Chun Lin had been muttering inwardly nonstop, but as fate would have it, what he feared most came true.
Because as soon as the traitor Qi Wangkui was dealt with, a full-scale purge began. Everyone closely associated with Qi Wangkui, his trusted subordinates, shady vendors he’d interacted with, even sellers of random gold or silver hairpins, were all thoroughly rooted out.
Xiao Yunting had brought three Daoist soldiers with him this time: Lin Yu, Han Ding, and Beize. Don’t be fooled by their appearance, dressed like Daoist priests, always quoting ancient Daoist texts.
But when they killed people, they didn’t bother quoting anything at all.
They used to say that Daoist practice followed the natural order, “Dao follows nature.”
So what does following nature mean?
Han Ding answered with a deadpan face: “Put simply, if you feel like cursing, curse. If you want to hit someone, hit them. And if they threaten your position and there’s no way around it, kill! If you can kill them, then kill. If not, then you get killed. That’s what following nature means!”
Chun Lin was a little embarrassed.
They’d been Embroidered Uniform Guard for years, and suddenly he felt that Embroidered Uniform Guard might also be suited for cultivating the Dao.
Actually, scratch that, their mindset still didn’t match these Daoist killers.
After all, they didn’t kill people all the time.
Just as he was thinking this, Lin Yu came flying in from outside.
Chun Lin instinctively reached out to stop him: “Where are you rushing off to?”
Lin Yu couldn’t suppress the grin on his face. He raised an eyebrow at Chun Lin and waved a letter in his hand: “What do you know? It’s a letter for His Highness!”
Oh no. Oh no!
Chun Lin’s heart sank in alarm.
When he’d left, his lord was just about to return to the capital. He’d even written in a letter saying he had hunted a massive whale in Okinawa, and had found a huge, round, pink luminous pearl in its belly.
He planned to give it to Miss Qi.
Heavens above!
Did His Highness know about this?
Yes. Yes, he did.
Xiao Yunting opened the letter and saw that Liujin had not only written about the pink night pearl, but had also launched into a long tirade of outrage and opinion.
He strongly condemned Lai Chenglong’s behavior as shamelessly stealing from His Highness.
Of course, he acknowledged that Miss Qi’s clean and direct rejection had been a great display of loyalty to His Highness.
Therefore, he argued, His Highness needed to gift something even more impressive than the pink pearl.
After much thought, he concluded that the Jade Seal left by the Celestial Master Zhang Daoling would be a perfect choice.
After all, successive Daoist sect leaders had dreamed of using that seal to ascend to immortality.
Miss Qi would surely love it!
Xiao Yunting let out a cold laugh, shook his head, and tossed the letter aside.
Lin Yu and Han Ding exchanged glances and quickly snuck over to peek at the letter’s contents.
Reading what was inside, even they couldn’t help but get anxious on their lord’s behalf.
After all, Lord Lai was still in the capital!
What if he got the advantage of proximity?
Everyone knows, a persistent suitor is a fierce girl’s worst fear!
Oh no, oh no! Could it be that His Highness would lose his future wife just by making a trip to Jiangxi?
Right then, Xiao Yunting picked up another letter. But this time, his face grew somber.
Lin Yu and Han Ding noticed immediately and went quiet, no longer daring to make faces.
Then Xiao Yunting suddenly set the letter down and called out: “Beize!”
The usually silent Beize appeared instantly before Xiao Yunting.
Tapping the table with his fingers, Xiao Yunting thought for a moment, then said, “I’ll write a letter for you to deliver to the Empress. Ask her to follow my instructions. Also… you’re not coming back.”
Beize was startled: “Your Highness?!”
Was His Highness abandoning him just because he didn’t talk much?
It’s not his fault he was born quiet!
Xiao Yunting could guess his thoughts, and frowned slightly as he shook his head. “I have something more important for you to do. Liujin said Xu Fengqiao infiltrated the Feng household posing as one of the women, went on a matchmaking date with Qi Changting, and nearly killed him. It was Yuanyuan who saved him.”
What?!
Han Ding immediately said, “I know Xu Fengqiao! She’s a heartless demon! In Huizhou, she once killed sixteen women and nineteen children, just because she couldn’t take them all on board her ship!”
At the memory, the three Daoist soldiers clenched their jaws in fury.
Xiao Yunting nodded: “Yes, that’s her. When you spot one cockroach, you can be sure there are many more. Xu Fengqiao is just the beginning. That’s why, Beize, I want you to stay by Yuanyuan’s side and protect her with everything you’ve got!”
Beize hesitated.
After all, Xiao Yunting’s own journey was full of danger, there hadn’t been a moment of peace so far.
He was deeply worried.
But Xiao Yunting met his gaze seriously, and said word by word: “To me, Yuanyuan is my heart. If you protect my heart, you’re protecting me. Understand?”
Han Ding silently let out a dramatic “whoa” in his head, his expression comically stunned.
Was that… was that a love confession just now?!
“Yuanyuan is my heart. If you protect my heart, you protect me.”
Oh my heavens!
Lin Yu couldn’t help but smile as well.
Now that His Highness had spoken so earnestly, Beize didn’t hesitate any longer and solemnly replied, “Rest assured, Your Highness. Unless I die, I will keep Miss Qi safe!”
Xiao Yunting gave his shoulder a firm pat.
Beize turned to leave, but then paused and looked back at him: “Your Highness, aren’t you going to write a letter to Miss Qi?”
After all, Lord Lai was still there wooing her, shouldn’t His Highness stay in close contact?
At the very least, he should let her know how he felt!
And, what about a gift?
He’s sending someone back empty-handed?
Even though Beize didn’t have a sweetheart of his own, this didn’t sit right with him.
Xiao Yunting smiled and took the tiger fang pendant from his chest, handing it to Beize.
“Give her this. She’ll understand.”
Now it was Beize, Lin Yu, and Han Ding’s turn to panic.
They shouted in unison: “No! Your Highness, that’s your life jade!”
In Daoist tradition, each person had a personal talisman or “life jade.”
Inscribed with unique protective symbols, sometimes bearing one’s birth chart, it served to ward off misfortune, essentially, it was one’s second life.
How could such an important object be given away so lightly?
But Xiao Yunting smiled with unshakable resolve.
“Go. My life is hers. This means more than any jade seal my master left behind, she’ll understand.”
That tiger fang pendant had never once left Xiao Yunting’s body. Not since the day he began studying under Celestial Master Zhang.
But now, he had removed it, for Qi Yuan…
