"Zhu San once developed several fake - death pills when he was in the Valley of the Medicine King. Why don't you fake your death and get away?"
The next moment, the wolf - masked man's ears twitched slightly.
His terrifying green eyes suddenly shot a cold glare. With a flip of his wrist, the scimitar left his palm.
The blade glinted coldly as it spun through the air, heading straight for Fu Li's forehead!
Fu Li tried to dodge, but his limbs felt as if they were nailed to the mud.
His heart thumped so hard that his chest went numb. He could only watch helplessly as the cold light approached.
At a critical moment.
Pei Zhaolin, half - crouched in the grass shadows, grabbed the back of Fu Li's collar and yanked him hard.
The master and servant leaped down into the depression and were instantly swallowed up by the thick wild grass.
"Clang!"
The scimitar was deeply embedded in the ground, its hilt still trembling.
The wolf - masked man raised his eyebrows slightly and growled a couple of words in the Dongman language.
Suddenly, several ferocious wolves leaped out from the tents behind him!
The wolves fanned out and slowly advanced in Pei Zhaolin's direction.
In the grass nest, Fu Li's heart was pounding wildly, and his lips were as pale as paper.
He even lightened his breathing.
Pei Zhaolin pressed down on his shoulder. His palm was burning hot, but his gaze was terrifyingly cold.
Fu Li was so scared that his breathing went haywire. But then he saw Pei Zhaolin pinch two fingers together and gently draw a line in the mud -
"Downwind."
He quickly wrote these two characters, then bent down and slid half a step along the wind direction, hiding himself on the leeward side of the tall grass.
His cuffs, the hem of his clothes, and even the tips of his hair all lay flat in the direction the grass leaves had fallen.
Guided by Pei Zhaolin's gaze, Fu Li immediately followed suit.
The master and servant were like snakes, instantly disappearing into the lush grass.
Outside, the wolves kept sniffing, only smelling the damp and the odor of rotting soil.
The wolf - masked man squinted his eyes, strode forward, and picked up the scimitar on the ground.
Just as he was about to leave, he exerted force on his wrist and threw the scimitar into the grass again.
His aim was to catch them off guard.
The wind blew, and the wild grass that had been disturbed closed up again.
It seemed that it was getting late. The soldiers said a few words in the Dongman language.
Only then did the wolf - masked man give up. He whistled, and the wolves immediately turned back.
The sound of the iron cavalry gradually faded away until there was no more sound.
Pei Zhaolin waited for half the time it takes to burn a stick of incense before he walked out again.
Fu Li beside him was already as pale as a ghost.
"The Dongman people aren't all dead! Young master, what should we do?"
Pei Zhaolin secretly tightened his fingers hidden in his sleeves.
After a long while, he said, "Tell Dong Yu to take my order and transfer 80% of the Black Armored Army to the outskirts of the capital."
Pei Zhaolin turned around. His gaze fell on an old locust tree ten steps away.
The night wind had restored the wild grass to its original position.
Only the scimitar was left sticking lonely in the tree trunk.
"Yes!"
---
As soon as the Drunken Fairy Mansion opened, the crowd poured in like a flood.
The waiter had a white towel slung over his shoulder and wriggled through the crowd like an eel.
Before long, the waiter shouted loudly, "For Room Tianzi No. 2, a pot of pre - rain Longjing tea just brewed!"
Beside the railing on the second - floor corridor, Cui Jintang, wearing a veil hat, took a look and was then led in by the steward.
Qi Xutao, who had been there for an unknown amount of time, had several empty wine jugs lying haphazardly around her.
Seeing Cui Jintang, she sullenly handed her a letter. "Here, for you."
Cui Jintang immediately took it. The steward, being perceptive, immediately retreated.
Since the day Xie Rou had a showdown with the emperor and questioned him, the palace guards had refused to let her in.
Even Zhu San couldn't enter the palace anymore. He could only listen to the servants' reports about the imperial physician's diagnosis every day and write a prescription.
Cui Jintang quickly read the letter after opening it.
