232

04 Rescuing Gui Si

“Xuan, I will be leaving the capital for a few days!” Lan You Nian said to Feng Yi Xuan sitting in Zhen Wei Pavilion, as well as Feng Xia Qi and the others.

Feng Yi Xuan’s face turned cold but knew Nian Nian must have her own resolve. Thus, he only looked at Lan You Nian. He would never stop Nian Nian from doing anything. What he wanted was to protect her, giving her a sky she could soar through.

It was Gui San who dissolved everyone’s confusion, “Recently, I’ve lost contact with Gui Si, so little junior sister is going to investigate!” With Gui Si’s abilities, as well as Wu Qing Pavilion’s forces, Gui Si was still able to disappear without a trace. Thus, Gui San and the others were extremely worried. Lan You Nian couldn’t sit still so she prepared to take a look at the places Gui Si frequented.

“I’ll go with you!” Feng Yi Xuan declared. He didn’t want to separate from Nian Nian at all. There is likely some danger wherever Nian Nian is going; hence, Feng Yi Xuan is even more unwilling to allow Lan You Nian to go alone.

Lan You Nian knew it would be like this, but she didn’t want Feng Yi Xuan to follow her whenever she has a problem. Feng Yi Xuan had his own pride. If he were to follow behind her everyday, she would really feel guilty. It seems from the very start, Feng Yi Xuan would accommodate her.

“Xuan, I’ll be fine going alone. I know you’ve been recently training Ming army. Fourth brother’s disappearance is at Qing Hui Town. It’s not far from the capital. If I don’t come back in three days, you can go then, alright?” Lan You Nian negotiated. Qing Hui Town was a relatively wealthy town, so Lan You Nian let fourth brother go there to grow Wu Qing Pavilion’s forces there. From the capital to Qing Hui town, it only needed half a day on horseback.

Feng Yi Xuan looked at Lan You Nian grievously but Lan You Nian didn’t give in. She did this not only because Ming army was currently training, but because it was restless in the capital. They haven’t discovered anything about this Consort Tao upon investigation. Lan You Nian wasn’t reassured. If Feng Yi Xuan was in the capital, she could rest easy. She believed in this man’s abilities.

Seeing Lan You Nian unwilling expression, Feng Yi Xuan knew Nian Nian wouldn’t agree. He most feared Nian Nian being unhappy. Feng Yi Xuan was well aware of the hidden malignant tumor in the capital. Hence, they can only temporarily separate. Thinking about not seeing Nian Nian for three who days, Feng Yi Xuan’s air became cold as winter, making the entire roomful of people shoot their glances at Lan You Nian, letting Lan You Nian to handle her man. Casually letting out cold air was really frightening alright?

Lan You Nian could see everyone’s protestation. Her delicate hand on the table grasped Feng Yi Xuan’s big hands. Sure enough, Feng Yi Xuan’s air became much gentler, astonishing the others, feeling Feng Yi Xuan really changed his face so fast.

“This Consort Tao, I keep feeling something very familiar about her!” Lan You Nian once again divulged her feeling, but she couldn’t figure out when she has ever seen such a woman. Consort Tao’s features were very beautiful, so she shouldn’t easily forget.

“I too feel like this Consort Tao knows Nian’er; otherwise, she wouldn’t oppose Nian’er like that. There’s someone behind this Consort Tao; otherwise, with that woman’s intelligence, she wouldn’t be able to think of such a scheme!” Feng Xia Qi analyzed. Recently he’s suffered losses several times at the hands of that Consort Tao. Imperial Father now had a great hostility towards him.

Feng Yi Xuan didn’t bother with other people’s gaze as he carried Lan You Nian from her seat to sit on his thighs, saying, “Consort Tao’s head eunuch is a fake eunuch!” Feng Yi Xuan’s observations were always more detailed than other’s, even more venomous. Ordinary people couldn’t hide from his eyes.

“What?” everyone were shocked. For a palace consort to have a fake eunuch by her side, it wasn’t something to joke about. This Consort Tao’s courage wasn’t of an ordinary size. If this was discovered, it was a crime subjected to death by dismemberment.

“Should we report this to His Majesty?” Lan Mo Xian asked. His Majesty was somewhat dissatisfied with the Crown Prince, this can be seen from some affairs during court. As a friend, Lan Mo Xian was quite worried.

