"Overestimating yourself!" Nangong Xiao sneered, casually extending his folding fan to instantly block the fierce attack of the whip, and then struck Qin Ruoyan hard with his palm...
Qin Ruoyan showed no weakness, drawing back her long whip and wielding it relentlessly, engaging in a fierce battle with Nangong Xiao.
Shen Lixue's eyes deepened. During the banquet at the Prime Minister's residence, she noticed that Qin Ruoyan's hands were black, and she suspected that Qin Ruoyan was a perverted ugly monster, but she had never found any evidence. Now that she thought about it, the ugly monster had a strange smell emanating from her, and the rich floral fragrance surrounding Qin Ruoyan was masking that strange smell.
"There's someone behind the big tree!" Dongfang Heng suddenly spoke, his sharp gaze still fixed on the fighting Nangong Xiao and Qin Ruoyan.
Two gusts of wind swept past behind the big tree.
Shen Lixue frowned: "Is she Qin Ruoyan's accomplice?"
"No!" Dongfang Heng shook his head.
A moment later, two guards carried a young man out of the tree, holding a large pile of torture instruments. The man was dressed in tattered cloth, his exposed skin covered with wounds. He had delicate features, but his body was somewhat limp, and his eyes were filled with terror as he looked at Qin Ruoyan.
Shen Lixue immediately understood: "Qin Ruoyan is... enjoying men!" She almost forgot that the ugly woman liked to seduce men and also liked to torture them in various cruel ways.
"Ugly freak, so you were enjoying yourself. I'm so sorry to have interrupted your good time!" Nangong Xiao looked at Qin Ruoyan with a half-smile, his tone both mocking and sarcastic.
"Nangong Xiao, Shen Lixue!" Qin Ruoyan looked at the young man who had been carried out, her eyes blazing with anger. Her whip technique instantly became fierce, forcing Nangong Xiao back a few steps. She then took out several black spherical objects with her left hand and threw them to the ground.
Puffs of black smoke rose up, obscuring people's vision. Taking advantage of the gap in the crowd's retreat, she lightly touched the ground with her feet, intending to use the momentum to escape.
Nangong Xiao's tall figure appeared in front of her in an instant, blocking her way. His devilish face was full of an infuriating smile, and his wicked eyes were cold and icy: "Ugly freak, the same method won't work the second time!"
"Nangong Xiao!" Qin Ruoyan shouted angrily, sharp glints flashing on her dark little fingers.
Nangong Xiao was taken aback, and his fingers flew like lightning, instantly striking Qin Ruoyan's acupoints.
Qin Ruoyan looked at Nangong Xiao in shock: "How can you be so fast?" Last time she ambushed him, he had no power to resist at all. Only a little over a month has passed, and he was able to subdue her in an instant.
"Last time, it was my carelessness that allowed you to sneak into Confucius's cave, not because of my lack of martial arts skills!" Nangong Xiao carefully examined Qin Ruoyan's gleaming fingertips. They were highly poisonous; even a tiny bit would be fatal. "You're ugly, and your heart is even more venomous!"
"Nangong Xiao, don't be so smug. I am the princess of the Southern Frontier. If anything goes wrong in Qingyan, my father and mother will never forgive you!" Qin Ruoyan threatened coldly, her expression arrogant.
"Really?" Nangong Xiao raised an eyebrow, looking at Qin Ruoyan with a half-smile: "Guards, lock this ugly monster in the water dungeon of the other courtyard!"
"Nangong Xiao, what are you doing?" Qin Ruoyan was startled and glared at Nangong Xiao hatefully. He was not afraid of her identity at all.
Nangong Xiao waved his fan casually and said, "I'll torment you first, then wait for your father and mother to come and settle accounts with me!"
"How dare you!" Qin Ruoyan gritted her teeth, her eyes flashing with fierce light, wishing she could devour Nangong Xiao alive.
"Then you try and see if I dare!" Nangong Xiao's charming gaze suddenly turned cold, and he said sharply, "Take him away!"
Two guards stepped forward, dragged Qin Ruoyan away, and escorted her hurriedly down the mountain.
Qin Ruoyan's furious roar echoed across most of the mountainside: "Nangong Xiao, you wait, I will never let you go!"
Nangong Xiao frowned deeply: "Tell her to shut up!"
Qin Ruoyan's shouts came to an abrupt halt as she was dragged by the guards and hurried down the mountain.
Shen Lixue couldn't see her expression, but she knew she must be furious: "Qin Ruoyan is ruthless and vengeful. You've offended her, so you'd better watch out!"
"Don't worry, this young master is not afraid of demons and monsters!" Nangong Xiao lightly waved his fan, his charming eyes flashing with coldness.
"Your Highness, the young man is a villager from nearby. He was abducted here by Qin Ruoyan!" A guard stepped forward and reported the young man's identity.
Dongfang Heng frowned: "Let him go back!"
"Yes!" the guard replied respectfully, turning to carry out the order.
Dongfang Heng glanced at the sun, which was about to be directly overhead, his dark eyes unfathomable: "Full speed ahead to Xiangguo Temple!"
Outside Xiangguo Temple, security was tight, with thousands of imperial guards surrounding the entire temple, and all four gates—east, west, south, and north—were heavily guarded.
Dongfang Heng, Shen Lixue, and Nangong Xiao entered through the south gate. Shen Lixue was slightly taken aback when she saw Dongfang Zhan standing at the south gate: "Prince Zhan!"
"Prince An, the young master, and Miss Chen, have you also come to offer incense?" Dongfang Zhan looked at the three of them, his dimples radiating a gentle and refined smile.
"Why is Prince Zhan standing at the entrance instead of offering incense at the temple?" Having already figured it out, Shen Lixue wanted to confirm it again.
Dongfang Zhan smiled slightly: "Father has already offered incense and is playing chess with Master Yan Hui in the temple. My brothers and I had nothing to do, so we came out to wait!"
If they were just waiting for the emperor, the princes could simply stand at the same gate. However, only Dongfang Zhan was at the south gate, indicating that the other princes were also at different gates. Rather than waiting, they were guarding the emperor. The emperor also sensed that there was danger in this trip to Xiangguo Temple.
"Is His Majesty in Master Yan Hui's room?" Dongfang Heng asked, his steps uninterrupted, striding past Dongfang Zhan and the guards.
"Father Emperor instructed that no one is allowed to disturb us!" Dongfang Zhan flashed forward, blocking Dongfang Heng's path.
"Have all the worshippers at Xiangguo Temple been cleared out?" Dongfang Heng asked coldly, his eyes narrowed.
Dongfang Heng smiled and said, "There are still a few pilgrims in the private rooms. They are all the vulnerable family members of nobles, so there is no problem with them!"
Dongfang Heng's sharp gaze, like a sword, suddenly shot towards Dongfang Zhan. Without clearing out the worshippers, he left the Emperor alone inside: "Your Majesty is in danger!"
Dongfang Zhan was taken aback: "Really?"
"When have I ever joked?" Dongfang Heng asked Dongfang Zhan coldly.
"Where did you get this information from?" Dongfang Zhan frowned slightly, a dark glint flashing in his eyes.
"If you keep nagging, the Emperor will really be in trouble!" Dongfang Heng stared straight at Dongfang Zhan, his eyes as cold as ice, with endless darkness spreading within them. He flicked his sleeve, walked straight past him, and strode forward.
Dongfang Zhan paused, his gaze darkening, and coldly ordered the guards, "Guard the gate, and do not let anyone out."
"Yes!" Behind them, the Imperial Guards' voices boomed as Dongfang Heng, Shen Lixue, and Nangong Xiao strode into Xiangguo Temple.