The candlelight swayed. Qun Qing closely followed that woman and went up to a room on the second floor.
The guard at the door blinked, then his expression changed, because in the instant this young lady swept past him, the short blade at his waist came out of its sheath and was quietly taken by her.
The ice-cold blade pressed against Qun Qing’s arm. She hid the blade in her sleeve. This was the instinct of an operative—when alone and facing an unknown path ahead, only a sharp weapon at hand was her reliance.
She realized there might be a trap, but she truly couldn’t abandon the lead about her mother. So when she saw Fang Xie, she didn’t say a word.
“Elder Sister.”
Fang Xie—the young man before her wearing a jade crown and python robe—would be more appropriately called Nan Chu’s Young Emperor Ling Yunnuo. The hidden guards beside him had already blocked the doorway, sealing off Qun Qing’s escape route.
Qun Qing completely sobered up, her palms breaking out in sweat.
So the Yunzhou magistrate truly did have connections with Nan Chu.
Fang Xie’s slightly melancholic peach blossom eyes gleamed in the candlelight. He quickly stepped forward and grasped Qun Qing’s sleeve. Someone had already handed him that sachet. He placed the sachet in Qun Qing’s hand, carefully saying, “Elder Sister, take this. This is the needlework Aunt Zhu Ying made for you. Last time I told Elder Sister, but Elder Sister didn’t believe me. I wonder if this time’s sincerity is sufficient?”
Qun Qing lowered her eyes to look at the fluffy little rabbit holding a peach on the sachet, thinking of the unfinished birthday gift her mother had been embroidering for her. Her nose stung. “Where is my mother?”
“At Nan Chu’s Minister Weiran’s house.” Fang Xie paused, then said, “During this time, I’ve become familiar with government affairs and purged Crown Prince Zhao’s old supporters. Seeing everything proceeding smoothly, Elder Sister, come back with me.”
Qun Qing held the sachet, only saying, “Does the Meditation Master know about this trip of yours?”
Fang Xie stiffened for an instant, then said, “I am now in power, holding great authority. Whoever I want by my side doesn’t require others’ consent. Elder Sister, come back with me. From now on, you won’t need to do dangerous assignments. Share family happiness with Aunt Zhu Ying—why endure the pain of mother-daughter separation?”
Qun Qing wavered for a moment, but her mind flashed with memories of Nan Chu’s fate in her previous life and the scene in Chang’an when the palace fell. She discovered those memories had become blurred. What she could think of was only her rank, the Bureau of Palace Attendants waiting for the cloud brocade. She quickly came to her senses.
The Meditation Master definitely wouldn’t allow her existence. She also wouldn’t gamble with her own life and freedom.
Thinking of this, Qun Qing said, “I’m already married.”
Fang Xie suddenly looked at her calm, detached eyes. Qun Qing saw pain in his eyes. He said, “Didn’t Elder Sister say you wouldn’t marry? You said you would always stay with me.”
Before leaving the palace, she had indeed thought this way. Now Qun Qing only wanted to go back and slap herself twice.
Fang Xie suddenly grabbed her wrist, using his fingers to feel her pulse.
This ice-cold touch made Qun Qing’s mind suddenly flash back to a memory: Lu Huating holding her hand, leading her to sit on the bed.
Before she could react, she immediately pulled her hand back—she had actually been distracted.
“Elder Sister, you haven’t yet consummated the marriage. This so-called marriage is just an expedient measure,” Fang Xie said. “Even if Elder Sister truly married someone, I don’t care.”
Qun Qing gave him a slap.
“Do you know how unbearable the palace was? How many days and nights I saw Elder Sister in my dreams, remembering when we practiced medicine, sheltering from rain in a cave. You covered my face with your outer garment, which still carried your body’s fragrance. Why, of all people, was the first young lady I encountered after leaving the temple you?” Fang Xie looked down at her. “Others can marry you—why can’t I?”
At this moment, a hidden guard pushed open the door. “The Meditation Master is coming upstairs.”
The hidden guards’ expressions grew tense. Fang Xie’s expression also changed.
