The Romantic Journey Through Time: Huanzhu's Romantic Adventures, Part 24

Chapter 111 Empress Wu's Later Years - Shattering Stones and Breaking Wood!

"The fish have taken the bait?"

Ertai was sitting cross-legged on the bed, regulating the wolf energy within his body. Hearing the door open, he knew it was Lian Gui entering. Since being controlled by Ertai, Lian Gui was nominally the chief eunuch under Consort Zhen, but in reality, he was Ertai's servant.

"Yes, Second Master Fu, according to the news from below, the Red Lotus Sect rebels in Shandong, Hebei, Tianjin, and other places are heading towards the capital by land and water. Their marching speed is extremely fast, and it is estimated that they will be fully assembled by the day after tomorrow. Including the people hidden in the capital, it is conservatively estimated that they can gather three thousand people."

Lian Gui bowed and reported the situation he had found to Ertai in detail.

"Heh, that's fast enough. To be able to mobilize so many people in just two or three days shows that the Red Lotus Sect's strength is not to be underestimated,"

Ertai said with a smile. He then stood up, leaped to Lian Gui's side, and solemnly instructed, "Keep a close eye on their every move. Don't let your guard down for a moment."

"Yes, Second Master Fu,"

Lian Gui replied solemnly, cupping his fists.

"Hmm, I trust you quite well,"

Ertai patted Lian Gui's shoulder, praising him with a smile. He still remembered the first time he fought Lian Gui. This kid's kung fu was inferior to his, but his cunning was quite deep. If it weren't for the sudden burst of wolf energy within him, which suppressed the power of the 'Soul-Devouring Powder,' Ertai would have suffered a great loss.

"This servant swears to serve Second Master Fu with my life. Wherever you point, I will fight. I will not hesitate,"

Lian Gui said quickly, delighted by Ertai's praise.

"Very good. Any news from Zong Ran?"

Ertai asked again.

"Not yet, but our people have been secretly monitoring his every move. Master Fu, you can rest assured,"

Lian Gui replied.

"Keep a close eye on him and report to me immediately,"

Ertai ordered.

"Yes, sir,"

Lian Gui responded. ...

In the evening, the silver moon hung high, a cool breeze blew, and a chilling aura filled the air.

Inside the room, in the inner chamber,

Ertai sat cross-legged on the bed, his eyes slightly closed, his hands forming a peculiar mudra. Following the instructions of the *Supreme Union Sutra* in his mind, he regulated the seven-colored wolf energy within his body.

This wolf energy had been in Ertai's body for nearly a month, and its originally violent nature had long since become milder. With Ertai's encouragement and circulation, the seven-colored wolf energy floated out from his consciousness, first circling his spiritual sea thirty-six times, and then entering Ertai's eight extraordinary meridians, nourishing his bones and cleansing his meridians. Subsequently, a portion of the pure seven-colored wolf energy, mixed with blood essence, entered the dantian in his lower abdomen.

Ertai had not yet successfully activated his 'inner vision' and could not see how the seven-colored wolf energy was 'breaking through' in his dantian. He could only sense the circulation of the wolf energy through changes in his own body. He took a deep breath, then closed his lips tightly, and urged the seven-colored wolf energy to break through layers of barriers according to the instructions of the Hehuan Sutra.

During this process, Ertai felt slightly uncomfortable. His dantian swelled up severely, like a balloon filled with air, constantly expanding and growing. His originally clear eyes gradually became hazy and blurry, and two inconspicuous seven-colored rays of light appeared in his eyes. Then, wisps of seven-colored heat gradually rose from his body, soon raising the temperature in the room to the level of a hot summer day.

At this moment, Ertai's fingers formed various complex and peculiar hand seals. With his urging, the pure spiritual energy between heaven and earth was constantly drawn to him. This spiritual energy was milky white, first hovering and swirling on the roof, and then condensing into a vortex of spiritual energy.

As Ertai drew in and pulled, wisps of milky-white, gentle spiritual energy drifted out from the vortex of spiritual energy, entering his body through the Baihui acupoint on the top of his head. They then circulated through his meridians and bones, completing thirty-six major cycles before entering his dantian. The

moment this energy entered, a muffled 'thump' resounded from Ertai's dantian, like the sound of a balloon exploding. If Ertai could see what was happening in his dantian, he would have noticed thick wisps of green smoke rising from it as the two streams of energy of different attributes collided.

However, despite the intense collision, Ertai felt no discomfort; only the energy that had escaped his body became increasingly hot. This scorching energy continued to rise until it encountered the gentle energy above his head, producing a hissing sound. After a while, the two opposing currents of energy merged, and a portion of them condensed into tiny ice crystals the size of beans, which fell to the ground with a 'whoosh' and a series of crisp sounds.

At the same time, the seven-colored wolf energy and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in Ertai's dantian began to collide and merge. As these two currents clashed and merged, bursts of 'crackling' sounds, like firecrackers, emanated from his dantian, and dazzling rays of light appeared.

Ertai's fingers moved more and more complexly and rapidly. He continuously urged the seven-colored wolf energy within his body to increase its power, absorbing the spiritual energy that had entered his body. Sensing the sudden surge of power from the seven-colored wolf energy, the vortex of spiritual energy above Ertai's head also continuously urged spiritual energy into his body, merging with the spiritual energy that had previously entered, to counteract the seven-colored wolf energy.

As the two opposing forces intensified, the pressure on Ertai increased dramatically. The scorching heat emanating from his body nearly melted him as it passed through his veins, bones, and skin. The pain, like flames directly burning his skin, was excruciating. Large beads of sweat poured from his body, flowing down his smooth skin and instantly turning to dust upon contact with the slightly cool ground.

"Ah!" The intense pain caused Ertai to cry out repeatedly. He clenched his teeth, desperately drawing upon the seven-colored wolf energy in his spiritual sea, circulating it throughout his body, and then merging it with the previous wolf energy in his dantian.

During this process, following the guidance of the Hehuan Sutra, his fingers rapidly formed various complex hand seals, his movements becoming increasingly rapid, to the point that to outsiders it appeared as if he were violently convulsing.

This process was far too agonizing for anyone not to experience it firsthand. The intense energy waves generated by the violent collision of two powerful internal energy streams whipped up the surface of his skin, causing it to churn and roll like waves as the energy circulated and shifted. Veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes protruded as if trying to burst from their sockets.

"Ahhh..." The unbearable pain spread through Ertai's body, causing him to scream in agony. Strands of bright red fluid trickled from the corners of his eyes, then were enveloped by a portion of the seven-colored wolf energy emanating from his body, covering his skin.

The moment these scorching energy streams touched Ertai's body, he felt an intense burning pain. He felt as if he were inside Laozi's alchemy furnace, his internal organs burning away!

"Ah..." The pain grew stronger and more unbearable. Ertai was so stimulated that he felt dizzy, and more and more fluid flowed from his eyes. Under the fusion and envelopment of the seven-colored wolf energy, it fiercely burned Ertai's skin.

He suddenly opened his eyes, staring blankly at his body, and suddenly realized that thick black smoke was rising from his body, and the surface of his skin was burned black, making him look like a piece of charcoal.

He couldn't bear to see this, and he abruptly closed his eyes again. At the same time, a wave of excruciating pain surged in, and the powerful stimulation and pain overwhelmed him, causing him to faint.

'Bang!' In the instant he fainted, another loud explosion came from his dantian. If he could have seen it with his own eyes, he would have been astonished to find that the seven-colored wolf energy in his dantian had completely devoured the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and that the seven-colored light had been plated with a layer of brilliant gold. ...

After an unknown amount of time, Ertai finally woke up. He slowly opened his sleepy eyes, sat up, and frantically checked his body. He was shocked to find that his previously dark skin had vanished, replaced by fair, rosy skin, like that of a newborn baby.

"How could this be… this…"

Ertai's eyes lit up with excitement. He quickly got out of bed, went to the mirror, and examined himself closely. He was even more surprised to find that his cheeks were whiter and smoother than before, with a unique, rosy glow.

"Wow, so handsome! I'm the legendary handsome guy! If I'm a woman in my next life, I definitely want to marry a man like me!"

