Jing Hengbo’s face was also iron-blue.

She grimaced and lifted her leg, discovering that the momentary numbness from before had disappeared.

“Damn it!” she cursed viciously.

When she had driven the carriage to crash into the area under the bridge with fewer people, she had actually been prepared to save them. She had calculated that at the moment of impact, she should have been able to flash over and pull Cheng Yaozu out in time. As for those guards, let them die.

But human plans can’t match heaven’s will. The moment she moved on top of the carriage, she suddenly felt her leg cramp up, and immediately couldn’t move.

The cramp passed in a flash, but there was no time left. The carriage was charging wildly, flames were already upon her. She had to either risk disfigurement and death by flashing in to save Cheng Yaozu, or immediately retreat to safety herself.

She wouldn’t die to save someone like Cheng Yaozu.

She touched her leg cramp area but felt nothing—no hidden weapons. She didn’t know if someone had sabotaged her or if she had simply pulled a muscle.

Jing Hengbo forcefully swallowed a mouthful of bloody-smelling stuffiness that had risen to her throat, turned to look at the blazing carriage burning area, then looked at Gong Yin whose figure appeared hazy through the smoke and fire. Her heart felt both helpless and apologetic.

Trouble was coming.

Gong Yin was also looking at her.

Yuzhao Palace wasn’t close to here, and the road had been blocked by scattered people. He hadn’t expected to see this scene upon arriving.

At first glance he saw the disheveled Jing Hengbo, even her hair partly burned off, leaning against half a bridge railing and coughing slightly.

Gong Yin felt slightly relieved, then his expression turned cold again. He had also seen that scene clearly just now—it was Jing Hengbo who had directed the burning carriage to crash into Cheng Yaozu…

Trouble was coming.

“Kanglong Army!” he immediately said coldly. “Drag the Grand Governor out!”

A large group of Kanglong soldiers rushed over, dragging and pulling the nearly fire-scorched Cheng Gumo out forcibly. The Grand Governor had sparks all over his body, his face gray and mottled. The soldiers busily helped him pat out the sparks. Cheng Gumo seemed to feel nothing, lying motionless and looking up at the sky. After a long while, two lines of clear tears silently flowed down, washing the ash from his face into two deep furrows.

The soldiers stopped their hands in shock, looking at each other in dismay.

This was Cheng Gumo—the governor who had commanded Kanglong for many years, battle-tested, famous for bleeding but never weeping, a Dahuang tough man who had never groaned even when hit by dozens of arrows.

When his father died and mother passed away, when his entire family was slaughtered by enemies, this man had never shed a single tear. Back then he had struggled out of the most miserable, nearly extinct situation, using all his strength to support the thin incense smoke of the Cheng family again. His entire life’s effort was to continue the Cheng family’s lineage and glory.

But today, watching his lineage extinguished with his own eyes, watching his family line cut off with his own eyes, watching his only precious son whom he had obtained through countless hardships die tragically, finally brought two lines of hot tears.

When tears were exhausted, there was blood.

Everyone fell into silent shock, feeling oppressed by that enormous grief, nearly suffocating.

Cheng Gumo’s two lines of tears lasted only a moment. Then he suddenly turned his head and stared at Jing Hengbo.

At this moment Jing Hengbo only felt tired, continuously coughing lightly, trying hard to calm the gasping in her chest. She felt her strength was exhausted and didn’t want to move even one step now.

She felt Cheng Gumo’s venomous, extremely hateful gaze. Her heart felt apologetic and helpless, but no fear. She had used all her strength and had still tried to save Cheng Yaozu at the last moment. In the end, she had no choice. As a father, he had reason to seek revenge on her, but whether he could get it was another matter.

Gong Yin had already arrived—would he let him kill her?

A white shadow flashed as Gong Yin indeed swept over.

At the same time, a flash of viciousness passed through Cheng Gumo’s eyes. He quietly said a few words to his trusted guards beside him, then turned and returned to his troops.

