As dusk approached, a small sedan stopped at Prince Ping’s mansion gate. Without waiting for attending household guards to step forward, Prince Ping’s steward hurriedly came out to receive them. Without going through notification procedures, he bowed and called “Young Miss Cousin,” then familiarly ushered the sedan directly inside.
A quarter-hour later, Miss Ji—her face frost-white and lips blood-red—stepped into Prince Ping’s study, which he rarely allowed anyone to enter.
She no longer carried the arrogant, domineering air from the city gate. Her slender eyes slightly narrowed, revealing a coldness inappropriate for her age. Her complexion was poor, nearly ghastly pale—after all, anyone who suffered the humiliation of being hung on a city gate flagpole for all of Meng City’s people to see wouldn’t look good. But strangely, she showed no signs of furious madness. Compared to that shallow, impetuous girl from before, she now appeared terrifyingly calm.
She steadily entered the room. Prince Ping held a jade bottle high, lightly sniffing at its opening, seemingly intoxicated by the scent emanating from within, his expression relaxed and enraptured.
If Jing Hengbo were here, she’d find the jade bottle familiar—it was the item she’d sold at Puyang City’s Easy Sale Fair, something that could make people addictively euphoric until they laughed themselves to death.
Under candlelight, Meng Kingdom’s sole remaining adult prince appeared ordinary, yet possessed a gentle, peaceful temperament—indeed looking more trustworthy and approachable than that brutal Meng He.
“Ji Xianger,” Prince Ping smiled upon seeing his cousin arrive, extending the item in his hands. “Want to try this? Good stuff.”
Miss Ji glanced at the jade bottle, sat down, and said flatly: “Another tribute from Black Third? I say he’s no good—be more careful around him.”
“Not this time,” Prince Ping smiled. “This was originally something the Chief Secretary bought at Black Third’s underground auction—also something I’d been searching for long. This floating water famous medicine used to exist in Pagan Kingdom, but after the Queen controlled Tortoiseshell, trade routes were cut. Later it was transported through secret channels by Floating Water traders and re-refined secretly—better than Pagan’s version. It has life-extending, cure-all effects. You know my chronic headaches—truly cured with one use.”
Miss Ji frowned. “The Chief Secretary was assassinated at Black Third’s place, and you still dare use what he bought?”
“Wasn’t it the great king’s people who killed him?” Prince Ping sneered. “How could Black Third let him leave underground? They killed him long ago and took everything back.” He flicked the bottle. “Don’t look down on Black Third—he and his subordinates are still useful. At least some things only he can do.”
He gazed toward the marketplace, thinking Black Third had already entered the city—in a few days, certain plans could unfold.
Miss Ji said nothing. Now regarding the old king, both she and her cousin didn’t much care, instead focusing on another matter—this was also why she’d appeared at the city gate and caused trouble today.
“You just mentioned the Queen—I just encountered Ji Kingdom’s princess.”
Prince Ping set down the bottle, his eyes flashing sharply. “What do you think? Real? Fake?”
“Made quite a scene,” Miss Ji sipped tea, “but I couldn’t tell anything.”
“Oh?”
“We’re not familiar with Ji Kingdom people anyway—no basis for comparison. Their attitude was both yielding and unyielding when appropriate, acting without much concern. Their style resembles legendary Ji Kingdom royalty.” Miss Ji shook her head. “You said the Queen left Floating Water and would very likely come to Meng Kingdom because of Meng Hu’s wedding. Now that we’ve captured Meng Hu through scheming, the Queen should come rescue him—just uncertain what identity she’ll assume. Now I still feel this Ji Kingdom princess is quite suspicious.”
“Spies have reported,” Prince Ping pointed to a secret letter, “the Queen’s imperial carriage appeared in Western Prefecture’s Tianwu City with three thousand Horizontal Halberd Army guards. The Grand Minister will probably relay this news soon.”
Miss Ji’s eyebrows shot up. “Building plank roads openly while secretly crossing at Chencang?”
“You’re so certain the Ji Kingdom princess is fake?”
“A woman’s intuition.” Miss Ji bit her lower lip, finally showing some vengeful viciousness on her face.
