His Majesty is plotting a rebellion? Quickly, summon the Imperial Advisor!

"Duke Zhou, Duke Li, Duke Wang, what are you doing here?" Shang Shoucheng came up to the three men, raised his head and puffed out his chest, his gaze sweeping over them.

Despite being wounded, his aura remained strong; the decapitation sword on his right side looked as if it had just been sharpened, exuding a menacing sharpness.

"Haha, Nephew Zhao and we have some old acquaintances. We came to visit him. In the future, when Nephew Zhao's cultivation level is higher, he will remember our kindness, won't he?"

Duke Zhou laughed heartily and glanced at Zhao Qingyun.

Zhao Qingyun nodded reluctantly. Despite his arrogant demeanor, he was actually quite afraid of death.

"Commander Shang, please." Li Gong and the other two made way for Shang Shoucheng, letting him pass.

Shang Shoucheng didn't think much of it. He opened Zhao Qingyun's cell, unchained him, and led him outside.

The three officials exchanged a glance and followed.

Upon exiting the dungeon, he saw a carriage already waiting there. Zhou Gong shook his head and chuckled twice.

Everything went as expected. Zhao Qingyun was a spoiled young master who mistakenly entered the path of immortality.

Xu Bing was a good-for-nothing who mistakenly entered the path of immortality.

What is there to fear?

After this incident, everything went as he had predicted, and Zhou Gong's state of mind was different. He was like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, even more radiant than in his prime.

He quickened his pace, cupped his hands, and said with a smile, "Nephew Zhao, we are uncle and nephew, but we mortals have short lifespans and may never see each other again. Shall we see you off?"

Zhao Qingyun looked at Zhou Gong, his brows relaxed slightly, and nodded, saying, "Very good, very good, Zhou Gong, please come along."

End of words.

He flicked his already somewhat dirty and disheveled robe, raised his head and strode into the carriage.

Shang Shoucheng personally acted as the coachman for him. With a crack of the whip, the carriage sped away, leaving only ruts and footprints behind.

"Hurry up."

Seeing Zhao Qingyun's reaction, Zhou Gong knew that his plan had succeeded.

Zhao Qingyun's change in attitude towards him was quite obvious. Even if Zhao Qingyun was a cold-hearted person and he didn't gain anything, at least he wouldn't be resented by him.

"Duke Zhou, this plan is brilliant!"

"Haha, I admit it, I admit it."

"We'd better hurry and chase after him, and send that servant away like we're seeing a Buddha off. After that... it won't be us who will be in trouble."

"Then what are you waiting for? I'm off!"

The three of them got into their own carriages and chased after the carriage in front.

……

But said the other side.

After Ji Yuan finished eating, Xu Bing asked her to change her clothes.

Ji Yuan was completely baffled. Could it be that Xu Bing really dared to take him out?

However, she had no choice but to obediently change into that outfit. She took off her plain dress and put on a high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with yellow, blue, and white stripes.

Xu Bing pinched his chin, not entirely satisfied. This dress was designed for a demure and elegant style, not suitable for a hot and alluring woman like Ji Yuan.

He tapped his left side with his finger, signaling Ji Yuan to switch.

Ji Yuan's face flushed red, as if he had been stepped on. How could a dignified monarch not even be able to decide what to wear?

How frustrating!

"Endure! It's all my own doing, all my own doing."

Ji Yuan continued to change clothes, going through three or four different outfits, but Xu Bingyou was still not satisfied.

She was already filled with irritation. Women's clothing was numerous and complicated, and putting it on was already inconvenient. Let alone changing it repeatedly, especially in this cold season.

Finally, after changing back into the high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), Ji Yuan realized that this guy was teasing her again.

That damned bastard... Ji Yuan felt like biting Xu Bing.

With a flick of his finger, Xu Bing caused the golden rope on the ground to float up and wrap around Ji Yuan's arms, binding his wrists behind his back.

Ji Yuan had anticipated this outcome, so she simply stopped struggling and turned to look at the falling snow outside the window.

