Someone beside them couldn’t help asking: “With no official title or rank, how can his mansion be larger than a duke’s residence?”

Wei Wenxi chuckled: “If the King of Yan doesn’t object, who would dare express dissatisfaction?”

If the Lord of Yangshan had been residing in the capital of Wei for years, with such grandeur and flamboyance, it would be impossible not to attract the ruler’s attention. The fact that he could act as he pleased for decades proved that the King of Yan acknowledged his existence, or at least was powerless against him.

Lu Chuanying asked: “He doesn’t hold a position at court?”

“Not officially,” Wei Wenxi replied, a statement everyone could understand. What relationship the Lord of Yangshan had with Yan behind the scenes was known only to him and a select few. Otherwise, why would the Lord of Yangshan intervene on Yan’s behalf during the great battle?

Feng Miaojun knew even more—the Lord of Yangshan might even be the true murderer of Prince Wei! If, as Wei Wenxi claimed, he held no official titles, then why would he go to such lengths for Yan?

Did he kill Prince Wei out of public enmity or private grudge?

Perhaps this was why the King of Yan turned a blind eye to his activities.

At that moment, endless curiosity welled up in Feng Miaojun’s heart. However, Wei Wenxi had already closed his mouth as the buzzing discussions throughout the hall disappeared with the auctioneer’s third strike of the hammer:

“Eight thousand five hundred spirit stones, sold!”

He cleared his throat forcefully: “Next, we’ll auction the second drop of Golden Branch Jade Dew, starting at eight thousand five hundred spirit stones!”

Naturally, no one would respond except the Lord of Yangshan.

Each drop of Golden Branch Jade Dew was worth more than 2.8 million silver taels. Even the wealthy magnates present couldn’t easily produce such a sum.

The following procedure became somewhat monotonous and dull, as the Golden Branch Jade Dew was sold drop by drop, with the Lord of Yangshan buying them one by one. Only his voice and the auctioneer’s alternated throughout the hall.

The audience below had grown numb.

For ordinary people, there was no practical difference between 2.8 million and 28 million silver taels—both were unimaginable astronomical figures.

It wasn’t until the seventh drop was being auctioned that someone from another private box spoke: “Lord of Yangshan, I urgently need this Golden Branch Jade Dew, one drop would suffice.” After a pause, seeing no reaction from the Lord of Yangshan, he finally stated his bid.

Since the other party had greeted him first, showing respect, the Lord of Yangshan remained silent this time, allowing him to win this drop of Golden Branch Jade Dew.

It seemed these two knew each other, though it was unclear how the Lord of Yangshan had identified him.

By now, Feng Miaojun’s thoughts had become active again.

After Jing Shun and the others returned to Wei, both Xiao Yan and Yun Ya would surely learn about what happened here and realize that the Lord of Yangshan was a major suspect in Prince Wei’s murder. Especially Xiao Yan—would he seek revenge for his father?

Given the Lord of Yangshan’s abilities, if Xiao Yan wanted to deal with him, wouldn’t he need to enlist Yun Ya’s help to have any chance?

In other words, if these two tigers fought each other, would she have an opportunity to benefit from their conflict and obtain the Golden Branch Jade Dew?

This thought, once sprouted, grew uncontrollably like wild grass.

So, how could she track this battle between supreme masters in real-time? This wouldn’t be a grand confrontation between armies of thousands or tens of thousands. Both the Lord of Yangshan and Yun Ya were elusive figures—how would she know when they would face each other directly?

Did she need to return to Yun Ya’s side to keep a constant watch on him?

Feng Miaojun covered her face with her hand.

No way! She had carefully seized the opportunity to escape from Yun Ya, and who knew how many vicious tricks he had prepared to deal with her? If she now returned and walked into his trap, tsk tsk tsk…

For a few seconds, she wavered, thinking about simply giving up on the Golden Branch Jade Dew and focusing on establishing her business in the Peach Source Realm, leaving everything else to fate.

Just for those few seconds.

Then she thought of Yun Ya’s sickly appearance, his unscrupulous methods, and the countless powerful figures he would offend. Hmph, sooner or later, heaven would deal with such a demon who brought calamity to the world. She didn’t want to be implicated.

Was there another way? Perhaps approaching the Lord of Yangshan?

With this thought, the knot in her heart began to unravel.

However, countless people wanted to get close to this powerful figure. What method could she use to become familiar with him? After thinking, she said to Lu Chuanying: “Uncle Lu, there’s nothing much to see here. I want to change venues.”

Lu Chuanying stood up: “Where to?”

She didn’t speak, but her gaze drifted upward.

All the private boxes were located above.

Lu Chuanying vaguely understood and frowned as he followed her out: “You want to go… that’s not very safe.”

Feng Miaojun smiled: “I’m not stealing or robbing, why would he fixate on me?”

Her smile was cunning, and Lu Chuanying sighed helplessly. This girl was naturally tenacious. When the Golden Branch Jade Dew was auctioned away earlier, he thought she had given up, not realizing she wouldn’t rest until achieving her goal and was now devising another scheme.

Feng Miaojun added: “Please go back to the inn to look after my mother, Uncle Lu. Tonight I feel uneasy, as if something significant is about to happen.”

Lu Chuanying considered briefly but didn’t insist, only cautioning her to “be careful” before turning to leave.

Feng Miaojun walked toward the side door and slipped out with a quick movement.

Beacon fires burn for three months, war reports fly like snowflakes.

Finally enduring until the court session ended, Xiao Yan massaged his temples as he returned to his residence. A servant reported: “The State Preceptor has arrived.”

“Show him in.”

Yun Ya entered the study and, seeing Xiao Yan’s bitter expression, couldn’t help but smile: “Lost again?”

“Cursed mouth! What do you mean by ‘again’?!” Well, in truth, during the initial stages of the conflict, the royal court’s response wasn’t as effective as Xiao Jing’s. The former was a massive entity with too many conflicting opinions, and Xiao Yan didn’t excel in military matters. The generals often disagreed, unlike the northeastern army that followed only Xiao Jing’s orders.

But as the war progressed, Xiao Yan’s control over the overall situation became increasingly precise, gradually gaining the royal court’s trust. The cultivators, led by the State Preceptor, supported him wholeheartedly. On the other side, the accusation that Xiao Jing had murdered his father had spread, and the harm of losing moral support began to manifest.

He had declared himself king, but the troops and people within his territory didn’t follow him.

Naturally, Xiao Jing didn’t want to be universally condemned and issued multiple “edicts” bitterly accusing Xiao Yan of patricide and framing him. Unfortunately, lacking evidence, the world didn’t believe him.

Xiao Yan crossed his legs, not without pride: “After Mingqian Pass, we’ve won another victory.” The great victory at Mingqian Pass was the turning point of the war. If Xiao Jing’s army had passed through, they would have reached the vast, fertile valley region beyond. Unfortunately for him, they were halted right there.

An attendant had just poured tea for Yun Ya when Xiao Yan waved his hand, dismissing everyone and leaving only the two of them in the study.

Yun Ya took a light sip, his leisurely appearance in stark contrast to the second prince who was acting as regent.

Xiao Yan looked at him resentfully. Recently, the State Preceptor hadn’t needed to intervene in military affairs. After several months of recovery, Yun Ya’s complexion had gradually become ruddy, clearly showing that his heart condition hadn’t flared up recently.