Using the plan to counter the plan, mind your own business about noble matters!

Her voice was full of admiration, but she immediately adopted a serious expression.

"Saint Venerable, what should we do now?"

She frowned, struggling to organize her thoughts clearly.

"Should I return to the palace now and report this to His Majesty? I could ask him to order a suspension of the Flower Deity Festival, then dispatch the Royal Forest Guard and the Imperial Guards to seal off the entire city and conduct a carpet search!"

Lin Changqing pondered for a moment and slowly shook his head.

"No."

"The Flower Deity Festival is about to begin, and the commoners are already out on the streets. If we suddenly order a suspension, it will inevitably cause widespread panic."

He paused, his tone becoming more resolute.

"Furthermore, since the enemy dares to strike during the Flower Deity Festival, they must have made thorough preparations."

"Once they realize we are making a move, they will likely slip away in the chaos, and it won't be easy to find them again."

Su Wanqing listened intently, a thoughtful expression appearing on her face.

"Then, what do you mean, Saint Venerable..."

"We shall play them at their own game."

Lin Changqing's lips curled slightly, revealing a confident smile.

"They do not yet know that they have revealed their tracks. This is our greatest advantage."

He stood with his hands behind his back.

"The Flower Deity Festival will proceed as usual; do not alert the enemy."

"You go and report to His Majesty first. Tell him to secretly order the Imperial Guards and the Royal Forest Guard to blend into the crowd in plain clothes, and have the elites of the Demon Suppressing Division stand guard in the shadows."

"Double the number of guards at the Flower Deity Lantern Festival, but have them all wear plain clothes so they don't leave any traces."

"Everything will appear normal on the surface, while we spread our net in the dark."

He looked at Su Wanqing, his gaze filled with a reassuring certainty.

"With This Seat here, they won't be able to stir up any trouble."

"Once their tracks are discovered, This Seat will strike immediately and completely crush their conspiracy."

A flash of realization crossed Su Wanqing's eyes as she listened.

This plan was indeed much better than sealing the city directly.

It would neither disturb the commoners nor allow those lurking in the shadows to escape the net.

Besides, with a Ninth-Rank Martial Saint Peak powerhouse like Lin Changqing personally overseeing the situation, what was there to fear?

"Right! We shall do as the Saint Venerable says!"

Su Wanqing nodded heavily and turned to run toward the mansion gate.

"Wait."

Lin Changqing called out to her.

Su Wanqing stopped and turned back.

Lin Changqing raised his right hand and pointed his index finger into the air.

A beam of Purple Gold light flew from his fingertip and submerged into Su Wanqing's brow.

Su Wanqing felt a warm current surge into her body, forming an invisible barrier around her.

She could feel how powerful this force was, like a warm embrace holding her firmly.

"This Saintly Protective Aura can withstand a full-force blow from a Ninth-Rank Martial Saint Peak, ensuring you remain unharmed."

Lin Changqing withdrew his finger and patted Golden Radiance beside him.

"Golden Radiance, go with Wanqing and ensure her safety."

Golden Radiance snorted, rubbing against Lin Changqing's shoulder with some reluctance, but still stepped forward to Su Wanqing's side.

"Very well, Master."

Its voice was deep and resonant, carrying a natural air of majesty.

Su Wanqing was stunned, her eyes wide.

"The Qilin can talk?!"

Golden Radiance turned its head to look at her with its large, golden eyes.

"I am a pure-blooded Qilin; naturally, I can speak. I simply cannot be bothered to do so on ordinary days."

Its tone carried a hint of haughtiness.

Then, it bent its front legs, signaling for Su Wanqing to climb on.

Su Wanqing carefully climbed up and sat steady, still immersed in the shock of the Qilin being able to speak.

Golden Radiance raised its head and let out a low roar, tearing a rift in the space before them.

It stamped its four hooves.

Carrying Su Wanqing, it vanished directly into a spatial rift.

In the blink of an eye, the inner palace grounds.

The Royal Forest Guard on duty were patrolling when the space before them suddenly twisted.

A spatial rift tore open, and a Qilin with a body of golden scales stepped out from within.

Golden arcs of electricity crackled beneath its four hooves, and the holy might of an early-stage Martial Saint radiated outward without reservation.

"Enemy attack!"

The Royal Forest Guard soldiers' expressions changed drastically as they drew their blades in unison.

Dozens of swords flashed with cold light under the moonlight, subconsciously surrounding the Qilin and Su Wanqing.

"Protect His Majesty!"

The Feathered Forest Officer, a seventh-rank grandmaster, shouted sternly, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Su Wanqing hurriedly poked her head out from the Qilin's back and waved her hands.

"Don't panic! It's this Princess!"

The captain saw the Qilin and the figure on its back clearly, froze for half a second, and then dropped to his knees with a thud.

