"Immediately take my token to the city's garrison and mobilize all fifty thousand troops stationed here. Then, have riders race to the neighboring city to summon another fifty thousand reserve soldiers. Ten thousand troops will march on Wolf Fang Mountain overnight. I intend to raze that mountain stronghold and capture everyone in the Demonic Palace."
"Yes, I shall attend to it," Riqing said, his voice deep, and then left. Zhan Yun entered and spoke, "We are very close to Wudang. I can have the Wudang disciples assist us."
"Very well, go ahead."
Feng Xie's face was grim, his aura overbearing. His phoenix eyes narrowed, glinting with dangerous light. A hint of cold confidence played on his lips, revealing his innate regal demeanor.
Since they dared to provoke him, they would have to bear his wrath. His handsome face flickered with emotions. Nangong Yue, standing beside him, couldn't help but sigh. Such a man was born a king; what could possibly bring him down?
However, Liu'er was perhaps his only weakness in this world. Could he truly take away the one he loved?
He had no certainty. If it truly meant mutual destruction, he would rather have things as they were before: she, the Empress; he, a physician in the palace. He would stay by her side, and when she had time, she could come listen to his zither. That would have been enough for him.
As long as he was truly good to her, he would be happy no matter where he was.
For some reason, knowing she was happy sometimes made him happy. The thought that Hua Wuyou, that villain, dared to harm him, made Nangong Yue's expression equally dark as he said in a low voice,
"Tonight, I will accompany you on this venture. This detestable creature."
"Good, we move out together tonight."
The two men clasped fists in agreement, exchanging smiles. Nangong Yue admired Feng Xie. His strategies were exceptionally profound, the grand plans of the world all residing within his mind.
Look at Zhan Yun, the martial arts alliance leader. Who would have thought that the alliance leader Zhan Yun was merely a pawn of the Emperor? What in this world was not within his calculations?
If it were him, he feared he would have done far worse. Nangong Yue felt a sense of release, as if everything had been laid bare.
The two men flickered and left the pavilion, exiting the Feng Estate together to gather their forces. Tonight, they would strike at the heart of Hua Wuyou's operation, making him understand the price of provoking the wrong person.
Liu Liu finally woke up after sleeping for half the day. As soon as she opened her eyes, she anxiously asked Hong Xiu, who was beside her, "Muxing, how is Muxing?"
"Your Highness need not worry. Muxing is fine. Young Master Nangong came and detoxified everyone. So, Your Highness, please don't be anxious," Hong Xiu replied respectfully. Seeing her mistress's relieved expression, she secretly pursed her lips and smiled. Liu Liu rolled her eyes and said coolly, "What are you smiling about?"
"Young Master Nangong and Young Master Liu were quite worried about you, Your Highness. This is the first time I've seen men care so much for a woman. I truly envy it."
Hong Xiu spoke from the heart. Seeing such outstanding and noble men in distress over a woman made her believe that love still existed in this world.
"You little chatterbox, you will meet a man who loves you. Then, you won't have to worry about him treating you poorly." Liu Liu rolled her eyes again, then realized she was thinking incorrectly. Those two men were neither of them her lovers. Why was she talking about this now? She glared angrily at Hong Xiu. Hong Xiu smiled and said,
"Your Highness, don't be upset. Quickly put on your mask. If someone comes in, it will be troublesome."
"Ah?" Liu Liu let out a startled cry, remembering that both those detestable men had seen her face. She felt indescribably awkward, as if she had been stripped bare, making her feel unnatural. But where had those two men gone?
"Where have they gone?"
"Returning to Your Highness, after they healed you, they both left. Does Your Highness miss someone?"
Hong Xiu teased Liu Liu, causing her face to blush again. She quickly put on the mask. Oh dear.
Perhaps she had grown accustomed to wearing a mask? She actually felt that wearing it preserved her privacy. In truth, did she have any privacy left? She had originally only wanted to keep it from those two men, but who knew they had both recognized her? Concealment was useless.
Just as Liu Liu finished putting on the mask, Feng Jiu's robust and powerful voice was heard from outside the room, "Is brother-in-law alright?"
A young maidservant's respectful voice responded from outside.
"Replying to the Master, Seventh Night楼主 is fine. He has woken up. Master, please come in."
Upon hearing the voices outside, Liu Liu quickly tidied her clothes. She looked towards the embroidered screen and indeed saw Feng Jiu's tall figure enter and sit on a carved stool to the side. Hong Xiu poured tea and offered it to him.
Feng Jiu took the cup and asked with concern, "Is brother-in-law alright?"
"I am fine. Is Brother Feng alright too?" Liu Liu replied, her tone indifferent.
Now, she felt a sense of trepidation. She truly didn't know who to trust and whom not to trust.
Hua Wuyou and she had known each other for years, yet in the end, he had administered such a potent poison. Was he enraged? Liu Liu guessed, her expression uncertain, which made Feng Jiu increasingly worried.
"Brother-in-law's complexion is quite poor. See, my body has already recovered."
Feng Jiu said, placing the tea pitcher on a nearby dining table, and patted his chest with his large hand, appearing almost fully recovered. Liu Liu smiled and nodded, "It's good that Brother Feng is alright. I might just be tired, which is why my body feels a bit sluggish. Actually, the poison has already been neutralized."
"That's good."
Feng Jiu was relieved. He was still counting on doing business with this Seventh Night, and she absolutely must not be harmed. Just as he was thinking this, the young Muxing rushed in and threw himself into his mother's arms, crying,
"Is brother alright? Muxing almost couldn't see brother. I was so scared."
Upon hearing her son's words, Liu Liu felt an indescribable fear.
Today, she and her son had almost died. Fortunately, Nangong Yue had arrived in time, finally neutralizing everyone's poison. Liu Liu reached out and hugged her son, speaking softly, "Alright, it's okay. Muxing, don't worry. Brother and Muxing are fine, everyone is fine."
Feng Jiu looked at the frightened little child, his expression filled with distress. And it had happened at Wanfeng Teazhuang, which made him feel even more uncomfortable. He quickly said,
"Right, the one who poisoned us was that little Hong. But the real Little Hong was killed by Bu Xiangyin. This was a fake maid. We don't know who ordered her to poison us. Everyone thought Bu Xiangyin had been captured, so we were careless and didn't pay attention to others, allowing the villain to succeed. Someone is currently interrogating that maid."
As soon as Feng Jiu finished speaking, the butler's report came from outside, "Master?"
"What is it?" Feng Jiu asked coldly, his face etched with ferocity. The butler trembled slightly, "Replying to Master, that Little Hong committed suicide in the prison. She poisoned herself. It seems she was prepared."
"What?" Feng Jiu roared. Just as he finished roaring, he remembered Liu Liu had just woken up, and softened his tone, "Why didn't you have someone search her properly?"
"We searched her earlier, but unexpectedly, that woman had placed the poison in her upper gums, so it wasn't detected. In the end, she committed suicide." The butler was somewhat frightened. The Master's anger was no small matter, and he was extremely solicitous.