Volume One, Chapter 14: Another Beauty Locked Away in the Northern Prince’s Mansion

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After delivering Zhao Wujiang’s message, the old steward closed the main gate.

“What?!”

Qianye Rizhao’s delicate hands trembled. She was completely stunned.

She had intended to use the Northern Frontier Prince’s remains as leverage, hoping Zhao Wujiang would put in a few good words for the treaty between the two nations.

Yet now, she had not even managed to see Zhao Wujiang’s face.

“Zhao Wujiang… You do have some skill.”

Qianye Rizhao was still searching for a way out when a large force of soldiers suddenly advanced toward the Northern Frontier Prince’s Residence, forming a siege.

“Don’t let a single one of them escape!”

A stern, chilling voice followed.

Riding a tall warhorse, Long Zhan galloped forward, shouting righteously, “Zhao Wujiang has colluded with Hansang, betraying his country and allying with the enemy! A traitor like him must be put to death by all!”

Long Zhan reined in his horse before the residence.

The moment he saw the Hansang delegation, he knew that Fourth Senior Sister’s intelligence had been accurate.

But when he saw the tightly shut gates, he could not help frowning.

That coward Zhao Wujiang actually dared refuse to meet the Hansang envoys?

Or had he arrived too early?

If Zhao Wujiang did not come out, how could he catch him in the act?

His eyes shifted, and Long Zhan immediately declared, “It seems you have just come out of the Northern Frontier Prince’s Residence!”

As commander of the Elite Cavalry Camp, he possessed the authority to inspect the capital’s security. Now that he had surrounded this place, everything was his to decide.

If he said Zhao Wujiang had colluded with Hansang, then Zhao Wujiang had colluded with Hansang!

“Break down the gates and seize the traitor Zhao Wujiang!”

Long Zhan roared and swept his hand through the air.

The armored soldiers behind him surged forward, surrounding the entire Hansang delegation.

Qianye Rizhao stood rooted to the spot. What in the world was happening?

When had she ever colluded with Zhao Wujiang?

She had not even had the chance to do so!

The officials of Great Xia were truly shameless!

Just as Qianye Rizhao was preparing to flee—

“Stop!”

Another woman’s clear, lilting voice rang out.

Long Zhan glanced over and saw the carriage of Seventh Princess Li Yunrui.

Why had Li Yunrui come as well?

Could this woman have come here for a secret rendezvous with Zhao Wujiang?

Damn it!

Long Zhan proclaimed righteously, “Your Highness, I am in the process of apprehending a traitor. Please do not approach. A cornered animal may lash out, and this traitor might injure you.”

The available soldiers from the Elite Cavalry Camp moved to block Li Yunrui’s carriage.

Meanwhile, the others charged the gate and successfully smashed it open.

But before they could storm inside, a volley of crossbow bolts forced them to retreat in panic.

In an instant, many soldiers of the Elite Cavalry Camp were killed.

Long Zhan narrowed his eyes.

What a Zhao Wujiang! He had actually been prepared.

The elite guards of the Northern Frontier Prince’s Residence emerged in formation, each carrying a repeating crossbow aimed at the soldiers of the Elite Cavalry Camp and the Hansang delegation.

Once the guards parted, Zhao Wujiang walked out calmly with his hands clasped behind his back.

“Zhao Wujiang, you…”

Long Zhan had only just begun to speak when Zhao Wujiang cut him off.

“Commander Long has colluded with Hansang and surrounded my residence under cover of night, raising arms against me. The witnesses are all here. Seventh Princess, please help me arrest him!”

“I…”

For a moment, Long Zhan was utterly unable to defend himself.

Li Yunrui shouted angrily, “Long Zhan, I will certainly report today’s events to Father and have you stripped of your position as commander of the Elite Cavalry Camp!”

Seeing that Li Yunrui was still siding with Zhao Wujiang, Long Zhan grew even more furious. He tightened his grip on his saber and said, “Zhao Wujiang is framing me. Men, seize the Hansang delegation and place them under His Majesty’s judgment!”

He, Long Zhan, would not swallow this poisonous accusation!

Qianye Rizhao and the others wore utterly innocent expressions, but Long Zhan gave them no chance to argue. He had them all arrested.

Before long, everyone was brought before Li Zaiyuan.

“Yunrui? You are saying that Long Zhan colluded with Hansang, surrounded the Northern Frontier Prince’s Residence, and raised arms against them?”

