When Yélu Qi and Pei Shu ran off, they didn’t return until evening. Upon his return, Yélu Qi still wore his gentle smile, but he personally cooked again, preparing a table of delicious dishes for her, constantly serving her food and soup with such attentiveness that Jing Hengbo was overwhelmed by his favor.

Being overwhelmed also gave her more headaches, because though Yélu Qi appeared tolerant and generous, he was actually quite petty. He declared this table of dishes was made only for Jing Hengbo and didn’t want outsiders sharing the meal.

Pei Shu, already furious from whatever happened outside, turned even paler and immediately declared he would go on a hunger strike. Jing Hengbo had to eat while secretly hiding a lotus-wrapped chicken behind her back.

After a while, she hid a lion’s head meatball too.

Across from her, Yélu Qi concentrated on peeling shrimp shells and crab legs for her, as if he saw nothing. Under the lamplight, his snow-white fingers moved nimbly, and a complete shrimp emerged crystal clear from its shell like a beautiful magic trick. Unfortunately, Jing Hengbo was preoccupied with secretly stealing food and had no mind to appreciate it.

When Yélu Qi went to get soup, she covered the stolen food with cloth and pushed it under a side couch. While playing thief, she worried when this life caught between them would end.

After finally finishing dinner, Young Master Yélu expressed his desire to accompany her for a walk. Jing Hengbo falsely claimed her period had arrived and her stomach hurt, needing sleep. Yélu Qi gently escorted her to her room, personally watching her get into bed, then ordered red sugar ginger soup to be prepared, watching her drink it before tucking in her blanket corners and leaving.

As soon as he left, Jing Hengbo’s face turned bitter – she hated the taste of ginger most!

She quickly threw off the covers and got up. Having drunk ginger soup and being covered in blankets made her sweat profusely. She gloomily drifted outside, thinking that having no suitors was miserable, but having many was also miserable. When would these peach blossoms everywhere finish blooming?

Taking a basket from Yong Xue, the pitiful pursued one had to deliver food to the prideful pursuer.

Pei Shu had moved back to his own room. Before Jing Hengbo approached, she heard crunching sounds from inside, seemingly someone eating, but when she opened the door, the Young Marshal lay on the bed with his back to the door, sulking in his hunger strike. Hearing her enter, he neither acknowledged nor moved.

Jing Hengbo set the basket on the table with a thump. Pei Shu immediately flipped over and hugged her: “I knew you cared most about me!”

His eyes sparkled in the darkness, flowing with undisguised joy. Jing Hengbo sighed inwardly, broke free from him, and pushed the basket toward him: “Eat while it’s hot. Isn’t going on a hunger strike at your age embarrassing?”

“Will you feed me?” Pei Shu’s eyes brightened even more.

“Your legs are injured, not your hands.” Jing Hengbo refused outright, pretending not to see his greasy mouth and the roasted chicken hidden under his pillow.

Pei Shu didn’t insist, contentedly grabbing her hand: “You have a bite too.”

Jing Hengbo was about to refuse when she felt something smooth slide up her wrist. Looking down, a bracelet had somehow appeared on her wrist. The bracelet was completely black, but not dully so – rather, it had excellent clarity, transparent and crystalline with faint golden light flickering inside. The golden light seemed to form shapes – looking carefully, it resembled a dragon.

Pure black against her snow-white skin created a striking, solemn contrast, but with that glimmer of swimming golden light, it immediately appeared both noble and seductive.

Such black jade bracelets were extremely rare – even a blind person could see its value. Pei Shu held her wrist, saying cheerfully: “I knew this bracelet would look best on you.”

Jing Hengbo laughed: “Beautiful, beautiful.” She immediately tried to slide it off. Just kidding – previously Yélu Qi’s ring had somehow transformed into a collar pin and later mysteriously disappeared. Now with Pei Shu’s bracelet, what shape would it become? A cosmic ring?

Pei Shu pressed down her hand, his black and white eyes glaring: “What are you taking off? It’s not a love token – just lending it to you for the palace banquet.” He raised an eyebrow with a smile: “Do you know this thing’s origin? This was something Ming Cheng desperately wanted, obtained through great effort, but before she could wear it once, I took it away. I even used this bracelet to slap her face. Hahaha, if she saw you wearing this bracelet, she’d definitely die of anger.”

“Oh?” Jing Hengbo made a sound, not expecting this item to belong to that little bitch Ming Cheng. Looking at Pei Shu’s expression, she wisely didn’t pursue the gossip about slapping and stealing bracelets. With Pei Shu’s proud nature, he’d never steal a woman’s belongings unless that woman had greatly angered him.

“After I went to Daimo, I remembered this bracelet and had someone fetch it. I never had a chance to give it to you.” Pei Shu said, “That jewelry set doesn’t suit you – wear this instead.”

After thinking, he added: “That dress doesn’t suit you either. I’ll find you another one later.”

Jing Hengbo just smiled without continuing to remove the bracelet, avoiding the Young Marshal’s explosion. She thought she certainly couldn’t wear it.

If she wanted to anger Ming Cheng to death, how could it be so simple? She’d need comprehensive, multi-angle, full-force, irreversible extreme provocation.

After finally escaping from Pei Shu, who held her hand admiring the bracelet endlessly, she carried the basket out and suddenly saw a figure float over the courtyard wall – unmistakably Yélu Qi’s form.

She didn’t move, watching Yélu Qi disappear into darkness, then slowly retreated into shadows. After a while, Pei Shu’s door creaked open. He also emerged, dressed in night clothes, looked around, then leaped up and shot into the darkness.

Jing Hengbo shook her head, propping her chin as she returned to sleep. She slept quite peacefully that night. The next morning when she opened her eyes, sunlight filled the room and a strange voice greeted her: “Good morning!”

Without opening her eyes, Jing Hengbo smiled lazily and scooped up Er Gouzi, who was walking back and forth at her bedside, saying with closed eyes: “Emerald Dog Jiro, you’ve finally been driven back.”

“I came back myself, came back myself.” Er Gouzi refused to admit it. “Missed Bobo, missed Bobo.”

“Did they pluck your feathers? Let me feel.” Jing Hengbo felt the bird with closed eyes.

Er Gouzi chattered with her: “Lady’s clothes gone, crying.”

Jing Hengbo listened drowsily without paying attention, then got up to wash. Tonight was the palace banquet, but Yélu Qi and Pei Shu still hadn’t returned.

After lunch, she stood bored at the Huicheng Guesthouse entrance watching the scenery when she noticed the street was quite noisy. Carriages came and went at the street entrance, people hurrying with different family crests on the vehicles.

