“The million subjects of Huzhuo bow before the great Emperor of Tiansheng. Now there is Dazha’er, a guard of Huzhuo’s Feipeng division, who was detained in the Ministry of Justice for violating criminal law, yet was poisoned by someone acting on behalf of a current prince. This deep injustice awaits redress, while the chief culprit roams free. The twelve tribes of Huzhuo vow they cannot coexist with this villain. We now beseech the Emperor to exercise his sage wisdom, pursue the culprits, and repay Huzhuo’s grievance. We respectfully report this to be heard!”

Beneath the massive court drum, Huzhuo tribesmen uniformly dressed in deep blue robes with borders, their heads wrapped in white cloth, beat the drum with all their might, sleeves flying to reveal strong arms.

Dawn light broke through layered clouds, palace gates opened in sequence. This was the first time someone petitioned at the palace gates during this reign, and the petitioner’s identity was extraordinary. Emperor Tiansheng assembled both inner and outer court ministers and held court at the fifth watch.

Sunlight swept across a thousand jade steps like a sharp sword. The white marble plaza seemed to float on clouds. In the pale white mist, a figure in deep blue robes with a white jade headband held a corpse in both hands and approached with head held high.

Bringing a corpse before the throne!

The entire hall of ministers was shocked, all eyes turning toward him.

On the throne, Emperor Tiansheng’s expression was extremely unpleasant.

The man walked onward, arms slightly extended horizontally, carrying a stiff corpse across them. Clothed in morning mist and rosy cloudlight, imposing as startling wind, he paid no heed to how shocking and outrageous this behavior was in this supreme place under heaven.

Palace guards blocked his way with horizontal spears, shouting, “Before the Son of Heaven, how dare you be so insolent? Withdraw immediately!”

With a “crash,” countless spears formed a forest, blocking like an iron wall and deep abyss.

“I cannot bring a corpse before the throne?” The figure in the mist looked up with a smile, his lips curving mockingly, then set down the corpse.

Everyone had just breathed a sigh of relief that the usually domineering crown prince had finally followed rules for once.

Suddenly, the man struck like lightning!

He thrust out one hand, hard as steel, piercing into the corpse’s chest. His fingers split it open, disemboweling the corpse, and swiftly extracted a piece of liver!

The Long-Tassel Guards flanking the jade steps, who had seen countless bloody scenes, all changed color and went weak. With a “clang,” a young guard who had recently joined the Long-Tassel Guards was so startled he dropped his golden spear.

“You won’t allow corpses, so I’ve brought poisoned evidence instead. This should be acceptable now, shouldn’t it?” The man on the steps extended his palm, expression unchanged, voice carrying far like a sharp thread, forcing its way into everyone’s ears.

“Summon him!”

The long drawn-out announcement seemed to descend from the heavens. The man fearlessly carried the liver straight to the Golden Hall.

“Your Majesty!” As soon as he entered the great hall, he rushed directly below the throne. Before completing his formal bow, he held up the liver. “This subject’s subordinate was innocently murdered. Here is the victim’s liver! A poisoned liver appears blue-black in color! If Your Majesty does not believe it, summon the Director of the Imperial Medical Academy to examine it!”

The princes and military officials were somewhat better off, but the hall full of civil officials all showed expressions of nausea and retreated. The man turned back and sneered at them.

Standing at the end of the scholars’ ranks, Feng Zhiwei finally got a clear look at the appearance of this Crown Prince Huzhuo who had gained such great fame in the Imperial Capital recently.

Tall in stature, with thick sharp brows, the opened collar of his robe revealing light honey-colored skin lustrous and radiant, yet not as dazzling as his peculiar eyes. Viewed straight on, they were a rich amber color like wine; viewed from the side, they flashed with faint purple light. Under sunlight, turning and shifting, they dazzled like multicolored gems.

His features, at first glance, were not particularly refined, yet once he moved or showed expression, they immediately became animated like dancing, bringing to mind grass tips undulating like waves under golden sunlight across ten thousand miles of grassland.

Crown Prince Huzhuo, Helian Zheng.

