To try on her new dress, Jing Hengbo was indeed bathing.

Shang Kingdom’s treatment was very thoughtful. The large tub brought by servants was big enough for someone to swim in. Originally they wanted to scatter fresh flower petals or something, but Jing Hengbo thought that looked too much like tomato and egg soup, so she refused.

Hot steam filled the entire room, making it impossible to see clearly from across the room. Only the gentle sound of water could be heard, making one imagine water droplets flowing over crystalline skin, with occasional glimpses of soft, smooth skin gleaming through the pale mist.

Because the steam was so heavy, when powder sprinkled down from the ceiling into the bathtub, it was completely unnoticeable.

And Shang Kingdom’s perpetual strange odors also dulled one’s sense of smell, making it impossible to detect many subtle scents.

As Jing Hengbo bathed, she suddenly felt there seemed to be an extra layer of foam in the water. When she touched it, it was slippery, but she hadn’t yet used bath beans or soap. She scooped up the foam and splashed it outside the tub, making the floor even more slippery.

There seemed to be voices outside. She pricked up her ears to listen and thought she heard Yelu Qi, so she relaxed and continued bathing slowly.

…

Yelu Qi had already entered her courtyard. Yong Xue loyally guarded the door to Jing Hengbo’s bathing room, telling him the Queen was bathing and no idle persons were allowed entry. Yelu Qi just smiled and sat in front of the door watching the scenery, waiting for Jing Hengbo to finish her bath.

At this moment, on a tree not far away, Bee Stings watched that door with burning eyes. Seeing Yelu Qi sitting far from the room entrance, they breathed a sigh of relief.

Although their master hadn’t given instructions on how to handle men courting the Queen, the Bee Stings felt duty-bound to monitor all those harboring ill intentions toward the Queen.

“Wait!” Suddenly one Bee Sting poked a companion beside him.

Everyone’s gaze fell on a guard below who seemed to pass by casually.

The man walked past the Queen’s courtyard, appeared again after a while, had looked up at the roof once, but ultimately circled away.

This strange behavior caught the Bee Stings’ attention. These experienced scouts suddenly said, “Look! His mouth!”

Several people’s gazes fell on his mouth, discovering the man’s mouth was puffed out as if containing something.

“All suspicious things must be eliminated while still suspicious,” one Bee Sting said.

“Better to kill wrongly than let one escape,” another said.

“I’ll go,” the third had already swept over.

The patrolling figure appeared again at the base of the wall. This short, masked man had been ordered to blow a sheep whistle near the Queen’s courtyard, but he didn’t dare just jump onto the roof and was circling around looking for a suitable place to blow the whistle. Suddenly he felt wind behind him and a cold breath, then his back received a heavy “bang” of a punch.

That punch made little sound but had enough force to destroy flesh and blood. His internal organs seemed to shift instantly, and he couldn’t help opening his mouth and spitting out the whistle he’d been holding.

The Bee Sting behind him smiled coldly. Just as he reached out to catch the whistle for examination, suddenly the whistle sounded.

“Ga—” A sharp, long sound with great penetrating power shot out in the wind.

The Bee Sting was startled, then realized this whistle was specially made. When the man’s back was struck and he forcefully expelled the whistle, it would still make sounds from moving through and rubbing against the wind.

The Bee Sting reached out to catch the whistle, looking around alertly but finding nothing unusual, couldn’t help frowning.

He picked up the short man and carried him back to the tree. They were accustomed to not exposing their identities, existing only in the shadows.

Yelu Qi and others in the courtyard also heard that strange whistle sound. Yelu Qi leaped up and circled the courtyard wall but found nothing wrong—the short man had already been carried away by the Bee Sting.

Yelu Qi was still uneasy, his gaze falling on the back wall of the room where Jing Hengbo was bathing. That was the only shaded wall facing the neighboring courtyard, where no one was guarding.

At this time, because of that strange whistle sound, many people in the garden came out to investigate. And reports came that Shang Kingdom’s Crown Prince had already entered Huitong Hall.

Yelu Qi walked to that back wall, planning to carefully check if there was anything wrong next door, when suddenly he heard a thunderous “boom.”

The sound was extremely close, right next door. The wall seemed to have been broken through, dust rose, and instantly you couldn’t see anyone on the other side.

