The female anchor turned into the dean of an ancient academy

Along the banks of the Yuyang River, willows sway, a gentle breeze sweeping across the water, creating ripples. In an exquisite octagonal pavilion by the river, a captivating woman sits alone, delicately strumming the pipa. Her brows furrow slightly, her eyes flickering with a thousand sorrows. The pipa's notes, at times lamentable and lingering, at others low and oppressive, like a lump in the throat, leave one feeling a tightness in the chest, as if even breathing has become difficult.

A man in black strolled into the pavilion. His steps were light, yet he carried an aura that was undeniable. He walked over to sit across from the woman, his gaze fixed on her with a complex emotion. The woman's pipa music abruptly stopped. She raised her head and looked at the man in front of her coldly, her eyes filled with anger and disgust.

"Princess Jue Ling's pipa playing is still so beautiful and captivating." The man in black was the first to break the silence. His voice was low and magnetic, as if it carried a kind of magic that made people want to sink into it.

"Mr. Mo Lei's music appreciation level is still so unbearable. How come the pipa, which even animals don't want to listen to, sounds like the sound of nature when you say it!" Princess Jue Ling sneered, her tone full of contempt and ridicule.

Mo Lei didn't take it seriously. He waved his folding fan, a faint smile on his lips, and said, "The song makes people sad, which means Princess Jue Ling is sad. Coincidentally, Mo Lei is also sad now. We are all sad people, so we are soulmates. If we are soulmates, why should I flatter you?"

"Is there anything else to say between you and me?" Princess Jue Ling looked at Mo Lei coldly, her eyes filled with hatred. This man was once the one she loved most, but he had betrayed their love and their country for his own ambitions.

"Jue Ling, do you still hate me?" Mo Lei put down the folding fan in his hand, and a trace of pain flashed in his eyes.

"Hate? I wish I could cut you into pieces!" Princess Jue Ling roared. She stood up suddenly, pointed at Mo Lei's nose and scolded, "You actually betrayed our cooperation and my Great Zhou for the sake of the ambitious Liaodan Kingdom!" Princess Jue Ling suddenly became agitated. She stood up suddenly, pointed at Mo Lei's nose and scolded.

Mo Lei's eyes were calm, as if Princess Jue Ling's anger was just a breeze, gently brushing against the corner of his clothes, leaving no trace. The smile on his lips deepened, as if he had heard the world's most ridiculous joke. That laughter was filled with a bit of contempt, a bit of mockery, and a bit of chilling coldness.

"Princess, you're joking," Mo Lei's voice was soft and slow, as if he was savoring a cup of fragrant tea. Every word he spoke was elegant, yet sharp.

"I, Mo Lei, have always been a loner. Everyone in the world knows this. I am free and unrestrained. How have I ever belonged to anyone? Princess, are you so used to being high and mighty that you have forgotten that the things that are most easily dissipated in this world are illusions and fleeting clouds?" He paused deliberately, his eyes sweeping across Princess Jue Ling's face, which seemed a little distorted by anger, and a hint of imperceptible satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

"Princess, why does she have to put herself in the position of a victim and deceive herself?"

"You!" Princess Jue Ling was so angry that her entire body was shaking, her finger trembling as she pointed at Mo Lei. She knew Mo Lei was a cunning, ruthless person. If she hadn't been deceived by his appearance and sweet words, how could she have cooperated with him and given him her heart? In the end, he used her completely, and ended up in this situation now!

"Mo Lei, stop pretending!" Princess Jue Ling suppressed her anger and looked at him coldly, "Why do you think you came here today? Is it just to listen to the pipa music of a prisoner like me and admire my current desolation?"

Mo Lei said nothing, merely slowly folding up his folding fan and gently tapping the tabletop with the fan bones. A crisp sound, one, two, three... The sound seemed to strike at Princess Jue Ling's heart, further unsettling her already restless heart. He narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone a touch playful, "Princess, you're truly incredibly clever. You get it all at once. However, I didn't come here today to gain anything from you," he deliberately dragged out his voice, watching Princess Jue Ling's expression change slightly at his words. A hint of triumph flashed in his eyes, "Instead, I want to give you a great gift."

"A big gift?" Princess Jue Ling raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing Mo Lei's words. She knew Mo Lei too well. This man would not do anything without a profit. He suddenly showed up here today, saying he wanted to give her a big gift. I'm afraid this gift is not a good thing!

