Rebirth of a Stunning Beauty (Complete) - 17

~Chapter Six, Section Four~

It has been said that fathers and sons are natural rivals. Only when the father grows old and the son matures and becomes sensible will the originally hostile father and son gradually become like brothers.

Because men are born to contend for supremacy. Even if it is only father and son, even if they are only fighting for the hegemony of a family, they still have to fight.

And conquering the world is the dream of every man. Who doesn't want to have power over the world and control everything?

Only in a chaotic world filled with blood and fire can a man's passion explode the most completely, a man's life burn the most brilliantly, and a man's dream be realized the most thoroughly!

Even if one general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand, those heroic men who are buried under the yellow earth, whose lives have already disappeared, whether they are remembered in history or whose names are not even recorded, have not lived in vain, and have not fought for their dreams in vain!

※ ※ ※ ※

Night fades, the sky gradually brightens, and the capital city begins another day of prosperity.

After breakfast was prepared at the Song residence, Song Wu ordered a maid to invite his young mistress to eat. However, a short while later, the maid who had gone to invite Song Qing returned, her face pale, trembling as she said, "Master...Miss, she..."

Song Wu's face darkened, his heart turning cold. He said, "How is Qing'er? Tell me!"

The maid was on the verge of tears, saying in a choked voice, "Miss is missing!"

"What did you say?" Song Wu swayed, almost falling. "Qing'er is missing? Damn it, how could that be? I didn't hear a sound!" With that, he moved swiftly, shooting towards Song Qing's pavilion.

The maid called after him, "Master, I've searched carefully, and only found this note..."

Song Wu stopped, turned back, snatched the note from the maid's hand, and scolded, "If you had a note, why didn't you say so sooner? Were you trying to kill me with anger?"

The maid fell silent, not daring to reply. Everyone knew that Song Wu valued his precious daughter more than his own life.

Unfolding the neatly folded note, Song Qing's delicate yet strong handwriting came into view: "Father, your daughter has gone to the capital with Young Master Qin. I will definitely be back before sunset today, so please don't worry. Qing'er." Beside her were two lines of scribbles: "Is Longyin Gong safe? Your nephew Qin San greets you. Qing'er has been in the capital for a long time but has never seen its splendor. I have taken the liberty of showing Qing'er around the capital for a day. My martial arts are unparalleled, so safety is not a problem. Please rest assured, Lord Longyin Gong." At the end was a drawing of a disheveled, grinning wild man's head.

Enraged, Long Yin Gong roared, "Qin San, I'll make you pay for this in blood... pay... pay... cough cough cough... come here and massage my back... I've got a stitch..."

※ ※ ※ ※

Stepping through the cool morning dew, the Third Young Master, holding Song Qing's small hand, walked along the most bustling Xiaoqianmen Street in the capital.

Although it was still early morning, the shops on both sides of Xiaoqianmen Street were already open for business. Breakfast stalls, restaurants, teahouses, and inns were all thriving. Baskets of steaming buns sold out as soon as they were served, and freshly fried dough sticks and twisted dough sticks were snatched up the moment they came out of the fryer.

Song Qing, dressed in men's clothing to avoid trouble, smelled the oily fumes and various breakfast aromas in the air, as excited as a child, skipping and hopping along, occasionally squeezing into the crowd to buy small items. She bought a steamed bun, a twisted dough stick, a piece of dried tofu, a braised egg, and stuffed them into her mouth.

Watching Song Qing's mouth and hands covered in grease as she ate, the Third Young Master asked curiously, "You must not have had a proper meal when you died, right? Otherwise, why would you eat like a starving ghost, grabbing whatever you can get your hands on?"

Song Qing glared at the Third Young Master and said, "What do you know? From a young age, I rarely had the chance to go out. Even when I did, there was always a huge crowd around me. I've never had this much freedom. Eating these little things was impossible. Father said these things weren't clean, the oil was bad, and it was bad for my health, so he never let me eat them. In my past life, I loved eating these street food stalls the most. Today I finally got to go out, how could I not eat my fill? If I don't eat now, I won't have the chance later!"

Looking at Song Qing's excited expression, the Third Young Master felt a pang of sorrow in his heart. She only had three years left to live, or more precisely, two years and nine months. Every day that passed, her life would fade away a little.

The Third Young Master couldn't help but recall the words Song Qing had spoken during their conversation last night: "Since you aspire to rule the world, if you wish to marry me, then use the entire Qin Dynasty as your dowry! In any case, my life will not last long, and this empire will ultimately be yours."

At that moment, seeing the faint sorrow in Song Qing's smiling eyes, the Third Young Master nodded in agreement without hesitation.

The Third Young Master then asked Song Qing, "You...are you really willing to marry me?"

Song Qing replied, "Anyway, you've already kissed me, and you've already held my hand. What's wrong with marrying you? Actually, for me, it doesn't matter who I marry. Rather than marrying someone else, I'd rather not marry at all and spend more of my life with my loving parents. But since you want to marry me, I'll give you that chance. And..."

"And what?"

Song Qing looked at the Third Young Master with a complicated expression and said calmly, "And only a man like you, who has had many women, wouldn't be heartbroken by my passing. Even if you truly loved me and were truly heartbroken, you would be attracted by other women and forget your pain. In that case, I wouldn't feel ashamed for not being able to spend my whole life with you..."

Hearing this, the Third Young Master felt an unprecedented urge to cry.

They talked until midnight, and the two slept in Song Qing's bed in each other's arms, but did nothing. This was the first time the Third Young Master had a beautiful woman in his arms but hadn't done anything inappropriate, and even he admired himself greatly.

Early this morning, before dawn and before anyone in the Song family had gotten up, the Third Young Master secretly took Song Qing out of the Song residence to explore what was probably the most prosperous city on the planet where the Great Qin Empire was located: Tianjing.

The two strolled along Xiaoqianmen Street until after noon. Looking at the sky, the sun was gradually moving overhead. Song Qing, having eaten many snacks, wasn't very hungry, but the Third Young Master hadn't eaten much of those treats, and by this time, his stomach was completely empty.

Hand in hand, they entered a lavishly decorated restaurant and went up to the second floor, finding a private room with the best view by the window.

After the waiter brewed fragrant tea and seated the two guests, the Third Young Master, true to his extravagant nature, placed a thousand-tael silver note on the table and loudly proclaimed, "First, bring a bowl of shark fin soup to rinse your mouth. Bring out the best and most expensive dishes and drinks, fill this table, I'm going to feast today!"

The waiter stared blankly at the Third Young Master and asked, "Young Master, how many sets of bowls and chopsticks would you like?"

The Third Young Master replied, "Two sets! Do you have any sense? There are only the two of us here."

The waiter nodded repeatedly, "I'm so sorry, Young Master, I thought you had friends coming. Please forgive my intrusion! I'll do as you say right away. Please wait, the shark fin soup will be here soon!"

"Wait!" the Third Young Master called to the waiter, "Take the silver note, keep the change, consider it your tip."

The waiter was immediately dizzy and nearly collapsed. Although their restaurant was extremely high-end, a single banquet, with all the best and most expensive dishes served, plus several jugs of fine wine, would cost at most 666 taels of silver. Wouldn't the remaining 344 taels all go to him?

The waiter, overjoyed at his windfall, didn't even have time to thank them before practically floating out of the private room.

Seeing the waiter's ecstatic state, the Third Young Master couldn't help but burst into laughter. Song Qing glared at the Third Young Master and said, "Why are you giving so much money?"

The Third Young Master said seriously, "Of course I'm here to show off, to flaunt my wealth! It's the first time I've invited you to dinner, so I have to make a show of it, right?"

Song Qing curled his lip and said, "What a waste. If you have so much money, why don't you donate it to disaster relief? Many people can't even afford a full meal, otherwise why would anyone rebel?"

The Third Young Master nodded and said, "That makes sense. But do you think that if I donated all my money to disaster relief, say, ten million taels of silver, how much would actually reach the affected people? You know how corrupt the court is these days. These large donations have to go through the government for receipt and distribution. After layers of skimming from top to bottom, it's good if only one-tenth actually reaches the people.

"Even if the affected people receive every penny of the donation, what can they buy with that money? In the provinces most severely affected by floods and droughts every year, one tael of silver is less valuable than one tael of rice. But can I use the money to buy rice and flour and then transport it to those places for distribution?" " No, the government would accuse me of hoarding grain and plotting a rebellion. Even if I could explain myself, the grain I collected would still be requisitioned by the government under the guise of distribution, but in reality, it would be used for embezzlement and exploitation.

" "In that case, why should I spend money to fatten up those corrupt officials? It's better to increase the income of these restaurant owners and their employees; at least the money goes directly into their hands."

Song Qing retorted, "You're just spouting nonsense. How can this be a reason not to donate to the people?" After thinking for a moment, Song Qing added, "But upon closer examination, what you said makes some sense. The Qin Empire's officialdom is so corrupt that even if we really donated money, it would only fatten up the corrupt officials; the common people wouldn't get any real benefit."

The Third Young Master took a sip of tea and slowly said, "Therefore, donations also..." This is merely treating the symptoms, not the root cause. For the people to truly live a good life, the country must be stable, the political system transparent, and officials incorruptible. The Qin Empire currently possesses none of these qualities, so its time to perish has come. If I were to rule the world, well, I could emulate my previous life on Earth by establishing a relief fund, managed by the most upright and incorruptible officials, allowing those in charge to take a small cut, but absolutely no more, or they would be severely punished.”

Song Qing smiled and said, “According to you, you don’t see anything wrong with being greedy?”

The Third Young Master shook his head. He said, “People are driven by self-interest; how easy is it to truly eradicate corruption? The mutual protection of officials has always been an unspoken truth in officialdom. No matter how strict the laws and punishments are, they cannot completely eliminate human greed. Therefore, we can only guide it, not forcibly suppress it, otherwise chaos will inevitably ensue. Don't forget, this is a feudal society where the emperor ruled the country. Dynasties can change, but reforming the social system is impossible. Reforming the system will require a long time; perhaps a thousand years from now, someone will be able to gradually accomplish this feat.”

Song Qing smiled and said, “What you say makes perfect sense .” "May I ask, young master, what did you study before?"

The Third Young Master smiled smugly and said, "Philosophy." "May I ask, Miss Qing'er, what did you study before?"

Song Qing smiled and said, "Major in economics and management, minor in journalism."

The Third Young Master exclaimed in surprise, "Impressive! Both of these are practical subjects. Compared to my philosophy, which I can talk a good game about but isn't very useful in practice, it's much better in a society like the Qin Empire!"

Studying economics and management and journalism inevitably involves studying political economy, which is indeed a more practical subject.

Song Qing cupped her hands and smiled at the Third Young Master, "You flatter me, Third Young Master. I am but a humble woman, how can I compare to the profound thoughts of a philosopher? You are both learned and skilled in martial arts, not only with superior theoretical knowledge but also with unparalleled martial arts skills. I admire you greatly!"

After exchanging compliments, the two looked at each other and burst into laughter.

