His gaze swept like lightning across all windows.

…

The small house where Jing Hengbo was located also had its window knocked by ice beads.

Jing Hengbo’s heart leaped with joy – Gong Yin’s wisdom was unparalleled, the other party indeed couldn’t deceive him, so he could discover her!

At this moment every household opened their windows, cursing loudly at the evil guest disturbing them in the middle of the night. As long as the assassin didn’t dare open the window, Gong Yin would notice.

But the assassin pushed her to the window, opened it with a clap, and she leaned against the window edge with her hand reaching out, her hair smoothly sliding down to cover her face.

Behind her, the assassin shouted loudly: “Niu Niu! Don’t open the window, be careful not to catch cold!” He reached out and pulled her back while cursing “Who knocks on windows in the middle of the night, so wicked!” and slammed the window shut.

…

On the rooftop, Gong Yin’s gaze swept across all doors and windows in an instant. He saw various heads in various windows, heard various curses from beautiful dreams being disturbed, and remained unmoved.

He was identifying whether there were any households that didn’t open their windows.

The house near his lower left seemed slow to open its window. Just as he focused his gaze there, clap – that window opened, and a thin figure leaned out.

In the moonlight, that person had glossy black hair and narrow shoulders. Though her face couldn’t be seen, the figure half-hidden in the window frame’s shadow was very small and thin.

It was a child.

A rough male voice sounded behind that girl: “Niu Niu! Don’t open the window, be careful not to catch cold!”

The girl was pulled back and the window closed.

Gong Yin’s gaze moved away.

…

Being pulled back, Jing Hengbo silently swallowed a mouthful of old blood.

She had to admit these kidnappers were very skilled.

This deceptive disguise ability was rarely matched in the world. They had actually deceived both great State Preceptors of Dahuang, and under Gong Yin’s very nose, fooled him again and again.

Though each time was quickly exposed, that momentary deception was already miraculous for someone as perceptive as Gong Yin.

Jing Hengbo touched her buttocks, thinking resentfully that after escaping, she must strip off Gong Yin’s pants and stomp on him hard in return!

At this moment, could Gong Yin discover the abnormality of this “little girl” again?

Jing Hengbo felt if it were her, she definitely couldn’t discover it, but she had confidence in Gong Yin.

But that assassin seemed to have another move.

After pulling her back, he immediately carried her again, waiting by another window.

This was a narrow house with one window facing the adjacent building and one facing the street. This area was mostly vegetable farmers living in concentrated housing, supplying vegetables to the entire city and even the palace.

It was now the fourth watch, and large carts delivering vegetables were passing through the streets. Coincidentally, over ten large carts appeared at once, all traveling through this area simultaneously.

One of them rumbled past this house’s window.

The cart’s window was open, the house’s window was also open. The assassin picked up Jing Hengbo and whoosh – threw her into the cart!

Jing Hengbo tumbled into a pile of green vegetables, cabbage, potatoes, and gourds, with a heap of vegetable leaves rustling over to bury her.

Clap – the cart’s window closed. It drove away from the narrow street.

…

Gong Yin had already turned away.

He planned to send another round of ice bead window-knocking to check the row of houses on the other side. Though that row was farther, judging by time, the assassin probably couldn’t reach those houses, but it was better to be wrong than to miss anything.

His body had just turned halfway when he suddenly turned back.

Something was wrong!

That little girl who opened the window just now…

If it was a little girl opening the window, she couldn’t be sleeping with her father, so how could the father immediately appear behind her and pull her back?

Also, that hand reaching out in the moonlight seemed too pale and somewhat large…

He immediately swept into that room.

At this moment, the cart carrying Jing Hengbo was also passing through the street, two zhang away from him. For that instant, he thought of stopping the cart to check, but Jing Hengbo was more likely to be in that room. He could only do one thing.

He had to first sweep into the room. In the darkness came a surprised cry that really sounded like a child’s voice. He threw out a fire stick that flared up in the wind, illuminating sword light and behind it unfamiliar eyes filled with killing intent.

Cold light also flashed in his hand, faster than his opponent’s. A white rainbow pierced through the room’s darkness, shattering the sword light. With a “hiss,” a spray of blood arced like a rainbow bridge, extinguishing the fire stick’s faint red light.

