Nan Shiying struck open the chief eunuch, sending him crashing to the ground. His voice, laden with wind, drifted away. Before Zou Yun'er could issue a retreat order, Nan Shiying surged forward.
The guards who came into contact with her collapsed before they could even react, their legs giving way.
Nan Shiying moved as if through an empty space, appearing directly before Zou Yun'er. With a gentle hand, she grasped her slender, fair neck, a roguish smile still on her lips. "Your Highness is truly understanding. This humble one was just troubled about lacking bargaining chips to meet His Majesty, and here you appear!"
Seeing Zou Yun'er held captive in Nan Shiying's grasp, the eunuch's soul nearly fled his body. He scrambled up from the ground and roared, feigning ferocity, "How dare you! Do you wish to rebel? Release Her Highness at once!"
His voice was as unpleasant as a duck with its neck being stepped on. Nan Shiying idly cleaned her ear and suddenly tightened her grip, baring her pearly white teeth at the chief eunuch. "What was that, Eunuch? Care to repeat it?"
Zou Yun'er could no longer breathe. Her face was turning purple, her eyeballs bulging, a truly horrifying sight. The eunuch's heart trembled, and he felt as if his entire body's blood had been drenched in ice water, his body shaking uncontrollably. "No, Feng Gongzi, don't be rash."
He truly feared the other party might accidentally choke the Noble Consort to death.
Nan Shiying slightly loosened her grip, tilting her head to look at Zou Yun'er.
Finally able to breathe, Zou Yun'er gasped for air. Despite the harsh winter, sweat poured down her body. The wind blew, bringing a bone-chilling cold. The face so close was refined and handsome, like a gentle gentleman who seemed harmless. Yet, Zou Yun'er could glimpse the indifference and ruthlessness in her heart through her clear eyes.
In her eyes, she was no different from an ant, something that could be crushed at any moment.
This realization filled Zou Yun'er with shame, indignation, and terror.
Her eyes seemed to burn with fierce flames, as if she would reduce herself to ashes if given the chance. However, the anger of the weak was, in the eyes of the strong, a flavorless, almost foolish struggle. Nan Shiying let out a soft click of her tongue, ignoring Zou Yun'er's glare.
She merely glanced at Cai Wei, who stood beside them, looking both terrified and furious, as if she too wished to reduce Nan Shiying to ashes.
Good acting, but her body was soaked through. That scent just wouldn't dissipate, more effective than her tracking powder.
Why bother with a human skin mask?
Nan Shiying concealed the boundless mockery in her heart and, without further ado, dragged Zou Yun'er towards the main hall.
As they walked, the guards, eunuchs, and maids who tried to protect the emperor collapsed one after another. Nan Shiying was like a mobile toxin; anyone who came near her fell to the ground, unconscious. Seeing this, the chief eunuch's legs turned to jelly, nearly preventing him from walking.
"Yo, quite lively, aren't we?"
Before the person arrived, their voice preceded them, a mocking tone drifting from the direction of the main hall. Everyone turned to look, only to be startled by the sight before them.
Feng Luan hadn't been captured; instead, she had captured the Noble Consort?
"Release Her Highness, the Noble Consort!"
The Imperial Guard closest to Nan Shiying roared, charging at her with his weapon. The blade flashed, but before he could touch Nan Shiying's clothes, his legs went soft, and he crashed to the ground. His armor clanged, kicking up a cloud of dust. Nan Shiying stepped through the dust and slowly walked towards the crowd.
Watching Nan Shiying stroll by at a leisurely pace, Ji Jinmo's lips curved upwards, his eyes rippling with light. Ji Hong caught sight of this, paused for a moment, and then couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.
"Oh wow, even the iron tree is blooming!"
But this flower, it's probably highly poisonous, isn't it?
Ji Hong could never have imagined seeing such a scene. His uncle's consort had captured his consort.
Ji Hong thought of himself.
Well, wasn't he also being held by the neck?
Ji Jinmo sensed Ji Hong's gaze and chuckled, "Your Majesty, how about we exchange your life and the Noble Consort's life for the Wentian Sword?"
Ji Hong nearly gritted his teeth into dust, his veins bulging with rage. "You wish!"
Ji Jinmo sighed. "Why is Your Majesty so unwise? Must I, this king, commit regicide?"
"Hiss~"
At the mention of regicide, gasps of cold air echoed from all around.
"Ji Jinmo, you dare!"
"Traitor! Traitor!"
"Your Majesty, your subjects are useless. Oh, Your Majesty..."
In an instant, the entire square was engulfed in curses and cries. The civil officials wailed and screamed, unleashing all the foul language they had ever learned to curse Ji Jinmo, yet not a single one dared to step forward and fight him.
"So noisy!"
A bunch of old fools who only knew how to wail.
Nan Shiying released Zou Yun'er and walked directly towards the stone tablet.
The fate of the Imperial Guard was still fresh in their minds. Seeing Nan Shiying approach, everyone not only refrained from blocking her but retreated like a tide, opening a passage about a meter wide.
Ji Jin's face turned ashen.
Ji Jinmo's hand hadn't been pressing hard.
"Humble subject greets Your Majesty!"
Nan Shiying bowed to Ji Hong and then, with a curious look, glanced at the Wentian Sword and asked, "Why is this sword golden?"
Everyone: "..."
The surroundings were in disarray. His Majesty and the Prince were in a standoff, the atmosphere so heavy and tense it was like dark clouds pressing down, threatening to break. The ultimate ownership of Linhai's authority might be decided at this very moment, and at this juncture, you ask why the sword is golden?
Are you out of your damn mind????