Chapter 182: One Wrong Move

The girl watched on hatefully as she brewed with incessant fury.

One soldier said, “Madame, let’s go over!”

Nangong Bi’s eyes turned as she said, “Let’s not startle the others. Strip off your clothes and pass them to me!”

“Ah? What does madame want to do?” the little soldier asked in shock.

“Enough nonsense! Quickly strip!” Nangong Bi ordered in a low voice.

“Yes!” The soldier could only obey the order.

After some time, Nangong Bi wore the soldier’s clothes and tied her hair into a bun, before walking forward. Then, she tossed her dress to the soldier who was only wearing his inner robes. “This is for you!”

That soldier held her clothes and cried without shedding any tears.

“Put it on quickly! Isn’t it strange to wear your inner robes?” Nangong Bi saw his hesitation and spoke crisply.

“O-okay!” The little soldier mumbled a reply, not daring to go against her command. He reluctantly put on the dress, and even though he was quite skinny, he was still considerably taller than Nangong Bi. When he wore the girl’s dress, it wrapped tightly against his body, and it was comical from all angles.

When Nangong Bi caught sight of him, she burst out laughing and instructed him, “Find somewhere to hide! Don’t let anyone see you!”

“Okay!” The little soldier could only wish that no one would see him!

Nangong Bi did not go straight to look for Hu Dapao. Instead, she pulled over a soldier and asked, “Where is Hu Dapao’s tent?”

“Who are you?” that soldier questioned.

It was pitch-black, and he only knew that the person in front of him was wearing a military robe. That fair face did not seem to belong to an ordinary soldier.

“Official Qiao sent me to look for Hu Dapao!” Nangong Bi muffled her voice as she spoke, before casually passing Qiao An’s handwritten letter to him.

When that soldier saw Official Qiao’s seal on the letter, he threw away his doubts and stated respectfully, “General Hu is in that large tent. I will bring you over!”

“No need, I can go there myself. Many thanks!” Nangong Bi flashed a bright smile before walking off briskly.

That soldier only saw a fleeting flash before he caught sight of the departing silhouette, which seemed to belong to a lady.

Why would there be a lady in the military camp? He laughed at himself for overthinking, and he turned back to continue with his duties.

After walking in the direction that the soldier pointed out, she found Hu Dapao’s tent. She parted the curtains and walked in. On the table, a candle had been lit, and under the dim strands of light, she could see that the tent was arranged in a very simple manner.

Apart from one bed and one desk, there was nothing else inside.

The wind in the mountain was harsh and chilly, and at night, the temperatures plummeted. Some of the soldiers had set up a heating stove in the tent, and it was considerably warmer inside as compared to outside.

Nangong Bi sat beside the candlelight to wait for Hu Dapao to return. She wanted to have a good look and see if Hu Dapao would bring that girl back!

If he dared to, he was dead meat!

The girl’s pretty face was brimming with fury as she hatefully used the tongs to replenish the firewood in the heater.

Outside the tent, the soldiers were gathered together, eating and chatting – it was a lively scene. After the girl helped Hu Dapao stitch up his clothes, she lifted her head and said while smiling, “It’s done! What do you think, General?”

Hu Dapao lowered his head to take a glimpse and saw that the girl’s hands were nimble. The portions that she had sewn on were very neat, and he could barely tell that it had been stitched over.

“It’s good, many thanks!” Hu Dapao hastily nodded his head in thanks.

“General Hu, you are being too courteous. You have led your soldiers to rescue people without any sleep or rest, and now you’re even dredging the river. We are all very grateful to you, General!” The girl smiled.

She did not leave even after she finished sewing. Instead, she remained at the side of the bonfire to pour Hu Dapao tea and refill his cup.

A few soldiers were seated at the sight, and they continuously threw side-glances in his direction. The expression in their eyes was ambiguous, and Hu Dapao was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. He stood up and announced, “I am going to sleep now. Once the ladies are done with their work, they should return to the village soon!”

After he said this, he ordered several soldiers to escort the ladies and women back later on. Without speaking any further, he turned around and walked towards the tent.

He had worked for a whole day, and his body was drenched in sweat. Before Hu Dapao returned to the tent, he went to the river to have a bath, and when he returned, he rolled up his trousers. Afraid that he would bump into the girls’ cooking ahead, he deliberately made a detour to avoid them.

When he walked towards the back of his tent, he suddenly spotted a girl wearing a dress standing at the side.

Initially, Hu Dapao assumed that she was a lady from the village, but just as he was about to leave, he suddenly froze.

Under the hazy shadow of the moonlight, he realized that the dress that the girl was wearing belonged to Nangong Bi.

