Murong Wei searched almost the entire Wushang Palace last night, but couldn't find Bai Wushang.
She didn't know how he had protected her; since last night, no one had bothered her, and the King hadn't summoned him.
Wushang Palace didn't have many servants to begin with, and Bai had dispatched many early this morning, for reasons unknown.
At this moment, Murong Wei was having her meal in the hall. Although Bai Wushang was missing, the food had been ordered. Looking at the table laden with delicacies, Murong Wei beamed. She had two bowls of porridge brought in and began to eat heartily. Following Lord Wushang, she was indeed eating and drinking well. She wondered if Ye Bao was awake by now.
Taking a bite of crispy fried abalone, she suddenly remembered the poison in Bai Wushang's body. She hadn't brewed him any medicine since leaving the inn at the city gate; the guy himself seemed to have forgotten.
"Someone come here!" Murong Wei put down her chopsticks and called out. A young eunuch immediately came forward respectfully.
"Where has Lord Wushang gone? Hasn't he returned all night?" Murong Wei asked calmly.
"Your Excellency, Lord Wushang rarely stays at Wushang Palace. When he comes to the capital, he often goes to Caihua Lane on Chaofeng Street," the little eunuch said with a sly smile.
"Caihua Lane?" Murong Wei asked, puzzled.
"It's self-explanatory, Your Excellency," the little eunuch reminded her.
Murong Wei rolled her eyes and sneered, "Didn't he get a beating yesterday? How could he go picking flowers?"
"Hehe, Your Excellency, Lord Wushang's womanizing is well-known in Han Kingdom. He just got back yesterday and was already clamoring to find a beauty to apply medicine to him!" the little eunuch said with a laugh. It seemed that, influenced by Bai Wushang, the servants behind him weren't too rigid or serious.
"What was that commotion just now?" Murong Wei asked again.
"This servant isn't quite sure either. This morning, His Majesty personally issued an order for everyone to thoroughly clean the entire Imperial Garden, and all the flowers must be replaced. It seems to be in preparation for the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. I heard that His Majesty and Consort De from Xuanyuan are personally selecting servants to serve at the banquet!" the eunuch whispered.
"With Consort De?" Murong Wei was puzzled. How could he be with Consort De?
"It is Consort De. Everyone is wondering, but no one dares to ask. Consort De just returned to the Murong residence yesterday, and today she rushed into the palace again. Your Excellency, it must be someone from Xuanyuan who has come, and someone of higher status than Consort De!" the eunuch said mysteriously.
A thought flashed through Murong Wei's mind, but she immediately dismissed it.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunion; even if that person were in Han Kingdom, why would they come to the Han Kingdom palace?
However, just as she dismissed it, another thought flashed through her mind: could he have come with Consort De? She lowered her head, lost in thought, unconsciously touching the gold-embroidered purse in her sleeve.
"Thinking of me, sir?" Suddenly, a familiar voice interrupted her reverie. Looking up, she saw Bai Wushang smilingly lifting the curtain to enter.
"The Imperial Physician has been looking for you all day yesterday," a young eunuch said solicitously.
Bai Wushang waved for him to leave and sat down, his movements still somewhat unnatural, but he no longer needed to sit sideways.
"Your injury is healed?" Murong Wei asked suspiciously.
"Would you like to have it checked, Lord Murong?" Bai Wushang said with a smile, picking up some fried seaweed. Just as he was about to eat it, Murong Wei quickly stopped him, "Are you crazy!"
Bai Wushang frowned, looking at her in confusion.
"I don't know how much poison has accumulated in my body; this stuff has the highest iodine content," Murong Wei said seriously.
Bai Wushang was startled, then remembered the matter and couldn't help but laugh, saying, "You can forget something so life-or-death? I really need you by my side to remind me. When you have some free time, brew some more medicine for me."
"Enough nonsense, now that you're better, let's go." Murong Wei didn't even bother to look at him.
"Have a meal with me first, I specially prepared this!" Bai Wushang said, placing the crispy fried seaweed into Murong Wei's bowl, smiling, "This is something new, I've never tried it before."
"What are your plans?" Murong Wei asked again, looking at Bai Wushang but unconsciously lost in thought.
He sat opposite her, personally serving her a bowl of porridge, picking out vegetables with chopsticks, just like an ordinary person, without any airs, dressed in a moon-white casual outfit, without any extravagance.
It was as if... as if he were her husband, dining with her!
“Prince Qi is here for the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. Both of the Murong family members will be in the palace. We don’t need to scout ahead. We’ll just set the entire mansion on fire. Tomorrow, after the fire is extinguished, we’ll find a way to dig things out of the backyard. Anyway, at this time, any major events in the capital will be covered up,” Bai Wushang said.
Murong Wei finally came to her senses and frowned, “You mean Prince Qi, Xuan Yuanche?”
“Yes, he’s here. The entire capital is on high alert. No one is allowed to enter or leave since this morning. Even if the Murong mansion is burned down, we’ll have to wait until he leaves before we can deal with it. We have plenty of time.” Bai Wushang said, picking at the food with his chopsticks, focusing on seafood.
“Is he in the palace now?” Murong Wei asked again.
“I don’t know. I just heard it from the King after I got back,” Bai Wushang replied.
“Did he come with Consort De? Will they go back together?” Murong Wei asked anxiously.
Bai Wushang put down his chopsticks, looking at her suspiciously, and said, "Could it be that you're infatuated with Xuan Yuanche? I, your lord, am such a handsome and dashing man, standing right in front of you, and you don't even give me a second glance!"
Murong Wei then pouted and said, "I was just asking casually."
"I heard he's just as handsome as I am," Bai Wushang said with a smile.
"Is that so? I've never seen him." Murong Wei said, lowering her head, her chopsticks poking and prodding in the porridge, clearly distracted.
"How about we go to the Xuan Yuanqi Prince's mansion sometime tomorrow?" Bai Wushang's tone was quite assertive.
"Really?" Murong Wei was overjoyed, immediately looking up as if she had seen gold, her eyes shining.
"Is that all you've got? You like him?" Bai Wushang looked at her with utter contempt.
Murong Wei was taken aback, then frowned, saying, "Hurry up and eat, I'm in a hurry to see Ye Bao!"
"You're already so distraught before you've even seen him, Weiwei, falling in love with Prince Qi is really not endearing. His concubines are no less than the emperor's three thousand concubines." Bai Wushang said, feigning seriousness.
"Eat!" Murong Wei glared at him irritably, her hand still tightly clutching the gold-threaded purse in her sleeve.
She had taken this from the man in black in the kitchen that night, intending to pawn it for living expenses after escaping the Murong mansion. Later, when she arrived in Beicheng, Aunt Li was astonished, telling her it was a rare item and advising her to have it appraised on the black market. The appraisal revealed it to be precious silkworm gold thread, something only three people in the world possessed, which she naturally knew.
If it was Xuan Yuanche that night, then what exactly happened between Xuan Yuanche and the real Murong Zi? Could Ye Bao be his child? And why didn't Xuan Yuanche expose Murong Lan's lie about marrying in place of her?
She had struggled with this matter for countless nights, but ultimately couldn't figure it out.
A complex emotion flickered in Bai Wushang's eyes as he looked at her, then lowered his head to drink his porridge, seemingly somewhat dejected.
Murong Wei pondered for a long time before the gloom on her face dissipated. She couldn't worry about that now; after all, no one recognized her even without her mask, let alone with it on.
The two sat facing each other in silence.
Murong Wei, a natural optimist, buried herself in her food, enjoying it immensely. She hadn't eaten so comfortably on the journey. Millet porridge paired with crispy fried seafood—she ate with great relish, only looking up when she was full. She saw Bai Wushang hesitantly picking at his chopsticks, barely drinking any of his porridge.
"What a coincidence…it seems there's nothing you can eat." Murong Wei then noticed the table was indeed full of seafood.
"This poison has made me miss out on so many delicious meals!" Bai Wushang sighed, putting down his chopsticks. "Let's go, let's get revenge!"
Murong Wei glanced at his bowl of thin porridge, then at his thin frame. After a moment's hesitation, she spoke up, "It's better to eat well. Wait a moment, I'll go cook some side dishes." She turned to leave.
"You can cook?" Bai Wushang asked in surprise.
"My friends call me the encyclopedic killer…killer…they all call me the encyclopedia, which means omnipotent. Just wait, you'll love it!" Murong Wei said, dashing out the door. She had mastered the Wushang Palace in one night; the kitchen was quite large.
Bai Wushang watched her slender figure disappear into the distance, a warm, faint smile slowly curving his lips, completely unlike his usual carefree grin.
He thought, how wonderful it would be if Ye Bao could eat with him too.
He thought to himself, how lucky he was to have a woman willing to cook for him without any ulterior motives and without poisoning him.
He sat down again, looking at the two piles of seafood remains on Murong Wei's side, and smiled foolishly again.
At this moment, Yinling appeared out of nowhere, looking anxious, and said, "Master, we've searched everywhere except two places, but we still can't find Ye Bao. Could it be that Ning Ran hid it?"
"If he hid it, given his temperament, he would have already come knocking on our door by now," Bai Wushang said with a smile.
However, no sooner had he finished speaking than the little eunuch outside the door came in with a long voice to report, "Lord Wushang, Ning Ran has arrived!"
"Why isn't he with the King? What is he doing here?" Bai Wushang asked, raising an eyebrow.
"He said he has something to discuss," the little eunuch said.
"Please come in, my lord, I'll treat him to morning tea," Bai Wushang said generously.
Yinling disappeared without a trace, and a moment later Ning Ran walked in dressed in formal attire, with delicate features and a gentle and humble demeanor.
"Prime Minister, you've just finished court, haven't you? Please dine here if you don't mind," Bai Wushang warmly invited, but remained seated as a eunuch brought more bowls and chopsticks.
Ning Ran didn't stand on ceremony and sat down generously, saying, "His Majesty is busy serving Consort De and asked me to discuss with you what treasures we should prepare to present to Prince Qi."
