Chapter 50. Chapter 50 concludes the main text.

When was he let in?

She opened the package again after she got it back that day. Could it have been before Feng Mei left?

Jiang Fushi looked delighted and ran outside with the mechanism diagram in hand, completely forgetting that she was naked and barefoot on the cool floor. Just as she reached the door, she bumped into Zhan Xiao, who was coming towards her.

With a stern face, he wrapped his arms around her waist, lifted her up by her hips, and strode back into the inner room. He grabbed a thin blanket from the side and wrapped her up from head to toe. "Nonsense!"

Peeking out from his arms, Jiang Fushi hummed twice at him, then bit his lower lip, "It's all your fault! You haven't let me wear any clothes for the past three days!"

She slept on the couch for almost three days, being at his beck and call. Whether it was night or morning, all she could see was his face so close to hers. Her skin was warmed by his body temperature, and even her bones felt languid and sore. When she got out of bed just now, her legs were so weak that she almost knelt down. She staggered a couple of steps before she could barely stand up.

Zhan Xiao's gloomy expression softened slightly, but he still kept a straight face as he picked out a soft satin dress from his bag and awkwardly helped her put it on.

First, he took her slender wrist and slipped it into his sleeve, pausing as his fingertips inadvertently brushed against the still-fading red marks on the inside of her arm. Then he went behind her to tie her belt, his strong chest almost pressed against her back, and as his breath brushed against the back of her neck, he could clearly hear her gasp softly.

As he tightened the belt around her waist, he suddenly pulled harder, startling her into a soft gasp. He rested his chin on her shoulder and said softly, "Why were you running like that? You said your back hurt, why didn't you rest a little longer?"

Jiang Fushi bent down to pick up the mechanism diagram that had fallen to the ground. "I wanted to tell you that Shui Lingyu sent over the mechanism diagram."

Zhan Xiao's expression darkened again. He snatched the parchment from her hand and threw it on the table, then grabbed her chin and forced her to look up: "When did he have any involvement with you? Such a secret item... Could it be that he was able to get close to you these past few days while I was watching over you?"

His fingertips lost control, making her suddenly recall his reckless behavior on the bed these past few days, his tireless demands. Now that she thought about it, she realized that he had been secretly jealous of her relationship with Shui Lingyu, his feelings difficult to express, and only now was he finally revealing a little of them.

Her heart softened, and instead of dodging, she met his angry gaze and kissed his lips, her awkward yet firm kiss drawing his tongue out until he finally released his grip.

Both of them were panting heavily. She slowly revealed, "Between him and me, there was only a transaction, nothing more. From beginning to end, the only one who could make me do this willingly was you."

This straightforward and passionate confession was like the strongest liquor, instantly burning away Zhan Xiao's reason.

"……Um."

He flipped her over and pinned her to the bed, and they engaged in another passionate kiss. Half an hour later, Jiang Fushi was curled up weakly in the messy bedding. Seeing him sitting at the table, engrossed in studying the mechanism diagram, she forced herself to get up and go over to take a look.

At the very center of the diagram, a secret chamber guarded by numerous mechanisms was clearly marked, its structure ingenious and complex, far surpassing the other areas.

Zhan Xiao pointed with his finger: "The map is real, but we only have the map and don't know the incantation. At most, we can only open the outermost entrance. If we venture in rashly, we will surely die."

Jiang Fushi frowned, took the map from his hand, and examined it carefully. The map clearly depicted the various traps and mechanisms, but unfortunately, opening the core secret chamber required a specific incantation.

Given Yun Tianlei's cautious and suspicious nature, it's likely that only he himself knows this incantation.

Regardless, we have to give it a try. What if the life-saving Nine Star Flower is really stored inside?

However, how to get the secret formula out of that old fox became a new problem.

She simply got up, put on her clothes, and studied the route by lamplight all night, memorizing the key mechanisms and routes. She also simulated the routes with pebbles in the courtyard or practiced them on paper.

