At the beginning
September of the nineteenth year of the Dajing reign (1278).
As the Empress Dowager's birthday approached, Princess Mingzhao prayed for her well-being but accidentally burned a Buddha statue sent from a foreign country. The Emperor was furious and punished the princess by confining her to her own palace.
The emperor didn't specify how long the confinement would last, and even if he had, Mingzhao himself might not have complied.
Here, in a secluded private room of a restaurant in the capital, a thin figure was huddled up.
Rouge deftly hung up the curtain on the princess couch, looked at the person huddled up in a ball, and sighed helplessly.
"Your Highness, the one you're looking for is still waiting for you in the 'land of gentle pleasures'... Have you forgotten? We're here to ask someone for a favor..."
Xiao Yu remained huddled in bed, unmoved by Yan Zhi's persuasion, his eyes tightly closed, displaying an attitude of refusing to communicate.
Her mind was in complete disarray, or rather, everything before her seemed to be beyond her comprehension.
She used the alias Xiao Yu, codenamed "Di Ting," and was a police undercover agent in the Golden Triangle. After her identity was accidentally exposed, she was chased and hacked for ten blocks by criminals. To escape the pursuit, she jumped into the sea to survive.
Then, I opened my eyes and found myself here.
She awoke from the hard bed and saw the woman who called herself "Rouge," her pupils shrinking in shock.
Rouge greeted her with concern, her eyes full of worry: "Your Highness, are you having a nightmare? Please have a cup of tea to calm your nerves."
Xiao Yu stared at the teacup so close to her face, her gaze shifting between Rouge's smiling face and the tea. Finally, she made up her mind, and under Rouge's watchful gaze, casually took the teacup and drank it all in one gulp.
"When will they arrive?" To ease the uncomfortable atmosphere, Xiao Yu continued, following up on Yan Zhi's words, while occasionally glancing furtively at her surroundings.
Within sight are sets of solid wood furniture, and not far away there is a screen that divides the space. A small number of exquisite porcelain pieces are displayed on the left-hand display case.
Rouge was also dressed in a round-necked long robe, with silk flowers adorning her temples, looking every bit like someone in ancient costume.
Looking down at herself, she was taking a nap, and her inner garment was made of high-quality silk.
Xiao Yu:......
She closed her eyes in despair.
While Rouge went out to check if anyone was there, she slowly accepted reality.
At first, she thought she might have eaten too many mushrooms and was experiencing some kind of "aftereffect." But after she caught her breath, she realized that the truth was far more unsettling than poisoning.
Rouge couldn't understand why Her Highness, who had been cooperating so well just moments before, would suddenly change her mind.
She calculated the time with her fingers and thought to herself that if she didn't go soon, what happened next would be beyond her control. Rouge couldn't help but feel anxious.
She urged Xiao Yu to put on his coat, hurriedly tidied up the princess, and then urged her to hurry out.
This made Xiao Yu wary.
Rouge hurried along, leading her through the deserted corridor, twisting and turning as she walked deeper into the woods.
As Xiao Yu walked along the corridor, she could observe more of the situation. This place was a restaurant, and she was located on the third floor. In the central hall downstairs, guests surrounded her, and a singing girl sat gracefully in the center of the dance floor, casually playing the zither.
She looked down into the increasingly dark corridor, stopped by the railing, and asked, her tone unreadable: "Shall we go further in?"
Startled by her question, Rouge quickly turned around, took the Third Princess's arm, and half-pushed, half-pulled her inside.
"Of course! This is an extremely important person..."
Xiao Yu reached out and pushed her away uncomfortably, but suddenly his whole body stiffened and he fell backward.
We can't delay any longer... the Embroidered Uniform Guard...
The sound was like a steel needle piercing her temple, fiercely scratching her brain. Her vision went black for a moment, and she suddenly felt suffocated and dizzy.
Rouge quickly caught her and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong, Your Highness?"
Xiao Yu wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she sensed a hidden excitement in Yan Zhi's voice.
As for the noise that appeared out of nowhere in her mind, Xiao Yu simply assumed it was an auditory hallucination caused by her high level of mental tension.
With Rouge's help, she quickly composed herself, her expression obscure and unreadable.
Rouge felt intimidated by her appearance and, unsure of herself, hesitantly tried to persuade the princess further.
Xiao Yu merely glared at her and shoved her away, showing no sign of her earlier weakness, but Yan Zhi knew she was just putting on a brave face.
The medicine she had given herself was working, and she licked the tip of her teeth.
Xiao Yu walked past Yan Zhi and went inside on her own, seemingly without any guard. She reached the end of the corridor and felt no human presence around her.
She turned around abruptly. The deep corridor was lined with closed rooms on both sides. Light shone from where she had just stood, and the noisy laughter of the guests stirred her uneasy nerves.
The rouge has disappeared.
Xiao Yu knew something was wrong and quickly chased after her, but this was all a carefully planned scheme that wouldn't give her a moment to breathe.
