The Empress Dowager’s teacup clattered onto the table surface with a “pa-da” sound. She stood up entirely, her face deathly pale. For an instant she almost thought Dowager Consort Liu’s old habit of entanglements had resurfaced, but on second thought, that couldn’t be right. Back then, the matter between Dowager Consort Liu and Prince Jing couldn’t really be blamed on those two. Previously they’d clearly been childhood sweethearts, growing up together, but the late emperor, in order to suppress his arrogant younger brother, summoned this Dowager Consort Liu into the palace, separating a pair of devoted lovebirds. Afterward there was much regret. When the late emperor passed away, Prince Jing was indeed reluctant to part with Dowager Consort Liu. Every year he came to the capital, he would specially come to see her, but it arose from sentiment and stopped at propriety – there was absolutely no transgression. Only then did the Empress Dowager tolerate them. These years, as they both aged, Prince Jing gradually forgot about this matter. Dowager Consort Liu sent two letters but received no reply, so naturally she had to let it go. This matter was completely concluded.

Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager slowly sat back down. The matter between Dowager Consort Liu and Prince Jing was ancient history. She was still young then – now at what age, even the handsome actors originally kept in the palace had all been dismissed. How could she harbor other thoughts? She herself was being oversensitive… Then it must be Fourth Prince of Mobei who forcibly kidnapped the dowager consort, but why would he kidnap the dowager consort – raising her eyes, she saw the Ninth Princess’s face deathly pale, looking wrong. She quickly asked: “What’s the matter with you?”

The Ninth Princess’s voice trembled, as if extremely frightened and uneasy, her eyeballs unable to move: “Empress Dowager… originally… originally today I said I would go pray with Dowager Consort Liu, but later you summoned me. Last night I sent someone to tell Dowager Consort I wouldn’t go—”

The Empress Dowager’s expression instantly stiffened. She suddenly understood what Fourth Prince of Mobei intended to do! So the person he wanted wasn’t Li Weiyang, wasn’t the current Marquis Nan’an’s daughter – it was the Ninth Princess! Thinking carefully, Fourth Prince of Mobei’s status should have originally matched a princess, but the Emperor was reluctant to have his daughter marry far away to a foreign land. Anyone would be unhappy, yet Fourth Prince of Mobei showed not the slightest hint of other intentions – now he was lying in wait here! The reported departure date was clearly ten days from now, yet he suddenly departed early and even kidnapped Dowager Consort Liu – no, he intended to kidnap the Ninth Princess. Once everything became a fait accompli, the Emperor would have no choice but to acknowledge this marriage alliance!

Not only that, now Mobei was stirring restlessly with large armies assembled at the border. The Emperor had already sent people to watch the Mobei prince, intending to keep him as a hostage. Who knew he would act first, also planning to take the Ninth Princess along – clearly having the same calculation as the Emperor: marriage alliance, hostage!

Good! Good! This Fourth Prince of Mobei was truly too good! The Empress Dowager was so angry her hands and feet turned ice-cold, almost unable to stand steadily. Li Weiyang shot the Ninth Princess a look. The Ninth Princess quickly went up to comfort her: “Empress Dowager, don’t be angry. Didn’t they say they intercepted him? As long as they intercepted him, all is well!”

The little eunuch stammered: “Dowager Consort Liu was rescued and the carriage seized, but unfortunately Fourth Prince of Mobei and that Princess Hechang long since fled without a trace!”

The Empress Dowager shouted angrily: “What use are you all! Idiots! All idiots!” She thought – this even included scolding the Crown Prince. She immediately pressed her lips shut, saying not another word.

Li Weiyang lowered her head, appearing very uneasy, but laughed coldly in her heart. That performance last time truly wasn’t wasted – Tuoba Zhen genuinely believed she liked Li Yuanheng, even suspected the person in that carriage really was her. He thought she was eloping! One could imagine – how could the Crown Prince’s hunt so coincidentally encounter Li Yuanheng? Everything was designed by Tuoba Zhen. Li Weiyang lightly curved the corners of her lips.

