Many people stared at those secret reports in bewilderment, amazement, and speechlessness, yet even more people, upon reading the final message, constantly shook their heads and scoffed dismissively.

“It’s just that the fifteen gangs were careless and gave her an opening to exploit, winning a few minor battles. Yet she’s become so arrogant!”

“She truly doesn’t know when to quit while ahead! With those small victories and current mighty prestige, she should hurry to select a hall from Rakshasa Gate and settle down. Yet she dares to push her luck further, actually wanting the fifteen gangs to yield the three counties! Such prosperous territory, which is also key to seizing Shangyuan – how could those bosses entrenched for years be willing to spit out the fat meat at their mouths!”

“So-called carried away by success – arrogant troops are bound to be defeated!”

“She’s always been this way. Seeing she hasn’t changed one bit even now actually puts this old man at ease!”

These latter discussions mostly came from Emperor’s Song, which was also one of the groups most wary of the Queen and least hoping for her rise.

Especially when they heard that Fei Luo had been dismissed as chancellor and expelled from Xiang Kingdom, and the Xuanyuan family had suddenly changed to a useless family head after Xuanyuan Jing became disabled.

Not many people knew the truth behind Fei Luo’s dismissal and expulsion, but everyone knew the Queen’s hand was behind the Xuanyuan family’s troubles.

Thinking of this woman who could still destroy the Xuanyuan family even while being shamefully expelled from Emperor’s Song, all the officials felt chills down their spines. Countless people burned incense daily, praying to gods and Buddhas to manifest and let this woman die on the road, or die the moment she entered hawksbill territory under the crushing pressure of the sixteen gangs’ joint force.

Everyone especially pinned their hopes on the latter, because no matter how they looked at it, the isolated and outnumbered Queen could never contend with the local powers of the sixteen gangs. Now hearing that the Queen had actually seized territory in hawksbill lands, while incredulous, they were also filled with unease. If it weren’t truly beyond their reach, they’d all want to immediately rush to hawksbill territory and strangle her.

Those officials who had business dealings, connections, or even secret ties with the gangs in hawksbill territory all actively sent letters there, providing money, goods, and people, hoping to strangle her in her budding state before the Queen could completely establish her footing…

But before long, new explosive news once again shattered their hopes and cast another layer of heavy shadow over their hearts.

“…The Queen entered the three counties and within days engaged in consecutive battles with fifteen gang halls, winning battle after battle!”

“Seven major gangs successively withdrew from the three counties! Recalled all nearby gang members!”

“Sword Trial Alliance and Dragon Tiger Alliance withdrew from the three counties!”

When they heard the seven major gangs had withdrawn from the three counties, people still said “Just luck!” When they heard the two alliances had also begun withdrawing, everyone fell silent but still held hope, saying “Lingxiao and Lingxi have held the position of hawksbill martial world leaders for years, with deep-rooted power incomparable to upstart gangs. They definitely won’t yield to the newly risen Queen!”

However, before long, more news came.

“Lingxi Gate withdrew from the three counties!”

“Lingxiao Gate withdrew from the three counties!”

When the final message arrived, even Emperor’s Song seemed to shake.

Wind and clouds stirred, the world was shocked. Hawksbill territory along with its martial world forces was receiving attention from all of Dahuang for the first time.

In the past, the lords of Emperor’s Song didn’t pay much attention to hawksbill’s self-contained martial world. Mountain bandits fighting behind closed doors – what concern was that to them? What concern to Emperor’s Song? But now it was different. Every portion of hawksbill martial world power that was subdued represented their enemy the Queen growing stronger by one part, and their peaceful sleep diminishing by one part.

Some people began sending assassins to hawksbill territory or contacting assassins, like those who had forced the palace confrontation at Jade Radiance Palace square that day.

Some people slapped tables and laughed heartily, repeatedly calling for those students who dared not show their heads to quickly rush to hawksbill territory to join and assist – with the Queen rising, return was in sight! These people were naturally those virtuous veteran ministers who held no power but were tired of Dahuang’s interest groups fighting for power and profit, like Chang Fang and Qu Ti.

Some rejoiced, some worried, and some paid no attention at all. In the Shen Tie hostage residence, the entire household was immersed in a strange atmosphere.

In the main hall, Tie Xingze gripped a letter, his face slightly pale, silent for a long time. The message bearer stood in the hall below, dressed entirely in plain white.

This was the mark of mourning dress and filial observance.

The letter was indeed a death notice – the Shen Tie clan leader had died of serious illness several days prior.

