“Since you’re proposing marriage, you should show sincerity. Consider this my betrothal gift to you!”

Jing Hengbo nearly choked to death on her own blood.

“I thought ancient people were all honest, simple, dull, and foolish…” she muttered with wide eyes, “but it turns out they’re all cunning, crafty, shameless scoundrels…”

“It and you are both things I treasure,” the marriage-proposing fool said affectionately. “The most beloved things should naturally be given to the most beloved person.”

Jing Hengbo clearly heard him mumbling: “Now my junior brothers will lose to me. I’ve finally managed to get a wife. Our master’s sect is about to break the bachelor curse…”

“You’re the thing! Oh wait, you’re not a thing—from head to toe, you’re not a thing at all.” Jing Hengbo wanted to take off her high heels and plug up his wide-open brain hole.

May he and his junior brothers and their perverted master remain bachelors for eight generations!

“I like your personality,” the suitor seemed to find her more delightful the more he looked at her.

Immediately, Jing Hengbo’s mind filled with massive bold black newspaper headlines:

《Teenage Girl Encounters Fraud Man, Trafficked Across Thousands of Miles》

《Naive Girl Sold to Group of Bachelors as Wife for One Bottle of Nail Polish》

《The Untold Story Between One Old Man and a Group of Young Men Over One Woman》

《Trafficked Blood and Tears: My Forced Days Serving Two Generations of Bachelor Masters and Disciples》

…

Oh NO.

Jing Hengbo took a breath, struggled to adjust her expression, then used her sweetest tone: “You’ve already proposed to me, yet you’re still restraining me? That doesn’t seem very sincere, does it?”

“Oh right, I forgot.” The proposing fellow hurriedly stood up, pointed his finger, and smiled embarrassedly. “I didn’t mean it. It’s just that I fell in love at first sight and didn’t want you to leave, so I… just a little…” He pinched his fingers together to show “a little,” “controlled you a bit.”

Jing Hengbo really wanted to “just a little” slap this “I didn’t mean it” guy into the ground to live “briefly” with the cockroaches crawling in and out.

Fortunately, “I didn’t mean it” was quite cooperative. With a flick of his finger, she could move again.

With a whoosh, Jing Hengbo vanished.

She didn’t even want her precious nail polish anymore.

Just kidding—if one finger could restrain her, it could naturally kill her too.

As for who he was, Jing Hengbo had no interest in knowing. Anyway, she was going to be the Queen of Dahuang. There would be no shortage of extraordinary people in the future. If he really had feelings for her, they would naturally meet again.

As for love at first sight… forget it. She’d rather believe Gong Yin would perform a seductive dance.

After two consecutive teleportations, Jing Hengbo had reached the village center. The place where the hostages were held was easy to find—the only abandoned house in the village with lights on.

Jing Hengbo crept to the back of the house. It was an earthen house with poor soundproofing, so the voices inside came through very clearly.

“Why haven’t the Dragon Cavalry and Eternal Valor Battalion come looking yet?” Fei Luo’s voice sounded somewhat irritated. “Didn’t I leave markers?”

“Who knows,” someone said coldly, “Maybe they haven’t even started looking. Gong Yin would probably be delighted if we met with misfortune.”

“Not necessarily,” someone rebutted. “We were captured right in front of him. If something happens to us, he won’t be able to explain it to the Six Kingdoms and Eight Tribes!”

“What methods did these spies use?” Fei Luo seemed to be fumbling around trying to break the restraints. “I don’t have any strength left in my body.”

“Prime Minister, please remain calm,” someone said in a neither warm nor cold tone. “Setting aside everything else, you will certainly be rescued. Even if Gong Yin doesn’t act, Lord Yelu won’t abandon you.”

“I don’t understand your meaning, Minister Cao.” Fei Luo paused, then continued with a chilling tone. “With great enemies at hand and an uncertain future, this is not the time for us to open old wounds and settle old scores. We should work together first to gain our freedom.”

The man snorted and said nothing more.

Jing Hengbo listened curiously, thinking that Yelu Qi and Fei Luo indeed had something fishy going on. No wonder she felt something was off that day in the tent.

