After Bai Chuxiao moved back to Liuli Courtyard and finished tidying up, it was already late at night. Madam Xie had almost all the valuables in the courtyard moved out, and Bai Chuxiao hadn't had time to buy anything new, making the entire courtyard seem rather empty.
Bai Chuxiao wore a moon-white inner robe, her hair casually tied up with a wooden hairpin. Having removed her pale makeup from the daytime, her naturally beautiful and ethereal face was revealed. She sat by the window, gazing at the moon in a daze. Moonlight shone on her face, making her appear like a fairy.
Hiding in a corner at a distance, Xue Wuyun watched this scene in a daze, momentarily forgetting the purpose of her visit so late at night. She simply stared blankly. Previously, when she had seen Bai Chuxiao, she always had a deathly pale face; seeing her true appearance today, she never expected her to be so captivating.
Bai Chuxiao was filled with emotion, gazing at the moon in deep thought. Compared to the capital and the Prime Minister's residence, she would rather stay in Dingzhou, where she had loving family and could live freely. In those carefree days, she had imagined perhaps meeting someone who loved her and could spend her life with her, or joining the army to fight and defend her country, instead of being confined to this secluded mansion, living like a puppet. Alas, she had arrived in a society ruled by imperial power…
Thinking about it, she realized she was being a bit too sentimental, unlike her usual self. Coming back to her senses, Bai Chuxiao slapped her forehead. Why was she worrying so much? She, Bai Chuxiao, could live a wonderful life no matter what, couldn't she?
"Pfft," Xue Wuyun couldn't help but laugh as she watched Bai Chuxiao pat her head like that.
"Who?" Bai Chuxiao ripped the wooden hairpin from her hair and hurled it towards Xue Wuyun with a chilling force. Lost in thought, she had lost her vigilance and hadn't noticed the person lurking in the shadows.
Xue Wuyun swiftly dodged, grabbed the wooden hairpin with one hand, and then flew to the window.
Bai Chuxiao looked at the man before her. He was dressed in a black brocade robe, with a tall and straight figure. He wore a silver mask, and his eyes were still as deep as ever.
"Oh, isn't this Young Master Wuyun? What? Planning to become a flower thief?" Bai Chuxiao teased. Xue Wuyun now looked extraordinary and had a pair of nice eyes; he must be quite handsome under the mask. After all, aren't handsome men meant to be teased?
Xue Wuyun smiled slightly, "I've come to deliver money to you, young lady," and took out ten silver notes worth ten thousand taels each from his pocket, handing them to Bai Chuxiao. "Thinking that it might be inconvenient for you to go and collect the gold yourself right now, I had no choice but to deliver it to your door."
Bai Chuxiao took the silver note and put it away. Without asking how he knew her identity, she simply gave a strange smile. "You're someone worth befriending, not bad, but..." Before she could finish her sentence, she suddenly reached for the mask on Xue Wuyun's face.
Xue Wuyun blocked with his hand, but Bai Chuxiao was not to be outdone. And so, in the courtyard, the two, one in black and one in white, began to exchange palm strikes.
After exchanging dozens of moves, Bai Chuxiao laughed as she fought, saying, "Not bad, you're a worthy opponent. Let's see who's stronger today."
Xue Wuyun smiled back, "You flatter me. You are the one with excellent skills, young lady. Judging from your fierce moves, it seems you have killed quite a few people."
Bai Chuxiao sneered, "Practicing martial arts is naturally for killing people. Otherwise, what's the point of learning it? Young Master Wuyun might also die tragically under my palm tonight." Although she was being sarcastic, she secretly had doubts. This person had high internal strength, and every move he made carried the kind of grand and sweeping style of killing enemies in the army. This was not something that ordinary martial arts practitioners could do. Who exactly was he?
Xue Wuyun joked, "To die at Miss Bai's hands would be my honor."
