A light breeze blew, causing the leaves to rustle softly.
Beneath the faint moonlight, a man dressed in dark robes stood tall and straight not far away, his sharp eyes fixed upon her like gleaming blades.
The moment their gazes met in the air, Shen Ying recognized who he was. I never imagined that you and I would meet here of all places.
Nor did I. Who would have thought that the woman most favored by the Imperial Noble Consort, the renowned Aunt Shen, would turn up in such a remote and desolate corner of the world.
The man walked over in a casual, unhurried manner, glancing with disdain at Chunya, who still held her dagger firmly in hand. We are old acquaintances after all. Is it really appropriate for you to be standing there with a weapon drawn?
He spoke the words of old acquaintances slowly and deliberately, emphasizing each syllable.
Shen Ying’s heart tightened instantly.
There was a good reason for her reaction—they truly knew each other very well.
The man standing before her was none other than Xiao Mingyang, Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He had been born into the family of a marquess, though as a son born to a concubine, he had faced suppression and mistreatment from his own relatives for many years. With no other options left to him, he had eventually chosen to join the ranks of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Everyone standing in the capital knew full well that members of this elite force served as nothing more than the emperor’s personal tools, and were widely scorned and looked down upon by the public.
Yet it was precisely because he had joined their ranks that he finally managed to establish a firm foothold and secure his position within his powerful family.
As he served directly by the emperor’s side, and with the Imperial Noble Consort holding the highest place in the emperor’s favor, it was quite common for the emperor to send him to the inner palace to act as her protector and guard.
Over time, as one who served the emperor and the other who served the consort, they found themselves crossing paths and spending time together more and more frequently.
Then, about a year earlier, this man had acted in a way that no one could have anticipated—he had formally requested permission from the Imperial Noble Consort to take Shen Ying as his wife.
Of course, his decision had been driven not by affection or love, but entirely by a desire to gain greater power and influence.
As the son of a concubine in a noble household and as Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, no respectable or prominent family in the capital would ever agree to marry their daughter to him, for fear of damaging their own reputation and standing.
After careful consideration, he had decided that Shen Ying, being the most trusted and favored attendant of the Imperial Noble Consort, was the most suitable match for his purposes.
Shen Ying had seen clearly through his intentions from the very beginning, and had therefore rejected his proposal without the slightest hesitation.
From that day onward, he had clung to her like a piece of sticky plaster, appearing before her time and again and presenting her with various gifts and tokens of attention.
Thinking back on those days, a faint smile touched the corners of Shen Ying’s mouth. It is true that we are old acquaintances. Precisely because of that, might you be willing to let me go now?
Where is the young prince?
Xiao Mingyang came straight to the point, his tone calm and composed, though his large eyes shone with undisguised curiosity and interest.
As their eyes locked together, Shen Ying stepped back repeatedly, her hands beneath her sleeves becoming damp with nervous sweat.
Standing nearby, Chunya stood completely confused and bewildered.
Born into a farming family, she had never even caught a glimpse of the Imperial Noble Consort, let alone heard anything about a young prince.
Though she was utterly lost and uncertain as to what was happening, she instinctively stepped firmly in front of Shen Ying, standing her ground without moving an inch.
Unfortunately, in Xiao Mingyang’s eyes, whatever skill or courage this young girl possessed was of no consequence whatsoever. Paying no attention to her presence at all, he continued to advance step by step toward Shen Ying.
I originally came here only to carry out a minor task. I truly never expected to make such an unexpected discovery. If you hand the young prince over to me, I will let you leave safely. What do you say to that?
Why would you do such a thing? The Imperial Noble Consort has always treated you with great kindness. In the past, when you made serious mistakes, it was only through her pleading and intervention that you were spared from severe punishment. Could you not show the same mercy and spare the young prince’s life?
With no other options available to her, Shen Ying decided to appeal to his sense of loyalty and past kindness. It is said that even a drop of kindness received should be repaid with a flowing spring of gratitude, and the Imperial Noble Consort has done much to help you over the years.
And what of it? A wise bird chooses the strongest and most stable tree in which to build its nest. When the Imperial Noble Consort helped me in the past, it was only because I served directly beside the emperor, and our relationship was one of mutual benefit and exchange. If she truly held affection or regard for me, why did she not agree to let you marry me?
As he spoke these final words, his voice carried a distinct edge of anger and resentment. He glanced briefly toward the direction of the mountain path. Yet as the saying goes, one should look at a person with new eyes after even a short period of separation. In the past, I only recognized that you were clever and quick‑witted, but I never imagined you would have the skill and courage to survive encounters with these mountain bandits.