The entire household quietly watched the main hall, expressions sorrowful yet unable to hide some urgency and anticipation: According to custom, even hostages had the right to petition the State Preceptor to return home for mourning when major events like parents’ funerals occurred.

What wandering son in foreign lands didn’t long to return to his homeland? Moreover, this involved the future clan leader position – how could one not compete for it!

“Young Master, you must decide quickly…” the messenger reminded carefully yet with undisguised anxiety.

He was Tie Xingze’s trusted aide left in Shen Tie territory. To save time, he had traveled day and night, only hoping the Young Master would receive news early and rush back to Shen Tie to take charge of the situation.

“Yes, you are the heir personally designated by the clan leader. At this time, you must return immediately.”

But Tie Xingze pondered silently. After a long while, he said with difficulty, “A hostage returning home carries too great implications. I was the first hostage to accept the decree and submit. If I’m also the first to run back, I fear it would put the State Preceptor in a difficult position…”

“Aiyo, my Young Master, why are you still thinking about the State Preceptor at this time?” The trusted aide stamped his feet. “What difficulty does the State Preceptor face? He holds great power, dominates the realm, and Dahuang’s court bows before him. Returning one hostage is but a trivial matter for him. The ministers won’t target this matter now either – they’re busy worrying about the Queen causing havoc in hawksbill territory!”

Mentioning Jing Hengbo, Tie Xingze’s eyes showed gentle smile as he said softly, “It’s wonderful that she can do this…”

“My Young Master, stop worrying about this and that!” The residence steward also urged anxiously, “When none of the other young masters were willing to come to Emperor’s Song as hostages, you volunteered. The King specially designated you as heir because of this. You are Shen Tie’s legitimate successor. You sacrificed so much, suffered so much – would you give it all away to others in the end?”

“Father King designating me as heir was just an expedient measure. He might designate another successor.” Tie Xingze’s lips showed a bitter smile. “I’m hardly his beloved son…”

“Currently there’s no news of revoking your position as heir or establishing another successor. The King’s death also seemed rather…” The trusted aide swallowed the word “suspicious” and said urgently, “In any case, we still have hope! Young Master, quickly submit the petition!”

“With your friendship with the State Preceptor, and mourning being reasonable and proper, he will agree!”

The persuasion was earnest. Tie Xingze raised his head and saw faces full of hope before him.

Indeed, returning to Shen Tie territory might mean ascending to heaven in one step. Even if the succession struggle failed, dying honorably would be far better than being a hostage in Emperor’s Song whom everyone respectfully avoided, not daring to speak loudly.

More importantly, once a new king ascended the throne, he would remain a hostage forever, never to return.

He couldn’t crush his subordinates’ hopes. Life as a hostage official was also difficult…

After a long while, he finally sighed.

“Tomorrow I’ll petition the State Preceptor to request returning to Shen Tie for mourning.”

…

Quiet Courtyard was always quiet.

The study in Quiet Courtyard was also growing increasingly dim, with the State Preceptor mostly sitting in that patch of vague darkness, his features indiscernible.

Ministers thus felt the State Preceptor was becoming increasingly mysterious.

The State Preceptor was handling official documents while Chief Menghu stood beside him, personally categorizing various memorials. In his hands was a specially organized bundle – messages from hawksbill territory.

The State Preceptor suddenly handed him a memorial. Menghu saw the cover read “Shen Tie Tie Xingze’s Petition to Return to Territory for Clan Leader’s Mourning.” He immediately sealed this memorial separately and handed it to a guard beside him.

Such matters were beyond their authority to handle.

When business concluded, the State Preceptor said softly, “I’d like to go out for a walk… just within Quiet Courtyard.”

Menghu nodded, but after that white-robed figure left, he gestured for people to secretly follow.

The State Preceptor, as usual, just strolled within Quiet Courtyard’s boundaries. Sometimes he would walk to little Yinyin’s pen, take feed from the caretaking servants, and feed it.

Little Yinyin had gradually grown familiar with him. Sometimes it would come out to nuzzle his legs, and he would lead little Yinyin around Quiet Courtyard for a few circles.

But today little Yinyin seemed somewhat restless, not nuzzling him, and directly ran outside Quiet Courtyard.

The servant responsible for caring for it followed. This little alpaca moved freely throughout the palace and often went outside Quiet Courtyard for walks.

This time little Yinyin wandered about randomly, making the servant chase breathlessly. Suddenly little Yinyin stopped. The servant looked up and saw a pale woman leaning against the palace gate ahead.

