In Ruyang City, tucked away in the most secluded corner of the western district, stood an unremarkable courtyard. From the outside, this small compound appeared no different from any other in Ruyang City, with nothing particularly noteworthy about it. Its owner even followed the same daily routines as the neighbors, going out to buy groceries, strolling the streets, and taking walks. However, anyone who ventured past the second entrance of this courtyard would discover a completely different world within. This was the base of the Qilin – the most mysterious and elite force of the Dingguo Prince’s Manor. Any ordinary person who dared step inside would fall into the hands of the Qilin members currently stationed there for rest and training. The suffering that would follow would be enough to make anyone regret their very existence.

Deep in the night, a shadow silently slipped over the wall. Such masterful lightness skills meant the black-clad figure made not even the slightest sound upon landing. The intruder carefully but swiftly surveyed the entire courtyard before lifting a foot to proceed toward their destination.

“Don’t move.” A deep voice sounded behind him. The black-clad figure froze, then his eyes darkened as he obediently remained in place. “The Qilin truly deserve their reputation as fierce tigers in Xiling’s eyes. Impressive.”

In the instant he spoke, someone had already silently appeared beside him and casually patted him down a few times, retrieving all the weapons he carried. The black-clad man didn’t resist. He was well aware that there must be more than just this one person watching him in the courtyard right now. “You did well to make it this far. Come with me to see the Commander, Master Han.” The black-clad man – Han Mingyue – started in surprise, finally shaking his head with a bitter smile. “So you knew all along that I…” The man beside him sneered, “If we didn’t know, Master Han, do you think you could have found this place?” Han Mingyue fell silent and docilely followed the man inside.

By candlelight, Qin Feng still sat in his study reviewing thick dossiers. Just over a month ago, they had selected over three hundred elite soldiers from the army and various secret guard units for initial training outside the city. Relying on his own training experience and the vast amount of materials left behind by the Princess Consort, things had barely gotten on track. As the Qilin Commander, Qin Feng insisted on checking the files recording these trainees’ progress daily, evaluating their future potential. At the same time, he had to further train himself and the original members according to the materials the Princess Consort had left behind. As a result, Qin Feng was run ragged every day, leaving him no time to dwell on those infuriating matters. Of course, whether this busyness was inevitable or deliberate, Qin Feng hadn’t bothered to figure out. So when he saw Han Mingyue being brought in, his mood immediately soured. He was already very busy, and Han Mingyue’s arrival would undoubtedly make him busier. More importantly, Han Mingyue’s appearance would remind him of certain unpleasant matters.

“Master Han, what brings you here so late at night?” Leaning back in his chair and stretching his stiff neck, Qin Feng narrowed his eyes lazily, his half-lidded gaze revealing undisguised danger.

Anyone connected to Ye Luo would never welcome him. Han Mingyue wasn’t surprised at all. He cupped his hands toward Qin Feng and said with a faint smile, “Pardon the intrusion, Commander Qin.”

Qin Feng gave him a cold sidelong glance, his meaning clear – if you know you’re intruding, why come at all?

“I wish to see Mei Die. Please make an exception, Commander Qin.” Knowing that if he didn’t bring it up, Qin Feng would never mention this matter, Han Mingyue got straight to the point. Two months ago, after Mo Xiuyao handed Su Mei Die over to Qin Feng, she had been taken away from the Governor’s Manor. After all, the Governor’s Manor wasn’t large enough to house everyone from the Dingguo Prince’s Manor. Thus, the secret guards, the Qilin, and most of the civil and military officials had all left the Governor’s Manor to find other accommodations. Now the only ones still living in the Governor’s Manor were Mo Xiuyao himself, his trusted advisors like Feng Zhiyao and Xu Qingze, and Han Mingyue who temporarily had nowhere else to go. Since Su Mei Die had been taken away, Han Mingyue hadn’t seen her again. This made him worry, but without the Tianyi Pavilion at his disposal, finding Su Mei Die’s whereabouts even in this relatively small Ruyang City had cost Han Mingyue considerable effort. Now it seemed that even this much was only possible because they had deliberately left some trails. Han Mingyue couldn’t help but smile bitterly, feeling a sense of powerlessness rise in his heart. Without the Tianyi Pavilion, without the Han family, the Young Master Mingyue was ultimately just an ordinary person.