She sent guards to inquire. They returned saying these were carriages from Shang Kingdom noble and official families heading to Brocade Street. Since men couldn’t enter Brocade Street, they only watched from behind barriers, seeing every shop door crowded with people surrounding shopkeepers, arguing about something. The shopkeepers looked frazzled, squeezed until their eyes rolled back.

Hearing this, Jing Hengbo chuckled, then saw carriages heading straight for her courtyard. The polite driver said he was ordered to deliver gifts but wouldn’t say who sent them. After unloading several large boxes from the carriage, he left.

Opening the boxes revealed brilliant splendor that dazzled the eyes – formal gowns and palace dresses for attending banquets. Box after box spread across the floor like free goods. Each box also specified which Brocade Street shop these clothes came from.

Counting, there were over a hundred pieces – roughly the number of all female guests at a palace banquet.

Later another carriage arrived, and from the wheel tracks on the ground, it carried even heavier cargo. The driver gave similar explanations, saying only he was delivering gifts to the Queen, unloading several large boxes before leaving. When Jing Hengbo opened the boxes, she was nearly blinded again.

They were full of jewelry – gold, pearls, jade, rubies, cat’s eye stones, emeralds, agates, jadeite… colors interweaving in unparalleled brilliance.

Even Jing Hengbo, who considered herself worldly, was stunned, murmuring: “This is robbery…”

“Exactly robbery.” Loud laughter came as Pei Shu limped from the entrance. He looked unwell with heavy dark circles under his eyes, seeming not to have slept all night, but still appeared spirited, resting his elbow on Jing Hengbo’s shoulder while bending to look at the jewelry: “How about it? Quite a lot, right? All the jewelry that every female guest invited to tonight’s palace banquet in the entire Shang Kingdom royal city was supposed to wear – it’s all here!”

“So you went thieving instead of sleeping?” Jing Hengbo couldn’t help laughing. She had her own methods to punish those women, but thinking of Pei Shu doing this was quite satisfying.

“Too many people, and couldn’t miss a single piece – so tiring.” Pei Shu rested his big head on her shoulder. She felt pity rise in her heart and patted his head like a puppy, earning his angry glare.

“Those piles of clothes – also your doing?” She nodded toward the clothing boxes.

Pei Shu pursed his lips: “No time, so I handled stealing all the jewelry while he handled stealing all the clothes.”

Jing Hengbo laughed heartily, bending to look at the labels and instructing guards: “Slightly damage all these clothes – not too obviously, the kind only careful examination would reveal. Then remove all shop marks, mix them up, and deliver to various custom shops on Brocade Street for sale. Remember, send Shop A’s clothes to Shop C, Shop C’s to Shop D – never return them to original shops, the farther apart the better.”

Guards followed orders. Yélu Qi walked in, smiling: “You’re becoming more and more cunning.”

Pei Shu laughed, slapping his leg: “Later those shopkeepers and noble ladies will die of anger!”

Jing Hengbo smiled sweetly.

She had said: those who humiliate others will be humiliated.

“Don’t hold back when you encounter trouble in the future.” Pei Shu looked at her sideways. “With men around, if you’re still wronged, what use are we?”

Jing Hengbo sighed. She truly didn’t want to owe these two any more emotional debts. Whether Yélu Qi’s peach blossom spring breeze smile or Pei Shu’s blazing wildfire giving, she felt unable to bear either.

Thinking this, she couldn’t help feeling resentful. Suitors were so thoughtful while her official boyfriend was oblivious. These things Gong Yin should have done were all seized by others.

She gritted her teeth – dead man, how could he be so clueless!

Carriages carrying clothes went to Brocade Street. Yong Xue followed to watch the excitement, returning enthusiastically to report that last night, formal wear and jewelry prepared by ladies and misses from various mansions for the palace banquet had all been stolen. Today noble ladies urgently went to Brocade Street wanting to order new formal wear and jewelry for emergencies, but shopkeepers couldn’t produce so many items at once and were frazzled. Just then carriages selling the stolen goods arrived. Guards privately contacted shopkeepers, indicating they had a batch of goods to sell cheaply. Normally shopkeepers wouldn’t accept such suspicious stolen goods, but being desperately pressed and seeing the guards’ formal wear was indeed exquisite and luxurious, comparable to their own and sufficient to handle old customers sitting in shops refusing to leave, they found pillow when sleepy – perfect timing. They immediately bought everything with heavy payment, marked up prices, and sold to ladies and misses desperately waiting for clothes.

These high-standard palace banquet formal gowns couldn’t be handled by ordinary mansion seamstresses. Shang Kingdom’s custom was that only custom shop orders had prestige, so when ladies’ formal wear was stolen, they were anxious as ants on hot pans, preferring to press their usual shops rather than use ordinary home clothes. Now seeing shopkeepers finally produce new clothes, though not necessarily their preferred styles, the workmanship and luxury weren’t much different, everyone was delighted, accepting shopkeepers’ high prices without time for careful examination, hurrying home with clothes, still needing to prepare matching jewelry.

Guards staggered timing between shops, and after selling clothes, sent people in ordinary dress to the last shop, seemingly casually mentioning: “Just now at XX shop, I saw a dress that looked familiar – seemed like it came from your shop.”

This aroused the shopkeeper’s vigilance. Going to that shop for a look, a lady’s formal dress was exactly one sold to a certain miss from their own shop. This caused an uproar. They immediately confronted that shop’s owner, who naturally refused to admit it. First arguments, then fights, causing tremendous chaos. More shopkeepers were alarmed and came out to see, then discovered their own sold exclusive formal wear appearing in other shops being sold at high prices. Thinking of their earlier siege by ladies whose clothes were stolen, shopkeepers flew into rage, each grabbing suspected thieves, creating heaven-shaking arguments and flower-blooming fights. Finally, all high-end custom shops on the entire street were drawn in, triggering Brocade Street’s largest-scale group brawl in history. Many shops suffered collateral damage, some hooligans took advantage of chaos to fish in troubled waters, beginning smashing and looting. Among them, “Rui Fu Lin” jewelry store in Brocade Street’s center prime location – the very shop that most rudely drove out Jing Hengbo – had its entire store rushed into during chaos, counters smashed, and most precious jewelry stolen, immediately causing the owner to suffer a stroke.

This first trap only caught shopkeepers; at the palace banquet, noble ladies would be trapped. The more Yong Xue thought about it, the more amused she became, laughing all the way back, yesterday’s gloom completely swept away, her little face glowing so brightly that even Jing Hengbo, studying how to handle the jewelry, was struck by how the young girl had grown up.

