Chapter 133

When Yan Chaoji left Qinyuan Palace, he ordered the Imperial Guards to search the strange person outside the palace again. When the Imperial Guards found the location where the Cloud-Piercing Arrow was shot, they found that the place was deserted and no trace was found.

He had no choice but to temporarily arrange for the Imperial Guards to patrol Qinyuan Palace once again, intending to start by investigating the hiding places of the assassins lurking in the garden in front of the palace.

But there were no more useful clues.

It was as if the mastermind behind the assassination had left no way out before it even began.

Yan Chaoji left the palace a step later than Ying Ning, but at that moment he bumped into her at the outer path of the moat.

"Regent." Yingning nodded in greeting, the vermilion on her forehead making her face appear too pale.

Princess Zhaoning.

Yan Chaoji withdrew his gaze and was about to brush past her. He had no intention of getting entangled with Princess Zhaoning, but then he suddenly remembered a few words he had overheard.

Princess Zhaoning, in the end, was merely a pawn of the Western Regions royal family, and her visit to the Min Dynasty was not of her own volition.

As a member of the royal family himself, he knew that those involved were not in control of their own destiny.

Yan Chaoji stopped and slowly spoke to Ying Ning:

"The people of the Min Dynasty have no intention of making things difficult for the princess."

“As long as the princess behaves herself, she will naturally find a good marriage,” he said frankly.

Unexpectedly, Princess Zhaoning shook her head after hearing this.

“Your Highness, as a member of the royal family, you naturally have to be subject to more restrictions since you hold a position of great prestige.” Ying Ning smiled.

As she turned around, the few glass stones on the silver chain at her waist caught Yan Chaoji's eye; the dazzling glass had a dreamlike, hazy quality in the deep night.

Yan Chaoji withdrew his gaze.

The moonlight is perfect tonight.

The deadly plot within the imperial city had just quietly subsided when two people stood sideways outside the city.

The tall, aloof man suddenly heard a carefree, helpless laugh beside him.

She took a step closer through the moonlight, then spoke softly, "Regardless of the outcome, the matter of Zhao Ning will be considered a good marriage by others."

"Your Majesty need not comfort me."

Yan Chaoji sullenly.

He knew she was right.

The Western Regions Kingdom sent her here to temporarily quell the war between the two countries through a marriage alliance.

The existence of this princess merely embellished the sincerity of the Western Regions emperor; no matter who she married, it would be forcibly labeled as a "match made in heaven."

She added:

"Among the royal family, who truly has autonomy?"

Yan Chaoji heard her continue:

"oh."

"There is only one person."

Yingning did not state her meaning directly, but she knew that His Highness the Regent would naturally understand what she meant.

Upon hearing this, Yan Chaoji's hawk-like eyes became much more concealed.

He rushed to the palace today, not wearing the court robes of a prince of the Min Dynasty, but a dark ink-colored robe with a qilin design. The shoulders were embroidered with intricate black patterns, and his hawk-like eyes were filled with layers of dark clouds. His deep-set brows revealed an arrogant spirit, and his aura was one that kept people at a distance.

Such a person doesn't even need to speak; anyone can tell at a glance that he is someone of extraordinary status.

Yan Chaoji achieved fame at a young age. He killed enemies from other countries on the battlefield when he was young and made numerous military achievements. He was also deeply loved by the emperor of the Min Dynasty. There were many stories among the people about the harmonious relationship between the emperor and the regent.

A black token shaped like a unicorn and a python hung on the side of his narrow waist, representing his supremely revered status as regent. He walked with a steady gait and an arrogant demeanor, which did not conceal the slight murderous aura emanating from him.

Yan Chaoji naturally knew who Yingning was referring to.

“Princess Zhaoning is overthinking it.” That was all he said.

Unexpectedly, Ying Ning stopped beside his ear and chuckled softly; her sweet voice was quite pleasant to hear.

“Your Highness Regent, Zhao Ning has some questions since arriving in the Min Dynasty. May I ask you for some advice?”

When she looked directly at me, her phoenix eyes shone brightly.

Yan Chaoji, who was not usually talkative, surprisingly opened up at this moment.

"It can be said."

Yingning walked to his side and looked up at the top of the imperial city. Above the lush mountains and forests stood a magnificent palace, whose awe-inspiring grandeur could be felt even from a distance, even from the moat.

That was the site of royal sacrifices, where a huge golden dragon statue soared through the clouds in front of the hall, and countless memorial tablets inside held the remains of royal family members from past dynasties.

