Emperor's Favored Concubine Tianxia 062 Foolish Circle Trap, Male or Female (Seeking First Subscription) Full Volume

  The night fell heavily, a few scattered stars hung in the sky, and the snow outside the window made Gong Sun Mo's figure even more upright and handsome. Gu Yun Xi stood not far behind him, her eyes narrowed, without saying a word.

  Time slipped away second by second, the lamp in the corner of the house had grown increasingly dim. Sun Zhe strode into the door, looking at the two people inside with a slightly furrowed brow, but it was only for an instant. He then bowed to Gong Sun Mo, "Your Majesty, the various officials have all been sent back to their respective mansions. Liu Shilang——"

  Sun Zhe seemed to hesitate for a moment, glancing at Gu Yunxi beside him. "The left wrist bone of Liu Shilang is broken and the best imperial physician in the palace has been invited to treat it. The imperial physician said that even if the bone can be set properly, the hand will still be useless."

  The atmosphere became increasingly oppressive and heavy, Gong Sun Mo let out a sigh, but Sun Zhe suddenly remembered something, "Your Highness, what about Princess Rong? She said you would ransom her?"

  This so-called Ruyue was naturally the woman leaning against Gong Sunmo's chest in the afternoon, who was a famous courtesan in the capital. At this moment, Gong Sunmo seemed to have an instant of thought, and after a moment, Gu Yunxi only heard Gong Sunmo open his mouth lightly, "Send her to Liu Shilang's mansion."

  "Got it."

  Sun Zhe bowed and retreated, leaving only the two of them in the room. Gu Yunxi raised her eyes to look at Gong Sunmo's back, took a deep breath and stepped forward a few steps, "Your Highness, today is all my fault."

  Gongsun Mo did not turn around, "Where are you wrong?"

  Gu Yunxi felt a slight sense of discontent, and her eyes lowered as she said, "Today, it was I, Yunxi, who ruined your banquet and injured the Minister of Works, Liu..."

  Gongsun Mo finally turned around, he looked up and down at Gu Yunxi for a moment, but the corners of his mouth were still smiling. Gu Yunxi raised her head and met his gaze, she couldn't help but feel a little stunned. Gongsun Mo took two steps forward, looking at her, "Yunxi, today's you is not wrong, next time you can still break Liu Shilang's hand."

  Gu Yun Xi's heart skipped a beat, "Wang Ye——"

  Gongsun Mo walked past Gu Yunxi and took the main seat, casually sipping a mouthful of the already cold tea soup that had been placed there earlier. When he raised his head again, his expression was much better. "Today is unavoidable, these old guys in the capital are only interested in sex and money. I think the national treasury of Da Yan has been emptied by them. Unfortunately, now I need manpower to overthrow Guozhang, so I can only pretend to get along with them."

  With a slight pause, Gong Sun Mo looked at Gu Yun Xi's eyes with a hint of sympathy, "I can play along with them, but I will never allow you to compromise yourself. You have already done so much for me."

  A warmth flashed in Gu Yunxi's eyes, and at that moment she knew that as someone by Gong Sunmo's side, she shouldn't have treated his guest like that. However, she couldn't help herself, and for the entire afternoon, she was somewhat anxious, fearing that her impulsiveness would ruin Gong Sunmo's important matter. Yet, he actually said something like this, instantly dispelling the unease in her heart.

  Kang Yuexi still had a hint of guilt, Gong Sun Mo smiled calmly, "You can rest assured, I have a way to make Liu Zhun completely devoted to me."

  Gu Yunxi nodded upon hearing this, only then remembering that she had come in the afternoon with something important to report. She hesitated for a moment, "Your Highness, today the Princess of Nanyue went to the Prime Minister's residence."

  Gongsun Moye gestured for Gu Yunxue to take a seat, and only then asked in surprise, "Why?"

  "On the day when the Southern Viet convoy entered Beijing, I brought Chu Yi to surprise her carriage, so it can be said that they had met once. She probably liked Chu Yi and said at the banquet that night that she wanted to come to the Chancellor's mansion to take a look at Chu Yi——"

  Gongsun furrowed his brow, "Chuyi?"

  Gu Yun Xie finally reacted, a smile playing on the corner of her mouth. "The king doesn't know yet, it's that little wolf I brought back from Jialing Mountain, I've given her a name."

  Gongsun Mo's mouth hooked up slightly as he nodded, but his eyes deepened by a fraction.

