On the day when the rankings were announced, Yue Lingyin asked Feng Mian to go to Hongye Tower to help her early in the morning. Feng Mian came back quickly and brought the good news that she was first.
Yue Lingyin couldn't suppress her inner joy and couldn't help but burst out laughing, which scared Feng Mian.
After a long moment, she stopped laughing and asked, "What's the third level? Is it about stealing the imperial seal?"
Feng Mian shook his head. Hongye Tower didn't have the guts to do that. If they really dared to take the imperial seal, His Majesty would destroy them no matter what.
But Yue Lingyin didn't know this and looked at Feng Mian with anticipation.
Feng Mian's ears turned slightly red, and she felt a little uncomfortable being stared at.
"It's about stealing the lotus orchids from the imperial garden. The first one to complete the task wins."
The petal lotus orchid is a rare variety, and only the Imperial Garden in the entire Shengjing can find it.
Yue Lingyin was secretly annoyed that she had obtained the wrong information, but then she became happy again. Orchids were much easier to steal than the imperial seal. She would go and dig one up right away, so entering the palace would still have its benefits.
Yue Lingyin walked towards the imperial garden excitedly. Feng Mian thought about it and reported to Dong Lizheng, saying that the Queen Mother wanted a petal lotus orchid.
Dong Lizheng was busy with government affairs and didn't even look up: "It's just a flower. If she wants it, she can take it."
Feng Mian breathed a sigh of relief, fortunately His Majesty was not reluctant to let him go.
Yue Lingyin carefully dug out the flower, left the palace without stopping, and went to Hongye Tower. As expected, she won first place.
"I declare that the winner of the 23rd Thief Competition is—Yue Lingyin!"
The crowd cheered, Yue Lingyin stood proudly in the center, taking the token handed over by the organizer. The word "thief" on it was shining brightly with golden light.
Qiao Shiyu's jaw dropped again: "No, how did she become a thief?"
Zhao Youheng was also puzzled: "Maybe he has some special stealing skills?"
"What technique?" Qiao Shiyu asked, "Did Master teach her without telling us?"
Zhao Youheng couldn't answer.
Yue Lingyin enjoyed the spotlight; her wish for rebirth had finally come true! She was no longer an insignificant figure on the fringes, no longer ignored or ridiculed; everyone envied her.
According to past practice, a thief can enjoy the offerings of the stealing sects until she dies of old age, and can also take back the items she handed in in the competition.
The organizer handed Nangong Xuemo's handkerchief, Wei Jinzhi's square sword, Chen Qingchen's Suihou Pearl, and Dong Lizheng's orchid back to Yue Lingyin with a painful look on his face.
Yue Lingyin was stunned by the sudden surprise. If she sold these things...
"General Fuguo, I saw her enter the Red Leaf Tower."
Yue Lingyin hurriedly looked down and saw Wei Jinzhi walking into the Red Leaf Tower, standing tall and straight like a pine tree, surrounded by a group of soldiers.
Yue Lingyin took a deep breath, rolled up the things, and flew out of the back window.
Everyone present had stolen something before, so when they saw General Fuguo come in, they all scattered. Some people even jumped out of the window like Yue Lingyin and escaped.
But they were not as lucky as Yue Lingyin. They were all captured by the soldiers and brought to Wei Jinzhi.
"General, these people act suspiciously and ran away when they saw us. They might be spies sent by another country."
The arrested person had a hard time expressing his feelings: "No, it's really not."
"Then why did you run? Even if you weren't spies, you must have done something wrong."
"General Fuguo, long time no see." The elder of the Thief Sect stood in front and saluted Wei Jinzhi.
"It's you." Wei Jinzhi suddenly understood why they were running away.
Seven years ago, when the neighboring country invaded, Marquis Zhongyong was wounded and retreated. It was Wei Jinzhi's first time leading troops and he was still exploring many things. It was the elder of the Thief Sect who led a group of people to the enemy to steal intelligence and burn food supplies, which enabled them to achieve victory as quickly as possible.
After that, Wei Jinzhi grew up rapidly, became more and more skilled in leading troops in battle, and became a famous general in Dongli, but the scene of his first time leading troops is still fresh in his memory.
"General Fuguo, could you please give me a favor and release these guests? They are all invited here. If anything happens, I will not be able to explain myself."
Wei Jinzhi: "Let them go."
"Thank you, General Fuguo."
Wei Jinzhi: "Have you ever seen a woman named Yue Lingyin?"
"Yes, she is the final winner of our competition. She just went out the window."
Wei Jinzhi gestured for someone to follow, "I'm curious, how did she achieve victory?"
"Suihou Pearl, Petal Lotus Orchid, and..." The elder looked at him, stroking his beard with a smile, "and the Four-sided Sword."
"This general demands an explanation." His voice was deep and contained an irresistible force.
The elder said, "The Stealing the Four-Sided Sword quest has always existed. Its purpose was to highlight its difficulty and allow the contestants to improve themselves. We never thought anyone would actually complete it."
"Where is my sword now?"
"It has been returned to the girl. It's not too late for you to catch up with her now, Your Highness."
The Four-sided Sword was a betrothal gift, and Wei Jinzhi had never thought of taking it back, but Yue Lingyin's casual attitude towards disposing of it still made him very unhappy.
After coming out of Hongye Tower, the people sent to chase Yue Lingyin returned.
"General, we chased her all the way and almost caught up with her, but she..." The subordinate carefully observed Wei Jinzhi's expression, "She jumped over the wall next to Wansui Mountain and ran into the palace."
Wei Jinzhi hesitated for a moment and asked, "Are you sure you didn't see it wrong?"
"I am absolutely certain that I have not made a mistake, nor have I followed the wrong person."
You can't rush into the palace rashly. Even if the relationship is good, you need to inform Dong Lizheng before looking for someone.
Dong Lizheng had a bad feeling when he heard about Wei Jinzhi's purpose. The only woman he knew who had cheated on him was the one in Qinghan Palace.
He asked, "What's the name of the woman who lied to you?"
Wei Jinzhi said: "Yue Lingyin."
Dong Lizheng stood up and said, "Impossible! I have someone watching her. She can't possibly get out."
Wei Jinzhi: "Who are you talking about, Your Majesty?"
Dong Lizheng said in a complicated tone, "She was the new queen married before the late emperor passed away. The current queen mother would never marry you."
Wei Jinzhi was shocked. It was actually the Queen Mother? He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, calmed himself down, and said to Dong Lizheng, "I want to see her."
Dong Li Zheng went to find Yue Lingyin, but thinking that Wei Jinzhi was his good friend and right-hand man, he didn't want to create any grudges, so he could only sigh.
"I'll take you there. If there's any misunderstanding, you can clarify it face to face. Yue Lingyin will never marry you."
Wei Jinzhi noticed that Dong Lizheng's attitude was different. Thinking of what he had said to him a few days ago, he had a guess in his mind.
Dong Lizheng brought Wei Jinzhi to the gate of Qinghan Palace and said, "Wait a moment, I'll go in and report."
After saying that, without waiting for Wei Jinzhi's reaction, he walked in first.
Yue Lingyin excitedly shared her joy with Feng Mian. Feng Mian looked at her with a smile. The Square Sword was placed on the table, and Dong Lizheng saw it at a glance.
"General Fuguo wants to see you. Do you have anything to say to me?"
Yue Lingyin's smile froze, and she sat on the stool: "I don't want to see him."
"The Queen Mother doesn't want to see me, or is she guilty?"
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