“Though I was used and still at risk of getting beaten…” Yi Qi obediently followed along as she pulled him, muttering, “hearing that sentence was enough to anger that kid to death. Worth it, worth it…”

“Bang.” The next instant he went flying from Jing Hengbo’s side in a very straight trajectory.

Fortunately, this fellow was prepared. Just as he flew out, he made a beautiful turn in mid-air, flipped head-down and feet-up onto a tree, hanging himself upside down like a bat.

Jing Hengbo had already rushed toward the person who struck.

“You finally decided to show up? You finally deigned to grace us with your presence?” The moment Yi Qi flew out, she flashed three zhang away, took off her high heels and hurled them viciously, “Gong Yin! You bastard!”

The timing was perfect. Gong Yin had just sent Yi Qi flying thousands of li away and hadn’t had time to withdraw his hand when bang—this red fish-mouth high heel hit squarely on his chest.

Actually, he could have easily used his inner energy to blast this flying shoe thousands of li away, but when he saw clearly what it was, he suddenly hesitated.

If he struck, that shoe would probably be reduced to nothing but ash, and it seemed to be something she treasured…

In this moment of hesitation, bang—Jing Hengbo’s second shoe also kissed his chest.

Gong Yin caught both shoes in his hand and waved them at her.

“Have you caused enough trouble?” he said.

“No!” The next instant Jing Hengbo appeared in front of him, slapping a piece of paper against his chest with a snap. “Gong Yin, what exactly are you trying to do!”

That contract was stained with Yi Qi’s nosebleed and slapped wetly against Gong Yin’s chest, staining his snow-white clothing red.

Gong Yin looked down and immediately turned pale with disgust. With a flick of his sleeve, both the contract and the clothing on his chest crumbled to dust.

Even so, the disgust remained. His breathing became unsteady and his chest felt stuffy. Filth was almost the thing he could least tolerate in the world, going beyond the realm of cleanliness obsession. Especially this kind of dirty blood made even his breathing somewhat unstable.

In his fury, he reached out and grabbed Jing Hengbo, who was trying to escape seeing his wrong expression.

With a casual lift of his hand, Jing Hengbo would fly back thousands of li.

Jing Hengbo twisted in mid-air to look at him, her gaze showing no sign of backing down.

Gong Yin was slightly stunned.

He had seen her fawning, seen her flattering, seen her acting cute, seen her being seductive. This woman seemed impulsive and indulgent, but was actually very good at reading situations and adapting flexibly. She would rather scheme against people afterward than throw eggs against rocks. But at this moment, her anger was so vivid it overshadowed her usual beautiful and charming demeanor.

She seemed very angry…

In this pause, his gaze fell on the high heels in his hand again. In a trance, he recalled the leopard-print high heels that had hung from his finger that day by the cliff and riverbank.

That seductive and graceful back.

That stretch of snow-white, lustrous nape.

That strand of slightly curled, unusual long hair.

That sweet breathing and sighs with floating dark fragrance.

Those days of intimate closeness in the net.

…

He changed his outward throwing motion to an inward grab, timely catching back Jing Hengbo who was about to fly off the continent.

Jing Hengbo wasn’t surprised at all. She smoothly placed her finger on his chest and looked up into his eyes.

A pair of eyes flickering with ice-crystal blue light, as fixed as a lake beneath distant mountains.

“Gong Yin, what exactly do you mean?” she asked. “I don’t care what agreement you sign, but why cancel the welcoming ceremony?”

“Why can’t it be canceled?” he countered. “Are you capable?”

“I’m not capable?” Her counter-question came faster. “What makes you think that?”

“Based on your performance!” he said coldly. “Don’t think being queen is child’s play, don’t think important ministers and common people are like me and Yelu Qi, and don’t think your beauty or romantic charm can make everyone prostrate themselves and acknowledge you as their ruler. The throne has never been such a simple matter.”

“Fuck your beauty and romantic charm!” Jing Hengbo’s anger surged as she pounded his chest. “Gong Yin, you look down on people!”

Gong Yin wore an expression of complete agreement, not moving at all. After all, her beating was about as effective as a kitten scratching.

“So you think you’re doing this for my good? So you casually added this clause to solve my troubles, and I should thank you?” Jing Hengbo held her forehead, stayed silent for three seconds, then suddenly raised her head and took a breath. “Stop. Don’t put on that cool act saying this isn’t for me—I don’t want to hear it. Now I understand. This is indeed your good intention, but… I don’t want to accept it. Is that okay?”

