Chapter 1 A Brief Encounter

He came and went in a hurry. The so-called medical consultation was nothing more than a formality. The carriage quickly returned to the Fan residence. However, Zheng Fan was somewhat surprised that the accompanying steward did not let Zheng Fan get off at the main entrance but instead signaled to open the side gate, allowing the carriage to drive directly into the estate.

The Fan residence was vast and its layout very well-planned. This planning was from a military perspective. In Zheng Fan's view, when the Fan family mansion was originally built, the Fan family ancestors must have been prepared to use it as a combined home and fortress.

However, after more than a hundred years of peace, the original military facilities had long become obsolete or been torn down and rebuilt, but the carriage road circling the Fan residence's inner courtyard had been preserved.

In addition, the location of Qingfang Zhai was very special, so the carriage drove directly to the side entrance of Qingfang Zhai, and could even drive right inside.

Once the carriage was inside, the steward simply stood outside the carriage and announced softly:

"Sir, we have arrived."

Then, without waiting for Zheng Fan's reply, the steward left directly with his servants, leaving only the carriage inside Qingfang Zhai.

Why not get out at the Fan residence's main entrance?

If he had, what would have happened to Liu Ruqing?

Leave her to the maids and servants?

Surely they wouldn't expect the gentleman to carry Liu Ruqing back to Qingfang Zhai? That would be too embarrassing.

Therefore, the steward's move could be said to be truly considerate.

Ultimately, it came down to two words: detail!

However, just as Zheng Bo-ye was preparing to carry the "unconscious" Liu Ruqing out of the carriage, A Ming walked over and said through the carriage window:

"The weather is really cold. I really hope April comes soon and brings warm weather and blossoming flowers."

Zheng Bo-ye got out of the carriage,

Alone.

At the same time, he instructed He Chunlai and Chen Daole, who were standing nearby:

"Have someone from the Fan residence fetch a doctor to help take a look."

"Yes."

"Yes."

Then,

Zheng Fan and A Ming walked into the house together.

Zheng Fan gestured with his eyes: How long has she been here?

A Ming made a downward chopping motion: Just arrived!

Zheng Fan breathed a sigh of relief: Good.

A Ming nodded: Yes, indeed.

Zheng Fan held up two fingers again: What about the groundwork?

A Ming nodded: Flawless.

Zheng Fan reached out and patted A Ming on the shoulder.

A Ming stopped and said:

"My lord, isn't this just a coincidence? Fourth Mistress just arrived, and you've returned. Your subordinate even told Fourth Mistress earlier that you wouldn't be back until the afternoon."

"Perhaps this is what they call a meeting of minds."

A Ming stopped,

Zheng Fan pushed the door open and went inside.

However, there was no one in the hall. He walked into the inner room, which was filled with steam. The hot water in the pool had already been drawn, and a beautiful figure was sitting in the bath. Who else could it be but Fourth Mistress?

"My lord, life here is indeed comfortable. Should we arrange our manor like this in the future?" Fourth Mistress naturally knew who had entered.

"We can't afford to be so extravagant," Zheng Fan said.

"That's true."

"How are things arranged on that side?"

"The barbarian soldiers are arranged at the foot of Mount Qi to provide support. Some of the Jin and Yan soldiers are housed in the imperial villa, and some are arranged in Zhou County."

"Thank you for your hard work."

"My lord, you are always so polite. A Ming told me that you went out to help a Miss Liu with a medical problem?"

"It was her younger brother."

"A Ming said she's associated with the Fan family's old matriarch?"

"Most likely."

Often, a matter's flavor can change completely with a slight shift in emphasis.

Liu Ruqing's identity couldn't possibly be problematic because she was the wife of Fan Zhengwen's fourth brother, an open figure. At the same time, Fan Zhengwen wouldn't be foolish enough to plant spies around himself; it was a huge taboo, and there was no need for him to do so.

Fan Zhengwen was marrying Little Six's aunt. What he needed to do now was first, help Zheng Fan abduct the Chu princess, and second, build a good relationship with Zheng Fan. The former was "I've performed meritorious service for Great Yan," and the latter was "I'm also on this ship."

