Chapter 540: Lady of the Shadows
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
"Mister Hua, you need not worry. Just wait patiently for 3 days!" Su Qing shook his head.
"Three days?!" Mister Hua squinted and glanced at Lin Xinjue and Chi Hou. Gritting his teeth, he replied: "Okay, we shall wait three days. But what if you haven't fulfilled your promise within 3 days?"
"I shall be at your disposal!" Su Qing smirked.
…
The night sky was dotted with countless stars. A soft glow cascaded from a brilliant moon up above, lighting up the entrance of Ping Yang residence.
"Young Master Fang, are you leaving the residence?"
"Yes."
"At this hour… Do you need a few bodyguards?" The guard keeping watch at the entrance of Ping Yang residence looked up at the night sky and asked in concern.
"No."
"Alright. Young Master, please take care."
"Thank you." Fang Zhengzhi nodded and exited through the residence gates.
A few guards exchanged looks, yet none of them intended to inform Ping Yang, standing by the residence gates as usual.
Because they were clear that these were matters instructed by Ping Yang.
Fang Zhengzhi could enter and leave Ping Yang residence as he wished, without any supervision.
Fang Zhengzhi walked slowly into the night and shortly he was out of Ping Yang residence's sight. At this moment, a black figure leaped out from a roof of a house.
"Greetings to Your Excellency!" The black figure lifted his head slightly, revealing her alluring lips, though her body was shivering.
Qing Yi, who once confronted Chi Hou at the Northern Mountain Village.
"Why have you called me here tonight?" Fang Zhengzhi asked after a glance at Qing Yi.
"Master has arrived. She wishes to meet you."
"Wu Yuer?" asked Fang Zhengzhi, surprised.
"Yes!" Qing Yi nodded.
"Didn't this girl say she won't ever enter Yan Capital? Would it really be appropriate for a rendezvous in the middle of the night?" Fang Zhengzhi complained in annoyance.
Qing Yi froze momentarily.
If this was asked by any other person, she would have stabbed him in a heartbeat, no questions asked.
But coming from Fang Zhengzhi, she wasn't at all surprised.
"Your Excellency, please follow me!"
"Okay." Fang Zhengzhi nodded and followed Qing Yi. They turned into an alley and shortly found themselves in front of an exquisite restaurant.
Fang Zhengzhi had previously visited this restaurant.
Fragrance Restaurant.
As the oldest restaurant in Yan Capital with hundreds of years of history, it was the gathering place for many elites from various origins. It was also one of Ping Yang's favorite restaurants.
Of course, that was a matter of the past. Now as Fang Zhengzhi stepped in front of this restaurant, he felt something had changed.
For example, when he visited in the past, he would be welcomed by a waiter. But now, it was the owner who had been expecting him for a long time.
"Greetings to Your Excellency!" The restaurant owner saw Fang Zhengzhi and greeted him as respectfully as he could. If it weren't for Qing Yi by his side, the owner seemed as if he would kneel too.
"Is Fragrance Restaurant this girl's enterprise too?" Fang Zhengzhi said, a little taken aback. Then he remarked softly: "Well, apparently she loves enjoying life, but judging from the amount of money she had spent acquiring Fragrance Restaurant, she's indeed a wastrel."
"Cough!"
Just as Fang Zhengzhi finished his sentence, an angry cough emerged from above, followed by a falling vase.
"Oh, what a sharp ear. Even that could be heard?" Fang Zhengzhi quickly sidestepped, avoiding a disaster. Then he looked suspiciously at the half-open window above.
The owner was aghast. He glanced above, and for fear of hesitating further, he led Fang Zhengzhi into the restaurant.
"Your Excellency, please!"
"Alright." Fang Zhengzhi nodded as he followed the owner into the restaurant.
Usually, nights in Yan Capital would be bustling with activity.
But it was different for the restaurants.
They would be very lively in the morning and afternoon and their businesses would dwindle by night. It was now Fragrance Restaurant's closing time, and naturally, there wouldn't be anyone else here.
Qing Yi did not follow Fang Zhengzhi into the restaurant. Instead, she leaped away and vanished into the darkness of the night.
The restaurant owner led Fang Zhengzhi to an elegant pavilion.
"Your Excellency, we have reached." The owner bowed.
"Okay, you may leave now." Fang Zhengzhi nodded and waved at the owner.
"Yes!" The owner replied as he backed off.
Fang Zhengzhi opened the door and walked in.
In the pavilion, Fang Zhengzhi spotted the lady seated on a chair. She was dressed in a long, black muslin dress, her skin bore a fair, radiant complexion. Her brows were perfect like those of paintings, with a dot of cinnabar sat between them. An alluring beauty indeed.