  Gu Yunxi continued, "Since she's here, I'll naturally treat her well. After exchanging a few words, she said that three days later, she would be leaving Da Yan with Luo Xiao."

  "After three days?"

  Gongsun Mo was apparently very interested in this matter, his eyes shining brightly as he looked at Gu Yunxi, while Gu Yunxi's face showed a few hints of hesitation and reluctance. "She said that the Southern Yue chariot team would leave from Chaoyang Gate three days later and head south to Wulipu, then go down Linyu Peak and take the official road, passing through the southwestern 14 states directly to the southwestern border of Yan State."

  Gongsun Mo nodded in his heart, "This road is the nearest, the Emperor of Nanyue is critically ill, they don't have that much time to take a detour, it's not far from what I thought."

  Gu Yunxi nodded, but suddenly felt that the hand in her sleeve was trembling slightly. She slowly got up and walked to the window, the night seemed even darker, the snowflakes on the branches outside the window sparkled under the faint starlight, looking crystal clear and very beautiful. She seemed to be mesmerized by the sight, and didn't even notice Gong Sunmo walking up behind her.

  "This is an imperial decree."

  Gu Yunxi regained her composure, "I understand."

  "Luo Xiao has been living in seclusion for ten years in the Great Yan, although he had no status but kept himself safe. He was originally a proud son of heaven and a dragon among men, yet he could endure such humiliation without exploding. Either he is weak and incompetent, or he possesses an unyielding will that ordinary people cannot match. This time, returning to Nan Yue, the Emperor has no absolute guarantee of releasing a tiger back into the mountains, so we must spare no expense in keeping him here."

  Gongsun Mo glanced at Gu Yunxi, "Nanyue has no tradition of a female emperor succeeding to the throne. Now that the Emperor of Nanyue is seriously ill, if not for Luoxiao, they can only choose the next heir from among their relatives and in-laws. Over the years, Dayan has planted many people in other countries. Father's intention is probably to use this to control Nanyue."

  Gu Yunxi's eyes gleamed with a hint of coldness, "The terrain of Nanyue is mostly hilly, and the climate is suitable for agriculture, making it a natural place to station troops. Controlling Nanyue would allow us to deploy troops to control the surrounding countries of Yun Song, Dong Qi, and Xi Lian. When the time comes to fight, we won't have to worry about running out of supplies."

  Gongsun Mo took a step forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Gu Yunxi. His eyes shone brightly as he looked at Gu Yunxi, "Yunxi, I had no idea you saw that far."

  Gu Yunxi's mouth curved, and he also turned around to look at Gong Sunmo. "From the day I chose the king, I started thinking about this issue. The Great Yan looks prosperous and strong, but in other places, war has already broken out. How can there be intact eggs under a destroyed nest? Rather than decorating peace and leisurely passing the days until the war reaches our own doorstep, why not use our wealth and soldiers to take the initiative to attack and become the master of this world?"

  "Yún Xī——"

  Gongsun Mo was somewhat moved, the words reached his lips but he didn't know how to say them out loud. Gu Yunxi looked at him and smiled, covering her mouth, "Your Highness doesn't need to rush, what we need to do now is gain the Emperor's trust. Da Yan is our first step forward, not to mention that the situation in the world is changing rapidly, we still need to observe and act accordingly."

  Gongsun Mo smiled and shook his head, as if sighing, "Yun Xi, I have never doubted you."

  Gu Yunxi bowed slightly towards Gong Sunmo, "Thank you for not abandoning me, King. I, Gu Yunxi, will definitely use all my strength to help the king!"

  ——

  The end of the year 475 AD was a bustling time for Great Yan, but all parties must come to an end. After envoys from various countries presented their gold, silver, precious jade, silk and satin to Great Yan, they would leave one after another.

  For several days, the foreign diplomatic corps left Beijing, and the people of Yanjing had already gotten used to these grand processions. When Gu Yunxi rode out in her carriage, the people on the street were discussing which country's gifts were more numerous, and what each country took away when they left.

  Zi Lan was teasing Chu Yi in the carriage, and although it originally didn't get along with anyone except Gu Yun Xi, it would occasionally give Zi Lan a good face. Today, Gu Yun Xi had to go to Chaoyang Gate because a princess was leaving from there today.

  "Miss, isn't it a bit late for us to go now? I'm afraid Princess Luo Ran might have left early."

  "Regardless of whether we make it or not, what matters is this heartfelt intention."

  Zi Lan nodded, and began to tease Chu Yi again. The horse carriage was moving quietly, but suddenly it stood up and let out a low whinny!

