Chapter 3, The Enigmatic Assassin
"It's not just anyone! It's a fool from our Kyoto!" I replied irritably, "What exactly are you up to? What do you really want to do? If you lay it all out, perhaps I will cooperate more!" He propped himself up and turned his head to look at me. I met his gaze with an open expression, not believing that his approach was merely to tease me; he must have some ulterior motive.
Isn't this too much of a bully? Just because the tiger doesn't show its power, do you think I'm a sick cat? ... I wrapped my legs tightly around his waist, and with all my strength, I pressed his head forcefully against my chest ...
I sneaked into the main house, and indeed, it was tidied up differently from an ordinary guest room. No doubt about it, this is that fellow's bedroom. The bedding on the bed had not been disturbed. I rushed to the space under the bed, and as soon as I crouched down, I hid myself in there. Today, I shall stay here!
Watching him disappear outside the door, I crawled out from under the bed. Not escaping? Only a fool would not escape! If I don't take the chance to run away in the chaos, when will I? I hurriedly pulled on a coat from the bed, slung my bundle over my shoulder, and ran outside. Just as I was about to leave, I remembered something and yanked the bundle off, throwing it back onto the bed. Forget it! I also tossed my shoes on the ground, one in the middle of the room and one at the door, and ran out barefoot. Outside, it was already a scene of flashing blades and bloodshed. I slipped along the wall, and none of the guards or the black-clad assassins noticed me. However, there were guards outside the inn as well, and I figured I wouldn't be able to escape like this. Gritting my teeth, I decided to take a gamble and slipped into the small courtyard where I had been staying at the "Summer Resort." That guy wasn't in the courtyard; the assassins and guards were fighting joyfully on the roof, and some were jumping up and down between the floors. No one paid attention to me as I quietly climbed the stairs.
"Please, Princess, have mercy on your servant." Wan Yue continued to cry and bow her head repeatedly
Avoid evil! I said, "Hurry up! Why ask so many questions?" Su'er, hearing my somewhat impatient tone, did not dare to ask further and hurriedly went out. In a short while, she returned, holding several heads of garlic. I took them, peeled a few cloves, gritted my teeth, and chewed them down with a small steamed bun.
Chengde? Isn't it the Summer Resort!
At the moment, I cannot think clearly, but there is one thing I can be certain of: there must be someone around me who is acting as his informant. Who could this informant be? Su'er, Wan Yue, or someone else entirely?
He raised an eyebrow: "Hmm?" I immediately realized my situation; I could not afford to be confrontational with him! My life and fortune were entirely in his hands! "Hehe." I quickly changed my expression, smiling obsequiously, "If you had informed me in advance, I could have gone to greet you at the door!" Perhaps my change of demeanor was too abrupt, as he was momentarily taken aback, then sneered disdainfully, walking over to sit beside me. Instinctively, I hurriedly shifted back, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me closer, rolling up my sleeve to examine the mark on my arm. Under the light, the mark appeared even more vividly red.
Could it be that among the maids around me, there is one who is a spy for Wale? After Princess Furong bumped into the pillar, she has been somewhat different from before. This fellow probably heard the news, so he personally came to check whether I, this princess, am a counterfeit? But that doesn't seem quite right; there would be no need for him to take action himself
The best inn in town has been cleared out, with both the innkeeper and the attendants being gathered together and placed under supervision, prohibited from handling any accommodation or meals. After a day of travel, even though the carriage was quite comfortable, I still felt dizzy from the jolting, and even while sitting in the best guest room in the entire town, I still felt a bit unsteady, unable to tell if I had actually gotten off the carriage, as if I had been on a train for three days and nights. Wan Yue brought a soft pillow and placed it behind my back, while a little maid timely massaged my legs, and Su Er was tidying up my simple belongings. I quietly leaned against the bed, coldly observing the few people busying themselves in front of me, unsure which one might be a wolf in sheep's clothing, until Su Er came over and interrupted my thoughts. "Princess, it's time for dinner. You've had a long day, so you should rest early tonight." As soon as Su Er mentioned the evening, I suddenly recalled what was said last night at the "Summer Resort," instinctively reaching to touch my chest. I am definitely not someone who sits idly by; today I must prepare myself. First and foremost, I absolutely cannot sleep alone. Should I call them all to sleep with me? That would be too unusual; perhaps just two would suffice.
