Liu Shan Men Divided in Three - Caught Red-Handed

　　Jin w.a.n.gsun's whereabouts were unknown; however, his family slave, A-Hu, offered Golden Crow Moon Eater to the imperial court, but the Emperor gave it back to him as a reward. That marked the end of the incident.

　　A-Hu then took the sabre back to Gold and Silver Sect with the imperial court backing him. Gold and Silver Sect's disaster had only just begun.

　　After the incident, I locked myself in the room for utility room, because Su Xiao stayed in my room for two entire days, refusing to step outside.

　　There were lots of things about the incident that I felt were strangely connected. The contrivance commenced the moment Jin w.a.n.gsun set foot in the capital. Jingan ensnared Jin w.a.n.gsun, Night Fortress, Gold and Silver Sect, His Majesty and… me in her convoluted trap.

　　From beginning to end, Jingan only fanned the flames - the flames being Jin w.a.n.gsun - leading to him making arrogant decisions that ultimately led to his own demise. She didn't have a hand in any other part of the scheme. We all danced in the palm of her hand. A-Hu was her ally from the very beginning. For all we knew, she could've led Huo Qing'er by the nose, too. She played the imperial court and the Seven Champion White Princes like a fiddle without any cost to herself. As a tactician, she was scary skilled. What bemused me more than anything was how she benefited from the results. She concocted one ma.s.sive plan, but her goal was shrouded in mystery to me. I couldn't fathom how Jin w.a.n.gsun's downfall benefitted her.

　　I spent two days deliberating and deliberating. On the first day, I thought about Jin w.a.n.gsun, who probably died tragically… which rendered me melancholic. On day two, I recalled the lovely smile Jingan left me with when she departed… which rendered me disappointed and heartbroken. On day three… Dongpo Restaurant had their end of year half-price sale, which rendered me hungry.

　　There was no compelling reason for me to not forsake the sorrow and thinking to step outside and enter the ultimate battle. I recalled my aim in life when I wolfed down a succulent pork shoulder at the taste-testing zone outside. My goal was to kick back and relax for the rest of my life. Accordingly, it was in my best interest to keep my distance from Jingan, the Seven Champion White Princes, North, East, South, West and everything in between. I could step on their tails another day, but for the meantime, I needed to get out of the crossfires.

　　I planned to enjoy my life of retirement to its fullest for the day. I needed to make a trip to Eight Deities Tavern a bit later for a special event.

　　After being promoted to Seventh Rank Warrior, I kept buying makeup products; I bought more than women. Sometimes, I used my salary to give myself some love.

　　As I packed, I occasionally glanced up to the roof; I couldn't stop thinking about the imperial family's beauty. I wondered how she was doing.

　　As for my marriage to Princess Hongzhuang, it went to the bin, as Jin w.a.n.gsun and I both failed the third test, resulting in a disqualification for both of us. The matter was swept under the rug thanks to Jin w.a.n.gsun's wild ideas. I was convinced the Emperor did it on purpose. He wouldn't marry his Princess to someone like me. Not that I was complaining that he called it off.