“Did you do this?” The official on the colorful cart was about to explode in anger, but upon seeing Jing Hengbo’s face clearly, his tone immediately softened considerably.
“Huh?” Jing Hengbo was caught off guard while watching the show when trouble came from beside her. She was stunned for a moment and said, “Hey, aren’t you mistaken? I’m eight zhang away from those two—how could I have knocked them unconscious?”
Everyone looked and agreed. Under so many watchful eyes, no one had approached the cart, so this woman couldn’t have done anything.
However, Jing Hengbo felt somewhat guilty—if that flower demon little phoenix woke up and pointed at her saying “monster,” she would be drowned by the crowd in the next instant. With such a dense crowd, even teleportation wouldn’t take her far, and she’d be beaten up as a monster.
Whatever she feared came to pass.
The little phoenix who was being helped up and having her acupoint pressed suddenly whimpered, exhaled leisurely, and slowly opened her eyes. Seeing Jing Hengbo pulled in front of the cart, she was stunned, her face changing drastically. She raised her hand and pointed at her tremblingly, saying: “Mon…”
“You’re not even worthy of being a monster!” Jing Hengbo cut off her words, lifted her skirt and stepped onto the colorful cart, kicking her in the waist. “You dare to perform such terrible dancing without feeling ashamed! Get lost! Let sister be this flower demon! Sister will show you what it means to be a heaven-defying, earth-opening, earth-shaking, stunningly beautiful number one demon!”
Poor little phoenix, already half-conscious, was scolded so harshly that her eyes rolled back and she fainted again.
The official was about to scold, but carefully looking at Jing Hengbo’s face, his gaze wavered and he nodded: “What big words! Since that’s the case, you come up and be this flower demon! Do well and your merit will cancel your crime, do poorly and your punishment will be doubled!”
Jing Hengbo looked back at the crowd—scared! So many people! Layer upon layer, with this formation, she couldn’t run or teleport.
Then she’d just do it.
She was glad that although she wasn’t wearing her own dress underneath today, the outer long dress had been altered and was now all fitted and body-hugging designs. Tying up the skirt hem, there would be no problem dancing.
Let these country bumpkins of Xi E witness Her Majesty’s world-class dance!
The “Flower Goddess” was helped back up. She wasn’t seriously hurt, just fell down. Anyway, she didn’t need to do any movements—she just needed to sit on the prepared large flower prop at the end. She decided to persist to the end.
But Jing Hengbo wasn’t pleased.
The flower demon was supposed to dance around the Flower Goddess, but she wasn’t willing to dance around such a wooden girl.
Among the four-person group, when it came to proud personality, Jing Hengbo could compete with Taishi Lan—one believed all beings in the world were idiots, the other was naturally beautiful like a flower.
Jing Hengbo believed that in terms of looks, all women in the world could only be her supporting cast. How could she become someone else’s supporting cast?
“I don’t want to dance around her.” She protested, her flirtatious gaze flying around the crowd, trying to find a pleasing Flower Goddess—either extremely beautiful to make her concede, or extremely ugly to better set off her beauty.
Suddenly a figure appeared like lightning in front of the colorful cart. The person reached out to pull her: “Get down!”
Jing Hengbo’s eyes lit up.
…
“Where did that woman come from? Who is she? She doesn’t look local—how did she appear? Go investigate for me quickly!” On the colorful building, the King of Tiannan was on the verge of madness.
A black shadow slowly moved over, a pair of jade-white slender hands gently covering her shoulders.
“Why are you suddenly angry?” He whispered softly in her ear, lightly blowing on her earlobe, his eyes intentionally or unintentionally glancing toward the colorful cart on the street. His pupils flashed, revealing a mysterious smile.
“It’s nothing.” The King of Tiannan forced a smile, gripping his hand in return, looking into his eyes with some unease: “I think that woman below looks like a spy… do you think so?”
“Oh?” The man casually glanced down, seemingly having no interest in the woman below. “If Your Majesty thinks so, then she must be.”
His indifference to Jing Hengbo’s beauty greatly pleased the King of Tiannan.
“Since she’s a spy, naturally we should capture her for thorough interrogation.” The King of Tiannan gritted her teeth, seeming to grind not words but Jing Hengbo’s naturally seductive face between her teeth.
“Very good.” The man was still lazy, his eyebrows slightly slanted, sweeping past the woman below.
Then he paused slightly, his gaze falling on a white shadow flashing rapidly through the crowd. The white shadow moved through the crowd like lightning and wind, lightly and skillfully approaching the colorful cart along the gaps in the crowd. Though people surged around, no one noticed.
The black-clothed man raised his eyebrows slightly, leaning back to avoid, his hand gently falling on the King of Tiannan’s shoulder, tenderly turning her to block in front of him.
The King of Tiannan laughed coquettishly and leaned toward his shoulder, pointing at Jing Hengbo below: “Capture that woman… eh, who is that man in white? Such a beautiful man!”
Her tone suddenly burst with enormous surprise.
…
“Get down!”
Hearing this tone, Jing Hengbo knew Great God Gong had arrived.
“Darlings,” she ignored Gong Yin completely, one hand supporting the colorful pole, smiling sweetly as she threw a flirtatious glance to the crowd: “Do you want to see me dance?”
“Yes!” The response was passionate, especially enthusiastic from young men.
“But my husband won’t let me dance…” Jing Hengbo pouted toward Gong Yin’s direction. “If I dance, he’ll drag me back and force me to dance for even more people. I’m so scared…”
Hearing the word “husband,” Gong Yin’s raised foot paused.
He suddenly lowered his eyes, dense eyelashes covering the turbulent emotions in his eyes at this moment.
“There are such men!” A group of angry youths heard this and glared furiously: “Drag him out and beat him!”