Prince Ping glanced at her and smiled faintly. He already knew about the city gate incident. In his view, real or fake aside, his cousin was ultimately still a young girl—women’s jealousy and rejection were natural.
“Knowing real from fake is easy,” he smiled.
“Oh?”
“Meng Hu is in our hands. If she’s truly the Queen, she’ll definitely come.”
“But there needs to be a reason.”
“Today at the city gate, they offended you. Later I’ll send an invitation to the Ji Kingdom mission. If they’re a real mission, they’ll be willing to accept this olive branch and laugh off grudges. If they’re fake, it still suits our purposes perfectly.” Prince Ping smiled. “They also need a reason to enter the mansion.”
“You mean,” Miss Ji’s expression darkened further, “their humiliation of me at the city gate was deliberate?”
“If it was deliberate, naturally we must settle accounts and vent your anger.” Prince Ping smiled while pinching her face. “You’re my future queen—how can you be casually humiliated by men?”
“Really?” Miss Ji glanced at him sideways, her eyes floating uncertainly in the candlelight. “I just hope when you see that Ji Kingdom princess, you don’t change your mind.”
“Is she truly so beautiful that even the high-minded Ji Xianger would say so?” Prince Ping laughed heartily, rising. “Don’t worry—no matter how beautiful, she’s just a skin bag. How can she compare to Ji Xianger’s cleverness? But…” He suddenly turned back, gazing at Miss Ji. His previous romantic tenderness faded in an instant, his eyes now cold under the lamplight with slight warning. “I’ll invite the Ji Kingdom princess under the pretense of apologizing to test her. If that person is truly the Queen, forget about the city gate incident—don’t complicate matters.”
“You fear the Queen?” Miss Ji’s eyes turned cold.
“I fear variables,” Prince Ping walked toward the door, stopping at the threshold. “I fear the shadow of that Royal Terminator.”
“The one sitting on the throne now isn’t you.”
“So I hope she terminates who she should terminate. Additionally, it’s best if in my Meng Kingdom, the Terminator’s reputation becomes an Achiever’s. Achieving me, of course. Otherwise why would I keep Meng Hu? I never expected Meng Hu would agree to persuade the Meng family’s surrender—what I truly need is just him in my hands.”
Prince Ping smiled slightly. So what if the Ji Kingdom princess was the Queen? Meng Hu was in his hands—that was enough.
He walked outside, preparing to personally inspect where Meng Hu was imprisoned. This was an excellent bargaining chip—he absolutely couldn’t let him commit suicide.
Miss Ji watched his retreating figure, gently biting her lips, thinking of the Ji Kingdom princess seen at the city gate, thinking of that ice-snow-like man’s ice-snow-like insult that seemed to pierce her heart. Her eyes gradually heated while her lips grew more crimson, yet her complexion remained deathly white.
She had an illness, one even her cousin didn’t know about. To cure it required large amounts of blood from the opposite sex who cultivated ice-type true energy.
And her dignity as a Ji family young lady would not tolerate humiliation.
…
Jing Hengbo quickly received Prince Ping’s mansion’s banquet invitation.
Simultaneously, she learned Meng Hu was imprisoned in Prince Ping’s mansion.
Yi Qi returned from touring the city, laughingly telling her the atmosphere in the city wasn’t good. Teahouses and taverns were full of flying rumors, mostly targeting the old king and dead Prince Li—saying the old king had doted on Prince Li for years, allowing him to act perversely until Prince Li’s brutality offended heaven and harmony. Prince Li’s death was heaven’s punishment, and heaven’s punishment wasn’t finished. Meng Kingdom’s fate was already damaged, requiring someone to bear responsibility. They vaguely mentioned the old king’s early betrayals and disposing of accomplished subordinates, whose wronged spirits wouldn’t rest, crying day and night. They also said this year’s spring earthquake in Meng Kingdom’s northern border with countless casualties was also the result of the old king and Prince Li’s moral failings and chaotic governance. Now with spring drought and summer floods, poor harvests, this extravagant great king still wanted to lavishly celebrate his fiftieth birthday, uncaring of people’s livelihood and suffering—truly unfit to be Meng Kingdom’s ruler…
He and Wu Shan, Si Si had separately visited over ten taverns and teahouses, hearing similar things everywhere. Listening, Jing Hengbo smiled, thinking certain people seemed quite anxious—they’d already made their move. Her time in Meng Kingdom wouldn’t be long.
