“Why are you here?”

She glared at the person before her in shock and anger—accurately speaking, a man, and indeed an official from Six Doors, but not Wu Qing—it was Chao Huang.

The other person sat at the table with arms crossed, a table of fine food and wine before him. Hearing her question, he stood and smiled: “I sent Wu Qing elsewhere on a mission—he won’t be coming for some time. What’s wrong, Your Highness the Princess—are you very unhappy?”

He had completely changed from his usual demeanor, no longer respectful but filled with mockery and questioning. Lian Xin flew into a rage, pointing at him: “Chao Huang, you despicable villain! I thought you were a real man, but you actually eavesdropped on my and Wu Qing’s affairs!”

“Get out! This is our place—get out immediately, get out!” She pointed toward the door, her face flushed red with anger, her chest heaving violently.

Chao Huang sneered: “Do you really think Wu Qing likes you? He wants to use you to climb to higher positions. Lian Xin, my feelings for you have always been genuine—otherwise I wouldn’t bother coming here today to enlighten you.”

Lian Xin also laughed, saying through gritted teeth: “What’s between him and me is our business and doesn’t require your concern. You traitorous minister, conspiring with Quan Feitong to plot against my sixth brother’s realm—I despise and detest you.”

“Fine, you won’t leave, so I will. But I warn you—don’t think of abusing your power or using your position to target Wu Qing. If you dare, I absolutely won’t let you off!”

Her eyes changed from blazing with fire to cold as ice, every word and glance filled with disgust. A faint sweet fragrance floated in the air. Chao Huang had come in anger, and after several cups of strong wine, seeing her walk toward the door, an indescribable heat suddenly shot up from his belly. His gaze instantly darkened as he blocked her path in one stride.

Lian Xin was startled. His cheeks were slightly red, his eyes fixed intently on her with an abnormal expression. Naturally she wanted to leave even more urgently. She tried to dodge to the side but he caught her wrist. She cried out for help, but Chao Huang smiled disdainfully. For privacy in their conversation, this private room was reserved at the very back, with several consecutive empty rooms, so no one could hear.

In shock and anger, Lian Xin struck him hard across the face without thinking. Chao Huang, who commanded wind and rain as a great general, had never been struck like this. His rage was completely ignited. Ignoring her struggles, he picked her up, threw her onto the long couch in the room, and pressed down on her, gripping her chin tightly.

Though a stern voice in his mind told him to stop, the sweet fragrance in the air and her tearful eyes beneath him seemed to touch that string in his heart. The burning sensation throughout his body seemed to blaze ever fiercer. Looking at those petal-like lips, he kissed down.

Lian Xin remembered the incident in Minzhou and was terrified. She screamed and struggled, turning her head, but how could she match this man’s strength? He kissed along her neck downward, his intoxicated kisses growing ever more frenzied as he quickly pulled open her outer robe… When his hand reached her sash, desperate tears seeped from Lian Xin’s eyes.

Wu Qing. She silently mouthed this name, no longer crying out. She knew it was useless. She thought of biting her tongue to end her life but immediately abandoned the thought, clenching her fists tightly with her hands pinned high above her head.

She couldn’t just die like this. She would kill this man. She would kill him!

Just as she was thinking desperately, the door was pushed open. A voice calling “Lian Xin” nearly made her collapse. The person who entered saw the scene in the room, his expression changed, and he strode over to push Chao Huang off her, throwing his outer robe over her and covering her securely, saying quietly: “Don’t be afraid.”

He then drew his sword toward Chao Huang: “Such audacity, daring to assault even a princess. But you underestimate me too—having made a promise, I would come looking for her even if punished. I won’t let you off.”

Lian Xin said quietly from the side: “Wu Qing, kill him. Kill him for me.”