A crowd followed Jing Hengbo’s gaze to find Gong Yin. At first sight, they felt quite stimulated. Some clenched their fists wanting to rush forward, but Gong Yin’s cold, noble aura made people feel intimidated—they stepped forward one step then retreated two steps.
“Ah no, no,” Jing Hengbo wasn’t afraid of the great god being beaten, but afraid of him exploding and beating up the entire city. She quickly laughed: “My husband actually loves watching me dance, he just doesn’t like me performing in front of everyone. If you could get him to come up and be this Flower Goddess, with me dancing around him, he’d have no objections.”
She propped her chin, smiling sweetly at Gong Yin. The idea to pull him up was a flash of inspiration—she wanted to tease the highland snow-like Great God Yin. How fun would it be if he really became the Flower Goddess? On the other hand, after Gong Yin came up, it would be more convenient for him to take her away—the flying monster would become Gong Yin instead of her. On yet another hand… she hadn’t danced her pole dance, belly dance, or grass skirt dance for him yet!
However, using her finger to think, she knew the great god’s cooperation level equaled zero. Look at him standing there with his “strangers keep away” appearance, automatically clearing a three-chi radius around him—who dared force him?
“What’s a grown man doing controlling women so much?” The great god had no cooperation, but the people had their own wisdom. Suddenly several men rushed out from behind Gong Yin, charging at him with their heads.
Jing Hengbo clearly saw Gong Yin’s hand instantly rise, seeming to emit faint coldness between his fingers, but then immediately lowered it.
Jing Hengbo was relieved—Gong Yin indeed had principles. He was always meticulous and steady, definitely unwilling to hurt people in this foreign marketplace.
Just this pause gave people encouragement. Immediately the crowd surged forward like a tide, pushing Gong Yin into a stumble, bringing him closer to the colorful cart. Wonderfully, among those pushing him were quite a few sneaky women.
Good looks were welcome everywhere. Countless people watched with burning eyes, quite interested in appreciating this beautiful “couple’s” performance.
“Just reluctantly sit for a bit and let us see the beauty dance!” Someone shouted, and a large group surged forward, pushing Gong Yin ahead. Some had already jumped onto the cart, pulling down the unlucky “Flower Goddess” and shouting: “Make way! Make way! We want to see the beauty!”
Jing Hengbo smiled even more happily—watching Great God Gong suffer was so satisfying.
The crowd surged, hundreds of people instantly squeezing Gong Yin to the front of the colorful cart. Just before being squeezed onto the cart, Gong Yin raised his hand and with a “slap” grabbed the edge of the colorful cart.
Jing Hengbo saw him lower his eyes, his fingertips slightly white from exertion, his expression seeming to endure yet also hesitate. His eyelashes fell densely, and the sunlight flowing across his jade-like forehead sparkled particularly crystal clear.
She suddenly found him very cute like this.
This feeling was very strange—the highland snow-like, lonely ice-like Gong Yin had always been untainted by dust with otherworldly temperament. No one dared use those earthly words full of human atmosphere to describe him, feeling it would be blasphemy. Yet at this moment, Jing Hengbo only felt that him with lowered eyes, slight confusion, and gentle rejection all over his body was full of unique temptation, making her heart itch.
Suddenly she really wanted to dance around him in front of all these people, letting him alone among everyone see her beauty clearly.
Before she could react, she crouched down and extended her hand.
Gong Yin was considering whether to strike in the next moment or directly abduct this troublemaking woman when suddenly a hand appeared before his eyes.
Pure white, slender fingertips, lustrous nails flashing strange fragmented light of pale purple, exquisitely crafted like a master’s carving.
A gesture of invitation.
He slightly raised his eyes and looked into her flowing eyes, carrying rippling smile and slight encouragement. Intimate and lively, one glance was like a small fish swimming into his heart.
He suddenly became even more unwilling.
Dancing was fine, but dancing for so many people to see… no!
He reached out, preparing to pull her down, then leave and punish her somewhere else.
…
The colorful building was silent as death.
The King of Tiannan stared intently at Gong Yin, silver teeth clenched tightly, yet unable to control her entire body trembling with excitement.
The black-clothed man’s fingers lingered in her hair, but his eyes involuntarily looked toward below the colorful building, just seeing Gong Yin being pushed near the colorful cart, while that woman suddenly bent down and extended her hand toward Gong Yin.
From his angle, he could see Gong Yin’s expression clearly.
The black-clothed man’s eyes suddenly moved. He unconsciously leaned forward, wanting to figure out this greatest political enemy’s expression at this moment.
Leaning forward, he suddenly awakened and quickly shrank back.
However, below, Gong Yin suddenly raised his head, his gaze like lightning, already sweeping toward the colorful building!
…
Jing Hengbo’s fingers had already touched Gong Yin’s hand. She already felt Gong Yin’s pulling force and immediately understood he still wouldn’t cooperate. She couldn’t help sighing in her heart—this dance still couldn’t happen.
However, just then, Gong Yin suddenly raised his head, his gaze sweeping toward somewhere above.
Jing Hengbo’s heart jumped as she stared intently at Gong Yin.
Gong Yin’s gaze accurately swept from above the colorful building, only seeing a woman with half her face veiled, seemingly throwing flirtatious glances at him.
Gong Yin frowned. He could tell at a glance that this woman couldn’t fight and posed no threat. Where did that warning sense come from?
Still feeling something strange in his heart, he thought for a moment, raised his hand to catch Jing Hengbo’s hand, and lightly leaped up.
Jing Hengbo stared dumbfounded as he really got on stage.
The great god was indeed the great god—though reluctant in every way, once on stage he was calm and composed. Without needing invitation, he spun around and sat in the Flower Goddess position, his expression and posture as if ascending to the throne of his Jade Reflection Palace.
