Chapter 849: Juan Niao Lou (2/2, Requesting Subscriptions)

So that's how it was…

So it was really like this?

What happened back then… that misunderstanding…

Fang Yue's thoughts grew chaotic and self-reproachful all at once.

But soon, he realized a problem.

That is, back then, he hadn't killed Miao Fa—he had brought her back to Qingsi County and handed her over to Captain Wu for interrogation.

If Miao Fa had done nothing, if she had been innocent, why had Captain Wu killed her?

Fang Yue had asked Captain Wu about this before, but Captain Wu had always evaded the question, unwilling to speak of it.

Fang Yue had thought Miao Fa was already dead, the matter already settled, and since he believed Miao Fa was the traitor, he hadn't pressed further.

Now it seemed there might be more to this story?

"Captain Ye, is my answer satisfactory?"

Though unseen, Ming's face curled into a faintly satisfied smile at Fang Yue's ragged breathing.

"So, An Dong'er was kidnapped, all the Mo Cun survivors were killed—everything that happened, and all the chain reactions that followed—your fault is the root cause?"

"Captain Ye, if you choose to understand it that way, I can't refute you. But understand this clearly: I've never killed anyone! I don't even know a single martial technique. No one made any decision because I forced their head—I never touched them. They chose it themselves. Do you understand?"

Fang Yue stared coldly at her: "You're truly revolting."

"Likewise."

Ming shrugged, then flung a token from her waist onto the ground.

"This is the Auxiliary Token of the Juan Niao Lou's Twin Flute Token. Only when paired with the Main Token I hold does it truly activate. I'll wait for you tonight. If you're not at the Heavenly Pride Mansion gate by dawn, I'll walk away. Make your own choice."

Two claps of hands, and a carriage rolled up from the street, stopping beside Ming.

Ming glanced at the red-clad man on the ground and ordered the driver to bring him aboard too, muttering under her breath.

He's supposed to be a Human Realm Initial Stage expert—and he couldn't even withstand one blow from Captain Ye.

Getting into the carriage, she pulled back the curtain, gave Fang Yue one last look, and smiled lightly: "I'm off, Captain Ye. Remember—I'm only waiting tonight. Once this chance passes, it won't come again."

She dropped the curtain. The carriage drove off into the distance.

Fang Yue frowned, picked up the token from the ground. It bore a large character: "Juan." Beside it, a vertical rectangular box contained the words: "Shuang Sheng Ling · Auxiliary Token."

Why did she drop the token and leave so confidently? Was there something she knew that I didn't?

Fang Yue felt powerless—profoundly powerless.

Jingcheng wasn't his territory. Even though he'd been promoted to Qing Si Red Clothes, he had no one he could rely on. Every scrap of information had to be dug up himself—it was inconvenient.

You Sisi could gather intelligence, but Fang Yue didn't want her to risk herself.

"Night, I'm starting to remember—I think I heard a maid mention that Nian Tianjiao recently stole his son's fiancée, divorced his former wife, and forcibly married his son's fiancée as his new primary wife! I recall his son's name is Nian Wushuang, a literary prodigy who rose faster than almost any other in his generation."

But now that this has happened, I can't say what he'll become."

You Sisi strained to recall, remembering fragments of this gossip.

The incident had been huge at the time, spreading like wildfire, becoming the hottest topic across all levels of Jingcheng—even You Family's maids were talking about it fiercely.

But You Sisi had been consumed by thoughts of Fang Yue back then, with no interest in gossip—yet after hearing the maids discuss it repeatedly, she retained a faint impression.

"Father stole his son's fiancée? This… is he really that shameless?"

You Sisi offered a bitter smile: "Jingcheng isn't as beautiful as you imagine…"

Fang Yue smiled. He'd already prepared himself for this.

Yet the Nian family's scandal was so massive—and still, Nian Tianjiao holds the position of Di Shu. Clearly, the matter has been buried. The Emperor has no intention of pursuing it.

Has the imperial clan and the four great families rotted this deep…?

Fang Yue shook off these thoughts.

He had more important things to do.

Had Qing Shui and Jing Yan returned? Had Tian Ruichi brought them back? And what of the Phoenix Organization…?

Too many matters demanded Fang Yue's attention. He had no time to waste on that woman.

"Lord Ye, Lord You, you're back. Prince Qi has been waiting for you a long time."

The two stepped into Qi Huang Fu. The gatekeeper bowed respectfully.

"Prince Qi…"

You Sisi's expression grew uneasy. Fang Yue gently tightened his grip on her hand to reassure her, then said to the gatekeeper: "Lead the way."

He had met Prince Qi during court at Wen Wu Da Dian, but they hadn't spoken at length.

He and Prince Qi would have to discuss You Sisi's matter eventually.

Since Prince Qi was already waiting, better to settle it now.

When they reached the courtyard, Prince Qi sat by the pond as Qing Shui brewed tea.

Sensing their arrival, Prince Qi paused his movements and looked up at them.

"Make yourselves at home."

Though he said so, his gaze remained locked on Fang Yue—until he saw Fang Yue holding You Sisi's hand, then his expression stiffened slightly and he looked away.

"Prince Qi…" You Sisi said, worried.

"Sisi, our matter can wait."

Prince Qi filled three small teacups, then raised his eyes to Fang Yue.

"I heard you sent Tian Ruichi to find someone?"

"Yes. Has Brother Tian brought my people back?"

"No. Tian Ruichi is missing too."

Missing?!!

Fang Yue's expression darkened.

If Jing Yan and Qingchen losing contact was a coincidence, then Tian Ruichi's disappearance was absolutely the work of someone behind the scenes.

"Who is targeting me? Where have they been taken now?"

Fang Yue asked in a low voice, but the Seventh Prince merely took a sip of tea and said lightly, "Ye Hongyi, you shouldn't have come to Jingcheng."

"..." Fang Yue said nothing; he could see the Seventh Prince had a lot he wanted to say.

"I could have protected Sisi, formed a marriage alliance with the You Family, protected Sisi's clan, sheltered them for a very long time, letting Sisi live out her life without a single worry. But your appearance threw all my plans into chaos."

"S-Seventh Prince, this has nothing to do with Ye Se! It's me..." You Sisi hurriedly said, but the Seventh Prince merely smiled.

"Sisi, I'm not blaming him, you don't need to be nervous. In any case, my plans have fallen through, and the trouble you've brought isn't just your own — you've also drawn trouble upon the You Family.

The You Family's situation is far from as safe as you think. It was only my status and influence that suppressed those restless people. Now that the marriage alliance has fallen apart, many people have made their move and no longer have any scruples."

Hearing this, Fang Yue finally spoke slowly: "I will protect Sisi well."

The Seventh Prince looked seriously into Fang Yue's eyes and emphasized his tone: "I hope you can do it, otherwise I don't know what I might do."

Composing his emotions, the Seventh Prince took another sip of tea and said, "According to my information, Tian Ruichi and your people are being held in Juan Niao Lou. It's not convenient for me to act, and Sisi cannot enter that place either. You need to think of a way to handle it yourself. Let me see what kind of ability the person Sisi chose truly has. For the specific information, just ask Hai Lao; I won't keep you company any longer."

Juan Niao Lou?!

(End of this chapter)