Chapter 52: Layer by Layer Advancement

  Ming Wang Fu

  "Your Ladyship, we have arrived at the Wang estate." The four eunuchs set down the sedan chair and stood respectfully to one side. Hua Gu Gu stepped forward, bowed her head, and stood by the entrance of the sedan, speaking softly.

  "Hmm." Consort Jiang lowered her voice, and with an armored hand stretched out of the sedan chair, the two palace maids immediately came forward to support her. The pink palace clothes fluttered lightly in the cold wind, giving people a warm feeling.

  The flower aunt stood up and called the guard to come forward and greet her, while she herself helped up the other arm of Jiang Guifei, with a careful and cautious appearance as if afraid of startling the master.

  "Your Highness, be careful, the snow on the ground is very slippery." Shuang'er whispered, gesturing to the palace maid behind her to come forward and test the path.

  The imperial concubine's body is extremely precious, if she accidentally falls or gets hurt, who can bear this responsibility.

  "This humble servant has come to pay respects to Your Highness, may you be blessed with good fortune and prosperity." The steward of the Ming Wang Fu immediately led all the servants to the entrance, where they knelt in the snow and paid their respects. Each one lowered their head, stiffened their body, and didn't dare move.

  It's been many years, Chapter 055 of the Imperial City.

  The temperature in the room suddenly dropped, far exceeding the outside.

  Young master, we were wrong. Hanging his head in shame, he obediently admitted his mistake.

  To put it in cold words, this is called leniency for those who confess and severity for those who resist.

  "Alright, what's going on with you guys?" Yan Xuehen yawned, her slender arms wrapped around her knees, and a soft voice sounded.

  Winter is her least favorite season, everywhere she goes is cool and makes her want to hibernate. But she loves the heavy snowfall, in the flying snowflakes, she has a lot of toys, for her who has been practicing martial arts from childhood to adulthood, it is the best gift from heaven.

  Her soul was reborn, and after arriving in this world, she had less time to practice her skills, but more time to indulge in idle thoughts. Every day, she lived amidst schemes and plots, either assassinations or designs, without a single peaceful day.

  However, as the days went by, this kind of life that often encountered challenges, actually made Rong Ziyue like it. If someone wanted to play until they were exhausted, she would naturally accompany them to the end.

  Whoever admits defeat first is the grandson.

  "Master, all the intelligence about Princess Zijin is here, please take a look." Dongxue pointed to the thing under Cold Qiu's arm on the table and twitched the corner of her mouth.

  Slender fingers turned to the first page, bit by bit memorizing in her brain, pink lips outlined a beautiful arc, bursting out a shallow smile that was enchanting to the extreme, dazzling and making people feel cool from head to toe, and the whole person felt numb.

  "Very good, very complete." With a flicker of her eyes, in an instant, the book that was just intact was now in Leng Ziyue's hands.

  Reduced to ashes, without leaving even a single residue.

  "Thank you, Master." Dongxue nodded, there was no news she couldn't find out.

  In the You Yin Pavilion, gathering intelligence is a skill that everyone must master, regardless of whether they are male or female, it can be said to be an extraordinary skill.

  He took two steps forward, pulled out an account book from his bosom, held it in the palm of his hand, and respectfully handed it to Leng Ziyue. "Young Master, this is the record of income and expenses for the past two months. Please take a look. In addition, the new store has been fully prepared and can be opened at any time."

  He admired Leng Ziyue's mind, those business methods, even if he was a person who had been groping for nearly ten years, couldn't think of it, and it was certain that as she said, taking down the economic lifeline of the five major countries was only a matter of time.

  "I don't like to check accounts, I trust your ability. The opening time of several stores must be staggered, and I look forward to you fulfilling your promise." Leng Ziyue did not take the account book, since she had accepted the entire Youyin Pavilion, she would not suspect anyone inside.

  At least she could be certain that they all regarded Youyin Pavilion as their home, so they would never betray Youyin Pavilion.

  Timely relaxation of their power helps them play better, her trust can also be said to be the greatest driving force for them to highlight their potential.

  "Don't worry, young master, I won't betray your trust." Ming's eyes gazed deeply at Leng Xueyue. As an orphan, what he lacked most was trust, and she had given him the greatest trust; how could he not revere her?

  "Just do things well and you'll be fine, I've never considered you as my subordinates, and I hope you don't think that way either, understand? She came from modern times where equality was deeply rooted, and in her eyes, superiority and inferiority meant nothing. It was even more impossible for her to follow."