Two days later, she was able to deduce the location and pattern of several possible password mechanisms from the details of the blueprints and Yun Tianlei's personality. Although she could not directly obtain the password, it pointed the way for subsequent actions.

Just then, crucial news arrived from outside: three days later, the Empress Dowager would be hosting a "summer banquet" in the palace, and according to etiquette, Yun Tianlei, as the princess's husband, should accompany her.

This is an opportunity that comes along once in a lifetime!

You should know that Yun Tianlei has been like a turtle that has retreated into its shell all these years. He never leaves the mansion, and he takes care of all his needs for food, clothing, and shelter within the mansion. He is extremely wary.

Jiang Fushi had already made up her mind in a flash.

She disguised herself and went out with Zhan Xiao, heading straight to several large pharmacies in the city. At each pharmacy, she bought only a small amount of specific medicinal herbs, and then returned to her courtyard to process them.

By the time she finished tinkering, it was already dusk. She raised her hand to wipe the thin layer of sweat from her forehead and turned her gaze to see the tall man silently helping her pack the medicinal herbs. Her heart warmed instantly, and she immediately ran over and hugged him from behind, shamelessly pinching his hard belly.

Perhaps due to years of sword practice, Zhan Xiao had a strong and muscular build. His abdomen was well-defined, firm, and powerful, and his back muscles were broad, thick, and sharp. Every inch of his back contained amazing explosive power, and when he held her in his arms, he could wrap her up securely.

"What are we eating today?" she asked, tilting her head back and blinking her eyes.

These days, they've been eating at inns, restaurants, and street vendors; they've basically tried everything in the area. The main reason is that, as a princess, she has never learned how to manage household affairs.

The person in front of her turned around and hugged her, giving her a light kiss on the lips. "Want to go back to that fish market we visited last time?"

Recalling the spicy and fragrant hot pot from that night, Jiang Fushi's tongue instantly tasted the familiar flavor, and her eyes lit up: "Good."

Walking along the street, the setting sun dyed the bluestone pavement a warm orange, the shouts of street vendors rose and fell, the aroma of food wafted from the eateries along the street, children chased and played with sugar figurines at the alley entrance, and passersby chatted and laughed, creating a scene of bustling city life.

If it weren't for the blood feud she carried and the uncertainty of her future, she would have quite liked to settle down here.

The weather in Da Que was humid but not hot, and the food suited her taste perfectly. She didn't usually like spicy food, but the spiciness here was fresh, fragrant, and rich, and paired with various ingredients, it was truly unforgettable.

She claimed she was going to see the sea, but she didn't really know where the sea was. Back in the palace, she had secretly looked at an old map, and she vaguely remembered that at the southernmost point was a small country called "Lanzhou," seemingly surrounded by sea on three sides. But in all these years, confined to the palace, she had never heard of this small country, nor did she know whether the map's description was true or false.

Upon arriving at the shop, she chose a corner seat and, as before, instructed the waiter to reduce the spice level. However, Jiang Fushi's lips still became swollen and red from the spiciness, and she couldn't help but gasp for breath.

The shopkeeper greeted her with a smile, "If you really can't handle the spiciness, just give the order next time and the kitchen will reduce it by half."

Jiang Fushi exchanged a glance with Zhan Xiao, smiled, and agreed. But she knew that once this matter was settled, they would leave, and there would be no next time.

After eating and drinking her fill, she returned to the courtyard and mixed the datura juice she had prepared during the day with the refined daffodil powder. Then she slowly dried it over a low flame until it became a colorless and odorless powder.

As night deepened, the moonlight grew cool and clear.

Two or three alleys away, the Zhaohua Princess's mansion was brightly lit, with faint sounds of people, presumably preparing for tomorrow's summer banquet.

Carrying out the washed fruit, Jiang Fushi sat on the rocking chair in the courtyard and ate slowly, watching the figure dancing with a sword under the moon. The sword blade cut through the night wind with a clear sound, and a few snowflakes slowly rose from the air and drifted down to the ground, turning into dew.