The current Shadow Sect Leader, Wu Yuer!
"Didn't you say you won't ever enter Yan Capital?" Fang Zhengzhi forgot what happened a moment ago, curling his lips in disdain as he asked.
"I did. But didn't you say you wouldn't act rashly?" Wu Yuer smiled slightly. She didn't mind if Fang Zhengzhi had forgotten what happened a moment ago, instead, she showed a loving expression.
Fang Zhengzhi was unfazed with Wu Yuer acting like this. Having spent a year with Wu Yuer, naturally, he would not be "puzzled" by her expressions.
So what if he knew for a fact that Wu Yuer would never show such an expression to anyone else? It could never hide her "true nature".
Wu Yuer could be described in such a sentence: her intelligence was vastly different from that of Chi Guyan or Yun Qingwu.
Put simply, when Yun Qingwu was plotting something, he would deceive others with them thinking he was doing something open and honorable.
But Wu Yuer would do this differently.
Wu Yuer loved to sow discord. She enjoyed watching people argue and fight, then reaping the fruits of labor with a peace of mind.
To her, it was like this: When shepherds quarrel, the wolf has a winning game.
Wasn't it interesting? Take the Southern Region war as an example. With the Demon Race, Southern Region, and Great Xia all in a messy battle, but eventually after the war, they still belong with one another.
Fang Zhengzhi was furious then, but it was in vain. Because she indeed left without a trace.
Besides, this lady hid within multiple hideouts. Even Fang Zhengzhi didn't know how many sanctuaries she had.
Take Fragrance Restaurant for instance.
If it wasn't for Wu Yuer meeting him here today, he still wouldn't have known that Fragrance Restaurant was Shadow Sect's business.
For a lady like her who always concealed herself within the "shadows", how would Fang Zhengzhi naively believe her loving expressions?
"Did I act rashly?" said Fang Zhengzhi. Maintaining a certain distance, he sat opposite her, then nonchalantly throwing a snack in his mouth.
"You didn't act rashly? Entering Yan Capital unprepared aside, do you know how dangerous the situation was today?" Wu Yuer nagged while she shifted beside Fang Zhengzhi. Then she picked up the teapot and poured Fang Zhengzhi a cup of tea. "Your favorite scented tea."
"Dangerous? I don't think so." Fang Zhengzhi shook his head and drank a sip. "Actually, Fragrance Restaurant's tea is pretty good too."
"Better than mine?" Wu Yuer smiled.
"Haha… Tell me, what brings you here?" Fang Zhengzhi smiled, skipping the question. He knew the restaurant owner would be in trouble if he answered "yes".
"I'm here to help you, of course." Wu Yuer smiled lovingly at Fang Zhengzhi once again as she leaned against him. A fragrant scent of wafted from her body.
"How would you help?" Fang Zhengzhi sat cautiously still.
"How would you like me to help?" Wu Yuer lightly lifted a side of her skirt, revealing her smooth, fair calves.
"Besides gathering intelligence, Shadow Sect's other noteworthy skill could only be broadcasting. Law Official Wen Chuan has Su Qing's handwritten confession, can you circulate this confession throughout Yan Capital by tomorrow morning?" Fang Zhengzhi said as lowered his head, ogling at Wu Yuer's calves.
"Tomorrow morning?" Wu Yuer seemed a little disconcerted.
As the Shadow Sect leader, she wasn't the spendthrift like Fang Zhengzhi had described her to be. On the contrary, under her leadership, Shadow Sect's businesses had been growing steadily.
And most importantly…
Wu Yuer knew her priorities very well.
In other words, as far as work matters were concerned, she would never show hesitation nor ambiguity. Efficiency was her style.
"Are there any difficulties?"
"No. I'll get going." Wu Yuer stood up and walked toward the door.
"Wait a second. Do you have any news of Nangong Mu?" Fang Zhengzhi said as he suddenly remembered this, staring at Wu Yuer who had reached the door.
"If all goes according to plan, Nangong Mu will arrive at Yan Capital tomorrow and participate in the Imperial Examinations. As far as I know, his potential is still not on par with Nangong Hao. But for this matter, it is better if you do it yourself." Wu Yuer left as she finished her piece.
"Do I need to?" Fang Zhengzhi smirked as he looked out the window. His eyes lit up brilliantly. Anyone would be shocked if they saw this.
Because more than a year ago, someone's eyes shone just as brilliantly.
And his name was…
Chi Guyan!