"What kind of princess are you?" he exclaimed angrily
He nodded in satisfaction, reached out to take the handkerchief from my mouth, and was about to say something when suddenly a guard's exclamation came from outside: "There is an assassin!"
He slightly lifted his upper body, and I immediately felt that my breathing became much smoother. I greedily took deep breaths, taking the opportunity to place my arm between the two of us, bending my knee and forcefully pushing upwards!
This time, your hands can't take advantage of me anymore, can they! I thought to myself
The escorting guards, the accompanying maidens and songstresses, along with the wedding procession from the Wali, formed a grand assembly of three thousand people, stretching several miles along the road. By evening, the convoy had departed from the capital, covering a distance of fifty to sixty miles.
"Come in and talk! Useless thing," Feng Shan scolded.
He replaced the carefree expression on his face with a profound and inscrutable gaze directed at me. Suddenly, he smiled again and reached out his hand towards me. I became anxious and wanted to employ the same trick again, but he had already learned from this mistake; his neck was as stiff as a pillar, and no matter what, he could not bend it. Seeing this, I quickly devised a plan, tightly wrapping my arms around his neck, my legs also clinging more tightly to his waist, my entire body pressed against him without a single gap.
Princess! When Wanyue and the others saw me eating garlic, they exclaimed in unison. I looked at them, and tears were already flowing from their eyes, it was so spicy it could kill me! Remember the Summer Resort, one day I will settle this score!
The jade pillow struck the person quite hard, yet that individual did not dare to make a sound, merely kneeling there without moving, as blood dripped steadily onto the ground, seemingly with no intention of stopping; it appeared that the person did not even dare to wipe it away.
"Don't move! Hasn't anyone told you that you shouldn't move when you're under a man?" he said in a hushed voice
What a wasteful child! I cursed inwardly
"Who has disappeared?" Chengde asked faintly
After Su Er finished reading, her hand holding the letter still trembled slightly, and Wan Yue's face had turned as pale as paper. The two exchanged a glance, and then, in perfect harmony, knelt down and prostrated themselves on the ground: "Please, Princess, have mercy on us!"
The next day, everyone continued on their journey. For an entire day, the "Summer Resort" remained silent, and I kept pondering how I could discern who among us was the spy, and how I could secretly escape on my own.
Su Er wore a look of difficulty and a hint of confusion, "Your Highness, what do you need that item for?"
The sky had darkened, and the team set up camp for the night by the Clear Water River. After having dinner in my tent, I sent Su'er and the others away, not wanting them to serve me, as I intended to pack my belongings myself. The phoenix crown took up too much space; how could I flatten it to fit into my bundle? The bundle couldn't be too large or too heavy, as it would be cumbersome when fleeing. However, looking at the abundance of gold and beautiful jade, I couldn't bear to part with any of it. As I hesitated, picking up and putting down items, I heard a snicker behind me. I turned around and was taken aback! It was that scoundrel, the Third Prince! Didn't he understand the need to avoid suspicion? "Why didn't you announce your presence when you came in?" I exclaimed in anger.
This fellow reacted swiftly, shifting his body to one side to evade my "severing the lineage leg". He pressed down on my thigh with his leg and, with just one hand, pinned me down firmly, rendering me completely immobile.
Summer Resort I replied casually
"Of course, I won't kill you!" The Third Prince's hand slid across my face, down my neck, and then further down, showing no sign of stopping! "Is this another attempt to ruin my chastity?" I scoffed, "Is this the only method the Third Prince has?" I raised my arm, and my sleeve slipped down to reveal the vermilion mark. "Don't forget that I still have this! If it disappears, when we reach the capital, and the Emperor inquires, as a woman without any authority, I might say something foolish to protect myself, and then your imperial father might..." Upon hearing my words, the Third Prince actually laughed out loud, and it took him a while to stop. He leaned close to my ear and said, "Do you think that thing can be so easily lost?" As he spoke, his hand slid inside my clothing, and I felt a tightness in my chest... before I could react, his lips were already approaching...
You certainly have a lot of nerve! This fellow said in a vague manner.
