“Jingyan, you know perfectly well that Nalan Rong is not as simple as she seems. If you could clearly understand Li Kingdom's plans, attacking Li Kingdom would be much easier.” Shen Qianmo reached out and stroked the wrinkles between Situ Jingyan's brows, a faint smile playing on her lips. She knew that her Jingyan was worried about her. But only she was the most suitable person to go on this mission.
Yan Xiuling has now set off back to Linwei. Both Linwei and Tianmo are making intensive plans and preparations. Situ Jingyan cannot leave Tianmo at all, so it is most appropriate for her to go.
“It’s just attacking the Li Kingdom! We don’t need to know the plans, it will still work!” Situ Jingyan still stubbornly held Shen Qianmo’s hand.
How could he not understand Nalan Rong's prowess? But it was precisely because of Nalan Rong's prowess that he was reluctant to let Shen Qianmo venture out alone. He was also aware that knowing Li Kingdom's plans would make the war twice as effective, but in his eyes, nothing was more important than Shen Qianmo's safety.
Seeing the reassurance in Situ Jingyan's eyes, Shen Qianmo smiled smugly, "Jingyan, do you really not trust me?"
"Mo'er, you know perfectly well that's not what I meant." Situ Jingyan looked at Shen Qianmo helplessly. How could he not believe in his Mo'er's abilities? However, Nalan Rong was no ordinary person, and besides, he couldn't tolerate even the slightest danger to Shen Qianmo, not even a potential one!
Shen Qianmo naturally understood Situ Jingyan's meaning. She squeezed Situ Jingyan's hand tightly, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Jingyan, don't worry. I am your wife, and I will not be a useless person."
A glint flashed in Situ Jingyan's dark eyes as he gazed intently at Shen Qianmo, as if trying to see into her very soul. "I am your wife, and therefore I am not a useless person." His Mo'er, how could he love her so much!
Holding Shen Qianmo tightly, Situ Jingyan silently conveyed his meaning: I allow you to go, but you must be careful. If you dare to take any risks, don't blame me for keeping you under my wing and not giving you any opportunities to take risks in the future.
Shen Qianmo sensed Situ Jingyan's unspoken meaning from his embrace. A warm smile appeared on her lips as she hugged him tightly, telling him not to worry.
The tense situation allows no room for lingering.
Situ Jingyan was busy deploying various forces, while Shen Qianmo also arrived in Li Kingdom from Tianmo.
"What is Nalan Rong doing?" Shen Qianmo's eyes were dark, and a cold smile played on her lips. At this moment, she was Mo Chi, the Demon Palace Master, the ruthless Demon Palace Master who killed without blinking an eye.
“It seems like nothing’s happening.” Xuan Lou’s eyes, which were veiled in a light mist, were now even more unfocused. He frowned slightly and said with a hint of seriousness, “But the atmosphere in the capital of Li Kingdom is not quite right.”
Shen Qianmo raised an eyebrow and looked at Xuan Lou. Something seemed off about the atmosphere. This was far too subjective, but Xuan Lou wasn't one to speak carelessly. If he said something like that, there must be some basis for it.
Xuan Lou saw Shen Qianmo raise her eyebrows and look at him, and immediately frowned and expressed his opinion, "Nalan Rong did not deploy any troops, but only mobilized a lot of experts to the capital, saying that he wanted to better control the capital, but I always feel that something is strange."
"A better control over the capital?!" A thoughtful look flashed in Shen Qianmo's eyes. As far as she knew, Nalan Rong had already taken control of all the clandestine forces in the entire Li Kingdom, and the entire capital was also under his control. He had no need to mobilize experts to control the capital.
So why were these experts gathered in the capital?! It must be to deal with someone. Someone? Could it be her? But Nalan Rong doesn't seem to have any reason to attack her.
"Are they assassins or martial artists?" After pondering for a moment, Shen Qianmo's dark eyes turned serious as she slowly asked.
A strange glint flashed in Xuan Lou's eyes, and his brows furrowed even deeper. "Most of them are assassins. It seems that everyone in the martial arts world has a grudge against the Demon Palace."
Shen Qianmo glanced at Xuan Lou, seeing the worry in his eyes. She remained silent, only a smug and eerie smile playing on her lips. "Just as I thought, it was all to deal with her!"
Why is Nalan Rong going to such lengths to deal with her, mobilizing assassins and leveraging the power of martial arts figures who harbor grudges against the Demon Palace?
Nalan Rong had opportunities to deal with her before, but he chose not to. Now, why has he suddenly changed his mind?! What exactly happened?
Shen Qianmo frowned, suddenly recalling the surprise and calculation that flashed in Nalan Rong's eyes when she rode out of the capital of Li Kingdom that day and revealed her identity as a woman.
