The hot spring pools at the royal estate were indeed very comfortable.
Jiang Jiaojiao fell asleep leaning against the pool rock while soaking in the hot spring. In her dream, the pool was shrouded in mist, and steam rose from it. She vaguely saw a figure, and upon closer inspection, she saw Li Yan, with fair skin and a face as beautiful as a painting. He was bathing in the hot spring with his back to her.
suddenly--
One snake emerged from the water, and another, and another…
Countless snakes swam toward the people in the hot spring.
"Run! There's a snake!"
Jiang Jiaojiao cried out in alarm, nearly slipping into the hot spring. She suddenly woke up, and the servants, A Yuan and A Xiang, who were attending to her, were terrified and screamed, "Snake? Where's the snake?"
"Miss, come up quickly!"
The two quickly pulled Jiang Jiaojiao up and wrapped her in the cloak.
Looking into the hot spring, it was shrouded in mist, quiet, and completely empty.
Jiang Jiaojiao turned pale with fright, pushed aside A Yuan and A Xiang, and ran towards the hot spring on the other side of the bamboo forest. Before she got there, she bumped into a thick embrace.
"Jiaojiao—"
"Your Highness—"
Their eyes met, both filled with the same worry, and the woman with the dripping long hair couldn't help but pause in surprise.
Li Yan's face was pale. "I heard your voice..."
The two hot spring pools were separated only by a bamboo grove. When Li Yan heard Jiao Jiao's scream, he rushed over without even putting on his clothes and shoes. He was still shirtless, revealing his fair and firm chest, and was only wearing a wet pair of underpants.
"ah--"
Jiang Jiaojiao immediately covered her face, "You... why are you naked?"
Through her fingers, she saw Dao Hong catch up with a cloak and drape it over Li Yan, covering her alluring figure, and secretly glare at Jiang Jiaojiao.
It's like... looking at some lecherous scoundrel.
Jiang Jiaojiao awkwardly touched her nose. Did Dao Hong have some misunderstanding about her?
Every time I see myself, it's like looking at a wolf with colors.
At this moment, A-Yuan and A-Xiang also caught up, "Miss, are you sure you're not mistaken? We didn't find any snakes or insects..."
"ah--"
A scream came from the hot spring where Li Yan had just been soaking, and the expressions of the others changed instantly.
It's Dao Qing's voice!
Li Yan stood protectively in front of Jiang Jiaojiao, and Dao Hong's expression changed instantly; she darted back.
A sharp warning rang out from the bamboo grove: "Your Highness, run! There's a snake!"
With just one glance, Jiang Jiaojiao felt her scalp tingle.
Countless venomous snakes of all sizes and colors coiled around the hot spring, hissing eerily. Their bodies writhed and crawled on the ground, as if searching for something.
It's truly horrifying.
Ah Yuan and Ah Xiang were so frightened that their legs went weak. Li Yan was about to protect Jiao Jiao and leave when she saw Jiang Jiao Jiao take out a packet of medicine powder from her purse. "This is snake repellent powder!"
"Someone come here—"
At Li Yan's command, two guards immediately appeared beside him: "Go and rescue them."
Li Yan threw the snake repellent powder over.
He bent down, ready to pick up Jiao Jiao and run away, but found that Jiao Jiao also bent down at the same time. In the instant he reached out, she had already scooped him up and ran away, shouting, "Go!"
Li Yan: "..."
Skin to skin, his breath filled with her fragrance, he resignedly closed his eyes, pitifully leaning against her chest. His darling… was just so unique.
Jiang Jiaojiao didn't let go until they reached the main courtyard of the manor, feeling lingering fear.
I've dreamt of the scene of a venomous snake entering the water seven times in a row. This familiar feeling is undoubtedly a message from our ancestors.
That many venomous snakes were definitely not an accident.
"You need to be careful."
Jiang Jiaojiao looked at Li Yan with concern.
Sensing Jiao Jiao's worry, Li Yan's gaze softened even more. "Don't be afraid."
"Something's not right about this estate."
Jiang Jiaojiao said affirmatively.
With so many snakes and such a commotion, not a single person from the village came.
Li Yan nodded in agreement, "It was my carelessness."
He sent people to take over, but this still happened. Either... there was a problem with his people, or there was something wrong with the estate itself.
"Jiaojiao, rest first. I'll go make some arrangements."
Li Yan turned to A Yuan and A Xiang and instructed them, "Go and brew a bowl of calming soup."
As he stepped out of the room, the gentleness on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling killing intent.
From childhood to adulthood, there have been countless such dangers.
From a young age, he understood that in the royal family, power and interests were intertwined, and open and covert struggles were everywhere.
However, this time was different because it involved Jiaojiao—the person he cherished and held dear in his heart.
He would never allow anyone to harm her in the slightest!
"Your Highness, the person has been captured."
Dao Hong quietly reported, his voice low and serious, "Everyone in the manor has been drugged. The drug was put directly into the well water. I have already sent someone to inform Doctor Qin."
A sense of oppression permeated the woodshed.
The steward with the mustache knelt on the ground, his body trembling slightly, but his eyes held a resolute determination to face death.
Li Yan's eyes were icy cold as she looked at the kneeling steward and slowly asked, "Who is it?"
The steward stared at him menacingly, then suddenly revealed a sinister smile. Before anyone could react, he let out a muffled groan, a line of black blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and collapsed to the ground, committing suicide.
Dao Hong was a step too slow. She grabbed the steward's chin and jumped up in anger, saying, "The poison sac is hidden in his teeth."
With a flick of his finger, a thin human skin mask was peeled off the steward's face, revealing an unfamiliar face. "Your Highness... is an assassin!"
This is the first suicide bomber since news of his impending death spread, and he certainly won't be the last.
hehe……
He just wanted to live!
Damn it! They all deserve to die!
If that position is the only way to save her life and protect her, then... let's fight!
"Summon people to the capital."
Li Yan spoke slowly.
Dao Hong couldn't contain her excitement, "Yes, Your Highness!"
Each prince has his own personal bodyguards and assassins. These men are rigorously trained, hidden in the shadows, to protect the prince's safety and carry out various missions.
However, in recent years, His Highness's health gradually deteriorated, he lost hope in life, and began to gradually distance himself from those around him.
But now, His Highness has suddenly summoned everyone back. Does this mean that His Highness has recovered his vitality?
Perhaps, His Highness has truly come back to life.
This happened.
They had lost all interest in sightseeing.
Before they even reached Yiren Mansion, they bumped into a long moving procession. Just as Jiang Jiaojiao lifted the carriage curtain, she was spotted by Luo Shier, who was riding at the front on a fine horse.
"Jiaojiao—"
Luo Twelve rode over, pouting in dissatisfaction, "Hmph! You didn't even call me when we went out for a ride! Look at this horse, isn't it pretty?"
"Hehe, this was personally bestowed by the Empress Dowager!"
"Congratulations on having a new neighbor!"
"New neighbors?"
Before Xiao Shier could answer, Jiang Jiaojiao had already seen a brand-new plaque hanging on the gate of the mansion next to Yiren Mansion: "County Princess Mansion".
On the steps, Yuan Bao'er instructed the old woman in front of her, "Register all items and put them in the storeroom."
"Yes, Your Highness."
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