"It depends on Consort De's opinion," Bai Wushang said, gesturing for Ning Ran to join him. It was rare for him to be in such a good mood today, being exceptionally hospitable.
"I've heard that the chefs at Wushang Palace are highly skilled, and seeing this table of delicacies today, I can see that their reputation is well-deserved. I won't stand on ceremony," Ning Ran said with a smile as he picked up his chopsticks.
"This is crispy fried abalone, it's very fresh, please try it." Bai Wushang personally placed an abalone on Ning Ran's plate. Not only was Ning Ran flattered, but even the eunuch beside him was dumbfounded. What was wrong with Lord Wushang today? He had seen Prime Minister Ning come to him with urgent business several times, and he remained as calm as a Buddha, sitting down and eating all the dishes on the table before even speaking to anyone.
"Help yourself, help yourself, don't be shy," Ning Ran declined. Bai Wushang then piled up a small mountain of fried seaweed, salt and pepper squid, and grilled oysters in front of Ning Ran.
"Don't be shy, these are all new dishes. I'll let you in on a secret, even some of the kings haven't tried them!" Bai Wushang said with a smile.
Ning Ran originally had a lot to say, but seeing Bai Wushang's enthusiasm, she couldn't refuse, so she had no choice but to finish eating first.
"Why doesn't Lord Wushang eat?" he asked gently.
"Weiwei personally cooked for me, and it will be delivered in a little while. Please have some first," Bai Wushang said with a smile.
The little eunuch standing to the side was completely dumbfounded, while Ning Ran became more and more uneasy as she ate.
After a while, Weiwei returned, her arms high, carrying three plates of dishes by herself. The little eunuch hurriedly stepped forward to help.
Upon seeing Ning Ran, Murong Wei was initially taken aback, but quickly composed herself, smiling as she said, "Prime Minister Ning, what brings you here? I should have cooked more dishes."
"Sit here," Bai Wushang said, patting the seat beside him, gesturing for Murong Wei to sit.
Murong Wei sat down suspiciously, wondering what this guy was up to, and didn't say much.
"Prime Minister Ning, please eat," Bai Wushang said enthusiastically.
"I didn't expect Imperial Physician Murong to have such culinary skills," Ning Ran said with a smile, looking at the several delicious dishes in front of Bai Wushang.
"Just some simple home-style dishes. This is stir-fried water spinach, this is Mapo tofu, and this is radish and egg stir-fry. I even had someone specially find dried radishes to make these," Murong Wei said. She hadn't cooked in a long time, and hadn't eaten such simple dishes in ages.
"Simple home-style dishes? Hehe, this is the first time I've heard of these dishes, and the first time I've ever seen them," Ning Ran said.
"Try them. These dishes are indeed not commonly seen in Han Kingdom," Murong Wei said generously.
Ning Ran had been tempted for a while, but just as she reached for her chopsticks, Bai Wushang, who was engrossed in eating, blocked her way, placing a crayfish in front of her chopsticks. "Prime Minister, these are crayfish freshly caught from the sea. Try them."
"I've already eaten so much seafood, it's too fishy and greasy. I'd rather try the stir-fried water spinach. It looks so delicious, all green," Ning Ran said, lifting her chopsticks slightly.
“Since you’re tired of this, please come aside and have some tea. Weiwei and I will finish our meal before discussing important matters.” Bai Wushang smiled, his eyes narrowed, the warning clear to everyone.
This was a veiled rejection, but Ning Ran wasn’t embarrassed. He smiled good-naturedly, gave Weiwei a meaningful look, and then got up and went outside the curtain.
Murong Wei stared at Bai Wushang, genuinely wanting to touch his forehead to see if he’d lost his mind. One minute he was generous, the next stingy—what was he up to?
The experienced eunuch quickly served Ning Ran tea, while Murong Wei sat watching Bai Wushang devour the dishes she had prepared. An hour had passed without her noticing.
He wiped his mouth and smiled at her, “Weiwei, I want to marry you, and eat your cooking every day.”
“Pfft…” Murong Wei spat out a mouthful of tea, spraying it all over his face, and then coughed heavily.
The young eunuch was startled and hurriedly brought over a silk handkerchief, but Bai Wushang laughed heartily, "I was just joking with you, why are you so nervous?" He then got up and went outside the curtain.
Ning Ran had seen everything, a calculating glint flashing in her gentle eyes. She rose to greet him, saying, "Lord Wushang, Consort De intends to fill both sides of the main road leading to the Imperial Garden with treasures related to the moon. The treasure to be presented to Prince Qi is hidden among them, and then dancers will present it to him with a dance." "
There are plenty of treasures related to the moon. I heard that Your Majesty's Han Hai Key only reveals its magic on a full moon night. Why not present the Han Kingdom Key instead?" Bai Wushang said casually.
"That's the legendary national treasure of the Han Kingdom. Prince Xuanyuan Thirteen mentioned it to Your Majesty before, but Your Majesty denied its existence. Why are you still thinking about it?" Ning Ran asked with a smile.
"I just remembered. I'll have Yinling bring you a few things later. I have other matters to attend to, so I won't keep you company any longer," Bai Wushang said, yawning lazily, as if he hadn't slept well the night before.
The carriage slowly pulled out of the palace gates. Lord Wushang seemed to be keeping a low profile lately; the carriage was utterly ordinary, as was his moon-white casual clothes and his high-tied black hair. He leaned lazily against the window, silent the entire way, lost in thought.
Murong Wei looked at his profile, feeling a sense of familiarity with the features, but her attention was drawn to the beauty mark just a centimeter below his eye—a light brown mark.
People with moles on their faces are generally considered unlucky, but Bai Wushang was different. In his quiet moments, it added an indescribable melancholy, especially from the side; he resembled a character from a comic book, possessing a certain beauty that, if gazed upon for too long, evoked sadness.
Murong Wei had heard the legend of the beauty mark: it was formed when a lover held him and wept at the moment of his death in a past life, the tears falling onto his face, leaving a mark. Legend
says that those with beauty marks are destined to shed many tears in this life.
Would this guy cry?
What would make him cry?
Murong Wei rested her head on her hand, deep in thought.
"This isn't the first time you've stared at me like that, Weiwei," Bai Wushang said with a smile, still looking out the window.
Murong Wei immediately snapped out of her daze, coughing lightly to cover her embarrassment, and asked, "Does the Vast Ocean Key have any magical properties on a full moon night?"
"Legend has it that it can absorb the essence of the moon and see the moonlight infused into it," Bai Wushang said, turning to pick up a map. As soon as he unfolded it, Murong Wei was astonished, and couldn't help but admire his efficiency. This was a complete map of the Murong Manor. Having studied maps extensively, Murong Wei immediately noticed the circles and dots on the map and asked suspiciously, "The place to start the fire?"
"Really clever," Bai Wushang praised, though he didn't say it, but he gained a deeper understanding of Murong Wei. If she weren't someone who frequently looked at maps, it would be impossible for her to see the whole picture so clearly before the map was even unfolded. And people who frequently look at maps are either treasure hunters or thieves. Which one is this woman?
"If we set a fire now, it will take some time for the fire to go out. If we dig up the backyard tomorrow, that will require a lot of manpower, and..." Murong Wei hesitated.
“Digging up the backyard is a huge undertaking. Even without fire, such a commotion will definitely attract attention,” Bai Wushang said.
“What about the servants in the manor?” Murong Wei asked seriously.
“Burn them all down. Then, my lord, I have plenty of ways to mobilize my own people,” Bai Wushang said, his eyes narrowed, his face ruthless.
Murong Wei rolled her eyes at him, saying, “They’re all innocent people. What’s the difference between this and treating human life like dirt? Those who deserve to die are all in the palace!”
Bai Wushang glanced at her, inwardly admiring her, but his face remained ruthless. He leaned closer and said, “There are at least several hundred servants and slaves in the manor. It’s hard to guarantee they won’t run into us. If they do, they’ll die!”
“I have another plan, but I can’t find the materials right now,” Murong Wei said, her brows furrowed.
“What plan?” Bai Wushang asked.
“At the same time as setting the fire, blow up the backyard. Make sure the amount of explosives is precise, the placement is accurate, and since it’s in the backyard, it won’t attract attention in the fire,” Murong Wei said seriously.
"Explosives...!" Bai Wushang couldn't hide the triumphant smile in his eyes, but Murong Wei had no time to pay attention. She continued, "If you can get your hands on saltpeter and sulfur, you'll definitely be able to retrieve that escape gear tonight!"
"Saltpeter and sulfur?" Bai Wushang frowned and asked.
"To make gunpowder, you can't do without these two things," Murong Wei said.
"You... what's your relationship with Prince Qi?" Bai Wushang asked with exaggerated horror.
"No relationship, I'm serious." Murong Wei was genuinely serious.
"In the entire land of China, among the four vassal states of the Celestial Empire, only he knows the formula for explosives. How did you find out?" Bai Wushang asked.
"Hehe, my formula is different from his. Mine comes from overseas, with an intelligent computer board. There are large and small versions, as well as portable pocket-sized ones. There are also versions that can adjust the time, direction, and depth, and even strictly control the blast radius. Oh, and there are also silencers." Murong Wei spoke as if she knew them by heart.
Bai Wushang looked at her, his eyes full of suspicion, and remained silent.
“You wouldn’t understand even if I explained. They’re all buried underground in the Murong Manor. But I can concoct them on the spot once I have the materials…” Murong Wei said, smiling with narrowed eyes, then added, “Lord Wushang, tell me what you’re looking for the Vast Ocean Key for. What big business are you planning? Let’s do it together. I can lend you a hand, can’t I?”
“Didn’t you say you weren’t interested?” Bai Wushang asked with a smile.
“If it can end up in my pocket, of course I’m interested.” Murong Wei also smiled. She had calmed down, and after overhearing his conversation with Ning Ran, she knew there was a secret behind the Vast Ocean Key. Even a royal treasure hunter like Bai Wushang had been searching for it for so long; it wasn’t hard to guess its value.
