Frost Flower
The wooden box made a dull thud, as if it had fallen on a soft object.
Jiang Nian had seen this kind of wooden box before when he was scouting the Huachao meeting place. It was usually used to store miscellaneous items. In order to make it easier to take things out, both sides were designed with wooden boards that could be freely opened.
According to the placement of the wooden box in front of you, since the top can be lifted up, there is no place to directly reach out and take it, so the place with the round hole dug out is the bottom.
There is indeed something in here.
But rather than a dead object, Jiang Nian was more inclined to think that it was a hiding guest.
But who would hide or escape in such a conspicuous place?
With a hint of doubt in his heart, Jiang Nian pushed the box.
The edge of the box felt cold and hard, and there was a heavy object leaning firmly underneath, hindering her ability to push forward.
“…”
All around was the sound of the wind passing through the treetops. The wooden door behind him remained only a crack open, silently gazing at the only person on the corridor.
There was no one lurking anywhere she could sense. Should she speak now?
Jiang Nian raised his hand and knocked lightly on the wooden box, waiting for a response from inside.
Unfortunately, the "object" inside, or the living creature that can be called a human, did not give a direct response.
The sun was setting, and a blood-red lingered in the sky. The wooden floor of the corridor reflected long, dark shadows.
We can't drag this on any longer.
As night approaches, the temperature here drops sharply and the range of movement becomes smaller.
This is very disadvantageous for them.
I don’t know what Ai’s situation is like, but for her... staying stagnant is not a solution.
Jiang Nian took a deep breath, turned around and closed the door that was inviting her to enter Shichan Hall, then lifted up the box stacked on top of the wooden boxes on the ground.
The orange-red light shone through the edge of the iron sheet, reflecting a sharp golden edge. As the wooden box was moved away little by little, the figure hidden at the bottom of the box was revealed.
When Jiang Nian saw the people inside, he was stunned and felt caught off guard.
—
Thin clouds were lingering in the sky, and several people under the tree were standing in defensive postures, facing each other.
In order to choose a good viewing angle, Ai did not approach the wishing tree directly this time, but chose to stop above a building not far away.
The railings that prevented guests from falling happened to be her best cover. Through the gaps in the railings, Ai lowered her eyes and looked at the open space below with an expressionless face.
The crowd headed by Meng Yao half-surrounded Meng Yao. Meng Yao stood under a tree, holding a half-turned prayer note in his hand that had not yet been read out. Because it was blocked by the green leaves on the treetops, Ai could not see the expression on his face at this time.
Among the group of people standing a little further away from the tree, the figure in the lead was relatively unfamiliar. Perhaps it was someone he had not seen when he handed it over to Yu He.
Ai's five senses have been specially trained since childhood and are much more sensitive than those of ordinary people.
At this distance, it is not difficult to hear their conversation clearly.
"...According to you, those who were forced to participate in the experiment were all volunteers?"
"Indeed."
"Although their actions may appear rude at times, their nature remains unchanged."
The person protecting Meng Yao glanced at Meng Yao, then understood what Meng Yao meant from the alternating glances, and answered the other party's question.
“…”
The other party fell silent, but the person standing behind him who was just making up the numbers obviously disagreed and protested loudly.
"How is that possible?! If it was voluntary, then why would I be taken away peacefully?"
"Besides, if what you said is true, then why are we here today? And why are we able to gather so many people?"
"After we were rescued, the Wu Mi people said they would give us an answer! But then nothing happened..."
"Are you surprised to see us here?"
“——”
The man wanted to say something, but the leader raised his hand to stop him.
"Fifth Prince, we did not mean to disturb your grand gathering today."
"It's just that some things will be too late if they are not settled."
"Please bear with me."
He didn't intend to wait for Meng Yao to react, and prepared to have the people around him surround the wishing tree, as if he wanted to capture Meng Yao alive.
Ai lowered her head and quietly observed their movements. After a moment, a hint of surprise appeared on her face.
A person who had never been expected appeared under the wishing tree.
“…”
Strange, shouldn't this person only appear in the palace?
Ai blinked, looked away, and looked around, but did not see Xiao Yingzhu.
This time, only those who were very close to Qin Lan and Xiao Yingzhu knew about their actions. In other words, apart from Jiang Nian and her, the only ones who knew about it were Xiao Yingzhu's secret guard and Yan.
Their mission is mainly on the soldiers of Huachaohui, not here.
And Xiao Yingzhu himself cannot be seen here.
What is the reason why Frost is here?
Because of Meng Yao?
Ai subconsciously touched the long sword at his waist, and then used the building to fly to another place.
As I changed my perspective, I noticed new movements under the wishing tree.
Meng Yao seemed not surprised that Shuanghua would appear here. Instead, he smiled and raised his hand, asking his subordinates who had been lurking nearby to appear.
