxi held Qin Yunuan in his arms and muttered, ¡°I know, I know it all.¡±

    After resting a while, Qin Yunuan stood up. Just when she was about to stretch herself, she found that she was feeling different. It felt like she could breathe better and as if her skin condition was better too.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Qin Yunuan looked at her fingers, and then raised her head to see that Leng Changxi¡¯s attention was all on the crystal coffin on the other side.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qin Yunuan walked forward and looked along Leng Changxi¡¯s nce. The woman in the crystal coffin was gentle and calm. Under the protection of such a ssy coffin, it made her look like that she was just asleep.

    However, it would make people feel chilly as they looked at her, and it made people uneasy to look at her for a long time.

    Looking at Leng Changxi¡¯s look, Qin Yunuan knew that he must be feeling the same. But why?

    Suddenly Leng Changxi moved. After taking a dozen steps to the left, he took another few steps to the right. Then, he frowned.

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t get it, but she followed what he did. To her surprise, she found that the biggest problem of that woman was that no matter which direction you looked at her, you felt like she was facing you. Even though her eyes were shut, you felt like that she could open her eyes and look at you at any time.

    ¡°How could it be?¡± Qin Yunuan muttered.

    ¡°Stay here.¡± Leng Changxi turned around and said to Qin Yunuan, ¡°I¡¯ll go take a look.¡±

    ¡°Changxi,¡± Qin Yunuan held Leng Changxi¡¯s arms and said, ¡°Be careful.¡±

    After all, this was Chen Wan¡¯s tomb. As a godlike being, Chen Wan¡¯s wisdom was daunting. She invented so many weird but powerful things, which was never seen in the world before. No one could be sure that there were no traps in the crystal coffin.

    Leng Changxi took a deep breath, took a few steps back, applied his light skills and leaped towards the tform a few meters away. Apart from Leng Changxi, who had the best light skills in Qi, the only one who could jump so far must be A Mo who served Chen Wan¡¯s corpse every day.

    The tform with the crystal coffin was much bigger than they¡¯ve imagined. Apart from the crystal coffin in the center of it, it could hold a dozen people. Leng Changxinded stably and gestured towards Qin Yunuan. Then, he bowed towards Chen Wan and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to disturb you.¡± Then, he stepped on the stairs next to the crystal coffin. The coffin wasn¡¯t covered, so Leng Changxi could clearly see the person in the coffin. However, as soon as he saw what was inside, Leng Changxi was shocked.

 Chapter 271 The Collapsing Tomb

    <h4>Chapter 271 The Copsing Tomb</h4>

    ¡°Changxi?¡± Qin Yunuan saw that Leng Changxi from afar paused, and she thought that there might be an ident. However, Leng Changxi reached his hands into the coffin determinedly. In the customs, the dead people are to be respected. His action was extremely disrespectful.

    However, Leng Changxi didn¡¯t only reach out his hands but also held the head of the corpse powerfully. Qin Yunuan was far away, but she was feeling a bit daunted. Leng Changxi¡¯s action seemed to have twisted the body¡¯s head off. However, Leng Changxi was holding a multi-faced head in his hands, a multi-faced head indeed.

    It was a well-made head. Every detail was carved lively. The eyes and nose were as fine as a real person. It could bepared to the human skin mask Leng Changxi made. Just because this head was multi-faced, people feel like it was watching them from any direction.

    Qin Yunuan realized another problem despite her great shock. The corpse was actually fake. It was such finely protected and taken care of by A Mo, but it was a fake body. If the corpse were fake, then the tomb might be...

    By then, Leng Changxi had already jumped back from the rock tform in the middle of the chamber, and he was still holding the multi-faced head in his hands. Even though the three faces on the head all had their eyes closed, it was still daunting to look at the head, maybe because of how it was made.

    Leng Changxi seemed to understand what Qin Yunuan was thinking. He calmly analyzed the facts, ¡°Rest assured. I think this may not be a fake tomb. Judging from how it has been decorated, I think it has been done carefully. Even though the mountain is big enough, there¡¯s no room for another tomb. I guess that Chen Wan might not have died back then. She just found something to rece her.¡±

    Qin Yunuan thought about it for a moment and agreed. ¡°I guess so. How would such a powerful and wise woman die in an arsenal riot? If she faked her death, it was likely that she nned the riot as well, in order to let her get away from something. However, there¡¯s one thing I don¡¯t understand. She had everything in the world. Why would she fake her own death? What did she try to get away from?¡±

    ¡°Sometimes people get away just because they have everything. Some people chase after wealth and power, but some would prefer avoiding them. Maybe there was something more important to her.¡± Leng Changxi thought about it carefully and put the multi-faced head in the middle of the rock pavilion. Just as he did that, he suddenly felt the ground shaking.

    He quickly straightened up and held Qin Yunuan¡¯s hands. Then, the rock tform shook again, even Qin Yunuan felt it. It was a deep hole underneath. No one could save them if anything happened.

    ¡°Changxi.¡± Qin Yunuan was in a bit of a panic.

    Leng Changxi looked around and held Qin Yunuan¡¯s waist decisively. The edge of the rock tform was starting to break, and there was a feet-long crack already, which was still bingrger. They were both in danger. Just then, Leng Changxi applied his light skills and leaped towards the central tform, which was meters away from the edge of the rock tform, carrying Qin Yunuan with him.

    The sound of the rock tform copsing was deafening. Qin Yunuan looked at the huge rocks falling into the emptiness below her feet. It was truly daunting.

    After theynded on the central tform, Leng Changxi stumbled and nearly fell. After all, he was carrying Qin Yunuan with him, and where he jumped from wasn¡¯t that stable.

    ¡°Changxi.¡± Qin Yunuan turned around and held Leng Changxi¡¯s arm. Half of his body was already in midair. He gritted and held on to Qin Yunuan¡¯s hands. The edge of the tform was very smooth, and there¡¯s nothing he could hold on to. It almost drained every bit of his strength to get back on the tform.

    Right on the central tform, Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi stood and watched the pavement where they came from falling apart. Until thest bit of it in front of the Duanlong gate copsed, and the huge rocks fell, the muffled sound of the rocks hitting the bottom seemed to be reminding them that there was no way back.

    All in a sudden, the central tform was the only structure left in the chamber. Actually, it was more like a rock pir than a rock tform now. Leng Changxi knew that he had toe this way because of the fake body. Even though the corpse was fake, the crystal coffin was real. The most precious thing must be in the safest ce. Besides, there was no exit in the chamber apart from the Duanlong gate. Leng Changxi was thinking that the exit might be somewhere next to the crystal coffin.

    Sure enough, when Qin Yunuan was looking at the crystal coffin, she found a hiddenpartment, in which was an iron made dial with strange characters on it.

    It was bad news. Even though they found the key to the exit, if they couldn¡¯t read this thing, they might not be able to get away. Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan were helpless at the moment. If they kept staying here, they would either starve or die because of the dim environment of the chamber.

    ¡°It was familiar to me.¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly said. Right, it was in that book without a cover. Some strange numbering symbols were used in the book, ¡°1¡± for one, and ¡°2¡± for two, which looked like a duckling. She didn¡¯t know where these symbols came from, but she remembered them because she found them fun.

    In this case, the symbols on the dial were a set of numbers. But what was the passcode?

    ¡°There are some words here.¡± Leng Changxi suddenly pointed at a small stone monument next to the crystal coffin and said. The monument was so small that it was like a decoration,pared to that of those who bragged around about their achievements.

    ¡°The most important day of my life.¡± Leng Changxi read the words out.

    The words were quite random, and it was hard to say what the owner was trying to express. However, Qin Yunuan felt like there was some information in here.

    ¡°Maybe this is to hint that the passcode is the most important day of Chen Wan¡¯s life.¡±

    That was possible indeed. Leng Changxi nodded.

    ¡°However, what would be the most important day for a woman? The day of her marriage? Her birthday? Or the day when she met the love of her life?¡± Leng Changxi didn¡¯t know much about women.

    ¡°Not necessarily.¡± Qin Yunuan looked at the well-made fake corpse inside the crystal coffin and tried to put herself in Chen Wan¡¯s shoes. She came to this world with glory and changed the world drastically with her own wisdom. However, when she was at her paramount, she suddenly chose to get away. Looking at all the blueprints and powerful weapons that she created, but she chose to leave with a fake death in the end.

    ¡°Did you still remember the date which the riot happened?¡± Qin Yunuan asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s top secret. I¡¯m not really sure.¡± Leng Changxi shook his head, but he tried to remember everything he could in his mind. ¡°However, I remember that several years ago, my father once mourned for someone¡¯s death in the backyard on the day 7th of July. I couldn¡¯t remember anyone from the family who died on that day. Later, I found out that he was mourning for his friend who died in a strange ident. When I looked into this history, I found that this friend of my father was one of the supervisors of the arsenal back in the years.¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s logical thinking and analytical ability were perfect.

    ¡°Then it must be July 7th.¡± Qin Yunuan decided to take the risk.

    Qin Yunuan stared at the dial and turned both the inner circle and the outer circle to ¡°7¡±. With a click, everything was done. The two of them looked around nervously, but it seemed that nothing had happened. Is it that...

    Suddenly, there was some sounding from the crystal coffin. Was it possible that the corpse hade alive?

    No, the corpse itself was fake.

    The two went forward and checked the crystal coffin. To their surprise, the bottom of the crystal coffin had opened up, revealing some endless stairs. The stairs looked fairly new. It was either that no one had ever walked on them, or they were well protected by the crystal coffin.

    Qin Yunuan exchanged nces with Leng Changxi. They had no way back now. The only option they had left was to keep going.

    Leng Changxi held Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand. The stairs looked less dim because of the light reflected from the crystal coffin. However, they couldn¡¯t see what¡¯s on the other side of it, which made them nervous.

    ¡°Are you afraid?¡± Leng Changxi asked.

    Qin Yunuan merely held on to Leng Changxi¡¯s hands tighter and said firmly, ¡°I¡¯m not afraid as long as I¡¯m with you.¡±

    Without a torch, the two could only stumble forward with the light reflected from the crystal coffin. Just when they stepped on the cold stairs, Leng Changxi felt the chill creeping up his heart. He let go of Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Stay here. I¡¯ll go check it out first.¡± If there were anything bad on the other side, Qin Yunuan would have enough time to make her own judgments. That was the only thing Leng Changxi could do to protect the woman he loved under the circumstances.

    ¡°No.¡± Qin Yunuan knew what Leng Changxi was thinking, and she wouldn¡¯t let him take the risk on his own. She wouldn¡¯t let go of Leng Changxi¡¯s hands. ¡°If anything ever happens to you, I want the same to happen to me. Don¡¯t leave me alone. You¡¯re the only one I have now.¡±

    ¡°Silly girl.¡± Leng Changxi smiled. What was she supposed to mean by ¡°I want the same to happen to me¡±?

    In the end, Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t leave the clingy Qin Yunuan alone. The two of them descended along the stairs. The further they went, the dimmer it was. They could only rely on Leng Changxi to find the way with his feet. Suddenly, Leng Changxi seemed to have stepped into the emptiness. He toppled and fell, dragging Qin Yunuan with him.

 Chapter 272 The Horrible Swarm

    <h4>Chapter 272 The Horrible Swarm</h4>

    As they fell, they found out that there was only a short segment of stairs, followed by a smooth rock tunnel going all the way down, like a natural slide. The two of them were sliding down quickly, but the slide seemed to be endless. After quite a while, there was light in front of them. Leng Changxi exited the slide with a thump. He swore that he¡¯d never been in such a disorder for his whole life.

    Leng Changxi was supporting himself with his elbows, with his face down. Hearing the scream of Qin Yunuan behind him, he quickly turned around, trying to catch her. Qin Yunuan¡¯s huge momentum knocked him over. She was staying in Leng Changxi¡¯s arms, as the slide-like tunnel scared her. She¡¯d never experienced such speed before.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Leng Changxi cuddled Qin Yunuan andforted her.

    Qin Yunuan nodded. After a short rest, she raised her head and looked at the structure of the room down here. It was even brighter than the rock chamber up there, which aroused her curiosity. Qin Yunuan took a few steps forward with the dim light, but she was stunned by what she saw.

    She realized that Leng Changxi and herself were standing on the top of a long set of stairs. There were some iron-made bracings, but they had been heavily rusted already. On the other end of the staircase were some uniform and gigantic machines. Thergest ones were as tall as a pce. Judging from the digging marks on the rock wall, they could tell that this underground world was built by men. It was hard enough to create such a space deep underground, let alone building so many machines.

    Leng Changxi followed Qin Yunuan and came close to her. Seeing the weapons arranged neatly, he took a deep breath. They knew that they had finally reached the center of the arsenal, where countless deadly weapons and dynamite were made.

    Qin Yunuan was totally stunned. Her curiosity drove her to stride down the staircase step by step, towards the center of all the wisdom and power. However, Leng Changxi suddenly dragged her arm. She stumbled and fell into Leng Changxi¡¯s arms.

    ¡°Don¡¯t go any further. Look.¡± Leng Changxi pointed at the bottom of the stairs. Because of the dim light, Qin Yunuan could only see a bunch of ck objects moving. Even though each of a finger¡¯s length, they were eye-catching because of their fast motion.

    Soon, the ck thing seemed to pause for a while, and then wiggled quickly on the ground, as if it was delivering a signal. Immediately, a swarm of creatures of its kind came from all directions. They were long and narrow, like centipedes, with many feet. The powerful pincers seemed to be demonstrating their fierceness.

    ¡°What are these?¡± Qin Yunuan saw that the little creatures filling the ground all in a sudden and felt thrilled from head to toe.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Leng Changxi looked at the bugs nervously, ¡°But I¡¯m sure that they¡¯re nothing good. We¡¯ve never seen anything good since we came in here.¡±

    Right then, a big spider on one of the gears suddenly fell from its own. The spider, as big as a palm, was like a lone sheep in a bunch of wolves. The bugs rushed towards the spider in an astonishing speed and rolled into a ball. In the blink of an eye, the bug ball scattered, and the spider was nowhere to be found.

    It seemed that these bugs were more than just fierce.

    Leng Changxi subconsciously took another step back with Qin Yunuan. Qin Yunuan was d that Leng Changxi held her just now. Otherwise, she might end up just like the spider.

    However, after observing the bugs¡¯ motions, Leng Changxi found the weakness of these bugs. It was that they could only move on nes. They couldn¡¯t go up the stairs, and they would avoid the barriers on their way. It meant that Qin Yunuan and himself were both safe in their positions, for now.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go upwards.¡± Leng Changxi held Qin Yunuan¡¯s hands and led her back.

    ¡°How should we get over there?¡± Qin Yunuan asked as she walked, pointing at the staircases on the other end of the underground room. There seemed to be another hidden space. If this was the factory, that must be the most important part of the arsenal. However, there was such a long distance between them, and the ground was full of these bugs.

    ¡°I have an idea.¡± Leng Changxi walked to the highest point of the staircase and looked at the middle of the room. Luckily, the machines were arranged densely here. It wasn¡¯t hard for Leng Changxi to jump over with the gaps and connections between the machines. However, it was hard if he needed to carry Qin Yunuan with him.

    Just when he was annoyed, Leng Changxi saw a two-finger thick iron chain. Even though it was rusted, Leng Changxi tested it and found that it was still very steady.

    ¡°Changxi, your n is?¡± Qin Yunuan seemed to have figured out Leng Changxi¡¯s thoughts. She looked at Leng Changxi, worried. She had been fully trusting Leng Changxi on their journey here, and it was the same this time.

    Leng Changxi tested the length of the iron chain. It was further than the distance between the staircases. It seemed that the iron chain was used to moverge machines or tools in the past, and there were marks of tying on it.

    Right when Leng Changxi was thinking, there was some sound from above.

    Immediately, the two both held their breaths. Then, there was the sound again. It seemed to be the sound of rubbing the coffin. Qin Yunuan frowned. The Duanlong gate couldn¡¯t be opened once it was closed. Normally speaking, Chen Jingrui could never enter the chamber. Could it be someone else?

    The more they thought about it, the more it was terrifying. However, Qin Yunuan believed that even though the Duanlong gate, or even the whole tomb was destroyed, there must be another way out. As long as they kept going forward, there had to be a chance.

    Leng Changxi frowned as well, as he said, ¡°There¡¯s no time.¡± Then, he swung the iron chain in his hands and threw it towards the handle of the stairs on the other side of the room. Unfortunately, he used too much force the first time, and he didn¡¯t estimate the distance correctly. The chain fell on the floor in the middle of the room. That bunch of ck bugs immediately swarmed over. It seemed that they were interested in everything new that moved. It further proved Leng Changxi¡¯s right not to mess with these little demons.

    Leng Changxi quickly reeled the chain to take it back but found that a few ck bugs were still clinging on the chain. Leng Changxi immediately threw the chain to the ground and stepped onto them to kill them.

    ¡°Hold on.¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly called to stop him. Leng Changxi raised his boots, and Qin Yunuan fearlessly bowed down to pick up a half-dead ck bug.

    He was observing it carefully. The ck bug has many feet, 16 on each side to be precise, which made a total of 32. Its head was like an ant, and it had two pincers which didn¡¯t fit in with its body at all. Its sharp teeth for tearing its preys apart seemed to be reminding people not to mess with it.

    Qin Yunuan had never seen anything like that before, neither had Leng Changxi. However, Qin Yunuan remembered that she had seen it in a book before about tombs. She didn¡¯t pay too much attention to it before.

    ¡°These are corpse bugs.¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly remembered that. ¡°I remember that I¡¯ve read about it in a book. These bugs can bite really well, and they love dark, damp and bloody ces. Hence, most of them feed on dead bodies. Whenever these bugs appear, it means that there are bodies nearby. The more corpse bugs there are, the more dead bodies there are.¡±

    After hearing that, even Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t help but felt daunted. Looking at all the corpse bugs on the ground, it meant that there must be mass graves somewhere near. It was reasonable though. People were executed for the riot in the arsenal back in the years. The words of Sun Chengzhen and Chen Jingrui also proved that the arsenal treated thebor harshly. Killing rebellion orzy workers could be one way to warn others. After all, the Yeren Valley is deep in the mountains, and supplies were limited. An extra person was an extra burden. Killing them was the most effective way.

    However, no one would have imagined that what happened in the past actually made the arsenal a perfect habitat for the horrible corpse bugs, stopping those who tried to enter the center of the arsenal again. What a karma it was.

    While thinking, Leng Changxi had already thrown the chain onto the handle of the stairs on the other side. He pulled it with some force. It seemed to be stable, but he was not sure if it could take the weight of both Qin Yunuan and himself.

    The noise from above was louder and louder. It made people feel that something terrible was approaching.

    Leng Changxi was holding the chain in his hands as he looked at Qin Yunuan, ¡°Nuan, hold on to my shoulder. Remember that no matter what happens, don¡¯t let go.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded, but her fingertips were already trembling beyond her control. She settled her fear and held on to Leng Changxi tight. Leng Changxi held the chain in his hands and jumped off the stairs, climbing towards the other side along the chain. The rusted chain and handles squeaked, as they were heavily weathered, while the swarm of corpse bugs were only inches below them.

    Soon, they were halfway through the room. Even with Leng Changxi¡¯s stamina, he was covered in sweat already. All that Qin Yunuan could do was to stay as still as possible to reduce the burden on Leng Changxi. Just when Leng Changxi was taking a short break in the middle and prepared to keep going, there was a sounding from the tunnel. It seemed that someone wasing down.

    With a thump, someone came out from the tunnel. It was no one else but Mengman.

 Chapter 273 The Extraordinary Memory

    <h4>Chapter 273 The Extraordinary Memory</h4>

    Mengman whisked the dust on his body and knocked toward the direction of the tunnel¡¯s opening, which seemed to be a cipher. Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi heard the intensive sounds immediately. The moment Mengman raised his head to observe the surroundings, he looked at Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan, who hung in the air. Now Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan almost reached the opposite, and the handrail with iron chains intertwining was just near Mengman. The standpoints of both sides were very clear now.

    Leng Changxi used his split vision to observe Mengman while tried to move to the end with difficulty. Though he saved Mengman, he could not make sure that Mengman would never hurt them. After all, Mengman was from Chen Jingrui and regarded him as a deity always.

    Suddenly, another person fell from the tunnel, who had always been the senior follower of Mengman. The moment he saw Leng Changxi, a kind of murderous anger burned in his eyes at once. Looking at the countless ck bugs on the ground, he almost knew why Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan did not choose the path but such a dangerous way. Looking at the iron chains intertwined on the handrail, the follower stepped forward immediately and was about to cut off the lifeline of Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan by a steel sword.

    When he took off the scabbard, he was about to cut off the iron chain without any hesitance. But at such a critical moment, Mengman controlled the follower¡¯s hands tightly, and it was just a finger-wide distance from the sword to the iron chain. The follower was confused and stared at Mengman tightly. He thought his young master would betray the supreme deity of the tribe.

    Mengman nced at Leng Changxi by his split vision and kicked the follower into the central ground where there were countless bugs. In a sh, the ck bugs were crawling with ck bugs, and the follower twisted like a more giant ck bug on the ground painfully. He could not escape at all because there were numerous ck bugs on his body.

    Qin Yunuan could almost hear the subtle sounds of the flesh¡¯s tearing from a distance. After a while, the bugs dispersed, and there was only a skeleton left here. Mengman glimpsed at Leng Changxi and shouted something in thenguage of the tribe.

    Now Leng Changxi had reached the end safely together with Qin Yunuan in the chaos just now. Leng Changxi massaged his sore arms and turned back to ask Qin Yunuan, ¡°What did he say just now?¡±

    ¡°He said he had paid off the kindness that you saved him. He would be your enemy if you metter.¡± Qin Yunuan glimpsed at Mengman withplicated eyes.

    ¡°So then there is no need to thank him,¡± Leng Changxi did not turn back and added, ¡°I don¡¯t owe him too.¡± And then he held the hand of Qin Yunuan walked toward the empty room in the palisades. The people from the tribe fell from the tunnel constantly. Thest one was Chen Jingrui, whose legs were disabled. Someone carried him, but his eyes were still intense.

    All felt frightened when they saw the skeleton among the bugs, but Mengman just said calmly, ¡°This is your lecture. You should remember that you should never touch the bugs.¡±

    Chen Jingrui glimpsed at Mengman without a word and just ordered, ¡°Try to reach the opposite. The stone room is the core space of the whole weapon factory.¡±

    And Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi, who had entered the core space, were walking along with the narrow and winding corridor. Finally, they saw a higher stone step. They felt ufortable by the soft light when they reached thest step.

    They raised their heads and found the stone room¡¯s decoration was just like the hall in wealthy families, and the soft light was from the ceilingmp hung in the top of the stone room and decorated by a dozen night pearls. Such luxurious decoration had surpassed the royal pce where the emperor lived.

    ¡°Here is a stone door.¡± Qin Yunuan touched a mobile board and glimpsed at the candlestick near the stone door. She understood why there was a candlestick since there were so many night pearls in the hall.

    Qin Yunuan moved the candlestick, and then the stone door opened suddenly. It was dark inside, so Leng Changxi jumped to take down the ceilingmp¡¯s biggest night pearl. He used the night pearl to light up the small space inside.

    ¡°Let¡¯s enter the room.¡± They entered the room, and Leng Changxi followed in the rear. Compared with the luxurious decoration outside, it was more like a personal study here. Drawings heaped upon the long table. There were many bound drawings in the ceramic canister, and some of them were only finished half.

    Leng Changxi could not help but open those drawings where there were many inner structures of machines. He guessed that they were the drawings of thepetitive weapons at that time.

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch them.¡± Leng Changxi warned in a soft voice, ¡°If they were real drawings of weapons, it would be weird that those drawings were put on the table straightly.¡±

    Leng Changxi agreed and nodded. And then Qin Yunuan added, ¡°Chen Wan is a smart woman. She must have her confidential way to hide and do what she wants. I worry that there is something wrong with these drawings.¡±

    Suddenly, noises came from the outside. It was the noise of crowdsing in. If he calcted right, now Chen Jingrui with his followers would quickly arrive. People from the outside would see the whole room, so there was no ce for them to hide. Leng Changxi raised his head and saw a raised stone column at the top of the study. He got an idea.

    Outside, those ves got astonished very much when they saw the luxurious ceilingmp made of night pearls in the hall.

    But only Chen Jingrui found that there was a night pearl missing after calm observation.

    ¡°Mengman, you lead them to search here. The two people must havee in. They are extremely cunnings, so you should be more careful.¡± And then Chen Jingrui looked at Wanyan Su, who had always been following him. Wanyan Su looked pale because of his broken arm. After bandaged simply, Wanyan Su still kept pace with the group. He always submitted to Chen Jingrui, but now his eyes were full of resentment and dissatisfaction.

    ¡°I know what you are thinking about,¡± Chen Jingrui seemed to care nothing about the inner pain of Wanyan Su, ¡°You me me for utilizing your wife¡¯s body to help us go across the bugs. So what? Women should not trap men in their paths to sess. Do you remember that you have said that you will be in power when youe back to the capital of North Di? I help you sweep the barriers away. No need to thank me.¡±

    Wanyan Su wanted to say something but stopped. He blushed and got irritated by Chen Jingrui. Chen Jingrui glimpsed at him and smiled, ¡°You go to move the candlestick on the wall. If I were right, the candlestick would be the switch of the secret room.¡±

    Wanyan Su was bearing the insult. Now he was not the high-fed Forth Prince of North Di anymore but a clown as the bottom follower, submitting to Chen Jingrui.

    The candlestick was moved again, and the stone door opened. Like Leng Changxi, Chen Jingrui and others were also attracted immediately by the heaping drawings on the table.

    Nanny Yu said in a shuddering voice, ¡°Oh my god. We find them. These are the biggest treasure. We find the drawings.¡±

    And then Chen Jingrui ordered a follower near him, ¡°You, fetch the drawings.¡±

    The follower nodded and stepped forward to pick up one of the drawings. Immediately, a plume of smoke erupted toward the eyes of the follower. With a screech that seemed toe from the hell, the follower covered his eyes painfully. The smoke seemed to have stocked to his cheek.

    ¡°Fetch pure water! Be quick!¡± Nanny Yu ordered a ve behind her to pass the ox-horn kettle which only contained half water. She poured the water onto the follower¡¯s face at once, but conversely, the smoke did not disperse but turned to be some boiled liquid. After a while, the face of the follower had been erodedpletely.

    Nanny Yu thought something wrong. The follower dragged down the drawings on the table one by one unconsciously when he was struggling. When thest one fell on the ground, a thick plume of smoke erupted. The inside of the table was empty, where two things were put to make the toxic smoke. When someone moved the drawings, the gear was triggered and sharply mixed the two things to form the corrosive smoke. The smoke density was heavier than the air, so the smoke floated lower in the floor level, so the toxic smoke did not influence Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan at all, who were hiding behind the tone column that could keep out of the light.

    Leng Changxi held the big night pearl. The bottom of the room was brighter, so the two people above could clearly see the room¡¯s whole scene. They sighed that they were so lucky not to touch the drawings greedily.

    The followers behind did not know what happened and only saw constant smoke. Some of them tried to use pure water to damp down the smoke like nanny Yu, but they got more immense hurt. Chen Jingrui not only gained nothing valuable but also had suffered the heavy losses of his ves.

    And even Chen Jingrui should be carried out by someone in a hurry.

    Thick smoke spread in the bottom. Qin Yunuan above raised her head unconsciously and saw something surprising at the top of the stone room.

    ¡°Changxi, look.¡± Qin Yunuan pointed at the dim top lighted up by the night pearl. There seemed to be many carven patterns, which were not characters but some patterns with straight and curved lines. The smoke had forced Chen Jingrui and his followers out, so Leng Changxi took out the night pearl to light up the top.

    After specific checking for a long time, Qin Yunuan judged, ¡°Right, the carven patterns are the real drawings.¡±

    ¡°But how can we take them out?¡± Leng Changxi looked at the treasure carved on the stone wall and sighed.

    ¡°Chen Wan did not want others to take the patterns out since she carved the drawings on the wall. But don¡¯t you remember your wife has the ability of excellent retentive memory?¡± Qin Yunuan said while engraving the patterns on her mind one by one.

    Qin Yunuan held the night pearl to light up the wall for Qin Yunuan. When he lighted up the wall behind Qin Yunuan, the careful Leng Changxi found that this piece of the stone wall was different from the others.

    He reached his fingers to knock it and heard the crisp sounds. Leng Changxi smiled, ¡°Nuan, it is empty behind the stone wall.¡±

 Chapter 274 Life After Surviving the Danger

    <h4>Chapter 274 Life After Surviving the Danger</h4>

    The smoke spread wide, so it was hard to find Leng Changxi hiding behind the stone column even if he made obvious moves. He reached out slender middle and index fingers to open the concealed box through the gap as narrow as a hair. It was lucky for Leng Changxi to find the hidden box at the stone top. Suddenly, Leng Changxi exerted his super strength and pulled out the stone which blocked the concealed out by his slender fingers. Immediately, a cool and moist wind blew from the dark hole.

    ¡°The wind is moist.¡± Qin Yunuan felt it too, ¡°Which means there is water at the other side of the hole.¡±

    When the smoke dispersed, it was likely that Chen Jingrui would dispatch people toe in. Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan could not hide here for a long time. Leng Changxi entered the hole with his half body to check if there were poison and bugs inside. After making sure that there was no danger inside, he turned back and said to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Nuan, follow me.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was a little bit hesitant, but Leng Changxi said straightly, ¡°Believe me. My instinct told me that the cunning women like Chen Wan must leave numerous paths to survive. And this tunnel is likely to be one of the paths.¡±

    Yes. Such a secret and incredible tunnel was hard to expose to others except for Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan, who hid above.

    Qin Yunuan gritted her teeth and followed Leng Changxi to enter the tunnel. It was very narrow in the beginning in the tunnel, where only one person could crawl. But after a while, it turned wider, and they could bend forward. Now the two people had no time to care about Chen Jingrui, but they could hear the constant miserable shouting subtly behind her. It seemed that those people stimted other triggers. Hearing the continuous miserable cries, Qin Yunuan frowned, ¡°I smell those bugs.¡±

    Leng Changxi stopped and heard Qin Yunuan¡¯s words, ¡°They are not in the tunnel but behind us. The smell is so light. The bugs may be in the hall with the night pearls.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Leng Changxi nodded, ¡°That¡¯s not our business.¡±

    The two people walked faster. Suddenly, a weeny light emerged in the front, and then they heard the rumble of water.

    It was a waterfall!

    Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi looked at each other. It must be a waterfall in the front, or the tunnel would not be so moist. Qin Yunuan tried to recall the previous memory. She did not remember there was a waterfall on the map. Judging from thendmarks in the map, she found that there was no higher cliff in Yeren Valley. How could a splendid waterfall exist in such a terrain?

    No, there was a ce.

    The two people thought about the ce almost simultaneously. They said together, ¡°The small thatched cottage.¡±

    Right. The ce was the small thatched cottage where the Elder Princess lived, and there was a cliff of fifty meters high. At the bottom of the cliff, there was a river. It was not so weird to find a waterfall above.

    Now the two people got cheerful. Leng Changxi holding the hand of Qin Yunuan stepped carefully toward the exit of the hole. Soft sunshine outside made Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes feel pricking because she had stayed in the darkness for a long time. They were only three steps away from the waterfall where water poured down. The rumbling water violently hit the stone at the bottom, which caused the stone with corners and edges to be round and smooth after perennial washing.

    The sshing water heavily hit the small tender face of Qin Yunuan. By the light, Qin Yunuan could saw clearly that there was much dust on the clothes of Leng Changxi and herself. And even their face looked indescribably exhausted.

    Leng Changxi looked at the bottom calmly and estimated the height and angle. He turned back to pull Qin Yunuan¡¯s little head into his chest, ¡°Nuan, don¡¯t be scared.¡±

    ¡°Changxi, you...¡± Qin Yunuan was stunned, but immediately she felt a sense of weightlessness. In a sh, the water wet out the whole body of Qin Yunuan. She dared not to open her eyes, but she seemed to feel that she was soaking in the freezing water in the next second. The strong water stream washed violently the body of Qin Yunuan, which seemed to break her top of the skull. Qin Yunuan could not swim and Leng Changxi, holding her by his single arm, swam to where the current got eased. When they reached the ce with shallow water, Leng Changxi had been totally exhausted.

    The water was bitingly cold. Qin Yunuan strove to get out of the water and dragged Leng Changxi toward the bank by herst strength. And then he knelt beside Leng Changxi. They looked at each other, and they both smiled in their hearts. Yes, they managed to escape. They finally escaped the weapon factory as frightening as hell.

    When they looked at each other affectionately, the water stream of the waterfall was suddenly changed by a strong wind. A puff of hot wave with the me and burning smell came out of the hole. It was likely that someone there stimted the trigger. They thought the hot wave happened only once, but then Qin Yunuan saw the whole mountain seemed to be shuddering violently, like an earthquake.

    ¡°Nuan, move.¡± Leng Changxi felt the danger and tried his best to hold Qin Yunuan to run toward the empty area in the distance. Behind them, with the rumbling sounds of copsing mountain, numerous stones fell down like falling shooting stars. Leng Changxi ran to shelter Qin Yunuan under his body. Through the crack of the clothes of Leng Changxi, Qin Yunuan saw one big part of the mountain in the distance copsed, causing the waterfall sshed away. When the situation calmed down, they found that the mountain had been in a mess. The waterfall moved back a lot, and the stones at the bottom were from the mountain and were washed by the waterfall heavily again.

    ¡°Young Master Tuoba, Young Madam Tuoba.¡± In the distance, a familiar shouting attracted Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan. Someone appeared at the bottom.

    Qin Yunuan turned back and found they were Cha, who was ordered to stay in the tribe. There were two followers behind Cha, who looked exhausted and upset.

    ¡°You two are really here.¡± Cha looked very excited when he saw Leng Changxi, ¡°Young Master Tuoba, I thought you would nevere back.¡±

    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Leng Changxi remembered that they ordered them to leave together with Elder Princess.

    ¡°We don¡¯t know where we should go,¡± Cha said while took off his sheepskin gown and passed it to Leng Changxi. Leng Changxi did not refuse because the water was extremely cold. He patted the gown and put it on Qin Yunuan, who was shuddering. Cha saw them and smiled, adding, ¡°And then we decided to wait for you in the little thatched cottage.¡±

    ¡°Where is my mother?¡± Leng Changxi, though he did not wear the gown, became warm by his genuine energy.

    Cha pouted his mouth toward the little thatched cottage. Leng Changxi was about to move but stopped by Qin Yunuan suddenly. She frowned, ¡°I smell a kind of luxurious spice with a light smell of horse dung. Someone may havee to the little thatched cottage.¡± And then Qin Yunuan looked at Cha sideways, ¡°Cha, tell us the truth.¡±

    Cha was hesitant and lowered his head, ¡°If I tell you the truth, I am afraid that Young Master Tuoba will kill me.¡±

    Leng Changxi said with his head ant, ¡°Just tell us.¡±

    Cha took a deep breath, ¡°After we just came to the little thatched cottage, a troop came with amours and long knives. Their head was a powerful man, and he said he wanted to take the madam away. We refused, and the madam did not want to go with them too. She said she wanted to wait for Young Master Tuoba toe back. The troops now were waiting in the cottage, and they had told me that they wanted to negotiate with you when you came back.¡±

    And then Qin Yunuan frowned. The spice she smelt was not an ordinary one but used in the Royal Pce. And the horse dung smelt lighter, different from the disgusting smell of ordinary horse shit. The horse dung might from the horse, which took superior forage in daily time. Thus, the troop might be...

    Before Qin Yunuan said it out, Leng Changxi had already stridden toward the little thatched cottage. As expected, there were several upmost Ferghana horses eating grass around the cottage. One of them was staring at the door energetically, whose saddle was equipped with a string of precious iid stones which looked very luxurious.

    Some people in ck armor guarded the cottage at the door. When they saw Leng Changxi was walking toward them unfriendly, they put the long knives on their waists ahead alertly.

    ¡°Who are you?¡±

    ¡°Leng Changxi from Qi.¡± Leng Changxi just told them his name directly.

    Cha widened his eyes and said surprisingly, ¡°Leng... Leng Changxi? Young Master Tuoba, are you the god of war in Qi, the legendary young warrior?¡±

    Qin Yunuan responded calmly, ¡°Isn¡¯t he? It¡¯s not the right time to talk about this. You three guarded here and give us a signal when something weird happened.¡± And then, Qin Yunuan went upstairs together with Leng Changxi. The door was broken with many holes. They could see a man in full ck armors sitting inside seriously with his alert eyes as sharp as a cutter point. He looked very young, about 20 years old, but his shrewdness with sharp-sighted eyes bore theparison with many senior generals who attended many battles.

    He would be a tough person to handle.

    Qin Yunuan stepped forward and held the hand of Leng Changxi silently, just like Leng Changxi holding her hands when she was trapped in dangers and fears numerously.

    ¡°Let him in.¡± The man inside said lightly with a little disdain.

    The bamboo-made door was opened, and the room still kept the previousyout. The young man sat was facing the door. A delicate ox-horn kettle was put beside with a light aroma of the wine. Now he was drinking singly. If he did not wear the armor, he would be regarded as a leisurely farmer or a Taoist priest in the countryside.

    ¡°Where is the Elder Princess?¡± Leng Changxi still kept vignt.

    The young man raised his eyes and sneered, ¡°She was in a very safe ce. But General Leng from Qi, you haven¡¯t asked my name since you came in. It may be not polite for you to only care about Elder Princess.¡±

    ¡°Shall I?¡± Leng Changxi stared at the eyes of the young man. Frankly, from the perspective of Qin Yunuan, as a bystander, she thought this young man was like Leng Changxi to arge extent.

    ¡°Jing Yuanchu.¡± Leng Changxi said out the name of the man straightly, ¡°The Thirteenth Prince of West Xia. Am I right?¡±

 Chapter 275 What a Coincidence

    <h4>Chapter 275 What a Coincidence</h4>

    Just at this time, there was a man in in clothes outside the door. He bowed and scraped to Jing Yuanchu, ¡°Your Majesty, the carriage is ready to go.¡±

    Jing Yuanchu¡¯s sight went through Leng Changxi directly. He shouted to the back room, which was simply covered with bamboo curtains, ¡°Bring her out.¡±

    Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan turned sideways slightly and saw someone lifting the curtain. The first person who came out was a woman dressed as a maidservant. She was about seventeen or eighteen years old. With the star-like shining eyes on her oval face, as well as her exquisite makeup, there seemed to be an unspeakable aura of luxury around her. If it weren¡¯t for her simple pink dress, others would have thought she was ady of some noble family. She had a shrewd look. After a nce at Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi, she pulled another woman out from behind without mercy. This woman was Elder Princess.

    ¡°Donghua.¡± Elder Princess saw Leng Changxi but still mumbled the name ¡°Donghua¡± in her mouth.

    ¡°He is not Donghua,¡± Jing Yuanchu said to Elder Princess coldly, ¡°I¡¯m sent by Donghua, the man in your dream, to take you back.¡±

    Jing Donghua? The emperor of West Xia? The ruthless heartbreaker?

    Leng Changxi took Elder Princess back and protected her subconsciously, ¡°Why are you taking her away?¡±

    Jing Yuanchu smiled without saying a word. He just stood up and turned to the window. Looking at the uniform ck-armored soldier and the neighing Ferghana horses outside the window, he said, ¡°I brought three hundred cavalries. But you, you have only two people.¡±

    ¡°This room is not that big. I can kill you at any time.¡± Leng Changxi was protecting two women.

    ¡°Juste.¡± Jing Yuanchu provoked, ¡°You could kill me. But could you take those two women out with you alive? Haha. Although you are a younger half-brother of mine, it seems that you don¡¯t know what kind of man I am. There is nothing I can¡¯t do.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not happy to be your little brother,¡± Leng Changxi sneered at Jing Yuanchu, ¡°but I probably know you better than you think. Ten years ago, you drowned your seventeenth brother in the lotus pond so that you won the chance to enter the Imperial College of West Xia. Six years ago, to gain the trust of the Great General Murong Lie, you cut off your beloved woman¡¯s hand and gave it to him. Four years ago, you wanted to gain control of the Salt Mountain. You didn¡¯t hesitate to kill your nanny who had raised you for the past 20 years and then med it on your rivals. Just two years ago, you swore to win Jing Donghua¡¯s trust. For the rest of his life, you must find the long-lost Elder Princess for him. Jing Yuanchu, I seem to know you very well. You are a man who stops at nothing to achieve your purposes, but you know nothing about me.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Jing Yuanchu doesn¡¯t seem to be surprised that Leng Changxi had such a thorough grasp of himself. ¡°We still have more opportunities to know each other. After all, I will need your help along the way if I take Elder Princess back.¡±

    ¡°Do you mean to take us back to West Xia with you?¡± Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help but doubt the thirteenth prince, who was determined to achieve his goal, by fair means or foul.

    ¡°Or what?¡± Jing Yuanchu gave a childlike smile, which had always made him look extremely kind, ¡°I can¡¯t leave you here alone. After all, this is Yeren Valley.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was still about to ask when Leng Changxi stopped her. Leng Changxi raised his head slightly and said, ¡°Okay, I will go with you. But you must ensure the spending on Elder Princess¡¯s food and clothing. Moreover, you shouldn¡¯t limit her freedom.¡±

    Jing Yuanchu nced at Elder Princess. Though Qin Yunuan had freshened her up, this woman seemed tock nobility after the baptism of years and the tiring travel of the past few days. She resembled a rural woman in some aspects.

    Inexplicably, Jing Yuanchu had a feeling of contempt for the princess. She was said to be the first beauty of Qi. It turned out to be nothing more than that. Jing Yuanchu was worried that if he found the woman and took it back to Jing Donghua, it would threaten his position. Now it seemed that he was worrying too much.

    ¡°Naturally,¡± Jing Yuanchu nodded and made a promise. ¡°The emperor¡¯s affection for the eldest princess hadn¡¯t been over, and now he still thinks about Elder Princess while lying ill in the bed, hoping to see the princess for thest time. Otherwise, how can I spend so much effort to find her?¡±

    ¡°Are you saying that the emperor of West Xia is seriously ill?¡± Leng Changxi was somehow worried. After all, he was Leng Changxi¡¯s father, and Leng Changxi was his son. Leng Changxi hadn¡¯t looked deep into what happened back then and didn¡¯t want to me him too much.

    Jing Yuanchu didn¡¯t say much. He just looked out of the window and said, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. The woods ahead will be filled with miasmater. We¡¯d better hit the road early.¡±

    After the words, he got up and left. The soldiers outside watched Jing Yuanchue out, and they bowed to him respectfully without exception. Leng Changxi remembered that only the guards in the West Xia Pce would wear those ck armors. These imperial guards were so respectful to Jing Yuanchu. It seemed that he was rather powerful in West Xia.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Leng Changxi held Elder Princess in his left hand and Qin Yunuan in his right hand.

    ¡°Changxi,¡± Qin Yunuan whispered, ¡°I don¡¯t believe this Jing Yuanchu.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe him, either.¡± Leng Changxi squinted. After all, Jing Yuanchu had done so many unreasonable things before. Nobody knew his true intention in bringing Elder Princess back this time. ¡°But my mother missed the emperor so much. She had waited here all her life just to meet Jing Donghua. I hope to fulfill this wish for my mother. No matter what the truth is, no matter whether Jing Donghua had broken my mother¡¯s heart or not. I didn¡¯t fulfill my filial piety and stand by my mother¡¯s side all the time. I want toplete her wish.¡±

    The team in the distance had already begun to move slowly. Jing Yuanchu left the maid, who had escorted the eldest princess before, to apany Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi. Frankly speaking, she was keeping an eye on them.

    Jing Yuanchu called this maid Xinger, and she was extremely agile.

    The female rtives were in the carriages. Cha and a few others followed at the back of the team. Jing Yuanchu kindly gave Leng Changxi a Ferghana horse. Seeing Leng Changxi pondering and stroking the horse back and forth, Jing Yuanchu sneered, ¡°Why, the first Great General of Qi, haven¡¯t you seen such a good horse?¡±

    North Di produced many horses, but the really good horses were in West Xia, which was universally acknowledged.

    ¡°No,¡± Leng Changxi raised his eyebrows and nced at Jing Yuanchu coldly, ¡°I¡¯m thinking if my horse was here. This so-called Ferghana horse was iparable of even one hoof of my horse.¡±

    Jing Yuanchu turned his head back, smiling. He looked to the front, ¡°General Leng, if you could still be so arrogant after seeing my father, I would only express my admiration to you.¡±

    The team moved forward slowly, passing by a few mounds on the way. Cha¡¯s team, including himself, had six people. Now only three people were left. The other three died during the fight with the tribe. Those three people died terribly. They were all killed by witchcraft worms. Although the immature worms couldn¡¯t enter the human bodies and control them, their bloodthirsty temper was as horrifying as those leeches. The mounds were the simple tombs of the three people. When passing by the mounds, Cha and his team members were all heartbroken. Qin Yunuan also felt terrible on the carriage.

    Qin Yunuan let down the curtains. There was a lot of space in the carriage. Elder Princess sat in the middle. Qin Yunuan was on her left side, sitting opposite the maid named Xinger. Xinger always had some caution in his eyes. Nobody talked. The atmosphere was quite embarrassing.

    Though Xinger seemed cold and didn¡¯t care about anything, under Qin Yunuan¡¯s careful observation, she had found that Xinger would turn her head unconsciously every time Jing Yuanchu ordered a turn or rest. Xinger would follow the voice and look over. Although she sat the curtain, Xinger still had tenderness and love in her eyes.

    Those exquisite thoughts could never escape from Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes. Xinger liked Jing Yuanchu, and her affection was obvious.

    ¡°You must have been following His Highness Thirteen for a while, Xinger.¡± Qin Yunuan started the conversation. Elder Princess on the side seemed a little tired. She wrapped herself up in a thin woolen nket and leaned directly against the wall for some sleep.

    Xinger didn¡¯t say anything. Qin Yunuan nodded, exining softly, ¡°I saw how swift you are at your work. Every time it seemed that Your Highness hadn¡¯t said anything, but you already knew what to do. If I could have such a maid, then I really have no regrets in this life.¡± While speaking, Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help thinking of Maner and Tingxue who were still in Qi. She didn¡¯t know how they were doing. Having stayed in this solitary Yeren Valley for so long, Qin Yunuan knew nothing about the outside world now.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Xinger took much pride in her work, she raised her chin slightly, ¡°Only I know His Highness the most. Many servants have changed during this period, but it¡¯s either that His Highness didn¡¯t like them, or they had made too many mistakes and were expelled from the house by his Imperial concubine. None of them stayed long.¡±

    ¡°Ah, it turns out that His Royal Highness is already married,¡± Qin Yunuan pretended to be surprised. ¡°Looking at him, I thought that he was so young and that His Royal Highness has not yet been married. Whichdy could be so lucky to spend the rest of her life with His Highness?¡±

    Xinger was apparently unhappy, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t know so much.¡±

    She became cautious. But it didn¡¯t matter. Qin Yunuan had already figured out the character of this maid. She always thought that only she was the most suitable person for the thirteenth prince, so Qin Yunuan could start from this aspect.

    ¡°You misunderstood, Xinger. I don¡¯t want to ask for some news, I¡¯m just thinking that,¡± Qin Yunuan said while observing Xinger¡¯s reaction, ¡°The one who can match His Highness must be an extremely dignified, generous, and beautiful woman. She should be gentle and elegant, who could live up to the talent and grace of Your Highness.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily,¡± Xinger was a bit aggrieved. ¡°It¡¯s just a political transaction. If it wasn¡¯t for the future of West Xia, His Highness would never marry such a woman.¡±

    ¡°Oh, such a woman?¡± Qin Yunuan provocatively asked, ¡°Why do you oppose? I¡¯m very curious.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t know,¡± Xinger squinted, disdain slid out from the corner of her mouth, ¡°The woman¡¯s surname is Dou. She was a noble daughter of Qi. Butter, the family lost its power. She had been relying on other powerful people to survive. Now that Sima Ray was in the power of Qi, she entangled him like a mangy dog. She must have charmed Sima Ray to agree on the imperial matrimony for peace with West Xia and send her to marry the thirteenth prince, one of the most outstanding princes.¡±

    ¡°The surname Dou?¡±

    Xinger nced at Qin Yunuan, ¡°You should know her. Dou Meishuang, that ttern.¡±

 Chapter 276 Past Days

    <h4>Chapter 276 Past Days</h4>

    Dou Meishuang? How could it be her?

    Qin Yunuan pondered secretly in her heart, but she didn¡¯t make it obvious on her face. She smiled and said to Xinger, ¡°Miss, you must have got it wrong. How could the thirteenth prince marry such an unbearable person?¡±

    Xinger raised her eyebrows and teased, ¡°It¡¯s just a political marriage. Do you really think Your Highness would like this lowly woman? No matter how good he is to her, he was just acting ording to the circumstance.¡± After Xinger finished speaking, she looked at Qin Yunuan vigntly, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have told you so much. Anyway, you have heard it. When you finally arrive in West Liang, I couldn¡¯t promise where you would end up.¡±

    West Liang was the capital of West Xia. From Xinger¡¯s words, Qin Yunuan could already conclude that Jing Yuanchu must be perfidious.

    Jing Yuanchu seemed to be remarkably familiar to Yeren Valley. The team encountered almost no obstacles along the way. Except for the two soldiers who died of a poisonous snake bite, there was no big issue. With the faint daylight prating through the carriage curtain, Qin Yunuan could discover that the trees on the two sides appeared to be deliberately trimmed. Although there were asional bumps along the road, it was smooth as if someone dug it out.

    ¡°His Royal Highness, there is someone in front.¡± With a red g on his back, the pathfinder soldier at the front ran to report.

    Jing Yuanchu raised his head slightly, ¡°Bring him here.¡±

    After a while, two ck-armored soldiers escorted a dusty-faced man over. They pushed the man directly to the ground unceremoniously. The man looked too weak to withstand even a bit of shoving and fell flop on his face. Jing Yuanchu did not get down from his horse but looked at the people below with a very arrogant attitude. He ordered, ¡°Hold your head up.¡±

    The person underneath raised his head tremblingly, and his dirty face was filled with pitifulness. Leng Changxi recognized Lu Wuyi at a nce. He was sent to follow Wanyan Su. When Wanyan Su and his team members were escorted by Chen Jingrui¡¯s men, Leng had wondered why Lu Wuyi was not among them, but he kept quiet. Now it seemed that Lu Wuyi should have gotten out of the situation in time. But he didn¡¯t expect that after getting rid of Wanyan Su, there was a Jing Yuanchu, who was born to be ruthless.

    Jing Yuanchu was holding the horsewhip in his hand. Pointing at Lu Wuyi with the whip, he said to Leng Changxi, ¡°You know him?¡±

    Leng Changxi shook his head, ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±

    Jing Yuanchu then ordered Lu Wuyi¡¯s messy hair pulled away. Taking a closer look, he smiled, ¡°It turns out to be a descendant of the Lu family. No wonder you look so familiar. Keep him. Maybe he will be useful in the future.¡±

    He recognized Lu Wuyi at a nce. Qin Yunuan observed the outside through the space between the carriage curtains. It seemed that Jing Yuanchu was capable of things.

    Jing Yuanchu was not believed to be a man of decency, but he still had credibility. He treated Elder Princess well along the way, even taking care of Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan. After all, he knew in his heart that without theirpany, Elder Princess would never go back with him so obediently.

    Xinger seemed to be entrusted, and never again was coaxed by Qin Yunuan to say what shouldn¡¯t be said as she did at the beginning. She also acted more carefully. Jing Yuanchu probably had reprimanded her. People saw her with red eyes once in a while.

    A monthter, the convoy finally reached the border between West Xia and the Liuli Kingdom. Jing Yuanchu squinted his eyes and stood on the mound. It seemed that he could smell the charming smell from the political power center of West Xia.

    Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi were sharing half of the toasting bun. The army was resting. Soldiers were sent to stand sentry in the four directions.

    ¡°You have lost weight recently. Eat more.¡± Leng Changxi handed half of the toasted bun in his hand to Qin Yunuan and said with a smile, ¡°I have been bumping on the horse all the way, so I shouldn¡¯t eat too much.¡±

    Qin Yunuan felt distressed as she looked at the half-p-sized toasted bun left for himself. After all, Leng Changxi was a tall man and consumed a lot of physical strength. How could he be full with so little food? But now they have reached no man¡¯snd, and the team had been without food for a long time. Even Jing Yuanchu drank white water and ate roasted buns with the soldiers. Giving Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan this whole piece was already hard.

    Leng Changxi handed half of the toasted bun to Qin Yunuan¡¯s mouth stubbornly. Like coaxing a child, he even opened his mouth to guide Qin Yunuan, ¡°Ah.¡±

    ¡°What are you eating?¡± At this moment, the princess suddenly came out from behind. She wanted to go to the toilet badly and had asked Xinger to apany her to the nearby bushes. When Elder Princess came back, she just saw Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi sharing the buns.

    ¡°Ah, we can¡¯t eat it.¡± The princess nced at the baked bun with a disgusted face. Her eyes rolled cleverly. Then she fumbled in her purse and suddenly took out a whole white sugar rice cake with not much sugar crumbs on top, but it does not affect the deliciousness.

    ¡°Here, I¡¯ll give you food.¡± Elder Princess was childlike. It was really hard to believe that she was a woman in her thirties.

    ¡°Elder Princess, where did you get this white sugar cake?¡± Qin Yunuan looked at the white sugar cake that was forcibly stuffed in her hand and was a little surprised. Those third-ss soldiers couldn¡¯t even eat anything.

    ¡°Where did ite from?¡± Elder Princess thought this question strange. ¡°It¡¯s the food box that Xinger gave me daily. There are so many delicious things there. I can¡¯t finish it every day, and she doesn¡¯t allow me to give it to others. I hid this cake secretly.¡±

    Elder Princess just finished her words, but Xinger rushed over from nowhere. She snatched the sugar cake from Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand angrily, threw it to the ground fiercely, and said to the princess in a reprimanding tone, ¡°Why did you give them food? This is what you eat. There is a difference between inferiority and distinguished. How can you disrupt the order?¡±

    ¡°I,¡± Elder Princess was innocent, ¡°I just saw them hungry.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not okay even they are hungry. Everyone is hungry. Why can they be the exceptions? Elder Princess, you must know that you are a princess, and you are different from others.¡± Xinger said. Losing her confidence, she looked far away to Jing Yuanchu as if asking for help.

    Sure enough, Jing Yuanchu came over with a very gentle tone, ¡°I¡¯m sorry if you are frightened,¡± he stated, and then spoke to Xinger sternly, ¡°You seemed to be not clear of your own identity. How could you be so rude to the princess? You don¡¯t need to eat today.¡± After speaking, he waved to let Xinger withdraw. Qin Yunuan could see clearly. Although Jing Yuanchu¡¯s tone was full of anger, he did not seem to me Xinger in his eyes.

    ¡°Elder Princess, I didn¡¯t educate my servant girl well. I¡¯m sorry if you are frightened.¡± Jing Yuanchu apologized to Elder Princess respectfully, the princess¡¯s mood was finally a bit eased.

    ¡°Then I can still give them this food?¡± Elder Princess remembered Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi¡¯s love for her in her heart. She didn¡¯t want to eat and drinkvishly but watch them in hunger.

    Jing Yuanchu smiled brightly, but his words are still, ¡°No.¡± Then he exined painstakingly. His argument was nothing more than what Xinger had said. It was about the difference between the respected and inferiority. Elder Princess was Daughter of Heaven. Her living cost should naturally be different from others.

    Elder Princess felt dizzy with his words. Finally, she said that her head was spinning and had to get on the carriage to rest.

    At night, the army camped on the spot. Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi leaned close to the fire to keep warm. It waste, and the soldiers have gone to sleep, leaving only four people standing in different directions to watch the night. The firewood cracked in the mes. The dancing me was reflected in Qin Yunuan¡¯s clear pupils, Leng Changxi felt that what he saw was the most beautiful picture in the world.

    Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t hold back, lowered his head, and kissed Qin Yunuan¡¯s forehead. Qin Yunuan raised his head slightly and pecked at the corner of Leng Changxi¡¯s lips. It was subtle like a small fish in the water, gentle and heart-stirring. Leng Changxi was about to return her a stronger tenderness when Qin Yunuan said close to Leng Changxi¡¯s ear, ¡°Don¡¯t you think that what Jing Yuanchu did was a bit strange?¡±

    Because the two had always hugged each other, and the intimacy between the two before, people would only think that Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi were getting intimate.

    Leng Changxi nodded and replied softly, ¡°I have the same thought.¡±

    ¡°Although Elder Princess is the key person of Jing Yuanchu¡¯s protection and also the most powerful bargaining chip if he wanted Jing Donghua¡¯s heart, there is no need to provide the princess with such luxury alone when the whole army was in short. Moreover, the diet is so strict that no one else can move her food.¡± The more Qin Yunuan thought, the clearer the guess in her heart.

    ¡°Do you think...¡±

    ¡°I think there is a problem with the food.¡± Qin Yunuan whispered, ¡°We did not find other abnormalities on Elder Princess, but I always feel that there is a problem with the food.¡±

    Leng Changxi pondered for a long time. He seemed to realize something, ¡°No, the princess is not without abnormalities. On the contrary, her abnormality had suddenly be normal,¡± Leng Changxi stared at Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes, ¡°Didn¡¯t you find out that my mother hadn¡¯t called me Donghua for a long time? She hadn¡¯t called me by my name either. I¡¯m afraid that it wasn¡¯t she had clearly realized that I was not Jing Donghua, but that Jing Donghua was wiped from her life...¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s stop making arbitrary conjectures.¡± Qin Yunuan stopped Leng Changxi. After speaking, she looked at Lu Wuyi, who was sleeping not far away. Her eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a trace of ruthlessness, ¡°Isn¡¯t Lu Wuyi here? Let¡¯s just invite him.¡±

    At this time, Lu Wuyi was sleeping soundly. He had many dreams, all of which were good deeds he had done before, traveling, and practicing medicine. This made him very satisfied, but suddenly, the picture switched to a magnificent pce. He was half forced to step into the lifeless pce. His mind went nk. As a healer, his mission was to heal and save people. But before he came in, he was threatened to make the person on the sickbed die.

    Everything in the dream was so real. He seemed to have relived the terrifying experience. He stuck the wrong needle deliberately. The woman, who was still breathing and could survive, was now dead. His hands were shaking. This was the first person he killed. Of course, there was a second, and many more. Unfortunately, this was not what he wanted. Through a kind of psychological counseling therapy in the family, he had rarely dreamed of this. But since meeting Jing Yuanchu, he had spent a month in such a nightmare, and he could often hear those evil spirits calling his name and demanding his life.

    ¡°Lu Wuyi?¡± A female voice suddenly rang in his ears. Gosh, an evil spirit hade to kill him.

 Chapter 277 Entering West Liang Officially

    <h4>Chapter 277 Entering West Liang Officially</h4>

    Lu Wuyi frowned deeply. The call in his ears was getting more real. He began to feel afraid, stretching his arms to wave away those horrible sounds. However, his hands were controlled firmly by a force. His face was burning. He was pped by someone.

    Opening his eyes suddenly, Lu Wuyi only saw Leng Changxi¡¯s stolid face.

    ¡°You,¡± Lu Wuyi got up in a hurry. He wanted to curtsey, but he was afraid that his movement would attract others¡¯ attention. So he lowered his voice, ¡°Why do youe here?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m asking you. Do you know what¡¯s wrong with Elder Princess¡¯s food every day?¡± Qin Yunuan came straight to the point.

    The evening wind was blowing gently, bringing a chill to Lu Wuyi, which was nothingpared to the coldness in Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes. It was the first time for him to see Qin Yunuan¡¯s decisive and sharp eyes. Atst, she had guessed something.

    Lu Wuyi lowered his head, ¡°I was also forced to do it.¡±

    ¡°It is you who did it, then,¡± Qin Yunuan gave Leng Changxi a hint with her eyes. Thetter immediately pushed the dagger in his hand against Lu Wuyi¡¯s throat. With simply the softest scratch, Lu Wuyi¡¯s artery will be cut off, causing him to bleed to death at the very moment. ¡°Tell us,¡± Qin Yunuan stared at Lu Wuyi, ¡°Why did you do this? You have nothing against Elder Princess, so you must be following other¡¯s orders. Is the man Jing Yuanchu?¡±

    Lu Wuyi shook his head, looking much frustrated, ¡°I... I can¡¯t say.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t say?¡± Leng Changxi pushed the dagger much closer to Lu Wuyi¡¯s throat, ¡°Now that you can¡¯t say, it seems that your throat is utterly useless. Shall I cut it off for you?¡±

    ¡°I...¡± Lu Wuyi lowered his head, ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll tell you everything. But you got to promise not to let him know that it is me who tell you this.¡±

    ¡°In the end, you cherish your own life most,¡± Qin Yunuan sneered at Lu Wuyi. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t turn from Sima Ray¡¯s camp to Qin Yunuan¡¯s, ending up leaving in Wanyan Su¡¯s team and being taken in by Jing Yuanchu. Dou Meishuang survived with her ability to recognize clearly the situation and know what should do and what shouldn¡¯t. On the other hand, Lu Wuyi totally depended on his fear of death to switch from onerge camp to another.

    Lu Wuyi held his breath and said, ¡°At first, I don¡¯t know that Thirteenth Prince wants to harm Elder Princess. He took away several kinds of elixirs from me, including those highly poisonous ones and less poisonous ones. I thought that he needed them to protect himself. But half a month ago, when Elder Princess caught a cold, I found in the process of diagnosing that Elder Princess was poisoned by my nepenthe. I can feel that the one who poisoned her carefully mixed nepenthe with several other tonics to cover her pulse condition, but after all, nepenthe was developed by me. I¡¯m the person most familiar with its drug property and effects.¡±

    ¡°What is nepenthe?¡± Qin Yunuan made a detailed inquiry.

    ¡°It¡¯s a kind of medicine that can make people lose memory temporarily,¡± Lu Wuyi paused, then continued, ¡°However, the memory loss is also selective. At first, the medicine is used to help those who dwell too much on their sad past to relieve pain, mostly the loss of their children or wives. Therefore, this pill will only make people forget the past they can¡¯t face and lovesickness as well.¡±

    ¡°So,¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s voice began to drift, ¡°mother is forgetting Jing Donghua?¡±

    Elder Princess had waited for Jing Donghua in Yeren Valley loyally for 20 years, which was absolutely the biggest pain in her heart. However, every cloud has a silver lining. At this moment, when they were so close to West Liang, the capital of West Xia, if Elder Princess had forgotten about Jing Donghua, how should she recognize him? If Jing Donghua knew that Elder Princess had taken nepenthe, then it would be good. What could be worse was that Jing Yuanchu¡¯s goal was much more. When Elder Princess and Jing Donghua met each other, there were only two possible ways if Elder Princess couldn¡¯t remember Jing Donghua: one was that Jing Yuanchu would nder Elder Princess by ming her for forgetting the feelings in the past and even make up some unrealistic lies to aggravate Elder Princess¡¯s crime. The other was that Jing Donghua believed firmly that the woman in front of him was not Elder Princess. It was a greater pain that two people loving each other couldn¡¯t recognize each other when they were face-to-face.

    Having already known that Jing Yuanchu harbored malicious intentions, Qin Yunuan had never thought that he yed his cards so well. It was lucky that Elder Princess took out the white sugar sponge cake today. Otherwise Qin Yunuan wouldn¡¯t have realized it.

    ¡°Where is the antidote?¡± Leng Changxi looked into Lu Wuyi¡¯s eyes, ¡°You are the one who makes the nepenthe. You must have its antidote.¡±

    Tottering, Lu Wuyi said, ¡°Haven¡¯t I said just now? Thirteenth Prince took away many elixirs from me along with the antidote of nepenthe.¡±

    Well, how thoughtful Jing Yuanchu was!

    ¡°It¡¯s your elixir. You must know the form of the antidote,¡± Leng Changxi stared at Lu Wuyi, ¡°Write it down, or make it now.¡±

    Lu Wuyi was scared to shiver by Leng Changxi. He stammered, ¡°But... but even if I write down the form, it¡¯s impossible to find all the ingredients, especially one of them. You may not find it for the rest of your life.¡±

    ¡°Say.¡±

    Lu Wuyi choked, ¡°The warmest blood.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°The antidote of nepenthe cannot be made unless you find a person with the warmest blood who is willing to offer a bowl of blood as an added ingredient.¡± Lu Wuyi thought that this condition would frighten Leng Changxi¡¯s determination. To his surprise, Leng Changxi just smiled, ¡°It¡¯s easy! I can get that.¡±

    ¡°How is that possible?¡± Lu Wuyi wouldn¡¯t believe it. Leng Changxi lowered his eyebrows to look at him. He was not going to tell him that he himself had the warmest blood. He didn¡¯t want to expose himself too much to the man. So he merely said in a firm tone, ¡°Anyway, I can get the warmest blood. For the rest ingredients, you need to get them regardless of the cost. Also, you need to keep the making of the antidote as a secret. Lu Wuyi, I¡¯ll be watching you. I¡¯ll be watching you all the time.¡±

    Leng Changxi stretched out his index fingers and middle fingers. He pointed at his own eyes first, and then pointed at Lu Wuyi¡¯s eyes as a hint.

    The crescent far away was already falling into the western mountains. It was time for the soldiers to change their guards. When the sun just rose, Jing Yuanchu was the first to get up. He saw from afar that Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi leaning against the rock were still in a light sleep. He couldn¡¯t help smiling with a hint of contempt and triumph. He used to think about how great the first general of Qi was. After being entrusted for so many times, he was cautious at first. However, as far as what he saw now, the experience in Yeren Valley had taken away the vigor of the tiger. Now Leng Changxi seemed to be satisfied with anyfort. He had no ambition or enterprise.

    Three dayster, in West Liang, the capital of West Xia, the return of Thirteenth Prince, who had been away from the capital for three months to perform the task, was cheered and weed by all the residents in the city.

    Sitting in the carriage, Qin Yunuan seemed to feel the enthusiasm around her wave after wave. People surrounding her all dressed up as natives of West Xia. Men all looked graceful wearing robes jacket breasted jacket. Women¡¯s dresses were extremely magnificent. They all tied colorful silk ribbons to their chest with dresses and half-arm waistcoats outside and a long-sleeve shirt inside. When they walked, their dresses¡¯ hemlines would sway. The whole scene looked like it was arge garden.

    It seemed that Jing Yuanchu had won lots of people¡¯s hearts. People they passed by all threw flowers towards Jing Yuanchu excitedly to show their admiration for Thirteenth Prince.

    Qin Yunuan could even hear passers-by talk in high-sounding phrases.

    ¡°What a good person Thirteen Prince is! A few years ago, when a drought happened in the southwest of the country, he had sold a lot of treasure in the mansion to support the victims by sending food and drinks. What a messianic figure he is!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s more! I¡¯ve heard that even beggars can have a bowl of chicken soup on the day he married. If you ask me, I¡¯ll say that Thirteenth Prince is not only rich but also benevolent and kind.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true. Indeed, Thirteenth Prince and his wife are a couple with good hearts. He is much better than the crowned prince.¡±

    Jing Yuanchu was mentioned in the same breath as the officially crowned prince of Jing Yuanchu in public. It seemed that the position of the crowned prince was in danger.

    Xinger, who also sat in the carriage, gritted her teeth tightly. What she cared about was that actually all the people thought Thirteenth Prince and the mean woman were a perfect couple.

    The carriage stopped in front of the courier station. Thirteenth Prince got down from a horse himself to ask Elder Princess to stay here for a rest.

    Elder Princess stepped on the wooden footboard. She lifted her eyes to look at the courier station of antique beauty and smiled to Leng Changxi, ¡°Are we going to stay here?¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded and looked at Jing Yuanchu. His tone was inquiring, but his look was determined, ¡°We... are going to stay here, aren¡¯t we.¡±

    Leng Changxi intentionally stressed the word ¡°we¡± to tell Jing Yuanchu not to separate him from Elder Princess so easily.

    Jing Yuanchu smiled and nodded, ¡°Of course. Father¡¯s condition has not been stable yet. When he¡¯s getting better, I¡¯ll take Elder Princess to the pce to see him.¡±

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t look at him because he didn¡¯t trust him at all, ¡°That¡¯s the best.¡±

    Now that Elder Princess came to stay here, she will definitely choose the best yard. Although the courier station was notrge, there happened to be an East Garden where the surrounding was beautiful and quiet, which was the best for Elder Princess to have a rest-cure.

    Elder Princess stayed in the principal room of the East Garden, while Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan chose a side room to live temporarily. Their main aim was to take care of Elder Princess.

    ¡°Xinger will stay to serve you,¡± Jing Yuanchu took a nce at Xinger, and said in a tone ofmand, ¡°I¡¯ll enter the pce to visit my father, then I¡¯ll return to my own mansion to deal with some trifles. I have to go now.¡±

    ¡°Your Highness,¡± Xinger was unwilling to part. After all, once Jing Yuanchu was back to his mansion, he returned to the Dou woman¡¯s side.

    ¡°Xinger, you need to remember your own identity,¡± Jing Yuanchu frowned, which was the signal of the end of his patience.

    Xinger was left speechless. She didn¡¯t dare to say one more word. However, not long after Jing Yuanchu had left, Xinger immediately returned to her original state, ordering servants in the courier station to arrange a variety of furniture and decorations.

    Just when everybody was busy, a high-pitched woman¡¯s voice came from outside the yard, ¡°Who is Leng Changxi? Get out!¡±

 Chapter 278 Three Women Play a Drama

    <h4>Chapter 278 Three Women y a Drama</h4>

    High-pitched as the woman¡¯s voice was, she was strange to all the people. Her thin voice was mean. The next moment, a brisk woman in a red short jacket and trousers appeared at the entrance of East Garden. She had a pointed chin and a small face. She looked unruly and stubborn with the end of her eyebrows slightly up. There were silks tied to her wrists in the same color as her clothes, holding her slightly-open sleeves tightly to make it convenient for her to move. She was holding a soft whip made of fine cowhide in her hand, which was different from the long whip used for driving carriages. It was generally used for women to self-defense and learn martial arts because of its excellent hardness and toughness. It seemed that the woman was a martial artist.

    ¡°Miss...¡± Just when Qin Yunuan began to talk, she found that thedy in red was followed by many people, all in the same uniform as servants. The two servant girls behind thedy in red were also businesslike. It looked like a big deal.

    Qin Yunuan stepped back slightly, letting Leng Changxi deal with them in the front.

    ¡°Which one is Leng Changxi?¡± scowling, thedy in red gave all the people in the yard an once-over. With just one nce, she focused on Leng Changxi, who had an extraordinary bearing. Smiling, she went downstairs and stood on tiptoes slightly to look at Leng Changxi from bottom to top in a rather short distance, ¡°It¡¯s you! General Leng in Qi! Don¡¯t you remember me?¡±

    Leng Changxi nced at the woman and felt confused in his mind. He had been concealing his own identity all the way here. Even Cha didn¡¯t know about his true identity until they were at the bottom of the cliff. Now it was only four hours since he entered West Liang city. How could this woman know that he was Leng Changxi?

    ¡°Miss, I really...¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t remember me,¡± thedy in red shook her head. With this movement, her face looked as charming as the clouds in the western sky, ¡°Do you remember Mu Qingyu, the infanta of West Xia?¡±

    Leng Changxi was distracted for a moment. Actually, he did remember that there was a little girl following the diplomatic corp of West Xia to Qi. However, there was contact no more than the meeting on banquets ording to manners. Leng Changxi didn¡¯t have much impression of Mu Qingyu.

    Mu Qingyu raised her head and said to Leng Changxi proudly, ¡°I reckon that you don¡¯t dare to forget about me. Do you remember that you and I are engaged?¡±

    ¡°Engagement?¡± Qin Yunuan felt a lump in her throat. She had never heard that Leng Changxi had been engaged since she married him.

    ¡°Yes.¡± seeing that Qin Yunuan had been hiding behind Leng Changxi and her hair was tied up in a knot bun which only married women could have, Mu Qingyu may have guessed the rtionship between Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi, ¡°Is she your wife? You have already married?¡±

    ncing at Qin Yunuan, Leng Changxi told Mu Qingyu in a quite firm tone, ¡°That¡¯s right. This is my wife, and she will be the only wife of mine. As for the engagement to you, I really don¡¯t remember it at all.¡±

    ¡°Of course, you don¡¯t remember. After all, important people like you always have a short memory. At that time, you cared about practicing martial arts and learning only. You didn¡¯t even look at me. But it was no big deal. I had asked my uncle, the emperor, to propose marriage to the emperor of Qi at that time. Your emperor liked me very much. He ordered that I could select any man of the royal family at a suitable age as my husband when I grew up. Now I¡¯m an adult now. Although I don¡¯t know about the domestic affairs of Qi, nobody could be against your emperor. I used to worry that although you were the young master of a prince¡¯s mansion, your father couldn¡¯t be counted as part of the royal family because his family name was different from the royal one. However, now that everyone knows that you are the son of Elder Princess in Qi, you are definitely the royal family¡¯s descendant. Leng Changxi, you just make good preparation to marry me.¡±

    While the woman looked rude and unreasonable, her words made sense. The emperor¡¯s promise was powerful. Now Leng Changxi¡¯s identity was no longer a secret. If Qi was not in Sima Ray¡¯s hands now, Leng Changxi¡¯s name should be recorded in the family genealogy as well as in the ancestor¡¯s temple. However, this woman was too reckless. While Qin Yunuan, Leng Changxi¡¯swful wife, was still standing here, she was eximing her identity with Leng Changxi at any risk.

    ¡°Your Highness, I¡¯m afraid that you get it wrong,¡± Qin Yunuan moved forwards with a gentle smile on her face, ¡°Of course, nobody can oppose the emperor¡¯s oral order. But now Changxi is married. ording to thews of Qi, a grown-up man can only have onewful wife. Although you have the order of the emperor of Qi, you are noble too. It¡¯s unreasonable for you to be a concubine. Even though you are willing to ept it, the emperor of West Xia and your father won¡¯t allow it to happen.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve got the point,¡± Mu Qingyu nodded. She pouted as if she were thinking deeply about something. Although Mu Qingyu and Qin Yunuan were of the same age, Qin Yunuan had been a wife, managing the huge Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. She always spoke and acted in such a calm and gentle manner, which was the most attractive to men.

    ¡°It¡¯s easy, however,¡± Mu Qingyu smiled, ¡°He can divorce you and marry me. Then the problem is solved.¡±

    Leng Changxi said with a stern countenance, ¡°What a dream you are having! I can¡¯t do that.¡±

    Mu Qingyu wouldn¡¯t give in, ¡°You don¡¯t want to leave her? That¡¯s all right. I¡¯m a generous person. Indeed, you¡¯ll need a caring person to serve you. It¡¯s eptable for you to marry me after degrading her as a concubine. I don¡¯t mind addressing her as a sister.¡±

    How rampant the infanta was! Qin Yunuan squinted slightly. Before she could speak, Leng Changxi had stridden ahead. He stared at Mu Qingyu steadily with cruelty and malignity. While he didn¡¯t kill women, it didn¡¯t mean that he wouldn¡¯t threaten them, ¡°Your Highness, no matter how noble you are in West Xia, or how the Prince Shun¡¯s Mansion is favored by your emperor, I don¡¯t care at all. There¡¯s only one thing I¡¯ll tell you. It¡¯s impossible for me to leave Nuan. It¡¯s even more impossible for me to marry you. I always keep the habit of not hurting women, but you shouldn¡¯t force me to attack you.¡±

    Mu Qingyu smiled suddenly. She got used to the favor to her in West Xia. She was the only daughter of Prince Shun. Her mother was Princess Muke, Jing Donghua¡¯s biological sister. When the royal family sent Princess Muke to marry Prince Shun, the influence of their wedding ceremony was sorge that people in West Liang had talked about it for three years. Jing Donghua, the emperor, even showed up at the celebrating ceremony of Mu Qingyu three days after her birth. In West Liang, or even in West Xia, there was nothing Mu Qingyu couldn¡¯t get as long as she wanted it.

    At this moment, Mu Qingyu didn¡¯t even consider the possibility that Leng Changxi didn¡¯t like her at all. All she knew was that she liked Leng Changxi, so she would definitely have him as her husband.

    ¡°Do you want to attack me?¡± Mu Qingyu took a step backward and raised the soft whip in her hand. She smiled, ¡°We can have apetition, then.¡±

    At the end of her words, she threw the long whip towards Leng Changxi. He dodged to the other side and held Qin Yunuan in his arms. After putting her in a safe ce, he turned back and shouted to Mu Qingyu, ¡°Your Highness, don¡¯t go too far.¡±

    ¡°I will go so far!¡± Mu Qingyu didn¡¯t listen to him. She threw the whip towards Leng Changxi again. The whip cracked in the middle of the air, and Mu Qingyu got even more excited, ¡°Leng Changxi, I¡¯m telling you, I won¡¯t choose someone whose martial art is not as good as mine. You must beat me. Otherwise, I¡¯ll look down upon you.¡±

    Humph, with Mu Qingyu¡¯s showy but not practical skill, she wouldn¡¯t win Leng Changxi even though Leng Changxi didn¡¯t use his hands.

    When they were attacking each other in the yard, a cold woman¡¯s voice came from outside, ¡°Mengzhu, stop.¡± Although the voice was much softer, any person with great inner Qi like Leng Changxi could identify that the speaking woman was definitely a master of Qigong with great inner Qi. Judging from the inner Qi only, a conclusion must be drawn that the woman was over 40. However, when the white figure went across the threshold, and the beautiful face appeared to all the people, Leng Changxi was a little surprised.

    The woman was less than 20-year-old. Although she was of the same age as the infanta in red, her inner Qi was surprisingly huge.

    However, the infanta who eximed herself to be Mu Qingyu was addressed as Mengzhu by the woman in white. It was getting interesting. Qin Yunuan was looking the woman in white up and down carefully from the other side. Compared to the infanta in red, her eyes were much brighter. If the woman in red was a pretty Peony in full bloom, then the woman in white would be an innocent Lily with dew on it.

    Although they both have their own beauty, the woman was better because of her temperament as quiet as the flowing water as well as her peaceful atmosphere around her.

    ¡°Sister, why don¡¯t youe earlier? Didn¡¯t I send people to deliver a message to Prince Shun¡¯s Mansion this morning?¡± The woman in red acted coquettishly at once. She stuck to the woman in white, capricious and mischievous.

    The woman in white frowned slightly. There were indulgence and me in her eyes, ¡°Mengzhu, how naughty you are.¡±

    Prince Shun¡¯s Mansion? Mengzhu?

    In the end, the woman in red was not the real infanta? Qin Yunuan walked forwards and smiled at the woman in white, ¡°So many honorable guestse to visit today! It¡¯s my fault to snub you.¡±

    Although the words were modest, it implied her identity as the hostess here without a further exnation so that they wouldn¡¯t dare to act recklessly.

    Just now when Leng Changxi fought with the woman in red hand by hand, he was about to pull out the long spear in the weapon shelf beside. Fortunately, the woman in white had arrived in time.

    The woman in white smiled and said to Qin Yunuan, ¡°I¡¯ve already heard that the Third Miss of the Qin Family in Qi is intelligent and generous. Today I find you are exactly like that.¡±

    The first description of being intelligent was to praise Qin Yunuan for knowing the manner. The second description of being generous was obviously to persuade Qin Yunuan not to care about the woman in red¡¯s provocation.

    Previously, the fight between Leng Changxi and the woman in red was an obvious one with swords and spears. The fight between Qin Yunuan and the woman in white, however, was a secret one with mouths and tongues.

    The woman in red said to Leng Changxi proudly, ¡°You see? I was only trying just now. Thisdy is my cousin, the real infanta of Prince Shun¡¯s mansion, Mu Qingyu. Her martial arts may not be inferior to yours.¡±

    The woman in white, or the real Mu Qingyu, lowered her head a little and said to her cousin, ¡°Mengzhu, do you remember that your father had told me to keep an eye on you to prevent you from looking for trouble with your martial arts casually? If your father knew that you came to challenge General Leng in courier station, he won¡¯t let you go outdoors anymore.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m doing it for you!¡± The little sister in red tensed immediately. She said angrily, ¡°Humph, it¡¯s all because of Thirteenth Prince! We don¡¯t know what happened in fact. He dares to let you marry the rude Grand Prince of North Di. That guy is strong and cruel. How does he deserve a graceful wife like you? All I want is to find your fiance who has been missing for so many years so that you can be free from the marriage proposal of North Di.¡±

 Chapter 279 Take Precautions

    <h4>Chapter 279 Take Precautions</h4>

    Wanyan Ba, the Grand Prince in North Di, should have engaged with this infanta. Qin Yunuan listened to that woman carefully. This sounded like a coincidence, but after a closer look, it really made sense. Other than being brutal and hot-tempered, Wanyan Ba was a good match for her given his family background, status and appearance. It seemed that West Xia now was not as powerful as before. It should resort to the imperial matrimony with another country for peace.

    ¡°Mengzhu, shut up.¡± Mu Qingyu frowned with her arched eyebrows knitted. ¡°How can you talk about this casually? The emperor hasn¡¯t issued any edict, so stop your wild guess.¡±

    The woman in red was in a sulk and pouted. Feeling aggrieved, she walked behind Mu Qingyu and hid herself. Mu Qingyu looked up at Qin Yunuan, and thetter just gave her a light smile. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the emperor is not feeling well these days. So he won¡¯t ask you to marry the prince soon. Your Grace, don¡¯t worry.¡±

    Mu Qingyu nodded and added, ¡°If that¡¯s my fate, I¡¯ll ept it. I¡¯m not going to change anything. We wee a new powerful Taoist master to the pce. He has made many lifesaving pills for the emperor, who, therefore, feels better now and will attend the feast two dayster.¡±

    Between her words, Qin Yunuan nosed out the physical condition of Jing Donghua, the incumbent emperor of West Xia.

    Qin Yunuan curtseyed and said, ¡°The Taoist master is really almighty. I think the person who invites him to treat the emperor truly got something.¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± The woman in red said immediately. ¡°It¡¯s the Crown Prince in West Xia finding that master. Although he¡¯s not as agile as the Thirteenth Prince, he is rather sincere to the emperor. Compared with those who are brutal and cold-blooded, he¡¯s...¡±

    ¡°Mengzhu!¡± Mu Qingyu scolded the woman in red. Such a weak girl suddenly became so harsh, which indeed made her look unfamiliar. ¡°How dare you? How can you, a nobledy, make improper remarks on a prince?¡±

    ¡°Qingyu.¡± The woman in red rubbed against Mu Qingyu.

    ¡°We¡¯ve bothered you for a long time. I think it¡¯s time for you to go to bed and for us to take a leave.¡± Mu Qingyu left quickly, along with her servants and guards. The courtyard suddenly quieted down, looking as if nothing happened just now.

    Back to the room, Qin Yunuan saw Leng Changxi was putting his spear back to the shelf. The ck-painted shelf and the glittering spearplemented each other. When Leng Changxi looked back, Qin Yunuan said after thinking for a while, ¡°The woman in red who stood next to Mu Qingyu mentioned many times the engagement between Mu Qingyu and Wanyan Ba. Every time she spoke of this, Mu Qingyu scolded her for not behaving herself. But why did she talk much about the emperor¡¯s physical condition when I asked? Hasn¡¯t she behaved herself? Any nobledy or imperial infanta who acts with propriety won¡¯t make any remark on the emperor¡¯s health condition, let alone Infanta Mu, a woman strictlyplying with ethical norms.¡±

    ¡°You mean she¡¯s dropping you a hint?¡±

    ¡°Think over the adjective she used. The master made ¡®lifesaving¡¯ pills for the emperor. This means the emperor was terminally ill and close to death. But now, he should be able to attend the feast. He recovers so fast. Remember that Doctor Sun has taught me, people normally catch diseases very quickly but recover slowly. And any pill that can cure people fast can actually be seen as poison.¡± While thinking, Qin Yunuan tapped at the edge of the tea table, making a knocking sound.

    ¡°You mean, the master has evil intentions?¡± Leng Changxi paused and then added, ¡°Or, the Crown Prince does?¡±

    ¡°Not really.¡± Qin Yunuan looked through the ajar windowttice at the Elder Princess who was in the principal room on the opposite. Xinger was helping her unbound her hair and preparing her for a nap. Being taken good care of these days, the Elder Princess was not the crazy woman in the Yeren Valley anymore.

    She now had fair and smooth skin as well as red lips and sunset-like rosy cheeks. Not considering wrinkles that the flying time left on her, she, who was the First Beauty in Qi, still looked as pretty as before.

    ¡°We can¡¯t let the Elder Princess meet the emperor in the feast two dayster. At that time, everything will be out of our control.¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded. If Xinger found out that the nepenthe became ineffective on the Elder Princess, she would remind Jing Yuanchu to kill her in advance.

    ¡°Lu Wuyi gave me a few antidotes before he left. I think it¡¯s time now.¡± Jing Yuanchu ¡°picked up¡± Lu Wuyi on his way back, so thetter must have followed the former back to the Prince¡¯s Mansion. But it was unclear how he was going now. However, Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t want to spare any time to care about him, a man who didn¡¯t cherish friendship. Maybe Lu Wuyi once had cared about his master, Su Chenghai. However, while hoping to take revenge for Su Chenghai, Lu Wuyi rpsed into pleasure-seeking and threw the revenge n into wind.

    Leng Changxi also thought they shouldn¡¯t drag on. But there were only Cha and his three men on their side. They could achieve nothing. They needed a helper, and then a name came to Leng Changxi¡¯s mind.

    Atte night, West Liang, which soaked into the darkness, was quiet and peaceful, as everyone fell into sleep except men and whores in the whorehouse.

    Only in a delicate boudoir in a spacious courtyard, the lights were on. Under the candlelight, a good-looking woman was transcribing Confucian ssics. She seemed sleepy and almost closed her eyes, which meant she couldn¡¯t continue to work anymore. Supporting the heavy head with her elbow, she already couldn¡¯t see characters clearly.

    A servant girl came in once to pour a cup of strong tea for the woman, who was engaged in ssic transcription. The servant girl gave a cautious suggestion. ¡°Your Grace, it¡¯s not good for your health to always drink strong tea at midnight. If Old Madam knows you painstakingly transcribe ssics for her, she will feel sorry about this.¡±

    ¡°I know. You can go to bed if you feel tired.¡± After sending her servant girl away, the woman stretched herself and walked to the window. In the sky dotted with just a few stars, the moonlight was so bright and charming. But she chose to close the window in silence. Turning around, she said in a casual way, ¡°General Leng, why not show yourself?¡±

    It remained quiet in the room, but suddenly, a mannded.

    Leng Changxi, who was in all ck, still wore his silver mask. He hadn¡¯t taken it off since he left Qi. But people all knew he loved to wear it so didn¡¯t give a second thought about this.

    Leng Changxi cupped his hands and said politely, ¡°Your Grace, it¡¯s rather inappropriate for me to break in your room at midnight. Please forgive me.¡±

    ¡°You must have an urgent reason to do so. Feel free to say it.¡± Mu Qingyu came straight to the point. To transcribe ssics atte night, she didn¡¯t get changed and still dressed in the white dress she wore at daytime. So it was fine for her to meet Leng Changxi. But what was beyond exception was that she, an always strict rule-taker, should feel calm when seeing Leng Changxi broke in her room.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to ask you a favor.¡±

    Mu Qingyu smiled and hinted to him to go on.

    ¡°Your Grace, I know you are from a prestigious family, enjoy an exalted status and have been granted an imperial token that allows you to enter the pce at will. So I hope you can take one person to the pce tomorrow when you visit the emperor.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡± Mu Qingyu tilted her head a bit and continued, ¡°You want me to take the Elder Princess, your mother, to the pce, right?¡±

    Leng Changxi cupped his hands and said, ¡°Your Grace, you¡¯re really ready-witted.¡±

    ¡°Ho,¡± Mu Qingyu shook her head and added, ¡°I¡¯m not a ready-witted person, but sensible one that knows Jing Yuanchu is unreliable. For ordinary residents in West Xia, he is a kind and sincere prince; for officials, he is a highly potential meritorious hero; and for the emperor, he is his most brilliant son. If the Crown Prince candidate in West Xia was not strictly restricted to the eldest son, the emperor would have appointed Jing Yuanchu as the Crown Prince long time ago.¡±

    Taking a nce at Leng Changxi, Mu Qingyu continued, ¡°But, only people who have dealt with Jing Yuanchu in person, like me, know how disgusting and dirty he is...¡±

    Mu Qingyu got excited, and she couldn¡¯t help uttering many words to curse Jing Yuanchu. Leng Changxi paid special attention to this. Squinting his eyes, he carefully observed every expression on Mu Qingyu¡¯s face in the way Qin Yunuan taught him.

    ¡°Sorry for my rudeness.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Leng Changxi smiled and seemed he didn¡¯t care about this. At that time, he could conclude that Mu Qingyu had a rtionship with Jing Yuanchu before, which was a piece of good news for him.

    ¡°I will take your mom to the pce.¡± Mu Qingyu said while looking at Leng Changxi. ¡°To reward you for saving me when I was young. I clearly remember that when I went to Qi with my father at 12, soldiers at the range deliberately shot an arrow towards me. You saved me at that time, and I¡¯m grateful for that. I was once longing to marry you, so I begged my father to make an unreasonable request. But now, I already know I¡¯m not good enough for you.¡±

    ¡°Your Grace.¡± Seeing Mu Qingyu suddenly became sad, Leng Changxi didn¡¯t know how tofort her.

    ¡°No need tofort me.¡± Mu Qingyu raised her head to prevent tears froming out. ¡°Born in a royal family, I can¡¯t make my own decision on many things, including my life and my marriage. I know you are married, and you love your wife. You and I, we two actually have little connection except for being ymates for merely three months. It¡¯s not a big deal, and you don¡¯t have to hold on to that.¡±

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t exin more and just cupped his hands again. ¡°Your Grace, thank you for your help. Please take care.¡±

    Mu Qingyu smiled while seeing he left. But Leng Changxi suddenly turned around and reassured her, ¡°Your Grace, don¡¯t worry. You won¡¯t have to marry North Di¡¯s prince.¡± Then, he left without looking back.

    Mu Qingyu alone was murmuring, ¡°Right. I don¡¯t have to marry North Di¡¯s prince. But neither can I marry you. It¡¯s pointless.¡±

 Chapter 280 A Vicious Beauty

    <h4>Chapter 280 A Vicious Beauty</h4>

    The weather got colder. Situated in the southwest of Qi, though, West Xia weed snow in November due to its geographical location. It was snowing heavily with the height of snow on the ground reaching people¡¯s ankle. White snow piled up on the low red wall. It seemed as if the in courier station had put on a piece of white fox-fur robe.

    A scarlet sedan chair that came out of the east district in West Liang was quite eye-catching against the white snow. It passed by the streets and arrived at the pce gate. Looking up at the sedan chair top, the doormen immediately bowed to it obediently and cautiously opened the gate. They didn¡¯t look up until the sedan chair went through the gate.

    ¡°Ho, who¡¯s that? So lordly. I haven¡¯t seen any official of the first rank has been greeted in this way.¡± A new guard knew little about royal members.

    ¡°Brat. Shut your mouth up when you know nothing.¡± An elderly soldier scolded him. ¡°The sedan chair top is painted with red color, a symbol of Prince Shun¡¯s Mansion. You can¡¯t take the consequences if you offend anyone rted to Prince Shun¡¯s Mansion, from Prince Shun to Princess Shun to the infanta.¡±

    The young soldier seemed not convinced and murmured, ¡°Even so, we should check them up as required by rules.¡±

    ¡°Ho, check up?¡± The veteran kicked him on his calf and said in a seasoned but arrogant way, ¡°You should want to check it up. Are you asking for your death?¡±

    ¡°Ho, who is asking for his death?¡± A slightly feminine and ttering high voice came from afar. ¡°Look at our Commander Ding. It¡¯s been less than a month since you were punished to guard the pce gate. You¡¯re rpsing into putting on airs?¡±

    The veteran¡¯s surname was Ding, and he was amander of the sixth rank before. After seeing clearly who was talking, he took a reverent attitude, ¡°Eunuch Meng, thank you for your care. I have had a peaceful life and met no trouble here since I was appointed to guard the gate. I only hope you can speak up for me before Prince Yuanchu. After all, I was a scapegoat for...¡± While speaking, Commander Ding got closer to eunuch Meng who had wrinkles around his pale face and red lips, and whispered to him, ¡°After all, I was a scapegoat for Prince Yuanchu.¡±

    ¡°How dare you!¡± Eunuch Meng squinted at Commander Ding and then took out a pink handkerchief to wipe his mouth. He smiled and said, ¡°Commander Ding, I remember that the granary caught fire because of your neglect of duties so that the fugitive who hid himself there was burnt to death. This has nothing to do with our prince.¡±

    Commander Ding became anxious. ¡°This is not true. How can Prince Yuanchu do this to me? The person who was intentional to kill the Seventh Prince is...¡±

    ¡°Eunuch Meng, I ask you to inform my father of my arrival, not to chat with guards here.¡±

    A pure ck carriage showed up at the gate. Everything on it, from the shaft to the horse, was ck so that the sentence sounded more dreadful.

    The man sitting inside reached out to pull back the curtain a bit. He was the Thirteenth Prince who eunuch Meng and Commander Ding talked about just now. It seemed that he was smiling. ¡°Eunuch Meng, hurry up to finish your task. I didn¡¯t inform father of my visit in advance this time, so you¡¯d better tell him now.¡±

    Eunuch Meng bowed and scraped to Jing Yuanchu,pletely putting away the swaggering manner he had just now. But Commander Ding couldn¡¯t reconcile himself. He cupped his hands to Jing Yuanchu and asked, ¡°Your Highness, do you still remember me?¡±

    Taking a nce at eunuch Meng, Jing Yuanchu answered, ¡°Of course. Don¡¯t worry. I have kept what you did in my mind. But everything is just settled. Father punishes you to guard the gate for three years, and now, it¡¯s merely been a month. So I can¡¯t rush to transfer you to other positions. But don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m fair to everyone, and I have kept everything you did for me in my mind.¡±

    Commander Ding felt relieved and replied, ¡°If so, I¡¯ll feel at ease. I¡¯ll wait for your appointment.¡±

    When the carriage passed the gate, Jing Yuanchu got out of it to walk. Eunuch Meng walking by his side asked, ¡°Your Highness, thatmander...¡±

    Jing Yuanchu, who lowered his head and put his hands in the fox-fur hand warmer, slightly raised his hand and showed his neck. He dropped a hint and uttered one word, ¡°Kill.¡±

    Eunuch Meng looked down and replied, ¡°I¡¯ll get this done as soon as possible.¡±

    Meanwhile, outside the Jingren Pce, the eunuch in charge, who reported Mu Qingyu¡¯s arrival to the emperor, came out and walked downstairs to pass on the emperor¡¯s message. He curtsied to Mu Qingyu in a polite way and said when lowering his head, ¡°Your Grace, the emperor just woke up and invited you toe in.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡± Mu Qingyu turned around and ordered servant girls behind her. ¡°Suer, go with me, and others, wait here.¡±

    No one dared to disobey her, so all servant girls obediently did what she ordered. Mu Qingyu raised her head to a servant girl who looked older than others. ¡°Follow me.¡±

    A strong smell of herb medicine, mixed with the ambergris which only royal members could use, permeated the Jingren Pce. Throughyers of curtains, they could vaguely see three eunuchs were helping a man lying on the bed to take medicine. Most people who served the emperor were eunuchs, and only a few women worked here as tailors. It was said that the emperor loved his deceased wife so much that he didn¡¯t want to stay close to other women. But in fact, he did this for another woman.

    ¡°Your Highness, Infanta Mu is here.¡± The eunuch in charge reported cautiously.

    ¡°Alright. You all, leave.¡± A slightly weak and old voice came behind the curtain. Hearing this voice, people would worry about the owner¡¯s health.

    ¡°Uncle.¡± Mu Qingyu didn¡¯t see Jing Donghua who reclined on his bed until she pulled back allyers of the curtain. He was thinner now. Although the imperial kitchen cooked all varieties of herbal cuisine for him, and the Imperial Hospital also developed new drugs for him, he didn¡¯t recover. Strangely, however, a Taoist master who came out of nowhere two weeks agopletely cured him.

    He was still weak now, but two weeks ago, all imperial doctors agreed that he was going to die. However, after taking several pills the master gave, Jing Donghua, who originally couldn¡¯t open his eyes, now could sit up.

    ¡°Are you feeling good?¡± Mu Qingyu often went to the pce to visit Jing Donghua, which gratified him very much.

    ¡°Yes. But I can¡¯t stop coughing. I felt much better this morning but keeping coughing counteracts my recovery.¡± Thin as he was, he was still handsome with his chiseled features unchanged. In the past, the Elder Princess loved his well-defined chin most.

    ¡°My mother says people who have a well-defined chin will live for long.¡± Time was flying. Plus, Jing Donghua became ill, so he looked ten years older than he really was.

    Jing Donghua looked sideways and saw Suer, the servant girl who followed Mu Qingyu in a servile manner. He noticed that and asked, ¡°You usually took another servant girl with you. Why do you take a new one this time? I think the previous one is decent and resourceful. She¡¯s rather good. If you¡¯re going to marry North Di¡¯s princess, she can help you. But this one, she is a bit timid.¡±

    ¡°Uncle.¡± Hearing that she was going to marry a prince in North Di, Mu Qingyu felt bitter. ¡°Have some water.¡± Then, Mu Qingyu looked back at that servant girl, and she sounded out Jing Donghua, ¡°Do you really not know her?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Jing Donghua was confused. ¡°Should I know her?¡±

    ¡°Take a closer look. Actually, she¡¯s not my servant girl but your acquaintance. Someone pleased me to take her to see you.¡±

    Jing Donghua blinked. His acquaintance? He knew clearly that Mu Qingyu wouldn¡¯t cross the line, so this woman must be his acquaintance.

    But when Suer walked closer and sat on his bed, Jing Donghua still couldn¡¯t recall who she was as if he had lost his memory.

    ¡°I forget one thing.¡± Mu Qingyu stepped forward and tore off a whole human-skin mask from Suer¡¯s face along the seam near her ear. When seeing what Suer exactly looked like, Jing Donghua felt a warm current flowing to his throat. He couldn¡¯t express how joyful and astonished he was. It was so incredible.

    His hands were trembling. He wanted to reach out to stroke that pretty face, but an unspoken sense of guilt stopped him.

    ¡°Qinghe.¡± Jing Donghua said out the name he called many times in his dreams. Now looking at the woman who he could only meet in his dreams before, he asked, ¡°Are you Qinghe?¡±

    Meanwhile, the Elder Princess, who dressed up as Mu Qingyu¡¯s servant girl, already had tears in her eyes. She took the antidote Lu Wuyi made, so the nepenthe didn¡¯t work on her anymore. At the same time, Qin Yunuan helped treat her in secret, so her memory and mind had been gradually restored. But to avoid being found out by Jing Yuanchu, she tried hard to behave like a fool. Thankfully, Jing Yuanchu didn¡¯t find out.

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me.¡± The Elder Princess came closer to Jing Donghua. She still had a voice as warm and tender as before. Every time when Jing Donghua came back to the hut on the Yueya Mountain, he could hear the Elder Princess, who waited for him under the oilmp, called him with such a voice. ¡°Donghua, I¡¯m back. I¡¯m still alive.¡±

    ¡°Qinghe...¡± Jing Donghua wanted to tell her how much he missed her these years. But suddenly, the Elder Princess put on another look, a vicious look. She took out a dagger behind her waist and tended to stab it into Jing Donghua¡¯s chest. She shouted, ¡°I didn¡¯t die. Because you are the love rat who should go to the hell.¡±

    Right at this time, Jing Yuanchu shouted outside, ¡°Guards, protect the emperor. There¡¯s an assassin inside.¡±

 Chapter 281 Get Out

    <h4>Chapter 281 Get Out</h4>

    As soon as Jing Yuanchu gave his order, a man¡¯s roar immediately came, ¡°What are you doing? Calm down. Calm down.¡± This sentence made the people outside even more determined that there was an assassin inside.

    However, the door remained tightly shut and seemed to be bolted on the inside.

    ¡°Knock the pce door.¡± Jing Yuanchu made a decisive decision. He must not let this opportunity go. Jing Yuanchu could not stop Elder Princess from seeing Jing Donghua, but at least he could kill her before she said the truth.

    It seemed that the men and horses were ready long ago, smashing open the hall door with a log thick like a wooden barrel. Jing Yuanchu took the lead with a long sword. Just as he was about to enter the pce to protect the emperor, theyers of curtains flew up, making the pce feel like a fairnd. However, the hall was extremely tranquil. Jing Yuanchu took a step forward, and the hall was so quiet that you could hear the sound of thick snow breaking the branches outside.

    ¡°Father, I¡¯mte for your rescue. Please...¡±

    ¡°Get out.¡± Jing Donghua¡¯s voice was thunderous.

    ¡°But Father, I had clearly heard the call for help from inside just now.¡± Jing Yuanchu said as he moved his footsteps forward. Just three steps away from the firstyer of the curtains, Jing Donghua¡¯s voice flew into a rage. Once again, everyone was shocked, ¡°It¡¯s just a servant girl who broke the teacup. Is it worth your fuss? Jing Yuanchu, I trust you. But I didn¡¯t expect that after just a moment, you called a smasher to break through my door. I have looked down on you.¡±

    Jing Yuanchu knelt with a flop, ¡°I dare not. But I have received a tip saying that an assassin had gotten into your pce. Therefore, I prepared these in advance for fear of trouble. I have no infidelity, and Father, you should be prative enough to know that.¡±

    ¡°Go away.¡±

    ¡°But Father...¡± Jing Yuanchu gritted his teeth, still unwilling.

    Jing Donghua talked leisurely, ¡°But? Are you bargaining with me? Let me go on. I am very good here, and I have Qingyu taking care of me. I am safe and sound.¡±

    Mu Qingyu? Jing Yuanchu realized swiftly. Leng Changxi had asked for help from this little b*tch. It seemed that the obstacle must be removed and sent to North Di. Wanyan Ba, Grand Prince of North Di, had long coveted the beauty of Mu Qingyu. If their trade could be aplished, Wanyan Ba may lend him a hand when rainy days came. Moreover, Wanyan Ba was cruel and autocratic by nature. If Mu Qingyu fell into his hand, she wouldn¡¯t be able to free herself for the rest of her life, which could also help Jing Yuanchu avoid future troubles.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll go.¡± Jing Yuanchu lowered his head and retreated with his group. Just as he stepped out the hall, Eunuch Meng, who was waiting outside, approached to report, ¡°His Royal Highness, North Di had sent another man to urge us. It seems that Wanyan Ba couldn¡¯t wait.¡±

    Jing Yuanchu was filled with thoughts in his stomach. He just snorted at the news, ¡°Couldn¡¯t wait? What makes him qualified not to wait? Had it not been him to cause so much trouble and was under house arrest in his mansion, this marriage would have been settled long ago. And now he wants someone from me? Tell him to regain their Grand Khan¡¯s favor first.¡±

    Eunuch Meng nodded. He just gave a wink to a small eunuch around him and said, ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard? Pass the words back immediately. Say that His Highness is full of sincerity, and he only hopes that the Grand Prince of North Di could regain the military power, so as not to let his dear cousin suffer.¡±

    After that, Jing Yuanchu nced at Eunuch Meng again and said, ¡°What about the Yeren Valley? Did anything happen there? Is it true that such arge group of people has died in the ancient tomb?¡±

    ¡°I have already sent someone to search secretly, but it seems that the tomb had copsed seriously. Until now, only one corpse had been confirmed. It was a young man named Mengman, who apanied the old man. As for the old man and Wanyan Su, their bodies had never been found. They were in the hall, with rocks weighing several thousand kilograms above them. These people were estimated to be crushed out of shape. For a while...¡±

    ¡°Eunuch Meng,¡± Jing Yuanchu gave Eunuch Meng a strange smile. ¡°When I order, I want you to work as hard as you can. I want no excuse. You know what I did. Though you have worked for me for a long time, I will not let you go easily.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Eunuch Meng said, lowering his head, ¡°I will do it appropriately.¡±

    When Jing Yuanchu looked back at the quiet temple door, a thoughtful and blurry smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He turned his head, put on a white cloak again. Step by step, his figure melted into the snow.

    Inside the hall, Jing Donghua had a pale face. It was an obvious symptom of excessive blood loss. He still had a dagger stuck in his chest. However, the man was unfamiliar with the dagger. Not only the dagger had missed the vital parts but also was crooked, so the main meridians were not hurt.

    ¡°Uncle, let me send an imperial doctor for you. If the bleeding continues, your life will be at risk.¡± Mu Qingyu could only stop Jing Donghua¡¯s bleeding temporarily with some gauze, but Jing Donghua didn¡¯t care about his chest. He stared nkly at Elder Princess with dull eyes and bloody hands. There was a hint of tenderness in his eyes, and he didn¡¯t me her.

    Elder Princess¡¯s sanity slowly reappeared into her eyes. After all, she had been in love with and had been waiting for him for so long. However, she couldn¡¯t stand the cruelty Jing Donghua gave her back then.

    ¡°You hurt me. Are you satisfied?¡± Jing Donghua waved and let Mu Qingyu go down. This was a problem between him and the Elder Princess.

    Mu Qingyu took a look at Jing Donghua, then at Elder Princess in distress. After quietly retreating, she guarded the door for the two.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not satisfied at all,¡± the princess raised her arrogant head and said angrily, ¡°The wound I gave you hurt far less than the one you stabbed on the tip of my heart twenty years ago.¡±

    ¡°That was a misunderstanding,¡± Jing Donghua panted, supported his body with all his strength. ¡°I did send someone to take care of you at the time, but it wasn¡¯t that nanny. I didn¡¯t know what happened until I stopped getting your message. I learned that the person I sent at that time had already been dropped. My elder brother, who was vying for the throne with me, must have done this. He intended to capture you and your children alive and threaten me. Later, I sent people looking for you for three months repeatedly. But I never find you in Yueya Mountain. It was until my informant in Qi said that a mysterious woman suddenly moved into Weiyang Pce. It was your pce before your marriage. Emperor and Queen Mother of Qi adored you. I thought that they would never let anyone other than you live in Weiyang Pce. You must have resented me so that you returned to Qi. I thought about taking you back, but I was just enthroned, and there were internal and external troubles. After I took care of everything, news of a fire in Weiyang Pce came.¡±

    As Jing Donghua talked, his eyes seemed to be covered by ayer of mist, ¡°Qinghe, I miss you very much. I have missed you for 20 years.¡±

    Three ps fell on his face like a merciless irony. The corner of the princess¡¯s mouth rose slightly, ¡°Donghua, I was innocent. At that time, what you said was what I believed. At first, you said you were only a general from West Xia. I believed it. And then you said that you were a prince, and I also bought it. Finally, I knew that the person I loved all my life was the Grand Prince of West Xia, and he had a marriage contract with Duke Jingguo¡¯s legal daughter since childhood. I am just a shameless princess. When I handed the child to Prince Ning, I left the small hut. I went to the edge of the cliff and stayed there for three months, living like a walking corpse. I wanted to die, but I wanted you more. I was reluctant to leave our child. Finally, I came back. I thought that I must wait for you. But then, twenty years. I waited for twenty years. Even our child came, but you didn¡¯t. Do you think that I know nothing in the Yeren Valley?¡±

    Elder Princess turned her body slightly, her gaze moved farther, as if she had seen a ce far and far away, ¡°Seven years ago, a troop broke into Yueya Mountain. I heard them talking about the emperor Jing Donghua of West Xia and his beloved empress, Duke Jingguo¡¯s daughter. They talked about how they loved each other, how the empress made a motherly model of the nation, how brave and talented the emperor was. Please tell me honestly. You have forgotten our child and me.¡±

    ¡°You mean, our child is still alive?¡± Jing Donghua captured an important message. Although the fact that Leng Changxi was the son of Elder Princess had spread to a small extent, there were also rumors in the pce. But everyone will avoid this topic tacitly in front of Jing Donghua. After all, Jing Donghua¡¯s youthful ignorance and the abduction of Qi¡¯s Princess was not a glorious deed. Much trouble woulde if Qi had known about it.

    Elder Princess didn¡¯t answer. She lowered her head, her mind just kept shing about how the nanny snatched the child from her hand cruelly twenty years ago, and she entrusted him to Prince Ning to save the child¡¯s life.

    ¡°He is still alive, but you will never see him. You are not worthy,¡± Elder Princess smiled sadly at Jing Donghua, ¡°just like when you thought I was not worthy to stand by your side and let people know that I am your wife.¡±

    ¡°Qinghe, I...¡±

    A clear female voice suddenly came from outside. It was Mu Qingyu¡¯s voice, ¡°Heavenly Master, uncle has already fallen asleep. You cane backter.¡±

    An old man voiced in a leisurely manner, ¡°I have just developed a new medicine. The doctors at the Imperial Hospital have checked it, and we have also let the eunuchs tried the medicine. It can dy the swelling and pain of the throat, relieve the cough and clear the heat. It would be best if the emperor takes it now.¡±

    Standing at the entrance of the hall, Mu Qingyu was a little embarrassed. She smiled and said, ¡°Heavenly Master, you might as well give me the pill first. When my uncle has enough rest, I will serve it to him.¡±

    ¡°That...¡±

    ¡°Why, Heavenly Master? You don¡¯t trust me?¡±

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, I dare not. Naturally, I believe in you. But the medicine must be taken in a unique way. It takes three drops of the refiner¡¯s blood in clean water to take effect. Therefore, I cannot retreat as I could. Could I apany you and wait for the emperor to wake up?¡±

    Jing Donghua and Elder Princess heard it clearly inside. Heavenly Master had made up his mind. Jing Donghua looked at the blood-soaked quilt and jacket and felt dizzy. If this Heavenly Master kept guarding at the door, he could not handle the mess in the pce at all.

    Suddenly a low male voice sounded outside the hall, ¡°As far as I¡¯m concerned, there are only two medicines in this world that require human blood. One is the antidote for nepenthe, and the other is the medicine introducing the wicked worms into the human body. Which one of those two are you mentioning?¡±

 Chapter 282 Deadly Wicked Poison

    <h4>Chapter 282 Deadly Wicked Poison</h4>

    Outside the hall, Leng Changxi was wearing a silver mask. His eyes shone cold as if he could see through this Heavenly Master.

    Heavenly Master was already gray-haired and had wrinkled skin on his face. He was like an old fairy with the bones of immortality and stood beyond the world. For this master who suddenly appeared half a month ago, people don¡¯t know much. They only know that the Heavenly Master had a surname, Lin. He was good at refining and could bring back the dead.

    Heavenly Master Lin had one defect that spoiled perfection. He had no legs. Heavenly Master Lin had to rely on his servants to carry him on a bamboo sedan chair. The trousers were empty, so he simply tied them into two knots for quick movement.

    Heavenly Master Lin had high social status ever since entering the pce, but now he was directly questioned by a young boy who didn¡¯t even dare to show his face.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Heavenly Master Lin smiled kindly, with a certain kind of generosity in his eyes, ¡°What do you mean? Little brother.¡±

    ¡°You have the fragrance of fairy grass on your body,¡± suddenly, a small woman rushed out behind Leng Changxi. Her smart eyes could talk, and her small mouth opened slightly, smiling at Heavenly Master Lin. ¡°Fairy grass is the best herbal medicine for the growth of wicked worms. The worms that feed on fairy grass will not only be smaller than other wicked worms but also be more easily introduced into the human body. However, fairy grass is generally rare. Because the growing conditions are very harsh, they have to use por trees as hosts. Most of the fairy grass grows on the Gobi desert with little rain, while wicked worms like dark and humid environments. There are not many people who can grow fairy grass worms. People with such a strong fairy grass fragrance are even rarer.¡±

    This little woman is no one else but Qin Yunuan, who is very sensitive in smell and memory. Inspired by Lu Wuyi, Qin Yunuan suddenly understood the usage of the artificially nted por forest outside the vige of Yeren Valley.

