Noble's Woman Guide

Chapter 1: Jinglan

It was the first glimmer of dawn and the sparkling crystal-clear dewdrops dangled on the leaves. A horse-drawn carriage quietly left the inn towards the official road leading to Wangdu of Country Chu.

It would soon be autumn. At this moment clouds were hanging low in the sky with a refreshing and pleasant temperature. A thick turquoise curtain is hanging in the horse-drawn carriage that not even a slightest shadow could be seen. The driver known as Tang Qingfeng, a tall and sturdy man, is holding the rein in one hand and dons a long sword around his waist. He looked simple and honest, yet a taut face is always visible on his face that inexplicably made him look angry and unapproachable.

The horse was galloping steadily along the way. The towering walls of Wangdu soon appeared in the field of vision and they could reach it in about four hours. Tang Qingfeng turned around to report to the person in the carriage who just nodded his head indistinctly.

A sudden burst of commotion could be heard from both sides of the maple trees forest. Tang Qingfeng immediately stopped the carriage when he sensed the abnormality and instantly gazed around. A dozen black shadows suddenly shot out from the shadow with flashes of cold gleams.

"Here we go again. This is already the border of Wangdu wall and they are still not giving up." Tang Qingfeng felt half sullen and half disdain but he didn't move as he awaits for the order of the person inside the carriage. Soon, a calm, deep and low voice reached his ears through the heavy curtain.

"Catch one alive this time."

"Yes, Wangye"

Tang Qingfeng turned around and jumped off the carriage. His thumb slightly drew out the sword's sheath, revealing the length of a sharp luminous sword that reflected a little golden ray of the rising sun which was both dazzling and daunting. The black-clad leader inwardly thought it was worthless to fear as he looked at him standing sole in front of the carriage, hence they slowly paced and started surrounding the carriage. Tang Qingfeng coldly gazed at them and the desire to kill gradually rose but he didn't make any move. Besides breathing, the atmosphere around was extremely strained, as if it could crack open at any time.

"Go!"

The black-clad leader suddenly called to attack and everyone immediately rushed forward, harboring murderous intentions. Tang Qingfeng bare-handedly wrestled with the one closest to the carriage, then immediately leaped towards the black-clad leader. The long sword sprung out unexpectedly and thrusted towards his chest. He raised his sword to block but who would have thought Tang Qingfeng would alter his footwork and glide behind him with a speed that simply wasn't discernable. Turning his body sideways,he barely evaded the attack. Retreating a few steps, he stopped to signal for help, but as he looked up; his face turned pale with fright.

More than a dozen shadow guards unexpectedly appeared out of thin air in the open and spacious official road.

All of a sudden, the previous vantage point they had earlier disappeared without a trace. Not only were they unable to get close to the carriage but were completely beaten without a chance of retaliation by the superb martial-skilled shadow guards and gradually were at a disadvantage. The black-clad leader clenched his teeth and was about to order to withdraw when a hand grabbed his shoulder as he turned around and a steel-like claw almost crushed his bones.

"Want to leave?"

The voice had barely waned off when; he felt numbness on his waist and soon after was unable to move anymore. Tang Qingfeng walked forward from behind and easily disposed of two black-clad men who came back to kill. He just stood there until the shadow guards exterminated all the black-clad men.

Looking at the dreadful situation, the black-clad leader immediately crushed the hidden poison between his teeth. Tang Qingfeng's complexion slightly changed as he stretched out his hand to clamp down on the black-clad leader's lower jaw but he was still a step too late. Red blood violently gushed out smearing his palm and the black-clad man fell to the ground kicking up countless floating dust.

He knitted his brows wiping his bloodied hand clean before walking to the front of the heavy curtain and reported in a low voice, "Wangye, this subordinate failed as all men are dead."

"Let it pass. Tidy up and continue the journey."

"Yes."

Tang Qingfeng raised his eyes and looked around. Bodies of the black-clad men were strewn everywhere, which was a total eyesore. With a hand gesture to his subordinates, as they immediately began to clear the scene. Kicking away several of the bodies that were obstructing the carriage's path, he walked towards the black-clad leader, bent down and searched inside his clothes when by chance, a piece of silver medal dropped with a loud thump. He picked it up when his face immediately turned frigid.

"Have a look at this, Wangye."

He held the silver medal with both his hands into the carriage. Chu Jinglan didn't take it but lightly swept a glance at it under the penetrating light and indifferently spoke out two words, "Ye family."

Tang Qingfeng nodded and a flame scuttled inside his eyes, "It is the emblem of the Ye's."

"Keep it safe. We'll talk about it when we reach Wangdu. This ought to be the last group of assassins."

"Yes."

Tang Qingfeng tucked the silver medal into his waistband, then grasped the rein and shouted at the horse which rushed towards the path ahead; while the group of shadow guards dispersed into the wood, to continue safeguarding Chu Jinglan in secret.

Time quietly slipped to noon and the sky was sunny and bright. The vast unending sight of Wangdu stood erect under the light blue skies that looked majestic and imposing.

The open and spacious Xuanwu main street was crowded with people today. Sunlight penetrated through the fall foliage colors of the maple leaves paving the flagstone road with a layer of gold foils. Shadows of flitting wild geese swept across along the wave of the autumn wind, heading south and very soon submerged into the crowd.

The imperial soldiers were standing guard like forest trees on both sides of the street. They were standing upright in armor five paces apart with silver spears overlapping above, firmly blocking the throng of the crowd. Whenever there was any unusual movement, the silver spear would strictly follow suit. The common people dared not make any rash move influenced by this powerful showdown, thus would only whisper to each other. Descendants of the noble families were naturally not among the crowd. They had earlier booked seats in the restaurants with windows facing the street that allowed them to see everything at a glance.

Such a grand occasion today was merely for the return of King Lan.