“No problem!” Jing Hengbo agreed without even blinking.
When it comes to deceiving people, the more elaborate the lies, the more righteous one’s expression must be. Looking at the King of Tiannan’s burning gaze fixed on her eyes, if she showed even the slightest hesitation, she believed the King of Tiannan would already be calling for people to dismember her.
Her unhesitant decisiveness indeed made the King of Tiannan’s expression soften. She clapped her hands, and yellow-clothed figures emerged like ghosts from the wall corners behind her.
“Withdraw the people from outside the palace gates. Tell that person breaking into the palace that the one he seeks is now my honored guest. If he has the courage, let him come in and see for himself.”
“Yes.”
“If you don’t believe my words, you can also test them first…” Jing Hengbo whispered a few words in the King of Tiannan’s ear. The King of Tiannan nodded and gave a few instructions to her subordinates: “Do as instructed.”
After the messenger left to carry out orders, Jing Hengbo sought assurance from the King of Tiannan: “I’m selling them out for you—you must protect me.”
“Rest assured. Since you’re loyal to me, I will never disappoint you.” The King of Tiannan now genuinely liked Jing Hengbo somewhat, finding this woman frank and charming, bright and natural, very pleasing in speech and action, and skilled in feminine wiles. Keeping her around might not be a bad thing. Sigh, if only she weren’t so beautiful.
“What other skills do you have? Bring them all out.” The King of Tiannan looked at the sky—it was still early, and who knew what would happen later. Better to extract more of this woman’s abilities first.
Jing Hengbo rolled her eyes and smiled: “Perhaps I could give Your Majesty some advice on your dance costumes and styling.”
“Excellent.” The King of Tiannan personally brought Jing Hengbo into a dressing room, showing her rainbow-feathered garments: “Aren’t they exquisite and magnificent?”
Jing Hengbo scoffed.
“Pretty enough, luxurious enough,” she sat in a chair, crossing her legs, her toe pointing at the dance costume decorated with colorful feathers, “but is it distinctive? Alluring? Unforgettable at first sight? How is this different from what brothel girls commonly wear? Just finer materials.”
The King of Tiannan’s face reddened. She had indeed come from a brothel background, gaining the old king’s favor through seductive arts and even usurping the throne. When one is steeped in a certain profession for long, one’s actions inevitably retain traces of the past. Her dance costumes were still those of prostitutes, just more luxurious.
Jing Hengbo had hit her sore spot. This fierce woman was quite displeased, her gaze darkening as she was about to explode, when she suddenly froze, staring fixedly at Jing Hengbo’s feet.
On Jing Hengbo’s feet were her usual high heels—patent leather bright red with ten-inch crystal heels, pointed toes, delicate and cute, the shoe surface pure and lustrous, gleaming in the slightly dim room.
The laces extended all the way up to her calves. Such laced high heels would be a nightmare on someone with thick calves, but on Jing Hengbo’s feet, they only made one notice how slender, snow-white, and lustrous her calves were.
The King of Tiannan looked down at the shoes, her breathing seeming to stop.
Jing Hengbo silently cried alarm, very worried that in the next moment she would pounce and strip the high heels from her feet—these were among her precious few treasures!
She quickly tucked her feet back, pulled her skirt down, and held up the King of Tiannan’s dance costume, laughing: “I suggest changing the style of your dance costume. Make it a two-piece—the top a tube top decorated with jewelry and pearl strings, the bottom could be balloon pants, wide at the thigh and gathered at the ankle, which would make the waist look especially slender and the posture especially charming. If you’re willing, you could add other decorations…”
As she spoke, she walked around, her heel clicks crisp against the floor. The King of Tiannan listened with “mm-hmms,” her gaze glued to the hem of the skirt, unable to tear away.
Seeing this wasn’t good, Jing Hengbo noted this creature’s crazed expression and undying desire for her shoes. She needed to throw out something big to divert attention.
Her arm suddenly bumped into a small pouch tied at her waist. Her heart stirred. When approaching the table, she paused slightly, tore open a small opening in the pouch, bent down to present the dance costume to the King of Tiannan: “Please put this away…”
As she bent her waist, something fell with a “plop.” She quickly went to pick it up.
Another hand reached over, quick-eyed and fast-handed, snatching the item and gripping it tightly in her palm.
Jing Hengbo lowered her head, a mischievous smile at her lips. When she raised her head again, she had already put on an uneasy expression.
“Eh, what is this thing?” The King of Tiannan examined the object from all angles.
It was a thin little pouch with heart-shaped purple patterns printed on it, smooth in texture, seemingly carrying a faint fragrance.
The King of Tiannan instinctively started to smell it when Jing Hengbo’s hand gently pressed on the little pouch.
“Well, this is one of my treasures for displaying feminine charm, called the Soul-Stirring Blood-Spurting Unparalleled Seductive Purple Temptation Cover, abbreviated as ‘mouth cover.'”
“Mouth cover?”
“Used for good times…” Jing Hengbo said mysteriously, “There are versions for men and women, and summer and winter styles. This is an ultra-thin summer version. Like this,” she tore open the pouch, took out a small piece of white, thin, paper-like material, deftly removed the backing paper, and held the sanitary pad up to her mouth: “Wear it like this.”
“What good does wearing it do?” The King of Tiannan stared blankly at that small piece, feeling that although it was exquisite, if one could hook people with just this small thing, it seemed hardly credible.
“Look at this thing—light, soft, breathable, clean, soul-stirring, with exquisite patterns that even embroidery couldn’t create, and under different lights and angles it can flash seductive fluorescence…” Jing Hengbo held the pad at various angles. In the lamplight she discovered the pad had a dark glow, immediately cursing inwardly—damn merchants adding fluorescent agents! She’d definitely avoid this brand next time!
