Chapter 2, The Bait

The warm evening light of the western sky fell upon him, as if he were a gilded deity

He always intentionally shifts the topic, and in the end, she could only interject with a sigh: "Where is the boss going tonight"

Xu Da looked at him with slight surprise

Upon hearing this, Xu Da felt a pang in her heart. How could she not know that in this world, everyone approaches her with their own motives, and only this boss, who has been with her for the past two years without any ulterior motives, truly cares for her

Tonight...

"Your Highness... is there a way to capture this fierce tiger without harming the common people?" She humbly sought guidance

Qin Dayong was taken aback, then broke into a broad smile and said

When encountering water, it disperses? Upon hearing this, Xu Da immediately envisioned the topographical map of the capital.

A servant brought hot tea, and Qin Dayong looked strangely at the maid as she left. He turned back and asked:

Xu Da is trustworthy, but he fears that Xu Da might be deceived. He recalls what his wife said, that in any perilous situation, one must take the lead and only after achieving merit should one attend to the subordinates, is it not better? Indeed, that day Xu Da acted as bait for the tiger, although it was the best course of action in a moment of urgency, he remains troubled, as it was his responsibility to protect his subordinates!

Xu Da smiled with his eyes narrowed

She faintly heard the sound of the passage door closing, and could not help but let out a quiet sigh. Immediately after, she took a deep breath and hurriedly ran down the alley.

At this moment, he appeared calm, his expression devoid of panic... She cautiously asked:

"Perhaps I was frightened by the Second Prince, and in my fear, I inadvertently caught a slight chill." She quickened her pace to keep up with Li Rongzhi, carefully maintaining a half-step distance. She smiled, "Speaking of which, I must first thank the prince for his assistance earlier."

You remember, it is better to find a virtuous young man to bring home than to have any entanglement with foreign hostages, as they will eventually return to their own countries. The people of Xixuan should die on the soil of Xixuan; once they leave Xixuan, it is uncertain how many years it will take for them to return.

Alright, I will definitely remember to find the young attendant from the West Xuan

Li Rongzhi saw that she cherished this bond of hearts very much, and with a slight smile, he said gently

Xu Da was taken aback and met his gaze

"A couple of days ago, I saw a small merchant selling these red knot strings, and out of curiosity, I asked about them." She felt a bit shy, tucked away the love knot, and then looked at him and softly asked, "May I ask, Your Highness... does this love knot truly possess any spiritual significance?"

Chief, Xu Da is relying on your esteemed assistance to save him

His hesitation was met with the sight of the maid bustling about in the courtyard, seemingly engaged in work, but who knows what purpose the Great Wei hostage had in placing someone here with Xu Da

Xu Da was secretly astonished and couldn't help but turn to look at the young man who seemed to be of similar age to her. He had a resolute expression, full of loyalty and righteousness, which made her regard him with new eyes. Suddenly, she recalled what everyone said about the prince of the Great Wei, that he treated those around him exceptionally well, making them willing to sacrifice everything for him... Today, she had witnessed this with her own eyes

Qin Dayong hurriedly said, "I do not mean to think ill of it; I just have some peculiar thoughts. Not only did the hostage from the Great Wei come to visit, but even the hostage from Beitang has also paid a visit. Xu Da, do you have a close relationship with them in private?"

"I truly cannot summon the Northern Army. Chief, you must think this through; do not lead the tiger only to find that no one comes to your aid, resulting in needless sacrifice, which would be truly unjust... If a hero dies in battle, it can be considered a noble death, and the sister-in-law will also be honored. What is concerning is if this matter is not handled well, then... the sister-in-law has just given birth; do you want her to raise the child amidst the resentment of others for the rest of her life?" She advised, noticing that Li Rongzhi had been gazing at her.

"Indeed. He said that I have been kind to him." Xu Da replied nonchalantly

"I heard it is spiritual." Lin Xiu, who was watching from the side, was very pleased that she did not go along with the flow, but instead forcefully presented the token of love to the prince of her family. "Before I left the capital, I often saw the maidservants in the residence delivering the token of love to the men they admired, symbolizing mutual consent and a shared journey until old age, without exception"

"When you say 'settle down,' do you mean... to marry a male escort? A male escort is merely for taking care of you or keeping you company for the night, but marriage is such a significant matter..." It is truly inappropriate, utterly inappropriate

The three daughters of the Xu family, the eldest daughter Xu Zhi, entered the palace early and became the only female scholar of the Western Xuan. This year, the court issued the Fire Phoenix List, opening a convenient door for Xu Hui. Everyone knows that the one who will ultimately obtain the Fire Phoenix Order is Xu Hui, who was prophesied by Master Yuan Tu. This competition is merely a means to attract other extraordinary talents under Xu Hui's name

Your sister-in-law has such a keen insight! She just wanted me to advise you to find a companion soon, so that in the future, if you fall ill or anything, there will be someone to take care of you. I never expected that you already had this thought in mind.

