Jing Hengbo flashed out of the well and looked around. The ground was a mess, with thick dust covered in crisscrossing footprints everywhere, along with broken weapons and arrows. It looked like Yi Qi had fought a battle with Xiang Kingdom’s guards here.

But there didn’t seem to be any blood on the ground, which put her mind somewhat at ease. She felt that among the comedic senior brothers, Yi Qi was becoming increasingly reliable, probably because he’d spent so much time with her.

She found her clothes in the main hall where she’d stayed earlier and put them on, then took her medicine. After checking herself, she didn’t feel the cool, domineering sensation described in martial arts novels where one divine pill opens the ren and du meridians and makes one invincible. There was no surging qi flow or suddenly awesome internal strength. On the contrary, her body still felt somewhat restless and hot, not very comfortable. Fortunately, the suddenly erupting poison had been suppressed, though she didn’t know whether this pill and her poison were in conflict or harmony.

But regardless, she didn’t regret taking the medicine. Just looking at the domineering effect the moment she swallowed it—if that eunuch had really eaten it, she would be the unlucky one now.

She’d have to find Qi Yi later to ask about it and rule out any aftereffects.

After thinking it over, she decided not to leave the palace. In the entire palace disturbance, she hadn’t really done anything. Yong Xizheng wanting to deal with her was only private behavior. Now that Hewan knew about it, she could actually gain Hewan’s protection by staying in the palace.

She wondered how Yelu Qi and Tian Qi were faring in their disturbance.

She wasn’t familiar with the Xiang King’s palace, but after seven or eight teleportations, she found Hewan’s sleeping quarters. It looked like there had been quite a commotion—flowers and grass were broken along the roads, the palace halls were brightly lit, and Hewan stood at the door wearing her sleeping robes, still showing traces of shock and anger on her face. Seeing Jing Hengbo appear, she sighed in relief and grasped her hand. “What happened exactly? How did I get held hostage after just one nap, and then you disappeared in the blink of an eye?”

“Where’s your devoted fiancé?” Jing Hengbo looked around nervously, afraid Yong Xizheng might suddenly leap out.

“Who knows where he went!” Hewan said irritably. “He fought with several people who held me hostage, tumbling and rolling all the way out of the palace. Your fiancé also burst out of some dark room and caused a commotion in half the palace court, making my father furious. If I hadn’t covered with lies, no one would have had peace tonight.”

“That’s what you get for snatching people. You could snatch a blind bear but not Yi Qi.” Jing Hengbo replied casually, feeling somewhat relieved. It seemed those guys were all fine, perhaps still lurking in the palace. With their abilities, safety wouldn’t be a problem.

“What was all that about tonight? Are you going to let me get up tomorrow morning…” Hewan pulled her hand as they walked inside, yawning.

“Your devoted fiancé was keeping watch on your roof in this freezing weather. He thought I had ulterior motives and wanted to kill me.” Jing Hengbo laughed. “I say, Hewan, your fiancé really has deep feelings for you. Compared to that Ji Yifan who doesn’t dare do anything and wouldn’t even poke his head out when there was such a commotion here, I think he’s a hundred times better. Won’t you really reconsider?”

Hewan immediately dropped her hand.

“I thought you were special, but it turns out you only know how to say such conventional things too.” Her willow eyebrows stood on end. “So what if he’s ten thousand times better to me? I don’t like him. I came into this world once—if I can’t be with the person I like, what’s the point of living?”

“Such a naive child,” Jing Hengbo muttered. “How many people in this world can be with the person they like? In our world, you can’t even choose a major you like, let alone a living person. When you meet someone who likes you, just marry him. Be careful the one you like doesn’t dump you.”

“What are you muttering about?”

“I’m saying you’re absolutely right. In this lifetime, one must be with the person they like. Even if it means being shattered to pieces, betrayed by everyone, one must persist. What could be more important than liking someone?”

“Why do I feel you’re speaking sarcastically?”

“Truer than pure gold.”

“Jenny.” Hewan called her name and suddenly grasped her hand.

Jing Hengbo thought her English name really sounded nice, turning her face toward her. “Mm?”

“Jenny, I feel that though you seem playful and carefree on the surface, you actually have very deep worries—they must be very deep, very painful,” Hewan pressed against her heart, saying seriously, “so much so that you don’t even want to recall them or face them. You laugh and joke, using the smile permanently hung on your face to hide that enormous wound in your heart.” She said slowly, “I don’t know what happened to you, but I can feel there’s a huge hole here, and the wind passing through it howls.”

