The Enchanting Empress Dowager Is Really Poisonous

Volume 2 Chapter 20 - The Punishment of Hua Yuxuan

After being confined for two days, Leng Jiu showed no signs of despair. With fragrant tea and Hua Jinzhi’s subordinates keeping watch, she slept soundly. Returning to Weiyang Palace, she felt somewhat hungry. Lu Chang had already prepared a table of food, and Leng Jiu sat down to eat. Though she was hungry, her movements remained elegant.

“Chirp chirp!” Kano jumped onto the table, waving its paws at Leng Jiu, its round eyes wide open as if saying it was hungry!

Leng Jiu recalled that everyone had been locked up for two days, and Kano must have been neglected and starving. She quickly had Qingling bring Kano’s special plate and picked up a chicken wing with her chopsticks.

Kano glanced at the food, not its favorite deer or fish meat, and immediately protested with a wave of its paw. After being so hungry for days, could it not get something delicious?

Knowing Kano’s nature, Leng Jiu flicked its small head with her finger and said irritably, “If you want something tasty, wait until tonight. If you protest again, I’ll stew you!”

Squirrel meat isn’t delicious! Kano angrily swiped a paw but dared not actually grab Leng Jiu, venting its frustration by nibbling on the chicken wing instead.

With a smile, Leng Jiu continued eating. After she finished, she set down her chopsticks, and Kano had devoured the wing down to the bone. It then elegantly wiped its mouth, using its little tongue to clean its paws. Seeing this, Leng Jiu chuckled and took the handkerchief Qingling handed her to wipe her hands.

Once she finished wiping her hands, Qingling presented an envelope to Leng Jiu: “This was sent by the General with a five-hundred-li urgency; it just arrived at the palace!”

Leng Jiu looked at the unmarked envelope and raised an eyebrow: “No signature? How do you know it’s for me?”

“The General never writes letters to his subordinates, and he ordered this to be sent directly to the palace. If it’s not for the Empress Dowager, who else could it be for?”

Taking the envelope, Leng Jiu pondered for a moment before opening it. Inside was only a single piece of paper, filled with neat handwriting that conveyed an underlying sharpness. It was very pleasing to read. The letter contained no signature or salutation, and went straight to the point:

*You are the Empress Dowager. Without sufficient reason, he has no right to depose you. Moreover, you have the support of the Leng family. Even if Long Yi wishes to act, he will think twice. Although I do not understand his purpose, you will not be in danger. Do not panic! If trouble arises, have Qingling disguise herself and come to the military camp. No one will dare to harm you!*

With no signature, Leng Jiu raised an eyebrow, her fingers brushing over her brow, a mysterious smile on her face. If Leng Yue doesn’t acknowledge her as Leng Jinghua, then what does this letter mean? Concern? Worry? Is a so-called “impostor” sister worth him sending a letter with such urgency?

Returning the letter to the envelope and setting it alight, she watched the flames and then called for Qingling: “Tell me about the General and my situation.”

Qingling was slightly taken aback: “What does the Empress Dowager wish to know?”

Leng Jiu walked to the soft couch, resting a finger on the cushion, and thought for a moment before saying, “Just share whatever you know, starting from the beginning.”

Qingling considered and said, “Some of the servants heard it from the old General’s uncles when they were drunk. They mentioned you, saying you weren’t a child of the Leng family but were picked up by the General when he was six during border conflicts. It’s said that you were on the verge of death, and the General insisted that the old General save you. At that time, the old General was quite troubled, but the General risked his life to force him to find a healer to save you at the last moment.”

Leng Jiu raised an eyebrow: “I had no idea about this?”

Qingling nodded: “The old General adopted you as his daughter and created a proper identity for you. You became the legitimate daughter of the Leng family, and the General always cared for you. The old General had only the General as his child, so he treated you as his own daughter and pampered you.”

Leng Jiu’s eyes widened, intrigued: “Did I know my true heritage before?”

“Of course! So the young lady was always grateful to the General and the old General!”

Leng Jiu felt somewhat puzzled: “Then what’s my relationship with the Emperor?”

“Ten years ago, when the General first accompanied the old General on a campaign, you insisted on going. But at that time, the border was chaotic, and the General, worried about your safety, firmly refused. However, he promised to take you to see the outer territories in the future, which somewhat placated you. After the General left, you remained gloomy for a long time. Later, several maidservants took you out to cheer you up, and it was then that you met the young Emperor, who was still a prince at that time!”