  "Waaaah——"

  Zi Lan let out a cry of alarm and hid in the corner of the car, her eyes filled with fear. Gu Yun Xi furrowed his brow and looked at Zi Lan reassuringly, while stroking Chu Yi's back. However, Chu Yi was not comforted and let out another low wail. Gu Yun Xi's brow furrowed again as he saw that Zi Lan had turned pale with fright.

  "Okay okay, I won't bother you again, don't be angry, don't bite me!"

  Zi Lan muttered pitifully, Gu Yun Xie saw Chu Yi finally lay down again and felt a few more points of unease in her heart. She lifted the window curtain to take a look outside, and at the end of the street, there was a black carriage rolling forward, but it disappeared around the corner in an instant. Gu Yun Xie only felt that the carriage seemed familiar, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't remember where she had seen it before.

  She looked down at Chu Yi, who had closed her eyes and was resting, then looked again at the street corner where people were coming and going as usual. Her dark eyes lit up slightly, "Zi Lan, do you know when the carriage team of Chu State left?"

  Zilan was frightened and only weakly said, "It seems to be the day before yesterday, or maybe it was yesterday, Zilan is not clear, I just heard the small servant who went out to buy things in the mansion discussing it, but the specific details are not remembered."

  Gu Yunxi nodded, her eyes growing increasingly somber, "First go to Chaoyang Gate, speed up."

  Hearing Gu Yunxi's suddenly serious voice, Zilan was startled and lifted the curtain to instruct the coachman before getting back inside. "Miss didn't say it's okay if we can't make it as long as our hearts are in the right place?"

  "Since it's the thought that counts, then it should be sent to the right place."

  Zi Lan furrowed her brow, but she didn't quite understand what Gu Yun Xie meant by those words.

  At noon, Chaoyang Gate was bustling with people coming and going, and from a distance, one could see a group of people and horses being inspected by the patrol camp before leaving the city. Gu Yunxi looked at the clothes and uniforms of the group and found that they were indeed from Nan Yue. Gu Yunxi got off the carriage but did not rush to join the crowd. What she saw was only the tall, strong, and sturdy followers of Nan Yue, but there was no sign of the luxurious carriage frame that should have belonged to the princess.

  Zilan stood behind her and sighed, "I'm afraid the princess has gone out first, otherwise let's go to the city building to take a look?"

  Gu Yunxi furrowed her brow and shook her head, "That's too showy."

  It seemed that no matter how hard she looked, she still couldn't see Luo Ran's carriage. Gu Yun Xi furrowed her brow and pulled out an object from her sleeve - a silk sachet made of bright brocade, with white satin embroidered with several white roses, looking fresh and elegant. Gu Yun Xi took Chu Yi out of the carriage and placed the sachet at its nose tip. Chu Yi let out a few low whimpers, and Gu Yun Xi patted it on the back, letting it jump down from the carriage.

  Everyone at the city gate was in a hurry to leave the city and did not notice a white figure quickly shuttling under their feet. Gu Yunxi quietly waited beside the carriage, time passed minute by minute, and her unease in her heart also became more and more apparent.

  Soon, Chu Yi quickly returned, Gu Yun Xi bent down to pick her up, and Chu Yi rubbed against her arm with a low whine, looking as if she had been wronged. Gu Yun Xi's eyes became increasingly solemn, "Get on the carriage, let's go to De Wang Fu!"

  Zilan had not yet reacted when the carriage started moving again. Zilan looked at Gu Yunxi's gloomy eyes and asked softly, "Miss, why are we going to De Wangfu now?"

  Gu Yunxi's mouth twitched, "Luoran didn't go through the Chaoyang Gate at all!"

  Zi Lan was taken aback, but she didn't quite understand what was going on. However, Gu Yun Xue's aura had already turned icy cold, and she didn't dare ask another question. When the carriage driver whipped the horses to hurry to the Duke of De's residence, Gu Yun Xue jumped down from the carriage before they even came to a stop. Zi Lan chased after her but couldn't catch up. The little servant who opened the door for them said as soon as he saw Gu Yun Xue, "Miss Gu, the Master is not in the manor."

  Gu Yunxi's forehead was covered in cold sweat, "Are Sun Lu and Sun Zhe still here?"

  The little boy looked embarrassed, "Miss Gu, whenever the prince goes out, Sun Lu and Sun Zhe, the two bodyguards, are always following him. What's wrong with you?"

