Gong Yin spun around abruptly.
Jing Hengbo was so shocked her eyes widened in circles—what? Talent? Had she ever possessed such a thing?
This shocking news hit her so hard she forgot where she was. Hugging her head, she began racking her brains as the golden laws for transmigrated heroines floated through her mind—according to convention, what could shock an audience?
Hundreds of Tang and Song poems, words that would astound or die trying—did she have them?
No!
A few rounds of rumba and tango, dancing in rainbow garments to move the world—did she have them?
No!
Predicting decades of history, leading the trends alone—did she have them?
No!
Advanced political reforms, seizing great power in one morning—did she have them?
No!
Implementing modern technology, leading dynasty changes—did she have them?
No!
Inventions and business ventures, casually making big money—did she have them?
No!
…
After several months in this other world, facing a certain crisis, Jing Hengbo was finally struck by a lightning bolt of realization.
She. Was. Completely. Useless!
Fei Luo’s voice drifted vaguely into her mind.
“…As you know, at the grand ceremony welcoming the royal procession, if Her Majesty disappoints the six kingdoms and eight tribes, the light punishment is deposition, the severe is exile. Either way, it’s difficult to live peacefully afterward. In the third year of Tianyuan, Queen Rouzhe was exiled for impropriety at the grand ceremony and soon died in Miasma Swamp. This was one of the reasons why the six kingdoms and eight tribes stopped welcoming queens later… The greater the honor received, the greater the price to be paid. This has always been the fair principle of the human world…”
What principle, my ass! Jing Hengbo roared in her heart. What kind of ghostly logic was this? She hadn’t asked them to hold the hundred-li queen welcome, so why should she be required to “display convincing talent”? The six kingdoms and eight tribes had so many people, each with their own thoughts and talents. Even if a god descended, they couldn’t convince everyone, right?
Currently, her greatest skill was dancing, but if she revealed her dancing style in rule-obsessed Dahuang from the start, she probably wouldn’t need to perform—they’d directly escort her to exile.
Jing Hengbo scratched her chin impatiently, staring intently at Gong Yin—he knew her background and should help her, right?
This guy was just a bit cold-faced, harsh-spoken, bad-tempered, difficult to talk to, hard to approach… but he was actually quite good to her! He would… help her, right?
“The State Preceptor doesn’t seem very pleased?” Fei Luo’s light laughter was meaningful. “If I remember correctly, you are one of the people most opposed to the queen reincarnation system. Indeed, welcoming a woman of common birth for no reason, placing her in high position, allowing her to boss around pillars of the state like you and me—truly unfair. State Preceptor, you control Dahuang’s military and political affairs, and the six kingdoms and eight tribes all look to you as their leader. Without this so-called reincarnated queen, you would surely be Dahuang’s first male emperor. Wielding power over the world, resting on beauty’s lap—this is the future the State Preceptor should possess. Why tolerate a foreign woman riding over your head and acting tyrannically?”
Gong Yin remained silent, the tent’s dim yellow lamplight reflecting his snow-white skin and marble-like handsome features.
Jing Hengbo’s breathing gradually calmed as she slowly propped up her chin.
Fei Luo’s smile became increasingly mysterious, her voice ethereal. “I heard that before Queen Mingcheng’s death, she was lobbying for the State Preceptor, wanting to modify Dahuang’s thousand-year-old national decree, change the lifelong queen reincarnation system, and allow male emperors to ascend the throne. Who knew that before the decree could be modified and passed, Queen Mingcheng died suddenly. A new queen was born, and it happened that Left State Preceptor Yelu Qi discovered the queen first. To prevent him from manipulating things during the queen welcoming process and sabotaging your succession plan, you rushed to personally welcome the queen… State Preceptor, did you really travel ten thousand li personally to fetch her because you were worried about the queen’s safety?”
Gong Yin didn’t look at her, saying indifferently: “Dahuang’s national decree was established by the founding emperor at the nation’s beginning. Now that times have changed, it naturally needs modification. As for which clause needs changing, it seems the Female Chancellor has inquired incorrectly.”
Fei Luo seemed not to hear his words, continuing on her own: “Actually, with your strength, you don’t need to care about national decrees. Direct ascension isn’t impossible either. It’s just that Dahuang’s composition is special—more like an alliance than a country. Moving one part affects the whole. If you act, more people will surely act. You don’t want a chaotic imperial city, and even less want separation caused by usurpation, leading the six kingdoms and eight tribes to split opportunistically and plunge Dahuang into continuous warfare. You want to use the queen for a peaceful transition, right?”
“The Female Chancellor is indeed Xiang Kingdom’s helmsman, calculating the situation more thoroughly than I do. Admirable. No wonder in just a few years, you’ve risen rapidly, eliminated all opponents, and oversee Xiang Kingdom.” Gong Yin actually smiled.
Fei Luo seemed not to hear the sarcasm in his words, staring fixedly at his face with rapid breathing.
The man before her was like snow on mountain peaks when not smiling, vast as a crystal sky. This sudden smile banished all coldness, and heaven and earth seemed to bloom with infinite bright light. Even the passing wind seemed gentle, like white jade lotus flowers slowly opening in green springs.
