Phoenix is her most prized creation, and she absolutely will not allow such a thing to happen.

"Miss, wait up!"

Suddenly, a voice came from behind. Bai Hui did not turn around; she was already over fifty years old, and the words "Miss" obviously weren't meant for her.

But as she took a few steps forward, the voice became increasingly urgent, and quick footsteps approached.

"Miss, you dropped something!"

A short man ran ahead of her and handed her a handkerchief, saying, "Miss, you dropped your handkerchief..."

Bai Hui touched her waist and found that the handkerchief was indeed missing. The one the man was holding was hers; perhaps she had been too engrossed in thought, so much so that even as a Grandmaster, she didn't realize the handkerchief had fallen.

She glanced at the man. He wasn't tall, nor was he handsome—in fact, one might say he was ugly—but Bai Hui inexplicably felt a sense of goodwill towards him.

Perhaps it was because of the word "Miss"; no one had called her that in over thirty years.

She took the handkerchief and casually threw it to the roadside. A dusty handkerchief was something she naturally wouldn't want.

Unexpectedly, the man picked up the handkerchief again and asked, "Miss, you don't want this handkerchief?"

Bai Hui said blandly, "A dirty handkerchief, what's the use? Also, I'm old enough to be your mother, don't call me 'Miss' and give people a reason to laugh."

Hearing this, the man shook his head and said, "Miss, if you don't want it, I'll take it. Also, I must disagree with your words. Women are like fine wine; the longer the time, the richer the flavor. As long as one has a youthful heart, even a hundred-year-old can be considered a 'Miss'."

He tucked the handkerchief into his chest and said, "Let this handkerchief be a gift from the Miss to me, and please allow me to give you a present in return..."

Bai Hui neither agreed nor refused.

She happened to be free today, and she was curious to see what tricks this man might be up to...

...

Imperial Palace.

The nightingale opened the door, looked at the palace maid delivering her meal, and asked with some confusion, "Where's Hall Master Bai?"

Almost every two days, Hall Master Bai would come here to see her, but she hadn't come for three days straight now, the first time in more than half a year.

The palace maid knew the nightingale's identity and dared not say much. After handing the meal to her, she shook her head and said, "The servant doesn't know either."

Yet, upon returning to her quarters, chatting with the sisters around her, she looked excited and gossipy.

"Have you heard about Hall Master Bai's news?"

"I've heard! They say Hall Master Bai has taken a liking to a man and has been with him every day lately!"

"Hall Master Bai is already over fifty though..."

"I heard that man is very ugly and quite short; who knows what Hall Master Bai sees in him..."

...

Qi Country possesses the continent's most powerful intelligence system. As a senior member of the Green Bird Society, spending a few days with a man certainly doesn't go unnoticed.

A woman lost in love is quite normal.

But Hall Master Bai, unmarried at fifty years old, chose a man of twenty-something with unattractive looks, making people curious.

The man is truly impressive, daring to court Hall Master Bai; he's really desperate...

Especially since Hall Master Bai typically presents herself coldly and unsympathetically, who would have thought in private... This contrast fuels the gossip all the more.

It makes people marvel at the power of love, that it could make this fifty-year-old iron tree bloom...

Lin City.

Qingyin Pavilion.

Known as the largest brothel in the capital, Qingyin Pavilion is actually the headquarters of the largest spy organization—Green Bird Society. Although Qi Country's officials and nobles secretly fear it, they still often come here, preferring to voluntarily hand over some information to the Green Bird Society rather than having them come and investigate.

At this moment inside Qingyin Pavilion, an elder looked at Bai Hui, hesitating to speak.

Bai Hui glanced at him and asked, "Protector, just say what you need to say, no need to beat around the bush."

Only then did the elder speak up, "Hall Master Bai, I've heard you have been quite close with a young man recently?"

Bai Hui's brow furrowed, and she asked, "So what?"

The elder hastily replied, "It's nothing, just a bit worried. You are an old member of the Green Bird Society; you should be well aware that this man has many beautiful wives and concubines at home. If he wants a beauty, it's just a matter of spending some silver. Leaving those beauties aside to find someone of your age, don't you think he might have ulterior motives?"

Bai Hui's face had darkened further with his words.

Before he could speak again, she waved him off and said, "You don't have to say anymore. What could he want from me? My silver, my status? If he wants them, let him have them; it's not like I can't give them to him. Stop gossiping behind my back..."

With that, she left directly.

The elder sighed. Green Bird Society specializes in undercover and espionage matters. The affair between this man and Hall Master Bai sounds so incredible that any normal person would suspect something is amiss. Yet Hall Master Bai, a senior member who should be knowledgeable and highly cautious, is mired deeply, unable to extricate herself...

Moreover, that man is so ugly.

He even suspected whether this man had cast some spell on Hall Master Bai; not only Hall Master Bai, but also those beauties at his home seem willing to follow him wholeheartedly.

Of course, such suspicion lasted only for a short time.

There are no such spells in the world; it seems Hall Master Bai's iron tree blooms, and the old cat thinks of spring. With her fiery personality and tempers, they dare not say or ask much more...