Qun Qing hadn’t expected the Meditation Master had come with Fang Xie. Judging from their expressions, Fang Xie was acting without the Meditation Master’s knowledge. That is to say, the Meditation Master didn’t know they would encounter her and couldn’t predict how he would deal with her.
Fang Xie’s face showed hesitation as he held Qun Qing, as if making a decision. Qun Qing heard a group of footsteps reach the door. For the sake of her life, she resolutely pushed Fang Xie away and hid under the canopy bed. Immediately after, the door was pushed open.
Through the gap between the two bed curtains, Qun Qing saw the Meditation Master enter.
She only knew the Meditation Master was the master of Nan Chu’s operatives. She had heard from An Lin about how coldly and ruthlessly the Meditation Master dealt with deserting operatives, but this was the first time in both her lives that she saw the Meditation Master’s true appearance.
The Meditation Master’s build was smaller and thinner than an average man’s, so that the embroidered long robe was somewhat loose. He wore a black veil over his face, speaking in a voice too low to hear. The Meditation Master didn’t acknowledge Fang Xie but, as if keenly discovering something, surveyed the room once around, slowly walking toward her.
Qun Qing held her breath. Fortunately, the Meditation Master’s feet stopped several steps away, using a hand to straighten the bed curtain that had been caught on something.
Under his long robe, the shoes were right below Qun Qing’s eyes. Seeing the gold chrysanthemum half-exposed on the shoes, Qun Qing froze slightly.
These were embroidered shoes.
The Meditation Master was actually a woman.
Immediately after, Qun Qing froze again. She saw the young lady the Meditation Master’s subordinates brought in with arms bound behind her back—a pregnant woman, and very familiar. It was actually Xiao Yunru, who should have been providing disaster relief!
Xiao Yunru’s eyes held a resolute look. She didn’t beg for mercy, but her damp hair by the temples and slightly rapid breathing indicated she actually wasn’t comfortable.
Qun Qing looked at her belly, somewhat worried.
They lifted Xiao Yunru up again, wrapped her in a cloak, as if to leave.
If they abducted the Princess Yan to Nan Chu, Li Huan would probably harbor resentment and retaliate against Nan Chu in the future.
After the Meditation Master left, Fang Xie quickly came over and helped Qun Qing up.
“If I were to leave with you, how can you guarantee the Meditation Master won’t discover me?” Qun Qing asked in a low voice.
Fang Xie said, “Change clothes and ride in the same carriage as me. With hidden guards present, Elder Sister will be fine.”
“I want to ride in the same carriage as the Princess Yan,” Qun Qing said. “Just now I heard she wants to keep the Princess Yan to threaten Prince Yan. The Meditation Master will definitely keep her alive. If Prince Yan catches up, her carriage will be the safest.”
“Your Highness, if we don’t tell the Meditation Master now—”
“No need,” Fang Xie gazed at her. “I only hope Elder Sister won’t deceive me.”
Qun Qing let him drape an outer garment over her and cover her eyes. She was led downstairs and upstairs until she heard the sound of horses snorting. Only then did Fang Xie give her a gentle push, indicating she could go down.
When Qun Qing climbed onto the carriage, she felt a sharp gaze.
It was the Meditation Master riding on horseback. As if sensing something, she turned her head. Fortunately, Qun Qing’s movement of diving into the carriage was extremely fast. The Meditation Master made no other moves.
Inside the carriage was originally a female hidden guard responsible for watching Xiao Yunru. Startled, she suddenly struck out but was grabbed by the wrist by Qun Qing, knocked to the ground with the blade handle, then Qun Qing pressed her with her body and tied her up.
Having done all this, Qun Qing glanced at Xiao Yunru.
With such nimble skills, her identity should have been exposed.
Xiao Yunru shrank in the corner. Though her ink-black pupils held surprise, there was more diffusion in them. “Miss Qing…”
Qun Qing untied the rope on her wrist, suddenly discovering she was holding a silver hairpin in her hand. Her wrist had already been cut open by the hairpin tip. Fresh blood dripped down her sleeve.
