In this rainy night, they were not the only ones searching for Sikong Kuang. Ye Yutian and Mo Ran also heard the news and rushed to the capital overnight. The howling wind and the rumbling thunder seemed to herald the unrest that was about to descend upon the capital.
At dawn, the sky rarely showed a hint of light as the sun slowly rose, everything appearing calm and peaceful. The air carried the fresh, sweet scent after the rain, and the outside world looked vibrant and thriving, giving the impression that the violent storm of yesterday had been nothing but an illusion.
"For now, the safest approach is to apply makeup to you so that no one can recognize your faces. Only then can we reduce the chances of being discovered." Ye Lanshan sat in the room, quietly waiting for their response.
"Makeup? I don't mind, but can you make me look even more handsome?" Yun Di had already seen Ye Lanshan's makeup skills on Futian, so he wasn't worried.
Ye Lanshan firmly shook her head. "The more low-key you are, the fewer people will know you, and the smaller the chance of being found. So an ordinary, plain face is the most suitable."
"That's right. Although the capital seems calm on the surface, there are undercurrents stirring beneath. Miss doesn't have the energy to protect us all the time, so it's better for us to stay inconspicuous." Ye Yu, as Ye Lanshan's most loyal subordinate, naturally spoke in her favor.
"The most dangerous place is the safest. They'll definitely think we'd hide somewhere very low-key and secluded. If we do the opposite and flaunt ourselves everywhere, they'll never expect it." Yun Di didn't want to become ugly, so he naturally tried to convince Ye Lanshan to make them look better.
Ye Lanshan had no objection to that. As long as they wore makeup, no one would recognize who they were anyway.
"I have another idea. How about we each draw the face we most desire, and then you, Ye Lanshan, can transform us into those drawings?" Yun Di looked at Ye Lanshan with eager anticipation, hoping she would agree to his proposal.
"Fine, but with your drawing skills, can you really depict the face you have in mind?" Ye Lanshan was skeptical. Although they had known each other for a while, she had never heard that they could paint.
"Don't underestimate us. We come from prestigious families after all. Drawing is a piece of cake for us." Yun Di was quite confident about this.
"I'd believe you were a spoiled playboy, but a prestigious family? Where do you get that confidence?" Ye Lanshan recalled the first time she saw him, how he had perfectly embodied the image of a lecherous rogue.
"Wasn't I just pretending? Don't tell me that's how you really see me." Yun Di laughed awkwardly and scratched the back of his head, mortified that this was his image in her eyes.
Futian, who had been standing nearby for a while, finally spoke up. "Make me look older. I've always been competitive and stubborn. If you turn me into the image of a lonely old man, they'll never guess it's me."
Ye Lanshan looked at his gradually hunched back, his eyes no longer as sharp as before, and agreed. "Alright."
"Sister Lanshan, why didn't you tell me when you came? You made me search so hard." The voice arrived before the person—crisp yet carrying a hint of allure, unmistakably that of a very charming woman.
Sure enough, the woman was indeed enchanting, but not in the forced, coquettish way of a brothel girl. Hers was a natural, bone-deep allure that exuded an ultimate temptation.
Everyone turned to look at Tao Yao. In that instant, she became the center of attention, but she paid no mind to that. She walked straight up to Ye Lanshan, gently tugged at her sleeve, and said, "Didn't you promise to come see me before? Why are you avoiding me now?"
Ye Lanshan was indeed not good at handling this kind of situation. Faced with her whining complaint, all she could do was keep putting it off.
Ye Lanshan let her hold her sleeve and explained, "I have something very important to deal with right now. Once I'm free, I'll naturally come to see you."
Under everyone's gaze, Ye Lanshan's lips slowly moved closer to Tao Yao's ear. Just as her lips were about to touch Tao Yao's ear, she whispered, "How could I avoid you? I still need you to help me train assassins."
Hearing this, Tao Yao could only resent him for being a blockhead. She had hinted so clearly, yet he still didn't understand her feelings.
"May I ask for the lady's name?" Yun Di, after holding back for a long time, finally couldn't resist making a move. After all, few men could resist Tao Yao's beauty.
"Of course. My name is Tao Yao. May I ask for the gentleman's name?" Tao Yao, adhering to the principle of reciprocity, asked for his name.
"Oh, I'm Yun Di. Would Miss Tao be interested in sharing a drink with me?" Yun Di introduced himself politely and gracefully. It was his first time seeing such a beautiful woman, especially one in a brothel who neither sold her art nor her body but still exuded an innate charm.
"Master Yun, if Sister Lanshan agrees to let me drink with you, then I will." Tao Yao neither refused nor agreed, simply shifting the decision to Ye Lanshan.
Ye Lanshan sighed helplessly. "Let's focus on business first. Once this period is over, you can drink as much as you like."
...
"Your Highness, Sikong Kuang seems to have vanished into thin air. No matter how hard we search, we can't find any trace of him." Bai Yong stood before Ye Yutian, reporting.
"Mm, I understand. Keep searching. Even if you have to turn the ground upside down, you must find Sikong Kuang." Ye Yutian's voice remained as cold as ever, as if it could freeze someone to death.
"Yes." Upon hearing Ye Yutian's command, Bai Yong vanished from his sight in an instant.
"It seems Prince Ye hasn't found Sikong Kuang either." Mo Ran appeared on the rooftop at some point, smirking as he met Ye Yutian's gaze.
Ye Yutian replied coldly, "Likewise. You haven't found him either, have you?"
"How about we make a bet on who finds Sikong Kuang first?" Mo Ran's eyes were full of provocation as he looked at Ye Yutian.
Ye Yutian's face remained cold as he spat out two words: "Boring."
Mo Ran shrugged, completely unfazed by whatever Ye Yutian might say. "Speaking of which, Ye Lanshan lives here too. I really should find the time to pay her a proper visit."
"I warn you, don't set your sights on her." Ye Yutian's cold voice carried a hint of something else.
"Is that so? Suddenly, I want to see what happens if I do provoke her. What can you do to me?" Mo Ran had long harbored resentment toward Ye Yutian. Whatever Ye Yutian cared about, Mo Ran wanted to snatch it away and watch him fall into utter despair.