The Third Young Master slapped the table and said, "That was satisfying! I can only say these things to you. I've been holding it in for so many years, and I've never met anyone I could talk to like this. It's been driving me crazy!"

Song Qing laughed, "Am I the same? If I said these things to others, who would understand? Who would believe me?" As

the two chatted and laughed, the waiters in the restaurant began to serve the dishes. With each dish served, a waiter would loudly announce the name of the dish, its ingredients, characteristics, and how to eat it. It all looked quite professional, befitting a grand restaurant in the capital.

Before long, all the dishes and wine were served. Various delicacies, each with its own unique color, aroma, and flavor, hung on the table, and a pot of each of the seven different kinds of fine wines was also brought out. The Third Young Master waved away the waiters who were about to serve the two of them, closed the door to the private room, poured a cup of wine for Song Qing and himself, and said, "Miss Qing'er, please make yourselves at home. I won't bother you anymore. We're starving and need to have a good meal."

Before he could even pick up his chopsticks, a voice came from outside the private room: "Do you even need to ask? Of course, the best and most expensive food and wine are laid out on the table! Stop! Take this thousand taels of silver note, keep the change, consider it your tip."

Song Qing laughed, "Looks like another one as showy as you has arrived..." As she spoke, she looked at the Third Young Master and saw that he was stiff all over, unable to even put his chopsticks down, just sitting blankly in his chair, trembling.

~Chapter Seven: Flowers in Full Bloom, Section One~

"What's wrong with you?" Song Qing asked curiously.

The Third Young Master didn't say a word, but suddenly stood up abruptly, threw down his chopsticks, and strode towards the door of the private room.

Song Qing hurriedly stood up and followed behind the Third Young Master. She wanted to see who could make the Qin family's Third Young Master, who she remembered as unfazed by anything, so lose his composure.

Pushing open the door of the private room, the Third Young Master walked towards the room from which the sound had come. Through the half-open door of that room, a vague figure could be seen.

The closer the Third Young Master got to the room, the more violently he trembled. He forced himself to calm down, but the image of that person on the cliff edge, arms outstretched, soaring down like a phoenix, a radiant smile on her face, remained vivid in his mind.

The hot liquid that had rolled into his mouth still seemed to linger on his tongue, its bittersweet taste seeping into his bones. In this life, the most unforgettable thing is the kindness of those who stand by you through thick and thin, never abandoning you. Even as time passes and the world changes, true affection endures forever.

Standing between the doors of the private rooms, the Third Young Master stopped, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled, gradually calming himself down.

Song Qing followed behind the Third Young Master, curiously peeking through the crack in the door, trying to guess the identities of the people inside the private room.

At that moment, a deep voice came from inside: "Who's outside?"

Clearing his slightly dry throat, the Third Young Master said in as calm a tone as possible, "Is it Big Cousin? I'm Ah Ren."

The private room suddenly fell completely silent. Just as Song Qing thought this silence might last forever, a strange sound suddenly rang out.

It was the sound of tables, chairs, and dishes being knocked over and shattered, accompanied by hurried footsteps and the rustling of clothes. Then the door creaked open, and a girl dressed in men's clothing, unusually tall, only slightly shorter than the Third Young Master, appeared in the doorway.

Song Qing stood behind the Third Young Master, looking at the girl with curiosity.

She had never seen a woman like this before. She had a very masculine appearance, with perfectly proportioned, sword-like eyebrows, a high, straight nose, and facial features as if sculpted by a knife, full of sculpted beauty.

However, this woman, with her masculine and athletic features, like a perfectly sculpted face, possessed a pair of very feminine eyes. Seeing these feminine eyes, Song Qing suddenly realized that she was actually a very beautiful and elegant woman.

Behind this beauty stood a strong man with a thick beard, a seemingly honest face, nearly two meters tall, and muscles so developed they filled his coat as if it were about to burst. At this

moment, the masculine beauty stood face to face with the Third Young Master. Her beautiful and alluring eyes, which even Song Qing, a woman herself, found pleasing to admire, gradually welled up with tears. The

Third Young Master, meanwhile, wore a faint smile, his gaze fixed intently on the beauty.

"Meeting Qin Ren once ruined my life... Could it be that this guy wasn't just bragging?" Song Qing glanced at the beautiful woman's expression, then at the Third Young Master, his heart filled with doubt and uncertainty.

Quickly adjusting his composure, the Third Young Master softly asked, "Cousin, it's been three years. How have you been?"

Standing opposite him was his cousin, Tie Xuanxuan, and the seemingly simple and strong man was his elder cousin, Tie Jian.

The Third Young Master, usually unfazed by any crisis, only showed such discomposure upon hearing Tie Xuanxuan's voice. The unwavering devotion shown in that leap from the cliff, the smile as they soared into the sky, would deeply move even the hardest heart.

"Ah Ren... you..." His throat tightened, unable to utter a complete sentence. The hope of three years of waiting had finally been realized. The girl threw herself into the young man's arms, tears of joy streaming down her face—a girl who never cried for sorrow.

Silence spoke volumes.

Song Qing stared dumbfounded at the scene before her, watching the couple embracing each other as if no one else was around. She said indignantly, "What... what kind of nonsense is this?"

"Isn't it touching?" Tie Jian, who had somehow appeared beside Song Qing, said with a somewhat sentimental tone, "My precious little sister, no one has ever treated her like a woman since she was little. Even my father always said she'd never get married. But look at her now, isn't she very womanly?"

Song Qing ignored him, retorting angrily, "It is touching, but Qin Ren, he clearly took me shopping, and now he's embracing a beautiful woman right in front of me. Shouldn't he at least find a secluded place and do it behind my back?"

Tie Jian chuckled, "Girl, how long have you known A-Ren? Do you know how long my sister has known A-Ren? They're true childhood sweethearts. Although I don't know when my sister and A-Ren developed feelings for each other, during the three years A-Ren's fate was unknown, my sister wandered the world, searching for A-Ren's whereabouts." Everyone thought Ah Ren was dead, except for my sister. She was the only one who believed Ah Ren was still alive, and it was this belief that kept her alive. Tell me, did she deserve Ah Ren's embrace? And should Ah Ren have embraced her at this time, in this place?

Song Qing nodded somewhat wistfully, saying, "True love, unwavering until death. She certainly deserved it."

Tie Jian added, "Also, young lady, I must remind you, Ah Ren is a typical playboy, a womanizer. Quite a few innocent women have been deceived by him, so you must be careful not to fall into his trap."

Song Qing smiled, "Thank you for the reminder, but I already know what kind of person Ah Ren is, and I doubt he would do anything to me." The fact that

the Third Young Master hadn't done anything inappropriate to her during their embrace last night proves that Song Qing holds a very special place in his heart. Beautiful women are easy to find, but true friends are hard to come by, especially a true friend like Song Qing who shares the same experiences as the Third Young Master. In this world, she is probably the only one like her. Even if the Third Young Master had many women, his feelings for Song Qing would be completely different.

Song Qing was quite confident of this.

※ ※ ※ ※

With wine, they drank wildly, until they were completely drunk.

Tie Xuanxuan's personality meant she wouldn't have many sentimental words, and the Third Young Master, knowing her nature well, wouldn't waste any. The past three years were glossed over in a few words; brothers drank together, siblings clinked glasses, three years of longing brewed into a fine wine, with smiles and tears, the wine was emptied.

The Third Young Master was drunk again, his steps already unsteady as he left the restaurant. Tie Xuanxuan was drunk, even Tie Jian was drunk.

The only one who wasn't drunk was Song Qing. But she couldn't lift any of the three men. She helped one, then another fell down; she put one down to help another, and the third and the first both stumbled to the ground, and she herself almost fell down as well. He simply ignored them, letting them tumble and roll on the ground, strolling leisurely to the side, looking around as if he didn't recognize the three drunkards.

The Third Young Master and Tie Xuanxuan, arm in arm, supported each other. Their four legs often intertwined, causing them to stumble and fall simultaneously, then sit on the ground, laughing at each other, completely oblivious to the stares of those around them as if they were fools. Tie Jian, on the other hand, hummed a little tune, swaying drunkenly, staggering every two steps, falling over after five, yet he seemed quite content and absorbed in his own world.

Glancing at the three drunkards, Song Qing sighed helplessly, took out six silver ingots, and said, "Six people, help me support these three drunkards. Ten taels of silver for each." In an instant, the pedestrians on both sides of the street, who had been avoiding the three drunkards like the plague, suddenly swarmed around them, each vying to help: "Me! Me! I drink Hui Ren Shen Bao every day, I'm super strong!"

"I'll do it! I use Indian God Oil every day, I'm strong enough to move mountains!"

"Let me do it! I just took Viagra this morning, who can be stronger than me!"

...

The scrambling crowd nearly knocked Song Qing over. Before anyone could even point out who would help, the six silver ingots in Song Qing's hand had already been snatched away. Seeing that Song Qing was now penniless, the crowd scattered in a flash.

Looking at her clothes, which were filthy from being jostled and torn in several places, Song Qing stomped her foot in anger and exclaimed, "How can the people in the capital be so uncivilized? They take the money and don't do anything! I'm so angry!"

Just as Song Qing was sulking, a four-wheeled carriage suddenly came from behind and stopped beside her. A slender hand lifted the curtain, revealing a beautiful face, unadorned yet exquisitely pure and sweet. Two large, dark eyes looked at Song Qing, and her cherry-like lips parted slightly as she asked in a crisp, delicate voice, "Why is this lady so angry?"

Song Qing glanced at the girl and immediately felt that she was incredibly charming. Not only was she beautiful, but the refreshing feeling in her eyes and brows was also pleasing to the eye, like admiring a work of art created by heaven.

Song Qing was a reincarnated person with memories, so her appreciation level was naturally exceptionally high. After seeing the girl, Song Qing sighed inwardly, "This girl is so beautiful. Even the movie stars of my past life would be lucky to compare to her." Unconsciously, Song Qing adopted a mature tone, unaware that in terms of actual age, he was only about the same age as the girl, perhaps even a little younger.

While admiring her, Song Qing pointed to the Third Young Master and his companions still tumbling around in the middle of the street, saying, "Isn't it because of those three drunkards? I paid someone to help them, but they robbed me, and none of the helpers were left. Look, even their clothes are torn. How can the security in the capital be so bad? How can people under the emperor's nose be so barbaric?" Suddenly, as if waking from a daze, he exclaimed in surprise, "Why are you calling me 'sister'? I'm clearly dressed as a man..."

“Sister, you are so beautiful, what man could possibly be as handsome as you? At least I’ve never seen one.” The girl chuckled and continued, “Sister, perhaps you’ve run into some scoundrels? Just like anywhere else in the capital, there are scoundrels, though few. Sister, don’t be angry. I happen to have nothing to do, and this carriage is quite spacious. How about I give you and your three friends a ride?”

Song Qing hesitated, glancing at the girl, and said, “Your carriage is so beautiful, and those three drunkards reek of alcohol; they might even vomit and make a mess.” "What about your carriage?"

The girl smiled and said, "It's alright, helping others is the source of happiness."

Song Qing nodded and said, "Then thank you very much, sister. It's just that those three drunkards are completely drunk and their bodies are very heavy. I don't have the strength to carry them onto the carriage."