She beckoned Yong Xue over, taking a pearl hairpin to insert in her hair. The soft pearl light complemented Yong Xue’s tender little face, making her look even sweeter and more lovely. Jing Hengbo smiled: “Before I noticed, you’ve become a grown young lady.”

Yong Xue reached up, pulled out the pearl hairpin, threw it back in the jewelry box, and pursed her lips: “Don’t want their trashy things.”

“Too stubborn isn’t good. Be careful you won’t get married later.” Jing Hengbo smiled, pinching her face. Yong Xue looked at her, her gaze gradually softening. Suddenly she reached into the jewelry box, rummaging like catching fish with splashing sounds, then emerged with a top-quality emerald, a yellow cat’s eye stone glowing with precious light, a finger-sized pearl, and several huge gemstones. Jing Hengbo saw at a glance these were the most valuable gems from each piece of jewelry – precious stones used as focal points.

Yong Xue took another hairpin, giving it to guards: “Please help, elder brother – set all these gems on this hairpin.”

Jing Hengbo roughly guessed what she wanted to do and couldn’t help laughing. The little girl was quite vengeful too.

The remaining jewelry wouldn’t be returned either. They simply stripped off all pearls and gemstones separately, while pure gold items were sent out for melting. Though it was a pity about these jewelry pieces’ exquisite craftsmanship, it was safer. Jing Hengbo planned to use the money from selling these things to help the people – robbing the rich to aid the poor.

As banquet time approached, she dressed and groomed, putting on the formal dress given by the Shang Kingdom noble lady and wearing that jewelry set. Emerging, both men’s eyes lit up. Yélu Qi smiled without speaking, but Pei Shu said: “Though this outfit doesn’t quite suit you and seems slightly too big, your figure is so good that whatever you wear makes me comfortable.”

“Then you can stay here comfortably.” Jing Hengbo smiled, walking past both men toward the exit – to avoid trouble, she planned to bring neither.

Today, going to Shang Kingdom’s royal palace, she also intended to probe some of Shang Kingdom’s secrets, particularly how Treasure Platform Mountain storing those precious medicinal herbs was arranged. Pei Shu had obtained impressions of outer mountain keys, but having only keys without knowing internal conditions wouldn’t work.

Strangely, those two didn’t follow or fight. After walking several steps, Jing Hengbo looked back puzzled. Yélu Qi was still smiling at her while Pei Shu stood with arms crossed, eyebrows raised high.

Jing Hengbo was full of confusion – had these two changed their nature?

Huicheng Guesthouse would have unified carriages sending guests to the royal palace for the banquet. Jing Hengbo took Yong Xue into a carriage, watching the road to the royal palace with successive lights and carriages like dragons. At the road’s end, vermillion palace gates slowly opened to reveal magnificent halls and towering palace towers against the red glow of horizon sunset.

The banquet was set in the main hall with three upper seats for host Shang Kingdom’s ruler, Queen, and Crown Prince. To Shang Kingdom ruler’s left in a slightly elevated position was another empty seat – the State Preceptor’s seat. This was customary in major external activities of the six kingdoms and eight tribes to show respect for Imperial Song.

Below was a row of side seats for Shang Kingdom’s princes and princesses, then left and right separated seating flowing downward for various national guests, arranged by status and national power without the slightest error. As for Shang Kingdom’s own high officials and nobles accompanying the palace banquet, they were basically arranged at the main hall entrance.

As Emerald Queen, Jing Hengbo was ranked fifth on the left below the main hall throne. She saw He Wan in the first position on the left – now Xiang Kingdom’s Female Regent equivalent to a great king. Beside He Wan was surprisingly Yong Xi Zheng, which somewhat surprised Jing Hengbo before she smiled knowingly.

Passionate, frivolous but insufficiently firm emotions indeed couldn’t match steady, persistent, flowing love – especially for political figures.

He Wan sat composedly above, smiling and conversing with Yong Xi Zheng, her hair-arranging gestures natural and generous. Her expression toward Yong Xi Zheng was perfectly appropriate – three parts gentle, three parts dignified. Politics had clearly made the innocent girl mature.

Yong Xi Zheng’s gesture of gently pouring wine for her remained as treasuring as always.

She felt very gratified for He Wan.

When she entered, He Wan didn’t notice, but many Shang Kingdom noble ladies present cast unfriendly gazes her way. Jing Hengbo looked at their somewhat ill-fitting various formal gowns and curved her lips.

Suddenly an announcement came: “Princess Seven of Ji Kingdom arrives!” She turned to see Ji Min in moon-white plain dress entering accompanied by someone, causing mild commotion in the hall.

Both people’s gazes flowed and fell simultaneously on Jing Hengbo, each smiling slightly at her, immediately causing another round of amazed sighs in the hall.

Jing Hengbo nearly dropped her wine cup – Yélu Qi was actually with Ji Min!

Yélu Qi sat down opposite her, his graceful posture in gathering his wide silver-white robes drawing countless Shang Kingdom women’s unblinking stares, but he only winked at Jing Hengbo.

Jing Hengbo could only drink wine to hide her surprised expression. She should have thought of it – Yélu Qi would definitely come, and his not demanding to accompany her was only because he’d promised Ji Min first.

Did Yélu Qi truly have feelings for Ji Min?

She was very happy but also slightly disappointed – not from vanity or possessiveness, just the slight melancholy of seeing a good friend about to grow distant.

Seeing her expression, Yélu Qi knew she was overthinking. Ji Min sat properly beside him, smiling as she poured wine for him while he also smiled. Some matters had hidden circumstances – why explain too much? At least seeing her slight disappointment now gave him some comfort, proving that in her heart, he wasn’t completely without position.

Wine rippled slightly with her breath, circles of faint ripples spreading outward – heart’s patterns moving even in windless moments.

Having been shocked by Yélu Qi, Jing Hengbo kept glancing toward the entrance, fearing Pei Shu might suddenly appear to give her another surprise.

Fortunately Pei Shu never appeared. Guests gradually arrived, and with more people, the great hall became noisy. Women’s gazes were hidden behind fans, turning back and forth, mostly focusing on Yélu Qi.

Several Shang Kingdom women conversed across seats, whispering secretly, their glances toward Jing Hengbo quite unfriendly.

Jing Hengbo held her cup, gazing at the position still above the Shang King in a daze. She knew that position belonged to Dahuang’s legendary figure – generally Gong Yin’s. Of course, Gong Yin wouldn’t come; he couldn’t get away.

She thought that when she ascended the throne in the future, she wouldn’t place his seat above her royal throne. She’d simply make a big sofa and attend court together with him, squeezed in the sofa while governing.

