The most prestigious force in Baiyu City was naturally the City Lord's Mansion, which governed Baiyu City and its hundreds of thousands of citizens, all of whom held it in reverence.
The Meng family was also one of the top households in Baiyu City, their wealth rivaling that of nations.
When news suddenly broke that these two powers were arranging a marriage alliance, it set the entire city abuzz. Rumors had it that the eldest Miss Meng was a peerless beauty, one of the rarest in the world, while the Young City Lord was a dragon among men, unmatched in all the land. The two were a perfect match made in heaven.
On the day of the wedding, all of Baiyu City was draped in red and festively decorated, bustling with excitement.
The citizens of Baiyu City seemed swept up in the grand wedding's atmosphere, and the entire city overflowed with a sense of celebration.
The wedding procession set out from the City Lord's Mansion, drums and gongs sounding all the way as it headed toward the Meng Mansion. The groom rode a tall horse dressed in a bright red wedding robe, and even the steed beneath him was adorned with red ribbons, radiating joy and festivity.
Meanwhile, within the Meng Mansion, Yang Kai — his appearance altered — held an invitation and slipped inside with ease. He feigned a casual stroll through the grounds while making his way, without a trace of suspicion, toward the inner quarters.
He had served as a guard in the inner quarters for several months and naturally knew the layout inside out. He was intimately familiar with the hidden spots where the concealed sentries typically lurked.
Though he had attempted to infiltrate the Meng Mansion several times in recent days, the outer defenses had been tightened considerably, and he had been unable to succeed.
Today was the mansion's joyous occasion, and manpower was stretched thin everywhere. While the inner quarters' defenses remained strict, they were at least still within the scope of what he knew — making this the perfect opportunity.
Dodging the lines of sight of several hidden sentries, Yang Kai vaulted over a wall as tall as a person into the inner quarters, his movements as graceful and silent as a cat. Without pausing, he turned and slipped directly into a rockery.
Moments later, Yang Kai emerged from the rockery, and inside it a hidden guard lay unconscious on the ground.
He hugged the wall and scaled the rooftop like a gecko. When he flipped back down a dozen breaths later, a guard crouching on the roof had likewise been rendered unconscious.
One after another, in less time than it took to drink half a cup of tea, every hidden guard outside the eldest Miss's bower had been dealt with.
Yang Kai headed straight for the bower.
Before the entrance, two sharp-eyed guards stood watch with hands resting on their sheathed blades, ever vigilant.
Yang Kai stumbled toward them, reeking of alcohol, one hand clamped over his mouth as though he might vomit at any moment. The sight immediately put both guards on high alert.
The newcomer was clearly a guest attending the wedding feast, but this was the inner quarters — there was no way he could have ended up here. Even if a guest had lost his way, the guards posted outside would never have let him pass.
How had this person gotten here?
The two guards exchanged a glance. One raised a hand and barked in a low voice, "Halt! This is not a place you should be!"
Yang Kai waved one hand over his mouth while the other waved dismissively at them, his body swaying unsteadily as he staggered right into the pair.
The guard who had spoken frowned and stepped forward to intercept this rude guest.
The instant their bodies made contact, the guard froze mid-step, while Yang Kai made retching sounds from his mouth.
The other guard quickly sensed something was wrong. Just as he moved to investigate, the drunken guest's figure drifted forward like a phantom, materializing right before his eyes.
Those clear, sharp eyes — where was any trace of drunkenness?
The guard's face drained of color. He reached for his blade!
But it was already too late. Yang Kai struck the man's neck with a knife-hand blow, channeling his strength. The guard's body went limp as he crumpled to the ground. At the same time, the guard behind him also collapsed.
Yang Kai exhaled softly, straightened his clothes, and only then stepped into the bower, climbing upward step by step.
Though he had served as a guard in the inner quarters for several months, this was his first time entering the eldest Miss's bower. He only knew that she typically resided on the third floor.
The third-floor door was shut tight, and hushed voices could be heard from within — Cuier's voice.
"The eldest Miss looks truly beautiful today. Qianxi, don't you think?"
Qianxi's voice rang out, gentle beyond measure. "The eldest Miss has always been beautiful."
Cuier laughed. "But today she's the most beautiful. Getting married really does make a difference!" As she spoke, her voice suddenly took on a tearful edge. "Eldest Miss, please stop smiling like that! I'm scared. What's so great about Guard Yang? He's nothing but a guard at the Meng Mansion. In terms of status and position, the Young City Lord surpasses him by a millionfold. Marrying the Young City Lord is where you belong!"
"Hee hee!" Meng Ru's voice sounded. "Am I smiling that foolishly?"
"Mm..." Cuier replied. "And didn't the Master say so? That Guard Yang colluded with the bandits from Baotian Peak, killed a bunch of people from the escort agency, and stole the Meng Mansion's goods. The City Lord's Mansion has a warrant out for his arrest. Someone like him must have infiltrated the Meng Mansion with ulterior motives from the start!"
Meng Ru said, "My beloved would never be so despicable. He didn't do any of those things. And besides... he'll come back for me!"
"Eldest Miss, you've lost your mind!" Cuier said in exasperation. "Today you're getting married! From now on, you'll be the Young City Lord's wife! Why are you still going on about your beloved?"
Meng Ru's voice drifted out, soft and wistful. "My beloved will surely be a great hero — one who would defy the entire world for my sake!"
"He's already wanted by the authorities. There's no way he can ever return to Baiyu City in this lifetime. Eldest Miss, please come to your senses!"
With a creak, the door opened and all three women inside turned to look. Yang Kai, his appearance restored to its original form, stood before their eyes.
In the next instant, Cuier's face went pale with fright, Qianxi was struck with utter shock, and only Meng Ru seemed to have anticipated this all along. A joyful, contented smile adorned her face as she rose slowly to her feet.
She wore a bright red wedding gown with a phoenix crown and flowing ceremonial robes — beautiful beyond mortal comparison.