The beginning of the second month was very lively with the Zhonghe Festival around. It was a time when the common people would pack bags with grains and various seeds of fruits and vegetables to exchange with others, symbolizing a wish for offspring. As Qingge’s carriage made its way through the streets, she saw vendors everywhere selling these bags and children amusing themselves on the roadside. Upon reaching Lize Lake, the scene transformed with newly refurbished pavilions, bridges, and pathways along the embankment, and freshly planted flowers and plants along the roadsides beautifully complementing the lake views, creating a picturesque landscape.
Qingge decided to get out of the carriage and stroll along the lake, where vendors had set up a variety of stalls. She indulged herself freely, sampling snacks, picking up trinkets, and buying anything that caught her eye. It was a novel experience—she had never had the chance to shop like this before. For a secret guard, such simple pleasures had always been unattainable, but now, she could finally enjoy them without restraint.
Luo Momo, who walked next to her, looked displeased. “Your Highness, buying these things isn’t fitting for your status.”
Qingge was unbothered. “Then we’ll just throw them away when we return.”
Luo Momo asked, “Then why bother buying them at all?”
Qingge responded, “Of course because shopping lifts my mood. Whether I throw the items away or bring them back doesn’t matter—I’ve enjoyed them anyway.”
“…” Luo Momo took a deep breath, telling herself to endure. After all, the coins squandered were a mere trifle, hardly worth making a fuss over.
One day for sure, this woman will understand the splendor that the Xiahou name truly represents!
Qingge then noticed a variety of performances nearby, “Look over there, they have performances. Let’s go watch.”
Luo Momo glanced in that direction and frowned, “It’s so bustling and noisy over there. Your Highness’s status is very noble; it’s better to be cautious and avoid such a big crowd.”
Qingge, who had been looking for an excuse to slip away, seized the moment, “Why not? We’re just out to have fun. Are we supposed to tiptoe around and hide in the carriage? If that’s the case, we might as well not have come out at all!”
Luo Momo reminded her, “Has Your Highness forgotten the assassins on the road during the bridal procession?”
Qingge retorted, “Don’t you know that for this opening of Lize Lake, Ning Wang Manor has already made a full arrangement? There are guards stationed everywhere. Which assassins would dare to appear here? Those guards aren’t decorations.”
“But——”
Qingge interrupted, “I don’t want to hear any ‘buts.’ I’m going to watch the performances. I’ve done what was expected of me, and you, Luo Momo, have no right to stop me.”
With that, she walked off towards the performance.
Luo Momo, in a panic, had no choice but to quickly follow with the rest of the attendants. But the lakeside was bustling with vendors, street performers, and crowds, and the area was filled with shouts and masked performers drawing cheers from onlookers.
In such chaos, it was no surprise that Luo Momo lost sight of Qingge. Stomping her foot in frustration, she quickly called out to the attendants she brought, “Search her!”
If Ning Wang Manor were to find out, they would undoubtedly criticize the Xiahou clan’s daughter for her lack of propriety!
…
Having slipped away from her retinue, Qingge knew very well that Luo Momo would definitely try to find her while covering her absence from Ning Wang people. Now was an excellent opportunity for her to act.
After years in Qianying Pavilion, she had accumulated some private stashes—items and tools that came in handy when she was not on official missions. As the saying goes, the cunning rabbits had three burrows; she, an experienced secret guard, naturally scattered her belongings into several hiding places: part of her valuables and important items were hidden in her room at the Qianying Pavilion, while another stash was kept safe at a tree just outside the city.
Lize Lake was conveniently located between Yuning City and the suburban area, which facilitated Qingge’s movements. With a few leaps, she reached the old camphor tree where she had hidden her items, a place she had selected because it was tall enough that people would not climb it for no apparent reason.
For Qingge, this height was nothing. She lightly tapped on the ground with the tip of her foot and floated up, using another nearby tree as a leverage point. Within a few jumps, she had ascended the towering tree. Hidden among the dense foliage and bird nests, she finally found her package, wrapped in grass-green cloth for concealment. She quickly opened it, retrieved her old short shirt and tight pants, changed into them, and then took out various items for disguise, swiftly transforming her appearance under the safe concealment of the thick leaves.
Besides her original appearance, she had three disguises: a cold-looking young woman in her early twenties, a forty-year-old middle-aged woman, and a young man in his mid-teens.
Now, she disguised herself as the young woman, with slightly sallow skin, higher cheekbones, and narrow eyes. It was the face she generally used as the secret guard, and also the one she preferred over other disguises. In fact, she was so accustomed to living behind a disguise that walking around with her true face in the open gave her a sense of insecurity. She preferred to hide behind masks, which allowed her to better control her emotions in the best possible state.
Once done, Qingge touched her face, feeling familiar and comfortable.
After changing her appearance, she picked up a veil and other items, leaped down from the tree, and first stopped by a pond to check her reflection, ensuring there were no flaws. Satisfied, she covered her face with the veil and, using her lightness arts, hurried towards the Ning Wang Manor to meet Ye Min.
In terms of martial arts, she might not be the best in the Qianying Pavilion, but her lightness arts were exceptionally good, making her one of the top practitioners in the hall. Ye Min had once said that even without his injuries, he could not match her in agility.
It was her confidence in her skills that gave Qingge reassurance to enter and leave Ning Wang Manor smoothly.
She soon made her way to the outer premises of Ning Wang Manor. The manor was vast, with high gates and countless grand buildings, and the Qianying Pavilion was located near the north gate. Qingge sneaked in from the north side along the roof, hiding under an eave to observe the surroundings.