At this moment, the conflict has not yet ended, and the streets are even less populated than usual, with people trembling in fear, collapsing to the ground, and not daring to move. The shops on both sides of the street are frightened and gently closing their doors; vendors are quietly hiding under their stalls, trembling; passersby are weak in the knees, some even rolling their eyes and fainting...

With a thud, dozens of long arrows pierced through the flesh of this colossal creature

"Second Young Lady," he said softly

She smiled brightly and spun around, stepping on the hem of her dress, stumbling a bit before quickly regaining her balance. She wondered how her ancestor had worn the thirty-foot-long phoenix robe during the grand ceremonies each year, lost in thought and fantasy, smiling foolishly.

She glanced at his splendid robe, which was the clean garment sent by Prince Beitang, Wen Yuyi, after he had been drenched in sweat. Although the floral long robe was in Wen Yuyi's style, it did not look out of place on Li Rongzhi; however, the faint fragrance on the robe was somewhat unsuitable for a man of his stature

"Xu Da, when did you buy another girl back?" He remembered that there was only one maid in the small residence.

...Boss, what grand undertaking do you have in mind? She felt a slight sense of unease in her heart

Lin Xiu, who was beside Li Rongzhi, said softly

Xu Da smiled apologetically and said

It is harder than ascending to the heavens to find a man as kind and gentle as Li Rongzhi in the Western Xuan region

A colossal entity

She was waiting for him to get into the carriage, but she found him standing there, motionless.

The two princes of the Proton family are exceptionally distinguished; Li Rongzhi possesses a character as beautiful as jade, and his demeanor is as gentle and pleasing as that of a celestial being. If they were members of the Western Xuan royal family, they would surely outshine the other princes among us. You..." Qin Dayong paused for a moment and continued, "I have heard that Prince Beitang is quite close to the top courtesan Qingfeng of the Zui Xin Lou, and there are also over ten wives in his residence... In any case, they will eventually return to their own country, and the Xu family cannot associate with outsiders. You might as well seek companionship from a young male courtesan instead.

Upon hearing this, Li Rongzhi no longer hesitated and carefully removed his outer robe without making any large movements

Yes

"......" She is not leaving yet, is she? Sometimes, I really feel that her straightforwardness is a bit too much. Such candid individuals do not fare well in the officialdom

Thus, he resolved in his heart to celebrate with her once the matter was concluded

Has the prince now thought of a solution

Strictly speaking, the Second Prince is not particularly lecherous within the Western Xuan royal family. He harbors some desire for Xu Zhi and even exhibits a degree of flattery towards her, yet he is exceedingly cruel towards other beautiful young women. This stems from an incident in his youth when he was poisoned by a favored consort of the time. Although he survived, beautiful women have since become a taboo in his heart, and there is not much disorder or harmony among the princes.

"Xu Da! What are you tearing? That is the Fire Phoenix List!"

Li Rongzhi slowly raised his eyes to meet Xu Da's slightly troubled beautiful gaze

Li Rongzhi pondered for a moment and then looked at Xu Da. She was gently patting Qin Dayong's shoulder, seemingly trying to reassure him, and as she turned around, her gaze coincidentally met his.

Xu Da was drinking water and almost sprayed it all out. "Boss, one is enough for me, why would I need several? I'm not that fierce, am I?"

The Xu family's old residence is located at the other end of the capital. Since she became the Fengyu Ling, she has rented a small house and rarely returns to the old residence. Her emotional ties with her family are not deep; even when she received a one-foot robe, her father did not show much joy and did not even come to visit her. Indeed, it was only a one-foot robe. More than seventy percent of the officials in the court possess at least the most basic one-foot robe. It was only a bit surprising to her that the head would come to find her today

"It is precisely to undertake this significant task. Do not ask me where I am going; just wait until it is accomplished to celebrate for me." He did not voice this thought. Originally, this matter concerned the Third Prince's conspiracy to rebel, and the Second Prince wanted him to seek assistance from Feng Yu Ling, Xu Da, and several other capable subordinates. However, Xu Da intended to visit the brothel tonight, and he felt it was inappropriate to stop him. Furthermore, in recent days, Xu Da had been getting a bit too close to the princes from the hostage palace; if word were to accidentally leak out, it would not be good.