Jiang Fushi was so engrossed in watching that she didn't notice Zhan Xiao had already sheathed his sword and approached. By the time she realized what was happening, the grapes she was holding had already been snatched away by him.

"You're so annoying." She gently pushed his arm away, then took another grape. He leaned down and put the grape in his mouth, his lips brushing against her fingertips.

She laughed and tried to dodge, but he pulled her close around the waist and turned her over, so she was pressed against his chest. The rocking chair swayed gently with the movement, creaking in the quiet night.

The moonlight was bright, and there was no need to light any lamps; the scenery was clearly visible. They nestled together like this, the sweet fragrance of roses wafting in the air, mingling with his crisp scent, creating an intoxicating atmosphere.

Jiang Fushi raised her hand to trace the lines of his jaw, her fingertips brushing against his slightly cool skin. She only wished for a peaceful life like this, free from pursuit, with only the person before her by her side. This thought vanished in an instant, replaced by the memory of the life-saving Nine-Star Flower. She could only hope that what was preserved in that secret chamber truly was the lifeline they had so desperately sought.

Zhan Xiao gently brushed his chin against the top of her head, his deep voice blending into the moonlight: "Don't worry, I've got you covered."

"Once things are settled, we'll find a beautiful place with clear waters and mountains to hold our wedding ceremony."

"Riding across the rivers and lakes, roaming freely across the four seas."

Jiang Fushi's breath hitched slightly, and the softest part of her heart trembled at those words.

She looked up into his deep eyes, where the moonlight reflected, as did her moved expression. She didn't speak, but buried her burning cheeks in the crook of his neck again and nodded gently.

She raised her hand to hug his neck, gently nuzzled his cheek against his, her nose touching his skin, her breath warm and soft, like a docile and clingy lop-eared rabbit, her eyes full of delicate and touching affection.

It's unclear who fell in love first, but their dark outer robes, plain white undergarments, and close-fitting undergarments were piled up on the bluestone slabs in the courtyard, their coolness from the night dew contrasting sharply with the intense heat emanating from them.

She rested her hands on his shoulders, her damp hair clinging to her temples, and her soft sobs mingled with the sound of the summer night wind, making her all the more endearing.

"Be gentle..."

He swallowed his quiet complaints.

...

The following day, in the imperial city of the Great Que Kingdom.

The summer banquet was held as scheduled. The Taiji Hall was brightly lit, and the glass cups reflected a dazzling halo. The sounds of silk and bamboo instruments drifted on the wind, and lanterns and decorations were everywhere within the palace walls. The fragrance of lotus and wine mingled and permeated the air.

Yun Tianlei followed Princess Zhaohua into the magnificent banquet hall, where wine cups clinked and laughter filled the air. Seeing the royal guards around him, both overt and covert, their demeanor composed, he finally felt at ease, even finding his previous worries somewhat laughable.

This is the safest place in Da Que. Secret guards are everywhere in the palace, and every guard is a veteran and exceptionally brave. Not to mention assassins, even a bird would find it difficult to sneak in.

Sitting upright at the table, he picked up his wine cup and took a sip in a good mood, his eyes and brows showing a hint of self-satisfaction.

As the husband of Princess Zhaohua and a skilled craftsman with exquisite mechanical abilities, his appearance made him an object of flattery for high-ranking officials and nobles. Many people took turns to offer him wine, their words full of obsequiousness.

"Mr. Yun is highly regarded by the Princess and favored by His Majesty. He is truly a pillar of our Great Kingdom!"

"I've heard that your household has ingenious mechanisms; I'll definitely visit you another day to learn from you."

"Yeah yeah."

Various voices echoed incessantly, making one dizzy. Yun Tianlei felt as if he were floating on air. Seeing this, a servant stepped forward and brought him a cup of sobering tea.

Yun Tianlei, unsuspecting, tilted his head back and drank it all. Upon reflection, the taste seemed somewhat bitter, but he didn't pay much attention, simply assuming it was the ordinary taste of hangover tea.

