087. Wang Jing Is Quite Vulgar

Yin Susu was also momentarily surprised; she hadn’t expected that with Zhan Lianjing’s level of martial prowess, his life could still be at risk there.

Without warning, Zhan Lianjing reached out and wrapped an arm around Le Qianxue’s waist, his voice calm. “Since we’ve decided to go, there’s no time to lose.”

Le Qianxue felt awkward and wanted to ask him to let go, but before she could, Zhan Lianjing had already leapt upward with her, moving with a speed and silence far beyond her own.

Her mind was still preoccupied with the matter of the Ghost Doctor, so she said, “Your Highness, are you not angry that Susu and I have been deceiving you all this time?”

Zhan Lianjing didn’t look at her, but gazed straight ahead. “She’s the Ghost Doctor, not you. I have no reason to be angry about that.”

Le Qianxue was stunned, her breath catching. She was, in fact, the true Ghost Doctor...

But Zhan Lianjing had not heard the earlier conversation. Yin Susu, fearful that Zhan Lianjing would harm her, had claimed the identity for herself. Whether it was fate or simply coincidence, Le Qianxue couldn’t say.

Her heart grew unbearably heavy, lost in confusion.

They soon arrived at the General’s Manor. Zhan Lianjing waited outside, leaving her to pack her things alone.

As soon as she entered her room, she saw by the weak candlelight her father, clutching a broadsword, the blade pressed to the floor, gouging out a small hole. Opposite him sat Yuan Tianci, his face already pale with terror.

When Yuan Tianci saw Le Qianxue return, he immediately shouted, “Qianxue! Save me! Please, save me!”

Le Yongcheng turned to look at his daughter, surprised to see her returning in night clothes. Still, she seemed healthy enough—walking, even jumping about. He couldn’t decide whether to be relieved or not.

But as a father, he set his face sternly. “Where have you been? Rushing out in the dead of night—weren’t you unconscious just now?”

Le Qianxue moved toward him with heavy steps, her head bowed. “Father, I don’t know how to explain.”

“Not knowing how to explain doesn’t mean you don’t have to,” said Le Yongcheng. “You’re growing more unruly by the day! The Emperor has already developed murderous intent toward you, and yet you still sneak out?”

Le Qianxue replied, “It’s precisely because the Emperor wants me dead that I must go out. Otherwise, I’ll have no leverage at all. Are we supposed to wait until the Emperor targets our family before we scheme and plan? By then, it’ll be too late!”

Le Yongcheng’s face turned cold. But after a moment’s thought, he sighed.

Le Qianxue was right; the Emperor was becoming increasingly suspicious of him.

He asked, “Then let me ask, where exactly are you going?”

Le Qianxue hesitated before answering, “I’m helping a friend retrieve something precious. I may be gone for several days.”

“It’s that Su Bing, isn’t it?”

Le Qianxue paused. “Father, you knew?”

“Once, Zhui Xing asked me offhand whether I’d specially trained Su Bing. I was taken aback and just nodded. After that, you suddenly had a new maid, one who was quite close to you,” Le Yongcheng replied. “Since that’s the case, go and come back quickly. If anything happens, send word at once.”

Le Qianxue smiled and nodded, then hurried to pack her things.

Le Yongcheng now saw what his daughter had amassed—quite an arsenal of weapons. He kept his face stern but said nothing.

Suddenly, Le Qianxue looked up and asked, “Father, did Mother really die of illness?”

Le Yongcheng froze, his gaze growing unfocused.

“Why do you ask?” he asked, frowning.

“Please just answer me first,” Le Qianxue replied evenly.

After a moment’s silence, Le Yongcheng said, “No. When I returned, your mother had already been buried. But later, I exhumed her coffin to examine her remains. She was poisoned…”

His voice caught with emotion.

He pressed a hand to his forehead, grief surging up. “Why wasn’t I by her side then? Why… If only I’d been there, I could have protected her. To this day, I still don’t know who killed her…”

Seeing her father so sorrowful, Le Qianxue’s eyes stung with tears. Such deep love brought with it deep pain.

She finished packing her things, and as she was about to leave, she said quietly, “The one who killed Mother was the Emperor.”

Le Yongcheng’s eyes flew open, unable to accept it. His mind was thrown into chaos.

Yuan Tianci followed Le Qianxue out, leaving Le Yongcheng alone in the room.

“Qianxue, where are you going? Aren’t you going to take me with you?” Yuan Tianci asked.

Le Qianxue replied, “I’m going to Hongzhuang with Susu. Help me keep my poisoning a secret and take care of my father.”

“Just the two of you? That won’t do. I’m coming—someone has to look out for you,” Yuan Tianci insisted.

But from the corridor, Zhan Lianjing sent a covert dart flying past Yuan Tianci’s face, making him break out in cold sweat.

