Chapter 11 - 20

Murong Wei's mind raced, recalling her past experiences fighting the tiger. She dodged its claws, aiming for its weakest point—its eyes—from its back. As she pondered, she gritted her teeth, gathering her strength, and suddenly vanished into thin air.

She didn't know light-footed kung fu, but she was well-versed in Japanese ninjutsu, taught to her personally by her grandfather.

Murong Wei's sudden disappearance startled the leopard, which roared several times before snapping its jaws and biting down on the baby's swaddling clothes!Full novel: Greedy Baby: Abandoned Wife Mother Becomes a Concubine — read the rest free on N​o⁠v​e⁠l​C⁠o​d⁠e​x⁠.​o⁠r​g⁠

In that instant, Murong Wei appeared on its back, blood streaming from her lips, her hands gripping its ears tightly to keep herself steady.

However, the leopard wouldn't let go of the baby's swaddling clothes, angrily ramming its body against the wall, knocking Murong Wei off.

"Give me back my child!" Murong Wei roared, her voice sharp and bloody.

The leopard froze, its claws poised to strike her halting in mid-air, seemingly stunned by her roar. In the blink of an eye, it grabbed the doll, turned, and fled, easily leaping over the gap in the passageway and darting forward.

Murong Wei, leaning against the wall, gritted her teeth and struggled to her feet. She felt utterly weak, her breathing labored. As soon as she stood still, waves of dizziness washed over her, and her vision blurred. Her current physical condition didn't allow her to use ninjutsu; continuing like this would surely damage her heart.

However, she couldn't care less. The more critical the situation, the calmer she became.

And this woman, when calm, was utterly inhuman.

She suddenly bent down, placing her hands on the ground, seemingly for leverage!

Yes, she was indeed using leverage. Suddenly! She darted forward like an arrow, running, gritting her teeth, her eyes narrowed, running fiercely.

Suddenly, she leaped into the air, a perfect arc, clearing the gap. However, unlike her previous maneuvers, she didn't land silently or land perfectly. She crashed heavily to the ground, the sound echoing loudly.

Her long hair was disheveled, falling in front of her eyes, obscuring them, but her eyes held a cold, wicked glint. That was the kind of person she was; the harder she fell, the less she gave up.

Without pausing, she landed on her hands again, her body shooting out like an arrow once more. The passageway was muddy, and with her flashlight held between her teeth, she had already spotted the leopard's footprints!

She chased relentlessly, running until the beam focused on a wall ahead, where she finally stopped.

There was no path ahead, no footprints on the ground. Where had the leopard gone? Why hadn't she heard the child's voice? What happened to him?

Even the usually strong Murong Wei's eyes instantly filled with tears.

She didn't give up, rushing forward to pound and knock on the wall, trying to find some mechanism. However, after searching for a long time, including both sides of the wall, she still couldn't find anything.

"Damn it!" she cursed, her hands, already covered in blood, slamming heavily against the wall.

Just as her hands struck down, a loud rumble came from nowhere!

What was going on?!

Murong Wei immediately turned around and saw a crack slowly opening in the mud, growing wider and wider—it was also a fault line mechanism. Standing beside the fault line, she shone her flashlight down without hesitation. It wasn't deep below; it was also a passageway, with several leopard claw marks clearly visible!

Without thinking, she leaped down. Just as she landed, she caught a glimpse of a figure disappearing around the corner.

"Who goes there!" Murong Wei shouted, giving chase. How could an ordinary leopard be in a tomb? It had to be a domesticated animal!

The man was incredibly fast, forcing her to keep running. She could vaguely make out his back; he was a tall, slender man in white, with jet-black hair casually tied back with a matching black jade hairpin.

"Who are you? Where are you taking me? That leopard is yours, isn't it? Where's my child?" Murong Wei demanded loudly. She could tell this man was leading the way.

The man didn't answer, nor did he turn around. He moved with lightning speed, his pace increasing rapidly.

"Who are you? What kind of man acts like this, cowering and afraid to show his face?" Murong Wei challenged him.

But her provocation had no effect.

"Wait a minute, please? I can't run anymore, please stop for a second," Murong Wei pleaded. "Give me back my child, please! The baby was just born, he can't be separated from his mother!"

But he wouldn't listen, continuing to run ahead, his steps seemingly light, but his speed was frantic.

Murong Wei conserved her energy, remaining silent, and quickened her pace to follow him through the passageway, passing through stone doors and chambers piled high with countless jewels. Murong Wei had no time to notice the sheer size of this seemingly ordinary tomb; she was almost speechless, her already pale face now completely drained of color, blood trickling from her lips, her sharp eyes beginning to glaze over.

Yet she kept running, step by step, even as her speed slowed, even as the man grew further and further away, she didn't stop.

Finally, a bright and warm light shone ahead. Before Murong Wei could take another step, she collapsed, utterly exhausted. She had reached her limit.

"Give the child back...give him back to me...he's too young...I can't..." She wasn't pretending; she collapsed, exhausted, her eyes barely open, tears slowly streaming from the corners of her eyes.

The child was too young. His real mother had long since abandoned him, and she had brought him into this world with such difficulty; she was his mother, and she had to protect him wholeheartedly, to watch him grow up safely.

"The child...give the child..." she murmured, so exhausted that her fingers couldn't move, and finally, she completely fainted.

Less than a hundred steps ahead of her was another exit of the tomb.

The sunlight outside was dazzling; a man in white sat languidly on the stone steps, playing with a jade dagger, its surface entirely green. Beside him were two small golden leopards, only a month old, their steps unsteady.

A gentle maidservant stood beside him, holding an umbrella to shield him from the sun. Her name was Bao'er, his personal maid.

"Lord Wushang, that woman has fainted. What should we do now?" Bao'er asked in a low voice.

Bai Wushang continued to tease the little leopard, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He smiled and said, "None of you found the gold, but she did. She's quite capable. Who is she?"

They had spent a lot of effort figuring out the structure of the tomb, even opening a secret passage at the entrance leading to another exit.

This was the tomb of the Duke of Ning. The Prime Minister Ning thought that by feigning frugality and not even employing tomb guardians, he could escape tomb robbers. He was delusional. Others might not know, but he, the lord of the Vast City, certainly knew how many treasures were buried in this tomb.

The Vast City was located in the east of the Han Kingdom. It was an almost empty city. The lord's job was to collect all kinds of treasures from around the world and store them in the Vast City for the king.

As he spoke, he continued to tease the little leopard, using a jade dagger to pry open its mouth with great interest. The little leopard seemed to really like the dagger, holding onto it tightly. It was still too small, without teeth yet.

His appearance wasn't exceptionally handsome; he didn't possess the delicate, slender beauty of an immortal, nor the cold, ruthless demeanor. However, his features were strikingly handsome, with sculpted lines and a pair of long, captivating eyes. A hint of languid playfulness lurked within them, making him resemble a carefree rogue. And on the lower right side of these long, captivating eyes hung a beauty mark, truly like a teardrop, adding a touch of subtle sorrow to their gaze.

Leopards are incredibly ferocious beasts, even cubs are extremely dangerous, yet he showed no wariness whatsoever. He pressed the jade dagger against the little leopard's neck, enraging the cub, which bared its teeth and claws. He laughed loudly, unrestrained and carefree.

Bai Wushang sat casually on the stone steps, amusedly playing with the two little leopards. Among all the tomb raiders in the world, he was probably the only one who could sit so nonchalantly at the entrance of a tomb.

Bao'er held a paper umbrella in one hand and waved a bamboo fan in the other, looking helpless. If they didn't find the golden leopard today, the woman was probably doomed.

"Master, that woman looks like she just gave birth; she's covered in wounds. She must have been chased. Perhaps we should apply medicine to her wounds first?" Bao'er asked tentatively.

"Sure!" Bai Wushang replied casually, his attention entirely on the little leopards.

Bao'er was startled and was about to speak when a green figure suddenly appeared out of thin air. It was a woman in green, with a striking and delicate appearance—this was Bai Wushang's other personal maid, Yinling.

She rushed forward anxiously, saying, "Master, we've found the Golden Leopard! That beast is nursing the child, not letting anyone near, and it's not moving. It's not looking for gold anymore."

This wasn't just any Golden Leopard; Master Wushang always called it the Golden Leopard because it could smell gold. Her master was greedy, very greedy in a very particular way, only liking gold and looking down on silver.

"Give the child back to her, send her away. If you have the ability to give birth, you should have the ability to raise it," Bai Wushang said with a smile, as if joking, his words seemingly nonsensical and illogical, as if he knew the woman who had mistakenly entered the tomb.

Both maids were suspicious. Abao asked curiously, "Master, do you know that girl?" Given her master's womanizing nature, it wasn't strange that he knew many girls; the key was that this girl had given birth and was being chased—that was truly unusual.

"A married woman? How could I possibly know her? Get her out of here immediately!" Bai Wushang waved his hand, yawning impatiently, and casually tossed the jade dagger in his hand aside.

Abao and Yinling scrambled to catch the dagger, excitedly saying, "Thank you, Master! We'll definitely do this job well!"