“Hehe, my lord, let me see just how powerful your equipment really is before we talk.” Bai Wushang said calmly, lifting the carriage chain and signaling the driver to change course.
Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the nameless pawnshop. Murong Wei was about to get out when Bai Wushang gentlemanly offered to help her. Murong Wei smiled and said, "Does Your Excellency intend to take me to see Ye Bao first?" "
Someone pawned saltpeter and sulfur. Isn't that what you need?" Bai Wushang said, turning his back and heading into the pawnshop.
The Grand Master, who had been bitten by a poisonous snake, was surprisingly unharmed, respectfully leading the way as if nothing had happened. Murong Wei lowered her head, unsure of what to do.
When the Grand Master brought out a box of saltpeter and a box of sulfur, Murong Wei whispered, "Could it be that Prince Qi pawned them?"
These were not things ordinary people could possess. It was said that all the mines discovered throughout the Divine Continent belonged to Prince Qi, while what she had obtained over the years were all from small mines in the mountains, secretly mined by slaves.
"No comment." The Grand Master, as expected, held a grudge and withdrew.
Bai Wushang pretended not to hear her words, and brought the things to her. He seemed very curious and said urgently, "Hurry up, let me broaden my horizons."
"Did the Prince of Qi come to pawn it?" Murong Wei was determined to get to the bottom of it.
"Could it be you?" Bai Wushang asked with a smile.
"Why would he pawn something like this? He's not short of money. With just one word, wouldn't your entire pawnshop be his?" Murong Wei asked suspiciously.
"My lord, am I really that bad in your eyes?" Bai Wushang looked disappointed.
"Then tell me why?" Murong Wei asked.
"He took a fancy to my things, my lord. I made a deal with him, on purpose." Bai Wushang said, deliberately emphasizing the word "deliberately."
"You also know that this stuff can be used to make explosives?" Murong Wei asked suspiciously, feeling that something was amiss.
Bai Wushang nodded, "Anyone who has seen his mines knows what's going on, but they don't know how to mix the ingredients. Hurry up, my lord, I've never seen how gunpowder is made in my life!"
"If you don't give him what he wants, won't he ask the King for it?" Murong Wei was still puzzled.
"My lord, I won't give away what I'm unwilling to give!" Bai Wushang seemed to be angry, saying unhappily.
"You... seem... not to like Prince Qi very much?" Murong Wei asked timidly.
Bai Wushang quickly put away the two materials and turned to leave.
"Prepare some clay. This sulfur and saltpeter are enough for just the backyard," Murong Wei quickly said.
"What do you need the clay for?" Bai Wushang asked.
"It's a secret. Also, find some charcoal, not too much," Murong Wei added.
These three things mixed together are the most primitive form of gunpowder. It can only explode under high temperature and pressure in a closed space. Otherwise, it's just a flammable material like firewood. The clay is used to make a sphere to seal the three things together.
Murong Wei didn't know why only Prince Qi knew such a simple principle on this continent. The so-called formula probably refers to this principle of explosion.
Saltpeter and sulfur were not uncommon in ancient life, but on this continent, they were truly rare.
Bai Wushang stared at her for a long time before finally speaking, "Wait, I'll go find it for you myself, sir."
...
As the sun set, its afterglow spilled across the east-west Chaofeng Street. Standing on the street, one could see the setting sun hanging over the distant mountains.
The carriage slowly emerged from the alleyway towards the Murong residence.
Inside, Bai Wushang was focused intently on a small black ball in his hand, his handsome brows furrowed. Murong Wei, on the other hand, leaned lazily against a high pillow, one hand propping up her head, the other tapping idly on her body.
Beneath a half-gold mask, an undisguised excitement flickered in her eyes. Soon she would see her treasures—two things: the toolbox and, of course, the Night Treasure.
"This thing really can explode?" Bai Wushang asked, puzzled.
"You'll find out once we try it. Have you arranged everything?" Murong Wei asked.
"Yinling is quite carefree, but you can trust Abao; she'll never make a mistake," Bai Wushang said proudly.
"Yinling and Abao are your personal maids, right? Why haven't I seen them serving you lately?" Murong Wei asked. Of all the people around this guy, these two girls were probably the most capable.
"My lord, don't I have you?" Bai Wushang said with a smile, lazily leaning back against the high pillow.
Murong Wei was too lazy to talk to him anymore. She looked out the window and noticed that the entire Chaofeng Street seemed different, much cleaner and tidier. As soon as Long Xiao learned that Prince Qi had arrived, she wondered how much pretense he would put on. She had to admit, she was really looking forward to the scene of the Dragon King kneeling before Prince Qi on Mid-Autumn Festival.
Bai Wushang leaned closer and whispered, "What exactly was the overseas place your father went to?"
"I don't know either. My father went suddenly, and many things were left unclear. I heard that he went with an expedition team and was the accompanying doctor. But in the end, only one or two people came back. My father never said who they were." Murong Wei said without blushing or skipping a beat.
"Hehe, are you a doctor or an assassin?" Bai Wushang asked with a smile.
"Both." Murong Wei didn't need to hide anything.
"What about Ye Bao's father? Ye A Niu?" Bai Wu Shang asked again.
"No comment!" Murong Wei was displeased, even unwilling to lie.
"You've used this before, haven't you?" Bai Wu Shang continued to ask.
"Are we planning to climb over the wall from the side gate?" Murong Wei changed the subject, and the carriage slowly came to a stop at this moment.
"A coincidence? Or did you time it perfectly?" Bai Wu Shang asked sensitively.
"A coincidence? I'm not that good!" Murong Wei smiled, got off the carriage first. In the past five years, she had scouted the terrain several times and simulated it many times. In the assassin profession, once you reach the master level, it's all about precision. She decided to follow Bai Wu Shang for another purpose: to learn martial arts!
The carriage stopped in a quiet alley, at the northern wall of the Murong mansion. The place where they got off was the easiest high wall to climb over. Behind the wall was the back garden. After passing the back garden and then a bamboo forest, was the backyard at the foot of the mountain that Murong Wei was looking for.
Bai Wushang remained still, waiting for Murong Wei to make the first move.
Murong Wei also remained still, still waiting for him to help her scale the wall!
"Is this height difficult?" Bai Wushang asked.
"You go first, sir, I'll bring up the rear," Murong Wei said with a smile.
"Stay close, call out to sir if you can't make it," Bai Wushang said, then his figure flashed and disappeared. Murong Wei didn't even see him clearly before she looked up and saw him smiling and waving at her from the top of the wall.
Murong Wei took out a multi-purpose hook from her sleeve and swiftly and accurately hooked it onto the wall. Holding the rope with both hands, she braced one leg against the wall, gave Bai Wushang an even brighter smile than he did, and climbed up as if it were flat ground, her movements swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
Bai Wushang was so startled he nearly fell off the wall. This woman's speed was comparable to his own light-footed skill. She was already in front of him, yet she didn't even glance at him. After surveying her surroundings, she swung the rope to the other side and slid down along it, her movements perfectly executed, incredibly graceful.
She looked up at him from below, impatiently asking, "Lord Wushang, is the view from up there nice?"
Bai Wushang quickly jumped down, inwardly marveling once more. He had initially suspected this woman's martial arts were impressive but were simply hidden, but now it seemed she possessed a skill even more appealing than martial arts. He weighed the all-purpose hook in his hand and asked, "Did you make this yourself?"
"Yes, I'll sell it to you for ten ingots of gold," Murong Wei said with a smile.
"Of course. How much gold would you sell your equipment for?" Bai Wushang was more interested in the item.
"No, I won't sell it!" Murong Wei refused to listen, turning and leaving. Bai Wushang stroked his chin, following thoughtfully. By then, it was already dark.
Only when their figures gradually disappeared into the distance did the person who had been hiding to the side peek out, his dark eyes fixed intently on their retreating backs. He counted on his slender, white fingers, muttering to himself, "One all-powerful hook is worth ten ingots of gold, ten are worth a hundred ingots, a hundred are worth a thousand ingots..." After
a serious calculation, he was finally satisfied. He tugged at his loose blue robe, put his hands behind his back, bent over, and followed them unhurriedly, like an old ox.
Bai Wushang and Murong Wei dodged their way towards the dense flower bushes, and had already reached the bamboo forest.
"It seems that all the servants in this mansion have been summoned to the palace, there aren't many left," Bai Wushang said.
"This garden is already sparsely populated, and there are even fewer people after passing through the bamboo forest. It used to be Murong Zi's residence, but now it's occupied by the Third Miss Murong Yue," Murong Wei said in a low voice, maintaining the vigilance of an assassin even though no one was around.
Bai Wushang was extremely casual, smiling as he said, "This is the first time I've heard you address Consort De by her given name."
Murong Wei smiled, said nothing more, and strode forward.
The bamboo forest wasn't large, and she soon emerged from it, finding herself at the spot where she had landed after her transmigration. Looking at the small courtyard that hadn't changed much, memories from five years ago seemed to rush back like a gust of wind.
On her first day after transmigrating, still reeling from the shock of being pregnant, she encountered the mysterious man in black who claimed to be just passing by.
On her second day, she was humiliated and cursed by Murong Lan, who grabbed her hair. She, who never cried, silently wept, biting her lip to give birth to Ye Bao with great difficulty, her clothes disheveled, even her lower body exposed. Her door was flung open, and strangers rushed in, leaving her powerless to cover herself.
Then came the explosion, the escape from the back mountain, and the encounter with the white-clad man in the Ningguo Palace tomb chamber, leaving only his back view. What followed were five years of endurance and hardship.
Five years, she protected Ye Bao as he grew up safely, establishing herself in this strange world… but this time, she lost Ye Bao.
Looking at everything before her, she felt dazed, only then remembering that she didn't belong to this world, and that her only family was Ye Bao.
She slowly turned her head to look at Bai Wushang, almost pleading, "Please give Ye Bao back to me, okay?"
