Chapter 91: Chapter 87: Back to Normal

“You didn’t act cleanly enough.” Yu Qin finished speaking and cast his indifferent gaze towards the twelve brothers who had just been merrily eating and drinking, causing them all to change their demeanor instantly.

They all knelt on the ground, their bodies trembling slightly upon closer inspection, completely devoid of the casualness from before. “Master, before we acted, we already cleaned out the people hiding in the dark. We don’t know how they found us.”

Yu Qin did not respond, instead, his gaze turned to Song Yan, with a shadowy look in her eyes that offered no hint of concealment, which gave Shen Jingxian a foreboding feeling.

Ever since her capture, a doubt had lingered in her mind.

For her safety, she was always surrounded by no fewer than 50 Hidden Guards. In the past, whenever she encountered minor issues, those people couldn’t help but pop up to assist her, let alone after she was knocked out?

There was no reason why someone shouldn’t have noticed something was wrong during the time between her getting knocked out and being captured, unless the Hidden Guards were taken out.

They’ve appeared! The mysterious Jianghu Sect, where every member can fight ten people single-handedly!

But Shen Jingxian felt it was unlikely; Hidden Guards are no pushovers and wouldn’t allow themselves to be easily subdued. The people who came searching were the best proof of that.

She hadn’t told Song Yan about this because she was afraid of giving false hope if her guess was wrong, but now she felt more confident.

She understood the people serving the Imperial Family. They wouldn’t act rashly without having full assurance of rescuing her.

If due to their reckless actions, she were to fall into a critical situation, it is a responsibility that no one could bear.

This means that the attack from outside wasn’t just an attack; it was also a way to reassure her with the news of the attack.

Thinking further, Shen Jingxian couldn’t help but suspect that among these people, there were also members of the Imperial Family.

Are they Hidden Guards? Or what else could guarantee her safety?

Previously, Shen Jingxian always thought these were a bunch of not-so-bright assassins, completely different from the heartless killers described in books. But from the moment Yu Qin issued the order to kill, Shen Jingxian realized she was mistaken.

An assassin is still an assassin. Though they showed some preferential treatment towards Song Yan, other people’s lives didn’t seem to matter to them. Moreover, the attitude of the twelve brothers changed quickly, giving her an indescribable sense of discord.

If previously these people felt like family to Shen Jingxian, now they felt like a demon king and his foolish subordinates.

The relaxed laughter and play from before contrasted starkly with their current submissive and sorry demeanors.

Only Qi Qi seemed different.

In this extremely tense atmosphere, he was the first to voice his speculation, “Master, I know of a smell-tracking method requiring fragrant insects and fragrance; once a person bears that scent, the insects can locate them even from a thousand miles away. May I check for the presence of such on the two of them?”

Yu Qin raised his eyes slightly and said indifferently, “Check.”

That noble and aloof demeanor, that disdainful glance towards the Little Princess, as if he hadn’t just been asking how to become a Concubine.

But when Qi Qi approached the Princess, Yu Qin couldn’t help but add, “Don’t be disrespectful to the Princess.”

Shen Jingxian: Hmm, thank you.

As Qi Qi approached, Shen Jingxian noticed something amiss about him and looked at Song Yan beside her. She thought of something and said to Qi Qi, “Check my sister first; wasn’t she also the one you planned to abduct initially?”

“But the Princess has a precious body, and the guards we recruited are also from the Imperial Family. Qi Qi believes that the substance should be on the Princess.”

“Check the Princess.” Yu Qin spoke indifferently.

This time, Qi Qi hesitated no longer, pinched Shen Jingxian’s mouth, and said softly, “Excuse me,” before administering an unknown drug that quickly dissolved on her tongue with a faint sweet taste.

She did not struggle in vain; things like inducing vomiting might not work for this drug and would only cause her discomfort and lack of composure.

As a Princess, she naturally valued her dignity.

Besides, Shen Jingxian had pretty much confirmed her suspicions already.

Before everyone could react, she ordered Qi Qi, “Save Song Yan.”

“Yes!”

As soon as she finished speaking, Qi Qi was already at Song Yan’s side. Song Yan had limited mobility, but Qi Qi couldn’t care less, scooping her up and running out the door.

It was indeed a very straightforward escape.

Yu Qin glanced at Shen Jingxian without saying more, issuing the command to the other twelve people, “Pursue.”

“Yes!”

However, just as those people stood up, they immediately fell limp again, unable to catch up with the two.

Shen Jingxian sat there, not leaving with Qi Qi. Instead, she began to eat the food on the table.

Although Shen Jingxian hadn’t learned the rules meant to bind a woman from the Nanny, she did not lack the etiquette a Princess should have. Graceful demeanor, an apt description for the poised Shen Jingxian.

No one can refuse a posturing Princess, not even men uninterested in women.

Everyone present was stunned, especially the group kneeling on the ground, reasoning that they now lacked the strength to chase Old Seven, so they might as well watch the beauty instead.

Remembering a Princess’s beauty before death is a small blessing, too.

Yet, Yu Qin’s eyes now carried a trace of intrigue. Just now, they played every trick to please the Princess, and she was somewhat scared and resistant. Now though, clearly in danger, why the sudden leisure?

What is her reliance?

“Princess Yi Fen.”

Shen Jingxian swallowed the food she was chewing and responded coldly, “What is it.”

The aura of superiority was unmasked at this moment. Why did Shen Jingxian have it? All from mimicking the Empress’s pretense.

Yu Qin found her more interesting. Initially, his feelings toward the Princess were mixed with gratitude, thinking her appearance matched well with him. Later, considering the Princess’s identity beneficial to his cause, he planned to bring all his men to pledge allegiance to her, using the Yunyi Royal Family as a cover for his plans.

But he hadn’t expected that Qi Qi was loyal to the Imperial Family.

As for the Princess, did she know Qi Qi’s identity from the beginning, or did she learn of it later?

Thinking of how long Qi Qi had been nurturing his own health, Yu Qin had some thoughts, although he didn’t fully trust Qi Qi, always having a backup plan for everything had become his practice.

He had more than one physician like Qi Qi.

Even though now it seemed like he had no way out, he wasn’t in a rush; he just wanted to understand the Princess’s plans before leaving.

From their first meeting, he knew the Princess’s identity, which is why he was slightly careless. What was terrifying about a Princess adored beyond measure, who had been comatose for six years?

But now, it seemed it wasn’t that simple.

He recalled hearing reports earlier claiming the Princess had the talent to govern a country.

Could it be, that wasn’t a joke?

After much contemplation, Yu Qin was finally certain of one thing: the Princess must have done something to him, and that spit was the evidence.

“What would it take for Princess to give Yu the antidote?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep