Laifeng Kingdom, the eighteenth year of Tianze.

December 30th, at the time of Si.

In the study of Anxiang Pavilion in the backyard of the Imperial College, Bai Yuheng, dressed in white and holding a jade flute, stood in front of the window, looking leisurely towards the northeast of Laifeng Kingdom, where Lengyue Kingdom was located.

As the sixth son of the current Lengyue Emperor, Gongyang Yingyi, Gongyang Yuheng was sent to infiltrate the Laifeng Kingdom under the pseudonym Bai Yuheng, tasked with spying on the secrets of the Laifeng court. He had already been there for a full ten years.

The festive season of reunions had arrived again. Bai Yuheng, having not seen his father for years, felt a wave of melancholy. He wondered if his mother, the empress, had loved him as she had promised. And if his father was doing well now, he wondered.

A gust of cold wind blew, making the window creak. Bai Yuheng suddenly came to his senses and raised his hand to gently close the window. But then he turned and walked to his desk, skillfully spread out the paper, picked up the pen and dipped it in ink, wanting to put his feelings into words.

However, Bai Yuheng wanted to write a letter to his father, but he didn't know where to start. Moreover, as a spy, how could he write a letter to his father who was far away in the Lengyue Kingdom's palace?

Bai Yuheng suppressed the melancholy and loneliness in his heart, put down the wolf-hair brush in his hand, and sighed deeply. At this moment, there was a slight sound of footsteps outside the door, followed by a knock on the door.

"Come in!"

As Bai Yuheng's voice fell, a man dressed like a servant gently pushed open the door, holding a letter in his hand.

"What's the matter, Zizhu?" Bai Yuheng glanced at his personal servant with a cold look in his eyes, his voice extremely cold.

"Young Master, there is a letter." Zizhu came to the desk and handed the letter in her hand to Bai Yuheng who was sitting in front of the desk.

Bai Yuheng was overjoyed upon seeing this and quickly took the envelope, wondering if it was a letter from his father. Sure enough, upon seeing the familiar handwriting, Bai Yuheng felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He eagerly opened the envelope and began to read.

The letter didn't have the recipient's name, nor was there a salutation or signature. The contents were just some everyday conversation, but the care and regards revealed between the lines made Bai Yuheng feel incredibly warm. As he read, his eyes moistened unknowingly.

However, as Bai Yuheng continued to look down, the expression on his fair and handsome face became increasingly gloomy.

Although the letter didn't explicitly state it, the implication between the lines was that he was trying to win the favor of the Princess of Laifeng. Even if he missed the chance to enter the Eastern Palace openly, he could still become her lover...

"Father, do you also think that Yuheng should sell her body to win Nalan Qingcheng's favor?"

While Bai Yuheng was murmuring, he had already gathered his inner strength in his palm and turned the letter that had warmed him and chilled his heart into dust.

As proud as Gongyang Yuheng was, he could endure humiliation and serve as a spy for his father, risking his life to steal the secrets of the Laifeng court. However, Gongyang Yuheng was deeply resistant to the idea of ​​selling his feelings and his soul. Therefore, he had not previously participated in the selection of the Laifeng Princess's attendant, as the Lengyue King had requested.

Bai Yuheng clenched his fists tightly, his eyes firm and resolute. He would never follow the orders of his mother and father. He was determined to uphold his principles, even if it meant facing difficulties and challenges. With his mind made up, Bai Yuheng stood up, walked to the window, opened it, and gazed into the distance.

He knew that his mission in Laifeng Kingdom was not yet completed, but he also knew that his heart would not tolerate betrayal or hypocrisy. In this complex situation, he must find a way to complete his mission while staying true to his heart.

At the same time, two carriages carrying Hua Qingcheng and several of her husbands were heading from the City God Temple towards the north gate of the city.

"stop!"

"Those with permits line up on the left, those without permits line up on the right..."

The soldiers guarding the north gate were strictly checking everyone entering and leaving the capital. After all, today was the last day of the year, and they absolutely could not afford to make any mistakes at this time.

"Where's your pass?" A soldier guarding the city stopped a woman who looked very old.

"My lords, I...I forgot to bring it." The old woman said tremblingly.

The soldier guarding the city frowned upon hearing this and refused directly, "Those without a pass should go to the right. If you really forgot to bring it, then you can go back and get it."

"Sir, but...but my home is in Qinzhou, and it will take several days to go back and forth!" The old woman looked embarrassed.

[Qinzhou: The northern part of Laifeng State, bordering the southern part of Youzhou, where the Third Princess Nalan Qiudi's fiefdom is located.]

"Go away! I'll take care of you for a few days! You can't enter the city without a pass." The soldier's attitude was very firm.

Seeing this, the old woman could only clench her fists and turn back. However, when she walked a few dozen meters, she encountered two carriages head-on.

"Xiaobai, what are you doing?"

The little white tiger that was in the same carriage with Hua Qingcheng suddenly started barking non-stop. Seeing this, Hua Qingcheng could only ask Feng Wen and Feng Wu to stop the carriage.

"Awoo awoo..." (Mother, Hongfu, please help this old woman get into the city!)

Hua Qingcheng didn't understand what Xiaobai was saying at all, and was so annoyed by Xiaobai that she almost covered his mouth.

"Your Highness, I think Xiaobai wants you to help the old woman on the roadside into the city."

Xiaobai's father, Yu Xiaotian, translated his words at the right moment. Xiaobai actually nodded when he heard it, causing Hua Qingcheng's mouth to twitch slightly.

"Qingqing, since Hongfu and Bailing have good intentions, then you... should help them."

Mu Lige gently lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked meaningfully at the old woman on the side of the road. Her eyes, as bright as stars, were full of scrutiny.

If he was not mistaken, the other party was actually a young woman in disguise. And for two spiritual tigers to ask for help, there must be something fishy going on...

Upon hearing this, Hua Qingcheng also turned her gaze to the old woman outside, but saw that the old woman was dressed in coarse cloth, the typical dress of poor people. Although she looked very old, her hands did not look as old as they did even though they were smeared with something special. It must have been a disguise.

Like Mu Lige, Hua Qingcheng was wary, but she also trusted the two tigers. They certainly wouldn't let anyone dangerous get close to them, and this was probably a serious matter. Therefore, Hua Qingcheng asked Feng Wu to approach the old woman and ask her where she was going, saying that, considering her age, he was willing to take her part of the way in a carriage.

The old woman glanced meaningfully in the direction of Hua Qingcheng's carriage, then expressed her gratitude profusely. With Feng Wu's support, she got on the carriage behind Hua Qingcheng.

In the carriage sat Situ Ye, Si Chengfeng, Wu Chen, and Zuo An. The old woman was startled when she saw Situ Ye, but she quickly looked away. Even though she hadn't seen him for a long time, she recognized him immediately: this was her cousin, Situ Xuanye.