    ¡°Girl, you gave a nice speech. I¡¯m sure to benefit from it a lot, but I didn¡¯t wear fairy grass fragrance,¡± Heavenly Master Lin smiled and pointed to a small sachet made of thin bamboo sticks around his waist. ¡°It¡¯s just a unique type of fragrance I made, which can be used for peace of mind. I have also made one for the emperor yesterday, who also said it was quite effective.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t pursue to the end as she had always done. She just nced at Lin and said tly, ¡°Then maybe I have made a mistake.¡±

    Looking sideways at Qin Yunuan, Leng Changxi took her hand and stepped forward. He said to Mu Qingyu, who was guarding the door, ¡°Sorry, Your Royal Highness. We arete.¡±

    Mu Qingyu was a little surprised because she didn¡¯t know that Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan woulde abruptly. She was stunned for a second and quickly took over, ¡°You are finally here. My uncle has been waiting for you for a long time.¡±

    Mu Qingyu was about to take the two people in when the guards at the door stopped them, ¡°Your Royal Highness, these two people are unidentified. I¡¯m afraid I couldn¡¯t let them in.¡±

    ¡°Why can¡¯t they go in?¡± Mu Qingyu scolded the guard, ¡°My uncle said that he was bored and wanted two jugglers to relieve the boredom. These two people are the best in my pce. Isn¡¯t it good to invite them to entertain the emperor?¡±

    ¡°That was not what I meant. It¡¯s just...¡± This guard was also an official, but he could only obey in front of Mu Qingyu.

    ¡°Since that was not what you meant, I will let these two people in first. As for this Heavenly Master,¡± Mu Qingyu looked at Heavenly Master Lin and smiled politely, ¡°Uncle just wants to watch juggling now. As for medicine, if you don¡¯t mind, you can give it to me first. When the emperor had enough fun, he will take it.¡±

    Heavenly Master Lin hesitated for a while and then smiled, ¡°That¡¯s okay.¡± After finishing speaking, he signaled to the child around him to pass the box containing the decoction to Mu Qingyu and then said, ¡°If it is cold, remember to heat up before drinking.¡± After that, he waved his hand, signaling the eunuch to lift the sedan chair, and the small bamboo sedan chair swayed out of the pce gate.

    Mu Qingyu watched Lin¡¯s back leave from a distance, frowned, and urged Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan at the door, ¡°What are you still waiting for? Come in.¡±

    Before stepping into this hall, Qin Yunuan smelled blood with her keen nose. Subconsciously, she pulled Leng Changxi¡¯s sleeves. Leng Changxi also became cautious. Mu Qingyu was at the forefront of opening the curtain. She had a deep inner strength and clearly felt that Leng Changxi was mobilizing his inner strength in secret, which was a state of self-defense.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Mu Qingyu didn¡¯t turn her head back. ¡°It¡¯s just that my uncle and Elder Princess had some misunderstandings, and they have calmed down now.¡±

    After speaking, Leng Changxi saw Elder Princess and Jing Donghua sitting on the bed opposite each other. This was the first time he saw the man his mother had missed for 20 years.

    Leng Changxi had to admit that he and Jing Donghua are quite alike. He had taken more from Elder Princess, handsome but had a soft outline. But in his looks and temperament, between his brows and eyes, he had the grandeur of a king just like Jing Donghua.

    Faced with the sudden appearance of Leng Changxi, Jing Donghua suddenly had a strange feeling in his heart. His eyes couldn¡¯t help but flow on Leng Changxi. He frowned slightly, pondering in his heart for a hundred times. He became curious about the identity of this young kid.

    ¡°Mother.¡± Leng Changxi walked behind Elder Princess casually and gathered her hair that was scattered slightly.

    Elder Princess looked distressed. She looked back at Leng Changxi, then cried silently. She knew that her son was not easy. She recovered her sanity and all her memories at the post house. Leng Changxi¡¯s surname, and the special jade pendant of Ning Pce he had convinced Elder Princess. She understood that it couldn¡¯t be fake.

    Also, Elder Princess knew in her heart that the feeling of blood and meeting close rtives could not be fake.

    ¡°You are...¡± Jing Donghua looked at Leng Changxi. As Leng Changxi called ¡°mother¡±, all his doubts seemed to be solved.

    ¡°I am the adopted son of Elder Princess.¡± Leng Changxi looked at Jing Donghua. When four eyes intertwined, he clearly read loss from Jing Donghua.

    ¡°Oh, adopted son.¡± Jing Donghua raised the corner of his mouth slightly, like a wry smile, ¡°It turned out to be your adopted son.¡±

    On the other side, Qin Yunuan opened the food box directly. The soup inside was still warm, showing a faint orange-red color. Unlike ordinary medicine, this medicinal soup smelled good. It had the fragrance of green grass, without the bitter taste.

    Qin Yunuan took down the silver hairpin on her head and poked into the soup. Mu Qingyu, who stood aside, said doubtfully, ¡°Heavenly Master shouldn¡¯t be dull enough to poison the soup.¡±

    ¡°This decoction can¡¯t be poisonous.¡± After Qin Yunuan finished speaking, she took out the silver hairpin that was half immersed in the soup. Of course, Heavenly Master Lin couldn¡¯t be despicable enough to do this.

    Holding the silver hairpin in one hand, Qin Yunuan looked up and saw a sachet hung on Jing Donghua¡¯s bed, exactly like those Lin wear on his waist. It was diamond-shaped and made of thin yellow bamboo. Qin Yunuan Quickly took off the sachet and circled its side with the hairpin dipped in the soup. Mu Qingyu observed curiously what would happen.

    Qin Yunuan moved her hand. She faintly felt that something was moving in the sachet. As the hairpin was brought closer to the sachet, the movement became more obvious, as if something small grows in it. The potion on the hairpin was its nemesis, making it turbulent.

    ¡°If my guess was correct, there would be immature little wicked worms in it.¡± Qin Yunuan handed the sachet to Leng Changxi¡¯s hand, ¡°and inside that Heavenly Master¡¯s sachet is the mother wicked worms.¡±

    Jing Donghua was attracted by this nameless girl. Qin Yunuan curtly bowed to Jing Donghua, ¡°I¡¯m Yunuan, Young Master Leng¡¯s... close servant maid.¡± Qin Yunuan made up an identity casually. Since Leng Changxi wanted to conceal himself, she naturally had to cooperate.

    ¡°A maid?¡± Jing Donghua also had met with a lot of people. He struggled to prop up his body. After a simple bandage, the blood from his wound had stopped, but it was still tearing and painful. ¡°You have elegance and pulchritude. Qinghe, your adopted son is so lucky.¡±

    Elder Princess took a look at Jing Donghua and turned, ¡°I should go.¡±

    ¡°Qinghe.¡± Jing Donghua wanted to keep her. But Elder Princess seemed to have made her decision. He just asked one more sentence, ¡°You live in the post house? Right?¡±

    Elder Princess¡¯s nce gently fell on Jing Donghua, but after a moment she retrieved it coldly without saying anything. Leng Changxi got up and held her, ¡°Foster mother, I will take you back.¡±

    Jing Donghua was not resigned to an ending like this. He watched the figure of the princess go further with obsessed eyes. Suddenly, a goose-yellow skirt blocked his vision, and Qin Yunuan, who suddenly appeared in the front, surprised him.

    ¡°Your master is gone. Why don¡¯t you retreat?¡±

    Qin Yunuan tilted and smiled, ¡°If Your Majesty doesn¡¯t cherish your life, I will go naturally.¡±

    Jing Donghua looked down at his wound, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t care about this kind of minor injury.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Qin Yunuan brought the medicinal soup and the diamond-shaped bamboo sachet to Jing Donghua. ¡°I was talking about this. Your Majesty may not know that these two things are actually killing you slowly.¡±

    Mu Qingyu took a step forward, ¡°Madam... Yunuan, are you serious?¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded. However, Jing Donghua remained calm. It seemed that he was the one who stayed out of the matter, ¡°Will it kill me? So?¡±

    On the other side, Leng Changxi led Elder Princess to a remote pce road. At the end of the road was a carriage that Mu Qingyu had prepared long ago. It would sessfully take the princess out of the pce.

    ¡°Mother, the carriage outside the city is ready. ording to your wish, you can leave West Xia at any time.¡± Leng Changxi helped Elder Princess pacing slowly. Watching the princess in a trance, he called softly, ¡°Mother?¡±

    Elder Princess was stunned. Looking back at Leng Changxi, her eyes seemed to be covered with water mist. She muttered, ¡°Changxi, I don¡¯t want to go. Yes, I won¡¯t go.¡±

 Chapter 283 Danger Halfway

    <h4>Chapter 283 Danger Halfway</h4>

    ¡°It¡¯s not you who decide to leave or not.¡± All of a sudden, a high-pitched voice came from behind Leng Changxi and Elder Princess. Leng Changxi turned his head vigntly. It turned out that the one was nobody else but Eunuch Meng, who had been following Jing Yuanchu and helping him.

    Eunuch Meng hadn¡¯t seen Leng Changxi before, but he had sent people to ask about him. He knew that the man wearing a silver mask beside Elder Princess was Leng Changxi, the first Great General of Qi as well as the bastard son of Jing Donghua and Elder Princess.

    ¡°He is good at martial arts. Be careful,¡± Eunuch Meng told several master-hands who had been lurking on the wall. Having already felt the constant, secret flow of much genuine energy around them, Leng Changxi guessed that there were many master-hands ambushing in the surrounding. He quickly judged that two of them mastered Qigong, three of them mastered out-fight and one of them was good at using a sword. It seemed that Jing Yuanchu had invited many talents for this ambush.

    Leng Changxi protected Elder Princess behind him. However, the coachman waiting at the entrance of the pce far away was hit by a dart and died immediately. Those master-hands jumped off the wall. Leng Changxi put his hand on his waist where the dagger was hidden subconsciously.

    ¡°Eunuch Meng, you¡¯re really in a good mood,¡± Leng Changxi sidled with provoking eyes, ¡°Are you taking so many masters in the mansion of Thirteenth Prince to this remote path of the pce just for a drill?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not for a drill,¡± Eunuch Meng took out the pink handkerchief to wipe his lips and nodded slightly, ¡°I merelye to catch the assassin ording to my master¡¯s order.¡±

    ¡°Assassin?¡± Leng Changxi raised the corners of his eyes, ¡°Me?¡±

    Eunuch Meng didn¡¯t speak but stepped backward. With his hand waving, those master-hands jumped off the wall immediately. They took out their own weapons and approached Leng Changxi and Elder Princess step by step in the form of a circle. Leng Changxi had held the dagger in his hand, ¡°I don¡¯t want to kill people in the pce. You¡¯d better back off.¡±

    However, those assassins were not kind people. Having killed so many people for Jing Yuanchu from high officials to in folks, how could they be afraid of Leng Changxi¡¯s a few words?

    Leng Changxi mobilized his energy in secret. His genuine energy met the ones of the two Qigong masters, fighting with two people at one time. Suddenly, the two Qigong masters made a gesture of pause.

    ¡°This man is powerful. We can¡¯t beat him.¡± One of the Qigong masters was the leader of the six assassins.

    ¡°Big Brother, don¡¯t be scared. We have six people in all.¡±

    ¡°I mean, even when all of us attack him at the same time, we won¡¯t be able to beat him.¡± The leading assassin felt cold in his heart. He had never seen anyone with such thick inner Qi, which was not only thick but also hard like the 1000-year-old iceberg in the North Pole, which couldn¡¯t be built in a short time. Were it not for Leng Changxi¡¯s young appearance, he wouldn¡¯t believe that there could be a young man with this inner Qi when he was alive.

    It seemed that this time the Thirteenth Prince had given them a hard task.

    Seeing no motion in this direction, Eunuch Meng urged, ¡°What are you waiting for? His Royal Highness is waiting for my report of finishing the task.¡±

    ¡°Eunuch Meng, what task is it?¡± All of a sudden, an enchanting voice came from behind Eunuch Meng, whose back felt chilling immediately. The woman¡¯s voice was easy to identify. Just to hear her sneeze, Eunuch Meng could know precisely that the woman was exactly the most favored imperial concubine in the Royal Pce of West Xia, Imperial Concubine Lian.

    Leng Changxi looked to the direction where the voice came. He saw a sedan chair carried by 28 peopleing from afar. 28 people! ording to the rule in the Royal Pce of Qi, only Imperial Concubine and the empress could sit on the chair carried by so many people. It seemed that theing woman was really in a high position in the pce.

    Two ties of scarlet yarn hang from the silver-made roof. Inside there was a vague figure of a woman. Just from the good-shaped shadow, it would be enough to arouse much imagination. Leng Changxi turned his head and found that the moment Eunuch Meng saw this woman, he acted as if he had seen his ancestor. He hurried to trot forward enthusiastically and curtseyed, ¡°My greetings, Your Grace. Why do youe to this remote yard to relieve boredom?¡±

    ¡°Oh, how dare you,¡± although the words were spoken with a smile, the way the woman said it was frightening, ¡°Do I ever need to report to you, a eunuch, about where I want to go?¡±

    ¡°I dare not. I dare not.¡± Eunuch Meng kneeled down in a hurry. The people who could make Eunuch Meng, who was arrogant most of the time, act so humbly were nobody else but Jing Yuanchu and Imperial Concubine Lian. Leng Changxi thought with his instinct that the reason Eunuch Meng was extremely polite to Imperial Concubine Lian was not merely because of her status.

    A hand, white and exquisite as if it were made of jade, slowly put aside the hanging car curtain. A face, delicate as if it belonged to one of thedies in the painting, was half-hidden behind the scarlet yarn. Her anger and happiness all made men crazy. No wonder why she was the most favored imperial concubine in the Royal Pce. Such great beauty could only be had by the emperor.

    ¡°Eunuch Meng,¡± the beauty in the sedan chair put down the car curtain again after the short appearance, ¡°In my opinion, they are no more than a woman and a man wearing a mask. They are not likely to be the assassin you said. You¡¯d better let them go.¡±

    ¡°Well, I dare not,¡± Eunuch Meng said in a ttering voice, ¡°It¡¯s the order of His Royal Highness. I can¡¯t disobey him.¡±

    ¡°I said let them go. That¡¯s my order. As for Thirteen Prince, I will speak to him.¡± Imperial Concubine Lian¡¯s attitude was rather obvious. Leng Changxi was a little surprised. He had never met her before. Why would she help them? He never believed that there could be any sympathy orpassion in the pce. There were only eternal interests in the pce.

    ¡°Won¡¯t you let them go?¡±

    Eunuch Meng was in a pickle. He winked at the little disciple behind him, who immediately left, preparing to report Jing Yuanchu. Eunuch Meng said politely, ¡°Your Grace, now that you¡¯ve said, of course, I¡¯ll listen to you. All of you,e back.¡±

    Eunuch Meng called the assassins toe back again. The leading assassin was relieved. He even dared not to look at Leng Changxi directly. This man was too dangerous.

    ¡°Now that things are clear now, why don¡¯t you leave?¡± Imperial Concubine Lian leaned back, looking rxed.

    ¡°Yes. Your Grace, I leave now.¡± Eunuch Meng quickly took people away, whose pace was rapid. He should discuss with Thirteenth Prince as soon as possible, telling him that the spy he went great length to train and put into the pce seemed to oppose him.

    Just when the tense atmosphere at the entrance to thene began to loosen, another weird atmosphere began to arise. Leng Changxi said coldly, ¡°Your Grace, thank you...¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to thank me,¡± Imperial Concubine Lian looked a little distracted. Saving Leng Changxi was as easy as stamping on the ant to her, ¡°There are only eternal interests in the pce. You should remember you owe me. That¡¯s enough.¡±

    The sedan chair carried by 28 people left along with the way they came. Elder Princess didn¡¯t speak from the beginning to the end. Leng Changxi patted her shoulder. The carriage for them to leave the pce was still waiting at the end. There was no coachman, but it was alright. Leng Changxi was familiar with the way out.

    ¡°Yunuan was still in the pce,¡± Elder Princess came back to earth. She had been remembering that Qin Yunuan was kind to her when she lost her mind. What was more, Qin Yunuan was Leng Changxi¡¯s legal wife. Clever and pious as Qin Yunuan was, it was natural for Elder Princess to take her as her own family.

    ¡°She herself can find a way out. Mother, you needn¡¯t worry about her.¡± Leng Changxi led Elder Princess to take on the carriage. When Elder Princess sat steadily, Leng Changxi turned his head to say, ¡°Mother, now that you don¡¯t want to leave West Xia, we won¡¯t leave here. We will stay where you would like to stay. I¡¯ll always apany you.¡±

    The wheels of the carriage rolled slowly. At the same time, at the Tongming Gate, a carriage with red signs on the roof was questioned by the guards. As soon as the guards saw the red sign, they became extremely humble. They even ignored the check of the coach and let the carriage pass directly.

    ¡°It¡¯s the carriage of Prince Shun¡¯s Mansion,¡± the leading guard murmured, ¡°But today there are so many carriagesing from Prince Shun¡¯s Mansion! It¡¯s already the third one.¡±

    Inside the carriage, Mu Qingyu and Qin Yunuan sat opposite each other. Both of them didn¡¯t speak. The atmosphere was heavy. The carriage met a small bump. As Qin Yunuan was weak, she nearly fell to her feet. Mu Qingyu hurried to support her and asked softly, ¡°Madam Leng, are you all right?¡±

    Qin Yunuan shook her head, ¡°Nothing wrong with me. Your Royal Highness, thank you.¡±

    The servant girl outside immediately rebuked the coachman, ¡°How are you driving? If Her Royal Highness felt hurt because of the bump, can you bear the consequence?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s my fault. But I don¡¯t know why there are so many stones on the road. What if we switch to another road which is farther?¡±

    ¡°No need for that,¡± Mu Qingyu nced at Qin Yunuan, ¡°This road is the shortest one to return to Prince Shun¡¯s Mansion. We don¡¯t know the situation of other roads. Go along the original one.¡±

    ¡°OK. Your Royal Highness, please sit steadily. We¡¯ll meet many bumps on the way,¡± the coachman suggested and drove the horse carefully on the road, which was full of sharp stones, but there were so many of them that the carriage shook violently.

    Qin Yunuan looked up at Mu Qingyu, whose face looked calm. She leaned on the soft pillow and closed her eyes to have a rest.

    Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t bear her curiosity. She asked, ¡°Your Royal Highness, why do you insist on going on this way?¡± It was obvious that someone had tampered with this gstone road, or how could so many stones have been spilled on it without anyone¡¯s care?

    ¡°It¡¯s all the same whichever road we choose,¡± Mu Qingyu opened her eyes, ¡°With such an obvious intention to harm me, if I choose another road, he must ambush us. So I¡¯d bettere back along the same road. At least on this road, I can break even with the man.¡±

    Just when she finished her words, the sound of fighting, killing, and shing of weapons came from ahead. Before long, it was quiet. A rapid footstep came closer and closer. Someone knocked three times outside the carriage, which was a secret signal. Mu Qingyu smiled and said to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Obstacles have been removed. Even though he sends so many people to attack, I also have master-hands. I¡¯ll never bear insult.¡±

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, you said ¡®he¡¯. Do you know who wants to attack you?¡± Qin Yunuan asked curiously.

    Mu Qingyu looked at Qin Yunuan and said, ¡°Firstly, of course, I know who he is. Secondly, the one he wants to kill is not me but you.¡±

 Chapter 284 Mantis Stalking the Cicada

    <h4>Chapter 284 Mantis Stalking the Cicada</h4>

    Qin Yunuan and Mu Qingyu looked at each other. Qin Yunuan knew that she had had so many enemies all the way here. However, she didn¡¯t think that even in West Xia, there was someone who dared to attack so obviously. Having thought for several times, nobody was suspicious except for that man.

    ¡°It¡¯s Jing Yuanchu.¡± Qin Yunuan said in a half-guessing tone to seek Mu Qingyu¡¯s reaction.

    Mu Qingyu smiled a little and said naturally, ¡°Or what? Who will be the one except for him?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s one thing that I don¡¯t understand. Why can Thirteenth Prince do whatever he wants in the pce? With so many unforgivable things he does, why is the emperor still so indulgent to him?¡±

    ¡°Indulgent?¡± Mu Qingyu found it a little funny. But she understood it. Those who didn¡¯t know about the real Jing Yuanchu, like those folks, all gave Thirteenth Prince extremely goodments, ¡°You only need to understand Jing Yuanchu with the mind of Prince Ray of Qi. What¡¯s different from Sima Ray, however, is that Jing Yuanchu is much more arrogant, rascal, and disgusting than he is.¡±

    While Mu Qingyu was speaking, she looked very unhappy, with her teeth trembling. Attracted by Mu Qingyu¡¯s unusual reaction, Qin Yunuan observed Mu Qingyu¡¯s facial expression. She didn¡¯t speak softly until Mu Qingyu took a deep breath herself and tried her best to calm down, ¡°Your Royal Highness, with all due respect, is there any enmity between you and Thirteenth Prince?¡±

    ¡°Not only enmity,¡± Mu Qingyu stared at the emptiness in front of her fiercely. The warriors of Prince Shun¡¯s Mansion ahead were dealing with the bodies of the assassins ambushing around. Despite the deserted path, if the bodies were found by someone, it would cause much bigger trouble.

    ¡°I could not wait to pick his skin and pull out his tendon.¡± Just when Mu Qingyu, who had always been kind, finished saying the cruel words, her most intimate chief servant girl knocked the carriage outside, also three times but and in different frequency and length.

    Then the servant girl outside sent a scrip through the seam of the window. Mu Qingyu didn¡¯t take precautions against Qin Yunuan. She opened it, nced at it and murmured, ¡°My father and younger female cousin also entered the pce?¡±

    ¡°What happened?¡± Qin Yunuan asked with concern.

    ¡°No big issue. Madam Leng, I¡¯m d you were able to persuade my uncle to cooperate with you today. However, this action is too risky. Are you sure that you don¡¯t need me to send people to protect you on the feast two dayster?¡±

    ¡°Changxi will be with me. I¡¯m not afraid.¡± Qin Yunuan said confidently. Yes. Mu Qingyu sighed in her heart. Now Qin Yunuan was Leng Changxi¡¯s beloved. Leng Changxi would rather sacrifice his own life than letting others hurt Qin Yunuan. Why should she worry about her?

    When the obstacles were cleared out ahead, Mu Qingyu sent Qin Yunuan back to the courier. Qin Yunuan entered through the back door of ane behind the courier so as not to draw attention to her. But when she entered thene, she found a tall man in a sheepskin lurking in front of her, who seemed to be looking for something.

    At this very moment, Qin Yunuan was all alone without helpers. What was more, thisne was utterly straight, so she couldn¡¯t call others for help. Qin Yunuan hunkered down slowly with the tip of her finger buckling into the soft sand. The man was moving towards Qin Yunuan. She saw clearly that the man had a machete around his waist, which wasmonly used in North Di. This man was from North Di!

    Just when the man was several steps away from Qin Yunuan, he found that there was someone around him sensitively.

    ¡°Who is it?¡±

    Actually, Qin Yunuan had hidden herself well. She was hiding beside an abandoned oil drum at the entrance of thene. However, she was still found out by the man. It seemed that the man was good at martial arts. Qin Yunuan tried to calm down. She knew that the man didn¡¯te with a kind intention, not to mention that he was from North Di. Seeing that the man¡¯s shadow stretched by the sun approaching her slowly, just when Qin Yunuan estimated that the man was only a step from her, she quickly showed up and prepared to sprinkle the sand in her hand directly on the man¡¯s eyes. However, the action stopped suddenly.

    ¡°Leng Wu?¡± Qin Yunuan looked at Leng Wu, who stuck with a big beard with a haggard expression and the hair that hadn¡¯t beenbed for several days, and called out his name at the first nce.

    ¡°Madam.¡± Leng Wu opposite her was also surprised. After the incident happened in North Di, he had followed all the way from the capital of North Di. He only knew that his master, Leng Changxi, would definitelye to West Xia, but he didn¡¯t know when he woulde and where he would go after he came. Hearing people on the street said that there was a weird person wearing a mask every day in the courier, he came here to look for Leng Changxi. Luckily, he met Qin Yunuan.

    Snow began to fall. Snowkes asrge as goose feather swirled down. It was cold outside. A charcoal fire was lit inside the room so as to drive the coldness in winter away slowly.

    The disy of the room was very simple. There were a screen and a square table in the east corner. A teapot and teacups were put on the square table made of rosewood. There were several brocade boxes put causally on another case covered with rice paper, which were sent by Xinger just now, saying that Thirteenth Prince¡¯s servants had mistaken Leng Changxi as the assassin in the pce, and he hoped that Elder Princess and Leng Changxi could forgive the mistake.

    Elder Princess didn¡¯t even nce at those presents. The twenty years spent in Yeren Valley had turned her body to be afraid of coldness. She leaned against the braiser. Qin Yunuan put on a coat for Elder Princess and asked softly, ¡°Are you still cold now?¡±

    Elder Princess turned back. Her eyes expressed calmness after infiltrating by the water in the frozenke, ¡°Although I¡¯m cold in the first ce, I feel warm when I see you. It never urs to me that I can see my child one day for the rest of my life. Now Changxi takes you to care for me. Even I die here immediately, I have no regret anymore.¡±

    ¡°Mother,¡± Leng Changxi said in a ming tone, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t say ominous words.¡±

    ¡°I think that you have never believed in this,¡± Elder Princess looked at her grown-up son with much emotion, ¡°I¡¯ve heard much about you all the way here. How brave and decisive you are and how you managed to survive in a pickle. I think that someone like my son will never believe in superstition.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t necessarily believe in superstition,¡± Leng Changxi, ¡°It¡¯s because I have people whom I love in my heart, and I can¡¯t help but think more.¡± Finishing saying, Leng Changxi leaned towards Elder Princess and looked subconsciously at Qin Yunuan, who was putting away those presents by the table.

    Qin Yunuan flicked causally through the so-called reparations that had been sent here.

    ¡°This time, Jing Yuanchu is willing to spend money,¡± Qin Yunuan said with a little surprise, ¡°Ginseng grown on the Snowy Mountain, Tianshan snow lotus, and rosemary on the east mountain. All of them have the value of a whole city. However, he wants to cover what happened in the pce with simply those things. Is he too foolish? Or too confident?¡±

    ¡°He is too confident with his own arrangement,¡± while saying, Leng Changxi gave Qin Yunuan a cup of freshly brewed hot tea to warm her hands, ¡°He asked Xinger to send those things not to apologize to us or to cover the fact that he had developed power inside the pce. He is telling us that he is afraid of nothing now.¡±

    While they are talking, the reporting voice of Xinger came from outside. The three people in the house were vignt immediately. After all, Xinger belonged to Jing Yuanchu, and she knew martial arts. They had to guard against her.

    ¡°Mr. Leng, the coachman you are looking for is here.¡± Xinger knocked on the door. Qin Yunuan opened the door and closed it quickly when she turned back so that Xinger had no chance to explore what happened inside.

    ¡°It¡¯s windy outside. Today Elder Princess has sat on the edge of the bed to embroider and caught a cold. She is afraid of the winding into the room. We shall talk outside.¡± Xinger did not know that Elder Princess had been outside. Except in Jing Donghua¡¯s pce, Elder Princess had always worn the mask made of human skin when she followed Mu Qingyu to enter the pce and followed Leng Changxi to leave it. Even Jing Yuanchu also believed that his spection and tip before were false, and thought that Elder Princess didn¡¯t leave the courier, and only Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan entered the pce to explore the road. Thus, Jing Yuanchu seemed to feel the work was less difficult to do.

    Qin Yunuan looked at the coachman behind Xinger, who had big eyes and bushy eyebrows. She nodded and said, ¡°This man looks good. He seems to be reliable. Elder Princess has always been very particr about her carriage. Bad coachman will only tolerate her body. Keep this one. His Royal Highness has said that he will take Elder Princess to see the emperor at the feast two dayster. At that time, let the servant drive the carriage.¡±

    ¡°Oh...¡± Xinger felt awkward because everything on that day had been arranged by Jing Yuanchu. From the guest list to the servant driving the carriage, there should be no mistake.

    ¡°What? Does Thirteenth Prince want to take back his promise?¡±

    ¡°Of course not,¡± Xinger defended.

    ¡°That¡¯s all right, then,¡± Qin Yunuan forestalled. Then she said to the coachman, ¡°Follow me. I have something to tell you.¡±

    Naturally the servant followed Qin Yunuan to enter the house obediently. As long as he was in the house, and Xinger had gone far away, the servant kneeled down towards Leng Changxi and said with a shaking voice, ¡°General, Leng Wu is back.¡±

    That was right. In order to let Leng Wu enter the courier sessfully, Qin Yunuan had gone to great lengths. Looking at therade who had fought with him side by side, Leng Changxi took a deep breath before he supported Leng Wu, ¡°You¡¯ve had a hard journey.¡± Despite the short words, great feelings were hidden inside.

    After greeting andfort, Leng Wu curtseyed to Elder Princess before mentioning why he suddenly left North Di.

    ¡°General, what on earth had happened in Yeren Valley? Why did so many people die so easily? Are you and Madam all right?¡± Leng Wu was holding a cup of hot tea. For many days, he had not eaten any hot things.

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to conclude,¡± Leng Changxi winced, ¡°But, if I don¡¯t get it wrong, all the people had died in Yeren Valley, including Wanyan Su.¡± He still remembered the way the whole mountain copsed. It was hard to think anyone could even survive.

    ¡°No,¡± Leng Wu said resolutely, ¡°Fourth Prince hase back to North Di. I¡¯ve seen him with my bare eyes.¡±

 Chapter 285 The Real Danger Hidden Behind

    <h4>Chapter 285 The Real Danger Hidden Behind</h4>

    What Leng Wu said was as dreadful as a powerful bomb, greatly shocking Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°What?¡± Qin Yunuan saw clearly that almost the whole mountain copsed. No one in it could survive.

    ¡°It¡¯s true. I saw him clearly.¡± Leng Wu exined slowly, ¡°On the day when the Grand Prince¡¯s property was confiscated, I saw people bring heavily injured Wanyan Su back to the capital city right on my way out of the Grand Prince¡¯s Mansion. Wanyan Su¡¯s right arm was broken and started to fester because ofte treatment. Although he was behindyers of curtains, I saw him clearly.¡±

    ¡°Wanyan Su indeed had broken his arm.¡± Leng Changxi murmured, ¡°Wait. The Grand Prince¡¯s property has been confiscated?¡±

    ¡°Right.¡± Leng Wu continued, ¡°Not long ago, the Grand Prince should have been out of confinement. But officials asked to impeach him for his adultery with imperial concubines. The Grand Prince insisted on his innocence, but an imperial concubine who was pregnant for 6 months confessed. As a result, the Grand Prince¡¯s property was confiscated, and he has been temporarily taken into custody. Given Grand Khan¡¯s temperament, he may likely deprive the Grand Prince of his royal title. But everything is not settled yet, and we don¡¯t know how Grand Khan will punish him.¡±

    ¡°Jing Yuanchu must know it.¡± A horrible scheme suddenly urred to Qin Yunuan. ¡°He knows that the Grand Prince is in an impasse now but still tries hard to promote the engagement between Mu Qingyu and him. Ho, in this way, he really can wipe out two of his enemies.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that people will know this at the imperial banquet, which is held two dayster.¡±

    ¡°His plot will be frustrated.¡± Qin Yunuan was confident about her n. Looking at Leng Wu, she said sincerely and earnestly, ¡°Leng Wu, Changxi and I originally could only rely on each other to fight with Jing Yuanchu in West Xia. But we have you now. You can join in our camp if you¡¯d like to.¡±

    Leng Wu knelt on one knee at once and replied with no hesitation and doubt, ¡°I¡¯m willing to fight for General Leng fearlessly and firmly regardless of any danger.¡±

    Leng Changxi quickly helped Leng Wu stand up. Qin Yunuan smiled and encouraged him, ¡°Leng Wu, don¡¯t worry about Maner. She¡¯s fine. I promise you when we are back to Qi, you will reunite with Maner who is healthy and energetic.¡±

    Leng Wu felt touched. Other than Leng Changxi, he also worried much about his wife who was far away. Such a good girl should be forced to part with her husband soon after they got married.

    Later, it snowed for two days in a row. On the day when the imperial banquet was held, the whole capital turned white early in the morning. A 10-year-old wintersweet tree in the courier station stood alone in snow. From time to time, a few sparrows wouldnd on its branches, but theyter quickly flew back to their nest due to the cold weather.

    The Elder Princess dressed herself up carefully for today. She wore an aqua-blue buttoned coat made of spun yarn, and a piece of aquamarine dress. Several light rosy peonies were embroidered on the dress top. They looked as if they grew on it, making the dress naturally delicate.

    Qin Yunuan wore a simple elbow-sleeve light yellow coat and a hair sp made of jade. Simple as it looked, it was actually a well-matched outfit. Leng Changxi still wore his silver mask. Xinger rushed into the room to report that the carriage Prince Yuanchu arranged had arrived and waited for them at the gate.

    Meanwhile, the pce was full of boisterous people. West Xia advocated thrift, so all of its emperors acted on the principle of frugality and avoided extravagance. Such a grand imperial banquet was only held once a year. Usually, the emperor would choose a day to hold a banquet at the end of a year, for reporting this year¡¯s state affairs andmending officials who made great contributions. Besides, it was specially regted that officials could advise on anything except for deceit and remarks to profane former emperors. No matter what they advised, they wouldn¡¯t be punished.

    Guests were all high officials and dignified figures. Jing Yuanchu sent a servant to lead Leng Changxi, Qin Yunuan and the Elder Princess to sit in an inconspicuous ce. In the middle was the seat for the emperor, but he hadn¡¯t arrived. Officials there assumed that the emperor who had been ill for a long time would find it hard to recover. It was unknown whether he would attend the banquet today.

    Qin Yunuan saw that Jing Yuanchu sat next to where the Crown Prince sat. He was having a good chat with officials near him cheerfully. It seemed that he won the favor of many officials, although he was neither the empress¡¯s son nor the Crown Prince. If the trend went on, it was just a matter of time for him to be the next emperor.

    Speaking of the Crown Prince, he showed up a bitte. Jing Yuanxiao, who the empress entrusted to the emperor before she died, didn¡¯t walk to his seat until all guests arrived.

    Jing Yuanxiao was strong and tall, just like his father, Jing Donghua. But he looked unsophisticated and honest, not as ambitious and shrewd as his father. This was a trait rarely seen in royal members. Nevertheless, one had to admit that all sons of Jing Donghua were decent and handsome. Leng Changxi was a good example.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, Your Grace.¡±

    ¡°Your Royal Highness.¡±

    Seeing the Crown Prince, officials all stood up to curtsy to him. Jing Yuanxiaogged way behind Jing Yuanchu in terms of political achievements. But the empress, who shared deep love with the emperor, specially entrusted thetter to educate Jing Yuanxiao well and assist him in bing the next emperor. Also, West Xia valued the eldest son of the empress very much. Therefore, all people didn¡¯t dare to misbehave themselves before the future emperor.

    Except for Jing Yuanchu. Not taking a ttering attitude, he just nodded his head in a decent way when Jing Yuanxiao sat down, and said, ¡°Your Royal Highness, you¡¯rete.¡±

    Jing Yuanxiao put on a naive smile and answered, ¡°The Crown Princess felt ufortable with her stomach, so we werete.¡±

    Right at this time, the Crown Princess, following Jing Yuanchu, wore a shy smile and nodded to make an apology.

    Qin Yunuan observed the Crown Princess after she arrived. She was small, especially when she stood next to Jing Yuanxiao who was tall and strong. Qin Yunuan learned that the Crown Princess was the daughter of a businessman. West Xia valued family background and ssified people into different types such as intellectuals, farmers, workers and businessmen. Businessmen had the lowest status, but the Crown Prince should marry the daughter of a businessman. It must be a long story worth pondering.

    But thankfully, Jing Yuanxiao loved the cute and obedient Crown Princess. All servants in his pce knew that the Crown Princess was the one in charge, and the Crown Prince never refused her request.

    ¡°Why hasn¡¯t fathere?¡± Jing Yuanxiao looked anxiously at the empty curled-up-dragon table.

    Jing Yuanchu lowered his head and took a sip of rice wine. ¡°We¡¯re not in a hurry. Just wait for a while.¡±

    Right after he finished the sentence, the eunuch outside reported, ¡°Your Majesty¡¯s arrived.¡±

    Officials stood up to give a salute in a revered manner. The Elder Princess in the corner experienced a mood swing, but she held herself. Xinger, who worked for Jing Yuanchu, spied on her and followed her everywhere. Now, she was staring at the Elder Princess who ¡°had taken¡± Jing Yuanchu¡¯s nepenthe so thetter couldn¡¯t show any emotional change.

    ¡°Who¡¯s he?¡± The Elder Princess blinked and held Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand like a naive child. She looked as if she didn¡¯t know Jing Donghua and said, ¡°He is so thin, just like the bamboo pole.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nced at Xinger. She patted the Elder Princess on her shoulder and replied, ¡°He¡¯s the emperor in West Xia, the most distinguished man here. You really don¡¯t know him?¡±

    The Elder Princess shook her head and looked in nk. Xinger exchanged nces with Jing Yuanchu in the distance to tell him that the Elder Princess had not recovered.

    Jing Donghua, who sat in the middle, ran his eyes over everyone, including Leng Changxi, Qin Yunuan and the Elder Princess in the corner. But he didn¡¯t spare any attention to them as if he didn¡¯t care about them.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t feel very well a few days ago. Sorry to make you worry.¡± After Jing Donghua finished, people echoed. An official who had served three emperors stood up and said, ¡°Your Majesty, it¡¯s said that a skilled Taoist cured you just two weeks after his arrival. I wonder whether we have the honor to meet him.¡±

    Many people wanted this. Heavenly Master Lin, a maning from nowhere, suddenly cured the emperor and made great contributions. Some felt jealous, some restless and some worried about Jing Donghua. They all wanted to see him.

    ¡°No problem.¡± Jing Donghua waved his hand. ¡°See, here hees.¡±

    On the other side, a bamboo-made sedan chairnded gently on the end of the red carpet, as if the man sitting on it was weightless. Officials and dignified figures were surprised to notice that he had no legs, but they showed respect spontaneously in sight of his old face.

    Seeing Heavenly Master Line in, Jing Donghua already ordered people to set a redwood armchair for him. He raised his voice, ¡°Take a seat.¡±

    Servants carefully carried Heavenly Master Lin and put him on the chair. When sitting down, Heavenly Master Lin cupped his hands to Jing Donghua. ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡± He nced at Jing Donghua¡¯s waist while speaking and felt relieved after seeing Jing Donghua indeed wore the bamboo-made flower sachet as he requested.

    ¡°Your Highness, it¡¯s said that you invited Heavenly Master Lin to cure father. You really made big contributions to father¡¯s recovery.¡± Jing Yuanchu didn¡¯t take the credit. But actually, it was he who rmended Heavenly Master Lin to Jing Yuanxiao when thetter mentioned finding a master to treat Jing Donghua.

    Jing Yuanxiao wore a naive smile again and confessed. ¡°Yuanchu, you always make me take your credit. But I should not do this again this time.¡±

 Chapter 286 - Counterplot

    <h4>Chapter 286 Counterplot</h4>

    At once, Jing Yuanchu put on an awkward smile. Jing Donghua looked down at them andughed, ¡°Yuanchu, you have the credit but still remain humble. I¡¯ll reward you.¡±

    Jing Yuanchu stood up quickly to express his gratitude. Then, it was time for officials to remonstrate, and all of them started their harangue. This part indeed yed a role in solving problems. However,ter on, it became an asion where they sang the praises of the emperor. Right when Jing Donghua was tired of their praises, a young man suddenly stood up and advised, ¡°Your Majesty, please forgive my outspokenness. I¡¯ve investigated Heavenly Master Lin before and found that people didn¡¯t hear of him untilst month. Your Majesty, please stay cautious before we ascertain his identity.¡±

    The statement stirred up discussions. Some disagreed, and some agreed. People who disagreed with him also stood up to argue with him. ¡°Young man, you know nothing. The world is full of wonders. We all know at the very beginning that Heavenly Master Lin has traveled to many countries and didn¡¯te to West Xia untilst month. Moreover, he cured His Majesty¡¯s long illness. Young man, do you say so because you envy Heavenly Master Lin who imed such a big credit?¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± The official who served three emperors said. ¡°We should be cautious.¡± Then, he looked up and down at Heavenly Master Lin warily.

    Jing Donghua didn¡¯t give anyment at once. Instead, he picked up a cup of lukewarm tea from the table. Not fully recovered, he could not drink wine now.

    His silence seemed to be a catalyst that pushed everyone to argue about Heavenly Master Lin. At once, the banquet became a war of words until a charming female voice cut in. ¡°Ho, I hear you are arguing from afar. Insiders know you¡¯re arguing, but for outsiders, they may think the pce is on fire.¡±

    A woman in mboyant clothes who was as pretty as the peach flowers in March showed up at the entrance. Imperial Concubine Lian, who had delicate makeup, rosy lips and pink cheeks, looked like a fairy who justnded on the earth. She carefully dressed herself up and looked more gorgeous and enchanting than before. All people thought her beauty was beyond description.

    Several young officials already couldn¡¯t hold themselves. Noticing this, Imperial Concubine Lian covered her mouth with a handkerchief and chuckled. She looked up at Jing Donghua and said in a sweet voice, ¡°Your Majesty, please forgive me foringte. I was held up by some trifles just now.¡±

    Jing Donghua remainedposed and answered, ¡°Who dares to me you in the pce?¡±

    ¡°I think you dare.¡± Only Imperial Concubine Lian dared to flirt with the emperor in public. She walked to her seat, charmingly and gracefully. Looking up at Imperial Concubine Lian in the corner, Qin Yunuan thought she was appreciating a painting of a beauty.

    But If Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes did not deceive her, she saw Imperial Concubine Lian looked down a bit to take a nce at Leng Changxi and seemed infatuated. Although she looked back quickly, Qin Yunuan sensed out of her intuition and sensitivity that Imperial Concubine Lian was not innocent.

    ¡°She just stared at you.¡± Qin Yunuan picked up chopsticks to pretend to take the perch in te and said to Leng Changxi in a low voice

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Yes? Just this?¡± Qin Yunuan tried to keep calm, but she was so angry and jealous. No woman, including her, could stand that another woman looked at her husband affectionately, although she knew they should focus on more important things now.

    ¡°She¡¯s weird.¡± Leng Changxi saw that Imperial Concubine Lian sat close to Jing Donghua in a coquettish manner. ¡°She saved us when I took mother out and met with some trouble. But I know she can¡¯t be our ally. The reason why she saved me is just to oppose the one who wants to kill me.¡±

    ¡°But ording to our investigation, Imperial Concubine Lian was a servant girl in Jing Yuanchu¡¯s mansion before. Later, she changed her identity to serve in the pce and got promoted step by step. Jing Yuanchu must have helped her with this. She works for Jing Yuanchu who wants to kill you, but why did she save you before?¡± Qin Yunuan analyzed in a low voice, and then she figured it out. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t try to figure out what rtionship they have. We only need to know they two are not simply a master and a servant. This is an opportunity for us.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡± Leng Changxi nodded.

    The quarrel turned white-hot. Imperial Concubine Lian didn¡¯t care about this and just focused on picking up food for Jing Donghua. She had a light fragrance on her which calmed people and made them forget about worries.

    ¡°Your Majesty? Your Majesty?¡± Eunuch Xue, the eunuch in charge, who served Jing Donghua, cautiously reminded him who was absent-minded.

    Jing Donghua came to his sense and saw Heavenly Master Lin was looking at him. There seemed to be something sparkling in his eyes attracting Jing Donghua.

    ¡°Your Majesty, many officials ask to investigate my identity and medicine I made for you. What do you think of this?¡± Heavenly Master Lin had no legs. He couldn¡¯t stand up, so just stooped. In this way, he looked humbler.

    Jing Donghua murmured. His voice was so low that no one could hear him.

    ¡°Your Majesty?¡± Master Lin¡¯s voice was tender and enchanting. ¡°Your Majesty, do you believe in these so-called loyal officials or me, who saved your life?¡±

    Jing Donghua looked weird, like a lost soul. He turned his head slowly and said to Heavenly Master Lin, ¡°I believe in you because you saved me. Come here. I¡¯ll reward you.¡±

    Jing Donghua said this very slowly.

    Heavenly Master Lin frowned a bit and replied, ¡°Your Majesty, I can¡¯t walk. I¡¯m afraid...¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Jing Donghua looked in nk as if he was enchanted. ¡°Help Heavenly Master Lin to sit next to me.¡±

    At once, some eunuchs moved Heavenly Master Lin¡¯s chair. Jing Yuanchu was calm at first but seeing this, he became worried.

    ¡°Look. I¡¯ll reward you with this jade dragon head. With it, you can order guards in the pce, and no one dares to doubt your identity anymore.¡±

    Officials were in an uproar. Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi watched them in silence. Heavenly Master Lin, who was confused just now, suddenly became ecstatic. True, whoever gained the power to govern 30,000 guards in the pce would be like this.

    ¡°Come closer, and I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± Jade dragon head was actually a ck ring Jing Donghua wore on his right index finger. He always wore it. Seeing he took off the ring slowly, Imperial Concubine Lian couldn¡¯t hold her joy.

    Jing Donghua grasped the ring in his palm and stood up. When he was ready to hand it over to Heavenly Master Lin, his eyes lighted up. His cruelty and shrewdness made Heavenly Master Lin realize that he was in a trap.

    However, he couldn¡¯t run away. Jing Donghua held tight the ring and directly pulled off the bamboo-made flower sachet Heavenly Master Lin wore. He reached forward to vigorously squeeze Heavenly Master Lin¡¯s throat with his strong hand.

    Officials were in an uproar again. They didn¡¯t know what happened. Why did the emperor who imed to reward Heavenly Master Lin suddenly fly into a rage?

    ¡°Your Majesty?¡± Imperial Concubine Lian stood up anxiously. But Jing Donghua didn¡¯t spare a nce to this charming imperial concubine. He waved his hand, and guards flooded in to besiege all people with two of them directly arresting Imperial Concubine Lian.

    ¡°Your Majesty, why do they arrest me? I did nothing wrong.¡±

    Jing Donghua turned back to take a look at her and then said to officials while pointing at Heavenly Master Lin, ¡°This ignorant old man deliberately offered to treat me but attempted to control me through venomous insects. Even tearing him apart is not enough to relieve my anger.¡±

    Same as Qi, West Xia had also suffered much from venomous insects, so had exerted strict control on such witchcraft. Thus, when hearing that Heavenly Master Lin used venomous insects to hurt the emperor, officials who spoke up for him just now all shut their mouth up and hid themselves.

    Jing Yuanchu wanted to say something but didn¡¯t. He couldn¡¯t stand out at this time. It was still early.

    But Jing Donghua already saw his expression. He looked at Jing Yuanchu sharply and asked, ¡°Yuanchu, you want to say something?¡±

    Jing Yuanchu answered softly, ¡°I just think, maybe we should make an investigation first... I mean using venomous insects is a felony, so we have to make a thorough investigation topletely eradicate such idents.¡± Jing Yuanchu gave a cruel and ferocious look at Heavenly Master Lin who wanted to say something but couldn¡¯t because of being squeezed by Jing Donghua.

    ¡°Thorough investigation?¡± Jing Donghua raised his head and gave a look at Qin Yunuan, who immediately stood up.

    It was her? Jing Yuanchu hated her more when looking at her.

    Jing Donghua handed over the flower sachets of his and Heavenly Master Lin¡¯s to Qin Yunuan. At once, a eunuch handed a wooden tray over. Qin Yunuan gashed sachets with a knife and poured spices out, of which some were venomous insects¡¯ favorite herbs. Qin Yunuan hadn¡¯t finished pouring all spices out, but two insects fell out of sachets.

    One was darker, while another was pure white. They were in different sizes.

    ¡°This is the parent insect,¡± Qin Yunuan said when pointing at therger dark insect. ¡°And that is the subsidiary one. The venomous insect cultivation method is exclusive to vigers outside the Yeren Valley. People can control how the subsidiary insect behaves by controlling the parent one. Thus, they can control the mind and behavior of people who take in the subsidiary insect.¡±

 Chapter 287 - Perish Together

    <h4>Chapter 287 Perish Together</h4>

    Taking a look at the energetic parent insect and the dying subsidiary one, Qin Yunuan exined, ¡°Your Majesty, this so-called Heavenly Master Lin who keeps the parent insect with him attempts to imnt the subsidiary insect into your body through the sachet. He wants to feed the subsidiary insect with drugs and make it grow big enough, until he can control your mind and behavior through the parent insect. Then, you will be a puppet under his control.¡±

    ¡°How dare you!¡± Jing Donghua red at Heavenly Master Lin. He couldn¡¯t vent his anger unless thetter was beheaded. ¡°You¡¯re a distinguished guest the Crown Prince invited, so I treated you hospitably. But you, bearing evil tricks, lied to him and me.¡±

    Jing Donghua naturally put all the me on Heavenly Master Lin, not mentioning any bit of Jing Yuanxiao¡¯s fault. Obviously, he thought highly of and was partial to Jing Yuanxiao, which dissatisfied Jing Yuanchu. Right after he raised eyebrows, a middle-aged official stood up and said, ¡°Your Majesty, it¡¯s rather impetuous to convict Heavenly Master Lin simply based on what this woman said. The Crown Prince who invited him must know well about him. He definitely wouldn¡¯t rmend a usurper to treat you.¡± The official implied that Heavenly Master Lin might be innocent. If he were not, the Crown Prince should be responsible for this.

    A young official stood up at once and argued, ¡°Your opinion is biased. First of all, the horrible insects which everyone saw just now can kill people. If Heavenly Master Lin is innocent, do you mean that he is treated unjustly? Second, the Crown Prince said clearly that it was Prince Yuanchu who rmended Heavenly Master Lin to him. So, it¡¯s not clear who should take the responsibility yet.¡±

    ¡°Young man, you know nothing.¡± Having been a senior official for years, Minister Song was always blunt. Because of this, he offended many people, but he was not aware of it. Now, he just thought that the emperor was too partial to the Crown Prince, which was unfair and would bring about dissension.

    ¡°Ho, if he isbeled as young man, what¡¯s yourbel?¡± An official who served three emperors stood up and said. 24 years older than Minister Song, he could be hailed as a Country Guarding official. ¡°We should all listen to His Majesty on this.¡±

    Qin Yunuan also looked at Jing Donghua. They two nned this before. Heavenly Master Lin wore his sachet everyday so they could hardly take it away from him to find any evidence of his wrongdoing. Therefore, Jing Donghua deceived Heavenly Master Lin into believing that the subsidiary insect had been imnted by offering him a reward. When Heavenly Master Lin let his guard down, Jing Donghua could snatch his sachet and exposed his trick.

    Jing Donghua looked back at Qin Yunuan. Just as he hesitated, Heavenly Master Lin suddenly propped himself up with the help of his arm strength and twirled like a gyroscope with his arm as the axis. All at once, he approached to Jing Yuanchu and aimed a silver needle hid in his sleeve at Jing Yuanchu¡¯s neck. He was so fast that no one was able to make any reaction. The silver needle was less than one centimeter close to Jing Donghua¡¯s throat. Once he breathed deeply, the poisoned needle would kill him immediately.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Jing Yuanchu tried to keep calm and bargained with Heavenly Master Lin, although he was already in a cold sweat.

    ¡°Now that I can¡¯t leave here alive, neither can you.¡± Heavenly Master Lin looked at Jing Yuanchu with a smile, a dreadful and creepy smile.

    Officials all became flustered. Guards got ready for fight by besieging Heavenly Master Lin in his front. Having no legs, Heavenly Master Lin just hung on to Jing Yuanchu with one hand and tightly grasped the needle with another. He tilted his head to threaten guards ahead, ¡°Once you step forward, I will kill him.¡±

    ¡°You finally show your true intentions.¡± Jing Donghua didn¡¯t look at Jing Yuanchu but stared at Heavenly Master Lin. ¡°I¡¯m the owner of West Xia. So you use such a despicable trick to control me and pocket my country. I can¡¯t vent my anger if I don¡¯t cut you into pieces.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want your country,¡± Heavenly Master Lin disdained what Jing Donghua said, ¡°But your life. I want you to be under my control and experience the living death.¡±

    How much hatred did this take one person to n such a huge but despicable trick?

    Heavenly Master Lin got more and more excited. The thin needle already touched Jing Yuanchu¡¯s skin, leaving a light dent. With just a tiny push, it would prate his skin, sending the poison to his vein and killing him immediately.

    Jing Yuanchu deliberately lowered his voice to prevent others except for Heavenly Master Lin from hearing him. ¡°Don¡¯t be insatiable. Stop here.¡±

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, look at the situation. Do you think I should stop?¡± Heavenly Master Lin suddenly wore a quirky smile. ¡°Now that I¡¯m doomed, I want you to go down with me, which is fair enough for me. But you...¡±

    All at once, Heavenly Master Lin¡¯s quirky smile froze. He couldn¡¯t help shaking due to the pain from his arm. The wrist he used to hold the needle was prated by a ck arrow feather. His blood tinted the feather and dripped from it.

    On the opposite stood Leng Changxi who held a bow which was still slightly swinging because of the flying arrow. Time seemed to stand still. The reason why Heavenly Master Lin hung on to Jing Yuanchu and meticulously put his arm around Jing Yuanchu¡¯s neck was to prevent any attack. But unexpectedly, Leng Changxi was so skilled at archery that he should be able to precisely shoot Heavenly Master Lin¡¯s wrist, on the condition that thetter was so close to Jing Yuanchu.

    Looking up at Leng Changxi, Heavenly Master Lin suddenly put on a coltish smile.

    Leng Changxi put away the bow and said with a nce at Heavenly Master Lin¡¯s distorted face, ¡°Chen Jingrui, the game between us is finally over.¡±

    Heavenly Master Lin¡¯s pupils were dted, and he seemed extremely surprised. He didn¡¯t expect that Leng Changxi should see him through. Suddenly, he felt acute pain from his chest. Looking down, he found that Jing Yuanchu hurt himself to break free.

    Jing Yuanchu held a long sword in his hand. Heavenly Master Lin stuck close to him so he could find no chance to break free. However, he should directly stab the long sword at his shoulder and also Heavenly Master Lin¡¯s chest. It could be said that he did this at the risk of his own life and was ready to perish together with Heavenly Master Lin.

    ¡°You...¡± Heavenly Master Lin didn¡¯t expect that Jing Yuanchu was so determined. He couldn¡¯t say more words, from which Jing Yuanchu knew Heavenly Master Lin, or Chen Jingrui, was close to death.

    ¡°He can¡¯t die.¡± Leng Changxi was a bit worried and rushed to Jing Yuanchu. Qin Yunuan followed. Leng Changxi gave Jing Yuanchu a meaningful nce. At the same time, Chen Jingrui already closed his eyes. Qin Yunuan put her index finger and middle finger on Chen Jingrui¡¯s carotid artery and then shook her head. ¡°He¡¯s dead. The sword pierced his heart.¡±

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, you are indeed good at using your sword,¡± Leng Changxi sneered. Then, Jing Yuanchu seemed toe to his sense. He didn¡¯t say anything but just covered his injured shoulder in pain.

    Of course, Jing Donghua could not ignore injured Jing Yuanchu, so he asked imperial doctors to treat him immediately. Leng Changxi pulled the sword out of Chen Jingrui and tore off a delicate human-skin mask from a seam near his ear. Behind this wrinkled human-skin mask was a face covered with scars. That belonged to Chen Jingrui, the ruler and king in the Yeren Valley.

    True, Chen Jingrui was alive, and so was Wanyan Su. This made sense. Chen Wan, a great master, surely could ce several life-saving tricks or build confined spaces in core areas where he worked. Chen Jingrui, who worked in the arsenal for long, might know something about these tricks. Besides, Chen Wan was his uncle and might have told him something.

    Thus, it was reasonable for Chen Jingrui to find an exit to escape from the half-copsed mountain and also save Wanyan Su, whoter went back to North Di. When Wanyan Ba, the Crown Prince of North Di, was imprisoned, Chen Jingrui sneaked into West Xia and colluded with Prince Yuanchu. It seemed that they two had reached an agreement on something and were nning a bigger plot.

    But Chen Jingrui didn¡¯t reveal anything about this even when he was close to death. He only imed that he wanted to kill Jing Donghua, so he used the venomous insect on him. But Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t believe in what he said.

    Imperial doctors flooded in to treat Jing Yuanchu. The leading one reported, ¡°Your Majesty, the gash on Prince Yuanchu¡¯s shoulder is huge and causes his excessive loss of blood, but the sword didn¡¯t hurt his veins or meridians. Prince Yuanchu can recover after resting for several months.¡±

    Jing Donghua frowned and still worried about Jing Yuanchu. He walked to Jing Yuanchu and repetitively asked him to take care. But he still med him, ¡°In such a life-and-death situation, why are you so impetuous and even putting your life at risk?¡±

    Jing Yuanchu opened his eyes a bit. Losing much blood, he looked pale. He exined, ¡°I was so angry. Such a viin should y dirty tricks. He lied to me, tricked Yuanxiao and even hurt father... If I don¡¯t kill him, I can¡¯t vent my anger.¡±

    He sounded so sincere and secretly minimized his fault by attributing it to not being discerning. Moreover, Jing Yuanchu was heavily injured, so no one wanted to me him. Jing Donghua looked down and said, ¡°Good boy. Save your energy and go have a rest first.¡±

    Jing Yuanchu was carried down. Imperial Concubine Lian, who was tied tightly, was still there. She kept her eyes open and seemed to juste to her sense. Jing Donghua looked at Imperial Concubine Lian, who he used to dote on, and ordered, ¡°Throw her in the water dungeon. I¡¯ll interrogate herter.¡±

 Chapter 288 - Ungratefulness

    <h4>Chapter 288 Ungratefulness</h4>

    Everything seemed settled. All left except Leng Changxi who stood next to Chen Jingrui¡¯s corpse. He thought it was really a pity that Chen Jingrui died like this. ¡°What a pity. He¡¯s dead.¡±

    ¡°Let it go,¡± Qin Yunuanforted Leng Changxi and said. ¡°We can¡¯t bring him back to life. Although he¡¯s dead and we can¡¯t sound out his secrets, we will find a way to figure everything out. After all, every problem has a solution. Besides, His Majesty is safe now.¡± While speaking, Qin Yunuan turned to the direction where Jing Yuanchu was carried away and looked a bit cold. ¡°We at least know where the dangeres from.¡±

    Escorted to the water dungeon, Imperial Concubine Lian tried to arouse Jing Donghua¡¯ sympathy by using her old trick. She looked at him with tears in her eyes and shouted from afar, ¡°Your Majesty, I¡¯m innocent. Your Majesty, please uphold justice for me.¡±

    Jing Donghua was unmoved, just turning his head a bit. This really echoed with the statement that emperors were all ruthless.

    At once, a veteran official stepped forward to advise, ¡°Your Majesty, we truly can¡¯t put our whole nation at risk simply because of a woman. Everyone saw just now that Heavenly Master Lin kept exchanging nces with her. It¡¯s also rumored that they two are close. Based on what happened, she truly is a vicious woman.¡±

    The official was right. From what Jing Yuanchu and Heavenly Master Lin did, Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi knew clearly that they had colluded with each other. Other people might not be able to hear what they whispered. But for Leng Changxi who had strong inner Qi and Qin Yunuan whose hearing improved when her eyesight was damaged, they two heard every word Jing Yuanchu and Heavenly Master Lin said. Jing Yuanchu ordered Imperial Concubine Lian, one of his pawns, to contact with Heavenly Master Lin. In this way, even if these pawns were all exposed, Jing Yuanchu still could pass the buck and ward off punishment.

    The veteran official bowed to congratte Jing Donghua for avoiding a disaster, and other people echoed, ¡°Your Majesty, you did a wise decision. We surely can¡¯t put our nation at risk because of this vicious woman.¡±

    See, Imperial Concubine Lian took all the me secretly. Jing Donghua squinted and looked into the distance. He saw a good figure stand up slowly and leave the banquet after nodding to him.

    Suddenly, Jing Donghua felt empty.

    The path near the banquet was crowded with eunuchs and imperial doctors who rushed to send Jing Yuanchu to the nearest pce for treatment. Xihe Pce, where the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess lived, was not far. The Crown Princess already asked people to clean up the East Side Hall, which was near Xihe Pce, for Jing Yuanchu. Maids and eunuchs were waiting at the gate, ready to take orders. The Crown Prince apanied Jing Donghua to discuss national affairs with officials while the Crown Princess took charge of everything in Xihe Pce. Everything went smoothly.

    ¡°Hot water.¡± Imperial doctors opened the door to urge maids to send hot water and cloth here. Although Jing Yuanchu¡¯s arteries were not damaged, he was still seriously injured.

    Having been upied with treatment for long, imperial doctors went out with foreheads covered with sweat. Three doctors treated Jing Yuanchu in turn, and their backs were already wet.

    ¡°Your Grace, Prince Yuanchu is in a stable condition now. Don¡¯t worry.¡±

    Right at this time, a maid who looked unfamiliar rushed here to curtsy to the Crown Princess and imperial doctors. She said, ¡°His Majesty asks me to check whether Prince Yuanchu is fine now.¡±

    The leading imperial doctor wiped off his sweat and answered, ¡°Prince Yuanchu is fine now. I will go with you to report.¡±

    The doctor moved, but the maid didn¡¯t. She pointed at a violet-golden wooden case on the tray with a smile and said, ¡°His Majesty rewards Prince Yuanchu with a Zijin Pill and orders me to help him take it. So I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t go back with you.¡±

    Zijin Pill, which was made of 33 precious herbs, was a kind of mild drugs. Only West Xia¡¯s emperors knew how to make it. There were only a few Zijin Pills, and such pills were fairly effective. The emperor must think very highly of Jing Yuanchu, given that he should reward such a valuable pill to him.

    ¡°Alright.¡± The imperial doctor didn¡¯t say much and just went back to report.

    The Crown Princess raised the corner of her eyes and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you to help Prince Yuanchu to take the pill.¡±

    The maid replied calmly, ¡°Your Grace, you¡¯re married to the Crown Prince. It may be inappropriate for you to help another man to take medicine.¡±

    The Crown Princess smiled. ¡°Right. Shaoyao, you go with her.¡±

    Shaoyao was the maid in charge who served the Crown Princess, and she was reliable. Seeing that they walked away, the Crown Princess was restless. She turned her head to order another maid in charge, ¡°Send them a message that there is something wrong.¡±

    She didn¡¯t say who should receive the message, but the maid knew.

    Suddenly, they heard two thuds. The maid standing near the door shouted, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Shaoyao answered immediately, ¡°Nothing. This clumsy girl knocked over a flower stand. Report this to the Crown Princess.¡±

    Shaoyao was the maid in charge in Xihe Pce, and everyone was familiar with her voice.

    A fragrance permeated the warm pce. Jing Yuanchu whose shoulder was carefully bound up leaned against the bed with his eyes half shut. From the rise and fall of his chest, it could be told that he was still vigorous despite a deep wound.

    The maid who imed to send Zijin Pill to Jing Yuanchu utterly changed her facial expression, not showing her warm smile at all. She kicked Shaoyao, who she knocked out with her elbow just now, and removed her hand away from her throat for no need to imitate Shaoyao anymore. She wore a murderous look.

    She opened the wooden case, in which there was no Zijin Pill, but a poisoned silver needle, the same kind Heavenly Master Lin used to threaten Jing Yuanchu.

    Now, Jing Yuanchu had no strength to fight against her and could only wait for her punishment. The maid smiled. When she was ready to stab the silver needle at Jing Yuanchu¡¯s throat, he suddenly opened his eyes.

    ¡°Who are you? Who sends you here?¡± Jing Yuanchu tried hard to stop the maid. The wound on his left arm dehisced again due to overexertion.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to take revenge for my mistress,¡± the maid said savagely. ¡°My mistress works wholeheartedly for you, but you betray her atst. You sent her to the pce to serve His Majesty, and even flirted with the little mistress before her and suspected her.¡±

    Hearing her voice, Jing Yuanchu recalled that she was an unimpressive maid serving Imperial Concubine Lian. He pushed her away hard and said, ¡°What a lunatic. Your mistress did everything for me voluntarily. She disobeyed my orders many timester, so she has to pay for her waywardness.¡±

    ¡°I will kill you for her.¡± The maid pounced on Jing Yuanchu and aimed the needle at his throat. But right at this time, she was stopped by a ray of dazzling light. When she covered her eyes subconsciously, she was dragged away by someone. Opening her eyes again, she found herself lying on the ground. The person dragging her away was Leng Changxi who showed up suddenly.

    ¡°It¡¯s of no help even if you kill him.¡± Behind Leng Changxi, Qin Yunuan walked out.

    Jing Yuanchu didn¡¯t know when they two showed up. Or, maybe they hid in the pce all the time. The maid who aimed to take revenge for Imperial Concubine Lian was weak, so she was not scary. But he knew clearly that Leng Changxi was so skilled.

    Unconsciously, Jing Yuanchu became nervous.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± The maid looked at Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi in a hostile way. Then, she turned away and continued, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter now. Since you stop me from killing him, you must be his allies. Right, you saved this fickle man on the pce just now. You are his helper.¡± The maid scolded Leng Changxi.

    Qin Yunuanforted her, ¡°People who don¡¯t kill him or save him may not be his allies. Who is the mistress you mentioned?¡±

    The maid turned away. She knew she couldn¡¯t win Leng Changxi so just kept silent.

    ¡°Imperial Concubine Lian?¡± Qin Yunuan blurted the answer out and continued with a smile, ¡°So, who is the little mistress?¡±

    The maid tended to talk but still kept her mouth shut atst.

    Qin Yunuan carefully observed her facial expression. Suddenly, sheughed and asked, ¡°It¡¯s Imperial Concubine Lian¡¯s little sister? I assume she¡¯s Xinger, right?¡±

    ¡°How do you...¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled with satisfaction. ¡°Seems that I¡¯m right about this.¡±

    Seeing the maid who was sulky, Qin Yunuan then looked away at Jing Yuanchu who only wore a thin piece of clothes, with the left shoulder bound up. Because of the fierce struggle, the blood tinted the cloth. His lower body was hidden under the cover. While supporting himself to lean against the bed, he looked vignt and sharp.

    ¡°I¡¯ve investigated Imperial Concubine Lian before,¡± Qin Yunuan said to Jing Yuanchu. ¡°Shees from East Qin. Having drifted around for a long time, she went here and became your maid, together with her young sister. Later, you sent her to the pce and kept her sister in your mansion. This is amonly used trick. You took advantage of Imperial Concubine Lian¡¯s love for her sister to ensure that she would listen to you in the pce. However, unexpectedly, Xinger fell in love with you. Imperial Concubine Lian worried that Xinger would totally be under your control, so disobeyed you many times. She was telling you that she could defy you now so wanted you to set Xinger free. But she didn¡¯t expect that...¡±

    ¡°She didn¡¯t expect that Xinger didn¡¯t want to leave.¡± Jing Yuanchu wore acent smile. ¡°That silly woman really thought she could wield power against me as an imperial concubine. But eventually, she is the one taking the consequences.¡±

    Jing Yuanchuughed in a cruel and evencent manner.

    ¡°You are wrong.¡± Qin Yunuan would not believe that Imperial Concubine Lian was so shallow-headed. ¡°She¡¯s a beautiful woman. She must get something so that she could take her sister here without being hurt from remote East Qin. Zhao Huijin, a powerful man in East Qin, loves to train assassins, but he usually sets extremely strict rules. So many assassins who can¡¯t stand this will change their names and run away. I think Imperial Concubine Lian is one of his assassins. Xinger was young at that time£¬ so she knew little about this. In my opinion, Imperial Concubine Lian must have noticed that you were training Xinger to be an assassin after finding her talent, so she kept disobeying you to prevent her sister from following her example.¡±

 Chapter 289 - The Trick Inside a Trick

    <h4>Chapter 289 The Trick Inside a Trick</h4>

    Just when the three groups of people were in a stalemate, there came the eunuch¡¯s reporting voice that Thirteenth Prince¡¯s wife hade.

    Dou Meishuang? Immediately the woman¡¯s name appeared in Qin Yunuan¡¯s mind. Now Dou Meishuang was no longer the person in the past. She was the Thirteenth Prince¡¯s wife of West Xia, while Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi were nothing right now.

    ¡°You¡¯d better leave now. Where there is life, there is hope.¡± Although Qin Yunuan was persuading the maid to leave, she wouldn¡¯t give up, ¡°If I don¡¯t kill him, I will let my master down.¡±

    ¡°You are unable to kill him, and you¡¯ll die as a result. If your dead master doesn¡¯t even have a person to burn paper money for him, which will really make him disappointed.¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s words made the little maid¡¯s eyes fixed. Biting her lips, she opened the window on the side decisively and jumped out.

    Almost at the same time, a gust of cold wind poured in. The gate of East Side Hall was pulled open by two little eunuchs. The one standing to it was exactly Dou Meishuang, dressing gorgeously. No. Now she should be referred to as Thirteenth Prince¡¯s wife.

    Looking worried, Dou Meishuang was even more surprised when she saw Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi, who seemed to have no reason to be here. She covered her mouth with her long, slender fingers and opened her eyes a little wider, ¡°My third younger cousin and cousin-inw, howe you are here?¡±

    Indeed, her appearance of no harm could fool lots of people.

    Leng Changxi looked back at Jing Yuanchu, who had already cleaned up the mess in a hurry, and said to Dou Meishuang, ¡°Compare to us, shouldn¡¯t you worry more about the safety of your husband?¡±

    Dou Meishuang looked slightly embarrassed. Leng Changxi strode to her and said in a low voice, ¡°Before your entry, didn¡¯t the imperial doctor tell you that Thirteenth Prince was too weak to be blown by the wind? It¡¯s very inappropriate of you to open the gate wide and let the wind in.¡±

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t expose that Dou Meishuang actually was trying to catch the little maid who attempted to kill Jing Yuanchu. He just looked back at Jing Yuanchu and said quite politely, ¡°Your Highness, please take a rest now. My wife and I will visit you the other day.¡±

    The word ¡°visit¡± was said in such a casual way.

    However, the fact was clear that it was Leng Changxi who saved Jing Yuanchu. It remained a mystery why he would pop up in the Xihe Pce and why he saved Jing Yuanchu. Did he still have the hope that he could rectify the name of Elder Princess? Jing Yuanchu sneered in his mind. He didn¡¯t know that in fact, Jing Donghua had already met Elder Princess. He thought that everything was still in his control.

    Jing Yuanchu saw Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan leave in a trance. Dou Meishuang stepped forward and tucked in the corner of the quilt carefully for Jing Yuanchu. It had to be admitted that Dou Meishuang was a beauty. Under her willow-like eyebrows, there was a pair of eyes shining like stars, bright and dazzling. A lightyer of make-up was applied to her face, making her skin look smooth and mellow. What a rare beauty she was! Ambitious as Jing Yuanchu was, he could not hide his desire when facing her.

    ¡°Your Highness, are you alright?¡± Dou Meishuang always appeared to be a gentle, generous, and virtuous wife in front of Jing Yuanchu.

    Jing Yuanchu escaped Dou Meishuang¡¯s inquiring eyes. Imperial Concubine Lian was under the leadership of Zhao Huijin in East Qin, who had always been deeply connected to the Dou Family as both the ally and the partner of them. Although the Dou Family copsed now and Zhao Huijin waspletely wiped out, so many assassins in the world could not all be killed simply. The reason why Dou Meishuang was able to persuade Sima Ray to keep her alive was because of the resources she had. If Dou Meishuang knew that just now someone wanted to kill Jing Yuanchu, she would definitely ask about the reason. If she knew that not only Jing Yuanchu took in the assassins who ran away from Zhao Huijin, but he also used and fooled them, the rtionship between them would beplicated.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Jing Yuanchu looked at Dou Meishuang with a smile, ¡°Just now I wanted to get a cup of tea for myself. And it cracked the wound.¡± Smiling, Jing Yuanchu pointed to his left shoulder, which was bloodstained.

    ¡°How muddled you are,¡± Dou Meishuang gave a look of reproach and concern, which seduced Jing Yuanchu, ¡°Those trifles are supposed to be my business.¡± While saying, she poured a cup of warm tea for Jing Yuanchu. She took a sip to ensure that the temperature was suitable before handing it to Jing Yuanchu¡¯s lips.

    Looking at Dou Meishuang¡¯s concentrated appearance, a n popped up in Jing Yuanchu¡¯s mind.

    Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi were walking back along the long path of the pce outside.

    ¡°It¡¯s absolutely no coincidence for Dou Meishuang to show up,¡± Qin Yunuan said such a sentence suddenly, ¡°And there must be an internal reason why she didn¡¯t appear at the feast.¡±

    Yes. Being absent as a prince¡¯s legal wife was really confusing.

    Leng Changxi nodded and kept watching straight ahead. When the two people walked somewhere covert, a ck figure jumped off the wall suddenly. It was Leng Wu.

    ¡°General, the little maid is already in control. She left the pce and found a hotel to stay without leaving West Liang City. I assume that she¡¯s waiting for the next chance to act.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s normal,¡± Leng Changxi stroked the edge of the silver mask, ¡°Now that she dares to attack Jing Yuanchu in the pce, she won¡¯t give up her goal unless she realizes it.¡±

    Back to the courier, the Elder Princess¡¯s room was totally silent. The little maid they bought several days ago was looking after Elder Princess¡¯s decoction which wouldfort her nerves at the door. When she saw Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi were back, she looked as if she had seen saviors.

    ¡°Young Master, Young Madam, finally you¡¯re back!¡± Leng Changxi eximed to other people that he was Elder Princess¡¯s foster son, so he was called Young Master.

    ¡°Once Her Highness was back, she locked herself inside the room and wouldn¡¯t let us in. ording to the prescription, she needs to drink one decoction every day.¡±

    Leng Changxi waved to let the little maid leave. He took over the decoction and pushed the door open. It was warm and fragrant inside. What was burning was the incense of Sweet Olive, which was Elder Princess¡¯s favorite. It could be vaguely seen that a person was lying at an angle on the bed, elegant and graceful.

    ¡°Mother.¡± Leng Changxi called in a soft voice. The figure turned aroundzily. Hair down loosely, Elder Princess turned her rxed, charming face. She was so beautiful. Even though she was over 40, she still had an attractive beauty after being looked at a hundred times.

    It was because Leng Changxi inherited beauty from his mother and inner Qi and wisdom from his father that he was second to nobody in the world.

    ¡°Time for medicine,¡± Leng Changxi put the half-warmforting decoction on the small mahogany tea table beside, sat on the foot-stool and looked at Elder Princess.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to drink it,¡± Elder Princess stood up with the thin nket on her body falling down her shoulder, ¡°Changxi, do you see Jing Donghua today? He is so different from the person I used to know. Previously, he was so gentle. I forbade him from killing rabbits and roasting them, so he had the small, sour wild fruit with me. I wouldn¡¯t let him punish servants casually who did wrong things, and he would also listen to me. Today, however, he can kill someone so easily and put the woman beside him into the water dungeon at will. To me, he is horrible.¡±

    Elder Princess was a woman of purity and honesty. The emperor and Queen Mother in Qi protected her heart from being polluted. Then she spent those days without scheme against each other for power under Jing Donghua¡¯s care. She couldn¡¯t understand many things. She was like a transparent lotus, which was unable to live in such a world. Sometimes Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi shared the feeling that Elder Princess actually belonged to Yeren Valley, not this mortal world.

    ¡°Mother,¡± Leng Changxi said in a soft voice, ¡°Jing Donghua, besides being the man who loved you in the past, he is also an emperor. ughter and cruelty are the necessary characteristics of an emperor. The so-called wise emperors just know who to kill while the so-called policies of benevolence just kill fewer people.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Elder Princess looked a little incredulous.

    Leng Changxi nodded, ¡°This is the truth. You cannot only ept the Jing Donghua who is as gentle as water. You need to ept the truth that he is the emperor of West Xia. It¡¯s his duty to kill the evil and protect the faithful and upright.¡±

    Just at that moment when a high-pitched female voice came from outside suddenly, ¡°Your Highness, Thirteenth Prince sends me to bring new soothing decoction. It¡¯s the new prescription by Mr. Lu in the mansion.¡±

    When Leng Changxi and Elder Princess talked for a long time in the room, Qin Yunuan had always been guarding the door. She found that the one came to send the medicine was nobody else but Xinger, who was calm as if it were no big deal. ording to Qin Yunuan¡¯s knowledge about Xinger, she couldn¡¯t have known that her biological sister, Imperial Concubine Lian, had died in the Royal Pce.

    Smiling, Qin Yunuan moved to Xinger. Seeing that the light brown potion in the te on Xinger¡¯s hand was much more fragrant and purer than the previous one, she asked, ¡°The previous potion was taken normally. Why does His Highness think of changing the prescription? As far as I know, Lu Wuyi is good at researching poison and acupuncture. He doesn¡¯t like prescribing decoction forforting nerves.¡±

    Xinger winced, ¡°I assume that it¡¯s a good prescription Mr. Lu finds by luck.¡±

    ¡°Now that it¡¯s a good prescription, Xinger, you take a sip first. I want to see it,¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s smile terrified Xinger.

    ¡°Humph,¡± Xinger hesitated naturally.

    ¡°What? You dare not do it?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll follow your order,¡± Xinger scooped up a spoonful of the medicine without hesitation, gulped it into her mouth, and swallowed it down.

    Qin Yunuan smiled and answered, ¡°How nervous you are! Well, bring in the medicine. It happens that the previous one is cold now.¡±

    Listening to what happened outside, Leng Changxi nced at Elder Princess and tried to persuade her, ¡°Mother, you haven¡¯t had anything for a day. Drink the medicine. What about me going out to buy your favorite white sugar caketer?¡±

    Seeing that Leng Changxi was so sincere, Elder Princess nodded slightly, took the medicine Xinger passed to her, and drank it down. She wiped the corner of her mouth and smiled, ¡°The medicine this time was so sweet. It¡¯s tasty and refreshing.¡±

    Leng Changxi answered gently, ¡°It¡¯s good that you like it.¡±

    However, by sunset when Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi were apanying Elder Princess to finish the dinner, a message came from the side room.

    ¡°Young Master, Young Madam, there¡¯s something with Xinger,¡± the maid who came recently ran into the house in bewilderment and gasped, ¡°I went into her room to take the embroidery shelf just now when I found that she fell on the bed. Blood kept pouring from her eyes and nose. It¡¯s so horrifying!¡±

 Chapter 290 - Killing Two Birds with One Stone

    <h4>Chapter 290 Killing Two Birds with One Stone</h4>

    When Qin Yunuan came fully clothed, there were already so many people outside Xinger¡¯s house. It was no trifle that a person died in the courier, which was an institution set by the court. Everyone going in and out of it was recorded. The officer of the courier was addressed as Yizhang, who was a faint-hearted old man. Once he learned that someone had died here, he led people to surround the small side room closely. The moment he saw Qin Yunuaning, he hurried to greet her.

    ¡°Madam, our courier has always been purely innocent. Now this thing happened! The body should never be left in the courier. She is your servant girl. You¡¯d better deal with it quickly.¡±

    ¡°Officer Du, you¡¯ve said that someone¡¯s death is a big deal. Then let us figure it out anyway. If there is something harmful or forbidden in the courier, we can find it out for you in order to prevent trouble in the future.¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked around the several people brought by the officer, who were all young and inexperienced. She smiled, ¡°Now that you¡¯ve brought so many people here, I¡¯m sure that you want to urge us to solve this event as soon as possible so as to protect the courier¡¯s reputation. However, have you ever heard one saying that walls have ears? Also, there are so many people and so many voices here. It¡¯s hard to keep it a secret. Sir, please think twice before you take action.¡±

    Officer Du thought for a while. Actually, he hadn¡¯t made up his mind in the first ce. Being timid and overcautious, he got the easy official position only because of therge donation from his family. Hemanded people behind him severely, ¡°All right! You should leave now. What¡¯s more, don¡¯t speak about what happened today. If I hear any rumor about it, I¡¯ll make all of you feel sorry for it.¡±

    His subordinates expressed their assent and left one after another, leaving a personal servant to follow Officer Du only.

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t refuse it. She asked Leng Wu who camouged as the coachman to open the door. The moment the wooden door was open, Qin Yunuan¡¯s sensitive sense seemed to smell the unusual odor in the air, which was familiar, but she could not tell at once.

    The little girl in the courier saw Xinger bleeding from her mouth, nostrils, eyes, and ears from the window. Now the whole picture of her death was even more terrifying. She leaned over the small wooden table on the bed with an unfinished embroidery shelf by her hand. On the white silk cloth, there was a half-finished Peony which was vivid and lifelike. However, there were bloodstains on the bed, Xinger¡¯s sleeves, and the embroidery shelf. The blood around the star¡¯s nose, mouth, and ears had already solidified, and the crimson, as well as her hand clutching the mattress tightly, showed how much she had suffered before she died.

    The short, fat Officer Du was a little clumsy. As soon as he entered, he saw the Peony on the embroidery shelf. Seeming to have thought of something, he prepared to step forward to observe the embroidery shelf without any scruple.

    ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s voice was cold, ¡°If I were you, I wouldn¡¯t move anything in the room at will, because every trace inside would be the evidence.¡±

    ¡°Evidence?¡± Officer Du looked at Xinger¡¯s mort phase and covered his eyes loathly, ¡°What evidence does it need? It can only prove that the girl took things too hard andmitted suicide by taking poison. Just get the body out.¡±

    It seemed that the muddled officer wanted to solve it as soon as possible.

    ¡°Who will bother to embroider beforemitting suicide?¡± Qin Yunuan tossed her head to look at the embroidery shelf. She remembered that although Imperial Concubine Lian got her title after the lotus, her favorite flower was Peony. On the day of her appearance, the hemline of her dress was embroidered with many red ponies. It could be concluded that the handkerchief Xinger was embroidering was for her sister.

    Officer Du tossed his head to the other side, unable to refute.

    The post-mortem examiner Officer Du asked soon came. People with no duty like Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi went out of the house. Qin Yunuan had been thinking of what odor was in the house. Suddenly, she came up with the answer.

    ¡°The servant girl is poisoned to death,¡± when the post-mortem examiner came out, he sorted out the filth extracted from Xinger¡¯s mouth, ¡°Judging from the death time, she was poisoned in the afternoon.¡±

    The afternoon!

    It urred to Qin Yunuan that the odor in the room was exactly the fragrance of the soothing soup sent by Xinger in the afternoon.

    Gosh. Elder Princess.

    Qin Yunuan nced at Leng Changxi, who had guessed the result from the post-mortem examiner¡¯s words just now. The two people ran towards Elder Princess¡¯s room in tandem. Being attracted by Xinger¡¯s death, everybody ignored Elder Princess now.

    Implementing light skills, Leng Changxi disappearedpletely at once. When Qin Yunuan arrived, Elder Princess had already been in aa on the bed. Different from Xinger, although Elder Princess had had more decoction, she remained a peaceful appearance without bleeding from parts of her body. However, no matter how Leng Changxi was calling her, she didn¡¯t wake up.

    Qin Yunuan stepped forward, felt her pulse and relieved a little, ¡°She¡¯s still got the pulse, but it¡¯s very weak.¡±

    ¡°Jing Yuanchu!¡± Leng Changxi shouted the name with anger and hatred.

    ¡°It¡¯s not the time to me him,¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s brain was fast functioning. She remembered that when Xinger sent the medicine here, she had said that it was Lu Wuyi¡¯s new prescription, ¡°Changxi, take Lu Wuyi here from Thirteenth Prince¡¯s Mansion. The prescription is the result of his research. Of course, he will have a solution.¡±

    Leng Changxi was burning with anxiety. With no more words, he left through the window. Elder Princess was one of the most important women in his heart. He could not allow any ident to happen to his mother.

    Seeing Leng Changxi leave in a hurry, Qin Yunuan nodded and said to Leng Wu, who had followed her here, ¡°Leng Wu, follow him. Now that Jing Yuanchu asked Lu Wuyi to make this kind of poison, he must have thought that Changxi woulde to take Lu Wuyi here. He will certainly double his guards. Go to help Changxi.¡±

    How considerate Madam was! Bowing his fists, Leng Wu also left in haste after answering ¡°Yes¡±.

    Then Qin Yunuan said to the little servant girl behind her, ¡°Go to take the silver pin in my room.¡± When Sun Miaoyang was in Qin Yunuan¡¯s yard, Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t waste the chance. She learned a little from him. Although she could not promise to make Elder Princess recover, she remembered several acupuncture points that could slow down the metabolism of a person. Therefore, she could slow down the speed of Elder Princess to absorb the poison.

    At that time, it was all dark outside. Officer Du urged with great determination that Xinger¡¯s body should be dealt with as soon as possible. The timid officer could never bear anything like a person dying in the courier, especially when the mort phase was so terrible.

    When the little servant girl came to convey the message from Officer Du, Qin Yunuan was giving Elder Princess thest needle. She had never done it herself before. When Doctor Sun diagnosed and cured others, he would exin some main points of it to her. It was lucky that Qin Yunuan was talented and hard-working. Adding that she had practiced with bare hands many times, now she had got the feeling of doing it. Bean-sized beads of sweat are slowly pooling into a stream from Qin Yu¡¯s forehead down her cheeks when the servant girl¡¯s worried words repeated by her ears.

    Qin Yunuan gave a deep sigh when she finished giving thest needle. She wiped the sweat on her forehead with her sleeves before said, ¡°Then go to tell him that Xinger listened to Thirteenth Prince. If he dares to deal with her body at his own will, he is against His Highness directly. Also, say it in a loud voice so that everybody will know that Xinger had an extraordinary rtionship with Thirteenth Prince, and that she had a kinship to Imperial Concubine Lian in the pce.¡±

    The little servant girl was distracted. At the age of 13, she was too young toe up with the idea that Xinger, who had been extremely strict to her, had such aplicated background, ¡°Madam, is that OK? This is pping Thirteenth Prince on his face.¡±

    ¡°Or what?¡± Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°This is exactly what I want. Anyway, stir up trouble as much as you can do. But how much depends on you.¡± Qin Yunuan gave the servant girl a look of deep significance, which seemed to be an encouragement or a hint.

    Suddenly, a muffled bang came from the beam. Qin Yunuan gave a slight nce upward. She knew that it was Leng Changxiing back. After urging the servant girl to do things, she walked out of the house in a hurry. As she had expected, on the beam stood Leng Changxi and Lu Wuyi.

    Leng Changxi looked tall and lithe with the shorts he was wearing. However, Lu Wuyi, who had been dragged all the way here with hands tied up, only wore a piece of clothes. It was obvious that he was dragged out when he was sleeping. He was so dejected. Seeing Qin Yunuan on the ground, he was about to say something when a man in ck fell onto the beam steadily with a gust of wind. Sharp-eyed and a dagger in his hand, the man in ck must be the guarding assassin of Thirteenth Prince¡¯s Mansion. He must be strong and vigorous. At least, there were few people who could fall behind Leng Changxi only a little on light skills.

    The tone of the man in ck was rather proud. Raising his head, he said directly to Leng Changxi, ¡°What a bold thief! Daring to take away a person from Thirteenth Prince¡¯s Mansion! Stop resisting!¡±

    ¡°Can you stop me?¡± Leng Changxi nced at the man in ck in contempt.

    The next moment, two men in ck popped up. One was holding a machete, the other was using two swords. Both of them were masters in the prince¡¯s mansion. Leng Changxi was sure to win when fighting with two people. However, the fight could be hard if he needed to beat three at the same time.

    ¡°Powerful as you are, you can never beat us! We are three brothers. Have you ever heard of Three Swords of West Xia?¡±

    Three Swords of West Xia. Among them, the eldest brother used a long sword, the second brother used a dagger, and the third one used two swords. They knew each other well. Even without words, they could cooperate with each other perfectly. Qin Yunuan had heard about them when she entered West Xia. It never urred to her that those legendary men could be taken in by Jing Yuanchu.

    Just when Leng Changxi was hesitating, Leng Wu came from the back of the three men in ck, moved to Leng Changxi, and fought together with him, ¡°General, I¡¯vee to help you.¡±

    Immediately Leng Changxi was confident. Looking at Lu Wuyi by his hand who was of no help, Leng Changxi kicked him off the beam with no mercy. He rolled all the way off the roof. Qin Yunuan ducked, and Lu Wuyi fell to her feet by coincidence.

    ¡°Nuan, let the ungrateful traitor save my mother. Leng Wu and I will be responsible for the outside.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nced at Lu Wuyi. Thetter looked extremely painful. With a mere nce, it was clear that his leg was broken.

    ¡°Got a broken leg?¡± Qin Yunuan kneeled down and sneered to Lu Wuyi, ¡°That¡¯s all right. As long as your brain and mouth are useful, it will work.¡±

 Chapter 291 - Sleeping Beauty

    <h4>Chapter 291 Sleeping Beauty</h4>

    After Qin Yunuan finished speaking, she called the little maid beside her and dragged Lu Wuyi into the room.

    Lu Wuyi was ced beside Elder Princess¡¯s bed. Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t say anything. She didn¡¯t need to. The two understood each other. Lu Wuyi had to detoxify his own poison.

    ¡°I can¡¯t do it... I can¡¯t... I¡¯m not lying.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Is that true?¡± Qin Yunuan raised the corner of her mouth slightly to Lu Wuyi. She suddenly pinched his chin and stuffed a purple pill into Lu Wuyi¡¯s mouth. She pressed Lu Wuyi¡¯s chin, forcing him to swallow the pill, and then smiled, ¡°Now, you should be able to do it.¡±

    Lu Wuyi scratched his throat desperately, ¡°What did you give me? You, crazy woman.¡±

    ¡°The only poison I can make,¡± Qin Yunuan squinted her eyes, and the sound of weapons came from the beam of the room. A fight seemed to have begun on the roof. Qin Yunuan looked down at Lu Wuyi, her eyes sharp and cold, ¡°It¡¯s just Heartbreak Powder. You are a drug maker, so you should know how powerful this poison is.¡±

    ¡°You are lying to me. You can¡¯t know how to make Heartbreak Powder. You are just a woman.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°Before Chen Wan could make such miraculous types of equipment, everyone thought she was just a woman. What about a woman? If you couldn¡¯t save Elder Princess, aren¡¯t you dead as well?¡±

    Lu Wuyi had no choice but to turn around to get the pulse for Elder Princess. As he touched her pulse, he said with surprise on his face, ¡°Is there an expert who sealed the meridian for Elder Princess?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about this, just save her.¡± Qin Yunuan turned sideways and let the little maid of the courier station watch Lu Wuyi from making any tricks. She went to the side room and took her medicine box. Lu Wuyi came in a hurry, so he couldn¡¯t have brought his own medicine box. Even if he did, Qin Yunuan would also worry about its contents.

    Just as Qin Yunuan came back with her box, Leng Changxi and Leng Wu had taken down the three men on the roof. The legendary Three Swords of West Xia was nothing more than that. Leng Wu¡¯s arm was wounded, but Leng Changxi remained unharmed. Of these people, one man had his heart pierced, another was kicked off the roof by Leng Changxi and died, and Leng Wu twisted and broke the bones of thest man. No one was spared.

    ¡°Dispose of the corpse.¡± Leng Changxi ordered Leng Wu. He didn¡¯t want the timid and fearful Officer Du to find anything wrong.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on inside?¡± Leng Changxi wiped the blood on the long knife, which he had snatched from one assassin. The three little thieves were not enough for him to use his long spear.

    Holding the medicine box, Qin Yunuan was about to ask when the little maid inside hurried out, shouting, ¡°Elder Princess is awake.¡±

    This was undoubtedly good news. Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan rushed in, but they only found Lu Wuyi with a helpless look.

    ¡°Sorry, I have tried my best.¡± Lu Wuyi was wearing a single shirt, shaking in the cold wind.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say she woke up just now?¡± Leng Changxi took out the long knife in his hand directly and put it on Lu Wuyi¡¯s neck, ¡°What tricks are you ying?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have any tricks at all,¡± Lu Wuyi said, weeping without his tears, ¡°If I wanted to y tricks, I wouldn¡¯t have provided with so many nursery prescriptions for Elder Princess in advance, just to reduce the toxicity of Blue Blood Decoction yesterday.¡±

    ¡°Blue Blood Decoction?¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s face went pale, ¡°You gave Elder Princess Blue Blood Decoction?¡±

    Blue Blood Decoction was extremely poisonous. It could pierce through the intestines within an hour after taking, and the internal organs would turn into a pool of sewage, which would flow out from the mouth and nose. Just like Xinger before her death, the taker of the decoction would bleed from his seven orifices, and there would be no cure. The corpse would continue to decay for a long time until it bes a pool of sewage with a bluish color, which gave the decoction a name.

    Lu Wuyi poisoned Elder Princess in such a merciless way.

    ¡°You have known Jing Yuanchu¡¯s n a long time ago. You knew that Jing Yuanchu was going to put his hand on Elder Princess?¡± Leng Changxi pulled over Lu Wuyi¡¯s cor, and the cool breeze poured into his skirt. But it couldn¡¯t match the icy chill in Leng Changxi¡¯s eyes. This chill could kill people.

    ¡°I...¡± Lu Wuyi¡¯s voice trembled, ¡°I¡¯m in the Thirteenth Prince¡¯s Mansion. I live under his roof and want to survive. Is there any other way besides obeying the devil? Knowing Jing Yuanchu would do something to Elder Princess, I have tried my best to avoid it. I deliberately added herbs in the secret recipe of Elder Princess¡¯s spirit-quieting decoction. It was to protect the blood vessels and meridians. I heard that a little maid had already died in the courier station, right? She bled to death, which looked exactly the same as the death of Blue Blood Decoction poisoning. Why was Elder Princess safe? General Leng, think about it, think about it.¡±

    Lu Wuyi was almost pleading. He used to be a proud healer, but in the Thirteenth Prince¡¯s Mansion, he had seen too much suffering of people who were unwilling to submit to Jing Yuanchu. His heart seemed to have changed too. In his perspective, there had never been differences between so-called prosperous and chaotic times, and people were struggling forward in various kinds of silent turbulences, even in those seemingly peaceful eras. He didn¡¯t want to be the weak who was swallowed up by the waves. Therefore, he could only turn to submission and dependence on the strong to survive.

    Leng Changxi pointed at the unconscious Elder Princess, saying to Lu Wuyi ruthlessly, ¡°Think about it? I don¡¯t even know if Elder Princess was alive or dead, how dare you ask me?¡±

    ¡°Elder Princess was not in an uncertain state.¡± Lu Wuyi hurriedly exined, ¡°My herbs had protected her heart. The toxins did not invade her internal organs. She just fell asleep, she could hear, smell and feel, but she could not speak, open her eyes, or move.¡±

    Leng Changxi tightened his grip, and the de wounded Lu Wuyi¡¯s neck, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that make her a living dead?¡±

    ¡°But she is not dead, General Leng. I am just a medical practitioner. I have reached my limit doing everything for her.¡± Lu Wuyi pleaded bitterly, choking for a few moments.

    Leng Changxi looked back and saw Qin Yunuan shaking her head slightly. He then let go of the long knife in his hand, turned sideways to Lu Wuyi and said, ¡°Go.¡±

    Lu Wuyi was taken aback for a moment. Then he stood up abruptly and left as quickly as possible.

    The rustling of people moving came immediately from the beam. Qin Yunuan could conclude that it came from the masters hired by the thirteenth prince. They had followed Lu Wuyi along the way, so she told Leng Changxi to let him go. Even if Leng Changxi didn¡¯t kill him, Lu Wuyi couldn¡¯t walk out of the courier station alive. It assured Jing Yuanchu more if Lu Wuyi was dead under his hands.

    Lu Wuyi left, and the little maid was also temporarily ordered to leave. The whole room became quiet instantly. Elder Princessy quietly on the bed. Her face looked calm and peaceful, as if she was asleep. Leng Changxi watched silently, still hoping in his heart that maybe the next moment, she would wake up.

    ¡°Changxi.¡± Qin Yunuan held Leng Changxi¡¯s fingers quietly. His fingertips were cold, ¡°Just like Lu Wuyi said, Elder Princess could still hear us, and if we are sad, she will feel it too.¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded. He also took down the debt Jing Yuanchu owed.

    Sure enough, the homicide cases in the courier station spread out within two days. In addition to Xinger, who died in the penthouse, there was also a male corpse in the alley by the back door of courier station. Strangely, the man was only wearing a single shirt when he died in such a cold winter. As for the three assassins that Leng Changxi and Leng Wu fought with, they were well buried, and no ws were found. It was impossible for Jing Yuanchu toe and ask for them.

    Almost in an instant, the courier station attracted considerable attention, so that the story of a legendary missing princess of Qi in the courier station was also known to all. The identity of Elder Princess was exposed to everyone, and Leng Changxi, as well as Qin Yunuan, had also be the subject of discussion.

    This was a day that all the officials were silent in the court hall. Jing Donghua, who had just recovered from a serious illness, came to the court for the first time. However, there was only Jing Yuanchu kneeling under the golden steps.

    In West Xia¡¯s Hall of Golden Chime, sixteencquered bronze pirs propped up the magnificent roof, and the ck marbles on the ground reflected the quiet crowd, the people were either standing or kneeling, adding to the solemn atmosphere.

    ¡°It¡¯s my fault,¡± Jing Yuanchu kowtowed, pressing his entire forehead to the ground. The coldness on the ground made his fingertips tremble slightly, and he seemed to be more pious. ¡°At first, I thought that father still needed to recuperate and should not be too excited. After being picked up from Yeren Valley, Elder Princess was also in a daze, even unable to speak normally. Therefore, I wanted to postpone the information of finding Elder Princess temporarily and wait until half a monthter before your birthday. But I didn¡¯t expect that something like this would happen in the courier station. The maidservant I sent to take care of Elder Princess was killed innocently, and Elder Princess had also been unconscious. The time when father meets his longing friend is just around the corner, but my extra effort changed everything. Father, I have to confess my crime.¡±

    Just after Jing Yuanchu finished speaking, ministers came forward and pleaded for him, ¡°Your Majesty, the thirteenth prince had taken almost everything into consideration, which was a sign of his filial piety. It was all the fault of those viins. It had nothing to do with the prince.¡±

    Even the Crown Prince Jing Yuanxiao stepped forward to intercede for Jing Yuanchu. For a time, all the ministers seemed to be on Jing Yuanchu¡¯s side. Jing Donghua sat high on the dragon chair and looked down on them, thinking back to thest time he saw Qinghe. The two couldn¡¯t even have a good talk. Now she passed out and couldn¡¯t wake up. Jing Donghua¡¯s heart was inevitably deste, but looking down at Jing Yuanchu, who was filled with filial piety, it seemed even more unreasonable to me it on him. He just shook his head and said softly, ¡°No matter what happened, you did your work with filial respect. It doesn¡¯t make sense if I me it on you, get up.¡±

    Jing Yuanchu stood up as if he had been granted amnesty. He said more respectfully, ¡°I knew that I hadmitted a big mistake, and I am willing to make up for it with other good news. In fact, when I found Elder Princess, I was confirmed that her child was still alive. These days I have been sending people to search for him painstakingly. Just this morning, there was finally news that my brother, who had been long-lost, was found. He is now outside the court. Please summon him in.¡±

 Chapter 292 - A Fake Prince for a Real One

    <h4>Chapter 292 A Fake Prince for a Real One</h4>

    In fact, Jing Donghua and Elder Princess¡¯s love affair was a secret one year ago. But the royal family of West Xia seemed to have a dim future in continuing bloodlines. Except for the Crown Prince Jing Yuanxiao and the thirteenth prince Jing Yuanchu, other princes were injured or dead one after another. ording to the Empress¡¯st wish, Jing Yuanxiao would be the Crown Prince.

    But he was too slow-witted to be a wise emperor that rule this country. While West Xia sought the birth mother¡¯s status and bloodline of great importance, the thirteenth prince Jing Yuanchu was born in low status. If Jing Donghua and Elder Princess¡¯s son were still alive, he may not be able to kick off the crown prince. But if he could be entitled as a marquis to help Jing Yuanxiao, the two could be praised aspanionate brothers.

    However, nobody had ever expected the sudden appearance of the rumored illegitimate child.

    Doors opened. A tall man was standing in the doorway. The strong sunlight cast a glow into the great hall, throwing his elongated shadow on the marble floor abruptly. As he approached, people started to observe his face.

    He had heavy features. Bushy eyebrows and big sunken eyes made him a deep look. He looked like Jing Donghua, which could be told from his long fingers, appearance, the aura surrounding him when he walked, even his twinkle and smile. His features were almost the same as Jing Donghua that nobody would suspect his royal descendant¡¯s identity.

    All those present were stunned. Jing Yuanchu watched their faces with enjoyment; his head held high.

    Theer kneeled before Jing Donghua with dignity, shouting ¡°long live Your Majesty¡± loudly like ordinary people.

    Jing Donghua raised his hand without extra expression, but he couldn¡¯t help the quiver in his voice, ¡°Stand up and tell me your name.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Nameless.¡± He lowered his head.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you even have a name?¡±

    ¡°I have never met my birth parents. What I am called is given by my master who adopted me. Though I am grateful for my master bringing me up, in my mind, I don¡¯t have a name.¡± His answer seemed to touch the very soft part inside Jing Donghua¡¯s heart.

    He had met Elder Princess already. Though he had no idea where their son was, Jing Donghua assured the son was still alive. For a time, Jing Donghua took the silver mask man at Elder Princess¡¯ side to be his son, but that person denied and said he was a foster son. This telling put Jing Donghua off. Everyone wanted to please him brazenly because he was the supreme emperor. If the silver-masker were his real son, Jing Donghua would do whatever he could imagine doting on him, not to mention he was missing for years.

    But there are people not willing to tter him for the sake of so-called status.

    At the same time, when Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan heard of what had happened in the courier station, Jing Donghua permitted the unidentified so-called ¡°missing prince¡± to stay overnight as a reward.

    ¡°What a scheme!¡± Qin Yunuan felt what Leng Changxi had done was undeserved. She pped on the tea table heavily, which, after, burst into slight cracking. Since Leng Changxi found Qin Yunuan¡¯s body had been changed by the poison of insect and could cultivate together with him, he utilized the poison to fine-tune Qin Yunuan¡¯s inner Qi. Though Qin Yunuan¡¯s inner Qi improved a lot, she wasck of essential martial art ability. Therefore, Leng Changxi had to consider twice before teaching her fist positions or how to use her inner Qi.

    Leng Changxi held Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand softly. He nced at the table, noticed a lightning-shaped crack on it. It seemed that Qin Yunuan¡¯s inner Qi was enhanced.

    ¡°Why do you fly into such a fury?¡± Filled with love, Leng Changxi blew on her slightly red hands tenderly.

    ¡°Jing Yuanchu faked someone to be the heir of Elder Princess. Don¡¯t you ever feel angry about that? His Majesty pardoned his stay in the Royal Pce...This will bring troubles. I¡¯ve heard that His Majesty treats the counterfeit like a real prince. You ought to own all of these, but now they belong to others. Don¡¯t you ever feel angry about that?¡± At the thought of Leng Changxi being taken ced of by somebody, Qin Yunuan¡¯s grievances overflowed.

    Leng Changxi shook his head, ¡°There is no need for us to drift all this way if I only care about wealth and prestige. If I am eager for them, I shall agree to surrender to Sima Ray in Qi. But now, nothing is more important than curing my mother. After that, I will borrow troops from West Xia, go back to Qi, and save the imprisoned emperor of Qi.¡±

    ¡°But now you are even unable to recognize His Majesty to be your father.¡± Qin Yunuan fired up. Just then, her maid Cai¡¯er came in. She carried with the message that people from Jing Yuanchu¡¯s pces will be here in a minute.

    See, there were people hurrying to swagger.

    Qin Yunuan sneered. She ordered Cai¡¯er to serve theing guests at the side hall. Leng Changxi consoled her gently, ¡°Usually you are calm. It seems that nothing troubles you. But now you are in a temper for me. Seeing this, I¡¯m quite delighted.¡±

    His words amused Qin Yunuan. She kept giggling shyly and made a fist, pretending to punch Leng Changxi¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Oh dear, again you make fun of me!¡±

    ¡°Do I?¡± Leng Changxi weighted on her body. The intimate feeling soared. His charming voice lowered like the solo contrabass, ¡°That¡¯s not the way I make fun of you.¡± After saying this, his hot hand went caressing her fair and smooth cheeks. The feverish touching shuddered Qin Yunuan, and her body softened unexpectedly.

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes got blurred. Ventrilo-like eyshes dropped down-they were long enough to cast a ray of shadow on her face. With lip softened and numb, she was out of consciousness about what she was saying, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you are saying. It¡¯s daytime, and I still have guests outside.¡±

    ¡°Then tell me what I¡¯m going to do.¡± Leng Changxi would not give up halfway since he started. For him, seeing his Nuan submit herself to him meekly was an enjoyment. He loved the feeling of owning her from top to toe,pletely.

    ¡°You know what I will do, don¡¯t you?¡± the moment Leng Changxi¡¯s hand was ready to run over her body, Cai¡¯er¡¯s voice passed over.

    ¡°Your Grace, Young Master and Young Madam are taking care of Elder Princess. Please have a seat and wait for a second!¡±

    She filled her voice with anxiety. Qin Yunuan told her to keep everyone away. In Cai¡¯er¡¯s mind, everyone, of course, included Dou Meishuang.

    ¡°Where do you get the nerve? Nanny Yun, p her on the face.¡±

    ¡°Who dares?¡± Qin Yunuan opened the door and stood next to it. She stopped Dou Meishuang¡¯s rampant behavior.

    Dou Meishuang was in a mboyant style of wearing. She posed like a royaldy. The elderly nanny stood beside her was old-aged. But shecked the mercy and benevolence at her age. She was a devil directing an uplifted arm, yet hadn¡¯t went down, towards Cai¡¯er, who was now trembling with fears.

    Dou Meishuang noticed Qin Yunuan¡¯s appearance. She shifted to a smiley face, but much more fake than her cruelty before, ¡°Oh! My younger female cousin, you are inside. I thought this maid was lying to me. Given that you are such a good sister of mine; it is impossible that you won¡¯t let me in.¡±

    Qin Yunuan hinted Cai¡¯er to leave. She retorted, ¡°Impossible things can happen.¡±

    With no panic, Dou Meishuangughed, ¡°Yunuan, you¡¯re joking again. I was appointed by Jing Yuanchu to invite Elder Princess to the Royal Pce. His Majesty has been searching for Elder Princess for quite a long time. Considering His Majesty didn¡¯t feel well before, Jing Yuanchu didn¡¯t report the message up. But now Elder Princess gets hurt only a few days after she has stayed in the hotel. His Majesty is worried about Elder Princess, therefore he determines to bring her to the Royal Pce.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stared at Dou Meishuang with a smile, ¡°My dear cousin, though Dou Qing¡¯e didn¡¯t bring you up, your manner and way of speaking were just the same. Now I see why people alike are always in the same family.¡±

    Dou Meishuang¡¯s lip¡¯s corner went up, ¡°Aunty Dou is always in good taste. She arranges everything well inside the house. I¡¯ll be proud of it if I can learn from her a little bit.¡±

    ¡°You misunderstood me,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled sweetly, ¡°I mean, it is out of question that you inherit her hypocrisy: angel¡¯s face, devil¡¯s deed.¡±

    Hearing this, Nanny Yun got vexed. She came up yelling, ¡°Learn your courtesy! Here stands Jing Yuanchu¡¯s Princess!¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Qin Yunuan slightly bowed to Nanny Yun, ¡°It is so well-bred and courageous of you to shout that loud inside the hotel.¡±

    ¡°You!¡±

    ¡°Well, Nanny Yun, don¡¯t take it as a matter. All their tricks have been exhausted except to tongue.¡± Said Dou Meishuang, holding her head high, ¡°So you refuse to hand over Elder Princess?¡±

    ¡°Provided Her Royal Highness intends to do so,¡± Qin Yunuan stepped forward. With about the same height, she directly looking into her eyes, ¡°Why don¡¯t you go inside and ask her? If she is willing to go with you, how dare I be a barrier?¡±

    ¡°Are you making fun of me?¡± Dou Meishuang got angry, ¡°A person loses the ability to speak or move...it is such silly of you expecting me to ask a living-dead to give her nod.¡±

    ¡°Ah-oh,¡± Qin Yunuan covered her mouth, pretended to be surprised, ¡°My dear cousin, people only hear about that she is in aa after the attack. How do you know she is in such a critical condition? Does it mean, you...?¡±

    ¡°It has nothing to do with me,¡± Dou Meishuang avoided Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes, ¡°Anyway, I must take her away today.¡±

    All of a sudden, a deep voice came through the door, ¡°You can take Elder Princess to the Royal Pce, but with Nuan and me.¡±

 Chapter 293 - The Turbulent Time

    <h4>Chapter 293 The Turbulent Time</h4>

    While Dou Meishuang was still slightly surprised, Leng Changxi had walked out of the door sideways and closed it in time. Dou¡¯s eyes would never be sharp enough to see what happened inside the closed door.

    ¡°I wonder if you would ept this little request of mine, Your Grace.¡± Leng Changxi was full of grace, showing his perfectly contoured chin even when his face was covered in the silver mask. He held his hand behind, and a regal air emanated from every pore of his body. Dou Meishuang looked at Leng Changxi¡¯s eyes and seemed to be puzzled for a while. Then she suddenly smiled, ¡°His Majesty had only invited Elder Princess into the pce.¡±

    ¡°Elder Princess was in bad health. She needs to be taken care of.¡±

    Dou Meishuang observed Leng Changxi¡¯s cold and dark eyes through the holes of his silver mask. Almost for a moment, she found herself drowning in those eyes.

    ¡°But His Majesty was...¡±

    ¡°Even the Imperial Concubine of West Xia couldn¡¯t take two more people into the pce. I know that West Xia belonged to Jing Yuanchu. But now I don¡¯t have even one soldier around me, not to mention the most capable army, my shadow guards. What do you mean now, Your Grace? Are you keeping me under watch even now?¡± Leng Changxi provoked.

    Dou Meishuang said thoughtfully, ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll take you inside. However, we all agree that we don¡¯t take the responsibility if anything happen,¡± She could take these two people into the pce, but she didn¡¯t know Jing Yuanchu¡¯s idea. He would send someone to kill them on their way if he didn¡¯t agree. Dou Meishuang looked at the calm and elegant Leng Changxi, and her heart jumped. She couldn¡¯t figure out which side she would stand on.

    ¡°You go to West Xia to help the thirteenth prince achieve his great cause. Nothing else is important.¡± Sima Ray told her by her ears when Dou Meishuang left Qi. She had always followed those words in her own behavior and work. She had been relying on Sima Ray and Jing Yuanchu to maintain her current status. But now she began to doubt her own rules of doing things, and all this was only because of Leng Changxi.

    Officer Du was the busiest when Elder Princess moved out of the post house. When he saluted to Dou Meishuang, Officer Dufelt delighted in his heart. Finally, he had sent this troublesome living goddess away, whom he could never rush or me.

    Jing Donghua had prepared the quietest and most elegant Nuanxiang Pavilion for Elder Princess. Her clothes and food were simr to those of Imperial Concubine Lian and were only secondary to the queen.

    Elder Princess¡¯s weing team alone was made up of more than one hundred people. A soft sedan chair carried by twenty-eight men stopped at the gate of the pce, waiting for Dou Meishuang¡¯s carriage to enter. Besides a few old courtiers who came to greet the princess, Jing Yuanchu was also there. He stood upright at the gate of the pce, but when he saw Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan by Elder Princess¡¯s carriage, his brows twisted unconsciously. He asked Dou Meishuang with his eyes but was ignored. Dou Meishuang lowered her head and skipped the question.

    ¡°And you are?¡± The minister greeted at the forefront looked at Leng Changxi, trying to confirm his identity.