He turned back, Feng Zhiwei looked up, their gazes met. Helian Zheng looked into a pair of eyes that seemed both hazy and distant, with curiosity and doubt, but no fear or disgust.

Somewhat stunned, not expecting someone in the civil officials’ ranks to have such courage, Helian Zheng snorted coldly and turned back resentfully.

“Your Imperial Majesty!” His Central Plains Chinese was fairly fluent, though his tone was somewhat strange. “This is Dazha’er’s liver! Poisoned! Black!” As he spoke, he summoned a eunuch to present it on a golden tray, but the eunuch dared not accept it, looking pale-faced toward the Emperor.

Emperor Tiansheng frowned, but his attitude remained amiable. “Crown Prince, if you accuse someone of murder, you should go to the Ministry of Justice hall. The Three Judicial Offices will naturally seek justice for you. What propriety is there in this bloody corpse dissection before the throne?”

“The Three Judicial Offices will cover their asses!” Helian Zheng immediately retorted with one sentence, even using the wrong word. The three heads of the Ministry of Justice, Court of Judicial Review, and Censorate immediately turned iron-faced.

Minister of Justice Kong Chengshu said coldly, “The Crown Prince hasn’t even gone to the Ministry of Justice to report this grievance—how can you immediately assert that the Three Judicial Offices will pervert the law unfairly!”

“You’re all his subordinates!” Helian Zheng sneered and waved, the poisoned liver’s black blood spattering. Everyone hastily avoided it. “Of course you’ll pervert the law!”

All the ministers’ expressions changed. The Three Judicial Offices were under Prince Chu’s overall supervision. Helian Zheng’s words clearly pointed to Ning Yi.

“Everything requires evidence.” The Second Prince immediately interjected. “Crown Prince, if you casually slander a current prince in court, no one can protect you!”

“Slander!” Helian Zheng laughed loudly toward heaven, then hurled the liver, throwing it at the Second Prince’s feet. “Look! I just extracted this from Dazha’er’s body right before your eyes! Even the stupidest eagle on the grasslands knows that a blackened liver is poisoned and cannot be eaten!”

The Second Prince frowned, poking at the thing with his foot, covering his nose. “Perhaps he accidentally ingested something…” He turned his head, smiling at the Minister of Justice whose expression had grown even uglier.

“Yesterday at noon, I went to see Dazha’er.” Helian Zheng said. “He was fine then! But that evening, our people outside the Ministry of Justice prison saw a black shadow fly out of the prison. We rushed in to look—Dazha’er was dead!”

“Did you catch the culprit?” The Fifth Prince asked, his gaze burning.

“No.” Helian Zheng snorted angrily. “But we injured him!” He turned, pointing directly at Ning Yi who had remained silent throughout. “Your Highness, even if Dazha’er accidentally killed someone, if he must be executed, that’s a matter for the Ministry of Justice and Court of Judicial Review. Why did you send someone to act?”

“Oh?” Ning Yi raised his eyes, smiling slightly. “Indeed, why would I send someone to act?”

“Repeating my words is useless.” Helian Zheng sneered. “Why you sent someone to act, you know yourself. You knew we Huzhuo tribes would protect Dazha’er from death, while those sour scholars in court wanted him killed. So you had him assassinated, made it look like suicide, claiming Dazha’er killed himself out of guilt so we couldn’t blame you, and the matter would be perfectly resolved. But you didn’t know that grassland warriors sheltered under the Eternal Blue Sky’s radiance would never cowardly take their own lives!”

“Oh?” Ning Yi’s light smile remained unchanged as he said mildly, “Very reasonable, very impressive. I truly didn’t know before that the Crown Prince had such eloquence.”

“Don’t mock me.” Helian Zheng said proudly. “I can tell! Grassland men are straightforward—we don’t like you Han people going round and round. You want evidence? Of course I have it.”

He bowed to Emperor Tiansheng. “Please allow this subject to summon several witnesses.”

Emperor Tiansheng nodded. Helian Zheng clapped his hands. After a moment, several people arrived—Huzhuo guards, minor Ministry of Justice clerks, and several commoners who knelt trembling at a distance below the steps.

“…I crossed hands with that culprit. He could use his sword with both his main hand and reverse hand!”