Wind rushed sharply. Yelu Qi looked up to see a huge shadow suddenly appear in the gray-yellow sky.

The shadow was completely white, flashing with faint golden light, larger than a giant horse, with four bowl-sized hooves treading air. In a blink it had crossed the courtyard wall.

Yelu Qi leaped up, raising one hand to push this monster back, but who knew the beast’s golden light was like spiky armor that stabbed anyone who touched it. He quickly withdrew his hand, but the beast was already charging straight at him, about to crash him into the wall and room.

Yelu Qi’s body shot up, retreating rapidly, actually faster than the beast flying forward. With a thunderous crash he burst through the wall first, shooting into the room.

Inside the room water splashed, followed by a scream. It was Jing Hengbo’s voice shouting, “Nobody come in!”

On the big tree outside the room, the Bee Stings’ faces changed dramatically as they looked at each other—seeing her bathing, seeing it crash the wall, seeing him go in, what to do?

One quickly pulled out paper to write a secret message, only to be slapped on the head by someone beside him. “Do you understand what can be reported and what can’t? Do you really want to cause trouble!”

…

Inside the room, Yelu Qi had no time to look back. He quickly dragged over a nearby cabinet to block the breach in the wall. With a thunderous crash, the beast immediately slammed into it, getting stuck in the opening. The beast struggled, causing bricks and stones to fall continuously from where its body was wedged.

At this time the garden was in commotion, with people rushing over to watch. The back wall of Jing Hengbo’s courtyard was broken, and the shaded wall of the room was broken, but because Yelu Qi had promptly used the beast to block the opening, no one could see inside the room.

The beast seemed extremely frantic, still struggling with snorting breath. Suddenly it swung its rump and forcefully crashed three feet inward with a “crack.” The cabinet was knocked open. Yelu Qi behind the cabinet had wanted to block the beast, but suddenly his feet slipped and he slid backward, with another “crack” as his back hit the bathtub.

Behind him came an “Ah!” It was Jing Hengbo’s voice. She stared dumbfounded, crouching in the bathtub, asking Yelu Qi, “What is that? What is that?”

It looked like a camel-sheep, but were there such large and fierce camel-sheep in the world?

The beast made a loud “Roar,” its voice furious and irritated. Its body struggled, bricks and stones fell with a clatter, and it forced more than half its body inside. It looked like this back wall would be completely broken.

If completely broken, Jing Hengbo would be completely exposed. Outside was a sea of people, and you could vaguely hear Shang Kingdom’s Crown Prince angrily ordering rescue. There also seemed to be people shouting to stop him, creating complete chaos.

Yelu Qi got up from the ground, noticing the floor was strangely slippery. As he turned around, he inevitably saw Jing Hengbo.

The bathtub had nearly been overturned by his collision, so the water inside was already half gone. Therefore, even though Jing Hengbo crouched as low as possible, half her shoulder was inevitably exposed above the water. The steam had dissipated considerably by now, so he could clearly see her slender, snow-white neck, shoulders with lustrous skin and gentle lines, collarbones outlining exquisite contours under jade-thin skin, and below the neck was an almost overwhelming undulation…

He suddenly felt heat in his lower abdomen, his breathing involuntarily becoming rapid, and quickly turned his head away.

Jing Hengbo had already sensed his gaze but couldn’t hide. Her change of clothes, fearing getting wet, were wrapped in cloth and placed in the inner room with a wall between. She couldn’t summon them by will alone, so she said, “Take me inside!”

Yelu Qi turned around in surprise, but she urgently said, “Don’t turn around!”

Yelu Qi thought for a moment, then with his back to her, reached back to help her. Her voice became more urgent: “Don’t!”

Yelu Qi froze, truly not knowing what to do.

At this time the beast made another angry roar, struggling forcefully and crashing in. The beast’s body was huge, filling almost the entire room once inside. Yelu Qi quickly pushed Jing Hengbo’s bathtub toward the back room.

The beast charged over, but its hooves suddenly slipped. Its enormous body crashed straight toward the bathtub. Yelu Qi moved extremely agilely, pushing the bathtub in a curve, sliding past the giant camel-sheep’s nose.

The camel-sheep was also cunning, simply not getting up but sliding on the ground in pursuit. It seemed extremely obsessed with Jing Hengbo, extending its long tongue from far away trying to lick her. Jing Hengbo screamed “Ahhhh” and shouted, “Push quickly! Get me to my clothes!”

