As dawn broke through the cracks in the stone hall's windows, dappled light cast patterns on the ground. The hall was utterly silent, save for the distinct sound of their intertwined breaths.
Su Nian awoke with an extremely unfamiliar feeling. She was tightly surrounded by a warm and firm body, a heavy arm across her waist, carrying an undeniable sense of possession. Her cheek was pressed against the cool and soft leather lining (Helian Jue had not completely removed his armor), and the scent lingered around her nose was a mixture of dust, blood, and his own fiery aura.
She froze, the chaotic memories of last night instantly returning—Helian Jue had returned, carrying the murderous aura and exhaustion of a warrior, and without a word, he embraced her and pulled her to sleep.
He actually held her like that and slept through the night.
After the initial shock and stiffness, she surprisingly found a sense of security in this almost suffocating confinement, and eventually fell into a deep sleep.
[Host, you're awake?] 088's voice carried a cautious, gossipy tone. [How do you feel? Was Helian Jue's embrace particularly... uh, powerful?]
Su Nian ignored the system's teasing. She moved slightly, trying to break free from the overly tight embrace, but as soon as she moved, the arms around her waist tightened instantly, locking her firmly back in their arms.
Helian Jue's hoarse and displeased voice came from above: "Don't move."
He didn't seem fully awake yet, and subconsciously buried his face in the crook of her neck, nuzzling against her. The action carried an almost clumsy dependence, like that of a large, ferocious beast that had retracted its claws. This was a stark contrast to his usual ruthless and decisive tyrant image, causing Su Nian's heart to skip a beat.
She dared not move again, remaining in that position, feeling his steady heartbeat and warm breath brush against her skin. A subtle and ambiguous atmosphere flowed silently in the morning light.
After a long while, Helian Jue seemed to finally regain full consciousness. His body stiffened slightly, then he abruptly released his arm, the movement so swift it was almost comical. He sat up, his back to Su Nian, and began silently to put on the armor he had carelessly tossed on the ground the night before.
That fleeting tenderness and dependence evaporated instantly, like dewdrops in the sunlight, and he reverted to being the cold and unapproachable slave king.
Su Nian also sat up, straightened her slightly disheveled clothes, and looked at his broad but taut back, feeling a mix of emotions.
"I am returning to the front lines today." He fastened the last piece of his armor, turned around, and his face had regained its usual coldness. Only a barely perceptible flicker deep in his eyes betrayed that last night was not entirely a dream. "The affairs of the royal court will proceed as planned. Your safety will be the responsibility of your guards."
His gaze lingered on her face for a moment, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just pursed his thin lips and strode out.
"Your Majesty," Su Nian couldn't help but speak as he was about to step out of the palace gates.
Helian Jue paused, but did not turn around.
"Be careful at the front lines," Su Nian said softly. This was partly out of consideration for the mission, and partly... from the bottom of her heart.
Helian Jue's figure seemed to freeze for a moment, then he said nothing, lifted the curtain and went out, disappearing into the bright morning light outside the door, as if the vulnerable and dependent man from last night had never existed.
Helian Jue's departure once again brought a superficial calm back to the royal court, but the tension that had been heightened by Modo's hiding place and last night's attack did not ease.
Su Nian quickly threw herself into the intense work. The promotion of the new plow encountered some resistance; some conservative tribal nobles were unwilling to change the farming methods passed down from their ancestors, paying lip service while secretly resisting. She had to personally go to several directly subordinate royal fields, gather farmers and stewards, personally demonstrate the efficiency of the curved plow, and promise increased production before she could barely continue the promotion work.
Meanwhile, the policy regarding the redemption of slaves entered the substantive review stage. The first batch of slaves to submit applications were mostly those who had distinguished themselves in battle or had been recognized for their special skills. The review process was tedious and meticulous, requiring verification of military achievements, assessment of the value of their skills, and balancing the reactions of various noble families to avoid causing too much unrest.
Su Nian sat behind a desk piled high with bamboo slips and animal hide scrolls, rubbing her throbbing temples. These seemingly trivial administrative matters were far more exhausting than she had imagined. She not only had to implement policies, but also balance various factions and appease the emotions of the old aristocracy; every step she took was like walking on thin ice.
"Host, you can't do everything yourself like this, you'll exhaust yourself." 088 couldn't help but advise, noticing the dark circles under Su Nian's eyes. "You need to train a few capable assistants."
"I know," Su Nian sighed. She longed for it too, but finding someone capable and trustworthy in the power struggle within the royal court was no easy task.
At that moment, a report came from outside the hall that the deputy general in charge of investigating the attack last night was requesting an audience.
The lieutenant brought the preliminary investigation results: the method of stunning the guard was clean and efficient, the work of a skilled soldier or a professional assassin. The perpetrator was very familiar with the royal court's patrol routes and times, cleverly taking advantage of the shift change. No items were left at the scene that could identify the perpetrator.