"Gr-greetings, Princess Yunshu!"

The Royal Forest Guard soldiers behind him also knelt in a mass.

"Greetings, Princess Yunshu!"

The captain kept his head low, the cold sweat from his fright still dripping down his forehead.

His heart was still pounding wildly, and his mind was buzzing.

How could Princess Yunshu appear riding a Qilin?

Wasn't that Qilin the pure-blooded one that had acknowledged Prince Wu'an as its master just last night?

How could the Princess ride Prince Wu'an's mount?

Could it be that the relationship between Prince Wu'an and the Princess had already reached such a level?

Su Wanqing vaulted down from the Qilin's back, her movements much more agile than when she had mounted it.

"Everyone rise. This Princess has an urgent matter to discuss with the Emperor."

The captain scrambled to his feet and cleared the path, watching as Su Wanqing walked briskly toward the Imperial Study.

Golden Radiance followed behind Su Wanqing with leisurely steps, its four hooves making crisp sounds against the golden-tiled floor.

Everywhere they passed, all the palace maids and eunuchs were so frightened that they knelt on the ground.

Only after the girl and the Qilin had walked far away did the captain wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

"This... how did Prince Wu'an's Qilin end up being ridden by the Princess?"

A young soldier nearby lowered his voice, his tone full of gossip.

The Feathered Forest Officer glared at him.

"Stop prying! The affairs of nobles... are not for us to question."

Yet, his own heart was in turmoil.

Prince Wu'an's mount, a pure-blooded Qilin at the early stage of the Martial Saint realm, was just let the Princess ride it like that?

Just how close must their relationship be?

Inside the Imperial Study.

Su Gan was sitting behind the dragon desk reviewing memorials when he heard a flurry of panicked footsteps outside the hall.

He frowned and set down his vermilion brush.

Who was so ignorant of the rules?

The hall doors were pushed open, and Su Wanqing walked in quickly.

Her face held a hint of urgency, but even more so, a sense of gravity.

"Wanqing?"

Su Gan was stunned for a moment, then a meaningful smile appeared on his face.

"The Flower Deity Festival is almost starting; why have you come to me instead of preparing properly?"

He paused, his tone carrying a touch of teasing.

"Could it be that you've had a falling out with Prince Wu'an? I just heard reports that you two circled the Capital City on a Qilin, and the citizens are all saying you are a talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven."

Su Wanqing's cheeks flushed red, but she immediately regained her serious expression.

"Father, your daughter has an important matter to report."

She walked quickly to the dragon desk and recounted Lin Changqing's assessment in full detail.

The Holy Demon God Sect still had remnants lurking in the Capital City.

Tonight, during the Flower Deity Festival, the enemy would very likely seize the opportunity to launch an attack.

And Lin Changqing's plan—to let the Flower Deity Festival proceed as scheduled, deploy defenses in secret, and use their own strategy against them to lure the snakes out of their holes.

The smile on Su Gan's face faded bit by bit as Su Wanqing spoke.

By the time she finished the last word, his expression had turned completely grave.

He set down his vermilion brush, stood up, and paced the hall with his hands behind his back.

"Prince Wu'an said this?"

His voice was low, not questioning, but merely confirming.

"Yes."

Su Wanqing nodded firmly.

"He told me himself. He said his perception could not be wrong; there are still members of the Holy Demon God Sect in the Capital City, and they will strike tonight at the Flower Deity Festival."

Su Gan was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly.

"I believe him."

His tone was resolute.

"There were so many suspicious points last night. Xiao Qianjun said the hideout was outside the city, while Prince Wu'an said it was inside—and it turned out to be inside."

"Xiao Qianjun said he found no basement, while Prince Wu'an said there was something underground—and he blasted it open with a single punch. His judgment this time will certainly not be wrong either."

A flash of killing intent crossed his eyes.

"A fine Holy Demon God Sect indeed. Their branch was wiped out just last night, and they are already staging a comeback today. It seems their desire to destroy our Great Yu is unyielding; they won't be satisfied until they turn the Capital City upside down!"

He made a swift decision.

"Proceed exactly as Prince Wu'an suggested."

He turned to the old eunuch beside him and issued his command.

"Convey my secret decree to Xiao Qianjun, Chen Zhan, and Han Yue. Mobilize all elites of the Demon Suppressing Division, and draw capable men from the Imperial Guards and the Royal Forest Guard. Have them all change into plain clothes and blend into the Flower Deity Lantern Festival."

"Double the number of guards, but do not leave any traces. Without my order or Prince Wu'an's command, no one is to act rashly."

"Tell them there is a hard battle to be fought tonight. The opponents are traitors who have defected to the demons; there is no need to take prisoners."

"Once discovered, kill them without mercy."

The old eunuch bowed hurriedly.

"This servant obeys the decree!"