“No.” Gong Yin always knew how to anger people to death with a single sentence.

Jing Hengbo took another deep breath.

“I know you don’t trust me… OK OK you’re not distrusting me, you’re just solving this matter incidentally, I understand… Now I don’t want to argue with you. I just want to tell you that I can pass, I can win, I can do well. Don’t interfere with this matter—give me a chance to prove myself, okay?”

“No.”

Jing Hengbo glared at this stubborn fellow, her chest heaving. Who said she was unreasonable? The most unreasonable person in the world was clearly the one standing in front of her!

“Why not! Give me a reason!”

“Why do you think you can do it? Think you can make millions of people willingly submit? Think you can accomplish what no previous queen could?”

“If others can’t do it, then I must not be able to? What kind of damned logic is that?”

“What makes you suddenly think you can do it? Just a few days ago you were still worried about this.” Gong Yin’s lips curled as he pointed at Yi Qi watching the show in the tree. “Is it because you met him? You’re quite capable—commanding the eldest of the Seven Kills on your first meeting. But I tell you, even if the Seven Kills can run rampant across Dahuang, they still can’t subdue public opinion and the will of heaven!”

“What Seven Kills, Eight Kills, Thirteen Kills!” Jing Hengbo couldn’t bear it anymore. What was this guy implying? That she was seducing people with her beauty?

“Gong Yin! Stop deflecting! If you won’t agree, is it because you’re afraid I’ll really pass the test and successfully inherit the throne, interfering with your plans to usurp power?” She snatched back her high heels and pressed the spike-like heel into his hand. “Speaking of interference, I’ve indeed always been interfering with you. Why bother with so much trouble? Just kill me right now. Come on, come on.” She tilted her neck and lifted her hair, presenting her carotid artery under the heel in his hand. “Come, stab! Just a light poke would be enough! Come! Quickly!”

Gong Yin looked down and found himself facing her neck—snow-white and slender, faintly showing the blood color beneath the skin, with delicate bone joints protruding slightly. Her lustrous black hair spilled down through her fingers, and rich fragrance rose up in wisps.

He suddenly wanted to use his fingers to delicately caress each of those exquisite bone joints, and wanted to know if the delicacy of this stretch of skin extending downward had graceful curves and a jade-like beautiful back…

Gong Yin suddenly coughed, feeling his face burning. He leaned back slightly, but that seemingly romantic yet actually numb fellow, having waited so long without any movement, grew impatient. Feeling her momentum wasn’t enough and seeing him retreat, she pressed her advantage and bumped backward into his embrace. “Stab! Stab!”

Bang—her body pressed into his embrace, seeming to shake his entire chest. For an instant, he felt soft curves and overwhelming fragrance. He hastily pressed her shoulder with one hand, pushed her away half a foot, and forcibly turned her around.

“Why don’t you stab?” Jing Hengbo glanced sideways at the high heel in his hand, challenging him.

“Dirty.” The moment she turned around, the flush on Gong Yin’s face had faded. He casually tossed her high heel away and grabbed her sleeve to wipe his hands.

Jing Hengbo was furious and fiercely snatched back her sleeve. “Those who play conspiracy and tricks are the dirty ones!”

Gong Yin’s hand paused. When he looked up at her again, his gaze had returned to calm and cold.

“Mm,” he said. “You’re pure as ice and jade, noble in spirit. You need not play conspiracy and tricks to safely ascend the throne and rule the world. Wherever your procession passes, it will make the people of Dahuang cheer and dance, worship from afar.”

Jing Hengbo hated most when he used that light, cold tone to say heavily sarcastic words!

“You just don’t believe I can pass the test. You just think I’m not suitable to be queen.” She raised her head. “What if I can?”

“Then you shall rule,” Gong Yin answered casually. “And for my entire life, I will protect and defer to you.”

“Good!” Jing Hengbo’s eyes lit up. “Let’s bet!”

But Gong Yin said: “What if you cannot?”

“How could I possibly not manage it?” Jing Hengbo pursed her lips and pressed something at her chest.

“What if you cannot?” Someone was always so persistent.

“If I cannot!” Jing Hengbo pursed her lips and pointed at his cheek. “I’ll sell myself to you—I can be your slave or concubine, serve you for life, master!”

She bit down hard on the words “serve,” giving them a sticky nasal sound that sounded both ambiguous and flippant, making one’s heart itch.