  "It's a young master." The six of them said in unison, their Hidden Leaf Village would surely become even more prosperous and better.

  Dian Buo felt a warmth in his heart, he knew that on the surface, Leng Xue was very cold and aloof, but her concern for them was genuine and not fake at all. "Young Master, Ice Aunt's poison has been cured, she said she will take good care of the headquarters, and hopes that Young Master will take good care of himself."

  "Young Master, Autumn Moon has something to say." From the day they found out about Leng Xue Yue, they understood what kind of life she was living in the Zhong Jun Hou Fu. They would never allow their Young Master to be bullied.

  "Autumn moon has something to say, just say it directly, I'm listening? "When I went out in the morning, the heavy snow had already stopped. Tomorrow's birthday banquet will probably be particularly wonderful."

  The four messengers of Feng Hua Xue Yue looked at each other and said in unison: "Young Master, we hope to follow you closely, not seeking to protect you completely, but only to guard you."

  "I understand your intention, and I also have the same idea. From tomorrow on, Xia Hua and Qiu Yue will follow me closely. Chun Feng and Dong Xue not only need to take over their tasks but also pay attention to the movements in the imperial city at all times, understood? Although Hua'er is considerate, that girl doesn't have much experience after all. If she follows her tomorrow, there's bound to be trouble."

  Leng Xue thought it over and decided that having two skilled fighters by her side would be more reassuring. Tomorrow, she could see their moves and treat those with ulterior motives well.

  "Young master, with a gloomy person like Dong Xue by your side, won't you feel suffocated? Chun Feng pouted, she wanted to follow Cold Zhiyao even more, others might think the young master is cold, but she doesn't think so, looking at Cold Zhiyao makes her heart warm."

  As soon as this was said, it brought a few snickers, but the person who said it didn't seem to care.

  "Spring breeze, that day you compared zithers with me, it was already exposed, following me, can't avoid being inconvenient." Leng Ziyue smiled, the more she stayed with them, the more she liked it.

  "Oh." He shrugged his shoulders, and Chun Feng responded with a low "en", like a deflated balloon.

  "Alright, everyone go about your own business and notify me immediately if anything happens. Xia Hua Dong Xue, tomorrow morning come directly to Hou Fu to find me, we'll go take a look at the Hongmen banquet at the Princess's residence together."

  The eyes sparkling with starlight were crystal clear, Cong Zhe Yue wore a silver-white long dress that trailed on the ground, like snowflakes blooming at her feet, elegant and refreshing.

  "Yes."

  Out of the Drunken Guest House, I strolled alone on the snow-covered streets. The small vendors on both sides were lazily calling out and beckoning, their thick cotton-padded jackets making them look somewhat bloated and clumsy in their movements, from a distance they looked like penguins at play, quite amusing.

  Leng Xue tightened her windbreaker, her black boots trudging through the snow, leaving behind a series of small, delicate footprints. People in winter always seem to lack the passion of those in summer, their every move exuding a lazy air.

  Walking through street after street, until the three big characters on a mansion caught her eye, Leng Ziyue had no choice but to stop in her tracks. Heaven knows why she ended up here out of nowhere.

  Blood King's Manor?

  She must be crazy, always thinking of him.

  Ba Li Chen Yuan, you are a man like a poppy flower, once touched, it will slowly become addictive, and then get drunk in your world.

  She let out a long sigh, and the white mist of her breath lingered in front of her eyes before dissipating into water vapor. Leng Xueyu turned around, lifted her foot, but after a moment, she couldn't take a step forward.

  She came to return the cloak, can't lose it!

  Yes, she's here to return the cloak.

  Baili Chenyuan peeked through the gap of the gate, staring at the little figure walking back and forth in the snowy ground, muttering to himself. He laughed so hard that he couldn't straighten his waist. How could his little Xiang'er be this adorable?

  Two days without seeing her, he missed her so much that he couldn't help but want to sneak a peek at her at Zhongjun's place. Who would have thought that she actually came knocking on his door herself?

  How can he help but burst out laughing?

  He had just arrived at the door and hadn't even had time to stretch out his hand to open it when he saw her, and that joyful feeling couldn't be described in two or three sentences.

  "Your Highness, it's so cold outside, what are you planning to... Shen Qing sneaked a peek at the door and quickly withdrew her head, giggling and teasing.

