NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 14:
Chapter 14: Another Beauty Locked Up in the Northern Guardian Prince’s Residence
After delivering Zhao Wujian’s message, the old housekeeper slammed the door shut once again.
“Nani?!”
Chiba Rizhao’s delicate hands trembled slightly—she was completely stunned.
She had intended to use the Northern Guardian Prince’s corpse as leverage to get Zhao Wujian to speak favorably for the peace treaty between the two nations. But now, she hadn’t even seen his face.
“Zhao Wujian… you do have some guts.”
Chiba Rizhao was still thinking of a way to fix the situation.
Suddenly, a large force of soldiers appeared, surrounding the Northern Guardian Prince’s Residence.
“Don’t let a single one escape!”
A cold and authoritative voice rang out next.
Long Zhan, mounted on a tall steed, galloped in with righteous fury. As he rode, he shouted, “Zhao Wujian has colluded with Hanzang and betrayed the country! Such traitors must be executed by all!”
He halted his horse at the gate of the residence.
When he saw the Hanzang envoy’s carriage, he immediately confirmed that Fourth Senior Sister’s intel had been accurate. But upon noticing the tightly shut gates, he was momentarily stunned.
That coward Zhao Wujian actually had the nerve not to meet with the Hanzang delegation?
Or… had he come too early?
If Zhao Wujian didn’t appear, how could he catch him in the act?
Rolling his eyes, Long Zhan suddenly shouted, “Looks like you all just came out of the Northern Guardian Prince’s Residence!”
With his authority as the Valiant Cavalry Commander, and full power to patrol the capital, now that he had them surrounded, it was entirely up to him to decide what was what.
If he said Zhao Wujian had colluded with Hanzang, then Zhao Wujian had colluded!
“Break down the gates and arrest the traitor Zhao Wujian!”
Long Zhan bellowed angrily and waved his arm.
The armored soldiers behind him surged forward, surrounding the entire Hanzang envoy group.
Chiba Rizhao stood frozen in place.
What nonsense was this?
When had she colluded with Zhao Wujian?
She clearly hadn’t even done anything yet.
These Great Xia officials were so despicable!
Just as she was about to make a run for it—
“Stop!”
A clear and gentle female voice rang out.
Long Zhan glanced over and saw the royal carriage of the Seventh Princess, Li Yunrui.
She had shown up too?
Could this woman have come for a secret rendezvous with Zhao Wujian?
Damn it!
Long Zhan shouted righteously, “Your Highness, I am currently capturing a traitor to the nation. Please stay back. Be cautious—he may become desperate and harm you.”
Spare Valiant Cavalry troops moved to block Li Yunrui’s carriage.
Meanwhile, the rest of the soldiers had successfully broken down the gates.
But just as they were about to storm inside, a volley of repeating crossbows forced them into a chaotic retreat.
Many of the Valiant Cavalry soldiers were killed on the spot.
Long Zhan’s eyes narrowed sharply.
So Zhao Wujian had prepared for this?
Elite troops from the Northern Guardian Prince’s Residence, armed with mechanical crossbows, formed a defensive formation. They pointed their weapons at both the Valiant Cavalry and the Hanzang envoy.
The formation parted, and Zhao Wujian strolled out calmly with his hands behind his back.
“Zhao Wujian, you—”
Long Zhan was just about to speak when Zhao Wujian beat him to it.
“Commander Long colluded with Hanzang and launched a night raid on my residence! The evidence is clear. Seventh Princess, help me arrest him!”
“I—”
For a moment, Long Zhan was speechless.
Li Yunrui scolded him sharply, “Long Zhan, I will personally report this to the Emperor today and request that you be removed from your position as commander!”
Seeing Li Yunrui still siding with Zhao Wujian, Long Zhan grew even angrier, though he still held tightly to his saber.
“Zhao Wujian is framing me! Seize the Hanzang delegation and let His Majesty decide!”
He wasn’t going to be the scapegoat!
Chiba Rizhao and her people looked stunned and confused, but Long Zhan gave them no chance to explain. He had all of them taken into custody.