That person was pitifully thin, pale as paper, yet insisted on wearing a bright red brocade cloak, perhaps hoping to add some brightness to herself, not knowing this only made her appear more frail and shivering.

She stared at little Yinyin with very strange eyes. The servant took a while to recognize this was actually Queen Mingcheng.

The Queen hadn’t appeared before people for a long time. This servant stared wide-eyed, not understanding how the formerly graceful and charming Queen had become such a ghost-like appearance after just a few months of absence.

But most people in Jade Radiance Palace had little good feeling toward Queen Mingcheng. The servant quickly called little Yinyin over, bowed to Queen Mingcheng, and was about to leave.

But the Queen spoke: “This alpaca… has grown so big…” Her tone was wistful.

The servant smiled awkwardly but dared not approach. This alpaca was the former Queen’s beloved pet and also the State Preceptor’s beloved pet. Everyone in the palace knew about the entanglement between Queen Mingcheng and the former Queen. This servant feared that if she had an evil impulse and pounced to perish together with the alpaca, it would be terrible.

The Queen’s death wouldn’t matter, but if the alpaca died, many people would suffer.

But Mingcheng didn’t step forward at all, only using pitying, nostalgic eyes to carefully examine the alpaca, saying softly, “…I really miss those early days…”

The servant kept his head down, not daring to make a sound.

It was better not to get involved in noble people’s affairs.

Seeing her show a miserable, pale smile with eyes drifting toward the courtyard, the servant suddenly felt quite uncomfortable and quickly bid farewell again.

Queen Mingcheng didn’t detain him, only saying, “It’s getting cold. Your clothes are rather thin – add a jacket.”

The servant wanted to refuse, but the Queen’s palm spread open before him, white and delicate, with ten slender fingers tipped with pink nail polish like ten small flower petals. His heart stirred inexplicably and he accepted it.

As the Queen’s sleeve fell back, it revealed a section of wrist bone, pitifully thin.

The Queen seemed to want to touch little Yinyin. He quickly stepped back, thanked her for the reward, not daring to linger further, and fled with little Yinyin.

Walking far away and looking back, he could still see the Queen leaning against the gate with not a single attendant beside her.

Under the setting sun, her shadow stretched long and slanted, projecting lonely onto the empty palace path.

The servant’s nose stung. He suddenly felt the Queen was very pitiful, and felt his own heart was too hard. The Queen’s manner suggested she just wanted to exchange a few more words with someone.

Deep palace loneliness – how many could endure it, especially in her worse circumstances?

He thought perhaps next time, if they met again and she wanted to touch little Yinyin, he’d let her touch it a bit…

…

Undercurrents surged in Emperor’s Song while hawksbill territory was vigorous and spectacular.

Jing Hengbo spent half a month successfully taking over the three counties.

It appeared miraculous, but the truth was known only to both sides of the conflict. For the fifteen gangs, these three counties had to be abandoned even if they didn’t want to – with important deployments and secrets in others’ hands, even if they truly fought, they’d still lose. Better to preserve their strength.

The collective retreat of fourteen gangs was unprecedented in hawksbill history. Previously, other gangs had tried to shake hawksbill territory, but invariably got entangled in hawksbill’s mess, forced to fight one after another under siege from various gangs, suffering attacks from front and rear or constantly accepting challenges until exhausted and defeated or voluntarily withdrawing – hawksbill’s martial world constantly feuded internally, but when facing outsiders, they’d unite against external threats first.

So the collective defeat of fourteen gangs created Jing Hengbo’s current incomparable momentum. At least in outsiders’ eyes, she “came with威势 and was invincible,” achieving the first power reorganization hawksbill had seen in over a decade.

Hawksbill’s martial world originally had fifteen factions. Thirteen Guardians had from the beginning adopted a “I’m weakest, I won’t play” attitude, withdrawing from all related conflicts. There was also Blazing Fire Alliance, which originally hadn’t arranged many halls in the three counties. Conversely, their largest hall was in Dongxin County adjacent to the three counties, the biggest local power, perfectly positioned to control the essential southward route from the three counties. After Jing Hengbo occupied the three counties, Dongxin County where Blazing Fire Alliance’s main force was located became a buffer zone between Jing Hengbo and the remaining thirteen gangs.

