Chapter Twenty-Seven

Yangcheng.

A whirlwind marriage! Gu Datong, having reached middle age, had only met Hui'er, the adopted daughter of his aunt, yesterday, and today they were already performing the wedding ceremony and entering the bridal chamber—a true whirlwind marriage indeed.

It turned out that after Hui'er accepted Gu Datong’s proposal outside the stall yesterday, she had returned to the backyard, beaming with joy. She wanted to say something to Mu Mingxuan, but in the end, she said nothing, merely smiling as she looked at her.

Mu Mingxuan was busy boiling *zongzi*. She looked at Hui'er and asked, "Hui'er, what has happened to make you so happy?"

Hui'er’s face turned red as fire. She lowered her head and said, "Mother, Cousin Datong just asked to take care of you with me, to provide for you in your old age and see you through to the end. I have agreed to him!"

Mu Mingxuan was so overjoyed that she became incoherent. "You really agreed? Oh, that’s wonderful! I’ve always thought you should have said yes to him long ago!"

Hui'er pouted playfully, "Mother, what are you saying! I only just met him today; how could there be a ‘long ago’ about it?"

Upon hearing this, Mu Mingxuan quickly patted her own mouth and said, "Was it just today? My goodness, I must be getting old and senile! But I have known him for decades; he is a good man! Since you have already agreed, why not seize the day? Let’s hold your wedding today, shall we?"

Hui'er let out a chirping sound of protest, "Mother, you really are dizzy with joy! Today is the Dragon Boat Festival, the anniversary of Master Yang’s passing; it is inauspicious to marry."

Mu Mingxuan counted the days on her fingers and said, "Hui'er, you are right about today being unsuitable. Tomorrow is an auspicious day—let’s hold it tomorrow!"

Hui'er said, "Mother, you are too impatient!"

Mu Mingxuan replied, "Hui'er, is this impatient? I have been waiting for this day for nearly twenty years!"

The next day was the sixth of the fifth lunar month, an auspicious date.

As a renowned poetess, her household was holding a joyous event, and neighbors from all around came to help. Mu Mingxuan had many admirers in Yangcheng, and several lived in the neighborhood. Word spread quickly, and within half a day, the *zongzi* shop was packed. The street in front of the shop was also filled with uninvited guests. Gu Datong, however, had forgotten about the Qi Family Salt Shop in his state of blissful confusion.

The small *zongzi* shop was decorated like an immortal’s dwelling. A large, bright red "Double Happiness" character, written by Mu Mingxuan herself, was pasted on the door, revealing the owner’s cultural depth.

Early in the morning, Mu Mingxuan invited Aunt Fu, a neighbor, to style Hui'er’s hair. Standing beside her adopted daughter, she saw her wearing golden hairpins, her eyebrows delicately painted, and dressed in a red silk gown. Though she had reached middle age, she was still beautiful and moving. Mu Mingxuan could not help but feel envious, saying, "Such a beautiful and captivating creature—it’s too good a deal for that boy Gu Datong!"

Hui'er said shyly, "Mother, he is your nephew!"

Mu Mingxuan laughed, "I am just jealous of that nephew of mine, to have such good fortune at his age!"

Hui'er wanted to lift her bridal veil to comfort her mother, but she couldn't think of what to say. "Mother..."

Mu Mingxuan quickly stopped her with a wave, "Don't move! Keep your veil on!"

Hui'er asked, "Mother, you are a great poetess of the age; can you recite a poem for your daughter today?"

Mu Mingxuan loved being called a great poetess. Her adopted daughter’s request made her expression brighten. "I can! I shall recite one for you now..."

"On the flower-seller’s pole, I bought a spray of spring, ready to bloom. Tears lightly stain the petals, still bearing traces of the dawn dew. Fearing my beloved might guess that my face is not as fair as the flowers, I pin them in my cloud-like hair, just to make him compare the two. —May you both bloom late but all the more brilliantly!"

Hui'er said with emotion, "Thank you, Mother!"

The auspicious hour arrived. Gu Datong and Wang Hui'er held hands and performed the wedding rites. The sound of firecrackers in front of the shop was deafening.

Perhaps it was a coincidence, but amidst the thunderous noise of the firecrackers, a procession passed by on the street. There were several dozen people, some on horseback, some in carriages. A young man in white led the way, and in the last large carriage sat the Fifth Mistress, Lou Mingxuan. She covered both ears with her hands, as the thick scent of gunpowder in the air made her feel suffocated.

