Paying respects? Jiang Taohua was stunned. “He went this morning?”

“Yes,” Mu Wuxia nodded. “He probably hasn’t spoken to his family in a long time, so it’s taking longer than usual.”

Taohua’s expression changed slightly as she shook her head. “He’s not close to the Emperor or the new Empress. There’s no reason for his visit to take this long.”

Something must have happened!

“Your Majesty,” Taohua said, her face pale. “May I borrow some men?”

“Sister, don’t panic,” Mu Wuxia said. “I’ll accompany you to find Changji.”

Taohua was taken aback and shook her head. “It’s too dangerous for you to enter the capital. Just lend me some men, there’s no need for you to go personally…”

“You look unwell. I’m concerned,” Mu Wuxia frowned, straightening his back with a manly demeanor. “I can protect myself. They won’t do anything to me. Besides, they’re begging me to visit the palace, so I might as well fulfill their wishes.”

“Your Majesty, do you know what consequences await if you step into the palace?” Taohua’s expression grew serious. “Once you’re in their palace, you’re essentially placing your life in their hands.”

“I know,” Mu Wuxia nodded. “But that’s only if I intend to attack Zhao. They might try to lock down the palace and hold me hostage, but I have no such plans. With our troops surrounding the city, what can they do?”

After a moment of silence, his reasoning seemed sound. Taohua bowed to him. “Your Majesty’s kindness, I shall remember it always!”

“Sister, you’re too formal,” Mu Wuxia helped her up, then turned to lift the curtain and instructed those outside, “Prepare to enter the Zhao Imperial Palace.”

The people outside were startled. Many advisors and deputies came forward to dissuade him: “Your Majesty, please reconsider!”

“I have considered it thoroughly,” Mu Wuxia said. “Select two hundred elite soldiers to accompany me.”

With Shen Zaiye absent, no one could sway Mu Wuxia. After a brief standoff, the generals could only obey his orders.

Taohua stood behind him, watching as the winter sunlight outlined his silhouette. She suddenly realized this child was now a head taller than her.

He truly wasn’t a little boy anymore.

In Zhao, the government was still controlled by Lady Lü and Jiang Suheng. Although Zhao had gender equality and women could handle important affairs, these two were not cut out for it. They enjoyed the good times but panicked when faced with threats.

“Mother Empress,” Jiang Suheng paced anxiously before Lady Lü. “What should we do? They say Jiang Taohua has returned!”

“So what if she’s back?” Lady Lü sneered. “She didn’t marry the former Prince of Nan, now Emperor of Wei. She’s not even an Empress now. At most, she’s the wife of a Prime Minister. What can she do to us?”

“But…” Jiang Suheng frowned. “They say the King of Wei treats her well. What if she bewitches him into helping Changji take the throne?”

Lady Lü’s expression darkened as she clenched her fist. “I don’t believe she’s that capable. If she could bewitch the King of Wei, she’d be Empress by now!”

This thought calmed Jiang Suheng somewhat, but she was still worried. “We shouldn’t take chances. Mother Empress, please give Jiang Changji that concoction quickly!”

“You think I’m not in a hurry?” Lady Lü frowned. “It takes three years to breed one love bug. I’m afraid it hasn’t emerged yet, but I’ve ordered it to be brought as soon as it does.”

“It’s here!” A palace maid rushed in with a tray, kneeling. “Your Majesty, it has emerged!”

Lady Lü’s eyes lit up as she beckoned. “Bring it here.”

She stood up and twisted a mechanism nearby, opening a secret door in the inner chamber.

Jiang Suheng lifted her skirts to follow and peek inside. Seeing Jiang Changji bound tightly, she couldn’t help but smile. “This is perfect.”

They had hesitated to seize him in front of the Emperor, but who would have thought this fool would go to Consort Hua’s palace to pay respects? He was surrounded easily. It was his stupidity to blame.

Jiang Changji opened his eyes to see Lady Lü’s face. He struggled briefly and frowned. “What does the Empress Dowager intend to do?”

“Didn’t you always pity your Second Imperial Sister?” Lady Lü dangled a crystal-clear bottle before him. “Why don’t you experience her past suffering?”