Then he raised his chin, ignoring the suddenly quiet people, and said indifferently to the already dumbfounded Jing Hengbo: “Dance.”
…
Jing Hengbo was stunned for three seconds.
Pulling him up was just a joke—anyone with toes could think that Gong Yin wouldn’t cooperate, but at this moment he actually sat properly playing the “Flower Goddess.”
Was she still dreaming from last night?
While she stood there stupefied, the people became excited. Only now could everyone see Gong Yin’s face clearly, and immediately felt that even though he was a man, he was a hundred times more beautiful than the previous “Flower Goddess.” Some people’s appearance and demeanor were enough to make all worldly cosmetics pale in comparison.
People looked at him, then at Jing Hengbo, and suddenly felt that although their looks were completely different types, they truly could be considered evenly matched, with complementary elegance and a wonderful sense of harmony.
“Dance! Dance!” The crowd clamored, waves of black heads surging upward like tide.
Jing Hengbo suddenly smiled.
Suddenly her leg swung up—her signature straight-line split, pressed against the colorful pole!
The people’s mouths fell open. After a moment of shock, they burst into wild cheers.
“What a figure!”
Gong Yin, whose attention was still on the surroundings, turned around and was stunned.
The woman’s body extended into a vertical line, stretching to make her long legs longer, waist more slender, tight parts tighter, undulating parts more undulating. Her long hair flowed down like water, like spring willow branches brushing over the curves’ rises and falls. It was hard to imagine the human body could be so flexible, as if with a fingertip’s beckoning she could dance in one’s palm, like celestial ribbons floating gracefully.
This was the most mysterious angle to display a heart-stopping figure.
In an instant, all eyes seemed to catch fire. Women’s were fires of jealousy, men’s were fires of desire, and the great god…
The great god was the fire of anger.
Such a pose…!
The “Flower Goddess” couldn’t sit still anymore and swept his sleeve to stand up. Jing Hengbo’s body had already slithered down from the pole like a snake, spinning to his front like wind, bending to grasp the chair’s armrest.
Gong Yin froze.
From his angle, at this moment Jing Hengbo was presenting a certain deep cleavage and tight line to his eyes…
Jing Hengbo laughed softly, her fingers gliding up and lightly sweeping across his Adam’s apple. Then with a graceful turn, her dress sash brushed past his nose tip. She did a slanted backward flip, hooking his neck, her hibiscus face soft as if touching faces, peach blossom eyes glancing like flowing water, long hair scattering on his shoulder like a dream.
A series of movements flowed like clouds and water, but Gong Yin seemed to stiffen entirely…
She suddenly smiled at him, her smile mischievous, making his heart shake and for a moment feeling somewhat at a loss.
He could handle treacherous waves, was accustomed to mutual deception, tired of life-and-death struggles, manipulated court power struggles, but at this moment, he didn’t know how to respond to a woman’s bright glances and soft arms.
She had already begun humming softly.
“Only You…”
Strange tune, strange pronunciation—he didn’t know what this was, only from her eyes that carried three parts smile, three parts teasing, three parts seriousness, and three parts strangeness, he sensed these lyrics must be extraordinary.
The dancer and observer had undercurrents surging, exchanging glances, while the spectators were already excited.
When had everyone seen such dance? Even the little phoenix from performer background, her so-called stunning demon dance, was just making a few soft movements.
Who had thought of the provocation and charm of a beauty dancing around someone? Like a peony blooming magnificently in a cloud of pink mist, using fragrance as a wordless invitation.
And when had everyone seen such bearing as Gong Yin’s? A man sitting properly in the Flower Goddess seat, yet making people forget such awkwardness, vaguely feeling as if he were gazing proudly from the clouds.
Half the people wanted to pull down the seductively dancing woman and sit in the “Goddess’s” embrace themselves; half wanted to pull down the “Goddess” and let the seductively dancing woman sit in their own embrace.
…
“What kind of dance is this? I want to learn!” The King of Tiannan’s gaze burned as her body almost leaned out the window, excitedly pointing at Jing Hengbo: “Capture her!”
After thinking, glancing at the black-clothed man who had already walked away, she pointed at Gong Yin and whispered: “Deploy the offerings, capture him!”
…
The black-clothed man faced away from the window, seeming to ponder for a long while, then also made a gesture toward the crowd below.
Sunlight swept across his lips—a smile that seemed like a smile yet made one feel slightly cold.
Yélu Qi.
…
“You are my little apple…” Jing Hengbo seemed to smile yet not smile, her finger going to lift Gong Yin’s chin. Gong Yin slightly avoided, and she had already laughed coquettishly and spun away, raising her hand to pluck two silk flowers from the colorful pole, biting one and holding one, dancing over like wind and throwing the flower toward Gong Yin’s knees.
“Give me! Give me!” A large group of men jumped up, wishing they could pounce onto the colorful cart to catch it.
Gong Yin raised his hand, seeming to catch it, but his hand passed over the silk flower and grabbed Jing Hengbo who was about to spin and dance away again: “Stop dancing! Let’s go!”
Jing Hengbo was pulled by him, her body turning backward like a flag falling in the wind, landing in his embrace.
At this moment she was looking up slightly, a silk azalea flower slanted between her lips. The flower was made exquisitely, adorned with tiny pearls as dewdrops, shining in the sunlight, yet not as much as one section of her eye’s flowing brilliance, surpassing the rainbow in the sky.
The person was more beautiful than the flower.
Eyes met, her eyes seemed to have misty spring rain, dyeing this emotional world. Gong Yin’s clear gaze also became slightly lost for a moment.
Just this moment.
