All the gentlemen who are attacked by the female queen are stunningly beautiful

"That old fox, Hu Wanqian, has monopolized half of the military's procurement thanks to Wei Wuzi's favor. The profits she's reaped over the years are enough to support three large border army camps. The wealth she's accumulated now can not only fill the gap in our military pay, but she can also use a large portion to prepare for our reinstatement!"

"But if you want him to vomit it out, you have to poke her in the heart."

"What should I do, cousin?"

Xiao Zhen paused with his fingertips on the eagle's beak. When he looked up, a cold mist had gathered in his eyes. "Go and have someone secretly pass on the message that Wei Wuzi is planning to attack his racecourse on the western front."

The black-clad guard standing by was about to speak but hesitated: "General! Hu Wanqian is as cunning as a ghost, he may not believe it..."

Xiao Jingyue echoed, "Wei Wuzi has great trust in Hu Wanqian and won't attack her racecourse!"

"Cousin, do you want to... let us?" Xiao Jingyue wiped her neck. "It seems a pity to kill so many horses. I want to wait for cousin to take the throne and then personally take over the horse farm! Why don't we think of another way?"

Xiao Zhen buckled the eagle amulet back to her waist. Her dark skirt swept across the table, bringing up half a cup of cold tea. "If you like it, keep it!"

"Does the Hu family have a grandson? I think his name is Hu Yanli?"

"My cousin has a good memory!"

Xiao Zhen looked at the map, then suddenly turned around, a cold glint in her eyes. "Tell your men to spread the word that Wei Wuzi plans to settle the military rations deficit in the autumn, and the first thing they'll investigate is her false report of the price of the war horses last year. Also, remind her that her precious grandson works in the Imperial Household Department and happens to have the purchase documents from last year. We're just testing the waters, so we need a scapegoat, so let's start with her grandson."

Xiao Jingyue thought for a moment and understood. "Cousin, is she trying to use the court officials to pressure Wei Wuzi into a thorough review of last year's accounts? Or is the pressure fake, and the real purpose is to manipulate Hu Wanqian? However, the Hu family and Wei Wuzi have always had interests entangled, so they may not easily turn against each other."

"No need to betray, just bleed." Xiao Zhen curled her lips, "Doesn't she love her little grandson the most..."

Xiao Jingyue suddenly realized: "In this way, Hu Wanqian will definitely come up with the money to protect his grandson and the Hu family's foundation."

"More than that." Xiao Zhen put her hands behind her back, her voice as cold as ice, "Tell her to prepare 80% of the military pay, and the remaining 20% will be his life-saving money, enough for him to manage the people around Wei Wuzi and make up for the so-called deficit. If he knows what's good for him, this money can buy the Hu family temporary stability. If he doesn't know what's good for him..."

"She should be able to settle this account clearly."

Xiao Jingyue looked at the resentment that had been dormant in her cousin's eyes for many years and replied in a low voice, "I'll arrange it right away."

"Wait." Xiao Jingyue accepted the order and was about to leave, but Xiao Zhen stopped her and said in a gentle tone, "Tell Hu Wanqian that once the money arrives, I will naturally show him a way out."

After Xiao Jingyue left, Xiao Zhen put the eagle talisman back on, a sneer appearing at the corner of his lips.

Hu Wanqian and Wei Wuzi were originally grasshoppers tied to the same rope. Now she only needs to pull it lightly, and this pair of seemingly close partners in interests will immediately bare their fangs and bite each other. This is just the first step in her revenge game.

Outside the tent, the wind blew fallen leaves. Xiao Zhen stroked the raised lines on the eagle symbol, applying slight pressure with her fingertips. "Let them fight. The more fiercely they fight, the more opportunities our Xiao family has."

After saying that, she took off the eagle talisman and put it neatly into her bosom, right next to her heart.

Beneath the cool metal, it seemed as if the warmth of Emperor Qing's palm from years ago still lingered—when he had smiled and patted her shoulder, his voice as resonant as a bell: "Ah Zhen is the sharpest knife in my hand."

She placed her fingertips on the outside of her clothes, stroking the outline of the eagle symbol through the fabric, with a complex light in her eyes.

That joking compliment was once her most passionate infatuation when she was a teenager, but now it has become a sharp knife that cuts her heart, reminding her all the time how the knife was hidden by her lover and how it was sharpened into a new edge in the ashes.

She turned to look at the map of Chu State hanging on the wall of the inner room, and pressed her fingertips firmly on the location of Jiangnan. "Didn't Zhuang Luyu want to fight me? Then let her know what happens when she bites the wrong person."

"Xiao Shi, go to Hangu yourself and retrieve the account books showing the banker's collusion with pirates, embezzlement of salt and iron, and hoarding of goods. Send them to the palace... Don't forget, make it look like the secrets were leaked from the Liao Kingdom."

Xiao Shi accepted the order and said with some worry: "I am worried about the general..."

"Go! Don't you think I still have Xiao Jiu by my side? Don't worry, I will live to see the day when the Chu State is destroyed!"

Xiao Shi hesitated for a while before turning around and leaving!

The night wind blew the fallen leaves across the window lattice, making a whimpering sound.

Xiao Zhen looked at the remnant of the word "Qing Kingdom" on the map. His voice was as soft as a sigh, but it was filled with unquestionable determination: "Emperor Qing, please wait a little longer. It won't be long before I send Wei Wuzi's head to your mausoleum."

The eagle talisman grew slightly warm in her arms, as if echoing her vow. This world should have belonged to Emperor Qing! Even if she had to crawl back from hell, Xiao Zhen would take back everything that belonged to the Qing Kingdom.

...

Song Xiang held Yun Que's hand and half-sat up. The twilight outside the tent spread over the curtains, casting a faint yellowish hue on her moon-white nightgown.

Her fingertips gently touched the jade bracelet on her wrist. It was given to her by her elder sister Wei Yuanyi some time ago. The touch was warm, which made her feel more at ease.

"What are the people from the Left Seventh Battalion talking about now?" she asked in a hoarse voice, her eyes fixed on the flickering candlelight at the corner of the tent.

As Yun Que tucked in the quilt for her, she smiled and said, "What else can I say? Of course, they're more in awe. They're all praising Your Highness for his prowess! Yesterday, Your Highness, you sent Captain Si's Nine-Ring Sword flying. It plunged straight into the lookout tower three meters away, and the hilt was still trembling. The soldiers stared at you with their eyes wide open. Even General Xiao Zhen gave you a second glance!"

Song Xiang lowered her eyes and chuckled, but a trace of solemnity flashed across her eyes. She knew that this awe was false, an empty shell supported by the internal force stimulated by the Tongxin Gu.

When she fought Si Henrou yesterday, she clearly felt a force that didn't belong to her surging through her meridians, like a wild horse running free. Fortunately, the strange fragrance appeared, and she was able to control it...

Si Henrou's Nine Ring Knife was incredibly heavy. She had clearly used all her might, but she still couldn't defeat her. Fortunately, she suddenly gathered her strength in that final blow, as if an invisible hand was supporting her knife, and effortlessly sent the opponent's weapon flying. Especially the faint fragrance that grew stronger as she exerted force, as if...

"There's something wrong with that Gu...very wrong..." she murmured, pressing her fingertips on her dantian, which was still slightly swollen.

"I disturbed it yesterday, perhaps it offended its owner..."

Yun Que nodded hurriedly, "That must be the case! Otherwise, with Captain Si's skills, how could you have sent her Nine Ring Sword flying so far? I heard Captain Si has been practicing this sword with her for over ten years and has never been defeated. Your Highness doesn't know that she broke several teacups after returning to the tent yesterday!"