Jin Baozi was most afraid of this jade dagger; with it, things would be much easier.

"Wait!" Suddenly, Bai Wushang called out to them.

Abao and Yinling turned around simultaneously, both looking suspicious. They had finished explaining everything; shouldn't the master be leaving? He was busy.

"Take her to a safe place, and save her and the child's lives," Bai Wushang instructed. As he spoke, he lazily stood up, stroking his smooth chin and sighing, "It's still a life, after all. Women should be treated with care." He then lightly fanned himself with his folding fan and slowly walked down the stone steps.

His white-clad figure, swaying gently with a folding fan, was like a celestial being appearing in the forest, captivating countless women.

The two maids, already immune to his presence, exchanged bewildered glances. When had their master ever shown such tenderness and compassion? When had he ever cared about human life?

"Who is that woman?" Bao'er asked.

"I don't know. She suddenly barged in; we only discovered her this morning," Yinling replied.

"And who is that child?"

"Do you suspect anything?"

"It's too terrifying; I wouldn't dare."

"Let's think about where to send them!" "

She must have escaped over the mountains. Let's send her down this mountain."

"The people who want to kill her are definitely waiting down there. They're so stupid."

"Then what should we do?"

"Go north, cross a few mountains, and the northernmost prefecture of Han Kingdom, Beicheng, lies below the cliff on the north side."

"So far away..."

The two split up. Yinling took the jade dagger to find Jin Baozi, while Bao'er treated the wounds of the unconscious Murong Wei.

The golden leopard had long since moved. She searched for a long time before finally finding it in a right side chamber of the tomb. Yinling screamed as soon as she entered.

The side chamber was filled with gold. The child, already fed, lay peacefully asleep on the gold, seemingly unafraid of the golden leopard. The golden leopard, which had been lazily licking its paws

, immediately sprang to attention upon seeing the maid, leaping swiftly onto the pile of gold and snatching the baby. Yinling finally managed to tear her eyes away from the pile of gold, then blocked the doorway. She slowly drew her jade dagger, casually waving it, and the golden leopard's jaws loosened, the child falling to the ground.

"Beast!" Yinling cursed, catching the child with a swift movement, her agility remarkable.

The golden leopard stared at the jade dagger in her hand, then obediently lay down on the ground, its paws covering its head in a gesture of surrender, showing none of its usual ferocity—it was utterly adorable and comical. It was

always like this; the moment it saw this jade dagger, it became completely docile, not daring to move an inch. Heaven knows what Lord Wushang had done to it with that dagger.

Yinling held the still-sleeping child, examining him closely with surprise. Newborn babies were indeed rarely good-looking; his skin was wrinkled and red. He slept soundly after eating, not even waking when the maid held him.

This child was perfectly fine, so why did he cry so much after being carried off by a leopard?

Looking at the child, Yinling felt his features were somewhat familiar. A chill ran through her, but she didn't dare think too much about it and hurried away to meet Bao'er at the tomb entrance.

Bao'er was carrying a woman on her back, covered in blood, her hair disheveled, her clothes tattered, her head drooping, making her features unclear, only her right cheek was faintly visible, mostly burned away. It was Murong Wei, who had fallen into a coma.

"Oh dear, how did she get so badly injured?" Yinling said, taking off her own outer robe to drape it over the woman.

"Her pulse is very weak, and her lower body is covered in blood. I gave her some Jade Dew Pills, but I don't know how long she can hold on. We should get her out of here quickly." Bao'er said anxiously.

"Should we have a doctor examine her first?" Yinling whispered.

“We need to get them out of here first before finding a doctor. This isn’t a place to stay long. Let’s find a reliable person to take them to the foot of Beicheng Mountain,” Bao’er said earnestly.

“What about the baby? The baby needs to be breastfed. If she’s unconscious for ten days or half a month, won’t the baby starve to death?” Yinling asked . The two sisters were kind-hearted.

“How about this, I’ll take them there, and let Jin Baozi lead the way. He knows the mountain paths well. You find some people to take the gold,” Bao’er said seriously.

“You mean… this leopard… to breastfeed?” Yinling looked incredulous.

“Our master wants them to be taken away quickly, but also wants to ensure their lives and safety. We have to take them ourselves. Heaven knows what our master is up to,” Bao’er said helplessly.

“Sister Bao, this baby… looks very familiar!” Yinling carefully examined the sleeping baby and said timidly.

“Don’t talk nonsense. That’s how it’s done,” Bao’er said seriously, frowning.

Yinling hurriedly handed the jade dagger to Bao'er, but couldn't help glancing at the child again...

...

Five years later…

It was the annual temple fair in Beicheng. The streets and alleys of the county town were packed with people, bustling and lively. The main street was especially crowded, with people swarming around like rain, all trying to squeeze into the City God Temple.

On the second floor of Yixianju, the most famous teahouse in Beicheng, a woman sat languidly by the railing. She wore an elegant light yellow dress, and her long, dark hair was casually tied up with a matching hairpin. A half-gold mask covered half of her face, obscuring her true features. The left half of her face, however, was beautiful and delicate. She leaned back, crossed her legs, and raised an eyebrow at the slender figure in the crowd below. A hint of coldness lingered in her sharp eyes. In her hand, she toyed with a purse woven from gold thread. Gold thread was not something ordinary people could possess.

She watched for a long time, then lazily shifted her posture, picked up a cup of tea, took a sip, and rested her chin on her hand, her cold eyes growing increasingly playful.

In the crowded street, a slender figure was moving against the flow of people.

He wore a blue robe, head down, hands behind his back, walking slowly and leisurely, completely ignoring the oncoming legs that forced others to give way.

Yes, legs; if he looked up, he would see nothing but legs.

He was too small, not even as long as some people's legs.

He was five years old, nicknamed Grey Wolf, his real name was Night Nameless. His mother said he was born at night and therefore took the surname Night. Nameless was because his mother couldn't think of a satisfactory name. She had considered Chu Yin, Tang Ying, Yu Xie, Ling Che, Ning Luo, Ruo Li, but felt they didn't suit his temperament. So she simply called him Nameless for now, and would let his father worry about it later.

As for Grey Wolf, it was because his mother often sang him that nursery rhyme.

He was clever from a young age, able to steal at three and rob at five, all thanks to his mother. He often wondered who his father was, daring to marry such a strong woman as his mother. But her strength wasn't the key; the key was her love of money and extreme stinginess.

His mother said he was growing too fast, so his clothes had to be made a little bigger to avoid waste. Thus, he wore the same loose-fitting blue robe from age three to five. If he walked too fast, he'd surely trip over the hem of his robe and fall flat on his face. He always walked with a leisurely, slender gait, not to appear mature, but simply because his clothes were too big.

Suddenly, the pair of thick, strong legs in front of him stopped moving.

He slowly raised his head, only to see a burly man with a thick beard blocking his path. A large earring adorned his left ear—a mark of slavery. Male slaves were typically warriors and guards; the more robust and muscular they were, the higher their price. Female slaves were called "slave consorts," a rank lower than concubines but slightly higher than maids, their price determined by their appearance.

On this continent, only officials and wealthy merchants could afford slaves. He couldn't recall seeing this man before. The man's large, bell-like eyes stared at him silently.

He smiled calmly, his hands still behind his back, and stepped to the right, making way. He must have mistaken him for someone else.

But then, an arm thicker than his own blocked his way.

He smiled again, slowly turning around, only to find another pair of incredibly thick thighs before him. He sighed

helplessly, like an old man who had weathered many storms of life, shaking his head in resignation. He turned to the left, but there, too, thighs blocked his path.

He stopped moving. There must be others behind him—four burly slave men. Just looking at their thighs, one could tell their high status. A glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes, and he obediently raised his head to look at the first burly man who appeared.

The burly man remained cold and silent, grabbing his collar, hoisting him onto his shoulder, and turning to leave.

With his head tilted back, he finally noticed the crowd on the entire street and suddenly felt much better.

He didn't struggle, letting the burly man carry him into the Leisure Residence. Slaves were the lowest class on this continent, yet a symbol of the richest. Everyone was used to their tyranny, and he didn't expect anyone to help him.

Upstairs, he saw a woman sitting in the distance and finally remembered where he had stolen three priceless paintings the night before, inadvertently revealing his face.

The burly man placed him at the entrance of the stairwell and said gruffly, "My master wants to see you. Go over."

He steadied himself by the man's hand, his small hands almost pinching the man's flesh. He smiled at the four slaves waiting nearby, then slowly straightened his blue robe, put his hands behind his back like an old man, and strolled inside.

The woman looked over, a faint smile playing on her lips, utterly harmless.

Ye Wuming suddenly stopped at the entrance to the private room, twenty paces away from her, head bowed, motionless.

"Hands..." the woman said lazily.

Ye Wuming lowered his head, slowly bringing his hands from behind his back to the front, clasping them together, finally looking like a child, a child waiting to be disciplined for wrongdoing.

"Where are the things?" the woman asked, unconsciously biting her thumbnail, her languid demeanor unmatched by most.

