The prefect’s sister, Lady Lei, whose given name was Lei Yingying, came from a prominent family in the southern border of Meng Kingdom. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to marry into the Meng family and become the Duke’s daughter-in-law. Her natal family had always maintained good relations with the Zheng family. When she went to the Zheng residence, after being announced, she was received into the inner courtyard. She paid her respects to the Grand Dowager of the Zheng family, exchanged pleasantries with the other ladies, then requested to speak privately with Seventh Miss Zheng in her quarters.

The two had known each other previously, so Seventh Miss Zheng didn’t think much of it and received her graciously. After sitting down and exchanging only a few words, Lei Yingying began sighing.

Miss Zheng naturally inquired what was troubling the lady. Lei Yingying took her hand and said, “Seventh Miss, you don’t know—every family has its difficult scriptures to recite. I rarely return to my natal home and am temporarily staying at my brother’s place. Only now do I realize that my sister-in-law, having been childless all these years, has grown increasingly temperamental. Today, my sister-in-law said she wanted to invite a manager from Beauty Hall to make plans for my niece’s upcoming Hairpin Flower Banquet. The person was invited over, but I don’t know what happened—that Beauty Hall manager somehow angered my sister-in-law and was tormented until… I can’t bear to say it. My poor niece was terrified, her little face turned completely white. I don’t know if this will cause her to fall ill. You see, if I advise, I’m ultimately a guest and can’t manage my sister-in-law’s affairs. If I don’t advise, I can’t bear to watch this happen before my eyes. Having no choice, I came to your Zheng residence to avoid the situation and calm my nerves. Only your residence, with its harmonious relationships between relatives and neighbors, and peaceful atmosphere above and below, brings comfort to the eye.”

Seventh Miss Zheng listened in a daze, unable to comment on others’ family affairs, and could only say, “Poor manager. Afterward, please do comfort her well, madam. Though she’s from a merchant family, she was still born of parents and shouldn’t suffer for nothing. Moreover, it would harm the prefect’s official reputation.”

“Exactly so. Comfort must naturally be given, but my sister-in-law’s temper is simply too fierce.” Lei Yingying sighed deeply, then continued with a worried expression, “I’m just afraid comfort won’t be enough. Beauty Hall is ultimately the Female Sovereign’s business. Though the Female Sovereign’s edicts don’t extend beyond the Imperial Capital and don’t involve Meng Kingdom’s internal affairs, she is still nominally the supreme ruler of the realm. I hear she’s recently been near Floating Water, very close to us. If something happens to Beauty Hall and alarms the Female Sovereign, that wouldn’t be proper. You don’t know, my heart keeps pounding—I’m truly afraid… truly afraid someone might die…”

Miss Zheng hadn’t expected the matter to be so serious and was startled, staring at her in shock.

Lei Yingying’s eyes suddenly brightened as she grabbed her hand urgently, “Seventh Miss, this is ultimately a human life at stake. And if something really happens, the Lei family will inevitably have troubles. The Lei and Zheng families are close as branches of the same tree—we can’t just watch this situation become irreparable, can we?”

Miss Zheng paused again, slowly withdrawing her hand, “Though that’s true, Ruosi is merely a boudoir maiden. How can I casually interfere with the prefect’s wife’s actions? Madam, you as sister-in-law cannot even gauge the proper measures—how much less appropriate would it be for Ruosi?”

Lei Yingying was momentarily at a loss, secretly thinking that this Miss from the scholarly Zheng family wasn’t naive—she wasn’t so easily deceived. These words were rather sharp. She immediately smiled warmly, “Naturally we can’t have you, an unmarried maiden, interfere in others’ family affairs. I just want you to help resolve the situation. All this commotion happens behind closed doors—once guests arrive, who would dare continue such behavior? So I simply want to ask Seventh Miss to advise my niece on how to shine brilliantly at the Hairpin Flower Banquet and win first place. You were the champion of the Hairpin Flower Banquet, first in all four arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—a record in our Puyang that remains unsurpassed to this day. With this justification, it’s absolutely natural and proper. Even my sister-in-law would be delighted—she’s long wanted to invite you but was too embarrassed to ask since you’re about to be married. Once you go, she’ll certainly forget all her troubles.”