Hu Dapao felt his chest thump. Did Nangong Bi come and find him?

After suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, Hu Dapao walked over slowly, his eyes glinting.

It was her! He had seen her wear this dress before. It was indeed Nangong Bi.

She had truly come!

The man could barely restrain his excitement, and he was happy and touched at the same time. It was such a long journey from Shengjing to Wu’an City, and from Wu’an City to this remote mountainous village.

Such a pampered noble lady like her had weathered the storm and winds just for him.

The man puffed up his chest, trying his best to control the emotions that were flooding out like the overflowing river. He walked over quickly and stretched out his arms to give the girl a back hug. He said joyfully, “Bi’er!”

The soldier, who was wearing Nangong Bi’s dress, was in the middle of peeing under a tree. The sudden hug caused him to jolt in fright, and his pee dribbled onto that pair of hands.

The moment Hu Dapao held him, he instantly realized that he had hugged the wrong person. The person in his arms was nowhere as soft and supple as the girl.

Shock overwhelmed his heart and he retreated abruptly. He asked coldly, “Who are you?”

That soldier slowly turned around, his face ghastly pale. “Gen… General!”

Hu Dapao’s complexion gradually became ashen. He was ashamed and enraged at the same time, and he felt the urge to beat the bastard in front of him to death. He gnashed his teeth and questioned, “Why are you wearing a female outfit?”

It even belonged to his woman!

That soldier plonked onto the ground on his knees, his expression bitter as he said, “General, please spare my life. Your wife forced this lowly one to change into it. This lowly one was coerced!”

Hu Dapao was left in a stupor. “General’s wife? Where is she?”

The soldier looked up and scanned his surroundings, before shaking his head in trepidation.

“When did she arrive?” Hu Dapao asked urgently.

The soldier quickly recounted how Nangong Bi had brought two guards to Wu’an City, and how Qiao An had sent him to lead them here to find Hu Dapao.

Hu Dapao widened his eyes and turned around to walk towards the military camp with big strides.

After taking two steps, he turned back once again and stripped off the clothes on the soldier in a few moves. He rebuked, “You even dared to wear the clothes of my wife! I see you don’t want to live anymore! However, taking into consideration the fact that you helped my wife lead the way here, this general will spare your life!”

After he said this, he darted off with the clothes.

The soldier knelt on the ground, wearing only his inner robes as he gaped blankly at Hu Dapao’s rapidly departing shadow. This time, he genuinely wanted to cry.

Who had he provoked?

When Hu Dapao returned to the military camp, he immediately dispatched several trustworthy men to search for Nangong Bi’s whereabouts.

Where had this girl run off to?

At this point, Hu Dapao’s heart was pounding madly, full of worry and anxiety. When he realized that he would be able to see the person of his dreams soon, his emotions began to surge once again.

Hu Dapao returned to the tent to put down Nangong Bi’s clothes, which were still in his hands. He planned to go out and join the search as well.

When he parted the curtains of the tent, he saw a slender figure sitting by the heater. Hu Dapao froze in place, as though he had been struck by lightning.

Nangong Bi turned her head, and ripples emerged in her almond eyes, which reflected the glow of the charcoal stove. When she recalled the intimate scene he shared with the other girl, she asked grumpily, “What are you staring at? Have you gone crazy?”

Hu Dapao stared straight at the girl’s sweet and charming face, and he proceeded to chortle with a goofy smile plastered on his face.

Nangong Bi glared at him and turned around to continue warming herself beside the heating stove. Her back was turned against the man, but her lips involuntarily slipped into a smile.

Just as Hu Dapao was about to head in, he recalled something and hastily walked out. He grabbed a soldier and told him that the team could cease their search.

Hu Dapao turned back into the tent and sat beside the girl. He rubbed his hands together at a loss and flashed a goofy smile. “Why are you here?”

Nangong Bi’s fan-like eyelashes fluttered as she stared silently at the burning fire.

She had come here to tell Hu Dapao that she liked him, and to tell him to stop avoiding her.

For this one sentence, she had traveled miles from Shengjing to this nameless little mountain village. Alas, she was unable to say the words when she faced him.

Under the glow of the fire, Hu Dapao’s eyes were as radiant as a raging flame. He smiled and asked, “Have you eaten?”

Nangong Bi shook her head gently.

“Hold on!”

Hu Dapao conveyed before standing up to walk out. He came back to serve dinner himself.

There was a bowl of fresh fish soup, a plate of flaky pastry, and a platter of local side dishes.

Nangong Bi was also hungry, so she ate the pastries and the wild vegetables. She felt as though she had never eaten such fresh and delightful food before.

