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墨書 Inktalez
In an instant, the entire Yu Hua Palace was thrown into chaos. The palace maids screamed and scattered, while the guards drew their swords and rushed towards the masked assassin.
I stared in shock at the shadowy figure—it was Xie Cheng'an, and he was attempting to assassinate Liu Ru Yan right in front of everyone!
"Seize him!" Liu Ru Yan's voice was sharp as a knife. She hid behind the guards, but her eyes sparkled with an unusual light.
In the midst of the turmoil, a hand suddenly grasped my wrist and pulled me into the shadows of a column.
"Come with me!" Xie Cheng'an removed his guard's mask, his eyes filled with urgency.
He dragged me through the corridor, over the wall, and we ran wildly out of the palace.
It wasn't until we returned to the Taoist temple and confirmed our safety that I could no longer suppress my anger.
"Have you lost your mind?!" I grabbed Xie Cheng'an by his collar. "Why did you suddenly reveal yourself? Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"
Xie Cheng'an let me vent my frustration, his gaze calm as water beneath his mask. The night wind tousled his hair, and the moonlight cast mottled shadows across his face.
"I had to go," he said softly, gripping my wrist just tightly enough that I couldn't break free. "Liu Ru Yan is going to play 'Chang Xiang Si.'"
"Is that all?" I could hardly believe it. "A piece of music is worth this kind of risk?"
Xie Cheng'an released me and turned to look back at the distant palace, his voice low. "It's not just a piece of music; it's a token passed down from my mother to Thousand Faces Pavilion."
"A token?"
"The sheet music for 'Chang Xiang Si' hides the secret of Thousand Faces Pavilion." His voice trembled slightly. "What Liu Ru Yan wants is this."
I was stunned. It turned out that everything was not a coincidence. Liu Ru Yan posing as a princess, getting close to the emperor, even planning to perform 'Chang Xiang Si' on Qixi Festival—all of it was for the secret of Thousand Faces Pavilion.
"So, you saved me just as an afterthought?" A sharp pain shot through me. "Your true goal is to stop Liu Ru Yan from playing 'Chang Xiang Si,' isn't it?"
Xie Cheng'an turned around, his expression complex behind the mask. "Su Wan, don't think everything is so simple."
Simple? I scoffed inwardly. Yes, to him, I was merely a pawn on a chessboard. Revenge was his only goal.
We returned in silence to the abandoned Taoist temple. Qing Zhu had fully recovered and was preparing hot tea for us.
"Miss!" She rushed over as soon as she saw me. "I was so worried! They were guarding Yu Hua Palace so tightly; thankfully Lord Xie arrived in time."
Qing Zhu's address for Xie Cheng'an had shifted from "madman" to "Lord Xie," indicating her complete change of allegiance.
"Qing Zhu," I took the hot tea she handed me, forcing down my irritation. "Have you uncovered any news these past few days?"
Qing Zhu's eyes lit up. "I have! I haven't been idle." She proudly pulled out a silk handkerchief from her bosom. "Guess what I found?"
Embroidered on the handkerchief was a lotus flower, with a small character for "smoke" hidden in its center.
"Liu Ru Yan's token?" I asked curiously.
Qing Zhu mysteriously shook her head. "No. This was embroidered by Princess Mingyi's personal maid. It is said that the real princess was indeed attacked six months ago but did not die."
Xie Cheng'an suddenly looked up sharply. "Where is she?"
"She’s locked away in the cold palace on the west side of the imperial city," Qing Zhu whispered. "That maid said that after the princess was attacked, she suddenly became like a different person; even her preferences changed completely. Until one day she discovered..."
"Discovered what?" Xie Cheng'an and I asked almost simultaneously.
"Discovered that 'the princess' has no birthmark on her back." Qing Zhu said mysteriously, "The real Princess Mingyi has a plum blossom-shaped birthmark on her back."
I exchanged a glance with Xie Cheng'an, finally confirming the news that Qing Zhu had revealed earlier—Liu Ru Yan was indeed an impostor.
"We need to rescue the real princess," Xie Cheng'an said as he stood up. "The palace defenses will be weakest on the eve of Qixi."
Alarm bells rang in my mind. "Wait, you can't be thinking..."
"To infiltrate the Cold Palace."
I knew it! This madman was about to take another reckless risk.
"No way!" I firmly rejected the idea. "It's too dangerous! Last time you went to Yu Hua Palace, you almost got exposed. Going back to the palace this time is practically a death sentence!"
