The name Modo, like a pebble thrown into a stagnant pool, stirred up ripples beneath the seemingly calm surface of the royal court, and instantly dispelled the momentary confusion in Su Nian's heart caused by Helian Jue's unusual gentleness.

A sense of crisis surged through her again like a cold tide, quickly calming her down. That old fox, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, had allowed her to escape from the White Mountain tribe last time, leaving behind endless troubles. His very existence was a provocation against Helian Jue's rule and the stability of the royal court.

Batu's guards reported in detail: a traveling merchant on the edge of the desert in the northwest seemed to have caught a glimpse of a figure resembling Moduo, traveling with a small, elusive caravan, heading towards what appeared to be the "Wind Owl Tribe," which had been entrenched in the northwest and had always maintained a distant relationship with the royal court.

The information is vague and cannot be completely confirmed, but the probability is extremely high.

Su Nian immediately realized the seriousness of the situation. The Fengxiao tribe was renowned for its bravery in battle and archery, and its tribal leader was arrogant and unruly. He had only outwardly submitted to Helian Jue's military might, but he likely harbored his own ambitions. If Moduo truly allied with Fengxiao and, with his cunning, stirred up trouble, he could very well ignite a new war in the northwest.

She dared not delay and immediately took the message to see Helian Jue.

Helian Jue was in the council hall discussing with several trusted generals the distribution of provisions and troop movements among the various tribes after the spring. When he heard Su Nian requesting an audience, he didn't even lift his eyelids, only saying "Come in" in a flat tone.

As Su Nian stepped into the hall, she felt several gazes fall upon her instantly. Her current position in the royal court was special, and these generals who held considerable military power had a complex attitude towards her. They felt awe because of Helian Jue, an instinctive rejection of her interference in politics, and even more so, fear that she might influence them through her influence.

Ignoring the stares, she walked straight to the execution table of Helian, bowed, and succinctly reported the news about Modo.

The hall fell silent. The generals exchanged glances, their expressions growing more serious.

Helian Jue put down the bronze dagger he had been playing with and finally looked up at Su Nian. His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, devoid of any emotion, as if the tenderness he had shown her in her palace just moments before was merely an illusion created by the moonlight.

“Feng Xiao…” He murmured the two words, his fingertips tapping lightly on the rough wooden table, producing a dull sound that seemed to strike one’s heart with each tap. “That old bastard Arslan, it seems he’s had too much peace and quiet, and his bones are itching.”

His tone was calm, yet it contained a chilling killing intent.

“Your Majesty,” a general with a full beard said in a deep voice, “the news has not yet been confirmed. Perhaps the traveling merchant has simply misread it. Although the Fengxiao tribe is arrogant, its strength is limited. They may not dare to truly take in Moduo and become an enemy of my royal court.”

Another, more cautious general said, "Your Majesty, it's better to be safe than sorry. If this villain isn't eliminated, he will remain a major threat. If he is indeed colluding with Feng Xiao, chaos will surely ensue in the Northwest. We should immediately send people to investigate and strengthen the defenses of the Northwest border."

Helian Jue did not immediately express his opinion; his gaze fell on Su Nian again: "What do you think?"

This seems to have become a habit of his; when it comes to domestic and foreign affairs, he subconsciously wants to hear her opinion.

Su Nian pondered for a moment, then said clearly, "Both generals have valid points. Verifying the authenticity of the information is the top priority. However, we might be able to take a two-pronged approach at the same time."

"Oh?" Helian Jue raised an eyebrow.

“On the one hand, we will send elite scouts to secretly infiltrate the Northwest to verify Mo Duo’s whereabouts and investigate the movements and troop deployment of the Fengxiao tribe. On the other hand,” Su Nian paused, a glint of wisdom flashing in her eyes, “we can take this opportunity to ‘warn’ the Fengxiao tribe.”

How to tap it?

"Hasn't Chief Arslen been complaining about the barren land and insufficient food supplies in his tribe's territory? Your Majesty can allocate a batch of 'reward' food supplies in the name of the Royal Court. However, the escort team must be elite troops, led by a general of sufficient caliber. It's called an escort, but in reality, it's a demonstration of power. Let Arslen see with his own eyes the might of my Royal Court, and let him weigh whether it's worth it to completely break ties with my Royal Court for the sake of a stray dog ​​like Modo."

