His Highness the Madman gave in again today.

"Kill them and be done with it."

Mo Sangyu, who is always decisive and dislikes trouble, said: "Knowing that he has ill intentions, why waste time with him?"

Feng Xingyu's anger vanished instantly.

He deliberately asked, "But this person claims to be your senior brother, is it really okay to just kill him?"

The two openly discussed this without any attempt to avoid the parties involved, or even consider how the parties would feel upon hearing these words.

Zhou Jinghuai: "..."

Ya Zi looked at Zhou Jinghuai with some sympathy.

"that."

Zhou Jingdong swallowed hard and slowly backed away: "I suddenly remembered that I haven't finished the task Master asked me to do. Junior sister, let's reschedule for another day..."

After saying that, he turned and ran, but Ya Zi grabbed him and knocked him unconscious with the hilt of his knife.

Feng Xingyu glanced at Ya Zi: "Take him away."

An abandoned house in the western suburbs.

Mo Sangyu's consciousness entered Zhou Jinghuai's brain and explored his memories.

Only then did they learn that the Great You Dynasty had indeed begun to suspect that Feng Xingyu's death was a hoax.

The person who came with Zhou Jinghuai was an advisor to the Third Prince Feng Chengrui, essentially Mr. Gu, who served Feng Xingyu.

Should we send this conman to test her?

Unfortunately, she was no longer the junior sister he used to know.

"It was your imperial brother who sent this person. Zhou Jinghuai is easy to deal with; just kill him. Anyway, Master has already expelled him from the sect. But that advisor is very cunning."

Mo Sangyu said, "Right now, our foundation is not yet stable, and we cannot let the tiger return to the mountain."

"We can use your senior brother to find him."

"That's a good idea."

"Didn't you want to know if I'm dead or not?" Feng Xingyu's eyes turned cold. "Let him die knowing the truth."

……

Zhou Jinghuai slowly woke up, feeling a dull pain in the back of his neck.

He found himself not dead, but lying on the floor of a dilapidated house, his hands and feet still bound, and a rag stuffed in his mouth.

The room was dimly lit, with only a small oil lamp burning in the corner.

There was no one around.

Weren't we supposed to kill him?

They were just tied up!

Zhou Jinghuai didn't have time to think about anything else. Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, he quickly broke free of the ropes and stumbled out of the dilapidated house.

After confirming that no one was following him, he ran a long way before daring to stop, leaning against the wall and panting heavily.

A gust of cold wind blew, and he realized that his back was already soaked with cold sweat.

If one survives, there will be future fortunes.

Zhou Jinghuai touched the back of his neck, which was still throbbing slightly, and a hint of relief and smugness gradually appeared on his face.

Junior sister... in the end, she still softened her heart.

That's true. After all, they were fellow disciples for a few years. Even though he was later expelled from the sect, the bond they shared as children still exists.

She may look cold, but deep down she's still the same as before—easily soft-hearted and easily manipulated.

As for the masked man...

Zhou Jinghuai's eyes flickered.

Although I don't know exactly who it is, judging from their aura, they are definitely not ordinary people.

My junior sister has climbed such a high branch, no wonder she's so confident.

He had to tell that advisor the news as soon as possible.

This is a major discovery.

The sudden appearance of such a mysterious and powerful man by Mo Sangyu's side is very likely related to the Seventh Prince.

Perhaps... that person is the Seventh Prince himself!

If he could help the Third Prince confirm this news, Zhou Jinghuai would have made a great contribution, and wealth and honor would be within his grasp.

Thinking of this, Zhou Jinghuai perked up and, disregarding his lingering fear, determined the direction and ran towards the secret contact point he had agreed upon with his staff.

He wandered through streets and alleys, finally disappearing into a secluded alley.

In an inconspicuous little inn.

He found his way to the innermost room on the second floor and knocked on the door urgently, three long knocks followed by two short ones.

The door opened a crack, revealing the advisor's cautious yet slightly impatient face.

"Why are you here? Didn't I tell you to..."

The aide's words came to an abrupt halt as he saw the barely suppressed excitement and panic on Zhou Jinghuai's face.

"My lord, a major discovery!"

Zhou Jinghuai squeezed through the door, slammed it shut behind him, and whispered, "There's a masked man next to my junior sister. He has a terrifying aura. I suspect... I suspect that man might be the Seventh Prince, Feng Xingyu!"

The aide's expression tightened: "Really? Are you sure you saw it clearly?"

"Absolutely true!" Zhou Jinghuai said with great certainty.

That person must be the Seventh Prince, otherwise, why didn't my junior sister resist at all when he was holding her?

A glint of light flashed in the eyes of the staff member.

If what Zhou Jinghuai said is true, then this matter must be reported to the Third Prince immediately.

The advisor made a decisive decision: "This matter is of great importance. I will immediately send a message to the Third Prince. You..."

Before he could finish speaking, the door was suddenly flung open from the outside by a powerful force.

Three figures appeared in the dimly lit doorway.

Zhou Jinghuai's excitement froze instantly, turning into extreme terror. His legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground: "You...you all..."

The aide's expression changed drastically, and he instinctively took a step back, his hand reaching for the sword at his waist: "Who are you?"

"Weren't you looking for me?"

Feng Xingyu slowly removed his mask, revealing a handsome yet extremely cold face.