“…Your Majesty… this humble official did not see the culprit’s appearance clearly, but in the afternoon, Ning Cheng, a sixth-rank guard, came to the prison and looked around everywhere.”

“…This commoner was knocked down by a masked person. That person helped this commoner up. This commoner later recalled that he used his left hand…”

One by one the witnesses finished speaking. Everyone’s expressions varied—half worried, half delighted. Feng Zhiwei didn’t understand at first, wondering why they kept mentioning the left hand. Carefully recalling yesterday’s scene of Ning Cheng smashing the vat at her residence, she suddenly understood.

Ning Cheng had held the vat with his left hand and drawn his sword with his left hand too!

Judging by everyone’s expressions, this quirk of Prince Chu’s personal guard was known to all. Only she, who had always avoided Ning Yi, truly hadn’t paid attention to his guard’s hand preference.

Everyone’s accusations pointed to Ning Cheng, which meant pointing to Ning Yi. Ning Yi had listened throughout with unchanged expression, a faint smile at the corner of his mouth that, examined closely, was cold.

“Father Emperor.” He turned toward the imperial throne with a bow, saying sincerely, “This son’s personal guard Ning Cheng was by this son’s side all yesterday. There was absolutely no private outing to kill anyone. Please, Father Emperor, examine this clearly.”

“The Prince cares for his subordinate and defends him—this is proper.” Minister of Personnel Xu Baiqing said. “However, Guard Ning should also be given a chance to defend himself. Shouldn’t we summon him to confront the accusations in court?”

“Do you find this Prince’s words untrustworthy, Minister Xu?” Ning Yi glanced lightly at Xu Baiqing. Xu Baiqing faltered, but still persisted. “This humble official is also thinking of the Prince’s reputation.”

“Minister Xu’s words are incorrect.” Grand Scholar Yao Ying immediately said. “The Prince governs his subordinates strictly—this is known throughout the court and beyond. Your words imply you’re questioning whether the Prince is lying?”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Xu Baiqing bowed toward Ning Yi. Beside him, Vice Minister of Works Ge Hongying laughed. “Under bright sunlight, there are also shadows. The Prince manages ten thousand affairs daily—he may not necessarily have leisure to supervise every single subordinate. So even if one or two shameless scoundrels lurk hidden, it doesn’t damage the Prince’s great virtue.”

“That’s not how one should put it…” Grand Scholar Hu Shengshan began stroking his beard.

“Elder Hu errs in this statement…” The opposition immediately produced new forces.

Seeing another war of words about to unfold, Emperor Tiansheng’s brows furrowed tighter and tighter until he finally shouted angrily, “Silence!”

Complete quiet. After a long moment, Emperor Tiansheng slowly said, “Send people to apprehend Ning Cheng.”

The single word “apprehend” made Ning Yi’s gaze darken, and several princes with their supporting factions exchanged rapidly flashing glances, showing pleased expressions.

“Even if Ning Cheng acted, it doesn’t necessarily mean Prince Chu ordered it.” The Seventh Prince smiled. “Perhaps there was a private grudge.”

“Seventh Prince’s words are reasonable.” Helian Zheng also smiled, his smile ringing like steel. “Although Guard Ning and Dazha’er from opposite ends of heaven and earth couldn’t possibly have a private grudge, I’m not one to casually slander others. I still have evidence.”

He summoned an elder dressed in Huzhuo clothing, introducing him as Huzhuo’s hereditary great physician. The old man tremulously said, “Report to Your Majesty, Dazha’er was poisoned by an exotic poison called ‘Wuxiang’ from the Qingzhuo Snow Mountains on the border of Da Yue. This poison is colorless and tasteless. Only three hours after death does the toxin concentrate at the liver tip. When a prisoner dies suddenly, the coroner immediately examines the corpse, so naturally it cannot be detected. This poison is extremely rare, only found in Da Yue. This commoner encountered it once in childhood.”

“Please have Your Majesty summon Imperial Medical Academy physicians for verification.” Helian Zheng requested.

