Tears brimmed in Nangong Ling's eyes. She said, "I'm scared."
Seeing the beauty in tears, Qin Zhao looked around for a handkerchief but couldn't find one.
So he tore off a piece of Nangong Ling's clothes to wipe her tears.
Nangong Ling: "..."
502: The host is truly a torrent of mud and rocks in the princess world.
As Qin Zhao wiped, he said, "So you're unwilling? Since you're unwilling, why say words against your heart? If you really want to be my subordinate, loyalty is a necessary condition. The primary manifestation of these two characters is sincerity. Don't lie to me anymore in the future, understand?"
Nangong Ling looked at Qin Zhao in a daze, deeply feeling that she had been manipulated.
"Yes, master."
Qin Zhao returned to his seat and said, "Put your clothes on. That kind of thing can only be done with someone you like. Don't use your body as a bargaining chip to please others."
Nangong Ling responded: "Yes, thank you master."
"Tell me all the information you know about the top ten experts on the List of Heroes in the World."
"What does the master want their information for?"
"To recruit them under me."
Nangong Ling said, "If the master trusts his subordinate, just leave this matter to me."
This was an unexpected joy!
Qin Zhao certainly wouldn't refuse. He said, "Okay, I'll leave it to you.
Also, don't refer to yourself as a subordinate from now on. Just be more casual.
Bowing and scraping doesn't suit your appearance, I find it very awkward."
Nangong Ling agreed and soon resumed the lazy and elegant appearance Qin Zhao had first seen her in.
She had pretended to be a slave for so long that she nearly wore herself out.
Qin Zhao patted the place next to him and said, "Come sit here."
Nangong Ling walked over and sat down. The meditation chair still had room for two people.
Qin Zhao pointed at his own face. "Come, kiss me."
Nangong Ling looked indifferent. "Didn't the master just say that those things can only be done with someone you like? Are you testing me?"
Qin Zhao twisted his lips. "You saw right through me, clever."
502 interjected: "Humph, the host clearly just wants the pretty sister to kiss you!"
Qin Zhao: "Nonsense! I don't, you're a dog!"
502: "..."
After staying in Nangong Ling's room for a while, Qin Zhao got up to leave. "When you've finished the matter of the List of Heroes in the World, send someone to inform me."
Nangong Ling replied: "I will go personally to the Zhaoyang Princess Residence and discuss the details with you."
Qin Zhao suddenly thought of an important question. "Do you know which families the other six stars besides the Acquisitive Wolf Star represented by the Nangong family are?"
Nangong Ling replied: "They are the Kong, Liu, Du, Xiao, Huo and Mo families."
The Huo and Mo families caught Qin Zhao's attention!
Could Huo Chengjin and Mo Qianqiu also belong to one of the Big Dipper Seven Stars?
If so, things just got more interesting!
"Thank you. I'll be going now."
Qin Zhao bid farewell to Nangong Ling and left Chunfeng Building still wearing the blindfold.
The next day.
Qin Zhao remembered he hadn't seen Qi Yan Su Luo for many days and missed her somewhat.
"502, help me locate Qi Yan Su Luo's residence. I want to see her."
502: "Okay, the route is planned. Please follow the directions."
With 502's help, Qin Zhao took a carriage down Chang'an Street, Taoyuan Street, and arrived at Luoxi Street where Qi Yan Su Luo lived.
This was the southern part of the capital, where poor people and relatives of convicted criminals usually lived. Public security was relatively chaotic.
Commoners passing through would quicken their steps, afraid of incurring bad luck.
"Your Highness, Luoxi Street is just ahead." The coachman said.
Qin Zhao: "Mm."
The Zhaoyang Princess's carriage was very eye-catching, causing commoners to stop and watch.
Some busybodies even ran after the carriage wanting to see who was inside.
502 suddenly spoke up: "Host, the Sixth Prince Qin Hong just arrived at Qi Yan Su Luo's residence!"
Qin Zhao told the coachman, "Hurry up!"
Hearing this, the coachman vigorously cracked the horse whip to make the horse accelerate.