Jing Hengbo smiled.

“We’ve only known each other for a few hours, and you can already see my huge hole and deep pain. That shows the pain is quite superficial too, sweetie.”

“No, I’m just particularly perceptive. I’ve been with that pearl for many years, and over time I seem to be able to know others’ inner emotions. Just like I know Yong Xizheng seems to like me, but it’s not necessarily as deep as he shows. I also know Yifan likes me, not as indifferent as he appears.”

Jing Hengbo didn’t speak, feeling that mind-reading abilities and such were the most annoying.

“Jenny.” In the winter night wind, Hewan said to her sincerely, “They say people’s hearts change easily, but if it’s true affection, it doesn’t change that easily. Believe in yourself, and believe in true feelings, okay?”

“You’re still young,” Jing Hengbo stroked her hair. “You’ll understand in the future. There are many things in this world that are powerful and vicious, like wheels—once they start moving, they rumble along crushing everything. Even the strongest feelings are just dust under the wheels… Dawn is coming, let’s sleep.”

Hewan seemed to be pondering something, sighing silently without speaking. The two returned to the sleeping quarters to continue sleeping. Just as Hewan was about to fall into dreams, Jing Hengbo asked, “Did your father used to really like alchemy?”

“Yes!” Even in her half-drowsy state, Hewan’s tone couldn’t hide her disgust. “For a while he was particularly obsessed, keeping many Taoists in the palace, making it smoky and chaotic. For a time he almost took a Taoist as his master, and even I had to give way to that Taoist. Later it was also that Taoist who caused some trouble, angering father. He killed the Taoist, expelled all the Taoists, closed the alchemy hall, and never practiced alchemy again…”

Jing Hengbo hummed, thinking it was probably another story of deception and being deceived, with the result benefiting her, an outsider.

“Hewan, what do you plan to do tomorrow?”

“What can I do? Refuse to marry to the death…” Hewan murmured with a sigh. “I heard the State Preceptor and the Queen were originally a couple, but… they had no hope, so I feel I have even less hope…”

She sighed as she buried her head in the bedding, as if not thinking about it would make the troubles disappear.

Jing Hengbo turned to look at the cold moonlight outside the window.

No, you have true love. All true love should be fulfilled.

…

After a night of turmoil, when Hewan and Jing Hengbo woke up, it was already broad daylight.

When Hewan sat up, she wasn’t fully awake yet, scratching her hair for a long time with a dazed expression.

Seeing her, Jing Hengbo was like seeing herself from a few months ago. She wanted to laugh, but her heart suddenly felt sour.

Hewan’s gaze swept over the hourglass, and she suddenly jumped up, her eyes going straight. “Oh no! Terrible! I’m late!”

“What for?” Jing Hengbo was confused, thinking the palace banquet didn’t start until evening. Even if she needed to dress up, it should be in the afternoon.

But Hewan had no time to talk to her, jumping out of bed to hurriedly wash and dress. She kept urging her too. Jing Hengbo was somewhat troubled—she had makeup on her face. Should she wash it off and reapply in front of Hewan? If she didn’t wash her face, Hewan would definitely be suspicious.

In the past, when she had makeup on, she absolutely had to wash it off completely before sleeping, afraid it would damage her skin. But now, this seemed like a small matter too.

After thinking it over, Jing Hengbo honestly washed her face. She quite liked Hewan, instinctively feeling she was a good girl.

Hot water splashed on her face, scalding her whole body into a shiver. She really liked this stimulating feeling now.

When she raised her face again, she saw Hewan staring at her dumbly.

She smiled at Hewan.

“My heavens…” Hewan’s voice was full of amazement. “I never thought you were so beautiful! Why do you make yourself ugly with makeup? But your makeup skills are so amazing too—the difference from your real appearance is so great!”

Jing Hengbo’s smile became even more sincere.

A woman’s reaction to others’ beautiful appearance could also test her character. She was very satisfied with Hewan’s reaction.

“I can teach you if there’s a chance in the future.” She asked Hewan for a complete set of rouge and powder and simply reapplied makeup. After a while, a girl with narrow eyes and pale skin appeared in the mirror.

