Luzhou-Mond - Kapitel 36
Finally, night fell. I changed into my night clothes and sneaked to the residence of the Second Prince, Shen Tingxuan, which was only three streets away from the Qing Prince's residence.
In the Youjing Dynasty, princes, regardless of whether they were married or not, could be assigned their own residences after the age of fifteen, and palaces would also be reserved for them within the imperial palace. Most princes chose to live outside after receiving their own residences, as it offered much more freedom than staying within the palace.
By this time, the gates of the Second Prince's residence were already closed, leaving only two lanterns hanging outside, swaying in the night breeze. Their cold light cast shadows on the stone steps and the two stone lions crouching outside. I shivered in the shadows. I hadn't felt it much during the day, but it was quite chilly at night. I silently cursed Shen Haoyu again in my mind, then thought, "Thank goodness it's not summer, or I'd be bitten by mosquitoes."
I walked around the Second Prince's residence, wondering why the walls were so high. I looked up at the towering walls and sighed in despair.
Thankfully, there's a tree here. Even though it belongs to the neighbor.
They climbed over someone else's wall, climbed over someone else's tree, and jumped from someone else's tree into the Second Prince's courtyard.
He brushed the dirt off his clothes and quietly stood up. Regardless of the process, getting in was half the battle won.
This must be a garden. There are no houses, no lights, and no people, only vast fields of chrysanthemums quietly releasing their fragrance. They must be chrysanthemums; otherwise, what other flowers would be blooming this season?
Bending low as I weaved through the flowering trees, I was so nervous I barely dared to breathe. Being a thief isn't just about technical skill; it also requires a strong mental fortitude.
Like a moth, I moved toward the place where there was light and fire.
Carefully maneuvering past the patrolling guards, I lay in the shadows of the artificial hill, facing a dilemma: I was in, but I didn't even know my exact location, so how could I know what the guards were like? Most importantly, the Second Prince's residence was so large and dark; I was completely lost! I stared at the black sky, on the verge of tears.
Well, it looks like we won't find anything today. Let's find another daytime to get a clear look at the layout before coming back. Getting back is the priority. Anyway, there's no real mission. At worst, I'll just get scolded or mocked by Shen Haoyu and fail the assessment.
Having made up my mind, I got up to go back. It was impossible to get out the way I came, so I tried to find a less crowded area to walk out and figure out a way out. So, I headed towards the less lit area, but I didn't realize that it wasn't leading outwards, but rather deeper into the Second Prince's residence.
I arrived at a courtyard that was very quiet and unguarded, which pleased me. I lightly leaped onto the roof to survey the terrain, but suddenly felt a chill on my neck and heard a cold voice behind me: "What do you want?"
I was so scared I almost fell off the roof.
Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn. Chapter 26 of the main text.
Chapter word count: 3793 Last updated: 09-07-28 14:19
I quietly reached out and pinched the icy touch, carefully moving my neck to the side.
"Don't move!" Before I could even move, another cold voice rang out.
My fingers, which were gripping the sword, trembled slightly. I asked in a low voice, "Brother, could you please not press something against my neck? It's cold."
The coldness on my neck trembled and finally left me. I turned around and saw a tall, dark figure blocking my way. A cold sword gleamed even in the dark night. I could feel the tip of the sword not far from me, which made me even more cautious, afraid that I might accidentally anger him.
"What brings you to my residence on such a night?" the shadowy figure said coldly.
His residence? What a coincidence! Meet the Second Prince himself?
I immediately said in an innocent voice, "Brother, I'm sorry, I'm lost and can't get out."
"Lost?" He sneered. Although I couldn't see it, I could still tell it was a sneer. "From the moment you entered my garden, you've been acting suspiciously. Lost?"
I sighed inwardly, am I really that unlucky? He actually found out about me from the very beginning, and he's been so patient, following me all this way.
"Tell me, who sent you?" There seemed to be a hint of mockery in his tone. "Sending someone like this, aren't you afraid of exposing something?"
This is an insult to me, even though what he said is true.
Whose fault is it? I was once a promising martial arts student; Jiang Ming often praised me. It's all Shen Haoyu's fault for burying my talent!
Resentment towards Shen Haoyu grew like weeds once again.
"You know I'm not very skilled, so naturally no one would be foolish enough to ask me to do anything," I said softly.
"Do you think I can't get you to tell the truth?" The sword energy clearly moved one step closer to me.
I pulled my neck back a little before speaking: "Do you really need to hear the truth?"
"snort!"
"I told you, you have to promise not to laugh." I tried to distract him.
"..." I knew he wouldn't speak.
Clearing my throat, I spoke at lightning speed: "My master taught me light-body skills, saying that as long as I could get over your courtyard wall, I would be qualified and could set up my own household. However, your courtyard wall is too high, so I needed to use something else to get in. After getting in, I thought I might as well take a stroll since I had already gone through all that trouble, and that's how I got lost."
The other person was silent for a while. Just as I was racking my brains about what to do next, he grabbed my collar and lifted me off the roof like a chick.
He pushed open a door and, with practiced ease, lit a candlestick, filling the room with a soft, warm glow that added a touch of comfort to the chilly autumn night. Looking around, the room resembled a study, but with the addition of a bed. The furnishings evoked a strange sense of familiarity and warmth within me.
"It's definitely much more comfortable indoors than outdoors," I thought to myself.
He brought me in; he seems to trust me completely, doesn't he? He knows I can't escape his grasp. I thought to myself with a self-deprecating smile. Only then did I look up and notice the other person in the room.
He was wearing a light-colored casual outfit, probably white or yellow. I squinted in the candlelight, but still couldn't make out the color. He wasn't wearing any jewelry, and his hair was loosely tied back with a ribbon, each strand seemingly still damp. Could this guy have just finished showering and gone to the garden to enjoy the cool breeze, only to unfortunately see me climbing over the wall?
Looking closer, his face... I swallowed hard. Another incredibly handsome man! A full forehead, a widow's peak peeking out from under his loose hair, eyebrows like sharp swords, eyes shining brightly in the candlelight, a high, straight nose casting a shadow on his cheeks, which glowed with a soft light. His lips seemed to be smiling.
Are you laughing?
I rubbed my eyes and looked again; he was indeed smiling.
Why is he laughing? Aren't I the thief he caught?
He noticed my questioning look and his smile faded: "How utterly rude!"
I admit, my gaze at him just now was a little infatuated. I love handsome men, but I can't describe their beauty; I can only etch their faces into my mind and sense that their auras are different. Song Zhixuan is like warm, beautiful jade; Lin Zhao is free-spirited and unrestrained; Shen Haoyu often acts like a quirky child; and Zinuo, well, sometimes he's an exquisitely crafted doll, and sometimes he leaves me speechless. But this handsome man, who is most likely the Second Prince, is like a clear stream, a ray of sunshine, slowly entering my heart. Although our encounter was somewhat awkward, and although I was a little scared, my intuition told me he wouldn't hurt me.
"Entering without permission is thievery. Didn't your master teach you that?" he asked.