"Brother Lu Sheng Zhong, Brother Lu Sheng Zhong, how could you have been so careless?" An Xiao Man sighed, saying.
The matter was crucial and urgent, so he immediately penned a secret report to his masters under the lamplight and dispatched it with a Bird King.
Afterward, he paced the room, various thoughts swirling in his mind. Liu Lu held considerable sway with Zhou Shou Xiang. Could Zhou Shou Xiang do anything to him? An Xiao Man's thoughts raced. Ultimately, he decided to leave the place. If nothing came of it, he could always return. But if something were to happen and he didn't leave, it would be too late.
The lamp in the room had not yet gone out, but An Xiao Man had already gathered all necessary items. He then summoned all his fellow disciples and vanished into the boundless night...
Outside the window, a mist hung in the air.
Niu You Dao sat before the window, looking into a mirror. Behind him, a young woman stood, combing his hair. He considered gifting her a fine mirror, but then, recalling her disfigured face, he immediately abandoned the thought.
"Lord Dao, Mister Lan has almost finished all preparations. Once everything is ready, you may depart at any time."
"Good!" Niu You Dao closed his eyes, then suddenly opened them: "I'll have breakfast with the prince a little later."
Shu Qing froze, but then nodded. "Very well! I will inform him."
She was surprised because, these past few days, Chao Zong had mostly taken breakfast with Feng Ru Nan. They had, after all, begun to live together. Everyone had noticed the change in Chao Zong. He was no longer the same Chao Zong. First, Niu You Dao and Yuan Gang stopped dining with them, then Lan Ruo Ting also ceased, feeling like an odd man out. After him, Shu Qing left the young couple to themselves, and finally, even Bai Yao felt superfluous. Now, Chao Zong dined alone with Feng Ru Nan.
Niu You Dao saying he wanted to have breakfast with the prince was quite unexpected...
When breakfast time arrived, Niu You Dao went to Chao Zong's courtyard. There, he also saw Shu Qing and Lan Ruo Ting. It seemed they were curious about what would transpire.
A little later, Feng Ru Nan also arrived. She was surprised by the number of people present.
Every morning, she would ride horses, shoot arrows; in short, she trained.
"Good morning, Princess!" Niu You Dao approached and greeted her himself.
Though he smiled, Feng Ru Nan was still displeased with him and harrumphed coldly. However, she noticed that Niu You Dao was looking at her strangely today, especially at her belly.
She immediately became enraged and demanded, "What are you looking at!"
Niu You Dao stroked his chin and whispered, "Not pregnant yet?"
Lan Ruo Ting and the others sitting nearby were speechless. What pregnancy? Even if she were pregnant, it wouldn't be noticeable at this point!
Chao Zong felt a headache coming on. Lord Dao simply couldn't communicate with Feng Ru Nan normally.
"..." Feng Ru Nan only now understood his meaning and spoke furiously:
"That's none of your business!"
Niu You Dao spoke awkwardly:
"Princess, how shall I put it? Am I speaking incorrectly? Ning Wang had only one son left, and he took you as his wife. You must take good care of yourself and look after your well-being. Now, if the prince has no heir, who will continue the lineage? If that's the case..." He turned to the prince, who was already feeling uncomfortable, "Prince, perhaps I should find some beautiful concubines for you?"
Feng Ru Nan clenched her fists. "Nonsense!"
Niu You Dao: "Princess, shouldn't you consider a compromise? I know Kuangai County doesn't hold us in high regard, but where else can you go? Do you think Kuangai County cares only for you? The ruler agreed to this marriage for profit, and a grandchild wouldn't hurt him. You can think it over yourself!"
Feng Ru Nan, smiling wrathfully, asked, "Are you trying to sow discord between us?"
"You can think whatever you want. However, if other children appear, how will you face others?" Niu You Dao shrugged and turned to leave. "Monkey, we're not welcome here. Let's go somewhere else then!"
Chao Zong was at a loss. Lan Ruo Ting also felt the awkwardness of the situation and immediately said:
"Prince, we have matters to attend to; we shall go and take care of them." As he left, he winked at Shu Qing. They departed together.
Feng Ru Nan gripped the sword hanging at her waist. She was exceedingly displeased, and when she turned, her gaze met Chao Zong's:
"What are you looking at!"
Chao Zong was speechless. He was the one having the hardest time of all.
Outside the courtyard, Shu Qing and Lan Ruo Ting were leaving together. The two slowed their pace.
