Chapter 50

No one could understand why Chai Keyan wanted to scare Zhao Yougong. She did not sit down but left some trivial words and returned to the carriage.

In the vague drizzle, the carriage slowly left. As soon as Chai Keyan was gone, Zhao Yougong couldn't wait to ask, "Mr. Zhu, why did our princess help the Xiao family?"

Sitting by the table, Zhu Mian refilled a cup of wine, "His Highness, you don't know, our princess is involved in many things. The Xiao family, after all, is one of the largest silk merchants in Jiangnan."

"Is that so? I thought the princess suddenly became kind-hearted!" He chuckled, leaning on the table with a lecherous look, "Mr. Zhu, what do you think of the princess's appearance?"

"Uh... Well... The princess is naturally very beautiful. Why do you ask, Your Highness?" Zhu Mian's face was full of confusion. He thought Zhao Yougong was asking nonsense. The princess, as a noble of the royal family, her beauty was beyond doubt.

"Why?" Straightening his body, Zhao Yougong whispered, "Don't you have any thoughts, Mr. Zhu?"

Zhu Mian felt a buzzing in his head, as if someone had hit him with a hammer. Zhao Yougong really dared to think, even daring to have designs on Princess Chai. He was truly reckless.

A noble beauty like Princess Chai would likely marry a prince, but that prince would definitely not be Zhao Yougong. A useless waste, wanting to marry Princess Chai? Only if the sky fell.

"Ha ha... He he... Your Highness is joking, the princess is a noble of the royal family, how could I possibly match her?"

"Really? What do you think of me, Mr. Zhu? A man as handsome and graceful as me, shouldn't I be able to?"

Zhao Yougong held himself with dignity, gently fanning himself, his blue headband fluttering in the wind. With his good looks, he could indeed be described as handsome and graceful.

He was indeed handsome and extraordinary, but Zhu Mian's face was very complicated, his skin trembling, as if he was in great discomfort.

Sigh, what should he say? Zhu Mian really wanted to burst out laughing. If Zhao Yougong had any sense, he wouldn't have said such things. If Prince Chu were still alive, he might have a chance to marry Princess Chai, but now, not only could he not marry Princess Chai, he couldn't even marry a noblewoman. The emperor was too wary of this nephew and wouldn't let him marry into a noble family.

The foolish Zhao Yougong, wanting to marry a beauty? That Nian Nu would be more suitable, a courtesan, Zhao Yougong could marry her, and the emperor would certainly send a generous gift.

In his heart, Zhu Mian was mocking him, but he didn't dare show it on his face. After a long time, he only managed a forced smile, "He he, a man as fine as Your Highness, of course you can!"

Zhao Yougong nodded vigorously, smiling narcissistically, "I feel the same way. Mr. Zhu, didn't you notice the princess smiled at me just now?"

Zhu Mian almost fainted. The princess, always elegant like a plum blossom in the snow, did smile, but it was a mocking smile...

Zhao Yougong, of course, knew Zhu Mian wanted to laugh. In such a situation, anyone would laugh. But he didn't care about these things. In the near future, those who mocked him would realize how foolish they were.

At some point, the sudden spring rain stopped, just as Zhu Mian said, the sky in Suzhou was like a child's face, once it stopped crying, it immediately cleared up. The rain-soaked country road was dotted with puddles, the dirt road was muddy, but fortunately, there was grass by the graveside, so Zhao Yougong didn't step in mud.

Because the Xiaoling River had been dug and it had rained, they had to drain the water before digging the graves. Since there were soldiers from Suzhou to do the hard work, he was happy to chat with Zhu Mian.

From Zhu Mian's words, Zhao Yougong also picked up some clues. Zhu Mian was indeed digging up ancestral graves, but he wouldn't do it randomly. He had some capable people under him, all from tomb-raiding families in Jiangnan. They would find the graves first, and then Zhu Mian would lead people to dig them. This mutual cooperation was quite effective.

The day passed quickly, and when night fell, Zhao Yougong had already returned to Tongle Garden, while Zhu Mian stayed in Meili Town to supervise. The reason Zhao Yougong could return to Tongle Garden was that he was afraid, and Zhu Mian understood this, but secretly mocked him.

At the hour of Hai, Zhao Yougong was already dozing on his bed. He had no specific purpose for this trip to Suzhou, just going with the flow. If he felt depressed, it was because in three days in Suzhou, not a single official had visited him. If it were Zhao Kai, the threshold of Tongle Garden would have been worn down by the officials.

The corruption of the Song Dynasty was even worse than that of the Ming Dynasty, and the so-called "tribute" was well-known. Zhao Yougong had planned to accept some bribes, but ended up with nothing. He couldn't help but sigh about the bureaucracy of the Song Dynasty. The officials in Suzhou probably saw through him. Zhao Xiaowang was a useless person, and no one knew how long he would live. Giving him money would be like throwing it away.

