Lin Zhi stayed by the well, while Yan Shiyu hurriedly turned around and rushed towards the front hall.
The night wind carried a chill, blowing against his hurried steps, his clothes fluttering in the wind, just like his feelings at that moment—tense and excited.
At this moment, Chen Zhennan had not yet rested and was checking the personnel information in the Xiang residence when hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.
She raised her head slightly, looking towards the doorway. "Who's outside?"
"Your Majesty, it's me. I have important news to report!"
Upon hearing Yan Shiyu's voice, Chen Zhennan nodded and said, "The door isn't locked, come in."
Yan Shiyu pushed open the door and knelt down on one knee in front of Chen Zhennan.
"Your Majesty, a secret passage has been discovered in the well in the back garden. Its destination is unknown. I sent someone down to investigate, but he was killed by a poisoned needle. It should be the same poisoned needle used to assassinate Xiang Hao."
As he spoke, Yan Shiyu reached out and took out the poisoned needle that Lin Zhi had caught earlier, and gently held it in his hand.
Upon hearing this, Chen Zhennan immediately became interested, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, as if he had discovered a ray of light in the darkness.
"Let's go take a look!"
After saying that, Chen Zhennan stood up and quickly led Yan Shiyu to the back garden.
Chen Zhennan wanted to go forward to check, but Yan Shiyu stopped him.
"Your Majesty, someone has released hidden weapons from the entrance of the well! It's extremely dangerous!"
After thinking for a moment, Chen Zhennan pushed Yan Shiyu aside and walked to the edge of the well to look down.
As soon as he peeked out, a flying needle shot out of the well, pointing straight at Chen Zhennan's forehead.
Chen Zhennan's eyes widened, his pupils reflecting the cold glint of the flying needles, and time seemed to freeze at that moment.
"Watch out!" Yan Shiyu shouted, reaching out to grab Chen Zhennan.
Chen Zhennan reacted quickly, tilting his head back without thinking, and the flying needle flew across his nose.
The flying needle grazed the tip of his nose, bringing a cool sensation, before embedding itself deeply into the tree trunk behind him.
Chen Zhennan's heart was pounding in his chest; it was so dangerous, but thankfully he was mentally prepared.
Taking a deep breath, Chen Zhennan calmed himself down and slowly straightened up.
Chen Zhennan stood beside the ancient well, his brows furrowed, his gaze fixed intently on the well opening.
After thinking for a moment, Chen Zhennan suddenly ordered, "Notify Wang Xiao to seal off the entire city and send out the Imperial Guards to conduct a thorough search outside the south side of the city. There must be a secret passage!"
The two team members standing nearby nodded upon hearing this, and then quickly left to relay the order.
"Immediately prepare the grappling hook to retrieve the bodies of the team members from the well."
Upon hearing this, Yan Shiyu hurriedly ordered someone to fetch a grappling hook, and it took a great deal of effort to retrieve the team member's body.
It was very late, and although the moon was large and the light was plentiful, the situation in the well was still unclear.
Yan Shiyu understood Chen Zhennan's thoughts and stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty, I will go down and take a look myself."
Upon hearing this, Chen Zhennan shook his head and refused without even thinking.
"No, that's too dangerous."
After thinking for a moment, Chen Zhennan suddenly reached into Yan Shiyu's waist and pulled out a grenade. He pulled the pin, waited two seconds, and then threw it into the well.
"Your Majesty, what is this..." Yan Shiyu's words were interrupted by a loud noise.
The smoking grenade had just touched the water when it exploded with a deafening roar, causing the ground to tremble.
The blast wave sent rocks flying from the wellhead, and a wave of heat hit everyone, causing them to take a few steps back.
"With such a huge explosion, even if the people down there don't die, they'll be stunned." Chen Zhennan smiled coldly and slowly walked to the edge of the well to look down.
Yan Shiyu stepped forward, and was about to step down when Chen Zhennan stopped him again.
"Take it."
Chen Zhennan handed his pistol to Yan Shiyu and said, "Shiyu, be very careful."
Yan Shiyu took the pistol, grabbed the rope, and jumped into the well.
"Your Majesty, rest assured, await my news."
Yan Shiyu gripped the rope and slowly descended. The well was dimly lit, with only faint moonlight filtering through the opening, forming weak beams of light.
Yan Shiyu adjusted his breathing, keeping his pistol pointed at the hole, ready to fire at any moment.
The air in the well was filled with the smell of gunpowder and damp earth, which made his nose feel uncomfortable.
As the rope slowly descended, Yan Shiyu finally arrived near the cave entrance. He scanned the area around the entrance, trying to find any possible clues.
There was no one left in the cave, and the entrance had collapsed due to the impact of the grenade explosion.
Yan Shiyu gritted his teeth. Although he didn't know what was going on inside, his recent setbacks had frustrated him greatly. He made up his mind to go in and take a look.
"Is there any situation inside?" Chen Zhennan's voice came from above again, tinged with anxiety.
"Not yet, the entrance is blocked, I'm clearing it," Yan Shiyu replied, his voice tinged with weariness, but even more so with determination.
Upon hearing this, Chen Zhennan hurriedly reminded him, "Shiyu, don't be reckless, be careful of ambushes!"
"Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will be careful!"
After some effort, Yan Shiyu finally cleared a hole large enough for them to pass through.
Taking a deep breath, Yan Shiyu crawled into the hole.
The air inside the cave was murky, carrying a damp and earthy smell, which made him frown.
Yan Shiyu's footsteps echoed in the narrow tunnel, each step cautious, as if he might shatter the fragile tranquility at any moment.
On the tunnel walls, damp water droplets dripped, making a soft pattering sound that mingled with his heavy breathing, creating a somber atmosphere.
He could feel that as he went deeper into the tunnel, the space gradually became wider, eventually allowing him to stand up straight.
"This tunnel..."
Yan Shiyu muttered to himself, a hint of surprise in his voice, as he gently rubbed his palm against the wall.
"It seems this is not a temporary secret passage, but something that was prepared long ago."
The tunnel was pitch black, and Yan Shiyu struggled to adjust his eyes to the impenetrable darkness.
Yan Shiyu didn't bring a torch; in this dark tunnel, he couldn't see anything.
Although I desperately wanted to find the exit through the secret passage, I knew that if someone was lying in ambush, I would surely die.
Yan Shiyu sighed. Although he wasn't afraid of taking risks, it would be too foolish to throw his life away for nothing.
With a sigh, Yan Shiyu had no choice but to retreat from the cave entrance and grab the rope to be pulled up.
Yan Shiyu returned to the ground, the moonlight shining on his face, and he felt a long-lost sense of peace.
He quickly gave a brief account of the situation in the tunnel. Chen Zhennan had no better ideas after hearing it and could only wait until dawn to discuss it further.
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from the archway, and Wang Xiao led two imperial guards through the door.
"Your Majesty, thirteen secret passages have been discovered outside the south gate of the city. Five assassins have been captured, but... they all died by poisoning themselves!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Zhennan frowned. Thirteen secret passages—this was an underground city built beneath the capital.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
