The eldest daughter's scheming, the crown prince's exclusive favor to the venomous concubi

After Hei Feng finished speaking, she simply lay down on the haystack, picked up the filthy tattered clothes and covered herself with them, then closed her eyes and fell into a light sleep.

Hei Feng quietly looked at Jian Yue, and after a moment, he heard Jian Yue's soft snoring. He immediately smiled and said, "You're in pretty good spirits."

As he spoke, he beckoned, and immediately the beggar who had been hiding from him while eating came over. Black Wind whispered, "What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, the beggar rolled his eyes and said disdainfully, "Not bad energy? You're probably completely exhausted! Besides, this is nothing! Aren't you being a bit overprotective?"

Black Wind rested his chin on his hand and thought about it seriously for a moment. He nodded and said in a serious tone, "It seems so. I find this girl very amusing, and I just can't bear to part with her!"

The beggar scoffed, "Which one of you hasn't said that? In the end, didn't you still just chop them all up? Can't you be serious for once? Is this supposed to be a test? I have a feeling you're really doing what she says, taking revenge?"

Upon hearing this, Black Wind smacked his lips, lay back in the haystack and thought for a moment, then suddenly chuckled and said, "Now that you mention it, I feel like I actually do have a bit of that quality."

The beggar rolled his eyes and said, "I knew it. How could an old monster like you, who likes to hold grudges, let someone who stood you up just like that?"

Black Wind raised an eyebrow: "Am I that evil?"

As he spoke, his eyes crinkled into a smile, a malicious grin spreading across his face. The beggar couldn't help but shiver and immediately moved away, saying, "I wonder what it is about this girl that caught your eye? I think she's nothing special. Compared to Shangguan Linglong back then, she seems even less impressive."

Sixteen years in the cellar, and she hasn't gone mad, still possessing such cunning and scheming. I think someone like that is truly remarkable. The armored soldiers have waited for centuries; they can't wait any longer!

As the beggar spoke, a trace of weariness and desolation flashed in his eyes. Hei Feng smiled, turned to look at Jian Yue, paused, and suddenly said, "She naturally has her unique qualities. Although Shangguan Linglong is quite capable, she is too tolerant. If she really had to choose, she wouldn't amount to anything. Otherwise, she wouldn't have suffered sixteen years of imprisonment."

The beggar, puzzled, looked at Black Wind and said, "She's endured sixteen years, surely she can forge herself into a body of steel? Back then, she was a naive girl who had just come of age, so it was normal for her to be soft-hearted. Now, she has grown into a person who can stand on her own, and I think she's perfectly capable."

These twin phoenixes are certainly precious, but as Stark said, there are advantages and disadvantages. If we don't handle things well, our Ironclad Army could very well capsize. I don't want all the foundation we've built over the years to be wiped out.”

"No, I think this girl is even better."

Hei Feng looked at Jian Yue, his eyes holding a light he himself was unaware of, which stirred something in the beggar's heart.

Then Black Wind laughed and said, "Imprisoned for sixteen years, it is indeed very rare for a grown woman, but what if it were a newborn baby?"

The beggar paused upon hearing this, recalling the scene described by Hei Feng, and began to ponder. Hei Feng continued, "A child, imprisoned alone in a cage from the time she could barely speak, grew to the point of being able to learn the terminology of armored soldiers in ten years. Apart from Shangguan Linglong, who could only give her hints, there was no one else around her. And she couldn't be discovered while she was learning."

Then, relying on her own abilities, she left that dark cage at the age of ten, fought for her life for five years, and returned to the capital, once again stirring up a massive wave. Although not all of this was due to her own methods, many things happened around her. Tell me, how does she compare to Shangguan Linglong?

As he spoke, Hei Feng suddenly sighed and said, "Sometimes, I doubt whether I, at my age, could shoulder so much. But she truly makes me look at her in a different light."

The beggar remained noncommittal, then sighed, "Your vision is far-sighted; I am no match for you. Since that's the case, I won't say anything more. Since you've already made your decision, we'll just watch the show. But don't relax too much; be careful not to end up like the Qilin Pavilion and capsize."

Black Wind's tone suddenly changed, and he said with a wicked smile, "Do you think I'm some greenhorn? Although the Qilin Pavilion is huge, it was exploited when it was first established. Such mismanagement of people is its biggest drawback. Can it be compared with the Ironclad Army that has stood for hundreds of years?"

The beggar nodded and said, "That's true. Then I won't worry about it. I should go to sleep. Isn't that how a beggar should live?"

As he was speaking, he turned to move back to his seat, but suddenly heard Jian Yue say, "Before you go to sleep, you might as well say a little more, so that I can also hear how my unfortunate mother was tormented by the Qiu family for seventeen years right under your noses."