No matter how he thought about it, Fan Zhengwen wouldn't do anything so superfluous.

But when the focus shifted to that old woman, Zheng Bo-ye instantly became "playing along" and "offering himself as bait."

"A Ming said that old woman is a xuan cultivator?"

"Yes, she does have some means," Zheng Fan said with emotion.

Fourth Mistress asked again:

"My lord, will she affect the situation?"

Zheng Fan shook his head. "It seems that Fan Zhengwen has suppressed her. She shouldn't come out to ruin the overall situation, but we still have to be careful.

Some people become extremists after cultivating xuan for too long."

"I understand. I've been enjoying myself in the Fan residence these days. You've really worked hard. Come, let me scrub your back."

Zheng Fan slowly took off his clothes

and entered the pool.

…

Happy times always pass quickly.

After taking a bath, Zheng Fan took a nap with Fourth Mistress.

When night fell, Fourth Mistress got up to leave. She still needed to oversee the external affairs, and Xue San might not be able to handle it alone, as there were several places to arrange.

There was no cliché of quietly coming and quietly leaving.

Fourth Mistress caressed Zheng Fan's face, gently waking him.

Zheng Fan opened his eyes, stretched, and said:

"This bed is really comfortable to sleep in."

"My lord, the mattress is filled with precious herbs that have a calming and sleep-aiding effect."

"Oh, no wonder."

"My lord, I'll leave first. You continue to wait for news here."

"Okay, be careful."

"Yes, my lord."

Fourth Mistress left.

To avoid misunderstandings and alarming the Fan residence's guards, she had the steward escort her away.

At this time, A Ming, He Chunlai, and Chen Daole, who were sitting in the gazebo rather than on the roof to avoid suspicion, were still drinking wine.

A Ming liked to drink, He Chunlai had a good capacity for alcohol, and Chen Daole's capacity was average, but he enjoyed the atmosphere of drinking and would often sing about the brevity of life.

"It seems things are busy outside," He Chunlai said.

They were well aware that Fourth Mistress was both a subordinate and one of their lords’ women.

Chen Daole, who was already slightly drunk, said:

"Since things are so busy outside, why are we still being kept here in the Fan residence?"

A Ming took a sip of red wine,

swirling the glass,

and said:

"So, you can see how useless the three of us must be."

"……" He Chunlai.

"……" Chen Daole.

…

Xiayong City was not small. Strictly speaking, Xiayong was not considered a front line, so it was not a "military stronghold."

There was no curfew in Xiayong City, so Fourth Mistress, who had already disguised herself, walked along the still-bustling street. After this street, she would reach the south gate.

The city gate guards at the south gate were from the Fan family, and Fourth Mistress could pass through with the Fan family's token. This was because she not only had to leave the city herself but also had to purchase some things that might be useful and bring them with her.

At this moment,

two young and beautiful women walked past Fourth Mistress. Fourth Mistress smelled the fragrance emanating from them.

Zheng Bo-ye didn't like using these things, but Fourth Mistress, as a woman who had been involved in this for a long time, had an extremely strong ability to distinguish such fragrances, including some of the "luxury goods" of this world.

This fragrance

came from the agarwood of the Great Swamp and was extremely precious.

Judging from the scent's diffusion, it must have been used to scent the clothes of those two girls.

Using extremely precious incense to scent clothes was simply the height of extravagance.

Moreover, the production of Great Swamp agarwood was extremely limited and almost entirely monopolized by the Great Chu imperial family. The last time Fourth Mistress obtained a piece was when Zheng Fan looted the Jin imperial palace.

The Chu imperial family liked to give this item as gifts, and they also liked to include it during diplomatic exchanges.

Fourth Mistress hesitated for a moment and stopped.

But she immediately cleared her throat again, spat on the ground, stomped her foot, and cursed:

"Damn it, this weather is really freezing me to death!"

At this time, Fourth Mistress was disguised as a burly man with a large beard.

However, when she was about to stop, she keenly noticed that there was a group of plainclothes experts guarding those two girls.

On the roofs on both sides,

following on the ground,

echoing from front and back,

the guards numbered no less than twenty, and all of them were skilled martial artists.

