Volume 1, Chapter 24: Taking Li Yunrui to a Hotel

Ling Qingxue suspected Long Zhan of harboring traitorous intentions and probed him with her words.

Long Zhan immediately replied, "Rest assured, Senior Sister. I will never forget who taught me martial arts. I was born a member of the Dao Sect, and I shall die a ghost of the Dao Sect. I harbor no disloyalty."

Ling Qingxue nodded, seemingly convinced, but deep down, she remained skeptical. The residual True Yang energy lingering from her internal injuries served as a constant reminder to be wary of Long Zhan.

The two walked toward the Sword Casting Bureau, one ahead of the other. Hearing the sound of birds flapping their wings in the night, they both turned back simultaneously. Ling Qingxue raised her slender hand, and a carrier pigeon landed on her fingertip. She pulled out a secret missive from its leg, her brows knitting together.

"Senior Sister, what has happened?" Long Zhan recognized the pigeon as one belonging to her subordinates, used specifically for communication.

Ling Qingxue spoke in a low, heavy voice: "Li Yunrui has left the palace..."

"Why would the Seventh Princess leave the palace for no reason?" Long Zhan was puzzled, but soon his thick brows arched. It seemed Li Yunrui had followed Zhao Wujiang.

This worked out perfectly! In the upcoming attempt to steal the sword from the Sword Casting Bureau, chaos was inevitable. Not only would he have a chance to seize the Heavenly Sword, but he could also use the confusion to make things official with Li Yunrui. Once he had her in his grasp, his position as Commander would surely be due for a promotion.

...

In the Imperial Study of the palace, Li Zaiyuan slammed his memorial onto the desk. "When did Yunrui leave?"

"At nightfall," Eunuch Chen replied, bowing his head. "Young Master Zhao is also not at his residence... It is highly likely the Seventh Princess left in the company of Zhao Wujiang."

Li Zaiyuan was furious. He had long known that the Sword Casting Bureau was in turmoil and that its Director harbored traitorous thoughts. He had intentionally sent Zhao Wujiang to investigate and made the matter public, hoping to use a borrowed knife to eliminate this hidden threat. Yet, why did Yunrui have to go and get involved? Did she not realize the danger? Had they not been quarreling just today?

"Summon Yunyi!" Li Zaiyuan ordered, but then changed his mind. "Never mind, issue my decree directly: have him take men and go find Yunrui!"

"Yes," Eunuch Chen bowed. "This old slave will go notify the Sixth Prince at once."

...

In the Sixth Prince’s bedchamber, a handsome young man was flipping through an ancient text. The servants standing nearby dared not speak, assuming he was studying diligently. They did not know that the pages of the book depicted women without clothes, striking various poses.

"Sigh, it’s always these same old books. I wonder if there’s anything better in the shops." The young man had refined features and wore silk robes, his expression carrying the air of royal nobility. Yet, he felt listless, finding life dull.

Suddenly, Eunuch Chen arrived with the imperial decree. Startled, the young man quickly hid the book and received the order. Once Eunuch Chen departed, he did not need to urge the prince, knowing that Li Yunyi had always doted on his younger sister and would chase after her immediately.

Sure enough, upon learning that Li Yunrui had followed Zhao Wujiang to the Sword Casting Bureau, Li Yunyi cursed loudly: "That menace from the Prince of Zhenbei’s estate, Zhao Wujiang, again? Yunrui is kind and naive; who knows what kind of bewitching nonsense he’s fed her? How could she follow him into such hardship?"

The servants in the residence scrambled to pack their belongings, afraid to provoke the Sixth Prince’s temper. Half an hour later, Li Yunyi gathered his troops.

"Your Highness... do we really need to bring this much medicinal balm for wounds?" a trusted aide asked in a whisper.