Yelu Qi had to push the bathtub and run again. Outside was a sea of people, but the room was too crowded for anyone else to enter. Suddenly a bird shadow flashed—Er Gouzi flew in through a gap. Looking down, he saw a huge camel-sheep chasing on the ground while Yelu Qi pushed a bathtub containing Jing Hengbo, sliding back and forth. It was truly a comical scene, so he widened his eyes and called out, “Oh oh, so interesting!”

“Clothes! Clothes!” Jing Hengbo saw her clothing bundle hanging on a rack and shouted, “Let go, turn around, close your eyes—I’m going to stand up!”

Yelu Qi was still laughing at this point. “Just stand…” But being glared at by Jing Hengbo, he touched his nose and obediently turned around.

Jing Hengbo stood up with a splash, reaching for her clothing bundle.

Suddenly a huge white shadow flashed, followed by another thunderous crash. The camel-sheep, excited by the chase, actually broke through the partition wall too. A big head crashed through violently, the bathtub overturned, and the clothing bundle rolled to a corner, brushing past Jing Hengbo’s fingers.

Jing Hengbo cried “Ah!” Before she could summon the clothing bundle, her body was already falling, with half her body sliding out of the bathtub.

Yelu Qi, blocking in front of her, turned and pounced, landing on her body while reaching to remove his clothes.

Jing Hengbo was so shocked her pupils dilated. Just as she was about to push him away, Yelu Qi had already removed his outer robe and wrapped it around her.

He had been pushing the bathtub and running urgently, with water splashing continuously, so his clothes were already soaked through. Now removing his outer garment, his inner clothing clung tightly to his body, revealing solid lines—you could even vaguely see eight-pack abs.

When removing his outer robe to wrap around Jing Hengbo, no matter how careful, he inevitably touched her body. He only felt soft jade and fragrant cream under his fingers, amazingly smooth, while the undulating curves gave him a soul-stirring, heart-stopping sensation. That burning, rippling feeling came again, and he trembled slightly.

The honey grass powder mixed into Jing Hengbo’s bath water was an aphrodisiac herb for camel-sheep, but it also had some effect on humans. At this moment Yelu Qi felt heat in his lower abdomen, his body somewhat weak, involuntarily breathing slightly heavily as he backed away.

Jing Hengbo, wrapped in his robe, felt slightly reassured. Her gaze unconsciously fell on him.

The inner garment Yelu Qi wore was made of the finest silk brocade, pure white and thin as another layer of skin. When wet, it was almost transparent. Therefore Jing Hengbo saw that below his lower abdomen, a pattern suddenly appeared faintly.

But the light was dim and everything chaotic, so she couldn’t see clearly. She also couldn’t lift his clothes to investigate, only wondering in her heart—when she had wiped his body before, she didn’t remember him having any tattoos or birthmarks.

Just as she was about to ask him, she suddenly felt his breathing was heavy. She quickly wrapped the robe tighter, jumped into the bathtub to hide her body, and turned back to look for her clothing bundle.

When the camel-sheep crashed over, it had gotten stuck in the wall again. Now it suddenly struggled and crashed over once more. Yelu Qi hugged the bathtub and rolled toward a corner, just as Jing Hengbo grabbed her clothing bundle.

She was somewhat surprised in her heart, not quite understanding why Yelu Qi kept avoiding this camel-sheep without killing it, but she knew he must have his reasons and quickly hurried to put on clothes.

Suddenly another figure flashed, with a delicate shout of “Chasing Wind!” A human figure rushed straight into the room, blocking in front of Yelu Qi, saying, “Leave quickly!”

Yelu Qi raised an eyebrow and smiled without answering. The young woman turned back, unable to see clearly in the dim light. At one glance she saw Yelu Qi disheveled and Jing Hengbo changing clothes in the bathtub, her expression couldn’t help but change.

At this time the camel-sheep pounced over. Jing Hengbo was still frantically putting on clothes. Just as Yelu Qi was about to push the bathtub far away, the young woman suddenly reached out and grasped the bathtub.

Yelu Qi looked up at her, and she stared down at Yelu Qi from above the bathtub. The two looked at each other across the bathtub, with Jing Hengbo between them.

