Shangguan Yanran choked for a moment, "In short, I bet Xie Jingrun definitely has feelings for you."
"Don't scare me." Rong Qingqing felt a chill in her heart.
Shangguan Yanran was amused by her reaction. "Is it that scary to be noticed by Xie Jingrun? Didn't you say he's not bad either? He's young, promising, and good-looking."
Rong Qingqing was speechless, so she had to change the subject and said, "Didn't you say you were hungry? Why are you still talking so much? Come on, let's go downstairs and eat."
Shangguan Yanran didn't expose her and went downstairs with her.
But just as the two reached the top of the stairs, they heard the sounds of fighting.
Following the sound, they saw Xie Jingrun fighting with a man in black on the second-floor corridor.
The sound of swords clashing was incessant.
The customers in the restaurant were so frightened that they fled outside, and the restaurant was in chaos.
The two were taken aback by the spectacle.
"What happened?" Shangguan Yanran exclaimed.
“It’s an assassin.” Rong Qingqing’s expression tightened after she finished speaking. Needless to say, the assassin must have come to assassinate Emperor Zhaojing.
Thinking of Emperor Zhaojing in the private room, she was startled. Was Emperor Zhaojing alright?
Just then, Xie Jingrun stabbed the assassin in the shoulder with his knife. The sharp tip of the knife went straight through his scapula. But the assassin's martial arts skills were truly remarkable. Despite being so seriously injured, he did not fall down. Instead, he took a few steps back and escaped Xie Jingrun's killing move.
Changlin led a group of Imperial Guards forward, each armed with a bow and arrow, aiming at the assassin.
"Capture him alive!" Xie Jingrun, holding his blood-stained embroidered spring knife, stared at the assassin with a murderous look in his eyes and gave the order in a deep voice.
"Yes," Changlin replied, gesturing to the group of Imperial Guards.
The Imperial Guards quickly dispersed, forming an encirclement and trapping the assassin in the corridor.
Seeing this, the assassin knew he was no match for Xie Jingrun. In addition, the second and first floors were already surrounded by the Imperial Guards. If he wanted to leave safely under the heavy blockade, he could only go up to the third floor.
Thinking of this, the assassin clutched his injured shoulder and decisively turned and ran towards the third floor.
Standing at the top of the stairs, Rong Qingqing realized the assassin's intentions. Startled, she quickly grabbed Shangguan Yanran's hand and ran back to the third floor.
The stairwell faces the direction of the assassin; if the two of them go downstairs, they will inevitably run into the assassin.
Now, the area below the second floor is filled with Imperial Guards. The assassin has been driven to desperation, and it's hard to guarantee that he won't take them hostage or kill them outright. So, she has no choice but to run upstairs. There are more rooms upstairs, and she and Yanran can hide in one of them. By the time the assassin finds them, Xie Jingrun and the others should have arrived as well.
The assassin was surprised to see someone at the stairwell. He paused for a moment when he saw the two women running upstairs, but he didn't stop and rushed up to the third floor as well.
Xie Jingrun also saw Rong Qingqing. When he saw that the assassin had rushed up to the third floor, his brows furrowed and he quickly ordered, "Pass on my order to surround Wangchun Tower. Not a single fly is allowed to escape."
"Yes." Upon receiving the order, Changlin immediately mobilized a group of men to stand guard outside the restaurant to prevent the assassin from escaping from the third floor.
After giving his instructions and confirming that Emperor Zhaojing was safe in the private room, Xie Jingrun ordered several Imperial Guards to protect him before taking his Embroidered Spring Knife and going up to the third floor.
Meanwhile, as Rong Qingqing pulled Shangguan Yanran up to the third floor, the assassin caught up and blocked their way.
Seeing the murderous intent in the assassin's eyes, Rong Qingqing's heart sank. Their speed was still not fast enough.
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