Feng Yu Jiu Tian

Volume 13

(
TerrifyingSupernalMagic
)

xfengyujiutian.tumblr.com

Translator:Christy
Editors:Fern,Joy,Manu,Jolly

Chapter1

Itdrizzledforseveraldays.

Thespringraincontinuedtodragon,fallingsubtlybutyetlightly.Itwasntcoldandevenif
someoneweretostandintherain,drapedinlightclothinganddrenchedwet,hewouldnot
feeluncomfortableatall.

Thespringraincamequietlyandstoppedsilently.Thefreshairintheearlymorningcaused
everyonetogetupearly,surprisedthatthewetweatherhadpassed.Thesunrosefromthe
bottomofthemountain,shiningacrosstheland,bringinghappinesswithintheheartsof
everyone.

TheorchestratedmagicshowFengMingcarefullyplannedhadalmostreachedthecomplete
criticalmoment.

Howsthepreparationgoing?

ThespaciouslivingroomofthelargeXiaoshiphadrecentlybecomeFengMingandthe
otherssecretlocation.Therewere20highlyskilledhenchmenoftheXiaosurroundingthe
outsideandanother20elitebodyguardsofRongTians,alongwithRongHuandLuoYun,
thetwoleadbodyguardsincharge.Thosewhoparticipatedinthesecretmeeting,inaddition
toFengMing,wereTaiCanandYongYinGeneralLeTing.

Everythingisprepared.Intheserecentdaysofcloseliaison,LeTingandeveryonewithin
FengMingscirclebecamemorefamiliar.Thedistancefromthebeginningwascompletelyput

asideandnoweveryonehadcometothepointofcallingeachotherbrothers.WhenLeTing
arrivedheworealargeblackhatcoveringhisfaceandsoftlysaid,Theexecutiongroundhas
beendugupandcanhideaperson.ThewoodenboxthatIorderedhasalsobeennailed
properlyandcanbeusedontheexecutionday.

FengMingquicklycrossedhisarmsandsaid,Thewoodenboxdoesntneedtobeprepared
properly.Thismagictrickwillmakeeveryoneamazed.Ifweweretopreparethewoodenbox,
someonemightspeculatethatsomethingstrangemightbegoingon.Inmyopinion,youjust
needtoprepareapileofwood,thenatthattime,thewoodenboxcanbemadetoindicate
thatyouwerentinvolvedanddidnothaveanyulteriormotive.

LeTingthoughtaboutit,raisedhisheadandlaughed,Youreright.Imnotinvolved,eventhe
boxwillbemadeonsitesothatthosehenchmenofYongQuanwontsuspectanythingas
theyfleeinanger,haha

Oh?AndregardingyourbrotherinlawFengMingturnedaroundtolookatTaiCan.

TaiCansdeadendsituationhadbeensavedtherefore,hewasverygratefultoFengMing.If
FengMingweretosaysomething,hewouldneveropposehim.AfterhearingFengMing
questioninghim,hequicklywalkedover,IhavefollowedXiaoDukeMingswords.Illpretend
tobebedridden,strickenbysadness.Yesterday,Ipulledmyselfuptovisitmybrotherinlaw
forthelasttime.IhaveinformedhimofXiaoDukeMingsplansaswell.

Didyoucarefullyrelaythemessage?Thisskitisveryimportant,therecantbeanymistakes
orourmagicshowwillbefoiled.FengMinggravelyreiteratedhisconcernsinthematter.

XiaoDukeMing,pleaserestassured.Thismatterisrelatedtomybrotherinlawslife,how
canImessitup?Ihaverepeatedittohimmanytimesandhehasuttereditbacksmoothly
severaltimesbeforeIleft.

Thatsgood,verygood.FengMingletoutalongsigh.

Itssotiring!Everythingiseasiersaidthandone,andthismagictrickwasnoexception.
Althoughheseemedtohaveeverythingundercontrol,infact,amongallthesepeople,the
personwhoismostworriedishim.Becausetheconsequencesareveryserious.Withany
othermagicshow,ifitfails,themediawilljustmakefunofit.Followingthat,therewontbe
manypeopletopraiseit.Butthisisnotlikethat.Ifthereistheslightestflawandsomeone
weretocreatesuspicion,thentheXiaofamilywillbeimplicatedwithinthisYongYinconflict.
TheconsequenceswillalsoputthewarmheartedGeneralLeTingatrisk.Robbingthe
executiongroundislikebelittlingthelaw,thepunishmentisthesameasexecution.If
someoneweretofindout,TaiCan,LeTingandeveryoneelsewilllosetheirlives.

Thatwinebrewermustdieinawaythatwontcastanyshadowofdoubt.


LeTingwasfamiliarwiththebattlefieldsandhadkilledmanypeopletherefore,hewasmuch
braverthantheaverageperson.Thisinvigoratinggamemadehimevenmoreexcitedashe
said,Rightnow,everythingisready.Theexecutionhadbeenannouncedthreedaysago,I
haveorderedpeopletospreadthenewsandtheexecutiongroundwillbeheldatthegatesof
FanCheng.SincetheprisonerinFanChengisafamouswinebrewerandaninnocent
personnonetheless,therewillbeahugecrowdofpeople.

Withsomanywitnesses,therewillbeplentyofproofthatLeTingkilledmybrotherinlaw.

Blessedtheheavens,thisinnocentpersoncanfinallybesaved.ChiuLanplacedherpalms
togetherandshemutteredafewsentenceswhileclosinghereyes.Openingthemupagain,
shequicklysaid,Ihopeeveryonewillbesafe,DukeMingwillaccomplishanothergood
deed.

FM:Whatdoesthishavetodowithaccomplishinganothergooddeed?SinceIvewitnessed
injustice,Ijustwantedtohelpout.Itisntaboutfulfillingagooddeed.

CL:DukeMing,savingmanypeoplewillbringaboutgoodfortune.Youcantlookdownupon
goodfortune.Ifinthefutureyouweretomeetwithmisfortune,theheavensmightbemerciful
becauseofthegooddeedsyouvedone,theywillhelpDukeMing.

CX:DukeMingdoesntneedtopayattentiontoher.ChiuLanwasfeelingboredthesepast
fewdaysandwenttothelibraryontheshiptoreadsomebooks.Amongthebooks,shefound
onethattalkedaboutGoodFortune.Afterreadingit,shesbeendoingallsortsofgooddeeds
tocreategoodfortune.

FM:AcouplemoredayswhenIhavefreetime,Iwouldliketotakealookatthatbook.Since
wellhavelotsoffreetime,wecanbothreadanddiscussit.

CL:Thisisntsomethingyoucanjokeabout.

FengMingfondlytouchedherfaceandpinchedhercheek,nolongerarguingwithher.
HeturnedaroundtoglanceoveratTaiCanandLeTing.Afterawhile,hishandsomeface
convergedasmile,revealingararesolemnexpression,Theupcomingevent,doesanyone
haveanyconcernsafterthinkingitovercarefully?

LT:Wehavegonethroughthisforafewdaysnow,alltheissueswevecomeupwithhave
beendealtwith,DukeMingshouldntworrytoomuch.

TaiCanwasmoretimid,lookingdownashethoughtoncemore,Allthethingsthatwecan
dohavebeendonecarefully.

Thenthatsgood.FengMingasked,Whenistheexecutiontime?

Todayatnoon.

Good!FengMingwentsilentforabit,thenholleredoutthatevenhisloudvoicefrightened
him.Helookedleftandthenright,jumpedupfromhisseat,hiseyesshimmeringwhilehe
tiltedhisheadandsmiled,Everythingisready,nowwewaitfortheopportunetime.This
magictrickofbringingadeadpersontolifecanofficiallymakeadebut,allofyoucangoand
prepare.Noneedtoworry,justdoit.ThisplanofDukeMingwillbesuccessful!

LT:Iwillimmediatelyheadbacknow.Intheafternoon,Iwillpersonallytraveltotheexecution
groundatthegatesofFanChengandtakeontheresponsibilityofExecutionSupervisor.

TC:Ialsohavetoquicklygohomeandpretendtobesick.Atthetimeoftheexecution,Ialso
wanttopretendtobeoverlyemotionalandfaint.OnceIreturnhome,Iwillpowdermyface
palewhiteandpracticemylinessomemore.

Thetwoofthembidtheirfarewells.FengMingescortedthemoutsidethelivingroom.He
strodebackand,lookingathismaids,hespreadhishandandasked,Howwasmy
demeanorjustnow?

Verygood.ChiuXingwasthefirstonetoanswer.

ChiuYuesaid,Verydetermined,itscleartoseethatDukeMingsplanwillbesuccessful.

ChiuLanadded,ThewayDukeMingjumpedupwasveryimpressive.

FengMingexhaledalongbreath,Istillcantconveythesamemajestic,confidentdemeanor
ofRongTian.Ah,Imafraidthatthisimageofatigerwillturnintoapuppy.Actually,the
momentImadethedecision,myhandswereshakingandmybackwasfilledwithcold
sweat.Hewipedhisforeheadthatwasalsocoveredincoldsweat.

CY:Illhelpwipeitforyou,DukeMing.IfDukeMingisafraid,thenyoushouldntworry
yourselfwiththismatter.Iknowtheprisonerispitiful,butDukeMingismoreimportant.Now
youvebecomeapitifulDukeMing,thinkingabouthowtosavepeople.ThismagictrickWe
haveacceptedHisMajestysordertolookafterDukeMing,hopingthat,whileDukeMingis
ontheroad,thelessheinvolveshimselfonthematterthebetter.AndyetDukeMinggot
himselfinvolvedinthis.

CX:Thismatterwillbeoverintheafternoon,whyareyoustillmentioningit?WhenDukeMing
saidthathewillusemagic,werentyoutheonewhoclappedandyelledthatitwasexciting?

CY:Itisexciting,butitsstillscarywhenthetimecomes.CantIjustadvisehimabit?


FM:Alright,alright.Imstillperfusingcoldsweat,pleasedontargueanymore.Eitherway,
whatChiuYuesaidisright.Thismatterisbothexcitingandscaryatthesametime,itgives
meaveryexhilaratedfeeling.

CL:Actually,IwashopingtopersuadeDukeMingoutofit.Thesevennationtriphasjust
startedandwestilldontknowhowmuchmoreisaheadofus.Anythingthatisntrelatedto
us,itwouldbebesttonotbeinvolved.

FM:Ah,nowImconfusedafterlisteningtoyou.Thethreeofyoujustsaidthatsavingan
innocentpersonisagoodthingandthenlatersaidnottogetinvolved,thattheresnoneedto
stirthingsup.Canallofyougivemeanaffirmableopinion?

Beforehefinished,thethreemaidshadalreadyrevealeddistressedexpressions.Withasigh,
theyblurtedout,Wearealsoverytroubled!Wedontwanttoseeaninnocentperson
sufferingandhopethatDukeMingcanbesafewithouthavingtoworryaboutoutsidematters.
Isthisalsowrongofus?

AllthreemaidsbegantellingFengMinghowtheyhateditwhenhethinksaboutothersfirst
andforgetabouthowhesputtinghimselfindangerwhiledoingit.

FengMingadmittedthathewaswrong,buttheykeptwhiningandcryingsohelookedoverat
RongHuforhelp.However,RongHudidntknowwhattodo,soFengMingglancedoverat
LuoYun,WhydontLuoYunexpresshisthoughtsaboutthis?

LuoYunwassittingtoonesideholdinghisswordacrosshischest,leaningagainstthewall
withhiseyesclosed.HeopenedhiseyesimpatientlyandglancedatFengMingashecoldly
stated,Ifyoureafraidthendontgetinvolved.Ifyourealreadyinvolved,thendontbeafraid.
YoungLordisbothafraidandinvolved,whichisverypuzzlingtoothers.

FengMingwrunghishands,feelingdepressed,hesaid,EventhoughImafraid,Ihaveto
intervene.

LuoYunscornfullyasked,Why?

FM:Becauseavoidingisnotthemethod.Onlywhenoneencounterssomethingheisafraidof
willhebeabletogaincourage.

LuoYunseyessuddenlyshined,heslowlyturnedaroundandstaredatFengMing.Feng
Mingchangedhisexpressionfromearlierandwasnowgrinningathim,ThesewordsIsaid,
aretheyright?

LY:Theyarenotwrong.


FengMingsmiledevenmorebrightly,thenaskedinafriendlymanner,Ihopemywordscan
changeyourattitudetowardsme,socanyounotbecoldasiceanymore?Youknow,ever
sinceweweretogethernightandday,youalwayshaveasullenfacetowardsme,givingme
somuchpressure.

Icant.LuoYunlazilystoodup,Imonlyasubordinatenotworthmentioning,soYoungLord
doesntneedtowastesuchthoughtsonme.Iwouldliketogooutforsomesunlight,andwill
returnshortly.

WithoutwaitingforFengMingsreply,hecarriedhisswordandwalkedstraightoutside.

FengMingstaredashisbackslowlydisappeared.FengMingbeganscratchinghisheadand
saidinagony,Howcomemywordsusuallymakeanimpactonpeople,butheonlygivesme
agloomyface?AmIreallyafailureasaYoungLord?

CY:DukeMingshouldntworryaboutit.Hewasbornwiththatgloomystifffaceandwontbe
abletosmile.IthasnothingtodowithDukeMing.

CX:WhydoesDukeMingwantLuoYuntohaveadifferentattitudetowardsyou?This
person,ifcomparedtoarock,isevenmorestubborn.Heisnotthetypeofpersontomake
amends.

CL:Ah,DukeMingneedstomakeamends.IfinthefuturewearetoentertheTongKingdom,
itslikeheadingtoenemyterritory,aplacefilledwithdanger.Therefore,beforewehead
there,wehavetofirstresolveourinternalconflictsothepeopleofXiaofamilyshighlyskilled
swordsmenwillgivetheirrespecttoDukeMingandfaithfullyprotecthim.Otherwise,therewill
bearepetitionoftheeventsthatoccurredontheshiponthefirstday.Afamilyconfrontedby
twosidesisnotthewayitshouldbe.

CX:ChiuLanisamazing,Icantimagineit.

CY:ThosethingsthatshejustsaidmustbefromlisteningtoRongHu,Idontbelievethatshe
thoughtofit.

FM:Imthistiredandyouareallbickering,notthinkingofawaytohelpme.Anyway...it
wasntbecauseoftheXiaoFamilyshenchmenthatIwantedtopleasehim

Thenwhatisitfor?

FM:ItsjustbecauseIfeelthattheressomesortofclosenessbetweenhimandI

Thethreemaidslookedateachother.ClosenessbetweenLuoYunandhim?DukeMings
viewaboutothersseemstobeofnoimprovement.

RongHuaskedifFengMingisalrightandFengMingrepliedthathetriedveryhardtocome
upwithanimpressivespeechforLuoYan,butyetitdidnthaveanyeffectonhim.Hethen
askedRongHuwherehejustwent.

RH:Ah,IwenttoseeLuoDeng.Theupcomingexecution,nomatterifitssuccessfulornot,
theXiaofamilyhavetopretendwehavenothingtodowithit.OurshipmustleaveFan
Chengsshorebeforethescheduledtimeofexecutionandcontinueheadingforward.

FM:(noddedhishead)Youarestilltheattentiveone.TellLuoDengtosetsailtoleave.It
seemsIwontbeabletoseethismagictrickofmine.

RH:Wecanbringtheshipforwardandstopupahead,thenuseasmallerboattobringyou
backtoFanCheng,sneakyouintothecrowdobservingtheexecution.However,thisrelates
toDukeMingssafety.Leavingthelargeshipandsneakingintoahugecrowdofpeopleis
verydangerous.ThismatterstillneedstogooverwiththeXiaoFamilysmenwhoare
protectingyou.Iftheydontagree,Imafraidleavingtheshipwillbeabitdifficult.

FengMingshrugged,thenturnedtowardsChiuXingashereluctantlychuckled,See,nowdo
youunderstandwhyIneedtobeonfriendlytermswithLuoYun?ItseemsthateverywhereI
gonow,Ihavetoconsultwithhim.

CY:ButheisDukeMingssubordinate,howcanthatbe?IfDukeMingwantstogo
somewhere,thenjustgo.Illgotalktohim.

ChiuYuepulledupherskirt,stoodup,andthendisappearedoff.

Ashortmomentlater,ChiuYuetriumphantlyreturnedandannounced,LuoYunsaidhehas
noobjections.IfDukeMingwantstogoseeit,hesonlyresponsibleinprotectingyouaslong
asDukeMingdoesntcauseanytroublewhileobservingthelivelyevent.

FengMingwasextremelypleased,hewantedtoshowhisgratitudetoChiuYue,buthisfeet
suddenlyjolted,asurprisedmovementcomingfromunderneathhim.

RH:Theshipisleavingshore.Waituntilweheadforwardtoaplacewithoutpeopleandthen
wellsneakbacktoFanCheng.

========

LeavingFenChangport,LeTingunobtrusivelyrodehishorseslowlytowardsthesandyroad
headingsouth.AfterridingforhalfamileandleavingthebusyportofFanCheng,the

passersbyreducedinnumber.Hewasabouttopullouthiswhiptohastenhistripbacktohis
estateandmakethefinalpreparations,whenhenoticedsomethingwasamiss.

Twoseeminglyordinarycarriagesdashedinfrontofhim.Inaddition,thereweresixguards
ridinghorsesbesidethecarriages.Thetwocarriagesweresidebysideandthelineofguards
convenientlyblockedtheroadahead.EveryonessulleneyeswerestaringsilentlyatLeTing
andtheyapproachedhim.

Needlesstosay,thesepeoplewerehereforhim.Couldthingshavechanged?

Feelingunnerved,LeTingsloweddownhispace.Pretendingthatsandgotcaughtinhis
eyes,heraisedhishandandrubbedhiseyesashetooktheopportunitytosurveythe
situationbehindhim.

Thetwopeopleridingbehindhimalsogotcloser.Infact,bothsidesgotcloser,pushingLe
Ting,onepersonononehorse,intothemiddle.Hecouldonlypullthereinstohishorsetoa
halt,andcoldlyshoutout,Theworldisfilledwithlargeroads,nooneiswithoutanalternative
route.Whoissoarrogantthateventhisroadcannotbetraveled?Ordoyouintendtorob
othersinstead?

Atthismoment,bothsidescametoastop.Therewasamomentofsilenceinthecarriage
beforeapleasantmalevoiceasked,MayIaskifyouareGeneralLeTing?

BecauseLeTingwasinasecretmeetingwithFengMing,beforeleavinghisestate,hehad
changedhisattireanddisguisedhimself.Theclothesonhimwerecivilianclothesandhe
deliberatelyplacedabeardonhisfaceandworealargeblackhat.Hedidntexpectanyoneto
recognizehim.LeTingwassurprised,hetriedtofindawaytoescapewhileasking,Whoare
you?

Thepersoninthecarriagelaughed,IfyouwanttoknowwhoIam,IrequesttheGeneralto
enterthecarriage.

LeTinglookedaroundinalldirections.Ifitwasundernormalcircumstances,hewouldhave
broughtagroupofbodyguardsthus,hewouldnthavetoworryaboutthesepeople.
Unfortunately,todaywasasecretmission,whichcompelledhimtotravelunaccompanied.
Rightnow,itshardforhishandstocountertheenemiesfourfists.Inaverydesolatedplace,
ifhewereattacked,hisrottencorpsemightnotevenbediscovered.Wouldntdyingbe
useless?

LeTinglookedleftandright,hecouldnolongerstallfortime,thereforehecouldonly
temporarilyimprovise.Afterdismounting,severaltallmenwerestaringathimasifeyeinga
prey.Theyimmediatelytooktheswordhangingathiswaistandsearchedhisbody.Whenno
otherweaponswerefound,theyfinallyliftedthecurtainandallowedhimtoenterthecarriage.


LeTingwassoupsetheclenchedhisteeth,andangrilysteppedinsidethecarriage.Whenhe
liftedhishead,hewascompletelyshocked.Sittinginsidethecarriagewasayoungmanof
only19or20,ahandsomeappearancewithanintensedeepgaze.Hisclothingwasquite
normal.Therewasasmallsquaretableinfrontofhim,coveredwithseveraldishesoffood.
Althoughtherewasnothingspecialaboutthefood,theplatesholdingthefoodwereofpale
green,anextremelyrarematerial.

LeTingknewthatatthismomentheshouldnotbackout.Lookingcoldlyacrossattheyoung
ladwhowassittingleisurely,hesaid,Howdareyou!KidnappingaGeneralisacapital
offense,areyouawareofthis?

ThepersoninthecarriagewasXiaoLiu.Hewasinhisearlytwenties,buthisappearance
wassimilartoLieEr.Hehasalreadymatured,yetstilllookedlikeayounglad.However,
comparedtoLieEr,XiaoLiuseemedmoreindifferent.AftermeetingupwithRongTian,and
underRongTiansinstructions,heracedtowardsFanCheng.Hewantedtostaytherefora
bitinordertofigureoutawaytosaveTaiCansbrotherinlaw,hopingthatTaiCanwillavoid
implicationandtheThirdPrinceYongChengspowerwontbefurtherweakened.Henever
imaginedthatcomingtoFanCheng,hewouldhearnewsthatLeTingorderedtoexecutethe
prisonertoday.

XiaoLiuwasverysurprised.LeTinghadalwaysassumedapositionofimpartiality,andeven
ifexecutionisinevitable,heshouldntbe
that
eagertoexecuteTaiCansbrotherinlaw.He
didntexpectsomeonewhomaintainedneutralitytosidewithPrinceYongQuan.Withoutany
otheroptions,hecouldonlysendhismentosecretlyspyonLeTingsestateand,onceLe
Tingwasalone,capturehim.

Becausethecircumstancewastoosudden,evenwiththepersoncaptured,whatshouldhe
do?Hestillhaventfiguredoutaplan.Althoughhewasinwardlyworried,XiaoLiuseemed
calmonthesurface.AfterlisteningtoLeTing,hegaveafaintsmile.KidnappingaGeneral?I
donthavethegutstodoso.XiaoLiuwasorderedtocomehere.Ijustwantedtorequest
Generaltocomeinsidethecarriageandaskafewquestions.Thatcantbeseenas
kidnapping.

Oh?Onbehalfofwhoseorder?

Pleasehavealook,General.XiaoLiuuntiedthetokenhangingonhiswaistandgaveitto
LeTing.HehadbeensecretlylurkingbesideYongQuan,workingwithinPrinceYongQuans
estate,sothetokenhepulledoutwasnaturallyfromYongQuansestate.

AfterLeTingseyesfelluponit,hisfacealmostchangedcolorandhewhispered,TheCrown
Princesestate?

Thatscorrect.XiaoLiusmiled,comfortablyleaninghimselfagainstthevelvetwallsofthe
carriagecompartment.FanChenghasrecentlyencounteredmanythings.HisHighness,
YongQuan,orderedmetocomeheretoassist.Heclearlywasmakingthisup.Aftermeeting
withRongTian,hedidnthavetimetoreturntothecapitaltoreceiveanyordersfromYong
Quan.Thinkingthatsavingapersontakespriority,XiaoLiuwantedtohandoverthetoken,
rescuetheprisonerandthenexplaintoYongQuan.

HejustsimplywantedtosaysomethingthatwouldntmakeLeTingsuspiciousofhim.
However,hedidntexpecttoscareLeTingintodrippingcoldsweat.

AfterhearingthatheisoneofYongQuansmen,LeTingfeltasuddenchilldownhisspine.
Thiswasindeedmeetingaghostatnight.HeneverimaginedYongQuanwouldcareso
muchaboutthesmallcityofficialpostatFanChengsport,thathewoulddispatchhis
henchmenhere.Notonlywasthistimedifferent,theydidntjustdiscreetlyobservethe
executionsprogress,butinstalledcountermeasuresaswell.

Coulditbe...coulditbethattheyhavealreadyfiguredoutFengMingsmagictrickofbringing
adeadpersontolife?!Thinkingaboutthis,thecoldsweatcontinuedtoflow.Ifthisis
discovered,theprisonerandTaiCanwillundoubtedlydie.Evenhe,LeTing,hadnochance
ofescaping.Forhimtodieisnothing,buthiswifeandthethreeconcubines,alongwithhis
childreninsidehisresidencewillnotbespared.IfYongQuandealtwithhisbrotherswithout
mercy,thenameagreGenerallikehimisnothing.

Insidethenarrowcompartment,themoreLeTingthoughtaboutit,themoreanxioushegot.
DukeMingsplanwasextremelyclever,andyetbeforeitevenbegan,withouttheslightest
hintorexposure,howdidtheCrownPrincefindoutaboutit?IfthepeopleofYongQuandid
notreceivethenews,thenwhyaretheydeliberatelystoppinghimhere?

LeTinghadbeenanofficialformanyyears,hadhebeenfooledbythecourt?Hewasworried
inside,buthisfacedidnotrevealtheslightestchange.Stillkeepingthesamecomposure,he
said,SoitsMisterLiufromtheCrownPrincesestate.ThecapitalisquitedistantandMister
Liuhasbeentravelinghard,notcaringforthetroubletocomehere.Istheresomethingyou
wouldliketoinformme?

ThismatterisregardingthewinebrewercalledChaoAn.

Soitsregardingthat.LeTingcarefullyreexaminedhiswordsasheslowlyreplied,Then,
MisterLiu,pleasereportbacktoHisHighness,YongQuan,thatthismatterhasbeenproperly
takencareof.Theprisonerwillbesentencedtoday,andIwillbetheonetopersonally
supervisetheexecution.Therewillnotbeasingleproblem.

XiaoLiuwashavingaheadachebecauseofChaoAnsexecutiontoday.Ifthatsthecase,
thenhecannotfulfillRongTianstask.Furrowinghiseyebrows,hesaid,IsntGeneralabit
impatientinhandlingthiscase?

What?LeTingeyedXiaoLiususpiciously.

FromYongQuanspointofview,hispeopleareupsetthatChaoAncouldntbekilledearlier
sothattheycouldimplicateTaiCan.Unlesstheyalreadyknewabouttheplanlatertoday.If
thatsthecase,thenthelivesofthosepeopleinvolvedwillbeatstake.

LeTingsheartsuddenlytightened,hecouldbarelymaintainhiscalmwhenheasked,Mister
Liu,whydoyousaythatImhandlingthiscaseinahaste?ThisprisonerhasgiventheKinga
barrelofsourYouzhiwine,goingagainsttheKingsorders,andisextremelydisrespectful.His
deathsentenceislongoverdue.DidntHisHighness,YongQuan,sendaletterurgingforthe
sentencingtobecarriedoutassoonaspossibleandwithoutfurtherdelay?Iamonlyacting
ontheinstructionsprovidedbyHisHighness.

ThisremarkbyLeTingwasreasonable.ThinkingforthesakeofYongQuan,pledginghis
allegiancewithhim,madeXiaoLiuspeechless.

HowcouldXiaoLiunotknowthatYongQuanhadbeeneyeingthecityofficialpostatFan
Chengsport?Rightnow,hewasactingasarepresentativeoftheCrownPrincesfactionso
howcanherevealhistrueintentionsforcominghere?

XiaoLiuglancedoveratLeTingandwasupsetthathecouldntjustkickthefamousGeneral
ofYongYininfrontofhim.WhatkindofrighteousGeneralisthis?Bullshit,hesjustlikethose
bootlickers!

ItseemsLeTingwasjustpretendingtotakeaneutralstance,wheninfact,hewasafraidof
YongQuanspower.Figures,hedisregardshameandwinYongQuansapprovalbyusing
TaiCansbrotherinlawscasetosuckuptoCrownPrinceYongQuan.Andthemost
despicablethingwas,XiaoLiuhadtocomplimentthisdamnmanfordisregardingahuman
life.