The door to the left wing room opened at some point, and a strange man blocked her way. Taking advantage of Xiao Yu's momentary daze, he grabbed her by the neck and dragged her into the room.
Xiao Yu was completely exhausted and unable to resist. She was pressed firmly against the door. She desperately grabbed the man's arm, her adrenaline surging, and she twisted the man's arm and pulled hard.
The man let out a painful scream.
This was a trap. Xiao Yu broke out in a cold sweat. Rouge had drugged the tea she had been served not long ago. She was used to walking a tightrope and had taken precautions. While Rouge went out to keep watch, she spat out all the tea that was pressed under her tongue.
However, since the substance had been in her mouth, and she was afraid that the other party might change their mind and come up with even more drastic measures, she didn't take a chance to rinse her mouth.
The lingering effects of the medication left her feeling extremely weak, and she needed to finish the job quickly.
Not knowing how much longer he could hold on, Xiao Yu prioritized survival.
Ignoring everything else, she kicked the man to the ground, lunged forward, and tightly gripped his neck with both arms. Driven by extreme fear, her actions were almost muscle memory; she only collapsed to the side, exhausted, after the man had stopped breathing.
She scrambled to her feet, looking disheveled. The room was dimly lit, with only a candlestick. She stepped forward and, by the candlelight, surveyed her surroundings.
Fortunately, there was nowhere else in the house where someone could hide, so she was safe for the time being.
Xiao Yu's mind was in turmoil. As a staunch materialist, he found it difficult to comprehend the current situation.
Her brain was overloaded by the massive amount of information, but her professional instincts as an undercover agent prevented her from panicking too much. Instead, she focused on gathering clues.
She glanced at the unconscious man. She hadn't killed him earlier because she was exhausted, and since she didn't know when he would wake up, it would be better to leave quickly.
Most importantly, find Rouge first and find out the purpose of her trip.
Outside, bursts of music and vocals drifted in, each note louder than the last. Xiao Yu already had a plan in mind. Although she didn't understand the situation yet, she would take it one step at a time. She had always been very confident in her tightrope walking skills.
So Xiao Yu tentatively pushed open the door, and after confirming that there was no danger outside, he leisurely pushed the door open.
Unexpectedly, Rouge, who had been missing for a while, reappeared before her.
Moreover, judging from the situation, she seemed to have been keeping watch nearby. Seeing that there was no movement inside for a long time, she became worried and wanted to check the situation, and then bumped into Xiao Yu who came out from inside.
Xiao Yu's first reaction upon seeing Rouge was to reach behind him for his gun, but he grabbed nothing but air, so he stared at her with some unease.
Seeing Xiao Yu's inscrutable expression, Yan Zhi tentatively called out to him, "Your Highness?"
Xiao Yu stood motionless at the doorway, staring intently at the maid, his burning gaze seeming to want to burn a hole in her face.
Rouge lowered her head, recalling the rumors about the princess. She had already fooled the Third Princess once, and the princess probably already knew what was going on.
But the third princess was not angry; she remained as quiet as a deep pool.
She carefully approached him, forcing a fawning smile: "You seem to prefer these teas and snacks when you're discussing business. I was worried you wouldn't like the food at Xuanlan Courtyard, so I went to remind you..."
Xiao Yu interrupted her with a cold laugh: "You're really going all out, Rouge. I won't have any tea or snacks for now. How are you going to clean up this mess?"
"Your Highness?"
Xiao Yu opened the door wide, and Rouge could see everything inside the room, especially the man lying on the ground like a corpse.
Rouge pretended not to understand and came forward with a smile, wanting to take her hand.
Xiao Yu deftly dodged her grip and tried to walk out, but the effects of the drug were taking hold and her vision was becoming blurry.
She couldn't continue dealing with this person; her intuition told her she had to leave immediately.
But how could Rouge possibly do as she wished?
Rouge's smiling face turned into a ghost in the gradually blurring vision. Xiao Yu staggered and pushed her away, walking out. She was in a very bad state, as if something was flowing out of her nose.
It's a nosebleed.
Just moments ago, Rouge was respectful and gentle, but the instant she was pushed away, her hands moved like eagle claws, grabbing Xiao Yu's wrists.
Xiao Yu's throbbing pain in her temples intensified, and her nosebleed wouldn't stop, staining her sleeve. Rouge came up to her with concern and asked, "Your Highness! What's wrong? Should we go inside and take care of it?"
Xiao Yu waved his hands repeatedly.
"I feel a bit hot... I want to go out for some fresh air." Xiao Yu pried open Yan Zhi's "iron clamps," the dull pain following him everywhere.
Before she could maneuver for long, Yan Zhi seemed determined to send her inside. Xiao Yu became even more convinced of her intuition, and her will to survive compelled her to make a quick decision to go outside.
Rouge knew that her plan had been exposed, and any glimmer of hope she had left vanished. She hurriedly tore off her hairpin, determined to follow the instructions and leave the person here no matter what!