The girl said to the coachman, "Uncle Hu, could you please help this sister carry her three friends onto the carriage?"

The coachman, who wore a straw hat and looked somewhat withered, mumbled, "Second Miss, these people are of unknown origin and are completely drunk in the street. I'm afraid... I'm afraid the master will blame you if he finds out."

The girl said, "It's alright. If you don't tell, and I don't tell, how will Father know? Even if someone we know saw it today and it reaches Father's ears, he'll know I was helping someone and won't blame me."

The coachman nodded and said, "Alright, I'll go now." He jumped off the carriage, walked to the Third Young Master and the others, picked up Tie Jian and hoisted it onto his shoulder, then carried the Third Young Master and Tie Xuanxuan in each hand, striding towards the carriage.

Song Qing was dumbfounded. Tie Jian was about two meters tall, a towering man; the Third Young Master was also over 1.8 meters tall, and Tie Xuanxuan was also around 1.8 meters tall. Any one of the three was taller than the coachman, and in terms of weight, they could weigh at least six of him, yet he carried the Third Young Master so easily, like a kitten, and walked with incredible speed. This unassuming coachman seemed to be a master!

Seeing Song Qing's surprised expression, the young girl smiled and said, "Sister, don't be surprised. Uncle Hu is my personal bodyguard. He takes care of me whenever I go out. His martial arts skills are considered top-notch in the capital."

As she spoke, Coachman Hu had already helped the Third Young Master and the others onto the carriage. Song Qing also boarded the carriage and entered the compartment. She saw that the interior was indeed spacious, elegantly decorated, and filled with fine sandalwood incense.

Coachman Hu threw the three drunkards onto the floor of the carriage and then went out to drive the carriage. The young woman invited Song Qing to sit beside her, smiling broadly. "My name is Hua Rong, and my elders and relatives all call me Rong'er. Please address me the same way, elder sister. By the way, may I ask your name, elder sister?"

Song Qing smiled and said, "My surname is Song, and my given name is Qing."

Hua Rong asked in surprise, "Elder sister, are you Song Qing, the only daughter of Lord Longyin Song?"

Song Qing nodded and smiled, "Indeed. May I ask how you know my identity, Rong'er?"

Hua Rong immediately looked at her with great respect and said, "Elder sister's talent is renowned far and wide. I had already heard of your name when you were still in Lingnan, but because I was in the capital, I never had the chance to meet you. Later, when I learned that Lord Longyin's family had come to the capital, I often pestered my father to take me to visit you, elder sister. However, my father was always busy with worldly affairs and never had the time. I never expected to meet you, elder sister Qing, today. I am truly fortunate."

~Chapter Seven: Flowers in Full Bloom, Section Two~

Song Qing smiled modestly, "Sister, your reputation is overrated; it's not worthy of my high praise." Inwardly, however, she felt quite ashamed, thinking, "What talent do I have? Isn't my fame just from plagiarizing other people's poems?" Fortunately, Qin Ren didn't know this, otherwise, he would definitely laugh himself to death.

Song Qing was unaware that while the Third Young Master hadn't plagiarized any poems, he had copied quite a few songs. As for the poems, the Third Young Master simply liked to maliciously alter them, such as: "The night gave me black eyes, but I use them to search for beauties...

" Hua Rong smiled, "Sister, why be so modest? Your arrival in the capital has already spread far and wide. Countless scholars who admire your talent want to see your true face!"

After talking for a while, Song Qing had grown quite fond of this polite and gentle younger sister. Just as their conversation was getting into place, Song Qing suddenly remembered that she hadn't yet asked where the Third Young Master and his companions were staying, and how to get them back. He immediately got up from his seat, patted the Third Young Master who was sprawled out on the floor, and asked, "Ah Ren, where do you live? I'll take you back."

“Xuan…Xuanwu Street…Qin Mansion…” The Third Young Master mumbled incoherently with his eyes closed, “Qing…Qing’er, I’ll let you…hold my son later…my son is so handsome…”

Song Qing rolled her eyes at the Third Young Master and muttered discontentedly, “Not only does he have many women, but he even has a son. This guy has really become a complete ancient person.”

She sat back down and said to Hua Rong, “Sister Rong’er, please take these three drunkards to the Qin Mansion on Xuanwu Street.”

Hua Rong said thoughtfully, “There’s only one Qin Mansion on the entire Xuanwu Street. It’s the residence that Qin Feng, the current Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, recently acquired. It’s said that Qin Feng has a great reputation in the martial arts world, and his family is a pillar of the righteous path. Sister Qing’er, are your friends perhaps from the Qin family?”

Song Qing nodded and pointed at the Third Young Master, “This guy is Qin Ren, the third young master of the Qin family. Qin Feng is his older brother.”

Hua Rong nodded and said, “In that case, little sister and…” "This person does seem to be related to someone,"

Song Qingqi said. "Eh, how could Rong'er be related to this guy? You live in the capital, the Qin family is in Jiangnan, and Qin Ren only arrived in the capital a few days ago. By the way, Qin Feng seems to have been in the capital for the past few years, could it be... Rong'er and that Qin Feng?"

Hua Rong blushed immediately and said, "Sister Qing, what are you saying? I've only met Lord Qin Feng a few times. What I mean is, I have an older sister named Hua Linglong, who is now..." She's already gotten together with Qin Lei, the second young master of the Qin family. These past few years, my sister and Qin Lei have been traveling around, only returning home twice. Each time, Qin Lei accompanied my sister to visit my father. Privately, Qin Lei already calls my father "Father-in-law."

Song Qing laughed, "So, Rong'er and Qin Ren are indeed related." At this point, Song Qing suddenly remembered that Hua Linglong was the eldest daughter of Grand Tutor Hua An, so wouldn't Hua Rong be Grand Tutor Hua's youngest daughter? She immediately said, "So it turns out that Sister Rong'er is the daughter of Grand Tutor Hua. I only just realized it now. I'm so slow-witted. Sister Rong'er has the demeanor of a lady from a prominent family, and her surname is Hua. I should have guessed it sooner. In the capital, the Hua family is the only prominent family with the surname Hua. Please forgive my rudeness."

Hua Rong took Song Qing's hand and smiled, "Sister, you're being too formal. We hit it off immediately, and you are someone I greatly admire. Besides, Lord Song of Longyin has an extraordinary status. It's great that we're here together." "Meeting you is my good fortune, sister. How could you say I'm being impolite?"

Song Qing said, "My father often says that Grand Tutor Hua is the only upright minister in the court, the only pillar of integrity. It's just a pity that although Grand Tutor Hua is upright and loyal, there are villains in power in the court, and Grand Tutor Hua alone cannot turn the tide. Therefore, my father intends to form an alliance with Grand Tutor Hua to jointly save the Qin Dynasty from collapse. My father will visit the Grand Tutor's residence in a few days, and sister will naturally go with him. So even if sister and Rong'er don't..." "We met today, and we will surely meet again someday. This sisterly bond between us is inescapable."

Hua Rong said, "Sister, you are concerned with national affairs, something I, your younger sister, am far inferior to. My father never mentions national affairs to me, and even if he has worries, he doesn't want to talk about them in front of me. However, I've noticed that in recent years, when I see my father, he often sighs and laments, saying that the Qin court is rife with evil and corruption, and has reached a critical juncture. I don't understand what my father means, and when I ask him, he doesn't explain it clearly, only saying that I am a girl..." "Political affairs are something I should never meddle in under any circumstances. Sometimes I really hate that I was born a girl, so I can't even share my father's burdens."

Song Qing comforted her, "Grand Tutor Hua is concerned about the world. If you, Rong'er, want to share his burdens, you will surely have the opportunity in the future. You don't need to be too hard on yourself. Who says daughters shouldn't be involved in politics? As long as you have the talent, Grand Tutor will definitely give you a chance."

Hua Rong nodded, thanked him, and glanced at the three drunkards on the carriage floor. She immediately lowered her head, blushing with embarrassment.

It turned out that the Third Young Master had woken up at some point, his head resting on Tie Xuanxuan's lap, his legs crossed, his bright eyes looking at Hua Rong and laughing.

Song Qing rolled her eyes at the Third Young Master and said, "What, are you awake?"

The Third Young Master nodded and said, "Thank you for your concern. I woke up early this morning. Listening to the two of you talk is quite interesting."

Song Qing said, "Can you please not stare at Rong'er like that when you're talking? She's a lady from a respectable family; she can't stand your flower-thief's gaze."

The Third Young Master stood up, dusted off his clothes, and sat down opposite Song Qing and Hua Rong. He smiled and said, "Qing'er, there's a saying you should understand: the world isn't lacking in beauty, it's lacking in the ability to discover it. Now that I've discovered beauty, how can I not appreciate it properly? Miss Hua, my name is Qin Ren. Greetings."

Hua Rong said in a voice barely above a whisper, "Hua Rong has met Young Master Qin. My elder sister once said that Young Master Qin fell off a cliff three years ago, and his fate was unknown. He has been missing for three years, and my elder sister and Second Young Master Qin have been searching for him for a long time. I never expected that Young Master Qin

would appear in the capital. It must be because he is a lucky person." Song Qing chuckled inwardly, thinking to himself, "What lucky person? It's clearly a case of wicked people living a long life. No, Rong'er is so beautiful. Aren's cousin said that Aren is a womanizer who will have wicked thoughts when he sees a beautiful woman. I mustn't let such an innocent girl fall for his tricks." Just as he was thinking about how to point out Young Master Qin's character to Hua Rong, Hua Rong spoke up:

"My elder sister also said that the Third Young Master is a womanizer, has been with countless women, and is a Casanova among philanderers, the epitome of a libertine. She instructed me to keep my distance if I ever see him, and preferably avoid him altogether. I've also heard a little about the Third Young Master's reputation in the martial arts world. Meeting him today, I see that while he is unrestrained, he has a genuine nature, which is indeed quite similar to my elder sister's description and the rumors circulating in the martial arts world."

Song Qing secretly praised Rong'er, who seemed gentle but was actually cunning. It seemed that the Third Young Master had met his match.

The Third Young Master chuckled, "Thank you for your praise, Miss Hua. I am actually a very low-key person. I have never cared about the titles bestowed upon me by people in the martial arts world. Fame and fortune are just fleeting clouds. Although I am not aloof, I still have some pride and I truly disdain empty fame. However, since Miss Hua brought it up today, I naturally have to give you some face and thank you."

Song Qing and Hua Rong exchanged a glance and shook their heads, feeling rather speechless. Pretending not to understand such veiled sarcasm, and then shamelessly thanking him—the Third Young Master must be the number one person in the world, right?

Song Qing thought to himself, Ah Ren really does have some talent for politics. This ability to distort the truth and turn a deaf ear is an essential trick for politicians.

Hua Rong, on the other hand, kept her head down, not even glancing at the Third Young Master, twisting the hem of her clothes with her hands, lost in thought.