GeneralistrulyveryloyaltoHisHighness,YongQuan.XiaoLiuclenchedhisteethashe
forcedhimselftosmile,Youseemtobeworkingveryhard.IwillhavetoannouncethistoHis
Highnessinthefuture.However,whatIsaidaboutGeneralhandlingthismatterhastilyis
justified.YoushouldknowthattheCaiFamilyhavebeencityofficialsinFanChengformany
generations,executingafamilymembercanwaitafewmoredays.Handlingthiscasequickly
mightevokecriticismbyothers.ThismattermightnotbegoodforHisHighnessreputation.

Afterlistening,LeTingsecretlyletoutasighofrelief.

Sothisstuntofseizinghim,inthemiddleoftheroad,andforcinghimintothecarriagewas
becauseofthisandherehethoughtthispersonhadrealisedsomethingwasamisswiththis
afternoonsexecution.LeTingwaslessworriedandabitcalmer.Motioningwithhishandand
givingoffarighteouslook,hesaid,Regardingthismatter,PrinceYongQuancanrest
assured.Thiscasehasbeendelayedforalongtime,andnowisthebesttimetotakecareof
it.Nomattertheevidenceortheprocessofexecution,everythingisinfullaccordancewith
thelawofYongYin.NoonecancriticizePrinceYongQuanaboutthismatter.

XiaoLiureplied,HisHighnessYongQuanonlyhopesthatthiscasecanbepostponedfora
fewmoredays.

Ifitwereafewdaysago,LeTingwouldbeextremelyhappyandnoddedinagreement.He
alsodidntwanttoexecuteaninnocentperson.However,themagictrickDukeMingis
orchestratingisreadytobeimplemented.Thesecretcompartmentunderneaththeexecution
groundhadalsobeendugupinadvanceandifthiscannotbecarriedouttoday,thentraces
ofevidencewillbepresent.

Thinkingaboutthis,LeTingrespondedadamantly,Theannouncementwascarriedoutthree
daysago,everyoneknowsthattodaywillbetheexecutionday.Ifitissuddenlypostponed,it
willarousecriticismfromthepeople.MisterLiu,pleaseunderstandthatIamdoingthisforthe
sakeofHisHighnessYongQuan.Thesoonerthismatterissettled,themorefavorableitis
forhisexcellency.

LeTingcontinuedmentioningthatthismatterwasforthesakeofYongQuan.XiaoLiuwasso
angryhestaredwideeyedatLeTingforhecouldnotfindanyotherreasontostophim.Ifhe
continuedtodissuadehim,itwillonlycauseLeTingtobemoresuspiciousofhim.

ItwashardenoughforXiaoLiutohidehisidentityinsideYongQuansestate,yettoexpose
himselfbecauseofthistrivialmatterwasnotworthit.Giventhesituation,hadbeensomeone
else,thenthatpersonwouldhavegivenupandnotpursuethematterfurther.XiaoLiumay
appearsimple,buthewasfarmorethanordinary.Heheldhimselfinhighselfesteem.

ItsbeenalongtimesincehemetRongTianandaftermeetingRongTian,heacceptedthis
task.Eventhoughthistaskwasnotimportant,hemadeapromisetoHisMajesty.Hehadto
completeitnomatterwhat.

Duringamomentofhesitation,aboldplanemergedfrominsidehismindlikealightningbolt.
ThefactthatLeTingwascapturedwithoutanyonesknowledgeandthemenXiaoLiubrought
withhimwereeliteguardsandloyaltohim,hisendeavourstodaywillnotbeexposed.Why
notjustgetridofLeTingwithoutanyoneknowing?!

Thenwhennooncomes,withouttheappearanceoftheexecutionsupervisor,theprisoner
cannotbeexecuted.IfTaiCansbrotherinlawisnotofficiallyputtodeath,thenTaiCan

wontbeimplicatedbecauseofthiscase.Attheveryleast,beforethecourtsendsanother
newGeneral,thecityofficialpostatFanChengsportwillnotbereplaced.

XiaoLiuthoughtforamomentinsilence,hesecretlyglancedoveratLeTing,carefully
calculatinghisnextmove.Theinnocentwinebrewerwhogotdraggedintothispoliticalbattle
ofthetwoprinceshadnoquarrelwiththisperson,yetrightnow,thispersonhasnoregardfor
ahumanlife,forhewishtokillthewinebrewertogainYongQuansapproval.Sowhynotjust
killthiscompletelyinsaneandridiculousperson?

Thinkingaboutit,XiaoLiuseyesflashedwithmurderousintent,hislipscurvedupwardintoa
gentlearcashemethodicalanswered,WhatGeneraljustsaidiscorrect.ItseemsthatIwas
overlyworried.Sincethatsthecase,pleasereturntoyourestate.Illleavethewinebrewer,
ChaoAnscaseinyourhands.

HowcouldLeTingguesswhatwasgoingoninsideXiaoLiusmind?Itshardtoblamehim.
Nomatterhowmuchhethinksaboutit,hecouldnotimaginethatXiaoLiuwasRongTians
spy.EverythingLeTingsaidanddonewasinfavorofYongQuan.ItwasobviousthatXiao
Liuwillhavetoreleasehim.

AfterlisteningtoXiaoLiu,LeTingdidnotsuspectathing.Thatwouldbebest.Noonwill
comequicklyandIhavetohurrytotheexecutionground.IhopeMisterLiuwillreportthe
matterbacktoHisHighnessYongQuanforme.Illtakemyleave.AfterbiddingXiaoLiu
farewell,heturnedaroundandgotoutofthecarriage.

Ashisfeetlandedontheground,behindhim,awailingsoundwassuddenlyheardfrom
insidethecarriage.LeTingdidnthavetimetoreactwhenseveralconfidantsofXiaoLiu
gatheredaroundthecarriagewithagrimlookontheirfacesandchargingstraightathim.
Caughtunawares,LeTingreceivedastriketohisnoseandwassuddenlydizzy.Hewas
takenaback.Withtheskillshegainedonthebattlefields,heretreatedinpanic,raisinghisarm
tofendoffanotherstrike,whiletheotherhandwassearchingalonghiswaist.Buthecouldnt
feelanything.Bythen,herealizedhisswordwasconfiscatedbeforeenteringthecarriage.
Withthissecondofhesitation,hesufferedseveralblowstohisback,itwassopainfulthathe
wantedtocurluponthefloor.Feelingafraidandmad,heshouted,Whatdoyouguys
want?!

Hismindquicklyracedback.Forthemtotakeactionruthlesslymustmeanthattheywere
awareofDukeMingsplan!Otherwise,whywouldthepeopleofCrownPrincedothis?

Itwasupsettingthathedidntknowhowtheymanagedtofigureitout.Whatsworstisthat
DukeMingandTaiCanwereunawareofthis.Iftheyactaccordingtotheplan,thentheytoo
mightfallintothistrap.No!Nomatterwhat,hehadtoletthemknowthatheisbeingcaptured
bytheCrownPrinceshenchmen!

Thinkingaboutthis,regardlessoftheattackscomingfrombehind,LeTingimmediatelyfought
hiswayforward,pushingthetwobrawnymenasideandshoutingloudlyfromtopofhislungs,
Murderer!Murderer!IamYongYinGeneralLe.Beforehecouldfinish,hewasknocked
outhardandhisbodycollapsedontothesoftyellowmudontheground.

Thecurtainofthecarriagewaslifted.Howsthesituation?

ReportingtoYoungMaster,heslostconsciousness.OneofXiaoLiussubordinateusedhis
foottocheckformovement,buttherewasnone.Heletoutalaugh.Justnow,thisperson
triedtoshoutforhelp.Haha,thisplaceiscoveredinsand,notasinglespiritcanhearhim
shouting.

Theothermanasked,YoungMaster,doyouwanttokillhim?Heremovedtheshortdagger
fromhiswaist.Theywereallassailants,accustomedtokillingpeoplewithoutbattinganeye.
Allofthemwerenotafraidofdeath.WithjustonewordfromXiaoLiu,slittingthethroatofa
Generalwasnodifferentthankillingachicken.

XiaoLiuwasplanningonnoddinghishead,butthenrememberedsomething,heasked,You
havecloselyfollowedhimfromhisestate,wheredidhego?

ThispersonwassneakingintoFanChengsport,we'renotsurewherehewentbecausehe
disappearedinablinkofaneye.Wealmostthoughtthathefoundoutwewerefollowinghim
andcutoffourtrail.Halfanhourlater,wefoundhimalongthelargeroadinFanChengs
port.

FanChengsport?Accordingtothenews,thelargeshipofXiaoFamilycarryingDukeMing
stoppedbytheportofFanCheng?Coulditbe.Whenthinkingaboutthis,XiaoLiuwas
horrified.HestareddownattheunconsciousLeTinglyingontheground.Couldthisvicious
personreallywanttokillDukeMingtopleaseYongQuan?

Thethoughtmadesense.PushingawinebrewertohisdeathwasnotabigdealforYong
Quan.ButifheweretokillDukeMing,theonewhoXiLeiKingRongTianlovesthemost,
thenthepresentKinginXiLei,RongTong,wouldbeverygratefultoYongQuan.Itwouldbe
ahugeachievement.Huh!Howhateful!

XiaoLiustaredferociouslyatthemotionlessLeTing.Hewasplanningonkillinghim,but
hesitated.Heorderedcoldly,Tiehimupfornow,remembertogaghim.Oncethematter
regardingTaiCanisresolved,Iwouldliketointerrogateandtorturehimabit.Concerning
todaysevent,nomatterwhoaskyou,donotrevealasinglething,understand?

Hishenchmenrespondedwitharoarofcompliance.

Chapter2

FengMingchangedhisclothesthenslippedintothecrowdwithRongHuonhisleftandLuo
Yunonhisright.

TheYouziwinebecomingsourasitleavesFanChengisafactthateveryoneknows.This
caseregardingChaoAnisacrimepushedontotheinnocent.Today,whentheprisonergets
executed,nineoutoftenpeopleinFanChengwillrushforthtoseetheboisterouseventheld
atthecitygate.

Whatashame

Ah,IheardheoffendedthePrince.

Quiet!Youdontwanttolive?Loweryourvoice.

Theafternoonhasntarrived,yeteveryonewaswhisperingnonstopalongthesideline.

Howaretheygoingtolive?Anhonestmanbeingexecuted.Whatapity,hehasanaging
mother.

Thatsright,whatapity,hiswifeisalsopregnant.

FengMingsquirmedhiswayintothecrowd,butjudgingbyRongHuandLuoYunstrifled
look,heknewhehadreachedtheclosestpointtotheexecutionground.

Theexecutiongroundcontainedawoodenplatformabouttwofeethighwithlargestairs,rows
ofchairswereplacedbelowandatablespreadwithsatinclothwhichappearstobethe
seatingfortheexecutionsupervisorandotherofficials.Inthemiddleoftheplatformwasthe
placewheretheexecutionwillbeheld,athickwoodenstumptheplacewheretheprisoner
willkneeldown,andplacehisheadontobeforebeheading.

FengMingknewthatthewoodenstumpwouldntbenecessaryforthisplanoftheirs.No
matterhowimpressiveFengMingsabilitywas,hewasnotabletoreconnectapersonshead
backtotheoriginalform.Regardingmagic,heonlywatcheditontelevision.Therefore,
whetherthisplanissuccessfulornot,willdependoneveryonesperformanceandifthe
Heaveniswillingtohelpout.

ChaoAnswifeandmotherweresobbingbesidetheexecutionground.Cryingalongsidewith
themwasTaiCan,pretendingtobeill.

Sister...sisterpleasedontcry.Yourestillpregnant.Thisisthelaw,wehavenootherway,
ifyouwanttotakealookNotsurewhatkindofpowdercoatingTaiCanplacedonhisface,
buthisfacewaswhiteasaghost.Cryingwithtearsandsnotalloverhisface,hissobbing
wasevenlouderthanhissisters,Itsallbecauseofme,Ishouldnthaveletyouchoosethis
marriage.Thisisnotagoodmarriageandnowyoullbecomeawidow.Whatapityformy
nephewwhohasntbeenbornyet

FengMingknewthathewasacting,buthecouldnothelpbutstarewidemouthedatTai
Cansrealisticacting.

DukeMing,theprisonerishere.RongHusvoicewhisperedagainsthisear.

FengMingstretchedhisneckuptolook.Indeed,therewereagroupofpeoplecomingfrom
thecitygate,walkingtowardstheexecutiongrounds.Theywerewearingtheregularsoldier
outfit,armedwithalongspear.Therewasonlyonepersonwearingaprisoneruniform,
emaciated,hishandsweretiedbehindhisback,staggeringwhilewalkinginthemiddleasif
hissoulwasscant.

Heshere!Heshere!

Abouttobebeheaded?

Whentheysawtheprisoner,thecrowdmadeaslightcommotion.FengMingwaswondering
whyLeTingisnthereyet.RongHufeltsomethingwaswrong,believingthatLeTingshould
havearrivedheremuchearlier.

TheybothtriedtorationalizethatLeTingmusthavebeenslightlydelayed.However,LuoYun
feltdifferently,stating,Somethinghappened.

Hearinghimsayitwithmuchconviction,FengMingfeltnervous,hisfacewentpaleandhe
triedtoforcealaughter.

Thatcantbe?Ourplan...wassoperfect.

RongHuwasntpleasedwithLuoYunscaringFengMing.Glaringathim,heasked,Howdo
youknowsomethinghappened?

Thisisakillersinstinct.LuoYunanswered,ignoringRongHusglare,heturnedhisheadto
faceFengMing,DidntYoungLordsaidtofaceyourfearstobuildcourage?Yourchance
hascome.


FengMingwasalreadytenseenough.Afterlisteningtohim,hebecamemoreuneasy,andhe
stammeredWhatImeantwas...was...ohGod,ifourplanisleakedandtheYongYinarmy
weretojumpoutandsurroundus,weonlyhavetwentyguards.Wemightreallybecome
twentyshreddedpiecesofmeat.

FengMingwasntverygoodatconverginghisinnerthoughts.Withhishandsome
appearance,thickeyebrowsandblinkingeyes,hispitifullookafterbeingscaredwastoo
adorable.

LuoYunneverexpectedthathiswordswouldscareFengMinglikethat.Hewasbothamused
andupset.Sweepinghiseyestolookathimoncemoreandusinganinsensitivetoneof
voice,hesaid,Ifitsleakedthenitsleaked.TheXiaoFamilyisunafraidofanyone.If
someonedarestohurtyou,theywillhavetowalkpastmydeadbody.Althoughhis
expressionwascold,hisintentionofprotectingFengMingwereclearlyconveyedinhis
words.

FengMingwasdeeplymoved.HegrabbedLuoYunshandtightly,revealingabrightsmile.

Thankyou.

Surprised,LuoYunlookeddownindisgustatthehandFengMingwasholding.Hetriedto
strugglefreebutcouldnt.Thisplacewasfilledwithmanypeoplesohedidntdaretouse
muchforcethatwouldcauseunwantedattentiontothem.Hegaveuponstruggling,feeling
embarrassedwhilelettingFengMingtocontinueholdhishand.

Justthen,RongHusuddenlysaid,Heshere!

Sureenough,acarriagecamefromtheothersideofthegate,surroundedbyseveralguards,
madeitswaytowardstheexecutionground.LeTingheldthehighestpositionwithinthearea.
Hemadetheannouncementthathewillbetherepersonallyatnoontoconvicttheprisoner
accordingtothelawsofYongYin.Duringthetimeofexecution,horsecarriageswerenot
allowedneartheexecutionground.Everyonewasawareofthis.

Thecurtainstothecarriageliftedandthedignifiedpersonsteppedout.However,theimageof
thepersonthatappearedwasnotLeTing,whomtheyhadbeenlookingforwardto,but
insteadayoungmanFengMinghadneverseenbefore.

FengMingwasshocked,hethoughtthathedidntseeclearlysohequicklyrubbedhiseyes.
Aftertakingacloserlook,hisfacewentpale,hisheartdropped.ItwasntLeTingatall.Could
LuoYunswordsbetrue,somethinghappened.

ThePrincesentanenvoy!Payyourrespects!


FengMingwasstillshockedwonderingwhereLeTingcouldbe.IfitwasntforLuoYun,
pullinghimdowntokneelalongwiththeothers,FengMingwouldhavestoodoutfromthe
crowd,inadvertentlyputtinghimselfindanger.

Asthecrowdwasorderedtostandup,FengMingfollowedalong.Therewerenonewsabout
LeTingandyetanenvoyfromtheCrownPrincearrived.Thiswassomethingtheywereall
afraidof.

TaiCan,whowassobbingonthesideline,noticedthatsomethingwasntright.Hismouthwas
wideopenandhiseyesdilatedbiggerthanapairofbells,ahorridlookonhisfacedisplayed
afterseeingtheunknownCrownPrincesenvoy.

Thecrowdbelowwerewhisperingtoeachother,wonderingwhytheCrownPrincesenvoy
washere.

LuoYunknewthatthesituationhadchangedandcouldresultinextremedanger.Headvised
FengMingtomakeaquickdecisionregardingthisunexpectedchangeinevents.

FengMingwasatalossforwords.Hedidntknowwhattodoandblamedhimselffornot
thinkingeverythingthoroughly.IfRongHu,LuoYun,TaiCanandLeTingweretomeetwith
misfortunethenitwillbehisfault.Whatkindofmagictrickisthis?Great,withallthe
preparations,theexecutionsupervisorwentmissing.Thislousymagictrickistheworstone
ever!

ThisCrownPrincesenvoyisreallystrange.RongHuwasmutteringbesidehim.

Iknowthathesstrange,butthisisntthetimetopursuethat.FengMingwhispered,Right
now,theimportantthingis...whatshouldwedo?God,ifthatenvoytakeschargeofthe
execution,dowereallyhavetosnatchtheprisoner?Ah,I...itsallmy

ThispersonisclearlyXiaoLiu.RongHustaredattheCrownPrincesenvoywhowas
standingontheplatform.XiaoLiuwasskinnierthanbeforesowithoneglance,hecouldnt
recognizehim.Twoyearsofnotmeeting,itseemsthathewassentbyHisMajestytoYong
Yin.

FengMingthoughtRongHusaidsomethingaboutrunningoff,soheresponded,Run?
Whereshouldwerunto?No,Icameupwithhisplan,Ihavetosavetheprisonerbeforethe
executiontime.Ifweweretorunaway,wouldntIbekillinganinnocentperson?

DukeMing,thatpersonisXiaoLiu.

FM:What?RongHu,youknowthatperson?Canyouthinkofawaytoresolvethismatter?
Moneyisnotaproblem,didntLieErsaidthatYongYinofficialslovebribery?

RH:Heisoriginallyoneofus.

FM:What?Oneofus.He..he..he...thisCrownPrincesenvoySayitonemoretime?

RH:HewassentbyHisMajestyasaspywithinYongYin.

FengMingstaredatRongHuseveraltimes,afterdeterminingthatRongHuwasnotjoking,
heletoutahugesighofrelief.

FM:Oneofus?

RH:Thatscorrect.

FM:Oneofus?

RH:Hush,DukeMing.Pleasedontraiseyourvoice,itwillarouseattention.

FM:Thatsright...oneofus
mydearGod(forcryingoutloud!)

FengMingsilentlythankthathismagictrickwasstillsupportedbytheHeaven.

Hetiltedhisheadandfilledwithemotions,heglancedoveratRongHu.Hedidntknow
whethertohugRongHuorgivehimagoodkick.Unfortunatelywiththepresent
circumstances,hecouldntdoanyofthesetwoactions.TheonlythingFengMingcoulddo
wastoclenchhisteethindissatisfaction,Whydidntyousaysoearlier,doyouwanttoscare
yourRoyalHighnesstodeath?

RH:Ijustknewaboutit.

LY:Whatshouldwedonow?

FM:Whew,itturnedouttobeafalsealarm.Thenextcourseistofollowourplan.Rest
assured,ifheisoneofus,hewillhelpuscompletethisplan.Ha,IdidntexpectRongTianto
besoamazing,thisisverygood.

LY:IstilldontseehowthisCrownPrincesenvoywillhelpwithcompletingourplan.

FM:Hah?

LY:Idontthinkheknowswhatourplanis.


FM:Hah?

Thiscantbe!CouldthispawnbeplacedrandomlybecauseofRongTian?Hewasntordered
heretokillChaoAn,washe?

Theyrefinished.

ThemomentFengMingwasshoutingTheyrefinished,RongHudecisivelywenttotheedge
oftheexecutionground,grabbedthepanickyTaiCanandwhisperedinhiseyes,Quicklyrun
upontheplatformtowardstheCrownPrincesenvoy,crytohimandthen

============

Ontheexecutionplatform,XiaoLiuwasalsoupset.WhenLeTingwasknockedout
unconscious,hewasntplanningonmakinghisappearance.However,afterthinkingaboutit,
hefeltabituneasy.Theexecutionnoticewasannounced,soifthemainexecutionsupervisor
wasnotpresent,therewillstillbeadeputyexecutionsupervisor.Andifthatpersonwereto
putouttheordertokillChaoAn,thenhishardworkwouldgotowaste.Toensurethatsuch
thingswonthappen,hehadtopersonallytakeatriptocomehere.

MasterLiu,pleasedrinksometea.

LeTingwasthemajorGeneraltoexecutetheprisoner,therefore,officialsfromtoptobottom
withinFanChengcametoattend.However,LeTingunexpectedlydisappearedandthe
envoyoftheCrownPrincewhocamehadanevenhigherpositionthanLeTing.Afterserving
thetea,theyshoweredhimwithflatteringwords.

Haha,theweatherisverysunny,MasterLiudidntmindtravelingtirelesslyfrommilesaway,
youareveryloyaltothecourt.

Iveheard...MasterLiuisamanofprincipleandrighteousnessandhighlyrespectedby
PrinceYongQuan...

XiaoLiuforcedasmile.Cuttingshorttheirsentences,heglancedaroundandthenasked,
HowcomeIdontseetheExecutionSupervisorGeneralLeTing?

ThisThedeputysupervisorforLeTingwassilentlymutteringtohimselfthathetoodidnt
knowwhereGeneralLeTingwas,butwhilelookingupatthecolorfulsky,hereplied,The
Generalisprobablyriddenwithabunchofmattersentanglinghim,hewillarriveshortly.

XiaoLiusecretlysneered.Yourgeneraliscurrentlytieduplikeapastry,placedunderneath
theseatwithinmyhorsecarriage,perhapshellneverbeabletoarrivehereatall.

TherewasoneofficialwhotoldXiaoLiuthatifGeneralLeTingdoesntarrive,thenXiaoLiu
couldalwaysusehistitleastheCrownPrincesenvoytoexecutetheprisoner.XiaoLiuknew
thisofficialpledgehisloyaltytoPrinceYongQuanandwasdisgustedbyit,buthekeptona
pokerface.

XL:Weabsolutelycannotdothat.HisHighnessiskind,benevolentandabidesbythelaw.If
youwantthepersonfromCrownPrincesestatetobeinchargeofthisexecutionjustbecause
themainexecutionsupervisorisnothere,thenifthisrumorweretospreadinthefuture,
wouldntthistarnishHisHighnesssreputation?

XiaoLiuknewthatifanhourpassedandLeTingstillhadntshownupforthescheduledtime
frame,thenaccordingtothelaw,theprisonerwillbesentbacktoprison.Sorightnow,hehad
toendurealltheflatteryandsweettalkbytheotherofficialsforanhour.

Duringthistimeofextremeimpatience,asuddencryrangout.

Hesinnocent!Hesinnocent!TaiCanburstintotearswhilehewascrawlingandscrambling
ontotheexecutionplatform.Official,pleasereexaminethecase!Mybrotherinlawis
innocent!Mysisteriscurrentlypregnant,afuturewidowandafatherlesschild,whatwill
happen?Please...pleasehavemercy...

Despitehavingalargechubbyphysique,hisactionsweresurprisinglyswift.Beforeanyone
couldreact,TaiCanhadalreadyclungontoXiaoLiuslegandstartedcrying.Ifhewasa
normalperson,thenhewould'vebeendraggedoutbytheguards.However,nomatterwhat
typeofpersonTaiCanwas,hewasanofficialinFanChengforseveralyears.Sincethe
guardsknewthathewasanofficial,theydidntdaretotakeaction.Asfortheotherofficials
whoweresittingontheplatform,theyshooktheirheadsandhalfheartedlysaid,BrotherTai,
pleasequicklystandup,ifyouneedtosaysomethingpleasesayitslowly,everyoneelseis
staring.

BrotherTai,Icanunderstandyoursadness,butregardingyourbrotherinlawsmatter,the
lawisruthless.

Letstalkaboutitslowly,BrotherTaiandquicklyletgo,thispersonistheCrownPrinces
envoy

XiaoLiuslegwasheldtightlythathecouldntmove.Hewasoverlyembarrassed,butfeltabit
sympathetictowardsTaiCan.HewantedtotellTaiCanthathecameheretosavethe
prisoner,butsincehecouldntclearlystateit,heplacedastonefaceandsaid,Whoareyou?
Beingsorudetowardsme?Whatdoyoumeaninnocent?GeneralLeTinggavethe

convictionaccordingtothelaw,areyousayingthatheisdoingthisbecauseofpersonal
interest?Whatnonsense!Quicklyletgo!Whilebendingover,hetriedtopushawaythe
handsthatweregrabbingontohisleg.

TaiCanwaswaitingforthisopportunity.Seeinghimstoopingdown,heimmediately
whisperedintoXiaoLiusearlikealightningbolt,RongHurequeststhatyoumeetupwith
him.

XiaoLiuwassurprisedthatthispersonknewhisidentityandevenRongHu.While
wonderingwhatRongHuhadtodowiththismatter,TaiCanaddedthatDukeMingwasalso
standingwithintheaudience.Theotherofficialswhowerestandingtothesidewereafraid
thatXiaoLiuwouldbeangrysotheyrushedovertopullhimoff.Afterbeingdraggedoffthe
platform,TaiCanwipedhistearsandcomfortedhissister.

XiaoLiuwasshocked,butheeventuallyswepthiseyesoverthepeoplebelowtheplatform
andsawRongHu.NoticingthatXiaoLiuhadseenhim,RongHumadeagesture,whichXiao
Liusilentlyunderstood.

XL:Isthere...anyplacetoletloose*?(*restroom)

Theofficialsstartedlaughing,Areyouinahurry?Thecitygateshaveaplacewhichisfairly
clean,allowmetoshowyoutheway.

XL:Noneed.Thismatterdoesnotneedmanypeopletofollowalong.

Afteraskingforthedirection,XiaoLiubroughttwoofhisguardstofollowbehind.Oncehe
cametothecitygateandmadeaturnintoaquietplace,RongHuwasalreadywaitingright
thereforhim.

RH:IknowthatyouhavemanythingstoaskmeandIhavemanythingstoaskyou,butright
nowthereissomethingimportanttodoandwererunningoutoftime.Firstoff,takethis
paper.

XiaoLiutookthesheetofpaper,glancedoveritquicklyandasked,Whatisthis?

RH:DukeMingisdeterminedtosaveChaoAnslife.Thisistherescueplanthatourteam
decidedtoactout.Luckily,DukeMingiscleverenoughtobringthisjustincase.Justfollow
theplanthatiswritten,youhavetorememberyourlines.Becareful,dontmissasingleword.

