Chapter 002: Robbery and Lust

They helped him up and dressed him in a robe

These eyes resemble peach blossoms, with the outer corners slightly raised, their gaze hazy, as if intoxicated yet not fully so, captivating the hearts of those who behold them. However, she did not overlook the chill concealed beneath the deep affection and mystery of these peach blossom eyes

Noon has passed, and the hour has arrived

The backyard is pitch black, with not a single lantern in sight, only the dazzling lights and shadows from the street meandering in. That face, as beautiful as ice and snow, is tinged with a hint of the mundane, shimmering subtly, mysterious yet elegant.

Hurry up and find it

Anyone who witnesses His Highness being poisoned or having a hidden ailment must die

Never mind! Let's go in and hide for now, it would be best to have a place to sleep tonight

She walked briskly forward for a while, and the two men followed her.

Her eyes rolled back, revealing a large expanse of the whites of her eyes, as she extended her arms, resembling a blind person groping forward

Having just finished eating a steamed bun, she suddenly noticed the two men in blue behind her, acting furtively, as if they had been following her for some time

"Only after the ghost saw the sorrow did he go to chase after the two thieves." Liufeng also knelt down, filled with regret and self-blame, "Your Highness, I should not have left to relieve myself, I am guilty."

At this moment, Lan Qingxiao rushed into a teahouse, passed through the main hall, and headed straight for the back garden, then exited through a small door

She hurriedly packed her belongings, bowed with cupped hands, and fled in a panic without looking back

... ...

It can be affirmed that these two young men in blue are not from the same group as those several men in black, because shortly after she left the rapeseed flower field, no one pursued her, and she entered the city very smoothly

However, she quickly turned around and ran forward at a swift pace

"Gui Jian Chou, I just saw a young lady wearing this king's robe. From which direction did she go?"

She took a breath, stepped out of the alley, but saw the two men in green again. She immediately recoiled and dashed in another direction. Thus, they pursued her frantically as she ran swiftly, weaving through the streets and alleys of the city, completely digesting the two buns.

Excellent! After searching tirelessly, I found it without any effort at all

The flowing wind, in a state of panic, exclaimed: "Your Highness, could it be that you have been robbed, both of wealth and of virtue?"

After walking for a while, Lan Qingxiao was taken aback; ahead of her was a small medicinal pool, and a man was immersed in the pool, facing away from her

After resting for a while, Lan Qingxiao finally felt as if she had come back to life

Lan Qingxiao stood on the street, cheering and jumping with joy, even though her stomach was empty

How did it come to this

The only garment remaining on His Highness is a pair of moon-white silk trousers, while the moon-white inner garment lies beside him, and the purple robe is nowhere to be found

Lord Gui Jian Chou has instructed that we must find that young lady and carry out a secret execution

I should not have left when Your Highness was poisoned and unconscious, I deserve to die! I, Gui Jianchou, bow my head to accept my punishment

The backyard of this household is deserted, and she smells a strong medicinal aroma. Could it be that this household is the backyard of a pharmacy

Lan Qingxiao pressed her forehead, wanting to cry but having no tears. Where could she hide? She actually threw herself into the net and entered the tiger's den

The man submerged in the medicinal pool is the same man who was stripped of his clothes and forcefully kissed by her in the outskirts at noon

The man walked forward, his steps light yet steady. "Go and receive your punishment of thirty strokes. By the way, did the several strong men who saw me here know what to do?"

She saw a small door belonging to a nearby household, slightly ajar. An idea struck her, and she quickly slipped inside, bolting the door shut. Afterwards, she slid down to the ground, breathing heavily and weakly.

Just now, the teasing of the master by them was heard word for word by the man without clothes, nearly causing him to spit out three liters of old blood

Oh, where is this?

The man slowly turned around, and when that familiar yet unfamiliar handsome face appeared in her line of sight, she felt a jolt in her heart, a sudden impulse to turn and run away.

While shouting, she threw small stones into the air, and then she quickly dashed forward

As night fell and the lights began to glow, the streets remained bustling with activity, with the aromas of food wafting from restaurants, tea houses, and street vendors. She instinctively touched her stomach and took out a coin to buy two steamed buns to satisfy her hunger

The man lay rigidly, suddenly spitting out a mouthful of dark blood

A person approached, it was the dark guard Gui Jianchou

Yan Nanzheng stared at her, his gaze cold and piercing, the corners of his thin lips slightly curled.

Indeed. You should quickly take off your outer robe and let His Highness wear it first

This chill is akin to a slender silver needle, pricking at one's heart, causing an intense discomfort and unease

Strangely, the man did not sit up; he remained lying down, simply gazing at her quietly

Liu Feng, why are you in a daze? How is His Highness? Has he awakened?

The two young men in blue rushed over, intending to pursue her, but were obstructed by the common people who were picking up the "silver".

She suddenly stopped, and they also came to a halt

By the time they squeezed through that crowd, the young lady had already vanished without a trace

The several men in black were encountered by her in the southern suburbs of the imperial capital. She also believed that they were part of the same group that killed her parents and family, aiming to silence her. And what is the origin of these two men in green?

Gui Jianchou said: "Just now, when my subordinate came over, I indeed saw a person in a purple robe walking quickly towards the imperial capital." He suddenly knelt down, earnestly confessing, "My subordinate was blind and did not recognize that the purple robe belonged to Your Highness, which was stolen by the thief. My subordinate deserves to die!"

Lan Qing's dark, soulful eyes rolled around as she picked up a few small stones from the roadside. She then walked to the center of the bustling street and suddenly shouted: "Pick up money! Pick up money!"

Her legs felt as if they were filled with lead, and she could no longer run. Leaning against the wall, she gasped for breath, her throat burning, utterly exhausted

Lan Qingxiao smiled dryly, "It is good that you are fine... I have important matters to attend to, so I will take my leave first..."

It truly lingers like a haunting spirit

To bring disgrace upon Your Highness is their dereliction of duty; they are guilty

You truly deserve to die. Is this the only crime?" The man dressed in a subordinate's black robe gazed towards the direction of the imperial capital, his eyes cold and clear

At that moment, a young man dressed as a servant approached, and upon seeing the chaotic scene, he was left dumbfounded

It was merely a brief moment while he rushed to relieve himself due to diarrhea, and Your Highness has already transformed into this pitiful state, as if having been robbed and humiliated by some thief.

They immediately proceeded to find someone

This voice is as cold as ice, with a trace of hostility lingering within it

"What nonsense are you talking about... well, it's true, our prince is recognized as the most handsome man in the imperial capital, and being robbed of beauty is more likely than being robbed of wealth," Gui Jianchou said with a frown, searching for the prince's purple robe around him.

Are those two men in blue also pursuing her

The man referred to as Your Highness stood up, stretched his muscles and bones, clenched his fists, and the joints cracked audibly

As Gui Jianchou finished speaking, he too became dumbfounded, similar to Liu Feng's reaction

Gui Jianchou stood up and followed, saying: "Yes!"

The pedestrians around, hearing that there was silver to be picked up, gathered together in a rush to snatch it, clamoring and pushing each other.

Finally arrived in the capital city!

However, before she could catch her breath, Lan Qingxiao suddenly saw the two familiar figures appear at the intersection ahead