Cen Hejue paused for a moment, then chuckled. “Do you think I’d run away?”
Qin Fei blinked, smiled. “Of course, I believe you wouldn’t.”
Ah Yan explained, “Master is only going to pay the deposit. The rest will be charged to the Cen family accounts. No one carries that much silver around.”
Only then did Qin Fei release her grip on Cen Hejue’s sleeve, laughing awkwardly. “Perceptor, walk slowly—the floor’s slippery.”
She watched him disappear into another room, then realized she’d drunk far too much tea. Clutching her stomach, she turned to Ah Yan. “I’ll just step out for a moment. If he comes back, explain it to him.”
Ah Yan hesitated, uneasy. “Your Highness, perhaps wait until Master returns…”
“Nature calls—I can’t hold it.” Qin Fei patted his shoulder, opened the door, grabbed a servant to ask directions, and hurried downstairs through a side door.
The Thousand Gold Pavilion was vast, its corridors winding. After relieving herself, Qin Fei emerged only to realize she couldn’t find her way back. She wandered through several small doors and ended up in a room furnished with bed, wardrobe, desk, and screen—clearly someone’s living quarters. Frowning, she searched for another exit, but just then, hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor.
And her feet were already inside the room. Would they mistake her for a thief?
She glanced around quickly, spotted a cabinet, and slipped inside. She was tall, but the cabinet had a lattice opening at the top—just enough to glimpse outside.
Soon, a richly dressed middle-aged man rushed in, slammed the door shut, and crawled under the bed.
With a rumble, a hidden passage opened beside the bed.
At that critical moment, his hat fell onto the stairway of the secret tunnel. He bent to retrieve it— Bang! The door burst open again.
A tall figure strolled in, steps lazy, advancing toward the man.
The newcomer wore a silver mask, revealing only a pair of long, narrow black eyes—half-smiling, half-menacing. From his movements, Qin Fei guessed he was young.
“Who are you?” the middle-aged man cried, retreating in terror. “Get away! If you dare harm me—”
“If I dare harm you? And then what?”
The youth’s laugh was soft, chilling. He crouched before the man, patted his face, then drew a short, razor-sharp curved blade from his belt. Its hilt gleamed with a blood-red gem, glowing in the dim room.
“What a pity…” The youth seized the man’s throat, voice twisted. “You won’t get the chance.”
A wet sound— Blood gushed from the man’s abdomen, staining the youth’s pale, elegant hand.
With a grimace, he wiped the blood onto the man’s fine robes until his hand was clean, then tossed the body aside like refuse.
*It’s over. Completely over.*
Qin Fei sucked in a cold breath—she hadn’t expected to stumble right into a murder scene. Should she start preparing her last words and funeral pose now?
The youth rose, glanced into the secret passage, seemingly drawn by whatever lay below, and descended the stairs.
Only when his figure vanished did Qin Fei dare push open the cabinet door. The middle-aged man was already a corpse, crumpled on the floor, breathless and still. She withdrew her hand from checking his pulse. One thought filled her mind: *Run. Fast.*
As for who the killer was? She couldn’t guess. The original story hadn’t mentioned any legendary assassin.
No—better to escape first.
She tiptoed to the door, just about to step across the threshold when a hand clamped onto the back of her neck. It was icy, as though dredged from a winter pond, the chill seeping down her spine.
Terrifying.
Goosebumps erupted across her skin. She thought of horror films where the heroine gets grabbed by a ghost. She used to laugh at their stupidity—yet here she was, in the same predicament.
“Caught you, didn’t I?” The man’s smile was cruel.
Qin Fei’s knees nearly gave way. “Bro… I didn’t see anything, really…”
“You think I’ll believe that?” He sneered. A sharp blade pressed against her lower back, grazing her skin through the fabric.
Qin Fei gasped. She knew she couldn’t resist, so she softened her tone. “Young master, is it money you want? I understand—times are hard. How about you let me go, then follow me? I promise you’ll eat well and live richly.”