She lamented that, without realizing it, her fate had become no longer in her own hands.

Xu Bing was bold yet cautious in his actions. Since he was taking Ji Yuan out to witness a scene of great significance to Da Xi, he decided to do so.

Therefore, thorough preparations must be made. Many people, after gaining an advantage for a long time, easily become complacent due to the opponent's helpless submission.

However, Xu Bing did not do that. After binding Ji Yuan's hands, another golden rope transformed into a thin golden thread, which, like shackles, locked Ji Yuan's legs.

With just a thought from Xu Bing, Ji Yuan's limbs would instantly lose their mobility, a feeling so secure it sent chills down Ji Yuan's spine.

If she had been even half as cautious as Xu Bing back then, she wouldn't have ended up in this situation.

Playing with the prey can certainly amplify the sense of accomplishment and prolong the pleasure of hauling in the catch.

But... the frustration of the mishap was truly hard to swallow. Ji Yuan had no idea that her expression at that moment was extremely unpleasant.

[Status: Controlled by others, in despair.]

Having previously planned to escape when she learned she was going out, Ji Yuan no longer had any such intention.

Too cautious.

Xu Bing was quite satisfied. If Ji Yuan still had that inclination, he could add some more.

It was snowing outside, and Ji Yuan's dress was a spring style. Going out like this would inevitably attract a lot of attention.

Although Xu Bing didn't mind letting this dangerous woman suffer some cold and hardship, the priority was still to be cautious.

Xu Bing was prepared. He first put a bronze mask on Ji Yuan, then took out a wool cloak and draped it over her shoulders, tying the straps.

The mask covers the face, while the cloak covers the body.

Once they arrived, everything was settled. Ji Yuan looked at Xu Bing suspiciously. What was this guy up to after going to all this trouble?

Xu Bing himself put on a bronze mask. "Let's go. The show is about to begin."

With that, he led Ji Yuan out the back door.

A carriage had already been prepared there, and the red-eyed black crows circled within a ten-mile radius, unattended, and everything was safe.

The two boarded the carriage and headed towards a certain place in Da Xi City, leaving only one or two cart tracks and a line of hoofprints.

Inside the carriage.

Xu Bing lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, allowing the Empress of Da Xi to see her kingdom and the current state of Da Xi City.

The scenery outside the car changed.

As you get closer to the city center, the vibrant, everyday life of the stock market gradually comes into view.

Various hawking cries. Various small vendors.

Due to limitations in craftsmanship, the Da Xi carriage was not well-made and was somewhat bumpy when traveling.

"So, has Da Xi changed for the better, for the worse, or for nothing at all?" Xu Bing brushed the snow off his clothes and asked casually.

"Nothing has changed." Ji Yuan answered the question with unexpected seriousness.

I still remember when she came down from the Penglai Immortal Mountain, all the people knelt and bowed their heads in worship.

That was the clearest scene of Da Xi City in her memory.

Sitting in the carriage now, it seems that nothing has changed.

As Ji Yuan smelled the fragrance emanating from the person beside her, her mood gradually calmed down for some reason.

That fragrance smells really nice.

"You have good taste," she said out of the blue. Ever since she met Xu Bing, she had been able to smell that faint, delicate fragrance.

"Of course." Xu Bing accepted without hesitation, thinking to himself, "You haven't even asked about my exotic fragrance yet."

The perfect fragrance was compressed to within five centimeters of the body, making it impossible to smell unless the action was extremely intimate.

suddenly.

Ji Yuan tensed up as she spotted a familiar figure by the roadside, and her mind raced in that instant.

If at this moment, I were to use all my strength to rush off the carriage...

But it can be seen as the carriage passes by.

That nascent idea was nipped in the bud.

This emotional shift happened in an instant. However, Xu Bing still managed to catch it.

"So, this is Cui Chen?" Xu Bing lightly tapped his right foot, a slight smile on his lips.

Cui Chen, commander of the Xuanjia Army.

Ji Yuan's right-hand man, and also the most mysterious person, always wears a mask and never shows his true face.

No one knows his true identity.