Just before dawn, the long street was still shrouded in lingering mist.
Feng Zexuan was already seated on Big Orange’s back. The gold-thread trim on her black riding outfit shimmered faintly in the morning light.
She patted her mount’s neck.
Even after transforming into a horse, Big Orange still had the build of a tiger—broad-shouldered, intimidating, and clearly not a fine breed.
Feng Zekai wore a moon-white brocade robe embroidered with subtle bamboo patterns. He looked like someone who had stepped straight out of a painting.
He rode Xiao Jiao—the tiger disguised as a white horse—with unnervingly elegant poise.
The siblings rode side by side out of the city, followed by a squad of black-armored imperial guards.
Both sides of the street were already packed with civilians.
“It’s the Northern Duke!”
“And next to her is her brother, the new top scholar!”
“They’re both ridiculously good-looking!”
“I heard they’re going to welcome the king of the so-called Tiexia Kingdom—that former Xiongnu guy!”
“The Northern Duke beat him so badly he had to change his name and identity, and now he’s coming here to pay tribute personally. Hahaha!”
Listening to the crowd’s chatter, Feng Zexuan couldn’t help but curl her lips.
【That dried beef Xiao Mingyu brought last time was so good even the brothers said it was tasty.】
【I wonder what he’ll bring this time.】
【I should take a good look—what kind of chaos that “second dog” is up to now.】
Feng Zekai glanced at her.
“Don’t call the King of Tiexia ‘Second Dog’ when you meet him.”
“Fine, fine,” she replied lazily.
At that moment, the system suddenly spoke.
“Host! Emergency broadcast—yesterday’s aftermath!”
“Wang Dehai went to the Cold Palace!”
Feng Zexuan perked up. “Did they reunite?”
“No.”
The system sounded oddly emotional.
“He didn’t say anything. He just planted a cassia tree in the courtyard… and built a swing overnight.”
“The exact same one from twenty years ago in that broken temple.”
A scene formed in her mind—
Under moonlight, a hunched eunuch digging soil in the Cold Palace courtyard, clumsily hammering wood together.
“He’s recreating their first meeting…”
Her nose stung slightly.
“He’s telling her, in his own way, that he’s never forgotten.”
The system rarely mocked anything this time.
“Yes. Guarding the rose in his heart… just watching from afar is enough.”
Before she could ask more, the system suddenly sharpened its tone.
“Wait—host, look! Ten o’clock direction!”
“That servant carrying a vegetable basket!”
Feng Zexuan narrowed her eyes and locked on target.
A young man was crouched in the crowd, sneaky-eyed—clearly up to no good.
“What about him?”
“He was bribed by Huyan Agula!”
The system spoke rapidly.
“Last night, when the news of that ‘Second Dog’ returning to the capital reached the second prince’s residence, Agula nearly cried!”
“He bit his finger and wrote a blood letter while ten of his wives were playing mahjong!”
“He even used his last bit of private money to send this servant to deliver the letter to Xiao Mingyu no matter what!”
Her eyes lit up.
With a squeeze of her legs,
Big Orange shot forward instantly.
She leaned down and, with precise accuracy, snatched a crumpled letter from the servant’s slightly open collar.
The servant only felt a chill on his chest and, hearing hoofbeats behind him, fled in panic.
Feng Zexuan unfolded the wrinkled paper atop the tiger-horse.
Dark red blood stains covered crooked handwriting.
“HELP!!!”
Below it, densely packed words:
“Brother Mingyu, if you see this letter, I am doomed!”
“This place is a den of wolves and tigers! Ten women, all demonesses! By day they are gentle, by night they turn into ravenous beasts, draining my essence and exhausting my vitality! Brother, I am skin and bones, barely able to walk!”
“They run shifts, enforce evaluations, and if I disobey even slightly, they cut off my food! As a prince, I have been reduced to a captive livestock animal!”
“Now that I hear you are returning, it is like seeing daylight! Please remember our past identity swap and quickly inform the Great Xia Emperor of the truth—save me from this sea of suffering! One more step too late, and I will not survive!”
After reading it, Feng Zexuan started shaking.
“Pfft—”
She burst out laughing, collapsing onto Big Orange’s back.
“Hahahahaha!”
“Came for beauty, died by beauty!”
“Is this workplace injury? Give him an annual model worker award!”
“Drain your essence? Just admit you’re not capable!”
The guards and civilians looked confused at her sudden laughter.
Feng Zekai leaned over, took the letter, and after one glance his face flushed red.
He tried—and failed—to hold back laughter.
The siblings laughed until they were bent over.
After calming down, Feng Zexuan carefully folded the letter and tucked it away.
This was premium gossip material—must be preserved.
She flicked her whip.
“Move out! To meet the King of Tiexia!”
The group sped off, laughter echoing down the long street.
Hundreds of miles outside the capital.
Dust flew along the official road.
The Tiexia delegation advanced slowly.
In the central carriage, Xiao Mingyu sat uneasily.
He had lost weight and tanned considerably. Fine lines had appeared at the corners of his eyes.
After taking over Tiexia, he had been overwhelmed—fighting locust disasters, rebuilding infrastructure—working nonstop.
But at least he hadn’t embarrassed himself.
Now, the grassland people respected him deeply.
Still, the thought of meeting the Emperor made his palms sweat.
To make up for past mistakes, he had nearly emptied his treasury.
Over twenty carts of tributes.
Behind them followed two hundred grassland beauties.
All “gifts” left behind by the old khan and those so-called brothers who ran away.
He hadn’t touched a single one.
This return had two goals:
First, bring back the ten wives he left in the capital.
He missed their pastries terribly.
Second, return the two hundred beauties to their rightful owner—Huyan Agula, who had taken his identity.
He thought carefully: The Emperor values etiquette. As a vassal king on his first audience, I must be proper.
These tributes are carefully prepared—the Emperor should be satisfied.
And Agula—after receiving such a generous gift, he should return my wives, right?
The more he thought, the more stable everything seemed.
He had no idea what kind of storm his “gift” would soon unleash.
Another day passed.
Finally, banners of Great Xia appeared on the horizon.
Black flags snapped in the wind.
Armored cavalry stood in formation, halberds like a forest, killing intent pressing forward.
The entire delegation tensed instantly.
Xiao Mingyu straightened his robes, took a deep breath, and rode forward.
At the front stood two figures side by side.
Left: moon-white robe, elegant as jade, smiling like a spring breeze.
Right: black riding outfit, posture straight as a spear, aura overwhelmingly sharp.
Though she said nothing, she drew every gaze.
Her face was striking—sharp brows like blades, eyes like daggers, yet exquisitely beautiful.
A lethal blend of heroism and beauty.
He froze for a moment.
Then quickly dismounted and bowed to the man in white.
“Marshal Feng, we meet again!”
He assumed the stunning woman was the marshal’s sister.
Feng Zekai smiled faintly and stepped aside.
He did not accept the salute.
A teasing smile appeared on Feng Zexuan’s lips.
She dismounted smoothly.
“King of Tiexia, long time no see.”
Her voice was bright, carrying a hint of amusement.
“But…”
She paused, watching his increasingly confused expression.
“Wrong person.”
“I am the Marshal you’re looking for.”
“As for this one—”
She pointed at Feng Zekai.
“My older brother, the new top scholar, Feng Zekai.”
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