"Hehe, Miss Hua, since you're so eloquent, why don't you dare look me in the eye?" The Third Young Master chuckled wickedly. He believed in the principle of "better to take the wrong one than let one slip by," and from the moment he saw Hua Rong, he was determined to overcome all obstacles and get her into his bed. There was no reason why his sister wouldn't fall into his hands if his second brother had already seduced her. "Miss Hua, are you perhaps afraid that once you look at me, you won't be able to look away?"

The Third Young Master's overwhelming confidence made Song Qing dizzy. She glanced weakly at him and said, "Ah Ren, can't you say something serious? Do you want me to give you a mirror so you can see what you look like? Looking like this, it's no wonder Rong'er wouldn't dare look at you!"

The Third Young Master laughed, "No need, Qing'er. I know what it means to be stunningly handsome. Whenever I want to understand the meaning of 'handsome' more deeply, I look in the mirror, and now I understand it quite well."

Song Qing weakly supported herself on the seat, waved her hand, and said, "Alright, Ah Ren, I'm not talking to you anymore. I only realized today that when it comes to eloquence, you truly are the best in the world. This humble woman concedes defeat..."

Just then, the coachman's voice came from outside the carriage: "Miss, we've arrived at the Qin residence."

Hua Rong immediately said, "Okay, stop the carriage." After the carriage came to a stop, Hua Rong held Song Qing's hand and said, "Sister Qing, Young Master Qin and the others have already arrived. Let me take you back to the Song residence!"

Young Master Qin hurriedly said, "No need, I thank Miss Hua on Qing'er's behalf. However, I promised to spend the whole day with Qing'er today, so Qing'er still wants to come with me to my residence for a stroll, to see the sights, to play, and to have a cup of tea. How about this, Miss Hua, you can also..." "Would you like to come in and sit for a while? Miss Hua personally escorted my brother and me back; surely we should have some tea?"

Hua Rong shook her head firmly: "I appreciate Young Master Qin's kindness, but I have important matters to attend to and cannot stay long. Sister Qing, will you come with me, or stay?"

Song Qing glanced at the young master and smiled: "Sister, it's not easy for you to go out once in a while; how can you just go back like this? You don't know, my father is very strict with you. He hasn't let you go out at all during our many days in the capital. So, of course, you must make the most of this opportunity."

Hua Rong nodded and said: "Alright, Sister Qing, please..." " Take care. Going to the Qin residence is no less dangerous than venturing into a tiger's den or a wolf's lair. I am incompetent and dare not accompany you, sister. I must leave first. Please forgive me."

The Third Young Master was annoyed and exclaimed, "Hey, hey, hey... What kind of talk is this? How can coming to my house for a cup of tea be considered venturing into a tiger's den or a wolf's lair? I don't keep tigers or wolves at home..."

Hua Rong didn't say much, but squeezed Song Qing's hand tightly and said, "Take care!" Then she shouted towards the carriage, "Uncle Hu, come and help move them out!"

Hu the coachman shouted, "Yes, sir!" He pushed open the carriage door and came in, picked up Tie Jian and Tie Xuanxuan with both hands, and threw them out of the carriage with two thuds to the ground. Just as he was about to grab the Third Young Master, the Third Young Master shouted, "Hey, brother, I'm awake now. You don't need to do it. I have my own legs... Ouch..." The last shout was because Hu the coachman had already grabbed him by the collar and thrown him out.

"How can I disobey Miss's command?" Coachman Hu said coolly before carefully helping Song Qing out of the carriage.

Hua Rong lifted the curtain, waved to Song Qing, and said, "Sister Qing, if Lord Longyin goes to meet my father, you must go with him!"

Song Qing smiled and said, "Of course. Sister Rong, you have more freedom than me. You can come to my house to talk to me when you have time!"

Hua Rong nodded and said, "If I have time tomorrow, I will go to the Duke's mansion to see you. Take care, Sister. I'll go first! Uncle Hu, let's go!"

Coachman Hu flicked his whip, and the carriage sped away, moving as fast as lightning.

The Third Young Master, rubbing his aching back, walked to Song Qing's side, grimacing as he watched Hua Rong's carriage depart. He said resentfully, "Impossible! With my good looks, how come Miss Hua didn't even glance at me once? Hmm, she must be afraid that once she saw me, she'd never forget me! That must be it!"

Song Qing sighed, "Ah Ren, don't you think about your reputation? Even your own sister-in-law tells her younger sister to stay away from you. Do you think Rong'er would dare to associate with you? Only I would dare to hang out with someone as infamous as you."

The Third Young Master said helplessly, "But my reputation has really been ruined by rumors. I haven't actually done anything heinous. If you say I used to be a womanizer, I've reformed now..."

"Reformed? I doubt it," Song Qing sneered. "You stare at Rong'er without blinking, constantly flirting with her with words and eyes, scaring her so much that she doesn't dare look at you. I'm telling you, Ren, can't you... can't you stop flirting with other girls in front of me?"

~Chapter Seven: Flowers in Full Bloom, Section Three~

The Third Young Master was taken aback, then looked at Song Qing with a sly grin, touched his chin meaningfully, and nodded, saying, "Sure, sure! I'll remember from now on, flirting with girls should be done behind your back."

Song Qing stomped her foot angrily and said, "You just know how to annoy me!" As she spoke, she reached out to pinch the Third Young Master, who narrowly dodged with his agility, taking the opportunity to pinch Song Qing's small hand and laugh loudly:

"Alright, stop fooling around, Qing'er, come inside with me now!"

With that, he picked up Tie Jian, hoisted it onto his shoulder, and, carrying Tie Xuanxuan in his arms, walked to the vermilion gate studded with copper nails. He kicked the Qin family mansion gate so hard it shook the heavens.

"Who is it? Who is it? Don't you have eyes? This is the Qin family mansion!" came the gatekeeper's exasperated voice

from behind the gate. The gate opened, and the gatekeeper's head peeked out from the crack. Seeing it was the Third Young Master, he immediately beamed, "Oh, the Third Young Master is back? You see, this little mouth of mine..." He greeted him with unusual ingratiation.

The Third Young Master didn't seem to mind, and, leading Song Qing inside, asked, "Who's home now?"

The gatekeeper chuckled, "Reporting to Third Young Master, the Eldest Young Master is currently on duty at the Ministry of Justice and may be returning a little late today. Miss Ni'er has also gone to the Ministry of Justice; only the Young Madam and Young Master Bao are in the manor now."

Qin Feng's public identity is that of a Vice Minister of Justice, and he has to report to the Ministry of Justice every day, just to make a show of it. A spy can't exactly go around telling everyone, "I'm a spy," can he? Qin Ni'er's public identity is that of Qin Feng's assistant, although she is actually Qin Feng's superior, but that's limited to her clandestine identity as a spy.

The Third Young Master nodded and said, "I've brought guests to my house today. Go and have someone tidy up the living room. Also, invite my Sister Mei and Bao Bao over so they can keep the guests company. What good tea do you have? Bring out the best."

The gatekeeper nodded in agreement, and seeing the two people hanging on the Third Young Master, asked curiously, "Young Master, who are these two?"

The Third Young Master replied, "These are my cousin and cousin-in-law. They're both drunk. Remember to have a few people help them to the guest room to rest and take good care of them."

The gatekeeper hurriedly agreed and ran off to give the orders.

The Third Young Master led Song Qing towards the main living room, saying as they walked, "I've only been to this new house once before, and I'm not familiar with anything here. I sneaked into your house last night and haven't even slept here for a night. Come to think of it, I'm a stranger here too."

Before they even reached the living room, several servants came forward, took Tie Jian and Tie Xuanxuan from the Third Young Master, and helped the two to the guest room to rest. Watching Tie Xuanxuan being helped away by his two mothers, Song Qing asked, "Your cousin seems to have a rather special relationship with you."

The Third Young Master looked at Tie Xuanxuan's retreating figure with a gentle smile and said, "As the saying goes, cousins are a match made in heaven."

Song Qing asked curiously, "Isn't the saying that cousins are a match made in heaven?"

The Third Young Master chuckled and said, "The problem is I only have an older cousin, no younger cousins!"

Song Qing pouted and said, "So, if you had a younger cousin, wouldn't you want both your older and younger cousins?" "A clean sweep?"

The Third Young Master laughed confidently. "Do you think

I'm that kind of person?" Song Qing stared at the Third Young Master for a long time, then said seriously, "To be honest, the more I look at you, the more I think you are that kind of person."

Song Qing was indignant and kept attacking the Third Young Master. What made Song Qing quite helpless was that the Third Young Master was as thick-skinned as a city wall. He either ignored her words or, with his unparalleled confidence, forcibly took Song Qing's sarcastic remarks as praise. He thanked her without hesitation and kept emphasizing that he was very low-key.

While they were bickering all the way, the two entered the living room. After the Third Young Master invited Song Qing to sit down, a servant had already served her some top-quality pre-rain Longjing tea.

Before she could even sit down, Qiu Ruomei's voice came from outside the living room: "Aren, I heard from Ni'er that you left her alone last night and ran away and never came back. Where did you go?"

As she spoke, Qiu Ruomei, dressed simply and without makeup, appeared outside the living room door, holding a baby.

Qiu Ruomei glanced into the living room from outside, her gaze meeting Song Qing's, who was scrutinizing her from head to toe. A fierce spark ignited between them.

Qiu Ruomei thought to herself, "What a pure and innocent woman! Ah Ren really can't change his ways; he must have been deceiving this young lady again last night!"

Song Qing thought to himself, "This is Ah Ren's wife? Hmm, indeed graceful, elegant, and naturally charming. Judging by her age, she's only in her early twenties, yet she already has such a big child. Alas, what a pitiful woman..." While

the two women were still sizing each other up, the Third Young Master introduced them with a grin: "Sister Mei, this young lady is the one I mentioned to you before, the daughter of Longyin Gong Song Wu. " "Song Qing. Qing'er, this is my sister Mei, Qiu Ruomei of the Snow Mountain Plum Blossom Sword Sect. The baby she's holding is my son, Qin Baobao. Baobao, come here, call her Auntie!"

Qiu Ruomei smiled faintly and said, "So it's Miss Qing. Aren, that's not right of you. How can you let Baobao call Miss Qing Auntie? Quickly call her Mother."

Baobao always obeyed Qiu Ruomei's orders, and immediately giggled and sweetly called Song Qing, "Mother!"

Song Qing's pretty face immediately blushed. Why did that "Mother" sound so much like "Second Mother"? She immediately felt a deep respect for Qiu Ruomei, thinking to herself that this sister seemed gentle and harmless, but in reality, she was very shrewd and had easily outmaneuvered her.

The Third Young Master clapped his hands and laughed, "That's a good name, very good! Hmm, Baobao is so good..."

Song Qing glared fiercely at the Third Young Master, but she was naturally charming, and although she tried her best to look fierce, her eyes still had a captivating charm.

"Qing'er greets Madam Qin." Song Qing smiled and bowed to Qiu Ruomei, who now blushed. She wasn't even officially married into the family yet, and the servants calling her "Young Madam, Young Madam" already made her blush. Now, Song Qing was addressing her so formally as "Madam Qin," which was even more embarrassing than the servants calling her "Young Madam."