    ¡°I¡¯m Elder Princess¡¯s adopted son, and this is my wife.¡± Leng Changxi cupped his hands before his chest and answered. ¡°We have escorted Elder Princess back to West Liang. As for that, Your Royal Highness knows the most about us.¡± Leng Changxi looked to Jing Yuanchu who stood aside, ¡°Am I right, Your Royal Highness?¡±

    It was uneasy for Jing Yuanchu to maintain his temper at this time. He just nodded in silence and smiled awkwardly. ¡°Yes,¡± he said, ¡°The two people had contributed greatly to Elder Princess¡¯s safe return to the pce. Somehow, he panicked for a moment. His arrangement was perfect. Although he failed to take Elder Princess¡¯s life, she was now a living dead that couldn¡¯t talk or move. The substitute he took pains training had also won the emperor¡¯s trust. As long as he could take Elder Princess into the pce safely and then send people to destroy the post house with fire, these two people with inside information who got into his way would be burnt dead. He could take secrets as truths, and the y could continue.

    As Elder Princess moved into Nuanxiang Pavilion, naturally many people would like to visit her. However, Jing Donghua had considered for her earlier and had issued a death order. If there was no order from him, no man could enter or leave the Pavilion. Nuanxiang Pavilion looked a little deserted under the rule.

    Although it seemed abandoned, the furnishings and goods were avable in all varieties. A red sandalwood screening with exquisite engravings was ced at the main hall entrance. At the center, there was a square wooden couch, covered with the softest and warmest goose bedding and a cushion sewn with the tenderest and softest wool underneath it. It was to ensure that Elder Princess would not feel cold or ufortable when lying on the couch. There was also a soothing fragrance lit beside her bed.

    Apart from the mahogany furnishings, Jing Donghua also assigned sixteen second-ss maids, four close-knit maids, and two grand maids to Elder Princess. One of them was good at massage and could prevent the sleeping Elder Princess from muscle atrophy. There was another maid who had some knowledge of medicine. The maid in charge of all the maids had the surname Yu. She was experienced pce maid in her thirties and seemed to be very capable. Though she didn¡¯t disclose her expertise, the twenty-two maids obeyed her submissively. It seemed that this Nanny Yu had prestige and status in the pce.

    Other people were cleaning maids and guarding eunuchs. There was nothing much to mention about them.

    Jing Donghua restricted the visit number, but in a few days, someone came on his imperial orders. She was Bai Shishi, the Crown Princess who had a long story with Qin Yunuan.

    Bai was a noble name in West Xia. The Crown Princess was a highbreddy and a firstborn. Her marriage with the Crown Prince was one between families ofparable social rank. The engagement was settled when she was only eleven years old. She got married at fourteen and had now spent three years of harmonious marriage with the Crown Prince. The whole East Pce knew that they had profound feelings.

    It was a day with perfect sunshine. Leng Changxi had prepared a rocking chair for Elder Princess especially and carried her out to bathe in the sun. The winter sun was warm but not irritating, casting a mild glow. Even Qin Yunuan, who was wiping Elder Princess¡¯s fingers on the side, felt veryfortable.

    They have stayed in Nuanxiang Pavilion for three days. Jing Donghua and his so-called son of Elder Princess had never appeared. Sometimes Qin Yunuan wondered whether she was in the Royal Pce of West Xia or the courtyard of ordinary people.

    It was until that day when the eunuch announced and broke the silence of the Pavilion.

    ¡°The Crown Princess hade.¡±

    As soon as the words fell, a figure wearing a fuchsia jacket and a red skirt appeared at the door. Bai Shishi¡¯s peaceful smile and the half-blossomed white plums in the courtyardplemented each other. It was a fantastic scene.

    ¡°Your Grace.¡± There were only Qin Yunuan and a few maids in the courtyard. They were all women.

    Bai Shishi greeted her with a smile. Holding Qin Yunuan¡¯s cold hands, she said, ¡°I wanted toe a long time ago, but there was too much work in the pce, and it was really hard to enter Nuanxiang Pavilion. I had to ask the Crown Prince to ask for His Majesty¡¯s approval the other day. Only after his words do I dare toe. ¡°Bai Shishi¡¯s words sounded natural and friendly. She treated Qin Yunuan like an old friend whom she hadn¡¯t seen for many years, and she was not like a princess with a higher social rank. After Bai Shishi finished speaking, she gave an eye on the pce maids around, and they immediately left wittily.

    Bai Shishi said as she looked at Elder Princess, whoy on the rocking chair with her eyes closed, ¡°Is she better now?¡±

    Qin Yunuan shook her head, ¡°Still the same.¡± After that, she was about to kneel in front of Bai Shishi, ¡°I haven¡¯t thanked you for saving her life, Your Grace.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t. Please don¡¯t.¡± Bai Shishi helped her up hurriedly, ¡°As I have said before, you deserve my help.¡±

    That was right. Bai Shishi, who seemed to have nothing to do with Qin Yunuan, had actually helped them a lot in secret.

    The first time she helped was after entering West Liang. Leng Changxi had asked Mu Qingyu to send the princess into the pce. In fact, the process was not as easy as they thought. Leng Changxiter learned that as he and Elder Princess were preparing to leave, they have encountered the assassins sent by Jing Yuanchu. It was Imperial Concubine Lian, whom they unexpectedly met, relieved the siege. Imperial Concubine Lian was led by Bai Shishi.

    And the second time she helped was when the wounded Jing Yuanchu moved into Xihe Pce. Bai Shishi had be aware of the abnormal behavior of the little maid. However, she didn¡¯t dare to act rashly. She only asked her close maid to inform Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi, so that they appeared in the hall for no reason.

    Qin Yunuan had doubted Bai Shishi at first. It was until she became clear of Bai Shishi¡¯s conduct that she was convinced of this woman. She had the whole world in her heart.

    Facing the doubts of Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan, Bai Shishi gave them the truth that night.

    ¡°Everyone sees the ambition of Jing Yuanchu. His Majesty only takes him as a good assistant from the political perspective. He has bought most of the courtiers. Yuanxiao is too kind. He would rather believe that his brother is paving the road for him than to be aware of his hunger for the throne. Jing Yuanchu wants to rece him, and I couldn¡¯t let the future of West Xia fall into his hands. You might have known that Jing Yuanchu has been in coboration of treason with Wanyan Su of North Di and Sima Ray of your country, Qi. Taking the whole country into consideration, I have to defend my country even though I¡¯m a woman. From a personal perspective, I¡¯m the Crown Princess. The Crown Prince is my husband. I have to secure his throne.¡±

    Bai Shishi¡¯s deeds proved her wordster. There were not many people that Qin Yunuan would give recognition and praise to. Bai Shishi was one of them.

    ¡°I came to tell you the news. Be prepared.¡± Bai Shishi looked at Qin Yunuan. She was trying to speak softly and euphemistically.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Do you know why His Majesty and his love child didn¡¯te to Nuanxiang Pavilion?¡±

    ¡°I wonder.¡± Qin Yunuan sensed dark foreboding.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Bai Shishi shook his head, ¡°His Majesty is preparing to pay his visit to the army recently. It seems that he is going to take his love child with him this time.¡±

 Chapter 294 - Enemy in the Dark

    <h4>Chapter 294 Enemy in the Dark</h4>

    It was an annual event that the emperor paid his visit to the army. He would inspect how well his army was trained. Generally speaking, only courtiers, instead of princes, had the chance to apany, and those who on the journey were either highly expected courtiers or princes to be selected crown princes. If the emperor brought the fake bastard with him, everyone would know he was first in line to the throne.

    ¡°He is an unidentified person who made his sudden appearance from nothing. Why he can be treated that well?¡± Qin Yunuan was puzzled. She used tobel this counterfeit as a mediocrity. So did Leng Changxi. But from this case, they underestimated his ability.

    ¡°Jing Yuanchu was behind the scheme. He brought that bastard, Du Wei back. Du Wei was highly simr to His Majesty, considering their appearance, utterance and expression were almost the same. Their blood coagted together, which was also a convincing fact. After that, Jing Yuanchu produced chances for Du Wei to stay alone with the emperor constantly. When His Majesty knew Du Wei had a talented master, his appreciation escted. The current situation was bad for us.¡± Bai Shishi pointed out directly. She was anxious. Du Wei gaining grace from the emperor added to Jing Yuanchu¡¯s power. Now, Jing Donghua was in a bad health condition, and Jing Yuanxiao was already twenty-three. Session seemed to be around the corner.

    ¡°Not a surprise.¡± Qin Yunuan wiped the sweat for Elder Princess who had been sitting on the rocking chair in the sun for an hour. She called Cai¡¯er to push Elder Princess into the room and continued, ¡°The inspection will be half a month. idents will happen at any second. We can¡¯t let Du Wei stay with the emperor for that long.¡±

    ¡°I agree with that,¡± Bai Shishi nced at Qin Yunuan, saying with sincerity, ¡°Madam Leng, Yuanxiao will go, too. If you and your husband could protect him, I will do whatever I can to ensure the safety of Elder Princess in the Royal Pce.¡±

    In the Royal Pce, the Crown Princess¡¯s higher status guaranteed her more rights than in the battalion; this arrangement was satisfying for both of them.

    ¡°I will.¡± Qin Yunuan nodded to promise.

    Three dayster, the inspection team set off. They left West Liang and headed to the north, where the yellow g military camps were situated. The emperor¡¯s entourages included Zhang Chengduan, a faithful minister whose family had served three emperors of Jing, and several other predominant and influential courtiers. Those from the royal family were Jing Yuanchu, Jing Yuanxiao, and Du Wei, thetter was the popped-up bastard.

    At the front were eight carriages of the emperor. Bright yellow curtains could only be used by the emperor hanging down from the carriage roof. The carriage after the emperor¡¯s sat the crown prince, Jing Yuanxiao. Though he didn¡¯t have a name in West Liang like Jing Yuanchu, he still got wide-ranged poprity-the masses pushed each other forward and backward to nudge to the front. Everyone was eager to catch a glimpse of the crown prince.

    Soldiers were keeping order on the street. Seeing an old woman attempting to thrust her way to the front, one of them said ¡°Piss off!¡± to her. The old woman seemed to be in her sixties. She looked a little groggy when she walked. She was seemingly murmuring something.

    ¡°Wait.¡± Noticing the soldier was about to kick the old woman, a maid by Jing Yuanxiao¡¯s carriage side stood out and stopped him.

    Having the crown prince as her backer provided her with convenience. Though the maid dressed in in-ck, her unusual quick-witted mind prated through her eyes. The soldier restrained himself and went backward, saving space for the maid to help the old woman get up.

    ¡°Are you alright, granny?¡±

    ¡°No big problem,¡± The old woman replied. Her eyes eagerly ran down everyone in the troop passing by, not even letting go any servant boy or girl, ¡°I¡¯m looking for my Jun¡¯er.¡±

    ¡°Your Jun¡¯er?¡± The maid in ck turned around, ran her eyes over the retinues, ¡°Does he serve His Majesty in the Royal Pce?¡±

    ¡°Ah...no.¡± The old woman was too old to speak clearly. Hadn¡¯t until the maid in ck figured out what did the old woman mean, a courier sent by Jing Yuanxiao urged her to go. Carriages of the crown prince went far. The maid in ck made sure the old woman wasn¡¯t hurt. As she was about to leave, the old woman waved her arms towards aing carriage with excitement.

    The maid in ck looked back subconsciously. It was Du Wei¡¯s carriage that happened to go through. The wind blew the cream-colored curtain upward. In a sudden glimpse, she caught Du Wei¡¯s appearance.

    She had to admit thatpared with Leng Changxi, Du Wei had more physical simrities with Jing Donghua. The maid in ck glimpsed the crown prince¡¯s carriage from far away and nced at the old woman. She was urged to leave hurriedly, so she headed down and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    This ground noise was forgotten without a second. From the Royal City to the yellow g military camps, 30 li was not a distance. That night, the inspection team arrived. Jing Donghua was weed by the Great General Meng Zhen and his fellows. He was arranged in the most luxurious two-stories¡¯ loft. Jing Donghua¡¯s bedchamber was on the second floor. The luxury there was nothing but more tiles and censerspared with an ordinary wooden house.

    Jing Yuanxiao was, of course, living in a rustic environment. He only had a room that covered several zhangs and a wooden four-folded screen with blurred carvings. Without a doubt, tea was not so good as that in the Royal Pce. But sharing weal and woe with soldiers was the t that the ancestors of West Xia stuck to. Waste was a ban in the military.

    Though Jing Yuanxiao was an unaplished person, he stayed humble and honest. He wasn¡¯t picky about the living condition.

    The maid in ck was busy running back and forth, making preparations for Jing Yuanxiao. The crown prince had a tall and handsome figure, and his behavior was modest and gentle. But to say it in a bad way, he was a weak copycat.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, please forgive me! I failed to get the bathwater back for you. Someone has already taken it.¡± A robust maid came in with her head low.

    ¡°How can that be?¡± puzzled the maid in ck, ¡°I ordered servants to boil water in advance. We¡¯ve traveled that long, and Your Royal Highness must be frustrated by dirt. He must take a bath to rx.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that...¡± Said the maid with her voice lowering, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that it¡¯s Mr. Du instructs his maid to take the bathwater away.¡±

    Du Wei? The maid in ck lost in thought but got bewildered. Generally speaking, Jing Donghua appreciated those modest, talented people. Du Wei was adept with both the pen and the sword, catering to Jing Donghua¡¯s pleasure. But did it be better if he stayed humble and straightforward?

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it; We are brothers anyway. I can bathe tomorrow.¡± Jing Yuanxiao didn¡¯t care that much. It seemed that he¡¯d already regarded Du Wei as his younger brother. As an elder, he forgave him.

    ¡°We can¡¯t submit to him!¡± Chen Bi pissed off. She was unyielding, strong and principled. Bai Shishi deliberately arranged her for Jing Yuanxiao, lest he was bullied for no reason.

    ¡°Who boils it, who owns it. Does Du Wei mean apart from him, His Royal Highness doesn¡¯t want to have a bath? Besides, firste, first served. We ordered the water earlier, and it should be ours. What¡¯s more, how can a bastard be mentioned in the same breath with His Royal Highness?¡±

    Chen Bi surprised the maid in ck with her clear logic and firm attitude.

    ¡°Then what should we do?¡± Jing Yuanxiao pursed his lip. He was that kind of mindless guy, ¡°Rush to his yard and take our bathwater back?¡±

    Chen Bi answered without thinking, ¡°We ought to do so!¡±

    ¡°Forget it,¡± Said the maid in ck. She calmed down both of them, ¡°Not a big issue, actually, but things will be different if His Majesty knows it. People may condemn us for making a fuss. You don¡¯t want this happen, do you? It is weird that he himself took away bathwater for three people. Let¡¯s see whether there is a skeleton in the cupboard.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Jing Yuanxiao agreed. ¡°Where is the guard? The one Shishi rmended along with you. Ask him to go.¡±

    The maid in ck gave a curtsy and left. She went round to find the guard¡¯s lounge. Some of them were on patrols; some of them were already asleep for the next shift change. But there was a guard with ordinary appearance who sat straight on the heatable brick bed. He looked through the windows, with eyes shining endless secret and strength.

    The maid in ck called the guard. Together, they sneaked into a covert ce. She expressed her doubts to him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you feel I am a little bit meddling?¡± Said the ck maid with guilt, ¡°But my instinct haunts me that something unusual must lies within.¡±

    ¡°You always have great intuition.¡± The tall guard stared at her with love and trust. He lowered his head, setting his chin on her forehead. From others¡¯ eyes they were having affairs. Nobody would discover that under the skin masks, their real identities were Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi, whom Jing Yuanchu wanted to push away from Jing Donghua and kill the most.

    Bai Shishi arranged Leng Changxi to be a guard and Qin Yunuan to be a maid by Jing Yuanxiao¡¯s side. The arrangement was entirely confidential; besides Chen Bi, nobody knew who they were, including Jing Yuanxiao himself.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± He disguised himself as a square face, but the sharp eyes failed to hide his excellence. It was great that he had learned to control the expression in his eyes. He needed to be seen as ordinary.

    ¡°Stay here and be safe.¡± Leng Changxi told her. Du Wei¡¯s yard was close to Jing Yuanxiao¡¯s. He exerted his light skills to climb over the wall¡¯s top, which didn¡¯t take him much time. Soon he was bending over on the beam of Du Wei¡¯s bedchamber.

 Chapter 295 - Bite the Bullet

    <h4>Chapter 295 Bite the Bullet</h4>

    The lighted room was crowded with people. The rustling noises with people¡¯s talking voice covered the sound of Leng Changxi¡¯s moving out the tile with the tip of his long finger.

    The half-a-chi-wide little hole was enough for Leng Changxi to observe the whole picture inside. Du Wei was sitting in a big bathtub to have a bath with his eyes closed. He looked rather painful. The maids around him were hurried to spread some herbs to his bathwater. There was a swaying figure behind the folding screen. His identity remained a secret until he began to speak.

    ¡°You¡¯ve behaved really well recently. At least, His Majesty trusts you very much,¡± the person behind the folding screen stroke out slowly. As Leng Changxi had expected, he was Jing Yuanchu.

    There must have been a connection between Jing Yuanchu and Du Wei.

    Jing Yuanchu strode to Du Wei. He snapped out his finger suddenly and poked it hard at Du Wei¡¯s bare shoulder, who hissed as if that little finger had killed him.

    ¡°Well. The old skin is soft after being soaked. It can be reced by a new one,¡± Jing Yuanchu nodded. As soon as he turned around, those maids who looked as gentle as the water around Du Wei, who was unable to move, immediately pulled him out of the bathtub. They poured out all the wasted water and into another potion which was as red as blood. The pungent smell of medicine it gave out could be smelled clearly even by Leng Changxi, who was lying on the beam.

    ¡°Change his skin.¡± With Jing Yuanchu¡¯s order, Du Wei was thrown back into the tub. Under the red potion, his skin began to crack. Then it began to peel off in chunks as if Du Wei had been changing his clothes. The maids scrambled to retrieve the old skins from the tub.

    It looked like Du Wei had stripped off ayer of clothes along from his face to his body. The new skin that showed up, which made people dare not to look at it directly, looked as if it had been burnt by the fire. Du Wei¡¯s real skin was full of bumps and hollows. Not until the skin on his face also faded did Leng Changxi know what was disgusting. His face could not be called a normal face, which was full of crisscrossing burn marks preventing people from seeing his real appearance.

    Watching Du Wei undergoing the torture, Jing Yuanchu seemed to enjoy it, ¡°You need to rece the skin every thirty days. This is merely the first time. You should remember that now that you choose to work for me, you should finish your task. Of course, if you want to quit and stop changing the skin, the new skin that attaches to your body will slowly embed into your skin and sticks to it. Oh. Yes. I forget that you¡¯ve already lost your skin. You¡¯ve sold it to me. Anyway, if you want to give up halfway, you will wait to see your skin crack and live a life worse than death.¡±

    To Leng Changxi¡¯s surprise, Jing Yuanchu treated people in such a cruel way. Leng Changxi had heard of the method, which was extremely bloody.

    It was also a surprise that Du Wei could bear the pain. While handling the pain of skin peeled off, he answered Jing Yuanchu in a loud voice, ¡°I, Qin, would like to sacrifice my life for Your Royal Highness. All I want is that the two b*tches, Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan, can die like dogs.¡±

    Qin?

    Leng Changxi was more focused when overhearing.

    Jing Yuanchu suddenly looked up andughed. Looking at Du Wei, he said in a disdainful and mocking tone, ¡°Qin Linfeng! Qin Linfeng! Who can predict the future? You and I had once been ssmates for a while when you had a study tour in West Xia. But now you¡¯re as pitiful as a dead dog, fawning in front of me. However, no wonder that you abandon your dignity and beg like that, without me, you would have died in the pce of Qi.¡±

    Qin Linfeng?

    Leng Changxi¡¯s brain was empty for a moment. Clever as he was, it never urred to him that the true identity of Du Wei was Qin Linfeng, who used to y tricks and should have died a long time ago.

    ¡°Who is it?¡± Jing Yuanchu seemed to realize the unusual situation on the roof. He looked up suddenly, only to find nothing on the roof. He went out of the house to chase, but the roof was empty. All he could see was the usual moonlight and starlight.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, what¡¯s wrong?¡± The guards in the yard came immediately.

    ¡°Have you been in the yard all the time?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Royal Highness. I¡¯ve been guarding here all the time.¡±

    ¡°Have you seen anybodying in?¡± Jing Yuanchu always felt worried in his heart.

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± Jing Yuanchu waved and returned to the yard. In the yard, the maids kept carrying basins into the house. Du Wei needed a lot of water to change the skin, ¡°Keep your eyes on the noise. No ident is allowed.¡±

    At the same time, Leng Changxi had already flown back to the yard of Jing Yuanxiao. At the corner, Qin Yunuan was still waiting for Leng Changxi to return. Once she saw a ck shadow from afar whose shape was simr to Leng Changxi¡¯s in general, she hurried to wee him, ¡°What?¡±

    There was a sh of cold light unexpectedly. Qin Yunuan was keenly aware of a murderous intention. As she retreated, a ded dagger flied across the air with a strong murderous intention. The person seemed not to expect that Qin Yunuan, a seemingly fragile little woman, actually could have such a sensitive reaction.

    The person was approaching her step by step. The cold light shed in the narrow path. Qin Yunuan took a few steps back when behind her was nothing but a blind alley. When she was about to retreat to the end, Qin Yunuan suddenly had mysterious strength, giving the person hit on the shoulder, which she thought was just a kind of resistance.

    However, the person went back repeatedly. His body shivered suddenly when he spat out a mouthful of blood.

    It was weird that this little girl with such strange skills could have such a deep inner Qi.

    Qin Yunuan looked at her palm, a little surprised. She didn¡¯t know since when she had had such power. However, it was also helpful. At least she wasn¡¯t afraid of the man popping up to kill her anymore.

    Raising her head slightly, Qin Yunuan shouted to theing person, ¡°Who has sent you here?¡±

    The man wouldn¡¯t answer but took sidesteps to go forward. After throwing the dagger in his hand away, he took out the long sword hidden around his waist. Waving it quickly with the silver light, the man attacked towards Qin Yunuan quickly.

    Just when Qin Yunuan prepared to y the old trick again, the man froze suddenly. There was a huge hole in his chest. What had pierced his chest was nothing but the dagger which he had just dropped on the ground, which swiveled as if it would have torn the assassin¡¯s heart to pieces.

    Holding the dagger, Leng Changxi walked slowly from behind the assassin to his front. His eyes were cold without emotion. He witnessed that the assassin lost his strength slowly and slid all the way down with his back against the wall.

    ¡°It tells you that you should not throw the used weapon away causally in the future. Oh. You already have no future,¡± Leng Changxi gave the assassin a strong kick, which ended his lifepletely.

    ¡°Changxi,¡± Qin Yunuan looked at the body of the assassin on the ground. At first, she was not afraid at all. But she realized how dangerous it was just now after Leng Changxi¡¯s appearance.

    Qin Yunuan held the arm of Leng Changxi, who squatted down, casually flipped through the assassin¡¯s equipment and clothes, and found nothing.

    ¡°I¡¯ll ask Leng Wu to deal with itter,¡± Leng Changxi turned back to nce at Qin Yunuan, ¡°Nuan, I have a word with you.¡±

    ¡°I also want to talk to you,¡± Qin Yunuan looked around. After she confirmed that there was nobody around, she took Leng Changxi to a remote hut, which was used to pile up sundry. Without an emergency, no one woulde to disturb them.

    The hut was dark inside. Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t want to light amp, which could cause more attention.

    ¡°The assassin just now, I think, is sent by Sima Ray,¡± Qin Yunuan felt worried, ¡°Although there was no sign on his body, the way he pulled out the dagger was so familiar to me. There are several people around Sima Ray who are good at closebat acting like that. I suspect that Sima Ray has already known that we are in West Xia. Changxi, I need to hurry up.¡±

    Leng Changxi stared at Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes, from which he saw her trust to him as well as the panic to the future. However, her eyes were still suffused with a firm light. She trusted you so much! Leng Changxi, you had to be strong. You could not let the woman who had followed you to suffer be in danger or grievance again.

    ¡°Nuan, Du Wei¡¯s identity is false.¡±

    ¡°Of course, I know he is a fake one. You are the real prince of West Xia.¡±

    ¡°No. What I mean is that his identity of Du Wei is also false,¡± Leng Changxi gave a long sigh, ¡°He is actually Qin Linfeng.¡± Then Leng Changxi told Qin Yunuan all he had seen previously. Qin Yunuan¡¯s face changed slowly, from surprise to calmness. It seemed to have gone through a long time, or just a moment.

    ¡°I got it.¡±

    ¡°He needs to rece his skin every thirty days. Next time he reces his skin will be the best time for us to attack him.¡±

    ¡°No need for that,¡± Qin Yunuan looked down, ¡°Tomorrow is okay.¡±

    The next morning the camp was restored to life. The soldiers who got up early dressed up to rece the night watch. The sound of the drill was heard from a distance. The powerful whirring of soldiers was a symbol of the country¡¯s newest strength and its most powerful guard.

    ording to the custom, Jing Donghua should supervise the practice himself in the morning, so he arrived early. In the past, the emperor would eithere alone or take just a prince with him. This time, however, he took three princes here. It was no doubt a kind ofpetition andparison. Sure enough, both Jing Yuanchu and Du Wei arrived in the time to burn half an incense earlier. Only Jing Yuanxiao arrived loyally ording to the scheduled time.

    ¡°Brother, you arrive on time,¡± on the tform to supervise the army, Jing Yuanchu looked at Jing Yuanxiao, who arrivedter than them, and said with a smile. His casual words seemed to remind others that the crowned prince was thetest one toe.

    But Jing Yuanxiao didn¡¯t mind it. Heughed, ¡°Father has asked us to arrive at this time. I think that if I arrive early and father still has something to deal with, it¡¯s not good to interrupt him.¡± The crowned prince¡¯s words are gentle and kind, mainly thinking about others. That was why Jing Donghua liked him despite his in achievement in politics.

    ¡°Now that we have alle, we should all look at the good demeanor of our soldiers in West Xia.¡± Jing Donghua had been wrapped in a thick warm fox fur coat, but he suddenly disbanded and stood alone in the cold wind, looking down at the soldiers waving their swords, guns, and halberds.

    The three of them approached the city wall on foot. Suddenly, Du Wei shuddered. Jing Yuanxiao asked quickly, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Isn¡¯t Mr. Du feeling well?¡±

 Chapter 296 - Crack to Death

    <h4>Chapter 296 Crack to Death</h4>

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m fine,¡± Du Wei smiled and waved, but his pale face and cold sweat had betrayed his physical condition.

    Jing Yuanchu said hurriedly, ¡°Mr. Du looks a little ufortable. You¡¯d better go back first.¡±

    ¡°No. No need for that,¡± Jing Yuanxiao suddenly stopped Du Wei, who wanted to leave quickly, ¡°This time, Shishi happened to send an excellent doctor to follow me. I only knew about itst night. She cured my insomnia with merely a pair of soothing incense. What about inviting her to diagnose Mr. Du?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯veuded the doctor to the skies,¡± Jing Donghua looked at Du Wei. Judging from his pale face, he knew that his body must be out of condition, ¡°Take the doctor here to have a look.¡±

    In a short time, a flock of red hemline swept the city wall stairs ce gently. Wearing a jade hairpin and having no makeup, Qin Yunuan came elegantly. Jing Yuanchu recognized her, and Jing Donghua had seen her. She is the little maid beside Elder Princess as well as the master-hand finding out his insect poison and the amazing woman getting rid of the venomous insects in the pce bravely.

    ¡°Is this woman working in your mansion?¡± Jing Yuanchu looked at Jing Yuanxiao half warily. If Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi seeded in getting Jing Yuanxiao¡¯s support, it would be much harder to deal with them in the future. He had urged Sima Ray to add more people to kill them. But the message he received in the morning was that the assassin sent by Sima Ray lost contact with him suddenly. Now Qin Yunuan was safe and sound. It seemed that the assassin had been dead.

    ¡°Oh, she cannot be counted,¡± Jing Yuanxiao was really honest, ¡°Before I set out, Shishi temporarily found her for me. You know I am so weak that I can¡¯t even practice ordinary martial arts with you. So Shishi asked her to take care of my body all the way.¡±

    Jing Yuanxiao was always stupid and honest. Jing Yuanchu did not bother to doubt his words. At this time, the guards had brought Du Wei a chaise lounge for him to lie down to have a rest, but it was useless to improve his condition.

    ¡°This girl is reliable,¡± even Jing Donghua said so.

    Qin Yunuan smiled a little. Before Du Wei could be prepared, she took the chance to feel his pulse. However, she didn¡¯t seem to do it seriously. She winced suddenly and told Jing Donghua and Jing Yuanchu, who had been standing around nervously, ¡°Please take a step back. Feeling the pulse requires quietness.¡±

    When Jing Yuanchu and Jing Donghua retreated, Qin Yunuan began to observe Du Wei¡¯s face carefully.

    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Du Wei wasck of blood and Qi, so he said weakly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t even have to feel your pulse to know what¡¯s wrong with you,¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her head and smiled. This shallow smile seemed to be a little weird and gloomy, but in the eyes of others, she was making an inquiry with a cordial smile, ¡°Do you know why?¡±

    Du Wei eagerly looked at her.

    Qin Linfeng. He was Qin Linfeng. Even looking at Du Wei face to face, Qin Yunuan still could not believe that the person in front of her was her half-blood brother.

    ¡°Because there¡¯s my secret ingredient in the bowl of treme soup you had this morning.¡±

    Du Wei opened his eyes. He suddenly wanted to cry for help but found that his throat seemed to be strangled and he could not make a sound.

    ¡°Stop the attempt to do any struggle,¡± Qin Yunuan said as she lowered her head and pretended to pack up her medicine box, ¡°Because the medicine I gave you will not only make you weak, blind, and unable to speak but also make the skin you worked so hard to rece yesterday fall apart and crack to death.¡±

    Du Wei¡¯s eyes suddenly opened wide with panic and surprise. He rolled his eyes towards Jing Yuanchu, trying hard to give him a hint. But from the perspective of Jing Yuanchu, it seemed that Du Wei just turned his eyes white without any strength and did not know what he meant.

    Du Wei¡¯s biggest secret was known by Qin Yunuan. Du Wei tried his best to twist his body, wanting to be far away from Qin Yunuan, but he was grabbed by her tightly. Since when had the girl be so fierce? A big man as he was, he was dragged by her tightly.

    ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± Qin Yunuan smiled at Du Wei, ¡°Qin Linfeng, you¡¯ve done so many ghost issues only to revenge Dou Qing¡¯e and Qin Yunzhuang. However, during the process, you¡¯ve touched my limits. What¡¯s more, Dou Qing¡¯e and Qin Yunzhuang are guilty themselves. They deserve the consequences. Of course,¡± Qin Yunuan stopped smiling and stared at the eyes of Du Wei, ¡°you will also get what you nted.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Qin, how is Mr. Du? Can you save him?¡± Jing Yuanxiao couldn¡¯t help urging her.

    Qin Yunuan patted Du Wei¡¯s arm and walked here, ¡°Mr. Du¡¯s body is very weird. It¡¯s hard for me to decide.¡±

    ¡°Weird?¡± Jing Donghua winced, ¡°Why did you say that?¡±

    ¡°I... can¡¯t feel his pulse,¡± Qin Yunuan shook her head, pretending to be regretful, ¡°This phenomenon is rare.¡±

    ¡°How could it be?¡± Jing Yuanchu raised his head, seeing that Du Wei, who was not far from them, suddenly twitched all over and raising several tones to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Or are you actually not capable of doing the job, Ms. Qin?¡±

    ¡°Even if you find another doctor, the result will be the same,¡± Qin Yunuan stared at Jing Yuanchu. She would take the chance to be against Jing Yuanchu, ¡°Because the skin of Mr. Du doesn¡¯t feel like his own.¡±

    ¡°Not like his own?¡± Jing Donghua was confused, but once this sentence was out, Du Wei gave out a kind of sad cry simr to the howling of the wolf.

    With the cry, and in full view of the public, Du Wei¡¯s skin began to crack, exactly like the words ¡°skin cut open and flesh torn¡±. At the same moment, the soldiers below practicing paused in their movements. They had never heard such a terrible cry and could not believe it wasing from a human being.

    Wincing, Jing Donghua looked at all the changes that happened to Du Wei before his eyes. He ordered the general beside him calmly, ¡°Ask the practice below to continue. No big issue here.¡± While saying, he went close to Du Wei, who had already had many bloody cracks.

    Jing Donghua was calm. After all, he was the emperor of a country. It was true that he had been surprised and excited by the sudden discovery of this b*ast*rd son, but this excitementsted only for a short time, and then reason had taken over his mind again. Indeed, this time he had brought Du Wei with him in order to ascertain his true identity.

    ¡°How could it be?¡± Watching Du Wei slowly emerged from aplete human skin like a cicada slough, Jing Yuanxiao was so scared that he broke out in a cold sweat. He did not care whether he looked brave at this time, holding Qin Yunuan¡¯s arm and refusing to let it go.

    The wind on the wall was very strong, blowing the g fluttering everywhere. It also blew the clothes of all the people, blew Qin Yunuan¡¯s hair scattering down, and blew the hearts of everyone present.

    Jing Donghua approached slowly. He almost watched Du Wei crack to death. After the skin on Du Wei¡¯s face faded, the face covered with wounds that showed up had already proved everything.

    Du Wei¡¯s original face was almostpletely different from the previous one. Indeed, Qin Linfeng¡¯s appearance much resembled Qin Zhi, deep, stuffy, and a little thin, which was quite different from Jing Donghua¡¯s quality of generosity, decisiveness, and elegance.

    ¡°Yunzhuang!¡± This was thest word shouted by Du Wei, or Qin Linfeng atst.

    As soon as the word was finished, Qin Linfeng¡¯s head nted, dyingpletely. This time, Qin Yunuan would not worry that Qin Linfeng did not die actually. This medicine was made by Qin Yunuan herself, so he was sure to die.

    Jing Donghua suppressed his anger. The wind on the wall became stronger and stronger. The distant clouds rolled towards them. It seemed to be brewing a heavy rain. The banner on the wall could not bear the huge wind and snapped broken all of a sudden.

    Almost at the same moment, a loud p rang out across the air.

    It was Jing Donghua who gave Jing Yuanchu a snap on the face.

    Jing Yuanchu had always been the pride of Jing Donghua and his good helper in politics.

    ¡°Look what you¡¯ve done,¡± Jing Donghua pointed to Du Wei, who was bloody, already showing his original appearance, ¡°You found this person. Now, how do you exin?¡±

    At first, Jing Yuanchu did not hurry to exin but quickly kneeled down on the ground, ¡°Father, it is my fault. It is me who did not carefully check the identity of this person. It is me. It is me...¡±

    ¡°My thirteenth son,¡± Jing Donghua interrupted Jing Yuanchu¡¯s self-criticism, ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m getting old? That you are free to cheat me? How did you swear in the pce that this man was my long-lost child for sure, because he had almost the same appearance as I did, and even had the same birthmark as mine and that this was the union of father and son? What happened now? The birthmark is false. The face is false. The whole skin is false.¡±

    ¡°Father, it¡¯s my fault. No matter how you deal with me, I¡¯ll have noint,¡± Jing Yuanchu was begging Jing Donghua¡¯s forgiveness in one of the humblest positions.

    Qin Yunuan watched with cold eyes that Jing Yuanchu fawned like a drowning dog. Du Wei was once his most advantageous tool, but now it was also destroyed by her.

    Jing Yuanxiao could not bear it, still wanting toe forward and plead for Jing Yuanchu, but was pulled tightly by Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°My brother is poor,¡± Jing Yuanxiao was always so innocent.

    ¡°Now His Majesty is in a state of anger. If you try to persuade him or beg for mercy, it will be a thankless task. Maybe your action will only make him angrier and punish more severely.¡± Qin Yunuan persuaded Jing Yuanxiao. She actually didn¡¯t want the honest and kind man to find trouble for himself.

    Jing Yuanchu¡¯s plea for mercy seemed to make Jing Donghua rxed again.

    ¡°Father, I¡¯m also cheated. Please believe me this time,¡± This is the core meaning of Jing Yuanchu.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, are you sure that you have been deceived too? I have a witness,¡± Qin Yunuan said suddenly. Apanied by the sound of the wind, her words scattered in the air, seemingly powerless, but stabbing into the heart of Jing Yuanchu like small knives.

    ¡°Take Granny Yu.¡±

 Chapter 297 - The War Begun

    <h4>Chapter 297 The War Begun</h4>

    When they were talking, Leng Changxi led an old woman in her sixties to slowly walk upstairs. She was thinly d so waddled because of the furious wind.

    Leng Changxi directly took off his fox-fur robe, which was used to keep himself warm, and helped the old woman put it on. This old woman, or Granny Yu, was the one who fell down to the ground when the army passed by. Qin Yunuan helped her stand up at that time.

    She came a long way only for one thing.

    Granny Yu was from an ordinary peasant family in West Liang. She lived with her only grandson. Unfortunately, however, her grandson died not long ago, leaving her alone. She missed her grandson so much that she cried every day and even set up a thatched shack near the grave to apany her grandson. But someone dug up the grave in less than 7 days after her grandson¡¯s death. The left corpse was iplete. Or more precisely, the corpse¡¯s skin was peeled off.

    Granny Yu couldn¡¯t take this. People who did this might not have expected that a lonely granny would live near the grave and saw everything they did.

    ¡°B*ast*rd! It¡¯s you!¡± Seeing Jing Yuanchu who knelt down, Granny Yu exerted all her strength to kick and beat him. Leng Changxi stopped her in time.

    ¡°Granny, calm down. His Majesty is here. You can¡¯t do this.¡± Qin Yunuan held Granny Yu¡¯s arm andforted her. ¡°You only need to tell His Majesty your sufferings. He will uphold justice for you.¡±

    Granny Yu looked at Jing Donghua bitterly while pointing at Jing Yuanchu with her trembling hand. ¡°This person, the thirteenth prince of West Xia, the good prince praised by others, is the one who took people to dig up my grandson¡¯s grave that day. I remembered him clearly.¡±

    Jing Donghua remained skeptical. Qin Yunuan knew he would not doubt his son just because of what an old womaning from nowhere said. It was also because there was no evidence.

    ¡°I have evidence.¡± Granny Yu trembled to take out a hard object wrapped with linen from her clothes. She handed it over to Jing Donghua and said, ¡°I found this near my grandson¡¯s body that night. At the beginning, I didn¡¯t know why they peeled off my grandson¡¯s skin, but then I saw an imperial troop on its way to the Yellow g Army Camp for inspection. I saw a man who had a tiny peach-shaped birthmark on his wrist. That¡¯s a special birthmark and exclusive to my grandson. So I recognized it at once, although I have blurred vision now. That man¡¯s skin belongs to my grandson.¡±

    ¡°Hand her evidence over to me.¡± Jing Donghua ordered, and a guard handed the linen package to him. Jing Donghua unwrapped it and burst into anger after seeing what was in it. Holding up a blood-red jade, he said to Jing Yuanchu, ¡°This is the amulet I sent you when you turned 20. I asked you about it a few days ago. But you said that you fell it down to the ground by ident, leaving a crack on it. You didn¡¯t wear it because you feared that I would punish you after seeing the crack. What¡¯s this? How do you exin this?¡±

    ¡°Father, this...this is not mine.¡± Jing Yuanchu didn¡¯t expect that the old woman had such powerful evidence. He became so nervous for the first time. At the same time, he saw a light but cold smile on Qin Yunuan¡¯s face and Leng Changxi¡¯s indifference from his silver mask.

    ¡°In the whole world, there are only two pieces of such jade that will warm people when they touch it, and that owns a unique blood-red color. Only Yuanxiao and you have. Yuanxiao is the Crown Prince while you are just the son of a maid. However, I treat you two in the same way, and I am not partial. But you repay this for my love. You cruelly peeled off an innocent man and asked another man to take his ce. I shouldn¡¯t let you help find Qinghe at the very beginning.¡±

    ¡°Father.¡± Such being the case, Jing Yuanchu was not afraid to show his cards. ¡°Are you sure you treat Yuanxiao and me in the same way? When the empress died, you asked the whole country to mourn for her, and you prayed to Buddha for her in person. But when my mother died, she was burned to ashes like all dead maids and ended up in the well. When picking a wife for Yuanxiao, you chose Bai Shishi, the eldest daughter of the Bai Family, after full consideration. But have you ever thought that I was in love with Bai Shishi? Then, picking a wife for me, you chose a loose woman from the Dou Family just in order to unite with Qi. Father, with all these, are you really sure you treat Yuanxiao and me equally?¡±

    Jing Yuanchu looked miserable. Dark clouds slowly gathered in the sky. Then it was drizzling. Raindrops fell on his lips, chilly and bitter. Only he knew what he, a maid¡¯s son, had endured to get this position. He just wanted to avoid ending up like his mother who huddled with others in the bone-ash well after death. Was he wrong? No. The world that valued the exalted son and all people who had disdained him were wrong.

    ¡°Yuanchu, you don¡¯t remember that, ten years after your mother¡¯s death, father had specially conferred the first-rank title of Imperial Concubine Jing, on her, for your filial piety, modesty, intelligence and talent?¡± Jing Yuanxiao tried tofort Jing Yuanchu by reminding him of things unworthy of mentioning. However, Jing Yuanchu kept mocking himself. ¡°Ten years after my mother¡¯s death? Filial piety and modesty? If I hadn¡¯t worked hard and known nothing just like you, my mother might have no such title at all. I earned her title and everything I had. I deserved everything. But look at you. You can have everything without working hard just because of your mother¡¯sst wish.¡±

    Qin Yunuan took a look at Jing Yuanchu and said, ¡°Not every question has its answer. It is undoubted that you and the Crown Prince have different lives because of your status. But you got your position by killing others, which is an injustice cause, so you won¡¯t earn people¡¯s support.¡±

    ¡°Won¡¯t earn people¡¯s support?¡± Jing Yuanchu suddenly stood up. In doing so, he defied Jing Donghua¡¯s authority because thetter didn¡¯t allow him to stand up.

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s wait and see.¡± From the wall, Jing Yuanchu suddenly took down a red g that became half wet because of drizzles. He waved it twice to the north. Leng Changxi recognized that it was a secret signal used by soldiers to tell allies to take actions.

    Jing Yuanchu should have allies in the military camp.

    ¡°Yuanchu, what are you doing?¡± Jing Donghua remained calm and still looked absolutely majestic and serious. ¡°This is my military camp. Do you want to break rules here?¡±

    ¡°Break rules?¡± Jing Yuanchuughed out loud and replied, ¡°I¡¯m not only breaking rules, but also overturning this country.¡±

    Hearing this, everyone was shocked. But soon, they heard drum beating quickly and loudly. Soldiers in the morning drill suddenly disappeared. At once, another roll of drums followed that from the wall.

    Suddenly, a sh of lightning showed up in the sky. Boom! It thundered not afar, followed with territorial rain. Everyone on the wall was wet immediately. The sky seemed grumpy. The overwhelming thunder greatly impressed everyone.

    The ssh sound made by someone in boots stepping on the ground came from the stairs. Then, a line of generals in armor who wore helmets with tassels showed up. They all ignored Jing Donghua, who waspletely wet in rain, but knelt on one knee towards Jing Yuanchu. They said, ¡°Your Royal Highness, we¡¯ve killed all rebels. Now, we have 133,000 soldiers of our own left.¡±

    Jing Yuanchu revolted? Together with all of his soldiers?

    The rebels these people imed were those who were loyal to Jing Donghua. There were originally 200,000 soldiers in the Yellow g Army, but now only 130,000 were left. 70,000 soldiers were killed.

    Qin Yunuan took a look at ruthless Jing Yuanchu. She knew he learned this from Sima Ray. They would kill all people who didn¡¯t ally with them.

    ¡°How dare you!¡± Jing Donghua shouted at those generals. ¡°I¡¯m still alive, but you already turn to support him. If I do the same thing to youter, you just ask for it.¡±

    ¡°Father.¡± Jing Yuanchu suddenly smiled at Jing Donghua and said, ¡°You won¡¯t have any future. Everyone here can¡¯t leave here alive today.¡± Jing Yuanchu took the sword a general handed over. The de was shining like a frozen pool under the moonlight.

    ¡°Granny,¡± Jing Yuanchu pointed the sword at Granny Yu and said, ¡°Let me ¡®treat¡¯ you first.¡±

    Jing Yuanchu exchanged nces with a general near him. At once, the general stepped forward to grab Granny Yu, dragged her to the buttress and forced her to look down. Walls in West Xia were very high, especially this one which stood between the drill field and the camp. It was as high as about 10 meters.

    When the general was close to throw Granny Yu out of the wall, Leng Changxi stood out and stopped him. ¡°Your Royal Highness, you don¡¯t have to be so cruel to her.¡±

    ¡°So, you stand out to uphold justice again? Right, I almost forget that your wife and you are meddlesome.¡± Jing Yuanchu jeered while looking at Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi. The situation reversed, so Jing Yuanchu became aggressive. ¡°Alright, if you jump down in ce of her, I may consider sparing her.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Leng Changxi looked serious and sincere, which amused Jing Yuanchu.

    ¡°Just do it, and I will give you an answerter.¡± Jing Yuanchu wore a creepy smile. It was true that Leng Changxi was skilled in martial arts, but the wall was so high. Whoever jumped down might be disabled or die. At the thought of Qi¡¯s God of War would be disabled, Jing Yuanchu turned excited driven by the restless evilness in his mind.

    Everything got wet in the downpour. Leng Changxi sneered, ¡°Keep your promise.¡± Then, he turned around and jumped down with no hesitation.

    ¡°Changxi.¡± Qin Yunuan rushed to the buttress subconsciously.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, he¡¯s gone,¡± shouted a soldier who guarded near the buttress when looking down.

    ¡°What?¡± Jing Yuanchu also walked to the buttress.

    ¡°I saw he jumped down, but now, he¡¯s gone.¡±

    ¡°Damn, he runs away.¡± Jing Yuanchu got angry. But when he turned around, a spear made of ck iron aimed at him.

 Chapter 298 - A Bloody Battle on the Wall

    <h4>Chapter 298 A Bloody Battle on the Wall</h4>

    Jing Yuanchu was shocked, but it was toote for him to avoid it. However, a guard near him did all he could to fend off the spear. As a result, the sharp spearhead grazed Jing Yuanchu¡¯s shoulder. Blood from the wound tinted his clothes at once.

    Leng Changxi in all ck stood on the top of the wall. Raindrops made him wet, so his chest and abdominal muscles appeared against his cotton short top, showing his vigor. Large raindrops fell on his shining ck-iron spearhead and down to the ground from the de. Jing Yuanchu didn¡¯t expect that Leng Changxi would hide his spear in the wall dent. How did he make this?

    ¡°You have the foresight, but only you can¡¯t beat up a group of people. You truly can hurt me. However, can you defeat all soldiers behind me?¡± Jing Yuanchu took a step back. A dozen of soldiers behind took out their machetes and swords to fight. Qin Yunuan, who stood alone, became their target.

    But unexpectedly, Qin Yunuan slightly leveraged her genuine energy in the way Leng Changxi taught her. Then she gained an aura of strong power.

    She could practice Qigong?

    Jing Yuanchu paused for a while and continued, ¡°Even so, you two are not enough.¡± When he was about to order his men to fight, another figure flew andnded on the wall top. That was Leng Wu.

    Jing Yuanchu taunted, ¡°You three fight against 14 soldiers? Well, I¡¯ll wait to see how you are killed.¡±

    Jing Yuanchu tilted his head slightly and raised the wounded right shoulder to crook his index finger. Then, fourteen most skilled soldiers of the Yellow g Army stepped forward. Leng Changxi looked back and entrusted Leng Wu to protect Jing Donghua. On the wall, raindrops fell on the waving swords which brought about shes of silver light. Raindrops seemed to turn red, and the air was mixed with the smell of blood.

    Rainwater that was tinted red flew downstairs. The rain didn¡¯t stop. After chopping off the arm of the seventh soldier, Leng Changxi put the spear horizontally behind his waist. He saw seven defeated soldiers all covered their arms wound painfully and gritted their teeth.

    Chopping off their arms was humiliating. They were all left with a nonfatal wound but lost their right hands which they could use to wield weapons. The reason why Leng Changxi did this was to throw these soldiers into the endless shame of disability. Jing Yuanchu knew this, so he hated Leng Changxi more.

    ¡°Come back.¡± Jing Yuanchu took a look at those defeated and disabled soldiers and scolded, ¡°Useless.¡±

    Leng Changxi pointed his spear to soldiers who lost their arms and said loudly, ¡°See, you¡¯ve risked your life for him and now end up in the loss of an arm. But he scolds you and insults you. Do you really want to join in his camp?¡±

    ¡°They have no choice now.¡± Jing Yuanchu turned around and looked at Jing Yuanxiao who was controlled by his assassins.

    ¡°B*ast*rd!¡± Under Leng Wu¡¯s protection, Jing Donghua was safe. Now in his eyes, there was no love or tolerance for Jing Yuanchu at all. Jing Yuanchu made an unforgivable mistake. Jing Yuanxiao, who was tied up, advised in earnest, ¡°Yuanchu, we¡¯re brothers, and he is our father. How can you revolt and take control of West Xia which belongs to our father?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s your father, not mine.¡± Jing Yuanchu smiled, and the rainwater on his face made him look more ferocious. ¡°He is not my father any more right at the moment when I decided to revolt.¡±

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, evil will be rewarded with evil. You can¡¯t get away with it.¡± Qin Yunuan stepped forward. After the fight, she only had small wounds on her hand and arm. The exposed wounds and slightly messy hair made her look tougher.

    ¡°Humph.¡± Jing Yuanchu was about to sneer at her, but he heard a guard down reported hastily.

    The guard walked upstairs in a hurry and slipped several times on the wet and slippery stairs. Atst, he directly knelt down on the stair and loudly reported to Jing Yuanchu, ¡°Your Royal Highness, our camp is besieged by around 200,000 soldiers. Our army is fighting against them at the gate.¡±

    Qin Yunuan suddenly smiled and said, ¡°See, ites.¡±

    ¡°Shut up.¡± Jing Yuanchu desperately wanted to stab his sword at Qin Yunuan¡¯s chest and made her shut up forever. He shouted at the guard, ¡°So what? This camp is easy to defend but hard to break through. As long as we keep the gate shut, they can¡¯t threaten me. After I get the imperial seal, I¡¯ll forge an edict announcing the death of my father who elects me as the new emperor at thest minute, given that the Crown Prince is ipetent. At that time, those 200,000 soldiers outside are seen as traitors who everyone hates and wants to kill. Then, it¡¯s their doomsday.¡±

    ¡°Jing Yuanchu, you are so greedy. I have misjudged you,¡± Jing Donghua said with bitter hatred. He didn¡¯t know his dear son was so ruthless. He even had taught Jing Yuanchu horse riding, archery and ssics in person.

    Jing Yuanchu gritted his teeth and ordered, ¡°Guards, search him for the seal.¡±

    In West Xia, emperors had two seals. The national seal that was kept in the Pce was used for marking on memorials sent by officials and issuing imperial edicts. The imperial one was carried by emperors to issue edicts when they were on a tour of inspection or in travel.

    Jing Yuanchu knew clearly that Jing Donghua now took the imperial seal with him.

    ¡°Who dares to search His Majesty?¡± Leng Wu took out two iron halberds and sheltered Jing Donghua.

    ¡°Ho, why do you, ackey in Qi, meddle in affairs of West Xia?¡± Jing Yuanchu set mind to get the seal, but he heard someone speaking from above. ¡°Seal? Your Royal Highness, are you looking for this?¡±

    Looking up at where the voice came from, Jing Yuanchu saw Leng Changxi stood straight on the highest buttress. He had the spear in his right hand and an aquamarine seal that was as long as one¡¯s index finger in his left hand. He was twirling the seal which was invaluable for Jing Yuanchu. But for him, it was just a delicate stone.

    ¡°How can you, a wanted criminal in Qi, hold the seal of West Xia?¡± Jing Yuanchu became furious. ¡°Whoever takes the seal back, I¡¯ll reward him with a high position. As for the one killing Leng Changxi, I will ennoble him as the national master.¡±

    Undoubtedly, it was highly tempting, and everyone wanted to give it a shot. But people turned silent after hearing what Jing Donghua said. ¡°I give it to him.¡±

    Jing Donghua tilted his head a bit. Although his robe was wet because of the rain, he remained majestic and powerful. ¡°Last night, I found that he was my son. That year, I sent people to take care of Qinghe who was going to deliver the baby. But you found a way to ask one of your pawns, that nanny, to get close to her. When the nanny was going to kill the baby, Leng Zhongxiao, Prince Ning of Qi, found Qinghe in time and saved them. Qinghe was reluctant to leave, so she stayed in Yueya Mountain to wait for me, while Prince Ning took the baby back to Qi and brought him up. So, Leng Changxi, Prince Ning¡¯s imed son, and the young hero standing before us, is actually my son.¡±

    ¡°Yuanchu, don¡¯t think I am aware of nothing. In fact, I know well about these. But you really go too far.¡±

    ¡°The Elder Princess is awake?¡± Only the Elder Princess knew these details. Thus, Jing Yuanchu thought she already woke up and told Jing Donghua everything.

    ¡°Ho, if she¡¯s awake, I may not tear you apart. It¡¯s you that drug her. How dare you mention her?¡±

    ¡°She will wake up soon.¡± Qin Yunuan took a step forward with a bright smile. She looked so calm as if they hadn¡¯t fought at all but just had a normal talk. ¡°As long as the Crown Princess regrly applies medicine and aromatherapy to her based on my method, she may already recover when we¡¯re back.¡±

    ¡°Back? None of you can go back.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s you, not us.¡± Leng Changxi cut in. Meanwhile, another weak voice came from downstairs. ¡°Your Royal Highness, they have broken in.¡±

    ¡°How could be?¡± Jing Yuanchu couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°The gate was made of ck iron. It¡¯s impregnable. How can merely two hundred thousand soldiers break in so fast?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s someone inside, opening the gate.¡±

    ¡°We have a traitor.¡± Jing Yuanchu fell into a rage but could say nothing after hearing Qin Yunuan¡¯s ironic remark. ¡°Your Royal Highness, don¡¯t get it wrong. I¡¯m afraid you are the traitor.¡±

    ¡°Cut the crap. Defend the second gate tost.¡±

    The guard who reported just now started to shiver. ¡°They¡¯re... also... close to break the second gate.¡±

    Suddenly, Jing Yuanchu didn¡¯t know what to say, so he kicked the guard out of the wall. He red at Leng Changxi who stood on the wall and Jing Donghua who was under the full shelter of Leng Wu. He actually fell into their trap long ago. That Leng Changxi took down the hidden spear meant they had prepared for this before. At the moment when Leng Changxi took out the seal, Jing Yuanchu already lost the game.

    ¡°If so, defend thest gate.¡± Jing Yuanchu was ordering his underlings but still stared at Leng Changxi.

    Suddenly, a powerful roar of fighting soldiers resounded through the sky. Soldiers in ck armor who wore red scarves flooded in from the gate of the drill field. In a sharp contrast to Yellow g soldiers in blue, they were like the ming red fireworks.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, you lose.¡± Standing in a high position, Leng Changxi looked down at Jing Yuanchu who was extremely arrogant just now.

    Jing Yuanchu slowly closed his eyes. Hearing soldiers shouting downstairs, he seemed to be able to see his 130,000 soldiers who gathered owing to his carrot and stick strategy were all killed by the ck-armor troop, the most powerful troop in West Xia. He only heard about that this troop was good at fighting on horse and running fight. But they actually were versatile and invincible, which made Jing Yuanchu¡¯s hope and ambition die out.

    Suddenly, Jing Yuanchu opened his eyes and wore a creepy smile, ¡°Not exactly.¡±

 Chapter 299 - A Man of Great Wisdom Deliberately Appeared Slow-witted

    <h4>Chapter 299 A Man of Great Wisdom Deliberately Appeared Slow-witted</h4>

    Jing Yuanchu sounded unexinably confident, making everyone nervous. He quickly ran his eyes over everyone on the wall as if he had been selecting his booty.

    Suddenly, Jing Yuanchu looked at Jing Yuanxiao and murmured, ¡°It¡¯s time.¡±

    ¡°One...¡± Jing Yuanchu started to count down.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Two...¡± Jing Yuanchu wore an evil smile.

    ¡°Three!¡± When Jing Yuanchu finished, Jing Yuanxiao took out a blue-and-white-porcin bottle directly from his sleeve. The bottle that was as small as a thumb but extremely delicate had an old wooden stopper. It was just an ordinary porcin bottle, but when Jing Yuanchu saw it, his smile froze.

    ¡°Yuanchu, are you looking for this?¡± Jing Yuanxiao didn¡¯t look native anymore but shrewd. His sharp eyes were very like those of Jing Donghua, reflecting his wisdom. Jing Yuanxiao tilted his head a bit and showed his majesty, whichpletely oppressed Jing Yuanchu.

    Jing Yuanchu said nothing. Qin Yunuan held her head high and took over the porcin bottle from Jing Yuanxiao. She said with a smile, ¡°The poison exclusive to North Di is colorless and tasteless. It will dissolve once it is added into water, so people will be killed without noticing it. Clever people can even adjust the dosage they put to make the poisoned one die at the time they desire. What is more wonderful is that average physicians and post-mortem examiners are unable to find out the death cause, so only ssify it to sudden death. Your Royal Highness, it¡¯s hard for you to get the poison, right? Work so hard for Wanyan Ba as hisckey and just earn one bottle of it.¡±

    ¡°Yuanchu, I¡¯ m sorry that I don¡¯t have the luck to have a taste of your poison.¡± Jing Yuanxiao chucked the porcin bottle to Jing Yuanchu who almost missed it because of being in a trance.

    ¡°How could be. How could a fathead like you...¡± Jing Yuanchu always looked down on Jing Yuanxiao. ¡°Ho, I know. They two helped you.¡± Jing Yuanchu said while pointing at Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, you don¡¯t know there are people who have great wisdom but appear slow-witted.¡± Qin Yunuan cast a side nce at Jing Yuanchu who remained arrogant. ¡°You always think yourself smart, so you neglect that your brother started to take precautions long ago. When 200,000 soldiers in ck armor besieged the Yellow g Army camp, in West Liang, 38 skilled martial artists who disguised themselves as eunuchs in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce had wiped out all your pawns in the pce. Of course, to do so, we need help from our pawns. Do you still remember the maid who wanted to kill you in the Xihe Pce? She is Imperial Concubine Lian¡¯s close maid. With her help, we got the name list of all your pawns in Imperial Concubine Lian¡¯s pce, including those working in the pce and the military camp and even officials.¡±

    Now, pawns Jing Yuanchu deployed in the pce and the military camp were all exposed. But those officials were the foundation supporting West Xia, so they didn¡¯t uncover them.

    ¡°I see.¡± Jing Yuanchu was so angry after knowing he was swindled. Because he found out he was the most ignorant one. ¡°So, you always pretend to be a fool, just waiting to see myedown and pointing your index finger at me tough at me, right? Fine, you¡¯re all smarter and better than me. But let me tell you. Once I¡¯m killed, Sima Ray will send people from Qi to investigate this at once. You now, wait for your doomsday.¡±

    Jing Yuanchuughed like a madman. Qin Yunuan shook her head. He really over evaluated his value for Sima Ray.

    The yell down the wall sounded like the motivating drumbeat. Jing Yuanchu suddenly removed the bottle stopper unflinchingly and threw it away. He poured the poison into his mouth with some dark purple decoction left on his lip corner. He looked at Qin Yunuan provocatively and said, ¡°You learn leech-craft from Sun Miaoyang, that famous doctor, don¡¯t you? Well, now I took the poison. Can you save me? As long as I die, secrets I know will disappear too, and you will never know how I get in touch with Sima Ray. Even though I can¡¯t take hold of West Xia, I will not allow my ipetent brother to be the emperor.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true that I can¡¯t save you if you take in a bottle of the poison exclusive to North Di. But who told you the decoction was the poison?¡± Qin Yunuan wore a light smile, but seeing that, Jing Yuanchu became weak and feeble. He couldn¡¯t even hear clearly what she said except for one sentence, ¡°In fact, what you drank is just oral anesthetic.¡± Then, hepletely lost consciousness.

    At this time, the torrential rain turned into drizzles. Despite that, the winter rain was still cold. Chilly raindrops fell down on people¡¯s faces and excited the never. Everyone looked a bit serious.

    Jing Yuanxiao now became a totally different person. He didn¡¯t behave like that upright and a bit silly man anymore, but a knowledgeable and outstanding Crown Prince who could run the country well.

    ¡°Mr. Leng, thank you.¡± Jing Yuanxiao didn¡¯t take the credit. ¡°Without your foresight and reminder, I¡¯m afraid that we would all fall into Yuanchu¡¯s trap and wait for his torture. Father, full credit must go to him.¡±

    Jing Donghua was all wet. Soon, soldiers in ck armor had broken through and rushed upstairs. Some living rebels of Jing Yuanchu still fought hard against soldiers in ck armor but were directly killed. Soldiers down were still in a fierce fight and unaware of what happened on the wall.

    So Leng Changxi directly lifted up Jing Yuanchu in aa and pressed him against the wall. He stood on the buttress and shouted at soldiers down in a majestic way. ¡°Everyone, look here. Jing Yuanchu, the thirteenth prince of West Xia, already pleaded guilty. Now, stop fighting and surrender.¡±

    The most powerful weapon to defeat rebels, who started revolt not long ago, was not sword or spear, but the psychological tactic. They were like sheep which were on their way to escape from dangers on the prairie. They just followed the leading sheep, or Jing Yuanchu, no matter where Jing Yuanchu chose to go. When he died, the flock of sheep lost their leader. Under such circumstances, even the most skilled soldiers would suffer from low morale.

    Leng Changxi knew well about this, so he lifted up unconscious Jing Yuanchu high on the wall. As expected, Yellow g soldiers saw slowed down for a while after seeing that. Soldiers in ck armor just took the chance to defeat them and achieved a splendid victory.

    Leng Changxi¡¯s tactic worked, so he loosened his grip, without hesitation and mercy, on Jing Yuanchu who, therefore, fell down to the ground.

    Soldiers in ck armor who rushed upstairs helped Jing Donghua and Jing Yuanxiao who got wet to put on a thick downy nket. But no one cared about Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi who just stood in the cold wind.

    Jing Yuanxiao took down his nket and handed it over to Qin Yunuan who intended to refuse. But then, Jing Yuanxiao persuaded her with a smile. ¡°Shishi asked you to help me. But if you catch a cold here, she will me me.¡±

    Leng Changxi also smiled and expressed gratitude on behalf of Qin Yunuan, ¡°Your Royal Highness, thank you for your care.¡±

    Meanwhile, someone suddenly helped Leng Changxi put on a warm nket. He looked back and found it was Jing Donghua giving his nket to him.

    ¡°Your Majesty.¡± Leng Changxi was a bit ttered. Actually, they two hadn¡¯t talked much but just exchanged a few words before. So Leng Changxi was so surprisedst night when Jing Donghua asked people to send the imperial seal to him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t refuse.¡± Jing Donghua lowered his head and said in a low voice, ¡°As your father, I owe you so much. I just hope this thin nket can make up a bit and hope it¡¯s notte to show my love for you now.¡±

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t know what to say. He didn¡¯t see this man, the emperor of West Xia who he met less than two months ago, as his father emotionally. In his deep mind, he always regarded Leng Zhongxiao who had cared about and protected him for 20 years as the most respectful person. But what Jing Donghua didpletely touched him. At least, it meant that Jing Donghua started to ept him and admitted that he was his son. So it would be easierter to dispatch soldiers from West Xia to help fight against Sima Ray and take Qi back.

    ¡°Right,¡± Jing Yuanxiao echoed. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t call you Mr. Leng anymore. Changxi, you are father¡¯s eleventh child, so you¡¯re my young brother, right?¡±

    ¡°True.¡± Jing Donghua was thoughtful. He seemed unexpected and surprised for knowing Leng Changxi was his son. ¡°He¡¯s your brother.¡±

    Soon, soldiers in ck armor down walked upstairs to report. In addition to killing rebels, they also captured seven lieutenants and one general who were all pawns of Jing Yuanchu in the Yellow g military camp.

    ¡°Your Majesty, how should we deal with them?¡±

    Jing Donghua was poker-faced. He made a gesture which meant killing all captives and added, ¡°Kill them all.¡±

    It was time for West Xia to reshuffle its court.

    When back to the camp, they received a detailed report about the battle. Inside the camp, there were 200,000 soldiers while outside were 300,000. It was lucky that only soldiers inside got involved in the battle. Among them, 130,000 chose to support Jing Yuanchu. But all generals took sides with Jing Yuanchu, which displeased Jing Donghua most.

    When the reporter mentioned this, Jing Donghua was so angry that he directly threw the teacup in his hand to the ground. Having not fully dried his clothes, Jing Donghua already started to clean up all the mess while holding a cup of ginger tea. Jing Yuanxiao and Leng Changxi got changed. So did Qin Yunuan. She wore a piece of adorable light-yellow dress and a half-sleeved top. Shebed her hair into a cross-shaped bun. Leng Changxi still wore the dark purple clothes he used to wear. They two didn¡¯t get changed in the same ce so just met each other outside the camp. Seeing cute and sweet Qin Yunuan walked to him, Leng Changxi recalled the first time when they met in the pce.

    ¡°You look really good.¡± Leng Changxi stood close behind Qin Yunuan and said with a bright smile. ¡°This reminds me of the first time we met. You, a thin girl whose mother is just a concubine in the Qin Family, should dare to argue with the exalted daughter from the Shangguan Family on the road. I think I fell in love with you at that time.¡±

 Chapter 300 - Jing Donghuas Acceptance

    <h4>Chapter 300 Jing Donghua¡¯s eptance</h4>

    Wearing a sweet smile, Qin Yunuan looked back at Leng Changxi who was extremely tender. They two understood each other¡¯s feelings, and there was full of love in their eyes. They didn¡¯t notice Jing Yuanxiao¡¯s arrival until they heard he coughed out of awkwardness.

    ¡°Changxi, you two are indeed deeply attached to each other, which is so enviable.¡± Jing Yuanxiao smiled. After he held the porcin bottle and strode forward toy bare Jing Yuanchu¡¯s evil plot, no one would think the Crown Prince in West Xia was ame duck anymore.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, your wife and you are also a loving couple.¡± Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t feel shy and directly expressed her admiration for the affection between the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. Jing Yuanxiao lowered his head, and the smile on his face was so sweet.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, Mr. Leng, Mrs. Leng, His Majesty wants you toe in.¡± The eunuch in charge walked out to report. Jing Yuanxiao was going to take a step forward but stopped to turn around to remind the eunuch. ¡°Remember, you should call him Prince Changxi now, rather than Mr. Leng.¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled lightly and shook his hand. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±

    At the same time, the curtain was pulled back, and Jing Donghua, who sat inside, heard what they said. He had got trivial work done. Thanks to Jing Yuanxiao¡¯s cooperation and precautions, they managed to minimize the damage caused by this revolt. Everything in West Liang remained in order. As for the pce, Bai Shishi, the exalted daughter of General Bai, was in charge, so they had no need to worry.

    ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Jing Donghua looked up and invited them three toe in.

    Jing Yuanxiao, Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan curtsied to Jing Donghua in turn. Jing Yuanxiao called him father, but Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan still used ¡°Your Majesty¡±. Jing Donghua frowned.

    ¡°As I said just now, you should call me father now.¡± Jing Donghua thought it was very reasonable and natural to grant Leng Changxi a title. ¡°I heard from the pce that Qinghe was going to recover and wake up. It seems that your drug is effective.¡± Jing Donghua said thest sentence to Qin Yunuan. Closing the memorials and name lists, he smiled at her and said, ¡°When you and Changxi move to the pce, you still have to spare much time to take care of Qinghe. She has lived alone in the Yueya Mountain for years and must be in poor condition. After all, that ce is too cold. When we¡¯re back to the capital, and everything¡¯s settled, I will issue an announcement to tell everyone that you are my son.¡±

    The more Jing Donghua said, the happier he was, which could be told from his eyes. Jing Yuanxiao extended his sincere congrattions. ¡°Congrattions! Father. You found Changxi back, and I have one morepetent brother now.¡±

    When everything seemed to go as Jing Donghua pictured, Leng Changxi abruptly cut in, ¡°Your Majesty, sorry to cut in, but I haven¡¯t thought about getting any title before.¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡± Jing Donghua couldn¡¯t believe this. He thought Leng Changxi just said this to be polite, so he offered more immediately. ¡°Alright. If you don¡¯t want to live in the pce, I will ask people to buy a seven-hall mansion for you. Whenever you miss your mother, you cane to the pce and visit her at any time.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, I don¡¯t mean that.¡± Leng Changxi sounded determined.

    ¡°So what do you want?¡± Jing Donghua raised his head a bit. ¡°You want a noble title and live far away from me? I know I owe Qinghe and you so much for having not taken good care of you in the past over two decades, so I want to make up for you.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want that,¡± Leng Changxi looked up and said resolutely. ¡°I don¡¯t like the title of the Eleventh Prince of West Xia at all. And Your Majesty, I even hope you can keep this from the public.¡±

    After Leng Changxi finished, Jing Yuanxiao exhorted at once, ¡°Changxi, West Xia truly is not as strong as before, but this prince title represents the recognition for your royal lineage. You have been far away from home for long, so it¡¯s time for you toe back now.¡±

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t look at Jing Yuanxiao but looked down at Qin Yunuan. He knew she would understand and support him no matter what decision he made.

    ¡°Your Majesty, please let me exin.¡± Leng Changxi knelt on one knee and sincerely exined to Jing Donghua. ¡°Maybe, this title is highly valued and hard-won. But for me, it¡¯s just a title. My hometown is Qi. I have a father who has taken good care of me since I was a baby, and who is willing to protect me at the risk of his life. He may be unable to grant me a valued royal title, but he gives me as much love as he can. He once took me to kneel down for three days before the door of the best martial art master in the mountain, just to beg him to teach me martial arts. So for me, my father is Leng Zhongxiao, Prince Ning in Qi.¡±

    Jing Donghua was not reconciled and asked Leng Changxi with his mouth corner twisting. ¡°So, you don¡¯t want to admit that you belong to the royal family of West Xia, and don¡¯t want to admit that I¡¯m your father?¡±

    After exchanging a nce with Qin Yunuan, Leng Changxi said to Jing Donghua slowly, ¡°Your Majesty, I¡¯m really grateful that you gave me life. But now, Qi is under Sima Ray¡¯s control, and my father alone bears great pressure to protect everyone in the Prince Ning¡¯s mansion. I¡¯m not a filial son for not sharing the burden he shoulders. Your Majesty, if you feel sorry for mother and me, please grant me an opportunity to fulfill my filial duties.¡±

    ¡°Grant?¡± Jing Donghua raised his voice a bit. He sounded doubtful and self-mocking.

    He thought Leng Changxi who had lived separately with him for long would feel deeply grateful for what he did to him, or at least feel willing to ept the title. He didn¡¯t expect Leng Changxi would turn down the offer in such a direct and tough way.

    ¡°What opportunity do you want?¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, I¡¯d like to dispatch 200,000 soldiers in ck armor to Qi for killing Sima Ray and bringing peace back to Qi.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense!¡± Jing Donghua cut in and even stood up. He sounded highly serious. ¡°Soldiers in ck armor make up the most skilled army in West Xia. Each year, only the most outstanding generals and soldiers can join in. There are only 300,000 soldiers in ck armor with 100,000 guarding the pce. How can I dispatch all left soldiers to follow you to fight in Qi? It¡¯s impossible!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true that I shouldn¡¯t go back to Qi with all soldiers.¡± Leng Changxi knelt on one knee and made a fist. He said respectfully, ¡°However, the imperial court of Qi is under Sima Ray¡¯s control. He has killed loyal officials, put the emperor under house arrest and turned a blind eye to his underlings¡¯ actions of rapes and robberies. He is so inhuman, which everyone knows. So, to kill such a savage man is to uphold justice for all. Your Majesty, dispatching soldiers to Qi is a good way to demonstrate West Xia¡¯s national prestige, and it also helps West Xia to make a return as a great power.¡±

    Jing Donghua sat down slowly. On the yellow tea table were scattered name lists, documents and maps. One of the maps depicted how the current world looked like. Now, West Xia and Qi dominated the Central ins. Many small countries, including the Liuli Kingdom and South Yue, depended on these two countries to develop, so the rtionship between West Xia and Qi was subtle. Since Qi got rid of the control of West Xia 50 years ago, it had gradually caught up with West Xia in terms of national strength.

    However, the two countries had the same enemy, North Di, a nomadic country in the northern area. Despitegging behind in cultural development, North Di had arge territory covering the Yeren Valley in the southernmost, the Changbai Mountain in the northernmost, the East Sea in the easternmost and the Langya Mountain in the westernmost. Besides, North Di people were not as easy-going as those in Qi. They werebative and would dere wars out of no reason. Once they invaded, they would take arge territory away from other countries. If West Xia helped and allied with Qi this time, it could take advantage of East Qin, a newly upied territory of Qi, to fight against North Di. Then it would be much easier to overturn North Di.

    Jing Donghua was emotionally unwilling to dispatch soldiers to go with Leng Changxi to Qi, because this meant that he would lose Leng Changxi forever. However, rationally speaking, Qi was in great danger and needed help. He shouldn¡¯t give up this wonderful opportunity.

    ¡°Your Majesty, please rethink it.¡± Leng Changxi stepped forward and cupped his hands.

    ¡°You leave me alone.¡± Jing Donghua turned away and was unwilling to see Leng Changxi.

    Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan then left, but Jing Yuanxiao didn¡¯t. Jing Donghua squinted and rubbed his sour eyes with long fingers.

    ¡°What do you think of it?¡± Jing Donghua asked loudly.

    After thinking for a while, Jing Yuanxiao took a deep breath and answered, ¡°I think it¡¯s feasible.¡±

    ¡°So this is what we really should do?¡± It seemed that Jing Donghua was asking Jing Yuanxiao and also himself.

    Jing Yuanxiao lowered his head a bit to show his agreement. When he was ready to leave, Jing Donghua squinted and said leisurely, ¡°Yuanchu is right about one thing. You pretend to be slow-witted. Yuanxiao, you¡¯ve kept this from me for so long.¡±

    Although Jing Donghua sounded leisured, he took a serious attitude. Jing Yuanxiao¡¯s fingers trembled. Actually, Jing Donghua was sounding him out. How Jing Donghua would deal with this would depend on what answer Jing Yuanxiao gave. Because he deceived Jing Donghua who, therefore, could convict him and let him have no opportunity to rise again. But if his answer sounded reasonable, he would be praised for protecting the emperor from harm.

    Jing Yuanxiao had already prepared for this. Following Qin Yunuan¡¯s suggestion, Jing Yuanxiao answered sincerely, ¡°Father, it¡¯s truly my fault. But I have a question for you. Do you know why the other four princes all died young other than Yuanchu and me?¡±

    As a hint of asking him to go on, Jing Donghua opened his eyes slightly.

    ¡°It¡¯s because of personal interests. There are many princes, but only one can be the Crown Prince. So they willpete for the title and keep a close eye on who bes the Crown Prince. Once someone is granted the title, he will be others¡¯ target. But what if the Crown Prince is just an ipetentmb duck? Then, will they pay attention to thismb duck or the man who has the potential to take ce of themb duck?¡± Jing Yuanxiao wore a bitter smile and continued, ¡°I once treated all of them nicely until I recognized that in the fight for power, they would easily abandon the brotherhood andpete for a higher position. So to survive, I pretend to be a fool.¡±

    Some wanted greater power while he just wanted to survive. How sharply they contrasted with each other. What Jing Yuanxiao said deeply hurt Jing Donghua who also suffered a lot to be the emperor. If he hadn¡¯t fought for this position, he would not have left Qinghe alone in the Yueya Mountain. He knew well about this. And this was what Qin Yunuan wanted him to recall.

    ¡°Alright. Leave me alone.¡±

    Jing Yuanxiao curtsied and left. Right when he walked out of the tent, he saw Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan were waiting for him.

 Chapter 301 - Put Former Subordinates in Order

    <h4>Chapter 301 Put Former Subordinates in Order</h4>

    There were busy soldiers all around. After the rebellion, what was left was not only Jing Yuanchu, who was still in aa, but also 130,000 soldiers of the rebel forces and 70,000 disabled soldiers, who had eyes dug out, or tongue cut out because of their unwillingness to join the rebellion. Although the 200,000 ck-armored soldiers had taken many military doctors, everyone hoped that they could have countless arms facing so many injured people.

    ¡°I¡¯ll try to persuade father to help you,¡± Jing Yuanxiao walked closer and looked at Leng Changxi¡¯s deep eyes. Their eyes were much alike, with so many secrets hiding in them.

    Leng Changxi nodded but didn¡¯t speak. Jing Yuanxiao sighed with emotion, ¡°However, I have never thought that you will give up the position of a prince for you. You need to know that Jing Yuanchu had gone to great lengths to rise up from simply the child of an imperial maid to a prince in the past.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just keeping my words,¡± Leng Changxi spoke without reservation, ¡°The aim of Bai Shishi to invite us here is quite clear. That is to keep your position as the Crown Prince. Her implied meaning is to tell us not to be too ambitious. Your wife is a clever woman, and she will be a good empress in the future.¡± By saying that Bai Shishi would be the empress in the future, Leng Changxi was, without doubt, telling Jing Yuanxiao that he had had no interest in the position of Crown Prince, and had no n to take it in the future.

    That was exactly what Jing Yuanxiao wanted. Although he was not as ambitious as Jing Yuanchu was, nobody would ept the fact that what should belong to him was taken away by a bastard appearing suddenly. It was lucky, however, that Leng Changxi was a man of noble character. Of course, he was too.

    While the three people were talking, there was a man dressed as a Confucian schr, covered in blood,ing in a hurry to look for someone.

    ¡°Excuse me, which one of you is the student of Sun Miaoyang?¡±

    Sun Miaoyang had been wandering all his life. Su Chenghai was actually the student he had taught most carefully. As for Qin Yunuan, although she only learned superficial knowledge from Sun Miaoyang, she was given Sun Miaoyang¡¯s manuscripts and thoughts of his life before he went on to have his long journey. From then on, Qin Yunuan had been reading them carefully every day. While she could not apply them at will, she could recite them. Therefore, she could be counted as Sun Miaoyang¡¯s student.

    ¡°I am,¡± Qin Yunuan stepped. The Confucius schr was dressed elegantly and neatly. So he must not be a soldier in the army, but a military doctor. He was covered with blood, and his feet were covered with dust. He must have had a serious ident at the rear treatment point, so he came to her for help.

    ¡°A woman?¡± although the Confucian schr was eager just now, his eyes immediately showed some disdain as soon as he saw Qin Yunuan¡¯s beautiful face. He wondered why the newly acquired disciple of the famous doctor was, surprisingly, a woman.

    ¡°What about a woman?¡± Qin Yunuanughed instead of being annoyed, ¡°You just said that you were looking for the student of Doctor Sun, but you didn¡¯t say that you were only looking for a male one.¡±

    ¡°What can a woman know?¡± The Confucian schr shook his head and said, ¡°A woman¡¯s hand is holding the needle only for embroidery. I¡¯m looking for someone who can hold the needle to save people.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Is that so?¡± Qin Yunuan stepped forward. Forefinger pointing upward, she pointed at the Confucian schr¡¯s elbow with strength. At the same time, she exercised her power and used inner Qi to erge the effect of this finger.

    Just one second before the moment, everything was fine. However, when the Confucian schr moved his arm again, he found that it seemed to weigh a thousand pounds and was as hard as a stone. He could not feel anything, not the pain nor the sore.

    Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°It is no more than amon narcotherapy. ording to Sun Miaoyang¡¯s manuscript, amputation can be applied to you with how numb you are now. You can feel no pain now anyway.¡±

    At once the Confucian schr¡¯s pupils erged. Then he heard Qin Yunuan idly replied, with one hand covering her lips, ¡°Of course, you can choose not to have an amputation. Now the blood is stuck, and muscles are stiff in your arm. After the time to burn out an incense, it will turn purple. After two hours, your arm will fall off with a snapping sound, just like the mellow fruit.¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked yful and described the picture vividly. The Confucian schr was so worried that he seemed to see that his arms had started to turn purple.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, we can wait and see. I¡¯ll just stand here and wait for your arm to fall off. Then I can keep it to do some research.¡± Qin Yunuan opened her eyes wide. The Confucian schr hurried to exin, ¡°I do! I certainly believe you! Master-hand, it is I who fails to identify a person of great ability. Please forgive me. Please forgive me.¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked back at Lengchangxi, raised her arm dexterously, and poked her finger at another acupuncture point on the Confucian schr¡¯s arm. Instantly, a feeling of blood running smoothly made the Confucian schr tremble all over. At this time, he was extremely respectful to Qin Yunuan and even prepared to kneel down and kowtow to her a few times.

    ¡°Alright, didn¡¯t you ask me to save people? Where are they? Take me to the ce.¡± Qin Yunuan is not the person who bears grudges. Saving a life is the most important thing to her.

    Qin Yunuan had followed the Confucian schr to zigzag forward all the way around the tent. The smell of blood was getting thicker. The ck smoke burning from a distance was because ck-armored soldiers were treating the bodies of those who rebelled and were seriously injured to death. The heads of the dead soldiers in the rebel armies were cut down, soaked in medicines, and dried in the air. Later they would be brought back to the Royal City. While among the rest 70,000 people, nearly 30,000 of them had been tortured to death. Their whole bodies were preserved, and their name tags were taken down to give to their loved ones in the future. The 30,000 people were the most faithful warriors in West Xia. They were to be buried in a grand ceremony.

    ¡°Master-hand, please go this way,¡± the Confucian schr led the way in front of Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to call me master-hand. Just call me Madam Leng as other people do.¡±

    While they were talking, a pungent bloody smell came with the wind. Qin Yunuan almost fainted when her unusually sensitive nose was suddenly stimted. All at once, there seemed to be something bumping into her arms. The basin fell to the ground, spattering blood everywhere.

    ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m so sorry,¡± a thin maid lowered her head to collect the basin and apologized to Qin Yunuan continuously. Inside there came the old military doctor¡¯s voice, ¡°Shang, be quick! The hot water is not enough.¡±

    Raising her head, the maid wanted to leave quickly. However, she was pulled by Qin Yunuan suddenly. The two people looked at each other. Then they cried out as if by prior agreement.

    ¡°Maner?¡±

    ¡°Third Miss?¡±

    Looking at Maner, who despite the dusty face and the messy hair, kept her eyes clear and delicate, Qin Yunuan forgot what to say at that time. Looking at the eyes of Shang Chunman, who had already been the daughter of the Shang Family, Qin Yunuan was stunned. Her eyes were immediately upied with tears. Opening her mouth slightly, she was speechless at the moment.

    The tears had already coursed down Maner¡¯s cheeks. She had been looking for where her mistress could have been all the way here, but all her efforts were in vain. Just when she was going to give up, she met her without any precaution.

    ¡°Third Miss, I miss you so much,¡± ignoring the basin beside her feet, Maner threw herself into Qin Yunuan¡¯s arms. Regardless of the rules, she buried her head deep on Qin Yunuan¡¯s shoulder. Qin Yunuan had treated her as her own younger sister, and she, in return, took Qin Yunuan as her elder sister a long time ago.

    ¡°Why did youe?¡± Qin Yunuan stroke Maner¡¯s hair, which had been tied in knots a little, ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard all the way here. Oh, does Leng Wu know that you¡¯vee to West Xia? Ah, you know nothing about martial arts, but you still have gone so far! Silly girl. You¡¯re really a silly girl.¡±

    ¡°Not just me,¡± Maner lifted her body, ¡°We¡¯ve alle here, Ting Xue, Leng Shuang, Yuanyang, and me.¡±

    Three of them had all been here! No wonder why they could reach here. Maner was careful. Ting Xue was decisive. Leng Shuang and Yuanyang were both good at martial arts. Leng Shuang had learned from a famous master and gained excellent skills. Yuanyang was experienced in going out. With the four people altogether, what couldn¡¯t they do?

    ¡°Shang, the injured inside can hardly bear the pain now. Why don¡¯t you hurry up?¡± The old military doctor couldn¡¯t help pulling aside the curtain to urge Maner, only to see Qin Yunuan standing outside in clean and in clothes. He hesitated, and then heard the Confucian schr eagerly introduced, ¡°Master, this is the disciple of Doctor Sun, Sun Miaoyang.¡±

    ¡°A woman?¡± The old military doctor was a little suspicious. Of course, the student was like his master. In addition, the old military doctor was over 70. With a medical practice of 50 years, he was the key figure in the team of military doctors. The way he looked at Qin Yunuan was disdainful.

    The Confucian schr exined, ¡°Although Madam Leng is a woman, she is so good that I think I cannotpete with her at all even after studying from you for so many years.¡±

    Surprisingly, Qin Yunuan was praised in this way by his most excellent student. The old military doctor wanted to see her ability more even.

    ¡°Come in,¡± the old military doctor opened the curtain to let Qin Yunuan into the tent. She turned her head to Maner and ordered, ¡°Go to focus on your business. Saving lives is the most important thing right now. Later, after you find Ting Xue, Leng Shuang and Yuanyange to find me in the easternmost tent.¡±

    Maner wiped the tears of excitement and nodded.

    ¡°You, take care of the wounded on the farthest side directly,¡± the old military doctor assigned Qin Yunuan the group of the most seriously wounded, ¡°Now that you are the student of Sun Miaoyang, I don¡¯t need to say anything more. I am afraid that you might say that I make things difficult for you. So you can pick four helpers as you like. But firstly, I need to stress that he will follow me.¡± The old military doctor pointed to the Confucian schr.

    Qin Yunuan wouldn¡¯t care even if the Confucian schr were sent to her.

    ¡°You can pick from the rest,¡± the old military doctor pointed to the people behind him, who were all the mostmon medical women and handymen in the military.

    ¡°No need for that,¡± Qin Yunuan made a lightning decision, ¡°Since you asked me to pick four people, I want these four people. Shang, who appeared just now, and Ting Xue, Leng Shuang, and Yuanyang.¡±

    The old military doctor raised eyebrows. This little girl picked away the four people who were the most capable at once. However, young as she was, the wounded assigned to her had either broken ribs or internal organs. She woulde to ask for his guidance sooner orter.

    Qin Yunuan was starting to treat the first patient, who was a man with three broken ribs, but luckily the bone didn¡¯t prate his lungs.

    ¡°Undress him first,¡± Qin Yunuan ordered Maner, who was beside her.

    As the clothes fell to the ground, Qin Yunuan became serious suddenly. She saw a tattoo of Kylin on the wounded¡¯s shoulder, which Leng Changxi also had one. It was aplete tattoo on the arm. Leng Changxi had once said this was the sign of the Leng Army. Looking at the wounded, who was in a daze, Qin Yunuan lowered her voice and asked, ¡°Who are you indeed?¡±

 Chapter 302 - Leaving No Room for Manoeuvre

    <h4>Chapter 302 Leaving No Room for Manoeuvre</h4>

    ¡°I... I¡¯m the leader of the second detachment of the third battalion of the Yellow g Army camp,¡± the wounded soldier gasped for breath.

    ¡°I¡¯m not asking who you are now. I¡¯m asking who you were before. What happened before you joined the Yellow g Battalion?¡± Qin Yunuan stared at the corner of the wounded soldier¡¯s eye with a thickyer of blood scab. While ordering Maner to do some simple treatment before setting the fracture for the wounded soldier, she whispered to the wounded soldier in a low voice, ¡°The ck Kylin on your shoulder is the symbol of the Leng Army of Qi.¡±

    The wounded soldier trembled. This secret was only known to the 3,000 people in the Leng Army and General Leng. And he seemed to be familiar with the woman whispering gently beside his ear. Was she the wife of General Leng, the girl of the Qin Family?

    ¡°Madam Leng?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±

    The wounded soldier got excited. He wanted to say something, but Qin Yunuan stopped him, ¡°Your ribs are broken. Don¡¯t talk now. I just want to confirm your identity. Now you don¡¯t need to talk.¡± Qin Yunuan touched the rib of the wounded soldier easily. Three sections were broken, and the fourth section was crooked.

    Now that she had got such important information, it was worth the trouble then.

    In the evening, Qin Yunuan went back to her own camp, because there were too many things to deal with. She estimated that Jing Donghua would stay in the Yellow g Battalion for about three or four days more. Fortunately, everything was fine in the Royal City, and there was no trouble.

    There was an elm flower-carving folding screen in the room. Leng Changxi was reading with his head raised high on the soft couch behind the folding screen. Perhaps it was because he had been too tired these days that he fell asleep with a hand holding a book, reading halfway. A thin nket covering his body dropped to the ground. Qin Yunuan walked towards him silently, picked up the thin nket on the ground, and covered it on Leng Changxi¡¯s body softly. She couldn¡¯t help caressing Leng Changxi¡¯s powerful arms with her long, slender fingers. His symmetrical muscles were stic, symbolizing the infinite strength, which was worth people¡¯s dependence.

    Qin Yunuan wanted to take down the scroll for Leng Changxi, only to find that he pulled the scroll unusually tightly. Then she suddenly found that, in fact, Leng Changxi had been pretending to be asleep.

    ¡°Well, you...¡± just when Qin Yunuan was to me Leng Changxi for ying tricks on her, he turned around and pressed Qin Yunuan underneath him. With two people on the small soft couch, it became a little crowded. The two people¡¯s bodies tightly stuck to each other. The romantic atmosphere between the two people was hot and strong. Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi looked at each other. The strong emotion between them was exactly like the wide ocean, too deep for people to breathe.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t looked at you so carefully like that for a long time,¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s long fingers brushed the broken hair beside Qin Yunuan¡¯s ear. A feeling of being numb and chill quickly filled every part of her body. ¡°Let me take a good look at you,¡± Leng Changxi looked at her with loving eyes as if looking at the world¡¯s most precious treasure. He was so reluctant to give it up. It seemed that he would use up the time of his life to wipe and cherish it.

    ¡°You¡¯ve lost weight,¡± Leng Changxi looked at Qin Yunuan, whose face was smaller. He knew that she had suffered a lot all the way following him here. She did not eat or drink well on the way. What was worse, she had to follow him to wear masks made of human skin and hide her name. If she had married to an ordinary noble family, maybe now she could have lived a ratherfortable life in Qi.

    ¡°You¡¯ve lost weight, too,¡± Qin Yunuan looked at Leng Changxi with gleaming eyes. He never wore a mask when there were two people alone. His handsome, elegant appearance looked more mysterious and graceful in the light of candles. He looked more experienced and mature than before. During these days, he had experienced a lot, so his heart was warmer than in the past, but his eyes could see more clearly than in the past.

    The light was dim, and the atmosphere was good. The curtain was dark yellow with a bit of obsolescence. The two people on the bed regained the passion and impulse which urred only when they were newly married. They had not tried such a fit of fusion for a long time, and they didn¡¯t stop until the moon was clear.

    Qin Yunuan rested in the arms of Leng Changxi, wearing a dress of tissue as thin as cicadas¡¯ gauze. Her soft, jade-like skin was colored with the red that only appeared when a teenage girl got shy. She told Leng Changxi about everything she found in the camp of the wounded.

    ¡°I asked himter. He said that there were three people in the Leng Army attend the Yellow g Battalion along with him, all of whom escaped from Sima Ray¡¯s suppression. He was the only one who got hurt. The other two were still in the group of survivors. He gave me his name tag and asked me to find a person called Zhou Hua. ording to him, Zhou Hua was the temporary general who organized the Leng Army to break out of the encirclement. There were about 1,000 people seeding in breaking the encirclement. Later, perhaps it was because the team of 1,000 people was toorge and obvious, they scattered and went to the Liuli Kingdom, North Di, West Xia, and South Yue. However, they all kept in contact with each other. They said that once General Leng wanted to be back to Qi, they would gather together from everywhere.¡±

    When Qin Yunuan was saying, she became excited a little. While the ck-armored soldiers of the West Xia were fierce, the Leng Army belonged to the Leng Family after all. Whether from the training or loyalty, they were much higher than the ck-armored soldiers.

    The Leng Army, which used to have 3,000 people in the past, now only left less than 1,000 people. Although this fact was rueful, they would have been like tigers added wings with the help of the army.

    ¡°Zhou Hua,¡± Leng Changxi was searching the person¡¯s name in his mind, ¡°I remembered this man. He was born in a family of hunters. He is a master with arrows. Shooting the tree from 100 steps away is a piece of cake for him. Once, he had shot the eye of a running brown bear from more than 100 meters away. He can take orders while in danger. What a talent!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s for the best,¡± Qin Yunuany on the chest of Leng Changxi, analyzing slowly, ¡°Judging from His Majesty¡¯s attitude today, although he¡¯s angry that you don¡¯t want to be a prince of West Xia, he has some ideas about attacking Qi. What¡¯s more, Jing Yuanxiao promised to make a persuasion for us. I assume that not long after returning to Royal City, we¡¯ll be expecting to attack Qi.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Leng Changxi nodded, agreeing with Qin Yunuan¡¯s words.

    Thinking that she¡¯ll see Maner and other peopleter, Qin Yunuan stood up and dressed at will. She put on a coat and tied up the hair again for Leng Changxi. Suddenly, there was a slight sound outside. A ck shadow leaving hurriedly made the two people highly vignt.

    It could definitely not be Maner or other maids, who could walk in from the door.

    Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan went out to chase immediately. To their surprise, they saw the Confucian schr who came to invite Qin Yunuan in the afternoon bent over the ground hastily. He must have tripped. It was unknown how long he had overheard outside the tent and how much he had heard.

    ¡°You, you are spies from Qi! And you also sent someone inside the Yellow g Battalion of West Xia. What do you want to do?¡± The Confucian schr spoke loudly as if fearing that the world would not know.

    A cluster of shadows came from distant ces. When they heard the movement here, they rushed to run over. It seemed to have attracted the attention of others. Just when Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan were at a loss, they found that the cluster of shadows was exactly Leng Shuang and other maids.

    Qin Yunuan stopped for a moment and then said to the Confucian schr, ¡°You misunderstood us. We are indeed from Qi, but we are also guests of West Xia. As for the Leng Army in West Xia, it was totally an ident. Besides, if we want to be spies to harm the emperor of West Xia, why will we risk our lives to save him?¡±

    ¡°You are merely doing it to gain His Majesty¡¯s trust. I know it well. All of you are cunning.¡±

    The Confucian schr also saw Leng Shuang, who wasing closer, as if he had seen a life-saving straw. He didn¡¯t know that Leng Shuang and the rest three people were also with Qin Yunuan. He shouted while hugging Leng Shuang¡¯s thigh, ¡°Shuang, be quick! Hurry to inform His Majesty that the two people are spies.¡±

    Leng Shuang was still dressing in purple as she had done before. Her face was calm and emotionless. Lowering her head to nce at the Confucian schr, she sneered, ¡°If they¡¯re spies, then we are too.¡±

    This Confucian schr saw the four medical girls before him, who had followed the medical team for a long time, and suddenly felt his heart was cold. Just when he was going to continue to call for help, he was made unconscious by Yuanyang¡¯s palm. She used to be the chief maid beside Old Madam of Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. Later, she was asked by the Old Madam to try her best to assist Qin Yunuan. She did well in epting Ting Xue and Maner as well as sending the Commander¡¯s Seal.

    It was important to know that before she followed Old Madam, she was a young female armed escort who had followed her father all the way to guard their customers. So she was experienced in all kinds of things.

    ¡°For this kind of person, lecherous and timid as he is, there¡¯s no need to talk to him.¡± This Confucian schr looked like a timid person. He must want to call more people.

    ¡°I wonder how long he has been outside this camp, and how much he has heard,¡± Qin Yunuan turned a circle around the Confucian schr. There had been a drizzle in the evening. The soil around the camp was all wet. However, the shoe sole of the Confucian schr was not stained with much mud. It seemed that he hade before the rain when Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi were enjoying themselves, so they failed to find someone eavesdropping outside the camp.

    Oh, it was hard to imagine that this man was not only a coward but also a Lovce.

    ¡°How to deal with him?¡± Although it was the first time for them to meet again after the long separation, Leng Shuang asked Qin Yunuan as if they had never been parted.

    ¡°Give him some poison to make him mute. Break the meridian vessels of his hands so that he can¡¯t hold a pen to write. And tomorrow when you hand him to His Majesty, you should tell him that this man has such severe erotomania that he hase to eavesdrop on the camp of Changxi and me. Didn¡¯t you say that he was also extremely lustful in the team of the military doctors? He must have flirted with a lot of medical women. Tomorrow, invite these medical women to testify. I do not believe that he can have the opportunity to quibbling when he can¡¯t speak or write.¡±

    ¡°OK,¡± Leng Shuang took the order and wanted to leave, but when she turned her head, she was called by Qin Yunuan.

    Leng Shuang turned back. Qin Yunuan told her softly, ¡°Be careful.¡± Leng Shuang felt that her heart went soft. Having learned martial arts for so many years, she had always been strictly treated by her master. Qin Yunuan was the first person to tell her to be careful. Now, while they hadn¡¯t seen each other for a long time, the words from Qin Yunuan still made her heart warm.

    After dealing with the eavesdropping thief, the rest three people curtseyed officially to Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi. Yuanyang used to be capable and experienced, and now she was more decisive and thinner. Maner and Ting Xue didn¡¯t change, but their skin became darker. Also, their eyes were not as squeamish as the ones of those maids in prominent families. It was really hard for the four women toe all the way here.

    After the greeting, Maner couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Madam, Leng Wu... Do you have any message about Leng Wu?¡±

    At this moment, there came a haste footstep outside the camp. A familiar voice came, ¡°General, is Maner really found?¡±

 Chapter 303 - A Mess

    <h4>Chapter 303 A Mess</h4>

    It was Leng Wu¡¯s voice. Maner recognized it first. She greeted him in front of the camp. Leng Wu, who endured the hardships of a long journey, looked anxious. They hugged each other immediately. Leng Wu barely hesitated. He seemed to use up his strength to hug the woman in front of him who he yearned day and night as if he had been going to rub her inside of him. Maner was like a vine. She hugged him back tightly with all her strength.

    Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan had been struggling all the way. But they were together all the time. However, Leng Wu and Maner had to be apart. At that moment, their pain changed into deep thoughts which only endless hugs and kisses could resolve.

    After their passionate moment, Leng Wu realized that he misbehaved. He wiped the tears from his face stealthily. He saluted Leng Changxi and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for behaving this way.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Leng Changxi waved his hand. He totally understood their feelings, ¡°Go back and get some rest tonight. Bring Maner with you. However, you need to ensure that there won¡¯t be any mistakes in the n in three days.¡±

    Jing Yuanxiao sent a message that he almost got Jing Donghua on board. Frankly speaking, Jing Donghua had the intention of going to war with Qi from the start.

    He would dispatch troops in about three days when Jing Donghua arrived at West Liang.

    Time flied in the Yellow g Army camp. On the one hand, too many things needed to be handled in the army. Jing Donghua, Jing Yuanxiao and even Leng Changxi, who was an unrecognized illegitimate child of the royal family, had a lot to do every day. On the other hand, Qin Yunuan helped in the wounded soldier camp. And she needed to find Zhou Hua in the meantime. Her hard work paid off. She found Zhou Hua in a short time. With Zhou Hua¡¯s help, it was only a matter of time to contact the rest of the Leng Army.

    The army went back to Royal City on that day. People in the city only knew that there was an unclear coup in the army. And the mastermind of the coup was the Thirteenth Prince, Jing Yuanchu, who they worshiped.

    More surprisingly, Jing Yuanxiao, who people thought was a fool, yed a very important role as the savior in the coup. People who lived through the coup surely knew that Jing Yuanxiao did a good job of protecting the emperor. However, people in Royal City who depended on the Thirteenth Prince or were fooled by his disguise thought...

    ¡°Humph. In my opinion, it was just a show the Crown Prince directed and acted himself.¡±

    ¡°Young man, you can eat all you want. But you can¡¯t say all you want.¡±

    ¡°Or what? The Thirteenth Prince loves the people as if they were his own children. More and more people suggest making him the crown prince. I was the book transcribing servant in Grand Secretary Zhang¡¯s mansion. I heard that a lot of officers had submitted memorials to the throne suggesting making Jing Yuanchu the crown prince. And there happened to be a coup in the Yellow g Army camp at the very moment. Do you guys think it was just a coincidence?¡±

    ¡°Young man, sometimes people need to pay for what they said,¡± an old man who was listening to the young man smiled in a mysterious way.

    After a short while, a young man who was bound tightly with cowhide ropes was delivered in front of Jing Yuanxiao. The leader was that old man.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, this unruly man carried tales among the people. He tried to ruin your reputation. Please punish him severely.¡±

    Jing Yuanxiao sat high on the horse with a kind look. Leng Changxi rode a horse behind him with Qin Yunuan sitting behind. Qin Yunuan wore a ck bamboo hat that covered her face. She sped Leng Changxi¡¯s waist tightly from behind. But she observed every movement around them carefully through the ck bamboo hat including Jing Yuanxiao in the front.

    Jing Yuanxiao lowered his head and gave the young man a kind look. He asked, ¡°What did he say?¡±

    The old man told him the young man¡¯s presumptuous words. He wanted Jing Yuanxiao to punish the young man severely in order to shut everyone else up. Unexpectedly, Jing Yuanxiao sat upright and waved his hand generously, ¡°Release him. The coup caught us by surprise. Besides, I have been keeping a low profile for years. It¡¯s inevitable that people consider me a hypocrite. They have the right to talk. We can¡¯t control them. If our people lose their right to speak freely, what¡¯s the point of living?¡±

    ¡°But, Your Royal Highness, I¡¯m afraid that he will keep spreading the rumors. In that case...¡±

    Jing Yuanxiao tilted his head back a little. His body was straight, ¡°A clean hand wants no washing. I¡¯ll prove my ability and loyalty to West Xia through time.¡±

    The young man was stunned by what Jing Yuanxiao said. Jing Yuanxiao, who he used of being a hypocrite earlier, seemed to have be a generous crown prince with majestic manners at that moment.

    ¡°Hurry and thank Your Royal Highness for not killing you.¡±

    The young man saluted to Jing Yuanxiao in a hurry. And Jing Yuanxiao waved his hand gesturing him to leave generously.

    The young man went back to the crowds. Those people who listened to his speech and watched him getting taken away were worried about him. Seeing hime back safely, they scrambled to ask, ¡°How did it go? Are you okay?¡±

    The young man was calm back then. But he copsed at that moment and leaned against a man. He mumbled, ¡°His Royal Highness was generous to me. He is our blessing.¡±

    Qin Yunuan watched Jing Yuanxiao riding through the crowds. And those people clearly looked at him differently. That old man was very confident. He couldn¡¯t help praising, ¡°His Royal Highness is really wise. He has already begun to win people over. Those people have been fooled by Jing Yuanchu for so many years. It¡¯s time for them to wake up.¡±

    Bluffing anding to the rescue, Jing Yuanxiao began to change people¡¯s opinions of him with the two moves. Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help sighing with emotion. It looked like that Jing Yuanxiao was also tactful and decisive. In a word, he was born to be an emperor.

    Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi looked at each other. She knew that Leng Changxi thought so too.

    Their troop was moving slowly. But Qin Yunuan suddenly sensed a weird vibe. She pulled Leng Changxi fiercely all of a sudden. Leng Changxi gave the reins of his horse a gentle pull. The horse slowed down. Qin Yunuan whispered near Leng Changxi¡¯s ear, ¡°I sensed a killing vibe.¡±

    Kungfu masters used their inner Qi to sense the killing vibe and find the enemies. Leng Changxi didn¡¯t sense the killing vibe at that moment. But Qin Yunuan did. It looked like Qin Yunuan¡¯s inner Qi had given her super sense.

    Almost as soon as Qin Yunuan¡¯s words came out, a light shed through the air. It aimed at the yellow dragon carriage which Jing Donghua was in. It was too fast for Jing Donghua¡¯s bodyguards to react. It was lucky that Leng Changxi was prepared. He jumped towards Jing Donghua¡¯s yellow dragon carriage holding his spear. With a cracking sound, he blocked a poison dart aiming at Jing Donghua. It was called a poison dart because there was cyan poison on the tip of the dart. It looked like the assassins were very bold.

    At almost the same time, a long sword blocked another poison dart for Jing Donghua. Leng Changxi looked up and found it was a stranger wearing a grey blouse. He was lean and tall. He looked extremely capable. And his eyes were sharp like a tercel. They looked at each other and formed a temporary alliance. A few poison darts shot towards them in the next moment. Leng Changxi and the man in grey cooperated with each other and blocked all the poison darts.

    Soldiers in ck armor came to their senses at that moment. Jing Donghua¡¯s bodyguards bravely rushed towards the direction which the poison darts came from. They caught a few masked assassins behind the eaves after a short while and dragged them in front of Jing Donghua.

    ¡°Your Majesty, just these five men. No one else.¡±

    Jing Donghua lifted the bright yellow vnce up with one hand. His eyes were fixed on those assassins who looked difited. Actually, they weren¡¯t qualified to be called assassins. They did nothing more than shooting a few poison darts. And Leng Changxi and that stranger blocked all those poison darts.

    ¡°Search them,¡± Jing Donghua ordered. Leng Changxi picked apart one of the assassins¡¯ clothes with his spear. A token with a North Di¡¯s totem on it fell down.

    ¡°They are from North Di?¡± someone whispered in surprise at once. Although he was warned to shut up the next moment, people near him heard it clearly.

    ¡°They are really from North Di?¡±

    ¡°We have been at peace with North Di for so many years. What did we do to offend them now?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. But I heard that the emperor found an illegitimate son earlier. And he had a problem with the Fourth Prince of North Di, Wanyan Su. The Grand Prince of North Di, Wanyan Ba, has fallen from power. Isn¡¯t Wanyan Su the most capable one to be the future emperor?¡±

    ¡°Wanyan Su has lost an arm. He is disabled.¡±

    In the chatter, Leng Changxi seemed to feel that their looks were like needles piercing in his back. It made him feel unbearable. A warm hand held his fingers while he was restless. He turned around. It was Qin Yunuan.

    As expected, Nuan would always have his back in the proudest way whenever he felt terrible.

    Jing Donghua frowned a bit. He nced at Leng Changxi inadvertently and said nothing. Instead, he asked that man who appeared suddenly, ¡°Could you please tell me your name?¡±

    That man saluted and answered, ¡°Envoy of Qi, Shi Rongyao.¡±

    He was from Qi?

    Qin Yunuan lifted her eyebrows a bit. Now it was quite a show. West Xia, North Di and Qi, the three most powerful countries in the world, came together. Sima Ray had power over Qi right now. He must have sent this envoy. I wondered why he sent an envoy to West Xia all of a sudden.

    Jing Donghua asked the same question. Unexpectedly, Shi Rongyao answered frankly, ¡°I¡¯mmissioned by the prince of Qi, Sima Ray, to form an alliance with you. We want to invite you to go to war with North Di.¡±

    Sima Ray sent people to West Xia to invite them to go to war with North Di when West Xia was about to go to war with them. This was interesting. No, this was a coincidence. It was so coincidental that it could be considered a little strange.

 Chapter 304 - The Exhibition of a Great Power

    <h4>Chapter 304 The Exhibition of a Great Power</h4>

    The inspection team was on its way back to the Royal Pce with Qi¡¯s twenty-members¡¯ diplomatic mission, of which Shi Rongyao was the envoy who took the lead. Shi Rongyao had a lean figure. Unlike those gentle civil officials, he was icy and intimidating. It seemed Sima Ray sent him for something.

    Leng Changxi got down from his horse. ¡°What do you think of him?¡± He passed Leng Wu and asked him.

    Leng Wu pondered a while and said, ¡°Light skills, not bad. The skill of long knives may be excellent. The gap between general and him was too wide for him to catch up, even though he had been given enough time.¡±

    ¡°Indeed.¡± Leng Changxi made the same judgment, ¡°How could a person whose martial skills were far below me react at the same time just like me? Plus, he stood further, which meant he sensed that ident faster than me. Those facts contradict our previous cognition. Most importantly, Nuan noticed the approaching assassination and informed me, and then who informed him?¡±

    ¡°You mean...¡±

    Leng Changxi shook his head and continued, ¡°These killers were too weak, weren¡¯t they? Insurrection just happened in the Yellow g Army camp. Guard of the emperor¡¯s army is for sure to be strengthened. That was not a proper time for assassination. For assassins, being caught meant death for holding the secret. Not only were they caught without effort, but their tokens were also easily found. Tokens are rted to their identities. It is suspicious that they didn¡¯t hide them.¡± Leng Changxi puckered his lip, gazing at Qin Yunuan, ¡°Theycked the passion of killing. That was the reason why Nuan sensed it, but I didn¡¯t. On the one hand, Nuan¡¯s intuition was a surprise. On the other, it also meant Jing Donghua was not their target this time.¡±

    ¡°Maybe they mistook the target?¡± Leng Wu stroked his head. He felt uncertain of such an absurd excuse.

    ¡°No, the assassination was not their intention,¡± Leng Changxi got his mind clear, ¡°Third-rate martial skills, messy course of action. They were scapegoats intended to be caught for misdirecting our attention. In their ns, His Majesty wouldy off his guard to Shi Rongyao. Also, the tense rtions between West Xia and North Di will be off-bnce. This conflict will rece the one between West Xia and Qi to be the major one. Five killers¡¯ lives, a good result in sights. Sima Rui was nning something effective.¡±

    ¡°We shall let His Majesty know as soon as possible.¡± said Leng Wu anxiously.

    Leng Changxi lowered his voice and looked around as if he was nonchnt. Around him were his trusted members. Qin Yunuan, Maner and Ting Xue stood beside him. A eunuch was leading the way for Qi¡¯s mission from the other side. Seeing the mission as hungry wolves, Leng Wu frowned.

    ¡°Calm down. His Majesty must have seen through Shi Rongyao¡¯s scheme.¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s frown relieved. ¡°ording to traditions, the envoy shall present himself in front of His Majesty first, then the mission. Yet this time, His Majesty hurriedly granted a meeting to the whole mission. Shi Rongyao believes His Majesty has fallen into the trap to consult Qi¡¯s mission on how to solve the tense rtions between West Xia and North Di. Still, surely a carpet sweep is out of his imagination.¡±

    ¡°Is that true?¡± Qin Yunuan leaned forward. Members of Qi¡¯s mission were sharp and astute as if they were plotting in mind with every pace along the path in the Royal Pce. The eunuch kept bowing and scraping all the way like he was treating his ancestors. He only showed the ttering face in front of Jing Donghua.

    All of a sudden, Qin Yunuan was stunned. The eunuch¡¯s forearm was a little bit stiff when he raised his hands to invite the mission to go. At one nce, she realized everything. She saw the knife being tied to his forearm.

    ¡°Let¡¯s visit my mother in Xihe Pce.¡± Seeing the situation was under his prediction, Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan walked hand in hand in the direction of Xihe Pce. Though Bai Shishi had received a message of their return before, she was astonished to see the presence of Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan. Bai Shishi leaned forward and took a nce behind them with expectations. But immediately disappointment emerged on her face.

    ¡°Your Grace, His Royal Highness is apanying the envoy from Qi. He maye to see youter.¡± Qin Yunuan understood Bai Shishi¡¯s love and worry. Jing Yuanxiao and Bai Shishi were separated by military troops¡¯ hardness and the Royal Pce¡¯s changes. Though everything was under their control, separation brought uncertainty to life or death. Jing Yuanxiao and Bai Shishi¡¯s rtionship was further than giving each other a hand. Affection remained.