Seeing the person held in the subordinate's hand, Shuanghua frowned.
In her daily classes, she had received courses on horseback riding and archery, and after the battle of Shenjiang, because of Xiao Yingzhu, she conducted more in-depth research on courses related to this type of weapon.
Although she is not as good as those top secret guards who have been specially trained and dispatched to various places, Shuanghua still has a great chance of winning against ordinary soldiers or guards alone.
Meng Yao knew Shuanghua's skills, so when his eyes looked behind her where no one was, his expression suddenly darkened.
"What is your purpose in coming here, Princess?"
Shuanghua calmly glanced at the group of people behind Meng Yao, and her gaze shifted lightly to the group of people who were confronting Meng Yao.
After a moment, she shook her head slightly and said coldly: "You are doing something wrong."
"Before the emperor finds out, you must come back with me."
“…”
Shuanghua, aside from the time she faces Xiao Yingzhu, displays a certain obsession that seems to be a product of "love" or "reluctance to let go." On ordinary days, she is usually serious and treats the things around her with a nonchalant attitude.
After waiting for Meng Yao for a few seconds, and seeing that he did not give a clear response and remained frozen in place, she sighed softly and then stroked the scabbard.
"If you really don't want to, then let me teach you."
"——The skills you learned in the capital over the years."
Meng Yao took a half step back, then turned around to let the subordinate behind him reveal his entire body.
In the hands of that subordinate, the young lady of the prefecture appeared, half-kneeling on the ground with her hands tied and her mouth covered.
"...Your Highness, you don't want anything to happen to her, do you?"
Shuanghua calmly passed by the girl on the ground with red eyes, begging to see her, and her gaze fell on Meng Yao's face again.
She has always known what this younger brother, who was doted on by their father, has always been looking for.
Although he could get everything, he never received any orders in political affairs or military affairs.
All the tasks that could expand their power and earn a place on the throne were taken away by Meng Jian, Meng Zheng and Meng Hao.
The remaining small matters can be handled even if they are handed over to useless subordinates.
Thinking of the words "sickly" that appeared in the report given by his subordinates earlier, Meng Yao felt so angry that his teeth itched.
Since he couldn't get what he wanted from his father, he had no choice but to get it himself.
If I could get the insect repellent formula from the Wu Mi people, and then destroy them completely...
Thinking of Meng Jian's fate and the reward he would receive after making great contributions, Meng Yao made up his mind.
He forced himself to suppress the trembling of fear that came from facing Shuanghua's low and cold pressure. Under the gaze of Shuanghua's cold and clear eyes, he said:
"Princess, if we each take a half step back now, we can still save face, but if we continue—"
“——”
There was a slight sound of wind, and the dust on the ground was slightly lifted up. The cold light of a sword after it was unsheathed flashed across everyone's stunned faces, reflecting the fair skin of Meng Yao's neck.
The blue blood vessels looked extremely fragile under the cold sword, as if the juice at the bottom of the tube would burst out at any moment.
A pitch-black tassel fell from the well-preserved hilt of the sword.
Meng Yao was stunned for a moment, then his pupils moved to the sword blade right below him, which was just a millimeter away from cutting his skin.
The vital part of his body was being pressed against by Shuanghua's sword, and he could die at any time.
At the critical moment, he caught a glimpse of the dark sword tassel, then raised the corners of his mouth and smiled.
"Your Highness is really nostalgic."
"Things that the Duke had long discarded are still well preserved."
"—Are you waiting to give you a chance to return it?"
The evening winds in Cang County were extremely cold and biting. They whistled as they passed under the wishing tree, mercilessly drilling into the collars and cuffs of everyone's clothes, like cold water being poured on the people who were full of enthusiasm.
Those who were still confronting Meng Yao only reacted to Shuanghua's sword swinging at this time and fell to the ground one after another.
Although they disliked Meng Yao, they had the courage to risk their lives to ask Meng Yao for an explanation.
But for Shuanghua, the famous Princess Qingping, it was good luck to meet her in person, not to mention that she was currently standing on the opposite side of Meng Yao. For her own sake, it could also be regarded as asking for an explanation for them.
Even though Shuanghua's attention is not on them now, she will definitely ask about them later.
At that time, as long as we tell Shuanghua about these things, we will definitely get a fair result that satisfies everyone, and we may even get the favor of Princess Qingping and some subsidies.
Hearing the rubbing of clothes and the dull thud of people kneeling down behind him, Shuanghua raised the sword in his hand for a moment and glanced at the guards surrounding Meng Yao who were at a loss.
"Your Highness, or that girl, choose one."
"Do you want to let that girl go, or choose to betray your Highness and hand him over to me?"
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