Under these circumstances, Blazing Fire Alliance’s position should have been quite important, completely worthy of being courted by both Jing Hengbo and the fifteen gangs. But Blazing Fire Alliance encountered the father-cheating Jing Hengbo and was truly unlucky. At the King-Killing Assembly, Jing Hengbo targeted everyone except omitting Meng Liehuo alone, as if not seeing him at all. This behavior inevitably made people suspect Meng Liehuo had already colluded with Jing Hengbo beforehand. The thirteen gangs mostly developed hostility toward Blazing Fire Alliance, some even shouting irreconcilable slogans. After Meng Liehuo returned to headquarters, he was exhausted dealing with overt and covert attacks from the thirteen gangs, having no mind to oppose Jing Hengbo.

With one stratagem of sowing discord, Jing Hengbo resolved Blazing Fire Alliance, this roadblock. Of course, this was temporary – temporarily preventing Meng Liehuo from causing her trouble. But as long as no one hindered her during the initial period of establishing territory, she’d have more possibility of stabilizing early, then slowly dealing with them one by one later.

During the entire territory-seizing process, Pei Shu displayed the new style of a new-era violent dragon. Wherever he passed, no survivors remained, blood flowing like seas, to the point that later some gangs, hearing he was leading the attack, immediately abandoned empty halls and directly withdrew.

Pei Shu’s fierce reputation spread rapidly through hawksbill territory, able to stop children’s crying at night.

The renowned Golden Tribe general had returned, seemingly reduced to a martial world thug, but everyone knew Jing Hengbo wouldn’t be content to obediently remain a hawksbill black water queen, and Pei Shu was definitely her top reserve general.

Meanwhile, Jing Hengbo’s tiger body shook, her wild domineering aura exploded. While constantly fighting, she also selected sites to build palaces.

She had the Xuanyuan family provide the best craftsmen, brought gold from Sky Gray Valley – money and people weren’t problems. Begin construction.

Building palaces required workers, so she hired locally with generous wages. Many commoners eagerly responded, even some lower-level gang members came running. Her forces immediately appeared even more bustling.

The blueprints Her Majesty the Queen threw out made everyone gape in astonishment – her palace was still called Shangyuan Palace!

Shangyuan City already had a Shangyuan Palace. Everyone thought after the Queen seized the three counties, her next step would be seizing Shangyuan Palace. They all anticipated Her Majesty fighting Shangyuan Palace to mutual destruction, allowing the fifteen gangs to make a comeback.

Now seeing the Queen’s intention, she actually planned to build a palace in the three counties, located in Ningjin County closest to Shangyuan City. The scope she marked out made people break into cold sweats.

Her palace’s outermost perimeter almost reached Shangyuan City – if the walls expanded further, they could encompass Shangyuan City!

At this moment the Queen’s ambition was clearly revealed – she had no intention of seizing that small royal palace. She wanted to build a huge palace that would eventually encompass the original Shangyuan Palace!

Facts proved Her Majesty the Queen was indeed planning this. On the new palace’s groundbreaking day, the Queen personally climbed nearby Ningjin Mountain, pointed at Shangyuan City’s Shangyuan Palace below and declared, “Within one year, I will definitely crush this turtle and definitely connect my new Shangyuan Palace walls to Shangyuan City’s walls!”

Shangyuan City had four barbican gates at east, west, south, and north. The entire city was oval-shaped, looking like a turtle pulling in its head.

One bold statement, such great spirit.

This spirit attracted hawksbill’s attention and countless people. Many from hawksbill and even surrounding kingdoms and tribes came to pledge allegiance, including those frustrated in original gangs, those hoping to achieve new careers under the Queen, and many scholars carrying personal letters from Dahuang’s great sages Chang Fang and Qu Ti, seeking audiences. Each claimed to possess world-governing talent and came to serve the Queen.

Daily crowds flowed like crossing fish outside the inn the Queen temporarily occupied…

“Slap.” Yong Xue angrily threw down a resume. “Sour scholar!”

“What happened?” Jing Hengbo entered. She was dressed as a man, covered in dust, looking quite disheveled.

Zirui and Yong Xue were startled and quickly rose to greet her, asking what happened. Jing Hengbo snorted, “Just some people who don’t know their place!”

Territory seizure was nearing completion. Most of the sixteen gangs’ forces had withdrawn. Thirteen Guardians had been most decisive, withdrawing from the three counties before Jing Hengbo acted, presenting a “I’m weakest, I won’t play with you” attitude that left Jing Hengbo’s fist hitting empty air. Unsurprisingly, Lingxiao Gate’s people had the hardest attitude. During the entire seizure process, Jing Hengbo spent the most energy on Lingxiao Gate. Just as she was about to capture Lingxiao Gate’s largest and final hall in Ningjin, suddenly a Lingxiao Gate vice-master arrived with subordinates, rescued the experts from the hall, and hid in the county town, occasionally causing trouble for Jing Hengbo’s people. Because their power remained, shops under Lingxiao Gate’s jurisdiction stayed in wait-and-see mode, not very cooperative with Jing Hengbo’s people, occasionally creating obstacles.

