The guards took the gold from Gwen for examination, and the result matched what the queen had said.The gold from the bandit and Gwen came from the same batch!Timothy's lips trembled, and he still tried to deny it."This gold was all refined in the same batch, and there's more than just one or two pieces. I just happened to have one of those gold ingots. How can that prove anything…" he protested.Jane interrupted him in a calm and composed manner."Bandits love wealth, especially in the form of gold and silver, because it saves them the trouble of exchanging promissory notes for cash. Timothy wanted to bribe the bandit with a large amount of gold. "He couldn't possibly have used the scattered pieces of gold and silver he already had. And besides, carrying that much gold out of the palace would be inconvenient. So, he would have taken a promissory note and gone to a local exchange shop to convert it into gold."And when an exchange shop withdraws such a large sum of gold at on
"Is the queen questioning my judgment?" George's gaze was dark and threatening.Jane looked at him indifferently. 'So this is the king whom thousands of soldiers and ministers pledge their loyalty to?' she thought. Not only was he a tyrant king, but he was also a foolish ruler!When spoke, her voice was firm and clear, "Timothy is guilty of more than just instigating the bandits to kidnap people.""What else?" Dina was slightly anxious.Jane's expression was cold and serious."I previously asked Timothy about his whereabouts on October 10th, and he insisted that he was on duty in the palace that day. After checking the palace entry and exit records, as well as the roster of Cloud Palace staff, it was confirmed that his statement was true."But the reality is otherwise. This suggests that -" Jane raised her hand sharply pointed at Helena, "Lady Helena, as the head of the palace, has failed to manage her subordinates. "Moreover, she holds the Royal Seal and is responsible for m
Faced with the king's rage, Jane smirked self-deprecatingly."Am I bold, Your Majesty? After I was captured and rescued, though I remained innocent, no one believed me."Those around me advised me to remain silent, to not respond to the doubts and rumors, to wait for the storm to pass, and for people to forget about it."But reality is not so."I live in fear and pain every day, and I even question my own innocence. I don't know how to define a woman's purity, nor do I understand why, when I was captured and my reputation deliberately tarnished, I, the victim, would be seen as the one who committed a crime, and even called an indecent woman by others!"If I were not bold, I would have long since died because of the rumors. How could I dare wear the crown and bridal robe, and enter the palace?"If I were not bold, how could I have the courage to ask you to investigate the truth?"I am bold, which is why, Your Majesty, I ask you to depose me as queen! Let me be bold once more and
"The royal decree has arrived! Noble Concubine Helena, receive the decree!"Clara supported Helena as she walked to the outer hall. They bowed respectfully.The palace servant began to announce the decree."By the king's command, Timothy has been found guilty of smuggling palace treasures, with irrefutable evidence. Lady Helena's failure to oversee this matter is evident. From this day forward, the gold emblem shall be relinquished, and her Majesty the queen will assume control of the harem..."Hearing this, Helena's expression shifted rapidly. The king was stripping her of the gold emblem? The decree wasn't finished yet.The palace servant continued, "Furthermore, Lady Helena is demoted to the rank of a normal concubine!"'What?!'Everyone in Cloud Palace was visibly shocked.Timothy had committed the crime. Why was Helena receiving such a harsh punishment?Since Helena had gained the king's favor, such an incident had never occurred. Even Clara couldn't believe it and quic
At Zen Palace, Jane had just finished bathing and sat by her bed, wringing out her hair.A faint tapping sound came from outside the window, like a small bird pecking at grains. Her eyes lit up as she rose and walked over.Her silhouette was reflected on the paper screen of the window. Her long black hair cascaded down, and her delicate nose was outlined prominently.When she opened the window, a black carrier pigeon stood there impatiently, pecking at the windowsill as if complaining about her tardiness.Jane removed the thin tube attached to the pigeon's leg and extracted the secret message within.[The rat has entered the trap.]The 'rat' referred to the mountain bandits. She had deceived them.Once delivered to the underground brothel, they would have their tongues cut out and their tendons severed, living in torment until death.But even as she imagined the bandits meeting their cruel fate, Jane felt no satisfaction.Wendy had suffered so much. No amount of punishment for
The king came to the Zen Palace for breakfast for the first time, causing the few kitchen staff to hurriedly prepare a few extra dishes under mounting pressure.The meal was quiet.George didn't speak, and Jane remained silent as well. It was pointless to expect her to serve food to the king. Occasionally, she would even compete with him for the same dish.Lily tried signaling her mistress multiple times, hoping Jane would break the ice with some conversation to lighten the mood, but Jane ignored her completely.Suddenly, Jane spoke.Lily, expecting something meaningful, instead heard, "Another plate of pasta."As a martial artist, Jane had a bigger appetite than most women. When she was in the military camp among men, this was hardly noticeable, but within the palace, her eating habits were somewhat unusual.When she requested a third plate of pasta, George finally looked up at her.When he dined with concubines, most of them barely ate anything and often focused on serving hi