Hu Dapao sat at the side, staring at her without blinking.

Nangong Bi blushed and threw him a glance. “Have you never seen someone eat before?”

Hu Dapao smiled sheepishly, before bowing his head.

“What about the girl just now? You guys looked so intimate! Why didn’t you bring her back here?”

“What girl?” Hu Dapao was astounded. He then recalled the girl who had helped sew his clothes a while back, and he immediately replied, “I don’t know her. She only came to help prepare food! We don’t have any sort of relationship!”

“Really?” Nangong Bi’s almond eyes brushed past him.

“Really!” Hu Dapao hastily bobbed his head.

When Nangong Bi saw his nervous expression, she burst out laughing.

Hu Dapao slowly heaved a sigh of relief.

After their meal, the two of them sat around the heating stove. Having been on the road for the whole day, Nangong Bi muttered in exhaustion, “I’m tired, I want to sleep!”

Hu Dapao hurriedly stood up and got a soldier to boil some warm water for the girl to wipe herself with. He knew that she always valued cleanliness.

When the warm water was brought over, Hu Dapao said, “I’ll be outside!”

“Mm!” Nangong Bi nodded her head lightly.

After the time it would take to burn one stick of incense, Nangong Bi finished washing her body and was in the middle of wiping down her hair. She saw Hu Dapao walk in with a fresh set of bedding as he helped her set it down on the bed.

A wisp of disappointment rose in Nangong Bi’s heart. She was already here, and yet, he wanted to sleep separately.

The girl stood up to remove her outer robes while sulking. She snuggled into the blanket with her back facing the man, facing inwards.

Behind her, she could hear the sound of rustling. The man seemed to have taken off his clothes as well, before lying down on the bed.

The candlelight gradually dimmed, and the interior of the tent slowly quietened down. The voices of the soldiers conversing outside also became softer, and they appeared to have gone to sleep after accumulating a whole day’s worth of fatigue.

The low chirp of some unknown mountain bug could be heard outside the tent, disturbing and annoying people.

Nangong Bi opened her eyes and bit her lips, before extending her hands to strip off her inner robes. She turned her body and lifted Hu Dapao’s blanket, before snuggling into his blanket. The girl was fragrant and slender, and under the glowing lantern light, her pink skin possessed an enchanting luster.

The light from the fire flickered. The girl’s eyes were filled with spring water, rippling and shining in the light. Her face was as red as the azalea flowers in the mountain, comparable to a drop of blood.

Her hands reached out and unbuttoned the man’s inner robe, one at a time.

Su Jiu was right. If he wasn’t going to sleep with her, then she would sleep with him!

Hu Dapao’s breathing became rough as his body stiffened, not daring to move an inch.

After stripping the man of his clothes, Nangong Bi’s soft and warm body cuddled over, sticking closely to his firm and powerful shoulders.

However, the man did not move at all during this time, though the intense pounding of his heartbeat could be heard. Nangong Bi was embarrassed and hard-pressed as she asked shyly, “Do you still need me to tell you what to do next?”

Hu Dapao’s breathing instantly became heavier. Just then, he flipped over his body and pressed the girl under him. He then lowered his head and kissed the girl passionately on her lips.

Just like dried kindling that had been sparked by a harsh gust of wind, Hu Dapao was full of power and ferocity as he kissed the girl, losing all self-control. His palms supported her slim and slender waist, and his emotions were so stirred that his chest was about to be burst open by his violently beating heart.

The girl panted softly and suddenly felt it hard to endure the man’s intense kiss. She tried to retreat, but the man forcefully pulled her back. Rough kisses landed on her face, her neck…

Love that had been brewing for a long time had finally been realized, albeit a bit late. The passion that had been accumulating all this time exploded violently, no longer able to be retracted.

“This location, it’s a grievance to you!” the man panted as he said.

“It’s because you… last time…”

The girl was bashful and embarrassed as she hugged the man’s broad shoulders. She frowned slightly as her misty eyes gazed at the shimmering candlelight. Layers of happiness slowly overwhelmed her.

In the end, her tears fell uncontrollably as she thought of how difficult it was to realize this emotion.

She bit his shoulders gently and panted, “Dapao, I… like you!”

Hu Dapao paused, as though he had not heard what she said clearly. “You… what did you say?”

Nangong Bi raised her head, her eyes welled with tears. Amorous affection filled her whole face as she choked, “Silly, I like you!”

Hu Dapao gawked at her, before stretching his hands out to stroke her face. “A-am I dreaming?”

Did she like him?

She said that she liked him!

