Love and Crown

Jinling City, Xuanwu Avenue's Tranquil Breeze Pavilion, three stories high, five bays wide and five sections deep.

I was currently standing outside an elegant private room on the second floor of Tranquil Breeze Pavilion, with a Bounty Notice tucked in my robe.

A Bounty Notice, as the name suggests. Whenever the authorities encountered troublesome bandits, they would post a red notice outside government offices stating the reward for capturing certain criminals—what I currently carried was an arrest warrant stamped with the Jinling Prefect's seal, offering one hundred taels of silver for the capture of the Flower Plucking Bandit Guo Qianhong.

I adjusted my clothes one last time and lightly knocked on the door of the private room before me.

"Come in." At the response, I pushed the door open and entered.

Guo Qianhong's folding fan stopped mid-air, his hand caressing the alluring woman beside him also froze, and his peach-blossom eyes slowly widened until they resembled two actual peaches.

"Guo Qianhong, we meet again." I waved at him cheerfully.

The next moment, the wine table in front of Guo Qianhong was flipped upright, sending dishes, cups, bowls, and all manner of food and drink flying toward me. Behind the table came Guo Qianhong's furious voice: "Damn it, you've chased me here!"

My sword slashed out, cleaving the table in two before me as the halves flew to either side.

I raised Yang Liu Feng before my eyes, blew lightly on its edge, and still smiling, asked, "Guo Qianhong, who exactly are you cursing?"

Guo Qianhong shoved the alluring woman aside and drew a Golden Back Broadsword from behind his back: "Fine! This young master originally didn't want to bother with you, but since you insist on pestering me, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

The corner of my mouth twitched: "I say, young master, take a look at your Golden Back Broadsword—don't you think you resemble a bandit more than anything?"

Guo Qianhong's face flushed with anger. With a loud shout, he raised his blade and charged at me.

As sword met broadsword, the room filled with a sudden surge of cold light as we exchanged several moves.

Though Guo Qianhong had defiled many young maidens and was notorious for it, his swordsmanship was truly abysmal. After a dozen exchanges, seeing no hope of victory, he feigned a slash and turned to flee downstairs.

I chased after him immediately, but before reaching the stairs, a sharp shout came from the entrance: "Scoundrel Guo Qianhong, where do you think you're running?"

A young woman in green suddenly leaped out, delivering a kick to Guo Qianhong's forehead: "Come with me to surrender!"

Guo Qianhong's burly frame flew across the spacious hall and crashed into the staircase, reducing it to splinters. Wooden fragments scattered everywhere.

I quickly dodged aside and pointed my sword at the young woman: "And who might you be?"

Dressed in fresh green silk, her skin fairer than snow, her crescent-moon eyes clear as water, she glanced me over: "Here to catch a scoundrel."

I pulled out the red notice from my robe: "See clearly—I'm the one who claimed the government's bounty."

She sized me up: "Must you compete with me?"

I sized her up in return: "You're the one competing with me!"

"Miss Zhong, this young lady..." The manager, hiding nearby, cautiously interjected, "That guest from earlier... has already left..."

I turned quickly—sure enough, Guo Qianhong, who had been lying on the ground, was now nowhere to be seen. In the midst of bickering with this girl, I'd let him escape!

"Young ladies, the bill for the food and compensation for the damages..." the manager continued softly.

Without thinking, my finger shot straight out: "She'll pay!"

"She'll pay!" Like an echo, the girl's delicate finger pointed right back at me.The girl and I exchanged a glance, then turned and bolted for the door in perfect unison, leaving the innkeeper helplessly calling after us, "Miss Zhong, this young lady—"

After sprinting down two streets, we ducked into a narrow alley to hide. Panting, I peeked out—good, no one was following us.

"Think we lost them?" came an equally breathless voice beside me as the girl pressed close in the alley.

I glanced back at her. "Seems so." Then I extended a hand. "I'm Ling Cangcang. Pleasure."

She slapped her palm against mine. "Zhong Lin. Likewise."

I nodded, then did a double take. "You're from the Zhong family of Jinling!"

The girl arched an eyebrow, her striking face taking on a haughty expression. "I don't change my name standing or sitting. Zhong Lin, firstborn daughter of the seventeenth generation of the Zhong family."

The Zhongs were a renowned martial arts family in Jinling—practically a household name.

I looked at her like she was an idiot. "The innkeeper recognized you—called you 'Miss Zhong.' Even if you ran away... that bill's getting sent to your family."