Seeing him return to his troops, Gong Yin was slightly surprised but also somewhat relieved. He glanced at Jing Hengbo and decided not to go to her immediately, but to first appease and control the dangerous Cheng Gumo.

At this time Yelu Qi had also returned to his carriage and began slowly retreating. Surrounded by Gong Yin’s armies on all sides, he hadn’t brought many guards when he came out. In such situations he generally avoided first.

“Grand Governor.” Gong Yin approached Cheng Gumo, staring into his eyes. “Please accept my condolences. Grand Governor, please take care of your health and don’t grieve excessively. Later I will find a way to ask Master Ziwei of Seven Peaks Mountain for you—you will still have opportunities.”

He wasn’t good at comforting people, and even these words were spoken in a flat tone, but there were shocked expressions all around.

Master Ziwei of Seven Peaks Mountain—the hundred-year-old divine elder in Dahuang legends who had heaven-reaching, earth-penetrating abilities, the first extraordinary person of Dahuang who had lived in seclusion outside the world for years without concerning himself with worldly affairs. For many years he had been like floating clouds and wild cranes with uncertain whereabouts. Many people thought he must have become immortal. His seven disciples in the mortal world were his spokespersons and now all held lofty positions, difficult for ordinary people to meet. Let alone Master Ziwei himself.

The State Preceptor never spoke carelessly. Since he said these words, he had confidence. If Master Ziwei could truly be invited, the legendary illness of the Cheng family being unfavorable to offspring might really be curable. Then the death of one son wouldn’t matter.

But one could imagine how difficult it would be to invite Master Ziwei. What price would need to be paid to invite him? The State Preceptor had said these words without hesitation, showing how much he valued this matter and the Grand Governor.

Cheng Gumo didn’t show much expression on his face. With Cheng Yaozu’s death, his spirit and energy seemed gone too, but he still properly cupped his hands and said in a low voice: “Thank you for the State Preceptor’s regard.”

Gong Yin’s gaze passed over his head to glance at Jing Hengbo, saying: “The Grand Governor must be tired. You should go down to heal and rest. I will handle the aftermath myself. Someone, escort the Grand Governor to rest.”

Yu Chun and Meng Hu both rushed up. Cheng Gumo’s mouth twitched—like a cold smile, yet seemingly not. As if he didn’t see Gong Yin’s guards, he turned to Gong Yin earnestly: “State Preceptor, I have doubts in my heart that are hard to resolve. May I speak with you privately?”

Gong Yin stared into his eyes, nodded slightly, and personally gestured for him to proceed.

The two walked to the roadside.

Guards surrounded them densely on all sides—half Kanglong Army, half Imperial Guard escorts.

“State Preceptor.” Cheng Gumo got straight to the point. “Did you see that scene just now?”

Gong Yin answered calmly: “Yes.”

“What do you think?”

“This matter has other suspicious aspects and must be investigated clearly.”

“You and I both saw it with our own eyes.”

“Just now I inquired with the people. They all said the Queen had previously stopped an identical carriage—the carriage is still stopped to the side there. They also said the Queen had warned your son.”

“But what I saw was the Queen directing the carriage to charge toward Yaozu.”

“I said this matter has other suspicious aspects and you shouldn’t be too hasty.”

“State Preceptor.”

“Mm?”

“All these years I’ve followed you. How do you think I’ve done?”

“Loyal and devoted, irreplaceable.”

“Then, what do you think I should do about this matter?”

“Wait quietly. Let me question the Queen and give you an explanation.”

Cheng Gumo fell silent for a while. In the dim evening sun his face was dark, alternately flashed over by the shadows of evening birds returning home.

Gong Yin stood quietly, like a snow mountain majestically immovable.