Both deep red and light red briefly brightened, then a heavy body fell to the ground. He rushed forward wanting to interrogate, but touched only a rapidly decomposing corpse.

He hadn’t delivered a killing blow, but the assassin immediately committed suicide after failure.

Clean and efficient assassins always came from strict and terrifying organizations.

He didn’t linger. The breathing sounds in the room told him there was no one else here – Jing Hengbo wasn’t here.

He leaped out the window and saw dawn’s first light illuminating this civilian area’s buildings, revealing roads crisscrossing like field paths.

At every intersection, a speeding cart could be seen heading in different directions. All carts looked identical – no way to tell which had passed that intersection earlier.

Gong Yin stood at the rooftop’s peak, his brow seeming to generate wind and snow.

He didn’t futilely chase the carts one by one.

These carts would flow to any part of the city, but he only needed to go to one place to wait.

Yi Kingdom’s royal palace.

The seamless plan, precise timing control, smoothly coordinated personnel arrangements, perfectly calculated schemes, unobstructed passage at various intersections, sudden lifting of nighttime curfew, simultaneous departure of vegetable delivery carts, and near-divine disguise techniques – perhaps one or two organizations could achieve some of these, but to accomplish all with perfect coordination and repeatedly deceive him briefly – he believed only the royal family controlling all of Huan Capital could do this.

…

While Jing Hengbo, Gong Yin, Yélu Qi, and Yi Kingdom’s Great King engaged in silent pursuit, Yélu Tan also rode fast toward the palace with Yélu Xunru.

Unable to see, Yélu Xunru originally thought he was leaving the city, but after a long time without hearing him stop, feeling the road getting wider and people fewer, she couldn’t help being puzzled: “Where are you going?”

Yélu Tan didn’t answer.

Yélu Xunru continued: “Shouldn’t you release me now?”

“Haven’t you noticed the Ziwei Master caught up?” Yélu Tan said lightly. “He cares quite a bit.”

Yélu Xunru inhaled slightly. She didn’t think the Ziwei Master catching up was a good thing.

That old codger Ziwei usually found her clingy and annoying – why pursue now?

Perhaps, like a child who could abandon his own toy but wouldn’t allow others to snatch it away.

“You should release me even more,” she said. “I’ll be responsible for persuading him to go back. You’re no match for him now.”

Yélu Tan’s breathing was unsteady, clearly showing his strength hadn’t recovered.

She suddenly heard guards shouting, the horse was stopped but then allowed through. She thought it was a city gate, but someone’s shrill voice nearby made her frown.

“In the palace?”

Yélu Tan looked down at her. Yélu Xunru was always so perceptive, more clever than sighted people.

“I have an acquaintance in the palace who gave me a waist token,” he said. “I’m injured and don’t dare leave the city. Coming here, she might be able to protect me.”

But Yélu Xunru disagreed: “The royal palace is an even more dangerous place.”

“Why don’t you ask who my palace acquaintance is?” Yélu Tan stared at her face.

The youth’s eyes flashed with anger, angry that her attention wasn’t where it should be.

Yélu Xunru sighed. Without asking, his tone when mentioning the palace acquaintance let her judge it was a woman, possibly one who had feelings for him.

She could hear the faint disgust in his tone.

Not wanting to irritate him, she cooperatively asked: “Oh, right, who is it?”

But he suddenly became annoyed at her cooperation, saying coldly: “What business is it of yours!”

Yélu Xunru pursed her lips, thinking Jing Hengbo was absolutely right – contrary men were the most annoying!

Wind sounds passed overhead. She sensed the Ziwei Master’s familiar aura – that old codger had caught up.

The next instant, a hand seemed to suddenly appear from the clouds, grabbing her shoulder.

“Don’t hurt him…” She only managed to shout this sentence while embracing the Ziwei Master’s hands with both arms.

She feared this old codger would get excited, carry her away, and casually give Yélu Tan a palm strike. With Yélu Tan’s restricted martial arts, where could he escape?

She embraced the Ziwei Master’s hands while kicking toward Yélu Tan, wanting to kick him off the horse.