Zhong Lin's large, bright eyes slowly widened as she muttered to herself, "Right... why did I run?"

Suddenly she jumped up. "Oh no! When that bill arrives, Father will skin me alive—" She clapped me on the shoulder. "Mountains stay green, rivers keep flowing, my brave friend. Till we meet again!"

Before I could react, the figure in green had vanished into the depths of the alley.

Having lost track of Guo Qianhong, I had no choice but to wander aimlessly.

Several months earlier, after the New Year celebrations ended, I'd had Father and Xiao Qianqing announce that I was in confinement for pregnancy, refusing audiences with outer court officials, while secretly slipping out of the capital.

I hadn't brought much money when I left. Later, when funds ran low, I'd visit government offices to check for wanted notices I could handle with my skills. Collecting bounties this way, I'd managed to support myself quite comfortably.

Of course, the Venom Battalion still kept tabs on my whereabouts, so whenever court duties lightened, Xiao Qianqing would come find me, updating me on the latest developments at court.

Before I knew it, months had passed in this wandering life—from early spring through mid-spring, then idling into early summer, my footsteps covering nearly the entire land.

After half a day of aimless wandering through streets with no further sign of Guo Qianhong—this lecherous rogue I'd chased for three days, losing him several times before finally cornering him at the tavern today—that hundred-tael bounty I'd thought certain was now lost thanks to that young mistress.

Night had fallen as I wandered. Penniless with no means for lodging, I avoided the night patrol Yamen Runners, searching for some corner to shelter in.

As I walked, a dark figure suddenly darted across an alley mouth ahead.

Curious, I hurried after it. Moonlight revealed a black-clad figure with a covered face. I called softly, "Who goes there?"

The figure stood rigidly, throat making odd gurgling sounds, then suddenly toppled backward stiffly.

Startled, I waited. When no movement came, I cautiously approached and pulled down the cloth covering the face.

Moonlight revealed wide, staring eyes, with trails of blood from nose and mouth—long dead.

Then came the sound of approaching Yamen Runners from the alley mouth.

If they found me standing over a corpse like this, explanations would be difficult.At the end of the alley was a low wall. Without hesitation, I vaulted over it and crouched beneath.

As soon as I landed, my hand brushed against something soft, followed by a muffled groan from the darkness.

Alert, I hissed, "Who—"

My mouth was immediately covered by a hand as the footsteps of the Yamen Runners reached the other side of the wall. I held my breath, and the slightly labored breathing behind me also quieted.

The Yamen Runners discovered the corpse on the ground, causing a commotion as they searched the vicinity.

The torchlight gradually faded into the distance when suddenly, a fit of coughing erupted behind me. The person released their grip on my mouth and leaned against the wall, coughing violently.

By the moonlight, I studied him: dressed in a pale blue robe, with traces of blood on his chest, his refined features deathly pale. His body trembled with each cough.

"Did it reach your lungs?" I fished out a handkerchief from my sleeve and handed it to him.

He took it with difficulty and managed a strained, "Thank you..."

Once his coughing subsided slightly, I asked, "Did you kill that person?"

"Mmm," he murmured softly, pulling the handkerchief away from his lips, though the coughing persisted, leaving him unable to speak.

"Be careful," I said, instinctively bending to pat his back.

The moment my body pressed against his, I froze. This was clearly a complete stranger, an entirely unfamiliar presence—so why did he suddenly remind me of that person?

He seemed momentarily startled as well. Pausing briefly, I steadied his shoulder and continued patting his back to ease his breathing.

After a while, his breathing finally stabilized somewhat. He chuckled lightly and thanked me again, "Much obliged."

I nodded. "No need." Seeing he could stand on his own, I stepped back. "Even if they're enemies, subduing them is enough. There's no need to kill."

"You..." He paused, then actually laughed softly. "Little girl, are you lecturing me?"

I blinked, then nodded. "What, can't I lecture you?"

He laughed. "You can... Why not?" As he spoke, he suddenly grabbed my shoulders and pinned me against the wall, simultaneously sending a gust of force from his palm.

A gray figure lunged toward us. The two forces collided with a dull thud, sending the attacker flying backward.

Just as I sighed in relief, my hand brushed against something warm and wet. The man in front of me swayed, then collapsed.

His head landed in my lap. Flustered, I gripped his shoulders and asked urgently, "What's wrong—"

A cold hand pressed against my lips as he whispered weakly, "Shh..."