Imperial Medical Academy Director Liu soon arrived, along with the best coroners from the Three Judicial Offices. They carefully examined the corpse on the steps. After a long while, they reported, “Your Majesty, it is indeed Wuxiang.”

Commotion began in the hall. Yao Ying and other Prince Chu faction members exchanged uncertain looks, all secretly wondering if Prince Chu had truly been troubled by the Huzhuo warrior murder case recently—could this really be his doing?

“We’ve never heard of this Wuxiang thing.” The Second Prince smiled. “Speaking of which, Sixth Brother’s mother consort—I recall she was from Yue, wasn’t she?”

With these words, everyone was shocked, only then remembering that Ning Yi’s deceased mother consort had indeed been from Da Yue, apparently a princess from some minor tribe, a prisoner of war from a battle between Da Yue and Tiansheng. But the era was so distant, and that peerlessly beautiful woman had died too early. After her death, she became a palace taboo, so much so that everyone, including Emperor Tiansheng, had forgotten.

Emperor Tiansheng’s expression gradually darkened. The atmosphere in court grew increasingly oppressive until no one dared speak anymore.

Having reached this point, this was no longer merely about pursuing the murderer in a warrior’s death case. The sinister chill within was gradually closing in—Da Yue and Tiansheng were about to go to war, and the Huzhuo tribes were of critical importance at this very moment. If this matter provoked the fury of the temperamental Huzhuo tribes, causing them to strike back at the front lines or even just create obstacles, the army thousands of miles away could be severely affected. And now, revealing that Ning Yi’s maternal clan was from Da Yue, combined with that woman’s death being too early and too strange, everyone couldn’t help but wonder—had Ning Yi, relying on his Da Yue heritage, already colluded with Da Yue? Had he deliberately killed the Huzhuo warrior to provoke Huzhuo fury, muddy the front-line war situation, and secretly aid Da Yue?

Once matters rose to the level of wartime treason, the consequences became like a beast’s fangs—sharp teeth gleaming—that no one dared easily touch.

Feng Zhiwei looked at Ning Yi—ever since the Second Prince mentioned his mother consort, he seemed to have suddenly lost interest in speaking. His long lashes lowered to hide his eyes. No one could see the expression in his depths, but the aura around him seemed to grow even colder.

“Your Majesty.” Imperial Medical Academy Director Liu carefully said, “Wuxiang is no ordinary item. It’s not something any random Da Yue person could possess. It only comes from the Luori tribe of the Snow Mountains, and furthermore requires cultivation with the heart blood of Luori royal bloodline to be successfully refined…”

“The Luori tribe…” Emperor Tiansheng narrowed his eyes, carefully recalling that deceased consort’s background. However, the beauty had been gone for many years. The women by his side came and went like floating clouds. Now he couldn’t even remember her appearance—how could he recall which tribe she came from?

And her death was old business he was unwilling to face… Emperor Tiansheng frowned, feeling somewhat irritated in his heart.

“The Luori royal clan has a legend. They claim to be descendants of the sun god Gema, and their royal blood has the pure golden color of sunlight.” The Huzhuo great physician suddenly said. “A simple blood test will reveal the truth.”

Helian Zheng immediately smiled. “Right! A simple test will reveal the truth!”

The hall fell even more silent than crows and sparrows. Testing blood in court would be nothing less than an insult to Ning Yi, a current prince with immense power. Imperial clan members were noble and inviolable. Moreover, this matter seemed to secretly involve palace affairs, involving the posthumous reputation of a prince’s mother consort. Once they truly proceeded this way, neither side would have any room for maneuver.

Now it only depended on whether His Imperial Majesty still maintained trust and affection for this son, whether while maintaining his rule, he would choose a gentler handling method that preserved his son’s dignity.

Everyone tensely watched Emperor Tiansheng, but Feng Zhiwei only lowered her eyes to stare at the ground.

“…This isn’t poison.” Shaoning’s words echoed in her ears. “…This is just something good that will take effect when necessary… Incidentally, under the pretense of taking his pulse, apply this to the skin near his wrist pulse.”

So that was it.

The medicine in that sobering soup, and the blue pill she’d been told to apply near his wrist pulse, truly weren’t poison—but they were deadly toxins that could place Ning Yi under capital punishment for treason, unable to ever recover!