Xie Cheng'an stared at me for a moment before suddenly chuckling. "Su Wan, are you worried about me?"
"I'm worried about the plan falling apart!" I retorted angrily. "If you die, who will help me deal with Xiao Jingyan?"
His gaze deepened, as if he could see through my flimsy arguments. "Don't worry, I won't die."
"You can't go," I said, calming myself and starting to think of a strategy. "But I can."
"You?" Xie Cheng'an raised an eyebrow.
"I have this." I pulled out a small porcelain vial from my sleeve. "A family recipe that can temporarily enhance human senses."
Xie Cheng'an took the vial, opened it, and sniffed. "Musk, sandalwood... and ambergris?" He frowned slightly. "Isn't this an aphrodisiac?"
I rolled my eyes. "Who taught you the Thousand Faces Technique? Only looking at appearances? This is my modified formula; it can significantly boost perception for a short time."
Xie Cheng'an fell silent for a moment, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes. "Interesting. What do you plan to do with it?"
"Liu Ru Yan is going to perform 'Chang Xiang Si' on Qixi night, right?" I smirked. "Then let's prepare her a 'special' gift."
Three days later, I disguised myself again to infiltrate the palace. This time, instead of posing as a maid, I dressed up as a flower vendor.
"These are the fresh flowers ordered by Princess Mingyi for the Qixi banquet," I said cheerfully to the guards, pulling out a token. "Here’s the princess's insignia."
This token was obtained by Qing Zhu from one of the maids; its authenticity was hard to discern.
The guards scrutinized me for a few moments and hesitated before allowing me into the palace. Tsk, it seemed Xie Cheng'an's disguise techniques were indeed impressive; even the palace guards couldn't recognize me.
I leisurely pushed the flower cart toward the Cold Palace. Hidden beneath it were Xie Cheng'an's specially made ropes and grappling hooks, along with provisions and water prepared by Qing Zhu.
The Cold Palace was even more dilapidated than I had imagined. A chilling aura hit me as I entered, sending shivers down my spine.
"Who?" A faint female voice came from the darkness.
I quickly scanned my surroundings and, using the dim moonlight, saw a frail figure standing by the window.
"Princess Mingyi?" I asked tentatively.
The figure trembled slightly. "Who are you?"
"A person here to rescue you," I lowered my voice. "Are you the real Princess Mingyi?"
"...Yes." The voice was hesitant. "Are you not sent by Liu Ru Yan?"
"I'm here to help you escape."
Just then, footsteps suddenly echoed from behind me. My heart raced as I immediately pulled the princess behind a pillar to hide.
"Your Highness?" A soft male voice echoed in the darkness. "Who are you talking to?"
The princess's body stiffened noticeably. I quietly moved my hand toward the short sword at my waist, preparing for a fight to the death.
"No one," the princess replied coldly. "I can't sleep and was just talking to myself."
"Is that so?" The voice was filled with skepticism. "There have been assassins infiltrating the palace lately; you should be careful, Your Highness."
"Thank you for the reminder," the princess said, her tone eerily calm. "You may leave now."
The footsteps gradually faded away, and we both sighed in relief.
"We need to hurry," I urged, pulling the princess toward the window. "Xie Cheng'an is waiting outside."
But she suddenly stopped. "Wait, there's something I must take with me."
She turned and walked toward the bed, retrieving a small cloth pouch from beneath her pillow.
"What is this?" I asked curiously.
"The secret of Thousand Faces Pavilion," she said tightly clutching the pouch. "This is what Liu Ru Yan wants."
A thought struck me. "Is it about the secret of Chang Xiang Si?"
The princess looked at me in surprise. "You know?"
"Xie Cheng'an told me," I urged her. "We must leave before dawn."
However, just as we reached the window, she suddenly shoved me aside. "It's a trap!"
Several arrows whistled through the air, striking where I had just stood. My heart raced as I drew my short sword, only to see the courtyard filled with figures in black.
The leader removed their mask, revealing a familiar face—Liu Ru Yan.
"Su Wan," she said with a charming smile, though her eyes gleamed with malice. "I can't believe you're still alive; what a surprise."
Panic surged within me. This was a trap!
"Your Highness," Liu Ru Yan said with a mocking bow, her expression dripping with sarcasm. "Your acting skills have truly improved."
What? I turned to look at the so-called "princess," only to see an eerie smile on her face.
"Su Wan," her voice suddenly deepened, "where is Xie Cheng'an?"
I felt as if I had fallen into an ice pit. This was not the princess at all; it was—
"Xiao Jingyan."
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