Thinking this, a bright smile naturally appeared at her lips.

Suddenly, faint voices reached her ears.

“Look, she’s staring at the State Preceptor’s throne.”

“Oh, and she’s smiling too.”

“How strange – why smile so ambiguously at the State Preceptor’s throne for no reason? Is she daydreaming?”

“What kind of daydream?”

“Isn’t this Your Majesty quite promiscuous? Many ministers under her skirts. Perhaps she’s dreaming of conquering the State Preceptor, walking hand in hand with him to the throne?”

“Haha, truly a beautiful dream…”

…

Just as they were laughing merrily, suddenly came a low shriek. Someone asked: “What happened?”

Someone whimpered in reply: “Ah, something hit my teeth – it hurts so much…”

Jing Hengbo’s gaze shifted. Diagonally across, Yélu Qi was leisurely holding an orange with some pits neatly arranged on his table.

She smiled at him, and Yélu Qi smiled back reassuringly.

Jing Hengbo sighed. Boyfriend, oh boyfriend, when will you come out to support me?

Thinking about it, she smiled ruefully to herself. Gong Yin simply couldn’t leave Imperial Song, and even if he left, it could only be secretly. He absolutely couldn’t appear in this Shang Kingdom great hall to support her and boost her prestige.

Just as her mood was becoming somewhat low, she suddenly heard discussion rising from another side. This time they were discussing the previous night’s theft of clothing and jewelry, gradually causing the crowd to exclaim in shock.

“What, you were robbed too?”

“Ah, you were robbed too?”

“Ah, isn’t this formal dress exactly my original one?”

This remark awakened everyone. They hurriedly searched throughout the hall, only to discover their own formal wear was being worn by certain ladies and misses.

Each formal dress had been carefully selected and custom-made by each person. Discovering this situation now, they became as furiously angry as those Brocade Street shopkeepers, only restraining themselves from immediately erupting due to the unclear circumstances and solemn occasion.

A woman searching everywhere for her formal dress inadvertently turned her gaze to Jing Hengbo’s area, just seeing Yong Xue bowing her head to pour wine behind Jing Hengbo. The young girl slightly lowered her head, wearing an enormous golden hairpin studded with jewels that sparkled brilliantly under the palace lanterns, its magnificence exceeding ordinary noble ladies’ jewelry and very eye-catching.

The woman was initially just puzzled, not understanding how a servant’s jewelry could be more splendid than her master’s, and couldn’t help looking again. Then she froze and blurted out: “My pearl!”

This cry drew everyone’s attention, and they all looked in the direction of her gaze. Women being sensitive to jewelry, all eyes immediately focused on Yong Xue’s head. Yong Xue straightened up, simply stepped forward into the lamplight, and calmly met their gazes.

The woman who first discovered the problem continued shrieking: “The pearl! My pearl! This is the central jewel from my headdress – pink colored. I had such difficulty buying it from the seaside region. I recognize it!”

Suddenly another woman exclaimed: “That aquamarine – how does it look so much like the setting from my aquamarine ring!”

Another said: “That cat’s eye stone! My hair ornament had exactly such a cat’s eye stone – thumb-sized, from Daimo’s Blackwater Ze, worth ten thousand gold!”

Someone suddenly stood up, pointing at Jing Hengbo: “Thief! Jewelry thief!”

More people stood up accordingly: “Not just jewelry – our clothes were stolen too! It must have been her servant who did it!”

The Shang Kingdom noble ladies didn’t dare directly target Jing Hengbo, all aggressively staring at Yong Xue instead.

Yong Xue didn’t even glance at them sideways.

The Shang King hadn’t arrived yet, but the entire hall of guests turned to stare this way with a whoosh.

“Everyone.” Jing Hengbo raised her face, tapping her wine cup with chopsticks and smiling: “Your clothes were stolen? Then may I ask where your stolen clothes are? On my servant here?”

The noble ladies and misses froze, looking at each other – where were the clothes? The clothes were on their own group. Person A wore Person D’s dress, Person D wore Person B’s dress, aunts used nieces’ formal wear, nieces wore aunts’ cloaks. How could they explain this?

“As for jewelry…” Jing Hengbo tapped her wine cup again: “May I ask what your stolen jewelry was?”

“Rings!”

“Hair ornaments!”

“Hairpins!”

…

“May I ask what my servant is wearing on her head?”

Everyone fell silent. Could they say it was a hairpin? It looked like a hairpin, but studded with various gems and pearls, cumbersome like a fishing net.

Jing Hengbo pulled out that hairpin, playing with it in her hands with a smile.

“You say this pearl is yours? Then what about this cat’s eye stone?”

“…It’s not.”

“You say this emerald is yours? Then what about this aquamarine?”

“…Uh, it’s not.”

“You say this pigeon blood ruby is yours – then what about this diamond? This coral? This agate? This obsidian?”

“…Uh, no, none of them…”

“Good grief.” Jing Hengbo slammed down the hairpin with a face full of disdain: “Don’t all gemstones look similar? My servant’s hairpin has so many gems, and just because one or two resemble yours slightly, you dare claim this hairpin is yours? Touch your consciences and ask – could you afford a hairpin with so many top-quality gems?”

The ladies and misses were speechless, their faces iron-blue. No one dared boast they could afford it in front of everyone. They all knew each other’s backgrounds and understood that every gem on this hairpin was top quality. With their financial resources, acquiring one or two stones would be remarkable – how could they possibly gather such a treasure trove of gems into one hairpin?

Someone unconvinced retorted sarcastically: “It can’t be such a coincidence. Besides, we can’t afford it – can you?”

“Of course I can afford it. I’m the Emerald Queen – I possess a nation’s wealth. Can’t a nation’s power accumulate one hairpin?”

“Your own jewelry isn’t as valuable as this hairpin – that’s unreasonable! How can a servant wear such magnificent jewelry?”

Jing Hengbo smiled: “Rich and willful!”

The hall fell into deathly silence.

Faint snickering could be heard – from He Wan and Ji Min, who had been casually observing the battle.

“His Majesty arrives—” The long announcement broke this moment’s awkwardness and silence. Immediately came the soft rustle of skirts as noble ladies and court women, fearing impropriety, hurriedly lifted their skirts and returned to their seats.

Magnificent formal wear was all cumbersome, and tables were arranged closely together. As the crowd surged, retreated, and scattered, suddenly came a chaos of “clinking” and “ripping” sounds, followed by screams.

“My skirt hem is torn!”