XL:What?

RH:Wehavenootherchoice.Originally,wediscussedtheplanwithLeTingandwould
performitduringtheexecution,butwedidntexpecthimtosuddenlydisappear.Rightnow,

sendingsomeonetofindhimwillbetoolate,therefore,youwillhavetoreplacehim.Justtake
sometimetomemorizetheselines,thenheaduptotheplatformandbeasubstituteforLe
Ting.Usingyourposition,youhaveallthequalificationtotakechargeoftheexecutiononLe
Tingsbehalf.XiaoLiu,thisroleisveryimportant,whetherornotChaoAncanbesaved
dependsonthismoment,alright?Whydoyouhaveaweirdlookonyourface?

XL:Uh,RongHu

RH:Ifyouhavesomethingtosay,letstalkaboutitlater.Ifnoontimeisover,DukeMings
planwouldbecomeawaste.Themostimportantthingrightnowisforyoutomemorizeyour
lines,wedonthavemuchtime...Iknowwehavetobotherforyourassistancethistime.

XL:DidyoujustsaidthatthisplanwasdiscussedwithLeTing?

RH:Yes,itwas.Atthecriticalmoment,nooneknowswhereLeTinghadrunoffto,ifhe

XL:Iknow.

RH:couldcomehereontime,thenitwouldbegreat...Ah?Whatdidyoujustsay?

XL:Isaid,IknowwhereLeTingis.

RH:Youdo?Thatsgreat!Thatsgreat!Whereishe?Howlonguntilhearriveshere?

XL:Hesinmyhorsecarriage.

RH:Yourhorsecarriage?Whatishedoingonyourhorsecarriage?

XL:Actually,hestiedupandstuffedbeneaththeseatofmycarriage.

====

Thosewhowerenotinvolvedwiththeplanwouldntknowthateventhoughtheexecutionthis
timewasordinary,therewerealotofchaoswithin.AfterknowingwhereLeTingwas,Rong
HuusedhisfastestandmostagilespeedtoreportthenewstoFengMingandthenwiththe
samespeed,rushedovertothebackofXiaoLiuscarriageandrescueLeTing,pullingout
thesmellyragfromhismouthandpouringabowlofwateronhim.Hethengavetwoheavy
slapstohisface,thusfinallywakingLeTingfromhisunconsciousstate.

RH:TheCrownPrincesenvoyisagoodperson,becauseofhisrighteousness,hecameto
helpus,whichisalsopartofthismagictrick.Here...anyway...letsfollowthroughwiththe
plan.

AfterexplainingthecurrentsituationtoLeTinginthemostsimplestwords,theydecidedto
continuewiththeplanFengMinghadimplemented.Asforthegroggygeneral,hewas
broughtinconspicuouslytotheremoteareaofthecitygatewithoutanyonenoticing,andthere
heclimbedontoahorse.

Inashortwhile,beforenoontimecametoanend,GeneralLeTingwhohadgonemissing,
suddenlyappearedaroundthecornerofthegates,asifhehadexperiencedalongarduous
journey,answeringtheeagernesscryofthepeople.

Look!Look!

TheGeneralishere!

Thatsright!GeneralLeTingisfinallyhere!

Oh!Theprisonermayreallydiethistime!

WhenLeTingappeared,asuddenburstofnoisewasheardfromthetopandabovethe
platform.TaiCanthoughtthattheirplanofbringingadeadpersontolifewasexposed,
silentlyglancingatLeTingridingtowardstheexecutionplatform,dismountinghishorse,and
beingescortedbyhisguardsontotheplatform,didTaiCanrememberwhathis
responsibilitiesare.Hequicklyrushedforwardandstartedcryingloudly.

Ontopoftheplatform,GeneralLeTingwhojustarrivedbecamethefocusofattention.

WheredidtheGeneralgooffto?

ReportingtotheGeneral,MasterLiuoftheCrownPrincesestatehasbeenwaitingforalong
time

Aiya,whatiswrongwiththeGeneralsface?Yourebleeding!

Comingfacetofacewiththepoliteandcourteouswordsofhisfellowofficialsafterbeing
knockedoutunconsciouslyandreawakenafterwards,LeTingwasabitoverwhelmed.
Hearingsomeonementioninghisface,heunnaturallysnorted,thecornerofhiseyesswept
overtowardsXiaoLiuwhowassittinginnocentlytooneside.LeTingcouldonlyreply,This
morning,Iwasridingoutofmyestate,thenthatcrazyanimalsuddenlyattackedmeforno
apparentreason,causingmetoinjuremyself.

Ah...soitwasahorseTheofficialsansweredinabruptastonishment.

Ofcourse,noonehadthegutstoaskLeTing:
ifhehadfallenoffthehorse,thenwhydoeshe
havetwohandimprintsonhisface?


XiaoLiualmostburstoutlaughingonthesideline,buthecouldntexposehimselfsohecould
onlyquenchhisthirstwithacupoftea.ThosewhodidseeXiaoLiusslightsmile,secretly
confirmedthattheCrownPrincewantedChaoAntodieandsinceLeTingispresent,the
chancesofthathappeningismostlikely,whichcorrelateswiththereasonforXiaoLiussmile.

Thedeputyofficialasked,Time'srunningout,doesGeneralstillwishtoexecutethe
prisoner?

Ofcourse!Apartfromsayinganythingelse,LeTingimmediatelynodded.Ifthismatteris
furtherdelayedforafewmoredays,thenthismagictrickcan'tgoonandhewillbepressured
again!

Guards!Bringtheprisonerontotheplatform!

Aloudnoisecouldbeheardontheplatform.Theclosefamilymembersoftheprisonerwere
cryingontheside.Aloudcommotionwasalsoheardfromtheaudiencebelow.

Theyrekillingsomeone!ItseemsasifthispitifulChaoAnwillbeunjustlykilledtoday!

FengMingpushedhiswaythroughthecrowd.Hewasshiveringinexcitement,soemotional
thathewastearingup.ThisplanthatDukeMinghadmeticulouslyorchestrated,thefirstand
greatestmagictrickofthisgeneration,bringingadeadpersontolife,isfinally,finally,
beginningaftergoingthroughallsortsofdifficultiesandencounteringallkindsoftwistsand
turns.

Chapter3

ReportingtotheGeneral,theprisonerishere!

ChaoAn,wearingatatteredprisonuniformwasbroughtontheexecutionplatformbytwo
guards.AnextrachairwasthenpreparedforXiaoLiutositnexttoLeTing,seemingly
becomingthethirdexecutionsupervisoronthescene...

Theshowhasfinallybegun!

LeTingregainedhiscomposureandstaredatChaoAn,whowastremblingandcoiledupin
frontofhim.LeTingdisplayedademeanorofaGeneralandshoutedoutimposingly

Prisoner,liftyourheadandaddressyourname!

My...name...is.ChaoAn

Kneelingdown,ChaoAnmutteredafewwordsashecontinuedtoshakeinfright.
Whatishe
supposedtodo?
Yesterday,TaiCancametovisithimintheprison,secretlyinforminghimof
manythingsandrepeatedlyreinforcinghimtofollowthroughwiththeplantoday.Nomatter
howmuchTaiCanreassuredhimthatthisisplannedbytheworldsfamous,intelligent,Duke
Mingtheonethatwouldsavehislifebuthonestly,thiswastheboldestplanhehadever
heardofandnoonehasdaredtouseitbefore.Iftheplanisunsuccessfulthenhe,ChaoAn,
willundoubtedlydietoday

Lifeanddeathisahugematter.Whilethinkingaboutthis,wouldntanyonesvoicealso
trembleinfear?

LT:ChaoAn,youhavedisrespectedtheroyaltybyofferingsourwinetoHisMajestyasa
tribute.Thiscrimeisworthyofamilliondeaths.Iamheretodaywithanordertoexecuteyou.
Isthereanythingyouwouldliketosay?

I.I

ChaoAnshandsstartedtremblingwhilegraspingtightlyontothewoodenblockonthe
platform.

Theaudiencewitnessingthescenefrombelowknewthathewasinnocent.Everyonelooked
athimwithsympatheticeyes.

ThenasoftbrokenmutterwasheardfromChaoAn.

Im...Imaccused...unjustly.

Howdareyou!LeTingshoutedoutsharply,wideninghiseyes.Wehaveconclusive
evidenceofyourcrime!ThewineyouofferedtoHisMajestywassourandyet,youdareto
sayyouwereaccusedunjustly?Youreaguiltyprisoner,whyshouldntwekillyou?Iam
askingonceagain.Beforeyoudie,arethereanylastwordsyouwouldliketosay?

FengMingwasstandinginthecrowdlisteningtotheirconversation.Hewasfilledwith
overwhelmingemotionsasifhishandsandfeetweredancingdelightfully.

Soperfect!Soperfect!

TaiCansperformancewasalreadyoutstandingandworthyofpraises.Healsocouldnthave
imaginedthatLeTingsperformancewouldbeveryconvincing.Hisshoutawhileagowason
spot,givenhowquicktheskitwaswrittenup.

Hehadanticipatedthisforsometimenow,butsuddenlysomethingfeltwrong,whydidit
becamequiet?Accordingtotheoriginalplan,ChaoAnshouldvefollowedbehind,andspoke
themostimportantlineswithintheskit!

FengMinglookedupontothestage.Hewasnttheonlyonelooking,infact,alleyeswere
trainedonChaoAn.

ChaoAn,doyouhaveanythingtosay?LeTingliftedhiseyebrows,slightlyfeelingthat
somethingwasntright.

Heclearedhisthroat,Iamcurrentlyaskingyou,whyarentyouanswering?

Pleasequicklysaythefollowinglinesoftheskit!

ChaoAnwasstillkneelingonthestagewithhisfacedroppeddownthatnoonecouldclearly
seeit.Oneoftheguardswentovertohimandliftedhisheadup.Aftertakingaclearlookon
hisface,hesuddenlyexclaimed,Ah!Hesgonecrazy!

ChaoAnstaredblanklywhilefoamingatthemouth.Aloudcommotionwasthenheardfrom
theaudience.

Crazy!Hewentcrazy!

Whatapity!Hesscaredtodeath.Becomingcrazyisgood,betterthanbeingcompletely
consciouswhilebeingbeheaded

Thesituationhadchangeddrastically.Ashortwhileago,FengMingwasexcitedandnowhe
wasstiff.
Crazy?Foamingatthemouth,ishehavingaseizure?

OhGod!ThisidiotTaiCan,whydidnthetellmeaboutChaoAnsillness,havingapanic
attackafterbeingstronglyevoked?

Theyrefinished.

Theprotagonistsuddenlylostallabilitytoperform,howcanthisimpressivesupernaturaltrick
continue?

Thistime,itsreallytheend...

Onthesideline,TaiCanwasshockedthathisbrotherinlawsillnessstartedagain.The
deputysupervisorsuggestedtoLeTingthatsincetheprisonerhadbecamecrazy,therewas
nopointinquestioninghimanymore,sotheyshouldjustexecutehimnowgiventhefactthat
theexecutionhourhaspassedandXiaoLiuispresent.

LeTingwassilentlyupset.
Whyisitlikethis?ChaoAncouldntwaituntillatertostarthaving
aseizureandyetchosethisverymomenttodoit.Atleastfinishupyourlinesandthenstart
havingone!Causingmesomuchefforttorescueyou.

LT:This...Letswaitforalittlebit.Beforeexecutingsomeone,wealwaysallowtheprisoners
tohaveafewwordsaccordingtothecourtlaw.Um...this...alsoshowsthatthelawis
merciful

SeeinghowLeTingwasstuttering,thedeputysupervisorwasgreatlypuzzled.Whyis
GeneralLeTingactinglikethistoday?Healmostmissedtheexecutiontimeafter
disappearing.Thenhearrivedheredisheveledwithtwohandprintsonhisface,andnowheis
speakingincoherently.Hewasntinjuredbadlythathisbrainbecamescrewed,didhe?He
hasbeeninthesunforalongtimenowanddidntwanttocontinue.Thisprisonerwilldie
soonerorlater,sowhyshouldtheywastetime?

ThedeputysupervisortriedtopersuadeXiaoLiutosidewithhim,butXiaoLiujustreplied
thathesonlyheretowatchfromthesidelinesandGeneralLeTingistheonemakingthe
decision.

Afterashortwhile,ChaoAnfinallystoppedconvulsingandrecoveredhisconsciousness
however,hisbodybecameweakandneededtheguardstosupporthimup.

LeTingaskedChaoAnagainifhehadanywordstosay.ChaoAnonlygaspedheavilythe
wordsI...Iandwentsilentagain.
FengMingpushedhiswaytothefront,justenoughtoseeChaoAnsface,buteventhough
hisseizurestopped,hiseyesstaredblanklyasifheforgottenhislines.

LeTingtriedhardtoaskonelasttime,wipingthesweatoffhisforehead.Ifheaskedonce
more,evenafoolwouldknowthatsomethingweirdwasgoingon.

General,theprisonerdoesnthaveanythingelsetosay.Itsclearthathesadmittedhis
crime.Ithink,itisbestifwe

Hesinnocent!Hesinnocent!Ihavesomethingtosay!Ashrillvoiceofafemaleinterrupted
him.Everyonelookedtowardsthedirectionofthesound,inwhich,ChaoAnswifewhohave
beencryingendlesslyontheside,stoodupandrushedtowardstheexecutionplatform.She
kneeleddownbesideherhusbandandcriedout,General,myhusbandisinnocent,Irequest
theGeneraltoseekthetruthbehindthis!Hewaswronglyaccused,hewaswronglyaccused!


Althoughshewassixmonthspregnant,herhairunkemptandinraggedclothes,hereyes
wereboilingredwithasurgeofangerwhensheliftedherhead.Theguardsonbothsides
wantedtodragherdown,butherferociousstarekeptthemfromdoingso.

General,ifyoukillmyinnocenthusbandtoday,thenGodwillhavemercyandwillmost
definitelymakeyourepaywithyourlife!

Whataudacity!Ignorantwoman!Earlier,LeTingdidntknowhowtocontinue,butluckily
ChaoAnswifehadresolvedthismatter.Thispersonhascommittedagravecrimeand
needstobepunished!Howishewronglyaccused?You,you,you...youevendaredtocurse
me?Ifitwasntbecauseyourepregnant,Iwouldhavestrictlypunishedyou.Guards!Drag
thiswomanofftheplatformforme!

Theguardsfollowedthroughwiththeorder.AsforFengMing,hethoughtthattheplanfailed,
butdidntexpectthatChaoAnswifewouldjumpoutandspeakonherhusbandsbehalf.

LeTing!Ifyoukillaninnocentperson,youwillnotbeabletodiepeacefully!Ifmyhusband
dieswrongfullytoday,andhisbloodspilledontheverygroundsofFanChengcity,grievances
willbeheardthroughoutheaven,thenoneday,youwillhavetopayinblood!

Oncethewordswerespoken,everyoneintheaudiencewerestartled.Executingprisonersis
common,butnotbeingafraidofdeathandcursingtheexecutionsupervisorsweresomething
unheardof.

FengMingalmostjumpedinjoybecausethatwasthemostimportantkeylineswithintheskit,
andnowChaoAnswifehadfinallysaidthem.

LeTingwaitedforalongtimetoheartheselines,hewassomovedthattearsalmostfellout,
howeverthisisntthetimetocry,buttoimmediatelyputonanextremelyshockedandyet
massiverage.

Howdareyou!You...youdaretomakeaviciouscurselikethis?Doyouthinkthatjust
becauseofyourdeaththreatIwouldbeintimidatedandwouldnotexecuteChaoAn?Le
Tingpausedforabit,displayingahesitantexpression.Lookingoveratthedeputysupervisor
inanuneasymannerandwhispered,This...howshouldwedealwiththis?LeTinghopes
thathisactionwillnotcauseanysuspiciontowardshisofficial.

Thedeputysupervisorwasevenmoreuneasysohowcanheevenhavethethoughtof
wonderingwhetherLeTingwastrickinghimornot.Thiswomanisterriblyfrighteningtouse
thedeathofaprisonertocursetheexecutionsupervisors.Themostfrighteningthingisthat
thiscaseisunjust,soifChaoAndies,then

Themajorityofthepeopleinthisworldbelievesthatabloodcurseinvolvingthebloodofthe
deadisthemostviciouscurseever.Thistypeofcurse,evenKingswhoareblessedbyGod
wouldbeafraid,nottomentionordinarypeople.Thinkingthathetooisanexecution
supervisor,coldsweatstartedrunningdownhisbody,This.this...this

Hehesitatedforalongtimebeforeanswering,General,doyouthinkthatweshould
postponethisexecution?

LT:No.theprisonershouldbeputtodeathaccordingtothelaw.WeareYongYinofficials,
howcanwesparehimforthefearofacurse?Ifwedothis,thenthelovedonesofevery
prisonerwillstartcursingandwelljustsparethemtoo?

ThatlinewassomethingFengMinghadponderedwordperwordtowriteout,sothatChao
Ancanberescuedinamysteriouswayinwhichnooneknows.Wordsthatwouldmake
everyonebelievethatLeTinghadnosympathyforChaoAn.

But...but...thatwomanscurse,Imafraid...thiscaseisreally

General.OneofLeTingsbodyguardswhowasstandingbehind,suddenlysteppedforward
andwhispered,Yoursubordinatehasamethodthatcanexecutetheprisonerwhilenotbeing
afraidofthecurse.

Oh?Whatmethod?

ThatcurseonlysaysthattheprisonerhastospillbloodontothegroundsofFanChengso
thathisgrievancescanbeheardbyheaven.ThisguardwasalsopartofFengMingsplan.
Hehadalreadymemorizedhislines,butbecauseofthesuddenchangeinthesituation,he
almostthoughthewouldnthavethechancetoperformhisact.However,sinceitshisturnto
perform,herevealedaneeriesmileandsaid,General,youjustneedtopreventthe
prisonersbloodfromsplatteringtheearth,thenyoucanescapethecurse.

BeforeLeTingcouldanswer,thefrighteneddeputysupervisorquicklyranforwardand
noddedhishead,Thatsgreat,thisisagreatidea.WhichisHefrowned,Butwhatisthe
methodinwhichtheprisonersbloodwontsplattertheearth?

LeTingwassoelated,thathesecretlyapplauded.Thelinesthatheneededtosaywas
spokenforhimbyanotherperson.Havinganunwittyassistantlikethisdeputysupervisor
madetheeffectmorerealistic.

Thisisquiteeasy.Theguardthoughtforamomentbeforereplying,Wellputhiminsidethe
box,placetheboxup.Thatwayhisfeetwonttouchtheground,hisheadwontfacethesky.

Butwouldnthisbloodbedrippingontotheground?Ordoweneedtopickupallhisblood?
Whenwebeheadhim,wouldnthisbloodspill,unlesstheresnoblood

Haha,thisisevenmoresimple.Wewontbeheadhim,welljustburnhimalive.

Thedeputysupervisorseyeslitup,Thatsright!Burnhimalive!Haha,thismethodis
wonderful!Thinkingthathewastheoneresponsibleincompletingtheexecutionanddidnt
havetoworryaboutthecurse,hegotcarriedawayforalongwhilebeforerememberingthat
hewasonlythedeputysupervisorandtherewasthemainsupervisorontheside.Hequickly
convergedhisdelightedexpressionandcarefullyconsultedwithLeTing,WhatdoesGeneral
think

Ah,thismethodisnotbad.LeTinggavehisopinionandthentiltedhishead,lookingoverat
XiaoLiu,HowaboutMasterLiu

XiaoLiugaveLeTingandhisbodyguardacoldglanceregardingtheirdirtytrickthatleftthis
poordeputysupervisorconfused.Hewassilentlylaughinginsideashesaid,Itsthesame
thingIsaidearlier,Generalistheonemakingthedecisionhere,Iwillnotintervene.

Thatsgreat.LeTingraisedhisvoiceandordered,Guards!

Yes!

Preparethewoodsimmediatelyandbuildawoodenboxthatcanfitaperson.Rememberto
drenchtheinsideandoutsidewithoil,sothatburningitupwillbeofgreatpleasure!

Theguardswentandbuiltawoodenbox,thendrencheditinoilinfrontofalltheviewers.
Therewereseveralcleverpeoplewhohaveguessedwhattheboxwasusedfor.They
gaspedinacoldbreathofair.GeneralLeactuallywantstoburntheprisoneralive?

Oncethewoodenboxwasprepared,LeTingorderedtheguardstopouroilontothe
prisonersbodygiventhereasonthathisbloodwillburnquicker.Healsotoldthemtocover
theprisonersmouthsothathewontbeabletomakeanymorecurses.

ThedeputysupervisortellsLeTingthattheprisonerisfrightenedtothepointthathecant
speak,soiftheyshouldcoversomeonesmouth,itshouldbethewifesmouthinstead.

LeTingorderedtheguardstocoverbothChaoAnandhiswifesmouths.Theoriginalplan
wastocoverChaoAnsmouthbecausehemadethecurse.Thereasonforthiswasbecause,
iftherewasnosoundemittedfromtheboxwhileitwasignited,wouldntthatprovoke
suspicion?

Inorderfortheplantobeimplementedsuccessfully,LeTinghadtofollowalongsonothing
appearedsuspicious.Oncethewoodenboxwascompleted,ChaoAnwasplacedinside.

Thedeputysupervisorhopedthatthecursewillbeliftedsoon,sohewhispered,General,we
needtoquicklyhangthisboxupandburnit.

Nohurry.LeTinglightlyreplied,Tellthemtonaildowntheboxtightly.

Infact,theboxcannotbehungimmediately.Theplanhadproceededtothemostcriticalstep,
whetherthepersonisaliveordeaddependsonthismoment.

Thankstothesoundofthehammeringofnails,itwasabletocoverupthenoiseoftheir
henchmenwhowerehidingbeneaththeplatform,openingtheboxfrombelowandrescuing
ChaoAnfromtheinside,andthenstuffasimilarphysiqueandsameclothedbodyasChao
Aninsidethebox.Afterthat,thebottomofthewoodenboxwillthenhavetobenailedbackin
place.Otherwise,whenthewoodenboxishungup,therewillbealargehole,thenwouldntit
becomethebiggestjoke?

Rightnow,itsbesttodragoutthetimeaslongaspossible.

Ah...General,isthenailingalmostdone?

Letsnailitdownforabitmore,itstilllooksloose.

.....

General,look...itshouldbedonenow,right?Theyvenaileditforquitealongtime

Ifwedonotnailitdowntightly,theprisonermightstruggle,breakingitandfalloutofthebox.
Ifthebloodsplatteredontotheground,wouldntyoubeafraidofthecurse?

This...this

Bepatient,onceitsnaileddownsecurely,itwouldbeforthesakeofbothofus.

Afternailingfornearlyhalfanhour,theguardssoakedinsweatfinallyreceivedtheorderby
LeTingtohangtheboxup.

Oncetheboxwashangedupforeveryonetoseeclearly,theboxwaslitup,andthen
engulfedbyalargefireball.Therewasalsoaloudsoundcomingfrominsidetheboxasif
someonewasstrugglinginside.

Witnessingtheragingfireabovetheexecutionground,afewfaintheartedpeoplealready
fainted.Infact,theyweretherelativesoftheprisonerTaiCan,hissister,andthemotherof
ChaoAnnonetheless.Fromthemomenttheboxwasignited,theyfaintedingrief.

Originally,XiaoLiuleisurelywatchedtheplay,butafterhearingmovementsfrominsidethe
box,hewasshocked.Coulditbethathewasburnedalive?Ifnot,thenwhywouldtherebe
movementinsidethebox?HeglancedoveratLeTing,butLeTingdidnthaveachangein
expression,norhorroronhisface.

Soon,theboxwasburnedabout80%.Thebottomoftheboxcouldntcontinuesupporting
itselfandcrackedopenedabighole,alargeblackduskyobjectfellstraightthrough,hitting
theexecutionstageassparksflewinalldirections.Needlesstosay,thatwastheprisoners
body,burnttothepointofunrecognition.Theaudiencescreamed,somehidinfright.Eventhe
officialsontheplatformcouldntbeartowatchastheyquicklycoveredthemselveswiththeir
sleeves.

LeTinglookedatthecorpse,thetensioninhismindcanfinallyberelaxed.Hestoodup,
facingthepalelookingfacesoftheofficialandsmiled,Theprisonerisfinallyexecuted,the
curseisalsolifted,hurrybackhome,batheandhaveanicedinner.LeTinglaughed,clapped
hishands,strutteddownthesteps,mountedhishorseandrodeoffwithhisbodyguards.

Theaudiencewhohadwatchedthehorribledeath,shooktheirheadsanddispersed.LuoYun
andRongHu,oneleftandoneright,withFengMingtuckedinthemiddle,carriedhimaway
fromtheexecutionground.Behindthem,twentyhighlyskilledhenchmendisguisedas
commonersdistributedthemselvesaroundthethree.Theyimmediatelyheadedtoaremote
locationwheretheirsmallboatswere,rowingbacktothelargeship.

ChiuLanwassoanxious,afterseeingthem,sherushedtogreetthemondeckandkept
asking,Sohowwasit?Washerescued?Wasthemagictrickasuccess?

DukeMing,howcomeyourenotsayinganything?

Wasitafailure?

Aiya,DukeMing,whatiswiththatface?DukeMing,dontscareus,hurryandsay
something!

DukeMing,youhavedoneeverythingyoucould,ifChaoAncouldntberescued,you
shouldntkeepitinside.

Ifyouhavecomebacksafely,thatsalreadyagoodthing

FengMingstoodfoolishlyforalongtime,hishandsslowlyformingafist,glancingatthethree
maidsatonce,hewhispered,Irealizedsomething.

DukeMing,whatisitthatyourealized?

Irealized,FengMingwhisperedoncemoreandglancedateachofthem,hismouth
widenedforminganextremelybrightsmile,andexcitedlyroared,ThatIhaveanamazing
potentialofaGreatMagician!Notjustthat,butthemostAmazingTalentedMagicianinthe
entireworld!Hahaha,IamtheGreatestMagicianever!

HewassocarriedawaythathegaveChiuLanapassionatehugandcontinuedlaughing,I
haveneversawanymagictrickasexcitingasthis.ChiuLan,itsapitythatthethreeofyou
didntgettoseeit.ChiuYueandChiuXing,dontbetoosad,letDukeMing,I,giveyoualla
kisstocomfortyou

ChiuYueandChiuXingscreamedoutastheystartedrunning,blushinginembarrassment
andscoldedFengMing,DukeMingissoecstaticthathehasgonemad.Chaoticallyhugging
people,arentyouafraidthatHisMajestywillpunishyou?

Heavenblessed.ChiuLanwasprayingwhilerecitingafewlines,thankingtheheaven
above,DukeMinghassaveaninnocentman,God,pleaserememberthegooddeedsour
DukeMinghasdoneandblesshimwithgoodfortune,notencounteringdisasteralongthe
way.

Chapter4

Latethatevening,TaiCan,ChaoAn,hiswifeandmotherarrivedatFengMingsshiptogive
theirthankstoFengMingandtheothersforsavingChaoAnslife.

LeTingalsoarrivedandtoldthemthatdespitebeinginthebattlefieldforyears,thiswasthe
mostexcitingheeverhadandparticipatedin.HealsoaskedthemifXiaoLiuwouldcome
heretojointhem.RongHurepliedthatsinceXiaoLiuhadagreedtocomethenhewould
undoubtedlycome.

Whilewaiting,theyhadsomedishespreparedbyChiuLan.TaiCanandLeTingpraisedher
cooking.Duringthecelebration,FengMingtriedtorefusedrinkingwine,butwaspressured
intodrinking.