Jing Hengbo gritted her teeth—this guy actually smiled! He actually smiled at another woman! What was he smiling about! Shameless! Lustful!
It took Fei Luo a while to recover from the beauty, calming herself before smiling: “Compared to the State Preceptor, I only have shallow insights. Since the State Preceptor has such plans, surely after the queen’s return, your Jade Palace has long prepared means to deal with the queen, ensuring she obediently acts according to your wishes. This doesn’t require my concern.”
Jing Hengbo listened impatiently, playing with her hair. Hearing this sentence, her hand paused.
“The Female Chancellor’s thoughts are truly comprehensive and satisfactory. Then,” Gong Yin said leisurely, “having said so much, not worrying about this or that, what is the Female Chancellor truly worried about?”
“Naturally, the beautiful future of my Xiang Kingdom working harmoniously with the future great emperor.” Fei Luo responded quickly. “The hundred-li queen welcome has someone pushing it from behind. Once the queen fails the test and is exiled, those who welcomed her will also suffer damaged reputation and be implicated. If you lose power, naturally someone gains power. Who this person is—can’t you guess?”
“Yelu Qi’s injuries should have healed.” Gong Yin answered with a seemingly nonsensical statement.
Fei Luo was looking at him in puzzlement when she heard him say indifferently: “Perhaps he wasn’t hurt painfully enough, so he wants to die a little.”
Jing Hengbo silently applauded the bed board: Domineering!
The black shadow under the bed moved, raising his head with a cold, piercing gaze.
Fei Luo laughed with a puff, her eyes flowing. “They say the Right State Preceptor is cold and aloof, but they don’t know that the way of kings and tyrants is truly you!”
“Then,” Gong Yin maintained his unmovable appearance, “the Female Chancellor reminded me of Yelu Qi’s plans tonight and intends to lend assistance. Such noble righteousness—Gong Yin is very grateful. Thank you. Farewell.”
He actually turned to leave again with a whoosh. Fei Luo choked, hurriedly grabbing his sleeve, no longer caring about restraint, quickly calling out: “As the saying goes, one doesn’t accept rewards without merit. Xiang Kingdom shows such goodwill—doesn’t the State Preceptor plan any reciprocation at all!”
Gong Yin didn’t turn back, shaking his sleeve. Fei Luo fell backward and quickly stepped back.
Behind the curtain, Jing Hengbo smiled silently and waved her sleeve.
Forget it. This damned queen position wasn’t worth having. Time to go.
She was tired of listening to this pair of adulterous dogs nattering on.
She had always resisted being queen. After the Tiannan Royal Palace incident, though they seemed to return to the starting point, she had become somewhat reluctant to leave, though she didn’t know why. She felt the great god was cold, but that coldness was different from before. His rejections carried attachment, his sharp tongue hid concern. This subtle, budding exploration made her, seemingly experienced but actually inexperienced in romance, gradually sense something special. Suddenly life seemed to have hope and reluctance, and leaving wasn’t as decisive as before.
From the Qiang Hu through Yunlei all the way, thoughts of escape gradually stopped occurring. Every time she wanted to leave, she’d count on her fingers and mutter: “Oh, I can’t take Jing Jun and the other two with me—they’d be in trouble.” “Oh, Master Gong is too powerful—if I get caught, my butt will definitely suffer.” “Oh, today doesn’t seem like an auspicious day for escaping…” She’d make up a pile of reasons, with new ideas every day.
Of course, she absolutely refused to admit that she actually just increasingly didn’t want to leave.
But now, it seemed she had to leave whether she wanted to or not.
Some people didn’t want her to ascend the throne, others waited to use her. What she faced wasn’t just the Left and Right State Preceptors’ power struggle, but even involved all the weirdos from Dahuang’s six kingdoms and eight tribes.
Thinking about having to engage in palace intrigue with that bunch of lettuce heads, hermaphrodites, fart-bombs, and alpacas, she felt this life might as well be over.
But before leaving, she still wanted to teach Fei Luo a lesson…
Jing Hengbo had just lifted her butt when she heard Fei Luo scream, her body tilting backward. Gong Yin turned back as Fei Luo screamed: “My foot!” while flailing her hands, seemingly trying to grab Gong Yin’s sleeve. Gong Yin quickly pulled his sleeve back. Unable to find support, Fei Luo staggered back another step, stepping on another fish spine. Another scream, and she quickly reached out to Gong Yin for help: “There’s something underneath…” In her panic, she stepped back again, stepping on another spine. The pain made her whole body jump up with an “ah” scream, her eyes turning red as she crashed into Gong Yin.
“Move away.” Even at this moment, Gong Yin’s voice was calm. He covered his sleeve opening tightly, using one hand to peel Fei Luo downward like husking corn.
Strangely, Fei Luo, who had maintained some restraint, now felt no shame or embarrassment. Her hands scrambled all over Gong Yin’s body while making strange humming and moaning sounds, her whole body trembling strangely. Suddenly she screamed: “I can’t hold it anymore!”