“Could you make such a thing? Do you have any? Have you seen anything like this? What is temptation? Temptation is being unique and captivating! It’s perfection in every detail! Think about it—snow-white printed mouth covers revealing a pair of dark, sparkling eyes. What man wouldn’t be moved and fall in love at the sight?”
The King of Tiannan stared at the pad, having to admit this thing was absolutely unique in terms of craftsmanship, with a very special fragrance. Perhaps wearing it really would be quite seductive.
“Let me try wearing it.” She couldn’t help saying.
Jing Hengbo very reluctantly handed over the opened one, still instructing: “Just try it on briefly then return it to me. I’m counting on this to make my fortune.”
“You’ll be my female official in the future—what won’t you have? Why show your face doing business? Besides, your things are the palace’s things. How can you share them with those lowly women? Just supply me in the future.” The King of Tiannan followed Jing Hengbo’s guidance, sticking the pad over her mouth. Her voice came out muffled and unclear: “Mmm… fragrant…”
“Alright, alright.” Jing Hengbo unceremoniously tore off the pad and put it back in her little pouch: “Using it now would be such a waste. This thing is very precious.”
“Your things should all be mine.” The King of Tiannan frowned.
“Good things should be treasured,” Jing Hengbo produced another ultra-thin daily sanitary pad from her pouch like magic: “Let me show you another good one—for men.”
“This one is much bigger.” The King of Tiannan looked surprised, not expecting there to be a large version.
“It’s for men. Look at Yélu Qi’s big mouth—how could anything smaller cover his chattering mouth?” Jing Hengbo imagined Yélu Qi with one of these things stuck on his mouth and smiled wickedly.
The key point was, this treasure was specially treated!
Throwing out the pad was all for this moment’s “male mouth cover.”
“What’s it for?” The King of Tiannan was quite curious. If the female “mouth cover” was very exquisite and could increase allure and charm, what was this male mouth cover for? She didn’t need Yélu Qi to seduce her—she only worried that Yélu Qi wouldn’t take her bait.
“On the wedding night…” Jing Hengbo whispered secretly in her ear, “When he’s not paying attention, put it on him. This contains a unique exotic fragrance. When a man smells it, he’ll think you’re beautiful as a fairy, completely entranced. Whatever position you want, he’ll do. However you want him to cooperate, he’ll cooperate. What’s even better is this effect…” She smiled with dancing eyebrows, “…is lifelong!”
The King of Tiannan’s heart jumped, blurting out: “Really?”
“Truer than pure gold!” Jing Hengbo declared righteously, copying the standard line.
The King of Tiannan was truly somewhat moved.
Aphrodisiac drugs weren’t rare—every palace kept several varieties for emergencies. Moreover, wasn’t she an expert who rose through seduction? It’s just that Yélu Qi was very alert and careful. The drugs she’d secretly tried before had no effect. More importantly, she feared that if she used force with drugs, Yélu Qi would resent her after sobering up, and that would truly be irreparable.
For this jade-tree-like man, she had her own cherishing and love, unwilling to treat him like those men bought from slave markets, wanting to last as long as possible with him.
If it really could last a lifetime…
Jing Hengbo kept watching her expression, clearly seeing that look written with temptation.
“However, with Your Majesty’s beauty and charm, I don’t think you need this thing. Sigh, let me save it instead. This is something I brought across oceans—use one, lose one.” She pretended to put the sanitary pad back in her pouch.
“Wait.” The King of Tiannan pressed her hand: “No harm in trying. Stop being so protective of your things. If it really works, I’ll reward you handsomely.” She directly took the sanitary pad and carefully hid it in a secret pocket close to her body.
“If I give it to you, I give it to you…” Jing Hengbo looked pained, reminding her: “But remember, it’s best to put it on him secretly, stick it on when he’s not paying attention for the best effect. If you’re afraid he’ll discover it, sticking it on the inside of the pillow also works. Also remember this is the male version—if you tear it open yourself, it’s wasted.”
“That’s not for you to worry about.” The King of Tiannan patted her sleeve with a satisfied expression.
Jing Hengbo’s expression was also very satisfied—Yélu Qi, tonight you have a beauty to seduce your soul, a sanitary pad to cover your mouth, plus Feifei’s urine for excitement. Like it or not?
Sister is really sparing no effort to repay your kindness for that deception in the mountain valley!
…
After Gong Yin repelled three attacks from the palace offerings at the palace gates, he turned to meet the arriving guards.
“Master…” Meng Hu looked worriedly toward the palace interior: “Her Majesty has been captured. Should we force our way in?”
“She’s currently safe.” Gong Yin’s expression was calm: “No need to force entry. If we exhaust our energy, how can we meet old friends?”
Meng Hu knew Gong Yin had his own ways to confirm Jing Hengbo’s safety. Hearing this, he felt somewhat relieved, but the last sentence shocked him into raising his eyebrows: “The Left State Preceptor is in the palace!”
“It’s getting dark…” Gong Yin clasped his hands behind his back, watching the setting sun slowly sink, saying leisurely: “Tonight’s Tiannan Palace might be worth seeing.”
Meng Hu withdrew knowingly to make preparations, understanding his master planned to enter the palace tonight.
But Gong Yin suddenly looked up, his gaze focusing.
Atop the palace wall, a figure in silver-black robes suddenly appeared, sleeves fluttering, eyes smiling, even waving at Gong Yin from afar.
“Left State Preceptor!” Meng Hu hissed like he had a toothache.
Gong Yin remained expressionless, not responding, looking at Yélu Qi with the gaze one gives the dead.
From afar, Yélu Qi chatted and laughed with the palace offerings on the wall, seeming quite popular. While talking, he casually pointed in Gong Yin’s direction. Those palace offerings who had been somewhat retreating suddenly charged down the wall again.
Meng Hu cursed under his breath, immediately preparing for battle. Gong Yin wasn’t surprised—since Yélu Qi had been pursued here by him, it would be strange if he passed up this opportunity to surround and kill him.
