After leaving Brocade Industry Street, Sang Fourteen hurriedly returned to the inn with Niu Seven. Behind closed doors, he reached out to her: “Where’s what Second Lady Ji gave you?”

Niu Seven pulled it from her sleeve pocket, sniffling as she handed it to him: “If I had lost it, would you have divorced me?”

“Good girl. My Seven understands what’s important.” Sang Fourteen comforted her as he unfolded the letter.

Niu Seven curiously leaned in to look. She saw it was a drawing of the Zhao residence layout. Though incomplete, it was remarkably detailed. She praised, “Second Lady Ji has such skillful drawing.”

Those skilled at embroidery often developed good drawing techniques when designing patterns. Sang Fourteen quickly had Niu Seven grind ink while he added what he had observed of the Zhao residence. In less than the time it took to burn an incense stick, a detailed map of the Zhao residence appeared on paper.

He dried the ink and folded the paper, saying: “We don’t know if the Zhao family has people watching us. To be safe, let’s wait for Uncle Han Four.”

Yang Jingyuan and Uncle Han Four were staying at a caravan inn not far away. Yang Jingyuan and Uncle Han Four were buying bows and arrows at the blacksmith’s shop opposite the inn when they saw Sang Fourteen and Niu Seven return. They noticed a servant-like figure sneaking about following them – one recorded the inn’s location and left, while another entered the inn. Yang Jingyuan quietly gave Uncle Han Four some instructions.

After dark, Yang Jingyuan finally left the caravan inn, taking the small path he had scouted during the day to circle to the inn’s back door, climbing over the wall.

The oil lamp barely lit the spacious room.

The sound of hammering on the wall was particularly jarring in the night. Zhao Xiuyuan personally hammered iron chains into the wall tested them and stood up satisfied.

Niu Five gestured for Yuyuan to release Ji Yingying, saying flatly: “Is my husband worried she might run away?”

Zhao Xiuyuan tucked the key into his chest: “Better safe than sorry. My lady, time to rest.”

“Yuyuan, you stay.” Niu Five glanced at Ji Yingying, rising with Yuyuan’s support.

Zhao Xiuyuan angrily demanded: “What are you doing?”

“I’m afraid she might die before Yang Third Lang arrives. Leaving Yuyuan here as a reminder for my husband.” Niu Five smiled and yawned, walking away directly.

Yuyuan said coldly: “Young master, Yuyuan will serve outside the door.”

She followed Niu Five out, carefully pulling the door closed.

Seeing Zhao Xiuyuan pacing angrily in the room, Ji Yingying couldn’t help laughing, her foot shackles creating clear, crisp sounds as they clinked.

“What are you laughing at? Ji Yingying, you’ve finally fallen into my hands!” Zhao Xiuyuan stopped pacing, speaking through gritted teeth.

“How can I not laugh? Who would have thought that now my protector would be Niu Five!” Ji Yingying laughed so hard she pounded the bed.

Zhao Xiuyuan must have received Du Yan’s tacit approval, already seeing her as meat on the chopping block. She thought she couldn’t protect her virtue, but unexpectedly Niu Five had forcefully stopped Zhao Xiuyuan. How could Ji Yingying not laugh?

The dim oil lamp cast her skin in a jade-like luster. Her falling hair and disheveled clothes added to her allure. Zhao Xiuyuan’s throat bobbed as he swallowed, his eyes gleaming like a beast’s.

He walked closer to her, yanking her from the bed into his arms. Tightly binding her hands, he leaned in and said: “Yes, Niu Five won’t let me take you. But she didn’t say I couldn’t take liberties with you.”

Ji Yingying spat in his face, shouting toward the door: “If you dare touch me, I’ll die right now!”

Zhao Xiuyuan paid no attention to her threats. With her in his arms, if he didn’t kiss her, the fire burning in his chest would consume him.

He restrained her face with his hand, lowering his head to kiss her.

“Young master, it’s late, you should return.”

The voice sounded right by his ear, startling Zhao Xiuyuan into raising his head. Yuyuan stood beside him, looking ready to throw him out if he didn’t leave.

Zhao Xiuyuan released Ji Yingying in frustration, his cheek stinging from a slap. Touching his face, he said word by word: “Aren’t you afraid I’ll strangle Niu Five?”

“Lord Qingping invited my lady to dine at his manor tomorrow,” Yuyuan said coldly. While Niu Five wasn’t capable of much else, her schemes had earned Du Yan’s appreciation, making Zhao Xiuyuan wary.

With this martial arts expert maid nearby, Zhao Xiuyuan certainly couldn’t have his way tonight. He turned decisively: “I’m not in a hurry.”

Ji Yingying laughed loudly: “Yuyuan, I must thank you too. Guard the door well, don’t let this mad dog sneak in during the night.”

Yuyuan sneered: “You’re wrong. Not only is there no one guarding here, but all the guards have been withdrawn from the entire workshop.”

Leaving Ji Yingying in this unguarded workshop. Du Yan wanted to lure Sheng Fengze, who was under house arrest by royal decree, into his trap.

Stripping his prince title was nothing. After being punched by Sheng Fengze, Du Yan only wanted him dead. If Sheng Fengze dared leave Baiyan Palace during his confinement and sneak into the Zhao family workshop at night, Du Yan would have the soldiers ambushed outside the back courtyard and turn him into a porcupine. At worst, he’d face charges of accidental killing. It wouldn’t even be traced back to him.

Watching Yuyuan leave, Ji Yingying grew anxious. She cleverly guessed someone was lying in wait. She feared Yang Jingyuan would fall into the trap.

