He didn't answer, only hooked his lips, looking at her with a cold mockery in his dark eyes.

After a long while, he pushed the dagger back to the woman.

He chuckled softly, "Shijie (senior martial sister) is generous, sending her husband off with a treasured blade."

Hearing this, Yu Qingwu stiffened slightly.

But soon, she regained her composure.

She handed the sapphire-encrusted dagger over again. "Your Highness, please don't be polite. To do one's best for the country is the duty of every Wei citizen. Even if Your Highness and I are not related, if it can help Your Highness eliminate anything that endangers the foundation of the country, I am willing to give my all."

"Give your all? What about Xiao Fengyun?"

Lowering his eyes to look at the woman's glistening eyes, Xie Jin Yan raised a mocking smile at the corner of his mouth. His eyes darkened, and he asked a question for no reason, "If Xiao Fengyun colludes with the enemy and betrays the country one day, will Shijie give her all?"

Why did this man bring up Senior Brother Xiao for no reason?

Yu Qingwu was a little dazed. She looked up at Xie Jin Yan and frowned. "Senior Brother Xiao would never do such a thing."

"How can Shijie be so sure?" Xie Jin Yan's eyebrows were mocking, and his tone was light. "Alright, Shijie, I have my own plans for the matter of spies, so don't interfere."

"You should keep this dagger yourself. Shifu (master) is the leader of the martial world, and this dagger is no ordinary object. Seeing the dagger is like seeing Shifu himself. In times of crisis, it may save your life."

Xie Jin Yan put the dagger back into Yu Qingwu's hand. In an instant, he returned to his usual gentle expression, as if nothing had happened before. He patted her shoulder lightly and said softly, "Alright, I still have to deal with Shen Baolin and the Qiu family. You should rest well and don't cause me any trouble."

After saying that, he stepped out of the main hall.

Qingwu stood there, watching the man's back getting further and further away. Her face didn't change at all, but her heart was surging.

What did Xie Jin Yan mean just now? What did he mean by asking if she would treat Xiao Shixiong the same if he colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country?

And what is the use of the dagger given by Shifu? But didn't Shifu only see her as a chess piece to get close to the royal family? Why then...

Countless questions arose in Qingwu's heart. She really wanted to ask Shifu what he regarded her as, but now she could only wait until everything was settled.

Taking a deep breath, she turned and walked towards the inner hall.

On the other side, Xie Jin Yan quickly arrived at the Zichen Hall.

About half an hour later, he stepped out of the hall again. When he came out, he had an imperial decree in his hand.

I wonder what the Qiu family will react when they see this imperial decree?

Xie Jin Yan's thin lips raised slightly, and a cold light appeared in his dark eyes.

At this time, the Qiu family did not know that a great disaster was imminent.

She sat in front of the mirror, looking at the distorted and old face in the mirror, and her resentment towards Yu Qingwu became stronger and stronger.

If it weren't for that little bitch, how could she have ended up in this situation.

She should have strangled that bitch to death in the first place!

Her withered hand caressed the scalded mouth with hatred. Qiu gritted her teeth and ordered the nanny beside her, "Mama Li, go and see if Yan Huan has sent anyone to bring news back to the mansion?"

"Yes." Hearing this, Mama Li nodded and stepped out of the room.

Qiu continued to sit in front of the mirror, a poisonous and sinister smile appearing under her distorted face.

Hehe, how can Yu, a vine that relies on men to survive, be able to defeat her, a noblewoman from a prestigious family.

No matter how favored that bitch is by the crown prince, she is nothing more than a plaything. How can a plaything dream of interfering with the imperial power? Can the crown prince still tolerate her? Even if that absurd crown prince really protects her, the queen will definitely not tolerate being criticized.

Presumably, the news of that little bitch's death will be spread in the palace within a day!

Thinking of this, Qiu became even more smug. She immediately summoned a maid to do her hair and makeup, and then sat in the main hall, drinking tea and waiting for Shen Yan Huan's news.

However, Mama Li ran back and forth several times, but did not hear that anyone from the palace had come to deliver a message.

Seeing that it was getting late, Qiu began to feel a little uneasy.

She looked outside and urged Mama Li again, "Mama Li, send someone to the palace to inquire. Has something gone wrong with Yan Huan?"

Hearing this, Mama Li immediately gave the order, then walked back into the room and comforted Qiu in a gentle voice, "Old Madam, don't worry. Third Miss was personally taught by you and has always been smart and alert. She will definitely not make any mistakes. Moreover, that Yu is just a lowly thing who relies on her beauty to cling to men. Now that she has come to such a point, she will definitely agree to ‘cooperate’ with Third Miss.”

That's right, what kind of person is Yu?

Just the descendant of a courtesan without power or influence, how can she be smarter than her daughter born from the main wife?

If she were really smart, she wouldn't have relied on that absurd crown prince with foreign blood…

Hearing Mama Li's comfort, the worry on Qiu's face immediately faded a bit. She nodded slightly and said smugly, "That's right, how can my daughter be defeated by that lowly merchant's daughter? A toy that only knows how to seduce men, does she really think she can turn over? In the end, it will be the same result as her grandmother and that mother…"

"Hmph…" Recalling the concubine and illegitimate daughter who died in her hands, a confident edge appeared in Qiu's eyes.

However, at this moment.

Suddenly, there was a scream from a maid outside.

"You… what are you doing!" The maid looked at the suddenly appearing Imperial Guards and subconsciously opened her mouth. She glared at Xie Jin Yan, who was walking in the front, and shouted loudly, "You… how dare you break into our Old Madam's courtyard! Do you know that our Old Madam is a person with an imperial decree?"

An imperial decree?

After today, it will be a death decree!

Xie Jin Yan ignored her and just gave the Imperial Guards beside him a look. The maid was immediately dragged down.

When Xie Jin Yan led people into the room, Qiu was still stunned.

It wasn't until Mama Li shouted angrily at Xie Jin Yan that she suddenly woke up.

"What does His Highness the Crown Prince mean by this?"

Xie Jin Yan scoffed and ignored her. He only sternly ordered the Imperial Guards, "The Rongguo Duke's Mansion is plotting treason. The evidence is conclusive. Take Qiu and the others to the dungeon!"

What! That bitch Yu didn't fall for it! How could this be? How could this be?

Qiu was completely dumbfounded at this moment!

She stared at Xie Jin Yan in disbelief and panicked, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, it's not like that! It's not like that! That letter is fake! It was forged by that bitch Yu in order to frame me!"

"Letter? When did I say there was a letter?" Xie Jin Yan chuckled.