Behind the red gauze, Qun Qing couldn’t see the expressions on everyone’s faces clearly, but she knew they were watching her.

The only piece she had ever learned was “Little Pine,” but even this beginner’s qin melody, she had only practiced for a few days when she was six years old before her mother made her stop.

Her mother had said that playing the qin and dancing—these things women did to entertain others—she didn’t need to learn. If she had that kind of free time, she might as well spend it practicing embroidery instead.

She could only return to that cramped, stifling embroidery room, holding back tears as she threaded needles, quietly listening to the rain falling outside the window.

Now, Qun Qing recognized the familiar melody. Lu Huating’s qin skills were so good they seemed almost foreign to her. So this was what “Little Pine” sounded like when played well—like clear spring water striking against stones, just like the sound of rain that day.

Cui Zhu’s eyes held dark mockery as he took a sip of wine, but then he saw Qun Qing move, her sleeves and skirt hem blooming like spilled ink.

She didn’t know the art of dance, but her body knew martial arts. There was common ground between the two. She merely modified her combat moves slightly, and as she spun and raised her arms, she carried a strong wind that lifted her soft garments, immediately capturing everyone’s gaze.

Her skirt hem rose, and Lu Huating noticed that her waist was slender yet supple, capable of whirling spins. Forced by the situation, he had to watch her, seeing those slender fingers gradually climb up the curtain like wisps of smoke that could steal a person’s life.

This wasn’t the first time Lu Huating had been distracted in a tense moment. In that instant, he actually experienced an illusion, seeing this hand painfully clutching a peachwood doll.

Then came a loud “snap” as the three men turned back in alarm. Lu Huating’s index finger was bleeding—he had broken a string. He said regretfully, “It seems today is not suitable for music.”

Cui Zhu knew he had done it deliberately and said coldly, “Remove this inferior qin at once.”

Wen Niang hurriedly came to take the qin away. But Qun Qing suddenly pulled back the hanging red gauze with a swoosh.

She walked directly to the table and bowed to the men who wore various expressions: “This slave is not skilled at ordinary dance. Please allow me to perform a sword dance for the gentlemen to observe.”

Lu Huating started, looking toward Qun Qing. Qun Qing’s eyes turned toward the window.

This meant: The pursuers have arrived, they’re right below the window. We can only act ahead of schedule—there’s no time for negotiation.

Qun Qing then raised her eyes to observe Cui Zhu. As expected, Cui Zhu was staring intently at her face. His cheek twitched, but he didn’t voice any objection. She knew then that she had bet correctly.

Minister Qin felt this was improper and quickly looked toward General Ningyuan and Lu Huating. Then came a clatter—General Ningyuan cried out “What are you doing!” He was old, and caught off guard, Lu Huating had actually pulled the blade from his side.

Lu Huating had already thrown the blade far onto the table: “I haven’t yet seen someone dance with a sword. General Ningyuan has a blade here—perfect for seeing something new.”

General Ningyuan: “Boss Cui!”

“Does General Ningyuan not trust the women in Boss Cui’s establishment?” But Cui Zhu was looking at Qun Qing with a smile, a trace of nostalgia in his expression. “I too haven’t watched someone dance with a sword in many years.”

After all, Qun Qing was going to die. Before she died, watching her sword dance wouldn’t hurt.

Qun Qing admired Lu Huating’s ability to adapt. She had rashly moved ahead of schedule just now, and the only blade in the side room had been delivered into her hands.

Just as she was about to grasp the blade, Lu Huating pressed it down with two fingers, looking at her with eyes as gentle as spring wind: “Blades and swords have no eyes. Be careful, my lady, don’t hurt anyone.”

“This slave will dance with the blade behind the thin gauze.” So he still didn’t fully trust her. Qun Qing smiled. “I absolutely won’t accidentally injure the Chief Clerk.”

Observing that her expression was calm, Lu Huating released his hand.

General Ningyuan saw that Qun Qing still seemed to struggle with the blade, and contempt flickered in his eyes. If she dared do anything, with those slender arms and legs of hers, he could snatch away the blade in an instant and cut her throat instead.

Qun Qing smiled. Her sleeves flew up sharply, the blade shuttling back and forth between them like a startled swan’s reflection. Where was that earlier struggling appearance?

General Ningyuan’s expression changed slightly. That this woman knew martial arts wasn’t surprising, but why were these moves so sinister? They seemed like… close-quarters assassination techniques.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, wind approached his face and his vision darkened. A crisp sound rang in his ears.

Qun Qing severed the thin gauze and flung it onto everyone’s faces, shattering a wine cup.

That thin gauze was like a giant hand descending from the sky, obscuring vision and making one’s hair stand on end. The shrill screams of the two musicians filled their ears. When they removed the gauze tangled around their heads, somehow several warriors had burst into the side room, restraining their arms and pressing them down onto the table.

Qun Qing held Cui Zhu from behind, the gleaming blade in her hand already pressed against his throat.

