The entire garden fell silent at this man’s murderous words.

The faces of the Yu Kingdom, Shang Kingdom, and Yelu family members turned iron-gray. Some wanted to save face and retort sarcastically, but upon meeting Pei Shu’s black and white eyes sharp as knife blades, they involuntarily swallowed their words back.

Shang Lue’s expression was also very unpleasant. In such gatherings of nobles from various countries, one small misstep could easily brew territorial disputes. Originally, he thought the Jade Queen was just a woman without male backing, in a foreign land, so naturally she would have to yield and suffer some grievances. He hadn’t expected Pei Shu to suddenly appear with such a tough attitude. He naturally knew the temperament of this famous fierce god of Dahuang—he really would fight at the drop of a hat.

If war disputes erupted at a banquet he was hosting, then his position as Crown Prince truly couldn’t be preserved.

But to end things hastily now because of Pei Shu’s threats would make Shang Kingdom appear cowardly, still damaging national dignity. If word got out, Father King still wouldn’t forgive him.

Shang Lue faced a dilemma and couldn’t help secretly resenting the Yelu family for bringing him such great trouble.

Jing Hengbo leaned close to Pei Shu’s ear and quietly asked: “Did you really bring the Hengji Army to the border? What about Dai Mao’s situation?”

“Just scaring them,” Pei Shu whispered with a laugh. “A bunch of cowards—one scare and they’re all stupid!”

Jing Hengbo laughed with a snort, thinking only the violent dragon would do such a thing. But with his more righteous appearance than anyone else’s, really no one would suspect.

Her gaze passed over Pei Shu’s shoulder toward the darkness opposite, and she suddenly grinned, whispering a few words in Pei Shu’s ear.

Pei Shu frowned, seeming somewhat reluctant, muttering: “So what if we really fight…” But ultimately couldn’t withstand Jing Hengbo’s persuasion. He snorted and said resentfully: “Fine, I’ll spare them this once.” Baring his white teeth in a grin, he said viciously: “If there’s a next time, I’ll flay them alive!”

Jing Hengbo chuckled and patted his face, saying softly: “Don’t be angry anymore. Bobo likes Shushu the most, mwah.”

“Do you love me most?” Pei Shu immediately grabbed her hand, his eyes brightening as he asked.

“Are you someone who likes to hear lies?” Jing Hengbo curved her lips at him in a smile, withdrawing her hand but nimbly pinching his fingers.

She now knew how to handle the violent dragon—don’t be intimate with him, but give appropriate warmth, making him both frustrated and nostalgic, unable to explode.

Pei Shu fiercely clenched his own fingers and snorted heavily.

He hated this little vixen!

He hated that he couldn’t help but like this little vixen!

Standing aside, Shang Lue watched the atmosphere in deadlock while these two casually flirted as if nothing had happened. His anger intensified, and the Yelu family members beside him kept urging and threatening, clearly meaning “if you don’t dare order the arrest of the Jade Queen, you’re afraid—how cowardly for the dignified Shang Kingdom.”

He couldn’t help saying angrily: “You accuse the Queen of crimes merely because her clothes were wet. Now the Queen has explained this. How can we rashly order her arrest?”

“Exactly. Moreover, wet clothes count as evidence?” Pei Shu suddenly interjected with a cold laugh. “What if the real murderer’s clothes weren’t wet at all? What if the real killer changed out of wet clothes?”

“There are people everywhere here—where would there be time to change clothes? If everyone else’s clothes aren’t wet, then the only one with wet clothes must be most suspicious!” The first Yelu family man who had rushed forward stepped up and said sternly. “Besides, after arresting and interrogating her, we can certainly find more evidence!”

“Oh, I see you’re very eager to catch the killer.” Pei Shu smiled and beckoned with his finger. “Hey, ever heard the saying ‘the thief crying catch the thief’?”

“What do you mean!” The man glared at him angrily.

“What do I mean?” Pei Shu smiled and suddenly rushed forward. Everyone felt their vision blur as he appeared before that Yelu family man, knocked aside the two people beside him, grabbed his collar, and said fiercely: “I think you’re suspicious. Speak! Why are you so determined that the Queen is the killer!”