Xie Rou said in the letter that she was fine and told Cui Jintang not to worry about her outside the palace.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to help you deliver letters to sister - in - law in the future."
Qi Xutao gloomily took another gulp of wine.
Cui Jintang sat down beside her, frowned, and snatched the wine jug away. "I heard that after you stood up for me that day, the emperor ordered the deprivation of your position in the Golden Wu Guards?"
"That's not all."
Qi Xutao sighed, leaned back, and simply slumped onto the soft couch.
"As soon as the envoys from the Shu Kingdom arrive, I'll have to marry that Xue Wuyou."
Cui Jintang rolled her eyes and kicked her calf. "In a couple of days, the Grand Elder will lead the people back to Qinghe. Why don't you take the opportunity to hide in the group..."
"That will implicate you. It's not appropriate."
Before she could finish speaking, Qi Xutao directly rejected the idea.
Cui Jintang glanced at her. "You're being so kind now and don't want to implicate me?"
Qi Xutao smiled at her. "Aren't we good sisters?"
"Stop smiling. You look so ugly when you smile."
After being nudged by Qi Xutao, Cui Jintang wasn't angry. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "Zhu San once developed several fake - death pills when he was in the Valley of the Medicine King. Why don't you fake your death and get away?"
Hearing this, Qi Xutao became a bit more interested.
Just as she sat up, she heard a commotion outside.
It seemed that there was a ruckus?
The two looked at each other, then got up in unison and looked out of the window.
They lifted the beaded curtain and looked outside the Drunken Fairy Mansion. Qi Xutao was the first to roll her eyes impatiently.
She turned around and leaned on the railing, clicking her tongue. "Why do I keep running into this Luo Xiang? It's really bad luck."
But Cui Jintang frowned.
Next to the Drunken Fairy Mansion was Luo Xiang's County Mistress Mansion.
Luo Xiang was standing in front of the mansion gate with a charming smile. Wang Yueyao beside her had already proudly flicked her sleeves.
She raised her chin haughtily and said, "The County Mistress is about to marry Lord Pei of the Censorate. I'm in a good mood today. Each of you can get one tael of silver to share the joy. Hurry up and come out to accept this honor!"
The Wang family had always been looked down upon in the capital because of their poverty.
Now that Wang Yueyao was acting so arrogantly, many people were itching with anger.
Cui Jintang stopped Qi Xutao, who was about to throw her red - tasseled spear out. "Don't be hasty. Let's listen first."
"Yueyao!"
Luo Xiang walked forward coyly, wrapped her arm around Wang Yueyao, and explained, "We don't even know how the wedding will be held yet. Don't make such a big fuss."
Wang Yueyao didn't care. "I'm just stating the fact. Within half a year, the County Mistress will definitely marry Lord Pei!"
Cui Jintang stood still.
She watched as the servants of the County Mistress Mansion came and went, carrying red silk and wedding lanterns. Unconsciously, her nails dug deeply into her palm.
Every commoner who received the silver was beaming with joy, constantly saying auspicious words of blessing.
Cui Jintang tried to force herself to calm down by the pain.
Then she saw Wang Yueyao turn around with a beaming smile and affectionately wrap her arm around Luo Xiang.
"I heard that the County Mistress will hold a birthday banquet for Lord Pei tomorrow and will invite all the nobles in the capital. Can I come and attend the ceremony?"
Wang Yueyao's eyes were full of expectation.
Luo Xiang felt a moment of contempt in her heart, but she didn't show it on her face.
She was holding the banquet tomorrow to find out about the lost royal sword!
If she didn't let Wang Yueyao come, she was afraid that Wang Yueyao would pester her non - stop.
Thinking of this, Luo Xiang happily replied, "Of course."
Wang Yueyao was immediately overjoyed and said several more flattering words to Luo Xiang.
The two talked and laughed as they walked into the mansion.
Cui Jintang withdrew her gaze. Her movement of turning around paused.
She suddenly remembered that on the day of Pei Zhaolin's birthday banquet, apart from Fu Li and the others, the only one beside him was Luo Xiang.
Could that royal sword have come from Luo Xiang?