sneak into
The night was dark, and the wind howled and the clouds whistled.
A horse-drawn carriage quietly left the city.
The driver had a cold and stern expression, mirroring the desolate night. Inside the car, Jiang Mian frowned, her mind a jumble of thoughts.
Half an hour ago, she was packing her things in the house, but now she has embarked on an unknown path.
I don't know if this choice is right or wrong.
But she knew that if she gave up, she would regret it. Rather than regretting it later, she might as well give it a try, which would also be a way to... fulfill this destiny.
Half a month later, Jiang Mian set foot in the capital again.
Xiao Quan found a secluded courtyard. News from the capital was currently blocked, and people outside knew nothing about it.
Xiao Quan first sent a letter to the palace, and before long, Yun Qing arrived in a hurry on horseback.
“Fifth Miss.” He already knew what Xiao Quan was going to do, so he wasn’t surprised to see Jiang Mian. However, he paused for a moment when his gaze fell on her slightly protruding belly.
Jiang Mian didn't intend to explain: "What's the situation now?"
Upon hearing this, Yun Qing's expression immediately darkened.
If he hadn't been desperate, he wouldn't have wanted a woman to take the blame. But Xie Zheng was ruthless and cunning; he deliberately wanted Jiang Mian.
Everyone knows this is just a smokescreen.
The true meaning behind it goes far beyond this.
"Don't worry, Miss Fifth. This is a special sleeping potion, hidden in your sleeve. Ordinary people won't be able to find it. If there is any danger, please take care of yourself."
"I mean, what about him? How is he now?"
Yun Qing shook her head: "Not good."
The imperial physician said that without an antidote, he probably only had a month left at most. In particular, the longer this poison was left untreated, the more it would penetrate into his internal organs, making it difficult to find an antidote at that point.
"Then... what should I do?"
**
At Prince Ping's residence, revelry raged every night. Dancers, clad in sheer veils, revealed their alluring figures with every movement. Prince Ping, though nearing fifty, remained undeterred by such pleasures. He reached into the arms of a beauty and drank the wine she offered in one gulp.
With a listless expression, he looked at the person not far away and teased, "Nephew, what did you just say?"
Xie Zheng's brows furrowed with impatience. Although he was not averse to it, he could tell the situation from the occasion. The fact that Prince Ping had set up such a banquet clearly showed that he did not take him seriously.
Months ago, Shen Ji's army stormed the capital, revealing his father's crimes to the world. He had only escaped by chance, but he was unwilling to accept it.
Seeing Prince Ping indulging in wine and women, and knowing that he commanded an army of 100,000, Xie Zheng poured himself a cup of wine: "Uncle, when the Crown Prince of Yong'an committed suicide, you could have helped him, but because of my father, you were unable to send troops."
"If Shen Ji finds out, will he include you, Uncle, in the list as well?"
Prince Ping narrowed his wrinkled eyes, his voice slightly cool: "What do you mean by those words, nephew?"
Xie Zheng said slowly and with a smile, "I'm just reminding Uncle that what happened back then was too long ago. If Uncle is not careful, I, as his nephew, will naturally have to pay attention."
A light drizzle was falling.
The bluestone slabs were covered with wet stains, and the dancers moved gracefully.
With a gentle turn, she fell into Xie Zheng's arms.
Prince Ping narrowed his eyes for a moment, then put on a smiling face: "Uncle understands."
"The night is deep and the dew is heavy. This is a gift from your uncle. With a beauty by your side, you should rest early."
"Guards, escort the Crown Prince back."
Xie Zheng lowered his eyes, and the woman in his arms shrank closer to him, her eyes alluring: "Young master, I'm cold."
*
The next day.
Xie Zheng woke up in bed to find the woman beside him completely naked, her soft hand resting on his waist. The moment he moved, she noticed.
"Young Master," she called softly.
Xie Zheng reached out and pinched the bridge of his nose. Yesterday, the lantern festival was dim, and he only felt that this woman looked somewhat familiar. Now, looking at her again, she looked like the woman who had run away.
The thought of her made Xie Zheng's mood sink.
"Get out," he ordered coldly.
The woman quickly picked up her dress. She had initially seen a handsome young man, but his eyes looked as if he could devour her.
"Wait a minute." Xie Zheng narrowed his eyes, and his gaze softened as he looked at the woman.
*
The days of hiding were not easy. In recent days, Xie Zheng had become much more irritable. He had dismissed the concubines in his mansion, and the Crown Princess had already returned to her parents' home. Since Shen Ji entered the capital, his struggle with Xie Heng had long been shattered.
Xie Heng was imprisoned, but he managed to escape.