“She is the killer…” The man was caught off guard, being grabbed like this. Both ashamed and angry, he struggled desperately: “Let go! Let go!”

“Release him!” The surrounding Yelu family disciples drew their swords, and the Yu Kingdom fat men also stood aside, sternly berating.

Pei Shu laughed heartily, released his grip, and disdainfully threw the man to the ground. He flashed back to Jing Hengbo’s side, habitually putting his arm around her waist, and spat: “Trash!”

The man’s collar fell open as he climbed up from the ground in embarrassment. Everyone’s gazes involuntarily turned to him, and suddenly someone cried out: “Blood!”

Now everyone could see that inside the man’s open outer robe collar, near his chest, there were faint traces of blood.

The man looked down at his chest and froze there, seeming not to understand where these bloodstains came from.

Jing Hengbo suddenly laughed coldly: “Ha! Wet shoes are suspicious, so blood traces are even more suspicious, right?”

Her words awakened everyone like from a dream. Shang Lue immediately changed color and asked: “May I ask this gentleman, where did the blood come from?”

“Don’t say I injured you.” Pei Shu said loudly. “I just grabbed your collar—I didn’t touch you with a single finger.”

This was witnessed by everyone, who nodded in agreement. The other Yelu family members turned pale with shock, while the Yu Kingdom fat men looked at each other.

“Maybe he’s injured himself…” a Yelu family man said weakly.

A figure flashed, and Pei Shu appeared before that man like a ghost. Without a word, he raised his hand and with a “rip” tore open the man’s collar.

His chest was unmarked—no wound at all.

“Please tell me,” Pei Shu smiled like a vicious fox, “with no wound and no one else bleeding on you, whose blood is this?”

“Based on the bloodstain’s position, hidden under the outer robe, it should have been splattered when bending over or facing someone,” an expert spoke up.

“He’s framing me! He’s framing me!” The Yelu family man screamed.

Pei Shu spread his hands and sneered at the sky.

He didn’t need to explain—no one believed those words. This man with extremely strong presence had attracted everyone’s attention from the moment he appeared. Every move was under scrutiny, and everyone present was confident their eyes weren’t blind about whether he had done anything underhanded.

“No wonder you were so urgent—so it really was the thief crying catch the thief!” Shang Lue’s face changed dramatically. “Guards, take him for questioning!”

“Stop!” The Yelu family members drew swords to block.

“Who dares interfere?” Pei Shu waved his hand, and Jing Hengbo’s guards also drew swords to meet them.

“Everyone stop!” Shang Lue shouted with an iron-gray face.

“Crown Prince,” Jing Hengbo smiled with narrowed eyes. “As a Crown Prince of a nation, the host here, before nobles of six countries and eight tribes, I believe you and Shang Kingdom will give everyone fair treatment and judgment. Earlier I was suspicious, and you wanted to arrest me—I had a clear conscience and was willing to follow you for investigation. Now this Yelu family expert is even more suspicious than I was. Do you plan to play deaf and dumb?” She smiled and flicked her fingers. “When did your Shang Kingdom become subordinate to Yu Kingdom?”

“Stop your nonsense!” Shang Lue said sternly. “Shang Kingdom treats all guests equally, and we ask Yu Kingdom’s distinguished guests to maintain justice!”

The Yu Kingdom fat men frowned, not knowing what to do at this moment.

“And you,” Jing Hengbo smiled sweetly as she flicked her fingers at the Yelu family members. “Why are you protecting him so much? Do you really think he’s definitely innocent? Tsk tsk, as members of a great family, don’t you understand the deception and various conflicts within great families? Don’t you think it’s impossible for family members to act against each other? Or do you think Yelu Shengwu, as the enforcement elder of the punishment hall, was a good person who never competed with anyone, never offended anyone, and was beloved by everyone in the family, so absolutely no one would harbor resentment against him?”

The Yelu family members looked at each other—the conflicts and assassinations within great families never ceased. Yelu Shengwu, as the elder controlling punishments, had offended more family members than outsiders. They couldn’t deny the possibility of assassination by family members.

Doubt appeared in those people’s eyes, and their swords slowly lowered.

