In the west city of Yao City, there was a dim alleyway, at the end of which lay a dilapidated manor. Gongsun Lu, dressed in a white gauze skirt, arrived at this manor accompanied by four guards. She frowned slightly as she took in the messy state of the entrance gate.

"Miss, these assassins prioritize stealth and security, please forgive the appearance!" Li Er spoke softly, seemingly noticing Gongsun Lu's slight frown.

"Do I look like someone who's been coddled? Let's go!" To his surprise, Gongsun Lu let out a cold snort.

You are exactly that kind of person, Li Er grumbled internally, though he dared not say a word aloud, instead leading the way while flattering Gongsun Lu.

Someone had already opened the manor gate, and the five of them proceeded inside. A man entirely clad in black glanced around, ensuring no one was nearby, before quickly shutting the door.

Entering the compound, Gongsun Lu realized the interior was completely incongruous with the ruin outside. She had expected desolation, but instead, everything was meticulously clean and the decor extremely exquisite. Apart from being smaller, it bore little difference from her own home.

Under the guidance of the black-clad man, Gongsun Lu was led into the hall of the manor. Three other men were already waiting there. Upon seeing Gongsun Lu arrive, they all stood up respectfully, attempting to force smiles, but years of maintaining icy composure made their strained expressions look worse than weeping.

"Enough, enough, no need for such ceremony. I only want to know your capabilities. I'll warn you, the target is a Xiantian Wushi. If you lose your lives, it has nothing to do with me!" Gongsun Lu couldn't be bothered with their facial expressions and spoke coldly.

"Miss, rest assured. In our line of work, we long ago cast aside life and death. Should we unfortunately perish, it will absolutely not implicate the Miss in any way!" The man standing in the middle clapped his chest and guaranteed.

"Very well. Here is the intelligence on the person you are to kill, and this is the down payment for this mission. You can collect the remainder from them after the task is complete!" Gongsun Lu nodded with satisfaction, pulled out a piece of white paper, and handed it to the man.

The man accepted it, studied it intently, memorized the address written on it, and then immediately tore the slip into fragments.

"Miss, rest assured, we will certainly not disappoint you!" the man solemnly guaranteed Gongsun Lu.

"I hope so," Gongsun Lu breathed out the words softly, then turned to leave.

After Li Er exchanged a few words with that man, he quickly followed behind Gongsun Lu, exiting the manor.

"Miss? You seem dissatisfied?" Li Er asked cautiously once they were outside the compound.

"Although the meridians within her body are sealed, she is guarded by escorts. Do you believe these few you found can kill her?" Gongsun Lu stated coldly.

"Miss, do not worry. They are assassins; they know how to draw away the guards. That is not something we need to concern ourselves with!" Li Er asserted confidently.

"Then, after the deed is done, are you truly certain..." As he spoke, Gongsun Lu made a throat-slitting gesture.

"You don't even need to worry about that, Miss. I have already summoned my brothers to converge; killing the four of them will be as easy as turning my hand!" Li Er's face remained brimming with confidence.

"Very well, let's return," Gongsun Lu uttered coldly, saying no more, though inwardly she mused: Once she is dead, perhaps that Crown Prince Xuanyuan will choose a consort again. Given my standing in the family, the position of Crown Prince Consort will surely be mine!

If Ye Jingyu and the others knew that this was the true reason Gongsun Lu desperately wanted to assassinate Gongsun Xiangyi, they would collectively give her a thumbs-up. To possess such machinations and means at such a young age—how could one not be impressed?

Night always descended slowly. Most common folk in Yao City retreated early into their homes because, lacking many other distractions, the activities related to procreating became the most interesting pursuit for the populace.

In those days, people's thoughts naturally did not reach any great depth, and such private matters certainly weren't conducted openly. Consequently, many household lights were extinguished early, and the entirety of Yao City gradually darkened.

Apart from the gambling dens and the qinglou (brothels), the only place in the entire city that maintained brightly lit halls was the largest residence—the Gongsun Estate.

At this time, Gongsun Sheng sat quietly in his wheelchair. Behind him, an old man in his late seventies or eighties slowly pushed the wheelchair along the corridor, his back stooped.

The servants had all gone to sleep; the journey was utterly silent, disturbed only by the hidden guards concealed in the darkness, with no one else daring to interrupt the head of the Gongsun family.

"How is the matter I entrusted to you progressing?" Gongsun Sheng suddenly spoke.

"Master, rest assured, everything you ordered has been taken care of. Miss Xiangyi will absolutely not face any danger!" the old man pushing the wheelchair replied respectfully.

"That is good. Xiangyi has suffered enough hardship; I do not wish for her to encounter any danger now that she has come to the Gongsun family," Gongsun Sheng said faintly, his words filled with guilt and melancholy.

"Indeed. But Master, why did you insist on finding a double for her after we moved Miss Xiangyi away?" The old steward's face was full of incomprehension.

"To fish," Gongsun Sheng uttered the two words plainly.

"Fishing?" The old steward looked completely puzzled.

"Precisely. I want to see how many of my juniors will take the bait." Gongsun Sheng’s voice was laced with bitterness as he spoke. It was one thing for his own sons to fight tooth and nail for the position of family head, but now many others had begun secretly plotting against him—something he absolutely could not allow. He could use the matter of Xuanyuan Blood marrying Gongsun Xiangyi to make a big stir, testing how many of his sons and grandsons still listened to him and would refrain from harming Xiangyi.

"I understand now, Master," the old steward murmured with a sigh. He had served Gongsun Sheng for decades and felt helpless regarding the sorrow that shadowed Gongsun Sheng’s later years.

"Mm, let’s go," Gongsun Sheng muttered softly, and the old steward pushed his wheelchair slowly forward, soon vanishing into the darkness.

When the moonlight spilled down, when the stars in the sky gradually rose, and when the gentle night breeze blew in gusts, several figures darted from different parts of Yao City, heading towards the Medicine King Valley on the western side of the city...

And Ye Jingyu, dressed entirely in black, stood silently atop a hill, his dark eyes fixed on the Medicine King Valley five li away, his expression full of doubt...