Empress, please have some self-respect. I am not your husband.

Upon hearing Her Majesty the Empress's question, the civil and military officials, who had been eagerly awaiting her answer, all turned to look at Lu Feng and Yu Ningyan, waiting for their response.

Lu Feng cleared his throat: "Your Majesty, it is like this! Last night, I was staying at home when suddenly a mysterious person wearing a flame mask descended from the sky with the eldest princess."

"They came directly to my courtyard, which startled me quite a bit. Just as I was wondering what was going on, the mysterious man wearing a flame mask told me that the Princess had been assassinated on the street, and that there were probably still assassins lurking in the shadows in the capital."

"For the sake of the princess's safety, he instructed me to protect her and escort her to the palace during today's court assembly."

"A flame mask?" someone muttered softly.

Ye Bingyun looked at Yu Ningyan: "Your Highness, please speak."

Yu Ningyan said softly, "Your Majesty, the situation is just as Lord Lu said. Last night, Ningyan was attacked by assassins on the street. When her life was in danger, someone came to her rescue."

"Ningyan wanted to ask the name of her savior, but after he removed his mask, he revealed a crimson flame mask. He then took Ningyan to Lord Lu's residence and instructed Lord Lu to protect Ningyan's safety."

"That's why Ningyan hid at Lord Lu's residence all night and only dared to show herself this morning."

Qin Ming suddenly exclaimed, "A crimson flame mask, could it be!"

His voice was filled with ecstatic joy, and the others also reacted, exclaiming, "Could it be Crimson Flame!"

Yu Ningyan sighed softly and confirmed, "It is exactly what you gentlemen think. It was the Crimson Flame Army who saved Ningyan!"

"My God! It's the Crimson Flame Army!"

"Didn't they disband? How come they've reappeared!"

"Nonsense, they disbanded, they weren't completely wiped out!"

"Could it be that the Crimson Flame Army is about to reappear?"

Almost all the civil and military officials were immersed in joy. The Crimson Flame Legion was a powerful force that had protected the Qian Kingdom time and time again!

Since the death of the Crimson Flame War God two years ago, this invincible army has vanished from the world.

Who would have thought it would reappear now!

Only Ye Bingyun kept her eyes fixed on Lu Feng.

Knowing that Lu Feng's cultivation was exceptional, she had already guessed that this was a lie fabricated by Lu Feng and Yu Ningyan.

Is this guy hiding his true strength?

Ye Bingyun was thinking to herself when Yu Ningyan suddenly spoke up: "Your Majesty!"

"What urgent matter does Your Highness have?" Ye Bingyun asked.

Yu Ningyan said, "That Chiyan Army soldier Zeng Yan, one of the assassins was a master from the Southern Jing Kingdom. This shows that the Northern Qi Kingdom orchestrated this whole thing, wanting to provoke a conflict between the Western Chu and the Qian Kingdom so they could reap the benefits! Such a vicious act deserves to be condemned!"

"Northern Qi Dynasty!"

The courtiers were greatly alarmed. Of the three kingdoms—Western Chu, Northern Qi, and Southern Jing—the one closest to the Qian Kingdom was the Northern Qi Dynasty!

The Northern Qi state, possessing six provinces and a strong literary tradition, had always wanted to annex the Qian state to strengthen itself.

A military officer was furious: "The Northern Qi! I never imagined they could be so treacherous, actually trying to use someone else to do their dirty work!"

"Damn Northern Qi, their wolfish ambitions deserve to be punished by Heaven!"

The courtiers were indignant, but Her Majesty the Empress remained unmoved, looking at Yu Ningyan and asking, "What does Your Highness intend to do?"

She knew that Yu Ningyan would never speak without reason, and that she must have something to ask for in revealing this information.

Yu Ningyan said respectfully, "The Northern Qi are wolves in sheep's clothing. Now they even want to use someone else to kill us and provoke a conflict between the two countries. Ningyan will never let them have their way!"

"But now Ningyan has become their target, and the road back to Xichu is fraught with difficulties. There may even be their people among Ningyan's entourage."

Abandoning her previous arrogance, Yu Ningyan bowed and said, "Ningyan humbly requests Your Majesty to issue an edict ordering the Western Chu delegation to return home first, and to send another force to escort Ningyan back to Western Chu, so as to prevent future troubles."

The ministers began to make plans.

Ye Bingyun pondered this in her heart.

Yu Ningyan's words make a lot of sense. No matter what, Yu Ningyan must not die in the Qian Kingdom, otherwise it would not only play into the hands of the Northern Qi.

Perhaps this is exactly what the Western Chu Dynasty wanted to see.

Otherwise, how could the Northern Qi have dared to assassinate Yu Ningyan in the street? They were only slightly stronger than the Qian Kingdom.

Perhaps the Western Chu Dynasty was the mastermind behind this plan.

Ye Bingyun quickly figured out the real mastermind behind it all and immediately agreed: "What the Princess said makes sense. In that case, I will issue an edict to order the Western Chu delegation to return first. But please send a letter back to Western Chu so that the Western Chu troops can meet us outside the city gate. This way, we can ensure that nothing goes wrong."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Yu Ningyan breathed a sigh of relief; this was a solution she had carefully considered last night.

First, send the Western Chu delegation back to their country, then have the Qian Kingdom send troops to escort her back in a grand manner, as long as she leaves the Qian Kingdom's borders alive.

Then there would be no point in making her die, and she wouldn't have to die.

Even if they manage to return to Western Chu alive, their ultimate fate will not be good.

Thinking of that person in the royal family, Yu Ningyan's gaze towards Lu Feng suddenly turned resentful.

Regardless, it's ultimately a good thing that Yu Ningyan is safe and sound.

Ye Bingyun issued an imperial decree to strengthen the defense of the capital and reassigned the Ministry of Rites to arrange accommodations for Yu Ningyan before announcing the end of the court session.

Having passed the test smoothly, Lu Feng leisurely arrived at the Imperial Household Department.

They had barely arrived when Wang Hao and his group of minor officials informed them that His Majesty had been waiting for a long time.

Lu Feng wasn't surprised; the emperor would always have to get involved in something this important.

As soon as he entered the room, Ye Bingyun ordered everyone to leave the Imperial Household Department, then looked at Lu Feng and said softly, "Tell me the truth."

Lu Feng didn't hide anything and simply explained what had happened.

Ye Bingyun looked at me with an expression that said, "Just as I expected," and then said speechlessly, "So you're just trying to pin the blame on the Crimson Flame Army?"

"Your Majesty is unaware of this."

Stretching, Lu Feng clicked his tongue and said, "The reason why the three kingdoms are making things difficult for the Qian Kingdom is simply because the Crimson Flame War God has fallen and the Crimson Flame Army has disbanded. The reappearance of the Crimson Flame Army at this time is a deterrent. If the three kingdoms want to make any more moves in the future, they will have to consider whether the Crimson Flame Army will regroup."

"That's true, but it's not good to pin the blame on the Crimson Flame Army, is it?" Ye Bingyun said helplessly.

As the emperor of the Qian Kingdom, she held the Chiyan Army, who had protected the Qian Kingdom for many years, in high esteem.

"It's not a big problem. The Crimson Flame Army has been disbanded. Even if they find out, they won't care about such a small matter," Lu Feng said nonchalantly.

Seeing his indifferent attitude, Ye Bingyun had no choice but to change the subject: "I plan to have Yu Ningyan stay at your official residence temporarily. What do you think?"