Nangong Bi blushed shyly as she wrapped her arms around his neck to get up. She closed her eyes and kissed him on the lips, before saying softly, “You’re not dreaming. At the catacomb back at Coiling Dragon Ridge, you were also not dreaming.”

Hu Dapao froze and abruptly propped up her chin.

Nangong Bi carefully kissed him. Her voice was enchanting as she continued, “Now, do you understand?”

Hu Dapao cracked into a faint smile. His Adam’s apple undulated as he returned the kiss passionately.

So, it turned out, his dream had become a reality a long time ago!

The chirping of the insects outside the tent had already ceased, and the night was quiet. Only the laborious breathing of their intertwining could be heard, echoing for a long time into the night.

When Nangong Bi woke up, it was barely twilight. When she opened her eyes, she only felt a dull ache spread through her body. The matters that happened the night before slowly replayed clearly in her mind, causing her face to burn and redden.

As it turned out, a man and a woman could be so close and intimate with each other, their bodies joining as one.

Nangong Bi nibbled her lips. When she turned her head, she saw the man next to her still fast asleep, his arms wrapped tightly around her. He seemed to have exerted some force as he hugged her in his embrace.

It was dawn. The man’s visage was handsome, his eyes were long, and his nose bridge was high. Half his face was exposed to the morning light, casting clear and distinct shadows.

She did not know if it was because of the turn of events the previous night, but her mood underwent a major change. She found the man especially handsome and heroic.

She still remembered the first time she saw Hu Dapao was at that small restaurant. He was with Su Jiu and her gang.

Back then, she had not noticed him at all and only vaguely felt that the man was tall and fierce.

Within two years, Hu Dapao had certainly changed a lot. He had become more mature, more valiant, and was now completely like a mighty general.

Nangong Bi’s heart was brimming with joy. She buried her head into his embrace and felt infinitely content when she heard the stable beating of his heart.

Just then, the man’s heartbeat became chaotic, and his breathing also began to become rough. The girl lifted her head, and she met the gaze of a hungry wolf. She got a shock, but just as she was about to retreat, the man had already lunged over.

An intense kiss that seemed to cover the sky and the land descended on her. The man asked with a husky voice, “Is it okay?”

Nangong Bi’s cheeks flushed scarlet. Her pair of watery and timid eyes shimmered as she gently nodded her head.

The man’s breathing instantly became heavier as he held her waist and pulled it under his muscular body…

The shape of the girl’s dainty and exquisite body was a stark contrast to the man’s imposing physique. However, their combination seemed to be a match made in heaven, as though they were made to fit each other.

In Shengjing City, the atmosphere in the court became tenser and tenser as the days passed by. Everyone seemed to sense the impending storm, as grey clouds crushed the city.

The senior imperial censor Yao Bing had sent a few people to search Xie Shiyun’s house, to uncover more evidence. However, his efforts were fruitless.

Behind the scenes, Prince Zhao was getting anxious, and he started to pressure the enforcers to take action sooner.

If Xie Shiyun was not dead, he would not be able to rest easy!

Early in the fifth month, Qiao An and Hu Dapao returned from Yunzhou. The Emperor had received the memorandum from Zhuowen County, expressing the gratitude of the commoners in court. Extremely pleased, he promoted Qiao An from the acting Vice Minister of Revenue to the permanent Vice Minister of Revenue. Hu Dapao also rose by one rank and was now a highly-ranked general.

However, the happiest was Su Jiu. She and Xiao Lie’s objective for sending Qiao An to Wu’an had been achieved, and the two of them did not suffer in vain.

Once they returned from the palace, Su Jiu poured out some wine for Qiao An and Hu Dapao to welcome them back and congratulate them. Nangong Bi stuck closely to Hu Dapao as he sat. The two of them exchanged intimate and ambiguous glances, and Su Jiu knew that Nangong Bi had finally achieved her desire!

When Nangong Bi met Su Jiu’s teasing eyes, she knew what the girl was thinking. She glared at her, her face gradually blushing red.

Li Xin naturally returned with them. She hid in the room with her father Li Tai to reminisce.

When she came out, she bumped into a waiter, who was about to refill Su Jiu and the group’s cups. Li Xin immediately went over and said, “Let me do it!”

All the waiters in the restaurant recognized Li Xin, and he immediately passed the wine to her.

Li Xin held the wine and stood at a corner, behind a bead curtain. Her eager eyes landed on that dark blue figure.

As a 14-year-old girl, she already had a vague impression of the matters between a man and a woman. She treated this concept with curiosity and yearning.

Chang Huan went to the lavatory to relieve himself, and when he returned, he saw a girl looking forward, in a daze. Slightly stunned, he followed her line of vision, and when he realized what was going on, he smirked.

