Chapter 13: Pearl Stealing and Murder
Time flies, and half a month passes in a flash.
For Xiyan, the days seemed to have returned to the past.
Xiao Nanyue was still the arrogant and cold-faced prince. When he stood in the palace late at night, he didn't even raise his eyelids and treated her like air.
Xiyan let out a long sigh and thought to herself, it seems that Xiao Nanyue's previous actions were just a spur of the moment action.
This is good. Once the peace of the past is restored, she can continue to perform her duties with peace of mind without having to get caught up in those unnecessary waves.
Unfortunately, the peaceful days were soon broken.
As the fiftieth birthday of Emperor Tianqi, Helian Cong, is approaching, the city of Yandu suddenly becomes bustling.
Officials from all over the country flocked to Beijing, preparing to present carefully prepared birthday gifts to the emperor on his birthday.
What is most striking is that in order to maintain long-term peace between the two countries and prevent unrest on the border, Nanzhao specially ordered Nanzhao envoy Xu Jingzhen to travel thousands of miles to Tianqi with a valuable gift to present treasures.
The birthday gift that Nan Zhao brought was a rare treasure, a South China Sea pearl.
This bead is an inch in diameter, round and smooth, without any flaws, and its texture is like solidified fat. When night falls, without any external force, the Dongzhu will emit light on its own, and can illuminate the space of about ten feet in radius as if it were daytime.
What makes it even more precious is that as long as you find the right direction and turn the beads, the illusions of the sun, moon, stars, and the universe will appear in the beads one by one.
This South China Sea Pearl is the national treasure of Nanzhao. Now, as a token of sincerity, we have decided to present it to Emperor Tianqi.
Now, Xu Jingzhen has arrived in the capital with a group of followers.
To show his sincerity, Crown Prince Helian Feng personally arranged for the Nanzhao envoys to stay in the Crown Prince's Mansion, entertained them with banquets every day, and prepared to present the Dongzhu to Helian Cong on the emperor's birthday one month later.
When the news reached the Regent's Palace, Xiao Nanyue had a plan in mind after hearing about it.
He knew very well that if this Oriental Pearl was stolen from Prince Tianqi's mansion, it would inevitably cause discord between the two countries, and Helian Feng would also be to blame.
If the envoy of Nanzhao was killed again, the two countries would go to war if Helian Cong handled the situation improperly.
What Xiao Nanyan wants is chaos in the world!
This operation is extremely dangerous.
The Prince's Mansion is heavily guarded, and the Poison King Chu Jin is there to protect Helian Feng. If he wants to succeed, it would be like snatching food from a tiger's mouth.
However, this strategy of killing three birds with one stone is a rare opportunity that will never come back.
Xiao Nanyan summoned Xiyan and Manluo and ordered them to disguise themselves and sneak into the Prince's Mansion, looking for an opportunity to steal the South China Sea Pearl.
Because the goals that women take action for are much smaller than those of men.
Xiao Nanyan spoke succinctly and issued a death order:
Within three days, you must kill the envoy or steal the Eastern Pearl. If you fail to do either, you can end it yourself and there is no need to return to the Regent's Palace.
Xiyan and Manluo looked at each other, and they both felt that this matter was very dangerous, but they could not disobey the master's orders.
The two of them immediately knelt on one knee and accepted the order in unison.
After leaving the palace, Manluo twisted her slender waist, her eyes moving, she glanced at Xiyan, and raised her red lips slightly:
"Tsk tsk, it seems that if the two of us fail to complete the mission this time, I'm afraid our lives will be in danger."
Xiyan nodded as a response.
Manluo burst out laughing: "I haven't lived enough! There are so many handsome men in this world. I was hoping to find one that satisfies my heart, but if he dies, there will be no more fun!"
Xiyan had known her for many years and knew that she was wild, outspoken, and never showed mercy when it came to killing people. She snorted softly:
"Since you don't want to die, then give it your all."
Manluo disagreed. She stretched out her slender fingers and caressed Xiyanruyu's cheek lightly:
"You are always so serious. Life is about enjoying life while it lasts. It's a pity that you are so beautiful but not very smart. If you had given in to the prince that night, he would never have let you take risks again..."
Xiyan's face froze. How could Manluo know that Xiao Nanyan treated her...
She smiled coldly, her almond eyes icy:
"You are also born beautiful. Why don't you return to the palace and serve the prince now? You don't have to take any more risks!"
Manluo covered her mouth and giggled, her body shaking with laughter:
"You're usually so quiet, but I never thought you'd be so sharp-tongued! No matter how handsome our prince is, I wouldn't dare covet him. It's like trying to get the skin of a tiger. I don't mind my life being long, I cherish it very much. I'll leave this most handsome man in Tianqi for you, Xiyan!"
Xiyan knew that she had never been serious, and she didn't want to argue with her anymore, let alone mention Xiao Nanyan:
"Since you value your life so much, think about how to sneak into the Crown Prince's Mansion. If we can't steal the Dongzhu and kill the Nanzhao envoy within three days, our lives will be in danger!"
Manluo gradually stopped smiling and said firmly:
"That depends on how good my disguise skills are!"
Xiyan knew that Manluo's nickname, the Thousand-Faced Purple Demon, was well-deserved. She was skilled in the use of poison, ruthless in her methods, and also a master in the art of disguise. With just one glance at a person, she could craft a human-skin mask tailored to their features, transforming them in an instant.
She nodded slightly:
"Then after we sneak into the Prince's Mansion, we'll split into two groups. You kill the Southern Zhao envoy, and I'll steal the Eastern Pearl! If one of us is in trouble, we'll help each other."
"Okay, it's settled!"
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