“That’s right. Compared to Yang Guang, the Imperial Guard Commander is the one who can most directly mobilize the imperial guards.” As soon as Yunyi finished speaking, Ruyi, whose thoughts had gradually calmed down, said: “This servant heard during the last guard change that the Imperial Guard Commander seemed to… have the surname Sima. As for the specific name, I don’t know.”

“Sima Dekan.” Yunyi uttered these four words and said: “This person is Yang Guang’s trusted confidant. The Imperial Guard Commander should undoubtedly be him.”

Ruyi nodded: “To mobilize the imperial guards privately without imperial command is high treason and rebellion. General Sima shouldn’t do such a thing.” After pausing for a moment, she added: “But speaking of which, what were those imperial guards doing when they burst into Feixiang Hall earlier? Were they looking for something or someone?”

“I don’t know, but everything today seems strange everywhere. We need to be more…” Jixiang was speaking when she suddenly stared fixedly behind Ruyi, showing an expression of disbelief, then rubbed her eyes vigorously.

Seeing her strange behavior, Ruyi asked puzzledly: “Jixiang, what are you doing?”

Jixiang ignored her and continued staring unblinkingly behind her, murmuring: “Young Master Cui…”

Yunyi looked gravely at the figure standing at the palace gate. She had seen him earlier than Jixiang, but she didn’t understand how this person could appear here.

The newcomer was indeed Cuiji. He wore a gentle smile as he stepped in and bowed to Yunyi: “Princess, it’s been a long time. Have you missed this subject?”

Ruyi now also saw Cuiji, her face full of surprise: “Young Master Cui… how can you be here?”

Cuiji ignored her and stared at Yunyi: “The Princess doesn’t speak – is it because you’re too happy to see this subject?”

Yunyi stood up and said coldly: “Shouldn’t you be at the quarry in Luoyang? How do you appear here?”

Cuiji walked before her and took hold of the silk scarf wrapped around her arm, sniffing it lightly before saying with a smile: “This fragrance – this subject has missed it for a long time. Today I finally smell it again.”

Yunyi hadn’t expected him to make such a frivolous gesture. She quickly pulled back her scarf and stepped back: “You still haven’t answered my question.”

Cuiji said with a half-smile: “Naturally it’s because this subject missed the Princess too much.”

Yunyi said coldly: “The Cui family actually privately released you from the quarry and brought you to Jiangdu. They are truly bold and reckless. Aren’t they afraid of being held accountable?”

“Held accountable?” Cuiji seemed to hear something extremely amusing and burst into loud laughter. After a while, he stopped and said: “Who does the Princess think would still hold this subject accountable now?”

Jixiang interjected: “Naturally His Majesty!”

Cuiji nodded and lifted her smooth chin: “You don’t know yet, do you? The ‘His Majesty’ you speak of has already become a dead man.”

At these words, everyone was shocked. Ruyi blurted out: “You’re talking nonsense! We saw His Majesty not long ago. He was perfectly fine, without any illness. How could he die? Cuiji, if you know what’s good for you, retreat immediately, or don’t blame us for being impolite!”

Yunyi’s eyes narrowed slightly as she said coldly: “Was Yang Guang killed by you?”

A trace of surprise flashed in Cuiji’s eyes: “It seems that although the Princess lives secluded in the palace, she knows some things.”

Yunyi said in a condensed voice: “Someone once told me that there were people in Jiangdu who wanted to stage a military rebellion. Now it seems it should be you, Cuiji. You have such audacity to dare commit such treasonous acts!”

Cuiji shook his head: “Yang Guang committed countless evil deeds. We merely acted on behalf of Heaven. As for treason… hmph, all the people under Heaven should be grateful to us!”

“No matter what you say, it can’t change your identity as a treacherous rebel!” As soon as Yunyi finished speaking, Cuiji had already grasped her hand tightly: “I did all this for you, Princess.”

“Let go!” Cuiji gripped very tightly, and no matter how Yunyi struggled, she couldn’t break free. Feeling annoyed, she struck at Cuiji’s chest with her palm, but Cuiji blocked it: “I’ve long heard that the Princess’s martial arts are not weak. It’s indeed so. But… can the Princess fight against many at once?” He glanced at the imperial guards on both sides who were watching like tigers, clearly warning Yunyi to abandon her futile struggle.

Yunyi also knew she couldn’t simultaneously repel so many people. Moreover, these were just the people in Feixiang Hall – who knew how many more of their accomplices were outside.

Yunyi lowered her hand and said coldly: “What exactly do you want?”

Cuiji smiled as he caressed Yunyi’s face, which was like congealed cream: “Naturally to renew our marital bond with the Princess!”

Yunyi’s face changed dramatically. She never expected that Cuiji’s purpose this time was actually this. She quickly said: “You are truly presumptuous. Leave immediately.”

Cuiji said nonchalantly: “This time, no one can stop us from being together. As for that Du Ruhui, he has already been captured by Pei Qiantong. In a while, we’ll cut him into pieces to avenge past grievances!”

Yunyi turned pale with shock and exclaimed: “Ruhui he… he was captured?” That day she had already asked Mother Empress to send word for Ruhui to quickly leave Jiangdu. Could it be that he didn’t listen to her? Or was he captured by Pei Qiantong while trying to leave the city? If so, wouldn’t she have harmed Ruhui? How… how could she face Xianyue!

Cuiji snorted coldly: “Du Ruhui treated me so in the past – how could my Cui family possibly let him go? Don’t worry, I will definitely torture him well and absolutely won’t let him die so easily!”

“You… you madman!” Yunyi was both anxious and panicked as she shouted: “In the past, it was you who, for personal desires, killed Zheng Yang. Ruhui did nothing wrong at all. How can you blame everything on him?”

“Did nothing wrong?!” Cuiji’s expression changed as he said coldly: “What business was it of his that I killed Zheng Yang? Why did he have to meddle and, when he couldn’t find evidence, set up a trap to harm me, making me do hard labor at the quarry? From that day, I swore that if I don’t kill Du Ruhui, I won’t be human!”

“You’re completely unreasonable!” Yunyi shook her head: “Being brothers with you was the biggest mistake of Ruhui’s and Zheng Yang’s lives.”

Cuiji sneered: “One is already dead, one is about to die – why talk about these things? Let’s… ” He stared greedily at Yunyi’s exquisitely beautiful face: “Talk about ourselves instead!”

Yunyi saw the lustful evil intent in his eyes and quickly took advantage of Cuiji’s inattention to break free and retreat several steps: “I have nothing to say to you. Leave immediately!”

Cuiji shook his head: “I worked so hard to reach this step. To retreat now would be too much of a pity.”

Ruyi and Jixiang stood in front of Yunyi: “Surnamed Cui, if you don’t retreat, this is insubordination – you’ll be executed!”

“Insubordination?” Cuiji said with amusement: “Do you really think she’s still a princess? Yang Guang is already dead. She’s now just the daughter of a fallen kingdom. My letting her follow me is the good fortune of several lifetimes. Otherwise, who knows how she’d be dealt with!”