“My sash…”

“My sleeves…”

Most of the noble ladies stopped in panic. Some busily picked up pendants from their sashes, others clutched suddenly frayed sleeves, some grabbed at skirts, discovering in horror that their hems had somehow been stepped on and torn. Various ornaments rolled across the floor, and various eyeballs also rolled around. Even the Shang Kingdom royal family members emerging gracefully to greet guests froze in place, forgetting their greetings.

Jing Hengbo smiled sweetly while arranging her sleeves, completely uninvolved.

The Shang Kingdom noble ladies were in complete panic, knowing they’d been improper while also being at a loss about how to handle their torn, embarrassing clothes. They bent and bowed, clutching skirts, standing stiffly in the hall like a group of pink-faced wooden figurines.

In the awkward silence, suddenly someone above spoke – a voice both dignified and elegant with a very kind tone. While greeting guests from various nations and tribes, she ordered palace maids beside her to go down and escort guests to their seats.

Those palace maids were obviously very capable. After going down, they naturally supported the flustered noble ladies, escorting them back to seats while blocking their disheveled, damaged clothing. When helping them sit, they naturally arranged the messy garments, then immediately had people bring cloaks – one for each person – to cover the women’s shame.

This series of actions flowed like clouds and water, natural yet dignified. Jing Hengbo watched with secret admiration. Looking at the woman who had spoken – middle-aged, not particularly beautiful but with dignified bearing – she should be the Shang Queen. Such conduct truly had royal bearing. This was a sudden incident, yet the Queen’s attendants showed no alarm or anger, responding systematically and calmly resolving what could have been a face-losing farce for Shang Kingdom as if they’d rehearsed countless times. Clearly they were truly well-trained.

Behind her, Yong Xue suddenly poked her. She leaned back slightly as Yong Xue whispered in her ear: “It’s her – the one who sent you clothes!”

Jing Hengbo suddenly understood. She hadn’t expected that the formal dress she was wearing was actually a gift from the Queen.

The Shang King and Queen had now returned to normal and began walking toward the upper seats, followed by the Crown Prince and other princes and princesses. Jing Hengbo glanced back and froze again.

Wasn’t that person accompanying a red-dressed young lady none other than Pei Shu?

This fellow had come too?

That red-dressed young lady closely followed several Shang princes, ranked first among the sisters, appearing to be a high-ranking princess. But the question was – when had Pei Shu gotten involved with her?

Pei Shu’s gaze turned toward her, slyly smiling as he mouthed: “See? I still came.”

Jing Hengbo glared at him fiercely, thinking this fellow was too bold. Having just caused trouble in Shang Kingdom’s royal palace, he now dared infiltrate the royal family procession – wasn’t he afraid of being discovered?

Suddenly she felt eyes on her back, as if someone was staring from her side-rear. She turned around but saw nothing unusual. In her side-rear direction, the Shang King and Queen were gracefully taking their seats.

The Shang King was also middle-aged with a handlebar mustache, speaking with vigorous energy. Jing Hengbo thought Shang Lue would probably have to be Crown Prince for sixty years – it just depended on whether Si Si would help him ascend the throne early.

The Shang King said a few routine pleasantries, then raised his cup, smiling: “Honored guests have come from afar – our country is greatly honored. With humble wine and simple food, we toast our distinguished guests. Come… come… come…”

His final “come” suddenly dragged out, repeated several times without completion. Just as everyone was about to raise cups in celebration, they noticed something wrong and looked up in surprise, seeing the Shang King’s gaze fixed directly on a certain spot.

All gazes swished over in that direction.

Jing Hengbo suddenly became the crowd’s center.

She hadn’t noticed the abnormality above and was preparing to taste Shang Kingdom’s wine – it looked clear and crisp, very good. Suddenly feeling the strange silence around her, she looked up to see various odd gazes from all directions.

Jing Hengbo touched her face. She wore half a veil with nothing unusual – even if there were, others couldn’t see it.

She blinked – what was this about?

“She… she… she…” The Shang King suddenly stood up, pointing at Jing Hengbo with trembling fingers: “Her… clothing…”

Jing Hengbo also noticed the Shang King wasn’t staring at her, but at the bright red brocade palace dress she wore.

This dress – was there a problem?

Suddenly a female official cried out: “This is the Queen’s former formal dress! This is the formal dress the Queen ordered sealed long ago!”

Jing Hengbo raised an eyebrow. What did this mean? The Queen’s formal dress? So what if it was the Queen’s formal dress? The Queen had given it to her – wasn’t it normal for the Queen to gift her own formal wear?

Could this be melodramatic like “Legend of Zhen Huan” – this being the beloved former Queen’s dress that she had ignorantly worn, shocking the King?

But it seemed the Queen was more shocked, because that dignified woman’s face was pale and she swayed as if about to fall. A female official beside her quickly supported her, exclaiming: “Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”

Above, the Shang King’s expression changed dramatically. After several deep breaths, he looked at her nameplate and asked solemnly: “Emerald Queen, may I ask how you came to wear my Shang Kingdom Queen’s former formal dress?”

Jing Hengbo stood up, slightly bowing: “This was a gift from the Shang King’s Queen. This King has not yet thanked the Queen for her generous gift.”

“That’s impossible!” The Shang King cut her off decisively, his expression stern.

Jing Hengbo froze and looked toward the Shang Queen.

The Queen’s face was pale with what seemed like tear tracks, staring at her blankly with complete unfamiliarity and surprise.

Seeing her completely unfamiliar expression, Jing Hengbo’s heart sank.

Indeed, the Queen said softly: “This palace… never gave this formal dress to Your Majesty.” After a pause she continued: “Even if giving gifts, this palace would never give this particular dress.” Her voice gradually choked: “This formal dress… this formal dress…” She turned mournfully toward the Shang King, seeming too grief-stricken to continue, her gaze pitiful, gradually misting with tears – like a dew-laden broken hibiscus trembling in the wind, inviting pity.

The Shang King originally looked at her with respect but little warmth. Now, seemingly moved, he turned to look at her with gradually softening, compassionate expression, gently supporting her shoulder and saying softly: “Don’t speak of it – I understand… endure for now…”

The Queen now lacked her previous dignity, seeming like a fragile little woman leaning on the Shang King’s shoulder, gently wiping tears and nodding, while tightly grasping a ten-year-old boy’s hand. The boy also sensibly wiped her tears, saying softly: “Mother Queen, don’t cry, don’t cry…”

The Shang King looked at his delicate wife and sensible young son, his expression subtly changing.