“Su Mei Die?” Qin Feng paused for a moment, as if just remembering such a person existed, his expression darkening slightly. “If you wish to see Su Mei Die, please explain your reasons to His Highness personally.”

Han Mingyue smiled bitterly – if he could persuade Mo Xiuyao, why would he break in here in the middle of the night? Seeing his expression, Qin Feng understood his meaning and said coldly, “Without His Highness’s permission… Master Han, forget about coming alone – even if you brought thousands of troops, you still wouldn’t be able to see Su Mei Die.” Han Mingyue raised his sword-like eyebrows slightly. He knew Qin Feng’s subordinates were all formidable. Although detailed information was scarce, their achievements in just half a year were enough to prove their strength. But to claim they could withstand thousands of troops seemed overly confident. However… he couldn’t muster thousands of troops now anyway.

Qin Feng observed his expression with interest, leaning back in his chair and smiling, “Master Han misunderstands. The Qilin will use any means necessary to achieve their goals, but we won’t foolishly charge to our deaths. What I mean is… without His Highness’s consent, even if Master Han managed to break in… I would kill her the moment before you saw her. If Master Han wishes to witness Su Mei Die’s final breath, by all means, try.”

Han Mingyue fell silent. He knew Qin Feng wasn’t joking. Although Ye Luo wasn’t killed directly by Su Mei Die, if it hadn’t been for her sudden hidden weapon attack, Ye Luo wouldn’t have fallen off the cliff. If Mo Xiuyao didn’t still want Su Mei Die alive, the people of the Dingguo Prince’s Manor would have torn her to pieces long ago. Sighing, Han Mingyue said, “I just want to see her once. I won’t even speak.”

Qin Feng had already picked up the dossiers again, his dismissive intent clear without words.

“Master Qin, let me see Mei Die once. I’ll trade you a top-secret piece of information.” Han Mingyue said gravely.

Qin Feng didn’t even lift his eyelids, merely saying indifferently, “The Qilin currently have no missions and aren’t collecting information. If Master Han has something to say, you can tell His Highness.”

Han Mingyue’s smile turned bitter. He had already approached Mo Xiuyao twice about Su Mei Die, and Mo Xiuyao had clearly stated that if he saw him again, he would either throw him to Xiling’s Marquis of Zhennan or let him keep Su Mei Die company. He did want to see Su Mei Die, but that was to save her life. If he got thrown in to keep Mei Die company, that would truly be the end. “Commander Qin, this information will interest your lord. Moreover, it has some connection to the Princess Consort’s misfortune.” Qin Feng’s hand paused slightly as he was turning the pages, seeming to consider for a moment before looking up and saying, “Let’s hear it.”

“I need to see Mei Die first.” Han Mingyue hadn’t forgotten Qin Feng’s earlier words about the Qilin using any means necessary to achieve their goals, which included betrayal after getting what they wanted. Qin Feng raised an eyebrow and stood up, saying, “No problem, you can see her, but you can’t speak and she won’t see you.” Then he grinned at Han Mingyue and added, “I’m not worried about Master Han going back on his word. Similarly, if your information doesn’t satisfy me, you’ll soon see… what kind of punishment Su Mei Die will have to endure because of you.”

Han Mingyue’s body stiffened. He stared at Qin Feng in silence for a long while before finally sighing, “The Princess Consort’s methods of training people were truly formidable…”

Qin Feng shrugged and sneered, “They could have been even more formidable. This way, Master Han.”

Looking at the scene before him, Han Mingyue’s heart was filled with mixed emotions. He truly couldn’t decide whether he regretted going to such lengths to see Su Mei Die.

They stood in an extremely simple and ordinary room. Ordinary people would never notice anything special about it. But after the mechanism in the wall was activated, they could see that behind the wall was a spacious secret chamber. Moreover, it was beneath their feet – from their elevated position, they could see the entire secret chamber. One glance was all Han Mingyue needed to spot Su Mei Die. Although she was the only person in the room right now, Han Mingyue genuinely had to doubt whether the person on the ground was Su Mei Die.