The Ninth Princess’s expression was anxious and uneasy: “Empress Dowager, this time we’re fortunate to have Crown Prince Brother, otherwise Dowager Consort Liu would have—”

The Empress Dowager sighed: “Have someone quickly send Dowager Consort Liu into the palace.”

The eunuch quickly reported: “Crown Prince has already personally escorted Dowager Consort Liu into the palace, only first sent someone to report to the Empress Dowager so as not to startle you.”

The Empress Dowager nodded. Raising her eyes to see Li Weiyang, she couldn’t help but feel a headache. This matter shouldn’t have been heard by her. She thought to quickly send her back, then admonish her afterward – she surely wouldn’t speak carelessly. Just as she was about to order Li Weiyang could withdraw, who knew she would see Dowager Consort Liu stumbling in.

The Empress Dowager went forward to meet her. Dowager Consort Liu was helped in by palace maids. Upon seeing her, tears immediately welled up in her eyes – genuine joy at seeing a relative after experiencing an inexplicable disaster. So she rushed toward the Empress Dowager, almost wailing in tears.

Seeing Dowager Consort Liu frightened to this state, the Ninth Princess felt somewhat guilty. She instinctively glanced at Li Weiyang, only to see her also watching Dowager Consort Liu with a solemn expression, not knowing what she was thinking. The Ninth Princess bit her lip. She wasn’t doing this to scheme against the Crown Prince and Third Brother – it was completely to help Seventh Brother who was already at a disadvantage. This time it was Seventh Brother who personally asked her to do this well. She must follow all of Li Weiyang’s arrangements, absolutely couldn’t let momentary softheartedness ruin everything. Moreover, whether the Crown Prince or Tuoba Zhen, they were all scheming about her marriage, clearly harboring ill intentions. Mother Consort had repeatedly warned her about this – from now on she couldn’t foolishly continue treating those two as family. Though the Ninth Princess was naive, she wasn’t stupid. She suppressed her guilt and quickly said: “Dowager Consort has returned! This is truly wonderful!”

Li Weiyang looked at the dowager consort – indeed she had no injuries. She couldn’t help breathing a slight sigh of relief. Though feeling somewhat apologetic toward Dowager Consort Liu, she wouldn’t be in life-threatening danger – just would suffer some fright.

Dowager Consort Liu originally wanted to cry loudly, but seeing outsiders present, she choked up her neck, struggling to swallow the tears that had already surged to her heart, though her eyes remained red-rimmed.

“This subject greets the Empress Dowager.” Though continuously trying to calm her emotions, her voice still trembled somewhat.

The Empress Dowager quickly said: “Good that you’ve returned! Fortunate no major incident occurred. Ai, how could such a thing happen—”

This time Dowager Consort Liu couldn’t hold back either. Tears fell like broken pearl strings. Actually she hadn’t suffered excessive fright. After the carriage was seized, before the other party could investigate they hurriedly rushed down the mountain. She was jostled and fainted. When she woke up hearing the Crown Prince’s people interrogating outside, she boldly called out and was rescued. But if she didn’t cry now, how would she show her grievance? So she cried even louder.

Seeing her tears, the Ninth Princess felt extremely sorry toward Dowager Consort Liu. She ultimately wasn’t as black-hearted and ruthless as Li Weiyang, lowering her head in shame: “It’s all because of me implicating Dowager Consort…”

“No,” Dowager Consort Liu immediately stopped crying, flames almost shooting from her eyes, saying indignantly: “It’s all my face causing trouble! Had I known, I wouldn’t have attended that banquet that day, avoiding being seen by that shameless wretch, nearly ruining my reputation!”

Everyone froze, including Li Weiyang. For a moment everyone was almost speechless. What was this Dowager Consort Liu saying?

Dowager Consort Liu didn’t notice their changed expressions, adding sorrowfully: “I’m already an old woman, why won’t they let me go one after another?” Her teeth chattered with a “ge-ge” sound, saying with near-hysterical hatred: “This Mobei prince is too detestable! I’d already decided – if he treated me rudely, I would simply die to demonstrate my virtue…”

The Empress Dowager looked at her in shock, infinite absurdity suddenly arising in her heart. Could it be – Dowager Consort Liu thought the other party truly came for her?

