Feng Jiu’er saw the disappointment in Jian Yi’s eyes and gave a light cough.

“Worst case, I’ll introduce you to a few more candidates.”

After all, the man had stayed up all night with a torch to come “rescue” her — she couldn’t very well be ungrateful.

“I only like your type.”

Jian Yi’s eyes were firm, not the least bit joking.

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together and looked away.

“That’s a pretty high standard.”

“My qualifications are good — I’m entitled to some standards.”

Jian Yi raised an eyebrow in response.

“Right, your qualifications are good.”

Feng Jiu’er nodded, smiling faintly.

“Then go find a girl with good qualifications too.”

“Let’s go, I’m sleepy. I need to get back and rest.”

“All right.”

Jian Yi nodded, matching his horse’s pace to hers.

“I’m sleepy too.”

The two of them, on their two horses, walked across the grassland, the moonlight stretching their shadows long, very long.

…

Three days later, in the Yuxiao Hall.

Seated on the main throne, Zhan Lingtian swept the memorial reports off the table before him.

He stared at the two men kneeling on the ground and asked in a low voice, “What’s going on with you two? Can’t even keep watch over one person?”

“Your Majesty, spare us!”

The man kneeling on the left kowtowed.

“This humble official has already sent many men out searching, we’ve practically combed the entire imperial city, and we still can’t find the Prince Regent.”

He carefully raised his head to look at the man on the throne, and asked quietly, “Your Majesty, do you think it’s possible the Prince Regent has already left the city?”

“Your Majesty, should this humble official take men outside the city to search?”

“It’s only been three days. Where could he have run to?”

Zhan Lingtian’s voice grew even more menacing.

“Your Majesty, if the Prince Regent had prepared in advance to leave the city, it isn’t impossible,” the man said, his brow furrowed tightly.

“Your Majesty, should we widen our search to other places?”

Zhan Lingtian took a deep breath, ignoring the man who’d just spoken, his gaze falling instead on the man kneeling beside him.

“What does Old Seventh have to say about this?”

The man kneeling on the right raised his eyes to look at Zhan Lingtian, cupping his hands.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, Prince Luo said… he said…”

“Said what?”

Zhan Lingtian’s thick brow furrowed.

Seeing this, the man prostrated himself again on the ground.

“Your Majesty, spare me! Prince Luo said he would hand over the military seal in his possession only over his dead body.”

“Your Majesty.”

Ye Xuening frowned slightly.

“It seems it’s time we taught this Old Seventh a lesson.”

“Mother, what’s your wise counsel?”

Zhan Lingtian turned to look at Ye Xuening, asking in a low voice.

Many had doubts about whether Zhan Lingtian was truly the orphaned heir of the Di family, and Zhan Luori was one of them.

His bond of loyalty with Zhan Qingcheng would not change simply because someone’s identity had changed.

Even while Emperor Qiwen had still been alive, he hadn’t dared send Zhan Luori to confront Zhan Qingcheng directly.

Now that Ye Xuening had produced the retired emperor’s decree, Zhan Luori knew this throne rightfully belonged to Di Wu Ya, and he was even less willing to act against Zhan Qingcheng.

Zhan Luori said nothing, but Zhan Lingtian understood well enough — he was far more inclined to believe that Zhan Qingcheng was the true Di Wu Ya.

When Zhan Lingtian had claimed the throne, it had been only natural for him to take over the Hulong Army that had been under Zhan Yuheng’s command.

But Zhan Luori, as a prince, gave Zhan Lingtian no easy excuse to strip him of his military power.

Zhan Lingtian had been slow to act not only because of Zhan Yuheng, but even more because of his wariness of Zhan Luori.

Zhan Luori commanded eighty or ninety thousand troops.

Once this war broke out, if Zhan Luori suddenly turned against him, it would be an absolutely fatal blow to Zhan Lingtian.

Before Ye Xuening could say anything more, a burst of agonized screams rang out from outside.