"Sold," Ye Wuming replied, looking like an obedient child.

"How much gold did you get?" the woman asked again.

“One ingot of gold per piece,” Ye Wuming stated truthfully.

“Thirty ingots of gold per piece. You’ll have to make up the difference yourself. It must be delivered by the night after tomorrow,” the woman said, yawning and slowly closing her eyes.

“Mommy…” Ye Wuming cried out, throwing himself into his mother’s arms. His voice was even sweeter than the most famous courtesan in the North City.

“Do you know what ‘theft’ and ‘robbery’ mean?” the woman asked lazily, letting him hold her, propping her head up with one hand and slowly closing her eyes.

“Theft can be stolen, but not just theft; robbery can be robbed, but not just robbery. There is a code of honor among thieves and robbers. Corrupt officials can be stolen from, unscrupulous merchants can be robbed, the unrighteous can be stolen from, the unjust can be robbed, but…”

“Speak human language… okay?” the woman interrupted Ye Wuming lazily.

“Mommy, you actually spent money to buy slaves, selling four at once. Are you alright?” Ye Wuming changed the subject.

The woman didn't answer him, lazily getting up.

"Mommy, look at those four 'Four Heavenly Kings,' they must be expensive, right? I just pinched them, their muscles are really firm. You're not thinking of reselling them, are you?" Ye Wuming asked enthusiastically again.

The woman still didn't answer him, slowly putting on her outer robe.

Ye Wuming remained enthusiastic, looking up to meet his mother's scrutinizing gaze. He ignored it, his childlike smile brightening his face. His fair, rosy cheeks were as smooth as milk, making one want to pinch them. He continued, "Mommy, actually, keeping them is fine. It's such a big house with just the two of us and Aunt Li, no guards, it's kind of unsafe."

"Ye'er, speak like a human," the woman reminded him with a smile, full of patience.

Ye Wuming finally lowered his head completely, saying each word seriously, "No matter the reason, Mother's things cannot be stolen, cannot be robbed, and cannot be sold!"

He stepped aside, knowing that whenever his mother's bright eyes narrowed into a straight line with a smile, that meant she had reached her bottom line.

"Either go to the secret room to reflect on your actions, or give me thirty times the difference. It's up to you." The woman said, adjusting her long robe, and gracefully left the private room.

It was only early autumn, yet the northern city was already chilly…

Five years had passed in the blink of an eye. She was now Murong Wei from back then. She had been unconscious for a whole month. When she awoke, she found herself in the northernmost prefecture of the Han Kingdom, rescued by a widowed old woman, Aunt Li, who had gone into the mountains to gather herbs. Half of her face was disfigured.

She hadn't even had a chance to clearly see what Murong Zi looked like.

For the past five years, to avoid being searched by the Murong family, she had lived a low-key life, not even daring to trust her savior.

…

Murong Wei left the inn and headed towards "Bao'an Hall," a well-known clinic in the northern city, which she and Aunt Li ran together.

She had spent a full year recuperating. She was proficient in both traditional Chinese and Western medicine, and Aunt Li, who made a living selling medicine and was familiar with various herbs, was able to help her recover. However, the scar on her right cheek just wouldn't heal. But she didn't care; the scar had become her lifeline. As long as she wasn't born and her precious son didn't talk nonsense, it wouldn't be easy for the Murong family to recognize her. Aunt Li only knew that she was from the Xuanyuan Imperial Capital, separated from her husband; she knew nothing else.

For four years, she raised her child and ran the clinic. She rarely saw patients herself, instead hiring several doctors.

With her abilities, a clinic wasn't much, but she was used to being low-key, and her various businesses and transactions remained largely unknown.

From afar, Murong Wei saw a long queue forming in front of the usually quiet security office, filled entirely with women of all ages. What was going on?

She entered through a side door, only to be met with a cacophony of noise. These patients completely ignored the large "Quiet" sign she had deliberately posted on the wall.

"I heard that Lord Haohan City will be going to the royal city on the fifteenth of August this year!"

"Will he pass through the North City?"

"You're dreaming! Haohan City is in the south!"

"I'm planning to form a group and lead a bunch of sisters to wait at the south gate of the royal city. I don't believe Lord Haohan City won't get out of his

sedan chair. If I can see him even once in my life, I'll be content." "That's right. I heard that this man is irresistible to both men and women. Hehe, even I, an old man, am curious about what he looks like!"

"Hehe, Lord Bai Wushang is too far away. I have some inside information. Do you want to hear it?"

"What inside information could you possibly have? Is there anyone in the world more charming than Lord Wushang? My heart belongs to him for life."

"Hmph, you can dream about Bai Rumeng all you want. I've heard that Prime Minister Ning has been in the North City these days!"

"Prime Minister Ning! Ning Ran!" Suddenly, a cry of surprise drowned out all the noise.

However, the scream abruptly stopped. The woman, Granny Xu, wearing a red flower in her hair, had her mouth covered. The person with delicate brows furrowed and said calmly, "Granny, being infatuated isn't a disease. You can leave."

Murong Wei said, releasing her hand and sitting down. Looking at the young and old women all being daughters, she couldn't help but sigh. In this fictional world, with its open-minded atmosphere, even having a child out of wedlock wasn't so terrible after all.

"Oh, Weiwei, you're finally back! We've all been waiting for you to take her pulse and prescribe medicine. The medicine you prescribed for Granny Li last time was miraculous!" Granny Xu was a regular customer and naturally recognized Murong Wei.

"Miraculous?" Murong Wei was puzzled. She couldn't recall ever prescribing medicine for Granny Li. She was usually friendly with these regular customers and never put on airs as a doctor.

She looked suspiciously at Aunt Li, who was getting medicine. Aunt Li was in her early fifties, with graying temples, but she was still energetic and healthy. Aunt Li smiled helplessly at her.

"That's right," said Aunt Xu, leaning closer and whispering, "She told me that her husband drank that medicine, and at night, well..."

With that, she practically fled. There was only one person who could prescribe this kind of medicine, and there was only one person who could impersonate her: Ye Wuming! Heaven knows how much money that brat had swindled from her again.

"Ye Wuming, come out!" Murong Wei roared, standing in front of the secret room in the backyard.

"Creak..."

The door opened suddenly, and Ye Wuming stood in front of it with his head down, hands behind his back, slightly hunched over, looking deep in thought.

"Stand up straight!" Murong Wei demanded sharply.

Ye Wuming coughed a few times, straightened his back, and looked very serious on his young face, as if he had pondered this question for a long time. He said, "Mommy, the dark room is too cold. If this continues, I'll get rheumatism sooner or later. Can you give me another month? I'll definitely offer you ninety ingots of gold with both hands."

"A month? I might as well rob it myself!" Murong Wei rolled her eyes at him and said, "Who told you to prescribe medicine for Aunt Li?"

"That...that medicine...actually, it wasn't for her." Ye Wuming said timidly, only then remembering the matter.

"Then who was it for? Go and see, there's a long line outside begging for medicine!" Murong Wei asked, puzzled.

"It was for her husband." Ye Wuming still said timidly.

"You!" Murong Wei almost fainted.

Just then, Aunt Li rushed in, her face beaming. "Weiwei, the Prefect has sent someone to invite you to his residence."

Murong Wei and Ye Wuming were both stunned. Although they were secretly stealing from and robbing officials, no matter how much they caused trouble in public, they wouldn't implicate the government.

"What for?" Murong Wei asked, frowning.

Aunt Li glanced at Ye Wuming, hesitating, unsure how to explain.

"Mother, I'll go to the secret room," Ye Wuming said, taking a large step back and slamming the door shut.

"It's about the medicine for Aunt Li. The Prefect has heard about it. The sedan chair is waiting at the back door. He wants you to go secretly and not make a sound," Aunt Li explained.

Murong Wei sighed. She had always known this place was short of aphrodisiacs, but she hadn't realized it was this bad. The Prefect himself had come knocking on their door. What kind of world was this!

"Weiwei, the emperor is far away, it's not good to offend him, let's go." Aunt Li had even prepared the medicine box and pushed Murong Wei towards the back door.

"Keep an eye on that brat, don't let him follow us." Murong Wei instructed, she knew her own child best.

"I know, go early and come back early. I've made your favorite fish maw soup for you tonight," Aunt Li said with a smile, treating the mother and son, who had no blood relation, like family.

Behind her, Murong Wei saw two ordinary sedan chairs parked to the side, with eight sedan chair bearers and a clerk.

Apart from the clerk, there was no other connection to the Prefect's residence.

"This must be Doctor Murong?" the clerk asked with a smile, his profile showing a large, hairy black mole that looked rather sleazy, making one want to stomp on him.

"Indeed," Murong Wei smiled politely.

"Doctor Murong's face..." The clerk's gaze had been fixed on Murong Wei's half-gold mask.

"Clerk, please, the Prefect must be waiting," Murong Wei said with a smile, changing the subject.

"Hehe, it's not the Prefect who's looking for you, Doctor Murong, your Bao'an Hall has run into a distinguished guest this time!" the clerk said mysteriously.