Qun Qing touched the blood, then looked at her belly. Immediately feeling dizzy and breaking into a sweat, she quickly tore cloth to bandage and stop the bleeding. “Why would the Princess Consort do this? We haven’t reached a desperate situation yet.”
“Liu Sijun is probably in collusion with Nan Chu, using me as a hostage. If negotiations with Sanlang fail, they’ll hand me to Nan Chu. They might as well let Yunzhou descend into chaos, then pretend to quell the rebellion. Then they can stage a performance of the thief crying ‘catch the thief,’ falsely claiming Prince Yan and the Princess Consort perished in the disaster. For Nan Chu, killing Sanlang or abducting me—both benefit starting a war.” Xiao Yunru’s gaze drifted. “Even if I can’t help Prince Yan’s mansion, at least I shouldn’t become a burden.”
Usually Xiao Yunru was dignified and proper, but now in this carriage without others, she appeared so negative and weary, completely different from her usual self. Qun Qing felt something was off in her heart and grasped her hand. “Why such a low posture? Prince Yan’s mansion doesn’t only have Prince Yan. The Princess Consort is also the mistress—how could you be a burden? I will rescue the Princess Consort.”
Before her, Qun Qing’s face was bathed in daylight. When her pair of eyes focused on someone, they became even more bright and spirited. Qun Qing looked at her belly with an innocent air. Xiao Yunru’s expression moved slightly. “What is Miss Qing’s mother like?”
Qun Qing only said, “My mother is very good.”
Xiao Yunru nodded. “My mother passed away when I was three. In my memory, there’s only Father’s second wife. These so-called noble families are just outwardly glamorous—the internal strife and power struggles are unspeakable.”
Qun Qing said, “The Princess Consort manages inner palace affairs. You should know the palace is the same way.”
“I work hard to govern the inner palace precisely because I hope palace affairs will be clear, and consequently the world will be clear. I’ve suffered grievances, but can become the mother of the realm, protecting others, letting more people avoid the kind of grievances I suffered.” Xiao Yunru’s gaze fell on her protruding abdomen. “But this child—I truly don’t know how to be his mother… Miss Qing, you shouldn’t have come to save me.”
Qun Qing was full of doubts but had no time to pursue them, because the carriage that had been moving forward suddenly stopped. She lifted the curtain slightly. Outside was an expanse of open woodland. In the rolling thick fog among the trees, several carriages appeared like ghosts, blocking the path ahead.
Prince Yan and Lu Huating had caught up.
With Lu Huating controlling the city gate tokens, finding Nan Chu’s carriages and horses wasn’t difficult.
Both sides faced off across the fog. Qun Qing’s heart hung in the air. She observed the surrounding environment—this place was enclosed by trees, extremely suitable for an ambush.
Just as she thought of this, she saw a carriage from the adjacent convoy slowly emerge and drive into the grassland. One of Nan Chu’s hidden guards called out from afar, “The Princess Yan is in this carriage. If Prince Yan wants to save the Princess Consort, he can substitute himself!”
Before the words finished, Qun Qing saw a bow extend through a gap in the curtain of the opposite carriage. The hand holding the bow was pale. She only heard a “whoosh” sound. The arrow carried tremendous force toward that middle carriage. Blood splattered, the wheel shattered—Lu Huating had actually shot this fake hostage dead with one arrow!
Without listening to the shouting, he had already broken the situation. Nan Chu’s side couldn’t help but panic. Who knew that person didn’t stop, but immediately shifted the arrowhead and shot another arrow, rushing straight toward Fang Xie and the Meditation Master’s carriage.
Fang Xie dodged sideways, containing his anger. Who knew another arrow came, pinning his hair strands. Across such a great distance, these several arrows were wickedly accurate. Having nearly injured the Young Emperor, the Nan Chu ambush in the forest immediately unleashed ten thousand arrows in unison, like countless silver threads, shattering the thick fog before them.
This ambush was originally prepared to assassinate Prince Yan. After they had shot enough, Zhu Su and a few others actually charged forward holding shields, engaging in combat with Nan Chu’s hidden guards. Qun Qing found an opportunity and released a whistling arrow outside the curtain.