“Chief Clerk Lu, this woman is someone you brought, isn’t she?” Minister Qin was greatly shocked. Who would have thought that before negotiations even began, a courtesan would strike first?

“I treated you well, my lady.” Lu Huating was also being held down, feigning composure. “Who sent you? Why act this way?”

Before he finished speaking, the person holding him slammed his head hard against the table. Minister Qin’s lips moved slightly.

“I should thank the Chief Clerk for bringing me in.” Qun Qing said flatly and emotionlessly. “But in my eyes, you corrupt officials are all the same. The Cui family harms the common people, but not everyone among the people is cowardly—some will come to seek justice.”

She continued: “Boss Cui, you should know my purpose. Give me that true ledger.”

Cui Zhu was being restrained in an awkward position: “Heroine, let me loosen up a bit, and I’ll get it for you.”

As he spoke, he took out a ledger from his person, but there was no fear in his eyes. Instead, he glanced meaningfully toward the window.

On the rooftop opposite, black-clad figures were already crouched under the eaves, crossbows drawn and aimed at Qun Qing’s forehead. But she was almost hidden behind Cui Zhu, so they hadn’t been able to shoot yet.

Since Cui Zhu dared to host this banquet, he naturally came prepared. Qun Qing wasn’t Lu Huating’s person—this point was interesting. No wonder the two pretended to be familiar yet showed unfamiliarity in various details.

But none of it mattered. As Cui Zhu handed the ledger to Qun Qing with trembling hands, he could smell the faint fragrance on her body. What a pity that this soft jade and warm fragrance would soon become a blood-soaked corpse.

Qun Qing: “Open it yourself. I’ll look.”

Her mind was taut like a drawn string. Her hands, eyes, and ears couldn’t relax at all. She had memorized the content of specific pages from the copy. After comparing just two pages, she pressed hard with the blade, cutting into Cui Zhu’s throat: “It’s fake.”

The pain made Cui Zhu’s eyes bloodshot. Blood soaked his robes. He touched his own warm blood in disbelief. He hadn’t expected she would really dare to cut his throat. Though Cui Zhu had prepared himself for death, this approaching terror of death wasn’t something just anyone could endure.

Qun Qing felt his breathing immediately become rapid, struggling like a fish out of water. She could barely control him.

Why weren’t the crossbow archers shooting?

On that rooftop by the side room, Juan Su tiptoed to push the unconscious crossbow archer aside and lay in his position, but then froze.

In the night across from him, four or five people were descending on ropes from the roof of Siye Tower, completely silent. These newcomers moved with practiced ease—they would likely be difficult to deal with.

Immediately, Juan Su was yanked down by an enormous force. He turned to look and his face showed terror. The two quickly became entangled in combat. Just before Juan Su fell from the eaves along with the roof tiles, he released a warning whistling arrow.

The whistling arrow entered the side room. Qun Qing sped up. She had already made Cui Zhu open the second ledger. This ledger’s content did match, but she couldn’t tell if Cui Zhu’s seal was genuine or fake. As Qun Qing hesitated, Wen Niang behind her glanced at the ledger and suddenly let out a sob.

Qun Qing’s eyelashes trembled. Cui Zhu had three hiding places like a cunning rabbit—this too was fake.

To the side, General Ningyuan was a military man after all. Seeing Qun Qing hesitate, he roared and broke free from the府 army’s restraints, snatched the ledger from Qun Qing’s hands, and threw it straight out the window.

Watching the ledger fly down like a butterfly and splash into the pool water in the courtyard below, General Ningyuan revealed a somewhat exhausted smile. But immediately, his smile froze.

His body toppled backward like an iron tower, a bloody hole clearly visible in his chest, his body convulsing.

The instant those people broke through the window from the eaves, the side room fell quiet. They were dressed in black, each face covered with a heavy mask, thick blood dripping from their long swords.

Behind Lu Huating, Zhu Su, who had been pretending to restrain him, immediately released him and pulled him up to shield him. Prince Yan’s Manor had encountered countless assassins—they could recognize these people as death warriors who disregarded their own lives and only cared about killing and taking objects. They were clearly here for Cui Zhu.

These people’s shadows fell on Cui Zhu’s face, which turned deathly pale.

Almost instantly, the situation in the side room changed drastically.

Killing intent attacked. Lu Huating used his qin horizontally to block a sword. Wen Niang grabbed her pipa and smashed it forward. All the people Qun Qing had “brought” instantly engaged the death warriors in fierce combat, trying to block their advance. After several screams, in the chaotic battle, the unguarded Minister Qin clutched his abdomen and fell in a pool of blood.

Zhu Su’s face now bore three sword wounds. Hearing Lu Huating say “Block that person, let Miss Qing leave,” he couldn’t help but say: “Huh? Why isn’t it you who leaves first and Miss Qing who stays?”

Lu Huating turned his head to look at him, his eyes ice-cold.

His gaze didn’t linger on Zhu Su’s face but immediately turned back to look at Qun Qing.

If Cui Zhu died, there would be no way to find the true ledger. So Qun Qing lifted Cui Zhu up to shield him behind her as she dealt with the death warriors first. She cut off one person’s sword and kicked him away, then was forced to retreat step by step by another.

