Ji Xue gasped in terror and stumbled back a step.
The woman before her, even with her face veiled, radiated an aura that could not be concealed. Her jade-like body was slender and graceful, clad in simple attire that exuded a refined beauty, like that of a slender bamboo. Her dark hair was coiled like clouds, with flowing tassels that swayed. Her eyebrows were crescent moons, and her pair of deep, dark star-like pupils resembled a thousand-year-old frigid pool, so cold they sent shivers down one's spine, yet possessed a potent magic that drew one in with a single glance.
It was indeed her. In this world, no one else had ever inspired such trepidation in her at first sight.
Ji Xue felt a pang of regret. Their forces were currently outnumbered, and she had acted so impulsively. She knew she had to be cautious. This woman, when angered, would dare to do anything.
"Say that again, if you dare?"
Qing Yao's voice carried a chilling, netherworld coldness, as if emanating from hell itself. She had already stepped forward, her jade-hued Huang Yuan resting casually on her shoulder. Her posture was arrogant and bloodthirsty.
Ji Xue swallowed hard, her throat dry. She dared not respond and simply retreated another step backward.
"What do you want?"
Qing Yao let out a cold laugh. "Weren't you just saying I was hiding and sneaking around? I've come out to see you, so why are you asking what I want?"
As Qing Yao spoke, she advanced another step. Ji Xue was blocked by a balustrade behind her, leaving her with no room to retreat. She could only lean her body back and murmur,
"I just wanted to see if it was you."
"And if it is, so what?" Qing Yao pressed forward aggressively, allowing her no space to breathe.
Ji Xue remained silent. The guards beside her, however, were enraged. One of them abruptly reached out to shove Qing Yao. Before he could even touch her, she flicked her Huang Wei Qin, striking him directly. The guard, caught off guard by the woman's silent assault, was flung by the Huang Wei Qin over the balustrade and plunged into the clear lake behind them with a splash.
Qing Yao's cold, deep command followed: "Mo Chou, teach them a severe lesson."
Upon receiving the order, Mo Chou immediately engaged the remaining two or three guards. Her mood had been foul all evening, so her attacks were fierce, employing a reckless, all-out fighting style. The two or three guards were quickly cornered.
Ji Xue, after one of her guards had fallen into the water, had regained her senses, her cheeks flushing slightly.
She was the Crown Princess of Dan Feng Kingdom. What was there to fear from this woman? If she were truly that formidable, how could she have been poisoned by the Imperial Consort? Everyone had a weakness. What was there to be afraid of? Moreover, her martial arts skills were not without merit. Thus, Ji Xue suddenly leaped, breaking free from the balustrade and soaring into the air. She cried out,
"Mu Qing Yao, do you think everyone fears you? Tonight, I will face you and see how formidable you truly are. If you were so powerful, why would you have fallen for the Ugly Face Poison?"
The moment Ji Xue mentioned this, Qing Yao turned as cold as an ice mountain. It wasn't because she had been poisoned, but because she was reminded of Hua Wen Bo.
Just thinking of that man made her want to carve him into a thousand pieces immediately. That beastly wretch had actually caused the death of her own son.
The thought of Hua Wen Bo also led to her hating Ji Xue. If, a quarter of an hour ago, she had merely intended to teach Ji Xue a lesson, now she wished to kill her, for the people of Dan Feng Kingdom were all unsavory characters.
As this thought arose, she followed Ji Xue's leap, soaring into the air. The Huang Wei Qin was sent out without restraint. This Huang Wei Qin was a spiritual weapon, and after a long time together, they shared a profound understanding. With a sweep of her delicate hand, a fierce and dominant power swept outwards. Ji Xue gasped in alarm and quickly dodged. The sharpness of the Huang Wei Qin struck the surface of the lake, causing several beams of light to erupt from the water.
As the fight broke out outside, in the pavilion, Prince Nan An, Mu Rong Liu Zhao, leading Geng Han and others, flew out.
"Qing Yao, step back. I'll handle this."