Generally speaking, feudal dynasties plotting to seize thrones commonly used the tactic of first building momentum—whether for one’s own imperial destiny or someone else’s downfall, it inevitably involved a process of flying rumors, city-wide storms, and panicked hearts. Now they were in the phase of slandering the old king. After a while, they could sing Prince Ping’s praises. Even without mentioning Prince Ping, under comparison, people would easily remember that “virtuous king” who’d always been distinctly different from Prince Li.
Establishing public opinion foundation was the first step. What was the next step?
Prince Ping’s carriage had already stopped outside the guest quarters. The ceremony was thorough—or perhaps had surveillance implications.
Jing Hengbo didn’t know how much this prince suspected her identity. Before entering Meng City, she’d had Meng Potian disguise as herself with Tian Qi accompanying, while Qi Sha split into two groups—One, Four, Five followed her, Two, Three, Six, Seven followed Meng Potian. This was also a diversionary tactic. Whether it could fool them depended on both sides’ methods.
Naturally Jing Hengbo only went with Gong Yin, bringing a few guards and Yong Xue. No need for others—more people meant more flaws.
The carriage reached Prince Ping’s mansion. Before Jing Hengbo descended, she saw a brocade-robed, jade-belted man standing at the gate. Looking carefully, she smiled at Gong Yin: “A virtuous king is indeed a virtuous king—actually personally receiving guests at the gate. His affinity surpasses yours greatly.”
Gong Yin casually set down his scroll, glancing lightly: “Do you want this type?”
Jing Hengbo imagined Gong Yin smiling and bowing to everyone, shivered, and quickly shook her head.
Gong Yin rose and descended the carriage. Jing Hengbo arranged her skirts when suddenly Gong Yin’s hand extended toward her. She was startled, then smiled and took it, gracefully alighting beside him.
She heard him say: “Being affable toward you is sufficient.”
Jing Hengbo suddenly recalled when she first entered Di Ge—on the red carpet welcoming the Queen, he’d also stood beside the red carpet extending his hand to guide her, protecting her as she walked her first heavily tested life path.
From beginning to now, his special treatment had always been only for her. Indeed, this was enough.
To still walk hand-in-hand now was already fortunate—she need only hold tight.
Prince Ping stood under lamplight, watching the perfect couple before him. The man was upright as bamboo in snow—elegant, refined, untainted by worldly dust. The woman was alluring as flowers in mist—magnificent and enchanting with compelling grace. Standing together, besides evoking words like “divine couple” and “perfect match,” nothing else came to mind.
Even the attending maid who followed was gracefully elegant, with a figure rivaling her mistress.
Prince Ping’s smile remained unchanged, but he suddenly thought of his Ji Xianger’s perpetually ghastly pale face and blood-dripping mouth, feeling a wave of irritation—didn’t she know that with such a white face, rouge shouldn’t be so red?
Watching such a perfect couple and thinking of his own compromised marriage alliance for his great cause, his expression grew several degrees gloomier. But he immediately smiled slightly.
Once he became great king, he could take many concubines.
Behind the door in the shadows, Miss Ji also stood quietly, watching that divine couple and also watching her cousin.
Her cousin was normally quite distinguished, but standing before those two, he looked cruder than even peddlers and laborers.
Her eyes also flashed with disgust—clearly amazed by that woman yet pretending not to notice. Didn’t her cousin know his smile looked very false?
Her expression slightly darkened as she watched that well-matched couple, thinking of herself at fifteen having to become her thirty-year-old cousin’s second queen.
So only by becoming queen could this unwillingness be filled.
Hearty laughter came from below as Prince Ping approached, smiling: “Are you Ji Kingdom’s Third Princess? Please forgive this prince’s presumptuous invitation. Tonight’s banquet is truly to apologize to the princess.”
Jing Hengbo smiled and returned courtesy, repeatedly saying she dared not, yet appropriately showing some puzzled expression. Sure enough, Prince Ping smiled: “Today at the city gate, this prince’s cousin was discourteous. After learning of it, this prince hurriedly sent the princess an invitation, wanting to clarify this misunderstanding. My cousin is young and inexperienced—offending the princess. Please be magnanimous.” He even personally bowed.