“The young lady was small and thin and wouldn’t talk to other young ladies. She hid in a corner and refused to come out. The Emperor, being a youth himself, saw you and approached to talk, smiling warmly. At first, you ignored him, but he didn’t get upset and simply sat down on the ground to talk to you, even joking to make you smile!”

“After that, the Emperor sought you out many times. At that time, you were only ten, and the Emperor was fourteen. Since you were always alone at home and depressed, no one stopped your interactions. Unexpectedly, you fell in love with the Emperor. From ten to fifteen, you were always together! The General and the old General returned a couple of times; the old General said nothing but sighed, while the General somewhat opposed it. However, you ignored him, knowing you were stubborn. The General did not stop it, but unexpectedly, on the day of your coming-of-age ceremony, the late Emperor issued a decree summoning you to the palace, leading to the great changes that followed!”

“That day, the Emperor drank heavily at your coming-of-age banquet and was carried away. He kept questioning you about why you did that, and you cried so much you didn’t know how to answer! Later, you sought out the General, asking him to help you avoid entering the palace. However, at that time, there were conflicts in the southwest, and the old General faced a formidable opponent, suffering a great defeat, leaving only twenty thousand soldiers out of a hundred thousand, and they were trapped in the marshes with uncertain fates. The court hesitated to send troops, clearly intending to use this to coerce the General and you. The General could not agree and had to remain silent. You did not know about the old General’s situation; you only thought the General had abandoned you, so you stabbed him with a sword and resolutely entered the palace!”

“When you entered the palace, a decree to dispatch troops was issued. The General left only the servants and a few people to protect you, while he himself went to battle with a sword wound to rescue the old General. By the time you learned of this, it was too late! The Emperor finally emerged from his sorrow to demand you from the late Emperor, but news spread that you were to serve the Emperor, plunging him into deep despair, returning to his residence, and then you spent a night with him, soon thereafter being conferred the title of Empress!”

“At that time, there were many concubines in the late Empress’s palace, and you faced numerous plots against you both openly and secretly. The General arranged for people to protect you, but one by one, they were removed. In the end, you managed to stay safe for over a year, until the Emperor ascended the throne. At that time, he harbored deep hatred for you, but you wanted nothing more than to explain and tell him that you were innocent and could start anew. However, he never gave you a chance; no matter how much you tried to reach out, he only grew more disgusted with you.”

“While you were still trying to compete with the other concubines for the Emperor’s favor, the General suffered a severe injury and nearly lost his life. When the maidservant reported this to you, you remained indifferent, which made the maidservant resentful, leading to your confinement. Yet, after you came out, you didn’t recognize anyone anymore!”

“Huh?” Leng Jiu felt this narrative was somewhat off from her understanding. With a puzzled expression, she asked, “If we aren’t siblings, did he never have any other feelings for me?”

Qingling was confused: “The General has always treated you like a real sister; how could he have improper thoughts?”

Tsk tsk! This brother really is something. But if he truly regarded her as a sister, how could he have kissed her face last time? Leng Jiu looked up at the sky, realizing it was better not to delve deeper!

She was slightly curious about Leng Yue, but it seemed that Long Yi also appeared quite often. Although she didn’t know why he approached her, she had no interest in him. Whether it was for some purpose related to Leng Jinghua or simply a liking for that girl, it was irrelevant to her. As long as he didn’t come to annoy her again, she would be satisfied!

Rubbing her forehead, she had Qingling help her out of her attire and then lay down to sleep. Though she had slept decently in the cell, nothing compared to the comfort of this soft bed!

“Chirp chirp!” Leng Jiu accidentally rolled onto Kano, who let out a loud squeal of pain. She quickly moved it to the side: “Sleep over there next time, or I’ll squash you flat!”

“Chirp chirp!” Kano protested angrily, but Leng Jiu ignored it and decided to sleep first!

Qingling knew Leng Jiu must have been uncomfortable these past two days and needed to rest well, so she pulled down the curtains and sent the palace maids out to guard the door.

Just after she left, a figure dropped from the beams, standing by the bed and looking at the person lying there, motionless.

Leng Jiu lazily opened her eyes and then shut them again, lacking the energy to say, “If you’re here to talk about your sister, just go away. If you’re here to keep me company, then come over; I need a pillow!”

Hua Jinzhi’s expression darkened at the first part of her sentence, but after hearing the latter, his mood warmed instantly as he walked over with annoyance: “Haven’t you slept enough in the cell? You come back and sleep right away; be careful not to turn into a pig!”