If she had shown even the slightest abnormality earlier, it might have aroused the vigilance of those guards.

Fourth Mistress's experience was here, and she naturally wouldn't allow herself to show any openings.

However, after making this discovery, Fourth Mistress was no longer in a hurry to leave the city. She wanted to follow them and continue observing.

However, she didn't dare to get too close and maintained some distance.

Because of the Fan family's presence, the Fan family's food, clothing, and luxurious lifestyle had greatly increased the prosperity of Xiayong, and the Fan family's trade had also brought together many branches of large merchants from the Chu region, so the night market was extremely lively.

The two girls were like tourists, looking here and there, occasionally taking out silver to buy small items.

Fourth Mistress observed some details of theirs from the shadows. With Fourth Mistress's vision and knowledge, some small details could often be used to deduce a lot of valuable information.

What was shabbiness, what was true wealth, what was putting on a show, and what was natural and flowing.

The woman in red seemed carefree, but in reality, she always showed a kind of flattery towards the delicate girl beside her.

This flattery was well-measured, appearing straightforward while also making people feel comfortable. It could be described as the highest level of flattery.

Thanks to her lord,

the devils had been forced to cram too much "Philosophy of Flattery" in recent years;

At the same time, why was her lord always favored by important figures?

That was because her lord was the culmination of this path.

That girl in red was actually a little too inexperienced, but it was just right for dealing with that delicate girl.

That delicate girl seemed lively in her gestures, but in fact, every step was restricted, obviously having lived in an environment with very strict rules for a long time.

Originally, Fourth Mistress only intended to observe;

but the more she watched, the more she felt that this delicate girl's identity might be extraordinary.

The incense was the first signal, the surrounding guards were the corroboration, and the body language and details revealed by the delicate girl that Fourth Mistress observed herself were the final validation.

Out of a devil's intuition, Fourth Mistress felt that she had discovered a big fish, perhaps even a "dragon in disguise."

The two girls seemed tired of shopping and entered a tea house. This was a tea house specializing in Qian-style Jiangnan flavors, emphasizing pastries and tea.

When Qian people did business abroad, and not just Qian people, people from other places doing business and opening shops, as long as they used the "Qian" name, they would inevitably create some gimmick. This was because the people of Qian knew how to live and had refined lives had become a universal understanding in the eastern countries.

Therefore, the tea house was equivalent to a coffee shop in the middle of a food stall in later generations.

After the two girls entered the tea house, their guards began to enter in batches.

Fourth Mistress took the opportunity to slip into the backyard of the tea house.

When they were shopping earlier, the guards had dispersed in an orderly manner, providing watertight protection, but the guards couldn't predict when the two young ladies would get tired or which store they would want to sit in after getting tired.

So, this was a gap in security.

Fourth Mistress was waiting for this opportunity, a chance to get closer to them.

If the two girls simply went home after shopping, Fourth Mistress felt that she wouldn't have another chance tonight, and she couldn't waste a target here.

In the end, Fourth Mistress had her eyes on them only out of a woman's instinct.

……

Inside a private room on the second floor of the tea house;

"Come, the Su family has a main store in Shangjing. Their pastries are first-class. Eat more later. If you like any of them, we'll order a few more to take back."

"Thank you, Sister Mi."

"Why are you being so polite? To be honest, being able to have tea and eat with you, Sister, is an honor for me."

"You're joking again, Sister."

"Hehe."

The delicate girl leaned against the window and looked at the street below, saying:

"Is Juyuan City bigger than Xiayong?"

"Of course, but to be honest, Juyuan City is big, and there are more people than Xiayong, but when it comes to fun and delicious food, it's really not as good as Xiayong.

There's a Fan family here in Xiayong. Their family is the source of funds for your future husband's family. They are the best at living a good life.

It's just that you haven't married yet, and we've already broken the rules by secretly coming out to see and play. It's not good to disturb others anymore.

Otherwise, if we send a visiting card to the Fan residence and have the famous Twelve Beauties of the Fan family accompany us, we'll definitely have a great time."

"Twelve Beauties?"

"That's what the common folk call the Fan family's women. It's said that they are all intelligent and beautiful young women. The Fan family is a wealthy family, so they can naturally raise noble women."

