Before Xiao Ahn dashed across the rooftops to catch up to Guo Fen who was waiting in front of the palace gate, accidentally, when he was passing through Ming Lao Hall, a group of officers who felt familiar rushed out from the gate. Xiao Ahn stopped and luckily today he was wearing a hood and robe all black, his figure this time looking less like the night sky. While hiding on the edge of the roof ledge, he strained his ear."Do we need to tell General Tang about this plan?" said one of the bodyguards in black armor. There are about three bodyguards. The other two were of medium stature amidst them—which Xiao Ahn assumed, was Bodyguard Yang Huo, a trusted bodyguard of General Tang who served as his bodyguard quite often.The bodyguard carrying a lantern as he descended the steps of Ming Lao Hall gave a flat reply. “Did you hear what the Empress said just now? We must not tell this to anyone, not even General Tang. Yes, right, Brother Yang Huo?”Xiao Ahn's guess was right. He ducked
Guo Fen woke up to the sound of his horse neighing softly. The sun shone hot from between the leaves. He got up from the broad leaf that he made the mat to sleep on. After leaving the palace gate yesterday, Guo Fen had already driven by and passed through two small villages and the bustling downtown of Li Ming.Because he rarely rode, even Guo Fen's waist ached. It's only been a few hours though. He thought that he would arrive in En Shu in five days so that he would be quicker, but in fact, rarely riding a horse could make this small problem. Is it possible that he arrived in En Shu later than one week?"Already up?"The voice felt familiar. Not far from where the horse was harnessed, Guo Fen turned around slightly surprised to find Xiao Ahn standing watering the horse. Guo Fen frowned, then stood up while wiping his buttocks.“Xiao Ahn? What are you doing here?"Without taking his eyes off it, Xiao Ahn had already taken off his black hood and draped it around his neck. His sle
“Ah, sorry old man. I was in a hurry—”"HEY! STOP THERE!”Before Guo Fen could act, two palace guards of not very high rank jumped into the tavern. Pointing their swords at the girl. Everyone around the tavern, even the tavern owner also ran away. Only Guo Fen, Xiao Ahn, and the white-haired old man remained. While the girl was cornered, even though her face looked out of wits, she didn't look scared at all."You little swordsman must be caught!"As a young man who is passionate about justice, this should be a chance for Guo Fen to return to the way he used to be. But he couldn't do it. He was on a secret mission and even—no one was allowed to see him fight. If not, there would definitely be imperial guards who would recognize him and Guo Fen would end up being caught up in trivial matters in the city's security center. And he can't get involved in things that don't matter like that. He didn't have time.“I told you I'm just a girl who just learned martial arts. Everything you saw ear
Seeing that the noodle shop was doing well, the shop owner immediately came back and only scolded Tao Ling—the dagger girl to clean up the human statue that was falling apart on the floor. Some people who saw Tao Ling's martial arts whispered a little, but they didn't dare to say more. Right now, what Guo Fen understood was that this village seemed to be secretly being watched by bodyguards. In particular, bodyguards from the City Warriors Organization.Halfheartedly, Tao Ling placed two large bowls of plain noodles in front of Guo Fen and Xiao Ahn who had already been waiting."Your order.""Eh..?" Xiao Ahn saw that there was no lamb he asked for earlier. "Where's the lamb?"While Guo Fen without protest started pinching the chopsticks on his finger because he was already starving and started to eat.“That's the price for you guys not being honest. I definitely can't be fooled by this young man's appearance. If it wasn't for the owner of the tavern asking to compensate me for m
Tao Ling waited for Guo Fen to answer. The man took a sip of wine from the wooden cup and then replied flatly. "Maybe because I look like that?"Jinghua smiled slightly. "Anyone who sees your silver robes and clothes will think so. I think, even though everyone in this village has never seen the emperor, they are still filled with news of the palace. Although we are still mourning his death...""Stop it. The problem is that we don't know either. The point is now, I have to run away from the bodyguards who might be chasing me again.” Tao Ling chugged down her bowl of soup like a man. Xiao Ahn glanced at the girl with a faint smile. It was quite astonishing to see that there was a girl who was as rude and talkative as Tao Ling. In the palace, there is no girl like her. Everyone had to walk down, bow in respect and speak quietly. Manners are number one.“You didn't go to the academy? Your teacher isn't around?" asked Jing Hua.The same question Guo Fen wanted to ask. Guo Fen had thou
The place where Guo Fen and Xiao Ahn had dropped off the horses was not far from the bridge where several people were busy going back and forth. Although Shanyi Village is sparsely populated, it's the only place where food and pottery resources are of the same quality as in the center of Li Ming's palace area in the city. This border area is in direct contact with the cliffs of the Zainan mountains. Make it a little touched by natural nuances that are so close.For some people, the Zainan Mountains are a mysterious and sacred place. Guo Fen once lived on the edge of a mountain cliff, in a small hut when he was young. But since he was a kid, Guo Fen couldn't really remember exactly which side it was. He only remembered that the mountain cliff was close to the Civil Palace because he often saw people carrying letters to be handed over to the emperor via the Jar of Civil Voice.In fact, because of that, he also recognized the figure of Princess Lan Qi in a black ink painting."Of cou
"Actually, I hated the government a little bit back then." Tao Ling spooned the river water and then drank it straight from the hand. Take a short break before the horse runs fast again. Guo Fen leaned against a large tree trunk, while Xiao Ahn filled his drink jug from the river. Still listening to Tao Ling's story that continues.“I thought, why can't the governments just cooperate with the warriors? Why did Emperor Li Gongyi kill all the warriors instead? Isn't that tiring? Moreover, the power of warriors is almost evenly distributed throughout the country, it is never easy to annihilate a force that is bound like a circle. But Emperor Gongyi—was able to do that.”Guo Fen was thinking. Perhaps this has something to do with the secrets of the palace's past that the Empress or the previous emperor had never mentioned. While outside the palace like this, Guo Fen even became very curious about these mysteries. When he was in the palace, Guo Fen barely cared anything about the palace.
The hanging evening sky gradually turned dark. Night has come. Guo Fen and Xiao Ahn's entourage had driven slow and fast for four hours. Taking two breaks and eating the dry buns that Guo Fen had bought, behind him, Tao Ling instead leaned against his back and fell asleep. They were slowing the pace of the horses. A few more meters he should see the border gate of Li Ming City. But because it was already night, Guo Fen couldn't reach anything but the dense trees around him."Aren't you tired of Tao Ling leaning on your back?" asked Xiao Ahn opening his voice amid the sound of horses' footsteps and the occasional crickets in the grass. The sky was clear, and the moon appeared from the edge of thin clouds.Guo Fen glanced behind him. "Just leave it. I'm calmer when she's quiet.""If you're tired, let her sit with me."Guo Fen nodded. Actually, he was quite amazed by Tao Ling who could fall asleep behind his back. Even if they are not skilled as equestrians, they may fall if they sleep o