The lake’s surface was vast and open, with strong winds howling. Chen Da Chang took a cloak to shield her, and this action drew her out of her deep contemplation. Turning her head, she saw Mo Ti Zhun with tightly furrowed brows but unfocused eyes, clearly also preoccupied with his thoughts.

Even someone as esteemed as the Grand Preceptor couldn’t act entirely as he pleased and had his troubles.

Mo Ti Zhun was perceptive. Noticing her gaze, he glanced over: “What you said earlier was correct. It won’t be easy to deal with the Li household based solely on this assassiKingdom attempt.”

Feng Miao Jun snorted: “I’m still a child.” He was the Grand Preceptor after all; what problem couldn’t he handle that he needed to ask her?

“You’re too late,” Mo Ti Zhun remained unmoved. “If you still want to distance yourself from this, are you just as foolish as Li Yuan Fa?”

“Yet this foolish Li Yuan Fa has caused you considerable trouble, hasn’t he?”

Mo Ti Zhun’s mouth twitched: “If you can solve this problem, I’ll ensure you live comfortably in Jin’s capital, receiving the treatment befitting a princess.”

And the inverse was implied—though he didn’t say it explicitly, she understood.

Feng Miao Jun said with a pained expression: “Tell me your troubles, and I’ll see how to resolve them.”

“My disciple conspired with Li Yuan Fa against me, but even if I brought them before the King, I couldn’t prove the Li family intended to deal with me,” Mo Ti Zhun snorted. “I can’t even prove Li Yuan Fa moved against me.”

He spoke vaguely, but Feng Miao Jun had been pondering this the entire journey and understood. What connection could be drawn between the Grand Preceptor’s disciple’s betrayal and the Prime Minister’s residence? If he told anyone, people would only mock the great Grand Preceptor for his poor judgment in raising such an ungrateful disciple.

That’s why he killed his disciple without a moment’s hesitation, knowing that keeping him alive would serve no purpose.

As for Li Yuan Fa—what evidence could prove he had colluded with Mo Ti Zhun’s disciple to harm the Grand Preceptor? The testimony of Mo’s third disciple alone held no persuasive power. Even if he filed a complaint before the King, the Prime Minister’s household could rightfully refute: this was false accusation, Mo Ti Zhun manipulating his disciple to frame the Li family.

So, Mo Ti Zhun had suffered a substantial loss yet couldn’t find a way to vent his anger or seek justice—truly frustrating!

Feng Miao Jun tilted her head: “You’re the Grand Preceptor, can’t you just recite a spell or draw a talisman to curse his entire family?” If the Grand Preceptor couldn’t demonstrate vast supernatural powers, what kind of Grand Preceptor was he?

“By your logic, I could easily use mystical arts to harm the family of anyone in the royal court who opposes me?” Mo Ti Zhun’s gaze was quite peculiar. “That would violate principles and regulations, causing me to lose my qualification as Grand Preceptor.”

Very well, she pulled her attention back from devious methods: “What kind of character is Li Shi Long?”

“Cunning and crafty,” he said coldly. “Mature and steady.” If Li Shi Long had personally orchestrated this assassiKingdom attempt, Mo Ti Zhun wasn’t confident he would have returned alive.

“Is Li Yuan Fa favored in his family?”

“Li Shi Long has one daughter and three sons. The eldest daughter is married, and the second son died a few years ago. So yes, he deeply cherishes his two remaining sons.”

She nodded: “What would happen if you didn’t make an accusation?”

“What?” Mo Ti Zhun didn’t understand.

“If you don’t file a complaint before the King, what will the Li household do?”

“Nothing would happen…” How could he let the Li family act as if nothing had occurred after he had suffered such a disadvantage?

“You think you’re the only one who’s suffered a loss? Isn’t Li Shi Long anxious about losing his son?” Feng Miao Jun saw through his thoughts. “I believe that before Li Yuan Fa attempted to ambush you, he must have sent a secret message home explaining everything. Of course, you couldn’t intercept this letter, and the Li family would have destroyed it immediately upon receipt.” At just seventeen years old, Li Yuan Fa certainly lacked confidence in confronting the Grand Preceptor and would have prepared contingency plans. In case of death, he would want his family to know who killed him, so this secret letter must have revealed his plans.

“Pop!” A sudden flash of insight appeared in Mo Ti Zhun’s mind, like a cork suddenly pulled from a bottle. He was a clever man who immediately grasped her meaning and exclaimed involuntarily: “I understand!”

Yes, yes, he had been so focused on how to strike first against the Li family upon his return that he forgot he also held leverage that Li Shi Long greatly feared:

Li Yuan Fa.

He couldn’t present Li Yuan Fa as a witness before the Jin King, but so what?

Li Yuan Fa was still Li Shi Long’s flesh and blood. Wouldn’t a father be anxious about his precious son’s disappearance? Especially since Li Shi Long would have received his son’s final letter, which clearly stated that Li Yuan Fa’s target was Mo Ti Zhun!

Wasn’t that enough to make the old man extremely anxious, as if beating a drum in his heart?

Mo Ti Zhun only needed to hold his position. Without news of his son, Prime Minister Li would grow increasingly agitated, increasingly desperate to learn whether he was alive or dead. So…

Mo Ti Zhun laughed heartily.

Once he understood this point, he could arrange the rest himself.

Feng Miao Jun glanced at him: “I want the best of everything for my food, drink, entertainment, and all other expenses in Jin.”

“Agreed,” Mo Ti Zhun replied readily. Why wouldn’t he be willing to offer such small benefits to resolve a major concern?

Three hours later, the stingray finally reached the opposite shore of the lake. After dropping off its passengers, it submerged and disappeared.

None of the three had horses, but since they were already within Jin territory, Mo Ti Zhun requisitioned fast horses from the relay station to gallop into the city, where they acquired two strange beasts called One-Tailed Zheng.

These monstrous beasts had reddish fur and resembled leopards, though they were more than twice a leopard’s size. Each had a single horn on its head and made sounds like clinking jade, hence their name. However, they only possessed partial Zheng bloodlines. True Zheng had multiple tails and blood-red fur.

The two One-Tailed Zheng were reportedly the city lord’s treasures, but Mo Ti Zhun requisitioned them so frequently that it seemed as if they were specifically raised for his use.

When the One-Tailed Zheng ran, they moved like clouds and mist, incomparably faster and more comfortable than ordinary horses. With another three hours of travel, they would reach Feng Yi, the capital of the Jin Kingdom.

Feng Miao Jun could no longer stay awake and fell into a deep slumber.

This sleep was both deep and sweet. She even dreamed of returning to her homeland, healthy and free from illness, living a prosperous life. But once, while traveling, she was abducted on the street, a sack thrown over her head. During the entire journey, she calculated how much money the kidnappers would demand, but when she was removed from the sack, the first face she saw was Yun Kai’s impossibly handsome visage.

He smiled with extreme malice, then told her that the solution she had found was completely ineffective—the life connection between them remained unbroken, which was why he had pursued her all this way. He had also prepared a small dark room for her, which would be her home for the rest of her life…

Feng Miao Jun quickly awoke, taking two deep breaths, momentarily unable to distinguish reality from dream. The little maid outside heard the commotion and entered through the curtains, concernedly asking: “Miss, your face is so red. Did you have a nightmare?” Red as an apple, yet with skin so tender it seemed water would spring forth if pinched—anyone who saw it would want to take a bite.