Ertai thought smugly, stroking his cheeks with his hands, admiring them and moving them back and forth, his heart pounding with joy!

As the saying goes, "fair skin covers a hundred flaws," meaning that even an unattractive person becomes handsome with fair skin. Moreover, Ertai was already a handsome man, and now, with his baby-white, rosy skin, wouldn't he be irresistibly charming? Goodness, with that pretty face alone, he could be a "Second Master"! Hahaha

!

However, Ertai, caught up in his excitement, didn't notice the fleeting glint of light in his eyes. Perhaps the light was too faint for him to perceive.

Unable to contain his excitement, he leaped up, throwing punches and kicks in mid-air, feeling an immense joy as he felt the power of his punches and kicks increase dozens of times compared to before. Even more remarkably, as he moved his fists and legs, a series of crisp "crackling" sounds emanated from within his body.

"Wow! I've released my inner energy! Heavens! I've actually leveled up five times and broken through to the late stage of the Martial Emperor realm! This... in this mortal world, I must be considered a top-tier expert!"

Overjoyed, he rushed out of the room and into the dense forest behind the mountain.

'Boom!' Ertai gathered his inner energy and suddenly punched a boulder about one meter high, two meters wide, and weighing a thousand kilograms in front of him. In an instant, with a deafening explosion, the boulder turned into dust, which flew through the air.

He didn't stop there. In one swift step, he reached an ancient tree that was several tens of meters tall and as thick as five adults could hug. Using his lightness skill, he soared into the sky, slashing at the trunk from root to top with his hand, layer by layer. Then, he leaped down to the ground, standing with his back to the ground, his long robe fluttering in the wind!

Suddenly, a series of crisp cracking sounds came from behind. The giant tree collapsed with a crash, breaking into dozens of pieces that fell neatly to the ground.

This was the strength of a late-stage Martial Emperor, a top expert in the mortal realm, releasing his inner energy—shattering rocks and breaking trees! ...

Having just improved his strength, Ertai enthusiastically practiced his fist and leg techniques in the dense forest for most of the hour before remembering that he had important business to attend to. So he hurried back to his residence, called Xiao Xizi, and went into the room of the guard Lin Hai, where he set up a feast.

Around midnight, Lian Gui rushed in, grinning as he bowed to Ertai, saying, "Second Master Fu, you're amazing! My men reported that a suspicious man in black sneaked up the mountain under the cover of darkness."

"Heh heh, it must be Han Yun. He finally didn't disappoint me,"

Ertai said with a meaningful smile, taking a sip of his wine and savoring the taste with an air of mystery. "This wine, only now can I truly appreciate its flavor, ahahaha!"

Chapter 112 A Secret Crossing

The sneaky man in black that Lian Gui mentioned was indeed Han Yun. This was his second time secretly infiltrating Xishan Temple, and having learned from his previous experience, he was quite familiar with the terrain.

He easily evaded the patrolling guards and effortlessly made his way up the mountain. Looking at the guards at the foot of the mountain, completely unaware of his presence, he scoffed, "What a bunch of good-for-nothings! They won't even know how they died!"

Despite his scorn, he couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity. Last time he infiltrated Xishan Temple, it was only with the secret help of Consort Zhen and after a considerable struggle with the guards that he managed to enter. This time, however, he had reached the mountain so easily. Could there be a trap?

Probably not, Han Yun quickly dismissed his doubts. He hadn't informed anyone of his arrival, not even Lin Hai. How could they have known he was coming and taken precautions?

Definitely not! Han Yun then affirmed. But then

another thought struck him: since these guards were so incompetent, and he had already infiltrated Xishan Temple, why not seize the opportunity to capture the Empress Dowager and end it all?

"Hmm, this plan is brilliant," Han Yun thought to himself, feeling quite pleased with himself. He even fantasized about capturing the Old Buddha and successfully bringing her back to the Red Lotus Sect. He imagined how overjoyed the Sect Leader would be, perhaps even bestowing a generous reward upon her. And those brothers who had previously disobeyed him would surely worship him and prostrate themselves before him.

"Hmph, so you all used to mock me, Han Yun, for being brave but reckless. This time, I'll give you a big surprise and shut your mouths up,"

Han Yun thought smugly, as if the Old Buddha was already in his grasp.

Thinking this, Han Yun quickened his pace, moving swiftly towards the Old Buddha's courtyard. He vaguely remembered Lin Hai telling him that the Old Buddha's residence was in front of Lin Hai's guardhouse. So, relying on his memory, he evaded several patrolling guards and quickly arrived near the Old Buddha's courtyard.

*Whoosh!* Han Yun leaped onto a towering ancient tree, concealing himself among the dense foliage. His eyes scanned the Empress Dowager's entourage, and his heart sank upon seeing it. The Empress Dowager's courtyard was teeming with guards on duty, and the surrounding area was also filled with imperial guards. All of them wore yellow robes and black trousers, and held icy steel knives, protecting the Empress Dowager's entourage in layers.

With such a formidable defense, not even a fly could get in, let alone a person. "Damn it, no wonder she's the Empress Dowager. Her life is so precious. It seems all the guards of Xishan Temple have gathered here with her. Sigh."

Han Yun sighed, dejectedly leaping down from the tree. The Empress Dowager was right in front of him in the courtyard, but due to the tight security, he couldn't get in. No wonder he, who always dreamed of making a great contribution, was sighing!

However, Han Yun wasn't overly concerned. After all, if one plan failed, there was another. As long as he found out the exact route and manpower the Empress Dowager Lin Hai would take back to the palace, he could still make a big deal out of this.

Thinking this, he used his lightness skill, moving lightly among the trees and rooftops, and soon found the guardhouse where Lin Hai was located.

The guard quarters where Lin Hai was staying housed the guards who protected the Empress Dowager. It was already late, and the guards on duty were protecting the Empress Dowager in the front courtyard, while those off-duty, exhausted from a day's work, had already turned off their lights and gone to sleep. The entire courtyard was quiet, save for the rustling of the mountain wind, the whispering of leaves, and the chirping of insects.

Han Yun gracefully descended from the rooftop without making a sound, demonstrating his exceptional lightness skill. He slowly approached the window, about to give the coded signal (three cuckoo calls), when he heard Lin Hai's hearty laughter from inside!

"Hahaha, Second Master Fu, I'd like to offer you a toast!"

It was Xiao Xizi who spoke. He and Lin Hai were both servants of the Empress Dowager—one a eunuch, the other a guard—and had interacted before, so he naturally recognized Lin Hai's voice and imitated him perfectly.

In fact, the moment Han Yun leaped onto the roof, the sharp-eared and sharp-eyed Ertai had already noticed that since the wolf aura appeared in his body, Ertai's hearing and perception had been enhanced by hundreds of times. He secretly gave Xiao Xizi a wink, and the latter immediately understood and, according to the previous plan, spoke first.

Because Xiao Xizi deliberately raised his voice, Han Yun, who was eavesdropping outside the window, heard his words clearly, not missing a single word. He hurriedly shut his mouth and pressed his ear against the window to listen quietly.

He heard Ertai say, "Haha, we're all brothers, and we're all working for the court, so let's skip the formalities. Come on, Brother Lin, Brother Zong, I'll drink first as a sign of respect!"

He deliberately emphasized the name 'Ertai,' even drawing out the sound.

Hearing the name 'Ertai,' Han Yun's heart skipped a beat. He frantically searched his memory for Ertai, and suddenly he remembered: Lin Hai had just called him 'Second Master Fu,' and he called himself 'Ertai.' Who else could it be but the second son of the Fu family?

No wonder the name sounded so familiar. Fu Lun? Fu Erkang? Fu Ertai? These three men were all pillars of the Qianlong Emperor's court. Fu Lun was a Grand Secretary of the First Rank, and a Grand Councilor, needless to say. Even Er Kang and Er Tai were nothing less than lackeys of the corrupt Emperor Qianlong!