Bai Wushang looked into her sorrowful eyes, unable to look away. He reached out and touched her forehead, his voice softening unconsciously, "Weiwei, what's wrong?"
Murong Wei instinctively stepped back, then snapped out of her daze, turning her head away coldly, "Let's make this clear before we act: once I get the item, I want to see Ye Bao, otherwise, don't even think about it!"
"My lord, I always keep my word, you can rest assured," Bai Wushang said with a smile, estimating the time it would take for Yinling to set the fire by looking at the moon's position. Suddenly, he felt someone tugging at him from behind.
He turned abruptly, and Murong Wei immediately became alert. However, when they saw the person behind them, they both froze.
The person tilted his head back, grinning innocently at them, revealing two small tiger teeth. Moonlight shone on his fair face, making him look like a little devil. The Green Snake perched on his shoulder, flicking its scarlet tongue, perfectly cooperating.
After a long, long time, seeing that Lord Wushang and Mommy remained silent, Ye Bao blinked his big eyes and asked curiously, "Mommy, I've been hiding here for so long, why haven't you come? Lord Wushang, what's wrong? You don't look well." Before he
finished speaking, his mother roared, "You, surnamed Bai, you're despicable! You're shameless, you bastard!"
...
Faced with Murong Wei's fury and Ye Bao's bewilderment, Bai Wushang's lips twitched as he retreated step by step. This was the first time in his life he had been defeated by a child, the first time he had been yelled at by a woman, and the first time he had felt so humiliated.
Murong Wei pressed closer, shouting angrily, "Explain yourself!"
Bai Wushang remained silent, staring intently at the moon.
"Speak!" Murong Wei roared, having never been so thoroughly deceived before.
"Weiwei, um... time... seems to be up." Bai Wushang finally spoke timidly. As soon as he finished speaking, a commotion erupted from outside the bamboo forest behind him, like the chaos of a hasty retreat. Murong Wei frowned.
Ye Bao, still confused, asked, "Mommy, what mischief are you doing?"
"Getting that toolbox," Murong Wei whispered.
"You're planning to take a share of Lord Wushang's spoils?" Ye Bao asked in surprise.
"Shh, remember, grab that thing and run. I'll hold him back," Murong Wei whispered.
"That's about enough." Bai Wushang glanced at the sky again, smiling. As soon as he finished speaking, flames erupted outside the bamboo forest. The speed was astonishing, even to the furious Murong Wei. Ye Bao quickly clung to her leg, exclaiming in panic, "Mommy, the fire is too fast!"
The flames seemed to appear out of thin air. In no time, the scorching heat swept through the bamboo forest, reaching them in all directions. From afar, it looked like a dragon of fire soaring into the sky, and fiery snakes spreading below. Fortunately, the lush bamboo forest provided shelter, allowing the small courtyard to hold out for a while.
"What are you standing there for? Why aren't you doing anything?" Bai Wushang asked seriously, as if the earlier events had vanished.
Murong Wei couldn't argue with him for the time being. Holding Ye Bao, she turned and headed into the bamboo forest in the courtyard.
"Why are you going this way?" Bai Wushang chased after her, asking.
"There's bamboo here for cover, the damage will be less. Just stand here. When it explodes, remember to lie down," Murong Wei said earnestly.
Bai Wushang looked at her suspiciously, but before he could speak, Murong Wei hugged Ye Bao tightly with one arm and raised the bomb high in the other.
"Mommy, this bomb is huge! And it's still autumn!" Ye Bao exclaimed in surprise, it was the first time he had ever seen such a large bomb, enough to shatter the entire backyard, even kicking up dirt.
"Look carefully, it's located under the main house, we'll look for it there in a bit." Murong Wei whispered, the power of her bomb and the damage it caused to the yard were all within her estimation.
"Give me half when you get it!" Ye Bao took advantage of the situation, it was really unkind, unlike Murong Wei, probably more like his father.
"Believe it or not, I'll throw you to him right now." Murong Wei said in a deep voice, glancing at Bai Wushang who was waiting impatiently to the side.
"I'm willing to help you without taking a penny!" Ye Bao immediately declared, but Murong Wei had already lit the fuse and thrown the bomb.
"Boom..."
A tremendous sound, if not for the explosion of the fire breaking the roof beams behind them, and the collapse of the house, this sound was a hundred times louder than the one from many years ago. In an instant, the entire backyard was destroyed, debris flew everywhere, and dirt and rocks flew up. The bamboo grove was lower than the courtyard, so all the flying dirt and rocks inevitably covered this side.
Thick smoke billowed, dust filled the sky, and many tall bamboos were broken and felled. In no time, the entire bamboo grove was filled with thick smoke. In front was the site of the explosion, and behind was the burning fire. The people inside were trapped, unable to move forward or backward!
Murong Wei and Ye Bao appeared on the high ground to the north of the backyard. Looking at the billowing smoke, Murong Wei frowned slightly, her face cold. She was the one who threw the bomb, and she was the one who chose the location. Now it was different from before. She was in good physical condition, and escaping would not be difficult.
Ye Bao, with his hands behind his back, stood on his right leg, his left leg crossed over his right heel, looking nonchalant, and happily hummed, "Pleasant Goat, Beautiful Goat, Lazy Goat, Boiling Goat, Slow Goat, Soft Goat, Red Wolf, Gray Wolf, my brain is very clever, my red heart will always guard Red Wolf's side, although my ears have a notch, I can hear all the goats calling me, calling me King Gray Wolf!"
Gradually, the autumn wind rose, a northwest wind, blowing from behind, carrying all the thick smoke from the backyard into the bamboo forest, and the smoke in the backyard gradually thinned.
Ye Bao took out a shovel from his wide sleeve, his eyes slightly narrowed, while Murong Wei took out a miniature flashlight, the light very weak but still useful. The two smiled at each other, and tacitly turned around and jumped into the smoke.
However, they stayed down for a very long time, so long that all the smoke in the backyard had dissipated, and the bamboo forest was a sea of fire, but they still did not come up.
On the high ground, Bai Wushang, dressed in pristine white robes, gently fanned himself as he watched the entire Murong Manor engulfed in flames. He smiled and asked, "Abao, have everyone evacuated?"
Abao, standing behind him, held a paper umbrella for him and replied happily, "Everything around the manor has been evacuated, except for this group."
"The Murong Manor has quite a few treasures. Let's leave what the servants took; make sure the rest are properly inventoried and stored," Bai Wushang instructed, his gaze shifting from the distance to the now flattened and sunken backyard of the Murong Manor.
In the sunken earth stood a mother and child, their faces ashen. The mother's expression was as grim as the sky before a storm, while the five- or six-year-old child, looking like a little old man, sighed helplessly, shaking his head so hard it seemed about to break.
Two groups of people surrounded them: one group of sword-wielding guards, the other of archers. Of course, both the bows and swords were pointed at them.
Their eyes met, and Bai Wushang's long, captivating eyes smiled as he said, "Weiwei, keep digging. We don't have much time left; the Murong family's men will be here soon."
Murong Wei looked at him, silent, her chest heaving, betraying all her suppressed anger.
"Mommy, just give up," Ye Bao tugged at Murong Wei's sleeve, helplessly.
"Stay behind me and protect yourself," Murong Wei whispered. Then, she lifted one leg, stepped on the shovel that was stuck in the ground, and pulled hard. The shovel was quickly stopped by something on the ground; she couldn't step down any further. She knew she had found it.
Bai Wushang, an expert in this area, immediately grasped the trick. His smiling eyes became even more captivating. "Weiwei, need help?"
"No need." Murong Wei still managed a smile. As she spoke, she pointed her toes downwards, pressed her foot against the shovel handle, her eyes darkening, and pressed down without hesitation.
Heaven knows if she had carefully calculated the angle, heaven knows how much strength her leg possessed.
Soil flew upwards, attacking Bai Wushang, and a dark blue bundle-like object was instantly lifted high into the air.
"Ye Bao, follow!" Murong Wei said, her figure flashing and disappearing. At the same time, Bai Wushang flew through the air, reaching for the bundle, but unexpectedly, Murong Wei appeared above him out of thin air. Holding
grudges and petty as she was, she wouldn't miss this opportunity. Before Bai Wushang could dodge, she aimed at his head and stomped down hard!
"Master!" Abao cried out, chasing after him, but it was too late; Bai Wushang had already collapsed and was falling.
"Mommy, that kick wasn't as nice as before!" Ye Bao looked disgusted, watching Bai Wushang fall in a sorry state, then grabbed the dark blue bundle and disappeared again in a flash.
Bai Wushang landed, completely unprepared for Murong Wei's move. Having taken such a heavy kick, he couldn't withstand it and staggered a few steps before regaining his footing. However, it was too late. A black object flew down, its shape remarkably similar to the bomb Murong Wei had made earlier!
Bai Wushang frowned, glanced at Abao beside him, then grabbed her and leaped into the air.
"Bang..."
Without warning, without any room for negotiation, a small explosion occurred. In the smoke, only two figures could be seen on the high ground, blurred and indistinct.
The sound of loosened sand gradually stopped, and the surroundings returned to their original silence, with only the distant clamor from the main courtyard of the Murong residence.
A small explosion quickly brought everything back to calm. The two figures standing on the high ground finally came into focus; it was still the mother and son, even more disheveled than before. The mother clutched a dark blue bundle, her face expressionless and almost desperate, while the son hung his head, listless.
Archers were everywhere, and overhead, a huge canopy stretched out, showing that the wise Lord Wushang had come prepared. He stood less than ten steps behind Murong Wei, his clothes and hair slightly disheveled, while the maid Abao beside him had her sleeve completely burned.
"Mommy, just give up," Ye Bao
said, repeating her earlier words. "Ye'er, this is the backyard of the Murong residence. The Murong guards will be here soon. How dare he so blatantly ambush so many people?" Murong Wei asked calmly.
"Either he deliberately wanted to be discovered, or he had already planned his escape route. The latter is more likely," Ye Bao said seriously.
