Shadow Guard Second Division.
Shen Yue was sprawled casually at her desk, having just taken a bite of a soup dumpling when she overheard whispers from the neighboring table.
“Did you hear? Last night, the Fourth Division failed in their guard duties. Each of them received twenty strikes with the board, and on top of that, they have to train an extra two hours every day…”
“That’s nothing. I heard even Head Guard Changfeng is getting the board and a year’s salary deduction!”
“That serious? It seems yesterday’s assassin was quite formidable. Good thing it happened after our shift ended…”
The shadow guards whispered among themselves, buzzing with excitement as if celebrating the New Year.
Seeing this, Zhang Dayong smacked one of them on the back of the head.
“Too much free time? If the Fourth Division is incompetent, how much better are you? Finished eating? Then go train!”
“Oh~” The group immediately lost their enthusiasm and stood up to form ranks.
Zhang Dayong plopped down next to Shen Yue, grinning. “I’ll say, if you had been there yesterday, Director, you definitely would’ve caught that assassin!”
Shen Yue responded with a fake smile.
Little do you know, I was indeed there.
Seeing she wasn’t engaging, Zhang Dayong changed the subject. “Baozhu came by earlier with a message. The Prince wants to see you.”
Shen Yue nearly choked. “Can I not go?”
What’s with Xiao Yuheng? Didn’t he already clear his suspicions yesterday? Why summon her again? Was this a case of settling scores after the fact?
“Obviously not,” Zhang Dayong shrugged.
Fine then.
Shen Yue returned to her room, tucked a finger tiger into her sleeve, stuffed dozens of throwing darts into her waistband, and finally slipped a dagger into her boot before leisurely making her way to the study.
In the study, the antique shelf shattered last night had been replaced with a new one, adorned with even more expensive porcelain. Shen Yue couldn’t help but glance at it a few more times.
These rich people are so extravagant. Sometimes, she really felt like fighting them.
There was a time when she was practically a minor wealthy woman herself. The money she’d earned through life-and-death struggles abroad those years would’ve been enough to buy several properties in a second-tier city and start a small business.
Who knew what came over her, diving into the web novel industry. And look where that got her—money gone, life lost.
If only she could have died completely. Instead, fate had to place her in this wretched old society to be exploited. Truly a tale to sadden the hearer and bring tears to the listener!
“Shen Er.”
Xiao Yuheng’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. She quickly dropped to one knee in salute.
“Your subordinate pays respects to Your Highness!”
“Mm, come here.” The man’s expression was unreadable.
Hesitantly, Shen Yue rose and approached the desk. She watched as he pulled a gem-encrusted dagger from a drawer and slapped it onto the desk with a sharp “thwack.”
Damn, is he telling me to end myself?
“Y-Your Highness, what does this mean?” She played dumb.
Xiao Yuheng narrowed his phoenix eyes. “Lending it to you for a day.”
Shen Yue: … Do I need you to lend it? Huh? You might as well give me back my Xueyin Ci.
“You have a mission today. Given your small stature, this dagger should suit you better.”
Hearing it was about a task, Shen Yue’s tense nerves gradually relaxed. “Might I ask what the mission entails?”
Xiao Yuheng lifted his gaze. “Assassinate someone for me—the Heir of the Pingyang Marquis, Song Xianzhi.”
Song Xianzhi? He must be the one who discovered Xiao Yuheng’s secret.
Shen Yue cupped her hands. “Understood. But where can Song Xianzhi be found? Is there a portrait?”
“You saw him yesterday.”
“Yesterday? That Song Shizi from Mantingfang? Didn’t Your Highness just… play with him yesterday…”
Her voice grew progressively softer until the last few words were almost as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, barely audible, yet Xiao Yuheng heard them clearly.
“Impudence!”
He frowned and rebuked her sharply. Shen Yue immediately dropped to her knees in a swift kneeling motion.
The sight was rather comical, and for some reason, Xiao Yuheng’s anger inexplicably subsided a great deal.
“He discovered my secret and came to blackmail me, extorting five thousand taels of silver from me. Go kill him and bring back the silver notes.”
“Yes.”
Killing someone was something Shen Yue excelled at. She stood up, took a dagger, and prepared to take her leave, but Xiao Yuheng called her back.
“The dagger is for self-defense, not for killing Song Xianzhi. His status is special; we can’t kill him directly.”
As he spoke, he pulled out a packet of powder and tossed it into her hand.
“Your Highness, is this poison?”
If it’s poison, it will definitely be detected. How is that any different from killing him directly?
“Ahem, no.”
Xiao Yuheng seemed somewhat embarrassed, his ears turning red as he spoke.
“This is Three Days of Spring. After taking it, one’s desires will greatly increase. Within three days, they will exhaust themselves from overindulgence and die.”
“Huh?” So this kind of medicine really exists in the world?
That’s just too vicious!
“What do you mean, ‘huh’?” Xiao Yuheng said, his face flushed.
“Nothing.” Just thinking that Your Highness is truly lacking in virtue.
But why does his face turn so red at the mention of an aphrodisiac? Acting like a virgin, pretending to be pure.
Shen Yue inwardly scoffed, accepted the order, and left the room.
Evening, outside Nuanxiang Pavilion in the suburbs.
Bai Yunfei tightened his belt. “Director, this… another brothel?”
“Go on, what’s wrong with a brothel?” Zhang Dayong poked his head. “Official funds for whoring, isn’t that great?”
Bai Yunfei looked incredulous. “If Sister-in-law hears this, she’ll castrate you for sure!”
“Enough, you two!”
Shen Yue was irritated. She could have handled this alone, but Xiao Yuheng insisted on assigning her two subordinates, saying it was to ensure nothing went wrong.
If she came alone, it would indeed be foolproof. With these two around, she couldn’t guarantee anything.
Bai Yunfei: “Director, I heard Song Shizi plans to stay at Nuanxiang Pavilion for a few more days before leaving.”
“Isn’t that perfect?” Shen Yue glanced at him. “What’s the name of the courtesan he usually requests?”
“Ru Meng.” Bai Yunfei clearly had done his homework and answered without hesitation.
“Hmm.”
Shen Yue turned to look at the two men. Zhang Dayong was burly and rough-faced, while Bai Yunfei had delicate features and the refined demeanor of a young noble.
Her eyes shifted thoughtfully, and an idea formed in her mind.
A moment later, the three emerged from a nearby clothing shop. Bai Yunfei had transformed into an elegant young master, while Zhang Dayong and Shen Yue wore dresses, their hair styled in buns and faces made up with powder.
The two men, seeing Shen Yue in women’s clothing with her snow-like skin and stunning beauty, simultaneously wiped drool from their mouths.
Zhang Dayong looked at the prominent curves on her chest, then at his own, and asked puzzledly, “Director, we stuffed the same steamed buns, so why are yours bigger than mine?”
As he spoke, he reached out to grab them.
Startled, Shen Yue slapped his hand away. “What do you know? I’m the key character here, of course I need more padding. Let’s go!”
“Oh.”
After the three of them confirmed the procedure, Bai Yunfei swaggered through the main entrance of Nuanxiang Pavilion, while the other two swiftly leaped to the second-floor window in a flash.