    Bai Shishi¡¯s worry faded. She asked in surprise, ¡°Why did they visit West Xia without any reason?¡±

    ¡°I guess those death killers alerted Sima Ray. He is afraid of the situation in West Xia being out of control. He wants to stop us sending troops to Qi.¡±

    ¡°Killers?¡± That was out of Bai Shishi¡¯s prediction. She ordered dozens of guards to protect Jing Yuanxiao, as well as Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan. The military camp was guarded. How did Qi¡¯ killers sneak in?

    ¡°Given that Jing Yuanchu and Sima Ray were on the same boat.¡± Leng Changxi sneered, ¡°But this time, a death blow is waiting for them.¡±

    The sunlight warmed and lightened the golden zed tiles on Xihe Pce¡¯s roof. Here, white plum flowers were nted either around the corner or in the middle of the yard. That means everywhere. The sweet aroma of plum flowers surrounded them through their way. Sunset warmed their body. At the thought of the bloody turmoil at the military camp, Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi breathed a sigh of relief. Though the experience was exciting, Leng Changxi wouldn¡¯t put Qin Yunuan at risk for a second time from the bottom of his heart.

    Bai Shishi asked more details about what had happened in the military camp and led them to a quiet sideway. For the sake of security, Bai Shishi settled Elder Princess down in her own pce. At the same time, Bai Shishi left life traces in where Elder Princess used to live and arranged the meal delivery as usual. No one would figure out Elder Princess was living in a private yard of the Xihe Pce.

    ¡°I arrange servants to use your prescription to take care of Elder Princess. They used your potion to clean her body and stimte her acupoint. The other day, she opened her eyes. Recently I visit her daily. This morning, she could speak and said thanks to me. Madam Leng, you are a miracle!¡±

    Qin Yunuan yielded her head and smiled sweetly, ¡°Your Grace overpraised me.¡±

    They stopped in front of the door. The moment Bai Shishi called her maid to open that door, Leng Changxi heard a strange sound from inside the room. He kicked the door without hesitation. A man in ck tied Elder Princess to his body with a bedsheet. Seeing Leng Changxi broke into the room, he went out of the window and ran away.

    Leng Changxi went after him without a word.

    Though Qin Yunuan had inner Qi, she was unable to exert light skills. She enjoined Leng Shuang and Yuanyang, ¡°We cannot let him slip away. You two, besiege him from the east side and west side.¡± She then instructed Ting Xue and Manner, ¡°You two, go messaging eunuch and maids. Tell them a thief is in the Royal Pce, and now the crown princess orders to shut every pce gate.¡±

    Qin Yunuan gave orders calmly. Bai Shishi, who usually inmand of the situation, was now, however, unsettled. All the time, she had been confident in looking after Elder Princess. Bai Shishi settled her in a private yard and fabricated the life traces in Elder Princess¡¯s previous pce as if she was still living there. Exposure? How could it be? As an exchange for protecting Elder Princess, Qin Yunuan defended Jing Yuanxiao and exposed Jing Yuanchu¡¯s scheme. She did what she had promised perfectly, but Bai Shishi failed.

    ¡°Impossible, that¡¯s impossible.¡± Bai Shishi slid down against the door. Panic and anxiety filled in her eyes.

    ¡°Calm down,¡± Qin Yunuan lifted her up, ¡°Changxi¡¯s light skills were the best in Qi. That man was carrying Elder Princess. He wasn¡¯t able to run at a fast speed. Everything will be fine.¡±

    Meanwhile, a conversation was carried out in the central hall of West Xia, just like reefs were lurking underneath the calm sea. Jing Donghua was sitting on his dragon throne with his face solemn. The same expressions were also shown on West Xia¡¯s courtiers¡¯ faces. Shi Rongyao presented his suggestions one by one to Jing Donghua with his head high. The firmness in his tone sounded like he was making a requirement, not requesting to the emperor.

    What he said was no other than North Di¡¯s past aggressions. Significantly he exaggerated the assassination this time. Shi Rongyao was so specialized in lobbying. If Jing Donghua failed to see through his scheme at first, he would be swayed by Shi Rongyao¡¯s utterance undeniably.

    Shi Rongyao kept saying. Jing Donghua looked as if he was listening carefully. When he thought Jing Donghua was persuaded, Jing waved his hand. A row of maid of honor came in, with trays at their hands. On each tray presented a cup of tea. The cup was warm. Apparently, the tea was newly made.

    ¡°Queshe Tea, West Xia¡¯s specialty. Long time talks have made everyone exhausted. Let¡¯s have a tea break and continueter.¡±

    Shi Rongyao darted a look at the cup of tea. Alerts raised in his mind.

    ¡°Thanks for your kindness, Your Majesty. But we only hope that Your Majesty can reconsider the coalition between Qi and West Xia. We must force North Di to pay the price for its bygones.¡±

    Shi Rongyao took a tough stance as if he could turn over the table at any time. There was no need for Jing Donghua to be polite anymore. He slightly tilted his head and alsoughed in a stern voice, ¡°No, you have to drink it all. You are guests from far away. To invite our honorable guests to have a cup of hot tea is West Xia¡¯s traditional hospitality. We can¡¯t break the rules passed from our ancestors.¡±

    Noises came outside when arguments in the hall were about to be fueled. A man in ck broke in with someone covered by a cotton cloth in his arms. He unfolded the cotton cloth. The person was no other than Elder Princess.

 Chapter 305 - A Hard Battle

    <h4>Chapter 305 A Hard Battle</h4>

    The Elder Princess closed her eyes tightly, seeming to be in aa, while the assassin in ck frowned tightly and looked very nervous. Sure enough, after a while, Leng Changxi came over from the entrance of the hall. After four to five minutes, Yuanyang and Leng Shuang arrived one after another, looking alert.

    Jing Donghua stood up suddenly, ¡°What are you doing?¡± The assassin in ck and Shi Rongyao were obviously in the same group.

    Since things hade to such a pass, Shi Rongyao didn¡¯t intend to say any ptrap then. He directly ordered someone to help the Elder Princess to stand up and said to Jing Donghua, ¡°Thank you for finding our Elder Princess who has been missing for so many years for Qi. Since fallen leaves always return to the roots, it is reasonable for us to bring our Elder Princess home.¡±

    ¡°Qinghe is my first wife. I won¡¯t allow you to take her away casually.¡± Jing Donghua ordered on the hall, and then the soldiers in ck armor guarding behind a few golden pirs came out. They unsheathed the machetes and long swords in their hands, ready to fight for West Xia at any time.

    What Jing Donghua said seemed unreasonable, but it was true. He and Qinghe did worship Heaven and Earth as part of a wedding ceremony in Yueya Mountain at the time, and their marriage was consummated. She was really his first wife, and even the empresster couldn¡¯tpete against her.

    But after all, only two people knew about it, and Princess Qinghe was to marry the former emperor of West Xia that time for peace. What Jing Donghua did was against justice, filial and kindheartedness, but Jing Donghua didn¡¯t care about it at this time.

    Shi Rongyao smiled slightly, ¡°Your Majesty, you seem to have mistaken your memory. The empress of your country is the daughter of the Tuoba n, not the princess of Qi. And our princess was going to marry your biological father that time. But something happened then, so it fell through. Princess Qinghe is still the daughter of our Qi, not the daughter-inw of your West Xia. So we should bring her back naturally.¡±

    If Shi Rongyao really brought the Elder Princess back, it would be tantamount to sending Sima Ray a hostage. How could Leng Changxi let him seed? But Shi Rongyao seemed confident, and he even dared to take twenty men into the Royal Pce. It seemed that he hade prepared.

    ¡°It¡¯s ridiculous.¡± Leng Changxi paced forward, saying, and lifted the mask on his face calmly. Leng Changxi had never lifted the silver mask on his face since he came to West Xia. No one knew what he looked like. Even in Qi, only Qin Yunuan and a few servants who served him closely had seen his face.

    At this moment, the mask fell to the ground, and a pale face that had not been exposed in the sun for a long time was exposed to the scorching eyes of the people present then. Although he might not be the most handsome man in the world, his tall nose and sharp and deep eye sockets seemed to have been carefully polished by the creator for countless times. The seemingly thin corner of his lips showed a gentle and merciless smile. He was the first person who could blend gentleness and coldness so perfectly.

    Not only the maids but also the eunuchs and the old courtiers of West Xia present, and even the members of the delegation of Qi were shocked. At this moment, Qin Yunuan came over from outside the pce. She saw Leng Changxi at once who was surrounded by the crowd. His handsome and exquisite face was exposedpletely, so Qin Yunuan came to hold his hand quickly.

    ¡°Changxi.¡±

    Leng Changxi pinched Qin Yunuan¡¯s fingertips gently, meaning that she didn¡¯t have to worry. Then he stepped forward and took out the ck dark steel token in his arms, ¡°It¡¯s the token of the first Great General of Qi. Who of you dare to take the Elder Princess back to Qi?¡±

    ¡°The first Great General of Qi?¡± Shi Rongyao seemed to have known the identity of Leng Changxi for a long time, and he raised his head slightly. ¡°Now you are the most wanted criminal of Prince Ray. How dare you take out your identity token so tantly? You¡¯re really bold.¡±

    ¡°This is not Qi but West Xia. I never coborated with the enemy ormitted treason, nor did I vite military orders. Why does Sima Ray want me?¡±

    ¡°Have you forgotten that you burned all the food and fodder in the mountain? The military orders of Qi clearly stipte that anyone who burns the food and fodder should be put to death.¡±

    Food and fodder should go ahead of troops and horses. The ancestors of Qi formted this military order just to ensure the safety of food and fodder. But at this time, this order had be a joke.

    ¡°I burned the food and fodder? I burned the food and fodder that Sima Ray would use to revolt. Is that wrong? Are the people in Qi all bewitched by Sima Ray now?¡± Leng Changxi stared at Shi Rongyao.

    While Shi Rongyao cupped one hand in the other before his chest in the direction of Qi haughtily, and said in a proud tone, ¡°Prince Ray is good at ruling the country. As the superintendent of the country, he governs Qi effectively. This is the blessing of Qi. And I am the envoy of Qi. ording to thew of Qi, the envoys are of the highest rank when going abroad. General Leng. I will still call you General Leng. I advise you not to be nosy. And you¡¯d bettere back with us.¡±

    Qin Yunuan suddenly smiled and said to Shi Rongyao, ¡°Your Excellency, since you talk about thew, I want to talk about thew of Qi as well. First, thew of Qi states that the appointment, dismissal, and conviction of the first-rank ministers and generals can only be based on the edict written by the emperor himself. Now the emperor of Qi is dying of illness and unconscious, so Prince Ray¡¯s words cannot convict Changxi. Changxi is still the first General of Qi now.¡±

    ¡°Second, it¡¯s true that the envoys are of the highest rank when going abroad, but thew of Qi also stiptes that if something important happened, it should be discussed by the above-five-rank officials present, and you should have a vote on the decision then. Your Excellency, since you want to take the Elder Princess back, shouldn¡¯t you discuss with the officials of Qi present?¡±

    Shi Rongyao looked at the twenty people behind him subconsciously. He got more people on his side even if they made a discussion.

    ¡°Your Excellency, you don¡¯t need to look at the inferior officials behind you.¡± Qin Yunuan had expected Shi Rongyao¡¯s thoughts already. ¡°I have already nced at them. Most of them are the seventh-rank clerks and martial officers. No one of them has the right to vote.¡±

    ¡°Then what do you want?¡± Shi Rongyao said impatiently, ¡°Now there are only two officers, General Leng and me. It¡¯s not going anywhere.¡±

    ¡°Who said that?¡± Suddenly, a deep male voice came from behind a round golden pir. Leng Wu who was tall strode over, ¡°I can vote as well.¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled slightly at Shi Rongyao, ¡°Your Excellency, have you forgot that Master Leng is a fourth-rank imperial bodyguard the emperor granted to General Leng as a personal bodyguard?¡±

    Leng Wu was on the side of Leng Changxi and Qin Yunnuan naturally, so the result was self-evident.

    Just at this time, Jing Donghua, who had been watching for a long time, said, ¡°I don¡¯t know, and I don¡¯t care about thew of your Qi. I just want to tell you that I won¡¯t allow you to take Qinghe away, let alone use the army of our West Xia to attack North Di for you Qi.¡±

    Shi Rongyao¡¯s eyes turned sharp suddenly, and his hand behind his back made a gesture towards his personal attendant, who then immediately performed light skills and ran outside the hall.

    ¡°Stop him. He is going to send news.¡± When Leng Changxi ordered, the attendant had already passed through therge hall quickly which was full of people.

    With a noise, a red re dashed into the air from the hand of the attendant, and a huge red flower blossomed in the air then.

    Immediately afterwards, the attendant was caught by two soldiers in ck armor, while the signal re in his hand was empty.

    ¡°You have aplices in the Royal Pce?¡± Jing Donghua paced down the goldencquered steps, looking at Shi Rongyao with a majestic expression, ¡°How dare you Qi people and your uppity Prince Ray arrange people in the Royal Pce of West Xia?¡±

    Now that the matter had reached such a stage, Shi Rongyao didn¡¯t need to conceal it anymore. He even said with a trace of disdain and gratification, ¡°Your Majesty, you can¡¯t me us for the aplice. You have to know that it is West Xia that weed her back to the Pce with a wedding procession.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s Dou Meishuang!¡± Qin Yunuan reacted at once. Since she returned to the Royal City, she hadn¡¯t heard of Dou Meishuang anymore. Bai Shishi only said that when a rebellion urred in the Yellow g Army camp, the Mansion of Jing Yuanchu was very quiet and there was no movement at all. But no movement at that point was just the biggest movement.

    No wonder that the assassins of Qi in the Yellow g Army camp could find Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan so quickly. No wonder Jing Yuanchu had no fear of attacks from behind in the Yellow g Army camp. Jing Yuanxiao arranged Bai Shishi in the Royal City to stabilize the situation, but he didn¡¯t expect that Jing Yuanchu arranged Dou Meishuang in the Royal City as well.

    However, it seemed that it was not Jing Yuanchu who arranged that at this time. The person who controlled everything from the beginning to the end was not anyone else, but Sima Ray, an opponent who was far away but had been ambitiously trying to kill Leng Changxi.

    After a while, there was a loud noise outside. ck-clothed assassins from everywhere surrounded the entire hall in an instant, and the envoys also started to take actions. They poured the tea that Jing Donghua wanted them to drink into the throats of the West Xia ministers. They all looked good at martial arts. It seemed that this delegation came here not for a diplomatic mission, but for threatening at critical times.

    Jing Donghua was not surprised, Leng Changxi took out the dagger in his hand, and Leng Shuang handed Qin Yunuan the sister sword of his crape myrtle soft sword.

    ¡°This is the Royal Pce of West Xia. How dare you Qi people make trouble here?¡±

    ¡°We have to do this.¡± Shi Rongyao said viciously. His ruthless appearance was extremely simr to the appearance of Sima Ray who deliberately burned Shang Xianhua in front of Leng Changxi at the time. Leng Changxi held the dagger handle tightly which turned wet out of the sweat on his palm. This time, he would not let history repeat itself.

 Chapter 306 - The Determination to Raid

    <h4>Chapter 306 The Determination to Raid</h4>

    Shi Rongyao appeared to know that Elder Princess was Jing Donghua and Leng Changxi¡¯s weakness. Shi Rongyao dragged her near to his side, though Elder Princess came to herself. She was too feeble to open her eyes. It seemed that the man in ck must have drugged her with enough doses.

    With one hand coercing Elder Princess, Shi Rongyao¡¯s other hand was holding a curved knife tightly. The crescent-like de was at her throat. Noticing that, Leng Changxi thrust his dagger into the gap of steps. He then took over a crossbow from Leng Wu¡¯s hand. Such crossbow was unique to West Xia, which could shoot three arrows at a time. Leng Changxi threw away two arrows sideways and left the sharpest central one. He closed one eye to aim at Shi Rongyao¡¯s eye.

    Shi Rongyao sneered. He dragged Elder Princess closer like a shield in front of him. He provoked, ¡°You are outstanding for power and uracy in archery, I know. But right now, we are so close. The arrow is so powerful. General Leng, you have to be careful. After all, she is your natural mother, and you¡¯ve found her for so many years. In any case, the thirteenth prince will kill her after returning to Qi. For her, earlier orter, time is not the matter. But for you, that¡¯s not... Ah!¡±

    Shi Rongyao¡¯s threatens turned to whines with deep agony. An arrow made by pine twig shot into his eye socket straight. His eye socket continued bleeding. When Shi Rongyao was groaning, Leng Changxi changed the arrow to a cross-shaped one with a barb. Such an arrow was hard to be pulled out once it shot into a human¡¯s body unless Shi Rongyao gave up his eyeball.

    Leng Changxi wiped the bow in his hand seriously with his head low, ¡°I hate men who are womanishly fussy when talking.¡±

    Though Shi Rongyao covered his eyes painfully, he didn¡¯t loosen his grip on the binding Elder Princess. Noticing that, Leng Wu put the rest of the arrows onto the bow and aimed at Shi Rongyao¡¯s arm. Shi Rongyao trembled because the two arrows thudded into his flesh. Leng Shuang leaped forward to bring Elder Princess back.

    Shi Rongyao was exasperated. His voice was weaker than before, ¡°Go! It is the third prince¡¯s order: Whoever kills Leng Changxi will be awarded a thousand tael of silver and conferred with the Centurion. Whoever captures Leng Changxi alive will be awarded silver ten thousand Liang and conferred with the High Position.¡±

    Leng Changxi grinned, ¡°Sounds like I¡¯m pretty valuable.¡±

    Almost the same time, those assassins who pretended to be envoys rushed towards Leng Changxi. They could not earn ten thousand tael of silver even though they worked themselves to the bone for the emperor over ten years. Qin Yunuan protected Jing Donghua to retreat. Shi Rongyao was out of anger, and his pay came immediately. He arranged all his top master-hands to attack Leng Changxi, but he forgot Jing Donghua was the owner of this pce of West Xia.

    Like what was happening inside the hall, killers arranged by Dou Meishuang used ropes to jump down through gold pirs from the roof of the hall. Dou Meishuang appeared herself. Unlike the weakness and charm that she had expressed before, she dressed in a martial attire with hair tied up. Her arched eyebrows set off her handsomeness in the chaos. Dou Meishuang was holding a long whip which was made up of steel segments. Stabs were set on every part of the steel. The whip would leave a long and deep stab wound on the flesh with every hit.

    ¡°It was you.¡± Qin Yunuan held her soft de. The wound reminded her of several strange cases in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. Some manservants and maids were assaulted at midnight. Their stab wounds were long but nameless. Though Prince Ning reinforced the guard in the mansion, these cases continued. At that time, Qin Yunuan thought the attacker was skilled. That was the reason why he coulde and go without leaving a trace. The truth about the assaulter inside Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion was far beyond Qin Yunuan¡¯s imagination. Dou Meishuang used to perform her weakness. She fell sick almost every day. Qin Yunuan was aware of her but neglected to learn more about her.

    Jing Donghua made preparation beforehand. Behind him were soldiers in ck armor fighting with assassins. Though he arranged them for an active attack, they were now on the side of the defense. Still, Shi Rongyao couldn¡¯t prevail in the hall within such a short time.

    Using one man¡¯s strength to challenge five persons, Leng Changxi took it easy. When he was in Yeren Valley, Chen Jingrui asked Meng Man to activate the Qigong of Tongming Gate in his body. He then gained abundant energy and strength. Nobody couldpare his martial skills with him throughout the world except Yun Chuchen, the master of Qigong in the previous dynasty.

    Qin Yunuan turned her head around to see Leng Changxi. After she turned back, she saw Dou Meishuang stared at Leng Changxi deeply, even though Leng Changxi was fighting with a ferocious expression and blood tainted his face. Qin Yunuan was familiar with the emotion in Dou Meishuang¡¯s eyes because it was the way she looked at Leng Changxi day after day. Dou Meishuang fell in love with Leng Changxi?

    ¡°Your Grace, you are staring at my husband.¡± Qin Yunuan spun her soft de. The aura in her moist eyes made Dou Meishuang absent-minded for a moment. Dou Meishuang shook her steel whip and suddenly got nerve. ¡°But he will be mine in no time.¡± Dou Meishuang said. She swung the steel whip at Qin Yunuan¡¯s face.

    Dou Meishuang regarded Qin Yunuan, the daughter of a concubine from the mansion of Grand Commandant as a porcin doll that was weak and vulnerable. She didn¡¯t expect Qin Yunuan pointed her de to escape from the deathblow. Dou Meishuang couldn¡¯t believe it. Qin Yunuan swung her soft de. Leng Changxi only taught her the simplest ones, but once he said, three skills were enough for her to repel a second-rate assassin.

    Training daughters secretly was the Dou Family¡¯s tradition. Dou Meishuang had stayed in the Qin Family, Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, and West Xia. To escape detection, she gave up practicing her martial skills for a long time. Meanwhile, Qin Yunuan had double-cultivated with Leng Changxi for long. Leng Changxi also instructed her to use a soft sword. Therefore, how could Dou Meishuang, whocked practice, win against Qin Yunuan?

    Several punchester, Dou Meishuang was in retreat. She put her hands on the wall. Blood seeped in the corners of the mouth and flowed down her lower jaw. Her face was bloodlessly pale. She only got a few injuries in her arm. Why was she that weak?

    Qin Yunuan was puzzled. She stepped forward to grab Dou Meishuang¡¯s right hand. Despite her resistance, Qin Yunuan felt her pulse. Her pulse obviously answered.

    ¡°You¡¯re pregnant?¡±

    Dou Meishuang turned her head. She refused to talk to Qin Yunuan obstinately.

    ¡°And it was a three-month pregnant.¡± Qin Yunuan continued, ¡°But it¡¯s only two months since you¡¯ve married into West Xia. This child was not Jing Yuanchu¡¯s offspring, was it?¡±

    ¡°Hah!¡± Dou Meishuang sneered with disdain, ¡°Me? Give birth to a henchman¡¯s child? How can it be possible? We are only husband and wife in name. I have never slept with him.¡±

    Qin Yunuan lowered her voice, ¡°Was it the child of Sima Ray?¡±

    The rtionship between the Dou Family and Sima Ray wasplicated in ambiguity. As the daughter born of her father¡¯s legal wife, Dou Meishuang was safe after the falling of the Dou Family. It was a strange thing. From the Qin Family to Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, those who took Dou Meishuang in were impossible to acquire a peaceful end in political struggles. However, Dou Meishuang was safe alone. It appeared Dou Meishuang, and Sima Ray¡¯s connection was far away beyond imagination.

    ¡°Hah, giving birth to his child wasn¡¯t appeal to me.¡± Dou Meishuang despised. The scorn on her expression soon faded. She looked gloomy and dismal and said, ¡°I was forced that night. He kept calling your name. Qin Yunuan, what kind of power did you have? Two men fought against each other only because of you. The whole country and their families were upside-down.¡±

    All at once, Dou Meishuang raised her head. She wretchedly yelled at Qin Yunuan, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, my family would lead a wealthy and secure life in the regions south of the River. If it weren¡¯t for you, Leng Changxi wouldn¡¯te to this circumstance. If it weren¡¯t for you, Qi wouldn¡¯t fall into Sima Ray¡¯s hand. You are the reason for everything! You dangerous beauty!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re wrong. I don¡¯t ount for them.¡± said Qin Yunuan coldly, ¡°If I were capable of mastering those things, I would reveal Dou Qing¡¯e¡¯s crime earlier. Dou Family in cahoots with East Qin sold out Qi¡¯s interest. They were doomed to be executed earlier. Changxi got a rough origin which too many interests involved. He was bound to undergo twists and turns. About Sima Ray, his ambition swallowed him. Therefore, without me, he would revolt for the throne. As for calling my name, I¡¯m sorry about that. It has nothing to do with me.¡±

    Dou Meishuang put her hands on her abdomen and mocked herself, ¡°Now you understand why I was sent to West Xia for the imperial matrimony for peace. Sima Ray knew this child was his. Therefore, he wanted to get rid of me and made Jing Yuanchu be the father. It was so sad that Jing Yuanchu refused to touch me on the wedding night no matter how hard I tried. I¡¯m going to die anyway. Why don¡¯t I bring someone down to the hell with me?¡±

    Finish talking, Dou Meishuang made a sudden dive to Qin Yunuan like a madwoman. Hadn¡¯t until Qin Yunuan realized what happened, an arrow thudded into Dou Meishuang¡¯s heart. The moment half of the arrow pierced her body, Dou Meishuang¡¯s cruel face was fixed. She glimpsed the archer with a bitter smile. Then she fell dead straight.

    Qin Yunuan turned her head and saw Leng Changxi. He was holding the bow with blood all over his clothes. The previous battle made him exhausted. But when Qin Yunuan was in danger, he came to assure her safety just like a miracle.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you kill her immediately with your de? Why were you listening to her talking rubbish?¡± Leng Changxi med her out of concern.

    Qin Yunuan was stunned a second. She then turned her head to Leng Changxi and said, ¡°Changxi, she was pregnant.¡±

    Leng Changxi was a poker face, ¡°That¡¯s none of my business. She was killing you. That¡¯s all I know. And I won¡¯t allow you to get hurt.¡±

    Combat came to an end. Shi Rongyao nkly watched the scene. His elite killers were killed by soldiers in ck armor in a breeze. At the same time, the generals of West Xia who previously were forced to drink poisonous tea stood up. Even the civilian officials knocked the dust out of their clothes with elegance. Their calmughed at Shi Rongyao and drove him crazy. Shi Rongyao covered his wounded eye. He almost got frozen.

    ¡°You thought the tea was poisoned?¡± Jing Donghua said to Shi Rongyao in a dominant bearing. ¡°The real poison was put early in your way into the pce. Now, everyone, listen to my order! I hereby appoint Leng Changxi as themanding general. West Xia will pick an auspicious day, march to Qi, and raid the unjust Sima Ray!¡±

 Chapter 307 - Yunlong Valley

    <h4>Chapter 307 Yunlong Valley</h4>

    Jing Donghua¡¯s words were absolute confirmation. As for Shi Rongyao, he could never have thought that when the eunuch led them to the road in the Royal Pce, the bamboo on both sides of the road had been painted with overpowering drugs, which could make people unconscious and anesthetic. The bamboo was easy to attract butterflies, which could contribute more to the spread of the drug. However, the eunuch, who seemed to smile and tter all the way, had taken the medicine early as a matter of fact.

    Seeing that the assassin picked out by him carefully was caught by Jing Donghua and Leng Changxi, Shi Rongyao couldn¡¯t ept the fact. However, he got a broken arm and a blind eye. Even Dou Meishuang, his most helpful assistant in West Xia was shot to death by Leng Changxi¡¯s arrow.

    Shi Rongyao trembled and stood up, staring at Leng Changxi and Jing Donghua straight. Suddenly, blood came out from the corner of his mouth.

    ¡°Shi Rongyao bites his tongue to kill himself,¡± Qin Yunuan shouted loudly, ¡°Hurry! Someone to stop him! He is still useful.¡±

    It was because Shi Rongyao didn¡¯t want himself to be caught by West Xia people alive and forced to say more secrets that hemitted suicide. However, it was good that Qin Yunuan acted fast enough. She ripped the cloth strip from her hemline causally and stuffed it directly into Shi Rongyao¡¯s mouth to keep him from hurting himself more.

    ¡°Take him away,¡± after giving out his order, Jing Donghua said to Leng Changxi, ¡°Did you hear my words just now?¡±

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t know that Jing Donghua had decided to attack Qi. Now that Jing Donghua announced his decision all of a sudden, it was a real surprise to Leng Changxi.

    Leng Changxi nodded. Jing Donghua looked forward. The person standing next to him was Elder Princess, who was still suffering from the shock. However, as soon as she stood beside Jing Donghua, it seemed that her heart became immediately.

    ¡°Behave well, then,¡± Jing Donghua turned his head toward Leng Changxi, with his tone quite stern and eyes full of expectation, ¡°The 200,000 soldiers in ck armor are not going to die in vain. If you can¡¯t conquer the capital of Qi and force Sima Ray to raise the g and surrender, you don¡¯t have toe back to see your mother.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty,¡± Leng Changxi was shocked. Did Jing Donghua mean...?

    ¡°Why, do you want to take your mother all the way to work, to travel, and to suffer together with the army?¡± Jing Donghua inclined Leng Changxi at a nce. His words were filled with care to Elder Princess.

    Sure. Elder Princess had already endured much hardship in Yeren Valley. It was really a blessing for her to recognize and live with whom she loved. Nevertheless, ording to the recent situation, it was the safest to leave her in West Xia.

    ¡°I will definitelye back alive to pick my mother,¡± Leng Changxi bowed his fists.

    Jing Donghua turned around. Leading Elder Princess, he swaggered away. While showing off their love, he also turned back and said evilly, ¡°At that time, you shall see whether she is willing to leave with you.¡±

    Stunned, Leng Changxi clenched his fist unexpectedly. Qin Yunuan knew that this implied that he would not be resigned. Then Leng Changxi turned back and said to Qin Yunuan in a childish tone, ¡°Really don¡¯t know what he relies on? Will mother stay in West Xia certainly for him?¡±

    Qin Yunuan shook her head with a big, spoiling smile. She touched Leng Changxi¡¯s head as if she had been coaxing a child, ¡°You are a father and a son. Why do you envy each other and quarrel like that?¡±

    Leng Changxi shook his head, ¡°Don¡¯t bother. I will certainly bring back my mother.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled. Actually, this was exactly what Jing Donghua wanted. The odds of attacking Qi this time was no more than 50%. Jing Donghua¡¯s action stimted Leng Changxi¡¯s desire for victory. In fact, from the bottom of Jing Donghua¡¯s heart, he also hoped sincerely that Leng Changxi coulde back alive.

    Such great events happened one after another in the Yellow g Army camp and the Royal Pce, but the citizens all had merely a smattering of knowledge about them. However, there was a group of storytellersing from nowhere. They quickly told people that Sima Ray, the Prince Ray of Qi, had been in charge of Qi now, and he tried to assassinate the emperor of West Xia. Also, there were stories describing how Sima Ray ganged up with the Grand Prince of North Di and the Thirteenth Prince of West Xia, connecting the rebellion of the Yellow g Army camp to Sima Ray¡¯s invitation in secret. Therefore, the whole city of West Liang got passionate. The fervor soon went across the whole country.

    Storytellers in other ces all exaggerated the fact ording to the initiators¡¯ stories in West Liang. Only after half a month, people in West Xia all hated Sima Ray because he had done devil-like actions like imprisoning his own father and persecuting the faithful and honest.

    The storyteller really told lots of details and secrets, which could not be known to an ordinary storyteller. In fact, they were all sent out by Qin Yunuan. Although the emperor was persuaded, morale was the most important when troops were dispatched. Now the hatred towards Sima Ray was spreading in West Xia. It was the best time to send the army into battle.

    On the night before leaving, Qin Yunuan was washing the body of Leng Changxi for him with folium artemisiae argyi, which could reduce stress, moisturize the skin, and relieve fatigue. Leng Changxi¡¯s upper body was out of the water exposing his exquisite chest and shapely bicipital muscle. He put his two hands naturally on the edge of the tub, squinting his eyes slightly, and enjoying Qin Yunuan¡¯s considerate service. Qin Yunuan¡¯s small hand went along Leng Changxi¡¯s neck, which was a little stiff because of tiredness, and kneaded the muscle to help him rx.

    Leng Changxi gave out afortable moan from time to time. Atst, he squinted his eyes to add a sentence, ¡°Howfortable it is! Orter you will also take off. I¡¯ll knead for you.¡±

    Simply a sentence made Qin Yunuan immediately blush. Pretending to be angry, she hit Leng Changxi¡¯s chest with her fist, ¡°What are you saying? Be serious.¡± Her soft fist was held by Leng Changxi tightly in his hands. The wet vapor condensed on Qin Yunuan¡¯s white, smooth skin, and it was instantly transpired into water vapor again by Qin Yunuan¡¯s high body temperature caused by shyness. With water vapor rising, Leng Changxi¡¯s eyes were like shimmering stars, attracting Qin Yunuan¡¯s fixed eyes. An old married couple as they were, each time the intimate contact between them could still let Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart throb, limp and numb for a long time.

    ¡°Anyway, after I met you, I have never been serious,¡± Leng Changxi showed a bright smile and added, ¡°Of course, only to you.¡±

    ¡°Who cares?¡± Qin Yunuan pretended to push Leng Changxi, but her hands were held more tightly by him.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t they your words?¡± Leng Changxi smiled, ¡°You¡¯ve said that what I give to you cannot be the same as what I give others. So I¡¯m serious in front of others, but I¡¯m as shameless as I can be when I¡¯m in front of you.¡±

    This sentence got Qin Yunuan toughpletely. Smiling, she pulled Leng Changxi up and carried the small bucket beside the bathtub here. There was pomelo peel soaking in it, and pomelo leaves picked up. ording to a folk custom, every time a family met some luck out of trouble, especially when someone in the family had been put into jail despite his innocence, after his safe return, pomelo leaves would be prepared to sprinkle on him to dispel the bad luck.

    Qin Yunuan used not to believe in it. After all had happened, she had to believe it for once.

    Qin Yunuan used the method nanny taught her in the morning, holding pomelo leaves stained with juice and spraying it on the arms of Leng Changxi three times respectively. Leng Changxi wasn¡¯t agitated at all. He was extremely satisfied when he looked at his little hedgehog busy inside and outside. After his back got spilled, Leng Changxi seemed that still want something more. He turned directly to Qin Yunuan and smiled, ¡°You haven¡¯t sprinkled ahead.¡±

    At this time, Leng Changxi was naked from head to toe. Every inch of his muscles was exposed. Qin Yunuan could not help but nce down and turned her head away, ¡°Not sprinkle anymore. It¡¯s already done.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Leng Changxi put Qin Yunuan in his bosom with only one hand, ¡°Sprinkle me in the front. Work cannot be so headless.¡±

    Qin Yunuan put the small barrel in her hand toward Leng Changxi¡¯s hand, ¡°Sprinkle yourself.¡±

    ¡°But that¡¯s not the case,¡± Leng Changxi smiled and let Qin Yunuan nest in his bosom directly regardless of his whole wet body. Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t wear much so that she could scrub and wash Leng Changxi. In an instant, her coat, as thin as cicada, got wet. The warm water seeped into the strapless dress inside, making her full breasts and thin waist clear to see.

    Qin Yunuan only felt that something hard was pressing her from behind. Leng Changxi¡¯s voice, as hot as the sun, was by her ears, low, sexy, and leaving no chance to refuse.

    ¡°Can I, Nuan?¡±

    Qin Yunuan lowered her head a little. Just when she squeezed out a word ¡°well¡±, she was held by Leng Changxi directly into the tub. At that moment, water sshed in the harmonious atmosphere. Romance and passion mixed together. Maner and Ting Xue, who originally stood outside, went away sensibly as soon as they heard the voice inside, leaving the two people to have theirst night of passion.

    All seemed to be a dream. By the time Qin Yunuan was awake again, she was already lying on the soft bed safely. Lingmaoxiang was burning on the desk tofort her nerve. Everything that happenedst night was like a half-awake dream. Qin Yunuan moved her legs. To her surprise, they were still numb. Well, Leng Changxi really tried his bestst night.

    No. The situation wasn¡¯t right.

    ¡°Maner, Ting Xue,¡± Qin Yunuan wanted to call their name loudly, but what she really spoke out was no more than a croon. It seemed that she had been drugged. And the person who had drugged her could be nobody else.

    Qin Yunuan tried her best to pick up her embroidery shoes on the shelf and threw with all her strength towards the basin shelf. The huge sound finally attracted the attention of people outside.

    ¡°Madam, are you awake?¡± Maner was the first to run in, followed by Ting Xue. Qin Yunuan squinted her eyes a little. It seemed that her being drugged was also connected to the two people.

    ¡°Where is Changxi?¡±

    Maner hesitated. Ting Xue said directly, ¡°General has already led his troop to leave the city.¡±

    ¡°Leave the city?¡± Qin Yunuan was shocked. She promised Leng Changxi that they would leave together. Now he had left without her. He must be afraid that she could meet danger if she went with him. However, Qin Yunuan could only feel she was the safest and the most peaceful when she was with him.

    ¡°How long did I sleep?¡± Qin Yunuan forced herself to get up.

    ¡°Madam, don¡¯t push yourself. General has given you the drug that can make you sleep for three days. Now his army must be at the Yunlong Valley now.¡±

    Gosh! Yunlong Valley!

 Chapter 308 - The Life-saving Fluting

    <h4>Chapter 308 The Life-saving Fluting</h4>

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the Yunlong Valley?¡± Maner was really confused, but she could indeed feel that when Leng Wu followed the general to leave, he looked obviously a little unsettled. However, when she asked him about it, he merely told her not to worry and to take good care of Qin Yunuan in West Xia, expecting his message of returning safely. Actually, Maner knew that Leng Wu took the excuse of taking care of Qin Yunuan just to let her stay in West Xia.

    ¡°Yunlong Valley is not high, but the miasma is strong inside, and it has nurtured a strange creature, the wild monkey.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s so horrifying about wild monkeys? ording to the skill of Leng Shuang, she can cut down several of them by one attack,¡± whileforting Qin Yunuan, Ting Xue brought White Fungus Broth for her to help her body recover. Havingid for three days, although Qin Yunuan recovered her feeling of limbs, her stomach was still empty.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need to worry if they are ordinary wild monkeys. I remember that the book, The Collection of Mountains and Rivers, has recorded that the monkeys in the Yunlong Valley are born to be clever. They can turn into humans, imitate the voice of humans, and befuddle their minds. Even the locals dare not toe into the valley easily,¡± Qin Yunuan frowned. She had no intention to have the White Fungus Broth in front of her, so she stood up directly, ¡°Prepare the fastest horse for me. I¡¯ll go there.¡±

    ¡°Madam, it¡¯s not proper,¡± Maner was urged again and again by Leng Changxi not to let Qin Yunuan go out no matter what happened, ¡°Madam, you¡¯ve only learned to ride horses for a few days. The road is so long! Besides, your body has recovered just now. You can¡¯t travel anymore.¡±

    ¡°Well, do you know any method that can break the wild monkeys¡¯ deception?¡± Qin Yunuan turned her head to stare at Maner.

    Maner shook her head.

    ¡°Do someone in the army know it then?¡±

    Maner shook her head again.

    ¡°If you worry about me,e with me,¡± Qin Yunuan stood up, but Ting Xue stepped forward and stopped her, ¡°Madam.¡±

    ¡°You too,¡± Qin Yunuan strode out of the house. She knew that although Leng Shuang will leave with the army, Leng Changxi would definitely leave Yuanyang to protect her. Facing the empty yard, Qin Yunuan could feel that there was a master-hand protecting her in the yard through the genuine energy in her body, ¡°Yuanyang, if you really worry about Qi and Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, you should go with me instead of stopping me secretly in the yard.¡±

    Long silence. Then with a sound ¡°bang¡±, outside came the sound of the door boltnding. In fact, the door of the courtyard was already locked. It seems that Leng Changxi had tried hard to lock Qin Yunuan.

    When Qin Yunuan got up, the time was about noon. At noon, three fast horses had directly gone out of the gate of the city. The leading one was Qin Yunuan, who simply had her hair bundled up and wore a light purple skirt, with a four-finger-wide belt tightening her thin waist. She was riding a red adult female horse, appearing strong. She was followed by Ting Xue. Maner couldn¡¯t ride, so she sat behind Yuanyang.

    Qin Yunuan was calcting secretly in her mind. ording to Leng Changxi¡¯s marching speed, they would have reached the entrance of Yunlong Valley this evening. If they always rode horses and kept going for days and nights without rest, it would take Qin Yunuan one day and a half to get there. With theposure of soldiers in ck armor, it remained a mystery how long they could persist.

    Fast! It needed to be faster!

    Qin Yunuan had only learned to ride horses for one month. She was not supposed to be riding so fast. Yuanyang had been following Qin Yunuan discreetly. Although Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t ride so fixedly, she never slowed down a bit.

    This evening, Qin Yunuan had already reached a forest, in which she could clearly find traces that the army had stationed here. The remains of the bonfire and some cloth bags of eaten dry provisions were buried under the roots of the trees. It seemed that the way Leng Changxi ruled his army was still strict.

    ¡°Madam, the marks of the horses¡¯ hoofs have been found. They headed for the path to the east,¡± Yuanyang reported after checking the situation ahead and returned. Ting Xue had made a small bonfire, and Maner brought some wild fruit with her pocket picked from the forest. The white horse behind her was carrying some dry wood.

    Qin Yunuan leaned her back against a sturdy pine branch. She still couldn¡¯t get it. There were so many roads from West Xia to Qi, why did Leng Changxi choose to go through the Yunlong Valley?

    ¡°Who decided to go through the Yunlong Valley?¡± Qin Yunuan was curious.

    ¡°It¡¯s General Leng himself,¡± Maner got the message directly from Leng Wu. That must be right.

    ¡°How muddled he is!¡±

    ¡°ording to my husband, General had chosen three roads at the beginning. General Leng thought one of them was too long, and another was too close to North Di. He worried that they might be attacked on that road. So he chose Yunlong Valley.¡±

    ¡°The long distance is okay. Hasty marching is the worst. Besides, it is only a short time after he took over the army. There were very few of his subjects and believers in the army. He must have been in a hurry and was eager to take his army back to Qi. How can I not worry about him if he has such an idea?¡± Qin Yunuan pushed away the horn kettle Ting Xue handed over to her. She had no idea to drink. The wind in the woods was very strong, blowing the hair before her forehead a little messy. It stuck to her forehead, which was full of sweat.

    Maner hesitated a little, ¡°Actually, Leng Wu said so too. Nobody knew why General Leng was in such a hurry.¡±

    ¡°He was too hasty,¡± Qin Yunuan shook her head, ¡°Maybe it was because he wanted to pick Elder Princess as early as he could.¡±

    ¡°He wants more to pick you earlier, Madam,¡± Yuanyang was the oldest of them all. So she could see through things much more clearly than Maner and Ting Xue did.

    Only resting for two hours, Qin Yunuan dragged three people to keep going overnight. On the next evening, they could already see from a distance the top of Yuexia Mountain, the main peak of Yunlong Valley. There was a saying, ¡°Even though you see a mountain, you still need to go far enough to kill a horse to reach it¡±. So Qin Yunuan continued to work fast. Yuanyang, however, pointed to a flustered ragged soldier-like person outside the valley and stopped.

    ¡°Madam, look there!¡± Just when Yuanyang was about to ride her horse to get there, she was stopped by Qin Yunuan.

    But the soldier seemed to be badly injured, climbing hard with hands towards Qin Yunuan and other people as if he were asking for help. Seeing this, both Maner and Ting Xue felt sympathy towards him, especially Maner, who thought that maybe Leng Wu had had an ident inside. Just when she couldn¡¯t help rushing forward to cure the soldier, Qin Yunuan prohibited with a clear order, ¡°None of you is allowed to go near him.¡±

    Then Qin Yunuan pulled out the soft sword in her hand, which was left to her by Leng Shuang. She held the bridle with one hand and moved toward the soldier quickly. Just when she went past the soldier, he suddenly jumped up with amazing strength, not like what a wounded soldier could do.

    Qin Yunuan held her breath, took out the soft sword in her hand without hesitation and poked into the soldier¡¯s chest directly. She did not learn many tricks, and this one may be called the most effective one.

    Something strange happened. The armor of the soldier, who had been at hisst gasp just now, suddenly became loose. The tall and strong soldier turned into an ape with a sword in its chest. The figure became much smaller.

    Seeing this, the three peopleing from afar all covered their mouth with hands, looking surprised.

    ¡°This is the wild monkey I said,¡± Qin Yunuan used her soft sword to stir back and forth, ensuring that the animal at her foot was totally dead, ¡°It can switch to the form of a human, imitate the voice of a human and deceive your mind. Just now, your sudden sympathy with it was also because you were puzzled by it.¡±

    Finishing her words, Qin Yunuan looked at the smoggy valley as if she could hear countless roars of wild monkeys from it. She didn¡¯t know how Leng Changxi and the 200,000 soldiers in ck armor were inside.

    At the same time, Leng Changxi, who was missed by Qin Yunuan, was trying his best to kill a soldier in ck armor beside him. With one attack of his de, he ripped off the soldier¡¯s throat. The soldiers in ck armor came from the other side of the mountain waves after waves. They looked exactly the same as Leng Changxi¡¯s army from appearance to dressing.

    ¡°General,¡± a figure shed from the back of Leng Changxi. Leng Changxi used his spear to stab theing person, but the attack was dexterously shed.

    ¡°General, it¡¯s me,¡± Leng Wu was covered with blood from head to toe, which belonged to those monsters as well as his brothers, ¡°It doesn¡¯t work. There are too many monsters. It¡¯s been a day, but we can¡¯t kill all of them. Or, we¡¯d better break out of the encirclement.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯re 200,000 soldiers in ck armor in all. Every one of them is fighting. We¡¯ve just lost more than 30 now. If we try to break the encirclement, we will lose more,¡± Leng Changxi looked at those people appearing the same as his army and gritted his teeth in hatred.

    ¡°However, if we keep fighting like that, the soldiers won¡¯t be able to insist,¡± Leng Wu begged, ¡°For the whole day, soldiers can¡¯t even drink water. The power of the wild monkey is much more horrible than our imagination.¡±

    ¡°I think it weird too,¡± Leng Changxi frowned, ¡°I have read The Collection of Mountains and Rivers. It has recorded this creature, but it also said that it was about to extinct, and what was left were the old and the weak. However, you see those wild monkeys on the mountain. They are very young. I assume that they are no more than 20 years old. I guess that someone has raised them or train them intentionally.¡±

    ¡°General, be careful,¡± Leng Wu hit down a soldier that changed from the wild monkey with one attack and kick directly at the heart of the monkey.

    As wild monkeys had changed the same as soldiers in ck armor, there were always people killing or hurting hisrades by mistake. There were howls of soldiers in ck armor hurt by hisrades in mistake from time to time.

    ¡°Remember, wild monkeys can¡¯t talk. They can only imitate the human voice by using onomatopoetic words.¡± Leng Changxi was standing at the top. He looked down at the situation of the war under his feet, feeling much worried.

    However, all of a sudden, a fluting, clear and gentle, came from deep in the peaceful valley. It was as quiet as a pool of deep, still water, surrounding every corner of the valley. Every flower and every grass were infiltrating in the beautiful fluting. The one ying the flute was dressed in light purple clothes, walking from the dense foggy forest slowly to the hillside. The soldiers were soon attracted by the magical fluting.

    At this time, somebody shouted loudly, ¡°You see! Those wild monkeys all turn back to their original appearance.¡±

 Chapter 309 - Army Management

    <h4>Chapter 309 Army Management</h4>

    The fluting was a great help. With it, soldiers in ck armor wielded their weapons to strike back. At this time, monkeys that had shown their true colors were likembs to the ughter and quickly killed by swift ¡°butchers¡±.

    Leng Changxi kept staring at the woman who yed the flute on the distant hillside. In a piece of light purple clothes, she had a delicate and small face and a pair of fair hands which she used to hold the flute.

    It was Nuan.

    After Qin Yunuan¡¯s arrival, the stalemate that hadsted for a day came to an end in just one hour. When cleaning up the mess, Leng Wu caught many wild monkeys. They had to admit that these monkeys were very smart. After being caught, they mimicked crying children or weeping women to make soldiers who escorted them feel pity for them.

    ¡°Everyone, put these into your ears.¡± Leng Wu helped soldiers escorting monkeys to put into ears the cotton balls which were the size of people¡¯s ear hole.

    On the less frequently walked hillside, however, Leng Changxi in armor who originally looked serious suddenly smiled, when seeing Qin Yunuan who pouted out of anger.

    ¡°Nu...¡± Before Leng Changxi finished calling her name, she already walked fast to him. She first pped him hard, leaving a loud sound, and then threw herself into his arms while keeping beating his hard armor with her fist.

    ¡°You idiot! B*ast*rd! You should leave me alone. See, without me, you might be trapped here for longer. You have read so many books on military strategies, but it¡¯s of no use.¡± Although she was scolding Leng Changxi, thetter knew she said this just out of anger and actually was expressing her worries and care.

    Leng Changxi held Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Don¡¯t beat the armor. It¡¯s made of ck iron and imprable. Don¡¯t hurt yourself.¡±

    Qin Yunuan took the chance to pinch Leng Changxi¡¯s unmasked face. On the march, he didn¡¯t wear his mask. His handsome face turned twisted because of this. While pinching his face, Qin Yunuan asked sulkily, ¡°No armor protects your face, so I can pinch it, right?¡±

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t stop her but just shrugged and pouted at her, hinting that she should turn her head. He said, ¡°Look at them. Can you be as tender as Maner?¡±

    Qin Yunuan took a look and saw Leng Wu, who was just free of trivial work, dragged Maner away and held her tight in his arms under an old pine tree.

    Qin Yunuan pouted and said, ¡°If Leng Wu drugs Maner someday, Maner will definitely punish him and not be as tender and caring as now.¡±

    Leng Changxi knew she still held the grudge for he drugged her, so he lowered his head and apologized, ¡°Nuan, I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Simply an apology cated Qin Yunuan at once. In Leng Changxi¡¯s arms, she answered in a low voice, ¡°Alright, I forgive you. But you have to promise not to abandon me again regardless of any reason. You are not me, so you don¡¯t know that I feel most secured and happiest only when staying together with you. I can¡¯t live a peaceful or good life without you.¡±

    Leng Changxi held her tighter and nodded. ¡°I promise.¡±

    Then, Qin Yunuan told him that she actually learned to defeat monkeys with a flute from an ancient book. The flute should be the one made of the specially selected natural jade and should have been yed every day for over a decade. Because only by doing so would the flute and the yer be a united entity. It was not easy for Qin Yunuan to find one of such flutes. She pleased Bai Shishi to buy one at a high price from an old eunuch in the pce. The old eunuch had cried for long after selling his flute. But he had no choice, because it was the Crown Princess who wanted it.

    Suddenly, they heard a noise from the other side. Holding Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand, Leng Changxi led her to where the sound came from. They found some soldiers in ck armor tied up a bunch of wild monkeys with cowhide ropes. These screaming monkeys hadn¡¯t learned how to mimic human cries, so they were just ordinary monkeys.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Leng Changxi asked Tuoba Wuyu, the chief of soldiers in ck armor. He was a distant rtive of the empress, so he could be regarded as a royal family member. He managed to be the chief in charge of 200,000 soldiers in ck armor after winning variouspetitions including martial arts ones. He was unwilling to take orders from a Qi General out of nowhere. Besides, he was taller than Leng Changxi and very strong with one arm thicker than Qin Yunuan¡¯s leg. Therefore, he didn¡¯t treat Leng Changxi politely.

    ¡°General Leng, you are so smart. I don¡¯t have to tell you the answer, and you can guess it, right?¡± Tuoba Wuyu was rude.

    Qin Yunuan became slightly worried. As she expected, some soldiers were already unwilling to obey Leng Changxi because of his impetuous decision of walking into the valley.

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t say anything. At this time, Leng Wu, who pried into information, came back and reported, ¡°General, these soldiers followed remaining monkeys, after killing most, to their nest, and brought some young monkeys back. How should we deal with these monkeys?¡±

    ¡°Kill them all, of course.¡± Tuoba Wuyu sounded undoubted. ¡°These monsters are neither animals nor humans. Who knows whether they will hurt other peopleter? Killing them is actually helping residents.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t make hasty decisions,¡± Qin Yunuan cut in. Then, she exined slowly, ¡°All species exist for some reasons. The number of these wild monkeys has soared these years, and I assume some people have helped with this. Maybe someone deliberately helps monkeys to reproduce and train them to prevent us from going to Qi through the valley. But I¡¯m afraid that directly killing all monkeys will do no good to others or us.¡±

    ¡°Ho, who¡¯re you? An official His Majesty newly appointed? But I haven¡¯t heard about that West Xia has a female official.¡± Tuoba Wuyu looked down on Leng Changxi and even more disdained Qin Yunuan, a thin and weak woman who suddenly expressed her opinions.

    Leng Changxi cupped his hands and said, ¡°She¡¯s my wife. Sorry for her interruption, but what she said makes sense. Take a look at those thorns and trees that were cut down. When we just went into this valley, we saw monkeys nted trees, right? So I think, without these animals which help the ecological bnce in the valley, it wouldn¡¯t be as beautiful as now. Moreover, these monkeys are young and don¡¯t know how to cheat humans. Why should we...¡±

    ¡°Soldiers, kill them!¡± Tuoba Wuyu was not convinced by Leng Changxi at all and directly ordered his men to kill monkeys.

    Soldiers in ck armor acted swiftly. Soon, many monkeys were killed. Leng Changxi exchanged nces with Leng Wu and Leng Shuang. Thetter two stepped forward at once and wielded their weapons to stop machetes that were aimed at monkeys. So did Yuanyang, who whipped away the spear of one soldier.

    ¡°General Leng, what do you mean?¡± Tuoba Wuyu put the stress on ¡°you¡±. He sounded respectful but, in fact, was questioning Leng Changxi.

    ¡°We can leave the valley safely now, so we don¡¯t need to waste energy on such a trivial thing. We¡¯ve already wasted much time here, and we¡¯d better speed up now.¡±

    Hearing Leng Changxi¡¯s exnation and advice, Tuoba Wuyu just kept his chin up and simply answered, ¡°I just love to waste time. So what? General Leng, His Majesty grants you a title just because he feels pity for you, an underdog from Qi. I don¡¯t believe in any legend that praises you as an invincible God of War in Qi. Besides, as Mrs. Leng mentioned, someone may deliberately train these monsters to prevent us from going to Qi. So who would do so? That prince who usurps Qi, of course. To conclude, this is a fight between you and him, both Qi people. So why do you drag us into it to take sufferings? I don¡¯t like these monsters, and I just want to kill them. So what? You hate this? Well, if so, let¡¯s have a fight. If you win, I will listen to you afterwards.¡±

    Speaking of this, Tuoba Wuyu tilted his head proudly and looked around. Seeing all people listened to him carefully, he felt more confident. ¡°But if I win, it¡¯s up to me how to march or fight. Besides, when I lead my soldiers to break into Qi¡¯s capital, you have to induce defenders there to surrender and open the gate to wee me. Deal?¡±

    That was undoubtedly humiliating for a country. No matter how close West Xia and Qi were, neither of them would like to open their capital gate to wee people from another country. Leng Changxi turned around a bit and said to Tuoba Wuyu, ¡°Deal. But I¡¯m afraid...¡±

    ¡°Afraid?¡± Tuoba Wuyu was an outstanding martial artist among soldiers in ck armor, so he always talked to others and also acted in an arrogant way. ¡°See, he is the so-called God of War in Qi. He should feel afraid before fighting.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean that,¡± Leng Changxi sounded cold. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you will feel embarrassed after your fiasco.¡±

    This irritated Tuoba Wuyu immediately. He aggressively wielded his two axes, each one of which weighed 50 kilograms and was very sharp. He shouted at Leng Changxi impolitely, ¡°If I don¡¯t cut you into pieces, I¡¯ll change my surname to Leng.¡±

    Leng Changxi pushed Qin Yunuan away. West Xia respected skilled and strong people. So defeating Tuoba Wuyu might be the best way to earn these soldiers¡¯ trust.

    ¡°Leng Wuyu? It sounds not good.¡± Leng Changxi kept provoking Tuoba Wuyu. Thetter was so angry that he wielded and aimed his axes at Leng Changxi.

 Chapter 310 - Wed Waited for Long

    <h4>Chapter 310 We¡¯d Waited for Long</h4>

    Nearly at once, soldiers standing asideughed and booed. They were all waiting to see General Leng, who looked so weakpared to Tuoba Wuyu, to make a fool of himself. They hadn¡¯t seen him fought since he was appointed to be the General. Besides, Leng Changxi looked fairly handsome and weak. His face was rather pale, as if he hadn¡¯t exposed himself to the sunlight for long, so soldiers thought he was weak.

    Tuoba Wuyu was very aggressive, but Leng Changxi stood still. Leng Wu became worried and then wasforted by what Qin Yunuan said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Changxi can easily defeat such a strong man now.¡± Qin Yunuan briefly exined to Leng Wu that Leng Changxi¡¯s Qigong of Tongming Gate had been activated when they were in the Yeren Valley. Leng Wu was surprised. There should be such a kind of powerful Qigong. No wonder he felt Leng Changxi had totally different genuine energy now.

    Two axes Tuoba Wuyu used were like two scary and overwhelming tigers. But Leng Changxi moved quickly like a swift snake and avoided Tuoba Wuyu¡¯s all attacks. Tuoba Wuyu exerted all his strength every time and seemed to fight like crazy, while Leng Changxi always stayed poised, which irritated Tuoba Wuyu more.

    ¡°Come on. Take this seriously. Don¡¯t dodge. Are you so afraid that you can¡¯t even fight?¡± Tuoba Wuyu goaded Leng Changxi.

    ¡°Alright.¡± Leng Changxi nodded. When Tuoba Wuyu gritted his teeth and was ready to attack, Leng Changxi squinted, raised his hand gently and held up a finger to leverage his genuine energy. Right before he touched Tuoba Wuyu, thetter, who was as strong as a cow, should suddenly slip and fall down to the ground.

    Almost no one saw clearly how Leng Changxi made Tuoba Wuyu fall down. Actually, they all thought it was Tuoba Wuyu himself causing his fall.

    ¡°General.¡± A close guard of Tuoba Wuyu tended to help him up, but Tuoba Wuyu wielded his axe to stop him. ¡°We know these 200,000 soldiers can only have one general. Leng Changxi, you should trick me. How insidious!¡±

    ¡°Ah, he yed a trick.¡±

    ¡°Gosh, why does His Majesty appoint him to be the general? Honest is the most important in thepetition, but he should y tricks.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense.¡± Leng Changxi titled his head and took a tough stand. ¡°When did you see I tricked you?¡±

    ¡°Or why did I fall down?¡± Tuoba Wuyu was wide-eyed and confident somehow. He looked up at Leng Wu, Qin Yunuan and other people in the distance and said, ¡°You all, roll up your sleeves. You must have hidden weapons.¡±

    Leng Wu thought Tuoba Wuyu was unreasonable and provocative. He was going to blow up but stopped by Qin Yunuan who was smiling and not impatient at all. Their disadvantaged position and caring-nothing attitude now would be in sharp contrast to their triumphter.

    Seeing Qin Yunuan rolled up her sleeves, Leng Wu, Leng Shuang and others followed. Tuoba Wuyu paused after finding nothing on their bare arms. Then he said to Leng Changxi, ¡°Well, it must be you hiding something.¡±

    Leng Changxi also rolled up his sleeves to reveal his two muscr arms, and then said with his hands sped behind his back, ¡°I won¡¯t use my handster, so there is no chance for me to use any secret weapon.¡±

    Leng Changxi was satirizing Tuoba Wuyu, but thetter didn¡¯t care about it. Tuoba Wuyu¡¯s eyes already turned red, and he was determined to win. He wielded axes again. Leng Changxi stopped frowning and lifted his leg to kick at Tuoba Wuyu¡¯s lower abdomen. Thetter raised himself suddenly. Then Leng Changxi lifted his leg again and this time, aimed at Tuoba Wuyu¡¯s face. However, he stopped before touching Tuoba Wuyu. When Leng Changxi lifted his right leg high, Tuoba Wuyu closed his eyes tight, waiting for a scary and hard attack. After a while, Leng Changxi said lightly, ¡°Well, don¡¯t be afraid. Open your eyes.¡±

    The fight seemed like a farce. Tuoba Wuyu became rather embarrassed because Leng Changxi didn¡¯t kick him just now. He wondered what martial arts Leng Changxi practiced and why he could defeat him within several moves. Tuoba Wuyu was quite strong, but when Leng Changxi attacked him, he should be unable to move. It was weird.

    ¡°What kind of strange martial art did you practice?¡±

    ¡°Not any strange martial art,¡± Leng Changxi answered as if nothing amazing happened. ¡°It¡¯s the Qigong of Tongming Gate.¡±

    At once, people around all whispered. They knew only royal members of West Xia could practice the Qigong of Tongming Gate. It seemed that those ims about Leng Changxi were true.

    ¡°General Tuoba, can we set off now?¡± Leng Changxi smiled and looked at Tuoba Wuyu, but his smile made Tuoba Wuyu flesh creep.

    ¡°I¡¯m not worthy of this title,¡± Tuoba Wuyu replied reluctantly after keeping silent for a while.

    ¡°Yes. I remember you said that all these soldiers could only have one general.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the general,¡± Tuoba Wuyu cut in before Leng Changxi finished. He was in a cold sweat and looked totally different from what he was like before. The guard near him was curious about why Tuoba Wuyu became so humble. Leng Changxi didn¡¯t even kick him.

    ¡°Remember what you said.¡± Leng Changxi titled his head a bit and raised himself slightly. He said to soldiers around, ¡°You all did a good job today. Have a good rest here, and we will set off tomorrow morning.¡± Then, he called Qin Yunuan to pitch tents on the other side.

    When they left, soldiers and guards of Tuoba Wuyu surrounded him immediately.

    ¡°General, he was just close to kick you. Besides, his kick might not even hurt you. Why do you admit defeat and let him lead us?¡± A grumpy soldierined. ¡°In my opinion, we should n a sneak attack at midnight. Catch that ungrateful andmb man and force him to kowtow and apologize to General Tuoba. What do you think of this?¡±

    Many soldiers agreed on this suggestion.

    ¡°Bah, you know nothing!¡± Tuoba Wuyu¡¯s face didn¡¯t turn ruddy until now. Seeing only his henchmen around him, Tuoba Wuyu directly took off his armor and rolled up his clothes to reveal his lower abdomen which was kicked by Leng Changxi. His abdomen already turned dark purple and nearly ck.

    ¡°He should poison you.¡± Some stood up at once and took their weapons, wanting to get back at Leng Changxi.

    ¡°You all, sit down.¡± Tuoba Wuyu frowned. Why did his henchmen have the body of a man but the mind of a child? ¡°This isn¡¯t caused by poison, but General Leng¡¯s Qigong. I clearly remember that he didn¡¯t touch me, and this injury can only be caused by his genuine energy. He just pretended to kick me to mislead others. I assume he can already use his genuine energy to hurt people without touching them now. He hadn¡¯t exerted all strength to beat me. If he had, I would die now.¡±

    Soldiers then understood and realized that Leng Changxi, who looked impressive, really got something. However, some were not reconciled yet and secretly nned an evil trick.

    At night, they finished pinching tents. In all, there were threeyers of tents with the outermost one for soldiers who kept a vigil tonight. Leng Wu had a tiring day. But as Leng Changxi¡¯s lieutenant, he took the lead to keep a vigil. Maner wanted to apany him but was refused.

    ¡°It¡¯s cold outside. How can you, a woman, stand the coldness? Besides, you will distract me if you stay here.¡± After giving a simple exnation, Leng Wu urged Maner to go back to the innermost tent where Qin Yunuan lived.

    The sky was full of stars tonight. But at the hillside, people could only see half of the sky, not the whole one. Shining like diamonds on a ck fur cloak, stars were dazzling.

    Maner walked back with her head down. She had asked Qin Yunuan for leave before, so she didn¡¯t need to wait on her tonight. But now that she was free, she could return to duty. When she was close to the tent where Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi lived, she suddenly saw a figure shed. She stopped with her eyes wide open and became so frightened. A spy sneaked in?

    She kept walking and wanted to figure out what happened. Someone covered her nose and mouth. Maner struggled, but that person was skillful and directly dragged her to a dark ce.

    ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± The voice from behind was tender, charming and familiar.

    Maner looked back and found it was Yuanyang who ¡°kidnapped¡± her. Yuanyang was in all ck. She would be deemed as an assassin if people just caught a glimpse of her. Besides Yuanyang stood Leng Shuang who was also in all ck and looked neat and smart.

    ¡°Why do you...?¡±

    ¡°Hush.¡± Yuanyang made a gesture to ask Maner to keep silent. Then, they only heard the wind and asional chirps. They three hid themselves near the water storage bucket behind the narrow tent. Inside the tent, Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan could be seen clearly against the light. Leng Changxi sat down, and it seemed that he was reading military books or maps while good-shaped Qin Yunuan leaned against the table to grind the ink stick.

    Suddenly, a thud and a man¡¯s muffled groan attracted their attention.

    ¡°Hold on. We¡¯re not waiting for this man.¡± Yuanyang quickly made a judgment. It was urgent now, and they had to seize the moment. Yuanyang leveraged her genuine energy to check people around. She smiled suddenly and nodded to Leng Shuang. ¡°As Madam expected, more than one bunch of attackers have sneaked in. What a busy night!¡±

 Chapter 311 - Old Foes Met

    <h4>Chapter 311 Old Foes Met</h4>

    Maner hadn¡¯t figured out what Yuanyang and Leng Shuang meant, but at this time, a figure already jumped lightly on the tent. That swift man was one of the top martial artists. He quickly took out a pen-thick bamboo tube in which there was a poisoned arrow. Right when he gently gashed the tent and was ready to shoot the arrow, he felt a cold dagger was pointed at his throat.

    ¡°Sir, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s impolite for you to jump on others¡¯ tent atte night.¡± Leng Shuang smiled and looked at the assassin who paused because of her appearance. Yuanyang sent a signal, and at once, Leng Wu led soldiers in ck armor who ambushed to capture three other assassins who were on the lookout.

    Leng Changxi pulled the curtain back and walked out, followed by Qin Yunuan. Seeing four people who were tied up, Leng Changxi looked back at Qin Yunuan and nodded to her, ¡°You were right. It seems that some other people also want to kill us besides them.¡±

    ¡°Them¡± referred to several soldiers in ck armor who gathered to discuss how to get back at Leng Changxi for Tuoba Wuyu at dusk. They arrived early but was quickly seen through and captured by Yuanyang and Leng Shuang. So they witnessed how Leng Changxi captured these top assassins alive.

    Those soldiers who wanted to trick Leng Changxi lowered their heads. They regretted doing such a silly thing and also felt afraid when thinking that they would be punished. They already saw how powerful Leng Changxi was and knew he was very smart for easily capturing top assassins.

    Leng Changxi looked up and just ran his eyes over four assassins. Then, he said confidently, ¡°Mantis Zhang, the Waijia Quan master, Iron Qiao, the Palm Kung Fu master, Float, the No.1 master of light skills, and you, Shadowless whose secret weapon can always hit the target.¡± With just a nce, Leng Changxi knew who the four assassins were. He continued, ¡°Sima Ray must have spent much recruiting you to kill me. Well, tell me. If you fail, who will Sima Ray send next?¡±

    Leng Changxi was sure that these four assassins were sent by Sima Ray. Sima Ray hadpletely copied the assassin organization model prevalent in East Qin as well as Zhao Huijin¡¯s assassin management method. To prevent themselves from being exposed due to their connections with partners, assassins who were sent to perform tasks would be given great decision-making power. When an assassin didn¡¯t return within the prescribed time, the organization would, regardless of the result, send more people to continue the former assassin¡¯s work to ensure the fullpletion of the task.

    The noise drew Tuoba Wuyu¡¯s attention, and he walked to them. Just taking a nce at assassins who were in strange clothes, he knew what happened. But he didn¡¯t figure out why his soldiers in low spirits were also here.

    ¡°General Leng, what... are you doing?¡± Tuoba Wuyu would ept to take orders from Leng Changxi because he was skilled in martial arts, but it didn¡¯t mean he would let Leng Changxi bully his men at will and say nothing.

    ¡°You can ask them.¡± Leng Changxi didn¡¯t even look at him.

    After hearing soldiers¡¯ exnation, Tuoba Wuyu was so angry that he directly kicked the leading soldier at his knee. The soldier knelt down at once.

    ¡°General Tuoba, I¡¯ll let you deal with your men. As for these four, I will take care of them. Is this fine for you?¡±

    How would Tuoba Wuyu refuse after knowing his men yed dirty tricks? It was really lucky that Leng Changxi didn¡¯t ask him to kill them directly.

    After Tuoba Wuyu quietly dragged soldiers away with his head down, Leng Changxi looked at four assassins who were stuffed with strips of cloth to prevent them from killing themselves by biting off their tongues.

    ¡°General, I think we should kill them,¡± Leng Wu cupped his hands and said.

    Leng Changxi was thinking over this. If he brought them back to Qi, they would be his burden. But if he set them free, it was unknown whether these assassins would attack him again. However, even if he killed them, Sima Ray would send more assassins to stop him from going back to Qi.

    Thankfully, Qin Yunuan was foresighted. Given that the number of wild monkeys in the valley increased for no reason, she concluded that someone had exploited the valley. The trees cut were delivered to Qi, so Sima Ray must have set up bases nearby. Maybe, scouts from Qi were watching them right now.

    Looking at four assassins, Leng Changxi smiled and said, ¡°Well, I will give the antidote to the first one who tells me the secret I want to know. I know you are poisoned by the Heartbreak Powder which will kill you 14 dayster. Sima Ray always uses this trick. But a reminder, only the first can get the antidote.¡±

    The four assassins looked at each other. Qin Yunuan slightly tilted her head and observed their facial expression. They four were all hesitant. As long as one gave in, it would be bad for the other three. So they¡¯d rather all keep silent, and Sima Ray might even not punish them for this.

    Before the four spoke, Qin Yunuan said with a smile while pointing at one assassin, ¡°You¡¯re good at light skills, so you can arrive here without walking on the ground. The color of soil on your shoes is darker than that of theirs. I assume it is the crimson acid soil good for tea trees. There are tea trees in the east of the Yunlong Valley, so you came from that direction, right?¡±

    Float shivered and looked in nk at Qin Yunuan who was tender but eloquent. She looked like an ordinary woman but turned out to be so smart. Her analysis was 100% correct.

    Seeing that man remained hesitant, Qin Yunuan wanted to continue. However, he suddenly knelt to Leng Changxi. Although he didn¡¯t say anything because of the cloth in his mouth, Leng Changxi could tell from his expression and action that he was willing to surrender.

    At once, the other three red at him, especially the grumpy Waijia Quan master who even wanted to kick the traitor although he was tied up.

    ¡°Very good,¡± Leng Changxi said to Float and remained calm. ¡°You are the only one to get the antidote.¡±

    Everything seemed settled, and people scattered. At this time, the man who hid himself in the woods frowned. Then he turned back and disappeared in the dark woods soon. He went past lush branches swiftly, and he could be on par with Float in terms of the light skills.

    Several minutester, the man arrived at a simple hut near the farthest bounds of the valley. There were many guards around the hut. Actually, the man was closely watched all along his way, but near the hut, there were more guards. They were guarding the door, the backyard, the window and the roof. The person in the hut must cherish his life very much, so he invited many top martial artists to protect him.

    It sounded like people inside were discussing. An old voice came, and the voice owner was pledging sincerely, ¡°Your Royal Highness, please be worry-free. My four disciples are outstanding. They can definitely kill Leng Changxi and take Qin Yunuan back safely.¡±

    It sounded like an old man. The person he talked to was a young man in his twenties who was in a piece of jujube red court dress embroidered with golden silk threads. The crown on his head and the jade ring on his finger signified that he was in a high position. He tilted his head a bit and looked out of the window in a haughty manner because he was really proud of himself. He was not highbred. He earned all he had now through hard work. It was true that he had killed many people to get all these things, but he didn¡¯t care about this, as long as he could achieve his goal.

    Someone quickly knocked at the door three times and then knocked three times again at a longer interval. Hearing this, the old man got excited and stood up. ¡°It must be my fifth disciple. He must bring good news back.¡±

    The old man walked to the door immediately and was ready to open it. The young man just turned his head a bit and remained calm. But suddenly, his right eyelid twitched, which was a bad omen.

    When the old man opened the door, the man outside was not his fifth disciple who he thought would bring good news back, but Leng Changxi in armor who was smiling and in high spirits. He was unmasked and looked handsome and naturally majestic. When seeing Leng Changxi, the young man was shocked and alert. But his eyes lit up by Qin Yunuan who stood next to Leng Changxi. In his opinion, she would be a perfect wife. It had been a long time since they metst time.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time.¡± Leng Changxi slowly and incidentally spoke out what the young man was thinking about. Although knowing that numerous guards and top martial artists were ready to fight against him, Leng Changxi stayed calm and leisurely walked in to sit down with a smile.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness.¡± Leng Changxi sat upright on the cane chair where Sima Ray sat before.

    ¡°Guards, who let this traitore in?¡± The old man near Sima Ray was Qiu Murong, head of the Moon Sect, the No.1 sect in Qi. Unexpectedly, the Moon Sect, famous for being loyal and righteous, had worked for Sima Ray now. Qiu Murong not only joined Sima Ray¡¯s camp to work himself to the bone for him, but also asked his disciples to protect Sima Ray. Qi was really in a mess.

    ¡°Traitor? Do you have any proof to prove I¡¯m a traitor?¡± Leng Changxi raised his eyebrows and looked at Sima Ray. ¡°Who have I betrayed? And who have I colluded with?¡±

    Sima Ray and Leng Changxi hadn¡¯t met each other until now after the war between them started. Qin Yunuan was also here, so Sima Ray wouldn¡¯t allow himself to be awed by Leng Changxi. He slightly kept his chin up. He had great power and was not afraid of Leng Changxi at all now.

    ¡°The Grand Prince of North Di had confessed when he was under house arrest. Letters you wrote to him had been found in his mansion. Father and the Grand Khan of North Di both know this.¡±

 Chapter 312 - War of Words

    <h4>Chapter 312 War of Words</h4>

    Sima Ray confidently spoke out Leng Changxi¡¯s ¡°crimes¡±, but both Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan knew clearly that he was defaming Leng Changxi. This was his dirty trick. Wanyan Su already colluded with him. By doing so, he could also help Wanyan Su defeat Wanyan Ba and control North Di.

    ¡°His Majesty won¡¯t believe in you.¡± Leng Changxi tilted his head a bit. ¡°Although all people in Qi think His Majesty appoints you to be the Guardian of Qi, we both know it¡¯s not true. His Majesty is still conscious, but you have put him under house arrest.¡±

    ¡°So what?¡± Sima Ray kept his chin up. Having held great power for some time, he became more arrogant. ¡°In Qi, you are indeed a traitor all people hate. And you can¡¯t go back to North Di, either. The Grand Khan is not well, and Wanyan Su runs the country now. As far as I know, you two have already turned against each other in the Yeren valley,¡±

    Leng Changxi turned around and sneered, ¡°Your Royal Highness, you¡¯re quite well-informed, even knowing what happened in the Yeren Valley.¡±

    Sima Ray didn¡¯t pay attention to Leng Changxi¡¯s irony and just looked at Qin Yunuan who became thinner. He walked to her as if no other people had been around. He looked at her lovingly and truly wanted to stroke her small face which was red with cold. It was like a red wintersweet flower falling on the snow, tempting people to gently ¡°pick it up¡±. But Sima Ray held himself. He had to control himself, and he kept telling himself that Qin Yunuan would belong to him sooner orter.

    ¡°You¡¯re thinner,¡± Sima Ray said to Qin Yunuan.

    Moving to stand closer to Leng Changxi, Qin Yunuan replied coldly, ¡°Your Royal Highness, I think this is none of your business.¡±

    Sima Ray smiled at Leng Changxi and said, ¡°General Leng, it seems that you haven¡¯t taken good care of your wife.¡±

    Before Leng Changxi said anything, Qin Yunuan answered coldly again, ¡°I feel happiest when I¡¯m together with Changxi.¡±

    Leng Changxi looked back and patted Qin Yunuan on her hand to reassure her. But unexpectedly, Sima Ray asked with concern after taking one step, ¡°General Leng, do you know your wife is actually pregnant?¡± Then, he looked at Qin Yunuan¡¯s t belly as if she was really pregnant. He said in a doubtful tone, ¡°I remember that your wife had been pregnant for one month and a half when we were in the barn. So she should be close to giving birth to the baby now. But look at her. Does she...?¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Leng Changxi became a bit hotheaded and almost couldn¡¯t help breaking Sima Ray¡¯s neck. But Qin Yunuan tugged his clothes and stopped him.

    ¡°What am I talking about?¡± Sima Ray said with a smile. He was ill-disposed. ¡°It was Lu Wuyi, that famous doctor, who said your wife had been pregnant for one month and a half. Gosh, you are her husband, but you don¡¯t know this?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him.¡± Qin Yunuan knew Sima Ray was irritating Leng Changxi. They hadn¡¯t officially dered war yet. And there were all Sima Ray¡¯s men around. Leng Changxi would be at a disadvantage if he chose to fight with him now. Besides, if he really did so, 200,000 soldiers from West Xia who helped Leng Changxi to kill the real traitor would be seen as provocateurs.

    ¡°I asked Lu Wuyi to say so, because I didn¡¯t want this disgusting man to harass me.¡± Qin Yunuan looked askance at Sima Ray and rolled her eyes. Sima Ray who had a pointed chin was indeed good-looking and even prettier than those beauties in Qi. But now, he looked so evil and as indecent as low-bred hooligans.

    Leng Changxi remained doubtful. He trusted Qin Yunuan, but what if...

    ¡°Madam Leng, you are so caring. Not to break his heart, you should make up such an excuse. You must have suffered a lot when drifting from one ce to another with General Leng. How can a pregnant woman take this? So it¡¯s highly likely that you might have a miscarriage on your way. Madam Leng, you really are brave to pretend nothing happened after losing a baby and still wholeheartedly support General Leng. I respect you.¡±

    The more Sima Ray said, the more grievous Leng Changxi was. What he feared most was to make Qin Yunuan suffer. He clenched his fist, and his hands were veined. Seeing that, Sima Ray suddenlyughed. ¡°General Leng, you¡¯re blessed to marry such a wonderful woman who is willing to apany you in your hard time and even sacrifices her baby.¡±

    Suddenly, Qin Yunuan felt that Leng Changxi had leveraged his genuine energy. She thought he would lose his temper, but unexpectedly, he just smiled at Sima Ray and raised his hand to point at the door. The strong Qi he exerted directly blew away the soldier who eavesdropped on them outside.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, your man is not well-mannered. Can he, a third-rank soldier, eavesdrop on us?¡± Leng Changxi had leveraged his genuine energy, so he sounded loud. Even the soldier who was blown away could hear him. Sima Ray twitched his mouth and saw out of the window that the humiliated soldier picked himself up and ran away as fast as a cat.

    But Sima Ray already kept that soldier¡¯s look in his mind. He wouldn¡¯t spare anyone who disgraced him.

    Leng Changxi was poker-faced and extremely calm. ¡°Your Royal Highness, Ie here just to send your men back to you.¡± Then, Leng Wu pushed four assassins who were tied up to Sima Ray. Seeing his disciples were treated like this, Qiu Murong felt concerned and started to argue with Leng Changxi.

    ¡°The Moon Sect is arge sect. General Leng, you should treat my disciple like this. I¡¯m afraid...¡±

    ¡°I should treat assassins well? Ho, nonsense.¡± Before Qiu Murong finished, Leng Changxi sneered and continued, ¡°From arge sect, they should be reduced to assassins. So I¡¯m actually helping you to teach these shameless people a lesson and to purge your sect.¡±

    Qiu Murong didn¡¯t know what to say and could only hold himself. He asked another disciple to take away the cloth strips in those four people¡¯s mouths. However, he found the cloth was stained with blood. The four had no tongue. Leng Changxi should have pulled out their tongues.

    ¡°General Leng, you...¡± Qiu Murong was so angry that he even wanted to take out his sword to fight with Leng Changxi.

    ¡°This is one lesson they learned. I asked them to tell me the truth, but they all lied. Master Qiu, you¡¯d better not recruit such insincere and dishonest disciples anymore. Otherwise, when they ruin the reputation of your sect, even His Royal Highness is unable to clean up the mess.¡± Leng Changxi was periphrastic, but they all understood his harsh implication.

    Sima Ray¡¯s face clouded. He looked so angry and unfriendly as if he was going to ughter all people he hated.

    ¡°Now that they are back, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Leng Changxi shook out his lower hem and held Qin Yunuan to directly walk out of the room, not caring about other people at all.

    Qiu Murong whispered to Sima Ray at once, ¡°Your Royal Highness, do I need to send assassins on their way back?¡±

    Sima Ray shook his hand and refused, ¡°Are you addicted to this? The reason why Leng Changxi sent these four tongueless men back is to tell us that he¡¯s not afraid of any trick we y. That¡¯s fine. I can¡¯t enjoy myself to the full if just killing himself in secret. He is called the God of War in Qi. So let me directly fight with him. One day, I will let him surrender to me, make Qin Yunuan be mine and kill him in front of the Leng Army. Qin Yunuan will belong to me sooner orter.¡±

    Leng Changxi strode out of the hut, and Qin Yunuan trotted to follow him. The sun in the distance was already up, radiating golden rays that were exclusive to the rising sun. Such beautiful light shone on Leng Changxi¡¯s face, and it looked as if he had been in golden armor.

    In fact, soldiers on guard and sentries in the dark Sima Ray deployed were everywhere. But seeing how confident Leng Changxi was, no one dared to stop him. Qin Yunuan walked behind him like a young girl who followed the hero she admired. She looked at Leng Changxi¡¯s perfect face obsessively, and Leng Wu followed them to protect them. They three walked as if no other people were around. After a long time, they finally walked out of Sima Ray¡¯s control area.

    Leng Wu went forward to lead horses back.

    Staring ahead, Leng Changxi looked determined. But suddenly, he asked Qin Yunuan, ¡°You haven¡¯t had enough?¡±

    He knew Qin Yunuan was obsessively staring at him all the way.

    Qin Yunuan chuckled and held Leng Changxi¡¯s arm. ¡°No, I will never have had enough of you. So what should I do?¡±

    Leng Changxi lowered his head and lovingly tapped on Qin Yunuan¡¯s forehead with his index finger. He smiled and replied, ¡°If so, marry me in our next life.¡±

    ¡°Let me take a bite on you.¡±

    ¡°Why? You think you will be a puppy in your next life, so make yourself get used to this in advance?¡±

    Qin Yunuan whispered to Leng Changxi and sweet-talked to him, ¡°No. I want to leave a mark on you so I can find you easily in our next life.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to find me.¡± Leng Changxi bit on Qin Yunuan¡¯s pearl-like ear lobe gently and continued, ¡°Stay where you are, and I¡¯ll find you.¡±

    Just when Leng Changxi finished his sentence, the dust was blowing in the distance, and they heard the stamp of hoofs. It wasn¡¯t Leng Wu leading horses back. It sounded like a herd of horses were approaching. No, it was a troop of cavalries! Qin Yunuan smelt iron rust and blood.

 Chapter 313 - Wilderness

    <h4>Chapter 313 Wilderness</h4>

    In such a wild forest, there suddenly appeared a troop of cavalries, who were marching in perfect order and at the same pace. It could be seen that they had been under extremely strict training. Perhaps they had no good intention at all.

    Soon Leng Wu came and led three horses from the other side and saw the dust from afar.

    This might be the preparation arranged by Sima Ray. It seemed that he had made up his mind not to let the three people return to the camp. However, if the ambush was so obvious, there must be something wrong with it.

    Suddenly Leng Changxi seemed to see something with his sharp, cold eyes. He let go of Qin Yunuan¡¯s hands, stepped on the branch with the silver spear made of ck iron on his back in the direction of the cavalry, as fast as thunder and lightning.

    Qin Yunuan thought that Leng Changxi was going to fight alone, but he kept the long spear on his back and stepped forward unarmed. The dust raised by cavalry dissipated. They stopped. From a distance, it could be seen that the cavalry leader dismounted suddenly. He bowed his fists to Leng Changxi rather respectfully and shouted, ¡°My greetings, General Leng. I¡¯m Jiang Hua, lieutenant of the Leng Army.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart experienced an earthquake. She stepped forward with Leng Wu and saw that the about 1,000 soldiersing orderly were all the Leng Army, who dressed up and were high-spirited. She hadn¡¯t thought that those people came fast than her imagination. Now Leng Changxi¡¯s position in the ck-armored army of West Xia was just stable. With the help of the Leng Army, he would be like a tiger with wings.

    ¡°Good,¡± Leng Changxi showed a trace of satisfaction on his handsome face. He raised his head slightly to observe the Leng Army, which had once endured humiliation and scattered everywhere after Sima Ray took over Qi but was gathered again now.

    On the other hand, Sima Ray, who was deep in the valley far away, soon heard the news. He was riding on a full-grown red horse, with his armor shining in the half-translucent sunset. Raising his head, he looked a little arrogant but mostly confident, ¡°That¡¯s good. It¡¯s capable for Leng Changxi to gather the Leng Army again. However, in the past, he was forced to run away in a hurry and leave Qi. What can he do with remnants of the defeated army? Now he still needs to rely on soldiers of West Xia. As long as the rtionship between them is broken, what can he do?¡±

    Qiu Murong was riding a horse beside Sima Ray. His four disciples, whose tongues had been cut out, were being helped into a carriage behind them. They were all favored and cared for by Qiu Murong. He would certainly revenge.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, don¡¯t let down your guard,¡± Qiu Murong said thoughtfully, ¡°Leng Changxi is cunning, cruel, and crafty. We must figure out a way to kill him in one blow.¡±

    Sima Ray looked back at Qiu Murong weakly, ¡°Don¡¯t you have a seventeen-year-old daughter? I remember that she is able to control others through her martial arts.¡±

    Qiu Murong¡¯s body suddenly became stiff. ording to Sima Ray¡¯s words, he might want to use his daughter...

    No. He could never let his daughter take risks. Qiu Murong forced a smile, ¡°The rumors outside are too ridiculous. Controlling others? No, but my little girl can just read people¡¯s faces ever since her childhood.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± Sima Ray looked ahead. He seemed to see that after his victory over Leng Changxi, the whole world became his. Of course, Qin Yunuan would also belong to him, ¡°Use pigeons to send letters. Qiu Shuihan must appear in front of me in three days.¡±

    ¡°Your Royal Highness,¡± Qiu Murong was so excited that he almost got down on his knees to beg Sima Ray. Hemanded the Moon Sect for only a few years, but he had already asked the Moon Sect to do those dirty things in order to survive under Sima Ray¡¯s power politics. He had already paid enough.

    ¡°Otherwise, I won¡¯t give you the antidote,¡± Sima Ray¡¯s tone was cold all the time, ¡°You know that too. Even though Leng Changxi didn¡¯t cut down your disciples¡¯ tongues, they would also die because the poison hidden under the tongues came into effect. Leng Changxi actually saved their lives by taking away their tongues. You, however, won¡¯t be so lucky.¡±

    After Sima Ray finished his words, he raised his head, pulled on the reins, and rode the horse away.

    Yunlong Valley was notrge. It was the horrible legend of wild monkeys that scared many people away. Tuoba Wuyu destroyed wild monkeys¡¯ dens at one time. Although he didn¡¯t kill all the wild monkeys because of Leng Changxi¡¯s prevention, the rest beasts didn¡¯t dare to attack suddenly. What was more, with Qin Yunuan¡¯s assistance, Leng Changxi wouldn¡¯t be afraid of them.

    The army marched forward at the original speed. Leng Changxi rode on a tall, purplish-red horse. Although it was not as clever and sensible as Zhuifeng, it could run as fast as the wind. During these days, Qin Yunuan had clearly improved her riding skills under the guidance of Leng Changxi. She changed her horse to another female one, which was taller but tamer, and followed Leng Changxi. Leng Wu, Leng Shuang, and Yuanyang were protecting respectively by their masters¡¯ sides. In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, Ting Xue and Maner were still in the group of medical women, walking slowly in the second half of the team.

    When they were about to reach the entrance of the valley, the atmosphere became tense. Leng Changxi ordered the whole army to slow down by gesture and pulled Qin Yunuan behind him subconsciously.

    The wind came out from the valley outside. In the front, there were two opposite cliffs, narrow and steep. They squeezed the road into the width that could allow two carriages passing at one time like the slot canyon. There was no vegetation around but bare yellow earth and dark brown rocks. And there seemed to be ayer of mist on the opposite side. All was white, like the scene in the regions south of the River. It was hard to see anything clearly.

    ¡°What do you smell?¡± Leng Changxi stared at what was happening ahead. Using the inner Qi all over his body, he could clearly feel that someone was moving fast outside. However, in such a heavy fog, one should be more careful when walking. Who would go on a rampage in the fog at such a running speed?

    Qin Yunuan closed her eyes, trying to catch every kind of odor in the air with her keen sense of smell, ¡°There is the smell of cosmetics.¡± Just when Qin Yunuan finished her words, a scream of ¡°Help!¡± came from the white fog.

    At that moment, a woman with disheveled hair wearing bright red gauze clothing and a white cloak came from the white fog like a flying goddess. Her bright red gauze clothing rose high like a butterfly dancing fiercely in the rain. Gradually, several men riding three tall horses and wearing sackcloth chased up. Their hands were all holding machetes. The leading one was the most arrogant, ¡°Darling, it¡¯s your blessing that our king has a crush on you. Isn¡¯t it good for you to follow us back to be mistress of the fort?¡±

    ¡°Human trafficking?¡± Tuoba Wuyu was angry. Pulling the reins, he prepared to go forward, but he was stopped by Leng Changxi¡¯s words, ¡°Don¡¯t move. Wait until we figure out what happens.¡±

    Tuoba Wuyu was in a daze. Seeing Leng Changxi¡¯s determined eyes, he felt that it was improper to move. Although he was sitting on the horse, he looked a little unwilling and impatient.

    ¡°General Tuoba, think first. It¡¯s so far away from the town. The woman is so gorgeously dressed, yet so difited, so she must have escaped from a musical office or her home and trekked all the way to the valley. But these three men on horseback are all strong. Why can¡¯t the men on horseback catch up with the weak woman who has run all the way up the mountain?¡± Qin Yunuan exined to Tuoba Wuyu with a smile.

    Tuoba Wuyu took a tumble. However, seeing ahead, the woman had suddenly stepped on the corner of her dress and had fallen heavily to the ground. There was arge cut on her white wrist. What was more terrible was that there was a sharp rock on the ce where the fall had taken ce, which cut straight into the woman¡¯s face. Her beautiful face at once became a bloody mess.

    With just one nce, the three men took the hint and said, ¡°The face is ruined. The king won¡¯t like it anymore. Kill her.¡±

    Finishing his words, the man began to wave the long knife in his hand, which was sparkling cold lights. Just when the de would cut towards the woman¡¯s neck, suddenly, a purple shadow hurt the wrist of the man waving the long knife with several movements. The pain forced him to let go of the long knife. The de fell to the ground. Leng Shuang, who had attacked the man, stood in front of him coldly, ¡°Three men bully a woman. How can you be men?¡±

    ¡°Bitch, you dare to attack me secretly?¡± the wounded man was apparently not convinced. When he was about to teach Leng Shuang a good lesson, Leng Wu had already made a move. His thick arm directly pulled the man¡¯s hand back, ¡°Sir, treating women should be gentler.¡±

    ¡°All right. Leng Wu, bring her here,¡± Leng Changxi took a nce at the bloody face of the woman in red, confirming that the cut on her face was real, and turning to the three men, ¡°You only have three people, but I have two hundred thousand people. If you are wise, you should leave as soon as possible.¡±

    The three men looked at each other as if they were really scared, but they still answered to save their faces, ¡°A powerful dragon cannot crush a snake in its old haunts. Sooner orter, we¡¯ll let you suffer.¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded slightly, ¡°OK. I¡¯ll wait.¡±

    At that time, Leng Wu had brought the injured woman in red to Leng Changxi. She was small, exquisite, and graceful. Her long hair flowed down like a waterfall, which made those young men all of a sudden had a boiling passion. Despite the blood on her face, judging from the woman¡¯s features, she was indeed a beauty with curved eyebrows, eyes like evening stars, a high nose, and pink lips. Adding her sexy and easy dressing exposing some of her breasts, although she was a little too beautiful, thisdy seemed to reveal a kind of pure lovely temperament.

    ¡°My name is Shuihan. I was forced to enter the imperial music office as an official prostitute because my father had been put into prison for he had been framed by some evil people. I escaped because I didn¡¯t want to sell my body. I want to return to my hometown, but I never thought that I would meet robbers outside the valley. General, if you didn¡¯t save me, perhaps I¡¯ve lost my virginity by now.¡± Not only was the woman beautiful, but her voice was also as sweet and attractive as honey. Every word she said was enough to steal away people¡¯s souls.

    Tuoba Wuyu had already forgotten Qin Yunuan¡¯s previous warning. He just kept staring at the woman named Shuihan and sighed, ¡°What a kind and innocentdy you are! It¡¯s still very far away from the town. General Leng, what about bringing the woman with us on the way?¡±

 Chapter 314 - Loving Moment

    <h4>Chapter 314 Loving Moment</h4>

    When Tuoba Wuyu finished his words, other soldiers showed extreme excitement. Although Qin Yunuan was also good-looking, she was a general¡¯s wife. They could never dream about her. But this woman was even more charming than Qin Yunuan.

    Leng Changxi nced at the poor little woman before him coldly and nodded, ¡°Now that General Tuoba suggests that we should take her on the way, General Tuoba, she is given to you to care for. I won¡¯t care about her.¡±

    Tuoba Wuyu kept nodding and thanking. It was lucky for him to go with such a beauty.

    In the evening, the woman called Shuihan was arranged carefully by Tuoba Wuyu in a rtively clean camp. During the time, there were lots of soldiers visiting the woman to send her bedding and incense burners. The camp of Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi was not far from the woman¡¯s, so Qin Yunuan was very clear about the movements over there.

    Beside Qin Yunuan, there was Leng Shuang, who lowered her head to admit her fault.

    ¡°Do you know what your mistake is?¡±

    Lowering her head, Leng Shuang said nothing but one sentence, ¡°I know my fault.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nced at Leng Changxi, who sat beside her and looked a little dignified. She said to Leng Shuang only, ¡°I don¡¯t know why you were so impulsive at that time. General and I had made it clear that nobody should move, but you rushed to save the girl called Shuihan. We were not sure whether she was an enemy or a friend yet. Taking her in the army so recklessly will only give us a lot of trouble.¡±

    ¡°Madam, Leng Shuang didn¡¯t mean to cause so much trouble,¡± Leng Wu, who had always been silent, defended his younger sister. However, Leng Shuang, who used to act decisively and boldly in the past, now kept silent without saying a word.

    Qin Yunuan nced at Leng Shuang¡¯s facial expression and waved, ¡°Alright. You shall leave now. The woman called Shuihan, watch her tightly. Don¡¯t ask any man to do it,¡± Qin Yunuan nced at Leng Wu, ¡°Yuanyang shall do it. She has much experience in the world, and she will be capable of the job.¡±

    When Leng Wu and Leng Shuang both bowed their fists and left, Leng Changxi put down the writing brush in his hand silently. The light on the table was asrge as beans and became a little darker. Qin Yunuan came forward and used her hairpin for Leng Changxi to pick up the wick, which was hanging down so that it was lighter. Watching Qin Yunuan¡¯s exquisite hands, Leng Changxi¡¯s heart moved and said, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t criticize Leng Shuang so severely.¡±

    ¡°I know it too. She is always calm when doing things. I don¡¯t know why this time she...¡±

    ¡°Actually, Leng Wu and Leng Shuang are not biological brothers and sisters,¡± Leng Changxi gave a deep sigh, ¡°Leng Wu is an orphan brought by my father when he was fighting outside. Since he was the same age as me, we practiced martial arts together. I learned martial arts before him, so I taught him some skills from time to time. With thepse of time, he began to call me ¡®Little Master¡¯. It was until then that he called me general. Leng Shuang, however, was a little girl saved by Leng Wu and me when we went out to get rid of caterans. At that time, she was merely 11 or 12. Young as she was, she was surrounded by a group of obscene men in the grass. They were bullying and insulting her. Those men were caterans. They wanted to take Leng Shuang back to be their servant.¡±

    ¡°Servant?¡±

    ¡°The so-called servant girl was just a woman put in the stockade as the tool of the group of people,¡± Leng Changxi shook his head, ¡°Leng Shuang always has little words. After I saved her back, she learned martial arts everywhere crazily. Leng Wu sympathized with her fate and had already taken her as his own sister. He squeezed money out of his own sry to invite masters for her and paid her study tours to learn martial arts, so she could have the good martial arts with the advantages from hundreds of schools.¡±

    ¡°No wonder. She must have great empathy with Shuihan when she saw so many bandits bullying her today. No wonder she had lost her calmness and helped her,¡± Qin Yunuan nodded. She seemed to understand, ¡°I only hope that her impulse could stop here. Do not overdo again.¡±

    Just when she finished her words, there was a soldiering to report outside the door, saying that Shuihan had been waiting outside with her pipa to thank the General and his wife with her music because they saved her life.

    Qin Yunuan remembered that when Shuihan was chased by the group of bandits, there was indeed a pipa in her arms. At that time, Qin Yunuan was wondering why Shuihan tried so hard to protect the hindrance. It seemed that she relied on it to work. However, her requirement was a little weird after all. Although she invited two people, Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan, her aim seemed to be only one person, Leng Changxi.

    Leng Changxi frowned and only said roughly, ¡°Let Shuihan return and rest earlier. I¡¯m a little tired now.¡±

    There was silence for some time outside. Suddenly a female voice, graceful and enchanting, said, ¡°The light in General¡¯s camp is so clear and bright. However, you¡¯ve pushed me thousands of miles away. There are no more words to say. I¡¯m merely a singer in the imperial musical office. I¡¯m always low.¡±

    The sigh showed how sad the woman was. Leng Changxi was in a daze. Shuihan¡¯s action in front of his camp seemed to have the intention to force him. If he didn¡¯t grant her requirement, tomorrow, wordsing out would be that he stood on his dignity and looked down upon her.

    ¡°General and I have both changed our clothes already. It¡¯s really inconvenient for you toe in. If you insist, you shall y one song outside the camp,¡± Qin Yunuan said in a low voice. She knew that Shuihan wouldn¡¯t leave so easily. Only women knew women best.

    While speaking, Shuihan had already plucked the strings of pipa outside the camp. The timbre was moving, the rhythm was euphemistic, and the artistic conception was rich. Were it not for the solid basic skills, there wouldn¡¯t be such an effect. Even though Shuihan looked young, the music she yed had such a prating power. In the camp, Qin Yunuan closed her white clothes andid on the soft bed, listening carefully. She had an incredible feeling that her soul had left her body. When the tune stopped suddenly, she felt she was awake from a dream. The moment she was awake, she felt as if she had been emptied like dreaming for a long, long time.

    Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi exchanged a nce. Qin Yunuan knew that Leng Changxi must have felt the same as she did.

    Just when they had doubts in mind, to their surprise, Shuihan offered, ¡°It¡¯ste now. General, Madam, please rest earlier. I won¡¯t disturb you any longer.¡±

    Leng Changxi stood up. His fingertips stroked doubtfully.

    ¡°She has a good grasp of human psychology,¡± Qin Yunuan pulled a wisp of broken hair over the ear, ¡°Leaving just when people are the most curious will keep others¡¯ curiosity.¡±

    Finishing her words, Qin Yunuan suddenly felt her heart was sour. So she tried to irritate Leng Changxi intentionally, ¡°I see that Shuihan is beautiful and slim. Now she is also good at mastering men¡¯s hearts. How charming she is!¡±

    Leng Changxi¡¯s heart bloomed suddenly. However, his face revealed nothing. He leaned his head and said to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Yes. She is very charming indeed.¡±

    Qin Yunuan used her words as a test. Now seeing that Leng Changxi had frankly admitted, she felt worried immediately, stretched out her fist, and hit toward Leng Changxi, ¡°Oh! You really want to try to love her?¡±

    Leng Changxi cracked a smile. He hugged Qin Yunuan¡¯s waist, which was too thin to hold, into his bosom with his big hands. Her slender body was exactly like a little daisy in Leng Changxi¡¯s wide chest, lovely and endearing. Leng Changxi lowed his head, gently kissed Qin Yunuan¡¯s cheeks, which were slightly red, and said with a smile, ¡°I dare not! I¡¯ve already had you, such a beautiful woman by my side. Other women are merely floating clouds to me.¡±

    Qin Yunuan pouted and grumbled in a flirtatious manner, ¡°Your words are good. But how well will you do?¡±

    Hearing her words, Leng Changxi was so happy. He hurried to unlock his clothes and said to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Do? OK! Let¡¯s do it.¡±

    Qin Yunuan also smiled at once. She pressed Leng Changxi¡¯s chest with her index finger and gestured with her eyes to the soldiers patrolling outside, ¡°Look at you. You are already the Great General. However, in this camp, you are still not serious.¡±

    During the talk, Leng Changxi¡¯s hot kisses had fallen on Qin Yunuan one by one, from her neck to corbone, and continued to go down. His fingertip rubbed her breasts, which were gradually full.

    ¡°Let¡¯s keep it down. We won¡¯t disturb them.¡±

    At this time, Leng Changxi had been hot all over as if he were an arrow on the line, which had to be shot out. Qin Yunuan¡¯s body became soft, unexpectedly losing all the resistance. s. An old couple as they were, each time they went to bed, they acted like a newly married young couple.

    At the same time, Shuihan in red clothes returned to her own camp. It must be admitted that Tuoba Wuyu was quite considerate of Shuihan. The camp was as warm and pleasant as possible, and it was inhabited by only one person. For this reason, Tuoba Wuyi had persuaded a deputy general under his hand for a long time to give up his camp.

    The clothes were very thin. Having yed music for the whole night outside Leng Changxi¡¯s camp, the body and arms of Shuihan all had a lot of goose bumps. She opened the camp, preparing to have a good rest, but unexpectedly, there had been a person waiting for her inside the camp.

    ¡°Who is it?¡± Shuihan gave out a surprised cry. Her voice was sharp and straightforward, but then immediately became delicate, ¡°Who is there? What do you want to do?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± the person walking slowly out of the shadow was no one else but Leng Shuang. Her facial expression was light, revealing almost no emotion.

    Shuihan curtseyed immediately, ¡°Thank you for saving my life in the afternoon. Otherwise, I¡¯ll be ruined by those bandits.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just doing what I should do,¡± the tone of Leng Shuang was always in. She just squinted to a piece of thick cotton-padded clothes on the table, ¡°You wear it first. The gauze clothing you are wearing is too thin to resist coldness. We are about to enter the border of Qi in several days. When we reach Luguan, there must be a major war. By then nobody will care about your life or whether you¡¯re warm or not.¡±

    Shuihan repeatedly thanked her. Although the tone of Leng Shuang was cold, every sentence was telling Shuihan to remember to take good care of herself.

    ¡°Are we going to reach Luguan in a few days?¡± Shuihan asked while wearing this warm cotton jacket, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the keeper of Luguan is a new strange person recruited by Sima Ray, the Third Prince of Qi. He not only can use miraculous traps but also has great strength. Moreover, Luguan is easy to defend and difficult to attack with eighty thousand elite soldiers guarding it. What¡¯s the general¡¯s n of the battle?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that it¡¯s not what you should know,¡± Leng Shuang had gone to the front of the camp. She only nced back at Shuihan once and directly opened the curtain to go out.

    Seeing Leng Shuang leave, Shuihan hid her humble eyes slowly, showing cleverness and righteousness which never appeared before. She secretly pinched the cuff of the cotton coat. Father, you should rest assured. I would certainly take back that thing and rescue you at all cost.

 Chapter 315 - Assuming Innocent

    <h4>Chapter 315 Assuming Innocent</h4>

    The Qilian Mountains were situated in the west south of Qi. Luguan guarded the key pass to Qi in the south of the Qilian Mountains. Leng Changxi heard about guardians who guarded Luguan had been transferred several months ago. They were young but able.

    ¡°Miraculous traps?¡± Tuoba Wuyu looked down upon on mysterious tricks. Ancestors and gods were what West Xia people believed. Therefore, they considered artificial tricks were ineffective. ¡°They are only diagrams. General Leng, please wait. Let me ask my fellows to smash them into pieces.¡±

    Leng Changxi¡¯s army stopped in front of a narrow valley. It was of a high possibility that they fell into an ambush in such a pocket-like valley. Once they came in, they might not get out that easy. Leng Changxi led his army at the mouth of the valley. He observed the unknown environment before them for a while but couldn¡¯t find any clues. The deadlock was broken when a scout brought back a strange pattern.

    The pattern recorded a rock gate strategy inside. ording to the scout, rocks there were as high as a person and as wide as two stretched arms. Each rock weighed a thousand pounds and had a different orientation and arrangement. Qin Yunuan stood next to Leng Changxi. She looked at the pattern on the parchment and frowned, ¡°This strategy was strange.¡±

    ¡°You are familiar with them?¡± Leng Changxi knew that Qin Yunuan had read a lot.

    ¡°I have no idea.¡± Qin Yunuan was not a know-it-all. ¡°I can only sense it strange. Normal strategies will differentiate the live door and death door. You choose the live door; then you walk out of the strategy in safe. But if you choose the death door, you will be trapped in it. Some fierce strategy will set illusions or other tricks to torture people to death. But this strategy has no arrangement. I doubt whether this is a strategy right now.¡±

    ¡°Let me say it is like a maze.¡± Shui Han said after her long silence. Her eyes glinted smartly. Tuoba Wuyu heard her opinions and stepped forward immediately, ¡°She¡¯s right. It is like a maze.¡±

    Leng Changxi packed up the parchment without any words. He reproached Tuoba Wuyu, ¡°Smelly valiants are discussing military issues in this tent. Why do you bring Shuihan here?¡±

    He seemed to use Tuoba Wuyu of not taking care of Shui Han. He was reminding Tuoba Wuyu that anyone mustn¡¯t enter a secret military base casually. No matter how he sought great importance of Shui Han, thedy in red.

    Tuoba Wuyu choked. Shui Han responded quickly, ¡°It has nothing to do with him. Just because I¡¯m curious, it¡¯s all my fault. General Leng, please don¡¯t me General Tuoba. I¡¯d rather get punishment for him.¡±

    See how innocent she was! Tuoba Wuyu moved forward and cupped his hand towards Leng Changxi, ¡°General, I am responsible for breaking military rules. Please show your justice. Shui Han was only a weak woman. Stick punishment was too tough for her.¡±

    ¡°When did the general said he would punish you?¡± Qin Yunuan defended Leng Changxi. If they continued to set the pace, Leng Changxi would be a ruthless general. Qin Yunuan cast her eyes at Shui Han and smiled, ¡°Shui Han, I¡¯ve heard that you are capable of sewing and mending. So lucky that I am fond of it, too. Why don¡¯t you go back to your tent and sew the clothes? It is also contributions.¡±

    Because Qin Yunuan said politely, Shui Han had no reason to refuse. She lowered her head. Her pretty face turned shy and helpless, ¡°Do I bother all of you?¡±

    Other generals shook their heads. Leng Changxi shot a nce at Shui Han coldly, ¡°You do. Now leave.¡±

    Shui Han trembled and left quietly. Leng Shuang watched her figure of going and intended to move. She then heard Qin Yunuan¡¯s warning in a low voice, ¡°I can forgive you for saving her rashly. I can also forgive you for sending her cotton-padded clothes in private. But if you continue your reckless actions, Leng Shuang, you know who I am.¡±

    ¡°Yes, madam.¡± Leng Shuang lowered her head and replied. She then stepped back withpliance.

    At this moment, a noise came out of the tent. With war horses whinnied and chaotic talking, someone broke into the military camp. Leng Changxi walked out of the tent ahead. A man in ck was standing near the campfire. His tall figure was covered with blood. The color of the wounds was worse than ck. It was crimson. With his back to Leng Changxi, the man took up his curved de towards countless soldiers in ck armor. There was no drop of blood on his curved de, from which could conclude that a fight hadn¡¯te yet. It also showed that he was injured before breaking into the camp.

    Leng Changxi shielded Qin Yunuan behind his back. Tuoba Wuyu rolled up his sleeves and hurled abuse, ¡°Fuck your mother up, how dare you intrude into my military camp?¡±

    Leng Changxi glimpsed at Tuoba Wuyu. Tuoba Wuyu shut up immediately and realized he was being arrogant. After a while, he slightly bowed to Leng Changxi and asked, ¡°General, please give the order to kill this assassin quickly. Don¡¯t let him be your trouble.¡±

    ¡°You said he was an assassin. Evidence?¡±

    ¡°If he wasn¡¯t an assassin, why was he in ck?¡±

    ¡°Hah,¡± Leng Changxi shook his head and scorned, ¡°Suppose ck outfits was the sign of assassins. You mean that my twenty thousand soldiers in ck armor were all assassins, don¡¯t you?¡±

    People were watching what was happening there. The situation there was in a stalemate. The man in ck standing in the center seemed to be exhausted due to the excessive loss of blood. He began to stand unsteadily. Qin Yunuan noticed Leng Shuang¡¯s strange expression, so she said to her ears, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? It seems odd.¡±

    Leng Shuang kept a close watch on the assassin in the distance and replied in a low voice, ¡°That¡¯s Heiying.¡±

    Hei Ying was the personal imperial bodyguard for the emperor of Qi. Leng Shuang had cooperated with him. She was familiar with him, so she recognized him. Meanwhile, Leng Changxi sensed the difference. He shouted at the soldier in ck, ¡°Stop!¡±

    At the same time, the man in ck being surrounded fainted and passed out.

    Leng Changxi wanted to designate someone to check the situation. Qin Yunuan stopped him. Leng Shuang ran like the wind to the ck shadow¡¯s side, nipped his philtrum, and felt his pulse, ¡°He excessively lost blood, is in aa right now.¡± Leng Shuang made her conclusion. Though she was ill grounded in medical skills, she had learnt martial skills a lot. Exining such a minor illness was out of question.

    Qin Yunuan smiled and exined to Leng Changxi, ¡°Have you ever seen Leng Shuang being nervous for anyone?¡±

    Leng Changxi¡¯s mind fell into nk. Leng Shuang and Heiying cooperated only once. Haven¡¯t seen them for a long time, he missed the fact that Leng Shuang cared for Heiying so much.

    Before evening, Heiying was sent to the wounded¡¯s tent. Leng Shuang also had her mission so that she couldn¡¯t apany him all the time. On the other hand, Shui Han actively joined Maner and Ting Xue to take care of the wounded.

    The envoy who sent the letter of surrender demand came back in the evening. Dispatching envoys before the battle was a fundamental protocol. Though Sima Ray might not follow the rules, sufficient preparation was what Leng Changxi needed for a just cause of the war.

    ¡°General, the reply letter came.¡± The envoy kneeled in front of Leng Changxi. The letter seemed so weighty that the envoy presented it with struggle.

    Leng Changxi received the letter. The envoy lowered his head guiltily.

    With only one glimpse of the letter¡¯s content, the frozen anger emerged quickly in Leng Changxi¡¯s eyes. Genuine energy was transferred to surround him. That moment, he was quite horrible. Though expressions didn¡¯t change on his face, his aura made everyone present shiver.

    ¡°I have fallen in love with Yunuan, the daughter of a concubine from the Qin Family, for a long time. We were destined to be together but separated by hardness in the world. General Leng, if you sincerely intend to sue for peace, would you bring our romance to a happy ending and send Madam to me?¡± Leng Changxi pped the letter on the desk. He raised his head and could even recite that letter. The defending General¡¯s greed surprised him.

    ¡°How dare him.¡± Leng Changxi covered his hand on the letter and exerted his strength. Within a second, the sheet of the letter was powdered and scattered by the wind.

    ¡°Send Madam to me?¡± Leng Changxi raised a sinister smile, ¡°Spotting my woman. He will pay the price.¡±

    On this side, Qin Yunuan was sorting out logistic materials. From grain reserves to the arrangement of wounded soldiers and doctors, she had to go through everything. With more and more materials at hand, she was not in the mood to care about what happened to Leng Changxi. She sorted and sorted until chats outside the tent caught her attention.

    ¡°Just go and tell her.¡±

    ¡°But it hasn¡¯t been verified, what if Leng Shuang gets angry...¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about outside?¡± Qin Yunuan recognized Maner and Ting Xue¡¯s voices.