Suddenly several figures sprang from the crowd, yellow shadows like hawks sweeping three zhang in the blink of an eye, landing on the high platform. One of them grabbed Jing Hengbo with a swift motion, immediately retreating like a kite.
Four other yellow-clothed figures silently appeared beside Gong Yin, one of them a short fat man immediately blocking Gong Yin’s hand that was trying to reach for Jing Hengbo.
A white shadow flashed, accompanied by a cold laugh. Gong Yin had already emerged from the encirclement like a ghost, sweeping his sleeve and sending the person holding Jing Hengbo flying three zhang. Gong Yin calmly placed one hand on Jing Hengbo’s shoulder.
“Let’s go!” he said.
Jing Hengbo was about to teleport when she suddenly saw from the corner of her eye a black shadow flash ahead, seeming like someone sneakily sweeping past the crowd, raising a dark object in their hand—
“Watch out!” she screamed, hugging Gong Yin and falling backward urgently.
The hidden weapon was aimed directly at her and Gong Yin’s direction. In this position, it would hit her first like a sieve, then penetrate Gong Yin.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t think of this, just that in that moment there was no time to think.
A great force surged, forcibly changing her position, pushing her diagonally to one side. Jing Hengbo fell to the ground with a bang, rolling away, and saw Gong Yin had already leaped far up, standing atop the colorful pole, feeling slightly relieved.
She inadvertently turned her head and saw that seemingly familiar back in the crowd, crying out: “Yélu Qi!”
Gong Yin looked up, his gaze focusing. That person immediately threw away the hidden weapon and fled. Several black-clothed shadows shot up beside him, rushing toward Gong Yin to try to block him.
Gong Yin swept his sleeve, and two of them screamed as they fell far away.
Shadows flashed continuously. The initial yellow-clothed figures emerged, blocking toward Gong Yin, yet couldn’t stop him at all. White shadow flashed like lightning—Gong Yin was about to break out of their encirclement.
Jing Hengbo, who had been rolling around, felt slightly relieved. Seeing she was about to roll off the colorful cart, she calculated that once she stood up straight, she’d immediately teleport and escape. Without her as a burden, Gong Yin could immediately pursue and kill Yélu Qi.
“Bang.” She fell off the colorful cart.
But didn’t land on hard ground as expected.
The sensation was warm, soft, and elastic, like a pair of strong arms steadily supporting her.
Her heart sank with an ominous premonition. Then she heard a fatally familiar voice laughing softly in her ear: “What a small world, my Majesty.”
Yélu Qi!
Jing Hengbo’s first reaction was to shout for help—Gong Yin was nearby, and Gong Yin’s guards must be nearby too!
However, a pair of hands soft as spring breeze lightly brushed over her body, and she could no longer make a sound, even feeling her whole body bound by invisible ropes, unable to move an inch.
The colorful cart suddenly moved, pushed by some unknown force, crashing into a roadside residence with a thunderous sound. Broken bricks, tiles, and wooden sheds tilted down, blocking others’ sight and pursuit routes.
When the colorful cart moved and crashed into the wall, Yélu Qi held her while moving simultaneously. The black figure slipped into the room like a fish using the cart’s cover, then carried Jing Hengbo out through the window.
As he exited, several windows in the house simultaneously shot out several people dressed identically, also carrying objects, going in various directions.
Jing Hengbo sighed inwardly that state preceptors were all cunning.
Yélu Qi, even while being pursued, still had so many body doubles.
The one who shot hidden weapons at her and Gong Yin in the crowd earlier was a double, aimed at attracting their attention and separating her from Gong Yin. Then entering the roadside house, where at least three more doubles were ambushed. With these people scattering in all directions, which one should Gong Yin pursue?
Chase the wrong one, and Yélu Qi could escape with her for thousands of li.
Hmm, when captured by enemies, one should try to leave personal items as clues—all melodramatic novels said so.
But what if she had no items to leave behind? Her high heels were laced and couldn’t be shaken off, and she didn’t think Yélu Qi would be careless enough to let her throw shoes.
If possible, breaking off a piece of fingernail would be a method—her nails were all painted with nail polish and very distinctive…
Jing Hengbo watched Yélu Qi carry her over a wall, planning to grit her teeth and scrape her finger on the wall to break off a piece of nail.
Suddenly Yélu Qi reached out, catching her slightly extended arm, gently holding her fingers in his palm, laughing: “Respected Majesty, your nails are the most perfect objects in the world—please don’t damage them lightly.”
Jing Hengbo only regretted not coating her nails with poison! Drugs! Hidden daggers! Mechanisms! Otherwise she’d definitely poke ten small holes in this scheming scoundrel!
Yélu Qi carried her lightly away. Ahead was an inconspicuous carriage. He directly entered the carriage, which immediately began rolling forward.
The carriage interior was dark. Jing Hengbo couldn’t see clearly at first when she suddenly heard a somewhat hoarse voice, carrying some dissatisfaction: “You really are still interested in this woman!”
Jing Hengbo heard the killing intent in these words.
“I’m doing this for you,” Yélu Qi laughed. “Whether I’m interested in her is debatable, but I know you’re definitely interested in that white-clothed man. I kidnapped her, and the man you want will definitely come after us.”
“Really?” The woman’s voice carried some excitement. “Then I must hurry my preparations to make sure he comes but can’t leave.”
Yélu Qi laughed softly. “Naturally.”
…
The carriage rolled forward. Jing Hengbo heard sounds of other carriages and horses around them, gradually disappearing from side roads. It seemed Yélu Qi was using his old trick again, employing many decoy targets to prevent Gong Yin from determining her whereabouts.
However, she felt that Great God Gong had the ability to instantly penetrate through the fog of clues and strike at the heart of the matter. All of Yélu Qi’s elaborate schemes would likely be wasted effort.