But before he could strike first, another man suddenly appeared on the palace wall, shouting from afar: “Form the fire dragon formation to attack and kill!”
Following his command, a large team of guards rushed out from both sides of the palace wall, wielding black fire-spewing tubes. When lit, flames shot out three feet high. The many fire tubes’ flames connected head to tail, tumbling and dancing—from a distance it truly looked like a fire dragon, quite spectacular.
But seeing this, Yélu Qi’s face changed dramatically as he shouted urgently: “Don’t use the fire dragon!”
The messenger sent by the King of Tiannan to test looked sideways—indeed there was a problem!
The King had said to test Young Master Yélu, fearing he was colluding with this palace intruder. Now it seemed indeed true—as soon as the ultimate weapon was deployed, look at his anxious appearance!
“Fire!” He seemed not to hear Yélu Qi’s shout, sternly ordering.
A cold smile crossed Gong Yin’s lips.
Before Prajna Snow, all attacks with heat sources were wasted effort.
The fire dragon roared, seeming to emerge from the end of the setting sun, carrying crimson color and boundless killing intent, rushing forward.
Gong Yin merely rolled his sleeve lightly.
The snow-colored sleeve was like swirling snow covering the sky, spinning open continuous white shadows in a three-zhang radius. The surrounding temperature plummeted. Hot and cold air clashed, creating pale white mist that obscured his tall figure, ethereal and misty like a Penglai immortal.
But Yélu Qi sighed.
Of course, his sigh, in the eyes of the coldly observing messenger, was heartache.
The fire dragon danced wildly forward.
Meeting the pale white mist.
A soft hissing sound—everyone stared wide-eyed, watching that furiously dancing cluster of red flames being blocked, isolated, and gradually dissolved by that thin layer of seemingly insubstantial mist, as if cut by invisible blades, abruptly severed and broken.
Ice and fire clashed, the mist rose more fiercely, fine ice crystals condensed all over the ground. People could barely see Gong Yin’s figure, only vaguely making out a hand moving in circles, his nails becoming increasingly bloodless and transparent as ice crystals.
Everyone above and below the palace wall was horrified. They had never imagined that the fierce killing force that was almost invincible would have no resistance before the opponent’s single finger. They instinctively retreated.
Yélu Qi sighed again.
To the frustrated and defeated messenger’s ears, that was gloating.
A flash of annoyance crossed the messenger’s eyes. He suddenly darted backward, stumbling as if about to fall.
Yélu Qi quickly came to support him. The messenger raised his hand as if wanting to borrow his strength. His sleeve swept past Yélu Qi’s hand, the gold-embroidered trim on his sleeve somehow slightly raised, scraping across Yélu Qi’s hand.
“Ah.” Yélu Qi felt a slight pain on his hand. When he withdrew to look, his hand was already scratched, bleeding a little.
“Oh my, I’m sorry.” The messenger quickly apologized, his eyes constantly glancing at the wound.
Yélu Qi withdrew his hand, his sleeve falling to cover the wound, smiling lightly: “No matter.” He turned away, unwilling to pay the messenger further attention.
The messenger walked away a few steps, secretly clenching his fists.
Indeed, another problem was discovered!
There were fine ice crystals in Yélu Qi’s blood!
The King had told him to watch for evidence that Yélu Qi and the pretty boy had an affair, saying the most powerful evidence would be that their martial arts came from the same source. Absolutely true—look at that white-clothed fellow’s trick of ice crystals all over the ground, and now Yélu Qi’s blood also had ice crystal coloring. If they weren’t family, who would believe it?
Now only the final test remained.
Testing the white-clothed one’s feelings for this black-clothed one!
The messenger suddenly struck toward Yélu Qi’s back with one palm, while making a feint with his other hand, throwing a black wooden plaque from behind Yélu Qi. It looked like he was ambushing Yélu Qi and had stolen the plaque.
From afar below the palace wall, Gong Yin’s eyes lit up as he quickly advanced several steps, wanting to see clearly what that wooden plaque was. Was it Yélu Qi’s Left State Preceptor token?
On the palace wall, Yélu Qi alertly turned, raising his sleeve to block the messenger’s palm, raising his eyebrows in amazement: “What are you doing?”
The messenger chuckled, kicked up the wooden plaque and caught it in his palm, casually tucking it into his sleeve: “I heard Young Master Yélu’s martial arts are formidable. I wanted to test your reflexes. Hehe, just joking, just joking.”
Yélu Qi’s gaze flashed, his expression clearly disbelieving, smiling: “Oh? Joking at a time like this?”
The messenger didn’t answer, walking to the wall edge. In that instant he struck at Yélu Qi, he had already seen Gong Yin’s urgent expression.
Good.
This also confirmed it.
These were indeed a pair of mutually affectionate adulterous lovers with ulterior motives, collaborating inside and outside, attempting to seize the King’s power!
“Hehehe,” he laughed with his head down, “What a loving pair of mandarin ducks—how hard it must be for you both!”
“What did you say?” Yélu Qi didn’t hear clearly.
Below the palace wall, Gong Yin looked up, vaguely feeling the atmosphere above was strange.
“Nothing. I must report the palace situation to the King. Also, by the King’s order, no need to fight with the opponent—if he wants to enter, let him enter.” The messenger refused to stay longer, immediately taking hasty leave while walking and sighing with emotion.
Though they were in opposing positions, he hadn’t expected two men to have such deep affection. He acted as an inside agent for him, forcing smiles while staying beside a woman he didn’t like; he traveled thousands of miles for him, facing countless enemies, responding from below the city, willing to face an entire nation alone with his own strength.
What moving male-male love!
Gong Yin looked up at the messenger who had suddenly appeared then quickly left, vaguely feeling something was wrong. He turned to ask Meng Hu: “Do you feel something’s off?”
Meng Hu: “Yes, his eyes looked very moved.”
…
On the palace wall, Yélu Qi frowned and touched his nose.