Seeing Miss Zheng pondering, she continued persuasively, “Seventh Miss, saving one life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. For you, it’s merely taking a trip, yet you’d help both the prefect’s wife and my niece, and save that innocent female manager’s life. Such effortless merit-making—why not do it?”

Miss Zheng was moved by these words. After a long while, she rose, “Then I’ll go inform the Grand Dowager and my mother.”

“Seventh Miss, just say that Puyang has opened a new Beauty Hall branch, and I’m inviting you to select the most fashionable jewelry and fabrics. If you tell the truth, the Grand Dowager, being prudent and steady, might not agree. But this concerns a human life!”

Miss Zheng hesitated momentarily, then nodded in agreement. Lei Yingying waited joyfully. After a while, seeing a matron from beside the Zheng family’s Grand Dowager ordering the carriage prepared and saying she would accompany the young miss out, she knew the plan had succeeded and went forward happily to meet them.

The carriage left the Zheng residence and headed straight for the prefectural office.

At this time, Prefect Lei was also on a roadside outside the city, bowing deeply to a red-robed man.

The red-robed man on horseback was in his early thirties, tall and imposing, with a pale golden complexion and eyes narrow as blade cuts. When he looked at people, though not fierce, he was coldly intimidating. The guards around him all stayed three feet away, silent as winter cicadas, not daring to say an extra word or take an extra step.

Everyone knew this master seemed ordinary on the surface but was most cruel and ruthless at heart—a bold figure who dared smash stones against heaven. Killing at the slightest displeasure was common, but he also rewarded his subordinates generously. Following him meant living between heaven and hell, everyone trembling with fear.

At this moment, Prince Li Meng He gazed coolly at Prefect Lei, “You say you have a way to make this king marry the Zheng family maiden?”

“Yes.”

“The Zheng family are renowned scholarly gentry whom even the Great King greatly respects. Once Miss Zheng is betrothed, there’s absolutely no principle of a ruler seizing his subject’s wife. All methods of forcible seizure would fail. Once the Great King knows, or those pedantic scholars know, this king would be condemned by all. What clean and consequence-free strategy can you offer?”

“Your Highness,” Prefect Lei smiled, “the Zheng family are renowned gentry. What do such families value most?”

“Naturally, reputation.”

“Precisely. When Miss Zheng’s reputation is damaged and her purity compromised, the Zheng family, given their family traditions, would certainly be too ashamed to hide the truth and continue the betrothal with the Duke’s residence. They’d definitely initiate breaking the engagement. Then when Your Highness seeks to marry her, disregarding reputation and status, willing to treat her as principal wife, the Zheng family would only be grateful to marry their daughter off. You’d gain a beauty and the Zheng family’s loyalty—wouldn’t that be excellent?”

“You make it sound simple, but such a family, with a maiden about to marry, never leaves her quarters—how would you damage her reputation? Must this king break into her residence?”

“Your Highness need not worry about this.” Prefect Lei smiled mysteriously, “Miss Zheng should already be in this humble servant’s residence.”

“Oh? Deceived here?”

“Women have soft hearts—some matters they cannot bear.”

“Very well. Then this king shall go to your residence to see.” Meng He flicked his riding whip, slightly impatient, “After all, women are troublesome. I was just happy my previous one died, thinking to enjoy a few relaxed days—now I must marry again!”

The guards all showed strange expressions. This highness was bisexual—he wanted women and also liked men. But whether women or men, none seemed to hold a place in his heart. He played while killing, and those he played to death were countless.

Prefect Lei also knew this one’s character, and even knew that compared to women, this one was more interested in men, especially men with particular personalities and temperaments who most attracted his attention. His heart stirred as he smiled, “In this humble servant’s residence, there’s also a wonderful person. Perhaps when Your Highness sees him, you’ll be even more delighted than seeing Miss Zheng.”