His gaze swept over Zhou Jinghuai, whose face was deathly pale, and finally settled on the face of the advisor whose pupils trembled slightly and whose face was full of disbelief. A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"Since my third brother's retainers have come in person, how could I refuse to give them face and come out to meet them?"

"Seventh...Seventh Prince, you...you're still alive!"

After the initial shock, the staff quickly regained their composure.

"Why did you fake your death? The Third Prince... cared about you deeply and refused to believe you were really dead. For the past six months, he sent many people to search for you. Heaven rewards the diligent, and we have finally found you!"

Uh.

What the hell is he talking about?

Third Prince, are you really that kind?

Mo Sangyu looked at Feng Xingyu and saw a mocking smile on his lips. He said coldly, "You think you can avoid death by saying that?"

"Seventh Prince!"

The aide suddenly knelt down on one knee before him: "Every word I've said is true. The Third Prince has been with the Tianyan Sect for years and isn't very clear on many things in court. If you don't believe me, you can check!"

This change was something Mo Sangyu had not anticipated.

However, she didn't really know much about the Third Prince, so she couldn't offer any opinions.

Feng Xingyu remained silent for a moment, and his advisor continued, "The Third Prince sent people to find you in secret; he truly had no intention of harming you."

"it is good."

After a long silence, Feng Xingyu finally spoke: "I will investigate this matter. I can spare your life for now, but I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you during this time..."

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly attacked with a speed that caught everyone off guard.

The staff member was knocked unconscious.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Jinghuai's eyes rolled back and he also fainted.

"Do you really believe that?"

Mo Sangyu tilted her head and looked at Feng Xingyu.

Feng Xingyu curled his lips and shook his head: "Of course I don't believe it."

Feng Chengrui is that woman's son.

And that woman was the culprit who killed his mother.

How could he possibly believe that!

"Take them back to the capital first and lock them in the dungeon. They might come in handy later."

"Okay, sure."

Mo Sangyu had no objections.

Based on Zhou Jinghuai's memory, it is not enough to determine whether the advisor's words are true or false. However, there is no doubt that the advisor is the Third Prince's confidant.

Let's leave it for now.

Ya Zi went to find someone and personally escorted Zhou Jinghuai and his advisor to the capital in secret.

Mo Sangyu cannot leave yet; he must confirm that the road construction is proceeding smoothly and on track before he can depart.

In the days that followed, Mo Sangyu spent most of his time at the construction site.

With the tools and building materials she conjured with her spiritual power, the craftsmen's efficiency was greatly improved.

The tunnel excavation is progressing far faster than expected, and the construction of bridge pile foundations is also steadily advancing.

She would occasionally inspect the situation herself and use her spiritual power to solve problems with hard rock layers or complex riverbeds that the craftsmen could not handle.

Occasionally, she would visit nearby towns to buy some quirky little trinkets or try some local snacks.

Feng Xingyu stayed with her for two days before he had to leave.

However, he would take time every two or three days to travel from the capital to come here.

Sometimes I would arrive in the evening, have a meal with her, chat for a while, and then leave again early the next morning.

Sometimes he would arrive late at night, already asleep, and he would quietly lie down beside her, pull her into his arms, and sleep peacefully for several hours, inhaling the scent of her hair.

However, the stay was always short. When they parted, Mo Sangyu saw the reluctance and suppressed anxiety in his eyes.

no way.

He has a heavy burden on his shoulders.

The newly acquired territory is in dire need of rebuilding, the old forces need to be purged and appeased, new systems need to be established and implemented, and we also need to guard against being targeted by a more powerful force on the Nine Provinces Continent.

He wished there were twenty-four hours in a day.

I just want to be an ordinary person.

Unfortunately, some people are destined to have no choice from the moment they are born.

Fortunately, time flies.

Another half month will pass in the blink of an eye.

The key infrastructure projects for the two expressways, including tunnels and bridges, have been successfully completed.

The remaining paving and finishing work could be handled entirely by the craftsmen themselves.

Mo Sangyu was finally able to set off to return to the capital.

It is now late autumn.

The leaves are starting to turn yellow and are falling down in a rustling sound.

Mo Sangyu returned to the Iron River Palace, and Feng Xingyu received the news early on.

As the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

During this time, although he often went to see her, each time was in a hurry, and they never spent enough time together.

In order to coax him away, Mo Sangyu promised him that she would make it up to him properly after she finished her busy period.

She was just casually coaxing him, but the man had already remembered it deeply.

Upon returning to the palace, Mo Sangyu immediately went to the Imperial Study to find him.

As it turned out, he was not in the Imperial Study.

A palace servant came to report: "Madam, the city lord says he is waiting for you at the warm pool."

A heated pool?

Upon hearing this place, Mo Sangyu felt a strange sense of unease.

The warm pool is a hot spring pool built within the Iron River Palace, which draws water from an underground hot spring.

Because the previous emperor was fond of luxury, he had this place built to be quite spacious and exquisite, with the pool water kept warm all year round and shrouded in mist.

Mo Sangyu changed into some casual clothes and came to the outside of the Warm Pool Palace.

The palace servants guarding the palace gates lowered their heads and looked at her respectfully. When they saw her arrive, they quickly pushed open the heavy palace doors, and a warm, moist scent with a faint fragrance wafted out.

Several palace lanterns were lit inside the hall, casting a soft glow.

Water vapor rises, creating a hazy, indistinct scene.

In the huge white marble pool, warm water gently ripples.

Mo Sangyu walked in, her gaze first falling on the hot spring.