This person is really...

Ji Fengming felt both helpless and soft-hearted.

Now that his goal had been achieved, he naturally wouldn't allow Black Owl to sleep in this brothel again. He tossed a stack of silver notes to Qiu Yue, Xia Xing, and the madam, and then Ji Fengming carried the once-drunk Black Owl out of the Cuihong Tower.

He originally wanted to take Black Owl back to the Ninth Prince's Mansion so that Black Owl could get a good night's sleep, but he was worried that doing so would allow others to discover their whereabouts.

There is still a traitor in the Ninth Prince's mansion whom Yao'er has not had time to deal with. Coincidentally, that traitor was disloyal because of Hei Xiao.

Just thinking about it made Ji Fengming feel nauseous!

Furthermore, he was genuinely worried about the safety of his father and the Ji family's ancestral homeland.

After thinking it over, I've decided against it!

Let's carry Black Owl on our backs!

Ji Fengming moved to a secluded and deserted corner, took out a thick cloak, wrapped the black owl on his back from head to toe, and then rode his sword into the air, rushing towards the Ji family's ancestral land at full speed.

Early the next morning.

Princess Zhaoping was summoned to the palace by the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager, with a cold face and apathetic demeanor, uttered a series of high-sounding words.

Using the banners of deities and the late emperor, an imperial edict was issued to Princess Zhaoping, claiming that it was a divine manifestation and a dream from the late emperor, ordering Zhaoping to immediately go to the northwest to consummate her marriage with the Ninth Prince and have a son soon.

Princess Zhaoping was overjoyed:

This is truly a case of unexpected joy coming from the comfort of one's own home!

Although the prince didn't care about her, for the past six months she had been looking forward to his return every day, reflecting and planning how to please him when he came back.

Unexpectedly, even the gods in heaven and the deceased emperor helped her!

It must be that the gods and the late emperor heard her prayers day and night and were moved by her sincerity!

Princess Zhaoping returned to the Ninth Prince's residence with the Empress Dowager's decree in high spirits. She immediately ordered people to prepare carriages, horses, and clothing, planning to set off early the next morning to find Shang Xiye in the Northwest.

With Ji Fengyao gone, Lin Shuang became the king of Hui Nuan Pavilion. For the past six months, he spent his free time cultivating with the spirit stones he obtained by betraying Ji Fengyao and Shang Xiye. When he needed something, he would have the maids and old women in the courtyard serve him and run errands for him. He lived the life of a pampered master, enjoying himself immensely.

Lin Shuang sometimes even thought that if Ji Fengyao and Shang Xiye never came back, it wouldn't be bad if she could live such a rich and comfortable life forever.

But she knew it was impossible.

Unless the Ninth Prince and that bandit are dead!

A good life requires hard work; now is not the time to be complacent.

The best way to remove a stumbling block is to approach it, find a way to eradicate it completely, and remove it by the roots!

Therefore, as soon as Lin Shuang heard the news that Princess Zhaoping was going to the Northwest by the Empress Dowager's decree, her mind started racing with calculations.

As night fell, the city lights began to illuminate the night.

With her cultivation level of the second stage of Spirit Gathering, which she had built up using spirit stones, Lin Shuang easily bypassed the sentry posts in the palace and arrived at the room of Princess Zhaoping, whose defenses were not very tight.

Because she had to get up early to travel the next day, Princess Zhaopin went to bed early to rest. But she was too excited and couldn't fall asleep.

Upon seeing Lin Shuang, Princess Zhaoping was first surprised and stood up, then angrily said, "You audacious servant..."

"Princess, please don't be angry," Lin Shuang said calmly, reaching out to cover Princess Zhaoping's mouth. "This servant is not here to offend you, but to cooperate with you."

Princess Zhaoping glared angrily at Lin Shuang:

You are that bandit's confidant!

Princess Gengen discusses cooperation?

Do you think I'm stupid?!