Clutching his chest, Yuan Tianci spotted Zhan Lianjing standing in the dim corridor, his robes blending perfectly into the night.

“You two… Are you both going together?” Yuan Tianci looked at Le Qianxue in disbelief.

Wasn’t it only the two of them who knew about capturing Yuan Feng? How had Zhan Lianjing gotten involved?

Zhan Lianjing spoke up, “That’s right. So there’s no need for you to come along.”

He was rather irritated with Yuan Tianci, since he was the man closest to Le Qianxue.

Le Qianxue said gently, “Just wait for my return.”

Feeling Zhan Lianjing’s hostility, Yuan Tianci dared not protest further. He nodded, agreeing.

The two of them left the General’s Manor and waited for Yin Susu by the city wall. Le Qianxue, bored, fiddled with her fingers.

Though there was some distance between them, Zhan Lianjing suddenly reached out and took her hand.

Le Qianxue was startled.

Perhaps her response at the gambling house earlier had drawn them closer.

She tried to pull her hand away, but Zhan Lianjing held on tightly.

In a low voice, he said, “Since you’ve embraced me, don’t let go again.”

Le Qianxue felt her heart struck once more, her eyes downcast, her nose tingling.

Zhan Lianjing kept drawing closer, and each time, she pushed him away. Now she realized it wasn’t that she didn’t like him—she was afraid. Afraid that Zhan Lianjing would discover she’d been deceiving him all along…

Seeing her silent, Zhan Lianjing simply sighed but did not release her hand.

He took a step forward, his voice clear. “Even if you won’t give me your heart, I’m willing to give you mine. Look carefully, see for yourself if I truly like you. I’m willing to wait.”

Yet how much time he had left to wait, even he could not say.

Le Qianxue felt her last defenses crumbling. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came. In her heart, she nodded.

Zhan Lianjing continued to hold her hand, quietly waiting with her for Yin Susu.

It was nearly dawn when Yin Susu finally appeared.

Catching sight of them still holding hands, she almost went blind from shock.

Zhan Lianjing whistled, and soon someone arrived leading three fine steeds.

The three mounted up. Le Qianxue was still wondering how they’d get through the city gates when Zhan Lianjing whistled again and the gates opened automatically.

Startled, Le Qianxue glanced back at him.

This man truly hid his depths well—come and go as he pleased.

Hongzhuang was the imperial summer retreat, three hours’ ride from the capital.

They traveled through the early morning, reaching Hongzhuang by mid-afternoon.

The land around Hongzhuang was idyllic, and as they drew near, they stopped to survey the area.

There were hidden sentries all around—security was tight.

Yin Susu handed out some dry rations. “Eat first. Hongzhuang is their hideout; getting in won’t be easy.”

Zhan Lianjing picked up a steamed bun, eating with a grace even in such simple fare.

After he finished, he produced a cloth and unrolled it. “A map of Hongzhuang.”

Yin Susu glanced at it. “Your Highness, do you have a map for every place in the world?”

“While we’re outside, call me Wang Jing,” Zhan Lianjing replied calmly. “To answer you, more or less—but there are some places even I cannot enter.”

Yin Susu pouted. “Wang Jing, Wang Jing—such a common name.”

Le Qianxue looked up. “Now I understand what the Third Prince meant when he said he was testing you. He wanted to see if you were from the previous dynasty.”

The Wang royal family of the former dynasty, Zhan Lianjing’s ties to the Yan family, his search for Master Yuan, and now the name Wang Jing—everything made sense to her.

Zhan Lianjing didn’t deny it, nodding to Le Qianxue.

Yin Susu frowned. “That can’t be! If I’m a descendant of the Yuan family, does that mean I’m supposed to obey you? No, there’s no previous dynasty anymore—Tianlong rules now!”

Zhan Lianjing replied curtly, “Two choices: your life and the secret manual, or your life ends here.”

Yin Susu’s mouth twitched, momentarily lost for words.

Then she declared, “I pick the third option!”

“The third? Handing you over to the Emperor,” Zhan Lianjing said.

Yin Susu snorted. “I’d rather die than serve my enemy!”

Le Qianxue said, “Seems you’re out of options—you’ll have to pick the first.”

Yin Susu shot Zhan Lianjing a glare. “Why are you so scheming?”

“He’s always been that way,” Le Qianxue responded, “and domineering too!”

Zhan Lianjing offered no defense. He laid the map between them. “I’ve always found Hongzhuang suspicious, so I planted two agents inside. But the old man must have hidden the Gu worm manual. If we barge in without knowing its location, we’ll be the ones to suffer.”

Le Qianxue asked, “Do your agents know anything?”

“I asked before. They said everything seemed normal—just a few people living there, supposedly royal guests. They tried to investigate but couldn’t get close to the main quarters,” Zhan Lianjing explained.