I immediately fell silent. After a while, when the surroundings had quieted and I was certain no other enemies lurked nearby, I lowered my voice. "What do we do now?"

The man lay motionless against me, offering no reply.

I quickly turned him over. His head lolled limply, and in the moonlight, I could see the blood at the corner of his lips and the splattered stains on his pale robe. He had lost consciousness.

Finding an unconscious stranger beside a corpse in the dead of night—was this misfortune or luck?

For me, at least, it wasn't misfortune, because the man had money on him—enough to secure us a room at an inn.

At the very least, I wouldn't have to sleep on the streets tonight.

After dragging him with great effort to the inn's bed, I exhaled in relief and sat on a chair, rubbing my sore shoulders."Your shoulders hurt after just this short distance... Have you ever trained in martial arts or not?" A faint voice suddenly came from the bed, weak yet carrying a hint of amusement.

I turned to glare at him. "How dare you say that? Who asked you to be so heavy? You've been awake for a while, haven't you? Pretending to be unconscious just to make me carry you?"

"Even if I'm awake... I still can't walk," he replied shamelessly.

I had nothing to say to that. Picking up the teapot from the table, I poured a cup of tea. When I looked up, I saw the man on the bed tilting his head, staring intently at the cup in my hand.

Noticing his pale, cracked lips, I raised the teapot slightly. "Want some?"

"Yes," he nodded honestly.

I walked to the bed, lifted his head, and slowly helped him drink, casually straightening his blanket afterward.

After drinking some water, he seemed slightly better. Leaning against the pillow, he studied me thoughtfully. "You're still just a girl... What are you doing wandering around in the middle of the night?"

I couldn't be bothered to respond. "You're not that old yourself. Thanks for your concern."

The man chuckled but said nothing more. Exhausted, I arranged some chairs together, threw a blanket over them, and fell asleep like that.

When I woke up, it was already daylight.

Sitting up, I noticed a piece of paper beside me with two lines of flamboyant handwriting: "I am Mu Yan of Phoenix Come Pavilion. I shall repay your handkerchief kindness in full another day."

Turning around, I saw the bed was indeed empty.

I went out and asked the inn attendant, who said the guest had left early in the morning.

Really... If he wanted to thank me, he could've left me a few shiny silver ingots instead.

As a result, when I left the inn that morning, I was still penniless—without even enough money for breakfast.

Wandering aimlessly through the streets, I regretted not taking the man's money pouch while he was unconscious.

Lost in thought, I accidentally walked into the middle of the street just as a large carriage came charging toward me. The quick-witted driver pulled the reins hard, causing the carriage to skid several feet before barely stopping in front of me.

The furious driver pointed his whip at me and shouted, "Are you blind? If I couldn't stop and ran you over, whose fault would that be?"

Already irritated, I gave him a sidelong glance. "Don't worry, this carriage couldn't kill me even if it tried."

The driver flushed red, momentarily speechless.

Perhaps it was my imagination, but I thought I heard two very soft coughs from inside the carriage. Then the hanging curtain lifted slightly, revealing a jade-white hand. A woman's voice, melodious yet inexplicably cold, spoke: "Zhou Yu, we must hurry."

The driver answered "Yes," still glaring at me indignantly before gathering the reins to continue.

Noticing the pale blue curtain hanging from the carriage window, I quickly called out, "Wait!" Stepping to the side, I blocked the carriage's path with my arm. "Even though you didn't hit me, you should still pay me some silver for the fright."

Though the carriage appeared modest, the fabric covering its windows was Western silk worth fifty taels per bolt! To use such rare, palace-grade silk for carriage curtains... The owner must be extravagantly wealthy. It would be a crime against heaven if I didn't extort some money from them.The coachman was probably truly furious, his face reddening as he scolded, "You're the one who rushed in front of the carriage and blocked the way! We could have charged you for this offense, yet you dare to extort us?"

I glared at him. "Who's extorting whom? Charging me? What arrogance! Do you think you're the authorities?"

Just as the coachman was about to curse me again, that icy voice interrupted once more: "Zhou Yu!"

This time, the curtain was lifted halfway, revealing the speaker. She appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen, dressed in plain white robes without a single ornament. Even her jet-black hair was tied simply with a ribbon, cascading loosely over her shoulders.

After stopping the coachman, she turned her cold, almost hollow eyes to size me up. Her jade-like face remained expressionless as she said, "Young lady, please refrain from making a scene. Wait a moment."

