Above a canal, Tang Wanzhuang sat in a cabin reading a book. Suddenly, she looked up at the golden characters in the sky. Her tranquil expression involuntarily turned somewhat melancholic, then complex.0

What she was reading was actually a letter spread out on a book, the letter being the report for the Langya Sword Conference that her subordinate had mentioned to her the day before.0

The report was much more complete and detailed than the outline that her subordinate gave her. It included the process of Xia Chichi and Cui Yuanyang’s participation, accompanied by the notes “suspected of vying for the treasure for Zhao Changhe” and “suspected of jealousy,” respectively. There was also an evaluation: “Both have talents rarely seen in a century, not inferior to Yue Hongling’s.”0

It did not omit Zhao Changhe’s remark: “If it means that some people can cough less, then it’s worth it.”1

Of course, nobody dared to attach additional analyses and evaluations to that line.0

Tang Wanzhuang’s face reddened slightly. She pursed her lips, her gaze remaining fixed on that line, not moving away for a long time.0

He did it… for some people to cough less. 2

Scorning nobles and royalty, he had cleaved someone on the Ranking of Man. He, who already faced much too many dangers just to survive, had now offended two powerful forces in the north and the south. Trouble would surely...0