Xin Jiuwei's blood instantly froze. The Second Prince was using a two-pronged approach: launching an attack at the birthday banquet while simultaneously targeting the Xin family directly!
"elder sister..."
"Miss Xin was well-prepared." Old Zhou handed her a short sword. "The secret passage in the mansion has been arranged, but the red lantern..."
Xin Jiuwei looked up towards the Xin residence and, sure enough, saw a red lantern slowly rising from the window of the highest pavilion. It was the signal for action, and the key to Xiao Xun's plan. But now the Xin residence was surrounded, and her sister's life hung in the balance...
"Old Zhou, go to Huichuntang and find Feng Sanniang's men." Xin Jiuwei gripped her short sword tightly, a resolute flame burning in her eyes. "I'm going to the Xin residence."
"Too dangerous!"
"I have to go," Xin Jiuwei said firmly. "That red light must stay on until midnight."
The two split up. Xin Jiuwei took a shortcut towards the Xin residence, and from afar she could see that the outer perimeter was filled with guards, and torches illuminated the night sky red. Qi Huaiyu stood in front of the gate, loudly proclaiming something, while the surrounding people discussed it animatedly.
"...The evidence of Xin's collusion with the rebels is irrefutable! By order of the Second Prince, search the residence and arrest her immediately!"
Xin Jiuwei hid on the street corner, her heart filled with anxiety. The main gate was blocked, and the entrance to the secret passage was under guard. She had to find a way to sneak into the mansion, protect her sister, and ensure the red light remained on...
Suddenly, she noticed an old locust tree on the west side of the Xin residence—where she and her sister often climbed over the wall to enter and exit when they were children. The tree's dense canopy provided perfect cover.
Under the cover of night, Xin Jiuwei silently climbed the locust tree. From her vantage point, she could see that there were guards inside the mansion, but they were much fewer than outside. She spotted an opening, nimbly vaulted over the wall, and landed in the bushes of the inner courtyard.
As soon as she landed, a cold dagger was pressed against the back of her neck.
"Don't move." It was her older sister's voice, very low. "Come with me."
Xin Xiyao led her through a maze of twists and turns, avoiding the patrolling guards, and into a cave in a rockery. Inside the cave, there was a hidden staircase leading directly to an underground chamber.
"Sister, what happened to you..."
"I knew they would come." Xin Xiyao lit a candle; in the candlelight, her face was weary yet resolute. "Father has been placed under house arrest in the palace, and all the servants in the mansion have been dismissed, leaving only a few trusted confidants."
The secret chamber was filled with weapons, and the painting "Snow Plum Blossoms" that once hung on the wall was now covered with numerous markings. Most striking was a strange device on the central table—a complex machine composed of copper pipes, gears, and ropes, connected to the direction of the roof.
"This is..."
"The red light mechanism." Xin Xiyao adjusted the gears. "Once activated, it can't be turned off unless the entire attic is demolished. I activated it when Qi Huaiyu and his men broke in."
Xin Jiuwei then noticed that her sister's right hand was covered in blood, clearly indicating that she had been injured in the fight.
Your hand...
"A minor injury." Xin Xiyao waved her hand dismissively. "The important thing is that Xiao Xun's plan must succeed. The Second Prince will definitely cause trouble at the birthday banquet, that red lantern..."
Before the words were finished, a violent tremor suddenly came from the ground, followed by a muffled rumble coming from the direction of the palace in the distance, as if some enormous creature had awakened from underground.
"It's starting." Xin Xiyao smiled. "Xiao Xun's 'Earth Dragon Turns Over'."
Xin Jiuwei recalled Xiao Xun's words—he had planted a mechanism underground in the capital city years ago. The red light wasn't a signal, but the key to activate the mechanism!
The tremors grew stronger, and the candlelight in the secret chamber flickered violently. Panicked shouts and hurried footsteps came from outside. Xin Xiyao grabbed her sister's hand: "Let's leave through the secret passage now."
Where to?
"The Imperial Palace." Xin Xiyao's eyes gleamed with a strange light. "The Second Prince thought everything was fine once he controlled the Imperial Guards, but little did he know that Xiao Xun's men had already infiltrated them. Tonight, everything will be revealed."
Just as the two stepped into the secret passage, a loud bang suddenly came from above—someone had broken down the door!
"Search! Don't miss a single corner!" Qi Huaiyu's voice was almost touching, "Especially that red light, it must be turned off!"
Xin Xiyao quickly closed the entrance to the secret passage and pulled her sister downhill. The sound of walls being smashed came from behind; the pursuers would soon discover the trap.
"Where does this secret passage lead?" Xin Jiuwei asked breathlessly.
"The drainage outlet under the moat," Xin Xiyao said as she ran. "Old Zhou arranged for a boat to wait for us there."
At the end of the secret passage, the sound of flowing water grew louder. Xin Jiuwei suddenly stopped: "Sister, you go first."
"What?"
"Xiao Xun gave me a mission." Xin Jiuwei gripped the bronze whistle tightly. "I must return to the palace."
Xin Xiyao gave her younger sister a deep look, then suddenly took out a jade pendant from her bosom and handed it to her: "Take this. This is Qi Huaihe's family heirloom; it can mobilize the Qi family's secret guards." She gave her sister a push, "Go on, I'll be there soon."
Xin Jiuwei took the jade pendant; it was warm and smooth to the touch, and the words "of the same breath and branches" were engraved on the back. She suddenly realized that this might have originally been a token between her sister and cousin.
"Sister, be careful."
"The same to you."
The two sisters parted ways. Xin Jiuwei went upstream, stealthily making her way towards the palace. The water was bitterly cold, but it couldn't compare to the burning flame in her heart. Tonight, all grudges would be settled, and all mysteries would be revealed.
And there will eventually be an answer between her and Xiao Xun.
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