Li Chenzhou led his men to surround the Prince Consort's Residence. Ever since Prince Consort Hong Xinglian died, the Eldest Princess Xue Lingjun had effectively been its sole widowed resident. After she married into the Hong Family, misfortune befell them one after another, earning her a reputation for bringing death to her husbands. By the time Hong Xinglian died, no man who had crossed paths with her had been spared; none escaped ill fortune. This made Xue Lingjun an ill-omened woman everyone scrambled to avoid. Though her beauty was unrivaled and she had no shortage of admirers, very few men actually dared approach her. People said that even dying beneath a woman's pomegranate skirt would make for a romantic ghost, but few were truly willing to throw away their lives for a woman.
Li Chenzhou drew a deep breath, forcing all the stale air and frustration out of his chest. Then he shook out the Black Mink Cloak draped over him and walked slowly toward the main gate. Everything was under his control.
One of his men approached and said quietly, "General! The Eldest Princess is inside. Shall we drag her out to see you?"
Li Chenzhou gave the man a cold look, plainly reproaching his insolence. At least for now, the emperor had not charged the Eldest Princess with any crime. What grounds did they have to arrest her?
The frightened subordinate lowered his head.
Xue Lingjun sat quietly in her room, her makeup exquisitely applied by her own hand. Looking at herself in the bronze mirror, she made certain that not the slightest flaw could be found on her lovely face before smiling in satisfaction.
Jian Ping, who had gone out to gather news, hurried in and said in a trembling voice, "Your Highness... Li... Chenzhou is here..."