Chapter 39: Relocation

"Sanzi, escort Greenwillow!"

Sanzi led Greenwillow out of the celestial prison.

"Greenwillow, remember what I said. Make sure nothing goes wrong, and Sanzi, keep protecting Greenwillow."

"Understood, Second Master!"

Greenwillow nodded and vanished into the night with Sanzi.

"Second Master, is having you preside over the negotiations some kind of sinister plot?"

Old Sixth asked, his face full of doubt.

"Someone can't wait any longer. Old Sixth, transfer the prisoners immediately!"

Old Sixth was startled. "Second Master, transferring prisoners in secret like this—I'm afraid they'll hold you accountable."

A flash crossed Yang Zhan's eyes. "If nothing unexpected happens, this grand palace drama has already begun, so don't get bogged down in such details."

"Yes. But where should we transfer them?"

"Secretly transfer them to the Jade Red Pavilion. Take my signet!"

With that, Yang Zhan produced a small seal and handed it to Old Sixth.

"Then won't Second Master go along?"

"I still have other business to attend to. Remember, it must be kept secret. I will inform Chen Lin'er and the others; they will cooperate."

"Understood!"

Yang Zhan then went to see Chen Lin'er and the other two.

"Chen Lin'er, we are going to transfer the three of you to another place. This location is no longer safe."

"With the General here, how could it not be safe?"

The three of them now had absolute confidence in Yang Zhan's strength. Besides, the envoys from the Fenglin Kingdom had already arrived and even met with them. Logically speaking, there should no longer be any danger.

"I have been suddenly reassigned to preside over other matters. If nothing unexpected happens, tomorrow someone will come with a new order to reassign Sanzi and the rest."

"Reassigned? Could it be targeted at us?"

"Yes. Someone hopes the negotiations will collapse, so we must prepare for the worst. Transferring you is the only way to prevent disaster."

Li Yu glared at Yang Zhan. "Are you trying to hide us away for yourself?"

"Why would I hide you away?"

"You men, seeing the three of us as fair and delicate beauties, how could you not harbor evil intentions? I've figured you out—you're the type who is audacious enough to defy the heavens. In your eyes, there is nothing to fear."

"I didn't expect the Princess to read me so accurately. That's right, I am audacious enough to defy the heavens, but I have no interest in you!"

"You!"

Yang Zhan gave Li Yu a sideways glance. "With your headstrong temper, if you were given to me as a maid, I'd find you far too much trouble!"

"You scoundrel, how dare you speak to this Princess like that!"

"Knock her out!"

Yang Zhan gave the direct order.

Bang!

Old Sixth struck instantly, and Li Yu collapsed into unconsciousness.

Li Zhizhu was gentle and quiet, so naturally there was no issue.

Chen Lin'er was unfathomable and surely knew the gravity of the situation; it would be best if she cooperated.

Chen Lin'er glanced at the unconscious Li Yu, then asked, "Does the General truly believe someone intends to harm us?"

"Yes, almost certainly."

"But..."

"Your Fenglin Kingdom surrounded our Great Wu Empire's Grand General and three thousand elite cavalry, using them as bargaining chips in the negotiations. If you die, those three thousand cavalry and the Grand General will likely perish as well. From then on, our Great Xia and the Fenglin Kingdom will be irreconcilable enemies, making it difficult to mend ties and inevitably leading to frequent wars, which benefits neither of our countries. Similarly, when the snipe and the clam grapple, the fisherman profits; the barbarian state will certainly be delighted to see this, ultimately growing strong enough to launch surprise raids, leaving neither of our nations in peace."

Yang Zhan's expression was grave.

Hearing this, Chen Lin'er nodded. "Very well, this humble woman still trusts the General's actions!"

"Good. Cooperate with Old Sixth and the others. The transfer must be done in secret without letting anyone find out!"

"Moving several living people out like this—I'm afraid..."

Chen Lin'er looked somewhat solemn.

Old Sixth chuckled. "Rest assured, it will only be a slight grievance for the three of you!"

