Nothing that happened at the Liang family escaped Fifth Prince’s notice.

When he learned that Liang Jie had become an idiot, Liang Yuan was so angry he couldn’t get out of bed for two days, and though Luo Meixiang hadn’t gone mad she wasn’t far from it, a trace of coldness appeared on Fifth Prince’s exquisitely handsome face.

That very night, Fifth Prince issued an order. A group of black-clad men attacked the Liang residence at night, heading straight for Qin Shuying.

Without Qin Shuying as his capable wife, Liang Zhe couldn’t accomplish so many great things. Therefore, Fifth Prince’s target was very clear, his actions swift and decisive.

However, he waited in his study until dawn the next day without receiving any word from this group of assassins.

Fifth Prince knew something had gone wrong, yet he remained composed as Mount Tai, attending court and participating in government affairs as usual. No one could see anything amiss with Fifth Prince.

As soon as he finished court and exited the palace gates, he saw his personal eunuch, Eunuch Qiao, walking quickly toward him. Eunuch Qiao’s expression appeared no different from usual, but the surprise in his eyes was quite obvious.

He lowered his voice: “Your Highness, Madam Liang has come uninvited and is currently a guest at the prince’s mansion.”

Fifth Prince raised his eyebrows. Qin Shuying?

Now, they were just short of openly declaring their antagonistic relationship. Last night he had sent people to abduct her, yet today she dared to visit? Such audacity, and such intelligence too!

If Fifth Prince Consort had been this clever…

Actually, it wouldn’t be difficult, would it?

If he could seize the throne, wouldn’t all the women in the realm be his?

Fifth Prince’s expression remained unchanged as he said indifferently: “I see. Let’s return.”

Upon returning to the prince’s mansion, Fifth Prince naturally didn’t go to see Qin Shuying. He was a man, she was a woman—having Fifth Prince Consort entertain her was sufficient. However, everything Qin Shuying said and did after arriving was continuously reported to him.

Soon, Fifth Prince learned that Qin Shuying had admired flowers at the mansion, eaten lunch, and then left. Before departing, she had given both Fifth Prince Consort and Lu Ruyang a chest of jewels each, including many extremely precious items.

What fine things didn’t the prince’s mansion have? Did they need Qin Shuying to bestow gifts?

Just after Qin Shuying left, Fifth Prince Consort came to Fifth Prince’s study: “Your Highness, I have brought shame upon you.”

She admitted it readily, because she knew that although Fifth Prince was not old—barely twenty—he was highly experienced, shrewd and seasoned, decisive and resolute, with an unpredictable temperament.

If she dared deceive him or make excuses for herself, Fifth Prince had plenty of methods to make people suffer the consequences.

Not gaining the upper hand at Madam Ji’s Lotus Fragrance Gathering, and today being visited by Qin Shuying who slapped their faces—wasn’t this bringing shame to Fifth Prince?

Fifth Prince looked at her steadily for a moment, then asked: “Could you read anything from Qin Shuying’s face?”

Fifth Prince Consort said: “Without doubt, the item is in Qin Shuying’s hands. She also knows we’re after that thing—this was clearly a declaration of war against us. Your Highness, we…”

Fifth Prince’s originally calm expression immediately changed, his eyes becoming like those of an eagle or falcon, piercing toward Fifth Prince Consort.

Fifth Prince Consort shuddered and immediately corrected herself: “Your Highness, the great endeavor will surely succeed!”

Fifth Prince looked at her steadily, then suddenly smiled, making his already handsome features even more dazzling: “Of course. You may go.”

Fifth Prince Consort retreated in trepidation, letting out a long breath.

His Highness was determined to obtain that position and couldn’t tolerate anyone saying anything discouraging. Though she hadn’t had time to say anything yet, just a hint of doubt in her tone and Fifth Prince had sensed it…

Fifth Prince’s study fell silent. After a long while, two people emerged from the shadows: “Your Highness, all twenty men we sent last night were completely wiped out, with no word from any of them. This subordinate is incompetent—I failed to discover how they disappeared. Near the end of the yin hour, people from the Liang family carried out a chest. This subordinate didn’t dare pursue and let them go.”

Fifth Prince said nothing.

Having followed the prince for many years, these past five or six years they had personally witnessed how His Highness eliminated political enemies one by one, personally seen how His Highness’s talents suppressed the Crown Prince. How could the Crown Prince’s reputation among the people compare to His Highness’s?

Nothing had ever troubled His Highness—he could solve any difficult problem.

This was their belief.

Sure enough, Fifth Prince said calmly: “Not only did they not make it public, they even came to the prince’s mansion to show off their might. Interesting, very interesting.”

With that, he stood up: “Prepare horses. I’m going to Star Moon Tower.”

Star Moon Tower was where he met with his uncle to discuss matters. Both men understood immediately—one went to prepare horses, the other went to Consort De’s maternal family to deliver a message to Consort De’s blood brother.

At this moment, Qin Shuying was sitting in a carriage with Ziteng. Ziteng was still shaken, her complexion poor.

Fifth Prince was her nightmare—she simply didn’t dare see Zhou Li. However, Qin Shuying’s earnest gaze let Ziteng know this was a hurdle she had to face.

If she couldn’t overcome it, she would forever live in a nightmare.

As for why Qin Shuying had brought her to Fifth Prince’s mansion, Ziteng knew the reason. Liang Yanjun had asked Qin Shuying for Ziteng’s hand in marriage. When Qin Shuying asked Ziteng’s opinion, Ziteng had reflexively refused.

“Ziteng, I brought you to Fifth Prince’s mansion not simply to let you turn over those hideous past events, but to let you see with your own eyes that however arrogant Zhou Li was in the past, however wealthy he is today, that’s how much pain and destitution he’ll suffer in the future. Did you see clearly the mansion’s wealth just now? Remember it well—the future Zhou Li will not only lack these riches but will be worse off than ordinary people.”

Having weathered storms with Qin Shuying, Ziteng had developed a resilient heart, but at this moment she still found it hard to believe: “Sister, he’s different from Seventh Prince after all. Can they really be brought down so easily?”

Qin Shuying nodded firmly: “Yes. He’s already taken the bait.”

Ziteng didn’t quite understand: “What?”

“Last night’s events—you witnessed them yourself. What do you think Zhou Li’s purpose was in sending those people?”

“…To kill sister.”

“Wrong. His purpose definitely wasn’t to kill me, but to capture me alive. Why capture me alive? For that gun.”

Speaking of this, Qin Shuying was somewhat puzzled. Grandmother had said this gun was obtained by father from a foreigner.

Since father, a mere third-rank official, could obtain such a thing from foreigners, couldn’t Fifth Prince, Fourth Prince, or even Xibang—with their greater wealth and broader reach—seek them out?

Especially Xibang, which had devoted years to firearms research and could even make the arduous journey across the ocean to transport black stones from the southern parts of Great Zhou. If they could accomplish such difficult tasks, why wouldn’t they send people everywhere to find more powerful firearms masters?

…

Qin Shuying said to Ziteng: “Fifth Prince is determined to obtain what’s in my hands, so he will definitely attack me again in the coming days, trying to abduct me.”

Ziteng said in alarm: “Sister… I, I don’t want revenge anymore. Sister, I’ll marry Liang Yanjun, I don’t want revenge anymore…”

Qin Shuying pressed her hand: “The item is in my hands—how can I let him take it just because he wants it?”