How much did Jun Fuying know about the matter between her and Lu Yu?
Qian Xingzhi resorted to bureaucratic talk as usual; she really didn't know this person's intentions. "I was merely acting according to procedure, Your Highness. There's no need to thank me."
Jun Fuying abruptly changed the subject. "Actually, it's that my princess consort invited your wife for a chat. You happened to be leaving the palace, so you could pick up your wife on the way back."
Qian Xingzhi responded awkwardly, "I see. Your Highness is very considerate."
After exchanging some more meaningless pleasantries until her tongue was dry and she hadn't even had a sip of tea, the same eunuch came again to report some private matter to the Seventh Prince. Jun Fuying said apologetically to Qian Xingzhi, "It's getting late. Lord Qian, please follow the maidservant to the inner courtyard to find your wife. I have urgent matters now—please forgive me."
After dealing with Jun Fuying, Qian Xingzhi followed the maidservant through the outer courtyard. The mansion was laid out with elegant pavilions and water features, pleasing to the eye as she walked. Qian Xingzhi suddenly felt inclined to renovate her own mansion.
She ran into a few maidservants and a guard chatting. Qian Xingzhi exchanged a glance with the guard.
A very familiar face—seemed like she had seen him somewhere.
For a moment, she couldn't recall where she had seen this person. Qian Xingzhi frowned, but the guard showed no unusual reaction and went back to chatting with the maidservants.
All the way to the outer part of the inner courtyard, the maidservant went inside to find Liang Luming, while Qian Xingzhi waited alone outside the courtyard gate.
Two small bamboo groves were planted here, exceptionally serene, with no one else around.
The setting sun gradually sank. After a day of rushing, Qian Xingzhi felt a warm glow and a bit of drowsiness. But the wind rustling through the bamboo grove and the fluttering bamboo leaves carried an indescribable eeriness.
Qian Xingzhi waited for her wife, bored out of her mind. She didn't want to spend any more energy on official matters, so she let her mind wander aimlessly.
That guard from earlier was probably a special figure. To come and go freely in the prince's mansion and chat with the maidservants, he was likely a close confidant of the Seventh Prince, with a significant relationship.
Why was she taking so long? Qian Xingzhi let out a long sigh and fiddled with the jade pendant hanging from her waist—one that Liang Luming had picked out for her.
Wait. Qian Xingzhi felt the hair on her body stand on end. She suddenly froze.
This person she had indeed seen before, and had even fought. It was indeed a long time ago, which was why she hadn't recognized him immediately due to carelessness.
But how could she run into him here?
No, more importantly, they had met face to face. Maybe the other party had also recognized her by now—that would be very bad.
Qian Xingzhi felt she heard another sound, exactly like the feeling of fleeing through the woods deep in her memory.
Suddenly, a cold wind swept from behind.
"Yuan Mo!"
Qian Xingzhi almost instinctively cried out. Behind her, blades clashed. The sound made her scalp tingle, and her legs gave way, causing her to collapse on the spot.
She turned around to look. Yuan Mo was exchanging blows with that guard. The sounds of swords clashing were not faint, yet no one came for a long time.
Was this a trap? Qian Xingzhi was baffled—what did they gain? The Seventh Prince had invited her as a guest in plain sight. If something happened to her, could he explain it away?
Besides, Liang Luming was also here. Or was it all a pretense?
No, no, no. If they just wanted to kill her, why go through all this trouble? Bringing her to the prince's mansion was an unnecessary complication. Qian Xingzhi was more inclined to think that the guard hadn't expected to see her here, and this attack was impulsive.
In the end, Yuan Mo was superior. The guard was pinned down by Yuan Mo and forced to kneel, glaring viciously at Qian Xingzhi.
This person was precisely the eunuch assassin who had tried to kill Lu Yu that day and had been stunned by an orange thrown by Qian Xingzhi.