The Third Young Master, being so intelligent, immediately saw that while the two women were outwardly polite, they were secretly vying for power. The Third Young Master couldn't interfere in such matters, nor did he wish to get involved. He took a sip of tea, stood up, and said, "I was drinking with my cousins earlier and got completely drunk. My head is still throbbing. I'll go rest for a bit and then come back. Sister Mei, please entertain Qing'er for a while and show her around the mansion so she can get familiar with the surroundings. I'm sorry, Qing'er, I said I'd bring you to my house, but I, as the host, have to excuse myself for a while. Hmm, at most an hour, not too long." "Don't rush home today. It's still early. Have dinner at my house, and I'll take you home."

Without waiting for the two women's reply, he dashed out. Passing Qiu Ruomei, he lightly patted the baby's rosy cheek and said seriously, "Baby, take good care of Mom for Dad! Keep an eye on your mother, don't let her bully your mom."

The baby obediently replied, "No, Mom won't bully Mom."

The Third Young Master laughed heartily and quickly walked out of the living room.

Qiu Ruomei and Song Qing watched the Third Young Master's retreating figure and sighed in unison. When they realized their sighs were exactly the same, the two women stared at each other wide-eyed.

Qiu Ruomei slowly walked to the Third Young Master's seat and sat down. She placed the baby on the coffee table, picked up the teacup the Third Young Master had used, took a sip, and smiled at Song Qing, saying, "Miss Qing, now that Aren is no longer here, I would like to ask you, when you were with Aren last night, did he do anything disrespectful to you?"

Song Qing smiled and asked, "What do you mean by that, Madam Qin?"

Qiu Ruomei sighed and said, "Aren is actually a pretty good person. He doesn't have any competitive spirit. Following him, one could expect a peaceful life. However, he is far too lustful, with an almost obsessive pursuit of beautiful women. Although he isn't exactly fickle, the helplessness of sharing a husband with so many women is indescribable. If I weren't pregnant, I wouldn't want to be with Aren either. He only has one person; how can he possibly choose between so many?" "Is it because you're so attentive to all the women who follow him?"

Song Qing said thoughtfully, "Does Madam Qin mean to advise Qing'er not to associate with Aren?"

Qiu Ruomei shook her head and said, "Not at all. What I mean is, if Miss Qing is truly willing to associate with Aren, she may have to endure the pain of being alone in her room in the future."

Song Qing smiled and said, "Qing'er thanks Madam Qin for the reminder. However, Madam Qin may have misunderstood. Qing'er and Aren are just close friends, and we have never mentioned romantic love. Last night, Aren did spend the night with Qing'er, but he always treated Qing'er with propriety and did not do anything improper."

Qiu Ruomei said in surprise, "Oh? How is that possible? From what I know of Aren, with someone as naturally beautiful as Miss Qing, even if Aren were to use any means necessary, he would still... well, those words are not easy to say."

Qiu Ruomei naturally understood the Third Young Master. He might not have much ambition in other matters, but when it came to beautiful women, he would stop at nothing. To say that he had spent a night with Song Qing and hadn't done anything would be utterly absurd.

Qiu Ruomei then carefully examined Song Qing again, scrutinizing her eyes, expression, and figure, and discovered that Song Qing was indeed still a virgin. Now Qiu Ruomei was even more puzzled. Had the Third Young Master really changed his ways?

Song Qing said, "Madam Qin, you're overthinking it. Last night, Qing'er and Aren talked all night long. Besides chatting, Aren really didn't do anything else. Hmm, Aren did mention when he first met Qing'er that he used to be a ruthless womanizer, but he's reformed now."

Qiu Ruomei chuckled, "That's strange. Aren would say he's reformed? Forgive my intrusion, but could Miss Qing tell me what you and Aren talked about last night?"

Song Qing smiled slightly and said, "Forgive my rudeness, but such a secret is really not something I can tell outsiders. Madam Qin must also know that these intimate words in the boudoir are a secret between the two of us. It wouldn't be good to say them out loud." "

Song Qing intended to make a joke. Seeing Qiu Ruomei's somewhat displeased expression, he chuckled, picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and whetted Qiu Ruomei's appetite before saying, "However, there is something I can say to Madam Qin. Ah Ren once said to Qing'er, 'Winter thunder roars, summer snow falls, mountains crumble, heaven and earth unite, only then will I part from you.' Qing'er is not very learned and does not know the meaning of these words. Qing'er thinks that Madam Qin has spent much more time with Ah Ren than Qing'er, and may have a better understanding of the Third Young Master's brilliant thoughts and literary talent. Therefore, Qing'er would like to ask Madam Qin if she knows the meaning of these words? I hope Madam Qin can tell me, so as to clear up Qing'er's doubts."

Qiu Ruomei was an intelligent person and understood after a little thought. She sighed softly, patted the baby's back as the baby lay on the coffee table, and said gently, "Baby, isn't your daddy a big bad guy?"

The baby stared with his beautiful big eyes, nodded his little head slightly, and said, "Mommy said Daddy is a big bad guy, so Daddy is a big bad guy."

Qiu Ruomei smiled contentedly and said, "Hmm, baby is so good. Baby will be a great hero in the future, and heroes fight bad guys, right?"

The baby said, "Yes, baby will be a great hero, baby will fight bad guys, baby will fight Daddy!"

Song Qing, listening from the side, was terrified, thinking to himself, "Was my joke a bit too much? Was Qiu Ruomei a bit too cruel? Just for such a small matter, she's stirring up trouble between father and son? This woman is not to be underestimated!"

※ ※ ※ ※

The culprit who caused all the trouble, the Third Young Master, was currently using his ghostly movements to quickly traverse the Qin family compound.

The first reason he fled the living room was, of course, to escape the verbal confrontation between the two women. Secondly, it was for some shady business!

As soon as he stepped out of the living room, he grabbed a servant, found out which guest room his cousin was staying in, and then stealthily made his way to the small pavilion in the west wing. Of course, he also found out where Tie Jian lived; his older cousin lived in the east wing, directly opposite the west wing, and the two were quite far apart, so there was no need to worry about Tie Jian discovering anything.

There were still very few servants in the Qin mansion, so the Third Young Master wasn't afraid of being discovered. Besides, his lightness skill was truly remarkable; after disappearing from one point and reappearing at another, his movement trajectory between the two points was completely invisible. Such miraculous lightness skill was probably only matched by Ximen Wudi in the world.

The Third Young Master arrived at the small pavilion in the west wing where Tie Xuanxuan lived, held his breath, and listened carefully to the surrounding sounds. Seeing no one in sight, he lightly leaped onto the balcony, opened the window, and climbed into the room.

~Chapter Seven: Flowers in Full Bloom, Section Four~

Upon entering the room, the Third Young Master felt a faint, delicate fragrance, like countless silken threads, gently waft into his nostrils.

The scent instantly invigorated him.

He knew, of course, that this fragrance was Tie Xuanxuan's unique scent.

Three years ago, during their shared bath, he had etched this aroma deep into his memory.

Taking another deep breath, he felt only the fragrance, not the smell of alcohol. It seemed his clean-loving cousin had thoroughly washed and prepared before going to bed.

A thin gauze curtain hung over the fragrant bed. Through it, the Third Young Master saw a hazy figure sleeping soundly, her arms and legs spread out in a rather unladylike posture.

She wore only an undergarment, her jade-like arms and long, straight legs completely exposed to the air.

Nearly 1.8 meters tall, her long legs possessed a captivating allure; smooth as if without a single pore, her legs were perfectly proportioned, straight, and slender.

Her waist was slender, barely concealed by her small undergarments and panties, revealing half of her snow-white waist and smooth, flat abdomen.

Her breasts, so firm and large that they could not be grasped in one hand, stood proudly erect; the undergarments only covered the upper half, leaving the rounded base exposed, the cheese-like skin radiating a faint glow.

The sleeping beauty breathed evenly, her serene face like that of a pure and innocent infant.

The Third Young Master, witnessing this perfect scene, felt his breathing quicken. His hand gently caressed her smooth, jade-like face, and he softly said, "Sister Xuanxuan, I've come to reclaim everything that should have belonged to me three years ago..."

His fingers lightly traced her face, following the curves of her cheeks to her slender neck, then expertly reached for the knot in her undergarment, gently untying it.

Warm, firm breasts struggled free from the undergarment's constraints, the two pink nipples standing proudly in the air, proclaiming their feminine pride.

Her snow-white breasts, contrasted with her two rosy nipples, resembled two red flowers in the snow, arousing longing.

She opened her eyes, her very feminine eyes shimmering with an alluring charm, glancing sideways at the young man gently loosening her sash.

Her eyes held excitement, longing, loss, and confusion.

The young man began to undress, and she stretched out her limbs, unconcerned that her beautiful, naked body was clearly visible to him. A woman's most beautiful side is naturally shown to the one she loves most.

Looking at him, her voice trembled slightly as she whispered, "Ah Ren… do you… do you love me?"

The young man paused, then smiled warmly, like the spring sunshine. He leaned down and gently kissed her cherry lips, saying, "I will be with you through life and death, never to be separated."

She smiled, a smile carrying so much happiness that tears streamed down her face.

Women are all made of water.

The boy captured her lips, his nimble tongue tracing her fragrant lips, her pearly teeth, and gently touching her tongue.

His warm, moist, slightly rough tongue drew in her saliva, then leaped out, roaming over her snow-white skin. It explored every inch of her body

, from snow-capped mountains to meadows, sending tingling, electric sensations through her, making her feel as if she were melting.

Their bodies were intertwined, his broad, strong chest caressing her warm, firm, soft breasts, his gentle licking away her tears. Those hot, bitter yet subtly sweet tears rolled on his tongue; he wanted to savor this long-lost feeling.

Her arms clung to his neck, her legs wrapped around his waist, like a muddy swamp drawing the conquering hero in. The initial pain sent a spasm through her, and the victorious hero, fueled by the afterglow of battle, roared in triumph.

He began his thrusts, melting her with his passion. She was trembling, she clenched her teeth, and let out a series of chilling moans that were both agonizing and utterly captivating.

The woman, strong and bold like a man, melted completely under the young man's passion, surging forth like a scalding tide. Her eyes, alluring to the extreme, held a misty haze—a bittersweet happiness.

Women, after all, are made of water…

※ ※ ※ ※

As Qin Feng left the Ministry of Justice compound, two questions lingered in his mind.

First, the whereabouts of Ximen Wudi. According to the intelligence group of the Xiaoyao Manor's "Jianghu Rumors" group, Ximen Wudi should have arrived in the capital. However, Qin Feng had been in the capital for nearly three years without finding a single trace of him. The Demonic Sect's

influence now spanned the entire country, its power comparable to that of the "Four Great Demons" when they led the sect. Yet, Ximen Wudi, the leader of the Demonic Sect, seemed to have vanished without a trace, completely evaporated from the face of the earth; no one had ever seen him. When the Demonic Sect operated in various places, it was always represented by members of the "Three Sects and Five Halls," who usually had other identities as cover, making investigation extremely difficult.