He remembered that gentle, virtuous wife of years past, remembered her accompanying him through the hardships of securing the throne, remembered how radiant this dress had looked on her, remembered that day’s palace tragedy and blood staining her dress like peach blossoms, remembered his gradual estrangement afterward, remembered these years she too had experienced the pain of losing a child yet remained composed and quiet without demands. Faint guilt gradually rose in his eyes.

Crown Prince Shang Lue had been coldly observing and suddenly smiled silently and coldly.

Jing Hengbo watched the Shang Queen and sneered. What a clean denial. Indeed, she hadn’t shown her face then and had no witnesses. Presumably when giving the dress, today’s scene had already been arranged.

Now seeing the Shang King’s expression, this dress probably had quite a story. Did the Queen want to use this dress to evoke some memory where the King felt guilty, thus regain favor? Or did she have other designs?

Pei Shu, originally standing beside Shang Princess Shang Yueyue, now frowned and said quietly: “What are your father King and mother Queen up to?”

Shang Yueyue glanced at him with slightly panicked eyes. Mother Queen had invited Young Marshal Pei to attend the palace banquet under the pretext of admiring his literary and martial talents, wanting to request him as tutor for the princes and princesses. Originally thinking there was no hope, who knew the Young Marshal would actually agree? As daughter of the Queen and eldest of the princesses, she was representing Mother Queen in entertaining the Young Marshal. Actually this was Mother Queen’s arrangement for her to grasp this opportunity well and win over this legendary war god. But this question involved Shang Kingdom’s court secrets – how could she speak of it?

She didn’t speak, so Pei Shu’s eyebrows gradually rose, making Shang Yueyue increasingly panicked. She had originally thought today was just a mission – though serious, not heartfelt. But actually meeting Pei Shu, she never expected this war god famous for years would still be young and vigorous with outstanding bearing and unparalleled brilliance, like blazing fire sweeping wildly over the peach blossom embankments of a young girl’s heart.

Fearing that once his eyebrows fell, he would turn and leave, she could only whisper: “This matter involves our court secrets…”

“This dress was clearly given to the Queen by your mother Queen – why does she deny it in court?” Pei Shu interrupted her with an unfriendly expression.

“That’s impossible!” Shang Yueyue said urgently: “This dress has always been sealed in the deepest part of the most secret inner treasury of the royal palace, and this dress… anyway, Mother Queen absolutely couldn’t have taken it out to give away.”

“And what?” Pei Shu was very sharp and wouldn’t let it pass.

Shang Yueyue looked troubled. But a young lady behind her suddenly laughed coldly: “Elder sister, why be evasive? Isn’t it just because this formal dress was originally the Queen’s coronation dress? The Queen was made Empress for giving birth to the Crown Prince, with the coronation ceremony and the Crown Prince’s full-moon celebration held simultaneously. Who knew this dress was poisoned – the Crown Prince was poisoned to death in the Queen’s arms. Father King and Mother Queen were heartbroken. This dress is our Shang Kingdom royal family’s pain, the royal family’s sorrow, the Queen’s shameful memory and Father King’s reminder of losing his son. If not for the inauspiciousness of burning coronation dresses, this dress would have been ashes long ago. But it was permanently sealed from then on, not daring to let it see daylight – how could it be taken out to give away!”

She laughed coldly again, seeming to mutter to herself: “Years later, taking it out now is perfect timing – stirring the King and Queen’s shared memories, evoking the King’s pity, and reconciling husband and wife. Incidentally, it can remind the King that he originally promised to make the Queen’s son Crown Prince, but due to the Crown Prince’s sudden death, it was delayed and finally changed to making a concubine’s son Crown Prince. Now the Queen’s son has also grown up – shouldn’t the original promise be fulfilled…”

Shang Yueyue turned to glare angrily at that young lady, who fearlessly glared back. The royal princesses’ gazes burned in the hall, each standing firm due to different interests and positions.

But Pei Shu had no mind for the Shang Queen’s multi-purpose scheme. He only noticed one sentence.

“The dress was poisoned?” His gaze burned as he pressed: “What poison? How severe?”

“The Crown Prince immediately broke out in red spots all over and died spitting blood. Don’t you think that’s severe?”

Pei Shu’s expression changed.

At this moment, the Queen suddenly turned and asked Jing Hengbo tremblingly: “How did you obtain this formal dress?”

Before Jing Hengbo could answer, someone already responded: “Reporting to the Queen – Her Majesty the Queen once went to Brocade Street to purchase formal wear but couldn’t find suitable styles. Perhaps she therefore took a fancy to your dress.”

Another person said: “Speaking of coincidences – all our Shang Kingdom noble ladies’ formal wear was stolen last night, forcing new orders. Could this all be Her Majesty the Queen’s handiwork?”

Jing Hengbo chuckled, propping her chin: “Yes. I alone, with countless avatars, overnight entered and exited Shang Kingdom’s royal palace inner chambers to steal formal wear, then in the unfamiliar Shang Kingdom capital, entered and exited countless high officials’ and nobles’ residences to steal dresses – I truly didn’t know I had such great ability. Should I consider conquering Imperial Song overnight next?”

The whispered discussions in the hall paused, then someone said: “Perhaps you had accomplices!”

“Then that only proves you Shang Kingdom people are worthless!” Jing Hengbo said harshly: “Even strong dragons don’t suppress local snakes, yet I, a queen with only a few hundred guards, can come and go freely in your Shang Kingdom capital and royal palace – your Shang Kingdom guards and armies might as well die!”

“That’s because you…”

“Enough!” The Shang King shouted, cutting off further debate, then turned to Jing Hengbo, frowning solemnly: “The Queen is our country’s honored guest – you must not question her at will. However, this formal dress is of great significance and is an inauspicious object. We absolutely dare not let it bring misfortune to Your Majesty. Please return it to our country.”

“Yes.” The Queen also said mournfully: “Originally this dress reportedly had smallpox mixed poison applied to it…”

At the word “smallpox,” everyone’s faces changed dramatically. With a swoosh, people around Jing Hengbo all retreated three steps.

Seeing their plague-avoiding expressions, Jing Hengbo frowned and asked Yong Xue quietly: “What is smallpox?”

“Also called variola.” Yong Xue was succinct and didn’t shrink back despite hearing this terrible word. Instead, she stepped forward to block in front of her.

Jing Hengbo gasped.

How vicious.

She still knew about smallpox – in ancient times, this was a super-contagious fatal disease!

Yélu Qi suddenly stood up. Pei Shu rushed down from the hall. Shang Yueyue grabbed his sleeve, saying sweetly: “Young Marshal, don’t worry – we’ll surely find ways to help…”

Jing Hengbo looked up at the hall where the Queen still smiled graciously. Lightning flashed through her mind as she understood this series of linked schemes.