“Xin’er!” Chang Huan yelled.

“Ah?” Li Xin turned around as she jolted out from her stupor. She hurriedly bowed her head and paid her respects. “Master Huan!”

Chang Huan smiled, saying, “Pass me the wine!”

“Yes!” Li Xin passed the warm wine to Chang Huan.

Chang Huan received the wine and brought it under his nose, before taking a sniff. He praised, “Good wine!”

After he said this, his long eyes swept past the girl, and he sniggered cryptically, “Only strong wine can intoxicate people. Feelings are the same, they must be strong and blunt for the other party to have no means to reject. Do you understand, Xin’er?”

Li Xin froze and gaped at him in a trance.

Chang Huan, on the other hand, curled his lips into a faint smile, before turning around to leave.

He… What did he mean?

Li Xin mulled over Chang Huan’s words. It appeared as though her feelings were exposed, and her face gradually reddened.

The prison, which was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice, was heavily guarded. Past midnight, the guards slowly became tired, and apart from the guards in charge of patrolling and keeping vigil, the rest of them had already gone to sleep.

A black shadow crouched beneath the wall. When the guards changed their positions, it flashed in like a ghost and entered the prison under the cover of the night.

At the entrance of the prison, there were three or four prison wardens gathered around a table drinking and chatting. The candlelight was dim, and the strong aroma of wine permeated the damp and rotting air.

The black shadow stood at a dark corner and picked up the pipe that had been prepared beforehand, blowing gently at them.

Very soon, the four prison wardens collapsed onto the table, as though they were drunk.

After listening out for movements in the surroundings, the black shadow swiftly went in, leaping forward towards the depths of the prison.

Criminals were locked up on both sides of the prison. Most of them were fast asleep, while some of them were even raving nonsensically, contributing to the blood-chilling eeriness of the dim prison.

The black shadow flew all the way and stopped in front of the prison block that held officials who had committed serious offenses. The shadow took light steps and tiptoed in. The pair of piercing eyes that peeked out from behind the black cloth mask scanned the confines, searching for his target.

“Who’s there?”

Suddenly, a patrolling prison warden raised a lantern and appeared right before him, eyes filled with shock. Before he could complete his sentence, he already understood that someone had broken into the prison. Just as he was about to shout, he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder; a needle pricked him, and the poison slowly spread. The prison warden’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed onto the ground with a crash.

The eyes of the black shadow were frosty. Walking forward, he paused in his steps and stopped in front of a prison cell.

The person in the prison cell had not fallen asleep yet. His back faced the doors as he sat cross-legged on the ground. His half-white hair scattered behind him; and on his body, he wore a prisoner’s uniform.

“You’re finally here!” the person inside mumbled.

The man in black lifted his hand and squeezed the lock on the prison door. The metal in his hand bent, and a ‘click’ sounded. The metal lock opened and slid onto the ground.

The man in black walked in after pushing open the door, positioning himself right behind Xie Shiyun.

“What did His Highness say?” Xie Shiyun whispered.

A glint flashed past the eyes of the man in black. A white silk scarf appeared in his hands as he walked over slowly. He extended his arms and hooped it around Xie Shiyun’s neck abruptly, while declaring viciously, “The Master wants you to take your own life to pay for your crimes!”

He exerted some strength and pulled the white silk scarf taut.

On the floor, Xie Shiyun jerked his head up, and he sent a fist flying towards the forehead of the man in black.

The man in black was gravely shocked. He swiftly dodged to one side and glared coldly at the person before him with disheveled hair. “You are not Xie Shiyun!”

He had been negligent. Since he was an assassin who had been commissioned, he had only seen a drawing of Xie Shiyun. However, he had never heard his voice before!

That person swept his stray hair back. Without another word, he retrieved a sword from the hay bedding below him and lunged towards the man in black.

The man in black knew that he had fallen into a trap, and did not wish to continue the fight. He dodged to one side and rushed out of the door of the prison cell.

The moment he stepped through the door of the prison cell, all the ‘criminals’ in the opposite cell suddenly stood up together. They raised the bows in their hands and aimed accurately at the man in black.

The man in black no longer dared to move.

“Tie him up!” The person who had been disguised as Xie Shiyun in the cell ordered coldly.

After a short period, the man in black was tied up and tossed onto the hay in the prison.

A few guards stepped forward and passed some clothes to the person who had disguised himself. They reported, “Commander!”

Only then did the man in black realize that the disguised ‘criminal’ was the commander of the palace’s forbidden army, Jin Sheng.