When Jing Hengbo ordered forceful takeover, she met soft resistance. Some merchants with deep gang connections united and declared they would also withdraw from the three counties. Commerce was one of the important foundations of livelihood. If merchant associations withdrew comprehensively, it would cause economic decline in the three counties. Affecting the whole body, Jing Hengbo would find it hard to establish herself in the three counties.

Gangs had operated for years with deeply intertwined power networks. Pulling up radishes brought mud – such forceful uprooting inevitably caused some backlash. Jing Hengbo had just passed a large merchant house and was nearly hit by a basket of hot ashes thrown from above.

Though she couldn’t be injured, it was quite embarrassing. More critically, if she couldn’t suppress these Lingxiao Gate people and completely extract gang influence and control from this area, letting large and small forces in the three counties see her strength clearly, such troubles would multiply until she was unable to move forward and had to withdraw from the three counties in disgrace.

Jing Hengbo ordered forceful search and arrest, killing any suspicious gang figures on sight, forcing the other side to stop covert scheming. When she returned just now, she received a challenge letter shot by someone.

Lingxiao Gate Vice-Master Chi Ming challenged her to single combat.

Jing Hengbo’s lips curved upward, feeling this came at the perfect time. But she didn’t want to mention this first, so she asked Zirui and Yong Xue why they were cursing people.

Yong Xue snorted. Both she and Zirui looked unwell recently. They’d undertaken temporary secretarial duties, responsible for receiving and recruiting talents who came from various places for self-recommendation, but now it seemed not very smooth.

“Master, everything else is fine. The people you wanted who excel at unorthodox methods are quite decent. But these scholars are too shameless.” Zirui rubbed her wrists and complained, “Their resumes are flowery and elaborate, their governance strategies eloquent, yet they can’t answer basic civil administration questions. Most are sour scholars who only read books and engage in armchair strategy.”

“Then just send them away.”

“They won’t leave.” Zirui said, “Many carry personal letters from Sage Chang and Sage Qu, bringing whole groups of friends and fellow graduates. They keep saying they want to serve the Queen. If we don’t accept them, you’ll bear the reputation of neglecting talent, not recognizing pillars of society, and lacking courtesy toward worthy men. This is disadvantageous for our newly started force – others would lose heart hearing it, and real talents won’t come in the future.”

“But them staying and eating and drinking for free – we can’t afford to support them! Even if we could afford it, there’s no reason to support such a group of useless people!” Yong Xue’s small face was frosty as she propped open the window. Jing Hengbo indeed saw crowds of people outside.

“They’re all opportunists.” Yong Xue was always this sharp. “The sages’ personal letters were issued when you left Emperor’s Song. You’ve been away from Emperor’s Song so long – did one person show their head to help you? Now that you’ve established your foundation and gained firm footing, they’re popping up one by one, wanting to compete for the position of founding military advisor! Bah!”

Jing Hengbo smiled helplessly, looking outside the inn at groups pretending to be profound in meditation, composing poetry, pointing at rivers and mountains. There were also poor scholars and fallen households wearing tattered cotton robes, secretly picking lice while sneaking glances at people entering and leaving the inn. Seeing anyone well-dressed who looked like someone close to the Queen, they’d start swaying their heads and loudly proclaiming “great governing words,” hoping to attract attention.

Truly colorful and bizarre beyond description.

“I’ve been so busy fighting and seizing territory lately that I forgot about this mess.” Jing Hengbo chuckled. Of course she hadn’t really forgotten, but deliberately wanted to let these people wait – her reasoning was the same as Yong Xue’s: Where were you all before?

Deep down, she didn’t think there were any remarkable talents among these people. Speaking of advisors and strategists, the first person she thought of was Master Mu – he truly possessed world-governing talent. But he had his own power base, and whether he’d be friend or foe in the future was uncertain. Naturally, there was no need to consider this matter.

Completely ignoring them wouldn’t work either. Chang Fang and the others had good intentions – she couldn’t chill their hearts. When she returned to Emperor’s Song in the future, she’d still count on the old men’s help.

But having them block the entrance like this wasn’t a solution either. What if they spread lice?

