Feng Jin held the cup in his hand, frowning slightly. “As long as she truly has a way to restrain Jiu’er, it wouldn’t hurt to hear her out.”

“If she doesn’t…”

With a crisp crack, before the officer could finish speaking, Feng Jin crushed the cup in his hand to pieces.

“If she doesn’t, she won’t live to see tomorrow’s sunrise!” he added coldly.

These days, it wasn’t easy for Feng Jin to make a trip to Fenglai City, yet Chen Hong had insisted on meeting here of all places.

If she didn’t have real skill to back her words up, he wouldn’t be so polite to her this time.

With a creak, the door swung open, and Chen Hong strode in.

“Greetings, Eldest Imperial Prince!” the woman following her said, bowing to Feng Jin.

Chen Hong, unhurried, pulled out a chair and sat down across from Feng Jin.

“For the Eldest Imperial Prince to be willing to lower himself to meet me, he must truly despise Feng Jiu’er!”

Chen Hong picked up a teacup, lifted the teapot, and poured herself a cup of tea.

“That makes sense—word has it that Feng Jiu’er is the true Feng daughter, so the Eldest Prince should indeed loathe her.”

“Chen Hong, what do you mean by that?” the military officer Lei Lixing demanded in a deep voice.

“What do I mean?” Chen Hong raised an eyebrow, pinching the teacup, staring unblinkingly at Feng Jin.

“The Eldest Imperial Prince’s ambitions are obvious to everyone—must you keep pretending to be so benevolent and patriotic?”

“Chen Hong!” Lei Lixing drew his long sword and lunged forward.

With a loud bang, the cup in Chen Hong’s hand smashed heavily against the tip of Lei Lixing’s silver blade.

The cup shattered, but Lei Lixing also stumbled back two steps before steadying himself.

“Stand down!” Feng Jin glanced at Lei Lixing.

“Eldest Imperial Prince, this woman is truly insolent, I—”

“You’re no match for her!” Feng Jin cut off Lei Lixing’s words and turned to look at the eyes hidden behind the veil.

“Speaking of hatred—Miss Chen’s hatred for Jiu’er runs just as deep, doesn’t it?”

“Such a perfect face, what a pity!” Feng Jin sighed with feigned regret.

Chen Hong gritted her teeth, clenching her fists tightly, and said coldly, “I will never let Feng Jiu’er come to a good end!”

“Eldest Imperial Prince, since we share a common enemy, surely we could become the best of allies, no?”

“Miss Chen, speak plainly!” Feng Jin waved his hand.

“Very well!” Chen Hong curled her lips slightly. “Since the Eldest Prince is so direct, I won’t beat around the bush either.”

“After the war ends and the Eldest Prince becomes Emperor, all you need do is hand over the cities south of Songjiang to my control.”

“Chen Hong, what an appetite you have!” Feng Jin snorted coldly. “We agreed on Yue City and Li City, and now you—”

“The Eldest Prince is the sky above; I am merely his subordinate.” Chen Hong raised an eyebrow, her gaze locked on Feng Jin.

“A few more cities to manage would tire me more, but I don’t mind! Eldest Prince, what do you say?”

“Tell me your plan.”

Feng Jin’s expression didn’t change, his voice as gentle as always.

Chen Hong smiled faintly, rubbing her own snow-white jade fingers.

“There is someone of mine beside Feng Jiu’er. With this person, taking Feng Jiu’er’s life would be as easy as turning my hand.”

She looked at her own fingertips, as delicate as a young girl’s, her hatred for Feng Jiu’er growing even more intense.

Her hard-won beauty, ruined—Chen Hong hated, hated deeply.

Wanting the land south of Songjiang, wanting Yue City—it was mainly because her beloved was there.

Feng Jiu’er deserved to die! Tang Xiaohua deserved to die even more! She would take Yue Jianfei back, no matter what!

“Who is it?” Feng Jin raised an eyebrow, looking directly at the woman before him.

“Also a handsome man.” Tang Xiaohua picked up another cup. “Someone very important to Feng Jiu’er!”