Han Yun, the leader of the Zhili branch of the Red Lotus Sect, an anti-Qing and pro-Ming organization, was naturally very familiar with the names of the three Fu family members. The reason was simple: the Fu family had been loyal for generations, their ancestors having followed the Taizu and Taizong Emperors of the Qing Dynasty in their conquests, making them the Red Lotus Sect's primary enemies!

Hearing Er Tai's voice, Han Yun strained his ears, listening intently, afraid of missing a single detail. Er Tai continued, "Come, Brother Lin, Brother Zong, eat, eat! We're all family, don't be so reserved, haha."

"Haha, thank you, Second Master Fu,"

Xiao Xizi imitated Zong Ran's voice, a sound that sounded particularly grating to Han Yun's ears outside the window.

"Zong Ran? What's he doing here?"

Han Yun's mind was filled with doubt. "Could it be... that there's someone in this world with such a similar voice?"

At this moment, Han Yun hadn't yet suspected Zong Ran of betraying him and defecting to the enemy just because he heard his voice.

However, Ertai inside the room wasn't going to let Han Yun outside the window have a moment's peace. He took a sip of wine and said with a smile, "Brother Zong, your willingness to abandon the darkness and embrace the light shows your sincerity. With your shrewdness and talent, I dare to guarantee you a bright future!"

"Haha, Second Master Fu, you flatter me. I, Zong Ran, was mistakenly taken aboard a pirate ship. If it weren't for your rescue, Second Master, I'm afraid my life would be in grave danger. As for my future, I believe that with Second Master's guidance, it will definitely be good. Hahaha."

'Zong Ran' said politely.

"Hehe, it's not a matter of guidance. We're all on the same side, supporting each other. Hahaha."

Ertai said with a hearty laugh.

"Come on, let's drink!"

'Lin Hai' joined in the fun, urging Ertai and 'Zong Ran' to drink, then said with a fawning smile, "With your Second Master Fu protecting us in court, what's there to fear about our future? Haha!"

"Of course, we're all on the same side."

Ertai laughed heartily.

"Exactly, Second Master is right, we're on the same side, hahaha."

This was 'Zong Ran's' voice.

"That's for sure, we brothers are just waiting to eat and drink well with Second Master, hahaha."

This was 'Lin Hai's' voice.

Afterwards, the three of them ate and drank, chatting and laughing, which infuriated Han Yun, who was eavesdropping outside the window. However, he still didn't believe that the person inside was Zong Ran, so he put his index finger in his mouth, moistened it with saliva, then poked a small hole in the window paper, enough for one eye to peek through, and then put his right eye through it.

However, Ertai was prepared. He had placed a semi-transparent screen between the table and the window inside the room. Due to the distance and dim lighting, Han Yun could only vaguely make out three people sitting around the table behind the screen; he couldn't make out who they were. After cursing the screen inwardly, he withdrew his gaze and listened intently to the sounds inside.

Throughout the entire process, Han Yun made extremely subtle noises, confident that no one else could hear or detect him. However, Ertai, with the Seven-Colored Wolf Qi within him, possessed hearing hundreds of times greater than ordinary people and heard everything clearly.

A mocking smile appeared on his lips, then he gave a look to Xiao Xizi, who understood and pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket, reading aloud, "Second Master Fu, that Han Yun brat is the bandit leader planted by the Red Lotus Sect in Zhili Province. He's currently staying at Yuefeng Inn. Why don't you send troops to capture him and achieve a great feat?"

"Yes, Second Master Fu, what a great opportunity! That Han Yun brat is still in the dark. You can capture him without him even noticing. He'll never dream of it, hahaha."

'Lin Hai' chimed in.

"Hehe, you two brothers are too short-sighted. Han Yun is just the Zhili branch leader of the Red Lotus Sect. Capturing him wouldn't be very meaningful. Why don't we play the long game and capture the Red Lotus Sect leader 'Yi Zhen' directly? Wouldn't that be a much greater achievement? Hahaha."

Ertai said with a laugh.

"Wonderful! Master Fu's foresight is truly remarkable; we are far inferior to him. However, the leader of the Red Lotus Sect is elusive, appearing and disappearing like a dragon. Even I, Zong Ran, have only seen him a few times. Capturing her will likely be difficult,"

Zong Ran asked doubtfully.

"Indeed, capturing the leader of the Red Lotus Sect will be quite challenging,"

Lin Hai echoed.

"Haha, you two brothers are right. Our court has repeatedly sent troops to suppress the Red Lotus Sect, and what has been the result? Not only have we failed to capture the leader herself, but we haven't even caught many of her branch leaders and hall masters. They're all just small fry. These people are truly cunning! Fortunately, you two brothers have abandoned the darkness and joined the court. With your help, capturing the leader of the Red Lotus Sect should be a piece of cake!"

Ertai said with a smile, his tone as relaxed as if he could capture the leader of the Red Lotus Sect, Yi Zhen, tomorrow.

"We are deeply indebted to Master Fu, how could we not risk our lives for him? Master, please make the arrangements, I, Zong, will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Zong Ran thumped his chest loudly, solemnly promising.

"I, Lin Hai, am also willing to serve Master Fu, willing to go through fire and water for the court without hesitation!"

Lin Hai echoed.

"Good, I, Ertai, have not misjudged you. What is mine will be yours, hahaha."

"Thank you, Master Fu!"

"Thank you, Master Fu!"

"Hehe, we're all brothers, no need for formalities. Let's all get promoted and make a fortune, hahaha."

The three laughed heartily, but Han Yun, hearing this outside the window, was instantly enraged. He was a powder keg, easily ignited, and hearing 'Lin Hai,' 'Zong Ran,' and Fu Ertai plotting inside how to capture him and his sister Yi Zhen, he trembled with rage, his face flushed red. In his heart, he cursed, "Lin Hai, Zong Ran, you two traitors, bastards, shameless scoundrels! I, Han Yun, was truly blind to have seen through you two!" "You ungrateful, treacherous bastards, I'll kill you all right now!"

Thinking this, Han Yun drew a gleaming steel knife from his waist, poised to rush in and kill Lin Hai and Zong Ran. However, just as he was about to act, he suddenly heard 'Zong Ran' say from inside the house, "Second Master Fu, based on my understanding of Han Yun, he's always been autocratic, headstrong, and ambitious. He certainly won't easily let go of the opportunity to capture the Empress Dowager and gain great merit. However, he's quite suspicious. I suspect he'll come tonight to question Lin Hai about the truth of this matter. Lin Hai, you'd better answer carefully, haha."

"Of course."

Lin Hai laughed, “That Han Yun brat doesn’t know that you and I have already pledged our allegiance to the court. He certainly won’t doubt my words. But how could he know that the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind? The Empress Dowager is returning to the palace via the North China official road. Master Fu’s plan of ‘openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang pass’ is truly ingenious and audacious! Hahaha.”

“Hehe, it’s all thanks to the two brothers for their efforts.”

Ertai laughed, then his smile faded, and he pretended to regret it, saying, “Oh no, you and I hit it off immediately and chatted so much that we’ve unknowingly exceeded the allotted time. Han Yun should be here by now. If he sees the three of us brothers in Brother Lin’s room, things could get very bad!” “Master Fu is absolutely right. Then let’s leave quickly.”

Zong Ran also said hurriedly.

"Hmph! You think you can get away with this? Little do you know I'm right outside the door, damn it!"

Listening to the three men's secret plot inside, Han Yun, who was eavesdropping outside, trembled with rage, cursing inwardly. However, he was too furious, and the betrayal of 'Lin Hai' and 'Zong Ran' had further fueled his anger. Despite his desperate attempts to control his rising rage, he couldn't help but blurt out a string of profanities.

"Who? Who is it? Someone come here!"

Hearing the voices outside, Ertai feigned surprise, leaped to the door, yanked it open with a 'bang,' and rushed out of the room.

Han Yun had already leaped onto the roof in a single bound. To avoid revealing his identity, he squeaked like a mouse. Ertai pretended to look around, and only after hearing Han Yun's mouse squeak did he laugh, "Haha, false alarm! It's just a mouse!"

However, it was precisely his earlier loud shout of "Guards!" that alerted the guards in the courtyard. Many quick-witted guards rushed out of the room and surrounded Ertai, asking with concern, "Second Master Fu, what's wrong? What happened?"