Her grayish prison clothes were covered in filth and bloodstains. Su Mei Die lay powerlessly on the dirty ground, and even from their high vantage point, they could faintly smell the foul odors wafting up from below. Han Mingyue saw her fingers twisted grotesquely, lying limply on the ground. One of her legs was similarly distorted, and even in unconsciousness, that leg still twitched occasionally. Her face was filled with pain, sometimes shaking her head and mumbling something. If one listened carefully, they would hear her saying – “I was wrong… spare me… help…”

“What exactly have you done to her?” Finally, he couldn’t help but demand.

Qin Feng replied indifferently, “Don’t tell me the Tianyi Pavilion didn’t use interrogation techniques. Don’t worry, my people aren’t all novices. Even if they occasionally lose control, they won’t take her life.”

Han Mingyue couldn’t help but shudder. Of course, he knew all too well about those underground torture methods. Young Master Mingyue was no living Buddha – he had once calmly tortured enemies who fell into his hands, but he had never imagined those methods would be used on the woman he loved most. “She’s just a weak woman, how can she endure such methods?” Qin Feng shrugged – who cared whether she could endure it or not, as long as she didn’t die?

“She’s more resilient than most people.” On this point, Qin Feng had to give Su Mei Die some credit. Interrogation wasn’t something one could simply learn by talking about it. It required training, and training required subjects. Su Mei Die wasn’t alone – in fact, two others had been brought in with her, two men skilled in martial arts. Without any leniency shown, both men committed suicide when they couldn’t bear it anymore, yet Su Mei Die was still alive and well. “This isn’t entirely our fault. The Princess Consort was strongly against such bloody interrogation methods. She was quite skilled at this, but unfortunately, she disappeared before she could teach us everything. So… we can only trouble Miss Su to experience the old methods. Besides, Master Han need not worry – her injuries aren’t… well, except for her leg, none are irreversible. Tomorrow morning someone will help reset her finger bones. With Master Shen’s healing medicine, she’ll recover within ten days.”

Han Mingyue’s face darkened. “Only for you to break them again?”

“Crush them. The fingers are too delicate to break properly unless you want to completely shatter them beyond repair,” Qin Feng corrected.

“Will… will her hands ever fully recover like this?” Han Mingyue shouted. Just from Qin Feng’s tone, he could tell this wasn’t the first time and wouldn’t be the last. Even with Shen Yang’s excellent medicine, there would inevitably be lasting effects.

Qin Feng raised his eyebrows and said coldly, “Does Master Han think she’ll ever have a chance to leave?” His Highness hadn’t said anything about keeping her completely intact. The fact that Su Mei Die was still whole right now showed how restrained his people had been. “Don’t worry, Master Han, we won’t touch her face. If your information satisfies me, you can come by sometime to paint a portrait as a memento. His Highness said making her too ugly would frighten the Princess Consort and the young heir.”

Han Mingyue’s face turned ashen, but he couldn’t say anything. Finally, after taking one last deep look at the weakly breathing woman lying on the ground, he turned to follow Qin Feng out of the room.

“The man called Tan Jizhi by Mo Jingqi’s side is a descendant of the previous dynasty’s royal family,” Han Mingyue said, meeting Qin Feng’s cold eyes.

Qin Feng narrowed his eyes. “Master Han, are you trying to fool me?” A descendant of the previous dynasty? Perhaps this would have been valuable information before, but now, when they were already secretly at odds with Mo Jingqi, who had time to care about whether someone by his side was a descendant of the previous dynasty? Even if Mo Jingqi himself were a descendant of the previous dynasty, it wouldn’t matter to them anymore.

Han Mingyue said coldly, “Although Tan Jizhi only officially appeared in court this year, he has been by Mo Jingqi’s side for over ten years. He is Mo Jingqi’s most trusted confidant and strategist. Don’t you think that’s important?”

Mo Jingqi’s confidant and strategist?

