Chapter 282: Mission Failure

Bai Qiu coughed lightly at an inopportune moment. Although it didn't mean anything to the palace servants, it sounded like a thunderclap to Xiao Ya's ears.

If she only had one path to choose from before, now she has reached a fork in the road.

Given a master-servant relationship spanning over a decade and an ambitious but unreliable palace maid, who should you choose?

Xiaoya silently made up her mind, picked up the teacup, and drank it all in one gulp.

Seeing that she had drunk the tea, the palace maid took out a letter from her sleeve: "Have a safe journey, sister. I will now return to report to Her Majesty."

Xiaoya opened the envelope with trembling lips, took out the letter, and after reading it carefully for a long time, she was overjoyed.

"I knew Her Majesty wouldn't be so cruel to me!"

"You little hussy, trying to sow discord between me and the Empress again!"

Bai Qiu waited until the palace maid had walked away before turning back to look at her, shrugging indifferently, "Alright, it seems you've made your choice."

"As expected, you can't make a living off someone like that; even if I tell you a way out, it won't help."

Bai Qiu snorted lightly, ignored Xiao Ya, and walked away on her own.

To be honest, Bai Qiu was somewhat annoyed.

She had followed her master all these years, and had never returned empty-handed from gathering information. But Xiaoya, that fool, had brought a dash to her perfect spy career.

The first mission failed because the target was too stupid.

Xiaoya, having read the letter, did not linger any longer and immediately went to the dilapidated temple outside the palace, as instructed in the letter.

When we arrived at the temple, it was already late. Although the weather had passed the time of fluctuating temperatures, the night wind was still strong. The inky night sky was slanted, and all that could be seen were the lonely, scattered stars.

Xiaoya carried her bundle and entered the temple in the dark. The thick layer of dust she inhaled choked her and she coughed several times. The huge temple was filled with long echoes. Apart from that, there was no other sound, which made it seem somewhat eerie and terrifying.

To bolster her courage, she tentatively called out, "Is anyone there?"

Several bats suddenly fluttered out from under the eaves, swept past her, and rushed into the woods.

Xiaoya screamed in fright, covering her head and running around in a panic, even dropping her bundle. After a long while, she dared not go any further. Just as she turned around to run out, a sharp blade gleaming with cold light was pressed against her chest.

She raised her eyes tremblingly, but before she could even see who it was, the dagger silently disappeared into her body.

Firelight flared up in the night, burning away half of the darkness.

...

"It failed?"

"Hmm." Bai Qiu leaned against the pillar, crossed her arms, and kicked pebbles with her toes.

"So be it, failure is failure. There are still clues to be found."

"Where is the master?"

"The master has left the palace. I will send out the message. You can continue to keep an eye on things without worry."

Chu Wan is quite cunning; it's best to be cautious and try not to harm her.

"I know without you telling me."

Bai Qiu sighed, "Alright, I'm going back now, otherwise she'll get suspicious."

"etc."

The person emerged from behind the pillar, and in the dim moonlight, one could vaguely make out her palace maid attire.

"The Empress Dowager has instructed that if any trouble arises, one may come to Jianzhang Palace."

Bai Qiu looked slightly surprised, and his gaze towards her became even more amused: "Hongyu, I have a question for you."

"Go ahead and ask."

"Whose side are you on?"

Hongyu smiled slightly: "Naturally, I am the master's person."

"Then who exactly is your master?"

Bai Qiu clearly wanted to get to the bottom of things, but Hong Yu didn't care and just smiled faintly: "Is this question important?"