After a long while, Cheng Gumo said tiredly: “Fine. Since I once swore loyalty to you, I can’t lose integrity in my later years. I’ll listen to you…”

Gong Yin’s expression softened slightly. He actually raised his hand to pat Cheng Gumo’s shoulder: “This gives me great comfort…”

Cheng Gumo’s shoulder trembled as he instinctively dodged.

Gong Yin’s hand stopped in midair, his expression changing.

He was feeling guilty!

At the same time, Cheng Gumo’s fingers behind his back flicked, and a line of deep red smoke shot straight into the sky!

“Attack!” he roared.

From the Kanglong Army that had remained in place rescuing from the fire and searching for remains, several figures suddenly shot out. Blades and swords glinted in midair as they headed straight for Jing Hengbo!

“Cheng Gumo!” Gong Yin rarely had such a high voice. Extremely angry, he swept his sleeve and struck Cheng Gumo aside as he rushed toward Jing Hengbo. “You’ve gone mad!”

He couldn’t move.

Looking down, the fallen Cheng Gumo was hugging his legs.

“State Preceptor!” Cheng Gumo’s voice was grief-stricken and angry. “Who are you going to save!”

“Let go! Who gave you permission to attack the Queen!”

“She killed my son!” Cheng Gumo’s voice seemed to carry blood. “You feel great comfort—who will comfort me? My son, my son whom I kept through countless hardships!”

“I promised I would give you an explanation!”

“You want to cover up what we saw with our own eyes. You protect her so much—what explanation could you give me!” Cheng Gumo used all his strength to lock Gong Yin’s legs. “State Preceptor! I won’t betray you. I only ask you to let me take revenge! Afterward I will atone with death! I’ve followed you for so many years, Kanglong Army has been loyal to you. Do you really want to ignore my son’s murder and then kick me to death in front of Kanglong Army?”

Gong Yin’s whole body shook.

Looking up again, the surrounding Kanglong Army, though silent as always, had grief and sympathy burning fiercely in their eyes!

If he were heartless to Cheng Gumo now, the result would inevitably be irreversible consequences!

Yu Chun and Meng Hu had instinctively become alert, leading Imperial Guards slowly approaching this way, but were blocked by Kanglong Army soldiers who intentionally or unintentionally moved their feet.

Military mutiny was imminent!

…

Jing Hengbo leaned against the bridge railing gasping, but didn’t let down her guard.

The death of the Governor’s son and the Grand Governor’s miserable cries—she heard them and couldn’t remain unmoved.

After all, coming from modern times, she couldn’t ignore life. Though she thought Cheng Yaozu and those evil servants, judging from their cavalier attitude toward human life today, must have done plenty of evil deeds bullying men and women in daily life and deserved to die. But Cheng Gumo usually had a decent official reputation and was extremely loyal to Gong Yin. To cause him such tragic injury and the Cheng family line to be cut off made her feel very apologetic.

Cheng Gumo had been called away by Gong Yin, but his soldiers were still there. Jing Hengbo felt those hostile gazes repeatedly sweeping over her.

There were still quite a few people around—some trembling, some groaning, some climbing wetly out of the river, some confused and at a loss, but all intentionally or unintentionally gathering around her.

“Attack!”

When Cheng Gumo’s voice came, Jing Hengbo’s body also flashed.

But she didn’t immediately teleport away.

Her chest suddenly hurt, her face turned white, and that step couldn’t flash out. Looking up, she saw hawk-like leaping black shadows in midair, bright blade light pouring down like water.

She only managed to reluctantly flash backward, not knowing how far she had flashed or whether she had escaped the blade light’s range. She could feel the fierce wind pressing directly at her nose tip, every pore could feel the forest-like coldness of sharp weapons.

Not far away, Yelu Qi burst out of his carriage.

From another direction, Gong Yin’s legs shook, shaking off Cheng Gumo. Cheng Gumo fell to the ground with blood at the corner of his mouth as Gong Yin flashed out.

“Clang.” A crisp sound of metal striking metal.