Hewan seemed very anxious, excitedly pulling her out of the palace. She seemed to have a high degree of freedom in the palace.

Jing Hengbo also wanted to leave the palace to see where Yelu Qi and the others were. Tonight’s matters still needed discussion.

Seeing Hewan’s anxious appearance, Jing Hengbo thought she must be going to find Ji Yifan for one last effort. This was perfect—she also wanted to meet this guy, at least to settle the score for being pushed off the ancestral hall that night.

Not long after leaving the palace, she saw Yelu Qi, Tian Qi, and Yi Qi. Following their pre-arranged hand signals, she greeted them. Those guys stood far away, looking at her with somewhat strange expressions. Jing Hengbo didn’t think much of it and followed Hewan into the carriage.

Hewan was very excited all the way, with excitement mixed with unease, unease mixed with nervousness. Her expressions changed constantly, colorfully. Jing Hengbo found it amusing, thinking the little girl was truly resilient—after such a big blow from seeing her lover yesterday, today she was back to full health again.

The carriage headed toward the city center, but not yesterday’s route. Jing Hengbo thought this made sense—couple meetings naturally had to be like underground work, moving to a new location after each contact.

But the road became increasingly wide, seeming to lead out of the city. Was this child leaving the city?

Leaving the palace wasn’t a big problem, but leaving the city would be somewhat troublesome.

Soon Jing Hengbo discovered this road out of the city was also wrong.

Too many people.

The road was obviously specially cleaned, raised with yellow earth, with people gathered on both sides. Every ten zhang or so along the roadside, there were tables displaying fresh flowers and fruits. This was the so-called ceremony of padding roads with yellow earth and sprinkling streets with clean water to welcome dignitaries.

Jing Hengbo also noticed there were especially many young ladies by the roadside. Though many wore veils, their excitement was still visible.

Who was coming?

Her heart suddenly stirred with an ominous feeling.

Just as she was about to ask Hewan, Hewan was already pointing ahead excitedly. “He’s coming! He’s coming! Oh my, I can finally see the State Preceptor with my own eyes!”

Jing Hengbo’s mind thundered.

Looking up again, she saw banners unfurling ahead, carriages and horses like dragons, white mountain and black water flags fluttering in the wind, a long procession appearing at the road’s end.

At the very front of the procession were almost all the civil and military officials of Xiang Kingdom’s court. These people had left the city thirty li early in the morning to welcome him, and were just now arriving.

Almost immediately, people on both sides of the road bowed like grass in the wind.

“May the State Preceptor be well!”

The worship calls thundered, shaking Chong’an.

Hewan’s carriage had already moved aside. The little girl was clinging to the carriage door, poking her head out to look, her eyes sparkling with starlight, her cheeks flushed with excited pink, exactly like fans chasing celebrities in that modern world.

But Jing Hengbo was numb all over, wanting only to jump out of the carriage and leave. But at this moment with the sea of people, though the road was empty, if she rushed onto the road or went against the flow, she would immediately be discovered by the guards clearing the way.

Even if she teleported, she couldn’t move out of this ten-li long street, and appearing anywhere would be strange.

Jing Hengbo tensed up for a while, then suddenly relaxed again.

Strange, what was there to be nervous about?

Wasn’t it just accompanying Hewan to watch?

He was surrounded by people before and behind, held high in nine layers—he’d pass by in front of her in a moment. What did it have to do with her?

Before this thought was complete, she heard Hewan suddenly say, “Jenny, please, help me with one favor—stop the State Preceptor’s carriage!”

Jing Hengbo’s mind thundered again.

She suddenly understood people’s previous feelings toward her—this feeling of constantly dropping bombs really was life-threatening!

“Are you crazy?” she said breathlessly.

“I want to stop him, seek an audience, ask him to help prevent this marriage. Now only his words would make father take notice!”

“You can petition him when he enters the palace. Don’t drag me into your death wish!”

“I have no choice!” Hewan said anxiously. “The State Preceptor manages countless affairs daily and only came today to observe the ceremony. He’ll be directly welcomed into the royal palace. Once he enters the palace, I’ll have no chance to meet him alone! According to protocol, he can’t enter the harem, and I, as the bride-to-be, can’t meet outside men!”

“Why didn’t you find a way to send someone out of the city to notify him yesterday?”

