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As the carriages from the Tanglin Great Palace trot forward to their destination, a midnight black horse watched them from a distant hill.

The rider on top didn't have an ounce of emotion on their face but the wind scattered their hair in a resplendent haze.

"Tanglin..."

This came out as a sneer. Only traps await those who target Suliang.

---

Sway. Sway. Bump.

Bump. Sway. Bump.

Three carriages, one after another, kept traveling. The wheels were turning and turning.

The occasional breeze pushing the curtains brought a little comfort to the people inside. This carriage should have been spacious but with six young men inside, it was inevitably cramped.

"Sigh... nearly two months. I might really die at this rate!" The voice was dramatic but clear and crisp.

Melodious and almost like a narrative. It could accompany any music. If the speaking voice was like this, how much more the singing voice?

It was obvious the source was an otherworldly beauty.

The people inside the carriage turned to the person.

Round eyes with a touch of haughtiness, a proud nose, and small boat-like lips. The manner of speaking was lazy but enchanting. The gestures were noble and alluring.

Who knew this wouldn't be a top-tier noblewoman? But actually a young master of a military family.

"Brother Feng's body is precious but you have to wait a few more days." The leader of the group said this with a dignified expression.

The speaker, Zhang Yunlei, was tall and gentle as a willow. He looked after all the members of the traveling group regardless of their status. That was why he was unanimously chosen as the leader.

Feng Yanyan harrumphed, showing how spoiled he was. Everyone in the carriage didn't like him but they still had to put up with him because he was the Empress' favorite.

Her Majesty even named him the top Mei Ren from this batch. This was the first time a male got this title.

>美人 - měi rén - Beauty/Belle<

But in the eyes of Feng Yanyan, this title was useless. He wanted more. And he hoped he would get it there in Suliang.

Power. Wealth. Fame.

Everything he wanted was there in that city.

As the sun was setting, the party arrived at the last stop before entering Suliang.

It was an inn meant for envoys, noblemen, and the richest merchants so the accommodations were rather acceptable.

And yet, Feng Yanyan still had to share a room with someone as a dozen beauties were divided into pairs. There were six male and female beauties each.

Naturally, people of the same gender would stay with each other.

Feng Yanyan thought he was stuck with Zhang Yunlei because of their similar status among the beauties.

The truth was Zhang Yunlei was the youngest di son of the Zhang clan. The clan was headed by the current Minister of Rites.

>嫡 - dí - first wife; so a di son is the son of the first wife<

Meanwhile, Feng Yanyan was the third shu son of the declining Feng clan. They held a General title a few generations back but weren't able to retain it. They hadn't produced a high-ranking military official nowadays.

>庶 - shù - born of a concubine<

In terms of true status, Feng Yanyan was far inferior but it wasn't his fault he was favored by the Empress because of his good looks. It made them seem equal in standing.

To his surprise, an old voice called him. "Beauty Feng and Beauty Zhang, you will each have your own room. It's smaller than others but you don't have to share."

Feng Yanyan looked at the momo in delight and cupped his hands. "Thanking Liu momo!"

>嬤嬤 - mó mo - elderly lady/wet nurse. In this context, she is a trusted palace elder maid<

Zhang Yunlei by his side did the same.

Of course, Feng Yanyan didn't forget to smile smugly at his peers who had to share rooms.

Liu momo wasn't done talking. "Tomorrow will be the last day I see you. Make sure to serve wang ye well and be the palace's constant support. This is my last lesson for all of you."

>王 - wáng - fist rank prince/king; 爺 - yé - Lord; literally Lord King/Lord Prince<

After four long years, they were now being sent to the place where they would stay forever. Well, as long as they weren't kicked out.

Feng Yanyan's eyes were lowered. But he knew that not all of them would soar like phoenixes.

That night, he was feeling melancholic so he didn't go straight to bed. He opened his windows to admire the moon. He had to think about his next steps carefully.

He knew there would be an encounter here. Something about an assassin and the Prince.

Feng Yanyan needed to be proactive.

Just as he was thinking about this, the corner of his eyes caught movement in the yard below. It was a person clothed in black moving suspiciously. This was his chance!

If he wanted to bag the prince for himself, then he should do this.

Without even thinking, Feng Yanyan jumped from the second floor of the inn. His expression was grave and heroic, utilizing what little martial arts he knew since he was young to trample the assassin.

