Chapter 001: The Scumbag Arrives

  Taizong Baoxing fifteen years, early summer.

  On a sunny day, on an official road fifty miles outside the capital city, a team of horse-drawn carriages moved slowly.

  This is a horse-drawn carriage for sending off relatives.

  Two years ago, Hua Zhe Yue, the daughter of Wu Guo Gong's wife, was sealed as Foning Princess and married to Xiqi. After that, her younger sister Hua Zhe Yu volunteered to marry Beiming.

  The reason for this is that the Empress Dowager was suffering from a terminal illness, and according to the diagnosis of the Imperial Court's chief physician, without the Resurrection Grass from the peak of Mount Beiming in the north, the Empress Dowager's illness would be difficult to cure.

  Bao Xing Emperor immediately wrote a letter to Bei Ming, hoping that he could send a sprig of Resurrection Grass to cure the illness and would agree to any reasonable request.

  This time, Beiming replied very quickly, only mentioning one condition, which was to find a girl with eight pure yin characters to marry. In the vast and boundless sea, isn't it easy to find such a woman? The royal family originally planned to recruit nationwide, but before the notice was even posted, Wuguo Gong had already reported his own daughter's name, and Baoxing Emperor was overjoyed, immediately arranging for Hua Zhe Yu to be sent to Beiming.

  "The North Ming was originally a land of bitter cold, and the people there like to eat raw beef and mutton. Especially, all the kings of North Ming have had the habit of drinking human blood, which is too cruel. This time, North Ming specifically asked for an eight-character pure yin woman, I'm afraid it's to taste whether the blood of this kind of woman is better... Our miss has a good fate..."

  Fang Gu gazed out at the trees' shadows gradually passing by outside the carriage window, feeling both worried and sentimental.

  The peony beside her sighed and said, "I really don't know what the old master is thinking. Two years ago, Sixth Miss was forced to be betrothed to Xiqi, but she passed away last year. This year, Seventh Miss is being forced to marry Beiming. Is it because they are daughters of a concubine that they're not treated as human beings? Must they be treated so cruelly?"

  "Who said it wasn't? Two years ago, when Sixth Miss got married, she was worried that Seventh Miss would be bullied after she left, so she specially asked the Emperor to let Seventh Miss marry Fourth Prince as his concubine when she came of age. As a result, Sixth Miss had been gone for less than two months when Seventh Miss was inexplicably caught having an affair with her cousin, and not only did Madam scold and send Seventh Miss to a villa 200 miles away, but even Fourth Prince ignored her. Recently, I heard that Miss is going to change the medicine for the Empress Dowager, and he took advantage of the situation and broke off the engagement..." Fang Gu choked back tears, almost unable to speak.

  The Seventh Young Lady and the Sixth Young Lady, a pair of twins, had suffered a lot since childhood due to their mother's early death. However, fate had already destined that they were born only to be sacrificed as pawns for the glory of the Hua family - replacing the imperial princess and marrying into the Xiqi royal family, in exchange for the peace of the entire Daze, in exchange for the prosperity of the Tian family towards the Hua family.

  Seeing her sad, the peony followed with red eyes, wiped the corner of her eye, and was about to speak when she suddenly thought of something and exclaimed: "Miss hasn't let us in since we got off the horse carriage, and for such a long time without calling out to us, could something have happened?"

  At her reminder, Fang also came back to herself and hastily called out to stop the carriage: "Stop! Stop! Let us take a look at Miss..."

  Just in time for the road, we're about to arrive at the next stop to have a meal. The driver naturally refused, "Mr. He said that we must arrive at Hengdian before dark and cannot stop halfway."

  Fang's anger was rising, and just as she was about to shout loudly at the front carriage where He Gonggong was sitting, suddenly 30 or 40 black-clad masked men emerged from the woods on both sides of the official road, holding weapons. The masked men moved swiftly, surrounding the five carriages in an instant, catching everyone off guard. Someone immediately chopped down the coachman of the first carriage, and the horses were frightened and knocked over, causing the entire convoy to come to a terrified halt.

