The nursemaid who had been caring for Zhiyan held no particular fondness for either Suo Lun or Zhili, so she was unwilling to see Zhiyan return to the Raging Wave Kingdom.
At first, she had not thought much of Ji Min either, this immature child. But over the past year and more, she had completely changed her opinion.
On the surface, Ji Min was frivolous and flighty, but in truth he was deeply devoted and gentle, the best possible match for Zhiyan.
Ever since the baby was born, he had sent countless things for the child, from clothing to toys, to food, cradles, and baby walkers. He had thought of everything.
Now, hearing that Zhiyan intended to return to the Raging Wave Kingdom, her expression changed slightly. Then she said in a low voice, “Yes, I shall prepare at once.”
After going out, she immediately sent a female warrior off, saying in a low voice, “Go tell Prince Ji Min that the princess is returning to the Raging Wave Kingdom.”
Instantly, that female warrior flew off like the wind.
Roughly half an hour later, Prince Ji Min came flying like the wind, charging directly into the room.
“Zhiyan, you are not allowed to leave.” Crown Prince Ji Min shouted loudly, then spread his arms wide to block her path.
To be precise, only the first two words were very loud. Seeing the baby startle and tremble, he quickly lowered his voice.
Zhiyan held the baby and said nothing, merely looking at him.
In all their contests, Ji Min had never won against Zhiyan. Whatever Zhiyan wished to do, she would certainly do it.
So she simply looked at him calmly, and this alone gave Ji Min enormous pressure.
Ji Min felt so sorrowful he wanted to cry, but now he was someone who needed to protect Zhiyan and the baby. He needed to be mature and strong. He could never cry again.
Ji Min forced himself to calm down and said, “Zhiyan, I am close to persuading my grandmother. Very soon we can be married. The baby in your arms will be treated as my own. If you worry that I will treat him badly in the future, then after we marry we shall never have another baby.”
His voice sounded calm, but in truth it was trembling. He was truly afraid of losing Zhiyan.
For the first time, Zhiyan’s gaze towards Ji Min was filled with tenderness. She had always thought Ji Min had the heart of a child, that his so-called affection for her was merely a passing childish fancy. She had never imagined that he was not only truly devoted, but also a good man with a sense of responsibility.
“Truly, I beg you, do not go.” Ji Min pleaded.
Zhiyan said softly, “Ji Min, you are the most adorable man I have ever met. I am not worthy of you. There should be a better girl who can make you happy.”
“But I only want you.” Ji Min said.
“Farewell…” Zhiyan said.
Then, holding the baby, she walked towards a magnificent, enormous carriage.
Suddenly, Prince Ji Min said, “May I hold the baby?”
Zhiyan stepped forward and handed the baby in her arms to Ji Min.
Ji Min held him carefully, examining the baby’s chubby white little face in minute detail. His gaze warmed, then he kissed the baby’s forehead tenderly yet forcefully.
He dared not embrace Zhiyan. He dared not kiss Zhiyan. It was as if he wished to pour all his love for Zhiyan into this single kiss upon the baby.
The baby’s dark, glistening eyes stared at Ji Min, and his chubby little hand reached out to touch him.
Instantly, Ji Min could hold back no longer. Tears welled up once more. He quickly returned the baby to Zhiyan.
Zhiyan held the baby and boarded the enormous carriage.
“Depart…” At Zhiyan’s command, this procession of several hundred riders began heading south, advancing towards the Raging Wave Kingdom.
Suddenly, Ji Min shouted from behind, “Zhiyan, if things do not go well in the Raging Wave Kingdom, remember, you must, you must come back.”
Inside the carriage, Zhiyan could hold back no longer. Tears slid from her eyes.
An hour later, Zhiyan’s procession left the enormous city of Yanjing.
Not long after leaving Yanjing, a cavalry force of three thousand appeared, actively taking over the defence of Zhiyan’s procession.
Without a doubt, this was cavalry dispatched by the Yan Empire to escort Zhiyan back to the Raging Wave royal capital.
……
Raging Wave Kingdom.
To avoid any unnecessary delays, Fang Qingshu led the judges and the trial knights in an almost non-stop march, travelling day and night without rest.
