Xue Zi Ning stood beneath the walls of the Northern Frontier, gazing at the two characters emblazoned on the ramparts. Memories flooded her; it had been several years since she last came here.
Last time, she had been with others. Now, she was alone.
"Young Master, why aren't we going in?" a voice sounded beside her.
Xue Zi Ning started slightly and turned to see a woman standing before her. Though her face was smudged with dirt, her eyes shone with remarkable brightness.
Noticing Xue Zi Ning's appraisal, the woman smiled. "Does Young Master dislike this humble servant?"
"I do," Xue Zi Ning stated plainly.
The woman faltered for a moment, clearly not expecting such a blunt reply. After a brief pause, she recovered and laughed, "It's clear this Young Master is new to the Northern Frontier. Where do you wish to go? Perhaps this servant can guide you?"
"No need," Xue Zi Ning refused, then stepped forward. She kept her distance from those who sought her out so eagerly.
She didn't know what had happened in the Northern Frontier, and she needed to be cautious.
After walking for some time, Xue Zi Ning noticed the woman was still following her. She stopped and looked at the woman with a cool expression. "May I ask why this lady keeps following me?"
The woman replied, "This servant simply wishes to help Young Master. Please do not misunderstand."
"I told you, I don't need your help." With that, Xue Zi Ning quickened her pace.
The long journey had left her weary. Ever since giving birth to Xing He and Xing Xi, her body had not been quite the same. Merely a day without rest made her feel fatigued.
Arriving at an inn, a server quickly came to greet her. She handed the server a silver ingot and said, "One room. I do not wish to be disturbed."
The server looked at the silver in his hand and nodded. "Young Master, please follow me."
As they reached the second floor, a commotion erupted from behind. "Well, well, who do we have here? Isn't this Miss Kui Xiang? Once so radiant, what happened to you now? Down on your luck? Want to spend a night with this lord? I could even take you as a concubine!"
Those nearby chimed in with a jeer, "Why not all of us spend a night?"
Kui Xiang looked at the man without a trace of anger, merely stepping back. "You've mistaken me for someone else. This servant is not Miss Kui Xiang."
The man who had spoken first laughed, grabbing Kui Xiang's wrist and sniffing it. "Before, I wanted to touch you and was driven away. Now, Miss Kui Xiang, you've come to this."
Kui Xiang struggled. "Don't touch me. I'm not here for you."
"Then who are you here for?" the man asked.
Kui Xiang pointed in a direction, and Xue Zi Ning frowned, as she was the one being pointed at.
"Young Master, are you not going to help this servant?" Kui Xiang asked, biting her lower lip.
"I don't know you." With that, Xue Zi Ning turned to the still-stunned server and said, "Aren't you going to lead the way?"
The server snapped back to attention and quickly said, "Young Master, please follow me."
She heard the men behind her jeer, "Miss Kui Xiang, he doesn't even know you. Why don't you spend the night with this old man instead!"
"Let go of me..." Kui Xiang struggled.
Xue Zi Ning, without hesitation, went to the room and waited for the server to open the door, but there was no sound for a long time. She turned to look at the server, whose gaze was fixed below.
She followed the server's gaze downstairs and saw Kui Xiang being teased with lewd remarks by two men.
"Do you know her?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
The server turned back and said, "Who in the Northern Frontier doesn't know Kui Xiang from the Feng Yue Tower?"
Xue Zi Ning frowned. Why did the name Feng Yue Tower sound so familiar?
"It's a pity that Feng Yue Tower was wiped out overnight by the King of the Northern Frontier's troops. Now there is no Feng Yue Tower, and no Miss Kui Xiang," the server said regretfully.
"Why did the King of the Northern Frontier wipe out Feng Yue Tower?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
The server lowered his voice upon hearing this. "Since Young Master is not from the Northern Frontier, this humble servant kindly advises you not to inquire about the King of the Northern Frontier in any way. Otherwise, you might be treated as a criminal."
Xue Zi Ning was slightly taken aback. "Is the King of the Northern Frontier that formidable?"
The server replied, "Isn't that normal? What ruler likes to be gossiped about behind their back?"
After speaking, the server pushed the door open and said, "Young Master, please."
Xue Zi Ning entered the room. The server said, "If Young Master needs anything, just call for me."
The server left.
Xue Zi Ning closed the door and walked to the bed, lying down and closing her eyes to rest for a moment.
Suddenly, she opened her eyes. Feng Yue Tower? Qian Jin Tower?
She remembered Wen Yu Xi telling her that he had people in the Northern Frontier. Besides Feng Yue Tower, she really didn't know where else was suitable for gathering information.
She got up and opened the door. The two men downstairs were still harassing Kui Xiang. She called out to them, "Aren't you coming to serve this young master? You know to fear now, don't you? See if you dare to disobey me again."
The two men froze, Kui Xiang was startled. Xue Zi Ning said coldly, "Aren't you coming? Or do you really intend to serve someone else?"
Kui Xiang pushed the man away. "This servant has already said I have someone."
"Is it true just because he says so? I say you're mine to buy!" the man retorted angrily.
Xue Zi Ning's gaze turned cold. She took a copper coin from her waist and flicked it out, hitting the man precisely on the cheek. The man cried out in pain and became furious. "You dare hit me."
Xue Zi Ning filled her fingers with copper coins and showed them to the man. "Not enough?"
The man, intimidated, still unwilling to leave so ignominiously, could only issue a threat, "You... you just wait for me..."
The others, seeing this, also left. At this point, only Kui Xiang remained downstairs.
"Come up!" Xue Zi Ning turned and entered the room.
A moment later, the door was pushed open, and Kui Xiang stood at the entrance, looking hesitant.
Xue Zi Ning chuckled softly. "Didn't you want to follow me? Now that I'm letting you, you dare not come in?"
Kui Xiang heard this, bit her lower lip, seemingly making a decision, and with a resolute heart, walked in.
"Close the door," Xue Zi Ning said.
Kui Xiang closed the door and stood there.
Xue Zi Ning looked at Kui Xiang and said faintly, "Sit."
"This servant dares not!" Kui Xiang said.
"Sit!" Xue Zi Ning continued.
Kui Xiang blinked slightly, then walked over and sat down.
Her gaze fell upon the food the server had brought to the table, and then she looked away.
"How long has it been since you last ate a full meal?" Xue Zi Ning asked indifferently.
Kui Xiang startled, turned her head, and said nothing.
Xue Zi Ning placed chopsticks in front of her and said, "Eat!"
Kui Xiang blinked. Xue Zi Ning continued, "Are you afraid? You know I'm a woman, afraid I might do something to you?"
She was no ordinary person. She was from Feng Yue Tower, and the person before her was a young lady.
She picked up the chopsticks and began to eat. Though famished, she could not abandon her proper bearing.
"What is the relationship between Qian Jin Tower and you?" Xue Zi Ning suddenly asked.
Kui Xiang's hand, holding the chopsticks, visibly twitched. Though the movement was subtle, Xue Zi Ning noticed it.