Women disguised as men went to the battlefield and the emperor bowed down in submission.

Lin Ruoshui said, "It seems that the place I should go is the palace."

I want to ask your emperor how he raised such a spoiled and dissolute princess like you.

Upon hearing her mention her brother, Princess Furong flew into a rage and shouted, "Guards, kill this woman!"

The guard raised his long sword to strike Lin Ruoshui, but Lin Ruoshui showed no fear and rolled her eyes at Princess Furong.

With a soft "pfft," the guard who had been holding the knife coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground.

Then more guards rushed forward, but before they could even pick up their long swords, they suddenly collapsed to the ground, bleeding from all seven orifices and dying.

Princess Furong and her maid were terrified and turned pale. They retreated and ran away as fast as they could.

The maid ran while shouting, "Murder! Report it to the authorities!"

Lin Ruoshui was helpless. They had originally come to make friends, but they hadn't expected to offend someone instead.

Lin Ruoshui said, "Let's hurry into the palace before their emperor finds out."

Ling Ye tossed three hundred taels of gold to the waiter and said, "We'll take these clothes."

Lin Ruoshui said irritably, "What clothes are worth three hundred taels of gold?"

Ling Ye said, "You're so beautiful now, it's worth any amount of money to spend on you!"

Lin Ruoshui smiled and said, "You have the sweetest tongue."

Ling Ye swaggered out the door, nearly freezing to death from the cold air emanating from the remaining five men.

Xiu Yi put her arm around Lin Ruoshui's slender waist and said, "You have to wear this tonight to accompany me."

Lin Ruoshui looked down at her sexy outfit and asked, "What do you want to do?"

Xiu Yi whispered, "Of course, we should try all 42 moves."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ruoshui's face flushed red. She punched Xiu Yi's chest hard and said, "You wish!"

The group arrived at the palace gate and presented their official credentials and visiting cards.

Emperor Xue Qingcang of the Kingdom of Aoda received them in the Golden Palace.

Lin Ruoshui, dressed in the attire of the Kingdom of Aoda, entered the Golden Palace with an air of elegance and nobility.

Xue Qingcang felt that none of the words he had ever learned in his life could describe the breathtaking beauty of the woman before him.

He said, "Empress Ying, please take your seat!"

After saying this, he personally stepped down from the dragon throne, came to Lin Ruoshui, took her hand, and pulled her to the side of the dragon throne.

He gestured for her to sit down. Lin Ruoshui, unsure of his intentions, complied and sat down.

Xue Qingcang took her hand and asked casually, "Empress Ying, did you come for the Soul-Stabilizing Lock?"

Lin Ruoshui tried to pull her hand away, but found it was being held too tightly, and she couldn't pull it away for a moment.

She smiled awkwardly and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, would you be so kind as to give me that treasure?"

Xue Qingcang thought to himself, "Don't even mention the Soul-Fixing Lock, I can give you the entire Kingdom of Aoda."

While patting Lin Ruoshui's hand, Xue Qingcang said, "No problem. Since Empress Ying wants it, I will definitely grant it."

When Ouyang Xuri saw Xue Qingcang's lecherous look and his restless hand patting Lin Ruoshui's hand, he was so angry that he wanted to rush up to him.

Yunmo grabbed him from behind and said, "Don't forget we're here to ask for your help. Think about the consequences of not getting the Soul-Stabilizing Lock."

Ouyang Xuri grunted twice and stopped moving.

Lin Ruoshui said to Xue Qingcang, "Since Your Majesty is so generous, then I will not stand on ceremony."

Xue Qingcang stared blankly at Lin Ruoshui, hesitating to call someone to bring the Soul-Stabilizing Lock.

Lin Ruoshui coughed lightly, pulling Xue Qingcang back to reality from his daydreaming.

Xue Qingcang said, "I will personally deliver the Soul-Stabilizing Lock to Empress Ying's palace tonight. What do you think?"

Lin Ruoshui frowned slightly and hesitated before saying, "Okay, then I'll wait for you."