"Does the second young lady have someone she admires?" Li Rongzhi asked

After hesitating for a moment, she asked without turning her head, "Boss, have you ever killed a tiger?"

......

"There is also no... By the way, you should find a more innocent young man who can understand you. If you happen to encounter Prince Beitang in the Zui Xin Lou, remember to keep your distance from him. I would rather you find a few more young men than get close to him."

Xu Da sipped his tea slowly, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, and said softly: "Indeed. I have just that intention."

"Does the prince have a good plan?" She looked at him with great anticipation.

Xu Da!" Qin Dayong called softly, "What are you doing?"

Qin Dayong furrowed his brow. The Xu family is the only exception in Xixuan; women from the Xu family, if they do not marry, can openly visit a brothel to find a male companion. There have been instances where older women from the Xu family purchased a male companion to keep by their side as a companion; there have also been reputable young men who offered themselves, hoping to serve them for a long time without any formal title.

She instinctively touched the protruding knot in the hidden pocket at her waist, and composed herself, saying

Li Rongzhi paused in thought. The women of the Xu family from the Western Xuan region are bold in their demeanor, yet they always... seek men for intimacy? His eyelids trembled uncontrollably.

Boss, I know it is the Fire Phoenix List, but why? Is it permissible for the General of the Underworld to allow Xu to return?

She secretly smiled wryly, unsure whether to feel fortunate that at least one person who sincerely cared for her would offer incense for her year after year, thus not disappearing quietly from this world

Boss

She nodded slightly. "I have revealed the Fire Phoenix List, and if I am fortunate, it may be a grand and glorious life until I meet my end at the age of twenty-five. It would be best to find a young companion to settle down with before that time."

Xu Da let out a quiet sigh, still gazing at Li Rongzhi, and said with a wry smile: "Chief, in terms of speed, I am slightly faster than you, and I cannot mobilize the Northern Army under your command at all. This task of luring the tiger is clearly meant for me alone"

"Don't move, Chief!" Xu Da whispered sharply, his gaze fixed on the imposing tiger strutting down the street. "It would be unfortunate if innocent civilians were harmed... Is it just my illusion, or is it coming this way?"

Do not say that you are fighting it to the death on the street; even if you are a master archer, you must ensure that a single arrow can kill it instantly. Otherwise, there will certainly be innocent bystanders who cannot escape in time and will be affected.

The entire street is eerily quiet; clearly there are people present, yet even the atmosphere dares not to breathe.

As for her? If she were to be bitten to death by a tiger before accomplishing any great deeds, she would forever be just a woman named Xu Yuan, with no remarkable achievements in her life. Her tombstone would likely only bear the two characters Xu Da, and each year, only her superior would remember to pay respects...

She raised her eyebrows and smiled. "Is there something?"

Li Rongzhi gave a bitter smile and said, "It seems to be so"

Li Rongzhi was taken aback and hesitated, saying: "Well... I have not used this before..."

Xu Da pulls the noodle skin

Xu Daxin's heart skipped a beat, and his scalp tingled slightly

"Your Highness, just speak plainly. You also believe that I cannot possibly decipher Master Yuan Tu's theories on destiny, do you not? I am merely here to join in the excitement and broaden my horizons; tearing up the Fire Phoenix List does not necessarily mean I will become a general of the underworld"

Xu Da was about to ask further when suddenly Qin Dayong patted her shoulder firmly. "If there is a real outcome, I will definitely not forget to support you. Also, when you have taken in a young man, come find me in a couple of days, and I will arrange a small banquet for the child to recognize you as their godmother, so that in the future, when you are gone, they can also see you off properly"

The sedan chair from the Proton Mansion has arrived, and Xu Da smiled and bowed to bid farewell

"No, no, that is not what I meant." Qin Dayong said somewhat flustered. "Those who tear the yellow list must summon a complete team of people to compete. Xu Da, you... have always been alone, who would be willing to serve you?"

