What happened this night was more than everything Hong Xiao had experienced in the past twenty years of her life combined.
She thought she had seen countless things after so many years in the capital, but tonight’s events were by far the most thrilling and terrifying she had ever encountered.
The winter river water was icy and bone-chilling. She scooped some up and splashed it onto her face, shivering violently from the cold before leaning against a dirt mound and slowly exhaling.
The wounds on her neck and face still throbbed faintly. Just thinking back to the moment when that girl pinned her to the ground made her heart race uncontrollably even now.
There was no way she could have been mistaken— That girl was an incredibly skilled assassin.
She said she was sent by His Highness…
His Highness…
Hong Xiao closed her eyes briefly, wiped the water from the corner of her mouth, stood up, gathered her clothes tightly around her, and swiftly slipped into the woods by the riverside.
She moved quickly. Before dawn, she had already reached a secluded estate at the foot of the mountain.
This place was built near a hot spring, and many wealthy families had vacation homes here. Although Zhan Wenhui’s official title wasn’t high on the surface, with Qi Wang backing him, he could easily afford a property here.
Exhausted, Hong Xiao knocked on the door. Someone immediately came to greet her, gasping in shock at her disheveled appearance.
She shot the person a cold look. “Shut up! Don’t make a sound. No one is allowed to wander around. Don’t tell anyone I’ve returned. Go boil several basins of hot water.”
The weather was simply too cold. After rushing around all night, her mind was sluggish. All she wanted was a hot bath.
It wasn’t until she had finished soaking in hot water that she finally felt alive again. She ordered food to be brought.
Qin Shu entered, holding a hand warmer, looking worried. “Auntie, did something happen for you to come here at this time?”
Hong Xiao raised an eyebrow, glanced at her, and set down her hot soup. “Has the Master come back recently?”
Naturally, the “Master” she referred to was Zhan Wenhui.
Last night, that female assassin had said Zhan Wenhui was already dead. Although Hong Xiao felt a vague unease, she still found it hard to believe.
Qin Shu widened her eyes and shook her head. “It’s been more than half a month since the Master last came back.”
Truly, he hadn’t returned. No letters either…
The bowl in Hong Xiao’s hand slipped and slammed onto the table with a loud bang, soup splashing everywhere.
Qin Shu jumped in fright, quickly rushing over to wipe the table and check Hong Xiao’s hand. “Auntie, are you alright?”
Normally, Hong Xiao was most particular about her delicate skin and appearance. If she got scalded, she would surely make a big fuss.
But this time, she didn’t have the mind to bother. She shoved Qin Shu aside, panic rising, and rushed out.
After a few steps, she abruptly turned back and stared at Qin Shu. “Have you heard any news about the Master lately?”
Qin Shu was so startled by her outburst that she trembled and shook her head, terrified.
Of course, this was her and Zhan Wenhui’s private residence. Outsiders knew nothing of it. Even Qin Shu, who served here, wasn’t aware of Zhan Wenhui’s true identity.
Even if there was news, it wouldn’t reach this place.
Hong Xiao let out a breath, said no more, and was about to leave when she suddenly heard faint footsteps from above.
Someone was on the roof!
Her hairs instantly stood on end. Without revealing anything on her face, she subtly tensed her body and tightly gripped the dagger hidden in her sleeve—the one she had specifically retrieved for self-defense after her bath.
Almost at the same moment, the roof tiles shattered, and two black-clad assassins dropped from above, charging straight at her without a word.
Qin Shu screamed, covering her face in terror, completely frozen in panic.
The two assassins’ swords shot toward Hong Xiao at lightning speed. She had no choice but to bend backward sharply, nearly folding herself in half, narrowly dodging the fatal strike.
But before she could react again, the assassins launched another fierce attack. Their moves were fast, ruthless, and clearly aimed to kill.
Caught off guard, Hong Xiao’s shoulder was slashed by one of their swords, leaving a gaping, bloody wound.
Clutching her shoulder, grief and rage surged in her heart. She swiftly grabbed a pouch of medicinal powder from her waist and flung it toward the assassins. As the powder momentarily blinded them, she seized the chance to fling open the door and escape.
Fortunately, she had helped Zhan Wenhui design this house, personally reviewing the blueprints with him. No one was more familiar with every corner and pathway here than she was.
Relying on her knowledge of the layout, she managed to shake off the assassins.
But she herself was seriously injured, the wound on her arm bleeding continuously.
After a long while, she finally sat in a secret chamber, panting heavily. She tore off a strip of cloth and, gritting her teeth, hastily bandaged her wound.
A chill crept over her heart.
At this point, she could no longer afford not to believe what that female assassin had said last night.
It seemed Zhan Wenhui really had been killed by Qi Wang. And people like her—those who had done dirty work for Zhan Wenhui—were even less likely to be spared by Qi Wang.
She had heard Zhan Wenhui speak of Qi Wang more than once, saying how decisive and cold-blooded he was.
A man cold enough to have no human emotions would, of course, eliminate witnesses without hesitation.
She bit her lip hard.
Meanwhile, Babao and Liujin were secretly tailing the two assassins who had attacked Hong Xiao.
Babao looked grave. “Those two arrived really fast…”
For once, Liujin didn’t crack jokes either, his expression equally serious. “They did come fast. We hadn’t even had time to act, and Qi Wang’s men were already here. His speed is terrifying.”
But this wasn’t something to be happy about. It only showed that Qi Wang’s control was even tighter than they had imagined.
The incident had only just happened last night.
Hong Xiao hadn’t even had the chance to show her face publicly, let alone leak any information.
Yet the assassins had already come. This could only mean that Qi Wang’s network was extraordinarily far-reaching—or, to put it another way, that the Noble Consort’s position in the palace was unshakable. Otherwise, this incident wouldn’t have been suppressed in the capital so quickly.
But Qi Wang had already begun silencing witnesses.
With Babao and Liujin’s intervention, those two assassins naturally couldn’t find Hong Xiao, let alone silence her.
More groups came later, but Hong Xiao was already prepared and had long fled far away.
Babao and Liujin watched her enter a secret passage with their own eyes. They exchanged glances, visibly shocked.
No wonder Qi Yuan had said: as long as they created the illusion that Qi Wang wanted to silence her, she would naturally bite back.
Turns out, this viper was even deadlier than they thought.
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