Not long after, the black figure lay beneath his feet and he smiled triumphantly to himself.

But who knew, when he raised his gaze, a pair of inky black eyes were staring straight at him. Feng Yanyan felt like he was electrocuted as a shiver ran down his spine. How could someone elicit such a strong reaction from him?

Outside the fence, the figure sat ramrod straight on a midnight horse. The person subtly raised their hand and a shadow swiftly appeared, collecting the man by Feng Yanyan's feet.

After doing so, the shadow seemed to cup his hand as a greeting to the youngster. But ultimately, vanished after finishing his task.

Feng Yanyan's face stilled in a shocked expression. Lips opened slightly, as though someone caught him doing something unbefitting. His brows frowned and he was probably thinking about how to get away from the situation.

The figure on horseback wore pure white robes. Their hair was unbounded and falling freely at their waist. He was quite a distance from Feng Yanyan. Nevertheless, Beauty Feng could discern those heroic brows and a tall nose.

Soon enough, it seemed Feng Yanyan had come to a decision and slowly bowed, cupping his hands together.

Without a word, the person turned away.

Rooted at his spot, Feng Yanyan's heart was racing. Damn. Damn it!

In this life, he had never been unsure about something.

I don't know if I made a good enough impression!

Also, his heart was pounding for another reason that he didn't seem to know. He suppressed it and climbed back to his room.

Maybe it was a premonition. Because as soon as his foot landed on the carpeted floor, a shrill scream was heard. It was followed by calls of "Assassins!"

Feng Yanyan was dazed. What assassin?

Didn't he just thoroughly defeat one?

The inn seemed to have been thrown upside down as the Imperial Guards that escorted them searched every room. The beauties were all ushered outside, all of them covered by coats from their head to their waist.

Some of the more delicate ones were tearful. But showing the dignity of the palace, none of them were heard wailing. Witnessing a line of beauties all having their own merits was truly a sight to behold.

Feng Yanyan stood with them at a fairly safe place. The sound of swords clashing went back and forth inside the inn. He scanned the crowd of beauties and his eyes sank.

Zhang Yunlei wasn't here.

He knew something was wrong!

But he wasn't worried about the other man, no. It was quite the opposite. He was worried about himself. If his hunch was right, then it meant the person he bowed to earlier wasn't the Prince? And as predicted by fate, Zhang Yunlei still met with his Highness?

After a while, something crashed and jumped from a window. A figure was seen carrying a wounded person.

"Many thanks to Da ren." He was neither servile nor overbearing but one could feel his gratefulness. This was Zhang Yunlei.

>達人- dá rén - expert<

"Don't mind." The person who answered was tall and had broad shoulders. He was smiling unrestrained. While he wore simple clothes, one couldn't mask the natural grace deeply imbued in his bones.

After putting Zhang Yunlei down, he turned around and joined the fray once more.

It didn't take long to take back the peaceful night.

Feng Yanyan watched all of this in a stupor. So it turned out... it wasn't a single assassin?

His hands underneath his sleeves trembled. I made a mistake!

That was why he found it strange. That person, the center of this world, was always described to have a sunny disposition in life and was often seen smiling. Yet the figure on horseback didn't emit any warmth at all.

In the end, Zhang Yunlei still snagged the chance to be alone with the male lead!

Feng Yanyan was so elated with the task he accomplished earlier and yet the situation seemed to be slapping him now.

He performed a play but it didn't reach the intended audience. What he wanted was the Prince... but in the end, he risked his life to beat up an assassin just to be caught by a random stranger.

With fire in his eyes, Beauty Feng wanted to find that impostor and ask him why he was standing outside his window like that.

---

Name and Title meanings:

Feng Yanyan - 風 - fēng - wind; 艷 - yàn - colorful/romantic

Zhang Yunlei - 張 - zhāng - sheet of paper; 韻 - yùn - beautiful sound; 淚 - lèi - tears

King Wan Li (Wan Li Wang)- his title came from the proverb 读万卷书不如行万里路 - Dú wànjuànshū bù rú xíng wànlǐlù - It's better to walk thousands of miles than to read thousands of books.

Junwang - 郡王 - jùnwáng - "Prince of the Second Rank" or "Prince of a Commandery"

Edited: Feb. 10, 2023