Looking at the dishes on the table, I suddenly had a flash of inspiration and asked, "Su'er, do we have garlic?"
What if I don't stay? asked the Third Prince
Everyone is smart, hehe, don't get rough, I was wrong, isn't it enough that I admit my mistake? That fellow didn't say anything either, just looked up at me, with a smile that seemed to be both a smile and not a smile, one hand slid to my back, lifting my upper body off the carpet, then buried his head into my chest, continuing to kiss.
"The head may be severed, blood may flow, but tofu must not be discarded!" I exclaimed in anger. Hmph! Who is afraid of whom! I will not yield; I challenge you to kill me! "Tofu?"
Seventy-three chapters? "Wanyue, you are teasing me again," she said with a smile, "There are only seventy-two chapters in 'Shangzi', how can I read seventy-three?" I was momentarily stunned, recalling that night at the 'Summer Resort' with that ambiguous smile. I realized he was playing with me! "It is getting late, Su'er and Wanyue can stay to serve, the others may leave first," I instructed. The remaining palace maids withdrew, leaving only Su'er and Wanyue in the room. "Close the doors and windows tightly," I said, to guard against thieves and intruders! No matter what, I must avoid trouble tonight! Su'er and Wanyue secured the doors and windows, then prepared to lay out bedding on the floor, one guarding the bed and the other watching the door.
I will come to see you again tomorrow evening
He laughed upon hearing this, a somewhat wicked smile on his face, and said: "The maiden's marriage mark cannot be erased, but I can make it disappear. Do you believe it?" I shivered, goosebumps all over me, and I estimated that if there were a broom to sweep it up, it would fill half a dustpan! "I believe, I believe!" I hurriedly replied.
Are you really not going to let go? His tone carried a hint of threat
Chengde kept tossing and turning in bed, seemingly unable to sleep. Meanwhile, my aunt dared not move an inch beneath the bed, her body stiffened. This was still bearable; the most terrifying part was that her eyelids were growing heavier, and she absolutely could not fall asleep! At this moment, if she were to doze off and start snoring, where would she even run to? Straining to keep her spirits up, she lay there, aware that those who practiced martial arts had sharper senses than ordinary people, so she didn't dare to make a sound. The candlelight gradually dimmed, while outside, the sky began to brighten. Servants came in to assist Chengde in getting up, and then she saw those flashy black boots stepping out the door. The servants began to tidy up the room, and thankfully, none of them were foolishly diligent enough to sweep under the bed! Once Chengde stepped out, there was a moment of silence outside, followed by a gradual uproar of voices, the sounds of carts, and the clamor of mules and horses, all in disarray. After a while, these sounds faded away, and suddenly, there was a profound silence in the world, so quiet that it made her somewhat uneasy. I remained crouched under the bed; no, I should say I was frozen under the bed, as if my limbs no longer belonged to me. It wasn't until noon that someone came in to tidy up the room. Just by looking at the shoes, I could tell it was the original waiter from this inn. I still didn't dare to move, and only after he left did I slowly crawl out from under the bed, my posture rivaling that of Sadako!
This fellow saw that I was silent, and suddenly reached out to pull me. Caught off guard, I fell onto his chest. He let out a muffled grunt and said, "I didn't expect you to be quite heavy!" I thought to myself, I wish I could be even heavier, so I could just sit on you and crush you!
Fortune... Fortune Rong Princess!" Perhaps due to excessive panic, the visitor actually began to stutter.
I looked at him and couldn't believe that this fellow came to me at such a late hour just to say these two incongruous things! Is he here to warn me? The implication of his words seems to be: Fuyong, you better stay put, as everyone outside is my person, so don't even think about running away! Unfortunately, I have never been afraid of anything since I was a child! However, I just received a letter from Old Man Shen during the day, and now he comes to warn me just as night falls; isn't that a bit too coincidental? The implication of his words seems to be: Fuyong, you better stay put, as everyone outside is my person, so don't even think about running away! Unfortunately, I have never been afraid of anything since I was a child! However, I just received a letter from Old Man Shen during the day, and now he comes to warn me just as night falls; isn't that a bit too coincidental? Could it be that he knows something?
Everyone should speak nicely, hehe. I tried to suppress the panic in my heart; his hand was pressing somewhere on me, and I felt weak all over. The hand that was originally pushing against his head could no longer muster any strength.