Jing Hengbo felt extremely awkward—what kind of situation was this? Why were they both grabbing her bathtub and not letting go? This made her feel like a plate of steamed chicken being fought over, okay?

Looking at their expressions again, hmm, did these two know each other? There seemed to be quite a sour smell in the air, didn’t there?

She had to raise her hand between the two and loudly say, “He and I didn’t…”

Yelu Qi suddenly kicked backward, fiercely kicking the frantically charging giant camel-sheep out.

This kick was clean and beautiful, neat and powerful, but not his usual style, obviously he was somewhat irritated.

The young woman’s expression changed. She spun the bathtub with her hand, and Jing Hengbo slid out with the tub. Yelu Qi quickly went to protect her, but the young woman had already passed him and pounced toward the camel-sheep, grabbing the strap under the camel-sheep’s neck. The camel-sheep had slipped on the ground but steadied itself with its own weight. The young woman reached out to scratch three inches below the camel-sheep’s neck.

Over there, Yelu Qi rushed to the bathtub, but the floor was too slippery and the bathtub overturned again. Jing Hengbo had already put on her clothes by this time and jumped up with a flip. Just then Yelu Qi pounced over, unable to stop his momentum in time, and with a “bang” knocked Jing Hengbo against the wall.

Jing Hengbo looked up, her lips pressing against his chin.

Both were startled.

She felt his chin’s skin was burning hot, this heat spreading from chin to chest to waist, igniting at all places where their bodies touched.

He felt her skin was slightly cool, like a pool of soft, delicate water surrounding him. The wet body was more sensitive to skin contact, and the convex and concave undulations and curves all met in this moment’s instant encounter. His heart suddenly understood and outlined her arc, and the fire in his heart was like a brilliant arc shooting light, suddenly blazing and flying out. The faint honey fragrance in the air that made people restless became even stronger. He could hardly suppress his long-buried desire, his chin moving slightly downward to press against her lips.

When their lips met, that heat burned Jing Hengbo into another shock. Yelu Qi’s hand had already reached over, grabbing her waist. A low sigh came from his throat, as if marveling at the extreme tightness and slenderness of her waistline.

Jing Hengbo felt his movements were somewhat hasty, different from usual, and was slightly alarmed in her heart. She raised her hand to block his lips, saying in a low voice, “Yelu!”

Yelu Qi’s whole body shook, hearing the resistance in her tone. He looked up to see her eyes shooting over brightly and clearly, with a rare sharpness.

His heart was slightly restless, very much wanting to forcefully kiss down on those rose petal-like lips, to taste the fragrance he had yearned for in countless dark nights of tossing and turning. But his consciousness clearly told him that once there was intimate contact, the consequence would be eternal separation.

He suddenly let go, and when his hand left her waist, he suddenly felt empty and lonely.

Jing Hengbo looked down at his open hands, also feeling that gesture of letting go was somewhat desolate.

However, she breathed a sigh of relief. Yelu Qi was a good friend and confidant in her heart—once they crossed the line, she wouldn’t know how to face him in the future.

The young woman blocking the camel-sheep suddenly turned around, just seeing this scene. Her expression changed slightly, then she turned back around.

The giant camel-sheep seemed to have calmed down somewhat at this time, lowering its head. The young woman scratched the camel-sheep’s chin with one hand while throwing over a cloak with the other.

Yelu Qi caught it, looked at the young woman’s back, and frowned slightly.

Seeing the camel-sheep quiet down, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. But just then, another strange sheep whistle sounded not far away.

The young woman’s expression changed dramatically, saying, “Not good! Leave quickly!”

But it was already too late. The camel-sheep that had just calmed down suddenly roared loudly, lowered its head and charged over again.

At this time the young woman was right in front of the camel-sheep. She looked up at it with horrified eyes, shouting “Chasing Wind! Be quiet!” while spreading her arms, actually seeming to want to block in front of Yelu Qi.

Yelu Qi reached out an arm, grabbed her, and pulled her into his embrace. With his other hand he grabbed Jing Hengbo, withdrew his heels, and slid to another dead corner where the camel-sheep couldn’t reach.

The camel-sheep, having failed repeatedly, was at the peak of frustration. With a loud roar, it actually crashed its head toward the ground.

The camel-sheep wore golden silk armor and could crash into walls unharmed, but the ground was all the hardest green stone. This crash would certainly split its head open and kill it instantly.