“Where could I find a bed as comfortable as this in the cell?” Leng Jiu kicked off the covers. “Hurry up! I’m tired!”

A helpless fondness flashed across Hua Jinzhi’s face as he removed his outer garments and lay down, immediately being wrapped up tightly by her. Looking at the little woman snuggling against him, he felt a moment of daze—was this really the same Empress Dowager who had forced the Emperor to kneel today and casually mentioned destroying her family?

He stroked her soft brows, feeling warmth in his heart: “You know that today’s incident was orchestrated by her; why let her off?”

Leng Jiu kept her eyes closed and pouted: “Do you think it’s that easy to punish her? She’s not only a favored concubine but also the eldest daughter of the Deqin Wangfu!”

Hua Jinzhi’s expression grew colder: “Are you holding back because of me?” Without waiting for her response, he continued, “I’ve long stopped seeing her as my sister; you don’t need to spare her for my sake, and I won’t mind!”

Leng Jiu patted his face: “Silly! You are you, and she is she. I won’t distance myself from you because she framed me, and I won’t excuse her crimes because of you. This time she avoided punishment thanks to Huifei taking the blame, but if she tries again, I won’t show mercy!”

*You are you, and she is she!* Hearing these six words warmed Hua Jinzhi’s heart. He had been worried she might distance herself from him due to Hua Yuxuan’s actions, but it turned out she understood the distinction so clearly. He sighed inwardly, realizing he had been thinking too much. A woman like her could never be someone who couldn’t distinguish right from wrong.

Originally, he should have been happy to let go of his worries, but now he couldn’t feel happy at all. He frowned as he looked at her sleeping face: “Prince Xuan has returned!”

Leng Jiu, feeling drowsy, grew annoyed when he kept asking: “So what if he’s back? What does it have to do with me?”

Unwilling to let go of Leng Jiu, Hua Jinzhi simply clung to her from the afternoon until dusk, and then from dusk until night. In the end, he decided to stay; after all, no one could stop him.

Lu Chang was not at all surprised by Hua Jinzhi’s presence, and the people in the inner hall of Weiyang Palace had no reaction either, each minding their own business as if Hua Jinzhi was invisible.

Leng Jiu had taken a bath today and went straight to sleep. The weather had been getting colder over the past two days, almost to the point of snowing, so bathing wasn’t exactly enjoyable! Hua Jinzhi, however, went off to wash himself and returned, then snuggled up to Leng Jiu and held her in his arms. But it wasn’t long before he became restless, his energy renewed after sleeping all afternoon!

His large hand gently caressed her body, and he lowered his head to press a kiss on her, desire rising in his voice, hoarse and low: “I want you!”

Hearing his voice, Leng Jiu’s heart skipped a beat. She raised her head slightly to receive his kiss, hooking her arms around his neck. Yes, she wanted him too!

Hua Jinzhi was no longer a novice. Kissing, caressing, teasing—he had mastered it all. The tricks Leng Jiu had once used on him, he now used them back. Watching Leng Jiu’s body blush an alluring pink beneath him and hearing her lips let out soft moans of desire gave him an immense sense of satisfaction. It meant she liked it, and he could please her!

“Mm…” Leng Jiu felt a frustrating discomfort as he teased her but didn’t give her what she wanted. He was so bad! Irritated, she flipped him over, pinned him down, and took him herself!

Although a man being dominated by a woman might be seen as humiliating, Hua Jinzhi didn’t think so. He loved this side of her, because at this moment, she needed him the most, desired him the most. He enjoyed both conquering her and being conquered by her, as they shared the ultimate pleasure together.

Afterward, Leng Jiu lay weakly on Hua Jinzhi, her face flushed with satisfaction, her eyebrows tinged with seduction, lips slightly parted, impossibly tempting! Hua Jinzhi’s heart tightened as he looked at her. He flipped her over, lightly bit her lips, raising a wicked eyebrow with a smirk full of allure: “Now it’s my turn!”

“Mm!”

The red bed curtains billowed, warmth filled the night, and the hours passed in intoxicating bliss!

Meanwhile, Long Yi had gone to the luxurious Fu Rui Palace of Noble Consort Hua that evening.

Upon hearing Long Yi was coming, Hua Yuxuan’s eyes lit up. It had been a long time since Long Yi visited her palace. However, her heart soon tightened. She had seen his anger earlier in the day, and she feared that tonight wouldn’t go smoothly. But it was good that he was coming; she consoled herself with that thought.

