Assassin!

Chapter 18: Assassin!

Watching Xu Nian'an wink and grimace, Xue Qinghe felt an inexplicable chill, his nerves tightening.

Could it be... could there be something between the two of them that I don't know about?

It must have happened during the time they bathed together.

This is troublesome.

Perhaps I should...

Xue Qinghe narrowed his eyes, a flicker of imperceptible killing intent flashing through them.

Xu Nian'an did not notice Xue Qinghe's subtle expression; he was still looking left and right, scrutinizing the area around Xue Qinghe.

He was especially focused on the palace maids and eunuchs following behind him.

He was practically ready to lift their skirts to take a look.

"Damn it, cousin, you old rascal, don't you know why I came to your Heaven Dou Empire?"

"It was for that, wasn't it? I treat you like a brother, and you treat me like a cousin, is that it?"

"Fine, fine, fine. The bond is fading, the affection is gone."

???

Hearing Xu Nian'an's words and watching his actions, Xue Qinghe was completely bewildered.

Wait, perhaps I don't need to go to such extremes just yet.

Xue Qinghe suppressed his impatience and probed cautiously.

"Cousin, what exactly is the matter?"

"Ever since I returned to the Heaven Dou Empire from your Great Ming Kingdom, I have forgotten many things. If there is something you want, you might as well tell me directly."

Hearing this, Xu Nian'an's eyes narrowed instantly.

Ever since he returned to the Heaven Dou Empire from the Great Ming Kingdom... he forgot many things?

One had to know that although Xu Nian'an had only spent a few days with Xue Qinghe, he had only expressed two things during that time.

I will help you, we are family, and can you give Xiao Xue to me?

Even though over a month had passed, it was impossible to forget those two things, right?

Or perhaps, he only remembered the things that were beneficial to himself.

Xu Nian'an vaguely felt that something was wrong.

"Where is your palace maid, Xiao Xue?"

Upon hearing Xu Nian'an's words, Xue Qinghe's body visibly stiffened.

"Heh, that is a long story. Not long after returning from the Great Ming Kingdom, her father passed away. She asked me for leave, and she never returned."

"I suppose the world outside the palace must have dazzled her eyes."

"The freedom she wanted, I gave to her."

Hearing this, the corners of Xu Nian'an's mouth slowly curled upward.

Very well, very well. Now Xu Nian'an could basically confirm his suspicions.

Even if it wasn't the case, based on the chain of evidence and the timeline, it was almost certainly true.

Xu Nian'an trusted his intuition.

However, he still needed to verify it. What was the best way to verify it?

Without even thinking, it had to be bathing together.

For the sake of Qian Renxue, even if he had to face the threat of a French-style black rod again, he would not hesitate.

"Cousin, look, I got my clothes dirty eating the delicacies you sent over this morning."

"Why don't we go to your palace, take a bath together, and then head to this Hunting Festival?"

Xue Qinghe's mouth twitched uncontrollably at these words, but he still waved his hand.

"Forget it, let's skip it for now."

"I bear the responsibility of overseeing this Hunting Festival on behalf of the Emperor, so I am afraid I cannot leave for the moment."

"If you wish to bathe in my palace, I can have a little eunuch from my palace take you there."

"Consider it an apology for his rudeness when he delivered your meal this morning."

Xu Nian'an glanced at the fair-skinned little eunuch, then immediately turned his head away.

"Cousin, how have you become so different from before?"

"I remember that you used to do your best to satisfy my requests."

Xu Nian'an spoke while letting his hand slide down the other's perfect waist, eventually coming to rest on a buttock.

After a long moment of hesitation over whether to pinch or not, Xu Nian'an finally gritted his teeth and did it.

"Mmph~ Cousin... what... what is the meaning of this? Men and women should keep their distance, let alone men and men."

As soon as Xue Qinghe turned his head, he found that Xu Nian'an was rubbing his fingers together with a meaningful expression.