His expression turned cold, and he let out a cold snort, tilting his head to evade my hand. I felt somewhat disinterested, pouting and choosing not to pay him any more attention. He also refused to speak, merely lying quietly beside me. I contemplated that lying here like this was not a solution; before I made my escape, I would still have to endure his torment. Rather than this, it would be better to lay everything out in the open!
The convoy did not move quickly within the city, and it took nearly an hour to exit the North City Gate. They then joined the two thousand cavalry of Waller stationed outside the city and began their grand march northward
I did not respond, but simply said: "I am tired, just read me the seventy-third piece."
"It seems she was taken by them. If she had run away on her own, she wouldn't have left behind her gold," Chengde murmured. I felt a surge of pride; fortunately, my aunt was sensible and did not carry that burden. Chengde, oh Chengde, you underestimate your aunt too much. "We have fallen into their trap; their target is not the master, but the princess," Fengshan said.
The servant understood! Someone hurriedly ran outside
"What are you talking about!" I said anxiously, "Everyone get up first. Don't say whether I can leave or not, that's still uncertain. Even if I could leave, would I be able to abandon you all? If I were to leave, I would naturally take you all with me!" I coaxed. For now, I could only calm them down; I must not let the news leak out. Su'er and Wan Yue looked up at me with tearful eyes, their faces filled with disbelief: "Really?"
"My name is Chengde, what is your name?" he said softly
Hmm! Go get some for me! I commanded.
Garlic
Turning my head, his face was right in front of me, making me feel somewhat uneasy. I hurriedly propped myself up with my hand, and as I exerted some force, I heard him grunt again. Looking down, I realized that in my haste, my hand had pressed against his stomach, and I guessed that this impact was not light! He gritted his teeth and pulled me down again, flipping me over so that I was underneath him. The situation became even worse, as I found myself beneath him, with almost his entire body weight pressing down on me.
I was holding a serious expression, hoping that "Summer Resort" would confide in me, but I realized I was still too naive. "Summer Resort" merely glanced at me for a moment, not even letting out a sound, and then lay back down. I became quite annoyed and decided to treat it like air; I got up by myself, lifted the blanket on the bed, and was about to take my long-awaited nap, and "Summer Resort" stood up alongside me.
"Princess, please have some fragrant tea to refresh your palate." Wan Yue quickly brought over a cup of tea. I grinned and shook my head, thinking, refresh my palate? Wouldn't that be a waste! I glanced up and saw Wan Yue tidying up my writing desk, which was adorned with brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone. Suddenly, I recalled that night at the "Summer Resort" when she called me "fool," and casually asked, "Wan Yue, did you bring the books I usually read this time?" Upon hearing this, Wan Yue turned around, stood with her hands down, and respectfully replied, "I brought them all. Which one would the princess like to read?"
Hmph! I scoffed, "The Third Prince certainly has some audacity, daring to tease the Empress Mother time and again! Do not think that just because I am currently in your grasp, I am afraid of you. Let us all maintain some semblance of respect for one another. As the saying goes, 'Leave a thread of human kindness, so we may meet again in the future.' It seems we will not be able to avoid seeing each other in the future, so why must the Third Prince push matters to an extreme?" Hmph! Do not think that just because I have softened twice, I am easy to bully! As the saying goes, 'Leave a thread of human kindness, so we may meet again in the future.' It seems we will not be able to avoid seeing each other in the future, so why must the Third Prince push matters to an extreme?" Hmph! Do not think that just because I have softened twice, I am easy to bully!
Come here! I shouted
He pulled at my shoulder with his hand, and I held on even tighter, pressing my head closely against his side. He wanted to kiss me but couldn't reach! "I've never seen someone so unreasonable as you!" he said, somewhat at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
The room fell silent again. Looking at the boots right in front of me, I dared not even breathe. Although the ground was cold, I was drenched in sweat. "What about the princess? If we delay here, I'm afraid the capital will..." Feng Shan asked. Cheng De paused for a moment and slowly said, "Seal the news, keep a close watch on her few maids, and they must not approach anyone. We will set out as usual tomorrow!" Feng Shan withdrew, leaving only Cheng De on the bed and me beneath it. I did not hear him undress; he must have lain down fully clothed. I lay on the icy ground, reminiscing about the warmth of the bed. "The Summer Resort!" One day, my aunt will reclaim everything with interest! Though I said this, I knew that if this escape failed, I might not even know what inhumane treatment awaited me. Even if the escape succeeded, I feared I would never have the chance for revenge in this lifetime.