"By the way, there were guards along the way, so it was inconvenient to return this to you earlier." He took out the red knot from his waist and handed it back to her. "This item must be very important to the second young lady; now it is returned to its rightful owner."

Li Rongzhi, with a serene and gentle demeanor, lightly smiled and said, "It's just a trivial matter"

Qin Dayong pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement, though he could not help but feel somewhat monitored. Xu Da was unharmed, which was a good thing, but the origins of that tiger were unclear, and it was impossible to ascertain who had released it into the city. If the higher-ups were to learn that Xu Da had suffered no harm whatsoever, they might suspect that he had staged this performance to gain credit—this was something that Li Rongzhi had subtly reminded him of on that day, which was why he had refrained from reporting it upward.

She moved with fluidity, initially intending to swiftly dive into the water and swim away. However, after a moment's thought, she reconsidered; if the creature was not completely dead and could harm someone, her efforts would be in vain. Thus, she drew her long knife and, after the feeble tiger fell into the water with a splash, she plunged it with all her strength into its flesh to eliminate any future threat

Tonight

He laughed spiritedly and said

Xu Da glanced at the tiger, swallowed hard, and wished to buy a little more time for her to say her last words, but she feared that if she delayed any longer, her legs would give way.

Just as she was about to give up, she suddenly saw the archers waiting on the city wall

After she treasured the bestowed robe, it was rare for someone to visit her small residence

This is the first imperial robe she has received in nineteen years

Qin Dayong had to exert force to throw his outer robe behind him. Suddenly, not only did delicate jade-like hands press down on his outer robe.

Then... you must not fall into it

She remembered that her sister-in-law did not particularly like her. In the past, when she was ill at home for several days, her brother would only come to visit once, which was quite remarkable. This time, after taking a half-month leave, he actually came for the second time.

The prince is correct; prophecies are meant to be broken. In fact, Master Yuan Tu, after making his prophecy, privately comforted Xu Da, stating that the lifespan of the people of the Western Xuan is limited to fifty or sixty years. When the great limit arrives, although one is reborn into another physical body, the soul remains unchanged. If one lived a joyful life in the previous life, they will surely be happy and without regrets in the next life. He said that in his previous life, he was indeed such a joyful person, and in this life, he is simply unable to change his current state of being, which is unaffected by the winds and allows idle talk to pass. After all, who could blame him for having lived so well in his previous life?

Upon hearing the leader's voice, she was filled with overwhelming joy, held her breath, and with all her might, charged straight towards the moat

No, it is not a trivial matter. Li Rongzhi is a hostage of the Great Wei, and being in a foreign land, he must be particularly cautious; yet he is willing to stand up for her, even for a small matter

You have even thought about matters so far in the future, Xu Da said with a smile: "Boss, you have a lot of confidence in me."

Her chin has fallen off

The use of the character "猛" is because Xu Da has never seen a real tiger. For the past nineteen years, she has only stayed in the capital of Xishu, never hunting with the royal descendants, nor has she seen a performance by a circus troupe. Her understanding of tigers is solely based on the illustrations and explanations in books. Now, seeing it with her own eyes, she only feels a loud ringing in her head

This robe was sent by the Northern Tang's hostage, and the fragrance comes from the Southern Lin. However, if it were not for the Second Prince, Li Rongzhi would never have participated in the wrestling match, let alone change into a new robe. Xu Da raised his eyes, staring intently into his bright, dark, and sparkling eyes.

"Moat!" she and Qin Dayong exclaimed simultaneously. In her mind, she sketched out the fastest and least crowded shortcut. She said, "As soon as I shout to go, the prince will return to the passage, and the door will close immediately; the leader will find the northern army archers and wait for me by the moat, is that right?"

As soon as she reached the riverbank, instead of jumping, she slid straight into the river. At the moment she fell into the water, she turned around, and the tiger in mid-air blocked most of the daylight from her view. It was then that Xu Da realized just how enormous this tiger was; the fact that she had managed to escape with her life was something she could hardly believe herself

Li Rongzhi, who was walking ahead, stopped and turned to her, saying: "Second Miss?"

"Your Highness?" She sensed something unusual and turned around cautiously, following his gaze.