The effects of the alcohol were rising in his head. He staggered to his feet and left his seat, walking along the side corridor of the hall. As he emerged from the secluded purification room and was about to step onto the corridor to return to the banquet, he was suddenly struck on the back of the neck with a precise chop. His consciousness vanished instantly, and he collapsed limply to the ground.

He didn't know how much time had passed, but when he opened his eyes again, he found himself back at the Princess's residence!

Looking around, one sees that the walls are all made of hard bluestone, and two lamps are burning in the corners, the light is dim but enough to see the surroundings clearly.

There's no mistake, this is his secret room!

Yun Tianlei's heart sank suddenly. He was stunned and tried to struggle, but found that he couldn't move his hands and feet at all. Looking down, he saw that he was firmly tied to the stone chair in the center with thick hemp rope, and his wrists and ankles were marked with red marks.

"Who, who is it!"

Yun Tianlei's voice trembled, unable to conceal his panic, as he shouted angrily, "Which audacious madman dares to kidnap me! Do you know I am Princess Zhaohua's husband? Release me at once, or you will surely die a horrible death!"

"If you know what's good for you, show yourself right now! The Princess's Mansion and the Imperial Palace's secret guards will be here in no time. You won't be able to escape!"

After shouting for a long time until his throat was hoarse, he finally heard unhurried footsteps behind him. As the candlesticks were lit one by one, Yun Tianlei saw the person who came in. It was a beautiful woman with delicate features, whom he did not recognize.

Jiang Fushi looked at his face, which was contorted with fear, with great interest, and said with a smile, "I heard that Lord Yun has a Nine-Star Flower that can cure all poisons."

Upon hearing this, Yun Tianlei's pupils suddenly contracted.

He obtained the Nine-Star Flower by chance many years ago, but because he could never find the "Red Sky Sprout" to use in medicine, it couldn't exert its effects, so he had kept it hidden away. This matter was extremely secret; even Princess Zhaohua didn't know about it. How did this little girl know?

"What Nine-Star Flower? I don't know what you're talking about! Untie me right now, or I'll have my henchmen chop you up!"

Yun Tianlei forced himself to remain calm, thinking to himself that she was just an ignorant young girl who didn't know her place and what trouble she could cause.

Jiang Fushi chuckled softly.

"Cut me?" She stepped forward slowly, toying with a silver needle between her fingers. "Why don't you try it first and see if you can still use your strength?"

Yun Tianlei was skeptical, but somehow he did as she said. He struggled against the rope, and suddenly felt an excruciating itch and pain inside his body, as if a thousand ants were biting his heart.

He was in so much pain that his whole body convulsed, and he writhed violently in the chair. In his dazed state, he met the woman's cold gaze.

"You have been poisoned by my 'Heart-Eating Powder.' If the poisoned person recklessly uses their internal energy or struggles violently, it will inevitably trigger the pain of ten thousand ants gnawing at their heart. I advise you to answer my questions honestly."

"Wh-what?" Yun Tianlei was so shocked that his face turned pale.

Unconvinced, she struggled a couple more times and found that it was just as she said. As soon as she got angry and exerted force, that piercing pain and itching would immediately strike, and she was instantly gripped by a huge fear.

"Who...who are you?"

Jiang Fushi didn't answer, but looked down at him condescendingly: "I'm asking you, is the thing sealed in that crystal dome really the Nine-Star Flower?"

Their primary goal is to obtain the Nine-Star Flower, but Zhan Xiao should not be involved in this matter.

Yun Tianlei knew that he and Zhan Xiao were mortal enemies. If Zhan Xiao forced him to reveal the secret chamber's mechanism, he would rather die than reveal it. He might even deliberately trigger the trap and perish together with Zhan Xiao.

The only way to open the secret room is to have a stranger like her step forward, making Yun Tianlei mistakenly believe that there is still room for maneuver.

"Yes, yes..." Yun Tianlei was sweating profusely from the pain, and he raised his head tremblingly: "But, however, the Nine Star Flower needs to be paired with the Red Sky Sprout to have the effect of bringing the dead back to life."