She heard Fei Luo call him “brother” that day, but the way she called “brother” was so ambiguous that she wouldn’t believe they were real siblings even if beaten to death. Besides, they didn’t look alike.

So this “brother” was quite suspicious.

Suddenly, there was commotion in the distance and urgent hoofbeats. Jing Hengbo turned around to see the snow-white Dragon Cavalry appearing far away on the horizon.

Finally, they arrived.

These men approached with great momentum, their hoofbeats thundering. Almost immediately, there was movement within the village. Those spies ran out toward the house, while the imprisoned hostages became very excited, and the house suddenly filled with joyful voices.

Jing Hengbo lay on the ground, watching those spies “charge forward” and begin “fierce combat” with the Dragon Cavalry.

Jing Hengbo’s eyes widened.

What a spectacular, thrilling, life-and-death “battle!”

A Dragon Cavalry soldier came over limply, slowly “slashing” down at a charging spy with his sword. The spy gracefully dodged with a slow-motion spin, gently grabbed the Dragon Cavalry’s hand, and lightly pulled him off his horse. The Dragon Cavalry let out a tragic cry, then cheerfully punched the spy’s waist with a trembling fist.

A spy single-handedly charged into the Dragon Cavalry formation, striking east and west with fluttering sleeves, advancing and retreating seven times without a leaf touching him, like a peerless master moving freely through enemy ranks. All the Dragon Cavalry stood around with arms crossed, smiling as they watched his performance, occasionally someone would kick his butt, “Put more effort into it! Are you embroidering flowers?”

Boom! A large burst of fireworks exploded with impressive sounds, shooting sparks that could be seen for miles. Flames blazed up in clusters, with figures running back and forth in the firelight, screams reaching the clouds—quite an intense battle scene.

Except it was all in super slow motion.

Jing Hengbo watched in stunned amazement.

This was acceptable?

Of course it was, because the house holding the hostages had no doors or windows. The hostages couldn’t see anything, only felt the fierce fighting and deadlocked battle situation. On one hand, they were surprised that such intense fighting could occur despite the Dragon Cavalry’s overwhelming advantage, wondering if the spies had received reinforcements. On the other hand, they worried that things were changing and whether they could safely return.

But Jing Hengbo was about to split her sides laughing.

With flames shooting everywhere and voices filling the air, a woman in the shadows of the house was rolling on the ground with laughter. Not far away in the darkness, someone stood quietly with hands behind his back.

He was expressionless, standing far away, as if with disgust, as if unwilling to approach.

No one knew he was watching her, his expression so tender.

…

The “battle” sounded increasingly fierce, with shouts shaking the sky. The spies’ resistance seemed so determined and brave, as if they would never give up. The hostages, who had initially felt rescued, gradually lost hope and became increasingly panicked.

At the most worried and tense moment, suddenly the door was smashed open with a “bang.” A spy rushed in, slammed something on the table with a crash, and shouted loudly: “What are you so pleased about? So what if the pursuers came? At worst, we’ll all die here today!”

The hostages were both shocked and angry, not understanding what sudden change had occurred. They questioned him one after another, and Fei Luo called out loudly: “Calm down! Calm down!”

But the spy suddenly pushed open the door and rushed out again. Then came the click of a lock, and someone shouted loudly: “Where’s the dry wood? Quick, bring out the dry wood! Pile it under this door, yes, right here!”

This shout caused an uproar in the house.

The spies, seeing the unfavorable situation, were making a desperate counterattack, planning to burn them alive!

This house had no windows, and the only entrance was now locked. The earth walls were mixed with dried grass, making them easily flammable. Once the fire started, no one could escape!

“Stop! Stop!” an elderly voice shouted. “I am a Director of the Upper Three Departments of the Huangjin Tribe! I demand treatment befitting my status! I’m willing to pay a huge ransom! I’ll agree to any of your demands!”

His voice awakened the others, and they all began shouting loudly.

“I am the Chancellor of Shang Kingdom! My country is wealthy and will definitely pay my ransom, or if you have other demands, feel free to make them!”

“I am the Left Vice Premier of Yu Kingdom! My king will surely pay any price for me!”

“I am the Left General of Meng Kingdom! I understand your difficulties. I request to be ransomed and swear not to seek revenge afterward!”

