It was night.
The cold wind howled.
In the pitch-black night, a wriggling, slithering silver snake darted rapidly through the streets.
It paused wherever it went.
As it slithered forward, along its direction, a man dressed in night-blooming clothes, with a half-silver mask on his face, followed the silver snake from the eaves of the high roof.
Only when the silver snake stopped and circled around a most ordinary-looking pharmacy did the man leap down from the rooftop, using his lightness skill.
The man did not enter the pharmacy that bore the sign "Unique."
After a brief look around the pharmacy, he turned and left.
Only the silver snake, coiled in the corner, remained, waiting quietly.
It seemed to be waiting for someone, or perhaps entering a state of "hibernation."
At the third watch.
Inside the main hall of the Ninth Prince's mansion.
Nangong Mo sat in his wheelchair.
He was idly playing with a piece of high-quality Lantian jade in his hand.
His personal guard, Bai Qi, knelt at his feet.
"Master, the Crown Prince's men are guarding the Gu mansion. He hasn't touched our people."
"Hmm. What about the people in the Gu mansion?"
"Reporting to Master, in the Gu mansion, besides Lord Gu Kun, who had his limbs and tendons severed by the Third Prince and is paralyzed in bed, and the third young lady, along with an attending concubine, Madam Bai, everyone else has been executed. Furthermore, as per your request, Master, all the newly added concubines and servants working in the mansion have been replaced with people of good character. As for their backgrounds, your subordinate has made all the necessary arrangements, and the Crown Prince will not be able to investigate them."
"Hmm." Nangong Mo uttered a cold syllable and then asked, "Was Han's head sent over?"
"Reporting to Master, it was sent over. Your subordinate also took the liberty to burn some offerings for the First Madam," Bai Qi said very cautiously.
He was afraid his master would be displeased.
These past few days, his master's mood had been unpredictable, and they, as subordinates, dared not anger him.
However, he seemed to feel that his master's mood was quite good at the moment.
"Hmm, well done."
With a flick of his hand, Nangong Mo tossed the Lantian jade he was playing with to Bai Qi.
"You did well, this is a reward for you."
Bai Qi was flattered and, holding the superior Lantian jade, said nervously, "Master, this is too precious, your subordinate dares not accept it."
Nangong Mo looked up at him.
A cold wind blew.
Bai Qi immediately tucked the clear and translucent Lantian jade into his embrace.
Since it was a genuine reward from his master, it was his.
Lantian jade!
This was Lantian jade!
It was said that this Lantian jade was a priceless treasure.
Its value in silver was self-evident.
Of course, he would never exchange it for silver.
Such a precious item, if passed down from generation to generation, wouldn't it be even more wonderful?
"Sell it for silver. You can spend a portion of it as you wish, and use the rest as commission for a top embroiderer in the capital."
Hearing this, Bai Qi was stunned.
This… was given to him, or was he being asked to do something with it?
When had his master become so stingy?
No… that's not right.
An embroiderer?
A top embroiderer in the capital?
"Master, why are you looking for a top embroiderer in the capital?"
"Naturally, it is to make robes for this prince."
"Why would making robes require a top embroiderer in the capital?" Bai Qi was confused.
There were embroiderers in the mansion.
"My wedding robes."
"Ah?" Bai Qi was completely astonished.
...
The next day.
Outside the gates of the Ninth Prince's mansion, a sedan chair slowly approached.
The sedan chair was carried by four bearers.
A man on horseback escorted it from the front.
The sound of gongs and drums began.
Soon, the sedan chair was surrounded by a crowd of onlookers.
People from various factions, palace spies, and even members of martial arts sects gathered here.
Everyone had heard that a daring woman, dressed in a bright red wedding gown, was heading to the Ninth Prince's mansion, vowing to marry the current Ninth Prince, Nangong Mo.