She had originally wondered why Shang Kingdom’s noble ladies would unite to ostracize her, a queen. After all, she was an outsider – how could the hosts disregard even basic etiquette? It turned out this had been instigated by the Queen’s hints and authorization from the beginning. Who would dare disobey the Queen’s wishes?

The noble ladies ostracized her from buying formal wear, then the Queen appeared as the good person when she was desperate, gifting her a dress. With no choice and grateful for this timely assistance, she would definitely wear the formal wear.

Then the dress would inevitably attract the Shang King’s attention, triggering some memory between the King and Queen that would certainly benefit the Queen – this could be proven by watching their expressions.

But the Queen wanted more than just using her to regain the King’s affections. This poisoned dress could control her, the Emerald Queen, and could also control Pei Shu, who was devoted to the Emerald Queen.

She remembered the Queen had a young son who was greatly favored by the King, but Crown Prince Shang Lue was in his prime, wielding military power with deeply rooted court influence – difficult to shake easily.

The Queen’s young son lacked military power. If there were strong external support at this time, such as someone like the war god Pei Shu, the weight would be greatly different. Everyone knew Daimo’s armies were personally recruited and trained by Pei Shu – essentially his direct forces. Though not numerous, they were extremely elite.

The poison on her could be used to threaten Pei Shu, forcing him to bring his subordinate armies, defect from Blackwater, become a Shang Kingdom princess’s consort, and become powerful backing for the young prince.

Thus, the princess would have her ideal husband, the prince would have armies, the Queen would regain the King’s pity, giving her multiple assets to compete for the throne for her young son.

As for her, this queen – once used up, there was no need to consider consequences. If she were truly angered into sending troops to attack, Shang Lue was the adult prince commanding armies who should naturally meet the battle, exhausting his forces would be best, death even better.

Calculating it all, this was truly an exquisitely perfect linked scheme – offensive when advancing, defensible when retreating, gaining something from nothing with no losses to themselves. A mere set of formal wear could manipulate all these influential figures – royal intrigue at its finest.

Ingenious, cold, meticulous, comprehensive.

Since walking through Dahuang, she was the most brilliant scheming royal woman Jing Hengbo had encountered. Without moving a muscle, the net was already complete. Others couldn’t even find clues.

The only flaw was completely not treating her, Jing Hengbo, as human. Of course, in the Shang Queen’s eyes, this wasn’t a flaw at all. Besides her son’s throne, nothing else mattered – even daughters could be marriage sacrifices, so what was one foreign queen?

“Please quickly remove your clothing, Your Majesty!” The Shang Queen still sat in the hall, urging her with apparent concern: “If too much time passes, I fear you’ll be poisoned…”

Faint mocking laughter arose from all sides, with someone saying strangely in whispers: “Please quickly remove clothing in the hall, Your Majesty!”

Someone laughed shrilly: “Just now mocking our disheveled clothes, now look at herself – about to strip completely!”

Someone gloated: “Haha, let’s see whose clothes she can steal to change into this time?”

Someone feigned sincerity, propping their chin thoughtfully: “This isn’t good. As fellow women, her embarrassment reflects poorly on us too. How about letting her change into palace maid clothing?”

“Naturally,” someone spread their hands, “besides that, where else is there formal wear for her to change into?”

“Hey, don’t speak too absolutely. I hear the Queen is quite capable. Maybe she really does have formal wear to change into?”

“True, maybe she has many sets waiting to change into.”

“Then quickly bring them out.”

“Haha, if she really produces them, we’ll eat this great hall’s floor!”

…

Laughter came in waves. Yélu Qi had walked to Jing Hengbo’s side, saying quietly: “What now?”

The two exchanged glances. Jing Hengbo’s lips curved in a cold smile as she slowly reached to unfasten her clothing.

Seeing her movements, the surrounding noble ladies laughed even more happily.

Jing Hengbo was also smiling.

These fools – did they really think others were as stupid as them?

Ji Min suddenly walked over, removing her own cloak to offer it. Jing Hengbo paused. Though she didn’t actually need it, facing this hall full of malice, she still felt warmed by this gesture.

Even Yélu Qi turned to look at Ji Min gently, his gaze slightly grateful.

But Ji Min seemed indifferent, smiling as she stepped aside.

Jing Hengbo slowly removed her clothing while thinking about how to slap back those vicious people with maximum force.

This world full of malice could only be slapped back with even more resounding slaps.

The crowd avoided her at a distance around the hall’s sides, surrounding her with cold laughter and spectating gazes.

The Shang Queen raised a gracious, satisfied smile because she saw her daughter had successfully caught Young Marshal Pei.

And that formal dress – she knew that even if the Queen removed it now, it was too late. Fearing the poison’s effectiveness had diminished over the years, she had specially added more poison. Soon the Queen would dare not retaliate and would come begging for her life first.

Or she could negotiate with the Queen, gaining some benefits from the Emerald Tribe. After all, life was most important, wasn’t it?

Her smile revealed a tooth, creating the most elegant curve.

Suddenly a long announcement came.

“Report – honored guest’s ceremonial carriage has arrived!”

Accompanying this came the rumbling sound of carriages. Everyone froze, wondering what carriage could drive directly to the main hall entrance.

The Shang King also looked surprised, calling loudly toward the hall exterior: “Which guest is this! Didn’t we say that without permission, no honored guest may drive carriages to the hall entrance!”

“Your Majesty!” A guard leaped from behind the carriage, quickly ascending the hall to kneel before the Shang King: “The guest carries the highest level invitation. We dared not obstruct them and request Your Majesty’s instruction!”

The Shang King started, suddenly stepping forward.

The crowd buzzed with discussion, looking at each other.

Everyone understood what “highest level” meant – the invited guest’s own status was already higher than the Shang King’s. Whether referring to political position or referring to peerless experts whom no one could offend, when such people arrived, even the Shang King himself should welcome them outside the hall. Carriages driving directly in was nothing.

The guard presented the invitation – indeed it was the highest level with golden base and white jade lettering, but the name section had been erased.

The Shang King hurriedly straightened his clothing and crown, preparing to welcome them, thinking he had only sent out three highest-level invitations purely out of respect without expecting anyone to actually come. Who could it be this time?

The Queen was also hurriedly arranging her skirts and touching up makeup. Everyone else was in chaos, returning to their positions.

At this time, the carriage had driven to the hall’s base. Several guards emerged, carrying down several large boxes.

The guards carrying boxes opened them right at the steps.

Colorful embroidery was brilliant, magnificent light dazzling. Women near the hall entrance let out amazed “wows.”