A large pot suddenly flew out from behind Jing Hengbo, hitting the chopping blade. The remaining oil in the pot splashed all over those attacking soldiers.

Jing Hengbo’s ears were buzzing. Supporting herself against the bridge railing behind her, she stared wide-eyed at a large pot rolling on the ground. Several fire spots that had been extinguished flared up again. The attacking soldiers, covered in oil, slipped on the ground, trying to charge forward but embarrassingly sliding backward.

She turned around.

Behind her, people had somehow filled the space!

A vendor with oil-covered hands and cuts on them was maintaining the posture of throwing the pot at people, smiling at her with lingering fear.

Jing Hengbo vaguely remembered he was the one selling fried treats by the bridge, later driven aside by Cheng Yaozu’s guards.

The vendor grinned at her: “Miss, we all saw just now—that carriage had problems. You stopped the first carriage, you changed the direction of the second carriage. Without you, we’d all be dead.”

“Right, without you, none of us could have escaped.” A large group of people behind him all surged forward, stepping past her to protect her behind them, glaring angrily at those soldiers trying to advance with weapons again.

“Don’t come over, or we won’t be polite!”

“She stopped the carriage that would catch fire. On what grounds do you want to kill her!”

“Cheng Yaozu was Dige’s bully—he deserved to be struck dead. He occupied the position under the bridge and brought death on himself. If you want to use public office for private revenge, first ask if we agree!”

“Right, ask us first!”

The angry crowd formed a human wall. Those few soldiers hadn’t expected to encounter such resistance. Looking somewhat uneasy, they didn’t dare advance further and could only face off glaring angrily, neither side yielding.

Jing Hengbo’s eyes instantly filled with tears.

Through countless hardships, tracking and blocking all the way, all her efforts hadn’t been buried in dust. Today heaven knew, earth knew, and all the people at Liuli Workshop night market knew!

And they immediately gave her the richest reward—protecting her with their lives, boldly opposing state weapons.

Her heart surged with emotion. She couldn’t help but tearfully grab the shoulder of some unknown person in front: “That… I’m fine, don’t argue with the soldiers…”

“Your Majesty!” From far away, someone shouted: “You had this monk pursue and stop another route of three carriages containing fire mud. This monk has already accomplished it for you. All three carriages have been intercepted and won’t cause more trouble—rest assured!”

This shout was like a giant stone entering waves, stirring up countless exclamations.

“Your Majesty? This is Queen Your Majesty?” This was surprise at her identity.

“There were more fire carriages! Three more! Heaven, how many people would have died!” This was lingering fear of the disaster.

“They were intercepted! His Majesty sent people to block them separately! Heaven, besides the two carriages here, His Majesty also stopped three others! This is the great kindness of saving countless lives!” This was finally understanding the information content of those words.

Gong Yin and Yelu Qi who were approaching also froze.

They hadn’t expected there to be more than one route of carriages. Though judging from the carriages’ momentum, two routes had appeared here, they hadn’t expected there was still another route.

Thinking deeper, since the other intercepted route had three carriages, the other two routes should also have had no fewer than three carriages. But only one carriage from each of the two routes had appeared here. In other words, actually on the roads, a full seven such carriages should have been intercepted!

Seven carriages!

Thinking that there might have been seven such terrifying carriages rampaging through crowded places like Liuli Workshop, crushing endlessly, carrying flames and countless lives deep into Dige’s heartland, both men’s scalps began to explode.

How many lives would that have cost? How much chaos would it have caused? How many people would it have traumatized, causing how much subsequent turmoil? This would affect all of Dige, even the entire empire! Dahuang’s history might have been rewritten because of this!

For a moment both men felt cold all over, yet their hearts burned hot.

Was this really the action of Jing Hengbo, who though clever was lazy, who seemed enthusiastic but had her own indifferent core?

She could turn the tide—what kind of difficult efforts had that required?