Yélu Tan suddenly smiled.

His voice was cold and mocking.

“Thank you very much,” he said.

Yélu Xunru suddenly felt a cold energy piercing from under her arm, frigid sword energy instantly tearing her clothing. With a hiss, ice formed in her hair. The cold energy passed like lightning without stopping, crackling over her forehead, shooting directly upward!

Above was the Ziwei Master’s heart!

He was suspended in air, leaning down to lift her, while she was restraining his hands!

Lightning flashed through Yélu Xunru’s mind!

Yélu Tan’s martial arts weren’t restricted at all! She had actually already undone his restrictions earlier!

He pretended they weren’t undone, tricking her into willingly becoming a hostage, helping him escape, luring the Ziwei Master, then using her protective instincts to assassinate the Ziwei Master.

Yélu Tan’s cold laughter rang like a knife behind her.

“Whoever touches you, I kill!”

…

Yi Kingdom’s people all wielded different faces, constantly confusing all beings, discerning truth from illusion in treacherous undercurrents. Meanwhile, in Daimao two regions away, they played with real swords and spears.

At Wudun Mountain on Daimao’s border, beside an iron-gray cliff, military boots trampled the trembling wildflowers. Cheng Gumo, pursued for half a month and finally cornered with nowhere to go, looked with a tragic smile at the two guards remaining beside him.

Both guards were covered in wounds, one even blind in one eye, swaying as they stood beside him, supported only by their weapons to keep from falling.

Along the long road to reach here, the corpses of other guards already lay scattered everywhere.

The Yan Killing Army was fierce and relentless, pursuing like maggots on bone, never giving up. After circling thousands of li, Cheng Gumo finally realized that unless he died, he could never shake off the pursuers.

Whether threatening, pleading, or bribing, the Yan killers who had no great enmity with him remained unmoved, opening and closing their mouths with just one phrase: “Most hate sneaky goods who trouble women! Such trash should be erased from Dahuang!”

Today, in the empty wild wind, with solitary city walls on all sides, no retreat behind, enemies ahead.

He had no way out.

Yan Sha sneered across from him, not approaching, using his bloody blade to trim his chest hair.

He smiled tragically, looking at the two loyal guards around him. Of tens of thousands of Kanglong troops, only these two remained with him in the end.

Everything seemed like past-life karma. Not long ago he was still the Kanglong Army Commander everyone in Imperial Song fawned over, then suddenly stumbled step by step, besieged on all sides, a hero at his end, until today’s desperate fight.

All this was because he encountered Jing Hengbo.

“Commander…” The two guards struggled to protect him, facing the sneering enemies.

Cheng Gumo gently patted their shoulders, saying softly: “No need, you’re tired too. Rest.”

His long blade reversed, and with two swift cuts, the two guards cried “Ah!” and fell left and right.

Even in death they maintained their protective stance with blades.

He closed his eyes.

Wounded so severely, unable to live any longer, why continue suffering? He personally sent his brothers on their way.

Across from him, the Yan Killing Army wasn’t surprised he killed his guards, curling their lips in a cold sneer.

His hand rose, blade fell – the final cut for himself.

“Yaozu, this life father cannot avenge you, but wait for the next life! If there is a next life!”

The Kanglong Commander’s body and roar plummeted from the empty cliff, stirring half the mountain’s clouds and mist. The entire mountain echoed with “next life next life next life.”

The Yan Killing Army’s faces became slightly solemn – they respected real men. Daring to die was also being a real man.

An officer stepped forward, chopped off a flat stone from the cliff edge, cut it in half, and quickly carved several characters with his blade.

“Buried at Wudun, Kanglong’s Regret!”

…

The Yan Killing Army’s backs disappeared in the distance, the setting sun painting a desolate blood color.

Beside the stone tombstone, guard’s blood splattered at the base looked like a person struggling to climb upward.

…

Some endings, some beginnings.

Before Shangyuan City, blade-edges blazed like fire, screams and wails rang as one. In the chaotic battle, a man in golden armor and white robes swept like a whirlwind, charging forward furiously.

Wherever he passed, like a shuttle spear piercing through, splashing blood like a rainbow road.

