She had once been a shadow guard herself, so she naturally understood how shadow guards operated.
Shadow guards were also human. As humans, they needed to eat, drink, and live somewhere, so they were usually split into many different groups scattered across various places, only appearing again when their master had need of them.
Now it seemed that the people staying in Rouge Alley should belong to a base that was neither too big nor too small.
Being sent to assassinate Wen Mingfeng meant that their superiors did not care too much about this hideout.
These people were not particularly valued either.
Their superiors could abandon them at any time.
In that case, even killing these people held no meaning.
The two men were made so anxious by Qi Yuan’s silence that they nearly scared themselves to death.
Mainly because Qi Yuan never gave advance warning before killing someone. Who knew whether she might pull out a dagger the next instant?
Just like how she had killed their companion earlier.
Xiao Yunting patted Qi Yuan on the shoulder.
Qi Yuan came back to her senses, glanced at Babao and Liujin, then followed Xiao Yunting outside.
Babao and Liujin immediately stepped forward and kept a close watch on the two men.
Qi Yuan followed Xiao Yunting out the door and softly asked: “Does Your Highness have something to say?”
Xiao Yunting nodded: “These two won’t know very much. The people above them are probably the same.”
This coincided perfectly with what Qi Yuan had been thinking.
The two exchanged a glance, and Qi Yuan’s voice turned cold: “We really can’t get much more out of them from here. But that doesn’t mean they’re useless. At the very least, didn’t we learn about Rouge Alley?”
What other use?
Xiao Yunting quickly understood.
Rouge Alley was a mixed bag of people. The reason it had this name was because the entire alley was basically filled with businesses dealing in secret prostitution, hence the name Rouge Alley.
No one would have imagined that such a place was actually hiding a group of death soldiers.
When the sky darkened, a man in blue quietly entered the courtyard at the end of the alley. As soon as he stepped through the door, he sat behind the desk and faintly raised his brows: “They still haven’t returned?”
The attendant Zhaoxing followed closely behind him step by step and immediately shut the door smoothly behind them: “Replying to my lord, Langhao and Shuwei led the team out personally. Killing a mere Wen Mingfeng should be more than enough.”
Qingyan said nothing and merely lifted his eyes to stare at him indifferently: “‘Should’? You use ‘should’ when carrying out assignments?”
Although his expression had not changed at all, Zhaoxing immediately swallowed nervously, his legs going weak as he dropped to his knees and repeatedly kowtowed with loud bangs: “This subordinate is incompetent! This subordinate deserves death!”
Qingyan sneered: “No need to rush to kowtow. That b*stard Wen Mingfeng is the only person who knows the whereabouts of the secret letter. If you fail to silence him and find out where the secret letter is, you want to die?”
Zhaoxing blurted out in disbelief: “The secret letter?!”
He even forgot his fear of Qingyan and asked in utter astonishment: “Wasn’t the secret letter in Duke Cheng’s hands?!”
How had it ended up with Wen Mingfeng again?
Framing Old Master Lu was no trivial matter. To frame the Crown Princess’s father, they had needed to set up a complete and convincing performance.
So back then, they forged correspondence between Old Master Lu and a high-ranking Oirat official, then bribed one of Old Master Lu’s trusted aides, secretly transferring a large number of warhorses in order to frame Old Master Lu.
The secret letter being referred to here was the reply letter written by Old Master Lu’s trusted aide to Duke Cheng.
Previously, the Crown Prince had already asked Duke Cheng for it.
But Duke Cheng had continuously played dumb and refused to hand over the secret letter.
Who would have thought it had ended up in Wen Mingfeng’s possession?!
Qingyan’s expression was equally unpleasant.
This news had come too suddenly. They themselves had only learned of it after Duke Cheng entered the Imperial Guard prison, through their covert contact within the Imperial Guard.
After all, Duke Cheng was simply too critical. Now that the Duke Cheng Manor had suffered such a drastic upheaval, who knew whether Duke Cheng, after falling into Lai Chenglong’s hands, might reveal things he should not?
Naturally, only dead people were safer.
Especially after testing him and learning that the secret letter was not in Duke Cheng’s possession, Duke Cheng immediately died.
Wen Mingfeng would actually have met the same fate.
But the problem now was that if Wen Mingfeng died, then the whereabouts of the secret letter would become unknown.
This secret letter was simply too important. It absolutely could not fall into Xiao Yunting’s hands.
So Qingyan coldly snorted: “That’s why you’re being sent to investigate! Wen Mingfeng attended someone else’s banquet today. Something like a secret letter could not possibly have been carried on him. After Shuwei and Langhao return, head to Jinling immediately.”
To Jinling?
Zhaoxing became even more confused: “My lord, Wen Mingfeng hates the Jinling side to the bone. Shouldn’t we first search his residence in the capital? The dormitories at the Imperial Academy, and the meditation courtyard where he lodged at Dazhao Temple…”
“We already searched them.” Qingyan snorted coldly and stared at him indifferently: “You people have always been the ones tailing Wen Mingfeng. You know his affairs best, so this matter will still be handled by you. Don’t forget, he still has a birth mother in Jinling.”
Zhaoxing immediately reacted and hurriedly acknowledged the order. Only then did he belatedly come back to his senses: “My lord, this subordinate will pour tea for you.”
He had been frightened out of his wits and had actually forgotten to serve Qingyan tea and snacks.
“No need.” Qingyan stood up: “I still have important matters to attend to. You must take this seriously. The Lu family absolutely cannot be given even the slightest chance to rise again, understand?”
Since the deed had already been done, then it had to be done thoroughly.
Otherwise, if the Lu family managed to turn things around, the first person left trapped between both sides would be the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince and Xiao Yunting had now completely lost all father-son affection.
Since that was the case, Xiao Yunting also had to lose favor as well.
Otherwise, wouldn’t all their efforts have been wasted?
Zhaoxing wiped the sweat from his forehead and nodded repeatedly. Seeing Qingyan about to leave, he hurried ahead to open the door for him. But the moment the door opened, he heard an enormous boom.
The sound was so loud that the entire house nearly shook. Even Qingyan immediately grabbed onto the nearby table and sharply demanded: “What happened?!”
Zhaoxing himself had no idea either. He immediately opened his mouth to call for someone, but before he could move, another loud boom sounded.
At this time, the other shadow guards had already emerged in uncertainty and alarm.
After all, people who lived licking blood off knife edges were naturally the most sensitive.
Zhaoxing’s right eyelid twitched violently. Just as he was about to send someone ahead to see what exactly had happened, the third boom sounded. This time, along with the loud crash came a booming voice:
“Search! Search thoroughly for me!”
Search?!
Qingyan’s heart jolted: “The authorities?! Why would the authorities come to the door?!”
Zhaoxing was equally horrified: “This lowly one does not know either!”
Before he had even recovered, someone from the front had already shouted:
“It’s Shuwei! Shuwei is in the hands of the authorities! He’s a traitor!”
Qingyan fiercely slapped Zhaoxing across the face.
Want to show your support? Go donate at Paypal or Ko-fi to show your appreciation! Want to get early access to at least 20+ chapters in advance? Go to my Patreon to join now! :)