Simultaneously, Gong Yin roared angrily: “Let go!” This time his voice was full of rage. With a soft “pop,” Fei Luo’s body was bounced out like a ball, arcing through the air in a less-than-graceful trajectory, sprinkling some mysterious liquid, before crashing heavily into the bed frame.
Gong Yin’s angry strike was merciless. The bed board immediately collapsed halfway. Jing Hengbo was caught off guard, crying “ah” as she rolled backward. Just then, a disheveled person crawled out from under the collapsed bed board. Before he could get up, Jing Hengbo’s back crashed into his back with a “bang.” Both groaned and tumbled into the half-broken bed board and pile of overturned bedding.
This commotion wasn’t small, but the noise outside was even greater. Gong Yin stood at the tent entrance, his face iron-blue, looking down at his front garment where several drops of yellow, foul-smelling liquid…
Without needing to smell, Gong Yin knew this was urine. Fei Luo had just splashed it on him…
Gong Yin’s expression was rarely so colorful—this situation truly challenged one’s adaptability and intelligence.
Gong Yin had been about to call for people, but this situation made him hesitate. Without time to think much, he quickly tore off the soiled garment front.
The tearing was fine, but the ripping sound somehow stimulated another of Fei Luo’s sensitive nerves. She suddenly bounced up like a carp, leaping onto the preoccupied Gong Yin, grabbing his torn garment and pulling outward. Rip—
Jing Hengbo, still pressed against the person under the bed, looked up and saw this, her eyes widening as she nearly jumped up, reaching out mid-air with a silent howl.
Don’t—let—her—rip!
Let—me—do—it!
She froze for a second in the pose of Erkang calling for Ziwei, then was knocked down by the guy underneath, who stepped on her garment hem and desperately kicked her and the bedding outward, seemingly urgent to get out.
Jing Hengbo looked up at this guy’s back with fierce eyes. Who knew what would happen if he rushed out now? Besides, anyone sneaking under beds definitely had bad intentions. With Gong Yin being entangled by Fei Luo, he might fall into a trap. At this thought, her hair stood on end. Without time to see who this bed-lurker was, she hugged his calf and bit down.
Sharp teeth pierced skin. Jing Hengbo tasted salty, fishy liquid at the corner of her mouth. The bitten person’s body stiffened, then Jing Hengbo felt her face vibrate and was actually bounced away.
Her mouth corner burned painfully. She touched it—her fingertip came away bright red. Her mouth corner had been torn by the shock.
The person inadvertently glanced back and saw on the messy white bedding a gorgeously dressed woman sitting askew. Golden thread glowed dimly on her gold-red garment front in the darkness. Her bright red lips seemed to smile but didn’t smile, her eyes steady and deep—three parts willful, three parts romantic, three parts ruthless—flowing with deep black and blue light. Yet her skin and fingertips were snow-white, strikingly vivid in the darkness, like a mysteriously colored famous painting.
Captivating at first glance.
Just one look made his heart catch, then remembering urgent matters, he turned his head sharply.
But it was already too late.
With another rip, Gong Yin paid the price of another torn garment front to finally push the crazed Fei Luo away. This time Fei Luo had experience—at the moment of being pushed, she grabbed Gong Yin’s shoulders. She had suddenly become wildly strong. Gong Yin, trying to protect his remaining clothes, was pulled forward stumbling several steps. He felt slight pain under his feet, the world spun, then with another rip, they crashed through curtains, tearing them as they rushed in, then crashed into the bed-lurker with a bang.
The unlucky bed-lurker, just crawled out, was struck by the two and fell backward with another bang, hitting the even more unlucky Jing Hengbo. As Jing Hengbo leaned back, the combined force of four people made the remaining half of the bed board break with a crack.
Before being knocked down in disheveled clothing, Gong Yin only had time to shout: “Don’t come in!”
The guards outside who heard the commotion stopped at the tent entrance.
Four people tumbled messily into the messy bedding.
A white shadow flashed above as Feifei appeared, staring wide-eyed at the four people in their sorry state. Seemingly shocked by the great results of his urine this time, he opened his mouth in amazement. Seeing the pile below beginning to move, he quickly scampered to the tent top.
Jing Hengbo felt her waist was nearly broken. The weight of three people was almost entirely on her. Worse, the torn curtains covered everyone’s heads, making it pitch black and impossible to see clearly. She could only smell a faint urine odor and Fei Luo’s rapid panting.
Someone pressed against her—she could feel the other person’s young, strong, burning hot skin. The person’s breath on her face carried a strange, enchanting fragrance, less cold than usual. She immediately knew it wasn’t Gong Yin.
So it was that bed-lurker.
Mischievous thoughts arose. Her hand quietly reached out, finding the other’s inner thigh, pinching and digging in her nails, then viciously twisting and wringing—
“Ah!” A low cry, and the man quickly rolled off her. Jing Hengbo cackled—she knew this spot hurt most when pinched!
“Gong Yin! Gong Yin!” She struggled to throw off the messy bedding and curtains covering her head, wondering why Gong Yin hadn’t immediately gotten up? Why hadn’t he immediately caught that assassin?