Very soon, the Emperor, Li Zaiyuan, met with them all.
“Yunrui? Are you saying that Long Zhan colluded with Hanzang and surrounded the Northern Guardian Prince’s Residence with weapons drawn?”
“Yes, Father. Please stand up for Zhao Wujian…”
“Yunrui…” Li Zaiyuan shook his head.
“I know you’re biased against Long Zhan… but I understand his character. He would never collude with Hanzang.”
Li Yunrui pouted, “But Zhao Wujian couldn’t have colluded either!”
“There must be some misunderstanding here.”
Li Zaiyuan’s eyes flickered.
Regardless of any misunderstanding, this situation could be used to seize the Hanzang delegation and establish dominance for Great Xia.
After that, they could use the leverage to revise the treaty terms in their favor.
“Father!” Li Yunrui still tried to plead for Zhao Wujian.
“No need to speak further. Issue my decree: The Hanzang delegation left the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites without authorization, which is suspicious. Their actions led to distrust between two loyal officials. From this moment forward, the Hanzang envoy group is not to leave the Ministry’s premises.”
“As for Chiba Rizhao—she is to be handed over to Zhao Wujian for interrogation to uncover the truth.”
Long Zhan frowned.
The Emperor had clearly sided with him—clearing him of Zhao Wujian’s accusation and handing off the political grenade that was Chiba Rizhao.
If anything happened to her now, Zhao Wujian would be branded the cause of another war between Great Xia and Hanzang.
“Your Majesty is wise. I shall increase security throughout the capital to ensure no Hanzang remnants remain.”
Long Zhan bowed in gratitude, then smirked at Zhao Wujian. “Envoy Chiba is in your hands, Zhao Heir. His Majesty trusts you. Don’t let him down.”
Zhao Wujian’s face darkened.
[He calls it trust, but really, the Emperor’s just looking for someone to take the fall.]
[Looks like that old man doesn’t want me to live in peace.]
Zhao Wujian bowed and took his leave.
Li Yunrui, hearing his thoughts and seeing his slumped figure, felt a sharp pain in her chest.
“Yunrui, Father still has memorials to review. Go make some of your invigorating tea for me.”
Li Zaiyuan loved the refreshing tea she made.
But this time, Li Yunrui turned and left with a cold face.
“I’m not feeling well. Make it yourself.”
…
At the Northern Guardian Prince’s Residence.
To prevent Liu Ruyan’s existence from being exposed, Zhao Wujian had no choice but to lock Chiba Rizhao in a different room.
Chains, Soft Bone Powder, Ten Fragrance Soft Muscle Powder, Dissolution Powder—he had plenty of them all.
There were even heavily armed guards stationed at the door under the Old Housekeeper’s orders.
“Zhao Wujian, you didn’t dare meet me today because you’re afraid of me!”
“I’m just one woman—why are you being so cautious? Coward!”
Chiba Rizhao’s white gauzy dress clung tightly under the chains, accentuating her exquisite figure as she sneered.
Zhao Wujian remained silent, still thinking about how to deal with this ticking time bomb.
“The poems you recited in the royal study… I’ve thought of the second lines. Dare to finish them?”
Zhao Wujian almost burst out laughing.
[This woman’s brain stuck or something? At a time like this, she’s still thinking about poems?]
[She doesn’t realize that the people who want me dead also want her dead too?]
[If she dies, I’ll be blamed for starting a war. And her family in Hanzang will bear the shame too.]
Chiba Rizhao’s eyes twitched in confusion.
Zhao Wujian hadn’t spoken aloud—so how did she hear him?
These weren’t words. They were thoughts!
Could it be… while she was imprisoned here, the gods of Hanzang blessed her with the power to hear Zhao Wujian’s inner voice?
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
If this was true, she could use his thoughts to gradually win him over…
…and uncover more secrets about the Northern Guardian Army!
Suddenly, she began to subtly sway her body. Her lips parted slightly, and her tongue gently licked her rosy lips.
“Zhao Wujian, as long as you cooperate with me—I can satisfy your every desire.”