Xue Qingcang said, "I have arranged a lavish banquet for Empress Ying. Since we have hit it off today, we must drink three hundred cups together."

Six deathly gazes shot towards Xue Qingcang, who felt a chill run down his spine and couldn't help but sneeze loudly.

Ling Ye thought to himself, "Does Xue Qingcang think I can't hear the filthy things he's thinking?"

"How could you possibly want to possess Yingying?"

Even though Xiu Yi didn't have mind-reading abilities, she could tell what Xue Qingcang was thinking. He clenched his fists, really wanting to punch someone.

The others shared Xiu Yi's idea and were all waiting to obtain the Soul-Fixing Lock.

Then we'll teach Xue Qingcang a profound lesson.

Throughout the banquet, Xue Qingcang held Lin Ruoshui's hand as they sat on the dragon throne, causing all the ministers present to show expressions of surprise.

They couldn't understand why the usually wise and powerful emperor would be so attached to a woman.

Although that person was the Empress of Chu, such intimacy was going too far.

After the banquet, Xue Qingcang and Lin Ruoshui rode together in the imperial carriage to the Yufeng Palace, which had been prepared in advance for Lin Ruoshui.

Xue Qingcang told Lin Ruoshui to rest first, while he went to retrieve the Soul-Stabilizing Lock himself.

Soon after, Xue Qingcang ordered his men to carry countless treasures into the Imperial Phoenix Palace. Lin Ruoshui didn't understand what was going on, and the five men looked at each other in bewilderment.

Only Ling Ye knew, because he heard Xue Qingcang's inner thoughts.

Xue Qingcang was getting ready, preparing betrothal gifts, and was about to propose to Lin Ruoshui.

While Lin Ruoshui was looking at the treasures, Xue Qingcang walked in carrying two boxes.

Lin Ruoshui asked in confusion, "Your Majesty, what are you doing?"

Xue Qingcang said, "These treasures are priceless treasures from my collection, and these two boxes are also for you."

Lin Ruoshui opened the first box in her hand and saw that it was a Soul-Stabilizing Lock, exactly the same as the one she had worn before.

Lin Ruoshui couldn't wait to put the Soul-Stabilizing Lock around her neck.

Seeing this, Ling Ye felt that his happy time had ended the moment she put on the Soul Lock.

Lin Ruoshui curiously opened the second box and asked in surprise, "Your Majesty, are you sure you didn't take the wrong thing? Isn't this the Imperial Seal?"

Xue Qingcang said, "Empress Ying, I fell in love with you at first sight. These are all betrothal gifts I am giving you. I hope you will accept them all."

To show my sincerity, I just returned and dismissed the three thousand beauties of the harem. By tomorrow evening at the latest, all the concubines in this palace will have left.

Lin Ruoshui's lips trembled as she said, "Your Majesty, you are truly efficient and decisive in your work."

But I have no intention of agreeing to your request. Isn't it too rash of you to dismiss the harem like this?

Xue Qingcang said, "Empress Ying, what else do you want? I can give you everything I have, as long as you are willing to marry me."

Lin Ruoshui said, "I lack nothing, and I want nothing."

Xue Qingcang was somewhat disappointed. He said, "You don't even care about this empire?"

Lin Ruoshui said, "Yes, I have absolutely no interest in power or status."

Xue Qingcang excitedly slapped his thigh and said, "That's great! I don't want to be emperor either. We can go into seclusion in the mountains together."

Lin Ruoshui thought to herself, "You're really naive. I don't plan to retire to the mountains; I just want to die a quick death."

Lin Ruoshui said, "No need. This great country needs a wise emperor like Your Majesty to govern it."

Xue Qingcang said, "Empress Ying, is there something wrong with me?"

Lin Ruoshui had a sudden inspiration and politely declined, saying, "There's nothing wrong with it, it's just that I have a quirk: I only like virgins. Look at all of them!"

"Your Majesty already has three thousand beauties; none of them meet my criteria for a spouse."