On the surface, it appears solemn and dignified, but when the buildings of the sacrificial site are reflected in her eyes, they are a deep crimson color. The position above thousands of people has buried countless greedy desires.

All the greed and plunder of past dynasties lie buried beneath that sacred sacrificial site.

Over thousands of years, it did not disappear completely, but rather rotted to the extreme and turned into filthy dark clouds, even blurring the golden dragon's body, and a vast expanse of gloomy atmosphere enveloped the imperial city.

Yingning's gaze swept over the statue of a dragon soaring through a sea of ​​greedy clouds before she slowly spoke:

"Zhao Ning has recently heard some rumors and gossip."

"It is said that the late emperor had many sons, but he favored the prince the most." Yingning withdrew her gaze and looked at Yan Chaoji, noticing the gloom in his eyes.

She paused slightly, then continued:

"Even after the Crown Prince died, there was a thought of making the Prince the Crown Prince."

Yan Chaoji's aura faltered, but Ying Ning continued speaking:

"And I've also heard that His Majesty was once an unknown prince..."

"Your Highness, could you please give Zhao Ning...?"

Yan Chaoji's eyes instantly turned as cold as frost, and in the blink of an eye, he stretched out his hand, his palm bones revealing an undisguised killing intent.

At this moment, the voice suddenly stopped!

Yan Chaoji tightened his grip, his eyes already filled with murderous intent. He gripped the woman's slender neck with tremendous force, silencing her completely.

I can't say any more...

His pupils reflected her image, and his fingertips touched her delicate parts without hesitation, as if he wanted to take away her life force.

Let her know what she should say.

What shouldn't be said?

Yan Chaoji stared intently at Ying Ning's expression, but he saw a hint of amusement in her eyes.

"Zhao Ning, don't think I wouldn't dare to touch you!" Yan Chaoji was a little angry when he noticed the fearless look in her eyes, and his words were full of threats.

It seems we've really stepped into a taboo area?

At this moment, Ying Ning could already feel the fierce force around her neck. Although Yan Chaoji had only used ruthless force, he still hadn't crossed the line of death.

He was just threatening himself.

The blood in his neck was throbbing frantically, yearning for a few breaths.

It seems I guessed right.

She curled her lips into a mocking smile, slightly opened her mouth, and uttered some words.

Although Yan Chaoji didn't hear it clearly, he understood the final, slow lip movements of her lips.

She said:

They really have a deep brotherly bond.

Yan Chaoji's right hand tightened continuously, his hawk-like eyes were icy, and the suspicion in his heart surged up like a tsunami, overwhelming him without leaving him any room to maneuver.

she...

How could they know what happened back then?!

This Princess Zhaoning....

Who exactly are these people from?

......

Seeing Yan Chaoji suddenly lose his focus, Yingning immediately seized the opportunity. She could not worry about him attacking her weak point for the time being, but instead took the chance to launch a swift attack and kick Yan Chaoji!

They showed no mercy in their strength!

Yan Chaoji reacted quickly, blocking her fierce attack, but suddenly felt a slender yet powerful force land on his arm.

He hadn't even realized what was happening!

Ying Ning placed her right hand on the arm that Yan Chaoji was using to restrain her neck, and then leaped into the air in the opposite direction. The woman's extremely soft body and the graceful, swift movements caught Yan Chaoji off guard.

She kicked Yan Chaoji in the neck with lightning speed.

Yan Chaoji reacted extremely quickly, instinctively pulling his arm back and grabbing her ankle, thus stopping her sudden attack.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Yingning broke free from his grasp.

When the situation changed, Yan Chaoji was clearly surprised. He did not expect that this princess from the Western Regions was skilled in martial arts. The strength she had just displayed was not something a woman with no strength could display.

Moreover, his martial arts skills are quite high.

"Regent, aren't you going to let go?" Ying Ning asked, her phoenix eyes flashing with a hint of light as she smiled and reminded Yan Chaoji, her gaze gently sweeping across his palm.

The confrontation just now did not leave her in the slightest disheveled state.

Yan Chaoji then realized that he was holding the woman's ankle.

Smooth and delicate, as if it would break at the slightest touch.

It's hard to imagine that the force just now was so soft and boneless...

He suddenly felt a burning sensation in his palm.

Because his palm bones tightly bound the girl's ankles, she leaned back and tilted her head back, her lips slightly parted. The glass stone at her waist swayed with her movements, as if it could sway a piece of moonlight.

The atmosphere grew heavy. His fingertips accidentally brushed against her smooth, slender calves again, and the cold, imposing aura emanating from the gloomy man shattered instantly.