Gong Yin paused slightly, instinctively wanting to object—what kind of punishment was this? His Jade Palace had countless wealthy young ladies begging to be his slaves and servants every day. Failing to become queen meant exile, but becoming his slave or minor concubine would earn his protection—everyone would envy that. She was calculating well.

No good!

Then he heard himself answer: “Hmph.”

“You agreed.” Jing Hengbo’s eyes rolled. “A bet should be fair. So what if I succeed?”

“You make the demand.”

“How should it be? Make you streak naked in the great hall? Make you perform a seductive dance in the square?” Jing Hengbo grew more excited as she thought, scratching her ears and cheeks. “Ah, streaking would be quite a sight, but I wouldn’t want others to see you… A seductive dance isn’t bad either, but you’re such a zombie you definitely couldn’t dance well and would embarrass me… How about you lie down and let me tease you without resisting? Whips, candles, handcuffs? Tsk tsk, so satisfying…”

She grew more excited as she spoke, as if Gong Yin’s defeat was already set in stone, and she was only troubled by which punishment would be both satisfying and gratifying.

Gong Yin’s face grew darker as he listened. Finally unable to bear it, he coldly reminded her: “The premise is that you can do it!”

“Oh, then I’ll think about it first. I can propose conditions after you lose.” Jing Hengbo raised her palm. “No backing out—it’s a bet!”

Gong Yin looked at her snow-white palm, paused, then raised his hand.

“Clap!”

The first bet between the Queen of Dahuang and the First State Preceptor was established.

After both palms were lowered, before Jing Hengbo could feel proud, Gong Yin suddenly said lightly: “Oh, I forgot to tell you—if a queen cannot successfully ascend the throne, she’s easily executed. If she becomes my slave or concubine, she can escape with her life through exile, which is already the best outcome. And according to Dahuang’s rules, slaves and concubines never have freedom, must remain chaste for their master for life, can never bear children, can never become the master’s primary wife, and must forever serve all of the master’s wives. The fate of slaves and concubines is actually more miserable than exile.”

“So what?” Jing Hengbo thrust out her chest. “I won’t become your slave or concubine. I’ll make you become my little bottom!”

Gong Yin couldn’t be bothered with her bold declarations.

What was a “little bottom”? She often muttered about it, but it was better not to ask—none of the answers from her mouth were fit to hear.

Jing Hengbo turned around and saw Yi Qi sitting in the tree, watching her with a strange expression. She had a good impression of this fellow—after all, he had risked his life to steal the contract for her. It seemed wrong to leave without saying goodbye.

“Hey, little Qi Qi.” She found Yi Qi’s name awkward to pronounce, so she arbitrarily gave him a nickname. “I’m leaving. Do you want to come with me to Emperor Song City?”

“He doesn’t want to,” Gong Yin answered coldly from behind her.

“How do you know?”

Gong Yin stopped talking—if this fellow wasn’t afraid of death, he was welcome to try.

“No thanks,” Yi Qi grinned and waved from the tree. “I still have things to do. I’ll come see you next time. I’ll miss you, and I’ll treasure the nail polish you gave me as a love token.”

“Great, great.” Jing Hengbo waved back. “Remember to come see me. My address is… Hey Gong Yin, what should my address be? Hey Gong Yin, why is your face so dark… Hey Yi Qi, why did you run away before finishing your sentence? I haven’t told you my address yet… Hey Gong Yin, why are you hitting little Qi Qi… Hey… Ah!”

Her vision suddenly went black, and she collapsed softly into the arms of Gong Yin, who had swept back from chasing Yi Qi.

“You talk too much.”

Having returned from chasing Yi Qi, Gong Yin caught her in one arm and said coldly.

…

When Jing Hengbo woke up again, the convoy had already entered Emperor Song City.

The “hostages” had naturally been “rescued” by the Dragon Cavalry and returned to the convoy, though everyone inevitably seemed somewhat dispirited. The delegations from the Six Kingdoms and Eight Tribes were much quieter after this setback. Even Fei Luo no longer came to the Queen’s carriage, staying in her own carriage all day.

After waking up, Jing Hengbo remembered something about the cause of death of that round-faced youth from the Liuli Tribe, but she suddenly didn’t want to ask anymore.

The answer would probably be cruel, and she didn’t want to face such cruelty. She feared that the warmth she had been greedily cherishing was just a pretense of deliberate approach, and she was afraid that knowing the truth would make her lose trust in human nature.

She had also wondered whether Gong Yin might have killed the wrong person. After all, that child had seemed so pure and warm, really not like a spy with ill intentions toward her.

But precisely because of this, she dared not ask.