  It turns out that their future queen has a cute side in addition to her overbearing personality, it's really making people can't help but feel pity for her.

  "Shen——qing." A hundred miles of profound and mysterious depths hid the smile at the corner of his lips, a pair of eyes as pure as morning dew looked back at someone, that long-drawn-out tail tone, sent shivers down one's spine.

  Shen Qing shivered and said loudly while holding Kang Qi's hand: "Your Highness, I remembered that there is still something unfinished, I will go do it now."

  When the king makes that kind of sound, it's when he's about to be in big trouble. He also wants to have a queen as soon as possible, what's wrong with that?

  Kang Zhen shook off Shen Qing's hand and said coldly: "See if you dare to make fun of the prince again, you don't even know how to die."

  "Hehe, how dare I? That's something only the princess would do." Shen Qing awkwardly forced a smile, he didn't have that kind of skill, and only said it because he saw Baili Cunxuan was in a good mood.

  Even if he had ten times his usual courage, he wouldn't dare speak out.

  "Xiao Yue'er, you've come to see me, it really moves me." With a big and generous gesture, he opened the door wide. Bai Li Chen Xuan wore a red robe with a silver-trimmed purple fox fur cloak draped over his shoulders, and smiled lightly as he gazed into Leng Zhi Yue's astonished eyes. Those clear and bright black eyes sparkled with shining water light, dazzling and captivating.

  Her petite body stiffened slightly, and Leng Xue turned around. Under the black cloak, her small white hand was frozen to a faint red, and the corner of her mouth twitched violently. Which eye had seen that she came to see him? What a self-righteous guy, shameless.

  Her drooping eyelashes fluttered like a small fan on her eyelids, concealing her thoughts. She lifted her head, but before she could speak, Baili Chenzhuang suddenly appeared beside her like a gust of wind, tightly grasping both her small hands in his warm large hands, and gently blowing air onto them.

  "You..." She pulled her own hand, Leng Xueyu opened her mouth, but the words got stuck in her throat and she couldn't say anything. She stared blankly at his sinking face, somewhat at a loss.

  "Can't you even take care of yourself? Look at your hands, they're frozen stiff. You'd freeze to death like this. When going out, don't you know to bring a hand warmer? I'm saying... Ba Li Chen Yin scolded with a straight face while warming her icy small hands with his own, but the words that were meant to be concerned came out with a tone of blame."

  After talking for half a day, I didn't hear a single response, and couldn't help but raise my head to meet Leng Ziyue's big, bright eyes. Her long eyelashes were clearly defined, lightly trembling in the wind, and her eyes reflected my image with clarity and brightness.

  Those are a pair of eyes that outshine jade, even more radiant and resplendent. Looking at them is like seeing the entire world.

  "Cough, cough... is it a bit warmer?" With a light cough, Bai Li Chen Yun revealed a clean smile, tilting his head to ask, his big eyes staring unwaveringly at the currently stunned and foolish Leng Zhi Yue.

  This girl, why can she always give him so many surprises, seemingly no matter what appearance, all attracting his full attention.

  Her domineering side, her reckless side, her arrogant side, her faintly smiling side, and her silly speechless side, each one brought him a different feeling, familiar yet intimate, as if in their past lives, he and she were acquaintances.

  So close, even closer than blood relatives.

  "Uh." Bai Yu's face suddenly turned bright red, like blood, and she looked like she was about to cry. Leng Xueying stiffly nodded her head, moved her hand wanting to get out of his big hand, but couldn't, so she could only glare at Bai Li Chenyuan with hatred, then lowered her head to look at the thing that had fallen on the snowy ground.

  Black cloak.

  She came to return the cloak, and the closer she got to this man, the more her heart wanted to stay by his side.

  But he was so dangerous, and her reason told her to stay away from him.

  Xiao Yue'er, looking at me without letting my mind wander. "Bai Li Chen Yuan directly put Leng Zhiyue's hands into his chest, pulled over the silver cloak tightly covering them, and glanced at the quiet cloak lying in the snow, his face turning gloomy, as if someone owed him money."

  This girl, isn't she here to return his cloak?

  Is he very scary?

  Just want to escape from him and don't want to have anything to do with him.

  She felt his breathing become low and oppressive, Leng Xueyu didn't speak up, the decision she had already made in her heart was now hesitant, and she couldn't decide whether to say it or not.