"A distinguished guest?" Murong Wei asked, unfazed.

"Let's go, you'll know when we get to the Prefect's residence." The advisor remained mysterious, personally escorting Murong Wei to her sedan chair...

...

Murong Wei knew every path and room in the prefectural governor's mansion like the back of her hand. She had even frequented the private treasuries of the various wives. Now, walking through the garden, she allowed the clerk to lead the way, swaying left and right, forward and backward, sometimes turning back. The prefect was notoriously timid and fearful of his life, and this garden was a veritable maze.

"Hehe, Doctor Murong, keep up, don't get lost. Ordinary people can't enter this garden. And watch your step; stepping on a blade of grass here is not something you can afford to pay for," the clerk said, turning back to kindly remind her.

Murong Wei nodded repeatedly, carrying her medicine chest, and hurried after him, almost stepping on the clerk's wide robe.

After a series of twists and turns, Murong Wei was finally led by the clerk to the foot of a high pavilion. The area was surrounded by waiting guards. Murong Wei immediately knew these weren't the prefectural governor's attendants; they must be high-ranking officials.

Could it be... Prime Minister Ning, Ning Ran?!

Murong Wei suddenly remembered the name she had heard in Bao'an Hall. Could it be the white-clad man she had seen in the Ningguo Duke's Tomb?

Back then, that guy knew all the passageways in the tomb like the back of his hand. She only remembered losing consciousness at the exit and waking up at the foot of the mountain in the north of the city. She had secretly investigated this matter for a long time, but found nothing, including Aunt Li who had saved her at the foot of the mountain.

The curtains on all four sides of the pavilion were drawn, so Murong Wei could not see the people inside. She only saw many maids standing on the outer perimeter. It was said that Prime Minister Ning was famous for his frugality, but seeing this scene now, she could only sigh that legends were just legends after all.

After the clerk announced her arrival, Murong Wei calmly ascended the steps. After a while, she finally reached the pavilion. There, she saw a huge marble table with a flowing stream design. For a foodie like Murong Wei, the first thing she saw was the abundance of delicacies and wines—all rare and exquisite. Her second glance fell upon the man at the head of the table. He wore a white robe and a jade crown, his face handsome, gentle, and refined.

Murong Wei bowed gracefully, her head lowered. No one had told her who she was, so she couldn't speak carelessly.

"Is this Doctor Murong of Bao'an Hall?" Ning Ran spoke first. His refined appearance was reflected in his gentle voice.

"Indeed, indeed, Murong Wei, this is Prime Minister Ning. Quickly kowtow to the Prime Minister!" The prefect beside her hurriedly reprimanded. He was a bloated, fat fellow whom Murong Wei had already found repulsive several times and didn't want to look at him again.

"This humble commoner, Murong Wei, head of Bao'an Hall, greets Prime Minister Ning!" Murong Wei bowed slightly, but did not perform the full kowtow. According to the rules of the Han Kingdom, kowtows were only performed with members of the royal family. However, even among royalty, she would not kneel unless absolutely necessary.

"No need for such formalities, please rise." Prime Minister Ning was approachable, personally helping her up without pursuing the matter.

"Thank you, Prime Minister Ning." Murong Wei's tone was calm, and she took a step back.

"Hehe, am I some kind of tiger that would devour you?" Ning Ran asked jokingly, his smile gentle.

Murong Wei was about to explain when the prefect couldn't help but remind her, "Lord Ning told you to come closer, didn't you understand? How stupid!"

"Prefect, don't frighten her. It's already remarkable that a young lady can practice medicine." Ning Ran glanced at the prefect with displeasure, sat back down, and said, "Don't be so extravagant. Remove everything inside and everyone outside. Bring a pot of green tea. I like the ginger soup from the North City, send over a pot."

Murong Wei was slightly startled. Could she have misjudged him? This Prime Minister Ning was indeed different from ordinary corrupt officials.

"Don't keep your head down. Sit down too. Physicians are respected; this is something His Majesty has always advocated." Ning Ran said gently, his temperament seemingly very good.

"Yes, thank you, sir." Murong Wei sat down without ceremony, wondering to herself, although Ning Ran was a bit frail, he shouldn't need that kind of medicine at such a young age! She was curious why these two grown men had brought this up with her.

"Doctor Murong, what brought you to medicine? Where is your husband?" Ning Ran asked.

"I am originally from Xuanyuan. I learned medicine from my father since childhood and have some knowledge of it. Several years ago, I encountered a calamity on my journey and was separated from my husband. I was found unconscious at the foot of the mountain with my child. Fortunately, an old woman in the North City rescued me, and I settled there. I am still searching for my husband." Murong Wei replied calmly, just as she had told Aunt Li.

"Hehe, Doctor Murong is too modest. I heard that Doctor Murong has miraculous healing skills and cured Master Li's incurable disease. I wonder if Doctor Murong has brought the prescription?" Ning Ran got straight to the point, without wasting words, her words ambiguous yet clear.

Murong Wei admired Ning Ran's cleverness. Such a young and gentle person could become the prime minister of a country; he must be extraordinary. She kept her in suspense, only saying half of her sentence, "Hehe, this matter, actually... the prime minister is far away in the capital, and this medicine is probably..."

"Far away in the capital, what's wrong with that?" Ning Ran asked seriously.

"Medicine should not be used indiscriminately. Let me, your humble servant, take your pulse first," Murong Wei said earnestly, looking at Ning Ran. She felt a pang of regret; such a handsome young man, how could he… Oh, no, how could she have thought of that… she was overthinking it.

"No, no, someone else is seeking the medicine. I am merely acting on their behalf. Doctor Murong, you are far away in the capital; what's wrong with that?" Ning Ran hurriedly explained, awkwardly avoiding Murong Wei's sympathetic gaze.

Upon hearing this, Murong Wei's heart skipped a beat!

Far away in the capital, such a private and shameful matter, handled with such care, that only one person in the entire Han Kingdom could warrant Prime Minister Ning's intervention—a man! The King!

In the entire Han Kingdom, besides Prime Minister Ning, no one else knew this secret and was alive!

What a nobleman, he was practically a jinx!

“It’s not that it’s inappropriate, it’s just that the prescription is complicated and I can’t remember it. If I leave it at home, I’ll have to go back to get it. There are also a few rare herbs, and I don’t know if I can get them for a while. I’ll have to wait until the season comes, and it’s far away in the capital, which is very inconvenient!

” Murong Wei said calmly. “It’s alright. You take the prescription with you and come back with me. Write down those rare herbs now, and I’ll send someone to get them right away, okay?” Ning Ran asked, looking very serious.

“Very good, very good, but… but my family is old and young, and there’s no one to take care of them. I really…” Murong Wei hesitated. Ning Xiang must have investigated Bao’an Hall thoroughly to find her, so she didn’t need to hide anything.

"That's alright, of course you're allowed to bring your family. Let's set off tonight, how about it?" Ning Ran asked again.

"This kind of illness... can it be rushed? Is that person... in a hurry?" Murong Wei still looked at Ning Ran seriously. Being a doctor, that's the advantage—from a professional standpoint, you can say anything, and even diagnose anything.

Ning Ran, however, simply turned his head, picked up his teacup, and pretended to sip.

Murong Wei's lips twitched, suppressing a laugh. She suddenly found this refined and gentle man rather endearing when embarrassed.

"The Prime Minister is returning to the capital tonight, and will give you a ride along the way. What, you don't want to?" the Prefect asked with a sneer. Accustomed to such things, he didn't find this topic particularly interesting.

"No, no, please wait a moment, my lord. I'll go pack now," Murong Wei quickly replied.

"The clerk can come along, and bring people to help with the packing," Ning Ran finally turned around, smiled, and said.

"Thank you, sir." Murong Wei quickly rose and bowed, but her eyes inadvertently fell on the jade crown in Ning Ran's hair. Instantly, all her pleasant impressions vanished!

Legend had it that the jade crown worn by Ning Ran, the legendary incorruptible and frugal prime minister, was worth a city. Would anyone believe it? She certainly wouldn't be mistaken…

This guy was such a show-off, putting on such an act even in front of a mere doctor like her!

She'd better hurry home and drag that burden away!

Murong Wei returned in the same sedan chair she had come in, accompanied by the same clerk with the mole. There were two sedan chairs and eight porters; the servants Ning Ran had mentioned were nowhere to be seen. They must have already arrived at Bao'an Hall.

Murong Wei didn't ask any questions. Passing the gate of Bao'an Hall, she glanced at the long queue, which finally put her mind at ease.

Upon reaching the back courtyard, she saw several maids waiting. Murong Wei called for Aunt Li to open the door, giving her a knowing look without saying anything more. Aunt Li's shrewdness was beyond that of an ordinary village woman, which was one reason why Murong Wei didn't completely trust her.

"Clerk, please have some tea first. Aunt Li can tell the servants to prepare," Murong Wei said with a smile.

"No need. The master upstairs can't wait. Hurry and fetch the prescription," the clerk urged. "

Then please come in and sit down, clerk. It's getting chilly; have some hot tea," Murong Wei said warmly as always.