“It wasn’t me! It wasn’t me! He’s framing me! He’s framing me!” The man screamed.

No one around spoke, and the long swords protecting him were withdrawn one by one.

Jing Hengbo smiled mockingly—the more noble and wealthy the family, the more filth it concealed. This was absolutely true.

Despair appeared in the man’s eyes. His gaze drifted and searched everywhere above the crowd, as if seeking people or things that could clear him of guilt. When his gaze fell on those river lanterns flickering with glass-like light, his eyes suddenly jumped.

Jing Hengbo’s heart also jumped—her intuition sensed trouble.

“Glass! Glass!” The man suddenly pointed upward and shouted: “I hear the Liuli tribe loves to practice their invisibility arts in nighttime lamplight. Now this Bi Hua Garden has lights everywhere, and the Liuli tribe people aren’t in the crowd—they must be scattered everywhere practicing invisibility!” He shouted at the sky: “Come out! Come out! You love staying in hidden places where no one can discover you. You must be able to see the truth! Come out! Come out!”

His shouts were urgent, and Jing Hengbo’s heart began pounding. She really didn’t know the Liuli tribe had such habits, but now there indeed were no Liuli tribe members in the venue. If they really were scattered throughout the garden practicing invisibility, then earlier behind those woods, by the riverside with lotus lanterns everywhere, would truly be a good place to practice…

Someone above said quietly: “We don’t like meddling in others’ affairs.”

Hearing this voice, the Yelu family man seemed to find salvation and said with great joy: “This isn’t meddling—this is upholding justice, clearing the wrongfully accused! Please, friends of the Liuli tribe, speak the truth and save me!”

Another silence from above, then everyone felt colored light flash before their eyes, and several people appeared before them.

Those people wore colors bright and dark, seemingly utilizing blind spots in human vision, making it impossible to see them clearly.

“Please, friends of the Liuli tribe, save me!” The Yelu family man shouted. “You must have been by the river, you must have seen who it really was!”

Those people remained silent for a long time.

Jing Hengbo and Pei Shu exchanged glances—neither had expected this complication with the invisible Liuli tribe appearing. Now it seemed very likely there had been Liuli tribe members present at the time.

It seemed a fierce battle was still unavoidable. Pei Shu signaled the guards to slowly gather around and scout escape routes in all directions.

This moment of silence felt as long and agonizing as a century.

After a very long time, the elder in the middle finally spoke.

“Earlier, I was by the river.”

The Yelu family man’s spirits lifted, and everyone’s gazes burned intensely.

The elder stared at Jing Hengbo, revealing a crafty smile. Jing Hengbo showed no fear, curving her lips at him while her hand already gripped a dagger.

“But I was facing away from the river at the time and saw nothing.” The elder quickly finished the second half of his sentence.

The Yelu family man, who had been preparing to cheer and thank him, had his celebration stuck in his throat. He stared blankly and incredulously at the elder, saying bewilderedly: “You saw nothing?”

“Mm.” The elder nodded seriously.

“How is that possible?” The man muttered, then suddenly rallied his spirits. “Then you could have heard something, right? Did you hear anything?”

The elder glanced at Jing Hengbo again with that slightly crafty and provocative smile, and Jing Hengbo smiled back at him.

“I heard something…” the elder said slowly. “Yes.”

“What was it!” The man urged impatiently. “You must have heard Yelu Shengwu calling for help and shouting the killer’s name, right?”

“Not that.” The elder shook his head. “I only vaguely heard Yelu Shengwu’s cry of surprise—very astonished.”

Jing Hengbo slowly exhaled a long breath.

The crisis had passed.

Though she didn’t understand why the Liuli tribe was helping her, it was obvious that the elder had been present but hadn’t revealed the truth.

“Ah, very surprised.” Pei Shu laughed. “Seeing his own people attack him would naturally be surprising. He couldn’t have been surprised to see the Queen, right?”

Everyone fell silent, and the last sword blocking the Yelu family man was finally withdrawn.

Despair appeared in the man’s eyes. He looked around in all directions and suddenly said bitterly: “You’re all harming me!”

Before his words finished, he leaped up and fled into the darkness.