If this guess proved true, she feared she would lose trust in Gong Yin from then on, gradually drifting apart. That seemed more terrifying than losing trust in human nature.

She comforted herself—from an intelligence and experience perspective, the Great God wouldn’t be wrong.

Jing Hengbo sighed, feeling she was a selfish ostrich.

Then she thought about that contract. The contract had the leaders give up the welcoming ceremony, but she had refused this proposal. How would Gong Yin explain to the other party that this clause of the contract was void? He had originally impersonated Yelu Qi’s people to sign the agreement—would he impersonate them again?

She asked Meng Hu about it, and Meng Hu told her it was simple. If they followed the contract, Gong Yin would slow down the Queen’s convoy, letting the signing tribal leaders return to Emperor Song first, where they would personally or request the Grand Leaders to call off the welcoming ceremony. Now that Jing Hengbo insisted on the welcoming ceremony, the convoy only needed to proceed at the original speed and, under the pretext of protection, not let the tribal leaders return to Emperor Song first. The welcoming ceremony already in preparation, having received no notice of changes, would naturally proceed as scheduled.

For the tribal leaders, that clause hidden at the bottom of the contract about casually canceling the welcoming ceremony didn’t seem important to them either. Since Gong Yin wouldn’t let them return first and they couldn’t fulfill this contract clause, it wasn’t their fault, so naturally no one actively protested.

Jing Hengbo slapped her forehead and thought about it, having to admit that Gong Yin’s brain cells were very useful. Complex matters became easy to solve in his hands. Being enemies with such a person would definitely be difficult.

Meng Hu looked at her relaxed expression, wanting to speak but stopping himself. He really wanted to tell Jing Hengbo how much thought and risk Gong Yin had put into this contract, yet it was lightly overturned by a single word from her. And after overturning it, how much risk Gong Yin would bear for her—if the Queen couldn’t gain recognition, he, the State Preceptor who had divined the Queen’s reincarnation characteristics and traveled thousands of li to welcome her, would also face criticism. It might even cause irreversible damage to his prestige and position.

But he dared not speak.

What Gong Yin forbade, no one dared do.

Sometimes he didn’t understand how the State Preceptor thought. The Queen shouldn’t have been in the plan. According to the State Preceptor’s character and past style of action, he should have tried to eliminate her as soon as she appeared. But…

Meng Hu sighed, not wanting to think further. As a subordinate, he only needed to trust and follow his master.

But why was this unprecedented worry in his heart growing stronger and stronger…

Jing Hengbo watched Meng Hu’s troubled back, propped her chin thoughtfully, then touched her still somewhat sore nape, and for once, sighed wistfully.

…

“The Kang Long Army has entered Emperor Song and taken over city defense.”

“The Zhan Yu Tribe agreed to the subsequent mediation agreement and led their family’s private army back to their estate.”

“The Dragon Cavalry entered the capital and has guarded all the mansions of important ministers with private armies, not allowing any rash actions.”

“The private army under State Preceptor Yelu’s name, as well as the Yan Sha Army, have withdrawn.”

Jing Hengbo heard a continuous stream of military reports approaching and knew the Great God Gong was coming.

She poked her head out and indeed saw Gong Yin walking hurriedly forward, followed by a long line of advisors and military officers, each quick-stepping to keep up with him tightly, holding large stacks of documents while reporting to him.

Behind him were also two maidservants carrying huge boxes.

Gong Yin walked very quickly but maintained a calm demeanor. As he walked, he said: “The Kang Long Army takes over city defense and removes barriers in the city. Pay attention to attitude—no conflicts are allowed. But if anyone resists, kill without mercy.”

“Yes.”

“Allow the Zhan Yu Tribe and Yelu family’s private armies to remain in the city to guard their estates, but neither may exceed three thousand people.”

“State Preceptor, both Zhan Yu and the Yelu family live in the inner city. Due to geographical limitations, the inner city itself only has ten thousand Kang Long guards. Now with Zhan Yu and Yelu each keeping three thousand people, that’s six thousand total. This number is too large—if we can’t maintain control…”

“Then don’t allow loss of control. Zhan Yu and Yelu are currently on edge, mutually suspicious. Forcibly withdrawing either side’s private army would cause backlash. If they start fighting in the inner city, that would cause incalculable losses. What we want is to contain and suppress them in the inner city, avoiding prolonged involvement of various family private armies causing widespread conflict. Also, deploy a team of Kang Long spider web operatives to the inner city.”

“Yes.”