“I am…”

It seemed that except for Fei Luo, all the captured dignitaries from the Six Kingdoms and Eight Tribes expressed their understanding of the spies’ actions, painted hopeful pictures of future cooperation, showed great tolerance for post-incident handling, and only begged the spies outside to remove the dry wood, stop pouring oil, and negotiate properly.

At first, the spies turned a deaf ear, but when the ransom offers grew higher and higher, and additional conditions changed from “no pursuit” to promises of promotion and even huge rewards, someone stopped.

“Can you really agree to any of our demands?”

“Yes, yes.” Those who had grasped a lifeline eagerly agreed.

Jing Hengbo, who had been eavesdropping behind the house, propped her chin on her hand and shook her head, muttering to herself: “Here comes the main event. What do these fake spies who kidnapped hostages really want?”

“Yeah, I’m curious too.” A voice said tenderly and with surprise in her ear. “What exactly do they want?”

Jing Hengbo was startled and trembled all over, cursing inwardly.

Ah, the persistent ghost! Mr. Nail Polish appeared again!

She turned to glare angrily at the interloper: “Why did you show up again!”

“To watch the show,” he said innocently, pouting.

“The viewing area is so big, why do you have to squeeze next to me?” Jing Hengbo kicked him impatiently. “Go watch over there.”

“Oh.” The guy actually stood up and obediently changed positions.

From Jing Hengbo’s left side to her right side.

Jing Hengbo: “…”

“We’re so fated to meet twice in one day!” the guy exclaimed, his eyes sparkling. “To commemorate our fate, shall we exchange names?” He propped his arm against the wall and smiled down at her. “Wife, my name is Yi Qi. What’s your name?”

Fate, fate your sister!

“Yi Qi? One seven? Equipment? First Automobile Works? Hahahaha, there’s actually such a ridiculous name in this world!” Jing Hengbo clutched her stomach and laughed until her branches swayed. “Is it a nickname?”

“My given name.” Yi Qi said seriously. “We seven martial brothers all use numbers as our names. Surnames are arranged by entry order, names by age order. It just so happens that one goes from big to small, the other from small to big. I’m the eldest, youngest in age, so I’m ‘One Seven.'”

Jing Hengbo became interested. “What’s the second brother called?”

“Er Liu.”

“Third?”

“San Wu.”

“Fourth?”

“Si Si.”

“Fifth?”

“Wu San.”

“Sixth?”

“Liu Er.”

“Seventh?”

“Qi Yi.”

“They all sound more normal than you.” Jing Hengbo commented, thinking what kind of names were these? What kind of ridiculous master and sect would give martial brothers such names? What kind of ridiculous master would deliberately make age and entry order completely opposite? What kind of ridiculous group of people would manage to gather this number combination?

“My name is Jing Hengbo. English name Jennifer, meaning charming and seductive. You can also call me Jenny.” Jing Hengbo generously extended her hand, grabbed his hand and shook it. “Now that we’ve exchanged names and are friends, please don’t cause me trouble, okay?”

“Of course.” Yi Qi smiled good-naturedly. “Wife’s orders—how dare I disobey?”

Jing Hengbo naturally didn’t take it seriously and just found it amusing. She was used to seeing Gong the Great God’s cold face, so it was rare to have someone be friendly to her, especially such a beautiful man who was almost cute. She couldn’t help giggling and pulled his hand to sit down and watch the show together.

In the distance, a white figure watched from afar, coldly observing.

Watching her laugh, watching her charm, watching her be intimate and pleasant in front of others, her smile blooming brightly in others’ eyes.

Such rainbow-bright smiles could almost disturb every tranquil heart lake. He had originally thought her brilliant spring light only shone on his lake surface, never imagining that all the scenery she passed, all the passersby in those scenes, could capture her fragrant smile.

He suddenly wanted to exile all those who had touched her palm, gazed at her smile, and received her contact to the most terrible Black Water Swamp in Dahuang Ze.

For instance, this fellow called Yi Qi.

Did he think that just because he came from an extraordinary background, he could run wild on Gong family territory?!

…

“We’re now forced into a desperate situation—if we die, we all die together.” The spies were making final negotiations with the hostages. “Unless you agree to one demand.”