  Gu Yunxi was about to die of anxiety, but in the De Wang Fu, although she had come many times, each time she saw only a few people. Now, who else could she find?

  Just as Gu Yunxi was anxious, a woman wearing a pink maid's uniform walked over. Gu Yunxi looked up and her eyes lit up, "Lu Zhu?"

  Lu Zhu was also slightly stunned, she handed the object in her hand to the person behind her and quickly walked over, "Miss Gu, are you looking for Wang Ye? He's not at home right now——"

  Gu Yunxue pulled her aside, "Lu Zhu, I know that the prince has probably left Yanjing City by now, but I really have something very important to find him. Do you know what's the fastest way to find the prince?"

  Lu Zhu looked at the fine sweat on Gu Yunxi's forehead and thought for a moment, "Lu Zhu knows how to find Wang Ye, but this time Wang Ye went out with something very important, if..."

  "There's no if, I want you to tell your King that what you said is extremely important, you have to tell your King, the person he's waiting for didn't take that road!"

  Lu Zhu had previously taken care of Gu Yun Xi and was highly trusted by Gong Sun Mo. At this moment, hearing what Gu Yun Xi said, she naturally knew that there was no time to delay. She immediately asked Gu Yun Xi to wait for a moment while she went down to instruct the fast messenger to send the message to Gong Sun Mo. About an incense stick later, Lu Zhu reappeared, and Gu Yun Xi hastily approached her, "How long will it take for the letter to reach Master Wang's hands?"

  "The prince is now where, Miss must also know that our intelligence network sends messages the fastest, but at least it takes half a day to arrive."

  Gu Yunxi was taken aback, "It took half a day to get here, and it'll take another half day to hurry back. This coming and going will take at least most of the day!"

  Gu Yunxi's heart was anxious, she hadn't expected that Luo Ran's purpose in going to the Chancellor's mansion was such, she thought she had obtained news of Luo Ran's whereabouts, but this was exactly what Luo Ran wanted her to hear and remember and pass on to Gong Sunmo, it was the message she sent that misled Gong Sunmo, how careless she was!

  Gu Yunxi's eyes turned cold, and she turned to look at Lüzhū. "Lüzhū, quickly find someone to send a message to the Cheng Wang Fu, telling them to bring their skilled men to wait for me at the Chao Yu Men. Tell them it concerns the De Wang and that they must hurry!"

  Lu Zhu also felt that something might have happened, and at this moment, she didn't dare to delay for even half a second. Gu Yun Xi watched as Lu Zhu went to find someone to send a message, and herself hastily got into the carriage outside the palace. Zi Lan was about to follow when Gu Yun Xi stopped her, "Zi Lan, you go back to the Xiang Fu now. Today's matter must not be spread around. If Mother asks, just say that the Duke of De kept me in the palace for dinner."

  Zi Lan nodded slightly, and at Gu Yun Xi's command, the horseman whipped the horses to gallop towards Chaoyu Gate. The city of Yanjing had three gates on each side for people to enter and exit, with the south gate reserved exclusively for the emperor. Since Luo Ran hadn't left through the east gate, Chaoyang Gate, she must have exited from Chaoyu Gate in the west. Gu Yun Xi's mind recalled the black carriage he saw earlier on the street, making him increasingly uneasy.

  Chu Yi had always been someone who wouldn't make unnecessary noise, how could she be so careless?

  The horse carriage galloped from east to west across the capital, and when it arrived at Chaoyu Gate, Gu Yunxue had already caught sight of Gong Sun Chenglin's figure. She felt a sense of relief in her heart and couldn't help but marvel at Qingzhu's speed. Before she could even get off the carriage, Gong Sun Chenglin rushed up to greet her, "Yunxue, what happened?"

  Gu Yunxi felt a bit helpless. The reason why Gong Sun Mo didn't hand this matter over to Gong Sun Chenglin was largely because it was something that couldn't be made public. By now, all the countries probably knew that Emperor Lie had approved Luo Xiao's request to return home. This kind of contradictory behavior before and after was too unbecoming for the great Yan kingdom.

  But at this moment, Gu Yunxi still had to say it.

  Gongsun Chenglin's eyes gradually turned cold, his gaze heavy as he looked at Gu Yunxi. The bright eyes instantly added a few shades of gloominess. Gu Yunxi took a deep breath, "Your Highness, I'm sure you understand the king's intentions, but the situation is urgent now, and I have no choice but to drag you into this muddy water——"

  Gongsun Chenglin clenched his fists tightly, "No need to say more, I understand. It's getting late, we must hurry out of the city!"