The carriage traveled for about a quarter hour. She felt they passed through many gates, with people constantly approaching to inquire, then constantly withdrawing. From the inquirers’ tone, they seemed like soldiers, and from the soldiers’ reactions, the people in the carriage were either wealthy or noble.
Jing Hengbo heard the sound of heavy gates closing behind them—that heavy, creaking sound reminded her of thick, ancient palace gates… Had they arrived at the King of Tiannan’s palace?
The carriage finally stopped. As Yélu Qi was about to carry her down, the woman in the carriage blocked him with her hand, saying with slight jealousy: “Why trouble yourself with such labor? I’ll summon palace servants to attend to this.”
Jing Hengbo immediately knew who she was—this was the legendary King of Tiannan from Xi E, who had obtained the throne through beauty and scheming.
The King of Tiannan lifted her skirt and delicately stepped down from the carriage. Though someone was clearly kneeling below for her to step on their back, she didn’t move, instead pursing her lips and smiling as she looked at Yélu Qi.
Yélu Qi smiled and jumped down from the carriage, extending his hand to her.
Only then was the King of Tiannan satisfied as she stepped down, ordering people to bring Jing Hengbo down while saying: “Deploy three hundred royal guards to guard the palace gates day and night, and capture alive anyone who breaks into the palace.”
“Your Majesty,” Yélu Qi reminded with a smile, “Three hundred guards—forget about capturing alive, I’m afraid even if you throw them all in, it won’t be enough to slow down his steps.”
“So formidable?” The King of Tiannan’s eyes sparkled with bright water light. Instead of fear, she seemed more interested: “Then add all the royal offerings… But if the guards are too formidable and scare him away, what then?”
“From what I know,” Yélu Qi glanced at Jing Hengbo, “such a thing is unlikely to happen.”
Jing Hengbo glanced at him and smiled: “Indeed, knowing you’re here, he will definitely come.”
Yélu Qi raised his eyebrows. Though he knew these words were correct—he had sent body doubles to the Xi E border to deal with Gong Yin’s pursuing assassins while hiding in the King of Tiannan’s palace to recover. If Gong Yin accidentally discovered this, he naturally wouldn’t let it pass.
But why did these ordinary words feel so strange coming from Jing Hengbo’s mouth…
He felt he wasn’t alone in this.
The King of Tiannan glanced at Jing Hengbo’s strange expression, then at Yélu Qi, frowning: “What do you mean by that?”
Jing Hengbo smiled mischievously, pursing her lips: “Ask him, though I don’t think he’ll tell you, hehehe…”
Yélu Qi’s gaze flew over, carrying some contemplation and assessment.
Regarding this Female Empress, he considered himself to have some understanding. She seemed confused and foolish, but her mind was full of strange ideas, and if one wasn’t careful, they’d fall into her trap. He didn’t know what she meant by these words, but it probably wasn’t anything good.
He smiled slightly and said to the King of Tiannan: “Your Majesty, this woman seems very cunning. Perhaps I should guard her for Your Majesty…”
Before he finished speaking, the King of Tiannan’s expression changed.
Jing Hengbo, observing expressions, had already seen this clearly. She quickly lowered her head with joy and bashful embarrassment, her face full of “I knew you’d say that, you’re so bad” subtext.
Sure enough, the King of Tiannan immediately said: “Your injuries haven’t healed—you mustn’t overexert yourself. I’ll personally guard this woman myself. You should focus on recovering.”
Yélu Qi glanced at Jing Hengbo, who threw him a smiling glance.
“In that case, I won’t disturb Your Majesty’s enjoyment.” Yélu Qi was quite straightforward, bowing elegantly before turning to leave.
Under the setting sun, his silver-black sleeves fluttered gracefully. The King of Tiannan watched his retreating figure with infatuated eyes.
Jing Hengbo was gazing at the King of Tiannan’s profile. Suddenly she said leisurely: “You like him?”
The King of Tiannan’s body trembled slightly, and she snorted coldly.
“You like him, but feel this person is hard to grasp,” Jing Hengbo continued speaking regardless of her coldness. “He’s elegant, kind, polite, thoughtful and considerate, with a mysterious charm. But that kindness and gentleness seems the same toward everyone. You can’t find what’s special about how he treats you. His surroundings seem shrouded in light mist—you can’t see clearly, and you feel you can never truly get close.”
The King of Tiannan’s body trembled again as she turned to stare at her.
Jing Hengbo chuckled inwardly—she knew melodramatic romance novel dialogue would be useful. How could a man like Yélu Qi easily fall for a woman like the King of Tiannan? It was just exploitation, but as a woman, the King of Tiannan had her sensitivities and would naturally feel uneasy and conflicted.
If she was conflicted, things would be easier.
“Such men are difficult to handle,” she smacked her lips, sighing with apparent regret, “but also easy to handle.”
The King of Tiannan examined her with an uncertain expression, saying coldly: “Affairs between men and women—how could outsiders help? If you continue speaking nonsense and speculating about my thoughts, I’ll scar your face and send you to the military camp as a prostitute!”
“Someone like me appears before you, and instead of quickly treasuring, serving, and learning from me, you waste time with such bloody nonsense?” Jing Hengbo frowned delicately. “Wasting opportunities is shameful, understand?”
“Opportunities?” The King of Tiannan looked at her sideways.
“How do I look?” Jing Hengbo gave her a bright smile.
The King of Tiannan stared at her for a long time, very reluctantly snorting: “Passable, ordinary.”
“You also saw my dance earlier—how was it?”
“If I hadn’t seen your earlier dance, you’d probably be lying dead on the ground by now.”
