Section 6

After pondering for a moment, Shen Li decided that it would be acceptable to let Xing Yun stay at the Duke Rui's residence, allowing her to leave with peace of mind. However, to her surprise, Xing Yun shook her head and said, "Thank you for the Duke's kind offer, but today I presented my advice to the Duke in hopes of being able to reside peacefully in my own small courtyard. Moreover, if I were to move in, it might cause some inconvenience to the Duke. I shall take my leave for now."

Shen Lixin thought that the current emperor must have committed some heinous acts that have incited public outrage, and thus the retribution has fallen upon his son

"It would be better for you to stay at the small Wang residence," said the Duke. However, after such a brief conversation, the Duke had already become much more courteous towards Xingyun. The implication of these words was a direct invitation for Xingyun to seek refuge.

How do you know that I am not angry? Xingyun filtered out the dregs of the medicine and crushed them, saying, "Dealing with people is something that cannot be rushed."

Shen Li was taken aback and looked at him: "You? Taking care of the Crown Prince?"

Upon hearing this, the young woman quietly lifted her head from her arm, her eyes fixed intently on Shen Li: "Are you a woman?"

King Rui glanced at the surroundings and then cast a sidelong glance at Shen Li beside him, speaking in a hoarse voice: "Take them to the backyard"

"You really can't seem to rest for a moment." After the person left, Xingyun stepped forward to reprimand Shen Li, but Shen Li surprisingly did not retort. Instead, she frowned in deep thought, gazing in the direction where Prince Rui had departed. Xingyun observed her for a while and said, "Could it be that you have taken a liking to that young lady?"

Shen Li twitched her lips: "No..." Before she could finish her sentence, a servant had already rushed off, seemingly to call for someone. Shen Li thought to herself, this is bad, the girl has lost her undergarments. If that person brings a group of guards over, will a bunch of strong men surround her and stare? Mortal women place great importance on their reputation; this is going to ruin her completely.

However, when Shen Li saw the words on the door frame, she frowned: "The Residence of Prince Rui?"

King Rui approached, casting a glance at Shen Li, then his gaze shifted to Xiao He, who was crouched on the ground and unresponsive. He furrowed his brow, yet his tone softened suddenly: "What is the matter?" Xiao He tugged at Shen Li's garment without saying a word, and Shen Li sighed: "First, let the guards in your residence step back." Xiao He nodded in agreement.

"I have a belt here," said Shen Li as she stood up to untie her belt. The outer purple sash of her outfit served more as decoration than for practical use, as there was a thin inner belt securing her lower garments. She intended to use the outer purple sash to help the young lady in distress, but the young lady hurriedly raised her hand to cover her eyes and exclaimed, "No, no!"

The curtain of the carriage was lifted, and a man dressed in a deep purple brocade robe stepped down from the vehicle. He had a tall and handsome figure, but his face bore a scar, the result of some unknown injury, which extended from his left forehead all the way to the corner of his mouth, giving him a fearsome and terrifying appearance

With a smile, Xingyun said: "In that case, Your Highness may call me your strategist. I have a plan to offer to Your Highness, which could assist you in your strategic endeavors. I wonder what Your Highness thinks of this?"

Xingyun glanced at her from a distance, sighed, and shook his head, as if to say, "It has only been a little while since I last saw you, and yet trouble has arisen again"

The two servants paused in their steps: "How dare this audacious thief take Miss Xiaohe hostage!"

Shen Li sighed inwardly, but still felt a bit awkward holding the torn piece of fabric in her hand: "I apologize... I didn't expect your clothing to be so... uh, so fragile"

King Rui waved his hand, and the crowd dispersed. Noticing that Xiao He had let go, Shen Li immediately moved aside and cleared her throat twice. Before she could speak, she saw King Rui bend down and place his ear near Xiao He's lips. Xiao He whispered a few words to him, and King Rui was taken aback, a smile unexpectedly curving his lips, softening the scars on his face. He took off his outer garment and draped it over Xiao He, then picked her up horizontally. As he was about to leave, he suddenly turned to Xing Yun and said

Shen Li was taken aback and said: "You usually seem indifferent, yet you are quite aware of these matters."