Both men couldn’t help but turn their gazes toward Jing Hengbo.

She was disheveled, lacking her usual seductive charm, even trembling slightly, yet at this moment she seemed gracefully beautiful to the very limits of the mortal world.

Jing Hengbo didn’t notice everyone’s gazes, busy standing on tiptoe to look toward the source of the voice. This voice belonged to the fake monk—it seemed he had truly completed his route.

It was rare that he had even come to shout out loud. She had been worrying about how to reveal her identity without leaving traces. Doing good deeds without leaving one’s name—wasn’t that just traveling in brocade at night? This rootless, foundationless queen needed to build a mass base—when else would she get such an opportunity?

She hadn’t expected this fellow to solve her problem. Jing Hengbo really wanted to drag him out and give that fake monk’s head a big kiss.

“Queen Your Majesty!” More people surged forward, their expressions mixing surprise, excitement, and gratitude. Many excitedly trembled as they reached out wanting to touch her clothing, yet didn’t dare defile her, standing respectfully in row after row with hands at their sides.

The stunning impression of the Queen from the welcoming ceremony was still fresh, but that was merely intelligence, beauty, and mystery—it had no direct relation to people’s survival, and had faded after a few days. But now, after the terror in the marketplace and surviving disaster, seeing Queen Your Majesty who had saved ten thousand people, they suddenly felt both intimate and sacred, as if she had silently ascended to the clouds with her own halo.

However, people of different positions often have opposite emotions.

For Cheng Gumo, for the Kanglong Army, they only felt anger.

Anger at the Queen using popular sentiment to oppose military authority.

“Who allowed you to gather in the marketplace? Kanglong Army, disperse them by force!” Cheng Gumo got up from the ground, his angry voice rising.

Gong Yin’s voice followed quickly: “Stop! Without my orders, the Kanglong Army is not permitted to act rashly!”

Cheng Gumo wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and angrily turned to stare at Gong Yin. His eyes were like those of a wounded wolf.

Gong Yin’s eyes always held vast snow, unmoved. He said coldly: “Cheng Gumo violated orders, moved troops without authorization, besieged the Queen—crimes of insubordination. Temporarily suspend the Grand Governor position, pending investigation!”

The Kanglong Army erupted in outcry.

Cheng Gumo looked shocked, suddenly turning and shouting fiercely: “State Preceptor! Are you truly killing the hounds once the rabbits are caught!”

“Above are national laws, below are court regulations.” Gong Yin yielded not an inch. “Neither allows you to besiege and kill the Queen in the streets, nor command troops to attack innocent people!”

“And which law allows the State Preceptor to arbitrarily suspend a sitting general’s position?” Cheng Gumo cried out in grief and anger. “Kanglong sons! Tell me! How many battles have I led you in these years!”

“From the first year of Tianshi to the fifth year of Mingcheng, forty-one battles large and small!” The response was thunderous.

“How many did we win!”

“Forty-one battles large and small!” The sound shook the clouds.

“How many were fought for Dige!”

“Forty-one battles large and small!” The roar rolled on.

“Which battles had casualties?”

“Forty-one battles large and small!” The voices grew more angry.

“Which battle had the heaviest casualties!”

“The Dige incident in the fifth year of Mingcheng! To protect the State Preceptor, Kanglong lost three thousand wounded, one thousand dead! The Grand Governor took seventeen arrows, his left hand tendons severed, still weak today!”

The Jade Belt River, Liuli Workshop, ten li of red lanterns, three thousand lights—all trembled under Kanglong’s roar.

Everyone turned pale. The people shrank back trembling together, knowing that perhaps the next moment they would face another disaster—the first military mutiny in Dahuang history to occur in a marketplace!

Only at the storm’s center, Gong Yin lowered his brows and eyes, his expression unchanged.

