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

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great favor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" Lin Feng knelt on one knee, his voice resounding.

As for the Third Prince... the Emperor only briefly mentioned the letter addressed to "Your Highness the Third Prince" and did not delve into it, clearly not wanting to broaden the scope of the attack for the time being, but the seed of this suspicion had already been sown.

"Dismiss the court!" The high-pitched voice of the eunuch in charge of ceremonies rang out.

The officials bowed and watched the emperor rise and leave, then, as if granted a pardon, they all withdrew from the hall. Every gaze directed at Lin Feng was filled with awe, apprehension, and even fear.

Under the watchful eyes of countless complex gazes, Lin Feng walked steadily out of the Qian Yuan Hall.

"Grand Commander, please wait." A gentle voice sounded from behind. It was Prime Minister Li.

"Prime Minister." Lin Feng turned and bowed.

Li Xiang walked to his side and walked alongside him, whispering, "Swift and decisive, clean and efficient. Your Majesty is very pleased today."

"It's all thanks to His Majesty's trust and the Prime Minister's guidance," Lin Feng said humbly.

"Zhou Wenyuan has fallen, but there will be no shortage of criticism in the court. As for the Third Prince... I'm afraid he won't let this go easily." Prime Minister Li reminded, "And there's also the 'Grey Falcon' of 'Crimson Abyss,' who is still at large. The Grand Commander must be careful."

"I understand. This case is not yet closed, and we must investigate all possible masterminds behind it to the end," Lin Feng said in a deep voice.

Li Xiang nodded, his eyes showing approval. He said no more, patted Lin Feng on the shoulder, and turned to leave.

The downfall of the Zhou family shocked the government and the public, and the aftershocks lingered for a long time.

The operation to capture "Grey Falcon" and Liu Mang of the Black Tiger Gang did not go smoothly, as the other party disappeared without a trace.

Rumors have it that the Third Prince has recently been secluded in his study, cultivating his character and paying no attention to court affairs, but his advisors seem to be visiting him more frequently.

During a family banquet in the inner palace, Consort Liu "unintentionally" mentioned that "the power of border generals is not a blessing for the country," and "lamented" that "the capital city nowadays cannot tolerate even the slightest mistake," her words filled with resentment.

Lin Feng secretly intensified his investigation through the channels controlled by Bai Xiaohe and Chen Heng.

"Commander, this is General Lei's latest secret report from the Northern Border." Bai Xiaohe presented a wax pill.

Lin Feng crushed the letter and read it aloud. Lei Bao reported in the letter that after the defeat at the Greywater River, the internal integration of the Northern Desert Royal Court seemed to be accelerating, showing a trend towards forming a closer alliance. The remnants of the Crimson Feather Tribe might be acquiring armor, intelligence, and even… recruiting manpower from the Central Plains. As for the former troops of the Lin King, after appearing several times in the border mountains of Longxi, they disappeared again, but Lei Bao judged that they had not gone far.

"Furthermore," Bai Xiaohe added, "Han Lie's 'Night Owl' team, while tracking the remnants of the Crimson Feather Army, discovered that they still seem to be paying attention to the direction of the Dragon-Slaying Cliff in Fulong Ridge. Although the entrance to the 'Dragonfall Valley' has been destroyed and the ritual has been interrupted, they do not seem to have given up and often appear in the vicinity, as if they are looking for something or waiting for something."

Lin Feng frowned slightly. Fulong Ridge, the Valley of Dragon's Fall… that place gave him a very bad feeling. Although the sacred artifact was destroyed and the rituals were interrupted, the obsession that the "Crimson Abyss" and the Crimson Feather Clan had with that place was clearly beyond ordinary. It seemed extremely abnormal.

"Are there still no leads in the capital?"

"Not for now," Bai Xiaohe said. "In addition, our people have discovered that another unknown force seems to be secretly investigating this case. They are acting very discreetly, unlike government officials or ordinary martial arts forces."

"Another force?" Lin Feng's eyes narrowed. Who could it be?