The young woman cried “Ah!” sounding extremely nervous.

Jing Hengbo saw Er Gouzi still watching the excitement. A flash of inspiration struck her mind as she shouted, “Feifei!”

A white shadow flashed, a soft big tail swaying in the air. Feifei had already appeared in front of the camel-sheep Chasing Wind. When Chasing Wind’s head was still half a foot from the ground, she slipped under its forehead.

She raised one paw upward, supporting Chasing Wind’s head that was about to crash down. Her deep purple large eyes aligned with Chasing Wind’s eyes, blinking once, twice.

The camel-sheep widened its eyes, seeming to want to turn its gaze away, but was tightly attracted by Feifei’s gaze. Its head and neck froze rigidly in place.

Feifei slowly lifted its huge head back up. Her tiny body with one paw holding up the sky had quite an imposing air.

The young woman breathed a long sigh of relief.

Feifei then patted the camel-sheep’s face. The camel-sheep actually closed its eyes from her touch and lay down on the spot.

The young woman walked over and looked at Feifei with some surprise. Having accomplished this feat, Feifei was quite proud, curling her little paws and sauntering away with her chin up, ignoring everyone.

The young woman crouched beside the camel-sheep, lifted the beast’s eyelid to look, then suddenly snorted coldly, as if discovering something.

Jing Hengbo looked at Yelu Qi, who said softly, “Such a large camel-sheep should be Ji Kingdom Queen’s mount. It once saved her life, stayed by her side for many years, and has high status in Ji Kingdom. Moreover, camel-sheep that can mutate to this extent are extremely precious. Ji Kingdom still counts on this camel-sheep to reproduce and breed even more powerful camel-sheep varieties for Ji Kingdom’s female army. If killed, Ji Kingdom would become hostile to you, which would ultimately be disadvantageous.”

Jing Hengbo suddenly understood, frowning slightly. If that was the case, then today’s incident wasn’t accidental but arranged by someone, most likely related to Ji Kingdom princesses’ struggle for the throne.

She just didn’t know if it was the Third, Fourth, Seventh, or Eleventh Princess.

At this time the commotion inside calmed down, and people finally rushed in. Leading them was Shang Kingdom’s Crown Prince. At one glance he saw water traces everywhere, the bathtub rolling about, and though Jing Hengbo was dressed, her hair was still wet and disheveled as she spoke intimately with Yelu Qi. He couldn’t help frowning and pointing at Yelu Qi: “Seize him!”

“What for!” Jing Hengbo immediately intervened.

“This person’s background is unclear. He broke into Huitong Hall, and right after entering, such an incident occurred. I must investigate first.” The Crown Prince’s tone became much gentler when speaking to Jing Hengbo.

“No need to investigate,” Jing Hengbo smiled. “This is my future King Consort. He arrived a step late and happened to encounter this incident. He was acting to save me—can’t you see that, Crown Prince?”

“Your future King Consort?” Shang Lue frowned even deeper, his eyes toward Yelu Qi becoming even more unfriendly.

Yelu Qi stood in the shadows with a half-smile, feeling that despite the dangerous situation, hearing this sentence made it all worthwhile.

“Still in the consideration stage,” Jing Hengbo smiled.

She wasn’t trying to cause trouble for Yelu Qi—it was just that the young woman behind was staring at her with such intensity that she didn’t want to invite a pile of jealous troubles.

“Oh?” Shang Lue’s tone was meaningful. His gaze at Yelu Qi immediately carried several degrees of challenge.

The young woman suddenly walked over and said, “Future King Consort means he might not necessarily become your King Consort.” She looked at Yelu Qi but spoke to Jing Hengbo. “I, Ji Kingdom’s Seventh Princess Ji Wen, am interested in your future King Consort.”

She slightly curtsied with elegant posture and gentle voice—not domineering, but absolutely without cowering or shyness.

Only now did Jing Hengbo see her clearly. The woman wasn’t a first-glance beauty, but she was elegant and refined with excellent temperament. She lacked the royal family’s dazzling noble air, having more of a scholarly atmosphere. But when looking at people, her gaze was focused without concealment, faintly revealing the pride of heaven’s favored daughter.