“Yes, Father. I beg you to uphold justice for Zhao Wujiang…”

“Yunrui…” Li Zaiyuan shook his head. “Your father knows that you are biased against Long Zhan. But I know his character well. He could never collude with Hansang.”

Li Yunrui pouted. “Zhao Wujiang could never have colluded with Hansang either!”

“There must be some misunderstanding.”

A flicker passed through Li Zaiyuan’s eyes.

Regardless of the misunderstanding, this incident offered an opportunity to seize the Hansang delegation and make an example of them before the world.

Once Great Xia had demonstrated its authority, it could force the two nations to revise the clauses unfavorable to Great Xia in their ceasefire treaty.

“Father!” Li Yunrui still wanted to speak on Zhao Wujiang’s behalf.

“Enough. Convey my imperial decree. The Hansang delegation left the territory administered by the Court of State Ceremonies without filing a report. Their suspicious conduct caused two loyal subjects to turn against one another.

“From this day onward, the Hansang delegation is forbidden to leave the Court of State Ceremonies by even half a step.

“As for the envoy Qianye Rizhao, she is to be handed over to Zhao Wujiang for interrogation so that the truth may be uncovered.”

Long Zhan frowned. The emperor was clearly helping him. Not only had he resolved Zhao Wujiang’s accusation against him, he had also handed Qianye Rizhao—a dangerously troublesome burden—over to Zhao Wujiang.

If anything happened to Qianye Rizhao, Zhao Wujiang could become the eternal criminal responsible for reigniting war between Great Xia and Hansang.

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“His Majesty sees through everything with perfect clarity. I shall immediately intensify the patrols throughout the capital and ensure that no Hansang remnants remain at large.”

Long Zhan cupped his fists in thanks. Then he turned to Zhao Wujiang with a cold smile.

“Envoy Qianye will be entrusted to Young Lord Zhao. His Majesty places his confidence in you, Young Lord. Do not disappoint him.”

Zhao Wujiang’s expression darkened.

[Put nicely, the emperor trusts me. Put less nicely, he is making me the scapegoat.]

[The old emperor clearly has no intention of letting me enjoy a moment of peace.]

Zhao Wujiang took his leave.

Listening to his unspoken thoughts and watching his desolate retreating figure, Li Yunrui felt an ache in her heart.

“Yunrui, I still have memorials to read. Go brew Father a cup of tea to clear my mind.”

Li Zaiyuan loved the invigorating tea Li Yunrui prepared for him.

But this time, Li Yunrui left with a cold expression.

“I’m not feeling well. Brew it yourself, Father.”

…

The Northern Frontier Prince’s Residence.

To prevent Liu Ruyan from being exposed, Zhao Wujiang had no choice but to lock Qianye Rizhao in another room.

There were iron chains, Bone-Softening Powder, Ten Fragrant Muscle-Softening Powder, and Power-Dispelling Powder in ample supply.

The steward had also stationed heavily armed guards outside the door.

“Zhao Wujiang, so the reason you dared not meet me today was because you are afraid of me!

“I am only a woman. Why are you so wary of me? Coward!”

Dressed in a gauzy white robe, Qianye Rizhao’s alluring figure was outlined beneath the iron chains. She sneered at him.

Zhao Wujiang remained silent, still trying to determine how to deal with this troublesome burden.

“When you proposed those lines of poetry in the Imperial Study, I thought of the second half. Do you dare answer me?”

Zhao Wujiang could not help laughing inwardly.

[Is this woman’s mind stuck on one track? With everything happening, she is still thinking about poetry?]

[Can she really not understand that the people outside who want me dead also want her dead?]

[As soon as she dies, I will become the culprit who provoked war between the two nations, while her family in Hansang will bear the infamy as well.]

Qianye Rizhao’s delicate brows lifted slightly, and she was filled with astonishment.

Zhao Wujiang had not spoken aloud, so how had she heard his words?

Those words had not been spoken. They had come from his thoughts!

Could it be that, trapped here, she had moved the gods of Hansang to compassion, and they had granted her the power to hear Zhao Wujiang’s inner voice?

Qianye Rizhao’s eyes grew brighter and brighter.

If that was truly the case, she could use his inner thoughts to slowly win him over—

and obtain more secrets about the Northern Frontier Army!

Qianye Rizhao suddenly twisted her body slightly. Parting her lips, she ran the tip of her tongue over them.

“Zhao Wujiang, as long as you cooperate with me, I can satisfy any condition you name.”

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