“I seem free, but the palace maids around me were all sent by the queen to watch me. I don’t have a single confidant. Yesterday when I risked meeting Yifan, I wanted him to petition the State Preceptor, but he refused…” Hewan was on the verge of tears.

Jing Hengbo sighed slightly in her heart, not knowing whether to praise or pity her. When everyone else was either blocking or giving up, only this powerless woman still persisted relentlessly for love.

But sympathy aside, asking her to help intercept Gong Yin’s carriage? She’d rather die!

“You can go yourself!”

“If I show myself, I’ll be stopped by guards lurking nearby. Actually yesterday there were people watching me too, but as long as I don’t go too far, they won’t act against me.”

“Attacking the State Preceptor’s carriage is a capital offense. You want me to die?”

“No! You can pretend to accidentally fall from the carriage onto the ground. The State Preceptor is kind-hearted and will definitely send someone to help you, then you can relay my request and intercept him.” Hewan grasped her hand. “Don’t worry, I won’t harm you. The State Preceptor has seen me once before and received my help. As long as you tell him I sent you, he absolutely won’t make things difficult for you.” She opened her palm to reveal a red jade dragonfly and pressed it into Jing Hengbo’s hand. “When his carriage passes by us, you rush out and throw the dragonfly at his carriage…”

“This is what they call brain-dead.” Jing Hengbo murmured. “I fall in front of him? He’d probably be very happy to order the carriage to run over me. Mm, maybe even reverse and run over me again to make sure I’m dead and won’t cost compensation money.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying you’re dreaming.” Jing Hengbo got up, preparing to leave the carriage and blend into the crowd to avoid entanglement with this little neurotic.

Gong Yin’s carriage procession moved slowly forward, almost reaching the front. It was still his usual style—uniform snow-white Jade Zhao Dragon Cavalry, like endless snow spreading along the long street, surrounding the white and gold carriage in the center. The carriage wasn’t like ordinary nobles’ carved saddles and decorated wheels, but was uniformly made of rare original wood white carriage body inlaid with gold edges, but extremely large, exceeding royal regulations. Those with discerning eyes knew this white carriage body wasn’t painted later, but used a type of “jade wood” from giant wood swamps. Its color was like jade, its quality also like jade, extremely hard, undamaged by knives. It wasn’t afraid of water or fire, and wasn’t invaded by insects. It had always been extremely precious, with the saying “one inch of jade wood, one piece of jade.”

This carriage made from whole jade wood was the only one in all of Dahuang—even the Queen didn’t have one. This was crafted jointly by the six kingdoms and eight tribes when Gong Yin ascended to the position of State Preceptor and subdued the Huangjin Tribe, showing respect and recognition of his status. It was a symbol of Gong Yin’s authority in Dahuang. He didn’t usually use it, only displaying such ceremony when visiting vassal territories like the six kingdoms and eight tribes.

The men and women by the roadside all secretly raised their heads, wanting to glimpse from the carriage windows the style of this first person of Dahuang, whether he truly had the extraordinary bearing and ice-snow body of legend. But Gong Yin was always proper and strict—his carriage didn’t have the half-concealing silk curtains and pearl strings that ordinary nobles used for people to admire. The carriage windows were covered with light golden gauze, and even with eyes wide open, people could only see a vague, upright silhouette.

“Jenny! Jenny!” Hewan was very nervous, her trembling hands grasping Jing Hengbo’s clothes pleadingly. “Please, help me this once. Once he enters the palace, I definitely won’t have a chance to contact him…”

Jing Hengbo hardened her heart and pushed away her hands. “I can consider helping you with anything else, but this one thing, absolutely not.”

She opened the carriage door to get out—she couldn’t teleport inside the carriage.

As soon as she opened the door, she discovered that somehow, Gong Yin’s carriage was passing right in front of their inconspicuous small carriage.

Across the kneeling crowd in front, she saw that hazy silhouette in the huge white and gold carriage window seemingly turn to glance this way.

Though she was certain he couldn’t see clearly, her heart still shook, feeling it inappropriate to go out now.

Just this moment of hesitation.

Suddenly wind swept from behind! At the same time, the carriage tilted violently to one side!

There were people kneeling under the carriage, who immediately screamed in alarm and scattered in all directions. Jing Hengbo was at the carriage entrance with half a foot outside, unable to control her momentum, and fell to the ground.