…

Jing Hengbo watched eagerly—so cool, so impressive! When she became queen, she’d also have a large group of people following behind her. She’d also walk fast, making decisions while walking, having others jog to keep up. She’d also have Gong Yin at the front, running while respectfully saying to her: “Hey! Yoshi! Saranghae!”

The carriage curtain lifted, revealing Gong Yin’s face and interrupting her beautiful dream. He was lifting the curtain while saying to those behind him: “The Queen’s carriage enters the city at noon. Notify the ceremonial guard and Yelu to prepare.”

Jing Hengbo’s beautiful dream shattered with a “snap”—wishes were beautiful but distant. At the very least, right now she even had to listen to him about when to enter the city. She hated going out most when the sun was blazing at noon!

Gong Yin looked up and saw her sour face. Of course, his own expression wasn’t much better either.

Since yesterday when he knocked her unconscious and carried her back, they had only met once and ignored each other.

Jing Hengbo was still angry about that “incompetent” clause in the contract, and angry that he monopolized power, never giving her a voice.

As for why Gong Yin didn’t have a good expression—only he knew best.

Jing Hengbo turned her face away. “What are you here for?”

Gong Yin ignored her, climbed into the carriage, took the two boxes from the maidservants below, and said to Cui Jie, Jing Jun, and Yong Xue inside: “You three get out.”

Cui Jie and Yong Xue, who had always been afraid of him, said nothing and got off the carriage. Anyway, these past days they had seen clearly that though the State Preceptor and Da Bo had various arguments and clashing auras, there was absolutely no danger.

But Jing Jun paused, her gaze falling on the boxes, saying gently: “These seem to be the Queen’s ceremonial robes? Are they to be changed immediately? Ceremonial robes are complicated—may this servant stay to help?”

“Right, right.” Jing Hengbo got a headache just hearing about ceremonial robes and hastily said, “What do you need to handle women’s ceremonial robes for? Let them help me change.”

Gong Yin didn’t even glance at Jing Jun, only saying to Jing Hengbo: “Some things only you can wear yourself. I don’t want to repeat this twice.”

Jing Hengbo blinked, not quite understanding. What did he mean by not wanting to repeat twice?

A faint blush rose on Jing Jun’s face, but she still smiled. “This servant overstepped. The ceremonial robes are precious—it’s proper for the State Preceptor to personally instruct Her Majesty. How could this servant be worthy of listening? This servant will withdraw.” After speaking, she bowed properly and withdrew gracefully, even thoughtfully closing the carriage door as she left.

Jing Hengbo watched her impeccable etiquette and bearing, couldn’t help but praise admiringly: “Jing Jun truly deserves to come from a great household—look at that grace. As for you…” She looked sideways at Gong Yin. “Didn’t anyone teach you to be a gentleman toward ladies?”

“Is she worthy?” His answer was quite infuriating.

“Dress me.” Her chin-raised pose was even more infuriating.

Gong Yin’s response was to place a huge box on her lap, making Jing Hengbo’s knees sink under the weight.

“So heavy!” Jing Hengbo was immediately attracted by the magnificent box, pushed open the lid, and her eyes instantly widened. “Wow!”

She wasn’t amazed by the ceremonial robe’s splendor—in Dahuang, where gems scattered everywhere, splendor was a given.

She was amazed by the ceremonial robe’s color. It wasn’t the gold, red, purple, or bright yellow imperial colors she had imagined, but black!

More amazingly, there existed such pure black in the world.

Dark as night, like the finest purebred black horse, black satin without any other color mixed in, heavy with dark luster.

This ceremonial robe unusually didn’t feature many gems. All accessories were dark silver emitting blackish light, with deep, weighty coloring that complemented the solemn, noble black perfectly.

The ancient silver was like time-weathered ash color in dark places, interwoven with brilliant silver in bright spots, echoing the overall black. The hollow relief carvings on the belt, collar, and cuffs resembled some ferocious beast, set against pieces of obsidian, evoking thoughts of the swamps covering Dahuang.

Jing Hengbo clicked her tongue in admiration, feeling the designer had excellent taste. Such noble, simple ceremonial robes couldn’t be supported by those colorfully brilliant gems—they would instead appear restless and jumpy. Using no accessories would seem monotonous and oppressive. Only this equally noble ancient silver, bearing the brilliance of millions of years, could brighten that oppressive black—low-key yet luxurious.

