His Highness the Madman gave in again today.

Threat!

A blatant threat!

I can't swallow this humiliation... but I have to!

Yan Qing was so angry that he cried.

I feel wronged, angry, and resentful!

Luo Ming, who witnessed the entire process: "..."

He wanted to comfort Yan Qing, but after glancing at Mo Sangyu beside him, he silently gave up.

He's just a doctor; you can't afford to offend him.

"You may all leave."

After a moment of silence, Feng Xingyu broke the silence.

Luo Ming quickly helped the injured Yan Qing up and was about to leave.

"etc."

Mo Sangyu's cool voice rang out from behind them.

The two froze, then slowly turned around.

If I remember correctly.

Mo Sangyu gently shook her numb arm, her gaze falling on Feng Xingyu's face: "Two days ago, His Highness said in public that anyone who dares to make me lose a single hair will be dealt with according to military law."

She paused, then turned to Luo Ming: "Dr. Luo was also present at the time, do you remember this incident?"

Luo Ming felt a chill run down his spine. Under Mo Sangyu's calm yet extremely oppressive gaze, and glancing at Yan Qing's eyes that seemed to be spitting fire, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he nodded with difficulty: "...That is indeed true."

He silently said to himself, "Brother, I'm sorry."

Mo Sangyu smiled, quite satisfied with Luo Ming's pragmatism.

She remained silent, simply watching Feng Xingyu.

Feng Xingyu's jawline was taut, and his eyes were as deep as night.

The study fell silent again, the atmosphere so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

After a long silence, he parted his thin lips slightly, his voice carrying an undeniable coldness: "Yan Qing, go and collect your thirty strokes of the military rod."

"Your Highness!" Yan Qing called out urgently, his face drained of all color.

Fearing further complications, Luo Ming quickly grabbed his arm and practically dragged him outside, saying, "Let's go, don't make things difficult for His Highness!"

As Luo Ming reached the door, remembering Feng Xingyu's injuries, he turned back and asked worriedly, "Your Highness, your injuries..."

"It's alright."

Feng Xingyu waved his hand, his gaze remaining fixed on Mo Sangyu.

The door closed gently, blocking the view from the outside.

The candlelight flickered, casting long shadows of the two people on the wall.

Mo Sangyu moved a wooden chair over and sat down comfortably opposite Feng Xingyu's desk.

She was relaxed and at ease, as if she were the one who owned the place.

Feng Xingyu stared at her, his eyes icy: "What exactly do you want?"

Mo Sangyu raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on her lips: "Shouldn't I be the one asking Your Highness this question?"

"You killed two of my guards first."

"Your Highness has it backwards. They were the ones trying to kill me. I acted in self-defense. They were useless, so I killed them in return. How can you blame me?"

"..."

Feng Xingyu's aura deepened slightly: "You came under orders, what is your purpose? Do you really think I'm completely unaware?"

"On orders?"

Mo Sangyu tilted her head slightly, a hint of doubt in her eyes, then chuckled as if suddenly realizing something: "Oh... then Your Highness, tell me, what is my purpose in coming here on orders?"

"Is it fun to play dumb?" Feng Xingyu's patience was gradually wearing thin.

Mo Sangyu shrugged indifferently: "Whatever the purpose, it doesn't matter. What matters is..."

She leaned forward, her gaze meeting Feng Xingyu's unfathomable pupils, her voice growing colder with each passing moment: "Your life is in my hands now. If you don't want to die, don't mess with me."

Feng Xingyu's eyes suddenly turned cold. He abruptly stood up and reached out to grab her throat.

The movement was so fast that it stirred up a gentle breeze.

Mo Sangyu didn't even blink, neither flinching nor dodging, and even tilted her delicate and graceful neck back, making it easier for him to pinch her.

This is practically a silent mockery.

Extremely arrogant.

Feng Xingyu's hand froze in mid-air before slowly clenching into a fist.

He slumped back into his chair, his breathing ragged.

Mo Sangyu slowly leaned back in her chair, the faint smile on her lips finally becoming more genuine, but still cold.

"Look."