  Gu Yunxue turned around and took out Chu Yi from the carriage, instructing the coachman to return by the original route. Then he asked Gong Sun Chenglin, "Your Highness, do you have an extra horse that I can borrow?"

  Gongsun Chenglin hesitated for a moment, then thought of Gu Yunxi being able to get the Snow Lotus for Gongsun Mo, and immediately became unscrupulous. He ordered one of the ten people behind him to dismount and stay in the capital to await Gongsun Mo's return, while the others followed him out. The guard at the city gate was a deputy general of the Patrol Camp, who seemed to know Gongsun Chenglin and couldn't help but ask questions when he saw him leading so many people out of the city.

  Gongsun Chenglin smiled, "Winter has not yet ended, the last big hunt our king was injured and didn't have a good time, today we'll go for a small hunt outside the city, and can return later."

  At this point, the vice general was speechless. Gu Yunxi, who had been following him on horseback, suddenly turned her head and asked the vice general, "Did you see Lord Chu leave the city from here today?"

  "That general slightly hesitated, 'Chu Gongxia? Didn't he just return from the hot springs of Jialing Mountain to recuperate? How could he have gone out of the city? I didn't see him today ——"

  Gu Yunxi nodded and without even looking at the general, she urged her horse on and left the city.

  A line of flying cavalry rushed out, gradually rising water mist all the way. The deputy general looked at the direction where Gu Yunxi and others left, with a slight darkness in his small eyes. He let out a light sigh and turned to prepare to go up the city tower, but saw a person wearing a purple shirt and black cloak standing on the stairs of the city tower. The face of this deputy general changed greatly, and he stuttered and couldn't speak, "Song... General Song..."

  Song Ya stood at the entrance of the city gate with a cold and stern expression, his eyes glanced in the direction where Gu Yun Xue and others had left, and he nodded to the deputy general who was showing a look of surprise. "I just took office after New Year's, although I'm not in charge of this side, but I came early to get familiar with it, and Deputy General, you are leading the troops in an orderly manner, Song Ya is learning from you."

  The storm in Jiang's eyes gradually subsided, and a smile finally appeared on his face. He bowed to Song Xiaoyu, "General Song has overpraised me. Would General like me to accompany you to take a look around?"

  Song Ya waved his hand and said, "I've seen enough, I'll take my leave now."

  Yu Jiang bowed to Song Huan, and only let out a deep breath when his back disappeared into the crowd in the city. This was because half an hour ago, a completely black carriage had passed by Yu Jiang's eyes, and the person sitting inside was none other than Chu Dianxia Wan Qi Chen, who should have been recuperating from illness!

  The cold wind howled over the castle, and from this direction, the entire city of Yanjing was like a coiled dragon nestled in its luxurious splendor. However, no one knew that at some point, this magnificent city built with gold and silver had begun to rot. The prosperity behind the music and dance, the filth and darkness behind the glamour and luxury, the festering wounds that initially started as small points gradually grew larger, until one day it would all come crashing down under the weight of its own glory and wealth!

  The snow that had fallen a few days ago was still piled up on both sides of the road. Gu Yunxi took out the sachet from her sleeve again, and Chu Yi lowered her head to take a light sniff before letting out a loud bark at the middle path.

  "Go through the middle!"

  They were almost galloping, and Gong Sun Chenglin and the others naturally didn't understand how Gu Yunxi had come up with this method of distinguishing which road to take. However, this was no longer important, because as they walked further, they discovered that Gu Yunxi's instructions were incredibly accurate. On the small, deserted paths, the more they walked, the more chaotic hoof prints and wheel tracks they saw, and the number of people had already far exceeded Gu Yunxi's predictions.

  "As far as I know, the team from South Vietnam didn't have so many people—"

  Gu Yunxi furrowed her brow, "If they were originally prepared to take Luo Xiao away, then having so many people outside the city wouldn't be a problem!"

  Gongsun Chenglin naturally agreed, but looking at the few people behind him, he was somewhat uncertain. After walking for a while, another fork in the road appeared before them. Gu Yunxi looked at the similarly messy footprints on both sides and furrowed her brow. The farther they walked, the fainter the scent of her sachet became. This time, Chu Yi's eyes pitifully looked around, hesitated, and shouted towards the right side.

  Gu Yun Xi hesitated for a moment, "Looking at these marks, the two siblings should have separated. Your Highness, remember that the Emperor only wants Luo Xiao alone. I'll head in the direction of the princess, and if they're together, I'll fire a signal flare to notify you."