Li Weiyang was equally astonished. She suddenly realized what Dowager Consort Liu was saying. The other party clearly thought Fourth Prince of Mobei had set his sights on her beauty, thus committed this highway robbery. This – was it being somewhat too narcissistic?

The Empress Dowager lightly coughed: “Regardless, safe return is good! Don’t say more about other matters.”

Hearing this, Dowager Consort Liu became even more enraged, almost shouting: “He even dared claim outside that the person in this carriage was his new bride – he truly ate the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard! I’ve never seen such a rude person! Empress Dowager, you must have His Majesty capture him and execute him by a thousand cuts! Definitely by a thousand cuts!”

The Empress Dowager was speechless. After much soothing, she finally sent Dowager Consort Liu away. Then she glanced at the Ninth Princess: “You escort Princess Anping out.”

The Ninth Princess nodded. After bowing to the Empress Dowager, she withdrew together with Li Weiyang.

Once outside, the Ninth Princess laughed: “Dowager Consort Liu is so strange. I was just feeling very guilty, but when she cried like that, I almost laughed out loud. She’s already that age – how could she think the Mobei prince came for her? Truly too ridiculous.”

Li Weiyang didn’t laugh, only saying: “This is also human nature. Dowager Consort Liu just hasn’t recovered her senses yet.” When she learned Fourth Prince of Mobei’s true objective wasn’t her, that he merely kidnapped the wrong person, who knows how much she’d regret today’s words.

The Ninth Princess continued: “It’s just that Seventh Brother clearly also arranged people preparing to rescue Dowager Consort Liu midway and pin the label of forcible kidnapping on the Mobei prince. How did the Crown Prince get there first?”

Li Weiyang sighed: “In such matters, how could Crown Prince allow others to steal the glory?” In fact, she’d already specially instructed Tuoba Yu – if the Crown Prince or Tuoba Zhen took action, he should avoid involvement, letting them bear this enmity early. Now that Li Yuanheng probably hated the Crown Prince as well.

The Ninth Princess glanced at her, consoling: “Sister Weiyang, now that Mobei prince has fled. You no longer need to avoid him. He surely won’t dare return! Moreover, henceforth he’ll never set foot in the capital again. To forcibly kidnap a dowager consort – tomorrow when this spreads throughout the world, he’ll become a laughingstock of all nations. Truly pitiful. However, it’s still unfortunate we didn’t capture him. If we’d caught him red-handed, the Mobei royal family would have died of anger.”

Until now the Ninth Princess still thought she was helping Li Weiyang escape Li Yuanheng, even felt Li Weiyang did this merely as minor punishment. After spending so much effort, how could it be so simple? Li Weiyang only smiled without explaining seriously. Did the Ninth Princess think matters ended so simply? The good show was only half-performed.

Seeing Li Weiyang lost in thought, the Ninth Princess continued: “Fleeing all this way without supplies and support, that Mobei prince will also suffer – consider it a lesson! Punishment for constantly pestering you!”

Li Weiyang’s smile deepened, but she said nothing more.

At this moment, Li Yuanheng was extremely disheveled. He’d waited half the day without seeing Li Weiyang arrive, guessing she refused to leave with him. But these days she’d really made his heart itch. Thinking of being toyed with by this woman, he truly couldn’t resign himself. So he simply followed Jiang Hua’s instructions, coordinating inside and outside to avoid the Emperor’s surveillance, departing the capital early and even hijacking the Li family’s carriage. Unfortunately, just exiting the city gate he collided with the Crown Prince’s carriage. He knew the Emperor now intended to keep him as hostage – how could he let the Crown Prince discover his early departure? Unfortunately on this narrow road they met. He had no choice but to abandon Li Weiyang and the guards, taking only Hechang to flee all the way out.

They raced wildly without rest. Behind them, by the Emperor’s order, one thousand Imperial Guards pursued closely on horseback. To evade pursuers, Li Yuanheng and Hechang changed their appearance, heading all the way north. Only these two were accustomed to fine food and clothing daily. Their money pouches were kept with attendants. Now both were penniless, with no way to travel far. With pursuers searching everywhere, they could only hide locally among fleeing refugees. They walked for four full days without leaving Dali’s borders, instead detained in Sui City due to excessive inspections.

