Dressed in a simple white and blue robe, his long hair tied with a fine silk ribbon, his handsome features and bright, star-like eyes were fixed on the young man. "Go back with me. I haven't had time to look after you these days, and I didn't expect you to be doing such things. You truly disappoint me."
"Brother, I..." the young man stammered, rubbing his hands together, somewhat at a loss.
"Apologize to this young lady at once!" the refined man said, his gaze filled with a hint of anger towards his brother.
The young man looked unwilling, but out of respect for his brother's reputation, he complied. "I'm sorry."
Once his brother had apologized, the man clasped his hands in a bow. "Young lady, I beg your pardon. A father's shortcomings reflect upon his son. I apologize to you on behalf of my father."
"You are too kind. If the young lady has any requests, please do not hesitate to ask," Nangong Hua said respectfully.
"So it's the eldest young master of the Nangong family. I was impolite. I didn't realize it was your younger brother. I am truly sorry," the nearby merchant said apologetically.
The young man's face lit up with pride. "Hmph."
"Nangong Yu, we'll discuss this when we get home," Nangong Hua said, a hint of warmth returning to his angry tone.
"Brother, I didn't do anything," Nangong Yu protested.
"Yu'er, we'll talk about it when we get home." Nangong Hua's usually gentle eyes were now cold.
"Young lady, I bid you farewell. I guarantee that my younger brother will not cause such trouble again." With that, Nangong Hua grabbed Nangong Yu by his collar and left.
"Is the Nangong family very famous?" Ming Yu asked the merchant, sensing his earlier respect for them.
The merchant nodded. "The Nangong family has always been like deities to the people of the capital. They funded, aided, and contributed to building bridges and roads, and they distributed porridge and rice to the poor, more so than many officials. It's a shame..."
The merchant shook his head and continued, "Not long ago, the second young master of the Nangong family died tragically in front of the yamen. It was a horrific sight; his flesh was gouged out piece by piece. The Nangong family demanded a thorough investigation from the Ministry of Justice, but then the Minister of Justice himself met with a brutal end."
"Actually, I heard that on the night the second young master died, someone delivered a cartload of gold to the Vice Minister of Justice. So, the Minister of Justice must have gotten in the way of someone's wealth," the merchant whispered.
"So, the case of the Nangong family's second young master was never solved?"
"When the Minister of Justice is dead, who will solve it? The Nangong family's madam was devastated upon hearing the news. Her eyes went blind at that moment. It's a tragedy for a parent to outlive their child. This young master was also enraged by the tragic death of his elder brother. He wasn't like this before."
By the time Ming Yu returned to the inn, it was already evening. Before she could even enter, she saw someone standing at the entrance. She froze; it was Li Chenxi, whom she hadn't seen in a long time. "You..."
Li Chenxi suddenly stepped forward and embraced her. Just as she was about to struggle, his voice reached her. "Don't move, let me hold you."
Ming Yu stopped struggling. After a long moment, Li Chenxi gently released her.
"Why did you follow me?" Ming Yu asked, a touch of surprise in her voice.
"It's not appropriate to talk much now. You must come with me immediately," Li Chenxi said, pulling Ming Yu out of the inn and into a carriage.
Everything was happening too suddenly. Ming Yu was just about to ask Li Chenxi about everything properly.
The carriage suddenly stopped. Li Chenxi, who had been pretending to doze, opened his eyes. "Ming Yu, be careful."
"Rest assured, Miss Ming Yu."
"Are there assassins?" Ming Yu's heart skipped a beat.
Li Chenxi in the carriage nodded faintly. "Stay in the carriage. I will protect you."
Clash of swords, a pervasive killing intent filled the air. "Chang Yu, you take Miss Ming Yu and go first." Li Chenxi's voice suddenly reached them.
"Hold on tight to me..." Ming Yu felt a voice whisper in her ear.
Her body shot out of the carriage like the wind. The carriage was already surrounded by assassins, their swords pointed directly at Ming Yu and the others. The glint of steel momentarily blinded her.
Seeing Chang Yu and Ming Yu emerge, the black-clad assassins abandoned their fight with Li Chenxi and converged on Ming Yu. With a cold glint in his eyes, Chang Yu lowered his head and softly said, "Don't move."
In an instant, Ming Yu felt herself being lifted from Chang Yu's grasp and moved towards Li Chenxi. "Protect Miss Ming Yu..." Chang Yu shouted to Li Chenxi, looking at her.
"Alright." Li Chenxi swooped in, catching Ming Yu and landing her steadily on the ground.
Chang Yu, clad in purple, his face like ice, his eyes radiating killing intent, stood with his long sword in hand. His slender figure cast a long shadow in the twilight, and killing intent filled the air.
Ming Yu squinted, watching Chang Yu, but her heart was more unsettled than ever. "Li Chenxi, can he win?"
"He can..." After all, Chang Yu was someone from Hua Yun Jin.
"Li Chenxi, go help him. Look, they're already starting to turn against us." She was worried about Chang Yu. If something happened to Chang Yu, her own life would be forfeit!
"No, what if they attack you while I'm gone?"
"But look, we're here in leisure while he fights alone. Why don't you go help him and finish this quickly?" Why was Li Chenxi always so stubborn?
Li Chenxi seemed to be moved by her words. "I'll go help him."
Li Chenxi threw a sword to Ming Yu and then flew to join the battle. With Li Chenxi's assistance, Chang Yu handled the remaining assassins with ease.
Suddenly, Ming Yu felt a chill. Before she could turn around, a sword was already at her throat. The cold sensation told her that a slight movement would draw blood.
"Stop everything," a voice from behind commanded coldly.
Seeing this, Li Chenxi dared not act rashly. "Don't... don't hurt her..."
"I didn't expect Lord Li to be here as well. Since that's the case, why don't you accompany us to meet my master!"
Li Chenxi trembled and asked the man in black, "Who is your master?"
The man in black looked at him and said, word by word, "The Empress of Chang Jiu, Xue Zi Ning."
Li Chenxi's gaze immediately darkened. Ming Yu, held as a hostage, felt a jolt. The Empress of Chang Jiu? Was she really going to meet this empress?
Ming Yu, Li Chenxi, and Chang Yu sat in the carriage. The black-clad men outside seemed confident enough to leave the three of them together, without bindings or sedatives, treating them as mere passengers.
"Aren't they afraid we'll escape?" Ming Yu couldn't help but ask.
Li Chenxi glanced at her and slowly said, "Do you know who is driving the carriage outside?"
"Who?" Ming Yu asked.
Li Chenxi looked at her and replied, "Feng Wei."
Ming Yu was taken aback. Although she wasn't very familiar with the Empress of Chang Jiu, she was very aware of the existence of Feng Wei by her side.
There was once a saying about Feng Wei.
"When Feng Wei appears, rivers of blood flow."
No wonder the people outside weren't afraid of them escaping. It was because they couldn't escape his grasp, no matter what!
After several hours, the carriage stopped. The curtain was lifted, and the man in black announced, "We have arrived."
Li Chenxi stepped out first and looked around in surprise. "It's not the imperial palace?"