Seeing that signal like flowers scattering from heaven, Juan Su exclaimed in shock, “This—Miss Qing’s whistling arrow! Quickly! In that carriage!”
One person rode out on horseback.
Li Huan was already tall and large. Mounted on horseback, he was even more mighty and unmatched. Completely disregarding the flying arrows rushing at his face, he charged straight toward Qun Qing’s location with his blade, rage erupting, making him fearsome to behold.
The carriage curtain was lifted. Qun Qing sensed killing intent and pressed Xiao Yunru back. Looking up, she saw the black-veiled Meditation Master had climbed onto their carriage. Qun Qing only felt her hair stand on end. Fang Xie quickly pursued and pulled at the Meditation Master. The Meditation Master seemed extremely angry, turned and gave him a slap, causing Fang Xie to cover his cheek and be dragged onto the carriage by two hidden guards with a gloomy gaze.
If Fang Xie hadn’t insisted on taking Qun Qing away, she couldn’t possibly have found an opportunity to save Xiao Yunru. Qun Qing couldn’t see the Meditation Master’s face but could feel the killing intent, probably wishing her dead.
“Princess Consort, get down, hold on!” The Meditation Master’s build was small and thin. Qun Qing’s eyes shifted slightly as she lunged at the Meditation Master, indeed knocking her out of the carriage. Qun Qing rolled to the ground, throwing needles at the horses. Her peripheral vision watched that carriage carrying Xiao Yunru rush toward Li Huan before she could attend to fighting the Meditation Master.
The Meditation Master’s martial arts were extremely high. Qun Qing changed moves several times but was suppressed by the opponent. The Meditation Master’s withered, thin fingers gripped her throat. These were not smooth hands—they had rough calluses on them, yet they clung to her like leeches, strangling her life force.
Qun Qing reached for her blade. During the earlier fight, the blade in her sleeve had fallen to the ground. But seeing a flash of white light, Qun Qing inwardly thought this was bad. The Meditation Master had picked up the blade first, the tip pointing downward. In assassins’ combat, even being one step slow could cost one’s life.
In that instant, she seemed to hear again the small bell sound. What her fingertips touched was the sheep-head sachet that had fallen from her body. She clutched the sachet tightly in her hand.
Not knowing if it was an illusion, Qun Qing felt the opponent’s movement pause for a moment, then that blade resolutely fell.
Qun Qing closed her eyes. Cold sweat soaked her clothes all over. A strange feeling surged in her heart—the blade had actually deflected half a fraction, stabbing into the grass beside her neck.
The Meditation Master’s blood dripped onto the back of her hand. It was because her shoulder had been struck by an arrow. Qun Qing had no time to think further. With bare hands, she broke off the arrow shaft and pushed the Meditation Master away. The Meditation Master, having lost the advantage, counterattacked while abandoning Qun Qing, scattering a handful of silver needles with a backhand. Together with other Nan Chu people, they scrambled onto their carriages.
Juan Su helped Qun Qing up. She saw several hidden guards surrounding Prince Yan and couldn’t help but ask, “What happened to Prince Yan?”
“His Highness was hit by Nan Chu’s hidden weapons while saving the Princess Consort. The physician has already stopped the bleeding. Don’t worry, young lady.”
Qun Qing walked toward the carriage. Lu Huating stood by the carriage waiting. His distinct black-and-white eyes gazed steadily at her face, without his usual smile.
She didn’t know how to explain why she was in Nan Chu’s convoy. She suddenly thought—this person wouldn’t think she had coordinated with Nan Chu from the inside, causing Prince Yan’s injury, would he?
Before she could speak, Lu Huating turned and received the cloud brocade from Juan Su’s arms, saying gently, “The remaining twenty bolts of cloud brocade—I’ll help the young lady put them in the carriage.”
She glanced at Lu Huating. “The Chief Administrator won the gamble?”
Lu Huating’s eyes paused for a moment, then he pulled up the corners of his lips. “I’ve never lost.”