“Kanglong is a meritorious army, the Governor a national hero. In the Hall of Merit and in history books, this can never be erased.” After the Kanglong voices quieted, he slowly spoke, his voice calm and clear. “However, armies exist to protect the nation and people—this is a soldier’s duty and honor. Today in Liuli marketplace, before ten thousand people, the army draws swords against the sovereign and points blades at citizens for personal revenge—where is the justification? Where is the principle? Where is your duty and honor as soldiers!”

The Kanglong Army’s stern momentum paused slightly. Many remembered their oaths upon enlisting and their honor to this day, their expressions changing slightly.

“Swords cleave enemy skulls, blades splash with foe’s blood, protecting nation and people—soldiers are like iron.” Gong Yin’s voice was also cold and hard as iron. “Don’t you know that every drop of blood from innocents under your blades will erase all the military achievements you fought bloodily to earn? Before all eyes, protectors become betrayers, heroes become traitors, others’ respect becomes universal contempt—is this truly the path you plan to walk?”

Deathly silence.

“The death of the Governor’s son is merely personal grievance. Right and wrong have yet to be clearly distinguished. The army has no right to retaliate for this, much less the right to face unarmed citizens with swords and blades!” Gong Yin’s voice grew increasingly stern. “Pointing weapons at innocent citizens’ chests is the shame of Dahuang soldiers!”

“But if the Queen kills someone, how can she not bear responsibility! State Preceptor, your one-sided protection—aren’t you afraid of losing military loyalty!” someone shouted fiercely.

Gong Yin didn’t speak. His clear eyes swept over the dark masses of gathering people.

Almost immediately, the people’s voices rang out.

“The Queen saved us!”

“The Queen saved Dige!”

“If we’re really counting merits and sins, she saved tens of thousands—what’s the death of one scum!”

“One villain’s death saves hundreds of innocent lives—no wrong!”

“Cheng Yaozu drove away people and occupied the bridge area, so he was killed by the carriage—he brought it on himself! How dare you count his death as a crime? First compensate for all the crimes of his bullying and beating Dige people these years!”

The people’s roar was even louder than Kanglong’s earlier. The dark clouds in the sky seemed shattered by it, revealing cold, clear moonlight.

“Do you hear?” Gong Yin waited for the people’s cries to cease, then looked coldly at the Kanglong Army. “I fear losing military loyalty, but I fear losing popular support more! I fear losing human justice, righteousness, right and wrong, morality, and all true standards for judging right and wrong!”

Cheng Gumo clenched his fists, his eyes bloodshot, cheeks bulging tight, his teeth grinding with a frightening sound.

“Of course, I also cherish Kanglong and am forever grateful for Kanglong’s bloody battles for me.” Gong Yin suddenly softened his tone, saying gently: “But cherishing and valuing—because of love comes value. I rely on Kanglong, so I’m even more unwilling to see Kanglong take one wrong step and face eternal damnation. And Kanglong, you’ve followed me and the Grand Governor for so many years—you shouldn’t be weapons in my or the Grand Governor’s hands, but should be the sharp blade held by all of Dahuang. Now, is personal feeling more important, or public justice—I give you the power to judge. Yu Chun! Meng Hu!”

“Present!”

“Lead the guards and Imperial Guards to withdraw!”

“Master!”

Meng Hu and Yu Chun were shocked—they had been positioned between the Kanglong Army and Gong Yin to protect him. Now Gong Yin was telling them to withdraw. One Kanglong charge and the State Preceptor would be in danger!

Personal martial prowess could never resist ten thousand troops. Even with world-conquering skills, one would surely suffer before an army!

“I carry no weapons, set no guards, facing you.” Gong Yin ignored Yu Chun and Meng Hu, not looking at Cheng Gumo either, only at the Kanglong soldiers. “Think clearly—do you want to charge forward! Remember, take responsibility for every step you take!”

The Kanglong soldiers raised their heads. In their bloodshot eyes were confusion, bewilderment, anger, and unease.