That was no ordinary hairpin; its tip concealed a secret. With a gentle twist, a three-inch-long poisoned steel needle would pop out. Rouge held it and stabbed it ruthlessly and accurately at the back of Xiao Yu's neck!
Everything went as Xiao Yu had predicted; she had been waiting for this moment.
When people attack, they often forget to defend themselves—this was the first lesson she learned when she was learning close combat.
Although Xiao Yu was exhausted, she still had a way to deal with it. She caught a glimpse of a cold light out of the corner of her eye, and she used the skillful force to block with her arm and kick Rouge in the abdomen.
Rouge was caught off guard by the attack. She never imagined that the drugged princess could unleash such strength. Her back slammed against the door, and the hairpin in her hand slipped out of her hand.
Xiao Yu chuckled sinisterly. With blood and sweat, the effects of the medicine had mostly worn off.
She picked up the hairpin, giving Rouge no chance to retaliate, gestured at Rouge, and nodded: "Since you're in such a hurry to shove me into the house, let's go in and talk now."
When Xiao Yu met Yan Zhi's terrified expression, the tension was diluted by the intense stimulation, and she found her most comfortable state.
Rouge struggled to run outside, using both her hands and feet. She dared not cry for help, which was exactly what Xiao Yu had expected.
Xiao Yu licked her lips, the metallic taste of blood filling her throat. Her mind cleared a bit more. She grabbed Yan Zhi's hair and dragged her into the house.
The music outside masked their commotion, so Xiao Yu closed the door, shutting out the noise.
When Xiao Yu was working undercover, she was highly regarded by the leader "Mountain Tiger". "Mountain Tiger" taught this naive girl many skills, such as unconventional interrogation methods.
Before returning to normal society after working undercover, people need to undergo psychological intervention and desensitization because the environment they have lived in for a long time is always so dark and brutal—making it difficult for them to integrate into normal life.
She deftly removed Rouge's hands and feet, rendering her immobile. After finishing, Xiao Yu tore the gag out of Rouge's mouth and looked at her face contorted in pain, feeling a great sense of relief.
She listened to the sounds outside; it was bustling with noise, but she didn't make any noise that would attract attention.
Xiao Diting checked whether the man who had tried to strangle her earlier showed any signs of waking up, and then blew out the only candle in the room.
She really liked the dimly lit, enclosed interrogation environment.
"Who exactly are you?" Xiao Yu looked at her calmly, his voice devoid of emotion.
The "maid" made a hissing sound in her throat, her face contorted in a grimace. Instead of answering, she retorted, "Don't you know who I am?"
Xiao Yu glanced at her with some disdain: "Rouge, isn't this how you treat your master?"
"Pah! I only pledge allegiance to that lord. Your lack of cooperation today will not be tolerated by him!" Rouge's face flushed red, her voice hoarse as she spat at Xiao Yu in resentment.
Xiao Yu kicked her to the ground, watching her curl up in pain: "You mean, even though I am a princess of the current dynasty, there is someone who can be superior to me?"
Rouge was panting heavily. Xiao Yu lifted her skirt and, with a haughty air, raised the tip of his embroidered shoe adorned with pearls and tapped her abdomen.
"Hmm? Is that what you mean?"
"You... betrayed that lord, he won't let you get away with this..."
Xiao Yu chuckled and slowly squatted down, almost with pity, reaching out to lift Rouge's head, playing with the hairpin that belonged to Rouge in his hand, and then pointing the tip at her eyes.
"Stop talking nonsense, it's just the same few sentences over and over again." Xiao Yu slowly guided her, "Just answer whatever I ask, that way you'll eat less bone."
Rouge's breathing grew heavier and heavier. Xiao Yu held her firmly in his hands, his eyes as cold as blades. Rouge had never seen such a chilling expression before.
She raised her head defiantly, swallowed the bloody saliva in her throat with difficulty, and stared tremblingly into Xiao Yu's eyes.
Those eyes were no longer as still and calm as before; they shone brightly, as if their inner world had changed.
Then came a chilling smile: "The goods from Huaizhou... you could only get involved by begging the lord... the Embroidered Uniform Guard won't let you go..."
Rouge suddenly started coughing violently. Xiao Yu had a bad feeling, frowned, and slowly released his hand: "What do you mean?"
Rouge coughed until she looked like she wouldn't stop until she coughed up her internal organs. Xiao Yu was afraid she would choke to death, so he stepped in to comfort her.
Rouge took a while to catch her breath and stared intently at Xiao Yu.
She recalled the terrifying rumors about the princess, and a sliver of courage suddenly arose in her face as she faced death.
Then, emphasizing each word, he said, "You are a monster, you will go to hell."
As if to echo her words, the outdoor scene of singing and dancing was suddenly filled with the sound of neat and powerful footsteps, like a tide.
After the chaos subsided, a firm and powerful roar pierced through the door: "The Embroidered Uniform Guard is investigating the case; those who disobey will be killed without exception!"
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