She could never have dreamed that this heaven-shaking sound was the wedding firecrackers of her ex-husband.

Inside the bridal chamber, the newlyweds sat quietly side by side.

Gu Datong turned to look at Hui'er, "It is late, shall we rest?"

Hui'er replied, "Yes," and pulled down the bed curtains.

Behind the curtains, Hui'er quickly shed all her clothes and lay on the bed. Gu Datong looked down and saw her snow-white breasts trembling before him. He was an experienced man and knew how to begin. He thought she must have experience too. However, when he stripped off his own clothes, given the situation, all his past experience felt redundant: there was no need for kissing, no need for caressing, no need for playful teasing. Her supple, white legs were perfectly positioned, and her flower was smiling up at him. Gu Datong felt a surge of heat, his lower body rising like a drawn sword. He lay upon her like a brave and battle-hardened old general, wielding his fiery treasure, and thrust inside.

Hui'er let out a cry of pain. Gu Datong felt as if he had wounded her. Her body instantly went cold.

However, after only a few seconds, she began to warm up again.

Gu Datong moved at a steady pace. At first, he felt they were like master and apprentice in a blacksmith shop; he was the master, holding the tongs in his left hand and a small hammer in his right; she was the apprentice, wielding the heavy sledgehammer. When the small hammer struck lightly, the large hammer followed; when the small hammer struck hard, the large hammer followed suit. Soon, he felt they were comrades-in-arms charging together on the battlefield. He was the veteran squad leader, and she was the young soldier. The young soldier was reckless, and the veteran protected her at every turn.

The spring water flowed in a gurgling stream.

The young soldier grew more courageous with each strike, even launching a counter-attack! She let out incoherent cries...

Finally, both collapsed, exhausted, amidst the "bloodstains."

Quietly snuggled in his arms, Gu Datong hugged her with one hand.

He felt the bedsheets were a bit cold, so he reached out to touch them and found a large, damp patch. When he lifted his hand to his eyes, his five fingers were bright red, covered in blood.

He whispered into her ear, "Hui'er, is it your time of the month?"

Hui'er, sleepy and dazed, whispered, "No. My period finished five or six days ago."

Gu Datong said, "It isn't? Then look, why is there so much blood?" He held his blood-stained fingers up for her to see.

Hui'er pouted, "My silly cousin, to be so old and yet so dense! Hui'er is still a virgin!"

Gu Datong asked, "Then did you not share a bridal chamber with your former husband?"

Hui'er sat up and said, "I will tell you everything! I was a little maid in the Imperial Kitchen, and he was a little eunuch; we were 'fake spouses' in a 'pair-eating' arrangement. When the city fell, we were lucky enough to escape, but the Central Plains were in chaos, and we couldn't stay, so we fled south..."

Gu Datong said, "So that’s it? Hui'er, I was also a palace guard in the past."

Hui'er said, "Mother already told me that!"

In the bridal chamber, a pair of large red candles burned, their light flickering.

Yangzhou Prefecture.

After the Dragon Boat Festival, the official promotion orders for Gu Yuren and his brother-in-law Qi Guang were issued.

Gu Yuren was appointed as the Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Justice. Although it was a minor rank, it was not far from his level as a military judge in Yangzhou. But he was going to the capital—he would be a capital official. This secretly delighted his wife, Qi Qiongqiong, as she had long yearned for the capital. She wished her husband would be like her younger brother, Gu Yusheng, serving as an official in the capital so that she could live there with him. Recently, her younger sister, Qi Yaoyao, had written in a letter, "Big sister, what kind of place is the capital? It is under the feet of the Son of Heaven! The palaces are golden, the roads are golden, and even the willow trees are... green! You must come for a visit! When you do, I will certainly play the host, and aside from treating you to fine food, I will definitely be your guide and take you all around the capital!" Qi Qiongqiong was quite jealous of her sister.

After finishing lunch and returning to their bedroom, Qi Qiongqiong couldn't wait to tell her two sons, "Gu Dabao, Gu Erbao, we are going to the capital this time!"

The two little brothers asked, "Mother, is the capital fun?"

Qi Qiongqiong said happily, "Mother tells you both, the capital is ten times, a hundred times more fun than Yangcheng!"