Qin Feng frowned. Having been chosen by Mo Xiuyao from among many Black Cloud Riders to serve under Ye Luo, and having earned Ye Luo’s approval to become the Qilin Commander, Qin Feng’s abilities in all aspects were at least above average. So upon hearing Han Mingyue’s words, Qin Feng immediately caught his implied meaning. A descendant of the previous dynasty – even though that dynasty had fallen over two hundred years ago, such a person appearing by the current emperor’s side as a trusted advisor would naturally draw some attention and vigilance. Qin Feng certainly hadn’t forgotten that before the military campaign, when Mo Jingqi had attempted to seize military power from the Princess Consort in Chu Capital, this man called Tan Jizhi had given the Princess Consort trouble.

In just an instant, Qin Feng’s thoughts had turned hundreds of times. Staring at Han Mingyue before him, Qin Feng said expressionlessly, “How can I believe what you’re saying is true? Also… if even the Dingguo Prince’s Manor doesn’t know this information, how did Master Han come to know it?”

Han Mingyue said calmly, “I was the master of the Tianyi Pavilion, after all?” The Tianyi Pavilion controlled the largest intelligence network in the world – what was strange about knowing things others didn’t?

Qin Feng snorted lightly, “If it were other information, I might not find it strange, but in Chu Capital… does the Tianyi Pavilion have the ability to discover things that even the Dingguo Prince’s Manor doesn’t know?” Over these years, not only had the emperor been watching the Dingguo Prince’s Manor without pause, but the Dingguo Prince’s Manor had never relaxed its vigilance against Mo Jingqi. Otherwise, during these years when the Prince was seriously ill and confined to his quarters, the royal family would have swallowed up the Dingguo Prince’s Manor long ago.

“If you don’t believe me, I have nothing more to say. This man had a hand in what happened to the Princess Consort this time. You can think about who would truly benefit if Mo Xiuyao and Mo Jingqi were to break completely.”

Of course, it would be the neighboring countries and Mo Jingli, who had claimed territory as king, but if what Han Mingyue said was true, then Tan Jizhi should be counted among them. Whether Qin Feng believed it or not, this kind of information had to be reported to Mo Xiuyao.

However, Mo Xiuyao’s reaction to this shocked Han Mingyue deeply.

“Cut off Su Mei Die’s left arm!”

“Have you gone mad?” Han Mingyue roared, staring at Mo Xiuyao’s calm expression. Mo Xiuyao looked up at him and said flatly, “Tell me the source of this information, or I will cut off parts of Su Mei Die piece by piece every hour.”

“I already told you!” Han Mingyue said angrily.

“I don’t believe you.” Mo Xiuyao pushed away the account books in front of him and said, “Don’t forget who controls the Tianyi Pavilion now. I know how many people you have in the capital. Or are you telling me you concealed something from our previous deal? In that case, I can still kill Su Mei Die.” Han Mingyue looked at him with a complex expression, “Don’t forget, her father and brother died for your Mo family.”

Mo Xiuyao leaned back in his chair, his somewhat pale face showing fatigue and indifference. “So what? I said… if A’Li doesn’t come back this year, no one can save her.”

Ye Luo is already dead! Han Mingyue wanted desperately to shout these words, but looking at Mo Xiuyao’s cold eyes, he couldn’t speak them. Or rather, he didn’t dare – he couldn’t be certain what consequences would follow if he shouted those words. “Mo Xiuyao, you madman…” Han Mingyue said in a low voice.

Mo Xiuyao sneered softly, completely unmoved by Han Mingyue’s assessment. “I’ve always been more clear-headed than you. I know what I need to do. Han Mingyue, do you?” He would wait for A’Li and their baby to return. If A’Li didn’t come, he would kill slowly, kill those who wanted to harm A’Li and obstruct them, and keep killing until A’Li returned or until he died. “Now, tell me the answer, or do you want Su Mei Die’s arm?”

Han Mingyue closed his eyes in defeat. He began to doubt whether telling Mo Xiuyao this information had been right or wrong. “Mei Die told me.”

“Heh, interesting…” Mo Xiuyao began to laugh softly. “Su Mei Die told you? A woman far away in Xiling, treated as a disposable pawn by the Marquis of Zhennan… somehow knew such a secret? Qin Feng, Zhuo Jing.”

“We are here,” the two stepped forward to receive orders.

Mo Xiuyao said coldly, “Within one day, I want to hear the answer from Su Mei Die’s mouth. I don’t care what methods you use.”

The two exchanged a glance. “We obey the command.”