FengMingthenorderedforsomeentertainmentforhisguests.However,beforethe
entertainmentbegan,theyheardaheavenlymelodyfromaflutethatmadeeveryone
mesmerized.Theylearnedthatthesoundwaswithintheshipsvicinityhowevertheywere
unabletoidentifywhereandwhomwasplayingtheflute.Soonthesounddriftedofffurther
away.

Afterhearingthemusic,theyallfeltthatthedancingandmusicentertainmentontheship
couldntcomparetotheflutemelodytheyheardearlier.

Asitwasgettinglateintothenight,XiaoLiustillhadntappearedandChaoAnswife,along
withtheothersweregettingrestless.FengMingtoldthemtheycanleavewithouthavingto
waitforXiaoLiu.Hearingthat,TaiCanwasrelievedsincehehadbeenworryingthatifthey
continuedwaitingintothenight,theboatrowertheyhiredtosendthemoffwouldntwaitfor
them.

AfterTaiCanandhisfamilybidtheirfarewells,LeTingalsodecidedtotakehisleave,hoping
thathedidntmakehisguardswaittoolong.Learningfromhispreviouslesson,hebrought
alongseveralbodyguardstoavoidtravelingaloneagainandrepeatingthesameincidentthat
happenedwithXiaoLiu.

Evenaftereveryoneleft,FengMingandtheothersstillhadntseenXiaoLiu.

Chapter5

Aftersendinghisguestsoff,FengMingfelttiredandbeganyawning.

CL:DukeMing,youdrankquitealottonight,pleasehavearest.

FM:Isntitbecauseofyou?Ialsowanttorest,butdidntXiaoLiusayhellcome?

RH:LetmewaitforXiaoLiu.Evenifhedidcome,helljusthaveafriendlychatwith
everyone.Unfortunately,hisstatusasanenvoydoesnotallowhimtoeasilymakehis
presenceknown.IfDukeMingwishestoseehimoncemore,thenIwillwakeDukeMingafter
hearrives.Willthatbealright?

FengMingnoddedinreplylikeayoungchickpeckingfood.ThemaidsallhelpedputFeng
Mingintobed.ItwasLuoYunsturntostandguardsohestoodnexttothebedwithhisarms
wrappedaroundhissword.FengMingquicklyfellintoasoundslumber,dreamingabout
RongTianandhowthetwoofthemwereembracing,staringateachotherwhilelaughing.
Whiledreaming,FengMingsuddenlyheardafainttune.Asheconcentratedharderinto

listening,herealizedthatthatmelodywasthesameoneheheardatthebanquetthatnight.
ThesoundwokebothFengMingandLuoYun.FengMingquicklysatupandgotdressed.

ChiuYuerushedinandshoutedout,DukeMing,hurryandlook,thatfluteplayeriscurrently
ontheriver.Ifinallyspottedhim!Afterfinishing,shepulledFengMingoutside,ignoring
whetherornotLuoYunapproves.

Agroupofpeopleranoutontothedeck,lookingoutwardtowardstheriver,sureenough,not
farfromtheshipwasasmallboatfloatingontopoftheriver.Therewasnoboatman,onlya
slenderdashingfigurewithhisbacktothecrowd,playingtheflutewhilestanding.

Theskywasbeginningtolightupintoamistygrayaroundthem,thefogenvelopingtheriver
belowcreatedamysteriousauraaroundtheperson,butitstillgaveahintoffamiliarintimacy.

Afterfinishingupthetune,thatfluteplayerslowlyturnedhishead,hiseyesfilledwithjoyand
curiositylookedupwardandrestedonFengMingsship.

IknowthatIshouldntdisturbyourbeautifuldream,butthesceneryofthemorningsunriseis
sobeautiful.IfDukeMingweretomissit,wouldntitbeashame?

Histhinlipscurledupformingabright,warmsmile.

FengMingsawclearlywhothatpersonwas,hewasoverjoyedthathelaughedandshouted
out,NowonderwomenoftheworldareallmesmerizedbyYoungMasterDuFeng.Your
romanticauraisincomparable.Ah,thesunriseisbeautiful.Unfortunately,Iamnotan
ordinaryyoungladywhoiseasilyseducedbyyou.

FengMingputonaseriousface,assumingthatitwasindeedaveryseriousexpression,I
stillrememberthefirsttimewemet.Whenyouliedtome,givingmeafakename,something
like...MuSa.Haha,ifyoudontcomeuphereandchatwithmeasanapology,thenIwont
forgiveyou.

DuFengcouldntguessthatFengMingwouldhavethatkindofreaction.Slightlysurprised,
herevealedamorecarefreesmileashechuckledandsighed,Sinceyou'vesaidthatthenI
havenootheroptionsexcepttoclimbaboard.Insertingtheflutetohiswaistbelt,herowed
theboatneartheshipandproudlyboardedit.

Onceontheship,beforehecouldreachFengMing,DuFengwassurroundedbyfiveorsixof
Xiaosbodyguards.

FengMingknewhowfiercetheycouldbesohequicklyshoutedout,Iwanthimtoboardthe
ship!HeisDuFengofBeiQi!Hey,hey,hestheReluctantKing,haventyouallheardof
him?


Acoldvoicetraveledintohisears,Whocareswhoheis,evenifthe
RealKing
isherewestill
needtosearchhim,nottomentiononewhoisafake?

Withoutturningaround,everyoneknewtheonetalkingwasLuoYun,standingbesidethem.

AmongtheXiaoBodyguards,onlyLuoYunsvoiceholdsmuchimportance.Theysearched
DuFengthoroughlyfromtoptobottomandthenreported,Onlyaflute,noweaponsfound.

FengMingsilentlythought,aslongasLuoYunishere,makingnewfriendswillbedifficult,yet
hedidntwanttoscoldhim.HecouldonlyturntoDuFengandapologizeforthe
inconvenience,YoungMasterDuFeng,pleasedontbeangry,thisis
just...uh..haha..necessaryformalities

Itsjustlittlethings,noneedtomention.DukeMingisofnoblestatussoitsbettertobemore
careful.DuFengsfacewasasusual,stillsmilingwithagentlewarmtone,hethenadded,I
havemanyfriendsaroundtheworld,thoughthisisthefirsttimeIvebeensurroundedand
searchedbymany.

FengMingwasextremelyembarrassed,hehadtochangethesubject,pretendingtobe
surprised,heasked,IsittruethatduringthatdaywhenyouaccompaniedYanTingPrinceat
thePalaceofLiKingdom,RuoYandidnthaveyousearched?

DuFengknewFengMingwantedtochangethetopic.NotwantingFengMingtobe
embarrassedanymore,hegentlysmiledandexplained,WhywouldRuoYanwanttosearch
me?Hewasexpectingmetocarryalongweaponsintothepalacejustsohehadanexcuse
tokill.However,weaponsareevilobjects,anditsnotmynaturetocarrythemalong.Allof
myfriendsknowthis.

FengMingletoutanohsound,asifhehadrealizedsomething.HeglancedoveratLuoYun
forabit,silentlythinking,
Learnsomething,notjustcarryingaweaponalldayandkilling
peopleisagoodthing.Withoutconflictwecanstillearntheheartsofthepeople.Without
weapons,onecanstillsucceedinbattles,whichisarealtalent.Nowondertheprincessof
ZhaoBeiisinfatuatedoverhim,evennotwishingtobecomequeen.
Fullofadmiration,Feng
Mingsubmissivelysaid,Pleasecomeinside,havesometeawhilewechat.

DuFengagreedandeveryoneimmediatelyenteredthemaincabin.

ChiuYuewasleftbehindforshewasstandingtoonesideandmutteringtoherself.When
ChiuLanaskedher,ChiuYuerepliedthattheHeavenhadgrantedherwishofseeingThe
ReluctantKingagain.ChiuLanwascuriousastowhenshehadthatwishandtoldherit
wouldbemoreusefultowishforagoodhusbandortostayforeverbeautiful.ChiuYuesaid
shewishedforthoseaswell.


WhenaskedhowmanywishesChiuYueprayedfor,ChiuYuerepliedthatshecouldnt
remember,maybe..onehundred.Afterhearingthat,ChiuLanplacedbothhandstogether
andmutteredtotheHeavenstoforgiveChiuYue,nottopunishherforshehadamomentof
weakness

Onceeveryonesettleddowninsidetheroom,ChiuXingpersonallyservedthetea.DuFeng
receivedthehotcupofteaofferedbyherwithbothhands.Hesmiledandthankedher,while
lookingatherwithhispaintedeyes,herfacesuddenlyflushedredtothetipofherears.Once
thecupleftherhands,shequicklyranoff.EvenFengMingwasamused.

FM:Iveheardofyourreputation.

DF:IsitTheReluctantKing?

FengMingnoddedhishead,Notbad,TheReluctantKingisaninterestingname.

Isitreallyaninterestingname?DuFengsighedloudly,DoesDukeMingknowwhatthe
endresulttothisstoryis?

FengMingneverthoughtofthis,hewasslightlysurprisedandasked,Whatistheending?

RecallingthememorieswassomethingDuFengwasnthappyabout,afteramomentof
silence,hefinallyanswered,ThePrincesssnamewasChangLiu,apassionatebeautiful
woman.AfterwritingaletterofrejectiontotheTongKingdomPrincesrequestforhandin
marriage,herfather,ZhaoBeiKingwasupsetandconfinedher.Hermothertriedpersuading
hertoacceptthemarriage,butChangLiuwouldnotagree.

CL:CoulditbethatZhaoBeiPrincessisstilllockedupbyherfather?

DuFengshookhishead.Seeinghimshakehishead,thetwomaids,ChiuLanandChiuYue
wererelieved,Soshewasreleased?

DuFengrevealedanhesitantsmileandcontinued,Marriagebetweenroyaltieshasalways
beenthemethodofmaintainingmonarchy.HowcanZhaoBeiKingrefuseTongKings
requestforapoliticalmarriagewithgoodintentions?HeimprisonedChangLiu,butcouldnot
findanymethodforhertoagreetothemarriage.Therefore,ZhaoBeiKingdecidedtohave
hissecondPrincess,JinLiusentovertoTongKingdom.

Itseemsthestorydidnotendthere.

However,PrincessJinLiuandheroldersisterwerealike,theybothhadsomeonethey
liked

SeeinghowChiuLanandChiuYueseyeshadrestedonhim,DuFengexplained,The
personJinLiulovedwassomeoneelse,itwasntme.Ihearditwasayoungguardofhumble
statuswithinZhaoBei.

Thetwomaidsletoutalightohastheirsuspicionwaslifted.

Notjustthem,evenFengMingwasverydoubtful.

JinLiuknewthatherfatherwantedtosendhertoTongKingdom,butwouldratherdiethan
obey.ZhaoBeiKingunderstoodhisdaughterwellsoheorderedaministertoluretheyoung
guardontoaboat,tiedhishandsandfeetandthrewhimintotherivertodrown.

Beforehefinished,threegaspingsoundsinterruptedhim,allharboringasenseofshock.The
twosoundscamefromChiuYueandChiuLanwhowerestandingbehindFengMing,the
thirdonecamefrombehindthecurtains.ItwasinfactChiuXingwhodidntwanderfarand
washidingbehindthecurtains,eavesdroppingontheconversation.

FengMingwasalsoshockedinside,butseeinghismaidsreactiontothistragedy,hedecided
itwouldbebestforthemtonothearmoreorelsetheyllstartcrying,Pleasebringsomething
toeatoverhere.

ChiuYuewasextremelyconcernedaboutZhaoBeiPrincesswhosufferedandinatrembling
voicesheasked,Sowhathappenednext?

HearingFengMingorderthemaidstograbfood,DuFengknewwhatFengMinghadinmind,
hedidntreply,onlystaredatFengMing.

Thispersonwasveryobservantandhadtheabilitytounderstandpeopleatoneglance.Feng
Mingsecretlypraisedhim,butsinceChiuYueopeneduptoask,evenifheweretoaskthem
toleave,theywouldbebickeringamongthemselves.Lettingoutasigh,heglancedoverat
DuFeng,Pleasecontinue,IwouldalsoliketoknowwhathappenedtothatPrincess.

====

Afteramoment,ChiuXingcameoutfrombehindthecurtainsandsatnexttoChiuYue,
silentlylisteningalong.

DuFengcontinued,TheKingofZhaoBeithoughtthatafterkillingthepersonhisdaughter
loved,shewouldnolongerhaveanyhopeandwouldpeacefullybecomeTongKingdoms
CrownPrincess.Buthewaswrong.PrincessJinLiulearnedaboutthematterandthat
night...shecommittedsuicide.

Theaudiencehadalreadyguessedwhathadhappened,buthearingDuFengsayitaloud,
theirheartstrembleduneasilyinside.

Afterhisdaughtersdeath,ZhaoBeiKingwasnotonlydepressed,hewasveryheartbroken.
ThenewsofZhaoBeiKingagreeingtothemarriageproposalfromTongKingdomhadbeen
sentout,butaftertheSecondPrincesssdeath,whowilltakeherplace?Withoutnoother
choice,hedecidedtosendhisthirddaughterPrincessSuLiutoTongKingdom.

Ah?

"Ah?"

"Ah?"

OnceDuFengmentionedaThirdPrincess,everyonewasinshock.Forthesituationtocome
thisfarwasbeyondeveryonesguesses.Thetragedywaspitifulenough,doesthestoryneed
tomakeanotherpersonsufferaswell?

FengMingfinallyunderstoodwhymentioningTheReluctantKing,madeDuFengshow
suchasadexpression.

ChiuYuebitherlipsandsaid,IsZhaoBeiKingtherealfatherofthesethreeprincesses?
Eventhoughwomenarenotworthy,theyshouldntbeforcedtosufferlikethis!

SodidthatlittlePrincessgotoTongKingdom?ThequestionChiuLanaskedwasmore
practicaltothematter.

No.DuFengchuckledbittersweetly,ZhaoBeiKingonlyhavethreeprincesses,thesecond
onehaddied,therewastheeldestwhorefusedthemarriageandtheyoungestwhowasnot
even13.TheThirdPrincesswasyoungandtimid.Hearingthatshewillbesentfaraway,she
criednightandday.HercrieswereheardthroughoutthepalaceofZhaoBeiandeventually
spreadtotheearsofPrincessChangLiuwhowasimprisoned.

Ah?ChiuYuesoftlysighed,feelingsuspicious,shedidntwanttobelieve,Then...Princess
ChangLiu

SheacceptedthemarriageandisnowtheCrownPrincessofTongKingdom.

Aftersayingthatline,thewholeroomwentsilent.Nooneknewwhattosay.

Clearbreezegentlypassingbytheselfinjuredbranch,cryingallhertearsandyetstilllongs
forthatsomeone,refusingyourkindnessasaconsort,forIstillwishfortheReluctantKing,
mybelovedDu.(Note:Breeze=Feng,Branch=Liu,Du=surname)

DuFengslowlycrooned,TheReluctantKing,doeshereallyneedtobetheReluctantKing?
HesighedlookingupatFengMing,DoesDukeMingnowunderstandthemeaningbehind
thewordsTheReluctantKing,andwhattheymeantome?

FengMingfeltgreatlyashamed,heplacedhishandstogethertoapologize,Youreright,Im
wrong,Ihopeyoudonttakeoffense.

DuFengreleasedafaintlaughterbeforefallingsilent.

ChiuYueasked,Butwhydidntyou...rescuethePrincessandtookheroutofthere?...You
andthePrincess...howcouldyoubewillingtojust...

HowdidyouknowthatIdidntgotoZhaoBei?

ChiuYueseyeslitup,Youdid?Then?

DF:SinceIvebeentoZhaoBei,Ihaveseveralfriendsthere.Afterreceivingthenews,Ive
usedallsortsofmethodtoenterZhaoBeiPalaceandfindChangLiu.Iwasplanningon
bringingherfaraway.

CL:WereyoudiscoveredbyZhaoBeiKing?

DF:IfIwas,thenIwouldhavealreadybeendead

Then?

DF:IsawChangLiuandIwantedtorescueher,butsheaskedmeaquestion.

Whatsthequestion?

DF:Sheaskedme,youcanrescueme,butcanyoualsorescuemylittlesisteralongwithall
theothernobleladiesinZhaoBeiwhocanbesenttoTongKingdom?

Thismemoryhavebeenrelivedinhismindathousandtimes,onceitwasspokenoutloud,
thehelplessnessandgriefofPrincessChangLiuwereportrayedvividly.FengMingwas
listeningfromonesideandafterhearingthosewords,hischestfeltasifitwaspressedwitha
heavystone.


TheylookedatDuFengwantingtocomforthimwithafewwords,butnotevenasingleword
wasspoken.Anythingsaidwasuseless.Afteramomentofsilence,ChiuXingsuddenly
gasped,shestoodupandsoftlysaid,Theteaiscold,letmechangeitforanother.Shetook
DuFengandFengMingscupsandranoffasifescapingthetenseatmosphere.

So,PrincessChangLiustillendsup...acceptingmarriagetoTongKingdom?ChiuLan
whispered.

ShedidntexpectDuFengtoanswer.Theanswertothisquestionwassomethingtheyall
knew.FengMingandRongTianweremostafraidofseparating,soafterhearingthestory,he
couldnthelpbutcompareDuFengandhimself,ifRongTianandhimweretobeseparated
likethat,thenitwouldbebesttodie.

Hisheartwasinpain.Recoveringfromhisemotions,FengMingsuddenlyrememberedthat
heisnowaLeader.Ifhecries,thenotherswouldcriticizehim.Quicklyblinkinghardand
placingthethinlayerofwetfogbackinside,hetriedtoexpresssomecomfortingwords,
Thingsofthepastafterallhasalreadypassed.Theresnouseinbeingdepressed.Also,our
shipisplanningonheadingtoTongKingdom,whydontwe

Beforehecouldfinished,FengMingnoticedthatDuFengwasgentlysmilingathim,hegave
anapologeticexpression,paused,andthencontinued,DoesMasterDuwanttocomealong
withustoTongKingdom?WemightevengettoseePrincessChangLiu.

Ofcourse,thepremiseisthathopefully,thePrinceofTongKingdomwouldnottakerevenge,
orderhisarmytoslicethemintoeighttotenpieces.

DuFengslipscurvedupward,displayingahelplesssmile,hesighedandthenadmittedto
FengMing,MeetingDukeMingseemslikewerealreadyclosefriends.Iwasntplanningon
hidinganything.OriginallymeetingyouatFanChengandthendeparting,Iwasplanningon
headingtoFanJiatoseethecurrentsituation.Ialsoknowmanyfriendsthere.DoesDuke
MingknowwhyIdecidedtoturnbackhalfwayanddeliberatelychaseafterDukeMings
ship?

FengMingwassurprisedforamoment.HethoughtthatDuFengandhimhadadestined
encounter.ItseemsthatDuFengintentionallychasedafterhimandmaybelastnightsflute
playingwasalsointentional.

Butwhy?

EventhoughhehadbeenwithRongTianforquiteforsome,FengMingstillcouldnotcontain
hisemotionsorreceivethesamepokerfaceexpressionlikeRongTian.Encounteringa

situationinwhichhedidntquiteunderstand,FengMingexposedacutepuzzledface,humbly
asking,Then,whatisthereason?

LuoYunsternlyexaminedFengMing,ifthisYoungMasterXiaodarestomakeasillystupid
actionsuchasscratchinghisheadinfrontofoutsiderslikeDuFeng,thenhewilldefinitely
usethehiltofhisswordtoknockFengMingsskull.

ChiuYuewasthemostsensitive,atthistimeshenoticedthatLuoYunwasshootingsharp
anddangerousglancesatFengMing.Shecouldnthelpbutgavesomewarningglancesat
LuoYun.

Youstinkybastard,youneedtodisplaysomerespect!

DuFengdidnotseemtonoticetheundercurrentsthatwerehappeningbetweentheothers.
HiseyeswerestillonFengMing,hefranklyanswered,BecauseIvereceivedalongletter
writtenbyPrincessChangLiu.

"What?"

PrincessChangLiu!

Apersonalletter?

...!

CY:DidtheprincesswantyoutocomepickherupfromTongKingdom?

CL:CanYoungMasterDutelluswhatPrincessChangLiuwroteintheletter?Actually...this
isPrincessChangLiuandyourownaffairs,weshouldnthaveasked.

FM:ForPrincessChangLiusletter,toforceyoutoabandonyourplansforFanJiaandtravel
backheretochaseaftermemustmeanthattheresarelationshipbetweenthecontentsof
theletterandme?

DF:Thereisahugerelationship.

FM:Oh?

DF:ChangLiusaidsheleftherhomeland,sheisaloneinaforeignlandandusually
encountersmanydepressingsituations.Shecouldntsleep,haslostweightandfallensick.

CL:Sick?Thenwhatshouldbedone?

DF:FromthetimeIvereceivedherletter,Ihavedecidedthatnomatterwhatshewantedme
todo,Iwillimmediatelythrowawayeverything,regardlessoftheconsequencestoachieve
herwish.

CY:PrincessChangLiutoldyoutopickherupimmediatelyfromTongKingdom,right?

DF:Ifthiswasthecase,thenitwouldbemucheasier.IlljustbechasedbyTongKingdom,
though,Iamnotafraidofanything.ButChangLiu...sheChangLiurequestedthreethings
fromme.Thefirstone,shessick,havingsleeplessnights,haggardtothepointoffallingill.
Shesaidshedoesntwanttodie,atleastnotnowbecauseifshedied,herhusbandmight
againrequestZhaoBeiKingforaproposemarriagetomarryherthirdsister.Shedoesnt
wishforhersistertosufferthesamefateasher,therefore,ChangLiuwantsmetosearchfor
amedicinetocureherillness.

FM:Mentalworriesaretreatedbymentalmedication.WhatPrincessChangLiusuffersis
anxietyandIbelieveyouarethecuretoherworries.

DF:ThesourceofChangLiusillnessisbecauseshecannotsleep.Whatsheneedsisnot
me,butthetreatmenttocalmhernerves.ThatisthereasonwhyIcametoseeDukeMing.

FM:Ohplease,thereisnosuchmedicationthatcancalmthenerves.Iseeyoureindenial,
hurry...ah?Whatdidyousay?

Thistime,FengMingheardDuFengslastfewwords,hismouthopenedwide,thefingerhe
wasjustpointingatDuFengwasnowpointingathisnose,Me?Ihaveamedicinethatshe
needs?Whatkindofmiraclepill?

DF:OnlyDukeMinghasthisobject.ItiscalledtheAnShenStonejustasfamousasthe
HeavenandEarthring.

FM:AnShenStone?

FengMingrepeatedthestrangenametwice,withlittleimpression,heturnedtolookatRong
Hu,Ah,haveyouheardofthisthing?

Yes.

Youhave?IsitatreasurewithintheXiaoFamily?

Yes.RongHugaveasimpleonewordanswer.

Bringithere,fast.


ComparedtoFengMingsexcitement,RongHudidnotmoveaninch,DukeMing.

Whatisit?

TheAnShenStoneisthemostfamoustreasureintheworld.

Whyisthat?

RongHuexaminedDuFengandrepliedtoFengMing,Itsveryexpensive.

Oncehesaidit,hesuddenlysufferedaverymassivekick.Turningaround,thepersonwho
kickedhimwasChiuLan.AfterkickingRongHu,shesoftlyscoldedhim,Theressomeone
whoislosingherlifeandyouarethinkingabouthowexpensivethetreasureis?

DF:EventhoughDuFengisnotwealthy,myestateisnotlackinginexpensiveitems.WhenI
receivedtheletter,Ihavesentanordertomysubordinatetoselloffallmyassets.Aslongas
DukeMingstatetheprice,Iamwillingtobecomebankrupt.Itsjustsellingofflandandassets
taketimetoexchangetogoldandtransportingitwouldtakeamonthstime.IfDukeMing
trustsDuFeng,canIbringAnShenStonetoTongKingdomfirst?Afterhalfamonth,Du
Fengwillpersonallyexchangeitforgoldandsilver.

FM:Youdontneedtodoallthat,theresnoneedtoselloffyourland.ThepurposeofAn
ShenStoneistocalmthenerves.Havingitinmytreasuresafewouldbeashame.Atreasure
needstobeataplacewhereitspurposeisplayedout,canitberegardedasatreasure.

FengMingturnedtoRongHuandsaid,Alright,whereexactlyistheAnShenStone?

RongHuunderstoodFengMingsmeaning,butthinkingabouthowFengMinghandleshis
treasureandwealthworriesRongHu.

WhileRongHuwassilentlyworrying,hereceivedanotherkick.Withoutasking,itmustbe
ChiuLan.RongHulookedupandsawChiuLanwaspleadingtohim,frowning,hesaid,The
AnShenStoneisaoneofakindtreasureintheworld,forDukeMingtoeasilyhanditoverto
someonelikethisisnotworthit.

CY:ItsDukeMingsstuff,hecangiveittowhoeverhewants.

TheXiaofamilyisostentatiouslywealthy,openminded,generousthroughouttheworld.If
YoungLordXiaowishestogiveafewthingsasgifts,nottomentionone,evenhundreds,
thousands,whatistheretoconsidered?IftheYoungLordXiaowishestogiveittothat
person,thenitsnotuptoRongHutohaveasayinit.ThatsharpcoldtonewasLuoYun.

HewasntoneofRongTiansmensohewouldntworryabouthowRongTianwouldmanage
hismilitaryforcesinthefuture.Accordingtohim,ifYoungLordXiaostillneedstohavehis
subordinateagreementtogivethingstopeoplethenthatwouldbeacompleteshame.

ChiuYuedidnotexpectthatLuoYunwouldspeakforthem,feelingsurprised,shestaredat
LuoYunforabit.

SeeinghowembarrassedFengMingwas,DuFengfeltuneasy,thinkingforamoment,he
lookedupandsaid,Well,DukeMingdoesntneedtogivemetheAnShenStone,justletme
borrowit.AfterChangLiurecovers,IwillaskhertoreturntheAnShenStoneimmediatelyto
DukeMing.Iwillalsosendgoldandsilverinexchange,justseeitasaborrowingincentive
fortheAnShenStone.Wouldthatbealright?

HiseyesfellontoRongHu.HeunderstoodthattheonlyobstacleleftinhavingtheAnShen
StonewasonlyRongHu.

Hearingthis,evenRongHuhadnointerestasitseemsthateveryoneistakingDuFengs
side,especiallyhisbelovedwife,ChiuLan.Ifhedidntnodhisheadtoday,thenChiuLan
wouldprobablyresenthimforthenextfewmonths.FengMingwouldalsolosefaceifhewere
torefuse.Lookingdown,hesilentlythought,theXiaoFamilyhasthousandsoftreasures,
losingonewouldnotbeahugething,sowhyshouldheletDukeMingbeembarrassedin
frontofanoutsider?Silentforamoment,hereplied,AlthoughImresponsiblefortheXiao
Familysproperty,buttherealownerisstillDukeMing.WhateverDukeMingsays,wellfollow
it.

FM:DoasIsay?ThenquicklydoasIsay.(turningtoDuFeng)Youdontneedtoworry,
hurryandtellyoursubordinatestohalttheirpropertyselling.

DF:DuFengcannotjustgainwithoutmerit,nottomentionthatAnShenStoneis

FM:LetsnottalkaboutAnShenStone.Justtellme,doyouconsiderme,FengMing,asa
friend?

DuFengwassurprised,henoddedandsmiled,IfIdidntconsiderDukeMingasafriend,I
wouldnthaveboardedtheship.