  He Gonggong, who was entrusted with the heavy responsibility of preparing to send off the soul-retrieving team to Beihuang to retrieve the Soul Grass, lifted the curtain and drank heavily: "Who is it? What do you want to do?"

  The other party didn't answer at all, drew his sword and rushed over to slash him fiercely.

  He Gonggong sprang up like a sparrow, his dust-sweeping hand transforming into sharp blades that shot straight at the enemy. His mouth didn't forget to loudly shout: "Quickly protect Seventh Miss!"

  At the sound, about a dozen officers and soldiers rushed towards the horse-drawn carriage in the middle...

  In the middle of a horse-drawn carriage, a finger lifted the curtain and hooked it open slightly. A pair of dark, shiny eyes peeked out from the gap in the curtains, quietly observing the scene outside.

  Strong horses, black-robed masked men, long gowns, men who cut open other people's throats are all long-haired, various cold weapons with a murderous aura, swift and agile fighting...

  What's this rhythm?

  She let out a soft cry and covered her eyes, lying back on the soft cushion. At this moment, she couldn't help but doubt the reality of what had just happened.

  In the last instant, she remembered that she was still lying in the hospital, and in the next instant, she found herself kneeling in a horse-drawn carriage, her neck elegantly wrapped around a red silk scarf, which was tied to the carriage beam - this was clearly a kneeling hanging.

  If she really is a soul who has crossed over, then whose death was so resolute and tragic?

  She pounded her head, trying to recall the memories of this life. However, in her mind, only a handsome face as beautiful as an ice sculpture floated up. "Your behavior is improper and you don't follow the virtues of a wife. I've tolerated it so far. But now there's such a good opportunity for redemption, being able to take medicine on behalf of the Empress Dowager is an unparalleled honor, completely enough to wash away your shame. Why won't you go? If you want me to forgive you, we'll annul our engagement, you can go to Beiming, without any fuss or noise, and I'll still leave a place for you in my heart. But if you don't go, even if I marry you, you'll never see me again in this life!"

  Such a cold and decisive word kept echoing in her mind, and just as she was about to distinguish who the man was, the carriage curtain was lifted like a gust of wind, and it was Fang Jie and Pian Yao who rushed over amidst the chaos.

  "Miss, there are many black-clothed killers outside, are you okay?"

  Qingya sat up with a start, staring at the two anxious faces in front of her. She blinked a few times before barely remembering who they were. With some effort, she forced a smile and said, "I'm fine."

  Miss, don't be afraid, as long as I'm here, they won't dare to hurt you.

  Peony also opened her arms in a protective gesture and said firmly: "In addition to Fang's sister, there is also Peony. Miss only needs to sit safely inside."

  Looking at her slender shoulders, compared to the bold and ruthless killer outside, Qingya couldn't help but think how many swords she could withstand?

  Outside, He Gonggong was fighting against five enemies with ease, and apart from the dozen or so officials and soldiers surrounding the carriage, there were also twenty or so officials and soldiers entangled in a fierce battle with more than thirty black-clothed assassins. Not only did the assassins outnumber them, but each of them was agile and quick, killing people as easily as cutting watermelons. The twenty or so officials and soldiers would soon be wiped out, and the dozen or so officials and soldiers protecting her were definitely not enough to cut through.

  Qingya saw the situation and didn't want to die after just crossing over, so she quickly took off her red wedding dress and removed the phoenix crown from her head. She casually tied a ponytail with a ribbon and, in the midst of Fang'gu and He Hua's astonishment, she beckoned an officer approaching the carriage with a hook of her finger. The officer immediately ran over, "Miss, what's wrong?"

  "What is your mission?"

  The officer and soldiers hurriedly said: "Protect the young lady, let the young lady arrive at Beiming safely."

  "What if I die?"

  The officer and soldiers were shocked, "Miss is dead, our mission failed, there's only one way to atone for this with death."

  "Alright then, if you don't want to fail the mission, take off your clothes quickly."

  The officer and soldiers were stunned, and Qing Ya hummed: "I believe you also have eyes, just a few people, it's not enough to protect me at all. If you really want to keep me safe, hide in my carriage and let me wear your clothes to escape first."