“Yeah, if His Majesty were to know Consort Tao keeps a fake eunuch by her side, this Consort is finished!” He Chu Yang echoed. This Consort Tao wanted to frame little sister Nian’er. Even grandfather disliked her and even submitted a memorial to His Majesty several times asking to cancel Consort Tao’s status of consort. Unfortunately, His Majesty kept ignoring them.

Feng Xia Qi considered it and asked his younger brother, “A’Xuan, what do you think?” His younger brother didn’t expose this the moment he noticed this, so he likely had his own plan. Though everyone thought A’Xuan to be a reckless brute, they didn’t know that he couldn’t even compare to A’Xuan’s resourcefulness.

“Even if we let Imperial Father to know that was a fake eunuch, Consort Tao will have an excuse to dodge it!” Feng Yi Xuan said. Hearing this, they nodded in agreement. In the several confrontations, they can tell Consort Tao was shrewd. Most importantly, His Majesty trusted Consort Tao very much. This meant that no matter what they say, His Majesty will believe them to be framing her. At that time, maybe they’d have tried to steal the chicken but only ended up losing all the rice.

“Therefore, we must have His Majesty see it and hear it personally. Let him know he wears a green hat!” Lan You Nian took over Feng Yi Xuan’s words. In between, there was some retaliating intentions. Who let Lan You Nian knows Feng Yi Xuan loathed the Emperor during his childhood. If he wasn’t Feng Yi Xuan’s father, she will definitely kill him to vent Feng Yi Xuan’s anger. But perhaps this was much better.

“Nian’er, that’s too cruel!” He Chu Yang and Lan Mo Xian said with sympathy. After all, it was the Emperor of an empire. If he knew his beloved consort made him wear a green hat, he might be angered to death. At that time, Feng empire will be in chaos.

“Alright!” Feng Yi Xuan and Feng Xia Qi said in unison. They had no expectations towards their Imperial Father. Lan You Nian’s method was very good outlet for their anger. Hence, they were in agreement. Seeing as the two of them already agreed, there wasn’t much else to say. After all, those sitting here weren’t any good samaritan!

After eating lunch at Zhen Wei Pavilion, Lan You Nian directly changed into a man’s disguise and left the capital of Gui San. Meanwhile, Feng Yi Xuan stood at the city gates of the capital for a long time before returning to his manor. Because Nian Nian wasn’t here any longer, there was no sense in returning to the manor. Hence, Feng Yi Xuan turned around and went back to the military encampment.

When Lan You Nian and Gui San arrived at Qing Hui Town, it happened to be in the evening. The two of them directly went to a tavern under Wu Qing Pavilion.

When the steward saw Gui San and the masked Lan You Nian, he immediately knelt in greeting, “Master, third young master!” The steward was a little afraid inside. He didn’t expect fourth young master to go missing in Qing Gui Town and this to have startled the master.

Lan You Nian and Gui San walked into the parlor on the third floor. Lan You Nian sat down asking, “What’s happened?” The magnetism of the low voice was filled with a sovereign air. The steward instantly collapsed on his knees, not because the steward feared death but this matter was his responsibility/.

“Ever since Fourth young master came to Qing Hui Town, he’s been growing the business. There hasn’t been any problems. But just as everything was going well, fourth young master went out and never came back. Only when this subordinate anxiously sent out people to search did I realize fourth master was missing. Hence, I reported this to headquarters!” The steward explained the events in an organized manner.

Hearing this, Lan You Nian was a little anxious inside. Fourth brother wasn’t another person but her family, her older brother. If something has happened to fourth brother, Lan You Nian felt she’ll never rest easy her whole life.

“Has fourth young master encountered anything in Qing Hui Town, or perhaps a person? Say everything in detail!” Lan You Nian said coldly. They could only search for a trail from these clues.

The steward carefully recalled everything as he started to sweat, then he suddenly exclaimed, “There was one time fourth young master got into a bicker with a woman. But afterwards for a long time, there wasn’t sight of that woman. But after that, there’s been something off with fourth young master. I really can’t say what.”

“A woman?” Gui San snapped open his fan, “Could it be Gui Si’s peach blossom debt?”

“You think he’s you?” Lan You Nian looked at Gui San in disdain. Fourth brother was usually very aloof. Usually woman won’t dare provoke him. But this time Lan You Nian really guessed incorrectly. This time it really was Gui Si’s peach blossom debt.