He mused, “I’m not after wealth.”
Qin Fei: “Then what?”
“For beauty.” He leaned close, breath cold against her ear, making her shudder.
“For… beauty??”
Qin Fei was nearly in tears. “I—I’m really nothing special. How about I find you someone prettier? I have a sister—lovely face, gentle nature—you’d adore her.”
“But I like the ugly ones like you. What then?”
Qin Fei dared not show her fury, forcing a smile. “Then your taste is truly terrible.”
The youth pinched her earlobe with amusement. “Facing death, and you still have the spirit to joke with me?”
“What else can I do but joke with you?”
“Unless…” Qin Fei’s eyes flickered. In a flash, she lifted her leg and kicked hard into the youth’s knee.
A cry of pain rang out. Qin Fei spun, snatched a vase from the table, and smashed it toward him.
The youth, clearly trained in martial arts, dodged swiftly and kicked the table at her.
Qin Fei leaped back, elbows raised to shield her head, braced against the table, then sprang up, fist driving forward.
He hadn’t expected her to know martial arts—let alone strike with such ferocity. Before he could react, she landed another kick squarely to his chest. He fell, clutching his ribs, eyes narrowing at her. “So you can fight. Interesting.”
“Interesting, my ass.” Qin Fei rolled her eyes, slammed the door open, and bolted.
From that brief exchange, she could tell his skill was no weaker than hers. To keep fighting would be reckless. A true martial artist knew when to preserve themselves.
She dashed through doors blindly, opening whatever she could, but still couldn’t find the right way back. At last, she was cornered—blocked by the youth.
“Caught you again.” He rubbed his chest, chin lifted arrogantly. “Tell me—how do you plan to die?”
Qin Fei laughed. “You might not be able to kill me.”
He wagged a finger. “That’s different. You fear death. I don’t. And those who don’t fear death never lose.”
Qin Fei muttered, “Bullshit.” She tried to slip past him, but he swept her off her feet with a flying kick.
“Tsk.” Standing over her, arms folded, he sneered. “Look at you now—so pathetic. You should’ve let me take my pleasure earlier.”
Qin Fei forced a grin. “Still planning to ravish me?”
“Too late. My patience has expired.” He drew his curved blade again, flipping it in his hand, and hurled it straight at her face.
*Clang!*
Just as Qin Fei moved to dodge, another dagger struck the blade aside.
“…!”
The youth turned, annoyed. At the doorway stood a tall man in a dark python robe, hair bound high, his cold, handsome face unreadable as he looked at the youth.
“Perceptor!” Qin Fei cried.
Qin Fei immediately put on a frightened expression. Seizing the moment while the youth was distracted, she scrambled up from the floor and darted behind Cen Hejue.
“After just one incense stick’s time apart, your face suddenly feels so much more familiar.”
Cen Hejue cast her a quiet glance. “I hadn’t expected Your Highness to take so long relieving yourself.”
Qin Fei pointed at the man ahead. “It was him—all because of him.”
Clutching Cen Hejue’s sleeve, she cried in panic, “I saw him kill someone just now—it was terrifying! Perceptor, you must catch him!”
“….”
For the first time, Cen Hejue’s calm face rippled faintly. “You saw?”
A chill of dread rose in Qin Fei’s heart.
“I said—”
The youth folded his arms, lifted the curved blade he’d retrieved from the floor, and leaned against the bed. “She saw everything. What do you plan to do about it?”
*What do you plan to do?* Why was he asking Cen Hejue?
Qin Fei swallowed hard, retreating two steps, staring at Cen Hejue in disbelief.
Damn…
A trap within a trap.
Spy within a spy.
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
Cen Hejue’s cold gaze met hers, catching the horror and fear in her eyes. His own darkened. “So why did Your Highness wander off? Wouldn’t it have been better to stay quietly in the private room?”
Only now did Qin Fei fully understand—Cen Hejue and this youth were in league together!