The only course of action at this moment is to escape underground

Little He has already broken out in a cold sweat: "Where, where to?"

Shen Li had recovered a certain amount of her magical power. On ordinary days, she stayed in Xingyun's small courtyard without much concern for her appearance, always wearing his dirty clothes. The clothes she wore on the battlefield were at least ten times dirtier than those, so she had no motivation to change. However, today she needed to go out, and Xingyun specifically wanted to find her a better outfit. After searching for a long time, he still couldn't find anything suitable. Shen Li thought for a moment and simply clapped her hands, transforming her usual attire into a deep robe with her hair tied up. It was handsome but lacked a certain delicacy. Thus, from the back, she appeared more like a man.

As Shen Li pondered, the steward had already led a group of guards over. She sighed, and Xiao He tugged at her hem anxiously, saying, "What are we to do now!"

How could Xingyun fail to understand the connections in between? Naturally, he must always keep holding onto Shen Li as they walk together.

Following the servants of the residence, they arrived at a garden where the Duke had already changed into his attire and was seated in a pavilion enjoying the view. Xingyun and the Duke exchanged formal greetings and soon began discussing court affairs. Shen Li, feeling drowsy, discreetly excused herself to relieve herself. By that time, the Duke and Xingyun were deeply engrossed in their conversation, leaving no attention for her.

Why should I trust you?

The small lotus in the pond had just revealed itself, and Shen Li was moved. She leaned over the edge of the white jade railing, intending to pluck the flower bud, when suddenly she heard a woman's startled voice from behind: "What are you doing! Don't touch my lotus!"

The young lady is very clever! In this way, nothing will be lost, and there will be no shame!

The wrist held by Xingyun felt somewhat strange, and Shen Li awkwardly pulled her hand away. In a moment of slight panic, she casually picked a topic to discuss: "Yesterday, I mentioned which bald donkey you were a disciple of, and you went so far as to use cured meat to provoke me. Now that you've been injured twice at the hands of that Crown Prince, why haven't I seen you get angry? Do you think I'm easy to bully?"

The woman's elaborate dress spread out, and her undergarments nearly fell down as well. She let out another gasp, flustered and hurriedly trying to hold up her clothes. However, while pulling up the top, she couldn't manage the bottom, and in a moment of panic, she had no choice but to squat down and hug her head.

Two people were talking when they suddenly heard a low, hoarse reprimand: "What are you arguing about!"

"It's nothing, I still have ... ... " Before Shen Li could finish her words, a sudden exclamation was heard: "You bold thief! How dare you act recklessly in the residence of the Prince Rui!"

Oh ... um? Wait, why must you accompany me just because I ask!

What to stew

Shen Li glanced at her chest and said, "Isn't it quite inconspicuous?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Li withdrew her hand and turned to see who was behind her. Unexpectedly, a figure lunged forward as she turned. The railing of the corridor bridge was already low, and with that lunge, the woman nearly fell over the edge. Shen Li reacted quickly, grabbing her waistband and pulling her back. However, she miscalculated the force, and with a "rip," the waistband was torn apart.

The carriage fell silent for a moment: "Sorcerer?" A hoarse voice, not particularly pleasant to hear, seemed to let out a couple of cold laughs, "What a bold sorcerer you are. Do you know that the current emperor despises those who flaunt their tricks and deceive the public, as do I."

The girl in the pink dress blushed, shook her head, and said softly: "It's still quite obvious, it's just not visible from the back"

King Rui did not insist on keeping him, merely nodding his head, allowing Xingyun to leave on his own.

