"The Emperor of Linwei has come from afar; I have failed to greet you properly." Nalan Rong, in his bright red robe, blocked Yan Xiuling's path.
Yan Xiuling, dressed in a black robe with gold trim, had a childlike, innocent smile on her lips and unfathomable light-colored eyes. She said with a smile, "Your Majesty the Prince of Li is so hospitable."
"Hmph! That's nothing compared to the enthusiasm of Emperor Linwei when he sneaked into the Li Kingdom's palace at night!" Nalan Rong was now convinced that Yan Xiuling had taken the military deployment map, which was a crucial item, so she naturally didn't give Yan Xiuling a friendly look.
Yan Xiuling narrowed his eyes in confusion. It seemed that Nalan Rong had come to cause trouble? He did indeed intend to sneak into the palace at night, but Yan Xiuling's subordinates were quite capable. He had barely managed to shake them off and hadn't even had a chance to sneak into the palace yet. Judging from Yan Xiuling's expression, he seemed genuinely angry. Then someone must have gone to the palace and made him take the blame.
"Oh? Xiu Ling doesn't understand." Yan Xiu Ling narrowed her eyes, a naive smile on her lips, and blinked as she asked, feigning innocence.
Upon hearing this, Nalan Rong's anger intensified, and the smile on her lips vanished. She coldly sneered, "Could it be that the Emperor of Linwei stole the military deployment map from the library?!"
Upon hearing this, Yan Xiuling's light-colored eyes flashed with deep thought, and her face turned serious as she asked, "Was the military deployment map really stolen?"
He hadn't even made a move yet. Someone had taken the military deployment map before him. He knew without a doubt who it was, but his intelligence indicated that Situ Jingyan was still at the Tianmo Imperial Palace. How could he possibly be here?! But who else besides Situ Jingyan could have taken the military deployment map?!
Could it be Shen Qianmo?! But she was clearly subdued by Nalan Rong and had lost all her inner strength! If it were Shen Qianmo, Nalan Rong wouldn't have come to confront him.
Who exactly stole this military deployment map?! Judging from Nalan Rong's expression, it was definitely not a lie. The military deployment map had certainly been stolen, and the person who stole it was certainly no ordinary person. To be able to take the military deployment map so stealthily and then frame him for it—that's quite a skill!
"Hmph!" Nalan Rong saw Yan Xiuling's innocent expression and the fleeting surprise in his eyes, and almost believed that it really wasn't Yan Xiuling who did it. However, no one else could have done that except Yan Xiuling. Confirming in her heart that it was Yan Xiuling who had done it, she couldn't help but feel annoyed that she had believed Yan Xiuling's acting skills earlier, and coldly snorted.
Yan Xiuling raised an eyebrow slightly; it seemed Nalan Rong was certain he was the one who did it. There was no point in him saying anything more.
They stole the military deployment map and framed him. Only Situ Jingyan could do something like this, and only he could do it so seamlessly, even deceiving Nalan Rong. So who is the person in Tianmo now?!
Yan Xiuling's eyes narrowed, and she looked at Nalan Rong, her tone indifferent, "I didn't do it. Believe it or not."
He had already ordered the entire city sealed off, and Yan Xiuling had absolutely no chance of escaping the capital of Li Kingdom. He had originally wanted to force Yan Xiuling to hand over the military deployment map, but now that seemed impossible. So the only option was to trap Yan Xiuling and prevent him from having any contact with the outside world.
"The Emperor of Linwei has come from afar, why don't you come with me to the Li Kingdom's palace as a guest?" Nalan Rong said with a slight smile.
Yan Xiuling narrowed his eyes slightly. Inviting him to the palace as a guest?! Was it an attempt to place him under house arrest? But that was fine too. He was certain that Situ Jingyan was currently hiding in the Li Kingdom's palace; if he could enter the palace, it wouldn't be a bad thing. Besides, it seemed he had no choice now.
"Then I shall respectfully comply." Yan Xiuling raised a nonchalant smile and calmly followed Nalan Rong into the Li Kingdom's palace. His leisurely demeanor made it seem as if he were truly a guest in the Li Kingdom's palace, with a playful smile on his lips.
Although both he and Shen Qianmo were under house arrest in the Li Kingdom's palace, their situations were quite different. Shen Qianmo was being used as a bargaining chip to control Situ Jingyan, while he was only temporarily under house arrest; the Li Kingdom would absolutely not dare to do anything to him.
"Yan Xiuling has entered the palace." Situ Jingyan's brow twitched. With Yan Xiuling's abilities, it was absolutely impossible for him to be coerced into entering the palace. The only possibility was that he did it on purpose. Could it be that Yan Xiuling had already guessed something?! A slow smile curled at the corner of his lips. It really was Yan Xiuling, indeed his confidant and rival.
A hint of confusion flashed in Shen Qianmo's eyes. She was not clear about Yan Xiuling's power. Although Nalan Rong was powerful, Yan Xiuling could easily escape if he wanted to. There was no need for him to go to the palace and be placed under house arrest by Nalan Rong. "It seems that he has guessed something?"
"Perhaps. The Li Kingdom's royal palace is about to become lively." Situ Jingyan raised a cryptic smile.
Chapter One: An Eye for an Eye
"Sister Qianmo, are you getting used to staying in this Li Kingdom palace?" Yan Xiuling's innocent, doll-like face was adorably smiling, and her light-colored eyes seemed clear and bright, but in fact, they held a deep scrutiny.
Shen Qianmo glanced at Yan Xiuling, and considering her current situation, a smug and ruthless smile appeared on her face. She said calmly, "Habit?! Nalan Rong will pay the price for what he did today!"
