Within a secluded, quiet inner chamber.

An elegant, opulently dressed woman sat before a bronze mirror, a rather long jade ruyi scepter in hand, a girl kneeling primly before her. "Ask him whether he has business here. If he doesn't, get him out of the Manor."

"..."

The bald man glanced outside.

There in the courtyard, an old man clad in dark armor was pacing back and forth, a stiff smile forced onto his face.

"He only wants to see the girl safe. Let him be — the real business is what matters." The bald man drew his gaze back.

"Tch. A mere black-skin from the Demon Suppression Division, and he thinks himself fit to meddle in my Manor's affairs? Then let him keep standing there."

The Princess Consort of Ji idly waved the jade piece before the girl's eyes, as though training some frail little cat.

She had done this sort of thing far too many times.

So often that it had grown tiresome, and no matter what she did, she could no longer recover the thrill of vengeance she'd once felt.

She truly had not the slightest interest left in the Prince of Ji.

The man's dissolute conduct over the years had cost him any qualification to inherit the throne.

Jinjiang had gone to Xuanguang Cave, and would very likely never become Great Qian's emperor now.

The only thing that could still excite her was the question of just how rich a reward this great service of hers would earn.

"When exactly do I get to go study at Xuanguang Cave?"

The bald man gritted his teeth.

"What's your hurry?" The Princess Consort of Ji glanced at him, unhurried.

"Of course I'm in a hurry!" The bald man glanced cautiously behind him, then said furiously, "Custodian Wu is already investigating this business. If I don't leave soon, I'll be found out sooner or later — and then my life won't be worth a thing!"

Then he widened his eyes. "You wouldn't be planning to take my share of the credit—"

For it must be understood that he had…