“We agree, we agree! We’ll agree to anything!” The hostages eagerly expressed their sincerity, fearing the other party wouldn’t believe them.

“You must know that we are Lord Yelu’s hidden agents,” a man among the spies said. “Our demand is actually Lord Yelu’s demand. If all the distinguished lords agree, just sign here.”

Papers were handed in one by one. There were nervous rustling sounds inside, then Fei Luo’s voice, tinged with anger and surprise, rang out.

“This agreement is too strange. We can’t sign it.”

“Lord Fei Luo,” someone immediately said ominously, “you may view death lightly, but we are ordinary people. Though this agreement is odd, it doesn’t harm us. What’s wrong with signing?”

“Yes, yes. Looking at this agreement, there’s really nothing problematic about it.” Most people agreed.

Life and death situations test courage most. Faced with the men’s cowardice, the only woman, Fei Luo, fell silent.

Soon everyone had signed the agreement. Even Fei Luo, who had refused to sign, was half-threatened, half-pleaded with by the others who feared complications, and she signed too. When the stack of agreements was handed to the waiting spies outside, Jing Hengbo clearly saw the joy on their faces.

Jing Hengbo felt as itchy as if scratched by a cat.

What exactly did the agreement say?

This was the key to this whole drama.

This entire so-called “Yelu Qi’s hidden agents forced to turn traitor and kidnap hostages incident” was all self-directed and self-performed by Gong Yin.

Yelu Qi naturally had hidden agents, which was why Gong Yin mobilized the Dragon Cavalry and Eternal Valor Battalion. So when the two battalions surrounded the escort group at the beginning, and Gong Yin’s subordinates suddenly struck, those already-identified hidden agents were killed.

The first dozen or so corpses on the ground were the real spies.

What followed was acting. Gong Yin sent other people to pose as Yelu Qi’s internal agents, suddenly attacked, captured quite a few dignitaries from the Six Kingdoms and Eight Tribes, then took them here as hostages. On one hand, they pretended to flee with hostages; on the other hand, they sent Dragon Cavalry to pretend to pursue and rescue them. Self-directed, self-performed, self-entertaining, they put on a clanging performance in front of the hostages, finally having the “spies” pretend to be defeated and threaten mutual destruction, tricking these tribal leaders into signing the agreement.

Of course, everything was blamed on Yelu Qi. When the hostages regained their freedom, they would naturally go to Yelu Qi for revenge first—it had nothing to do with Gong Yin. They might even thank him for “actively rescuing and working hard to pursue the enemy.”

Of course, regarding the later killing of the round-faced youth from the Liuli Tribe, she still hadn’t figured out the reason. Presumably only Gong the State Preceptor, who orchestrated everything, knew.

Perhaps that was a real spy, and Gong Yin set up that scheme just to draw out the most deeply hidden spies. After all, at that moment, Jing Hengbo had no guards around her—it was a perfect opportunity for spies to act.

Jing Hengbo had long prostrated herself before the seemingly high-and-mighty Gong the Great God’s ability to scheme against people, especially his ability to scheme against Yelu Qi. Now that she understood the intricacies involved, she couldn’t spare time for admiration and only pondered the most important question.

What exactly was the content of the agreement?

Gong Yin had gone to such great lengths to set up this scheme, all to kidnap these tribal leaders and make them sign an agreement. The matters in the agreement must be extremely important to him.

Jing Hengbo’s curiosity kicked in.

“Hey, hey, what do you think the agreement says?” She poked Yi Qi beside her.

“If you want to know, just take a look,” Yi Qi answered casually.

“You have a way?” Jing Hengbo’s eyes lit up, and she excitedly grabbed his hand.

Yi Qi didn’t miss the opportunity to caress her hand, saying affectionately: “Though getting the agreement would be very troublesome and arduous, and I might even risk my life, for a beauty like you, for my future wife, I’m willing to endure any hardship, face any danger, go through fire and water, spare no effort…”

“Then go, go, go quickly to face fire and water and spare no effort.” Before Jing Hengbo finished listening, she waved him away. Yi Qi had to pocket his unfinished half-speech and reluctantly leave.

