"Is something wrong?" Shen Lixue's gaze sharpened.
"Your Majesty, Crown Prince, and the princes are going to Xiangguo Temple in Yunshan to offer incense today!" This decision was made three days ago, and Dongfang Heng naturally knew about it.
"What a coincidence?" Nangong Xiao frowned as well.
"Someone, prepare the carriage, we're going to Yunshan!" Dongfang Heng gave the order decisively.
Shen Lixue looked at his pale face and advised, "You have just recovered from a serious illness and should not overexert yourself. I will go to Yunshan in your place!"
"There's nothing to do at home, so why don't we go and take a look? Don't worry, I'll be fine!" He put on his outer garment, buttoned it, and tied his belt. All his movements were fluid and graceful, completed in the blink of an eye. Dongfang Heng's movements were elegant and graceful, making people envious.
No third person rode in Dongfang Heng's carriage; only Shen Lixue and Dongfang Heng were inside, while Nangong Xiao rode on horseback outside.
Ice buckets were placed in the four corners of the carriage, emanating a chill. In the center, tea was brewed, with wisps of steam rising from it. Dongfang Heng sat by the window, closing his eyes to rest, while Shen Lixue opened each hidden compartment to examine them carefully.
"What are you looking for?" Dongfang Heng opened his eyes and looked at Shen Lixue with a puzzled expression.
"On the day of Duke Wen's birthday, I took a painting from Ruan Chuqing's secret room. Did you see where it fell?" Shen Lixue remembered that she was holding the painting when she got into the carriage. Later, the aphrodisiac was very strong, and she became confused and had no memory of many things. She didn't know where the painting had fallen.
"A painting!" Dongfang Heng frowned. He had only been focused on Shen Lixue and hadn't paid attention to anything else. "What kind of painting is it?"
“A painting of a scene after the rain!” Shen Lixue’s gaze was solemn. The painting had either fallen into the carriage or into the Holy King’s Mansion. However, she had searched all over Dongfang Heng’s inner room but could not find it.
“I’ll have the guards look for it. If it was dropped in the Holy King’s Mansion, it wouldn’t be lost!” Dongfang Heng raised an eyebrow.
"General Lin!" Although Lin Yan was already a minister, Nangong Xiao still habitually addressed him as General Lin.
"Young Master Nangong!" Lin Yan looked at the carriage: "Where are you going?"
"We..." It was embarrassing to be tricked by that ugly monster. Nangong Xiao didn't want too many people to know, so he chuckled and prepared to give an excuse to get by.
Dongfang Heng lifted the curtain and looked at Lin Yan, his deep eyes filled with solemnity: "General Lin, take your guards and come with me out of the city!"
"Yes!" Lin Yan didn't ask where to go or what to do. As a general, he would absolutely obey the orders of Prince An, who held military power.
Nangong Xiao was taken aback: "Is it a bit of an overreaction to bring such a large team of guards to just sweep away a few minor characters?"
"It's always good to be prepared!" Dongfang Heng said calmly, his gaze deep, indicating that things were probably not simple.
The curtain was lowered, the coachman cracked his whip, and the carriage sped out of the city, heading towards Yunshan.
To avoid attracting attention, Dongfang Heng's carriage and Nangong Xiao's fast horse rode ahead, while Lin Yan led his guards to follow at a distance. The group spurred their horses and soon arrived at Yunshan.
As its name suggests, Yunshan Mountain is towering into the clouds. The mountain road is so steep that the carriage could not go any further. Dongfang Heng, Shen Lixue, and Nangong Xiao abandoned the carriage and rode on foot up the mountain.
“The mountain roads are all long and winding. I know a shortcut. Let’s take the shortcut!” Nangong Xiao closed his folding fan and led the way. The sun was already high in the sky. Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue did not think too much and also turned onto the path.
Nangong Xiao was highly skilled in martial arts and moved with lightning speed. He ran to the mountainside in one breath. Looking back, he saw Dongfang Heng walking steadily while Shen Lixue walked lightly. Just as she was about to reach him, he smiled and frowned: "Shen Lixue, you don't have internal energy, how come you walk so easily?"
Shen Lixue chuckled softly, then said mysteriously, "Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed!"
A glimpse of clothing flashed in the distance, and Shen Lixue's cold gaze instantly sharpened: "Who goes there?" With a flick of her slender finger, three silver needles shot towards the person. The person quickly dodged, two of the silver needles deeply embedded in the tree trunk, while the other grazed the woman's arm, leaving a trail of blood.
