The night was as dark as ink, enveloping the royal villa.
The torches crackled, their flickering light casting shifting shadows around them.
The Imperial Guards stood in rows, fully armored, armed with sharp weapons, standing silently and solemnly.
In stark contrast to the seemingly lax defenses of the past, the atmosphere in the villa was now solemn and heavy, as if even the air itself had stopped moving.
The perimeter was not limited to the outer perimeter, but extended directly into the inner courtyard corridors, where heavily armored guards could be seen everywhere.
Dressed in full armor and covered in the cold dew of the night, Meng Jian strode through the heavy guards and into the courtyard.
Something must have happened in the palace.
Otherwise, given my grandfather's calm and collected nature, he would never have suddenly mobilized a large number of imperial guards, much less have he brazenly imposed a city-wide curfew.
Moreover, all the imperial heirs are currently in the palace.
He was anxious and kept asking questions, but his grandfather only replied with a stern face, "His life is not in danger," and said nothing more, only that he would know the answer tomorrow.
During this half-day, Meng Jian was busy deploying the imperial guards in the city, densely covering key streets, and focusing on reinforcing the city gates.
The Beijing garrison also canceled all rest days and holidays, and all soldiers were on high alert, with their weapons fully prepared. A sense of impending doom permeated the entire city of Fengjing.
Only after all the city's defenses were arranged was he able to extricate himself and hurriedly head to the villa where Princess Shuofeng was being held captive.
"Deputy Commander."
The soldiers guarding the inner courtyard clasped their hands in salute.
Meng Jian's expression was solemn. He nodded slightly in response, but continued walking straight to the innermost courtyard without stopping.
"Deputy Commander, everything in the compound is normal, and there are no abnormalities."
A captain stepped forward and reported in a low voice.
Without uttering a word, Meng Jian walked straight to the tightly closed door, and without warning, raised his hand and roughly pushed it open.
The creaking sound of the door hinges turning was particularly jarring in the quiet night.
The room was dimly lit, with only a lone lamp on the table, barely dispelling the darkness in one corner.
Princess Xiao Yunshuo of Shuofeng sat alone under the lamp, dressed in a plain long robe of ordinary material without any decoration. The wide sleeves made her look even thinner.
Her black hair was simply tied up, without any hairpins or jewelry. She exuded a refined and scholarly air that was completely out of place in this luxurious villa, as calm as a deep pool.
Meng Jian burst in, his armor radiating a chilling aura, bringing with it the biting night wind from outside. Two completely different auras clashed violently in the confined space.
He strode into the house, his movements creating a whistling sound.
With a loud clang, the sword at his waist was suddenly drawn.
A flash of cold light, and the sharp tip of the sword was already precisely pressed against Xiao Yunshuo's fair neck.
The skin felt the coldness and sharpness of the sword's edge, and slightly indented.
Xiao Yunshuo's long eyelashes trembled slightly, but his expression did not change much.
He simply raised his eyes slowly, his gaze calmly meeting that of the menacing general before him.
"What exactly happened in the Shuofeng Dynasty?"
Meng Jian's wrist remained as steady as a rock, and the tip of his sword did not tremble in the slightest.
"What is the purpose of your trip to the capital?"
Although my grandfather did not explicitly state what exactly happened in the palace, he clearly indicated that a major upheaval was likely to occur in the northern border.
The arrival of this Princess Shuofeng in the capital seems suspicious no matter how you look at it.
The mission initially presented its credentials stating that both countries intended to restart peace talks, and that she herself admired the great success of the women's imperial examination system and had come specifically to learn and exchange ideas.
I did participate in the entire provincial examination, but the so-called peace talks never materialized.
Xiao Yunshuo met his sharp, hawk-like gaze and slowly shook his head.
"What I said is not an exaggeration. This trip was only to participate in the provincial examination and experience the flourishing literary scene of Daqian."
As for the rest, I truly know nothing.
"I have rarely been involved in the affairs of the court and military, for I am of low status and have no way of knowing anything about them."
The atmosphere inside the room was so oppressive it was suffocating.
Even with a sword pointed at her throat and her life hanging by a thread, her eyes remained clear, showing no fear or panic.
Is this the truth, or is it just extreme cunning?
Staring intently into her eyes, Meng Jian found it difficult to discern anything for a moment.
A few breaths later, he abruptly sheathed his sword, the wind from the blade sweeping past and lifting a few strands of hair from his temples.
He didn't look at her again, but turned to the door and shouted in a deep voice:
"Bring it up!"
As soon as the order was given, two imperial guards brought in a person shortly afterward. It was Xiao Yunshuo's only personal maid who had brought him to the capital this time.
He acted roughly and without any mercy, throwing the maid to the ground.
His knees slammed heavily against the cold, hard floor tiles, producing a dull thud that made your teeth ache.
The maid groaned in pain, her face turning deathly pale, but she bit her lip tightly, refusing to cry out or beg for mercy.
Xiao Yunshuo's usually calm expression finally changed slightly. She looked at Meng Jian, her tone clearly showing anger.
“Commander Meng, to threaten me, a mere maid, with my life is far too despicable and lacks gentlemanly conduct.”
Meng Jian ignored the rebuke, his face as cold and stern as iron.
The next moment, he flicked his wrist, and the long sword pierced straight through the maid's chest with lightning speed!
Pfft—
The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh was exceptionally clear, and blood gushed out instantly, staining the maid's plain-colored clothes red.
"you!"
Xiao Yunshuo suddenly stood up, his face drained of color, revealing for the first time an expression of anxiety, shock, and anger.
Meng Chi's hand holding the sword remained as steady as a rock, his expression unmoved, and his gaze, like an icy blade, locked onto Xiao Yunshuo once more.
"Second Princess of Shuofeng, can you speak now?"
Xiao Yunshuo's chest heaved violently as he looked at the maid writhing in pain on the ground, blood gushing out.
"I told you! I don't know anything!"
"I'm just a princess with no real power or influence; I hold absolutely no official position in the court! What do you expect me to say!"
The next moment, Meng Jian abruptly withdrew his longsword.
A spray of warm blood splattered onto the floor tiles, blooming into startling red plum blossoms.
He no longer looked at the maid who was lying on the ground groaning, nor at Xiao Yunshuo whose face was pale, leaving only a chilling sentence.
"You'd better pray that everything is peaceful in the North, otherwise..."
The meaning is clear even before the words are finished.
He turned and strode away.
The door slammed shut with a loud bang, cutting off the two worlds.
The footsteps quickly faded into the distance.
Inside the room, Xiao Yunshuo immediately rushed forward, knelt down, and hurriedly hugged his maid.
"Ah Yue!"
The maid named A-Yue had blood foam at the corner of her mouth and was breathing weakly.
"Princess……"
Xiao Yunshuo frantically checked the injuries, his fingertips trembling as they touched the warm blood.
Meng Jian's sword strike precisely avoided a vital point.
But without timely medical treatment and medicine, she could only watch helplessly as Ah Yue bled to death, dying slowly and painfully.
What a cruel heart!
What a vicious method!
Xiao Yunshuo held the dying maid tightly in his arms, looked up at the closed door, and for the first time, his eyes flashed with intense hatred and fear.
Father... what have you done?!
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