What was wrong with the King of Tiannan, actually wanting to let Gong Yin in? Had she listened to that little temptress’s words?
Didn’t expect that little temptress had such abilities.
Today Gong Yin pursued relentlessly—was it to chase him, or for the little temptress?
Yélu Qi glanced at Gong Yin’s straight nose, touched his own nose, not feeling they differed much in height.
Sigh, anyway it couldn’t be hidden. If he came in, he came in—find an opportunity to blow him up.
…
When Jing Hengbo saw the messenger return hurriedly with uncertain expressions, she smiled inwardly.
When she saw the King of Tiannan listen to the messenger’s report and her face change dramatically, nearly becoming fierce, she smiled even more happily inwardly.
How about that? The “mutually responding, enduring humiliation, collaborating inside and outside, until death do us part” male-male love had been confirmed, right?
She had heard Gong Yin mention before that after being poisoned by him and using his antidote, Yélu Qi’s blood would change during his injury period, showing ice crystal seeds.
To some extent, it looked like his martial arts came from the same source as Gong Yin’s.
And the power Yélu Qi controlled was naturally something Gong Yin couldn’t forget. Having the messenger throw out that “fake token,” how could Gong Yin not care?
As for the token’s style—she had seen in the mountain valley a black wooden plaque inserted at Yélu Qi’s waist with just a little tip showing, presumably some kind of identity token belonging to Yélu Qi. Of course, the wooden plaque the King of Tiannan’s people threw out wouldn’t be identical to Yélu Qi’s, but from such a distance, how could one distinguish clearly?
Thinking of those two cunning, cold state preceptors who always played with her, finally being played by her this time, Jing Hengbo couldn’t help but smile happily.
The King of Tiannan’s expression was ugly. It took quite a while for her to digest this damned evidence. Originally half-believing Jing Hengbo’s words, the so-called test of feminine charm was just testing attitudes. Now furious, she truly had several parts wanting to test properly.
She waved her hand, very decisively ordering people to untie Jing Hengbo’s bindings. Jing Hengbo stretched comfortably—she was now completely free.
But she didn’t want to leave.
She wanted to find a crack between two state preceptors and one king, slip in properly, both escaping the fate of being a puppet queen and arranging her future life once and for all.
She sat down comfortably, waiting for Gong Yin’s arrival.
The King of Tiannan stared at the “mouth cover,” beginning to seriously consider the possibility of bringing down Yélu Qi tonight. Suddenly remembering an important question.
“Will you use it yourself tonight?” The King of Tiannan pointed at the “mouth cover.”
Jing Hengbo’s expression was strange—put one of these on the great god’s mouth?
Could she see tomorrow’s sun?
“It’s not impossible to try.” Thinking of the great god’s wonderful appearance with a sanitary pad on his mouth, she immediately felt her blood boiling—snow-white great god with snow-white sanitary pad, perfect match or not?
“Maybe he’d like the winged extra-long night version?” Jing Hengbo gestured the shape of a winged sanitary pad, her face full of longing.
“Like what?” Someone behind asked.
“Extra-long night use 39 centimeters…” Jing Hengbo answered with narrowed eyes full of anticipation, suddenly realizing the voice was wrong.
“Ah!” She turned around and saw the snow-white great god.
The snow-white great god stood at the doorway, characteristically frowning slightly, staring at her. His gaze saw through her completely, confirming there was nothing wrong outside before speaking coldly: “With wings? Extra-long? Night use?”
The last two words perhaps touched his actually quite sensitive nerves, his gaze at Jing Hengbo full of scrutiny.
“Hehehe,” Jing Hengbo had her own way of handling this, “Yes, my snow-white winged three-piece ultra-short tight angel tutu dress. Want to see? Shall I wear it for you?”
The great god reacted quickly—in an instant, countless round, snow-white, long-legged, short-skirted, long-eared, pink-eared rabbit versions of Jing Hengbo whizzed through his mind…
“Don’t fool around!” The refusal was crisp and quick, his expression righteous and stern.
In the King of Tiannan’s eyes, indeed a strong-willed man with special preferences who wasn’t interested in women!
Gong Yin’s eyes held no place for the King of Tiannan—his eyes had always only accommodated those one or two who entered his field of vision.
He raised his hand toward Jing Hengbo, signaling her to come with him to leave.
Seeing this wasn’t good, Jing Hengbo realized she had forgotten the great god’s nature. Once he entered, he would definitely directly want to take her away. In the King of Tiannan’s eyes, this wouldn’t match the “collaborating inside and outside to plot for the palace” plan.
“Yin Yin…” She quickly walked over smiling, leaning on his shoulder, whispering: “We can’t leave now, I’ve been poisoned…”
“Capture her, and we’ll have the antidote.” Gong Yin raised his eyebrows, reaching to check her pulse.
Jing Hengbo leaned aside to avoid him, whispering in his ear: “The poison was administered by Yélu Qi. Or maybe it’s not called poison—he said if I try to leave Tiannan Palace, I’ll collapse and die. Don’t you think it’s better to believe this than not? But this isn’t the King of Tiannan’s fault—she’s been quite good to me. She admires me and wants to take me as her teacher. She’s even going to host a feast for us later. I say, since we’re here, how can we just leave like this? If we don’t detonate this bomb Yélu Qi, can we have a smooth journey ahead? Just stay a while. Let’s solve your greatest worry together, okay?”
She leaned close to Gong Yin’s ear to speak, her faint fragrance and warm breath brushing his ear and fine hair. He felt slightly itchy and couldn’t help tilting his head to avoid it, but tilting his head, he saw her smiling, upturned eyes. From this angle, ordinary people’s eyes would look somewhat sinister, but hers only showed long eye tails like swallow-tail butterflies, her flowing glances like moonlight lingering before falling flowers at the window. Every glance was lively, light, soft, like flowers falling on his shoulders, brushing away lingering fragrance.