Qin Feng knew that Ximen Wudi aspired to rule the world. However, he simply couldn't believe that a powerful villain with such ambitions would willingly lie low for three years, remaining completely silent.

Therefore, the only explanation was that Ximen Wudi had indeed arrived in the capital, but he was using a different identity as a cover, and most likely a perfectly legitimate one. Otherwise, Qin Feng wouldn't have been unable to track him down.

Connecting this to Qiao Wei's deduction that the Demonic Sect's influence might have infiltrated the palace, Qin Feng guessed that Ximen Wudi might be lurking within the palace walls.

However, besides guards, the only other people in the palace were eunuchs. It was highly unlikely that Ximen Wudi would castrate himself to become Dongfang Bubai, let alone lower himself to become a guard.

So, what identity was Ximen Wudi using to infiltrate the capital?

Secondly, the Northern Frontier barbarians had been behaving strangely for the past six months.

According to intelligence, thirteen tribes of the Northern Frontier had combined their forces of 300,000 and deployed them before Luoling Pass. This is the strongest Hu (barbarian) military force in history. If they were to breach Luoling Pass, given their swift and decisive fighting style, the capital would be in grave danger within five days.

Historically, the Hu were adept at mounted warfare, particularly on plains, but less so at conquering fortified cities and passes. Therefore, for centuries, their incursions were primarily small-scale raids, bypassing passes to enter the Central Plains, engaging in guerrilla warfare, looting extensively, and then returning to the grasslands.

However, this time, the Hu were displaying an aggressive posture, deploying 300,000 troops against the 150,000 Qin soldiers at Luoling Pass. In terms of numbers, the Hu held an absolute advantage. If the 150,000 Qin soldiers were to clash head-on with the Hu, the Qin army would be annihilated, with no chance of victory.

However, the Qin army had the advantage of fortified passes and city walls, while the Hu barbarians lacked siege equipment. Even if they poured all their resources into a direct assault with 300,000 men, even if they fought to the last man, they would have no chance of capturing Luoling Pass.

This was the strange part. The Qin army's Ironclad Army clearly wouldn't engage the Hu barbarians in a direct confrontation. The commander guarding Luoling Pass, the eldest son Ying Su, while not a renowned general, was calm and knew how to use people effectively; he would have no problem defending the pass.

The Hu barbarians, on the other hand, clearly wouldn't launch a direct assault. They had been in a stalemate with the Ironclad Army at the pass for twelve days without engaging in a single battle, consuming vast amounts of food and fodder every day, their true intentions unclear.

Normally, the Hu barbarians' affairs wouldn't be Qin Feng's concern; that should have been the Ministry of War's business. However, as one of the seven royal secret agents, Qin Feng had the right to inquire about all matters of state. Especially now, with the Qin Emperor incompetent and neglecting state affairs, the powerful minister Hou Meng holding the reins of power in the court, and General Wang Ben wielding absolute authority in the military, the Qin Empire was on the verge of collapse. At this moment, Qin Feng was already beginning to plan for himself and the Xiaoyao Manor.

Qin Feng was certain that once the barbarians entered the Central Plains and approached the capital, the world would inevitably descend into chaos. If the Qin Emperor were killed or captured, the Qin Empire would be destroyed, returning to the chaotic era of warring states.

How to survive in this chaotic world, and even seize opportunities to achieve great things, depended entirely on understanding the overall situation.

Therefore, even though he was so disillusioned with the Qin Emperor that he was no longer willing to serve him, Qin Feng still spared no effort in gathering intelligence, striving to grasp the overall situation as early as possible so that he could formulate the most appropriate response in the future.

Qin Feng pondered this as he walked, while Qin Ni'er followed behind him, idly waving a willow branch she had broken off.

Seeing Qin Feng walking with his hands behind his back, taking one step at a time, ignoring her the whole way, she pouted and whispered in his ear, "Brother Qin, help me think of a solution!"

Qin Feng's train of thought was interrupted by her outburst. He wanted to scold her, but seeing her pitiful expression, his heart softened, and he asked, "What's troubling you? Do you need me to help you?"

Qin Ni'er said angrily, "I haven't seen my father for almost two and a half years! He used to dote on me the most, but ever since that vixen Consort Li came along, he hasn't paid any attention to me. Now, I can't even get through to him, while those seven new spies who clearly aren't decent people can freely enter and leave the palace. What kind of situation is this? I don't care if he's a foolish or wise ruler, but I'm about to get married, and he still won't give me a proper status. How am I supposed to marry into the family?" "?"

Qin Feng chuckled and said, "You're getting married soon? Really? Who are you marrying? I've never heard anyone mention it. What will happen

to my mistress if you get married?" Qin Ni'er rolled her eyes at Qin Feng and said reproachfully, "Aren't you just asking the obvious? The one I'm marrying is, of course, that heartless philanderer. He told me himself last night that after Uncle Qin and the others arrive in the capital, he'll choose an auspicious day to marry me."

Qin Feng nodded and smiled, "Oh, so that's what you whispered last night! I was wondering why I didn't know! Hmm, speaking of which, you were quite the chatterbox last night!"

Qin Ni'er blushed and reached out to pinch Qin Feng. But Qin Feng was walking quite casually, without any luck or lightness skill, yet her hand couldn't touch the hem of his clothes.

Annoyed, Qin Ni'er stomped her foot and said, "You brothers only know how to bully people! You have the nerve to say that? Last night, that womanizer coaxed her to sleep and then disappeared without a trace. He wasn't even home this morning; he must be out somewhere flirting with some young lady. You, as the eldest brother, shouldn't you keep an eye on him?"

The eldest young master spread his hands helplessly and said, "I really can't control him. Don't forget, I was born to take the blame and keep watch for him. That time in Wan Hua City, he was having a good time with you and your cousin in the house, while I was left to starve all night. How could I possibly control him?"

Qin Ni'er's face turned even redder when Qin Feng brought up the past. This was her deepest grudge. She had been so foolishly taken advantage of by the womanizer, and when she failed to kill him, she was moved by his selfless act and unknowingly fell in love with him.

Speaking of which, this seemingly respectable young master Qin was actually an accomplice of the womanizer.

"Brother Qin, I don't care, you have to help me find a way. Either keep an eye on Aren and stop him from going out and flirting with other women, or go see my father for me and explain things to him. After all, I am a princess, and when I get married, I naturally have to be proper with the wedding ceremony. I don't want to get married like this in a daze."

Qin Feng thought to himself, "Even if Aren wants to marry you, he'll be marrying all the girls in the family at the same time. But you are a princess. If you really announce your identity to the world, can you marry my third brother smoothly? Even if the emperor agrees, and you are proper with the wedding ceremony, wouldn't that make you the only one who matters in the family? Even my parents would have to kneel down and pay their respects to you. That won't do!"

Qin Feng was about to refuse, but Qin Ni'er, observing his expression, immediately sensed his intentions and said decisively, "You have to help me, whether you like it or not! Otherwise, I'll run to the Ministry of Justice and cry foul, saying that that heartless philanderer raped me and that you're an accomplice! I want to see where you, Young Master Qin, will put your face then!" Upon hearing this, the young master nearly collapsed.

The ruthless Qin Ni'er was always a wolf in sheep's clothing, calling him "brother" while brandishing a knife; she was the kind of person who killed without drawing blood. If he didn't agree to this, she really was capable of doing it.

Qin Feng, looking righteous and awe-inspiring, said, "Ni'er, don't worry, your business is my business! Whatever you need, I'll help you! Hmm, if we enter the palace openly, that dog Ning Zhaohao will block our way, so let's sneak into the palace at night! Xiao San has the best lightness skill, I'll go tell him to take you into the palace, and I'll keep watch for you!"

~Chapter 8 The Tiger's Roar: The Emperor's Slaughter, Section 1~

"Yawn..." Squatting at the foot of the palace wall, the Third Young Master let out a big, listless yawn.

Today was truly unlucky! He had finally managed to get Tie Xuanxuan on his side, planning to spend the night with him after sending Song Qing away, then go out for a run to the Song residence to sneak into Song Qing's place, using this as an opportunity to improve his physical fitness and lightness skill. Who knew that his eldest brother and Qin Ni'er would drag him into this palace raid?

Now all his plans had been ruined by his eldest brother and Qin Ni'er. Recalling the resentful look in Tie Xuanxuan's eyes when he casually mentioned he might not be back that night after seeing Song Qing off with the eldest brother and Qin Ni'er after dinner, the Third Young Master felt a surge of lust.

That was a supermodel-level beauty, 1.8 meters tall! In his previous life, with his philosophical understanding, the Third Young Master would never have been able to woo such a beauty into bed.

But thinking of Qiu Ruomei's calm and composed gaze, revealing nothing, the Third Young Master's lust vanished completely. The Third Young Master always felt that Qiu Ruomei, seemingly indifferent to worldly affairs, was actually very perceptive and probably knew everything he did.

After leaving, the Third Young Master kept pressing Song Qing about what Qiu Ruomei had said to her, but Song Qing only smiled and remained silent. Pressed by the questioning, he retorted, "Who told you to run away? Whose fault is it that you weren't there and couldn't hear us? Hmm, you had a special fragrance on you when you came back. Tell me honestly, did you really go to rest? Or did you take the opportunity to flirt with some respectable woman?"

The Third Young Master replied somewhat guiltily, "How could I? An hour isn't enough time to flirt with a respectable woman. I just put on a little extra perfume when I took a bath..."

And then there was the baby. When the innocent, lively, and adorable baby looked at him as he was leaving, why was there such an indescribable strange look in his eyes? It seemed like mockery, but what did a toddler of just over two years old know about mockery?

"Could it be that I'm a genius, so my son is also a genius?" the Third Young Master thought.

Now, the genius father, along with his delinquent older brother and delinquent girl, were squatting at the foot of the city wall, plotting how to enter the palace.

"The Heavenly Saint Palace is heavily guarded, with the Imperial Guards patrolling all night, and the Imperial Bodyguards are filled with experts. The current Emperor himself is also a super expert; although he's old and his physical strength may have declined, his internal energy will only become more refined. Therefore, trying to sneak into the Emperor's 'Hall of Mental Cultivation' undetected would be extremely risky," Qin Feng said in a low voice, dressed in black.

The Third Young Master yawned and waved his hand, saying, "How risky? With my lightness skill, the chance of being discovered is practically zero. Hehe, I can come and go freely in the Dragon Lord's residence; this palace is so big, there can't be people in every corner, right? Getting in is very easy."

The Third Young Master wasn't wearing black; his "invisibility robe" had an automatic color-changing function, like a chameleon. Now, in the night, the robe automatically turned black, blending the Third Young Master into his surroundings.

Qin Feng shook his head and said, "If it were before, even with countless experts in the inner palace, I was confident I could come and go freely. But now, I suspect Ximen Wudi might also be hiding in the inner palace, and there might even be many demonic sect experts there. Third brother, are you confident you can evade Ximen Wudi's eyes and ears?"

Hearing Qin Feng's words, the third young master's expression immediately became serious. He stopped yawning and looked intently at Qin Feng, saying, "Big brother, how did you deduce this?"