Jing Hengbo hurriedly returned courtesy, appearing moved and surprised, repeatedly saying no harm done, sincerely expressing her side’s faults too in being too offensive toward Miss Ji—they should apologize first. Finally she praised how Prince Ping truly lived up to his reputation—the virtuous king’s virtue, frank and composed, making people feel like basking in spring wind, and so on.
The two praised each other for a while, each feeling the other was like dice in a crystal cup—spinning endlessly, uncatchable.
Gong Yin listened quietly throughout, faint amusement in his eyes. He suddenly recalled that young woman who’d stepped onto the red carpet with his support—then she’d been bright and lively, speaking and laughing without restraint. How different from her current cunning experience. Though somewhat melancholy about this change, he was still pleased. Regardless, she’d matured—henceforth she needn’t fear any worldly storms.
Jing Hengbo and Prince Ping proceeded inward, exchanging pleasantries and yielding to each other, apologizing over ten times each, smiling until their teeth ached. Occasionally glancing at Gong Yin’s faint smile, she couldn’t help snorting, thinking this fellow was fortunate—having wielded Great Wilderness power for years, high above, always having others prostrate at his feet not daring to breathe heavily, never knowing what “being tactful and adaptable” meant. This bitter work only fell to her, this poor wretch. Thinking this, feeling aggrieved, she couldn’t help vindictively pinching his wrist. But Gong Yin showed no reaction. Feeling somewhat frustrated, wanting to pinch again, he suddenly gently squeezed her fingers and scratched her palm. Jing Hengbo’s eyes slanted sideways, seeing his straight-ahead profile, then looking at her fingers tightly held by him, her lips curved slightly.
Why compete with him? Wasn’t this complementarity good? Wasn’t this subtle, sweet little flirtation good?
Her lips held a three-point smile as she followed Prince Ping toward the banquet venue, Lingbo Pavilion. The pavilion’s name sounded vulgar, but its design was interesting—standing alone surrounded by water in the center. The pavilion was semicircular with brilliant lights above, the water surface below also overflowing with colorful lights, reflecting each other to form a complete circle. From afar, it looked like a bright moon descended under the firmament, colored pearls born above the jade lake, shining against the blue-green sky background. That crescent moon and half Milky Way paled in comparison.
No bridges surrounded the pavilion—light lotus boats provided transport, each accommodating only one person besides the rower. Boarding separately, the boat women were all young beauties who rolled up sleeves revealing snow-white, lustrous arms, yet all had good arm strength. Under their rowing, the lotus boats truly resembled blooming lotuses floating toward the water pavilion. Only when floating close did Jing Hengbo discover the water around Lingbo Pavilion was clear as mirrors, with countless stone pillars underwater. Four thickest pillars supported the entire pavilion, while other thin pillars scattered around had embedded sealed crystal lamps blazing brightly. She’d originally thought the water surface’s brilliant radiance forming complete circular wonders was due to pavilion reflections, now discovering underwater lights. But how could fires burn underwater? Looking closer at the crystal lamps, they were all filled with luminous pearls.
Truly extravagant—Jing Hengbo sighed that Jade Mirror Palace couldn’t compare, and Tranquil Court looked even more shabby in comparison.
But this design… a faint smile crossed her lips. So bright, so isolated on all sides—what was this meant to observe?
Prince Ping opened the feast, personally hosting. Miss Ji wasn’t present—according to Prince Ping, she’d caught cold.
Seemingly to show sincerity, this banquet had no one else—just Prince Ping alone hosting her and Gong Yin. But Jing Hengbo didn’t believe the pavilion’s surroundings were truly empty.
Now being late autumn, it wasn’t a good season for drinking in the wind. Layers of shark silk curtains hung down, blocking wind and air. Though over water, it didn’t feel cold. Delicacies constantly arrived on silver platters in endless streams. From the pavilion, one could see countless giant lotus flowers arriving gracefully then dispersing leisurely, stirring water light and pearl radiance that swayed in people’s eyes.
