In the study room
Qin Zhao took out a writing brush, dipped it in ink, and outlined the contour of a woman on rice paper.
Nangong Ling pushed the door and came to Qin Zhao's side, asking: "My lord, who are you painting?"
Qin Zhao said: "The princess of the grasslands."
Nangong Ling recalled the recent rumors circulating among the people about Princess Zhaoyang, and said: "Could it be that my lord really likes women, as the rumors say?"
Qin Zhao answered without hesitation: "Yes."
Nangong Ling said: "Then should I have the rumormongers beaten half to death? Would that not be wrongly accusing them?"
Qin Zhao put down the brush and smiled: "Not exactly. They were wrong to speculate about my private life, not whether the rumors were true."
"I found out the main instigator of the rumors was the second prince, Qin Lie. Please be vigilant against this person, my lord."
Qin Lie was the eventual winner in the struggle for the throne in the original book. He was named Crown Prince by Qin Zheng, but died at Huo Chengjin's blade before he could ascend the throne.
This man had many scheming advisors, making him the most difficult prince to deal with.
I thought he would enter the fray later, but didn't expect him to start making trouble so soon.
And he has set his sights on me. His vision is quite venomous!
Why don't I play along with him?
Qin Zhao emerged from her thoughts and said, "Thank you, I will be careful."
Nangong Ling said: "Regarding the matter of the top ten masters on the List of Heroes in the World, seven have agreed to join my lord's camp. But the masters ranked first, fourth, and seventh have not replied to my letters yet."
Qin Zhao asked: "How did you accomplish this?"
Nangong Ling replied: "My lord may not know, but Wind and Rain Pavilion has endured for a hundred years. Our financial resources and power are quite abundant. Even heroes find it hard to resist generous rewards."
So it was the power of money. Qin Zhao patted Nangong Ling's shoulder appreciatively and said, "With you as my assistant, how could I fail to gain this world!"
Nangong Ling was surprised. "Has my lord decided to participate in the struggle for the throne?"
"Yes, otherwise how could I live up to my destiny as the Purple Star of the Emperor?"
Nangong Ling knelt down and solemnly said: "This subordinate is willing to serve my lord like a dog or a horse!"
Qin Zhao shook her head and sighed. She was tired of helping these women stand up every day!
Helping Nangong Ling to her feet, Qin Zhao said: "From now on, without my permission, you are not to kneel. I don't like it."
Nangong Ling pulled down her shoulder garment, revealing a patch of fair skin, and asked: "Does my lord like this instead?"
Qin Zhao said matter-of-factly: "If your clothes don't fit well, you don't have to wear them."
Nangong Ling moved closer to Qin Zhao and smiled slyly. "Oh? My lord likes women without clothes on!"
Qin Zhao's mind pictured certain images, and her earlobes gradually turned red.
Nangong Ling noticed her shy demeanor. "So my lord really does like women."
"Were you testing me just now?"
"Yes, now that it's confirmed, in the future when my lord visits Spring Breeze Building, there will be girls specially arranged to entertain you."
"I don't need to visit brothels."
Since there are women sneaking into my bed anyway.
Seeing Qin Zhao's proud little expression as she said this, Nangong Ling laughed. "My lord is so cute."
Qin Zhao had always been receptive to any praise. "Then enjoy my brief period of cuteness well.
After some time, such cuteness will be nowhere to be found."
"What does my lord mean?"
Qin Zhao pretended to be mysterious. "You'll see soon enough."
The day after Nangong Ling came to the princess's residence, Qin Zhao suddenly had seven more people she could use.
Five lurked in the shadows, two posed as the princess's servant girls and stayed in plain sight.
Qin Zhao reclined in a chair. Next to her was a small table with a bowl of grapes. Linglong carefully fed them to Qin Zhao one by one.
Qin Zhao said with eyes closed: "Linglong, arrange for my original chambermaids to go elsewhere. From now on, Cong Han and Shen Xue will attend me personally."