He casually drifted behind a “spy bandit,” “endured great hardship” by knocking him out with one punch, “faced life and death danger” by searching his chest, “went through fire and water” by pulling out a piece of paper, and “spared no effort” by stuffing it into his own chest, sighing: “So tiring.”

The whole process took about the time of a few blinks.

Not a single “spy bandit” noticed, including the Dragon Cavalry who had already entered the village.

Rubbing his stomach, humming a little tune, taking light steps, he prepared to go show off to Jing Hengbo.

After a few steps, he stopped, muttering: “No good, too fast. Doesn’t show the hardship—wife won’t feel sorry for me.”

Then he squatted by an abandoned chicken coop at a farmhouse and collected a few chicken feathers to tease the ants on the ground.

After playing for a while and feeling the time was about right, he stood up and walked a few steps, then suddenly stopped again: “No good, not disheveled enough. Doesn’t show hardship—wife won’t feel sorry for me.”

He casually used chicken feathers to mess up his hair, grabbed some dust to sprinkle on his clothes, and carefully pinned the prettiest little chicken feather to his outfit. He looked left and right, carefully adjusting the feather’s angle, striving to make it display both disheveled and unrestrained, both bedraggled and natural beauty.

After finishing his grooming, he felt it was about right and walked a few more steps.

Though he had been walking around the village, strangely, none of the “spies” and Dragon Cavalry coming and going noticed him. When he moved, he seemed like a wisp of black mist, silently passing through people’s field of vision.

Yi Qi walked a few steps and stopped again.

“Wonder how the chicken feather effect is?” he muttered to himself. “Best if I look both bedraggled and fragile, both struggling and brave, full of disheveled and delicate aura, so Her Majesty the Queen will take pity on me at first sight…”

He looked up and his eyes brightened—there was a water vat across from him.

Yi Qi happily rushed over. The water vat actually still had half a vat of water. He leaned over to look at his reflection, and because the chicken feather was at his waist, he leaned very deep into the vat.

Just as half his body was about to enter the vat, from the corner of his eye, he suddenly saw the sky behind him turn white.

No, not white—a white sleeve appeared!

Yi Qi tried to turn around lightning-fast!

But it was too late.

Suddenly his feet gave way, and a great force pushed from behind.

“Splash.”

Yi Qi struggled bravely and fell into the water vat…

The next instant, the water vat silently shattered, water splashing everywhere. Yi Qi’s blue figure shot up from the water, turned in mid-air, and a fierce punch swept back.

But it was still too late.

The person who pushed him into the water vat had already struck with an even more vicious, ruthless, and decisive punch the moment before Yi Qi broke the vat and swung back!

“Bang.”

Two fists collided, and the air itself seemed to ripple with shockwaves. The already shattered water vat instantly turned to powder.

The water waves were blasted by the violent explosive force, spreading into a whirlpool half a room wide, with water splashing down in a three-zhang radius.

Not far away, Jing Hengbo suddenly felt something cool on her nose tip. She wiped her face in surprise and looked up at the clear, starry sky.

“Huh, it’s not raining?”

…

When the two fists met, the one that struck first suddenly slid up along Yi Qi’s arm with fierce reverse momentum. Wherever it passed, clothing exploded into fragments that flew into the air, suddenly froze stiff, turned frost-white, and fell to the ground with clanging sounds.

Yi Qi had been merely surprised at first and hadn’t paid much attention, but seeing the power of this punch, his expression suddenly changed, and he exclaimed in shock: “Prajna Snow! How did you…”

“Bang.” A punch brutally exploded on his nose.

Two streams of bright red spurted out, staining the ground full of chicken feathers red.

“What a vicious kid!” Yi Qi yelped, covering his bleeding nose, turned and ran. “Prajna Snow practitioners are all weirdos. Grandpa won’t play with you!”

The white figure had been silent from beginning to end. His body flashed, fingers reaching forward, grabbing toward Yi Qi’s chest.

“Hey, hey, hey, you tore my sleeves and now you’re grabbing my chest—what do you want?” Yi Qi couldn’t escape and wailed loudly. He simply turned around and thrust out his chest. “Don’t you just want to strip me naked and feel me up? Go ahead, feel me, feel me, feel me!”

