"You..." Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. With a gentle push, he collapsed to the ground, his head lolling to the side, motionless.
Shen Tangning looked down and saw that her fair wrists were marked with red welts. Fortunately, the ropes on her hands had finally broken, which allowed her to launch a surprise attack.
She wore an exquisite armlet on her wrist, which was inlaid with gemstones.
However, this thing is not just for decoration; it contains a hidden mechanism that can be transformed into a sharp concealed weapon with a simple press of a button, silently killing the victim.
This was specially made for her by Chi Yan after she was imprisoned.
For her, the hairpin was easy to bend and wouldn't cause much harm. The dagger was sharp, but she wasn't strong enough, and if she failed in her sneak attack, it would be easy for someone to snatch it from her.
But this kind of concealed weapon is different; it is easy to operate, and its beautiful appearance makes it easy for people to lower their guard.
Her fingertips trembled slightly as she had just killed someone.
But she didn't hesitate for long. Because she had inhaled the sleeping incense earlier, Shen Tangning's limbs were still a little weak when she stood up. The first thing she did was step forward and extinguish the incense, a look of disgust flashing in her eyes.
After smelling it for only a short while, her cheeks began to burn uncontrollably, and her heart began to beat faster.
The man's prolonged absence might arouse suspicion, prompting others to come in and investigate.
She didn't dare stay there for too long. She cautiously observed the doorway, perhaps thinking that she and Chi Jingyu wouldn't wake up so quickly because they had inhaled sleeping gas. There was no one guarding the door at the moment.
Without even glancing at Chi Jingyu on the ground, she lifted the hem of her skirt and carefully ran out the door, keeping a wary eye on her surroundings as she went.
Unexpectedly, the courtyard was quite large, somewhat resembling the layout of the villa she had previously lived in. Shen Tangning dared not walk around the courtyard too openly, and had to observe carefully before taking each step.
She almost bumped into someone, but she quickly ducked and hid behind a bush. By the time the person had passed, her clothes were soaked with cold sweat.
Touching the cold armlet, Shen Tangning felt slightly relieved.
There were four arrows left; she couldn't guarantee they'd be accurate every time, but at least it provided an extra layer of protection.
Just as she was about to get up, she suddenly heard voices coming from not far away:
"I've already sent a message to Chi Yan. When he arrives and sees such a disgusting scene, he'll probably go crazy!"
The voice was filled with triumphant pleasure. Suddenly, she pursed her lips and pinched her palms to force herself to calm down.
"Well done! He dared to go against us, let's show him what he's made of!"
She suddenly realized that these two people might be the masterminds behind her kidnapping. They were so close that she was afraid of being discovered, so she dared not make any obvious moves.
The former hesitated slightly, "But now that we've offended Chi Yan, he probably won't let this go easily!"
"What are you afraid of? A dog in front of His Majesty, acting like a big shot with a chicken feather in his hand, does he really think he's someone important?" The voice was slightly gloomy, and the tone was full of contempt.
Shen Tangning carefully examined the voice and confirmed that she had never heard it before. Of course, there were many officials in the court, and she could not possibly have dealt with them all. She could only try her best to remember the characteristics of the voice.
But what the other person said next sent chills down her spine.
"When the autumn hunt arrives, not only will Chi Yan be unable to stir up any trouble, but the Crown Prince will also have to go to see the King of Hell with him!"
Shen Tangning's pupils dilated suddenly, and she subconsciously held her breath.
The Autumn Hunt was an annual hunting event for the royal family and nobility. Last year, due to the Autumn Examination and Chi Yan's lack of official appointment, they were naturally unable to participate.
But this year is different. As a third-rank minister, he will definitely attend the autumn hunting banquet. Moreover, the other party mentioned the crown prince. Could it be that they want to do something underhanded during the hunt?
Realizing a conspiracy targeting Chi Yan and the Crown Prince was about to unfold, Shen Tangning pinched her palms until they were red. The sound was faint in the distance, so she boldly peeked out, leaving half her head visible.
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