The Frontier Prince: Starting From Scratch - Chapter 40 - The Beauty of Tianxiang Pavilion

“Your Highness, this isn’t the direction of the Prince’s Mansion.”

Leaving the Armory Office, Zhao Xu headed north.

Xu Lie promptly reminded Zhao Xu.

Since the assassination attempt, Xu Lie had been on edge every day, guarding Prince Yan, as if expecting an arrow to fly from the shadows at any moment.

Liu Fu chuckled at Xu Lie’s tense demeanor, “Commander Xu, nowadays, Your Highness commands great respect in Yan Prefecture. There’s no need to be so anxious.”

With Chang Wei overseeing the personal guard of the Prince’s Mansion, Xu Lie had been promoted to guard commander, accompanying Zhao Xu for protection.

On ordinary days, Xu Lie would stay at the gatehouse.

The two often crossed paths and naturally became familiar.

Glancing at Liu Fu, Xu Lie said, “The safety of Your Highness is no trifling matter…”

Before he could finish, he suddenly sensed something, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his sword.

A heavily made-up woman stood in the middle of the road, staring at Prince Yan.

Xu Lie recognized her as the procuress from Tianxiang Pavilion.

Riding forward, he asked cautiously, “Why do you block the path of Prince Yan?”

The procuress smiled, her gaze fixed on Zhao Xu, and softly said, “Your Highness, do you remember the note?”

At her words, Zhao Xu, Liu Fu, and Xu Lie all changed their expressions.

Of course, they remembered the note that had helped them escape the Zhang Family’s assassination attempt.

What they hadn’t anticipated was that the timid procuress from that day was involved.

“So it was you?” Zhao Xu rode forward, clasping his hands in thanks, “Thank you for your help; otherwise, I would have perished. May I ask your name?”

“Your Highness can call me Liu Sanniang. But there’s no need to thank me; if you must thank someone, thank my young miss.”

“Young miss?” Zhao Xu vaguely recalled the silhouette that had turned away.

Liu Sanniang nodded gently, “I ask Your Highness to visit Tianxiang Pavilion. Because of assisting Your Highness, Tianxiang Pavilion has encountered trouble. Otherwise, I wouldn’t trouble Your Highness.”

“Your Highness, be cautious of deceit,” Xu Lie warned as Zhao Xu seemed inclined to go.

“They saved my life; I can’t ignore their plight. Besides, I’m curious to see who they truly are,” Zhao Xu said, squinting slightly.

Yan Prefecture now gave him only one impression.

A small temple with big winds.

Xu Lie nodded solemnly.

The procuress noticed Xu Lie’s concern and smiled, “Now that Yan Prefecture is under the control of the Prince’s Mansion, how could I wish harm upon His Highness?”

Xu Lie merely snorted, remaining silent.

Zhao Xu shook his head and turned his horse towards Tianxiang Pavilion.

They were near Jinlin Pond, likely why the procuress appeared after receiving word.

It seemed Tianxiang Pavilion was no ordinary place.

In Yan City, it must have hidden eyes.

After a short ride, they arrived at Tianxiang Pavilion.

The procuress led Zhao Xu to the fourth floor, stopping before a room adorned with beaded curtains.

Xu Lie directed thirty guards to secure the area tightly.

“Young miss, Prince Yan has arrived.”

At the door, the previously frivolous procuress suddenly became solemn and respectful, announcing inside.

“Please, Your Highness, come in,” a woman’s voice called from within, soft and alluring, enough to melt bones.

Zhao Xu stepped inside, Xu Lie following closely.

The procuress reached out to stop him, but Xu Lie glared fiercely, “Who knows if there’s an ambush inside?”

Zhao Xu did not blame Xu Lie, though he was curious about the identity of those who had saved him. However, he hadn’t lost his sense; safety was still the priority.

“Aunt Liu, let them in,” the woman’s voice echoed once more.

The two entered the room, only to see two women standing behind white drapes, one dressed in yellow and the other in red, their features faintly visible.

“Playing tricks,” Xu Lie muttered under his breath, cautioning, “Your Highness, be wary of deception.”

Zhao Xu smiled wryly; Xu Lie was always overly cautious. Yet, this was a quality befitting a guard commander.

“Your guard is quite rude. Letting you in was meant to reassure you, not to devour you,” the woman in yellow said, clearly displeased with Xu Lie.

“Huan’er, mind your manners,” the woman in red chided softly, reaching out to draw the drapes aside.

She walked gracefully towards Zhao Xu, bowing her head, “This humble woman, Xu E, greets Your Highness. I hope you won’t take offense.”

Xu Lie was about to retort, but upon seeing the women’s faces, both he and Zhao Xu were momentarily stunned.

“Thank you for your assistance that day,” Zhao Xu was the first to regain his composure.

The woman in red was dressed elegantly, her hair as dark as distant ink. Her brows were like little hills, her face like a peach blossom, eyes like spring water, enchanting and beautiful.

Had he been born in this era, he might have been captivated by such beauty. However, coming from the modern world, where he was accustomed to seeing carefully selected actresses and photoshopped images, he had developed a resistance to beauty.

“Your Highness need not thank me. In aiding you, there was also a personal matter involved,” Xu E raised her head, looking directly at Zhao Xu, not shy like ordinary women.

It was her first time seeing Zhao Xu, and she secretly admired the young Prince Yan. In such a short time, he had managed to influence the affairs of Yan Prefecture. She believed that even in the capital, none of the princes could achieve this. Especially considering that Prince Yan’s maternal family was of humble origin.

Moreover, the exceptional liquor brewed by Prince Yan was something she couldn’t help but praise.

“Personal matter?” Zhao Xu scrutinized Xu E, “What do you mean by that? And what exactly is this Tianxiang Pavilion…”

He wanted to get to the bottom of it. After all, such a mysterious place existed in Yan Prefecture. As the ruler of Yan Prefecture, he couldn’t ignore it.

Xu E didn’t speak, gesturing towards the seating cushions on the floor, “Your Highness, please sit. This matter requires a detailed explanation.”

Zhao Xu sat down, and Xu E took a seat across the low table, pouring a cup of tea for him.

As Zhao Xu reached for the tea, Xu Lie coughed from behind.

Xu E smiled sweetly, took Zhao Xu’s cup, sipped it lightly with her red lips, and then placed it back in front of him, her eyes sparkling, “Your Highness, is this reassuring enough? Just don’t find fault with this humble woman…”

“A beauty so close, how could I find fault,” Zhao Xu said, though he didn’t reach for the cup.

Xu E gave Zhao Xu a meaningful look, sighed softly, “The chief of Qingfeng Stronghold, Pang Kun, is the murderer of my father. Although the Zhang Family in Yan Prefecture didn’t participate, they were accomplices. When I first arrived in Yan Prefecture, my informants in Qingfeng Stronghold leaked the information, and I decided to lend Your Highness a hand.”

“But you also hoped for Pang Kun and the Prince’s Mansion to exhaust each other, so you could capture him,” Zhao Xu said with a smile.

Xu E laughed charmingly, “Indeed.”

“But now that the matter is settled, why have you appeared again?”

This was what puzzled Zhao Xu the most at the moment.