"I am coming!" From a distance, Qin Dayong heard their conversation and said in a deep voice, "After all, I am the Chief of the Golden Guards of Xixuan, and the safety of the people in the capital should be my responsibility. Please, Your Highness, throw me your outer robe; I will draw away that fierce tiger. At that time, Xu Da will lead you back to the passage door, and immediately close the door!"

Xu Da felt very pleased upon hearing this, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth

"Ahem." She covered her mouth and smiled

Qin Dayong laughed heartily and said, "Indeed, indeed. I still advise you to find a young man of good family background and simple thoughts. If you truly become a general of the underworld and unfortunately meet an early demise... at least you should compel him to guard your memory for a few years.

"Hmm? Chief, what do you want to say?" Xu Da smiled, still immersed in the joy of being granted a one-foot robe.

Li Rongzhi had already lifted the curtain of the sedan chair and was about to enter. Upon raising her eyes, she saw her walking in front of the announcement board in the capital for quite some time, and then she tore down the yellow notice.

Li Rongzhi seemed to be deep in thought as he raised his sleeve to smell the fragrance

Li Rongzhi showed hesitation, and then heard Qin Dayong say: "Your Highness, do not delay any longer. If you even get the scent of the outer robe on you, you will not be able to outrun that old tiger. If it causes a commotion in the streets, the common people will be in danger. I hope Your Highness will consider the bigger picture."

She coughed again, covering her mouth, and said

"Not yet," she replied candidly with a smile. "But I will be twenty soon, and it's time to find a man to sleep with."

She smiled with her lips pursed, donning the imperial phoenix robe in front of the bronze statue. The robe was a deep black, intricately embroidered with a phoenix in special gold thread, and when she walked, it resembled a phoenix soaring in the night sky. The hem of the robe trailed down a foot, making it inconvenient to walk while dragging on the ground, yet it was a true and tangible honor

Nonsense, quickly throw the real thing to me

His Majesty Xi Xuan has bestowed gifts, among which the imperial phoenix robe is the most honorable. Officials who receive the robe find that the longer the robe, the greater the merit it signifies. Xu Zhi has now received a four-foot robe, his father a ten-foot robe, and a thirty-foot long robe was granted to the ancestors of the Xu family by the founding emperor, and this honor was bestowed upon only one individual.

"Your Highness, take off your outer robe and give it to Lin Xiu!" Lin Xiu suddenly said, "I will draw away that old tiger to ensure your safety and that of the common people!"

Xu Da is filled with melancholy, this person can soothe the heart even with a smile. If only he were not a proton, she would directly take him home to sleep. She lifted the curtain of the sedan chair for him, preparing to send him on his way, and then mourn for herself afterwards

Just as I arrived, I heard the vendor at the alley entrance say, "The Prince of the Great Wei has been coming frequently these past few days"

Suddenly, she felt a sense of relief, and everything before her turned black as she lost consciousness

Xu Da felt a sense of emotion, realizing that the one who shared her thoughts was the hostage of the Great Wei, understanding that she wanted to capture the tiger without harming the common people. She instinctively glanced at Li Rongzhi's face; his eyes and the corners of his mouth were still curved in a smile, as if he considered this not a significant matter. Was his smile merely a habit, or did he truly believe this was a trivial issue

"Who did this..." In the distance, Qin Dayong's expression changed drastically, and he was about to rush forward to draw his sword and kill the tiger

That day, he arrived very quickly. At that time, you were in a coma. When he learned that you had not sustained even the slightest injury, he appeared somewhat stunned. Indeed, even he was taken aback; how could that be? How could a person emerge unscathed under the claws of a tiger?

Xu Da, upon hearing this, looked at him deeply and then smiled happily, saying

What does he come here to talk to you about? What does he do?

Xu Da was momentarily taken aback when he suddenly began to "tell tales". Upon seeing the attendant named Lin Xiu's drastically changed expression, she was stunned, and a fragrance wafted past her nose. She stared intently at the luxurious robe he was wearing.

A fierce tiger slowly stepped out

Li Rongzhi's lips curved slightly as he said, "Second Miss, it seems that my robe has attracted a fierce tiger."

Li Rongzhi pondered for a moment and smiled at her, saying: "No."

He slowly released his hand and said softly: "The fragrance disperses when it meets water. Miss, please be very careful."

Xu Da's expression fell. The fierce tiger did not even glance at the other people sprawled on the ground, but instead walked straight towards her. Was she really that unfortunate? If she stood still and let the tiger pass by, would it be better?