FM:Thatsgreat!Coupleshaveanitemtosymbolizetheirlove.Sincewearefriends,well
haveanitemtosymbolizeourfriendship.AnShenStoneistheitem!

Afterthemomentofexcitement,FengMingsuddenlyrememberedaveryimportantissue,he
quicklypulledRongHuasideandasked,Notgood,IforgottoaskthelocationofAnShen
Stone.ItsnotinafarawaylocationlikeinYanTingisit?Pleasetellmeitscurrentlyonthe
ship.


RongHusmiled,hedidntexpectFengMingtobenervousaboutthis,ReportingtoDuke
Ming,AnShenStoneiscurrentlyinthetreasurecabinofthisship.

Really?

RongHuexplained,HasDukeMingforgotten?YoungLordXiaohastomakeseveraltrips
throughdifferentnations,LuoDenghadpreparedeverything.Alloftheprecioustreasures
insidethewarehousewerealltransportedontotheshipsothatyoucanreadilyusethem.An
ShenStoneisamongthem.Ihavecheckedthebookletyesterday.

FM:Hurryandbringithere.

RongHuquicklygrabbedtheitemandbroughtittoFengMingshands.

FM:Theresnothingspecial,itsalmostsimilartoanordinarystone,justalittlebitdarker.

CL:Whenyouarenotsleepingwell,youwillknowwhetheritsusefulornot.Itsreallya
treasure,holditinyourhandandyoucanfeelyourselfatease.Iwonderwhatisthereason
forit?MaybeitwastakenfromamountainwheretheGodslive.

FM:Butitappearsordinary.(PlacingitinDuFengshands)Nowthisisourfriendshipitem.
Thatsright,sinceIgaveyousomething,doyouhavesomethingforme?

DuFengstaredathiscleverandlivelyexpression,lookingathimforamoment,hereached
intohiswaistbeltandpulledouthisjadedflute,Idonthaveanythingspecialonhand,just
thisflutethathasbeenwithmefortenyears.Itshouldbeenoughtoqualifyasakeepsake.

FengMing,whoexperiencedthebeautifulmelodybyDuFengnowhadtheopportunityto
examinehisflute.

Thisflutewasverydifferentfromtheordinarygreenjadecolor,itwasdarker,butunlikethe
ordinaryreflectivejasper,therewaslittletransparency,strangelyenough,itcouldmake
anyonefeelamazed.

FengMingwasplanningonreachingouttoacceptit,butsomeoneelsewasquickerthanhim
andgrabbedthefluteaway.Hewasstunned,lookedupandsawthatitwasLuoYun.

Asusual,LuoYuntooktheflutethatplayedthatfairyliketuneandexamineditclosely.Not
onlydidheflipitaround,heevensniffeditandasifnotsatisfied,heactuallyextendedhis
tongueandlickedthebodyoftheflute.

ChiuYuescoldedhim,Howfilthy!Justwhenshewasabouttocontinue,RongHupulled
ontoherforearm.Heistestingtoseeifitspoisoned.RongHuwhispered.

Sureenoughaftercheckingtheflutefromtoptobottom,hehandedthejadeflutetoFeng
Ming,Itsgood.

FengMingacceptedthejadeflute,happilyhelditinhishandwithoutputtingitdown.He
faintlyfelttheconvexcarvingoftheflute,whichwasalotdifferentthanhowheimagined
whenholdingit.Notknowingwhatthejadeismadeof,itmustbeveryrare,feelingexcitedfor
abit,hefeltsomethingwaswrongandturnedtoDuFeng,Thisfluteisveryprecious,andfor
youtocarryitalongformanyyears,howcanItakeit?No,itsbestifyougivemesomething
else.

Afterfinishing,hereluctantlyhandedthejadedfluteback.

DF:ThenisAnShenStonenotconsideredpreciousaswell?Itsbecausethefluteiscarried
besidemethatitisconsideredprecious,sowhynot?(RefusingtoacceptthejadefluteFeng
Mingwantedtohandback).

Hearingthatitmadesense,FengMingtookbacktheflute.Hereallylikedtheitemsomuch,
FengMingquicklyplaceditinhiswaistbelt,puttingonahandsomegestureandanxiously
askedDuFeng,Whatdoyouthink?Doesitlookalright?

DuFengsmiled,Itslikeyouhavewornitforseveralyears.Ifonedidnotknow,theymight
mistakeyoutobeaflutemaster.

Thetwoofthemlookedateachotherforawhileandtheninvariablylaughedtogether.
Exchangingakeepsakeitemisconsideredamajorcompletion.Theythensatdownand
continuedtotalk.

ChiuXingslippedoutagainfortheirthirdroundofhottea.ChiuYue,ChiuLan,RongHu,and
LuoYunsattogetherwiththeminthemaincabin.

YoujustsaidthatPrincessChangLiuhasthreeconditionsFengMingmentionedabout
thesituationearlierandlookedatDuFeng.Sureenough,DuFengsrefreshedfacesuddenly
becameslightlydowncast.

AnShenStoneisonlyoneofthem,whichisthemostimportant.AsfortheothertwoJust
whenhewasabouttocontinue,hefeltabitembarrassed,unlikethewealthyyoungmasterhe
is,helightlysaid,Thesecondthingshementionedwas,shewantsapotofWenLan.

WenLan?

FengMinghadneverheardofsuchnameandjustlikebefore,turnedtofaceRongHu,who
shookhishead,replyinghealsohadnotheardofsuchname.

WenLanisanextremelyrareorchid,whichIheardisnoteasytoplant.Imafraidthatnot
manypeoplehaveseenitintheworld.DuFengappearedasifthinkingaboutthepast,he
smiledreluctantlyandwhispered,Itsmyfault.WhydidImentionaboutthistypeofflowerto
her?IvetoldherthatshehadasortofaromasimilartoWenLan.Ifoneweretosmellitonce,
hewillnotfindanyotherfragrantcomparetoit.EversinceImether,allthewomeninthis
worldwereneitherbeautifulnorasfragrantasshewas.

ChiuXingfeltabitsad.

DF:Actually,IhaveneverseenWenLanandofcourse,haveneversmellitaswell.Thetime
IsawChangLiuwaswhentheroyaltiesofZhaoBeiwerehavingaceremonialprayertothe
watergodforgoodweather.IwasinvitedbyanoblefriendinZhaoBei,fromtheAmanshore,
whenIliftedmyhead,shestoodinfrontofme,quietlystaringattheriver.Icouldnthelpbut
saidthoseopenlies,YourHighness,doyouknowyouhaveaspecialaroma,justlikethe
WenLanflowers.

FM:That...WenLan,whatdoesitlooklikeexactly?

DuFengshookhishead,FromthemomentIlied,IalsowantedtolookforaWenLanflower
togivetoChangLiu,tomakeupforlyingtoher.ButItraveledacrosstheworldandonly
heardsomeonesaythatthereissuchanorchidlikethat,butnoonehavereallysawit.Ah,
everyliewilleventuallyhavearetribution.ChangLiusaidwithintheletter,sheisalonein
TongKingdomandwantsapotofWenLanascompanion.Evennow,howcanIbeartotell
herthatIveneverseenWenLananddontknowwheretofindtheorchidflowersofher
dream?

Thiswasareallybigproblem.

Notonlydidhehaveaheadache,evenFengMingandtheresthadaheadache.

PrincessChangLiuwasalreadyquitepitifulandforhertoreceiveanotherblowwouldbe
worse.WhowouldhavethehearttotellherthatherfirstencounterwithDuFengwasalie?
EventhoughDuFengdidnotintendtohurther,hesawabeautyandcouldnthelphimself
withtheflattery.

Whatabouttherestofyou?Doyouknowwhereitis?

Allofhismaidshaventevenheardofitsohowwouldtheyevenknowwhereitwaslocated.
RongHuthoughtforalongtime,hehesitatedabitbeforemakingasuggestion,Ifweputup
areward,maybesomeonewillsaysomething.


Thatsright!Ifsomeonedoeshaveit,wecanbuyit!FengMingimmediatelyagreed.

DuFengchucked,ThismethodIhavetriedbeforeandalltheflowerswerefake.Those
socalledWenLanwereallforgedwithotherorchids,ortheyarefromsomerarepartofthe
mountain.Becauseofmoney,peoplearewillingtodoanything.

Oh?ChiuLandidnotunderstand,Howcanyoutelliftheywerefake?Ifyouhaventseen
WenLanbefore,howcanyoubecertain?

FM:Thatsright!Ifthistypeofflowerisrare,thenitseasy.Welljustneedtofindarare
specieofflowerwithauniquescentandgiveittoPrincessChangLiu,shehasntseenit
beforeeither.

Eventhoughthiswasalittledeceptive,butitsbetterthantotellherthetruth,right?

CL:Thatsright!DukeMingissoclever!

WhenChiuLanaskedthequestion,shealreadyhadahiddenmeaning,butbecauseshe
didntwanttodirectlysayanything.Comparedtoher,DukeMingwasrelativelymore
straightforward.

DF:Althoughshehaventseenitbefore,itisdocumentedinbooks.

DuFenggaveasmileandgazedatChiuLan.Hiseyes,nomatterwhohefocusedonwere
filledwithintimacy.Eyeslikestars,madeeveryonesheartbeatheavily,evenChiuLan,who
wasawife,hadtoscreamoutindanger,theReluctantKingscharmisincrediblyalluring.
ChiuLanquietlystrokedherracingheartandlistenedcloselytoDuFengsreply.

DF:ItsrecordedthatwhenWenLanblooms,itsflowersareblack.Althoughitsblack,itis
extremelybeautifulandhasalightaroma,justlikeabeautyscharm.

FengMingandChiuYuelookedateachother.

Wow,thatkindoforchid?Blackflowers,yetgorgeous,withalightaroma,eventhefactof
imaginingitishardanddescribingitasabeautyscharm.WhatkindofbookdidDuFeng
read?Itwasntwronglydocumented,wasit?TheycouldnthelpbutcarefullyexamineDu
Fengsuspiciously.

RongHuinterjected,AbouttheWenLansrecord,Ihaveseenitinabookwhichdidsaid
that.WhatYoungMasterDusaidiscorrect.SuchrecordsisinZaWuRecordsandXing
ShuShouCollection.

FengMingshruggedhisshoulders.

ThesetwobookswereverywellknownandwhilestudyinginthepalaceofXiLei,RongTian
hadforcedhimtoreadthem,whichheonlyreadafewpagesandyawned.Ifhehadfinished
readingthosebooks,hewouldhavesomeknowledgeoftheWenLanflowersandisnow
regrettingthathedidnt.

SinceitsmostlikelythatPrincessChangLiureadthosetwobooks,thesolutionofusingfake
flowerswasnolongervalid.

Ahem.

Silence.

Ahem

LuoYun!ChiuYuecouldnottakeitanymore,shestaredatLuoYun,whowasstanding
stifflytooneside,Canyoubequietforawhile?!

Infact,LuoYunhadbeenquiet,butduringthisdepressingsilence,hisoccasionalcoughwas
morenoticeable.LuoYunhadalackofresponsetowardsChiuYue,hejustcoldlyglancedat
herandthenlookedtowardsFengMing,YoungLord.

Ah?FengMingabsentmindedlyuttered.

Iknow.

Ah?Afteralongpause,FengMingfinallyreacted.HejumpedupandlookedatLuoYun,
What?Youknow?

RegardingthenewsofWenLan,ifsomeoneweretotalkaboutit,itwasnotsurprising.
However,forLuoYunandorchids!...Thesetwothings...reallyhadnothingincommon.Infact,
everyonewasfeelingshocked.

YouknowwheretheWenLanis?

LuoYun,howdoyouknowaboutWenLan?

WhereisthatWenLan?

"......"

BeforeDuFengandFengMingcouldsayanything,thegroupofgirlshadsurroundedLuo
Yun.

Hey!Youlittlerascal,hurryandspeak!Weareaskingyou.

ChiuYuewantedsobadlytokickLuoYunlikehowChiuLandidwithRongHu,butseeinghis
coldeyesandswordaroundhiswaistwhichprobablydrenchedinlotsofblood,shedidnt
wanttocasuallykickhimandcauseherprettyfeettobechoppedinhalf.

LuoYun,Ibegyou,tellus.YoungMasterDuisverypitiful.ChiuLanwantedtousehersoft
voicetobegLuoYun,butithadnoeffectonhim.

FengMingsighed,walkingover,heasked,LuoYun,doyoureallyknowwhereWenLanis?
Pleasetellme,Illevenbowdowntothankyou.

FengMingknewLuoYunalwaysdespisehimandifhekneeleddowninfrontofhim,hewill
bemoredespisedandtauntedbyhim.However,becauseofhisfriend,DuFengandthe
pitifulPrincessChangLiu,whatcansometauntedwordsdo?SinceLuoYunispartofthe
XiaoFamily,thiswillonlybeconsideraninternaldispute.

Surprisingly,LuoYundidnotsayanythingterrible.

Chapter6

Iwouldntdareto.LuoYunlookedupatFengMing,helpedhimup,refusinghis
ceremoniousbow,andthenreplied,IreallydoknowwheretogettheWenLanflowerandfor
metotellYoungLordisnotdifficult.IonlyneedYoungLordtogivemeananswertothis
question.

Answeringquestionsagain?FengMingsfacefaintlytwitched.Hewasquitepitiful,itseems
thatansweringquestionsishisfate.LieZhongLiualreadyleftandnowanotherpersonplans
oncontinuingthesametradition.

GoaheadHerepliedinaweaktoneofvoice.Hopefully,itsnothingrelatedtodeath,world
crisis,orpoliticalaffairs.

ThespiescamebackfromTongKingdomandreportedthatthePrinceofTongisstillvoicing
hisdesiretokillYoungLordinordertotakerevengeforhisroyalfather.Notonlythat,hehas

mobilizedagroupofarmy,awaitingforyouattheborders.Asofnow,whatisYoungLords
decisionregardingthismatter?Areyouplanningongivingthecommandtoheadstraightfor
TongKingdom,confrontingthePrinceofTonginbattle,orareyouplanningonavoidingTong
Kingdomandescapingwithyourtailbehindyourback?

UhFengMingdroppedhisjaw,lookingaroundathismaidsandguards.LuoYunsure
knowswhatquestionsnottoaskaskingonethatisterriblydifficult.Howcruel...

LuoYun!Howdareyou?!BeforeFengMingcouldreact,RongHusuddenlystoodupand
strodeinfrontofLuoYuntoconfronthim,WhereverDukeMingwantstogo,itsnotupto
LuoYuntohaveasayinit.ThissentencewasawfullysimilartotheonethatLuoYunsaida
shortwhileago.

FengMingfrowned.Sureenough,eventhoughRongTiansmenarehere,thereisalsothe
Xiaofamilysmenpresentintheconflictstruggle.

DuFengwasverysurprisedatthesuddendispute,buthewascarefulnottointervene,just
quietlystoodupandobservedthesituation.

LuoYunraisedahintofmockeryashesneered,IwouldntdaretooverlookYoungLords
travel.However,thatday,YoungLorddidpromisedtomakehisdecisionafterthesituation
wasinvestigatedclearly.Asofnow,thespieshavereturned,thesituationwithinTong
Kingdomisaspreviouslyexpected.Therefore,itsveryreasonabletoinquireaboutYoung
Lordsdecision.

Youareclearlyforcinghim!

Howridiculous.WhowoulddareforcetheYoungLord?LuoYunsneered,Ifhe'safraid,he
couldjustnotgothere,huh.

Whatareyouhuhingabout?ChiuYuewasboilingmad.ShestaredatLuoYun,herlarge
eyesemittingahintoffire,HeisyourYoungLord,youdaretotreathimwithdisrespect?

LuoYunglancedoveratFengMingagain,Apersonwhoisacowarddoesnotqualifytobe
theYoungLordoftheXiaofamily.

Whatdidyousay?Youcockybrat!Shutyourtrap!ThistimeevenChiuXingwasblowing
up.

Thedisputebetweenthetwosidesbecamemoreintense.SeeingLuoYunsfiercestareat
FengMing,ChiuLanbravelystoodforwardinfrontofFengMingasiftoprotecthim.

Theywereallprotectinghim.FengMingfeltastinginhisheart.Hedidntknowwhetherthe
painwasfromChiuLansactionorLuoYunswords,callinghimacoward.

Youcoward!LuoYungentlyspluroutthosetwowords.

Youshutup!

LuoYun!RongHuroaredout,DontyouknowtheordinanceoftheXiaofamily?Slandering
theYoungLordisexecution!

SowhatifImexecuted?CanhebecomeapersonmoreliketheXiaofamily?

LuoYunscontemptuoustonefeltlikeawhip,makingFengMingshudder.Evenfrombehind
RongHusback,hecouldstillseeLuoYunsscornfulexpression.Thiskindofexpressionwas
fromdeepinside,comingabovethesurfacefilledwithangeranddisdain.

FengMingcantentirelyblameLuoYun.PerhapsaYoungLordlikehimmadetheXiaofamily
extremelydisappointed.Afterall,themassivewealthandpowerthathadbeenaccumulated
overmanygenerations,allofthemwerewithinthepalmofhishands.

Youretalkingnonsense,youcantcriticizeDukeMing!DukeMingisntlikethat.

Heisthebest,themostpowerful,themostintelligent?LuoYununhurriedlyaskedin
response,Doyoudaretosaythatheisamanofindomitablespirit?

You.youItsunexpectedthatLuoYunhasthetalentofspeakingeloquently,inaway
thatevenChiuYuescharmingvoicewasstuttering.Shecouldonlytrembleafewyou,
beforehereyesreddened.

FengMingwasextremelysad.

HenoticedthatChiuYuesshoulderwereslightlytrembling.Standingtoonesideandseeing
hisloyalservantsandguardswholeheartedlyprotecthim,standingupforhimtorefuteLuo
Yunsscolding,isconsideredanindescribablesadnessforhim.

IshequalifiedtobeDukeMing?

Howcanhelethisdelicatemaids,likeChiuLan,facethiskindofgrievancefortheuseless
DukeMinglikehim?

Theyshouldnt...

RongHusdowncasteyes,hisdeterrencewastothefullest,Youclearlyknowthatgoingto
TongKingdomisdangerous

Illgo.

Theroomwasstartingtofillupwithhostilegunpowderscentwhenagentlesoftvoice
suddenlyintervened.Thepresenceofthesoftsoundmadeeveryonepauseforabitbefore
realizingwhohadjustspoke.

DukeMing?

Ah?DukeMing,you.

No,youcant!

Imgoing.EveryonesattentionwasoriginallyonRongHuandLuoYun,butafterhearing
FengMingswords,theyallturnedtowardshim.

IvedecidedtogotoTongKingdom.FengMingtookadeepbreathandwhisperedthose
words.

HisdecisionwassosuddenthatevenLuoYunthoughtitwasstrange.Hewassilentfor
awhilebeforecommenting,Youhavetothinkcarefullybeforedeciding.Allofthemeninthe
Xiaofamilynevertakebacktheirwordsaftertheyhavebeenspoken.

Ihavemademydecision,Iwillnotgobackonmywords.

Infact,hehadnochoicebuttogo.

EvenifLieZhongLiusupportedhim,allowedhimtorealizehisdream,itwasinhopethat
FengMingcouldfacethevariousobstacles.Ifhecantavoidthem,thenheshouldwelcome
themheadon.RongTian,ifitwashim,hewouldnotworryaboutthiskindofthing.Hewould
alwaysstanduptall,withhismajesticallureandcalmlyfaceallcrisishisway.IhopethatI
didntletyoudown.

IsntitjustatriptoTongKingdom?Noneedtolookatmelikethat.

FengMingglancedbackatthemaidswithlooksofconcernontheirfaces,hegaveahesitant
smiletowardsthem.

Duke...DukeMing

IheardthesceneryofTongKingdomsseaisverybeautiful.


Hecanthideanymore.ChiuLanandthemhavecomplimentedhimineveryway,allsincerely
believingthatheisaperfectDukeMing.HehopedthathecanbecomeaperfectDukeMing
intheireyes.Therefore,heshouldatleastmakeaneffortthisonetime.

Ihavemademydecision.Pleasereturnyourswordsbackin.LuoYun,headbacktoyour
place,noneedtoargueanymore.FengMingacceptedLuoYunssuspiciousglance.He
raisedhisheadandinfrontofhismaids,FengMingmustshowabitofprideofXiLeiDuke
MingandtheXiaoFamilyYoungLord.

FM:GoingtoTongKingdomisdangerous,butisitevenmoredangerousthanLiKingdom?I
havebeentoBoJian,FanJia,DongFan,LiKingdom,sowhyshouldIbeafraidtogotoTong
Kingdom?Imgoing.RongHu.

RH:No,youcant!

FM:Removetheanchor,wearegoingtoTongKingdom.

Theotherpeoplepresentdidntknowhowtoreact.Theywereallunusuallyquiet.Afteralong
time,FengMingnoticedsomethingwaswrong,RongHu,whyarentyougivingouttheorder
toremovetheanchor?

DukeMing,RongHuloweredhisvoice,WehavepromisedXiaoLiuthatwellwaitherefor
him.

Ah,healmostforgotaboutthis.FengMingwasboredforamoment,thenhelookedupatLuo
Yunandmadeeyecontact,SoareyougoingtotelluswherewecanfindtheWenLan
flower?

InfrontofLuoYun,FengMingtriedtodisplayacalmdemeanor,hopingtomakeLuoYuns
subordinatesabitsurprised.FengMingsmoodwasalotbetterashistoneofvoicewasmore
relaxedthanpreviously.

LuoYunfinallygavetheYoungLordsomerespect,hegavehimasimpleanswer,TheXiao
Familydoesnothaveit.

FengMingfrowned,butalsousedthesametoneofvoiceandcoldlyasked,IftheXiao
Familydoesnothaveit,thenwhodoes?

YoungLordsmother.

Ha?

EventhoughFengMingknewheneededtodisplayaconfidentdemeanortoregainhisdignity
asDukeMingandtheXiaosYoungLord,hestillrevealedastunnedorsillyexpressionthat
contradictedtohisimage.AfterlisteningtoLuoYunsanswer,FengMingwasimmediately
struckbacktohisoriginalform.

Hismotheralwaysseemtohavealotofsurprisesforhim.

LadyYaoYeplantedmanyoftheseflowers.LuoYunglancedathimandasked,Doesnt
YoungLordknowthatMistresshasagreenthumbinplantingthesestrangeflowers?

FengMingwasspeechless.
Whoinbloodyhellwouldknowthis?
Hisdearoldmother,during
theshortperiodoftimetheymet,triedtopoisonhimandRongTian.Whatkindofworldis
this?

TherewasnotenoughtimetolamentwhenDuFengsvoicetraveledtohisears,Thankyou
DukeMing,wefinallyknowthewhereaboutsoftheWenLanflowers.

Afterwitnessingthedisputeearlier,DuFengstillkeptacalmdemeanor.Evenifhewas
curious,surprised,orpondering,hisexpressiondidnotdisplayanyofit.

Itseemsasifnothinghadhappened.

Wellthatsgood,otherwiseFengMingwouldn'tknowhowtoexplaintheembarrassing
situationthathappened.HewasextremelygratefultoDuFengandsaid,Iwillimmediately
writetomymotherandaskhertosendsomeonetodelivertheWenLanflowerhere.

EventhoughhedidntknowwhereLadyYaoYewas,MasterXiaomustdefinitelyknow.Even
ifhedoesntknowwhereMasterXiaois,LuoDengmustdefinitelyknow.Thus,theproblemis
solvedifhegivesthelettertoLuoDeng.

FengMingdidntmakeanyeyecontactwithLuoYun,heturnedtowardsDuFengand
chuckledlightly,IapologizeforlettingBrotherDuwitnessaminorargumentbetweenthe
group.Ah,IhopeBrotherDucanstayhereforafewmoredays.OncetheWenLanflower
arrived,BrotherDucanbringitalongwiththeAnShenstoneandtogetherwecangomeet
PrincessChangLiu.WhatisBrotherDusthoughtsaboutthis?

Sincetheyarefriendsnow,itwouldbetooformaltokeepcallinghimYoungMasterDu.Feng
MingautomaticallychangedtheYoungMastertoBrotherDuinstead.FengMingdidnot
expecthisBrotherDutorefusehisoffer.

Heslightlysighed,IstillhaventtoldyouChangLiusthirdrequest.

Oh?FengMingpattedhisheadlightly,Iforgotthattherewasathirdrequest.Ihopeitisnot
difficulttoachieve.Godforbid,whatdoesshewantthistime?Hopefullyitsnotasdifficultto
achieveastheWenLanflowerwheremoneycannotbuy...

Thethirdrequest,tosayitshardisnothard,tosayitseasyisalsonoteasy.DuFeng
observedclosely,justonelookatFengMingsface,healreadyknewwhathewasthinking
inside.Withaworriedface,hetoldFengMing,Shedidntaskforanyotheritems.

Everyonegaveasighofrelief.

DuFengcontinued,SherequestthatInotseeher.

Everyonesshoulderscollapsedoncemore.What?Arequestonly?

Ah,whatatoughlove,thedoorofloveinwhichnotmanycanpassthroughclearly.Among
thethreerequests,itseemsasifthisrequestistheonemosthurtfulforDuFeng.Besides
LuoYun,everyonewhoheardthislookedatDuFengwithsympathy.

DuFengwassad,buthewasn'thurt,hegaveaweaksmileandmutteredasiftohimself,I
reallydontknowifI'dratherexpressmygratitudetoherrequestortoexpressmydisdainfor
it.Tomeetornottomeet,isthesameaschoosingdeathinstead.Butsinceshehadmade
herrequests,howcanIletherdown?

LetmebringtheWenLanflowertoher.FengMingsaid.

SincethetriptoTongKingdomisalreadysettled,helpingDuFengbygivingtheWenLan
flowertoChangLiuisamatterofconvenience.Itsalsoanexcusetomeetthehelpless
romanticPrincess,andmakeabitofcontribution.

Hopefully,herhusband,whoisalsotheCrownPrinceofTongKingdom,wouldnotkillhim
afterthemeeting.

ThiswaswhatDuFengintended,heimmediatelyclaspedhishandstogether,Thankyou.
OfficiallystandinginfrontofFengMingandgivinghisceremoniousbow.Sincethismatter
involvedChangLiu,hehadtoshowhisutmostgratitude.

FengMinghelpedhimupandsaid,ThenaboutthatAnShenstone

DF:WhetherornottheWenLanflowerwillarriveearlyorlateisnotaproblem.However,the
AnShenstoneisneededforChangLiusillness.Iwillimmediatelysendsomeonetoride
nightanddaytodeliverittoChangLiuinTongKingdomPalace.Ihaveseveralfriendsin
TongKingdomwhocanenterthepalaceandseeChangLiu.

Whenmentioningaboutsocializing,havingmanyfriends,noonecancomparewiththe
reputedReluctantKing.

DuFengsproposalwasverythoughtfulbecauseevenifFengMingreachedTongKingdom,
hemaynotbeabletogivetheAnShenstonetoPrincessChangLiu.Thismatterisbest
handledbysomeoneofTongKingdom.

FengMingnoddedhishead,Alright,sincethatsdecided,Iwillalsowritetomymother,
hopingthattheWenLanflowerwillarriveherebeforewereachthebordersofTong
Kingdom.

DuFengsuddenlysaid,Illbetakingmyleave.

What?Sofast?FengMingcouldn'timaginethathewouldtakehisleavesosoon.Feeling
disappointed,headvised,Stayforafewdays,sinceyourplanforFanJiaisalready
delayed.