As soon as she fell she knew it was bad. Just as she was about to get up and teleport, she suddenly felt someone push her hard from behind. She stumbled and rushed into the street! Right into the guard formation beside Gong Yin’s carriage!

Immediately someone roared angrily, “Who dares disturb my lord!” Two long spears struck down like lightning toward her head!

Jing Hengbo had no choice and was preparing to teleport away when she suddenly heard two crisp snaps. The two spear tips were deflected, creating a crossed arc that grazed past her nose.

Fine stone fragments scattered down on her face—the two spears had apparently been deflected by two small stones.

The guard formation was both shocked and angry, surrounding her while shouting at the crowd by the roadside, “Catch the assassin! There are more assassins in the crowd!”

Jing Hengbo’s mind was in chaos. She didn’t know who had pushed the carriage and knocked her down, nor was she sure if it was Yelu Qi and the others who had thrown the stones to save her. She especially feared that it was Yi Qi and those comedians who had acted—if any of those comedians got excited and shouted “protect the emperor” like last time, she’d be finished.

Gong Yin’s carriage was right in front of her and had already stopped. Guards were gathering toward this side, but being close to the roadside, they couldn’t squeeze through immediately.

Another gust of wind came from behind!

Jing Hengbo only had time to grab a handful of yellow earth and smear it on her face, making a wild hand gesture behind her signaling not to shout, then with a bang, she inexplicably flew over the crowd’s gap and crashed into Gong Yin’s carriage.

When she crashed out, her hand was extended forward with the ring’s hidden spike already deployed. The spike was extremely sharp—with a ripping sound, the golden silk gauze on Gong Yin’s carriage window was torn open, and her arm thrust straight through.

Jing Hengbo even felt her hand almost hit Gong Yin’s neck.

She felt somewhat regretful.

At this moment, the surroundings suddenly went quiet, everyone frozen in place.

Looking at her, crashed against the carriage, having inexplicably torn through the sturdy window gauze, stuck in that hole.

While the person inside the carriage remained completely motionless.

…

Gong Yin sat upright.

Gazing at the arm before him.

The arm was slender and straight, with delicate wrist bones. Though the hand was dirty, the fingers were long and beautiful.

His gaze swept over those fingers—the nails were very clean, not grown long, trimmed very neatly.

The only eye-catching thing on the hand should be that bronze cat’s eye ring. The hidden spike had automatically retracted, and the cat’s eye stone’s light flowed, truly like a cunning cat’s eye.

His gaze lingered on that ring for a long time, as if he had taken a breath.

The light in the carriage was dim, unable to illuminate his eyes deep as still water.

The arm suddenly moved, seeming to want to withdraw.

He finally moved, raising his hand to grasp her fingertips.

…

Jing Hengbo stiffened and instinctively tried to pull her arm back—what if Gong Yin went crazy and chopped off this hand?

But as soon as she moved, she found she couldn’t move anymore—her hand was already caught by Gong Yin.

For an instant, a vague thought crossed her mind—wasn’t Gong Yin someone who most disliked physical contact with strangers? How could he touch a hand that had randomly thrust in?

She lowered her head. The snow-white carriage could barely reflect her current shadow. Already made up, then smeared with yellow earth on her face, it would be strange if Gong Yin could recognize her through the window gauze.

In this moment, all her energy concentrated at her fingertips. She could even feel his clear, cold breath lightly brushing against her fingers.

Finally, a voice came from the carriage—clear, cold, with a trace of faint severity.

“Someone, take this…”

Jing Hengbo’s heart tightened—it really was Gong Yin’s voice!

No time to think more. Her caught hand relaxed its fist, and the red jade dragonfly in her palm dropped.

She hoarsely shouted, “Injustice!”

…

The chaotic long street suddenly fell silent.

The guards about to act stopped their hands.

Yelu Qi and Tian Qi in the crowd, who were restraining Yi Qi from shouting, stared dumbfounded.

Hewan, struggling to crawl out from under the overturned carriage, looked up with delight.

All the people of Chong’an were stunned.

What was this about?

Intercepting a sedan to cry injustice? But the State Preceptor didn’t manage the six kingdoms’ internal affairs. Intercepting the State Preceptor’s sedan in such circumstances—was this the wrong target?

Jing Hengbo was also frozen there.