Erbao had recently taken a liking to the bamboo horse made by his grandfather, Qi Wei, and asked, "Are there bamboo horses in the capital too?"

Qi Qiongqiong said to Erbao, "The capital is full of bamboo horses, even more skillful and sturdy, and prettier than the ones your grandfather makes. When we get there, you can ride whichever one you want, without having to fight with Dabao!"

The little brothers were overjoyed and rushed out of the courtyard, shouting, "We’re going to the capital! We’re going to the capital to ride bamboo horses!"

...

Qi Qiongqiong followed them out, grabbing one with each hand, and scolded, "What are you two little ancestors shouting about? Your grandparents are taking an afternoon nap, don't wake them up!"

Qi Guang, the Doctor of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, was appointed as the Assistant Magistrate of Meizhou in the Chengdu Prefecture circuit.

His eccentric wife, Sima Jiannan, said happily to Duan Yuanyuan, "Mother-in-law, why don't you come with us to Meizhou?"

Yin Yuanyuan agreed, "That sounds good! With my eccentric daughter-in-law gone, it will be dull and boring for me at home. Besides, I have long planned to visit your father! Traveling together is the best!"

When Qi Wei heard this, he hurriedly said, "Wife, you cannot go!" Yin Yuanyuan asked, "Husband, why can't I go?" Qi Wei replied, "If you leave, what will happen to the salt shop? What about me?" Just then, Gu Datong walked in and said, "Brother-in-law Qi, let Sister-in-law Yin go to Meizhou if she wants! We will be here to keep you company at home!"

Upon seeing Gu Datong, Qi Wei said angrily, "Brother Datong, where have you been all these days? We looked everywhere for you!"

Gu Datong asked joyfully, "Did you have something urgent to discuss?"

Qi Wei said, "Yuren and Qi Guang are both being transferred to other posts! You tell me if that’s urgent or not!"

Gu Datong said with a smile, "It’s not urgent! But it is cause for celebration!" Qi Wei said, "They are leaving in two days, did you know that?"

Gu Datong replied, "Now that you mention it, I do!" Qi Wei felt as if Gu Datong had become a different person and asked, "Brother Gu, where on earth have you been these days?"

Yin Yuanyuan chimed in, "Yes, Brother Gu, tell us everything!"

Gu Datong stopped smiling and said, "I accidentally encountered my aunt, whom I had lost contact with for over twenty years, at the *zongzi* shop, and met my adopted sister, Wang Hui'er. She is a remarkable woman who carries the weight of righteousness on her shoulders—a rarity in this world—so I have taken her as my wife!"

Qi Wei asked, "Is that all?"

Gu Datong turned and shouted outside, "Aunt, Hui'er, come on in!" A middle-aged woman walked into the shop, supporting an old lady.

Gu Datong stepped forward, took Mu Mingxuan’s hand, and introduced her to everyone: "This is my aunt, Mu Mingxuan, a talented woman of her generation and a great poetess of our time!"

Mu Mingxuan’s name was already famous across the land. Hearing this, everyone exclaimed "Ah!" and crowded around, staring at Mu Mingxuan.

Gu Datong hurriedly pushed Hui'er forward and introduced her, "This is my wife, Hui'er; we have just been married..."

Before Gu Datong could finish his sentence, a young man in white walked in, supporting a lady. The lady asked, "Which one is the elder Mu?" It was Li Muwen and Lou Mingxuan, who had just arrived at the Qi Family Salt Shop.

Mu Mingxuan looked at them and said, "I am she! And you are?"

Yin Yuanyuan stepped forward and introduced, "Elder Mu, this is my senior sister, Lou Mingxuan."

Mu Mingxuan exclaimed, "Oh!" and asked, "You are Datong’s ex-wife, Lou Mingxuan?"

Lou Mingxuan replied with a look of shame, "It is this lowly one. I am now the Fifth Mistress of the Li household, the home of the Surveillance Commissioner."

Mu Mingxuan said, "Lou Mingxuan, do not be ashamed! I know you; you are a heroine!"

For the first time in many years, Lou Mingxuan heard someone call her a heroine to her face. Her eyes brimmed with tears, and she said, "Elder, you are too kind!"

