She gave him the address, took out a key, and pressed it into his hand. “Don’t climb in through the window, it looks unsightly.”

Yun Ya couldn’t care less. “As long as there’s a bed.”

The two of them had enjoyed all manner of wealth and glory, yet being together was what society wouldn’t permit.

Feng Miaojun couldn’t help but punch his chest lightly, giggling: “When you come, I’ll hang the words ‘Golden Chamber’ above the door.”

A metal chamber to hide a lover—she knew officials and wealthy merchants often did this, but whose “lover” could compare to the Queen’s?

Yun Ya immediately leaned against her shoulder, breathing into her ear: “Darling, I’m completely at your mercy. Just don’t betray me in the future.”

Half of Feng Miaojun’s body went numb. She turned to see his peach blossom eyes dreamy, his red lips slightly parted, presenting a look of complete availability. Suddenly, she pushed him down onto the wooden chair and pulled open his inner robe.

Her fingers touched firm abdominal muscles, smooth as warm jade, making her unconsciously lick her lips. “There’s still sometime before dawn.” Although he had already copied the Ao Fish Mark, this activity was inherently pleasurable, and she was someone who enjoyed indulgence. Once she had tasted its sweetness, how could she let go?

She untied the strings at her chest, and her already loose soft robe immediately slid to the floor, revealing limitless beauty.

Yun Ya’s breathing also grew rapid.

With departure imminent, who said she didn’t care? She had merely transformed her longing into another kind of desire.

After the fifteenth day of the first month, the New Year celebrations were considered over.

At sunrise, the first decree signed by the Queen of New Xia was for immediate execution.

Grand Tutor Lu had attempted suicide in prison the previous night, leaving an impassioned blood-written note on the wall. However, General Hong’s subordinates discovered it early and saved him in time.

Feng Miaojun had specially approved precious medicinal pills to sustain his life, allowing him to survive until this afternoon.

When the sovereign wanted him to die, he had to die at exactly that moment—not a second earlier, not a second later.

Before the execution, Feng Miaojun went to the imperial prison to visit him.

After just one night, Grand Tutor Lu appeared haggard, his eyes lifeless, truly like a nonagenarian on the verge of death. The Lu family members were confined in other cells, but he remained unmoved by their bitter weeping and angry curses. When Feng Miaojun arrived, he merely spat phlegm onto the ground.

“Queen of New Xia, you’ve merely taken advantage of a situation. Jiao will not be yours forever, nor will the Jiao people be your subjects.” Facing death, he spoke without restraint.

The jailer brought the cleanest chair available, which had been wiped many times beforehand. Feng Miaojun sat down slowly, with Chen Dachang standing behind her. “If the Jiao people are not my subjects, are they yours?”

Having attempted suicide once, Grand Tutor Lu was physically weak and could only half-sit on the ground, even his roars were feeble. “Even if I die, there will be others.”

“Such arrogance,” Feng Miaojun interrupted him. “Does your small group dare to represent the entire Jiao? How much do you truly understand about the common people?”

“There are still a million commoners in Yinzi City, with only fifty thousand New Xia people. Yet the one sitting here giving orders is me, while plotters of rebellion like you can only wait in prison to be hanged. This proves that the majority of Jiao people support me.” She leaned slightly forward. “As long as they can live good lives, commoners don’t care who holds power or gives orders. Only people like you use so-called public opinion as an arrow, wanting to restore your former good times.”

Grand Tutor Lu replied coldly: “We shall see.”

“You won’t be able to see it—this is not a pleasant wager to make.” Feng Miaojun shrugged. “Why not do something meaningful instead?”

She pointed to the other cells. “Do you know how many members of the Lu family are imprisoned here?”

Grand Tutor Lu looked over, but the Lu descendants crowded behind the iron bars had such complicated expressions that he instinctively avoided their gaze, lowering his head. “Three hundred.”

Feng Miaojun corrected him: “Three hundred and thirty-one, including your most beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Oh, Lu Ping isn’t here, you can rest assured.” She smiled lightly. “They’re all very filial—they’ll accompany you on your journey to the Yellow Springs.”

Plotting rebellion was a crime punishable by the execution of nine clans in any country.

The women in the cells immediately burst into tears, their voices penetrating hearts in this narrow space. The jailer struck the bars forcefully. “Quiet, all of you!”

Feng Miaojun raised her hand to stop him from speaking, and amid the weeping of the Lu family, she said to Grand Tutor Lu: “You’ve been so focused on your grand vision of national restoration, how long has it been since you truly looked at each one of them?”

Grand Tutor Lu remained silent.

He knew his ambitions were great, which made him neglect other matters. If he were forty or fifty years younger, he could surely have managed both. But he had aged, his energy much diminished; he could only concentrate and focus on doing one thing well.

Unfortunately, he still hadn’t succeeded.

He spoke hoarsely: “I will offer a treasure in exchange for their lives.”

Feng Miaojun laughed lightly. “Oh, your conscience has awakened?”

“That treasure could serve as a national heirloom.”

Now Feng Miaojun was moved. “A divine artifact?”

“Not a divine artifact. Without my guidance, no one would recognize it as a supreme treasure.” Grand Tutor Lu said through gritted teeth. “I obtained it by chance many years ago. If you spare the Lu descendants, the treasure is yours.”

“A treasure that doesn’t even qualify as a divine artifact, and you dare to offer it?” Feng Miaojun snorted softly. “Grand Tutor Lu, you are in no position to bargain with me.”

She clasped her hands and placed them on her knees. “I’ll give you one last chance. Reveal your other conspirators in the regions. One location, one name,” her gaze swept over the cells holding the Lu family, “and you can save one Lu family member’s life. You may specify who lives.”

Upon hearing this, the cells holding the Lu family immediately erupted in cries. His descendants and relatives all shouted: “Great Ancestor, save me!”

Grand Tutor Lu’s mind was in chaos. He licked his cracked lips. “If they live, then what?”

“Banishment to the frontier.” Feng Miaojun said impatiently. “Being alive is already a mercy; you have no room to negotiate. Even if you don’t reveal the rebels across the regions, I will eventually cleanse them—it’s just a matter of time.”

She looked at the iron window. “It’s only one hour until noon. Grand Tutor Lu, please make the most of your time.” She stood up and said to the jailer, “Give him paper and brush.”

“Queen Changle.”

Feng Miaojun stopped but didn’t turn around.

Grand Tutor Lu said venomously: “Your collusion with the Wei Kingdom is like seeking aid from a tiger. It will lead both New Xia and Greater Jiao to irreversible disaster.”

“Is that so?” Feng Miaojun didn’t look back.

“Those little tricks between you and the State Preceptor of Wei can’t fool everyone.”

So he had figured it out. Not surprising—since Grand Tutor Lu had secretly colluded with the Prince of Yan, he must have obtained intelligence about Queen Changle and the State Preceptor of Wei from the latter. Feng Miaojun laughed softly. “Unfortunately, whatever happens in the future, you won’t be around to see it.”