His pupils constricted as Jiang Changji gritted his teeth. “You viper!”

Lady Lü’s eyes flashed coldly. She reached out and slapped him, then had the palace maids pry open his mouth and pour the concoction down his throat!

Jiang Changji clenched his jaw, his face ashen. He retched twice but couldn’t vomit it up. Soon his body felt wrong, slowly beginning to convulse. It felt like countless ants were devouring his heart, causing him to roar in pain.

Jiang Suheng retreated two steps in fright, narrowing her eyes as she watched him. “He looks awful. If Jiang Taohua saw this, she might be heartbroken.”

Just as they were gloating, the door behind them suddenly burst open. Jiang Suheng froze, turning to see the man standing in the doorway. Her legs instantly went weak.

Qian Baimei, radiating killing intent, flew over and grabbed Lady Lü and Jiang Suheng by the throat, pinning them against the wall.

“Ah!” Jiang Suheng screamed in terror but soon couldn’t make a sound. Her face turned red as she struggled to breathe.

Lady Lü remained calmer, having faced Qian Baimei’s wrath before. She coldly snorted, “You dare kill me? Then even Jiang Taohua’s antidote will be lost.”

“You think I don’t know you have no antidote?” Qian Baimei looked up, his eyes cold. “I should have killed you when I left last time. You think I’ll show mercy again?”

With that, he truly squeezed with lethal force.

Lady Lü panicked then, struggling as she gasped, “Wait… wait! Even if I don’t have a complete cure for the love bug, I have medicine to suppress it. You don’t want that either? Without it, they won’t even live a few more years!”

A group of imperial guards rushed in behind him, pointing swords at Qian Baimei. Furious and enraged, he released the two women and turned to unleash carnage. Drawing the soft sword from his sleeve, he slaughtered all the guards!

Dozens of guards fell in pools of blood, their corpses piling up. Lady Lü’s face turned deathly pale as she grabbed Jiang Suheng’s hand to flee. However, Qian Baimei’s long sleeve swept out, blocking their escape:

“Hand it over!”

Lady Lü trembled, reaching for a bottle of antidote to give him. Qian Baimei opened it and counted: “Twelve pills? I don’t have the patience to play games with you. Bring out all the antidotes!”

“Making the antidote takes time, and only I know how,” Lady Lü said, terrified. “So you can’t harm me!”

Anger surged within Qian Baimei. He turned to look at Jiang Changji writhing on the ground, cursing himself for being delayed outside. Frustrated, he spared the two women and went to administer the antidote.

Changji was in such pain that his mind was barely clear. His eyes were unfocused, his whole body shaking.

“Sister suffered like this?” he growled hoarsely. “It hurts so much I feel like I’m dying…”

Qian Baimei gritted his teeth. After giving him the antidote, he rose to circulate qi through Changji’s body. Just then, he heard Jiang Suheng’s scream from outside the hall.

This imperial eldest daughter lacked composure, screaming at everything. How unbefitting of a ruler. Contemptuous, he was about to continue circulating qi when he heard his disciple’s voice.

“Where are you two going?” Jiang Taohua smiled at them. “I haven’t even paid my respects to Mother Empress yet.”

Lady Lü was shocked to see the Wei Emperor and his elite soldiers behind her, their swords pointed at them. After a moment, she frowned and said, “You’ve brought foreign soldiers into our Zhao palace. Are you staging a rebellion?”

“Mother Empress, isn’t it against heaven’s will to confine Changji in the palace after he’s just achieved great merits?” The wind carried the scent of blood, making Taohua extremely uneasy. “Where is he?”

Lady Lü pressed her lips together. “Assassins have infiltrated the palace. Changji is still inside.”

Assassins? Taohua frowned and was about to enter when her master emerged from the hall. He approached her and said, “Little one, why are you in Zhao?”

“Master,” Taohua had no time for small talk and urgently asked, “Where’s Changji?”

“Don’t worry,” Qian Baimei lowered his eyes. “He’s fine, but it’s quite bloody inside. You’d better not go in. I’ll bring him to Consort Hua’s palace later, and you can talk there.”