"Princess?" Wan Yue called me softly, while Su Er looked at me with a face full of surprise
He did not respond, but this time instead of falling forward, he fell backward while holding me tightly! I landed on him this time, aggravating the pain from earlier, and it hurt even more deeply! I went up and punched him, cursing, "Are you sick? Pig head!" This time, he did not get angry, remaining silent. Oh no, could it be that this child fell on his head and became an idiot? I looked at him in surprise, only to see his expression softer than I had ever seen before.
What are you doing? What do you want to do? That person ignored me and actually reached out to wipe my guardian powder. I hurriedly covered it with my hand and exclaimed, "What are you doing? What are you doing? If you wipe it off, you will be responsible!" I don't believe in this nonsense; what scientific basis does it have? Therefore, I must take good care of it, at least until it has not run away, I cannot let it fall off!
With a loud "bang," Chengde unexpectedly threw something at the person, which struck them and then fell to the ground, creating a cacophony of clattering sounds. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was the jade pillow from the bed! I felt a sharp pang of heartache, this prodigal child!
"What is there to be afraid of! I simply asked you to come over, so just come without making me say more nonsense," I said. Upon seeing this, Su'er and Wan Yue dared not say anything further and quietly approached. ... The two of them lay down at the corner of the bed, trying to stay as far to the side as possible, fearing they might touch me. I smiled, no longer paying attention to them, closed my eyes to rest, and soon felt drowsy...
This fellow suddenly blurted out, "The sky outside is very dark." I was taken aback; even a fool knows that the sky is dark outside. What is this fellow thinking about?
There is something to say... let's speak properly, Miss... I concede. I was almost rolling my eyes, it's over, it's over. I never expected that in my lifetime, Feng Chen Chu Yang would end up being crushed to death by someone.
Upon realizing it was the "Summer Resort," he immediately understood, frowned, and came up to pin my hands above my head with one hand, while the other hand inexplicably pulled out a scarf from somewhere and stuffed it into my mouth. He laughed, pressing one leg down on mine, his mouth wantonly nibbling at my shoulder, and his hand slipped inside my clothing, this time not going upward, but rather moving down along my waist
Could it be titled "The Fool"? I also think that "The Fool" does not seem like a book title. There is an eighty to ninety percent chance that I misheard it, so I did not dare to speak too clearly, only vaguely mentioning it.
He did not expect me to react this way, wanting to lift his head, but was firmly held down by me. The hand that was originally placed at my side struggled to break free, but his face had already turned red, and his eyes were filled with a layer of anger.
Old man Shen, I wonder where this old fellow is at this moment, whether he is in my team or trailing behind? At noon, the large group did not set up camp; they merely took a brief rest before continuing on their journey. This is one of the drawbacks of ancient times: transportation is so underdeveloped that one must travel from dawn to dusk, and it can take a month or so to reach a destination
"The Summer Resort" smiled and said: "I find that this wedding procession is not as boring as I imagined. My princess, sleep well, and don't kick off the blanket at night. It would be better to call your maid over to sleep with you." These two sentences actually sound like something a person would say. "Thank you, good night!" I instinctively replied
The door was pushed open, and a person tumbled in, exclaiming in a panic: "Master! The person over there has disappeared!"
Then I heard Chengde snort coldly and say, "It seems that the boss can't wait any longer and doesn't even want me to return to Fan!" The anger in his tone was evident
He ignores me
Good! He took two steps back, arms spread wide like a character "大", slightly raised his chin, and closed his peach blossom eyes. "What are you doing?" I exclaimed. What crazy idea is he thinking of now? He did not respond, just smiled slightly, and unexpectedly leaned forward. I felt my body leaning backward, and then a sharp pain came—"Ah!" My scream was abruptly cut off, and I could no longer afford to struggle with him. I immediately loosened my hands and feet, I was about to spit blood, I was definitely going to spit blood. I reached for my lower back, it’s over, my spine must be crushed!