And those two words “let’s,” pronounced lightly, carried unconventional familiarity and intimacy. Hearing it, his ice-snow liver and gallbladder seemed to melt into spring water, and he couldn’t help but softly say “mm.”
Jing Hengbo clung to his shoulder, initially deliberately being intimate with soft words to bewitch, but now felt his shoulder solid as Kunlun jade, her heart inexplicably settled. She couldn’t help but nuzzle again.
With this nuzzle, Gong Yin stiffened—she was already sideways, and this nuzzle naturally brought warm, full invitation, gently bumping his arm, making his heart surge and his face pale.
Looking up again, he saw the King of Tiannan across from him with a strange expression, as if watching a show. His face turned cold as he flicked his finger against Jing Hengbo’s temple: “Stand properly.”
Jing Hengbo was quite pleased and pursed her lips, standing straight and giving the King of Tiannan a meaningful look: “See? Just as I said, right?”
The King of Tiannan expressed agreement with her eyes. She had just watched Jing Hengbo’s seduction seemingly begin, finding even the angle at which Jing Hengbo leaned to speak particularly beautiful. She was about to study it carefully when Jing Hengbo was so disappointingly pushed away.
This made her believe even more—just now Jing Hengbo’s angle and expression were so beautiful and charming that even she felt her heart flutter and couldn’t bear to look away. Yet this white-clothed fellow was so unromantic. If he wasn’t someone who preferred men, it seemed impossible to explain.
The King of Tiannan looked at Gong Yin with lingering reluctance—what a pity for such otherworldly good looks!
She secretly returned Jing Hengbo a look: “It’s up to you now!”
Jing Hengbo smiled confidently.
How to make two fox-like state preceptors suffer complete defeat?
How to make the King of Tiannan believe without doubt and turn to forcibly seduce Yélu Qi?
How to escape from three fierce beasts surrounding her and avoid being that sandwich cookie puppet queen?
Opportunity favors the prepared!
Everything would happen tonight.
The Hengbo Banquet!
…
Due to Jing Hengbo’s insistence, Gong Yin ultimately stayed.
The Tiannan Palace’s experts had been lurking nearby. Though none could match him in single combat, if they swarmed him, he inevitably couldn’t protect Jing Hengbo. If he let her teleport herself, he feared this unreliable woman would randomly teleport to inappropriate places, making it troublesome to find her later.
Earlier when he was besieged and forced up a high pole, seeing her fall into Yélu Qi’s embrace when he couldn’t rescue her immediately—that feeling, he didn’t want to experience again.
Moreover, Jing Hengbo’s claim about Yélu Qi’s restriction also prompted his determination to resolve Yélu Qi tonight.
Night fell. In Tiannan Palace’s Drunken Rainbow Pavilion, the banquet began.
Drunken Rainbow Pavilion was built between two long arched bridges. The red bridges seemed like two rainbow segments rising from the water, spanning the blue waves and arching into the pearl-like circular Drunken Rainbow Pavilion. Once night fell, red lanterns were lit every three feet along both bridges, like countless night pearls hanging from the sky, reflecting in the lake water with half blue and half red shadows.
All food and utensils were delivered by palace maids in light boats. The lake echoed with paddle sounds and lamplight, constant singing, mixed with women’s soft laughter, evoking the water town charm of lotus ponds and beautiful eyes, making one forget this was the harsh wilderness of Xi E.
This was where the King of Tiannan entertained honored guests. Only honored guests could walk across the red-carpeted bridge into Drunken Rainbow Pavilion. All other attendants had to travel by boat, making security arrangements extremely rigorous.
At this moment in the pavilion, tables were set on all four sides with flickering candlelight.
Sitting face to face were the King of Tiannan with Yélu Qi, and Jing Hengbo with Gong Yin.
The King of Tiannan explained that Jing Hengbo had given her many good suggestions, so she was hosting this dinner to show gratitude. Since Gong Yin was Da|bo’s friend, he was naturally invited as well.
Except for Jing Hengbo, who calmly drank and ate, the other three all had strange expressions.
Especially Gong Yin and Yélu Qi—after so many years as court colleagues and political enemies, they had naturally shared banquet tables before, but always domestically at necessary ceremonial occasions. Away from court, in any other setting, it was almost always life-or-death encounters.
As for the King of Tiannan, harboring anger and vigilance, she looked at everyone with malice, her gaze like searchlights sweeping back and forth.
Fortunately, all were strong individuals. The King of Tiannan could still warmly host as mistress, Yélu Qi, after initial shock, became composed, while Gong Yin ignored everyone, didn’t touch food, only lowered his eyes to slowly drink wine.
The wine was very clear, the food tasted proper. The King of Tiannan seemed to know that playing tricks before such people would be useless, so the banquet was set honestly.
Gong Yin acted as if no one else existed, seemingly even less inclined to look at Jing Hengbo, occasionally turning aside to distance himself from her.
This was exactly what Jing Hengbo wanted. She ate even more messily, cups and plates in disorder, bones flying everywhere. At this moment she was gnawing on a red-fried herring.
“Eat slower,” the great god seemed unable to bear it, looking directly at her: “Your fish bones are spitting onto my sleeve.”
“Oh.” Jing Hengbo shifted over and continued gnawing. She liked eating fish.
“Be more refined,” the great god criticized again after a while: “Too loud. Why are you so unwomanly when eating?”
“Oh.” Jing Hengbo shifted again, gnawing in a different direction. Across from her, Yélu Qi smiled and gestured “eat well.” Jing Hengbo glanced at him and pressed her own nose.
Better worry about your flat nose!
Yélu Qi dejectedly touched his nose again. Gong Yin, witnessing this exchange, frowned slightly.
Touching nose? What did that mean?
“Be quiet!” The great god couldn’t hold back and criticized again after less than a minute: “Aren’t you afraid of choking on fishbones!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Jing Hengbo’s face reddened as she coughed violently—she had indeed choked on a fishbone.
