Hong Guniang stood frozen, "Princess... I had long forgotten about being a princess. Xiao Hong is just Xiao Hong." Tang Lici said, "I understand you have no desire for the title of princess, but to command the masses and leave Yu Konghou no room to interfere, you must possess qualifications that surpass all others. Being a princess is an excellent qualification." Hong Guniang replied, "I shattered the token and have no evidence to prove I am the princess. I heard the Emperor has already recognized Zhong Chunji as the princess. Wouldn't my contention now be futile?" Tang Lici responded, "You must contend. If you are not the princess, you cannot stand against Yu Konghou."
"If I win, wouldn't that mean forcing Zhong Chunji to her death?" Hong Guniang whispered, "And even implicate my elder brother and second sister." A faint smile curled Tang Lici's lips, "That Zhong girl is selfish and malicious, hardly worth sparing. If she dies, so be it. Are you a woman of hesitation and misplaced mercy?" Hong Guniang gave a sorrowful smile, "No, I am not." Tang Lici continued, "Regarding the princess matter, I will have Yang Guihua and Jiao Shiqiao investigate. Most arrangements are already in place; you need not worry. Yu Konghou currently lacks the energy to concern himself with the true and false princesses. This is our opportunity."
"Once I become the princess and command the heroes with the authority of Azure Fall Palace, will you be able to leave safely?" Hong Guniang murmured, "What will you do afterward?" Tang Lici replied gently, "The suffering I will endure, I shall make Yu Konghou repay tenfold. Do not worry." Hong Guniang lifted her head, "I... I was once part of Dissolute Shop..." Tang Lici interrupted her, "Thus—you must atone. Yu Konghou will surely use this against you, but given your character, eliminating a few of Dissolute Shop's lackeys to prove your resolve to reform should not be difficult."
"Yes," she answered softly, her resolve suddenly firm, a surge of courage rising within her. "I will handle everything properly." She spoke each word deliberately, "Within Dissolute Shop, I still have loyal followers. I will never let Peach Girl have her way. In the battle at Bodhi Valley, even if we cannot destroy Dissolute Shop, I will ensure Peach Girl's every scheme fails, her every plan thwarted."
"Excellent," Tang Lici said gently. "Take care of yourself. Even if we cannot win the battle at Bodhi Valley, we must not lose. Wan Yu Yuedan will find other ways to assist you; you are not alone." Hong Guniang nodded, "Young Master Tang, his... his safety, I entrust to you." She bowed deeply to Tang Lici, "Though I cannot serve by his side in life, I hope he remains safe hereafter, far from the martial world." Tang Lici smiled faintly, "I have said, as long as he reforms, no matter how many lives he has taken, I guarantee no one will lay a finger on him."
Yu Tuan'er, who had been listening for a while, still insisted, "Xiao Fang won't turn bad." Tang Lici replied, "He won't turn bad; he has always been himself." Yu Tuan'er pressed further, "Why are you so good to him?" Tang Lici paused slightly, "What?" Yu Tuan'er puffed her cheeks, "You said because you can't kill him, you have to endure being framed by villains. Why are you so good to him, not even fearing being framed yourself?"Tang Lici smiled at her. "I treat him well because he has always been good to me." Yu Tuan'er shook her head. "When has he ever been good to you?" The corners of Tang Lici's lips curled even higher, revealing a cryptic smile. "Little girl, are you jealous?" Yu Tuan'er shot him a sidelong glance. "Only I can be really good to him. You can't treat him too well." Tang Lici said softly, "But I insist on being gentle and attentive to him, granting his every wish." Yu Tuan'er flushed red with frustration. "You're just a big meanie! A villain! I won't let you be so nice to him!" Hong Guniang, who had been listening nearby, couldn't help but laugh as she realized Yu Tuan'er was dead serious. "You could always treat him even better yourself."
"I can't think of any way to be better to him," Yu Tuan'er said dejectedly. "When he acts cold toward me, I get angry and want to hit someone. I don't know how to be gentle." Hong Guniang suppressed her laughter. "Then you should act cold toward him too. Maybe then he'll realize how important you are." Yu Tuan'er shook her head vehemently. "No, no! If I act cold, he'll ignore me even more. I don't want that!" Tang Lici said gently, "Let me teach you a trick I used to use. It always worked." Yu Tuan'er brightened. "What trick?" Tang Lici picked up a tea knife from the tray on the table, spread the fingers of his left hand on the table, and with his right hand, swiftly drove the knife down between his fingers with a sharp "thud." His movements were lightning-fast—the blade was already embedded in the table in an instant. Yu Tuan'er and Hong Guniang both gasped, thinking he had stabbed his own hand. Tang Lici gave a faint smile. "If he ignores you, stab yourself once. If he still ignores you, stab yourself again."