"Ye'er, here are two bombs. Are you confident you can take out those archers over there?" Murong Wei asked, reaching into her dark blue bundle.
"Mommy, they're all archers. I'm afraid we'll be turned into pincushions before Ye'er even throws the bombs," Ye Bao shook his head helplessly.
"Ye'er, you're full of tricks. How do you think we can escape?" Murong Wei continued, her face expressionless.
Ye Bao then raised his head, smiled calmly, coughed a few times, and said, "Two ideas. One is to dig down and escape, and the other is to turn around, raise your hands, and surrender."
Before Murong Wei could even speak, Bai Wushang's cheerful voice came from behind, "Weiwei, Ye Bao, come over when you're done playing."
Holding her right arm tightly with her left hand, A Bao stared coldly at Murong Wei, her hatred and resentment undisguised.
She understood the entire struggle perfectly. Lord Wu Shang had gone to such lengths, yet he wouldn't harm these two in the slightest. And indeed, they were both perfectly healthy. Lord Wu Shang wouldn't be harmed by their petty tricks. Only she was injured; her right arm, blasted by the explosion, still burned with pain.
"Mommy, Aunt Bao doesn't seem to like you much," Ye Bao whispered, walking slowly towards Bai Wu Shang alongside Murong Wei.
"It would be strange if you liked me after being injured in the explosion," Murong Wei said softly, holding Ye Bao's hand with one hand while her other hand remained inside the large, dark blue canvas bag slung over her shoulder. The dark blue color was from the bag being buried underground for so long. Although the canvas bag she used to carry her toolbox wasn't particularly attractive, making her look like a repairman, it was a custom-made item from an LV manufacturer, not to follow trends, but for its quality. LV's fame stemmed from the fact that a handbag salvaged from the Titanic, which had been submerged for years, remained intact and completely waterproof.
This bag, buried underground for five years, hadn't changed much except for its color.
"Mommy, can you secretly tell me what you're holding right now?" Ye Bao asked again. He'd clearly seen his mother pull the bomb out of the toolbox.
He hadn't even seen her light it, so how could it have exploded?
"Ye Bao, I'll tell you the easiest way to escape, okay?" Murong Wei whispered again.
"To catch the thief, catch the king first," Ye Bao looked up at her and smiled.
Murong Wei smiled, and after a few more steps, the two stopped in front of Bai Wushang.
Bai Wushang's gaze had remained fixed on her canvas bag the entire time, only shifting his attention now, seemingly no longer holding a grudge. He smiled and said, "Weiwei, we've got the stuff, let's go."
"Okay," Murong Wei replied with a laugh.
Bai Wushang actually turned and headed towards the back of the mountain. Even with his injured arm, A Bao still held an umbrella for him, while the archers around them retreated, but their vigilance remained high.
Murong Wei knew this path intimately; it had been her escape route for five years, and hadn't changed much.
When they reached the mountainside, the archers and guards were no longer visible, but she knew that if she moved, they would inevitably emerge from the jungle.
Bai Wushang acted somewhat strangely, walking ahead with his hands behind his back, without causing any further trouble.
Murong Wei looked back down the mountain. The entire backyard was now filled with Murong family guards. Luckily, they had retreated in time; otherwise, she was certain Bai Wushang would have pushed her out.
"Mommy, it seems like there's no chance to get close to him," Ye Bao whispered.
"Wait a bit, let's see how things go," Murong Wei said, pulling Ye Bao closer. Back when she had this child, he was so small; now he was already laughing and joking with her.
"Mommy, why don't you tell me what good stuff is in my bag?" Ye Bao asked anxiously.
"Lots, more than you can imagine," Murong Wei said with a mysterious smile.
"Then tell me quickly, what's there!" Ye Bao exclaimed excitedly.
"First, the food: tea, biscuits, instant noodles, pine cones, sauces... then the supplies: tissues, wet wipes, face masks, a tent." Murong Wei tried to recall. She liked big bags; wherever she went, she vacuum-packed everything and stuffed it in. It didn't take up much space, just a bit heavy, but she could carry it.
Ye Bao, puzzled, asked, "No wonder they're so heavy! What kind of weapons are these?"
Murong Wei paused, then burst into laughter. She had thought for a long time that once she got her hands on these snacks, she would definitely let Ye Bao try them all. After all, her precious son was so unique; he deserved some different snacks.
Her laughter drew the attention of Bai Wushang, who turned around suspiciously.
Ye Bao, however, tugged at her sleeve urgently, saying, "Mommy, stop being so mysterious! Tell me!"
"They're not weapons, but delicious food. They're only found here in the whole world, and nobody in the world has ever eaten them except Mommy." Murong Wei smiled, recalling how snacks were a luxury when she was a child.
"Really!" Ye Bao beamed. Loving his mother, being greedy for money, and loving food were his three life principles, and the order was unchangeable.
"When have I ever lied to you? Just protect yourself and don't let A Bao catch you." Murong Wei lowered her voice.
Ye Bao smiled and gave her a gesture known only to the two of them: OK.
"Weiwei, hurry, it's almost dawn!" Bai Wushang called out. Although he was still smiling, for some reason, Murong Wei felt something was different about him.
The mother and son continued on their way. Several servants ahead separated them from Bai Wushang. To escape, they would have to get close to Bai Wushang and take him hostage.
Ye Bao understood this principle well. He looked up at Murong Wei, his smile still lingering on his innocent face, when suddenly his eyes rolled back and he fainted.
"Ye'er!" Murong Wei cried out in alarm, frantically catching Ye Bao and collapsing onto the mountain path. "Ye'er, what's wrong?"
Ye Bao's eyes were tightly closed, his face pale, and he wouldn't move no matter how much Murong Wei called him.
"What's wrong?" Bai Wushang rushed over, anxious.
"His pulse is very weak. He must have been starving these past two days hiding in the Murong residence. Find some sugar water, quick!" Murong Wei said urgently.
"Where can we find sugar water in this desolate wilderness?" A'Bao said.
"I'll take him first." Without another word, Bai Wushang picked up Ye Bao and turned to leave.
But at that very moment, Murong Wei's hand, which had been hidden inside her canvas bag, finally reached out, and a miniature self-defense baton she was clutching struck Bai Wushang's back unexpectedly.
Two hundred amps of current—such a single strike was enough to stiffen his body and knock him unconscious.
But…
but…
he held Ye Bao tightly, slowly turned around, and coldly stared at Murong Wei. He didn't collapse, much less faint, for a very long time.
Murong Wei looked into his sharp eyes, and a perfect profile and a pair of cold eyes instantly flashed into her mind—the man in black she had encountered that night in the kitchen of the Murong mansion's backyard, the man who left the silkworm-shaped gold thread purse, the mysterious man who also showed little reaction to electric shocks!
This was…Bai Wushang, coincidentally, also immune to electricity.
Or was he the man in black from that night?
How did the silkworm-shaped gold thread end up on him? Did he steal it when he presented it as tribute, or did he find it later?
Or perhaps, did he have some connection with Prince Qi, and Prince Qi pawned it at his pawnshop?
Or was he…
If Bai Wushang was the man in black from that night, and he recognized her as not Murong Wei back then, why hadn't he recognized that Consort De was also not Murong Wei, and instead remained silent?
Her mind was a complete mess, and the more she thought about it, the more horrified she became.
Silence. Everyone was silent. Ye Bao buried his face in Bai Wushang's arms, a happy smile playing on his small lips. He deeply missed that reassuring scent—the broad chest, the warm embrace, the absolute safety. He was indulging in this fatherly feeling while waiting for his mother to sort things out.
He waited and waited, but there was still no movement. Finally, reluctantly
, he opened his eyes. He saw his mother staring blankly at Lord Wushang.
He couldn't see Lord Wushang's expression, but he knew that Lord Wushang wouldn't be smiling anymore; his mother's scheme had been exposed again.
What to do?
Once a person is burdened with a burden, it seems they'll carry it forever.
Murong Wei's mind was in utter chaos, so she decided to temporarily put aside the questions of who Bai Wushang was and who the man in black was that night.
She needed to think about what to do now.
Bai Wushang, holding Ye Bao, was no longer the cheerful, smiling man he always was before. Instead, he looked at her coldly, a chill that seeped into her bones. Murong Wei couldn't find the words to describe it; she only felt a growing shiver run down her spine and unconsciously wanted to avoid his eyes.
They were so similar to the eyes she had seen in the darkness of the kitchen in the Murong mansion that night.
Still silent, Murong Wei waited for him to speak. Before this, she had never imagined that Bai Wushang could be so terrifying when he was serious.
Finally, in the silence, Ye Bao timidly and pitifully spoke, "...Mommy...I'm hungry...Waaah..."
"Come on, Mommy will hold you. Let's go down the mountain and eat something delicious." Murong Wei didn't think twice; it was natural, as if nothing had happened, and she went to hold Ye Bao.
She really did hug him, tightly gripping Ye Bao's arm, completely ignoring Bai Wushang's increasingly cold and indifferent eyes.
However, Bai Wushang held Ye Bao's waist tightly, and no matter how much Murong Wei pulled, she couldn't budge him an inch. She lowered her head, then turned and tightened her grip on his calves, but still no luck.
Ye Bao gritted his teeth, silently cheering himself on. Murong Wei was so close to Bai Wushang, her head always lowered, mentally treating him like a rope binding Ye Bao.
Finally, she simply hugged Ye Bao's waist and pulled upwards with all her might. Just then, Bai Wushang lowered his head, his thin, slightly paler lips close to her ear, and whispered, "Weiwei, I'm now officially threatening you. Come to Wushang Palace to find me."
After saying this, Murong Wei didn't even see anything clearly; she only felt a jolt, and Ye Bao was already free from her arms. The person before her had simply vanished.
Only the wounded Ye Bao coldly glanced at her before turning and disappearing into the forest.
This time it was for real; he threatened her with Ye Bao.
Murong Wei sighed deeply, stunned for a long time. Thinking of Bai Wushang's serious and cold expression just now, she wasn't afraid anymore; instead, she smiled.
