Chapter 3 "This mission is to protect, to protect..."
Yunniang smiled with interest, sizing up Zhanxiao.
He still wore that cold, hard mask. Over the years, even as his most direct supplier and longest-term client, she had never seen what this number one assassin, revered by the martial arts world as "Cold Blade," actually looked like.
She could never understand why Han Ren made not killing women a principle.
Six months ago, for reasons unknown, Han Ren broke into the Remnant Moon Sect alone and killed 168 members, including the sect leader, elders, and core disciples, but he did not kill any women.
She had wondered if Han Ren had some special pity or past for women.
However, upon closer acquaintance, Han Ren treated men and women the same way, equally cold and aloof. He showed no tenderness or affection for women, and was simply extremely averse to them.
“You’ve misunderstood,” Yunniang said. “Our mission this time is to protect Princess Yuhe.”
Princess of the Imperial Family
Zhan Xiao pursed his lips tightly.
Seeing his silence, Yunniang knew his proud nature and softened her tone: "It's the master's mission. This princess has recently suffered several 'accidents,' and we need to ensure her survival. Aren't your principles perfect for this task?"
The "master" refers to the true owner of the Worry-Free Tavern. This person is very mysterious and never shows his face. All matters, big and small, are handled by Yunniang.
"The mission begins the moment you return to the capital. If necessary, the tavern will arrange a suitable identity for you to infiltrate the princess's residence..."
Before Yunniang could finish speaking, Zhanxiao interrupted her coldly: "I won't answer."
The words struck the ground, creating invisible ripples in the silent courtyard, leaving only the faint sound of the flickering candlelight.
A hint of helplessness flashed in Yunniang's eyes. She remained silent for a moment, then finally sighed, "Fine. Since you've made up your mind, I'll have no choice but to let Cui Hongshou carry it out."
Crimson Hand is another swift blade under the command of Worry-Free Tavern, second only to Cold Blade in reputation in the martial arts world. Although his martial arts skills are superb, he is a lecherous and despicable man who enjoys womanizing and using despicable methods. In addition to killing, he especially enjoys raping, kidnapping, and humiliating women.
Zhan Xiao turned and left, leaving behind only two words: "Do as you please."
...
When Jiang Fushi woke up in the morning, her dizziness and headache had lessened considerably.
After having breakfast with Lou Bingling, the imperial physician came to her door to take her pulse and examine her again.
After confirming that although her pulse was weak and shallow, she was no longer in mortal danger, Lou Bingling felt a little relieved and took her leave to return home.
The Prefect of the Capital also sent people to inquire about the details of the attack.
But Jiang Fushi knew nothing about it and could only record this unsolved case before leaving in a huff.
After everyone dispersed, Jiang Fushi found Qingdai, who was recovering from her injuries, and learned from her the limited details she knew about the day of the attack.
"Your Highness, we don't know what happened either. That day, I heard a few arrows whistling. I was just about to get into the carriage to find you when I fainted."
Commander Liu added, "When I led my men to find you, several women in white were also lying unconscious not far away. Judging from their attire, they seemed to be martial arts practitioners. But at that time, I was in a hurry to escort you back to your residence for treatment. When I returned to the scene to search again, the women in white had disappeared."
So that's how it is.
Jiang Fushi learned the general outline of the matter.
The most urgent task is to quickly prepare an antidote to remove the poison from my body and restore my memory.
The dove feather, one of the ingredients used to make the antidote, originated in the miasma-ridden southwestern region and is extremely rare within the territory of Sheng Kingdom.
Moreover, because it contains trace amounts of toxicity and the dosage is difficult to control during preparation, it was strictly controlled by the Imperial Medical Academy.
If we rashly request funding from the Imperial Medical Academy, it would be too conspicuous.
After all, countless eyes in the palace were secretly watching her every move.
We need to find another way, and take the opportunity to visit some of the major pharmacies in the capital.
Just as he was pondering this, a commotion suddenly came from outside the mansion. It turned out that someone from the palace had arrived, and the leader was Zhao Quan, the emperor's trusted eunuch and chief eunuch.
Holding a whisk, he smiled politely, "His Majesty has decreed that Princess Yuhe be summoned to the palace for an audience immediately."
Jiang Fushi felt a sudden chill in her heart, but her face remained expressionless. She simply lowered her eyelashes slightly to conceal the thoughts that flashed through her eyes.
Why is the Emperor suddenly summoning me now? Is it out of concern, a test, or is it related to yesterday's attack?
Supported by Qingdai and Zisu, she feigned weakness, as if struggling to get out of bed to receive the imperial decree, and said in a soft voice, "Your subject receives the decree. However, as Eunuch Zhao has seen, I am in such a state that I fear my appearance is disheveled and may offend His Majesty. Please allow me to tidy myself up a bit, and I will come to the palace with you immediately."
As she spoke, she subtly gave Zisu a wink.
Zisu understood and immediately stepped forward, cleverly slipping a heavy gold ingot into Zhao Quan's sleeve. She whispered, "Please wait a moment, Your Highness. He was frightened yesterday and has just been cleared of the poison. He is very weak. Please say a few kind words to His Majesty."
Zhao Quan weighed the item in his sleeve, and his smile became more genuine, his high-pitched voice softening slightly: "Your Highness's filial piety is commendable; despite your illness, you still diligently obey the imperial decree. However, His Majesty is concerned and is in a hurry, so please hurry and do not keep His Majesty waiting."
Since returning to the palace, the emperor has never privately summoned Jiang Fushi.