This time, it wasn't the firmness he had felt before; it was incredibly soft, even softer than the palace maids who warmed his bed in the royal palace.

Xu Nian'an revealed a profound smile.

"Cousin, you weren't like this before."

After dropping that suggestive remark, Xu Nian'an turned and mounted a horse led over by Xu Fu.

He stepped firmly into the stirrup with his left foot, swung his right leg over, and mounted the horse with unerring precision.

"I'll come find you tonight. I hope you won't refuse me then."

"Hahahaha!!!"

With that, Xu Nian'an laughed and rode off, rushing into the Royal Hunting Forest like a gust of wind.

The carriage of King Ming followed closely behind.

Watching Xu Nian'an's retreating back, Qian Renxue's expression gradually turned cold.

She had no desire to bathe with Xu Nian'an as Xue Qinghe had.

Even less did she want to expose the fact that her painstakingly plotted replacement plan had failed.

"Young Mistress, everything is prepared. As long as Xue Luochuan ventures deep into the hunting forest, he will surely die without a burial place!"

At that moment, a man dressed in the uniform of the Heaven Dou Imperial Guard ran to Qian Renxue's side and knelt on one knee.

Qian Renxue, wearing Xue Qinghe's face, turned her head coldly.

"This time, there is an extra person in the plan. He has become a serious threat to our operations."

Swish~

Hearing this, the man narrowed his eyes and looked up.

"Who?"

Qian Renxue remained expressionless, coldly spitting out six words.

"King Ming, Xu Nian'an!"

Why kill Xu Nian'an? Wouldn't his existence be more beneficial to the First Prince's candidacy for the throne?

With Xu Nian'an—who possessed top-tier military strength and the support of a kingdom with nearly five hundred thousand troops—who could shake the position of Crown Prince, or even the future throne of the Heaven Dou Empire?

Unfortunately, Qian Renxue did not think so now.

Xue Qinghe needed Xu Nian'an's full support, but that did not mean she, Qian Renxue, needed it.

As long as all the other princes of the Heaven Dou Empire were eliminated, Emperor Xue Ye would have no choice but to select him, the First Prince.

Therefore, Xu Nian'an's support was utterly useless.

On the contrary, the overly intimate contact Xu Nian'an had with the First Prince—which Qian Renxue was unaware of—threatened their replacement plan.

To avoid exposure, that single touch from Xu Nian'an was enough to warrant his execution ten times over.

"My Lord, at the twelve o'clock position, there is a Lark that has just passed a hundred years of age."

On horseback, Xu Nian'an was observing his surroundings when the voice of Long Xiaoyao drifted out from the carriage.

Xu Nian'an immediately stood up on his warhorse, drew his bow, and pulled the string to its limit.

Chirp~

"Damn, the connection lagged. Just a bit off, that was a massive miss!"

The arrow flew wide when it was over ten meters from the Lark. It didn't hit the bird, but the peculiar sound the arrow made as it whistled through the air startled the creature.

The Lark slammed into a nearby tree, flapping frantically before plummeting toward the ground not far away.

"Just a hair off. A fine shot, My Lord. We'll surely hit it next time."

Xu Fu's cheerful voice rang out.

Hearing this, Xu Nian'an immediately turned his horse around and rode back.

"A fine shot?"

"Didn't you see that my prey is injured?"

"Why aren't you chasing it yet!"

After saying this, Xu Nian'an abandoned his horse and stepped into the carriage.

As for this Hunting Festival, he was only here for the novelty. Whether he caught any prey or not was secondary; he had to ensure his body and mind remained pleased.

Clop, clop, clop, clop~

The carriage had been traveling for quite some time, nearly lulling Xu Nian'an to sleep.

Bang! BOOM!

"Assa... assassins!!!"

Following a sharp cry, the voice was abruptly cut short.

Inside the carriage, Xu Nian'an's eyes snapped open in an instant.

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