    Since Qin Yunuan discovered them, they pushed and shoved into the tent. Maner was more familiar with Qin Yunuan. She stepped forward and said under Ting Xue¡¯s instruction, ¡°Madam, we ran across something we weren¡¯t supposed to see. Therefore, we are consulting whether we should tell Leng Shuang this thing.¡±

    ¡°Hum?¡±

    ¡°The man in ck, Heiying, was supposed to be taken care of by me. Shuihan came in halfway and said it was Madam that arranged her to look after the wounded.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded, ¡°I appointed her. I made her sew a sample before and surprisingly found that she was skillful in doing that. Considering that she may help doctors to stitch the wound in spare time.¡±

    ¡°But,¡± Maner answered quickly, ¡°At dusk, we saw Shuihan was feeding the medicine to Heiying. She was using her mouth.¡±

 Chapter 316 - She was Delicate

    <h4>Chapter 316 She was Delicate</h4>

    How bold Shuihan was! Hadn¡¯t until Qin Yunuan said anything, a teacup fell to the ground with a clear tter. Maner and Ting Xue put aside the curtain and hurried out but see no one. They were wondering who the person was running that fast.

    ¡°It must be Leng Shuang.¡± Qin Yunuan stood outside the curtain. Leng Shuang must have been trembling under such snowy cold weather. But it had noparison with her disappointment. Ice-cold, ruthless Heiying opened her locked heart. Her heart was also smashed into pieces because of him.

    ¡°Let me rece Shuihan to look after Hei Ying.¡± Maner volunteered. She didn¡¯t want Leng Shuang to suffer from heartbreak anymore. Shuihan pretended to be weak and soft. When Maner and Ting Xue happened to figure out she was feeding the medicine for Heiying mouth to mouth, Shuihan shyly crouched her neck like she was the poor victim. She contended that it was the convention to serve a patient in her hometown. This was the first time Shuihan regarded her behavior as kind. But even Maner, a woman who got married, couldn¡¯t stand her behavior.

    ¡°No, we should make it natural.¡± Qin Yunuan shook her head, ¡°It will be awkward if we take actions recklessly. But you should pay more attention to it. Do remember why I arrange both of you to work in the wounded camp.¡±

    Maner and Ting Xue nodded to back off. Qin Yunuan went behind the folding screen and caught the sudden appearance of Leng Changxi. He sat there straight, looking at Qin Yunuan with a smile. The tenderness in the corner of his eyes warmed her up like spring.

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s already got used to Leng Changxi¡¯s sudden appearance and disappearance, so she only got shocked for a moment then walked behind Leng Changxi with a smile. She was kneading his aching shoulders due to wearing armor and said sweetly, ¡°My General Leng, you¡¯ve finally finished all of your business. Now you have time to call in this small woman.¡±

    Leng Changxi turned around his head and looked at Qin Yunuan¡¯s breast. He nodded, ¡°Hum, indeed, not big.¡± He then narrowed his eyes to enjoy Qin Yunuan¡¯s royal service.

    Qin Yunuan punched her fist on Leng Changxi¡¯s shoulders and thumped his arms, ¡°Stop teasing me! You must be very tired today. Have you got any ideas about the strategy?¡±

    ¡°Haven¡¯t yet,¡± Leng Changxi shook his head. ¡°West Xia doesn¡¯t practice Bagua strategies. Since Sima Ray arranges miraculous traps the first pass, he has quite a clear insight into our weakness. We have so many old generals to help us solve it out, but nobody can see through it. Plus, I always have a strange feeling about this map.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fake?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Leng Changxi shook his head, ¡°It is not written as we normally do, but I cannot tell the difference.¡± He was extremely tired today. He had to deal with elderly generals¡¯ critique towards the strategy of using miraculous traps. At the same time, he had to persuade rash young generals like Tuoba Wuyu, who shouted to smash those stones into debris.

    ¡°Miraculous traps.¡± Qin Yunuan murmured. Suddenly an idea struck her. She signed with emotion, ¡°I remember the person who knew the strategy of using miraculous traps the most in Qi was the one who built the Imperial Mausoleum for His Majesty. His surname was Cang, quite a rare one. My father once said the site selection of the imperial mausoleum was superb. But because of andslide, the orientation of the head of the dragon was changed. The previous auspicious ce, therefore, turned to an ominous ce. It had already been five years since the construction began. Mountainous of manpower and material resources had been consumed. In such a dilemma appeared a person named Cang Shigu. Only by building several pavilions on hillsides and cing several huge stones, he changed the Fengshui of the Imperial Mausoleum. He was worshipped as the first state teacher of Qi by the emperor. Unfortunately, three days over, he passed away due to an illness. People admired him the most because he chose a marvelous ce for his burial, where he blessed his descendants with a prosperous and promising future. I¡¯ve heard that his single grandson did build his career.¡±

    Qin Yunuan sighed with emotion. Leng Changxi smiled but said nothing. Suddenly, something struck Qin Yunuan. She turned her head and asked, ¡°Changxi, since his grandson was serving the emperor in the Royal Pce, have you ever heard of him? This person must have inherited from his grandpa more or less.¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled, ¡°You are right. I knew him.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s his name and position?¡± Qin Yunuan questioned closely.

    ¡°His family name was Cang, and his given name was Mu.¡± Leng Changxi answered in a t tone, ¡°He has a rtively high position: the second-rank personal bodyguard of His Majesty with numerous houses. But he lives in danger every day, even doesn¡¯t he have a chance to enjoy good wine and beauty.¡±

    Through Leng Changxi¡¯s description, a face emerged in Qin Yunuan s¡¯ mind.

    ¡°Heiying was an alias, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Leng Changxi looked at Qin Yunuan with disdain, ¡°Have you ever heard about anyone using Hei as his family name?¡±

    Qin Yunuan shivered. She stopped kneading her hands, ¡°So Heiying is Cang Mu, the grandson of Cang Shigu?¡±

    Leng Changxi rose his head with joy, ¡°What do you expect? I struggled to persuade Heiying to join us. What do you think was it all for?¡±

    ¡°You did it.¡± Qin Yunuan guessed a lot. She got many things right. Like a specific connection between Heiying and Cang Shigu; also, like Leng Changxi knew Hei Ying¡¯s true identity. The truth told that she still left something out of the ount.

    ¡°My dear husband, you have ways to contact people of Qi?¡± Qin Yunuan asked one question after one with anxiety, ¡°What about our family? What about Baochuan and my father? Prince Fu and Yuzhao, what if they...¡±

    The more Qin Yunuan said, the more she got worried. Things were as usual when message was blocked. Once contact was possible, people would get into a p whether they knew the message or not.

    Looking Qin Yunuan overexcited, Leng Changxi stood up immediately. He hugged Qin Yunuan¡¯s trembling body into his arm. He put his jaw onto Qin Yunuan¡¯s forehead, lowered his head to kiss her, and said gently, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everything is fine. I got the message this morning. Father sent it by all means from the Royal City. With father, nobody has the nerve to attack Baochuan and Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. Prince Fu and Qin Yuzhao, on the other hand, are safe. Anyway, Prince Fu is Sima Ray¡¯s own younger brother. Sima Ray holds power and dares not to harm him. Also, Prince Fu has always been a no-threat fool to Sima Ray. Prince Fu¡¯s Mansion is safe, too. Recently there are too many things for you to worry about. You are much thinner than before. When you sleep at night, you scream as a nightmare has haunted you. It¡¯s my bad. I¡¯ve promised you a peaceful life. But now I couldn¡¯t even bring you your favorite Glutinous Rice Balls.¡±

    As Leng Changxi soothing her, Qin Yunuan calmed down. She wiped her tears away cidly and said, ¡°Thank goodness, everything is all right. I just miss Baochuan too much. Since he¡¯s born, we¡¯ve been together and never separated. I¡¯m afraid that he takes revenge for us impulsively, yet I¡¯m also afraid that he is too timid to fall asleep. I¡¯m such a contradictory fool.¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled and kissed on Qin Yunuan¡¯s lip corner, ¡°If you are a fool, it must be a kind one. I heard what you said to Maner and Ting Xue, and I agree with you. Currently, the best way is not match-making Leng Shuang and Heiying, is letting them realize each other¡¯s mind.¡±

    ¡°We only have to wait for him waking up, right?¡± Qin Yunuany her head onto Leng Changxi¡¯s chest and murmured. She was determined and decisive alone outside. But in front of Leng Changxi, she would put down all her disguise. Leng Changxi was her long-stay harbor when she got tired. And he would be there always.

    Heiying was minor injured due to excessive loss of blood. ording to Maner¡¯s report, after being simply treated, Heiying could open his eyes the next morning. At noon, when everyone was busy, Shuihan came in and reported with great joy, ¡°General, Heiying wakes up! He can move now, so he says he¡¯d like to pay a visit to you.¡±

    Shuihan had a sweet voice. When she was talking, Qin Yunuan obviously noticed that Leng Shuang got stiff.

    Surprisingly, Leng Changxi didn¡¯t make any sarcasticments on Shuihan. Instead, he smiled, ¡°Your hard work does you credit. I¡¯ve heard that you took care of him a day and a night.¡±

    Hearing Leng Changxi¡¯s words, Leng Shuang¡¯s expression was frozen.

    ¡°If you are ufortable, just speak it out.¡± Qin Yunuan was watching the maps and graphics on the table. She said to Leng Shuang at her right side, ¡°Suppression will bury you.¡±

    ¡°Madam, you worry too much.¡± Leng Shuang said coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t feel any ufortable thing. Heiying gets well so that he could help us solve the problem out. I rejoice for our army and general.¡±

    Qin Yunuan said in a low voice, ¡°that would be the best.¡±

    Leng Changxi stopped Heiying, who recovered from the illness from walking around freely. Heiying was moved to a rtivelyfortable tent with confidential files. Shuihan was waiting outside. She watched into the tent with pity. Leng Changxi banned anyone from entering the tent without permission, including her.

    ¡°How I wanna know what does Heiying feel right now.¡± Shuihan rubbed her fingers. Concerns ran over her eyes.

    Leng Shuang standing guard at the door with Shuihan glimpsed her and said nothing. Until Qin Yunuan left the tent, Leng Shuang moved to put on a cloak on her body.

    ¡°Madam.¡±

    ¡°We shall leave tomorrow,¡± Qin Yunuan said to Leng Shuang, ¡°Go and pack yourself up. Tomorrow we will head to the rock gates in the valley.¡±

 Chapter 317 - Pour All the Dirt on You

    <h4>Chapter 317 Pour All the Dirt on You</h4>

    The mist of dawn awoke the two hundred thousand soldiers in ck armor. Leng Changxi got up early. Qin Yunuan fastened the armor for him carefully. The silver helmet and the iparably hard chest protector made Leng Changxi look more mettlesome. His eyes were piercing, but there were apparent worries in them.

    The army came to the gate of the valley smoothly. They could see nothing on the opposite side of the slot canyon. Leng Changxi sat on therge horse as the head of the army. Heiying¡¯s arm was still tied with a bandage which was stained with blood. The bleeding had not stoppedpletely yet. Qin Yunuan did not ride a horse with Leng Changxi this time but sat on a carriage covered by a ck curtain behind. Maner and Ting Xue stayed at the base camp as doctors, while Shuihan, the fragiledy, insisted on following them, who then guarded the carriage with Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°I wonder whether brother Heiying¡¯s wound has got better. It was still terrible yesterday when I saw that.¡± Shuihan looked innocent. Qin Yunuan did not look at her, but just faced forward and replied lightly, ¡°Since he can ride a horse, he must be okay. Besides, the general has let Leng Shuang look after Heiying. Leng Shuang is good at martial arts, so it will be okay.¡±

    Shuihan¡¯s eyes drooped, and she looked regretful, ¡°I really envy sister Leng Shuang to be with brother Heiying all the time. Brother Heiying is a good person.¡±

    Qin Yunuan had been used to people¡¯s pretending to be poor, so she ignored that directly. The army was divided into left wing and right wing. Leng Changxi led the Leng Army with 1,500 soldiers as the vanguard, and the whole army was arrayed in the shape of a cross. The arrival of Leng Army had caused some resentment among the 200,000 soldiers in ck armor before, while using Leng Army as the vanguard just quelled the dissatisfaction of them.

    ¡°Heiying, how did you get hurt? Let¡¯s talk about it now.¡± Leng Changxi looked into the distance.

    Heiying had be much more haggard than when he was in the Royal Pce in Qi before. A thinyer of beard had formed on his lower jaw, and his hair tangled badly. There was little fresh water in the valley. They just cleaned the wound for Heiying yesterday but got no more water for him to freshen up.

    There was a scar on the corner of Heiying¡¯s eye which was close to his eyelid. The brown scar seemed to be new. It was not clear how much he had suffered along the way. Of course, only Leng Shuang noticed such details.

    ¡°It¡¯s rock gate strategy.¡± Heiying said calmly, ¡°Rock gate strategy is moreplicated than I thought. The formation of rock gates in this strategy will not only change with the steps and directions of those who enter, but also change with the direction of the sun. In short, the strategies in the morning, at noon and at night arepletely different. There is no other way to break the strategy but by entering it. I entered itst evening, and I have figured out the general route. So I suggest that we¡¯d better set off in the evening.¡±

    At this moment, three fast horses suddenly appeared in the valley. The dust that was raised had a strong sour smell. No. It was a rancid smell like rotten meat.

    Three men dressed as soldiers of Qi rode a horse to the front of Leng Changxi¡¯s army. The leader wore an official hat with feathers inserted, which was the sign of the envoy of Qi. It was an old rule that envoys wouldn¡¯t be killed even though there was a war between the two countries. With a distance of more than ten meters, the leading envoy raised his head and cupped one hand in the other before his chest to Leng Changxi, ¡°Our general heard that the soldiers of your West Xia have been stationed outside for a long time and dare not enter the valley, so he thought you must beck of food. Our general is generous, and he specially asked us to send some good wine and meat to you, which can be regarded as alms to all your soldiers.¡±

    When the envoy finished speaking, he signaled to the two people behind him. One of them was carrying arge bag. He quickly untied the bag and threw it on the ground which was full of rotten and smelly meat. It looked so disgusting. It was unknown what kind of meat it was. And the other one directly smashed the jar in his hand towards the ground which was broken into fragments then. The sour smell in it immediately made everyone present cover their nose with hands.

    ¡°Damn it. You Qi goes too far in bullying others! Why you give us these rotten meat and wine? Do you think we 200,000 soldiers in ck armor are easy targets? I will bring people into your rock gate immediately. No matter how dangerous it is, I will destroy it!¡± Tuoba Wuyu was the first to get angry.

    Leng Changxi looked at the dregs and rotten meat on the ground. It seemed that the young general surnamed Xu who was stationed at Luguan really had some tricks. He knew that they only knew the arrangement of rock gate strategy in the evening, and it was the safest for them to enter it in the evening, so he deliberately sent people to provoke them. If they were all impulsive like Tuoba Wuyu, they would be wiped out then after they rushed in.

    Faced with such humiliation, everyone was paying attention to Leng Changxi¡¯s reaction. His attitude would determine the position of the two armies at the moment.

    While Leng Changxi just smiled faintly, ¡°Since General Xu has prepared such a generous gift for us, we naturally have to repay his kindness since courtesy demands reciprocity.¡±

    After speaking, Leng Changxi motioned Leng Wu with his eyes, and then Leng Wu hurriedly left. After a while, he returned with two soldiers carrying tworge buckets.

    The envoy of Qi was a fat man with small eyes. Seeing that Leng Changxi took out a gift in return calmly, his eyes suddenly widened. He pointed to the two buckets and said to Leng Changxi, ¡°General Leng, what¡¯s this...¡±

    Before he finished speaking, Leng Changxi said to Leng Wu, ¡°Pour them.¡±

    Leng Wu nodded. Each of the two buckets was very thick, but Leng Wu lifted them directly with his mighty arms. The soldiers behind him immediately opened the lids of the buckets. A foul smell immediately arose. Before the three envoys of Qi reacted, the two buckets of filth had been sshed on them by Leng Wu, especially the fat man with the little eyes in the lead. Leng Wu sshed the filth so well that they all smelled of excrement, and their clothes were dripping with dirty water.

    The soldiers present of West Xia couldn¡¯t help being happy. What Leng Changxi did really vented their anger greatly. Envoys of Qi sent rotten food to them, while their general gave them two buckets of excrement in return. It was not a tie. They won!

    Looking at the three people ten meters away, Leng Changxi smiled peacefully and patiently, and exined calmly, ¡°What I give you in return is called golden soup. General Xu sends us bad wine and rotten meat just to tell us that we 200,000 soldiers in ck armor are only worthy of this food which even a big won¡¯t eat. With what he did, General Xu really doesn¡¯t deserve the title of general, so the excrement of our soldiers is the only food he deserves. Please pass on to him what I¡¯m saying. Both his sword and his tricks can¡¯t do any harm to me. So, please don¡¯t always trample on people¡¯s dignity. On the one hand, it is viinous, and on the other hand, it is easy for him to suffer losses as he can¡¯t do this kind of thing as well as me.¡±

    The fat man had moved his chubby body and was about to ride the horse to leave. But he couldn¡¯t bear the gloom in his heart, so he turned his head and said to Leng Changxi, ¡°You insult our general like this. He won¡¯t show mercy to you then.¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled lightly, and his silver armor gleamed in the afternoon sunlight, ¡°We don¡¯t need his mercy. By the way, remember, this dish for you is called golden soup.¡±

    Golden soup... It was not soup, but just... Thinking of the excrement on his body, the fat envoy was going to break down!

    After the three of them left, the army of West Xia was full of joy. What General Leng did was so great! Some soldier said in a low voice, ¡°When the general ordered people to take it? I had a golden piss this morning, and maybe it was in the buckets.¡±

    ¡°Come on, Zhang! Your urine is golden because of you got inmmation. And, when you have used thetrine? You always piss towards the trunk. We all know that.¡±

    At the same time, the three envoys of Qi rushed back to their camp with the smell of excrement all the way. When people of West Xia were studying the way to break the strategy with Heiying¡¯s leading, in the dim sunlight, there was a young soldier in armor with a tender face and fair skin sitting on the high tform of Qi¡¯s side, namely the so-called talented descendant of Xu Family who Sima Ray took pains to find.

    Xu Family and Cang Family both specialized in divination and fortune-telling at first, while they became enemies afterwards and the two families did not interact with each other. At that time, Cang Shigu in Cang Family attracted all the attention, and Xu Family was just like a stray dog. While at this time, all the descendants of Cang Family had been dead or missing, so it was the time for Xu Family to flourish again.

    This descendant of Xu Family was called Xu Ji, who lookedely with red lips and white teeth. Although he was tall, he was extremely thin and weak. At a sudden nce, he might be regarded as a youngdy of some family. While the hostility and tenacity in his eyes looked masculine.

    At this time, Xu Ji had one foot on the couch and the other in the wooden clogs before the couch. He had a bunch of cute grapes beside him. He picked out thergest one, looking at the three envoys who were constantly sshed with clean water but still smelly with great interest.

    ¡°Good-for-nothing.¡± Xu Ji gave them a stare.

    The envoy with small eyes exined bitterly, ¡°General, that General Leng is extremely arrogant. He treats both you and Prince Ray like dirt. And he said that you are just a good-for-nothing, and he won¡¯t fear both your sword and your tricks.¡± The envoy with small eyes started talking nonsense.

    ¡°Golden soup?¡± Xu Ji didn¡¯t listen to him at all but just thought to himself, and then he said, ¡°This person is interesting. It seems that we are going to y the trump card. Don¡¯t we have someone in their army? It¡¯s time toe in handy.¡±

 Chapter 318 - Miraculous Traps

    <h4>Chapter 318 Miraculous Traps</h4>

    In the evening, the army had already marched towards the valley under the order of Leng Changxi in ordance with the established n. They didn¡¯t dare to move forward rashly towards the pocket-shaped valley. Leng Changxi had ordered two teams of cavalry and archers to take a shortcut to both sides of the valley in the morning. The horses they rode were not ordinary horses that were only good at running, but pony horses which weremonly used for transporting tea in the southwest region. And these horses were good at climbing and walking on steep mountain roads.

    Leng Changxi rode a horse in front, and behind him was the Leng Army who had fought side by side with him for countless times. Qin Yunuan got out of the carriage and rode on a gentle maroon mare. The ck cloak covered her hair which was fluttering in the wind, and her fair face stood out among the loess and brownstones.

    Suddenly, there was a gust of wind, and there seemed to be a strong burst of evil air in the distance, which forced Leng Changxi¡¯s horse retreat two steps. It was an extremely open space which was just like the big pocket in the center of the pocket-shaped valley. It was surrounded byyers of brown rocks which umted in the course of time. It was just like a huge trigram circle, and more than a thousand soldiers of the Leng Army seemed to be trapped in this big brown circle likembs which were to be ughtered. While none of them dared to retreat. They gripped the weapons in their hands tightly, while Heiying just looked ahead indifferently, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± But what he said then made the more than a thousand people who had been on the battlefield for many years can¡¯t help being afraid, ¡°The rock gate strategy ising.¡±

    Qin Yunuan also frowned slightly when she heard that. The strategies they encountered before always tried to attract them to enter which were usually passive. It seemed that this strategy was really unique since it took the initiative.

    While they were talking, several huge rocks just dropped from the skies,nding in some ce. Their instant appearance was just like some weird spell, which made the soldiers more worried. But then, almost at the same time, several stones as high as a person and as wide as two arms rose from the soft sand just like new trees, blocking every key ce. The position of the stones changed constantly. Some of them moved as fast as the wind, while others as slow as the paces of an old man.

    Someone couldn¡¯t help asking Leng Changxi, ¡°General, what should we do? This strategy is moreplicated than what we have studied before. It does not have a fixed arrangement at all, and it is constantly changing.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Heiying said, ¡°It is just a ploy and a part of the strategy. In fact, they are all fixed.¡±

    ¡°How... How is it possible?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s very simple. I¡¯ll prove it to you.¡± Heiying directly drew out the crossbow he put on the saddle. Heiying was originally a swordsman, but his arm was injured at this time, and he couldn¡¯t hold a heavy iron sword, so Leng Changxi borrowed him his crossbow for temporary use. However, Heiying¡¯s arms were weak, and the crossbow almost fell to the ground, which was firmly held by Leng Shuang on the side then.

    Leng Shuang picked up the crossbow swiftly. She had used this crossbow for so many times, but its recoil force was indeed greater than that of ordinary crossbows, and her arm would be sore every time after she used it.

    ¡°Let me help you. Where are you going to shoot?¡±

    Faced with Leng Shuang¡¯s help, Heiying was expressionless all the time, but just said gloomily to her, ¡°Why youe here as a woman? Can¡¯t you just stay in the camp with the logistics team and cooking team like Shuihan?¡±

    Hearing the name of Shuihan, Leng Shuang¡¯s heart sank. She held the crossbow stiffly in her arm and didn¡¯t know what to do next. Then Heiying ordered a soldier who served him, ¡°You¡¯ll do this. Shoot the third moving stone which is slowest on the left. Remember that you have to hit the exact center of it without deviation.¡±

    The soldier looked thin, saying with dodging eyes, ¡°Vice-general Cang, I¡¯m just an ordinary logistics soldier. I don¡¯t know how to shoot arrows, and I don¡¯t know how to use this crossbow as well.¡±

    There was a swish when they were talking. The sound of firing an arrow attracted everyone¡¯s attention, and a p could be heard from a distance. It was the sound of an arrow made of ck iron shooting into a stone. Although the ck iron was extremely hard, it was definitely not easy to shoot from such a long distance and hit the target perfectly.

    The stone that was still moving fast in the distance suddenly stopped. Not only did this one stop, but the corresponding third stone on the right also stopped.

    It was really strange. Just as everyone was astonished, Leng Shuang had already put away the crossbow in her hand silently. She was a little angry when she shot the arrow just now, but with her ability, she knew that she would make it certainly. Except for the slight pain in her arm, she looked very calm.

    ¡°Here you are.¡± Leng Shuang leaned over and handed the crossbow to Heiying. The corner of Heiying¡¯s scarred eye twitched abruptly, and then Leng Shuang said in a respectful tone which sounded alienated, ¡°Mr. Cang, it¡¯s my fault. I will go back now, and please don¡¯t be angry.¡±

    She no longer called him Heiying, but called him Mr. Cang as a servant, which seemed to pull them far apart.

    ¡°No.¡± Qin Yunuan stopped her in time when she saw this, ¡°Why women can¡¯t take risks? Leng Shuang, you stay. You are not a burden. And I am a beginner in swordsmanship, so I need you to protect me.¡± After finishing speaking, Qin Yunuan looked at Heiying tentatively, ¡°Mr. Cang, what do you think about that?¡±

    Heiying turned his head and looked ahead, as if he was still studying the principles and rules of the movement of these stones, ¡°Just stay here. If you go back, we¡¯ll have to find someone to escort you. It¡¯s even more troublesome.¡±

    Leng Changxi coughed softly from the side and reminded Heiying, ¡°Mr. Cang, it seems that who goes and who stays should be up to me.¡±

    The corner of Heiying¡¯s mouth twitched unnaturally, ¡°I just think that it¡¯s really trouble to have an unwise woman here. I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s up to you certainly, General.¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded in satisfaction, and nced at Leng Shuang who looked cold and said, ¡°So Leng Shuang, you will still stay with Mr. Cang and take care of him for the time being.¡± After speaking, he looked at Qin Yunuan as if asking for her permission, ¡°What do you think?¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s great.¡±

    Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan looked at each other and smiled silently, ignoring Heiying who was with a sulky face and the embarrassing Leng Shuang.

    After hitting the first stone, they got the rules by parity of reasoning. During the period, there had been a few difficult problems or missed shots. While after Leng Changxi took over the crossbow, no shot was wasted.

    After watching for a long time, Qin Yunuan suddenly understood that the scene of dazzling stones was caused by the mirror-image theory. It seemed that they were surrounded by stones, but in fact, the rock gates just upied a half circle. The other half of the circle was a mirrored rock gates generated during its movement. Its speed and shape were the same as the real one, while its movement direction was exactly the opposite. So logically speaking, there should be some object or energy source in the middle which could cause the mirror-image scene.

    And the energy source should be at the center of the entire rock gates, because only in this way could the bnce of the entire rock gates be maintained.

    When Heiying exined to Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan, most of the stones in the rock gates had been fixed by the crossbow. However, the tworgest stones were still moving fast. They moved fastest, and they were the strangest.

    Although the two stones were exactly the same, they were both moving around the valley in a full circle, like two children who were running fast. If it was the case, it was impossible to tell which the real rock gates were and which was derived from mirror-image.

    Just when everyone was puzzled, the sun started to set gradually, and the stones that were temporarily stopped by arrows began to vibrate, which meant that the rock gate strategy would change with the sun again. If they couldn¡¯t find out which one was the real rock gates in time, their previous efforts would be wasted then.

    At this moment, with the sound of tight and rapid footsteps and the ng out of the friction of armors, a pure white throne appeared above the valley. The throne was half-a-person high, and the armrests were iid with beautiful enamel. Who would use such a heavy and impractical throne in this empty valley?

    In an instant, a thousand soldiers of the Leng Army took out their weapons together, looking sternly at the dark shadow which was moving towards them above the valley slowly.

    It seemed to be a sedan chair. It was not an easy task to carry a sedan chair up along such a rugged valley.

    As soon as the sedan curtain was lifted, a handsome man wearing scarlet clothes with a jade crown on his head walked off the sedan chair slowly and nced at the situation in the valley enchantingly. With an imperceptible smile, he pped the hemline of his dress and turned to sit on the white throne. The maid beside him immediately bowed and served him with a te of washed grapes. There was no table in the mountains, so the maid knelt down in front of the scarlet-clothed young man respectfully for him to enjoy the food.

    Leng Changxi squinted at the bottom of the valley, staring at every movement of the young man. Then he shook his head, thinking that Xu Ji was really effeminate.

    Xu Ji smiled suddenly and said towards the bottom slowly, ¡°General Leng, I know you admire me in your heart. You are praising me for my talent. To be honest, I also admire myself.¡±

    Leng Changxi bowed his head with embarrassment, thinking that he was not only effeminate but also conceited.

    Seeing that Leng Changxi lowered his head, Xu Ji smiled more charmingly, ¡°In fact, General Leng, you don¡¯t have to be self-effacing. I have heard of you before.¡± After speaking, he turned to look at Heiying whose eyes had already been furious, pretending to be suddenly enlightened, and eximed, ¡°Oh! It turns out that the descendant of Cang Family is also here. How many years have you been driven into the mountains? I¡¯m surprised that you can be like a human being now. It seems that the old man was really good at choosing a tomb for himself. You can break my twenty-seven bs, but you may not be able to break thest one. So you¡¯d better fold your hands for capture.¡±

 Chapter 319 - More Important Than Her

    <h4>Chapter 319 More Important Than Her</h4>

    The two pieces of rocks, as heavy as a thousand pounds, were still moving. Heiying fixed his eyes on Xu Ji. The resentment between the Xu Family and the Cang Family could be traced back a long time ago. Heiying seemed to remember that after his grandfather¡¯s sudden death in the pce, there were lots of usations against the Cang Family. Their mansion was confiscated. His father had to take him from the huge mansion with seven front yards and seven back yards to a hut. His mother had to raise the family by doing needlework for people.

    Relying on the advantage of terrain, now Xu Ji couldn¡¯t help but feel proud when he saw from top to bottom the over 1,000 people yed by him in hand. Especially when he saw that even Leng Changxi, the Mars of Qi, was as helpless as a trapped animal, he could not hold back hisughing voice.

    Mouth holding an agate grape, Xu Ji chuckledcently, ¡°General Leng, I know you¡¯re a famous general. I also don¡¯t want you to suffer a disastrous defeat. So, if you are willing to kowtow three times to me and shout you are a coward for three times, I promise that at least 20 of the 1,000 people can leave alive. However, ¡± Xu Ji lowered his head, covered his mouth and smiled, ¡°if those who go out lose their arms and legs, you can¡¯t me me.¡±

    The more Xu Ji unted, the calmer Heiying looked. He didn¡¯t speak until some soldiers were agitated, ¡°In fact, there is a way to recognize it.¡±

    ¡°Say it.¡±

    ¡°After all, what is false is false. There is one method to identify which one is the real stone array and which one is fake,¡± Heiying looked away and slowly dropped the words one by one to Leng Changxi, ¡°Use hands to touch it.¡±

    The solution seemed to be simple, but it was as difficult as to climb up to the sky at that moment. Firstly, the rocks were moving so fast that even people with great light skills couldn¡¯t catch up to them. Secondly, although the rest 27 rocks had stopped, it was merely because the movement of the rock gates had stopped, the life door, the death door and the change of the magic were still there. If someone had gone the wrong way and triggered out the mechanism to open the thunder gates or the death door, the consequence must be unimaginable.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it merely to touch it by hands?¡± While speaking, Leng Changxi took off his armor, looking eager to have a try, which made Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart tense.

    ¡°Changxi.¡±

    Leng Changxi just looked back and exhorted gently, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. You just stand here and wait for me to return.¡±

    Just when Leng Changxi was about to take a step, a dark purple figure was faster than him.

    ¡°Madam, don¡¯t worry. General doesn¡¯t need to do it himself. I¡¯ll go.¡±

    Just when Leng Shuang finished her words, she went off like an arrow. Immediately she moved from the army to the rocks moving fast. She used all the strength of her thin arms to stick onto the rock. Leng Shuang barely fell off the rock for several times because of its rapid movement. Watching the scene, Qin Yunuan shuddered with fear, worrying about Leng Shuang very much.

    However, Heiying only criticized coldly, ¡°How stupid she is! Even the general isn¡¯t sure to do it. Why did she involve herself in it? A woman!¡±

    Leng Changxi answered Heiying in a low voice, ¡°She has already gone. What you should do right now is notining.¡±

    Heiying braced up all his energy, watching Leng Shuang lying tightly on the rock in an extremely unsightly manner afar. She shouted towards them, ¡°This rock is real, not fake! What should I do to stop it then?¡±

    Heiying shouted from the air, ¡°Stones are born from the earth. Wood can defeat the earth. You just need to insert a wooden thing into the center of the stone.¡±

    It turned out that Heze used a bow and a crossbow to shoot the stone to stop it. Actually, it was because Leng Shuang¡¯s strength was rtively great that not only the metal front of the arrow but its wooden body also submerged into the stone.

    However, now Leng Shuang was helpless from the distance. Where could she find a wooden object?

    Xu Ji looked at the people below on the valley and smiled disdainfully, ¡°Want to stop it? Aren¡¯t they underestimating me too much?¡±

    After his words, Xu Ji asked the servant beside him to carry out a small tray. There was a thinyer of sand sprinkled on the tray with its edge slightly raised like the terrain of the valley. An eight-sided chess was inserted in the center of the tray, on which there were chess pieces in different colors like different signs. Holding the tray with one hand, Xu Ji watched the situation below calmly and proudly.

    ¡°Something wooden?¡± Leng Shuang¡¯s hair seemed to be blown away by the huge wind, ¡°I¡¯ve got nothing like that.¡±

    Being so far away, Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t send something wooden over to Leng Shuang. Heiying thought for a while and shouted to Leng Shuang, ¡°Do you remember that there is a small wooden hairpin in your hair bun? You¡¯ve used it to open the wound for me.¡±

    Such a tiny detail could be remembered by Heiying so clearly. Leng Shuang was taken slightly aback. However, Xu Ji suddenly cast a spell on the top, and the rock gates moved much faster, especially the rock Leng Shuang was lying on. The huge dragging force barely knocked Leng Shuang away several times. She tried her best to dig out a small Begonia wooden hairpin from her hair bun. The stone was too big for her to insert a wooden hairpin to its center, which required extremely great strength. ording to Leng Shuang¡¯s level, she could only try once. If she failed, she would lose the chance forever.

    Seeing that the sun was about to set, and that the strategy was going to change soon, Qin Yunuan pinched Leng Changxi¡¯s sleeve subconsciously. A few drops of cold sweat fell from her forehead. From a distance, Leng Shuang seemed to bet all on a single throw. She snatched the top of the stone with one hand, hanging her whole body on it. Her other hand seemed to be exercising Qi slowly, preparing to insert the hairpin in her hand into the stone. The stone was like a wild horse running off the rein. Leng Shuang could hardly have a chance to open her eyes to ensure the specific position.

    ¡°She can¡¯t make it at all,¡± Heiying sat on the saddle, ready to move. Xu Ji was still imposing the magic silently on the valley.

    Heiying took a nce at Xu Ji, which nearly took his breath away, ¡°He¡¯s too hard on himself. He connects his own life and soul to the strategy. Even though it allows him to control the strategy more easily, once the strategy is broken, he will suffer from great damage, even harming his life.¡±

    Hearing that, Leng Changxi¡¯s interest was aroused, ¡°What do you mean by ¡®the strategy is broken¡¯? To what extent can it be counted as broken?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s very easy,¡± Heiying looked at Leng Changxi and said, ¡°You need to break everyyout and illusion in the strategy. For example, to break the thunder gates...¡±

    Leng Changxi waved his hands. He had no time to listen to theplex principle of miraculous traps, ¡°I only want to ask one thing. If I blow up all those rockster, can it be counted as breaking the strategy?¡±

    Heiying was stunned for a moment. Perhaps he hadn¡¯t thought that Leng Changxi would be so wild and straight. He nodded, ¡°Yes. Of course, it can be counted.¡±

    Leng Changxi turned his head to Leng Wu and ordered briefly, ¡°Get the sulfur and saltpeter ready. Also, prepare some for the sissy above.¡±

    Leng Wu took the order and left. Just when Leng Changxi finished his words, Xu Ji on the valley suddenly spat blood, dying red most of his scarlet clothes at once.

    ¡°Young Master,¡± the servant girl beside Xu Ji handed him the silk handkerchief nervously. However, he just pushed her away. Swaying, he stood up and stared at the rock gates below, which had stopped suddenly, and Leng Shuang, who hung herself on the rock with one hand and patted the wooden hairpin into the center of the rock with the other hand.

    This woman must be crazy.

    The fast-moving stone finally stopped. Leng Shuang¡¯s arms were already numb, and her face was almost frozen.

    The first one running towards Leng Shuang was nobody else but Heiying. Qin Yunuan saw that Heiying rushed to Leng Shuang without stopping, got off his horse quickly and hugged Leng Shuang from the rock.

    ¡°I have never seen any woman like you who are stupid and like to show off ability,¡± Heiying¡¯s voice was loud, full of reprimands. However, Qin Yunuan could feel that his words were filled with love and pity.

    Leng Shuang smiled. Her face was a little pale, ¡°I thought that you wouldn¡¯te.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°I thought that only when Shuihan got hurt would you be so nervous,¡± Leng Shuang¡¯s smile was bitter.

    Heiying was startled slightly. He hugged Leng Shuang in his arms and replied only one sentence after a long time. However, just this sentence made Leng Shuang let go of all the knots in her heart instantly.

    This sentence was made up of merely six words. ¡°You are more important than her.¡±

    The 28th stone b had been destroyed. Immediately, the stone bs surrounding the Leng Army were reduced by half. Those stone bs appearing because of the mirror vanished suddenly. Xu Ji on the valley wiped out his blood in a hurry regardless of the blood on the front piece of his robe. He merely stood proudly on the valley, ¡°Do you think it¡¯s over? Are you leaving now? It¡¯s not so easy.¡±

    Xu Ji asked the servant girl beside him to carry a small table, which was full of written spells and jade bs used to pray for the rain. Just when Xu Ji was about to impose his magic, Leng Changxi had already calcted the time well on the ground. He gave a cunning smile, ¡°They should arrive here by now.¡±

    At the same time, there was a neighing sound from behind Xu Ji. Well, the people who were expected to be here were nobody else. It should be remembered that Leng Changxi had sent out the most courageous cavalries among the soldiers in ck armor the night before he entered the valley. They had bypassed the col nearby and walked over creeks and rivers so that they could attack Xu Ji from both sides at the moment.

    ¡°Young Master, there is an ambush,¡± the servant girl beside Xu Ji hurried to prepare to pack up and escort him away. However, Leng Changxi shouted to Xu Ji provocatively, ¡°General Xu, look here!¡± After that, he sent 1,000 soldiers of the Leng Army to sprinkle all the explosives made from sulfur and saltpeter, which had been hidden previously, in the rock gates. Surprisingly, those thunder gates and illusions set by Xu Ji didn¡¯t work at all because those soldiers went ording to the route arranged by Heiying before.

    Xu Ji panicked. He had already linked his life and soul to the rock gate strategy. If Leng Changxi sted the rock gates, he must be severely injured.

    Leng Changxi took the material for starting a fire given by Leng Wu calmly. Then he gave it to Qin Yunuan out of courtesy and smiled, ¡°What about you doing it?¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised herself slightly, nced at Xu Ji from the corner of her eyes, and nodded, ¡°My dear, you are so polite to me.¡± Then she burned the material for starting a fire with one blow.

 Chapter 320 - Severely Injured

    <h4>Chapter 320 Severely Injured</h4>

    ¡°No!¡± Xu Ji¡¯s heartbreaking cry from the top of the valley could not beat Qin Yunuan¡¯s quick eyes and hands. The grey materials for starting a fire were soon lit. The little sparkle was like a lively and mischievous child, running and jumping along the set route. Xu Ji opened his eyes as wide as copper bells. He had to witness that his greatest strategy was exploded into ashes in an instant before him.

    Leng Changxi stepped back and covered Qin Yunuan¡¯s ears tightly without any space. Qin Yunuan only saw that the towering stones before her eyes were instantly destroyed into dross. The loud cracking sound was deafening. Qin Yunuan was kept from the impact of the heatwave of the overwhelming explosion because of Leng Changxi¡¯s protection.

    The form of the explosive was taken from the weapon factory founded by Chen Wan in the Yeren Valley, on the countless secret forms on the top of the cave. It was lucky that Qin Yunuan was gifted with an extraordinary retentive memory. Once she read it, she would never forget it.

    Xu Ji had alreadybined his life and soul with the strategy. The moment the strategy was ruined, there were crackling sounds in his body as if countless explosives were buried in it. The servant girls around him dared not toe close to him recklessly. After Xu Ji¡¯s meridians were bombed all over, his eyes were startled. His scarlet clothes were dyed crimson all over his body. He halted straight and copsed face down.

    At that time, those soldiers in ck armor surrounding Xu Ji and his men quickly stepped forward. They tied him tightly, even covering his eyes and mouth. The rest people were all captured alive and tied tightly too. The cowhide rope used to tie them had been soaked in sesame oil, so it was as strong as iron, which could hardly be broken free.

    Now that Xu Ji was captured alive, it was a good time to break Luguan. Unexpectedly, another group of soldiers in ck armor dispatched by Leng Changxi from the west came back to report before long.

    ¡°General, the guard of Luguan was suddenly improved. Not only there had been 100,000 soldiers more, but Sima Ray also seemed to supervise the army himself. Our intelligence was wrong. Our loss was heavy.¡±

    At the moment, Leng Changxi was reorganizing his army at the bottom of the valley. Xu Ji, who was seriously injured, was lying on the stretcher beside him. Hearing the news that Sima Ray hade, even though his mouth and eyes were sealed, he still raised his lipscently and sneered in indifference and contempt.

    It seemed that the n of the Leng guy was going to fail. Haha! Although he had lost power, he could never let this guy implement his n smoothly.

    ¡°Sima Ray acts really fast,¡± Qin Yunuan frowned and nodded, ¡°It seems that it¡¯s time to get rid of the spy among us.¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded, and nced at Xu Ji, who was tightly tied but pretended to be proud, ¡°Leng Wu, seal his nose for me.¡± Leng Changxi had heard his sneer clearly.

    ¡°What?¡± Leng Wu was a little surprised. If the nose was sealed, the man would be dead.

    ¡°Loose the seal on his nose every half a tea break. General Xu, you are so good at martial arts. You must be capable of holding your breath for half a tea break one time, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled at Xu Ji, who tried his best to shake his head. Now that his life and soul got ruined, he was no more than an ordinary person in martial arts.

    ¡°General Xu, you¡¯ve kept silent. It seems that you are willing to ept the challenge. Well, I really admire you,¡± Leng Changxi shook his head and walked away while sighing. Leng Wu stepped forward andforted Xu Ji honestly, ¡°General Xu, I¡¯m sorry to offend you. However, you can¡¯t me me. After all, you¡¯ve offended our general.¡±

    When they returned to the military camp at the entrance of the valley, those soldiers staying behind immediately went to wee them. However, after they heard that although the rock gate strategy had already been broken, 100,000 soldiers were added to guard Luguan, who were led by Sima Ray himself, Tuoba Wuyu and other people all fell silent.

    ¡°We¡¯ve fought against the Sima guy before,¡± Tuoba Wuyu remembered that one year ago when a turmoil just happened in Qi, Sima Ray had attacked West Xia in the excuse of looking for the missing soldier and had a brief confrontation with West Xia. However, it was no more than a small fight for Sima Ray to prove the power of Qi. Thinking of the battle on the Gobi Desert, the daring Tuoba Wuyu hesitated for a while to talk about it, ¡°That man is sharp tomand his army. That is to say, he seems not to leave a way for him to retreat. Once he sends his army, all the soldiers will leave for the fight, sweeping the battlefield like the west wind rolling the fallen leaves. Then the army will retreat quickly. At midnight, all the army wille out again to do a sneak attack. At that time, all the soldiers in my army couldn¡¯t have a sound sleep for several days. Then to our surprise, he didn¡¯t send the army. However, once we felt relieved, he came again! How shameless he is!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just a method to use the military forces,¡± Leng Changxi had never cooperated with Sima Ray before, nor did he fight against him. But after listening to Tuoba Wuyu¡¯s description, he perhaps knew what tactics Sima Ray used. It was exactly like a bolt of fierce lightning, which seemed to be powerful, but could only maintain for a short time. Not only did Tuoba Wuyu¡¯s army need to consume physical strength, but the continuous sneak attack of Sima Ray¡¯s army also required lots of energy. Only Sima Ray could use this method well, harming others as well as himself. Therefore, Leng Changxi nodded to agree with Tuoba Wuyu, ¡°However, it is a shameless method indeed.¡±

    At that moment, the soldier guarding outside came in to report that Shuihan had known that all the generals had worked hard, so she specially prepared some ginger soup to warm the body and wanted to take it in.

    Tuoba Wuyu gave out a smile immediately, ¡°How considerate she is!¡±

    Leng Changxi nced at Tuoba Wuyu, ¡°Bring in the ginger soup. Oh, let Shuihane in and drink with us together in case she stands outside and catches a cold.¡±

    It was the first time for Leng Changxi to allow Shuihan to enter their camp for discussion. Standing outside, Shuihan couldn¡¯t help but light up with pleasure when she heard the message. Her voice seemed to tremble with excitement, ¡°Yes, General.¡±

    Today Shuihan was dressed rather inly. She had already taken off her light, delicate red clothes and worn the clothes made of hessian cloth wisely in order not to be ipatible with Leng Changxi and other generals and soldiers, who were travel-worn and weary. Even so, Shuihan¡¯s charming eyebrows and eyes were enough to dazzle people.

    The way she took small steps and carried the ginger soup was especially charming. If Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t know Shuihan¡¯s true face, she would also be attracted by her gentle appearance.

    Shuihan put down the ginger soup. Then she picked up one bowl of it alone, walked to Heiying, nodded and smiled, ¡°Heiying brother, oh, no. I should call you Mr. Cang. This is the ginger soup for you. You must be tired after the long journey.¡±

    Heiying didn¡¯t look at Shuihan in the eye. Instead, he took the bowl of ginger soup containing love and care and handed it to Leng Shuang. What was more, he carefully held the rim of the bowl, which was the hottest part, and made the tray face Leng Shuang, which was rtively cold.

    Leng Shuang was a little stunned. She found that Heiying¡¯s tone was not as cold as it was in the past, but more emotion was added to it, ¡°I just think that you¡¯ve made the greatest achievement today. So you should be the first one to drink the soup.¡±

    Just this sentence made Leng Shuang¡¯s face flush. Seeing this, Shuihan immediately knew what the rtionship between the two people was now. She raised her eyebrows a little as if she hade up with a scheme. However, her reaction was noticed by Qin Yunuan, who always observed the slightest detail of people. She cast a look to Leng Shuang, who understood in an instant.

    Smiling, Leng Shuang was about to pick up the ginger soup and drink it up when her hands slipped suddenly. The white porcin teacup with the pattern of plum blossom fell to the ground and broke into pieces at once. The yellow ginger soup inside flew everywhere on the ground. However, there were white bubbles immediately, with the crackling sound.

    ¡°The ginger soup is poisonous,¡± Leng Shuang shouted. She was the first one preparing to drink it. It was lucky that nobody had drunk it yet. Instantly, the atmosphere in the camp was hot and tense. Tuoba Wuyu had never thought that such a beautiful, kind woman would poison in the ginger soup, aiming at the highest generals inside the camp.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t do it,¡± it was the first reaction of Shuihan, but it looked weak at this moment.

    ¡°Do you dare to poison the general?¡± Leng Wu was sensitive. He stepped forward, ready to grab Shuihan by her arm. However, he grabbed nothing. Shuihan avoided him unusually quickly and threw the tray of the ginger soup on the small table directly to Leng Wu¡¯s face. Leng Wu defended against the attack with his hands and began to fight with Shuihan. It turned out that Shuihan knew martial arts. What was more, her martial arts were by no means ordinary since she could resist so many attacks from Leng Wu.

    Tuoba Wuyu was more surprised. He always thought that Shuihan was merely a weak, delicate official prostitute escaping from the imperial music office. However, ording to the skills she revealed now, it was really easy for her to defeat the three men chasing her at that time.

    ¡°So we are all cheated by Shuihan?¡± Tuoba Wuyu got angry immediately, ¡°What a shame! I was fooled by a woman!¡±

    Leng Changxi looked sidelong at him, ¡°Yes. How can I have such a lustful and foolish subordinate?¡±

    Tuoba Wuyu was also honest. He knew that he failed to recognize Shuihan¡¯s true face, so he didn¡¯t say anything.

    ¡°Don¡¯t me him too,¡± Qin Yunuan stepped forward and exined, ¡°I¡¯ve felt weird since Shuihan¡¯s appearance and her performance outside the camp. It¡¯s lucky that Yuanyang has seen much. After listening to my description, she doubts that it¡¯s the charming skill which had been lost for a long time. It can make people love someone only by a song or a fragrance. Changxi and I have much inner Qi, so we weren¡¯t puzzled by her at that time. If I guess right, this woman named Shuihan is exactly Qiu Shuihan, the good helper of Sima Ray and the only daughter of Qiu Murong, the leader of the Moon Sect.¡±

    Atst, Shuihan couldn¡¯t beat the generals of West Xia because there were so many of them. Before long, she was captured without fighting, but she wouldn¡¯t ept it. She tried to defend herself for thest time, ¡°General, I know I¡¯m wrong. But why I hide the fact that I¡¯m good at martial arts is because I¡¯m afraid that you won¡¯t ept me. I didn¡¯t poison in the ginger soup. I¡¯m wronged!¡±

    Qin Yunuan went forward to nce at Shuihan, ¡°This ginger soup is not poisonous indeed. The white bubbles are the quicklime I ask Leng Shuang to hide in her sleeves previously. However, you are not wronged. Aren¡¯t you asking for the proof? Okay. I¡¯ll give it to you.¡±

 Chapter 321 - A Hot Night

    <h4>Chapter 321 A Hot Night</h4>

    At this time, Maner pulled back the curtain and walked in with a tray in her hand. Leng Wu subconsciously walked to her to protect her because he knew Qiu Shuihan, who looked weak in fact, was a skilled martial artist.

    Two ordinary objects were ced on the tray Maner held. On the left was a piece of delicate embroidery, while on the right was the array map the scout took back that day.

    ¡°All generals and soldiers who have been to the rock gates know that the array is not fixed. It will only be activated when someone walks in. However, to draw this detailed map, one has to stand in a high position, which therefore makes the person unable to activate the rock gates. If so, how could one draw such a detailed map?¡± Qin Yunuan exined slowly.

    Leng Changxi echoed, ¡°So this map is forged. You have bought over that scout and asked him to bring back the map. I truly doubted him then. He indeed had been out for a long time, but how could a little-educated scout be so good at painting?¡±

    ¡°Even so, you can¡¯t prove that I have bought him over. General, I¡¯m innocent.¡±

    ¡°Qiu Shuihan, you don¡¯t remember this?¡± Qin Yunuan asked while pointing at the embroidery. ¡°Changxi told me that the handwriting on the map looked strange, so I deliberately asked you to make this for me. You poured many efforts to it, but you don¡¯t know why I asked you to do so. I don¡¯t intend to examine your embroidery skills, but your techniques and stitch style. The handwriting looks strange because it goes leftwards. But in general, one¡¯s handwriting will be rightwards because they write with their right hand. So to conclude, the map was drawn by a left-handed person.¡±

    Hearing this, Shuihan hid her left hand in an unnatural way. At this time, Leng Wu said, ¡°True. Just now when I fought with Miss Qiu, she apparently used her left hand more.¡±

    ¡°So what? It may just be a coincidence.¡±

    ¡°Shuihan, stop quibbling,¡± Leng Changxi shook his head and said. ¡°The first requirement for soldiers in ck armor is to be right-handed, which can ensure uniformity for the array deployment and training. Moreover, there is no left-handed soldier in the Leng Army, either. Miss Qiu, it¡¯s not fun to quibble over this, although it can prove your loyalty to Sima Ray. But he won¡¯t know this or care about this.¡±

    Shuihan sat on the floor weakly. She seemed to have run out of her energy and couldn¡¯t stand up anymore. She looked nk and murmured something, but people couldn¡¯t hear her clearly.

    ¡°She murmurs ¡®father¡¯,¡± Qin Yunuan said after reading Qiu Shuihan¡¯s lipnguage. It seemed that Sima Ray threatened Qiu Shuihan to spy on them with Qiu Murong¡¯s life. Qin Yunuan crouched and looked directly into Shuihan¡¯s eyes. She lifted Shuihan¡¯s small and round chin with her long finger, and by just doing so, an arched mark was left on her chin.

    How did Qiu Murong bring up such a pretty daughter who had fair and tender skin?

    ¡°Qiu Shuihan, get to know what situation you are in,¡± Qin Yunuan deimed. ¡°You¡¯re just a pawn. If Sima Ray knows you are exposed, he will surely torture your father and send assassins to kill you. We don¡¯t kill you because we want you to tell us everything you know. In this way, you may be able to save your father¡¯s life.¡±

    Shuihan had thought about Qin Yunuan¡¯s words for a long time but still kept silent. She looked down. Tears that were stained with the powder on her face fell down. Tuoba Wuyu showed no pity for her now. He cupped his hands and said to Leng Changxi, ¡°General, please allow me to take this spy into custody.¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded.

    Tuoba Wuyu escorted Shuihan out of the tent in person. Suddenly, thunder grumbled in the distance, which made soldiers on guard in the cold wind shake. Soon, a heavy downpour followed, showing no mercy. Falling down on the tent and gs, the bean-size raindrops seemed to soothe people despite this impending war.

    Shuihan was tied up and escorted by two soldiers with one leading in front and another following behind. She suddenly became all wet because of the rain. Heiying and Leng Shuang stood under the tent. It seemed that Heiying was going to send Leng Shuang who was apparently tired back.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you give a hand to an all-wet beauty?¡± Leng Shuang pouted and asked Heiying in a low voice when seeing Shuihan walked away lonely.

    Heiying was confused and didn¡¯t get her. He walked around Leng Shuang and checked her carefully. ¡°You¡¯re not wet.¡±

    Leng Shuang lovingly looked at Heiying who behaved innocently and couldn¡¯t helpughing.

    Heiying was more confused and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why do you ask me to offer a hand for no reason, and nowugh for no reason?¡±

    Leng Shuang looked away but didn¡¯t stop smiling. ¡°You really think you are the hero who saves the beauty out of danger?¡±

    Heiying answered honestly, ¡°I think you are the beauty.¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡±

    Leng Shuang blushed and was a little overwhelmed by this, so she moved over a bit. It was so strange because her heartbeat hadn¡¯t been this fast even in the most urgent and dangerous situation.

    ¡°Why do you move over?¡± Heiying took over the paper umbre Leng Wu took out from the tent. He dragged Leng Shuang to stand close to him in a natural way and said in amanding tone, ¡°I¡¯ll walk you back. You must have been exhausted today, so remember to take a bath and have a good sleepter.¡±

    Leng Shuang and Heiying stood so close to each other under the umbre that she could feel his strong heartbeat. She looked down and behaved like a shy girl for the first time.

    In the tent, Qin Yunuan asked Leng Changxi with a smile, ¡°Look at you. Why did you deliberately ask Leng Wu to send them an umbre? They can stay here for longer.¡±

    Leng Changxi exchanged nces with generals, and they all left. Then, Leng Changxi held Qin Yunuan into his arms and kissed her neck. She could feel his breath, around her ear and down, making her get goose bumps. Qin Yunuan had lost her energy andpletely leaned herself to Leng Changxi, so thetter lifted her up and walked to the soft bed next to them. He stroked her face with his hot hand. What a hot night.

    At the same time, a man and a girl were doing the same thing in the woods near the military camp near the Luguan. The man was topless. One end of his waistband was still tied while another already fell down on the girl¡¯s calf. On his sweaty bare back, sweat dripped along his well-shaped muscles down to the green grass.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, I can¡¯t take more.¡± The girl kept moaning and sounded so seductive.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you saying that youe all along just for me? Don¡¯t you want this?¡± Sima Ray leveraged his genuine energy to detect danger while also enjoying himself to the full at this moment.

    The girl was still young, merely at 15 years old. Apparently, this was her first time. She was not used to this and even felt painful.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, I¡¯m here to beg you to spare my father and sister.¡±

    ¡°Shut up now, and I¡¯ll spare them.¡± Sima Ray directly covered her mouth and nose. Then he moved faster. After a while, that girl stopped struggling. Sima Ray put his finger under her nose. She was alive but weak.

    Sima Ray quickly dressed himself up and stood up, not caring about the girl who stilly on the ground.

    ¡°Shangguan Yuen, you did well just now and showed your sincerity. I¡¯m practicing internal skills now and need this to enhance myself. If you really want your father and sister to be acquitted, you shoulde to the military camp tomorrow and show up whenever I need you. If you do anything wrong, I¡¯ll ask people in the capital to kill your father.¡±

    The girl was Shangguan Yuen, the youngest daughter of Shangguan Yuan, the Prime Minister. It was said that she was timid and always stayed at home, not going out. She shoulde alone to the Luguan to beg for Sima Ray¡¯s leniency. She was really filial. Sima Ray practiced a kind of strange martial arts that required him to have sex for 7 consecutive days after the fifteenth day of each lunar month. So he wanted to take advantage of Shangguan Yuen. After all, he was tired of prostitutes and preferred young girls like Shangguan Yuen now.

    Dressed up, Sima Ray directly left, and Shangguan Yuen who was exhausted stilly on the grasnd. At the same time, a figure in the woods disappeared. Soon, a scout in ck knelt down before Leng Changxi¡¯s tent and reported everything he saw in the woods in a low voice.

    Qin Yunuan put on a piece of in and clean gown. Then she wiped away the sweat on Leng Changxi and helped him get dressed. Hearing what the scout said, she said, ¡°Shangguan Yuen is silly. How can she get anything from a demon?¡±

    ¡°Her family asks for this.¡± Leng Changxi looked cold. ¡°When Sima Ray just revolted, Shangguan Yuan took his side for securing his position and life. Now Sima Ray holds power. He, of course, will assign his henchmen to important positions. And, Sima Ray will definitely not keep Shangguan Yuan at his side. Because this man has chosen to betray the emperor for securing his position, and he will surely betray Sima Ray if anyone stronger shows up. Sima Ray knows well about this.¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯m curious what kind of internal skills he practices. If we know this, we can easily defeat him.¡±

 Chapter 322 - Violence Must Be Met by Violence

    <h4>Chapter 322 Violence Must Be Met by Violence</h4>

    It was sunny today. Leng Changxi stood on the stadium to count soldiers, among whom the Leng Army stood in front of soldiers in ck armor. These 1,500 soldiers of the Leng Army had proven their good teamwork by boldly walking in the rock gates to deploy explosive packages as nned in a short time.

    This was one reason why the Leng Army stood in front of soldiers in ck armor. Another reason was that thetter deliberately did so. Soldiers in front would face dangers first. Now that the Leng Army would like to take the lead, how would soldiers in ck armor refuse?

    They had taken a three-day rest. Now they were going to fight with Sima Ray¡¯s army. Luguan was the key pass to Qi, so if they broke in, they would enter the central region in Qi, which was so close to Qi¡¯s capital city.

    Leng Changxi was in silver armor, and the red tassel around his neck flew with the wind. Qin Yunuan wore a piece of in white clothes. She quietly stood behind Leng Changxi and was so calm even seeing 200,000 strong soldiers.

    Every powerful man would have a woman behind him. And for Leng Changxi, Qin Yunuan was the one.

    200,000 soldiers in ck armor were all ready. Their ck armor shone under the winter sunlight. The wall in the Luguan, as high as 10 meters, was built on bricks made of the hardest yellow soil. It took seven years to build this wall. Sima Ray in luxurious golden armor stood high on the wall and looked down. He looked so imposing that all people down seemed like ants for him. Then, he tilted his head proudly.

    He looked down at Leng Changxi who stood out among all soldiers in ck armor. Heughed and said, ¡°Leng, if you now kneel down to beg me, I will spare you.¡±

    Leng Changxi wielded his spear and answered, ¡°I will kowtow to the heaven and my parents, but never to b*st*rds. So, you know I won¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Tough talk is the only thing you can do now.¡± Sima Ray exchanged nces with the lieutenant who was about 40 years old. He had worked for Sima Ray for years and could understand Sima Ray easily. He ordered his men to throw down rocks they took back from the mountain yesterday. Each rock weighed 500 kilograms. It could be imagined how powerful it would be when thrown down from a 10-meter wall.

    Leng Changxi ordered the army to step back at once, but falling rocks still killed many soldiers.

    ¡°When will themando arrive?¡± Leng Changxi turned to ask Leng Wu while sheltering himself from the flying rubble with his shield.

    ¡°They already detoured to Sima Ray¡¯s camp when we were confronting. They may arrive several minutester.¡±

    ¡°Sima Ray is cunning. Only by dispatching all soldiers will hee out to confront me on the wall. But he doesn¡¯t know I have 1,500 soldiers from the Leng Army. I once burnt his barn in Qi, and today, I will do this again.¡±

    Although Luguan was easy to defend and hard to break in, it was remote. It was at least 250 kilometers away from the nearest town. How to secure military provisions was always a problem in war. But Leng Changxi had an advantage over Sima Ray in this. There was a river in the Yunlong Valley, which was full of steep hills and smart but tricky monkeys though. Therefore, Leng Changxi could directly ship military provisions from West Xia¡¯s border to the camp.

    Those giant rocks indeed were terrifying. However, soldiers in ck armor, the strongest fighting force of West Xia, managed to duck the blow by building their shields into a solid fortress. Gradually, fewer rocks were thrown down. This trick was less effective than Sima Ray expected.

    Sima Ray squinted and decided to use his trump card.

    ¡°Leng, look here.¡±

    Leng Changxi held the rein tight to keep bnce and also spared energy to protect Qin Yunuan who rode on a jujube-red mare behind him. Although Qin Yunuan could already beat Tuoba Wuyu down given her inner Qi and skills, Leng Changxi always protected her subconsciously. As a result, all people thought Qin Yunuan was weak but a little smart.

    Looking up at the same time, Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi saw Sima Ray pushed a girl who was not properly dressed to the battlement. Then they saw her blood-stained head and messy look.

    That was Shangguan Yuen whom the scout found to be humiliated by Sima Ray in the woods three days ago.

    Not knowing Shangguan Yuen though, Qin Yunuan felt so heartbroken right after seeing this.

    Sima Ray haughtily lifted Shangguan Yuen¡¯s chin with his machete. She was pale, from which it could be told that she must have suffered a lot these days.

    ¡°Leng Changxi, let me tell you. Actually, the mother of Qin Yunuan, your wife and the Young Madam in the Prince Ning¡¯s mansion, is Shangguan Yu, the lost daughter of the Shangguan Family. In other words, Qin Yunuan is a member of the Shangguan Family, and this is her cousin. If you insist on fighting with me and ignore thisdy, I¡¯m afraid your reputation will be ruined.¡± Sima Ray asserted surely, and everything sounded usible.

    Qin Yunuan looked nk for a while and couldn¡¯t help looking up at the pale and poor look of Shangguan Yuen who leaned against the battlement. Shangguan Yuan kicked her mother out; Shangguan Yee bullied her; Shangguan Rang coveted her. So she really hated the Shangguan Family. But this 15-year-old girl was innocent. She had done nothing bad. For saving her father, she was tortured by Sima Ray to help him improve his martial arts.

    ¡°I have no reputation at all,¡± Leng Changxi said resolutely. ¡°You¡¯ve long defamed me as a traitor who has colluded with enemies. So how will I worry about disgracing myself anymore?¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Sima Ray answered and pushed the machete further, so Shangguan Yuen¡¯s neck started to bleed. Sima Ray looked very proactive. Judging from how Qin Yunuan treated Qin Baochuan, He knew she cared people she loved very much and would get back at all people who had hurt her. However, Shangguan Yuen was innocent and did nothing bad, so she would show pity for her.

    As he expected, Qin Yunuan turned her head quietly. She didn¡¯t want to see that. But in a war, there were always victims, no matter whether they were innocent or not. She had to face the reality.

    Leng Changxi was calcting time in his mind nervously. He wanted to spin things out for as long as possible. When Sima Ray knew his barn was on fire, how could he be as arrogant as now?

    ¡°Leng Changxi, think it over. She is your wife¡¯s family.¡± Sima Ray exerted his strength to pull back Shangguan Yuen¡¯s head so that thetter leaned against the battlement in a strange posture with her head raising. She looked nk and seemed dead.

    Leng Changxi said in a t tone, ¡°Just do it. I don¡¯t care.¡±

    To be honest, Sima Ray kind of liked Shangguan Yuen. After all, the cleaner the woman he had sex with, the better it would be for him to enhance himself. Shangguan Yuen was a virgin before, and she was young. For him, she was a good choice. But under such circumstances, he had to give her up.

    When Sima Ray was going to stab the machete into Shangguan Yuen, a soldier came to report to him in haste.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, our barn is on fire. We¡¯ve lost half of our provisions.¡±

    ¡°Impossible.¡± Sima Ray would never make the same mistake again. ¡°I deliberately built the barn against the hill, and everyone going in and out needs permission. I have ced many buckets around the barn to save water in case of a fire. How will half of our provisions be burnt?¡±

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, they shot burning arrows from the hillside. Our soldiers are all here, and only a few are left to guard the barn. So we are shorthanded.¡±

    ¡°Useless.¡± Sima Ray threw away the machete and Shangguan Yuen who was so weak that she fell down to the ground. He kicked the soldier at his chest. ¡°Burning arrows from the hillside? Nonsense. The Leng Army, who are most killed in archery, had already broken up on the day when Iid siege to the barn in Qi. So how could anyone be able to shoot burning arrows to our barn?¡±

    Suddenly, he understood what happened and rushed to the battlement. As expected, he saw Leng Changxi smiledcently. D*mn it. How could he call the Leng Army back. So the Leng Army was attacking them...

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, it¡¯s just the Leng Army.¡±

    Sima Ray flew into a rage and pped the soldier who then went faint. He ordered other people coldly, ¡°Remember that there is no Leng Army anymore. They are just losers, losers!¡±

    Leng Changxi was pleased to see Sima Ray panicked and looked up to remind him, ¡°Your Royal Highness, your barn is on fire. Shouldn¡¯t you send people to put it out? It is of no use to just stand here.¡±

    Sima Ray became ck in the face and clenched so hard that he seemed to almost break his fingers. He looked down at Leng Changxi and said, ¡°I want a truce. I¡¯ll fight with you another day.¡±

    When the war turned white-hot, how could Sima Ray ask for a truce. However, Leng Changxi didn¡¯t care. He nodded and said in a modest manner, ¡°As you please.¡±

    Leng Changxi and soldiers rode horses back to their camp. Sima Ray was upied with putting out the fire in his camp in the Luguan while Leng Changxi was also busy with nning. Leng Changxi was the God of War in Qi. How would he merely n to burn the barn and do nothing more?

    ¡°General, traps in the east are ced.¡±

    ¡°General, traps are also ced in the camp gate.¡±

    ¡°General, traps in the west are also ready.¡±

    Three generals reported in a row. Leng Changxi sat on the chair saying nothing, and he just wiped his shining spear in silence. Having not fought for long, he really looked forward to the war now.

    ¡°General, how do you know they will n a sneak attack tonight?¡± Tuoba Wuyu was still confused after seeing that Leng Changxi calmly prepared everything in an orderly way.

    Leng Changxi turned his head and answered, ¡°Because I know how to use my brain, unlike you. Sima Ray is arrogant. He lost this time, so he will seize any opportunity to get back at us. With a waning moon and no star, it is dark outside tonight. Other than having an affair, it¡¯s perfect for a sneak attack.¡±

 Chapter 323 - â€œKebabsâ€

    <h4>Chapter 323 ¡°Kebabs¡±</h4>

    At midnight, only the moon and stars were awake, but they were covered by thick clouds, indicating a heavy rainfall tomorrow morning.

    It was quiet and peaceful in Leng Changxi¡¯s military camp. On the high wooden lookout tower in the woods in the west of the camp stood a cautious sentry. He looked ahead and seemed to have not noticed people in the woods.

    A group of people narrowly broke a path in the woods. At this dark night, they looked like ghosts.

    The leading person was a robust young man. Young as he was, he was the most skilled one, but also the best protected one. Sudden dizziness made him tremble and almost fall down.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness,¡± said the guard near him who supported him at once, ¡°Are you alright? They¡¯re just a mob of rebels. You don¡¯t have to lead the sneak attack in person. We can take care of this.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± ¡°Your Royal Highness¡± the guard talked to referred to Sima Ray who was wildly arrogant on the wall today. After the inventory check, he found there were over half of the provisions left. However, this was his second time to fall into such a trap, so he couldn¡¯t vent his anger, ¡°I have to see all those 1,500 soldiers of the Leng Army die in person. They were good at burying explosive packages in the rock gates, right? Well, an eye for an eye. I¡¯ll let Leng Changxi have a taste of the most powerful explosive and a sneak attack.¡±

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, something goes wrong.¡± A scout who led the way came back to report. ¡°Neither of the two scouts we sent before hade back, so I traced them and found there were ambushed soldiers ahead.¡±

    ¡°Ambushed soldiers?¡± Sima Ray squinted, and his shining eyes really stood out against the dark night. ¡°D*mn. Leng Changxi must have predicted that we will n a sneak attack. Retreat!¡±

    It seemed that Leng Changxi really got something. He should have prepared for this in advance. But right after Sima Ray ordered to retreat, he heard a shrill crying from behind and also a call for help.

    Sima Ray stood up straight, and he became rigid without noticing it. The soldier in front reported that many traps popped out on the way they came. Soldiers who hurried to retreat identally fell into those traps which were deep enough to hold a man. Besides, there were full of sharp wooden spikes not only at the trap bottom but also around traps. Soldiers who fell into traps were pierced by spikes and looked like kebabs. Sima Ray gritted his teeth and beat his chest with his pupils dted, after seeing how miserable those soldiers were.

    ¡°Leng Changxi, how cunning you are!¡±

    Speak of the devil. Here came the clop, which sounded like the death knell for them at this dark night.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, I can¡¯t hold a candle to you in terms of being cunning.¡± Leng Changxi was in a piece of casual dark purple clothes and wore a four-finger-wide waistband. He looked neat and resolved. ¡°Your Royal Highness, why didn¡¯t you enjoy your night with your beauty atte night, but go for a walk to our small military camp? Sorry for my poor management and not training my traps to ¡®recognize¡¯ you. Your Royal Highness, I¡¯m here to rescue you.¡±

    The word ¡°rescue¡± humiliated Sima Ray, and he looked angrier. However, Leng Changxi didn¡¯t stop humiliating him. Sima Ray saw Leng Wu who stood behind Leng Changxi walked out while escorting two men, or the two missing scouts of his.

    Tied up tight with strips of cloth in their mouths, they two were pushed to Sima Ray, but thetter kicked them away ruthlessly and said, ¡°Useless.¡±

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t get off the horse. Under the moonlight, he looked like the God of Moon, having a nearly perfect face, ¡°Your Royal Highness, no need to kick them. Well, they two are just boors anyhow, so you can truly treat them in a rude way. But, I hope you won¡¯t treat this person in the same way.¡±

    When he was talking, Qin Yunuan led a long-hair beauty out from the darkness. The beauty had bright eyes and white teeth. Even in the inest clothes, she still looked charming and delicate.

    ¡°Maner, take away the handkerchief in her mouth.¡±

    Shuihan¡¯s hair was down, and she saw Sima Ray and his men long ago. But at that time, she was tied to the tree and had a handkerchief in her mouth, so unable to talk or call for help. Seeing Sima Ray stood there up straight, she thought he was to save her and directly crawled to him to beg him. ¡°Your Royal Highness, please save me. I really had a hard time in the water dungeon. It is so cold that I waspletely freezing.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to hurry toin.¡± Qin Yunuan took a nce at Shuihan who fawned on Sima Ray with disdain. ¡°You had merely stayed in the dungeon for half a day. Given that you can y good music with your hands, I already set you free earlier to prevent you from being hurt. So I think you don¡¯t have toin about this to His Royal Highness to earn his pity.¡±

    Sima Ray only wanted to take advantage of the Qiu Family. But now, Qiu Murong betrayed him and turned to Wanyan Su, which Qiu Shuihan didn¡¯t know. Therefore, Sima Ray was so sick of her.

    ¡°Get away.¡± Sima Ray kicked her away. She was astounded and suddenly devoured by hatred. Her family had long worked for Sima Ray, but now she was reduced to a hostage. How would she be willing to ept this? She was untied so intended to do something. Suddenly, she took out a crested hairpin hidden in her sleeve and pointed it at Sima Ray¡¯s throat. However, she lost her strength for no reason, even unable to lift a finger.

    ¡°I thought you really got something,¡± Sima Ray said while grasped Qiu Shuihan¡¯s wrist which was so thin that Sima Ray could break it by simply exerting some strength. ¡°But you turn out to be so useless.¡±

    Although Qiu Shuihan looked nk, she was clear-minded. She clearly remembered that nothing went wrong with her breath and meridians, but why did she be weak now? It was Qin Yunuan and her maid that escorted her. She looked at Qin Yunuan who remained calm with resentment. Qin Yunuan looked ordinary but was unexpectedly shrewd.

    When holding Qiu Shuihan¡¯s thin wrist, Sima Ray found her pulse was strange. Before sending her to spy on Leng Changxi, Sima Ray had asked people to check her up and only found she had better internal skills. But unexpectedly, she had acquired the coldest attribute that was described in a legendary before. Maybe it was because she had stayed in the cold water dungeon for half a day, as Qin Yunuan mentioned before.

    Qiu Shuihan had the coldest attribute while Sima Ray had the warmest one. She seemed to be the most suitable to practice martial arts with Sima Ray and help him enhance. If so, Shangguan Yuen was worthless now.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, if you finish catching up, could you allow me to have some words with you?¡± Leng Changxi coughed. There were burning torches around them, and the Leng Army already got ready. The outermostyer of the march stood soldiers in ck armor. ¡°Your Royal Highness, I actually know you have led 500,000 soldiers to fight with me. As for how I got this news, I just found a way to do so.¡±

    Leng Changxi had sent people to burn Sima Ray¡¯s provisions at dusk. These soldiers already entered the Luguan, so they naturally knew how many soldiers Sima Ray had.

    ¡°You are threatening me?

    ¡°I dare not,¡± Leng Changxi said while pointing at the Leng Army, who encircled them, and Sima Ray¡¯s men, most of whom were injured. ¡°Your Royal Highness, please take a look. Under such circumstances, do you think I still need to threaten you?¡±

    Leng Changxi meant that it was a piece of cake for him to kill Sima Ray now.

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget I have 500,000 soldiers in the Luguan,¡± Sima Ray said fearlessly with his head titled. ¡°If I am killed, my lieutenant will take ce of me to lead my soldiers to ruin this tiny military camp.¡±

    ¡°I, of course, remember,¡± Leng Changxi replied with a smile. ¡°I have been to the Luguan. How could I not know you have many soldiers?¡±

    Leng Changxi words made Sima Ray speechless again.

    He was clearly telling Sima Ray that he could get in and out of his camp easily now.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, my 200,000 soldiers in ck armor are as worthy as you.¡± Leng Changxi turned his head a bit to look at Sima Ray. ¡°So, Your Royal Highness, give me the great seal, and I will set you free. Otherwise,¡± Leng Changxi paused and hacked the 50-year-old pine tree with his spear, whose spearheadpletely prated the branch. ¡°You will end up like this pine tree.¡±

    Sima Ray felt as if he was the one prated by the spear. ¡°How dare you!¡±

    ¡°I can do anything to you except for killing you.¡±

    Sima Ray remained silent for a while and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t take it with me. So even if I want to give it to you, I can¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°I know you won¡¯t take such an important thing with you everywhere.¡± Leng Changxi signaled the soldier near him to pull the spear out of the pine tree. The soldier had exerted all his strength but only pulled the spear a bit out. How did Leng Changxi easily stab it into the branch? The soldier called his partner to help him. Finally, they pulled it out together and handed it over to Leng Changxi who took it over and put it behind his back. ¡°Your Royal Highness, I will go back to the Luguan with you to take the great seal. I hope you will keep your promise.¡±

    Sima Ray refused again, ¡°I haven¡¯t agreed to give it to you yet.¡±

    Leng Changxi looked around with disdain and asked, ¡°Under such circumstances, you should refuse?¡±

    Sima Ray said nothing. But Leng Changxi cupped his hands and ordered, ¡°Set off to take the great seal.¡±

 Chapter 324 - Reversal

    <h4>Chapter 324 Reversal</h4>

    For this sneak attack, Sima Ray took with him 1,500 soldiers, the same number of soldiers in the Leng Army. He had be paranoid about fighting against Leng Changxi. However, he lost the majority of them who attacked the military camp from three directions, with only dozens alive. This said a lot about how cruel and ruthless Leng Changxi was.

    What happened next was so rare. Chiefmander of two armies should walk shoulder to shoulder on the narrow path in the woods. Leng Changxi, followed by Qin Yunuan, walked with his hands behind his back. Qiu Shuihan, whose hands were tied by a hemp rope, followed Sima Ray who looked back at her in disgust from time to time.

    ¡°How about killing her? I don¡¯t want to bring her back,¡± Sima Ray said with his head upward and looked as if he now could still decide Qiu Shuihan¡¯s fate. He then recalled how fierce Qiu Shuihan was to stab him in his throat with the hairpin. If she knew Qiu Murong and his four disciples were dead, she would definitely get back at him more fiercely. But he was kind of unwilling to kill her. After all, she was the most suitable for him to practice martial arts together.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to keep her either,¡± Leng Changxi said while just taking a nce at Qiu Shuihan. ¡°I still have to feed her if keeping her. So Your Royal Highness, if you want to kill her, just do it. She has already lost her martial arts now and won¡¯t be a threat.¡± Leng Changxi seemed to imply something.

    Soon, they arrived at the edge of the woods, where several swift horses were tethered. Sima Ray nned to take his men to ride these horses back after attacking Leng Changxi. But, these horses should have to serve Leng Changxi now. However, Leng Changxi didn¡¯t like them. He looked back and whistled. Suddenly, they heard a cloping from afar. A jujube red horse neighed and walked to Leng Changxi tamely.

    ¡°I prefer to ride my horse and work with my men.¡± Then, he reached to Qin Yunuan and lifted her up to sit on the horseback with him.

    Sima Ray was wide-eyed and asked, ¡°She will go with us?¡± If so, it would be more likely for him to keep Qin Yunuan with himter.

    Qin Yunuan put her hands around Leng Changxi¡¯s waist in a natural way and replied, ¡°I follow him everywhere. I, of course, will go with him.¡±

    Good. That was good.

    They rode fast and arrived at the Luguan soon. Seeing Sima Ray, the general there behaved reverently and tended to open the gate. But then, he saw Leng Changxi and was confused, not knowing what to do.

    ¡°What are you looking at? Open the gate.¡± Sima Ray shouted with his head tilted. The general was Sima Ray¡¯s close guard, so he understood him immediately. He quickly ordered soldiers to open the gate. The gate, built in the mountain, was so solid that it wouldn¡¯t be open unless 5 soldiers worked on it together. They needed to rotate the gear like donkeys working in the grinding mill then to open the gate. Chen Wan designed the gate but this made sense, because this pass was so important to Qi.

    Right after entering the gate, Leng Changxi sensed danger. The general who defended the gate was respectful to Sima Ray, and they two exchanged nces. Leng Changxi knew they were nning tricks, so he raised his voice, ¡°Your Royal Highness, don¡¯t forget that you have taken the rare flower poison. If you plot against us here, you will never get the antidote.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡± Qin Yunuan lifted her dress hemline and walked forward. ¡°We will leave right after we get the great seal.¡±

    Hearing this, Lieutenant Chen, the general who defended the gate, was surprised and asked, ¡°Your Royal Highness, are you really going to give the great seal to them? That is Qi¡¯s treasure. How can we give it to him, the traitor who works for West Xia now? That¡¯s a shame.¡±

    ¡°General, you¡¯re wrong,¡± Leng Changxi said with a smile while looking at Lieutenant Chen. ¡°First, the great seal indeed belongs to Qi. Thus, it is Qi¡¯s emperor, rather than His Royal Highness here, who should keep it. We just want to take the great seal back and return it to His Majesty. Second, soldiers from West Xia are not traitors. They fight for justice and aim to kick His Royal Highness who is unscrupulous out of Qi.¡± When he finished, he said to Sima Ray apologetically, ¡°Your Royal Highness, sorry for my outspokenness.¡±

    Sima Ray felt helpless. But he indeed had taken a ck pill when they headed for the Luguan. It was said that the pill which tasted bitter was made by Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Follow me to the Yunying Pce,¡± Sima Ray said in a low voice. The Yunying Pce was in the heart of the military camp in the Luguan, and it was also the grandest. During this time, Sima Ray lived and worked there, so he put the great seal there.

    Lieutenant Chen remained unwilling to give the great seal to Leng Changxi. He only had 200,000 soldiers, but Sima Ray had 500,000. Although Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan were in their ce now, they couldn¡¯t kill them and even were contained by them. He was loath.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, that¡¯s our most important pce.¡±

    ¡°I know!¡± Sima Ray was angry and gave Lieutenant Chen a hint with the eyes. Lieutenant Chen took a look and then found Sima Ray, whose hands were free of any tie, was tethered to a thin iron ring which was connected to an iron chain. And, Leng Changxi held the other end of the chain.

    Sima Ray, the third prince who Qi people felt proudest of, should be tethered like a dog and could only do what others asked.

    It was before dawn, and only soldiers who stood guard and went on patrol were there. Even so, it was humiliating enough for Sima Ray. He was tethered to a chain and embarrassed himself by doing everything Leng Changxi asked, just like a tame dog.

    ¡°Set me free when I give the great seal to you.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Leng Changxi refused resolutely and fearlessly. ¡°We will set you free after we leave here safely.¡±

    Sima Ray was pondering and then suddenlyughed. ¡°Alright. Deal.¡±

    The Yunying Pce was guarded by many soldiers, but they dared not to stop Leng Changxi or Qin Yunuan because of Sima Ray. Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan looked so calm as if they just paid a visit here. Along the way, Qin Yunuan who had a good memory had already remembered how Sima Ray¡¯s camp was deployed.

    The Yunying Pce was designed and built by the same architect who built the Weiyang Pce in Qi, so the two pces looked simr. This reminded Leng Changxi of his mother. Although it was not his mother, but a maid who looked like her, who was burnt to death, Leng Changxi still couldn¡¯t forgive Sima Ray who set fire to the Weiyang Pce.

    Golden zed tiles and scarlet pirs reminded them of the Royal Pce in Qi. Sima Ray asked people to open the door, and at once, they smelled Lingmaoxiang and...

    Qin Yunuan sniffed. She smelled a faint scent of blood and became alert immediately.

    ¡°I put the great seal here,¡± said Sima Ray who just stood near the door and did not intend to walk in.

    ¡°Please,¡± Leng Changxi said while cupping his hands. Sima Ray had no excuse to refuse, so he walked over the threshold. A maid who ran out in haste directly kowtowed to Sima Ray to ask for his leniency. She said, ¡°Your Royal Highness, doctors and I have tried our best to save Miss Shangguan. But the wound on her is so deep, and she is bleeding profusely. I¡¯m afraid she may not be able to pull through.¡±

    Shangguan Yuen was injured? Qin Yunuan looked into the room in silence.

    ¡°If so, just leave her alone.¡± Qiu Shuihan could help him now, so Sima Ray didn¡¯t care about Shangguan Yuen anymore. ¡°Shangguan Yuen herself shed her wrist andmitted suicide. So, you don¡¯t have to treat her anymore. Just leave her alone.¡±

    sh her wrist? Commit suicide? It made sense. Any woman who was in rtionship with Sima Ray would suffer a lot. It would be easier for them tomit suicide than be tortured by him.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, where is the great seal?¡± Leng Changxi pressed Sima Ray.

    After reluctantly ordering all maids to leave, Sima Ray turned around, walked to a t wall and directly turned the switch without scruple. Then a secretpartment, inside which a hard object wrapped in the bright yellow silk cloth was ced, showed up.

    He unwrapped the silk cloth, and the great seal which was made of Hetian jade looked shiny.

    ¡°Here you are.¡± Sima Ray reluctantly handed it over to Leng Changxi. Thetter just took a nce at it and said, ¡°Give it to us when we¡¯re out of here.¡±

    ¡°You...,¡± Sima Ray was speechless.

    ¡°Besides, we want to take Shangguan Yuen back,¡± added Qin Yunuan. ¡°Your Royal Highness, as you said before, I¡¯m a member of the Shangguan Family, and Shangguan Yuen is my cousin. So why not do me a favor and let me take her back to help her rest in peace. This is the only thing I can do for the family now.¡±

    Sima Ray knew she really meant it. Besides, he didn¡¯t like to deal with a dead woman, so he agreed, ¡°No problem. But you have to give me the antidote before you leave.¡±

    ¡°Deal.¡±

    Right after Leng Changxi finished, they heard people shouted and fought outside the pce. Subconsciously, Leng Changxi dragged Sima Ray into the pce with the iron chain. People outside acted uniformly, so Leng Changxi was sure that they had besieged the Yunying Pce.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness,¡± Lieutenant Chen spoke loudly outside. ¡°Please pardon us foringte.¡±

    Sima Ray became flustered and asked, ¡°Who asks you to do so!¡±

    Lieutenant Chen didn¡¯t answer the question but cupped his hands more resolutely. ¡°Your Royal Highness, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll save you from this traitor and keep our great seal safe at all costs.¡±

    Sima Ray felt hopeless. So-called all costs...

    Leng Changxi took a look at Sima Ray and said in a in tone, ¡°Your Royal Highness, your general is really loyal. But why does he dare to order soldiers to besiege your pce without getting your permission?¡±

    Sima Ray frowned and asked, ¡°Chen Feng, what are you doing? Betray me?¡±

 Chapter 325 - Bad Ending for Bad Person

    <h4>Chapter 325 Bad Ending for Bad Person</h4>

    Chen Feng also followed Sima Ray only after his rebellion. Discreet and paranoid as Sima Ray was, usually he wouldn¡¯t trust any generalsing from outside. However, Chen Feng had been behaving well in the past year. For several times, he had risked his life during the fight, saving Sima Ray from danger, which made Sima Ray look at this humble little general with new eyes. However, now...

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, although I¡¯m not a nobleman of Qi, my family has been serving the army of Qi for generations, so we can be counted as a valiant family. Having borne shame beside you, I think it¡¯s time for me to work for Qi. Your Royal Highness, please hand over the great seal and give the order back to Qi,¡± Chen Feng stood outside, saying usible words, ¡°After all, you¡¯re just a concubine¡¯s son. You are not qualified to inherit the imperial power.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not qualified?¡± Sima Ray only felt that Chen Feng was obviously a fence-sitter, ¡°Well, in the past, who had killed his old superior in front of me to dere his loyalty? And now you¡¯ve turned your coat! Chen Feng, you eximed to be a loyal officer. So where did your ttering face go? In the end, you are no more than a worthless fence-sitter.¡±

    While Chen Feng and Sima Ray were waging a tit-for-tat struggle against each other, Qin Yunuan turned to Leng Changxi and asked, ¡°What do you think of him?¡±

    ¡°For the first time ever, I agree with Prince Ray,¡± through the hazy screen window, Leng Changxi seemed to see Chen Feng outside, wearing golden armor, as arrogant as an arriviste. In fact, the moment Leng Changxi saw Chen Feng when he entered Luguan, he knew immediately that this was an ambitious man, ¡°Although Chen Feng exims that he wants to give the imperial power to its rightful heir, he wants to be a king himself actually. Otherwise, why does he ask Prince Ray to give him the great seal? Isn¡¯t giving it to me also a way to get back the power to its rightful heir?¡±

    ¡°Shut up,¡± Sima Ray was at a moment of life and death. Hearing Leng Changxi¡¯s understatement, he was increasingly unhappy.

    ¡°If I shut up, how can Ie up with a way for you to get out, Your Royal Highness?¡±

    ¡°Are you able to help me out?¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded confidently, ¡°Of course.¡±

    Suddenly there was a loud noise. The door of the Yunying Pce was pushed open violently, which made Chen Feng, who stood the closest to it, take several steps backward in fright.

    In front of the hall, a few golden rays of the rising sun were engulfed, hooking a golden rim on the frame of the door, both luxurious and simple.

    Leng Changxi stood upright on the steps holding a long sword, whose de was against the throat of Sima Ray. Beside him, Qin Yunuan was holding Shangguan Yuen in her arms, whose breathing is barely perceptible. Shangguan Yuen¡¯s hair was disheveled. Her face was as pale as a piece of white paper. Without deliberate reminding, she was certain to be considered as a dead person.

    Qin Yunuan had seized Shangguan Yuen¡¯s lifeline in secret. She also gave her genuine energy to prolong her life secretly. Shangguan Yuen came from the capital, so she must know the real situation of the Royal City and what happened in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion well. Even just because of this, Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t let her die.

    Seeing Leng Changxiing out hijacking Sima Ray, Chen Feng seemed to be a little surprised.

    ¡°Leng, what do you mean?¡±

    Pushing Sima Ray, Leng Changxi took a step forward, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you wanted to return the imperial power to its rightful heir? Lieutenant Chen, I¡¯ve already picked out the traitor for you. Can you withdraw your troops now?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Chen Feng¡¯s real intention was not what he eximed to be, ¡°This traitor must hand over the great seal.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it the same to have the great seal in my hand?¡± Leng Changxi gestured to the bulging bag around his waist with his eyes. What in the bag was three-foot square, which was about the size of the great seal. Chen Feng nced at it quickly, probablying up with a n in his mind.

    ¡°Throw the great seal in your bag to me.¡±

    ¡°Throw to you?¡± Leng Changxi looked at Chen Feng smilingly, ¡°This is the great seal. How can it be thrown as you say? What¡¯s more, if you really wanted to fight against the rebels, it¡¯s exactly the same as my aim to borrow armies from West Xia. Isn¡¯t it no difference whether the great seal is in my hand or in your hand?¡±

    Of course, Chen Feng was not satisfied. He frowned.

    Sima Ray raised his head, chuckling at Chen Feng¡¯s difiture, ¡°Chen Feng, do you say that following me is bearing shame? Now it¡¯s time for you to revenge. Show your loyalty to me.¡±

    Chen Feng¡¯s patience had been worn out by the two men¡¯s words. He waved to order the archers to step forward. The bright arrows pointed to the direction of Leng Changxi and Sima Ray. Sima Ray couldn¡¯t help but turn his head to Leng Changxi and say, ¡°Is it your way to get out?¡±

    Leng Changxi gave him a sidelong nce and answered without care, ¡°I¡¯ve just said I¡¯ll get out. I didn¡¯t promise to run away with you.¡±

    Suddenly, Leng Changxi quickly untied the cloth bag around his waist, in which there was the great seal, and threw it into the air. Having been under extremely strict training, those archers all prepared to shoot the object in the air subconsciously. However, they were stopped by Chen Feng firmly.

    ¡°Dumbass. Don¡¯t you see what it is?¡± After saying this, he jumped alone to get the cloth bag desperately.

    Just at this moment, Leng Changxi had already taken Qin Yunuan to leap away from the high eave of the Yunying Pce. Even though having Shangguan Yuen on his back, who was unable to move by herself, Leng Changxi still seemed to be flying over the wall, as dexterous as a swallow. Qin Yunuan was following him closely. Before long, they disappeared.

    Chen Feng stomped his feet angrily. It was still good, however, that the great seal was in his hand. To his surprise, he only found a three-chi-square big stone when he opened the cloth bag. Although the stone and the seal were both heavy, there was a huge difference between their values.

    ¡°The great seal is still in the Yunying Pce,¡± Chen Feng held the huge moon scimitar and pushed Sima Ray into the pce directly. The moment he stepped into the pce, the door was closed heavily.

    Chen Feng looked back at the closed door in fright. Behind him was Sima Ray¡¯s smiling voice, low and weird.

    ¡°Lieutenant Chen, do you know what is called ¡®catching a turtle in the jar¡¯?¡±

    At the same time, Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan had already seated on two fast horses prepared early outside Luguan. Qin Yunuan gave Shangguan Yuen, who had been in aa, to Leng Wu, who simply used a piece of silk to tie her to his back.

    ¡°General, is everything okay?¡±

    Smiling, Leng Changxi took out an emerald green Hetian jade from an inconspicuous ck package on his back. This was the great seal, the real one.

    ¡°When I advised to use a stone instead of the great seal to deceive Chen Feng, Sima Ray pped and apuded. However, he didn¡¯t expect that since I could deceive Chen Feng with the fake one, I could also rece his real great seal with a fake one. I¡¯m so happy to think about what he will look like when he finds outter.¡±

    ¡°But general, Chen Feng has already taken so many generals and soldiers to rebel. I¡¯m afraid that Luguan will be in huge chaos.¡±

    ¡°It won¡¯t be,¡± Qin Yunuan was holding the rein. Having been trained in the camp for such a time, she could ride a horse by herself now. ¡°Sima Ray is not an ordinary figure. Now that he is able to rebel, he also has the ability to suppress those who want to rebel. Nevertheless, it can be seen that Chen Feng¡¯s rebellion is on the spur of the moment. Does he think that he is leading an army of justice only by instigating a gathering of crowds to surround the Yunying Pce? Believe me. Sima Ray can finish dealing with what happens inside before sunrise. We don¡¯t need to worry.¡±

    Just when her words ended, two soldiers who followed Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi to bring up the rear came to report, ¡°General, Yunying Pce is in peace now.¡±

    Leng Wu was a little shocked. After all, it was a disturbance on a rtivelyrge scale.

    ¡°It¡¯s good. At least it will take Sima Ray some time and energy to sort out the army. Execution and conviction alone are enough to bother him for a while,¡± Leng Changxi was smiling. He seemed not to regret missing this opportunity to kill Sima Ray at all.

    After all, there was still plenty of time. Also, Leng Changxi didn¡¯t want Sima Ray to die too easily.

    When they returned to the army camp, the first thing for Qin Yunuan to do was sending Shangguan Yuen to a rtively quiet camp for a thorough examination. Despite that several people intimate to Leng Changxi, like Leng Wu and Heiying, knew that he had brought back the great seal of Qi, he wasn¡¯t going to tell others about it. The great seal was exactly like a hot potato. Only those who couldn¡¯t get it would desire it desperately.

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯te out of the military camp until the sun rose high. There was bean-like sweat on her forehead. Maner, who had waited outside the camp, hurried to wipe off the sweat for Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°What a beast Sima Ray is,¡± this was the strongest feeling of Qin Yunuan after checking on Shangguan Yuen, especially after seeing what was inside her skirt. Although Qin Yunuan had never lived together with this cousin, blood was thicker than water, after all. Even for a totally strange woman, Qin Yunuan still couldn¡¯t ept it, ¡°He really doesn¡¯t think women as human beings.¡±

    Maner had also been helped a little bit inside, so she knew what Qin Yunuan was saying naturally. She shook her head and sighed, ¡°Will Qiu Shuihan, who was sent over, also suffer from this?¡±

    ¡°Of course, she will,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled suddenly, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that she will even suffer more. The elixir I developed has changed Qiu Shuihan¡¯s pulse condition, deluding Sima Ray into thinking that he has found a person with the coldest blood, who can help him practice martial arts. However, he doesn¡¯t know that Qiu Murong has already buried the maic fish in Qiu Shuihan¡¯s pulse for her to learn the magic to tempt others. Now once Qiu Shuihan has sex with a man, the man will be poisoned. Only the person burying the maic fish knows where it is. Since Sima Ray has kicked down thedder by killing Qiu Murong, it can be counted as reaping what he sows for him now.¡±

    When Qin Yunuan finished her words, Leng Wu and Heiying outside both came to visit her.

    ¡°Madam, the iron-armored chariot we build ording to the drawings is almost ready. General wants you toe to see it.¡±

    ¡°I get it,¡± Qin Yunuan nodded as an answer. However, Maner was worried about Qin Yunuan, ¡°Madam, you have rushed here all the way from Luguan. And you also spend such a long time to examine Miss Shangguan. You¡¯d better take a rest for a while before you go.¡± Then she said to Leng Wu, ¡°The general is not urging Madam, is he?¡±

    Leng Wu had always been rather decisive outside. He always stood by his word. However, others knew that Lieutenant Leng was a hen-pecked husband. In their home, the one who took charge was Maner. So he had to shook his head honestly, ¡°The general only said that Madam shoulde to have a look once she had spare time.¡±

    ¡°So it is,¡± Maner tried to persuade Qin Yunuan, ¡°Madam, your health is the most important. If you are too tired, you won¡¯t be able to bear it even if you have a bone of iron. As far as I¡¯m concerned, what about having a break now?¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked at the couple having a conversation with each other and felt it rather interesting. She nodded and prepared to nap for a while ording to Maner¡¯s suggestion.

 Chapter 326 - A Magical Weapon Appeared

    <h4>Chapter 326 A Magical Weapon Appeared</h4>

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t know how long she had slept. She only felt that her whole body was soft. Her mind was in a whirl as if she had had a long dream. In the dream, her mother was still alive. Having been pregnant for eight months, she was working hard with needlework under a littlempion.

    ¡°Mother, have a rest. I can help you with the needlework.¡±

    ¡°The more needlework I do, the more cloth I can buy to make more beautiful clothes for your little brother in my belly. Yunuan, you are still young. It¡¯s cold in the winter. Hurry to warm yourself in the quilt.¡±

    ¡°No. Mother, I want to learn to do needlework from you and make clothes for my little brother. Mother, please teach me.¡±

    It was said that the Third Miss of the Qin Family was good at doing needlework. However, nobody knew that the old saying, ¡°Children in poor families can be independent very early¡±, was the true portrayal of Qin Yunuan¡¯s childhood.

    Nobody knew it until Qin Yunuan was stopped by Leng Changxi when she was sewing a pair of white boots with golden rim for him not long after their wedding.

    ¡°You had already suffered so much in the past. Now that you¡¯ve married me, you are not allowed to do needlework anymore.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s fingers trembled. It was her blessing to meet Leng Changxi.

    Qin Yunuan was awakened by a burst of noise. She got up in a daze. Outside came the sound of Maner putting aside the curtain and stepping in.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong outside? Why is it so noisy?¡± Qin Yunuan wiped her face quickly with the water carried here by Maner and penciled her eyebrows lightly.

    ¡°General is testing the newly-made chariot.¡±

    ¡°But it is not supposed to have such a loud noise.¡± somehow, Qin Yunuan always felt a little uneasy.

    Suddenly there was a huge sh, like thunder. Maner shivered with fright. Qin Yunuan frowned, ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°It sounded likeing from the parade ground to test the chariots.¡±

    At this time, Yuanyang ran from outside and reported, ¡°Madam! It¡¯s too bad! Somehow our chariots had lost control. They directly knocked down the sentry box in front of the camp. Now they are still out of control, rushing down the hillside straightly.¡±

    ¡°Is there anyone at the foot of the hill?¡± As she had expected, an ident happened, ¡°How is the soldier guarding in the sentry box now?¡±

    ¡°It remains unknown,¡± Yuanyang came directly from the parade ground, gasping out, ¡°It remains unknown. There are all wounded battalions under the hill. Now we still don¡¯t know what the casualties are.¡±

    Wounded battalions.

    Qin Yunuan frowned more tightly. Hurrying to dress up, she rushed to the parade ground.

    When she reached the parade ground, there was already a mess. Several wrist-wide iron chains used to lock the chariots had already been ripped off. This time 20 chariots were made in all through overtime work. However, now there were only 3 intact chariots and 7 broken ones scattering on the parade ground. Those broken ones either lost their wheels or thills. Others had already rushed down the hillside crazily.

    Leng Changxi was dressed in a dark purple suit. It could be seen that there had been a thrilling rescue just now. His hemline had been ripped into pieces. And Leng Wu was even more seriously injured. There was a long cut on his arm by something unknown. Maner went straight up and bandaged his cut with her handkerchief lovingly.

    ¡°What happened? How did you be like this?¡± It could be seen that Maner really felt worried about Leng Wu as well as a little guilty. If she didn¡¯t stop Qin Yunuan from going to the parade ground by asking her to have a rest first at the very beginning, maybe this could be prevented.

    ¡°The chariots were normal at first. However, when the general ordered them to stop, the brakes of the chariots all failed. They couldn¡¯t stop.¡± Leng Wu closed his eyes slightly. It seemed that he could still recall the chaos of the scene just now. The chariots swept everywhere, some of which pressing directly over the soldiers. When clearing the corpses, there were four people crushed to death alive, whose internal organs and facial features had all been disced. It was horrible to see them.

    ¡°Failed?¡± Qin Yunuan was confused. The blueprint of the chariots was written down by her from the roof of the stone room in the weapon factory. She remembered every single part of it. If the chariots were designed and manufactured exactly ording to the blueprint, it could never go wrong.

    Both Leng Changxi and she had researched the blueprint. It was logical, and there was no mistake in it. After that, a copy of the blueprint was handed over to the general craftsman who managed the manufacture of the chariots.

    ¡°General, the casualties are clear now,¡± Tuoba Wuyu hurriedly came over to report, sweating heavily, ¡°The two soldiers in the sentry box and dozens of soldiers in the wounded battalion have been dead.¡± The tone of Tuoba Wuyu got deeper. The wounded soldiers were all warriors who had fought side by side with them. Dying in vain instead of on the battlefield was a pity to those ck-armored soldiers.

    ¡°Where is the blueprint? How can such a terrible ident happen if chariots are produced ording to the blueprint? Do all the brakes of the 20 chariots go wrong?¡± Qin Yunuan said while asking the general craftsman managing the manufacture of those chariots to bring the blueprint.

    ¡°There are still three chariots. Before the iron chains were untied for them, the other chariots had already had an ident. So we don¡¯t know whether the rest three ones are good or not,¡± Leng Wu exined. Qin Yunuan had opened a pair of two-arm-long drawing, which was ratherplicated. It was really difficult for Qin Yunuan to remember the drawing in the environment at that time. Later, it also took Leng Changxi and her a lot of time to understand it.

    ¡°There is no need to check them. The rest three chariots also have problems,¡± Qin Yunuan pointed to a very inconspicuous small essory on the drawing, ¡°Who has changed the length of the iron nail on the brake?¡±

    In the end, it was the drawing that was wrong.

    ¡°Let me have a look,¡± Leng Changxi took over the drawing. There was a bit of worry and some terrible hostility in his cold eyes and brows.

    Sure enough, as Qin Yunuan had said, this was a tiny detail, but it was extremely crucial on the brakes of the chariots. Changing the length of the iron nail would cause the brakes to fail tond, having no use of stopping the chariots at all.

    It seemed that the one who had modified the drawing was also an expert.

    Leng Changxi only took a nce at Mr. Xu, the general craftsman, who knelt down immediately, ¡°General! General, I dare not to do that! I have always supervised the construction ording to the drawing. During the whole process, I have been honest, daring not to use inferior materials and turn out sub-standard products. What¡¯s more, I can only understand the drawing under the guidance of Madam. I never have the ability to modify it.¡±

    ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± Leng Changxi looked down upon such a timid person. Even though everything was alright, he would also make some trouble, ¡°I just want to ask you something. Is there any neer in the casting camp? Or anyone looking strange?¡±

    Mr. Xu was old. It took him some time before he said slowly, ¡°The casting camp is responsible for making key weapons like chariots and arms, so it¡¯s generally hard to join. This time, the original team set off from the West Liang city without changing midway. However...¡±

    ¡°However what?¡±

    ¡°However, there was a person in charge of the chariots¡¯ wheels midway. His family name is Xu, and his name is Xu Sangui. He suddenly got sick some days ago, and his throat got burned out. Although he also worked overtime with us to build the chariotster, we had never heard him speak. Also, his craftsmanship seemed to be much better than in the past. At that time, we made jokes about him, saying that he must be learning skills secretly in the excuse of his sickness. Now when I think about it, it¡¯s really weird.¡±

    ¡°Find Xu Sangui for me,¡± Leng Changxi clenched his fists so tightly that even his knuckles creaked.

    Even though Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi knew in their mind that if it was really Xu Sangui that had created a disturbance here, he must have run away from the military camp of West Xia now.

    However, since there were so many talents in the army, there must be someone who was able to catch up to the man. As expected, after the time of a tea break, Heiying came riding a horse. He was holding a string in his hand, behind which tied a lean man, staggering all the way and almost falling. With his hands tied tightly by the string, he had to follow Heiying¡¯s horse. For several times, he was going to be dragged away.

    ¡°Go there,¡± Heiying looked solemn, dragging directly the lean man tied behind to the front, ¡°Xu Sangui, hurry to kneel down when you see the general.¡±

    Just in the blink of an eye, Xu Sangui, who had run away, was caught back by Heiying.

    ¡°That¡¯s alright. He is not the real Xu Sangui,¡± Leng Changxi found out what was wrong with the man whose face was covered with dust simply through a nce, ¡°Leng Wu, tear off the mask made of human skin on his face.¡±

    Leng Wu stepped forward. He stroked along Xu Sangui¡¯s sideburns, found out a small slit, and pulled with strength.

    With the action, ayer of skin was ripped off from the lean man¡¯s face immediately, revealing his original appearance. Xu Sangui¡¯s figure was lean, but his face was even worse. There was hardly any muscle on his face.

    ¡°Are you the person changing the drawing secretly? Tell me, who has sent you here?¡± Leng Changxi stared at the lean man in front of him, ¡°It¡¯s surprising that you know how to disguise without being found out by me for such a time.¡± While saying, Leng Changxi thought, was he sent by that man...

    ¡°Is the man who disguised you a cripple?¡± Leng Changxi lowered his head to look at the thin man. Xu Sangui smiled. A trace of blood oozed from the corner of his mouth. He opened his mouth and smiled, ¡°Yes. And he asked me to tell you, even though he couldn¡¯t beat you when you were apprentices and when you were back in the worldpeting for social position, he finally won over you this time in looking at the blueprint, modifying the blueprint and disguising people.¡±

    The moment Xu Sangui finished his words, he died. Leng Changxi didn¡¯t look at him. The drawing had been changed. The chariots had been destroyed. The people had been sacrificed. It was the future that was important. Hearing Xu Sangui¡¯s words, Leng Changxi only doubted that Sima Ray had invited another helper, a rare man in the world who could make Leng Changxi feel a little tricky simply by mentioning his name. That was the big brother who learned polymorph from Dignitary Kongtong together with him.

    It took a great deal of energy and time to sort out the loss and damage caused by the ident. While hurriedly listening to the report from his subordinates, Leng Changxi was also thinking deeply with a heavy heart about whether Baili Ai had reallye back.

    At night, the spy hiding in Luguan also reported that the rebellion there had already been cleared by Sima Ray. In the whole army, 3,000 people were beheaded, and 500 people were imprisoned. Chen Feng, along with his cronies and followers, all got hanged.

    ¡°What a coincidence,¡± Leng Changxi leaned back to his chair, ¡°When Luguan was in chaos, our chariots here also had an ident, unable to go out to battle. Once we finished dealing with the ident, they are also in order now. It seems to be deliberately procrastinating. It¡¯s too obvious.¡±

    ¡°I think so, too,¡± Qin Yunuan poured a cup of tea for Leng Changxi, ¡°However, I¡¯m confused. Howe Sima Ray is able to do that?¡±

    ¡°Baili Ai,¡± Leng Changxi frowned while saying the name, looking worried. It was the first time for Qin Yunuan to see Leng Changxi be so disconste for someone.

 Chapter 327 - Reunion of Old Enemies

    <h4>Chapter 327 Reunion of Old Enemies</h4>

    Leng Changxi was a man of few words. However, speaking of Baili Ai, he had talked a lot about him to Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°He used to an orphan taken in by my master. He began to follow my master three days earlier than I did, so he became my senior fellow. Indeed, he learned so hard, but hecked talent, so his progress was slow. However, he seemed to be more cunning than others. One day we needed to hand in an analysis of the five senses of human faces. It took me a long time to write a very satisfying article after researching many people¡¯s five senses. However, when it was time to hand in the article, I found that his article was exactly the same as mine. What¡¯s more, he had alreadymunicated with our master. If I hadn¡¯t known about it in advance, then it would be me who giarized.¡±

    ¡°What happened then?¡± Qin Yunuan knew that Leng Changxi must not be taken advantage of by others since he could now mention it so easily.

    ¡°Then I rewrite a better one. Because,¡± Leng Changxi shrugged, ¡°Because I found that my first article waspletely wrong.¡± Speaking of it, Leng Changxi could not help butugh.

    ¡°But it was enough to prove Baili Ai¡¯s ability,¡± Qin Yunuan nodded, ¡°It was really capable of him to steal your article from you and give it back without being found out.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Leng Changxi nodded, ¡°Nevertheless, it happened when he knew no martial arts. It implied that he reliedpletely on his tricks. I can only say that he is very clever.¡±

    At that moment, Leng Wu came to report from outside that all the chariots had been repaired except those being thoroughly damaged. The rest had been repaired ording to the new blueprint drawn by Qin Yunuan. Being so flexible to move and stop at any moment, they were really helpful in battles.

    ¡°A total of 15 chariots have been repaired. They will be ready for the battle tomorrow.¡±

    Hearing the word ¡°battle¡±, Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help but feel more anxious. Dragging Leng Changxi¡¯s sleeves subconsciously, she said in a low voice, ¡°Changxi.¡±

    Leng Changxi touched Qin Yunuan¡¯s thinner cheeks lovingly. This face used to be a little fatter, meaty and lovable. Now it was slightly sunken, looking extremely emaciated.

    ¡°It will be alright,¡± Leng Changxiforted Qin Yunuan, ¡°Now that he couldn¡¯t beat me in the past, he won¡¯t win over me now.¡±

    At the same time, at the Yunying Pce in Luguan, Sima Ray soaked in a bucket of ck potion with a strong smell of Chinese traditional medicine, exposing his upper body. This was because Baili Ai, the new military doctor, was getting rid of the toxins in his body for him. Sima Ray used to think that the pill Qin Yunuan forced him to eat was fake. He only knew that Qin Yunuan was good at needlework, but it never urred to him that she can also make the poison, which could not be cured by ordinary military doctors. Therefore, he had no choice but to spend lots of money to invite Baili Ai, who seldom showed up in public. However, seeing that the toxins in his body were forced out, he only felt that the money he spent was worth it.

    Sima Ray¡¯s bathtub was put in the center of the square mahogany shelf, around which hung yellow curtains to block the wind. In the front of the pce, there was a newly appointed lieutenant reporting the result of the execution of the rebellion. His family name was Si. Although he was not as experienced as Chen Feng before, he was loyal to Sima Ray. However, Sima Ray knew that conclusion should not be drawn about loyalty.

    Previously, Chen Feng also protected his master loyally, but atst, he also betrayed him because of his own ambition. So this time Sima Ray was very cautious.

    ¡°You¡¯ve done a good job,¡± Moisture filled Sima Ray¡¯s tired-looking face, ¡°Go to get the antidote.¡±

    Yes. This was Sima Ray¡¯s new method. Now that there came a master who knew about medicine and disguise, Sima Ray wouldn¡¯t waste his knowledge. He asked Baili Ai to make a chronic poison overnight and gave it to all the generals around him. Only he himself had the antidote of it. Even Baili Ai couldn¡¯t make the antidote himself, because making the antidote of the poison needed a special ingredient, the blood on the tip of Sima Ray¡¯s index finger.

    ¡°ording to the medical book, the tendon of your index finger is directly linked to your heart. Your Royal Highness, please bear the pain,¡± A slightly rickety figure came slowly from the other side of the curtain. A wrinkled finger pinched Sima Ray¡¯s index finger and poked it with a silver needle, taking three drops of blood as the ingredient of the medicine. Then the antidote was made right at the scene. The lieutenant at the front of the pce endured the pain given by the poison, poured the crimson soup into his mouth, and gulped it.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, thank you for the antidote.¡±

    ¡°Off you go.¡±

    Yunying Pce became quiet slowly. There was only the sound of Sima Ray fiddling with the decoction and the rhymed sound of pounding the medicine with orderly pauses.

    The rickety figure appeared behind the curtain again. The servant girl lifted the curtain for the figure. An old, wrinkled man with white hair staggered in, shaking the smashed powder in the bowl in his hand into Sima Ray¡¯s decoction.

    The old man was the master invited by Sima Ray with great effort as well as Leng Changxi¡¯s senior fellow, Baili Ai.

    Sima Ray raised his head and asked Baili Ai with his eyes closed, ¡°How is Xu Ji¡¯s injury now?¡±

    In the past, Xu Ji had connected his life and soul to the formation, which was broken by Leng Changxi. The formation bacshed, bouncing all the hostility and attacks back to Xu Ji. Xu Ji was already in aa when he was saved, so he had been put in the yard next to them to rest quietly. Now that Baili Ai was here, he began to diagnose Xu Ji¡¯s disease.