“Pursue him!” Shang Lue immediately ordered, and Shang Kingdom soldiers quickly gave chase. Everyone breathed sighs of relief.

Jing Hengbo laughed: “The thief crying catch the thief—what great honor for the Yelu family!”

The Yelu family members’ faces were ashen and lightless. Unable to stay any longer, they immediately took their leave in disgrace, departing Bi Hua Garden under everyone’s contemptuous gazes with lowered heads.

The Yu Kingdom people also looked resentful, as if they’d been slapped in the face.

Shang Lue was still quite capable, quickly adjusting his approach. He changed to an attentive expression, came to apologize to Jing Hengbo, inquired about her well-being, and repeatedly expressed his desire to compensate her.

“Good, good.” Jing Hengbo immediately said. “At the upcoming auction, I want to sit in the best position, with priority selection rights for medicines I fancy, and preferential ownership rights at equal prices.”

Shang Lue understood her meaning. In his urgency, he made several “BIUBIUBIU” sounds, but having spoken too fully earlier, he could only say reluctantly: “Fine.” He arranged for people to relocate Jing Hengbo to a new position and presented her with an item catalog that only Shang Kingdom royalty could access for her preliminary selection.

Jing Hengbo didn’t even look, weighing the catalog while glancing sideways at the Yu Kingdom side: “What items did the fat men bring out? What items caught their interest?”

The palace maid specially assigned to serve her pointed out Yu Kingdom’s auction items “Heavenly Silk Grass” and “Fire Heart Armor,” as well as several medicines that had caught Yu Kingdom’s interest.

Jing Hengbo smiled like a fox eyeing prey, and the several fat men sitting not far away involuntarily shivered.

Pei Shu laughed heartily, embracing Jing Hengbo as they sat in the position with the best view. He casually took food from the trays of palace maids carrying various delicacies, placing everything before Jing Hengbo, personally cutting fruit for her, peeling nuts, and serving pastries. The ladies from various countries watching nearby turned green with envy, completely unable to understand how such an ugly woman as the Jade Queen could seduce even someone like Pei Shu.

Jing Hengbo had long grown accustomed to such envious, jealous, and hateful gazes. Whether herself or the men around her, they all had flashy, eye-catching long legs and were naturally the center of crowds. She leisurely ate pastries while scanning the area outside the crowd.

If nothing unexpected happened, Yelu Qi should have already left to hunt down those isolated Yelu family disciples.

Earlier she had received Yelu Qi’s signal and had manipulated that Yelu family man. Yelu had prepared a small bottle of fresh blood, which she had used telekinesis to gradually draw over and hide on the ground behind everyone’s feet. Then when Pei Shu stepped forward to grab the man, attracting everyone’s attention, at the moment Pei Shu knocked the man to the ground, using Pei Shu to block everyone’s view, she quickly sprinkled the blood from the bottle onto the man’s inner robe lapel.

Telekinetic object control was an essential treasure for home, travel, murder, and framing.

A gaze seemed to shoot over from not far away. She turned her head and saw Ji Wen. Of the four Ji family sisters, the third, fourth, and seventh had come today—the eleventh hadn’t appeared. They had been very low-key this time, not participating in anything. Now Ji Wen’s gaze was full of doubt and scrutiny. Jing Hengbo smiled and raised her cup to her, thinking this was a clever woman who might have already spotted the problem.

Ji Wen also raised her cup to her. After a while, when Jing Hengbo looked again, she found only the third and fourth sisters there—Ji Wen had disappeared.

She wouldn’t have guessed something and gone to pursue Yelu Qi, would she?

Jing Hengbo concentrated and pondered for a while, feeling that Ji Wen was quite a character who seemed genuinely fond of Yelu Qi. Ji Kingdom’s customs and culture were actually very suitable for the gentle and respectful Yelu Qi. If they could really make a good match, she would be happy to see it.

Suddenly someone sat beside her. She turned her head and saw the Liuli tribe elder who had earlier come forward to give false testimony. He was focused on looking toward the stage, not glancing at her at all.

She couldn’t help but laugh: “What do you want? Speak up.”

The Liuli tribe wouldn’t help her for no reason—they were here for compensation.