Yan Xiuling's light-colored eyes narrowed slightly, with a hint of scrutiny in them. The smile on her lips remained unchanged, but then she turned her gaze and said with a smile, "I didn't expect that Sister Qianmo would also fall for Nalan Rong's trick."
"Hmph! Nalan Rong brought this upon herself." Shen Qianmo's face was as cold as ice, her eyes perfectly displaying her anger and annoyance.
Yan Xiuling looked at Shen Qianmo, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly. Judging from Shen Qianmo's current state, it seemed that she had truly been careless and fallen into Nalan Rong's trap?
But no way. If Situ Jingyan really came to Li Kingdom, given his feelings for Shen Qianmo, he would definitely come to rescue her first. How could he possibly leave Shen Qianmo in the Li Kingdom's palace and put her in danger?!
If he didn't take the military deployment map, then it must have been Situ Jingyan who took it. This means Situ Jingyan must have entered the Li Kingdom's palace, but he didn't take Shen Qianmo with him. Given Situ Jingyan's feelings for Shen Qianmo, this is highly illogical. Unless, Situ Jingyan was actually in the palace, right near Shen Qianmo.
Thinking of this, Yan Xiuling suddenly raised her eyes and looked at Mo Yi, who had been standing at the door. She had sensed a powerful aura emanating from this guard when she passed by earlier. Composing herself, Yan Xiuling smiled playfully, "Nalan Rong didn't make things difficult for Sister Qianmo, did she? Jingyan is still in the Tianmo Palace; he really doesn't care about people. How about Sister Qianmo comes back with me and becomes my Empress of Linwei?"
As soon as Yan Xiuling finished speaking, he felt a flash of cold light behind him. A smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.
Shen Qianmo raised her eyes with a calm expression, a faint smile on her lips. Her dark eyes stared straight at Yan Xiuling, as if she could see right through him. "Since Xiuling already guessed it, why bother making these jokes?"
"Jingyan's move has really caused me a lot of trouble." Yan Xiuling heard Shen Qianmo's words and a casual smile appeared on his lips. He turned around and looked at Mo Yi standing at the door with a complaining expression.
Mo Yi still exuded an icy aura, but her dark eyes glanced at Yan Xiuling, as if to say, "You deserved it."
Yan Xiuling glanced at Mo Yi and rolled his eyes in annoyance. This Situ Jingyan not only snatched the military deployment map first, but also framed him for it, and even had the nerve to glare at him! He was furious. If it weren't for the fact that the other party was Situ Jingyan, Yan Xiuling would probably have already used every trick in the book to tear him to pieces to vent his anger.
Shen Qianmo watched Yan Xiuling grit her teeth at Situ Jingyan and couldn't help but smile. When Yan Xiuling said those words earlier, she had guessed that Yan Xiuling already knew Mo Yi was Situ Jingyan, which was why she deliberately provoked him. This Yan Xiuling truly has sharp eyes and a clever mind.
In just a few words and a glance, she guessed Situ Jingyan's identity. She herself was ashamed of her own lack of ability in this regard. No wonder Situ Jingyan regarded Yan Xiuling as his only confidante, and Yan Xiuling cherished Situ Jingyan so much.
Such a brilliant person, standing too high, is bound to be lonely. If he were to lose his rivals, he would lose the meaning of fighting and vying for supremacy.
"Yan Xiuling, you came to the Li Kingdom's palace not just to settle scores with Jingyan, right?" Shen Qianmo raised an eyebrow and looked at Yan Xiuling. She naturally knew that with Yan Xiuling's abilities, he would not be unable to escape; he must have entered the Li Kingdom's palace willingly.
"I really did come up with such a pointless reason." Yan Xiuling pouted, looking at Shen Qianmo and Mo Yi with dissatisfaction, and continued, "The military deployment maps have all fallen into your hands. What can I possibly gain in Li Kingdom?"
Shen Qianmo and Situ Jingyan exchanged a smile. Yes. The military deployment maps were already in their hands; it was too late for Yan Xiuling to do anything. Li Kingdom would eventually belong to Tianmo.
"Then, you've lost." Situ Jingyan's lips curled into a naturally domineering smile. Although he was wearing Mo Yi's face, it did not diminish his domineering and arrogant aura in the slightest.
Yan Xiuling raised an eyebrow, her light-colored eyes silently meeting Situ Jingyan's dark eyes. Different eyes, yet the same domineering aura; the two pairs of eyes stared at each other quietly, as if sparks were flying from them.
After staring at each other for a long time, Yan Xiuling slowly smiled and said, "It is still unknown who will emerge victorious."
That's right. Situ Jingyan now has the military deployment map, and conquering Li State would indeed give him a head start. However, besides Li State, there are many other small border states. If Linwei can quickly conquer these border states, its strength won't be too far behind Tianmo's.
Although the Kingdom of Li was relatively wealthy, it was not easy to attack a wealthy and powerful nation. Even with the military deployment map, completely conquering the Kingdom of Li would not be a simple matter, especially since Nalan Rong was no ordinary person.
Situ Jingyan looked at Yan Xiuling calmly. He naturally understood Yan Xiuling's thoughts. Originally, conquering the Li Kingdom would have required some effort, but now that he had his trump card, obtaining the Li Kingdom would be effortless.
He has already sent the military deployment map to Shengge and Yunxin. Soon, Shengge and Yunxin will attack the relatively weak and easily conquered areas of Li Kingdom without anyone noticing. Then, he will make some moves in the Li Kingdom's palace, and he doesn't believe he can't take over Li Kingdom.
Yan Xiuling frowned slightly when he saw the determined look in Situ Jingyan's eyes. He knew Situ Jingyan too well; that look, so full of determination, meant that Situ Jingyan must be hiding some trump card that he didn't know about.