The wedding day of Feng Lipan soon arrived.
As a prince, his wedding was naturally a grand affair. Anyone with a modicum of power would not be absent. The Emperor also issued an imperial decree, bestowing many gifts upon Feng Lipan.
Although his son had no great ambitions, he was sensible and never caused trouble, so the Emperor was not stingy in granting him a lifetime of favor.
As they were about to leave, Xing Yuan stopped Bai Qingyue, her expression full of conflict. "Sister, a friend is coming to see me today and seems to have something urgent. I'm afraid I can't go with you this time."
"It's alright!" Bai Qingyue gently stroked Xing Yuan's hair. While having A Yuan by her side would give her more security, she never wanted to force anyone to stay with her, let alone A Yuan.
"Mhm! I'll handle it as quickly as possible!" Xing Yuan smiled obediently, her eyes filled with determination.
"Sister, aren't you leaving soon? It won't be good if you're late!" Bai Yuelin, sitting in the carriage, impatiently called out to Bai Qingyue.
Bai Qingyue responded with a sound and turned to get into the carriage. After watching the carriage disappear, Xing Yuan's smile faded, and she turned towards the prearranged meeting spot.
"What, your friend isn't accompanying you?" Madam Yue asked with a dignified smile, appearing as a mother concerned for her child.
"A Yuan has some personal matters and it's inconvenient today," Bai Qingyue said softly, not wanting to fall out with Madam Yue.
Madam Yue nodded and said no more, as if she had merely asked a casual question.
Bai Yuelin, perhaps having received instructions from her mother, merely looked at her half-sister with resentment in her eyes, not saying a word.
Third Prince's Manor.
"Are you ready?" Feng Liyu, dressed in white, stood in the room and looked back at Xing Yuan. His tone was filled with concern, and his eyes were serious as he asked.
"Naturally!" Xing Yuan said calmly. "As long as Your Highness prepares the things and people I need, I will naturally give Your Highness a satisfactory answer."
Feng Liyu smiled. "I've prepared everyone for you. Then I'll await your good news."
Xing Yuan nodded and went into the room to change into the clothes she usually wore when killing. She put on a mask, a long sword at her waist, and various hidden weapons hung from her belt. She became the assassin, Jue Jian.
Feng Liyu looked at the greatly transformed Xing Yuan and sighed, "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed that the legendary Jue Jian was actually a woman."
Because of the soundproofing of the mask, Xing Yuan's voice sounded somewhat hoarse. She said slowly, "There are many unimaginable things in this world. For example, I never thought I would cooperate with Your Highness, the Third Prince, one day."
Xing Yuan glanced at the sky and urged, "I will make my move during the banquet. It's best for Your Highness to go in advance, otherwise, if you arouse suspicion, it will be more than the loss."
"Alright!" Feng Liyu nodded and turned to leave.
Xing Yuan looked at the dozens of hidden guards meticulously trained by Feng Liyu beside her and instructed, "Did you hear what your master said? You must know what you need to do! Make a big commotion, and it's best to entangle them for an hour before leaving."
"Yes!" The hidden guards replied respectfully.
Xing Yuan nodded with satisfaction and led the group to wait silently not far from the First Prince's Manor.
At this moment, the First Prince's Manor was bustling with activity. Feng Liyan and Feng Liyu were facing each other.
"I heard that Third Brother caught a cold a few days ago. I wonder if he's feeling any better?" Feng Liyan couldn't stand Feng Liyu's sickly appearance, as it earned him so much pity from their father!
"Thank you for your concern, Second Brother. It was just a minor illness, and I have already recovered," Feng Liyu replied politely, his face revealing none of his true emotions.
While they appeared to be "brotherly and friendly," the tension between them was palpable.
"Today is my joyous occasion. Since both younger brothers have arrived, please come in quickly. Don't let outsiders laugh," Feng Lipan said, playing the peacemaker.
"Elder Brother is right. This is a red agate I chanced upon, so I present it to Elder Brother as a wedding gift," Feng Liyan said with a smile, having his subordinate carry in a blood-red agate tree, his eyes provocatively glancing at Feng Liyu.
Feng Liyu, unwilling to be outdone, casually beckoned to his subordinate, who immediately presented an exquisite jade box.
"Elder Brother, this is a thousand-year-old ginseng I specially found for you. Its efficacy is remarkable. Unfortunately, when I found this item, the servants were a bit rough, causing some damage to the root, but it does not affect its medicinal properties." If not for the guilt he felt about what he was about to do today, he would not have produced such a precious item.
In this competition, Feng Liyu was the clear winner.
"Both Imperial Brothers are thoughtful. Please take your seats," Feng Lipan said, his face full of emotion. So, he had become the beneficiary of the competition between his two younger brothers? This was truly... wonderful. Please bring more.
Feng Liyan snorted and took his seat first. Feng Liyu smiled gently and also sat in his designated seat.
In an instant, the distinction between them was clear in everyone's minds!
"Qingyue, you're here! You were really hard to find!" Wen Xingyi ran over, panting.
Bai Qingyue looked at the anxious Wen Xingyi, her eyes filled with confusion, and asked gently, "What's wrong?"
Wen Xingyi looked around and said with a hint of disappointment, "Why isn't your little attendant here?"
"She has something to do today and it's inconvenient to come! Also, I've told you many times, she's my friend, not my attendant." Bai Qingyue smiled, her eyes full of tenderness.
Wen Xingyi drooped her head, looking disappointed. "Alright! It's all the same. If she's not coming, then forget it."
Bai Qingyue's curiosity was piqued, and she couldn't help but ask again, "What exactly happened?"
"It's nothing really." Wen Xingyi seemed a little embarrassed. "It's just, you know, I have a few friends who particularly admire the martial world. A while ago, I saw how good her martial arts were, like leaping over roofs and scaling walls, it seemed so easy for her. So I bragged to them. She's always by your side, so I told them I'd show them a real master. Who knew she wouldn't be here?"
Bai Qingyue frowned, strongly condemning Wen Xingyi's behavior. "A Yuan isn't some street performer in the martial world. Even if she's really skilled, it's enough for us to know. There's no need to spread it around; it could affect A Yuan's reputation."
"Ah? Is that so? I don't understand these things." Wen Xingyi blinked her eyes, looking a bit naive, and apologized, "I was wrong. I'll go explain it to them now."
Bai Qingyue looked at Wen Xingyi, who was admitting her mistake, and smiled with some relief. She said righteously, "Mhm! In any case, A Yuan is our friend. We absolutely cannot do anything to harm her."
Wen Xingyi nodded in agreement, a smile appearing on her lips.