“The Emperor is here!”

At the sound, Hua Yuxuan quickly rose and went out to greet him. Seeing Long Yi, she immediately put on a proper smile and bowed respectfully: “Your Majesty.”

Long Yi cast a cold glance at her, then looked around the hall. “Everyone, get out. Without my order, no one is allowed to come in!”

“Yes!” No one dared to oppose Long Yi’s command, and they quickly left, closing the door behind them.

Long Yi did not tell Hua Yuxuan to rise. Instead, he stepped forward and began tearing at her clothes, his movements rough and aggressive! Hua Yuxuan was startled, but she forced her voice to remain soft and seductive: “Your Majesty! I haven’t bathed yet; let me bathe first, alright?”

“No need!” Long Yi showed no emotion and with a single pull, there was a ripping sound as a piece of her luxurious palace attire was torn away!

“Your Majesty!” Hua Yuxuan was truly afraid now, retreating instinctively, but how could Long Yi let her go? He grabbed her again, ripping at her clothes.

Rip after rip, her magnificent dress fell to the ground in tatters. Hua Yuxuan struggled, but how could she fight against Long Yi’s furious strength? Her hands were bruised from his grip, her dress torn piece by piece until she was left almost completely exposed.

“Your Majesty! Please, spare me!”

“Your Majesty, I beg of you!”

“Spare me! I beg you!”

Hua Yuxuan’s hands felt as if they were about to break, and her knees throbbed with pain from falling to the ground. Seeing the murderous look in Long Yi’s eyes, she was truly terrified, tears streaming down her face, ruining her makeup as she pleaded pitifully. But Long Yi paid no heed, flipping her over and taking her forcefully.

“Ah!” Hua Yuxuan cried out in pain. She had no time to beg for mercy before being overwhelmed by waves of agony.

“Ah… Your Majesty! I was wrong… Please spare me…”

Hua Yuxuan sobbed miserably, enduring the unbearable pain as she begged for forgiveness. But Long Yi’s eyes were like those of a wild beast, bloodshot with rage. He didn’t care, plunging into her like an animal, only wanting to vent his anger. He had no thought for anything else, and Hua Yuxuan’s pitiful state only fueled his desire to torment her further!

It was all because of her. Because of her, he had lost his first child, a child who had barely lived ten days. He hadn’t even had time to see the child properly. It was because of her that he had almost killed the woman he loved, and now Leng Jinghua hated him. Today, in front of so many people, she had humiliated him. He, an emperor who bowed to no one, had been forced to kneel before a woman! The humiliation was like being flayed alive, and it was all because of this woman in front of him. If it weren’t for her, he wouldn’t be in this situation. If it weren’t for her, Leng Jinghua wouldn’t have turned against him! It was all her fault!

“Ah!” Hua Yuxuan’s screams of anguish echoed around them, but Long Yi showed no pity, not a shred of compassion. He continued his violent assault, channeling all his hatred and anger into his every action.

From dusk until midnight, Fu Rui Palace was filled with the sounds of Hua Yuxuan’s piercing cries, which grew weaker over time until they could barely be heard. The servants outside trembled in fear, hearing her desperate pleas but not daring to intervene. They listened helplessly as her voice eventually faded into silence.

The moon had shifted in the sky by the time Fu Rui Palace finally quieted down. Long Yi emerged, fully dressed and drenched in sweat but otherwise composed. Inside, Hua Yuxuan lay discarded on the floor, her body bruised and battered, her legs stained with bright red blood.

Long Yi glanced at her one last time, his expression hard, before flinging his robe and walking away. His cultivation would make him weak for a day or two, but he would recover quickly. As for Hua Yuxuan, she wasn’t so lucky.

As he stepped out, he glanced at the guards waiting by the door. “Return to the palace!”

“Farewell, Your Majesty!”

It was only after Long Yi had gone far that the servants dared to enter the inner hall. Upon seeing Hua Yuxuan’s wretched state, they were struck speechless with shock. It was only the two elderly wet nurses closest to Hua Yuxuan who reacted, quickly wrapping her in blankets. Realizing she was unconscious, they panicked. “Quick! Fetch the imperial physician!”

Finally, the others snapped out of their daze. Two quick-footed eunuchs rushed off to call for the physician, while the rest carried Hua Yuxuan to her bed, hastily washing and changing her, while the maids cleaned up the mess of torn fabric and blood.