Linglong glanced at the two unfamiliar faces and said: "Yes, my lady."
After a moment's thought she asked: "Is my lady dissatisfied with those chambermaids?"
"No, they did very well. Don't make things difficult for them."
Linglong pouted. "My lady, I'm not a petty person."
Qin Zhao opened her eyes and smiled. "I misspoke, please forgive me Linglong."
Linglong said in panic: "I don't dare."
"Alright, you may leave."
After Linglong left, the task of feeding Qin Zhao grapes fell to Cong Han.
Each time Qin Zhao swallowed a grape, another would accurately land in her mouth.
But the more she ate, the more she felt something was off. Lifting her eyelids, she saw Cong Han holding the plate of grapes, standing a hundred meters away, her right hand poised to throw the next grape!
Qin Zhao's eyes flashed sharply. "Cong Han, come here!"
Cong Han lightly tapped her toes, jumped over in a few hops, and knelt before Qin Zhao: "My lady, your orders?"
She was apprehensive, expecting the princess to punish her.
But Qin Zhao said: "That move just now was not bad, teach it to me."
Cong Han: "......"
Shen Xue: "......"
"Yes, my lady. When do you want to learn?"
"Right now."
After an afternoon of learning, Qin Zhao finally grasped Cong Han's precise throwing technique.
Cong Han was at a loss for words. She had spent a whole month learning this move, yet the princess grasped it in half a day!
Qin Zhao noticed Shen Xue was smiling as she watched her. Though only twenty-three, her expression was as doting as a grandmother's.
Qin Zhao asked: "Shen Xue, since you came to my residence, I haven't heard you speak. Could you have some difficulty in that area?"
Without changing expression, Shen Xue said: "Speak less, act more."
Qin Zhao raised her brows. "But at noon you clearly used force to make Cong Han go wash dishes."
Shen Xue remained utterly composed. "Forcing others to act is also acting."
Qin Zhao was rendered speechless. She sighed: The fifth-ranked master is clearly more powerful than the eighth-ranked one, at least she doesn't have to wash dishes.
With these steady and clever masters guarding her, Qin Zhao felt the pressure in her life had lessened greatly.
But carefree days were always brief.
502, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke: "Host, the male and female leads have met again!"
In the market, Qi Yan Su Luo was carrying vegetables she had bought, walking along Sunset Street, when she was surrounded by a group of men at the intersection.
A filthy ruffian with a stench of sweat smiled to reveal yellow teeth and said: "Hey little beauty, where are you going? Let big brother escort you!"
Another man echoed: "We brothers are all gentlemen, we'll definitely escort you home safely!"
Qi Yan Su Luo said coldly: "Get lost."
The five men's expressions changed. The ruffian angrily shouted: "Ungrateful wretch!"
Just as he was about to lay hands on her, his head was suddenly separated from his body, and blood gushed from the severed neck!
The other four men were immediately so frightened they pissed themselves and collapsed limply to the ground!
The commoners passing by screamed and ran away!
Qi Yan Su Luo was splattered with blood. Frowning, she raised her eyes and her gaze collided with Huo Chengjin's!
Huo Chengjin sat atop his horse, looking down at Qi Yan Su Luo.
Of course he knew who she was. From that fleeting glimpse in Xin Lin's Imperial palace, he had developed feelings for Qi Yan Su Luo.
He knew that as the destroyer of her country, it would be hard for him to get close to her.
But even with a million obstacles between them, he still wanted to be near her!
Huo Chengjin flicked the little blood off his sword and sheathed it. He said to Qi Yan Su Luo: "Let me escort you home."
Qi Yan Su Luo looked away and walked straight ahead by herself.
Huo Chengjin dismounted and silently followed behind her.
When Qi Yan Su Luo reached her residence, she went inside and closed the door, as if she hadn't seen Huo Chengjin.
Huo Chengjin stood outside the courtyard gate for a long time until the sun had set before leaving.
