Jiang Yingcheng's excuse for her treasure hunt was decidedly halfhearted. She merely said that when she had visited the Fragrant Pavilion yesterday, she had accidentally dropped an accessory in the courtyard.
The two people with guilty consciences were desperate for her to start "treasure hunting" at once. No sooner had she finished speaking than they nodded eagerly, declaring that they would help her look.
Jiang Xingran's suspicious gaze swept over their three faces again and again. Finding not the slightest clue, he had no choice but to follow them.
The group marched into the courtyard in force.
The Fragrant Pavilion did not occupy much space, but it had every room it ought to have. As a result, the rooms were packed tightly together in the rear courtyard, with a tangled maze of paths between them.
At first, Jiang Yingcheng made a show of looking this way and that at the ground. But the closer she came to her destination, the faster she walked, until she broke into a little run straight toward that room.
007 was too late to warn her. Filled with despair, it could only go offline on the spot, its avoidant system personality a perfect match for Jiang Yingcheng's.
Eunuch Changshun had already secretly instructed his subordinates to tread lightly and make as little noise as possible. He also had someone summon the Shadow Guards stationed nearby. Only then did he feel secure enough to follow closely behind the Little Highness.
Cheng Yunmeng also gestured to Jiang Xingran to keep quiet.
Before reaching their destination, Jiang Yingcheng lightened her steps and began inching forward on tiptoe.
Voices suddenly drifted out of the room, and everyone instinctively held their breath.
"Brother Xiangyang, are you feeling any better today?"
It was a young woman's voice. Cheng Yunmeng recognized it instantly as belonging to the palace maid named Xun Tao.
Her tone, however, was far gentler than it ever was toward Cheng Yunmeng and her son.
Then an adult man's slightly feeble voice sounded. "Little Tao, I owe you so much for these past few days. Without you, I truly don't know..."
"Brother Xiangyang, as long as your wounds can heal, I'm willing to do anything." She seemed to laugh softly, happiness spilling naturally into her voice. "Do you need any more medicinal herbs for your wounds? I can go find them!"
"Thank you, Little Tao, but... the herbs I'll need next are simply too expensive..."
"It's all right, Brother Xiangyang," Xun Tao said urgently. "I saw an imperial-bestowed jeweled hairpin in that Consort Lan's jewelry box before. Tomorrow, I can steal it and sell it outside the palace to get money for your medicine!"
Everyone eavesdropping outside froze.
None of them knew where to look.
Just what sort of life was this consort living in the palace, for even a palace maid to dare trample all over her so brazenly?
Cheng Yunmeng clenched her teeth hard. Her heart brimmed with resentment, but stronger still was the feeling of burning humiliation.
Life in this courtyard had always been like this for her and her son. She had long since grown used to it. Today, she was merely hearing those experiences spelled out once more.
But...
But today, so many other people were here.
At that thought, Cheng Yunmeng suddenly remembered that there was also a little child present.
She hurriedly crouched down and covered Jiang Yingcheng's ears with both hands.
This filthy world belonged to adults alone. The little one was better off hearing less of it.
Jiang Yingcheng looked up with her big, round eyes and smiled at her, her eyes curving into crescents.
Cheng Yunmeng's heart softened. It felt as though the entire world had become much cleaner.
The unbearable chatter inside continued, and the little one's inner voice rang out at almost the same moment.
"Little Tao..." The man sounded deeply moved. "Once my wounds have healed, I'll certainly take you away from this man-eating palace with me."
Hehehe, when you go to the execution block, make sure you remember to take her along!
The little one's inner voice dripped with sarcasm, yet that childlike innocence peculiar to her tender age made Cheng Yunmeng burst out laughing despite herself.
"Who's there?!" A furious shout suddenly came from inside.
Jiang Yingcheng perked up. Her gaze swept through the surrounding corners until she finally found a weapon to her liking-a metal snow shovel.
Charge!! She lifted her little legs, ready to run toward the room.
Cheng Yunmeng hurried after her.
But before either of them could rush inside, the shabby wooden door was kicked open from within with a bang.
A man with sharply chiseled features emerged, sword in hand, the murderous aura around him almost tangible.
Jiang Yingcheng, who had only just grabbed the shovel, froze in place.
Th-this wasn't how it was supposed to go!
007 had clearly said that this man was extremely weak right now and would be easy to deal with. How could he still charge out with such an imposing presence?!
Cheng Yunmeng also staggered back two steps, her pupils trembling, the same bewilderment filling her heart.
This man... did not look like someone she could handle!
Eunuch Changshun shouted for help as he hurried in front of Jiang Yingcheng, shielding her behind his trembling body.
"This is the assassin who attacked His Majesty last month! Whoever captures him will be richly rewarded!"
The man's expression was vicious, but he had no desire to remain here fighting. He pushed off with his toes, about to flee over the rooftops.
The Shadow Guards following Jiang Yingcheng intercepted him, however, and the fight immediately reached a tense stalemate.
Through some unknown means, the man had temporarily restored his internal energy. He traded blows with the Shadow Guards, and though they could not overwhelm him, he could not break free either.
His gaze swept rapidly across the courtyard before finally settling on Jiang Xingran.
Having stayed here for so long, he already knew Jiang Xingran's identity perfectly well.
No matter how little favor he enjoyed, he was still Emperor Mingze's son. If the assassin could take him hostage, he would still have a thread of hope...
Xun Tao ran out after him. Once she saw the scene before her, she screamed and collapsed to the ground.
She had heard what Eunuch Changshun had just shouted.
But wasn't her Brother Xiangyang a guard who had suffered illicit punishment at Noble Consort Rou's hands? How could he be such a...
Such a deadly assassin?
Jiang Xingran noticed the assassin's intentions the moment that gaze swept toward him. Seeing Xun Tao slumped in a daze by the doorway, his dark eyes shifted twice, and he ran toward the wide-open door.
He pressed the dagger in his hand against Xun Tao's neck and shouted toward the center of the fight, "If you don't want me to kill her by accident, you'd better surrender at once!"
No one stopped fighting.
The assassin called Brother Xiangyang even gave a mocking chuckle. "Kill her if you want."
After sitting dazed for so long, Xun Tao raised her head and murmured, as though she had failed to understand, "Kill her if you want?"
Her Brother Xiangyang, whom she had tended so carefully for so long, who had only just promised so gently to take her away with him...
Had told the person threatening her with a blade to kill her if he wanted??
Then what had all the tenderness and affection between them during this time amounted to?!
It took every ounce of Xun Tao's strength to stop her body from trembling. Her eyes, red with resentment, squeezed shut before slowly opening again.
She suddenly lunged. Seizing the moment Jiang Xingran's attention wavered, she snatched the sharp dagger from him with reckless disregard for her own life and swiftly held it against his neck.
She shouted, "Brother Xiangyang! I've caught the Seventh Prince!"
"With him, we can escape the palace!!"
Jiang Yingcheng stared, utterly dumbfounded.
Could this be the legendary-
Self-cultivation of a supreme love-brain?!
Before you continue