  Her reason was so well said that the soldiers did not dare to have any dissenting opinions, and immediately, under the cover of Fang Jie and Pianyao, they took off their outer clothes and handed them over to the horse carriage. Qingya, who had just arrived, wouldn't wear such clothes, so she hastily put on a set and jumped down from the horse carriage. The soldiers rushed in, and if they were clever, they would probably put the new bride's clothes on her body.

  At this time, the battle was urgent, and the outer ring had been killed. The killer had already rushed in, and He Gonggong indeed lived up to his reputation as a top-notch inner guard. With a flick of his dustpan and a stab of his spear, he took down several killers in a row and charged towards this side again. However, the killer was clearly enraged, and when it came to killing government soldiers, they were even more ruthless, showing no mercy at all.

  He Gong rushed over and saw Qing Ya dressed like this, seemingly understanding her plan, and said in a low voice: "Our family will cover you, you two slaves quickly escort Huajie Miss back to escape."

  Fang Gu and Peony didn't dare to linger, they pulled Qing Ya and ran away.

  The killer on the other side thought it was an official soldier protecting two servants who had escaped and didn't care, continuing to fiercely attack the horse carriage.

  The three of them didn't dare to run on the main road, so they ran hastily along the side of the path through the deep grass. However, before they had taken a few steps, they saw the three riders standing there again, gazing at them with an evil and sinister expression.

  Fang's aunt was so frightened that she stumbled and cried out: "What kind of people are you?"

  Those three riders all had their faces covered, they dismounted at the same time and slowly approached them.

  Qingya stepped back cautiously and asked, "What do you want to do?"

  One of the masked men finally spoke up, sneering, "What do you want to do? A man sees a woman, what do you think he wants to do?"

  Fang's sister suddenly hugged one of them tightly and shouted: "You two quickly escape..."

  Peony was still hesitating, Qingya pulled her and they took off running. This situation, being able to run away one by one is better than all three of them dying here.

  "Don't let them get away, chase after them!"

  The masked men who were not held by Fang's aunt were about to chase after them, and Fang's aunt turned around and hugged their legs, letting their fists and feet fall on her body like raindrops...

  Upon hearing Fang Jie's mournful cry, Qing Ya felt for the first time the cruelty and bloodiness of this world. The original owner had killed herself due to being abandoned by her loved one, Fang Jie died in order to protect her own safety, and there were also endless assassins with unknown motives...

  She suddenly pushed the already tearful Peony and said firmly: "We'll separate, I'll run this way, you run that way. If we're lucky enough to escape, we must avenge Fang's death!"

  Peony nodded tearfully, "I know who the thin-eyed man in the middle is. He's Madame's nephew, Gu Zhi Zhong. He framed Miss before, if Miss can escape, she must find him to avenge."

  She finished speaking and turned around to run away wildly.

  Her slender fingers gradually clenched into a fist, she didn't want to go back to that despicable Huajia again, but now they have someone's life in their hands, if she doesn't get justice for them, wouldn't Fang'niang die in vain? Wouldn't the original master die in vain?

  She didn't retreat, but instead loudly called out Fang's name and rushed towards the place where she was being abducted. There were assassins and horses there, Gu Zhitong dared to chase but not dare to rush forward, which also gave Yu Ru more time to escape.

  At this time, the fierce battle on the road was still going on. Qing Ya rolled and crawled to a strong horse, then jumped onto its back with agility, whipping it into a gallop and dashing out.

  Someone was found stealing a horse and running away, the black-clothed killer shouted "not good", immediately dispatched two people to urgently chase after them - they really didn't expect that it was the master who escaped, otherwise everyone would have chased out together.

  Gu Zizhong and the other two did not dare to chase again. One of them gritted his teeth and said, "Young Master, that stinky woman has escaped again, and we couldn't complete the task your aunt entrusted us with. She won't withhold your silver, will she?"

  Gu Zhi Zhong yanked down the veil on his face, revealing a sharp, axe-like face that was full of malice. He growled viciously: "With assassins hot on our heels, even if I don't mess with them, those stinky women are dead meat for sure. Let's go, we're heading back to report and collect our reward."

