Liu Yifu stepped forward, picked up the sword and examined it closely. The hilt was smooth and the blade was in excellent condition, as if someone had been wiping it every day.
He gripped the hilt of the sword and carefully felt it for a moment. A strange light flashed in his eyes. If one had been holding a sword for many years, it wouldn't be surprising to have calluses on the tiger's mouth and palm.
If Pingting knew martial arts, how could she have been forced to jump into the lake by Chi Yan?
He had just come to his senses when he caught a glimpse of Shen Tangning studying a black box out of the corner of his eye. He frowned and coughed softly.
Shen Tangning realized what was happening, and without changing her expression, she presented the box to him, her eyes sparkling with surprise: "Sir, this was found in a hidden compartment, placed together with that sword. Could there be some secret hidden inside?"
Liu Yi took the box back, but unfortunately it was locked and difficult to open with external force.
He glanced at it a few times, and under Shen Tangning's disappointed gaze, he tucked the box into his robes, saying calmly, "This is evidence; I must take it back."
She was slightly disappointed that she couldn't find out if the evidence contained was proof of official corruption or bribery, but she quickly came to terms with it.
This thing is safer in Liu Yifu's hands than in hers. Liu Yifu is an upright and incorruptible person. If it is really evidence, he will definitely try his best to present it to His Majesty.
It's better than falling into the hands of the Third Prince.
She gave a forced laugh: "That's only right."
As soon as Shen Tangning finished speaking, she suddenly heard a noise from the window. She looked over warily and asked, "Who is it?"
A dark figure burst through the window, a look of shock flashing in his eyes, clearly not expecting anyone else to be in the room!
Liu Yifu reacted quickly, instinctively stepping in front of Shen Tangning, his expression turning cold: "Who goes there?"
The man in black's gaze lingered on the box in his hand, his eyes shifting unpredictably. He lunged forward, knife in hand, trying to snatch it: "You're the one who'll take my life!"
Liu Yifu quickly realized that the other party was coming for him, so he simply left Shen Tangning behind, lured the man in black away, and said firmly to her, "Run!"
A look of surprise and uncertainty flashed in Shen Tangning's eyes. She decisively got up and ran towards the door.
The man in black wasn't targeting her and completely ignored her movements. Just as her hand touched the door, she turned around and saw Liu Yifu being thrown to the ground, with the man in black raising his knife to slash at him. Her eyelids twitched immediately!
The biting wind of the blade approached his face. Liu Yifu hugged the box tightly and instinctively closed his eyes. The expected pain did not come. Instead, there was a "bang" sound, as if something had shattered.
He looked up in surprise and saw Shen Tangning holding a vase and smashing it hard against the back of the man in black's head. Her movements were quick and ruthless, and her eyes revealed a desperate ferocity.
The man in black was completely focused on Liu Yifu, and before he knew it, he froze and swayed a few times!
"Sir, run!"
Liu Yifu got up again. The man in black, enduring the pain, regained his senses, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes:
We can't let that thing fall into Liu Yifu's hands!
But Liu Yifu had already run away, so he could only grab Shen Tangning, who was closest to him, by the shoulder and pull her back heavily, threatening her in an icy tone: "If you run again, I'll kill her!"
With a blade pressed against her throat, Shen Tangning tilted her head back slightly.
Liu Yifu froze and turned around. Seeing this scene, he almost choked on his breath. His expression was surprisingly calm: "I am an official of the imperial court. Killing me will not do you any good. What do you want?"
The man in black knew this too, and said coldly, "Hand over what you have in your hand."
Shen Tangning frowned, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes.
Liu Yi glanced at the box in his hand and said almost without hesitation, "Okay."
"My lord..." She had barely uttered a sound when a red mark appeared on her neck from being pressed down, and the black-clad man's cold threat descended upon her head, "Shut up!"
Liu Yifu frowned slightly, gave Shen Tangning a look that said not to act rashly, and slowly placed the box on the ground to attract her attention: "I'll put the box on the ground and push it over to you. You release her, and we'll do it together, how about that?"
The man in black kept his eyes fixed on the box and remained silent.
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