Starting as a Grandmaster, all of my cultivation techniques are at max level.

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Wei and Qin Hu exchanged a glance. Without the slightest hesitation, they darted down from the second-floor window and landed lightly beside Xia Jin.

"Your Highness." The two bowed in unison.

"Walk!"

Xia Jin nodded slightly and led the two directly toward the two tightly closed vermilion gates of the Duke of Jingguo's mansion.

At this moment, Qin Hu's lips curled up slightly, and he put two fingers together, letting out a short and sharp whistle.

In an instant, dozens of figures began to appear behind the three of them at street corners, alleyways, tea stalls, and behind vendors. It turned out that these were the Imperial Guards who had deliberately disguised themselves as ordinary people.

Xia Jin and her entourage had just arrived at the gate of the Duke of Jingguo's mansion when

Upon seeing this, the two burly guards instinctively stepped forward to stop him. However, just as one of them was about to speak, a member of the Imperial Guard behind Qin Hu stared intently at him, his right hand gripping the hilt of his sword, as if he were about to draw his blade at any moment.

The undisguised murderous aura made the two servants of the Duke of Jingguo's mansion tremble. They swallowed back the words they were about to say and scrambled back into the mansion to report the news.

"It's been quite a while since I've been to the Duke of Jing's residence!" Xia Jin looked up at the four large characters "Duke of Jing's Residence" hanging above the entrance.

He then led his entourage straight in. As soon as they arrived at the main hall, they saw the Duke of Jingguo, surrounded by his family and servants, hurriedly coming out to greet them with a livid face.

The old Duke's hair and beard were already streaked with gray, but his back was straight, and his face was clouded with anger. He recognized Xia Jin, who was walking at the front, at a glance. His pupils contracted slightly, and he suppressed his anger, saying in a deep voice, "Prince Jin! May I ask what brings Your Highness to my humble residence today with so many Imperial Guards? What law has my Jingguo Duke's Mansion violated that Your Highness has personally come to question us?"

Xia Jin seemed not to hear his question. Without stopping, she walked straight through the crowd and sat down calmly in front of the main seat in the main hall.

Eunuch Wei and Qin Hu stood quietly behind him, one on the left and one on the right.

"What," Xia Jin finally raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping calmly over the Duke of Jing's face, which was slightly flushed with anger, "Does this prince need a special excuse to enter the Duke of Jing's residence?"

The Duke of Jingguo's jaw twitched, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Your Highness is too kind. The gates of the Duke's mansion are always open to Your Highness. But this kind of display... inevitably makes this old man suspicious."

Xia Jin didn't respond to his words, her gaze falling on a young man behind him wearing a brocade robe, whose face bore a resemblance to his, and who was staring intently at her.

There was a barely perceptible hint of panic in the young man's eyes.

"This must be your family's eldest son, right?" Xia Jin pointed at the man and asked casually.

The Duke of Jingguo felt a pang of unease, a vague premonition that he didn't want to move: "It is indeed my son..."

"Little Wei," Xia Jin interrupted him, picked up the teacup beside her, and skimmed off the foam with the lid, "You tell the Duke of Jing what exactly his precious son and his Jingguo Mansion have done wrong."

"Yes, Your Highness." Eunuch Wei stepped forward and said to Duke Jing with a smile, "Duke, you must still be in the dark. Your son is secretly colluding with the remnants of the Demonic Sect, causing havoc in the capital. Tsk tsk, Your illustrious reputation is likely to be ruined in your later years."

"Nonsense!" Duke Jingguo roared, his beard and hair bristling. "My son has been well-versed in the classics since childhood and has always upheld the proper etiquette. How could he possibly be associated with the demonic sect! Eunuch Wei, stop making baseless accusations!"

The eldest son also stepped forward abruptly, his face flushed: "That's right, utter nonsense! You're framing me! Do you have any evidence?"

"Evidence?" Eunuch Wei's smile carried a hint of coldness. "Don't rush to cry foul, young master."

No sooner had he finished speaking than everyone saw a blur before their eyes, and Eunuch Wei was already standing in front of the eldest son.

The eldest son was horrified and tried to retreat, but it was too late. A pale hand had already grabbed his sleeve.

"Sizzle—!"

With a sharp tearing sound, the young master's brocade robe exploded into countless flakes, scattering in all directions. He cried out in alarm, staggering backward with his bare chest exposed to everyone.

Above his heart on his left chest was a sun and moon pattern, no more than three inches in size.

This is the Sun and Moon Sacred Mark from the Ming Cult!

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

The Duke of Jingguo was struck dumb, staring at the glaring tattoo on his son's chest, his face drained of all color.

"I wonder if the Duke of Jingguo has seen it clearly now? The tattoo on your son's chest is a capital offense for an ordinary person!" Xia Jin looked at the other party with a half-smile.

The eldest son was also stunned, instinctively covering his face with his hand. "This...this isn't it! It's just a regular tattoo! It's just a tattoo, how can you conclude that I'm a member of the Demonic Sect? You're framing me!"

Duke Jingguo also snapped out of his daze, forcing himself to remain calm, and said sternly, "That's right! How can one be convicted based solely on a tattoo! It's merely a resemblance! Prince Jin, there must be something fishy about this!"

"Strange?" Xia Jin waved her hand behind her.

"Qin Hu".

"Your humble servant is here!"

"search."

"Yes, sir!" A fierce glint flashed in Qin Hu's eyes as he turned and roared, "Search the entire mansion! Leave no corner unchecked! Arrest anything suspicious, anyone suspicious!"

"Yes!" The Imperial Guards waiting outside the hall responded in unison, then scattered like wolves and tigers, rushing towards various parts of the mansion.

"How dare you!" The Duke of Jingguo was both shocked and furious, trying to stop them. "This is the Duke's mansion! Without an imperial edict, you have no right..."

"Shut up." Xia Jin glanced at him, the chill in her eyes making the Duke of Jingguo choke on his words. His family members behind him were already pale with fright and trembling.

After a while,

"Report—!"

Several Imperial Guards rushed back from the inner courtyard, the first of whom was carrying a mahogany tray with several items on it.

"Your Highness, this item was found in a secret compartment in the eldest son's study of the Duke's mansion!"

Ironclad evidence.

Xia Jin slowly raised her gaze from the tray and landed on the ashen-faced Duke Jing and his son.

"Duke Jingguo, now, what do you have to say?"

Duke Jingguo opened his mouth, his gaze fixed on the objects, as if he had aged ten years in an instant. The eldest son behind him almost collapsed to the ground if not for the servants on either side supporting him.

Xia Jin stopped looking at them.

"Qin Hu".

"Your subordinate is here!" Qin Hu bowed and responded, his eyes flashing with a cold light.

"The entire Jingguo Duke's mansion, regardless of master or servant, was arrested, imprisoned in the imperial prison, and placed under strict guard to await interrogation."

"Yes, sir!"

Qin Hu clasped his hands in acceptance of the order, then turned abruptly, his voice booming: "His Highness orders! Arrest all members of the Jingguo Duke's mansion and escort them to the Northern Garrison! Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy!"

"yes!"

The Imperial Guards, who were already on standby, immediately detained the other members of the Duke of Jingguo's mansion.

"Hmph! If it weren't for my brother's sake, I would have killed you all on the spot for colluding with the remnants of the Demonic Sect!" Xia Jin stood up and coldly swept his gaze over the people in the Duke of Jing's mansion.