Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Outer Room

On the official road, cold rain fell incessantly.

A galloping horse sped past, splashing mud and water into droplets.

The person on horseback was dressed in a straw raincoat and bamboo hat, making it impossible to discern their figure. Only the hand holding the whip revealed a slender frame and porcelain-white skin, resembling a woman's hand.

As if they had urgent business to attend to, they traveled for half a day, braving wind and rain, until they passed a tavern and stopped their journey.

After tying up the horse in the side shed, she untied her raincoat and removed her straw hat, revealing a face as radiant as snow and as beautiful as flowers.

The shopkeeper, who was dozing off at a table not far away, was taken aback.

There were already few people out and about on such a rainy day, so I never expected to see such a magnificent sight.

Realizing what was happening, he immediately stood up, smiling broadly, and eagerly asked, "Sir, what would you like to order?"

The woman wore riding boots and had a long sword at her waist. Apart from her face, her outfit looked ordinary at first glance, but her crimson outfit was made of fine brocade. Even though it was dark at the time, one could still see the dark patterns upon closer inspection.

He was clearly a wealthy man, yet his gait was nothing like that of a graceful young lady, with delicate, swaying steps. Instead, he held a riding whip and strode in with a powerful, imposing manner.

The shopkeeper quickly wiped the bench and went to pour tea.

"Shopkeeper, two ounces of braised beef, and another pot of wine," Yunxi said, sitting down and raising her eyebrows. But she paused when she said this, because if the people from the Jiangyuan Marquis's mansion saw her drinking, they would inevitably report it to her mother.

She was lost when she was a child and was only found by the Jiangyuan Marquis's mansion a year ago. Before that, she had been wandering the world with her adoptive parents.

Upon first meeting her, her relatives treated her with exceptional kindness, which deeply moved her, and she secretly vowed to take good care of them.

To her surprise, the next day her mother found her covered in sweat, having practiced swordsmanship early in the morning. Frowning, she advised, "Yunxi, you must never practice swordsmanship again."

Yunxi looked puzzled. "Why not?"

The mother admonished, "You are disgracing the family. As a woman, you should behave yourself and learn needlework. You must never act like a brute, brandishing knives and swords. Such rudeness and barbarity are unacceptable in a refined setting."

After her adoptive mother died, her adoptive father opened a security escort agency and traveled all over the country to earn money to support her.

With Japanese pirates causing trouble in the south, Turks plundering in the north, and bandits blocking the way, she faced dangers everywhere. If it weren't for her martial arts skills, how would her adoptive father have supported her? How could she have protected herself? She would probably have become a pile of bones long ago.

Her past seventeen years had become the most unbearable contempt in the mouths of her biological parents, how could she bear it, and she raised her voice to refute them.

The conflict began from there.

“Seriously, this strong liquor is quite potent,” the shopkeeper hesitated, then, seeing that she was alone outside, suggested, “How about trying Yangchunxue? It’s much milder.”

"Thank you." Yunxi knew his good intentions. "Don't worry, I have a very high alcohol tolerance."

She raised her eyebrows and smiled, quite proudly, "Let alone a pot of strong liquor, I could easily drink two pots down to the last drop."

He is heroic and unrestrained.

The scorching sun seemed to tear apart this damp and gloomy place.

The shopkeeper blushed and hurriedly turned around.

Soon, the food and drinks were served.

As dusk fell, Yunxi finally entered the city just as the city gates were about to close.

She sat on her horse and glanced at the guards by the city gate.

She left quietly this time, and as soon as she entered the city, someone would surely go to inform the Marquis of Jiangyuan's residence.

Thinking of the utterly disappointed looks she would see upon returning, Yunxi tightened her grip on the reins.

With that thought, Yunxi no longer hesitated and spurred his horse toward the Huailing Prince's Mansion.

Full of passion, carrying the treasure she had traveled a thousand miles for, she couldn't wait to see the man she longed for.

Unexpectedly, Onion intercepted them halfway.

Onion was once a little beggar. She accidentally dirtied a nobleman's shoes and was almost beaten half to death by the nobleman's attendants. She saw the injustice and saved her. From then on, she followed the nobleman's lead.

“Boss, the Prince of Huailing is not in the manor,” Congtou said cleverly. “I knew you were coming, I’ve been waiting for days.”

Yunxi smiled and pulled on the horse, then took out a short blade from his saddlebag and tossed it to Congtou.

Onion Head happily accepted it, and had just said "Thank you, Boss" when Yunxi asked, "Where is he?"