As her words fell, the generals in the hall all wore thoughtful expressions. This was indeed a scheme. It demonstrated the royal court's "magnanimity" and "care" for its vassal tribes while maintaining a deterrent effect. If Arslan was sensible, he would weigh the pros and cons, and might even voluntarily hand over Modo to ensure his safety. If he was not sensible, the royal army was already at his doorstep and could react swiftly.

Helian Jue stared at her, a barely perceptible hint of admiration flashing in his deep eyes. He loved watching her calmly analyze and strategize, which made him feel that she was not only his treasure, but also a partner who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him at the pinnacle of power…

"Approved." He uttered a single word, crisp and decisive. "Batu, allocate provisions, muster five thousand elite troops, and lead them personally. They will depart in three days."

"Yes!" Batu replied in a deep voice.

“As for the scouts,” Helian Jue said, looking at another general, “select the most alert ones and send them off immediately.”

"Yes, sir!"

Orders were issued one after another, efficiently and swiftly. When handling military and political affairs, Helian Jue displayed absolute authority and an iron-fisted approach, a stark contrast to the complex and unpredictable demeanor he displayed in front of Su Nian.

Su Nian stood to the side with her head bowed, feeling slightly calmer. At least, Helian Jue had maintained absolute clarity and decisiveness in dealing with the potential threats from the Moduo and Fengxiao tribes.

After the meeting, the generals left to carry out their orders, leaving only Helian Jue and Su Nian in the hall.

Helian Jue did not let her leave. He leaned back on the throne covered with animal hides, closed his eyes to rest, and his fingers continued to tap unconsciously on the armrests. The candlelight flickered in the hall, casting bright and dark shadows on his angular profile.

Su Nian stood quietly, knowing that he must have more to say.

Sure enough, after a while, his deep voice rang out, carrying a hint of barely perceptible fatigue and... something else.

"You seem to be very concerned about Modo's movements."

Su Nian's heart stirred slightly, and she cautiously replied, "Mo Duo is a hidden danger. Only by eliminating hidden dangers can the royal court be at peace."

"Just for the sake of the royal court's stability?" Helian Jue opened his eyes, his gaze falling on her with a scrutinizing intensity.

Su Nian met his gaze and said frankly, "It's also for my own safety. If he gains power, he will never let me go." This was the truth. From the moment she stood by Helian Jue's side and helped him implement reforms, she became the target of the hatred of all the old forces, and Mo Duo regarded her as a thorn in his side.

Helian Jue remained silent for a moment, then suddenly tugged at the corner of his mouth, a smile devoid of warmth: "You're quite clear-headed."

He stood up, his tall figure exuding a strong sense of oppression, and walked step by step to Su Nian. He didn't reach out to restrain her as usual, but simply stood at very close range, looking down at her.

“Su Nian,” he called her name, his voice low and slow, “tell me, when you painstakingly implemented those reforms and interfered in military and political affairs, besides what you said about ‘making the people live better,’ ‘stabilizing the country,’ ‘protecting yourself’… was there anything else, not even the slightest bit, that was because of… me?”

His questions were direct and sharp, as if trying to pierce through all her pretenses and reach the depths of her heart.

Su Nian's heart skipped a beat, and her breath caught in her throat.

[Here it comes! A life-or-death question! Host, answer carefully!] 088 screamed in her mind, [According to database analysis, when the yandere male lead is developing feelings, he desperately needs to confirm the uniqueness and specialness of the other person! A good answer will boost his affection level, a bad answer might trigger a dark and imprisoned ending!]

Su Nian's fingertips curled slightly. She looked into Helian Jue's unfathomable eyes, where emotions she couldn't understand surged, yet they made her heart tremble. There was inquiry, there was obsession, there was uncertainty, and even... a very faint trace, one that even he himself hadn't noticed... a plea?

What should she say?

Purely for the mission? To survive? Those high-sounding reasons seemed pale and powerless at this moment, under his blunt questioning.

She took a deep breath and decided to take the risk again, revealing part of the truth.

"Yes," she answered softly, her voice not loud, but unusually clear.

Helian Jue's gaze froze instantly, locking onto her.

Su Nian raised her head, her gaze unwavering: "I don't want to see Your Majesty... forever ruling solely through killing and fear. Such a throne is too cold, too lonely. And... too dangerous." She paused, her voice even softer, yet like a feather brushing against his heart, "I don't want to... see you embroiled in endless rebellions and conspiracies."

This is the truth. Perhaps it was just for the mission at first, but at some point, watching him fight against the entire corrupt old world alone, watching him walk alone through blood and fire, she felt a pang of heartache that she shouldn't have felt...