She really thought the consequences would be severe, but unexpectedly, she had returned to square one. Before, hadn't he also threatened her with Ye Bao? And what he wanted to do was the same.
Why was Bai Wushang suddenly so serious? It really wasn't like him.
After some thought and self-consolation, Murong Wei shook her head helplessly, glanced back at the Murong Mansion, which had been reduced to ashes, and then turned and left.
She circled around for a long time before returning to Chaofeng Street, walking towards the palace, surrounded by the chatter of passersby.
"This Mid-Autumn Festival banquet at the palace is quite something!"
"Indeed! Just for Consort De alone, they've made a huge fuss. I heard the previous Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was held in the Chaofeng Hall, but it was later moved to the Imperial Garden because Prince Qi came in person. The King was worried the Chaofeng Hall was too small, so they decided to hold it outside."
"Really? Did you see Prince Qi?"
"Prince Qi isn't someone everyone can see. Some say he's already staying in the palace, others say he's still on his way. There's no certainty."
"Didn't Prince Qi come because of Consort De? Didn't he come with her?"
"I don't know. I heard that although Consort De is favored, she's not the most favored. The favored one is the Princess Consort." "
I heard Prince Qi visited our Han Kingdom before, and the King invited him several times, but he couldn't get him to come. This time it must be because of Consort De!"
"I've heard of King Qi's reputation since I was a child. He has the talent to govern a country, the ability to lead an army, and most importantly, the elegance of a banished immortal! I never imagined that I would live to see King Qi on the same land, under the same full moon!"
Hearing this, Murong Wei's heart pounded. King Qi had been famous since his youth, and she had heard many legends about him before.
The thought of seeing King Qi tomorrow suddenly made her inexplicably nervous.
Suddenly, a deafening scream made her instinctively take a step back. "Ahhhhhh... I didn't get to see Lord Wushang last time, but this time I must see King Qi. In my heart, Lord Wushang is second only to him!"
Murong Wei took several steps back and turned her head to look. It was a beautiful young girl.
She couldn't help but roll her eyes, simply covered her ears to think about her question, and strode forward with her head down.
The silkworm-shaped golden thread was stolen from the man in black that night, and only Prince Qi possessed it. Therefore, it was assumed that Prince Qi was the mysterious man in black that night.
In less than the time it takes to drink three cups of tea, he revealed that she wasn't Murong Zi. Clearly, he knew Murong Zi very well and knew she was pregnant. Therefore, Murong Zi was essentially his betrothed concubine. Could it be inferred that the child in Murong Zi's womb was his?
To put it more directly, Ye Bao was Prince Qi Xuan Yuan Che's son, concealed due to some unspeakable secret, even neglecting Murong Lan's substitute marriage.
She made these deductions after learning that only Prince Qi possessed the silkworm-shaped golden thread.
And now, with the appearance of Bai Wu Shang, who, like the man in black, was unaffected by the wolf-proof stick, she had a second and third deduction.
First, the silkworm-shaped gold thread was a tribute presented by Bai Wushang years ago. Given his nature, it's entirely possible he kept a few bolts for his own enjoyment. Therefore, the man in black was Bai Wushang, not Prince Qi. And regarding his relationship with Murong Zi, why didn't he expose Murong Lan? There must be some hidden secret.
Second, it could be pure coincidence; the man in black could still be Prince Qi, and Bai Wushang just happens to share the same constitution.
Reaching the palace gate, she calmed down considerably and quickly sorted out her thoughts. All three possibilities, regardless of which one, were in her mind. No one knew she possessed the silkworm-shaped gold thread pouch, nor did anyone know the secret of her anti-wolf club. She was still Murong Wei, not Murong Zi.
Whether in front of Bai Wushang or Prince Qi, she and Ye Bao were still safe for the time being.
It seemed Bai Wushang had given some instructions; as soon as Murong Wei entered the palace, a young eunuch led her inside. The canvas toolbox had magically transformed into a backpack, which she slung over her back.
She knew that Bai Wushang's first question would definitely be about what was inside.
...
Following the young eunuch, Murong Wei, with her excellent sense of direction and memory, quickly realized something was wrong.
Although the direction was towards Wushang Palace, it wasn't the path leading there.
She crossed her arms and calmly stopped, while the young eunuch, head down, continued hurrying forward, seemingly oblivious to the fact that she had fallen behind.
Murong Wei didn't speak, turning and leisurely heading towards the path to Wushang Palace. After a while, she heard the young eunuch's voice behind her, "Your Excellency, wait! Your Excellency, you can't go that way!" Murong Wei stopped, already
hearing the lively commotion coming from the Imperial Garden ahead, and became curious.
"Your Excellency, wait! You can't go to the Imperial Garden!" the young eunuch said breathlessly, leaning on a stone bench as he finally caught up.
"What happened?" Murong Wei asked.
"Your Excellency, the King has ordered that from today until the morning after tomorrow, anyone passing through the Imperial Garden must have his written decree. Anyone who disobeys will be executed immediately. Lord Wushang instructed that you should just follow me," the little eunuch said.
"I'm asking you... what's going on?" Murong Wei asked patiently again.
"How dare I question the King's orders? Your Excellency, Lord Wushang said that if we bypass the Imperial Garden, we might reach Wushang Palace. Yinling and Bao'er will be waiting for you there," the little eunuch said in a low voice.
"Where is he? Where is my son?" Murong Wei blurted out sharply.
"I really don't know anything! I'm just here to lead the way! Your Excellency, spare my life!" The little eunuch said, kneeling down abruptly. It was unclear whether Murong Wei was too fierce or if he had been threatened by some powerful figure.
Murong Wei glanced at the Imperial Garden again. From afar, it was filled with flowers and colorful ribbons, a lively scene. It seemed the rumors she had heard on Chaofeng Street were true. "
King Qi, Xuan Yuanche, is almost here
. 'Your Excellency, let's hurry! Yinling and Bao'er have been waiting for a long time,' the little eunuch timidly advised.
Murong Wei glanced at him, then turned and left.
The little eunuch was overjoyed and quickly followed.
'What's your name, Mingzhi?' Murong Wei asked.
'This humble one is Xiao Dezi,' the little eunuch replied.
'Xiao Dezi, is King Qi arriving soon? It's so lively today; His Majesty even sealed off the Imperial Garden,' Murong Wei asked. '
This humble one doesn't know,' Xiao Dezi's voice immediately became timid. He lowered his head and led the way for Murong Wei.
'Are Lord Wushang and Prime Minister Ning also waiting in the Imperial Garden?' Murong Wei asked again.
'This humble one doesn't know,' Xiao Dezi's voice was even lower.
'Is my son somewhere in the palace?' Murong Wei still spoke gently."
"I don't know." Xiao Dezi seemed to have gotten used to it, lowering his head and walking quickly. No matter what Murong Wei asked, he only said these five words, "I don't know."
"Then what are A Bao and Yin Ling waiting for me at Wushang Palace for?" Murong Wei asked again.
"I don't know, I'm just here to guide you!" Xiao Dezi finally said something more, timidly stating his position.
Murong Wei wasn't angry, but she thought this servant was too young, so she carefully examined the little eunuch's appearance. He was short, thin, with a pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks. He looked clever, but when he was timid, he was like the kind of honest, timid child often seen in the palace, the kind who would be bullied.
"Xiao Dezi, I've never seen you in Wushang Palace before. Did you just come from the palace?" Murong Wei asked.
"I'm from Consort Yi's palace," Xiao Dezi said. "
Consort Yi? Why did you let Lord Wushang order you around? Aren't you afraid Consort Yi will be unhappy?" Murong Wei asked suspiciously.
"Your Excellency, you may not know, but His Majesty is constantly sending people around. These days, everyone's servants don't distinguish which palace they belong to; they're all at their masters' beck and call whenever they have free time. I'm too foolish to serve in the Imperial Garden, so Lord Wushang told me to wait for you at the palace gate."
"Then how do you know Abao and Yinling?" Murong Wei asked again.
"I didn't know them before—no, no, I wasn't familiar with them. Abao and Sister Yinling are Lord Wushang's favorites; every servant in the palace knows them! I just went to Wushang Palace to deliver Lord Wushang's orders, and that's the first time I've seen them," Xiao Dezi said, the atmosphere seemingly easing. He smiled, looking quite handsome.
As they spoke, they arrived at Wushang Palace. Murong Wei saw Abao and Yinling as soon as she entered. Abao's arm was wrapped in white gauze, indicating a serious injury.
Xiao Dezi didn't leave but waited quietly to the side. Abao and Yinling, being well-mannered, stood up.
Murong Wei put down her canvas bag and lazily leaned against the warm couch. Her first question was, "Where is your master?"
"Master was summoned by the King. He instructed that before the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, the head musician should stay at Wushang Palace and learn music from the pipa master," Yinling said with a smile.
"The Mid-Autumn Festival banquet is tomorrow night. What music can one learn in a day?" Murong Wei asked.
"The King only likes one piece. The musician Master Ji, whom Wushang hired, is the best in the palace. The head musician is clever and quick-witted; he'll definitely learn it in no time," Yinling said, her small mouth as sweet as her dimpled smile. Abao remained silent.
"When will your master return?" Murong Wei asked again.
"That's uncertain. Prince Qi has already entered the palace and isn't interested in any of the treasures on display. My master is probably out searching for treasures right now," Yinling said helplessly.
Murong Wei's heart skipped a beat. "Prince Qi...entered the palace?"
"Hehe, Your Excellency, you've heard of Prince Qi's reputation, haven't you? My sister and I just found out too, and we wanted to sneak a peek, but we'd barely stepped out the door when Xiao Dezi came to deliver the master's orders." Yinling said, frowning as she looked Xiao Dezi up and down, puzzled. "Why are you still here? Why aren't you leaving?"
"His Majesty said that everyone in Lord Wushang's palace has been summoned to the Imperial Garden, and he ordered me to stay and serve him," Xiao Dezi quickly replied.
