Bai Lin set down her teacup, producing a crisp, clear chime.
"I represent the Ninth Princess, and I don't need to report to you two." Only then did she raise her eyes, casting her first direct gaze at the two men opposite her. "Commander Jiang, Commander Wang, you need only listen."
Her posture was arrogant, as if Jiang Qingyang and the other were her subordinates.
Before the two could reply, she continued, "From this moment on, seal off every single exit from Skycloud Prefecture. Especially the area near the Heavy Earth Gate—allow people to enter, but none to leave. Do you understand?"
"Reporting to Steward Bai, is the Princess's Residence here to apprehend someone within the Heavy Earth Gate?"
Hearing this, Jiang Qingyang harbored some inward guesses, but still raised his question. "The Heavy Earth Gate relies on the Heavenly Evolution Upper Sect, and given the relations between the imperial court and the sects... without a solid justification, sealing a sect's gates so rashly, I'm afraid..."
"Afraid of what?"
Bai Lin gave a light chuckle, a look of utter disdain on her face. "Since when does a third-rate sect dare to oppose the Princess's Residence?
As for who we are here to take, the two of you need not know. Just properly seal the vital passes and attend to your own affairs!"
Her words made no effort to conceal her contempt for all the sects in Skycloud Prefecture, nor the arrogance born of her ties to the Princess's Residence.
Idiots!
Jiang Qingyang inwardly cursed.
The current relations between the sects and the imperial court were harmonious on the surface but divided at heart. If the court's words were truly useful to the sects, the twelve circuits of the Great Xia Dynasty wouldn't look like they did today.
Yet the person