With that, she let the curtain fall and turned to whisper to someone inside the carriage. So, she wasn't the one in charge after all.

Curious, I tried to peer into the dimly lit carriage, but the figure inside was indistinct.

The woman soon returned, holding a small white jade pendant. "The Pavilion Master says to take this personal token to the main hall of Phoenix Come Pavilion to claim compensation."

Skeptical, I took the pendant from her. It was exquisitely carved in the shape of a phoenix, made of high-quality jade that felt warm to the touch, carrying a faint body heat and a subtle, elusive fragrance—one that seemed oddly familiar.

I brought the pendant to my nose and sniffed. It was indeed Dragon's Brain Incense.

After watching me inspect the jade and sniff it like some country bumpkin, the woman said coolly, "Satisfied?"

Startled, I quickly forced an awkward smile. "Yes, that's fine." I stepped aside to let the carriage pass.

Even if I didn’t go to their so-called main hall for money, this pendant alone could fetch a hundred taels of silver at a pawnshop. Why pass up a rich person’s generosity?

The woman nodded, gave me another glance, and signaled the coachman to move on. With a crack of the whip, the carriage rolled past me.

Standing by the roadside, I watched the carriage disappear in a cloud of dust, my mind momentarily blank.

Suddenly, an utterly astonished voice came from behind me: "Miss... do you realize whose carriage you just robbed?"

Robbed? What nonsense! I was just claiming rightful compensation. How was that robbery?

I turned to see a young swordsman dressed in white, his long sword strapped dramatically to his back. He was gaping at me in disbelief.

I gave him a sidelong glance. "What? Who was in that carriage?"

The swordsman took a deep breath. "That person... was the White Pavilion Master of Phoenix Come Pavilion."

Phoenix Come Pavilion... Now that he mentioned it, that ice-cold beauty had indeed told me to go to their main hall for silver. And that guy who ran off this morning with an IOU promising "ample reward" had also claimed to be from Phoenix Come Pavilion... Wait, Phoenix Come Pavilion?

The same Phoenix Come Pavilion that had risen meteorically in the Martial World these past few months? The one that had transformed from the most notorious assassin organization in the underworld into a dominant force spanning trade, salt smuggling, escort services, shipping, banking, and pawnshops across the Jiangnan and Jiangbei regions?So the person sitting inside that carriage is the current Pavilion Master of Phoenix Come Pavilion—the one who, after the previous Pavilion Master was killed, subdued the warring factions, expanded the once precarious organization into the colossal force dominating the Martial World today within just a few months? The one whose ruthless and iron-fisted methods, according to Martial World rumors, even surpassed those of the previous Pavilion Master Feng Yuanjiang, who was himself renowned for his iron will?

I actually tried to extort compensation for my shock from the Pavilion Master of Phoenix Come Pavilion...

The young swordsman in white shook his head with a sigh. "Pavilion Master White is truly magnanimous, not even minding such shameless extortion. But right now, Pavilion Master White is in a hurry to reach the Zhong family—perhaps he's pressed for time..."

I froze for a moment before asking, "Did you just say the Zhong family?"

The white-clad swordsman nodded. "Yes. Last night, the Zhong family of Jinling was tragically wiped out. Now, only the eldest daughter of the Zhong family remains alive."

I was stunned. Zhong Lin, whom I had just seen yesterday? That bright, smiling girl—her entire family was annihilated in just one night?

I quickly asked, "Pavilion Master White is rushing there—does this incident have something to do with Phoenix Come Pavilion?"

The swordsman nodded again. "The surviving Zhong family daughter insists that it was Hall Master Mu Yan of Phoenix Come Pavilion who led the attack on her home. Phoenix Come Pavilion can hardly escape suspicion now."

Mu Yan? That man? My mind was full of doubts. "What time did the massacre at the Zhong family happen?"

The swordsman shook his head. "That, I don’t know. Probably the latter half of the night—there were fewer patrolling Yamen Runners then."

Right. If it had been the first half of the night, there would have been more patrolling Yamen Runners, and it wouldn’t have taken until dawn to be discovered. And after Mu Yan encountered me, he had been injured and unconscious the whole time.

There was no way he could have gone to the Zhong residence to kill anyone. He was being framed.

I decided to head to the Zhong residence first to see for myself. Turning around, I hurried toward the Zhong family estate.