  Gongsun Chenglin nodded, waved his hand and the five guards behind him immediately followed Gu Yunxi. The two of them exchanged a glance and whipped their horses to head in different directions on the two roads ahead.

  The slope of Wulipo is far from just five miles, at this time the snowy mountains are as quiet as death, occasionally a few bird calls appear sharp and frightening, on a mountain ridge, Gong Sun Mo wears a white robe with a dark gaze.

  Sun Lu and Sun Zhe were also standing behind him, wearing white clothes. Several people's eyes were fixed on the narrow official road below the mountain ridge. The weather was extremely cold in winter, although this was a section of the official road, and there were no more than ten pedestrians and horses passing by in a day. At this moment, looking at the motionless slope below, Gong Sun Mo's eyes sank even deeper.

  "Master, it's almost time, by rights, the convoy from Nanyue should have arrived here long ago."

  Sun Zhe's words were heavy, and Gong Sun Mo's body felt even colder. He furrowed his brow in thought for a moment, just as he was about to say something when a convoy finally appeared on the long-silent road.

  "Master!"

  Gongsun Mo's eyes narrowed as she took a closer look, the leader of the horse team was a tall and sturdy man driving the horses to lead the way. The several horse-drawn carriages following behind were all ordinary cargo carts that had been modified, their appearance was extremely simple and crude.

  What kind of person is Luo Ran, judging from her usual dressing and behavior, she would not treat herself so harshly, let alone that Luo Xiao is still ill now, Luo Ran will consider him.

  Gongsun Mo's eyebrows furrowed tighter, and when the entire fleet came into view, he finally saw a magnificent carriage with a wide door and a large canopy. Sun Zhe and Sun Lu sparkled in the back!

  "Master, shall we take action?"

  Gongsun Mo's gaze followed the carriage until it disappeared from view. After a moment of silence, he spoke up, "There is no one in the carriage."

  The place where the horse-drawn carriage passed by had already accumulated a thick layer of snow. At this time, dozens of horse-drawn carriages passed by one after another. Although it was impossible to see how many people were sitting inside the carriage, it could be judged from the depth of the wheel tracks whether there were people inside or not. The most luxurious carriage track was the shallowest.

  Sun Lu and Sun Zhe exchanged a glance, both of their foreheads showing a few beads of sweat. Sometimes an opportunity only comes once, even on the territory of Great Yan, since Nan Yue dared to take back Luo Xiao, they must have made preparations. Once they walked out of their line of sight, it would be very difficult to find them again accurately.

  Gongsun Mo's eyes stared intently at the people and horses below, his mind had already turned a hundred times. Sun Lu and Sun Zhe were also exhausted from thinking. The guard behind him suddenly handed over an object, seeing that it was a secret letter sent by their own royal palace, Sun Zhe immediately handed it to Gongsun Mo.

  Looking at this letter, Gong Sun Mo was also very surprised. Had something happened in Yanjing City?

  A wave of unease swept over, Gong Sun Mo opened the envelope, and there were only a few words in the letter. Gong Sun Mo's eyes grew darker and darker, he folded the letter and put it in his sleeve, his gaze swept over the distant carriages and horses, and four words fell heavily, "Hurry back to the capital!"

  The sky gradually darkened, and when Gu Yunxi and others galloped over a mountain ridge, what they saw was a piece of bright lights, "It seems to be a village ahead."

  "Waaaah——"

  Chu Yi's sudden loud shout startled Gu Yun Xie, she calmed Chu Yi down and her gaze fell deeply on the starry sky ahead, "Gentlemen, the Princess of Nanyue is in the village up ahead. When we enter, try not to disturb the villagers. Without my orders, do not take any private actions."

  "Yes!"

  The neat echo of the voices made Gu Yunxi's spirit shake, and several people urged their horses again. It wasn't until they arrived at the village entrance that they discovered it was still a populous village. Gu Yunxi's appearance was familiar, she thought for a moment before taking out a veil to wear.

  As soon as they entered the village, they attracted strange glances. Gu Yunxi put Chu Yi on the horse's back and covered it with her cloak, one hand tightly pressed on Chu Yi's spine, afraid that it would let out a sharp bark at any moment.

  The villagers didn't seem to be xenophobic, and it appeared that many travelers stayed here for lodging and meals. At this moment, seeing the people entering the village were all dressed in luxurious attire, they hurriedly came up to greet them, and the enthusiasm of accommodating guests made Gu Yunxi almost cry with laughter. Gu Yunxi looked at a kind old lady who was very considerate and asked, "Auntie, where is the best inn around here? The kind that high-ranking officials would stay in when passing through?"