“Exactly. Your Majesty is clever—you also discovered the value of that dance, right?” Jing Hengbo smiled with narrowed eyes. “I won’t dare claim anything else, but with Your Majesty’s figure and looks, if you learned my dance, forget just one handsome man—even ten more would just be destined to fall at your feet.”
The King of Tiannan glanced at Jing Hengbo’s figure, a trace of irrepressible jealousy flashing in her eyes. That jealousy fermented darkly in the woman’s narrow heart, transforming into barely concealed killing intent between her brows.
Jing Hengbo silently cried out in alarm and quickly added fuel to the fire: “What I know isn’t limited to this. I can also teach you beauty treatments, makeup, skincare, maintaining your figure, dressing and styling—transforming a ninety-point beauty into a refined one-hundred-and-one-point peerless beauty. These secret arts of mine come from divine teaching, absolutely unique. Miss this village and there’s no such shop—the ultimate treasures for home beauty, soul-seducing, and man-catching. If Your Majesty kills me, you gain nothing and lose a chance to become more beautiful. Such a losing business—would you do it?”
The King of Tiannan remained silent, turning to look at Yélu Qi’s distant figure. He stood on a high platform viewing the scenery, gazing at the palace gates under the setting sun. His jade-tree-like silhouette was tall and distant, untouchable in the dusky halo.
A hot tide surged in her heart, as if wanting to sweep away all earthly beauty, yet couldn’t wash over the slightly cold shore before him.
Before her, Jing Hengbo’s lips were fire-red, strikingly beautiful. Remembering her dance, also strikingly beautiful and captivating, she believed any man facing such a dance would be defeated and routed.
“You teach me that dance, and those other things you mentioned.” She finally said, “I won’t kill you.”
Her thin lips pressed into a slightly stern line, emotions fluctuating in her eyes—such a woman shouldn’t exist. Not killing her now, she could kill her after learning the dance techniques!
Jing Hengbo smiled brightly and openly, as if she had long known her life was secure.
“Your Majesty,” she pointed to herself with her chin, saying intimately, “I seem to have been sealed by that fellow. Do you think we can learn the dance properly like this?”
The King of Tiannan looked at her warily, signaling a maid to come forward and bind her hands before saying to a yellow-clothed man behind her: “Release her restraints.”
That man was probably a palace expert, following the King of Tiannan closely with a rather dignified manner. Hearing this, he nodded slightly and came forward to release Jing Hengbo’s acupoints.
Jing Hengbo assessed his technique and skill, feeling he was far inferior to Gong Yin or Yélu Qi—those two could handle him with a sleeve wave.
Of course, compared to her, one finger from him would be enough to crush her.
Jing Hengbo gave him a grateful glance, and the man’s eyes wavered slightly. Unable to help himself, he paused his finger, trying to brush against her skin, but Jing Hengbo had already smilingly moved her hand away.
The King of Tiannan had already seen this scene, glaring at her unworthy subordinate while gaining some respect for Jing Hengbo—this woman was indeed naturally seductive. With just one glance, she nearly ensnared her deputy minister who had deep cultivation.
Jing Hengbo, with her hands bound, calmly followed the King of Tiannan through the palace. The King of Tiannan indeed deserved her reputation for rising through beauty—she spared no effort in developing her feminine charms. She had dedicated dance palaces and squares, and wherever they walked in the palace, there were dressing rooms equipped for her makeup and clothing changes. Now she planned to first show Jing Hengbo her dance venue to humble this beautiful woman’s arrogance.
A large group of ministers was summoned to follow the King of Tiannan, ready to listen to her commands and execute them immediately. Most men kept their eyes straight ahead in the King of Tiannan’s presence, but when bowing their heads in greeting, their eyes constantly swept toward Jing Hengbo’s face and body. Jing Hengbo curved her sweet lips into a smile, silently responding to each person’s gaze with her eyes, while thinking that this King of Tiannan must be tyrannical—look at these lustful fellows, their heads lowered so much they wished they could see her from their crotches.
Somehow Yélu Qi had also appeared. He hadn’t chosen to go to the palace gates to block and besiege Gong Yin, but had quietly appeared beside the King of Tiannan. Jing Hengbo ignored him, and he seemed to pay no attention to her either, personally supporting the King of Tiannan’s arm and smiling: “What is Your Majesty discussing? You seem in such good spirits.”
“Taking this lady to broaden her horizons and see our palace.” Only then did the King of Tiannan remember to ask Jing Hengbo: “What’s your name?”
“Aiya, we’re all passersby—why need to know names?” Jing Hengbo waved her hand. “Just call me Peerless Number One Bo.”
“What does ‘Bo’ mean?” The King of Tiannan was very studious.
Jing Hengbo thrust out her chest: “The peerless weapon for women to conquer men in battle!”
Her straight, elegant neck extended into a shockingly compact curve—a naturally carved jade vase that made eyes want to fly away in intoxication just looking at it.
The group of men had never seen such a woman who was both alluring and so bold. Standing aside with rapid breathing and tightened fingers, they stole glances from various angles like they were having spasms. Yélu Qi smiled enigmatically, his eyes calmly sweeping past, suddenly remembering that day in the stormy mountain valley, the slightly open clothing of the woman in the net.
The scenery here was indeed quite good…
He suddenly felt that Zhan Jue had died too easily back then…
The King of Tiannan looked at Jing Hengbo with envy and jealousy, her expression slightly darkening. Jing Hengbo glanced at her obviously small steamed buns and leaned over to whisper: “I also have ultimate weapons that can help you enhance your bust! One wear increases cup size—a lethal weapon of the mortal world!”
The King of Tiannan’s eyes lit up, about to ask, when Yélu Qi suddenly turned his head and smiled: “What are you whispering about? Lethal weapons?”