The sound of footsteps was heard in the darkness. The Minister of Justice, Zhang Yuan, led a few officials to the prison. He bent down and stared at the man in black on the ground. He then raised his hands and plucked off the black cloth that masked his face, before asking, “Who sent you? Who is your master?”

The man in black suddenly flashed a strange smile. Jin Sheng rushed over and locked his jaw, before fishing out a pull from his mouth.

“A silencing pill! He wants to take his life!” Zhang Yuan sneered and slowly stood up. “Take him away and interrogate him with torture. Don’t let him die!”

“Yes!’

Several prison wardens carried the man in black away.

Zhang Yuan walked towards a wall in the prison cell. He extended his arm and pressed a brick down. A soft rumble was heard, and the wall pivoted backward, revealing a secret room.

Xie Shiyun was standing in the secret room that could only accommodate a single person. His face was pale, and his expression was extremely ugly.

A single brick in the wall was made out of one-way glass. He had seen the situation that unfolded outside clearly.

“Minister Xie, you may come out!” Zhang Yuan said perfunctorily.

As Xie Shiyun walked out, his legs turned into jelly, and he fell onto his knees with a plonk. Defeat and despair were written all over his face, and his hair was half-white. He had aged many years over the past few days he spent in prison.

“Minister Xie, you should have understood by now. Your master will not save you. Rather, he has given you up. Do you still have any hope for them?” Zhang Yuan smiled chillingly.

“I’ll speak, I’ll say everything! But Minister Zhang, you must promise that after I speak, the Emperor will spare my life!” Xie Shiyun swiftly lowered his head.

“This official guarantees that as long as Minister Xie reveals the other parties that are involved in the embezzlement of the disaster aid, this official will plead the Emperor for leniency on your behalf. I will request that you be spared from the death sentence in exchange for your meritorious act!”

“Thank you, Minister!” Xie Shiyun prostrated on the ground, before standing up to untie his clothes. Under his prison clothes, there was an inner robe wrapped tightly around him. He removed it and passed it to Zhang Yuan, “Minister Zhang, there is something between these layers. Once you see it, you will understand!”

Zhang Yuan immediately took it and unraveled the clothes. He removed the book, and after skimming through the contents, he found himself more and more shocked as he read through.

Prince Zhao and the Minister of Revenue, Yu Xian, were in cahoots. Not only did they embezzle disaster aid, but they had also cheated, concealed, and falsified disaster reports. Apart from this, they had formed a faction for personal gain, framed loyal officials, and eradicated dissidents.

Many years ago, Prince Zhao was involved in Official Lan’s false charges and had even implicated the Ji Manor. The patriarch of the Ji Manor was imprisoned because he had not collaborated with them to achieve their selfish goals and ended up being framed.

Zhang Yuan carefully stored the evidence and walked out of the prison.

It was way past midnight, and in another two hours, it would be time for court.

Jin Sheng followed behind him and smiled, saying, “Congratulations Minister, you’ll be able to conclude the case very soon!”

Zhang Yuan responded politely, “Thank you for your help, Commander Jin!”

“Minister Zhang, you don’t need to stand on ceremony. It was the Emperor who ordered this official to assist you. It was a joint effort!” Jin Sheng brought his fists together. “Xie Shiyun has already confessed, so this official’s duty is complete. I should take my leave!”

“Commander Jin, take care!”

After the two of them bid each other farewell, Jin Sheng walked out of the prison and walked towards the palace.

Right before dawn, the sky was so dark that nothing could be seen a few inches away from one’s face. After leaving the prison, Jin Sheng glanced backward, before ordering in a low voice, “Head to Prince Zhao’s Manor immediately!”

“Yes!” The carriage driver forcefully tugged the reins and sped off.

On the other side, Zhang Yuan issued orders to summon the senior imperial censor Yao Bing. He tidied up the evidence and wrote up a memorandum to submit to the Emperor at court.

After an hour, a horse carriage exited from Prince Zhao’s Manor and sped towards the palace gates.

Deep into the night, it was completely silent. Only the urgent and anxious sound of the carriage creaking could be heard.

The horse carriage stopped right in front of the palace gates. The commander of the forbidden army, Jin Sheng, disembarked and nodded his head at the man wearing the forbidden army’s robe behind him. The two of them entered through the palace gates one after the other.

The guard at the gate recognized Jin Sheng and immediately shouted, “The commander has returned. Open the palace gates!”

The heavy and majesty palace gate slowly fanned open. Jin Sheng walked in slowly, with the guard following behind him.

Once the two of them stepped out of the corridor, Jin Sheng’s eyes darted left and right. He paused in his step and turned to face the ‘guard’ behind him.

He said respectfully, “Your Highness, we have entered the palace!”

