Chapter 05 The Fifth Kill

Xiaoyu was a little surprised by the attire of the person in front of her. Nanny Zhao looked to be in her fifties, not very tall, but she was wearing plain cloth and no expensive pearl hairpins or jewelry on her head.

It doesn't fit with her character as Zhou Xunran's wet nurse, who has the final say in the mansion.

Madam Zhao looked them up and down, narrowed her eyes and scolded them, "You are such wicked people! The prince has vomited blood and fainted, and you are still talking and laughing here?"

Why are you scolding me so harshly? Xiaoyu looked at Zhu Zongguan, wanting to see his counterattack. After all, Madam Zhao was a wet nurse, and Zhu Zongguan's brother-in-law was the chief steward of the palace, so his status was not low either.

But Manager Zhu scratched his head and smiled innocently: "I suddenly remembered that the paint on the wooden table in Madam Yao's room has peeled off. I'm going to arrange for someone to repaint it for her. Madam Zhao, Xiaoyu, I'm going back first."

He raised his hand and secretly wiped the sweat from his forehead, gave Xiaoyu a look that said "May you be lucky" before turning around and leaving.

Xiaoyu secretly scolded him for being disloyal, but still smiled and said to Madam Zhao: "Hello, Madam Zhao~"

Aunt Zhao still had a cold expression on her face: "Are you Xiaoyu?"

Xiaoyu nodded, "Madam, are you from Qingwu Court? How is the prince?"

Aunt Zhao said angrily, "I told you that he vomited blood and fainted. Why are you still asking? Are you deaf?"

Xiaoyu just thought that she was worried about Zhou Xunran, that's why her tone was so bad, and she was so magnanimous that she didn't bother with her.

She followed behind Madam Zhao with her head down, listening to her instructions as she walked: "Since the prince is willing to keep you, he has his own plans. You'd better be honest and serve the prince well, otherwise I will definitely make your life worse than death."

As expected of someone close to Zhou Xunran, he always makes people feel 'a life worse than death'. Xiaoyu secretly curled her lips and agreed respectfully: "Yes."

She meant it sincerely, she would definitely serve Zhou Xunran well.

As they were talking, the two came to Qingwu Courtyard where Zhou Xunran lived, and saw him wearing dark official uniform and walking out with his men.

Nanny Zhao immediately walked over and asked worriedly, "Why did the prince go out as soon as he woke up?"

Zhou Xunran's face was pale, and his lips were almost bloodless. Looking at Madam Zhao, he patiently explained, "Something happened at the Imperial College. I'll go take a look and be back soon. Don't worry, Madam."

Nanny Zhao was somewhat helpless. "Your Highness, you should go back to your room and have a good rest. It won't delay anything if you solve the Imperial Academy issue one day later. Otherwise, you can let Zhou Yi go."

Zhou Xunran smiled and shook his head. "When I come back, I want to eat the stir-fried noodles made by Madam. Will Madam prepare it for me?"

"You," Madam Zhao sighed, and warned Zhou Yi carefully, "You must keep a close eye on the prince, and come back early after you finish your work."

Zhou Yi nodded and helped Zhou Xunran walk out.

Seeing Xiaoyu, Zhou Xunran did not stop and said to Xiaoyu, "Follow me."

Madam Zhao pushed Xiaoyu and said, "Why are you standing there? The prince wants you to follow."

Xiaoyu rubbed her waist which was hurt by her strong squeeze, secretly complaining in her heart, and followed obediently.

The trip was still in the horse-drawn carriage that Xiaoyu had seen last time.

After Zhou Xunran was helped to sit in, Xiaoyu followed behind him and sat on the wheel.

Zhou Yi, who was standing next to him, stopped and motioned for Xiaoyu to get in the car.

Xiaoyu pointed at herself and said, "Can I go to the car?"

Zhou Yi smiled and said, "Of course, it doesn't make sense for a girl to sit in the front of a car."

