The shadowy figure was agile, repeatedly deflecting Lin Qian's attacks, but she could never shake off Lin Qian's entanglement. During their struggle, Lin Qian tore the shadowy figure's mask, revealing a delicate face.
Lin Qian was slightly taken aback. It was actually a woman! Moreover, her face... seemed somewhat familiar.
"You are... Liu Xu?" Lin Qian asked tentatively. Liu Xu was a maid in the Ning Prince's mansion. She had not participated in the rebellion in her previous life. How did she become the Ning Prince's assassin in this life?
A flicker of surprise crossed Liu Xu's eyes, which quickly returned to their icy expression. She didn't answer, but instead quickened her pace, trying to shake off Lin Qian.
"Liu Xu, why are you helping Prince Ning? What benefits has he given you that make you willing to risk your life for him?" Lin Qian shouted as she chased after him.
Liu Xu suddenly stopped, turned to face Lin Qian, her eyes filled with resentment: "Benefits? He gave me hope to live! He gave me a chance for revenge!"
"Revenge? Who do you want to take revenge on?" Lin Qian's doubts deepened.
Liu Xu gave a shrill laugh: "Of course it's for you! For you high and mighty nobles! You took everything from me and ruined my life! I hate you!"
Lin Qian then understood that Liu Xu's hatred stemmed from her tragic past. In her previous life, Liu Xu's family was driven to their deaths by corrupt officials, and she was reduced to a slave, sold into the Ning Prince's mansion. The Ning Prince, exploiting her hatred, trained her to be a cold-blooded assassin.
"Liu Xu, you've been used by Prince Ning! He's just using you as a pawn, and he'll discard you once he's done with you!" Lin Qian tried to persuade her.
"Shut up! Even if I'm a pawn, I'll be a pawn that bites!" Liu Xu roared and attacked Lin Qian again, each move ruthless and filled with a mad frenzy of mutual destruction.
Lin Qian sighed inwardly. It seemed that Liu Xu had been blinded by hatred and was unable to turn back.
Lin Qian dodged Liu Xu's fierce attack by sidestepping, and with a backhand flick of her wrist, she slashed a bloody gash across Liu Xu's arm. "Calm down! Prince Ning is using you; are you still going to risk your life for him?"
Liu Xu winced in pain and staggered back a few steps. Her eyes grew even more crazed, as if she had lost her mind. "Used? Without Prince Ning, I would have died long ago! He gave me the power to take revenge!" She licked the blood from her lips, a sinister smile appearing on her face. "I will make you nobles taste the bitterness of family ruin and death!"
"You're wrong, Liu Xu!" Lin Qian shouted sharply. "The real enemy isn't me, nor is it all the nobles, but those corrupt officials! Prince Ning is using your hatred to satisfy his own ambitions; you will ultimately become a sacrifice in his hands!"
"Shut up! What do you know!" Liu Xu roared, charging forward again without regard for her own safety. Her moves had become chaotic and disorganized, a completely reckless fighting style.
Lin Qian felt a deep sorrow in her heart. She knew that Liu Xu had fallen into an abyss of hatred from which she could not extricate herself. Without further hesitation, a resolute glint flashed in her eyes. She dodged Liu Xu's attack with a swift movement, then quickly struck, striking Liu Xu's pressure points and subduing her.
Just then, the guards from the Prime Minister's residence finally arrived. They rushed into the room and gasped in shock at the scene before them.
"Miss, are you alright?" the head guard asked with concern.
Lin Qian shook her head and said, "I'm fine. Take her away and keep a close watch on her."
Night, as thick as ink, spread rampantly, shrouding the entire Prime Minister's residence in deep darkness. The faint moonlight struggled to pierce the heavy clouds, casting a few cold rays that seemed to veil the courtyard, adding a touch of mystery.
Under the gentle caress of the moonlight, the flowers, plants, and trees in the courtyard cast shadows of various shapes. These shadows intertwined, resembling a vast labyrinth, concealing countless unknown secrets. A breeze rustled the leaves, as if whispering the mysterious tales of the night.
The room where Lin Qian had just subdued Liu Xu was a mess. Tables and chairs were overturned, shards of porcelain were scattered everywhere, and the air was thick with tension and chaos. Lin Qian sat wearily in a chair, her face slightly pale, fine beads of sweat rolling down her forehead like pearls, sliding down her cheeks, and dripping onto the messy floor, spreading into small puddle spots. Her eyes revealed deep exhaustion and helplessness; the fierce battle had almost completely drained her strength.
Sweat soaked Lin Qian's clothes. She casually wiped her face with her hand, her fingertips inadvertently stained with Liu Xu's blood. The bright red stain stood out starkly on her fingertips, as if reminding her of the brutal battle she had just endured. "This woman, she's truly gone mad," Lin Qian murmured to herself, her tone tinged with pity and helplessness.
Lin Qian closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm her wildly beating heart. This wasn't the first time she'd killed someone, but each time it placed immense pressure on her. Especially when facing a pitiful person like Liu Xu, blinded by hatred and used as a pawn by Prince Ning, her heart was filled with complex emotions.
"Miss..." The head guard's voice broke the brief silence of the room with a cautious murmur. His voice was full of worry and concern, "Should we call a doctor to examine you?"
Lin Qian slowly opened her eyes, shaking her head firmly. "No need, I only have some superficial injuries, it's nothing serious." Her voice was slightly hoarse, revealing her exhaustion. After speaking, she slowly stood up, looking at the chaos around her, a sense of irritation rising within her. When would this chaotic situation finally end?
In the original story, she, the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's family, was supposed to be madly infatuated with the male lead, Prince Ning, and willing to oppose the female lead for him, ultimately suffering a tragic end with the destruction of her family. However, after she transmigrated, all she wanted was to stay away from those two troublesome characters and enjoy her life of wealth and luxury. But fate always seems to like playing tricks on people, and trouble kept coming her way.
"Clean this place up," Lin Qian calmly ordered, her voice carrying an undeniable firmness. "Also, no one is allowed to reveal a single word about Liu Xu, or they will face the consequences."
Upon receiving their orders, the guards quickly sprang into action. They skillfully righted the fallen furniture and carefully cleaned up the debris and broken pieces. Lin Qian, meanwhile, walked alone to the window and gently opened it. The cool night breeze rushed in, caressing her cheeks and bringing her a sense of relief, while also clearing her mind slightly.
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