"Come back!" shouted the one called Fengshan, "Send two teams each to the east and west to investigate! Don't alarm others, just say that a maid has run away from home and stolen the lady's belongings." I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief; fortunately, I hadn't run out. These people are truly unscrupulous, sending teams in all four directions to pursue, clearly demonstrating their numbers.
This fellow did not pick up on my words, instead, he comfortably lay on the carpet with his arms behind his head, completely unaware of the situation. For a moment, I was at a loss as to how to respond.
Suddenly I wonder, what was his purpose in entering the deep palace last night? He also mentioned that if he wanted to kill me, he wouldn't need to do it himself, but does that mean he needs to personally pick my flowers? Could it be that among so many people who came, he is the only male? Isn't that absurd! This implies that his purpose in seeking me last night was certainly not as he claimed, so what was it really for?
Damn it! I will go all out, I might as well smother you!
No! I am at a loss for words; isn't this a case of making things worse? I struggled with all my might, but I couldn't break free. In the process of struggling, my thigh accidentally brushed against his already transformed sensitive area. I was instantly frightened into stillness, tears welling up in my eyes. He noticed that I had suddenly stopped struggling, raised his head, and his pupils, dark as they were, emitted a greenish-black glow.
There is no justice in this world! This is the disadvantage of women! They are naturally weaker than others! It drives me crazy!
He slid down from me, propping himself up on one side and looking at me with a grin. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye and continued to howl there. However, he gradually lost the smile on his face and softly asked, "Does it hurt a lot?" I shot him a fierce glare and angrily replied, "You try it yourself! Idiot! Of course it hurts! Ouch! It hurts so much!" He really stood up and even picked me up from the ground, "What are you doing? What are you doing? You jerk, do you really want to crush me?" I exclaimed. He gradually lost the smile on his face and softly asked, "Does it hurt a lot?" I shot him a fierce glare and angrily replied, "You try it yourself! Idiot! Of course it hurts! Ouch! It hurts so much!" He really stood up and even picked me up from the ground, "What are you doing? What are you doing? You jerk, do you really want to crush me?" I exclaimed.
Master! A voice outside cried out in panic
The Summer Resort winked at me and smiled as it went out
Su Er knelt on the ground with both hands supporting herself, crying as she said: "If the princess goes missing, our worthless lives will be lost. Please, princess, considering that we have served you with utmost dedication, have mercy on us. We must not entertain the thought of eloping!"
What happened? Their words left me somewhat perplexed; I still do not know whom to pity here, so what is wrong with them?
In the evening, the troop arrived at a small town—Wuniu Town. Most of the cavalry stationed outside the town, with only a few personal guards accompanying us into the town. The idle people in the town had long been cleared out by the advance party, and the local residents were not allowed to loiter in the streets, resulting in an eerie silence in the town.
"The Summer Resort" was taken aback, released me, and listened intently to something. The shouts from outside grew louder, mixed with the screams of the guards. The expression on "The Summer Resort"'s face became increasingly grave, and suddenly, it stood up, picked me up, and shoved me under the bed, urgently saying: "You must not think of escaping; this is not your Nangong Yue!" After saying this, the person dashed out through the door.
The noise outside gradually diminished, and as I lay under the bed, I felt the coldness of the brick floor penetrating to my core. Alas! I had forgotten to drag the quilt over, and I was regretting it. Suddenly, footsteps were heard outside, and I quickly held my breath. The door was pushed open, and two individuals entered, one after the other. Through the low bed curtains, I could only see two pairs of black official boots, one of which was particularly exquisite, adorned with jade on the side.
It seems that someone indeed said this. I glared at him, but he actually ignored me and lowered his head to try to kiss me. I quickly turned my face away, and his kiss landed on the side of my face, his warm lips trailing down my neck, seemingly intending to meet the hand he had resting on my chest.
There are mountains and forests all around here. If one were to sneak out in the middle of the night, it would be unclear what was happening before they ended up in the belly of a wild beast," he said. As soon as he finished speaking, the distant howl of a wolf could be faintly heard outside, startling me into a shiver. How perfectly timed was that? It was like a duet.