The jade-like fingers paused, stopping 0.05 centimeters from touching Yi Qi’s chest clothing.

“Hahaha, I knew all Prajna Snow practitioners have various cleanliness obsessions… I’m not playing with you anymore. I’m going to find my wife.” Yi Qi laughed loudly, still bleeding from his nose, turned around, and quickly fled.

Left behind were only the white-clothed figure and Dragon Cavalry who came running at the sound.

“Master…” The Dragon Cavalry looked at that familiar back, feeling the seemingly external killing aura, and their voices dropped eight octaves.

Gong Yin stood quietly in place, his hair slightly damp, making his brows clearer, eyes deeper, and gaze icy.

He slowly lowered his rolled-up sleeves. Inside the sleeves, he silently opened his palm.

His five knuckles were slightly red with minor scrapes.

…

Jing Hengbo heard some commotion but couldn’t see clearly what was happening without night vision. She vaguely felt Yi Qi was fighting someone and didn’t want to get involved.

A figure flashed beside her, and Jing Hengbo looked up, saying in shock: “Damn, was the fight really that intense? You look like you just got steamrolled.”

“Yeah.” Yi Qi, whose face looked like he’d opened a soy sauce shop, covered his nose and said sadly, “Such a loss. I should have known not to bother with disguising myself…”

“Ah?” Jing Hengbo didn’t hear clearly.

“I mean, I went through such hardship, risking life and death, going through fire and water in a earth-shaking battle to get this precious thing for you. Shouldn’t you think carefully about how to thank me?”

Jing Hengbo had originally thought Yi Qi’s so-called hardship was just showing off. Though this guy seemed unreliable, his temperament was extraordinary—he should be an expert. Who knew the expert would come back even more bedraggled than she’d imagined. It seemed this agreement really wasn’t easy to obtain.

“Yes, yes, I’m so moved.” She raised her sleeve to wipe his nose. Yi Qi grabbed her hand and turned to face another direction, grinning: “This way, this way—the view is clearer from this side.”

“Nutcase.” Jing Hengbo muttered, thinking it was just wiping your nose randomly—was it necessary to keep turning around?

Yi Qi grinned as he watched her—it was necessary.

Because from this angle, looking from a certain direction, it looked very much like his wife was throwing herself into his arms!

“What exactly is it? Give it to me.” After randomly wiping him a couple times, Jing Hengbo immediately spotted the paper on Yi Qi’s chest.

Yi Qi’s chest clothing was already open, and that paper was showing more than half. Jing Hengbo reached out and pulled it out easily. But Yi Qi suddenly started laughing, writhing his body while giggling and muttering: “Don’t, don’t, don’t do this… Oh my, you’re so naughty, okay, okay, come on…” He spread his arms and closed his eyes while laughing. His face was written all over with “I’m a delicate flower, come ravish me!” invitation.

“Weirdo.” Jing Hengbo already had the agreement in hand and glanced at him strangely before turning to read it.

Yi Qi grinned and lowered his hands, glancing in a certain direction and touching his nose.

It hurt quite a bit, but thinking that someone else was also unhappy made it stop hurting.

Jing Hengbo flipped through the agreement. The thin piece of paper was stained red by Yi Qi’s nosebleed. She couldn’t quite understand the first few clauses, and the signatory names were also covered. The general meaning was asking this certain tribal leader to return home and promote private alliances between them, agreeing to secretly meet again on a certain date. The agreement designated the party issuing the agreement as Party A and the tribe as Party B. Once the alliance was established, Party A would provide corresponding support in court for that tribe—promoting officials, satisfying political demands, granting political status, expanding influence, and helping Party B negotiate with other kingdoms and tribes. In return, Party B had to give Party A specified compensation, with the compensation varying according to each feudal state and tribe’s strength and resources.

Simply put, it was a political interest exchange agreement that aligned with most people’s interests. There should be different agreements with different conditions for each tribe. The most crucial part of this agreement was that it didn’t specify Party A’s name. In other words, whoever got hold of this agreement became Party A.

