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On normal days, he would become quite annoyed by Meng Fuyao's rattle. Now that it was gone, he felt empty instead. Chuckling, Zhan Nancheng silently scolded, ”How absurd of him to take a 'marriage leave' when he merely acquired a concubine!”

As the sun set, the candles were lit up. Eunuch Hua instructed the junior eunuchs to hang the palace lanterns properly, while he beamed and chatted. Slowly, Zhan Nancheng walked over to eavesdrop, and he realized that Eunuch Hua was gossiping about the poetic and passionate happenings in Captain Meng's residence.

”Captain Meng started a dance party at home, and the bride wore a backless garment, tsk tsk…” a bunch of eunuchs gawked at the story, but when they turned their heads and spotted Zhan Nancheng, their expressions changed.

However, Zhan Nancheng was suddenly in the mood. 'Sigh, has this lad become a bit more mature after getting himself a woman? I'll go take a look! Just treat this as a form of relaxation.'

Ever since he was almost assassinated the previous time, he rarely stepped out of the palace, and this time round, a huge crowd of attendants followed him. As he had expected, it was very chaotic in the residence. Meng Fuyao had led a group of servants to invite the military comrades and their spouses to gather for a masquerade mask dance party.

When Meng Fuyao saw Zhan Nancheng, she was quite elated, and after the greetings, she pulled him to wear a mask too. Though Zhan Nancheng was curious, he adamantly refused. What a joke, mix in a huge crowd while wearing a mask? If someone struck, he would be dead meat.

Meng Fuyao did not impose her will on him and accompanied him while calling over her new concubine to greet the Emperor. Zhan Nancheng had seen this woman in Zhan Beiheng's residence, and she was very cheerful, though she seemed to be dolled up strangely. Nevertheless, he smiled and tactfully instructed her a few lines, before letting her leave.

The ninth fairy left like a fluttering butterfly and mingled excitedly in the crowd. Meanwhile, Meng Fuyao kept inviting Zhan Nancheng to rest in the inner room, saying that the garden was too chaotic.

Waving his hands, Zhan Nancheng rejected and sat remotely. The troubles on his mind constantly bothered him, keeping him in low spirits, and he wanted to observe the joys of humanity to relief some of that pressure.

Leaning on a pillar, he let Meng Fuyao join the dance while he sipped on tea. As he thought of the Crown Prince's strange illness, his eyebrows locked together in frustration.

Suddenly, he overheard a conversation between two women that took place behind a bunch of bushes.

One said, ”Lady Meng, how lucky you are. Look at how gorgeous your Captain has dolled you up to be. This string of rubies must be worth no less than a thousand gold.”

”Right.” It was the complacent voice of the tactless ninth fairy. ”My master has said that good women need to be accompanied with jewels. Diamonds are long-lasting, and any one of them can be passed down eternally.”

She seemed to be showing off the jade bracelet on her wrist, and her silvery laugh rang through their eyes. ”Sister, let me tell you, you have to spot the right man. I was lucky to hit the jackpot with my master, but if it was back then… hmph.”

Zhan Nancheng was thinking of leaving as he listened since it did not make sense for someone of his status to eavesdrop on women's conversation like that. However, when he heard what the ninth fairy said, he silently chuckled and felt that she was brazen and shameless. It was obviously not an incident to be proud of, and if he hadn't hinted at Zhan Beiheng to release Meng Fuyao during the two days that they were locked up, they would have been sold to a brothel or demoted, respectively. Others would have tried all methods to cover this story, but there she was, actively bringing it out on her own.

One of the women fell silent, probably because she did not expect the ninth fairy to be so simple-minded. Moments later, she crammed out a reply. ”I heard that Prince Heng treated you quite well back then…”

”Nonsense.” The ninth fairy smirked. ”He always claimed that he gave me the most precious treasures and asked me to keep them properly, but those were just rotten pieces of paper locked up in a box. That mysterious thing, which doesn't look like land deeds, took up so much space in my room. And I'm illiterate, but he wouldn't allow me to ask. Prince… is honestly just a taciturn person…”

The sound of their conversation faded into the distance. Zhan Nancheng quietly placed his teacup down, and after a few moments of silence, he got onto his feet and headed out.

Meng Fuyao, who perspired a great deal, hurriedly came over. Seeing that he was leaving, she was taken aback. ”Your Majesty, you're leaving now? It's my fault, I shouldn't have played by myself.”

”It's not your issue, I should return,” said Zhan Nancheng as he dismissed her. ”The sky is too dark, and accidents would easily occur if I walked on the streets.”

”Yes.” Immediately, Meng Fuyao bowed perceptively. ”I'll send a team of soldiers from the Flying Leopard Camp to escort you.”

”Good.” Zhan Nancheng smiled at her. ”Change it to your subordinates from Flying Fox. Flying Leopard Camp has frequently been operating in the city, and it's time to change a group of people. Sometimes, the people closest to you might not be good.”

Meng Fuyao grinned and sent him out of the door. As she witnessed his figure fading quickly into the darkness, a fleeting smile appeared on her face.

That smiled resembled the venomous Madara flower that bloomed at night.

Three days later, a piece of news shook the entire city.

Zhan Beiheng, the noblest Prince of the Heaven Demon royal family; the official guarding crucial internal and external affairs; the Emperor's younger brother who was the most trusted confidante; the ”Aristocrat of the steel guardian lion doors”, and the undefeatable Prince, was suddenly sent into jail!

On August 19, soldiers silently encircled Prince Heng's residence and quickly subdued all the guards. High-ranking officials personally led a team to seal the Prince's residence and dug three feet into the residence of Prince Heng's most favored former concubine, the ninth fairy. Symbolism for husband and wife by the first marriage.