But they were still a step too late. Before the carriage even stopped, Qin Zhao heard Qin Hong's voice coming from inside the residence!
"Qi Yan Su Luo, you got lucky running away on Lantern Festival night, but let's see where you escape today! Men, tie her up!"
Qin Zhao told the coachman to wait far away while he himself peeked in from outside the wall.
502 anxiously said: "Host, aren't you going to save the female lead?"
Qin Zhao: "Qi Yan Su Luo is so beautiful, the nobles and royals of the capital have coveted her for a long time. I want to see how she dodged them before. If she always needed saving, there's no way she could have lived cleanly until now."
502: "But she didn't dodge them! She already slept with you."
"That doesn't count. I'm her destined partner, the others don't compare to me!"
502: "Whatever the host says is right."
Inside the residence, Qin Hong's five guards surrounded Qi Yan Su Luo, trying to grab her!
Qi Yan Su Luo had some skills and initially managed to fend off the five men's assault, but soon showed signs of fatigue.
She switched to fleeing and using obstacles in the yard to evade their chase.
When a guard was about to catch her, she swiftly turned around and threw a powdery substance!
The men's wails immediately rang out in the yard!
That stuff turned out to be pepper powder!
She used the same method to badly injure three men.
Qin Hong angrily cursed: "You useless jerks, can't even catch her. Come see me when you've lost your heads!"
The remaining two guards exchanged a look and tried even harder to surround Qi Yan Su Luo.
She was out of pepper powder. Before her strength ran out, she was intercepted by the two men and had nowhere to retreat.
She could only let them take hold of her!
She was brought before Qin Hong.
Qin Hong looked Qi Yan Su Luo up and down appreciatively. "I'm afraid no one in the world can compare to you in beauty. What a pity you're now my State of Yue's captive. His Majesty exiling you here makes his intentions very clear. He wants you to become the nobles' plaything."
At this point his tone suddenly shifted. "But I'm different from them. I genuinely like you. As long as you obey me, I'll ensure you have a smooth life!"
Qi Yan Su Luo was expressionless, neither looking at Qin Hong nor responding to his words.
This disappointed Qin Hong greatly. "Qi Yan Su Luo, don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. I don't have much patience to waste with you. Today, willing or not, you will obey!"
Qi Yan Su Luo suddenly looked toward Qin Hong!
Qin Hong thought she was going to respond and his mouth curled up.
But in an instant, intense pain came from between his legs!
Qi Yan Su Luo had used full force in that kick. Qin Hong couldn't tell if his balls had been smashed!
"Nice kick!"
Qin Zhao emerged from hiding, leaping down from the wall beside them.
Qin Hong writhed in pain on the ground!
Qin Zhao signaled for the two guards to release Qi Yan Su Luo, but Qin Hong howled: "Don't let her go!"
Qin Zhao chuckled lightly and slapped their faces in quick succession, leaving them badly swollen!
But they still didn't let go.
"Such loyal servants, I'm impressed," said Qin Zhao.
He smiled and took out Qi Yan Su Luo's dagger, slashing the throat of the guard closer to her!
Blood spurted out!
Qin Zhao retreated to avoid being stained.
Recovering from the pain, Qin Hong looked at Qin Zhao in shock and stammered: "Sister...when did you become so cruel?"
Qin Zhao casually said: "I'm the master, he's the servant. Disobedient servants should die."
Qin Hong was left speechless, but his gaze toward Qin Zhao now held fear.
Yet he didn't know where this fear came from.
"Sister, Qi Yan Su Luo is a woman fancied by Eldest Brother. Don't interfere, or it may affect the relationship between us siblings."
Qin Zhao said: "What a coincidence, I fancy her too. Why don't you let me have her, Sixth Brother? After all, I'm your beloved sister. Can't you even spare a captive for me?"
Playing the family card? Who doesn't know how to do that?
Qin Hong hesitated, swallowing his anger as he got up and left with his guards and the corpse, flinging his sleeve!
Qin Zhao turned to face Qi Yan Su Luo's cold gaze, like an icy pond. She said: "Get lost!"