At this moment, the great poetess seemed to enter a state of flow. She said loudly, "Child, your righteousness truly reaches the heavens! When the Northern Zhen invaders attacked, you risked your life to resist. After the capital fell, you risked your life to go to Northern Zhen to rescue your former master. During the great famine, you sacrificed yourself to save your husband, children, and master. In the old coastal city, you led the local militia to resist the invaders! Your name is known throughout the world!" She looked around at everyone, "My friends, how many women like Lou Mingxuan are there in this world?"

At this moment, the main hall of the Qi Family Salt Shop was filled with Gu Datong, Hui'er, Qi Wei, Yin Yuanyuan, Gu Yuren, Qi Qiongqiong, Qi Guang, Sima Jiannan, Li Muwen, as well as the servants and apprentices of the Qi family. Hearing the passionate words of the elder, everyone looked at Lou Mingxuan with admiration.

Gu Yuren suddenly stepped forward, stood before his mother, and with a serious face, said with great respect, "Mother, ever since you left us, I have hated you! Now I realize I was wrong. Please forgive your son for his ignorance!" He knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times to Lou Mingxuan.

Lou Mingxuan’s tears flowed like a spring as she stepped forward to help her eldest son up.

Yin Yuanyuan stepped forward and said, "Haha, today is a grand day! Our Qi Family Salt Shop has not only welcomed a great poetess, but long-separated kin have reunited here as well! It truly makes one joyous beyond words." She turned to Qi Wei, "Husband, since everyone is gathered here today, let’s celebrate, shall we?"

Qi Wei smiled slyly, "Wife, let me ask you a question first."

Yin Yuanyuan asked, "What question?"

Qi Wei asked, "Are you still going to Meizhou?"

Yin Yuanyuan looked at her daughter-in-law, Sima Jiannan, then at Mu Mingxuan, and said, "Now that Elder Mu is in Yangzhou, I will never be lonely again. I’m not going!"

Qi Wei said happily, "Wife, then go quickly and tell the kitchen to prepare food and wine; we are celebrating the New Year today!"

Yin Yuanyuan pouted, "Husband, have you gone senile? It’s only the middle of the year; there’s still more than half a year until the New Year!"

Qi Wei laughed, "Then let’s celebrate the 'half-year' with the standards of the New Year!"

Yin Yuanyuan giggled, "Husband, you are becoming more talented by the day!" With that, she headed to the kitchen.

The celebration at the Qi Family Salt Shop today was somewhat extravagant, even higher than the standards of any previous New Year.

Mu Mingxuan sat at a table with Lou Mingxuan, Yin Yuanyuan, Gu Yuren, Qi Qiongqiong, Qi Guang, and Sima Jiannan.

During the feast, Gu Yuren stood up and said to Mu Mingxuan, "Great Aunt, your great-nephew believes that in the land of China, there are thousands, if not millions, of daughters like my mother!"

Mu Mingxuan smiled, "My dear official Gu, who placed second in the martial examinations, I am very pleased to hear you say that. But your aunt believes that although there are many extraordinary men and women today, they are all in a deep slumber and need to be awakened before they can achieve great things!"

Gu Yuren bowed and said, "Great Aunt, I, Gu Yuren, am willing to be a messenger of awakening!"

Mu Mingxuan turned to Lou Mingxuan and said, "Child, did you hear that? You are no longer fighting alone; at the very least, you have your son fighting by your side!"

Gu Yuren continued, "Reporting to Great Aunt, your great-nephew also loves to write poetry, and I love reciting your works best. I am your most loyal fan!"

Qi Qiongqiong stood up and said, "Great Aunt, your great-granddaughter-in-law, Qi Qiongqiong, is also your most loyal fan!"

The little brothers, Dabao and Erbao, also chimed in, "Dabao (Erbao) is too!" Everyone laughed.

Qi Guang stood up, bowed, and said, "Elder Mu, Qi Guang, the Assistant Magistrate of Meizhou, is also your fan!"

Sima Jiannan stood up and said, "Reporting to Elder Mu, my husband Qi Guang never recites poetry, so he doesn't count! I, Sima Jiannan, recite your masterpieces every day—I am the one who counts!"

Qi Guang said seriously, "Reporting to Elder Mu, my wife Sima Jiannan has reached a point of obsession with reciting your poems. If our nephew Dabao teaches her a line, she learns it immediately!"