"Nothing, just a mouse squeaking. Haha, I thought an assassin had come."

Ertai laughed it off. When he went out, Xiao Xizi, disguised as Zong Ran, also rushed out and was now surrounded by the guards.

Han Yun, lying prone on the rooftop, stared intently at Ertai's direction. However, the distance was considerable, the moonlight dim, and Ertai and 'Zong Ran' were mixed in with the guards, making it difficult for Han Yun to see clearly. But he clearly saw the single, fluttering strand of beard on 'Zong Ran's' chin. Zong Ran's beard was truly distinctive—a thin wisp, like a rat's tail, hanging down to his chest, extremely conspicuous.

Seeing that beard, and recalling the all-too-familiar voice of Zong Ran he had just overheard, Han Yun was certain this person was indeed Zong Ran. He stared intently at Zong Ran in the crowd, wanting nothing more than to rush down and kill this traitor. However, after thinking it over, he ultimately restrained himself. With the guards present, even if he succeeded in killing Zong Ran, he himself would have no chance of leaving Xishan Temple alive!

"Zong Ran, you little brat! I'll curse your ancestors! I swear I won't rest until I kill you!"

Han Yun clenched his fists tightly, his long, narrow fingers digging deep into his flesh, creating a series of acupuncture points.

After cursing inwardly, Han Yun swiftly turned and his black figure disappeared into the vast night.

Chapter 113 Han Yun Falls into the Trap

Now, Han Yun used his lightness skill to bypass the guards and descend from Xishan Temple. Furious, he punched an ancient tree by the roadside, snapping it in two. After angrily cursing Zong Ran's ancestors for eighteen generations, he strode away in a huff.

Although he was in a fit of rage, he hadn't lost his mind. He mentally processed what he had seen and heard, but still felt some doubts. "Judging from today's situation, Zong Ran has sided with the court and is trying to harm me. But why did he advise me yesterday not to send troops to surround the Empress Dowager on the South China official road? If he hadn't advised me, wouldn't I have fallen right into the trap of that scoundrel Fu Ertai? Why...?"

"Could it be... that he deliberately stopped me? To make me trust him more? So that he could better hide by my side as a spy for the court without being suspected?... That's a possibility, but..."

Han Yun's mind was in complete turmoil. He was a man without his own opinions, and when it came to strategy, he was no match for Ertai, who had lived two lives. However, Ertai did have one advantage: he always pressed for answers to his questions. So he quickly set off for Zong Ran's Zhili branch's South Hall headquarters.

"Hmph, Zong Ran's martial arts are no good. He definitely won't get back to the South Hall before me. As long as I get there and Zong Ran isn't there, the person I just saw at Xishan Temple must be Zong Ran."

Han Yun thought to himself, quickening his pace.

Because he was in time, he arrived at the South Hall's headquarters in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. A sentry on night patrol had already spotted him and hurriedly came forward, bowing and greeting him in a low voice, "This humble one, Li Liu, greets the Chief."

"No need for formalities. Is your Hall Master here?"

Han Yun asked impatiently, his mood sour.

"...Replying to the Chief, the Hall Master is not here."

Li Liu thought for a moment and decided to tell the truth. The Red Lotus Sect had a rule that a Hall Master could not leave his Hall without a valid reason, but when the Chief asked, Li Liu dared not cover for Zong Ran.

"Not here? Where did you go?"

Han Yun's gaze immediately turned stern, cursing inwardly, "You bastard Zong Ran, you really aren't here!"

"...I...went to..."

Li Liu's face suddenly flushed red, his eyes flickered, and his words were evasive, clearly indicating that he didn't know how to say it! After all, he couldn't afford to offend the leader, and he certainly couldn't afford to offend the hall master!

"Speak! Where did you go?"

Han Yun shouted sharply.

Seeing the leader, who was so close to him, becoming increasingly stern, Li Liu was terrified, breaking out in a cold sweat. He bit his lip hard and finally stammered, "I...I don't know...I...don't...know..."

"Bastard!"

Enraged, Han Yun slapped Li Liu hard across the face, making him dizzy and spinning around like a top. "When he comes back, make him come to the North Hall to see me!"

Han Yun said fiercely, then flicked his sleeves and strode towards the North Hall, thinking to himself, "Damn it, that scoundrel Fu Ertai already knows I'm staying at Yuefeng Inn. Who knows if he'll send troops to capture me? I'd better find somewhere else to stay!"

Li Liu, who had just been slapped by Han Yun, covered his burning cheek, watched Han Yun's departing figure, spat, and cursed fiercely, "Damn it, what a piece of trash! If it weren't for your sister, could you, with your cowardly looks, have become the leader? You think you're someone important? Bah!"...

"Leader, you've come here so late at night, has something serious happened?"

The North Hall leader, 'Scarface,' was fast asleep when he suddenly heard a servant report that Han Yun had arrived and was waiting for him in the living room. He hurriedly pushed aside a horny, naked woman beside him, hastily put on his clothes, and rushed to the living room.

Upon entering the living room, one sees shattered teacups and utensils scattered on the floor. Han Yun is sitting in a chair, panting heavily. Judging from his furious expression, something is clearly wrong, so the person cautiously inquires.

"A big deal? Hmph, it's a big deal! Go and call the other two hall masters. We'll wait here for that scoundrel Zong Ran!"

Han Yun roars angrily.

"Yes, yes, yes... I'll go right away."

Seeing that Han Yun is truly enraged, Scarface, fearing that the anger will be directed at him, hurriedly backs away, half-bowed, but inwardly puzzled, "When did Brother Zong Ran become a scoundrel?"

Despite their doubts, they dared not dwell on it. They instructed their two trusted subordinates, "Go and fetch the East and West Hall Masters. Tell them the Master has summoned them to discuss important matters."

"Yes, Master,"

the two replied, quickly departing separately. ...

Less than half an hour later, the East and West Hall Masters arrived in haste. Seeing Han Yun sitting arrogantly at the head of the table, his face contorted with rage, and the North Hall Master, Scarface, trembling and trembling beside him, clearly something serious had happened, the two dared not ask further questions, fearing they might inadvertently provoke Han Yun's fury. After a quiet greeting, they took their seats.

Han Yun didn't even lift an eyelid at the two hall masters' greetings. He simply snorted heavily and remained silent. Seeing his silence, the three hall masters in the room also dared not speak, feeling as if they were sitting on pins and needles, their minds wandering, their eyes vacant as they stared ahead.

The atmosphere became incredibly awkward. All that could be heard were the disordered, uneasy breathing of the three men and Han Yun's heavy, angry panting. After what seemed like an eternity, Han Yun slammed his hand on the table and roared, "Bastard! Traitor! Shameless traitor!"

These words struck the three hall masters like a thunderbolt. Their hearts pounded, and their bodies trembled slightly. Although they didn't understand why Han Yun was angry or who he was cursing, they secretly breathed a sigh of relief—at least he was speaking! Otherwise, they would have suffocated!

"Hmph!"

Seeing the three hall masters' cautious demeanor, not daring to respond, Han Yun was displeased. He swept his sharp gaze over them, making them gasp again. Their hearts pounded wildly, and they dared not even breathe.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Hmm? Have you also betrayed us and defected to the enemy?"

Han Yun asked coldly.

Upon hearing the words "betrayal and defection," the three hall masters panicked. They immediately knelt down with thuds, kowtowing repeatedly, their voices hoarse and anxious as they said, "Master, please understand! We have received great kindness from the leader and the branch master, and we would never do such a treacherous thing! We beg you to investigate!"

"Hmph, I knew you wouldn't have the guts!"

Han Yun roared, then impatiently waved his hand and shouted, "Get up! Sit down!"

Hearing this, the three men felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They hurriedly wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads and stood up in a panic, but dared not sit down, staring expectantly at Han Yun.

"I told you to sit down, are you deaf? What? Do you expect me to look up to you?"

Han Yun was usually quite polite to these hall masters, but now he was in a fit of anger, and his words became fiery.

