When Gu Qianying carried Lu Zhu using her qinggong, Lu Zhu was so frightened she almost screamed.
"Wow, Miss, when did your martial arts become so formidable? It's amazing, Miss, you're so powerful."
Lu Zhu looked at Gu Qianying with adoration, clinging to her tightly and refusing to let go.
A moment later, the two of them quietly arrived at the place where Nangong Xuanning was imprisoned.
Along the way, Gu Qianying navigated as if she had been there before, her movements practiced and familiar.
However, this was not the case.
When the black-clad figures had tracked her, she had instructed Hu Biao to tamper with the path.
Wherever the black-clad figures appeared, white flames would spread across the ground.
White flames were a colorless herbal powder with a faint floral scent.
If a person's clothes were stained with white flames, it would easily attract insects and bees.
Of course, many passersby would be walking in the crowd, so while the black-clad figures could be tainted, so could others.
However, other passersby did not travel in groups, whereas the black-clad figures appeared simultaneously.
By following the scent of the white flames and searching for the places where the insects and bees were most concentrated, one could find Nangong Xuanning.
The reason she had Nangong Xuanning impersonate her to lure away the black-clad figures was twofold: firstly, she had observed that the black-clad figures would not harm Nangong Xuanning, seemingly intimidated by her status; secondly, since Nangong Xuanning had publicly bullied her, she felt it was only right to teach her a lesson.
On her way, she had thought that since there was nothing to do upon returning to the manor, she might as well hide and watch the show.
She needed to find out who had captured her.
At this moment, in a dilapidated thatched hut.
Nangong Xuanning's hands were bound, and her head was covered with a black scarf.
Gu Qianying had dragged her into the Yihong Courtyard, not only interrupting the pleasure of a couple in a room but also claiming she could heal her injuries, making her feel pain-free and instantly restored to normal.
Initially, she resented Gu Qianying. Gu Qianying had allowed her people to bully her, and she wished Gu Qianying dead.
However, the intense pain throughout her body made her reconsider. If Gu Qianying could help her recover, she could settle the score with Gu Qianying later.
Therefore, she followed Gu Qianying's instructions, changed into Gu Qianying's clothes, and ran out of the Yihong Courtyard. She ran along the road, not daring to make a sound, waiting for her body to heat up and the pain to subside.
She ran for a long time, and her body finally warmed up, and indeed, the pain disappeared.
But unexpectedly, she was captured halfway.
It was only belatedly that she realized Gu Qianying had tricked her.
"Hurry and release me, I am a princess, Princess Xuanning, release me quickly, you have the wrong person. If you release me, I can pardon you for your crimes."
Nangong Xuanning could see nothing; it was pitch black before her eyes.
Although she felt a little scared at this moment, she still hoped that her captors would recognize her identity and release her.
In the entire capital, no one dared to capture her.
Therefore, these people must have captured the wrong person; the person they wanted to capture was that slut Gu Qianying.
Nangong Xuanning's shouts attracted the leader of the black-clad figures.
The leader of the black-clad figures pushed open the door and entered. Hearing the voice, he was immediately stunned.
He thought, "This is bad."
They had captured the wrong person?
Not only had they captured the wrong person, but they had captured a princess of the court, Nangong Xuanning.
The leader of the black-clad figures dared not remove the black scarf from Nangong Xuanning's face, fearing he would be recognized.
To prevent Nangong Xuanning from recognizing his voice, he approached Nangong Xuanning, raised his palm, and struck the back of her head heavily.
Nangong Xuanning immediately fainted.
After knocking Nangong Xuanning unconscious, the leader of the black-clad figures ordered his subordinates to guard Nangong Xuanning and ensure her safety.
A moment later, the leader of the black-clad figures appeared at the Eastern Palace.
"A bunch of idiots!"
Nan Rongqi, embracing a beautiful woman, was in a good mood today. Upon hearing that the people he had sent had captured the wrong person, and had captured Nangong Xuanning, he was extremely enraged. He shoved the beauty in his arms to the ground, stood up, and kicked the leader of the black-clad figures.
"Your Highness, please do not be angry. Your subordinate will return the princess immediately and then continue to find a suitable opportunity to capture the eldest daughter of the Gu manor and bring her to you."
"There's no need for such a detour. Since the person captured was the wrong one, we can make the mistake work and achieve two goals with one stone."
A man in red pushed open the door and entered.
When Nan Rongqi saw the man in red, his expression softened considerably. He waved away the servants attending him and then asked, "Sir, what do you mean by that?"
The man in red sat opposite Nan Rongqi. "This master has received secret intelligence that the eldest son of the Gu manor, Gu Yefeng, has learned that his sister Gu Qianying was captured by unidentified black-clad figures. At this hour, he has likely found the place where Nangong Xuanning is being held captive. If he succeeds in rescuing Nangong Xuanning at this moment, Gu Yefeng's prestige will grow even further, as will that of the Gu manor. After all, saving the life of a princess is a great merit. As for that girl Xuanning, although she often speaks of 'I will only marry Ninth Imperial Uncle,' she is, after all, just a young girl in her formative years, and her feelings are unclear. If at this moment, a 'hero saves the beauty' scenario occurs, she will surely develop feelings for her rescuer. This way, the驸马 of the current dynasty will undoubtedly be him. Nangong Xuanning is the Emperor's most beloved princess, and with her as a backer, the Gu family will soar to the heavens and never decline. Is this the outcome Your Highness desires?"
"Naturally not. I wish to see old man Gu send off his son with white hair and his family collapse. However, if old man Gu is willing to serve me, I might consider marrying Gu Qianying into the Eastern Palace on the same day as Gu Mingyue."
The last time, at the palace banquet, Gu Qianying's performance had exceeded his expectations and simultaneously caught his attention. If it weren't for the need to still be wary of Nangong Mo, he would have requested the Emperor to make Gu Qianying his Crown Princess. Now that Nangong Mo had publicly declared Gu Qianying to be his future consort, no matter how much he liked Gu Qianying, he could not bring her into the palace.
"Since the Crown Prince does not wish for this, you must stop it quickly."
"How can I stop it? Does Sir mean I should send people to intercept Gu Yefeng?"
"Why stop him? If you stop him this time, what about next time?"
"Sir, what exactly do you want me to do?" Nan Rongqi couldn't quite understand.
The man in red was quite displeased. He wondered how such a foolish person had survived in this man-eating imperial palace.
"Kill Nangong Xuanning and frame Gu Yefeng. The Gu family will be ruined!" the man in red said softly and indifferently.
Upon hearing this, Nan Rongqi's eyes widened in shock. "What? Kill that girl Xuanning? Sir, are you joking?"
The man in red looked at Nan Rongqi with extremely serious eyes. "Do I look like I'm joking?"
"No, no, no, absolutely not. She is my father's most beloved daughter. If I kill her, my father will surely tear me to pieces."
Nan Rongqi disagreed; he lacked the courage.
"Whether to do it or not is entirely up to the Crown Prince to decide. However, this master must remind the Crown Prince that Nangong Mo has already sent betrothal gifts to the Gu manor. Everyone in the Gu manor knows that Gu Qianying is the future Ninth Consort of the Ninth Imperial Prince's manor, and General Gu will also gradually shift his influence towards Nangong Mo because of Gu Qianying. By then, if you wish to eliminate old man Gu, it will be extremely difficult. Does the Crown Prince understand?"