She had always loved bright colors—yellow, red, purple, green, orange, blue—the more vivid the better. She had never favored heavy, oppressive black, but now she suddenly became interested. Without a word, she pulled open her collar and began to undress—

“What are you doing?” Gong Yin, not expecting her to undress so suddenly, was stunned and hastily turned his eyes away.

“Changing clothes.” Jing Hengbo thought nothing of it. This ceremonial robe was just an outer garment, and she was only removing her outer garment. She still had her tight undershirt underneath—what was there to see?

“Do you always change clothes so casually?” Gong Yin turned his head away, his tone stiff.

Jing Hengbo paused, glanced at him—oh ho, his head turned quite decisively. Not looking? Didn’t want to look? If he didn’t want to look, why were his ears so red!

“Your ears are so red. Are you hot?” She grinned and leaned over to blow on his earlobe. “This is how I change clothes. So what? Don’t you like it?”

A slightly cool palm covered her face, pushing her face away.

“However you want to be is your business. Why should I spare you an extra glance?” he said. “Put on your clothes properly. This ceremonial robe isn’t worn casually. I have something to tell you.”

“Oh.” Jing Hengbo shifted and sat up straight.

…

“Speak up!” After a long while, she impatiently shifted her body and urged, “Why aren’t you speaking?”

“Are your clothes on yet?” He still turned his head away, refusing to look back.

“Of course they’re on.”

“Wrong—there was no sound of fastening clothes!” he retorted.

“I don’t need to fasten… wait, how do you know?” Jing Hengbo’s eyes widened. “Damn, you weren’t looking, but you were eavesdropping! You perked up your ears to listen to me changing clothes! You fake gentleman! False prude! Big pervert! Eavesdropping maniac…”

“Shut up.” Gong Yin turned around, unable to bear it anymore, and pressed her chattering mouth.

“Mmm mmm mmm mmm.” Jing Hengbo still struggled for speaking rights, her dark eyes rolling above his palm, using her eyelashes to frantically brush the edge of his palm.

The palm’s edge suddenly became extremely sensitive. The tickling sensation traveled from his palm edge all the way to his arm, passing through countless tendons and blood vessels like electricity, reaching his heart. His heart seemed to tremble, then a chill spread, wandering through his internal organs. His face paled slightly as he withdrew his palm.

“My eyelashes are long, right?” Jing Hengbo, not noticing his expression change, said proudly.

Gong Yin’s expression had already returned to calm, but his brow was even more frosty. He leaned back and shook out that robe.

“This ceremonial robe was passed down from Dahuang’s founding emperor, specifically for welcoming ceremonies. Legend says this ceremonial robe has its own mystical properties and, together with Dahuang Queen’s formal ceremonial robe, are called the dynasty’s twin treasures.”

Jing Hengbo blinked. “What? This dress is hundreds of years old? Old ladies wore it? I don’t want it.”

“Please never mention ‘old ladies’ again,” Gong Yin said lightly, “if you don’t want to be torn to pieces by angry Dahuang people.”

“Hehe.” Jing Hengbo said.

Gong Yin frowned—what a terrible personality this woman had. Cunning yet rebellious, really difficult to handle.

“The ceremonial robe has hidden clasps. The waist clasps even conceal blades for self-defense.” Gong Yin sat knee-to-knee with her, demonstrating how to open and close the hidden clasps.

Jing Hengbo propped her chin, watching attentively… such dense eyelashes… such beautiful fingers… such skillful movements… such pleasant scent…

“Do you understand?” After demonstrating once, he asked without looking up.

“Beautiful…” she said dreamily.

“What’s beautiful?” He looked up and saw someone’s infatuated gaze, was stunned, and raised an eyebrow. He threw the clothes onto her lap.

“Do it yourself once!”

The infatuated woman was jolted awake, straightened her face, took the clothes, and quickly—snap snap snap snap—opened the hidden clasps, then snap snap snap snap—closed the hidden clasps. She ran her finger across, pulled and guided, and a blade silently sprang from her waist. Her knuckles bent to press the back of the belt, her palm pressed, and the hidden blade retracted.

“Done!”

The entire sequence was clean, smooth, and flowing like clouds.

Gong Yin remained silent, suddenly feeling a headache.

If only she were truly stupid—then she’d be obedient. But she was clever!

“Why does the dress need hidden blades?” Jing Hengbo, who had been busy peeping earlier, now remembered the important matter.

“Originally it didn’t. It was the seventeenth Queen who, before attending the welcoming ceremony, specifically had people secretly add them. She wasn’t being overly cautious. During that very ceremony, the Hawksbill Tribe caused trouble and attempted to assassinate the queen. Though she was ultimately exiled, she saved her own life with this hidden blade.”