Before Yingning could react, he suddenly said:

"Shameless."

Yan Chaoji, as if throwing away a hot potato, directly shook off Ying Ning's ankle. Then he saw the rouge-colored figure opposite him suddenly sway, as if she almost lost her balance due to his force.

The sensation in his palm seemed not to have dissipated yet.

Yingning took a small step back, creating some distance between them, and raised her hand to rub the palm print on her neck.

“It was clearly the Regent who arrested him…” he heard her mutter.

"you!"

"how?"

"Did I say something wrong?" As she looked up, the moonlight fell on her profile, further highlighting her striking features and undeniable beauty.

Her phoenix eyes glanced around, and the vermilion stone on her forehead was somewhat similar in color to the crimson on her neck.

The vermilion color adds a touch of liveliness to the beauty's face, and the rouge at the corners of her eyes seems to dazzle the mind, making one want to gently brush it away.

She gently rubbed her slender neck.

Yan Chaoji suddenly felt a burning sensation on the side of his ear. He wondered how the princess of the Western Regions had managed to remain calm after such an overstepping act.

"......"

Yan Chaoji fell silent, for he couldn’t find any words to refute her, since he had indeed instinctively grabbed her ankle when he blocked.

In the military camp and on the battlefield, he faced enemies who were all eight-foot-tall men.

Yan Chaoji had never faced a woman in a life-or-death confrontation before. He had only just subconsciously wanted to let her know the limits of his probing because the woman in front of him had almost revealed his most hidden secret.

They did not kill him.

However, at this moment, Yan Chaoji's anger had been largely overshadowed by another strange emotion, while the girl opposite him remained oblivious.

He flicked his sleeve, glared at the person in front of him, and spoke with apparent hostility:

"Princess Zhaoning, please have some self-respect."

"Self-respect?"

"Zhao Ning only did what he did to save his life. The one who should have self-respect... is the Prince himself."

She was only a step away from him at this moment. Yan Chaoji could clearly see the charm in her phoenix eyes and the unyielding spirit of the Western Regions hidden in her deep brow bones, which added a lot of vitality to her.

Her gesture of brushing her rosy neck drew his attention.

Yan Chaoji stared into her phoenix eyes and suddenly felt that this Princess Zhaoning was somewhat like an old friend from the past.

"Your Highness, are you reflecting on yourself?" Her voice came in a daze, somewhat interrupting Yan Chaoji's thoughts.

Her voice was extremely pleasant to the ear, unlike the melodious warbling of orioles among the noble ladies of the Min Dynasty, but rather like a swallow soaring over the grasslands of the Western Regions.

Yan Chaoji looked up at the sound and was immediately plunged into a pool of thick ink. He did not make a sound but glanced at the girl out of the corner of his eye, and a figure vaguely appeared in his mind.

A petite and delicate figure appeared before my eyes in a flash:

"Xiao Zhaozi."

“Read the opera to me.”

"Please, please, practice swordsmanship with me?"

......

In that instant, Yan Chaoji gradually superimposed the image of the Western Region princess with that figure.

Yingning shrugged helplessly, seemingly puzzled by his state.

"Never mind."

"It was just a joke, yet Your Highness is determined to kill me here."

"Then Zhao Ning should be careful with her words and actions."

After saying this, she turned around and prepared to leave the moat, leaving Yan Chaoji standing there in a daze.

Yan Chaoji stared intently at her retreating figure, but seeing that she had already walked several steps away, his heart suddenly skipped a beat, and he abruptly raised his voice:

Princess Zhaoning.

A sharp voice suddenly came from not far behind her, and Ying Ning stopped in her tracks, but did not turn around. Instead, she asked the person with her back to them:

"Regent, do you intend to kill me?"

Unexpectedly, Yan Chaoji did not mention what had just happened. His deep voice seemed somewhat puzzled as he said:

"May I ask you something?"

“Feel free to ask,” Yingning replied.

Have you ever been there...?

"Biancheng?" Yan Chaoji's voice was somewhat hesitant.

It was rare for something to make this renowned regent hesitate, but Yan Chaoji felt a strange palpitation in his chest as he stared at the figure's back.

In a daze, he still spoke.

A moment later.

He heard a figure speaking slowly in the distance, the voice tinged with indifference, reaching his ears:

"When Zhao Ning was young, he loved to travel around."

"I have visited countless cities."

"As for Biancheng, which the Regent had mentioned, Zhao Ning did not remember it at the moment."