"When did His Majesty start meddling in Wushang Palace affairs?" Abao, who had been silent all along, finally spoke up.
Yinling also asked, "Where were you serving before?"
Murong Wei watched without expression, clearly sensing the sisters' caution and wariness. She couldn't help but think of the poison in Bai Wushang's body. That guy had kept it all from Abao and Yinling. Could these two sisters really be trusted?
“I was serving Consort Yi before, but Lord Wushang was summoned by the King and ordered me around in front of him. So the King told me to come to Wushang Palace to serve him.” Xiao Dezi gave the most complete explanation.
“Then you can go now. There’s nothing for you here.” A Bao said indifferently.
“Yes.” Xiao Dezi quickly took his leave and closed the door.
“Where is my son? Did Lord Wushang say when I can see my son?” Murong Wei got back to the point.
“The Lord didn’t say anything. He only told the headmaster to study music well. Master Ji is already waiting in the backyard. Please come in.” A Bao said, his tone stiff.
“Then I have the right to know where my son is now and how he is doing, don’t I?” Murong Wei retorted.
"Hehe, Master, don't worry, Lord Wushang will definitely not mistreat Ye Bao. He'll make sure he eats and drinks the best he can get. You should hurry up and learn your music. At the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, not only will the King be there, but Consort De and Prince Qi will also be watching!" Yinling said with a smile.
"Then let's go." Murong Wei said, slinging her canvas bag over her shoulder. Although her face was calm, she was very suspicious. Even if Bai Wushang left in a hurry, didn't he mention anything about this toolbox?
And Yinliang and Abao didn't seem interested in it either.
She followed the two sisters to the backyard. Master Ji, dressed in a loose musician's robe, picked up his pipa and remained seated, seemingly quite arrogant.
"Yinling, is Master Ji very favored by the King?" Murong Wei asked in a low voice.
"Indeed, he takes advantage of his pipa playing skills and his age. He has a bad temper. Sometimes even the master has to give in to him. Be careful what you say, don't offend him." Yinling said unhappily.
Murong Wei greeted him with a smile, saying, "This must be the legendary number one musician in the world, Master Ji!"
"Indeed, it is I, Your Excellency. I've been waiting for you for quite some time," Master Ji replied, his tone cold and seemingly impatient.
"I've heard that Master Ji's pipa performance has won the King's favor. It would be an honor for me to receive your guidance!" Murong Wei said politely.
"I never accept disciples. If it weren't for Lord Wushang's sake, I certainly wouldn't be sitting here waiting for you today. Do you know how precious my time is? I'm to present my new work to the King and Prince Qi at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. If this is delayed, can you take responsibility?" Master Ji said displeasedly, giving Murong Wei a disdainful once-over.
His arrogance was even greater than Long Xiao's!
Murong Wei sighed inwardly, not wanting to waste any more words, and said, "Lord Wushang didn't give a precise time either, I'm already late, let's start quickly."
"What kind of attitude is this? You're late, and you're complaining that I'm impatient?" Master Ji said angrily.
"No, no, Master Ji, the headmaster means that tomorrow night is the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, if we don't start now, we're afraid we won't have enough time." Yinling quickly stepped forward to explain.
"That's because she's not talented enough. Let me make this clear, I'll only teach her until noon tomorrow, just one piece. If she can't learn it, even for the sake of the King, I won't give it to her!" Master Ji was indeed arrogant!
"Of course, please begin, Master Ji, play the King's favorite piece for me to hear first." Murong Wei suppressed her temper.
"How to begin is none of your business. I can tell from your hands that you've never touched a musical instrument before. And look at you, you have absolutely no patience. You're simply not cut out for learning instruments. If it weren't for Lord Wushang's intervention, I certainly wouldn't have come here!" Master Ji emphasized his own importance again.
Finally, Murong Wei rolled her eyes, her voice even colder than Master Ji's. "Master Ji, how about I play a piece first, and you listen?"
As knowledgeable as she was, she had once diligently practiced six classical instruments to get closer to a person who was obsessed with classical music, and the pipa was one of them.
Because of Murong Wei's words, the entire backyard fell silent instantly, save for the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves.
Murong Wei was suspicious; was it really that serious after just one sentence?
Master Ji's old face was extremely ugly, ashen. Murong Wei felt like she was the first person to challenge his authority. Luckily, she had spoken politely; otherwise, would this proud old man have vomited blood and died on the spot? After
a long while, Yinling recovered and was about to offer some advice when Master Ji suddenly said coldly, "If you want to show off your skills before an expert, fine. But if this piece doesn't suit my ears, then please have Lord Wushang order someone more skilled to perform it!"
"And if it does suit Master Ji's ears?" Murong Wei countered with a smile.
"I'll hand over my position as the number one musician to you, and you'll immediately break your pipa and leave the palace!" Master Ji was extremely arrogant.
"Then I'll borrow your pipa," Murong Wei said, taking the pipa and slowly sitting down on a stone bench. She calmly plucked the strings a few times, closing her eyes as if recalling memories or deep in thought.
In just a moment, she lowered her brows and continued playing, gently plucking and strumming.
The music began with a cacophony of bass strings like a sudden downpour, and treble strings like whispered secrets, like pearls falling onto a jade plate, a cacophony that gradually became like the warbling of orioles among flowers, flowing smoothly. Finally, it seemed to become like the murmuring of a spring beneath ice and snow, a deep, strained flow.
Everyone present, including the proud Master Ji, was completely absorbed in the music, their emotions rising and falling with the tempo and volume of the notes.
"Zheng..."
Suddenly, the flowing water on the strings froze, and the music stopped abruptly!
Before the audience could recover, the music resumed, like a bursting silver bottle, water rushing in, or a pair of iron cavalry suddenly charging out from a battlefield, swords and spears clanging!
Master Ji clutched his chest, eyes wide, seemingly unable to catch his breath, while Yinling and Abao exchanged bewildered glances.
They had only heard Lord Wushang mention once that this woman's singing and dancing were good, but they hadn't expected her to be of this caliber.
Abao and Yinling, having heard Master Ji play, understood perfectly what a difference in skill was.
Murong Wei then raised her head, retracting her plectrum and stroking the strings. All four strings produced a unified sound, like the sound of tearing silk.
"Master Ji, how was it?" Murong Wei asked calmly.
Master Ji didn't answer, but a powerful yet unhurried clapping sound came from behind.
Bai Wushang?
Murong Wei quickly turned her head, and in that instant, she met a pair of deep eyes, cool yet tinged with admiration.
It was him!
The man she had encountered by chance at Bai Wushang's pawnshop, the one who perfectly matched Ye Bao's description of a face like an immortal and a figure like a devil—it was him! Yet she didn't even know his name; she just couldn't take her eyes off him. He possessed an innate ability to captivate, he was too dazzling, like the bright moon in the sky, making the stars pale in comparison.
This was the second time she had seen him, and she was stunned again, as if her soul had been completely stolen away.
She didn't care about the obsequious Han King Long Xiao behind him, nor did she care about Ning Ran's presence, while Bai Wushang was nowhere to be seen. She completely ignored the woman standing beside him, who always wore a gentle smile—Consort De, Murong Lan.
Just like the first time, she remained stunned for a long time, unable to recover. This time, Ye Bao didn't push her, and this time it wasn't in the stone pavilion in the water.
He seemed to have traversed the distance of time, as if guided by a destiny from a past life, slowly walking towards her, his white robes fluttering, like a dream.
Finally, he stopped, and smiled faintly, "Your performing arts are astounding."
She was silent. Seeing him at such close range, it wasn't just a fleeting moment; she saw him clearly!
The first time she saw him, she was stunned, because of his handsome appearance, and because his features were so similar to those of the newborn Ye Bao.
This time, she was stunned, not because of his handsome appearance, but because she felt they were so alike. The noble air between his brows, the cold arrogance when he was silent, the narrow eyes that narrowed when he smiled—it really was so similar to Ye Bao as a child.
No, no, she was confused; it was Ye Bao's childhood temperament, his features, that were so similar to his.
But Ye Bao had grown up, and perhaps because she had been the one raising him, he was becoming more and more like her.
She was absolutely certain that he and Ye Bao were very, very close by blood!
Damn, how could they be so alike!
She was practically screaming inwardly, how could it be such a coincidence?
"We meet again..." she blurted out with a silly grin. Since entering the palace, she had worn a veil, not a gold-threaded mask, and she didn't know if he still recognized her.
"What's the name of the piece you just played?" he asked casually, not asking her name, but rather the name of the piece, seemingly ignoring her words.
"The Song of the Pipa," she blurted out. This piece was composed by a modern person based on the story told in Bai Juyi's "The Song of the Pipa." It was quite long, and she hadn't finished playing it.
He glanced at the pipa in her hand and said indifferently, "Long Xiao, don't forget this pipa at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet."
With that, he turned and left. The smile on Consort De's face vanished instantly, replaced by a vicious glare, her delicate face filled with warning.
Long Xiao's fleshy face broke into a wide grin as he excitedly told Murong Hui, "Hehe, Doctor Murong, you've been hiding your true abilities! I hereby appoint you as the Master of Rites and Music, in charge of music, and you'll be the first to perform on Mid-Autumn Festival night!" With that, he hastily attended to the departing man with a servile demeanor.
"He...he...he..." Murong Wei choked on her words, unable to utter a single sentence.
She knew he was the Prince of Qi, he absolutely had to be the Prince of Qi.
The only person Long Xiao served like this could be the Prince of Qi! Master Ji, standing nearby, had already collapsed to the ground, foaming at the mouth. Yinling and Abao exchanged bewildered glances, seemingly unfazed by the Prince of Qi's arrival. The two sisters appeared to harbor some secret, their expressions complex.
"Qi...Qi...Prince Qi!" Finally, she managed to squeeze out those two words through gritted teeth.
He was the Prince of Qi!
What did this mean?
She had just managed to sort out her thoughts, but this new identity plunged her into endless confusion.
He was the Prince of Qi. Why did Ye Bao resemble him when she was born? Why did he marry Murong Lan? And why did he...and...with Murong Zi...?