After four days and four nights, they finally reached the gateway to Tianshui City, the Wind and Thunder Fortress defence line.
At this moment, the defending general of the Wind and Thunder Fortress defence line was Tu An.
Fang Qingshu produced the documents of the Dragon God Temple and said, “The Dragon God Temple has official business in Tianshui main city. Please grant passage!”
At this moment, Fang Qingshu showed not the slightest arrogance, nor did he mention arresting Yan Nai’er. This was not because he was so refined and courteous, but because he did not wish to create unnecessary complications.
The defending general Tu An took the documents of the Dragon God Temple and the gold token from the Zhidu Temple, examined them carefully, and said, “Open the gates!”
“Rumble, rumble, rumble…”
The enormous gates of the Wind and Thunder Fortress defence line were opened once more!
Fang Qingshu was slightly startled. It had actually gone so smoothly?
But there was no time to think further. Fang Qingshu continued leading his force through the gates of the Wind and Thunder Fortress, galloping towards Tianshui main city.
At the gates of Tianshui main city, after Fang Qingshu produced the gold token and documents of the Dragon God Temple, they were once again allowed through without obstruction.
In the end, he led sixteen judges and five hundred trial knights in a menacing charge to the area outside the gates of the Tianshui City Lord’s residence, surrounding it so completely that not even water could pass through.
Whether judges or trial knights, their cloaks and robes were extremely imposing and eye-catching.
The Tianshui City Lord’s residence was now the highest seat of power in the entire Southeast Province. Yet it was surrounded at its main entrance by an imposing armed force. Instantly, the common folk nearby and spies from all directions began converging upon the Tianshui City Lord’s residence to see what was happening.
Fang Qingshu produced the arrest warrant and read aloud, “Yan Shuang (Yan Nai’er), fiancée of Tianshui City Lord Suo Lun, is suspected of anti-Dragon God faith and anti-Dragon God force. Fang Qingshu is hereby ordered to lead the judges and the trial knights to carry out the arrest immediately. By order of Grand Inquisitor Luo Ge of the Zhidu Dragon God Temple Inquisition!”
By now, having already charged to the front of the Tianshui City Lord’s residence gates, there was no need to worry about creating complications. Fang Qingshu read the arrest warrant aloud, as if he feared the world might not know.
He intended to slap Suo Lun’s face fiercely, letting all the feudal lords and nobles of the world see clearly that Suo Lun was in trouble.
Among the One Hall and Four Continents, the Hidden Continent and Zhili were the most deeply entangled in shared interests. If Zhili failed to seize the throne, it would be an incomparably enormous blow to the Hidden Continent. Therefore, Fang Qingshu would naturally stop at nothing.
After finishing, Fang Qingshu sat upon his fine horse, raising his head to look at the crowd gathered around the City Lord’s residence. With a single glance, he identified at least several dozen spies.
He believed the news here would soon spread in all directions, and everyone in the Raging Wave Kingdom would know that Suo Lun was in trouble.
Fang Qingshu dismounted and ordered sternly, “Charge in and arrest her. If anyone resists, kill them without mercy!”
Instantly, the sixteen judges and five hundred trial knights came before the gates of the City Lord’s residence, raising their great swords to smash the gates.
“Creak!” The gates of the City Lord’s residence opened. The peerlessly beautiful Princess Zhiyan stood gracefully at the entrance.
Seeing Zhiyan, Fang Qingshu’s heart swayed.
He could tell Zhiyan’s changes at a single glance. Her figure had become more alluring. Even the curves of her chest and rounded hips had become more full and voluptuous.
The original Zhiyan had been like a jade sculpture, transcending the mundane world, without the slightest trace of earthly dust.
The present Zhiyan, though still possessing an abundance of fairy-like aura, was simultaneously filled with an incomparable ** allure.
Fang Qingshu’s heart sank, and boundless fury, boundless jealousy, and boundless hatred surged forth.
He knew that Zhiyan had already fallen. This fairy had already been slept with by Suo Lun. Otherwise, there would not have been such great changes.