Yu Chun and Meng Hu dared not defy Gong Yin’s orders, reluctantly leading their men to withdraw.

Now Gong Yin stood alone at the street entrance—to his side were masses of people, behind him the mouth of an empty alley, and before him on Liuli Workshop’s broad square were thousands of dark-pressed soldiers.

One man facing a thousand troops, his expression remained normal, even lightly clasping his hands behind his back. His snow-white robes fluttered in the wind, the man like bamboo, his clothes like a banner.

“Don’t let the State Preceptor’s few words bewitch you!” Cheng Gumo rushed into the Kanglong Army shouting: “When the rabbits die, the hounds are cooked! When birds are gone, bows are stored! We fought for Dahuang and the State Preceptor for years. What did we gain? Today my only son is murdered in the marketplace before everyone’s eyes! He won’t even give me justice. If this is my fate, what good fate do you think awaits you after today?”

His expression was agitated, his voice hoarse, using all his strength—knowing that if he couldn’t kill the Queen in the marketplace chaos today, there would be little chance for revenge afterward. If he couldn’t resist Gong Yin’s orders today, his Grand Governor position would be hard to keep in the future, and the Kanglong Army he had personally built and raised might truly change surnames!

The Kanglong soldiers gripped their weapons tightly, their eyes shifting, hesitating. On one side was the Grand Governor, kind as a father; on the other the State Preceptor, whose accumulated authority and long-admired presence seemed cloud-high. They felt pain for the Grand Governor’s loss of his son yet were awed by the State Preceptor’s majesty. They wanted to help with revenge yet remembered military honor. They wanted to charge forward yet dared not defile royal authority. Moreover, they feared that advancing one step would trample their merit and honor as soldiers. Yet hearing the Grand Governor’s blood-weeping calls, they remembered his kindness in sharing clothes and food, loving soldiers like sons. For a moment everyone’s hearts burned, showing expressions of pain.

The atmosphere was like a taut string—it seemed the slightest breeze would bring the sky crashing down.

Yu Chun, Meng Hu and others tensed their bodies, clenching their fists, sweat seeping out layer by layer from their palms.

Today’s success or failure hinged on this moment.

Not only was the Queen’s safety at stake, but deeper issues involving the true ownership of military power. If they could get through this crisis, the danger of Kanglong betrayal would be greatly reduced from now on.

This tumor had to be removed heavily, harshly, fiercely—this was the State Preceptor’s consistent style, but it was too dangerous!

Success or failure in one stroke!

Outside the crowd, Yelu Qi squinted, watching both sides of the standoff, a strange expression in his eyes.

Previously he had never understood how Gong Yin, a boy with no foundation, had gained the former State Preceptor’s trust and achieved later greatness.

Now he knew.

Because he always had the courage to advance fearlessly, the murderous spirit to cast his own life and death aside, and the killing intent to face ten thousand people alone.

Those in high positions accumulate more entanglements and weaker courage. The passionate spirit of youth—striking the table and riding out to charge enemy camps alone—is gradually eroded by golden, luxurious living.

When people have more, they fear losing more.

Only Gong Yin remained unchanged.

High mountain snow rock, never weathering.

And this quality was hard for those born to wealth to possess—it was difficult to make someone raised with a golden spoon think of constantly risking their life. They formed fixed concepts from childhood that their own lives were immeasurably precious while others’ were all cheap lives. Trading precious life for cheap life—smart people don’t do this.

Yelu Qi smiled slightly.

Smart people…

His gaze swept through the Kanglong officers and soldiers, intently observing their expressions. Suddenly his eyes brightened.

A lieutenant-level officer looked particularly agitated, several times wanting to speak but hesitating. His knees were also trembling slightly—a sign of wanting to rush out.

Yelu Qi smiled slightly.

Not enough courage.

Then he’d help him out.