    ¡°He has to spend the rest of his whole life like that,¡± Baili Ai¡¯s voice was as old as the aged.

    ¡°He is useless, then,¡± Sima Ray was calcting silently in his mind, ¡°What a pity! All the military strategies and miraculous traps remembered in his brain will go in vain.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what he has asked for himself,¡± Baili Ai spoke frankly, ¡°Although I know nothing of miraculous traps, I know it¡¯s extremely dangerous to connect one¡¯s life and soul to a formation. What¡¯s more, he was fighting against Leng Changxi at that time. Knowing that there is little chance to win but still risking his life, he deserves what he is suffering from now.¡±

    Sima Ray opened his eyes slowly, ¡°Well, you really speak highly of your junior fellow¡¯s ability.¡±

    Baili Ai smiled ferociously and raised his head slowly, ¡°He is the favorite apprentice of my master. My master thought that he was the smartest one with the brightest future. Eventer when the carriage from Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion came to take him back, my master began to realize that his favorite student had hidden his noble identity as Prince Ning¡¯s son to learn from him. Well, it never urred to me that Dignitary Kongtong, who always hated others lying to him, didn¡¯t me him. Instead, he taught him what he had learned all his life. I really can¡¯t understand! What magic did he impose on Dignitary Kongtong? I didn¡¯t lose to him except for the evil magic.¡±

    Sima Ray snickered twice in his heart but didn¡¯t show it on his face. He just pointed to the decoction infiltrating his body, ¡°How long does it still need to take?¡±

    ¡°It will take one hour more,¡± Baili Ai lowered his head, ¡°By doing that, all the toxins in your body will be forced out, Your Royal Highness.¡±

    Sima Ray nodded, ¡°After all, you and Leng Changxi have been fellow apprentices for three years. I understand that there¡¯s some friendship between you more or less. However, I hope that you won¡¯t forget your goal because of it.¡±

    When it came to friendship, there was bitter mockery all over Baili Ai¡¯s face. Lowering his face more, he pointed to his long white hair, ¡°Your Royal Highness, you¡¯ve got me wrong. I¡¯m just seven years older than Leng Changxi, and I used to be delicate and pretty. However, now I¡¯m transformed into such an old look by Leng Changxi. Your Royal Highness, do you think that the poor fellowship between us still exists?¡±

    Sima Ray nced at Baili Ai without any sympathy. If he hadn¡¯t done research and preparation before, when he saw such an old man who looked like 70 or 80 years old, he wouldn¡¯t think this person was Baili Ai, the legendary beautiful-looking doctor.

    The military provisions in Luguan were not enough. Besides, a rebellion just happened here. There were only a few soldiers and injured horses in West Xia. What¡¯s more, there happened an ident with chariots. Therefore, the two parties all stopped fighting to have a rest by tactic agreement. In an instant, spring wasing. It was good news to Leng Changxi¡¯s army because once the ice melted, the river between the mountains could help them transport more food and provide them with more freshwater. Even so, the 500,000 soldiers in the opposite force still made generals and soldiers in West Xia worried.

    One day, in the camp for discussion, two generals with different thoughts almost had a fight against each other.

    The older general was more conservative, thinking that they should wait until the second batch of food and armament arrived tounch an attack. A young general, however, insisted that now it was the time when Luguan was the weakest. If they missed the chance, there would never be another as good as it.

    ¡°F**k! The number of people I killed is more than the number of ants you trampled. How long have you fought in the army? Do you know that grinding a chopper will not hold up the work of cutting firewood? Sending your army hastily is sending them to death.¡±

    The old general was bad-tempered. He shed a pair of moon-like scimitars to the young general. Respecting the older man, the young general dared not to fight with him. While the pair of scimitars was like two shes of lightning, they were suddenly stopped by a ck spear. Leng Changxi acted in time. He looked solemn. Although he just stared at the two people silently, it was enough to warn them.

    Immediately, the old general calmed down.

    ¡°General, I¡¯m wrong.¡±

    ¡°General, I shouldn¡¯t quarrel with General Huang either.¡±

    The two people both knelt down in front of Leng Changxi. Despite their kneeling down, Leng Changxi had to admit that manpower and armaments were still big problems he was facing right now.

    At that time, Leng Wu suddenly rushed into the camp and hurried to report, ¡°General, there came an army of reinforcements outside the valley.¡±

    ¡°Reinforcements?¡± Leng Changxi frowned tightly. It remained unknown whose reinforcements they were.

    ¡°They are reinforcements sent by West Xia,¡± Leng Wu continued, ¡°They are 200,000 imperial guards of West Xia led by Infanta Mu Qingyu herself.¡±

    When Qin Yunuan came in to serve the tea, she happened to hear the name ¡°Mu Qingyu¡±. It was her! She used to think Mu Qingyu as a warm-hearted infanta, willing to help Leng Changxi and her when she entered the pce. It never urred to her, however, that the woman dared to save the world and went to attend the war herself. What a heroine she was!

    ¡°Hurry up! Open the door to greet them,¡± It was the first time for Leng Changxi to jump happily like that. There was no better news to him ever.

    While the enemy had 500,000 soldiers, now he had 400,000 soldiers too. No matter how great Baili Ai was, under the circumstance when the two parties had simr strength, Leng Changxi had the determination to win him.

    While speaking, there was a voice as beautiful as the one of an oriole outside.

    ¡°General Leng, we haven¡¯t seen each other for a long time.¡±

 Chapter 328 - The First Match

    <h4>Chapter 328 The First Match</h4>

    By hearing it, everyone knew immediately it was Mu Qingyu¡¯s voice. The generals and soldiers in the camps were all excited. Firstly, the reinforcement hade. Secondly, the best infanta in West Xia led the troop herself to help them. It was so inspiring.

    However, Qin Yunuan felt a little ufortable in her heart. She was walking at the end, and Maner was following by her side.

    ¡°Madam, you don¡¯t look well,¡± Maner saw that Qin Yunuan frowned slightly and knew that Qin Yunuan was worrying about something, ¡°Do you want to go back to have a rest?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m alright,¡± Qin Yunuan turned her head and said in a low voice. Then she followed Leng Changxi and other people to greet the guest.

    The personing here was definitely Infanta Mu Qingyu. She wore a soft hedgehog armor with a white dress as the base. Her dressingplemented her elegant, graceful temperament. Her hair was tied up into a high ponytail with a few strands of long braided hair hung from her temple, simple but good-looking.

    All the officials saluted. Even Leng Changxi bowed his fists and greeted her with a smile.

    ¡°Your Highness, thank you for bringing the reinforcement here. It¡¯s a great help to us.¡±

    Mu Qingyu straddled the horse and went off it, raising her white hemline a little. Countless people were fascinated by the smile on her face at once.

    ¡°I belong to the leading force. The 200,000 soldiers are still outside the valley. Tomorrow they will all be stationed in the camp.¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded, ¡°That¡¯s the best.¡±

    Qin Yunuan had been silent until Mu Qingyu took the initiative to step forward and greet her with a smile, ¡°Madam Leng, I haven¡¯t seen you for a while.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Qin Yunuan kept her countenance, answering with a smile while looking Mu Qingyu up and down, ¡°You are really cheerful this time.¡±

    ¡°During a battle, of course, I no longer need to obey those doctrines as I did in the past,¡± while saying, Mu Qingyu went into the military camp naturally and turned back to call Leng Changxi, ¡°General Leng, I¡¯m in urgent need to know the current situation of our army and the arrangementter.¡±

    On her first day here, Mu Qingyu had already tried so hard to discuss the situation in the army with the officials. What a heroine she was!

    Qin Yunuan stood outside the camp dully as if she could hear the high-pitched voices of officials inside. They were all saying, ¡°You¡¯re right, Your Highness!¡± or ¡°What a great idea, Your Highness!¡±

    ¡°Maner, go to find Yuanyang, Leng Shuang, and Ting Xue. I¡¯ve got an important issue to discuss with them,¡± Qin Yunuan ordered Maner briefly, and then turned to leave the camp. However, their discussing voices seemed to be echoing in her ears. She seldom saw Leng Changxi be so passionate. She knew that this time Leng Changxi was sincere to thank Mu Qingyu foring to help.

    In the evening, Leng Changxi finally returned to the camp in which he and Qin Yunuan stayed. Qin Yunuan hadn¡¯t slept but kept mending the little hole on the boots silently for Leng Changxi. It was a tough way here, and Leng Changxi insisted on doing everything himself. So it was already the second boot worn out by Leng Changxi.

    ¡°Changxi,¡± Qin Yunuan stretched out her hand and handed over the repaired boot, ¡°Have a look.¡±

    However, Leng Changxi put the boot aside indifferently, ¡°I¡¯m so tired now. Today the infanta has told me lots of great strategies. I regret not to have known her before.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Qin Yunuan turned to put the boot aside, looking hesitated, ¡°Changxi, I¡¯ve been feeling that the infanta is a little weird.¡±

    ¡°How is she weird?¡± Leng Changxi didn¡¯t take notice of Qin Yunuan¡¯s words at all, ¡°This time the infanta brings the reinforcements here by persuading many officials in West Xia who are against the war. Everyone has seen the effort she makes. Nuan, I¡¯m not going to me you, but aren¡¯t you somehow hostile to her?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m hostile to her?¡± Qin Yunuan raised her voice so much that even the servant girls passing by and the soldiers on patrol could hear the noise inside, ¡°Why should I be hostile to her? I have nothing to do with her. Why will I look down on her?¡±

    ¡°Because of the ridiculous engagement,¡± while saying, Leng Changxi stood up, ¡°I know that you are a jealous woman, so I have kept no concubine. Even those servant girls for sex in the past were handed over to you for arrangement. You are the only woman I have, no matter before or after the marriage. Aren¡¯t you satisfied with that?¡±

    It had never urred to Qin Yunuan that Leng Changxi would talk to her like that, ¡°Changxi? What do you mean? You have never talked to me in such a strict way. You have changed. You¡¯ve be different since Mu Qingyu came. I don¡¯t get it wrong, do I?¡±

    Leng Changxi turned his head away. His high nose cast a vague shadow under the faint light of the oilmp.

    ¡°So I¡¯m right,¡± Qin Yunuan also stood up and strode out, ¡°In that case, you¡¯d better discuss the way to govern your army with your infanta.¡±

    Lifting the curtain, Qin Yunuan saw that Maner and Ting Xue were standing respectfully outside the curtain, both lowering their heads and daring not to speak. A small servant girl was standing next to them, looking a little strange. Qin Yunuan nced at the girl. With her head lowered down at once, she said, ¡°I¡¯m Huaner, the servant girl of the infanta. She has brought some unique snacks in West Xia and ordered me to bring some for the general to have a taste.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s face seemed to be stiffer. However, she still kept her manners. She raised her head proudly, ¡°The general is inside. Juste in.¡±

    After that, she led Maner and Ting Xue directly to a camp beside the wounded battalions for medical women to have a rest. Maner and Ting Xue made a smallpartment for Qin Yunuan specially with the white curtain. The bed simply with a mattress and the hard quilt made Maner frown, ¡°Madam, are you really going to rest here tonight?¡±

    ¡°Or what?¡±

    Maner and Ting Xue looked at each other. Ting Xue stepped forward and continued to persuade, ¡°Madam, there is no overnight hatred between couples. There is no more than a misunderstanding between you and the general. Maybeter when the general is not angry anymore, he will send people to invite you back.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a misunderstanding,¡± Qin Yunuan turned her head to one side so that others could not see her facial expression clearly, ¡°He just no longer cherishes me in his heart.¡±

    ¡°It won¡¯t be,¡± Maner followed with a few words, ¡°Madam, wait for some more time. Maybeter the general will ask people to plead with you to go back.¡±

    Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t care about it anymore. She tted the wrinkled mattress herself when the soft voice of a servant girl greeting came from outside, ¡°Is Madam inside?¡±

    ¡°Hey, speak of the devil!¡± Maner hurried to lift the curtain. However, it was Huaner that stood outside.

    Huaner lowered her head, looking much humble, ¡°Madam, the infanta invites you to visit her.¡±

    In the end, the one who came was not who Qin Yunuan expected to be. However, she excited Qin Yunuan.

    Maner turned back to look at Qin Yunuan, inquiring about her instruction. Qin Yunuan nodded. Maner told Huaner, ¡°Go to tell the infanta that our madam will dress up before shees.¡±

    After Mu Qingyu came, Tuoba Wuyu naturally gave up his camp for her to have a rest. After Mu Qingyu stayed in the smelly camp that once belonged to a man, it had changed its style immediately. The in curtain was hung high, and fragrant incense was burning. There was also a small makeup box and a bronze mirror which was as big as a palm. Although Mu Qingyu dressed like a soldier, she couldn¡¯t abandon those things belonging to a woman.

    ¡°Your Highness, Madam Leng hase,¡± Huaner reported with her head lowered down. Qin Yunuan stood solemnly outside the camp. Mu Qingyu seemed to be having a bath inside. There was the sound of scooping water from time to time. It only became quiet inside after a while. There was a soft voice from Mu Qingyu, ¡°Let Madam Lenge in. It¡¯s so cold outside. Don¡¯t make her sick because of the coldness. I can¡¯t afford it.¡±

    It was she that tried to dy the time and make Qin Yunuan wait. It remained unknown what Mu Qingyu implied.

    Qin Yunuan lifted the curtain, and inside the camp, there was Mu Qingyu wearing only a in dress wrapping her breasts. The camp was filled with moisture. The warm steam made Qin Yunuan¡¯s face, which was a little pale because of the freezing weather, be ruddy at once.

    Qin Yunuan curtseyed ording to the etiquette, ¡°My greetings, Your Highness.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be so polite,¡± Even though Qin Yunuan was beside her, Mu Qingyu didn¡¯t seem to intend to put on the coat either. She exposed her white, delicate shoulders naturally, exuding a charming fragrance faintly.

    Mu Qingyu said to Qin Yunuan with a bright smile, ¡°The first reason for me to invite you here, Madam Leng, is to apologize.¡±

    ¡°You must be kidding, Your Highness. You¡¯ve done nothing wrong.¡±

    ¡°I have,¡± Mu Qingyu turned her head whilebing her ck hair with the shiny, smooth hornb, ¡°I had discussed tactics with General Leng for too long in the evening. That was why he returned sote, causing you to quarrel with him and making you jealous. Wasn¡¯t it my fault?¡±

    ¡°That is not the case,¡± Qin Yunuan nodded slightly, keeping her graceful temperament, ¡°Today the wounded battalion is short of staff, so I have moved here temporarily to solve the urgent problem. As the official wife of Changxi, it¡¯s my responsibility to share his worries. What¡¯s more, I always know that he loves me. Why will I feel jealous?¡±

    ¡°Madam Leng, how magnanimous you are,¡± Mu Qingyu casually put on a coat which was as thin as a cicada¡¯s wings, appearing more charming and attractive, ¡°So I believe that you will forgive my second fault.¡± Mu Qingyu turned her head to order Huaner, ¡°Go to bring His Majesty¡¯s decree.¡±

    While saying, Mu Qingyu took over the yellow scroll handed over by Huaner, ¡°In fact, this time I bring not only the reinforcements but also the imperial decree. His Majesty has already given his order. It¡¯s because General Leng is not only the general of Qi but also the official prince of West Xia. If General Leng can give the imperial power of Qi back to who it really belongs, the royal families of Qi and West Xia should befriend each other forever. Therefore, the day when General Leng breaks the defense of the city is also the day when I marry him.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was slightly shocked, seemingly a little dull, ¡°I have never heard of such a decree from His Majesty.¡±

    Mu Qingyu lowered her head and smiled, ¡°Or what? Do the 200,000 soldiers I bring heree for nothing? They are equivalent to my dowry. The person dering the decree will also be stationed along with the reinforcement. If Leng Changxi refuses to ept the decree, the 200,000 soldiers will go home directly.¡±

 Chapter 329 - Tear off Your Mask

    <h4>Chapter 329 Tear off Your Mask</h4>

    Mu Qingyu confidently looked at Qin Yunuan. Thetter looked back fearlessly, tilted her head and said, ¡°Your Highness threaten Changxi to marry you with 200,000 reinforcements. Are you that desperate to get married?¡±

    Mu Qingyu shook her head and put down theb in her hand. ¡°I have so many admirers, but sadly, I don¡¯t like any one of them. Inparison, I think Leng Changxi, who is handsome and talented, is my best choice. Besides, only I am good enough for such a wonderful man.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled with disdain and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you should have such an idea in your mind. So, you just pretended to be tender and virtuous while we were in West Xia? You¡¯re really good at this.¡±

    Then they heard some noise outside. Mu Qingyu raised her eyebrows and suddenly stood up. She whispered to Qin Yunuan, ¡°But my show is not over yet. Ho, just wait and see.¡±

    All of a sudden, Mu Qingyu pushed Qin Yunuan hard. Not expecting this, Qin Yunuan directly fell down to the ground.

    ¡°You...¡± Qin Yunuan hadn¡¯t finished yet. But Mu Qingyu already screamed, ¡°Madam Leng, what are you doing? If you don¡¯t like that I am close with General Leng, I will keep distance with him. But why did you hurt me?¡±

    Nearly at the same time, the curtain was pulled back, letting a gust of wind blow in. Qin Yunuan got nervous, and then she heard a deep and attractive male voice. ¡°Nuan, why are you here?¡±

    Qin Yunuan still reclined on the ground. Mu Qingyu really pushed her hard, and now her wrist was terribly hurt. Qin Yunuan had recognized the voice, with no need to look back to confirm. It belonged to Leng Changxi. He sounded strict and dissatisfied.

    Mu Qingyu, who was arrogant and haughty just now, suddenly became weak. She covered her fair and thin wrist. There was blood flowing along her bare arm down to the ground. With tears in her eyes, she aroused people¡¯s sympathy.

    A sharp blood-stained dagger that came out of nowhere wasid on the ground. The dagger was pointed at Mu Qingyu while the hilt, at Qin Yunuan.

    Mu Qingyu said with tears in her eyes, ¡°Madam Leng, I know you don¡¯t like me. But can we just solve problems through dialogues? If you want me to keep distance with General Leng, I will. But why did you choose to hurt me? If you were not General Leng¡¯s loved one, I would get back at you.¡±

    What a good actress.

    Qin Yunuan shook her head with a bitter smile. She had plotted against others for nearly 20 years but should be fooled by such a trick.

    Qin Yunuan heard Leng Changxi said over her head, ¡°She¡¯s not my loved one anymore.¡±

    Hearing the noise outside, Maner and Ting Xue walked in immediately and supported Qin Yunuan to stand up. Qin Yunuan put up with the pain and slowly walked to Mu Qingyu who pretended to be scared. She looked as if she was really scared of Qin Yunuan, so that Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t help scolding Qin Yunuan, ¡°What a virago! What are you going to do?¡±

    ¡°Virago?¡± Qin Yunuan looked back at Leng Changxi disappointingly. ¡°I¡¯m a virago? Do you still remember who held me into his arms and promised to protect me and trust me forever? If I tell you that it suffered from all her own actions because I was invited by her to show her strength deliberately, and she wanted to threaten you to marry her with the reinforcements? Do you still trust me?¡±

    One woman here was a beautiful and charming infanta of West Xia, while another was his wife whose eyes were full of tears. Just taking a nce at Qin Yunuan coldly, Leng Changxi directly answered, ¡°All those don¡¯t matter now. Even Her Highness doesn¡¯t order those 200,000 soldiers to help me, I¡¯m still willing to marry her.¡±

    ¡°General,¡± Mu Qingyu shyly replied while looking down. Leng Changxi ignored Qin Yunuan and directly walked past her, making her stumble. But she heard Leng Changxi said to another woman in a gentle voice, ¡°Are you alright? I will ask doctors to have a check on you.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother,¡± Mu Qingyu said in an even more charming voice. ¡°I¡¯ve practiced martial arts for long and always got injured. This is not a big deal for me. I¡¯m willing to take this as long as it helps Madam Leng give vent to her anger.¡±

    Still pretending?

    Qin Yunuan lost her temper, turned her head and said to Mu Qingyu viciously, ¡°Your Highness, you know what exactly happened just now. Don¡¯t you feel guilty to lie?¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Leng Changxi turned to Qin Yunuan and scolded her coldly.

    ¡°What?¡± Qin Yunuan seemed to not believe that Leng Changxi asked her to shut up.

    ¡°I say, shut your mouth up,¡± Leng Changxi repeated while indifferently looking at Qin Yunuan as if she was a stranger. ¡°Now that you love to stay here, why not move in? I will still ask people to send food and clothes to you. However, don¡¯t get close to Her Highness anymore.¡± Then he took a look at the dagger and continued, ¡°You¡¯re crazy.¡±

    Staring at Leng Changxi, Qin Yunuan had thought about a lot. She was full of unwillingness, disappointment and strong hatred. But atst, she said nothing and just turned around to leave.

    ¡°Madam,¡± Maner and Ting Xue followed at once. Hearing Leng Changxi wasforting Mu Qingyu in the tent, Qin Yunuan felt heartbroken and strode to leave.

    When Qin Yunuan left, Mu Qingyu shook her head and said to Leng Changxi in a regretful tone, ¡°General, is it okay for you to treat her like this? You¡¯ve been through a lot and loved each other very much. It¡¯s not worth doing so for me.¡±

    Leng Changxi seemed to disdain to mention Qin Yunuan. ¡°She deserves this. Give her the cold shoulder for a few days, and she will know she¡¯s wrong and won¡¯t make any trouble for you. By the way, reinforcements wille tomorrow. Is it fine to ask soldiers to open the gate around 7 in the morning?¡±

    Mu Qingyu raised her eyebrows without letting Leng Changxi notice that and replied, ¡°It¡¯s hard for 200,000 soldiers to enter the camp just through one gate at the same time. How about also opening the eastern gate? So I can ask my lieutenant to lead soldiers toe in through that gate to save time.¡±

    Leng Changxi was considering and said, ¡°But the eastern gate faces towards the Luguan. I¡¯m afraid if we open the gate, Sima Ray¡¯s troops will sneak in with our reinforcements.¡±

    ¡°How could?¡± Mu Qingyu shook her head and added, ¡°It won¡¯t take long. Sima Ray is unable to make any response. General, do you trust me?¡±

    Mu Qingyu¡¯s voice was so soft that Leng Changxi suddenly became softhearted. He looked at her with a smile as if she was his rare confidant. He nodded with a smile and said, ¡°Of course, I trust you. I will tell them to open the eastern gate too.¡±

    The next day, colorful gs flew in the air. Soldiers in the camp all knew their reinforcements would arrive today. Camp gates were already open, and the camp was further fortified to prevent any sneak attack of Sima Ray. But luckily, nothing went wrong when reinforcements entered the camp. Leng Wu, who guarded the western gate, was counting soldiers, while Leng Changxi guarded the eastern one with Tuoba Wuyu and others. They made preparations to wee the most powerful troop of cavalries, as well as taking precautions against Sima Ray on the other hand.

    ¡°General, don¡¯t worry. Sima Ray won¡¯t know that we open the eastern gate. Even if he does, he has no time to n a sneak attack,¡± said Mu Qingyu who wore a gentle smile. Her wrist had been bound up with gauze. But she just imed that she cut herself by ident, so left a good impression on people who ¡°knew¡± it was actually Qin Yunuan who hurt her.

    While talking, they saw a cloud of dust in the distance, so they were unable to tell whose troops wereing to them. Suddenly, Mu Qingyu put on a weird smile, which she hadn¡¯t shown before.

    ¡°General, Sima Ray¡¯s soldiers in yellow armor are heading to our eastern gate.¡±

    Hearing this, Leng Changxi frowned but didn¡¯t look nervous. Even Tuoba Wuyu who was hotheaded said nothing.

    ¡°General, you are indeed calm,¡± said Mu Qingyu who looked at Leng Changxi with a smile. Her expression somehow looked unnatural as if she wore a mask. Her look was scary.

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t take a nce at Mu Qingyu but just stared at Qi¡¯s army which was nearer and nearer. He said, ¡°Baili, you know me well, right? I never get worried when I¡¯mpletely sure to win a fight.¡±

    Mu Qingyu shivered and didn¡¯t know what to say. But Tuoba Wuyu and another lieutenant already grasped her wrists. A troop of cavalries, who took arrows with them, suddenly showed up and besieged Qi¡¯s imposing army that came to attack Leng Changxi¡¯s soldiers but fell into enemies¡¯ trap. Qi¡¯s soldiers got flustered, and horses ran in a disordered way. Then Leng Changxi slowly turned his head and looked at Mu Qingyu sharply. ¡°You¡¯re truly good at disguise. Even I didn¡¯t recognize you at first sight. What a pity. My girl did.¡±

    His girl must refer to Qin Yunuan.

    Right at this time, Qin Yunuan appeared.

    A good figure walked out. Qin Yunuan held a tame mare with a bright smile on her face. Yuanyang and Leng Shuang walked next to her with each holding a pot of seemingly clean water.

    ¡°Mr. Baili, your disguise skills are wonderful. You can change not only your appearance but also your voice and facial expressions. Even Changxi can¡¯tpare with you in this. But it¡¯s a pity that you don¡¯t know Her Highness very well so miss details which determine whether you can seed.¡±

    Now, Mu Qingyu looked hideous. She smiled in a weird way and said to Leng Changxi, ¡°So, you saw me through long ago. You just pretended to break upst night, right? Haha, I thought I was the cleverest man in the world, but I should lose to you. It¡¯s just because our master was partial to you. He taught you everything but was not open enough to me.¡±

    ¡°Oh, no, no,¡± Leng Changxi who shook his head said, ¡°Baili, you should know that even with our master¡¯s help, you are unable to make improvements in some areas, like your intelligence.¡±

 Chapter 330 - Take Control of Luguan

    <h4>Chapter 330 Take Control of Luguan</h4>

    ¡°Leng Changxi, don¡¯t think too highly of yourself,¡± Baili Ai still wore the mask and looked exactly like Mu Qingyu. In the distance, most soldiers Sima Ray sent to attack Leng Changxi were shot to death, while the rest who surrendered were captured.

    ¡°Yuanyang, Leng Shuang, what are you still waiting for?¡± Qin Yunuan ordered. Then they dripped potions in the pot to Mu Qingyu. At once, the fair skin on her face fell off. The originally wrinkled skin and grey hair appeared.

    The originally young girl who stood up straight should be an old bent man in such a short time. Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan had already prepared for this, so they stayed calm when seeing this. But Tuoba Wuyu and other people were amazed and speechless.

    Baili Ai who disguised himself as Mu Qingyu was skilled at acting and fooled everyone. He looked over others slowly until he saw Sima Ray¡¯s soldiers were all captured. Then he turned his grey eyes to Qin Yunuan. She should be able to see him through.

    ¡°How did you see me through?¡± Baili Ai asked viciously.

    ¡°You were indeed nearly perfect,¡± Qin Yunuan said with a smile. ¡°To mimic Mu Qingyu, you even carefully observed where she pierced her ears and learned her graceful walk and charming gestures. It¡¯s a pity that you were too focused on learning how to be as graceful as her but ignored what she usually did in the military camp. For example, she always gets off the horse by herself, rather than need other people to support her or hold the rein, like what you did yesterday.¡±

    Baili Ai paused. He didn¡¯t expect he gave himself away just because of this detail. He looked at Leng Changxi again and said, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I have stayed with you all the time since I came here yesterday. Even if she saw me through, she had no chance to tell you. Because only when you had the fight did you met each other.¡±

    ¡°People can understand each other even without talking,¡± Qin Yunuan said while exchanging nces with Leng Changxi. Then they understood each other again. ¡°Sometimes, a nce is enough.¡±

    ¡°Ho, nice,¡± Baili Ai said. He seemed self-mocking and looked at Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan who shared good teamwork. ¡°Leng Changxi, you¡¯re good. Make a fool of me. You argued with each other yesterday as if you really had broken up. All soldiers knew you had a fight, but it turns out to be... Haha, Changxi, you¡¯re really good.¡± Suddenly, Baili Ai put on a different look and said to Leng Changxi confidently and viciously, ¡°But, can you find where Mu Qingyu is?¡±

    That was a problem. Baili Ai mysteriously appeared in ce of Mu Qingyu. So where was Mu Qingyu?

    While they were speaking, Maner and Ting Xue pushed to them a tightly tied woman, Huaner, Mu Qingyu¡¯s maid. She must have something to do with Mu Qingyu¡¯s disappearance.

    ¡°Don¡¯t doubt our ability,¡± Leng Changxi said and took a nce at the maid. ¡°Maybe, we can find her faster than you thought.¡±

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s wait and see?¡± Baili Ai wore a sad smile but with disdain on his face. He already titled his head arrogantly. The clop came in the distance. A soldier in golden armor rushed out on a tall white horse. He wielded the sword to directly and fiercely kill four soldiers who guarded the gate.

    Baili Ai suddenly smiled and raised his wrinkled hands. That soldier in golden armor rode the horse fast to them, and he directly carried Baili Ai up to the horse. The white horse they rode was very strong. They quickly were a dozen meters away, so there was no time for others to catch up. Tuoba Wuyu looked at Leng Changxi to ask for help, but thetter just waved his hand to tell them not to take action.

    ¡°General, if we don¡¯t chase after and capture them now, they will run away.¡±

    ¡°They may not.¡± When Leng Changxi finished, a troop of people rode horses down from the hillside. The leading general in white armor was nimble. The general in golden armor didn¡¯t expect this, and then he took off the helmet. It was Sima Ray. It seemed that Baili Ai was important to him.

    Sima Ray held the reins and stopped at the hillside. He already arranged people nearby toe to his aid, but unexpectedly, that general in white armor who came out of nowhere ruined his n.

    Standing on the top of the hill, the general in white armor looked down at Leng Changxi and then took a nce at Sima Ray. She should be a long-hair beautifuldy after she took off the helmet. That was Mu Qingyu, which Sima Ray and Baili Ai both didn¡¯t expect. They had bought over Huaner, the maid of Mu Qingyu, and asked her to add knockout drops into Mu Qingyu¡¯s water. The dosage was enough to make Mu Qingyu fall asleep for 7 days. Besides, when she woke up, she would experience an intellectual deterioration.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, it¡¯s been a long time since we met in Qi¡¯s capitalst time,¡± Mu Qingyu said, who looked as valiant as a veteran who had served for years.

    Sima Ray looked back at Leng Changxi. He thought he had fooled Leng Changxi, but unexpectedly, it was him being fooled. Apparently, Mu Qingyu must have held up his reinforcements. Or they would show up now.

    ¡°Leng Changxi, you¡¯re in luck today,¡± Sima Ray held the golden helmet in his hand. Seeing Leng Changxi stared at him coldly on a horse before the gate, he continued, ¡°But next time, I will definitely cut you into pieces.¡±

    Leng Changxi lowered his head and sneered, ¡°Your Royal Highness, you have read so many military books, but you only learn to talk big? True, I really can¡¯tpare with you in this aspect. But unlike you, I never rely on luck to win battles. My trump card is this.¡± Leng Changxi pointed his long index finger at his head. How mocking!

    Another troop of soldiers suddenly showed up on the hillside. They were ambushed soldiers Sima Ray arranged. They who all became injured directly rode to Sima Ray and shouted, ¡°Your Royal Highness, we are besieged. I tried so hard to fight my way out, and I¡¯m here to escort you to retreat.¡±

    Retreating at this time meant running away. Sima Ray, who was vainglorious, would never do so. Seeing how rxing Leng Changxi looked, he was more unwilling to run away at this time.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, if you ¡®leave¡¯ now, this will be a ¡®splendid¡¯ part of Qi¡¯s history,¡± Leng Changxi sat on the horse with a smile andmented. He knew Sima Ray well, so he deliberately provoked him.

    ¡°Leng Changxi, take this!¡± Sima Ray was so angry and tended to wield his sword but was stopped by Baili Ai behind him. ¡°Your Royal Highness, he was provoking you. If you fight with him alone now, you will be in trouble. A great man knows when to yield and when not. Your Royal Highness, we don¡¯t have to fight with him now.¡±

    ¡°Shut up,¡± Sima Ray was angry with Baili Ai and shouted, ¡°It¡¯s all because of you. You¡¯re so useless. Buy over the maid, knock out Mu Qingyu but look what situation we are in now. How do you exin this?¡±

    Baili Ai was depressed and in low spirits. He not only lost his face this time but also let Sima Ray down. However, it was more important for them to run away now, so he made an apology and persuaded Sima Ray, ¡°Your Royal Highness, we still have chances to strike back.¡±

    Before the gate, Leng Changxi saw clearly Sima Ray and Baili Ai were having a discussion. When Sima Ray was ready to hold the reins to ride away, Leng Changxi shouted, ¡°Soldiers, make way for His Royal Highness. He¡¯s running away.¡±

    Then soldiersughed, but they all moved to make way to allow a four-horse carriage to pass. Sima Ray gritted his teeth and thought: Leng Changxi, I would get even with you for what you did today.

    Seeing Sima Ray rode a white horse to leave quickly, Tuoba Wuyu couldn¡¯t help asking Leng Changxi again, ¡°General, why don¡¯t we take the chance topletely defeat him? But just let him run away?¡±

    ¡°Because we can¡¯t,¡± Leng Changxi looked back at Tuoba Wuyu and said, ¡°Our reinforcements just entered the camp from the western camp. They haven¡¯t been trained to cooperate with our soldiers yet. Sima Ray has 500,000 soldiers. Besides, he abandons the Luguan. So if we all chase after him and his soldiers, only a few will be left to defend the Luguan that will be so hard to take backter when lost. But if I take hold of it now, I only need to send 10,000 soldiers to chase after them, who have to be wary all the time, for about a dozen days. Then they will definitely suffer from low morale.¡±

    Because of this defeat, Sima Ray fled the Luguan, a pass that was easy to defend but hard to attack. Leng Changxi was originally worried that newly arrived 200,000 soldiers of West Xia would have no ce to live. But now, the problem was solved. All 400,000 soldiers could directly walk in the Luguan and settle there at dusk.

    Yunying Pce was grand and covered with golden tiles. Before Leng Changxi went there, soldiers who arrived earlier had already cleaned the pce and prepared it for Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan. But Leng Changxi just took a nce at it outside and turned around to leave.

    ¡°General,¡± Tuoba Wuyu called him and stopped him. ¡°This is the pce for you. Where are you going?¡±

    Leng Changxi replied coldly, ¡°I have been there before. It¡¯s so empty. It will be creepy to live here. Save it for injured soldiers. Our original wound barracks were damagedst time when the chariots were ruined. This pce is airy, clean and warm, so it¡¯s very suitable for wound soldiers.¡±

    ¡°Um...¡± Tuoba Wuyu was a bit overwhelmed. This was the first man he knew who refused to live in such a wonderful pce.

    ¡°General Tuoba, please arrange soldiers to rebuild this pce into the wound barracks, now that he¡¯s decided,¡± Qin Yunuan who agreed with Leng Changxi echoed. ¡°Transfer wound soldiers here. It¡¯s fine for us to live in the tent.¡±

    Right at this time, Ting Xue, responsible for taking care of Shangguan Yuen, walked in and reported to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Madam, Miss Shangguan wakes up, and she wants to meet you.¡±

 Chapter 331 - Rumors in Royal City

    <h4>Chapter 331 Rumors in Royal City</h4>

    It had been several days since Shangguan Yuen was rescued, and Qin Yunuan sent Ting Xue to take care of her specially. But she only heard that Shangguan Yuen had been in aa, and she was awake only half an hour a day. Qin Yunuan had taken care of her before, but it was a pity that Shangguan Yuen had been in sound sleep all the time. She couldn¡¯t even open her eyes, let alone speak. So they didn¡¯t get a chance to talk with each other certainly.

    When Qin Yunuan opened the curtain and entered Shangguan Yuen¡¯s tent, Shangguan Yuen just straightened up weakly. She had been on the bed for a long time before, except for drinking some gruel when she was awake.

    As soon as Qin Yunuan came in, she signaled Maner and Ting Xue to leave. She took over the warm bowl of gruel, blew on a tablespoon of it, and delivered it to Shangguan Yuen¡¯s mouth. Shangguan Yuen lowered her head and took a sip, whose expression couldn¡¯t be seen.

    Qin Yunuan smiled and said, ¡°How is it? Since you pretended to be in aa these few days, you must be hungry.¡±

    Shangguan Yuen paused, not daring to look at Qin Yunuan.

    While Qin Yunuan just blew on another tablespoon of gruel for Shangguan Yuen, ¡°How can I not know your trick? Besides, I¡¯ve been treating you all the time personally, so I am so clear how you are recovering.¡±

    Shangguan Yuen drooped her eyes suddenly and stopped eating the gruel, maybe because her words hit her sore spot. She burst into sobbing, her tears falling on the mattress. Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t have the heart to see her crying like this, so she handed her a hanky andforted her softly, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I won¡¯t me you then. It¡¯s not easy for you all the way. I¡¯m your sister, so since I¡¯m here now, you don¡¯t have to worry too much as you are at some other ce.¡±

    ¡°Sister?¡± Shangguan Yuen seemed unfamiliar with this word.

    Qin Yunuan was a little embarrassed, wondering if it was too sudden to her, ¡°If you don¡¯t like to call me sister, you can call me Mrs. Leng.¡±

    ¡°No. No.¡± Shangguan Yuen wiped her tears quickly, ¡°It¡¯s just that I never expect that I will have a sister in my lifetime.¡±

    Seeing that Shangguan Yuen didn¡¯t mean to continue having gruel, Qin Yunuan put the gruel bowl on the small end table aside, ¡°Silly girl. When you were at Shangguan Family before, Shangguan Yee was your sister, wasn¡¯t she?¡±

    ¡°But she never regarded me as her younger sister.¡± Shangguan Yuen was angry. She travelled such a long way to intercede for Shangguan Family this time, and finally, she gave her most precious and pure body. ¡°I was a daughter of a concubine at home. My mother was not favored. When grandfather came to the Royal City from Yangzhou, we were not qualified to go out to meet him. In the private school, people only regarded my sister Shangguan Yee as the granddaughter of Shangguan Yi, the famous Confucian schr of Qi. Outside my home, people just called me b*st*rd, just because my mother was my dad¡¯s maid. But maids are also human beings. Must the daughter of a maid be insulted like this?¡±

    ¡°But you¡¯re still here for Shangguan Family.¡± Qin Yunuan stroked Shangguan Yuen¡¯s head with tenderness. This girl was kind, and she just felt unfair. Once upon a time, Qin Yunuan had the same idea as her. Must people suffer so much just because of their humble birth? Why? Why on earth? But then she realized that people couldn¡¯t choose their birth, and birth could not determine status. Everything came to people through effort.

    ¡°You are a kind girl.¡± Qin Yunuan said, looking at Shangguan Yuen. ¡°Would you like to tell me how the situation is in the Royal City?¡±

    ¡°Royal City?¡± Shangguan Yuen seemed to be trying very hard to recall everything in the Royal City. ¡°I¡¯m not quite clear. In short, one day a year ago, my father suddenly sent most of the female members of Shangguan Family out of the Royal City, and only some low maids and I were left. We were short of hands at that time, and I was in charge of serving my father. Every time I went into the study and saw him, he was frowning. It seemed that there was a lot of trouble. Once when my father and some other Masters were discussing matters, I happened to go in to serve tea, and I heard something about Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°It seemed that Sima Ray wanted to punish Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion as a warning to others so as to quell the opposition to him in the court. Heid a groundless usation upon Prince Ning. At that time, some mediocre officials tried to be worldly-wise and make themselves safe, some treacherous officials were at Sima Ray¡¯s side just like my father, and the rest were the spies Sima Ray arranged in the court. Prince Ning was isted and helpless. In order to preserve his reputation, he broke his arm to prove his innocence, thus protecting the entire Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. My father and other officials thought that since Prince Ning had broken his arm, it would cause greater trouble if they continued pursuing it. So they had to end that finally.¡±

    ¡°My father broke an arm?¡± Qin Yunuan was a little stiff. She had always believed in Prince Ning, Leng Zhongxiao¡¯s ability. Prince Ning had experienced so many wars, so he must have some way to protect Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion in such troubled times. But she didn¡¯t expect that he would have used such an extreme method.

    ¡°And Prince Fu.¡± Shangguan Yuen continued, ¡°Although Prince Fu is Sima Ray¡¯s younger brother, and everyone knows that he is a fool who married a fool, Sima Ray still asked Princess Fu into the Pce to serve the emperor on the grounds that the emperor was seriously ill and in need of care just in case. I think that was equivalent to house arrest.¡±

    So Qin Yuzhao was ced under house arrest in the Royal Pce. Sima Ray knew how important Qin Yuzhao was to Sima Han, so he did that to threaten Sima Han.

    ¡°Since Sima Ray is leading the army outside, who is in charge in Royal City now?¡±

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know about this.¡± Shangguan Yuen shook her head, ¡°My father was falsely imprisoned at the time, and I was just anxious about how to save him. I knew that His Highness was in Luguan, so I rushed here then. In fact, I didn¡¯t know much about the situation in the Royal City at that time. But who knows that Sima Ray is such a treacherous and cunning person! He¡¯s back on his word! I¡¯m afraid that my father has been dead in prison.¡±

    Although Shangguan Yuen was emotional, she never shed a tear. While her determined eyes suddenly turned murky, ¡°Even though I know that my father has done a lot of bad things, he is a traitor minister, and he treats me and my mother badly, he is myst support in the world. I don¡¯t want myst family to die.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Qin Yunuan gently hugged Shangguan Yuen, ¡°From now on, you have a sister. Have a rest, and I wille to see youter.¡±

    Going out of Shangguan Yuen¡¯s tent, Qin Yunuan felt uneasy all the time. She didn¡¯t know whether Leng Changxi knew about Prince Ning¡¯s breaking his arm, which would be undoubtedly a great blow to Leng Changxi.

    The heated discussion in the tent of the deliberation gradually subsided. Everyone seemed to have reached a consensus to temporarily rest and reorganize the army at Luguan and arrange 15000 cavalries to pretend to round up Sima Ray and his soldiers. Once they found that it was just a bluff, they would immediately retreat to avoid casualties, and at the same time, it could attack the opponent¡¯s military spirit.

    Leng Changxi¡¯s slender finger circled back and forth on the huge map, and then he circled Sui River with cinnabar which was not far from Luguan. It was said that Luguan was the key to entering Qi. Once they upied Luguan, they could go straight ahead then. Sui River was thest barrier for them to march into the Royal City. From Luguan to Sui River, there were t ins and floodins, so it was no longer easy to hold but difficult to attack. But because of this, 400,000 soldiers of West Xia would have no cover then when entering the ins. Whether it would be a smooth way, or a treacherous way depended on how the generals of both sides nned theyout.

    ¡°They have Baili Ai, a master of disguise. Let¡¯s ignore it, because even so, only a small number of people will be disguised.¡± Leng Changxi said as he crossed out Baili Ai¡¯s name on the list, which disyed theparison of the strength of the two armies, including the recruitment of troops and talents. ¡°The second point is that they have Qiu Murong and his apprentices and students of the Moon Sect. But after Qiu Murong died, most of his students defected. It can also be ignored.¡± Leng Changxi then crossed some other names. Finally, the names left on their side were Qin Yunuan who was brilliant in medical skills, smart and sensitive, Tuoba Wuyu who was infinitely powerful, Mu Qingyu who was good at martial arts and Leng Wu and Heiying. While there was only one name left on the opponent¡¯s side, which was enough to make Leng Changxi, who was sure to win, felt cold for a long time.

    ¡°General, I haven¡¯t even heard of this person before. I don¡¯t think it is worth mentioning. It is a waste of ink to write this person¡¯s name.¡± Tuoba Wuyu saw that there was something wrong with him, so he tried tofort him.

    Mu Qingyu nced at Tuoba Wuyu and said slowly, ¡°Even a knife needs to be sharpened. Although Mr. Yu is famous, he has not been out for a long time. And he had bad morality, so he may not be able to bring the soldiers under control. General Leng, you don¡¯t have to worry so much.¡±

    Leng Changxi¡¯s hand trembled, and the brush with cinnabar on it in his hand identally incarnadined the name on the list which made him somewhat restrained.

    ¡°Yu Haitang.¡± Leng Changxi said softly. Qin Yunuan, who came over from outside, just heard his soft voice.

    Qin Yunuan suddenly opened the curtain almost subconsciously and said in a daze, ¡°Yu Haitang?¡±

    Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi nced at each other quickly, which made Tuoba Wuyu anxious who was scared of nothing, ¡°General, Madam, it¡¯s just a tacky-hearing name. I can go directly into the Royal City of Qi with a swift horse to see howpetent this person is on earth.¡±

    ¡°Yu Haitang, shouldn¡¯t he be dead?¡± Qin Yunuan shook her head, ¡°Impossible. Maybe Sima Ray is making a show of power. It was said in history books that Yu Haitang wanted to search for the secret of immortality and finally died on the top of Changbai Mountain. Even his body was brought back. Even if he was alive, he should be over 90 years old. How could it be possible for him to fight?¡±

    ¡°You also said that he tried to look for the secret of immortality. Maybe he found it and got a way to make himself immortal.¡± Heiying suddenly said coldly from the side, and then added, ¡°There is also the statement of immortality in miraculous traps.¡±

 Chapter 332 - Enjoyed Popular Support

    <h4>Chapter 332 Enjoyed Popr Support</h4>

    Sima Ray led the army outside, and the man who guarded the Royal City was actually Yu Haitang, a character in historical books.

    In the evening, Qin Yunuan prepared a bucket of hot water for Leng Changxi, and sprinkled some herbs in it that would help people calm the mind. Taking such a medicinal soup bath could best relieve Leng Changxi¡¯s recent strained nerves.

    Qin Yunuan washed her hands and soaked them in vinegar to make her fingers softer before massaging the acupoints for Leng Changxi.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± Qin Yunuan shook her head, thinking of what happened in the discussion tent in the evening, ¡°Why could Sima Ray make it? Yu Haitang was the state teacher of North Di¡¯s previous dynasty, North Liao, and a legendary character who could be listed in historical books. Why would he be willing to be Sima Ray¡¯s subordinate, guard the Royal City for him, and keep the news without leaking?¡±

    Speaking of this, Qin Yunuan suddenly thought of Shangguan Yuen¡¯s telling her that Prince Ning had broken his arm himself. Her fingertips paused slightly, and Leng Changxi immediately noticed that.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Leng Changxi looked back at Qin Yunuan¡¯s little face through the hazy water vapor.

    Qin Yunuan hesitated for a while before telling the truth about Prince Ning¡¯s current situation. Leng Changxi¡¯s body kept stiff for a while, and after a long time, he lowered his head and said softly, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve known it a long time ago. Heiying told me the news when he came here.¡±

    ¡°Father...¡± Qin Yunuan hesitated.

    ¡°It¡¯ll be all right.¡± Leng Changxi took a deep breath. The hot water vapor rushed towards his face, making him more upset. ¡°It¡¯ll be all right.¡± He tried tofort Qin Yunuan, butforted himself more.

    Facing Sui River, thest barrier to the Royal City, the army of West Xia seemed to have new problems.

    In the morning, the 15000 soldiers, who were sent out to bluff and pretended to chase, came back and brought some news about Sima Ray.

    ¡°At present, Sima Ray is stationed in Bai City on the opposite of Sui River. Bai City is rich in products and has always been the economic center of the surrounding counties. Now that Sima Ray has such a strong food reserve, I am afraid this battle will be dangerous.¡±

    ¡°Furthermore, our soldiers are still not capable of swimming. General, this is the real problem.¡± Tuoba Wuyu put down the map scroll in his hand, saying dejectedly, ¡°There are many mountains but few rivers in West Xia. They can¡¯tpare with us in climbing mountains, but we are not good at swimming at all.¡±

    ¡°Besides, we don¡¯t have boats.¡± Heiying added, ¡°However, even if we have boats, we don¡¯t have people to steer the boats and paddle.¡±

    After all, it was still the same problem.

    ¡°We may still make it without boats.¡± Qin Yunuan suddenly got an idea, ¡°By the way, how far is our camp from the nearest town?¡±

    ¡°Roughly speaking, it¡¯s about 9 miles.¡±

    ¡°We can arrive there in one day.¡± Qin Yunuan calcted in her heart, ¡°Even if we don¡¯t have boats or helmsmen, the people living around Sui River can do it. Besides, they live around Sui River all year round, so they are naturally clearer about the water potential and reefs of Sui River than Sima Ray and his people. If we can persuade the local people to help us, it will yield twice the result with half the effort.¡±

    It was a good idea. But if they intended to take advantage of the local people, on the one hand, it would waste manpower and money, and on the other hand, maybe Sima Ray would take the opportunity to arrange his men among local people to cause trouble. If so, they would risk big things for the sake of small ones.

    ¡°But we are the army of West Xia.¡± Tuoba Wuyu also discovered this. ¡°Will the people of Qi be willing to help us?¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows, smiling, as if she was brewing some trick. Then she grinned suddenly, ¡°Whether they will be willing or not depends on how we arrange it.¡±

    By the Sui River, fishing boats and ferries carrying people came back one by one. The setting sun shed its golden light selflessly. The water of Sui River was the best gift to the people living here. It had raised so many children. The people living around Sui River relied on it for food, clothing, housing and transportation, so each of them had a special feeling for Sui River.

    A group of fishermen who had just returned from fishing was chatting beside the shining surface of Sui River, talking about the strange things that happened this day.

    ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t it strange? In the past, even if the weather was bad, we could catch half a of fish one day. But it was really weird these days. I haven¡¯t even caught half a of fish in thest three days! Where are the fish going?¡±

    ¡°Oh, Zhang. Since you¡¯ve been married recently, maybe you work so hard every night and get physical decline then. Don¡¯t me the god of river, in case he should be angry, flood your house and disturb you and your wife at night!¡± The people on the shoreughed happily, but an old man next to them was silent. Until everyone had finishedughing, he knocked on the pipe in his hand.

    ¡°You young guys just like to joke around. But you don¡¯t know that something big has indeed happened upstream.¡±

    As soon as the old man spoke, the other people immediately came over barefoot, ¡°Sir, tell us about it.¡±

    This old man was the head of this fishing vige. Since he was the head of a vige, he was naturally the most knowledgeable and capable one. He squinted his eyes and looked at the water that was flowing down from the upper reaches which was much more turbid than usual, and then said, ¡°There are some evil things blocking the upper reaches of the river, so the fish can¡¯t go downstream. Therefore, we catch fewer fish these days.¡±

    Since he said so, things seemed odder.

    ¡°Sir, what kind of evil things? It can¡¯t be ghosts, right?¡± Theme man Zhang shivered after he finished speaking.

    The old vige head was deliberately mystifying and did not speak. Then a young man who looked unfamiliar on the riverbank took off the bamboo hat on his head and said bluntly, ¡°Half a month ago, when the army of Prince Ray of Qi, Sima Ray, crossed the Sui River, the troops set up camps on the opposite bank of the river. During the period, they built countless water camps and brought in hundreds of warships. They trained to swim in the river every day. So how could the fish not turn fewer with so many people and boats at the upper reaches? I think the evil things you said are just the big boats blocking the river mouth.¡±

    The old vige head nodded seriously, ¡°Just as this young man said.¡±

    ¡°Who are you? I have never seen you before. Howe you suddenly appear in our small fishing vige?¡± Theme man Zhang hobbled to the young man¡¯s side, ignoring that the ospreys he raised started attacking those several fish.

    The young man looked elegant and noble, unlike the thin and short fishermen in the local area. As for the clothes this young man wore, although it was simple and natural, the cuffs were embroidered with a five-petal flower with golden silk thread, which was unique. It could be seen that he was definitely not from ordinary families.

    ¡°My surname is Leng, and my father is Prince Ning of Qi.¡± Leng Changxi was humble and polite. He saluted with joined hands. He looked like an elegant schr after casting away his arrogance at usual. Qin Yunuan looked at Leng Changxi next to him, having the illusion that she had seen Su Chenghai. It turned out that Leng Changxi had inborn modesty, but he had always lived too proudly. The failure this time didn¡¯t defeat him but sharpened his temperament and made him maturer.

    But as soon as he showed his identity, people burst into discussion, and only Leng Changxi looked so indifferent. He held Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand, walked forward, and looked at the vige head, saying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry toe here hastily and disturb the peace of the fishing vige.¡±

    Theme man Zhang came forward domineeringly. Since it was said that the mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent, he mustered up the courage to shout at Leng Changxi, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you, the general, coborated with the enemy and betrayed your country. You are wanted everywhere. How dare youe to our Ge Vige so tantly? You want to die?¡±

    Leng Changxi had expected this result long ago, and he walked forward calmly, ¡°Man, if I really had colluded with the enemy and betrayed my country, why should I appear in Qi now? Isn¡¯t it a p on the face? It was just the false usation made by Prince Ray to me. Prince Ray, Sima Ray, put not only the emperor under house arrest, but also Princess Fu. He drove the prime minister Shangguan Rang to death and made Prince Ning break his arm to prove his innocence. Everything is arranged by Sima Ray in order to satisfy his ambition, and everyone in the world is deceived by him.¡±

    ¡°Why should we believe what you said?¡± Theme man Zhang spat hard towards Leng Changxi, ¡°Aren¡¯t you powerful people all the same? All of you are superior and never care about how we ordinary people live. What is the difference between you and Sima Ray? Besides, I don¡¯t care about Princess Fu or Prince Ning. I just care about whether my wife and children at home have enough food to eat and whether they have clothes to wear. In short, whoever is the emperor has nothing to do with me.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Since Qin Yunuan had got married, it was improper for her to show her face. She wore a thin veil, and only her delicate chin and beautiful facial outline could be seen vaguely. Qin Yunuan walked around theme man Zhang, and then said, ¡°I remember that half a year ago, thend tax, fishing tax and grain tax of Qi were only half of what they are now. But now? Sir, you need to go out for fishing to make a living with gammy legs. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s even hard for you to make ends meet because of the increased tax burden. Doesn¡¯t all it happen because of Sima Ray¡¯s financing?¡±

    Theme man Zhang insisted still, ¡°Who knows? The tax may also increase even if the man in charge is not Sima Ray.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled and shook her head. When she was going to say something else, she was gently pulled by Leng Changxi, which was a secret signal. Qin Yunuan immediately looked at the upper reaches. The rolling river seemed to hide some hidden secret.

    Suddenly, someone in front pointed to the river water and eximed, ¡°Oh, the river water turns red! The god of river is angry!¡±

 Chapter 333 - The Great Master

    <h4>Chapter 333 The Great Master</h4>

    The rolling river water looked bloody and scarlet with a stench of death. In a blink of an eye, it attracted the people on the shore and the fishermen living here. Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi nced at each other and stepped back silently, watching the reaction of the vigers.

    Many corpses that were about to be decaying also floated down from the upper reaches of the river full of bloody water. There were not only soldiers wearing armors among the floating corpses but also many innocent civilians. Some of them had their hands and feet cut off, while some even had their heads cut off for some unknown reasons. Various mutted bodies and discrete limbs floated aimlessly in the water, which looked terrifying.

    The vigers immediately talked about it, and some people left quickly to find someone to take a closer look.

    Theme man Zhang stood in the front, ¡°D*mn it. What¡¯s going on? The water is like this now. I¡¯m afraid there will be no fish for three to four months.¡±

    The old vige head took a look at theme man Zhang and squinted his eyes, ¡°You only care about the fish but don¡¯t care what is going on in the upper reaches. If what General Leng said was true that the military camps of Prince Ray were in the upper reaches, I should gather the vige heads of the surrounding viges to talk with Prince Ray then.¡±

    ¡°Will it work?¡± Leng Changxi threw a wet nket on his n ruthlessly. ¡°If he was really scared, how could he have thrown the corpses in the water so tantly? Besides, there are so many innocent civilians in it.¡±

    The old vige head frowned and said nothing, and people around him started an intense discussion. Gossip was a fearful thing, so this matter could not withstand any dy.

    Just when the old vige head was frowning and had a hard time making up his mind, a viger wearing thatch shoes running from the entrance of the vige rolled several times on the ground and ran directly to the vige head from the hillside.

    ¡°Sir, something is wrong! People outside our vige came to recruit soldiers, saying that all the strong men in the vige between 16 and 40 must be enlisted.¡±

    Must? It was not recruiting soldiers but forcing civilians!

    Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi looked at each other, and Qin Yunuan took the initiative to ask, ¡°Who sent them here to recruit soldiers?¡±

    The short man who reported the news shook his head and spat hard, saying, ¡°Who else it can be? We are Qi people, so West Xia will not believe us ande to recruit soldiers in Qi! It¡¯s just the people of Prince Ray!¡±

    The reporter did not know the identities of Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi, so he spoke without hesitation. The old vige head just nodded, and then asked, ¡°When is the deadline?¡±

    The young man who reported the news tilted his head, ¡°Three dayster.¡± Then he sighed earnestly, ¡°Uncle, I think Prince Ray breaks in in full fury this time. I¡¯m afraid it will be impossible for us to escape. I heard that some vige was unwilling to hand over the strong men stubbornly, so then all the vigers were ughtered, and their corpses were directly mutted and thrown into Sui River. They didn¡¯t get a tomb. It¡¯s just the vige which had silk business with our vige in the upper reaches.¡±

    The young man said and looked towards the river. When he saw the red river water and corpses, he suddenly felt sick and wanted to vent something inexplicably.

    So those who did not want to join the army would have the same fate with the corpses.

    It was almost a shock. Everyone couldn¡¯t help feeling scared. Sima Ray really had no bottom line at this time.

    Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan looked at the reactions of the people but did not say anything. Leng Changxi said to the vige head with joined hands, ¡°Today I came here with my wife just to explore the terrain. After all, the soldiers of West Xia can¡¯t swim. We only hope to find the narrowest ce of Sui River which can help us cross Sui River and overturn Sima Ray, who deceives the world and put the emperor under house arrest. We are really sorry, but we don¡¯t intend to offend you.¡± After finishing speaking, Leng Changxi nced at the corpses in the river sadly again, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for what will happen next. I still have something to do in the camp, so we¡¯d like to leave now.¡±

    Leng Changxi held Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand, leaving silently. They could not helpforting an old woman who had just learned that her only grandson was about to be drafted on the way. Watching what Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan did, the old vige head couldn¡¯t help feeling moved.

    After leaving the fishing vige, Leng Wu had already prepared a carriage and a hand-warming incense burner outside. Leng Wu looked into the distance and asked, ¡°Heiying and others risked their lives to blow up the pit of dead people in Sima Ray¡¯s camp. General, why don¡¯t you take the opportunity to encourage the fishermen to rebel and submit to us? Why you make up a fake draft order? If they took it seriously and came to Sima Ray¡¯s camp, wouldn¡¯t it be a near miss for us then?¡±

    Leng Changxi got into the carriage without saying a word, but there was a slight smile at the corner of his mouth. He stretched out his hand and took Qin Yunuan to the carriage. When Leng Wu got on the horse and started to drive the carriage, Leng Changxi handed the warming incense burner to Qin Yunuan, and slowly said, ¡°If I persuaded them now, I would get only a group of fishermen with fear and awe. If I allowed them to think carefully for three days, plus the n afterwards, I would get a group of transport fleets willing to work for me and knowing the difference between right and wrong. These two results arepletely different.¡±

    It was necessary to have effective tools to do good work, and at the same time, it was very important to get people¡¯s support. Leng Changxi knew how to score at this time.

    At the same time, in Sima Ray¡¯s camp along the river.

    Several soldiers came to report one by one that the sted gap of the dead people pit was too big to be blocked for a while, so many corpses would flow out with the current.

    Then someone came to report that a soldier of West Xia who came for a sneak attack was caught, who refused to say anything and had bitten his tongue tomit suicide.

    ¡°Get out, you good-for-nothing.¡± Sima Ray kicked people¡¯s chests every time he lost his temper, which made many soldiers feel frightened. ¡°How dare you say you¡¯ve caught him since he is the dead! Good-for-nothing! All of you are good-for-nothing! Check it out for me now! This time Leng Changxi acted weirdly. Why he blew up the dead people pit? Besides, after the corpses flow downstream, the civilians will see them. They made a scenest time when we recruited soldiers, and if those ignorant fishermen made a scene this time again, I am afraid we would not be able to stay by Sui River any longer.¡±

    As Sima Ray was talking, he suddenly paused and seemed to be muttering to himself, ¡°So, this is Leng Changxi¡¯s purpose?¡±

    Just before the others reacted, Sima Ray pulled the cor of a signaller beside him and asked, ¡°When will Yu Haitang arrive?¡±

    ¡°I...¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t he say that he set off from the Royal City half a month ago? Why hasn¡¯t he arrived yet?¡± Sima Ray punched the table hard with a muffled noise.

    Just at this moment, there was a noise from outside with the screams of some small beast just like a monkey.

    When Sima Ray was surprised, suddenly, a little ck monkey with white hairs on its cheeks and a ck-and-white tail jumped into the room. The little monkey was still a cub that was only a little bigger than a person¡¯s fist when it curled up, while it was extremely agile. And it was easy to recognize that it was a young lion-faced monkey.

    Sima Ray was stunned as he watched the monkey climbing in his study. He knew this little monkey, which was Yu Haitang¡¯s favorite pet. No one dared to bully this little monkey at will. Yu Haitang was already very old, and it was not convenient for him to do things by himself, so he just relied on the help of this little monkey, which was the darling of him.

    It was good news which showed that Yu Haitang had arrived.

    Sure enough, someone then reported outside that Yu Haitang had already arrived at the camp gate but did not enter even if the gate was open. He just sat proudly in a wheelchair and did not move, and his attendants were not allowed to enter the camp as well for no reason.

    Sima Ray frowned. It was clear that he was waiting for him to go out to wee him!

    It was true that Yu Haitang was very good at governing a country and keeping health, and he was a very famous person unlike Qiu Murong, Xu Ji or Baili Ai. As for Qiu Murong, Xu Ji or Baili Ai, Sima Ray was their superior, and they were the subordinates or the talents who were recognized by Sima Ray. While as for Yu Haitang, Sima Ray was just a pawn of him.

    Sima Ray cooperated with Yu Haitang while fighting a battle of wits and courage with him to prevent himself from being used, and instead, he wanted to use Yu Haitang.

    In Leng Changxi¡¯s view, such a cooperative rtionship was destined to be short-lived. The moment Sima Ray walked to the camp gate and put on a cold face when he saw Yu Haitang, it proved that Leng Changxi¡¯s words made sense.

    ¡°Sooner orter, I will get rid of this old widower¡¯s control.¡± Sima Ray made an oath in front of the camp gate, then put on an extremely respectful appearance and walked to Yu Haitang with joined hands.

    Yu Haitang looked very old. Butpared with Baili Ai who also appeared as a rickety old man, he looked more detached as a sage. There was a sudden rush of fierce air in his eyes. Although he could no longer walk, he could move freely with the self-made wheelchair. Yu Haitang raised his bright eyes, and then the little monkey rushed over and nestled in his arms quietly.

    In addition to Sima Ray, Baili Ai also came to greet Yu Haitang. He just changed the ster for Xu Ji, who was already paralyzed, and then hurried over.

    ¡°Mr. Yu.¡± Feeling that Yu Haitang was looking at him, Baili Ai also saluted Yu Haitang humbly.

    Yu Haitang just nced at him and said coldly, ¡°It is indeed a good way to use the knowledge of pharmacology to dy the spread of the toxins umted in the body, but are you really reconciled to that a man under thirty looks the same as a man of ny?¡±

 Chapter 334 - Made War

    <h4>Chapter 334 Made War</h4>

    Yu Haitang was so straightforward, which made Baili Ai surprised. Few people could tell his true age, so it seemed that Yu Haitang was perspicacious.

    Sima Ray immediately stepped forward and reported thetest situation to Yu Haitang anxiously, ¡°I don¡¯t know why Leng Changxi acted so weirdly this time. He sent picked troops to attack our military camp, but they didn¡¯t burn our army provisions or hurt our soldiers. Instead, they blew up the pit where the dead were buried. The soldiers and the people who died from the construction of the water camp were buried there. How it would benefit him?¡±

    Sima Ray frowned and wondered, but Yu Haitang just smiled slightly and teased the lion-faced monkey on his shoulders, ¡°Try to win popr support? He is still green, unless he has already arranged his people into those stupid civilians. Otherwise, it is just in vain.¡±

    Baili Ai was just 28 years old, and Sima Ray and Leng Changxi both knew that. When he appeared in front of people with wrinkled skin and white hair, people were shocked.

    Those in the know knew that Baili Ai was poisoned by a strange poison in the early years which no one could detoxify. People who had been poisoned with it before eithermitted suicide as they couldn¡¯t endure the pain or spent thest few years of their life painfully. Few people couldbat poison with poison like Baili Ai.

    ¡°The man who caused this was Leng Changxi, my junior fellow apprentice.¡± This was how Baili Ai exined the cause of the strange poison in his body to Sima Ray.

    At the same time, Leng Changxi had just returned to the tent. He rested on the soft couch with Qin Yunuan and then talked about the past.

    ¡°As for the poison, my senior fellow apprentice suffered from his own actions. At that time, our teacher was preparing for a test for us, and the winner could get a secret scripture from him. My senior fellow apprentice had always beenpetitive. He not only studied hard, but even took crooked ways. He got a kind of enchanting powder and wanted to mix it into my book pages. But he didn¡¯t expect that I set up a trick in the book box to prevent outsiders from turning over my book pages. When he rummaged around in my book box, the two kinds of poisonous powder mixed together, which caused his aging instantly.¡± Leng Changxi said, and shook his head thoughtfully, ¡°His intention was not right, so he just ate his own bitter fruit.¡±

    After hearing what he said, Qin Yunuan smiled and looked at Leng Changxi, ¡°Are you sure that was an ident?¡±

    After a long silence, Leng Changxi stretched himself and said, ¡°Not exactly. In fact, I had guessed that he would do something bad a long time ago, so I specially put the ¡®good¡¯ thing in the book box for him.¡±

    That was true. Who would tamper with the books that he would read every day without any reason?

    ¡°So, in fact, I have always been wondering why Sima Ray put Baili Ai in such an important position since he is not smart.¡± Leng Changxi shook his head. For him, Baili Ai had always been his defeated opponent. He contemted, watching the copper clepsydra in the corner gradually floated to a predetermined moment. At this moment, a soldier came to report that a group of fishermen had been here to seek refuge.

    It was only half a day after Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan left the fishing vige, while the scheme just worked. Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan looked at each other and went out together. Outside the camp, the old vige head was followed by theme man Zhang and some young and middle-aged men in the fishing vige. They were all in their neatest clothes, but the old straw shoes on their feet still revealed their identity. ording tomon sense, the poor could not approach the military camp.

    But they were all full of sincerity. They held their heads high, looking proud.

    ¡°Zhang, keep your head high. You areme, but your brain is still fine. Although we are here to ask General Leng for help, we can¡¯t lose our temperament.¡± The old vige head put the pipe on his waist, looking at the camp leisurely with a familiar expression in his eyes.

    ¡°The General let you in.¡± Leng Wu walked out of the camp gate. He nced at the seven or eight people and led them directly to Leng Changxi¡¯s tent. People¡¯sments came from the tent. Leng Changxi and the vice generals were discussing something important which should not have been heard by these ordinary fishermen. While the voice inside was especially loud this time. Leng Wu led those people standing outside, and they all heard it clearly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t agree.¡± It was Tuoba Wuyu¡¯s voice. ¡°Those fishermen were all Sima Ray¡¯s stooges. Look at the fishing vige in the upper reaches! Their vige was ughtered, and even the big yellow dog which guarded the door had its head cut off. But what¡¯s the result? The more than a thousand people who survived entered Sima Ray¡¯s camp finally! I don¡¯t think the fishermen in the lower reaches will be good.¡±

    ¡°General Tuoba, you can¡¯t generalize about people.¡± Leng Changxi seemed to be usible and reasonable.¡± The fishermen in the upper reaches were also forced and threatened. Moreover, now Sima Ray has lost his humanity and even throws the bodies into the Sui River,pletely ignoring the survival of the people in the lower reaches. He did this just to force the fishermen in the lower reaches to submit to him.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care. The people living by Sui River will naturally support the Prince of their Qi. If we cooperate with them rashly, we will just draw fire against ourselves.¡±

    Their conversation made the fishermen outside frown. Then the old vige head couldn¡¯t help it anymore, who opened the curtain and went in directly, saying, ¡°We are ordinary people, but it doesn¡¯t mean we can¡¯t make a distinction between right and wrong. Sima Ray is inhumane, so naturally, we are not willing to help the tyrant to victimize his subjects. Who we want to help is troops representing a just cause. General Leng, all the fishing boats and young people in the 17 viges around us can follow your instructions. This time, as the representative of these 17 viges, Ie to seek refuge with you, General Leng.¡±

    At exactly this time, Qin Yunuan walked in with a pot of Pu¡¯er tea with a dozen teacups on the tray. It seemed that she had expected these people to be here.

    ¡°That¡¯s not true.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled, ¡°Now Sima Ray and we are at a stalemate in Sui River. Whether we can march into the Royal City or not depends on the battle of Sui River. Now since you are willing toe to help, you are here to cooperate with us rather than seek refuge. All of us are just trying to fight against the unjust troops.¡±

    The old vige head was a little excited and nodded solemnly, ¡°Tomorrow. I will take the fishing boats of our 17 viges to the military camp tomorrow.¡±

    Leng Changxi did not refuse but nodded and said, ¡°Thank you so much.¡±

    After Leng Wu sent away the representatives of the fishing viges, Tuoba Wuyu looked at the cid Sui River from a distance, turned his head and sighed, ¡°General, it¡¯s really a good strategy. You asked people to blow up the dead people pit in Sima Ray¡¯s military camp. Before they reacted, you went to the fishing vige to mold public opinion and encourage the fishermen to take refuge with you. When the fishermen came here as you wished, you deliberately performed such a y for them to make them more determined. Since they were struck by words just now, they will try their best to prove their sincerity and ability then.¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded, looking into the distance. The river surface was enshrouded with water vapor, and he could only see the g which was raised high in the water camp of Sima Ray on the opposite vaguely.

    Seven dayster, it was a fine and clear day. From the highest level of the water camp which was just built by Sima Ray¡¯s people, they could just see the heavily guarded base camp of Leng Changxi on the opposite side.

    There was a twitter which was made by the little lion-faced monkey. The little monkey was very clever. It picked up the peanuts in the small dish, peeling them one by one with its fingers, and stuffed them into Yu Haitang¡¯s mouth cleverly.

    Yu Haitang looked at the little monkey with a smile, opened his mouth and allowed the little monkey urately to throw the peeled peanuts into his mouth.

    Sima Ray became a little impatient, ¡°Mr. Yu, now as you said, Leng Changxi has mobilized all the fishermen from the vige on the other side to help him. If we still don¡¯t take any actions, I¡¯m afraid we will alienate all the civilians.¡±

    ¡°Alienate all the civilians?¡± Yu Haitang snorted, ¡°Since the moment you were about to rebel, you shouldn¡¯t think about the civilians again.¡±

    Sima Ray paused for a while. He could only endure the sulks in his heart, and said with a forced smile, ¡°So Mr. Yu, what can we do?¡±

    ¡°Wait.¡± Yu Haitang looked up at the direction of the wind.

    ¡°Wait, wait, wait! We are always waiting!¡± Sima Ray turned anxious, ¡°Mr. Yu, time and tide won¡¯t wait for anyone. It has been more than a year. Although I have kept my father under house arrest in the Royal Pce, all the people outside are staring at me. They are all eager to try, they are just trying to prove that my father is already unconscious, and then they will join forces to rebel. When I am besieged on all sides, how will I have time to handle Leng Changxi then?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you still have the support of Wanyan Su, the Fourth Prince of North Di?¡± Yu Haitang squinted his eyes. ¡°There are also the assassins of the Dou Family and Zhao Huijin of East Qin. Although you only master a tenth of the assassins, they are all first-ss. What are you afraid of?¡±

    Sima Ray was angry and punched the table with his fist, ¡°The assassins? Even all of them together cannot hurt Leng Changxi!¡±

    Sima Ray said while looking at the seemingly calm river surface. Gradually, several small red dots appeared on the surface of the river. Immediately, hundreds of boats wereing towards them. Those were all fishing boats, on which were the soldiers in armor of West Xia. Severalrge fishing boats even carried several swift horses. They looked so mighty like duckweed that came with the current, which could swallow the weak water camp of Sima Ray in a sh seemingly.

    ¡°Look. I¡¯ve said that we won¡¯t have to wait long.¡± A weird smile appeared on Yu Haitang¡¯s face, and the lion-faced monkey on his shoulder turned extremely excited as well, jumping up and down.

    Sima Ray quickly ordered the soldiers to prepare for battle.

    The easterly wind was extremely strong, as if to support. Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan stood on the leadingrge boat, which marched forward like flying arrows. The war was about to start.

 Chapter 335 - Confrontation

    <h4>Chapter 335 Confrontation</h4>

    As ships got closer, Leng Changxi and Sima Ray could see each other¡¯s looks more clearly. Leng Changxi¡¯s white armor looked shining and stunning while the golden armor of Sima Ray in the distance was opulent and luxurious.

    ¡°Fishing boats?¡± Sima Ray snorted with disdain. ¡°After all these, I thought he hade up with a masterstroke. Well, it now seems not rming at all.¡±

    In Sima Ray¡¯s view, Leng Changxi was fighting a hopeless battle. Did he really think that he could cross the Sui River with several broken fishing boats? Tilting his head, Sima Ray didn¡¯t hurry to order soldiers down to prepare cannons but just looked at those fishing boats in the river that seemed overwhelming as if he was watching a show.

    Yu Haitang lowered his head to take a sip of tea and said, ¡°Your Royal Highness, it¡¯s better not to underestimate him.¡±

    ¡°Maybe I am not wrong.¡± Thinking of that Leng Changxi, the God of War, should borrow fishing boats to cross the Sui River, Sima Ray couldn¡¯t helpughing at him. ¡°It¡¯s likely that he has really run out of his talent.¡±

    Yu Haitang said nothing. Leng Changxi who stood on the deck stared at the g on the prow that flew freely due to the heavy wind.

    ¡°It seems that Hei Ying¡¯s divination hase true,¡± Leng Changxi turned his head to Qin Yunuan and said to her. ¡°The wind reallyes from the east today, and we sail faster than usual.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded. Seeing that boats of West Xia got closer and closer, Sima Ray then ordered archers and artillerymen to get ready for the fight at a suitable time.

    It took many people and materials to build Sima Ray¡¯s high military camp. Seen from afar, it looked as if a fortified wall had been built along the banks of the Sui River. Seemingly. Sima Ray nned to upy the whole area and prepared for a protracted war against Leng Changxi. True, thend near the Sui River was fertile, and all forces wanted to upy it. As long as Leng Changxi could cross the river, he could make it to the capital city and then the royal pce. This was why Sima Ray tried every means to stop Leng Changxi from crossing the Sui River.

    Outside the water stockade was a line of newly built warships that were overwhelminglyrge and powerful. In fact, Leng Changxi had supervised the building of these warships. But they ultimately were used to attack him.

    There were holes on both sides of these warships, each one of which was the size of dozens of fishing boats. Inside the ship were cannons whose caliber was one-fist wide. Gun barrels reached out from those holes and aimed at small fishing boats of Leng Changxi.

    Seeing so many gun barrels andrge warships, Leng Wu felt dizzy. It was also the first time for Mu Qingyu to take part in such a water war. She carefully counted those ships and gun barrels.

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother. There are 28 warships in all, and each has 10 gun barrels on each side. So 560 gun barrels aim at us now. Want to avoid them? Ho, unless you can fly or dive deep,¡± Leng Changxi said with his head tilted. He had supervised craftsmen to build these warships, so he knew something about them. Mu Qingyu was a bit surprised that Leng Changxi should be able to mock himself in such an urgent situation leisurely.

    Sima Ray who stood on the wall indeed nned to do what Leng Changxi assumed. Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t evade shells unless he had wings. No, even if he had, he might not be able to escape.

    Sima Ray waved the red g in his hand and made a gesture to tell soldiers to get ready. On one side were 29 beast-like warships that seemedrge enough to cover the sky while on the other side were countless small ant-like boats in the river. Once all canons were loaded, and shells were fired, there would be full of ck smoke over the river.

    ¡°Leng Changxi, farewell,¡± Sima Ray said with a smile while waving the red g. At once, soldiers pushed all gun barrels out and aimed them at those ant-like small boats. Soldiers in warships were filling the gun barrels and tended to light fuses nervously.

    ¡°General, what should we do?¡± Tuoba Wuyu hadn¡¯t been through this before. He walked forward and looked flustered.

    ¡°Take it easy,¡± Leng Changxi said in a gentle tone. He even tilted his head and nodded at Sima Ray. It seemed that he was provoking Sima Ray.

    Sima Ray wore a twisted smile. He seemed to have seen all these ant-like boats of Leng Changxi sank in the river. But then, he heard several unusual thumps. The closest warship suddenly tilted and the whole ship sank into the water slowly.

    Inside the ship, a heap of iron shells rolled back and forth, breaking arge hole on the opposite hatch.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Sima Ray didn¡¯t expect this. When he turned around, he saw Leng Changxi who was smiling on a small boat.

    ¡°Wet. They are wet,¡± a soldier shouted while running quickly out of the hatch. ¡°All shells somehow get wet, and we couldn¡¯t fire them. All iron shells ran in a reverse direction andnded on our ship.¡±

    More than one warship went wrong. Soon, the other 27 warships all met with problems one by one. Soldiers in ships were in great panic. Only thumps and soldiers¡¯ cries could be heard. Among 28 ships, three were the most seriously damaged with leakage at the bottom. They were close to sinking.

    ¡°D*mn,¡± Sima Ray said while fiercely shaking his fist. He had kept a close eye on provisions. How could such a big ident happen?

    However, Yu Haitang looked leisured as if everything was well in his hand.

    Seeing that the most powerful fleet of Qi should attack themselves, Leng Changxi¡¯s soldiers couldn¡¯t helpughing. At this time, there were many bubbles in the water. Sima Ray stared at the water surface, and as he expected, he saw many fishermen slowly swam from his side to Leng Changxi¡¯s boats. They hid underwater at first and then climbed into the ship holes by stepping on the anchors to pour water into the gun barrels when Sima Ray didn¡¯t notice them.

    Leng Changxi really got something. He should be able to buy over fishermen living on the downstream of the Sui River in such a short time.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, your cannons seem ineffective,¡± Leng Changxi said. He was on a Qingzhui horse that was white and green on the prow. The vige head specially sent the horse to him. It was said that Qingzhui was as fast as the wind and it could run on a boat as smoothly as it did onnd. Leng Changxi was not good at swimming, so the vige head sent it to him to show his determination.

    Now, it was of great help.

    Leng Changxi held the rein. The horse seemed to understand what he wanted, so it raised its fore hooves, neighed and ran like the wind to the opposite warship. It ran quickly on the tilted warship deck that was close to the water surface. Even, it easily jumped over the high wall Sima Ray took pains to build.

    Neighing loudly, the horse directly jumped over the wall. At the same time, Leng Changxi in white armor sat upright on the horse. Only he and the horse could work with each other so well to finish this very challenging jump.

    His cloak was parted by the wind and sang with it. Leng Changxi¡¯s hair was not messy at all, with some on the temples blown to his face. He held the ck-iron spear in his strong hand in a seemingly natural way. But in fact, he was leveraging his genuine energy.

    Soldiers around didn¡¯t expect this. They just watched Leng Changxi leaped onto the wall and did nothing. After quite a while, they took their weapons and besieged the battlement. At once, it was crowded with soldiers. Sima Ray pushed his way with a long sword in his hand. The de was shining just like Leng Changxi¡¯s spear.

    ¡°General, it¡¯s been a long time,¡± Sima Ray greeted first.

    Leng Changxi sneered, ¡°Your Royal Highness, did you merely leverage your energy to your upper body when practicing martial arts? We just met half a month ago when you were trapped in my military camp and fled in haste. I still remember how shining your golden armor was under the sunset.¡±

    ¡°You...¡± Sima Ray was irritated by Leng Changxi. He immediately wanted to fight with Leng Changxi. When He was about to leverage his genuine energy to his body, someone having a skinny hand gripped his wrist. Being touched by a cold hand, Sima Ray suddenly shook and then saw Yu Haitang slowly came to him in his wheelchair. That small monkey which looked like a lion still stood on his shoulder.

    ¡°Mr. Yu?¡± Sima Ray was a bit surprised.

    ¡°If you want to kill yourself, feel free to leverage your genuine energy,¡± Yu Haitang said while slowly loosing his grip. ¡°You should not know you are severely poisoned. It seems that you¡¯ve been under his control.¡± Yu Haitang took a look at Leng Changxi. Although Leng Changxi concealed his feeling very well, Yu Haitang still managed to see him through. When Sima Ray was about to leverage his genuine energy, Leng Changxi looked cunning and expectant. He was familiar with this look. That man looked like this that year.

    At that time, he lost to him. But now, he would never lose to this young man.

    ¡°Poisoned?¡± Sima Ray was truly poisoned by Qin Yunuan before butter, Baili Ai had cured him. Was Baili Ai not skilled enough so that he hadn¡¯t been fully detoxified?

    With just a nce, Yu Haitang knew what Sima Ray was thinking and said with disdain, ¡°That young man is only able to cure ailments. He¡¯s not skilled enough to treat severe ones yet.¡± Then he turned his head to Leng Changxi and asked, ¡°Young man, do you know me?¡±

    Everyone knew Yu Haitang, a legend in historical records. He was the former state teacher in North Liao and had led soldiers to conquer other countries. He was invincible. Later, North Liao was thrown into turmoil. He alone helped the six-year-old grandson of the former emperor to ascend the throne. He was nominally the state adviser, but in fact, he was the one governing the country. However, it wrote in historical records that he headed for Thule to seek for an ever-young recipe for the young emperor and never came back. Some people said he had be a god while others believed he died there.

    But one thing for sure was that Yu Haitang sought the ever-young recipe for his own sake. Because the young emperor was just six years old and he wouldn¡¯t be in a hurry to find such a recipe.

    Facing such a legendary and treacherous man, Leng Changxi just smiled gently and said, ¡°How would I not know? Students in the Imperial College have looked at your portrait so many times that the painting is worn out. They admire you so much.¡±

    Yu Haitang was about to smile, but Leng Changxi turned his head and continued, ¡°But I didn¡¯t do that. I think, His Royal Highness who directly shows me his cruelty is much lovelier than you, a hypocrite.¡±

 Chapter 336 - Transfer Martial Arts

    <h4>Chapter 336 Transfer Martial Arts</h4>

    ¡°How arrogant you are,¡± Yu Haitang said while smiling at Leng Changxi. For him, it seemed more interesting to tame Leng Changxi who was as wild as a wolf, than usurp the throne with Sima Ray, an ambitious prince.

    ¡°Leng Changxi, you should plot against me in secret. How insidious you are!¡± Sima Ray wielded his sword whose shine shed like a silver flower and then disappeared quickly.

    ¡°An eye for an eye,¡± Leng Changxi said while taking a nce at Sima Ray. ¡°I will treat a gentleman with due respect. But for viins, I don¡¯t think I should do so.¡±

    Leng Changxi jumped off the horse and the ck-iron spear in his hand was awe-inspiring, while Sima Ray wielded his sword rapidly. They two hadn¡¯t fought with each other before. A royal member as he was, Sima Ray didn¡¯t stop practicing martial arts. This fight was a matter of prestige. He ordered all soldiers to step back and not to help him.

    The sword and the spear nged. After dozens of moves, Leng Changxi suddenly bent and then stamped on the ground to fly up. He directly jumped over Sima Ray¡¯s face. Sima Ray tended to strike back, but Leng Changxicently waved a pinch of hair that was over 30 centimeters long. Then Sima Ray realized his hair on the temples had been cut off by Leng Changxi. The left hair drooped near his earlobe, which was very ironic.

    ¡°The ancients said cutting off hair was equal to cutting off the head,¡± Leng Changxi said while ying with the hair. ¡°Your Royal Highness, I win.¡±

    No, how could it be?

    Sima Ray gritted his teeth, and his eyes turned dreadfully red. He red at Leng Changxi and made a gesture to archers in the dark to tell them to aim at Leng Changxi. Right at this pressing moment, a cold voice broke the dreadful bnce. ¡°Soldiers, retreat.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Sima Ray unbelievably looked back at Yu Haitang. ¡°Mr. Yu, are you sure?¡±

    Yeah, even if Leng Changxi was so powerful that Sima Ray alone couldn¡¯t win him, how would he be able to dodge all arrows?

    ¡°I never say the same thing twice,¡± Yu Haitang sounded cold and didn¡¯t look up. He just turned his wheelchair back, and that small monkey followed him tamely. It jumped and looked cute. However, Sima Ray felt bitter.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, what should we?¡± The archer near him asked with hesitation. Sima Ray had paused for a long time until a soldier near the camp gate shouted, ¡°Gosh, look what¡¯s on the wall!¡±

    Everyone looked at the high wall and found that those small boats already shipped soldiers there when Leng Changxi jumped onto the wall.

    Sima Ray¡¯s water stockade was well designed and built near the river. The wall foot was firmly built underwater. Even if people dived down, they had no way to go through those solid logs there. But unexpectedly, Leng Changxi¡¯s men didn¡¯t n to break in underwater. They wore on their palms and heels a kind of tools that could w at the wall. So they could climb up along the slippery wall. There were so many West Xia soldiers climbing on the nearly vertical wall. Anyone who had seen parasites in the arsenal would know what the scene looked like. It was like numerous people-eating ants were heading for you, but you couldn¡¯t run away.

    ¡°Useless. You are all useless. Where are guards outside the stockade? Do they just let these people climb up?¡± Sima Ray was vexed. While being escorted by guards to retreat, he looked indifferently at Leng Changxi who stood in front of him.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, do you forget that you¡¯ve asked all soldiers to help prevent ships from sinking when they were damaged?¡±

    Sima Ray paused and immediately understood why Yu Haitang asked to retreat. The boat exclusive to Yu Haitang was already far from them and had docked near the other exit of the water stockade.

    Other than the small monkey, only a short page who was merely as tall as Yu Haitang when he sat in the wheelchair followed him. He was not young and short. But he was nimble and could be regarded as Yu Haitang¡¯s henchman.

    Taking a look at people on the wall who were in a mess, the page lowered his head and asked Yu Haitang, ¡°Sir, you know how to defeat Leng Changxi. But why didn¡¯t you do so?¡±

    Yu Haitang smiled and took over the ripe peach the monkey handed. He weighed it in his hand and said, ¡°Only ripe peaches are tasty. Likewise, it¡¯s more interesting to defeat a maturer rival. I haven¡¯t met such apetent rival for years. Leng Changxi has much inmon with him. I lost to him that year, so this time, I will take more time to y with Leng Changxi.¡±

    On the wall, soldiers fought with each other fiercely with blood everywhere. Although Yu Haitang ordered to retreat, many soldiers still followed Sima Ray¡¯s direction that they should never abandon the stockade even at the risk of life to fight there. At once, the red blood flew into the Sui River. Standing on the prow, Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help frowning when seeing this.

    Mu Qingyu sighed with feeling, ¡°In many ces, peacees at this price.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Qin Yunuan said with tears in her eyes. Although these dead soldiers were traitors who joined Sima Ray¡¯s camp, they after all were Qi¡¯s people. ¡°I only hope it¡¯s worth it.¡±

    With almost no loss of any soldier, Leng Changxi upied the water stockade Sima Ray took pains to build, simply by virtue of local fishermen¡¯s help and their unique climbing tools.

    When Leng Changxi walked in the stockade, he saw soldiers in ck armor were busy with clearing up food and weapons Sima Ray¡¯s army left. Then he took a look at Qin Yunuan who stood next to him in the wind and asked her in a gentle voice, ¡°Are you cold? If you are, you can stay in the room.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Qin Yunuan replied when looking at the Sui River in which blood could still be seen. ¡°But I¡¯m curious what you had talked to Yu Haitang and Sima Ray on the battlement. Before you mastered the Tongming gate Qigong, you could already defeat Sima Ray. So now, you can easily behead him in three moves. But why didn¡¯t you do so? Why did you just cut off his hair? You were not pulling your punches but deliberately leaving trouble for yourself. Changxi, I can¡¯t understand what you are doing.¡±

    Leng Changxi turned his head a bit, and his clear-cut chin moved. His eyes were as dark as an old well where people couldn¡¯t see the bottom.

    ¡°It¡¯s because of Yu Haitang.¡±

    ¡°Yu Haitang?¡± Qin Yunuan was confused.

    ¡°Yes. I also wanted to directly kill Sima Ray so that his army had no leader. And soldiers wouldn¡¯t be able to unite together even if Yu Haitang could act as their leader. When I was about to wield my spear, I saw Yu Haitang¡¯s eyes, and then I heard a voice that seemed toe from afar.¡±

    ¡°A voice?¡±

    ¡°Right. That voice told me not to kill him. I wanted to get rid of it, but I couldn¡¯t even if I leveraged all my genuine energy. That voice seemed to live in my ear. Because of this, the spear went astray, and I just cut off Sima Ray¡¯s hair.¡±

    Qin Yunuan thought about it for a while and felt the scene was a bit familiar. ¡°Do you remember that Qiu Shuihan also made people out of their wits when she yed the zither. Later, we found out she was using the dementing trick. But it is exclusive to people of the Qiu Family, and only its exalted sons and daughters can learn it. How could Yu Haitang use it? But I don¡¯t think he will lower himself to learn it.¡±

    Leng Changxi was also thinking about this carefully. After Qin Yunuan reminded him of this, he really thought Yu Haitang was using the dementing trick at that time. Right now, Leng Shuang, who was out to investigate, came back and reported that Sima Ray and his men had pitched camps in Ping Town, which was 15 kilometers away from the water stockade. And she found Qiu Shuihan¡¯s corpse in woods in Ping Town. Her body turned purple, and she died miserably.

    It seemed that Sima Ray already knew it was because of Qiu Shuihan that he was poisoned, after Yu Haitang reminded him. He tended to kill herter, but Yu Haitang had seen her through. Figuring everything out, Qin Yunuan felt sorry for Qiu Shuihan on one hand because she was forced to serve the man who killed her father. On the other hand, she felt relieved that she saved Shangguan Yuen.

    Thankfully, it was Leng Shuang who was scrupulous that followed Sima Ray. She added, ¡°But I found that Qiu Shuihan didn¡¯t die of poison but the loss of martial arts which led to her kidney rupture.¡±

    Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi looked at each other, and they seemed to understand what was wrong.

    ¡°I see. You can leave now,¡± Qin Yunuan said and saw Heiying stood downstairs in the distance, waiting for Leng Shuang with a snow-white cloak in his hand. This was a women¡¯s wear so it must be for Leng Shuang.

    As she expected, when Leng Shuang walked down, Heiying reached out and handed the cloak over to her. ¡°Put it on.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not cold.¡±

    ¡°Even so, you still have to put it on. You¡¯re injured, and you can¡¯t walk in thin clothes in such a heavy wind.¡±

    Seeing Heiying cared about Leng Shuang very much, Qin Yunuan felt reassured and said, ¡°If Qiu Shuihan really died of the loss of her martial arts and Yu Haitang mastered the dementing trick...¡± Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t finish the sentence, but Leng Changxi understood her. He nodded and said, ¡°He has transferred Qiu Shuihan¡¯s martial arts to himself. So effortless!¡±

    Hearing that, Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help frowning and said, ¡°He hasn¡¯t not only transferred her martial arts, but also has enhanced the trick. Sima Ray has many talented people around him, so will Yu Haitang...¡±

    Nearly at the same time, a scary scream broke the silence in Sima Ray¡¯s camp 15 kilometers away. A pale-faced man who dressed like a doctor ran out of Xu Ji¡¯s tent, stumbling and scrambling. He opened his mouth and was so shocked as if he had seen a ghost. After a long while, he shouted, ¡°The ghost has eaten the soul of Xu Ji, no, Lieutenant Xu.¡±

 Chapter 337 - A Deadly Weapon

    <h4>Chapter 337 A Deadly Weapon</h4>

    Hearing that something was wrong there, Sima Ray hurried over. When he arrived, there had been many people encircling the scene.

    ¡°What are you standing here for? Isn¡¯t there a group of wild wolves at the east of the camp? If you have so much spare time, you¡¯d bettere here to drive off the wolves for me,¡± After saying that, Sima Ray lifted the curtain and came in. The white curtain was pulled to the other side, under which Xu Ji was as skinny as a pile of dried bones. His skin was as thin as ayer of kite paper, which could be broken by a single poke. His facial features were deeply sunken, which could barely show his original graceful, god-like appearance. Even when Xu Ji was seriously ill, his appearance was still as gentle as jade due to Baili Ai¡¯s meticulous care, but now...

    Seeing Xu Ji lying on the bed like a terrifying skeleton, Sima Ray felt disgusting in his heart. At that time, a wheelchair was pushed slowly from outside the bed curtain. It was the person who looked like a boy serving in a schr¡¯s study pushing Yu Haitang out.

    ¡°It¡¯s you again?¡± Sima Ray tried his best to lower down his voice because there were still so many people outside, ¡°How many times did I tell you before? It¡¯s okay that you take away Qiu Shuihan¡¯s martial arts for yourself, but why do you do that to Xu Ji too? Do you know how hard it is for me to find him?¡±

    ¡°But now?¡± Yu Haitang looked much more energetic than in the morning. Although the hair was still as white as snow, it was much glossier, ¡°Even though I don¡¯t kill him for you, he can do nothing but lying on the bed, wasting your medicine and servants. You should thank me for that.¡±

    ¡°You,¡± Sima Ray¡¯s absolute authority was challenged like this for the first time. No. It was the second time. He always remembered Leng Changxi¡¯s face, ¡°Mr. Yu, it¡¯s true that I¡¯ve invited you here and taken you as my guest, but you can¡¯t do whatever you want to do.¡±

    Yu Haitang merely took a nce at Sima Ray, looking breathless, ¡°Your Royal Highness, I don¡¯t take your martial arts away only because you still have a little value to be used. You shouldn¡¯t be too casual, too.¡±

    Seeing Yu Haitang fluttering away, Sima Ray unexpectedly felt a feeling of helplessness as if he had been stabbed in his heart by a knife and forced to keep silent.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, look here,¡± the servant beside him came forward immediately and pointed at Xu Ji¡¯s body, which was already out of shape, ¡°What should we do with it?¡±

    Sima Ray didn¡¯t want to give Xu Ji one more nce, ¡°Just drag it out and bury it. Remember, keep it a secret. Tell others that Lieutenant Xu¡¯s disease is too serious to be cured.¡±

    After arranging the funeral quickly, Sima Ray returned to his camp, feeling a little absent-minded. Comparing to Luguan, Ping Town was like a small county. Obviously, there was no pce asrge as Yunying Pce for him to live in. However, the tent, narrow and small, was not the main reason to make him feel ufortable and worried.

    Sima Ray was thinking of her again. Qin Yunuan.

    Sima Ray had seen her sticking to Leng Changxi like a white rabbit. He saw her cheering for Leng Changxi¡¯s victory, as happy as a child. He saw her feeling worried when witnessing that Leng Changxi rode a ck horse and leaped up to the high camp wall. There was nobody else but the damned Leng Changxi in her eyes.

    ¡°D*mn it,¡± Sima Ray clenched his fist. The feeling of injustice and the desire for possession in his heart was getting stronger. How weird it was! The more this white rabbit ignored him, the more he wanted her. Sima Ray wanted to see Qin Yunuan worry him. Not only did Sima Ray want to conquer Qin Yunuan¡¯s body, but he also wanted to conquer Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart. He must do what Leng Changxi could do.

    Comparing to the panic in Sima Ray¡¯s camp, Leng Changxi was busy in the stockade.

    Although the old vige head promised to help Leng Changxi cross the Sui River, theme man Zhang and other people strongly demanded to join Leng Changxi¡¯s army. Apart from them, all the young and middle-aged people in the 17 viges around and the viges that had been forcibly conscripted before eagerly came here, wanting to join the army.

    Some of them hated Sima Ray¡¯s scheme to usurp the throne. Some merely wanted to avenge their family. Others admired Leng Changxi¡¯s horizon and courage, willing to follow him to achieve greatness. However, Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan also tried their best when selecting soldiers to join the army.

    Firstly, they didn¡¯t want the only child of a family. Secondly, they didn¡¯t want a married man with a young child in his family. Thirdly, they didn¡¯t want a man who had to raise a child from his coteral family.

    The war had caused disastrous life. Neither Qin Yunuan nor Leng Changxi hoped that they would cause the breakdown of more families that could have been saved.

    The queue requesting to join the army used to be long. Hearing the three requirements, most people shook their heads, feeling hesitant. Only the 7 or 8 people at the end of the queue jumped up. Tall and strong as they were, their clothes were in tatters like beggars. Their head was a man with a beard. The ck and messy beard covered half of his face, so his original appearance could not be seen.

    ¡°Only three requirements! My brothers and I are all qualified. Firstly, we have no mothers as we are all orphans. Secondly, we have no wives and children. Thirdly, we have no rtives and rtives¡¯ children. Those who are in front of us, if you don¡¯t go to enroll, please make way for my brothers.¡±

    The man spoke crudely. Immediately someone recognized them.

    ¡°Hey, aren¡¯t they the group of monks who escaped after killing the abbot in the Bailong Temple? Why do theye to join the army? Showing off like that, aren¡¯t they asking for death?¡±

    Rumors spread. Words swept like a west wind rolling the fallen leaves. Hearing that, Qin Yunuan, who came to give ginger soup to those soldiers in charge of conscription, put down the spoon in her hand and just looked at the crowd from a distance.

    The soldier next to Qin Yunuan immediatelyforted her by her ears, ¡°Madam, there¡¯s no need to worry. The people just want to make trouble. How can those who have killed people enter our military camp?¡±

    They were ttering words. However, they were in the wrong ce. Qin Yunuan turned her head and said indifferently, ¡°Look at the people in our military camp. Who has never killed anyone? Let someone bring them over and show me.¡±

    The soldier was still a little puzzled. Qin Yunuan had already turned around and entered the enlistment camp nearby. Leng Shuang looked at him and ordered, ¡°Don¡¯t you follow Madam¡¯s order?¡±

    Qin Yunuan sat in the camp, which was a little cold. The camp was rather rudimentary because it was casually built with the support of a few thick wooden sticks. The cold wind could directly blow in, chilly and freezing.

    Maner on the side gathered the cloak for Qin Yunuan when a rough greeting came from outside, ¡°Madam, I¡¯vee here with my brothers.¡±

    Maner frowned. Seeing the several strong men know nothing about manners with quite rude words and behaviors, she shouted, ¡°How rude you are! Don¡¯t you salute when you see Madam!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Qin Yunuan waved her hands to stop Maner, thinking that these people didn¡¯t know how to salute, ¡°I don¡¯t need useless manners.¡±

    The head of them smiled, ¡°Look! I know Madam is the most reasonable. You are not like the people outside, who all said that my brother and I were murders to be brought to justice. I find it strange really. Prince Ray rebelled, but he is still alive now. We just killed some bad monks in the Bailong Temple who oppressed the residents at the foot of the hill, but we are convicted. How weird it is!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard what happened in the Bailong Temple,¡± Qin Yunuan nodded, ¡°Indeed, those abbots secretly rented thend belonging to the temple to merchants to earn higher rents for usury. In order to force the farmers to hand over their fields, they even increased thend tax recklessly, causing people to leave their homes.¡±

    ¡°Look! I¡¯ve already said that those people should be killed! Madam, only you are reasonable.¡±

    ¡°However,¡± Qin Yunuan turned her topic of conversation when the man already interrupted, ¡°However what? Madam, don¡¯t you believe the martial arts of my brothers and me?¡±

    The man looked around nkly and focused on the extra thick wooden stick used to build the tent, which was as thick as the length of two hands. The man strode towards it and asked one brother to carry the thick wooden stick. Exercising his Qi, he directly shed it with his palm. Unexpectedly, the thick wooden stick was cut neatly as if it were cut with a knife.

    Not to mention the strength of the fist, even carrying the wooden stick required the cooperation of 2 or 3 soldiers. However, the in-looking man could carry it all by himself. It was really hard.

    ¡°Madam, now you can trust us.¡±

    Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help but praise in her heart. The martial arts of those people were definitely excellent. Otherwise, how could they have not been caught when it was nearly one year since the abbot in Bailong Temple was killed?

    Even so, Qin Yunuan just smiled kindly, ¡°Although I admire heroes, nothing can be aplished without norms or standards. Heroes, if you want to join our military camp, you need to obey the rules of our military camp.¡± While saying, Leng Shuang had already taken out the clothes prepared just now. They looked a bit strange as they were not like the clothes of West Xia or Qi, the Central ins. Instead, they looked like the clothes of Kunlun ves in South Yue. Did Qin Yunuan want to let them be ves?

    The head frowned, ¡°Madam, what do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Heroes, don¡¯t get me wrong,¡± Qin Yunuan said calmly, ¡°After all, you are involved in a murder. Heroes, although I know that you¡¯ve protected people from being harmed, if I admit you into the military camp at this time, it¡¯s inevitable that others will have dissenting opinions about your arrival. I find that you resemble the Kunlun ves in the southernnd. If you dress up like Kunlun ves, no one will have doubts.¡±

    The man was still hesitating. Actually, they had their own concern when attending Leng Changxi¡¯s army. Their crime was convicted by Sima Ray along with Dali Temple. If they could redeem sins by doing good deeds like defeating Sima Ray, they would no longer live in hiding. At least, they could shave their beards.

    ¡°A great man knows when to yield and when not,¡± Qin Yunuan let Leng Shuang put the clothes on the ground with a nce and slowly walked out of the camp, ¡°Heroes, think carefully about it.¡±

    Going out of the camp, Maner was a little confused. She asked in a low voice, ¡°Madam, why do you take in these people? They look so terrifying.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded and smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t you see them unruly. However, they are my deadly weapon against Yu Haitang.¡±

 Chapter 338 - Psychological Warfare

    <h4>Chapter 338 Psychological Warfare</h4>

    Hearing that Leng Changxi only recruited more than half of the number of peopleing for conscription, Sima Ray began to calcte in his heart. The left people must be the best among them. Therefore, he couldn¡¯t help but ask the spies to find out more. However, when he knew that there were even several Kunlun ves, heughed immediately.

    ¡°Is he really stupid?¡± Sima Ray was holding a golden bottle of wine in his hand. Although he was losing, he still didn¡¯t forget to enjoy, ¡°Kunlun ves are the undomesticated southern barbarians. They don¡¯t understand our words. They can¡¯t speak, and they won¡¯t be disciplined. What¡¯s wrong with Leng Changxi? Is he eager for quick sess so he recruits such inferior people into his army?¡±

    ¡°It remains unknown who is the fool,¡± a cold sentence rang outside Sima Ray¡¯s camp. A figure as tall as half a person, which sat on the chair, was set against the white camp curtain. Just one nce at it made one feel terrified.

    The curtain was lifted by the old servant beside Yu Haitang. Yu Haitang¡¯s eyes were shining, seeming to look much more energetic than in the morning.

    Sima Ray hurried to stand up, ¡°Mr. Yu.¡±

    Yu Haitang didn¡¯t even look at Sima Ray. He knew why Sima Ray¡¯s attitude had changed so quickly. Yesterday he said that Qiu Shuihan was actually poisoned by others, so her body was poisonous. Sima Ray would definitely be poisoned by his daily intercourse with her and practice. Sima Ray didn¡¯t believe him at first. He even increasingly resisted Yu Haitang after witnessing Xu Ji¡¯s death. However, Yu Haitang only used a little trick to force out part of the poisonous blood in Sima Ray. Seeing the ck, stinking blood from himself, Sima Ray naturally felt afraid.

    However, as for why only part of the poisonous blood was forced out instead of all of it, Yu Haitang had his own n.

    Yu Haitang only nced at the official seat specially given out by Sima Ray, but he didn¡¯t bother to sit on it. Wandering around the room, he said, ¡°Leng Changxi has his own n. He has Kunlun ves. Don¡¯t we have the wild wolves at the east of the camp? When the untamed Kunlun ves meet the bloodthirsty wild wolves, what result do you guess?¡±

    While saying, Yu Haitang was imagining the blood and violent scene. He was absorbed in it so deeply that he evenughed out aloud. The voice was sharp, unlike his usual old tone but like a woman¡¯s voice.

    Sima Ray gave a far-fetched smile, ¡°Mr. Yu, what a brilliant trick! Howe I don¡¯te up with the idea to use the group of wild wolves? I think about driving them out of the military camp in order not to harm soldiers¡¯ life, but I don¡¯t expect them to kill the enemy.¡±

    ¡°Stop ttering me,¡± Yu Haitang said coldly. With just one nce, the little lion-faced monkey leaped on Yu Haitang¡¯s shoulder and put a peeled purple grape in Yu Haitang¡¯s mouth. The old servant pushed Yu Haitang out. Sima Ray¡¯s face became solemn immediately. One day he would trample the damned old man under his feet.

    However, the old man seemed to begin to be a little weird.

    Let¡¯s see Leng Changxi¡¯s side.

    There were not many conscripts today, with only 400 or 500 people left in the end. They all came from fishing viges nearby, and every one of them could swim. Leng Changxi organized these people into a unique navy. Although Ping Town was not surrounded by mountains or rivers, there was an extremely wide moat outside the city wall, which was widened every year. It encircled Ping Town. No wonder Sima Ray still had some spare time to enjoy the wine at this time. On one hand, Ping Town had a moat, and Sima Ray¡¯s army was a little better than Leng Changxi¡¯s. On the other hand...

    ¡°The spies in the pce wrote a letter saying that the emperor was about to die,¡± Leng Changxi put down the secret letter in a bamboo tube under a single oilmp. Qin Yunuan next to him was preparing to put on a cloak to shelter him from the cold. Her hand paused. She hesitated for a while and asked, ¡°Is the message reliable?¡±

    ¡°The head of the tube was marked red.¡± Leng Changxi looked carefully at the small bamboo tube containing the secret letter, then fell into contemtion. ording to thews of Qi, if the emperor died without any will or a crowned prince, the next emperor should be rmended jointly by the civil and military officials from the adult princes considering the age and ability. However, now that all the officials listened to Sima Ray now, the situation was doomed to benefit him.

    If there was a will, it would have been tampered with or torn by Sima Ray long ago.

    What was more, once Sima Ray¡¯s status was confirmed, Leng Changxi¡¯s army would be gathered with no rightful reason. Thinking of the series of consequences, now that Leng Changxi was in a high position, he had to worry more.

    It seemed that it was urgent to break Ping Town.

    Leng Changxi took a deep breath and called Leng Wu, who had always been waiting outside.

    ¡°Take my order to others. The attack on the city will be at tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°General, will it be too rush to attack tomorrow?¡± Leng Wu bowed his fists, ¡°The newly recruited navy hasn¡¯t got their uniforms and nametes yet.¡±

    ¡°The navy won¡¯t participate in the attack tomorrow. It¡¯s alright,¡± Leng Changxi knocked on the log table with his slender knuckles.

    However, the next day when the 400,000 soldiers of West Xia were all dressed up and high-spirited, a wooden sign was thrown from the top of the wall of Ping Town.

    ¡°Free of war?¡± Tuoba Wuyu was really unhappy, ¡°Damn it! I¡¯ve prepared so much! In the morning, I deliberately spilled more urine as a sacrifice to heaven, the earth, and my ancestors. How can he take out the sign to avoid war?¡±

    Even though it was on the battlefield, there was still some care for emotions and traditions. When two armies were at war, if one party had a major holiday or funeral, it could hang up a free-of-war sign. If the other party attacked at the moment, despite the chance of victory, it would end up with the name of an unrighteous army. Although many people had done so in history and won power through it, the behavior would always be remembered.

    Tuoba Wuyu raised his voice and shouted to the old man hanging the sign on the city wall, ¡°Old man, I want to ask you a question. I don¡¯t remember today is a festival of Qi. Why do you hang up the sign?¡±

    The old man was hard of hearing. After Tuoba Wuyu raised his voice and shouted again, the old man replied slowly, ¡°Well, Prince Ray¡¯s favorite horse has died. He always cherishes this horse and takes it as his own son. Now that the horse is dead, His Highness is going to bury it in the same manner as burying the grandson of the emperor of Qi.¡±

    ¡°Taking a horse as his own son? Isn¡¯t it calling himself a brute too?¡± Qin Yunuan whispered. She and Leng Changxi happened to look at each other. Then she knew that they were thinking of the same thing.

    It remained unknown what Sima Ray was nning when he came up with such an excuse. For him, it was nothing more than knowing that why Leng Changxi dispatched his army this time was to pursue a justified reason. Leng Changxi definitely wouldn¡¯t give his army an eternal shame at this time.

    Sima Ray¡¯s tricks would continueter precisely due to this reason.

    As expected, on the second day, the sign was still hung up on the wall of Ping Town, because there was news from the Royal City that a distant aunt of Prince Ray had died.

    On the third day, Prince Ray¡¯s favorite hound died.

    On the fourth day...

    On the fifth day...

    Half a monthter, when Leng Changxi was sitting in the camp to read the battle report calmly, a helmet was thrown directly by Tuoba Wuyu. Leng Changxi stretched his hand to catch it so that the heavy helmet wouldn¡¯t smash the wildflowers that Qin Yunuan had just picked for him to put in the vase in the morning.

    ¡°It¡¯s too awful! I¡¯m so angry!¡± Tuoba Wuyu broke into the tent, sweating heavily. He could be so hot when it was so cold outside. His big round face was also red. With hot gasing out from his mouth, he said angrily, ¡°I¡¯ve yelled for quite a while in front of their city gate, using all the rude words, but they just don¡¯t open the gate for me! Damn it!¡± After speaking, he took another nce at the wildflower beside the helmet and spit, ¡°Tomorrow, maybe they will say that the flower in Prince Ray¡¯s house is dead too. Hey, General Leng, I¡¯m so confused. It is said that Prince Ray¡¯s mother is a servant girl, so he doesn¡¯t have many rtives. Why can they die one after another for such a long time? If it keeps going on, I¡¯m afraid that all his ancestors will have to climb out and die again.¡±

    Tuoba Wuyu¡¯s word was rude but right. At this moment, Qin Yunuan happened toe in with two cups of tea.

    ¡°General Tuoba, you¡¯vee all the way back from the front line. Now you must be thirsty now. Have a taste. These are the white plum blossoms picked by Leng Shuang from the back of the mountain. It tastes the best when you cook it into a tea with snow water that hasn¡¯t touched the ground.¡±

    ¡°General, Madam, what time is it now? The soldiers are all burned out of fighting spirits. Why are you still focusing on what water and what flower to cook?¡± Tuoba Wuyu punched his forehead, ¡°It¡¯s over! It¡¯s doomed to fail.¡±

    Leng Changxi took the tea on Qin Yunuan¡¯s tray. He used the lid to pick the plum petals floating on the water, ¡°If we all panic like you, then we¡¯re really over.¡± After saying, he took a sip, ¡°What Sima Ray wants is exactly to grind the fighting spirit of us and the morale of our soldiers until we are all softened like mud, and then he will attack us suddenly.¡±

    Tuoba Wuyu turned his head, ¡°I really want him to attack as soon as possible.¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded and waved his hand, ¡°Don¡¯t rush. Be patient. Now that they are having psychological warfare with us, we won¡¯t treat them badly.¡±

    Tuoba Wuyu was stunned. Seeing Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan smile at each other, he knew that they had already had an idea. Just when he was going to rx, Qin Yunuan reminded, ¡°However, General Tuoba, don¡¯t rx after you know the situation. You still have to scold outside Ping Town every day. Scold them every day. The ruder your words are, the better it would be.¡±

    Tuoba Wuyu seemed to understand or not. Anyway, he nodded solemnly, turned around, and left.