"Princess, do you know that your good royal brother is now searching everywhere for the assassin who tried to kill Sister Cen Xiao, the dean of Zhaoyin Academy?" Mo Lei said slowly, with a hint of gloating in his tone, as if he was talking about something that had nothing to do with him, but inadvertently revealed a kind of confidence that he was in control of the overall situation.

"What do you mean?" Princess Jue Ling's face changed slightly. Mo Lei's words had undoubtedly thrown a stone into her heart, stirring up a thousand waves. Who was Sister Cen Xiao? She was the current emperor's teacher, highly respected and held a pivotal position in the court. Assassinating her was a heinous crime punishable by the death of her entire clan! Mo Lei suddenly brought up this matter. Could it be...

"Princess, don't be nervous. I came here today to show you a clear path. If you can make amends for your crime, your royal brother will definitely look at you with admiration, lift your house arrest, and give you true freedom." Mo Lei looked at Princess Jue Ling, with an unfathomable glint in his eyes.

"Haha, Mo Lei, do you think I will still trust you like I did three years ago?" Princess Jue Ling tried hard to suppress her inner uneasiness. She knew that since Mo Lei dared to appear in front of her at this time, he must have something to rely on, and what he called making up for his crime with meritorious service was probably a trap full of dangers and unknowns!

"Princess, do you still remember when you and I worked together back then?" Mo Lei paused, a meaningful smile appearing on the corner of his mouth.

"That year, by the Yuyang River, spring flowers were in full bloom. You and I stood side by side and made a vow."

Princess Jue Ling frowned slightly. Her collaboration with Mo Lei back then was an eternal pain in her heart. She didn't want to recall it, let alone mention it.

"You said that if one day you and I turn against each other, we will use the Yuyang River as the boundary, and from then on we will go our separate ways." Mo Lei's voice was low and magnetic, as if carrying some kind of magic, pulling Princess Jue Ling's thoughts back to the past that made her love and hate.

"What do you want to say?" Princess Jue Ling asked coldly. She didn't understand why Mo Lei suddenly brought this up. Was he trying to rekindle their old love? No, that was impossible! This man had betrayed her so ruthlessly before. She would never trust him again!

"I want to say that the princess is now in a difficult situation in the Great Zhou and is isolated and helpless." Mo Lei took a step forward and approached Princess Jue Ling, with a sharp flash in his eyes.

He then paused deliberately, observing the changes in Princess Jue Ling's expression. "Even your biological mother, Queen Mother Li," he said, emphasizing each word with a hint of sarcasm in his tone, "has ignored you and has focused all her attention on her niece, Li Lingxuan, with the sole intention of helping her become the Queen of Xixiang."

Princess Jue Ling clenched her fists. Mo Lei's words, like a sharp knife, pierced her heart. She knew Empress Dowager Li's indifference to her and her preference for Li Lingxuan, but she simply didn't want to believe it or admit it.

"Princess, it's not an exaggeration to say that you are like a dog that has been kicked out of its home." There was a hint of pity in Mo Lei's tone, but it was more like a humiliation, which deeply hurt Princess Jue Ling's self-esteem.

"Shut up!" Princess Jue Ling shouted angrily. She would not allow Mo Lei to humiliate her like this, even if what he said was true.

Mo Lei, unconcerned, continued, "I've crossed the river to find you, only to slowly make amends for what I owe you, Princess, so that you can regain your freedom and receive what you deserve." He reached out, wanting to touch Princess Jue Ling's cheek, but she dodged without hesitation. "Besides, who else can the Princess want besides cooperating with me?"

"Don't even think about it! I would rather die than believe you." Princess Jue Ling flatly refused. After the betrayal three years ago, she only had hatred for Mo Lei. How could she cooperate with him again?

"Princess, please think carefully," Mo Lei pressed on, with a hint of threat in his tone.

"Who else in this world would help you besides me? Your high and mighty brother? Or Li Lingxuan, who only wants to trample you under her feet?"

"You..." Princess Jue Ling was so angry that she was shaking all over, but she was speechless. Mo Lei was right. Now she had nowhere else to turn. Who else could she rely on besides him?

Seeing Princess Jue Ling remain silent, Mo Lei knew she was beginning to waver, so he continued, "Princess, don't worry. As long as you agree to cooperate with me, I promise to help you take back everything that belongs to you! After all, we were once husband and wife."

Princess Jue Ling looked at the man she once loved deeply but now hated with all her heart, and her heart was filled with a struggle. She knew that seeking the skin of a tiger was like drinking poison to quench thirst, but she had no other choice.

"I don't want to answer you yet!" Princess Jue Ling finally compromised in her heart, but she didn't know what was waiting for her...