"Hmph, your method is simply nonsensical," he said, looking down on Feng Xuxu from above, itching to strangle her on the spot.

"Oh, if Your Majesty has such good strategies, why bother having me, a mere woman, speak?" She raised an eyebrow, speaking disdainfully.

"Bring me the Commander’s Seal of Prince Mei. I might then allow you and the child in your womb to live. Otherwise... don’t blame me for being heartless and ruthless." No longer hiding his intentions, he finally spoke them aloud.

"Impossible," she said, raising an eyebrow defiantly as she stared back at Dugu Han.

The veins on the sides of his forehead stood out, his face purple with rage, and his malevolent gaze bore into Feng Xuxu as if he were staring down a dead person.

"Believe it or not, I can make you disappear right now."

"I don’t believe it," Feng Xuxu retorted, her gaze fearless, her eyes sharp as knives shooting towards Dugu Han.

Dugu Han stared unwaveringly at Feng Xuxu, and with a slight lift of his hand, a figure dressed in black floated down silently, his eyes venomous, fixated on Feng Xuxu.

Seeing this, Feng Xuxu merely smiled faintly, reaching towards her wrist. "I’m actually quite curious to find out whether your Hidden Guard is more formidable, or mine. What harm is there in a little competition?"

As her words fell, Shitou, ghostly as a startled swan, descended from the rafters without making a sound, his presence exuding an aura of death.

Upon seeing this, Dugu Han’s already dark face turned even darker, his lips tightly pressed together. For the first time in his life, he felt utterly disregarded.

Standing by his side, Eunuch Shitou was trying so hard not to breathe loudly. He didn’t even dare to wipe the sweat from his brow, attempting to reduce his presence as much as possible.

"You... well played," he said, puffing with anger as he turned and stalked off. Eunuch Shitou quickly followed, casting a surprised glance at Feng Xuxu as he passed her.

The few people outside the hall, seeing the Emperor leave, then came in. Seeing the Princess unharmed and standing there, they felt as if a weight had been lifted from their hearts.

"Princess?" Xuan Yue’s concerned voice came from behind Feng Xuxu.

Tian Yi, noticing that the back of the Princess’s dress was soaked, furrowed his brow deeply, mentally cursing Dugu Han a thousand times over without easing the resentment in his heart.

"It’s nothing. I’m afraid that Prince Mei Residence will face a calamity soon," she said, resuming her seat with a worried look. She was tired in both body and mind.

After listening to her, everyone fell into silence.

Since the Emperor returned to the palace, he had stopped mentioning the issue of military power. However, there were occasional assassins entering Prince Mei Residence, turning the study upside down as if searching for something.

Unable to sleep that night, Feng Xuxu recalled the Crescent Jade Pendant that Dugu Chen had given her. At that time, he only told her that the Jade Pendant was a token of marriage and related to some shops. Could there be secrets about it unknown to others?

Getting up and putting on her cloak, she called for Xuan Yue, who was standing guard outside.

"Do you know the origin of this Jade Pendant?" She sat on the chair, holding the crescent-shaped piece in her hand.

Xuan Yue stepped forward, examined the Jade Pendant carefully, and nodded. It was the one that Prince always carried with him.

"This Jade Pendant was a love token given by the previous Emperor to Empress Dowager Xiao during their grand wedding. There are two pieces in total; one with you, Princess, and the other with the current Emperor. It is rumored that these two pendants are the keys to unlocking a treasure," Xuan Yue explained.

"Treasure?" Feng Xuxu’s confusion deepened. If these two Jade Pendants alone could unlock the gate to a treasure, then the previous Emperor should have known. So why did he give it to Empress Dowager Xiao? If their feelings were indeed sincere, why then did he kill her? Was it all a conspiracy?