These secret chambers were designed to mislead others. No one would have expected a mechanism hidden within the stone walls lining the avenue. Opening one of the stone walls would lead into a secret chamber, and passing through a stone wall in that chamber would lead to another. Mu Fei lay on a bed here, and Qiu Bai had prepared a great deal for her, not only ready-made rations but also a quilt, so she wouldn't freeze at night.
Though hiding inside was rather boring, she dared not go out. She didn't need to think to know that someone was waiting outside for her to walk right into their trap. She could only pray that Qiu Bai would hear of her disappearance soon and return to rescue her.
Although she often complained about him, when something happened, she found that he was the only one she could rely on.
Qiu Bai did not disappoint her. Knowing that many people were guarding their courtyard, but since Xu Minghui already knew his identity, there was no need to be secretive. He walked in boldly, even greeting the people Xu Minghui had stationed there and warmly inviting them to be guests in his home, leaving them all bewildered and unsure of what to do.
That very night, she saw the travel-worn Qiu Bai. Suddenly, she felt a surge of emotion, as if she had found the anchor she sought. Reason told her that this man was also unreliable and would abandon her when faced with trouble, but that did not diminish the感动 of that moment.
"What are your plans now? With people guarding the upper levels and likely searching for you at the exits, this courtyard is no longer safe. Why don't I escort you to the south?" Qiu Bai sighed, surprised that so much had happened in the short time he had been away.
"No, I don't want to leave. Please help me again. Just give me half a year, and I will go to the south with you," Mu Fei pleaded with him, her eyes full of entreaty.
As soon as he saw her expression, Qiu Bai’s heart softened. He silently told himself that this was the last time; if she acted like this again, he would absolutely not help her. He knew very well that she was staying here to oppose the Fifth Prince's Consort, but knowing it did not stop him from being unable to refuse her each time.
"Xu Minghui already knows I'm helping you and has been cracking down on my influence recently. I'll help you one last time. I hope you can quickly fulfill any unfinished wishes. Who knows what the future holds; I might even be driven out of the capital entirely."
Looking at his somewhat melancholic expression, Mu Fei did not feel she was being unreasonable. Instead, she resented that this man, lacking power and influence, would expect her to go to the south with him.
Qiu Bai, unaware of her thoughts, quickly made arrangements after she nodded.
From then on, Wu Caiwei never saw Mu Fei in the capital again. It was a bit strange, she thought. Although Qiu Bai had returned, he seemed to be constantly summoning doctors. Was he ill? But she hadn't received any such news.
However, Wu Caiwei did not dwell on Mu Fei. She knew that given Mu Fei's ambition for that position, she would eventually return. What truly angered her was that today, the Fifth Prince had encountered an ambush when leaving his residence. The thought of the person lurking behind the scenes made her grit her teeth in fury.
The Fifth Prince, noticing his consort's displeased gaze, tried to appease her. Today, his consort had wanted to accompany him, fearing danger, but the Fifth Prince felt he was very busy lately. The weather had turned cold, and it was chilly outside, so there was no need for her to brave the wind with him.
She hadn't expected anyone to be so audacious. As soon as she left the Fifth Prince's residence, an arrow was shot towards her. At that moment, the Fifth Prince's mind reacted, but his physical condition limited his response. Before he could react, the arrow was already flying directly at him, forcing him to meet it head-on.
The guards beside him watched in horror as the arrow flew towards the Fifth Prince, their hearts skipping a beat. To their surprise, the Fifth Prince had been prepared. The next moment, the sound of the arrow striking iron echoed, and they breathed a sigh of relief, rushing towards the direction of the archer, intending to capture the culprit.
The Fifth Prince calmly reached for his chest and produced a bronze mirror. The mirror was already shattered.
The Fifth Prince's guards spotted the archer. They thought he would flee upon seeing them pursue him, but instead, the man looked at them calmly, indifferent to life and death. He picked up his bow and, to everyone's horror, shot another arrow towards the Fifth Prince.
As soon as the arrow was loosed, the guards reached him, angrily punching him in the chest and grappling with him. Outnumbered by the Fifth Prince's men, the archer was quickly subdued. He thought of how he had taken advantage of the Fifth Prince's consort's lack of preparedness and shot another arrow, a smile inadvertently appearing on his lips. "My mission is accomplished."
After apprehending him, the guards hurried towards the Fifth Prince, anxious to see if their master had been injured and to what extent.
The archer, watching their anxious faces, couldn't help but smile, and then burst into laughter. If not for their haste, he would have loved to teach this guy a lesson. This entire affair was his doing, and yet he was here, laughing heartily.
His laughter abruptly ceased. Looking at the Fifth Prince sitting unharmed on his horse, he wore an expression of disbelief. He was extremely confident in his archery skills; the first arrow had hit the Fifth Prince, so there was no reason the second wouldn't.
"How is this possible? How are you still alive?" the archer couldn't help but ask, voicing his doubt.
"What state do you think I'm in? A corpse?" The Fifth Prince raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile. Soudan Novel Network
"How did you dodge my arrow? Did someone block it for you? No, if someone had blocked it for you, how could no one be injured?" The archer scanned the surroundings, finding everyone unharmed. There was no blood on the ground, nor any bodies, and he looked at him with confusion.
"Knowing I would encounter danger when I went out, did you think I would only place a bronze mirror at my chest and be done with it?" Speaking of this, the Fifth Prince felt a chill of fear. Fortunately, he had heeded his consort's advice and put on a double layer of protection. He truly hadn't expected the other party to want to take him down with him.
Hearing this, the archer understood everything. He had thought himself clever; if he could kill the target, he would retreat quickly. If he couldn't, the Fifth Prince, having made preparations, would surely examine his defenses before donning them. He hadn't anticipated that his own cleverness would lead to his downfall, costing him his master's right-hand man while the target remained unharmed.
Having learned from previous encounters, the Fifth Prince's guards were now much more experienced and had been wary of him. Seeing him attempt suicide, they quickly dislocated his jaw.