Before Qi Guang could finish, Qi Qiongqiong said, "Oh my, you two are parents already, yet you’re still flirting here. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at by Elder Mu?"

Sima Jiannan laughed, "Big sister, don't blame me for complaining, but some people like to tell lies." She looked back at Qi Guang, "Good husband, did you hear what big sister said? Home is not an official court; we are family, so just say what you mean and stop hiding things."

Qi Qiongqiong glared at her sister-in-law, "It would be better if everyone were as outspoken as you!"

Mu Mingxuan laughed heartily, "I never expected that I, Mu Mingxuan, would end up in Yangcheng and meet so many relatives and so many fans. This is truly delightful! Lou Mingxuan, Yin Yuanyuan, children, let us raise our glasses together!"

Everyone raised their glasses.

At night, Lou Mingxuan stayed at the Qi Family Salt Shop.

Lou Mingxuan and Yin Yuanyuan shared a room. The two senior sisters hadn't talked together in over twenty years, and tonight they had endless topics to discuss. Late into the night, they were still talking.

Yin Yuanyuan asked Lou Mingxuan, "Senior Sister Lou, has your son in white been betrothed?"

Lou Mingxuan said, "He has, two matches."

...

Yin Yuanyuan exclaimed and sat up, saying, "Just like his father—a house full of wives and concubines!"

Lou Mingxuan replied shamefully, "Junior Sister Yin, I arranged them for him."

Yin Yuanyuan widened her eyes and asked, "You yourself?"

Lou Mingxuan nodded and said, "Yes, myself... Junior Sister, do you know whose daughters they are?"

Yin Yuanyuan shook her head.

Lou Mingxuan said, "They are the daughters of Zhao Rouya, Xiao Guimu."

Yin Yuanyuan was stunned.

Lou Mingxuan laughed, "You didn't expect that, did you? On our way back to Yangcheng from the ancient coastal city, we met Zhao Rouya and her husband at an inn. In our shared joy, we betrothed our children. But that rascal of mine had already gotten involved with the innkeeper’s daughter. I saw that the girl was decent, clever, and capable, and a devoted lover, so..."

Yin Yuanyuan finished her sentence, "So, you let your son in white have both!"

Lou Mingxuan laughed, "Who’s to say otherwise? Perhaps it is fate!"

Yin Yuanyuan said, "I delivered that girl Xiao Guimu when she was born; she has been courageous since she was a child! I heard from Yuren that she actually dressed as a man, took the martial examinations, won the title of Martial Champion, and was specially conferred the title of General Suppressing the South by the Emperor. It is truly enviable!"

Lou Mingxuan sighed, "Junior sister, do you know that doing this is a crime of deceiving the Emperor? Once her identity is exposed, she will be beheaded."

Yin Yuanyuan said dismissively, "What is there to fear about beheading? I practice martial arts too. If I weren't so old, I would want to do what that girl Guimu did, dress as a man, go to the Martial Arts Garden, and maybe even win a martial degree for myself!"

Lou Mingxuan mocked, "If you had such thoughts, why didn't you do it all those years ago?"

Yin Yuanyuan scolded, "You heartless wretch! If I hadn't been home having children and selling salt to earn money to raise two daughters all those years ago, where would the two daughters-in-law of the Gu family have come from?"

Lou Mingxuan said, "That is true! Our Junior Sister Yin has indeed worked hard, and I must thank you properly!"

Yin Yuanyuan asked, "How will you thank me?"

Lou Mingxuan said, "By finding a good marriage for my poor Yuru."

Yin Yuanyuan feigned anger, "No! You’re not thanking me; you’re clearly asking me to do a thankless task!"

Lou Mingxuan said in a tone that brooked no refusal, "Who else but you is her own aunt?"

In the capital.

A few nights ago, two masked female assassins with nerves of steel snuck into the residence of Prime Minister Tan to assassinate him. Because they had never seen the Prime Minister, they mistakenly assassinated an old guest of the mansion. At the time of the incident, dozens of guards pursued them, but the two assassins had excellent lightness skills and could scale walls, so they escaped.

This alarmed the Emperor. Aside from sending the Empress to visit and console the startled Prime Minister, he ordered the city locked down and dispatched the Imperial Guard to conduct a house-to-house search to capture the female assassins. Due to a shortage of manpower, the Emperor ordered all officials from the Six Ministries who had entered through the martial examinations, regardless of rank, to follow the commands of the Imperial Guard and participate in the search.

