Poisonous Goddess: I'm just lazing around in the mortal realm.

"You swear? You said before that you wouldn't pass on any more messages to Aunt Qin." Zhou Jinghuai looked displeased. If he hadn't gone to stop Aunt Qin first, he would have definitely taught Qingfeng a lesson.

In his opinion, Qingfeng's mouth was like a sieve, telling Aunt Qin everything.

"That's not my fault..."

Qingfeng naturally knew that his master was right, so he could only shrink back and dare not answer.

To Zhou Jinghuai's surprise, he missed the thirteenth again.

When the two of them barged into Thirteen’s courtyard, they ran into Aunt Qin, who was pacing in the courtyard.

Qin Rao happened to come out of the house; she had come to visit Thirteen. However, she hadn't expected that this legendary Thirteenth Master wouldn't have a single servant come out to greet her.

She searched the entire courtyard again and again, but couldn't find any trace of the thirteenth prince.

Just as she was about to leave, she happened to bump into the mistress and servant who were arriving late.

She glanced coldly at Qingfeng, and couldn't help but underestimate this subordinate who had always been by Zhou Jinghuai's side.

She had just asked about Thirteen's residence when she asked, and the next day she was able to bring her master to find her.

Is this because they're afraid she'll harm Thirteen?

Thinking of this, Qin Rao couldn't help but look somewhat displeased.

"Why are you here?"

“Aunt…” Zhou Jinghuai wanted to question Qin Rao, but when he saw Aunt Qin’s face, he deflated like a punctured balloon and slowly walked forward.

Qin Rao gave him a cold glance.

"Speak your mind. Did you two rush here because you're afraid I'll harm Thirteen?"

Ultimately, she had no intention of getting involved between Zhou Jinghuai and Thirteen. On the contrary, she had some chronic illnesses that had not yet healed, and she wanted Thirteen to take a look at her ailments.

Seeing Qin Rao's distant attitude, Zhou Jinghuai naturally dared not reveal his purpose and quickly explained...

"I heard from Shen Mu that Chongming has returned to the capital, so I came to find my aunt!"

"Demon Lord Chongming?"

Qin Rao naturally did not believe what Zhou Jinghuai said, that he had just parted ways with him and then found Chongming's whereabouts.

She's not stupid; she could come up with such a lame excuse.

She took in Zhou Jinghuai's panicked expression, then slowly walked to the bamboo chair in the courtyard and sat down.

"I find this courtyard quite charming. Why don't I wait here for the owner to return, and you go and arrest Chongming?"

Qin Rao lifted his eyelids, and the gaze he shot at Zhou Jinghuai pierced through his disguise like a blade.

Zhou Jinghuai frowned slightly, pulled his hand back into his sleeve, and clenched it tightly with unease.

If he weren't still unsure of Thirteen's true identity, he wouldn't be deliberately hiding it from Aunt Qin. Thinking this, he gave Qingfeng a cold glance.

Although Qingfeng shrank back and dared not utter a sound, when he saw Zhou Jinghuai's gaze, he gritted his teeth and stepped forward to speak on Zhou Jinghuai's behalf.

“Aunt Qin, the master… no, General Zhou is telling the truth. After you left, we met Shen Mu’s men, who told us that Chongming had just arrived in the capital.”

As Qingfeng spoke, he glanced guiltily at Qin Rao, fearing that Qin Rao could take him away with a single gesture.

Right now, he also understands the difference between having a full meal once and having a full life. Although Qin Rao is Zhou Jinghuai's aunt and a renowned female general in Xichen, for him...

Zhou Jinghuai is his true master.

Standing in front of Zhou Jinghuai, Qingfeng seemed to vaguely sense that the gaze cast from behind him was even more intense.

He swallowed hard; persuading Qin Rao to leave was his only chance to redeem himself.

Seeing the master and servant acting so harmoniously, Qin Rao couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. Did they really think she was senile?

However, she glanced around discreetly and noticed that the yard hadn't been cleaned for some time, so it was likely that Thirteen hadn't returned for quite some time.

There's no point in her staying here any longer.

Thinking of this, Qin Rao slowly stood up, completely ignoring the eager gazes cast upon him by Zhou Jinghuai and the other man.

“In that case, I’ll visit her again another day. But General Zhou, I heard something on my way here.” Qin Rao’s thoughtful gaze still startled Zhou Jinghuai.

He quickly reviewed his recent actions, afraid that he might have overlooked something.

Qin Rao chuckled lightly.

"Visiting brothels, buying the most beautiful courtesan, beating the son of the imperial censor in the capital, and snatching the daughter of an official. Hmm, if you were to tell this to the Emperor, what would you say?"

Qin Rao looked at Zhou Jinghuai with great interest, and when he saw Zhou's handsome face turn red in an instant, he subconsciously laughed out loud.

She had known about this matter since the first day she arrived in Nanyang. However, seeing Zhou Jinghuai's frightened appearance, she naturally guessed whether the rumor was true or false.

Seeing this, Qingfeng didn't care about him and quickly moved aside to let Zhou Jinghuai behind him pass.

Zhou Jinghuai's face flushed and paled in turns; in his current state of panic, he hadn't expected Qin Rao to expose him, especially at this time!

"Auntie, I... had a reason."

Zhou Jinghuai's explanation was weak and unconvincing; he didn't know how to explain it to Qin Rao.

These rumors were clearly spread by the playboys who were friends with him, using his name to engage in dissolute activities.

Furthermore, because these scions of prominent families held considerable prestige in the court, he refrained from exposing their actions too much in order to easily inquire about Chongming's whereabouts.

"There must be a reason?" Qin Rao looked at Zhou Jinghuai with a probing gaze and slowly walked towards him.

Seeing Zhou Jinghuai lower his head, looking somewhat guilty, she immediately curled her lips into a cold smile.

"Does 'there's a reason' mean you spent a lot of money to buy courtesans for entertainment, or does it mean you frequented the Drunken Immortal Pavilion and didn't come home at night?"

Qin Rao naturally knew whether the rumor was true or false; she had already found out before interrogating Zhou Jinghuai. It was clear that last month, Zhou Jinghuai had taken Thirteen and others to Zuixianlou to buy courtesans.

She looked coldly at Zhou Jinghuai, feeling a sense of disappointment.

He was supposed to descend to the mortal realm to capture the Demon Lord, but unexpectedly he managed to get distracted and visit brothels.

"I'm sorry, Auntie." Zhou Jinghuai hung his head, not daring to look up.

The Imperial Guard Dungeon

Hao Jing hurriedly ran into the Jinyiwei dungeon, looking for Shen Mu. He circled the dungeon several times but couldn't find him.

He couldn't help but feel a little anxious; he had to find Shen Mu as soon as possible.

Last night, Shen Mu instructed him to go and cause some trouble for Zhou Jinghuai. He happened to be delivering a letter to Helian Nash when he saw the Second Prince's carriage hurriedly leaving the city.

He remembered Shen Mu telling him that the Second Prince might be cooperating with Helian Nash. That's why he chased after him out of the city to see what had happened.

Thinking of this, Haojing decided to go and meet up with Xie Qiao first.

Just as I entered the dungeon, I spotted that familiar figure.