Such explosive rumors, upon reaching people's ears, caused them all to be greatly surprised, and they couldn't wait to come and see for themselves which suicidal woman was so bold.
One must know that the current Ninth Prince, Nangong Mo, was a man of ruthless methods and a cold disposition. Years ago, there was a young lady who was infatuated and constantly desired the Ninth Prince's person. That woman was also bold. By leveraging her connection with the steward of the Ninth Prince's mansion, she had someone deliver her love letters to the Ninth Prince one by one.
Before long, the woman's fate was to become food for wild wolves in the suburbs, along with her love letters, and the woman's family was exiled to the frontier, never to return to the capital in their lifetime.
Since then, for many years, no one dared to court death in front of the Ninth Prince, Nangong Mo.
Of course, apart from the fearless Princess Xuan Ning in the palace, who still lived after confessing her feelings to the Ninth Prince, other noble young ladies who wished to marry into the Ninth Prince's mansion and become the Ninth Princess only dared to think about it in their hearts.
A scene like today had not occurred in many years, so everyone naturally wanted to see it clearly.
The palace spies who rushed over had the duty to inquire for their masters about which powerful family intended to sell their daughters and seek refuge with the Ninth Prince.
Those martial arts practitioners saw that among the escorts was the legendary Sect Master of the West Wind Pavilion, Duan Xifeng.
It was known throughout the martial arts world that no one was unaware of the West Wind Pavilion's methods, nor did anyone not fear the Sect Master of the West Wind Pavilion and his ruthless and cruel tactics.
If in the imperial court, the Ninth Prince Nangong Mo was a "fierce tiger" feared by all.
Then, in the martial arts world, the Sect Master of the West Wind Pavilion, Duan Xifeng, was a generation's "leopard."
They wanted to see who the woman in the sedan chair was, who could even invite the Sect Master of the West Wind Pavilion, Duan Xifeng, to escort her all the way.
The sedan chair stopped and landed, and the bearers stood to the side.
Duan Xifeng dismounted and walked to the front of the sedan chair. Through the veil, he spoke, "We have arrived."
From inside the sedan chair, Gu Qianying's voice rang out.
"Hmm, take the things and go."
Her voice was clear and steady.
The surrounding crowd whispered.
"Whose daughter is that, to be so bold and reckless?"
"Who knows? I suspect that in a short while, all these troublemakers will become dead men."
"Alas, another fool has come to stir up trouble and court death."
A black box was held in Duan Xifeng's hand, and he walked towards the steps outside the Ninth Prince's mansion.
The guards at the gate stopped him.
"Who are you, and what are you doing!"
Duan Xifeng paused, his chin lifted high: "This young master is the Sect Master of the West Wind Pavilion. My grand-nephew wants to marry your master. Quickly inform your Prince to change into his wedding attire and come out to welcome the bride. Oh, and this in my hand is my grand-nephew's dowry. Take it inside quickly."
With that, Duan Xifeng prepared to hand over the item.
The two guards at the gate looked at him with utter disdain. One of them said, "Go, go, go! What madman are you? Hurry up and scram."
The other guard pointed at the sedan chair that had landed not far away and said to the bearers, "And you lot, what are you making a fuss about? Hurry up, get lost, quickly, or don't blame me for being impolite."
Their master was the beloved of many young ladies, and this scene today was certainly a young lady seeking her own death by coming here.
They would drive her away first. If they couldn't drive her away, they could simply beat her away.
Duan Xifeng, being pointed at and cursed, chuckled inwardly.
This was the first time he had been insulted like this.
The black box spun in his hand, and he hugged it back to his chest. When he raised his eyes, they were full of killing intent: "You dare tell this Pavilion Master to scram? Heh! It seems your heads are itching on your necks."
With a swift movement, he instantly appeared.
In the blink of an eye, Duan Xifeng had knocked one of the guards at the gate unconscious.
The other guard was stunned. After a moment, he reacted and hurriedly ran back to report.