In a cottage of Yougu Ravine...

Wenren Junzheng pushed the door open and entered, carrying a hare in his hand. His broad forehead was covered with sweat and the front and back of the brown shirt had large wet stains.

Lu Qiange stood by the bed and was stuffing a willow leaf dart into the soft leather girdle around his waist. When he saw his Master, he greeted him.

Wenren Junzheng shook his prey to his apprentice and said loudly,

"It's the new prey. I want to cook it for you after a while. Are you going to leave?"

Lu Qiange nodded,

"I have considered it for a long time and I think it is the safest to go back to the Palace. Now that the Eastern Depot wins the chaos, the Kunhuang Island map should be in the Palace. I intend to go to Jing City to lurch and find out some reliable news."

Wenren Junzheng frowned and his vicissitudes of the old face showed a touch of surprise. He looked at Lu Qiange and gradually turned to worry,

"Qiange, are you getting better?"

"Master, don't worry. I know my health condition."

Lu Qiange talked and laughed happily. He stepped on the corner stool with his short boots and continued to organize the straps of the leggings.

Throwing away the hare and pondering for a while, Wenren Junzheng said,

"Now you are away from the Palace for a few days and then going back will undoubtedly be a moth to fight the fire. If someone has recognized you, it will..."

When his apprentice entered the Swift Tower with others, he was almost captured. His appearance should have been seen by the strange man in the battle. If that person had colluded with the court of Da Yi early, it would hurl his apprentice himself willingly into the net when returning to the Palace.

However, at this moment, Lu Qiange seemed complacent, smiling,

"Master, your worries are not entirely unreasonable, but I still have friends in the Palace. They will help me go through the difficulties."

Wenren Junzheng gazed, "Do you mean Xin'er?"

The one-armed swordsman had two apprentices in the first half of his life. One was Lu Qiange and the other was Prince Chen Huanan Xin.

In the past, Wenren often ventured into the Palace for one person and at that time he taught the young Prince Chen some martial arts.

Lu Qiange was different. He was the biological son of Princess Anhe and the King of Udan. He was extremely talented in martial arts and Wenren Junzheng was naturally willing to teach him.

Seeing that Lu Qiange nodded and shook his head, Wenren Junzheng was puzzled,

"What do you mean?"

Lu Qiange told the truth, "If I needn't to bother junior fellow apprentices, I will not. Furthermore, the Emperor’s Fourth Princess, Huanan Jiyan, can also help me."

"The Fourth Princess?"

Wenren Junzheng's face changed slightly. His bright pupils locked on the young handsome face of his apprentice and he sensitively inquired,

"Is she the damn Emperor's daughter? How can you trust her?"

Lu Qiange did not answer at once. He turned around and avoid looking at his master directly. The internal strength looked like glass, clear and confusing,

"She is naive and has a very good relationship with my senior fellow apprentice, so she has some values in use to me."

Wenren Junzheng became less serious,

"However, having said that, it is better not to regenerate other incidents."

After a pause, he continued to say,

"Now you are not so young. When I took the letter of Princess Anhe away from Udan, Princess Anhe also talked to me. After this Kunhuang incident, when you go back, we have to discuss your marriage…"

"What?"

Before Wenren Junzheng finished talking, Lu Qiange yelled. He was anxious with hands on his hips.

"I loved Yunxi for a long time. Concubinage will be none of my business. I only marry Yunxi in this life!"

Wenren Junzheng shook his head in amazement and sighed helplessly,

"Don't mess around anymore. Don't forget your true identity. If you are just an ordinary person, you can do whatever you want, but if you were born in the royal family of Udan, it is the prince's responsibility to marry a concubine."

Lu Qiange's purple eyes turned around and he was really upset. He turned his head angrily,

"No, no! Master, you always understand me. The throne of Udan belongs to my eldest brother Soluochi's early. It is naturally his responsibility to marry a concubine. What does it have to do with me? If I want to have a wife, I will only marry Yunxi. Otherwise, I won’t marry forever and hide in a monastery in Da Yi, shave my hair, and become a monk..."