“Oh?” Meng He raised an eyebrow, glancing at him, then suddenly burst into laughter, “Excellent! Then let’s see!”

His whip cracked through the air, raising clouds of gray-yellow dust. Within the dust, dozens of riders charged like angry dragons straight toward the city.

At this time, Jing Hengbo was sitting in a guest hall in the prefect’s inner courtyard.

After being invited into the rear hall, the prefect’s wife and daughter didn’t immediately appear. The servant woman who led her in said she needed to announce to the masters and asked her to wait briefly, then went inside. Soon a maid brought tea. Jing Hengbo had long formed the habit of not drinking tea or eating food in unfamiliar places, so she didn’t touch the cup.

After sitting and waiting for a while, the same maid returned, saying the lady was unwell and the young miss was still in class, asking the guest to wait—the young miss would come immediately after lessons. Then she smiled, “Miss doesn’t like this tea, let me get you a different cup.” Without allowing Jing Hengbo to explain, she went out and brought back a new cup of tea. This tea came on a white jade tray, the tea color deep red as blood, with a clear, mellow fragrance. At the bottom of the cup floated several broad tea leaves, dark green with gold edges—extremely rare. The maid said, “This is a famous tea specialty from southern Meng Kingdom, called Red Robe Golden Edge. The most authentic Red Robe Golden Edge tea trees all grow on cliff edges. Now only a dozen or so trees remain, and it’s always been tribute tea for the royal family. Our household keeps only a few taels. My lady said that being unwell, she’s neglecting our guest, so she offers Red Robe Golden Edge as an apology, hoping for Miss’s understanding.”

Hearing her courteous words, Jing Hengbo felt somewhat embarrassed herself and stood to receive the teacup. Just as the maid was placing the cup on the small table, their arms bumped, the maid exclaimed “Oh my,” and the teacup tipped over halfway, spilling tea on Jing Hengbo’s arm and chest. The tea liquid was also bright red, staining her pale yellow dress like fresh blood.

The maid hurriedly said, “Oh, how clumsy of me—I deserve to die!” She casually poured the remaining tea into a nearby potted plant, collected the teacup and said, “Miss, please wait. This servant will immediately find clothes for you to change in the side room.”

Jing Hengbo looked at her disheveled dress, which appeared bloody as if someone had been killed, and could only nod. The maid hurried away. Jing Hengbo sat down to continue waiting, resting her head on her hand against the small table, smelling the hazy fragrance of tiny yellow flowers in the emerald potted plant. Somehow her thoughts also became hazy, vaguely recalling having read many palace intrigue stories in the modern world, where young ladies going out as guests would often have their clothes deliberately wetted by scheming rivals, then need to change clothes. While changing, various complications would arise—being seen changing by men, seeing men changing, having their removed items swapped or having men’s items planted on them. Thus the clothes-changer, if a villainess, would inevitably have her reputation ruined and be forced to marry a scoundrel; if the female protagonist, would cleverly prepare in advance and counterattack… It was a standard plot device in eight out of ten books. Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but smile lazily, drowsily closing her eyes.

The moment she closed her eyes—

Lei Yingying brought Miss Zheng through the moon gate into the inner courtyard.

Meng He had already galloped to the prefectural office entrance, dismounted, and strode boldly toward the front hall where Prefect Lei had mentioned the “interesting man.”

Prefect Lei hurriedly blocked him, “Your Highness, Miss Zheng should be in the rear courtyard. Now is the perfect time—you absolutely cannot delay here.”

“What’s the rush? Isn’t she just a woman? Since she’s entered your residence, can’t you keep her there for me?” Meng He, having listened to Prefect Lei describe how that white-clothed man was coldly transcendent, bright as the moon, was already burning with curiosity and pushed Prefect Lei aside to stride forward.