Xiaoyu nodded excitedly, "Then I'll go in."

Hehe, there were only her and Zhou Xunran in the carriage. She had seen just now that there were not many guards accompanying them on this trip. If they reached a remote place on the road, she would be fully capable of killing Zhou Xunran and then escaping without these guards.

The carriage had a large space, but no expensive decorations. There was only a palm-sized three-legged hollow incense burner in the shape of a gilded lotus on a small table in the middle, which emitted a faint fragrance.

Zhou Xunran has been closing his eyes and resting since he got on the carriage.

Although he was thin, his back was still very straight when he sat, his hands hanging naturally on his legs, and a white jade crown on his head tied his hair neatly, making him look extremely clean and neat.

With his eyes closed, he looked like a delicate and innocent young man who was well-fed by a wealthy family. He was nothing like the cruel and ruthless regent in the legend, who would rather kill someone by mistake than let his criminal go, and whose hands were stained with blood.

Xiaoyu wondered if these rumors had been spread out of proportion by dozens of people.

She was in a trance when she heard a voice from outside: "We are passing Minliu Street ahead. The road is bumpy. Prince Wang and Miss Xiaoyu are sitting firmly."

Minliu Street means that the residents here are constantly changing, and it is a densely populated but unstable place in the city. In other words, the people living here are a mixed bunch, and both the houses and the roads are extremely dilapidated.

It's a great place to escape.

Xiaoyu's right hand touched the soft knife sewn into the belt.

When she was about to make a move, her eyes inadvertently fell on Zhou Xunran's pale lips. According to what Zhu Zongguan said, he was poisoned just to save the little emperor he assisted. If such a person who dared to risk his life was really killed by him, it would be a blessing or a curse for the court.

After thinking too much, Xiaoyu shook his head and threw away all these ridiculous ideas in his mind.

When she came to Jieyoumen to join the killer organization, the first lesson she heard was that you must not empathize with the target of assassination. No matter whether the other party is old, weak, sick, or pregnant, you are only allowed to have one thought, that is, the other party is just your assassination target. Kill the other party, and then leave without looking back.

Xiaoyu held the knife handle tightly.

The carriage was bumpy and unstable, and when it passed a small pothole, the whole body of the carriage shook violently. Xiaoyu's body leaned forward inertially, and he quickly reached out to grab the edge of the small wooden table. Zhou Xunran sat next to him as still as a bell, without even fluttering his eyelashes.

Xiaoyu's eyes trembled and he withdrew his right hand that was touching the knife.

"The fourth of the Thirty-Six Strategies of Killing: Kill with one blow." No matter how strong the opponent is, you must kill him with one blow and never give him any chance to fight back. But now, looking at the motionless Regent, Xiaoyu was a little unsure of his strength.

After passing Minliu Street, the carriage became smoother.

Xiaoyu leaned against the inner wall of the carriage, looking at the Regent who still had his eyes closed, and recalled her actions over the past few days. She inexplicably felt that something was wrong. But if she wanted to explain it in detail, she couldn't say it.

Zhou Xunran on the opposite side suddenly opened his eyes: "So quiet, what are you thinking about?"

"I never thought that the prince would be so handsome." Xiaoyu said with a smile.

[Although this little face is fleshless, it looks smooth, but I don't know what it feels like to touch. If I reach out and touch it now, thinking that the carriage is unstable, will he kill me? Oh, if I had known earlier, I would have taken advantage of the bumpy ride just now. ]

Zhou Xunran looked at her without saying a word.

Xiaoyu awkwardly changed the subject: "Your Majesty, what are we going to do at the Imperial Academy?"

"Cao Ming, a student at the Imperial College, joined forces with a group of people and beat their teacher. Cao Ming was born into a noble family and his father was the Minister of the Chancellery of the current dynasty. The people at the Imperial College did not dare to make a decision, so they sent the news to the mansion." Zhou Xunran said.

Xiaoyu nodded half-knowingly: "Oh~~ Beating the Master is indeed an important matter."

