Gu Cheng'an rode a horse, while Liu Yunrou and her twelve-year-old daughter Gu Mingzhu rode in a sedan chair to the Bai residence.

Logically speaking, a young girl like Gu Mingzhu shouldn't be in such an occasion, but she was curious. Her mother, Liu Yunrou, didn't like the complicated rules of the capital, so she simply brought her along.

When the group arrived at the main gate of the Bai residence, Gu Cheng'an brought over a thousand soldiers and surrounded the main gate and several side gates of the Bai residence. He then ordered his men to go forward and knock on the doors.

"Go and tell Bai Ruifeng that as long as she hands over Bai Yan, I will forgive her for her mistakes these past few days, out of consideration for our past as husband and wife."

After hearing this, his subordinate knocked on the door to announce the news.

Upon hearing Gu Cheng'an's words, Liu Yunrou, who was in the sedan chair, couldn't help but bite her lip: Husband and wife, she should be Cheng'an's wife!

If it weren't for the fact that her identity was not something that could be made public, how could Bai Ruifeng have the good fortune to be the wife of the Marquis of Boyuan?

Inside the room, Bai Ruifeng also heard Gu Cheng'an's report. She frowned and couldn't help but ask, "Has Gu Cheng'an gone mad?"

"He is His Majesty's man, yet he dares to openly defy His Majesty's orders?"

Caizhu, standing to the side, sneered: "They probably got the inside information from somewhere. Knowing that His Majesty can't come out these days, they thought they'd act first and report later, just to gain a reputation for loyalty to the emperor."

Bai Ruifeng's heart skipped a beat, and she turned to look at Caizhu: "What has Your Majesty been doing these past few days? Where is Xiao Yan? Xiao Yan hasn't returned to the manor for two nights in a row."

Caizhu quickly said, "Eldest Miss, there's no need to worry. Second Miss and His Majesty are in the palace. Second Miss just sent someone to deliver a message, and I was just about to tell you."

Bai Ruifeng breathed a sigh of relief. "What did Xiao Yan say?"

"The Second Miss told you that for your own safety, just lock the gates of the Bai residence tightly and don't let them break in," Caizhu said. "She and His Majesty have already rushed over after receiving the news."

She then comforted her, saying, "Eldest Miss, there's nothing to be afraid of. Just like Second Miss said, you can wait in the manor."

The men Gu Cheng'an sent were still shouting at the door, threatening to break it down if the door wasn't opened.

Bai Ruifeng lowered her eyes slightly, and after a moment's thought, she stood up.

Caizhu exclaimed in surprise, "Young lady?"

Bai Ruifeng said, "They're here to take Xiao Yan, not to arrest me, so it's alright."

"This house is the property that Xiao Yan earned for herself. I can't let that bastard Gu Cheng'an destroy it." It's not worth it.

With Xiao Yan not around, she doesn't need to worry about her getting hurt.

Why not go out? A dark glint flashed in her eyes. Since Gu Cheng'an was being foolish, why not take advantage of it?

In just a moment, Bai Ruifeng had already walked quickly to a spot in the courtyard not far from the gate. She stood on the steps and instructed the servants, "Open the gate."

A large group of people stood at the entrance of the Bai residence, led by Marquis Boyuan, Gu Cheng'an.

He looked coldly at his lawfully wedded wife standing under the eaves.

Meanwhile, Liu Yunrou's sedan chair was lowered, and she stepped out of the chair by lifting the light gauze curtain, her eyes scanning around.

"Where is Bai Yan?" Gu Cheng'an asked.

Bai Ruifeng's gaze fell on Gu Cheng'an's handsome yet repulsive face: "She's not home today." She then raised an eyebrow and sneered: "Why is the Marquis making such a big fuss to find my sister?"

Before Gu Cheng'an could answer, Liu Yunrou spoke up: "It's because Bai Yan killed someone! Murderers should pay with their lives!"

Bai Ruifeng looked at Liu Yunrou and then chuckled softly, "Liu Yunrou, wasn't the tooth you lost the other day enough to teach you a lesson?"

"Even His Majesty spoke up for my sister, so what makes you think she's guilty?"

