<h4>Chapter 96</h4>


    Qin Zhao was held at knifepoint,pletely calm.


    Leaning into Nangong Ling''s embrace, the pendant she wore poked into the back of Qin Zhao''s neck.


    Adjusting into a morefortable position, she finally spoke: "A gentleman loves beauty; he takes it by righteous means.


    That man had blocked my path, so I showed mercy by not killing him.


    Besides, that man was ugly. By helping you eliminate him, you should be thanking me."


    Nangong Ling was amused by Qin Zhao''s sophistry. She said, "He was ugly, but are you so good looking?


    Wearing such an ugly eyepatch, who knows what unspeakable secrets hide underneath?"


    As she spoke, Nangong Ling reached out her left hand, wanting to remove Qin Zhao''s eyepatch. Qin Zhao stopped her, "Don''t, I''m afraid you''ll be frightened."


    Nangong Ling would not listen to her. With a forceful tug of her left hand...


    Qin Zhao''s face was exposed before her eyes...


    Nangong Ling looked at Qin Zhao''s wless, beautiful face of white jade. She was momentarily stunned.


    Seizing the chance while Nangong Ling was distracted, Qin Zhao pushed aside the right hand holding the dagger. She turned and moved away from Nangong Ling''s embrace!


    Though reluctant to part, her own life was more important.


    Qin Zhaoughed. "Lady Nangong, you''ve miscalcted."


    Nangong Ling looked up at Qin Zhao. She did not get angry over Qin Zhao''s escape, calmly saying, "If you think escaping my dagger means escaping my palm, you underestimate me, Nangong Ling!"


    Qin Zhao''s brows furrowed slightly, sensing there was an ambush!


    In an instant, six women in ck had knives at her neck!


    Judging by their physique, these women in ck were also women. Their eyes were covered by ck veils, relying heavily on hearing to move around.


    Therefore, their ears were more sensitive than Qin Zhao''s, who located things by sound using her five senses.


    No wonder Qin Zhao had not noticed their presence earlier.


    Seeing the situation under control, Nangong Ling rxed andzily leaned back in her chair. She asked, "Speak. What was your purposeing here?


    Don''t tell me you just wanted to spend a passionate night with me.


    I won''t believe that."


    Feeling the chill of the de against her skin, Qin Zhao said, "I know you are the head of Wind and Rain Pavilion.


    I came to gather some information about the Horizontal and Vertical Ranking."


    Danger shed in Nangong Ling''s eyes. "Very few people know of my secret identity besides my confidantes. How did you find out?


    If your answer does not satisfy me, don''t think about leaving here alive tonight!"


    Qin Zhao: "I came here with a goal, not to leave alive.


    If you don''t tell me the information I need, I have no reason to answer your questions either!


    Want to kill me? Go ahead and try!"


    "You!"


    The anger on Nangong Ling''s face shed by. She turned her face away and said indifferently, "Kill her."


    Upon hearing the order, the women in ck moved to action!


    Qin Zhao also prepared to fight one against six.


    Just at this critical juncture, the pendant around Nangong Ling''s neck suddenly lit up!


    She immediately yelled, "Everyone stop!"


    The women in ck hastily stopped and retreated to the side!


    Nangong Ling took off the pendant.


    Qin Zhao saw it was a stone embedded in a silver seven-sided setting, glowing brightly.


    Nangong Ling got up and slowly approached Qin Zhao. As she got closer to Qin Zhao, the light from the stone in her hand grew stronger!


    When Nangong Ling stood before Qin Zhao, there were almost tears in her eyes. Under Qin Zhao''s puzzled gaze, she slowly knelt down before Qin Zhao...


    Seeing this, the women in ck also knelt down.


    Qin Zhao took two steps back and asked, "What are you doing?"


    Nangong Ling spoke out: "This lowly wolf, pays respects to my lord."


    Qin Zhao did not understand: "Lowly wolf?"