Jing Hengbo thought about it roughly. She hadn’t officially ascended the throne yet and wasn’t very familiar with Dahuang’s national conditions, but she felt this agreement was definitely not as simple as the surface-level interest exchange. Gong Yin impersonated Yelu Qi and signed this agreement with the dignitaries of the Six Kingdoms and Eight Tribes—perhaps he also intended to fish for something? Or perhaps there were deeper reasons she couldn’t think of at the moment?

If she couldn’t figure it out, she wouldn’t try. Jing Hengbo wouldn’t torment her brain cells. Competing in cunning with Gong Yin—a grassroots-born political figure who had climbed to high positions, held power for years, and wielded authority throughout the realm—was she looking for trouble?

She suddenly exclaimed “Eh?” and her attention fell on the last line of text.

That line was smaller, inconspicuous, placed at the end like an unremarkable additional condition, so much so that when this leader signed, he even covered that line with his signature.

That line was related to her.

“…The new Queen is incompetent and unworthy of respectful welcome. Abandon the welcoming ceremony. In future imperial records, cancel the hundred-li escort records.”

…What did this mean?

Saying she was useless, unworthy of noble ceremonies, asking these people to automatically give up the welcoming ceremony? And in future records of royal history in the Imperial Annals, the records of escorting her for a hundred li would also be erased?

In other words, she would become the most tragic queen in history—one who traveled thousands of li to inherit the throne but received no respectful welcome or recognition?

Although there were few examples in Dahuang’s history of queens being welcomed from a hundred li away, many people overlooked one thing: most other queens in history came from near Emperor Song City, sometimes less than a hundred li from the city, some even from noble families within the city, like the previous queen. What need was there for a hundred-li escort? Should they run out a hundred li just to escort her back?

But Jing Hengbo was different. She was the first queen in Dahuang’s history to be found on foreign soil—truly inheriting the throne from thousands of li away. A hundred-li escort was actually basic etiquette for her. If her history lacked this section, she would never be able to hold her head high as a queen for the rest of her life.

Jing Hengbo originally didn’t know these things. Only after she vowed to be a good queen and commanded people to find many Dahuang classics for her to read during her illness did she understand this.

This casual stroke in the agreement, hidden in a corner, showed how little the person arranging the agreement cared about it.

But she cared!

Her throne, her dignity, her future and latter half of life were about to be casually erased by this contemptuous agreement!

Jing Hengbo suddenly raised her head, her eyes burning with a small universe of fury.

Gong! Yin!

The name chewed in her heart, ground over and over with murderous intent!

“What’s wrong?” Yi Qi grinned and leaned over, resting his head on her shoulder, also wanting to see the agreement. “Why does your face suddenly look so terrible? Who angered you? Tell me and I’ll beat him up.”

Jing Hengbo folded the agreement with one hand, lifted his chin with the other hand, turned to stare into his eyes.

“Fine,” she said. “It’s the person who beat you up.”

“Uh…” Yi Qi’s pretty face finally changed a bit, scratching his head somewhat embarrassedly. “So you already knew.”

Jing Hengbo snorted.

She hadn’t thought of it before, but after seeing this agreement, what didn’t she understand? Gong Yin arranged for people to impersonate Yelu Qi’s men, took these people here, and self-directed this performance to force them to sign this agreement. How could he not personally oversee such a matter?

She had originally wondered how Yi Qi, who obviously had high-level skills judging by his appearance, could be beaten so badly. If it was Gong Yin who personally struck, it wouldn’t be strange at all.

Why did he beat Yi Qi? Because he stole the contract? Ruined his plans?

Jing Hengbo stood behind the house, turned to look at the house, where the hostages were still inside. If she wanted to sabotage Gong Yin’s plan, she just needed to shout.

Just shout out the truth, and Gong Yin’s scheme would be exposed. The subsequent fury of the Six Kingdoms and Eight Tribes would be something even he couldn’t bear.

This was the most powerful revenge against him!

Jing Hengbo raised her head and cleared her throat—she was going to shout!

She was going to shout!

“Cough cough cough cough…” She was going to shout!

“Cough cough cough!”

…

Half a quarter-hour later.

Yi Qi propped his chin on his hand, lazily yawned, “Are you going to shout or not?”

