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Duke Wei slammed his hands on the armrests, his face stormy. The guests swiveled in their seats, confusion deepening on their faces as I entered, flanked by two guards.

"Duke Wei, General Su, Elder Wen," I addressed them, "did Lu Zhao Yun summon me?"

The three men rose in unison, then turned to Lu Zhao Yun with furrowed brows.

"It concerns the throne," Lu Zhao Yun began. "The Crown Princess not only defied confinement and endangered the entire population, but she is also…" He hesitated, then blurted, "a carrier of the Blood Venom!"

Duke Wei thundered, whipping around to face me. "Nonsense! Is that true?" My eyes darted between him and Lu Zhao Yun, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within me. General Su and Elder Wen fixed me with furious glares.

My throat tightened, and my heart hammered against my ribs. Betrayed? By him? Couldn't he have shown a shred of compassion?

Fighting back tears, I met Duke Wei's gaze and offered a trembling nod.

"You foolish girl!" he roared. "How many times have I warned you about leaving the palace? You not only jeopardized yourself, but now everyone in Liang State is at risk! What kind of irresponsible princess are you?!"

General Su and Elder Wen averted their gazes, then pointed accusing fingers at me.

"Are you suggesting we eliminate the future Empress? Who else will take the throne and lead the people during this crisis?"

Suddenly, Zhao Yun stepped forward. "Based on my investigation of the Blood Venom," he interjected, "it might be possible to suppress it temporarily with Luoxia Sect's cultivation techniques."

Elder Yu reacted swiftly, pulling him back.

"That's out of the question! Our cultivation methods cannot be shared with just anyone!"

Duke Wei sighed heavily and turned back to me, his face contorted in fury. It was a look I had never seen before. He dropped his hand and glared.

"I will discuss this with the Elders. Until then, you are hereby punished to kneel in the snow for twenty-four hours. You are not to leave until the very last second!"

General Su's eyes widened in shock at the harshness of the punishment, especially considering the biting winter wind.

"Duke—"

"That's enough!" Duke Wei thundered. "My decision is final!"

I opened my mouth to plead my case, but Duke Wei raised his sleeve and roared, throwing me off balance. General Su, confused and perplexed, sighed and gave a curt nod. Fuming, Duke Wei let out a heavy chuckle and stormed towards the exit.

The heavy oak door slammed shut with a bang, the sound echoing in the sudden silence. No one spoke, each person locked in their gaze. Elder Yu slowly shifted his attention from Zhao Yun and turned to me with a look of disappointment and anger.

He took a step back and moved towards the opposite exit, General Su following close behind. My fists clenched in fury as I stood rooted to the spot. The guards and maids standing by sensed the heavy atmosphere and quickly lowered their heads, whispering amongst themselves.

Just as he turned his back on me, I lifted my head slowly and spread my arms wide, blocking his path. His eyes slowly traced the length of my arms, his own hardening as he noticed the fury blazing in mine.

"Lu Zhao Yun—" My voice trembled as I stared into his eyes, a mixture of anger and tears welling up.

He looked away and took a step forward, but I quickly blocked his path with my other arm. He turned back to me, his expression impatient and annoyed. He pursed his lips and retorted sharply.

"I don't have the time for this. Step aside."

Tears stinging my eyes, I took a step towards him and shook my head in defiance. Realizing I wouldn't back down, he finally lifted his head fully, returning my gaze with a cold indifference.

"Why did you tell Duke Wei?! Didn't we have an agreement?"

He scoffed, looking away briefly before returning his gaze. "A one-sided agreement, remember? I don't answer to you. My priority is the safety of the people."

Folding my lips in anguish, I moved my hand upwards to argue, but he grabbed it before I could do anything. Anger surged through me, and I refused to take it any longer.

"People's safety! What about me? I'm a person too! The princess of this nation! I'll get back at you when I become Empress—"

"—Then until then." With that, he tore his gaze from mine and shoved my hand away, striding out of the hall. My hands fell to my side as I stood alone, the silence broken only by the distant drumming echoing from the River Yu.

The rhythmic drumbeats echoing from the River Yu were the only sound that dared to pierce the suffocating silence hanging over the hall. On the stage, an elderly man in the center pounded a massive drum, its booming resonation punctuated by the enthusiastic cheers of unseen disciples.

Four elders, representing the most prestigious sects, marched from the back of the hall, their movements synchronized and their greetings to the crowd practiced. A'Ying, ever the impulsive one, materialized beside me with a triumphant flourish. A pack of candied haws, my favorite treat, dangled before my face, but my attention was glued to the stage, searching for a specific figure.