    At the same time, there seemed to be something wrong with Sima Ray¡¯s side. Sima Ray and Yu Haitang were discussing something in the camp when a reckless soldier rushed in from outside.

    ¡°What are you doing? You are so hurried. Don¡¯t you know that His Highness is inside?¡±

    ¡°Your... Your Royal Highness, a woman injured by an arrow broke into the camp gate. She has been shouting hard to see you.¡±

    Somehow, the first person Sima Ray expected was Qin Yunuan. However, thinking that Qin Yunuan¡¯s white skin to be prated by sharp arrows, he felt distressed. Until the soldier spread the straw mat wrapping the living person, Sima Ray finally saw the true identity of this person. Well, it was Shangguan Yuen.

 Chapter 339 - A Midnight Attack

    <h4>Chapter 339 A Midnight Attack</h4>

    With blood over her body, the person lying on a straw mat was near death. Baili Ai rushed to here in a hurry and felt her pulse subconsciously. Without a minute, he nodded, ¡°Excessive loss of blood, it¡¯s hard to survive.¡±

    ¡°Then,¡± Sima Ray replied indifferently, ¡°Throw her anywhere as you like rather than here taking up other¡¯s ce.¡± In this woman he only wanted to y with, he absolutely lost all his interest.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness,¡± Shangguan Yuen called him faintly, ¡°I have something for you.¡± Her bloody hands trembled. Insidey a white handkerchief. She smiled bitterly, ¡°You gave it to me before.¡± Sima Ray pushed her hands away with dislike. The cloth fell to the ground. After that, a small topographic map with several routes marked red dropped out from it.

    Out of curiosity, Sima Ray picked it up and turned to nce at Baili Ai. Yu Haitang fell behind far away. It was not sure whether he caught this tiny detail.

    ¡°Come in and get yourself warm. It is for the sake that you¡¯d served me some period before.¡± Sima Ray waved his hand. Soldiers wrapped Shangguan Yuen up and transferred her into Sima Ray¡¯s tent. After everybody had left, Sima Ray grasped the map tightly and asked, ¡°What¡¯s this? You brought it from Leng Changxi¡¯s ce?¡±

    Being white-faced, Shangguan Yuen nodded feebly. She struggled to answer, ¡°Your Royal Highness, you have stalled West Xia¡¯s army for half a month that long. Their provisions have fallen short of supply long since. These grain routes from Luguan can sustain West Xia for about one month. If Your Royal Highness is able to intercept these provisions, within three days, the whole army of West Xia will surrender.¡±

    Sima Ray delighted. But his joy soon faded away. He failed to persuade himself into believing this woman. He had treated her that bad. Why did she risk her life to bring back the information for him?

    Perceiving Sima Ray¡¯s hesitation, Shangguan Yuen¡¯s eyes filled with tears, ¡°I¡¯m sure Your Royal Highness will be suspicious of me. But Your Royal Highness, you were the first and are the only one I fell in love with. No matter how you treat me, I will alwaysmit myself to you. I only have one thing to regret. I passed out when people from Qin¡¯s family took me away abiding by yourmand. If I had been awake, I wouldn¡¯t leave. I didn¡¯t want to leave you, Your Royal Highness.¡± Shangguan Yuan began coughing blood as she was saying.

    Such a talkative woman. Regardless of Shangguan Yuen¡¯s body condition, Sima Ray straightened up to stare at the map in his hand. On the map drawn a canyon set by the hillside behind West Xia¡¯s military camp. It looked covert outside, but inside it was spacious to defend and offend. It seemed that Leng Changxi picked the right ce.

    Leng Changxi was alerted. Except for two routes for transporting grains, there were three routes designed specially to guard the grains. As noted on the map, the main protectors were Mu Qingyu¡¯s soldiers for about two hundred thousand. It was neither ck Armor soldiers nor the Leng Army, just the ordinary one. It didn¡¯t seem to be a worry.

    Leng Changxi¡¯s arrangement for such a provisions transport map was terrific. As Sima Ray scanning the map, he doubted that if he was in Leng Changxi¡¯s position, he might not carry out such a perfect n.

    But...

    Sima Ray turned around to see Shangguan Yuen who already fell into aa. Leng Changxi¡¯s calction wasn¡¯t enough, for he had forgotten that not every person beside him deserved his trust.

    As what Shangguan Yuen had said, if he could intercept these provisions, Leng Changxi would kneel to him for a pleading. Sui River was so severely polluted in the previous battle that no eatable things survived in it. Though Leng Changxi gained people¡¯s hearts around the area of Sui River, without these provisions, West Xia¡¯s army prated into the hearnd of Qi would only lead to Leng Changxi¡¯s out on a limb.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, Mr. Yu hade.¡±

    The voice of the guard came through from the outside. Sima Ray stuffed the map into his waistband. Though Yu Haitang promised to cleanse his toxic blood every day, he never said that he could cure it once and for all. The poison had entered into his vital organs, even his muscles and vessels already, which directly affected his routine of energy and martial skills.

    What a pity! Did Yu Haitang honestly believe that he could control him through detoxication?

    Sima Ray grinned hideously. He felt the map on his waist was parched like his fervent wild ambition.

    Seven dayster, it was a moonless night. The rimless darkness was a giant cage that covered every mountain and stream. A intive whine came through far away. It seemed to be the sign for an impending windstorm full of unknown.

    A list of troops was passing through the winding stone pathway in the canyon silently. It must be a well-trained one, for their hoofbeats and footsteps were uniform and concerted.

    Suddenly, some noises stopped the general forward.

    ¡°General!¡± Someone cried out in a low voice.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be panic.¡±

    After his words, the dark sky was lit up like the sea of stars by numerous torches above the canyon. Cheering rang out as if people of a primitive tribe in the Yeren Valley got excited after catching their prey.

    Fire arrows were targeted at provisions that troops were carrying down the canyon. A horse whinnied. Sima Ray was in his golden armor. He rode his tall horse to an extruded rock. The high position he was holding satisfied his need for the pleasing sensation of revenging.

    It was Leng Wu not the other walking in the front of this troop. This guy favored by Leng Changxi learned part of his style. He nced at Sima Ray coldly, turned his head and said, ¡°Everybody defends.¡±

    ¡°Defend?¡± Sima Ray sneered. ¡°Look at the situation right now. No matter how you defend yourself, the only result is to be shot by my archers.¡± Sima Ray gotcent. It seemed the map that Shangguan Yuen gave him was real.

    He didn¡¯t inform Yu Haitang about the action. For one thing, he wasn¡¯t able to verify the information. For another,plying with Yu Haitang would deteriorate his status.

    Except that Sima Ray counted Yu Haitang, as well as Leng Changxi too simple.

    When he was proud of himself, a cold but familiar voice frightened him, ¡°Prince Ray, you are such in a mood to travel so far only to enjoy the moon or star.¡±

    Sima Ray stiffly stunned. He turned around slowly. It was Leng Changxi as he expected. He was dressed in a Modena long gown, which got messy by the wind.

    Sima Ray was reluctant to show his confusion. He grabbed the torch from the guard beside him and pointed it down the canyon.

    ¡°Leng Changxi, though you reacted that fast, it was toote. As long as I throw this torch downward, your provisions that could sustain for one month will be totally destroyed.¡± Threatening, Sima Ray feigned to act as what he said.

    ¡°Just do it if you want.¡± Leng Changxi didn¡¯t care a pin. He held his head high, ¡°Watch carefully what I¡¯m carrying.¡±

    Hearing this, Leng Wu gave an order to turn on the canvas covering the freight. Inside were hays rather than provisions. Such things neither deserve Leng Changxi¡¯s nning for routes, nor Sima Ray¡¯s encirclement at midnight.

    ¡°Hah,¡± Leng Changxi watched Sima Ray¡¯s expression go rigid and shook his head, ¡°if I still remember, you were threatening me just now.¡± Leng Changxi sneered. With a snap, several torches lit up behind him. The new, yellow fire shining like the Milky Way made a clearparison between dying red fire Sima Ray¡¯s side.

    ¡°You...¡± Sima Ray suddenly got his face pale. He paused and spitted out blood that smeared the white horse¡¯s horsehair beneath him.

    Leng Changxi frowned. He had no idea what trick Sima Ray was ying right now. When he came forward and tried to make it clear, Sima Ray rolled his eyes upward and fell from the horse.

    All of a sudden, Sima Ray¡¯s crack troops were out of a leader. Leng Changxi frowned and decided without a second. His spear picked the golden helmet down and raised it to the sky. Under the light of the fire, it was like a rising sun that shined.

    ¡°Your chiefmander has been executed. Now, only surrenderors can survive.¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s thick voice resounded in this canyon powerfully. When those soldiers were hesitating, 1,500 soldiers from the Leng Army bond their hands as fast as possible.

    This night, Leng Changxi got a harvest. Only with a hundred hay cars and few soldiers, he captured so many Qi¡¯s soldiers alive. Most importantly, he caught Sima Ray that easy, which was the most curious thing that Leng Changxi paid attention to.

    Back to the military camp, Leng Wu was counting the results of the action. Mu Qingyu and Tuoba Wuyu, who were in charge of the military camp¡¯s security, also reported being peacefulst night.

    Peaceful? How could it be peaceful? The news that Sima Ray was captured would be passed to Ping Town at the fastest speed. Yu Haitang definitely would do something.

    ¡°General,¡± Heiying had been focusing on issues about Ping Cheng. This moment, he walked in with pride, ¡°Army in Ping Town refuses to fight today, again.¡±

    ¡°Hum?¡± Leng Changxi took a drink of cold tea.

    ¡°Their justification this time was to pay condolence to the sacrifice of General Sima Ray for one day.¡± Heiying paused and continued, ¡°Yu Haitang will be the general to defend Ping Cheng.¡±

    ¡°Yu Haitang makes adjustments timely.¡± Leng Changxi nodded without any surprise. Yu Haitang and Sima Ray were acting friendly above. Leng Changxi had also seen it through. ¡°However...¡±

    Leng Changxi found it unusual that Sima Ray spat the blood out this time.

    ¡°Changxi,¡± Qin Yunuan put the curtain aside and came in with sweat dripping down from her face. After Leng Changxi brought Sima Ray back, she kept inspecting Sima Ray¡¯s body condition in the tent beside. Qin Yunuan ran her eyes over people inside the tent and said, ¡°We got some problems. You have toe and check it now.¡±

 Chapter 340 - The Same Personality

    <h4>Chapter 340 The Same Personality</h4>

    The problem, ording to Qin Yunuan, was the sleeping Sima Ray definitely. She touched his pulse and discovered that though it was faint and hard to perceive, Sima Ray¡¯s internal organs, muscles and vessels were all in operation.

    ¡°It¡¯s like hibernation.¡± For the sake of saving energy, his body only supplies the heart with sufficient one. Qin Yunuan watched his pale face and said, ¡°His breath and pulse beat are tuned to body¡¯s extreme. He¡¯s seemingly dead, like a turtle in hibernation. No sensation, cannot hear, cannot feel the temperature, though I¡¯m unwilling to recognize, he was still alive.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d rather die than live like this.¡± Leng Changxi bent to scan Sima Ray closer. He walked around him, stared at his eyes, and suddenlyughed out, ¡°He isn¡¯t that annoying when he shut his mouth up.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was shocked. She coughed to remind Leng Changxi that Sima Ray was still here.

    ¡°Any problem?¡± Leng Changxi shrugged. He showed a child-like ignorant look and said, ¡°He cannot hear anything, can he?¡±

    Leng Changxi stood straight. He frowned thoughtfully, looked at Qin Yunuan, and said, ¡°Heiying told me that Xu Ji, who was Sima Ray¡¯s assistant, was dead. If Baili Ai had been there, Xu Ji might survive, though he might not speak normally as before. I doubt that Xu Ji¡¯s and Qiu Shuihan¡¯s death had the same traits. Could it be possible that Sima Ray is another prey of Yu Haitang?¡± Leng Changxi soon self-denied. Because the way Sima Ray died was quite different from theirs.

    Killing Qiu Shuihan, Yu Haitang could inherit her ability of Insanity. Killing Xu Ji, he could inherit his ability of talking with the Spirits. But what could he inherit from Sima Ray? In terms of martial skills, Yu Haitang surpassed Sima Ray much more.

    At this moment, a scout came in bringing news that several strange strategies they had never seen before were set around Ping Cheng. Mr. Cang, alias Heiying checked them. He made a deduction that these were products by Xu Ji.

    ¡°How could it be possible? Xu Ji is dead. It should be a person who has the same level as Xu Ji.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± A low voice came from outside of the tent. Heiying opened the curtain and strode in. He was travel-stained, with slime under his shoes. Nobody knew when the road was getting muddy due to the continuous raindrops, ¡°I¡¯m sure Xu Ji made them.¡±

    ¡°Though the method to set strategies could be duplicated, one¡¯s habit was hard to change. The Xu Family was strict in training. Every set of strategies must be urate to li. I¡¯ve researched Xu Ji¡¯s strategy and discovered that he would use rice grains asbels to make the distance more precise. This is a prominent trait of his strategy.¡± Heiying pulled out a white handkerchief from his pocket. Inside it was crimson rice, ¡°No one other than Xu Ji would use such crimson rice to make marks.¡±

    Leng Changxi was quite nervous. Compared with him, Qin Yunuan seemed to pay attention to the handkerchief which a dragonfly stitched on. It was well-made, that apparently it was a product of ady. It was surprising that Heiying was carrying such a girlish thing with him.

    ¡°Nice handkerchief,¡± Qin Yunuan smiled to Heiying and said, ¡°Moreover, nice stitchwork. Mr. Cang, I suppose you got it from a nicedy.¡±

    Heiying distracted himself to touch the lively dragonfly stitched on the handkerchief. Fluttering thin wings and drooped tail of it reminded him of the appearance of Leng Shuang giving it to him that day.

    ¡°This is my first time to do the stitchwork. Just tell me you like it.¡±

    All along, he thought she was adept at handling weapons. He was surprised to find that she had such dexterous hands. Actually, in his mind, no matter how she stitched, he¡¯d love it.

    Leng Changxi smiled deliberately. Watching Heiying¡¯s expression got shy unconsciously, he said, ¡°Where were we before? Hm, this strategy is a work of Xu Ji, right?¡±

    Heiying got distracted from his memories and nodded dully.

    ¡°That¡¯s strange,¡± Leng Changxi turned around and ordered Heiying, ¡°Fetch your Leng Shuang back. She had studied martial skills in different schools that it¡¯s her excellency to recognize strange ones.¡±

    Heiying was stunned, again. Leng Changxi raised his head naturally and said, ¡°What? Did I say anything wrong? If Leng Shuang wasn¡¯t yours, how could she be mine? I already have Nuan and currently speaking, a concubine is below consideration.¡±

    ¡°General, I...¡±

    ¡°Then go, right now.¡± Leng Changxi ignored the fact that Heiying was awkward and at a loss. He indulged himself in Sima Ray, who was in aa.

    Currently, Ping Cheng.

    Yu Haitang was quietly sitting inside the central tent that used to be the one for Sima Ray to deal with military affairs. Around him, the little lion-faced monkey seemed to have intelligence. Knowing his master was in deep thought, it squatted aside honestly, without making any noise.

    Outside came the voice of little steps. It was the servant girl to serve up Longjing tea. Yu Haitang¡¯s old servant was guarding outside the tent. It was an unpeaceful day: the army changed its master and general. How big a thing! Though Yu Haitang had a sublime position initially, a prince of Qi died that easy. Even his body wasn¡¯t brought back. ording to Yu Haitang, Sima Ray¡¯s fate was due to his wrong estimation to the situation so that he rushed to West Xia to sneak attack.

    However, Shangguan Yuen, who sent fake information, was rescued. Without testimony and physical evidence, the deputy general was unaware of whether to believe this news, but now he had to consider it true. On the first day Yu Haitang assumed office, he arranged sophisticated strategies around Ping Cheng. They didn¡¯t know that such an older person could set it up, but watching the reaction from West Xia¡¯s military camp, it seemed that the strategy¡¯s power was, at least, as good as the one deputy general Xu Ji arranged before.

    ¡°Youck vision! Why you prepare Longjing tea and Sweet Olive cakes for Mr. Yu? These are the things the general loves.¡± The old servant dropped on the servant girl. He lowered his voice as possible to avoid being heard. He was afraid that Yu Haitang would be displeased.

    The maid suffered from colossal injustice. She mumbled in a low voice, ¡°We only prepare tea breaks His Majesty loves. Now Mr. Yu unexpectedly wants to have somete snacks that he likes. I can¡¯t find anything else.¡±

    ¡°Such a useless little b*tch!¡± Then it was a p on her face. When a man gets to the top, all his friends and rtions get there with him. It was right. The dwarf old servant began swaggering.

    ¡°Just let her in.¡± Yu Haitang said inside. The servant girl was stunned by his Sima Ray-like voice and tone. She kept reminding herself in her mind that her master was dead. If she failed to do so, she would believe the person who sat here was still Sima Ray.

    The servant girl served the Longjing tea. Yu Haitang was reading something under the candlelight. On his fingertip was a cinnabar writing brush used for annotation. He descended the writing brush tip that only his index finger and middle finger mped the tube. He looked up at the servant girl and said, ¡°Put it down.¡±

    Finishing his words, he opened the lid of the cup of Longjing tea. It seemed to be overheated that he swirled the tea and put it aside. He then picked up a Sweet Olive cake. Before eating it, he put it above the tea for a while. As if he wanted that cake to be immersed with tea¡¯s vor.

    The servant girl was stunned. The way he ate Sweet Olive cakes was the same as what Sima Ray did in the past.

    ¡°What are you looking at? Once finish your work, get out.¡± Yu Haitang nced at the servant girl. Though he was over nighty, he was like an ambitious young man nning for his future and the overall arrangement.

    That servant girl got bewildered even though she left. Wasn¡¯t that person in the hall His Majesty?

    Wind roaring at night, as if it traveled from southeast Ping Cheng to the Royal City thousands of miles away. The city tonight was also unrest. Under the seemingly peaceful night sky, crimes were happening in small alleys.

    In a dim ck alley, a group of rogues was surrounding a young man who seemed to be a weak student. The young man looked like to be raised up in a wealthy family. He was white-skinned and tender that water could be squeezed out from his face. His dressing got messed, but mess couldn¡¯t hide it gorgeous.

    ¡°This money is not enough for us to have a drink.¡± The boss rogue weighed the light money pocket in his hand and estimated the money inside it. Hisckeys counted the number tteringly and said, ¡°Boss, it was just a few copper tes rather than taels of silver.¡±

    ¡°Copper tes?¡± The boss got angrier, ¡°The master of Shangguan Family only got a few copper tes. It seems that your family does lose the position and influence. Otherwise, you will not be bullied by us. But I¡¯m quite interested in your dressing. It may worth a few. Come, strip him.¡±

    As they were about to take action, someone said ¡°stop¡± from the alley entrance.

    The rogue turned around his neck, then his body with arrogance, ¡°Stop? I¡¯m so curious that who dares to poke his nose into other¡¯s business in these turbulent days.¡±

    ¡°Boss, this is the carriage from Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.¡±

    The boss paused, ¡°The Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion, so what? Prince Ning¡¯s arm got broken. He is not able to protect himself right now. Do you still consider him as the person before that could shake heaven and earth? You must be kidding me.¡±

 Chapter 341 - A Request to Meet You

    <h4>Chapter 341 A Request to Meet You</h4>

    Voice faded. The sudden chill around his neck failed the rogue to say anything. A dagger directly cut into the wall next to him, only a li away. The person sat in the carriage in the alley far with genuine energy, ¡°Cannotpare with the past. But to cope with such a guy like you, I use an arm is more than enough. I will count to ten. Just make your disappearance on your own.¡±

    After he finished his word, the rogue disappeared. Prince Ning, Leng Zhongxiao leaned forward out of the carriage to stare at the young man passed out around the corner of the alley.

    ¡°Why did Your Highness save the person of Shangguan Family? If they had not meddled with these things out of thin air, Your Highness wouldn¡¯t break your arm to prove your innocence.¡± The old servant felt unfair obviously. He didn¡¯t understand why Prince Ning saved the concubine¡¯s child of Shangguan Family. The day Shangguan Family was confiscated, all their hereditary title of nobility and feats went to waste. Their master was degraded to plebeian. Prominent criminals, such as Shangguan Yuen, were executed. As for Shangguan Yi, the famous Confucian schr in Qi, he was repatriated to the regions south of the River. The Emperor forbade him to step into the Royal City forever. The fall of Shangguan Family scattered previous followers. But those who apuded for its fall were not a minority.

    But Prince Ning, who was forced into such a degree, chose to stay silent.

    ¡°If every revenge should be taken, Jing Donghua was killed under my de at an earlier period of time.¡± Prince Ning sighed with mncholy. He looked at Qin Baochuan, who was lying in the carriage asleep. The raging undercurrent in the Royal City made security bing worse. Prince Ning reduced the chance to get out. This time, not for seizing Qin Baochuan, who said to protect his sister for the seventh time, he won¡¯t go out either.

    This child was a little shy but lovely stubborn, just like his daughter-inw. Since she entrusted him, he ought to protect her younger brother.

    Sima Ray had been dead. ording to the pigeon¡¯s letter received this morning, Yu Haitang was in power right now. Though Prince Ning knew less about the person, he learned that this person was not that simple.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Prince Ning looked at the concubine¡¯s child of the Shangguan Family from far away in the alley. He moved his eyes. The carriage set out again.

    The blurred night covered the disturbance in the Royal City. At the frontier, the winter night was much colder. Spring was about to begin. Ping Cheng was chilled, though. A tiny oilmp, two or three sleepless people-Maner was boiling water to prepare tea for Leng Changxi and his fellows who were having a midnight meeting on the other side of the tent. She sleepily rubbed her eyelids and got up for some tea leaves. Suddenly, she saw Leng Wu standing outside the tent, watching her quietly.

    Such abruptly, Maner got scared.

    ¡°Stand and say nothing. You just like a ghost!¡± Maner nced at Leng Wu with a pouting smile. She didn¡¯t stop what she was doing. Once the tea leaves were pinched a small piece of the tea cake and thrown into the boiling water, her hand was held tightly by another big hand.

    Being ignorant of the time, Leng Wu eagerly closed her.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Maner lowered her head and pushed Leng Wu, ¡°The Madam and The General are waiting for tea breaks.¡±

    Leng Wu paused for a moment and said tenderly, ¡°I miss you so much, Maner. It¡¯s my fault that I ignore to apany you. I¡¯ll keep you at the side once we back to the Royal City.¡±

    Everyone was busy along this way. As Leng Changxi¡¯s closest bodyguard, Leng Wu must have held substantial responsibilities. Maner, on the other side, was Qin Yunuan¡¯s right-hand woman. To count, they hadn¡¯t spoken such closely for several days.

    Maner shyly bowed her head and nodded heavily, ¡°We will have in days once the war is over. I want to bear a lot of children, watching them grow up and step into marriage.¡±

    Leng Wu couldn¡¯t help to hug his Maner. She was thinner than before, ¡°Whether you have a son or a daughter, as long as it¡¯s yours, I¡¯d love it.¡±

    Someone was calling outside.

    Yuanyang came in saying, ¡°Maner, Madam is waiting...¡± Yuanyang paused and had a dry cough. She saw Leng Wu and Maner¡¯s honey scenario and shook her head, ¡°Alright, I will bring them in for you. Keep going. You guys just keep going.¡±

    Maner didn¡¯t get the nerve to continue. Her soft fist pounded on Leng Wu¡¯s broad chest. Watching Yuanyang leaving, she regretted, ¡°Look at you! I¡¯m embarrassed to be seen by Yuanyang. Later you will do night duty, go fast, go!¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t leave,¡± Leng Wu was a straight fool, ¡°Let¡¯s chat for a while since she already saw it.¡±

    Maner pushed Leng Wu out of the tent, smiling, ¡°Leave now, Vanguard Leng. Night watchers are waiting for yourmand.¡±

    Leng Wu was reluctant to leave. Though Maner was urging, after Leng Wu left, the sweetness in her heart overflew in the corner of her lips. She lowered her head and smiled subtly. Inside her heart was the warmth between them. She burned the fire hotter. All of a sudden, a tall shadow covered her head again. Maner thought it was Leng Wu again and fainted to be angry, ¡°Why did you show up again?¡±

    Suddenly, a white mist charmed her eyes. The next moment she lost her consciousnesspletely.

    And in this side, Yuanyang presented the tea te into the tent for Maner. With charcoal fire about to extinguish, the temperature was going down. Yuanyang put a cup of tea at Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand then went to add more coal to the charcoal fire. Qin Yunuan served a tea to Leng Changxi.

    ¡°Leng Shuang, what you said was true?¡± After a long time, Leng Changxi broke the silence, ¡°His ability not only can transfer one¡¯s internal skills and ability, but also have a great chance to transfer one¡¯s disposition and memory? Isn¡¯t that the same as transferring one¡¯s soul to another¡¯s body? That is to say...¡± Leng Changxi was speechless.

    ¡°Indeed. Yu Haitang was now the united form of Xu Ji, Qiu Shuihan and Sima Ray.¡± Qin Yunuan spoke out what Leng Changxi was thinking.

    ¡°Not really,¡± Leng Changxi shook his head. The situation might be worse than what they imagined. ¡°Do you still remember? The way Sima Ray died was different from that of Xu Ji and Qiu Shuihan. His internal Qi remained, though his soul disappeared. Yu Haitang only inherited his soul without his internal Qi. Did it do any good to him? What could he benefit from Sima Ray¡¯s memory and disposition?¡±

    Thought for a while, Qin Yunuan spoke slowly, ¡°On the contrary, it did no good to Yu Haitang. But for Sima Ray, it¡¯s like he changed his body with the same soul.¡±

    Leng Changxi continued naturally, ¡°A body with deep internal Qi knew how to control one¡¯s spirit andmunicate with heaven.¡±

    Leng Shuang nodded, ¡°That method can absorb the internal Qi of a person which prolongs life. It is said juvenescence can happen.¡±

    All these clues went to one conclusion. Sima Ray would be tremendously benefited.

    Thinking of the person who was in aa, Qin Yunuan got chilled. That man was dreadfully horrible.

    ¡°So everything is in Sima Ray¡¯s n.¡± Qin Yunuan frowned. Her fingertips kept pointing on the case. ¡°We all thought it was Yu Haitang that manipted, threatened, and frightened Sima Ray. In fact, it was Sima Ray that used Yu Haitang to inherit Qiu Shuihan and Xu Ji¡¯s ability. Perhaps victims were more than two. He was a master of it.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s gone crazy!¡± Leng Changxi was referring to Sima Ray. Sima Ray gave up his body and noble identity to be an older man over the nies to absorb so many abilities without effort. ¡°But it is a good thing, on the other hand. At least we know who is in charge of Ping Cheng. It is said to be Yu Haitang, still the crazy Sima Ray. To be in a leading active position was not a bad thing.¡±

    Qin Yunuan knew that Leng Changxi wasforting people who were present. Anyway, the truth was over amazing and over scary. Nobody knew where the original personality of Yu Haitang was.

    At this moment, Yuanyang in the tent next door hurried in with ck coal smeared on her dress.

    ¡°That¡¯s terrible. General, Madam, Maner is missing.¡±

    ¡°What happened?¡± Qin Yunuan straightened up. Her eyes showed that she was uneasy, ¡°Was she going for Leng Wu? Or simply going out?¡±

    ¡°Neither,¡± Yuanyang gasped, ¡°When I¡¯m back, it was empty in that tent. Initially, I thought she was just going out, but when I fetched for charcoals, I saw a brief note left on it.¡± She passed the brief note to Qin Yunuan as she was saying.

    It was written clearly enough. The handwriting was such familiar.

    ¡°I hereby request a meeting with you in the east grove tomorrow. Alone, if you want to see your good sis.¡±

    It was unknown who the ¡°you¡± was referring to.

    ¡°Of course me.¡± Qin Yunuan knew this handwriting. It was Sima Ray¡¯s. He never gave up his sinister designs to forcibly upy her body and soul. Now, to get a chance to meet her, he dared to kidnap Maner, the girl who grew up with her. He must recognize the profound rtionship between Qin Yunuan and Maner that he particrly put his hand to her.

    Maner, it was my bad. How would sick Sima Ray deal with you? Please be safe. If you had something trouble, how could I exin to my mother and Leng Wu?

 Chapter 342 - You Asked for It

    <h4>Chapter 342 You Asked for It</h4>

    Worrying about things that might happen increased their chances of happening.

    They heard the fast footsteps of Leng Wu who kept vigil outside. Hearing that Maner was missing, he directly walked back into the tent.

    Just when stepping into the tent, Leng Wu still held the belief that Maner wasn¡¯t missing. Because he was responsible for guarding the military camp, he knew it would be so hard for one to sneak into the camp without being found. Maybe they got the wrong message.

    But seeing Qin Yunuan was as freezing as a rock that had been stored in the icehouse for several days, Leng Wu also felt cold inside.

    ¡°Maner...¡± Leng Wu murmured, and he hesitated to ask Maner¡¯s whereabouts.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Qin Yunuan was very guilty and looked at the letter on the table. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will go to the woods tomorrow to take Maner back.¡±

    ¡°No, you can¡¯t!¡± Leng Changxi cut in. He knew what Sima Ray wanted to do to Qin Yunuan, so how could he bear that Qin Yunuan met with that b*st*rd alone? ¡°If you dare to walk out of the tent, I will tie you up. I won¡¯t let you go to see him.¡±

    ¡°Changxi, how could...¡± Qin Yunuan argued. But suddenly, she felt someone hit her on her neck. Then her eyes dulled, and she lost consciousness at once.

    Leng Changxi held Qin Yunuan who cked out because of his hit in his arms. He didn¡¯t want to do this to her. But under such urgent circumstances, he really didn¡¯t know what to do. He only knew he couldn¡¯t let Qin Yunuan meet Sima Ray, that dangerous b*st*rd.

    Seeing Qin Yunuan, whose face was red, fell asleep in peace like a child, Leng Changxi felt as if time had stopped. He looked at her pretty face and cute look and thought it would be so nice if they could be like this forever. It would be so wonderful if they could live a quiet and peaceful life and not get involved in any fight or war.

    ¡°Leng Shuang, keep an eye on her,¡± Leng Changxi handed Qin Yunuan to Leng Shuang with reluctance. Holding Qin Yunuan¡¯s shoulder, Leng Shuang did what Leng Changxi asked. Although she always followed and served Qin Yunuan, Leng Changxi was her leader, and she had to listen to him.

    ¡°Heiying, I give you half an hour to pick 20 most talented soldiers from the Leng Army and soldiers in ck armor, and also prepare 20 horses for them. Go to the woods in the east and ambush there before dawn.¡± Leng Changxi gave orders quickly and vigorously. Then he looked back at Leng Wu andforted him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t let Maner be hurt. I promise she will be energetic when I take her back. And you, have a rest here.¡±

    ¡°No, I have to go with you.¡± Maner was his wife, the woman he loved most.

    ¡°No need.¡± Leng Changxi found that Leng Wu was too excited now, not suitable for working with others. Heiying walked to Leng Wu and patted him on his shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll all go with General. If I can¡¯t take Maner back, I will kill myself. Besides, you are more familiar with affairs here, and it¡¯s the safest way that you stay here with Her Grace to guard the camp. After all, we can¡¯t say for sure that Sima Ray, no, Yu Haitang, won¡¯t sneak in to cause any trouble when General is out.¡±

    Heiying told Leng Wu the advantages and disadvantages of his stay. Leng Wu nodded suddenly. He was a bit insensitive now. Soon, Leng Changxi left the camp with soldiers. It was dark outside, and the sun might rise about 4 hourster. Sima Ray didn¡¯t write when they should meet. But Leng Changxi decided to set off earlier, just to be on the safe side.

    When they arrived, it was in the early morning. There was fog so that the woods seemed to be covered with ayer of white silk. Because of the moisture, their clothes and faces got wet. On Leng Changxi¡¯s cold armor was the condensation, but he was not in a mood to clear it up. He frowned. No one could see what happened five meters away in such heavy fog, no matter how good his eyesight was.

    ¡°General, no one is in front,¡± the pathfinder reported, and his clothes were already wet.

    ¡°General,¡± Heiying looked back and asked Leng Changxi for orders.

    Leng Changxi just said two words, ¡°Climb up.¡±

    Quickly, over 20 people directly leaped onto the top of the tall pine trees. The sun rose. The fog began to disperse but still hovered over the pine treetop. Gradually, they could see green grass down.

    ¡°General, someone¡¯s there,¡± Heiying said and made a gesture.

    Leng Changxi looked at the west side where there were lush pine trees. Many pine needles remained on branches even in winter. He saw a vague figure in a white gown flew across pine trees. That figure was so fast that he could almostpare with Leng Changxi in terms of light skills.

    The person in a white gownnded and looked around to check the surrounding environment carefully. He seemed to have leveraged his genuine energy to sense whether there were other people nearby. Leng Changxi got worried. He could control his breath not to expose himself, but other soldiers were not that skilled. They might get exposed.

    That man frowned and looked at where Leng Changxi stayed. Heiying and other soldiers were anxious. He might have noticed them.

    But soon, a charming female voice caught his attention.

    ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± The voice sounded familiar. It was charming and also firm. Only a brave female general could sound that confident. Leng Changxi raised his eyebrows. The voice sounded a bit too familiar for him.

    But withyers of leaves, he could only see the view of her back. She was thin and small, as lonely as a leaf in the wind.

    With many trees in between, Leng Changxi had to leverage his inner Qi to hear what they said, but he couldn¡¯t hear it clearly.

    ¡°Good, brave girl. You¡¯re worthy of my love. You shoulde to meet me alone.¡±

    ¡°Cut the crap. I don¡¯t want to waste my time,¡± the woman said. It seemed that she didn¡¯t like that old man in a white gown. She turned her head and looked at the old man up and down. She clicked her tongue and said, ¡°Sima Ray, I didn¡¯t expect you would be willing to live as an old man who was too weak to hold a sword, just for your meaningless hegemony cause.¡±

    Leng Changxi held his breath and felt weird. He jumped onto another tree to have a clearer view.

    ¡°Miss Qin, you are as eloquent as before,¡± the old man said with a smile. But his eyes were full of love when he looked at that woman.

    Leng Changxi was shocked. Right at this time, the woman under the tree turned around. The small face, light dimples and pointed chin. That was Qin Yunuan. But didn¡¯t she ck out because of his hit? Besides, Leng Shuang had kept an eye on her. She couldn¡¯t wake up in such a short period. Leng Changxi became a bit excited and even wanted to jump down immediately. But Heiying stopped him.

    ¡°General, please don¡¯t. It¡¯s better to wait here. We don¡¯t know how many people Sima Ray has taken. If we directly jump down, Madam may find it more difficult to get out of the trouble.¡±

    Leng Changxi gritted and refrained himself from losing his temper.

    He stared at people down for fear that Qin Yunuan would be hurt. The man in a white gown was Yu Haitang, or Sima Ray, who asked Qin Yunuan to meet him alone. Yu Haitang looked quite different now. He was younger and had more clear-cut eyebrows and eyes, rather than the sagging ones. He looked a bit like Qi people now. In other words, Yu Haitang looked more and more like Sima Ray.

    Yu Haitang slowly walked close to Qin Yunuan with passion and desire in his eyes. He took a look at her lovingly. Qin Yunuan thought that look was disgusting.

    Qin Yunuan took a step back vigntly, but Yu Haitang followed.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, your new look is truly better. But it¡¯s a pity that,¡± Qin Yunuan directly sneered at Yu Haitang. ¡°It¡¯s still gross.¡±

    Yu Haitang touched his slightly rough face skin and said with a smile, ¡°I thought you would be nicer to me when I became another person. But it seems that you don¡¯t want to save your maid. Well, she has been hung on the tree for a long time.¡±

    While speaking, Yu Haitang turned around and took out a rope from arge pine tree behind. He pulled the rope. Suddenly, a tightly tied woman fell down from the tree. At the first nce, Qin Yunuan recognized that woman whose hair was messy. She was Maner who grew up with her together.

    Seeing Maner was tied tightly to the tree with the strong rope like a rice dumpling and swung back and forth, Qin Yunuan was filled with hatred towards Yu Haitang.

    ¡°You,e here,¡± Yu Haitang tilted his head and threatened Qin Yunuan with a smile. He pouted his lips to ask Qin Yunuan to look at the rope in his hand. It was telling her that he would loose his grip of the rope if she didn¡¯t walk to him. If so, Maner would fall from somewhere 7-8 meters high. Even if she didn¡¯t die after falling, she would be disabled.

    Qin Yunuan gritted and took a few steps towards Yu Haitang. He shook the rope in his hand. It seemed like an important thing for Qin Yunuan. Seeing Qin Yunuan reluctantly did what he said, he felt so happy.

    ¡°Good,e closer,¡± Yu Haitang even wanted more.

    Thinking that the soul in that body belonged to vicious and cunning Sima Ray, Qin Yunuan wanted to tear him apart and throw to the wind so much. He should threaten her with Maner. If she hadn¡¯t hit her acupoint before Leng Changxi hit her and threatened Leng Shuang to let her go, Maner now would already be tortured to death.

    Taking a nce at Maner who was hung in the air, Qin Yunuan thought, Maner, it was all my fault to make you suffer much. Don¡¯t worry. I would save you.

    Qin Yunuan was just over 30 centimeters away from Yu Haitang now. Thetter wore an evil smile. See, she was lofty, and Leng Changxi protected her well in the past. But now, she had to please me for a maid.

    However, right at this time, a figure jumped out of the woods, and Yu Haitang loosed the grip of the rope.

 Chapter 343 - A Narrow Escape from Death

    <h4>Chapter 343 A Narrow Escape from Death</h4>

    Leng Changxi appeared in front of Yu Haitang suddenly like a trick. His hand was holding the rope that Yu Haitang used to threaten Qin Yunuan. With an expression in his eyes, Heiying on the tree also jumped down directly, stepped on the trunk swiftly with a few moves and rescued Maner, who was hanging. Maner was still in aa. The long-time hanging and tight restraint made her brain a little hypoxic. There were also dark purple bruises on her arms. After handing Maner to another soldier of the Leng Army beside him, Heiying stood behind Leng Changxi at once.

    ¡°General.¡±

    Leng Changxi nced at Qin Yunuan with extremelyplicated feelings. There was both me and care in his eyes. It was only because he didn¡¯t want her to be in danger alone that he had to take such an unwise decision to knock her out. However, why didn¡¯t she understand him?

    But for an instant, the two people had a mutual affinity. Qin Yunuan stood behind Leng Changxi silently and said in a low voice, ¡°Why do youe here?¡±

    Leng Changxi answered snappishly, ¡°I should be the one to go back and ask you the question.¡± Finishing his words, he sneered at Yu Haitang, who appeared calm, ¡°Mr. Yu, you are already so old, but you still flirt with girls. How leisure you are!¡±

    Yu Haitang looked calm and raised his neck slightly, which was Sima Ray¡¯s favorite movement. Leng Changxi was very familiar with it. Through the conversation between the two and the previous presumption, Leng Changxi knew that the old monster in front of him had Yu Haitang¡¯s body and inner Qi. However, inside there was Sima Ray¡¯s soul and consciousness. Therefore, he disgusted it even more.

    ¡°General Leng, we haven¡¯t seen each other for a long time.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not long,¡± Leng Changxi shook his head, smiling, ¡°Your body is still lying in my camp. When I¡¯m free, you cane over, see and mold it.¡± Seeing that Yu Haitang began to look a little pale, Leng Changxi said even more happily, ¡°Mr. Yu, your words also remind me that yesterday when I was reading the report, I identally dropped a cup of hot tea on the body of Prince Ray. I was so anxious at that time that I forgot to wipe the tea. I wonder how the body was now.¡±

    Yu Haitang¡¯s face became stiff. However, soon he came to realize that Leng Changxi was trying to agitate him. He shook his head and gave out a girlish smile, which was like Qiu Shuihan¡¯s look when she was tempting Leng Changxi, ¡°It¡¯s up to you. The life or death of the body is none of my business.¡± Yu Haitang raised his head to look at the ck-armored soldiers and the Leng Army all over the tree and smiled, ¡°It seems that you are not so sure of yourself. You¡¯ve brought so many people here. Why? Are you afraid of losing to me?¡±

    ¡°Oh. No,¡± Leng Changxi squinted at Yu Haitang, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that the scene of my victory might be too bloody. In case you are torn apart by any chance, nobody will clean up the mess.¡±

    Yu Haitang sneered, ¡°Why are you so confident? Do you really think that you are still dealing with the ipetent whose hair was cut off by your attack on the wall? Leng Changxi, you are still the previous person, but I¡¯m not the previous me anymore.¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded, ¡°Indeed. You¡¯ve be more and more abnormal.¡±

    Yu Haitang was irritated. He pped the thick pine tree beside him. A long machete dropped directly from the tree, which was the world-famous Crescent de. It was half a foot long and weighed 38 kilograms. The double-edged de was so sharp that it could cut iron as if cutting the mud. Because it was too powerful, once its userck of the technology to use it, he might get hurt easily. However, as long as he could use it well, it would show endless power. Leng Changxi didn¡¯t know when Yu Haitang changed to such a powerful weapon. He knew clearly, however, that the reason Yu Haitang chose it was that it was exactly opposite to his long ck-iron spear.

    Yu Haitang¡¯s martial arts were no longer the simplebination of Sima Ray and Qiu Shuihan. It was a mystery how many people¡¯s martial arts were taken away by him during this period. Every move of his attack seemed to be from an expert. Leng Changxi squinted slightly, pushed Qin Yunuan behind his back, and ordered Heiying, ¡°Take care of her and ensure her safety.¡±

    Qin Yunuan called in a low voice, ¡°Changxi.¡± Before she could say ¡°Be careful¡±, Leng Changxi had already jumped up the tree and took down the hidden long ck-iron spear from the tree. As soon as hended, Yu Haitang gave him an attack with full strength, which an over-90-year-old man like Yu Haitang could never have.

    Apparently, after Sima Ray used his own consciousness to control Yu Haitang¡¯s body, he absorbed many people¡¯s martial arts again.

    Struck by this sudden attack, Leng Changxi had to take a few steps backward and leaned against the tree suddenly. He had obviouslye to realize that a rush of blood gushed from his internal organs, but since Qin Yunuan was looking at him, he had to swallow down the dirty blood not to make her worry. He merely smiled, ¡°It seems that even though you¡¯ve taken away so many people¡¯s martial arts, you can do nothing more than that.¡±

    ¡°Nothing more than that?¡± Yu Haitang smiled provocatively, ¡°Then why are you retreating?¡±

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t speak but wiped the corner of his lips with the sleeve under his armor, ¡°Only by stepping back can I see clearly how disgusting you are.¡±

    Yu Haitang switched the direction of his de and plugged it in the ground, ¡°Leng Changxi, do you really think that I call Third Miss Qin here only because I want to get her? It¡¯s because if I call her toe here, you will definitely follow her. Once I kill you and take everything from you, she will surely belong to me. You will die at my hands sooner orter. I know that you¡¯ve mastered the Qigong of Tongming Gate. However, no matter how great Qigong is, can you beat mybination of so many masters¡¯ martial arts? Next year, this day will be the anniversary of your death.¡±

    Yu Haitang¡¯s words seemed to show that he was ready to spread all the humiliation and anger he had been suffering in this confrontation. Leng Changxi took a deep breath, running all the genuine energy in his body immediately. It was a great taboo to run genuine energy all over his body at a moment, but Leng Changxi had no other choice now. The man in front of him was so terrible. His ability had gone beyond human. He was a monster that could never be defeated.

    Yu Haitang raised his lips. Using the strength of his five fingers, the Crescent de plugged from a distance directly fell into his hands. He was exercising all his strength. Just now, he merely used 70 percent of his strength to beat Leng Changxi into such a situation. Now he wanted to hit Leng Changxi¡¯s to make him die directly with one single attack.

    When the two were about to fight against each other, Leng Changxi seemed to have felt Yu Haitang¡¯s powerful area eroding every inch of his skin and cells. At the very moment, Leng Changxi felt that Yu Haitang¡¯s Crescent de stopped over the top of his head. He looked back, only to find that Heiying,ing at an unknown time, had already blocked Yu Haitang¡¯s powerful attack with the long sword inherited from his ancestors. Heiying seldom used this sword because he loved it so much. Besides, it was so hard that someone must get hurt the moment it was used in a fight. However, at that time, the ancient sword of Cang Family faintly made a sound as if it would be broken the next moment. The cracking sound made Heiying uneasy.

    ¡°General, hurry to go away,¡± Heiying used all his strength to resist Yu Haitang¡¯s overpowered attack. Immediately he vomited a big mouthful of blood and said while trembling, ¡°Just now, the spy came to report that Yu Haitang had an ambush around. There¡¯s also a formation on our way back. I¡¯ve used some talismans to suppress it, but the time is limited. We¡¯ve only had the time to burn out incense. If you don¡¯t leave now, it will be toote.¡±

    It turned out that Yu Haitang had already made the preparation for both sides. He didn¡¯t expect that Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi coulde back alive.

    However, how could Leng Changxi leave Heiying here alone? Not to mention him, even though Heiying, Leng Wu, and he cooperated together, they still wouldn¡¯t be able to beat Yu Haitang now. Leaving Heiying alone was equivalent to pushing him to death.

    ¡°General, please go! Go before it¡¯s toote,¡± Heiying was still struggling. Yu Haitang¡¯s face had already changed slowly from pale to a slightly scary red. There was also a powerful wind behind him, causing the fallen leaves to roll and turn.

    Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan were still hesitating. Leng Changxi had always been the calmest one in the past. He could always weigh the pros and cons at the most critical time and made decisive decisions. However, having got along with Heiying for such a long time, his heart also softened.

    No. Everything should serve the overall situation.

    Leng Changxi led Qin Yunuan to leave. The moment Qin Yunuan turned to leave, Heiying smiled bitterly, ¡°Madam, please tell Leng Shuang for me that if I can return alive, I will marry her.¡±

    ¡°All right,¡± Qin Yunuan turned her head. To save time, Leng Changxi directly carried Qin Yunuan on his back. On the other hand, Maner was carried on the back of the person who was best at light skills in the Leng Army. The group of people ran quickly along the high pine tree and the previous marks.

    Seeing that the group of people was about to leave, Yu Haitang really wanted to kick Heiying in front of him directly. However, Heiying suddenly got the mysterious strength to block him.

    Yu Haitang kicked in the heart of Heiying, but Heiying only trembled slightly twice, then the look in his eyes became firmer. Yu Haitang got angry. He continued to kick Heiying in his heart several times, but Heiying still didn¡¯t move.

    ¡°You¡¯re asking for death,¡± Yu Haitang exercised his genuine energy silently and pped directly on the top of Heiying¡¯s skull. Even though Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi had gone far, they could still hear the screams behind them through the ovepping leaves. Leng Changxi frowned, and Qin Yunuan had already closed her eyes unbearably.

    The wind by their ears was like helping them to elerate. Soon, Leng Changxi carried Qin Yunuan on his back to a rtively safe ce. At least they had stepped out of the formation set by Yu Haitang previously. Through visual inspection, Yu Haitang wouldn¡¯t chase them here any longer. After all, it was too close to the camp of West Xia. If Yu Haitang brought people here rashly, even though he had the ability to reach the sky, there was still more harm than good to him.

    Leng Changxi put down Qin Yunuan, turned his head and said, ¡°I¡¯ll rescue Heiying.¡±

    ¡°Changxi,¡± Qin Yunuan blocked him subconsciously. However, feeling that Leng Changxi was determined to leave, Qin Yunuan opened her mouth but said a sentence only, ¡°Be careful.¡± Then she remained silent.

    Leng Changxi nodded, then jumped up and left. Looking at Leng Changxi¡¯s back, Qin Yunuan sighed. Having fought against Yu Haitang today, she had deeply realized how terrifying Yu Haitang was.

    ¡°Okay. We shall go back first. But remember, the news that General doesn¡¯te back should be kept as a secret. Everything should go on as usual. If I ever hear any message that the military is unstable, none of you can escape my punishment.¡± Now Leng Changxi was the soul of the army. He couldn¡¯t have any ident. Otherwise, once the unity of the army was destroyed, it would be a great problem.

    Just when Qin Yunuan reached the entrance of the military camp, she found that Leng Shuang was waiting for her anxiously. Thinking that Heiying could hardly escape the disaster, there was guilt in Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes when she looked at Qin Yunuan. To her surprise, Leng Shuang stepped forward and said, ¡°Madam, it can¡¯t be worse! Sima Ray¡¯s body has disappeared!¡±

 Chapter 344 - Internal and External Danger

    <h4>Chapter 344 Internal and External Danger</h4>

    It was so weird. Obviously, the body was no more than a dead person. How could it disappear so suddenly? Following Leng Shuang, Qin Yunuan entered the military camp. The atmosphere inside seemed to be a little solemn. Seeing that Leng Changxi was not in the little team, all the people seemed to be suspicious.

    After looking around indifferently, Qin Yunuan ordered Leng Shuang calmly, ¡°Prepare hot water. General must be tired when hees back.¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s tone was very calm as if Leng Changxi had just postponeding back for a while from outside. Herposure and assuredness gave all the people enough confidence.

    Approaching the camp where Sima Ray¡¯s body had been deposited previously, Qin Yunuan¡¯s nose twitched. It seemed that she had smelt an unusual odor. Leng Shuang was about to lift the curtain and enter, but she was stopped by Qin Yunuan. Qin Yunuan called Yuanyang, who had been guarding in front of the camp to protect the scene and gestured inward with her eyes. Yuanyang stepped back and picked up a one-arm-long branch from the ground. She lifted the camp curtain lightly first, then explored inside with sharp eyes and opened the camp suddenly. There were two swishes. Yuanyang quickly pushed Qin Yunuan to the other side. Two short arrows passed by Qin Yunuan at that moment. It was almost a millimeter away that they could directly rub her cheek.

    Several figures shed inside at once. Yuanyang and Leng Shuang nced at each other.

    ¡°Chase them!¡± Just when the two people were about to run out, they were stopped by Leng Wu, ¡°You should stay here to protect Madam. I¡¯ll go.¡±

    Leng Wu left after speaking. Indeed. Leng Wu¡¯s light skills were only second to Leng Changxi. What was more, he was better than Leng Shuang and Yuanyang in experience and strength. Looking at Maner, who was saved but remained unconscious, Qin Yunuan shook her head before leading people into the camp.

    As soon as Qin Yunuan entered the camp, she immediately became busy. After taking a deep breath, she gave orders one after another, ¡°Yuanyang, take people to put Maner in the tent beside us. She is now severely dehydrated. Remember, feed her some salt water once in a time for a cup of tea. Leng Shuang, take some people with excellent light skills. Go along the marks I left to look for the general.¡±

    The moment she finished her words, Leng Shuang and Yuanyang were ready to take the order and leave. However, they were stopped by one sentence of Qin Yunuan, ¡°Wait.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nced at Leng Shuang withplex emotions and said, ¡°Leng Shuang should stay. Yuanyang, lead some people to look for the general.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± It was the first time for Leng Shuang to have doubt about Qin Yunuan¡¯s orders, ¡°Isn¡¯t it better for me to go? I can get to know how Heiying is sooner.¡±

    Qin Yunuan thought in her mind. It was exactly because I couldn¡¯t let you know Heiying¡¯s current situation that I forbid you from going.

    ¡°No need for that. You are more familiar with Maner, so you can take care of her better. As for Heiying, General is helping him. Are you still worrying about him?¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s tone was so firm that Leng Shuang was a little dubious. Yes. After all, who was the general? Leng Changxi had never had a failure. Would it not even be able for him to save the life of a follower?

    Leng Shuang nodded. Qin Yunuan turned her head. Leng Shuang was worried about Heiying. She was also worried about Leng Changxi. However, it was so pitiful that there must be someone guarding the army now. Time flew. Night came in a blink of an eye. Yet Yuanyang still didn¡¯te back, and there was no news from the people to investigate. Leng Wu, on the other hand, had chased back the two people ambushing in the camp to attack Qin Yunuan. But unfortunately, one hadmitted suicide by biting his tongue. Although the other was caught, he was as tough as nails, refusing to say anything.

    Although Leng Shuang was caring for Maner, she was obviously absent-minded. Mu Qingyu hade here once in the middle, probably wanting to ask the situation. Qin Yunuan had never dared to tell her the truth. Leng Changxi¡¯s chance of life or death was still hard to predict. It was such a piece of horrible news.

    When the moon was over the willow tree, Mu Qingyu still came here. Dressed in light grey casual clothes, she looked very simple, not like the most favored infanta in West Xia, but a woman in the vige.

    But the inborn elegance and an indescribable stubbornness between her eyebrows had set her apart.

    ¡°Is there still no news?¡± Mu Qingyu came straight to the point. None of her words was long drawn.

    At that moment, Qin Yunuan was lying under the oilmp, lost in thought. There were supposed to be soldiers guarding outside. It seemed that Mu Qingyu had asked the soldiers not to report and entered directly.

    Qin Yunuan looked at the writing paper beside her hand that had been painted by her. She didn¡¯t know what she wanted to write. It seemed that she only wanted to get rid of the worry and unhappiness now.

    ¡°What?¡± Qin Yunuan straightened up, pretending to be very calm.

    ¡°Do you still keep lying to me?¡± Mu Qingyu moved closer to ensure that the people outside could not hear their conversation inside, ¡°We are both women. I know it only with a nce. Tell me, did something happen in the military camp?¡±

    Qin Yunuan remained the calmness in her eyes. She took a sip of the herbal tea on the table and nced quickly, ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Madam Leng,¡± Mu Qingyu was a little agitated. Her delicate eyes blinked, ¡°Why do you force yourself? We are in the same boat. If there is anything wrong, you should tell me directly. If you keep it only to yourself, it means that you are not taking me as your friend. Tell me, did something wrong happen to General Leng? And what about Mr. Cang? Do they nevere back?¡±

    Qin Yunuan took half a sip of tea again. Her face looked as calm as ice and water. She stared at Mu Qingyu silently for a while before said, ¡°I can tell you. But Your Grace, you have to answer my question, too.¡±

    Mu Qingyu paused slightly, then continued, ¡°Go on.¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± Qin Yunuan stood up, took off the coat that had been draped over her body, put it on the back of her chair, and flicked the dust off it unhurriedly, ¡°It¡¯s drizzling outside. The roads in the camp are also muddy. There is only one question I want to ask you. Why did youe over so hurriedly while your shoes were so clean? Is it because your light skills are really good? Or is it because you have been hiding in the camp without leaving since thest time you entered it?¡±

    The corner of Mu Qingyu¡¯s mouth twitched imperceptibly, ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve already spoken euphemistically,¡± Qin Yunuan nced at Mu Qingyu, ¡°Should I ask you directly why do you have the hobby of eavesdropping? Is it all right?¡±

    ¡°How dare you,¡± Mu Qingyu finally took up the pride of infanta. There were the grievances and unwillingness of being misunderstood all over her face, ¡°Why do I need to eavesdrop?¡±

    Qin Yunuan also wouldn¡¯t acknowledge defeat. She didn¡¯t yield or retreat because of the other person¡¯s identity as an infanta, ¡°Your Highness, then why did you never care about how to deal with Sima Ray¡¯s army after your arrival? Instead, you kept asking about the internal business.¡±

    Qin Yunuan widened her eyes. There were unusual excitement and high spirits in her bloodshot, tired eyes, ¡°Your Highness, tell me! Did the 200,000 soldiers reallye to be our reinforcement? Or...¡± Qin Yunuan took a deep breath and squinted, ¡°Or do they prepare to hit uspletely and arrest us after you prove that we have another aim to borrow army from West Xia? Are you going to take us back to West Liang?¡±

    ¡°You...¡± Mu Qingyu went dumb. She put down her hand subconsciously, which was raised up to use Qin Yunuan. She sighed, ¡°How can you think like that?¡±

    ¡°Because this is the truth,¡± Qin Yunuan had already been ready to risk everything. Now Leng Changxi¡¯s situation remained unknown, so she was not going to socialize with Mu Qingyu anymore, ¡°Although Yuanyang is a maid, she had been following the old princess before. What¡¯s more, she had adventured in the world for many years. Now that she can protect my two servant girls for me in troubled times and take them out of Qi, it¡¯s obvious that she has an extraordinary ability. I just ask her to go out to look for someone. Howe she hasn¡¯te back yet?¡± Qin Yunuan looked directly at Mu Qingyu, ¡°Your Highness, be honest. Do you hold my person?¡±

    Mu Qingyu turned her head, ¡°What if I say no?¡±

    Qin Yunuan sneered, ¡°I won¡¯t believe it.¡±

    ¡°Yes. I do hold your person. So what?¡± Mu Qingyu wouldn¡¯t admit defeat, too. Previous life had allowed her to grow up in glory and love. While she was not as spoiled and unreasonable as other nobledies, her family education made her have her own independent ideas, which could not be changed by anyone, ¡°After all, your recent behaviors are all too weird. Do you know how worried His Majesty is in the capital? Although General Leng is his biological son and the Elder Princess of Qi is also in West Liang, General Leng has never got along with him. Since there is no emotion as the foundation between them, adding to the instigation of civil and military officials, His Majesty has no choice but to do that.¡±

    ¡°The one who contributed the most in the instigation must be your father,¡± Qin Yunuan tilted her head slightly to nce at Mu Qingyu, ¡°Your Highness, I believe you. However, man¡¯s heart is iprehensible. Your father has tried so hard to let you lead 200,000 soldiers to the front. He must be ambitious.¡±

    Mu Qingyu shook her head repeatedly, ¡°How can it be? My father has worked so hard for West Xia all his life.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s exactly because after the lifetime dedication, he still can¡¯t get what he thinks he deserves,¡± there was a sneer on the corner of Qin Yunuan¡¯s mouth. From Sima Ray, Wanyan Su to the prince of West Xia, they all had the power in their grips and got whatever they could get. However, people¡¯s desires were endless. Once they had good things, they would want better, ¡°The throne. Your father hasn¡¯t got the throne yet. How can he ept it?¡±

    ¡°You...¡± Mu Qingyu covered her mouth subconsciously, ¡°Do you mean...? No, it¡¯s impossible! Nobody knows my father better than I do. My father is a great hero of West Xia. He won¡¯t...¡±

    At this time, there was suddenly the sound of footsteps outside as if a team of people was stepping in shattered steps to encircle the camp. A low voice came from outside, ¡°Your Highness, hasn¡¯t the witch in it been cleaned up yet?¡±

 Chapter 345 - Infighting

    <h4>Chapter 345 Infighting</h4>

    Hearing that she was called ¡°witch¡±, Qin Yunuan seemed angry which could be told from her eyes. Mu Qingyu looked at Qin Yunuan with guilt, but she shook her head atst. She sighed, ¡°Madam Leng, sorry. I¡¯m ordered to do so. His Majesty doesn¡¯t want this to ruin his rtionship with General Leng, but he couldn¡¯t stop officials fromining. Madam Leng, I hope you can understand.¡±

    ¡°You talk to me politely, but the thing you do is the most disgusting,¡± Qin Yunuan said when looking at Mu Qingyu with a smile. They once fought with enemies together and cherished their friendship. But unexpectedly, they should end up like this. ¡°Your Highness, I really saw you as my friend. How ironic it is.¡±

    Mu Qingyu¡¯s mouth corner twisted. She said, ¡°West Xia is my homnd. I have to protect its interests. And I¡¯m truly reluctant to confront you.¡±

    When Mu Qingyu just finished, a man who dressed like a lieutenant led a group of people to break in, and the small tent became very crowded. Leng Shuang shouted outside, but she sounded weak as if she had taken knockout drops. Qin Yunuan also felt dizzy. Taking a look at the cold tea she drank just now, she wore a weak smile.

    ¡°Reluctant?¡± Qin Yunuan raised her hand slightly and pointed at soldiers behind Mu Qingyu who made the tent crowded. ¡°You mean you are reluctant?¡±

    ¡°Madam Leng,¡± Mu Qingyu said, and she looked as if she couldn¡¯t bear to see what would happen. ¡°I hope you can cooperate with us. General Leng is missing now. He left with the most powerful troop this morning and hasn¡¯te back yet. Madam Leng, do you...¡±

    ¡°Hasn¡¯te back?¡± Qin Yunuan said and shook her head with a bitter smile. ¡°I also hope he cane back. Fine, you won¡¯t listen to me anyhow. I know how you convict people. You don¡¯t care whether she or he is guilty, and your ultimate purpose is just to ¡®prove¡¯ this person is.¡± If she directly told Mu Qingyu and her soldiers that Sima Ray didn¡¯t die but lived as Yu Haitang now, they and those pedantic officials wouldn¡¯t believe at all. That was impossible for them.

    The lieutenant standing next to Mu Qingyu apparently was her helper that her father, a prince in West Xia, sent. He was not tall but short and strong. He looked so cunning and neat and even ignored Mu Qingyu to directly order his men, ¡°You, tie this witch up.¡±

    Qin Yunuan took a look at Mu Qingyu. Leng Shuang who was outside had been drugged, so she could only shout to ask them not to hurt Qin Yunuan, although she was really loud. Then Leng Shuang held the tent pir weakly and supported herself to stand up while gasping.

    ¡°Want to capture me?¡± Qin Yunuan asked and wore a creepy smile, looking unpredictable now. She didn¡¯t tell others that she had internal skills and could practice martial arts. Because she hadn¡¯t fully mastered them and she practiced martial arts through having sex with Leng Changxi. It was not appropriate to talk about that with others.

    Just when the lieutenant exchanged nces with 8 soldiers around, telling them to walk to Qin Yunuan, she already secretly leveraged her genuine energy in the way Leng Changxi taught her. Then the lieutenant gritted and waved his hand to ask soldiers to encircle Qin Yunuan. But she suddenly turned around so fast that even Mu Qingyu, the No.1 Female General in West Xia, was a bit surprised.

    Immediately, Qin Yunuan used an extremely thin bronze thread that she hid in her sleeves before to cut one soldier¡¯s throat. At once, blood came out from the wound that was too small to notice, oozing at first and then gushing out, because this seemingly small wound was so deep that the soldier¡¯s artery had been cut. When no one had realized what happened, Qin Yunuan had already gashed the tent with the thread, jumped out and left.

    Mu Qingyu and Lieutenant Shu were shocked. Lieutenant Shu apparently had prepared for this, but he was still astonished by this woman who seemed so weak.

    ¡°Your Highness, didn¡¯t you say that she couldn¡¯t practice martial arts?¡±

    Mu Qingyu changed an expression and didn¡¯t look shocked anymore. She squinted at Lieutenant Shu and said, ¡°First of all, I haven¡¯t said whether she can practice martial arts. Second, I didn¡¯t call her witch. You have to keep in mind that her husband is Leng Changxi no matter what happens. Show some respect.¡±

    Lieutenant Shu curled his lip and shouted at people near him, ¡°Hurry up to chase after her. She is a weak woman, and she won¡¯t be far now.¡±

    Later, he looked at Leng Shuang who leaned against the door and ordered, ¡°Put this woman and the maid, Maner who is ina in that tent, in prison.¡±

    ¡°Wait,¡± Mu Qingyu suddenly shouted out. Always a tender woman, she should suddenly say in such a high-pitched voice, really freaking soldiers at the site, especially Lieutenant Shu, out. ¡°They haven¡¯t been convicted yet. Why do you put them in prison?¡±

    Lieutenant Shu paused for a while and didn¡¯t expect that Mu Qingyu who always listened to her father would object to his order.

    ¡°And, father has said to leave everything to me. So who are you? You¡¯re just a lieutenant. How dare you rashly give orders before I do? Soldiers, drag him down and strike him 20 times.¡±

    Mu Qingyu said eloquently. It was a severe punishment to strike him 20 times. If Lieutenant Shu was punished for just saying a wrong sentence, it would do more harm than good to him.

    Outside, Qin Yunuan, who ran out of the camp in haste, merely wore a piece of thin clothes. Her cloak was left in the tent, so she was only in a thin piece and a wool jacket now. The dress was padded, but it becamergely wet for that Qin Yunuan ran quickly in humid woods. The wet dress stuck to Qin Yunuan¡¯s thigh, and she shook. The thread in her hand was a tailored weapon made by Leng Changxi based on her inner Qi and agility.

    At this moment, the cold thread stuck to her finger. She stood on the top of a tall pine tree and looked at the military camp of West Xia where it seemed quiet, but something big happened just now. But in the camp of Qi in the distance, it was peaceful and looked as if nothing wrong happened. In the firelight, it was unknown what they were doing in secret.

    Qin Yunuan looked at the mark on the trunk that became wet because of rain. She left this mark secretly on her way back. Only Yuanyang and she knew this. Following marks, she could go back to where she was this morning without falling into Yu Haitang¡¯s trap.

    Now, she was alone. Looking at the lush trees, she leveraged her genuine energy secretly and jumped down from the tree. Leng Changxi¡¯s efforts that taught her how to use light and powerful internal skills were paid off. Now she could leverage these two kinds of skills at ease.

    Changxi, don¡¯t worry. You always protected me before, but this time, let me find and protect you. Wait for me. I would find you and bring you back.

    In Qi¡¯s military camp, soldiers were dreadfully serious. Yu Haitang, their new leader, somehow captured Leng Changxi, the chiefmander of West Xia, alive today. They should feel cheerful about this, but they did not and were fearful instead.

    ¡°General has ordered that everyone shall stay 30 meters away from the tent. You have crossed the line.¡±

    ¡°No, General. I just stumbled. General, please spare me.¡±

    ¡°Guards, cut off his foot that crossed the line,¡± a short but imposing man ordered while pointing at the solider whose one foot crossed the line demarcated with the red powder. ¡°Cut it off.¡±

    At once, the soldier yowled. Soldiers aside thought the rule was truly too much, but they could do nothing but looked at theirpanion¡¯s feet were cut off. That short general was just promoted. It was said that he was Yu Haitang¡¯s page and got promoted for having taken care of Yu Haitang for dozens of years.

    Seeing the half-dead soldier who lost his feet was dragged away, the short general looked around and pointed at a maid who was so scared that she cried. ¡°You! Come here! Clear it up.¡±

    That maid originally was very scared. Hearing that, she was even more frightened. She took a few steps back and shook her head fiercely. The short general red at her. Seeing that, other people knew the maid would be cruelly punished too.

    ¡°Our Chief Commander is busy with business inside. But you should refuse to do such a simple favor for him. So what are you here for?¡± Hearing the short general said so, they knew he would convict the maid. But at this time, another thin maid who was not pretty walked forward and said to the short general with a smile, ¡°General, there¡¯s no need to be angry with her. She¡¯s scared. I will clear it up. I promise to wipe all blood away and won¡¯t let it stain Chief Commander¡¯s tent.¡±

    The maid who was scared to cry didn¡¯t realize what happened yet. That thin maid who stepped forward smiled at her and patted her on her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. It¡¯s fine now.¡±

    The maid remained shocked, but she knew she wouldn¡¯t be killed now. She was so grateful for the maid who stepped forward. The crying maid was one of maids who Yu Haitang found in Ping Town to serve himself several days ago. Yu Haitang was temperamental. He had not only sent away all maids serving Sima Ray before but also found new ones who were all disabled. For example, Cui, that crying maid, was slightlyme and not severely disabled. Among those maids, some were deaf and dumb, while some had no arms. People assumed that Mr. Yu did so to prevent maids from running away. But no one knew what on earth he was thinking.

    But another maid looked unfamiliar and healthy. It was unknown what was wrong with her. The short general seemed suspicious and looked back several times. Then he found that the maid who bent down to wipe away the blood on the ground couldn¡¯t stand upright at all. There was arge lump on her back, and she looked as if she had arge pot cover on her back.

    Oh, she was a hunchback.

    The short general suddenly knew what was wrong with her. So he just asked the person near him, ¡°Have you prepared everything Chief Commander needs? There is a full moon tonight, and he has something big to do.¡±

 Chapter 346 - Swap Souls

    <h4>Chapter 346 Swap Souls</h4>

    That maid kept ¡°something big¡± firmly in mind. She was in a trance and then exchanged a nce with that short general. After that, she worked hard to clean all the blood on the ground. When she finished, it was almost at dusk. The hunchback maid stood up with difficulty because of therge lump on her back. At this time, the maid called Cui walked to her immediately with a bowl of lukewarm tea. It seemed that she had waited there for long.

    ¡°Thank you for helping me today, or I would be dead now,¡± Cui said, and she was still afraid when thinking of how viciously that short general looked at her.

    ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± the hunchback maid answered and directly took over the bowl to finish half of the tea. She asked in a seemingly casual way, ¡°Who is that short general? Why is he so arrogant? Why can he directly order people to cut off the soldier¡¯s legs?¡±

    Cui shook her head and said, ¡°He¡¯s just ackey of the Chief Commander. I only know his surname is Zhang and don¡¯t know where hees from. He looks old. Everyone calls him General Zhang. But he can¡¯t even practice martial arts and is a nominal general.¡±

    ¡°I see...,¡± the hunchback girl understood and nodded. Then, she whispered to Cui mysteriously in a low voice, ¡°He said that Chief Commander had something big to do tonight. What will he do? I¡¯ve noticed that everyone looks different today. What happened?¡±

    Cui took a look at the hunchback maid in surprise and asked, ¡°Are you new here? You should not know what happened? This morning, Chief Commander directly captured the God of War who used to work for Qi but now for West Xia and carried him on the horse back. Everyone should feel happy for this. But Chief Commander looked sulky and ordered people not to get close to his tent at noon. No one knows what he will do.¡± Then Cui said her guess out in a low voice, ¡°They assumed that Chief Commander might be jealous of General Leng who might have found treasures in the Yeren Valley where he had stayed for long. So he wanted to torture General Leng to know where treasures were.¡±

    Treasures?

    That hunchback maid seemed a bit interested in this topic and asked, ¡°Is this true? But why will he torture General Leng at a full-moon night? Does this have any special meaning?¡±

    ¡°How do I know?¡± Cui clicked her tongue. ¡°Chief Commander was weird before and now bes weirder and weirder. By the way, what¡¯s your name? I didn¡¯t know you before.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m new here,¡± The hunchback maid grinned, and she had two cute dimples. Although she was not pretty, she looked cute and amiable when smiling. ¡°You can call me Yuer.¡±

    The hunchback maid looked at the awe-inspiring tent in the distance as if that was a mysterious altar. She didn¡¯t know what kind of evil rituals Yu Haitang was preparing inside. Seeing that, people would feel chilly. In the broad sky, the moon that was as full as a jade te was on the rise slowly. It decorated the pure ck curtain-like sky.

    Under the moon, thergest round tent that belonged to Yu Haitang was the only lit one. It could be told from figures that there were 3 people in it, Yu Haitang, the short general and the hunchback maid.

    ¡°General, here shees. This maid is bold. This afternoon, she...¡±

    ¡°Shut up,¡± Yu Haitang directly broke in. ¡°I heard everything today. Zhang Xue, you have borrowed my power to bully others these days. Thinking that you¡¯ve served me for years, I haven¡¯t punished you for this. But watch out. I may kill you someday when I¡¯m not in a good mood.¡±

    Yu Haitang looked at Zhang Xue with a smile, but his smile was cold and rigid as if he wore a mask. He imperceptibly patted Zhang Xue on his shoulder. This was not strange, but the hunchback maid was shocked when seeing that.

    ¡°Alright, you can leave now,¡± Yu Haitang ordered Zhang Xue to leave. Then he looked back at the hunchback maid. In recent days, he was more and more energetic. He didn¡¯t look like a 90-year-old man but just was in his forties at most. If people didn¡¯t know him before, they would think he was joking with them by saying that he was 90 now.

    ¡°You,e here,¡± Yu Haitang said while smiling at the maid. He slightly raised his hand to signal the maid to walk to him. He wanted to pat her on her shoulder again just like what he did just now. But unexpectedly, the maid stumbled because of her lump and fell down to the ground.

    In the middle of the tent was a square bed which a many on. He was covered by the thick quilt and curtain. But when the maid fell down, she dragged down the curtain and saw that man. That was Leng Changxi.

    Yu Haitang was flustered and didn¡¯t care about the maid anymore. He pushed the maid away and drew the curtain quickly. He scolded, ¡°Clumsy! Why would Zhang Xue choose you to work here? It¡¯s not time yet. You can¡¯t pull the curtain back.¡±

    The hunchback maid bent and apologized in a very humble way, ¡°Sorry, General. I¡¯m new here and not smart, but I¡¯m hard-working. I¡¯ve heard that you will give me a huge reward, and my family really needs it to buy food. Please don¡¯t kick me out.¡±

    Yu Haitang squinted at that maid. She already nned everything? Of course, she would get the reward. If she was dead, it was reasonable to give her family some money. It could help her fulfill her filial duty to her parents, couldn¡¯t it?

    ¡°Alright,e here and work on this,¡± Yu Haitang said with a friendly smile and asked the maid to grind drugs. That was a good job for her. She bowed and scraped to mince over, which made her lump more conspicuous.

    Time flew, and a full moon appeared soon. Yu Haitang quickly pulled back the curtain that covered Leng Changxi. The tent roof had already been gashed so that the bright moonlight could shine through the square hole onto Leng Changxi¡¯s pale face. Leng Changxi looked like a long-dead frozen corpse now.

    But the maid was not afraid. Even, she kept staring at this handsome man in the middle.

    Yu Haitang looked greedy and murmured, ¡°Leng Changxi, you have Tongming Gate internal skills and best light skills. Also, you are the nimblest in Qi. When you cut my hair off on the wall, I swore to be more powerful than you. I have taken advantage of Yu Haitang and allowed him to transfer all people¡¯s martial arts. But atst, he was defeated because of his greed. He knows how to transfer other people¡¯s martial arts. How will I not prepare for this in advance? Yu Haitang, you must not expect that you would absorb my soul together with my martial arts. As long as I¡¯m mentally strong, I can control your mind. So everything you did before is good for me.¡±

    Yu Haitang wore a creepy smile. That hunchback maid just squatted in the corner and saw Yu Haitang became an energetic young man from an old man and then changed back. Again and again. He was talking to himself, but it also seemed that there were two people in that body, and they were talking.

    Suddenly, Yu Haitang grasped the neck of Leng Changxi whoy on the square bed in the middle. ¡°Leng Changxi, you always go against me. But look at you now. Everything you have, your martial arts, skills and Qin Yunuan, will all belong to me soon.¡±

    The hunchback maid finally understood what the ritual was for.

    Yu Haitang tied a hexagonal bell made of copper to each corner of the bed. The bell was used to pacify Leng Changxi¡¯s soul to prevent it from staying intact out of grievance to make an attack, after Yu Haitang absorbed his martial arts. After all, Leng Changxi was so powerful and more determined than other people. It seemed that Yu Haitang tended to pacify Leng Changxi¡¯s soul and seal it up with the yellow spells on the table so that Leng Changxi could never reincarnate. It was cruel.

    The hunchback maid spat and moved to another ce. Right at this time, she heard Yu Haitang was calling her. ¡°Youe here. Tie the red rope to his wrist.¡±

    ¡°General, is he... is he dead?¡± the hunchback maid trembled to ask.

    Thinking that the maid wouldn¡¯t leave the tent alive, Yu Haitang didn¡¯t mind telling her the truth, and he replied, ¡°Not that quickly. You, hurry up. Tie it up, and you can get your reward then.¡±

    The hunchback maid directly climbed on the bed and quickly tied the soul-pacifying red rope to Leng Changxi whoy still. Right when she was about to climb down, Leng Changxi suddenly opened his eyes and stared at her.

    ¡°You wake up?¡± Yu Haitang dragged the hunchback maid down. ¡°It seems that I can¡¯t hold everything up anymore.¡±

    ¡°Even if you make me lie on your bed, I have no interest in you,¡± Leng Changxi said. Soon, he realized that he was tied to arge wooden bed. He smiled at Yu Haitang and said, ¡°Although you are younger now, you still look disgusting.¡±

    Yu Haitang snorted, ¡°The only thing you can do now is tough talk. I can¡¯t wait to absorb all your inner Qi. Now that you¡¯re awake now, I think this is the best time. So please allow me.¡±

    When Yu Haitang was about to leverage his genuine energy, he suddenly saw the hexagonal bell tied to the end of the bed shook. He opened his eyes and saw the hunchback maid who didn¡¯t walk smoothly just now quickly turned the bell end for end. Yu Haitang was shocked. The direction the bell was ced represented the way how the inner Qi would flow. That maid turned the bell so Yu Haitang¡¯s inner Qi would flow into Leng Changxi rather than in reverse.

 Chapter 347 - The Loss Outweighed the Gain

    <h4>Chapter 347 The Loss Outweighed the Gain</h4>

    ¡°You...¡± Yu Haitang wanted to stop immediately, but his figure was fixed by something strange. When he looked back, he just found that the maid had used the yellow talisman, which he prepared to use to freeze Leng Changxi¡¯s soul, to freeze him. He didn¡¯t know how this maid could be so capable.

    ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± The eyes of the hunchbacked maid looked cunning, which he felt somewhat familiar with. Yu Haitang raised his eyebrows lightly, just to see that the hunchbacked maid stood erectly with a smile. She took out a soft pillow from her back. It turned out that she did not have a hunchback at all.

    The hunchbacked maid smiled at Yu Haitang, ¡°Your Royal Highness, your strategy has been opened. If you stop it now, you should know the consequences better than I do.¡±

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Yu Haitang red at this homely maid with a straight back. The maid didn¡¯t look like a servant anymore. She straightened her back, showing noble temperament.

    Tearing off the human-skin mask on her face, the hunchbacked maid revealed her beautiful face. Her eyes were as brilliant as stars, which were so attractive as magic stones. Yu Haitang was a bit dumbfounded, but immediately, he found how scheming and capable the women in front of him were.

    ¡°Qin Yunuan. It¡¯s you!¡±

    ¡°Why you so surprised?¡± Qin Yunuan smiled with two beautiful dimples on the corners of her lips, ¡°I¡¯ve thought you had already known that it was me.¡±

    Yu Haitangpressed his lips gently, ¡°I underestimated your inner Qi. I didn¡¯t expect you to have such mighty inner Qi and be so good at martial arts. I originally thought that you were just a little smarter than ordinary women. I didn¡¯t expect... I didn¡¯t expect...¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s toote.¡± Qin Yunuan watched the continuous inner Qi slowly flow from Yu Haitang¡¯s body to Leng Changxi¡¯s, which made Leng Changxi¡¯s face ruddier and ruddier. She raised her head slightly to watch Yu Haitang whose face was bing pale and said, ¡°The wages of sin is death. This is the price you should pay.¡±

    Naturally, Yu Haitang was unwilling to give his profound inner Qi to his mortal enemy. But unfortunately, his body was fixed by Qin Yunuan with a yellow talisman. At this moment, Zhang Xue¡¯s voice came from outside.

    ¡°General, what happened inside?¡±

    ¡°Zhang Xue...¡± Yu Haitang¡¯s eyebrows suddenly stretched. Although it was Sima Ray who controlled the consciousness of this body, Zhang Xue was Yu Haitang¡¯s old servant and also his at this time. But...

    In order to prevent Zhang Xue from doing things in his name in the camp, Yu Haitang intended to kill Zhang Xue. So he poisoned him with Heartbreak Powder when he patted him just now, and it was time for it to take effect at this time.

    Yu Haitang was so anxious, and he never thought that the person who could save him at this time turned out to be the person he wanted to kill before.

    ¡°Zhang Xue,e in!¡± Yu Haitang shouted to the outside. He had ced a ban on approaching within 30 meters around the camp, and no one dared to approach except Zhang Xue.

    Zhang Xue opened the curtain hurriedly. As soon as he saw the scene inside, he was taken aback. When he was about to walk in, he was stopped by Yu Haitang snappishly, ¡°Stop! You b*st*rd. Do you want to kill me?¡± Yu Haitang nced at Zhang Xue with the corner of his eye, motioned Qin Yunuan with his eyes, and said to Zhang Xue, ¡°Go. Switch the copper bells on the four corners of the bed back. Hurry up. Move it fast.¡±

    Zhang Xue nced at Qin Yunuan. He didn¡¯t realize that the beautiful woman in front of him was actually the ugly hunchbacked maid in the afternoon until he saw the human-skin mask on the ground.

    ¡°Zhang Xue, if you do!¡± Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t yield. Leng Changxi was lying on the wooden bed in the center. The powerful inner Qi which flowed to his body made him unable to move for a while, and he could only see Qin Yunuan vaguely who was standing in front of him. His public region was as hot as fire, with the pure inner Qi flowing into it. Leng Changxi could only use the genuine energy in his body to assimte the inner Qi bit by bit, lest his veins should suddenly break.

    ¡°Zhang Xue, you¡¯ll die if you get one step closer.¡± Qin Yunuan said loudly to Zhang Xue, who was bent.

    Zhang Xue thought that she was frightening him, because she was just a weak woman. Even if she could disguise herself, she could do nothing big.

    After taking a big step, Zhang Xue suddenly felt a stomach cramp. He looked up in horror and looked at Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°If you take another two steps, your intestines will instantly break into seven segments. Then, your internal organs will bleed heavily, your body will swell up suddenly, your blood will block your heart, and finally, you will die.¡± Qin Yunuan looked at Zhang Xue¡¯s face which was getting redder and redder. She could tell at a nce what had poisoned him. Heartbreak Powder? Qin Yunuan hadn¡¯t used such a low-level poison for a long time.

    ¡°You... When did you poison me?¡± Zhang Xue pointed at Qin Yunuan viciously, but he really didn¡¯t dare to move.

    ¡°I poisoned you?¡± Qin Yunuan shook her head disdainfully, ¡°I don¡¯t even bother to waste the poison to deal with you. Don¡¯t you know? It was not anyone else who poisoned you, but the master you have been loyal to. Yu Haitang, or Sima Ray.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Zhang Xue looked at Yu Haitang nkly, while Yu Haitang didn¡¯t care about him at all. What he was thinking about was how to get rid of the yellow talisman quickly.

    ¡°Look at your shoulder. Is there a palm print?¡± Qin Yunuan firmly pressed the two copper bells at the foot of the bed with her hands. She felt clearly that Yu Haitang was trying to break through the yellow talisman with his inner Qi. Even though Qin Yunuan¡¯s force and skill had been stronger after she trained with Leng Changxi together before, she was still a woman with limited strength, so the copper bells in her hands had already begun to shake.

    Zhang Xue pulled the clothes off his shoulder, and he really saw a very clear red palm print on the skin from his corbone to his shoulder, which had slowly turned blue at this time`.

    ¡°I have never touched your shoulder. Think about it. With so many people in the camp, who would dare to p your shoulder like this except your master Yu Haitang?¡± Qin Yunuan felt a littlebored. After all, Yu Haitang was a monster who had absorbed so many people¡¯s force and skill. Even Leng Changxi was no match for him, let alone Qin Yunuan, a gentle woman.

    Zhang Xue nced at Yu Haitang suspiciously, ¡°I don¡¯t believe. He is my master.¡±

    ¡°So what?¡± Qin Yunuan raised her voice, ¡°Yes. He is your master. Therefore, if he wants you to die, you must die. If he poisons you, you must endure such great pain? Right?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Zhang Xue covered his painful abdomen, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that I won¡¯t feel painful as long as I don¡¯t move?¡±

    ¡°Did I?¡± Qin Yunuan shrugged, ¡°I just don¡¯t want you to be too close to me when you feel painful.¡±

    ¡°You... You demon woman.¡± Zhang Xue knelt on the ground out of pain with trembling fingertips, but his body was facing Yu Haitang. Zhang Xue turned his head and said to Yu Haitang, ¡°Master, I¡¯ve been working for you for so long. How can you treat me like this?¡±

    Yu Haitang was concentrating on transporting the energy in his body, and he didn¡¯t even open his eyes. He knew that Zhang Xue was unreliable then, ¡°Think about it carefully. If I had poisoned you, why should I have left such an obvious mark on your shoulder? You were obviously hurt by inner Qi from the bruise on your shoulder. Except for me, Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan in this room could both do that. Maybe you were injured by inner Qi when you came in.¡±

    Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows, and the copper bells in her hands were shaking greatly as if they were about to fall from her hands. It seemed that it couldn¡¯t be dyed any longer.

    ¡°Zhang Xue, if you want to take your revenge, just stick the second yellow talisman on your master¡¯s body. Otherwise, you will die in vain.¡±

    Zhang Xue turned his head and saw that there was another yellow talisman with a scribble written by cinnabar on it on the table. It was pasted on the corner of the table and fluttered slightly.

    Yu Haitang was shocked. He didn¡¯t know that Qin Yunuan was so clear about the effect of these yellow talismans. The first yellow talisman could fix his body, and the second one could fix his soul. If Yu Haitang had the second yellow talisman pasted to his body, he couldn¡¯t even use the genuine energy that he could still use at this time then, and he could only allow Leng Changxi to absorb all his inner Qi.

    ¡°Paste it on him, Zhang Xue.¡± Qin Yunuan yelled. Her forehead was sweating, and the copper bells in her hands were rising higher and higher. Leng Changxi clearly felt that the inner Qi flowing to him was so unstable. He opened his eyes with difficulty and said weakly, ¡°Nuan, just release your hands.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Qin Yunuan shook her head stubbornly, ¡°If I released my hands, your life would be in danger. Besides, this old monster has absorbed so many people¡¯s inner Qi and done so many bad things. It¡¯s okay to give some of his inner Qi to you. We are just getting rid of evil for the people.¡±

    Leng Changxi trembled suddenly. He clearly felt that Yu Haitang was using an unusually powerful force to take back the inner Qi that had been in his body. He couldn¡¯t wait any longer. Leng Changxi held his breath.

    ¡°Zhang Xue, paste the yellow talisman on him!¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s voice had be hoarse.

    ¡°No need now!¡± Leng Changxi suddenly pped the wooden bed with his hand. Even Qin Yunuan, who was leaning against the end of the bed, could feel that the wooden bed was cracking. Leng Changxi jumped onto the screen from the bed, and the wooden bed suddenly shattered into fragments, which made Qin Yunuan and Yu Haitang both retreat. Yu Haitang leaned on the table and tore the second yellow talisman into pieces directly. He nced at Zhang Xue, who was crawling on the ground out of pain, giving him a strike in the air.

    ¡°Good-for-nothing.¡± In an instant, Zhang Xue vomited blood and died. Yu Haitang looked at Zhang Xue viciously, and then looked at Leng Changxi who leaped off the screen. Yu Haitang¡¯s tied hair hanged down loosely, and his eyes looked weirdly red.

    ¡°Great.¡± Yu Haitang smiled evilly at Leng Changxi, ¡°Now that you have taken away half of my inner Qi, we are evenly matched then.¡±

 Chapter 348 - Retreat to Defend the Royal City

    <h4>Chapter 348 Retreat to Defend the Royal City</h4>

    Yu Haitang wasbat-ready, looking as if he was determined to fight against Leng Changxi to death. But right at this time, he heard tense drums, a call for soldiers to muster in emergency situations. It meant that the military camp was under attack.

    How could it be? Yu Haitang looked at Leng Changxi who was calm and wore a smile. He had nted an enemy agent, Shu Fi or Lieutenant Shu, in West Xia. And he got the news that Mu Qingyu had been misled by Shu Fi to take control of the West Xia army. Supposedly, Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t be able to mobilize the army, let alone send people to start a sneak attack.

    Those were soldiers from the Leng Army?

    Ho, what could just 1,000 soldiers do?

    But at the time, an intelligence soldier shouted at Yu Haitang 30 meters away, ¡°General, the entire army of West Xiaunched an attack outside. Our soldiers were not prepared for this, and now, the enemies have broken into through the east gate.¡±

    How could this happen? Yu Haitang looked serious. He stared at Leng Changxi and wanted to say something, but he didn¡¯t.

    But Leng Changxi smiled and said, ¡°So, Mr. Yu, you don¡¯t worry about anything in such an urgent situation?¡±

    Yu Haitang sneered and replied, ¡°I have locked the general of West Xia in my tent. Why should I be worried?¡±

    ¡°But Mu Qingyu, Infanta Mu, can lead the army when I¡¯m not with them,¡± Qin Yunuan said while giving Yu Haitang a sweet smile. She smiled because she truly feltcent and frank, having no resentment or grievance towards Mu Qingyu who drove her away. ¡°What do you have? Your soldiers are either traitors from the Qi army orymen who know nothing about how to fight a battle. Do you think you can rely on these people to defend a city?¡±

    ¡°Shu Fi? He works for you?¡± Yu Haitang was not sure. After all, Shu Fi was always his pawn in West Xia. Mu Qingyu seemed to have scruples about him, so she didn¡¯t ce him in important positions or inform him of important news and information. Although the news Shu Fi sent to him was useless, he had no reason to betray him.

    ¡°Shu Fi? No time to deal with him,¡± Qin Yunuan said while shaking her head. ¡°I don¡¯t even care about who he works for. I only care about whether Infanta Mu is clear-minded and make sure she¡¯s in our camp all the time.¡±

    In their camp all the time? Then why did she drive Qin Yunuan away? Yu Haitang figured it out. They yed a trick to fool him. Hahaha, he originally thought he was smart, but unexpectedly, he had been fooled by them many times.

    ¡°General, the West Xia army also broke into through the south gate too. We can¡¯t defend gates in the west and north either. General, please follow me to the path and leave here.¡±

    Sneak away when the battle began? Seeing Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi were socent and confident, Yu Haitang felt more aggrieved.

    While leveraging his genuine energy in secret, Leng Changxi smiled at Yu Haitang and said, ¡°Mr. Yu, just leave when you can. Or you will end up here.¡± In fact, Leng Changxi wanted to kill Yu Haitang right now. He had absorbed half of Yu Haitang¡¯s inner Qi which was a big help for him. But it took a long time to integrate it with his own internal skills in Tongming Gate. Now, he couldn¡¯t integrate them and leverage them at ease yet. If he rushed to fight against Yu Haitang, it might be life-threatening as Qin Yunuan worried.

    ¡°You¡¯re provoking me?¡± Yu Haitang slid him a sideways nce.

    At this time, the lieutenant who urged Yu Haitang to leave just now couldn¡¯t wait anymore. In spite of the order that Yu Haitang gave before, he directly rushed into the tent. To his surprise, he saw Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan weren¡¯t injured. Then he cupped his hands and said to Yu Haitang sincerely, ¡°General, please go with me.¡±

    The lieutenant was responsible for guarding the south gate. When the West Xia army broke in, he was afraid that Yu Haitang would punish him for his neglect of duty. Thus, he directly rushed into the tent and tended to escort Yu Haitang out to make up for his mistake.

    ¡°General, we still have the chance to get back at them. Please go with me now.¡±

    The lieutenant sounded worried. To echo with his worries, soldiers were shouting and crying outside. It seemed that something outside had burned up. In the distance, they could smell the burnt wood. Dreadful cries rose and fell, most of which came from soldiers of Yu Haitang. They hadn¡¯t fully prepared for this, so they were directly killed by the West Xia army.

    Outside the tent, they heard the familiar calls from Leng Wu and Leng Shuang who were followed by Yuanyang.

    Leng Wu held two halberds; Leng Shuang, the sword; and Yuanyang, two machetes. They three rushed into the tent together.

    ¡°Madam,¡± Yuanyang walked to Qin Yunuan and protected her subconsciously. Qin Yunuan shook her head to hint her that she was alright. Leng Shuang and Leng Wu wielded their weapons to Yu Haitang.

    ¡°Good, very good. Leng Changxi, you really earned a lot this time,¡± Yu Haitang said, seeing West Xia soldiers in ck armor flooded in. ¡°You took away my hard-earned inner Qi and yed a trick to fool me. That¡¯s great, so great. And you, Qin Yunuan.¡± Yu Haitang turned to look at Qin Yunuan with deep regret. This look was very like that of Sima Ray when he looked at Qin Yunuan but had nothing to say before. No, actually, Yu Haitang was Sima Ray. He lived as Yu Haitang now.

    ¡°Qin Yunuan,¡± Yu Haitang said with a bitter smile. ¡°I have done a lot for you. For you, I betrayed my father to usurp. I did so just forpletely owning you and giving you the most respected title. But you, you just took advantage of my love for you.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Yu, please don¡¯t say so,¡± Qin Yunuan put on a poker face. For her, these seemingly loving words were so disgusting. ¡°Oh, no. I should call you Your Royal Highness. Don¡¯tbel yourself as a faithful and affectionate man. You are just self-moved. Besides, don¡¯t say that you betray the country and collude with enemies for me. Otherwise, people might think I was the scourge. I¡¯m just an ordinary woman and not capable of anything you said. I disdain to take advantage of your so-called love. Be your true self.¡±

    The more Qin Yunuan said, the angrier Yu Haitang looked. But Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t want to set him free. Following the marks she left before, the leading soldiers in ck armor had arrived. So, Mu Qingyu would lead the rest here soon. At that time, even if Yu Haitang wanted to run away, he couldn¡¯t. So she had to y for time.

    ¡°Besides,¡± Qin Yunuan took a nce at Yu Haitang. Although Leng Changxi had absorbed half of Yu Haitang¡¯s inner Qi, he still looked more and more like Sima Ray because thetter had a stronger mind than the former. ¡°I didn¡¯t find that Yu Haitang¡¯s body worked well with your soul, when I took no look at you. But when having a closer look, I¡¯m more convinced. It means that you two originally looked simr.¡±

    ¡°You...¡±

    ¡°General, it¡¯s time,¡± the lieutenant who came to rescue Yu Haitang didn¡¯t say much. Red smoke, a high-level alert, appeared in the distance, which meant that the rest two gates were broken too and that Mu Qingyu would lead many soldiers to rush in soon.

    After thinking for a while and taking a loving look at Qin Yunuan, Yu Haitang turned around to leave resolutely.

    The shouts outside became louder. As Qin Yunuan and Mu Qingyu nned, Mu Qingyu would divide the remaining soldiers into five teams. Four of them wouldunch attacks to four gates respectively with the east gate as the main target. In fact, they attacked the other three gates just for scaring enemies. Qin Yunuan had guessed that Yu Haitang would run away through the mountain path nearest the west gate, so she already arranged the fifth team to ambush there.

    Yu Haitang suddenly left, so the remaining Qi soldiers lost their leader. They hadn¡¯t prepared for this sneak attack so had no choice but to be suppressed. They were like a flock of sheep losing their bellwether, seeing their fighting capacity decreasing dramatically.

    There were 500,000 soldiers in the camp, and Yu Haitang had led less than 50,000 away. Soon, when the West Xia army broke in, the left soldiers either surrendered or were killed for fighting back.

    Leng Wu and Leng Shuang dealt with the mess quickly and reported casualties. Leng Shuang was poker-faced, and she seemed to have no intention to ask Leng Changxi where Heiying was. Even Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t bear seeing that, and she climbed up the wall.

    Leng Changxi stood on the high and cold wall to look at green hills in the west. It was so quiet there, but Leng Changxi seemed to have seen how fiercely soldiers were fighting there through peaceful hills that stretched out far. The chief of the fifth team which ambushed there was Mu Qingyu¡¯spetent guard. He was tall and not handsome. However, the fact that Mu Qingyu appointed him to perform the task meant that he was outstanding.

    As expected, Leng Changxi received a battlefield report soon.

    ¡°General Leng, on our way tounch the sneak attack, we met with a sudden mudslide. Lieutenant Zhuge made quick adjustments, so all soldiers have survived. But enemies have escaped.¡±

    ¡°I see. You can leave now,¡± Leng Changxi said and still looked into the distance. He tapped his fingers on the cold and solid battlement, making a clear and doleful sound. Yu Haitang really had something, and he could even predict when natural disasters like the mudslide would happen. Zhuge indeed faced a tough situation. Once a mudslide happened, it could cause many casualties. He truly had made great contributions by saving all West Xia soldiers.

    Speaking of Zhuge, then he arrived. Firm footsteps came downstairs. Leng Changxi turned his head in surprise. Yu Haitang¡¯s inner Qi and his Tongming Gate internal skills were slowly integrating, and his senses became more sensitive now. So, right when Zhuge Qingtian walked upstairs, he sensed that he was way more skilled than an ordinary guard.

    ¡°General Leng, I¡¯m Zhuge Qingtian,¡± that man cupped his hand and greeted Leng Changxi. He did this in a smooth and surprisingly natural way. He looked very imposing.

    ¡°You must have learned a lot from Infanta Mu over the years,¡± Leng Changxi said and slightly turned his head. ¡°You look a bit like a royal member. If people don¡¯t know you, they may think you are a lost prince.¡±

    Hearing these in words, Zhuge Qingtian suddenly shook.

 Chapter 349 - Love Story of the Infanta

    <h4>Chapter 349 Love Story of the Infanta</h4>

    ¡°General, you must be joking.¡± Zhuge Qingtian said with great confidence.

    Leng Changxi smiled and nced at Zhuge Qingtian, ¡°Yeah, so you don¡¯t need to panic.¡±

    Although Zhuge Qingtian had tried to be indifferent, his slightly trembling fingertips betrayed his fear. While Leng Changxi did not ignore any details, he nced at Zhuge Qingtian quickly and then waved him away. Then he turned his head and asked Qin Yunuan, ¡°What¡¯s the background of Zhuge Qingtian? How long has he been with Her Highness?¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled sweetly, ¡°Why you asked that? You¡¯re interested in him?¡±

    At this time, only Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi were left in the tent. Therefore, Leng Changxi did not hesitate to put his arms around Qin Yunuan¡¯s slender waist and pinch it lightly. There was no proud flesh on her waist. Leng Changxi shook his head and said, ¡°You¡¯ve lost weight. You¡¯ve lost a lot of weight.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was shy and buried her red face into Leng Changxi¡¯s arms, saying in a gentle and sweet voice, ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of hardship as long as I can be with you. I just hope that you can be always well.¡±

    Leng Changxi felt so warm. How could he let down such a woman? His heart was filled with unspeakable gratitude. Leng Changxi just held Qin Yunuan tighter, ¡°I have no regrets since I have you in my life.¡±

    ¡°Of course you do.¡± Qin Yunuan raised her head with a grin. She touched her t belly and said to Leng Changxi with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t you feel sorry that we haven¡¯t had a child yet?¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled slyly, but he held Qin Yunuan tighter and tighter as if holding his treasure. His warm palms descended along Qin Yunuan¡¯s neck with endless tenderness and love. He had been leading troops all the time, and he hadn¡¯t been close with her for such a long time. At this moment, the war seemed to havee to an end, and the sunset outside was just the best.

    The orange sunlight was just like a soft nket, shedding light quietly on the left side of the bridge of Qin Yunuan¡¯s nose. The left side was in shadow, while the right side was in the warm orange sunlight. Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t help kissing the tip of her nose. There was great tenderness between them, while suddenly someone outside hurriedly reported, ¡°General Leng, there is something wrong with Infanta Mu.¡±

    Leng Changxi straightened up and looked at Qin Yunuan hesitantly, while Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t mind. She was still in his arms, turning her head, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    The person who came to report was a very young soldier, and he said so bluntly, ¡°Lieutenant Zhuge offended Infanta Mu. He broke into her tent when she was bathing.¡±

    It was not something which deserved a whoop and a holler. His speaking so loudly would make the two of them so embarrassed. Qin Yunuan frowned, and Yuanyang who was staying outside pped the young soldier then.

    ¡°How dare you speak like this? You are talking about the Infanta of West Xia and the Lieutenant in the camp!¡±

    The young soldier covered his face, feeling aggrieved. At this moment, Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi lifted the curtain and walked out.

    ¡°You can leave now. Watch the way you speak in the future.¡± Leng Changxi nced at the young soldier, waved him away, and whispered to Qin Yunuan, ¡°I think there is something strange.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nodded, ¡°I think so. Not to mention that Zhuge Qingtian and Her Highness are both self-disciplined, even if Zhuge Qingtian really had a thing for Her Highness, he would not take actions only after he rounded up the defeated army of Sima Ray. He is in the limelight now. And even if he really couldn¡¯t wait, how could he be found by others so easily?¡±

    ¡°I think so.¡± Leng Changxi nodded.

    Before they arrived outside the tent of Mu Qingyu, Tuoba Wuyu had already sent people to guard the tent to prevent those gossip mongers from harassing Infanta Mu inside. However, Qin Yunuan still heard bad rumors along the way. Although Mu Qingyu had a good reputation in West Xia before and had a high reputation in the army, there were still many people saying that Mu Qingyu had two faces and she was a slut although she looked lofty.

    Even before entering her tent, Qin Yunuan seemed to be able to feel how despairing Mu Qingyu was.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go in alone.¡± Qin Yunuan stopped Leng Changxi, ¡°After all, it¡¯s girls¡¯ matter. Go to ask Zhuge Qingtian what happened on earth, and there might still be a solution.¡±

    Then Qin Yunuan opened the curtain and went in. It seemed that Mu Qingyu had asked all the maids to leave. Except for herself, there was nobody else in the tent. It was dark with no light in it. Knowing that Qin Yunuan was here, Mu Qingyu still sat alone at the foot of the bed, holding her knees with hands, and her head was buried between her knees. People would definitely think that the Infanta of West Xia must be so sad and despairing because she was vited.

    While Qin Yunuan felt that there must be another reason.

    ¡°Your Highness, it¡¯s me.¡± Qin Yunuan moved closer and sat on the bedside, looking at Mu Qingyu, who just wanted to hide herself. It was the first time she saw Mu Qingyu¡¯s helpless appearance. It seemed that no matter what she faced in the past, Mu Qingyu was always so calm. Even when Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan discussed the n with her, she did not shrink out of potential danger.

    Mu Qingyu slowly raised her head, ¡°How is Qingtian now?¡±

    Zhuge Qingtian had been working for her for three or four years, and Mu Qingyu had always valued him. But what couldn¡¯t be denied was that Mu Qingyu did have a feeling for Zhuge Qingtian which exceeded the rtionship between the master and the servant. Even the rude old maids in the prince¡¯s mansion always said in private that if Zhuge Qingtian¡¯s status was a little higher, he and Infanta Mu would make a perfect match. Mu Qingyu had heard about what they said, but she could only endure it since something was really insurmountable.

    ¡°He¡¯s okay.¡± Qin Yunuan shook her head, ¡°Moreover, it¡¯s not about caring about him now. What about you? Are you okay?¡±

    After all, the story of their pure rtionship was terrible at this time.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Mu Qingyu smiled bitterly, ¡°I just... Nothing. There is nothing to tell. Outsiders won¡¯t understand me. Even my hard-earned reputation is no match for thisme conspiracy. I can only ept it.¡±

    ¡°You can talk with me.¡± Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help touching Mu Qingyu¡¯s back. Every person would have emotions and secrets. ¡°Maybe, I can try to understand you.¡±

    Mu Qingyu raised her head slowly and looked at the dark tent. It was dark outside. The coldness and darkness after the sunset were just like a war without prior notice, stimting people¡¯s nerves. The night was extremely cold in the mountain, and Qin Yunuan subconsciously tucked Mu Qingyu in tighter who was in a daze.

    ¡°Actually, Qingtian and I were only seven years old when we first met.¡±

    Mu Qingyu said slowly, which confirmed Qin Yunuan¡¯s guess that there was definitely a story between Mu Qingyu and Zhuge Qingtian.

    ¡°That was at a banquet in East Qin. At that time, the rtionship between West Xia and East Qin was obscured. My father was ordered to go to East Qin to congratte the emperor of East Qin on his birthday. By the way, he brought me there. When I was a kid, I was yful. When I arrived at the imperial garden of the Royal Pce of East Qin, I ran out of sight. At that time, I met him.¡± Mu Qingyu said, smiling naturally.

    That was a sweet but slightly bitter smile.

    ¡°Lieutenant Zhuge is from East Qin?¡± Qin Yunuan was a little surprised. However, East Qin had been destroyed already, so naturally nobody was from East Qin anymore. But Qin Yunuan suddenly thought that when East Qin and Qi were at war before, it was Leng Changxi who arrived with reinforcements, turned the tables and attacked the Royal City of East Qin. It was exactly that day when East Qin was destroyed.

    If Zhuge Qingtian were really from East Qin, it would be thankless for Leng Changxi tofort him.

    ¡°Strictly speaking, he is not from East Qin.¡± Mu Qingyu thought carefully, ¡°Zhuge Qingtian¡¯s mother was a foreign woman abducted by the emperor of East Qin when he fought in other small countries. That foreign woman never obeyed the emperor, and she told Qingtian since childhood that they were not from East Qin. But when I met him, he was still a righteous prince of East Qin. It could be seen that although his mother hated the emperor obviously, the emperor still loved his mother so much. At the time, in the Royal Pce of East Qin, there were only two people who could wear dark purple clothes, the empress and Qingtian¡¯s mother, who was just a concubine.¡±

    ¡°However, the higher a person¡¯s position is, the more dangerous he will be. Qingtian¡¯s mother had an ident at the banquet on that day when we met. The wine his mother drank was poisoned. But he didn¡¯t even shed a tear. He just held his mother¡¯s body, and indifferently analyzed who did that. And his reasoning was perfectly correct. At that time, he was only eleven or twelve years old. I just admired him very much and thought he was very strong and powerful at that time. After that, he took his mother¡¯s body back alone. I followed him all the way out of curiosity, only to find...¡±

    When Mu Qingyu talked about this, there was a lump in her throat. Although it had been so many years, the scene was still so vivid, ¡°I saw him holding his mother¡¯s body and leaning against the wall, crying loudly. I just admired him for his calmness before. But at that moment, I felt that he was also an emotional human being. Then, I fell in love with him. I was only seven years old, and I didn¡¯t know what love was. But looking back now, I must have fallen in love with him that time.¡±

    ¡°What about him?¡± Qin Yunuan asked softly, ¡°Does Lieutenant Zhuge know your feelings?¡±

 Chapter 350 - Leaving the Whole Dead Body

    <h4>Chapter 350 Leaving the Whole Dead Body</h4>

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Mu Qingyu shook her head. ¡°He has been protecting me for so many years, and he even risked his life to save me in crisis. But I don¡¯t know whether he is really afraid that I will be hurt and wants to treat me well or he just wants to thank me for taking him in when he was homeless after being hurt by the imperial household of East Qin. I don¡¯t know. I really don¡¯t know.¡±

    Mu Qingyu shook her head desperately. She was torn inside. She had already known clearly that she had a thing for Zhuge Qingtian, but she didn¡¯t know whether he was the same. And things turned moreplex since such a thing happened at this time.

    ¡°I have an idea for you to figure out whether guard Zhuge had a thing for you.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled, and she had an idea.

    ¡°No.¡± Mu Qingyu shook her head, ¡°Qingtian and I were obviously framed. I was taking a bath at that time, but then I fell asleep in a daze. When I woke up, Qingtian happened toe in. He said that someone told him that I was looking for him for something urgent. He waited outside for a long time but didn¡¯t see meing out. He broke in because he was afraid that I would have an ident. Only we two were in the tent. Although It was embarrassing, it wouldn¡¯t be known to all. I guess it was my maid who did that.¡±

    Qin Yunuan recalled that when she came in, she did feel that one of Mu Qingyu¡¯s maids was gone. It was Yun¡¯er.

    ¡°Yes, it is Yun¡¯er.¡± Mu Qingyu seemed to know what Qin Yunuan was thinking about, and then she continued, ¡°It was she who served me when I took a bath, and she also lit the incense. What¡¯s more, she happened to break in after Qingtian came in, pretending to be surprised, screaming to attract everyone.¡±

    ¡°Where is she now?¡±

    ¡°I have sent someone to drive her away. She must work for Shu Fi and came to avenge the traitor Shu Fi.¡± Mu Qingyu was resentful.

    ¡°You just drive her away?¡± Qin Yunuan shook her head, ¡°Your Highness, you are so kind. Such a person¡¯s existence can be a disaster. Sometimes, we must use means in order to achieve the goal.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s voice seemed to be softer and softer when she spoke, which sounded so visional. Listening to her, Mu Qingyu seemed to be bewitched, and then she lost consciousness, copsing on the bed.

    Qin Yunuan hurriedly covered her mouth and nose and put away the sleeping incense deliberately aiming at Mu Qingyu, which she had just hidden in her sleeves. It seemed that the incense Sun Miaoyang gave her was really useful.

    Qin Yunuan looked at Mu Qingyu who was in sleep, shook her head and said, ¡°Your Highness, I hope you can understand that I did it for your own good. Sometimes we can only achieve our goals by means.¡±

    As for Leng Changxi, he was pacing back and forth in the simple prison where Zhuge Qingtian was imprisoned. Leng Changxi walked extremely slowly, and his every step seemed to be thoughtful. Zhuge Qingtian¡¯s hands were tied to the cross. He squinted slightly, seeming to be closing the eyes for rest, while his eyes were fixed on Leng Changxi actually. Only they two were in the prison, and even the air seemed to be cold. Leng Changxi then said to Zhuge Qingtian, ¡°So you still refuse to recognize your identity. Your surname should not be Zhuge but the noblest surname in East Qin. Your surname is Zhao, right?¡±

    Zhuge Qingtian still kept his eyes closed calmly and said slightly, ¡°General Leng, I don¡¯t know what you are talking about.¡±

    ¡°I guess that your mother¡¯s surname is Zhuge. Could it be that your mother was just the most favored concubine of the emperor of East Qin, Zhuge...¡±

    ¡°General Leng.¡± Zhuge Qingtian interrupted Leng Changxi¡¯s guess weakly, ¡°I don¡¯t know why you always want to connect me with East Qin. But I can tell you that I have nothing to do with East Qin. I¡¯m just an ordinary citizen of West Xia, and because of my outstanding martial arts, I was selected to be the personal bodyguard of Her Highness.¡±

    ¡°Because you fell in love with Her Highness since you were together morning and night, you broke into her room on impulse today.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡± Zhuge Qingtian suddenly opened his eyes, ¡°There is nothing between us. We are innocent. Nothing happened.¡±

    ¡°You must be joking. Everyone knew that you went in when Her Highness was taking a bath. Nobody will take a bath with clothes on. So since she was naked, how could you say that you were innocent? Are you fooling me?¡± What Leng Changxi said made Zhuge Qingtian speechless.

    Seeing the change of Zhuge Qingtian¡¯s expression, Leng Changxi was very satisfied, ¡°And even if nothing really happened, Her Highness¡¯s reputation has been ruined. Outsiders all think that Her Highness is a slut. So I suggest that you admit your identity as the descendant of the imperial family of East Qin. The war between East Qin and Qi has ended a long time ago, so you will not be held ountable for your identity. In this way, you and Her Highness can be a good match. Then you can marry Her Highness, and then rumors will vanish.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just those gossip mongers that make Her Highness so upset.¡± He had to admit that although what Leng Changxi said made him a little ufortable, it made sense.

    At this time, Yuanyang came in with a pot of tea. She exchanged nces with Leng Changxi quickly, and Leng Changxi nodded indifferently.

    ¡°Her Highness hasmitted suicide to escape punishment.¡± Leng Changxi said lightly, which seemed to be a bomb that exploded in Zhuge Qingtian¡¯s heart directly.

    ¡°What... are you talking about?¡± Zhuge Qingtian looked incredulous. Blue veins stood out on his forehead violently. His eyes opened with fury, his blood seemed to be burning, and his heart ached so violently.

    Leng Changxi shook his head and sighed, ¡°She is really a brave woman. She values her reputation so much. In order to protect it, she did it without hesitation.¡±

    ¡°Qingyu.¡± Zhuge Qingtian called her name. He didn¡¯t call her Infanta as before but called her Qingyu intimately this time. His movement of breaking away from the rope became increasingly fierce.

    ¡°Okay. Dispose her corpse at will. Just leave her the whole body. Don¡¯t let it be eaten by wild wolves and dogs.¡± They wererades-in-arms and friends who once fought together, while Leng Changxi looked extraordinarily calm at this time.