This scene could intoxicate anyone. Jing Hengbo praised endlessly, having no heart to taste delicacies, lying against railings to observe while exclaiming in admiration.
Prince Ping was always a good host, immediately strolling to Jing Hengbo’s side to point out scenery, then indicating koi in the water, having someone bring fish food to accompany Jing Hengbo in feeding fish.
At this time, Yong Xue and the guards, accompanied by Prince Ping’s stewards, had a separate table set on shore to eat and drink. After eating awhile, Yong Xue excused herself and hurriedly left.
She walked all the way to the shore where many scenic large stones stood. She went behind stones, apparently wanting to vomit.
A black shadow quietly followed, waiting awhile. Sensing something wrong, it flashed onto the stone, then looked behind—where was any human figure?
Here, Jing Hengbo scattered fish food while countless koi swarmed below. Under lamplight, they rolled like red brocade and golden waves. She watched entranced, leaning forward to scatter more fish food. Those koi competed even more fiercely.
Suddenly water waves shook violently. The koi paused, then scattered with a whoosh, tails stirring water splashes as they frantically dove toward the bottom. Countless crystal water droplets splashed onto Jing Hengbo’s face.
This came strangely. They’d just exclaimed “eh” when feeling another massive shock. This shock had no sound but infinite force, as if heaven and earth overturned or giant palms flipped everything. The water pavilion suddenly tilted askew. The table crashed over with everything flying toward Gong Yin. He leaped up, about to glide across the table to Jing Hengbo’s side when the huge table flipped up, blocking his path. Attending servant girls injured by cup and plate fragments cried out falling at his feet, just tripping him.
This happened in an instant—the water pavilion toppled, the table surface stood upright dividing the pavilion in half. But this wasn’t finished. Several fierce shouts suddenly arose from the lake surface: “Foolish king! Today is your death day!”
Voices echoed across the lake, then countless crystal lights whistled. Those lotus boats capsized one by one, bursting into flames with “puff” sounds. Boat women on board wailed as they jumped into water, desperately swimming toward shore.
On the water pavilion, Prince Ping’s color changed, his face ghastly pale as he grabbed Jing Hengbo, wailing: “Princess, save me!”
Jing Hengbo coincidentally grabbed him back, wailing: “Your Highness, save me!”
Prince Ping reached for Jing Hengbo’s waist while she reached for his shoulders, moving faster than him. Before Prince Ping could embrace her, she’d already embraced Prince Ping, but the posture was somewhat odd—her hands clamped his shoulders while her knee unconsciously thrust upward.
“Ah—” a great cry that sounded several degrees more miserable than the previous call for help.
Unfortunately Jing Hengbo’s shriek also rang out, completely covering Prince Ping’s cry.
At this moment, shaking resumed—rumbling continuous sounds, muffled yet seemingly occurring underwater. With each shock, the entire water pavilion sank down, crashing into the water with a splash!
The moment Lingbo Pavilion entered water, several figures shot up from underwater, shouting fiercely: “Pillars are broken, the water pavilion is sinking! Foolish king, today we’ll feed you to this lake’s koi!”
In the muffled sounds, the water pavilion rapidly sank. This shock was too violent—Jing Hengbo’s hands gripping Prince Ping’s shoulders were shaken loose as she sank into water. Prince Ping desperately swam upward. Those assassins swooped down, grabbing Prince Ping’s collar and laughing harshly while dragging him lakeward. Prince Ping shouted: “Help! Help!” while struggling and looking back. Pearl light and lamp light reflected on his face—covered in water traces, extremely disheveled, yet his eyes were calm and cold.
In that moment of looking back, he saw the water pavilion crash into water, pavilion furnishings falling everywhere with tremendous force. A woman’s graceful figure constantly dodged within, when suddenly the pavilion roof cracked and half the eave swept down over water. The woman desperately shifted position, black hair swaying in water like fish tail, but underwater speed was ultimately inferior to land. “Ah!” With a sharp cry, the eave grazed the woman’s side, creating light red foam. The woman looked back in alarm, blood already covering her face.
This scene shocked Prince Ping’s heart, raising deep doubts.
No teleportation, no object control, falling into water and getting injured—even injured in the face… She wasn’t the Queen?