Lily had just posed her question when sudden realization struck."Your Majesty, Prince Richard once said that the king favors women who can ride horses. Are you organizing the polo match to help the other ladies gain his favor?"Jane replied with a calm indifference, "The king favored Lady Rosalie because she rode well. Not just anyone will do.""Your Majesty, I am a fool—then what is your reason?""Willing participants will take the bait," Jane said, her gaze serene and unfathomable, though a trace of scheming flickered in her eyes.Lily pondered for a moment. The only thing she could conclude was that her mistress was targeting Lady Helena. But what the connection could be, she couldn't figure out.-At Cloud Palace, upon learning that the king had dined in the queen's quarters that morning, Helena was both anxious and furious."That wretched woman! I don't know what trick she pulled to force the king to punish me, and now she dares to seduce him!"Clara, seeing her mistress
At Zen Palace, Jane had resumed the customary morning and evening gatherings, but many concubines still claimed to be sick to avoid attending.Feigning sickness was a pretense; their true loyalty was with Helena.In the inner chamber, Lily was styling Jane's hair while voicing her indignation."Your Majesty, it's one thing for others to skip, but even Julie has sent word claiming illness. Has she forgotten it was you who secured a reward for her?"Before, she even had someone convey her willingness to copy the palace rules twenty times as a gesture of support for you. I thought she was sincere about siding with you! But now it's clear she's just another opportunist!"Jane was calmly reviewing the accounts of the inner palace and didn't even look up."Seeking advantage and avoiding harm—it's human nature."In the front hall, Jane sat in the main seat while a few concubines sat on either side.As one, the concubines stood and greeted the queen."Greetings, Your Majesty.""Sit,"
'The great Vivian Rudock?'Before the masked man could even process his shock, his head was already rolling on the ground.Hearing the commotion, Conan quickly got up.Vivian.He had heard that name somewhere before.Not knowing whether the other party was friend or foe, Conan's first instinct was to flee. Suddenly, a chilling breeze swept past him. The next moment, an icy hand clamped around his throat.A woman's sultry yet ruthless voice sounded by his ear. "So, you're Henry's new apprentice?"Did she know his master? Conan remained cautious and didn't answer.The woman chuckled."Quite the tough one, huh? No worries. I've got plenty of time."Her long, talon-like fingers clutched the top of his head. With a sudden force, he felt as though the tendons in his skull were being yanked out. An excruciating pain shot through him.He clenched his jaw, refusing to utter a single cry for mercy.After fifteen minutes, the woman seemed to have grown tired of her game and finally le
Reunions and separations were part of life.Learning that this was the last time Henry would guide him, Conan felt deeply saddened. But he also knew that sooner or later, he would have to join the army.Henry had taught him a great deal, especially in the art of war, which had benefited him immensely.At their parting, Henry gifted him a spear. Upon receiving the gift, Conan's eyes lit up."Master, how did you know I love spears?"He immediately tried it out and found it an excellent weight and length. The spear sliced through the air and struck the ground with immense force. It felt as if it had become an extension of his body. It was like an extension of his arm.He had never wielded a weapon so perfectly suited to him.Gradually, Conan's eyes filled with excitement. After performing a set of spear techniques, he knelt down at once."Thank you, Master! This is the best gift I have ever received!"He vowed to use this spear to achieve great feats and bring honor to Henry's na
"I had no idea the forbidden palace could be this lively."George looked at Wendy and Julie, who were embracing each other. His expression was cold and unreadable.Julie was so frightened that she stopped crying. She immediately stood up and, in a fluster, curtsied."Y-Your Majesty!"Jane also rose and curtsied respectfully."Your Majesty."George walked directly to a chair and sat down. His gaze landed on Julie."So? Did you come to the forbidden palace to keep the queen company?"Julie's eyes were red and swollen. She instinctively nodded, but then quickly shook her head.George's eyes turned dark."Well? Was that what you wanted to do?" he demanded.Julie was so terrified that she dropped to her knees with a thud. "Your Majesty, please have mercy. Please allow Queen Wendy to leave the forbidden palace!"George scoffed and looked at Wendy. "You plead so earnestly, but the queen may not even wish to leave."Julie blurted out, "How could that be?"Who in their right mind