However, just at this moment, opportunity suddenly arrived. First someone inexplicably arranged lodging for them, then sent silver and carriages. He was extremely alert, just about to seize the person to question them thoroughly, when he suddenly recognized the other party as the Jiang family’s steward. Steward Jiang quickly presented exit documents, informing him everything was Li Weiyang’s design – causing them to mistakenly kidnap that dowager consort, thus suffering the Emperor’s manhunt. The current plan could only disguise themselves and quickly leave Dali.

Li Yuanheng originally harbored twelve parts suspicion, but seeing the exit documents stopped overthinking. After carefully checking authenticity, he took the silver, four-wheeled carriage, and hired a driver to depart. Traveling lightly all the way, relying on those exit documents, they smoothly left Dali’s borders.

Poking her head from the carriage, Hechang suddenly laughed: “Fourth Brother, we’re about to leave Dali!” She was originally extremely vigilant, but this prolonged suppression and inexplicable fear of pursuers, plus seeing Mobei’s army ahead, made her start relaxing her guard.

Li Yuanheng nodded: “Someday I’ll avenge this!” He’d never been so disheveled before – absolutely couldn’t let Li Weiyang go like this! Thinking thus, Li Yuanheng’s expression grew increasingly sinister. Actually they hadn’t completely shaken off Dali’s pursuers. These people seemed like lingering ghosts, always following closely. Li Yuanheng knew the Emperor specially sent Seventh Prince Tuoba Yu leading troops in urgent pursuit. Now at the border between nations, precisely where both sides watched tightly, the original one thousand Imperial Guards had long merged with the hundred thousand border troops.

Though ahead lay Mobei’s five hundred thousand troops, Li Yuanheng dared not risk stopping, only desperately fleeing forward. He’d already decided – upon reaching Mobei, he’d immediately raise troops to attack Dali. Merely a hundred thousand men, originally isolated and weak, plus after Dali’s earthquake when vitality was greatly damaged – attacking now was perfect timing! When he fought all the way to Dali’s capital, he’d behead that Li Weiyang to vent his hatred! To repay this girl’s mockery!

Hechang glanced at Li Yuanheng’s sinister expression, couldn’t help shaking her head. She’d originally thought Li Weiyang had some remarkable plan – turned out she merely toyed with them once. Didn’t Li Yuanheng still seize the chance to escape? What terrible consequences this might cause – that girl probably didn’t know yet! When Dali ran with blood like rivers, Li Weiyang would definitely regret today’s frivolous mockery! Initially she thought Li Weiyang and she were the same type – really overestimated her! Li Weiyang was merely an ignorant fool who relied on petty cleverness to toy with people!

Ahead lay endless grasslands. The carriage raced forward wildly. Li Yuanheng laughed heartily. Once he returned to his army, he’d turn around and kill Tuoba Yu!

Just then, Mobei’s sentries had already discovered them.

Looking toward that military banner – golden flag bearing a black wolf head – Li Yuanheng couldn’t help feeling wild joy. The vanguard army at the front had already received news, waiting here for the Fourth Prince’s arrival, obviously not expecting pursuers behind them. The carriage raced into formation before hastily stopping.

“There are a hundred thousand cavalry behind. How many people did you bring total?” Li Yuanheng asked loudly.

“Your Highness, five hundred thousand have assembled. His Majesty already issued orders, just awaiting Your Highness’s command.” Immediately a general answered Li Yuanheng’s question while preparing to bow to him.

“Exceptional times – dispense with formalities. Immediately form battle array, prepare to meet the enemy!” Li Yuanheng jumped from the carriage, swiftly turning to mount a warhorse. Hechang likewise followed closely.

Hearing the Fourth Prince’s order, immediately soldiers produced a horn and blew it.

Just then, Tuoba Yu had already led vanguard troops here. He coldly watched Li Yuanheng run into formation, only loudly ordering below: “Pass the command – set fires.”

Those tens of thousands of soldiers who followed responded in unison, immediately lighting torches in hand and throwing them onto the grassland before retreating. It was precisely late winter – vegetation already withered, weather dry. With wind aiding flames, plus wind direction from south to north, immediately blazing fire ignited across the entire grassland.