Her eyes, sharp as a hawk's, caught the dejection etched on my face. The haws were promptly deposited on my lap, her excited screech jolting me from my reverie. Blinking away the surprise, I shot a withering glare around the room, desperate to maintain a semblance of composure.

"Rong'Er? What's wrong?" A'Ying pressed, her voice laced with concern. "I brought you the haws, just like I promised. And the scrolls—"

"Here," I interrupted, reaching into my hanfu and producing the scroll with a flourish. Relief washed over her face as she skimmed the document with practiced ease. "You're a lifesaver! Now I won't be left out of the fun."

Her nimble fingers danced across the characters, a wide smile blossoming on her face as she recognized familiar poems. I, however, couldn't tear my gaze away from the stage. A sudden eruption of cheers drew my attention back, and I watched as two participants, bathed in the light of adulation, made their way to the center.

The cheers intensified as Emei disciples, their movements crisp and coordinated, brushed past those from the Kongtong sect. The disgruntled Kongtong disciples whirled around, their ire directed squarely at the Emei contingent.

"Look! There's the loser Cheng Su Ruo and her pathetic juniors!" A voice, dripping with mockery, pierced the air. It belonged to Zheng Zhen, his fingers outstretched as if to grab one of Su Ruo's pupils. Reacting with lightning speed, Su Ruo materialized between them, her eyes blazing with fury.

Zheng Zhen scoffed, casually flicking her hand away before sauntering closer to Su Ruo. "Feeling feisty today? Senior Xiao defeated you with ease, perhaps I could be more… lenient?" he drawled, his lips curling into a suggestive smirk.

Su Ruo's hand instinctively flew to her sword hilt. "You—" Her junior disciples erupted in a chorus of angry shouts, swords drawn in a show of defiance. But Su Ruo remained calm, instead opting to discreetly thread needles between her fingers.

Zheng Zhen faltered, a flicker of fear momentarily replacing his smug grin. But it was short-lived, replaced by a booming laugh.  "Such a fiery spirit! Let's see how long it lasts when Senior Xiao is around!" With a final mocking chuckle, he shoved Su Ruo's fuming pupils aside and retreated with his cohorts.

Su Ruo's junior disciples, their faces contorted in righteous anger, turned to her. But she seemed oblivious, her gaze fixed on a distant point, the cheers of the crowd a dull roar in her ears.

And then I saw him, Xiao Fan, performing a flawless aerial maneuver before landing gracefully, his sword flashing in the sunlight. As the crowd erupted in cheers, his eyes met Su Ruo's for a fleeting moment. Hers turned away, a flicker of something in their depths before she pivoted on her heel and walked away.

The rhythmic drumbeats pulsed through my ears, a relentless counterpoint to the nervous energy crackling in the air.  This match, they were saying, would be a legend in the making. Mo Yan, ever the gambler, was already placing bets, his booming voice cutting through the hushed anticipation.

"This is gonna be the fiercest battle yet! How about a wager? If Luoxia wins, you're buying meals for the whole month!" His challenge was met with enthusiastic nods from his disciples, while Hong Yue threw her head back and laughed. Unfazed, Mo Yan simply grinned and repeated the bet.

"Never heard Xiao Fan loses, have you?" Mo Yan scoffed, turning to Hong Yue. "Let's see him lose then!" With a shake of his head, he turned his attention back to the stage.

The air crackled with anticipation as the two combatants bowed to each other, the cheers of the crowd momentarily stilled. The pounding of the drums ceased abruptly, and with a flourish, Xiao Fan drew his sword.

Zhao Yun, in stark contrast, met the challenge with a stoic silence, his gaze sweeping the arena before settling on his opponent. The clash of steel marked the beginning of the duel, a whirlwind of flashing blades as they danced a deadly ballet.

My own eyes were glued to the stage, my heart pounding in unison with the drumbeat that echoed in my memory. Xiao Fan lunged forward, a deadly glint in his eye, but Zhao Yun, with a seemingly effortless maneuver, dodged the blow. He closed his eyes for a fleeting moment, then attacked, but once again, Xiao Fan was a step ahead, their blades clashing in a shower of sparks.

The crowd held its breath as the fight continued, a dizzying display of skill and agility. Then, in a shocking turn of events, Zhao Yun unleashed a devastating attack, a combination of teleportation and thunder magic. The very air crackled with energy as a bolt of lightning struck his blade, splitting the stage in two and pinning Xiao Fan beneath the debris.

