Chapter 10, Dream of the Flute

She surveyed the empty room, measuring the two zhang square area where Xu Ji had fallen. Although it had been rinsed, it still faintly revealed a bloody hue, with dark stains winding across, forming a vague silhouette of a person.

The cold wind blows in through the broken window, the colored window paper shatters and flutters like butterflies

Bao Jin was at a loss, when he saw the captain of the imperial guards beside him sneering:

Long live

They must be wondering ... ? ... such a large hole, could the assassin be three zhang tall?

The sound of the flute is mysterious and distant, with a subtle tremor that is both restrained and elusive, as if jade were shattering in a palace, at the end of all splendor, it is merely a fleeting dream.

The starlight is faint, the frost falls pure white, the overlapping shadows of the flower trees are intertwined and chaotic, and the azure garments fluttering among the woods reveal a subtle sense of solitude

The Goryeo king broke off the marriage, yet she did not weep. She crossed the sea for a thousand miles and endured countless hardships, yet she still did not cry. However, before this bright moon and this person, it seemed as if even her soul became transparent, and her heart, filled with sorrow, erupted like magma.

It is as if the ascetic's tranquility is lofty and profound, yet it also resembles a cold indifference with a hint of pity that looks down upon the world

Baojin let out a soft sigh, recalling her elder sister who had died an untimely death, feeling a mix of pain and bitterness in her heart

She leaped out of the confined study, heading towards the unknown darkness of the forest

The only gap is the scattered wrapping paper

The person asked in a soft voice, yet without much doubt, the tone was faint and sparse

The so-called mechanism is composed of silk threads and a flexible, slender sword, functioning like a slingshot. Once released, the slender sword is shot forth into the distance, making it seamless and flawless.

It is the sound of the flute

At this moment, it is nearly 4 o'clock, the time just before dawn when the darkness is at its most chaotic. A faint sound of a flute drifts in from the forest outside the window, as if it were an illusion

He took a piece of silk cloth from his sleeve, placed it in her hand, and then hurriedly left

You wicked woman, it is not enough that you have caused the death of my master, but you actually...

Baojin rested her chin on her hand, pondering deeply, a faint cold smile blossoming on her lips, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction and delight.

Bao Jin gazed at his vanishing figure, and all she could hear was the sound of her own heartbeat.

Here you go

Baojin stared straight at him, remaining silent

A full moon is concealed within the clouds, temporarily gathering the clear radiance in the forest

The fabric, soft as the silk of a fish, brushed against her face, as the person bent down and used their long sleeve to wipe away her tears

Everything is without a trace

What is going on

The moonlight revealed the glistening tears on her face, and the person was not surprised, merely saying: "In life, eight or nine out of ten things do not go as one wishes..."

In that moment, Baojin's heart skipped a beat.

Upon Xu Ji's death, there were two reasons for his demise: first, to eliminate a potential informant—he was extremely familiar with the late emperor's family, and it was truly impossible to allow him to remain; second, it was to establish authority

Shen was crying hoarsely, having lost the earlier arrogance, yet it made her appear even more resentful and desperate

Amidst her tearful eyes, Baojin seemed to see her childhood, when her father, the emperor, would carry her and her sister on his shoulders, sneaking out of the palace to enjoy the lantern festival, guessing riddles and admiring the moon

Using a wide robe as a wrapping cloth not only conceals the sole weakness but also leads everyone to believe that this is a remnant left by the murderer, further fueling speculation about his stature

In an instant, a hem of a blue silk garment appeared before her eyes. Baojin raised her head, brushed aside her disheveled black hair, and gazed directly into that person's eyes.

She let out a soft sob, and the person seemed to sense something, causing the flute music to abruptly cease

What kind of dandy is he, who would want to take his life

Baojin smiled lightly, a clever and triumphant glint flashing in her eyes

The final quarrel between the two sisters resembled a peculiar whisper of foreboding; in a moment of anger, it unexpectedly became a permanent farewell

What?! Xu Ji's only son has also been killed?!

What?

She gritted her teeth and reached the window, her heart in a state of turmoil and confusion. In a moment of desperation, the window frame that she had barely managed to cover was unexpectedly pushed open by her hand.

I do not have

Baojin trembled all over; although the sound of the flute was faint, the lingering tones within it remarkably resembled the technique of her elder sister, Jinyuan

Everyone looked up and was immediately filled with shock and fear, and they all knelt down to the ground.

It is elder sister

She glanced at the copper ring and purple-gold lock on the door, her smile tinged with disdainful indifference

At this moment, there were faint sounds of voices outside, and the person frowned, seemingly displeased, yet finally stood up as if intending to leave

Suddenly, she raised her head as if she had heard something

It is a man

What a joke... Do you think that by locking me in here, I will be scared and trembling, confessing everything?!

He hesitated for a moment and turned to look back, only to see Baojin sitting on the ground, her snow-white garment stained with half a swath of purplish-black blood and half soaked with mud

Stop

In the coolness of autumn, that person is wearing only a loose blue robe, leaning against a tree while playing an instrument. Due to the fact that they are facing away, their face cannot be seen.

In Shen's eyes, flames seemed to burst forth as the fierce imperial guards advanced, ready to drag her out of the courtyard, when suddenly a soft command was heard at the entrance

Miss Yu Ran, we were momentarily careless, allowing you to escape through the window, and even the young master of the Xu family has fallen victim to your treachery

Those loyal ministers hold great respect for my sister, yet they still harbor doubts about me

Once again bound tightly and pressed into the study, it was already the break of dawn, and Baoyin saw fury in the eyes of everyone present

Baojin's heart sank to the very bottom, she gasped violently, unable to endure the pent-up frustration in her chest any longer, bending down, her eyes already blurred with tears

Without a moment's hesitation, she retorted loudly

There is no need for further discussion, put her in shackles and send her to the death cell of the Ministry of Justice

The voice was not loud, yet it carried an imposing dignity that commanded the world, along with a sense of familiarity

With tearful eyes, Baojin gazed at him, as if she wanted to engrave him into her heart

Only then did Bao Jin realize that he was comforting himself. For some reason, the tears fell more fiercely and urgently.

The color blue was originally considered somewhat cheap, yet when worn by this person, it exudes an indescribable elegance and ethereal grace, as if they were a celestial being.

After she took a life with the strings of the pipa, she gently shook the window, triggering the silk thread tied between the tree and the window, which activated the "mechanism". This caused a bundle wrapped in broken bricks to be ejected, striking the window directly. As the window frame shattered, the bundle also loosened, and the broken bricks fell to the ground, mixing with the debris, making it impossible for anyone to discern the truth.

What a joke

Everyone thought that the assassin escaped through the broken window after the deed, leaving the dagger behind in the forest... However, in reality, it was quite the opposite...

The dew soaked into the embroidered shoes on her feet, making her feel quite uncomfortable, but Baojin disregarded everything and headed straight towards the source of the flute sound

Who are you