At this time, Gong Yin was in the front hall. He also didn’t drink others’ tea. The steward accompanying him sat there awkwardly, feeling that the task the prefect had assigned him—to detain this person—was truly too difficult. This one had no words, no expression, even his gaze was absent. When he tried to start conversation, he found himself stammering and unable to speak coherently before such cold, aloof bearing. His usual glib tongue that could sweet-talk anyone had frozen like ice and snow before this ice-like person, stuck in his chest, making him restless.

Worse still, Gong Yin had been sitting with his eyes slightly closed, apparently calculating time. He suddenly stood, “Time’s about up. Please call my female companion out—we need to leave.”

The steward didn’t know what to do. Seeing his helpless expression, Gong Yin simply turned and walked out.

Just as the steward felt lost, he suddenly saw figures moving outside the flower hall—clearly someone was coming. Feeling greatly relieved, he hurried out to greet them.

The newcomer was naturally Meng He. He didn’t rush out but stood in a corner observing for a while. This observation made his eyes shine, almost forgetting to move his feet. But when Gong Yin took a step, his brow furrowed slightly, and he glanced at the guards behind him, “Surround the flower hall!”

“Your Highness, if you don’t go to the rear courtyard now, the person will leave!” Prefect Lei urged anxiously.

“No time!” Meng He rolled his eyes coldly and told two guards behind him, “Go—that woman is yours to enjoy!”

The two guards accepted the order with surprise and delight. Prefect Lei was dumbfounded and tried to stop them, “Your Highness, Your Highness, this cannot be… How can Miss Zheng be given to your subordinates? You still want to marry her…”

“Get lost.” Meng He casually swatted him away, sending Prefect Lei tumbling to the ground. Lei frantically grabbed his robes, “But if you want to marry her… how can you give her to your subordinates…”

“Right, this king will marry her. Isn’t she just a woman to marry and keep as decoration? I never planned to touch her anyway. Let me tell you—only by completely trampling her will the Zheng family break the engagement, and only then will they be more grateful when this king proposes. Of course, my loyal guards will also be grateful to me—see how generous this king is.” Meng He chuckled coldly. Seeing Gong Yin leave the flower hall, he flashed forward, “Stop!”

Gong Yin looked up, his gaze cold as piercing ice. Meng He shivered but felt even more burning interest in his chest.

Good looks, good character, good killing aura!

How could such a person compare to those empty beauties he’d encountered before!

Elegant as orchids and jade trees, pure as mountain snow and precious flowers—not to be missed!

A sharp, piercing cold aura pressed toward him. Gong Yin didn’t even glance at him, already sweeping past him like a patch of snow.

Meng He’s long whip flew out, hooking toward Gong Yin’s waist, trying to pull him forward while laughing loudly, “Men! At any cost, keep him here! If he escapes, you all die!”

…

While Gong Yin was detained in the front hall, Jing Hengbo was drowsing in the rear hall.

At this time, Lei Yingying and Miss Zheng had reached the hall entrance. Lei Yingying put her finger to her lips, “Shh,” and whispered, “Follow me to quietly look—hopefully the situation has calmed down.”

The two quietly moved to the window and peered in, seeing Jing Hengbo leaning sideways in her chair, her clothes stained with blood.

Both turned pale. Lei Yingying said in horror, “Already dead?”

Miss Zheng’s face also went white. She had been half-believing, half-doubting, but seeing this scene shocked her—she hadn’t expected the situation to be so serious.

She was about to rush in to save the person, but Lei Yingying pulled her back, retreating several steps. Lei Yingying whispered in her ear, “Don’t rush. Let’s see which way the wind blows first. My sister-in-law—the doctor said she has manic episodes. To be honest, when she has attacks, she doesn’t recognize family. If we rashly try to save someone and anger her, not only might the person who isn’t dead yet be killed by us, but we might also be implicated. Let’s first think of a way to calm her down.”

“But this girl doesn’t look good. If we delay…”Miss Zheng didn’t much care about her own safety but feared the blood-covered girl inside might really die.

