The whole family was brutally murdered? The ruthless heiress's eldest daughter went berserk aft

The Crown Prince's voice came from outside the tent: "Is General Zhao there? I heard that the General has been working hard training the troops recently, so I came to inquire after him."

Zhao Wuji looked at Ning Feng, a hint of hesitation in his eyes. A newly returned saintess, a crown prince on the verge of becoming emperor—the scales in his heart were still swaying.

"Please go ahead, General." Ning Feng said calmly, as if he were just an ordinary visitor.

The Crown Prince strode into the tent, and upon seeing Ning Feng, he feigned just the right amount of surprise: "So the Holy Maiden is here too."

"It's a rare opportunity to meet His Highness the Crown Prince." Ning Feng gave a slight bow. "This Holy Maiden was just about to take her leave."

“Holy Maiden, there’s no need to rush off,” the Crown Prince said gently. “The Holy Maiden has already overshadowed all the beauties and won the title of Holy Maiden upon returning to Nanzhao. I haven’t even congratulated her yet.” Despite his words, his gaze seemed to drift towards Zhao Wuji.

Zhao Wuji secretly pondered the unspoken meaning behind their words. Looking at Ning Feng's petite figure and then at the Crown Prince's spirited demeanor, the scales in his heart tipped slightly.

"Your Highness is too kind," Ning Feng said with a slight smile. "Even before I returned to Nanzhao, I often heard people speak of General Zhao's illustrious reputation. To meet him today is truly an honor."

"Oh?" The prince raised his teacup. "I wonder what the Holy Maiden has heard?"

"Naturally, it's because the general is a master strategist and resourceful," Ning Feng said casually. "I've also heard that the general is well-versed in military strategy and has unique insights into the 'Military Treatise'."

Zhao Wuji's heart stirred. The "Treatise on Military Affairs" was the very book he had always wanted but could not obtain.

The Crown Prince, seemingly oblivious, laughed and said, "Speaking of military strategy, this Holy Maiden has recently acquired several military books. I will certainly consult the General another day."

"Is Your Highness referring to the 'Strategic Art of War'?" Ning Feng asked casually. "I've heard this book is highly regarded in the military."

The prince paused slightly in his teacup. It was the secret manual he had recently acquired.

Zhao Wuji observed this thoughtfully. How could this seemingly frail saintess be so knowledgeable about military affairs?

"The Holy Maiden is indeed very knowledgeable." The Crown Prince put down his teacup. "Speaking of which, I recently set up a new training ground in my residence. I wonder if the General would be willing to offer some guidance?"

Training ground? Zhao Wuji's heart skipped a beat. The Crown Prince wasn't hiding it anymore, directly revealing that a training ground had been set up?

"Your Highness is very kind," Ning Feng said softly. "The talents trained by the General must all be first-rate."

Zhao Wuji sensed a hidden meaning in her words. These days, the Crown Prince has been frequently promoting his cronies; could it be true, as Ning Feng said?

"It's getting late," Ning Feng stood up, "This Holy Maiden takes her leave."

"Please take care, Holy Maiden," the Crown Prince also rose, "I will certainly invite you to my residence another day."

After the two left, Zhao Wuji sat alone in his tent, remaining silent for a long time.

He suddenly summoned his trusted aide: "Investigate the matter of the newly established drill ground at the Crown Prince's residence."

Back at the Saintess's residence, Xiao Cui angrily brought over tea: "Saintess, did you see that? From the military camp to the residence, the Crown Prince's spies were everywhere!"

Ning Feng took the teacup, her expression calm and composed: "I saw it."

"He's too arrogant!" Xiao Cui exclaimed indignantly. "Just because he's the Crown Prince, he dares to openly spy on the Holy Maiden like this?"

“The visible informants are less of a threat,” Ning Feng said, taking a sip of tea. “What I’m worried about are the hidden ones…” Her tone shifted. “Have they all been investigated?”

Xiao Cui's expression turned serious: "We've investigated. Besides the people in the open, the Crown Prince also placed three hidden sentries nearby. One is in the teahouse across the street, one in the tavern on West Street, and one in the general store in the back alley."

"Hmm." Ning Feng nodded. "Was there anything special about those people?"