Themaidsalsoexpressedtheirthoughts.

YoungMaster,pleasedontmindstaying,DukeMingreallyenjoyedchattingwithyou.

Thatsright.AtleastwaitfortheshiptoreachTongKingdomsborderandthenleave.

CoulditbethattheYoungMasterhastogosomewhereinahurry?Forme,itsbestifthe
YoungMasterdecidestostayontheship,thatwayyoucanquicklyknowwhethertheAn
ShenstoneandtheWenLanflowerreachedPrincessChangLiushands.

Thatsright!OurDukeMingwillpersonallyhandtheWenLanflowertothePrincess.Every
wordandmovementofhersafterreceivingthegiftwillberelayedbacktoYoungMaster.As
longasYoungMasterdecidestostayhere.

Despitealltheadvisement,DuFengstillkeptthesamedemeanor.Afaintsmile,crestfallen
eyes,helookedaroundandonceeveryonecalmeddown,withabittersweetsmileheasked,
ShouldIreallyarriveandthenleaveher?Beingnearbylikethat,canIreallyrestrainmyself
fromnotrescuingherfromthepalaceofTongKingdom?EverystepclosertoTongKingdom,
allthosepainfulthoughtsIveabandoned,thethoughtsofelopingwithChangLiuregardless
oftheconsequenceswillappear.I,DuFeng,amafraidIwontbeabletocontrolmyself.Im
veryafraid.

Thiswasthereasonthatcausedeveryonetobepowerless.DuFengssadnesswasthe
answer,evenChiuYuewhowastheidealisticofthebunchhadnochoicebuttoremainsilent.
Theconsequencesofthatmatterwasnotsomethingtojokeabout.IfDuFengreallycannot
controlhimselfandforciblyelopedwithChangLiu,evenifthepairofloversaretogether,they

couldstillbehackedintothousandsofpieces.ThentheremightevenbeawarbetweenTong
KingdomandZhaoBei.Awar!NoonewoulddarestartawarofcourseRongTianandRuo
Yanareexceptions.

Thatswhy,Iwillbegettingoffnow.Afterfinishing,DuFenggavealongsigh.FacingFeng
Ming,hesaid,Sincewearefriends,Iwillcomefindyouinthefuture.

Hopefully,wewillseeeachothersoon,FengMingmuttered.EversinceDuFengappeared,
whetherhewasdepressedorinpain,hestillkeptthesameindifferentcalmness,unlikeFeng
Mingwhowouldexpresshimselffreely,beingteasedandcriticized.Atthistime,FengMing
perkedupasmile,Areyoureallyleavingnow?Alright,Illseeyouoff.

FengMingalongwiththeothers,walkedDuFengoutontothedeck.Onceoutonthedeck,
theskymadeitcleartoFengMingthattimefliesreallyquick.

TheReluctantKingisindeeddeservingofthereputation.FengMingsmiledhesitantlyatDu
Feng,Althoughwevemetforashortmoment,itseemsasifwewerefriendsformany
years.

DuFengwasnotasbeautifulasLuDan,hewasnotdomineeringasRongTian,buthehad
anotherkindofgentleindifferentdemeanor.Ifheappliedthesamesayinghisteacheronce
taughthim,itwouldbeTherewasonlyfivewordsthatyoucandescribethisReluctantKing:
modest,righteous,just,bevelovent,andtranquility.

Ifthereisonewordtodescribehim,thenthefeelingofcomfortablecomestomind.

ThesmallboatDuFengcameonwasstillthere,floatingnexttothelargeship.

Whenwillweseeeachotheragain?FengMinglookedathissubordinateswhowere
untwistingtheropestothesmallboatandpullingitin,knowingthatthetimeoffarewellis
nearing,hecouldnthelpbutaskDuFeng.

DuFengraisedhiseyebrows,thenlaughed,Fortunately,XiLeiKingisnothere.Ifhewereto
seeDukeMingsexpression,hemightbejealous.ItsDuFengsfault.Ah,amIreallywhatthe
worldhavesaidaboutme,foreveraheartlessromantic?ChangLiuissufferinginTong
Kingdom,butaftermeetingapricelessfriend,mymoodisalotbetter.

FengMingquicklycorrectedhim,Meetingapricelessfriendisdefinitelyahappything,you
dontneedtocontinueblamingyourself.Look,eventhoughIappearhopelesswithoutRong
Tianbesideme,Imveryhappytomeetyou.

However,hislifeismorefortunatethanDuFeng,RongTianandChangLiuaredifferent,
sinceRongTianwillsoonreunitewithFengMing.


NotknowingwhatwasonDuFengsmind,heremainedsilent.

Theropetothesmallboatwasuntied,someoftheXiaomenbroughttheboatoversothatDu
Fengcanembarkandleaveashepleases.Butthistime,noonewantedtotellhimthose
words.

DuFengwassilentforawhilebeforelookingoveratFengMingandwithgentleeyes,hesaid,
DoesDukeMingknowhowtoplaytheflute?

Ah.This?FengMingblushedred,Thatsright.Therefore,thefluteyougaveisquitea
wastetoleaveitwithme...

IlltellDukeMingasecret,alright?DuFengsuddenlyloweredhisvoice.

Hisvoicewasclearandgentleontheears,onceitwaslowered,notonlywasitnotterribleto
listen,butyethisvoicewasmoremesmerizing.FengMinghadneverbeenresistantto
secrets,nottomentionsecretsfromDuFeng.Hiscuriosityraisedasheexcitedlywhispered,
Whatsthesecret?

Eventhoughthetwoofthemloweredtheirvoices,thefewpeoplearoundFengMingcould
alsohearit.ChiuYueandtheothersearsprickedup.

Iactuallydontknowhowtoplaytheflute.

FengMingswepthiseyestowardsDuFeng,Idontbelieveyou.

Ineverlietomyfriends.DuFengseriouslyreplied,Theenchantingsoundtheflutebrings
toothersisbecausethisjadefluteisveryspecial.Thesoundwouldbebeautifulnomatter
whatsimpletuneisblown,itcantouchtheheartsofanyone.

Really?FengMingwasskeptical.AfterDuFengsaidthat,hewasveryexcited.Initially,
FengMingintendedtojustcarryitforshowandnotplayit.Ifthejadeflutecanbeblownand
stillmakenicesound,thenhemightaswelltry.

Whilethinking,hetookthejadedflutefromhiswaist,placedittohismouthandposturedhis
fingersashowherememberedDuFenghadinhismemory,Isitlikethis?

Hetookabreath,notknowinghowcutehisbehaviorwas.ChiuYueandChiuLanwere
laughing,evenDuFengcurvedhislipsintoasmile.

Elevateyourhandalittle.DuFenghelpedhimadjusthispostureandcorrectedhim,You
dontneedtousemuchstrength,youneedtoputyoursoulintoplayingtheflute.Usetheair

fromyourabdominalregionandconcentratewhileslowlyblowing.WhenDukeMingdrinks
tea,dontyoualsoblowthehottea?Blowingthefluteisthesameasblowingtea,withabit
morerhythm.

NotsureifFengMingistalentedorthatheisbetterthantheteacher.Withaslightguidance
fromDuFeng,FengMingwasabletoblowabit,sendingaclearflutesound,justlikewhatDu
Fenghadsaid,thesoundwasunusuallybeautiful.ThoughhecannotcomparetoDuFengs
playingdespitestandingunderthesamesky,butaccordingtoFengMing,hisfirsttime
playingthefluteexceededhisexpectations.

Needlesstosay,ChiuLanimmediatelyapplauded,Itsbeautiful!DukeMingisamazing!

EvenRongHugaveapraise,Itsreallyeasyontheears.

FengMingwasenrapturedbythecompliments.However,hedidknowhislimits,blowinga
coupleofsounds,hegiggledandthankedDuFeng,Iknowyouweremodestwhenyousaid
aboutcasuallyblowingtheflutecanemitthesamesoundasyours.FromwhatIsee,Ihaveto
practicemanyyearsbeforeIcanplayanenchantingmelodylikeyours.

Afterthefarce,thegloomyatmospherewavereddownalot.DuFengsilentlylistenedtoFeng
Mingplayingaroundwiththeflutebeforesaying,Ihavetogo.

FengMingknewthatinorderforhimtonotbesad,DuFengstayedbehindforalittleawhile.
Hisheartwasmoresaddenedbytheseparation,yethefeltitwasstrangethatthisperson
wasnotRongTian,sowhyishefeelingthesamepainwhenheseparatedfromRongTian?

Blinkinghiseyesafewtimes,henoddedandsaid,Iknowyouhavetogo.Hemotionedhis
subordinatestopreparetheboat.

TheywatchedasDuFengsteppedontothesmallboat.Waitingfortheboattodriftaway
madeeveryonefeeluneasyinside.RongHusuddenlycriedout,wavingtowardsanother
smallboatheadingtheirway,Letthemthrough!Dontblockthem,itisthepersonwehave
beenwaitingfor!

Everyonewasstartledbyhimastheylookedouttowardsthatdirection,anotherboatslightly
largerthanDuFengs,wasunknowinglystoppedbyFengMingsguards.

RongHuwastellingthecrewontheshiptomakewaywhilealsoreportingtoFengMing,
DukeMing,itisXiaoLiu.

FengMingnoddedhishead,lookingafar,therewasapersonontheboatarguingwiththe
Xiaosmen,hisstaturewassimilartowhatXiaoLiulookedlikeyesterday.

LuoYunknewthatpersonwasoneofthem,sohemotionedforhissubordinatestoletthem
through.

Oh.FengMingsuddenlyrememberedthathestillhaventcompletelyseehisguestoff.He
immediatelylookeddownandsureenoughDuFengwasstillontheboat,seeminglyturned
aroundtolooktowardsXiaoLiusdirection.NoticingthatFengMingwaslookingathim,he
leisurelychuckled,DukeMingappearstobepopularwithmanyfriends,onepersonhasnt
leftandyetanotheronecame.Thatsgreat,thatway,DukeMingwontbelonely.

NotwaitingforFengMingtoanswer,hebidhisfarewellstoeveryone,pickeduptheslender
bamboopaddleanddabbledthewater.Notsurehowhardherowed,butthesmallboat
suddenlythrustedawayfromtheship,intotheoppositedirectionofwhereXiaoLiucame
from.

FengMingseyesfollowedafter,thoughregrettable,butthiscarefreewanderersoondrifted
fartherawaybeyondhislineofsight.

ThetimeDuFengsimagefadedawaywastheprecisemomentwhenXiaoLiusetfootonto
theship.FengMingmelancholywatched,asheturnedaround,atall,slenderfigureappeared
infrontofhiseyes.

ArarelyseenexcitedRongHuintroducedtheyoungman,DukeMing,thisisXiaoLiu.

====

XiaoLiuworeagrayoutfit,thebottomofthegarmentreachedhisankle,itwasveryfittingfor
hisstature.Abeltwasneatlywrappedaroundhiswaistandhealsoworeapalegraycloakon
theoutside.Althoughthecolorwasnoteyecatching,butoncewornonhim,itbecomesvery
compatible,exudingaslighthintofcautionandtranquility.

SeeinghowFengMingwasstudyinghim,XiaoLiugrinnedandapologized,XiaoLiu
deservesdeathformakingDukeMingwait.Heslowlybowed.

AlthoughChiuLanhasbeenservinginthepalace,shewasnotclearofRongTianshidden
henchmen.ThiswasthefirsttimesheandtheresthavemetXiaoLiuupclose,therefore,
theywerecarefulintheirbehaviortowardsthisCrownPrincesenvoywhohadmadegreat
accomplishmentfortheTerrifyingSupernaturalMagicTrickAct.

FengMinghadaverygoodimpressionofhim,afterwaitingforhisceremoniousbow,Feng
Mingexcitedlygrabbedhishand.Afterexamininghimupanddown,hesaid,Hey,whydoes
helookveryfamiliar?

However,inhismemory,thisshouldbethefirstofficialmeetingwithXiaoLiubesidesthe
magicperformanceyesterday,whichtheyweretoofarawaytobeabletoseeclearly.

RongHuasked,HelooksabitlikeHisMajesty,right?

Oncehesaidthat,everyonelookedtowardsXiaoLiuagain.ChiuXingwasthefirstpersonto
callout,HereallylooksabitlikeHisMajesty.

FengMinglaughed,Nowondertheresafeelingoffamiliarity.

Whilelaughing,FengMingledthemintothemaincabin.Everyonesatdown,asforXiaoLiu,
hewasplacedinthesameseatDuFenghadpreviouslysatin.

Ah....thematteryesterday...Thankyouforhelpingus.Ifitwasntforyou,thenitwouldhave
gonebad.Sinceitwastheirfirstmeeting,FengMingandXiaoLiuwerenotascloseasRong
HuandLieEr.FengMinghadthoughtforhalfadaybeforehefigureditwouldbebestto
showhisappreciation,yethecouldnthelpbutask,Buthowdidyousuddenlyappearatthe
executionground?

XiaoLiulaughedheartilybutwasstillveryreserved.AfterlisteningtoFengMingsquestion,
herelayedtothemhisencounterwithRongTian.

WhenFengMingheardhimmentionRongTian,hewasoverlyexcitedandfrequently
interruptedtoask,Howishe?Hashelostweight?Ah,whenIwasinYongYin,itwouldhave
beenbetterifImadearrangementstomeethim.Didhementionanythingaboutwhenhell
cometoseeme?

Beinginterruptedbyhim,XiaoLiudidnotmindandreplied,HisMajestysaidthatheneedsto
gotoDongFanfirstandthenhellcomelookingforDukeMing.

FengMingwhinedloudlyasifhewaspunched.Atthattime,hebecamelistless,notinthe
moodforanything.ChiuLanandtheotherscametohissidetocomforthim,HisMajestywill
quicklycomehere.DongFanisnotmuchfurtherfromhere.BeforeDukeMingheadstoTong
Kingdom,HisMajestywillsurelycomesoon,andsoon.

AsforChiuYue,whileshewascomfortingDukeMing,shewasalsoobservingthe
surroundings.ThatbratLuoYunwouldusuallytaketheopportunitytosneerorlaugh
mockinglyatFengMing.SinceFengMingisactinglikeachildrightnow,whyishesuddenly
quiet?

XiaoLiucontinuedwithhisstory,mentioninghowhetravelednightanddayinordertofinda
waytosaveChaoAn,andwhileontheroad,hemistakenlycapturedLeTing.RongHu
laughedatthemerementionofitandclappedhisknees.


RH:DidntIaskedwhywouldyoutieupLeTingandhidhiminyourhorsecarriage?Sothats
howitis,haha,thatsthestory!

ChiuYuepulledontoChiuLanssleevesandmadeafaceather.

RongHuandXiaoLiumustbefairlyclose,ifnot,thenwhywouldRongHuchangeintoa
completelydifferentpersonaroundXiaoLiu,heappearedmorelively.

FengMingisnotusuallydepressedformorethanthreeminutes,soafterhepoutedforabit,
hismoodbecamebetteronceXiaoLiumentionedaboutthepastevents.FengMingclapped
hishandsandexclaimed,Icantbelievemyfirstmagictrickwasthrillingandyetdangerous,
fortunately,youdidntendupkillingLeTingorelsewellbesavingoneChaoAn,butyet
harminganotherLeTing.Ifthatsthecase,itwouldbeverybad.

ChiuLannoddedherheadinagreement.

Afterfinishingrecallingthepastevents,XiaoLiufeltthirstysohedrankafullcupoftea.He
stayedsilentforawhilebeforespeakingagain,TheresanissueIvebeenthinkingaboutbut
Icantfigureitout,therefore,IwantedtoaskDukeMing.

Hisattitudewhenspeakingappearedverysolemn,makingFengMingsheartinvoluntarily
beatirregularly.Anissue?Anotherissue.cantbe...FengMingtimidlyasked,Whatsthe
issue?

XL:Icanguessthemajorityofwhathappenedyesterday,likewhentheprisonerwasplaced
insidethewoodenbox,beforeitwashangedandlitupbyfire,hewaspulledout.However

XiaoLiufurrowedhiseyebrowsandcontinued,Iftheprisonerwasswitchedout,thenwhy
whenitwaslitonfire,therewasfrighteningnoisescomingfrominsidethewoodenbox,asif
someonewasstruggling?DukeMingcouldntperhapshaveexchangedChaoAnwithanother
prisoner?

FM:Ofcoursenot,whywouldIbesocruel?

FengMingstraightenedhimselftoanswer,butheimmediatelyfeltpuzzledashemuttered,
Ah,youreright.Whywasthereanoisecomingfromtheinside?Clearlytherewasntanyone
inside?

Themorehethoughtaboutit,themoresomethingdidntfeelright.Feelingalarmed,Feng
MingturnedtofaceRongHu.

RongHusfacewasjustaspaleashim,hereplied,Theoneresponsibleforexchangingthe
prisonerwasGeneralLeTing.Irememberduringthemeeting,weonlytalkedaboutdigginga
largeholeundertheexecutiongroundtohidetheprisoner,buildingthewoodenboxatthe
scene,usingthetimeofnailingthewoodenboxtograbtheprisonerfrombelowtheboxto
hidehimaway,therewasnomentioningofusinganotherprisonerassubstitute.However

LeTingisageneralwhoisfamiliarwithdeathonthebattlefield,sokillingsomeonedoesnt
meanmuchtohim.Usingaprisonerinsidethejailandtousehimasasubstitutecanmake
themagictrickmorerealistic,perhapsthatissomethingthatLeTingiscapableof.

Everyonelookedateachother,theyallwantedtoknowthetruthbehindit.

Theatmospheresuddenlybecamestagnate.

FengMingwaspetrified.Ifthiswasthecase,evenifthesubstitutewasaprisonerwho
neededtobeexecuted,thisdidntmadehimanylessrelieved.Itwouldhavebeenbetterto
bebeheadedthantobeburnedalive.Itwouldbetoocruel!

Iknow.Anicecoldvoiceinterrupted.

ChiuYuefeltuneasy,knowingthatthesituationwasterrible,shefiercelyjumpedup,stared
wideeyedatthespeakerandshoutedathim,Youknow,youknow,youknow,whatisitthat
youknow?Illtellyouthis,thistimewewillnotagreetoanymoreofyourrequests.Dontthink
thatyoucanusethismattertoforceDukeMing!Afterfinishing,sheevengavealoud,fierce
snort.TheearliermatterwhereLuoYunforcedFengMingtotraveltoTongKingdomwasstill
notsettled.
AlloftheyoungmaidenshadthesamecommonenemyastheyallstaredatLuoYun.

FengMingasked,Youknowwhowasinside?

Itwasarat.

What?

AftertheyrescuedChaoAnout,theyconvenientlyslippedalargeratonlyuniquelyfoundin
FanCheng,insidethewoodenbox.LuoYunsfacewaslikeadeadperson,asifhedidnt
knowhewastellingthemafunnystory.Strangely,ahandsomeladlikehim,ifhewereto
smilemoreoften,hewouldbeverypopularwiththeladies.

Thatswrong.ChiuLanthoughtaboutitcarefully,beingskepticalshesaid,Evenifitwasa
largerat,itcantmakesuchaloudnoiselikethat.

LuoYunusedacoldfaintvoicetoreply,Theratstailwastiedwithastringandthestring
wasthentiedtotwothinwoodenblocks.Oncetheboxwaslitonfire,theratwouldrunupand
down,causingthewoodenblockstoknockagainstthebox,allsortsofloudandsoftnoises
canbeheard.

Everyonecarefullyponderedandimaginedtheproposedsolution,afterthinking,theywere
abletoacceptitasafact.

FengMingwasthefirsttoberelieved,laughing,hesaid,Good!Agoodbigrat!Very
thorough!Nowonderthemagictrickthistimewasahugesuccess!

ChiuYueobservedLuoYunandsaid,Sincewedidntknow,howdidyouknowaboutit?

Thatsright,howdidyoufigureitout?ChiuLanprobedLuoYunforananswer.

ChiuYuegavealaughandcrossedherarms,Dontjokearound,howcanhefigureitout?Ill
useonefingertobetwithyouthathedoesnthavethebrainstocomeupwiththatidea.He
probablyheardofthisnewsfromtheXiaofamilymen.

Afterfinishing,afiercesharpsoundandshimmeringlightshoneforth.LuoYunsswordwas
unsheathedandpointedstraightatChiuYuesface.

Everyonewasshocked,ChiuYuewasscaredstiff,eventhesmirkonherfacefrozeinplace,
holdingherbreath,shestammered,You...whatdoyouwant?Shewassoscaredthatshe
couldntevendaretocry.

LY:Imbettingwithyouandallowingyoutousetheswordtocutoffoneofyourfingers.
Withthatoneline,itsconfirmedthatLuoYunwastheonewhoproposedtheideatoLeTing.

However,atthistime,therewasnopointinhimansweringthequestion,theswordfilledwith
gleaminglightwasplacedjustunderthewhiteneckofChiuYue.

Thetipalmosttouchinghertenderskinandwithalittlemoreforce,itcaneasilystabintoit.
ChiuXingwassoscaredherlipswentpale,shealsostammeredandbarelysmiledasshe
said,LuoYun,ChiuYue...shewasjustjokingaround.She...shewasjustkidding!

LuoYunwasthesameasalwaysandreplieddryly:Imnotjoking.

RongHuandXiaoLiusfacechangedcolor,bothsilentlystoodup,handstothehiltsoftheir
swords,awaitingforFengMingsorder.

FengMingwasfeelinguneasy.Takingactionwasnotanoption,harminganyonewasalso
notgood.HewascertainlydistressedforChiuYue,butLuoYunwasapartoftheXiao

Family,andsomeonewhohadinfluenceamongtheXiaomen.Coulditbethatbefore
reachingTongKingdom,thetwofactionswillbeginfighting?Thenwhatisthepointofhaving
himagreetotraveltoTongKingdomtodie?Wasntitbecausetheycouldntagree,wasnt
thatthereasonhenoddedhisheadtogo?

Thisisterrible...whattodonow?Justawhileago,everyonewassittingaroundandchatting,
sowhyaretheysuddenlyunsheathingswords?

Whatthehell?Whobroughtuptheratthing?

ChiuYue,you..you...hurryandapologize,tellhim...tellhimyouwerejustjokingaround.Chiu
XingcouldntpersuadeLuoYunsoshetriedtoadviseChiuYue.

FengMingtriedtoplacatethesituation,Thatsright.LuoYun,dontbeupset,ChiuYue
inadvertentlyoffendedyou,letsputthesworddownandslowlytalkthingsout,Iwillmake
ChiuYueapologizetoyou,isthatalright?

Ashortmomentlater,ChiuYuebecameabitcalmer.Shewasoriginallytremblingwithfear,
butafterhearingChiuXingandFengMing,shedecidedtobitherlowerlipandforno
apparentreason,liftedherneckasifnotscaredandstaredstraightatLuoYunasshe
stubbornlysaid,I..I...Iwont!Youcanjustkillme,Idontbelieveyouwilldoit.

FengMingdidntknowwhattodo.ChiuYue,allofthepeopleoftheXiaofamilyarecrazy,
thisyouknowaswell,whyisthereaneedtogiveahorribleansweratthistime?

Seeinghiseyesimmediatelyflash,ChiuYuescreamedout,closinghereyesandcriedout,I
know!Iknowyouhateme!Youhavethoughtofwantingtokillme!Hertearsfloweddownher
face.

ChiuLanandChiuXingalsoscreamedoutinunison.Thethreefemalescreamswerealmost
simultaneouslyalongwithaclangsound,ChiuYuedidnotfeelanypaintoherneck.Could
itbethatLuoYunsswordwasextremelyfast,thatpainwasnotevenfelt?

ChiuYuewashalfscaredandhalfskeptical,sosheslowlyopenedhereyes,discoveringthat
bothChiuXingandChiuLanstillhadtheireyesclosedandwereabouttofaint.FengMing
innocentlystoodup,XiaoLiuandRongHuhadarelaxedexpression.

LuoYunsswordwasplacedbackinthesheath.Comparedtoregulardays,hisexpression
wasabitmoregentle,maybeevenpleasant.HelookedatChiuYue,wholosthalfofher
spirit,histhinlipsslightlyliftedintoafaintsmileandbeforelong,hesaid,Youaretheugliest
cryingwomanIveeverseen.

Whenhefinished,nooneknowswhy,hisnaturallycoldfacechangedabit,turningawayasif
reluctanttoletothersseethecolorwithinhiseyesasthismoment.

Chapter7

Aftertheswordeventpassed,everyonefinallysatdown,however,thecurrentsituationand
chattingweregreatlydifferentthanbefore.ChiuLanandChiuXingshandswerestill
tremblingwhiletheypouredthetea.InadditiontotheshiveringChiuYuewasexperiencing,
shewasabitmadaftersurvivingthemishaps,andofcourse,itwasbecauseofwhatLuoYun
saidtoherthatmadeherangry.

Whatdidhemeanbytheugliestcryingwoman?Ifthatbastarddidnthaveaswordinhand,
andthisyoungbeautifulChiuYuedidntwanttodieyoung,thenshewouldhavegivenhim
severalslaps.

FengMingmadeapuzzledexpressionasheexaminedLuoYunandthenlookedoveratChiu
Yue.HelaterlookedoveratXiaoLiuandRongHuandnoticedthatnoneofthemwere
interestedinchatting.AfterXiaoLiufinisheddrinkinghiscupoftea,helookedoutthewindow
attheskyandthenstoodup,Ihavetogo.

FM:Sosoon?

XL:TherearesomethingsHisMajestycommandedmetodo,totakeadvantageofthistrip
andquicklyfinishupmydutiesinFanCheng.Nonetheless,thereasonImhereisalso
accordingtotheCrownPrinceYongQuan,whichisbestifIhurryback.

Afterfinishinghiswords,hebidFengMingfarewell,DukeMingdoesntneedtosendmeoff,
thesunisabouttorise,eventhoughweareontheship,itsstillinevitabletopreventothers
fromnoticing.Icanleaveonmyown.

FengMingsecretlypraisedhimforhiscarefulness,verysimilartoRongTianindeed.Ah,
whenwillhelearnthisskillofRongTian?Thus,heonlysentRongHuasthemass
representativetosendXiaoLiutothedeckandsilentlyseehimoff.

Eventually,alltheguestshavefinallyleft.FengMingimmediatelystretchedandgavetwobig
yawns.

CL:DoesDukeMingwanttoheadinsidetorest?Thesunisrising,XiaoLiuhasleft,RongHu
willgivetheordertoremovetheanchor.Howaboutrestingalittleandthenafterwardshave
somethingtoeat,isthatalright?

FengMinglazilyclosedhiseyesandnoddedhishead.Hewasthentakentotheroomand
assistedtoliedownbyhismaids.Onceeverythingwasarranged,stillasusual,LuoYunsat
attheheadofthebed,wrappinghisarmsaroundhissword,

FengMingwantedtosleepforawhile,buthewasntreallytired.Onceheclosedhiseyesa
bit,hedidntfeeltiredanymore.Openinghiseyeswide,helookedatLuoYunsittinginfront
ofhim,withoutanythingtodo,FengMingcontinuedexaminingLuoYunclosely.

LuoYunsenergycomparedtoFengMinglastnightwasmuchmorealert.HeguardedFeng
Minglastnight,andevennow,halfleaningagainstthebed,hecouldfeelFengMingsslight
movements.Heimmediatelyopenedhiseyes,whichjusthappenedtocomeincontactwith
FengMingsstare.Withoutmuchpatience,heasked,Whatareyoustaringat?