“No need for that, Master is in a hurry to get going. Come on, come on, I’ll go get the prescription with you. You guys go with Aunt Li to pack the things, and be quick about it.” The clerk was getting impatient. He glanced around and then asked, “Where’s your son?”

“Oh, Ye’er is in the pharmacy!” Aunt Li quickly replied.

“The prescription is in the pharmacy too. Please come this way, Master. Aunt Li, you know the way, go and light a lamp to guide us. We don’t have much stuff, we can pack it up later.” Murong Wei was still smiling.

The clerk nodded in satisfaction and followed her.

Actually, what Ye Wuming called the dark room was actually the pharmacy. Bao’an Hall had two pharmacies, one extremely cool and the other extremely dry, used to store different types of medicinal herbs.

“Master, this way please, be careful, this room is very damp.” Aunt Li led the way with a lamp, the clerk walked in the middle, and Murong Wei walked at the back.

"Hehe, I didn't realize this room was so big!" The clerk walked in, looking around. Just as he stepped over the threshold, he saw that the walls were lined with medicine cabinets. It was more like a storeroom than a pharmacy. It was dark and damp, all the windows were sealed, and it was pitch black. The further he went in, the stronger the smell of medicine became, along with a faint musty odor.

"Sigh… Last year I heard the price of medicinal herbs would go up, so I used up all my savings to buy them. I didn't expect it to go down this year. My entire fortune is in these herbs on these walls!" Murong Wei sighed.

"Where's the prescription?" The clerk covered his nose, asking impatiently.

"It's just ahead. Or, clerk, many of the herbs here are moldy, and the fumes are quite strong. Why don't you go outside and wait?" Murong Wei asked.

"It's just the fumes, I can handle it. Hurry up, why put a prescription in such a hidden place!" the clerk complained.

"This prescription has been passed down through generations in my family, of course it must be well hidden." Murong Wei said, ignoring the clerk and hurrying forward.

"What are you doing!" The clerk immediately became alert.

"I'm going to open the door, it's in that wall over there, see? That's a secret room." Murong Wei whispered, sounding very mysterious.

The clerk looked in the dim light and saw a wall between two medicine cabinets.

"Hehe, this place is like a treasure room!" the clerk exclaimed.

"Indeed, my greatest treasure is hidden here." Murong Wei whispered mysteriously, while gently turning a mechanism. With a creak, the stone door slowly slid open.

"My greatest treasure!" The clerk excitedly stepped forward and was the first to enter the secret room.

"Ah..."

Before he even stepped inside, a miserable scream rang out.

"You brat, turn on the light!" The previously lazy Murong Wei immediately became serious and said sternly.

As soon as she finished speaking, the entire dark room was instantly illuminated. There lay the clerk at the doorway, his eyes rolled back, foaming at the mouth, his face bluish-purple, a small green snake, about the length of a child's arm, coiled around his abdomen.

"Mother, actually..." Before Ye Wuming could finish speaking, Murong Wei kicked the green snake away, pulled the clerk out of the dark room, and then turned and closed the door.

The small green snake slammed against the wall and landed heavily on the ground, only hissing a few times in protest before Ye Wuming grabbed it by the tail.

This was his pet venomous snake, highly poisonous, its full name being Bu Qing, its nickname Xiao Qing.

"It won't die, will it?" Murong Wei asked, her face filled with anxiety and worry, completely lacking her usual composure in emergencies. As she spoke, she gently tapped three times on the fifth stone brick by the door, and then the stone door behind it opened again, leading to a secret passage.

Ye Wuming stared in disbelief, looking at Aunt Li, then at Murong Wei, still not having recovered his senses, when Murong Wei pulled him inside.

"Weiwei, is this serious? Look how worried you are!" Aunt Li asked, holding a lantern in front of her, puzzled.

"It wasn't the prefect who asked for the medicine, it was the king. Prime Minister Ning personally asked me for it, only telling me to come back and pack my bags, taking my family with me back to the capital. Do you think we can live much longer?" Murong Wei asked seriously, picking up Ye Wuming and giving him a good pinch. It was all this brat's fault! Her original plan was to sneak back to the Murong residence to retrieve the toolbox when General Murong's family entered the palace for the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet!

"Ah... Waaah... Mommy! I didn't mean to leave this secret passage, how did you know!" Ye Wuming cried out, his little bottom sore from the pinch.

"You think your little tricks can fool me? If it weren't for this secret passage, I'd never let you get away with this!" Murong Wei was furious. She added, "That advisor won't die, will he? Otherwise, we'll have another life on our hands! Murder!"

"He'll be fine if someone finds him within three days. But, alas... Mother, you now know the King's secret. If you want to frame someone, you can always find a pretext." Ye Wuming sighed deeply, deliberately drawing out his words like a theatrical performer. His mother was flustered and anxious, while he lazily leaned on her shoulder, counting on his fingers, seemingly calculating something.

"Ye'er, your mother is worried, and you're still so nonchalant," Aunt Li said, turning her head.

“He’s right! There are far too many fabricated accusations. Aunt Li, I also got some news about his father a few days ago. We’ve gone out, heading straight for Xuanyuan. Are you coming with us?” Murong Wei asked earnestly.

“News?” Aunt Li was overjoyed.

“Yes, after inquiring for so many years, we finally have some news. He’s in the capital of Xuanyuan. The people we contacted said he looks a lot like my husband, but he seems to have amnesia,” Murong Wei said.

Ye Wuming’s fingers froze, unable to bend them. What was his mother saying? He couldn’t understand at all.

“Weiwei, that’s great, that’s great!” Aunt Li exclaimed excitedly.

“Aunt Li, since you’re involved in Ning Xiang’s matter anyway, come with us. If we escape to Xuanyuan, the king can’t do anything to us!” Murong Wei said earnestly.

“Weiwei, it’s not that I don’t want to leave, it’s just that my old bones are too tired to keep going. Nobody knows about our place in the mountains, and it has nothing to do with Bao’an Hall. I’ll stay there. Once you find the child’s father, find a way to let me know, and I’ll be at peace.” Aunt Li stopped, tears welling in her eyes.

“Aunt Li, Weiwei is so sorry. You saved us, but we couldn’t give you a good life after we arrived, and we’ve even dragged you down with us.” Murong Wei also stopped, her face full of guilt.

Ye Wuming leaned on her shoulder, his fingers drooping, gazing weakly at the sky.

Had she really found that man?

How could that be?! She hadn’t even looked for him!

For three months now, he had been looking for a stepfather for himself!

They ran and ran, finally emerging from the tunnel in the dead of night into a small grove of trees on the outskirts of town.

Murong Wei and Aunt Li only knew that Ye Wuming had dug such a tunnel, but they never knew it was so long. Terrified, they emerged from the stone gate, only to be met with another shock—the exit was… a tomb!

“You…you child, how can you be so fearless!” Aunt Li sighed helplessly, her love for Ye Wuming a mixture of affection and exasperation.

“Hehe, my mother said, a real man should be fearless, not afraid of anyone, not even ghosts!” Ye Wuming said with a righteous air, the little green snake peeking out from his sleeve and flicking its tongue, perfectly cooperative.

“Alright, alright, let’s hurry up and go. Prime Minister Ning is not someone to be trifled with; this tunnel won’t stay hidden from him for long.” Murong Wei was still anxious, her composure failing her the entire way.

"Mother, wait!" Ye Wuming said, sliding down from behind her and deftly pushing a pile of firewood into the tomb chamber. He lit a tinderbox before closing the tomb door, then grinned at the two adults. The moonlight shone on his wicked face, making him look like a little devil!

The smoke from the fire would take at least three days to dissipate, which would be enough for them.

Murong Wei was somewhat stunned. She truly didn't know when she had raised such an extraordinary son. Could it be that he inherited more from his father?

In that instant, Murong Wei felt an intense curiosity for the first time: who was this brat's biological father?

"Ye'er, what were you originally planning to do with that pile of firewood?" Aunt Li stared at Ye Wuming in horror. Only his mother could make him lock the secret chamber.

"Coincidence...it's definitely a coincidence! Aunt Li, Mother, we have to run for our lives." Ye Wuming said, turning around and walking away with the old ox. He knew this road all too well; their old house at the foot of the mountain was not far away.

Aunt Li and Murong Wei exchanged a helpless glance and followed.

A short while later, Murong Wei stopped, alert to the approaching carriages!

Ye Wuming leaped onto a nearby tree, gazing into the distance, and exclaimed like an adult, "Luxury carriages, thousands of people, a magnificent procession! My goodness, even a random coachman in that procession is dressed a hundred times better than I am in this blue robe!"

"Bai Wushang?" Murong Wei blurted out. In the Han Kingdom, where the Prime Minister advocated frugality and integrity, besides the King, only Lord Bai Wushang, the City Lord of Haohan City, dared to be so ostentatious, wasteful, and extremely extravagant. Aunt Li

's eyes flashed with suspicion, but she remained silent.