“Find out where this woman has been seen, where is she from, and where she is now!” Lan You Nian ordered. The steward immediately ran out to start searching for news. Wu Qing Pavilion’s intelligence was spread over every corner. While one can’t boast it’s meticulousness, it was considered a first class intelligence organization.

On the second morning, Lan You Nian received the news the steward handed over and looked it over. On there it said the one who bickered with Gui Si was this county’s county official’s daughter. This woman had an attractive face and has been the representative of defiance. That day when she saw Gui Si, she fell in love on first sight and had Gui Si become their family’s live-in son-in-law. With Gui Si’s temper, how could he agree? However, Gui Si wasn’t someone who killed innocent people; thus the bickering happened.

“Third brother, want to go to the county office to take a look?” Lan You Nian said to Gui San who just woke up. Though Gui San didn’t say anything, Lan You Nian can see Gui San’s worry. Eldest brother and the others’ letters were all filled with worry for fourth brother. So Lan You Nian wanted to rescue fourth brother without waiting a moment. The place where fourth brother went missing, that woman also made an appearance.

“Let’s go. I want to see which female tiger wanted to kidnap Gui Si!” Gui San said curiously. With Gui Si’s martial arts, though he’s been frequently injured while wandering the pugilistic world, but to have been kidnapped by such a woman, it was damaging to his brilliance!

With this, the two flew off towards the county office, but when they searched around, they still haven’t discovered any traces of Gui Si, nor did they see that so called young lady of the county office. Lan You Nian saw a servant girl and dragged her over and pressed her dagger against that servant girl’s neck, her voice sinister as she demanded, “Where’s your young lady!”

“I…” That servant girl shuddered in fright. She couldn’t see the looks of the person behind her but this voice was enough to make the servant girl afraid.

“Speak!” Lan You Nian made a slice on the servant girl’s neck. Very soon, blood flowed out from the servant girl’s neck.

“Young miss is in the prison of the county office. It’s the prison where criminals are held!” The servant said hastily.

Lan You Nian knocked the servant girl unconscious with a strike. She shared a look with Gui San and saw the rage in each other’s eyes. They dared to imprison Gui Si there. This woman deserved to die!

04 Rescuing Gui Si

“Xuan, I will be leaving the capital for a few days!” Lan You Nian said to Feng Yi Xuan sitting in Zhen Wei Pavilion, as well as Feng Xia Qi and the others.

Feng Yi Xuan’s face turned cold but knew Nian Nian must have her own resolve. Thus, he only looked at Lan You Nian. He would never stop Nian Nian from doing anything. What he wanted was to protect her, giving her a sky she could soar through.

It was Gui San who dissolved everyone’s confusion, “Recently, I’ve lost contact with Gui Si, so little junior sister is going to investigate!” With Gui Si’s abilities, as well as Wu Qing Pavilion’s forces, Gui Si was still able to disappear without a trace. Thus, Gui San and the others were extremely worried. Lan You Nian couldn’t sit still so she prepared to take a look at the places Gui Si frequented.

“I’ll go with you!” Feng Yi Xuan declared. He didn’t want to separate from Nian Nian at all. There is likely some danger wherever Nian Nian is going; hence, Feng Yi Xuan is even more unwilling to allow Lan You Nian to go alone.

Lan You Nian knew it would be like this, but she didn’t want Feng Yi Xuan to follow her whenever she has a problem. Feng Yi Xuan had his own pride. If he were to follow behind her everyday, she would really feel guilty. It seems from the very start, Feng Yi Xuan would accommodate her.

“Xuan, I’ll be fine going alone. I know you’ve been recently training Ming army. Fourth brother’s disappearance is at Qing Hui Town. It’s not far from the capital. If I don’t come back in three days, you can go then, alright?” Lan You Nian negotiated. Qing Hui Town was a relatively wealthy town, so Lan You Nian let fourth brother go there to grow Wu Qing Pavilion’s forces there. From the capital to Qing Hui town, it only needed half a day on horseback.

Feng Yi Xuan looked at Lan You Nian grievously but Lan You Nian didn’t give in. She did this not only because Ming army was currently training, but because it was restless in the capital. They haven’t discovered anything about this Consort Tao upon investigation. Lan You Nian wasn’t reassured. If Feng Yi Xuan was in the capital, she could rest easy. She believed in this man’s abilities.

