"Master, a message has arrived from the capital, saying that the Emperor and Empress have both sent people over," Lan Yi reported, standing in front of Lan Tingche's desk.

"Why is the Empress involved this time?" Lan Tingche asked.

"It must have been the Emperor who gave some advice, after all, husband and wife are of one mind."

The man in plain clothes sneered and said...

"Ha, husband and wife of one mind?"

"That's ridiculous."

Lan Tingche threw down his brush, pondered for a moment, then suddenly remembered something and spoke to his personal guard.

"I remember, the current empress is the former empress's younger sister, right? Don't you feel uncomfortable with sisters sharing a husband?"

The guard understood that his master was mocking him, his sarcastic tone just like the girls in the brothel, always quick to criticize.

"this……"

I am not a woman, and I do not know, my lord.

"Pack your things and move out for a while."

"master?"

From any perspective, Fengyue Tower is safer. Now that Lan Tingche wants to move out, Lan Yi does not agree with it for safety reasons.

The man didn't speak, but just stared at him silently for a while. A sense of oppression washed over him, and Lan Yi knelt on the ground, saying...

"Yes, Master, I have overstepped my bounds."

Lan Tingche waved his hand, signaling him to leave.

The man took out a wooden box from a hidden compartment in the room. Inside were gifts from family members over the years, including those from Long'er and her sisters, her older sisters and two aunts, and the Huo family.

He thought that taking these with him would be enough.

In the deep autumn moonlight, in such a remote and secluded place deep in the mountains and forests, it was the perfect time for murder and arson; even the autumn wind blowing was biting cold. Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps and deep breathing sounds rang out in the silent woods. The withered leaves in the woods rustled in the autumn wind.

The man, holding a long sword, stopped with his guards and turned to look at the group of people chasing after him.

"Did your uncle send you here?"

There was no word from the other side. The palace guards, blades in hand, surged toward Lan Tingche from all directions. Their movements were swift and agile, like streaks of black lightning flashing through the forest.

Bathed in the moonlight, Lan Tingche's figure seemed to blend into the tranquil night. His longsword danced in his hand, producing a crisp, metallic clang. Each swing forced back a guard.

Having learned internal skills from Leader Zhang for so many years, no outsider could ever get close to him, except for those from the Fengyue Tower.

This time, the Emperor really went all out. He thought that there were too many people, nearly two hundred people, who were tightly surrounding them. If so many people suddenly appeared in Pingyang County, it would definitely attract attention. Therefore, these secret guards did not go in at all, but waited in the deep mountains outside the city.

Being a bodyguard is tough; having to stand outside in the howling autumn wind is truly pitiful.

Spending a lot of time with Huo Xiaolong makes me think differently.

Thinking of this, Lan Tingche smiled, watching as a group of people surrounded him.

The Lan family, not to be outdone, closely surrounded their master and engaged in fierce combat with the enemy. Their teamwork was impeccable, their swordsmanship sharp, catching the enemy off guard. However, there were simply too many of them.

“Master, we will do everything in our power to create an opening for you, and then you can run to the brothel and beg Aunt Cen for protection.”

"How about we run together?" the man said.

Lan Yi was getting a little anxious. His master was such a deep and thoughtful person when he was young, so why was he so unreliable now?

These people have been with him since he was a child. The young men in their early twenties back then have now become middle-aged. No matter how Lan Tingche thought about it, it was not worth it. He really didn't want to cause trouble for Fengyue Tower, but it wouldn't do if the secret guards who had been with him for so long died here.

Blood stained his fox fur coat, which Aunt Hua had made for him.

—Whoosh! The arrow pierced the air.

Before Lan Tingche could even think of a way to ensure everyone's safe escape, an arrow pierced the heart of the leading guard.

“Brother Tingche, I think you can’t hide anything from anyone. Your intentions are written all over your face.”

She arrived bathed in moonlight, her Green Dragon Crescent Blade held upright behind her. She wore a smart red outfit and a black robe, and even from a distance, her bright eyes could be seen.

It seems that since she got older, she has mostly worn brightly colored clothes. I heard that Aunt He stopped letting Uncle Huo buy clothes for Long'er, because the ones he bought weren't very nice. But I heard that the little girl next door really likes them.

Whether it's because he spends a lot of time with his older sisters or it's just his nature, Huo Xiaolong's eyes are somewhat like a demon's, captivating and mesmerizing.

Two girls followed her. The dark-skinned girl's curved knife killed without a trace, while the girl carrying the medicine box was sent to a treetop by Huo Xiaolong to hide.

Lan Tingche had never known that the private soldiers were so capable fighters. They were the same group of people who treated military training like a daily routine, yet they could fight on par with the emperor's personal guards.

"You're not smart enough."

Wang Dani'er's last bodyguard fell silent. She came to Lan Tingche, nodded to him, and said...

“I’ve had people watching you ever since you moved out, Tingche. Why didn’t you tell the family about this?” Huo Xiaolong’s tone was gentle, but the fake smile on her face couldn’t lie; she was angry.

"Aren't you going to say anything? He's not smart enough," Dani said.

For people like them, Fengyue Tower is like a big tree. It's good to have a big tree to lean on for shade. This is the first time I've seen a country bumpkin who doesn't take shelter under the tree when it rains but goes out to get soaked.

“I’m afraid… I’m afraid that, like before, my sisters will get hurt.”

The man lowered his head, his eyes filled with grievance as he looked at Huo Xiaolong.

"I'm afraid my sisters will get hurt~" Da Ni'er said sarcastically, mimicking his tone.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!