Ye Wuming gave Murong Wei a thumbs-up, then smiled with narrowed eyes, turning the thumb back. "Wrong! When Bai Wushang goes out, he's always in a gold-plated carriage, with gold-plated horses and beautiful men and women. That man and his mother are obsessed with gold to the extreme! The one before him, at most, is dressed like royalty."

"Royalty?" Murong Wei didn't understand for a moment.

"By the way! I heard the other day that Consort De, a concubine of Prince Qi, came back to visit her family!" Aunt Li said hurriedly.

"Really?" Murong Wei's voice was indifferent. All the old wounds on her body were throbbing. She had never been so miserable, so badly harmed by a woman. Murong Lan, impersonating Murong Zi to marry Xuanyuan, was one of Prince Qi's two concubines, Consort De, who gave birth to a daughter and a son in five years.

King Xuanyuan Qi had one principal wife, two secondary wives, three concubines, four beauties, five palace maids, several slave wives, and countless imprisoned slaves. From slaves to principal wives, he had everything. With a multitude of wives and concubines, Murong Wei had absolutely no interest in him. She truly couldn't understand why Murong Lan would risk the extermination of nine generations of her family for the position of a secondary wife.

Anyway, she was married, so it had nothing to do with her anymore. What mattered was their enmity. They would have a chance to get revenge for the suffering they had endured. Now was not the time.

"What should we do? This is the only way." Aunt Li asked worriedly. This was the way back to the old house, and it was also the way to leave the city and go to Xuanyuan.

"Let's go. The road is so wide, just let her pass." Murong Wei said calmly. In her current appearance, even if she took off her mask, Murong Lan would not recognize her at all...

Soon, they ran into each other...

Murong Wei carried Ye'er, who was pretending to be asleep, and walked on the right side of the road, with Aunt Li following closely behind.

The procession consisted of palace maids and eunuchs trotting in front, followed by mounted guards, and in the middle, a luxurious carriage with its curtains drawn. Even so late, Murong Lan seemed still awake.

Murong Wei and Aunt Li stepped aside, heads bowed. Whether from Han Kingdom or Xuanyuan, royalty had to be given way.

The palace maids and eunuchs quickly passed, and the carriage slowly approached. Murong Wei didn't even bother to glance at it, lowering her head and closing her eyes for a nap.

But the carriage stopped right in front of her, and inside sat a graceful and elegant woman, exquisitely made up, with long, flowing eyebrows and alluring yet sharp eyes. She scrutinized Murong Wei, her eyes filled with contempt. This was none other than Consort De, the concubine of Xuanyuan Qi King, Murong Lan.

"Where is she from?" Murong Lan asked coldly.

"Xuanyuan," Murong Wei replied softly, neither humble nor arrogant, neither surprised nor flustered.

"Is that your son? How old is he?" Murong Lan asked again.

“Ten years old,” Murong Wei replied, having even altered her son’s age to avoid being searched.

“Ten years old and already so small?” Murong Lan asked suspiciously.

“Like his father. His father is too small, almost a dwarf,” Murong Wei answered earnestly. Ye Wuming, squinting, sighed inwardly, while Aunt Li’s eyes held a hint of displeasure.

“Raise your head,” Murong Lan said.

Murong Wei raised her head, her eyes calm, not looking directly at her.

“What happened to your face?” Murong Lan asked.

“I was burned as a child, leaving a scar,” Murong Wei replied, the half-gold mask concealing far too much of her.

“Take it off so I can see,” Murong Lan said coldly.

Murong Wei did as she was told, but the moment she removed the mask, Murong Lan screamed in terror, terrified by the half of Murong Wei's face that appeared so horrifying!

This scream naturally startled Ye'er, who, rubbing his sleepy eyes, half-asleep and half-awake, burst into tears, snuggling into Murong Wei's arms and acting like a spoiled child.

Murong Wei didn't give them another glance, hastily lowering the curtain, and the carriage sped past.

Once the entire carriage had passed, Murong Wei coughed a few times, abandoned Ye Wuming, and began to stretch her limbs.

"Sigh, your face... I wonder when it'll heal," Aunt Li sighed.

"I don't rely on my looks for a living. I've already had a son, it doesn't matter," Murong Wei laughed.

Ye Wuming, left aside, stared blankly at the departing carriage.

"Ye Wuming! Let's go!" Murong Wei called out loudly.

"Xiao Ye, thank you." Ye Wuming, regaining his composure, corrected himself. He didn't like being called by his full name, especially by his mother.

Murong Wei turned and left, too lazy to pay him any attention.

The three continued their journey and soon returned to the old house. They quickly packed their belongings, and though it had only been a short while, dawn was approaching.

The mother and son mounted their horses and bid a reluctant farewell to Aunt Li.

"Weiwei, take good care of Ye'er. He likes to kick off the covers at night, so you have to keep an eye on him," Aunt Li instructed, her mind seemingly focused on Xiao Ye.

"I will, Aunt Li. You take good care of yourself too. If you can't avoid it, just betray me. It's alright," Murong Wei said with a smile.

"Silly girl, go on, go on. I'm an old man here; I'll die here anyway. Go on your way," Aunt Li waved her hand.

"Aunt Li, I'll write to you when we get to Xuanyuan!" Xiao Ye said earnestly.

After a long farewell, Murong Wei finally raised her whip, hugged her son tightly, and galloped away…

“Mother, that… Consort De is not friendly at all,” Xiao Ye timidly reminded her.

“So we have to escape quickly!” Murong Wei said helplessly.

…

As dawn broke...

the sound of cart wheels echoed along the forest path. Murong Wei, with her son, had long since left the city gates, not heading towards Xuanyuan, but towards the capital of Han Kingdom. It was time to reclaim what was rightfully hers.

She didn't care for the position of the legitimate daughter of the Murong family, nor for the position of the concubine of the Prince of Xuanyuan Qi. What she wanted was that toolbox. Everything inside was compressed; the canvas tool bags weren't easily corroded, and the box itself had a combination lock—no one in this era could open it.

Although the power supply to the tools inside was limited, it would at least be of some help.

Her dream was to return to her old profession in this other world, like her grandfather, to be her own boss, hiring a large group of assassins to make money for her.

Assassins were still working for others; no matter how much they earned, it was still small change. She was born with a love for money, so much so that she didn't even like silver, only gold. How could she miss this excellent opportunity?

She had never considered returning to the modern world. She was now absolutely free, no longer needing to unconditionally obey the old man's orders. She preferred to stay here with her child. In the past five years, she had gained some fame in her circle and accumulated a considerable amount of wealth.

Murong Wei thought to herself, stroking her son's soft hair. If it weren't for the little guy's stubbornness, she would have loved to give him a stylish short, choppy haircut.

"Mommy, you used this opportunity to lie to Aunt Li," Xiao Ye said earnestly.

"She can't completely trust us. We absolutely cannot let her know our whereabouts," Murong Wei said.

"But Aunt Li loves me very much," Xiao Ye blinked his clear, bright eyes and said seriously.

"Loves you, so you completely trust her? Mommy also loves you, why don't you completely trust Mommy?" Murong Wei countered.

"She's loved me for five years," Xiao Ye said earnestly again, leaning against Murong Wei and counting on his chubby fingers as if calculating something.

"She's spoiled you for five years, and you really consider her family?" Murong Wei retorted, not wanting to explain further.

"You've spoiled me for five years too," Xiao Ye blurted out.

"So... no, can I be compared to Aunt Li? Don't you think about how hard it is to be pregnant for ten months? Why don't you completely trust me?" Murong Wei said unhappily. She hadn't experienced being pregnant for ten months, but she would never forget the day she gave birth to him.

"Of course I completely trust you," Xiao Ye argued.

"Hehe, how much gold have you been hiding? You've been packing for so long, where did you hide all the gold? Do you have any receipts?" Murong Wei laughed, a sly laugh.

Xiao Ye mimicked her, thinking slyly, but didn't answer.

"Will you tell me or not?" Murong Wei's smile suddenly brightened.

Ye Wuming immediately protected himself. Before Murong Wei could even scratch him, he started giggling. Occasionally, this mother and son could act like a normal mother and son.

"Mommy, how much gold can that toolbox sell for?" Ye Wuming chuckled, slyly changing the subject.

"Hehe, priceless. Even the current Emperor Xuanyuan couldn't buy what's inside," Murong Wei said proudly. She and her son were like friends, sharing everything. They had no big secrets, only three: first, her transmigration; second, she still didn't know who his father was; and third, how much gold she had hidden.

Instantly! The laughter stopped abruptly. Murong Wei suddenly hugged Ye Wuming tightly, leaping from the carriage. After landing, she rolled several times before finally stopping.

At that moment, the horse's front legs got stuck in a trap, and the entire horse overturned. Assassins, lying in ambush from all directions, appeared one after another.

"Mother, who did you offend? Why are they making such a scene!" Ye Wuming asked helplessly, still clinging to Murong Wei.

"You have to trust your mother; she's always meticulous in her work," Murong Wei said with a smile, not at all surprised. Her earlier panic was just an act for Aunt Li's benefit; she had no intention of taking Aunt Li away.