"Bang..." The pipa fell heavily to the ground, broken.
A thought flashed through her mind: could it be that he and Murong Lan had conspired against her?
No, no, he had no reason!
At this moment, she had only one thought in her mind: run away with Ye Bao!
Bai Wushang, where are you?
Where have you hidden Ye Bao?!
...
After the Prince of Qi and his entourage left, Murong Wei approached A Bao and Yin Ling step by step, her eyes narrowed into slits, her threat obvious.
"Where exactly is your master?" Murong Wei's voice was deep.
"Hehe, Your Excellency, how could we servants know our master's whereabouts?" Yin Ling replied with a forced smile. A Bao followed suit, retreating and watching Murong Wei warily, remaining silent.
"Where is my son?" Murong Wei asked again.
"Hehe, Your Excellency, my master loves Ye Bao so much, she naturally keeps him by her side. You can rest assured about that," Yin Ling continued.
"Tell me, or not?" Murong Wei asked coldly, slowly taking down the canvas bag she was carrying on her shoulders.
Now, not only A Bao but also Yin Ling became wary, the two sisters quickly retreating, keeping a great distance from Murong Wei.
"Tell me, or not!" Murong Wei asked again, stopping, slinging the canvas bag over one shoulder, and reaching into the bag with one hand.
“Actually… Your Excellency, you know Lord Wushang too. If we knew his whereabouts, he definitely wouldn’t have placed us by your side, right? Even if you blew us up today, you wouldn’t get anything out of us. Why don’t we… sit down and discuss the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet tomorrow night?” Yinling asked tentatively.
Murong Wei looked the two sisters up and down for a long time, then raised her hand from her canvas bag and gave up. “Forget it, I’m exhausted. I’m going to sleep. Tell your master for me that if he doesn’t show up after the matter is settled, he can forget about getting that thing!”
After saying that, she turned and left without looking back.
“She’s really strange,” A Bao said.
“What’s strange is that our master has disappeared so silently for so long, without even letting us know where she went!” Yinling complained, pouting.
“I didn’t expect Prince Qi to come here. He must have Long Xiao accompanying him around,” A Bao said calmly.
“I never expected Weiwei to play the pipa so well! I felt like I was really seeing mountains and rivers, and a battlefield in the yellow sand!” Yinling said again.
“King Qi has arrived so quickly. We need to find a way to inform the master. Given the situation just now, Long Xiao won’t keep Murong Wei. She might not have a chance tomorrow night.” Abao said seriously.
“We don’t even know where he is. How can we inform him? If we fail this time, he deserves it!” Yinling was still complaining, sitting down angrily.
“The master is the master after all. How can you complain like this?” Abao frowned and scolded.
Yinling didn’t take it to heart. She didn’t distinguish between superiors and inferiors with her master. She had long been used to it. She tugged at Abao and lowered her voice, saying, “Sister Bao, where is Ye Bao?”
“Do you need to ask? If you don’t know, of course I don’t know either. When has the master ever shown favoritism?” Abao said, rolling her eyes at her.
“Sister Bao, why does Ye’er seem less and less like his father as he gets older?” Yinling’s voice was even lower.
"Who is his father?" Abao asked suspiciously.
"Is that even a question? It's Prince Qi. Back then in the Ningguo Cemetery, when Ye Bao was just born, they were practically identical!" Yinling quickly said.
"They did look quite alike back then, but now he looks more like Murong Wei. Those eyes, I even think they resemble Master's, so long and narrow, so captivating!" Abao said thoughtfully.
"Prince Qi also has long, captivating eyes, but he smiles less, and when he does, it's a cold smile, unlike Master, who's so flirtatious and always trying to seduce girls!" Yinling scolded angrily, then chuckled to herself.
Abao couldn't stand the word "flirtatious" and immediately glared at her.
"Actually, I think Prince Qi is the kind of person who's secretly flirtatious, even worse than Master!" Yinling said cheerfully.
Abao didn't glare at her and simply got up to leave.
"Hehe, Sister Bao, you go and secretly check on Prince Qi and the others. I'll stay and watch over Murong Wei," Yinling said.
Abao took a few steps but then turned back, saying, "Ling'er, do you think Master would have saved Murong Wei if Jin Baozi hadn't taken Ye Bao?"
Yinling frowned, glanced at her thoughtfully, and said lightly, "Whether it was intentional or a coincidence, only he knows..."
Abao didn't speak, and then quietly left. Yinling, lost in thought, arrived at Murong Wei's bedroom, gently knocked on the door, but received no answer for a long time.
"Master, this servant has brought tea." She made an excuse, carefully pushed open the door, and found the room empty!
Yes, it was empty, with no trace of anything being touched.
Murong Wei hadn't come in at all; she had simply walked straight ahead, turned right, and left.
At this moment, she was on the roof beam of the Chaofeng Hall, lazily leaning against it, legs crossed, carefully examining the contents of the toolbox hidden in the canvas bag. Everything—food, supplies—was there; it was all there, though what was originally messy was now complete chaos.
She rummaged around for a long time before finally pulling out a Swiss Army knife, one of her favorites. It was a combination of a ballpoint pen, toothpick, scissors, flat-bladed knife, can opener, screwdriver, and tweezers—all you needed to use it was pull out from the fold of the blade.
Unfortunately, having transmigrated here, can openers and screwdrivers were completely useless; the flat-bladed knife, scissors, and LED flashlight were much more convenient.
She searched for a while longer, pulling out a revolver and a submachine gun. After weighing them for a long time, she put down the submachine gun. In this slow-paced ancient world, it was best to avoid such a powerful weapon for now.
Then, she counted the number of bombs, taking a few along with the revolver, submachine gun, and other necessities in a canvas bag. She hid the black combination lock toolbox on the roof beam, on the rightmost skylight windowsill—the
highest and most concealed spot in the entire Chaofeng Hall.
With a canvas bag slung over her shoulders, she was about to slide down a wooden post when she heard a noise coming from outside the door—it was Long Xiao's voice.
"Your Highness, it's getting late. I've prepared a banquet with songs and dances to welcome you. I hope you'll accept it." At this moment, Long Xiao's voice, expression, and posture were no different from the chief eunuch who usually accompanied him.
Murong Wei didn't hear the Prince's voice. After a while, Consort De spoke up, "Your Highness must be tired from your journey. You've been singing and dancing so much, it must be exhausting. Serve some lighter dishes. First, bring out the purple sweet potato soup, taro rolls, and snow fish pastries." Consort
De's voice was still outside the door when Xuan Yuanche was the first to step through.
He walked slowly with his hands behind his back, his figure aloof, his handsome face showing a rare weariness. His dark eyes were calm and indifferent, as if he were detached from the mortal world.
Afterwards, Long Xiao followed him in with a servile gait. Seeing that Xuan Yuanche did not sit on the dragon throne but only on the warm couch below the prince, he dared not sit down and waited quietly to the side.
Soon, the eunuchs and maids efficiently set out the banquet, presenting a lavish spread of exquisite dishes.
Murong Wei, perched on the roof beam, scanned the table, her mouth watering. It was all her favorite food: fried, grilled, steamed, braised, and stir-fried snacks, paired with a bowl of millet porridge or a bowl of wood ear and pear soup—what a wonderful thing that would be!
Along with Murong Wei, Long Xiao, Consort De, and Ning Ran also stared longingly at the delicious food. Prince Qi had arrived early this morning, and they had stayed with him until now, not taking a single seat.
Several seats were empty, but no one dared to sit.
Xuan Yuanche sat alone, seemingly oblivious to everyone, sipping his tea, his movements elegant and graceful.
He didn't eat much, but he ate slowly and refinedly—a trait he shared with Bai Wushang.
How long had it been since they last met? Why was she thinking of that guy again?
Murong Wei unconsciously tapped her head, then lazily leaned back, wondering when the precious prince would finish eating. She still wanted to
go find Ye Bao! She no longer cared who Ye Bao's father was, nor did she care who the man in black was that night.
None of this concerned her, Murong Wei, nor her son. The secrets, the conflicts of interest—from her reputation to Ye Bao's life—were all things she had been avoiding.
She didn't want any further entanglement with Bai Wushang. Once she helped him obtain the Han Hai Key, she would leave the palace.
"Your Highness, please stay at the Ziwei Pavilion tonight. I've been staying there for the past few days," Consort De suddenly spoke, her voice low and soft, clearly cautious.
Murong Wei's gaze finally shifted from Xuan Yuanche's face. She saw Murong Lan looking timid, not at all like a favored concubine.
What was going on?
Could the rumors be wrong? Could some of her speculations be incorrect? Murong Wei pondered this, then shook her head, deciding not to dwell on such matters.
Xuan Yuanche didn't answer. Except at large banquets, he had two habits when eating: first, he didn't speak; second, he ate alone.
Receiving no answer, and with Long Xiao's suspicious gaze, Consort De reluctantly remained silent.
The vast, magnificent court hall, with its round table that could seat twelve people, was laden with colorful delicacies. Yet, he alone, dressed in spotless white robes, adorned with a simple black jade hairpin, sat alone, quiet and forlorn. Murong Wei, positioned directly above him, felt a pang of sorrow. She didn't know why, but she felt this man was pitifully lonely.
After a while, a palace maid finally brought tea for Xuan Yuanche to rinse his mouth. He held the teacup in one hand, the lid twirling, his head slightly raised.
In an instant, Murong Wei nearly fell from the high roof beam, but luckily she managed to grab onto it.
He, meanwhile, had already lowered his head to rinse his mouth, stood up, and said calmly, "Lead the way to the Ziwei Pavilion."
"Yes!" Consort De was overjoyed, as if she were a concubine receiving the emperor's favor for the first time. As
he gradually disappeared into the distance, Murong Wei was still in shock. Just a moment ago, she clearly saw his deep, cool eyes, like a clear mountain spring, meet hers, but why had he already gotten up and left in such a short time?
Was it just her imagination?