Although this smile is radiant, it pales in comparison to the enthusiastic smile she just gave Qin Dayong, Li Rongzhi thought to himself, while smiling and saying: "Is the second young lady's cheerful disposition suitable for the position of a general in the underworld?"

Xu Da, no! It's too close!" Qin Dayong shouted: "It's right behind you, too close, she will be hit by an arrow... Jump into the river! Jump into the river!

Qin Dayong smiled faintly: "I am almost forty, and you understand the official system of the Western Xuan. Since the Emperor ascended the throne, several more school lieutenants have been added in the capital. Although they are under my name, in reality, my actual power has been thoroughly dispersed; I have a great name but little authority. Your sister-in-law has often expressed her regrets in recent years; if only I had been born a few decades earlier, my power would have been greater. The child has just been born, and she hopes that I can accomplish great things, allowing the Emperor to see my capabilities, at the very least, it must be better than it is now."

Prince?" She tugged harder. Wasn't he looking for someone to lure the tiger? If she was going to lure it, why wouldn't he let go?

At an unknown time, a rickshaw stopped in the middle of the street, with a large iron cage covered by a black cloth on it. The rickshaw puller was absent, and the cage was opened

Several times she felt the bull-headed horse-faced figures closing in behind her, her hair standing on end, and she kept thinking: why hasn't her belly burst and her intestines flowed out? ... why is she still gasping for breath ...

I recall that in the Southern Lands, there is a type of floral scent that easily attracts fierce beasts. Nobles favored using it during hunts. Later, there was a law in the Southern Lands stating that if a noble committed a serious crime, they would don garments infused with this floral scent and enter the beast arena to fight the ferocious beasts. If they emerged victorious, they would naturally be acquitted of their crimes.

Xu Da's eyes brightened, and he carefully took it with both hands. "Thank you, Your Highness"

Qin Dayong chatted with her for a few more moments, and until he left, Xu Da could not find an opportunity to ask him what significant matter he was planning to undertake. In today's Xixuan, what major event could possibly be suitable for him to engage in

That would be even worse. Not to mention that there is a Proton Prince here, what if it charges into the arena passage? How many members of the royal family and commoners would be inside?

Li Rongzhi said: "In my childhood, I once saw a wild tiger that was slightly smaller than it in the hunting grounds. At that time, it was severely injured and went mad, requiring three trained guards to subdue it, injuring about ten people in the process"

The prince said, "I believe that is not destiny, but merely Yuan Tu's prophecy. Prophecies are meant to be broken, not necessarily followed." He spoke softly

"It’s not that, in your eyes, I am also a useless person..." Xu Da smiled lightly, unaware that the man in front of the sedan chair behind them was scrutinizing them.

Qin Dayong smiled proudly and said, "You will know in a few days."

... ... never. Qin Dayong saw the tiger coming this way and resolutely decided to go all out.

At first, when a few households opened their doors in the alley, they heard her shout that a tiger had come, and they hurriedly closed their doors. Several passersby immediately climbed up the trees. Eventually, the small streets and alleys she ran through were completely deserted, not a single person in sight

She did not dare to waste time looking back, knowing that the tiger was closely following behind

Currently, if Xu Da wishes to find someone to accompany him, there are many limitations in terms of conditions. He has quietly inquired about her, but several outstanding subordinates have declined. The testimonies of these individuals are quite consistent, subtly revealing that marrying a wife who is looked down upon would make it difficult for him to navigate within the military in the future

"What happened to your injuries? Where did your injuries come from?" He frowned. It was he who personally jumped into the river to rescue her that day; she was covered in blood, and he was so frightened that he thought the arrow had missed its mark. It was only after he returned her to the residence that he discovered all that blood was from the old tiger.

He pondered slightly and shook his head apologetically

Li Rongzhi, upon hearing this, turned to look at the tall man who had just appeared at the alley's entrance. This man was Qin Dayong, the Chief of the Western Xuan's Golden Guards. He had a robust build and a square face, appearing quite fierce. Li Rongzhi had spoken with him before and found him to be a decent man, though regrettably, his views on law enforcement were rather outdated.

Xu Da again cast a glance at Li Rongzhi, pondering how such a moist and jade-like person could possibly be nurtured. Could it be that the feng shui of the Great Wei is superior to that of the Western Xuan? Are the princes raised here inherently more magnanimous than those of the Western Xuan?

