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墨書 Inktalez
Liu Chancellor, upon seeing Bai Rong'er, couldn't help but change his initial intentions. He even felt a sense of caution regarding her identity and was willing to discipline Liu Susu.
Ye Xiaohan nodded and said, "Bai Rong'er's identity is not simple; this can be inferred from the surface. However, just how complicated it is remains unclear."
After all, they knew nothing about Bai Rong'er's background, and based on the current clues, the person they believed to be 'Bai Rong'er' might not actually be the real Bai Rong'er at all.
When Ye Xiaohan rescued this stunning woman, they naturally assumed she was the daughter of the original owner of the residence since she was trapped there.
Now it seemed they had fallen into a visual blind spot.
"What are the chances that a common merchant's daughter could be a martial arts expert?" Ye Xiaohan tilted her head and asked Liu Yang, although the answer was already clear in her mind.
Liu Yang shook his head. "Almost impossible."
Which wealthy family's daughter would have such lofty aspirations? Which parents would be so open-minded as to support their daughter in practicing martial arts? While basic physical training might be feasible, it was hard to imagine a family environment that could produce someone capable of fending off assassins.
After discussing for a while without reaching any conclusions, they decided to temporarily abandon the topic.
"Forget it; just the two of us guessing here won't lead anywhere," Ye Xiaohan stood up. "Regardless of what White Maiden's identity is, it's a fact that she has saved us several times. I need to thank her."
As Ye Xiaohan approached Bai Rong'er's courtyard, she saw Bai Rong'er sitting under the large tree as usual. Sunlight filtered through the layers of branches and leaves, casting some oval-shaped patches of light on her.
After Bai Rong'er had been exposed, some aspects of her demeanor had changed. The previous signs of fear had vanished, and her calm nature became increasingly evident.
At that moment, Ye Xiaohan stood outside the arched doorway for quite a while, almost reluctant to step inside and disrupt this picturesque scene.
After gathering her thoughts for a moment, Ye Xiaohan finally walked in.
"White Maiden, how do you find the southern delicacies? Do they suit your taste?" Ye Xiaohan smiled as she approached Bai Rong'er and sat down on an empty stool nearby.
On the table in front of Bai Rong'er lay a plate of local snacks that Liu Yang had just brought over.
"I wasn't here for these; it's thanks to White Maiden for keeping an eye on my home. Liu Yang has already informed me about everything. Thank you for saving both of us," Ye Xiaohan said sincerely. If it hadn't been for Bai Rong'er's timely intervention, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Bai Rong'er remained silent despite everything. As soon as her gaze shifted towards Ye Xiaohan at the beginning, she settled into a quiet observation of the shadows beneath the trees.
Yet, this was enough for Ye Xiaohan. After returning, seeing Bai Rong'er again, perhaps due to past events, the wariness and fear in her eyes had faded to almost nothing.
It was as if a barrier had suddenly opened, welcoming those around her, and the previous resistance had completely vanished.
In this tranquil atmosphere, Ye Xiaohan felt as though time had slowed down, with only the cicadas in the trees chirping, stretching out the entire summer.
That afternoon, Ye Xiaohan went nowhere but sat in the courtyard. She shared amusing stories from her recent trip south with Bai Rong'er, who listened intently despite not responding at all.
A gentle breeze occasionally swept by, carrying soft whispers.
After a brief rest, Ye Xiaohan dove back into her busy work. The tavern was well managed by Liu Yang; during her absence, not only had they retained their customers, but business had become even more booming than before.
Liu Yang applied the knowledge Ye Xiaohan had imparted along with his own research and introduced several new dishes that attracted many patrons. Those who tried them praised them as exceptional.
Ye Xiaohan marveled at how teachable he was while seriously considering the idea of opening a branch.
While life in the residence was peaceful, chaos nearly erupted in the General's Manor.
Gu Bei received an invitation that should not have appeared before him, signed by Murong Cheng.
"General, this must be a trap!" Gu Da exclaimed angrily. "The Crown Prince's hostility towards you has never ceased since the beginning. This invitation is certainly a banquet of treachery!"
