"Assassin! Protect His Highness!"
The commander of the Imperial Guards gave the order, and hundreds of them drew their sabers.
Amidst the glint of steel, the black-clad figure killed several Imperial Guards before directly entering the carriage where Nangong Li was seated.
Seeing the black-clad figure enter, Nangong Li, holding a wine jar, lay back and chuckled, "Here to kill me? Come on, give me a quick end."
He offered no resistance.
The black-clad figure glanced at the empty wine jars at Nangong Li's feet and frowned.
"You drank so much, damn it, how are you not dead yet?"
Despite his disdainful words, the black-clad figure leaned in, snatched the wine jar from Nangong Li's hand, wiped the wine from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, then embraced him and carried him out of the carriage.
"Bold thief, release His Highness!"
Numerous Imperial Guards stepped forward to surround him.
"Perfect timing, your ancestor here has secretly learned a few powerful moves. Today, your grandfather will have some fun with you lowly rascals!"
The black-clad figure drew his sword with blinding speed. With Nangong Li in one arm, he weaved through the Imperial Guards. In the blink of an eye, a large number of them fell.
As if half-drunk, Nangong Li felt a warm chest against him and hazily opened his eyes.
A gust of wind blew, lifting the black cloth covering the attacker's face.
He looked up and saw the attacker's sharp jawline. He shook his head, trying to clear his senses.
"It's you?"
The black-clad figure looked down at him. Even through the mask, Nangong Li could hear him chuckling, "How is it? Surprised? Unexpected? I'm taking you for a good time, coming or not?"
With that, the black-clad figure ceased his fight. After killing a few more Imperial Guards, he embraced Nangong Li and leaped away, stepping on branches.
The remaining Imperial Guards rushed to pursue, but the black-clad figure quickly outran them.
A moment later.
In the small mountain valley, a clear river flowed. Wildflowers bloomed everywhere, their fragrance faint. Birds flitted between the trees.
With a splash, a heavy object fell into the river, sending up a spray of water.
This was followed by a crude curse: "Damn you, are you crazy!"
Nangong Li thrashed in the river for a moment, wiped the water from his face, and then stood up, cursing.
The river was shallow.
His soaked robes clung to him, and his wet hair, plastered to his ears, was angrily shaken away.
"You smell of alcohol, it's unbearable. I can't stand you, hurry up and wash."
Saying this, the black-clad figure pulled off his black mask and then his own robe.
He walked towards Nangong Li, bare-chested.
Nangong Li frowned, looking at him, and backed away, "What are you doing?"
The black-clad figure strode forward, grabbed Nangong Li's wrist, and forcefully pulled off the robe wrapped around him.
"We'll wash together, got a problem?"
Nangong Li looked at him in shock.
Warm sunlight filtered through the gaps in the trees, falling on his face.
With a handsome face and a familiar expression, it was none other than Duan Xifeng, with whom he had drunk before!
"Duan Xifeng, you... are you crazy?"
"Shut up, you're too noisy. Hurry up and wash, then come with me."
Duan Xifeng gave Nangong Li no chance to refuse.
After a long while, Nangong Li, with no will to live, was slung over Duan Xifeng's shoulder and thrown onto a horse. Duan Xifeng mounted the horse and they left the place.
On the road.
Nangong Li, slumped on the horse, wailed, "Duan Xifeng, I'm going to throw up, slow down, let me go, I want to get off."
Duan Xifeng ignored him and slapped his backside, "Sit tight, or if you fall off, I won't care about you anymore!"
Nangong Li had always been curious why Duan Xifeng appeared on his way to Dong Sheng Kingdom.
And why he had so shamelessly taken him away.
It wasn't until he was brought to the Yi Jing Pavilion and met Meng Qinghua that he suddenly understood.
"You sent him to bring me here?"
Nangong Li was unceremoniously thrown to the ground by Duan Xifeng. He crawled up, covered in dirt, and stared at Meng Qinghua with disbelief.
Meng Qinghua had already laid out the meal and walked over, handing Nangong Li a handkerchief to wipe his hands before eating.