However, he was not flustered at all. Although he had only caught a glimpse of Shen Ji's medical records that day, he had privately reviewed them. Combined with the fact that there had been no major developments in the palace in the past few days, he vaguely guessed that something must have happened to Shen Ji.
Perhaps, it won't be long.
He will then return to that position.
"Your Highness." A soft female voice rang out. Following his gaze, Xie Zheng saw a stunningly beautiful face, but unfortunately, only the area between the eyebrows resembled her.
Sooner or later, he will catch that woman himself.
Thinking about it this way, I felt a reaction in my lower body again.
Xie Zheng grabbed the girl's waist and pushed her onto the table without restraint, seemingly to vent his anger, and then he rammed into her.
There was no affection whatsoever.
However, two days later, there was still no news from the palace. Xie Zheng couldn't wait any longer and decided to go and investigate himself. But unexpectedly, a woman suddenly stopped his carriage on the way.
He narrowed his eyes, listened to his subordinate's report, and casually ordered, "Kill him."
"My lord, please save me."
The moment the girl's voice rang out, Xie Zheng suddenly opened his eyes. He lifted the carriage curtain, and in that instant, the face that he loathed and wished he could kill immediately appeared before him without warning.
She cautiously raised her eyes, and when she saw it was him, a clear look of shock flashed in her eyes.
Xie Zheng sneered, a cruel smile playing on his lips: "Miss Jiang, how have you been?"
Jiang Mian's body stiffened for a moment. When she saw Xie Zheng, many images flashed through her mind. She didn't know how confident she was. She was only afraid for a moment, but more courage arose within her.
“Your Highness…” Jiang Mian seemed to want to escape, but Xie Zheng moved faster than she expected. His ruthlessness was not hidden at all and was completely exposed.
His slender fingertips landed on her neck, then suddenly withdrew.
She felt short of breath, but the other person was leisurely enjoying the scene.
"Jiang Mian, you deserve to die."
"Your Highness, Your Highness... I... don't understand..." The girl's face turned bright red, and there was a faint red mark on her wrist, like a newly healed laceration, with blood seeping out.
She desperately tried to pry his hand away, but the air grew thinner and thinner, and Xie Zheng's murderous intent was obvious. He seemed to be enjoying her death, as if he were watching a vibrant flower wither.
"Your Highness...I can...help you..."
"If I had known earlier that you had an affair with Shen Ji, I should have killed you back then."
"You've reminded me. If you're offering yourself up, perhaps I can exchange you for something?" The hand that was gripping her neck instantly turned into a caress, the cool fingertips tracing over her snow-white skin.
Jiang Mian forced back her nausea and squeezed out a few tears: "Your Highness, I also despise Shen Ji."
"He wanted to kill me for his grand scheme. If I hadn't fought to the death to escape, I would have been a victim of his sword long ago."
“Your Highness… I am just like you.”
Desperate times call for desperate measures. In her haste, she fabricated these words. Whether Xie Zheng believed them or not, she had no choice but to continue, and she had to try her best to convince him that only in this way could she obtain the antidote.
"Do you think I'm a fool? You've been poisoned and you're still unharmed. Did Shen Ji transfer the poison to you? Perhaps it won't be long before he dies from the poison."
Jiang Mian hadn't expected him to be so perceptive.
She pursed her lips and shook her head: "He was indeed poisoned, but... not as Your Highness guessed."
"In fact, I secretly introduced the poison into his body without his knowledge, and that's why he wanted to kill me."
"I have been hiding for many days. If I had not met Your Highness today, I fear I would never have seen the sun rise again."
Xie Zheng raised an eyebrow and saw the wounds on her body. There were signs of running around her neck and wrists, which did look like she was fleeing for her life. However, this woman was cunning and unpredictable. Killing her with one strike would end the matter once and for all and save him from further trouble.
But then I saw those soft eyes.
For some reason, he inexplicably took her back with him.
Jiang Mian touched her chest; it seemed that the story she had made up on the spot had worked.
Shen Ji's condition cannot be delayed; she must find a cure as soon as possible.
Fortunately, these temporary injuries on her body helped her at the crucial moment.
Jiang Mian was blindfolded, and Xie Zheng took her to an unknown place. It was certain that they had not yet left the capital.
However, this place is secluded, and even if she walked through it with her eyes open, she might not be able to remember the way she came.
As soon as she opened the door, a woman came to greet her. When Jiang Mian first saw her, she was stunned for a moment. The woman in front of her, in terms of both expression and mannerisms, was exactly the same as herself.
In particular, if the face underneath is covered, it is almost identical to hers.
Before she could react, Xie Zheng pulled the woman into his arms and kissed her lips in front of her.
When the woman's gaze fell upon Jiang Mian, a hint of surprise also flashed in her eyes.