"Mm."

"But rest assured, I've already inquired about your future husband, Qu Peiluo. His reputation is very good. He has the legacy of the Grand Pillar State of that year, and His Majesty the Regent values the Qu family so much, it's a certainty that your husband will inherit the title of Pillar State in the future."

The delicate girl smiled, her mood visibly depressed.

"Aiya, aiya." The girl knew she had said the wrong thing. Marriage was a major event, and there was always a lot of fear when it was about to happen. "Forget it, forget it, it's my fault for being talkative, my fault for being talkative."

"Sister isn't blaming you. It's just that I feel a little panicked when I think about getting married."

At this moment,

a female server opened the door and walked in, carrying a tray with various pastries on it.

"The pastries are here, come, come, have some pastries."

The woman immediately lightened the mood.

The female server squatted down and placed the pastries one by one on the coffee table.

On the first floor of the tea house, on the roof, and in front of the private room, there were guards everywhere.

But Fourth Mistress had already snuck in.

It could only be said that Fourth Mistress's methods were too superb, especially her disguise skills, which not only changed her appearance but also brought about a change in temperament.

"Come, my good sister, eat this piece."

Fourth Mistress set the pastries and then stood up to pour tea.

As she leaned forward,

the silk thread in Fourth Mistress's hand directly wrapped around the delicate woman's white neck. The delicate woman had just picked up a piece of pastry with her chopsticks and was stunned for a moment, unable to speak.

The woman in red saw this and instinctively looked at Fourth Mistress, while her hand began to reach downwards.

But how could Fourth Mistress give her a chance to react?

In the end,

neither of these girls knew any martial arts. If she could still fail in front of them, then Fourth Mistress would be unworthy of the name Devil.

In an instant,

several silk threads directly bound the woman's hands. At the same time, Fourth Mistress rolled to the side and choked the red-clothed woman's neck with her hand,

saying in a deep voice:

"I am from the Great Qian Silver Armor Guard. If you want to live, don't make a sound."

The woman in red frowned immediately upon hearing this.

Fourth Mistress caught this. It wasn't fear, but doubt, which meant that the other party's identity was even higher than she had anticipated.

So high that she could assume the Silver Armor Guard wouldn't act against her.

Because the perimeter was full of the other party's guards, Fourth Mistress acted decisively. After capturing this information, she immediately wrapped the red-clothed woman's neck with a silk thread, then pulled up with her fingers, and three silk threads directly pierced through the red-clothed woman's arm!

Actually, it didn't hurt that much, and couldn't be compared to the pain of being stabbed or shot with an arrow, but the visual impact was definitely strong, and it could destroy the two girls' mental defenses to a great extent in a short amount of time.

At the same time,

Fourth Mistress slightly loosened the silk thread on the delicate woman's neck, allowing her to barely speak.

The delicate woman struggled to say:

"Don't... don't hurt... Prin... Princess..."

"..." The woman in red.

Fourth Mistress's breathing suddenly quickened, Princess?

The princess she had been thinking about helping her lord to take into his harem,

the princess she had painstakingly arranged to abduct on the wedding day,

had actually appeared so easily and simply in front of her?

The delicate woman continued:

"Please... please... don't... hurt... Prin..."

Fourth Mistress's palm turned into a knife and struck the red-clothed woman's neck directly, causing her to faint immediately.

Then,

Fourth Mistress hugged the delicate woman,

whispering:

"Come, Sister, let me give you a hug."

The delicate woman was stunned.

The two women's faces were almost touching, and Fourth Mistress could clearly feel the other's body temperature.

Then,

Fourth Mistress stuck out her tongue

and licked the delicate woman under her earlobe.

The delicate woman trembled,

and Fourth Mistress smiled,

blowing two breaths into the delicate woman's ear,

whispering:

"Sister, don't play tricks on me. You're still too inexperienced. Don't worry, we have a long life ahead of us. I'll teach you the rules."

————

Everyone, don't wait for the next chapter, it will probably be written and released in the morning, so everyone can read it when they wake up. Don't panic, hold on tight to chun jie di xiao long!