He had been too shocked to react earlier.
Qing Yao wore a veil because she had been afflicted with the Ugly Face Poison, making her appearance as uncomely as Wuyan. The thought of this pained him deeply. She was such a proud woman; how could she endure this? She must be suffering greatly.
The moment Prince Nan An, Mu Rong Liu Zhao, finished speaking, Qing Yao abruptly withdrew, giving way. As a woman, it was only proper to let the man take the lead.
With someone willing to help, why exert herself?
Seeing that she had retreated and was replaced by another opponent, Ji Xue became furious and cried out, "Mu Qing Yao, you wretch!"
"Wretch? I am a wretch, and what can you do about it?" Qing Yao scoffed dismissively. In the darkness, her face was seen leaning contentedly against the lake railing, watching their fight.
On the other side, Geng Han and the others also leaped to assist Mo Chou.
Qing Yao's voice, cool and charming, spoke, "Liu Zhao, strike her, strike her hard, until she knows her place. But don't kill her; just leave her enough breath."
At present, they were all envoys, still within the territory of the Huang Yuan Kingdom. Shen Yu had just ascended the throne, and she did not wish to cause him unnecessary trouble. Moreover, she intended to return to the capital to regroup and set out again. When the time truly came to face Dan Feng Kingdom, it would be Ji Xue's demise.
"Yes."
Mu Rong Liu Zhao responded. His martial arts were incredibly potent, and Ji Xue was no match for him. The outcome was decided within ten moves. With a final palm strike, he sent Ji Xue tumbling into the center of the lake.
Now Ji Xue resembled a defeated drowned rat. Prince Nan An, Mu Rong Liu Zhao, abruptly ceased his attack and gracefully landed on the bank, crossing his arms and staring coldly at Ji Xue struggling in the lake. Her figure suddenly leaped, preparing to ascend ashore, but Qing Yao had no intention of letting her go.
Before she could emerge, her figure flickered, and she leaped into the air. Concentrating her power in her legs, she suddenly descended, her toes landing on Ji Xue's head. Ji Xue felt a heavy pressure and began to sink into the lake.
She swallowed several mouthfuls of water.
When her body felt lighter, she suddenly surfaced, but Qing Yao stomped down again, giving her no chance to lift her head. After several such repetitions, Ji Xue had swallowed so much water that her body slowly sank, seemingly devoid of the strength to surface again. Qing Yao abruptly withdrew her foot and leaped back to the bank.
On the shore, Ji Xue's guards had long been subdued by Mo Chou and Geng Han. Seeing their mistress not emerge, they began to weep and pleaded with Qing Yao, bowing their heads repeatedly. "Please spare our mistress this once, we beg you."
Qing Yao glanced sideways at the rippling surface of the lake and spoke unhurriedly, "Go and rescue her."
With that, she led Mo Chou away. Prince Nan An, Mu Rong Liu Zhao, followed closely at her side as they walked towards the house. The night was already deep; it was time to rest.
Behind them, the female guards from Dan Feng Kingdom rescued Ji Xue. Some administered first aid, while others cried in fear.
"Crown Princess, Crown Princess."
However, a moment later, a sound of vomiting was heard. This woman was truly tenacious.
Qing Yao snorted inwardly. The group left the lake embankment.
The next day, everyone in the envoy delegations of the six kingdoms knew that Mu Qing Yao was secretly part of the delegation from Xian Yue. Now, it was easy for everyone to understand how the Seventh Prince Shen Yu had emerged victorious; it must have been this woman manipulating things from behind the scenes.
Early one morning, before Qing Yao had even woken up, visitors arrived to see her.
They were Chang Sun Zhu from Qing Luo Kingdom and Wen Yu from Yun Cang Kingdom.
Prince Nan An, Mu Rong Liu Zhao, accompanied the two visitors in the main hall, drinking tea. Mo Chou emerged from the inner chambers, bowed respectfully, and said slowly, "My mistress is not yet awake. This servant dares not wake her."