Just as Zhan Lingtian and Ye Xuening rose to their feet, several of the guards stationed outside were sent flying through the air.

Qiao Mu appeared at the entrance of the main hall in full combat gear, with Jian Yi and Yu Jingfeng standing guard at her sides.

“Ye Xuening, your day of reckoning has come — come out and meet your death!”

No one could have imagined they would be this audacious — right now, in broad daylight at high noon, they had simply charged in without warning.

Qiao Mu glanced at Ye Xuening and Zhan Lingtian, frowned slightly, and took two steps back.

Suddenly, the forms of a dragon and a phoenix flashed before everyone’s eyes.

The dragon and phoenix vanished from sight, and at once the sound of fighting erupted within.

The auras of Feng Jiu’er and Di Wu Ya were too overwhelming — before Ye Xuening could even react, she was knocked back several yards by the sheer force of their presence.

Such powerful internal energy — she had never witnessed anything like it.

Ye Xuening fell to the ground, clutching at her chest as she tried to rise, only to find Qiao Mu and Ye Luocha already standing before her.

With a scream of agony, Ye Xuening no longer even had the strength to draw her sword.

She stared at her own blood-soaked legs and screamed out again.

“What’s your name?”

Qiao Mu’s low voice was more than enough to drown out Ye Xuening’s screaming.

“This is General Long’s revenge, repaid through me!”

With a swish, Ye Luocha drew her long sword and slashed it across Ye Xuening’s face.

“This is for the Empress, repaid through me!”

As the words left her mouth, one cut, two cuts, three cuts — Ye Luocha slashed at that face again and again, unable to satisfy her hatred.

“Enough.”

Qiao Mu gripped Ye Luocha’s arm and shook her head.

“Keep this up and no one will even remember what she used to look like.”

“My face, my face…”

For a moment, Ye Xuening couldn’t accept this change.

Her legs were wounded, she couldn’t stand, and now even her face had been ruined — every inch of her body was wracked with searing pain.

Ye Xuening covered her face, raised her eyes to the people before her, and screamed, “You’ll pay for my face, you…”

Taking advantage of her distraction, Qiao Mu threw a pill into her mouth.

Ye Xuening’s crescent brows furrowed as she swallowed the whole pill.

She coughed hard, reaching out a hand, trying to strike her own chest to force the pill back up.

Ye Luocha gave her no such chance, striking out with one palm and sending Ye Xuening flying.

Two thuds sounded — Ye Xuening had just hit the ground when the badly wounded Zhan Lingtian crashed down heavily right beside her.

“Lingtian.”

Ye Xuening gritted her teeth and forced herself up, supporting Zhan Lingtian.

“Lingtian, what’s wrong? Lingtian, wake up, please.”

Ye Xuening propped Zhan Lingtian up, placing both hands on his back.

The moment she channeled her internal energy, her brow furrowed sharply.

With a splat, a mouthful of dark blood spewed from Ye Xuening’s mouth.

“Forgot to mention,” Qiao Mu said, arriving beside Ye Xuening and raising an eyebrow, “after taking that pill, if you don’t want to die, you’d best not use your internal energy.”

Feng Jiu’er leapt down, landing steadily in front of Zhan Lingtian.

She stared at Ye Xuening and said in a low, cold voice, “Empress Dowager, now I’m going to let you taste exactly what it feels like to lose someone closest to you!”

The moment the words left her mouth, Feng Jiu’er thrust her sword forward, driving it straight into Zhan Lingtian’s heart.

“No!”

Ye Xuening screamed, desperate to stop it, but utterly powerless to do so.

She watched, eyes wide, as the sword pierced through Zhan Lingtian’s body, as if she’d gone mad.

“Lingtian, no!”

Qiao Mu grabbed hold of Ye Xuening, giving her no chance to harm Feng Jiu’er.

“Let go of me!”

Ye Xuening struggled wildly.

“Lingtian, no! Don’t hurt my Lingtian.”