"Heavens! What kind of trick is that?" Yu Tuan'er cried angrily. "You used to scare him like that? You're horrible! You're a crazy lunatic! I won't let you be with him anymore! You're awful! Don't use such tricks to scare people, and don't teach them to anyone else!" Tang Lici smiled. "It's a good method..." He paused, then continued in a refined tone, "Bi Lianyi has been standing outside the door for a long time. Hong Guniang, from now on, you must stay close to Bi Lianyi, Tie Jing, and the others at all times. Don't give Yu Konghou any opportunity to strike."
Yu Tuan'er blinked. "I want to go back to Phoenix Cry Mountain." Tang Lici replied, "Phoenix Cry Mountain is already dangerous. You can't go. I'll have Shen Langhun secretly take you to a safe place. Don't worry." He then glanced at Xue Xianzi. "As for this one, I'll keep an eye on him to prevent any mishaps."
"I don't want to!" Yu Tuan'er protested again. "I want to go back to find him." Tang Lici frowned. "He might not even be at Phoenix Cry Mountain anymore." Yu Tuan'er insisted, "Then I still want to go look for him! I don't want to go somewhere else alone!" Tang Lici raised his hand and lightly tapped her forehead. Yu Tuan'er collapsed instantly, and he laid her on a chair. Hong Guniang sighed softly. "She'll hate you for this." Tang Lici smiled faintly. "I don't care." He clapped his hands, and Shen Langhun descended gracefully from the rafters. Hong Guniang was slightly startled—she hadn't noticed Shen Langhun hiding on the roof all this time."Take this naive little girl away. I'll contact you later about future matters." Tang Lici took out a gold ingot. "Be careful on the road and don't let her escape." Shen Langhun chuckled darkly. "Yu Konghou is trying to turn Fang Pingzhai against us. Can't you find a way to stabilize him?" He had been hiding on the roof beam and heard everything just said.
"I can't stabilize him." Tang Lici sighed faintly. "I'm stretched too thin, and besides, Yu Konghou knows the secrets Fang Pingzhai is hiding, while I don't." Hong Guniang's eyes flashed. "Fang Pingzhai's secrets?" She pondered for a moment. "Peach Girl has been wary of me at every turn. Back when I was at the Dissolute Shop, I didn't even know she was its true master. But I have heard of the legends about the Seven Cloud Traveling Guests. It's said Layered Petal Grandeur hails from Baiyun Valley, a place of scenic beauty that has produced military talents since ancient times."
"Military talents?" Tang Lici's gaze shifted. "Generals who excel on the battlefield?" Hong Guniang nodded. "Baiyun Valley is said to be the ancestral home of several great Han generals. Every household there has military texts, and even in the current imperial court, many soldiers and officers come from Baiyun Valley." Tang Lici frowned. "Could it be that Gui Mudan and Yu Konghou are so fixated on Fang Pingzhai because of his military texts? Or because Fang Pingzhai actually possesses the talent of a general?" Hong Guniang shook her head. "Hard to imagine." Just looking at Fang Pingzhai's rambling and frivolous demeanor, it was impossible to picture him as a capable general.
"I'll keep an eye on this matter of military talent. If Yu Konghou is interested in such talent, it suggests he has ambitions for the battlefield. At this moment, could he be planning to wage war against the Liao Dynasty?" Tang Lici half-closed his eyes. "Because the Song army is currently suffering defeats? Could it be that Yu Konghou and Gui Mudan's ambitions extend far beyond dominating the martial world—that they harbor even greater aspirations? Does he want to achieve something that will leave his name in history? But that's absolutely impossible..."
"All this is just wild speculation on our part," Hong Guniang shook her head. "Young Master Tang, don't think too far ahead. Worry harms the body—take care of yourself." She bowed to Tang Lici and left through the door. Shen Langhun laughed. "Fang Pingzhai leading troops into battle? Military talent isn't something passed down like family traits. How can someone who's never been on a battlefield command an army?" Tang Lici gave a light cough and sat down in a chair. "This matter is very strange, and the details must be quite complex. Let's set it aside for now." Seeing Tang Lici looking somewhat weary, Shen Langhun asked, "I heard Qiyang has arrived at the mountain. Should we have him examine Xue Xianzi's pulse?" Tang Lici perked up. "Invite him over. I haven't been on the mountain and have neglected our guest."
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