The emperor has seven sons, with the crown prince being the legitimate eldest. This Prince Rui is the eldest son born of a concubine, yet his mother currently enjoys great favor, and behind her lies a complex web of powerful families entrenched in the court. If one were to discuss who could rival the crown prince, it would only be him

Shen Li rubbed her forehead and turned to Xiao He, saying, "Why don't I take you away first"

The royal residence is indeed vast, with pavilions and towers in abundance. Shen Li grew up in the desolate and treacherous lands of the Demon Realm, adjacent to the Abyss of Xutian. It is rumored that the Abyss of Xutian is home to numerous malevolent spirits and beasts, notorious for their wickedness, exuding a pervasive aura of malice that envelops the Demon Realm in a thick fog, obscuring the sun throughout the year. Not even a blade of grass has ever grown in the Demon Lord's residence, let alone the flowers and the shimmering lake within this courtyard. Yet, this place is indeed large; even a side hall is much bigger than Xingyun's small courtyard. It is also exceedingly beautiful, with intricately carved beams and painted rafters that captivate the eye. However, Shen Li does not particularly like this place. There is a pervasive sense of lifelessness and oppression; it is not that the scenery is unattractive, but rather that the overly deliberate depiction of the surroundings conceals the hearts of those within the house. It cannot compare to the natural comfort of Xingyun's small courtyard, nor can it match the freedom found in the wilds of the Demon Realm.

The two exchanged silent glances for a moment. Shen Li noticed that the girl had skin as smooth as凝脂, eyebrows like distant mountains, and a pair of enchanting, watery peach blossom eyes. Unable to resist the urge to tease her, she suddenly reached out and tugged at the girl’s pink dress. The girl’s cheeks flushed even more, and she quietly shifted a couple of steps to the side while crouching down. Shen Li found it amusing and tugged at her again a couple of times. Finally, the girl could not help but plead, "Miss... please don’t play... If you have a kind heart, please help me find a belt, for I cannot get up and walk like this." The girl’s cheeks flushed even more, and she quietly shifted a couple of steps to the side while crouching down. Shen Li found it amusing and tugged at her again a couple of times. Finally, the girl could not help but plead, "Miss... please don’t play... If you have a kind heart, please help me find a belt, for I cannot get up and walk like this."

Shen Li raised an eyebrow, "No, I am merely curious as to why a prince of a nation would keep a spirit beast."

Xing Yun smiled lightly: "I suppose I am not capable, but using someone else's hand to achieve my goal might be worth a try. Shen Li, accompany me tomorrow."

After leaving the backyard, Shen Li effortlessly shook off a few guiding servants and strolled through the royal residence with great swagger

"Before last night, I truly knew nothing." Xingyun smiled lightly, "However, if one is to deal with people, one must make some preparations." As soon as Xingyun finished speaking, a whip crack was suddenly heard from the street corner; it was the sound of the clearing patrol. The whip crack stopped at the corner of the mansion gate, and after a short while, a horse-drawn carriage slowly approached under the escort of the guards. Xingyun walked forward slowly and called out, "The Taoist Xingyun requests an audience with His Majesty the King!"

Xiao He felt a surge of joy, but upon considering the current situation, she bit her lip and remained silent, tugging at Shen Li's hem as she stepped back a few paces. Shen Li glanced towards the crowd and saw Rui Wang and Xing Yun approaching one after the other.

At the right moment, Shen Li stood up to loosen her belt, while the young girl squatted down, covering her eyes. From behind, it appeared as if Shen Li was about to impose her will on the girl. However, Shen Li was unaware of what was wrong with this scene. When she looked back, she saw two men dressed as servants hurrying towards them, and the girl in the pink dress was urgently waving her hands at them, saying, "Don't come over, don't come over!"

It is indeed strange to see that from behind

Last night, the Crown Prince sought this plan but was unable to find it..." As Xingyun spoke half a sentence, he laughed and said, "Your Highness, if you are interested, you might as well come to the residence to discuss it further

Yesterday, it was evident to all that Xing Yun was unarmed, and only Shen Li posed the greatest threat. The assassins sent by the Crown Prince are not fools; they will certainly wait for an opportunity to strike when Xing Yun is alone. As for whether they can deal with Shen Li afterward, they will first take one life to report back.

The reason for having Shen Li accompany is naturally due to the commotion that occurred. In the days that followed, how could there not be assassins lurking nearby? The Crown Prince, having been wronged, would certainly seek to reclaim his honor. However, the matter of his seeking divination would not be disclosed to the Emperor, thus it is only natural that he would secretly plot to eliminate Shen Li and Xing Yun.