Pfft.
The sharp blade sliced through flesh, and blood sprayed outward.
Xiao Mingyang looked down at the weapon embedded in his chest, his face filled with utter disbelief.
He slowly turned his head, shifting his gaze downward until it came to rest on Tudou, who was barely tall enough to reach his waist. You are seeking your own death.
It is you who are seeking death. How dare you raise a hand against Sister Ying? I will kill you, I will kill you!
Trembling uncontrollably from fear, the timid Tudou pulled the blade free and drove it into his body again.
The sound of metal cutting through flesh echoed over and over.
In the blink of an eye, Xiao Mingyang’s chest had been pierced through so many times that it resembled a sieve. Blood poured from his mouth and flowed freely from his wounds.
With a heavy thud, he collapsed awkwardly to the ground, his eyes wide open in death, unable to close them even in his final moments. He was dead beyond any hope of revival.
I have killed someone. I have killed someone…
Seeing the pools of blood spreading across the ground, Tudou could hold himself together no longer. He slumped down onto the ground, his eyes round and wide, filled with terror and shock.
Shen Ying and Wei Jinhu exchanged a glance. Having just escaped from the brink of death themselves, they too sank down to sit on the ground.
Chunya, who had been hiding in the shadows, ready to step in and act at any moment, now stepped forward and pulled her younger brother into her arms. It is all right now, everything is over. You did not do anything wrong. You acted to protect your companions, and protecting Sister Ying is exactly what we should all be willing to do.
Sister, I have killed someone. There is so much blood, so much blood…
This was the first time Tudou had ever taken a life. Being naturally timid, his body shook without stopping, completely overwhelmed by fear.
Chunya felt a mix of pride and helplessness, though above all else, her heart ached with love and concern for him. There is nothing to be afraid of. I am right here with you. You were very brave, and you did a wonderful job…
The wind rustled through the leaves, and the voices of the two siblings drifted clearly through the surrounding air.
Just then, the sound of the child crying broke through the heavy, somber atmosphere.
The Second Prince was indeed running a high fever.
His small face had turned bright red, and his whole body burned with heat.
Shen Ying hurriedly took a small pill from her pocket, crushed a tiny portion of it, and placed it into his mouth. Take your medicine now, and once you have taken it, you will feel much better and the pain will go away.
This was truly a desperate situation.
To ensure their survival, she had been left with no other choice but to take such measures.
My poor child, I am sorry that you have had to go through such hardship.
Thankfully, she had prepared well in advance, and the pouch she carried was filled with various medicines to treat childhood illnesses and ailments.
Sister Ying, let us return to the secret passage. This place is far too dangerous.
You are right, this is certainly not a safe place to stay.
The mountains stretched out endlessly in every direction, serving as the stronghold and territory of countless bandits and outlaws, not to mention the wild beasts that roamed freely through the forests.
The Second Prince, having been given the medicine, had now fallen asleep, but there was always the risk that he might begin crying again and draw unwanted attention. To ensure their safety, the group returned once more to the shelter of the passages.
Following the marks they had left along the way, they easily found their way back to the hidden treasure chamber.
Shen Ying tightened her grip on the key she had seized from Xiao Mingyang, her expression serious and solemn. You all saw what happened just now, and you are now aware of the truth. What thoughts do you have on this matter?
Beneath the dim light, her eyes shone bright and sharp as she looked closely at each person, searching for their true feelings and intentions.
Wealth and treasure have always held the power to move people’s hearts and minds.
What lay inside that chamber was a vast fortune, a limitless supply of gold, silver, and precious jewels.
Whoever gained possession of these riches would never have to worry about food or clothing for the rest of their lives. In fact, such wealth was enough to provide the resources and power needed to challenge the imperial throne itself.
Human nature is the one thing in this world that can never truly be put to the test.
Wei Jinhu stared blankly for a moment, and once he had fully understood the situation, he shook his head vigorously. These things have nothing to do with me. As long as I have enough to eat and clothes to keep me warm, I am satisfied. Everything else is up to you to decide. I do not want such a vast amount of silver or gold. Too much wealth only brings trouble and misfortune.
Chunya and Tudou fell to their knees with a heavy thud. You are the one who saved our lives, and from this day forward, we are your faithful servants. Whatever you wish us to do, we will obey without question.
Shen Ying did not move from where she stood, but looked directly and steadily at the three of them.
Once she was certain that they were not lying and that their words came straight from their hearts, she let out a long sigh of relief.