The next second she realized something was wrong. Besides Fei Luo’s rapid breathing, there seemed to be another person’s breathing, just low and suppressed, which she hadn’t noticed at first.
Jing Hengbo froze, suddenly remembering the fish spines were buried separately under the tent floor—indiscriminate attacks…
When Gong Yin was dragged in by Fei Luo, had he also stepped on them? But Fei Luo stepped on three spines while Gong Yin stepped on one—would their conditions be different?
Also strange was that the little monster’s urine used to only make people dizzy. Why did it suddenly make people go crazy this time? It even made Fei Luo incontinent. Could the little monster’s enchantment skills also level up with growth?
No answers now. The only certainty was that Gong Yin’s condition was definitely abnormal—otherwise he’d have thrown off a few blankets long ago.
Jing Hengbo hurried to throw off the bedding, then suddenly trembled all over, feeling every hair on her back stand up.
The assassin was behind her!
If she could notice Gong Yin’s abnormality, the other person naturally could too!
Before this thought finished, she felt cold wind pierce behind her, carrying the chilling intent of sharp weapons that raised goosebumps on her back.
Jing Hengbo suddenly fell backward, desperately slamming her head back.
“Bang”—with an echo, she hit something soft yet firm with slight elasticity—seemingly the assassin’s abdomen.
The assassin’s blade was already out, but her collision knocked his body askew, making the knife rip through a blanket with a “swoosh.”
Another rip accompanied Fei Luo’s giggling—who knew which of them had clothes torn.
Jing Hengbo suddenly pounced forward, escaping the assassin’s elbow strike aimed at her head, cursing: “Adulterous dogs, stop it! Stop!”
“Help! There’s an assassin!” She shouted desperately, but the thick curtains and bedding muffled her voice.
The assassin flashed, hands continuously grabbing, throwing aside several blankets. Like a ghost, he flashed before the entangled Gong Yin and Fei Luo. Before the bedding fell, his hand shot like lightning toward Gong Yin’s throat.
“Ah!” Jing Hengbo, just getting up, screamed.
“Bang.” A muffled sound—unclear who hit whom. Gong Yin and Fei Luo separated just then. Fei Luo leaned backward, and in her inverted vision, seeing the assassin, she suddenly giggled and hugged his arm.
“Brother!” she called crisply, rubbing her cheek against the assassin’s arm.
Jing Hengbo rushed over to drag away Gong Yin, worried that Fei Luo might go crazy or the assassin might throw off Fei Luo and immediately attack. In her haste, she glimpsed the assassin’s expression looking at Fei Luo.
She froze.
The assassin actually didn’t move, nor did he roughly throw off Fei Luo. In that moment, his gaze on Fei Luo’s face was… tender.
Like gently flowing water from deep memories, reaching this place with lingering turns, every drop singing the most beautiful song of the past.
Slowly, dreams flowing long.
The light and shadow turned in just a moment—a moment like in dreams. The assassin’s expression quickly returned to calm. His wrist turned, setting Fei Luo aside, then stepped forward. With his step, a blanket on the ground suddenly flew up, concealing his form.
Jing Hengbo’s heart tightened.
A light “swoosh”—like sudden moonlight, a snow-bright blade pierced through the blanket, aimed directly at Gong Yin, who was supporting his forehead with his hand, swaying slightly, half-rising.
The assassin’s voice was slightly hoarse, carrying inextinguishable laughter even while assassinating: “Gong Yin, do you want to die a little first?”
“Yelu Qi! It’s you again! Your ghost won’t rest!” Jing Hengbo finally saw his face clearly, cursing angrily. The tent’s lamps had been extinguished. By the dagger’s light, she vaguely saw Yelu Qi’s flying brows and eyes.
In that flash, she also vaguely saw Gong Yin’s head lean back, eyes slightly closed, pale yellow breath escaping from his nose and mouth—seemingly at a crucial moment of detoxification.
The blade light advanced like lightning, unstoppable.
Jing Hengbo suddenly raised her leg, toes straight, kicking up at ninety degrees.
“Take this crotch kick!”
Her taut toes and spike-like shoe sole aimed directly at Yelu Qi’s “golden ratio point.” The stainless steel sole flashed silver, comparable to a sharp weapon.
That cold light entered Yelu Qi’s eyes. He could only twist and dodge, not daring to challenge the queen’s heel with his lifelong masculine prowess.
Jing Hengbo immediately rolled and crawled toward Fei Luo, viciously grabbing her hair and throwing her at Gong Yin!
“Come kill then! Come on!” She laughed wildly. “Your short blade might pierce through Fei Luo’s heart into Gong Yin’s chest!”
Fei Luo screamed in pain as a large handful of black hair was pulled out and scattered everywhere.
Yelu Qi paused again.
He was truly reluctant to act with Fei Luo in the way. Jing Hengbo was delighted.
She knew he and Fei Luo had something fishy going on!
“Feifei!” Taking advantage of this pause, she looked up and shouted, “Your urine was too powerful this time! Detoxify it, no matter what method you use, it must be done immediately!”
The big white tail on the tent top swayed back and forth as Feifei bounced over, holding a small, round red fruit in his claws and dropping it down.