As the words fell, the speed of the carriage outside gradually slowed down, and Zhou Yi said, "Prince, we have arrived at the Imperial Academy."

Zhou Xunran withdrew his gaze from Xiaoyu and said, "Get out of the car."

Xiaoyu said "Oh" and got off the car first, then she saw him walking down slowly on the wooden stool.

Dozens of people were already waiting at the gate of the Imperial College. When they saw him coming down, they cried as if they had seen a savior, "My Lord, my Lord, you are finally here."

Zhou Xunran walked in front: "How is Master Li?"

Xiaoyu followed behind, walking with Zhou Yi: "Guardian Zhou, is the Shangshu Ling a very important official?"

Zhou Yi nodded: "On par with the prince."

Xiaoyu raised an eyebrow. It turned out that today's duel was not between Taixue and Cao Ming, but between Zhou Xunran and Shangshu Ling.

The group was walking forward when suddenly a noisy sound came from the bend ahead. Five or six people in blue student uniforms were pulling the frantic boy in the front.

The young man, with ragged clothes and a red face, shouted at the group of people, especially Zhou Xunran who was in the front: "Zhou Xunran! Hurry up and tell them to let me go! Otherwise, I will make you pay for it!"

Xiaoyu admired him so much that he wanted to give him a thumbs up.

But this young man really doesn't know his place. If he had pretended to be good after committing a crime, and with the reputation of his father being the Minister of the Chancellery, Zhou Xunran would have let him go even for the sake of consideration.

Now he is scolding the person in front of so many people. He is really not afraid of death.

She even saw Zhou Yi's hand holding the sword trembling.

Xiaoyu was walking behind and couldn't see Zhou Xunran's expression, but she was also sensitive to the atmosphere suddenly becoming silent.

Cao Ming was no fool, so he naturally felt the atmosphere on the scene.

Many teachers and students from the Imperial College came out from the darkness to watch the excitement. Zhou Xunran did not say anything to drive them away. They came closer and closer, and Xiaoyu could even hear their discussions.

Most of them talked about how Cao Ming was arrogant and bullied his classmates. Some people were just watching the show and said that Zhou Xunran didn't dare to punish Cao Ming. As soon as he said this, he was refuted, saying that Zhou Xunran and the Shangshu Ling had a long-standing grudge, and he valued the Imperial Academy, so he would definitely stand up for the teacher who was beaten this time.

The discussions became louder and louder, and Cao Ming finally felt scared.

His legs were trembling slightly, and his body was swaying in the air. He didn't fall down because someone around him supported him in time. Young people care about their face and self-esteem. Until now, Cao Ming still threatened with a hard face: "Zhou Xunran! If you dare to touch me, my father will not let you go!"

The Cao family had only this one son, and they usually protected him like a treasure, which led to his lawless character.

Although Cao Ming's friends were all rich or noble and came from wealthy families, they were still young and inexperienced people. They kept their heads down and only dared to hold Cao Ming's hand and did not dare to do anything else.

Zhou Xunran's voice was very soft, but amid Cao Ming's noisy voice, it was still clearly heard by everyone.

"According to the rules of the academy, bullying classmates and beating teachers are both punishable by seventy strokes of the cane. Publicly insulting an official of the imperial court starts at thirty strokes of the cane. For the sake of the Shangshu Ling, I will use the lightest punishment of thirty strokes of the cane. Zhou Yi, go and beat them up and send them to the Shangshu Ling's residence. Tell them that if they have any objections to my punishment, they can come to the palace."

Xiaoyu secretly took a deep breath. Thirty strokes of the cane, let alone seventy, would be enough to break the boy's hands. From now on, he would not be able to write, and even his daily life would probably be a problem.

Among the teachers of the Imperial College who were following nearby, someone moved his body, probably wanting to plead for mercy, but Zhou Xunran glanced at him, and he lowered his head and pretended to be a quail, hiding among the teachers.