She bent down to examine her shackles. Dragging the fine chain to the wall for a closer look. The other end was firmly fixed to the wall. Unless she used an iron hammer to break the wall, she had no chance of pulling it out.

Ji Yingying was consumed with worry. In her letter, she had arranged to place the oil lamp on the windowsill, making it easy to find her at night. Would Yang Jingyuan give up if she didn’t light the lamp? Knowing his temperament well, Ji Yingying knew that was impossible. He would search the entire Zhao residence to find her whereabouts, even though both countries were at peace. His identity was different from Sang Fourteen’s and Niu Seven’s. The Nanzhao people would love to skin him alive.

Rather than let him rampage through the Zhao residence, better to put the oil lamp on the windowsill. But what if the ambushers discovered him? Ji Yingying was deeply troubled.

The night grew deeper. On the long street, the night watchman’s bamboo clappers announced the time.

Hearing the third watch’s clapper, Ji Yingying stepped onto the stool, holding the oil lamp at the window. If Zhao’s family members noticed, they would only think she was looking out the window. Standing at the window, gazing at the unusually quiet courtyard, her heart was filled with anxiety.

In her room, Niu Five lay with closed eyes as Yuyuan massaged her legs. Knowing she wasn’t asleep, Yuyuan said softly: “My lady, surely Prince Bai won’t come tonight?”

“If he comes, it must be tonight. He won’t be at ease unless he sees Ji Yingying with his own eyes. After tonight, people from Baiyan Palace will come bearing gifts.” Niu Five replied flatly.

“Should I go guard the workshop?”

Niu Five gestured for her to stop, turning to find a comfortable sleeping position: “If Du Yan wants to kill Sheng Fengze, let him do it himself. You’re all I have left, I can’t let you take the blame for Du Yan.”

Yuyuan was so moved that her eyes reddened, carefully tucked in the blanket: “I’ll stay by your side. I won’t go anywhere.”

To break the wall and unlock the chains, Sheng Fengze wasn’t prepared and couldn’t take Ji Yingying away. Even if he managed to open the shackles, with Ji Yingying’s lack of martial arts skills, they would be caught as soon as they were discovered.

Yang Jingyuan’s head emerged from the river. He had studied Brocade Industry Street’s layout. At night, soldiers guarded both ends of the front street. The back courtyard contained brocade and dyeing workshops. Soldiers patrolled the streets. Both Ji Yingying and Sang Fourteen’s maps showed waterways. Water channels had been drawn from the river into the residence for convenience. He planned to enter through the water.

Niu Seven, also wearing tight-fitting clothes, surfaced beside him. There would likely be a grate at the end of the water channel. Niu Seven, eager to reduce her sister’s sins, had volunteered to come along.

From the riverbank to the Zhao family’s back courtyard was an area of reeds and shrubs. The wind whistled through the dry shrubs and tall grass. In the faint moonlight, figures crouching with their backs to the river were visible.

An ambush!

He pulled Niu Seven, and they swam behind a clump of shrubs.

“There’s an ambush outside the Zhao family’s back door. If we swim into the water channel, we can’t make a sound. Seven, can you manage?”

Niu Seven nodded firmly. Besides her supernatural strength, her martial arts weren’t bad either: “Without me, how would you open the grate at the end of the water channel?”

Even the sharpest sword would make noise cutting iron bars. Yang Jingyuan smiled bitterly and shook his head.

“Who knows if Second Lady Ji will still be in the Zhao residence tomorrow? From what I heard from Fifth Sister, she won’t let her go.” Niu Seven said sadly. She wanted to rescue Ji Yingying to reduce her sister’s sins.

“If you can’t hold on, escape when you can. I can manage better alone.” Yang Jingyuan said gratefully.

Both put breathing tubes in their mouths and slowly swam into the water channel leading to the Zhao family workshop.

Knowing they were swimming past the ambushed soldiers, they moved extremely slowly. The mere dozens of meters took over half an hour.

Finally reaching the back courtyard wall, Niu Seven took a deep breath and dove into the water. Her hands touched iron bars as thick as a baby’s arm. Niu Seven used all her strength to bend the middle two bars apart. Coming up for air twice in the middle, she finally created a large hole in the grate.

Water flowed through the channel into the Zhao family workshop, collecting in a large reservoir in the middle before flowing out the other side of the courtyard. They swam from the inlet channel into the reservoir. Yang Jingyuan listened to the surroundings, quietly making hand signals before emerging from the pool.

Climbing the steps to hide behind drying brocade, they stopped. The back courtyard was unusually quiet, with only weak lights in the servants’ and workers’ quarters where some hadn’t yet gone to bed. It seemed as empty as an abandoned house.

The night watchman’s clappers sounded from the front street. Niu Seven’s spirits lifted as she led Yang Jingyuan toward the courtyard they had visited during the day.

From far away, Yang Jingyuan saw the lamplight in the window and the face it illuminated, his heart inexplicably twisting with pain.

Taking advantage of the absence of movement, they easily reached the door. Niu Seven applied force, silently breaking the lock. She poked her head in, seeing Second Lady Ji standing on the stool.

“I’ll keep watch.” Though soaked and shivering in the wind, Niu Seven smiled as she gave Yang Jingyuan a push.

Seeing Yang Jingyuan, Ji Yingying nearly fell from the stool. Yang Jingyuan rushed over, catching her.

He put the oil lamp from her hands onto the table and pulled her tightly into his arms.