1844 To Snow Territory 2
Gu Chaoyan emanated an aura of coldness, maintaining a certain distance from the people around her. She seemed to occupy a position of great stature, standing above them all.
The birthmark on the Phoenix Girl’s face was intimidating, yet her fair complexion and distinctive presence made her stand out amidst the snowy landscape of Snow Territory. Clad in white, she exuded an air of uniqueness, signifying her future role as the City Lord’s wife.
Such thoughts ran through the minds of the Snow Territory civilians.
Meanwhile, some dissenting Elder Men from Snow Territory scrutinized Gu Chaoyan with skepticism.
For the Phoenix Girl to be recognized as such, she needed to possess the Phoenix Girl’s token, which meant Ouyang Mingjing could not have presented a girl with a pleasant demeanor as the Phoenix Girl. Moreover, Gu Chaoyan appeared pale and distant, lacking the warmth one would expect from a Phoenix Girl aspiring to become the City Lord’s wife.
Furthermore, they detected no traces of magical power within her, casting doubts on her ident.i.ty as the Phoenix Girl. Even if she were, they harbored reservations regarding the City Lord’s qualifications.
This was an unalterable reality.
Ouyang Mingjing might have been an exceptional man in Snow Territory, but he and his trusted followers had always awaited the arrival of the Phoenix Girl to ensure the security of Snow Territory. They were never meant to shoulder all responsibilities solely with their own abilities.
They were determined to bring down Snow Territory, regardless of whether they had the Phoenix Girl with them or not.
Snow Territory had not enjoyed peace in recent years, and they were not willing to let that continue.
Observing the crowd’s reactions, Gu Chaoyan gained some understanding of the nature of Snow Territory.
To divert attention from the Phoenix Girl, Ouyang Mingjing suggested that she retreat into the wagon for a distance.
He then instructed Longqing and his men to escort the Phoenix Girl.
As they entered Snow Territory, Gu Chaoyan noticed that she now had twice as many guards as before, with the hidden guards from Shadow Door a.s.signed to protect her.
Initially discontented, the hidden guards from Shadow Door were on the brink of rebellion until Gu Chaoyan intervened and pacified them.
With their limited numbers, the hidden guards would not stand a chance against Ouyang Mingjing’s men in a direct confrontation. Engaging in a battle of wits seemed like a wiser choice.
Ouyang Mingjing claimed that there were ongoing conflicts within Snow Territory, as someone sought to seize power. That was why he required the presence of the Phoenix Girl to restore stability.
Prior to her arrival in Snow Territory, Gu Chaoyan had believed Ouyang Mingjing’s words to be true.
But…
So many things had transpired, leaving Gu Chaoyan with a different perspective.
Ouyang Mingjing may hold the t.i.tle of City Lord, but she no longer saw him as an honorable man.
If he lacked righteousness, then those who opposed him in Snow Territory could potentially become her allies.
They needed to devise a long-term strategy.
As Gu Chaoyan pondered over these thoughts, she was escorted to a palace located 500 meters away. It was heavily guarded, and numerous maids were present.
Standing before her, Ouyang Mingjing spoke sternly, “From now on, this will be your residence, and you are not allowed to venture outside without my permission.”
“….”
“Now that you are in Snow Territory, we must arrange the wedding. The Elder Men have already selected an auspicious day, which is in ten days’ time.”
“….”
“Once everything is settled, I will provide you with the Fire Lotus flowers.”
Ouyang Mingjing’s words hung in the air.
However, he did not elaborate further.
It was clear that he had no intention of letting her go after presenting her with the Fire Lotus flower.