Jing Hengbo lunged to catch it, but Yelu Qi was faster. His figure flashed past Jing Hengbo, reaching out to catch it. Seeing she couldn’t compete with him, Jing Hengbo immediately kicked over the stumbling Fei Luo, who lurched forward with a pained grunt. Yelu Qi spun around sharply, bending backward in an iron bridge to catch her, urgently calling: “Fei…”
Just as he opened his mouth, the small round fruit dropped right into it.
Jing Hengbo froze for a moment, then screamed and pounced on Yelu Qi, reaching for his cheeks: “Spit it out! Spit it out!”
Yelu Qi hadn’t expected this woman to be so fierce. Caught off guard and knocked down, he only felt a sweet, rich fragrance at his nose that seemed to penetrate his bones. Her body was soft as cotton, rippling with amazing curves, yet her waist was terrifyingly slender. Just touching it, one could imagine those soul-stirring curves, rising and falling with perfect proportion, every inch written with temptation and perfect fit.
Such perfect fit made one want to pull her deeper into oneself.
He actually had a moment of distraction, hazily raising his hand as if summoned, gently placing it on her waist.
Jing Hengbo was completely unaware. Afraid Yelu Qi might use heavy force, she simply wrapped her legs around him, one hand hugging his neck tightly, the other slapping his face: “Spit it out, spit it out!”
One lost in thought, one lost in spirit—neither noticed Feifei on the tent top puffing out his cheeks, looking puzzledly at the desperate Jing Hengbo. His little claws released several more fruits that rolled into Gong Yin’s palm.
“Spit it out, spit it out!” Jing Hengbo pinched and pinched. Suddenly Yelu Qi laughed low, saying: “I ate it, what now?”
“Huh?” Jing Hengbo froze. Yelu Qi raised his arm to hold her tight, lazily humming: “Very fragrant.”
Unclear whether he meant the fruit was fragrant or the woman was fragrant.
“It’s not kidney medicine—why are you eating it!” Jing Hengbo looked indignant, about to climb up when she suddenly felt Yelu Qi’s body stiffen beneath her. Simultaneously, the hair on her back stood up.
She turned back and saw Gong Yin had somehow already stood up, quietly looking down at her and Yelu Qi.
In the dim light, his expression was emotionless but his eyes slightly cold, with deep snow-like chill in their depths.
He quietly watched the entangled man and woman on the ground—having inadvertently eaten the fruit Feifei dropped, he immediately regained consciousness. He couldn’t remember the earlier events clearly, only vaguely recalling moving shadows, flashing blades, seemingly an assassination attempt. Remembering this, his heart tightened. Just as he was about to search for Jing Hengbo, he saw this scene.
Tightly embracing man and woman, uninhibited posture, Jing Hengbo unabashedly caressing the man’s face…
He remained silent, his expression calm, as if ice had frozen all the murmuring undercurrents.
But Jing Hengbo didn’t see his expression clearly. Spotting the remaining fruits on the ground, she cheerfully exclaimed “ha” and tried to get up: “Feifei, you’re so bad! You obviously had so many antidotes—why didn’t you say so? You made me struggle so hard to grab them… Hey Yelu Qi, let go of me! Hey Gong Yin, come save me quickly—”
“I think you don’t need saving at all.” Gong Yin interrupted her words, coldly turning away.
Jing Hengbo looked up in shock. Even Yelu Qi, who had been silent and on full alert, was startled.
Just as Gong Yin turned, he suddenly flicked his sleeve. A cold light struck the support pillar already cracked by Feifei’s claws. With a crack, the pillar broke and the heavy tent suddenly collapsed, burying everyone.
Jing Hengbo only felt darkness before her eyes. Before she could react, her wrist was gripped tightly and someone pulled her. Startled, unsure if it was Gong Yin or Yelu Qi, the person yanked hard and she stumbled into his embrace. The familiar fragrance inexplicably calmed her heart. Just as she was about to lean closer, the person’s hand exerted force, throwing her behind him. Simultaneously, another person swept past her side—she could even feel the burning skin beneath the other’s taut body.
“Bang.” A muffled sound. In the darkness, the two men seemed to exchange a palm strike, the resulting wind making her stagger.
Jing Hengbo assessed the situation, thinking that since Gong Yin was fine, Yelu Qi naturally couldn’t succeed. When two tigers fight, innocent bystanders suffer—she’d better escape quickly. Just as she prepared to call Feifei for teleportation, her wrist was suddenly gripped tightly. Gong Yin’s voice sounded beside her ear: “What are you doing? Who do you want to run away with?”
What? Jing Hengbo blinked. I want to run away by myself, not wanting to drag you down—is that not allowed?
She got angry and flung away Gong Yin’s hand: “Whoever you want!”
“She should naturally come with me.” Yelu Qi smiled from the darkness opposite. “I came tonight specifically to fetch her.”
“Yelu Qi, shut up.” Jing Hengbo snorted coldly. “You had a date with Fei Luo, right?”
Her naturally soft, sweet, sticky voice made even cold laughter sound like flirtation. No matter how angry she got, she couldn’t muster full intimidation—more like acting spoiled than scolding.