  "Xiao Yue'er has come to return my cloak, I'll pick it up myself, you don't have to stand in the snow and freeze, go back! The term 'ming ming' which was once a loving nickname, suddenly took on a different tone, exuding endless estrangement."

  Ba Li Chen Yuan bowed his head, his fingertips trembling slightly, and a complex emotion flashed in his ink pupils before returning to calmness.

  He was originally a lonely person, how could he go begging for warmth that didn't belong to him.

  He is a man of ill omen, why must he destroy the one and only her in the world.

  The warmth in her palms suddenly disappeared, and the cold wind blew across her jade-like hands. Her cheeks stung with pain, and Leng Xueying blinked, feeling endless sorrow and pain rushing towards her. Her heart throbbed violently, as if a knife was fiercely twisting inside.

  What's wrong with her, why does she have that kind of feeling.

  The man in front of her who bent down to pick up the cloak, at that moment seemed to have let her see a distant and vague dream, who was he?

  Where does that instinctive protection and trust come from?

  "Tomorrow, go to the Princess's mansion with caution. For those who harbor evil intentions, there is no need to show mercy." The low, mellow voice, as if dyed with endless wind and frost, swept past his ears, near yet far away.

  Staring at Baili Chenyuan who turned and left, Leng Ziyue stood still, forgetting her words. Wasn't she just here to return the cloak? Why did her heart feel suffocated, what was slipping away, and she couldn't see or touch it, yet she desperately wanted to hold onto something.

  The lonely and desolate figure in the distance gradually became blurred, her pink lips slightly parted, yet she was speechless. Her nose stung with a sour sensation, as an inexplicable emotion surged up fiercely, leaving her at a loss for what to do.

  Is she also going to shed tears?

  "Xiao Yue'er, I... went and came back, Baili Cunyuan had two more exquisite cloaks in his hands, was Xiao Yue'er crying?"

  Why was she crying? Was it because of him?

  His heart was suddenly filled to the brim, overflowing with an indescribable excitement. Baili Chunxun's smile was as pure and innocent as a child's, his bright and clean smile seemed like a lotus flower on a snowy mountain, shining brightly in the warm sunlight, dazzling and captivating.

  "I'm leaving." Leng Ziyue turned her back, stretched out her hand to wipe the corner of her eyes. She wouldn't cry, how could she possibly cry.

  Actually, she wasn't emotionless, just better at hiding it than others. That glimmer of water, crystal clear and transparent, familiar yet strange.

  "I know you're leaving, take this." Baili Chenyuan smiled and pulled over Leng Xiu Yue's hand, handing her a cloak that had been specially made for her to wear on the way back to the Wang Fu.

  The two strands of black hair on his temples danced in the wind, and his eyes full of smiles swept across a cold gleam at the moment they fell. The person was coming for him or coming for Leng Ziyue, no matter who it was, as long as he dared to step on his bottom line, he would not hesitate to destroy the world.

  "I don't want to." Eyes wide open, staring at Baili Chunxuan, the cloak in his arms didn't know whether to throw it away or continue hugging it. The fiery red cloak was burning like feathers, while the other pure white cloak had a color as smooth as snow silk, warm to the touch, and at first glance, it wasn't made of ordinary material.

  Ba Li Chen Yuan crossed her arms over her chest, made up her mind not to accept it, pursed her thin lips and said: "If you like them, just keep them. I think you'll definitely like these two colors. If you really mind keeping them, why don't you also give me a small trinket? Let's just call it even."

  "What's your purpose, and what are you hiding? I'm powerless and have no influence, can't help you with anything." Leng Ziyue's face sank, he had secretly helped her retreat from the enemy, then sent her a mysterious sound, and even dared to oppose those people in the imperial palace, now he was helping her prepare for the wind, if she said there was no purpose, she couldn't understand.

  "Xiao Yue, you're really lovable. I'm helping you because I like you, and giving it to you because you like it. Life is short, why not live as one pleases?" Under the mask, Bai Li Chen's mouth twitched with a hint of bitter smile.

  He wants revenge, he also needs help, and more importantly, he needs assistance. He can be ruthless in his pursuit of power, and he will stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

  But he really had no purpose for Leng Ziyue.

  Help her, protect her, want to spoil her, all because of his heart, wanting to do so.

  Even if his heart isn't whole, he still wants to get close to her.

  Even if hurt, even if betrayed, no regrets.