“Attendants!”

At the Empress’s command, the guards stationed outside immediately entered: “Your Highness, what are your orders?”

“Has Feng Jiu’er been found yet?” Having waited the better part of the entire night, the Empress’s patience was thoroughly exhausted.

“In… in reply to Your Highness, Commander Zheng’s side… has not yet sent any news back.”

No news meant she had not been found. The guard was trembling with apprehension, terrified of displeasing the Empress.

As expected, the cup in the Empress’s hand flew with a crack and struck his body.

“This subordinate deserves death! This subordinate deserves death!” The guard was so frightened he shook uncontrollably, not even daring to lift his head.

Mama Qin understood that unless Feng Jiu’er was disposed of, the Empress would never be satisfied.

After a moment’s thought, she suddenly said: “Your Highness the Empress, did we not hear earlier that the Imperial Guard’s compound keeps a number of hunting hounds that can track any scent?”

The guard’s eyes immediately lit up at that. He raised his head and looked at the Empress: “Your Highness, this subordinate will release the hounds at once — I guarantee Feng Jiu’er and Mu Mu’s whereabouts will be found very shortly.”

That Mu Mu fellow — the Empress paid him no mind whatsoever. But hounds?

She curled her lips into a smile for the first time: “Very well. Release the hounds. If Feng Jiu’er is found, have the hounds go straight for her and bite her to death!”

“Understood!”

“One more thing,” the Empress paused.

The guard immediately said: “Your Highness the Empress, do you have further instructions?”

The Empress pressed her lips together and said coolly: “I deliberately arranged for the Crown Prince to be kept away from this matter earlier. This affair must under no circumstances reach His Highness’s ears — is that understood?”

“This subordinate understands. Afterward, this subordinate will announce to the outside world that the Dragon Martial Army’s men suspected Feng Jiu’er of committing indecent acts within the Regular Army compound, and that our Imperial Guards were merely assisting the Dragon Martial compound in apprehending her.”

“As for Feng Jiu’er — should she die outside, that will be her own doing, killed in the course of being apprehended. She brought it upon herself, and no other party bears responsibility.”

A faint smile rested at the corner of the Empress’s lips. She waved her hand, and the guard immediately withdrew, going off to deploy the hounds.

“Your Highness, are you not afraid that the Ninth Prince might receive word and come rushing back?” Mama Qin was still somewhat uneasy.

After all, the cold and imposing aura about the Ninth Prince was not something an ordinary person could withstand.

“The Heaven Venerate Sect’s members have been moving within the Imperial City, while beyond the city walls, traces of Night Underworld Palace disciples have been spotted. Word has come that the Night Underworld Palace’s Young Palace Master has also arrived this time.”

“A’Jiu personally rode out of the city to investigate the Night Underworld Palace and the Heaven Venerate Sect’s movements. At the earliest, it will be two days before he can return.”

On this point, the Empress was not the least bit concerned: “With this matter involving Feng Jiu’er having blown up into such a spectacle — with both the Dragon Martial Army and the Imperial Guards’ compound mobilizing so many men — she has nowhere left to run this time.”

“Unless A’Jiu was already within the Imperial City all along, there is no way he can return in time to save that girl.”

“In truth, the Ninth Prince likely merely takes pity on her. In this servant’s view, the Ninth Prince’s feelings are mostly a protective impulse toward the weak.”

“Of course it is only a protective impulse toward the weak — could A’Jiu possibly be interested in that hideous creature?” the Empress snorted coldly.

“Naturally not — how could the Ninth Prince possibly take a liking to such an eyesore?”

Mama Qin hastily echoed her words: “Your Highness compared to that hideous creature is so many times more beautiful it defies comparison. The Ninth Prince is a man at the end of the day — his eyes are not blind.”

The Empress said nothing further. Yet a vicious gleam glinted beneath her gaze.

Even if she was hideous — daring to share a night with A’Jiu was a capital offense!

She absolutely could not allow that girl to remain alive in this world. The mere thought that she had once been alone with A’Jiu in the same room until daybreak was enough to rob the Empress of all sleep, consumed by rage!

This time, she would absolutely not permit her the slightest chance of survival!

Anyone who dared touch her A’Jiu — death, without mercy!