The ‘guard’ raised his head, and sure enough, it was Xiao Jing, Prince Zhao.

Once the palace gates were closed, no one was allowed to enter the palace. Xiao Jing could only disguise himself as a guard and trail behind Jin Sheng.

“This prince will visit his Royal Mother right now. Take several trustworthy subordinates to wait for this prince and take action according to the situation. Be prepared at all times!” Xiao Jing ordered coldly.

“Yes, everything will be dealt with according to Your Highness’ orders!” Jin Sheng answered respectfully.

Xiao Jing nodded his head slightly. Taking advantage of the darkness of the night, he moved quickly towards the rear palace.

He wore the uniform of the forbidden army and hid from patrolling guards, all the way to the Hualin Palace.

The guard at the door immediately blocked his path and asked firmly, “Who are you? This is Imperial Concubine Xian’s palace, leave immediately!”

Xiao Jing stealthily lifted his hat with a strict and cold expression. “Open up the gates immediately and let this prince in. This prince has an urgent matter to discuss with my Royal Mother!”

The two guards were stunned, and they hastily got down on their knees. “These lowly ones pay respect to Your Highness Prince Zhao!”

“Open the gates!”

“Yes!”

The guards opened the gates of the Hualin Palace. Xiao Jing glanced left and right, before rushing in.

The sky was still dark, and Imperial Concubine Xian was still in deep sleep. Suddenly, she heard her palace maid enter while exclaiming anxiously, “Imperial concubine! Hurry and wake up!”

“Imperial concubine!”

Imperial Concubine Xian was startled awake. She opened her eyes and asked with a frown, “What’s the matter?”

“His Highness Prince Zhao is here. He has urgent matters to discuss with the imperial concubine!”

“Jing’er?” Imperial Concubine Xian turned her head to look at the pitch-black sky. She asked in surprise, “Why is Jing’er here in the palace at this time?”

“Yes, His Highness is currently waiting at the adjoining hall. He got this servant to call imperial concubine over. There seems to be an emergency!” The palace maid said with a panic-stricken expression.

Imperial Concubine Xian’s expression turned solemn. She knew that Xiao Jing had rushed over for an important matter. She ordered the palace maid to help her change her clothes and brush her hair, before walking briskly towards the adjoining hall.

Inside the adjoining hall, Xiao Jing’s complexion was ashen, and his face was wrought with panic as he waited anxiously. When he heard the sound of footsteps, he immediately stepped forward. “Royal Mother!”

Imperial Concubine Xian held Xiao Jing’s hand, which was icy-cold to the touch. “Jing’er, what happened?”

Xiao Jing’s eyebrows were tightly knitted. He briefly recounted how he had dispatched someone to assassinate Xie Shiyun, and how he had fallen into a trap set by Zhang Yuan. Now, incriminating evidence that he had colluded with Yu Xian had landed into the hands of Zhang Yuan.

“Ah!” Imperial Concubine Xian’s expression underwent a huge change. She staggered backward and exclaimed hatefully, “Jing’er, you are so careless! How could you do such a thing?”

“Royal Mother, please forgive me!” Xiao Jing fell onto his knees with a plonk, before lowering his head to say, “Your son was wrong. I beg you to save your son, Royal Mother!”

“I have always been helping you in the fight for the throne. Your father, His Majesty, also values you. You infuriate me!” Imperial Concubine Xian pointed at Xiao Jing and scolded with her teeth gnashed. She was so indignant that her complexion paled.

“Royal Mother! Your son was only scheming for the sake of himself. My father, His Majesty, values me, but the Crown Prince in his heart is Xiao Lie. My father knows that Qiao An is close to Xiao Lie, but he still promoted him endlessly. Royal Mother, don’t you understand my father’s intentions?”

Imperial Concubine Xian sat on the wooden chair, still wrought with shock. She asked, “It’s almost dawn. What do you plan to do?”

“Your son needs you to come up with a way to delay Father, Royal Mother. I need some time to draw up a strategy!”

“Can you guarantee that you can come out of this unscathed?”

“Yes! Just give me some time!”

“Alright. I will go right now!” Imperial Concubine Xian hastily stood up and scuffled towards Yangxin Hall.

Xiao Jing followed behind her and walked out of Hualin Palace. He had originally planned to wait for Yu Xian to enter the palace first to discuss their next step. However, he looked up, and he realized that it was still early. His eyes turned, and he walked towards Ziyun Hall where Jiyu resided.

Xiao Jing walked in through the side gate and followed Jiyu’s trusted servant towards her sleeping chamber.

Jiyu had felt dizzy and nauseous after dinner the previous night and had only just gone to sleep after making a fuss.

