Reborn as the Regent's Beloved

It was already noon when Xiao Fengyi and Feng Xingye left Chunyi Pavilion. The officials from the Jingzhao Prefecture were relentless in their pursuit, forcing the two to run in front of the narrow gate.

During their escape, the two changed their clothes to avoid being identified by the color and style of their clothing.

As soon as she stepped out of the main building's wooden door, the girl leaning against Feng Xingye's broad chest sensed something was wrong. She raised her hand to shield her eyes from the glaring sunlight and looked at the waterside pavilions standing shoulder to shoulder in front of her.

The carriage stopped under the willow trees outside Chunyi Tower. Yueyi somehow climbed onto the top of the carriage, waving a small white handkerchief in her hand as if afraid they wouldn't see her.

"Master, Miss Xiao, over here!" Yue Yi hesitated for a moment, then called out in his hoarse voice, hoping that Xiao Fengyi and Feng Xingye could see where he was.

As astute as Feng Xingye had already spotted him, and with a wave of his long arm, he issued a warning to the other party.

Upon receiving the reply, Yueyi waved her small handkerchief with even greater joy, "Master, come quickly!"

Xiao Fengyi also wanted to leave this place, but it seemed to be difficult.

Her shimmering eyes gazed into the distance and realized that it wasn't far to the crooked willow tree, but she would have to cross the waterside pavilion, walk a few more steps, and pass through the embroidered gate of the Spring Breeze Pavilion before she could get out.

But now, even though it's only a few steps, the two of them can't seem to get across.

While Xiao Fengyi was being held in Feng Xingye's arms, caught in a dilemma, she inadvertently saw Liu Xiangru and Gu Mingyi, the two girls who had been with Mu Zhi the night before.

The two women were apprehended by officials from the Jingzhao Prefecture and questioned accusingly: "Why did you allow that man and woman into the room? Were you in cahoots with them to murder a high-ranking official?"

Liu Xiangru, living up to her reputation as the top courtesan, said unhurriedly, "Sir, how would we know who this Lord Mu offended? He just got up this morning to wash up, and who knew that he would be assassinated after he came back."

On the other side, Gu Mingyi was a little more timid. "Sir, it seems that the man and woman didn't kill him. The arrow was shot into Chunyi Pavilion from the outside. It really has nothing to do with us."

Seeing her tearful face, the constable suddenly wanted to take advantage of her, but luckily the madam arrived and protected her behind him.

The madam, without thinking, said, "Go away, get your filthy hands off us, don't touch our Miss Mingyi."

The official looked embarrassed, but he became much more restrained.

He knew that the girls at Chunyi Tower all had powerful backers and were not people they could mess with. He had only managed to take advantage of the beauties when they weren't paying attention. Now that the madam had arrived, he dared not make any further moves.

Although they restrained their actions, Liu Xiangru and Gu Mingyi's eyes revealed disdain when they looked at the madam.

Aren't they just prostitutes who chase after pleasure and sell their smiles? What's with the high and mighty attitude?

Having seen so much of Liu Xiang's brothel madam, she had long since forgotten her own bitterness and sorrow, leaving only Gu Mingyi unsure how to respond.

Liu Xiangru wanted to teach the official a lesson, so she flicked and pulled the handkerchief in her hand across the man's face, and the slap actually hurt quite a bit.

"What are you doing, you brothel prostitute, acting so arrogantly?" The officer was very displeased, as if he had been slapped, and gripped the hilt of his sword, his intentions unclear.

Seeing the officer's movement, Liu Xiangru remained calm and unhurried. She stepped forward and suddenly touched the officer's face, her sharp fingertips silently drawing several bloody marks.

He looks respectable, but his actions are so greasy and disgusting. Doesn't he like to take advantage of others? Let's give him a taste of the sweetness.

Xiao Fengyi, who was watching the situation from behind, immediately understood Liu Xiangru's intention. The sweetness of being the top courtesan of Chunyi Pavilion was not so easy to come by, and all the men under her skirts from all directions were eager to make a move.

The officer noticed the hostile gaze and immediately dropped his grip on the sword hilt, covering his burning, scratched cheek.

Liu Xiangru thus averted an unnecessary massacre, and Xiao Fengyi admired the woman's composure in the face of danger.

When they went to find Mu Zhi, the woman remained very calm.

The official's face turned bright red. The feeling of having his thoughts exposed was truly humiliating. He could only glare fiercely at Liu Xiangru, the woman who had touched his face.

Liu Xiangru, however, made no attempt to hide her sarcasm, instead retorting sharply, "What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen a beauty of unparalleled grace before?"

The official held up his finger and said to Liu Xiangru, "I'll save up enough money, you just wait."

Liu Xiangru knew exactly what he meant, and to hide her displeasure, she scoffed, "You think you can?"

The officer wanted to say something more, but was stopped by his superior, "Hey, finding that man and woman is more important, stop wasting time!"

The officer was ordered by his superior to stop confronting Liu Xiangru. He was resentful and made sure to mock her before leaving.

"Hmph, just a prostitute with a price tag, does she really think she's a lady from a wealthy family?"

The man was originally speaking to Liu Xiangru, but Liu Xiangru ignored him. Instead, Gu Mingyi, who was beside her, spoke up.

Gu Mingyi was clearly hurt and blurted out, "Pah! You could earn more in a lifetime than I do in one night!"

The official, disregarding all restraint, launched a haphazard attack, saying, "Hmph, so what if she's a prostitute? She thinks she's so high and mighty?"

Gu Mingyi burst into tears and stated a fact.

"They were bought here after committing crimes, and they had no choice in the matter."

After hearing this, the official was stunned for a moment, seemingly lost in thought, but he said nothing more and followed his superior to find a man and a woman.

As Xiao Fengyi saw the official and his superior pass by her, she held her breath while also noticing Gu Mingyi, who was crying uncontrollably.

As Gu Mingyi was crying, Liu Xiangru coldly comforted her, "Why are you crying? You should be thinking about how to get out of here, instead of telling those irrelevant people about your background and making yourself a laughingstock for no reason."

"Thank you for reminding me, Sister Xiangru." The woman wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.

Xiao Fengyi kept looking at these women, which also caught the attention of the men around her.

He recognized Gu Mingyi.

Feng Xingye said solemnly, "Gu Mingyi is also a victim of the official selling case. Her father was originally the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and was the chief judge of the initial official selling case."

"I see."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Fengyi was no less shocked than when she saw Xiao Qingyin again on the day she was reborn.

In her previous life, when she was relentlessly pursuing Feng Mingjing, she heard about this case from someone else.

Gu Weijun, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, accepted bribes and protected those behind the sale of official positions. Gu Weijun was beheaded, and his family members were relegated to the status of lowly.

At the time, she only felt that these women were too pitiful and did not pay attention to where the women of the Gu family had been sent. Now it seems that the women of the Gu family are living a life worse than death. She doesn't even know which daughter of the Gu family this Gu Mingyi is, or where her sisters are.