“Your Majesty told me that someone doesn’t look very robust, and she’s worried about her happiness,” Jing Hengbo looked at his smile and felt angry, putting on a fake smile: “I said it’s completely understandable—men with flat noses are useless. One touch and they wilt, a small instrument of the mortal world.”
“…”
As Jing Hengbo’s figure disappeared around a corner, Yélu Qi was still touching his nose.
Was it flat?
…
Jing Hengbo first toured the palace’s internal song and dance square—a circular area paved with water-blue glazed bricks, with the floor decorated in sun and moon patterns using various colored glazed bricks.
“Nice design,” Jing Hengbo commented, “but there are no viewing stands around, and the center lacks variety.”
“Oh? What suggestions do you have?” The King of Tiannan looked around, suddenly feeling that dancing alone with no one to appreciate was a lonely thing, and the dance floor she usually found exquisite seemed too empty.
“I think, you should be both a dancer and a dance observer. I heard you like finding beauties in the slave markets? You should let your beauties share in your joy,” Jing Hengbo pontificated eloquently, “There—build small private boxes on all four sides, small rooms with thin gauze curtains and decorative lights behind them. Overhead, it’s best to create an arched dome with eternal flames, night pearls, and large crystals that can refract light. Think about it—when you dance, gorgeous chandeliers will make your jewelry shine brilliantly. Isn’t that wonderfully fairy-like, green tea-like, white lotus-like? You can also watch dances, sitting in the center of the square, with a circle of boxes hung with thin gauze, letting your beauties dance within them. When the decorative wall lights are lit, imagine—patches of various colored backlighting made hazy by the gauze, countless beauties dancing for you behind the veils. When you don’t want them to dance, you can have them act, have them pose in various positions you like. No matter which angle you turn to, you can see different charms…”
“Excellent!” The King of Tiannan’s eyes sparkled, and the ministers around, imagining that scene of seductive beauty, couldn’t help but raise their faces with intoxicated expressions.
Yélu Qi was still touching his nose.
Was it flat?
…
“And this center area.” When Jing Hengbo spoke about beauty, makeup, dance, and decoration, she was eloquent: “It’s ugly being bare. Even the best dance needs exquisite props. Your floor’s sun, moon, and stars look beautiful, but they can’t change. If you add mechanisms under the floor to make it rotate and arrange into formations you want—like the Big Dipper, or sun and moon traveling together—then build a dance platform underground. When the mechanism is in place, the platform rises with your dancing equipment, whether trees or flowers. For instance, a crystal lotus slowly blooming with you dancing gracefully within—how beautiful that would be…”
“I don’t like crystal.” The King of Tiannan interrupted, turning to ask a nearby official: “The treasury seems to have a golden lotus seat, but the style is old-fashioned… What flowers do you like?” She suddenly asked Jing Hengbo.
“Poppy flowers. You have them here too—they’re the prototype of those demon flowers.” Jing Hengbo answered without thinking: “If making flowers, make poppies—hallucinogenic, seductive, devastatingly beautiful, deadly!”
“Excellent!” The King of Tiannan clapped her hands: “Someone come! Melt down that golden lotus disk! Make a large demon flower!”
“The flower should be able to rotate, and preferably bloom one petal with each turn! This way, the person within gradually reveals themselves, adding mystery. The stamen should be sturdy enough to climb and perform pole dancing…” Jing Hengbo excitedly added.
“Perfect! Make a deep red crystal or glazed stamen! Sturdy! More brilliant under lights!” The King of Tiannan repeatedly praised.
The officials received orders and hurried to implement them. The King of Tiannan surveyed the surroundings, imagining the renovated dance floor would be stunningly magnificent and radiant. She couldn’t help but feel elated and sighed, smiling at Jing Hengbo.
Jing Hengbo smiled back. Two extremely beauty-loving women found a moment of spiritual connection, and their earlier hostility faded considerably. Though the King of Tiannan still didn’t dare untie her bonds, she ordered silk ribbons to replace the ropes to avoid leaving marks.
“Your Majesty, show me your makeup and dressing rooms. Some dances require special costumes—I need to give you advice.” Jing Hengbo looked at those small buildings and suggested to the King of Tiannan.
“Good.” The King of Tiannan was about to move with her entourage when Jing Hengbo began laughing coquettishly.
“My King, do you understand the importance of novelty? A stunning dance, special makeup, an extraordinary outfit, or even unique shoes—these are all personal debuts. Before gathering enough attention and focus, why easily show them to others?”
The King of Tiannan stopped.
This woman was audacious and fierce, but not stupid. She vaguely felt there was life wisdom in these words. After thinking, she nodded: “You all stay back.”
Jing Hengbo smiled.
Having Yélu Qi follow every step was too annoying. Without getting rid of him, how could she brainwash this silly woman?
“Your Majesty, someone is forcing their way through the palace gates!” A figure shot over like lightning, bowing urgently before the King of Tiannan, disheveled and breathless.
“So many people can’t stop one person?” The King of Tiannan was very surprised: “All go to the front and watch! Don’t let him break in! Capture him alive! Remember to capture alive! Don’t scratch his face!”
Scratch away! Jing Hengbo prayed maliciously.
If the great god’s face got scratched, he wouldn’t be so arrogant!
Yélu Qi looked back toward the palace gates and automatically stood up to leave with the others, probably not wanting to be caught by Gong Yin breaking in, thinking to set another trap for him.
As he walked, he touched his nose, occasionally glancing at the noses of men beside him.
…
Seeing Yélu Qi leave, Jing Hengbo intimately moved closer to the King of Tiannan.
“Your Majesty,” she lowered her voice, “You’re so beautiful and clever, you’ll learn these techniques quickly. But let me remind you—the skills I teach you are enough to conquer all men in the world. But if you only want to hang yourself on one crooked tree, I think what you learn won’t be worth it.”