Seeing Lan You Nian unwilling expression, Feng Yi Xuan knew Nian Nian wouldn’t agree. He most feared Nian Nian being unhappy. Feng Yi Xuan was well aware of the hidden malignant tumor in the capital. Hence, they can only temporarily separate. Thinking about not seeing Nian Nian for three who days, Feng Yi Xuan’s air became cold as winter, making the entire roomful of people shoot their glances at Lan You Nian, letting Lan You Nian to handle her man. Casually letting out cold air was really frightening alright?

Lan You Nian could see everyone’s protestation. Her delicate hand on the table grasped Feng Yi Xuan’s big hands. Sure enough, Feng Yi Xuan’s air became much gentler, astonishing the others, feeling Feng Yi Xuan really changed his face so fast.

“This Consort Tao, I keep feeling something very familiar about her!” Lan You Nian once again divulged her feeling, but she couldn’t figure out when she has ever seen such a woman. Consort Tao’s features were very beautiful, so she shouldn’t easily forget.

“I too feel like this Consort Tao knows Nian’er; otherwise, she wouldn’t oppose Nian’er like that. There’s someone behind this Consort Tao; otherwise, with that woman’s intelligence, she wouldn’t be able to think of such a scheme!” Feng Xia Qi analyzed. Recently he’s suffered losses several times at the hands of that Consort Tao. Imperial Father now had a great hostility towards him.

Feng Yi Xuan didn’t bother with other people’s gaze as he carried Lan You Nian from her seat to sit on his thighs, saying, “Consort Tao’s head eunuch is a fake eunuch!” Feng Yi Xuan’s observations were always more detailed than other’s, even more venomous. Ordinary people couldn’t hide from his eyes.

“What?” everyone were shocked. For a palace consort to have a fake eunuch by her side, it wasn’t something to joke about. This Consort Tao’s courage wasn’t of an ordinary size. If this was discovered, it was a crime subjected to death by dismemberment.

“Should we report this to His Majesty?” Lan Mo Xian asked. His Majesty was somewhat dissatisfied with the Crown Prince, this can be seen from some affairs during court. As a friend, Lan Mo Xian was quite worried.

“Yeah, if His Majesty were to know Consort Tao keeps a fake eunuch by her side, this Consort is finished!” He Chu Yang echoed. This Consort Tao wanted to frame little sister Nian’er. Even grandfather disliked her and even submitted a memorial to His Majesty several times asking to cancel Consort Tao’s status of consort. Unfortunately, His Majesty kept ignoring them.

Feng Xia Qi considered it and asked his younger brother, “A’Xuan, what do you think?” His younger brother didn’t expose this the moment he noticed this, so he likely had his own plan. Though everyone thought A’Xuan to be a reckless brute, they didn’t know that he couldn’t even compare to A’Xuan’s resourcefulness.

“Even if we let Imperial Father to know that was a fake eunuch, Consort Tao will have an excuse to dodge it!” Feng Yi Xuan said. Hearing this, they nodded in agreement. In the several confrontations, they can tell Consort Tao was shrewd. Most importantly, His Majesty trusted Consort Tao very much. This meant that no matter what they say, His Majesty will believe them to be framing her. At that time, maybe they’d have tried to steal the chicken but only ended up losing all the rice.

“Therefore, we must have His Majesty see it and hear it personally. Let him know he wears a green hat!” Lan You Nian took over Feng Yi Xuan’s words. In between, there was some retaliating intentions. Who let Lan You Nian knows Feng Yi Xuan loathed the Emperor during his childhood. If he wasn’t Feng Yi Xuan’s father, she will definitely kill him to vent Feng Yi Xuan’s anger. But perhaps this was much better.

“Nian’er, that’s too cruel!” He Chu Yang and Lan Mo Xian said with sympathy. After all, it was the Emperor of an empire. If he knew his beloved consort made him wear a green hat, he might be angered to death. At that time, Feng empire will be in chaos.

“Alright!” Feng Yi Xuan and Feng Xia Qi said in unison. They had no expectations towards their Imperial Father. Lan You Nian’s method was very good outlet for their anger. Hence, they were in agreement. Seeing as the two of them already agreed, there wasn’t much else to say. After all, those sitting here weren’t any good samaritan!