Under the night sky, the scent of flowers still lingered in Man Tuo Mountain Villa. Two hundred-year-old phoenix trees stood before the wooden bridge, their broad branches almost shading the entire path. The mountain road was dark and quiet. Two figures gently landed from the phoenix trees, like two light leaves. In front of the flower garden, a few faint lights could be seen.

"That bitch probably hasn't slept yet, be careful!"

"Um!"

The two were naturally Mu Wanqing and her mother. To kill Li Qingluo, Qin Hongmian spared no effort. They quietly approached the window and could vaguely see the scene inside.

A large peony screen faced the window, and a figure sat quietly behind it, motionless, its seductive silhouette reflected on the screen, creating an indescribable tranquility.

"It's that bitch, act quickly!"

As she spoke, Qin Hongmian's short knife sliced through the window, the sharp blade instantly cutting the wooden frame in half. Without hesitation, she swung her left sleeve, releasing several sharp darts. The darts glowed with a faint blue, likely coated with some poison.

The darts flew out, and Qin Hongmian and Mu Wanqing quickly entered the room. With a few puffs, the thin screen was pierced with several holes, and the figure sitting at the table fell to the ground.

Seeing the figure fall, Qin Hongmian felt no joy. Everything was too easy, so easy that she couldn't believe it. Li Qingluo, that bitch, was cunning and had many tricks. How could she have no reaction to such a vicious attack?

Standing in the hall, looking at the elegant and simple furnishings, Mu Wanqing felt something was wrong. Li Qingluo was used to luxury and always had attendants around, but now there was no one else in the room except for the figure. Not good, it's a trap!

She took a step forward and grabbed Qin Hongmian's sleeve, "Master, let's go, it's a trap, we've been tricked!"

"Um," frowning, Qin Hongmian quickly retreated to the window. At this point, she also realized something was wrong.

In an instant, a gust of wind reached the screen, and the delicate screen was instantly shattered into pieces. Then, a beautiful woman in a white gauze dress walked out, smiling, "He he, it's you two bitches again..."

Li Qingluo was not alone; behind her was a handsome young man, elegant and noble.

Even though they had been tricked, Qin Hongmian was not afraid. She flipped her hands, and two short knives appeared.

"Bitch, you still dare to come out? Today, I'll take your life!"

"Hmph, don't be so eager to die. I ask you, is my daughter in your hands?"

Mu Wanqing was somewhat annoyed. She had been asked this question too many times recently. She took two steps forward and glared, "If that little bitch were in our hands, would you be so comfortable?"

"Shut up, you sharp-tongued little bitch, just like your master," Li Qingluo's eyebrows furrowed in anger, and her seductive eyes gradually turned fiery.

Muyun Fu frowned, also annoyed. He didn't know where these two had come from, but they insisted on killing his aunt.

"Miss, don't be too aggressive. Listen to Muyun Fu. If my cousin is indeed in your hands, please release her. Then Muyun Fu guarantees that past grievances can be forgiven. Otherwise!"

His face turned cold, and he took a step forward. His left hand was behind his back, and his right hand slowly raised.

"You are Muyun Fu?"

Before coming, Mu Wanqing had advised against it, mainly because of Muyun Fu. Now, seeing Muyun Fu, she hesitated. The fame of Northern Qiao Feng and Southern Muyun was known to every martial artist.

"Indeed, it is I!"

"Master, don't waste time with him!" Mu Wanqing lightly turned, her left hand raised, and four slender darts appeared between her fingers. She swung her hand, and the darts shot toward Muyun Fu's face. Muyun Fu remained calm, but his eyes showed a hint of disgust. Most experts disliked hidden weapons, seeing them as tools of the unscrupulous.

He raised his left hand, and his sword was instantly drawn. Muyun Fu flicked the sword, and the four darts fell to the ground.

"What a vicious woman, today, I, Muyun Fu of Suzhou, will teach you both a lesson!"

Muyun Fu, when he acted, was sharp and precise. His movements were graceful and fluid, his sword dancing up and down, each move unique.

After a brief exchange, even though Qin Hongmian and Mu Wanqing cooperated seamlessly, they were still being pushed back.

This couldn't go on. Qin Hongmian suddenly turned, her left knife flashing toward Muyun Fu's chest like lightning. Muyun Fu didn't dare to be careless. He forced Mu Wanqing back, stepped back, and stomped the ground, spinning in the air. Qin Hongmian finally smiled; this was the effect she wanted. Before Muyun Fu landed, she used her legs to leap into the air, holding her right knife in reverse, and slashed upward at Muyun Fu.

The fifth move of the Asura Knife, "Swallow Slash," was the most effective and dangerous. When the knife was thrown, the user was completely defenseless in the air. Despite this, Qin Hongmian did not hesitate, as in her ten years of experience, no one had ever dodged this move.

Clang, clang, clang

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