The sound of a whimper—

Just when Hong Yuying cast a fleeting glance at Feng Xun, Zhuge Rou was anxiously searching for her daughter's carriage.

After walking some distance, Zhuge Rou discovered that her daughter Hong Yuying was nowhere to be seen.

Following the carriage tracks, who would have thought she'd find her daughter Hong Yuying standing in front of Emperor Xia's Hot Spring Palace, her whole person already covered in a layer of white snow, nearly frozen into a snowman.

"Yuying, why are you standing in the snow?"

Zhuge Rou swept the snow from her daughter's body with a distressed heart, and then took a frightened look at her daughter's appearance.

"Yuying, what's wrong with you, don't scare your mother, why is your face so red?"

Hong Yuying's face was as red as a ripe persimmon on the branch, her eyes motionless.

"Mother, I I've fallen for him." It took Hong Yuying quite a while to regain her senses after hearing her mother's voice, her newly awakened feelings of love and shyness apparent, which left Zhuge Rou stunned.

"He? Who is this 'he'?" Zhuge Rou, too, was greatly startled upon hearing this.

"Prince Feng, that Prince Feng from Beiqing. Mother, why didn't you ever tell me that Beiqing's Prince Feng was such a handsome man? His voice is as mellow as fine wine, and his eyes shine brighter than the brightest stars in the sky. I want to marry him." Deeply doted on by Zhuge Rou and Hong Fang, Hong Yuying believed that she would certainly become Prince Feng's wife since she fancied him.

"Oh my beloved daughter, what nonsense are you spouting? All the unmarried girls in Xia Capital know that Prince Feng is a sickly person, even if he looks good, sooner or later he will..." Zhuge Rou didn't finish her sentence before Hong Yuying covered her mouth.

"Mother, no even if he is a sickly person, he is still the most handsome sickly person I've ever seen. Compared to him, my brother is far behind. Besides, I think his health doesn't seem as poor as the rumors suggest." Hong Yuying appeared to be possessed, hell-bent on marrying Prince Feng.

This gave Zhuge Rou quite a headache; how would she explain this to Hong Fang when she returned.

"We'll have to wait for your father's return to discuss this matter. In the meantime, both the Crown Prince and the Sixth Prince are seeking brides. My good daughter, either one would be better than Beiqing's Prince Feng." Zhuge Rou had already heard from Hong Fang.

Both the Crown Prince and the Sixth Prince had reached the marriageable age, and Emperor Xia and the Empress had already started to arrange the selection of their brides.

Hong Fang was partial to Crown Prince Hong, yet Zhuge Rou admired the Sixth Prince more. But at this moment, her daughter had fallen for the Prince Feng of Beiqing.

Zhuge Rou was beginning to regret why she had taken Hong Yuying out today.

She had a feeling that Hong Yuying's romance would not go so smoothly.

Meanwhile, Hong Fang was in a secret discussion inside the Green Moon Building.

Green Moon Building was one of the few renowned brothels in Xia Capital, frequented by officials and nobles down to common civilians, and there were even rumors that Emperor Xia had once been enamored with a famous courtesan of the Green Moon Building when he was the Crown Prince.

After Nangong Jian's incident, Emperor Xia was furiously angry and ordered a self-discipline period of three months for all civil and military officials.

Naturally, Hong Fang needed to exercise caution, and he and Liu Qing chose the licentious Green Moon Building as their base for covert investigations.

"How is the matter I instructed you to investigate?" Hong Fang sipped his wine.

"Grand Protector, there is still no clue about the Black Medicine Powder. That one thousand catties of Black Medicine Powder has no record of being transported into Xia Capital by water or land, it seems as if it grew wings and ended up in Nangong Residence's secret chamber by itself," Yang Qing replied cautiously.

Some time had passed since Nangong Jian's execution, but Hong Fang always felt that the whole affair was shrouded in heavy suspicion.

"Continue the investigation. Also, has there been any movement from Ghost Sect recently?" Hong Fang always felt that this matter was related to that second young lady from the Lan Residence, but for the time being, he could not find any evidence.

"Ever since the last time their Vice Sect Leader was injured by one of our men, Ghost Sect has disappeared without a trace for a long time now. It seems they've been scared witless," Liu Qing said with some gloating.

"Don't be complacent, be sure to ascertain the true identity of the Ghost Sect Leader. It's getting late; I should head back first." Although Hong Fang had visited the Green Moon Building a few times out of social obligation, he had always come without Zhuge Rou's knowledge.

"Grand Protector, since you're here, why leave in such a hurry? There are rumors that the Green Moon Building has acquired a few new girls, all unripe. How about I play host and find you a young and beautiful one?" Yang Qing had long heard that although Hong Fang was a Grand Protector and amongst the noble marquises, he was an anomaly.

In the Marquis Mansion of the nobles, only Hong Fang had a single principal wife.

This principal wife came from a significant background, and over the years, Hong Fang had always treated her with utmost respect.

Despite this, Yang Qing didn't believe that there were truly any men in the world who did not delight in covert affairs.

"Yang Qing, I appreciate your kindness. Listen to me, the allure of women can be misleading; it's better to marry someone who can be of help to you." Hong Fang had advised Yang Qing many times, but the young man never heeded his words.

He feared that Yang Qing would be led astray because of women.

Helpful?

Indeed, there was a woman who had once single-handedly helped him establish the Sha Sect.

Regrettably, she had aged, become ugly.

She even threatened that he, Yang Qing, would not die a good death.

The person who could make him, Yang Qing, suffer an ill fate hadn't been born yet.

Under the influence of alcohol, an ugly face appeared in Yang Qing's mind, the mere sight of which was enough to make him feel nauseated.

That day, outside the Treasure Cave, after a chance encounter with the not-yet-dead Lai Gu, Yang Qing immediately began searching for her whereabouts.

Damn it, the woman had secretly taken away his child.

But by the time Yang Qing found out where Lai Gu was, she and her twins had already been burned to death in a fire.

Remembering this incident, Yang Qing downed another gulp of wine.

He was not saddened by the death of Lai Gu; what upset him was that, as a result, he, Yang Qing, would have no progeny.

Seeing that Yang Qing was obstinate and refused to understand, Hong Fang said no more and walked out.

Outside the room, Mama Song was already waiting with two or three girls.

Hong Fang didn't even give them a glance and left.

One of the girls stealthily stole a look at Hong Fang.

"Mama Song, where's the promised beauty?" Yang Qing asked impatiently.

The brothel madam hurriedly ushered several girls inside.

Lifting his eyes, Yang Qing looked over and felt that, although the girls who entered were all very young, their looks were merely above average; none matched the brothel madam's previous boast that each one was a peerless beauty.

Just as Yang Qing was about to get angry, he suddenly saw the last woman who entered, walking in gracefully.

Under the faded yellow light, the woman's face seemed to be coated with moonlight, her seductive eyes and nose, her ruby lips.

Upon seeing her face, Yang Qing dropped his cup to the ground with a clatter.

"How could it be you!"

Yang Qing stood up in shock, staring at the girl in disbelief.

The woman appeared startled, her beautiful eyes misty with tears.

"Sir, do you recognize Wulei?"