“The welcoming ceremony is so fraught with danger?” Jing Hengbo gasped.

“The welcoming ceremony differs from the throne succession ceremony. Welcoming signifies preparation for the throne, but without official succession, the queen has no power or influence yet is publicly exposed—it’s the most vulnerable moment. If various factions haven’t reached balance beforehand, the welcoming ceremony may have problems.” Gong Yin showed her the inside of the garment. “Vital areas all have thin iron protection.”

“No wonder it’s so heavy.” Jing Hengbo suddenly felt the dress had a bloody smell and no longer wanted to wear it.

“And these shoes.” Gong Yin dragged over another box, crouched down and took out a pair of black short boots with exquisite styling, thick soles, black satin with cloud-carved edges, and shoe tips similarly inlaid with ancient silver.

“Try them.” Gong Yin said.

Jing Hengbo, thinking this dress had been worn by others and had seen blood, felt as if her whole body was sticky with blood. How could she bear to wear it? She shook her head and shrank back: “I don’t want to.”

“Is safety important or is cleanliness obsession important?” Gong Yin actually guessed her thoughts, grabbed her ankle firmly, not allowing her to retreat: “Try them!”

“I don’t want to!” Jing Hengbo shouted, frantically pulling back her high-heeled feet.

Her ankle slipped from Gong Yin’s hand, the crystal stockings sliding down. Gong Yin suddenly felt his fingers slip too—the skin under his fingers was soft as silk, gentle as cotton, slippery as a fish. He looked down and saw that in her struggling, Jing Hengbo’s rose-red high heel had already fallen halfway off, hanging from her toes, revealing her delicate, snow-white instep right under his nose—

He abruptly released his grip and leaned back. The shoe fell, Jing Hengbo giggled, and suddenly said: “I remember wanting to wipe my toes on your chest…” After speaking, she extended her toes forward to pick at his chest clothing.

Gong Yin’s eyes lowered and saw through the transparent stockings skin white as snow, toes crystalline pink like scattered flower petals—startlingly beautiful at first glance. Instinctively leaning back, with the carriage wall behind him and nowhere to retreat, he saw the boot beside him and hastily grabbed it to put on her foot.

But Jing Hengbo at this moment giggled and pulled her foot back again. This wasn’t the modern era—men could withstand various teasing. If she recklessly teased Gong Yin and he died of shame and anger, what then?

She withdrew her foot first, Gong Yin put on the shoe second. He was slightly flustered, using a bit too much force. Jing Hengbo, standing on one foot and unsteady, when he pushed like this, her body tilted against the carriage wall. The shoe sole hit the carriage wall with a soft snap, and amazingly, a row of saw teeth sprang from the shoe’s side!

The saw teeth were right beside Gong Yin’s throat!

Jing Hengbo was horrified and screamed “Get away!” Without regard for anything, she pressed her body forward desperately.

“Scratch.” With a soft sound, the shoe pressed against the carriage ceiling! The saw teeth sank deep into the wooden wall!

The atmosphere and people in the carriage suddenly froze.

Jing Hengbo was in a split position, left and right legs forming a line, at a thirty-degree angle with the carriage wall, pressed upward.

Gong Yin was right within that thirty-degree triangle’s safe zone.

His nose was pressed tightly against her right calf.

Gong Yin also seemed stunned, looking up slightly. It was hard to imagine a human body could stretch to such an extent—in a split second, she could split into a vertical position reaching the ceiling.

Before his eyes was her tightly stretched body. Because of the split, her tight pants had ridden up, revealing half a section of snow-white, lustrous calf. Following the beautiful calf line were straight knees and equally well-defined thighs…

Gong Yin quickly stepped out of her body’s coverage area, turned his back to her, and said: “I’m fine now. You can come down.”

His voice was gentle now, his gaze falling on those exquisite rose-red high heels.

There was no movement behind him.

Gong Yin repeated it again.

Still quiet, only with an added hissing sound, like someone couldn’t help but gasp in pain.

Gong Yin turned around and saw that Queen Jing was still in that shocking split position.

“Aren’t you tired like this? Come down…” He suddenly paused, understanding.

“Ahhhhh!” Jing Hengbo had already started screaming: “Help! Quick, pull me down! I split too fast and got a cramp!”

“…”

The next instant, Gong Yin snapped the carriage door shut, blocking the guards who came running to rescue.

“Be quiet.”