Jing Hengbo found Ji Kingdom women quite interesting. They seemed unbound by Dahuang’s existing male-supremacist rules, possessing a rare natural equality consciousness between men and women. This was different from the “strong woman” flavor of people like Meng Potian who carried some boldness and deliberately challenged conventions. They truly felt women should act this way—fighting for love, fighting for everything men could fight for.

She chuckled: “No problem, no problem. Feel free to compete.”

Shang Lue immediately smiled at Yelu Qi: “I am Shang Kingdom Crown Prince Shang Lue, interested in your Queen.”

Yelu Qi also smiled at Shang Lue: “But I lack the magnanimity of a Queen. Crown Prince might as well try.”

The two men smiled at each other, sparks flashing in their eyes.

Jing Hengbo couldn’t be bothered—what business was it of theirs?

Her gaze swept over the unconscious camel-sheep, then looked outside. There were many people outside, and the camel-sheep’s body blocked many people’s view. Those outside probably still didn’t know what had really happened inside.

She suddenly said, “Seventh Princess, please go out and say the camel-sheep is dead.”

Ji Wen was also intelligent. Her eyes flashed, and without asking anything, she directly drew her sword and slashed her clothes to tatters, creating the appearance of fierce combat, then staggered out crookedly.

Immediately someone outside exclaimed, “Seventh Sister, what happened to you!”

Jing Hengbo peeked out to see a young girl rushing over to support Ji Wen. The girl was only about fifteen, wearing a pink silk dress, clean and pretty in a likeable way.

Jing Hengbo couldn’t help being stunned. She had originally thought the person secretly causing trouble would be most concerned about the outcome and would definitely be at the scene, but this person rushing out was truly beyond her expectations.

Ji Wen leaned on her sword, gasping and saying mournfully, “Chasing Wind… Chasing Wind… Chasing Wind it…”

She seemed exhausted or weak, unable to finish several attempts, but her eyes were already covered with tears, looking at people with both misery and despair.

Jing Hengbo greatly admired her acting skills.

The child glanced at the camel-sheep and immediately cried out in shock, “Chasing Wind is dead? Heavens! How could this happen!”

At this time Third Princess and Fourth Princess also rushed over. Hearing this, their expressions changed dramatically. Third Princess said sternly, “What happened!”

Fourth Princess shrieked, “Ji Wen, Chasing Wind was closest to you. With you there, how could you let it die? What were you doing?”

Eleventh Princess, tears brimming, blocked the two sisters who wanted to approach and question Ji Wen, saying gently, “Seventh Sister seems injured. She must have tried her best. Third Sister and Fourth Sister, don’t blame her. What’s more urgent now is Chasing Wind’s death. We should discuss how to report to the Great King…”

“How else to report?” Ji Yao said coldly. “Ji Wen failed to protect it and caused its death.”

Ji Wen hung her head listening, then suddenly swayed and fainted into Ji Lin’s arms, her short sword falling to the ground.

Ji Lin caught her sword, shedding tears: “Seventh Sister also tried her best. Besides, we also bear responsibility for failing to protect it. How can we only blame her…” She picked up Ji Wen and had a nearby maid take her, sighing, “Third Sister, Fourth Sister, this matter shouldn’t be argued here. Let’s go back and discuss it.”

Ji Qiong and Ji Yao looked around at the burning gazes of onlookers. Ji Qiong frowned and turned to leave. Ji Yao sneered and also turned away. Everyone found it boring and dispersed, still discussing as they walked, all saying that among these Ji Kingdom princesses, the Eleventh Princess, though youngest, was the most kind and proper. It seemed Ji Kingdom’s throne belonged to none other than her.

Ji Lin smiled as she watched everyone leave, then suddenly bowed to Jing Hengbo.

Jing Hengbo quickly returned the courtesy. The young girl said timidly, “Your Majesty Queen, I represent my Ji Kingdom in apologizing to you. Chasing Wind is our Great King’s beloved mount. Because it contracted a strange illness, we specially brought it to Shang Kingdom for treatment. It was originally confined in Third Sister’s courtyard, but somehow suddenly had an episode and went mad, breaking through your wall and causing you trouble. Please forgive us, Your Majesty.” She bowed again after speaking.

Jing Hengbo smiled: “You didn’t do it intentionally, and I suffered no real loss. Forget it.”