“Suo Lun, I will certainly tear you into ten thousand pieces. I will torment your women until they cannot live or die as they wish.” Fang Qingshu nearly bit his teeth until they bled.
Zhiyan was his greatest love, his forbidden fruit.
Almost ten years ago, he had already chosen Zhiyan, vowing to marry no one but her.
For a full ten years, this proud son of heaven had not so much as touched a single finger of Princess Zhiyan. And now, she had actually been slept with by Suo Lun, this worthless nobody.
Heavenly pain, heavenly humiliation!
Zhiyan looked at Fang Qingshu and said, “What are you doing?”
Fang Qingshu said coldly, “Arresting someone. Whoever dares obstruct us will be killed without mercy!”
……
At this moment, Fu Lingxi was giving lessons to Ashi Yuanba and Qinqin.
Suo Ningbing rushed in and said to the two children, “Yuanba, take your younger sister to Aunt Yan’er’s place. Do not come out, do you understand?”
Ashi Yuanba had originally wanted to ask what had happened, but Aunt Ningbing was treating him completely as a child, so he asked no further questions. He simply nodded and said, “Yes.”
Then, Yuanba took Qinqin’s hand and went to Fu Yan’er’s courtyard.
Suo Ningbing said to Fu Lingxi, “Mother, Fang Qingshu has led the judges and the trial knights to arrest Nai’er. You must save her.”
Fu Lingxi’s expression changed. The thing she feared most had indeed come to pass. She furrowed her brows and said, “I warned Suo Lun before to send Yan Nai’er away. A few days ago, I also spoke with Yan Nai’er, asking her to leave of her own accord. Not only did she refuse to listen, but she wanted to drive me away, saying that Suo Lun had already resolved this trouble.”
Suo Ningbing said, “Little brother also told me that this trouble had already been resolved.”
Fu Lingxi said, “Suo Lun is too naive. His little bit of power is nothing before the Dragon God Temple. He insists on suffering a great loss before he knows the consequences.”
As she spoke, Fu Lingxi walked towards the main entrance of the City Lord’s residence.
……
And at this moment, at the main entrance of the City Lord’s residence, Zhiyan and Fang Qingshu had already entered a confrontation as tense as drawn swords.
“Zhiyan, if you do not step aside, do not blame me for showing no consideration.” Fang Qingshu said coldly, “Although you are a princess of the kingdom, if you dare obstruct the Dragon God Temple’s affairs, you know full well how grave the consequences will be.”
“I am not blocking you.” Zhiyan said, “But even if you wish to arrest someone, you must wait until my husband Suo Lun arrives!”
The word “husband” from Zhiyan’s mouth enraged Fang Qingshu even further. He said harshly, “Draw swords! Whoever dares obstruct us, kill them without mercy!”
“Shing…” Instantly, the sixteen judges behind him and several hundred trial knights drew their swords in unison.
The atmosphere at the scene was so oppressive it nearly solidified, ready to explode at the slightest touch.
And the spies at the main entrance of the City Lord’s residence had their eyes bright with anticipation, waiting for an even more intense and explosive scene to unfold.
Just at this moment, a voice shouted from the air, “Hold…”
A griffin dove down, and the one who came was Tianshui City Lord Suo Lun!
Suo Lun leapt directly from the griffin’s back and came before Fang Qingshu, saying coldly, “Lord Fang Qingshu, are you certain you must arrest my wife Yan Nai’er?”
“Of course…” Fang Qingshu said coldly, “Now, no one can save your woman anymore.”
Suo Lun said, “Are you certain you will not regret this?”
Fang Qingshu laughed heartily and said, “Suo Lun, you won a small victory in the secular world and have become so ignorant and arrogant? You, a petty feudal lord, are like an ant, and you say you will make me regret?”
Then, Fang Qingshu shouted harshly, “Go in, arrest her!”
Suo Lun said, “Very well, I will hand the person over at once. Someone, go and invite Lady Yan Nai’er out!”
By now, the area outside the Tianshui City Lord’s residence was packed with people.
Half a quarter of an hour later, the peerlessly beautiful Yan Nai’er, dressed in a dark blue long dress, walked out gracefully, appearing before everyone in a manner never seen before.