Li Yuanheng roared furiously: “Quickly find people to extinguish the fire!”

Tuoba Yu was truly vicious. Everyone knew grassland fires were most troublesome – because flames were fierce, speed fast, fire heads high. Plus grasslands were open with few rivers. Fire borrowing wind momentum would spread rapidly – especially for Mobei people. After fires, livestock bedding formed smoldering fires, sometimes lasting several months, leaving hidden dangers of rekindling – extremely dangerous. But grassland winds were changeable, so Dali people would absolutely not easily use such fire attacks, because sometimes wind direction changed, instead causing tragic casualties to their own side!

Moreover, Mobei’s five hundred thousand assembled in batches without alarming Dali. How would they suddenly think to use fire attack! Tuoba Yu was clearly just pursuing him – how would he carry torches? Could this be long premeditated – Li Yuanheng had no time to think about these things. He only felt having five hundred thousand men – even if each spat once they could find ways to control the fire. But suddenly hearing a tremendous “peng” sound, countless tragic wails erupted from his own troops. He turned to look – that carriage that brought them all the way had suddenly exploded. Flames instantly spread. Countless soldiers hadn’t reacted yet were already rolling in fire, making exceptionally tragic cries.

That carriage – that carriage was tampered with! Li Yuanheng stared in disbelief. Clearly Jiang Hua agreed with him to have Mobei send troops, so the Emperor would reemploy the Jiang family. But now Jiang Hua actually dared use such a carriage to trap him!

Tuoba Yu sat on horseback, coldly watching the flames roll across from him, his gaze cold and stern. Zhou Dashou was right – today’s wind direction wouldn’t affect Dali, would only cause Mobei heavy casualties! And that carriage also suddenly exploded under the fire’s high temperature – timing perfect!

Flames had already burned across a thousand miles of grassland. Li Yuanheng ordered subordinate soldiers to quickly cut firebreaks, but to no avail. He said hatefully: “Jiang Hua, you’re good! You’re too good! So everything was you colluding with them to harm me! Just you wait! I’ll definitely make you pay the price!” Obviously he’d already pinned everything on the Jiang family. He even felt the Jiang family deliberately lured him into the capital just to execute him. That supposedly timely-aid carriage was clearly a death warrant accelerating flames. Jiang Hua, you’re truly too vicious! What alliance – completely a front for restoring your Jiang family’s power!

Mobei soldiers couldn’t run downwind because they couldn’t outrun flames. They had no choice but to run against wind, but this way they fell into Tuoba Yu’s encirclement. This battle concluded with two hundred thousand troops captured, remaining two hundred thousand burned alive. Li Yuanheng only led a hundred thousand fleeing in panic. Tuoba Yu won complete victory without bloodshed. This bizarre winning method – even Dali’s soldiers didn’t know how they won victory.

Tuoba Yu gazed at the raging flames before him, eyes bright. His mind flashed to Li Weiyang’s final meaningful smile. He couldn’t help smiling, saying softly: “Li Yuanheng, farewell.”

This great fire blazed fiercely for a day, heading northward all the way. Billowing smoke rolled, burning farther and farther, only extinguishing at evening under heavy rain. However, this battle already severely damaged Mobei people. For the next ten years, they had no way to raise large-scale warfare.

At this moment in Dali’s capital, all was peaceful. With a “clang” sound, the already-locked Li household gates were opened again.

Bai Zhi held a lamp for Li Weiyang. All along the way light and shadow swayed. Behind Li Weiyang, a round of pale moon’s clear radiance lightly patted courtyard walls. That slightly dim vermillion color seemed covered with gauze, hazy and ethereal as if in dreams.

Li Minde hurried to meet her. His smile appeared very ordinary, showing not the slightest hint he’d just plotted life-and-death matters for five hundred thousand people together with Li Weiyang: “The Jiang family’s steward has already left Dali. He’ll never return.”