Could it be that they intend to use her to threaten Situ Jingyan?! Hmph! What a clever scheme! Using her to threaten Situ Jingyan, thereby intimidating Tianmo, and giving Li Kingdom a chance to breathe?!
How could she possibly grant Nalan Rong's wish? Since Nalan Rong wanted to play, she would play along!
"Should we leave Li Kingdom as soon as possible?" Xuan Lou pondered for a moment and naturally understood the reason. If Shen Qianmo stayed in Li Kingdom, it would be very dangerous.
Shen Qianmo smiled slightly, her eyes radiating a natural domineering aura. Her white robes fluttered in the wind, giving her an imposing presence, like a towering mountain, exuding an air of natural confidence and arrogance. Shen Qianmo raised an eyebrow and laughed, "Leave?! Why should I leave?! Since Nalan Rong thinks so highly of me, shouldn't I cooperate properly?"
Xuan Lou frowned deeply and said disapprovingly, "You are risking your own safety. If Situ Jingyan knew, he wouldn't agree either!"
"I'll be fine. I'll be fine for his sake." Shen Qianmo stared steadily at Xuan Lou, her eyes resolute, a confident smile on her lips.
Xuan Lou looked at the smile on Shen Qianmo's lips and felt he couldn't help but believe what she had said. But Shen Qianmo had no power in Li Kingdom; how could she possibly escape unscathed?!
Nalan Rong is no pushover. If Shen Qianmo were to turn the tables on Nalan Rong, the situation would be even more perilous.
“Nalan Rong is indeed intelligent. However, intelligent people are often arrogant.” Shen Qianmo’s lips curled into a confident smile. She could see clearly the arrogance in Nalan Rong’s bones. She could also see clearly his confidence in the situation of Li Kingdom.
Therefore, what she needs to do now is to feign weakness. Let Nalan Rong think that she is not as strong as he imagines, and then, under a plausible cover, walk into Nalan Rong's trap and turn the tables on him.
Xuan Lou's expression shifted, but he ultimately remained silent. He understood Shen Qianmo's personality; once she made a decision, she wouldn't easily change it, especially not for Situ Jingyan. It seemed that she would disregard everything as long as it involved Situ Jingyan.
How he longed to receive such care and love from her! But it was too late; her heart could no longer hold anyone else.
“Instead of waiting, we might as well take the initiative.” Shen Qianmo’s lips curled up, a sly glint in her eyes. “Xuanlou, come with me to Liufangzhai.”
Upon hearing Shen Qianmo's words, Xuan Lou composed himself, nodded gently, and said, "Alright."
Liufangzhai remained a scene of peace and prosperity. Nalan Rong wore a long golden robe, the carefree attitude between his brows had completely disappeared, and a wicked smile still lingered on his lips. However, his eyes no longer concealed his true feelings as before.
Now, Nalan Rong's light blue eyes held a wealth of emotions, like an eagle eyeing its prey, exuding an overwhelming aura of dominance.
Shen Qianmo, still dressed in elegant white, smiled and leisurely looked at Nalan Rong, saying, "Half a month has passed, and the Seventh Prince, oh no, His Majesty the Prince of Li, has changed quite a bit."
"Oh? How so?" Nalan Rong smiled slightly, a playful smile playing on his lips, as he looked at Shen Qianmo, the woman who had impressed him.
Shen Qianmo's expression remained unchanged as he sat down casually, saying with a smile, "These eyes of yours. Before, they were veiled by a light mist, making it impossible to discern what was real and what was not. But now, they are frighteningly bright."
That hits the nail on the head. In the past, Nalan Rong suppressed his natural domineering aura to conceal his power. Now that he has ascended to the throne of Prince Li, what he needs is a commanding presence that commands respect. He has no need, nor does he require, to suppress his charisma.
Upon hearing Shen Qianmo's words, Nalan Rong's eyes flashed with an ambiguous emotion, but her smile remained unchanged as she calmly said, "Empress Tianmo is indeed very observant."
Shen Qianmo's eyes narrowed. Nalan Rong really did know her identity. His openness about it meant he knew her identity?! Had he already devised a foolproof plan?
Seeing the doubt in Shen Qianmo's eyes, Nalan Rong's smile widened. "Empress Tianmo is a smart woman. Young Master Xuan is no ordinary person either. Let's not beat around the bush. If I keep hiding things, wouldn't I just be making a fool of myself in front of you?!"
"Since Your Majesty the King of Li is so frank, then Qianmo has a question I would like to ask you." Shen Qianmo's dark eyes became even more profound, making it impossible to see through her thoughts.
Nalan Rong actually revealed her identity directly, seemingly without any intention of concealing it. Did he already know that she and Xuan Lou knew about his plan?!
“Qianmo? It’s a very nice name.” Nalan Rong raised her eyebrows slightly, her tone languid. “Then Empress Mo, please ask.”