Xia Gongong thought for a moment—and truth be told, that brat Lai Chenglong, after being tormented so terribly by Pu Wuyong, if he really had the deployment map, he would probably hand it over to Qi Yuan!
He calmed down.
After thinking carefully for a moment, he finally lowered his voice and said: “Wait for my word.”
Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow but agreed.
Even after sending Xia Gongong off, she didn’t let down her guard. She ran over everything again in her mind—Pu Wuyong, Princess Baorong, even Qi Wang.
Everything they had done in the previous life.
Their patterns of behavior.
The cards they had eventually revealed in their hands.
Qi Yuan was not someone who fought battles she wasn’t sure of.
This might just be the most formidable opponent she’d faced since her rebirth—but she wasn’t flustered.
Because this was also her greatest opportunity.
It wasn’t yet certain who would win, and who would lose.
Xiao Yunting had already laid his cards on the table: “I have a personal guard of thirty. They’re not from the palace—they’re Daoist-trained soldiers I brought back from Mount Longhu. They’re willing to serve as death soldiers.”
If he hadn’t had that kind of backup, Xiao Yunting wouldn’t have come back from Mount Longhu unscathed.
Qi Yuan looked up at him.
Xiao Yunting said in a low voice: “They’re all yours. And that day—I’ll be by your side the whole time.”
That was an enormous favor.
Qi Yuan considered for a moment. She didn’t refuse. She simply gave a clean, crisp nod. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
As soon as Xiao Yunting left, Old Marquis Qi and Qi Zhen came in after him.
After the last fire at Mingyue Pavilion, half the place was destroyed. Since then, Qi Yuan had been staying temporarily at the Peach Blossom Courtyard in the back garden of the estate. Now that the new year had passed and spring was here, peach blossoms had begun budding everywhere—seen from afar, it looked like a drifting sea of soft pink clouds.
But the Old Marquis and Qi Zhen had no eye for any of that.
They walked into the courtyard and saw Qi Yuan sitting beneath a camphor tree, lost in thought.
The Old Marquis sat down across from her and said gravely: “Is there anything you need us to help with?”
Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow at them but didn’t hesitate to shake her head: “Not for now. Father, Grandfather, please stay at home and wait for news. Before the Lantern Festival, no one in the family should leave the residence. Have the children stay put too.”
In other words—she was going to deal with Pu Wuyong before the Lantern Festival.
That thought made Qi Zhen’s heart skip a beat.
But he immediately nodded in agreement.
—
In a five-courtyard estate just outside the Imperial City’s East District, Pu Wuyong sat watching a group of monks chanting sutras in the courtyard, performing a ritual for the dead.
For his beloved nephew, Cishan.
The boy had barely begun to enjoy life before that venomous woman Qi Yuan murdered him!
But no matter. No matter.
Pu Wuyong’s face was blank as he threw another stack of gold-foil joss paper into the burning basin. He murmured to himself: “The temple was burned down. Your uncle couldn’t find anything left—so I can only give you a clothes-and-hat tomb. Don’t worry. Down there, I won’t let you live in misery.”
As he spoke, Little Xuzi, wrapped in mourning cloth with tears running down his face, placed a paper model house into the fire basin: “Young Master Cishan, don’t be afraid down there. A house, gold and silver, serving maids—everything is here, everything you could want!”
Then a strange smile slowly crept onto Pu Wuyong’s face: “No, not everything. One thing’s still missing.”
One thing… still missing.
Although Qi Yuan was detestable, she was undeniably beautiful.
Once he killed Qi Yuan, had a master suppress her birth chart, and buried her with Cishan in the same tomb, Cishan would definitely be pleased.
Thinking of this, Pu Wuyong wiped his tears, and under the chanting of a group of monks, walked into the house. Little Xuzi followed closely behind.
After entering the ancestral hall, he passed through a wall hidden behind a hanging scroll and entered a hidden chamber.
Inside the dark room stood a neat row of men, already waiting.
Little Xuzi followed Pu Wuyong with his head bowed. With just a quick glance upward, he had a rough count in mind.
These were the elite of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
The rumored group known only to Pu Wuyong and the Yongchang Emperor.
Using these men to deal with that Miss Qi…
No matter how formidable she was, this time, she was definitely going to die.
With a blank face, Pu Wuyong asked, “What’s Qi Yuan been up to lately?”
Little Xuzi quickly replied, “She’s been staying in the Qi residence, hasn’t stepped out even once.”
Heh, knew she caused trouble and now was hiding at home, refusing to come out?
She thought she could escape that way?
A flash of viciousness passed through Pu Wuyong’s expression. “You keep a close eye on her! If she dares to run before the Lantern Festival, I’ll skin you alive and tear your tendons out and send you to the underworld!”
Little Xuzi, usually clever and quick, broke out in a cold sweat from the threat and hurriedly replied yes.
Pu Wuyong waved him off.
Once Little Xuzi had left, Pu Wuyong turned his gaze back to the row of men. In a low voice, he said, “Qingyan, Qingchuan, Hongmao…”
He called out the names one by one, and they all responded in unison.
Pu Wuyong let out a heavy sigh. “You were all hand-picked and personally trained by me. Over the years, I’ve never shorted you on anything. Now, I’ve got a personal matter and I need your help…”
Qingyan and the others exchanged glances, then loudly declared: “Commander, your grace to us is as heavy as a mountain. Whatever you need, we will go through fire and water without hesitation!”
Pu Wuyong gave a brief laugh, then coughed violently into a handkerchief. Only after did he continue: “It’s just a girl. On the day of the Lantern Festival, help me catch someone—alive, if possible. I want her to see with her own eyes as she’s turned into a living stake! Understand?!”
To these men, this task couldn’t be easier. And it would win them an enormous favor from the Commander.
A risk-free, high-reward deal.
Naturally, they didn’t hesitate and immediately agreed.
—
On the day of the Lantern Festival, Xia Gongong helped the Yongchang Emperor dress and into his palanquin, then stood respectfully by his side.
The imperial procession left the Forbidden City in full splendor, exited the capital through Desheng Gate, and headed directly toward Baiyun Temple.
On the other side, the womenfolk of all households of fourth-rank officials and above were also heading to Baiyun Temple to attend the ritual and pay respects to the woman who was once the emperor’s principal wife—and who was now the Immortal Master Miaojing, Liu Wangfei.
The Eldest Princess even personally came to the Qi residence to bring Qi Yuan along. She smiled and said to the Old Madam Qi, “I’ll borrow your granddaughter to keep me company for a while, I hope you don’t mind.”
How could the old madam possibly mind?
She was just slightly uneasy, but when she saw Qi Yuan nod subtly to her, she took a deep breath and returned the gesture with a smile: “What is Your Highness saying? It’s our family’s great fortune that you’re so fond of her.”
She too then boarded the family’s carriage.
This time, Qi Zhen and the Old Marquis personally escorted the women of the family up the mountain.