Li Yunyi’s eyes were fierce. "I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop myself from beating Zhao Wujiang to death!" Once he caught up to the scoundrel who had abducted his sister, he was going to teach him a lesson. Ever since her failed attempt to break off the engagement, she hadn't been clinging to her dear brother; instead, she spent all day thinking of Zhao Wujiang! She spoke only of him and no longer came to his residence to play. He would never allow a useless wastrel like Zhao Wujiang to lay a finger on his sister!

...

"Achoo!" Zhao Wujiang sneezed. "Are you cursing me?" He looked at Li Yunrui suspiciously.

"Hmm?" Li Yunrui’s eyes widened. She shook her head, feeling a bit guilty. She had just been thinking to herself that Zhao Wujiang was completely insensitive to romance—could he have sensed it? But if she didn't admit it, what could he do?

"I didn't. When can we go in? Didn't Father send you to investigate?" The two were squatting outside the side gate of the Sword Casting Bureau.

"No rush. Don't you see how heavily guarded this side gate is, even in the middle of the night?"

Li Yunrui was puzzled. "What do you mean? The Sword Casting Bureau is a vital site for manufacturing weapons in the capital. Isn't it normal for it to be heavily guarded?"

"But the guards are even stricter than those at the palace, which is a bit strange... Forget it, I can't be bothered to explain it to you."

Zhao Wujiang rummaged through his robes, pulled out a fake mustache, and pasted it onto his face. He then slapped a small round cap onto his head and gave a crooked, cunning smile. A sense of a shifty merchant immediately radiated from him.

Li Yunrui looked at him with disdain. "What are you doing? You look so strange..."

"As long as they don't recognize me, that's fine. Caution is the parent of safety; when you're out and about, follow your heart," Zhao Wujiang said righteously.

"Follow your heart? Isn't that just being a coward?" Li Yunrui muttered, rolling her eyes. Then her eyes darted around. "Do you have another mustache? Give me one to wear."

Zhao Wujiang was speechless. "Have you ever seen a woman with a mustache? It’s not like it’s down below."

*Mustaches don't grow down there either...* Li Yunrui thought to herself. She took off all her hairpins, and her silky hair cascaded down like a waterfall. Under the moonlight, she looked breathtakingly beautiful, and Zhao Wujiang couldn't help but linger on the sight.

"Help me disguise myself," she said, pouting playfully. She chuckled, "I think you're right. Changing our appearances so the people at the Sword Casting Bureau don't recognize us will make the investigation easier."

*[This woman—her temper is bad, but she’s surprisingly obedient.]*

*[Yes, she’s a target I can train well.]*

Li Yunrui blushed. Zhao Wujiang began tying her hair, styling it into a look typical of a married woman. He took the opportunity to rub her face with his dirty hands, smudging her light makeup and pressing a small bit of mud onto her cheeks to make her look more like a village girl.

"So ugly!" Li Yunrui glared at him resentfully.

"What's wrong? You want me to restore your appearance so that at daybreak, the people at the Bureau can beat drums and welcome the Princess inside?"

"You! You're always bullying me with your words. I'm not talking to you anymore!"

Zhao Wujiang couldn't be bothered with her thoughts, but waiting here wasn't a solution. There happened to be a small inn outside the Bureau. A veteran undercover operative must take good care of himself.

"Let's go up and get a room to wait." Zhao Wujiang walked into the inn and happened to run into a waiter who had just woken up.

"The two of you..." The waiter was habitually polite, as the people coming and going in the capital were often high-ranking officials. But upon seeing the pair's attire, which clearly didn't look like that of wealthy people, he asked casually, "Are you staying for a room or just breakfast?"

"We'll take a room," Zhao Wujiang said.

"Take a room... what a shy term," Li Yunrui thought, pursing her lips as a faint blush spread across her cheeks. She spoke up, "We want the best room!"

"The best room? Coming right up! This way, please, honored guests!"

Li Yunrui peeked at Zhao Wujiang. "Zhao Wu... Husband, what are we going to do when we get a room?"

Sticking to the principle of committing fully to the act, Zhao Wujiang smacked her on the backside. "Of course, we're going to do what a husband and wife like to do."