“My tribe has no demands of the Queen,” the Liuli elder said flatly. “We only ask that unless absolutely necessary, the Queen never set foot in our territory.”

Jing Hengbo was very surprised. After a long moment, she sniffed and wondered if she really had become the throne disaster star rumored among the six kingdoms and eight tribes? So much so that these Liuli nobles would rather compromise their conscience just to make this deal with her?

“Fine.” She replied somewhat resentfully, her self-esteem slightly wounded, thinking she wouldn’t become a public menace to the six kingdoms and eight tribes in the future, would she?

The Liuli elder nodded with reserve, satisfied, and left. Jing Hengbo heard a gong sound with some depression—the auction had begun.

At the beginning, there was nothing that interested Jing Hengbo, so she closed her eyes to rest. She herself, having come in haste, hadn’t prepared much and had only hastily taken a batch of masks treasured in Yi Kingdom’s palace.

When she presented those masks, the auctioneer’s expression was quite surprised. She thought he felt the masks weren’t high-class enough and didn’t pay attention. Now, listening to several items being auctioned—obviously starting with lower-value items—but her masks still hadn’t been called, she found it rather strange.

Suddenly she straightened up, her gaze burning bright.

“Item number seven, Heavenly Silk Grass,” the ceremonial official announced above. “Can make skin plump and naturally fragrant—a holy product for women’s beauty. But it cannot be used excessively, or it easily causes obesity. Starting price: five hundred taels of gold, minimum bid increase: ten taels of gold.”

This price wasn’t high. The men present showed little interest, while the women displayed excitement.

Before Jing Hengbo could speak, Pei Shu already shouted loudly: “Five thousand taels!”

Jing Hengbo made a “pff” sound and nearly spat it out. She fiercely twisted Pei Shu’s arm: “What madness are you having? Too much money? Is this how you bid? Jumping so high at once—are you trying to benefit those fat pigs from Yu Kingdom?”

“Who has patience to bid slowly with that group of women?” Pei Shu said dismissively. “Besides, this is the first time I’m giving you something—how can it be too cheap? Expensive is more fitting for our status.”

“But it has to be worth it! You spendthrift!” Jing Hengbo went crazy. Although the Heavenly Silk Grass was somewhat useful to her, it wasn’t completely targeted—at most worth a thousand taels of gold! Did this dead kid have to be such a spendthrift?

Pei Shu seemed to enjoy being pinched by her and simply stretched out his arm, grinning: “Use more force! Leave your mark on my body!”

Jing Hengbo immediately stopped, looking at the group of happily smiling fat men from Yu Kingdom, feeling even more indignant: “You’re wasting the salary I gave you!”

“What’s salary? You mean compensation?” Pei Shu retorted. “Have you ever given me compensation?”

Jing Hengbo made an “uh” sound and, feeling guilty, didn’t dare speak. Only now did she remember that she’d enslaved the young marshal for so long without giving him a single penny. Now thinking about it, he always had places where he needed money—how had he been living?

“This and that…” The more she thought, the more guilty she felt, saying in a small voice: “I’ll give you dividends when we return. I’ll buy this grass myself…”

“A man using a woman’s money? Don’t insult me!” The young marshal looked as if he’d been greatly insulted, waving away her hand. “You really think I’m poor? Don’t forget I was once the Golden Tribe’s number one war god. Jin Zhaolong schemed and framed me, but he couldn’t take my wealth. Rest assured,” he patted Jing Hengbo’s face, showing a cunning smile, “my money is enough to support you. Even building a golden house to hide a beauty wouldn’t be a problem. Hey, want to come live in my golden house?”

“You should save money to buy Heavenly Silk Grass first!” Jing Hengbo irritably brushed away his hand. Indeed, once he shouted out that idiotic price, no one else in the venue bid. When the Shang Kingdom servant came over with the Heavenly Silk Grass in a box, smiling broadly, everyone around showed mocking looks of “here’s a sucker,” making Jing Hengbo depressed again.

However, the women didn’t seem to think so—the envy, jealousy, and hatred in their eyes seemed to intensify. Women’s vanity was such a miraculous thing—they’d rather see men throw away thousands for them wastefully than have men count every penny to save for them.

