“Burn these and have him ingest the ashes. Once that’s done, leave the rest to me. It should be easy enough for Your Highness to arrange.”
Yang Zhen accepted the talismans, but his expression darkened.
“Once again, you want to use someone as bait?”
Hong Ning remained calm. “If we don’t, he will certainly die.”
Yang Zhen turned to face her fully, his tone even.
“You have lost your powers.”
Hong Ning met his gaze, unwavering.
“That fox demon is a nine-tailed fox,” she said evenly. “She can burn human souls with Samadhi True Fire. If we alert her too soon, we won’t just die—we’ll be utterly annihilated, body and soul.”
Yang Zhen stiffened.
Hong Ning smiled. “If Your Highness is afraid, there’s still time to back out.”
Before Yang Zhen could scowl, her smile quickly faded. She continued, now completely serious.
“This is extremely dangerous. A single misstep and we are done for. But Your Highness is a seasoned warrior—you’ve seen battle. You fear nothing.
“I, on the other hand, fear death greatly. Now that I am powerless, talismans are the only means I have left to gather information. I only ask that Your Highness handle this matter discreetly.”
The moonlight was dimmer than the night before, but visibility remained sufficient.
It was nearly the third watch of the night.
The garden lay in utter silence, save for a single nervous figure waiting by the artificial rockery.
From a loft nearby, concealed in the shadows by the window, Hong Ning observed the scene.
“It’s him,” she murmured.
Yang Zhen’s jaw tightened, his lips pressed into a thin line.
“That is not Lady Wang,” Hong Ning said flatly.
Yang Zhen’s voice was cold as ice. “Worthless servant.”
Sensing the murderous intent in his expression, Hong Ning frowned.
“A gentleman is drawn to beauty—there is no crime in admiration. Besides, the demon bewitched him.”
Yang Zhen shot her a look, letting out a low scoff.
There was derision in his tone.
Hong Ning arched a brow. “It is natural for people to be drawn to beauty. But if Your Highness is worried about tarnishing your estate’s reputation, I can leave right now.”
Yang Zhen replied indifferently. “You think you can leave?”
Hong Ning let out a soft laugh. “Does Your Highness intend to wield his authority to keep me here by force?”
Yang Zhen met her gaze without hesitation.
“And if I do?”
His unexpected bluntness left Hong Ning momentarily speechless.
She had expected denial, maybe a dismissive remark—not this.
Yang Zhen studied her for a moment, his anger long gone, replaced by something closer to amusement.
“You’ve lost your magic, and I see no exceptional martial skills. If I truly wanted to bully you—what could you do about it?”
Hong Ning said nothing.
Yang Zhen said coldly, “You have defied me multiple times. What do you think your punishment should be?”
Hong Ning smiled easily.
“I was unaware of Your Highness’s identity before. If I have offended you, I hope Your Highness will forgive my ignorance. After all, they say ‘one who is unaware should not be held accountable.’ Surely Your Highness does not actually expect me to kneel and beg for pardon?”
Yang Zhen remained expressionless.
“That would be acceptable.”
Kneel and apologize?
There was no way Hong Ning would actually do such a thing.
She let out two dry chuckles instead.
“What kind of guest kneels before their host? Your Highness will have to tolerate my lack of propriety.”
“No sincerity at all.” Yang Zhen’s tone was indifferent.
Hong Ning sighed. “If Your Highness insists on punishing me, I am powerless to stop it. But I know this—Your Highness would never stoop so low as to abuse his status and bully a defenseless woman. That would be disgraceful, beneath your dignity.”
Yang Zhen studied her, then scoffed. “Such a sharp tongue. You—defenseless?”
Hong Ning refused to answer.
After watching her for a moment, Yang Zhen spoke again, deliberately slow.
“A man’s appreciation for beauty is only natural.”
Hong Ning was caught off guard by his sudden change in tone.
Yang Zhen took a step closer, leaning toward her slightly.
“If it is natural, then surely I am no exception.”
He lowered his voice, his tone suddenly ambiguous.
The moonlight spilled in at an angle, illuminating his sharp, handsome features.
For a split second, Hong Ning instinctively wanted to step back.
But just at that moment, a transmission talisman hidden on her person suddenly activated.
Both of them froze, simultaneously turning toward the source of the disturbance.
Somehow, by the artificial rockery, a pale figure had appeared—wrapped in another’s embrace.
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