Gu Yusheng, who had excelled in both the literary and martial examinations, was no exception. He was assigned to be responsible for checking South Gate Street. Several days had passed, but they hadn't even caught a glimpse of the assassins.

It was late at night.

Gu Yusheng dragged his weary body home. At this moment, he had only one thought: get home quickly so his wife, Qi Yaoyao, could boil a pot of hot water for a bath and get some sleep.

As he neared his home, by the dim light of the lantern, Gu Yusheng spotted a black shadow flying out from the courtyard and drifting toward the street.

"Hold! A thief!" Gu Yusheng leaped from his horse to give chase.

"Stop! ...Or I’ll shoot!" Gu Yusheng shouted.

The shadow stopped. Gu Yusheng vaulted and landed in front of the shadow. Looking back, he saw it was the girl A-Zi.

A-Zi tilted her head and giggled, "Young Master, don't you recognize A-Zi? You even ate our wild rabbit meat in the outskirts a few days ago."

Gu Yusheng stared at her intently, suddenly remembering that the court was hunting for female assassins, and asked, "Who are you really? Why are you trespassing in my home at night?"

"Your home?" A-Zi only then remembered that Gu Yusheng had said he lived in the Osmanthus Garden, and said, "Last time we parted, you said you lived in the Osmanthus Garden, and I just wanted to come and see you." A-Zi was very quick-witted.

In fact, the two female assassins who had attacked Prime Minister Tan were Purple Rose and Red Rose; they were seeking revenge for Peach Blossom Village. After coming to the capital, they discovered that the residence of the General Suppressing the South was in the Osmanthus Garden. They also wanted to assassinate the General, and tonight they were scouting the path.

Gu Yusheng asked again, "If you wanted to see me, you could have come openly during the day; why sneak around in the dead of night?"

A-Zi said softly, "I fell in love with you at first sight, and I was afraid your wife would see me if I came during the day..."

"Who would believe that?" Gu Yusheng looked around, "Look at you, dressed in night attire, and you’re wearing a sword! Tell me quickly, are you the masked female assassins the court is searching for?"

"I came with the intention of seeing you, yet you call me a female assassin," Purple Rose still tilted her head. "It seems this scholar is poor and crazed, wanting to report me to the authorities for a reward..."

Purple Rose’s face turned pale in an instant—only then did she notice that Gu Yusheng was dressed in official military attire.

Gu Yusheng had known all along and lowered his voice, "You two reckless fools! The court is doing everything in its power to catch you; get out of the capital quickly, lest you lose your heads!"

Purple Rose asked, "Sir, who are you? Why do you care about us?"

Gu Yusheng said, "I am Number Three of the 'Wu-Wu Lost Books'."

Purple Rose said happily, "So you are the leader! Our Chief Lu Wenting once instructed that if we encountered trouble, we could look for you, but we forgot, and besides, there was nothing special."

Gu Yusheng mocked, "Haven't you 'found' me now? According to the carrier pigeon letter from Chief Lu of Moon Island, you came to gather intelligence, not to 'assassinate' anyone, right?"

Purple Rose said awkwardly, "We acted on our own initiative."

"Acting on your own initiative will get you killed!" Gu Yusheng suddenly realized the gravity of the situation. "Hey, girl A-Zi, where is your 'sister-in-law'?"

"Her?" Purple Rose coughed into the air, and a figure flew from the darkness, landing in front of them. Gu Yusheng saw it was Red Rose, dressed in black, just like A-Zi.

Purple Rose whispered a few words in her ear.

Red Rose looked at Gu Yusheng with astonishment and bowed, "Greetings, Leader." Gu Yusheng noticed that Red Rose’s large eyes were still misty.

Purple Rose whispered to Gu Yusheng, "Young Master, what should we do next?"

Gu Yusheng glared at her, "There is no time to lose; you must leave the capital immediately and return to Moon Island."

Purple Rose said anxiously, "But the capital is sealed like an iron barrel; how can we get out of the city?"

Gu Yusheng hesitated for a moment and said, "Hide here and don't make any sudden moves. I will immediately get two sets of Imperial Guard uniforms for you to change into, and I will escort you out of the city under the cover of night."

Purple Rose whispered, "We will do as you say, Young Master!"