Shaoning had still withheld the truth from her. What Shaoning wanted wasn’t simply for Ning Yi to fall from Emperor Tiansheng’s favor, but to link the murder charge to treason, to uproot him completely, leaving him no chance of recovery.

The two medicines combined, plus certain catalysts, could presumably cause the blood at the wrist pulse to turn golden.

In the oppressive silence, Ning Yi only raised his head slightly, looking at his father emperor. Emperor Tiansheng’s expression was dark and unclear, his emotions shifting unpredictably, yet he consistently avoided his gaze.

Finally, he nodded lightly, saying dismissively, “Then test it.”

Those four words drifted lightly across the court, yet their force exceeded that of a heavy, fierce hurricane. All the clamor in the hall was slightly stirred up. Amid the commotion, Ning Yi finally slowly turned away the gaze he’d been directing at Emperor Tiansheng.

His eyes appeared calm as before, yet that initial brilliant light, like a candle in the wind, trembled and swayed, gradually extinguishing. Darkness descended like a curtain, leaving only one person standing alone, facing a stage full of desolate moonlight.

Watching those eyes, Feng Zhiwei suddenly felt a knife-like pain in her heart.

In that instant, old memories returned of that day at the Qiu residence when her mother chose Hao’er and had her expelled from the mansion. In that moment, had she too shown such desolate eyes?

She bit her lower lip slightly, then looked up to see Ning Yi gazing at her, his expression strange. Her heart couldn’t help but shake.

A eunuch brought a golden basin and placed it before the imperial desk. The ministers consciously retreated. Helian Zheng stood his ground, looking sideways at Ning Yi.

Ning Yi slowly stepped forward, gazing at the silver knife and golden basin, smiling faintly, then rolled up his sleeve. At this moment, everyone had retreated to avoid suspicion. He stood alone at the front, his back figure lonely and cold.

“Your Majesty, please allow this subject to attend the Prince’s blood test.”

A voice that startled everyone into raising their heads. They saw Feng Zhiwei step forward, bowing to Emperor Tiansheng with composure. “His Highness’s emotions are currently unstable, and the blood must be taken from the wrist pulse—I fear there may be complications. This subject considers my hands steady and requests permission to attend.”

Emperor Tiansheng felt somewhat melancholy in his heart. Hearing this, he nodded casually. Feng Zhiwei smiled and stepped forward, gently rolling up Ning Yi’s sleeve. The silver knife was sharp, lightly placed at his wrist.

Yesterday, she had pressed on his wrist pulse to take his pulse. Today, she pressed on his wrist pulse to make the cut for this life-or-death case.

Ning Yi’s deep dark pupils reflected her naturally misty eyes, like two moons in an abyss—one dark and unclear, one blurred and indistinct, close at hand yet far as the horizon.

Feng Zhiwei avoided his gaze.

Silver light flashed, the knife fell, blood flowed.

Pale gold color, dazzling to the eye.

Cries of alarm arose. Emperor Tiansheng changed color.

Ning Yi suddenly raised his head, almost unable to believe his eyes as he watched pale gold blood flowing from his wrist pulse. The blood flowed into the golden basin, mixing with the clear water that had been tinted yellow by the golden light, nearly the same color!

Feng Zhiwei gripped the knife tightly, seemingly already dazed.

The entire court became like clay and wood sculptures.

“Ning Cheng has been brought—” A guard’s long call in the frozen silence startled everyone awake. The guards ordered to apprehend Ning Cheng had returned.

Ning Cheng was brought up in custody. Helian Zheng immediately rushed forward and without a word, raised his hand and ripped!

Ning Cheng’s left shoulder garment was torn open, a wound on his shoulder clearly visible.

“Your Majesty, this is the evidence!” Helian Zheng laughed loudly. “That day, my guard wounded this villain’s left shoulder!”

The evidence was conclusive, the dust had settled.

One group showed ashen faces, another revealed wild joy.

Ning Yi’s wrist bled, but he neither bandaged it nor spoke, only stared dazedly at the golden basin.