The white hem of her dress fluttered gently down, revealing a white conical hat. On her chest, colorful vines adorned her breathtaking attire—a unique style of a princess from the southern frontier.
"Qin Ruoyan, what are you doing here?" Shen Lixue's gaze sharpened. Qin Ruoyan's attire was exactly the same as usual, but she felt that Qin Ruoyan was acting strangely today.
"I've got nothing to do, so I'm just taking a stroll and looking around!" Qin Ruoyan said casually, leaning against a large tree in a languid tone.
In the distance, Lin Yan led a large group of guards up. Nangong Xiao's gaze sharpened, and a strange smile appeared on his lips: "I have received a secret report that someone is plotting to assassinate the Emperor. I would like to trouble the Princess to accompany us back to Shuntian Prefecture in the capital to assist in the investigation!"
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow. Nangong Xiao was testing Qin Ruoyan. The emperor, the crown prince, and the princes came to offer incense. Nangong Xiao's men discovered the ugly woman's whereabouts. Qin Ruoyan was also there. Something was really wrong.
Qin Ruoyan snorted coldly: "Do I look like an assassin?"
"It doesn't seem like it. However, those who appear on Yunshan Mountain are all suspicious. Please understand, Princess. The guards will not make things difficult for you. They just invite you to come to Shuntian Prefecture to sit down, have some tea, and ask about some matters. They will politely escort you back to the post station soon!" Nangong Xiao smiled slightly, being polite and courteous.
"What if I don't go?" Qin Ruoyan scoffed lightly.
"Then don't blame me for being impolite!" Nangong Xiao raised his voice, his charming eyes flashing with coldness.
"I'd really like to know just how impolite you are!" Qin Ruoyan shouted angrily, and with a flick of her hand, a sharp hidden weapon flew towards Nangong Xiao with lightning speed.
Nangong Xiao casually raised his lips, just as he was about to knock away the hidden weapon, when he saw Qin Ruoyan lightly tap her feet and fly away.
"She's trying to escape!" Nangong Xiao roared, waving his folding fan to deflect a hidden weapon that was within reach. His tall, slender figure quickly caught up, instantly appearing in front of Qin Ruoyan, blocking her path. A smug smile spread across his handsome face: "Trying to escape? Not so easy."
"You're asking for death!" Qin Ruoyan raised her slender hand and lashed out with a long whip at Nangong Xiao. Nangong Xiao raised his hand to block the whip and began fighting with Qin Ruoyan.
Qin Ruoyan's whip technique was extremely skillful, like a nimble snake, flexibly attacking Nangong Xiao. Nangong Xiao, holding a fan, was good at close combat. Qin Ruoyan's whip was so dense and impenetrable that he couldn't get close to her and couldn't use his own advantages. He retreated step by step, looking somewhat disheveled.
Seeing Shen Lixue standing aside watching the commotion, and Lin Yan and the guards about to arrive, Nangong Xiao's gaze darkened, and he threw the flare in his hand at Qin Ruoyan's face.
Qin Ruoyan was startled and quickly dodged to the side. The fan grazed her face without hurting her, but it knocked off her white bamboo hat. Her black hair fluttered in the wind, and a familiar face with a surprised expression appeared before her.
Nangong Xiao was stunned for a moment before he reacted and exclaimed, "How come it's you?"
---Aside---
(*^__^*) Hehe... I'm about to talk about what happened 15 years ago. Thank you all for the flowers, diamonds, rewards, and votes! *kissing emojis*
Chapter 117 Rescuing the Emperor and Making Meritorious Contributions
With dark skin, upturned nostrils, slanted eyes, protruding ears, and sausage lips, his striking features all appeared on the same face, making him unforgettable at first sight.
"Ugly duckling, so you're the princess of Southern Xinjiang!" Nangong Xiao raised an eyebrow at Qin Ruoyan. No wonder he searched high and low around the capital but couldn't find her. It turned out she had been hiding by his side all along, disguised as a noble princess.
"Nangong Xiao, you escaped last time because of my negligence. You won't be so lucky this time!" Qin Ruoyan glared at Nangong Xiao hatefully, gritting her teeth. He knocked off her hat and mocked her. How despicable! She lashed her long whip at him fiercely.