Some roared charging at him. He merely lifted his eyelids to glance, his counter-charge carrying three parts disdain, crashing out piercing screams.

As his figure flipped and flew, that bloody long spear continuously yanked fiercely from opponents’ chests.

Blood splashed on his face. The man’s features were beautiful yet fierce, a streak of red blood light flying from his eye corner.

He held the long spear reversed. Wherever he passed, enemies scattered.

Retreat signals sounded, soldiers withdrew like tide. From behind Shangyuan City came urgent shouts: “Close the city gates! Close! Close!”

Pei Shu stood below Shangyuan City, gazing at that bright yellow banner, a sinister cold smile at his lips.

Jing Hengbo, I’m guarding your foundation, blade-edges like fire, invading Shangyuan City.

Don’t be too leisurely wandering outside.

For every day you’re missing, I’ll kill twice as many as yesterday.

If you don’t want me to kill Shangyuan into an empty city, and you want to return as a puppet queen, then hurry back!

…

Ming Yan’an’s stroke, though they hadn’t found the brocade-clothed man who poisoned him for an antidote, had somehow slowly improved these past days.

It was said to be from anxiety. Pei Shu fought too fiercely and craftily. Though Shangyuan City had high walls and sufficient armor, under his endless harassment and fierce alternating invasions, they had to concentrate all attention on defense. The defending soldiers even wanted to wear protective gear when urinating, fearing the wall in front would suddenly collapse and a golden spear would thrust through.

Ming Yan’an became anxious. Originally unable to speak clearly, he suddenly could talk and slowly walk a few steps. He met with ministers day and night, posted notices summoning Shangyuan’s capable people to offer strategies, discussing how to drive away that madman Pei.

Ming Yan’an had even begun hoping for the Queen’s return. He also heard the Queen was missing, with Pei Shu alone controlling power, leading to such reckless strong attacks. If it were the Black Water Queen instead, Shangyuan might still have breathing room.

Meeting Pei Shu, Ming Yan’an was truly unlucky. This one desperately wanted to find Jing Hengbo, but Ying Bai had run away, the Queen wasn’t there, Yélu Qi had also run off. Only he could manage military affairs. Young Marshal Pei, left alone to handle the situation, could only smash all his frustration against Shangyuan’s city walls.

This day, Young Marshal Pei finally seemed to have his period and rested a day without continued harassment. Ming Yan’an prepared to receive a certain scholar personally recommended by the Grand Minister, said to be learned in everything, especially military affairs, and would present wonderful strategies to His Majesty.

Ming Yan’an, desperate for any cure, held a try-and-see attitude and ordered the audience.

After the palace attendant’s announcement, someone gracefully approached.

Ming Yan’an, sitting by the door, suddenly felt dazed and couldn’t help straightening up, rubbing his eyes.

That person wore moon-white robes, cloud-like hair without any glass or vermillion decorations, her small face plain, eyebrows slightly raised, eyes like autumn water.

She walked slowly, her slender figure seeming ready to break, appearing even more graceful in the wind. Clear water couldn’t match her purity, willow branches couldn’t match her lightness. The golden, brilliant glazed hall seemed to gain vulgar airs before her clear lotus-like demeanor.

Ming Yan’an was stunned in place.

He hadn’t expected the scholar to be a woman.

Even less expected a woman with such fine bearing.

All the palace’s rouge and powder suddenly lost color.

This face gave him a strange, faint feeling, as if she walked from a past life, from a painted scroll, her sleeves brushing away a segment of memory.

He struggled to search his memory – had he seen this face, this person somewhere before? But found nothing.

Those indifferent to love couldn’t retain memories about love.

His queen consort had long died in his heart, leaving only memories of that disgusting fat woman. After so many years, he had forgotten her original appearance.

She walked toward him step by step in the hall, seeing his dazed, confused gaze gradually turn to delight.

A cold smile flashed through her heart.

Not afraid this cold-hearted man would recognize her.

If he had any concern for her, how could he have forced her into that miserable death trap?

Moreover, she was even more beautiful now than in the past. She had never been this thin, never used so many exquisite methods for maintaining skin and appearance. The moment she successfully looked in the mirror afterward, what she regained wasn’t just figure and youthful beauty, but confidence and self-respect long trampled to the ground.