Lan Ruo Ting sighed, saying:
"Lord Dao disregards the princess's mood, hoping she'll bear the prince a child. This is so she'll have no path of retreat and won't rush the prince into finding a hundred-thousand-strong army. Such matters are awkward to speak of, but Lord Dao was never on the best terms with the princess to begin with, which is why he spoke so bluntly!"
Shu Qing: "Even if he spoke bluntly, why so harshly? All women under heaven would despise him for such words."
Lan Ruo Ting froze. He had forgotten that a young woman was walking beside him...
The Capital. Song Family Residence.
A beautiful lady opened the door of the house, and Song Jiu Ming emerged. Outside, he saw the household manager, Liu Lu, standing there. Liu Lu's expression was sorrowful.
Liu Lu sorrowfully clasped his hands and delivered a secret message:
"Master, I failed to complete everything correctly. Your servant did not follow your instructions."
In truth, he had received this message long ago, but he was still wrestling with his own feelings and hadn't wanted to disturb Song Jiu Ming.
"What is it?" Song Jiu Ming furrowed his brows and read the message. As he learned the news, he involuntarily looked at Liu Lu. Liu Lu said he had wronged him, yet it was Song Jiu Ming himself who had wronged Liu Lu.
"Liu, my condolences! Don't worry, we will definitely have our revenge!" Song Jiu Ming consoled Liu Lu in a grim tone. He wasn't particularly troubled by his grandson's death, but the death of Liu Lu's son, his loyal household manager, was more sorrowful.
Liu Lu bowed. "He himself failed the mission. There is no one to blame here."
Song Jiu Ming let out a cold sigh. "Wuliangshan has great audacity. They even dared to expose our people. Deliver the task to the Liuxiang Sect!"
"Understood!" Liu Lu replied.
Song Jiu Ming walked up to him and patted his back:
"Liu, it's already done. Whatever I say now is useless. Realistically, it would be better for you to find a few young women... and let them bear you a few more children, and I will guarantee them a bright future!"
Liu Lu nodded. His eyes reddened, and in his heart, he felt helpless: *How do you know that if I have a few more children, they will have a bright future? Those at the top are all merciless. Who knows what will happen to the Song family in the future. Everything can change drastically in a single day...*
Chao Zong and Feng Ru Nan lived in the mountain manor. Before noon, several people encountered each other again.
Shu Qing had changed into more practical attire, and Niu You Dao couldn't help but constantly look at her. What was this girl planning? Did she really want to go with him?
Chao Zong and the others looked at Yuan Fang, who was following Yuan Gang and Niu You Dao.
Seeing that Yuan Fang was also going with them, Lan Ruo Ting couldn't help but remind them:
"Lord Dao, where you are going is quite a secret place." He looked at Yuan Fang.
Niu You Dao understood him and replied with a smile, "We are all brothers, don't worry. He will be with us everywhere."
Yuan Fang blinked. He had no idea where they were going. Niu You Dao had simply told him to get ready, and that was it.
Lan Ruo Ting approached the table and pointed to the bags on it. "This is prepared provisions. You will need them for the journey."
Niu You Dao checked, and indeed, the bags contained provisions.
"So many provisions, is it really that far?" He calculated inwardly; this much would last them several days. With such a supply, they could leave not just Cang Wu County but even Qingshan County. Hadn't they said the secret place was in Cang Wu County?
Chao Zong replied, "Lord Dao will understand everything later. Shu Qing will escort you."
Niu You Dao was surprised. "The princess will go too?"
Chao Zong: "One of us three must be on the journey. Otherwise, it would be inconvenient. Lord Dao will understand later. It would be difficult for Mister Lan and me to leave the manor for a long time; it might arouse suspicion. Shu Qing is a delicate young woman; I ask Lord Dao to take care of her."
Niu You Dao nodded. "And have you come up with a pretext for the princess?"
Lan Ruo Ting: "Don't worry, a pretext has already been found. The princess is currently inspecting the troops; you should make haste. You must leave the manor now..."
Then, Niu You Dao understood that they would not be leaving the manor at all, but rather would reach a hidden passage, which turned out to be a well.
There was no water in the well, as it was a reserve well. During a siege, such wells were simply filled. There were several such wells in the manor. This particular one had no groundwater. Everything here was quite conveniently designed. Those who built it must have given it a lot of thought. The well was filled using bamboo pipes.
Several people, with bags on their backs, approached the rear of the house.
Although Lan Ruo Ting urged them, they moved unhurriedly and decided to proceed one by one so as not to draw attention. After all, there were people near the well.
Niu You Dao signaled Yuan Gang to go to the well first and open it.