Gu Qianying also left the restaurant, but she didn't expect to have two followers behind her.
Thus, Gu Qianying, who had planned to return to her rural courtyard, immediately changed her mind.
Yan Kuan and the others could not reveal their whereabouts in front of Ouyang Qinglin, otherwise, with Ouyang Qinglin's methods, he would definitely capture Yan Kuan and hand him over to the emperor for punishment.
Thinking this, Gu Qianying walked several laps on the street, then entered a brothel, changed into women's clothing, and climbed over the back wall to leave, thus shaking off her pursuers.
However, she did not know that the man wearing the silver mask had not been shaken off by her; he had been hiding in the shadows.
While she rested in her rural courtyard, he hid in a tree ten meters away, meditating with his eyes closed.
When she went to wander at the alley entrance, he followed her all the way, never leaving her side.
He was very angry, very angry that she could be so cruel and heartless to him, but no matter how angry he was, he couldn't bear to leave her. Even in the moment of closing his eyes, he would think of her, and he would desperately want to be closer to her.
For several days, he used the sky as his blanket and the earth as his bed, never eating at restaurants. He only ate casually along the way, yet he never had any intention of leaving her.
After shaking off others, Gu Qianying followed a small path back to the rural courtyard where she was currently living.
Meanwhile, Gu Yi, Gu Yefeng, Du Chun, along with two others, Nangong Li and Yan Kuan, and Duan Xifeng. Among these people, Gu Yi and Yan Kuan, who could not practice martial arts, were extremely weak. As a result, they suffered the most severe external injuries.
One had bruised eyes, making it difficult to see the path ahead, but was otherwise fine.
The other had some minor scratches on his face, which were not serious. The others were unharmed, with only their robes torn.
These people fought amongst themselves, but they did not reach a conclusion on who would stay or leave. Thus, when Gu Qianying climbed through the window and came out of the house, pretending to be well-rested, she said directly, "Since we can't decide, let's draw lots."
Everyone nodded, agreeing with Gu Qianying's suggestion.
A moment later, the results of the lot drawing were out. Du Chun, Duan Xifeng, Nangong Li, and Yan Kuan were to go to Beiling.
Among the remaining people, Gu Qianying and Lu Zhu disguised themselves as maids by Bai Dongqing's side and followed Bai Dongqing's lead to find an opportunity to act against the Empress of the Xia Kingdom.
Gu Yefeng, who called himself Yang Ze, returned to the capital to report, taking with him the fake treasure map and the fake corpses of the fugitive eldest daughter of the Gu family and the young minister of Dali Temple, Yan Kuan.
Gu Yefeng was naturally unwilling to return, and certainly would not return.
However, Gu Qianying said something to him, and by the next night, he had disappeared and never reappeared.
Among the group, everyone had a task, except for Gu Yi, who stood there blankly, unsure of what Gu Qianying wanted him to do.
Left alone, he felt a little uneasy. He stiffened his neck and asked, "Qianying, is there anything I can do for you?"
Gu Qianying looked at Gu Yi and smiled charmingly, "Third Brother, why don't you..."
Her smile made Gu Yi a little flustered, "Actually, it would be great if I could just go back and lie down to sleep..."
"No rush, no rush..."
Bang!
The door of the room was closed, and a figure blocked Gu Yi's path.
A few days later, the news of Bai Dongqing, the legitimate eldest son of the Bai family, marrying a famous courtesan from a brothel spread throughout the city.
His parents were so angered by his actions that they both fell ill and were bedridden.
In the palace, the Empress of the Xia Kingdom was furious upon hearing this. She sent a verbal order for Bai Dongqing, the legitimate son of the Bai family, to immediately enter the palace to meet her. When he came, he was to bring his newly married wife, Miss Gu.
In the Xia Kingdom, within the Imperial Palace,
Bai Dongqing, the legitimate eldest son of the Bai family, arrived at the palace gate with his new wife, and their carriage stopped for routine inspection.
There were many patrolling guards. Those entering the palace, except for the Imperial Guards, were not allowed to carry any weapons. The carriages they arrived in had to be inspected one by one by the guard captain. Even Bai Dongqing, who was most favored by the Empress of the Xia Kingdom, was no exception.
Inside the carriage,
Gu Yi, disguised as a woman and wearing rouge, watched as the guard captain tapped the bottom of the carriage with the hilt of his sword, checking for hidden weapons and darts. He was a little nervous, and the dagger hidden in his right sleeve almost fell out.
He nervously glanced at Gu Qianying, who was in the same carriage with him. Gu Qianying was wearing a green pleated skirt with scattered floral mist and grass, and the accessories on her head were the wooden hairpins that a maid should have. Beside her, Lu Zhu was dressed identically, both in maid attire.
As Gu Yi looked at her, Gu Qianying also looked at Gu Yi.
Don't worry, it'll be fine.
Her eyes conveyed reassurance.
Gu Yi understood, took a deep breath, and exhaled. Although he was still very nervous, with Gu Qianying there, he felt much more at ease.
The inspection process was slow and thorough, but fortunately, there were no major incidents. Gu Qianying and the other two successfully entered the palace with Bai Dongqing.
Along the way, Bai Dongqing had been poisoned, and before leaving home, he had endured the pain of the poison acting up once. He was quite well-behaved.
After entering the palace, Bai Dongqing, as usual, first took Gu Qianying and the others to the side hall of the Kunning Palace to wait.
When they arrived at the side hall, tea and snacks were served, and palace maids attended to them.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the Empress, dressed in a grand red phoenix robe, came out, supported by her personal maid, Nanny Lan.
"You've all arrived?"
The Empress had a commanding presence, and several palace maids followed behind her as she walked.
"Nephew greets Aunt, may Aunt live for ten thousand, ten thousand, ten thousand years."
Bai Dongqing knelt and paid his respects to the Empress. Gu Yi and Lu Zhu also followed suit and knelt. However, Gu Qianying, standing between them, was completely stunned.
Why was it her?
Lost in thought, Lu Zhu tugged at her skirt.
She came back to her senses, knelt down with Lu Zhu, and as she knelt, she quickly revealed the silver needle hidden under her sleeve.
After all her calculations, she never expected to meet an old acquaintance here.
Although she had prepared for the worst in her heart, Gu Qianying showed no signs of panic on her face.
At this moment, Nanny Lan, by the side of the Empress of the Xia Kingdom, also recovered from her initial shock. She glanced at Gu Qianying and then stepped forward to examine her more closely.
Her expression changed instantly. She hurried to the side of the Empress of the Xia Kingdom, whispered a few words to the Empress in her ear, and then stepped aside to wait.
"Dongqing, recently your cousin has been clamoring to spar with you in chess. Now that you're here, go and play with your cousin for a while."
The Empress intended to dismiss Bai Dongqing, but Bai Dongqing was unaware of the Empress's true intentions.
Bai Dongqing left the side hall with two palace maids, his figure gradually receding. The Empress withdrew her gaze and turned to look at Gu Qianying and the others, saying coldly, "Guards, arrest all these people from other countries disguised as our citizens! I want to see what these villains intend to do by sneaking into our Xia Kingdom's Imperial Palace!"
As she spoke,
More than a dozen Imperial Guards rushed in, surrounding Gu Qianying and the other two!