"It's impossible to determine at the moment. But judging from their style of operation and the subtle traces they left behind, it seems... somewhat similar to an ancient organization in the martial arts world known for its intelligence and assassinations called 'Wind and Rain Pavilion,' but we can't be sure," Bai Xiaohe said.

"Wind and Rain Pavilion?" Lin Feng noted down the name. He didn't know much about the martial arts world, but he seemed to have heard Shen Mingxuan mention the name "Wind and Rain Pavilion" before. It was an extremely mysterious organization that was both righteous and evil, known as "Wind and Rain knows everything under heaven," but it charged extremely high fees and did things by any means necessary.

"Keep an eye on things. But don't make any contact with them unintentionally, to avoid any complications," Lin Feng said.

Just then, the steward's voice came from outside the study: "Master, someone from the palace has arrived. It's Eunuch Su from the Empress Dowager's side. He says it's an imperial edict from the Empress Dowager, requesting that you come to the palace."

The Empress Dowager summoned them? Lin Feng and Bai Xiaohe exchanged a glance. The Empress Dowager rarely interfered in the affairs of the court; this sudden summons must have a reason.

"Understood, please wait a moment, Eunuch Su. I will come after I change my clothes," Lin Feng replied.

"Yes."

The carriage entered the imperial city, passed through numerous palaces, and arrived at the Cining Palace, where the Empress Dowager resided.

The Empress Dowager received Lin Feng in a small Buddhist shrine in the rear hall. She was dressed in casual clothes, holding a string of Buddhist prayer beads, and was chanting sutras with her eyes closed.

"Your subject Lin Feng pays respects to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. May Your Majesty live a thousand years!" Lin Feng bowed in accordance with proper etiquette.

"Grand Commander Lin, please rise and take a seat." The Empress Dowager's voice was gentle as she gestured to the embroidered stool beside her.

"Thank you, Empress Dowager." Lin Feng stood up, but did not actually sit down. Instead, he stood respectfully with his hands at his sides.

The Empress Dowager scrutinized him, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes—admiration, caution, and a barely perceptible worry. "Grand Commander Lin, the great victory in the north and the cracking of the assassination plot have rendered a great service to the court. You have worked hard."

"This is my duty, and I dare not claim credit," Lin Feng said modestly.

"To have done this much within one's duty is already quite an achievement." The Empress Dowager gently twirled her prayer beads. "Although I live deep within the palace, I have heard some things about the outside world. His Majesty has already made a divine decision regarding the Zhou family's affairs, and I shouldn't say more. However..."

She paused, her tone still gentle, yet carrying an invisible pressure: "The court is like a boat; it needs balance to sail steadily and far. His Majesty is young and ambitious, which is a good thing. But as his ministers, we must constantly advise the monarch to be benevolent and prioritize the stability of the court. What do you say, Grand Commandant Lin?"

These words were veiled in barbs. On the surface, they were discussing "balance" and "benevolence," but in reality, they were a warning to Lin Feng, implying that his actions were too forceful and had disrupted the balance between civil and military officials in the court.

Lin Feng understood that the Empress Dowager was representing the opinions of some nobles, civil officials, and even the harem in order to "admonish" or "warn" him.

His expression remained unchanged as he bowed and said, "I have kept Your Majesty's teachings firmly in mind. As for maintaining balance in the court and the way to be lenient, Your Majesty and the ministers will have their own clear judgments. I only know to obey Your Majesty's orders and follow the law of the land."

He passed the buck back to the emperor and his ministers, emphasizing that he was merely "following the emperor's orders" and "adhering to the laws of the land."

The Empress Dowager gave Lin Feng a deep look, knowing that he was a very opinionated person who was also very difficult to sway by words. She sighed inwardly, thinking that this young man was indeed a dragon among men.

"Very well, it's good that you think this way." The Empress Dowager said no more, changing the subject, "I've heard that you already have a wife and children at home. Are they doing well in the northern border?"