  The old woman thought for a moment, then looked up and down at Gu Yunxi's clothes again. Seeing that she was wearing a veil and had several attendants with her, she thought to herself that this must be the young lady of a wealthy family. She realized that this business was not going to work out, so she pointed to a place at the end of the street with a red lantern hanging outside and said, "You all go there, it's the best place. In the late afternoon when it's almost dark, several people will move in."

  Gu Yunxue's heart moved, and she took out a few pieces of silver from her sleeve and handed them to the old woman, then mounted her horse and left. From afar, she saw that the large red lantern had the words "Fu Lai" (Good Fortune) written on it. She hesitated for a moment, then turned around and said to the people behind her, "You all going in now would be too conspicuous. I'll go in alone and take a look. If I haven't come out by dawn, you can all enter. As long as we confirm that the person we're looking for isn't here, it's fine."

  Several guards looked at each other with some unease, but Gu Yunxi was not one to haggle with them. She jumped off her horse and placed the package by the side of the street, and the little thing instantly flashed out of sight into the vast night. Gu Yunxi walked lightly into the Fugui Inn, and as soon as she entered, a shout came from the second floor!

  "Welcome, sir!"

  Gu Yun Xi looked around and saw that although the inn was small, it was decorated very elegantly. Gu Yun Xi asked, "Do you have any of your best rooms available?"

  The young servant looked embarrassed. "Miss, I'm really sorry, but the best rooms here are already booked for tonight. If you don't mind, I can arrange a medium-sized room for you?"

  Gu Yunxi shook her head, "But I just want to stay in the best one. How many guests are staying in the superior room tonight?"

  Xiao Er heard this and was about to respond, but his gaze shifted towards the staircase leading from the main hall to the second floor. "Big brother, what do you want?"

  At the staircase on the second floor, a man was standing at this moment. Gu Yunxi glanced up and saw that he was a tall and sturdy man. He faced Xiao Er directly and said, "Once the medicine is cooked, bring it up quickly, and also send more hot water."

  Decocting medicine?

  Gu Yun Xue's heart skipped a beat, could it be Luo Xiao was here!

  The little servant seemed to be somewhat intimidated by the tall man, and he nodded repeatedly in agreement. After the man entered the house, the little servant smiled apologetically at Gu Yunxi, "I'm really sorry, it's almost New Year's and we're short-staffed, would you mind waiting for a bit? I need to deliver water to the guests upstairs, that young lady is probably washing up right now, if it's late it'll freeze."

  "Alright, go ahead, I'll wait here."

  As he watched Xiao Er go upstairs, Gu Yunxi's eyes scanned the large hall in a circle, and then she quietly walked towards a bamboo curtain.

  When Xiao Er went downstairs, he still saw Gu Yunxue waiting there. He smiled apologetically and said, "Sorry, I'm going to deliver the guest's medicine upstairs. The guest isn't a local, can't stand Yan's cold weather, and is now seriously ill with a severe chill."

  Gu Yunxi stood in front of the cabinet, nodding slightly, and watched as Xiao Er entered through the bamboo curtain and came out with a bowl of black medicine. He saw Xiao Er go upstairs to the second room on the left, and Gu Yunxi's eyes sank slightly.

  When Xiao Er returned, Gu Yunxi readily agreed to his suggestion and chose the middle room on the left. With her veil tied up, she went upstairs, but didn't hear any sound coming from the better rooms in the middle. Her eyes slightly dimmed as she walked past the door of the second room on the left, where she seemed to catch a glimpse of something red.

  When Xiao Er sent Gu Yunxi into the house, Gu Yunxi didn't say anything. Just as Xiao Er was feeling strange, a tall and large man came out of the next room. He had a stern expression on his face, "My master is ill and doesn't like noise when resting. You'd better tell both sides to keep quiet and go to sleep early!"

  Gu Yunxi listened to the commotion outside, and after that man finished speaking, he didn't enter or guard the door, but instead went straight downstairs. Gu Yunxi hung her heart quietly listening to the movements in the next room, but there was no sound inside. After a long time, just when Gu Yunxi thought there was no one living inside, a scream suddenly came from within.

  "Who are you?!"

  This voice was all too familiar to Gu Yunxi, it was indeed Luo Ran!