"Mother, I truly wouldn't be so hated," Ye

Wuming said with a smile, but a hint of wariness flashed in his eyes. These assassins were truly numerous, undoubtedly determined to kill them, mother and son. "Still haven't figured it out?" Murong Wei suddenly asked abruptly.

Her son, however, answered with perfect understanding: "The knives are all the same, the black clothes and masks are all identical, look at their posture, the way they hold the knives—they must be organized and disciplined. The boots are short boots, and they are..."

"How many times have I told you? Don't act mature for your age. This isn't the time for clichés," Murong Wei scolded displeasedly. She herself was naturally lazy, but she was serious when it mattered. How could she have given birth to such a son?

"Golden silk boots on my feet, Yu Cheng broadsword in hand, organized and disciplined, a member of the Qi Prince's faction of the Xuanyuan Royal Family!" Ye Wuming was unusually decisive.

Murong Wei, however, didn't seem so decisive, glaring at him fiercely. Ye Wuming immediately straightened his back and shouted, "Consort of the Qi Prince, Virtuous Consort Murong Zi!"

The surrounding assassins, already puzzled that the mother and son could still chat and laugh in the face of danger, collapsed upon hearing this. The child had even called out the name of their master!

"Mother, why do you have to disgrace your own name?" Ye Wuming shook his head helplessly, letting out a long sigh before sliding off Murong Wei. He hadn't really looked at the concubine properly, but he was certain that the woman was repulsive.

He put his hands behind his back, hunched over, head down, brows slightly furrowed, looking thoughtful, and slowly walked towards the collapsed assassins, causing another large group to collapse.

What was he planning to do?

"You brat, stand up straight! Tuck in your stomach! Lift your buttocks! Did you hear me!" Murong Wei shouted angrily, disregarding the surrounding assassins. After shouting a few times, she headed towards the direction Ye Wuming had been heading.

The assassins on both sides watched helplessly as the mother and son fearlessly advanced towards them, and instead began to retreat.

Their master had been searching frantically for a mother and son for years, but had never found them.

The leader stopped, about to give the order with his sword, when Murong Wei suddenly spoke up, "Aren't you sure you haven't mistaken someone for someone else?"

"Heh, the mother is twenty-three or twenty-four, the child five or six. Better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free!" the leader said coldly.

Murong Wei was shocked. She hadn't expected Murong Lan to be so cruel. How many similar mothers and children had she killed in the past five years?

"Mother, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Suddenly, Xiao Ye

's displeased voice came from behind, followed by a deafening explosion. Thick smoke billowed behind them.

Murong Wei remained expressionless, throwing a small bomb she held in her hand. She vanished in an instant. Her martial arts skills were top-notch in modern times, but in ancient times, they were merely rudimentary. However, the Japanese ninjutsu personally taught by her grandfather became her trump card! Another series of booming

explosions followed. The assassins were blown to pieces, limbs shattered, blood flowing from their orifices—a truly gruesome sight.

Meanwhile, Murong Wei and the others were on a nearby hilltop. Murong Wei watched everything quietly, her face grave.

Xiao Ye was covered in dust, with several scrapes on his arms. He hadn't fully mastered ninjutsu yet, and every escape left him disheveled. Now, seeing his mother's serious expression, he dared not joke anymore.

"The mother is in her early twenties, the son is five or six. Better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free." He had heard this. How many innocent people had that aunt had harmed in the past five years?

The atmosphere between mother and son had rarely been so somber.

Murong Wei, holding Xiao Ye's hand and carrying her bundle, walked quietly towards the royal city without uttering a single word.

Xiao Ye was very sensible; he was absolutely serious when it wasn't appropriate to joke.

"Ye'er..." Murong Wei suddenly stopped, hesitant to speak.

"Mother, we can't get involved in this matter. Not only Murong Lan, but the entire Murong family wants our lives. They might not even tolerate us in the entire Han Kingdom. Deceiving Xuanyuan and faking a marriage alliance is a serious crime. If we side with the Prince of Qi, it would be giving Xuanyuan an excuse to wage war!" Xiao Ye said earnestly. He had a good understanding of the political landscape. In the Divine Continent, the Central Plains belonged to Xuanyuan, the North to Shang Kingdom, the South to Nanzhao, the West to Liusha, and the East to their Han Kingdom. Xuanyuan was the hegemon and had long wanted to destroy the four surrounding kingdoms, but lacked a pretext.

Murong Wei snorted coldly, saying, "Instead of us worrying about these consequences, let them worry."

"Mother means..." A thoughtful look appeared on Xiao Ye's innocent face, quite earnestly.

"Let's go, find that toolbox, and then make detailed plans!" Murong Wei said, her tightly furrowed brows finally relaxing.

"Mommy... carry me! I can't walk anymore!" Xiao Ye suddenly rushed over, looking pitiful. He had really walked for a long time, and seeing her serious face, he hadn't dared to ask to be carried.

Murong Wei smiled, affectionately pinching his little nose, and picked him up. After leaving the grove, there was a place to rest ahead.

"Mommy, I heard that the Murong family's villa has a new house built." Xiao Ye said. He was even more concerned about the toolbox than Murong Wei, having already found out everything. The thought that there was something more useful than a bomb made him so excited that he couldn't sleep.

"Hmm, what else did you hear?" Murong Wei asked.

"I heard that Second Miss Murong Qiu married long ago. That courtyard is now used by General Murong for recuperation, and it's quite quiet with few servants. On Mid-Autumn Festival, General Murong will bring Consort De, who is returning home to visit her family, to the palace for a banquet," Xiao Ye answered truthfully.

"You little rascal, you've prepared quite well. I'll give you something later," Murong Wei said with a smile.

"Just one thing..." Xiao Ye looked at his mother with disdain.

"Could it be..." Murong Wei hadn't finished speaking when she suddenly turned and tightly shielded Xiao Ye in her arms, dodging a sudden, sharp arrow! Without the slightest hesitation, she darted into the dense grass nearby.

In an instant, a loud whooshing sound rang out, and a rain of arrows appeared behind them, so suddenly!

What was wrong with them today? They hadn't even gone far before encountering a second ambush.

Mother and son hid behind a large rock, both panicked. Their escape had been sudden, and they had just run out of bombs!

"Mother, this arrow belongs to Prime Minister Ning!" Xiao Ye picked up a sharp arrow engraved with a couplet and said earnestly.

Murong Wei didn't speak, her sharp eyes calmly surveying the surroundings. This time, she had been too careless; that seemingly refined man was indeed not to be trifled with.

"Ye'er, go to the right. There's an official road ahead, with a post station. Use those rocks to escape. Can you do it?" Murong Wei asked seriously.

Ninjutsu was useless in the face of such a hail of arrows; they could only rely on external objects for defense.

"Yes, but why go to the official road?" Xiao Ye asked, puzzled.

"There are more people. He won't dare to fire arrows indiscriminately. Then we can hide. I'll distract them, and you can steal a horse and go to the capital by yourself. Can you do it?" Murong Wei asked again.

"No, I don't want to leave Mother!" Xiao Ye was very serious. This was the first time he had ever said such a thing since he was born, the first time he had been so serious. He knew this was very dangerous; his mother was lying to him, that she wouldn't go to the official road with him.

"When did you ever answer me no?" Murong Wei said sternly.

"No means no! We're on the main road now. We'll go together, we'll die together!" Xiao Ye's voice was even more fierce than hers, her childish voice and earnest tone heartbreaking.

The chaotic footsteps behind them were getting closer and closer. Murong Wei didn't speak, completely shielding Xiao Ye in her arms, head down, gritting her teeth, and rushing out without a second thought.

Her slender figure weaved through the bushes and rocks, through the relentless rain of arrows, as if she had returned to many years ago, when she had also tightly protected her child, fleeing without regard for anything. She

had survived then, so why not now?

"Whoosh..."

A sharp sound whistled past her ear. The swordsmanship was so accurate; if she hadn't turned her head in time, one ear would have been gone.

"Whoosh..."

Another sharp sound, this time two arrows were fired simultaneously. She dodged the right one, but not the left. A long wound was grazed from her left ear to her left cheek.

"Whoosh..."

Murong Wei quickly bent down and then fell to the ground, not caring whether she would hurt Xiao Ye. Several sharp arrows flew through the air; if they weren't dodged, they would be pierced through the heart, and even Xiao Ye wouldn't escape unscathed.

She didn't dare hesitate, flipping over and pulling Ye'er to the side of a large tree trunk, saying urgently, "Ye'er, the main road is just ahead, go by yourself, hurry!"

How could he leave his mother behind if Ye'er didn't move!

"Go!" Murong Wei said coldly.

"I won't go!" Ye'er looked up at her, extremely stubborn.

"I don't have time to waste with you!" Murong Wei said, pushing Ye'er away forcefully. The arrows shot towards him, and Ye'er had no choice but to dodge, rolling far away in the process.

Murong Wei glanced at him, her eyes filled with tears she disliked, then resolutely turned around and fled in the opposite direction with great fanfare.

