Those accompanying Ling Yao included the King of Jiangbei, Qu Linglong, Wei Hu, and Zhang Yan, the chief guard sent by Song Beiting who was familiar with the southwestern terrain. Before their departure, Qing He dispatched two Tang Sect disciples skilled in poison.
After Qing He returned to Yingzhou, he quickly dealt with his enemies. The Tang Sect was now gradually being established, with some disciples already in place. The two dispatched were a married couple, both outstanding individuals named Meng Jiu and Chi Yun.
With everyone in place, all preparations were complete.
The group disguised themselves as merchants and headed towards the southwest.
In the King of Jiangbei's mansion, Jin Jin, stroking her belly, rushed to find Feng Shihao, only to be informed by his personal guard that the Prince had gone on a journey with no set return date.
"What?" she exclaimed, stunned.
Why had she known nothing about this! httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
How hateful, it was just her luck that she had just discovered she was pregnant!
When she learned that Qu Linglong was also not in the mansion, she was furious. That evening, when her cousin sneaked over again, she couldn't help but complain to him, and the two ended up in bed together.
Shi San, perched on a tree outside, was astonished.
His master was so pitiful.
The last time he was sent to investigate Consort Qu, was it perhaps because he feared she might cuckold him?
It turned out that it wasn't Consort Qu who was cuckolding him, but this weak-boned Madam Jin.
Tsk, tsk, how could this man be half as good as his master! Looking at the pale flesh, the slender arms and legs, one could tell he wouldn't last long.
"One, two, three, four... one hundred."
Just as he reached one hundred, the man inside trembled a few times and lay still, panting heavily.
So useless! Not even a finger of the Prince could compare!
Jin Jin disdainfully pushed him away.
"Heh heh, cousin, recently, my body has been a bit weak."
"Alright, hurry up and leave!"
If she hadn't been so slow to conceive, her father wouldn't have sent this cousin to help. His own women were all giving birth to sons.
Now that she had a child, and he couldn't make her happy, he wouldn't need to come again.
"Don't come again in the future. If the Prince finds out, we'll both die."
Shi San, bored, had watched a rather disappointing display of passion. Seeing the man sneakily climb over the wall to leave, he also flashed away from Xiangling Courtyard.
He stopped a guard and gave him some instructions.
How dare he cuckold his master? Tonight, he would break that leg first.
His master had instructed him to keep a close watch on the little princess in the mansion, so he climbed back onto the tree in Tingyu Courtyard.
Tingyu Courtyard was much more pleasant. Su Mian and the wet nurse were chatting while playing with the little princess.
The little princess's soft, milky voice was truly adorable.
"Heh heh..." Shi San couldn't help but chuckle, quickly covering his mouth.
"Little Princess, come, let's drink our milk and go to sleep!" The wet nurse lifted her clothes.
Oh, mother of pearl!
It was impossible to guard against.
Shi San quickly covered his eyes.
Ling Yao's group, with Zhang Yan leading the way, specifically avoided dangerous areas, and the journey was quite smooth.
As they traveled further southwest, the climate became warmer. If they hadn't been in a hurry, it would have been nice to tour the local customs and traditions.
The climate was humid, and there were more mountains and forests. Sometimes, there were no towns for hundreds of miles, and they had to camp in the wilderness.
During their journey, they encountered a black inn in a desolate suburb. The knockout drug inside was immediately detected by Chi Yun, who apprehended all the villains disguised as the innkeeper and waiter. In the next town, Wei Hu presented them to the authorities.
On this day, after another day's travel, they stopped to rest in a forest at noon.
Chi Yun laid out the soft cushions. After several days of continuous travel, it was fine for those who were used to being on the road, but the masters were showing signs of fatigue.
"Miss, please sit down and rest. I will go hunt some game."
Ling Yao nodded and said softly, "Be careful."
Chi Yun was small and delicate. On the surface, she looked like a gentle and harmless girl next door, with no hint that she was a poison master who could kill without a trace.
Qing He had high standards; his subordinates were not only capable but also pleasing to the eye.
Zhang Yan, standing nearby, cut in, "Miss, it would be better for me to go. Let Madam Meng stay here."
It was a joke. With a man present, how could he let a woman go out to hunt for food?
"Alright, then you go!" Ling Yao nodded.
Zhang Yan probably didn't know that Chi Yun was not a weak woman. Qing He's letter had stated that Chi Yun and Meng Jiu had been active in the martial arts world for over a decade and were renowned figures.
The couple had made an enemy of a large sect and challenged it alone, almost wiping it out. However, they had also exhausted themselves. Unexpectedly, the other side called for reinforcements. If Qing He hadn't sent people to rescue them, they might not have become such a powerful asset.
Zhang Yan returned after a while, carrying a wild rabbit, but his face was somewhat solemn.
"Miss, there are bandits robbing passersby over there."
He was seeking instructions on whether to intervene. "I observed them. They are ordinary bandits, and they seem to be intercepting passing merchants."
Feng Shihao interjected, "How many bandits are there?"
Zhang Yan replied, "More than ten. There are three merchants, and only one knows some martial arts and is resisting."
"Wei Hu, Zhang Yan, you two accompany me to take a look." Feng Shihao stood up.
Zhang Yan immediately obeyed. Along the way, he had realized that as long as the King of Jiangbei spoke, the Princess never contradicted him, showing great trust in the King of Jiangbei.
Qu Linglong watched Feng Shihao's retreating back, her brow furrowed.
"What's wrong? Worried about my brother?" Ling Yao leaned closer, her tone teasing, "Or should we follow and take a look?"
"What is there to worry about? If he can't even deal with a few bandits, isn't that too useless?"
Qu Linglong then recalled her experience in Xichuan when she was held hostage by enraged refugees. If he had found her earlier, Du Ling wouldn't have been involved.
In any case, in her eyes, Feng Shihao was always absent.
"Last night, did you go to his room?" Ling Yao casually asked again.
Qu Linglong hadn't done anything shameful, but she stubbornly replied, "I was just asking him if he needed to buy some clean clothes."
Ling Yao raised an eyebrow and nodded, "That's normal. You are husband and wife, you should care about these things."
Husband and wife? What husband and wife? They were merely living in the same mansion now. However, Qu Linglong still felt a little guilty.
"However, I passed by the room and happened to hear you say: The Prince looks quite good, his abs are firm, clearly defined, and he has a lot of masculine charm."
Qu Linglong: "......"
Ahhh!
Then you definitely didn't hear the earlier part, did you! He mocked her for lacking femininity first, and then she retorted!
One shouldn't take things out of context like this!
"Don't worry, I didn't overhear anything else. I thought you two were doing something in there, and as it's improper to listen, I left quickly."
......Then you might as well have listened longer.
"To be honest, my brother's physique is very good, isn't it? Did you try to seduce him last night......"
Qu Linglong's heart trembled. He was indeed very good, but he dressed too quickly, so she didn't get much of a look.
"Not as good as your General Xiao's."