Hardtoimaginethatayounglad,notmuchyoungerthanFengMing,couldshowsucha
coldbloodedexpressionlikethat.

BeingstaredbackbyLuoYun,FengMingshouldhavesubconsciouslyretreatedback,but
instead,heclosedhiseyesforashortmoment,thenwithinseconds,wantedtoturnarabbit
intoatiger,notafraidofdeath,hereopenedhiseyestolookatLuoYunsomemore.

SohowishistrainingintheXiaofamily?

TowardsLuoYun,FengMinghadalwaysbeenunusuallycurious.

Yourenotsleepyyet?

....

LuoYun?

....

....

Hey,LuoYun.

FengMingpersistentlywhispered,causingLuoYun,whowasrestinghiseyestoopenthem
andasked,YoungLord,whatisitthatyoucommand?

Nothingreally

LuoYunglancedoverathim,justwhenheclosedhiseyes,FengMingsvoicerangthrough
hisearsagain.

Hey,letschatforawhile,Imbored.

Iamheretoprotectyou,nottorelieveyouofboredom.LuoYunsaidinadeliberatewayto
expresshisimpatiencetowardsFengMing,stillholdinghissword,LuoYunpositionedhis
backtowardsthechatteringYoungLord.

LuoYuncontinuedtogiveoutacolddistanceaura.Afterashortmoment,FengMingagain
brokethesilence,WhydidyoubullyChiuYuetoday?

Whosbullyingher?ThespeedofLuoYunsresponsewasunimaginablyfasterthanbefore.

Youdid.

Ididnot.

Ifplacingaswordtoaneckofagirlisnotconsideredbullying,thenwhatis?Therewasa
longsilenceinrespondingtothisquestion.

LuoYun?

.....

LuoYun,hey,LuoYun.
Harassinghimlikethiswontmakehimplaceaswordtomyneck,
wouldit?

LuoThestiffLuoYunsuddenlymoved,shockingFengMingtothepointofshuttingup.
Notgood,ishesoashamedthatnowhesangry?Hewasjusttryingtobuildabondby
communicating.

FengMingcautiouslyobservedhimfromthemomenthestoodup,firmlyholdinghissword,
notturningaround,tountilLuoYunwalkedstraightoutofthecabindidFengMingletouta
sighofrelief.

Soscary.Thispersonspresenceisthesameashisfrighteningoldman(MasterXiao).Ah,he
istheYoungLordoftheXiaofamily,butthishascausedFengMingsomuchheadache.

ThetimeFengMingslargeshipleftharborwasthesametimethesmallboatfloatingdown
theAmanRiverreachedasecludedarea,lessthantenmilesfromFanChengcity.


JustwhenDuFengsteppedfootontoshore,severalmendressedincommonoutfitsofYong
Yinciviliansjumpedoutfromamongthebushesonbothsides.FacingDuFeng,theyslightly
bowedathim,YoungMaster,youhavearrivedveryfast,pleasefollowme,theprincessis
waitingforyouinside.Turningaround,theyledDuFengintothedepthsofthebushes.

Theplacewasverydesolated.TheentrancehadbeenlongabandonedbyYongYinformany
years.Thefurtheranddeepertheywalkedintotheplace,thetreesandgrassbecametaller
thanaperson,completelycoveringayoungman.DuFengleisurelywalkedintothetall
grasses.Ashorttimepassedandasmalltentemergedinsight.Thoughthetentwassmall,it
wasstitchedtogetherbyafineleatherandhelddownbyalayerofthickgoldoneachcorner.
Oneachpieceofgoldwasavarietyofpatterns,individuallycarvedandpolished,refinedand
luxurious,definitelynotsomethinganordinarypersoncanhave.

DuFengdidntshowtheslightestsurprisewhenhesawatentappearedinthearea.The
personledhimtothefrontofthetentcurtain,asifnotdaringtoenter.HeturnedtoDuFeng
andrespectfullybowedtohim,Yoursubordinatedoesnotdaretoenter,however,Young
Master,pleaseenteronyourownaccord.DuFengnodded,heliftedthecurtainandhiseyes
firstlandedonafigurestandinginthemiddleofthetent.

Princess.

Youcameback.Thewomanwasaloneinthetent,withherbacktowardshim.Shewasabit
shockedtohearhisvoice.Turningaround,herbrighteyeslandedonhim,shethen
whispered,Haveyoucompletedeverythingaccordingly?

StandinginthemiddleofthetentwasthebelovedsisterofRuoYan,whoisalsohisright
handperson,PrincessMiaoGuang.

DuFengdisplayedhistrademarkgentlesmileandnodded.

Seeinghissmile,MiaoGuangsubconsciouslyfeltcoldchills.YuLang,yourskillofharming
peoplegetsbettereachday,isthereanyonewhomyoucannotharmatallinthisworld?

BeingpraisedbyMiaoGuang,YuLangdidntshowtheslightestbitofarrogance.Slightly
bowing,hereplied,AslongasitsfortheLiKingdom,YuLangcanharmanyoneasordered.

Anyone?MiaoGuangseyesglaredsharply,thenitquicklydisappearedasshechanged
intoaninnocentgirl.Shethenchuckled,IfmyRoyalBrotherheardaboutthis,hewouldbe
veryhappy.

Shedidntwanttocontinuediscussingaboutthistopic,soshedecidedtorequestthis
importantfigurewhomherbrotherhadhiddenawayformanyyearstositdown.Onceshe
hadsatdownwithhim,sheasked,YouhandedthejadeflutetothehandsofDukeMing?

Ofcourse.AfterYuLangreplied,hiseyessweptacrossthetent,casuallyfixingontoMiao
Guangs.Hewasquietforawhilebeforelightlysmilingandasked,IsPrincessworriedthatI
didntdothingsthoroughly?

No,IonlybelievedthatDukeMingisthemostfoolishperson,heiseasilygullibleandyet
RongTiandarestolethimtravelalone,thusmostcertainly,therewillbelotsofskillfulpeople
arrangedbyhisside.Forexample,RongHuisaverycautiousman,evenifyoucaneasily
trickDukeMing,howcanyoueasilydeceiveothers?

YourHighnessisconcernedaboutthis?YuLangpausedforabitbeforeretellingherthe
processofhismeetingwithFengMing.Hecontinued,Originally,Iwaswonderinghowto
handthejadeflutetoDukeMingwithoutmakingthemsuspicious.Icantbelieveeventhe
heavenshavehelpedme,DukeMingactuallyopenedupandaskedtoexchangekeepsakes.
Inoticedthatheseemedtolikethejadefluteandnaturally,Iremoveditandgaveittohim.
Hewasextremelyhappy.Hiseloquenttoneandgentlevoicewouldseemasifhewas
recallingoldmemoriesofagoodfriendtooutsiders.Whowouldknowthathisintentionswere
vicious?

AsYuLangspoke,hecarefullyobservedMiaoGuangfromthecornerofhiseyes.Unfinished,
headded,DuringthetimeIleft,IintentionallytaughtDukeMinghowtoplaytheflute.Hes
quitetalented,afterlearning,hisplayingwaseasyontheears.

MiaoGuangcouldntstophershouldersfromslightlyshaking,He,heusedthejadeflute?

YL:Thatsright.FromwhatIsaw,hereallylovedthatjadefluteandwillcertainlybringitalong
toplayitnightandday,constantlypracticing.Thejadethatwasusedtocreatethatfluteis
verylooseandcrisp,itcaneasilycreatepowder.Sinceheusedhismouthtoblowunwittingly,
thatpowderwilltraveltohisthroat

Enough,MiaoGuangabruptlystoppedhim.YuLangwasntsurprisedatherundaunted
action,hepausedbeforeasking,Areyouangry,YourHighness?

MiaoGuangknewthatabruptlystoppingYuLangwasuncalledfor.Shesmiledbrighterthan
before,Howcanthatbe?ImveryhappyformyRoyalBrother.Asforthissuccess,Ifiguredit
wouldbebestforRoyalBrothertobethefirsttoknow.Ashissister,Idontwanttobethefirst
toenjoythenews.

Sothatshowitis.ThereisnoneedforYourHighnesstobehappyforHisMajestytoosoon.
YuLangglancedoveratMiaoGuang,hiseyesunusuallygentle,Thepowderofthejadeis
nottoxic,onlywhenitcomesincontactwiththeWenLanflower.

Ah...howabouttheAnShenStone?

Itsinmyhands.

MiaoGuangstretchedoutherbeautifulhand,Placeithere.

YuLangwentsilent.

Whatswrong?MiaoGuangdisplayedanunhappyfaceafterseeingnomovementfromYu
Lang.Didntyousayitwasinyourhands?

YuLangseyesmetwithhers,usingamildgentletoneofvoice,hesaid,Thisobjectisbest
tobeinmyhandsinstead.

Whataudacity!MiaoGuangloudlyshouted.DisplayingthearroganceofaLiKingdom
Princess,shesnorted,Howboldofyoutospeakwithmethatway.Havingitinyourhandsis
better?Whosaidthat?

HisMajestydid.YuLanganswered.JustlikeanarrowshootingstraightintoMiaoGuangs
body,shewasindisbelief.Stunnedforamoment,sheaskedinalowvoice,Whatdidyou
say?

ThiswaswhatHisMajestysaid.Althoughhehadrevealedhislastresort,knockingoffhalf
ofMiaoGuangsarrogance,YuLangdidnotdisplayanattitudeofcontempt.Instead,his
attitudewasevenmoregentleandmorerespectful.Hesighedsoftly,asifhedidnthavethe
hearttosaythefollowingwords,therefore,usinghismostsinceretoneofvoice,hesaid,His
MajestysecretlyorderedthattheAnShenstoneneedstobekeptinmyhands,itcannotbe
handedovertoanyoneelse,itmostdefinitelycannotbeinyourhands,YourHighness.

HeglancedatthehalfgreenhalfpaleMiaoGuang,sighingagain,hecontinued,IfYour
Highnessdoesntbelieveme,youcansendsomeonetoconfirmthematterwithHisMajesty.

HowcanInotbelieveyou?MiaoGuangbitherlowerlip,gentlyspurtingoutthewordsunder
herbreath,butsoonherbrightsmilereturned,justlikepastmatterswereallthrownasideas
ifnothinghappened.Abittired,shehesitantlystretchedherbackandstoodup,WhatRoyal
Brothersaidiscorrect.Havingitinyourhandsisbetter.Nomatterwhat,DukeMingcannot
escapethistimeanditsallthankstoyou.ShegaveYuLangasmileandwavedherhand.
Youreexcused,IwouldliketoimmediatelywritealettertoRoyalBrothertotellhimthatthe
planwassuccessful.


AftersendingYuLangaway,MiaoGuangopenedupawhitedelicatesilkspreadmadefor
writingletters.Ponderingforawhile,shedippedherbrushintheinktowrite,scribblingthree
tofourlinesatonce.Whenshewrotethepart,DukeMinghasfallenintoourtrap,herhand
begantremblingwithoutreason,thesmalldropofinkpooledontoanemptyareaonthe
sheet.

MiaoGuangstaredatthedropofinkforamoment,thensuddenlythrewthebrush,not
continuingthehalfwrittenletter.Sittingatthatsamespot,sheheldbothofherkneesand
startedsobbing,howeversuppressingherself,usingasubtlevoicesothatnoonecouldhear
hercrying.

===========

BordersofBoJian,withinthecityofHanGui,attheSanJianginninasecludedalley.

Fromhisbed,heopenedhiseyes,whileonhighalert,ZiYanturnedhisheadtotheleft.The
bedfromacrosstheroom,nexttothewallonlyhadmessybeddingsleftonit.Thepersonon
thebedwassupposedtobesleeping,butnotatraceofhimwasseen.ZiYansatup,taking
hisswordfromunderthepillowandhangingitaroundhiswaist.Heputonhisbootsand
headedouttothedoordownthestairstothepatiooftheinn.

Duringthenight,therewasagentledarknessthroughoutthecityofHanGui.Atthistime,
everycommonhouseholdwouldhaveblownouttheircandles.Overlookingthecity,therewas
onecandlethatwasburningforthepastfewhours,burningbrightlyjustlikethestarsinthe
nightsky.

YourMajesty.ZiYansteppedontothepatio,standingbehindatallfigure,hewhispered,
Tomorrowwehavealongjourney,YourMajestyneedstorest.

Bynight,RongTiansfigureappearedevenmoremajesticthanindaylight.Theoutlineofthe
GreatKing,evenZiYanwhoistallandslender,couldnthelpbutlifthisheadtoexamine
RongTiansprofile,ahandsomeangularfacethatisappreciatedandfavoredbyFengMing.

ZiYanunderstoodwhatwasonRongTiansmind,YourMajestyisstillworriedaboutDuke
Ming,amIright?

HedoesntknowwhatthePrimeMinisterandHisMajestyhaddiscussedaboutforonelong
nightthathadmadeHisMajestyagreedtoletDukeMingleaveonhisown.However,once
HisMajestyallowedDukeMingtotraveltothesevennations,followingthejourneyasa
bodyguard,ZiYanandtheGreatKingwereinseparable,soitwaseasytoperceiveHis
Majestysconcerns.

Travelingeverydayinhasteinspiteoffear,justinordertoquicklyreachDongFansohecan
bereunitedwithDukeMingsooner.Constantlyinendlessthoughts,eventuallymakinga
sharpeyedmanandanunbreakablesoullikeHisMajestytoworrynonstop,withoutanygood
nightsrest.ZiYanfeltthatmaybeinthiswholelife,hemightnotunderstandthatfeeling.
Perhapsonlypeoplewholovewithpassioncanunderstandit.Yet,ZiYanwasacalm
person,toocalmtobecapableofpassionatelove.

Ihaveabadfeeling.Recoveringfromhisdaze,RongTianrepliedashishandsomeface
becamesolemn,AsifIhaveignoredsomething.WhatdidImiss?

IsYourMajestytalkingabout...DongFan?DukeMing?OrYueZhongcity?

ThereisPrimeMinisterforDongFan,WeiQiuNiangandQianLinforYueZhong,whichIm
notworriedabout.AsforFengMingsjourneyaroundtheworld,thatisthebiggesttarget.His
eyesnarrowedasasharplightseeminglyemittedfromthem.RongTiancontinuedpondering,
RongHuisusuallyverycareful,theXiaohenchmenareplenty,foranyonetoharmFeng
Ming,unlesstheymobilizedanarmy,thenthereisnowaytheycansucceed.Assassination
orasecretattackcannotbedone.LuringhimfromRongHucannothappen.Asforpoisoning,
Ihaverepeatedlyadvisedthem,anythingbroughtinthehandsofFengMingmustbetested
forpoison.

ZiYanseyesglitteredinthenight,withalowvoice,hesaid,Thismatter,YourMajestyhas
thoughtaboutitmanytimes.DukeMingisundermanylayersofprotection,noonewillbe
abletohurthim.Pleaserestassured,YourMajesty.

Butmymindisnotatrest.

YourMajesty?

Mymindisnotatrest,IalwaysfeelthatthereissomethingIhaveignored.RongTianstone
deepened,ZiYan.

Yes.

ThetroopsarenowinBoJian,thehardestpathwehavecrossedit.Iwillpersonallyleadthe
resttoDongFantojoinupwiththePrimeMinister.ZiYan,Iwantyoutoheadbackfromhere
andmeetupwithFengMing.

ZiYanwasstunnednonetheless,heimmediatelyacceptedtheorder,bowingdown,hesaid,
Yoursubordinateobeysyourorder,however,onceImeetwithDukeMing,doesYour
Majestyhaveanythingyouwishformetorelaytohim?

Pleasetellhim,RongTianpausedforabit,hispupilsemittedarayofgentlenessand
warmth.Silentlypondering,hislipscurvedupwardintoabeautifularc,asubtletrembleinhis
heart,withapleasantvoiceasifhewasstandinginfrontoftheperson,witheyesslightly
wateredwatchinghim.

Tellhimtobeextremelycareful,thescariestthingisfallingintoatrap,oftenitshardtonotice
anyflawssodontbecareless.

Understood,IwilltransferthemessagetoDukeMing.

Alsotellhimtopatiently...waitforme.

==========

TheXiaofamilyfleetsoundedtheirdrumsandchimedthegongsastheycontinuedupstream
alongAmanRiver,headingstraighttoDongKingdom.

Eventhoughtheshipwasmagnificentlydecorated,stayingonitforalongtimewouldsoon
becomeboring.Besidestheoccasionalencounterofthescenicshoresandrelaxingatport
stops,themajorityofthetimewasextremelydullandboring.Duringthosetimes,FengMing
foundthatplayingtheflutewashisnlysourceofentertainment.

TheXiaofamilyhadmusicianstravelingonboardandamongthem,therewassomeonewho
knewhowtoplayaflute.FengMingeagerlywantedtopracticetherefore,hepurposely
requestedforthatpersontoteachhim.Aseachdaypassedby,hisplayingbecameeasieron
theears.

ThejadefluteDuFenggavewasapreciousgifttohim,heevenrefusedtoletotherpeople
touchit.Everytimehefinishedblowingit,hewouldaskChiuLantoprepareadamp
washcloth,topersonallywipeithimselfandthencarefullyplaceditbackontohiswaistbelt.

ChiuLanwouldoftenlaughathim,Therearemanybetteritemsinthepalace,butyetnone
ofthemhavebroughtsuchjoytoDukeMinglikethisone.YoungMasterDuFengjustgavea
jadedfluteandnowithasturnedintoapreciousobject.IfHisMajestyweretofindout,he
woulddefinitelybeburningwithjealousy.

FengMingjokedaroundwithhisfemaleattendants,gigglingwiththem,DoyoumeanRong
TianwillbejealousofDuFengorbejealousofthejadeflute?

Duringthenight,underthemoonandcoolbreeze,afterhefinishedeating,FengMing
continuedplayingasimpletune.Despitethepracticing,heisstillfarfromachievingthesame
resultastheoriginalownerofthejadeflute.However,hisslenderbody,alongwithhisloose
fittedrobesandshoulderhungcloakthatChiuYuehandmadeforhim,whilestandingunder

themoonlightandholdinghisflutewasenoughtomakealltheobservers,especiallyChiu
Yuemesmerized.

DukeMingisamazing.

Naturally,DukeMingisimpressivetherefore,aquicklearner.IbelieveDukeMingsplaying
isevenbetterthanDuFengs.

ChiuXing,yourpraisesareabitoutrageous.

Haha..

Gradually,evenLuoYunwhousuallyisbotheredbythesesillychatswasseenquietlyleaning
againstthedeckoftheship.Hesilentlystaredouttowardstheriver,asifhedidntcareabout
thelivelychatterofthemenandwomenaroundhim.

DukeMing,pleaserestforabit.Youvebeentirelesslyblowingtheflute.Ihavemadethis
eightlayerredbeancake,comeandhaveataste.

Thatsright,ChiuLan.Ifindthatyourlambthighstewlastnightwasrelativelygood.

ChiuXingisagluttoncat.

Yourewrong!Justtoletyouknow,thegluttoncatisLieEr.Unfortunately,LieErisnothere
soitsChiuYueinstead!

ChiuXing,youdaresaybadthingsaboutme,Illpinchyourears

LuoYunusuallyignoredthesethings,butatthistime,hecouldnthelpeavesdropintotheir
conversationandrecordeachoftheirlaughters.

BecausethePrinceofTongexpressedhishostilitytowardstheYoungLord,eachdaysailing
closertoTongKingdom,theactionsoftheXiaobodyguardsbecamemorealert.They
constantlysentoutmanyspiestoinquireaboutthelatestsituationinTongKingdom.

Thesecurityonboardwasevenmoretight.Asaresult,FengMingsrequesttosightseewas
limitedasboththeXiaosandRongTiansmenwereagainstit,afraidthatassassination
attemptswouldbemorefrequent.

LuoYunproposedthatFengMingneedstolearnselfdefense,whichRongHualsoagreed
to.Eventually,FengMinggaveintolearningsomeselfdefensetoprotecthimselfifthetime
comes.ThatwaswhenLuoNing,whoisusuallyonadifferentship,requestedtoseeFeng
MingandproposedthatLuoYunhelptrainFengMing.LuoNingtoldFengMingnotto

underestimateLuoYunsmartialartsbecauseeventhoughheisnotasskilledasMaster
Xiao,hehaslearnedfromhimsincehewaslittle.ChiuLanurgedRongHutosaysomething
regardingtherequestsinceitwouldbedangerousforFengMingtopracticewithLuoYun.
However,aftersomeconsideration,RongHubelievedthatLuoYunwouldbeagoodoption,
judgingonthefactthatLuoYunhassomestatuswithintheXiaofamily.

EventhoughRongHuistherepresentativeforRongTianandisusuallyindisputewithLuo
Yun,butfromhisnaturalinstinctandintuitive,RongHubelievedthatLuoYunsattitude
towardsFengMingisnotsolelydisgustanddisdain.

ThispersoncouldbecomeofgreathelptoDukeMingwithintheXiaofamily,especiallyif
DukeMingisabletobecomeanallywithhim.RongHuknewthathewouldnthavetheheart
totrainDukeMinginswordtechniquesinstead,helookedforwardtoLuoYunsassistance.
FengMingunderstoodRongHusreasonwhenhegavepermissiontoLuoYuntoassistFeng
Ming.

Ah...alright.

ThankyouYoungLord.LuoNingexpressedasenseofsuccessandthenwithdrewhimself.

AftergivingFengMingaceremoniousbow,heturnedaroundtoglanceatLuoYun,displaying
afatherlyattitude,GoandhelptraintheYoungLord.LuoNingthenleftthemainship.

Foramoment,RongHuswearedhesensedsomethingfromLuoNingseyes,butthisfeeling
wasjustforafleetingsecond,notgivingenoughtimeforhimtoponder.

ThethreemaidstookcareofchangingFengMingsgarments,whileRongHupickedouttwo
woodenswordsfromthestorageforthetraining.AfterFengMingfinisheddressing,he
handedoneoftheswordstoFengMingandsaid,LuoYunsswordsmanshipisveryfast,if
DukeMingisabletotrainwithoutallowinghisswordtotouchyou,thenthatisverygood.

FengMingnoddedhishead.

FengMingandLuoYunstartedtheirbattlepractice,FengMinggaveithisall,whichsurprises
LuoYunsincehealwaysbelievedthatYoungLordwascompletelyuseless.FengMingdid
noticedthathehadimprovedfromthebloodybattleinDongFanandtheconstanttraining
withRongTian.However,despiteallthat,LuoYunwasstillquickerandmanagedtogivea
striketotherightsideofFengMingschest.TheblowcausedmassivepainforFengMing,
thewoodenswordinhishandalsofell,leavingFengMingwithadistressedlookonhisface.

ThethreemaidscametoFengMingssideandexaminedtheareathatwasinjured.Thearea
wasbruisedandbleedingabit.FengMingsaidthathewasalright,buttheyfelthurtfromthe
sightofit.


ChiuYuewasupset,sheimmediatelylookedoveratLuoYun,Areyoupracticingorareyou
tryingtotakeDukeMingslife?LuoYundidntrespond,withdrawinghiswoodenswordand
standingstilltooneside.HearingChiuYuesscolding,heonlyusedhisbrightpaintedeyesto
coldlystareatherwithoutsayinganything.

ChiuYueseyeswereevenwiderasshechargedforward,butwaspulledbackbyChiuXing,
Whyareyouarguingwiththatkindofperson?First,letscarryDukeMinginside.

FengMingsmiledhesitantly,Icanwalk

TheyhelpedFengMinginsidetheroomandremovedthearmoronhim.FengMingnoticed
thattherewasaholeinthearmorandaskedChiuXingtohelpmenditforhim.

ChiuXingdidntanswered,butChiuYuescoldedhim,Whenareyougoingtochangeyour
mindset?Yourenotworriedaboutyourselfandyetyouareworryingaboutthearmor.Whats
thepointofworryingaboutonearmorwhenIcanhelpyoumaketwoofthemtomorrowif
needed.

FengMingknewthathisfemaleattendantsdidnotwanttoseeanybruisesorscarsonhis
body,worryingthattheyallmightcrytogether,hequicklyputonasmilingface,Ijustfeelpity
forthearmor,itsraretohavesuchbeautifulembroidery.IfIknewitearlier,Iwouldnthave
wornthisduringpractice,haha.

Hearinghisfoolishreason,ChiuYuedidntknowwhethertocryorlaugh.Atthecornerofher
eyes,thecoldLuoYunsuddenlyenteredtheroomandamidsthersuddenanger,she
shouted,Whyareyouhere?Afraidthatyouhaventcausedmuchinjury?Withoutthinking,
sheraisedherhandsandthrewthearmortowardsLuoYunshead.

Withoutablinkofeye,LuoYunraisedhishandandcaughtthatweapon.Hedidntsaya
word,butonlycarefullyobservedChiuYue.

Whenthispersondoesntspeak,hegivesoffaheartlessaura,notonlythat,hehadonce
placedaswordagainstChiuYuesneck.EveryonewhosawthewayhewaslookingatChiu
Yuewasnervousforher.

EvenChiuYuegotgoosebumpsfromhisstare,unrelievedanduneasyinside,shecouldonly
starebackathim.

DukeMing!

Luckily,RongHusvoicerangin,appearingverylivelyasifreceivingpleasantnews.

DukeMing,Breakingthesilenceoftheroom,RongHuquicklywalkedforward,energetically
reporting,ZiYanishere!

ThisunexpectednewscleareduptheheavyatmospherebroughtinbyLuoYun.

FengMingwasthefirstpersontojumpup,ZiYan?Heshoutedinsurpriseandthen
followedbyapainfulcryduetosuddenmovementaroundhiswoundarea.ChiuLanandthe
othershurriedafterhimasheranoutthecabintothedeckoftheshiptomeetupwithZiYan.

ItsreallyZiYan!Pausingforabit,heasked,WheresRongTian?

HisMajestyorderedmetomeetupwithDukeMingandsendhisgreetings.Travelingallday
andnighttocomehere,ZiYanwasabitmoretannedthanbefore,andalsoabitleaner.His
MajestywasworriedforDukeMingandwantedmetocatchupwithDukeMingfirst.Oncehe
finishesthematterinDongFan,hewillimmediatelycomehere.

Originally,FengMingwasdancinghappily,butafterhearingthis,hisfacefrozeandhishead
drooped.

Ialsoguessedthathewouldntbeherethatquick.Afterawhile,heraisedhishead,
regaininghissmileagain,hepattedZiYanonthebackandinvitedhimintothecabin,
WhetheritsyouorRongTianwhoishere,thereisnodifference.Letsdoourbest,thatis
whatthePrimeMinistersaid

ForallofRongTiansgroup,thefactthatZiYancamewasundoubtedlyagoodthing.

Thatevening,ChiuLanpreparedsomedishesfortheprivategathering.Duringdinner,Chiu
YuehelpedpreparesixchairsforFengMing,ChiuYue,ChiuXing,ChiuLan,RongHu,and
ZiYan,leavingoutLuoYun.

SincehehadinjuredFengMing,evenChiuLan,whotreatedeveryoneequallycouldntbear
toseehim.LuoYundidnotmindbeingleftout,andasusualstoodtoonecornerwhile
clenchinghissword.

RongHubeganrelayingthevariousthingsthathappenedbetweenthemandtheXiaofamily
forZiYantohear.Havingguessedthereasonbehindthechairs,ZiYanfeltitwasbestto
remainsilent.

Instead,FengMingfeltuneasyandaskedChiuYue,Whyarewemissingoneseat?