After eating lunch at Zhen Wei Pavilion, Lan You Nian directly changed into a man’s disguise and left the capital of Gui San. Meanwhile, Feng Yi Xuan stood at the city gates of the capital for a long time before returning to his manor. Because Nian Nian wasn’t here any longer, there was no sense in returning to the manor. Hence, Feng Yi Xuan turned around and went back to the military encampment.

When Lan You Nian and Gui San arrived at Qing Hui Town, it happened to be in the evening. The two of them directly went to a tavern under Wu Qing Pavilion.

When the steward saw Gui San and the masked Lan You Nian, he immediately knelt in greeting, “Master, third young master!” The steward was a little afraid inside. He didn’t expect fourth young master to go missing in Qing Gui Town and this to have startled the master.

Lan You Nian and Gui San walked into the parlor on the third floor. Lan You Nian sat down asking, “What’s happened?” The magnetism of the low voice was filled with a sovereign air. The steward instantly collapsed on his knees, not because the steward feared death but this matter was his responsibility/.

“Ever since Fourth young master came to Qing Hui Town, he’s been growing the business. There hasn’t been any problems. But just as everything was going well, fourth young master went out and never came back. Only when this subordinate anxiously sent out people to search did I realize fourth master was missing. Hence, I reported this to headquarters!” The steward explained the events in an organized manner.

Hearing this, Lan You Nian was a little anxious inside. Fourth brother wasn’t another person but her family, her older brother. If something has happened to fourth brother, Lan You Nian felt she’ll never rest easy her whole life.

“Has fourth young master encountered anything in Qing Hui Town, or perhaps a person? Say everything in detail!” Lan You Nian said coldly. They could only search for a trail from these clues.

The steward carefully recalled everything as he started to sweat, then he suddenly exclaimed, “There was one time fourth young master got into a bicker with a woman. But afterwards for a long time, there wasn’t sight of that woman. But after that, there’s been something off with fourth young master. I really can’t say what.”

“A woman?” Gui San snapped open his fan, “Could it be Gui Si’s peach blossom debt?”

“You think he’s you?” Lan You Nian looked at Gui San in disdain. Fourth brother was usually very aloof. Usually woman won’t dare provoke him. But this time Lan You Nian really guessed incorrectly. This time it really was Gui Si’s peach blossom debt.

“Find out where this woman has been seen, where is she from, and where she is now!” Lan You Nian ordered. The steward immediately ran out to start searching for news. Wu Qing Pavilion’s intelligence was spread over every corner. While one can’t boast it’s meticulousness, it was considered a first class intelligence organization.

On the second morning, Lan You Nian received the news the steward handed over and looked it over. On there it said the one who bickered with Gui Si was this county’s county official’s daughter. This woman had an attractive face and has been the representative of defiance. That day when she saw Gui Si, she fell in love on first sight and had Gui Si become their family’s live-in son-in-law. With Gui Si’s temper, how could he agree? However, Gui Si wasn’t someone who killed innocent people; thus the bickering happened.

“Third brother, want to go to the county office to take a look?” Lan You Nian said to Gui San who just woke up. Though Gui San didn’t say anything, Lan You Nian can see Gui San’s worry. Eldest brother and the others’ letters were all filled with worry for fourth brother. So Lan You Nian wanted to rescue fourth brother without waiting a moment. The place where fourth brother went missing, that woman also made an appearance.

“Let’s go. I want to see which female tiger wanted to kidnap Gui Si!” Gui San said curiously. With Gui Si’s martial arts, though he’s been frequently injured while wandering the pugilistic world, but to have been kidnapped by such a woman, it was damaging to his brilliance!

With this, the two flew off towards the county office, but when they searched around, they still haven’t discovered any traces of Gui Si, nor did they see that so called young lady of the county office. Lan You Nian saw a servant girl and dragged her over and pressed her dagger against that servant girl’s neck, her voice sinister as she demanded, “Where’s your young lady!”

“I…” That servant girl shuddered in fright. She couldn’t see the looks of the person behind her but this voice was enough to make the servant girl afraid.

“Speak!” Lan You Nian made a slice on the servant girl’s neck. Very soon, blood flowed out from the servant girl’s neck.

“Young miss is in the prison of the county office. It’s the prison where criminals are held!” The servant said hastily.

Lan You Nian knocked the servant girl unconscious with a strike. She shared a look with Gui San and saw the rage in each other’s eyes. They dared to imprison Gui Si there. This woman deserved to die!