One of Gong Yin’s hands skillfully reached over and struck her back hard: “Cough!”
“Crack.” Jing Hengbo’s body arched back as a white fishbone shot out. Gong Yin had already quickly readied a small basin to catch it. Even so, his sleeve was inevitably splattered with small stains.
Jing Hengbo clutched her throat and limply collapsed on his knee, wiping the oil from her mouth onto his snow-white pants while wailing inwardly:
Hurry up and be disgusted! Be disgusted! Get angry and throw me out! This would better prove your mutual love!
Gong Yin’s eyes slowly lowered.
Looking at the red-brown spots on his sleeve.
Looking at the meteor-shaped smear on his pants.
He raised his hand.
Jing Hengbo closed her eyes, waiting to soar through clouds and fall backward again.
The hand fell on her back, fingertips lightly pressing acupoints like plucking strings. A warm current flowed through her meridians, soothing her throat that ached from violent coughing.
Too unexpected—she was somewhat dumbfounded.
Had the great god been reborn again today?
A cool hand reached over, helping her up from his knee and seating her properly, then pulling over her plate and transferring both herrings to his own plate.
Jing Hengbo stared blankly.
Watching him take out an exquisite small silver knife with a silver needle attached. He lowered his eyes, using the knife to open the fish and remove bones, then using the needle to slowly pick out small bones from the back and tail.
He slightly bowed his head with focused expression, knife moving quickly, needle picking leisurely, movements meticulous and careful, as if facing not a fish but important state documents requiring his full attention.
A strand of hair fell slightly, covering his clear, bright eyes.
Jing Hengbo was almost shocked.
No matter how rich her imagination or scattered her thinking, she couldn’t have imagined Gong Yin would do such a thing.
Sigh, eating fish was eating fish—was it worth such trouble?
Indeed, the great god was precious and difficult to serve.
Gong Yin’s movements were quick but unhurried. In almost an instant, both fish were completely deboned. He put down the silver knife and needle, pushing the plate toward Jing Hengbo.
Jing Hengbo, who had been watching with interest while complaining inwardly, stared at the intact fish meat on the plate and was dumbfounded again.
“For me?”
“So you won’t choke again and dirty me.” Gong Yin’s tone was forever so cold and disdainful.
Jing Hengbo stared at the two fish that looked like artworks with bones removed, listening to his coldly freezing tone, feeling there was always such a sense of disconnect following the great god.
The fish was complete, appetizing, seemingly more fragrant, but her heart was in chaos. She felt something was wrong, wanting to accept yet not wanting to accept, wanting to change yet not wanting to change. It seemed that whether accepting or changing, the future would change accordingly, and this wasn’t what she wanted.
She wanted freedom, wanted to live simply. Bloody storms and treacherous schemes—she could adapt but would never like them.
That lifetime as a lab rat in the modern world had already wronged herself enough. After escaping, she had sworn to live for herself.
And he represented precisely the most complex, treacherous, and coldest of everything—the rise and fall, survival and destruction of a dynasty.
His ice-crystal eyes constantly surveyed Dahuang’s territory. How much warmth could remain to shelter her world?
Jing Hengbo shook her head and smiled self-mockingly.
Overthinking!
He just didn’t want to be sprayed with fishbones again.
Across from them, the King of Tiannan and Yélu Qi both looked over. The table had wine pots and high dishes blocking the view, and Gong Yin’s movements were quick, so they hadn’t seen clearly what happened. The King of Tiannan thought for a moment, then walked over with a cup, smiling as if to toast. Seeing the fish on Jing Hengbo’s plate, her expression changed as she raised her eyebrows and laughed: “This fish is so skillfully deboned! Da|bo, did you do this?”
“Yes,” Jing Hengbo replied absent-mindedly, lazily lifting the plate: “Want some?”
Gong Yin suddenly looked up.
The King of Tiannan, who also hated fishbones when eating fish, didn’t notice Gong Yin’s expression and happily reached to accept it: “Good. Rare for you to be so filial…”
“Crack.”
The plate suddenly shattered, soup splashing on the King of Tiannan’s hand, fish meat tumbling down, no longer maintaining its integrity, breaking into pieces.
Jing Hengbo looked at the fish meat, looked at the dazed King of Tiannan, then turned to look at Gong Yin.
Gong Yin seemed unchanged, again lifting his wine cup to drink, hair falling over eyes like black obsidian in snow—steady and cold.
Jing Hengbo felt that strange burning sensation in her heart intensify.
She suddenly pushed away from the table and stood: “Tonight I have an entertainment program—don’t miss it as you pass by!” She twisted and entered the side door.
The King of Tiannan laughed and clapped: “Excellent! Perfect time to see Da|bo’s divine dance!” Her gaze intentionally or unintentionally swept over Yélu Qi and Gong Yin.
Gong Yin didn’t move, the back of his hand holding the cup slightly tensed.
Yélu Qi’s eyes brightened as he raised his wine cup with a smile.
In the King of Tiannan’s eyes—was he toasting that pretty boy from afar?
With a rustle, the side door curtain lifted, and a ball of fire suddenly spun out gracefully.
From the King of Tiannan to the serving attendants, everyone in Drunken Rainbow Pavilion let out an ambiguous gasp of amazement.
Gong Yin looked up and froze.
Yélu Qi straightened his back.
Like lightning or light shooting from rainbow’s end, reaching the iris in a blink, leaving a stunning silhouette rising and falling.
Somehow on the pavilion carpet stood a veiled woman.
Everyone’s eyes widened.
That… bold! Seductive! Daring! Unrestrained!
Cascading waves inserted with a bright red dahlia, temples bound with vermillion crystal beads, upper body in a tube-top style fire-red bodice, off-shoulder, length only reaching the chest, hanging countless gold-purple crystal beads, setting off snow-white skin and a round navel. Below the navel was a golden seven-colored woven belt, similarly hanging long and short crystal beads, beneath which was a fire-red flowing skirt cut in irregular hem, revealing snow-white feet with seven or eight strings of golden bells around the ankles.