  After a cry of surprise, there was no other movement. Gu Yunxi didn't know what the situation was like, nor did she know who had appeared in front of Luo Ran at this hour to make her cry out in surprise. She stood in front of the wall, with even more doubts in her heart!

  "What do you want to do?!"

  Another cry of surprise made Gu Yunxi's heart suddenly move!

  "What do you want to do—"

  One cry was sharper than the last, one cry more startling to Gu Yunxi's heart. Luo Ran was a princess of Southern Yue; at this moment, she must have many attendants by her side. Even if she encountered some danger, it had nothing to do with her. She didn't need to bother about it herself, as long as she could confirm whether Luo Xiao was here or not.

  Once again thinking of that young man, Gu Yunxi's heart still felt suffocated. The best ten years of his life were spent in Yanjing, without any dignity as a prince, and just when he was about to escape this sea of suffering, she was going to take his life!

  There are so many people in this world who cannot control their own destiny, and how can they break free from the shackles of fate? Gu Yunxi's eyes dimmed slightly, only to make herself stronger!

  "Ah——"

  Another shrill and fragmented voice shouted out, Gu Yunxi clenched her fists tightly, she seemed to hear the sound of suppressed struggle, as well as the sound of clothes being torn apart!

  Gu Yunxi's eyes widened in shock, How is this possible! How can it be!

  Where is her bodyguard? Where are her attendants? Doesn't anyone take care of her?

  Gu Yunxi paced back and forth, while the evil next door seemed to continue. Luo Ran's gentle voice was now helpless and desperate, the sound of clothes being torn apart came in waves. Gu Yunxi closed her eyes tightly, and in her mind, a scene that she could never forget appeared again and again - the scene on the Cang Mo plateau where Zhen Lan withered under the humiliation of the Xi Leng soldiers!

  "Someone, save me——"

  Gu Yunxi clenched her fist tightly, and in the next instant, she pulled out a short and sharp dagger from her sleeve. The icy blade emitted a chilling glow in the darkness, causing people to feel a shiver run down their spines. She furrowed her brow, opened her own door, and with one hand, gently pushed open the slightly ajar door of the adjacent room.

  A burst of orchid fragrance wafted in, and Gu Yunxi gently closed the door. Inside, layers of curtains hung down, and behind them, a figure seemed to be struggling and shouting. Gu Yunxi held her breath and slowed her pace, step by step approaching the inner room. Every time she lifted a layer of gauze, she felt that the person on the bed would weaken their breathing a little more. Her eyes sank heavily as she walked through the layers of curtains, but just as she was about to lift the last layer and stab with her dagger, she suddenly discovered that the figure in her line of sight had vanished without warning.

  The whole bed was covered with torn red silk ribbons, but something didn't feel right.

  On the exquisite bed, two brocade quilts were neatly laid out at this moment. Even the direction of the jade pillow was never messy, and there wasn't even a single thread or wrinkle on the quilt. A strong sense of unease suddenly rose to her heart, and Gu Yunxi suddenly turned around.

  But everything was too late.

  A figure clad in dark red undergarments stood before her, his hair disheveled on his shoulders. At this moment, his eyes were gazing at her with a captivating light, and his face, still flushed from the bath, was so tender that it seemed almost otherworldly. Luo Ran covered his mouth and chuckled, "Miss, why are you sneaking into my room in the middle of the night and still covering your face? Come, let me take a look at who you are..."

  Luoran's slender waist and elegant movements walked towards Gu Yunxi, Gu Yunxi wanted to take a step back, but she couldn't move no matter what. She took a deep breath, the fragrance of orchids in the room made her even more powerless.

  Gu Yunxi struggled on her own, but Luo Ran continued to walk towards her with a charming smile and a flirtatious expression. Her cheongsam was slightly disheveled, and with each step, the neckline opened wider. She didn't bother to adjust her clothes, and gradually, she seemed to have discovered something, her enchanting eyes turning sly and seductive. "Tsk, tsk, who is it? Ah, it's my good friend..."

  Gu Yunxi was extremely nervous, and upon hearing this, she looked up in shock. She had thought that Luo Ran wouldn't be able to recognize her so quickly, but her thoughts were already frozen, and her gaze was fixed on one spot in horror.

  Her eyes narrowed slightly, and her gaze was heavier than ever before, as if facing a great enemy. At this moment, from her direction, Luo Ran's open shirt was not wearing anything inside, and on her chest that should be plump, it was actually flat!

  Digression

  "Hmm...hmm...you guys understand...who is he actually..."