Qian Renxue stopped, turned to Lu Jing and Wang Dong'er, and said, "Come on. I'll show you the passage here. It leads directly to the Crown Prince's Palace, so it'll be more convenient if you want to see me in the future."
Lu Jing nodded and followed her with Wang Dong'er and Xiao Wu.
After passing through the corridor deep within the courtyard, Qian Renxue stopped before a wall and pressed an inconspicuous brick.
With a soft click, the wall slowly shifted aside, revealing a deep, secluded passage behind it. Night-luminous pearls hung along both walls, giving off a gentle glow that lit the way ahead.
"From here, it takes about the time to drink a cup of tea to reach the study in the Crown Prince's Palace," Qian Renxue explained as she led the way inside.
Lu Jing and Wang Dong'er exchanged a glance, then entered with Xiao Wu.
The wall slowly closed behind them, shutting out the morning light from the courtyard.
The passage was silent, with only the footsteps of the four of them echoing through it.
The night-luminous pearls on either side cast soft halos, stretching their shadows long.
The brick-paved floor was level and smooth, clearly carefully renovated. Their footsteps echoed through the narrow space, carrying an air of secrecy.
Qian Renxue walked at the front, the hem of her pale gold skirt swaying gently with each step. The tap-tap of her heels against the floor became the only rhythm in the silent passage.
From time to time, she turned her head to introduce the layout of the passage to Lu Jing and Wang Dong'er, her tone as relaxed as if she were strolling through her own garden.
"This was originally a secret passage left behind by those before us. Later, I reopened it and