She spoke softly, "Actually, we can coexist peacefully, as long as you and your people stop thinking about killing me. Then we'll all be safe, wouldn't that be better?"

Feng Xingyu looked at her again, this time with a scrutinizing gaze.

"You think I'd believe you?"

"You may not believe it, but you have no other choice."

After saying that, Mo Sangyu got up to leave, but when she reached the door she remembered something and turned back to say, "Oh right, that new house is too shabby, the main house is much better. I plan to move here tomorrow."

Feng Xingyu's expression suddenly turned cold, and he frowned, saying, "What did you say?"

Mo Sangyu stood at the door, backlit by the candlelight, her profile clearly defined: "I said, the new house is too shabby, the main courtyard looks nice, I'll move here tomorrow."

Seeing the astonishment on his face, she chuckled and added, "Your Highness, don't overthink it. What I mean is, the room next to yours doesn't mean I'm sleeping with you."

The last sentence made Feng Xingyu's expression falter, and he said in a cold, hard voice, "That won't do either, I disagree!"

"oh."

Mo Sangyu readily agreed, opened the door and walked straight out, clearly not taking his objections to heart.

She said she'd move tomorrow, and she meant it.

As the footsteps faded into the distance, Feng Xingyu rubbed his temples, the wound on his shoulder and the knot in his heart flaring up at the same time.

Several figures immediately flashed in from outside the study.

Besides Yan Qing, who went to receive the military rod, strategist Gu Jinzhi, deputy general Yuan Zhao, and Luo Ming, who was carrying a medicine box, all came.

Without saying a word, Luo Ming stepped forward to check Feng Xingyu's pulse and injuries.

In just three days, he suffered knife wounds, poisoning, and internal injuries.

Even a body made of iron might not be able to withstand this.

The crucial point is that the enemy forces in the north have recently become restless again and could launch a war at any time. Without Your Highness, how can we fight this battle?

"Your Highness, that demoness... what exactly does she want?"

Yuan Zhao, being straightforward, asked the question first.

He had just returned from patrolling outside and, after hearing Yan Qing's half-understood account, felt both angry and full of doubt.

Feng Xingyu recounted the key points of his conversation with Mo Sangyu.

"She wants to move to the main courtyard?"

Gu Jinzhi touched his smooth chin, his eyes gleaming: "That's true, that's interesting."

Feng Xingyu gave him a cold glance.

"Mr. Gu, I just don't understand!"

Yuan Zhao frowned deeply: "According to Yan Qing, and considering the results of the verification, she could clearly kill His Highness now. She could injure just one finger, and His Highness might lose half his life. So why doesn't she do it? What a load of nonsense about peaceful coexistence!"

This was a question shared by Luo Ming and Yan Qing, who had just been helped back and was lying on the couch groaning.

With such powerful tools at our disposal, why wouldn't we use them?

Gu Jinzhi pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "That's the crux of the matter. She might be able to kill His Highness, but then what?"

He looked around at the crowd: "If Her Highness dies, do you think we'll let her go?"

The answer is self-evident.

Even if she escapes to the ends of the earth, they will definitely avenge His Highness.

"so."

Gu Jin concluded: "She won't act rashly until she finds a way to ensure her safe escape."

Yuan Zhao suddenly realized, and his expression darkened further: "So, are we really helpless against her?"

"Currently, there really isn't a good solution."

Gu Jinzhi nodded and looked at Feng Xingyu: "Your Highness, we are in a rather passive position in the current situation. We can only take it one step at a time. In addition to not hurting her any further, we must also send people to keep a close eye on her. Only if she is alive can Your Highness be at ease. If she tries to escape or is preparing to die together with us, that would be a real dead end."

"So, we still have to protect her?"

"That's right. Since she took the initiative to move to the main courtyard, whatever her purpose, it will be easier for us to keep track of her movements."

Feng Xingyu leaned back in his chair, the candlelight casting flickering shadows on his face: "Then, as she wishes."

Upon hearing this, Yan Qing, who was lying on the couch, buried his face in the soft pillow and let out a muffled, indignant sob.

I can't live like this anymore!