In the Lan Ling Xuan, numerous servants, all of them pretty young maids, treated the newly arrived Qingyao with utmost respect.
Everyone in Fengwu Mountain Villa was very kind, except for Ying Qing, who had brought them there. She seemed to dislike them. The others served diligently.
If one were to exclude Changsun Zhu.
The few of them really liked Fengwu Mountain Villa. Located in Jiangnan, it had a pleasant climate, the entire estate was verdant, and the environment was beautiful.
Especially Lan Ling Xuan, surrounded by a lake on all sides. The first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the window lattices, filling the room with radiance. The air that rushed in was fresh and captivating. If it were possible, they truly wished to stay for a longer period.
Changsun Zhu had stayed in Fengwu Mountain Villa for the past few days. When he had nothing to do, he would come to play chess, drink tea, tour the lake, or take them sightseeing in the gardens.
The New Year passed by, neither grand nor bleak, but rather peaceful and enjoyable.
After the new year, Changsun Zhu proposed they leave Fengwu Mountain Villa and head to Qingluo Country, to ensure their safety.
Qingyao eventually agreed, as staying in one place for too long might reveal their true identities. Changsun Zhu hadn't appeared for two days, likely making arrangements for this. Anything happening at the border would be troublesome.
Lan Ling Xuan.
After lunch, under the bright sunshine, the group strolled along the lake embankment.
Qingyao led Mochou and Meixin. Another person accompanied them – Ying Feng. As Changsun Zhu hadn't appeared for two days, he had sent Ying Feng to accompany them. In reality, they didn't need anyone's company and were well-fed, well-rested, and well-cared for, but it was hard to refuse their kindness.
“Ying Feng, we’ll just take a walk by ourselves. You can go attend to your duties,” Qingyao said softly. Since arriving at Fengwu Mountain Villa, her mind and body seemed to have been cleansed, finding peace.
“No, Miss. Your servant dares not disobey the orders given by the master,” Ying Feng replied respectfully, her expression unchanged. Her intelligent eyes gazed at the stunningly beautiful woman ahead.
She had seen the joy on her master's face these past few days, knowing he liked this lady. Although she didn't know where this woman came from, she knew she was someone her master valued, so she dared not be careless.
Qingyao looked up at the calm lake in the distance. There was no wind, just a vast expanse of clear, unmoving water, like a natural mirror reflecting a faint, brilliant light.
Everyone stopped, breathing in the fresh air, feeling a sense of peace.
Just then, footsteps sounded from a distance. A tall figure came sprinting over. With a few leaps, the person landed, their face filled with displeasure.
“Ying Feng, what are you doing here? The master wants you to pack for the guests. We are returning to our country.”
“Ah, alright,” Ying Feng was momentarily stunned, then immediately became excited. Those who have been away for a long time particularly yearn to go home. As for them, it was the opposite; they had to leave their homeland. Seeing Ying Feng and Ying Qing walking ahead, Meixin couldn't help but mutter.
“Miss, are we really going to Qingluo Country? I fear it will be difficult to escape then.”
Qingyao frowned, her gaze sharp, carefully weighing the pros and cons. Although Changsun Zhu had ulterior motives, going to Qingluo Country would, first, allow them to avoid Murong Liuzun's people. Second, it would be an opportunity to move forward. Otherwise, she feared they wouldn't be able to leave the heavily guarded border. If they remained in Xian Yue, they would eventually be taken back to the imperial palace.
As for Changsun Zhu's sphere of influence, there's always a way. Before she could understand his intentions, she was happy to enjoy her freedom.
Moreover, the most important point was that she wanted to seek out a master to learn from. Her current abilities seemed to be a burden wherever she went. Therefore, to move freely, she needed sufficient strength to protect herself.
Not only did she need the ability to protect herself, but she also needed to build her own force. In this chaotic world, mere self-preservation wasn't enough. True self-preservation required sufficient strength.
She understood this principle now.
“Let’s go, just be careful.”
Changsun Zhu, whom they hadn't seen for two days, had indeed gone to handle border affairs. When their group appeared, he beckoned them into the carriage and headed for Qingluo Country.
Although it was a strategically important border, money made things easier. This saying proved to be true. As their group passed through the border, Changsun Zhu presented his credentials, and the guards readily let them through.
This made Qingyao sigh with emotion, realizing there were loopholes everywhere. Murong Liuzun, who considered himself exceptionally intelligent, was far from the imperial court, and not everyone necessarily obeyed him.
Between Qingluo Country and Xian Yue Country lay a small country, Huang Yuan. Although the journey was long, leaving Xian Yue lifted a heavy burden from Qingyao's heart, and she treated it as a scenic tour.
The group traveled west in a luxurious carriage. Along the way, Changsun Zhu was attentive and solicitous. As the most astute and intelligent Crown Prince of Qingluo Country, Changsun Zhu was the most praised Crown Prince after Emperor Xian.
At the age of ten, he had already studied extensively and could recite the entire Changge Lun. At thirteen, he ascended to the imperial court, assisting the emperor in overturning the policies of governance and changing the land reform system, earning him great admiration from the people of Qingluo Country.
Such an intelligent and outstanding man had always regarded women as insignificant. For him, women were merely dispensable clothing, to be used and discarded without a second thought. He had always treated the women in his harem with equal favor.
But at some point, he stopped lingering in the harem, leaving those women unattended. They longed for him, but they couldn't elicit any reaction from him.
It turned out his heart had found someone different, and that person was the woman before him.
Throughout the journey, Ying Qing's face grew darker, eventually described as furious. She, too, had been a maid who had climbed into her master's bed.
She watched as her master spoke to this woman with a tenderness he had never shown before, caring for her with an unprecedented attitude.
However, this woman not only enjoyed all the attention that everyone craved with a sense of entitlement but even seemed somewhat disdainful, which was almost unbearable for her.
Fortunately, nothing significant happened during the journey, and in the presence of her master, she dared not express anything, only glaring at Qingyao hatefully when her master wasn't looking.
A month later, they finally arrived at Fengfen City, the imperial capital of Qingluo Country.
Fengfen City, a prosperous metropolis, truly lived up to its reputation as the capital of Qingluo Country, a land of beauty and splendor. The streets were bustling with crowds, exceptionally lively.
The New Year had just passed, and the festive atmosphere had not yet faded. Everywhere was a scene of vibrant colors, with laneways teeming with people, overcrowded. Occasional shouts could be heard; it turned out someone was performing a dragon dance, surrounded by layers upon layers of spectators, making it incredibly lively.
The luxurious carriage proceeded towards the liveliest street in Fengfen City, the Crown Prince's Mansion.
The Crown Prince's Mansion occupied half of the street, indicating the vast grounds of its architecture. Above the tall entrance, the words ‘Crown Prince's Mansion’ were written in a flamboyant calligraphy, gilded and silvered. In the sunlight, they shone brilliantly, dazzling the eyes.