Arewe?Illcountagain,isntitonlysix?ChiuYuegavealookatthatcruelperson,then
gaveapurelyinnocentlook,Idontseeaseventhperson.

ChiuXing

Ialsodontseeanyoneelse.Thetwinsistersreallysharedonemind.

FengMingrolledhiseyes.Howcantheybeevenmorechildishthanme?Theyarealready
notyoungandyettoplaythistypeofgame

LuoYun,knowingthathisfemaleattendantscannotbepersuaded,FengMingturned
aroundtogreetLuoYun,Youcancomehereandsittogetherwithus

Imnothungry.

Ah

Theproblemwasntwhetherheshungryornot.IftheXiaofamilysawthembullyLuoYun,
thenthismayexacerbateinternalconflict

LuoYundidntcarewhatFengMingwasthinkinginside,heloweredhisvoicetosay,Young
Lord.

Yes?

Thearmorfromearlierisstillquitenew.Itsjust...oneholeAreyousureyouwanttothrow
itaway?Ifso,itsquitewasteful...Notjustthat,thesurfacealsohasChiuYuesneedlework.

Sowhatifitsthrownaway?ChiuYuecouldntstandhearingLuoYunsvoice,shepounded
thechopsticksagainstthetableandshouted,DidntyousaytheXiaofamilyisostentatious?
Whydoesonearmorevenmatter?Throwingoneawayisnotuptoyou.Ifyoufinditwasteful,
thengoaheadandwearit.OurDukeMingneverwearspatchedupclothes.

ThisChiuYue,shereallydoesntknowhowtowritetheworddeath.LuoYunseyesswept
acrosstheroom,RongHuandZiYansactionswerethesame,movingtowardsChiuYuea
bithopingtoprotectherifneeded.LuoYunonlygrunted,stoodupandwalkedoutside
withoutlookingback.

Everyonestaredateachotherandafteramomentofsilence,thearomaofthefoodevoked
theirappetite.

Here,letseat.

WithoutLuoYun,theatmospherewasalotbetter.FengMingwasstillfeelinguneasy,but
aftertastingChiuLansnewestdish,hismoodwasslightlybetter.

ZiYanbegantellingthemabouthisjourneywithRongTianfromthetimetheyleftYueZhong
untilheleft.

RH:HisMajestyisverycareful,evenifImnotuseful,theXiaoshenchmenarenotjustfor
namesake.IfsomeoneweretoinjuretheXiaofamilysYoungLordundertheirprotection,how
wouldtheybeabletoliveuptotheirreputation?

CL:Didnttheyinjuredhimtoday?Thatareaisstillred.ThatLuoYunisreally

Beforeherwordswerefinished,afigureappearedatthedoor,itwasnooneotherthanLuo
Yun.Sothesayingistrue:callingforGodandGodarrives,callingfortheDevilandtheDevil
arrives.Everyonesuddenlyclosedtheirmouth.

Asifhedidntnotice,LuoYunreportedtothem,Aspyhascameback,doesYoungLord
wanttoseehim?

FengMingthoughtforamomentandthenshookhishead,Iftheresnonewinformation,
thenIdontwanttoseehim.ThethoughtremindedhimofarrivingtoTongKingdomand
immediatelybesurroundedbytheTongarmymadeFengMingwrinkledhisface.

Hopefully,whenmeetingwiththePrinceofTong,QingLi,hecangiveFengMingachanceto
explaintohimthathewasnothisfatherskiller.

Hopefully,thatmanwillbereasonable.

Chapter8

LuoYundidnotsayanything,heimmediatelywalkedoutsidetogivetheorder.

Eatinghalfway,ZiYannoticedFengMingsfrown,heplacedhischopsticksdownandasked
withconcern,IsDukeMingworriedaboutthePrinceofTongshostilitytowardsyou?Ihave
heardsomenewsregardingTongKingdomwhileheadinghere.Alongtheway,Ihappenedto
meetupwithMianYawhowasinchargeofgatheringinformationacrosstherealms.Hewas
planningonheadingtoFanJia.EventhoughTongKingdomssituationposesomerisks,but
itsnotquiteasdangerousasitseems.

ZiYanscautiousnesswascomparabletoRongHu,sowhenZiYanspokethosewords,it
attractedeveryonesattention.

FengMingquicklyplacedhisheadcloser,eagerlyasking,Whatistheoverallsituationthen?


TongKingdomiscurrentlyindisarray.DidntDukeMinghearaboutthis?

ZiYanwasslightlysurprisedasheglancedoveratFengMing,calmlyexplaining,When
TongKingdomsGreatKing,QingDingwasalive,heheldcompletepower,howeverhis
youngerbrother,whoistheRoyalUncleofTongKingdomsCrownPrince,QingZhang,also
hadinfluentialpowerwithinthatnation.AftertheGreatKing,QingDingdied,theRoyalUncle,
QingZhangseizedpower,similartothatoftheKingofTong.

FengMingsilentlythought,thecorrecttermshouldbeRegentKing.Butofcourse,he
wouldntberudetointerruptZiYanatthistimesohecontinuedtolistenobediently.

Rightnow,eventhoughQingDingisdead,TongKingdomsCrownPrincehasnowayof
seizingpower.

Ah?Whynot?ChiuYueandChiuXingaskedtogetherinasweetandsurprisedtoneof
voice.

BecauseQingZhangisholdingontothecurrentpower.QingZhanghasbeenreluctantto
admitthathisbrotherQingDinghasdied.SincetheKingisnotdead,ofcourse,itis
impossiblefortheCrownPrincetoascendtothethrone.AndsincetheCrownPrincecannot
reign,thenheisalsounabletoretrievethemonarchpowerfromhisUncleshands.

ChiuLansfacewasataloss,QingDingisobviouslydead,thatiswhatalltheothernations
haverumored,howcanhenotadmittoit?

ZiYansmiledandasked,Rumorsarejustrumors.TongKingdomsCrownPrince,QingLi,
hasnoevidencetoprovethatitstrue.

FengMingwasdeepinthought,afteramoment,hefinallyrealizedandwithwideeyes,he
shouted,Iunderstandnow!

ChiuYuequicklyasked,WhatdoesDukeMingunderstand?

IunderstandwhytheCrownPrinceofTongwantedtokillmetoavengehisfather.It'sto
provethatQingDingisdeadwhichwillmakeQingLirightfullyinheritthethroneleftbyhis
father.Therefore,rightnow,QingLispriorityistohaveeveryoneadmitthathisfatherisdead.
IfQingDingwaskilledthenheneedstosearchforhisfatherskiller.QingLicouldntfindthe
realkillers,therefore,hedecidedtoaccuseme,allthankstomywellknownstatus.Also,it
wouldbeinhisbestinteresttoframeme.Hecontinuestoaccusemeasthemurdererto
provetoeveryonethathisfatherwaskilled.Howhateful!Whatadisgrace!Eventhoughhe
knowsIminnocent,hewillsurelytrytoeliminateme!He'sclearlyonlythinkingabouthisown
throne!Shameless!Ah,IwasevenplanningonreasoningwithhimthatIwasnttheculprit


SeeingFengMingsupsetface,ZiYanwasremindedofwhatRongTianhadsaidaboutFeng
Mingscuteexpressions.Hecouldnthelpbutsmilekindlyandsaid,DukeMingmustntbe
upsetrightaway.EvenifQingLiwishestotakeDukeMingslifeforhisownpurpose,there's
stillonepersonwhowillnotallowthat.

FengMingstraightenedhimself.Blinkinghisroundeyes,heimmediatelynoddedhisheadas
ifheunderstood.

Thatsright,QingZhangwillnotallowhimtodothat.

Firstofall,ifthathappens,TongKingdomwilloffendbothRongTianandtheXiaofamily.
Secondly,ifheallowedQingLitousetheexcuseofavenginghisfathertoharmFengMing,
thenwouldntheopenlyadmitthatQingDingisdead?Bythen,QingZhangwouldhaveto
immediatelyreturntherightfulpowertohisnephew.

Thinkingaboutthat,FengMingbecamerelieved.Hisalmondeyesgleamedashechuckled,
Hehe,withinTongKingdom,QingZhangistheonewhoholdsthemostpower.

ZiYansilentlypraisedhimforhisquickrealization,andhenoddedhishead,Thatswhyin
yourjourneytoTongKingdom,DukeMingonlyneedtotakeadvantageoftheconflict
betweentheiruncle/nephewrelationshipinordertopassthroughwithease.QingZhangis
currentlyholdingmilitarypower,ifQingZhangiswillingtoprotectDukeMing,thenDuke
Ming'ssafetyisguaranteed.

Great!FengMingapplaudedheartily,hisfacefilledwithexhilaration,Great!Haha!Iknew
thatthingshavechangedforthebetter!Haha!

Allofhisthreefemaleattendantseyesshined,jumpedforjoyastheyhuddledtogetherto
cheerandapplaud.Theguardswhowerestandingguardoutsideshooktheirheadsafter
hearingthesuddenloudnoiseinside.TheydidntknowwhatfreshtricksDukeMinghad
preparedthistime.

Afterawhile,theyfinallysettleddown.Thistime,FengMingandChiuLannoticedthatRong
HuandZiYanwerestillsittingunmovedlikeamountainintheirseats.RongHusfacewasa
littlemoresolemn.

RongHu?

EventhoughthisnewsisofprivatematterwithintheroyalfamilyofTongKingdom,butitis
notconsideredtopsecret.MianYawasabletoretrievetheinformationsowhywerentwe
awareofit?RongHuloweredhisvoice,Ifweknewofthisearlier,DukeMingwouldnthave
tobeworriedformanydaysnow.


ZiYanadded,I,too,feelthatthismatterisverystrange.

Thisisabigproblemthatshouldntbeignored.Thegroupoffemaleattendantswhoare
usuallycluelessabouttheseschemesimmediatelyfocusedtheirattention.Afterboardingthe
ship,thespieswesentoutbelongedtotheXiaofamily.Thenewsinformedtouswereall
fromtheXiaofamily.RongHufinallyrealizedwhythePrimeMinisterLieZhongLiusent
MianYatogatherinformation.

IftheydidnthaveMianYa,thepersonwhoRongTianappointedasleaderofthespiestobe
nexttoFengMing,thentheywouldhavetorelyalloftheirnewsandinformationontheXiao
Family,whichshouldntbeaproblem.

However,itsverydifficulttobelievethattheXiaoFamilysinformationgatheringnetwork
wouldbesoincompetentlikethis.Theyshouldknowthatasassassins,theyfirstneedto
haveanaccurateandcorrectinformation,otherwise,howcantheycarefullyarrangea
successfulassassinationattempt?

ChiuXingaskedfrightfully,CoulditbethatLuoYunhavebeenconcealingthisinformation?

Thatsnotpossible.ItsunbelievablethatLuoYunsbigadversary,ChiuYuewastheoneto
speakonhisbehalf.IrememberedthattheonewhosaidQingLiwantedtosliceDukeMing
intothousandofpieceswasnotLuoYun,butLuoNing.Seeingeveryonecuriouslystaringat
her,ChiuYuescheeksreddened,andshepoutedherlips,Whyareyoulookingatmelike
this?Imjustsayingthetruth,itsnotlikeImpurposelyhelpingthatscumbag.

BothfatherandsonlovetobullyDukeMing,isntitthesamething?ChiuXingmuttered.

WhetheritsLuoYunorLuoNing,theyarebothimportantfigureswithintheXiaoFamily.If
theyaresecretlyschemingagainstDukeMing,thentheconsequencesmaybeverydire.
RongHuwassilentforamoment,narrowinghiseyebrows,hesaid,However,thehighly
skilledassassinsusuallyfrownuponbackstabbingschemes.Thisdoesntlooklikesomething
thefatherandsonwoulddo.

ZiYandidntexpecttoencountersuchacrucialmatteruponarrival.Carefullyponderingfora
while,hesoftlysaid,First,letsnotsuspectanything.IftheytrulywantedtoharmDukeMing,
thenDukeMingwould'vealreadybeendead.Rightnow,wehavetocarefullyinvestigatewho
isinchargeoftheXiaoFamilysinformationgathering.

"Illgoinvestigatethismatter.RongHuanswered.

ZiYanandhimexchangedglances.Theyhaveworkedtogetherforalongtime,soone
glancewasenoughtocommunicatetheirintentions.


ZiYanstoodup,tiredlystretchinghimself,TheXiaoFamilysinformationgatheringsituation
willbehandledbyRongHu.ItseemsthatIwillneedtoheadtoTongKingdomimmediately.

FengMingjumpedupinshock,hedidntwanttogivein,Youjustcame,sowhyareyou
suddenlyleavingnow?

ZY:MianYahasleftforFanJia,therefore,weareshortofsomeonetogatherprecise
information.Ifyouweretocontinueonwards,wouldntitbedangerous?Imustbeonestep
further,beforeDukeMingreachesTongKingdom,Iwillbeagoodspyforyou.Thesituation
atthemomentdoesnotseemsimple,DukeMinghastobecarefulwhileonboard.

ChiuYueurgentlydeclared,Youmuststayonboardincasesomethingreallyhappenssowe
candealwithittogether.

ZiYanchuckled,IfLuoNing,thecommanderoftheassassinationgroup,trulywantstotake
DukeMingslife,withtheirmartialartsandnumber,evenwithanadditionalpersonlikeme,
wewontbeabletostopthem.IfIstayhere,Illjustbeburiedalongwithallofyou.Notto
mention,Idontthinkheistheonebehindconcealinginformation.Ihaveheardofhisname
formanyyearsalongwithhispersonality.Itisntlikethat,andalso,whywouldhewanttokill
DukeMing?Everythingisjustspeculation,pleaserestassured.Judgingbythepresent
situation,evenifthereisdanger,itwouldonlybealongthebordersofTongKingdom.After
all,DukeMingispubliclyacknowledgedasHolyMasterXiaosson,whowoulddaretomake
amovetowardshim?Iftheydareto,itwouldbe
borrowingsomeonesknifetodothedeal
,
theywouldntpersonallydoitthemselves.

FengMingheardthefirmnessinhisvoiceandknewthatZiYanhadalreadydecided.Staring
athim,FengMingsaid,ZiYan,thesituationinTongKingdomisinchaos,youhaveto
understandthatwearenotthesame.Ihavelotsofbodyguards,butyouarejustoneperson.

ZiYangrinnedshowinghissnowwhiteteeth,RestassuredDukeMing,Imveryfamiliarwith
TongKingdom.Everyyear,HisMajestywouldrelocatesomeofustohidealongtheseaof
TongKingdom.WewouldoftenbeneartheDanLinStrait.Ifsomethingweretohappenwhile
IminTongKingdom,Iwillimmediatelyfleetowardsthesea,Illguaranteethattheywill
searchinvainwithoutfindingasinglestrandofmyhair.

Hiscalmcomposuregreatlyeasedthetensionintheroom.FengMinglaughedafterhearing
hiswords,Ah,talkingaboutDanLinStrait,Isuddenlyrememberthisvexingproblem.Ialso
havetoopenupasafewaterroutefortransportingtheluminescentsand,thatplacethathas
lotsofpirates

AfterIreachTongKingdom,IwillinvestigateaboutthesepiratesforDukeMing,ZiYan
abruptlyinterruptedFengMing,WhenIleavethistime,Iwilltrymybesttoreturnbefore
DukeMingslargeshipenterTongKingdomsterritory.

ZiYanwalkedovertoRongHu,whisperedafewwordstohimandthenturnedaroundto
stareatFengMing,puttingonaconfidentsmile,hesaid,HisMajestysaid,hewantsDuke
Mingtoobedientlywaitforhisreturn,DukeMing,pleasetakecare.Inaflash,ZiYansimage
disappearedbehindthedoor.

Therewereonlyfivepeopleinsidetheroom.RongHudidnthavetimetospare,helookedup
andsaid,Iwillgoinvestigateaboutthepersoninchargeofoverseeingtheinformation
gatheringoftheXiaofamily.WithoutwaitingforFengMingtonodhishead,RongHuhad
voluntarilywalkedout.

SeeingRongHuleave,ChiuLanturnedovertoChiuYueandChiuXingandwhispered,
Startingtoday,whenDukeMingsleeps,wewillnotallowLuoYuntostandguard.

ChiuYueandChiuXingunrelentinglynodded,bothdesperatetoprotectDukeMings
handsomeappearance.However,ChiuYuestillsolemnlyprotested,ButIstilldontbelieve
thatLuoYunwouldwanttoharmDukeMing,hiskindofperson.

Itsnotjustyouthatdoesntbelieveit,evenIcan'tbelieveit,alsoIdontthinkLuoYunis
suchabadperson,eventhoughhisdemeanorisfierce.However,westillhavetotake
precaution,beabitmorecareful,evenifZiYanandRongHudontsuspectthem.Thethree
ofuswillstandwatchjustlikebefore,takingturnseachnight.Wewontbestandingguard
outsidetheroom,butinsteadstandguardalongwithLuoYuninfrontofDukeMingsbed.

FengMingwatchedashisthreefemaleattendantshuddledtogethertocarefullynegotiatean
importantbusiness.

God

OhPrimeMinister,justlikeyousaid,thisjourneyisfilledwithmanytwists,everydayis
somethingnew.ThefactisIwillmostdefinitelybeunderlayersandlayersofprotectionjust
becauseofthatindomitabledream?Rightnow,itfeelslikeImayoungtreebeingprotected
bymany.FengMingletoutalongsigh.Rightnow,thedishesonthetablewerestillwarm.

Underneaththegentlemoonlight,thelargeshipofthefamousXiaowasslowlyadvancing
towardsTongKingdom.

============

FanJiaterritory.


Underthesamemoon,thereisahugeandmagnificentfleetofcarriages,ridingalongwithan
armyofelitemenfromLiKingdom,slowlyadvancingtowardsthedirectionofFanJias
capital.

Thelargestamongthosecarriageswasbeingpulledbysixteenstronghorsesuniformly
marchingforward.

Thedecoratedgildedcarriage,agorgeousbreathtakingsight,wrappedaroundthecarriage,
isadarkcurtainembroideredwithgoldthreads.Animageofaphoenixlikebirdpreparingfor
flightwassewnontothecurtainofthehorsecarriage.

Thefrontandthebackofthecarriagewereguardedbycountlesssoldiers.Numerousarmors
andsharpswordsalongwithspearsweresparklingunderthechillingmoonlight.Inthedepths
ofthenight,thearmycontinuedmarching,butnooneactuallydaredtomakerandomnoises
orconversation.

Asthesilentarmymarchedforward,theblackandgoldmagnificentcarriagewasthe
secretivemainfocusofthisjourney.Acruelandcoldeviloverlord,whoisabletospreadfear,
numbingthehandsandfeetofanypersonwhoseeshim.

Insidethatcarriage,adevillayhidden.

Perhaps,itwasindeedahiddendevil.Thiscarriage,eversinceithaddeparted,hadbeen
quicklyadvancingtowardsFanJiascapital.

Duringthisshortjourney,behindthedarkcurtains,therehavebeennumerousexecution
commandssentdownandeveryedictwasexecutedout.

AfterFanJia'sroyalfamilylosttheirlastroyalbloodline,theThirdPrincess,alongwiththe
GreatKingLongTian,FanJiahasbecomeanunprecedentedweaknation.Bloodwas
splatteredacrossthenation,losingitswarmthafterseconds.Alloftheofficialsandnoblesof
FanJia,whowerebraveenoughtoopposeLiarmyfromseizingthecapitalwereforever
silenced.

Your...MajestyBehindtheblackcurtain,aweepingcrywasheardforasecondbeforeit
dissipatedinthewind.

ThatwasthecryofSiQiang,whowascleanlystrippeddownlikealamb,layingsupine,with
hislegsspreadopen.SiQiangseyesreflectedtheimageofanondefying,coldhearted,
powerfulman.

Nosenseofpitycamefromtheman,itseemedasiftheyoungmansbodywasaccustomed
tosuchdeeppiercing.

SiQiangspetitebodyshiveredashecriedoutagainsttheicypalmofroyalty,strokinghim
miserably,YourMajesty.

HetouchedtheKingsneck.Hecouldntbelievethatamanastoughasiron,withyearsof
practicingmartialarts,wouldhavesuchbeautifultonedmuscleslikethis.SiQiangcriedashe
wrappedhisarmsaroundtheGreatKing.Heknewthiswasthestrongestmanhehadever
metinhislife,enoughtomakeanyyoungmansspiritgowild.

IncontrasttoSiQiangsmoaning,RuoYanseyeswereexceptionallyclear.

Letgo.RuoYantossedSiQiangsarmsaside,whichwerewrappedaroundhisneck.He
swiftlyandforcefullyturnedoverthepersonlyingunderhim,leavingtheyoungmanonhis
kneeswithhisbacktowardshim.

Becauseofthesuddenchangeinposition,thefieryweaponreachedhisdeepestspot.

SiQiangscreamedoutintears.Previously,thismanhadventedhimselfseveraltimeswhich
madehistwincheeksandthighsswollenred.Thiskindofterrifyingpainmixedwithpleasure
traveledthroughhisspineuptohistemples.Itgavehimasuddenrush,makinghimunableto
supporthimselfmuchlongerandhestartedslumpingdown.

RuoYanhadntfinishedyetsohedidntallowtheyoungmananymomentofrest.Reaching
outhishands,hegrabbedontotheyoungmanswaistandcontinuedwiththeintensethrusts.
SiQiangslegswereopenedtoitsmaximumcapacity.Heseemedunconscious,exceptfor
theoccasionaltwitching,justlikesomeonebeingpulledfromanightmare.Thethrusting
rhythmcomingfrombehindkeptitsfastpace.AhOwTheinsufferablepainleftSi
Qiangspeechlesstothepointwhereheregainedconsciousness.Hisfaceslightlydistorted
andhislimbsforthesecondtimequiveredagainstthefiercethrusts,Ah!

Whatseemedtoflareupinsidehisbodyalmostscorchedhim.Butatthesametime,it
surprisinglyfilledhim.

Themuskymalescentofarrogancefilledeveryinchoftheenclosedcarriage.Onthe
symmetricallyhandsomefaceofRuoYanwasahintofsatisfaction,butitwasshortlived.
Afterfindingrelease,heindifferentlyletgoofSiQiang,whoslumpeddownontothesoft
blanket.Frombeginningtoend,therewasnotraceofasmileonhisface.Evenhiseyeswere
icecold.

YourMajestySiQiangturnedhimselfoverontheblanket,ignoringthebeautifulwhitefluid
stains,helookedtowardsthestrongmanwhohadjustalmostthrusthimtodeath.Hisharsh
voicewassofteraftertheflip,heendearinglysaid,Justnow.

IfyoustilldaretospeakwhileImbeddingyou,Iwillimmediatelycutoffyourtongue.A
momentago,RuoYanhadreleasedhimselfinsideSiQiang,buthisgazerightnowwasasif
hewaslookingatastranger,Also,dontuseyourhandstohugme.

Hestoodup,histallfirmbodyappearedevenmoreoppressivewithinthelimitedspaceinside
thecarriage.

Hearingtheheartlesswarning,SiQiangbithislowerlip,lyingstillhelookedupanduseda
preparedcleansofttoweltowipethelowerportionoftheGreatKingsbody.Whilepersonally
dressinghimself,RuoYanignoredtheyoungman.Afterall,hewasntFengMing

Ifhewasthesmart,stubbornDukeMing,howcanhesuccumbsoeasily?Nothavingany
shameandevendaringtoholdhisneck,moaninglikesomevilewhore?

Nomatterhowsimilarinappearance,maybewithclosedeyes,youcanimaginethe
similarities,butunderneathall,thereisonlyoneDukeMing.

Filledwithdisgust,RuoYanturnedaroundandsatdowninfrontofthetable,nolonger
glancingatthealluringplaymatehehadbeencharmedwith.

Ifonlyhewasholdingthatperson,ifonlythemoaningwasofthatperson,ifonlythearmsthat
wrappedaroundhisneckbelongedtothatperson

ReportingtoYourMajesty,anurgentletter!Aloudvoicecamefromoutsidethehorse
carriageinterruptinghisifonlys.

MiaoGuangslettercame.RuoYanopenedupthelettersentbyhissisterfromafar.Under
thecandlelight,linebyline,heslowlyreadeveryword.

DukeMinghasfallenintothetrap
,whetheritssuccessfulornot,justafewmoredaysand
hellknow.

Thisoneline,hereadthreetofourtimes,veryslowly,asifchewingaverysweettasteof
olives.Hisfacealwaysappearedcruelandindifferent,butthistimeafainttraceofgentleness
appeared.Thisgentleaurahadcompletelychangedtheoverallcharacterofhim.

SiQiang,whohadwithdrawntoonesidewithswollenredeyes,heldhisbreath.Hecouldnt
believeashegazedatthehandsomesternlookingfaceofRuoYanthathisdemeanor
instantlychanged.


Impossible!

HecantbelievethattheKingofLi...couldalsohavethiskindofexpression.

SiQiangalwaysthoughtafewdaysagothathewouldnothavebeenlovedbytheKing,but
unexpectedlyhewasfavoredandinthatmoment,hisentirelifebelongedtothatman.

However,thatwasnottrue.

SiQiang,comehere.NoticingthatSiQiangsgazehavebeenfixatedonhisface,RuoYan
putdownMiaoGuangsletterandfaintlycalledout.

Perhapshewasinagoodmood,callingforhisbelovedcatamite,givingthetremblingyoung
man,whohaventfinishedcleaninghimself,permissiontonestlenexttohim.

RuoYangentlyordered,Closeyoureyes.

Thistoneofvoice,alongwiththestrictorderRuoYantoldSiQiangawhileagoregarding
touchinghimwascompletelydifferentasnightandday.

SiQiangobedientlyclosedhiseyes,tiltinghisheadslightly.

Heheldhisbreath,waitinganxiously,becauseheknew,theGreatKingwillkisshim.

Moreover,itwillbeaverygentleone.

Heslowlyclenchedhisfist,anxiouslytense,almostwantingtobitehislowerlipwithhisteeth.

YourMajesty.

Theheatgraduallyclosedin.

WhentheGreatKingslipsfilledwithpassioncoveredhisown,SiQiangknewthecornerof
hiseyeswerealreadymoist.

Thiswasobviouslyanaffectionatekiss,wherethetipofthemanstonguefilledthedepthsof
histhroat,greedilysucking,herefusedtoletgo.

NothingcouldhavemadeSiQiangburstintotearsasmuchasthis.

Beforethis,itwasonlyanoverbearingforcewithoutanymercy.Butnow,theGreatKingeven
usedhisbotharmstohughim,pullinghimagainsthisbody,deepeningtheirkisswithouta
momenttobreathe.

Itdoesntmatter.

Itdoesntmatterifhecantbreathe.

Thismansbreathwasenoughtomakehimforgettobreathe,eveninhisownbody.Dyingin
thearmsofapowerfulmanisasupremehonor.

TheGreatKing,myGreatKing

SiQiangbravelyheldontoRuoYan,kissinghimdeeply,theyearninginfatuationanddream
thatthislifewouldneverfade

FengMing

RuoYanmoanedinamuffledvoice,bringingSiQiangsbeautifuldreamoncloudnineback
down.

Withinseconds,SiQiangswholebodystiffenedup.

FengMing,myDukeMing...FengMing

EachsighwasaknifecuttingintoSiQiangtothepointhedespisedhimselffornotbeingable
tocommitsuicide.

Notonlywasheseverelydraggeddownfromcloudnine,buthealsofelthewasonceagain
torntopieces.

END OF VOLUME 13