Even if you take it, it won't be of much use!

Upon hearing the affirmative answer, Jiang Fushi was overjoyed, but she controlled her facial expression well, not letting Yun Tianlei notice anything amiss.

"Enough talk, open the mechanism." She waved the silver needle in front of his eyes. "My patience is limited."

Yun Tianlei flinched, his eyes filled with resentment and malice. He stared intently at the woman before him, his teeth grinding together: "No, no, no, I'll talk, I'll talk..."

"The common incantation is 'The Heavenly Pivot draws the moon, the Earthly Balance opens the dust.' Tap the stone brick in the southeast corner three times and then recite the incantation to open it."

Jiang Fushi glanced at him, her fingertips still not loosening, and the silver needle moved even closer: "If you dare to play any tricks, I'll cripple one of your arms first."

"Little Miss, how could I dare lie to you? I'm still counting on you to give me the antidote!" Yun Tianlei hurriedly defended himself, his eyes darting around. He saw Jiang Fushi approaching the wall panel following his steps, reciting an incantation.

Just after the third knock, the wall panel suddenly caved inward and then slammed shut, locking Jiang Fushi inside and instantly cutting off her connection with the outside world.

"Hmph." The feigned fear on Yun Tianlei's face vanished instantly, replaced by a sinister grin: "You little brat, you dare to fight me!"

“What can a mere poison do to me?” He endured the excruciating pain in his wrist and began to twist his body with difficulty. After a long struggle, one of his hands finally loosened slightly. He then stretched out his arm and used all his strength to reach a hidden compartment in the corner of the wall. With a soft click of a mechanism opening, he broke free of the ropes, staggered to his feet, and walked deeper into the secret chamber, arriving at the Cold Jade Platform.

The Nine-Star Flower is a sacred antidote; simply pluck a single flower or leaf and eat it to neutralize the Heart-Corroding Powder poison.

As he chanted the incantation, he pressed a protruding mechanism on the side of the Jade Platform. The crystal cover slowly rose, revealing the Nine-Star Flower blooming quietly inside. The petals were layered upon layered, shimmering with a faint silver light, and an aura of spiritual energy emanated from them.

A fierce aura of pressure swept in from behind, instantly transforming into intense killing intent, accompanied by a flurry of crystalline snowflakes.

Snowflakes gently fell onto the back of his hand, bringing a chilling sensation.

This is a sealed, airtight room, how could there be snowflakes here?

A chilling thought flashed through his mind, and a name that struck fear into the hearts of those in the martial arts world came to mind.

He froze in disbelief, his face turning deathly pale in an instant, his pupils contracting sharply. Before he could turn around, the cold blade silently pressed against his back.

"You, you, you..." Yun Tianlei was so shocked that he couldn't speak coherently. He turned his head with difficulty and, after seeing the person's appearance, his face turned ashen.

"It's you!" His voice trembled with extreme fear: "Hanren!"

Zhan Xiao circled around to his front, pressing his sword against his throat. The sharp tip of the sword pierced the skin, drawing blood. His voice was low and cold: "It's me."

Yun Tianlei shuddered, suddenly realizing he had fallen into a trap. Just as he came to his senses, the woman who had been trapped in the wall suddenly emerged from a hidden door on the other side, snatched the Nine-Star Flower from the cover, and carefully put it into a jade box that had been prepared beforehand.

"Why! Why!" He glared angrily at the unharmed Jiang Fushi. The trap was perfectly foolproof, how did she escape!

Jiang Fushi closed the jade box, and faced with his incompetent roar, she simply smiled faintly. She had already memorized the arrangement of the trap, and when he recited the incantation just now, she knew it was a false alarm to trigger the trap.

So she decided to play along, pretending to fall into his trap, just to lure him into opening the crystal dome himself.

"You think you're the only one who understands the secret mechanism of this room?" she said mockingly.

Sensing the killing intent in his throat, Yun Tianlei's lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a word for a long time. He didn't even dare to swallow, and his neck was as stiff as a stone.