Ming Yan’an bloomed with a joyful smile, personally descending from his seat, swaying forward to meet her.

She stood at the hall entrance, facing him with a gentle smile.

That spring, all things revived, heavenly light flourishing.

Daimao’s Queen Consort Yu Cai met Ming Yan’an again.

…

“What method could make your royal brother temporarily leave the palace?” Gong Yin returned to the inn and asked Princess Yi Cheng.

Since Yi Kingdom’s Great King participated in Jing Hengbo’s kidnapping, he definitely had motives. Either wanting to obtain something from Jing Hengbo, or wanting to get something from him.

Whatever the idea, those who dared target his people had to pay the price.

Princess Yi Cheng, disguised as an inn servant, thought for a moment and smiled while shaking her head: “Royal brother’s power is stable, no threats, no one he truly cares about. If he doesn’t want to leave the palace, who can force him?”

“If there’s no threat, create one,” Gong Yin said lightly. “What does he fear most?”

“Fear most…” Princess Yi Cheng’s eyes rolled, covering her mouth with a delicate laugh. “Most fears those brothers crawling up from underground to settle accounts with him?” Her smile suddenly carried mockery. “Everyone says Shen Tie Tiefeng Lei killed countless brothers, shocking in brutal heartlessness. Actually, who knows our Great King is truly Dahuang’s number one brother-killer? Twenty-six brothers, dying in strange ways, finally only he remained. Tell me, isn’t that interesting?”

Gong Yin glanced at her: “You seem quite resentful?”

Princess Yi Cheng startled, then said dejectedly: “How dare I? I only celebrate being a woman.”

Gong Yin lightly arranged his sleeves, suddenly saying: “Tell me, if a brother really crawled up from underground to find him, would he leave the palace?”

“He’d be afraid, but absolutely wouldn’t leave the palace. He’d immediately kill him with one sword!” Princess Yi Cheng said viciously. “When they were alive they weren’t his match – would they be as ghosts? Anyway, heaven and earth aren’t as great as his royal power.” She suddenly smiled, raising her head to stare at Gong Yin: “Are you planning to impersonate one of the Great King’s dead brothers to lure him from the palace, then take the opportunity to enter and rescue people? I can help you, as long as…”

She smiled gracefully, reaching to touch Gong Yin’s shoulder.

She had been in the inn earlier, seeing someone kidnapped and Gong Yin pursuing. Afterward she checked the room – that short-haired, big-chested, fierce woman was gone. She didn’t know how Gong Yin connected the kidnapping to her royal brother, nor was she interested. She only wondered who that woman was? His fiancée?

If his fiancée was really kidnapped in the palace, this was perfect for quietly killing her…

Thinking this, she looked up to meet Gong Yin’s gaze. This person rarely looked directly at people, but meeting his eyes truly felt like being struck by cold lightning. She shivered, feeling all her thoughts seemed illuminated by this gaze with nowhere to hide. She quickly put on an innocent smile.

Before the smile was half-formed, she heard Gong Yin say: “Correct, I need your help.”

Just as her heart rejoiced, she saw Gong Yin raise his hand, white light flashing before her eyes, then simultaneous pain in throat, heart, and lower abdomen – bone-piercing cold.

Greatly alarmed, she reached for her throat, only feeling something cold and sharp, invisible to touch. She couldn’t even feel a wound.

Gong Yin’s voice was already coldly sounding beside her ear: “I won’t impersonate any dead prince – you will.”

Princess Yi Cheng opened her mouth wide, unable to follow Gong Yin’s thinking.

“Perform well, make it convincing, lure him from the palace,” Gong Yin said lightly. “Complete the task and I’ll remove the needles. Otherwise, you know what happens.”

Why would he need to impersonate? Princess Yi Cheng was the most familiar with her brothers and skilled in disguise – who else but her?

Princess Yi Cheng finally understood, her face turning gray. She vaguely felt this prey she had set her sights on might be a true dragon-phoenix from heaven, and her presumptions might be seeking death.

The person opposite lightly raised his hand in a gesture commanding everything and summoning all beings.

