TSFLIP Chapter 829

Zhou Li’s face had gone ashen. “How did you find the Imperial Seal?”

“I have Father to thank for that,” Zhou Xing said as he stroked Fengguang, who was practically baring her teeth, ready to bite him again. He had already prepared himself for it. “If Father hadn’t set his eyes on Fengguang, how would I have had the chance to slip into his bedchambers tonight and retrieve the Seal?”

Sure enough, she bit his hand again.

Fengguang was furious. She’d been captured by that old emperor and had nearly… been defiled. And now she realized everything had been part of Zhou Xing’s calculations!

No matter how hard she bit him, Zhou Xing didn’t pull his hand away. His voice was gentle. “Fengguang, trust me. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

He had promised her this before they even came to the capital—and he meant it. He would never allow harm to come her way.

Zhou Li gritted his teeth. “Do you understand the consequences of raising your hand against your emperor?”

Fengguang remembered what Zhou Li had said about Zhou Xing surviving only because of the antidote he provided. She released her bite and, forgetting her anger, grabbed Zhou Xing’s hand anxiously. “A-Xing, you can’t kill this old man!”

“I know what you’re worried about,” Zhou Xing whispered into her ear. “Don’t worry, Fengguang. My poison was cured long ago.”

She eyed him suspiciously. “Really?”

“Of course.” He smiled faintly, then looked toward Zhou Li, who had already gone pale from blood loss. “The leverage you thought you had is gone. Instead of worrying about me, you should think about what you want to say in your final moments… Although, to be honest, it doesn’t matter what you say. I’ll kill you either way.”

He had wanted to kill Zhou Li for a very long time. The man was his father—his emperor—but the thought of cutting him down made something inside Zhou Xing quietly thrill. It felt like severing a bloodline, a strange and exhilarating release.

Zhou Li hissed, “If you kill me, you won’t live either. I told General Li everything. He’ll support Jie’er’s claim to the throne. You know well that most of the military rests in Li Rong’s hands. How will you fight him?”

“That’s nothing Father needs to worry about,” Zhou Xing replied, smiling mysteriously.

To be clear, Li Rong was not his man. Li Rong was Zhou Li’s most loyal dog. But if Li Rong intended to serve Yang Jie obediently, then all Zhou Xing had to do was control Yang Jie. The rest would fall neatly into place.

Zhou Xing leaned in and murmured into Fengguang’s ear, “Close your eyes.”

She obeyed.

She felt him leave her side for only a heartbeat. She didn’t hear Zhou Li scream—only the dull thump of something heavy hitting the floor. The next thing she knew, someone lifted her by the waist. When she opened her eyes, all she saw was the man’s face above hers, and her pulse leapt wildly, her breath turning hot.

He knew she wouldn’t last much longer. That was why he had chosen to act quickly.

Holding her tightly, Zhou Xing leapt out the window, crossing several rooftops before landing in the familiar Eastern Palace. By the time they fell onto the bed, his robe had been torn to shreds—but once they hit the mattress, her feverish movements suddenly paused.

“Leaving the old emperor just lying there like that… won’t that cause—”

“Don’t worry. Yifu will take care of everything.” Before she could say more, he pressed his lips to hers.

Her clothing vanished at a startling pace.

Fengguang clung to him tightly, her whole body burning. At this point, nothing—not words, not fear—was enough to stop what was already happening.