Xu Da thought for a moment and candidly said: "However, it is merely acceptable. I believe it is because I usually handle the mediation of affairs between the Proton House that they have shown some understanding of basic etiquette and come to inquire about me out of politeness"

Xu Da smiled broadly and said softly, "Indeed. I think it would be better to go tonight."

It is precisely because there are no injuries that I need to find someone knowledgeable to help. In the past few days, I have sent the maid I hired back to rest. Xu Da smiled and said, "This is no problem; it is merely a matter of having someone else take care of my meals."

He had a match with Prince Beitang, and he lost. However, he did not mind at all; she was an outsider to the sport and could only see that he had put in a great effort. If Li Rongzhi had intentionally lost, she must say that this man had a very skillful grasp of the concept of 'losing', making it so that no one felt he had not tried his best, nor did it seem that he was overly exceptional.

The moat lay before her, yet her legs felt weak, and her steps had already begun to slow.

There is a saying in the Great Wei: "The chancellor's belly can accommodate a boat." She observes that Li Rongzhi, this prince of the Great Wei, likely has a capacity that could support hundreds of sea vessels.

She paused slightly, smiled broadly, and walked over. "Is there something else, Your Highness?"

She blinked her beautiful eyes

The noble passageway leading away from the arena is winding and curved, and at present, there are not many people leaving. Soldiers are stationed along the way, and when they reach the exit facing the main street, Li Rongzhi suddenly stops, turns back, and smiles at her

With a swift motion of her hand, her robe billowed as she quickly donned it, and with a loud shout, "Go!" she waved her wide sleeves and turned, striding away at a rapid pace.

"Nonsense," Li Rongzhi said lightly. "I am well aware of your martial prowess. Furthermore, you are not familiar with the streets and alleys of the capital. Do you expect me to watch you walk into a tiger's den with my eyes wide open?"

How has she not been taken down yet? How has she not been bitten to death? In every moment, she believes that the next second she will become food in the belly of a tiger, yet she has managed to hold on to this point with such good fortune! She simply wants to shed a few bitter tears for herself, who dares to race against the Ox-Head and Horse-Face.

He saw Xu Da smiling particularly warmly at that man

"This is very good." Li Rongzhi was amused by her tone

She caught a glimpse of Li Rongzhi pulling a young attendant beside him and rushing into the passageway. Her large movements attracted the attention of the tiger, her wide sleeves fluttering as the fragrance quickly dispersed. She silently cried out in despair and desperately ran forward

The second young lady was originally very interested in the bond of unity with the Great Wei.

She gently caressed the phoenix robe bestowed by the emperor

I know you have always wanted to achieve great things. Qin Dayong sighed and said, "It is precisely because it is an irresistible glory that, knowing the Underworld General can only live until the age of 25, you still have to take a gamble. A person can die, a head can be severed, but glory must be attained; this is the pride that the people of the Western Xuan have engraved in their bones, and I am no different."

This Fire Phoenix List is used to identify the generals of the underworld. Your Highness, it is said that the generals of the Western Xuan underworld are those who have served in the military, treading upon a mountain of corpses, with a great deal of killing. Once they reach the age of twenty-five, they descend to the underworld for judgment. I do not understand why the people of Western Xuan are so eager to rush towards death

She touched her nose and sat down with a smile. "It was Prince Wei of the Great Wei who said that I had done him a favor, and he sent a maid from the residence of the hostages to help take care of my injuries."

Whether or not a marriage takes place is of no concern; it is sufficient that he likes it. I have been prepared for a long time, and coincidentally, the leader also mentioned it. I will go to the Drunken Heart Pavilion tonight. After the leader returns home, he can inform my sister-in-law not to worry about me.

She gave him a reassuring smile. There was no sound behind them anymore, clearly resigned to agreeing with her statement. Xu Da wanted to pull over his outer robe, but he realized that he was still holding onto the outer robe tightly.

He chatted a bit more, making Xu Da believe that he was merely visiting her out of goodwill. She wore a joyful expression, clearly indicating that visitors to her were few and far between. ... Remembering her family background and the unworthy talents around her ... he sighed and reminded her once again before leaving

Qin Dayong nodded in agreement and said, "Exactly." He looked at the trembling guard at the entrance of the passage and whispered sternly, "As soon as the prince enters, immediately seal the door and do not allow anyone inside to come out until I return. Do you understand?"