Do you dare to play tricks on me again? he asked in a low voice
"I brought 'Shangzi.'" Wan Yue said, as she took a book from the small bookshelf and presented it with both hands
Get lost! You scoundrel! I cursed.
I regained my composure, still holding the letter in my hand. I had no idea what was written on it, nor did I know whether it was important. I glanced at Su'er and Wan Yue, trying to determine which of them had a closer relationship with Fu Rong. Now, if I wanted to find out what was written in this letter, I could only rely on them. But whom should I trust? Furthermore, how could I conceal from them the fact that I could not read?
He did not make a sound
"You'd better not come over, for I can bite!" I said angrily
A total of fifteen people came, and none were left alive; it is estimated that they had ingested a lethal poison before arriving. A slightly hoarse voice said softly, sounding somewhat familiar, and I suddenly remembered it was the same person who had called Chengde to leave that day at the door
"Have you looked under the bed? Have you searched everywhere?" Chengde inquired, his tone already tinged with a slight tremor
I breathed a sigh of relief, but then I realized something was wrong. What did he just say? He is coming again tomorrow night? I felt like crying without tears, oh heavens! Oh earth! Why won't you open your eyes? I looked down at the patches of red marks on my chest and felt my face burning intensely. No, I can't wait for Nangong Yue to come and save me; I have to escape on my own. I murmured to myself, then crawled down from the bed and tidied up the treasures scattered on the table. After packing my belongings, I thought for a moment, took some gold melon seeds and kept them close, while the rest went back into the bundle. At a critical moment, my life is what matters most; wealth is, after all, just an external possession.
He stood up from the ground, while I remained clinging to him like a koala. He tugged, but I did not budge. "Let go!"
In the evening, Su'er came in from outside and saw that only Wan Yue was attending to me. She then took out a letter from her bosom and said, "Your Highness, this was sent by the guard Shen." Shen the old man? I was just thinking about him. I took the letter; there were no markings on the envelope, but it was sealed with wax. I hurriedly tore it open and unfolded the letter. To my dismay, there were only a few scattered characters. I focused my gaze, and my God, I couldn't recognize a single word! Shen Zhaotian! Are you playing tricks on me? ... Speechless, tears filled my eyes ... I took the letter; there were no markings on the envelope, but it was sealed with wax. I hurriedly tore it open and unfolded the letter. To my dismay, there were only a few scattered characters. I focused my gaze, and my God, I couldn't recognize a single word! Shen Zhaotian! Are you playing tricks on me? ... Speechless, tears filled my eyes ...
Silly girl! Of course it's true! When have I ever deceived you? Furong swears that he will definitely not abandon you! I said with utmost sincerity, silently praying in my heart, Oh God, it’s not my vow, it’s Furong’s vow, it shouldn’t count against me. Su'er and Wanyue broke into laughter, it seems neither of them wants to go to that Wala. I thought to myself, I wonder if Nangong Yue can be relied upon, I’m afraid that by then, I’ll have to rely on myself to escape, bringing you two along? If I could take you, I might as well bring the "Thirty-Six Stratagems" along too, and we could boldly go tell that Third Prince, then say our goodbyes and throw a party, isn’t that just a dream? Looking at the excitement on Su'er and Wanyue's faces, I felt a bit guilty, I’m sorry, but you can’t blame me, it’s not that I’m selfish, who doesn’t want to live a good life!
Ah—what a name! I changed my words.
He! How dare he eat my tofu! I came here to enjoy the handsome man's tofu, but unexpectedly, I didn't get to taste the handsome man's tofu, and instead, my own tofu was sold off for half a pound!
After a moment of silence, Chengde coldly asked, "Is there a green leather bag to be found in the room?"
The man, hearing his master was extremely angry, did not dare to respond and merely stood silently. Chengde paced a few steps in the room, approached the bedside, and I only felt the bed tremble slightly as he sat down beside it. "Fengshan, you may leave first. That group of fools is not a threat. Clean up the bodies of those people and ensure that no news leaks out." The one referred to as Fengshan responded softly and was about to exit when a more urgent sound of footsteps came from outside the door.
