As soon as Li Zhiyue finished speaking, the woman in Qiu Commander’s arms—Furong—instinctively clenched her hands, hiding her palms under her fingers.

Commander Qiu immediately grabbed her wrist.

His previously lecherous eyes quickly turned sharp and serious. “Open your hands.”

Only someone who had trained in martial arts for years would develop thick calluses.

This woman didn’t look like she knew martial arts, so he had been fooled at first.

He raised her hand and began to pry her fingers open one by one.

Before he could see the calluses, the woman in his arms suddenly drew the long sword from his waist and swung it toward his head.

She looked delicate, but her inner strength was formidable.

Commander Qiu shouted, “Seize her! Don’t let her escape!”

Li Suiwen wrapped an arm around Bai Ruzhu, pulled Li Zhiyue with the other, and quickly retreated into the room, afraid of being caught in the chaos.

Fortunately, Qiu had brought over thirty men.

Capturing a female spy wasn’t too difficult.

Though three were lost in the struggle, they eventually subdued Furong.

She was held by two guards, her eyes like icy blades staring at Li Suiwen, filled with murderous intent.

She had been undercover in Great Wei for two years.

To blend in as a native, she had studied history, language, customs, literature, calligraphy, and needlework…

Yet before she could accomplish anything, she was caught.

Her dream of becoming a general was shattered.

If she ever got the chance to escape, the first thing she’d do would be to kill everyone in the Marquis of Xiangyang’s household.

Li Suiwen shivered and drew his neck back.

Li Zhiyue spoke softly, “Now that the spy has been caught, the court will imprison and interrogate her. But I doubt they’ll learn much. Keeping her locked up only makes it easier for her to escape, which would pose a serious threat to our household. Father, you should go report to the emperor with Commander Qiu and figure out a way… to get rid of Furong.”

She remembered from the original book: Furong had escaped from prison and later became a hidden enemy of the male and female leads—

Lu Jingxue and the Fourth Prince—stirring up storms of bloodshed.

Now that the Marquis of Xiangyang had captured her, Furong was like a blade hanging over their heads.

Li Suiwen looked lost. “I’m just a powerless marquis. How can I convince the emperor to take her life?”

“She’s already been confirmed as a Yue spy,” Li Zhiyue smiled. “As for the rest… it’s all up to what you say.”

Li Suiwen suddenly understood. “Yue Niang, you’re brilliant.”

He quickly exited and approached Commander Qiu. “This female spy knows a great deal about the inner palace. I think we’d better take her to the emperor and let His Majesty decide.”

Commander Qiu frowned.

Matters involving the royal family were beyond his authority.

By this time, evening had fallen.

The orange glow of sunset bathed the entire capital, glinting off the glazed tiles of the palace, making it appear even more majestic.

After reporting their arrival, Li Suiwen followed Commander Qiu into the palace.

This was Li Suiwen’s first time entering the palace for something unrelated to court or banquets.

He straightened his back and strode ahead with confidence, soon arriving at the imperial study.

The eunuch at the door bowed and said, “Marquis, Commander, please wait. His Majesty is currently taking his medicine.”

Li Suiwen had heard rumors.

The emperor had invited a divine doctor from among the people to create a pill called the Soaring Dragon Elixir.

It was said to clear the mind and strengthen the body instantly.

Only those who had performed great deeds could receive one as a reward.

So far, only three officials had been honored in this way.

Li Suiwen couldn’t help but wonder—if his merit was great enough, would the emperor reward him with a pill?

Just to taste it?

After waiting a quarter of an hour, darkness fully set in.

Only then did the eunuch lead them into the study.

The room was filled with a medicinal scent.

The subtle fragrance made Li Suiwen a little light-headed; he inhaled deeply.

“You two caught a Yue spy?” came the emperor’s deep voice.

Commander Qiu stepped forward, pushing Furong to the ground and presenting a letter. “Your Majesty, this woman is a spy from the Yue Kingdom. She posed as a courtesan and lived in the capital for over two years. We lost three men capturing her alive!”

Li Suiwen fumed.

He had been the one to discover Furong.

Yet Commander Qiu didn’t mention him at all—was he trying to steal the credit?

The emperor opened the letter.

He could read the Yue language and, upon finishing it, flew into a rage.

He threw the inkstone, which hit Furong on the head.

“Brazen spy! You dare operate within the capital of my Great Wei? Do you think nothing of my nation? Speak! How many more of your Yue comrades are in my city?”

Commander Qiu quickly pulled the cloth gag from Furong’s mouth.

Furong’s expression remained icy. “No comment.”

“Your Majesty, may I speak?” Li Suiwen stepped forward. “A month ago, I first saw Furong at the Drunken Blossom Pavilion and suspected she was a Yue spy. After several encounters, I confirmed her identity and invited Commander Qiu to my residence to arrest her… I learned from repeated tests that she knows many secrets of our royal family.”

The emperor narrowed his eyes. “Such as?”

“She said…” Li Suiwen braced himself before blurting out nonsense, “She said the emperor doesn’t like women and keeps many male lovers in the palace…”

Silence fell.

Even the air froze.

Furong’s eyes widened.

When had she ever said such a thing?

If the emperor only liked men, how did he father so many princes?

Before she could react, the jade seal beside the emperor slammed into her chest.

The jade seal was much heavier than the inkstone.

It hit her squarely, and she immediately coughed up blood.

Li Suiwen bowed and continued, “She also said the emperor came to the throne through dishonorable means, with impure bloodline, and that she intended to incite rebellion among the people…”

The emperor’s fury peaked.

Commander Qiu kicked Furong in the back, stomping her to the floor. “You Yue scum dare spread lies and incite unrest in Great Wei? You’re asking for death!”

Li Suiwen was getting anxious.

He had already made up so many lies.

Why wasn’t anyone taking action?

He had no choice but to add more: “She often said Yue is better than Great Wei, claiming our vast lands have always belonged to them—”

“Outrageous!” The emperor stood up. “Vile traitors! Rabble like you dare covet our glorious territory!”

“What do you mean covet?” Furong snapped, finally provoked.

She spat in anger, “Your damn empire doesn’t deserve to rule such vast lands! Better to let our Yue emperor take over—Ah!”

Her voice was cut short.

With a final scream, she collapsed.

Her eyes remained wide open, as if shocked to have died so suddenly.

Clang!

Li Suiwen’s sword slipped from his hand and fell to the floor.