Immediately, a hint of smug provocation spilled out.
Jiang Mian felt a wave of disgust wash over her; Xie Zheng was definitely doing this on purpose.
However, Jiang Mian did not reveal anything; only by obtaining the antidote could Shen Ji be saved.
She lowered her eyes, scanning the surroundings, but the courtyard was too large, and she couldn't find anything.
Xie Zheng's cold gaze swept over him: "What are you looking for?"
He still had his arm around the woman's waist, his gaze filled with suspicion.
"Your Highness, where should I stay?" In this moment of crisis, Jiang Mian's mind raced.
"Having entered my residence, you still think you're a noble lady? Remember your place, you're nothing more than a maid who carries my shoes." Xie Zheng deliberately belittled her, then turned and swaggered away with the woman.
Jiang Mian breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a sense of joy in her heart.
Staying by Xie Zheng's side might help us find the antidote sooner.
Unexpectedly, that very night, she was summoned and told to help Xie Zheng change his clothes. In reality, she was just told to wait outside. The noise inside the room grew louder and louder. She stood outside the door, wondering what Xie Zheng's intentions were.
What kind of fetish is this? Does he like being spied on when he's having sex with other women?
Jiang Mian covered her ears, feeling utterly disgusted.
The most urgent task is to find where he hid the antidote.
After much thought, I realized that only relatively private places like the study and the bedroom were suitable.
Just as she was pondering what to do next, a voice suddenly sounded from inside the door.
"Someone come here."
Jiang Mian reluctantly went inside. The fragrance in the room mingled with other scents, all wafting towards her nose. She lowered her gaze and bowed respectfully.
Xie Zheng took in her reaction, pushed the woman off him, and strode away.
Jiang Mian subtly retreated a short distance, all in order to find the antidote.
"Come here and help me change my clothes."
Jiang Mian frowned, suppressing her discomfort, and stepped forward to help him put on his robe. She glanced casually at the head of the bed and saw two wooden boxes, which seemed quite suspicious. The moment she looked away, the woman on the bed gave her a provocative look.
Jiang Mian thought it was funny.
He didn't pay any attention and turned around to respectfully step back a little distance.
Unexpectedly, after Xie Zheng left, the woman stood in front of her with an arrogant expression and ordered, "Clean this place up."
"yes."
Jiang Mian lowered her eyes, thinking that her chance had come.
After saying that, the woman turned and left.
She watched the two figures disappear and hurriedly checked the things in the house, but after checking, she found nothing useful. It seemed that this was not Xie Zheng's place, but more like the woman's room.
Jiang Mian looked disappointed and resignedly tidied up the bed.
After everything was tidied up, the sun was already close to noon.
Jiang Mian went out and asked around before learning that Xie Zheng was in the study. Hope returned to her eyes, and she immediately headed towards the study.
This time, things didn't go as smoothly as before.
The two guards outside the door had cold and stern faces, with swords at their waists. No one was allowed to enter without Xie Zheng's orders.
Jiang Mian was anxious and even more certain that something important was hidden in the study.
She pursed her lips and said softly, "This servant has come to deliver medicine to Your Highness. This morning, when I was helping Your Highness change your clothes, I found that Your Highness was injured. I noticed that Your Highness didn't seem to care, but if it's not treated, the wound will become infected, and it might be difficult to deal with in the future."
The guards frowned and, without saying a word, began to drive the people out.
Unexpectedly, a voice came from inside the room: "Let her in."
Jiang Mian felt more confident; it seemed this tactic was working.
She immediately stepped into the study.
As soon as she looked up, she saw the man sitting upright in the soft chair, staring at her with a scrutinizing gaze.
"Your Highness, this is wound medicine. I think Your Highness is busy with many affairs of state and probably wouldn't care about a small injury. However, even the smallest wound will leave a scar if it is not treated carefully."
As she said this, the girl's eyes were almost overflowing with concern and worry.
Xie Zheng was somewhat dazed; he seemed to see the people in the painting stepping out of the painting.
Years ago, he was punished by his father and secretly ran away to Princess Xunyang's palace. He spent many long nights with that painting. Every time he revealed the darkness hidden deep in his heart, it seemed that there was always a pair of eyes gazing at him peacefully.
However, only the dead and inanimate objects can keep secrets.
Just like how he could talk a lot to Princess Xunyang's portrait back then, he could also smirk and mock her naivety when he learned of her death.
What right do members of the royal family have to feel affection?
However, seeing the woman's concerned expression, his expression darkened: "I am very curious about how you managed to win over Shen Ji back then."
Jiang Mian was stunned for a moment, then looked up to see the person in front of her smiling.
He seemed to have become suspicious of her.
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