“State Preceptor! The Grand Governor has merit to the nation and great merit to you! No matter what, in such circumstances, you cannot suspend our Grand Governor’s position!” That hesitating lieutenant suddenly spoke out angrily.

He only wanted to protest the State Preceptor’s unfair treatment of the Grand Governor and hadn’t intended to charge out. However, suddenly there was a light “snap” sound. His knee trembled, his whole body leaned forward, and whoosh—he charged out!

Ten thousand people were shocked.

As long as someone took the first tentative step, it could trigger a great tide!

And at this time, Yu Chun, who had withdrawn his guards but insisted on staying by Gong Yin’s side with nerves stretched tight, saw someone actually charging out. Without thinking, he drew his blade.

Whoosh—blade light like splashing snow covered the lieutenant from above!

“Stop!” Gong Yin roared angrily.

Cheng Gumo’s eyes showed wild joy.

The Kanglong Army was shocked.

The people cried out.

Gong Yin reached out to grab Yu Chun’s blade, when suddenly an object shot from the side, aimed straight at Yu Chun’s temple. Gong Yin had to sweep his sleeve first to intercept that deadly projectile.

This caused a slight delay.

The blade chopped down!

Once the Kanglong lieutenant was injured, the situation would plummet irreversibly!

A figure suddenly flashed.

“Clang.” A tremendous sound. The metallic clash was ear-piercing like a broken gong, accompanied by a woman’s loud cry: “Ow!”

“That thing is so heavy!”

Yu Chun gripped his blade with both hands, staring blankly at the woman before him—eyes closed, body bent, stepping back, both hands raised high holding a large pot above her head, blocking the lieutenant’s path and stopping his chopping blade.

Without seeing who was holding the pot, just from this ghostly appearance and mental leaping, plus this eternally flamboyant tone, it was clear that at the crucial moment, Queen Your Majesty had flashed over.

Yu Chun’s eyes filled with tears. He had never loved the Queen as much as this moment, wanting to throw down his blade and hug the Queen for a big kiss—she had saved him from becoming a criminal!

Of course, for his life’s sake, he’d better forget it.

Behind him, Gong Yin let out a long breath.

This lazy woman was always mysteriously wonderful at crucial moments.

Jing Hengbo’s eyes were teary—damn, Yu Chun’s blade was too heavy, nearly shattering her tiger’s mouth.

She threw down the large pot—still the same prop the vendor had used to help her block blades earlier, now once again used by her to block blades. The pot had two large gaps in its rim. The vendor caught it with a heartbroken expression. Jing Hengbo nonchalantly patted his shoulder: “No problem. When you use this pot in the future, write an explanation at your stall. This pot blocked blades aimed at the Queen and was also held high by the Queen to block blades for others. Queen-bestowed ‘Number One Pot Under Heaven’—trust me, this pot and your fried treats will definitely become famous.”

The vendor suddenly understood, joyfully taking the broken pot and leaving. From far away he grabbed a blacksmith and shouted: “Old Wang, engrave ‘Queen-Bestowed Peerless Number One Pot Under Heaven’ for me later!”

Gong Yin: “…”

Yelu Qi: “…”

Kanglong Army: …You still have time to worry about this right now!

That lieutenant who had survived disaster looked up at Jing Hengbo with a complex expression.

He had charged out to punish the Queen, but in the end it was the Queen who saved him.

He lowered his head, unable to speak. Though his heart wasn’t completely resolved, the sharp fighting spirit and stance from before were immediately gone.

Jing Hengbo wiped the oil from her hands and stood in front of Gong Yin, snapping her fingers.

“Today, I’ll also stand here,” she faced the thousand troops calmly. “The person the Kanglong Army really wants to deal with is me, not your State Preceptor. As subordinates, betraying one’s master is shameful. As soldiers, pointing blades at people is despicable. So today, if anyone thinks I’m guilty, feel free to brandish your weapons and charge forward—at me.”