At night, a carriage adorned with Five-Colored Shells slowly entered the Thousand chanism Pavilion and only halted at the entrance of Mingxin Hall.
Disciples on their way stopped to gape at the sight.
The rules of the Thousand chanism Pavilion were strict—the carriage must not proceed beyond the gate, to prevent hidden weapons within from posing a threat to the Pavilion.
Yet, this carriage moved unhindered and stopped directly outside Mingxin Hall.
Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, recalling today’s various rumors about assassination attempts on both the Lady and the Pavilion Master. For a mont, the atmosphere was tense and restless.
"Miss, we’ve arrived."
The coachman said.
The person inside the carriage yawned, stretched lazily, and let out a soft sigh, which imdiately caused the nearby disciples to lose their focus.
Following a burst of silver-bell-like laughter, a woman dressed in green gracefully stepped down from the carriage.
Her radiance was dazzling enough to make hearts tremble. One by one, the disciples blushed, unable to tear their eyes away from her.
She strolled into the courtyard and snapped her fingers lightly.
The disciples awoke as if from a dream.
Gongsun Yu had already been waiting inside Mingxin Hall. When he saw the woman in green, he was montarily stunned but didn’t lose himself as the disciples had.
He clasped his hands and asked, "You must be the esteed daughter of dicine King Valley?"
The woman in green chuckled, "I prefer to be called Mao Tu."
Gongsun Yu nodded, "Miss Mao Tu."
The woman in green leapt lightly onto the chair, "The Second Master of the Thousand chanism Pavilion is certainly an entertaining character."
Though Gongsun Yu was well-versed in social decorum, he hadn’t dared to underestimate the woman before him because his elder brother had warned him—this woman was dangerous.
Gongsun Yu spoke courteously, "Miss Mao Tu, you’ve traveled far. We should, by all rights, let you rest briefly, but my brother’s condition is dire..."
Lan Yeyue said with a smile, "Then hurry up and lead the way."
Gongsun Yu hesitated, "Forgive my impertinence, but I must trouble Miss Mao Tu to wear a blindfold."
He initially thought she would be angered, but Lan Yeyue rely smiled sweetly, "Alright."
Gongsun Yu signaled the nearby maid, who stepped forward with thick cloth strips to blindfold Lan Yeyue.
Gongsun Yu led Lan Yeyue through a secret corridor into the chamber where Gongsun Yanming was waiting.
Shang Wuyou had already been relocated to the adjacent room. At this mont, the Ice Bed carried only Gongsun Yanming, who was sitting cross-legged.
Hearing their footsteps, Gongsun Yanming slowly opened his eyes.
His face was gaunt; the area between his brows darkened, his lips purple, and thick veins bulging from his neck like twisted worms.
Lan Yeyue smiled, "Master Gongsun’s poisoning is quite severe, isn’t it?"
Gongsun Yanming said to Gongsun Yu, "Go check on Wuyou."
Gongsun Yu sighed, "Brother, I’d rather stay here and accompany you."
Gongsun Yanming stated, "You’re not her match."
Lan Yeyue smiled seductively, "You’d better listen to your brother. If I truly act, your presence here will rely add another life to the tally."
At this point, Gongsun Yu had no choice but to leave.
Lan Yeyue, without ceremony, sat on the Ice Bed, "The Pavilion Master’s brother is loyal to the Pavilion Master indeed."
Gongsun Yanming didn’t discuss Gongsun Yu but rather asked, "How is the Blue Valley Master?"
Lan Yeyue grinned, "Quite well. My father instructed to ask the Pavilion Master—has he prepared the paynt for the cost? Once his seclusion ends, he’ll travel to the Southwest to settle the matter and fulfill the promise."
Gongsun Yanming’s expression didn’t shift in the slightest, "Whenever he wishes, I await the Blue Valley Master in earnest."
Lan Yeyue was satisfied with his response, her gaze sweeping over him, "You suddenly contacted , Pavilion Master. Surely, you hope I’ll cure your poisoning?"
