Too many female prisoners, a special forces soldier transmigrates and marries wildly.

"That old fellow, surnamed Hu, was a famous surgeon in the north in his early years, and he was also skilled in using poison. Later, he disappeared for some unknown reason. When he reappeared, he opened this Jishantang in the capital. On the surface, he practiced medicine to help people, but in secret... he treated some 'difficult and complicated diseases' for some people who couldn't be seen in the light."

Princess Pingyang was clearly very familiar with the inside story. "His backer, or rather, one of his masters, is none other than Uncle Lin. But going deeper... he also serves 'Chiyuan'. He is a spy planted by 'Chiyuan' in the capital, responsible for communication, transmitting messages, and occasionally handling some 'dirty work'."

As expected! It matches Lin Feng's prediction.

"Chi Yuan..." Lin Feng slowly uttered these two words, "Your Highness seems to know a great deal about this?"

Princess Pingyang did not answer directly, but instead asked, "General, you must have seen their 'token' at Ci'en Temple, and at Jishan Hall today, right? That ghost-head token."

"Not bad." Lin Feng readily admitted, taking the token from his pocket and placing it on the table.

Princess Pingyang's gaze fell upon the token, a complex look flashing in her eyes—a mixture of apprehension and disgust. "The 'Crimson Abyss'...this is a very ancient and mysterious lineage. They are not, in the conventional sense, martial arts sects or tribes; they are more like...guardians, or rather, usurpers. According to scattered ancient texts and palace archives, they have guarded the secret of a place in the North known as the 'Valley of Dragonfall' for generations, believing that it holds the power to change the world and reverse destiny. They rarely venture into the outside world, but maintain close ties with some ancient tribes in the North, such as the Crimson Feather Tribe, and could even be considered their behind-the-scenes manipulators."

"Uncle Lin somehow got involved with 'Crimson Abyss,' or rather, was chosen by 'Crimson Abyss,'" Princess Pingyang continued. "'Crimson Abyss' seems to want to use Uncle Lin's power and connections to maneuver within the court and among the people, to acquire certain resources or gather certain information. Uncle Lin, on the other hand, covets the secrets and potential power that 'Crimson Abyss' possesses about 'Dragonfall Valley,' and attempts to use it... to realize his greater ambitions."

"Greater ambitions?" Lin Feng sneered, "To conquer the world?"

"Perhaps," Princess Pingyang said noncommittally. "Father is not entirely unaware of this, but 'Chiyuan' operates in secrecy, and its roots are deep in the North, beyond its reach. Uncle Lin's influence in the court is deeply entrenched, and without irrefutable evidence, Father cannot easily touch him. So..." She looked at Lin Feng, her eyes gleaming, "Father needs a knife, a knife sharp enough, decisive enough, and... 'unaware' enough, to sever Uncle Lin's connection with 'Chiyuan,' or at least, to disrupt their plans and force them to reveal their weaknesses."

"Therefore, His Majesty transferred me to the capital, bestowed upon me the Imperial Sword, and tacitly approved and even encouraged my contact with His Highness..." Lin Feng understood that he was not only a tool to check Prince Lin, but also a vanguard used by the Emperor to test and even attack the hidden chess piece "Red Abyss".

"General, you are a wise man," Princess Pingyang said. "My father has his imperial strategies, and I... also have things I want to protect. This world, this land, cannot be destroyed by a group of people who pretend to be gods and spirits and try to seize forbidden power. Uncle Lin's collusion with 'Red Abyss' is no small matter. If they succeed, the northern border will be in chaos, and it may even bring disaster to the whole country. General, you have guarded the northern border for many years and should know better than I how hard-won peace is on the frontier."

Lin Feng remained silent for a moment, his fingers lightly tapping the cold token. "Your Highness came so late at night to reveal these secrets. What do you want me to do? Continue to be this blade, to investigate 'Crimson Abyss' and deal with Prince Lin?"

"Yes and no." Princess Pingyang stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the deep night outside. "The news of Jishan Hall being raided and Doctor Hu's death has probably already reached Uncle Lin and 'Chiyuan' by now. They will surely be furious and will definitely take action. General, you are now a thorn in their side. Next, when they deal with you, it will probably not be an assassination attempt like the one by 'Shadow Owl'."

She turned around, her gaze fixed intently on Lin Feng: "I've come here for two reasons. First, to inform you of these inside stories, so you know who our real adversary is. Second... I wish to cooperate with you, General."

"cooperate?"

"Indeed. Father Emperor's use of you as a tool is a calculated move. My cooperation with you is mutually beneficial." Princess Pingyang's tone was firm. "I have connections and intelligence channels within the palace and the court, which can assist you, help you avoid open and covert attacks, and investigate the movements of 'Chi Yuan' and Uncle Lin. As for you, General, you hold military power in the Northern Border, are close to 'Chi Yuan's' stronghold, and act decisively, making you the perfect choice to deal with them. Together, we can sever Uncle Lin's support, uproot 'Chi Yuan's' foundation, and at the very least, completely thwart their schemes in the capital and the Northern Border!"

"What does Your Highness desire?" Lin Feng asked directly.

"What I want is a stable empire, peace of mind for my father, and for this world... not to be disrupted by those evil forces and ambitious people." Princess Pingyang's voice carried a heaviness and resolve beyond her years. "If possible, I also want to know what is hidden in the 'Valley of Dragonfall' that makes 'Crimson Abyss' so obsessed and Uncle Lin so mad. This secret cannot remain solely in their hands."

Lin Feng looked at the young princess before him and saw in her eyes a sense of responsibility and sharpness that transcended court intrigue. She and the emperor shared some goals, but they didn't seem entirely aligned. The emperor cared more about the balance of power, while this princess seemed to value a certain "order" and "truth."

"Cooperation is possible," Lin Feng said slowly, "but how? Your Highness lives deep within the palace; how can messages be relayed? And how can I gain Your Highness's trust?"

"That's simple." Princess Pingyang took out a small, smooth, white jade pendant from her sleeve. The pendant was intricately carved with a lotus scroll pattern, and had a tiny, almost invisible hole in the center. "This is the 'Listening to the Wind Pendant,' an old designation of the Inner Guard. Someone I have at my side will use the other half of the pendant to contact the General. As for message transmission, a safe channel can be established with Abbess Jing'an at Ci'en Temple. She's an old friend of mine and absolutely trustworthy. Furthermore…"

She returned to her desk, dipped her finger in the cold tea, and quickly wrote an address on the table. "Ghost Market, the third fork in the road after 'Nameless Pawnshop,' at the stone chamber at the end. The appointment is in three days. General, you may go, but be careful. Do not completely trust 'Ghost Hand.' He may know more about 'Crimson Abyss,' but he may also be another eye 'Crimson Abyss' has placed in the capital. When dealing with him, you must have a backup plan."

After she finished writing, she gently wiped away the water stains with her sleeve.