“What did you say?”
A voice, so cold it could freeze the marrow, suddenly boomed, laced with an authority that made knees buckle involuntarily.
Indeed, the one reporting was already kneeling.
“That person cannot be brought back from the dead, Master. You must try to accept it.”
In the next moment, an icy, piercing gaze swept over.
Feeling he had spoken out of turn, the subordinate quickly shrank back, minimizing his presence as much as possible.
After a long pause, a sigh, tinged with helplessness, finally came from above him.
“One step too late again?”
With that, he turned away from the cliff at his feet and ordered:
“Pass down the decree. Without being discovered, eliminate all the hidden assassins and loyal retainers lurking nearby.
Also, send people to the bottom of the cliff. Clear any obstacles for her return to the capital as much as possible.”
“Obstacles for her return to the capital?
Master, do you mean Lord Lin is not dead?”
“She will not die.
And remember to clean up this place thoroughly.”
“Yes.
However, Master, the new Emperor is also nearby and seems to be injured. Master, should we take this opportunity…”
As he spoke the last words, the reporter made a throat-slitting gesture.
“No need. Keep him around to checkmate other factions, which will allow us to reap the benefits.
However—
King Wucheng’s actions against her this time clearly disregard our alliance.
Since that is the case, I don't mind causing him some trouble.
Go, send a message to the Fourth Prince. Tell him I agree to the matter we discussed.”
“But Master, what if the Fourth Prince is exposed, and it implicates you…”
“Don’t worry, I have already made contingency plans. It will not affect us.
You just need to protect her safety from the shadows.”
“I say, Master, Lord Lin has a group of people protecting her. It shouldn’t be my turn to protect her?”
The chilling gaze swept over again, and the man quickly nodded.
“Master, please rest assured. I, Liu… I swear by the ancestors of the Liu family: from now on, if she lives, I live; if I live, she lives!
Oh, no, no, no, it’s wherever she goes, I go. Even if I have to stake this little life, I will protect her completely!
But Master, before that, there’s something I need to tell you first.
According to the scout’s report, Madam Lin will be here within half an hour. What do you think we should…”
“Withdraw.”
“Right away!”
Responding swiftly, the man hurried to arrange for his companions to clean up the scene.
“You and you, clean this area. You and you, clean that area.”
Meanwhile.
After downing a grilled fish and recovering her strength, Lin Qingge put her half-dry outer robe back on.
“Alright, we’ve rested. We should leave here quickly.
If Madam searches everywhere and can’t find me, she’ll surely worry.”
“You and Madam have a very good relationship.”
“Of course.”
…
Yan Tinghao fell silent and took the lead.
As the area was rarely frequented, there was no clear path. Yan Tinghao had to use his sword to chop through the dense branches, making their progress difficult.
Due to the extremely slow pace, Lin Qingge asked Yan Tinghao for a dagger. Disregarding his objections, she charged ahead to chop branches herself.
It wasn't until Lin Qingge’s arm was too tired to lift that they finally found a narrow goat path that could barely be called a road.
After walking a bit further, Yan Tinghao suddenly stopped and shielded Lin Qingge behind him.
Knowing they were ambushed again, Lin Qingge, while marveling at their persistence, stealthily gripped her firearm.
“Who’s there?”
Unlike Leng Ningyue, whose senses and vigilance were honed from her assassin background, when Yan Tinghao asked this, it meant the opponent was already at a close proximity.
As expected.
As Yan Tinghao spoke, a dark figure floated down from a nearby large tree.
Just as Lin Qingge was about to pull the trigger, intending to strike first, the figure suddenly spoke.
“It’s me, Lu Huaiying.”
Hearing a familiar voice, Lin Qingge’s hand holding the firearm did not lower. Instead, she adjusted it to a more advantageous shooting angle.
Lu Huaiying, who had a past record of kidnapping, saw this and raised his hands, signaling:
“My Lord, there’s no need to be so tense. I was not sent by King Wucheng to hunt you.
From the moment I brought you out of the capital, I severed ties with King Wucheng.
Now, I am your person.”
Upon hearing this, Yan Tinghao immediately stepped forward.
“What ‘your person’?
You’re just a scoundrel who served a tyrant and broke faith. How dare you call yourself my Lord’s person?
I haven’t even called myself that!”
Lu Huaiying looked at Lin Qingge, as if asking with his eyes what madness Yan Tinghao was exhibiting.
Unable to explain in a few words, Lin Qingge chose to ignore him. She slowly lowered her firearm and asked in a deep voice, “Lu Huaiying, can I still trust you?”
“Of course.”
“Very well, I will trust you one more time. I hope you won’t disappoint me.”
With that, Lin Qingge put away her firearm and strode forward, “Tell me, what’s going on? Why are you here?”
Gaining her trust, Lu Huaiying’s clenched fists, which had been hanging at his sides, relaxed. He replied truthfully:
“Reporting to my Lord, after escorting Elder Sister to her destination, knowing I had missed the rendezvous time with you, I returned to the capital as per your prior instructions.
However, before even entering the city, I sensed something was amiss.
But, my Lord, you know I am a person under sentence. With my past betrayal, whatever I said, General Zhang would not believe.
Not only would he not believe me, but he would also arrest and imprison me.
I have indeed made mistakes, and I accept being jailed.
But I discovered a force lurking around the official road outside the capital.
Although there is no evidence, I feel that only you, my Lord, could be the target of such deep hatred.
Alas, I am alone and weak. I guarded for so many days, and despite hearing explosions, I was still too late.
But I knew you were resilient and would surely be fine, so I took a shortcut to find you here.”
“I see.”
Lin Qingge nodded with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, while Yan Tinghao pouted.
“That’s not right, my Lord. When I returned to the capital earlier, I didn’t see this Lu Huaiying either.”
“For some reason, Coroner Murong was being watched by several experts. I was afraid of being exposed, so I didn’t get close.
As for Constable Yan, before I could approach you, you had already left the capital.”
“Uh…”
Yan Tinghao, who seemed to recall that being the case, awkwardly scratched his head.
However, Lin Qingge seized on a key point in Lu Huaiying’s words. “You just said Coroner Murong was being watched by experts?”
“Yes, my Lord. Since returning to the capital, Coroner Murong has been staying by General Lian’s side, treating him.
During this time, he also sought out renowned doctors in the city, and even imperial physicians from the palace.
Finally, he invited monks from Putuo Temple to chant scriptures and pray for General Lian.
But it is truly strange, after the monks from Putuo Temple performed their prayers, General Lian’s condition actually improved.”