Gongsun Yanming said, "Besides curing the poison, I also wish to ask Miss Lan to save one other person."
Lan Yeyue asked with a playful smile, "Your daughter, perhaps?"
Gongsun Yanming wasn’t at all surprised that she already knew. "It is her."
Lan Yeyue said leisurely, "Pavilion Master Gongsun, you know our dicine King Valley’s code—life for life. You and your daughter would add up to two lives! And given your esteed status, even your direct blood relatives wouldn’t ’weigh’ enough to trade for your life. Tell , then, what price are you offering for this deal with dicine King Valley?"
Gongsun Yanming traced four characters with his fingertip onto the Ice Bed: "Are these two lives sufficient?"
Lan Yeyue’s eyes widened, sparkling like a child discovering a new toy. She exclaid excitedly, "Sufficient! Absolutely sufficient!"
-
Late night silence.
ng Qianqian sat in her room, having dinner.
Gao ng and Gao Yao alternated night shifts—Gao ng took the first half, Gao Yao the second.
The maid cleaning the corridor glanced curiously into the room several tis.
Seeing ng Qianqian as indifferent as always, unconcerned about Elder Yan’s life or death, the maid couldn’t help but think ng Qianqian was chillingly cold-blooded.
"Is sothing the matter?"
ng Qianqian asked lightly.
The maid’s heart skipped in shock. How did she know she was staring?
"No, no!"
The maid slunk away furtively.
Not long after, a Hunting Eagle flew onto the windowsill, pried open the fra with its claws, and slipped inside, placing a Five-Colored Shell it carried from the carriage by ng Qianqian’s hand.
ng Qianqian picked up the shell, examined it, and said calmly, "So the first card played is dicine King Valley? Very well. I was just waiting for you to show yourself."
She hadn’t forgotten that Wuyou still owed dicine King Valley a life.
Choosing the Southwest over dicine King Valley’s territory certainly provided more favorable terrain.
Everything was proceeding according to plan.
"Chirp!"
The Hunting Eagle flapped its wings.
at, it wanted at!
ng Qianqian gave it two strips of jerky.
A hardworking "dog-man" earned only two strips by laboring himself to death, yet fetching a shell was rewarded so richly.
"Dog-n" were clearly worthless!
The Hunting Eagle munched its jerky happily.
Jerky was delicious.
"Elder Sister!"
Tan’er climbed in through the window fra.
A smile surfaced in ng Qianqian’s eyes, "Tan’er."
Tan’er jumped down and sat beside ng Qianqian, glancing at the dishes on the table, and grumbled bitterly, "Elder Sister, is N just eating this? Sprouts, green vegetables... not even a hint of at! Thousand chanism Pavilion is far too cruel!"
ng Qianqian laughed, "I ate at in the Imperial Palace."
Tan’er declared solemnly, "Mother said, every al must include at!"
ng Qianqian fixed her gaze on Tan’er, "Now that you ntion it, I’ve never asked you about your mother."
Tan’er lowered her head, fiddling with her fingers.
ng Qianqian smiled, "Alright, I won’t ask. You’re worried about Wuyou’s injuries, aren’t you? He’s in Mingxin Hall’s chamber, and his life is no longer in danger. Gongsun Yanming will take good care of him."
Tan’er huffed, "I wasn’t asking about him! I’m here to tell Elder Sister—I saw Gongsun Yanming! And didn’t the chick say Si Snake’s venom was incurable?"
ng Qianqian responded, "It’s Mao Tu."
Tan’er tilted her head, "dicine King Valley’s young lady, the one so fond of Chu Nan? She’s revealed herself? I’ll capture her!"
ng Qianqian gently pressed Tan’er’s hand, "No need to rush. Once she’s finished her business, she’ll co to us herself."
Tan’er curiously asked, "What business is she handling?"
ng Qianqian smirked, "Saving Gongsun Liuying."
Gongsun Yanming, you’ll soon realize that having Mao Tu save your daughter will be the gravest mistake you’ve ever made.
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