Li Weiyang sighed: “I didn’t want to do this either. One fire burning over – Mobei lost not only grassland. In the coming year, who knows how many cattle and sheep will starve, how many commoners will suffer losses. Only, after Dali’s earthquake, Mobei’s five hundred thousand troops were drawn. Jiang Hua, to seize back military authority, didn’t hesitate to sell out the country. They would naturally condone Mobei obtaining countless cities – only then would it be the Jiang family’s turn to save the situation. I absolutely cannot permit the Jiang family to regain power!” Moreover, according to custom, wherever Mobei’s army went, they’d casually massacre cities, kill innocent civilians, violate women, harm children – all beast behavior. With this fire, the Mobei emperor had no choice but to lead people to distant places seeking new water and grass-rich lands. Even if this year passed and grass regrew next year, having lost five hundred thousand troops, Mobei had no way to rally again.

Li Minde looked at her, after a long while saying: “I didn’t expect you’d give this merit to Tuoba Yu. I thought you’d already abandoned him.”

Li Weiyang showed no emotion, saying coldly: “Yes, I’ve already abandoned him. But currently he’s the best candidate. Such merit – I’d rather give it to a stranger than to the Jiang family or Tuoba Zhen. Conversely, the Crown Prince’s rash action this time let Li Yuanheng escape. One can imagine, compared with this, what tremendous blame he’ll suffer.”

Hearing this, Bai Zhi and Mo Zhu exchanged glances. Li Minde’s heart shook greatly: “I thought you couldn’t bear those innocent civilians suffering.”

Li Weiyang smiled: “I have only one objective – making the Jiang family never rise again.” Making Tuoba Zhen gaze at that throne, never obtaining it! As for the rest… merely incidental. She had no need to be a good-hearted person, nor the heart to be savior.

Li Minde only smiled. For Li Weiyang’s wishes, he could do anything. He smiled: “Li Yuanheng is extremely calculating about gains and losses. Now he thinks Jiang Hua sold him out and betrayed him – he’ll definitely seek recompense quickly.”

Zhao Yue had been following behind them without speaking. Now she finally couldn’t help saying: “But shouldn’t he first seek revenge on our miss?”

Li Weiyang turned around, seeing Zhao Yue’s expression full of confusion, only saying gently: “No. He’s an especially proud person. What he cannot tolerate most is betrayal. In this world only he betrays others – he absolutely cannot permit others betraying him. Between him and me, we were never friends. My toying with him isn’t strange. But Jiang Hua sent his five hundred thousand troops into a death trap. Perhaps now he thinks Jiang Hua designed an entire scheme to harm him. Tell me, how will he deal with the Jiang family? He’ll want nothing more than to tear them to shreds.”

Though Li Weiyang spent little time with Li Yuanheng, she saw through his character. Like Tuoba Zhen, what he valued most was his great cause. Jiang Hua “destroyed” his great cause, sending those five hundred thousand troops to no return. He must have completely lost Mobei’s throne. Upon returning he’d probably immediately face punishment. One could imagine how much he’d hate Jiang Hua – likely regardless of everything else, he’d first avenge this.

Jiang Hua, you wanted to scheme against me – you can’t blame me for being vicious. Moreover, you always wanted my life. Naturally I must repay you likewise. Li Weiyang watched the night wind rise, her voice growing lighter: “Spring is approaching, isn’t it? Even this wind doesn’t feel cold anymore.”

Jiang residence, two days later on a clear morning. Every night Jiang Hua suffered headaches. Without lighting strong incense he had no way to sleep. Yet even so, he still woke early. Faintly hearing roosters crowing outside the window, he instinctively opened his eyes, calling the name of his personal maid. But no one responded.

Outside the sky hadn’t fully brightened. Candle flames in the room burned nearly spent. He sat up from bed, then saw two dead people in the room – both night-watch maids. His gaze froze. A chill rose up his spine. He quickly climbed from bed, not even having time to dress, rapidly walking out. Outside in the courtyard – all corpses. He didn’t glance at those servants, almost running all the way. Just reaching the entrance, he saw a ground full of guards, all with throats slit.

Pearls and jade on corridor roofs flashed brilliantly, yet he couldn’t help bending over to vomit. Soon he had to straighten up, continuing forward, walking all the way to his father’s courtyard. In the courtyard – green tiles and red walls, flowers and trees lush in the garden, bird songs exceptionally clear… A small bird perched on a nearby window sill, tilting its head, quietly watching winding fresh blood slowly flowing from inside the room, stopping beneath the threshold unable to flow further.