Yet when she thought about how the identity of the young prince had now been revealed, her expression grew heavy and grave. As you now know, you have learned the true identity of the child I carry in my arms. There is no longer any need to keep secrets. I was once a lady‑in‑waiting serving the Imperial Noble Consort. When disaster struck our household, I was left with no choice but to flee, bringing the young master with me to safety.
As you have clearly seen, there are countless people within the imperial palace and across the capital who wish to take this child’s life. Staying by my side means you will face endless danger and risk. I could give you a sum of money so that you may go your separate ways and make your own living. What do you think of this arrangement?
Sister Ying, I will not leave you. I intend to stay with you always. I can see clearly now that you are a woman of great ability and wisdom. You have survived for many years within the dangerous world of the imperial court, and now you have risked everything to protect the young prince and help him escape. You are a person of deep loyalty and honor, and I have decided to follow you wherever you go.
Wei Jinhu scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed. My mother always said that I am not the cleverest person, and that I am not suited to making complicated decisions or thinking too deeply. But if I stay with someone who is capable and wise, I will always have enough to eat and warm clothes to wear, and that is all I could ever ask for.
Chunya and Tudou pressed their foreheads against the ground in a deep bow. We are your servants, and we will follow you through life and death without regret or hesitation.
Seeing their devotion and sincerity, Shen Ying breathed another sigh of relief. Very well then. From this day forward, you will all stay with me. I promise you that you will never go hungry or be left without clothing, and I will also ensure that you have the opportunity to build bright and promising futures for yourselves. We are all bound together now, and I will not keep anything from you. I intend to take the young prince and travel to the homeland and family of the Imperial Noble Consort, to see if we can gather strength and support and restore our position and power.
Are we going to stage a rebellion? That is exactly what we should do. The whole realm is in chaos right now. People are being conscripted into the army from every corner of the land, and that old emperor lives a life of luxury and excess, caring nothing at all for the suffering of the common people…
Wei Jinhu began to ramble on with his usual wild and reckless talk, but as soon as he caught sight of the cold, sharp look in Shen Ying’s eyes, his voice grew softer and softer until it faded away entirely.
Shen Ying let out a weary sigh. Do you not know the old saying that trouble always comes from careless words? From this moment onward, this child is your son, Wei Jinhu. If you dare to speak such foolish or dangerous words again, I will cut out your tongue.
Wei Jinhu’s whole body trembled in fear. Good heavens! If the young prince’s family were to ever learn that I have claimed him as my own child, would I still have any hope of staying alive?
Do not worry. The young prince’s family will only feel deep gratitude toward you for what you have done.
But what should we do about this treasure?
Shen Ying did not take out the key to open the stone chamber once again. Instead, her face was filled with hesitation and uncertainty.
Having spent many years within the imperial palace, she had heard countless legends and stories. She knew that when the previous dynasty had fallen, a great fortune had been hidden away and lost to time. If her suspicions were correct, what lay inside this chamber was exactly that legendary treasure.
Now that they had finally found it, with only the four of them working together, there was no way they could possibly move or transport such a vast amount of wealth.
What was even more concerning was the fact that the bandits in these mountains were working in secret alliance with powerful figures within the imperial court. If they left this place and others later discovered the treasure, what terrible consequences might follow?
Just as Shen Ying was struggling to decide what to do, Chunya stepped forward to offer a solution. It is clear from the construction and design of these passages that they have existed for many years. We could seal off this entire area, and erase every mark and sign that leads here. I have had the ability to remember everything I see or hear from the moment I was a child, and I will be able to find this exact place again whenever we return.
Shen Ying’s eyes lit up with hope and excitement. Are you absolutely certain that you can find your way back here?
Tudou puffed out his chest with pride, nodding his head vigorously. Of course she can! My family always said that even though my sister was born a girl, if she had been born a boy, she would surely have risen to become a great nobleman and high‑ranking official. My sister is the smartest person you will ever meet.
To test this claim, Shen Ying recited a short section from the classic Three‑Character Classic, and within moments, Chunya repeated every single word exactly as she had heard it, without missing or changing a single character.
This was truly a wonderful and unexpected discovery.
Shen Ying made her decision immediately. She ordered them to remove every sign and mark they had left along the paths, and to wipe away all traces and evidence that anyone had ever been in this area.
With such a vast and complex network of passages stretching out beneath the mountains, it would be nearly impossible for anyone else to find this hidden place without someone who knew the way to guide them.