In the vigorous wind of their fighting, Yelu Qi’s voice became even more delighted: “Originally wanted to date Fei Luo, but seeing you, I lost control.”
“Control your sister.” Jing Hengbo scoffed. “Go away.”
The exchange seemed more like flirtation, making Yelu Qi’s voice even more amused.
“Are you finished talking?” Gong Yin’s suddenly interjecting voice was even colder, so cold that Jing Hengbo couldn’t help shivering. Then with a thunderous crash, the heavy tent fabric around them was shaken into the air. In the chaotic light, a figure laughed heartily, flying backward like a kite, tearing open a tent crack with one hand and soaring skyward.
Gong Yin leaned forward, about to pursue, when Jing Hengbo suddenly shouted: “Wait!”
“Wait for what!” Gong Yin roared. “Catch the assassin!”
“If you want to catch him, catch him yourself!” Jing Hengbo’s voice was even louder, desperately shaking her hand. “I have urgent business!”
Gong Yin looked urgent as a shooting star but still stopped, unwilling to let go. Jing Hengbo ignored him, struggling to lift her leg and deliver a vicious kick to Fei Luo’s face as she shakily got up.
“Bang.”
The just-steady Fei Luo fell spread-eagle, scattering dust everywhere.
“Worthy of the Female Chancellor—even lying down looks so good!” Jing Hengbo’s voice was bright.
Gong Yin: “…”
Jing Hengbo wasn’t finished. With a ripping sound, she tore off half of Fei Luo’s skirt, wet from incontinence, and threw it forcefully outward, shouting: “Quick, call the imperial physician! The Female Chancellor has lost continence!”
The foul-smelling cloth fragment flew right into the face of a guard rushing over. He grabbed it and quickly ran to one side, followed by loud vomiting sounds from the corner.
Fei Luo had been getting better and was struggling to rise. Seeing this scene, she collapsed again with a bang.
Jing Hengbo smiled charmingly.
“Oh my, I shouldn’t have shouted so loudly. Now everyone heard, right? Sorry, I forgot!”
…
Finally, after the grudge-holding Queen had her revenge, Gong Yin dragged Jing Hengbo out through the tent crack. Just as Jing Hengbo was about to shout “catch the thief,” she suddenly discovered the outside was in uproar, with torches dancing wildly and countless people shouting: “Assassin! Catch the thief!” as they ran about the camp in chaos.
“Ah ha, these guys react really fast—they all discovered the assassin…” Jing Hengbo said halfway before realizing something was wrong. Looking back at Gong Yin, his expression was cold as ice and snow.
Jing Hengbo thought about it and understood, sniffing and sighing: “Too many people spoil things…”
Obviously, among the six kingdoms and eight tribes’ guard formations, there were Yelu Qi’s inside agents. So once he was exposed here, those agents began catching assassins to muddy the waters. With many people and eyes, Yelu Qi could easily mix out of the camp.
If it were just Yelu Qi alone, even delayed for a while, Gong Yin’s well-prepared guards could still intercept him. But with this chaos, it wasn’t possible.
Gong Yin glanced at her—knowing she was always clever, but at this moment, this clever sigh seemed somehow excited.
“Very pleased?” he said indifferently.
“Huh?” Jing Hengbo didn’t understand.
Gong Yin stopped talking, flicking his sleeve to push her toward the approaching Jing Jun and Cui Jie, coldly saying: “Watch her carefully!”
Jing Hengbo was pushed into Cui Jie’s arms by this shove. Looking up, she saw Gong Yin had already walked toward the approaching guard leader.
“I know you can leave anytime, and no one can stop you. I know your heart isn’t… here, and no one can keep you.” He walked a few steps then suddenly turned back, meeting her gaze. “I won’t put shackles on you or restrict your freedom either. Stay if you want to stay, leave if you want to leave, be with whoever you want. But if you take one step out of here today, we’ll be enemies in the future.”
Jing Hengbo looked up into his eyes. In the depths of his pupils, darker than ordinary people’s, was a streak of cold, sharp dark blue like thousand-year-old ice crystals.
She belatedly thought: He’s angry?
In the night with dancing torches and blazing, soaring background, his figure remained lonely and cold—the loneliness of standing alone among millions, the loneliness visible to millions despite him alone.
Jing Hengbo was somewhat dazed. All along, she’d thought him proud, sharp-tongued, aloof, stubborn, and a big boring person. But suddenly she felt his true attribute was loneliness.
Due to long loneliness, forgetting the clamor of all beings. No longer adapting to worldly concerns, finding it hard to casually integrate into mortal dust. Extraordinary experiences had created barriers between him and this world. Self-protection became instinct—before malice and rejection arrived, he reached out first to close the door of his heart.
Her heart felt cool, as if a piece of ice had suddenly seeped in. She breathed on her hands, wondering what experiences had created his personality, thinking and thinking until she suddenly felt irritated.
What business was it of hers?
She was determined to laugh proudly through this other world and live freely for life!
Beauty and boldness were her capital—why couldn’t she live dashingly in another world? Why must she struggle to the death with a stubborn person?
She forcefully shook her hands, as if this could shake out all those strange emotions.