"We are already in this situation, what grievance is there to speak of? It's fine!"

"Good. Since that is settled, Old Sixth will arrange the subsequent journey, and Chen Lin'er, you just need to cooperate. As I said before, I will definitely see you safely back to the Fenglin Kingdom, so there is no need to doubt my intentions."

"Understood, the General may make the arrangements!"

After giving his instructions, Yang Zhan left the celestial prison.

The night wind was biting as Yang Zhan walked down the street.

He arrived at the roast chicken shop.

Qiuyun suddenly looked up, somewhat startled.

Immediately afterward, she saw Yang Zhan close the door and slide the wooden bolt into place.

Qiuyun froze. Under the lamplight, her cheeks flushed slightly.

"Second Master, this is...?"

"Borrowing your place to take care of some business!"

"Business? What kind of business?"

"Accompanied by a beauty, beneath the waning lamps—such a poetic and picturesque scene calls for drinking wine first, and then taking care of business!"

Qiuyun's mind was in turmoil. After all, a lone man and woman in the middle of the night inevitably made her think of other things.

Recovering her senses, Qiuyun's heart began to race.

Yet, she immediately got up and ran to fetch a jar of wine.

"Since it's Second Master's capacity for liquor, we naturally need a bit more!"

Yang Zhan nodded, watching the busy Qiuyun.

Truth be told, under the dim lamplight, the hazy aesthetic gave this mature woman a uniquely enchanting air.

Especially beside the warmth of the stove, her thin garments revealed her faintly discernible contours.

Damn.

Yang Zhan hadn't even started drinking yet, and he already felt somewhat intoxicated.

He muttered inwardly that he must have been single for too long, and having seen too many beauties lately, it was making a bachelor like him rather unsettled.

He couldn't tell if this young woman was doing it intentionally or not, but whenever she turned her back to him, she would sway her hips.

Nor could he tell if she had been drinking or what, but her face was exceptionally flushed.

Warming the wine, Qiuyun sat down right across from Yang Zhan.

She sat quite close, her gaze somewhat hazy.

Being looked at with such eyes by this woman made it almost too much for Yang Zhan to bear.

It felt as though this woman was about to devour him.

Yang Zhan suppressed the stirring romantic thoughts in his heart, but the atmosphere in the room only grew more subtle.

Especially when this woman's leg kept brushing against his every now and then.

Yang Zhan quickly downed a cup to steady his nerves and immediately brought up official business. "Someone else is coming in a moment."

"Ah? Someone else? What do you take me for?"

Qiuyun blurted out.

Yang Zhan was stunned. "I'm borrowing your place for business; I consider you one of our own."

Qiuyun blinked, seeming to realize only then that she had overthought things.

However, coming to her place in the middle of the night, this...

Qiuyun cast a slightly resentful look at Yang Zhan.

"Sigh, you men. Living here for three years, preferring to go to the Jade Red Pavilion—it really is hard on a man like you!"

Hearing these coquettish words and looking at her alluring expression,

Yang Zhan swallowed hard.

At that very moment.

Bang, bang!

Two knocks sounded on the door.

Yang Zhan got up to open it, and the peculiar atmosphere in the room instantly vanished.

Qiuyun gracefully stood up, glared at Yang Zhan, and then glanced at the black-robed, masked figure who had just entered.

"This lady is going to rest. Remember to pay for the wine!"

"Don't rush off. Since it's happening here, it naturally concerns you as well."

Qiuyun paused. "What does it have to do with me?"

"Sit for a while longer!"

"Fine!"

Qiuyun looked at Yang Zhan with a lingering gaze.

Following closely, the masked man in black entered and immediately cupped his fists. "General!"

"Sit down!"

"Yes!"

The three of them seated themselves, and Qiuyun reluctantly poured a cup of wine for the man in black as well.

However, the man in black showed no intention of drinking, nor did he intend to remove his black face-covering scarf.

Yang Zhan spoke up. "Lin Jiang, tell Qiuyun what you discovered."

"Yes, General!"