A red veil inlaid with fine crystals covered half her face, revealing eyes that could steal souls, eye corners painted with red-gold rouge, so stunning it overshadowed the pavilion’s brilliant splendor.
The King of Tiannan forgot the broken plate, Yélu Qi dropped his wine cup, Gong Yin’s cup stopped at his lips, tilting as wine dripped down unnoticed.
In the extreme silence, after a long while, Gong Yin seemed to react, about to throw down his cup and stand.
“Boom boom boom!”
Drums suddenly arose!
Faster than imagined, Jing Hengbo’s quick dance steps had already spun like wind!
Snow-white bare feet swayed snow-colored shadows, fire-red skirt hem rippled rainbow light, multicolored crystal beads flew in seven colors, golden accessories brilliant as morning sun, accompanied by crisp golden bells, fine crystal sounds, and rhythmic intense drumming—all elements spoke of dance’s magnificence and brilliance.
The body was another language, written with seductive temptation, self-expression and release, extending from trembling arms, swaying snake-like waist, shaking snow-white belly, and rapidly trembling hips like rushing flames, surging waves, flowing water, and joyfully free butterflies.
Belly dance—an ancient Eastern dance most characteristic of femininity, one of the most famous dances for women to display bodily beauty. Only women with extreme confidence in their bodies, firmly believing their beauty could conquer all, could dance this dance’s essence.
Almost instantly, Jing Hengbo ignited the dance’s rhythm. The entire room filled with her rhythm and colors. People stared wide-eyed but couldn’t capture her specific color—now snow-white washing, now brilliant flames, now crystal beads flying everywhere, now golden bells dazzling the eye.
And that soft undulating abdomen like white silk ribbons and rapidly shaking hips like containing hidden mechanisms made everyone’s eyes open wide—so the human body could sway such wonderful arcs, could vibrate such intense frequencies! Watching made hearts seem to synchronously tremble—the booming sounds unclear whether drums or heartbeats!
Some were trembling, some legs unconsciously quivered with the drumbeat, some gripped pillars straight, arms unconsciously shaking. Every part of Jing Hengbo’s body ignited desire, her undulating trembling scattered urgent breathing and amazed gazes everywhere.
In the crowd’s center, Jing Hengbo smiled—sister’s electric motor reputation wasn’t unearned!
Her gaze swept toward Gong Yin. The previous brothel pole dance was just forced by circumstances, the earlier colorful cart movements just casual display without form. Only this moment’s belly dance was what she truly, genuinely wanted to dance for him!
Let this iceberg fellow properly appreciate feminine bodily beauty!
Gong Yin sat upright as usual, but his hands pressing the table were tense, backs white. He lowered dense eyelashes, seemingly disdaining to watch her dance.
But Jing Hengbo saw him staring at a golden basin of clear water nearby. The water rippled slightly, reflecting her flowing silhouette.
She smiled slightly.
If I don’t make your heart race to 180, I’m unworthy of being called the dance queen!
With a spinning dance, she had approached Gong Yin, slightly leaning forward, long hair flowing down like water.
Across from them, Yélu Qi watched her dance toward Gong Yin with calm expression, though slightly rippling eyes betrayed his current thoughts.
Vaguely still that day at the brothel watching her perform, wildly shocking, yet this outfit seemed even more alluring.
But for whom was her charm willing to bloom?
…
Gong Yin somewhat stiffly raised his head, his hands slowly pressing tight the table surface, his gaze sweeping over Jing Hengbo’s exposed, smoothly curved back and abdomen.
Then sweeping over the entranced onlookers’ faces, his dark eyes stern with seeming killing intent.
Seeing that look, Jing Hengbo knew the great god was about to explode.
She flipped backward into his embrace, raising both arms to hook around his neck.
Ambiguous gasps arose from all sides.
“Keep playing cool, dear!” She breathed in his ear, posture graceful and charming, but tone clear.
Gong Yin’s posture seemed somewhat stiff. He raised his hand to push her away, but touching warmth and smoothness, his half-raised hand slightly stiffened, not knowing where to place it. His gaze wanted to fall but still didn’t know where to land. Catching sight of gleaming whiteness from his eye corner, he hastily turned his gaze away.
“Don’t do this.”
Jing Hengbo almost snorted with laughter—had Gong Yin’s brain short-circuited? Why did these words sound so full of discord?
She clung to his shoulder, picking up a nearby wine cup and bringing it to his lips.
“Good sir, please drink a cup…”
Her voice was long and sweet, sticky as if mixed with half a pound of honey. Jing Hengbo was disgusted by herself and shuddered.
Gong Yin lowered his dark eyelashes. He sat straight, hands hesitantly pressing her waist, thinking to push away yet feeling it improper to touch her skin. His eyes only reflected her slender hands holding the jade-colored cup, fragrant wine swaying before his eyes—unclear whether it was the green liquid or his heart that rippled.
Her equally sweet breath was at his neck, ticklingly brushing his collar inch by inch, seeming to attack the position near his chest.
He suddenly felt dazed, seeing her flying red skirt, large swathes of swaying colored crystal beads shooting into his heart one by one, exploding into colorful mist.
He seemed lost.
Lowering his head to drink the wine.
Suddenly hearing her voice, clear and slightly surprised, small sounds at his ear.
“Hey, iceberg, you’re not really going to drink, are you?”
…
As if doused with ice water, he suddenly felt cold all over, a chill radiating from his chest. He suddenly looked up.
Jing Hengbo had already flown from his embrace like a butterfly, spinning away with another turn, reaching behind her back, lips curved in seeming reproach and resentment.
“Heartless man, actually won’t drink my toast…”
Her tone full of grievance.
Gong Yin stared at her, suddenly feeling that knowing this woman made life full of discord and strangeness.