Hearing this, Taohua relaxed and let out a big sigh of relief. She turned to Lady Lü and Jiang Suheng, saying, “Then I’ll pay my formal respects tonight. Farewell.”

Mu Wuxia followed behind her, not saying a word but exuding an imposing aura, making it clear that he was protecting her. Lady Lü, who had more to say, swallowed her words and watched helplessly as Jiang Taohua left.

“Mother Empress…” Jiang Suheng was angry. “Didn’t I tell you? She’s already bewitched him!”

“What are you afraid of?” Lady Lü whispered. “Jiang Changji has already consumed the love bug. Why worry about outliving him?”

As soon as she finished speaking, a cold breeze swept by. Lady Lü startled, turning to see Qian Baimei’s sword again.

“I have only one demand,” Qian Baimei looked down at them coldly. “If you reveal Jiang Changji’s poisoning to Jiang Taohua, I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth and tear you to pieces!”

Lady Lü’s heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to remain calm. “I’m not foolish. What good would it do me to tell? Rest assured.”

Jiang Suheng also nodded slightly, looking at him with fear.

Withdrawing his sword, Qian Baimei gave them a long look before turning to carry Changji out. Unsurprisingly, new imperial guards had arrived outside, protecting the Empress Dowager and Crown Princess while pointing their spears at him.

“Stand aside. I’m not in the mood to play with you today,” he said softly. “If you keep blocking me, I won’t leave any corpses intact!”

Everyone in the Zhao palace was all too familiar with Qian Baimei. Even with his official position, no one could do anything to him. After killing so many people, it would likely be forgotten. So this show of force was just for the Empress Dowager’s benefit. As he stepped forward, the guards retreated, until he left the palace.

“That madman!” Lady Lü exclaimed, still shaken and angry. “Isn’t there any way to kill him?”

Jiang Suheng shook her head. “Father Emperor has tried every method. Nothing works.”

“So we must always be threatened by him?” Lady Lü trembled with rage.

Jiang Suheng remained silent. She didn’t mind the threats, as they only forced her mother to make antidotes. Now that Jiang Changji was also poisoned, neither sibling would live long. They couldn’t compete for the throne anymore, which was what she cared about.

No matter how formidable Jiang Taohua was, after all this turmoil, wasn’t her life still in their hands?

Qian Baimei took Jiang Changji to a secluded place, helped regulate his internal energy, and waited for the medicine to take effect. Then he patted Changji’s face. “Changji, don’t sleep yet. Your imperial sister is waiting for you.”

Changji gritted his teeth, pinching his arm to stay awake. He looked at Qian Baimei and asked, “Master, has my sister seen me?”

“No,” Qian Baimei sighed. “She’s waiting for you in Changning Palace. You don’t look well, and I fear she’ll worry.”

Changji was startled. He quickly sat in meditation to regulate his energy, then stood up and tried moving. “Is this better?”

“Mm,” Qian Baimei lowered his eyes. “Don’t tell your imperial sister about your poisoning for now. I’ll find a way to cure both of you.”

“Alright,” Changji nodded, unaware that the poison was incurable. “With you here, Master, I’m at ease. Let’s go see my sister now.”

“Mm, let’s go,” Qian Baimei walked with him towards Changning Palace, his heart heavy with despair for another person.

Why were these siblings’ fates so arduous?

Taohua waited nervously, fearing something had happened to Changji. But when he arrived, apart from looking a bit pale, he seemed uninjured.

“Imperial Sister,” Changji rushed over as soon as he saw her, his eyes bright. “I’ve finally seen you!”

“Yes,” Taohua pushed him into a chair. She had so much to say but found her throat tight. She could only look him over, murmuring, “Let me see… you seem to have grown stronger?”

Changji smiled, flexing his arm muscles. “I’ve been working hard at martial arts and leading troops in battle, so naturally I’m stronger. Now I can protect you well, and no one will bully you again!”

Taohua’s eyes reddened as she nodded. “Good. If anyone bullies me in the future, I’ll invoke your name!”

The siblings laughed, the atmosphere warm. Mu Wuxia sat in the main seat, watching enviously. He listened to Jiang Taohua fuss over her brother for half an hour, suddenly missing his sister.