Entering over the threshold, Jiang Hua stumbled, tripped by the threshold and fell quite awkwardly. He raised his head, staring at the person on the bed, his gaze completely frozen.

Jiang Xu and Lady Jiang lay side by side on the bed, both already dead. Items in the room intact, door tightly closed, but Jiang Xu’s head had been hacked multiple times. Though still attached to his body, it was already unbearably horrific…

When Capital Magistrate Yao Changqing arrived at the Jiang residence, it was already an hour later. This exceptionally silent great mansion – when the vegetable delivery vendor entered through the back door that morning, everything erupted. Yao Changqing received the report. Not even having time to take a sedan chair, he galloped all the way on horseback, quickly rushing into the Jiang residence. All along the way seeing hundreds of corpses, he was momentarily shocked. The Jiang family actually hid so many shadow guards – no, there were also forty to fifty people here who weren’t the Jiang family’s shadow guards. Then they were assassins? But now he had no way to concern himself with these. He urgently needed to know – were the Jiang family’s masters still alive! He didn’t know where the master’s rooms were, could only search inward leading guards all the way, finally finding Jiang Xu’s room.

Just entering the room, seeing blood everywhere again. In the room was the scent of intoxicating incense – clearly the assassins used drugs… Yao Changqing’s gaze searched the room, sweeping past two corpses on the bed, finally settling in the room’s corner. In that corner was a gray shadowy figure – one person’s neck drooping like a dying butterfly futilely struggling. He sat where sunlight couldn’t reach. Light and shadow starkly dragged out a patch of black shadow spreading on the floor, appearing very sinister.

“Third Young Master—” Yao Changqing froze, staring at that person. “What exactly happened?” Why did the entire Jiang family die overnight? Why? Jiang Xu, Jiang Li, Jiang Yang, the two Jiang ladies – assassins didn’t even spare the Jiang family’s chickens and dogs. What kind of hatred required this extent? And why did Jiang Hua alone survive?

But this wouldn’t be mercy. Leaving only Jiang Hua seemed more like extremely cruel punishment – making him live to watch all relatives die unnatural deaths. But how did the other party accomplish this? The Jiang family was a century-old clan, secretly concealing so many shadow guards, heavily fortified defenses. Jiang Xu and Jiang Yang originally going to meet Duke Jiangguo but returning midway, even Duke Chengguo’s second branch master Jiang Li returning home for mourning barely half a month – all divine commanders of troops. How could they be killed without any awareness? What kind of terrifying force was this?

A series of questions swirled in Yao Changqing’s mind, nearly plunging him into confusion. He had no choice but to step forward asking Jiang Hua, trying to obtain the truth from him.

Jiang Hua slowly raised his head, staring at Yao Changqing as if seeing something, yet as if seeing nothing. Or perhaps seeing but not caring at all. He directly stood up.

Yao Changqing went forward to stop him. However, Jiang Hua summoned strength from who knows where, knocking him over onto the ground with one push, furiously issuing a roar! It was Mobei people! He knew it was Mobei people! Those people left the wolf totem! On his father’s face they carved the wolf totem!

Yes! He Jiang Hua had close dealings with Mobei people, could even be said to have long betrayed the country, but this was only the betrayal those fools thought! The current imperial family was already corrupt – someday they’d be replaced. Their Jiang family had generations of merit, talented people emerging in large numbers. Why couldn’t they replace the Tuoba clan! But this thought he’d never mentioned to anyone – even grandfather didn’t know.

Jiang Hua had been secretly contacting Mobei and southern border people. Whoever was useful, he could deal with, could utilize! For so many years, Mobei deployed a batch of secret forces in Dali – it was he Jiang Hua who trained this team for them! He personally trained them, just waiting for the day they’d be useful! He had strategy. Li Yuanheng had ambition. One wanted the Jiang family’s eternal glory, one wanted Mobei’s hegemony. They were close partners. Though mutually wary, when necessary, he could train secret weapons for the other to deal with Mobei’s First Prince. The other could also sell Mobei military intelligence to him in exchange for appropriate benefits! They could both be called traitors, but equally, they were both manipulators of war victory and defeat! This sounded incredible, but this was the truth!