Upon hearing this, his face immediately turned indignant. "Ever since you left the capital, Prince Huailing has frequently indulged in drinking and revelry at the Jiuge Brothel, even..."

"He went to Jiuge Fang?" Yunxi couldn't help but raise her voice, and seeing Congtou's stammering appearance, she asked, "Even what?"

"Boss" Onion hesitated, his eyes darting around. "Maybe I shouldn't tell him?"

"Hurry up." Yunxi clearly had no patience.

Her tone was unpleasant, and her expression was unfriendly.

Onion shrugged and whispered, "There are rumors that the prince is going to redeem Miss Song Qiluo from her servitude. I even saw that the courtyard outside has been prepared."

Before he could finish speaking, the horse suddenly let out a neigh.

Is the Prince of Huailin planning to keep a mistress?!

Before Onion Head could finish his worried words, Yunxi had already mounted his horse and sped away like lightning.

When Yunxi rushed to Jiuge Fang, she was naturally stopped without ceremony.

The inkstone she had painstakingly acquired from afar, despite her injuries, weighed as heavy as a mountain on her chest. Naturally, she had no patience for it and was about to draw her sword and force her way in when she saw the woman soliciting customers beside her staring at her with a pale face and a look of fear.

Seeing this, Yunxi took a deep breath, sheathed his sword, mounted his horse, and rode away smoothly.

She came like the wind, and she left like the wind.

Without any hesitation or fuss.

Onion, who had rushed over, was covered in sweat. He was supporting himself on his knees when an arm lifted him onto a horse before he could even stand up straight.

He only had time to utter a single cry before abruptly falling silent.

With a stern face, Yunxi led Congtou around to a spot not far from the back street of Jiugefang.

Standing under the bare sycamore tree, she handed the reins to Onion Head and said, "Take the horse with you. I'll come to see you when I have time."

"Boss, what are you going to do?" Onion asked fearfully.

Yunxi gritted her teeth and shouted, "Catch them in the act!"

Yunxi wandered the world with her adoptive parents since she was a child. She didn't read many serious books, and it was already quite an achievement that she could even read.

Her enlightenment came from her foster mother, storytellers, and the plays she watched.

In a fit of anger, one naturally wouldn't think of finding a more fitting way to express it.

Even Onion was stunned for a long time, staring at her back as she skillfully climbed over the wall, scratching his head and muttering, "Catching someone in the act doesn't seem to be used like that."

Onion looked worriedly at the spot where Yunxi had disappeared.

They could only lead their horses away in silence.

When Yunxi was little, her adoptive mother liked to hold her, pinching her cheeks or kissing her face. "My baby, it doesn't matter if we don't learn other skills well, but we must learn lightness skills well. If we can't beat someone, we can just run away. Our main skill is that we can eat anything and never suffer a loss."

Thanks to her adoptive mother's encouragement, Yunxi's light-body skills are quite good, and she can be considered one of the best.

Therefore, it was incredibly easy for her to sneak into the bustling Jiuge Fang without anyone noticing.

Her outfit was too eye-catching; she was afraid she would be discovered before she could catch anyone.

She casually grabbed a dress that was drying in the backyard and put it on. Unfortunately, the dress was a low-cut, sleeveless ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), revealing a large expanse of porcelain-white skin on her neck, as well as grotesque, wavy, bleeding wounds.

Those were the marks left by thorns when he climbed a sheer cliff with his bare hands in search of an inkstone, nearly tumbling down.

The red patch on her chest was naturally too eye-catching, and when she walked down to the first floor, she attracted the attention of several frivolous drunkards.

She gave a perfunctory smile, snatched the fan from a young man's hand, and discreetly went up the stairs.

This wasn't her first time visiting this place of entertainment, so she naturally knew that high-ranking officials and nobles indulged in quiet and secluded places.

Before she even reached Qingfeng Courtyard, she saw two familiar people.

Knife One, Knife Two.

The personal bodyguard of the Prince of Huailing.

They both saw her at the same time.

The twins were clearly taken aback for a moment, but quickly regained their composure, though their hands had already instinctively gripped their swords.

"I want to see the Prince of Huailing," she said, walking straight up to the twins.

Dao Yi said with a stern face, "Miss Fan, this is not a place you should be."

"Go ask him whether he'll see me or not." Having come this far, Yunxi would never back down.

Dao Yi shook his head without hesitation, "My lord will not see anyone tonight."