"Your subordinates wouldn't dare, wouldn't dare..."

the three hurriedly said, exchanging glances before sitting back in their previous positions, their posture stiff and rigid, barely touching the edge of their buttocks.

"I don't know if you dare, but that traitor Zong Ran has truly betrayed us and defected to the enemy!"

Han Yun said as soon as they sat down, leaving the three stunned and utterly bewildered.

"Zong Ran betrayed us and defected to the enemy? He... defected to the court? This... how is that possible?"

The three were filled with big question marks, but dared not ask any more questions, only casting questioning glances at Han Yun.

Seeing their questioning gazes, Han Yun suppressed his murderous rage and coldly recounted everything he had heard and seen at Xishan Temple that evening, causing the three hall masters to break out in a cold sweat.

"Master, this...it can't be, Brother Zong has always been..."

The three exchanged glances. Scarface stood up, forcing himself to speak in defense of Zong Ran, but before he could finish, Han Yun coldly interrupted him, saying angrily, "Impossible? What, are you saying I misheard or misread?"

"No, no...that's not what I meant, Master, you misunderstand. It's just that Brother Zong has always been upright and honest, and would never do such a despicable thing. Please don't believe everything you hear."

Scarface wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and explained cautiously.

"Hmph! Misunderstand? Believe everything you hear? Even if I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears, it's false?"

Han Yun roared angrily.

"Master, Brother Yun didn't mean that, you misunderstood."

Seeing Han Yun reprimand Scarface, the East Hall Master, who was always on good terms with him, quickly stood up to plead for him. He then added, "Master, sometimes what you see with your own eyes and hear with your own ears isn't necessarily true.

Why don't you summon Brother Zong over and ask him?" "Very good, that's a good idea. I've never seen you so resourceful before,"

Han Yun sneered, then mockingly scolded, "Fool, if that scoundrel Zong Ran were in the hall, would I be sitting here, calling you all to wait for him with me?"

"Wh...what? You mean...that Brother Zong isn't in the hall...then he..."

Hearing Han Yun's words, the East Hall Master stammered, his mind racing. If what the Master heard at Xishan Temple might be false, but Zong Ran wasn't in the hall, it seemed too much of a coincidence.

Thinking of this, he dared not defend Zong Ran any longer; it would be a huge loss to risk getting himself involved.

"Hmph!"

Seeing that he had nothing to say, Han Yun coldly snorted, glared at him, and then said nothing more. The three hall masters, seeing Han Yun's expression, didn't dare to breathe loudly and could only sit awkwardly beside him. It wasn't

until the rooster crowed three times and dawn broke that Zong Ran still hadn't come over. The three hall masters secretly broke out in a cold sweat...

Meanwhile, on Zong Ran's side, it was also a stroke of luck. Zong Ran happened to have gone to the "Spring Full House" in the Eight Great Hutongs last night, and didn't return to his hall until seven or eight o'clock in the morning, still savoring the pleasure of standing with the two girls last night.

But as soon as he returned to the main hall, his good mood was completely ruined, replaced by cold sweat pouring down his face. He frantically asked Li Liu, "You...you mean the...the leader came last night?"

"Yes,"

Li Liu said cautiously, "The leader seemed very angry, and even slapped me. He said that when you returned, you should go to the North Hall to find him."

"Oh no..."

Zong Ran's heart trembled, and fear appeared on his face. The Red Lotus Sect's rules were extremely strict, and it explicitly forbade the leader from leaving without a valid reason, especially from going to brothels. Could it be that someone had reported him, and the leader found out about this...? According to the rules, a leader who frequented brothels was subject to the death penalty!

"No, I have to take the initiative... Maybe the leader will remember my past hard work and contributions and let me off this time."

Zong Ran made up his mind, took three subordinates, and rode three fast horses swiftly towards the North Hall.

Upon entering the North Hall's reception room, seeing Han Yun sitting high at the head of the table with an angry expression, Zong Ran knew that things had truly been exposed. Otherwise, the leader wouldn't be so angry. He immediately knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly and pleading, "Leader, I know I was wrong, I will never dare to do it again! Please forgive me this time!"

"Haha, very well, I haven't even asked yet, and you've already confessed..."

Han Yun sneered.

"Yes, yes, I truly know I was wrong, I will never do it again. Please, have mercy on me this time, I will definitely mend my ways..."

Zong Ran begged for mercy while glaring resentfully at the three hall masters, cursing inwardly, "Damn it, I've treated you all well, yet you act like such despicable people, actually accusing me of indulging in prostitution before the leader! If I find out who did it, I'll make sure you're not spared!"

"Heh, so much for repentance!"

Han Yun's tone grew increasingly cold, his laughter relentless.

"No, I'll change, I'll definitely change, leader, I know I was wrong, please..." Zong Ran kowtowed repeatedly, his eyes filled with pleading.

"Shut up!" Han Yun coldly interrupted, his tone icy, "

Spare your life, only to have you come and kill me? Guards, drag this scoundrel away and behead him!" "Wait, no, leader!" Hearing that Han Yun intended to kill Zong Ran, the three hall masters hurriedly pleaded for his life.

"What? Do you also want to rebel with him?" Han Yun demanded sharply.

"No... I wouldn't dare!" Scarface explained. "

Master, since Zong Ran has admitted his crimes, why don't we turn the tables on him?" "Oh? What kind of turn the tables?" Han Yun suppressed his displeasure and questioned.

"Master, think about it. Ertai, that stupid thief, used a 'feigned attack' to lure us to the official road in South China to assassinate him and capture us all. If we kill Zong Ran and it gets out, he'll know we've seen through his plot and will definitely change his plans. In that case, you'll lose your chance to make a great contribution!" "Explain in more detail."

Upon hearing about making a great contribution, Han Yun's eyes lit up.

Seeing the excited look on Han Yun's face after hearing his words, Scarface was overjoyed and continued, "Master, I initially thought this matter was a bit suspicious, but after hearing about the court's conspiracy that you overheard last night, I think that since our whereabouts have already been exposed, we will inevitably be surrounded by the court's henchmen sooner or later. Therefore, rather than waiting to be killed, we should take the initiative, ambush the official road in North China, and intercept and kill the Empress Dowager!"

"Good, very good, it coincides with my plan, haha."

Han Yun laughed loudly, and then asked, "Then what should we do with this damned Zong Ran?"

"In my opinion, this person must not be killed. Even if we must kill him, we should wait until the matter is successful to avoid the exposure of this matter, which would put us in a disadvantageous position."

Scarface said.

"Hmm, then let this dog live a few more days. Men, arrest this dog Zong Ran and keep him under close guard. Under no circumstances should he be allowed to have any contact with the outside world!"

Han Yun coldly shouted.

"Yes, Master!"

At his command, two burly cult members entered, one on each side, and carried Zong Ran out.

"Master, spare me! I'll never dare again... spare me..."

Zong Ran's pleading grew weaker and weaker. He was filled with confusion. He had only been a womanizer, so how had he been labeled a 'traitor'? And what about the South China Official Road, the North China Official Road, and this supposed scheme? Oh no... Could the Master have believed Lin Hai's handwritten letter and was planning to ambush and kill the Empress Dowager?

No… this is falling into the court's trap… It's a pity that Zong Ran is already in dire straits, yet he's still thinking of the Red Lotus Sect. Unfortunately, Han Yun will never hear or want to hear these words again…

Later, he learned from others that the sect leader wasn't blaming him for his womanizing, but mistakenly believed he had defected to the court, hence… And he, in turn, mistakenly thought the sect leader was blaming him for hiring prostitutes the night before, and even confessed. This… “Injustice, sect leader! Injustice, sect leader! I, Zong Ran, have always been loyal to the sect… a huge injustice…”

Zong Ran's voice was hoarse from shouting…

The next morning, Ertai was getting dressed when Lian Gui joyfully pushed open the door and entered. After greeting Ertai, he gave him a thumbs-up and laughed, “Second Master Fu, brilliant!”

“Has Han Yun fallen for it, haha?”

Ertai asked with a delighted laugh.

