Bibi Dong in love! Ning Lin, the great hero!

"Your judgment is wise, my lord!"

The old farmer was so overcome that he could barely speak through his sobs, kowtowing repeatedly to Ning Lin.

The commoners watching below the bench erupted into thunderous cheers.

Hu Liena stood to one side, watching the scene, her beautiful purple eyes gleaming with wonder.

She had witnessed Ning Lin's strength and his domineering ways, but she had never imagined that he possessed such meticulous powers of observation and rigorous logic when handling civic affairs.

This charm was entirely different from his invincibility on the battlefield, yet it inspired just as much admiration.

Only after the crowd dispersed did Hu Liena slowly approach.

"Ning... City Lord."

She bowed to him.

"Do you need something?"

Ning Lin raised his teacup and took a sip, returning to his composed, unruffled manner.

"I came to report to you."

Hu Liena gave a detailed account of Yu Xiaogang fleeing overnight and Tang San and the others leaving Heaven Dou City in separate groups.

After hearing her out, Ning Lin merely nodded.

"Understood."

His reaction was so mild that Hu Liena was somewhat surprised.

"Aren't you... worried at all? Tang San went to the Star Dou Great Forest. There are so many soul beasts there. What if he stumbles upon some extraordinary opportunity...?"

"How big a wave could a prancing clown possibly stir up?"

Ning Lin spoke coolly.

"Let him go."

A profound glint flashed through his eyes.

"There's something else I care about more."

"What is it?"

Hu Liena asked curiously.

Rather than answer directly, Ning Lin rose and walked over to her.

"Nana."

He looked into her eyes, his expression turning serious.

"About those malicious rumors Yu Xiaogang spread about you..."

Hu Liena's heart gave a sudden leap.

"I don't care!"

The words burst out of her.

"As long as Teacher and you believe me, it doesn't matter what anyone else says!"

"Of course I believe you."

Ning Lin smiled.

"But this happened because of me, after all, and you suffered for it."

He took an exquisite brocade box from inside his clothes and offered it to her.

"Consider this my compensation."

Hu Liena instinctively accepted it and opened the lid. Inside lay a crystal-clear soul bone, radiant light flowing across its surface.

Powerful fluctuations of soul power emanated from it.

"This is... a mental attribute Head Soul Bone at least fifty thousand years old!"

Hu Liena cried out in shock and hastily closed the box.

"It's too precious! I can't accept it!"

"Keep it."

Ning Lin said.

"Your spiritual power is your weak point. It suits you perfectly."

"I..."

Cradling the brocade box, Hu Liena felt her palms burning, the warmth spreading all the way into her heart.

She lifted her head and looked at Ning Lin's gentle, handsome face, momentarily entranced.

The Eastern Palace, Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

"Xue Qinghe" sat quietly behind her desk, listening to her subordinate's report.

From Yu Xiaogang spreading rumors to Ning Lin issuing a challenge to a duel, then Yu Xiaogang fleeing overnight, and finally Ning Lin judging a case in court...

Every event was laid out before her in exhaustive detail.

After hearing the report, she waved a hand and dismissed her subordinate.

She was left alone in the room.

Slowly, she removed the mask from her face, revealing beauty so breathtaking it could rob heaven and earth of their luster.

Qian Renxue.

Her brows furrowed slightly, and a trace of complicated emotion surfaced in her golden eyes.

Bibi Dong...

That woman, her mother, was actually getting married.

The news struck her far harder than anyone could have imagined.

Throughout more than twenty years of memories, Bibi Dong had always been the lofty, imposing, distant Pope.

She had never seen the joys and sorrows of an ordinary woman on that woman's face.

They were mother and daughter in name, but in truth, their relationship was colder than that of enemies.

Yet now, for the sake of a man, that woman had proclaimed to the world that she would join him in marriage.

That man was named Ning Lin.

Qian Renxue tapped her fingers lightly against the desk.

She reviewed all the intelligence about Ning Lin in her mind.

Powerful, exceptionally intelligent, domineering yet methodical in his actions, and... deeply loved by the people.

He was an exceedingly difficult opponent.

More importantly, he had won Bibi Dong's wholehearted love.

That stirred a trace of... jealousy in Qian Renxue's heart, one she herself had not even noticed.

Why?

Why did this man get to have everything from that woman?

While I, her own daughter, receive nothing but endless coldness and harsh criticism?

It isn't fair.

This marriage had also thrown her plans into complete disarray.

Once Ning Lin married Bibi Dong, Heaven Dou City, the imperial capital she had painstakingly cultivated for years, would fall entirely into the Spirit Hall's grasp.

Countless unforeseen variables would be added to her grand plan to steal the empire.

No.

She could not sit and await her doom.

A glint of resolve flashed through Qian Renxue's eyes.

She had to meet this Ning Lin herself.

She wanted to see just who this man was, to have won that woman's heart.

An enemy, or... a pawn I can use?

She put on the mask of "Xue Qinghe" once more, her gaze regaining the warmth and dignity befitting a crown prince.

"Attend me."

She spoke.

"Prepare my carriage. We're going to the City Lord's Residence."

"I intend to pay our Marquis Ning a personal visit."

The Eastern Palace Guard Commander bowed to acknowledge the order and was about to turn away to relay it when a gentle voice stopped him.

"Wait a moment, Your Highness."

Qian Renxue, or rather "Xue Qinghe," raised her head and looked at the figure who had appeared in the doorway without her noticing.

Ning Lin.

He still wore the plain casual clothes he had worn while hearing the case, as though he had merely wandered here by chance on a stroll after a meal.

Yet the faint, murderous aura surrounding the two guards behind him proclaimed that this city lord was no ordinary man.

"Marquis Ning?"

Surprise appeared on Xue Qinghe's face. She immediately rose to greet him, her tone carrying a measure of familiarity and warmth.

"What brings you here in person? I was just about to visit your residence."

Her acting was flawless: refined, courteous, and perfectly measured, capturing a crown prince's bearing down to the last detail.

Ning Lin entered the hall, casually surveying the furnishings before his gaze settled on Xue Qinghe, a faint smile playing at his lips.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince attends to countless affairs each day. An idle man like me ought to do a little extra walking."

"I heard you were looking for me, Your Highness. What important matter did you wish to discuss?"

Turning from guest to host, he seized control of the conversation.

Qian Renxue inwardly tensed.

This man seemed gentle, but his presence was suffocatingly powerful.

An ordinary person probably could not even finish a sentence in front of him.

She steadied herself and answered with a smile of her own, "Nothing particularly important. I merely heard the happy news about Marquis Ning and His Holiness the Pope and wished to offer my congratulations."

"Also, my imperial father has been in poor health lately, and many affairs of court require Marquis Ning's support. I wished to seek your advice as well."