Chapter Eight: Zhu Jinzhen’s Ruthless Dominance—Now That You’re Here, Don’t Even Think About Leaving

The next morning.

Under the attentive care of his beautiful attendant, Zhu Jin Zhen washed and dressed, then after breakfast, prepared to depart for the recently completed Tiance Mansion at Jiayuguan. He intended to see if any outstanding new talents would emerge this year.

“Your Highness, today the city of Lanzhou is bustling with excitement.”

“Oh? What kind of excitement?”

“It’s said that our annual recruitment for Tiance Mansion and the Twelve Guards is attracting all manner of people from across the martial world of the Great Ming. What’s more, our scouts have discovered traces of martial artists from both the Northern and Southern Song dynasties, as well as from the Great Sui.”

“Even a young princess from the Mongol Yuan has arrived.”

Mongol Yuan? A young princess?

Zhu Jin Zhen pondered for a moment and immediately knew who it was.

“You mean that little girl from the Prince of Ruyang’s mansion?”

“Heh heh, Your Highness truly has sharp insight—it’s exactly her.”

“She’s come to the Great Ming?”

“Indeed, Your Highness. Our secret guards’ intelligence is flawless.”

The beautiful attendant, with a delicate and enchanting face, showed a hint of surprise: “Although she has disguised herself, appearing as a young man, the few servants accompanying her are too distinctive to miss.”

“One is Fang Dongbai, a defector from the Beggar’s Sect, now going by the name Ada; another is Luo Kuisa, a disciple of the Vajra Sect from the Western Regions, now known as A’er; and the third is a disfigured monk from the Western Regions. According to our secret guards, all have become retainers of the Mongol Yuan’s Prince of Ruyang.”

“They crossed the border with a young man who is not the Wang Baobao we have on record.”

“That can only be Princess Shao Min, Minmin Temur.”

The analysis was logical and well-founded.

Furthermore, since Changsun Wangqing was so certain, he must have solid evidence.

The Xuanjia Secret Guards were an elite force, carefully selected from the Cangyun Xuanjia, and their intelligence had never failed. This time was no exception.

“Do we know her purpose for coming to the Great Ming?”

Though Zhu Jin Zhen had his suspicions, he still asked.

“Not yet, but according to the secret guards’ deductions, she likely wants to witness the changes in Tiance firsthand and gather intelligence on the Great Ming and Your Highness’s true strength.” After helping Zhu Jin Zhen dress, Changsun Wangqing confidently sat before the Falling Flower Mirror, awaiting her lord to comb her hair.

In the bronze mirror, her breathtaking beauty shone like the first light of dawn, a bashful yet infinitely alluring grace.

While combing Changsun Wangqing’s hair, Zhu Jin Zhen smiled and said, “The Prince of Su’s mansion is a deep-rooted thorn in the side of the Mongol Liao and their nightmare. It’s expected they would send someone to probe our true strength. But I hadn’t imagined they’d dispatch a mere girl for espionage. It seems Princess Shao Min is highly favored by the Mongol Emperor.”

“Your Highness means…”

“Since she’s here, let her stay.”

Zhu Jin Zhen’s tone was casual, as if the person to be kept was an ordinary woman, not a crucial princess from an enemy nation: “A hero to them is a foe to us. There are many rumors about Princess Shao Min—some say she was born in the wrong body and would be even more formidable than her brother Wang Baobao if she were a man.”

“I once ordered the secret guards to thoroughly investigate her background. She is indeed a woman of immense intelligence and cunning, with a bold manner of action. In recent years, she has contributed greatly to the Mongol Yuan’s strategy of far-reaching alliances and close attacks.”

“Such a person must either be kept as a servant or remain forever at Jiayuguan to eliminate future threats.”

“Then let the secret guards make the first move and see what her true intent is.”

“That’s excellent.”

Zhu Jin Zhen had no objections. Those selected for the Xuanjia Secret Guards were all at least Vajra-level experts, possessing exceptional agility, stealth, and disguise skills.

They might struggle against grandmasters or earthly immortals, but dealing with Princess Shao Min and her few attendants was more than manageable.

Still, Zhu Jin Zhen gave a caution: “Just in case of surprises…”

Changsun Wangqing smiled faintly upon hearing this: “Understood. Officially, the secret guards will carry out the mission, but behind the scenes, a Cangyun Heavenly Phenomenon expert will be assigned to monitor and prevent any deception or hidden tricks.”

Over the years, the rapid growth of the Xuanjia Secret Guards and their near absence of casualties was largely due to Zhu Jin Zhen’s cautiousness. During intelligence gathering, it was sufficient, but when handling thorny problems, the Vajra-level secret guards would be accompanied by at least one Heavenly Phenomenon Grandmaster, plus several Finger Xuan experts on standby for reinforcements.

Even if the intelligence was flawed, the outcome would remain unchanged.

If a mission required the deployment of Finger Xuan-level secret guards, then secretly following them would be not one but three to five Grandmasters.

This meticulous approach rendered the Xuanjia Secret Guards almost invincible in their tasks.

Zhu Jin Zhen kissed Changsun Wangqing’s cheek gently and smiled, reminding her, “Better safe than sorry. The Mongol Yuan regards me as a fierce tiger. A lone princess entering the Great Ming might harbor hidden schemes.”

Changsun Wangqing’s brows furrowed slightly at his words.

Thanks to Zhu Jin Zhen’s warning, she too sensed possible flaws in the secret guards’ intelligence. Those unknown individuals around Princess Shao Min—or others secretly shadowing her—might be the real threat.

“You…” Zhu Jin Zhen tenderly smoothed her brow and smiled gently, “No matter what backup or tricks she has, this is the Great Ming—my domain. No matter how formidable she is, the moment she steps into Jiayuguan, she will have nowhere to flee.”

It was not that Zhu Jin Zhen underestimated Princess Shao Min.

Even if she possessed unrivaled skills and earthly immortal cultivation, and even if their old adversary Basiba came in person, once she entered the Great Ming, there was no turning back.

“If you truly worry, send Yimei. She has been in the Heavenly Phenomenon realm for three years now and can ensure safety.”

“Yimei?”

Changsun Wangqing nodded instinctively.

Yan Yimei was her female guard commander, a master of the Azure Eyebrow Blade, having fully inherited her teachings. She had entered the Heavenly Phenomenon realm three years prior. If she took action, unless Princess Shao Min was accompanied by an earthly immortal, no one could match the lethal blade she wielded.

“There’s one more minor matter—does Your Highness care to hear?”

“Oh? A minor matter?”

“Yes.” Changsun Wangqing nodded, covering her mouth with a delicate laugh. “I truly think it’s a small matter.”

Zhu Jin Zhen eyed her suspiciously. “Then speak.”

“The martial world’s most beautiful woman, Lin Xian’er—known as the flying fairy of the heavens—has openly spoken about Your Highness in the capital, saying she has admired you for a long time.” With a light laugh and a waft of fragrance, Changsun Wangqing quickly left.

“Lin Xian’er, admiring me?”

Zhu Jin Zhen’s expression flickered. Countless women admired him, and he often dismissed it with a smile, even feeling quite pleased with himself. But to think Lin Xian’er admired him sent a chill over his skin.

“Wangqing, stop right there.”

Zhu Jin Zhen transformed into a fleeting shadow and pursued Changsun Wangqing.