  They quietly left.

  In just a short while on the scene, the black-clad killers had completely gained the upper hand, and the government soldiers were almost all killed, with blood flowing like rivers, and the air was filled with the smell of blood.

  The killers finally surrounded the carriage, and someone chopped open the carriage. Inside, they only saw a big man shivering with fear, but didn't see Hong Qiong Niang at all. Suddenly, they exclaimed: "We've been deceived! It's a man, not the target! The person has escaped, chase quickly!"

  At this moment, Qing Ya was galloping on the official road, thinking about where the Huas lived in the capital. Suddenly, her horse's body tilted, and its front hooves knelt down. Her body flew out under inertia and heavily fell to the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust.

  If it wasn't for her conditioned reflexes borrowing a rolling momentum to unload some of the force, I estimate that her spine would have been broken by now.

  She endured the pain and turned sideways to take a look, only to find that someone had set up a trap in front of her horse, making it impossible for her to escape.

  A pair of deerskin boots walked slowly and stopped in front of her.

  "I knew you'd run away, but I didn't expect it to be on horseback. You've actually learned this skill in the past two years while being outside, and your courage has also grown bigger. Are you trying to get the entire Huahua family executed?"

  This voice is cold and hard, somewhat familiar.

  Qingya raised her head and recognized the handsome man in front of her, dressed in a dark blue suit, as the same man who had jilted his bride at the altar.

  She didn't even have time to speak, the cold and arrogant man said with a face full of disgust: "Since the imperial edict has been issued, do you think that just because you've returned to the capital, I'll see you? You're not only already a prisoner waiting for punishment, but what I said will definitely come true. From today on, don't even think about seeing me again for all eternity!"

  This person is a bit like a neurotic.

  Qingya took a deep breath and got up from the ground, suppressing all her emotions and said coldly: "Although I don't know you very well, but I have to tell you that there are many assassins ahead, and it's likely that the officials and soldiers have been killed. I won't escape, should I wait for them to come and kill me?"

  Chu Mingyu was taken aback, "There's a killer up ahead? You didn't come here just to see me?"

  "Stop being so annoying," she said. "I've already told you, I don't know you, why do you want to see me?"

  Chu Mingqiu's face darkened with anger, "Flowers in the rain!"

  "Stop calling me! I don't want to be killed yet! Get out of the way!"

  Chu Ming's autumn silk remained still, staring at her, and it wasn't until after a long while that a few words tumbled out from between his teeth, "What about Old Man He?"

  Qingya didn't fear the cold aura on him at all, looked up with her small face, "I don't know any River Lord or Grass Lord, please get out of my way!"

  Chu Ming's autumn cold smile sounded, "Come on, take Flower Seven Miss and put her on the horse carriage, continue to send her to Bei Ming!"

  Damn it! She just escaped, and now she's going to be sent back to that blood-sucking place in the North Sea? Is this really the Fourth Prince Chu Mingqiu who fell deeply in love with her original body at first sight, no matter how much suffering he endured anywhere?

  What kind of eyesight does the host have? This kind of man also made her fall in love for two years?

  "Chu Mingqiu, you're basically a piece of trash." Qingya couldn't help but laugh as she scolded him, the words themselves were quite crude, but her expression was like she was telling her closest friend that today's weather was nice.

  Chu Ming's eyes twitched slightly at the corner, ignoring her, turning his back on her, and letting others push her onto the horse carriage.

  Qingya didn't want to sit and wait for death, she suddenly smiled again: "Chu Mingqiu, don't blame me for not telling you earlier, when we left the city just now, the King of Beiming had already sent his envoy to greet us outside the city. Now in the territory of Daze Country, if someone like me dies, they can still be found, but if the King of Beiming's envoy dies, wouldn't he be afraid that the King of Beiming would be so angry that he would never give back the Resurrection Grass again? At that time, the death of the Empress Dowager will have nothing to do with you!"

  Finally grasped the key point of memory, don't believe Chu Mingqiu won't fall for it!