She lifted her foot to walk outside, with Zirui and Yong Xue hurrying to follow.

Outside, groups of people turned their gazes over with a whoosh. At first, not seeing Zirui and Yong Xue following behind, everyone’s eyes fell on Jing Hengbo’s face.

Those reciting poetry, boasting, memorizing books, and engaging in lofty discourse suddenly all stopped talking. Silence fell on all sides as countless burning gazes shot toward her.

Jing Hengbo had originally intended to reveal her identity, but seeing these gazes, her heart stirred – this seemed like an opportunity to test their character.

She reached behind her and waved, signaling Zirui and Yong Xue not to come out.

“Her Majesty has issued a decree,” she said. “Three days hence at Qu River, there will be a decisive battle. She specially invites talented scholars from across the realm to Qu River to compose poetry on the spot and evaluate the world’s heroes.” Her eyes sparkled as she smiled charmingly, “At that time, the Queen will also be at Qu River, commanding the final battle of the three counties and evaluating talented scholars from across the realm!”

Three days later would be her final battle with Lingxiao Gate’s forces in the three counties. Lingxiao Gate, accustomed to being the boss in hawksbill territory, was quite rebellious, gathering defeated gang members to fight her properly. Most of her recent battles had been sneak attacks that ended quickly. She also needed a spectacular battle to properly show her might in hawksbill’s martial world and at the doorstep of Shangyuan Palace’s clan leaders! Let those short-sighted, fence-sitting merchants see clearly who their new master was!

Handling two matters together – grasping both civil and military affairs, both hands must be firm!

A moment of silence fell over the scene, followed by an uproar.

“Her Majesty will personally oversee the final battle to expel enemies from the three counties!”

“And personally test heroes across the realm! Personally evaluate talented scholars!”

“Ah, Qu River flowing across, battle fires raging, we shall strike oars mid-stream, going against the current, composing poetry amid gunsmoke and arrow rain, creating rhapsodies amid battle drums, one song breaking formations, half a river of residual red, literature spreading to ten thousand ears, poetry shocking a thousand crowds – magnificent! Magnificent!”

“This is a grand event worthy of being recorded in literary history! We shall surely leave our names in history because of this night!”

“Even if not recorded in history, we’ll surely have brave and wise reputations spread across the realm!”

This was a group of fame-seeking bookworms. Thinking of experiencing warfare personally, composing poetry amid blood and fire – an experience unprecedented for scholars throughout history – they couldn’t help but feel their blood boiling.

Some more timid, mature, and prudent ones were more concerned with practical matters.

“Dare we ask what rewards Her Majesty offers?”

“We have no strength to truss a chicken. If we’re in the midst of battle, with weapons having no eyes, what if we’re accidentally injured?”

“Will there be troops to protect us?”

Someone else shouted loudly, “We’re also willing to risk death, hoping to advance before Her Majesty’s presence, only seeking that after victory, we might have beauties add fragrance to our nighttime reading!”

A group of people laughed heartily, deeply agreeing.

Jing Hengbo first kicked back Yong Xue who wanted to rush out and curse people, then nodded with a smile.

“Thank you, talented scholars, for your favor. Her Majesty evaluating scholars from across the realm will naturally have rich rewards. Winners will receive gold and positions according to their rankings. Later at Qu River, everyone just wait.”

“Will there be troops to protect us?”

Jing Hengbo stopped and smiled mockingly.

“Warriors are used to conquer the realm, not to protect useless people! Qu River will test both literature and martial arts, examining talent as well as courage. Her Majesty will found a nation in black waters. In the most difficult early days of starting an enterprise, she doesn’t need cowards hiding behind others to drag her down! Those with both literary and martial skills please come; the weak and incompetent should stay away!”

“Are you coming!”

“Coming!”

“Then we’re coming too!”

A burst of wild laughter, with someone vaguely saying, “Whoever wins gets to marry her!”

Jing Hengbo smiled and turned back inside, pushing back Yong Xue who again wanted to rush out and hit people. “Sleep! We can have peace for a few days!”

“With all this noise, how can we sleep?”

“They’ll be busy buying swords, shields, soft armor, and making cheat sheets soon.”

Sure enough, the next moment the entrance cleared. Throughout Ningjin County’s streets and alleys, news of “the Qu River battle in three days, with the Queen personally evaluating heroes and talented scholars from across the realm” had already spread throughout the three counties…

…

At Shadow Pavilion’s main hall, Master Mu opened today’s delivered messages and couldn’t help but smile.

“Qu River literary and martial evaluation of talent? Such great spirit from her!”