Pei Shu’s style—famous, handsome, domineering yet generous, iron-tough yet tender—was exactly what women loved most. Jing Hengbo felt she was about to drown in women’s blue-green gazes and worried she’d face countless assassinations once she left this place.

That guy Pei Shu was adding fuel to the fire. Taking the box and paying the gold note, he deliberately said loudly to her: “Using this grass, your skin will become more plump. Just thinking about it is truly a wonderful sensation…”

Jing Hengbo’s shoe stomped hard on his boot, letting him experience that “wonderful sensation” in advance. She regretted that all her high heels were left at Di Ge—otherwise the sensation would definitely be more wonderful.

At this time, Yu Kingdom’s second item, “Fire Heart Armor,” was already brought onto the stage. From the servants’ movements, one could tell this item was quite precious. It was a silver-white half-body armor, but the heart area was fire-red. That red color seemed to flow, looking very warm and lustrous. The entire armor was very thin. The ceremonial official conducting the auction wore gloves, holding the armor lightly in his palm with a very relaxed smile: “Distinguished guests, the legendary Fire Heart Armor has arrived! But unfortunately, this isn’t blade-and-spear-proof silver silk armor—it can’t defend against water or block fire. Ah, it looks like complete trash.”

Laughter came from below, and the somewhat tense atmosphere gradually relaxed.

“This item has only one function—here.” The ceremonial official pointed to the fire-red heart area with a mysterious smile. “This part is the skin of a Fire Dragon from the secret marshes of snow mountains. Fire Dragons are flameless, red all over, the hottest beasts under heaven, able to resist the yin-cold air accumulated for thousands of years underground in snow mountains. That piece of skin from its heart is especially precious—protecting the heart, regulating spirit, healing injuries, maintaining all disordered true qi. However, let me remind you, this armor can only be used by those with ice-cold type true qi. Those with true fire martial arts would easily go astray and become possessed if they used it.”

Jing Hengbo’s eyes brightened—this was practically tailor-made for Gong Yin!

But Pei Shu pouted, lazily lying down and pulling her: “This is useless, let’s not bother with it.”

Jing Hengbo brushed away his hand and concentrated on listening to the bidding above. It started directly at five thousand gold, with one hundred taels per bid increase.

Not many people bid—after all, ice-cold type true qi practitioners were rare—but those bidding were very focused, because anyone who practiced this type of true qi would definitely need this treasure.

Jing Hengbo didn’t speak immediately. Precisely because she was determined to get it, she didn’t want to reveal herself too early.

“Five thousand five hundred taels!”

“Six thousand taels!”

“Six thousand five hundred taels!”

…

“Ten thousand taels!”

After a Floating Water tribe member shouted this price, the venue fell quiet.

The ceremonial official’s smile became even more perfect, indicating this item had reached its critical price point—bidding further wouldn’t be worth it.

Jing Hengbo felt in her pocket for the bank notes and was somewhat dumbfounded.

Poor Black Water Queen—she was born ordinary, was a puppet when she became queen and hadn’t seen much money. After arriving at Dai Mao, she was still in the startup phase and didn’t have much money. This time, rushing from Yi Kingdom to Shang Kingdom, her money was taken from Yi Kingdom. Due to insufficient estimation of this kind of noble auction where money was thrown around like water, she now discovered her money seemed somewhat inadequate.

“Hey, lend me some money,” she poked Pei Shu. “I’ll pay you back double when we return.”

“No loan,” Pei Shu said with his hands behind his head, biting an apricot irritably. “You’re not buying this for me anyway.”

Jing Hengbo felt guilty—Pei Shu couldn’t use this item at all. Even a fool could see she was buying it for Gong Yin.

“Later, if you see something you like, I’ll definitely buy it for you,” she coaxed him.

“Come off it,” the young marshal said even more lazily. “You don’t even have money to buy this now—how could you have money to buy other things later? If I pay myself, wouldn’t that be me buying for myself?”

