"Wife!" Zuo Ye’s eyes lit up when he saw Bai Sheng, transforming from a cold killer into a fawning puppy dog, trotting over to cling to her.
Duan Wushang was stunned. Moments ago, this man had sported a ruthless, bloodthirsty facade, but upon seeing Bai Sheng, he seemed to have become an entirely different person. It was truly humiliating for a man.
Qing Yu and the other two exchanged glances, a silent chuckle passing between them. This was their sect leader’s daily routine, and they were quite accustomed to it.
"Precious darling, are you hurt?" Zuo Ye held Bai Sheng's shoulders, asking with concern.
"No," Bai Sheng replied with a smile, shaking her head. "Is Husband hurt?"
"I'm not either. Where's Grand-Ancestor?" Zuo Ye asked, a hint of confusion in his voice as he noticed only the four of them had emerged.
Bai Sheng tugged at Zuo Ye's collar, pulling his ear close to her mouth, and whispered, "Husband, Grand-Ancestor is severely injured and weak. I've brought him into my spatial dimension and am using its spiritual energy to heal him."
Zuo Ye paused for a moment, then whispered, "So, Master, Aunt Qing, and Prince Yu all know about your spatial dimension?"
"Mm," Bai Sheng nodded, her eyes curving into a smile. They were all trustworthy, and Bai Sheng knew that if she ever found herself in danger, they would be the ones to protect her with their lives.
At this moment, Master, Consort Mei, and Prince Yu were still immersed in the shock of Bai Sheng's spatial dimension, their minds somewhat dazed.
Seeing the smitten couple in front of him, Duan Wushang impatiently urged, "Lu Ye, do you still want to hear the secret?"
Zuo Ye finally turned, looking at him and saying, "Speak."
"You must keep your word. If I tell you this secret, you must spare my son’s life. Otherwise, I will haunt you even in death!" Duan Wushang threatened with venomous hostility.
Zuo Ye smiled faintly. "I, Zuo Ye, always keep my promises."
Duan Wushang then took a deep breath. "Actually, the mother of Princess Chang, Meng Liangyuan, and I are both from the Northern Qi Kingdom."
Zuo Ye and the others were startled, all looking at Duan Wushang, quietly awaiting his next words.
"Meng Liangyuan and I were trained as spies from a young age, then sent into the Great Xia Kingdom along our respective mission routes. Meng Liangyuan posed as a destitute orphan to seduce the then-Prince, the late Emperor. Later, Meng Liangyuan actually fell in love with the late Emperor, so she betrayed Northern Qi and failed her mission, being discarded as a pawn by Northern Qi. However, after the late Emperor ascended the throne, he broke Meng Liangyuan’s heart. Meng Liangyuan deliberately poisoned the late Emperor, and Princess Chang feigned a rescue. The late Emperor didn’t die, but instead had Meng Liangyuan flayed alive. However, Princess Chang bribed the executioners and saved Meng Liangyuan. In reality, all of this was Meng Liangyuan's scheme; she vowed to seize the throne for her descendants. Therefore, over the years, Meng Liangyuan has had Princess Chang re-establish contact with Northern Qi. Otherwise, how could she have obtained the letters from the Zhou, Dong, and Wu families colluding with Northern Qi to frame the Baili family?"
Bai Sheng and Zuo Ye exchanged a glance, understanding the underlying cause.
Duan Wushang continued, "As for me, my task was to challenge martial artists in Great Xia, build a reputation, and then seduce the Empress to father the Crown Prince."
"Are you saying that whether the Crown Prince or Xia Hongqian ascends the throne, they will both be puppets of Northern Qi? You are just two different paths, but your goals are the same?" Zuo Ye asked sternly.
Duan Wushang nodded. "Precisely."
The Crown Prince beside them was completely stunned upon hearing this. He never imagined he was from the Northern Qi Kingdom, and that he had been a pawn for so many years! Even his own father was plotting against him!
"So, you never intended to obstruct Xia Hongqian from becoming Emperor?" Bai Sheng asked coldly, crossing her arms.
Duan Wushang sighed deeply. "If it were before, I wouldn't have. But people change. I've been lurking in Great Xia for so many years, and I have my own son. Of course, I’d rather my son become Emperor."
"Meng Liangyuan probably doesn't know about your intentions, does she? Princess Chang is searching everywhere, determined to kill you. Why is that?" Bai Sheng asked.
Duan Wushang sneered. "On one hand, I know Meng Liangyuan's secrets, and they want to silence me. On the other hand, they want to completely break free from Northern Qi's control and establish their own dynasty."
"Northern Qi is truly insidious. You must have planted many spies in the Qing Huang Kingdom as well, right?" Granny Wu said mockingly.
Duan Wushang glanced at the woman before him but remained silent.
Bai Sheng snorted coldly and said to Duan Wushang, "Black-Faced Fox, you always knew Princess Chang *might* not let us go because we knew too much. Today, by telling us this huge secret, you've ensured Princess Chang *definitely* won’t let us go. Moreover, you can save your son. If I'm not mistaken, Yu Zi is the spy Northern Qi sent to Qing Huang Kingdom, right? That's why you've known each other all along! It's a shame she eventually fell in love with my Grand-Ancestor. Yu Zi will definitely flee to inform Princess Chang that we know their secrets. I believe Princess Chang and Meng Liangyuan will soon send people to assassinate us. Black-Faced Fox, you've truly calculated well!"
This cunning girl is too smart! Black-Faced Fox looked at Bai Sheng, his expression turning flustered. He shouted at Zuo Ye, "Lu Ye, you promised! Release my son!"
Zuo Ye drew his sword and walked to the Crown Prince’s side. The Crown Prince, thinking he was about to kill him, cried out in terror. Zuo Ye looked at him with disdain, raised his sword, and severed the ropes binding his hands and feet. "Scram!" he said coldly.
The Crown Prince ripped the foul-smelling sock from his mouth and scrambled away, not even glancing at Duan Wushang. Duan Wushang’s eyes flashed with a hint of loss as he closed his eyes and said, "Do it."
Zuo Ye didn't hesitate. He walked directly to Duan Wushang's side, pointed the tip of his sword at his neck, and thrust it down without mercy.
Everyone was preparing to return to the Lu residence immediately. Bai Sheng smiled wickedly. "Yu Zi, that green tea bitch, must have saved a lot of money working for the Empress. Let's search her secret room; we can't let her keep a single cent."
Consort Mei laughed heartily. "Little Sheng is indeed clever. Let's go, let's all go find some silver."
"Yes, let's find the silver!" Granny Wu's pent-up anger of so many years needed to be unleashed today.
Prince Yu frowned. "But if Yu Zi escapes, Princess Chang will soon send assassins after us. Shouldn't we return quickly and prepare?"
"Don't worry. Princess Chang definitely won't send assassins tonight. They’ll openly come to the Lu residence to arrest us tomorrow morning," Granny Wu said, pulling her grandson's arm as she followed Bai Sheng and the others.
"Why?" Everyone turned their gaze to Granny Wu.
Granny Wu smiled mysteriously. "You’ll know tomorrow morning. Come on, let's hurry and find the money; we have things to do tonight."
Seeing Granny Wu so certain, everyone suppressed their curiosity.
To avoid exposing herself, Bai Sheng only took Yu Zi's gold and silver jewelry, leaving everything else untouched. After all, Yu Zi knew they had been there, and they couldn't reveal the "money-carrying child" incident.