Chapter 1: Qingyun 1

Night—

In the hot spring behind the Ethereal Pavilion, a stunning woman lay submerged. Her beautiful eyes were slightly closed, her petite nose delicate, and her lips, soft as cherry blossom petals, were pursed. With a sharp, oval face and skin as white as snow, three thousand strands of ink-black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall. Her jade-like cheeks were flushed a faint pink from the heat—a scene truly tempting enough to incite a crime.

Suddenly, the willow-leaf brows of the person in the spring furrowed slightly. Immediately after, a pair of eyes, clear as frost and snow, snapped open. Her voice was crisp and pleasant, carrying a hint of cold arrogance: "Come out."

As her words fell, a man in black flashed out from the shadows. He knelt on the ground with his head bowed low, his voice rich and magnetic: "Master."

"Speak. What did you find?" Qingyun submerged her head into the water, and as she emerged, the spring water splashed with a '嘩啦啦' sound.

"Six years ago, it was the Third Miss of the Prime Minister's estate who framed you, Master, by shattering the 'Phoenix Flying' hairpin bestowed by the Empress Dowager. In a fit of rage, the Prime Minister drove you out and severed all ties. It can be said that from that day on, your life and death have had nothing to do with the Prime Minister's estate; conversely, the survival of the estate has nothing to do with you, Master!" Mingfeng kept his head bowed low as he answered slowly.

Qingyun frowned. "Oh? Is that so? Then why do they want to find me and bring me back this time?" Since all ties were severed, why come looking for her now?

After a long silence with no response, a curve appeared at the corner of Qingyun's mouth. "Mingfeng, since when did you become as hesitant as Mingyu? Do you all treat my words as wind passing by your ears? Speak!" Finally, her voice shifted from a light chuckle to a chilling cold, and the temperature of the surrounding air plummeted instantly.

Mingfeng’s body couldn't help but tremble. He then braced himself and reported everything he had uncovered: "Master, the reason Mu Yueling wants you back this time is actually for Mu Qinglan."

"For Mu Qinglan? Tell me what's going on." Qingyun arched her elegant brows and asked. Why would they need her, Qingyun, for Mu Qinglan's sake?

"Three months ago, the Emperor granted a marriage decree for Beiming Chenxuan, specifying a daughter from the Prime Minister's estate. The wedding is in half a month, but how could Mu Qinglan and Mu Qingxin be willing to marry a fool? So, Mu Yueling thought of you, wanting you to... to be the substitute bride!" Mingfeng risked being frozen to death by his master to say what he knew.

A flash of killing intent crossed Qingyun's eyes, and she curled her lips into a cold sneer: "That old fox calculates well! He wants me to stand in for his two precious daughters? Good! Very good! Excellent!" If she could sever all ties with them by marrying someone, she, Qingyun, would be more than happy to oblige!

Mingfeng kept his head down, silent—not because he didn't want to speak, but because he dared not. His master's killing intent was too strong! *Sigh*, he didn't know how that Mu Yueling could call himself a father. Their master was such an outstanding person! How could she be the good-for-nothing everyone claimed? On the contrary, their master was proficient in all eighteen martial arts! If it weren't for their master saving them back then, who knows where they would be today!

A thought struck Qingyun, and she frowned. "Beiming Chenxuan? The 'Foolish Prince'? Tell me his story." How could anyone in the imperial family have clean hands?

"This 'Foolish Prince' is a legend. From a young age, he was a martial arts prodigy. At five, he fought to a draw with top imperial guards; at six, he composed poetry that amazed even the Emperor; at eight, he devised a strategy to repel enemies from a thousand miles away; at nine, he was already correcting the Emperor's administrative documents and was enfeoffed as Prince Xuan. But in his tenth year, the health of his mother, Noble Consort Xue, began to decline until she passed away from illness. The Emperor was heartbroken for a long time. It was also in that year that this legendary prince inexplicably became a fool. The Emperor, feeling pity for his favorite son and the only child of his beloved Consort Xue, ensured that even though Prince Xuan was a fool, he received the best treatment. However, in this man-eating palace, a fool is inevitably bullied and framed. Even with the Emperor's favor, his life is not necessarily easy." Mingfeng recited the information he had gathered, though he was inwardly puzzled as to why his master would be interested in a fool.

*Heh*, another genius ruined by shining too brightly.

Qingyun closed her eyes, various thoughts flashing through her mind. Finally, she couldn't help but speak: "Investigate. Get to the bottom of what happened back then. Have Wuchen send five elites from the Wuchen Hall to protect Beiming Chenxuan." Regardless of whether he was a fool, he was her future husband, wasn't he? A little protection was necessary.

"Yes!" Just as Mingfeng turned to leave, Qingyun spoke again: "Notify Wuying, Wuchen, Wuqing, Wuxian, Mingyu, Minglei, and Mingdian to come to the Qingyun Pavilion."

"Yes." Mingfeng channeled his internal energy and flew away.

After Mingfeng left, a flash of wild joy crossed Qingyun's eyes. *Great!* Her body, immune to all poisons, had finally recovered! It had taken six years to fully heal. She couldn't help but narrow her eyes and exhale a long, stagnant breath.

With a spin, she rose into the air, accompanied by gusts of wind. When she landed again, she was draped in a long white robe. She used a hairpin to simply pin up her ink-black hair, letting it fall behind her. Her complexion gradually returned to normal from its flushed state. She narrowed her eyes and sat down where she was.

After a while, Qingyun slowly opened her eyes. Seeing that the time was about right, she glanced at the moonlight and flew toward the Qingyun Pavilion.

————————

Please bookmark~ Please recommend!