Before long, I arrived outside the vermilion gates of the Zhong residence, where the carriage of the Phoenix Come Pavilion Master was also parked.

A crowd had gathered at the entrance, and Yamen Runners in black-and-red uniforms stood guard with blades drawn, blocking the gate.

Aside from the onlookers, several disciplined rows of Phoenix Come Pavilion disciples in white robes with blue sashes stood silently on the other side of the gate, neither making noise nor moving.

I squeezed through the crowd and approached the Phoenix Come Pavilion disciples. "Let me see your Pavilion Master. I have something to tell him—last night, your Hall Master Mu was with me. I can testify that he didn’t commit the murders."

The disciples' expressions shifted slightly. One stepped forward and clasped his hands in salute. "Thank you for speaking up, miss. Pavilion Master White is currently inside the Zhong residence speaking with the magistrate. Please wait a moment while I inform the Pavilion Master."

I returned the gesture. "Of course, go ahead."

The disciple hurried past the Yamen Runners and into the estate.

After a short while, the disciple returned and approached me with another salute and a smile. "The Pavilion Master is currently occupied. Would you mind waiting at the Phoenix Come Pavilion headquarters for a while? If it’s not too inconvenient..."

I nodded quickly. "No trouble at all. I’m free."

The disciple smiled again, then gestured for me to follow as he led me to the black carriage.

The coachman, Zhou Yu, was still there. He widened his eyes at the sight of me. "You again?"

I grinned at him. "Don’t worry, I’m not here to demand money this time."

The disciple beside me explained with a smile, "Pavilion Master White has instructed us to escort this young lady to headquarters."

Zhou Yu gave me another glance and snorted, clearly displeased.I bent down and boarded the carriage. The interior was more spacious than it appeared from the outside, furnished with a small table and two seats. I sat down and tapped the table beside me—crafted from premium rosewood with exquisite Suzhou craftsmanship, it was no less impressive than those in the Forbidden Palace.

The disciple sat with me, while Zhou Yu up front cracked the whip to set the carriage in motion.

Sitting inside, I noticed that apart from the faint scent of Dragon's Brain Incense, there was also a subtle medicinal aroma in the carriage. Recalling the light cough I'd heard outside, it seemed the Pavilion Master of Phoenix Come Pavilion wasn't in the best health.

Thinking this, I casually asked the disciple beside me, "May I ask your honorable surname? Are you perhaps an altar master in your esteemed pavilion?"

The disciple smiled. "My humble surname is Qin. I'm just an ordinary disciple. I arrived early today, so the Pavilion Master temporarily assigned me to wait outside the Zhong residence."

An ordinary disciple could be so composed and courteous—no wonder Phoenix Come Pavilion had risen so rapidly in the faction-filled Martial World.

As we spoke, we arrived at the main hall of Phoenix Come Pavilion. The disciple named Qin helped me alight and led me through the spacious front courtyard toward the rear gardens.

The main hall wasn't arranged in the strict multi-courtyard style. Instead, it featured artificial hills here, winding corridors there, with drunken roses and meandering streams—more like a garden, likely converted from some nobleman's private estate.

The disciple guided me along a twisting path deeper into the compound. After circling several rock bridges and passing through two corridors—enough to make me slightly dizzy—we finally stopped before an unassuming waterside pavilion.

In its outer chamber stood a waist-high bronze incense burner at the center, releasing the pure, elegant fragrance of Dragon's Brain. The inner chamber's curtains were half-drawn, revealing a rosewood desk facing the entrance.

Though neatly and tastefully arranged, the furnishings here were far simpler than the extravagant silk-draped carriage windows—genuine modesty.

The disciple invited me to sit in the outer chamber, saying, "Please wait a moment," before withdrawing.

With nothing to do, I sipped tea while examining the room: orderly shelves of books and records, a lush asparagus fern on a plant stand, a spotless desk with an armchair behind it—likely the Pavilion Master's usual workspace.

My gaze lingered on a hanging scroll beside the plant stand. Two lines of elegant cursive read:

Not for love of frivolous forms,

But best admired in coldest climes.

The pristine white jade paper bore no signature or seal.

At first glance, the handwriting struck me as oddly familiar, compelling me to stare longer.

Before I could ponder further, a white-robed disciple entered, smiling apologetically. "Apologies for keeping you waiting, miss."

I smiled and stood—only for sudden darkness to engulf my vision.

The disciple's voice reached me: "Forgive the offense, miss."