“Little Shushu, good Shushu,” Jing Hengbo began acting cute, pulling his hand. “Lend me some money, please, who are we to each other? Don’t let a little money hurt our feelings, right? Later you can make any request and I’ll try my best to agree, okay…”

“Satisfy my requests? Alright.” Pei Shu turned his face and pointed to his cheek. Just as Jing Hengbo was thinking this guy was pushing his luck and actually asking for a kiss—which absolutely couldn’t be agreed to—she saw the guy roll his eyes at her hugely: “Flirtatious woman, where are your thoughts going? Here, this apricot—help me bite off half, and I’ll lend you money.”

Jing Hengbo looked at the apricot by his mouth, with half protruding outside his lips. Below the golden apricot were his full, red lips. To bite off half the apricot without touching his lips would really be difficult.

While she hesitated, she heard that bidding in the venue had stopped, and the ceremonial official was already smilingly asking if anyone else would bid. Her heart became urgent, and she lunged forward to press down Pei Shu and bit down on the apricot on his lips.

She wanted a quick resolution, but lunged too forcefully. Pei Shu was already sitting sideways in his chair, and with her lunge, he crashed to the ground with a clang, chair and all.

People from all directions suddenly turned their heads, gazes focusing.

The ceremonial official on stage stared wide-eyed, forgetting to speak.

The women gasped.

In the distant shadows, the Bee Stings were running around in circles.

“What’s happening?”

“Why did the Queen suddenly pounce on Pei Shu?”

“What are they doing?”

“Should we report to our master?”

“How would we write this report? The Queen publicly lost control of her lust and pounced on the young marshal?”

“Write that if you’re tired of living!”

…

Jing Hengbo was also stunned. She’d wanted a quick resolution but created an even bigger commotion. Seeing Pei Shu’s lip corner smile growing wider with a look of successful scheming, she steeled her heart and ignored everything else, going to bite that apricot.

Get the apricot in her mouth, then tell everyone it was fighting over food.

Fighting over food would be more dignified than stealing a kiss from a man.

But when her lips were still 0.01 centimeters from the apricot…

Pei Shu suddenly gulped and swallowed the entire apricot.

Jing Hengbo’s lips inevitably landed on his.

In that instant of contact, like lightning and flint, her widened eyes reflected his cunning, triumphant smile, while his dark pupils held her surprised gaze.

She felt the unique fragrance belonging to his lips—like pine, like cypress, like Du Ruo, seven parts elegant, three parts subtle fragrance. Not the imagined iron-blood and gunpowder scent, but exceptionally soft, seeming to press into her heart.

He too was satisfied to taste the fragrance between her lips and teeth—the sweetest honey in the world, the most soul-stirring fragrance under heaven. Her lips were soft as silk, and touching them seemed to want to entangle his entire life.

A low murmur came from his throat, and he couldn’t help wanting to suck and nibble, but she finally awakened, quickly dodging away and jumping up in panic, her leg hitting the chair leg, forgetting even to cry out in pain.

Pei Shu lay sprawled on his back against the chair, showing a somewhat silly, somewhat satisfied smile to the dark night sky.

Jing Hengbo found his pose too hateful—looking exactly like someone who’d just been thoroughly satisfied after being bedded. She couldn’t help kicking his chair: “Get up, get up quickly!”

“Ah!” Pei Shu immediately answered loudly, “Yes, getting up right away, Your Majesty, don’t be too forceful!”

Jing Hengbo wanted to step on his mouth. After he got up, she resisted looking at the strange gazes around her or Pei Shu’s smug smile, asking in a low voice: “Where’s the money?”

“You didn’t bite off the apricot,” he said.

“I hope that pit-less apricot sprouts in your stomach!” Jing Hengbo smiled sweetly through gritted teeth. “Hurry, where’s the money?”

“None.” The violent dragon innocently spread his hands. “All spent buying you Heavenly Silk Grass.”

Jing Hengbo was speechless with anger. Just as she was thinking how to dismember this detestable guy, she heard him say unhurriedly: “But don’t worry. I’m not like you—I keep my word. It’ll come soon.”

“How will it come soon? Are you stealing or robbing…” Jing Hengbo suddenly cut off her words.

Beside her, Pei Shu suddenly turned in another direction and grinned at a young lady who’d been staring at him blankly.

This smile radiated dazzling light, and circles clearly appeared in that young lady’s eyes.