She had shouted completely on impulse. This line popped out, probably from watching too many ancient costume melodramas in that modern world.

But once she shouted it, the resentment in her heart suddenly seemed to surge out like a torrent.

Injustice!

Who in this world was more suited to shout these words than her?

A passionate heart splashed with cold snow, eternal passionate fire extinguished by ice and water. All that enthusiasm poured out with full strength, all that affection scattered to the whole world with full strength, fell into ice, snow, water, the coldest and fiercest wind.

Instantly torn apart, never to be restored.

Injustice!

Yet she was the one who most shouldn’t shout these words at this moment in this world!

She could shout at anyone, except she shouldn’t shout before this person!

Feeling that after those words came out, her hand loosened, she immediately pulled back, preparing to flee.

But immediately numbness spread from her arm, her body went soft, and she leaned against the carriage body.

That posture looked like she was suddenly stunned by the State Preceptor’s beauty and wanted to lean on the car window to lick the screen…

“Wait.” Gong Yin’s voice came again.

The guards who were about to grab her arms all withdrew.

After a brief silence, the carriage lowered its steps. The people thundered—they knew the State Preceptor was coming out.

Did this woman really have some great injustice? With one shout, the State Preceptor responded?

Was this going to be a street trial?

Countless young ladies were both excited and regretful that they hadn’t thought of this good method to get close contact with the State Preceptor just now. Look at that shameless woman, still leaning on the State Preceptor’s carriage unwilling to come down!

The carriage door slowly opened. When Gong Yin emerged, everyone’s breath suddenly caught, feeling only scattered snow and light before their eyes, heaven and earth turning cool.

The noon sunlight had been blazing, but now people seemed to feel the sky had dimmed by three degrees.

Everyone unconsciously held their breath, afraid their breathing would startle that immortal-like person, and afraid the sun was too fierce and would melt this ice-snow glazed person.

He was a handful of snow, crystalline only in pure, lonely places.

As soon as his figure appeared, Jing Hengbo immediately turned her head away forcefully.

Afraid that a moment’s emotion in her eyes would reveal too much.

Wanting a heart like dead water, wanting cold indifference, wanting unmovable as mountains—despite all this psychological preparation, every time she saw that white-clothed figure, it still felt like being silently punched. The top of her head felt ice-cold, as if still floating with that night’s bone-chilling snow.

She had thought there would be no chance to meet again, that their next meeting would surely be as enemies on the battlefield years later. She never expected to face each other so quickly on a long street. For a moment she didn’t know how to position herself.

Ten thousand people on the street, silent.

Gong Yin’s eyes as usual held no crowds, only quietly turning back before the carriage, but he didn’t look at Jing Hengbo leaning against the carriage.

“What injustice do you have?”

He seemed to be questioning heaven.

Xiang Kingdom’s officials hurriedly gathered, looking at this scene at a loss. The Xiang King was still waiting at the palace gates to welcome the State Preceptor, not expecting such a scene to occur here.

At this time Jing Hengbo still noticed that among Xiang Kingdom’s officials, Ji Yifan seemed to be missing.

She had a sudden understanding.

It seemed this guy wouldn’t show himself but was quite skilled at underhanded tactics. The one who pushed her was him again, right?

Things had reached this point—she could only take it step by step. If she could muddle through Hewan’s matter, she should be able to get by.

Facing the ground, she hoarsely answered, “It’s difficult to explain in a moment. Please, State Preceptor, stop your carriage and listen to this humble woman explain in detail.”

“Audacious!” A Xiang Kingdom official immediately roared angrily. “The State Preceptor enters the city, and the King is waiting to welcome him. All ceremonies have scheduled times—how can you, an ignorant commoner woman, randomly disrupt them! Stand down—”

“Please arrange nearby lodgings for your country. I wish to rest my feet,” Gong Yin said, making everyone fall silent again.

Jing Hengbo thought she couldn’t tell that Hewan really did have good relations with Gong Yin.

Once Gong Yin stopped his carriage, the Jade Zhao sealed off the entire street, dispersing all unrelated crowds. Hewan’s overturned carriage naturally became a focus of attention. The carriage driver wanted to help Hewan away, but Hewan was struggling to break free. When Gong Yin’s gaze looked over, several Jade Zhao guards immediately went over, separating those who wanted to take Hewan away. They said quietly, “Princess, please come with us.”