Sitting nearby and sipping tea, Shen Ru chuckled and said, "Even if it is a banquet of treachery, who would dare to refuse an invitation from the Crown Prince?"
"Do you ever think before you speak?" Gu Da shot Shen Ru an annoyed glance. "Things are just starting to stabilize here; do you want to bring trouble upon the General?"
Previously, due to Gu Bei's awkward position, his old subordinates with some power had kept their interactions private to avoid being caught by those with ill intentions.
This time, after Gu Bei's successful campaign against bandits, the Emperor was pleased and granted him more authority, allowing him to solidify his reputation and interact openly with his former subordinates.
Thus, it was no surprise that people like Shen Ru appeared at the General's Manor.
Gu Bei waved his hand, signaling them to be quiet. "Since this invitation was specially sent by the Crown Prince, as a subject, how could I refuse to attend? I'll go."
He was curious to see what tricks Murong Cheng had up his sleeve. The current Gu Bei was no longer the naive fool who was defenseless against others. He was actually worried about not finding an opportunity to get close to them and avenge the grudge from years ago when he was framed.
Shen Ru held the invitation in his hand and flipped it over. "This kind of invitation isn't used in the palace; it's a recent trend in the capital. As for the address..."
He pointed to a line on the invitation. "This residence was purchased under the name of Murong Cheng's subordinate, used for matters that he himself cannot conveniently handle."
For example, secretly hosting certain guests.
Upon hearing Shen Ru's words, Gu Da became even more anxious. "General, this trip is dangerous; please be sure to take your subordinates with you!"
Gu Bei cracked his knuckles on the table. "I actually think he doesn't seem like he's here to cause trouble. With Murong Cheng's temperament, if he wanted to harm me, he would use a much more extreme method."
Instead of secretly inviting someone to a place and then striking from the shadows.
Shen Ru nodded. "I think so too."
"In any case," Gu Bei said, "if he dares to send an invitation, I dare to attend. We'll assess the situation first; if things don't feel right, we'll withdraw."
With Gu Bei's current strength, whether in a one-on-one fight or in terms of military authority, he was not comparable to Murong Cheng, who was a weak prince with almost no real power.
Ultimately, under Gu Da's strong insistence, Gu Bei took him along to fulfill this appointment.
As soon as they entered the destination, they sensed that the conversation ahead would likely differ from their expectations.
Inside the residence, bamboo flutes and singing filled the air, with light gauze dancing around—a scene of indulgence and extravagance.
Gu Bei frowned subtly; no matter how much time passed, he still couldn't accept the leisure pursuits of these nobles in the capital.
"General Gu, come in! No need for formalities; have a seat here!"
Murong Cheng greeted Gu Bei as he entered.
Gu Bei sat down beside Murong Cheng, while Gu Da remained on high alert, silently tense.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the atmosphere gradually grew heavy. Murong Cheng had always looked down on Gu Bei, and by now, it had become a habit.
Naturally, Gu Bei had no intention of easing the tension for Murong Cheng. In fact, seeing Murong Cheng's face—one that seemed to want something from him but couldn't bring himself to ask—brought him a sense of pleasure.
Murong Cheng waved away the entertainers, and the room fell silent.
Here it comes!
Gu Da instantly prepared himself; if Murong Cheng dared to act against the General, he would not let him off the hook, even if he was the Crown Prince!
Murong Cheng's attention was entirely focused on Gu Bei, not even sparing a glance at the inconspicuous attendant beside him.
"General Gu, congratulations on your decisive victory in eliminating the bandits. You have relieved His Majesty and the common people of a great burden," Murong Cheng raised his cup. "Come, I toast you!"
With that, in a show of sincerity, Murong Cheng tilted his head back and drained his cup, gesturing with the empty vessel towards Gu Bei.
Gu Bei slowly sipped from his own cup before setting it down. "Your Highness, if you have any orders, please feel free to speak. Whatever I can do, I will certainly do my best."
Gu Bei's words were casual, and Murong Cheng took them as mere formality; neither of them expected the other to take it seriously.
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