Is it possible that these bandits have connections with powerful figures within the capital? Shen Ying spoke in a tone that seemed to be testing him, phrasing her words as a question yet delivering them with the certainty of a statement.
Xiao Mingyang burst into loud laughter. You are indeed as sharp and intelligent as always. Enough of these word games. Hand the young prince over to me immediately, or do not blame me for showing you no mercy or compassion.
He moved with the speed of lightning, reaching out and grabbing Shen Ying by the neck, his fingers tightening slightly around her throat. Speak now. Where is he?
Chunya reacted instantly and moved to strike, yet before she could even make contact with him, she was sent flying backward with a powerful kick.
Ah!
A sharp cry rang through the air.
Shen Ying turned her head just in time to see Chunya hurled through the air like a kite with its strings cut, landing some distance away.
With a heavy thud, Chunya crashed hard against the ground, blood flowing from a wound on her head before she lost consciousness entirely.
Shen Ying’s heart rose to her throat. How dare you take another person’s life without reason or cause?
Does Aunt Shen not find such words rather ridiculous coming from you?
His words carried a bitter truth.
Within the imperial palace, human life was considered the least valuable thing of all. How many people lost their lives there each and every day, often for the most trivial of reasons?
Still held firmly by the throat and struggling to breathe, Shen Ying raised her hands and clawed fiercely at his arms. Let go of me. If you kill me now, you will never find out where the young prince is.
And what is there to fear in that? We still have this young girl here. With the methods and skills I possess, is there any information I cannot force out of a person?
The Embroidered Uniform Guard had existed for many years, and the cruel and torturous methods they had developed to extract information were too numerous to count.
If Chunya were to fall into his hands, she would never be able to withstand the pain and suffering he would inflict upon her.
Furthermore, given his abilities and resources, he would surely be able to track down Wei Jinhu and Tudou as well. Once he found them, the young prince’s life would be forfeit beyond any hope of rescue.
Taking a deep breath, Shen Ying forced herself to calm down and regain her composure. Let go of me, and I will take you to where the young prince is hiding.
Listen well, and do not try any more tricks or deceptions. You know exactly what kind of person I am—ruthless, merciless, and willing to do absolutely anything to achieve my goals.
Then you must also know, after all these years we have spent in each other’s company, that I value my own life above all else. I would never throw away my own existence for the sake of another person.
……
Chunya lay motionless, still deep in unconsciousness.
To ensure that she would not be discovered and attacked by wild wolves or wandering bandits, Shen Ying insisted firmly that Xiao Mingyang carry her as they traveled.
Xiao Mingyang frowned deeply, his face showing clear signs of refusal and displeasure. You truly possess remarkable boldness and nerve.
I have no other choice. While we were fleeing from danger, this young girl saved my life. I could hardly turn my back on her kindness and repay it with ingratitude, could I?
She spoke the words repay with ingratitude slowly and clearly, each syllable striking him like a sharp slap across the face.
Xiao Mingyang’s expression remained unchanged. Very well, I will agree to your request.
They soon arrived once again at the entrance to the secret passage.
To prevent Shen Ying from attempting any further schemes or tricks, Xiao Mingyang ordered her to walk ahead and lead the way.
Shen Ying nodded calmly, appearing completely obedient and compliant, and moved forward without resistance to guide him through the passage.
Though dawn was fast approaching, the interior of the tunnel remained shrouded in pitch darkness, with not even the faintest glimmer of light to be seen.
After traveling for an unknown length of time, Shen Ying kept one hand pressed against the wall to guide her steps, until at last she reached the spot where she had left her marking. Pretending to trip over something beneath her feet, she fell heavily to the ground with a loud thud. At the very same moment, she tipped the pouch hidden within the wide sleeve of her clothing and scattered its contents across the ground.
As Shen Ying waited for Xiao Mingyang to collapse into unconsciousness just as everyone else had done, she saw in the faint light that the man beside her had simply covered his mouth and nose with one hand, watching her struggle as if she were nothing more than a foolish clown performing for his amusement.
I have been watching your every move closely this entire time. Did you truly believe you would succeed in deceiving me?
Xiao Mingyang looked down upon her from where he stood, his gaze filled with open contempt. He tossed Chunya’s unconscious body roughly to one side, then stepped forward and grabbed Shen Ying by the collar of her robe, lifting her from the ground as easily as if she were a small, helpless chick.
You overestimate your own strength and ability. Are you so eager to bring about your own destruction? His voice grew sharp and filled with anger as he spoke the final words.