"Indeed! Reports from below indicate that Han Yun has captured Zong Ran and is imprisoning him in a woodshed in the North Hall, heavily guarded. At the same time, Han Yun has ordered the Red Lotus Sect bandits throughout Zhili to march swiftly and arrive in the capital within a day. It seems he can't hold back any longer, hahaha!"

Lian Gui chuckled mockingly.

"Hehe, those who are greedy and reckless will ultimately suffer greatly,"

Ertai said with a sigh, then added with a wicked smile, "But I'm about to achieve a great feat, hahaha."

"Then this servant wishes Second Master a resounding victory and a perfect catch, hahaha!"

Lian Gui flattered.

"Haha, 'a perfect catch,' that's a brilliant and apt phrase!"

Ertai's eyes crinkled with laughter. With such a grand plan, plus the Empress Dowager's whispers in his ear, how could he not be promoted and make a fortune?

Chapter 114 The Scent of the Carriage (Part 1)

While Han Yun was busy deploying troops, Ertai was quite leisurely. He had the Empress Dowager and her concubines and princesses change into maids' clothes and dress up as maids, each blending in with several maids, making it seem as if they were going down the mountain to buy and prepare things for the Empress Dowager's return to the palace.

Originally, Ertai planned to secretly send the Empress Dowager and the others away under the moonlight, but now there was no need. Two days ago, he had already sent several teams of guards down the mountain to buy and arrange things for the Empress Dowager's return to the palace. Sending a group of 'maids' down the mountain now would not only not arouse the suspicion of the Red Lotus Sect's spies, but would also make them more convinced that the Empress Dowager's return to the palace would be the day after tomorrow.

Sure enough, an informant lying in wait near Xishan Temple saw Ertai loudly reprimanding the guards who had been sloppy in their work, having omitted many essential items, and then sending four teams of maids down the mountain to buy the missing items. The informant then rushed to the North Hall to report to Han Yun.

Han Yun, upon hearing the informant's report, was immediately overjoyed. He ordered someone to give the informant a generous reward and then instructed him to continue his investigation, proceeding cautiously and without revealing his whereabouts. Now, let

's return to Ertai's perspective.

He had sent someone to inform Liu Qing and the other two that morning. The three were dressed as a coachman and a maid, looking quite adorable. Ertai walked up to them, cupped his hands in thanks, and said, "Liu Qing, Liu Hong, and Xiao Yanzi, thank you so much for stopping your work at the shop to help me."

"Haha, Master Fu, you're too kind. Without your help, how could we afford to open that little shop? No doubt about it, your business is my business, Master Fu's business."

Since their last drink together, Liu Qing had been impressed by Ertai's righteousness and generosity. Previously, he had only been jealous of Ertai, but now he genuinely wanted to befriend him and had no prejudice against him.

"Hehe, good brother!"

Ertai patted Liu Qing's shoulder with boundless joy. Even before his transmigration, he had a good impression of Liu Qing, finding him righteous and a perfect friend. He genuinely wanted to befriend Liu Qing.

"That's right, Brother Ertai, you're both Xiaoyanzi's and my brother. So, it's only natural for a younger sister to help her brother."

Upon seeing Ertai again, although Liu Hong still felt jealous because of what happened between Ertai and Xiaoyanzi last time, she couldn't help but blush and her heart pound.

Ertai… he was the person Liu Hong had been thinking about day and night!

However, Xiao Yanzi remained silent, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes as she looked at Ertai. Especially when Ertai looked at her, even she, who was usually carefree and indifferent to everything, couldn't help but blush. She quickly looked away from Ertai, but the passionate scene between her and Ertai in the tavern's private room kept replaying in her mind...

"Hehe, the little girl is getting shy."

Seeing Xiao Yanzi's shy expression, Ertai was overjoyed. However, since it was not the time to continue the story, he didn't tease Xiao Yanzi. He then introduced the three of them to the Empress Dowager and the other ladies, saying that they were his good friends who had come specifically to escort them away.

The Empress Dowager and her entourage politely and kindly thanked the three, leaving them quite flattered. They instinctively felt that the Empress Dowager and her entourage were actually quite kind and approachable, a stark contrast to the bullying and wicked princes and nobles they usually encountered.

Afterwards, the Empress Dowager and her entourage, arranged by Ertai, split into four groups, each mingling with one of the four groups of maids, and boarded four carriages. Liu Qing and one of Ertai's trusted guards acted as drivers, protecting the Empress Dowager and the Empress. Xiao Yanzi and Liu Hong were assigned to two carriages, along with Ertai's four trusted guards, to protect Consort Ling and her daughter, Consort Zhen, and Consort Yu, respectively. Ertai himself, along with Lian Gui, drove the carriages, protecting Princess Qing and the Twelfth Prince.

Ertai originally wanted to protect the Empress Dowager personally, after all, she was the Empress Dowager and the target of the Red Lotus Sect's assassination attempt. However, the Empress Dowager refused, saying that the Twelfth Prince was the heir to the throne and had the right to inherit the throne in the future, so he should be protected even more. Ertai couldn't go against the Empress Dowager's wishes, so he could only do as she instructed.

"Giddy up!"

Ertai jumped onto the carriage, sat in the driver's seat, and gently flicked the whip, causing the carriage to drive away.

After the four carriages entered the inner city together, they split into four groups, each traveling in one of the four directions: east, south, west, and north. The roads they passed through were all bustling streets. Once they reached a street, the real maids in the four carriages dismounted and went to the shops and stalls to select items. Then, they pretended to say to the disguised coachmen in the carriages, "Stop the carriages at the end of the street and come back to pick us up in a few hours."

The coachmen replied, "Understood," and whipped their horses towards the end of the street. Meanwhile, the Red Lotus Sect spies who had been secretly monitoring them hadn't had time to count the number of maids before. Now, seeing several maids getting off the carriages, they secretly stared at these maids, no longer paying attention to the carriages. They had no idea that the Empress Dowager, whom they wanted to assassinate, was on one of the carriages.

Upon reaching the end of the alley, the carriages continued their journey without stopping, each speeding along a small road outside the city. The four carriages branched off along these roads in the east, west, south, and north, attracting no attention from passersby. The final destination was a suburban villa, a vast estate bestowed upon the Fu family by Emperor Qianlong. Ertai had already made ample preparations, and the villa had been meticulously cleaned by servants. ...

Ertai himself was driving his carriage along a bumpy country dirt road. Fearing to bruise the delicate, porcelain-doll-like Qing'er, he deliberately slowed down.

Bored, he leaned back against the carriage, silently checking his plan for any oversights. Just then, the Twelfth Prince poked his head out from behind the curtain, smiling at Ertai, "Brother Ertai, I want to be a coachman too, is that alright?"

"You?"

Ertai glanced at the Twelfth Prince with a smile, thinking that he really was childish, curious about everything. Being a coachman wasn't so easy, and besides, there were only two seats; how could three people fit?

"Yes, Brother Ertai, I think being a coachman is so cool, so dashing! Just let me experience it, okay?"

Seeing Ertai's reluctance, the Twelfth Prince pleaded.

"This..."

Ertai was immediately troubled. After all, the Empress was now his woman, and he was protecting her son. If anything happened to the Twelfth Prince, he would have no face to face the Empress.

"It's alright, Brother Ertai, I'm a big boy now, nothing will happen. Please have pity on me this once."

The Twelfth Prince was persistent and wouldn't let go of Ertai. Ertai had no choice but to give in to the Twelfth Prince's wishes.

However, he still worriedly instructed Lian Gui, "Lian Gui, protect the Twelfth Prince well. Don't let anything happen to him, otherwise neither of us can afford the consequences."

"Don't worry, Second Master Fu, this servant knows what to do."

Lian Gui replied with a smile.

"Hmm, that's good."

Ertai was relatively at ease with Lian Gui. So he stood on the carriage, helped the Twelfth Prince slowly sit in the driver's seat, and then entered the carriage himself. Actually, he had been looking forward to coming in for a long time, because the delicate and shy Qing'er was inside.

Hehe!

"Ertai, you really dare to let the Twelfth Prince drive? Aren't you afraid..."