He added, “Are things prepared? They must match her spirit.”

Xianyu Qing stood beside him, respectfully asking, “They’re prepared. Do you plan to assist?”

Master Mu folded the paper, his eyes seemingly contemplating. After a while, he deflected by saying, “Sister is about to arrive. We must prepare to receive her.”

…

In a room of ice and snow, he gently unfolded a slip of paper.

Before him lay many case files, piled like mountains – some with bright yellow seals, others with snow-white covers, plus some account books labeled “Western and Northern Regional Intelligence Summary.”

Many of these items bore urgent markings and feathers indicating extreme urgency. Any one looked more important than the slip of paper in his hand.

His gaze swept over the paper, his lips straight, showing neither joy nor anger.

With a wave of his hand, the paper shattered to powder.

“What do you think?” he asked the guard beside him.

“The Queen is changing her style of action,” the guard said respectfully. “She’s completely abandoned her low profile from the journey, deliberately making a big show in hawksbill territory. Everything she does, she wants everyone to hear about.”

He nodded.

“Hide when hiding is needed, show when showing is needed. She’s sending a warning to Emperor’s Song.”

“A tall tree attracts wind and may invite hidden attacks.”

“A tall tree attracts wind, but can also attract phoenixes to perch on parasol trees.”

The guard nodded in agreement: “I heard Her Majesty also offered the prize of gifting a beauty.”

His hand paused slightly as he turned his head. “Hmm?”

“This subordinate doesn’t know the details. I learned it from questioning those wild scholars, so I don’t know if it’s true.”

But he shook his head slightly, his lips curving in a cold smile.

Gifting a beauty?

After a while he asked, “Is what I had you prepare ready?”

“This subordinate was quite lucky,” the guard said. “Originally there wasn’t time to arrange things hastily. I happened to meet a wealthy merchant who, because the Jade Belt Gang he’d backed was destroyed, saw his business affected too, so he was selling his estate. Among the items was a good one. I quickly acquired it and am now rushing renovations, adding necessary items.”

“Don’t follow my usual simple style completely,” he instructed. “Her situation is different – splendor and magnificence should take priority. It must be worthy of her.”

“Yes.”

He nodded, saying, “You may go.”

The guard respectfully withdrew. He pondered in the darkness.

Jing Hengbo had always treated women better than men. In her heart, women held higher status than men. How could she, like these Dahuang nobles and officials, view women as commodities to be gifted at will?

With Zirui and Yong Xue by her side like sisters, she couldn’t possibly arrange marriages so carelessly.

He became slightly lost in thought, remembering among her sisters, the only one who had died – Cui Jie. He remembered that day when she abandoned Cui Jie’s corpse, how heart-piercingly painful that moment must have been.

Cui Jie was buried with honor in the imperial gardens behind Jade Radiance Palace, hoping that when she returned in the future, she might find some comfort.

Gifting a beauty…

Could that legendary beauty refer to herself?

He remained silent for a while before beginning his own official business, first looking at the bright yellow sealed documents. On top was “Shen Tie Heir’s Petition to Return Home for Mourning.” He was silent for a moment, then picked up his brush and wrote: “Approved.”

After handling official business, he opened the snow-white covers – these were the most urgent matters.

His expression suddenly changed.

The guard beside him was also startled – his master had always remained unmoved even if mountains collapsed before him. What major event had occurred?

He was already speaking rapidly: “Immediately order Meng Hu to add personnel to Jade Radiance Palace and Quiet Courtyard, secretly investigate all internal and external persons, announce externally that the State Preceptor is seriously ill and won’t see visitors, and activate the second contingency plan!”

“Yes!”

He picked up the cover and handed it to the guard. “Later gather everyone and roast this cover over a fire. You all stay close to the flames, smoke yourselves for half an hour, then all deploy and spread out to travel to surrounding tribes.”

“Master, then by your side…”

“This matter is more urgent. Also, move immediately. Destroy everything in this room completely – no traces can remain.”

“Yes.”

The guard dared not delay and hurried off to handle it.

He pressed his finger on the cover, his eyes gradually growing deep and dark. He poured out the contents, and with a clatter, a jade-tube brush fell out.

The brush was naturally finest purple hair, but sending this item to him seemed strange.

There was something even stranger.

He broke the brush in half, and several sections of black finger bones fell out, with more white portions visible now.

His expression wasn’t good. Though the news was joyful, the delivery method was wrong.

Brush tube bones were messages from Snow Mountain, informing him of the latest progress in bloodline poison research.