Several steps away, Chao Huang felt that dark fire within him somewhat extinguished. Looking at the disheveled Lian Xin with red, swollen eyes, he was secretly alarmed. He… what had happened to him? Though he had feelings for her, how had he lost his mind to do such things… He absolutely couldn’t let this Wu Qing entangle him now, or things would become troublesome when it reached the palace. Leaving now to discuss with his elder brother how to resolve this would be the right path!

“As if you could capture me!” He spoke coldly and was about to break through the door, but Wu Qing wouldn’t let him go, engaging him in sword combat.

Chao Huang had no choice but to fight back.

His martial arts were dominating, with few in the world who could match him. However, Wu Qing was no ordinary person either—wanting to escape immediately was easier said than done. During the intense battle, everything in the room was overturned. Fearing he would attract attention, he saw his chance and launched a fierce attack straight at the other’s heart. If Wu Qing didn’t want to be injured, he would have to retreat, giving him the chance to escape—unexpectedly, this Wu Qing didn’t retreat and took his palm strike head-on.

“Chao Huang, you despicable villain, actually trying to kill to silence witnesses!” The other spat out blood but still blocked his way.

Lian Xin watched Chao Huang hatefully from the side. Hearing this reminded her of the precedent in Minzhou—this man was just like those villains Mao Yu and the others. She gritted her teeth and rose, quietly slipping out of the room. Her female guards were right downstairs in this restaurant!

“Stop your nonsense!” Chao Huang also spoke coldly. He currently had no intention of taking Wu Qing’s life. Seeing Lian Xin leave, his expression changed, and he lightly struck out trying to block her return. Unexpectedly, Wu Qing was faster, pulling Lian Xin back and retreating quickly, then splitting open the room’s window frame with his sword. This window faced directly over the restaurant entrance. Seeing Wu Qing injured, Lian Xin’s eyes also reddened. Afraid the female guards couldn’t hear her calls, without thinking she jumped down.

Chao Huang was alarmed. Over there, Lian Xin injured her legs in the fall, attracting curious gazes from the street and naturally alerting the dozen female guards in the eating establishment across the street. The guards were furious. In an instant, except for one who attended to Lian Xin, the rest all leaped upstairs and surrounded Chao Huang. Seeing the situation and knowing Chao Huang’s capabilities, Wu Qing pulled out a token from his robes and threw it to one of the women: “Take my token to Six Doors, find Zhuiming, Tieshou, A Qing, and Qin Jian. Have them immediately bring people to arrest this traitor.”

The female guard, knowing he was her mistress’s intended, took the order and left immediately. Chao Huang’s expression grew darker as he fought desperately to break through. The commotion startled the restaurant’s patrons, with objects constantly crashing from upstairs to downstairs as everyone fled in panic. However, Wu Qing’s martial arts were originally strong, and with over ten female guards who were all death warriors, Chao Huang couldn’t escape quickly. By the time he had severely injured many female guards and forced Wu Qing back to break through the encirclement, Tieshou and the others had arrived with dozens of Six Doors constables.

The composition of Six Doors constables was quite complex. Though Chao Huang was the commander, when he had originally taken Six Doors from the late emperor’s hands, he wanted to further strengthen his own power. Naturally there were quite a few pro-Chao faction members, but Chao Huang’s core had always been in the military. He had diverted a considerable portion of the organization’s funds to military supplies, reducing salaries and naturally causing dissatisfaction among many people. At the same time, others believed this organization’s influence should be greater, but Chao Huang didn’t prioritize development, also causing resentment. This included people like the blue-clothed constable A Qing, the nameless female constable Qin Jian, and others. The remainder were constables who didn’t ask too many questions. This portion made up the majority.

Wu Qing was skilled at networking. After assuming the deputy commander position, he quickly developed some people into trusted subordinates.

Now, Tieshou and the others brought Wu Qing’s people.

Even the most powerful martial arts couldn’t withstand such sharp encirclement!

Chao Huang was finally captured.

An hour later, a group escorted Chao Huang into the palace.