A stunned silence descended upon the arena, broken only by the gasps of the crowd. Mo Yan, ever the opportunist, turned to his companions with a triumphant grin, their laughter echoing in the sudden quiet. Around me, the elders and Duke Wei watched with a mixture of awe and concern.

Finally, the cheers erupted, a tidal wave of sound celebrating Luoxia Sect's victory. As the dust settled, Zhao Yun slowly rose to his feet, a crimson stain blooming on his lips. Duke Wei and the elders descended from their seats, their faces a mixture of relief and respect.

Before I could even think of catching A'Ying's eye, she was already darting towards the commotion. Her shoulder collided with someone, and as she looked up, a mischievous grin spread across Mo Yan's face.

"You?!" she shrieked, her surprise quickly morphing into irritation. Mo Yan, unfazed, fanned himself nonchalantly.

"Must I say," he drawled, "you're even more captivating when you're flustered. Perhaps Madame Mo?"

A'Ying's lips pursed in annoyance. "Don't be ridiculous! As if I'd ever be interested in someone like you!"

"Oh, you will be," Mo Yan countered, his voice dripping with mock sincerity. "Just wait and see."

Shoving him aside, Mo Yan fumbled, readjusting his fan in a desperate attempt to regain his composure. With a swift movement, A'Ying snatched her arm free and smacked his precious fan with enough force to shatter it.

"Hold on a minute!" Mo Yan sputtered, his feigned charm momentarily forgotten. "You haven't even told me your name!"

A hint of a smile played on A'Ying's lips as she sighed. Wasting no more time, she turned and plunged into the dispersing crowd.

"Thank you all for attending this grand tournament," she called out, her voice ringing clear. "We urge you to remain vigilant, for there are still mysteries to be unraveled. Elders, disciples, esteemed guests, farewell and take care!"

The elders bowed respectfully before departing with their disciples, each sect heading in their own direction. Elder Yu cast a warm smile at Zhao Yun as A'Ying hurried over, offering a deep bow.

"Master," she addressed him, "I await your return in a few days. Remember to be cautious on your journey."

Zhao Yun bowed in return, a smile gracing his lips. "Thank you, Master."

With a final wave, he turned and strode away, his disciples following in his wake. Only Duke Wei and General Su remained. Zhen Lan and Jing Yi excused themselves, the former claiming an urgent matter. As General Su followed suit, Duke Wei's gaze fell upon me.

He beckoned two guards forward with a curt nod. "A'Ying," he addressed her, "escort our guest to his chambers. Tend to him with the maids."

A begrudging nod was her only response. With a sigh, Duke Wei gestured for me to follow him. Our eyes met briefly, a flicker of something unreadable passing between us before he began walking, A'Ying by his side.

My steps felt heavy as I trudged after them, the once lively halls now eerily deserted. As we exited the building, a sudden blast of icy air sent a shiver down my spine. Instinctively, I rubbed my hands together, trying to generate some warmth.

"Wait here," Duke Wei instructed, his voice clipped. "You are not to leave until twenty hours have passed. Consider this your time to reflect."

The heavy oak door slammed shut behind her, the sound echoing through the empty courtyard. My knees buckled, and I sank down onto the cold stone floor. A sharp wind whipped around me, biting through my clothes. My breath hitched in my throat, and I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to find some semblance of warmth.

Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. My feet throbbed with a dull ache, and my body, despite the cold, felt strangely feverish. Exhaustion threatened to overwhelm me, and my eyelids began to droop uncontrollably.

Meanwhile, A'Ying walked beside Zhao Yun down a dimly lit corridor until they reached their destination. The guards moved aside, recognizing A'Ying.

"Here you are, Master," she said, gesturing to the door. "Should you require anything, the maids and guards are at your disposal. Speaking of which, while studying the Blood Venom victims, I noticed a peculiar trend. Their bodies… turned cold. As if freezing them preserved their state, though preventing any chance of revival."

Zhao Yun's brow furrowed in concentration. "Cold… detoxifies it?" he murmured, piecing together the puzzle. "That explains why Luoxia Sect's techniques seem to be effective. Did you discover anything else?"

A'Ying shook her head, frustration coloring her voice. "I'm still analyzing the data—"

A panicked voice cut through her words. "Your Highness! Several unidentified bodies have been found in the streets, all headed towards the Cold Region!"

A'Ying's head snapped up, her eyes widening in alarm. She met Zhao Yun's gaze, a shared dread settling over them. "That's where they sent the Princess!"

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Who caused the resurface of dead bodies in town?

What happens to Rong'Er in this situation?

Why does cold detoxify the Blood Venom?