Qin Feng then explained his conjecture, concluding, "Ximen Wudi is highly skilled and ambitious. It's impossible for him to remain inactive in the capital. Therefore, he must be hiding in the inner palace, using some identity as a cover. And demonic sect disciples would naturally enter the palace to assist him. In my opinion, the palace might already be a place for demonic sects..." "And the palace of powerful and treacherous officials, otherwise why would Ni'er need to sneak in at night to see her father?"

The Third Young Master nodded thoughtfully and said, "Ximen Wudi did deliver imperial wine to Du Gongfu before... Speaking of which, Ximen Wudi might have even infiltrated the palace three years ago..."

Qin Feng said, "Therefore, this trip into the palace might be fraught with danger. If the three of us are discovered by Ximen Wudi, he won't even need to take action himself; he can simply shout 'Assassins!' and the Imperial Guards and the palace guards will surround us. Fighting our way out wouldn't be difficult, but if we are recognized, we will face the danger of being wanted nationwide. Furthermore, if Ximen Wudi takes action himself, although I am confident that I now have the strength to fight him, who knows if Ximen Wudi has improved in the past three years? If I..." "He's improving as well as he's improving. Even if we brothers join forces now, we might still be no match for him. Third brother, you'd better be careful. This time, it might be a life-or-death situation!"

After listening to Qin Feng's words, the third young master nodded solemnly and said resolutely, "Big brother, even if it's a life-or-death situation, with you by my side, I will definitely go without hesitation... Ugh, ugh, my stomach hurts so much. Oh no, I ate the wrong thing at dinner. I need to go to the toilet now... Big brother, Ni'er, you guys hold out for a bit, I'll be right back..."

The third young master clutched his stomach, bent over, and was about to slip away when Qin Feng grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back: "Don't play dumb with me, third brother. Do you think I don't know what you ate tonight? Seven bowls of white rice, two roast goose legs, a plate of duck feet, a bear paw, a tiger penis, two deer ribs, three cabbages, and seven ginseng roots." "Nine pieces of stinky tofu... We ate all that stuff you ate, and everyone else's stomachs are fine, but yours are? You think you can mess with me? No way!"

The Third Young Master said with a bitter face, "Boss, it's a near-death experience!"

Qin Feng said sternly, "A real man should disregard life and death! I'm not afraid, so why are you?"

The Third Young Master said, "Of course you're not afraid. You're penniless and don't even have a woman. You'd have no regrets if you died. But it's different for me. I have a whole family waiting for me to support them!"

Qin Feng nodded and said, "That makes sense... Well, then here's what we'll do. I'll keep watch outside while you go in. Even if something happens, I'll go back and report, and I'll take care of your family. Do you have anything valuable on you? Silver notes, gold notes, gold and jewels, etc., give them all to me, so they don't fall into the hands of those imperial guards."

"Damn, boss, you're inhuman!"

"Hmph, same goes for you. Enough talk, let's get moving. You keep watch!"

Before the words were even finished, Qin Feng grabbed the Third Young Master by the collar and threw him into the air, then grabbed Qin Ni'er by the collar and threw her into the air as well. The two of them instantly soared into the air as if riding on clouds, reaching a height exceeding that of the palace walls.

Helpless, the Third Young Master made a turn in mid-air, transforming his ascent into a slant, and landed on the city wall. Then he took off his belt, the Hun Tian Ling, and threw it, wrapping it around Qin Ni'er's waist and pulling her over as well.

The two of them crouched down beside the arrow crenellations on the city wall, looking down, but there was no sign of Qin Feng anywhere below the high city wall.

The Third Young Master pursed his lips and said softly, "See? That's just how our boss is. He promised to keep watch for us, but now he's gone back to sleep. There's no woman waiting for him at home. I really don't know why he went back so early."

Qin Ni'er pulled the Third Young Master's hand and said, "Alright, don't blame our eldest brother. Maybe he's creating an opportunity for us to be alone!"

The Third Young Master immediately rolled his eyes: "Damn, you don't need to come all the way to the palace to be alone, do you?" He grabbed Qin Ni'er's small hand and said, "Where is your father's palace? Show me the way, and I'll take you there."

The two of them leaped down the city wall and entered the palace. Under Qin Ni'er's guidance, they headed towards the "Hall of Mental Cultivation."

The Third Young Master held his breath and focused his mind the entire way. He was fully aware of every movement within a fifty-foot radius. He knew exactly where people were and where no one was.

Even the most skilled stealth master, even if he could hold his breath and remain hidden, still needed to circulate his internal energy. Now that he had achieved oneness with heaven and man, reaching the state of "the formless heavenly way," the Third Young Master, with his full sensitivity, could even sense the faintest sensations of true energy flowing within a master's body. Therefore, even hidden masters and sentries could be easily bypassed.

He arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation without incident, his contempt for Qin Feng's "nine deaths and one life" argument reaching its peak. There were indeed many masters in the palace; the Third Young Master had sensed the auras of many hidden, top-tier masters. However, none were qualified to discover him or Qin Ni'er, whom he protected.

People say the palace is a dragon's den and a tiger's lair, but for a master of lightness skills like the Third Young Master, it was no different than his own outhouse, easily accessible.

The two crouched behind a cluster of artificial hills, looking at the Hall of Mental Cultivation not far ahead. The Hall of Mental Cultivation was surrounded by an open space of about fifty zhang (approximately 150 meters), without any concealment. And around that open space stood squads of imperial guards. Twenty imperial guards stood watch outside the main gate of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and another twenty guards stood along the base of each of the other three walls.

Two junior eunuchs and a middle-aged, plump eunuch also stood outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation; the plump eunuch was none other than the Grand Eunuch Ning Zhaohao.

Looking at the heavily guarded Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Third Young Master leaned close to Qin Ni'er's ear and said, "Ni'er, why do I feel like these people aren't protecting your father, but rather like they're imprisoning him?"

Qin Ni'er retorted irritably, "Nonsense. With my father's martial arts skills, even ten times more guards couldn't stop him. Besides, the 'Tiger Roar Hall' is right next to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. If anyone wants to harm my father, he only needs to enter the Tiger Roar Hall in time, activate the Tiger Roar, and then no one in the world will be his match, including that Ximen Wudi."

The Third Young Master said dismissively, "If Ximen Wudi wanted to assassinate the emperor, fifty zhang would be a dead end with no chance of survival. How could your father possibly activate the Tiger Roar? Hmm... you also know..." "The Roar of the Tiger?"

Qin Ni'er said with a hint of pride, "Of course I know. Anyone with a little knowledge knows about the two heavenly weapons, 'Dragon's Roar and Tiger's Howl.' Back then, the seven kingdoms stood side by side, constantly at war. Among the seven kingdoms, there were many famous generals and countless experts. My father and Lord Longyin, Song Wu, relied on these two heavenly weapons to defeat the famous generals of the other six kingdoms one by one. Although the destruction of the six kingdoms was not entirely due to the power of the two heavenly weapons, my father once said that if it weren't for 'Dragon's Roar and Tiger's Howl,' my father and Lord Longyin would have been surrounded and killed by the experts and assassins sent by the other six kingdoms. The war of unification would have lasted at least another ten years, and the Qin Dynasty would not have been able to unify the world."

The Third Young Master was horrified. What kind of concept was it that two weapons could end a war ten years earlier? Although he had met Longyin once, and Longyin had absorbed nine drops of his heart's blood and served him as its master, he had never seen Longyin's true face, nor did he know anything about how to use Longyin or its power.

Now that he heard that Hu Xiao, who was as famous as Long Yin and had always served as the ruler, holding a position above Long Yin as a subject, was in the Hu Xiao Hall next to the Yangxin Hall, the Third Young Master couldn't help but have a wicked thought: "Ni'er, do you think I can 'borrow' Hu Xiao for a few days? Just for a few days, and then return it, what do you think?"

Qin Ni'er smiled teasingly and said, "I think you want to borrow it and never return it, right? Although you are my man, and I will always side with you, there's nothing I can do about this. Even if you can successfully infiltrate the Hu Xiao Hall, you can't unseal the sealed Hu Xiao. Even if you can successfully unseal it, it's impossible for Hu Xiao to serve you as its master. In this world, only my father, the Emperor, can use Hu Xiao. Unless my father passes away, Hu Xiao will never accept a new master."

The Third Young Master was puzzled. Why did Long Yin abandon Long Yin Gong and switch to him as its new master? Logically speaking, once a heavenly soldier recognizes a master, their loyalty should be beyond question. So why did Longyin betray its master and switch allegiance?

Thinking back, considering the autonomy Longyin displayed that day, if it truly intended to abandon Song Wu, it should have come directly to the Third Young Master. But Longyin is still in the Song residence, so it seems Song Wu can still use Longyin. Could it be… Longyin tricked him? Or perhaps, as a celestial soldier, Longyin knows its own death is imminent?

Lost in these wild thoughts, the Third Young Master couldn't resist the temptation to witness the Heavenly Soldier Tiger Roar. He said to Qin Ni'er, "Good Ni'er, sweet Ni'er, just tell your brother which hall is the Tiger Roar Hall. Brother only wants to see Tiger Roar, I promise I won't touch it, what do you say?"

Qin Ni'er glared at the Third Young Master and said, "But tonight's main purpose is to see Father Emperor!"

The Third Young Master said, "Isn't seeing Tiger Roar the same as seeing your father? Alright, Ni'er, take me there. If I don't see Tiger Roar, I'll die of lovesickness!"

~Chapter Eight: Tiger Roar's Reign of King Murder, Section Two~

Qin Ni'er asked curiously, "Don't you only like beautiful women?" "Why are you so curious about a weapon now?"

Despite her words, Qin Ni'er still pointed out the location of the Tiger Roar Palace to the Third Young Master: "See that palace south of the Hall of Mental Cultivation? That's the Tiger Roar Palace. It's entirely made of brass, and the palace is full of traps, but there are no guards. If you want to go in, you just need to be able to break the traps."

The Third Young Master looked in the direction Qin Ni'er was pointing. In the night, a palace radiating a golden glow under the lamplight was mostly blocked by the Hall of Mental Cultivation, with only a corner of the roof showing.

"Break the traps? It's very simple. By the way, Ni'er, do you know anything about traps?"

"Although my martial arts are not very good, I have been immersed in the use of poison, traps, and formations for many years and have quite a bit of experience."

"Then, how much do you know about the traps of the Tiger Roar Palace?"

"I once asked my father for the trap diagrams of the Tiger Roar Palace and studied them. I know the traps of the Tiger Roar Palace very well." The Third Young Master chuckled and said, "

Since you know the mechanisms of the Tiger Roar Palace, why do you need me to break them? Why don't you just lead me around them? If these mechanisms are broken, it'll be very troublesome to reinstall them later. We should be considerate of those in charge of mechanisms in the palace and not cause them any trouble, right?"

Qin Ni'er looked at the Third Young Master suspiciously and said, "I'm afraid... you know absolutely nothing about mechanisms, don't you?"