“Let’s go.” Two unfamiliar servant women came over, taking her from Cui Jie’s hands, half-supporting, half-forcing her to her own tent entrance and pushing her inside.
Jing Hengbo didn’t resist. After the earlier struggle with Yelu Qi in the tent, though only a few brief exchanges, she’d exhausted her physical and mental strength. Now completely relaxed, every cell was crying out to lie down and sleep. She quickly crawled onto the mat and lay down, patting her face and mumbling: “Sleep.”
She slept straight and flat—her usual plank-style sleeping position. She believed sleeping on one’s side would cause facial wrinkles, an unforgivable sin.
The darkness was hazy, the outside clamor seemed distant, but fly-like buzzing sounds kept floating and sinking in her mind.
“Wielding power over the world, resting on beauty’s lap—this is the future the State Preceptor should possess. Why tolerate a foreign woman riding over your head and acting tyrannically?”
“…State Preceptor, did you really travel ten thousand li personally to fetch her because you were worried about the queen’s safety?”
She irritably turned over, her arm hitting the ground heavily.
“Sleep!” she commanded herself. Turning flat, lying like a corpse facing the tent top.
The buzzing came again.
“You want to use the queen for a peaceful transition, right?”
“Surely after the queen’s return, your Jade Palace has long prepared means to deal with the queen…”
She suddenly sat up, facing the darkness, baring her teeth.
“Means… deal with…” She hummed a few times, tugging her hair, kicking off the blanket, and lying spread-eagle.
“Once the queen fails the test and is exiled, those who welcomed her will also suffer damaged reputation and be implicated…”
“I think you don’t need saving at all.”
“Very pleased?”
Two voices fought in her mind. She roared and got up, grabbing the bedding to punch and kick: “Sarcastic and strange! This life is unbearable!”
“Stay if you want to stay, leave if you want to leave, be with whoever you want. But if you take one step out of here today, we’ll be enemies in the future.”
Gong Yin’s clear, cold voice was particularly annoying when recalled. Jing Hengbo looked at the empty, quiet tent. The outside clamor had gradually returned to calm. Gong Yin’s tent seemed to have lit lamps—he had finished his business but hadn’t come to see her. No one told her how things went. She seemed thrown here, forgotten.
Jing Hengbo considered herself rough around the edges, caring about nothing but beauty. However, after tonight’s ordeal—surprise, disappointment, life-and-death struggle, wave after wave washing over her, testing her will—the annoying words of the annoying Gong Yin became the last straw that broke the camel’s back.
Jing Hengbo stood on the blanket, hands on hips, looking at Gong Yin’s quiet tent, anger blazing in her eyes.
What was this?
Bullying her, then trapping her with one sentence?
Da Bo, when did you become so spineless?
Could it be you’re really scared by that sentence…
As the last thought passed, Jing Hengbo immediately shook her head wildly, shaking the thought away.
“Of! Course! Not!” She kicked over a stool. “I’ll prove it to you right now!”
…
Gong Yin’s tent remained completely quiet. After the assassin’s disturbance, the guards again strictly guarded his tent.
Yelu Qi wasn’t found, which didn’t surprise Gong Yin. Orders flowed out like water.
“Squad A-3 continues pursuing Yelu Qi and his accomplices.”
“Strictly investigate all guard duties of the six kingdoms and eight tribes tonight, particularly checking for any shift changes or substitutions.”
“Starting tomorrow night, when camping and lodging, reassign camping areas for the six kingdoms and eight tribes guards. Here’s the allocation map.”
“Arrange for the Tianqian Department to secretly investigate Fei Luo, focusing on whether Xiang Kingdom’s high-ranking officials have private dealings with Yelu Qi.”
“Order the Kang Long commander to send three thousand elite troops to meet the royal procession at Qinghan Pass.”
“Order the Jade Palace to find those skilled in strange arts and clever techniques from the Palace Eight Arts Department and send them here.”
…
Gong Yin suddenly paused. Meng Hu, who was listening carefully with lowered head, looked up in surprise and saw his master’s brow slightly furrowed, his finger unconsciously drawing lines on the documents—one line, then another.
This was the State Preceptor’s habitual small action when calculating matters in his heart. Only in recent years, things that could make the State Preceptor hesitate even momentarily had become rare.
He was somewhat curious, couldn’t help wanting to guess who could make his master show such an expression. It couldn’t be… could it?
“Deploy Squad A-1 to guard the Queen’s tent and carriage day and night.” Gong Yin finally said.
Sure enough, it was about her. Meng Hu’s brow slightly furrowed. Squad A-1 was one of the most elite squads in the Cuiwei Camp he led, a force that had never appeared, specifically used for secret protection. He wasn’t surprised the State Preceptor wanted to deploy Squad A-1, but…
“Do you want to keep watch over the Queen?” he said. “But as long as Squad A-1 can’t enter the tent or carriage, the Queen can escape control anytime…”
His words stopped because Gong Yin looked at him.
Frozen ice seeping snow, like snow mountains ten thousand li away suddenly howling and crashing down.