“What do you mean?” The King of Tiannan immediately withdrew her gaze from Yélu Qi and asked alertly.
“Well, I’m telling you—if you trust me, you’d better withdraw those guards and offerings from the palace gates,” Jing Hengbo pointed toward the palace gates with her chin, “Don’t waste effort and lose lives only to end up with nothing while someone else takes your house as their nest.”
“Hmm?” The King of Tiannan frowned delicately: “What do you mean? Speak clearly.”
“Your Majesty, let me ask you,” Jing Hengbo moved closer mysteriously, “Do you know this beauty’s background?”
“He said his name is Yélu Qi, a wealthy merchant from Da Yan who was robbed while trading outside the border. He was injured, all his followers died, and he wandered to Xi E where I accidentally discovered and brought him back. What’s wrong? Don’t try to sow discord between Yélu and me, or I won’t spare you!” The last sentence was stern, with killing intent at her brows.
Unfortunately, for someone as thick-skinned as her, it was like wind past her ears. Jing Hengbo moved even closer.
“Complete nonsense! Not one word can be believed!” She said nonsensically: “Your Majesty, you don’t kill me and treat me well—I’m very grateful and will risk my life to tell you the truth. This Yélu Qi—except for his name being real, everything else is fake. He’s not from Da Yan but from Dong Tang. He started as a spy, then betrayed his organization for love and was hunted across the world, finally fleeing to Xi E. Tired of being hunted, he wants to find a place that can protect him. But his organization is huge and powerful—ordinary people can’t shelter him. He’s been a general in Da Yan, an elder in Yunlei, a prince consort in Yao Kingdom, but couldn’t stay long anywhere because he had no real power…”
“Prince consort?” The King of Tiannan interrupted, her voice changing pitch.
“Prince consort.” Jing Hengbo nodded seriously: “But don’t worry, Your Majesty—his prince consort title was fake. Oh, he’s actually a bottom, not capable in that aspect…”
“Not capable?” The King of Tiannan’s eyes widened.
“Shh—” Jing Hengbo also widened her eyes: “If he hears this, I’m doomed!”
“You’re talking complete nonsense!”
“Nonsense or not…” Jing Hengbo smiled and looked sideways at the King of Tiannan: “You’ve known him for some time, right? You’re so beautiful and charming, he’s so passionate and attentive to you—logically you should have been rolling in bed like dry wood meeting fire. Have you rolled together?”
“This is because…” The King of Tiannan started to speak then paused.
“Did he find various excuses to avoid it? His wounds haven’t healed, his head hurts, things like that?” Jing Hengbo laughed softly: “Hey, you believed it? With his high martial arts skills, how could he be hunted by ordinary bandits until he was alone? With his high martial arts, could he really be injured so badly he can’t even function as a man?”
Jing Hengbo leaned against her chair, watching the King of Tiannan’s gloomy expression, knowing her psychological attack was working. She lazily chuckled.
Yélu Qi couldn’t be vigorous now.
Gong Yin had said his hidden weapon wasn’t something ordinary people could handle. For half a year, Yélu couldn’t release his essence, or his life would be in danger.
Yélu Qi, I’m giving you a romantic encounter—take it or not?
She leaned on the silent King of Tiannan’s shoulder, whispering in her ear: “I’ll tell you a shocking secret—Yélu Qi is a man but not a man. He’s a bottom. A bottom is like those male prostitutes in pleasure houses, you understand. He and that white-clothed pretty boy breaking into the palace are a couple—that one is his true love in their love-hate relationship. They two kidnapped me, planned today’s events, wanting me to approach and harm you from within. Then they’d coordinate inside and out—the white-clothed one kills all your experts outside while Yélu Qi opens the gates from inside. They’d seize your palace, steal your power, borrowing your Tiannan Palace’s influence and organization to fight against theirs. From then on, a pair of gay lovers would occupy your position as King of Tiannan, living together and celebrating wildly all night…”
Outside the palace gates, Gong Yin suddenly shivered.
Inside the palace, Yélu Qi rubbed his arms, muttering to himself: “Why do I suddenly feel cold…” Then he pinched his nose again.
…
“I don’t believe a word you’re saying!” The King of Tiannan reacted intensely.
Intense reactions were perfect—loud voices often serve to encourage weak hearts.
Pit Yélu Qi a bit, mess with Gong Yin a bit, and if she could also escape—Sister Da|bo’s plan would be perfect.
“Believe it or not, just test it,” Jing Hengbo smiled and patted her hand. “Don’t waste your experts fighting that pretty boy—it’s not easy to train elites, is it? Why not let him in to see what he wants to do? This is your territory—what are you afraid of? Perfect opportunity to observe whether he and Yélu Qi have an affair. And tonight, sleep with bottom Yélu Qi—if he won’t let you sleep with him, then he has a problem!”
The King of Tiannan was silent, her expression fluctuating between desire and unease, hesitation and viciousness.
Jing Hengbo waited leisurely. She felt this woman was narcissistic and irritable, suspicious and sensitive. Her suggestions hit her desires—the King of Tiannan would definitely take the bait.
“Then why don’t you test it?” After long contemplation, the King of Tiannan seemed tempted and suddenly said: “Since you say they’re a couple who aren’t interested in women, then you prove it to me first! You’re so skilled in feminine wiles—if you use your full power to display them, any man should have no reason to refuse. If even using all your feminine charm can’t make that pretty boy fall for you, then I’ll believe you! I’ll release you, kill Yélu Qi, protect you, and invite you to be my first female official. Otherwise…” Her voice turned cold, sharp as a blade: “Remember I hate being lied to most. Remember this is my territory. If you lie to me, I’ll use all my power to kill you!”