Lianxing's eyes suddenly lit up! This man was in charge of the palace guards, holding a high position and wielding great power, and was in his prime, full of energy! If she could get him under her control...

Wouldn't he be far more valuable than a cowardly prince or an unyielding heir? More importantly, he is someone the emperor trusts and controls the core defenses of the palace! This is practically a gift from heaven!

A plan instantly took shape in her mind, and a cold, confident smile curled at the corner of her lips. No man could escape her grasp.

And this opportunity came very quickly, and Lianxing immediately seized the opportunity!

As night fell, the wind and snow intensified. Xi Linghao took his medicine and went to bed early, without summoning Xing Lianxing. Inside Lan Yue Pavilion, the candlelight was dim.

Lianxing carefully applied her makeup in front of the bronze mirror. She shed the pure and beautiful disguise she wore during the day, applying more glamorous and charming eye makeup, painting her lips with the most alluring vermilion, and changing into a scarlet gauze dress as thin as a cicada's wing that outlined her graceful curves.

The cold was biting, but she didn't care at all.

“Go, tell Commander Zhao,” she whispered to her trusted maid, her voice carrying a hint of languid allure, “that a nine-tailed phoenix hairpin, newly bestowed by His Majesty, has gone missing from my palace. It is a matter of great importance, and I request that he bring people over immediately to investigate.”

The maidservant obeyed and left. Not long after, heavy footsteps approaching through the snow could be heard outside the palace.

Zhao Zheng, accompanied by two personal guards, appeared at the palace gate, braving the wind and snow. He removed his helmet, revealing a resolute and stern face, his thick eyebrows furrowed, and frost clinging to his armor: "This humble general, Zhao Zheng, has come on orders. May I ask, Madam, when and where was the phoenix hairpin lost?"

Lianxing leaned lazily against the soft couch covered with a thick velvet carpet and waved her hand: "You may all leave. I have some details that I need to discuss with Commander Zhao privately." The palace servants standing in the hall immediately bowed their heads and filed out.

Zhao Zheng frowned even more deeply, a warning bell ringing in his mind. He signaled two guards to stand outside the hall, while he stepped inside, keeping his distance: "Please speak, Madam."

The palace doors were gently closed, shutting out the sounds of wind and snow. Inside, only the soft crackling of the charcoal fire and the faint, sweet fragrance emanating from Lianxing remained.

Lianxing did not answer the question about the phoenix hairpin. She slowly stood up, her bare, snow-white feet stepping on the soft carpet, and walked step by step toward Zhao Zheng.

The sheer veil swayed gently with her movements, revealing glimpses of skin. She stopped a step away from Zhao Zheng, tilting her head slightly, her eyes sparkling with allure, her breath sweet as orchids: "Commander Zhao... in this cold, snowy night in the deep palace, you must be feeling cold after your arduous patrols?"

A rich, strangely alluring fragrance wafted towards him. Zhao Zheng's body tensed instantly, like a fully drawn bowstring! He subconsciously took half a step back, avoiding the excessively close distance, his voice cold and hard as iron: "This humble general is fulfilling his duty, and I do not feel weary! If Madam has no other business, I will take my leave!" He clasped his hands in a fist salute and turned to leave.

"Commander, please wait." Lianxing giggled, her voice as soft as a feather brushing against your eardrums. Instead of retreating, she stepped to the side even faster, blocking Zhao Zheng's path with her own body! A cool, soft hand, like a nimble snake, boldly caressed the back of Zhao Zheng's hand, which was tightly gripping his sword and had bulging veins!

"Commander, you hold this knife so firmly, you must be able to hold other things too?" Her voice was very low, carrying a blatant hint. Her fingertips lightly traced circles on the back of his rough hand, her eyes were seductive, and her red lips almost touched his taut jawline.

Zhao Zheng felt as if he had been struck by lightning! A surge of anger suddenly rose from his lower abdomen! He jerked his hand back, the movement so forceful that it created a gust of wind!

His temples were throbbing with veins, his face was ashen, and his eyes, sharp as the most piercing blades, were fixed on Lianxing. His voice was forced out through clenched teeth, filled with suppressed rage: "Madam! Please have some self-respect! Don't ruin your life!" Every muscle in his body trembled slightly from extreme restraint, and his eyes, sharp as a hawk's, were fixed on the audacious woman before him who dared to try and seduce him!

However, beneath that cold rage, deep within his eyes, which were fixed on Lianxing's alluring figure and charming face, a barely perceptible, instinctive look of amazement and greed, like a dark flame, flashed and disappeared.

Lianxing staggered slightly after being pushed away, but she wasn't angry. She steadied herself and looked at Zhao Zheng's expression, which was trying hard to suppress but still revealed a hint of wavering. In particular, she caught a fleeting look of amazement in his eyes and understood.

She covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her laughter like the tinkling of silver bells, brimming with smugness and a sense of control: "Why is the commander so angry? I was merely... concerned for the commander. Since the commander doesn't appreciate it, then... step back." She waved her hand, her posture languid, as if the thrilling moment just moments before was nothing more than a game.

Zhao Zheng clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. He gave Lianxing a deep look, his eyes filled with complex emotions: anger at being offended, deep fear, and a primal restlessness that had been forcibly suppressed. He turned abruptly and strode out of the palace gate, his footsteps sounding particularly heavy and hurried in the wind and snow.

Lianxing walked to the window, watching Zhao Zheng's tall but somewhat hurried figure disappear into the snowy night. The smile on her lips grew increasingly alluring and cold. She knew that she had already pried open a crack in that seemingly impenetrable armor.

The men in this deep palace, indeed, none of them can escape her grasp. If once fails, there will be a next time. Zhao Zheng, we... have a long future ahead of us.