The night was still, but Fu Rui Palace was busy until dawn. Hua Yuxuan remained unconscious until the morning, when she finally woke, staring at the canopy of her bed, feeling as if she had narrowly escaped death. The burning pain below pulled her back to reality, and the memories of Long Yi’s madness last night filled her with fear. She had never known he could be so terrifying, so monstrous, like a demon!

“Your Majesty! You’ve finally woken up!” The elderly woman by her side let out a big sigh of relief when she saw her open her eyes.

Hua Yuxuan glanced at her but didn’t have the strength to speak. As soon as she moved slightly, a heart-wrenching pain came from that area, causing her to cry out in pain. Cold sweat immediately appeared on her forehead, and she lay there, her face full of agony.

“Your Majesty! Don’t move!” The elderly woman hurriedly held her down. “Imperial physician! Imperial physician, come quickly, Her Majesty is awake!”

But it wasn’t the imperial physician who came in; it was an older female attendant. “I’m here!”

She stepped forward and bowed to Hua Yuxuan. “This old servant greets the noble consort.”

The elderly woman beside Hua Yuxuan recognized the newcomer; she was the one in the palace responsible for treating women’s ailments. She quickly said, “Hurry and check Her Majesty; the pain is so severe she can’t speak!”

“Please forgive me, Your Majesty!” The elderly attendant bowed again before pulling back Hua Yuxuan’s quilt, removing her undergarments to examine her, and lifting her leg.

“Ah!” Hua Yuxuan screamed in pain.

The woman paused slightly and said, “Your Majesty, bear with it. You’ve sustained serious injuries. If we don’t examine carefully, it could affect your ability to bear children in the future!”

Hearing this, Hua Yuxuan had no choice but to endure the pain.

The elderly attendant called for another woman to help hold Hua Yuxuan’s leg while she continued her examination. After a moment, her expression grew grim, and she gently lowered Hua Yuxuan’s leg.

Hua Yuxuan, suppressing the pain, asked, “What’s the matter?”

The elderly attendant sighed. “Your Majesty’s body endured too much ‘rain and dew’ last night, which caused damage to your womb and significant blood loss. You won’t recover in one or two months. I’ll go back and prepare some nourishing remedies. They may taste bitter, but they are good medicine. You must persevere; otherwise, if you develop a lingering illness, it might be difficult to conceive in the future.”

Hua Yuxuan nodded solemnly. “Thank you, Madam. I will remember.”

The elderly woman beside her handed over a bag of silver. “This is a token of Her Majesty’s appreciation. Please don’t refuse.”

The elderly attendant weighed the bag in her hand and said, “Your Majesty must also be careful. Until your body fully recovers, if you feel any discomfort at all, it’s best not to attend to the Emperor. If something like this happens again, you might truly lose the chance to bear children.”

“I understand! Someone, escort her out!”

“This old servant takes her leave.”

After the woman left, Hua Yuxuan’s expression turned sorrowful, and tears flowed from the corners of her eyes. The pain wasn’t just in her body, but also in her heart. Why did he treat her like this? Why could he never see her worth? What did she lack compared to that wretch Leng Jinghua?

She and Leng Jinghua were the same age. The day Long Yi met Leng Jinghua, she was there too. She had dressed beautifully, more exquisitely than even a princess. Standing behind a plum tree, she saw him standing amidst a group of young noblemen. At that time, he was only fourteen, shy and innocent, like a big brother. She despised the others’ flattery and advances, her heart focused solely on him. She finally mustered the courage to approach him, only to see him walking toward a little girl under the tree who no one was paying attention to.

That girl was ugly and skinny, with nothing remarkable about her, yet he sat by her side, chatting with her. Even though the girl ignored him, he tried every way to make her smile. Hua Yuxuan was jealous. Why would he rather speak to that girl than her? What did she lack?

Later, she learned that the girl was the daughter of the General’s household. She saw them together countless times, wanting to approach, but even when she did, she never got even half of his attention. She hated Leng Jinghua. She was the eldest daughter of the Duke’s household and the future Empress. Why wouldn’t he glance at her? It was all Leng Jinghua’s fault!

Even though Leng Jinghua became his father’s woman, he still thought of her. Now, that woman had made him kneel in front of everyone, yet he didn’t resent her, he resented Hua Yuxuan. What had she done wrong to deserve such treatment?

Hua Yuxuan trembled with hatred. The pain in her body was nothing compared to the hatred and anguish in her heart. Leng Jinghua, how could I ever let you go?