He too had grown stronger and could protect others now, but… those people were no longer here.

“Your Majesty,” Taohua turned to him with a smile. “The palace is preparing a welcoming banquet for you tonight. Will you attend?”

Snapping back to reality, Mu Wuxia nodded. “Of course. You two siblings seem to have many debts to settle in this palace.”

Taohua laughed. “Is Your Majesty offering to back us up in settling these debts?”

“Indeed,” Mu Wuxia smiled. “Why else would I enter the palace?”

Qian Baimei listened with surprise, giving Mu Wuxia several glances. “The Emperor of Wei is much better than the Prime Minister. He’s worth befriending.”

“You flatter me,” Mu Wuxia nodded. “I’ve heard you’re quite formidable, sir. I haven’t had the chance to experience it myself.”

“Let’s not,” Taohua quickly waved her hands. “My master doesn’t know his strength.”

Mu Wuxia chuckled softly. “Sister still underestimates me. But now isn’t the time for sparring. Sister, Changji, why don’t you tell me about your grievances with the Empress Dowager and Crown Princess?”

“That might take days and nights,” Taohua clicked her tongue. “Let’s talk about it tomorrow. For now, let’s prepare for the evening banquet.”

“Alright,” Mu Wuxia agreed, rising to instruct people to prepare formal attire. After briefly understanding the palace situation, he accompanied them to the banquet at dusk.

Although Zhao’s Emperor Jiawu was incompetent and neglectful of state affairs, with enemy troops at the city gates, he finally came to his senses from his harem and began to seriously consider negotiating with Wei. However, as the banquet began, a young beauty came forward to pay respects first.

“Your child pays respects to Father Emperor and Empress Dowager.”

Your child? Emperor Jiawu was taken aback and tentatively asked, “Taohua?”

Hearing his tone, Mu Wuxia frowned. “In this day and age, there are still fathers who don’t recognize their daughters?”

Qian Baimei, sitting casually behind him, lowered his voice. “The Zhao Emperor hasn’t truly looked at Taohua for years. Now that the little one has grown into a woman, of course, he wouldn’t recognize her.”

Mu Wuxia fell silent. He had thought his father was ridiculous, but there were even more absurd ones.

“Rise,” Emperor Jiawu smiled. “Now that you’ve found a good match, you must thank the Wei Emperor for his care.”

He then raised his cup to Mu Wuxia. “Heroes emerge young. Wei Emperor, you’re so young yet rule a strong country and command the world. Truly remarkable.”

“You’re too kind,” Mu Wuxia held his cup. “Your third prince is also a dragon among men. His military exploits in this campaign are numerous. If he were in Wei, he’d surely be appointed Grand Marshal.”

Emperor Jiawu was surprised and turned curiously to the Empress Dowager. “Has Changji achieved such great merits?”

Lady Lü whispered irritably, “It’s just polite talk. Your Majesty, don’t take it seriously. Changji is just a child. It’s good enough if he doesn’t drag others down. How could he have such abilities?”

“Empress Dowager, you can speak louder,” Qian Baimei interjected. “Everyone present except me probably can’t hear you.”

Lady Lü was startled and pressed her lips together, saying nothing. Emperor Jiawu frowned at Qian Baimei, both annoyed and helpless. “How can Minister Qian sit behind the Wei Emperor? It’s improper.”

“Well then,” Qian Baimei stood up, cupped his hands, and raised an eyebrow with a slight smile. “Should this lowly official sit beside Your Majesty instead?”

“…” Frightened, Emperor Jiawu quickly shook his head. “Since the banquet has started, you’d better stay seated.”

If Qian Baimei sat next to him and suddenly went berserk again, what would they do?

Mu Wuxia found this extremely interesting. Qian Baimei had just killed people in the palace in front of the Empress Dowager, yet these people couldn’t hold him accountable and had to flatter him instead.

Powerful people were indeed fortunate. They didn’t need any status; their very presence inspired fear.

“Father Emperor,” Taohua, still standing below, looked up at him. “Your child has returned to discuss Changji’s matters with you.”

“Oh?” Emperor Jiawu nodded. “What matters? Speak.”

(End of Chapter)