Seeing Ertai come in, Qing'er's pretty face blushed for no reason, and she asked worriedly.

"Why are you so concerned about the Twelfth Prince? Why don't you care about me like this?"

Ertai asked with a feigned jealousy.

"No way, the Twelfth Prince isn't a child. As his older sister, of course I have to care about him—"

Qing'er said, becoming even more shy, mentally completing the sentence, "Of course I care about you, you just haven't noticed."

"Oh, really? Ah, it's so nice to have an older sister, to be cared for like that. It's a pity I don't have one."

Ertai sat down next to Qing'er, smiling as he looked at her beautiful face and graceful figure.

"Then I'll be your older sister, hehe."

Qing'er blinked her clear, captivating eyes innocently.

"No way, I'm older than you, how can I be your younger brother?"

Ertai shook his head vigorously. Be my older sister? What a joke—well, more like my woman!

"Then, then be my brother, and take care of me, okay?"

Qing'er asked sweetly, her voice carrying a delicate, fragrant scent that wafted from her soft, red lips. It was truly captivating, making it hard to refuse!

However, Ertai, being the spoilsport, shook his head and said, "No, no, not even as a brother!"

"No this, no that, am I really that unpopular with you?"

Hearing that Ertai had rejected her request, Qing'er immediately pouted her red lips, looking disappointed and coquettish.

Seeing that Qing'er was angry, Ertai moved closer to her, suddenly pulling her into his arms. He greedily inhaled the fragrance emanating from her body and said with a sweet smile, "I want to be your husband, okay?"

"You're so naughty... I don't want you to be my husband... Oh, you're bad, don't talk nonsense... Be careful the Twelfth Prince hears..."

Girls in ancient times were relatively conservative, and hearing a man say he wanted to be their husband, especially in front of outsiders, naturally made them incredibly shy.

"Then how about you be my wife?" Ertai teased Qing'er with a playful smile, his hand around her fragrant shoulder taking the opportunity to gently knead her fair, delicate arm. So soft, so smooth!

"No..." Qing'er lowered her head shyly, like a shy little bird, nestled in Ertai's arms, her red lips slightly pursed, her small hands fidgeting with the hem of her clothes to hide her flustered heart.

That look was truly captivating!

"This isn't good, that isn't good, is she really that unpopular with you?" After hearing Qing'er's rejection, Ertai imitated Qing'er's previous manner and pretended to be displeased as he spoke to her.

Seeing Ertai's imitation of her so lifelike, Qing'er's shyness vanished instantly, replaced by giggles. She teased, "Ertai, you're so funny! So entertaining!"

"Huh? Entertaining?"

Ertai retorted. This was the first time he'd heard a woman praise him like this. Generally, men like him were praised by all the women they'd been with, but never found entertaining. Ertai had always left his women exhausted and unable to get out of bed; it was more like "enjoyable," hehe!

"Giggle."

Qing'er didn't answer, but burst into laughter. With her giggles, her soft, fragrant body, held in Ertai's arms, rubbed against him, making him feel weak all over. Coupled with the sweet fragrance wafting from her face, Ertai's mind went blank for a moment. His large hand, which had been secretly caressing Qing'er's arm, uncontrollably reached for her full, firm breasts.

Chapter 115 Carriage Romance (Part Two)

Ertai's large hand casually reached towards Qing'er's breasts. Just as his fingertips were about to touch those delicate breasts, the Twelfth Prince suddenly lifted the carriage curtain, poked his head in, and said to Ertai with a smile, "Brother Ertai, being the coachman is so much fun! You don't need to get out; let me have my fun."

"Oh, okay, okay..."

Ertai hurriedly moved his hand away, his old face flushing red, and awkwardly smiled at the Twelfth Prince.

"Hehe, thank you, Brother Ertai."

The Twelfth Prince, still childlike, was only focused on driving and having a great time. Seeing that Ertai had agreed, he quickly lowered the curtain, turned around, and continued whipping the carriage, completely unaware that Ertai was embracing Qing'er.

However, after the Twelfth Prince's fright, Qing'er's heart trembled, and she quickly broke free from Ertai's embrace, putting some distance between them. Suddenly, without Qing'er's soft beauty in his arms, Ertai felt a void in his heart. He couldn't help but complain that the Twelfth Prince had such good timing; he had almost missed it.

Outside the carriage, the Twelfth Prince was having a great time, but inside, the atmosphere was somewhat awkward. Qing'er's small hands kept fidgeting with the hem of her clothes, her face filled with shyness and panic.

Ertai didn't know what to say. Although he could sense Qing'er's feelings for him, they hadn't yet crossed that line, and he had just thought…

Ertai reluctantly looked away from Qing'er's beautiful body, afraid that he might lose control and make things awkward. But even though his gaze was away, the alluring image of Qing'er's breasts wouldn't leave his mind; instead, it intensified, making Ertai feel as if he were on fire.

"Um... Qing'er, I'm going out to drive."

Ertai couldn't bear it any longer. He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he would lose control and do something inappropriate. So he thought of leaving the carriage to get some fresh air and suppress the restless fire in his heart.

But as soon as he opened his mouth, he found that his voice was a little hoarse, and his throat was terribly dry, as if he had a lump of phlegm stuck in it.

"Oh."

Qing'er responded shyly, her head kept down, but her incredibly beautiful eyes secretly glanced up at Ertai. Her tone was tinged with a faint disappointment, revealing her current state of mind—she didn't want Ertai to leave, but she was too shy to ask him to stay.

"Then... I... I really am going out to drive."

Ertai stood up halfway, but after taking a step, he turned back to ask Qing'er. He desperately wanted Qing'er to ask him to stay.

"Oh."

Qing'er still gave a shy "oh" with a hint of reluctance.

Hearing Qing'er's "Oh," Ertai was slightly disappointed, but quickly recovered and started to walk out. However, before he reached the door, he heard a loud 'clunk,' and then the entire carriage began to shake violently.

The two people inside didn't have time to react, and their bodies involuntarily lurched forward. However, Ertai was strong and agile, and he gripped the carriage door frame tightly with one hand, managing to withstand the powerful force of the impact and avoid falling out of the carriage.

How could Qing'er, a delicate woman as fragile as a porcelain doll, withstand such force? Moreover, she was sitting at the back of the carriage, and with the swaying motion, she was about to crash into the left side of the carriage wall. Unlike Ertai, she didn't

possess a strong body or agile movements. If she hit the magnet, a fracture would be the least of her worries; if she hit her head, well… Seeing tragedy about to unfold, Qing'er's head was almost touching the hard carriage wall. There was no way to stop her from moving forward. Ertai, frantic with worry, disregarded everything else. In that split second, he swiftly lunged in front of Qing'er, opening his arms to tightly embrace her, preventing a tragedy…

'Thump!' Ertai leaped to shield Qing'er, her head slamming into his chest. The powerful forward momentum slammed Ertai's body against the hard carriage wall, his right arm, which had been protecting Qing'er, getting caught on the edge of the solid wood seat.

Ertai turned to check his injured right arm, finding it unharmed, just a few bruises. He breathed a sigh of relief, secretly thankful for his good fortune. He had important business to attend to the day after tomorrow; a broken arm would have caused serious delays.

He relaxed, only then realizing how heavy he was. Looking down, he saw that he was lying slightly on his side in the car seat, with Qing'er's fragrant, soft body pressed against him, her beautiful head close to his chest…

Holding her soft, fragrant body in his arms, smelling her delicate fragrance, and feeling her large hands caress her soft, smooth back, Ertai felt incredibly satisfied. Seeing Qing'er rubbing her head and groaning in pain, he asked with concern, "Qing'er, are you alright?"

Feeling Ertai's warm breath on her ear and smelling his masculine aura that made her flustered, Qing'er's heart fluttered. She shook her head and said, "I'm fine, thank you, Ertai. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, hehe,"

Ertai said with a smile, but in his heart he thought, "How could I be alright? With such strong pressure on me…" He couldn't show this on his face; after all, Ertai still had to display his masculine charm in front of the beautiful woman, didn't he?