Her palace maid led Xiao Jing into her sleeping chambers. Jiyu lazily opened her eyes and asked groggily, “Why have you come at this time?”

The palace servants retreated out to guard the door. Xiao Jing sat at the edge of the bed and said solemnly, “This prince has encountered a bit of trouble. When the time comes, I must beseech you to help this prince, Yu’er!”

Jiyu rested her head on the man’s shoulders. She had only draped an outer robe on her body, and her black hair had been let loose, enacting a languid and enchanting presence. “I know what Your Highness’ troubles are. The day before, I was attending to the Emperor at the study. I heard the Emperor say to the Grand Tutor…”

Just as the girl was about to mention the key bit of information, she suddenly paused.

“What did my father say?” Xiao Jing immediately asked.

Jiyu stretched out her hands and removed Xiao Jing’s clothes, while flirting coquettishly, “I’m so tired that I suddenly can’t recall. Accompany me for a while, maybe then I will be able to remember!”

The girl’s top slid off, revealing her white skin and full figure. Unable to control his emotions, Xiao Jing kissed her. “Tell me quickly! What did my father say?”

Jiyu hugged Xiao Jing’s head, her eyes in a trance as she whispered, “His Majesty praised Prince Rui for being capable and calm. He was the one he favored the most among his three sons!”

Xiao Jing jerked up his head abruptly, and a glint flashed across his eyes. “This prince just knew that my father would pass the title of the Crown Prince to Xiao Lie!”

Jiyu raised her head and planted a kiss on Xiao Lie’s neck, licking it carefully. “What does Your Highness plan to do?”

Xiao Jing held Jiyu’s shoulders and fished out a pill, before placing it in her palms. He narrowed his eyes and instructed, “Early tomorrow morning, go and visit my father, His Majesty, and put this in his tea. Watch him drink it as well.”

“What is this?” Jiyu asked in shock.

“It’s something good! As long as my father eats it, no one will be able to stop this prince in the future!” Xiao Jing narrowed his cruel and venomous eyes.

Jiyu’s complexion paled. “What if you fail?”

“For the sake of our future, this prince cannot fail!” Xiao Jing kissed Jiyu’s lips as he continued, “It’s still early. Let me take care of you properly. However, you must take heed to my words and visit my father early tomorrow morning!”

“Don’t worry, I will certainly go!”

As the man kissed Jiyu, the doubt in her heart instantly subsided without a trace as she hugged him tightly.

She loved this man!

She was willing to do things for him!

Imperial Concubine Xian walked into Yangxin Palace. She saw that Emperor Zhao Ping had yet to get out of bed, and waited outside the hall.

In his sleeping chamber, Emperor Zhao Ping had a nightmare. When he woke up, he no longer felt tired. He got his servants to light up the lanterns so he could look through the memorandums.

At that moment, he heard voices coming from outside, and he summoned a palace servant in to ask, “Who is outside?”

Eunuch Fu stepped forward to answer, “Replying to His Majesty, Imperial Concubine Xian is here!”

Emperor Zhao Ping frowned and harrumphed coldly. “She must have run here in jealousy because she thought I visited Yu Zhaoyi.”

The previous night, several palace servants from Ziyun Hall sent a report, stating that Yu Zhaoyi was not feeling well. They beseeched the Emperor to go over to have a look.

Emperor Zhao Ping was quite exhausted. He only ordered the imperial doctor to go over and diagnose her ailment.

“Your Majesty, do you want to let the imperial concubine in?” Eunuch Fu asked carefully.

“I have treated her with too much indulgence, which is why she is so easily jealous. She does not have the temperament of an imperial concubine at all!” Emperor Zhao Ping’s expression was solemn. He contemplated for a while, before rising and heading out.

Imperial Concubine Xian was waiting in the adjoining hall. Under the shadow of the lanterns, her complexion was quite poor, and she was absent-minded. When she realized that Emperor Zhao Ping had walked in, she instantly curtsied to pay her respects.

Emperor Zhao Ping’s eyes threw her a glance. He said, “Last night, Yu Zhaoyi fell sick. I’m not sure if she has recovered yet. Imperial Concubine Xian, why don’t you accompany me to visit her?”

Imperial Concubine Xian lowered her head, and her eye twitched. She immediately responded, “Sure, this concubine will accompany His Majesty!”

Jing’er only wanted her to delay the Emperor. If Yu Zhaoyi’s ailment was so severe that it delayed the Emperor, that would be the best-case scenario!

“Let’s go!”

Emperor Zhao Ping brought Imperial Concubine Xian over to Ziyun Hall.