He said: “You impersonate a resurrected dead prince, I’ll impersonate your Great King.”

…

Yi Yiyi waited in his study for news from the Heavenly Stems’ First Star.

He had lifted that night’s curfew, ordered the Palace Supervision Bureau to adjust vegetable delivery times to the palace, arranged people to help the Heavenly Stems’ First Star, and formulated a closely coordinated, seamless plan. He believed no one could see through this plan – it would definitely succeed.

Bird calls sounded overhead. He opened the window, seeing pale red wings flash by.

He showed a satisfied smile.

Success.

He rose, preparing to properly welcome the Black Water Queen and discuss future cooperation with this fake imperial uncle.

Suddenly there was a subtle sound behind him.

He whirled around, staring at a map on the wall.

The map showed Yi Kingdom’s complete territory, made of joined sandalwood pieces, painted in colors, embedded in the wall. Green earth represented vitality, yellow cities represented the majestic thick soil belonging to him.

Now, the green earth was rapidly flipping, territory by territory changing colors. The entire map gradually became multicolored – red patches, purple patches, blue patches…

He stared at the constantly flipping, color-changing map, his face also gradually turning purple.

This was the original map from when he killed all his brothers – Yi Kingdom’s map before that. Back then, father king practiced feudalism, dividing tiny Yi Kingdom into countless pieces, rewarding sons he favored. Yi Kingdom’s map looked like this then – various colors marking different princes’ feudal territories, garishly colorful and eye-straining.

He had sworn countless times to unify this map’s colors. After finally obtaining the throne, he began fulfilling this oath. Those years, each time he killed a brother, a map section would flip and be painted green. The map’s colors decreased until one day, it finally became this vibrant green throughout.

This was his greatest achievement. No one knew this study’s map represented his life’s supreme pride.

No one knew the map’s reverse side was also a secret chamber containing Yi Kingdom’s royal family’s most important things. The first mechanism was in the former old king’s bedchamber.

Of course, excluding ghosts.

Many of those dead brothers had been greatly favored by father king and knew of this secret chamber.

So after unifying the map’s colors, he modified the mechanisms. Now anyone attempting to activate the mechanism there would cause this map to react by flipping back to its original appearance.

For so many years, this map hadn’t moved.

It couldn’t flip again – everyone who knew this secret was dead. This was his domain.

Yet at this moment, in complete silence only wooden boards creaked as they flipped, like an invisible person mysteriously turning cards.

He remained motionless, his gaze burning like ghost-fire, staring at that map, watching it gradually turn multicolored.

Then he leaped up, rushing toward the former old king’s bedchamber, while running he issued summoning calls to his highest-level guards.

The palace stirred slightly. On the rooftop of the former old king’s bedchamber in the palace’s north, a figure flashed and disappeared, fleeing toward outside the palace.

He stared intently at that figure.

Had that legendary fish that escaped the net finally appeared?

He hurriedly left orders for his trusted subordinates.

“When the Black Water Queen is brought, first send her to the Empress Dowager as a palace maiden to avoid attention.”

Then he leaped up.

“Pursue!”

…

Yi Kingdom was positioned south of Daimao, so the wind now carried three parts warmth.

Vegetable delivery carts rumbled through Shui De Gate, one of the eight palace gates specifically for goods and palace servants. A group of guards was already waiting at the entrance. Without showing waist tokens, they swarmed around the cart and entered.

Someone leaped onto the cart, throwing down all the vegetables, potatoes, and turnips, finally rescuing Jing Hengbo from the threat of being buried alive by vegetable leaves.

Someone took her and placed her in another soft sedan. The sedan was lifted, heading toward the inner palace.

In the sedan, Jing Hengbo’s skin and figure began slowly recovering. She stared intently at the back of her hand, then discovered with thunderous shock that fine lines had indeed appeared at her wrist joints!

Sudden expansion followed by sudden contraction caused skin sagging and wrinkles!

Damn!

Beauty-obsessed Jing Hengbo was about to go mad – whoever dared ruin her appearance, she’d fight them desperately!

Grinding sounds came from the small sedan, leaving the carriers baffled – was this person urgently needing the toilet?

