Chapter 192: Assassination at the City Gate
Time passed quietly, and more than ten days went by in a flash.
The secret guards responsible for tracking Niu Niu and staying in the back fishing village for surveillance are always highly vigilant and do not miss any slight movement.
However, over the past ten days, there was nothing unusual in Niu Niu's daily behavior and the behavior of other villagers in Houyu Village.
Although the secret guards didn't dare to rashly question the Purple-Robed Envoy's judgment, they couldn't help but speculate in their hearts: "Could it be that those children are just lying? After all, Niuniu's luck is too enviable?"
Due to the conflicting cognition, the secret guards' actions gradually became slack, and after more than a month of tracking, no additional clues were found.
However, those children seemed to have been warned by their elders at home, so that even when Chu Ci took action again, he was unable to get any information. This seemed reasonable, yet unexpected.
Even the Purple-Robed Envoy could not act on his own in the face of this. Without any substantial findings to support his initial judgment, he had no choice but to withdraw his secret guards after some thought.
At this moment, the head of the Chu family and Grandpa Chu and his party returned home exhausted after a long journey. They looked tired, but their eyes still showed determination and majesty.
"Master, Grandpa Chu." Chu Ci, who had learned the news, had been waiting at the city gate early. When the familiar figures of the two elders finally appeared in his sight, a happy smile instantly bloomed on Chu Ci's face, and he immediately walked up to them with light steps.
After nodding to Yuanniang behind Chu Ci, the head of the Chu family gently asked Chu Ci, "Ah Ci, how did you know we would come back at this time?"
"Why ask? Didn't we discuss this all along the way? Our return must have been carefully planned by Aci!"
Before Chu Ci could answer, Chu Chengyun beside him gave the answer with a smile.
Chuci is very awkward.
But he had to tell the truth: "Jiazhu, Grandpa Chu, the reason why the emperor agreed to let you two elders return is for corn."
Unexpectedly, Chu Chengyun misunderstood as soon as Chu Ci opened his mouth.
Chu Chengyun frowned slightly, and said with concern and a hint of blame: "Corn? Is it another high-yield crop? Ah Ci, you girl, how could you be so foolish!"
After saying this, Chu Chengyun sighed softly, his eyes filled with heartache and pity.
Even the head of the Chu family quietly fixed his gaze on Chu Ci. "Ci, we're not going outside to suffer."
Chu Ci knew very well that no matter how he explained it, the two elders would find it difficult to believe him.
So he hurriedly turned to Yuanniang behind him for help, "Yuanniang, you know the truth best, please tell me."
Yuanniang stepped forward upon hearing this and said, "The corn was taken by the Fifth Prince."
Chu Ci breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but Yuanniang continued, "But your return was indeed carefully arranged by the host."
The head of the Chu family said nothing, but just looked at her with a look of satisfaction. Chu Chengyun was more outgoing, "I knew that this old man was lucky to have such an amazing granddaughter."
After hearing this, Chu Ci sighed helplessly and thought to himself: Well, this is even more difficult to explain.
Chu Ci was helpless at this moment and could only glare at Yuan Niang fiercely.
Then he hurriedly said to Patriarch Chu and Grandpa Chu, "Patriarch, Grandpa Chu, there are so many people coming and going here, which is very inconvenient. Let's go home first. We can discuss these things in detail when we get home, so that you two can have a good rest and calm down."
"Okay, okay, I'll listen to A Ci." Chu Chengyun once again couldn't wait to bypass the head of the Chu family and made a decision on his own. Seeing this, the head of the Chu family could only watch helplessly with a little indulgence on his face.
Seeing this, Chu Ci just smiled lightly, with a barely perceptible sense of relief in that smile.
Then she carefully helped the two elders into the carriage and settled them down.
When she turned around and prepared to return to her carriage, she suddenly heard Yuanniang shouting in horror: "Master, be careful!"
Chu Ci turned around quickly upon hearing the sound, and saw a group of killers holding sharp blades suddenly rushed out from nowhere. Yuanniang and the guards were instantly entangled and unable to escape.
At this moment, a killer disguised as a passerby rushed to Chu Ci very quickly. As soon as Chu Ci turned her head, a shiny and cold dagger was already in front of her neck. Fortunately, she reacted quickly and dodged subconsciously, narrowly avoiding the fatal blow, otherwise Chu Ci would have died.
Chu Ci couldn't help but exclaim in his heart: "That was close."
At this moment, the killer saw that his first attack failed, so he did not pause at all and launched a second attack immediately.
Chu Ci's face tensed, and he didn't dare to hesitate at all. He quickly took out a long sword from the space as quickly as possible, then quickly adjusted his body and began to counterattack.
However, the other party came prepared, and soon, three or four killers surrounded Chu Ci.
Moreover, the opponent's attacks were all aimed directly at Chu Ci's vital points.
"Let's help too!" At this critical moment, realizing that the situation was not good, the head of the Chu family and Chu Chengyun hurried out of the carriage and threw themselves into the fierce battle without hesitation.
With the addition of the two elders, Chu Ci's pressure was immediately relieved a lot, and she finally had some time to breathe.
Chu Ci didn't hesitate at all. She quickly took out the flare that Zi Yi had given her, decisively pulled the fuse, and then threw it into the sky with all her strength.
With a "whoosh" sound, the flare rushed straight into the sky, blooming a brilliant light in the sky.
Seeing this, the assassins besieging Chu Ci immediately realized that today's operation had failed. The leading assassin cursed his bad luck inwardly, then shouted loudly with a gloomy face: "Retreat——"
After shouting, he looked at Chu Ci with reluctance, and quickly ordered the other killers to prepare to evacuate.
Almost at the same time, Chengmenguan came hurriedly with the city gate guards with an anxious look on his face, and the embroidered law enforcement team led by the purple-robed envoy also arrived here almost at the same moment.
As soon as Officer Cheng and the others approached, they immediately knelt on one knee, clasped their fists, and bowed their heads. Officer Cheng said with a face full of guilt and self-blame: "We were late in arriving to help, and we frightened the princess. Please forgive us, Princess Yixin."
Although the purple-robed envoy was familiar with Chu Ci, he could not escape the public scrutiny and immediately said, "We failed to protect the princess in time. We deserve death. We hope the princess will forgive us."
"Everyone get up." Chu Ci waved his hand slightly.
When the gatekeeper heard this, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Chu Ci did not vent his anger on him because of the assassination.
Then, after bowing, he stood aside quietly like an invisible man.
This clearly meant constant protection. Chu Ci felt helpless, but she maintained her dignity as a princess and said to the Purple-Robed Envoy, "Purple-Robed Envoy, you've always excelled at investigations. Today's incident is now entirely your responsibility. This princess hopes you'll provide a quick result!"
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