“Formal wear!” Someone couldn’t help exclaiming: “Such beautiful formal wear! The styles are quite different from ours, but… truly… so special!”

Hearing it was clothing, many people disregarded etiquette to crane their necks for a look. They saw box after box of exquisite, luxurious formal wear neatly folded – silk smooth as moonlight, brocade brilliant as sunlight, embroidery of divine craftsmanship, colors like celestial rainbows, complementing each other to create indescribable radiance.

Just that casual glance made everyone suddenly feel their own clothing was vulgar and crude.

Like village girls standing before noble princesses – amid all that magnificence, they saw their own dustiness more clearly.

The boxes were large enough to hold several formal outfits each, and there were four such boxes.

This was obviously meant as gifts. Everyone stared eagerly, thinking such presents should be for the Shang Queen, right? Only she would be worthy of such precious gifts.

The Queen herself seemed to think so too, her face radiant as she lifted her head, adjusting her breathing and assuming the most elegant posture for expressing gratitude.

Those guards lifted the boxes while others unloaded a row of smaller boxes, opening them similarly.

“Wow!” came another exclamation, even louder than before.

This time the boxes were full of jewelry.

Gold and silver no longer deserved to exist here – everything was pigeon-egg-sized gems and pearls, six-pointed sparkling top-quality emeralds, cat’s eye stones with mysterious flowing light, obsidian black as profound hell, pure agate and coral red as red lotus flames, blue diamonds as deep and clear as azure lakes, pink gems as tender and beautiful as spring peach blossoms… These supreme-quality gems and jewels each exceeded the best stones of those noble ladies, set in various uniquely shaped accessories with no duplicates and absolutely not sold in markets – necklaces, headdresses, rings, pearl chains, earrings, belts… Those gorgeous colors, dazzling light, exquisite styles created overwhelming luxury that made young ladies flush and breathe rapidly, clutching their collars. Even some princesses accustomed to grand scenes had sparkling eyes, feeling that though they lived in wealth, only today did they truly understand real wealth.

This row of small boxes was also carried in.

Subsequent guards took down just one box, holding it carefully. People held their breath and craned their necks, wanting to see what eye-opening sight this would bring, but the guard didn’t open the box.

Seeing his especially careful manner, it seemed the box contained treasures even more precious than the previous chests, making everyone increasingly curious, staring without blinking.

Another person carried down a box that seemed to contain all medicines. Those who understood pharmacology discovered they were all the finest cold-dispelling medicines – extremely precious, priceless valuable medicines casually placed in boxes. Someone even discovered a fire-red pill legendarily capable of increasing fire-type practitioners’ power by ten years, with formulas long lost that would drive many martial artists mad if it appeared, carelessly stuffed in a box corner.

This box of items didn’t interest women but nearly made men’s eyes pop out.

Next came another small box that again wasn’t opened, but as it passed by everyone, many caught a sour yet sweet fragrant smell, seemingly food.

Everyone looked at each other – after all those precious things, the finale was food? Such a huge gap!

The group carrying items headed straight into the hall, toward the upper area.

The Shang King was beaming, the Queen gracefully raising her hand, preparing to receive gifts and express gratitude in the most beautiful manner.

But the group suddenly turned, sidestepped, and lined up before Jing Hengbo.

The entire hall fell instantly silent.

Jing Hengbo also froze, not expecting this god-like plot twist.

The frontmost guards set down the formal wear boxes they carried in pairs, bowing before her and declaring loudly:

“Brocade clothing and magnificent garments for the beauty – please accept them, Your Majesty!”

They then withdrew as the second row of guards stepped forward, holding jewelry boxes high above their heads and presenting them to her.

Amid gasps from all sides, Jing Hengbo sharply turned her head – nearly blinded by the brilliance.

The guards’ gift-announcing loud voices also nearly deafened her ears – she suspected even Yu Kingdom could hear it.

“Earthly treasures cannot compare to you – please enjoy them, Your Majesty!”

The second row set down boxes and withdrew. The third row had only one person who stepped forward and bowed to her.

“When it’s time to act, then act – please wear these, Your Majesty!”

The box popped open with a snap. Jing Hengbo saw her ten-inch thin high-heeled leopard print heels.

This shock was too intense – her mouth opened with an “ah” of stupefaction.

She could guess his sudden changes in fortune but not this sudden change in style.

Her heart suddenly began beating violently, and she couldn’t help looking toward the hall entrance.

This this this… was he here?

Was it possible?

The fourth row was also one person who stepped forward, hands lifting to present the final box.

“This item most suits my heart’s feeling – please taste it, Your Majesty!”

“Pop!” The lid sprang open, releasing a sour-sweet fragrance. Jing Hengbo’s cheek muscles immediately filled with saliva.

She stared dumbfounded at the pale yellow, semi-transparent solidified substance in the porcelain jar inside the box.

“This this this…”

This seemed, perhaps, maybe, probably… to be apricot jam?

Apricot jam?

This soul-stirring grand finale was apricot jam?

The entire hall was silent, everyone staring with wide eyes, gazes moving between magnificent clothing, dazzling treasures, precious medicines, strange high heels, and apricot jam, not knowing whether to exclaim or spit.

“Move aside.” Suddenly Pei Shu leaped down from the hall, the Young Marshal’s face full of vigilance as he pushed aside those guards, blocking in front of Jing Hengbo and pulling her back several steps: “Don’t touch things sent by these unknown people. Also, are you really sure that dress is fine? That vicious woman might have backup plans – don’t be overconfident and careless. Shouldn’t you take it off to be safe…” He reached to unfasten Jing Hengbo’s collar buttons.

Jing Hengbo’s mind was in chaos, not yet clear on the situation, instinctively stepping back and raising her palm to block his wandering hands.

“Go away!”

Suddenly a stream of light shot forth, piercing through dense crowds, directly targeting Pei Shu. Before arriving it generated a whistling sound, piercing everyone’s eardrums like a sharp sword.

Pei Shu had originally sneered dismissively but suddenly his expression changed, his head jerking sharply aside. With a “whoosh” the object swept past his ear and struck the hard marble steps with a “thwack,” embedding perfectly in a carved dragon’s eye.

Looking closely, it was an apricot pit.

A fragile apricot pit penetrating stone showed the thrower’s finger strength was astonishing. Pei Shu’s expression changed as he whirled around.

At the hall entrance, a figure had appeared at some unknown time.

Backlit, his appearance wasn’t visible – only a tall, slender silhouette in wide robes standing in pale gray shadows, the outline noble and elevated.

A faint voice said coldly:

“My person – you cannot touch.”