"That waiter at the teahouse," Xiao Cui recalled, "was apparently the nephew of the Minister of War."

A hint of a smile flashed in Ning Feng's eyes: "It seems the Crown Prince doesn't entirely trust his confidants."

"What the saint means is..."

“A person who truly trusts their subordinates,” Ning Feng stood up and walked to the window, “why would they use outsiders to monitor their opponents?”

Xiao Cui seemed to understand but not quite: "Then should we...?"

“Ignore them,” Ning Feng said, looking at the moonlight outside the window. “Let them keep watching.”

"Why?"

“When playing chess,” Ning Feng turned around, a faint smile playing on her lips, “if you let your opponent think they're about to win, they'll lower their guard, and that's when you have an opportunity to strike.”

Just then, Ning Bo quietly appeared at the door: "Holy Maiden, General Zhao has sent a message."

"Oh?" Ning Feng took the secret letter, read it, and said softly, "It seems General Zhao has thought it through."

“Holy Maiden,” Xiao Cui said worriedly, “that General Zhao…”

Ning Feng frowned as she looked at the secret letter in her hand.

"Ning Bo," Ning Feng put down her teacup, "have you been paying attention to Zhao Ming's movements lately?"

“Reporting to Your Majesty,” Ning Bo bowed, “Zhao Ming has been frequenting the brothel Zui Xiang Ju these days, and he’s been getting very close to a courtesan named Shuang’er.”

"Oh?" A hint of interest flashed in Ning Feng's eyes. "Tell me more about it."

"This Shuang'er's origins are unknown; she suddenly appeared at Zuixiangju three months ago," Ning Bo said in a low voice. "It's said she was recommended by the Crown Prince's residence, and Zhao Ming has spent a fortune on her."

Ning Feng gently stroked the teacup: "The Crown Prince is quite cunning. Knowing that Zhao Ming is Zhao Wuji's weakness, he started his attack from there."

“Yes,” Xiao Cui interjected, “Zhao Ming has been on duty at the Crown Prince’s residence these days and hasn’t even come home.”

"Zhao Wuji's wavering is simply because he feels the Crown Prince has deep roots in the government." Ning Feng stood up and walked to the window. "If he finds out that his son has been manipulated and controlled by the Crown Prince..."

Xiao Cui's eyes lit up: "The Holy Maiden wants to..."

“Find someone trustworthy,” Ning Feng said calmly, “to secretly keep an eye on Zhao Ming’s every move. If he does anything… inappropriate at Zuixiangju,” she gave Xiao Cui a meaningful look, “it’s good to let General Zhao know as well.”

"That Shuang'er..."

“Don’t touch her yet,” Ning Feng shook her head. “Since the Crown Prince sent her to monitor Zhao Ming, he must have been prepared. If we act rashly, we might ruin everything.”

"Yes." Xiao Cui accepted the order and withdrew.

Ning Feng gazed at the moonlight outside the window and murmured to herself, "General Zhao, let me show you what kind of person your trusted Crown Prince really is."

The next morning, inside the Zhao residence.

"Master!" The butler rushed into the study, "Young Master..."

"What is it now?" Zhao Wuji asked without looking up.

"Young Master got drunk at Zuixiangju last night," the butler whispered, "and said some disrespectful things about the Crown Prince."

Zhao Wuji's pen paused abruptly: "Who heard that?"

"It is said that...there were many of the Crown Prince's men working at Zuixiangju at that time."

Zhao Wuji's expression changed drastically. Just then, a guard rushed in: "General, someone from the Crown Prince's residence has arrived!"

Zhao Wuji stood in the courtyard, looking at the messenger sent by the Crown Prince, his heart filled with mixed emotions. The message the messenger brought wasn't heavy; it merely stated that Zhao Ming was on duty at the Crown Prince's residence and needed to be kept under closer supervision. But the underlying threat made him feel uneasy.

"General," the messenger said meaningfully as he left, "the Crown Prince said that some things, though spoken when sober, may not be so easily said when drunk."

After the messenger left, Zhao Wuji sat alone in his study, silent for a long time. He finally understood that his son had long since become a pawn in the Crown Prince's hands.

"Men," he suddenly ordered, "prepare yourselves and bring the young master back to me bound."