Chapter 175: Letting the Wolf In

Jiang Qingning smiled creepily: "You said I was the Princess of Beidi. My parents died at the hands of your father. That blood debt must be paid with blood."

"If you truly have the courage and sincerity to help me restore my country..."

She leaned slightly closer to Murong Feng, her cold breath brushing his ear. "Why don't you return to the Northern Di royal court immediately and kill him for me? Use his head as a stepping stone to ascend the throne. Then you will be the king, and I will be the eldest princess. Together we can rule Northern Di, and then march south to crush Dagan. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Her words were like a dagger filled with poison, piercing Murong Feng's heart.

Murong Feng's pupils suddenly contracted. He looked at Jiang Qingning's face so close to him, and a chill rushed from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

This chess piece seemed to be much sharper and more difficult to control than he had imagined.

Jiang Qingning stood up, no longer looking at Murong Feng's changing expression, and turned to walk towards the broken door of the inner room, leaving only a few cold and piercing words echoing in the twilight:

"Think it over, then come back with your sincerity."

After a brief moment of dead silence, Murong Feng, far from being enraged, laughed softly instead, appearing particularly sinister and treacherous.

Murong Feng clapped his hands, his eyes blazing with excitement that bordered on insane. "Your Majesty's sister is truly courageous. I admire you, your Majesty."

He took a step forward, ignoring the dark red bloodstain on the ground that had not yet dried up, and his eyes were like a poisonous snake, entwining with Jiang Qingning who was standing there.

"In my brother's eyes, my father's life and death are far less tempting than the throne of the royal court. He is old and confused, guarding the foundation left by our ancestors but not daring to make progress. Only I, Murong Feng, can lead the Northern Di cavalry to crush the rivers and mountains of Dagan and restore the former glory!"

He made no secret of his ambition, even boasting, "It is precisely because of this that my brother, without telling our father, has been secretly searching for my younger sister for years. After learning of her whereabouts, he risked his life and personally led his elite troops into this treacherous capital, just to share our cause!"

He opened his arms, and his black royal robe looked like spread bat wings in the twilight.

"My royal brother brought with him more than just a few spies. Thirty miles outside the city, in Wild Wolf Valley, three thousand of his most elite Northern Di Wolf Riders have quietly stationed themselves. They await my royal sister's command, and they will be ready to rip apart the defenses of the capital!"

Jiang Qingning's pupils shrank slightly, and his heart was already in turmoil.

Murong Feng's audacity and the power he held far exceeded her previous expectations. This madman actually dared to lead his troops to sneak into the heart of Dagan.

Murong Feng caught the fleeting shock in her eyes, and his pride grew even greater, his smile becoming even more ostentatious. "Royal sister, do you still doubt your brother's sincerity and strength?"

Jiang Qingning's face was still filled with cold distrust. She slightly turned sideways to avoid Murong Feng's overly aggressive gaze, and her voice was deliberately distant and scrutinizing:

"Three thousand wolf riders? That sounds impressive, but Murong Feng, why should I believe you? Just based on your one-sided statement? Since you can come to me without telling your father, how can you not turn around and sell me to the Great Emperor for greater benefits one day?"

"Imperial sister!" Murong Feng was a little anxious because of her continuous questioning, and a trace of hostility flashed in his eyes.

He suppressed his surging anger, knowing that he couldn't force this deep-minded and ruthless woman into a corner at this moment.

He took a deep breath and suddenly raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

A few slight noises were heard from the shadow of the courtyard wall.

Immediately afterwards, Zi Su, Zhi Qiu and Nanny Zhang, who were gagged and tied up tightly, were pushed out by several masked Beidi secret guards.

When the three saw the situation in the yard, especially the assassin's body and the broken door panel at Jiang Qingning's feet, their eyes were filled with fear and worry, and they struggled desperately, making whimpering sounds.

"Look, Imperial sister."

Murong Feng pointed at the three people with a condescending smile on his face. "Your loyal servants are unharmed. I was just worried that they would disturb my younger sister from attending to household chores, so I asked them to rest for a while."

"Now that the misunderstanding has been resolved, the jade will naturally be returned to Zhao." He waved his hand, and the secret guards immediately cut the rope and removed the cloth gag.

"Miss!"

"girl!"

Zi Su and the other two immediately rushed to Jiang Qingning and looked her up and down in shock.

Jiang Qingning looked at Murong Feng, his eyes still cold, but the hostility and murderous intent that were so strong that they were tangible seemed to have subsided a little.

She did not express gratitude for Murong Feng's "kindness", but said coldly: "The Third Prince is good at doing favors."

"You are too kind, my sister."

Murong Feng knew to quit while he was ahead, knowing that he could no longer gain Jiang Qingning's complete trust today, but the purpose of his trip had been achieved.

He gracefully brushed the nonexistent dust off his sleeves, his smile returning to a lazy state. "I'm sorry for bothering you today, my sister. I'll take my leave now and return tomorrow to discuss cooperation details with you."

He deliberately emphasized the word "cooperation" and glanced at Jiang Qingning meaningfully.

After saying this, he did not stop, turned around and waved to his men.

Several secret guards immediately stepped forward and swiftly lifted the assassin's body from the ground, as if disposing of a piece of garbage. Murong Feng and his men, as silent as they had arrived, quickly disappeared into the shadows of Ning Pavilion's courtyard, leaving behind only the mess and the thick stench of blood.

"Miss, are you okay? You scared me to death!" Zi Su cried and pulled Jiang Qingning's sleeve.

"That Northern Di barbarian is so rude, he actually dares to..." Zhiqiu's face turned red with anger.

Aunt Zhang patted her chest in fear: "What is going on?"

Jiang Qingning looked at the three people around him who were still in shock, and the murderous intent in his heart slowly subsided.

She gently patted the back of Zisu's hand, her voice strangely soothing. "It's nothing, just a few blind insects. Let's get everyone out and clean up the yard and the house first. Clean up the bloodstains, and find a carpenter to fix the broken doors and windows tomorrow."

Her tone was calm, as if she was arranging an ordinary household chore.

Seeing how calm she was, everyone's panicked hearts gradually calmed down, and they quickly responded and got busy.

Those who fetch water fetch water, those who sweep sweep, and those who pick up wood chips pick up wood chips.

Order was quickly restored in Ning Pavilion, leaving only a faint smell of blood in the air, which was difficult to completely dispel for a while.

Jiang Qingning walked alone to the pavilion in the corner of the courtyard and sat down on the cold stone bench.

The chirping of insects in the summer night was as noisy as the roar of war drums, but her heart was unusually quiet, like an ancient well with no bottom to its heart.

His fingertips unconsciously slid across the cold surface of the stone table, leaving shallow marks.

Everything is progressing step by step according to her plan.