Ji Lin thanked her again, praising her generosity and tolerance with a basketful of pleasant words. Finally she shed tears saying, “I grew up with Chasing Wind accompanying me. Chasing Wind was our sisters’ beloved companion. Now that it’s dead, we can’t just leave it lying in the open. Please allow me to take Chasing Wind back.”

“That’s only natural. Please, please.” Jing Hengbo stepped aside and gestured with her hand.

Ji Lin slowly walked over, first turning to Chasing Wind’s front to see it motionless, couldn’t help shedding more tears.

Then she slowly sat down, leaning against the camel-sheep’s huge body, embracing it with both arms, stroking its warm long fur, then pressing her face against the fine hair, closing her eyes and gently rubbing with tender, sorrowful expression.

The nobles from various countries who had walked away saw this scene from afar and stopped, finding it beautiful yet tragic and touching. Some royalty with sons of similar age to Ji Lin were already considering whether to seek this young girl’s hand in marriage for their sons.

Jing Hengbo stood aside with arms crossed, watching with a thin smile on her lips.

Ji Lin gently inserted both hands into the camel-sheep’s thick fur, constantly stroking as if bidding farewell, her long sleeves hanging down.

Jing Hengbo suddenly said, “Eleventh Princess, what’s that in your sleeve?”

…

Ji Lin’s body suddenly stiffened. Her closed eyes instinctively wanted to open but she forcibly held back, still smiling: “What are you saying, Your Majesty?”

Jing Hengbo sneered, waved her hand, and with a slight “swish,” Ji Lin screamed as a cold gleam cut through her sleeve and flew out!

It was a short sword—the one Ji Wen had dropped earlier that Ji Lin had picked up. Somehow it had gotten into Ji Lin’s sleeve and was summoned through the air by Jing Hengbo, cutting through her sleeve.

The sword flashed, aimed at Ji Lin’s throat. Ji Lin’s expression changed as she screamed.

The nobles watching from afar approached in astonishment.

“Jade Queen, what are you doing!” Ji Lin’s face was pale, her voice angry, as she retreated.

The sword tip immediately pressed a foot closer. Jing Hengbo sneered: “What am I doing? Why don’t you say what you’re trying to do?”

“I was bidding farewell to Chasing Wind! Why are you suddenly pointing a sword at me? Didn’t I already apologize to you!” Ji Lin stepped back.

“You’re bidding it farewell, so why hide a sword in your sleeve? And it’s your Seventh Sister’s sword?” Jing Hengbo sneered, the sword pressing another foot closer.

“I picked up Seventh Sister’s sword with nowhere to put it, so I put it in my sleeve. What’s wrong with that!” Ji Lin retreated again.

“You have a sword hanging place at your waist but didn’t put it there. Instead you hid it in your sleeve without a scabbard. Aren’t you afraid this sword would cut your tender skin?” The sword tip advanced another foot. Jing Hengbo sneered: “Or did you pick up your Seventh Sister’s sword specifically to tamper with it?”

“Nonsense! What tampering could I do? Chasing Wind is already dead—what use would hiding a sword in my sleeve be?” Ji Lin retreated again, her tone unyielding.

“What use? To fake wounds!” Jing Hengbo said loudly. “Camel-sheep have thick fur and it’s already dead. Your Seventh Sister’s sword is sharp. You pretended to remember and bid farewell while the sword in your sleeve secretly slipped out to give the camel-sheep a wound in a vital spot that others couldn’t discover. This camel-sheep’s corpse will definitely be transported back to your Ji Kingdom. When the time comes, they’ll certainly examine the wounds. That wound in the vital spot would become ironclad evidence that your Seventh Sister killed the precious camel-sheep!”

“Nonsense! Why would I frame my Seventh Sister!” Ji Lin retreated again, her back hitting the wall with a “bang.”

“For the throne!” Suddenly a voice continued. Ji Lin turned to see Ji Wen approaching with a cold smile, dragging someone. That person was soft and listless—looking carefully, it was the maid Ji Lin had just ordered to help Ji Wen back to her room.

Meeting her incredulous gaze, Ji Wen dragged the maid to her front and lifted the maid’s hand, pointing it at Ji Lin.

Ji Lin’s expression immediately changed. She turned her head to avoid the maid’s hand with disgust: “Take her hand away! What do you mean!”

“Oh, it’s just a hand. What are you afraid of?” Ji Wen smiled, waving that hand in front of her. Ji Lin kept dodging, clearly holding her breath with veins bulging on her forehead.