Even forced to this state by Li Weiyang, Jiang Hua never thought of deploying this team, because unless absolutely necessary, these Mobei people must not appear in the capital! He wouldn’t abandon years of planning for one foolish woman! But now, look what Li Yuanheng did! He actually used the secret assassins Jiang Hua trained to turn around and kill the entire Jiang family! Yes, all dead except him Jiang Hua! Simply laughable – such a laughable thing existed in the world!

Jiang Hua recalled that battle report. Tuoba Yu originally pursued Fourth Prince of Mobei but encountered head-on the five hundred thousand Mobei troops already assembled at Dali’s borders. Yes, everyone knew Mobei people were secretly assembling, but didn’t know when they’d launch attack – just happened to be encountered by Tuoba Yu! Not only that, he perfectly repelled this massive army using a shocking method – fire attack. If wind direction had changed then, Tuoba Yu would definitely die. Dali’s hundred thousand troops would also be completely annihilated. Yet he won – won without bloodshed, won perfectly!

While the Emperor was greatly pleased, he abandoned the original plan to employ the Jiang family. At that time Jiang Hua didn’t understand what went wrong in between. Hadn’t Li Yuanheng said he’d controlled Li Weiyang? Then why did the person he finally kidnapped become the dowager consort? Li Yuanheng not only became the laughingstock of the entire world but also buried five hundred thousand troops in a bizarre battlefield.

Now, Jiang Hua looked at corpses covering the ground. Li Weiyang’s face suddenly surfaced in his mind.

She was smiling – quietly, ruthlessly, full of cold mockery.

She’d remained silent all along, dealing falsely with Li Yuanheng, making him think victory was assured, only waiting for Li Weiyang to fall into disgrace. But actually, she’d been plotting all along – making Li Yuanheng flee, making Mobei suffer crushing defeat, watching him and Li Yuanheng become mortal enemies! He should have guessed earlier. On that night when the Jiang family steward inexplicably disappeared, he should have realized – Li Weiyang must have used methods making Li Yuanheng think everything was he Jiang Hua’s scheme. Enraged Li Yuanheng would only recklessly kill the Jiang family to vent fury, but would leave him Jiang Hua to watch helplessly as the secret assassins he personally trained killed everyone…

Ha ha ha ha ha ha, Jiang Hua’s closest relatives actually died at the hands of assassins he trained – a joke, tremendous joke!

Yao Changqing watched the seemingly crazed Jiang Hua, quickly ordering people to restrain him. But though Jiang Hua swayed unsteadily, his strength was extraordinarily great. He suddenly walked toward a nearby room. Upon emerging, a tinderbox was already lit in his hand. Pale blue flames ignited immediately, swaying toward midair. Soon bed curtains throughout the Jiang family rooms all caught fire. Jiang Hua stared at those flames laughing coldly.

“Quick! Quickly put out the fire!” Yao Changqing shouted loudly. He simply couldn’t believe Jiang Hua would do such a thing – he actually set fire to burn Jiang Xu’s corpse – “Quickly restrain Third Young Master!”

Guards rushed forward, firmly pressing down Jiang Hua. Jiang Hua only felt sweetness in his throat. That blood like an unstoppable floodgate gushed forth! He lowered his head, seeing his chest full of bright red blood stains, yet he began laughing madly without stopping!

He regretted so much, truly regretted so much. If he’d never trained this batch of people for Li Yuanheng, the Jiang family wouldn’t have died. If he’d never let Li Yuanheng enter the capital, the Jiang family wouldn’t have died. If he’d recklessly deployed this force first, the one dead now would be Li Weiyang! Li Weiyang, you proceeded step by step, retreated to advance, lured enemies deep, all just for today’s fatal strike!

Li Weiyang oh Li Weiyang – your deep scheming, poisonous intentions – no one in the world can compare!

Finally, he covered his chest with one hand and bent down. Everyone only saw this always clever and wise, proud and unrivaled Jiang family Third Young Master actually crying curled up like a child into a ball!