The shop Lin Hao frequented was located at the entrance to an alley. Though the storefront was small, the various snacks it offered tasted exceptionally good.

The carriage stopped by the roadside. She brought Baozhu along, and as they walked over, she saw the queue had extended outside the door.

“Miss, please wait here. This servant will go queue up.”

Lin Hao nodded and stood to the side, pondering the matter of the headless female corpse.

A headless female corpse, occurring at Tianyuan Temple—a place frequented by wealthy families—the impact was undoubtedly severe. In the coming days, aside from the soon-to-arrive Yuliu envoys, people’s topic of conversation would likely be this incident.

Lin Hao was not optimistic about identifying the female corpse.

Dead for so long, and with the head missing, it would be very difficult to leave behind any clues.

Thinking this way, she couldn’t help but feel somewhat regretful.

Her gaze fell upon those chatting idly while queuing. The relaxed and lively atmosphere made her withdraw her thoughts, and her mood lightened slightly.

Just then, a horse’s neigh rang out, abrupt and shrill.

People instinctively looked over, their expressions changing one after another.

“Oh no, the horse has been startled!”

Lin Hao’s expression also changed.

The startled horse was from her household!

The horse with its front hooves raised high soon began galloping wildly, carrying away the coachman who was desperately trying to control it.

“Miss!” Baozhu rushed to Lin Hao’s side.

Naturally, there was no time to worry about buying snacks now. Lin Hao brought Baozhu along as they hurried in the direction the horse was racing.

A startled horse galloping wildly through the main street could easily collide with people, perhaps even causing fatalities. Lin Hao’s heart rose high with anxiety as she walked faster and faster.

But suddenly a trace of something odd rose in her heart.

Perhaps it was an inexplicable intuition—she quickly swept her gaze in a certain direction.

This one glance was like a heavy hammer striking her heart.

Du Qing!

Lin Hao instantly understood: Du Qing had become suspicious of her and had come to cause her trouble.

Everyone on the street had their attention drawn away by the startled horse. Some chased after it, some discussed it loudly, and occasional cries of alarm rang out. The clamor was like a marketplace.

Given the distance between her and Du Qing, she could shout at most twice before he closed in on her. In such chaotic circumstances, cries for help would be difficult to attract others’ attention.

And even if someone did notice, that person would need to happen to have a helpful nature, and also possess skills superior to Du Qing’s. Just thinking about it was enough to make one despair.

Lin Hao never placed her hopes on ethereal luck.

“Baozhu—”

Lin Hao was confident that no matter how chaotic the scene, Baozhu would hear her call.

Sure enough, Baozhu, who had been single-mindedly chasing the startled horse, turned her head, her voice carrying confusion: “Miss?”

“Go find Prince Jing’s Heir!” Lin Hao hastily gave this instruction, then took off running in one direction.

As it happened, this place wasn’t far from the eatery she and Prince Jing’s Heir had opened together. She couldn’t beat Du Qing in a fight, but she still had a chance if she ran. As long as she could run into the eatery, she could hold out for a while.

Lin Hao’s first reaction to seek help from Qi Shuo was based on her belief that with his intelligence, he could guess where she had fled to.

In her view, even if Prince Jing’s Heir couldn’t defeat Du Qing, he had subordinates.

Baozhu froze for an instant, then saw a man pursuing Lin Hao.

Her expression changed drastically: “Miss!”

The young lady who heard this panicked cry didn’t look back, but ran even faster.

Baozhu instinctively lifted her foot to give chase, but after running two steps, she stopped abruptly.

The Miss must have had a reason for telling her to find Prince Jing’s Heir. If she blindly gave chase, she might end up harming the Miss!

Baozhu turned and ran, crying as she ran.

Miss, you must wait for this servant to bring Prince Jing’s Heir!

Lin Hao rushed into an alley.

The alley was long and narrow. Compared to the brightness of the street, the alley was suddenly dim, as if entering another world.

