Imperial Concubine Ling slowly shut her eyes, her fists began to clench tighter and tighter as her elegant face unconsciously began to twist in a horrible manner. After a long pause, her eyes finally opened and she let out a breath of air.

　　“The Luo family… and Gu Ruoyun… I have a whole new level of respect for you now! Despite your knowledge that my father had a daughter as powerful as me, you still dared to cause him harm! Very well, don’t blame me for taking revenge for my father’s sake!”

　　“Aunty.”

　　Ling Yu lifted the gaze of her tear-stained eyes and looked at Imperial Concubine Ling pitifully.

　　“Yu’er, go send the message of my imperial decree. Gu Ruoyun is to present herself before me!”

　　Imperial Concubine Ling coldly declared.

　　General Luo was one of the men whom His Royal Highness relied heavily upon in the imperial court and while Imperial Concubine Ling was indeed a favored concubine, she would not be able to take down a general who had been granted great authority by the Emperor Himself. Gu Ruoyun, on the other hand, was different. Although the Hundred Herb Hall was strong and influential, she was merely a little apprentice. Shopkeeper Zhao of the Hundred Herb Hall was a clever man; he would never make an enemy of the entire Azure Dragon Country over an apprentice.

　　“Yes, Aunty.”

　　Ling Yu was overjoyed, and a hint of viciousness flashed through her eyes.

　　“This time, let’s see how you’re going to survive this, Gu Ruoyun! Even if you had a hundred lives, they won’t save you now! As long as I have my the imperial decree from my Aunt, the Hundred Herb Hall would be mine if I so desired, what more a little apprentice like you.”

　　It was clear that in Ling Yu’s heart, as powerful as the Hundred Herb Hall may be, it was only a little merchant shop that was powerless against the imperial powers.

　　…

　　In the imperial study.

　　Zuo Shangchen lazed on a sedan, his expression sleepy and insubordinate. His almond-shaped eyes carried a hint of a seductive smile and he could not even be bothered to look at the Emperor properly, who was sitting on the throne.

　　“Zuo Shangchen, is this your idea of proper etiquette as the fourth prince of the Vermillion Bird Country?” Leng Yanfeng knit his eyebrows, his somber face holding cold and clear disdain.

　　Upon hearing this, Zuo Shangchen smiled.

　　Nothing on earth could be compared with his magnificent smile. Not only were the women charmed, even men could not help but hold their breath in amazement.

　　“Your Royal Highness, I am far too used to doing as I like so I don’t understand ceremonial etiquette. If I am unfit to speak with the Emperor of your country because of this, then I will take my leave.”

　　After he spoke, Zuo Shangchen’s sedan got ready to leave when the Emperor, Leng Wujing, suddenly spoke up to stop him.

　　“Halt!”

　　“Why? You were the ones who are saying that I had no understanding of proper etiquette. Don’t tell me that you’re going to stop me from leaving after saying such things?”

　　Zuo Shangchen waved his feather fan and replied with a smile.

　　Leng Wujing narrowed His eyes. He had always thought that He could see through anyone, but since the beginning, He could not read this mischievous, smiling man at all…

　　It was as if he was a puzzle, filled with danger, a danger that filled him with fear…

　　That was right. Fear!

　　Even Leng Wujing didn’t know the reason for this. To actually think that even as the ruler of a country, He would actually be afraid of a young man that was only in his twenties.

　　“Fourth Prince, let’s be straightforward about this. Why have you come all the way from Vermillion Bird Country to Azure Dragon Country?”

　　“Oh,” Zuo Shangchen caressed his chin and smiled lazily, “For one person.”

　　“Who?”

　　“Gu Ruoyun!”

　　Gu Ruoyun? Leng Wujing was stunned. Gu Ruoyun… This name had been appearing quite often of late. Who would have thought that Zuo Shangchen would have come all the way here, just for her?

　　“Hmph!”

　　Leng Yanfeng scoffed, and replied expressionlessly, “Zuo Shangchen, as far as I know, you aren’t even acquainted with Gu Ruoyun.”

　　“We didn’t know each other before,” Zuo Shangchen raised his eyebrows, “However, I’ve long heard of her name. I came from far away just to meet her. It is laughable that such an incomparable genius would actually be mistaken as a good-for-nothing by every one of you. If I hadn’t come here by coincidence, I wouldn’t have known that such a talented person would actually exist in this world.”