Jing Hengbo raised her hand, somehow now holding a whip.
A slender colored whip, more decorative than weaponlike, originally one of belly dance’s common props.
“Crack.” The colored whip snapped like a snake striking the ground with crisp sound. Simultaneously, all lights went out.
People made low gasps of amazement, deep sighs sounding distant in the dark pavilion.
In complete darkness, drums continued, Jing Hengbo’s ankle bells still rang, heavy drums and light bells mixing into strangely seductive melody. People squinted, involuntarily imagining in darkness that brilliant fire-red spinning and undulating into seven-colored banners.
“Crack.” A crisp whip sound.
A flame lit—a thick candle on the wall suddenly ignited. Yellow light hazily cast on the ground, faces reflected dimly.
As the first candlelight appeared, the King of Tiannan gestured for everyone to bow and silently exit, still looking back reluctantly with regretful eyes even after leaving the pavilion.
“Crack.” Another whip sound.
The second candlelight lit behind Gong Yin. In the red shadow his eyes were darker, deep as abysses hiding millions of years of silence.
Faint fragrance spread, seemingly carrying strange scents.
Jing Hengbo’s red skirt hem spread, sweeping past Gong Yin’s cheek. Her laughter broke dreams like an elf, light and lazy: “…be nice to me, dear… Am I beautiful tonight?”
Gong Yin’s fingers slightly lifted, seeming to catch that faintly fragrant skirt hem, but she gracefully passed by like waves.
“Don’t pull my skirt!” She warned in low voice as she leaped past, her tone ruining the mood.
His finger stopped in air, fingertip instantly whitening slightly, a layer of fine ice crystals appearing then slowly disappearing.
“Ding-a-ling.” A yellow light flashed past carrying rich fragrance toward him—her golden ankle bell.
“Catch it, sweetheart…” Her laughter rippled like water not far away, every sound teasing.
He didn’t move.
Burning heat repeatedly met helpless cold. He had no choice but to remain silent in darkness.
She was this world’s unique wonder, combining soul-stealing allure with keeping people at bay, passionate boldness with casual indifference.
Such a woman was naturally calamitous.
The golden bell hit the ground with a “clang.” She bent to snatch it up, secretly giving a thumbs up: “Right! Just like that! Cool great god, thumbs up!”
He still sat unmoved, clothes like snow, face like snow. His nails faintly showed ice crystal color, slowly spreading without disappearing this time.
The whip cracked: “Snap!”
The third candlelight blazed up behind Yélu Qi. Somehow the King of Tiannan was already sitting beside him, arm curved around his waist.
“Snap snap snap snap.” Consecutive whip sounds, candles lighting in sequence—eight candles total positioned around the four sides, but the room wasn’t bright. The candle stands were all placed near the beams, casting only faint halos below.
In the halos, pavilions and towers, golden basins and jade vessels, curtains and drapes, tables and furniture all seemed to emit blurred, ambiguous light. People’s faces also seemed blurred, only pairs of eyes glowing dimly in the floating, misty fragrance.
Jing Hengbo had somehow danced back to Gong Yin’s side. Her colored whip bent and folded into a circle, laughing as she looped it forward around Gong Yin’s waist.
“Heartless man, I don’t believe you’ll refuse me this time…” She laughed and pulled the whip.
On the other side, the King of Tiannan threw down her wine cup, eyes misty, raising a colored ribbon to tie around Yélu Qi’s neck.
“Good sir, tonight’s beautiful scene—you must accompany me…”
She pulled Yélu Qi, softly laughing as she entered the layers of curtains behind them. Before entering the dark room, she made a gesture.
Faint sounds seemed to arise in the dimness, then returned to quiet. The slightly strange atmosphere in Drunken Rainbow Pavilion finally dissipated.
Jing Hengbo sighed in relief.
Before doing the deed, the King of Tiannan had finally withdrawn the mechanisms and guards hidden in secret.
This was why she dared not hold back in her performance. But she was quite confident about the great god—she believed even wild boars would be captivated by her seduction, but the great god wouldn’t.
Regarding willpower, if he claimed second place, no one dared claim first, right?
Jing Hengbo’s smile relaxed… great success was nearly achieved.
Yélu Qi was dragged away by the King of Tiannan. The sanitary pad soaked in Feifei’s colorless, odorless urine would give him an enchanting night. Feifei’s urine was toxic.
During her recent illness, she had studied Feifei’s bewitching arts. The little monster had actively provided saliva and urine, gesturing to indicate these were its essences. So she had long prepared urine-version sanitary pads, saliva-version handkerchiefs, and such.
The colored whip in her hand had a treated handkerchief tied to its handle. Her eight whip cracks mostly near Gong Yin should have begun slowly permeating that scent belonging to Feifei.
Now the King of Tiannan was at ease with her, withdrawing mechanisms and guards. Next she just needed to secretly wipe the great god’s face with the handkerchief in the dark…
Then she could run away!
As for the great god, such an extremely light dose of Feifei’s saliva couldn’t confuse him long. He wouldn’t lose mobility long enough to be harmed, and the King of Tiannan, busy entangling Yélu Qi, might not bother troubling him.
Truly a perfect plan.
This time she would run alone—no one could find her!
Jing Hengbo was delighted, again thanking Feifei’s devoted sponsorship. While looping Gong Yin’s waist, she untied the handkerchief from the whip end, quietly saying: “Thanks for cooperating. This time our act is finished… I knew great god you wouldn’t get agitated haha… Are you tired? You seem to be sweating… Let me wipe your face with my handkerchief, okay…”
Before finishing, with a “bang,” following her pulling motion, Gong Yin suddenly fell onto her!
Jing Hengbo was unprepared for this plot twist and froze with an “ah,” unable to react before her arms were harshly pinned down and the person on her pressed down heavily.
His voice sounded beside her ear, low and cold.
“Provoke me? Pay the price!”