"A few days ago, I returned to Dong Sheng Kingdom to handle some affairs and met Empress Meng and the young emperor. When I bid them farewell, Empress Meng secretly slipped me a note, stating that no matter what, I must prevent you from returning to Dong Sheng Kingdom, as your life would be in danger."
As he spoke, Meng Qinghua had washed his hands and sat down at the dining table.
Duan Xifeng also sat at the same table. He picked up his chopsticks and began to eat, "Meng Qinghua and I have both heard about your past love affairs. It's just a woman, there are plenty of women in this world, why cling to one tree? She hurt you so much, you cried a few times and that should be enough, must you be sad and dejected forever?"
Duan Xifeng picked up a plate of delicious vegetables and ate.
Mentioning Luolaya Zhu, Nangong Li's eyes reddened. He walked over angrily and slammed the table, "What do you understand!"
Seeing Nangong Li also slam the table, Duan Xifeng furiously threw down his chopsticks, walked up to him, hooked his neck, and pinched his chin, forcing Nangong Li to look at him, "Enough! Stop blabbering about your trivial matters. Nangong Li, I'm telling you, I brought you back here just to help Meng Qinghua with a favor."
"I have no mood to listen to you cry here. If you're a man, be decisive and wipe away those disgusting tears."
"Mind your own business! Duan Xifeng..."
Nangong Li pushed away Duan Xifeng's hand and retaliated with a punch.
Duan Xifeng punched him back, and the two immediately started fighting, from inside the house to outside.
Meng Qinghua stood by the door, watching the two fight in the courtyard, and shook his head with a smile.
He called for his subordinate and had him bring his carrier pigeon.
Gu Qianying received Meng Qinghua's letter and was greatly relieved to learn that Nangong Li had gone to the Yi Jing Pavilion.
At the same time, on the same day, she re-established contact with Lan Qingqing and Caixia from the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall.
She instructed Caixia to send someone to investigate the palace. Fearing she would alert the guards, Caixia personally went to the palace that night, disguised in night-blooming clothes.
Little did she know, she was captured as soon as she broke into Empress Meng's sleeping quarters.
That same night, Lan Qingqing, who was still waiting for news at the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall, was surrounded by the Imperial Guards.
With her exceptional martial arts skills, she held a long sword, dressed in blue, her eyes filled with killing intent.
Her sword was stained with droplets of blood.
"I advise you to surrender. Guards, bring them."
The deputy commander of the Imperial Guards raised his hand, and his subordinates brought in a young boy, a young man, and an old woman with a wrinkled face.
Seeing the three people brought in, Lan Qingqing's pupils contracted. She glared at the deputy commander, "Utterly despicable!"
She closed her eyes, threw her long sword to the ground, and was finally captured.
Within two days, the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall underwent a drastic change. Those within who were loyal to Gu Qianying were all killed.
Some double-dealers, in order to protect themselves, replaced the medicine boys who had single-line contact with the outside world.
At this moment, Gu Qianying had not yet received any news about these events.
Elsewhere.
At the Imperial Inn.
"I'll beat you to death, you slut! I'll make you stop talking nonsense!"
Shangguan Sangxi sat on top of Shangguan Yuwei, slapping her several times.
Shangguan Yuwei lay on the ground, her face and mouth bleeding.
Stars swam before her eyes, and her cheeks were swollen from the blows.
"Third Princess is right to hit her. Fourth Princess deserves it. Her mouth is so foul, she insisted that that demonic empress is a good person! Ha, such a bloodthirsty demon is an utterly wicked person, she deserves to die the most!"
Fan Tianlian added insult to injury from the side.
Nearby, Qiu Ling'er, locked in an iron cage, watched the three women with amusement.
Her boring life had finally gained a little entertainment.
After being captured and following that demonic empress Gu Qianying, apart from locking her up, Gu Qianying had never mistreated her in terms of meals.
Despite this, she still hated Gu Qianying immensely. Now, hearing someone curse Gu Qianying, she found the insults as pleasant as a song.
The door was opened from the outside, and a cold voice came in, "Who deserves to die the most? Are you talking about me, the sect master?"