What can you do then? Hmm? Kill me? The Third Prince is coming to propose, and the bride dies on the way; I fear your father, the Emperor, would not believe it either
I quickly shook my head, just like a rattle drum
I said, "Forget it, you all shouldn't sleep on the ground anymore. The weather is quite cool, and you might catch a cold. Come sleep beside me." Wan Yue hurriedly replied, "I dare not!"
Third Prince Qi asked: "The Summer Resort?"
Upon seeing my shamelessness, he half-knelt with both hands on the ground. However, I had no intention of letting go. Today, I was determined to expose my entire back for you to take advantage of, but I absolutely would not allow you to touch me again in the front.
At the Summer Resort, I smiled and adjusted my disheveled clothes as I walked out. I thought to myself that this enchanting being was finally leaving, but unexpectedly, he stopped at the door, turned back, and I thought, please, do not come back! Looking at his almost sparkling peach blossom eyes, I instinctively hugged the quilt in my arms tightly
I only felt a bit of difficulty in breathing, and my stomach was uncomfortably pressed. I tried to inhale deeply, but no air would come in, making me even more anxious, and I cursed, "Get up, you bastard, you're suffocating me!" Yet he did not move. I regretted having eaten too much that evening; with him pressing down on me, it felt as if the food was about to flow back up my esophagus. "This... position... don't you... think it's... too ambiguous?" I asked intermittently. I tried to inhale deeply again, but still could not, and my anxiety grew, prompting me to curse again, "Get up, you bastard, you're suffocating me!" He remained still. I regretted having eaten too much that evening; with him pressing down on me, it felt as if the food was about to flow back up my esophagus. "This... position... don't you... think it's... too ambiguous?" I asked intermittently. He looked at me with great interest, seemingly pleased to see my discomfort.
"Everyone has looked, but there is none." The voice of the newcomer already carried a hint of sobbing.
I have never seen anyone as shameless as you! I said, let's just drag this out between the two of us.
There are some items thrown in the corner of the bed, including the princess's shoes and her clothes
Chengde uttered a sound of acknowledgment, "If it was done by the boss, he would probably rush back to Fandu; if it was done by someone from the Zhou state, it would likely be heading south. Send a team to pursue towards Fandu and another team to search southward" Chengde said in a low voice
What kind of prince are you? I retort with sarcasm
After pondering for a moment, I had already formed an idea. Su'er and Wan Yue were looking at me in confusion, and I casually handed the letter to Su'er beside me. Upon reading the letter, Su'er's expression changed dramatically, and she exclaimed, "Your Highness!" I nodded slightly, though I was also curious about what was written in the letter. Wan Yue, observing from the side, looked even more astonished. I glanced at Wan Yue and then said calmly, "Read it to Wan Yue." At this point, Su'er had calmed down a bit, glanced at Wan Yue, and said to me, "This servant has overstepped." She then continued to read softly, "Girl, the Emperor seems to have some awareness of the situation. I cannot extricate myself and have informed others. A young man named Nangong Yue will come to rescue you. Prepare yourself!" Old Shen, are you playing a joke on me? Is there really someone who would toy with me like this? Nangong Yue, where did this Nangong Yue come from? You don't even clarify when it is or what kind of person he is. How am I supposed to prepare for this?
"No! I will not die! Unless you promise me that you will no longer harass me from now on!" I said. My aunt has never felt this frustrated before; she has endured enough!
When I opened my eyes again, there it was, the detestable face of "Summer Resort"! Looking at the corner of the bed, indeed, the figures of Su'er and Wan Yue were long gone. "Summer Resort" lowered its head again, about to kiss me, and I grinned at it, blowing a strong breath as I had intended. Just as I thought, "Summer Resort" leaned back in disgust, and I found it amusing.
Hmm. I cleared my throat and said, "Although I cannot be considered a clever person, I am certainly not the second aunt of Zhu Bajie. Let us speak frankly; it is better to address matters openly rather than beat around the bush. Why go around in circles?" He asked in surprise, "Who is Zhu Bajie's second aunt?"
"Hehe," I chuckled, "just kidding, just kidding, my name is Furong, don't you remember? Have you perhaps bumped your head and lost your mind?" I pretended to reach out and check his forehead.
After having eaten, the servants had already taken the things away. I lay down on the bed, feeling as if my lower back might break from being pressed by the "Summer Resort" last night, and after sitting in the car all day today.