In the Empress Dowager’s sleeping quarters, Lian Yu hurriedly arrived with Suzhen.

Since Suzhen’s whereabouts had been repeatedly exposed by interested parties, Lian Yu simply stopped hiding her deeply, saving her the trouble. Hearing Lian Xin was in trouble, he immediately brought her along.

Seeing Suzhen, Lian Xin, who had been standing beside Xiao’an, immediately flew over and threw herself into her arms.

“It’s alright now.” Suzhen continuously patted her back, gently comforting her: “Don’t be afraid, it’s over now.”

Chao Huang, kneeling under guard in the hall, was greatly surprised to see Suzhen: “How are you here?”

Suzhen glared at him fiercely without speaking.

At this time, Wu Qing, also kneeling on the ground, looked over. The two exchanged glances, and Wu Qing nodded to Suzhen.

“Feng Suzhen, you deceived my elder brother.” Chao Huang sneered, his tone full of mockery.

Suzhen’s heart tightened, and Lian Yu’s gaze suddenly darkened: “What a Chao Huang—your skill at putting the cart before the horse is truly first-rate. What do you have to say about assaulting a princess?”

“I…” Chao Huang choked, his gaze passing over Wu Qing, fury raging like lions and tigers in his heart. But knowing this wasn’t the time to settle scores, he quickly replied: “Your Majesty, I suspect it was a black shop with drugs in the wine, causing me to be temporarily confused and act inappropriately toward the Princess. But fortunately I regained consciousness in time and didn’t make an irreversible mistake.”

“Silence!” Xiao’an flew into a rage, slapping the table and standing up: “Chao Huang, could your words be any more absurd! That wasn’t a place you should have been—did someone force you there at sword-point? You committed such bestial acts and still dare make excuses! Acting as if someone deliberately harmed you.”

“If I don’t punish you today, I cannot quell the hatred in my heart—this is a capital offense!” She looked toward Lian Yu: “What does Your Majesty think?”

Her eyes held both hatred for Chao Huang and a secret signal to Lian Yu—this was a heaven-sent opportunity to eliminate Chao Huang.

Lian Yu’s lips were tightly pressed. Just then, someone hurried in from outside the hall: “Your subject Quan Feitong greets Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager—”

The newcomer wore white robes and soon stood at attention, but his words suddenly stopped when his gaze fell on someone in the hall.

But Quan Feitong was, after all, Quan Feitong. After a moment of surprise, he immediately faced Lian Yu: “Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, I heard the news and hurried here, not knowing what offense Chao Huang committed to alarm you both?”

“What offense?” Xiao’an’s voice was icy. Hong Gu beside her briefly recounted the events.

Quan Feitong immediately said: “This matter is indeed Chao Huang’s confusion. This sworn brother of mine has always been infatuated with the Princess—though not everyone knows this, Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager must be aware—”

“According to Prime Minister Quan’s logic, being infatuated justifies such insubordinate, worse-than-beasts behavior?” Xiao’an was so angry she laughed, pointing at him.

“Elder brother, I…”

“Shut up!”

Chao Huang tried to speak but was coldly interrupted by Quan Feitong.

But facing Xiao’an, he remained all smiles, even bending down: “Empress Dowager, please calm your anger. I naturally don’t mean that. The troops Chao Huang has stationed in the capital mistakenly believed the general had been arrested without cause and were about to revolt to rescue him, but I stopped them all. It’s because I understand—he did wrong and absolutely cannot be excused. But I also believe that Chao Huang has served the country for years with countless merits. His achievements offset his faults, and his crime doesn’t warrant death. Though the Princess was frightened this time, she ultimately suffered no real harm. I wonder… what does Your Majesty think?”

Speaking to this point, he stopped looking at Xiao’an and looked toward Lian Yu instead, though his eyes coldly passed over Suzhen. Suzhen didn’t dodge, meeting his gaze with eyes showing guilt. She had never imagined that meeting Quan Feitong again would be at such a moment.

