“What’s wrong?” Yinan poured himself another glass of wine. “Are you afraid?”
The thief forced down a trace of unease in her heart and gave a dry laugh. “Afraid? Viscount Yinan, you really know how to joke. Why would I be afraid? It’s just, with the way you keep looking at me like that, I thought you had some unique preferences…”
“Miss Thief, you’re quite amusing.” Yinan swirled his wine glass. “Then let’s talk…”
Just then, Luo Ling’s figure slowly appeared outside the door. She stared intently at the thief’s every move—if the thief tried anything, Luo Ling would kill her without hesitation!
Now, thanks to Yinan’s care, she had advanced to the fourth rank. Every time she and Yinan did those pleasurable things together, she could feel her strength grow; this was one of the perks of the system.
Even so, facing this fat noble, she still felt a certain pressure…
The four of them began a negotiation that lasted for hours…
When the thief returned to Fujin Territory, she resumed her original appearance, revealing her naturally graceful form. With a light flick of her waterfall-like hair, a hint of pride and contemplation flashed in her eyes.
Her golden hair and azure eyes shimmered like the stars, identical to Her Majesty Teresa’s left eye—only, both of hers were the same, lacking the orange-red right eye that Teresa had.
She then entered Nancy’s bedroom and lay down on the bed…
Before long, Nancy pushed open the door and entered. Seeing the thief lying on her bed, she was stunned for a moment, then a doting smile appeared on her lips.
“Darling… how did it go?” Nancy asked as she walked to the bedside, casually undoing the light shawl around her shoulders.
“Mmm…” the thief let out a soft moan, “He’s preparing to make his move…”
Hearing this, a flash of satisfaction gleamed in Nancy’s eyes. She sat on the edge of the bed, gently stroking the thief’s hair…
“Then let him make his move…” Who knew exactly whom she was preparing to fight.
In any case… Nancy simply gazed gently at the thief, her eyes full of anticipation for their plan’s progress, as well as a confidence in controlling everything.
Meanwhile, Yinan dispatched his subordinate, Yuan, to provoke a neighboring viscount’s territory…
Even among viscounts, there was a chain of contempt…
Hereditary viscounts looked down on those without inherited titles, and those whose lands boasted metal mines looked down on viscounts whose lands lacked them!
Clearly, Yinan was at the very bottom of this contempt chain, but his soldiers were excellent fighters!
At least, aside from Will and Nancy, no one else could really take him down… He was confident of that!
Yuan rode straight to the entrance of a nearby viscount’s estate.
The steward of Rosen Territory saw the retinue knight of Viscount Yinan approaching and was about to refuse Yuan’s visit…
But Yuan didn’t give him the chance. He pulled a gold coin from his pocket and threw it at the steward. “Take care of my carriage. If anything happens, I’ll break your legs!”
The steward was stunned by the gold coin, anger flickering across his face. But when he looked at Yuan’s fierce appearance and the group of fully armed soldiers behind him, he swallowed his fury.
He gritted his teeth and bent down to pick up the coin from the ground…
Yuan directly pushed open the gates to the Rosen Viscount’s manor, shouting loudly, “Lord Rosen! Lord Rosen!”
Yuan’s shouts echoed through the manor, drawing terrified glances from the nearby servants.
Hearing the shrill voice, Rosen himself came straight to the front hall. “Insolence! This is not a place for your unruliness!”
“Lord Rosen, my lord has written you several letters…” Yuan rubbed his fists, cracking his knuckles menacingly as he continued with a sinister grin, “Why do you read them but never reply?”
Viscount Rosen’s brows knit tightly, a sense of foreboding rising within him. “I’ve been busy these days. I’ll look into it later…”
Yuan sneered, his eyes full of mockery. He had come for this very reason—to rile up Rosen…
“Busy, are you?” He suddenly lashed out with a kick, sending the viscount sprawling. “I’d really like to know just how busy you are, that you can’t even reply to our lord’s letters!”
Viscount Rosen was kicked backward and crashed heavily to the ground, grunting in pain.
He couldn’t believe Yinan’s man would dare lay hands on him. Was this lunatic insane?
But all he heard was Yuan’s harsh threat: “If tomorrow you dare refuse entry to merchants from our territory again, you’ll suffer the consequences!”
Rosen Territory’s military commander, hearing his lord had been attacked in his own manor, stormed over in a rage—but Yuan was already gone!
Now, he could only listen as his own lord raged impotently…
Viscount Rosen shook with anger, grinding his teeth. “Yinan Hill, you bastard, how dare you send your lackey to provoke me!”
“My lord… should we?” The commander clenched his fists, his eyes blazing, waiting eagerly for Rosen’s order…
Right now, he wished he could muster the troops and storm Yinan’s territory to avenge this insult.
Rosen waved his hand, “When it’s time for revenge, I’ll let you attack. But not now. That bastard will be dealt with sooner or later!”
Though full of resentment, the commander could only hold his anger in check upon hearing Rosen’s orders. He dropped to one knee. “Yes, my lord! But give the word, and I’ll lead the brothers to flatten Yinan’s territory!”
The next day, Yinan did not receive a declaration of war. Instead, he sent Yuan out again.
Yuan once more rode arrogantly to Rosen Territory.
This time, he was followed by a caravan of wagons loaded with goods, clearly merchants coming to trade.
When the guards of Rosen Territory saw Yuan, their faces turned ugly.
“You again? Do you have a death wish?” a guard shouted at Yuan in anger.
Yuan didn’t care in the slightest. He walked right up to the guard and declared loudly, “Go inform your lord—Viscount Yinan’s merchant caravan is here to do business. Tell him not to be petty and let us through.”
The guards looked at one another, their eyes full of hesitation and anger.
“Our lord said, trade is closed to outsiders these days. Please leave!”
Hearing this, the smile vanished from Yuan’s face, replaced by a cold, grim expression.
He raised his spear and stabbed the guard to death…
“Even if you don’t want to buy today, I still have to sell!” Yuan drew his spear. “Trade closed to outsiders? Are you trying to blockade the territory? That’s a violation of the Empire’s taboos!”
As soon as Yuan said this, the atmosphere around them grew even more tense.
“Don’t twist words!” another guard stood up and yelled angrily, “We’re just closed for trade these days…”
Yuan paid him no heed; in any case, he’d gotten the answer he wanted.
In peacetime, the Empire forbade nobles from closing off their territories and restricting movement. All he needed was an excuse…