"Anyone?" Yunxi raised an eyebrow impatiently. "So he's determined to redeem Song Qiluo?"

Dao Yi simply shut up, focusing his attention on his nose and his mind.

Hearing the faint giggles coming from inside, Yunxi suppressed her emotions and suddenly chuckled, asking, "Is it just him and Song Qiluo inside?"

She emphasized the last three words very heavily.

Dao Yi remained silent, but this time Dao Er spoke up: "Miss Fan, this is not a place for you. Please leave immediately."

The fact that they didn't refute it says it all.

Yunxi pursed her lips.

Her adoptive mother told her that if you like something, you should try to get it and not wallow in self-pity. If you try but still can't get it, then don't dwell on it anymore; the next one will be better.

She fell in love with Prince Huailing from their very first meeting.

So no matter how many difficulties and obstacles lie ahead, she has to give it a try. If he really doesn't like her, then he's not the only man in the world!

The main thing is that she has now found a way to get rid of the obstacles preventing them from being together.

After returning to Beijing this time, she packed her bags and went to join the army. What did it matter if she was in the midst of gunfire and bloodshed?

She possesses exceptional martial arts skills, and if she makes a name for herself in the army, she can bring honor to her family. She also has the ability to help Prince Huailin and become his strongest supporter.

She traveled a long way to retrieve the inkstone, firstly to say goodbye to him, and secondly to let him know that she valued him highly, so that he could rest assured and wait for her return.

Thinking of this, Yunxi said almost word by word, "I'll say it one last time: bring out the Prince of Huailing. I have something very important to say to him."

“Miss Fan, please leave.” Dao Er did not back down.

Yunxi instantly lost her last bit of patience and threw a punch at Dao Er's face.

Dao Yi and Dao Er were able to become the prince's personal guards, so their martial arts skills must have been quite good. Although Yun Xi couldn't beat them, she always managed to leave them helpless because of her agility.

In addition, since she was a woman, they were afraid of offending her, so they were naturally hesitant to cut her in two. Therefore, Yunxi was the most troublesome person for the two of them.

Yunxi was well aware of these things and acted without hesitation.

She had to see him tonight, no matter what.

Just as Dao Yi's fist was about to land on her, Yun Xi stood still without dodging or flinching.

Dao Yi immediately withdrew his hand and took a step back, but instead stepped on Dao Er's foot behind him.

Yunxi raised an eyebrow and smiled at the two of them.

The twins sensed something was wrong and were about to rush over when Yunxi kicked open the courtyard gate without hesitation.

By the time Dao Yi Dao Er flew after her, she had already nimbly stepped across the gravel path and stood outside the door.

Amidst the soft strains of traditional string and wind instruments, she heard a low chuckle.

An indescribable ambiguity.

He was no longer as indifferent to her as he had been.

Outside the door, Yunxi paused, her raised hand still.

Dao Er slightly opened his eyes, trying to stop her, "Miss Fan, you absolutely mustn't!"

He hadn't finished speaking.

Yunxi gritted her teeth and pushed him away with all her might.

The soft, melodious music abruptly stopped.

Everyone inside immediately looked towards the doorway.

A warm fragrance wafts towards you.

Yunxi met a pair of beautiful phoenix eyes.

His long, narrow eyes, with slightly upturned corners, were now tinged with a thin layer of intoxication, like a sharp blade coated with a layer of sugar.

The Prince of Huailing was stunned for a moment, but after a brief pause, he looked at Dao Yi Dao Er behind her.

With a "thump," the two immediately knelt down in unison.

"Go and receive ten lashes tomorrow." The Prince of Huailing's expression was calm, yet he exuded authority without anger.

Yunxi stared at his arm around Song Qiluo and frowned, saying, "I was the one who insisted on barging in, so why are you punishing them?"

"Since Miss Fan wanted to plead for them, why did she have to barge in?" The Prince of Huailing picked up his wine cup and raised it, and the woman in his arms immediately and sensibly held up the wine pot to pour wine.

Seeing the woman's beautiful face and gentle demeanor, Yunxi covered her chest with her fan and couldn't help but take a few steps closer, raising her voice to ask, "So you really want to redeem her? You really want to take her as a concubine?"

"This is my private matter." The Prince of Huailing glanced at the fan on Yunxi's chest with a slightly drunken gaze.

It was a sandalwood fan with hot-stamped patterns.

Carrying two lines of text: A city shrouded in mist and rain, a building standing in harmony; a flower blooming only for a tree.

It is clearly a man's possession.