He didn’t want anyone to see her in this state.

“Quick, get me down… ow ow ow…” Jing Hengbo whimpered. Gong Yin stepped forward to help, then suddenly paused and stopped.

How to get her down from this position?

Without warm-up exercises, suddenly splitting like this could easily cause muscle strain. She couldn’t be pulled roughly—she needed to be gently lowered, preferably with massage while lowering, but no matter how she was lowered, it would inevitably require holding her body…

He hesitated there while Jing Hengbo couldn’t care less. The inner thigh muscles seemed to be twitching, her face also beautifully convulsing: “Ow, Gong Yin, what are you dawdling for? Quick, give sister a hand. I did save your life after all…”

Gong Yin pursed his lips—did I really? Couldn’t I have dodged that blade?

But thinking of that scene just now, his eyes softened slightly.

Fine, let’s say you did.

Seeing her face flushed red with even her eyebrows trembling, he knew she was truly in pain. Gong Yin took a breath and stepped forward, his fingers gently pressing on her thigh.

Where his fingertips touched was soft and warm. Her body temperature seemed particularly high, that rolling heat traveling from fingertips to his heart. His fingers trembled.

Looking up, he saw her head slightly tilted, eyes full of anxious pleading. He quickly steadied himself, slid his five fingers forward and lifted, raising her leg slightly, then slowly lowering it.

Jing Hengbo, unable to stand steady, hastily wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling him supporting her thigh and slowly moving downward, his five fingers passing over areas that generated heat, repairing the damaged tendons one by one.

That area was quite sensitive after all. When the tense muscle pain passed, waves of tingling sensations rolled in like tides. She suddenly blushed and buried her face in Gong Yin’s shoulder.

Her nose was filled with his scent—elegant and cool, like mountain snow lotus. Her restless emotions calmed slightly. She wanted to leave but couldn’t bear to—rarely did Gong Yin not push her away. If she didn’t take advantage of this opportunity to get some benefits, when would she? She couldn’t help rubbing her face fiercely against his shoulder several times. After filling her nostrils with his scent, she hazily remembered that this seemed to be their first intimate, voluntary contact.

Gong Yin knew she was taking advantage of him, but he had no time to care about anything else. He was afraid Jing Hengbo’s tendons might rupture, so while lowering her thigh, he kept massaging her. She always loved wearing tight pants, especially the thin, leather-like kind. Though his fingers tried to press near the knee hollow, they naturally slipped down and down… He had to keep pulling up and up, then suddenly felt her skin grow hotter, faintly hearing her soft gasps. Rich fragrance and bursts of heat drifted from behind her ear and hair. He was struck scattered by this heat, these breaths, this fragrance, his whole body tense, his back slightly sweating, all attention nervously focused on his fingertips. He couldn’t feel at all the someone on his shoulder rubbing his face against him.

The carriage moved steadily. Light from outside cut into strips as it entered the carriage, hiding tables, cushions, and mats in shadows as gorgeous, silent backgrounds. The embracing man and woman were lit in yellowish light. His posture of holding her leg bend and slowly moving downward seemed like slow-motion dance movements, while her posture leaning into his shoulder was full of investment and emotion. They seemed like skilled actors using different expressions to interpret their inner emotions, but their essential feelings led to the same destination through different paths.

Breathing in the carriage was first rapid, then slow, then rapid again. The moment her leg was completely lowered, both trembled. Jing Hengbo looked up somewhat dazedly, Gong Yin spoke somewhat hoarsely.

“You…”

“I…”

Suddenly the carriage shook. The two were already standing obliquely embraced, both having lost their composure, immediately unable to stand steady. With a bang, they fell onto the seat, Gong Yin pressing on Jing Hengbo, Jing Hengbo holding his back.

From outside came a long announcement:

“Left State Preceptor Yelu Qi, leading all ministers in the capital, welcomes the Queen’s procession!”

Hearing that announcement, Gong Yin knew something was wrong and immediately tried to get up. Jing Hengbo also hastily tried to rise. As they brushed past each other, Jing Hengbo’s lips suddenly touched his earlobe.

Cool and soft…

Gong Yin’s body stiffened.

Jing Hengbo suddenly felt the earlobe by her lips grow hot. She could almost imagine that Gong the Great God’s earlobe at this moment must be very cute, like an ice-covered red cherry. Her appetite grew, suddenly missing his embarrassed, flustered appearance. She couldn’t help mischievously licking it…

Just then another gust of wind rose, snapping the carriage curtain open.

“Wow—”