The weather was rather cold today. When Leng Jiu got up, she realized it had snowed. This was the first snow of early winter, falling just as the New Year was approaching. Hua Jin had left early in the morning. He had been in the capital for the past few days but had to hurry to the barracks today.

Qingling helped Leng Jiu into a thick outfit as she said, “Last night, the Emperor went to the Noble Consort’s palace but left in the middle of the night. Later, someone from the Noble Consort’s palace went to summon the imperial physicians. Du Heng just found out that the Emperor had forced himself on the Noble Consort last night, causing her to bleed heavily. She was unconscious all night and only woke up this morning!”

Leng Jiu wasn’t surprised. “Hua Yuxuan caused such a stir for Long Yi. Even though he can’t touch her because of the Duke’s household, he still needs an outlet. Hua Yuxuan is his woman. He can torment her as he pleases, and even the Duke wouldn’t dare say a word.”

“But I still think she got off too easily. After all, she almost got the Empress Dowager deposed, and yet she’s still the Noble Consort. It’s infuriating no matter how you think about it!”

“The Empress Dowager or not, I don’t care about a mere title. Besides, it’s not something Long Yi can just take away. As for Hua Yuxuan, though she holds the title of Noble Consort, she has long lost its dignity. Long Yi despises her, the other concubines disrespect her, and no one in the court will flatter her. Her days will be miserable. But that’s good. It’s no fun to get rid of her in one go. It’s better to let her suffer slowly, to slowly grind her down. That’s far more satisfying!” Leng Jiu spoke coldly.

Qingling thought about it and agreed. Given the Noble Consort’s current situation, her suffering would indeed be worse than death, which meant she was receiving her just deserts!

After finishing breakfast, Leng Jiu caught a faint scent of flowers. Her eyes lit up, and she donned a cloak to head to the garden. As expected, the plum blossoms had bloomed, their red petals vibrant, their white ones pure. Leng Jiu asked Qingling to cut a few branches to display indoors, and only then did she remember her promise to accompany Gong Yuwei to see the blossoms in bloom. She returned to her palace to change into something more fitting, gave Qingling a few instructions, and left the palace.

Yesterday had been quite the commotion. Though the Emperor had returned, she was still upset, so it was normal not to see him. Besides, with the wily old Lu Chang present, she had nothing to worry about.

She changed into a thicker palace maid’s outfit, put on a small padded jacket, and had Qingling help her disguise herself before leaving the palace. This first snow wasn’t heavy, but it had coated everything in a layer of white, making the world look beautiful.

A thin layer of snow had gathered beneath her feet, and stepping on it created a slightly gritty sensation. Passersby on the street were all wrapped tightly in thick coats. Leng Jiu blew into her hands to warm them before rubbing her stiff ears. Ah, winter without heaters or cars was truly the hardest season.

Leng Jiu walked toward Gong Yuwei’s residence at the Prime Minister’s manor, but suddenly, she sensed a dense murderous intent coming from all directions, targeting no one else but her! Leng Jiu squinted her eyes and stopped, scanning her surroundings. She noticed that there were quite a few people, including several martial arts experts. She definitely couldn’t fight them all!

Glancing at Gong Yuwei’s manor, she realized it was too far. The General’s residence was also a bit out of reach. Her only close option was Long Yueli’s prince’s residence. She couldn’t go to the Duke’s manor, so she’d have to bring this trouble to Long Yueli instead!

The attackers were still hiding, and she didn’t want to alert them by fleeing, so she moved slowly, pretending to be oblivious. She wandered leisurely, examining things along the way like a curious young girl exploring the market. She hopped from one spot to another, appearing carefree and joyful.

Leng Jiu’s eyes flickered subtly. There was still one street, about 200 meters, between her and Long Yueli’s residence. If she sprinted now, she would be surrounded within 50 meters and forced into a side alley to be taken down. But if she didn’t sprint, with the way they were closing in, she wouldn’t escape either!

Could it be that she wouldn’t escape today? Leng Jiu thought casually, but she didn’t feel nervous. It had been a long time since she felt tense when facing enemies. If they were international kidnappers wielding sniper rifles and rocket launchers, she might give them a second glance. But these guys with big knives? She didn’t see them as a real threat. The only thing peculiar was their inner strength. She touched the bracelet on her wrist—nine cherry blossoms in total, more than enough to deal with those experts. Once the experts were taken care of, the rest wouldn’t be an issue.