"You!"

Wenren Junzheng was resentful, but he was helpless, so he had to clench his fists.

"She is not suitable for you! Ruo has gone astray since she was a child and regards the thief as a family. She has already been a woman no longer pure."

"Master..."

The description was extremely ear-piercing and Lu Qiange immediately felt cramped in his heart. He yelled in anger and smashed the chair beside his legs with his palm,

"I forbid you to describe her like that! She is a dexterous girl who has a life-saving grace to me. Even if she is not pure, she is forced by the eunuch, so I will not despise her!"

"You..."

Wenren Junzheng was suddenly speechless. He was completely shocked by his apprentice's resolute expression. Although he did not agree with his point of view on the surface, his heart was touched by his apprentice's enthusiasm at this time.

They looked at each other for a moment and a sigh resounded in the silent thatched house,

"You really have grown up and I can't control you anymore. Don't mention it!"

Wenren Junzheng lowered his eyebrows and waved his hand, then calmly watching Lu Qiange who neatly dressed up.

Suddenly on a whim, Wenren Junzheng made a temporary decision,

"Apprentice, wait a moment. I will change clothes and go to the capital with you."

"Master?"

Lu Qiange pursed the lips in surprise.

Many years ago, his master had two of the most painful past events in the capital which were concealed. Since then, if there was no secret important matter, he would never set foot in the capital again.

What was going on like this now?

Wenren Junzheng draped the curtain into the inner room and his clear voice wafted from the curtain,

"I'm still worried and think that I should go to the capital with you to see Xin'er by the way... I haven't seen him for a few years..."

Lu Qiange lowered his eyes and said nothing.

In this way, the person Master really wanted to meet was not Prince Chen, Huanan Xin.

...

In the evening in the Palace, thick clouds rolled in the sky, covering the sky and the sun. The breeze sent heavy wet steam into the slanted window mullions of Yongning Palace.

When Ming Lan stepped into the Main Hall, he was stunned by the cold and gloomy aura and his scalp became numb involuntarily.

Sitting on the top of the chair was Wan Yuyao, with her eyelashes hanging down slightly while tasting the fragrant tea. Her white and slender fingertips rubbed against the cold chill and the stars and moon gleamed in her eyes.

On both sides, Lihu, Tu Muxue and a few young palace maids were all cold and expressionless.

"Ming Lan pays his respects to the Imperial Noble Concubine. Your Grace, best wishes for you."

Was it an illusion? Why did he always feel that Wan Yuyao at this moment was showing a murderous look?

It was completely quiet.

Without a response, Ming Lan had to maintain a prostrate posture and didn't know what to do for a while.

After a moment, Wan Yuyao finally raised her eyes slowly. Suddenly, two fierce eyes burst out dazzling lights like a sharp blade. At the same time, the jade wrist flipped and the cup in her hand was thrown away fiercely.

The porcelain cup hit Ming Lan's forehead. Fortunately, it was blocked by the satin edge of the black mesh hat to prevent skin injury, but a cup of hot water was poured on the man's face.

His makeup was messed up, but Ming Lan had no time to brush away the water. He knelt down with his head reached the ground in complete fear and his voice trembled with horror,

"Your Grace, don't be angry, please. If what I did has made Your Grace unhappy, I hope Your Grace will make it clear and be generous with me..."

Above the head, the woman's cold voice aroused angrily,

"You're such a fucking good servant. I appointed you as the second-rank Commander-in-chief. Now you are getting more powerful and you dare to deceive me!"

"Your Grace, please relieve your anger!"

Ming Lan's peach blossom eyes widened suddenly. When he knelt on the ground, trembling with fear. His fingertips in the python sleeves bounced and twitched. He took a deep breath and said,

"Your Grace, I'm grateful for your help and encouragement. I will never deceive you!"