In the golden basin floated pale gold blood, and in the blood’s reflection, Feng Zhiwei’s shadow appeared and disappeared.

The Second Prince stepped forward and angrily said, “Sixth Brother, how could you be so deranged!”

Xu Baiqing shook his head lightly. “Your Highness, we ministers know you worried about the Huzhuo warrior murder case, but you cannot use this method to resolve it… This approach… alas…” He appeared deeply distressed.

Vice Minister of Works Ge Hongying immediately continued, “But we hope Crown Prince Huzhuo deeply understands righteousness, otherwise…”

The Seventh Prince shook his head repeatedly. “It can’t be, it can’t be. Sixth Brother wouldn’t. With Sixth Brother’s intelligence, how could he not know the stakes? There must be villains sowing discord…”

The Fifth Prince sternly rebuked, “Sixth Brother! You must not have considered the consequences clearly. Why don’t you beg Father Emperor for forgiveness? Beg the Crown Prince for forgiveness?”

“Beg for what forgiveness! Those who violate national law—prince and commoner are equal!” An angry shout shocked everyone into silence. On the imperial throne, Emperor Tiansheng’s expression was furious, even the veins on his neck trembling. “Someone—”

“Ah—”

A low cry came almost simultaneously with Emperor Tiansheng’s command. Though quiet, everyone noticed it.

Only then did everyone realize that Feng Zhiwei seemed to have slipped on water on the ground while retreating, falling onto the silver knife she’d been holding in her daze, piercing her wrist.

Eunuchs rushed to help. Everyone thought it a small matter and paid no attention. But then the eunuch also suddenly cried out, pointing at Feng Zhiwei’s wrist, trembling and unable to speak.

Blood flowed profusely from Feng Zhiwei’s wrist, but—it was also pale gold!

This sudden change immediately pulled everyone’s attention back. They stared dumbfounded at Feng Zhiwei’s wrist, not understanding what had happened.

“You… you…” Emperor Tiansheng pointed at Feng Zhiwei, almost asking if she too was from the Luori royal clan. But before the words left his mouth, he felt it absurd. How could such a coincidence exist in the world? That royal clan, according to legend, had long since withered away.

Ning Yi suddenly laughed loudly.

He flew forward, snatched the knife from Feng Zhiwei’s palm, raised his hand and threw it. The silver arc sliced across the wrists of the Second Prince, Xu Baiqing, and Ge Hongying in succession before clanging to the ground.

The men cried out, clutching their arms and retreating. The Second Prince shouted angrily, “Sixth Brother, you’ve gone mad!”

Ning Yi beckoned with his hand. The silver knife flew back. He toyed with it, smiling mockingly. “I haven’t gone mad. Those mad with power lust are the mad ones… Everyone, look at your wrists!”

Xu Baiqing released the hand covering his wound. With one glance, he cried out “Ah!”

The blood flowing from all of them was also pale gold!

Emperor Tiansheng stood up abruptly.

Helian Zheng gaped in astonishment.

“You’ve all said enough—now it’s my turn…” Ning Yi suddenly smiled faintly, slowly pacing through the hall, the silver knife flashing in his hand, his smile coldly grim. “Yesterday, this son was with all my brothers throughout. When Dazha’er was safely in the Ministry of Justice prison at noon, this son was drinking with my brothers at Minister Wei’s residence. When I was drunk, Minister Wei personally sent me to the guest room to rest. During this time, Minister Wei never left. Then all my brothers left the Wei residence together. Old Ten was too drunk to return to the palace. Seventh Brother’s residence is closest to the palace, so Old Ten and I went to Seventh Brother’s residence. We chatted all night while still tipsy and entered the palace directly at dawn. For that entire day, Ning Cheng was by this son’s side. This son was never alone with him and had no way to privately arrange for him to assassinate Dazha’er. Minister Wei and Seventh Brother can both testify to this.”

Feng Zhiwei bowed in acknowledgment. The Seventh Prince reluctantly nodded, his expression awkward.

“As for the injured guard…” Ning Yi’s smile grew more mocking. He suddenly summoned a eunuch. “Go randomly invite one guard each from several princes.”

When these words emerged, others didn’t realize their significance, but several princes’ expressions changed.