"In other words, the other party is very likely to be infiltrated within the royal court, or have an inside agent," Su Nian concluded, her mood becoming even heavier. This confirmed her suspicions.
"Yes, Your Excellency." The lieutenant bowed and said, "I have already dispatched more men to secretly investigate the movements of all personnel in the royal court recently, especially those who have had contact with the northwest direction."
“Very good, thank you for your trouble, General.” Su Nian nodded, thought for a moment, and added, “Focus on investigating whether anyone has recently gone missing without a trace or behaved abnormally, especially… people associated with slave camps and artisan workshops.”
She had a hunch that if Modo were to plant pawns, these relatively inconspicuous places, yet still able to access information about the core area of the royal court, would be more likely to be the locations.
The deputy general accepted the order and left.
A few days later, news finally arrived from the front. It wasn't through an official battle report, but rather a secret letter sent back by a trusted confidant of Helian Jue.
The letter was simple, and the tone was as concise and cold as Helian Jue's usual style:
"We've reached the outer perimeter of the Wind Owl. The strategy of sowing discord is showing initial results, and suspicion is growing within Arslan. Old Fox Modo is elusive and has not yet been captured. Have the rats of the Royal Court been caught?"
These few words revealed crucial information. Helian Jue had adopted her strategy and achieved initial success. However, Mo Duo remained at large, possibly even remotely directing operations from both locations. The final question about the "corrupt officials of the royal court" seemed like a silent urging and… implied concern.
Su Nian gripped the secret letter tightly, her fingertips tightening slightly. She had to find the hidden dangers within as soon as possible.
She summoned an old clerk who was in charge of overseeing the redemption of slaves and asked if any of the applicants had suspicious backgrounds.
The old clerk flipped through the thick register, reporting each name one by one. Suddenly, he pointed to a name and said, "This man is named 'Shigen.' He was originally a slave of the Gray Rock Tribe. He made a small contribution in the previous suppression of the rebellion and applied for redemption. The review was successful, but... according to his fellow soldiers, he seems to have become a bit more extravagant lately and can occasionally get some cheap wine to drink."
Su Nian's heart skipped a beat: "Investigate carefully the source of his 'generosity'. Also, make a separate list of all applicants whose recent behavior is abnormal or who have suddenly been in frequent contact with others, and investigate them carefully."
As expected, the order yielded results. Not only Shigen, but also several other slaves from different tribes who applied for redemption were found to be somewhat suspicious, either by suddenly paying off their debts or by having contact with unidentified individuals.
The clues seem to be pointing towards the slave community. Could Modo's mole be hidden among the slaves waiting to be redeemed?
Just as Su Nian was preparing to conduct a more in-depth investigation, something unexpected happened at Wangting.
The first suspected slave, Shigen, attempted to sneak out of the royal court one night but was discovered by patrolling soldiers. During the arrest, he resisted fiercely and was ultimately killed. A small amount of gold and silver, as well as a domino engraved with strange symbols that was not in the royal court's standard design, were found in his residence.
Upon receiving the news, Su Nian immediately rushed to the scene.
Shi Gen's body had already been removed, leaving only a pool of dark red blood on the ground. The domino was presented to Su Nian; it was made of ordinary material, and the symbols on it were crooked and twisted, like some kind of immature cipher.
[Host, this symbol looks familiar... I think I've seen something similar on some items left behind by the White Mountain tribe!] 088 reminded me.
Baishan tribe...Modo's lair!
Su Nian's heart sank. Was Shi Gen a pawn planted by Mo Duo? Was he in such a hurry to escape because he was exposed? Or... was his exposure and death part of Mo Duo's plan? Was it to silence him? Or to cover up something deeper?
Shi Gen's death seemed to sever the newly discovered clues. The investigation within the royal court appeared to have reached a stalemate.
Su Nian stood before the low, cramped slave shack where Shi Gen had once lived, her brow furrowed as she looked at the sparsely furnished interior. Things couldn't be that simple.
Helian Jue's secret letter, Shi Gen's death, Mo Duo's dual activities between the Northwest and the Royal Court... all of this is like a net that is gradually tightening.
She picked up the cold domino, its strange symbols seeming to carry a mocking meaning.
“Modo…” she murmured the name, her eyes gradually sharpening, “Just how many hidden pieces have you planted in the royal court?”
She had a strong premonition that Shi Gen was just a pawn to be sacrificed. The real killing move might be hidden in a deeper and more unexpected place.
Meanwhile, what situation is Helian Jue facing on the northwestern front? Will his strategy of sowing discord successfully dismantle the Fengxiao tribe? When will he and Moduo, his arch-enemies, truly clash?
The dark clouds over the royal court did not dissipate with Shi Gen's death; on the contrary, they grew even thicker. An even greater storm was quietly brewing.
Su Nian gripped the dominoes in her hand, turned, and walked towards the council hall. She needed to readjust her strategy and find the key hidden piece before Mo Duo's conspiracy was fully launched.
(End of Chapter 120)
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