But Xiao’an’s expression changed. How could she not understand the meaning in Quan Feitong’s words? If anything happened to Chao Huang in the palace now, those troops would immediately rebel!

She gritted her teeth and looked toward Lian Yu with a consulting expression.

Clearly, Lian Yu had long anticipated Quan Feitong’s trump card.

He smiled slightly and said slowly: “Prime Minister Quan’s words are not without reason, but Chao Huang’s offense is truly serious. Though the death penalty may be waived, if no punishment is given, it would be difficult to convince the masses and he could hardly continue as commander of the three armies. Prime Minister Quan, you say—isn’t this correct?”

Quan Feitong smiled back similarly: “Naturally so.”

“Since this is the case, as punishment, I sentence Chao Huang to one hundred strokes of the rod, remove him from his position as Six Doors commander, and have Six Doors temporarily administered by…” His gaze lightly passed over Wu Qing, making the final decision: “temporarily administered by Murong Ding. Does Prime Minister Quan find this punishment appropriate?”

“Naturally most appropriate. Thank you, Your Majesty!” Quan Feitong, seeing Chao Huang’s resentful expression as if about to speak, spoke before him: “I shall immediately take Chao Huang out to await his punishment.”

“My apologies for the offense, Princess, please be magnanimous.” He bowed to Lian Xin, beckoned to Chao Huang, and took his leave.

“Mother, I hope you won’t blame me for handling it this way,” Lian Yu looked toward Xiao’an, who nodded: “I understand. That Quan thief is cunning—this is currently the best way to handle it.”

Lian Yu then walked to Suzhen’s side, drawing Lian Xin into his embrace, his eyes faintly showing tenderness: “Xin’er, Sixth Brother’s heart aches over this too. I will make them pay for this debt, but give Sixth Brother some time, alright?”

Lian Xin buried herself in his embrace, her eyes still red, but only nodded vigorously.

But Xiao’an’s anger hadn’t subsided, directing her fury at Wu Qing and the others still kneeling in the hall: “Wu Qing, if you hadn’t seduced the Princess, today’s sordid affair would never have happened. Do you acknowledge your guilt?”

“Wu Qing knows his guilt for frightening the Princess.”

Wu Qing also didn’t say much more, only bowing his head in response.

Tieshou, A Qing, and the other four were all shocked, never expecting Xiao’an to blame Wu Qing. They all urgently signaled to Suzhen. Naturally Lian Yu couldn’t let Suzhen be put in a difficult position. Seeing Suzhen’s furrowed brow, he was about to speak when Lian Xin frantically threw herself before Xiao’an: “Mother, he’s saved me twice now… If you punish him today, your daughter will die before you first.”

“You!” Xiao’an was so angry she couldn’t speak, but this was flesh of her flesh. Seeing her disheveled hair and wretched, sorrowful state, no matter how hard her heart, she couldn’t bring herself to act.

“Fine. Wu Qing, take your people and get out of here,” she coldly ordered.

Wu Qing said nothing. He was currently in no better condition than Lian Xin—Chao Huang’s palm had injured his internal organs. Though not a serious wound, it wasn’t light either, with blood still at the corner of his mouth. Supported by Zhuiming and Qin Jian, he slowly rose. He looked deeply at Suzhen, then finally rested his gaze on Lian Xin: “Take care.”

Lian Xin watched him with glazed eyes, her heart breaking.

Chao Huang was also tough—after a hundred strokes, covered in blood but not needing Quan Feitong’s support, he walked out with Quan Feitong and told him everything in detail.

“Elder brother, I’m unwilling to give up this position. Thinking about it now, this could very well have been Wu Qing’s trap. I think he’s always coveted my position!” Chao Huang said resentfully.

Quan Feitong sneered: “Could very well be? No—this was definitely a trap.”

Chao Huang was shocked: “Elder brother has thoughts on this—why didn’t you say so earlier—”