The surrounding Guards lowered their heads, the sound of clashing Armor hiding their terror—the last girl who touched the Prince's robe had grass growing three feet high over her grave.
"I, I, I..." After speaking, a look of sudden realization crossed her face, "Speaking of which, Your Highness Prince Regent, could you put me down?"
Yun Pianpian finally found her voice. While struggling, her Embroidered Shoes kicked Xuan Ye's snow-white robe, leaving several faint marks. The man, however, seemed oblivious, carrying her directly into the carriage and gently tossing her onto the soft couch.
A faint fragrance drifted among the Brocade. Yun Pianpian was rubbing her bruised elbow when her eyes suddenly flickered. She lazily propped herself up, her slender fingers hooking into a graceful arc: "Prince Regent~" The end of her voice was sticky like honey.
But Xuan Ye actually came over!
"No way, no way, he really came over. I have no resistance to handsome men."
Xuan Ye actually strode over! Yun Pianpian's heart pounded like a drum, secretly annoyed at herself for playing with fire—when this man approached, even the bright pearls inside the carriage dimmed in comparison. She frantically calculated an escape route, only to see Xuan Ye calmly take a seat, his waist pendant barely brushing past the edge of her skirt.
Yun Pianpian looked at the posture, which was exactly like that of a delicate young lady, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
However, she hadn't spoken yet when Xuan Ye spoke first, "Now I've been molested by you again. Miss Yun, how do you plan to compensate me?"
He suddenly leaned in and hooked the Silk Ribbon at her collar.
Yun Pianpian channeled her full Spiritual Power to strike his shoulder, but it felt like hitting Black Iron. The man didn't even twitch an eyebrow; instead, her palm tingled faintly.
"Always molesting! Always flirting!" She widened her eyes, her hands relentless, "You are the dignified Prince Regent, how can you be more roguish than a street thug!"
"Besides, you are a noble Prince, what could you possibly lack?" Yun Pianpian stiffened her neck, but her Ear Tips had quietly turned red.
"Could it be that I have to, have to..." That word turned three times on her tongue but never escaped her lips.
The sound of metal clashing suddenly erupted outside the carriage, and a line of blood suddenly splashed onto the gauze curtain. Yun Pianpian's stomach churned violently—on the tip of the blade that pierced the curtain hung a piece of flesh the size of half a fingernail. Where was Liu Ying now? Was she safe? This thought pierced her heart like a thorn.
"If Your Highness is willing to help me find her..." As she spoke, she shuffled toward the back of the carriage, suddenly grabbing the incense burner from the table and hurling it toward Xuan Ye's face, "I'll thank you in the next life!"
The smoke bomb was released. Yun Pianpian took advantage of Xuan Ye not paying attention to her and flipped over, running toward the rear side of the carriage.
Xuan Ye swept away the ash with a flourish of his wide sleeve, only to see that girl already darting three steps away. She even turned back to stick her tongue out at him, "Offering myself is impossible!"
She then made a face at Xuan Ye, "Bye-bye, see you next time."
Xuan Ye turned back only to see Yun Pianpian's figure running farther away. Xuan Ye toyed with the lingering warmth between his fingers and suddenly chuckled softly, "She runs quite fast."
"Just kidding, I'm the campus track champion. Men only slow down my cultivation speed."
Shangjing City was about the same size as a modern first-tier city. In a place with neither GPS nor maps, and given Yun Pianpian's current abilities, the result was inevitable.
At that moment, Yun Pianpian was passing the Gold-gilded sign of the "Ningxiang Pavilion" for the third time. The proprietress of the Rouge shop was munching on Melon Seeds and muttering, "Has the young lady taken a liking to our newly arrived lip glaze?"
"Auntie, how do I get to the Tian Xing Chamber of Commerce?" She stopped an old woman selling sweet cakes.
The old woman didn't look up, "What chamber?"
"..." Yun Pianpian held her forehead; this joke was probably going to stick.
Fortunately, her stamina was still good. After countless wrong turns and trials, she finally spotted a glittering golden building in the distance.