Jane needed a token of royal pardon to ensure that if the truth ever came to light in the future, the king would not hold Kennedy accountable. She also knew that to obtain this token of royal pardon, she had to achieve great merit."You don't have to give it to me now," she said. "If you ever encounter a problem you can't resolve, come find me at Safe Haven Pawnshop. Just ask for Henry."With that, she placed a silver coin on the table, picked up the longsword leaning against the chair, and left without a word.Right outside the door, Karlsen happened to meet Henry's gaze as he departed.He had been curious about what the famous Shadow Phantom of the martial world looked like. But the person wore a mask. There was nothing to see.Shortly after, the king emerged as well.Karlsen stepped forward and awaited instructions.George looked ahead and spoke calmly."Free the women who were forced into performing here and send them home.""Yes!" Karlsen placed his hand over his chest an
The box contained the onyxite horse.Jane was puzzled. Why would George send her this?Steven placed the box holding the onyxite down, recalling how perplexed he had been when the king ordered him to deliver the stone to the forbidden palace. Though rewards from the king were always considered acts of favor, gifting a mere stone seemed rather baffling.At first, he had thought it was because Wendy was skilled in riding and fond of horses, so the king had given her this horse-shaped stone.Then the king had remarked in a deep voice, "The queen's temperament is just like this stone, stubborn and unyielding."Of course, Steven dared not relay a single word of that to Wendy. Instead, he simply smiled and said, "Queen Wendy, King George is thinking of you."Even without knowing the reason behind it, Jane accepted the onyxite. After all, it was a token of Conan's regard for his master.-At the Chief Gatekeeper's residence, Jocelyn locked herself in her room, her expression dark and
"Conan, it's been a few days since we last met. How have you been?" Jocelyn asked first with concern.Conan didn't want to resent her, but recalling the hurtful words she had spoken that day, it was difficult to face her with the same admiration he once had."Thank you for your concern, Commander," he replied courteously. "I'm doing well."He had wanted to tell her his mother was dead. That she had perished in agony from hunger and illness.But before he could, she asked, "How did you come to know Henry?"Conan casually made up a lie. "It's just a matter of chance."Jocelyn felt relieved. It seemed he still didn't know Jane's true identity. And Jane, most likely, wouldn't tell him to keep him from being entangled in the matter.She made a pained expression and got to the point."Conan, the reason I refused to take you as my apprentice that day was that I couldn't bear to see you sent to the battlefield to die. Your father and I were good friends. I still can't get over his deat
When asked who his master was, Conan looked at Jocelyn. Jocelyn was also looking at him, smiling. But he just stared at her without saying a word.Was the boy afraid she would refuse? To encourage him, Jocelyn took the initiative."Go ahead and say it, young man," she said. "You've made such a great contribution. No matter who it is, they would be willing to take you as their disciple."For the onyxite mine, she could reluctantly accept him as her disciple. She could always find an opportunity to get rid of him later.Conan nodded at her, as if he had caught her hint.Then, he opened his mouth and said, "My master is Henry, also known as Shadow Phantom."The moment those words fell, the hall went dead silent.Jocelyn stood frozen, feeling as if the blood in her veins had turned to ice.'Henry? Jane?'That had to be a lie.Hadn't Jane been in the forbidden palace all this time? When did she take Conan as her disciple? This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Conan should have be
Hearing that someone was offering onyxite, George looked at Jocelyn.Jocelyn instinctively responded, "Your Majesty, the people at the Armory Bureau all say that onyxite has long been mined out. It's impossible."George had no patience to listen further and directly summoned the young man into the hall.A trace of gloom flickered in Jocelyn's eyes. She would see for herself whether this onyxite was real or not.Moments later, the young man was led inside.The moment she saw him, Jocelyn's expression changed abruptly in shock. Why was it Conan?Conan was also surprised to see Jocelyn here. However, Henry's instructions took priority. He respectfully bowed before the king."Your Majesty, I, Conan Carter, have come to present to you this onyxite."George summoned the people from the Armory Bureau to the palace, instructing them to examine whether the onyxite in the young man's possession was genuine.After thorough verification, the conclusion was unanimous."Your Majesty, this
Onyxite was an impossible find, yet now it was before Jane's very eyes."This is onyxite. How did you get it?" she asked immediately.Conan looked intrigued. "Master, do you know about onyxite too?" Three years ago, when I first met Commander Morris, I heard her discussing onyxite with my father. She seemed quite fond of it. She even took notes on it in her books."I have a good memory, so I remembered it."My hometown, Lime Valley, is surrounded by mountains. In my free time, I searched everywhere. A year ago, I finally found onyxite. That's why I chose it as my offering to Commander Morris for when I became her apprentice. But that was before she rejected me."Three years ago, Jane had already wanted to develop a new type of rifle. At the time, she had determined that the key was in insulation. The best material for insulation was none other than the black iron refined from onyxite.Who would have thought a child would overhear and, by pure chance, actually find it for her?Ja