Upon reaching the central courtyard, one sees a pavilion built of white stone standing quietly among lush flowers and trees.
As the White Dew season approaches, although the land of Baiyue lacks the bleak chill of the north, the night breeze still carries a touch of damp coolness.
A gentle breeze brushes past the bronze bells hanging from the corner of the pavilion, producing a soft, clear, ringing sound.
On the stone table in the pavilion, there is a red copper hot pot with a charcoal fire burning brightly underneath.
The thick, white broth in the pot bubbled and simmered, with various mountain delicacies, mushrooms, and thinly sliced meat.
The rising steam, mingled with the aroma of spices and the food itself, is especially enticing in the cool night breeze.
Xu Shenzhi sat alone in the pavilion, picking up a chopstick from the pot and drinking a cup of clear wine from his hand.
He appeared relaxed and at ease, as if all the disturbances around him were irrelevant.
Seeing Ayaduo walk over from the corridor, he did not get up, but simply bowed slightly while seated, with a friendly smile:
"Holy Maiden, how is the situation?"
Aya stopped three steps outside the pavilion. The moonlight made her red dress stand out even more, but her face remained expressionless.
“Stubborn and unyielding, they have been infected with a Gu worm, which will completely parasitize them before dawn.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Shenzhi shook his head and chuckled, as if he had expected it:
"This second prince really... never seems to grasp the situation."
Originally, he could have been a seemingly glamorous puppet, but now he has been completely reduced to a host for Gu worms, which can be described as courting death.
He had served this master for many years and knew his character better than anyone.
They always harbor unrealistic fantasies and habitually act with humility and respect, but inwardly they are indecisive and stubborn.
This may well be partly due to the Empress's deliberate indulgence and neglect of his will over the years.
He raised his cup, his tone still relaxed:
"In that case, Holy Maiden, you must be tired. Would you like a cup to warm yourself up?"
Planting the Gu worm was not a bad thing for him.
The forces in the Southern Frontier were already slightly weaker than those of the aristocratic families, but now, with the means to manipulate the Second Prince, the two sides can barely be considered evenly matched.
In the future, the Southern Border court will be characterized by a power struggle and checks and balances between the two sides.
In this way, his role as the "first aide" mediating between the two sides can demonstrate its indispensable value.
The promised position of prime minister was a ladder to heaven for him, a commoner, and enough to satisfy his lifelong ambition.
Thinking of this, he felt quite at ease.
"No need."
Ayado coldly refused, and before he could speak again, she turned and walked straight out of the state office.
Xu Shenzhi raised an eyebrow, not particularly bothered by her rudeness, and poured himself another cup.
A night breeze swept through the pavilion, ruffling a few strands of hair on his forehead and bringing with it the moist scent of the grass and trees in the courtyard.
He suddenly shivered for no reason, subconsciously pulled his clothes tighter, and felt slightly surprised.
The land of Baiyue is much warmer than Fengjing, so why does it feel strangely cold tonight?
He shook his head, assuming it was just because it was late at night and the dew was heavy, and didn't think about it further.
The second prince's chief strategist was completely unaware that he had just narrowly escaped death.
For Qin Zhaoyue, who was hiding nearby, taking his life was just a matter of lifting a finger.
But to avoid any unforeseen complications or alerting the enemy, she ultimately chose a more prudent approach—to spare his life for the time being.
Ayaduo continued walking without stopping, heading straight out of the state government office.
The long street in front of the yamen appeared exceptionally quiet under the moonlight.
The bluestone pavement was wet with night dew, reflecting the lanterns hanging high on both sides, creating hazy patches of light and shadow.
The night breeze during the White Dew season carries the unique dampness of the south, rustling through the banana leaves swaying along the street.
Occasionally, a watchman or a night patrolman would pass by, their footsteps echoing in the empty streets and alleys.
Upon seeing that striking red dress, they all hurriedly avoided it as if they had seen a snake or scorpion, lowering their heads and looking down, not daring to look directly at it.
The name of the Holy Maiden of Southern Xinjiang and her treacherous methods had already spread throughout the Baiyue Protectorate.
In such a remote place, those who manipulate Gu insects are always feared like tigers and scorpions, and people avoid them at all costs.
Ayado walked straight across the long street without looking to the side, and arrived at the gate of a three-courtyard mansion diagonally opposite.
The courtyard house, with its white walls and black tiles, was considered quite exquisite for its location near the prefectural government office.
However, the place was rather cramped and shabby, clearly only a temporary place to stay, as it was used to accommodate important figures from the four great families at the same time.
The guards at the gate were not ordinary doormen, but rather guards dressed in tight-fitting clothes with sharp eyes.
Upon Aya's arrival, someone immediately came to greet her, their attitude respectful but unable to conceal their wariness.
According to the original plan, after resolving the matter of the Second Prince, she should immediately meet with the heads of the aristocratic families to discuss matters related to the enthronement ceremony.
This matter concerns the distribution of power, and the Southern Frontier will never allow the powerful families to handle it all; it must secure a place for itself.
Soon, she met the current temporary leaders of the four major families in the main hall.
The group had clearly been waiting for a while, and seeing that she had come alone, one of them asked:
"Miss Aya, how's things going over there?"
As soon as she finished speaking, thick, almost tangible, dark green smoke billowed from Ayado's body without warning.
Like a venomous python with life, it pounced on the four people in the hall.
However, when the smoke was still three or four steps away from the nearest person, it seemed to have hit an invisible but incredibly tough wall.
A sudden standstill, with no further progress possible!
Although the concealed person did not reveal their identity, the traces were already left behind as soon as they made a move.
How could one escape the spiritual senses of two second-rank experts who had already quietly infiltrated the hall and were constantly sensing the movements within?
In the shadows of the corridor outside the door, the aura of a second-grade guard belonging to a noble family suddenly appeared.
This time, Qin Zhaoyue's figure quietly appeared on the high eaves of the hall.
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