He didn't understand.

He had been hiding in the Great Que Kingdom for years, so why was he found? He had kept a low profile and cut off all ties with the martial arts world, so where did he slip up?

He was unwilling to accept it, unwilling to accept it!

How exactly did you find me?

Zhan Xiao didn't even lift an eyelid at his desperate question, but instead said softly to Jiang Fushi, "Go out and wait for me."

Knowing what he was about to do, Jiang Fushi clutched the jade box in her arms, gave him a deep look, said nothing, turned and quickly walked out of the secret room, gently closing the stone door behind her.

Only the heavy breathing of the two people remained in the sealed room, and the smell of blood gradually filled the air.

"Back then, when you led your followers to brutally murder my three foster mothers, did you ever imagine this day would come?"

"No, no..." Yun Tianlei hurriedly shook his head, his face ashen, racking his brains for words of pleading: "I can serve you, my mechanical arts..."

But Zhan Xiao didn't give him that chance; the hatred surging in his eyes had already devoured all his patience.

First, he severed Yun Tianlei's right hand with a single sword strike, then pierced his knee with another. Blood gushing from the severed limb and wound instantly stained the ground red. Yun Tianlei convulsed in pain, his throat emitting hoarse gasps, unable to utter a single word.

That wasn't all. Zhan Xiao kicked him in the back, forcing him to kneel on the ground. Then he took out the gold-inlaid diamond-shaped mirror that symbolized his adoptive mother and placed it in front of the cold jade platform, with the mirror facing Yun Tianlei's pale face.

Zhan Xiao stared at the mirror: "Aunt Liu, Second Aunt Yue, Third Aunt Su, your unfilial son has only now taken revenge for you by killing your enemies."

The moment the words left his mouth, the sword flashed past with a cold glint.

A head rolled to the ground with a thud, its wide-open eyes still frozen with resentment and fear. Warm blood splattered onto the mirror, spreading a glaring red across its surface and blurring the reflection.

Holding this rare Nine-Star Flower, Jiang Fushi was still overwhelmed with emotion, unable to believe that she had actually obtained the life-saving medicine. She couldn't help but open the jade box again to take a look. She saw that the petals of the Nine-Star Flower had a semi-transparent texture, with starlight flowing in the veins, and a delicate fragrance that was refreshing.

Her fingertips trembled as she traced the petals, feeling the vibrant life within. With it, Zhanxiao's cold poison could be cured, and growing old together would be within reach.

Suddenly, a commotion arose in the distance.

She quickly tucked the flowers into her arms.

It must be the guards from the princess's residence who noticed something amiss and are rushing towards the secret room.

Before half an incense stick's time has passed, they will discover that their prince consort has died in a secret room. At that time, the entire city will be locked down and pursuers will be dispatched.

Fortunately, they had already planned their evacuation route.

The stone door to the secret chamber creaked open, and Zhan Xiao emerged. His blood-stained clothes still carried a chilling murderous aura, yet he remained upright and strode quickly to her, taking her hand tightly in his.

"Walk."

They quickly arrived at the horse that had been placed in the woods at the end of the alley. Zhan Xiao picked her up and mounted the horse. He then spurred the horse, and it neighed loudly and galloped away.

They raced toward the distant horizon, the twilight casting long shadows of the two figures. The wind whipped their hair against their cheeks, carrying a cool, free feeling.

Jiang Fushi sat in front, her back pressed tightly against Zhan Xiao's warm chest. She could clearly feel his steady and powerful heartbeat. She couldn't help but turn around to look at him, her eyes full of light.

The clamor of the pursuers behind them faded into the distance, and ahead lay an endless wilderness. Zhan Xiao tightened his arms around her, his forehead resting against the top of her head.

From then on, they lived a carefree life.

The clatter of hooves carried the two figures into the depths of twilight.

(End of main text)

Author's Note: [Cat's paw]

The main story is finished. The next chapter will be an extra chapter titled "The Great Escape".

We hope everyone will continue to support us!

[Roses][Roses][Roses]