After grinding for a while, Jing Hengbo stopped. Since she was here, might as well make the best of it. Seeing that setup, she knew it was Yi Kingdom’s imperial palace. Yi Kingdom’s Great King wouldn’t give up, troubling her again and again – did he really think she was easy to bully? Even clay figures had three parts earthiness!

She lay there plotting. Yi Kingdom excelled at plastic surgery and beauty treatments. For the sake of appearances, they had developed countless methods. The imperial palace definitely had various good things. She needed to think carefully, at minimum rescue her skin…

The small sedan continued inward. Palace-experienced Jing Hengbo calculated from the distance – this seemed to be entering the inner palace. Eunuchs’ duck-like voices gradually gave way to palace maids’ delicate greetings. The air’s rouge and powder grew more fragrant. Distant giggling sounds suggested someone swinging – in this weather swinging wasn’t cold? Shameless, definitely seducing men!

The sedan suddenly stopped. A eunuch beside it was greeting someone, smiling: “Empress Dowager Your Majesty. The Great King ordered us to deliver this sedan’s occupant to you, asking you to help guard her. The Great King said this woman is cunning – please don’t trust her lightly, Your Majesty. The Great King will also send people to strengthen Ning De Palace’s protection.”

A slightly aged female voice replied: “My son worries too much. This palace is already full of guards – why need additional personnel? Very well, place her with me. With me here, he can rest assured.”

Hearing this, Jing Hengbo realized it was the Empress Dowager, Yi Kingdom Great King’s mother. Indeed, in this palace, who could the son trust but his mother?

For her – just an old woman!

The sedan was carried into the palace. A large group of beauties was passing by. Seeing the sedan, someone laughed: “Oh, which new sister is this, being sent to see the Empress Dowager?”

Someone said: “Sister Li Pin, you worry too much. Better think how to explain yesterday’s matter to the Empress Dowager.”

Li Pin seemed somewhat unconvinced, snorting coldly without retorting. The group passed by in fragrant breezes. Jing Hengbo heard someone fall behind, saying delicately: “Your Majesty, we have ancestral enmity with the Empress Dowager’s family. This persecution is unavoidable. Please endure. Today during greetings, be extra careful.”

Li Pin sighed wearily: “Despite all precautions, can’t guard against the old woman’s numerous tricks! Very well, be careful.” She added: “How are my clothes today?” The other replied: “Excellent, the Empress Dowager will find no fault.”

They then entered.

The sedan was also carried in. Jing Hengbo felt she was in the same hall as those beauties, wondering why they didn’t move her elsewhere, when she heard that slightly aged female voice: “There’s a Buddha shrine inside – don’t let these random people enter. Stay outside. With me watching, who can cause trouble?”

The sedan bearers agreed. Someone helped Jing Hengbo out. She was still numb all over, barely able to move her hands and feet, unable to speak. Supported to sit on a side chair, she heard that slightly aged female voice: “This face again! So tired of seeing it! Don’t know what’s wrong – one after another copying the Great King. Whatever the Great King impersonates, they must also impersonate. Not sick of it!”

Jing Hengbo wondered what this meant – she was wearing her own face now, the mask having been torn off by Yi Kingdom’s Great King long ago, too lazy to wear another.

Looking up – eh, why so dark?

Before her wasn’t the imagined dignified, magnificent Empress Dowager hall, just a larger room without even carpets or palace lanterns. No screens or throne either. The room had only a few candles lit, dim even in broad daylight. Decorations were ordinary household level. Above sat a grand chair with half-worn ink-splashed pine flower brocade covering. Below were two rows of chairs on each side, hard without even cushions. Surrounding palace servants wore half-worn clothes without ornaments. A gray-haired old woman sat in the upper seat, sternly staring at her.

Jing Hengbo sniffed, thinking no need to observe further – a woman of humble origins, naturally harsh and stingy, who despite climbing to high position through her son still maintained frugal nature, making even her own palace like a slum.

Poor palace servants – their seasonal clothing allocations were probably all withheld. That head palace maid’s trouser hem was actually patched with an extra section. Really?

At this moment those concubines also entered. Jing Hengbo looked up and nearly spat blood.

A group of Jing Hengbos!

A whole group!