At the same time, a man dressed in a long, crimson robe, with fair skin and chiseled features like a sculpture, possessed breathtaking handsomeness. His ink-black hair cascaded down his body, framing a pair of captivating, amorous eyes. His beauty surpassed that of any woman, and a hint of a devilish smile was perpetually on his lips. He held a fan adorned with plum blossoms, and with every movement, every glance, he could drive the women around him to frenzy.
The man in red, accompanied by a subordinate clad in black, fitted attire and a woman in a white, flowing dress with a cinched waist, leisurely entered the city through the gates.
"Brother A Xiao, you're back in the capital. Why don't you come to my home and sit for a while?" the woman said, tugging at the hem of the man's robe with a smile.
Hearing her words, the man in red cast a casual glance at her, gently pulled his robe free from her grasp, and said unhurriedly, "Since you are already in the capital, hurry home. I have important matters to attend to. Please excuse me!"
With that, the man in red immediately utilized his Qinggong, vanishing from the woman's sight in moments. His subordinate in black followed closely behind. Enraged, the woman stomped her foot, her face as dark as the bottom of a pot. Gritting her teeth, she declared, "Ming Jiu Xiao, you will be my man!"
As she spoke, the woman shot a sinister glare in the direction the man in red had departed, causing everyone passing by to shudder with fear.
Meanwhile, Ming Jiu Xiao, after parting ways with Lin Feng and the woman, quickly arrived at Yichun Tower. He entered the private room number six on the second floor, the same one he had occupied before, and instructed Lin Feng to summon Madam Feng, the madam of Yichun Tower.
When Lin Feng escorted Madam Feng into the private room, he swiftly closed the door.
Madam Feng immediately bowed respectfully to Ming Jiu Xiao, saying, "Feng Guijiao pays her respects to the Esteemed Master!"
"Mm, rise," Ming Jiu Xiao said casually, fanning himself with his plum blossom fan.
"Why don't I see Miss Ye Ying performing today?" Ming Jiu Xiao asked curiously.
"Esteemed Master, that Miss Ye Ying is not one of the girls from our Yichun Tower. She was a temporary helper who came to Yichun Tower to earn money to redeem her maid," Madam Feng replied.
Ming Jiu Xiao's expression fell with disappointment. He had specifically traveled to the capital this time to find the girl who had danced downstairs that night. He hadn't expected her to not be a girl from Yichun Tower at all.
"Do you know where that girl lives?" Ming Jiu Xiao inquired.
Madam Feng pondered for a moment and then recalled that the girl named Ling'er had been brought to Yichun Tower by the second young lady of the Leng family to be sold to her. However, Miss Ye Ying had claimed Ling'er was her maid and had worn a veil. Madam Feng speculated that Miss Ye Ying might very well be Leng Ruo Li, the eldest young lady of General Leng's mansion.
"The eldest young lady of General Leng's mansion???" Ming Jiu Xiao exclaimed with an incredulous expression. A general's daughter singing for money in a pleasure house for a mere servant? Such a woman was truly interesting.
"Let's go, Lin Feng. We shall go and meet this interesting young lady."
---
Meanwhile, Leng Ruo Li, after finishing her work at the Hundred Herbs Hall, left the medical clinic and walked alone on the street.
A man dressed in luxurious clothing, weaving through the bustling street, accidentally bumped into Leng Ruo Li's shoulder, causing a sharp pain. Enraged, Leng Ruo Li swiftly apprehended the man, lifting him with one hand, and was about to deliver a couple of kicks.
"Second Imperial Sister-in-law, no, no, don't hit me. I'm Jun Mo Yu." Jun Mo Yu panicked upon seeing who had grabbed him.
"Jun Mo Yu, why were you darting through the crowd?" Leng Ruo Li asked, her face full of questions.
"It's because Second Imperial Brother is too stingy! I merely ate two meals at his restaurant, and he's making me undergo such devilish training. If this is unbearable, then that is also unbearable. I will absolutely not go," Jun Mo Yu said indignantly.
"Is that truly the case?" Leng Ruo Li observed Jun Mo Yu's expression closely, not quite believing him.
Immediately afterward, Ye Yi and Ye Wu, guards of Jun Mo Han, caught up.
"Greetings, Miss Leng. Our Prince has instructed us to escort the Idle Prince back for martial arts training." Ye Yi and Ye Wu bowed respectfully to Leng Ruo Li, their swords clasped in their hands.
"Second Imperial Sister-in-law, I don't want to go back for martial arts training. It's too strenuous," Jun Mo Yu complained with a dejected face.
Unexpectedly, Leng Ruo Li did not favor Jun Mo Yu.
"Idle Prince, your Second Imperial Brother is only having them supervise your martial arts training for your own good. You should cherish it. When you encounter danger, you will understand your Second Imperial Brother's intentions."
Upon hearing this, Ye Yi and Ye Wu looked at her with admiration, never expecting their future Princess Consort Leng to be as insightful as their Prince. Their Prince also wished to improve the Idle Prince's self-preservation abilities by having him intensify his martial arts training.
"I don't want to. I absolutely don't want to practice martial arts. Practicing martial arts is exhausting. It's better to play cockfighting with my friends." Jun Mo Yu broke free from Leng Ruo Li's grasp and hid behind her.
Subsequently, Leng Ruo Li walked away directly, saying without looking back, "I'm returning to the manor. You play hide-and-seek amongst yourselves."
At that moment, not far away, Ming Jiu Xiao and his subordinate Lin Feng happened to witness the entire scene on the street.
"Let's go, we must follow quickly." Ming Jiu Xiao and Lin Feng used their Qinggong, their toes pushing off the ground as they flew to follow. Then, Leng Ruo Li walked towards a more secluded area and entered a sparsely populated alley. She suddenly disappeared.
Ming Jiu Xiao quickly landed on the ground and rushed into the alley with Lin Feng to search, but they could no longer see her.
"Huh? This is truly eerie. Lin Feng, do you believe in ghosts?" Ming Jiu Xiao suddenly asked.
"Reporting to the Esteemed Master, this subordinate does not believe in the existence of ghosts in this world," Lin Feng replied honestly.
"Then why did she disappear without a trace?" Ming Jiu Xiao asked, filled with confusion.
Just then, a figure suddenly appeared behind them, startling them.
"Are you looking for me?" Leng Ruo Li asked.
Hearing Leng Ruo Li's voice, the two turned around, looking at her with astonishment.
Ming Jiu Xiao: "Young lady, where did you come from?"
Leng Ruo Li: "Do you want to know?"
Ming Jiu Xiao nodded.
Leng Ruo Li: "But I simply won't tell you."
Ming Jiu Xiao: "..."
Leng Ruo Li glanced at the man before her, who was as beautiful as a demon, dressed in a striking crimson. If she hadn't heard his male voice, she would have thought he was a woman. However, as she looked at him more closely, the man seemed familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before.
Subsequently, Leng Ruo Li furrowed her brows and asked, "Who are you people? Why are you following me?"
"Haha—"
"Young lady, didn't we meet at Yichun Tower last time? Think carefully."
After a moment, her bright eyes widened. Wasn't this man in red the one she had bumped into at Yichun Tower that day?
Ming Jiu Xiao, observing Leng Ruo Li's expression, knew she had remembered him.
"Then why are you following me? We aren't familiar with each other."
"Not familiar? Then let's become friends, and we'll become familiar, won't we?"
Leng Ruo Li rolled her eyes at him and turned to run away. Ming Jiu Xiao did not pursue her but looked meaningfully in the direction Leng Ruo Li had disappeared.
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