“Father Emperor.” The Fifth Prince stepped forward with a deep bow. “Yesterday when we sons were gathered drinking at the Wei residence, assassins broke in. Many of the guards we brought were injured. Guard Ning was also wounded in combat with the assassins. We all witnessed this with our own eyes…”

“Since you knew otherwise, why didn’t you say so earlier!” Emperor Tiansheng erupted in fury.

The Fifth Prince dropped to his knees with a thud, his knees striking the gold brick floor with a resounding clang.

“As for why pale gold blood appeared…” Ning Yi glanced sideways at Imperial Medical Academy Director Liu and the Huzhuo great physician, presenting the silver knife with both hands. “Your Majesty should investigate what’s wrong with this basin of water and this knife!”

Director Liu’s body went soft and he collapsed to the ground, struggling to kowtow frantically.

The Huzhuo great physician stood frozen in place, sweat pouring down like rain.

The situation had reversed dramatically, taking a sharp turn. The crowd who had been scared out of their wits finally reacted—Prince Chu had once again achieved a perfect comeback!

Helian Zheng whirled around, glaring furiously at the Huzhuo great physician. The old man met his gaze, shuddered violently, then suddenly turned to flee.

“Huh!”

“Crack!”

A miserable cry. The old man fell half a zhang from the hall door, a folding fan and a decorative short waist knife embedded in his back.

Helian Zheng and Ning Yi each withdrew their hands, exchanging a glance. Like needle points, they each stabbed and flashed, then both smiled.

“Excellent martial arts, Your Highness!”

“Excellent resolve, Crown Prince!”

“Haha.”

“Hehe.”

After laughing, each turned away, not sparing the other another glance.

“Crown Prince.” Emperor Tiansheng had already regained his composure. After consoling Ning Yi with a few words and once again turning the case over to the Three Judicial Offices—this time with the added case of Director Liu and others attempting to harm a prince—he said to Helian Zheng, “Next time, don’t be so rash.”

Helian Zheng twitched at the corner of his mouth. After a long moment, he lowered his head. “Yes. I still request Your Majesty help my clan find the true culprit.”

“That’s natural.” Emperor Tiansheng smiled amiably, deliberately easing the atmosphere. “Don’t concern yourself with this matter anymore. Leave it to the Three Judicial Offices—they’ll certainly restore justice to you. However, you are indeed as your father king said—still somewhat young and impetuous. Your father king repeatedly instructed me that our Tiansheng women are gentle and virtuous, able to temper your nature. He asked me to select a principal wife for you. Do you have anyone in mind now?”

Helian Zheng twitched at the corner of his mouth again—King Huzhuo had always wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Central Plains, and Emperor Tiansheng was happy to see it happen. But he himself was unwilling to be bound and had been dragging his feet. Today’s matter was his fault, and Emperor Tiansheng had finally caught his weak point. If he continued to be willful, the old fellow would tell his father king, and he would definitely have no good days ahead.

But in his heart, he was truly unwilling to be tied to a woman so quickly. Besides, Central Plains women were soft and weak, like hothouse flowers—what interest was there in that?

Troubled for a long while, a sudden flash of inspiration reminded him of a certain encounter from a few days ago that had excited his interest.

“Your Majesty.” He immediately said, “This subject does have someone I like. However, that woman’s status is humble and cannot become Crown Prince Huzhuo’s principal wife. This subject’s intention is to first marry her as a secondary wife. What does Your Majesty think?”

“Oh?” Emperor Tiansheng became interested. “If you’re willing to settle down, I’m naturally pleased to see it. Which family’s young lady is it? Speak up and I’ll preside over your wedding.”

Ning Yi and the others all curiously turned their gazes over. The tense atmosphere in court lightened slightly.

“This subject has only met her once. This woman has no beauty but has talent—this subject likes her.” Helian Zheng raised his face, eyebrows slightly arched, a trace of imperceptible playfulness and excitement flashing in his eyes. He smiled. “The niece of Lord Qiu of the Five Military Commands, Feng Zhiwei.”

Ning Yi, who had already turned his gaze away, suddenly whirled back around.