Chapter 44

"This humble woman dares not," Dai Jin replied simply, still unclear about the prince's intentions. The crowd collectively turned their gaze toward the venue, their anger and repression palpable—Lin Chen had already earned their respect and was idolized by many disciples. Since the Yan Yun Sixteen Prefectures were ceded to the Liao Dynasty by the puppet emperor Shi Jingtao, over a hundred years had passed since they were severed from the Great Song. Shao An knew the emperor was reasonable; the ambush on the envoy was an unforeseen incident, and the emperor would not hold him accountable for the Xiu tribe's actions, at most blaming him for negligence. He Ya first greeted her mother, who then took the opportunity to leave and make lunch at home, leaving the room unnaturally quiet. Rumor had it that the prince had severely beaten the young master—though the servants didn't dare to hit too hard, it was still enough to leave the young master limping, and without a chance to see a doctor or rest, he was immediately expelled from the prince's mansion. "...I shall obey the decree," Shao An thought to himself, realizing there was no escaping the emperor's will. "How about I make you some noodles?" My mother seemed not to hear my words, muttering as she headed straight to the kitchen. Lei Bao left looking visibly distressed; perhaps a scolding from Wu Xi would have helped, as these were all ungrateful wretches who couldn't stand a kind word. I usually carry these talismans, but now I have so few left, and with a powerful ghost to deal with, I can't hold out for long. Yet after closer inspection, the aura emanating from Lin Yi was still that of a postnatal martial artist. The Lu family was indeed a top-tier noble house—their waters were unfathomably deep, and for a moment, Ye Jiujiu regretted her engagement to Lu Zhiheng. Qu Lingge perked up immediately when he followed Zhu Youli's finger and saw a glinting object in the distance. After all, the giant octopus and fire frog were still alive, and there was no knowing when they might pursue them again—the threat of death had not entirely passed. But when the car started, it didn't move forward; only after Xiang Yue'e turned to look out the window did Tang Zhenhua suddenly pounce and kiss her. The beauty was enchanting and seductive, with phoenix eyes and crimson lips, her features bright and striking. Her light brown curls flowed to her waist, and she wore a white lab coat over a tight-fitting light-colored T-shirt and jeans, exuding a professional yet mature charm. "If you're here to cause trouble, maybe you should kneel and apologize, and I can speak on behalf of the Wei family to spare your life. But unfortunately, you've injured my brother, and no matter your background, you're dead today!" Wei Zichao's tone grew colder. Yet she would rather starve and freeze than let her last bowl of bitter vegetable soup go to waste, carefully feeding it to Wang Zhe. In an instant, Ye Jiujiu imagined a grand history of clan feuds and pitied Lu Zhiheng for surviving until now. "Just looking around," Xuan Ling replied politely yet distantly, continuing to observe the various（auras）without paying attention to the waiter. She was amazed by the sight—she wanted to absorb the spiritual energy here but didn't know how. After undergoing training by Yue Fei, a commander with a value of 113, all the soldiers' combat power was off the charts, their fighting spirit unprecedentedly strong. In contrast, Liao Xi's troops, having received his favor and treated so well, felt a sense of loyalty to the point of being willing to risk everything for him. Fortunately, Jiang Yi's strength had surged, and he completed his mission in less than a day, leaving the virtual wasteland. "We're escorting a criminal for the government—move aside or face disaster!" One of Liu San's subordinates shouted. He donned his mask, tapped the carriage's railing with his toe, and leaped far away. Jiang Yi paused, thinking this would（be sufficient）intimidate the old man. The yamen runners were still fearful of the area, but the wind was unbearable, so they reluctantly stayed put. Upon entering the city, they inevitably drew a crowd—no matter how cold and powerful Yue Meng's presence was, she couldn't disperse the spectators. The spring couplets on the door were still bright red, and the room's fluorescent lights were on, moistening her eyes. Her hands trembling, she reached for the door but pulled back, only to have it open from the inside. It was her sister, Liu Mengyao, who embraced her after 20 years apart, tears streaming down. Su Xuan was also taken aback—had it been an ordinary person, he would have been crippled by now, but this（guy）had an astonishing defense, making the genetic project truly outrageous. At this moment, the third lightning tribulation finally ended, and Long Yuling lay sprawled in the void, her breathing faint, clearly at her limit. "Someone come! Qian Shi's heart is poisonous; she dared to plot against the imperial concubine. Take her to the dungeon and execute her at noon tomorrow—no one is to plead for her!" Dong Qilin declared before striding out of the Zhengde Palace, bringing this day's events to a close.