Xue Zi Ning opened her eyes and saw Yan Zhao's tired face. She stood up, and he stepped forward to help her. "Yan Zhao, why are you here?"
"You've been asleep for two days."
Xue Zi Ning was stunned. "Two days?"
He nodded. "Yes, A Ning, don't sleep so long next time, okay?"
Xue Zi Ning nodded, then suddenly remembered something and couldn't help but ask, "What about the child? Is he alright?"
He hugged her tightly. "Don't worry, the child is safe and sound."
"I know, but I'm still scared." Xue Zi Ning confessed her true feelings to Yan Zhao for the first time.
She was truly afraid. In the past, she had viewed life and death lightly, but this time, she was genuinely a little frightened.
"A Ning, don't be afraid, I'm here..."
She felt his arms tightening, ever so tightly, pressing her until she couldn't breathe. But she didn't refuse. She knew her fear made him worry as well.
"Has Wen Yu Xi reached Beijiang?"
"He should have. He hasn't sent any news, but no news is good news."
She nodded. She couldn't comprehend why Xue Zi Xuan had rebelled. She had considered everyone, but Xue Zi Xuan was the one person she thought would never rebel.
The arduous journey had allowed Wen Yu Xi to reach the city of Beijiang in less than ten days. "Lou Zhu, I'll go into the city to scout."
Wen Yu Xi nodded. "Alright, be careful."
Wen Nuan nodded. "Lou Zhu, rest assured."
In the evening, Wen Nuan returned. Wen Yu Xi was looking at the map of Beijiang. "Lou Zhu."
Wen Yu Xi looked up at Wen Nuan. "Did you find anything?"
"The King's mansion gates are tightly shut. Beijiang city has a curfew from Xu Shi every evening until Chen Shi the next morning."
"I'll go take a look myself at Zi Shi," Wen Yu Xi said.
Wen Nuan looked at him. "Lou Zhu, shouldn't we send a letter to His Majesty Yun Huang?"
"Send it," Wen Yu Xi said.
As Zi Shi arrived, Wen Yu Xi and Wen Nuan entered Beijiang city. The city during curfew was like a ghost town. They flew into the Beijiang King's mansion, which was brightly lit.
Wen Yu Xi landed inside the Beijiang King's mansion. Wen Nuan pointed in a direction, and he followed.
From the main courtyard came sounds of laughter. Wen Yu Xi moved closer, and Wen Nuan poked a hole, seeing revelry within. A man sat in the main seat. Who else but Xue Zi Xuan?
Wen Yu Xi leaned in, and Wen Nuan felt a rush of warm breath. She flinched slightly, then quickly stepped back.
Wen Yu Xi moved closer and saw the man inside. His gaze grew colder.
Upon returning to the camp, Wen Yu Xi's expression was frigid. Wen Yu dared not approach. Wen Nuan could only brace herself and step forward. "Lou Zhu, you've been silent since you returned. Did you discover something?"
Wen Yu Xi looked up at Wen Nuan. After a long moment, he said, "A Ning trusted him so much that she gave him Beijiang, but he's here indulging in pleasure, even recruiting troops and attempting rebellion. I feel injustice for A Ning."
Wen Nuan heard this and said, "Lou Zhu, human hearts are unfathomable. Perhaps the Beijiang King was loyal to His Majesty at the time, but now, with the passage of time, his thoughts have naturally become more ambitious. Who doesn't want to be king or emperor?"
Only you, who gave up power for love.
Wen Yu Xi chuckled softly. "Is being king or emperor really that good? I wish to live in seclusion in the mountains with the one I love, living a life of simple domesticity. That is the life I truly yearn for."
Wen Nuan was slightly stunned. She wanted to ask Lou Zhu, if she were willing, could she take her along?
But alas, she dared not, nor could she. The one Lou Zhu held in his heart was not her.
Perhaps it never would be.
"Lou Zhu, do you have any strategies?" Wen Nuan asked.
Wen Yu Xi said, "Since he enjoys indulging in pleasure so much, why not strike through the women?"
Wen Nuan looked up at him. "Feng Yue Lou?"
Wen Yu Xi nodded. "Yes."
Feng Yue Lou began to rise gradually after the Empress ascended the throne, spreading throughout Longjiu Kingdom.
Little did they know, Feng Yue Lou was founded by Wen Nuan, solely to gather information, so that she would not be isolated and helpless one day.
Now was the time to use it. Wen Nuan, having received the order, came to Feng Yue Lou.
The person in charge of Feng Yue Lou in Beijiang was named Kui Xiang. Kui Xiang's mother died when she was young. Her father was a gambler, and in one bet, he wagered the young Kui Xiang as collateral. The consequences were predictable: Kui Xiang was sold by her father to pay off debts.
Kui Xiang was aloof, perhaps because she had experienced too much in her youth, which made her appear indifferent and distant, unapproachable.
It was precisely for this reason that Wen Nuan chose her to be the manager of Feng Yue Lou in Beijiang.
Kui Xiang was very surprised by Wen Nuan's arrival. She had only met Wen Nuan during the initial establishment of Feng Yue Lou in Beijiang and knew that Wen Nuan was the owner of the entire Feng Yue Lou.
"Kui Xiang greets the Master," Kui Xiang quickly stepped forward and bowed.
Wen Nuan helped Kui Xiang up. "No need for such formality."
"Does the Master have something to instruct?" Kui Xiang asked.
Wen Nuan nodded. "Precisely. I have something important to do."
"Is there anything Kui Xiang can help with? Kui Xiang will surely not fail." Kui Xiang said.
"The Beijiang King, has he made any moves?"
Kui Xiang heard this and said, "There haven't been any significant moves, but Kui Xiang feels that the Beijiang King's temperament seems to have changed quite a bit."
Wen Nuan heard this. "Elaborate."
Kui Xiang nodded and said, "I've met the Beijiang King before. At that time, the Beijiang King was upright and never frequented places of pleasure. But in the last six months, the Beijiang King has frequently visited Feng Yue Lou. According to the sisters who served the Beijiang King, his temperament is unpredictable. He might be happily playing one moment, and the next he might be drawing his sword to attack someone."
Wen Nuan frowned. "Such a big change?"
Kui Xiang nodded. "Kui Xiang would not dare to deceive the Master."
Wen Nuan knew Kui Xiang had no reason to deceive her, and she could verify all of this.
"Yesterday, the Beijiang King even invited our Feng Yue Lou's girl Mudan to accompany him to the King's mansion tomorrow," Kui Xiang said.
Wen Nuan nodded. "Then make arrangements. I will accompany her tomorrow."
Kui Xiang was taken aback. "Master, you..."
"I have important matters to attend to. Rest assured, I will not act unless absolutely necessary."
Wen Nuan thought Kui Xiang was worried about Mudan's safety. Kui Xiang quickly said, "Master, you misunderstand. It's not that Kui Xiang won't make arrangements, but the Beijiang King is cautious. The King's mansion always sends someone to pick up the girls, and only allows one girl to go."
Wen Nuan was stunned. After thinking for a while, she said, "Tomorrow, let Mudan rest. I will go to the King's mansion in her place."
"Master, this is too dangerous. Why not let Kui Xiang go?" Kui Xiang volunteered.
"My mind is made up. Tomorrow, I will go to the Beijiang King's mansion in Mudan's stead," Wen Nuan said.
Seeing that she couldn't dissuade her, Kui Xiang agreed to Wen Nuan's proposal.
"I won't return today, just in case," Wen Nuan said.