After an hour of rushing, when that Gold-gilded building finally appeared at the end of the alley, Yun Pianpian's hair was already soaked, a few strands of dark hair clinging to her flushed cheeks. In the Twilight, Liu Ying paced back and forth on the steps like a Little Beast waiting to be fed, her nose twitching occasionally.
"Miss's scent!" The little maid suddenly turned, her eyes sparkling brightly.
"Your nose..." Yun Pianpian gasped, leaning on her knees, sweat dripping from her chin onto the Green Stone Slab, "It's more sensitive than a treasure-seeking mouse."
An old man in a dark robe walked slowly over. The Tian Xing emblem embroidered with Golden Threads on his cuff shimmered in the sunlight. "Miss Yun." He bowed in greeting, his aged voice carrying the authority of one long accustomed to high status, "The Young Master has been waiting for you for some time."
Liu Ying immediately grabbed Yun Pianpian's wrist, while hoisting the Black Iron heavy hammer with her other hand and charging inside. The hammer head struck the doorframe with a "clang," shaking down fine gold powder.
The moment they stepped into the Chamber of Commerce, countless gazes clung to them like spider silk, and whispers surged like a tide:
"Isn't that Elder Tongcheng of the Tian Xing Chamber of Commerce? Why is he personally receiving these two?"
"Their status must be extraordinary."
"Doesn't that look like the Eldest Miss Yun who was previously infatuated with the Second Prince?"
"Really? Wasn't it said that she died in the Scarlet Moon Mountain Range while searching for a Spirit Herb for the Second Prince?"
"..."
Liu Ying's hand suddenly tightened. Yun Pianpian chuckled lightly. Those idle rumors had long been buried with the Original Owner in the Scarlet Moon Mountain Range. Of course, she wouldn't take those words to heart; that was what the former Yun Pianpian did, not what I did.
Judging by their appearance alone, these people were either rich or noble; it seemed the entire elite of Shangjing City had gathered here.
When the carved, ascending lift came into view, Yun Pianpian's pupils contracted sharply. Four Chamber of Commerce Guards were turning the Gold-gilded winch, and the Star Map engraved on the bronze carriage gradually lit up as it ascended. This was no mere lift; it was clearly a giant Magical Artifact in operation!
They reached the fifth floor, which was eerily quiet. The Star Map on the dome reflected on the Agarwood floor. The entire floor held only a single private room. The moment the Guards pushed open the gold-painted door, a familiar herbal scent washed over her.
The Guards bowed and stepped back. The sandalwood door slid open silently, and Yun Pianpian almost blurted out, "Hello, Chairman!"
—This was hardly an antique Study Room? It was clearly an otherworldly replica of a modern CEO's office!
On the floor-to-ceiling display cabinet, various rare Spirit Tools were neatly arranged, each emitting a faint Spiritual Light; the Agarwood desk was piled high with thick account books, and next to them lay a pen inlaid with Spirit Stones; even the oil lamp had a wick carved from a High-Grade Spirit Stone, its soft glow reflecting on Shen Yue's handsome profile, making him appear even more refined and gentle.
Yun Pianpian's mouth twitched. If Shen Yue weren't truly a person from this world, she would have almost tentatively asked, "Odd change, even change!"
She sat down confidently and got straight to the point, "Well, last time, I really have to thank you for your Spiritual Power; otherwise, I probably would have struggled for much longer."
"I brought you a small gift; it's with Liu Ying!"
Shen Yue put down the account book he was holding and looked up at her, a smile like a spring breeze in his eyes, "I'm glad I could help."
Yun Pianpian slapped her thigh, "How about this, besides this, I don't have much else to offer. I'll treat you to dinner today! Drunken Immortal Tower, my treat!"
Shen Yue was always like this, someone whose presence could dispel all impatience.
"Okay, right now."
Yun Pianpian was still thinking, *He agreed so readily.* Let's go then.
Shen Yue was already standing up, making a gesture of "please," looking graceful and elegant.
Liu Ying had already returned and was waiting by the door. Seeing the two emerge, she happily rushed to greet them.