The beggar was startled and turned around abruptly. He saw that Jian Yue had already sat up, lazily combing her long hair. The clothes that had been on her body had been thrown aside. She looked like she had just woken up, but her eyes were bright and deep, staring intently at him.

His dark, hollow eyes reflected his image, like a bottomless abyss, making the beggar feel a chill. He couldn't help but look at Black Wind, who shrugged and said with a look of amusement, "What are you looking at me for? You, a scout, didn't notice anything unusual about her. Do you think I would kindly tell you?"

"you do this delibrately?"

The beggar practically gritted his teeth as he spoke, while Black Wind shook his head and nodded without a trace of guilt, saying, "Yes and no, I didn't notice it before either. It was only when you mentioned Shangguan Linglong that I noticed her movement. Tsk tsk. I say, are you getting old? You didn't even notice a snot-nosed girl pretending to be asleep, and you still blame me? Tsk tsk, I really don't know what to say."

While expressing his regret, Black Wind's eyes were actually full of amusement, enjoying the beggar's predicament. Black Wind felt that his life was perfect.

Black Wind's words caused a flicker of surprise in the beggar's eyes, and he looked at Jian Yue with a hint of inquiry.

Jian Yue calmly tidied her long hair, showing no fear of the probing look. After tidying her hair, she spoke, "Having followed you for so long, even if I were a fool, I should understand that this beggar's den is a base of your Ironclad Divine Soldiers."

"Tsk tsk, their taste is truly unique, but it also reveals the extraordinary nature of these armored soldiers. I doubt anyone would imagine that this mythical army, so widely celebrated, would actually live in a beggar's hut."

Jian Yue spoke these words from the heart. Who would believe that the armored soldier was a beggar in that dilapidated temple outside the city? Even if you went out and told everyone on the street, you would probably only be seen as crazy.

Black Wind grinned broadly, his face full of praise, and said, "How about it? Isn't my idea good?"

Jian Yue showed no surprise. She believed that no one but Hei Feng could come up with such an unreliable idea. She could tell from the first time she saw his rich and noble appearance.

Thinking of this, Jian Yue suddenly recalled her experiences today. Combining this with the conversation between the two of them, her eyes changed, and she looked at Hei Feng and said, "Using the convenience of the beggar's den to set up a base outside the capital, I believe there must be similar strongholds in the capital as well! So, what is the purpose of your harassment of me today, besides revenge? Tell me, what are you using me for?"

Jian Yue didn't get an answer because the beggar, who hadn't spoken for a long time, suddenly stepped forward and stood close to her. The stench emanating from him made Jian Yue want to vomit, but out of politeness, she endured the discomfort, moved back slightly, and frowned at the beggar, saying, "Men and women shouldn't touch each other. Please be mindful."

The beggar was taken aback, then suddenly clutched his stomach and burst into laughter, saying, "Oh my, little girl, you're really funny, really funny. After all this time, very few people can stand the smell on me anymore. Black Wind was the first, and you're the second."

Upon hearing this, Black Wind said with a look of disgust, "Who can stand you? It's just that no one else talks to me except you, who's willing to listen to my rambling."

The implication is that if someone had a choice, they would also stay far away from this foul-smelling person.

Jian Yue leaned back further, spreading her legs to make it easier for her to stand up quickly, before saying, "I didn't say anything because I didn't want to be disrespectful to my elders. The smell on you is indeed inappropriate."

The beggar immediately looked heartbroken and said miserably, "Black Wind, you traitor, you've corrupted this little brat."

Hei Feng shrugged: "It's alright, he's my apprentice anyway, there's nothing wrong with him learning one more thing."

Upon hearing this, the beggar immediately looked at Jian Yue, his solemn gaze sending a chill down Jian Yue's spine.

The beggar said, "You, don't be his apprentice anymore, be my apprentice, and I guarantee you'll learn more about the Way than he can teach you."

Jian Yue blinked, and saw Hei Feng suddenly rush over and throw the beggar away. The beggar was not flustered. When Hei Feng threw him away, he did a somersault in the air and landed lightly on the ground.

"Black Wind, what are you doing?"

Black Wind stood up, flicked his sleeve, raised an eyebrow, and said coldly, "You dare to steal my disciple? Are you tired of living?"

Upon hearing this, the beggar chuckled and picked his nose with his left pinky finger, saying, "What's wrong? Anyway, she hasn't become an apprentice yet. If I miss out on such a promising talent, I'll be letting down my ancestors."

"Your ancestors? Do you even have any ancestors?"

"Of course I have one. Where else would I have come from?"

As the beggar spoke, he charged straight at Black Wind. Black Wind's eyes flickered, and he blocked the beggar's punch with a wave of his hand. Seeing this, the beggar smiled and said, "Not bad, huh? Come on, let's go again."