Passing through the alley would shorten the distance to the eatery considerably. Lin Hao had no choice but to take this shortcut.

Behind her were hurried but steady footsteps. The light ahead grew closer and closer. But just then, an accident occurred—Lin Hao’s foot slipped and she fell to the ground.

By her foot was a broken small jar. She had just slipped by stepping on the jar.

Lin Hao turned her head to look.

In the dim alley, Du Qing’s features appeared blurred and indistinct.

Fear like a cold current surged toward her limbs and bones.

Lin Hao understood very clearly that Du Qing was not the person who had taken her life in her previous existence, yet this scene was so similar that she was momentarily confused, as if she had returned to that street corner on that night when both the night and snow were deep.

The only difference was that the masked person who had left her puzzled to this day would not appear again, would he?

Lin Hao’s mind spun through countless thoughts in an instant when she suddenly heard another set of footsteps.

She saw Du Qing raise his eyes, his gaze passing over her to fall on what lay ahead.

Lin Hao instinctively turned her head back and saw in the direction she had desperately been running toward, a person striding forward.

That figure was tall, slender, and upright. Although she couldn’t yet see his features clearly, Lin Hao recognized at a glance that it was Qi Shuo.

But when he drew nearer and she could see his handsome brows and eyes clearly, Lin Hao felt that all-too-familiar face had become strange.

Why had Prince Jing’s Heir arrived so quickly?

How could it be Prince Jing’s Heir?

Chaotic and disordered thoughts assailed her mind, making her forget to react for a moment, until the sounds of combat rang out.

It was the sound of metal striking metal.

Du Qing wielded a dagger, and Qi Shuo also wielded a dagger—these were the most convenient concealed weapons for killing.

Lin Hao had never imagined that when Prince Jing’s Heir fought with Du Qing, he would not fall at a disadvantage.

Was this truly the Prince Jing’s Heir she knew?

No—had she truly ever known Prince Jing’s Heir?

Her ankle transmitted piercing pain, yet Lin Hao still supported herself against the wall and stood up bit by bit.

The wall was cold and hard, which instead helped her regain her rationality.

Now was not the time to think about these things.

Lin Hao stared fixedly at the two men engaged in combat, assessing who would prevail.

If Prince Jing’s Heir fell at a disadvantage, she would flee without hesitation first, running to find help.

Lin Hao had seriously trained under Old General Lin. Compared to an expert like Du Qing, her skills could only be considered mediocre, but her discernment was decent.

After observing for a moment, she felt slightly reassured.

Prince Jing’s Heir held the upper hand.

Prince Jing’s Heir actually held the upper hand!

Lin Hao supported herself against the wall, slowly moving forward.

Since Prince Jing’s Heir held the upper hand, she could walk more slowly.

A voice came from ahead: “Heir!”

Qi Shuo swung out his dagger and called out coldly: “Don’t interfere.”

The guard standing at the alley entrance ceased his movement.

Lin Hao completely set her mind at ease and stopped walking.

Even with the upper hand, accidents could still occur, but with another guard present, there was nothing to worry about.

She returned her attention to the two men engaged in combat.

Just then, the two determined the victor.

Qi Shuo’s dagger lay horizontal across Du Qing’s neck, his voice cold and severe: “Why were you pursuing her?”

Du Qing glanced at Lin Hao. The intense fight had made his voice somewhat hoarse: “I was merely passing by. This young lady misunderstood.”

Qi Shuo also looked toward Lin Hao.

He knew Lin Hao felt somewhat differently about this person.

What was unexpected was that Lin Hao wasn’t looking at Du Qing, but staring intently at him.

Qi Shuo sensed something amiss and called out: “Xuan Yi, take him away first.”

Soon a young guard approached and led away the subdued Du Qing.

Qi Shuo looked at the young lady whose expression was dazed and asked: “What’s wrong?”

After a brief yet lengthy moment of stillness, Lin Hao extended her trembling hand and gently covered the area below Qi Shuo’s eyes.