He had clearly instructed Meng Hu that items from Snow Mountain couldn’t be sent directly to hawksbill territory, only forwarded through copying, because Snow Mountain had its own tracking methods. If items were sent to hawksbill territory, Snow Mountain might trace the route and discover he was actually in hawksbill territory.

The consequences could be imagined – both hawksbill territory and Emperor’s Song would have problems.

How could Meng Hu make such a basic error? Or had he failed to recognize this was Snow Mountain communication? Snow Mountain messages were indeed hidden in various forms and hard to identify.

But given Meng Hu’s caution, he wouldn’t send it rashly if uncertain.

So it was certain there were problems on Emperor’s Song’s side.

Whether eliminating traces and cutting connections on hawksbill territory’s side would be in time remained to be seen…

After pondering a while, he opened another cover, also snow-white but not transmitted from Emperor’s Song – it came through another channel.

Inside the cover was a sheet of snow-white bamboo paper with some casual greetings. At first glance it appeared to be a simple greeting letter. He lightly rubbed the letter’s edges several times with his finger, and the edges lifted a layer of transparent membrane-like material.

He gently peeled off the membrane and threw it into a nearby water basin.

The transparent membrane began turning white after touching water, also resembling paper but blank. He fished out the whitened membrane, dried it, then bit his fingertip and dripped a drop of blood on it.

Writing began appearing on the paper – just a few sentences in emotionless language. He read them equally emotionlessly, then held the paper to a candle and burned it.

Watching the paper slowly curl and disappear in the flame, he leaned back in his chair with hands clasped, his eyes deep and dark.

This letter wasn’t sent to him – it was intercepted by people he’d arranged. To intercept such a letter, many of his men must have already died.

Being able to intercept this letter pleased him greatly.

That woman had actually written such a plea for help – truly unexpected.

In his impression, she was someone who could keep her composure, so the first lesson in her training regimen was always practicing patience first.

But recent communications showed her patience seemed insufficient too. The frequency was more frequent than before, and now she was even writing letters asking for help finding someone.

Had something happened on Snow Mountain? Something urgent? Something that posed a threat to her too? And who was the person she sought help from?

Also, was this letter truly intercepted? Was someone deliberately letting him see it?

His lips curved coldly, like the pristine snow on mountaintops.

His gaze swept past the window where a floating cloud drifted silently.

She said the person she sought had undergone meridian cleansing and taken elixirs. Once aroused, cloud patterns would appear on the lower abdomen.

She didn’t say what these cloud patterns were for – few in this world knew. But he knew.

This was also used for yang-locking. Snow Mountain’s highest martial techniques required absolute emotional detachment. Yang-locking was a necessary method before mastering them.

He also knew these cloud patterns must be totem cloud patterns – symbols of Snow Mountain’s nobility.

Yang-locking methods actually came in many types. Needles were the most cruel, while totem cloud patterns were the most harmless and beneficial. Yang-locking could be performed as needed without pain, and could guide qi circulation during martial practice, achieving twice the results with half the effort.

But totem cloud patterns required at least seven elder-level figures to expend their vital essence for infusion, and could only be done before age three. What ordinary disciple could receive such treatment?

She said this person possessed medicinal bones that could solve his family’s hereditary blood ailment. Live experimentation was necessary.

But he knew this was a lie. She wasn’t that kind-hearted.

The identity of the person being sought was becoming clear.

It seemed she was truly desperate, not even afraid of being discovered. Or she had other backing.

He wasn’t anxious, tapping his finger on the table – once, then again.

Aroused? Knowing and seeing a man become aroused wasn’t easy.

Thinking of these two words, pain shot through his internal organs. He closed his eyes, slowly drew a breath, and internal qi gently rose, touching something, then slowly transferring, transferring…

This had begun many years ago. He’d originally wanted to take it slowly, but due to certain reasons had to accelerate. However, forcing growth inevitably brought consequences – a needle shooting straight toward his heart.

Now, if it wanted to break free, it would certainly pierce his heart.

Leaving it in place would be like the poison lurking in his body – deadly danger approaching, ready to erupt at any time.

Time had already been pressing for him. After that encounter, it had once again mercilessly accelerated. He seemed to already see the deep dark color at dusk’s end, night’s approach.

Steps must be faster, even faster.

Yet how he wished daylight could linger twice as long.

Sunlight rose and fell like dance. In the rising and falling light, he sat motionless like a statue.

Only occasionally could one see fine beads of sweat on his nose tip, flashing crystal bright.