    ¡°*sshole!¡± Zhuge Qingtian¡¯s voice sounded strong and angry, ¡°Her Highness is the first-rank Infanta of West Xia. No matter what, Her Highness should have a grand funeral. How can you just bury her in a casual pit like this? It¡¯s so disrespectful! I¡¯ll report it to His Majesty!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t threaten me with His Majesty.¡± Leng Changxi didn¡¯t care about what he said at all. ¡°A fieldmander must decide even against king¡¯s orders. Now we are at a war. How can I give Her Highness a grand funeral? What¡¯s more, if you don¡¯t want to marry her, she will always be regarded as a slut. If we gave a grand funeral to a slut, wouldn¡¯t His Majesty and West Xia be ashamed?¡±

    ¡°Shut up! Don¡¯t say that about her!¡± Zhuge Qingtian became more and more excited, and the thick hemp rope as thick as his index finger creaked as if it would disconnect at any time.

    Leng Changxi didn¡¯t even look back at him. Yuanyang said quickly after seeing it, ¡°General Leng, don¡¯t worry. Madam is going to leave the camp with the corpse of Her Highness. She set off towards the mass grave on the east.¡±

    Mass grave? Zhuge Qingtian was anxious. With a sudden force, he broke free from the hemp rope. Leng Changxi seemed to look at him in surprise. Zhuge Qingtian didn¡¯t have time to think about it and ran directly out of the tent.

    Yuanyang nced at the small dart next to her. She saw clearly just now that it was Leng Changxi who broke the rope with a hidden weapon.

    A slow-moving team was about to walk out of the gate of the camp with Qin Yunuan, the leader. She looked so upset with her head down, followed by Leng Shuang and a strong man pulling a simple wooden cart. There seemed to be a person lying on it, covered with ayer of rough khaki linen. The scene was simr to that in a poor family of some countryside, where corpses would be wrapped in straw mat and thrown to the field because their families could not afford a funeral.

    Qin Yunuan looked back and signaled the team to walk more slowly. Sure enough, after the team walked out of the camp for just a few hundred meters, a shout came from the rear.

    ¡°Madam, wait. Please wait.¡±

    Qin Yunuan turned back. Shouldn¡¯t Zhuge Qingtian be imprisoned in the dungeon? How did he escape under Leng Changxi¡¯s very eyes?

    ¡°Madam, please let me take a look at Qingyu.¡± Zhuge Qingtian pleaded bitterly, but he was still stopped by Leng Shuang with a sword a few meters away.

    Leng Shuang said coldly, ¡°You didn¡¯t cherish her when she was alive. Now that she is dead now, why you want to take a look at her?¡±

    There was a lump in Zhuge Qingtian¡¯s throat. He just said to Qin Yunuan in an extremely sincere manner, ¡°Madam, we are master and servant. Since she died so suddenly, I have to say my farewell.¡±

    ¡°Master and servant?¡± Qin Yunuan squinted at Zhuge Qingtian, ¡°Do you know that she wants more than a servant?¡±

    Zhuge Qingtian suddenly lowered his head and whispered, ¡°I know.¡± He said in such a low voice that it seemed that only he himself could hear what he said.

    ¡°You know?¡± Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows and smiled sarcastically. ¡°You know it, but you¡¯ve been pretending that you don¡¯t know it for four years? She had an engagement with Changxi before, and she almost married into North Diter. Where were you at that time?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to... At that time, I was going to be with the groom¡¯s procession. If she was unwilling, I would take her away.¡± Zhuge Qingtian said. His eyes turned dim. He was so cowardly that he almost gave away his most beloved girl to others for a few times.

    Zhuge Qingtian said and approached slowly. While suddenly, he found that the little finger of the white right hand out of the linen suddenly moved.

 Chapter 351 - I Dare to Marry Her

    <h4>Chapter 351 I Dare to Marry Her</h4>

    ¡°Qingyu,¡± Zhuge Qingtian was so excited that he wanted to hold the uncovered pale hand of Mu Qingyu, but Leng Shuang wielded her sword to stop him. Leng Shuang looked very cold and said, ¡°How dare you touch the body of Her Highness?¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked up at Zhuge Qingtian and wore a hardly noticeable smile. Now, Zhuge Qingtian was like a lion tied with the iron chain. He was angry but restrained by many things. This man, who was originally bold and brave, was bound by his long-hidden feeling for Mu Qingyu, the concealing of his identity and the fear of failing to narrow the huge status gap between Mu Qingyu and him.

    Today, Leng Shuang was particrly talkative, and Qin Yunuan, who always asked her maids to be good-mannered, should allow Leng Shuang to sneer at Zhuge Qingtian. ¡°Why do you pretend that you care about her very much? Now that Her Highness alreadymitted suicide, it¡¯s time to put an end to your affairs. So shouldn¡¯t you feel happy and rxed now?¡±

    ¡°Nonsense!¡± Zhuge Qingtian rarely scolded women. But this time, Leng Shuang went too far. Zhuge Qingtian directly took out his falchion and wielded it to Leng Shuang. Although he exerted much strength, he didn¡¯t wield the falchion fast. After all, he only wanted to give a warning to Leng Shuang. Leng Shuang fended against the falchion with her own sword.

    The sword and the falchion crashed, making a clear ng sound. Qin Yunuan slightly turned her head and looked at Zhuge Qingtian as if she had been watching a farce. ¡°Or how should you feel? You¡¯re so arrogant now but still deny everything between you and Her Highness. Eventually, Her Highness was forced tomit suicide and died with hatred. Zhuge Qingtian, you me us for pressuring Her Highness to kill herself, but in fact, you are the one to pressure her. Because of your years-longpany, she fell in love with you. But also because of your inaction, she had worried about your future for four years. Now she¡¯s relieved. And you, take the pain alone.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± Zhuge Qingtian found it hard to exin. No one could understand his hopelessness and repentance. ¡°I didn¡¯t intend to conceal anything. But since I went to West Xia, the royal family in East Qin hasn¡¯t stopped sending assassins to kill me. If I had told her my feeling, she would have got involved in this endless escape. I don¡¯t want anyone to hurt her, so I have no choice but to hide my feelings.¡±

    Qin Yunuanughed grimly and said, ¡°You chose to live such a tiring life to keep running away from your enemies and chose to not marry her. So it still means that you are a coward.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not!¡±

    ¡°If you are not, do you dare to propose to her and marry her regardless of your status?¡± Qin Yunuan kept asking aggressively.

    ¡°I... but she already...¡± While speaking, he became gloomy.

    ¡°So you don¡¯t dare?¡±

    ¡°No, I mean...¡±

    ¡°Fine, you after all are a timid coward,¡± Qin Yunuan sneered. ¡°She¡¯s already dead, but you still don¡¯t dare to make a promise. Alright, we now know the man Her Highness loved is useless, and she must be blind. Otherwise, how would she fall in love with you?¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s every word was sarcastic. Zhuge Qingtian turned his head and said, ¡°How will I not dare to marry her? I swear I only love her in my life. No matter what she looks like and whether she is alive, she¡¯s my only love.¡±

    ¡°Well, she¡¯s dead now, but you can hold a ghost wedding. Do you dare to do so?¡± Qin Yunuan gave a charming smile.

    ¡°Of course I do. As long as her father agrees, I will marry her and prepare a memorial tablet for her. I¡¯ll take care of her for the rest of my life.¡±

    ¡°Why do you mention that annoying old man? I¡¯m just asking you. Do you dare or not?¡± Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t like Mu Qingyu¡¯s father.

    ¡°I do,¡± Zhuge Qingtian lowered his head and then tilted it. The white linen cloth that covered Mu Qingyu was thin, but it represented a gap between her and him that he could never cross. Looking at her, he said with his hands shaking, ¡°Even if everyone opposes us to get married, I will marry her.¡±

    Suddenly, Qin Yunuan smiled cunningly and directly walked forward to lift the linen cloth that covered Mu Qingyu.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zhuge Qingtian wanted to stop her. Although Mu Qingyu was dead now, he wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to show disrespect to her.

    ¡°Why are you so nervous?¡± Qin Yunuan stopped and just patted Mu Qingyu on her shoulder. ¡°Your Highness, have you heard what he said? He finally made a confession.¡±

    In fact, Qin Yunuan merely hid some sleep-conducive spices in her sleeves. Mu Qingyu remained conscious, although she seemed to have fallen asleep. As Qin Yunuan nned, Mu Qingyu would hear every word Zhuge Qingtian said to her affectionately, but she couldn¡¯t talk. Also, Mu Qingyu would wake up long ago. Otherwise, she would not have moved her finger which had aroused Zhuge Qingtian¡¯s suspicion.

    But strangely, no matter how many times Qin Yunuan called Mu Qingyu, she didn¡¯t answer and justy stiffly on the cart.

    Qin Yunuan was doubtful and worried. Zhuge Qingtian directly walked forward and lifted the linen cloth without Qin Yunuan¡¯s permission. But it was right Mu Qingyu whoy under the white linen cloth. Zhuge Qingtian was a bit in a daze. Qin Yunuan saw Mu Qingyu¡¯s pale face. Supposedly, the breathless pill wouldn¡¯t make her face pale. Taking the pill, people would only stop breathing, and other organs would function well. Even, their faces would be as ruddy and glossy as those of living people.

    But...

    Qin Yunuan frowned and felt Mu Qingyu¡¯s pulse. As she expected...

    ¡°Madam Leng, what¡¯s wrong with Qingyu?¡± Zhuge Qingtian was very anxious seeing that Mu Qingyu justy there.

    ¡°She was poisoned,¡± Qin Yunuan said and shook her head. She was rather heavy-hearted. ¡°I don¡¯t know whether she was poisoned before or after I gave her the pill. But it¡¯s still my fault.¡±

    If Qin Yunuan hadn¡¯t meddled in their business to force Zhuge Qingtian to tell his feelings for Mu Qingyu, this farce wouldn¡¯t happen.

    Zhuge Qingtian took a deep breath. It could be told that he tried very hard to ept the fact. ¡°Madam Leng, it¡¯s not your fault.¡± Then he knelt to Qin Yunuan with a serious look, making a loud sound. He said with a strong determination, ¡°But, please save her. No matter how many people or materials you need, I will find them for you. No matter how rare the herbs you need are, I will risk my life to get them back.¡±

    ¡°No, no,¡± Qin Yunuan kept shaking her head. She knew how worried he was. ¡°Now, if we want to cure her, we¡¯d better find out who poisoned her or how she was poisoned first, rather than find herbs. Her pulse is unstable. The person who poisoned her is very skilled. I have no way to cure her simply based on her pulse.¡±

    ¡°Unless...¡± Qin Yunuan elongated the word and looked at Zhuge Qingtian out of the corner of her eye.

    ¡°Unless what?¡±

    ¡°Unless I can test drugs on someone,¡± Qin Yunuan turned around. She and Zhuge Qingtian stood face to face with her white dress flying with the wind. ¡°I mean, I will keep making different antidotes and ask people to take them to check what poison is in her. But this is really dangerous. If one takes too many drugs, he may die.¡±

    ¡°I can help with this,¡± Zhuge Qingtian patted himself on his chest and said confidently. He could even die for Mu Qingyu, let alone just test drugs for her.

    ¡°No need. You have a more important task,¡± Qin Yunuan said because something urred to her. ¡°Do you still remember Yun¡¯er, Her Highness¡¯ maid? She told me that, it was Yun¡¯er who plotted against you to make you see her when she was in bath. But she was kind, so she merely kicked that maid out of the camp. You go to have an investigation and chase after that girl. Or, you can seek for clues from maids who are close to Yun¡¯er.¡±

    Zhuge Qingtian hesitated, because it meant that he had to leave Mu Qingyu and not stay with her all the time.

    ¡°Lieutenant Zhuge, I think that¡¯s more important than yourpany for her now. I doubt that there is a spy in our camp. If we don¡¯t find him out, I¡¯m afraid Her Highness won¡¯t be the only one who suffers.¡±

    Zhuge Qingtian nodded, and from his clear-cut face, it could be told that he was determined. He believed that Qin Yunuan could cure Mu Qingyu, so he should take care of something else now. After all, other than Yun¡¯er, he knew servants who served Mu Qingyu best.

    ¡°This matters much. Let¡¯s go back to the camp first. Leng Shuang, you send Her Highness back through the path. Now everyone believes that she¡¯s dead. So does the spy. We can¡¯t give ourselves away.¡±

    Leng Shuang nodded. Finishing their discussion, they went to different directions.

    Later, Qin Yunuan was carefully examining herbs on her table in her tent. She thought about Mu Qingyu¡¯s wired and unstable pulse. Leng Changxi, who was discussing tactics with soldiers in another tent, might note back untilte at night. She assumed that he would argue with the inspector and that old general for some time because of Mu Qingyu¡¯s death.

    At this time, Leng Shuang reported that she already sent Mu Qingyu to a tent near the wound barrack. It was where heavily injured soldiers got treatment. Doctor Ting Xue was taking care of her, and it was safe for Mu Qingyu to stay there.

    When Leng Shuang was about to leave, Qin Yunuan suddenly called her. ¡°Leng Shuang, do you know Heiying...¡±

    Leng Shuang turned around and looked calm. ¡°I know he has lost all his martial arts, and all his meridians are broken. He lies on the bed and can¡¯t move now, like the disabled.¡±

 Chapter 352 - You Were the Spy

    <h4>Chapter 352 You Were the Spy</h4>

    While speaking, Leng Shuang couldn¡¯t help dragging the corner of her mouth down. Qin Yunuan saw much from her eyes. Now, Leng Shuang didn¡¯t know how to express her feelings. ¡°I visited him once in the afternoon. I know his condition well, but it doesn¡¯t matter. All of us know that he is Heiying, so it doesn¡¯t matter whether he can recover or not. I¡¯ll wait for him to recover and take good care of him. Madam, don¡¯t worry.¡±

    Qin Yunuan put on a bitter smile and waved her hand. Rare rhino horns were ced at her hand. She picked up one causally and rubbed it in a seemingly unintentional way. ¡°We¡¯d better stay positive. I¡¯ll try my best to treat them, Mu Qingyu and Heiying, and never give them up. But I¡¯m not very skilled yet because I only learned the leech-craft from Doctor Sun for a short period. I want you to go back to the Royal City and send a letter to invite Doctor Sun here. If hees here, Heiying and Mu Qingyu will both recover soon.¡±

    Now, it was time for Qin Yunuan to wait for enemies to fall into her traps and capture them, but she should send Leng Shuang away with an excuse. Leng Shuang paused but didn¡¯t give it a second thought. She took the letter on the table and left.

    Seeing Leng Shuang walking away, Qin Yunuan exerted some strength. Then, that rhino horn in her hand was smashed, and the powder fell to the ground. Suddenly, she heard several gentle knocks, three quick ones, three slow ones and two quick ones. She raised her pretty eyebrows. This was a secret signal, meaning that the spy in the camp was captured.

    At the moment, in the woods, Leng Changxi sat high on a tall jujube-red horse, followed by over 100 armed soldiers from the Leng Army. Although so many soldiers, all with weapons in their hands, stood together, their weapons didn¡¯t bump against each other. It could be told that how well-trained they were. They were the most skilled.

    Leng Changxi tilted his head a bit and looked at the man who got stuck in the trap and couldn¡¯t move. This was the shortest path from Ping Town to the Royal City. Leng Changxi had long expected that the spy Qin Yunuan suspected would choose this path to run away or send messages out. So they just ced some simple traps here and captured him easily. Yes, they captured him easily, so easily.

    Leng Changxi held the rein, so the horse turned to where traps were ced. He waved his hand to tell soldiers to move there.

    There were full of thorns in the trap so the man in it was covered with wounds now. He dared not to move. Leng Changxi stood near the trap with the rein in his hand and looked down at that man who he was very familiar with and who was in a totally mess now.

    ¡°General Tuoba, you seem in a good mood.¡± Leng Changxi merely said a few words, and he sounded indifferent and provocative.

    Tuoba Wuyu was tall and strong. That trap seemed to be designed for him. He was stuck in the 1-meter trap in casual wear. There was a brown package near his feet. He looked like a fugitive.

    ¡°Such being the case, I think you won¡¯t believe in me no matter what I exin,¡± Tuoba Wuyu said. He was covered with blood. Those small but sharp thorns stabbed him into his flesh. Although it wouldn¡¯t kill him, it made him lose a lot of blood and look pale.

    ¡°Pull him out of the trap,¡± Leng Changxi ordered soldiers next to him. Then several soldiers quickly put on golden-thread gloves to push thorns aside and pulled heavily injured Tuoba Wuyu out. Given Leng Changxi¡¯s personality, he would definitely kill Tuoba Wuyu with solid evidence in his hand now. But strangely, he was not in a hurry to kill him.

    Leng Changxi took down the spear he put behind his back and pointed it at Tuoba Wuyu¡¯s chest. ¡°General Tuoba, I trust you very much, because His Majesty picks you up to work with me, and because you are the general of soldiers in ck armor, also because you are loyal, brave and resourceful. But now, it seems I misjudged you.¡± Leng Changxi pushed the spear, so it was closer to Tuoba Wuyu. ¡°I don¡¯t know why but I always misjudged people these days. Do you think so?¡±

    When speaking, Leng Changxi turned his head to the right rear. He should be speaking to Tuoba Wuyu, but he seemed to speak to another person.

    ¡°Are you not tired of lying on the branch?¡± Leng Changxi suddenly looked back and threw the ck-iron spear at a 100-year-old pine tree behind him. The spear brushed with the trunk and stabbed into a short and crooked tree behind. He was intentional, and he just wanted to force the man on the tree to jump down.

    With a clear crack made by the broken branch, a tall and agile martial artist who had bright eyes jumped down. He covered his upper face with the ck cloth.

    But strangely, he looked familiar.

    Leng Changxi turned around. Right at this time, Qin Yunuan who waited in the camp arrived together with Yuanyang. Yuanyang pulled out Leng Changxi¡¯s spear and handed it over to him.

    There was something unspeakable in Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes. She had stared at the man in ck for long and said, ¡°I sent Leng Shuang away with an excuse for fear that you are the spy. After all, we saw you as ourpany before.¡±

    ¡°Company?¡± The man in ck turned around a bit and smiled. ¡°That¡¯s just your wishful thinking. I only work for myself.¡±

    ¡°Heiying,¡± Leng Changxi called the man in ck who stood near the tree in a cold voice. His vague words sounded ghostly. Leng Changxi seldom trusted people. Among his men, Leng Wu was the first one he trusted. Heiying was a rtively trustworthypany. But unexpectedly, such apany was lying to him at the very beginning.

    ¡°You are truly something,¡± The man in ck walked out calmly and took off the cloth that covered his face. His handsome and clear-cut face echoed with his name, Heiying. He was like an unpredictable eagle. You thought you had tamed him but only found that he would never settle down to stay loyal to just one master.

    Heiying strode out and took a look at Tuoba Wuyu who was covered with blood. ¡°You¡¯re impressive too, good at the ruse of hurting yourself to let my guard down. Leng Changxi, when did you find out I was the spy? When I came back alive after fighting against Yu Haitang?¡±

    What Heiying worried most was that he would be seen through by Leng Changxi after he confronted with Yu Haitang alone. Because his meridian remained intact after the serious injury. He just pretended to be heavily injured. He was so good at this that even Leng Shuang and Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t find anything wrong. He couldn¡¯t figure out when he gave himself away.

    ¡°I started to suspect you right after you came to the camp,¡± Leng Changxi said while looking at Heiying indifferently. He had investigated Heiying¡¯s origin before. Heiying indeed was a descendant of the Cang Family, but his family didn¡¯t have very deep hatred against the Xu Family. They had reconciled with each other since thest generation. So, when Heiying showed his changing attitude towards Xu Ji, Leng Changxi started to pay attention to his behavior. As he expected, Heiying truly had spared no effort to plot against Sima Ray and was nice to Leng Shuang. However, that couldn¡¯t change the fact that he was a spy and not in his camp.

    He did all these good things just to earn the trust of Leng Changxi and other people.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you sorry for Leng Shuang?¡± Yuanyang couldn¡¯t help scolding him for Leng Shuang. ¡°She trusts you so much, but you should take advantage of her. You¡¯re not a man.¡±

    ¡°Not a man?¡± Heiying raised his eyebrows and put on a naughty smile. He looked as if he was sneering at what Yuanyang said. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m not a man.¡± Then he suddenly turned his head, and he should look a bit charming. Leng Changxi had spent much time in the royal pce, so he knew that was what eunuchs usually did.

    Qin Yunuan also noticed that. Taking a closer look at him, she found that he truly looked handsome and had the Adam¡¯s apple. But it only meant he became a eunuch after 16. He turned out to be a eunuch. No wonder, he was responsible for protecting the emperor in Qi and stayed in the pce all the time. If he were a true man, the emperor wouldn¡¯t feel relieved to let him stay in the pce.

    ¡°Ho, you are a eunuch,¡± Leng Changxi said with disdain, but Heiying didn¡¯t care. ¡°So what? Even a eunuch fooled you.¡±

    ¡°What can you get to help Sima Ray?¡±

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Heiying smiled with his eyebrows raised, looking totally different from the previous righteous Heiying. ¡°But, I just don¡¯t want to take orders from others anymore. He offers me a lot, so I agree to work with him. That¡¯s it. Nothing big deal.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s you who send those messages out, right?¡±

    ¡°But,¡± Heiying smiled at Leng Changxi coldly, ¡°Those were what you wanted me to send out, right? You had carefully fabricated all messages I got and sent out, hadn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°General, no need to talk to him. Let¡¯s directly kill him,¡± Tuoba Wuyu bit the bullet and shouted loudly while covering his wound.

    ¡°Not in a hurry,¡± Leng Changxi waved his hand. Heiying still could help him with something. But suddenly, a long soft sword quickly flew to Heiying and directly stabbed him into his chest hard. Ordinary people couldn¡¯t be that skilled and good at shooting. The soft sword swayed after stabbing Heiying. Qin Yunuan recognized that sword. It was the crape myrtle soft sword, a weapon of Leng Shuang.

    Qin Yunuan was surprised, and then she saw Leng Shuang, who should be on her way to send the letter, standing on a branch on the other side. She jumped down with a poker face. The light purple dress hemline flew up and covered the corner of her mouth so that people couldn¡¯t tell whether she was angry or not.

    ¡°Leng Shuang, how dare you hurt him without my permission?¡± Qin Yunuan tried to calm Leng Shuang down. Thetter had pulled out the soft sword in Heiying¡¯s chest and raised her arm, ready to stab him again. How much she loved him before meant how much she hated him now. Moreover, Heiying was the first man Leng Shuang fell in love with. But he was just taking advantage of her.

    ¡°Leng Shuang,e back,¡± Qin Yunuan shouted in a cold voice. At this time, Yuanyang said when pointing at Heiying, ¡°Madam, he is vomiting blood. It seems that he wants to kill himself.¡±

    Qin Yunuan stepped forward and grabbed his chin, trying to make him swallow the poison in his mouth as less as possible. ¡°He¡¯s not killing himself.¡± With just a nce, Qin Yunuan figured out what happened. ¡°He was poisoned. Sima Ray did this, if I am right.¡±

 Chapter 353 - An Either-or Situation

    <h4>Chapter 353 An Either-or Situation</h4>

    Seeing that Heiying¡¯s face gradually be pale, showing a kind of dying helplessness, Qin Yunuan opened his eyelid and checked carefully. Leng Shuang seemed to be a little flustered.

    ¡°Madam, I...¡± Leng Shuang took a step closer.

    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business,¡± Qin Yunuan turned her face tofort Leng Shuang, ¡°Besides, even if you don¡¯t kill him, Sima Ray will kill him. Even if he isn¡¯t killed by Sima Ray, he will be punished by me. How can he leave safe and sound after bullying my people?¡±

    Leng Changxi nced at Heiying and ordered his servant, ¡°Take him back.¡± After saying this, he stretched his hand and pulled Qin Yunuan directly onto the horse. When he passed Tuoba Wuyu, he nodded with concern, ¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡±

    Qin Yunuan sat behind Leng Changxi. Putting her arms around the edge of Leng Changxi¡¯s armor, she lowered her head slightly, ¡°It¡¯s so surprising that...¡±

    ¡°Nothing is surprising,¡± Leng Changxi seemed rather calm after so many betrayals and schemes, ¡°There is nothing impossible in this world. However, it¡¯s good that while Heiying is useless now, Zhuge Qingtian, a dark horse, is reliable. What¡¯s more, the royal family of East Qin tortured his mother and then hunted him down for a kill in the past. Sima Ray was involved in all of this. We have nomon interests with Heiying. No matter he follows us or Sima Ray, he can get whatever he wants anyway. However, we have amon enemy with Zhuge Qingtian, which means we havemon interests. Also, we¡¯ve made a match between him and Her Highness. Although Her Highness hasn¡¯t woken up yet, they owe us a debt of gratitude. Zhuge Qingtian, we can rely on him.¡±

    ¡°Qingyu hasn¡¯t been getting better yet. However, Zhuge Qingtian has almost found all the medicinal materials I need. You needn¡¯t worry about it anymore.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Leng Changxi raised his head. The bright red feather on his silver helmet fluttered with the wind. He moved his gaze to the ce far away, which was the direction Sima Ray had fled. Now Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan had the same consensus on Yu Haitang. Although he still had the title of Yu Haitang, inside there was Sima Ray¡¯s soul in his bones. With Yu Haitang¡¯s appearance bing more and more like Sima Ray, his heart was also a hundred times more vicious.

    Heiying¡¯s body was buried hastily. The poison Sima Ray gave Heiying was highly toxic. Obviously, he had never thought of leaving Heiying alive. ording to Qin Yunuan¡¯s order, Zhuge Qingtian had climbed up the cliff on the east side in the evening and picked epiphyllum, thest medicinal material that needed to be used to treat Mu Qingyu.

    Qin Yunuan was holding the epiphyllum. Its white petals were soft and big. Indeed, it was a good epiphyllum that could rarely be seen. It seemed that Zhuge Qingtian had also spent a lot of effort this time.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. The medicinal materials are all here,¡± Qin Yunuan closed up the cuffs that were rolled up when she was treating in the wounded battalions, ¡°General is waiting for you in the camp for discussion. Now that you have just been promoted to Vice-General, you must perform well to achieve a feat, which will be the guarantee for you and Qingyu¡¯s future.¡±

    Now that Qin Yunuan had said this, it meant that she could cure Mu Qingyu. Zhuge Qingtian nodded in a pleasant surprise and strode into the camp.

    Now the army of West Xia had taken down a line of defense like spitting a bamboo. Soon it was already close to the Royal City. If the army set off tomorrow, it could reach a close distance outside the Royal City within three days. However, while entering the hintend of Qi, all the trouble had followed.

    Leng Changxi ruled the army strictly. Not only didn¡¯t the army disturb the residents along the way, but it also gave out army provisions to the hungry and refugees when it reached some viges and cities that had been depressed because of the war or Sima Ray¡¯s retreat. Therefore, the army had been popr all the way. Although Leng Changxi had previously been wanted by Sima Ray, his name as the god of war in Qi remained. What was more, the unreliable usation of coborating with the enemy inherently made no sense. Most people still chose to believe in Leng Changxi.

    There was nothing wrong with the residents. The worry was the local officials. Qi had long had peace only on the surface ever since Sima Ray took power.

    However, under Sima Ray¡¯s despotic power, nobody dared to take the lead to rebel. From the local officialsmanding many troops to governors and magistrates, they all adhered to the strategy of pouring oil on troubled waters, turning a blind eye to Sima Ray¡¯s attempt to usurp the throne. After all, despite under home arrest in the pce, the emperor was still alive now. Although Sima Ray¡¯s evil ambition was obvious, everyone remained silent since he bore the title of governing the state temporarily.

    As for the central government, those officials who were clearly opposed to Sima Ray had been assigned to the frontier or imprisoned under various excuses by him. Although nobody was executed explicitly, the fate of both was no more than a dead end.

    Qi had been struggling painfully under Sima Ray¡¯s despotic power. The appearance of Leng Changxi seemed to have muddled the outwardly peaceful waters.

    ¡°General, as far as I am concerned, the surrendering letter from the officer in Qingzhou is not trustworthy. He is just a tiny officer, does he have the ability and confidence to help us open the gate of Qingzhou? However, once we can pass across Qingzhou, we can escape the 300,000 soldiers of Sima Ray¡¯s army stationed south of the Royal City. The officer may be a junior. I think that we¡¯d better act after a second thought.¡±

    A vice-general who was more conservative looked worried.

    ¡°The words are inappropriate. Vice-General Tuoba is from West Xia, so you may not know much about Qi,¡± a young soldier from the Leng Army said slowly, ¡°A lower-ss officer as he is, he is in charge of the transportation of salt and trade in the state. Although the position is low, his power is great. What¡¯s more, there is much profit. Once there is money, there is power. With power in hand, there will be more money. Young as this officer is, he has traveled to many ces and learned much. From my perspective, he must be a courageous and knowledgeable person. He must have heard that we attack fast and sessfully with victory near in the future, so he asks for sincere cooperation with us. What¡¯s wrong with it?¡±

    Every word of the young general seemed to mock the pedantic and timidity of the vice-general from West Xia, which was exactly what Leng Changxi worried about. The nearer the victory was, the more he was afraid that the army of West Xia and the Leng Army would conflict with each other.

    The Leng Army was brave and fearless, walking ahead all the way. They were the first to keep out the arrow and the first to enter the trap. It was a miracle that they had only had the loss of two people so far. However, the soldiers in ck armor of West Xia were the main force of the army. What was more, they had the supreme glory in West Xia, which always made them proud. Although they knew that their individual strength was not like the Leng Army, there were 200,000 of them. If they rose in revolt, Leng Changxi could not control them easily at all.

    ¡°Alright. You don¡¯t need to say anything more. You two are not thinking from the standpoint of the situation of each other. All you think about is how to persuade the other and how to prove you are right. I have said before that whether it¡¯s the West Xia army or the Leng Army, we are both a family and our purpose is the same. If anyone dares to make trouble at this very moment, don¡¯t me me for turning my back on old associates.¡± Leng Changxi had rarely been so harsh no matter to the generals in West Xia or the Leng Army.

    Both sides remained silent until a soldier¡¯s report came from outside, ¡°General, there is a secret letter from the front.¡±

    An urgent letter with a chicken feather on it was delivered to Leng Changxi. The cyan seal on it made Leng Changxi¡¯s brows slightly raised. Leng Changxi nced at the people around him, leaned to one side, flicked the letter open and threw it away after reading it roughly, ¡°It¡¯s so strange. The letter of the officer of Qingzhou just came, and the letter from the senior official of Qingzhou also arrived.¡±

    ¡°Does he also want to surrender?¡± Zhuge Qingtian looked a little haggard. Now he needed to take the position of a military counselor, which had been vacant because of Heiying, while taking care of Mu Qingyu who was in aa. He had taken it over just now, so his task was unusually heavy.

    ¡°Who knows?¡± Leng Changxi handed the letter to Zhuge Qingtian, on which there was the handwriting of Feng Xuejun, the senior official of Qingzhou. The words on the paper expressed the thought that seemed ready to surrender.

    Zhuge Qingtian brought out the letter sent previously by the people of the officer of Qingzhou from the box. He carefully touched the paper and raised his head, ¡°The paper is the same. It¡¯s the official paper of Qingzhou. ording to the ink marks, the officer¡¯s letter is really one month earlier than the senior official¡¯s letter. What¡¯s strange is why they separate when both of them are prepared to surrender. If they can cooperate, they will surely have a much higher winning percentage.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s only one possibility,¡± Leng Changxi turned the jade ring on his thumb. His brows, which was like mountains getting together, dropped suddenly, and the corner of his lips raised a little, ¡°One of the two people must be lying. One of them must be the spy of Sima Ray.¡±

    Zhuge Qingtian¡¯s hand paused. One of them was the officer in charge of economics, the other was the most senior official of Qingzhou. No matter which one of them was ying tricks, it was really knotty.

    ¡°Gather all the information about the two people before dusk. Do it immediately,¡± Leng Changxi knocked his fingertips on a hard mahogany desk. The jade ring on his thumb happened to knock on the corner of the desk, nking.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Zhuge Qingtian bowed his fists and added, ¡°How detailed should it be?¡±

    Leng Changxi turned his head calmly, ¡°Find out what kind of pants his ancestors wore in winter and the direction his family¡¯s ancestral grave faced. Alright. Go.¡±

    Zhuge Qingtian was dumb for a minute. Then he bowed his fists and walked away awkwardly.

    ¡°Okay. All of you should leave now.¡±

    The men in the camp for discussion left gradually. In the evening, Qin Yunuan also returned from Mu Qingyu¡¯s ce, looking rather tired. She happened to see Leng Changxi holding a thick pile of files in his hand. The other half of them covered the whole table. Leng Changxi just got the information and read it hurriedly. Looking up to see Qin Yunuane in, he only nced at the files and shrugged, ¡°Zhuge Qingtian is good. This is the information he gathered in half a day, which is excellent. He almost found out what color the bellyband of the servant girl was.¡±

    Qin Yunuan sniggered, ¡°Your way of describing it is really special.¡±

    Leng Changxi shook the files in his hands and shrugged with a smile, ¡°Would you like to take a look? I¡¯m about to finish reading it. And I probably have guessed which one is the spy between the officer and the senior official. Come over and read it for me and let me see whether you think the same as I do.¡±

 Chapter 354 - Easy to Get

    <h4>Chapter 354 Easy to Get</h4>

    Qin Yunuan read the two documents in her hands. Afterparing back and forth, she suddenly smiled and looked at Leng Changxi. It seemed that the two people could understand each other without speaking.

    In the morning half a monthter, the mist dissipated gradually. The profile of the city wall, which was getting clearer little by little from afar, was outlined by the morning sun with a golden rim. The Royal City in the distance was thergest power center of Qi. Gold worshippers and desperate gamblers gathered here, crowding in the tiny space and thinking that they could gain fame and fortune. However, they all became the ythings of power.

    ¡°The world is supposed to be governed by the strong authority,¡± a man in silver armor stood in the golden morning light on a high mountain from afar. The ck iron spear in his hand glowed with cold murderous intent. The solemn atmosphere made people breathe cautiously.

    ¡°General Leng, it is me who helps youe to the hintend of the Royal City. However, you¡¯ve treated me like this. I¡¯ll announce to the world that your army is clearly a rebel force. I must let everyone in the world know how shameless and untrustworthy you are.¡± A middle-aged man kneeling on the ground covered his bleeding heart. The blood constantly seeped between his fingers as if it were unstoppable. It had stained his clothes and wet his knees.

    ¡°Announce to the world? Let everyone in the world know?¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s words were full of mockery. He turned his head to look at the breathless man lying on the ground, ¡°Official Chen, you need to know one thing before you use us of being shameless and immoral. Wasn¡¯t it you who sent a surrender letter to me to announce your loyalty? Your letter is still with me. Nevertheless, you won¡¯t live long. How can you announce to the world?¡±

    The man on the ground wasn¡¯t convinced. He just fumbled for the re that had been hidden in the sleeve with a trembling hand. However hard he fumbled, though, he felt nothing. There was nothing in his sleeve. Suddenly, his heart also became empty.

    ¡°Are you looking for this?¡± Qin Yunuan, who had been waiting for good news from afar, walked over with a bamboo tube as thick as a pen tube in her hand. She shook the bamboo tube in front of the eyes of the senior official of Qingzhou as a provocation, ¡°Do you want to report to Yu Haitang, oh no, Sima Ray? It¡¯s toote.¡±

    Qin Yunuan was also dressed in a long dress, white and innocent. When she stood with Leng Changxi, the two looked like flying fairies, or like a miraculous couple. For an instant, they looked as if they were too noble to be touched. Qin Yunuan deliberately put the bamboo tube for reporting news by the hand of Senior Official Chen, where he happened to fail to reach. Seeing him struggling desperately, she couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    ¡°When you and Officer Shi both surrendered to me at the same time, I felt weird and assumed that one of you must be a fake.¡±

    ¡°But didn¡¯t you kill him already?¡± the dying Senior Official Chen couldn¡¯t understand. In the beginning, he clearly remembered that Leng Changxi had set a trap, inviting him and the officer, Shi Ruisheng, to the banquet. At the banquet, Leng Changxi exposed the conspiracy of Shi Ruisheng on the spot, reprimanding him as the spy from Sima Ray and executing him there. At that time, he felt lucky because he knew that Shi Ruisheng really listened to Sima Ray. He was the same, too. Sima Ray had been doing things rigorously. Since Leng Changxi was a careful man, he must have expected part of the truth. However, never could he think that Sima Ray would send two spies at the same time.

    It was good that Shi Ruisheng had died. Thinking that Leng Changxi wouldn¡¯t doubt about him, Senior Official Chen became much bolder when delivering information and directing the way.

    ¡°As for your previous information,¡± Qin Yunuan opened her mouth slightly. Yuanyang behind her opened a log-colored brocade box in her hand. What was shaking inside was all the information that Senior Official Chen had tried hard to spread. However, they were now in the hand of Yuanyang, which meant that every move of him was under the supervision of Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan. It was a pity that he was stillcent, thinking that the reputation of the two people being wise was vain.

    ¡°As for Shi Ruisheng, Officer Shi you have mentioned, he is not dead at all,¡± while Leng Changxi was speaking, a man dressed in Confucian costumes came here from a distance. He was at the age of 24 or 25 with tall stature and the elegance and dignity between his eyebrows. He moved slowly with the immortal-like temperament.

    ¡°He... How can it be?¡± Senior Official Chen dared not to believe his own eyes. One of his eyes had been covered by blood clots. He opened the other eye wide. As expected, he saw that Officer Shi, who had worked with him for three years, came alive from afar. Had he been deceived?

    ¡°Sima Ray can arrange spies, why can¡¯t I?¡± Leng Changxi pointed to Shi Ruisheng, ¡°Shi Ruisheng has been listening to me ever since ten years ago. After that, for many reasons, he didn¡¯t always follow me. Instead, he had a sessful official career after he arrived in Qingzhou. Sima Ray didn¡¯t check his background details clearly enough before taking him in. I have been clear about what Sima Ray asked him to do throughout the years. The only one who didn¡¯t know about it was Sima Ray.¡±

    Senior Official Chen was a little surprised. Leng Changxi¡¯s precautions had beaten him mercilessly. He simply couldn¡¯tpete with the non-human being in front of him.

    ¡°I¡¯ve lost. I¡¯ve lostpletely,¡± Senior Official Chen lowered his head slowly, looking down at the injury on his heart in a lifeless posture. Suddenly he raised his head, drew a shimmering dagger from his boot, stabbed directly towards Leng Changxi, and secretly made up his mind, ¡°But my defeat doesn¡¯t mean that I have to obey.¡±

    Before Leng Changxi could move, Shi Ruisheng and Zhuge Qingtian not far away had arrived together. One used the jade-colored flute in his hand, and the other used two broadswords. Both of them blocked Senior Official Chen¡¯s dagger. Zhuge Qingtian was even more powerful, kicking Senior Official Chen directly in order to prevent him from attacking anymore.

    Leng Changxi took a cold look at Senior Official Chen, who could be called a corpse, ¡°Kill him. No need to keep him alive anymore.¡±

    After speaking, Leng Changxi took Qin Yunuan¡¯s hand and prepared to leave. Unexpectedly, Qin Yunuan kept still the first time he took her hand, having some resentment in his eyes. Leng Changxi knew why she was ming him, and then dragged her hand with strength, speaking with both tenderness and prestige, ¡°If you have any words to say to me, speak after you go back.¡±

    It was the first time for Qin Yunuan to have such a great dissatisfaction with Leng Changxi, because he didn¡¯t tell her about his cooperation with Shi Ruisheng untilst night when the secret was about toe to light. No. Not a cooperation. It was a trap set by them ten years ago. However, only Leng Changxi knew that Shi Ruisheng was a spy. He even didn¡¯t tell Qin Yunuan about it. Qin Yunuan hade up with ideas for Leng Changxi at the banquet on that day. She still remembered that on the night before the banquet, she had confirmed the truth to Leng Changxi many times.

    ¡°In fact, I don¡¯t think Shi Ruisheng is a spy despite his closer rtionship with Sima Ray¡¯s partypared to Senior Official Chen. However, have you found out yet? Every time he does something treacherous, he looks very sinister. But after that, innocent people all have a good end. For example, Song Yuntian, a death row prisoner, was released by him secretly. The olddy selling eggs in the west of the city was framed as a murderer, and the people rebelled against the corrupt officials in Qingzhou. They were supposed to be handed over to him for trial. He sentenced them to be hanged, but the prison got fire suddenly. All the people were dead with iplete, unrecognizable bodies. I suspect that he tried to release them deliberately.¡±

    ¡°No. Shi Ruisheng is definitely Sima Ray¡¯s person. I¡¯m sure of it. Nuan, I know that you¡¯re clever, but you have to listen to me on some issues.¡±

    In the beginning, Leng Changxi was so sure that Shi Ruisheng was the spy, but now...

    ¡°Let me go,¡± Qin Yunuan dared to start struggling only after being pulled into the camp. She used her strength to shake off Leng Changxi¡¯s hand. However, Leng Changxi¡¯s strength was too great for Qin Yunuan to get away. Instead, she was held in Leng Changxi¡¯s arms.

    Leng Changxi was holding Qin Yunuan tightly. He was not afraid of Qin Yunuan being angry or jealous, because he knew that it meant that she cared about him. However, he was only afraid that after knowing Shi Ruisheng¡¯s real identity, she would alienate herself from him. It was the thing that Leng Changxi couldn¡¯t stand the most. He couldn¡¯t bear Qin Yunuan¡¯s indifference to him at all, even with the slightest sign.

    Being held by Leng Changxi tightly in his arms, Qin Yunuan seemed to have lost most of his anger. Her voice softened. She merely pouted, ¡°You should exin to me well. Don¡¯t say that you want to keep me from worrying. The result of hiding the truth is making me feel more worried. Also, do you think I am such a hot-headed, narrow-minded woman?¡±

    ¡°I know you¡¯re not,¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s tone was a little low. As soon as he spoke, Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t know what to say.

    Leng Changxi put his chin on Qin Yunuan¡¯s forehead, where her hairline was. He rubbed back and forth like a small deer craving for the smell of its owner, ¡°It¡¯s just that I¡¯m afraid that you will ignore me after you know who he is.¡±

    ¡°He? Which one? Shi Ruisheng? Who can Shi Ruisheng be? It¡¯s just himself,¡± although Qin Yunuan said so verbally, her heart was beating fast.

    At this moment, someone reported from outside that Shi Ruisheng hade. Leng Changxi slowly released Qin Yunuan, nced at her meaningfully before said to the man outside, ¡°Let him in.¡±

    The curtain was lifted. Shi Ruisheng who entered this time dressed simrly to the one they saw in the morning. He might have been to the wounded battalion. Although he had changed his clothes, the tip of his shoe was stained with blood. It was surprising that the officer of Qingzhou was not only good at martial arts, but also medical skills.

    ¡°I¡¯m Su Chenghai. My greetings, General Leng,¡± when Shi Ruisheng spoke, Qin Yunuan was stunned.

    Leng Changxi was really calm. He merely waved his hands to quit his manners. However, Qin Yunuan¡¯s heart was overwhelmed. She stepped forward, pulling Shi Ruisheng¡¯s sleeve unbelievably and staring at him nkly, ¡°What did you say just now? What¡¯s the name you used to call yourself? Say it again. Say it out loud again.¡±

    Shi Ruisheng had moved slowly to look gently at the little sister, who was as innocent as pure jade, and said word by word, ¡°Su Chenghai. My younger female cousin, long time no see.¡±

 Chapter 355 - Under Siege

    <h4>Chapter 355 Under Siege</h4>

    ¡°You...¡± Qin Yunuan slightly opened her mouth, looking at Shi Ruisheng, who had apletely different appearance from Leng Changxi. She remembered that her cousin Su Chenghai did look familiar with Leng Changxi. However, Shi Ruisheng¡¯s temperament was quite another. The sense of Confucian schr hid behind his expressions.

    Shi Ruisheng¡¯s words were doting. He seemed to learn from Leng Changxi to act in a mild and indifferent way.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? When you were a little girl, you wouldn¡¯t be like that. You used to talk a lot, but now...mature a little more, words little less.¡± Shi Ruisheng said it naturally with the feeling of a brother. Qin Yunuan disdained him.

    ¡°That¡¯s because I have nothing to say to you now.¡± She finished her words and left the tent. Shi Ruisheng wanted to chase her but was stopped by Leng Changxi, ¡°Just let her go. Calm down, and she will be fine.¡±

    Qin Yunuan kept walking. Along the way, she couldn¡¯t help but look back but only found that either of them chased out to catch her up. She then went back directly to her tent. Yuanyang and Leng Shuang were waiting inside. A cup of half-warmed Liu¡¯an Tea was ready on the case. Seeing Qin Yunuane back, Yuanyang served the tea to her cleverly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need it. Not in the mood.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Madam?¡± Yuanyang asked slightly.

    Qin Yunuan turned her head to her side. She got a feeling of being cheated. At this time, a soldier brought the news in.

    ¡°Madam. General Leng asks whether you will be present at tonight¡¯s celebration banquet.¡±

    Obviously, Leng Changxi was bing soft. Qin Yunuan snorted, ¡°I¡¯m notfortable. Not going tonight.¡± She then turned her head and said, ¡°Of course they are going to celebrate. Not only that they¡¯ve aplished such a great scheme behind me, but also that they¡¯ve kept a secret for ten years excluding me. One of them is my husband, my beloved one. The other is my older brother who used to care me the most. I¡¯ve trusted them so much. What about the result...¡±

    ¡°Madam, what do you mean?¡± Yuanyang missed her words. She wanted to know further, and then Leng Shuang hauled her back. They were merely servants. It would be better that they knew less.

    The atmosphere in the tent was quiet. Qin Yunuan had been busy in nning with Leng Changxi since the early morning. She hadn¡¯t eaten any food since then. She also refused desserts that Leng Changxi sent to her. A maid presented a te of delicate Sweet Olive Cake. Leng Shuang used silver chopsticks to pick up a piece of it and ce it in a small white saucer.

    ¡°Madam, look, this is your favorite Sweet Olive Cake and Glutinous Rice Balls. Leng Shuang heard yesterday that the condition of the Princess¡¯s body was greatly improved. With Deputy General Zhuge¡¯s care, it won¡¯t be long that the poison in her body could bepletely removed. Maner was on the mend, too. That¡¯s all your credit. If you were ill, what would they be? Please, eat some.¡±

    The words of Leng Shuang moved Qin Yunuan. She took a bite of the Sweet Olive Cake, which had a pleasant taste and nice fragrance. Once in the mouth, it melted. It seemed that as victory became closer, the meals in the military camp were also improving.

    She only ate half of it, Yuanyang returning from the outside then murmured in her ears, ¡°Madam, Shi Ruisheng was waiting outside. Will you meet him or not?¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t Shi Ruisheng be with Leng Changxi at the celebration banquet to drink a lot right now? Why did hee to me?¡± Qin Yunuan disdainfully turned her head. The cheers and celebrations at the banquet could be heard vaguely from a far distance. They¡¯ve won a huge victory. Leng Changxi¡¯s army was under the city for a siege. Only one step from upying the Royal City.

    The Royal City of East Qin was said to be the most challenging city to attack. For one, it was situated in a hignd. Such geographical advantage the ce was because it was easy to defend and difficult to attack. For another, it had a deep moat. Half a month before Leng Changxi took over the city, the royal family of East Qin recruited artisans to dug it deeper and widener. But they failed anyway. Therefore, facing the Royal City of Qi, which was situated in in andcked defense, everyone considered that though Sima Ray was themander, to conquer it was only a matter of time.

    Tonight¡¯s banquet was extraordinarily lively. Therefore, Shi Ruisheng sneaked away to find Qin Yunuan was hard to understand.

    ¡°You are such an introvert to avoid banquet.¡± Pinching a piece of soft Sweet Olive Cake, Qin Yunuan slowly paced out. She was leaning against a timber pile supporting the tent, with leisure bites on theurel cake one after another, ¡°The banquet outside is specially prepared for you. You are bold to sneak out.¡±

    ¡°My younger female cousin,¡± Shi Ruisheng stepped forward with a smile. With a move, Qin Yunuan held him back.

    ¡°You know how to practice martial skills?¡± Shi Ruisheng was surprised. He tranced for a second and subconsciously grabbed her arm.

    Qin Yunuan nced at him, ¡°What? Are you surprised? I have never thought that my cousin, who had been missing for such a long time, could still alive and has such amazing skills.¡± Qin Yunuan¡¯s arm stretched forward. She was using what Leng Changxi taught her before. Leng Changxi learned these skills from self-creation. However, Shi Ruisheng was familiar with Qin Yunuan¡¯s skills. He could follow each of her skill and know her next step firmly.

    ¡°Why do we fight the first time we meet?¡± Shi Ruisheng was unwilling to fight hand to hand with Qin Yunuan. As if he was bullying her.

    ¡°So what. You don¡¯t need to show mercy.¡± Qin Yunuan was pressuring him. Shi Ruisheng was able to resist, but suddenly he turned his head in another direction and ran away towards a dense forest next to the military camp. Qin Yunuan didn¡¯t hesitate. She immediately followed him. Yuanyang and Leng Shuang urged to apany but was ordered to stay. They were not allowed to take action without authorization.

    All the way, Qin Yunuan was chasing him. Shi Ruisheng gained excellence in light skills. But he seemed to be waiting for Qin Yunuan to catch up with him deliberately. They ran to the edge of the forest, which was far away from the military camp. Shi Ruisheng suddenly turned his head and smiled strangely to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Cousin, you are so bold. Won¡¯t you be afraid of what I will do to you?¡±

    Ayer of sweat oozed slightly on Qin Yunuan¡¯s forehead. The moonlight was a sliver disk hanging on the branches. The soft moonlight shined in the maple-leafed forest like covering a thin nket.

    Qin Yunuan strolled around Shi Ruisheng half-circled and said abruptly, ¡°Thousands of people, thousands of appearances. Su Family was not a rtive of the Leng Family, even traced back to past eight generations. But cousin, wouldn¡¯t it be strange that you look so simr to Leng Changxi?¡±

    Shi Ruisheng stunned. He didn¡¯t say anything but leaned to look at Qin Yunuan.

    Qin Yunuan continued, ¡°Moreover, Zhao Huijin from East Qin considers Leng Changxi as his mortal foe. They have engaged more than a hundred times. You, a military doctor posing as Leng Changxi, could deceive him. How much you two are alike, I know. Now your face is a fake one.¡±

    Shi Ruisheng smiled bitterly, ¡°Not a fake one, but different from its original look. When I led the chasers away, I was forced to jump off the cliff. Although I survived fortunately, my face was destroyed and broken by stones. Later my master came to find me. Thanks to his miraculous surgical technique, my face got repaired. It was another look, though.¡±

    The master in Shi Ruisheng¡¯s utterance was no other than Sun Miaoyang. He already knew that the real Su Chenghai was alive. Then why did he struggle to find Qin Yunuan with such an effort?

    ¡°I begged him to find you.¡± Shi Ruisheng looked at Qin Yunuan¡¯s expression turning to surprise and said, ¡°I knew your life in Qin Family wasn¡¯t that good. As you became increasingly excellent, more and more attention was given to you. Therefore, I begged my mater to help you.¡±

    ¡°You...¡± Qin Yunuan rxed her frowned eyebrow, ¡°You kept searching for me all these times?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± The tenderness in Shi Ruisheng¡¯s eyes was almost the duplication of the way Leng Changxi usually did. It filled with sparkle and ardor, like staring at the first lover. The expression in his eyes was stifling, ¡°For ten years, my younger cousin, never a day did I forget you.¡±

    ¡°What a pity,¡± Qin Yunuan looked straight into Shi Ruisheng¡¯s eyes, ¡°You are not my cousin.¡±

    Qin Yunuan leaned to one side and continued, ¡°You¡¯ve searched for me and paid attention to me. I was also curious about how two persons with no kinship could be identical. Later, I got exciting news.¡±

    ¡°Thousands of people, thousands of appearances. Only those who have kinships can be simr in appearance to each other. However, to be identically the same, it should be twins. The West Xia royal family only knew that the Elder Princess gave birth to children in Yueya Mountain. What they didn¡¯t know was the number of children. The Qi royal family only knew Prince Ning, Leng Zhongxiao brought back Qi¡¯s royal blood, but they didn¡¯t know whether other descendants were left in West Xia.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by saying all these?¡±

    ¡°Cousin, you must know it clearer than me. Prince Ning was afraid of being noticed by West Xia. Seeing the Elder Princess gave birth to a pair of twins, he brought one of them, Leng Changxi, back to Qi, and left you there. They wanted to bring you back, too, but were hindered by the unexpected arrival of the second wave of assassins outside the Yeren Valley. There was happened to be Tamuer Vige. The vige head saved you and raised you.¡±

    Qin Yunuan looked at Shi Ruisheng and continued, ¡°I felt strange the moment I enter the Tamuer Vige. In such a remote vige, vigers could practice witchery. The white por forest outside the vige was also used for cultivating bugs. I happened to catch an eye about such witchery in Doctor Sun¡¯s manuscript. Since you are his only disciple, you shall know it, too. Therefore, after you grew up, you went back to Tamuer Vige to teach vigers this kind of defensive technique.¡±

    ¡°Nice guess,¡± Shi Ruisheng smiled subtly, ¡°But I only have one question. Where is the evidence?¡±

 Chapter 356 - All of a Sudden

    <h4>Chapter 356 All of a Sudden</h4>

    ¡°You want evidence?¡± Qin Yunuan raised her tone. She was considered a fool. Qin Yunuan suddenly reached out to grab Shi Ruisheng¡¯s cor. She was ready to see what¡¯s inside it.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Shi Ruisheng¡¯s face turned red. He covered his clothes with mild strength.

    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Qin Yunuan stared at Shi Ruisheng. She grabbed Shi Ruisheng¡¯s cor, revealing three moles, which had a triangle shape besides his corbone. ¡°Yes, I remember, the elder male cousin Su has it. You were him, this is right, but,¡± Qin Yunuan looked at Shi Ruisheng, and went up to drag his sleeve.

    ¡°Yunuan, what the hell are you doing?¡±

    Shi Ruisheng was shy about Qin Yunuan¡¯s bold behavior. Besides, he treated her well all these years.

    ¡°See,¡± Qin Yunuan pointed at the thin ck line on Shi Ruisheng¡¯s arm, ¡°This is the poison I used to suffer. The origin of it was the Tamuer Vige and the white por forest outside it, which were external to the Yeren Valley. You also have one, not because you were poisoned, but you are the person who made it. Now, satisfied?¡±

    It was clear that she knew everything.

    Shi Ruisheng nced at Qin Yunuan. Complex emotions filled in his eyes. On the one hand, he didn¡¯t know how to face her. As a person living in darkness, he had been surviving for more than twenty years. It was fortunate that the kind-hearted head of Tamuer Vige adopted him. However, after he knew his true identity by ident, he was so excited that he ran out of the vige to find his birth parents. He didn¡¯t expect that he was stopped by Leng Changxi when he saw Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion as a clue.

    He remembered he was only five or six years old at that time. Leng Changxi was as young as he was, but his words were cold and gloomy.

    ¡°Are you sure you want to be back? Only endless calctions and tricks here. It seems that I¡¯m in my day. In reality, I live in scary and horror every day. I don¡¯t care about glory or wealth. I¡¯m here because my father treats me well. I¡¯m loath to leave him. It¡¯s ok toe back. But you have to endure the pains that I suffered.¡±

    At that time, Leng Changxi took off his coat. He was no more than a six-year-old child, yet several scars were on his back and some bruises on his chest. They looked scary, but Leng Changxi seemed to ignore them as usual and talked in an orderly way.

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be surprised. Only four were made by the assassins. Others were injured when I was practicing martial arts. Strength was the premise to protect myself from being hurt by others. If youe back, your life will be the same as mine. Of course, you will have endless feasts. Besides that, I cannote up with other benefits.¡±

    ¡°If I fail to be recognized by father, I have no ce to go.¡±

    ¡°There is a schr in the regions south of the River called Su Rian who is a distant rtive of mine. He visited this Mansion. Thus, we had several contacts before. He is upright and talented. Plus, without the help of our Mansion, he cannot find his brother-inw Grand Commandant Qin in the Royal City this time. Just bring my jade card to him. He will have arrangements.¡±

    As Shi Ruisheng was saying, Qin Yunuan shook her head with bewilderment, ¡°So Leng Changxi sold you out? You are, wait, right, who is older?¡±

    ¡°The vige head of Tamuer said that he is older than me. Because he was the early-born one, he was taken away,¡± Shi Ruisheng turned his neck to south, ¡°In fact, Leng Changxi didn¡¯t sell me out. He was right, Su Rian was a great person. He took me in and allowed me to study and y with the master of Su Family. Later the master was badly ill and dead. To not be discovered by the old master of Su, who was on his travel along the way, Su Rian let me take his ce. Therefore, I became the master of Su Family, Su Chenghai.¡±

    ¡°I had never met my real cousin,¡± Qin Yunuan came to realize that, ¡°When I was six, it was you, right?¡±

    ¡°Right.¡± Shi Ruisheng¡¯s expression suddenly went deep. An emotion, which was hard to describe, was hiding around his eyes. There were so many things that were hard to predict came out without being noticed. Like the story of his birth, like the first nce at that day he went back to the Royal City to visit Qin Family in the name of Su Chenghai. ¡°Yunuan, since the day I met you, I¡¯ve never put down my heart to you. Though a mouth was short to get along with you, I was hunted by you. Every time I saw you being bullied, I couldn¡¯t help to fight back for you. Every time I saw your sadness, I would fantasize if I could apany you. Later I followed Leng Changxi for a battle with East Qin. I got disfigured, and my appearance was changed. Yunuan, I didn¡¯t expect that. I was embarrassed toe back, so I changed my identity to hide in Qing Zhou. At that time, I kept searching for your news. But Sima Ray was in charge of Qingzhou, and I had to take action in low profile. Thetest news I received about you was your wedding with Leng Changxi.¡±

    ¡°You mean?¡± It is said that brothers¡¯ feelings are connected, was it meant that Shi Ruisheng and Leng Changxi had a simr appreciation? Qin Yunuan felt it hard to breathe suddenly. Though she guessed before, such a result was difficult for her to ept within a second.

    ¡°Yunuan, I love you, even earlier than Leng Changxi did. I know the rtions among us are awkward, but I have suffered from it for a long time. The reason why I epted Leng Changxi¡¯s arrangement to stay in Qingzhou as his agent was hismitment.¡±

    Qin Yunuan¡¯s corner of lips twitched, ¡°Whatmitment? What did both you exchange for in the condition of me?¡±

    ¡°You misunderstand me,¡± Shi Ruisheng¡¯s eyes were full of joy that even his lip corner could not help but rise. His tone was lighter than before, ¡°He promised me that after everything is over, he will agree to my demand, any of it.¡±

    Shi Ruisheng was extremely firm about that. He got his nerve from the bottom of his heart that to order Leng Changxi to give Qin Yunuan back to him was the easiest thing at his fingertips. He had given Qin Yunuan to Leng Changxi for so many years. It was time for him to take her back.

    Just when Shi Ruisheng looked at Qin Yunuan with deep affection, a long and powerful voice cut through the awkward atmosphere.

    ¡°My little brother, you think it too simple.¡±

    With a sound of rubbing leaves, Leng Changxi leaped from the forest like a snow-white snow fox. On his back was a long ck iron spear. It was so steady that as if it was grown on Leng Changxi¡¯s back.

    No extra words, Leng Changxi targeted the de of spear towards Shi Ruisheng, ¡°You think it too easy. It took efforts to marry her. How will it be possible for handing over my wife to you? Such an idea is worse than what Sima Ray is thinking. Considering we are rtives, I won¡¯t me you for your words. But such idea...¡±

    At this moment, Zhuge Qingtian, who was guarding at the side, hurriedly ran over. He pointed at the fire from far away, ¡°General, look.¡±

    Leng Changxi looked at the Royal City. Without distance, the city was shrouded by the fire. The Royal City was huge. The ancestors did their best to prevent fire disasters. Not only in all corners of the city preserved the fire-fighting water storage, but fire bells were set to inform every one of the fires along the city wall. Once catching fire, families can be informed to make early preparation in time.

    Obviously, someone deliberately set the fire.

    ¡°What shall we do, General?¡±

    Qin Yunuan squeezed her eyes to see the red. Even her pupil sank into bloodiness.

    ¡°Sima Ray is forcing us to fight the fire. As long as we enter the Royal City, many ambushes will be waiting for us.¡± Exactly this was what Qin Yunuan was thinking. Sima Ray was vicious and hard-hearted. He was taking the masses in the Royal City as his bet to ckmail Leng Changxi.

    Leng Changxi frowned. If they smashed into the Royal City, they would probably be dead. If they ignored the me, the masses in the Royal City would die.

    ¡°Convene our army to set off for the Royal City.¡±

    Guarding outside the Royal City for such a long time, West Xia¡¯s army finally took action. Leng Changxi turned his head and shouted at Shi Ruisheng, ¡°As for you, stay in the military camp.¡±

    ¡°Me...¡± Shi Ruisheng wanted to say something, but Leng Changxi was out of time to hear.

    On one side was the Royal City¡¯s cerise me; on the other was Leng Changxi¡¯s fast-aggregated troop.

    Red and ck confronted each other strangely.

    Sima Ray was sitting in his chair on the city walls drinking a cup of tea in his white armor. He looked such leisure regardless of the me in the city behind him.

    Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan rode horses in front of the army. At such a distance, Qin Yunuan could hear the shouting and whines of fleeing people in the city.

    Sima Ray saw everyone was here then walked to the edge of the city wall, ¡°Finally, youe.¡±

    Qin Yunuan nced at the fire. Sima Ray yed a trick. Though the whole Royal City seemed to be on fire, in fact, Sima Ray only set fire in fixed locations. Along with the wind, it looked like the whole city was burning up.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t set the whole Royal City yet. Just set some torches in a few ces with arge poption. But if I was unsatisfiedter, I willmand them to set the whole city on fire. Leng Changxi, youpelled me. In a situation out-gunned and out-manned, I dare to do anything.¡±

    Sima Ray¡¯s eyes turned red. Leng Changxi surrounded the Royal City, neither direct attacked nor summoned them to surrender. He couldn¡¯t find out what Leng Changxi was going to do next. The waiting drove him crazy. Today, he wanted to regain the initiative.

 Chapter 357 - The Shocking Truth

    <h4>Chapter 357 The Shocking Truth</h4>

    Sima Ray had upied Yu Haitang¡¯s body at the moment. However, Yu Haitang¡¯s appearance began to change because Sima Ray used the body to practice martial arts day and night. After a long time, he looked no different from Sima Ray¡¯s original appearance at a nce.

    Seeing Yu Haitang¡¯s shocking change, Qin Yunuan thought that the people around Yu Haitang might have noticed something. However, they all agreed to say nothing. To keep silent was the key to survive beside Sima Ray.

    Now Marshal Yu had already been a young man who looked exactly like Sima Ray without the name of Prince Ray.

    ¡°Leng Changxi, there are smoke bombs in four colors in my hands, red, yellow, blue, and green. They are responding to the codes of the people watching bonfires in the four corners of the Royal City respectively. Red is the east. Yellow is the west. Blue is the south. Green is the north. As soon as I let go of the smoke bombs, someone over there will immediately lead sparks to houses that have covered with coal oil. At that time, even gods can¡¯t save people in time.¡±

    Leng Changxi raised his head, looking at Sima Ray who stood on the city wall, ¡°Why do you bother to threaten me with the lives of all the people in the city?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s simple,¡± Sima Ray shook his head, ¡°I won¡¯t be able to win you otherwise.¡±

    Leng Changxi nodded and said, ¡°Well, it is the truth.¡±

    ¡°Stop talking nonsense,¡± Sima Ray had already raised the signal res in his hands high, ¡°Okay. You can start to make your choice now. Which one do you choose to be the first and which one is thest?¡±

    ¡°Sima Ray, now you have put the emperor under home arrest and used the residents in the Royal City as your bargaining chip. Aren¡¯t you afraid of being condemned by the god?¡± Qin Yunuan stepped forward and said. While she knew that the words to Sima Ray were of no use, she prepared to dy as much time as possible using her silver tongue.

    However, Sima Ray seemed to know what Qin Yunuan was thinking about. He didn¡¯t care about the details at all but shook his head and said, ¡°People in the world all know that I¡¯m going to rebel anyway. I used to try my best to cover it. Now, I don¡¯t need to pretend to be a loyal official any longer.¡±

    Holding the four signal res, Sima Ray suddenly drew out the red, raised it high, and lit it. A red spark rushed into the sky quickly. Seeing that a red me was going to burst out soon, Leng Changxi made a prompt decision. He backhanded to draw out the longbow on the back of the archer next to him and pulled the string with all his strength. At the very moment, Leng Changxi shot the red spark, which fell midway. Leng Changxi¡¯s army couldn¡¯t help but burst out chuckles.

    However, it didn¡¯t take a long time before a huge fire urred in the east of the Royal City. The monstrous fire seemed to be engulfing all the houses around it. Qin Yunuan raised her head to stare at the sinful fire, ¡°We¡¯re still tricked by Sima Ray.¡±

    ¡°Do you think that it will be okay if you ruin the signal res in my hand? Before I send the signal, I also ask people to inform the guards at the four corners to light bonfires and houses. Leng Changxi, now you are held back by all the people in the Royal City. What can you rely on to beat me?¡± Sima Ray raised his head andughed. He firmly believed that he finally grasped Leng Changxi¡¯s greatest weakness. ording to Leng Changxi¡¯s personality, he would never give up the people in the city.

    ¡°Sima Ray, the one who lost morality will get little support from the god. Do you really think that you can keep everything in your own hand?¡± Qin Yunuan took one step forward.

    ¡°Nuan, it doesn¡¯t matter for me to lose the whole world as long as I have you. Once I win this match, I will be the real emperor of Qi. At that time, I will marry you to be my empress. Even though I can have so many concubines, I will have no woman but you. Do you like it?¡± Sima Ray said to Qin Yunuan sincerely. He looked so genuine that people who didn¡¯t know him would think that Sima Ray loved Qin Yunuan so deeply.

    ¡°Stop talking like that. It disgusts me,¡± Qin Yunuan turned her head to one side.

    It was really a great insult for the Leng Army to see Sima Ray molesting Leng Changxi¡¯s wife in public like that. Nevertheless, Qin Yunuan was very admirable in the Leng Army. Someone couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. One of the archers who could shoot trees from a hundred steps away was going to shoot an arrow at Sima Ray immediately. It was lucky that Zhuge Qingtian had stopped him in time.

    ¡°Don¡¯t act rashly. He tries to force us to attack by speaking like that. Then he can ignite the whole Royal City and die with us.¡±

    ¡°Fuck him! Will he give up igniting the city if we don¡¯t attack him?¡± Tuoba Wuyu didn¡¯t like the euphemistic way of speaking of the people from the Central ins obviously, ¡°I think we should y fast. If we can attack one by one, I will kick him so much that his biological mother won¡¯t be able to recognize him.¡±

    There were so many masters in Leng Changxi¡¯s army. Despite the geographical advantage, Sima Ray had already lost most of his masters. Therefore, it could be a good strategy to upy one ce.

    If Leng Changxi fought alone, he wouldn¡¯t be able to get in. If he tried to storm the enemy, Sima Ray would ignite the Royal City.

    At this moment, a low but powerful voice came from the Royal City.

    ¡°Sima Ray is rebellious and unfilial. Today I will kill the mutineer for Qi.¡±

    Just when people were all surprised, wondering who was speaking in the city, only Leng Changxi curled his lips slightly and said, ¡°Good. It¡¯s Prince Fu.¡±

    Unexpectedly, there were more voices to fight against the rebels, seeming toe from all around the Royal City. Although there were many steps, judging from the sound, it could be found that the peoplecked training despite their huge numbers. It was not like an army rebelling inside but like many noblesing with their servants.

    However, their leader was nobody else but Leng Zhongxiao, Prince Ning. The one following him beside was the orphan picked from the Shangguan Family. Leng Zhongxiao had given him a new name and taught him some martial arts. Today, the orphan of Shangguan Family had gathered some young people scattering in the city and followed Prince Ning toe to Sima Ray for revenge.

    Coborate from within with forces from outside?

    Qin Yunuan looked at Leng Changxi, feeling a little surprised, ¡°Did you contact people inside?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have such a great ability,¡± while listening to the gathering noise inside with satisfaction, Leng Changxi said with his head shaking, ¡°Previously Sima Ray had blockaded the Royal City so perfectly that I couldn¡¯t send people into it at all. I had to hide the message in the woodsman¡¯s firewood outside the city and ask him to take it in.¡±

    ¡°Still, it was you to contact them. What a good cooperation between the inside and the outside!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not my contribution,¡± Leng Changxi smiled, ¡°It¡¯s my father who did it. At that time, Sima Ray was still under the guise of defending the royal family. I just told him to spread rumors everywhere, saying that Sima Ray was going to kill all the nobles in the city before the army of West Xia entered to keep the royal family from being insulted. Although these cowardly nobles care for nothing but saving their skin generally, a cornered beast will do something desperate. It¡¯s time for them to stand up and bite someone.¡±

    Sima Ray merely nced at the mob gathering under the city wall with disdain and nodded, ¡°They are no more than useless people good only for feasting and drinking. They can be easily solved.¡± Then he just ordered a lieutenant beside him to take care of it. Turning his head, he raised the signal res in his hands towards Leng Changxi, ¡°Do you think that the group of people who can¡¯t even lift a sword can help you dy time? I won¡¯t waste time anymore. Leng Changxi, if you don¡¯t tie yourself up,e to me and kowtow three times obediently, all the people in the city will die because of you. You have to think wisely.¡±

    ¡°Changxi, no,¡± Qin Yunuan hurried to stop him, ¡°Even though you act ording to his words, it will be just wasting one life more. Sima Ray is treacherous and cunning. Now that he is using Yu Haitang¡¯s body with Yu Haitang¡¯s inner Qi and skills, he can definitely give the torture worse than death if he wants to attack you.¡±

    upying Yu Haitang¡¯s body now, Sima Ray had Yu Haitang¡¯s excellent hearing. Even if it was so far apart, he could also hear Qin Yunuan¡¯s whisper to Leng Changxi clearly. He nodded andughed, ¡°Yunuan, you really know me. It seems that I will surely have you. However, despite this, what if General Leng is willing to bet it with me? Leng Changxi, you have to think about it. If you bet with me, you have half the chance to win. If you don¡¯t, all the people in the city will turn into roast ducks.¡±

    ¡°Well. I promise you,¡± Leng Changxi nced at Qin Yunuan, and then he turned around and ordered Zhuge Qingtian to tie his hands for him.

    ¡°No,¡± Sima Ray shook his head, ¡°How can I trust your people? Of course, I will trust my own person. Mr. Shi, you will do the work.¡±

    Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi suddenly stared at Shi Ruisheng with wide eyes. Shi Ruisheng¡¯s face looked as calm as stagnant water, but his eyes were a little uneasy.

    ¡°Cousin?¡±

    Shi Ruisheng¡¯s eyes toward Qin Yunuan were no longer gentle. He only turned his head to the other side and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m never your cousin. All that I have told you is a lie.¡±

    Standing on the city wall, Sima Ray watched all this with satisfaction as if all the ns lied in his chest, ¡°Leng Changxi, you want to arrange spies around me, but you are too naive. How can you people who im to be righteous defeat me when ying the trick of sowing distrust? Surely I know that Mr. Shi is your acquaintance before. However, anyone can be driven by benefits. He can follow your order because of emotion. Surely he will follow mine due to benefits. You should learn more about some things.¡±

    ¡°General Leng, excuse me,¡± Shi Ruisheng stepped forward, twisting Leng Changxi¡¯s arms with a backhand. Zhuge Qingtian and Tuoba Wuyu both took out their weapons to stop him. Qin Yunuan also stretched her hand to stop. However, they were all held back by Leng Changxi¡¯s shout.

    Sima Ray sent a fast horse immediately. He had already stood on the high city wall, looking at Leng Changxi who was tied up on the horse like an eagle looking at its prey. Well, he had never thought about it. The god of war in Qi, who had always been invincible, would have such an embarrassing day. Surprisingly, he dared to sacrifice himself like that for the untouchables of a city.

    By the time Leng Changxi was dragged off toe over, Sima Ray had already been like a wild wolf with sharp teeth, ready to ughter Leng Changxi at any time.

    ¡°I have never thought that you will be like that,¡± Sima Ray walked around Leng Changxi, seeing that Shi Ruisheng really tied Leng Changxi rather tightly for fear that he would run away.

    ¡°But I also have never thought that you will set the wolf to keep the sheep,¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s unruly eyes were full of confidence.

    Sima Ray¡¯s heart fell abruptly, having an ominous presentiment, ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Me? What do I mean?¡± Leng Changxi suddenly raised his eyes and nced at Sima Ray. The corner of his mouth rose up evilly.

 Chapter 358

    <h4>Chapter 358 Set Fire to the Camp</h4>

    With his hands tied up behind his back, Leng Changxi remained so calm that people couldn¡¯t help bearing scruples. He looked up at Sima Ray and said, ¡°You can kill your friends, brothers and soldiers at will. But I can¡¯t. I care for my men.¡±

    When Sima Ray didn¡¯t figure out what he meant, Shi Ruisheng suddenly took out a sword that was tied to his waist. He wielded the sword to cut off the rope that tied Leng Changxi, and thetter was free at once.

    ¡°General, take it.¡± Leng Changxi didn¡¯t take any weapon with him. And right because of this, Sima Ray wasn¡¯t fully on the alert. But at this time, Zhuge Qingtian shouted and directly threw the ck-iron spear at him. Zhuge Qingtian had very strong arms so that the spear directly stabbed into the battlement after flying several hundred meters.

    ¡°Shi Ruisheng, how dare you disobey me?¡± Sima Ray always thought Shi Ruisheng was his loyal pawn. But unexpectedly, he should betray him at this crucial time.

    ¡°Shi Ruisheng is a good name. But you can call me Su Chenghai.¡± Shi Ruisheng replied and took a look at Sima Ray with a smile.

    ¡°Su Chenghai? Su Rian¡¯s son? He died in a remote mountain vige in East Qin long ago when he followed Leng Changxi to fight there.¡± Looking at Shi Ruisheng, Sima Ray was on the alert. He didn¡¯t expect that Shi Ruisheng would betray him at this crucial time. Was Shi Ruisheng really going against him or just pretending to do so? He didn¡¯t get the answer until he saw who Shi Ruisheng would wield his sword to.

    ¡°Today, it¡¯s time for us to get even and for you to get the punishment you deserve,¡± Shi Ruisheng wielded his sword twice, and Leng Changxi followed. Sima Ray was forced to step back. He moved to dodge the first attack of Shi Ruisheng.

    Sima Ray, who was skilled in martial arts in the first ce, had acquired Yu Haitang¡¯s inner Qi, so he became more powerful.

    He turned around to randomly pick a gpole on the battlement and cut it off with his hand. At once, the pole had a sharp spike. Sima Ray threw the pole to Shi Ruisheng who skidded. Leng Changxi stood too far to help Shi Ruisheng, although he had his spear in his hand now.

    Right at this time, someone behind Shi Ruisheng said in a deep voice.

    ¡°Why do you always aim at a young man? Mr. Yu,e and fight with me if you dare,¡± the man said and directly cut off Sima Ray¡¯s pole with his Crescent de. The sharp bamboo spike pierced deep into a pir several centimeters away from Shi Ruisheng. Then, Leng Zhongxiao, namely Prince Ning who was in armor,nded gently. For him, the 40-kg Crescent de was just a light toy, and he easily wielded the de at will.

    ¡°Your Highness, you should still go out to fight at 50. Respect,¡± Sima Ray said when looking at Leng Zhongxiao. The corner of his mouth lifted a bit to show his disdain. Leng Zhongxiao was indeed invincible on the battlefield before. But now 20 years had passed. Getting old, he was less strong and sensitive, so he was not as skilled as before.

    ¡°Mr. Yu, you are over 90, but you haven¡¯t stopped fighting on the battlefield. How dare I, a younger man, stop fighting first?¡± He meant that the body Sima Ray stayed in after all was 90 now, although he looked younger and younger and became much more skilled. It went against the naturalw to integrate one¡¯s soul with another person¡¯s body. It would definitely do some harm.

    Shi Ruisheng, Leng Changxi and Leng Zhongxiao stood in different positions to attack Sima Ray together as if they had nned before.

    Qin Yunuan, who stood in the opposite camp, looked at them in the distance. She squinted and murmured, ¡°It¡¯s Spring Equinox today when day and night are of equal length. Yin and Yang have to achieve harmony. Shi Ruisheng, Leng Changxi and father stand in three Yang positions respectively, while Sima Ray is forced to stay in a Yin position. But all martial arts he learned by himself and absorbed from others are Yang-natured. Once, he fails to strike a bnce between Yin and Yang, ho...¡±

    It seemed that Sima Ray figured out what situation he was in. He turned around. But once he tended to change a position, the other three followed too.

    Guards down were held up by those royal members and servants Prince Fu took here, so they couldn¡¯t go upstairs to help Sima Ray. Sima Ray gritted his teeth and directly lit up thest three signal res.

    Seeing that, Prince Fu looked back and said to soldiers who he kept in his mansion, ¡°Everyone, in three groups. You head to the western, southern and northern paths respectively to stop them from lighting the fire.¡±

    Sima Ray saw Prince Fu¡¯s soldiers scattered away soon, and he said to Leng Changxi with his head tilted, ¡°Leng Changxi, fight with me alone if you dare. Now, you three are fighting with me. Even if you win, I¡¯m afraid it is inglorious.¡±

    ¡°Who cares about that at such an urgent time? Moreover, you have absorbed many people¡¯s martial arts. So we can say that we¡¯re actually fighting with many people rather than you alone.¡± Leng Changxi¡¯s ck-iron spear was shining. So were his eyes. The cold light in his eyes was so dazzling as if it could hurt people.

    All at once, the fight started.

    Sima Ray in white armor held the soft sword on the wall. Leng Changxi in silver armor embroidered with golden silk chased after him while Shi Ruisheng in green and Prince Ning in ck attacked Sima Ray from two sides. Shi Ruisheng, Prince Ning and Leng Changxi were all skilled in martial arts, but Sima Ray still could fend off the blows at ease. It meant he had very strong inner Qi now.

    Right when they were fighting fiercely on the wall, a scout suddenly climbed upstairs and risked his life to shout at Sima Ray, ¡°General, something goes wrong. His Majesty is missing.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Sima Ray couldn¡¯t let his guard down when fighting with the other three. He spared some energy to ask that scout, ¡°He¡¯s missing? Have you searched him in the pce?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but he¡¯s not there.¡±

    ¡°Impossible,¡± Sima Ray said angrily and directly stabbed the long sword in his hand into the pir nearby. Instantly, an arm-long crack appeared on the pir whose perimeter was as long as two people¡¯s arms. Taking a look at Leng Changxi, Sima Ray tended to pull his sword out and left, even if the other three were attacking him together now. But Leng Changxi stopped him.

    ¡°Your Royal Highness, the fight isn¡¯t over yet.¡±

    ¡°Leng Changxi, I¡¯ve told you we can fight alone if you dare. Besides, do you think merely you three can stop me? I have more than 200,000 soldiers in thisrge city. Aren¡¯t you fighting in vain?¡± Sima Ray said usibly, but in fact, his voice was shaking. Obviously, he was in fear.

    The emperor took a kind of chronic poison. With the help of perfume that he always used, the poison could gradually invade his blood vessels and organs, leading to sore and weak muscles. Then, he would be like a paralyzed person. Even if he was curedter, he couldn¡¯t walk like normal people until several monthster.

    So apparently, someone took away the emperor. Sima Ray turned his head and took a look at Leng Changxi. He only hoped that it wasn¡¯t Leng Changxi who did that. If it was, it meant that Leng Changxi had pawns in the pce.

    Right when Sima Ray looked back, he heard someone scolded him in a serious and deep voice under the wall. ¡°B*st*rd, get off. I¡¯m still alive. How dare you start a revolt?¡±

    Obviously, Sima Ray¡¯s legs were shaking, but soon, he stopped and walked downstairs while lifting his armor hemline. He saw the emperor who looked ruddy and energetic scolding him. He looked at that ¡°emperor¡± carefully.

    ¡°B*st*rd, you¡¯re still not believing I¡¯m alive? Why do you look at me like that?¡± The emperor was apparently unsatisfied with how Sima Ray looked now.

    ¡°Your Majesty, I¡¯m afraid you have mistaken me for Prince Ray. I¡¯m Yu Haitang,¡± Sima Ray said while cupping his hands. Although he lowered his head, he was ncing at that emperor.

    ¡°B*st*rd, do you think I can¡¯t recognize you after you live in another person¡¯s body?¡± The emperor was clear-minded. ¡°I¡¯ve apanied you since you were born. How will I not recognize your gesture and behavior? How will I not know what ruses you are nning? B*st*rd, stop fighting now, or I won¡¯t show mercy even if I¡¯m your father.¡±

    The emperor sounded so usible, but Sima Ray didn¡¯t care. He raised his head slowly and said, ¡°If so, father, I think you¡¯d better show no mercy.¡± Then, he directly took out the sword of a guard nearby and wielded it to the emperor.

    The emperor dodged and got off from the chair. Leng Changxi fended the sword with his spear in time. He raised his eyebrows and said to Sima Ray, ¡°Your Royal Highness, are you in revolt now?¡±

    ¡°I already did it long ago,¡± Sima Ray said to the agile emperor. ¡°And this sham has no right to scold me. I drugged father with the short life powder all the time. It is virulent and can paralyze his nerves. He can¡¯t be cured unless the antidote is made of the blood of people having a rare blood type. To prevent you from finding such people to cure him, I already ordered people to kill them all. Even if some survived, it still takes several months for father to fully recover. How could he get well so quickly? Leng Changxi! Who¡¯s the idiot that disguises himself as my father?¡±

    Looking at Sima Ray, Leng Changxi didn¡¯t say anything. Then, a deep and majestic voice broke the strange silence.

    ¡°Sima Ray, you finally admit that you are drugging me all the time.¡±

    Hearing the same voice twice, Sima Ray looked back in terror. He saw people pushing out a man in the wheelchair who looked exactly like his father. The first ¡°emperor¡± who was agile put his hand somewhere near his ear and took off the human-skin mask. That thin and small ¡°emperor¡± was Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Sima Ray, surrender now,¡± Leng Changxi said to Sima Ray.

    But Sima Ray clearly had lost his head and only thought about fighting with them now. ¡°Surrender? Why? I have 200,000 soldiers in the city. Leng Changxi, now that you are here, I won¡¯t let you leave here alive. Come on, let¡¯s burn the city down together. I will drag you all together down to the hell if I can¡¯t survive.¡±

 Chapter 359 - The Ultimate Showdown

    <h4>Chapter 359 The Ultimate Showdown</h4>

    The burning of the city was the cruelest. In addition, it was the Royal City with a prosperous business and arge poption. If Sima Ray was determined to have a life-or-death struggle, the people of Qi would suffer.

    The emperor of Qi looked at his unfilial son in front of him, feeling so furious. He pointed at Leng Changxi and said, ¡°Get me the head of my rebellious son. I will spill his blood in front of the ancestor temple. I¡¯ll let all the ancestors see that there is such a rebel in our Sima Family.¡±

    Sima Ray raised his head and his eyebrows slightly, looking so indifferent. It seemed that a bad reputation didn¡¯t matter to him at all, ¡°I don¡¯t care at all. Besides, you never regarded me as a member of the Sima Family when I was growing up, right? You¡¯ve always been ashamed of my mother. You felt it a shame to rape a maid and make her pregnant when you were young, so you never treated me kindly. I am just dispensable to you.¡±

    ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± The emperor of Qi looked so angry. Although he looked down on this humble son before, after he discovered his talent, he cultivated him as a diamond in the rough.

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Sima Ray¡¯s eyes became bloodshot. ¡°I just want to speak for my poor mother. You let the empress to raise me, but did you know that she treated me like a beast? She looked kind superficially, but she was quite different behind the scenes. I don¡¯t want to talk about it anymore. With things as such, there is no need to talk about it then. You want to catch me? Wishful thinking.¡±

    After Sima Ray finished speaking, he turned around, performed light skills, and flew away toward the Royal Pce ignoring the people around him. Zhuge Qingtian intended to catch up with him, but then he realized that his light skills could not bepared with Sima Ray¡¯s at all. Sima Ray¡¯s light skills had obviously improved greatly than before. It seemed that he had really absorbed a lot of people¡¯s energy and internal skills during this period.

    ¡°What does he want to do?¡± Zhuge Qingtian was puzzled, turning his head to ask Leng Changxi.

    Watching Sima Ray jumping dexterously among the red tiles and white walls, Qin Yunuan looked into the distance following his figure. She said slowly, ¡°The Royal City is surrounded by arge number of troops. Although there are only 200,000 soldiers in the Royal City, it won¡¯t make him fear like this, unless there is something more important in the Royal Pce, or something more beneficial to him.¡±

    ¡°What do you think it is?¡± Leng Changxi looked at Qin Yunuan quietly, waiting for her toe up with an idea seemingly. He regarded Qin Yunuan as his adviser obviously.

    ¡°Remember the secret tunnel in the Royal Pce?¡± Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows and suddenly mentioned the secret tunnel where the Great General of Qi, Meng Hua, had been imprisoned before. That tunnel was a big project, and it was really amazing for its borate design. Nobody knew how Sima Ray secretly built this secret tunnel in ten years. It seemed that it had other uses ording to Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°A foxy person has more than one hideout. I remember that the tunnel was straight without forks. But Sima Ray was so suspicious and scheming. So how could he spend so many resources on such a straight secret tunnel? Wasn¡¯t it too unworthy?¡± Qin Yunuan looked back at Leng Changxi, whose eyes were full of approval. It seemed that his opinion was the same as Qin Yunuan.

    ¡°Great.¡± Prince Ning said decisively, ¡°Go to the Royal Pce.¡±

    As soon as Prince Ning gave the order, everyone rushed to obey it naturally. The emperor of Qi was carefully taken care of by his attendants. Leng Changxi nced at him, and the emperor looked at Leng Changxi with a hesitant expression, as if he wanted to say something that was hard to say.

    Leng Changxi walked indifferently by the emperor of Qi. In the past, he always respected and obeyed this old man. But after he knew what he had done behind the scenes, he felt that maybe it was the best for his mother to stay in West Xia. Therefore, he never reported to the emperor of Qi that the Elder Princess had been found.

    ¡°She is dead.¡± Leng Changxi suddenly turned his head just when he was about to walk by, saying to the emperor of Qi leisurely, ¡°Jing Donghua built a grand tomb for her. It¡¯s very beautiful.¡±

    The emperor closed his eyes silently after hearing it and ordered the guard around him to send him back. In front of him, Leng Changxi led the way with outstanding light skills. Even though Sima Ray had great light skills, he could notpare with Leng Changxi, who ranked first in Qi in light skills. What was more, Leng Changxi was familiar with the internal structure of the Royal Pce as Sima Ray, so he came to a pce with a simple appearance but a rather borate structure quickly.

    This pce looked so familiar. Leng Changxi squinted his eyes and nced at the que on the big red pce gate which was not very new nor old. He was unavoidably surprised. Looking at the words ¡°Weiyang Pce¡± on the dark red que, Leng Changxi didn¡¯t know why Sima Ray came here at such a life-and-death moment.

    It didn¡¯t take long before Qin Yunuan arrived. She looked at Leng Changxi who was standing at the door, feeling he was a little strange. When she stepped forward, she realized that Sima Ray was standing in the middle of Weiyang Pce without fear. Behind him was the room where the Elder Princess lived before she got married.

    At dusk, the orange sunlight seemed to shed ayer of soft satin on the majestic pce from the outermost wall to the beautiful cornices of the pce. Sima Ray was dressed in dark blue casual clothes without armor. He looked dignified and elegant at this time, not like a murderous demon at all.

    ¡°Changxi?¡± Qin Yunuan was puzzled, wondering why they were deadlocked.

    But Sima Ray looked at Qin Yunuan with a scornful smile and pointed to his left. Qin Yunuan¡¯s eyes followed his figure, and then she was stunned. The left side of the open space was filled with so many buckets of saltpeter and sulfur, which were the highest explosives of this era. The explosives were stacked as high as a man on the whole wall, which were able to blow up Weiyang Pce and the surrounding small pces into pieces. What did Sima Ray want to do on earth?

    ¡°Ten years ago, I set a fire in Weiyang Pce.¡± Sima Ray talked indifferently about his first murdering experience ten years ago. ¡°At that time, I was eager to find a backer, and the empress asked me to kill someone to show my loyalty. In fact, I knew that she still looked down on me. If I had killed a random person, she would have found other reasons to reject me. Therefore, I intended to kill someone she hated so much. That was the Elder Princess. But what I never expected was that when I actually sneaked in to kill her, she confided to me that she was not the real Elder Princess but just a substitute. As the real Elder Princess wanted to stay at West Xia, she and Prince Ning arranged that then.¡±

    ¡°But she was too naive. Since I had given myself away, how could I let her go? But to keep the empress from finding out that the person I killed was not the real Elder Princess, I then burned the Weiyang Pce. When the body turned to coke, nobody could tell the truth then. And since then, I discovered a secret. That is, you, Leng Changxi, is not the natural son of Prince Ning, but the B*st*rd of the Elder Princess and the emperor of West Xia.¡±

    Leng Changxi smiled slightly, ¡°If I were a B*st*rd, wouldn¡¯t you be inferior to a B*st*rd?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Sima Rayughed with self-mockery. ¡°Your bloodline is too noble. I have been jealous of you since then. Why? Why you can get favoritism from both Prince Ning and the emperor of Qi and the internal skills of Tongming Gate of the royal family of West Xia at the same time? You are just an illegitimate child, but you¡¯ve got the right to inherit the throne of Qi and West Xia at the same time. Is that fair?¡±

    ¡°So, since I was a child, you¡¯ve been sending assassins to assassinate me?¡±

    ¡°Right.¡± Sima Ray smiled bitterly. ¡°But it was really a pity that you were always saved by others.¡± Sima Ray said as he turned his eyes to Qin Yunuan, ¡°Do I really like you so much? No. Since I cringed before the empress, I had no feelings then. I just hate that Leng Changxi owns so many beautiful things, including you.¡±

    ¡°Even if Changxi is a beggar, you will also be jealous of him since you are so narrow-minded.¡± Qin Yunuan knew what Sima Ray was thinking about, ¡°And, once the explosives are ignited, do you think you can survive?¡±

    ¡°Survive?¡± Sima Ray¡¯s voice began to be hoarse and trembling. ¡°Since things havee to such a pass, I don¡¯t mean to survive at all. Your tricks are really sinister. Although I have 200,000 soldiers guarding the Royal Pce in my name, some of them have surrendered to you, some don¡¯t trust me anymore because of you, and some have fled.¡±

    Sima Ray said, and then he suddenly took out an ignited fire-scroll from his waist. He held the fuse in one hand and the kindling in the other, smiling coldly at Leng Changxi, ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t want much. If I had to go to hell, you must be with me. Then I will be satisfied.¡±

    ¡°You...¡± Leng Changxi tried to stop him, but Sima Ray took actions so fast, and the fire began to spread. Zhuge Qingtian who cameter only saw Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan who were standing at the gate were swept away by the heat wave. The fiery mes immediately rushed to the roof, apanied by a huge explosion, as if the skies fell and the earth opened up. Zhuge Qingtian slumped on the root of the wall. Even if he was far away from there, he could still feel the crazy and hot fire which was like a tornado.

    The entire pce was burning up, just like the fire ten years ago. And this fire was still talked about by people in the Royal City even a monthter. Some people even exaggerated that the fire could be seen even in Linglong Tower in Qingzhou which was 15 kilometers from the pce. The prince¡¯s rebellion also went down in history with the fire this time. Although the parties concerned were reconciled finally, they all paid a lot.

    Three yearster, the storytellers in the regions south of the River talked about the result of the rebellion like this.

    ¡°In the end, in order to stop the rebellious prince, the Cool Face General of Qi risked his life and sneaked into the pce. They two fought for three hundred rounds from the sky to the ground both day and night. Finally, the rebellious prince secretly ignited the explosives that filled the pce. No matter how invulnerable the general was, he could not withstand the explosives. The general died a hero¡¯s death, and his wife was so sorrowful, and then she died for love. They are really a loving and heroic couple who dedicated themselves to Qi.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± The voice of a little kid suddenly sounded abruptly among the people who were listening to the storyteller.

 Chapter 360 - As If A Generation Had Passed

    <h4>Chapter360 As If A Generation Had Passed</h4>

    All the people fixed their eyes on this little kid who seemed to be only three years old. The child looked extremely beautiful with big watery eyes and fair skin. He was so cute.

    Followed by the little child was a middle-aged man who looked strong and vigorous but was inly dressed. People with good ears could still remember that the middle-aged man just called the little child young master. It seemed that the child should be from some noble family.

    Since his story was interrupted by such a little kid, the storyteller was so angry. He started narrating this story a long time ago, and everyone loved the story very much. But at this time, he was provoked by a little kid!

    ¡°You kid, you know what? You weren¡¯t even born when the Royal City was chaotic.¡±

    ¡°Anyway, I know that General Leng and his wife are not dead.¡± The kid looked unconvinced with a pout, refuting the storyteller.

    ¡°Hey, you kid. Do you know how many tons of explosives were there three years ago in Weiyang Pce? Not to mention General Leng and his wife, even the whereabouts of Vice-General Zhuge and Vice-General Leng who rushed over at that time were still unknown. You¡¯re so young that you don¡¯t know the tragedy of that year, so you even said such words. General Leng and Madam Leng were both buried in the ancestral graves of Leng Family. You are really...¡± The storyteller was a little excited as he said. After all, for the people of Qi, the loss of such a heroic couple like Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan, who were courageous, loyal and patriotic, was really a great sadness.

    ¡°Humph, I don¡¯t think you know anything.¡± The kid still wanted to argue with the storyteller, but then the middle-aged man who looked like a guard next to the kid stepped forward and stopped him, ¡°Young master, we should go back. Madam might me you if you continued talking about this.¡±

    The kid sighed regretfully, and he even acted like a general somewhat, ¡°Fine. Women are really the most troublesome.¡±

    After they left, people started discussion in the teahouse suddenly.

    ¡°That kid looked so pretty, and the guard was also handsome. When did such a legend family appear in our small town?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you know? A family surnamed Wen came to the east of our cityst month. I saw them when they entered the city. They looked so beautiful. There can¡¯t be such beautiful people in our town even after a hundred years.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating! Who knows if it¡¯s true or false?¡±

    The crowd gradually dispersed. After all, it was not proper to keep talking about gossip all the time.

    The spring breeze blew the catkins which fell on a wall in the east of the city then. The newly blooming peach blossoms looked delicate and eye-catching, and the woman standing under the tree was also charming and lovely. Her ruddy face showed her health, and her slightly bulging abdomen anticipated the arrival of a new life.

    There was a noise at the door of the courtyard suddenly. A child with a bright and clear voice came to her with flying peach blossom petals.

    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m back.¡± The person who spoke was just the unruly little kid in the teahouse.

    The pregnant young woman was beautiful and charming. She smiled and nced at the kid, then chuckled and wiped the sweat for the kid with a handkerchief, ¡°You¡¯re always so anxious. You even came to the world suddenly without warning that day when you were born.¡±

    The guard-like person stood by and looked at them. Finally, he asked with concern, ¡°Madam, how is Maner today?¡±

    ¡°She is fine.¡± The pregnant woman looked back at the guard with a bright smile, and her face was full of joy, ¡°The pregnant woman will inevitably have a bad temper after giving birth to the baby. She doesn¡¯t let you enter the room must because she is afraid that you will only like your daughter but won¡¯t like her anymore. Maner is a simple and kind girl. You don¡¯t have to think too much.¡±

    ¡°How will I not like her?¡± The guard grumbled with grievance, ¡°God knows how difficult it is for us to be together.¡± As he said, the guard shook his head again, ¡°I know, Maner and I haven¡¯t experienced so much like Madam and General Leng.¡±

    The pregnant woman smiled indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s all over. Don¡¯t talk about that. Changxi went back to West Xia to visit my mother-inwst month, and he should be back now.¡±

    As soon as she finished speaking, there was a horse neighing outside the door. The kid ran out immediately after hearing the sound. He ran to the horse, and his small chubby face almost stuck to the horse¡¯s leg to wee the returning man.

    ¡°Daddy, you are back! How is grandma? When will you take me to visit grandma?¡±

    The man on the horse lifted his leg and jumped down flexibly. He directly picked up the kid with one hand and lifted the three-year-old child up high, ¡°You want to see grandma?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡± The kid nodded sincerely as he said. He always listened to his mother and father about his grandma¡¯s past, and he was clear that the emperor of West Xia never forgot his grandma. What was more, she was his grandmother! So how could he not be curious? ¡°By the way, dad, you have always said that the emperor of West Xia loved my grandma so much. So is the emperor of West Xia my grandfather? Then am I a descendant of the royal family?¡±

    Qin Yunuanughed and teased the kid in Leng Changxi¡¯s arms, and said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s not so good to be the descendants of the royal family. Even you win at the end of the fight, what you¡¯ll get is just a cold throne. You¡¯re lonely and you have to watch out for people trying to knock you off your throne all the time. It would be okay if you just lost your identity. But if your family and your life were sacrificed for this, you would regret it for a lifetime.¡±

    The kid nodded, seeming to have only a hazy notion about her words.

    Leng Changxi also nodded as he looked at Qin Yunuan with affection. They were living in the region south of the River under assumed names. Leng Changxi used the assumed name Wen Changxi. Wen Family was living in Le City with the identities of businessmen. Qin Yunuan opened a clinic in the east of the city to treat minor illnesses for the civilians. Leng Changxi transferred all his shares in the Royal City into Baling City in the regions south of the River. The highly skilled doctor Sun Miaoyang still traveled around, and he just came back to visit the affectionate couple asionally. Half a year ago when he came here, he specially inscribed Leng Changxi¡¯s restaurant in Baling City, which was called Zuifeng Restaurant.

    However, apart from these industries, the cooperation between Qin Yunuan and Cui Family was still on. A few days ago, Cui Family sent a letter here. Their family had another boy again, and they hoped that Leng Changxi could pick a name for him.

    At that time, Leng Changxi was busy teasing his son. He didn¡¯t pay much attention to the person who came to report but just said casually, ¡°Since the kid¡¯s father likes to travel around outside so much, just name him Cui Bugui.¡±

    ¡°I feel most sorry for cousin.¡± Qin Yunuan couldn¡¯t help sighing with emotion when she saw the colorful falling petals of peach blossoms after watching Leng Wu enter the room with her son in his arms. After finishing speaking, she felt that she called him by the wrong name. In fact, the real identity of Shi Ruisheng was not Su Chenghai, but Leng Changxi¡¯s brother.

    Speaking of this, Leng Changxi also felt emotional, ¡°It¡¯s just Sima Ray was too treacherous. Although he believed in Shi Ruisheng, he also poisoned him. I recovered from the burn on that day, but he just failed to recover as he had been ill for a long time.¡±

    Looking back on that day, Leng Changxi, who had been indifferent for three years, seemed to have a raging fire in his eyes. On that day, Sima Ray ignited hundreds of kilograms of explosives hidden in Weiyang Pce frantically. Leng Changxi was right at the door. He watched Sima Ray dashing towards the pce after he lit the fuse. Then he knew that there was a secret tunnel that Sima Ray had prepared before in the pce. He could take advantage of the length of the fuse to escape directly from the secret tunnel to Lu Mountain in the north of the Royal City. The fast horses and food prepared long ago there could help him all the way from Lu Mountain to North Di to seek help from Wanyan Su.

    Wanyan Su just made a great coup in North Di who had been the crown prince a long time ago. As early as Sima Ray was on the way returning to the Royal City, they two had colluded with each other and secretly made a n. If Sima Ray had seeded in one fell swoop, he would have formed an alliance with Wanyan Su to stabilize his position. Wanyan Su could also revolt in North Di and seize power as soon as possible. And if Sima Ray had been defeated, Wanyan Su should also have taken in Sima Ray and borrowed him soldiers and horses ording to the agreement for him to stage aeback.

    Sima Ray had a brilliant n, but he forgot that Qin Yunuan had another perfect trick.

    Just when Wanyan Su was sharpening his sword in North Di, looking forward to Sima Ray¡¯s good news, a secret letter disturbed his heart which was waiting for good news.

    The content of the letter was simple.

    There were four trade routes between North Di and Qi, and Qi had hundreds of shops in North Di, many of which were the time-honored profitable brands. If Wanyan Su wanted the ownership of these routes and shops, he had to disclose Sima Ray¡¯s overall n and every detail of it. And the person who wrote the letter was just Qin Yunuan, who helped Sima Ray get rich and recruit followers and finally made him crippled.

    Wanyan Su knew how powerful this woman was. Since she said that she could give them to Wanyan Su, she must have the ability.

    Facing the handy money and treasure and the revolt n with an uncertain future, Wanyan Su chose the former one wisely. So, when Sima Ray detonated the explosives and prepared to escape from the secret tunnel on that day, he found that the tunnel had been blocked already. Even a fly couldn¡¯t fly out.

    Leng Changxi looked at Sima Ray who was as anxious as a homeless dog through the gray smoke. Ten years ago, Sima Ray burned Weiyang Pce in order to show his loyalty to the empress. While at this time, it was just the fire that turned Sima Ray into ashes. That was really retribution. But unfortunately, Leng Changxi was too close to the explosives at that time. In order to protect Qin Yunuan behind him, Leng Changxi took the risk and got in front of her like a shield. He kept motionless amid the rumbling of the fire.

    When Zhuge Qingtian arrived, Leng Changxi was severely hurt and dying, as if he would die at any time.

 Chapter 361 - The Final Episode

    <h4>Chapter 361 The Final Episode</h4>

    Fortunately, Sun Miaoyang was in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion. Unfortunately, Su Chenghai, the disciple of Doctor Sun, was suffering from poisoning at the same time. So when all the people in the Royal City and all the civilians of Qi were cheering for eradicating the evil, there were two dying people in Prince Ning¡¯s Mansion.

    The emperor of Qi re-ascended the throne with few concubines and descendants, so naturally, he valued Leng Changxi, his nephew, so much. He sent him countless precious tonics, and he even apanied the Queen Mother to visit Leng Changxi after a busy day of political affairs many times. But it was a pity that Leng Changxi still didn¡¯t get any better. Qin Yunuan took care of him day and night, losing so much weight.

    At that time, Leng Changxi and Shi Ruisheng seemed to be vying with each other. There was only one de of life-saving grass, but there were two people who needed it. Logically speaking, Sun Miaoyang should have given the life-saving fairy grass to his disciple without hesitation, but he just farmed and went for a walk with his bird every day. It seemed that he didn¡¯t n to save these two people at all. While Prince Ning loved his son so much, so he kept pestering him every day.

    At that time, Qin Yunuan had been exhausted since she had been taking care of Leng Changxi for many days, and she seemed to hear Ting Xue¡¯s words, ¡°Madam, His Highness went to beg Doctor Sun again.¡±

    ¡°Then?¡± Qin Yunuan was a little tired. Her medical skills were limited. After several months of hard work, she could barely heal Leng Changxi¡¯s skin from heat burns, making him lie in bed quietly as before. Leng Changxi had been in aa for several months, and he had lost a lot of weight. His chin looked more pointed, and the whole person looked so thin. Qin Yunuan took care of his health with the best royal jelly and snow lotus every day. Leng Wu and Zhuge Qingtian even took turns to transport genuine energy into his body every day to protect his internal organs that had been damaged by the huge impact force.

    The doctors who had been here all said that it was a miracle that Leng Changxi could survive the fire. If he woke up, it would be really a miracle of miracles. But nobody could make him walk and jump like a normal person as before.

    But Qin Yunuan knew that one person could do that. Sun Miaoyang¡¯s fairy grass could cure all diseases.

    Since Prince Ning couldn¡¯t persuade him after using both hard and soft tactics, she must do something then.

    In the middle of the night, a solitary light was still burning in the courtyard of Sun Miaoyang¡¯s house. Sun Miaoyang had fallen asleep long ago, while Shi Ruisheng, who was unable to calm down because he was poisoned, was still awake.

    A little movement was enough to awake Shi Ruisheng who was suffering. He looked up and found that it was just Qin Yunuan that was standing beside his bed, his ¡°younger female cousin¡± who he had been missing all the time.

    ¡°How are you?¡± Qin Yunuan looked cold without expression.

    Shi Ruisheng had anticipated this day already. She loved Leng Changxi so much, and Leng Changxi loved her so crazily. As an outsider, Shi Ruisheng¡¯s existence prevented them from being together for the whole life obviously. Shi Ruisheng sighed coldly in his heart. It seemed that Qin Yunuan came here to persuade him to give up the fairy grass to Leng Changxi.

    ¡°I can¡¯t die yet.¡± A bitter smile appeared at the corner of Shi Ruisheng¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°I¡¯m here this time to beg you.¡± Qin Yunuan said in an extremely low voice. Shi Ruisheng sneered in his heart. The time had finallye. But in fact, he had already decided in his heart that as long as Qin Yunuan asked him to give up the fairy grass, he would definitely do as she liked. He would give her anything as long as she wanted. However, Qin Yunuan said, ¡°Because of the pestering of my father-inw, Doctor Sun hadn¡¯t decided whom to give the grass to yet. I hope you can take the initiative to use the fairy grass as medicine to cure yourself. As for Changxi, I only hope that after his death, you can lend me the Ganchang Cunduan Poison.¡±

    Shi Ruisheng had never made poisons to harm people, and Ganchang Cunduan Poison was the only poison he had made, which was a rare poison that could kill human beings in a short time. Shi Ruisheng wondered why Qin Yunuan knew that.

    ¡°It is not important why I know that.¡± Qin Yunuan seemed to be able to know what Shi Ruisheng was thinking, ¡°I only hope that you can lend me this poison by then. If Changxi died, I wouldn¡¯t live in this world alone then. I will go with him.¡±

    Shi Ruisheng looked at Qin Yunuan with the corner of his eye. He didn¡¯t dare to look into her eyes. What shone in her eyes was affection for Leng Changxi and indifference to life and death. Shi Ruisheng couldn¡¯t bear that. He hated that the woman he loved only cared about another man, and she was even willing to give up her life for him.

    ¡°I¡¯d rather you force me to give up the fairy grass.¡± Shi Ruisheng said faintly, which made Qin Yunuan sigh, ¡°I just want to be with him forever. I would die with him if I couldn¡¯t live with him.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be like this.¡± Shi Ruisheng turned his head and looked at the faint moonlight outside. He didn¡¯t know what to say. He just bowed his head and sighed, ¡°Go back. I have my n.¡±

    What happenedter was exactly the same as Qin Yunuan predicted. Within a few days, Sun Miaoyang cured Leng Changxi with the fairy grass. Before leaving, he gave Qin Yunuan a significant look and shook his head with regret seemingly. On the day Leng Changxi woke up, the news of Shi Ruisheng¡¯s death from poison came from Sun Miaoyang¡¯s yard.

    Recalling what happened a few months ago, Qin Yunuan still felt quite emotional.

    ¡°I knew that that as long as I came to him and told him that I wouldmit suicide if you died, he would give up the fairy grass definitely. Although he appeared to have given up the grass of his own ord, in fact, I was the one who killed him.¡± Qin Yunuan felt guilty every time she talked about this.

    Leng Changxi kissed Qin Yunuan¡¯s forehead gently, ¡°So, if I really died, you would die for love and leave Baochuan alone?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Qin Yunuan lowered her head slightly with a shy look, ¡°I just know that if you couldn¡¯t be with me, life would mean nothing for me.¡±

    Leng Changxi was moved by Qin Yunuan¡¯s explicit words. He hugged her tightly, ¡°Sometimes I really hope that you can be more rational and always live a good life, but I was just so happy after hearing what you said.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the best.¡± Qin Yunuan embraced Leng Changxi with her slightly bulging abdomen between them, which could not affect the sweetness between them at all. ¡°You will live a happy life then. We¡¯ve suffered so much, and finally, we can live a in life from now on.¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Leng Changxi caressed Qin Yunuan¡¯s plump face affectionately, ¡°A few days ago, Zhuge Qingtian sent me a letter. The Infanta is also pregnant. If her baby was a daughter, they wanted to marry her to our son.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± Qin Yunuan nodded with a smile. Women around her got pregnant one after another, and her second child was also growing up. The next generation would thrive certainly. ¡°The Infanta is a heroic woman, so her daughter must be as great as her mom.¡±

    Leng Changxi touched Qin Yunuan¡¯s small nose, ¡°I¡¯m afraid she will be as dull as his father. If it hadn¡¯t been for your trick, how would Zhuge Qingtian have confided his feelings to the Infanta? But that¡¯s fine. Although the emperor of West Xia found out that the Infanta¡¯s father was in collusion with North Di, he didn¡¯t punish the Infanta. Instead, he retained her title of Infanta, and the lovers finally got married.¡±

    ¡°I just wonder how mom in West Xia is.¡± The Elder Princess of West Xia died 20 years ago. The emperor of West Xia, Jing Donghua, gave Princess Qinghe another title for her to stay in the Royal Pce. It was even said that the emperor of West Xia dismissed all his concubines in the Pce for this beauty and cherished only her. It was really infinite royal graciousness.

    ¡°Jing Donghua will definitely treat mom well, but I don¡¯t know whether the officials will criticize them. But if Jing Donghua couldn¡¯t solve even these small problems, he would be unqualified for his position as the emperor.¡±

    Although Leng Changxi seemed to regard Jiang Donghua as an outsider, he trusted him greatly in his words. In fact, in Leng Changxi¡¯s heart, apart from Prince Ning, Jing Donghua and Princess Qinghe were the people he respected most.

    While they were talking, Baochuan had already returned from school, carrying a sturdy cloth bag on his back. Once he came in, he walked into the room familiarly and asked Leng Wu, ¡°Has Dun¡¯er read books today?¡±

    To this three-year-old nephew, the nine-year-old Qin Baochuan looked like an adult. Fortunately, Dun¡¯er liked this uncle very much. They yed in the room for a while, and Baochuan then changed into in clothes and walked out. When he left the room, he saw Qin Yunuan smiling at him.

    ¡°Sister, what are you doing?¡± Baochuan smiled fatuously, touched the back side of his head, andughed all the time.

    Qin Yunuan gestured at the kid with two pigtails out of the door. Qin Yunuan had sharp eyes, so she could see clearly that it was an eight or nine-year-old girl outside who looked in the direction of Baochuan with a shy look.

    ¡°I see.¡± Qin Yunuan smiled at Baochuan, ¡°She¡¯s pretty. She will be a beauty.¡±

    Baochuan blushed instantly, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±

    ¡°Okay. I won¡¯t talk about it then.¡± Qin Yunuan gestured at the door, ¡°Don¡¯t let her wait for you for so long.¡±

    Although Qin Baochuan looked a little embarrassed, he picked up his pace and walked out of the door. Leng Changxi just took a cloak out of the room and put it on Qin Yunuan¡¯s shoulders at this time. Looking at Qin Baochuan¡¯s back, he couldn¡¯t help smiling, ¡°The children have grown up.¡±

    Qin Yunuan touched her abdomen, ¡°There is another one here.¡±

    Leng Changxi also touched her abdomen gently, ¡°This girl is so small. She hase to full term, but your abdomen is still so small.¡±

    ¡°How do you know this is a girl?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s good to have a girl. It¡¯s better to have a girl as smart as you.¡± Leng Changxi kissed Qin Yunuan¡¯s forehead, ¡°Let me and Dun¡¯er protect you in the future.¡±

    Qin Yunuan smiled, but suddenly she frowned because of the pain in her abdomen.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Leng Changxi was so nervous.

    ¡°I...¡± Qin Yunuan frowned. At this time, her pants were already wet, and her water broke. ¡°It hurts! It hurts!¡± Qin Yunuan grasped Leng Changxi¡¯s sleeve tightly, and the pain became more and more obvious.

    Qin Yunuan knew clearly that a new life wasing, and their life would also have a new beginning...

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