Cui Zhu’s legs were weak from blood loss, but he took advantage of Qun Qing’s focus on fighting to slowly crawl backward, stumbling his way out the door.

Zhu Su restrained that death warrior from behind: “Miss, the Chief Clerk is telling you to leave first.”

In the flashing blades, Qun Qing met Lu Huating’s eyes. His skin was extremely pale, and a streak of blood on his face made him look strangely beautiful. He looked at her with a calm expression, even a trace of ease in his eyes.

She didn’t stop but turned and left. Yet this scene kept flashing in her mind as she quickened her pace, quietly following after Cui Zhu.

In her mind, she recalled their earlier conversation.

Qun Qing had said: “Chief Clerk, do you think there’s a possibility of obtaining it through cleverness?”

Lu Huating: “Cui Zhu is already like a frightened bird. At this point, he won’t be moved by a few words.”

“Then we can only take it by force.” Qun Qing said. “But if he’s determined to die and only wants mutual destruction, you and I will have risked everything for nothing.”

“Determined to die? No one doesn’t want to live.” Lu Huating was unmoved. “If you don’t believe it, try forcing him, my lady.”

“I can force him, but I don’t want to display the bravery of a common warrior.” Qun Qing said. “He clearly knows that as long as he doesn’t reveal the ledger’s location, we won’t let him die. Cui Zhu is cunning and acts with impunity—he won’t yield to my threats.”

“That we don’t want to kill him doesn’t mean others don’t want to.” Lu Huating said.

“You mean… the Meng family’s people?” Qun Qing said.

“After days of sowing discord, there’s no way the Meng family won’t make a move. Cui Zhu understands Meng Guangshen—he’ll only be more ruthless than us.” Lu Huating said. “How about this: you first let Cui Zhu get a taste of being injured and near death, then let him wait for death. Even the most cunning person, once their mental defenses collapse, becomes like a headless fly. The true ledger should surface then.”

Qun Qing said: “If the Meng family’s people also come to compete, how can you and I snatch it from them?”

But Lu Huating looked at her and smiled: “Aren’t you very capable? With your skills, my lady.”

…

Cui Zhu clutched his throat, stumbling through the singing and dancing courtesans, also using them to conceal his form.

How ironic—inside the side room was already chaos, but outside the guests were still laughing merrily, completely unaware of what was happening at Siye Tower tonight.

Cui Zhu felt dizzy from blood loss, his legs trembling. Acting on instinct, he opened the door to a courtesan’s room. He had drunk much wine in preparation for today, but at this moment, he discovered that all the courage-bolstering wine had turned to cold sweat soaking his entire body, while his mind became muddled. Fear pursued him as he found a ledger hidden under the bedding along with prepared silver and placed them in his chest.

He knew a small escape route. As long as he had the true ledger, his life would still be protected by someone, he would still have a chance…

Cui Zhu felt even colder because a slender shadow appeared on the ground.

He turned around. Cold eyebrows and eyes, blue-black pupils.

Qun Qing stood ghost-like in the dark area behind his door, a blade in her hand, somehow already there.

Her gaze was too cold. She approached him step by step, making Cui Zhu’s legs go weak. In extreme terror, this face seemed to transform into the smiling face of Chun Niang, then into the faces of those similar women, and finally into that sword-dancing young woman he had loved when he was sixteen, with spring-like proud spirit between her brows and eyes.

Later, after he had built up his family fortune with Siye Tower, resenting her for being mercenary and loving wealth, he had someone kill her. Cui Zhu never felt fear when triumphant, but at this moment, fear came over him like drowning tide waters. In his hallucination, that sword-dancing young woman suddenly smiled and stabbed viciously toward his chest: “Young Master Cui, my sisters and I can finally avenge ourselves.”

Cui Zhu fell to the ground. In the intense pain, he realized Qun Qing hadn’t moved at all—what had stabbed into his back was a crossbow bolt shot through the window.

Before the crossbow bolt came through, Qun Qing had already moved to the blind spot by the window. Seeing Cui Zhu fall, she picked up the dropped ledger at the fastest speed. Cui Zhu crawled forward several steps and grabbed her skirt hem, muttering something.

Qun Qing’s heart jumped in alarm. She forcibly controlled her emotions, took out the fake ledger from before and stuffed it in his chest. As she hesitated whether to finish him off with another cut, she heard clearly that Cui Zhu was saying “I’m sorry.”

Her trembling blade tip slowly lowered. His hand slowly released her skirt hem. He raised his head, making gasping sounds as he looked at her, actually clutching the fake ledger tightly. His gaze turned to the side, as if he had never seen her: “Go… hand it over… to… the Emperor…”

When the death warriors broke through the window, the room was empty. Cui Zhu lay on the ground, already dead, his hands tightly clutching silver money and a ledger.

“Found it.” They searched Cui Zhu thoroughly from top to bottom, took out the ledger, wiped it clean, and went back to report.