In an instant, all the arrows and all the sounds of horses' hooves chased after her.

A cold smile curled at her lips as she ran faster and faster, determined to lure away all the troops.

But then, she suddenly stopped. The sounds of hooves and arrows behind her ceased abruptly, replaced by a deafening crash. Murong Wei's heart skipped a beat. She turned sharply and saw the grove of trees behind her collapsing, towering trees falling one after another.

The sound was like a well-trained army, rapidly felling trees as they advanced. How could such a thing happen in an era with such primitive machinery?

"Ye'er!" she cried, turning back without hesitation. But after only a few steps, she was completely stunned by what she saw.

The once dense forest ahead had been leveled, and rows of colossal elephants stood in neat formation, each adorned with a gleaming golden saddle. To their right stood a tall, burly, dark-skinned slave, whose large, gold earrings dangled from their left ears, and who carried a golden whip.

It was an elephant herd! No wonder they could knock down the trees so quickly!

In the middle of the herd, atop the largest elephant sat a figure, so distant and tall that Murong Wei couldn't make out his features. In the sunlight, he shimmered with gold, and for the first time in her life, Murong Wei felt a wave of nausea towards gold.

Xiao Ye's small body appeared even smaller beneath the elephants' feet as he desperately ran towards her. Not far to her right, rows of archers stood ready, bows drawn. Murong Wei could clearly see the rider in the center—Ning Ran!

Everything seemed to stand still, except for Xiao Ye, who appeared to be rushing towards her from the other side of destiny…

Everything around was so silent. Ahead lay a dazzling expanse of gold, extravagantly luxurious; to the right, a barrage of sharp arrows, ready to be released.

Murong Wei wanted to shout, to make Xiao Ye stop, to rush to his side and protect him.

Whether the giant elephant strode forward or the arrows rained down, this five-year-old child would either be pulverized or pierced by a thousand arrows; there was absolutely no hope of survival.

Murong Wei's hands clenched tightly, her frail body trembling. She felt a lump of blood in her throat, a heavy weight on her heart, and her breathing grew increasingly difficult. The torment she had endured on the day Xiao Ye was born paled in comparison to this agony.

Xiao Ye, head down, ran desperately. The distance wasn't long, but when Xiao Ye stood before her, she felt as if she had been transported to another world. Her heart pounded, her body trembled, and she even forgot to embrace her child.

Xiao Ye, however, was panting, his flushed face filled with joy. "Mommy...it's him...it's him...it's him...he..."

He?

Who was he?

Whether the child was too excited or breathless, he couldn't say his name.

Murong Wei finally came to her senses, her first reaction being to pull Ye'er behind her, protecting him.

"Mommy...don't worry...don't worry, it's him...he's here, everything will be alright." Little Ye was so excited he almost jumped up, as if the "he" he spoke of was their savior.

"You brat, do you know how dangerous that was? Do you know, do you know, do you know!" Murong Wei finally calmed down, pressing her hands on Little Ye's shoulders and shaking him frantically!

"It wasn't dangerous...Mommy...that person! Gold! Lots of gold! It's him! Bai Wushang! The City Lord of Haohan City! Bai, Wu, Shang!" Little Ye explained loudly, his voice broken by Murong Wei's shaking.

Murong Wei's hands stiffened, finally calming down.

Only her son could make her lose her composure, but soon she would discover that there was another person who could also easily make her lose her composure.

Xiao Ye wasn't killed by the stray arrows, but she was nearly shaken to death. After regaining her composure, she said, "Mother, didn't you see that golden expanse? Besides that Bai fellow, who else in this world could be so extravagant, dare to be so extravagant, and be willing to be so extravagant?"

"The Bai fellow? Are you close to him?" Murong Wei asked.

Xiao Ye smiled, her eyes narrowing, and said, "I don't know him, but he's very close to Ning Ran."

Although the Han Kingdom didn't have left and right prime ministers, only Prime Minister Ning, Bai Wushang was on equal footing with Ning Ran in court. Among all the officials, only the two of them could freely enter and leave the palace.

Those on equal footing served the same king; whether in the harem or the court, they were absolute rivals! If one wanted someone dead, the other would surely want them alive!

Murong Wei, of course, understood this perfectly. She breathed a sigh of relief, pulled Xiao Ye to sit down on the spot, and waited to watch the show.

Just as she sat down, two tall slaves suddenly came galloping towards her at incredible speed, reaching Murong Wei and her companion in moments.

Murong Wei quickly stood up, about to speak, when the two slaves, without a word, picked up the mother and child and ran off. At this moment, Ning Ran, from the right flank of the horse team, finally couldn't resist and spurred his horse to catch up. The

two slaves carried Murong Wei and her child to the foot of the giant elephant, and Ning Ran followed immediately.

Whether it was Murong Wei and her companion, or Ning Ran riding high on his horse, they all had to crane their necks to see the person on the elephant's back.

Xiao Ye was practically drooling; he thought, "If only this guy were my father," and he genuinely wanted to sell his mother to him.

Murong Wei, on the other hand, looked on with disdain, thinking that this guy's love for gold was so obsessive that even his clothes were made of bright yellow gold thread. Of course, the current king was also beyond saving, which was why he allowed him to use this color.

"Lord Wushang, it's been a long time! Why don't you come to the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet? After I arrest these two wanted criminals, we can catch up, shall we?" Ning Ran, surprisingly good-natured, looked up and spoke loudly.

Bai Wushang then looked down, his long, captivating eyes smiling brightly. "Oh, it's Prime Minister Ning! My apologies for my rudeness."

"Since you're not in the palace now, let's skip the formalities," Ning Ran said gently, his words eloquent.

Murong Wei, listening nearby, couldn't help but sigh inwardly that Prime Minister Ning was indeed Prime Minister Ning. If it were her, she would have said, "Since you're not in the palace now, and your rank isn't high, let's skip the formalities."

However, Ning Ran deliberately omitted the most crucial sentence, his gentle and magnanimous attitude highlighting the omitted words, like a reminder, yet also like a favor. Although Bai Wushang enjoyed the King's favor, he was merely a city lord, his rank far lower than Ning Ran's.

"Hehe." Bai Wushang chuckled casually. He was too tall; Murong Wei still couldn't see his face clearly.

At this moment, an elephant moved a step, startling Ning Ran's horse, which retreated repeatedly. Murong Wei, protecting Xiao Ye, also retreated. Slaves placed a long ladder on the elephant, helping the mother and child to climb up.

At this moment, Murong Wei knew they were doomed to offend Prime Minister Ning.

Xiao Ye excitedly climbed up first. At this moment, he also knew that Bai Wushang was determined to save them.

Murong Wei glanced at Ning Ran unconsciously, only to see him still smiling gently. A chill ran down her spine. She quickly climbed onto the elephant's back. The elephant was very well trained and not afraid of strangers at all; they sat very steadily.

Although she couldn't yet match Bai Wushang's stature, Murong Wei finally got a clear look at the legendary Lord Wushang. He reclined languidly on a gilded bamboo chair atop an elephant, resembling a carefree, wealthy playboy. Clad in a wide golden robe, his features were handsome and sculpted. At this moment, his long, captivating eyes didn't even glance at them, instead looking down at Ning Ran with a playful yet chilling gaze. The beauty mark at the corner of his right eye added an indescribable air.

He seemed born to be suited to gold, as if he were born for it. Murong Wei had always suspected this guy was vulgar, but now, seeing him, she felt a little taken aback—not because of the gold.

"Minister Ning, look at the new mount I bought from Nanzhao, what do you think? Impressive, isn't it!" Bai Wushang cracked his whip and asked happily.

Ning Ran still looked up at him, smiled gently, and said, "Minister Wushang, these two are wanted criminals of the court. Let them down so I can report to the King." "

Wanted criminals of the court?" Bai Wushang raised an eyebrow, finally looking at Murong Wei, but said, "Have you looked enough? Am I that good-looking?"

Murong Wei was immediately embarrassed, avoiding his direct gaze, and immediately put on a pitiful look, pleading, "My lord, I have been separated from my husband for many years, and I have raised my child with great difficulty. I have always been law-abiding and have never done anything to break the law! Please, my lord, do us justice!"

"You haven't answered my question yet." Bai Wushang stroked his chin, reminding her seriously, completely ignoring Ning Ran below.

"Lord Wushang, seeing is believing! Your devilish figure and celestial beauty are truly undeniable!" Xiao Ye, quick-witted as ever, immediately came to his mother's rescue.

"Oh my... this little one has such a sweet tongue! Come here, I'll give you some candy," Bai Wushang said with a smile.

Just as Xiao Ye was getting excited, Murong Wei immediately hugged him tightly and hurriedly said, "Lord Wushang, my son is still young and often wets his pants. It's best if he doesn't go over there, or he'll wet your golden robes!"

In a battle between two tigers, they might be relatively safe as the prey, but they still had to be careful not to be played to death!

Xiao Ye was immediately speechless. What do you mean, wet his pants? Aunt Li always praised him as a genius, saying he could take care of himself at two years old!

...