She also understood that she didn't hold much weight in her father's heart.
She didn't have any deep father-daughter affection for the emperor. When she was wandering among the common people, her mother had already passed away, and she was adopted by a country doctor.
Her adoptive father treated her as his own daughter.
She loved eating fish the most. Even in the winter, when the river was icy cold and there were hardly any fish, her adoptive father would try his best to catch one for her and simmer it into a milky white hot soup, taking great care of her.
This is in stark contrast to the alienation of his current emperor father.
Upon arriving at the palace, Jiang Fushi found the emperor reviewing memorials in his study. She knelt down timidly and softly greeted him, "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."
The emperor did not immediately tell her to rise. After a moment, he spoke slowly, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger: "Rise. I heard that you were attacked on your way back to the capital yesterday?"
Jiang Fushi slowly stood up, then immediately lowered her head upon hearing this, her voice tinged with weakness and lingering fear: "Father... yes, yes. Your subject is terrified, having disturbed Your Majesty in the capital region. Your subject deserves to die..."
"I'm not questioning your crime," the emperor interrupted her, his tone still calm. "Tell me the specifics of what happened. Did you see the thief's face clearly? The Prefect of the Capital reported that all the guards around you were injured by the sword energy. The other party's methods were ruthless, and they were definitely not ordinary bandits."
"Your Majesty, I have been poisoned and have lost my memory. I have no recollection of the attack and have been unable to help you find out the truth. I am extremely terrified."
Her voice grew weaker and weaker, accompanied by a slight tremor, as if she were still deeply trapped in that unknown fear. "I only vaguely remember that the carriages and horses seemed to be disturbed, and then everything became chaotic... When I woke up again, I was already in the mansion... I really can't remember anything else clearly..."
The emperor's gaze remained calm, lingering for a moment on the top of Jiang Fushi's lowered head.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, his tone unreadable: "In that case, take good care of yourself. I have ordered the Prefect of the Capital and the Patrol Battalion to thoroughly investigate this matter. You may leave."
Jiang Fushi knelt down to pay her respects, saying, "Father, please take care of your health. Your subject will take her leave now."
She lowered her head and looked away from the imperial study with a respectful posture. Only when she turned and stepped into the palace path, completely enveloped by the shadow cast by the high walls, did her straight back relax almost imperceptibly.
A wave of sorrow suddenly washed over me.
This was the first time her father had summoned her alone since she returned to the palace.
Most of the time, she seems to be invisible.
Even when she was so ill two years ago that she almost couldn't survive, the Imperial Hospital simply sent someone to examine her as usual, and she never received a single word of inquiry from her father, the Emperor.
Her father neglected her because of her frail health and lack of support from her maternal family. His sudden display of concern is merely a result of the fact that her ailing body has finally gained some value.
It could be a political marriage, or it could be a border appeasement effort.
In short, a chess piece was finally placed on the chessboard.
Meanwhile, inside the Yaoguang Palace.
Princess Yuyao suddenly slammed the glass teacup in her hand to the ground, shattering it into pieces!
"Father actually summoned her to the palace!" Jiang Ruoyun's face was slightly distorted with anger, her eyes almost spitting fire. "What right does she have? A bastard of unknown origin, does she deserve to be summoned by Father alone? She must be playing the victim again and spreading rumors!"
"No, I have to go check it out!"
With that, Jiang Ruoyun suddenly stood up, her magnificent palace dress sweeping over the shards on the ground. "Prepare the sedan chair, we're going to the Imperial Study!"
On the other side.
After taking her leave, Jiang Fushi did not rush to leave the palace. Instead, she rested in a pavilion with a wide view.
This is the only way to get from Yaoguang Hall to the Imperial Study.
Given Yuyao's personality, upon learning that her father had summoned her, she would surely rush over in a rage to "accidentally" meet him, hoping to embarrass him in person.
Sure enough, before long, Princess Yuyao's entourage arrived in this direction with great momentum.
Jiang Fushi's eyes flickered slightly as she raised her hand, seemingly unintentionally.
As my fingertips gently brushed against a cluster of flowers in full bloom beside me, a faint, cool, medicinal fragrance quietly spread out.
Yu Yao rushed over, about to speak sarcastically, when she suddenly caught a faint, unique fragrance at the tip of her nose. It was clear, elegant, and definitely not an ordinary palace fragrance.
She paused, looking at Jiang Fushi with suspicion, her sharp gaze sweeping over her: "What perfume are you wearing?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Fushi seemed startled and subconsciously took a half step back, hurriedly curtsying: "Greetings, Your Majesty. No...nothing, I didn't do anything."
The more panicked and evasive she became, the more suspicious Yu Yao grew.
"Still dare to argue!" Yu Yao's eyebrows shot up as she took a step closer and said sharply, "Hand it over! Is it some kind of filthy, shameful thing?"
Jiang Fushi was on the verge of tears, and tremblingly took out an extremely small and simple porcelain box from her sleeve: "It's a perfume recipe that an old nanny gave me in private, and this is all that's left."
Yu Yao snatched the porcelain box, opened it, and sniffed it. The fragrance seemed even stronger, and her jealousy and disdain intensified.
This scoundrel doesn't even deserve to use such good stuff!
She snorted coldly, "You're smart to know what's good for you!"
After saying that, Yuyao recalled the summons and said sarcastically, "Don't think that just because Father Emperor summoned you once, you have something to rely on. Father Emperor is just infatuated with you and pities you, you wild girl. Do you really think you're some kind of golden branch and jade leaf?"
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