After several hundred moves, Bai Chuxiao cried out, "Stop fighting! Stop fighting!" Xue Wuyun's internal strength was ultimately superior; if they continued, she would only lose.
Upon hearing this, Xue Wuyun immediately stopped fighting and sat down in the courtyard with Bai Chuxiao, chuckling, "Miss Bai is still young. In a few years, when her internal strength improves, I may not be her match."
Bai Chuxiao sneered, scrutinizing him, and asked, "I'm just getting more and more curious about what kind of secret identity lies behind that mask." She added playfully, "You're not really some womanizer wanted by the court, are you, or some foreign spy?"
Looking at Bai Chuxiao's current appearance, Xue Wuyun found her exceptionally adorable and smiled, "You jest, Miss. As for my identity, Miss Bai will naturally find out in due time."
Bai Chuxiao changed the subject and asked, "You know my identity, and you should also know that I am currently engaged to His Highness the Prince of Yan. You come here so late at night, aren't you afraid that the Prince of Yan will find out and cause you trouble? I've heard that the Prince of Yan is ruthless in killing on the battlefield."
Upon hearing the words "Prince of Yan," Xue Wuyun's face flickered with slight unease, but he quickly regained his composure. Without offering any reply, he rose and looked at Bai Chuxiao, saying, "If you have any trouble, Miss, you can take the jade pendant you had earlier to Qingyi Pavilion. I will certainly help if I can." Without waiting for Bai Chuxiao to respond, he flew away.
Bai Chuxiao watched Xue Wuyun's disappearing figure and murmured, "Interesting," before returning to her room. She was indeed tired after fighting so late at night…
Late at night in the Prince of Yan's residence, Chu Tianze sat upright in his study, chuckling as he played with a wooden hairpin in his hand. "Your Highness," he said, putting away the hairpin and adopting a cold expression upon hearing the knock. "Come in."
Mo Yan walked in and bowed to Chu Tianze. "Your Highness, our men have been watching the Southern Frontier Post Station all day. Today, the Crown Prince, the Prince of Xiang, and the Prince of Qi all sent people to contact Princess Lingxiang."
Chu Tianze asked with a playful tone, "Oh? What did you talk about?"
"It's said that it was just an invitation for the princess to go out and enjoy the flowers, nothing more," Mo Yan replied expressionlessly.
Chu Tianze sneered, "My older brothers are all quite cunning..."
He then instructed Mo Yan, "Recently, send a few more skilled individuals to secretly monitor the Left Prime Minister's residence and report back daily."
Mo Yan scratched his head. "What does Master mean by this? Are you trying to keep an eye on the Left Prime Minister's movements or Miss Bai's?"
Upon hearing the words "Miss Bai," Chu Tianze couldn't help but smile. "That old fox, the Left Prime Minister, won't easily reveal any dirt on me."
Mo Yan understood! This was to protect Miss Bai. Judging from his master's attitude, he needed to reprimand the subordinates; they all needed to show more respect to Miss Bai in the future.
Then, remembering something, he asked, "Master, the annual Spring Banquet is in five days. The eldest princess sent the invitation long ago. Will you be attending this year?" Mo Yan was only asking routinely. In previous years, Chu Tianze was not often in the capital, and even when he was, he rarely attended such banquets. He hadn't expected him to change his ways this year.
Chu Tianze said calmly, "Of course I'll go. Go and make the preparations."
Mo Yan asked, puzzled, "What's there to prepare for?"
Chu Tianze suddenly felt that his subordinate Mo Yan wasn't very quick-witted, and sighed inwardly, thinking that it would be better to leave this kind of thing to Yu Fengyang.
She could only stare coldly at Mo Yan and utter a few words, "Of course, it's about preparing clothes and jewelry. Do I need to teach you?"
Mo Yan broke out in a cold sweat when he saw the look in his master's eyes. His master had made the hint so obvious; it was obviously for Miss Bai. He quickly said, "Don't worry, Master, Mo Yan will definitely handle this matter well..."
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