    Nangong Ling said, "The Nangong Family belongs to the Acquisitive Wolf Star n, one of the seven stars of the Big Dipper. For generations, we have safeguarded the Purple Forbidden Enclosure Star.


    The pendant I hold is a fragment passed down generations in the Nangong Family, a fragment of the Acquisitive Wolf Star.


    Only when near the Purple Forbidden Enclosure Star will it shine brightly.


    Before meeting my lord, the Acquisitive Wolf Star n had not encountered the Purple Forbidden Enclosure Star for over a thousand years.


    That the Acquisitive Wolf Star fragment lit up now is because it has slept too long. I hope my lord will understand."


    Qin Zhao thought of what the Imperial Astronomer Wei Chen had told her. Could what he wanted to tell her be that Princess Zhaoyang was the Purple Forbidden Enclosure Star?


    And the jealous look Emperor Qin Zheng had given her that day was also because of this?


    If what Nangong Ling said was true, then everything made sense!


    The Purple Forbidden Enclosure Star was the savior star.


    If Princess Zhaoyang was the Purple Forbidden Enclosure Star, was the fall of Yue in the original work rted to Qin Zheng harming Princess Zhaoyang?


    Wei Chen had said a certain star shone brighter after Qin Zhao''s arrival.


    Could that mean Qin Zhao was also the Purple Forbidden Enclosure Star, perhaps even more powerful than the original Princess Zhaoyang?


    She would have to wait until the 15th day of the 5th month for Wei Chen to unravel these mysteries.


    "You may rise." Qin Zhao said to Nangong Ling.


    No matter the truth, it was best to ept this for now.


    No need to pry information from Nangong Ling anymore. She could also utilize the Purple Forbidden Enclosure Star identity and have Nangong Ling serve her. A win-win.


    Nangong Ling got up and said, "My lord, please take a seat."


    Qin Zhao sat down in the main seat and asked, "Do you know my identity?"


    Nangong Ling replied, "My lord is the Ninth Princess of the current dynasty, Princess Zhaoyang."


    "Your intelligence is very well-informed. How did you obtain it?"


    "The pleasure houses are a ce where information flows freely. Also, Wind and Rain Pavilion has an intelligence gathering organization."


    Recalling her purpose ining here, Qin Zhao said, "Then can you tell me about the matter I asked you earlier?"


    Nangong Ling: "Of course, this lowly one is willing to do anything for my lord."


    She suddenly blushed and stammered, "I can also serve my lord in bed."


    "Hahahaha!" Qin Zhaoughed. "Look at your expression, as if you''re afraid of me."


    Nangong Ling denied it: "That''s not it. This lowly one has just never experienced the bedchamber before and is a little nervous."


    "Then why host an activity like tonight''s?"


    "Just for fun. Even if that man hade, he could only stop outside the thin curtains."


    Qin Zhao signaled for the women in ck to leave. Obediently, they quickly disappeared.


    With only Qin Zhao and Nangong Ling left in the room,


    Qin Zhao said, "Nangong Ling, look at me."


    Nangong Ling obeyed and met Qin Zhao''s gaze.


    She saw Qin Zhao''s lips move. "Tell me, when you said you were willing to serve me in bed, was that genuine?"


    Nangong Ling nodded.


    "Very good. Then take your clothes off."


    Nangong Ling''s body stiffened briefly before answering, "Yes."


    She then started removing her clothes.


    Slowly sliding off the outer robe.


    Then cing her hands on the sash, slowly untying it bit by bit.


    Qin Zhao got up and approached Nangong Ling, asking, "Why are you taking them off so slowly?"


    "I..."


    Qin Zhao ripped Nangong Ling''s sash off in one swift motion!


    Nangong Ling instantly froze in ce, not daring to move.


    Qin Zhao raised her hand and touched Nangong Ling''s face. Her expression instantly turned cold. "Why are you shivering? Are you that reluctant?"