Hewan, wearing a veil, nodded gratefully and looked at Jing Hengbo with infinite thanks. Jing Hengbo suppressed a mouthful of old blood, signaling to Yelu Qi and others who were kept far away in the crowd not to act rashly, while lowering her head to think of what method to use to escape.

Since that day at the city gate when she cut down the flag, she hadn’t entertained thoughts of assassinating Gong Yin. She clearly recognized that she couldn’t kill him.

People should have self-awareness. Reckless courage was not worth taking. Patience was the world’s greatest virtue.

Very unfortunately, these sentences were also taught by him.

Jing Hengbo lowered her head, slowly clenching the fingers in her sleeves.

Xiang Kingdom’s officials moved quickly—it seemed they couldn’t disobey Gong Yin’s will either. They arranged a nearby mansion, donated by a local wealthy household. To ensure absolute safety, the family members all left within a quarter hour. After the Jade Zhao Dragon Cavalry quickly entered to inspect, they invited the State Preceptor to move his carriage.

“Let me go,” Jing Hengbo quietly said to Hewan who walked to her side.

Hewan was about to agree when Meng Hu had already walked over. His gaze only fell on Hewan’s face as he said, “Princess, the State Preceptor requests your presence.”

Hewan was about to leave when Meng Hu added, “As for this young lady beside you, please forgive me, Princess, but we need to take her for questioning.”

Hewan was shocked. “Why?”

Meng Hu didn’t look at Jing Hengbo, saying stiffly, “This young lady may have hidden weapons on her fingers. We suspect she’s an assassin who infiltrated the princess’s side and must question her thoroughly.”

Hewan’s mouth fell open, her expression horrified.

“Princess needn’t worry about this. Please hurry to see the State Preceptor. Time is limited and cannot be delayed,” Meng Hu urged.

Jing Hengbo watched coldly. She wanted to see what attitude this little girl would have when facing a choice.

Between escaping marriage to gain help and get her beloved, and defending the true friend who helped her, which would she choose to abandon?

Of course, she didn’t hold much hope. She understood what normal people would choose.

“I…” Hewan looked at her, then at the resolute Meng Hu, took two steps, then stopped.

“No,” she suddenly said. “Please convey my apologies to the State Preceptor. I won’t go.”

Meng Hu looked at her in surprise.

“She is my friend, and I believe in her,” Hewan said resolutely. “Years ago I inadvertently helped the State Preceptor, and later he promised that with the red jade dragonfly as a token, he would help me once. Now I use the red jade dragonfly to request that he not pursue my friend’s crime. She’s not an assassin—I swear on my life.”

Jing Hengbo’s heart warmed.

She had originally thought this world was everywhere filled with obstacles and coldness, yet never expected that after experiencing the fall of hell, she could still receive human warmth, true feelings, trust, and protection.

Just for today’s words, she would definitely help this girl.

“Princess, it wasn’t easy to stop the State Preceptor. Don’t waste this precious opportunity.” She smiled and squeezed Hewan’s hand. “You should trust the State Preceptor’s guards—they won’t wrong the innocent. Just let me go with them to clarify things.”

“But you…” Hewan’s face showed genuine concern.

“It’s fine. You go see the State Preceptor and can help explain the truth for me too.”

Hewan thought this made sense and repeatedly instructed, “You must be careful. If anything’s wrong, remember to call for help.” She also repeatedly implored Meng Hu, “Commander, my friend really isn’t an assassin. Please don’t make things difficult for her.”

“Princess, rest assured. We’ll release her after questioning,” Meng Hu’s expression suddenly became much gentler. He bowed to Hewan, his tone much more respectful. “Please proceed.”

Jing Hengbo watched Hewan enter the residence with frequent backward glances, then turned to look at Meng Hu.

She thought Meng Hu might have recognized her. After all, though her improved makeup technique was good, it wasn’t enough to fool familiar people. Especially since A Shan and Meng Hu had always been together—how could Meng Hu not be familiar with her disguise methods?

What did Meng Hu want by keeping her? She didn’t want to overthink. If there was malice, she’d leave. If he wanted to act, she’d fight back.

If others didn’t remember past friendship, why should she cherish it?