“Miss,” Pei Shu said kindly, “would you like to dine with me?”

Before the young lady could react, she was already nodding dizzily.

“Two thousand taels of gold for one dinner, thank you very much.” Young Marshal Pei shamelessly stretched out his hand.

Jing Hengbo held her forehead.

Dear God, someone please drag her away—she didn’t want to know this guy!

The young lady immediately produced money, placing a thick stack of gold notes in the young marshal’s palm. The young marshal accepted them calmly with a smile, while the young lady looked at him timidly: “Young Marshal, when can we…”

“The time is set by me, the place is set by me, what we eat is also set by me, and the money is paid by you.” A certain tyrant said shamelessly. “Just wait for news.”

“Oh.” The young lady, cowed by his aura, nodded obediently, her cheeks flushed, her expression full of anticipation.

Jing Hengbo held her forehead—this face-based world!

Pei Shu glanced around, and somehow women had already gathered from all directions, their gazes all blue and green.

He was familiar with such gazes—they were called amazement and greed, as well as desire.

Unfortunately, the person he really wanted to see look at him this way would never look at him like this.

“Accompanying strolls: one thousand taels of gold; accompanying meals: two thousand taels of gold; accompanying banquet attendance: three thousand taels of gold; helping with murder and revenge: ten thousand taels of gold. Fixed prices, fair to all, payment on site, thank you very much.” The young marshal matter-of-factly quoted prices.

“I want dinner!”

“I want to stroll tree-lined avenues with the young marshal!”

“I hope the young marshal can accompany me to palace banquets!”

“I’ll pay ten thousand taels—please help me with a favor, young marshal!”

Heads crowded together, powder-white arms waved chaotically, stunning nobles and the ceremonial official above, who even forgot about the bidding. Er Gouzi paced back and forth, sighing: “Young marshal hawks urgently, women bid busily, a group of little fools, scaring our queen silly.”

A single young woman squeezed through the crowd and quietly tugged at Pei Shu’s sleeve: “Young marshal, that, that… you haven’t quoted the price for a night of passion yet…”

Pei Shu was busy counting the thick stack of bank notes in his hand and impatiently waved his hand.

“I sell my looks, not my body!”

He casually threw the thick stack of notes to Jing Hengbo, grinning at her.

“Twenty-two years of dragon vigor and tiger energy, all saved for my queen!”

His voice was loud enough for the entire garden to hear, and all eyes whooshed back to them.

Jing Hengbo was surrounded by many hostile, dissatisfied, mocking, and surprised gazes. She felt she’d lost face for a lifetime and was gnashing her teeth with hatred. After thinking, she suddenly laughed delicately and crooked her finger to lift Pei Shu’s chin.

The venue fell silent again.

The young marshal narrowed his eyes, dangerously staring at her.

Jing Hengbo hooked her seductive eyes and smiled.

“Looking fat and strong, but afraid you’re just show with no substance!”

With a “pff” sound, many men spat out their saliva.

Pei Shu’s handsome, smug face instantly twisted and flattened, changing colors magnificently.

Jing Hengbo flicked his chin with a snap and whispered with a laugh: “If you dare be thick-skinned, I’ll make sure you have no face left!” She flung her hand, throwing out the gold notes.

“Fifteen thousand taels for the Fire Heart Armor!”

The Floating Water tribe noble seemed shocked by this price, staring wide-eyed without speaking.

“Fifteen thousand taels! Are there any other distinguished guests offering higher prices? Fifteen thousand taels of gold! Any others? Any others?” The ceremonial official called repeatedly, smiling so widely his wrinkles bloomed.

The venue was silent. Jing Hengbo’s burning gaze swept around, waving the bank notes menacingly—Sister, was it easy for me to buy this Fire Heart Armor? I’ve lost eight lifetimes’ worth of face! Whoever dares compete with me will face my wrath!

Perhaps shocked by her stack of bank notes, perhaps intimidated by her fierce glare, the venue finally quieted down. The ceremonial official asked three times with no response. Jing Hengbo smiled and walked toward the high platform.

Suddenly someone said: “Wait.”

Jing Hengbo’s steps halted.

That person said slowly: “We can sell to anyone, just not to you.”