Ji Wen suddenly flicked the maid’s fingernail right at Ji Lin’s nose. Ji Lin looked horrified, ignoring the sword suspended in front of her as she desperately covered her nose.

But Ji Wen was already laughing heartily, saying mockingly, “Ah, my little sister, what are you so afraid of? Is it because you know her fingernails contain poison?” She grabbed the maid’s other hand, curling her lips: “You’re too nervous. How could you not see clearly that the hand just now wasn’t the one hiding poison?”

Blood drained from Ji Lin’s face. She suddenly drew her sword to hack at the maid’s hand.

Ji Wen sneered, quickly stepped aside, and flicked the maid’s poisoned fingernail toward nearby flower bushes.

A faint bitter smell emanated with vague ash-gray color. Then a nearby shrub rapidly withered at a speed visible to everyone’s naked eyes.

Everyone was horrified—such powerful poison!

“My good sister,” Ji Wen’s expression seemed both mocking and weary. “If I hadn’t pretended to faint just now, when I was being taken back, this beloved trusted general of yours would have flicked this fingernail at me, right? This poison is quite wonderful—it can cause sudden respiratory arrest and muscle paralysis, looking like sudden death. Then you could say I killed Chasing Wind for a man, feared the Great King’s punishment, and simply committed suicide. Truly an excellent plan.”

“What are you saying… I don’t understand.” Ji Lin turned her face away, her gaze shifting uncertainly, still refusing to admit anything.

Everyone around was gasping. Shang Kingdom’s Crown Prince stroked his chin with a heavy gaze—could these Ji Kingdom princesses still be pursued? Each was more terrifying than the last!

“I said I had no interest in the throne, but you refuse to leave me alone. The assassins sent to kill me a few days ago—was that Third Sister, Fourth Sister, or you? Must we really fight to the death before you’ll stop?” Ji Wen held the maid’s hand and flicked her other fingernail. A grass-green smoke shot out as she laughed: “Hehe, honey grass powder. I smelled honey grass in that room just now—indeed your handiwork. So the sheep whistle was also blown by you, right? You were afraid Chasing Wind wouldn’t go mad enough, weren’t you?”

Ji Lin stopped talking. At this point, making excuses was meaningless.

Her face was bloodless. Taking advantage of Ji Wen’s apparent inattention, she secretly reached toward her waist.

The next instant her entire body flew through the air, crashing into Jing Hengbo’s hands.

Jing Hengbo raised one hand, fiercely choking her throat.

Exclamations and gasps came from nobles all around, with some striding over quickly.

Ji Lin struggled in her grasp, squeezing broken sounds from her throat: “Let… let… go of me…”

Jing Hengbo acted as if she hadn’t heard, fiercely gripping her throat and raising her hand in a slap.

“Crack!” A crisp sound that made everyone’s shoulders hunch. Like all melodramatic TV scenes, Ji Lin’s face was violently turned to one side, her snow-white, tender little face visibly swelling.

“You… you hit me…”

“I’m a woman—I don’t mind hitting women!” Jing Hengbo vented all her pent-up frustration on this seemingly delicate but actually detestable little face, landing another slap with a “crack.” “Because I’ve discovered that for women like you, only slapping you hard in public will teach you to remember!”

Another crisp sound as Ji Lin’s head, turned to one side, turned back.

Jing Hengbo grabbed her and pressed her against the wall, facing the royal nobles of six kingdoms and eight tribes, facing those troublesome sisters from Ji Kingdom.

“Crack!” The slap sound was sharp and clear.

“One slap to tell your Ji Kingdom—compete however you want internally, fight however you want, but don’t involve others or treat others’ reputations and fates as nothing! Use others as stepping stones and be careful not to sprain your own ankle!”

“Crack!” Another sound.

“Another one to tell you—those who think themselves clever are often the least clever, and those who treat others as idiots are the real idiots themselves!”

“Crack!” Another sound.

“No more than three—this tells you that if you dare appear within three zhang of me again, prepare for a mouthful of false teeth!”

“Crack!” The final slap sounded muffled because Ji Lin’s little face had swollen high like a solid red radish.

Jing Hengbo’s voice rose higher, addressing everyone:

“Four for good fortune! A warning to all of you—whoever dares not take me seriously, I won’t take their lives seriously!”

…