That day, being publicly humiliated was the greatest disgrace of Liu Yunrou's life! Now, Bai Ruifeng, whom she had always looked down upon, had said it to her face. Liu Yunrou was unwilling to accept this, so she raised her whip and lashed it directly at Bai Ruifeng!

Anyone who dares to humiliate her will be scarred on her face!

Bai Ruifeng neither dodged nor flinched, but just as the whip was about to strike her face, the hidden guard Fourteen stepped forward, his sword wrapping around Liu Yunrou's whip. After a few flashes of light, the whip shattered into several pieces.

This is Liu Yunrou's beloved possession, which has been with her for more than ten years. It is a memento from her deceased father!

Liu Yunrou's eyes widened instantly, and after letting out an angry shout, she glared at Fourteen, "How dare you destroy my beloved possession?"

Fourteen didn't look at her, but instead cupped his hands and said to Gu Cheng'an, "Lord Gu, I was ordered by His Majesty to protect the young lady. Please forgive my disrespect."

Liu Yunrou glared at Fourteen with resentment in her eyes, then turned to look at Gu Cheng'an: "Cheng'an, he ruined my whip! He bullied me!"

Gu Cheng'an's eyes turned slightly cold. He knew that His Majesty was ill, and he figured that the secret guards must have been arranged beforehand.

Having come this far, we must see it through to the end.

"I am acting on the Empress Dowager's orders. If you continue to obstruct me, don't blame me for being impolite!" Gu Cheng'an raised his hand slightly: "I know that the secret guards are highly skilled in martial arts, but they are no match for a thousand arrows piercing the heart."

Behind him, an archer drew his bow and prepared to shoot.

An Shisi frowned slightly and, together with Caizhu, shielded Bai Ruifeng behind him.

"This Marquis Gu is actually going against His Majesty like this, risking his future and even his life for a woman?" Caizhu whispered to An Shisi beside her.

Taking advantage of His Majesty's unconsciousness, they killed the Second Miss without prior notification. Did Gu Cheng'an think His Majesty could tolerate this? He'd probably chop him into eighteen pieces if he went berserk.

Even now, she dares to guarantee that, given His Majesty's affection for the Second Miss, he would definitely skin Gu Cheng'an alive.

He then asked, "Is there something wrong with his mind?"

An Shisi shook his head: "No, this is true love."

Colorful beads: ...

Seeing that the men were still protecting Bai Ruifeng, Gu Cheng'an decided to teach them a lesson: "Fire the arrows!"

"Let's see who dares!" After Gu Cheng'an's voice, another angry female voice rang out.

At this moment, a bright yellow carriage stopped by the roadside. A girl wearing a white fox fur cloak stepped down from the carriage and walked into the courtyard. Her dark eyes coldly looked at Gu Cheng'an: "Gu Cheng'an, do you want to kill my sister?"

Gu Cheng'an frowned, but before he could speak, he was still speechless.

"What are you doing?" A tall, black figure appeared in the Bai family courtyard again, anxiously pulling the girl. "Can't you see the room full of arrows?" She wasn't afraid of death, but he was afraid she would get hurt.

Gu Cheng'an's eyes widened in an instant... Your Majesty!

Wasn't he sick? Why is he here again?

He shouldn't be here!

Huo Yanjun, who was sitting in a carriage at a distance with Bai Shengqi watching the situation of the Bai family, was even more shocked: given Uncle Jiu's condition, he should not be here at all.

Has he gotten better?

Upon considering this possibility, Huo Yanjun's face turned ashen.

Huo Jin faced the archers holding bows at the entrance of the Bai residence and waved his hand slightly: "All of you, step back."

Gu Cheng'an did indeed possess the Tiger Tally, but Huo Jin's face, honed over a decade of battlefield experience, was more effective in the army than the Tiger Tally.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The soldiers outside the door shouted in unison.

Huo Jin's gaze fell on Gu Cheng'an, who was still riding a horse. Gu Cheng'an hurriedly dismounted to pay his respects, but missed the stirrup and fell directly onto the snow, looking extremely disheveled.