“It shouldn’t come to that. Let’s first go see my sister-in-law and persuade her to change her mind and release the person.” Lei Yingying brooked no argument and pulled Miss Zheng inside. Miss Zheng had no choice but to follow.

They reached the courtyard where Lady Lei lived and went inside to sit in the outer guest hall. Lei Yingying said, “Let me first check on my sister-in-law and see how she really is. If she’s truly not well, I shouldn’t harm you.” She then went inside.

Miss Zheng waited outside. A maid brought tea, and Miss Zheng, anxious and unsettled, unconsciously lifted the teacup and drank several sips.

Then she heard what seemed like a “bang” from the adjoining room. Her heart jumped, thinking of Lei Yingying’s mention of the lady’s manic episodes. She worried Lei Yingying might also be harmed. Seeing no one around, she rose and walked to the adjoining room, tentatively pushing the door. The door wouldn’t open, but then she heard people talking inside.

First a man’s voice, “The person is brought?”

Hearing a man’s voice, Miss Zheng immediately sensed danger and turned to leave without listening further, but suddenly felt weak in both legs, unable to move a step. She could only grip the door frame tightly, leaning against a nearby grand chair.

Then a woman’s voice, not Lei Yingying’s, spoke with amusement, “Everything is arranged, Prince Ping.”

Miss Zheng was stunned again. Prince Ping? How could Prince Ping be here?

That “Prince Ping” made a sound of acknowledgment, “Is this matter done secretly? Setting up this scheme in Prefect Lei’s residence is too risky—we mustn’t be caught.”

That woman’s voice sounded smug, “Your Highness, rest assured. No one could imagine I designed it this way. Lady Lei has manic episodes. When she invited me to her residence, I deliberately angered her, provoking her to harm me, then sought help from Lei Yingying. Lei Yingying has some past connection with me but doesn’t dare directly confront her sister-in-law, so she’d necessarily seek reinforcements. At this moment, the only reinforcement she could think of, the only excuse she could find, would be to invite Miss Zheng—using the excuse that her niece needs to learn experience for the Hairpin Flower Banquet from the one who became famous at the Hairpin Flower Banquet and remains unsurpassed. This reason is absolutely natural and proper. Miss Zheng is kind-hearted and wouldn’t refuse such a life-saving matter. Once Lei Yingying came, I’d drug Lady Lei and Lei Yingying, Your Highness would do your business, and afterward when something happens to Miss Zheng, the Zheng family would certainly settle accounts with the Lei residence. The Lei residence has recently grown close to Prince Li—see, it ruins Prince Li’s plans while eliminating Lei residence, one of Prince Li’s key supporters. Truly killing two birds with one stone.”

“Indeed.” The man laughed, “If not for Meng He wanting to marry into scholarly gentry to gain the respect of court scholars and the Great King, adding weight to his claim to heir apparent, I wouldn’t need to go to such lengths or put so much thought into troubling the Zheng family. Troubling the Zheng family is false—making trouble for Ah He is true, lest he compete with me daily. Later I might even have to impersonate Ah He to leave Miss Zheng with some deep memories.”

The woman laughed, “Beauty Hall has done so much for Your Highness this time…”

The man said heartily, “What I promised you will naturally all count!”

“Then Beauty Hall thanks Your Highness greatly.”

The two laughed together. Miss Zheng listened with shock and horror, struggling desperately to leave. After struggling for a long time, she only knocked the chair askew, the chair leg scraping the floor with a harsh sound. Miss Zheng felt all her blood freeze.

She didn’t dare move, staring at the door from the corner of her eye. The voices inside stopped abruptly, and the door remained motionless. Miss Zheng sighed in relief and was about to crawl away when suddenly the door snapped open and a hand shot out, dragging her inside like lightning.

“Ah—” The woman’s piercing cry rang out only half a note before cutting off mid-scream.

At the same moment.

Jing Hengbo, who had only closed her eyes briefly, suddenly opened them wide, bolted upright, and turned her head to stare at that tiny flower on the potted plant beside her.

Cold sweat instantly covered her entire body.

Something was wrong!