The Third Young Master said seriously, "Ni'er, you underestimate me. I, Qin Ren, am a genius, overflowing with talent. How could I be completely ignorant of mechanisms? Although I wouldn't dare say my skills in mechanisms are unparalleled, I'm certainly proficient in at least six out of seven things. The reason I don't want to break the mechanisms is truly to lighten the burden on the palace workers, saving them both manpower and money." Qin Ni'er didn't think too much about the meaning behind the Third Young Master's words and nodded, "

Alright, since you've said so, I'll take you to see the Tiger Roar Hall. And remember, you can only look, you can't touch anything inside!"

The Third Young Master looked righteous and awe-inspiring: "I, Qin Ren, always keep my word!"

Immediately, the Third Young Master pulled Qin Ni'er along, using his light-footed skill that left no trace, bypassing the Hall of Mental Cultivation, avoiding the eyes and ears of all the imperial guards, whether in the open or in the shadows, and arrived at the back of the Tiger Roar Hall.

The Tiger Roaring Palace wasn't particularly tall or imposing, but the palace, entirely cast in brass, exuded a unique air of majesty and wealth. Its shape resembled a crouching tiger, poised to roar.

"The main gate is currently closed. If we enter through the gate, the sound of it opening will alert the guards. Therefore, we must enter through the roof," Qin Ni'er said. Afterward, the Third Young Master pulled her onto the roof.

Stepping onto the smooth brass tiles, the Third Young Master said, "This roof is also entirely made of brass, unlike other palaces where you can simply lift the tiles to enter. Now that we're on the roof, how are we going to get down?"

Qin Ni'er smiled slightly and said, "Don't forget, I know the Tiger Roaring Palace's mechanisms inside and out." Suddenly, her expression changed. She pinched the skin on the Third Young Master's hand with two fingernails and twisted it hard, saying, "Well said, 'Six of the seven orifices are open!' I only just remembered that it was also a..." "I don't understand!"

The Third Young Master felt a piercing pain on the back of his hand, but dared not cry out. He hissed and begged for mercy, "Good Ni'er... I, I beg you, please spare me... I was just joking, why make such a fuss? Why bother?"

Qin Ni'er chuckled and said, "Let's see if you dare to play tricks on me again! Don't think that just because I'm kind, I'm stupid. Let me tell you, this girl is naturally intelligent, your tricks won't fool me!" With that, she released the Third Young Master's hand.

The Third Young Master looked at his bruised hand in the dim light and thought to himself, "Ni'er, you are indeed kind! If it weren't for my immunity to all poisons, I might have been poisoned to death by the flower poison you painted on my fingernails... Indeed, the most poisonous heart is a woman's, the ancients were not lying!"

Qin Ni'er crouched and walked a few steps on the roof, reaching the ridge. But after groping around under the ridge for a while, she somehow managed to make a five-foot square crack appear in the ridge.

"Follow me down from here. Don't touch anything along the way. If you trigger any mechanisms, I won't be able to help you," Qin Ni'er called out, and took the lead, crawling into the opening.

The Third Young Master followed her in. The opening closed automatically after he entered, but instead of becoming pitch black as he had expected, it was illuminated by a faint blue glow.

The Third Young Master followed Qin Ni'er, surveying his surroundings as he descended.

It was a winding, spiraling passage, descending at an angle, like a spiral pipe. It wasn't very high; both the Third Young Master and Qin Ni'er had to bend over to pass. The walls were inlaid with tiny, thumb-sized luminous pearls, brightly illuminating the entire passage.

The Third Young Master, beaming, said, "So many luminous pearls, how much did that cost? And why is this secret passage designed like this? Is it to make it easier for thieves to steal things?"

Qin Ni'er replied, "Nonsense, this is for catching thieves. Tiger Roar Palace deliberately left this mechanism entrance to lure in those skilled enough to evade the imperial guards and sneak into the palace, and those capable of discovering the mechanism entrance on the roof.

"Each luminous pearl has a spring behind it. If a thief sneaks in through this passage and sees a pearl and becomes greedy, taking one will trigger the mechanism.

"At that time, the slope of the entire passage will increase sharply, making it impossible for anyone to maintain their balance, and they will slide down. The luminous pearls will then fall off on their own, and eighty-one steel needles coated with deadly poison will pop out from each hole.

"Even if you're not afraid of poison, you'd probably be shot to death by countless steel needles with this mechanism."

The Third Young Master curled his lip and said, "Brother, I have billions in wealth, would I covet these pearls?" "Ni'er, you underestimate me!"

Despite his words, the Third Young Master still harbored wicked thoughts. If Qin Ni'er hadn't reminded him in time, his hand might have already reached out to dig for the beads.

How much would so many luminous pearls be worth if converted into silver? Even if the Third Young Master were wealthy, he would still be tempted!

The pipe wasn't very long, only about fifty zhang. After reaching the bottom, Qin Ni'er groped around at the sealed end of the pipe for a while, but the Third Young Master still couldn't see what she had done. Then, the sealed end silently opened.

The Third Young Master opened the exit and was about to step inside. Unexpectedly, Qin Ni'er grabbed him, closed the exit again, leaving only a narrow gap, and put a slender, delicate index finger to her lips, making a shushing gesture.

The Third Young Master was greatly surprised. Peering through the narrow opening left by Qin Ni'er, he was immediately shocked, his heart nearly leaping out of his chest.

In that instant, he deduced that the exit was located on a pillar in the center of the hall. Directly opposite him was a massive bronze altar, upon which sat a huge bronze tiger statue.

However, the enormous tiger statue itself wasn't what truly astonished him; what truly shocked him were the two people standing before it!

Both had their backs to him, standing before the altar, seemingly looking up at the tiger statue.

The one on the left was a woman, dressed in an exquisite and beautiful palace dress, her long, flowing hair cascading down her back to her waist. Two snow-white, shapely arms were exposed, and her long, straight legs appeared completely unclothed, bathed in a pale yellow... Her figure was partially obscured by a pale yellow gauze skirt. She wasn't even wearing an undergarment; through the skirt, her shapely hips were visible. Her slender waist was completely hidden from the skirt upwards, but based on his years of experience navigating the world of desire, even though her hair covered most of her back, he could tell that she wasn't wearing an undergarment either!

Beside her, although only her back was shown, he recognized the person.

This person was draped in a long, black robe from head to toe, completely concealing his hair and legs. A faint, ethereal darkness seemed to surround him, enveloping his body. This black layer seemed to possess an immense suction force, drawing away all the light from the lamps and candles around him; there wasn't a trace of light on his black robe. There was a slight reflection.

With such a dark aura and such a convincing air of mystery, who else could it be but the eccentric leader of the Demonic Sect, Ximen Wudi?

Ximen Wudi was indeed hiding in the palace!

The Third Young Master couldn't help but admire his elder brother greatly.

No wonder Qin Ni'er forbade him from going out; she had also recognized Ximen Wudi. If they rashly went out, they might both be doomed tonight.

The two suppressed their nervousness and kept their heartbeats as low as possible to avoid giving themselves away, holding their breath intently as they eavesdropped.

Ximen Wudi spoke in his usual ethereal and strange voice: "Consort Li, you have been in the palace for two years and seven months. How come you still haven't found out how to activate the Tiger's Roar? Has Consort Li forgotten her status after becoming the favored concubine of the Holy Emperor Ying? In that case, I, Ximen, have been quite disrespectful. Should I kneel down and speak to Consort Li?" The Third

Young Master's heart pounded. This woman was none other than Consort Li, the one who had kept the Qin Emperor from attending court for nearly three years! Rumor had it that Consort Li was a femme fatale, possessing a captivating allure in every smile and gesture. Seeing her today, he realized that reputation was far from satisfied. Although he had only seen her back, the Third Young Master was already certain that Consort Li was a born harlot; otherwise, she wouldn't have come to see Ximen Wudi without even wearing underwear.

However, what greatly surprised the Third Young Master was that Consort Li was also a member of the Demonic Sect. No wonder the Demonic Sect's power had grown so rapidly. With Consort Li whispering in the Qin Emperor's ear, how could the Demonic Sect not thrive, and how could the world not be in chaos?

He glanced at Qin Ni'er, whose face was filled with resentment. If Ximen Wudi hadn't been there, she probably would have already rushed over and poisoned Consort Li a thousand times over—although the Third Young Master's true intention was to rape and then kill her…

The concubine, in a sweet, melodious voice, said, “Your Majesty has misunderstood me. I have tried my best to find out, but that old codger, Emperor Qin, though utterly incompetent, is relentless on this matter. No matter how much I inquire, it is useless. Now that we have finally reached this point, I fear that pressing him too hard will arouse his suspicion. If this leads to failure, all my hard work over the past two years will have been in vain. I am utterly loyal to Your Majesty, with a… unwavering devotion. Does Your Majesty not know this? Though I am unwilling to submit to that old man who is about to die, I force myself to endure it for Your Majesty’s grand ambitions. If it weren’t for Your Majesty, I fear I would have already… already died amidst that old man’s endless torment…” As she spoke, a sob crept into her voice.

The Third Young Master found the mushy talk utterly disgusting, thinking to himself, "No wonder Consort Li came to see Ximen Wudi without wearing underwear; it turns out the two have been having an affair for a long time.

" Ximen Wudi remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Ah Li, I know your thoughts. However… the situation has reached a critical point. The northern barbarian tribes have 300,000 troops stationed at Luoling Pass, consuming countless amounts of silver and grain daily, yet they cannot wage war against the Central Plains, simply because King Ying is still alive, and because Hu Xiao is still under his control. Once I control Hu Xiao and eliminate King Ying, half the world will be in my hands. Alas, you…" "These past two years in the palace have been tough on you. Now, the Demonic Sect's influence extends throughout the land. Only by joining forces can the Carefree Manor and the Iron-Blooded Howling Sky Fortress contend with us. The court is completely under our control, and you have played an indispensable role in this."

Consort Li sobbed, "What does suffering matter as long as I can gain a word of praise from His Majesty? But why must His Majesty obtain the Tiger's Roar? I have heard that once a former master dies, the Heavenly Soldiers will naturally recognize a new master. Why doesn't His Majesty simply kill Saint King Ying and seize the Tiger's Roar by force?"

"The Tiger's Roar is equivalent to a symbol of imperial power. Possessing the Tiger's Roar would at least win over half the people's hearts. I don't care about divine weapons, but I cannot ignore the significance the Tiger's Roar represents. As for killing King Ying..." Ximen Wudi chuckled, "Do you think he's someone you can kill at will? You've mastered our sect's seductive arts and charm techniques, and for the past two years you've been intimate with King Ying day and night. Have you ever seen him show any signs of depletion? King Ying has the title 'Invincible Overlord,' and his power is extraordinary." " The sound of his movements is completely ineffective against him. Even if I, the Supreme One, were to personally take his life, hmph, I fear I would not succeed,"

said Consort Li. "The Holy Lord Ying is old; although his internal energy is more refined, his physical strength is waning. If Your Majesty were to attack, he would definitely not last ten moves. If attacked by a sneak attack, he wouldn't even last one."

Ximen Wudi sneered, "I, the Holy Lord Ying, do not take him seriously. However, there is another person in this palace whom even I dare not claim victory over!"

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