Jing Hengbo glared angrily at the darkness—Gong Yin, aren’t you nearby? Aren’t you good at scheming against people? Isn’t everything under your control? Aren’t you very clever? You must be able to guess what I want to do, and you must know the consequences of being exposed, but I’ve been coughing for so long—why the hell haven’t you come out to stop me? My throat is about to break from coughing!

…

In the darkness on a high slope, Gong Yin stood quietly with hands behind his back, gazing toward Jing Hengbo’s direction.

Meng Hu stood beside him, but his expression lacked his master’s calm. He was somewhat anxious and restless. After enduring it repeatedly, he finally said in a low voice: “Master, it looks like Her Majesty wants to expose…”

Gong Yin actually nodded, “Mm.”

“This…” Meng Hu coughed, really not knowing what to say. This wasn’t a small matter. Once exposed, the State Preceptor would immediately fall into a passive position. The entire Six Kingdoms and Eight Tribes would no longer trust him. Yelu Qi, who had been watching like a tiger, would definitely seize the opportunity. When the situation reversed, there would be mortal danger.

Could it be that the State Preceptor was gambling on whether Her Majesty would soften her heart? But Her Majesty didn’t look like an indecisive person. Placing life and death hopes on Her Majesty’s temperament—wasn’t that too rash?

Or was the State Preceptor confused by anger? Just now when that pretty boy was being intimate and playful with Her Majesty, though the State Preceptor showed no expression, he, who had served him for many years, still felt deep killing intent…

Sigh, Her Majesty was indeed very beautiful and approachable, but she was too beautiful and too approachable…

“Master, Her Majesty seems a bit hesitant. Should you perhaps…”

Gong Yin turned his head, “You also think she’s hesitating?”

For an instant, Meng Hu felt he saw a glimmer in his master’s eyes, bright as candlelight in the deep abyss.

He nodded—after making a show for half a quarter-hour, taking deep breaths for half a quarter-hour, even a pig could see the Queen was dawdling, just didn’t know what she was dawdling about.

“So.” Gong Yin’s sleeves fluttered softly in the wind. His voice, which had seemed too cold just now, finally revealed a trace of gentleness.

“…I want to know the result of her choice.”

…

Jing Hengbo, whose throat was about to break from coughing, still couldn’t wait for someone to come stop her.

She dejectedly turned her head and saw Yi Qi propping his chin, looking at her with a half-smile.

Jing Hengbo felt guilty under this gaze and turned her head away, walking past him with her head high and chest out.

“Where are you going?” Yi Qi asked from behind her.

“If you don’t want to get beaten up again, I suggest you can leave now.” Jing Hengbo didn’t look back, stepping in her high heels, marching majestically into the depths of darkness.

“Why didn’t you shout? One shout and he’d be in trouble. Is your throat not working well? If you can’t shout loud enough, I could help you.” The oblivious fellow continued chattering with questions.

The furious and embarrassed Jing Hengbo answered him by kicking up a clod of dirt.

“Women are just contrary,” Yi Qi brushed the dust off his clothes and shook his head.

In the distant darkness, the man standing with hands behind his back still showed no change in expression, only revealing slight gentleness.

…

Jing Hengbo walked two steps and stopped.

No, this matter needed to be discussed clearly with Gong Yin. She had to talk to him properly and fight for her dignity and rights.

She knew that with Gong Yin’s temperament, once he decided something, he wouldn’t give explanations. If she didn’t go find him to discuss it, the matter would be settled like this.

This wouldn’t do. She was still counting on being impressive at the grand ceremony and captivating all of Dahuang. Letting the people of Dahuang miss her elegance? That would be immoral.

Finding Gong Yin was simple. She didn’t need to identify directions or shout loudly. She stood in an open area and crooked her finger at the darkness.

“I’ll count to three. Come out,” she said. “Otherwise, I’ll elope with someone.”

The darkness was deep and silent, without movement. Even the torches were extinguished, and the Dragon Cavalry had retreated far away.

“One, two, three.”

The night wind howled, all around was quiet. In the distance, the swamp made slow gurgling sounds. A tree branch suddenly snapped with a crack. Feifei lightly jumped from the branches, her eyes gleaming.

Jing Hengbo turned around and grabbed Yi Qi’s arm with one hand, “Let’s go, I’ll be your wife!”