"Master, you must be very careful. Xue Zixuan is not as simple as you think," Kui Xiang cautioned.
Wen Nuan nodded, "I know."
"My lord, why don't Kui Xiang go in your stead?" Kui Xiang offered.
Wen Nuan shook her head, "I'll go."
Leaving Feng Yue Tower, a carriage from the Northern Frontier King's manor awaited. "Miss Mudan, please."
Wen Nuan settled into the carriage.
The journey was slow and leisurely. After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the carriage halted. A voice outside announced, "Miss Mudan has arrived."
Wen Nuan alighted from the carriage and followed the servants of the Northern Frontier King's manor into the residence.
She noticed nothing unusual on the way. Upon reaching the main courtyard, a maid approached, curtsied, and said, "Miss Mudan, the King is still handling matters. He will be with you shortly. Please rest for now."
Wen Nuan nodded, "I trouble you, sister, to lead the way."
After the maid led her into a guest room, she departed.
Hearing the footsteps recede, Wen Nuan went to the door and pushed it, finding it seemed to be locked from the outside.
She turned and removed her outer clothes, revealing the night-blooming attire beneath. She stuffed the clothes into a pillow, placing it under the covers to give the impression she was resting. Once this was done, she leaped onto the roof beams, removed a few tiles, and slipped out.
Her courtyard was guarded by sentries. She leaped into a nearby grove of trees.
Once she confirmed there were no abnormalities, she jumped down from the tree and, using her memory of how she entered, accurately navigated back to the main courtyard. Peeking from behind a rockery, the room ahead was where Xue Zixuan conducted his meetings.
She ascended the closest tree to the room, faintly hearing voices from within.
"Your Highness, everything is prepared. In the capital, Liu..."
"Ah..."
Wen Nuan started. She looked down and saw a maid at the foot of the tree looking at her. She moved swiftly to act, but the maid's innocent, terrified gaze filled her heart. In that moment of distraction, she was unable to strike. In that fleeting instant, the courtyard was swarming with people.
It was too late to kill her. Wen Nuan leaped towards a certain direction.
Countless manor guards pursued her. Wen Nuan dodged left and right, leading the guards in a game of cat and mouse within the manor.
In the end, they could not capture Wen Nuan.
The manor guards approached the Northern Frontier King, guiltily stating, "Your Highness, your subordinates are incompetent. We failed to apprehend the assassin."
"Who visited the manor today?" the Northern Frontier King asked the guard.
The guard thought for a moment and then suddenly said, "Miss Mudan visited the manor today."
"Where is she now?" the Northern Frontier King inquired.
"She was settled in the back courtyard," the guard replied.
Upon hearing this, the Northern Frontier King said, "Take me there."
In the back courtyard, the Northern Frontier King arrived before the door and asked, "Has no one inside left?"
One of the two guards stationed at the door stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Replying to Your Highness, the person in the room has not come out."
The Northern Frontier King stared at the door, as if looking through it to the inside. After a pause, he said, "Open the door."
The guards stepped forward, unlocked the door, and then stood to either side. The Northern Frontier King strode inside.
The room was dim, and a figure could be faintly discerned behind a curtain.
The Northern Frontier King did not approach but instructed the maid beside him, "Please invite Miss Mudan out."
The maid nodded, walked in, and lifted the curtain. The Northern Frontier King saw a figure lying on the bed with their back to him.
"Miss Mudan, His Highness requests your presence," the maid said, approaching the bed.
Miss Mudan did not reply. As the maid stepped forward to touch Mudan's shoulder, the person facing away suddenly turned their head.
The woman's face was exceptionally beautiful, her eyes captivating. The maid stared, mesmerized. The woman smiled, "What time is it? I actually fell asleep."
The maid then regained her senses and said, "Miss Mudan, His Highness has arrived."
The woman started and quickly got up. Only then did she see a figure standing behind the curtain. She calmly rose from the bed. The maid pulled back the curtain, and she walked step by step towards the man dressed in dark robes, bowing her head, "Mudan pays her respects to His Highness."
The Northern Frontier King raised his finger and tilted her chin. His eyes then shone with admiration. "Indeed, the Mudan of Feng Yue Tower is a peerless beauty, alluring and captivating."
Mudan smiled shyly, "His Highness flatters me. The sisters at Feng Yue Tower are all beauties; I am not the only one."
The Northern Frontier King laughed heartily, then suddenly swept her into his arms and walked towards the bed. "Since the day is auspicious, let us not delay. Tonight, this King shall favor you."
"Your Highness, I slept all afternoon and am a bit soiled. May I wash up before serving His Highness?"
The Northern Frontier King looked at the woman in his arms, and after a moment, said, "Very well. This King still has matters to attend to. I will accompany you tonight."
"I will escort His Highness," Mudan said, following him to the door.
The Northern Frontier King departed.
Wen Nuan let out a sigh of relief, quickly closed the door, and went to the bed. She lifted the covers to find the night-blooming attire she had just changed out of.
Any later, and the Northern Frontier King would likely have discovered her.
Wen Nuan sat by the bed, contemplating how to avoid intimacy with Xue Zixuan that evening.
After the Northern Frontier King left the back courtyard, a guard reported that the assassin had vanished into thin air, leaving no trace.
The Northern Frontier King asked the guard thoughtfully, "Are you certain you clearly saw the person run towards the back courtyard?"
The guard nodded, "Absolutely certain."
Upon hearing this, the Northern Frontier King sneered, "From now on, no one is permitted to enter or leave the manor. Those who disobey will be executed."
The Northern Frontier King returned to his study. A person emerged from the study. "Your Highness, has the person been caught?"
"Not yet, but he cannot escape," the Northern Frontier King said coldly.
"Your Highness, at this juncture, we must be vigilant. I believe Your Highness should still exercise caution."
The Northern Frontier King looked impatiently at the speaker and said, "This King has planned for so long; there will be no mistakes. Sir, there is no need to worry."
"Your Highness..."
"Sir, this is the Northern Frontier. This is this King's territory. No one can take it away."
The gentleman's gaze dimmed considerably. He said softly, "Your Highness, I merely hope Your Highness remembers that the Northern Frontier was not easily obtained. If the Empress discovers this, I fear she will attack the Northern Frontier."
Hearing this, the Northern Frontier King smiled, "That would be excellent. This King would like to see who is more capable, this King or Xue Zining."
"Your Highness..."
"Sir, you are always worrying unnecessarily and being overly anxious. In this King's opinion, the Empress is currently too preoccupied to attend to the Northern Frontier, especially since this King has people in the capital."
"Your Highness must not underestimate the enemy. While the Empress may be preoccupied, there is also His Majesty Yun Huang."
"Xue Jingyun? A man willing to abandon his empire for a woman is not to be feared."
"Your Highness..."
"Sir, why do you always praise others and belittle yourself? Moreover, who else knows that the current Northern Frontier King is no longer the former Northern Frontier King?"
"Your Highness, that person needs to be dealt with soon," the gentleman reminded.