Zhu Lihe chatted for a little while longer, drank a few cups of tea, and then took his leave.

Two days later, Yun Ya was about to enter the palace again disguised as Yu Linlang, when he was intercepted on a secluded path. A palace eunuch had arrived with Fu Lingchuan’s verbal order: Yu Gengqing was short-handed on his mission abroad, and Yu Linlang was to depart immediately to join his father.

Fu Lingchuan, fearing he might gain more royal favor, wanted to remove him from Wusei’er City. Yun Ya smiled coldly: it was time to proceed to the next step.

That day, Feng Miaojun did indeed receive the Huyan family.

The Huyan family was a great clan from the western regions, withstanding forces of 130,000 troops. Their quality and equipment far surpassed other warlords, and they had been the main force resisting the Wei Kingdom over the years.

After the Wei Kingdom withdrew its troops, the Huyan family’s power could rival Fu Lingchuan’s. Therefore, when the royal court issued the sacred edict for all major families to reduce their military forces and come to the capital, the Huyan family delayed compliance.

Both Fu Lingchuan and Feng Miaojun had predicted they would resist to the end, but unexpectedly, the Huyan grandfather and grandson suddenly entered Wusei’er to meet the Queen. The ability to resolve a potential conflict made the court officials all breathe a sigh of relief, though everyone understood that Wusei’er City was now even more full of hidden talents and complex relationships.

The one exchanging pleasantries with Queen Changle was the head of the Huyan clan, Huyan Bei. Fu Lingchuan was also present to show respect.

This man could shift from discussing Wusei’er City’s climate to inquiring about the Queen’s health while expressing his unwavering loyalty to her and his understanding and support for the royal court’s order to reduce military forces. Judging by his words and smile alone, he appeared to be a harmonious, devoted minister who prioritized the monarch’s concerns.

Huyan Bei, who was over fifty years old, possessed cultivation, making him appear only around thirty, full of vigor. To Feng Miaojun, he was a smiling tiger—impeccably courteous, allowing no one to find fault with him. However, Huyan Bei had once vied for power with Fu Lingchuan, until Fu Lingchuan raised Princess Changle’s banner and finally suppressed the Huyan family on grounds of righteousness. Wouldn’t Huyan Bei harbor resentment over this?

Whenever he and Fu Lingchuan’s gazes occasionally met, there was a profound depth to their exchange.

Feng Miaojun’s smile was even more perfect than his. After they exchanged some formalities, Huyan Bei introduced his grandson, Huyan Long, who stood behind him.

Huyan Long had just turned twenty this year. He had inherited the family’s good looks—with long arms, a slender waist, fine eyebrows, and handsome eyes. More remarkably, his handsome features carried the vibrant spirit of a military general, not inferior to Fu Lingchuan.

He also appeared quite steady. Except for the momentary surprise when first seeing the Queen, he afterward lowered his brows and eyes, not daring to look at her again.

Only when his grandfather introduced him to the Queen did he kneel like toppling a golden mountain or a jade pillar, his movements carrying a dignified air.

“Rise,” Feng Miaojun said with a smile as she assessed him, secretly noting that this person somewhat possessed the heroic bearing of Miao Fengxian.

Seeing her gentle expression as she gazed at his grandson, Huyan Bei was delighted. The Queen was not yet eighteen this year, still at an age when young women often harbor romantic thoughts. Having stayed in the royal court for a long time, she regularly encountered more delicate men, so she should find the demeanor of a strong, valiant man more intriguing.

Before entering the palace for the audience, he had inquired about the Queen’s preferences and now said: “This subject has just arrived in Wusei’er and still has some affairs to manage, so I fear I cannot often hear Your Majesty’s voice. Long’er has long admired Your Majesty’s sacred countenance. Perhaps he could represent me and keep you company for conversation.”

“Very well,” Feng Miaojun said, her gaze lingering on Huyan Long as she smiled enchantingly.

Beside her, Fu Lingchuan secretly clenched his iron fist: “Your Majesty has been busy with meetings recently and appears somewhat haggard. It would be better to rest more.”

Later, when other officials’ sons requested audiences with the Queen, Fu Lingchuan rejected them all on her behalf.

Feng Miaojun stayed in the palace for two days, feeling extremely bored. She wanted to go out to the suburbs for recreation, but her entourage was stopped by guards before they could exit the palace gates. They stated that the Queen had been tired lately and should not move about and that the State Preceptor requested Her Majesty to rest quietly.

This was an attempt to isolate her in the inner palace and prevent officials from visiting her. Feng Miaojun showed no anger and returned with a smile.

Fu Lingchuan resented her recent defiance and disobedience, and planned to confine her. Except for court sessions, all her interactions with other officials and confidants were blocked to eliminate any future troubles for Fu Lingchuan.

That afternoon, Chen Dachang did not appear—he too had been stopped outside the palace and could not meet with Feng Miaojun.

Was Fu Lingchuan planning to completely isolate her, severing all her connections with the outside world?

Feng Miaojun didn’t seek him out for a scolding. For State Preceptor Fu’s meritorious service, she allowed him the first move. If this was the extent of his effort, he shouldn’t blame her for what followed.

She had given him a chance.

Two days later, Fu Lingchuan received intelligence: the Queen had gone to White Horse Lake, accompanied by Huyan Long.

Fu Lingchuan was furious, slamming the table as he stood up: “Who escorted her out?”

“The palace staff doesn’t know,” the guard knelt without rising. “The Queen left the palace on her own, without going through the eunuch monitoring system. Nobles by White Horse Lake saw the Queen with their own eyes, knelt in greeting, and that’s how the news spread.”

Fu Lingchuan’s thin lips pressed tightly together. The Wusei’er Palace was under his control, and the people around Changle all obeyed him, except for a few confidants like Chen Dachang. Since issuing the confinement order, palace security had become twice as strict—how could she come and go freely?

Even if she had the shape-shifting worm… Fu Lingchuan exhaled heavily. Having traveled together for over several months, he had witnessed her face-changing skills, so he had specially procured a flying insect the size of a yellow hornet called “scent-seeker” and secretly placed them at several palace gates.

These insects had a sense of smell more sensitive than dogs, and he had kept them in his sleeve, allowing them to quietly sniff the Queen’s scent. From then on, whenever she approached the palace gates, the scent-seekers would react, alerting the guards.

In the entire palace, those who knew about the scent-seekers could be counted on one hand, and the Queen should have had no awareness of them. Yet now, the scent-seeker insects had not been triggered, but she had already left the palace.

What impressive skills! He had still underestimated her. Fu Lingchuan smiled coldly. This palace—she was becoming increasingly casual about her stay, remaining or leaving as she pleased!

She was a delicate beauty; how many people knew of her profound cultivation? Even though Fu Lingchuan was well aware, he was often deceived by her soft and beautiful appearance, making the mistake of judging her by her looks.

Those who make mistakes must suffer the consequences.

This woman was the most alluring rose, not only beautiful but also covered in thorns. If he didn’t remove all her thorns, he would never be able to control her in the palm of his hand.

Indeed, his approach to her had been too gentle. What Fu Lingchuan feared most was contact between the Huyan family and the Queen, and now, as if his fears had materialized, it had happened.

She had forced his hand; she shouldn’t blame him for being ruthless later!

Just as he was about to change his clothes and hurry there, a second piece of news arrived from outside.

This news was even more explosive, causing Fu Lingchuan to momentarily forget about the White Horse Lake excursion. His face changed color as he exclaimed: “What!”