Chapter Seventy-Seven: Going to the Black Market
"Tch! She and Mu Cenlin will definitely live to be a hundred! What curse? It'll all bounce back!" Li Bao'er silently complained in her heart while rubbing her ears, which still seemed to be echoing Kang Ning's screams.
When she looked up, she met Feng Li's hesitant gaze, which occasionally drifted over with a strange look in it.
Li Bao'er stopped at the corner of the passage and turned around: "What are you staring at me with that strange expression on your face?"
Caught off guard, Feng Li felt a flash of embarrassment on his face. He subconsciously raised his hand to touch his nose, his eyes darting around. "Your Highness, I just feel that Your Highness is truly very different from what I've heard and what I used to know." His tone was filled with disbelief and emotion.
"Nonsense!" Li Bao'er snorted, raising her chin. "The past is the past, the present is the present. From now on, if anyone dares to spout nonsense about me liking so-and-so..." She paused, seemingly too lazy to even mention the name, "...just slap them in the face!"
As a result, he walked too fast, and since it was pitch black ahead, he bumped into a wall.
"Ouch!"
With a muffled thud and a cry of pain, Li Bao'er slammed her head hard against a protruding corner of a stone wall in front of her, and a burning pain instantly shot through her forehead.
Tears welled in her eyes from the pain; she covered her forehead, saying, "You walk in front of me, I can't see the road."
Seeing her covering her forehead, Feng Li quickly lowered his head: "This subordinate has failed in his duty. This way, Your Highness."
He couldn't help but mutter to himself, "I hope I don't cause any serious injury, otherwise... the prince probably won't blame me." Thinking of Mu Cenlin's cold face, Feng Li couldn't help but shiver.
On the drill ground, the sun blazed down and yellow sand lashed against our faces.
Mu Cenlin took off his outer robe, revealing only a black close-fitting outfit, and personally went down to instruct a rather capable deputy general on his skills.
Both men were unarmed, but their moves were filled with powerful energy, making the surrounding soldiers hold their breath in awe.
Mu Cenlin's movements were swift and precise, each move aimed directly at the vital points, yet he controlled the force just right, putting pressure on his opponent without actually causing injury.
The lieutenant also gave it his all, gritting his teeth and holding on, with veins bulging on his forehead, clearly having benefited greatly.
Just as Mu Cenlin was about to deliver a sharp chop to the other's neck, preparing to end the instruction, he suddenly stopped abruptly! His brows furrowed instantly, and his left hand instinctively went to his forehead, where a sharp, dull pain shot through him!
Li Bao'er is injured again?! This time she hit her head?
Seeing that Mu Cenlin's movements suddenly stopped, the deputy general was unable to stop in time. His arm, which was originally used for blocking, swept towards Mu Cenlin's wide-open chest with inertia!
"hiss--!"
The soldiers watching from the sidelines gasped in shock and exclaimed in surprise!
At the critical moment, Mu Cenlin suddenly came to his senses, his body leaning back slightly at an almost unbelievable speed. At the same time, his right hand shot out like lightning, accurately grabbing the opponent's sweeping wrist, and pulling and twisting it in one smooth motion!
"Ugh!" The lieutenant felt dizzy and was slammed to the ground in the next second, kicking up a cloud of dust, completely losing his fighting ability.
The training ground was silent; everyone was speechless, stunned by the sudden reversal.
Mu Cenlin looked at the deputy general lying on the ground and said, "The situation on the battlefield is ever-changing, and we must never let our guard down."
That woman! What is she up to now?!
Why is she feeling palpitations and shy one minute, and then bumping her head the next?
She's only been behaving herself for a few days?
A nameless anxiety lingered in my heart.
That's enough for today!
Mu Cenlin coldly uttered a sentence, and without even changing his outer robe, strode straight out of the training ground.
"Your Highness? You..." Upon seeing this, the commander of the personal guards hurriedly stepped forward to inquire.
"Prepare the horses! Return to the manor!" Mu Cenlin ordered without turning his head, his voice filled with urgency.
He was afraid that if he didn't go back soon, either his arm or leg would hurt.
Back on the ground, breathing in the fragrant air of the palace, Li Bao'er felt the oppressive feeling in her chest ease slightly.
She rubbed her still slightly red forehead, tidied her slightly disheveled clothes and hair, and tried her best to make herself look normal.
Upon reaching the front courtyard, Linglong, who had been waiting for some time, immediately greeted her: "Your Highness, the carriage is ready. Are you going to Juxiang Pavilion now?"
Li Bao'er shook her head, her gaze sweeping over Feng Li, who was still standing silently not far away, and a thought suddenly flashed through her mind.
She waved to Feng Li.
Feng Li immediately stepped forward and bowed: "What are your orders, Your Highness?"
Li Bao'er looked at him with an undeniable smile: "Guard Feng, you will be leaving the palace with me today."
Feng Li paused slightly, seemingly somewhat surprised.
He was never assigned to accompany the women on outings, and Linglong blinked curiously.
Li Bao'er continued, "I'm not going to Juxiang Pavilion today. I'm going to a slightly more special place. I don't feel quite at ease without a capable person by my side."
The implication was clear: Feng Li was needed as a guard.
Feng Li immediately understood. He remembered that the prince had not explicitly restricted the princess's travel before leaving, so he no longer hesitated and cupped his hands, saying, "Your subordinate obeys."
"Very good." Li Bao'er nodded in satisfaction and took the lead in walking towards the gate of the mansion.
Linglong quickly followed and asked in a low, curious voice, "Your Highness, if we're not going to the shop, where are we going?"
Li Bao'er turned her head to the side, gave her a mysterious smile, and lowered her voice to say, "Let's go to a place where we can find some good stuff."
The carriage did not head towards the bustling East Market or West Market, but instead meandered around before finally stopping at the entrance of an inconspicuous, even somewhat dilapidated, alley.
Li Bao'er skillfully and quickly led Linglong into a house, and when the two came out...
Feng Li was so shocked that his mouth could fit two eggs. A handsome young man who looked like a young scholar appeared before him. However, his eyes were so bright and clear that he had to deliberately lower his eyelids to hide some of their brilliance.
When Feng Li saw Li Bao'er dressed as a man, a hint of surprise flashed across his eyes. He silently swallowed back the title of "Princess Consort," wondering why the Princess Consort had come here.
Bao'er walked into the depths of the alley as if she knew the way well, and knocked rhythmically a few times in front of a door.
The door creaked open a crack, and a pair of wary eyes peered out from behind it, especially when they saw Feng Li, who exuded a cold aura and looked like someone not to be trifled with, behind Li Bao'er. Their eyes became even more cautious.
Li Bao'er took out an inconspicuous black wooden plaque from her sleeve, waved it in front of the other person, and deliberately lowered her voice: "Three-quarters past the hour of You (5:45 PM)."
The person behind the door carefully examined the wooden plaque, then sized up the three-person group that appeared to be a master and servant, before respectfully opening the door completely and letting them in.
Welcome home, Master!
Upon hearing this, Feng Li was utterly shocked. This was the largest black market in the capital! How could a woman like her know about this place, especially since the gatekeeper addressed her as "Master"?!
Inside the door was a completely different world! A downward staircase led to a huge, brightly lit underground space.
A peculiar scent filled the air, a mixture of medicinal herbs, leather, and some rare and precious substance that was hard to find on the market.
People of all kinds, wearing masks or hoods, moved about and talked in hushed tones.
This is none other than the largest underground black market in the capital!
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