He broke out in cold sweat, instantly understanding his master’s true intention, secretly regretting speaking too much, hurriedly falling silent and retreating, only daring to look at Gong Yin’s hands from the corner of his eye. The snow-white silk sleeve hem with gold-threaded dark-embroidered kui patterns remained motionless, revealing a section of fingernails smooth as shells, cold white as jade.
Only after the curtain closed did Gong Yin slowly lower his eyelashes, flicking his fingertip to eject a slightly yellow drop of liquid from under his nail.
He sighed—the toxin was finally completely expelled.
The red fruit Feifei dropped wasn’t completely effective. For instance, Fei Luo was now rolling around in her own tent. Though no longer making trouble, she was still in an embarrassing state, forcing him to order strict guard of Fei Luo’s tent with no entry or exit allowed.
He expelled the toxin, stood up, lifted the curtain, and faced Jing Hengbo’s dark tent.
He stared at that tent for a long time, his expression complex.
She… should be asleep by now.
She must be very angry even while sleeping.
Gong Yin himself didn’t know that in this moment he showed a faint smile, immediately replaced by stern color.
The closer to Dahuang, the more violent the storms. He was accustomed to such days of sharp winds and bitter frost, but what kind of face would that willful, free woman use to confront them?
He pressed his lips slightly, his feet imperceptibly shifting forward one step, then stopping.
Heaven knew what he’d been affected by—even now he felt somewhat mentally drifting and heart racing violently. Just thinking of seeing her inexplicably brought to mind that rainy night embrace in the empty mountains, her moist skin and sweet breath, eyes shining in the darkness, and those naturally brilliant red lips without rouge. Or in the Tiannan Royal Palace when she threw herself at him, her slightly cool skin suddenly pressing hard against him…
His breathing became inexplicably rapid.
He quickly withdrew his steps, not daring to step forward. With such floating thoughts, how could he see her?
He relaxed his hand, letting the curtain fall, turning to enter meditation when he suddenly felt moved. His robe sleeve swept and he was already through the curtain.
The curtain of Gong Yin’s tent had just fallen when the next moment he had already lifted Jing Hengbo’s tent curtain.
Then his body stiffened.
An empty tent, bedding scattered everywhere on the ground—where was anyone?
The curtain began trembling slightly, gripped too tightly by Gong Yin, creating wrinkles everywhere.
Gong Yin’s voice, word by word forced through gritted teeth, sounded heavy with approaching storm.
“Sure enough, she still ran away… with someone!”
…
Jing Hengbo wandered in the dark fields.
Having teleported out in anger, dizzy and confused, she didn’t know where she’d moved to. She only knew it wasn’t very far from the camp because turning around, she could see the scattered lights behind her.
Her teleportation had different effects under different states. When focused, she could teleport to places she wanted to go. When mentally concentrated, she could move several li at most. When confused, she might move from the left toilet stall to the right toilet stall.
She hadn’t moved far now, but had no energy to go further. Seeing a river ahead, she listlessly went over and picked up a branch hanging by the riverside to play with the water.
The riverbank was overgrown with wild grass, clearly unfrequented, with many emerald green tender stems and leaves growing. Jing Hengbo scooped up a clump to look at, exclaiming “eh” and murmuring: “This looks like artemisia? Good stuff—Dahuang actually has this…”
She picked a few stems of artemisia, sniffing the scent, her expression thoughtful.
The sound of water flowed far in the quiet night. She didn’t care, occasionally looking back at the camp.
For a long time, the camp showed no movement. She became restless, simply changing places to squat with her back to the camp, using the river water to look at her reflection.
“I’m so beautiful, so good,” she muttered in bewilderment. “According to transmigration conventions, there should be gold rolling in, followers everywhere, peach blossoms filling the streets, loved by all who see me, with flowers blooming at sight and flies falling over backward. Why when it’s my turn do grandmas not love me and uncles not care, women are neurotic and men perverted?”
Feifei and Er Gouzi sat on her left and right sides. When she came out, she’d brought these two for entertainment.
But this didn’t seem like a good idea—entertainment might become additional worry. Er Gouzi kept secretly kicking Feifei, getting his bird feathers scattered by Feifei’s big tail swipes. The key problem was that no matter how many times he got swatted, he never learned to kick differently, fully proving the little monster’s intellectual dominance over the perverted bird.
“Er Gouzi, stop making trouble.” Jing Hengbo picked up Er Gouzi, touching her nose to its beak, sadly saying: “Look at me—am I beautiful? Am I charming?”
“Beautiful or not, look at Sister Feng’s mouth; charming or not, Sister Lotus is most precious.” Er Gouzi answered.
“Go die.” Jing Hengbo threw it a thousand li away.
“Feifei.” Jing Hengbo hugged the cute but sinister little monster to her lap, facing its slowly blinking purple eyes. “Look at me—am I beautiful…”
Her hand suddenly trembled, staring at Feifei’s big eyeball, all her hair slowly standing up.
That bright big eyeball clearly reflected what was behind her—Er Gouzi in mid-air, no wait, and the hand grabbing Er Gouzi.
In the night floated silver-black robes, extraordinarily slender fingers covering Er Gouzi’s mouth…