Chapter 439: The First Secret Confrontation (Part 4)

Chapter 439: The First Secret Confrontation (Part 4)

"What a brilliant move to cut off the fuel from under the cauldron."

As messages continued to pour in, Xiao Mubai, Yun Ling, and Yun Feng, along with the rest of the Cloud Guard, struggled to contain their frustration. The escorts all looked grim, while Su Rao, however, gently tapped on the letters delivered daily by the Freedom Pavilion and even chuckled.

Now that everyone in Dan Liang knew what the infamous Su family's unattractive daughter looked like, wherever she appeared, as long as a single commoner spotted her, even if just suspicious, her whereabouts would instantly reach the ears of the Dan Liang Emperor, leaving her no place to hide, let alone secretly infiltrate the Dan Liang capital city.

"These are not even the most formidable tactics."

Nightfall concealed the clouds, and tonight's darkness was particularly thick, as if heralding the first spring rain, announcing to the night sky that tomorrow, the first spring rain would arrive as scheduled.

Before they could finish reading the previous messages, Xiao Mubai brought another piece of news: at the gates of the Dan Liang capital city, the citizens had pooled money to hire the Ding family's physicians to set up a station. Visitors to the capital city had to wipe their foreheads with a medicinal solution to prevent the Su family's unattractive daughter from sneaking in disguised.

Although the citizens' actions disrupted the capital city's order, as the saying goes, "the law does not punish the multitude." The people were merely frightened by the terrifying rumors surrounding Honorable Princess Ronghua of Yun Lang. The court could not arrest and interrogate the entire city's populace for this, as it would inevitably stir up public resentment and destabilize Dan Liang.

Moreover, the Dan Liang Emperor, being a benevolent ruler, could not act against the people's interests. Thus, they declared that since Honorable Princess Ronghua had arrived in Dan Liang, the country would treat her with courtesy and invited her to stay at the Dan Liang posthouse.

If Su Rao had not yet entered Dan Liang, she naturally could not appear. However, in the hearts of the Dan Liang citizens, they believed Su Rao to be exactly as the rumors described, becoming even more vigilant and acting as the eyes and ears of the Dan Liang Emperor to keep watch on Su Rao. The moment Su Rao stepped into Dan Liang, she would be discovered and reported to the Dan Liang Emperor.

If Su Rao was already in Dan Liang, she would have no choice but to reveal herself. Otherwise, if she were accidentally discovered by the citizens, the Dan Liang Emperor could easily detain her under the pretext of her having ulterior motives. After all, if Su Rao was in Dan Liang, why would she hide unless she had something to hide?

This move was even more ruthless and decisive, forcing Su Rao to abandon any covert approach. Either she stayed out of the Dan Liang capital city entirely, or she had to reveal herself upon entering.

"Miss, this situation is quite tricky."

How should they respond?

Glancing at the Sovereign, who had changed so much, Xiao Mubai then respectfully addressed Su Rao.

Throughout their journey, Su Rao had become their backbone, their acknowledged second master.

It was not out of deference to their original master, but because of Su Rao's own capabilities, that Xiao Mubai truly respected and acknowledged her as the second master of the Freedom Pavilion.

"There's no need to respond. Since Rong Ke has given me such a ladder, I naturally must climb it. Otherwise, how could I live up to his painstaking efforts? Since he has gone to such lengths to build up my reputation, I should act accordingly."

Her peach blossom eyes, like autumn waters, suddenly flashed with a cold, profound light under the candlelight, a faint smirk appearing at the corner of her mouth, leaving Xiao Mubai and the others with an inexplicable feeling.

"Miss, have you considered that if you reveal yourself now, you will undoubtedly be closely watched? If we make even the slightest move, we might be detected without realizing it."

Yun Feng voiced this objection, not disagreeing with Su Rao's words, but pointing out the various problems they would face if Su Rao revealed herself now.

Even before meeting the escorts, Su Rao had mentioned confronting the Dan Liang Emperor head-on, but that was only after they reached the Dan Liang capital city and prepared everything.

Now, although Xiao Mubai had secretly reconnected with the Freedom Pavilion, and Yun Eighteen and the others were already in the Dan Liang capital city, they still lacked sufficient understanding of the current situation in the capital city. The Xiao family's annihilation, the closure of numerous shops and taverns, and the remaining hidden agents—were they deliberately left by the Dan Liang Emperor as bait to lure them into a trap? All of this was only half-known, and they could not afford to be careless.

"Let me ask you, who is the leader of the Freedom Pavilion?"

Su Rao did not elaborate further, only asking this question before turning to Han Mochen, who had remained silent throughout. He had said he would obey, and indeed, he handed everything over to Su Rao, simply because she was Rao Rao, and everything she did was for him.

The bright red candlelight illuminated his slender phoenix eyes, which sparkled with a golden brilliance. His stunningly handsome appearance, like a celestial being, stood beside Su Rao, no longer exuding the bloodthirsty aura he had upon waking.

If not for his continued preference for dark robes, he was indeed Yun Ji, the radiant and noble Prince Yun Ji, though he himself had not yet realized it.

"Are you willing to let me go now? Aren't you afraid I might go mad again?"

Before Yun Feng, Xiao Mubai, and the other trusted aides in the room could comprehend Su Rao's meaning, Han Mochen spoke up, staring intently at Su Rao. A surge of emotion welled up within him, a sweet sensation that he found addictive.

The leader of the Freedom Pavilion was Han Mochen, but in the eyes of the Dan Liang Emperor, the leader was the princess of the former dynasty. Therefore, when Su Rao, the princess of the former dynasty, appeared, would it not make it easier for the Freedom Pavilion to operate?

At that time, the Dan Liang royal family's attention will undoubtedly be focused on Su Rao. Su Rao only needs to subtly and intentionally act, leading the Dan Liang royal family to further confirm that she is indeed the true mastermind behind the Xiao family. If this also leads the Dan Liang royal family to suspect their own people, wouldn't it be a case of killing two birds with one stone?

Su Rao did not explicitly state it, but Han Mochen's words instantly made everything clear to Xiao Mubai and the others.

Even if Rong Ke has his clever schemes, they too have their own strategies.

But as for the Lord...

Yun Feng and the other subordinates understood that Su Rao's plan was indeed the most advantageous arrangement for them, but they hesitated, unsure whether their Lord would allow Su Rao to take such risks alone. They were currently unable to discern.

As everyone's thoughts were swirling, Han Mochen spoke again.

He wouldn't leave, nor would he let Su Rao face danger on her own. He believed in Su Rao's abilities, but he did not trust that couple. If Su Rao were harmed for his sake, even losing a single hair, he would surely lose his rationality and go on a killing spree again, staining his hands with blood.

"I don't keep anyone useless by my side. I will accompany Rao Rao."

When his phoenix eyes landed on Yun Feng and the other trusted subordinates, all the gentleness he reserved for one person vanished instantly. Although the icy aura was restrained, for Yun Feng and the others, it still instantly put them on edge.

This was a reaction deeply ingrained in their bones, something that would not disappear just because of Han Mochen's changes in a short time. However, compared to the past, they now faced their Master with less of the previous wariness, the kind of caution that feared Han Mochen might completely lose his mind and go on a senseless killing spree.

Han Mochen's words also suggested that the Pavilion of Freedom would not descend into chaos without him as the Sovereign. Otherwise, over the years, it would not have caused countless troubles for Dan Liang, leaving the Dan Liang royal couple perpetually distressed, yet never able to catch the mastermind behind it all.