Wan Yuyao was very angry. She narrowed her eyes, staring at Ming Lan, and snorted,

"Huh, you dare not deceive me? Then Gu Yunxi is the daughter of Pei Rushi, the former chief maid of Concubinary Kitchen. You knew it early. How can you refuse to report it to me?"

Ming Lan's heart shook for a moment. His face drastically changed with his head down and his face was as pale as paper.

The person who exposed Gu Yunxi's identity to Wan Yuyao was undoubtedly Tu Muxue.

Her purpose in doing this was to provoke a gap between Ming Lan and the Imperial Noble Concubine. What’s more, she really wanted Gu Yunxi to die without a burial place!

What a disgusting woman...

Ming Lan tried to be calm and raised his upper body. He quietly replied in a soft voice with hands crossed,

"Your Grace, I did doubt Gu Yunxi's identity at the beginning, but there was no evidence. I wanted to capture this woman and interrogate her carefully, but I didn't expect her to be kidnapped by bandits of Mount Yin a year and a half ago. The clue disappeared..."

"If you want a clue, I have a clue here!"

Wan Yuyao smashed her fist and interrupted Ming Lan impatiently. She tilted her head to look at Tu Muxue as her dignified eyes showed great anger,

"Now I have already known everything. Ming Lan, you should know how well I treat you. Your Western Depot has caused troubles several times since the day it was set up. I always help you cover the truth in front of His Majesty, right? Now, for the sake of a mere woman, are you determined to betray me?"

"Your Grace, I didn’t intend to..."

Ming Lan was frightened with his whole body shaking. He knocked on the ground several times in succession and his nasal cavity and lips showed fear.

Wan Yuyao raised her eyes, which made people feel dangerous. For a moment, she became serious and her red lips suddenly released bursts of sneers,

“Hey, it's my fault that I'm not thoughtful. You have been serving in Yongning Palace for some years and now you're rank-second in charge of the Western Depot and the Garden. You often work hard for official business and have no time. If you want to come back to Master's Mansion, it is still cold and empty.”

“Since the Commander-in-chief of the Eastern Depot has been paired up by the Eastern Palace, I will gift one to you today, okay?”

Ming Lan was surprised and confused, not knowing Wan Yuyao's intentions.

Wan Yuyao's eyebrows were crooked, and then she turned her eyes sideways looking towards Tu Muxue,

"Xier, you originally entered the Palace as a substitute for Gu Yunxi. Ming Lan is my most favored servant and has a role to play in Yongning Palace. His love for Gu Yunxi means that he likes you. After a while, you can find an auspicious day to marry him. You two can work for me together so that I can rest easy."

"Your Grace, Your Grace, no!"

Tu Muxue was really shocked and completely forgot the palace rules and etiquette. The flustered appearance gave Wan Yuyao a trace of contempt in her heart.

Tu Muxue really didn't expect that cleverness may overreach itself. She just wanted to use the Imperial Noble Concubine's suspicious and moody temperament to provoke the Wan clan's relationship with the Western Depot. She didn't think that damn woman barely appreciated her, but had an upper hand!

Ming Lan smiled slyly at this moment. He suddenly folded his hands and pinched his voice,

"Ming Lan thanks for Your Grace's gift."

Wan Yuyao rolled her eyes pretentiously and shook her head at the door,

"Okay, you are wrong because you don't tell me the truth. Pick up the broken porcelain on the ground and take it to the outside courtyard. You kneel for a while there."

"Thank Your Grace a lot."

Ming Lan tugged his lips hard, drawing a stiff smile line. When he got up with the broken cup in his hand, his gloomy eyes collided with Tu Muxue's dark and sharp eyes.

Among the three people, he secretly had selfish intentions and she wanted to borrow a knife to kill someone. Wan Yuyao was impartial, giving one fifty blows and the other a like number

This game was really delightful.