"Oh, it's good that you're alright. Otherwise, I would have been worried to death,"

Qing'er said emotionally. Ertai had just risked his life to save her in the midst of a desperate situation, deeply moving her and filling her heart with tenderness…

Suddenly, she noticed the bruises on Ertai's arm, and tears welled up in her beautiful eyes. Her voice choked with emotion as she asked, "Oh dear, why are you all bruised? Does it hurt? Whew…" She anxiously blew on the injured area with her small mouth.

"It doesn't hurt, it's just… hehe… a little itchy…"

The warm, fragrant breath from Qing'er's mouth made Ertai's arm feel slightly numb and itchy, and he couldn't help but laugh.

However, Qing'er's heart was filled with concern for Ertai. Hearing Ertai say itchy, she anxiously asked, "How can it be itchy? Is it inflamed? This won't do, we need to apply medicine right away."

Seeing Qing'er's genuine concern for him, Ertai was deeply moved. He couldn't help but lower his head, lift Qing'er's beautiful face, and kiss her fair forehead. How fragrant!

Feeling Ertai's warm, moist kiss on her forehead, Qing'er's heart fluttered. She shyly buried her head in Ertai's arms, feeling incredibly sweet! Her cheek pressed against Ertai's strong chest, she felt extremely at ease, and suddenly realized that wherever Ertai was, that was the refuge of her soul.

Hearing Ertai's rapidly beating heartbeat, Qing'er's heart was in turmoil. She nestled in Ertai's incredibly comforting embrace, quietly listening to his breathing and heartbeat…

Just then, Lian Gui lifted the carriage curtain, about to explain his earlier mistake, when he suddenly saw Ertai and Qing'er's interaction. He hurriedly lowered the curtain again, and to create enough space for them, the usually quiet Lian Gui started chatting idly with the Twelfth Prince, telling him anecdotes he rarely encountered, hoping to draw the Twelfth Prince's attention to himself. Soon

, the carriage entered a more difficult dirt road. Qing'er, lying on Ertai's body, gently swayed against him with the carriage's swaying. This close contact aroused Ertai to an unbearable degree; his penis involuntarily hardened, pressing against Qing'er's soft body.

"Ah!"

Suddenly feeling something hard pressing against her soft belly, Qing'er instinctively exclaimed. She was already a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl, so she naturally knew what part of Ertai's body was pressing against her. She immediately felt shy, her cheeks burning red. Only then did she seem to realize that she was lying on Ertai's body, his large hands embracing her—a somewhat ambiguous position.

So, blushing, she said to Ertai in a soft voice, "Ertai, put me down, I'm fine—it wouldn't be good if the Twelfth Prince and Lian Gui outside saw."

"Hmm,"

Ertai readily agreed, but didn't release Qing'er. He had finally managed to hold her; only a fool would let go. Ertai was no fool, so he didn't release her, but instead changed his position from lying down to sitting up, and casually pulled Qing'er onto his lap.

Seeing Ertai's actions, Qing'er thought he would let go of her, but to her surprise, he simply sat up and still held her tightly in his arms, just in a different way. How embarrassing...

"Ertai, please put me down, I'm really fine..."

Qing'er whispered shyly in Ertai's ear.

“I know you’re alright, but look how bumpy the road is now. I’m worried you might get hurt again, so it’s safer for me to hold you,”

Ertai said with a smile, hugging Qing’er’s soft, fragrant body even tighter. It was as if he couldn’t bear to let go of Qing’er, this priceless treasure, and as if he was willing to be her guardian angel if something happened to her again…

“But…”

Qing’er couldn’t help but blush even more, and tried to break free, but after trying to twist her body a few times, she realized that Ertai was holding her too tightly and she couldn’t get rid of him at all, so she gave up resisting and let Ertai ‘do whatever he wanted.’ Only her pretty face couldn’t be wiped away from the blush of shyness.

Since Qing’er was sitting in Ertai’s lap, when she opened her red lips to speak, the fragrance from her cherry-like mouth wafted into Ertai’s nose. The fragrance, like orchids, made Ertai's heart flutter and his soul sway. Adding to this, Qing'er's attempts to break free had caused her two firm, soft buttocks to rub against Ertai's body, sometimes even inadvertently brushing against his hard penis… This gave Ertai immense pleasure, making his penis even harder and more eager to release.

He moved Qing'er's body so that her plump, round buttocks were firmly seated on his lap. This alluring position, ambiguous and sensual, was incredibly tempting, allowing Ertai to experience the exquisite, full, and curvaceous figure of a budding young girl.

Her slender waist was so delicate it seemed one could grasp it with one hand, her breasts so high and proud, yet what truly captivated Ertai, drawing him into awe and admiration, was her perfectly developed, full, and rounded buttocks, so bouncy and exquisitely tactile…

Qing'er, held on Ertai's lap, felt this position was somewhat indecent, a far cry from her usual gentle and dignified self, damaging her refined and elegant image. She tried again to break free, but Ertai only tightened his embrace, as if afraid she would escape, holding her so tightly she couldn't move.

Ertai's persistence brought a sweet warmth to Qing'er's heart—if Ertai hadn't disregarded his own safety and selflessly saved her, she would have been in serious trouble. At this moment, he held her tightly, partly to protect her from a similar situation, and partly... perhaps... he liked her, was infatuated with her...

Qing'er's heart was filled with sweetness, and her gaze towards Ertai was full of tenderness. She longed for Ertai to hold her like this forever, but the situation was inappropriate. She was not Ertai's wife, and the Empress Dowager had not bestowed a marriage upon her. If the Twelfth Prince and Lian Gui, separated by a curtain, saw them 'unrestrainedly,' it would be disastrous. If they were to gossip and spread the word, reaching the Empress Dowager's ears, then...

The Empress Dowager was always conservative and could not tolerate women 'not being virtuous.' However, at this moment, Qing'er still regarded the Empress Dowager as the one before. If she knew the current Empress Dowager's relationship with Ertai, she probably wouldn't think this way.

At this moment, Qing'er's mind was in turmoil. She didn't know how to ask Ertai to put her down. If she pleaded softly, Ertai would naturally not listen. But if she scolded him harshly, he would show her some respect. She had feelings for Ertai, how could she bear to scold him!

Her lack of 'resistance' and 'struggle' made Ertai think that she had acquiesced. He was immediately excited, even smugly thinking that Qing'er must be moved by his selfless rescue and might repay him with her body...

Thinking this, Ertai became increasingly lustful and his blood was boiling. What made him even more infatuated and burning was... As the carriage bumped along the potholed dirt road, Qing'er's plump and pert buttocks, sitting on Ertai's lap, were moving lightly and heavily, fast and slow. Ertai's penis rubbed and twisted...

Ertai was young and vigorous, holding a dignified and beautiful young girl in his arms. How could he not be intoxicated and confused? In addition, Qing'er's snowy buttocks were constantly rubbing against his penis, which was about to 'go off the rails'. Ertai's penis immediately had the most primal reaction... The thing that seemed to be sticking up to the sky pressed tightly against Qing'er's elastic jade buttocks - the extremely intoxicating pleasure made Ertai feel like he was floating on air, and he almost let out a groan of pleasure.

"Ertai, um...you...don't..."

Qing'er's body swayed up and down with the bumps of the carriage, her snowy buttocks uncontrollably rubbing against Ertai's penis, as if she were actively 'seducing' him. This was unbearable for the usually virtuous and proper woman. A blush rose on her delicate face. As Qing'er's snowy buttocks swayed and twisted, Ertai's hot and hard penis actually pierced through her soft thighs, pressing directly against her even softer vulva. Such stimulation made Qing'er unable to help but moan softly...

"Mmm...no...don't...it's so embarrassing...so embarrassing..."

Ertai naturally knew that Qing'er wanted him to put her down, but Ertai was currently enjoying himself immensely, how could he agree? Seeing Qing'er unable to speak, her cheeks flushed, her red lips trembling slightly, looking delicate and alluring, he couldn't help but feel extremely fond of her. He couldn't help but lower his head, his thick lips gently kissing Qing'er's thin, fragrant lips...

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The Romantic Journey Through Time: Huanzhu's Romantic Adventures, Part 24

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