But Meng Hu still wouldn’t look at her once, his face stiff as if wearing a mask. He seemed anxious to serve Gong Yin, turning to two nearby Jade Zhao guards: “Take her to the mansion. Don’t make things difficult. I’ll come personally to question her when I have time.”

The guards acknowledged and came to take Jing Hengbo. Jing Hengbo planned that if they tied her up, she’d immediately teleport away, absolutely not walking into a trap. But their attitude was very polite, seeming to truly not intend to make things difficult. She didn’t want to display teleportation before these people unless absolutely necessary. After thinking, she still signaled to the distant Yelu Qi to remain calm and followed the guards inside.

After she entered the mansion, the Jade Zhao Dragon Cavalry immediately sealed off the entire street, dispersing the people. The citizens reluctantly left, discussing the street’s strange events as they walked. The street gradually emptied.

In a dark alley corner stood Yelu Qi and others.

“Why stop me? Hey, why stop me? She’s going to see Gong Yin! She’s going to see my mortal enemy!” Yi Qi jumped around, pointing aggressively at Yelu Qi’s nose.

Yelu Qi waved away his hand like swatting a fly, saying lightly, “He can barely count as my rival. As for you, it’s more suitable for you to spend your life with your six brothers.”

“Stop talking nonsense,” Tian Qi said impatiently, crossing his arms. “Tell us, what should we do? Really listen to Big Wave?”

Yelu Qi’s eyes gazed at a corner ahead, with a strange expression in his eyes.

“I think,” he said slowly, “there’s going to be a good show soon.”

…

The wealthy family who gave up their mansion had nowhere to go temporarily and rested in a roadside teahouse. The family’s young master was restless and ran to a neighboring brothel as soon as he sat down.

He found a girl and hadn’t had time for much fun when several figures burst through the window, knocked out the girl with one palm, and grabbed him.

The questioning was straightforward.

“Does your house have secret passages?”

The young master trembled like a sieve. “No… no…”

“Any hidden doors?”

“No… no…”

“How many back doors?”

“Just… just one back door…”

“Speak!” The gray-clothed masked man put his sword to his neck. “Think of a way to enter your house without anyone knowing! Think! If you can’t think of anything, I’ll castrate you!”

“Ah ah ah don’t castrate me, I’m thinking… I’m thinking…” The young master desperately wiped sweat. After a long while, he said hesitantly, “…My… my house’s back wall has a small door for dogs to go in and out…”

“Damn, you dare make grandpa crawl through a dog hole!”

“Ah ah ah it’s not a dog hole! I once raised a pack of marsh hounds from Wild Dog Swamp—they were as strong as bulls and very large. To avoid frightening family members, I specially made a path for them to enter and exit. That door is actually big enough for people to pass through, hidden in the tree shade and very hard to discover…”

“Tell me, where is that door!”

…

Jing Hengbo followed the Jade Zhao guards straight into this family’s back courtyard.

The guards had her enter an empty hall, then locked the door and stood guard in the corridor.

Seeing this arrangement, Jing Hengbo felt relieved but also somewhat puzzled—had Meng Hu really not recognized her? Otherwise he wouldn’t guard her this way. As long as they didn’t tie her up, there was almost nowhere in the world that could hold her.

Thinking carefully, how could Meng Hu imagine she’d dare appear before Gong Yin? He bore the responsibility for Gong Yin’s safety with countless matters to handle. He’d never been detail-oriented—not noticing would be normal.

Thinking this, she relaxed, stood up, and prepared to cause some minor damage to the room to fake a forced entry before leaving. This way, when a living person suddenly disappeared from a locked room, Meng Hu wouldn’t think of her identity.

She walked to the door, turned the ring, and a thin wire popped out. She pulled out the wire, preparing to insert it into the lock, when she suddenly sensed something strange behind her.

There was… a presence!

As if some person or thing was right behind her! No breathing, no movement, but she just felt there was something more behind her!

The room had clearly been empty just now!

She lowered her eyes—no shadow visible.

She retracted the wire, adjusted the ring, and whirled around.

Before she had completely turned, she waved her hand, and an enamel flower vase from the shelf already flew violently!

This trajectory aimed directly behind her—if there really was something behind her, it would definitely be hit by this vase.

But she heard neither the muffled sound of the vase hitting someone, nor even the shattering sound of the vase hitting the ground.

She hadn’t had time to see what actually happened. Before she could turn around completely, her vision went black and she softly collapsed.