The Qianying Pavilion was an organization headquartered in a three-story building of the same name, surrounded by lush greenery and ancient oak trees over two centuries old that twisted amid red brick and glazed roofs. At first glance, the place seemed ordinary, blending seamlessly with its verdant surroundings and elegant water pavilions.
But Qingge knew all too well that the unassuming courtyard was laden with lethal traps. A single misstep could trigger a mechanism, leading to a fatal outcome.
Since she was here to see Ye Min, she did not try to hide her movements.
Soon, a secret guard on duty noticed her, and a cold intent to kill radiated out. Qingge extended her hand from under the eave, made a circle with her index finger and thumb, and gestured.
The Qianying Pavilion utilized a complex system of hand signals. Each member proved their identity using unique gestures, which varied slightly depending on the date and the directional positioning according to Qimen Dunjia principles. Even if outsiders observed the guards’ gestures, the intricacies were impossible to fully grasp.
After seeing Qingge’s gesture, the guard quickly responded with his own. It took a few exchanges to fully confirm her identity.
The secret guards might not know each other by name, but they recognized Qingge as Number 37 of the Qianying Pavilion. Once her identity was confirmed, she was allowed to enter the courtyard and proceed to the Lotus Pavillion.
However, as soon as she stepped into the Lotus Pavillion, she suddenly stopped and quickly hid behind a nearby pillar.
The Lotus Pavillion was built by the water, with rolling roof beams and continuous partitions. Between the corridor columns, a small table for incense was set up, and Ye Min was sitting under the pavilion, sipping tea.
And with him, sharing tea, was Ning Wang.
Qingge’s first instinct was to avoid Ning Wang. The last time she had offended him, Ning Wang had ordered a hundred lashes, resulting in her current poison. Ye Min had then allowed her to take a leave for recuperation, a fact that Ning Wang might or might not know.
Most likely, he didn’t know—Qingge silently mused. It was beneath Ning Wang to notice the absence of an inconspicuous secret guard.
Preferring not to remind Ning Wang of her presence now, Qingge quietly waited behind the pillar, silently biding her time until the two men finished their conversation and Ning Wang left.
At last, Ning Wang prepared to leave, and Ye Min rose to see him off. As they walked along the waterside corridor near the pavilion, Qingge watched silently from the shadows. Clad in a purple robe and adorned with a jade headdress, Ning Wang exuded his usual aura of majesty and aloofness. Beside him, the thin and slightly pale Ye Min followed closely, his hand steady on a silver cane. Although Ning Wang usually never showed any consideration toward others, he seemed to deliberately slow his pace to match Ye Min’s.
Their conversation still continued even as they walked, and Ning Wang’s expression seemed particularly solemn. Qingge perked her ears, trying to pick up useful information, but the sound of the flowing water by the Lotus Pavillion made it impossible to hear clearly, especially since the two deliberately lowered their voices. She could only pick up a few fragmented words, most notably ‘Xiahou’ and ‘Xiyuan.’
Coupled with what Luo Momo had inadvertently leaked, it all seemed to connect. The mother of Xiahou Jianxue was originally a princess from Xiyuan, and the arrival of the Third Master of the Xiahou clan was to discuss important matters regarding Xiyuan. From this, it seemed that through this marital alliance, the Xiahou clan intended to support Ning Wang in stabilizing the border threat of Xiyuan. In exchange, they would leverage the prestige of Great Sheng’s imperial dynasty to secure benefits for their clan’s continuity.
Suddenly, Ye Min’s sharp gaze swept over, striking Qingge directly, causing her to pause.
‘I’ve been spotted.’
Qingge wasn’t surprised. As expected of Ye Min; as perceptive as ever. His eyes were like blades that could sweep across ten miles. She knew she could not hide any longer, so she used her lightness art to leap from her hiding place and descend gracefully.
Since she was in Ning Wang and Ye Min’s presence, Qingge didn’t dare to be abrupt, so she controlled her descent to be slow and gentle, like a light leaf drifting down, finally landing without making a sound.
Ye Min did not turn to look, but Ning Wang’s gaze briefly flicked toward her, impressed with her mastery of lightness arts.
Once on the ground, Qingge kneeled on one knee, her head bowed deeply in respect until only the hem of Ning Wang’s robe was visible at the edge of her vision. “Qingge greets Master, greets the Pavilion Master,” she performed her greeting.
As she spoke, her black hair fell from her shoulders, blown by the wind along with the black veil that covered half of her face.
Ye Min lifted his hand and made a subtle gesture, silently indicating that he had pressing matters today and would speak with her later. Qingge was somewhat disappointed; it was not easy for her to come here, and she didn’t know when she might get another chance. However, since Ning Wang was also here, she ultimately had no choice but to silently withdraw.
As Qingge walked out of the Qianying Pavilion, Ning Wang’s gaze followed her disappearing figure. A smile suddenly played across his lips. Then, he turned to Ye Min, remarking, “I never realized before that you—”
He was cut off mid-sentence by Ye Min’s piercing look, the man’s lips pursed in slight disagreement.
Ning Wang arched an eyebrow, his expression intriguing.
Ye Min, his eyes cold, replied, “Your Highness, you are overthinking it.”
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Author’s Note:
Later, Ning Wang wished he could return to the past and slap himself twice.
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I’m intrigued
LOL
but also oh no, and she worked so hard to scamper away. Ah well! Life’s little vagaries. Excited to see what happens next, ty for chapter : )