“Perceptor…” She blinked nervously. “I…I don’t know…”
“Don’t know what?” The youth sneered. “Eighth Princess, didn’t you just see everything?”
Qin Fei froze. He knew who she was? Then he must be…
“Qi Siluo, you’ve frightened the Eighth Princess.” Cen Hejue spoke each word deliberately, with a hidden weight.
Qi Siluo?
Qi Siluo… heir of the Marquis Zhongyong.
Qin Fei watched in shock as the youth removed his silver mask, revealing a face of striking, almost decadent beauty. Unlike Cen Hejue’s austere handsomeness, Qi Siluo’s features carried a sinister allure—like a demon raised under the shadow of a black mountain.
“So it’s… Heir Qi…” Qin Fei forced a sheepish smile.
Qi Siluo raised his brows. “So the Eighth Princess even knows my identity now.”
“I don’t know, I don’t know.” Qin Fei waved her hands quickly. “Whatever the Heir wants me to know, I’ll know. Whatever I shouldn’t know, naturally I don’t.”
Qi Siluo had dealt with this unruly little princess a few times before. She had always seemed hopelessly foolish, yet today he detected a spark of cleverness in her. Amusing.
“Your fiancée—you decide.” With a lazy glance at Cen Hejue, Qi Siluo made it clear that in his eyes Qin Fei was no more than a plaything to be toyed with at will.
“Perceptor…”
Clutching Cen Hejue’s sleeve, Qin Fei’s gaze pleaded. “I truly didn’t see anything just now. Whatever you two were doing, I know nothing. Rest assured, my lips are sealed tighter than the dead—no one could be more reliable than me.”
Cen Hejue stepped closer, driving her back into the room. He leaned down, eyes locking onto hers. “Did Your Highness truly see nothing just now?”
Qin Fei nodded frantically. “Really! I didn’t see a thing.”
Heaven help her.
Had she known that going out with Cen Hejue today would mean stumbling upon a murder, she would never have suggested it. Anyone with half a brain could guess—this man was laying plans for the throne. Now she could only play dumb and pray to survive.
After all, this youth’s martial skills were no weaker than hers, and Cen Hejue was formidable. She hadn’t yet tested his limits, but as the novel’s great villain, his strength was beyond doubt. If she truly fell into their hands, her days of living comfortably as a salted fish would end far too soon. She refused to accept that!
“But, Your Highness, you misspoke just now.” Cen Hejue’s breath brushed her cheek, his handsome face so close that his familiar eyes reflected a panicked little girl, pitiful and trembling. “The dead keep their mouths far tighter than Your Highness ever could…”
A chill swept over Qin Fei. She fought the urge to bolt as his long, defined fingers settled on her neck—half caress, half threat.
His gaze drifted lightly across her face. “Does Your Highness know why I killed?”
Only a fool would say yes. Qin Fei shook her head hard. “I truly don’t know.”
“Yet I can’t help but feel… you do.” Cen Hejue’s lips curved faintly, his eyes glinting with something hazy and cruel, like murder wrapped in mist.
Perhaps their recent days together had lowered her guard. She had forgotten that in the original story, Cen Hejue was a ruthless villain, decisive in slaughter. Countless lives had already ended at his hands.
Would she become another ghost among them?
“Perceptor!” Qin Fei blurted out in desperation. “I… I truly don’t know what you intend. Most importantly, I don’t even care what you do.”
Cen Hejue tilted his head. “What do you mean by that?”
Swallowing hard, she pressed on. “We have a marriage contract—do you remember?”
He smirked. “Does Your Highness think I care about that? I am not a man of deep affection.”
Of course, she knew. Drawing a deep breath, she said, “I once told you—when we marry, whatever you do, I won’t interfere. I only wish to live quietly under your watch, never with divided loyalties.”
“If ever you need me, I’ll obey without question.”
Suddenly, the hand at her throat tightened, cutting off her breath. Her eyes bulged in terror.