Her words were like a key, gently prying open the outermost lock on Helian Jue's firm resolve.

He suddenly reached out and grabbed her chin, the force quite strong, forcing her to tilt her head back and face him more completely. His eyes became extremely frightening, filled with a turbulent mix of emotions.

"You're lying..." His voice was hoarse, trembling as if he were about to lose control. "You're just lying to me, just like you did to Xie Chen, to the Immortal Lord, to the Prince... You just want to complete your mission and then leave, don't you?"

Su Nian's pupils suddenly contracted.

How could he know?! Xie Chen? Immortal Lord? Prince? These names…

[Warning! Warning! The target's memory fragments are disordered! The stability of the worldview is under attack! Host!] 088's alarm blared sharply.

The immense shock left Su Nian speechless for a moment. Looking into Helian Jue's eyes, which seemed to devour her, she suddenly understood. It wasn't simple suspicion; it was a fear and obsession deep within Xie Chen's soul, transcending the barriers of the world! He might not know the specific existence of the "system" and the "mission," but he instinctively sensed her "difference," sensed the threat of her potential "departure"!

At this moment, a complex and indescribable emotion welled up in Su Nian's heart. There was fear, there was panic, but more than anything, there was a deep sorrow and... pity.

It turns out that even in different worlds and with different identities, the fear of being "abandoned" deep in his soul always followed him like a shadow.

She didn't struggle, but simply let him hold her, her gaze calmly meeting his, even carrying a hint of tenderness he couldn't understand.

“Helian Jue,” she called him by his name for the first time when no one else was around, “you see, this is one of the reasons I stayed.”

Her voice was soft, yet it seemed to possess a certain magic, causing Helian Jue's ferocious gaze to pause slightly.

“You’ve locked yourself in a cage built of power and suspicion,” she said slowly, her gaze sweeping over his taut jawline and the barely perceptible vulnerability deep in his eyes. “You don’t trust anyone, including me. But you also… crave to hold onto me.”

Her fingertips gently touched his wrist, which was tightly gripping her chin, without pushing him away, just staying there.

"If I said I wouldn't leave, would you believe me?"

Helian Jue stared intently at her, his chest heaving, without uttering a word. The storm in his eyes was still raging, but something seemed to be quietly loosening.

Trust? How could he trust? He grew up amidst betrayal and killing; trust was the most luxurious and laughable thing in the world. Yet, this woman repeatedly shattered his understanding, cracking a fissure in his cold, hardened heart, letting in a glimmer of light he had never seen before.

A prolonged standoff spread through the silent hall.

Finally, Helian Jue abruptly released his grip, turned around, and faced away from her, leaving only a tense and lonely silhouette.

"Get out." His voice was cold, filled with suppressed anger, as if he were trying to drive away some emotion that he himself could not control.

Su Nian watched his retreating figure, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She knew that her words today had touched his deepest defenses. Pushing him too hard would only backfire.

She said nothing more, silently bowed, and turned to leave the council hall.

Outside the palace, the night was cool and still. Su Nian took a deep breath of the crisp air, feeling her heart still pounding.

[Host! You took too much risk! He actually showed memory fragments! This is against the rules!] 088 shouted, still shaken.

“It’s against the rules, but that just shows that ‘he’ is becoming whole, doesn’t it?” Su Nian responded in her heart, gazing at the dark night sky in the distance. “And, 088, do you think that now, my feelings for them… are really just a mission?”

088 fell silent, unusually refraining from immediately responding with a joke.

Su Nian touched her chin, where the pressure and warmth of Helian Jue's fingers still seemed to linger. She remembered his out-of-control gaze and his stiff back when he turned away.

mental prison...

Was it he who imprisoned her, or was it she... who inadvertently stumbled into his mental prison and saw the lonely and violent soul within?

The threat from Modo has not yet been eliminated, the situation in the Fengxiao tribe is unpredictable, and the thread between her and Helian Jue, woven from fear, possession, exploitation and a hint of inexplicable feelings, has become even tighter and more complicated.

Just as her thoughts were in turmoil, a servant hurried over and whispered, "Counselor Su, news has come from the craftsmen's workshop that the first batch of prototypes of the 'new plow' you ordered to be made has been completed. Please go and take a look."

New things are sprouting, old threats are lurking in the shadows, and the vortex of emotions is drawing the two of them deeper and deeper.

Su Nian composed herself, her eyes regaining their firmness.

"Okay, I'll go right away."

No matter what lies ahead, she can only keep going.

(End of Chapter 117)