“Your Majesty, there’s trouble ahead. Shall we detour back to the palace?”
The palace was in an uproar. The palanquin that had just passed through the main gate couldn’t help but halt.
“Hmm, hurry up. I don’t want any unnecessary complications!” The voice from inside the palanquin was melodious, languid yet carrying a hint of magnetism.
“At once, Your Majesty!” Though separated by the curtain, the old eunuch still bent his back into a ninety-degree bow. As he turned around, a sudden gust of wind and sand blew over, causing everyone to instinctively raise their sleeves to cover their faces and turn their heads away with closed eyes.
“Ahh!” Amidst the howling wind and swirling sand, a faint scream came from inside the palanquin.
“Your Majesty, any further orders?” A good servant must have sharp ears and keen eyes. The old eunuch returned to the palanquin while discreetly signaling the guards on both sides.
“I’m fine. Master Wang, carry on back to the palace!” The woman’s voice inside remained soft and sweet, showing no sign of panic or anger.
The palanquin swiftly moved through the narrow palace alleys, and the sudden gust of wind and sand soon faded from everyone’s memory.
Moments later, an ethereal figure landed at the very spot where the palanquin had stopped earlier.
The Xuan Maiden lightly stepped on the empty air with her delicate bare feet. Her gaze, as calm as the depths of a lake, followed the direction the palanquin had disappeared.
“Giggle, giggle…” Suddenly, a petite figure fell like a shooting star, directly crashing into Xuan Maiden’s vision and forcibly interrupting her line of sight. “Dear Xuan, let me play with you for a while, giggle, giggle…”
Petite and graceful, holding a white jade fan, and with a smile like a blooming flower—this was none other than Princess Jade Fan, the most beautiful woman in the mortal realm and the Demon King’s consort!
Absolute power always commands absolute authority. Circumstances had changed, and this time it was Xuan Maiden’s turn to retreat without hesitation. She had the heavy responsibility of rescuing her master, so naturally she couldn’t afford to engage in a fierce battle with Princess Jade Fan.
Princess Jade Fan made no attempt to follow. She leisurely waved her white jade fan, savoring the cool autumn breeze. A flicker of thought glimmered in the beautiful demoness’s eyes, and as her delicate face subtly shifted, the princess, as if having uncovered a great secret, instantly dismissed Xuan Maiden from her mind.
With a graceful wave of her jade-like hand, a small bird conjured through her magic soared swiftly into the clouds, making its way toward the Nine幽Palace of the Myriad Demon Kingdom in the human world.
The Ten-Sun Body is still alive! It turns out the Ten-Sun Pearl has successfully fused with a mortal. The mortal realm now has hope!
※※※※※※※※
“Aren’t you afraid of me? I’m an assassin, you know?” In the gently swaying confined space, Qiao San, covered in blood, leaned against the palanquin wall, gazing in slight surprise at the stunning beauty before him.
It turned out that the desperate rogue had hidden inside the palanquin, taking hostage of a palace woman.
Her arched eyebrows slightly lifted, the beautiful woman smiled gently. Not only was she unafraid, but she was also curiously examining Qiao San from head to toe. “You’re the assassin? This is the first time I’ve ever seen one in my life. Today is indeed an eye-opening experience!”
“You really aren’t afraid of me?!”
Qiao San leaned forward, his eyes flashing with killing intent, staring intently at the changes in the woman’s expression.
The beautiful woman’s smiling eyes showed no fear at all. She seemed to be talking to herself as she explained gently, “You’re a heroic swordsman, and I’m just a helpless woman. Of course, a swordsman won’t harm an innocent person!”
“A swordsman? Hmm!”
Flattery always sounds pleasant, especially when coming from a beautiful woman. Bold San couldn’t help but puff out his chest involuntarily, striking a heroic pose with his head held high. “Don’t worry, as long as you don’t cry out, I won’t hurt you. A real man stands by his word!”
“Heehee…” The beauty giggled behind her sleeve, her alluring charm mixed with a touch of innocence. The “hero” facing her felt a sudden warmth in his throat, nearly revealing his rogue nature on the spot.
“Swordsman, you haven’t told this humble servant your name yet. My name is Qiao Fei, a poor soul trapped in this deep palace.” With a charming smile, the beauty’s slightly pointed face briefly showed a hint of sadness, perfectly portraying the sorrowful heart of a palace woman trapped in seclusion.
Qiao San could no longer bear to stare into her phoenix-like eyes. He shifted his gaze and, in turn, comforted the hostage. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll leave as soon as we reach a less crowded place. Oh, you can just call me… Bold San!”
Perhaps influenced by the “hero’s charm,” or perhaps moved by the woman’s tears of vulnerability, Qiao San inexplicably revealed his nickname.
“Your Majesty, we’ve arrived. Allow this servant to help you down,” the old eunuch’s shrill voice soon interrupted their harmonious atmosphere.
“This…” Seeing the curtain stir slightly, Qiao San couldn’t help but look distressed. In his current condition, the only correct course of action for the wounded rogue was to take Qiao Fei hostage. However, the woman’s gentleness, kindness, and breathtaking beauty made it impossible for him to harden his heart.
What should he do? If discovered by the pursuing forces from various sects, even with a hundred lives, he would be doomed!
In the blink of an eye, countless thoughts passed through his mind, but Qiao Fei, understanding his dilemma, spoke first.
“Master Wang, no need to help me. I’ll get down myself. You may step aside,” Qiao Fei said, dismissing the old eunuch. After sending him away, she quietly said to Bold San while getting out of the palanquin, “You come out later. I’ll send them all away. Swordsman, we’ll meet again!”
As she stepped down, the woman couldn’t resist glancing back with a smile full of affection, making Qiao San even more enchanted, feeling light-headed with self-satisfaction.
“Hehe… It’s great to be handsome. Beautiful women always come to my aid wherever I go!”
As the palanquin curtain rose and fell, the sound of Qiao Fei’s footsteps receding was so gentle and pleasant. The man inside the palanquin was so entranced that his soul seemed to have left his body, following the woman’s beautiful figure step by step.
“Hey, something’s wrong. Why are there so many breathing sounds around the palanquin?” A sense of foreboding suddenly made Qiao San’s heart race, and he snapped out of his trance. Unfortunately, it was already too late!
“Fire!” The woman’s voice entered Qiao San’s ears again, still as melodious and tender as ever. But to Qiao San, it now sounded like the hiss of a venomous snake and the roar of a ferocious beast!
Like a storm of arrows, a dense wave of projectiles rained down from all directions. In an instant, the palanquin at the center of the courtyard was completely pierced with arrows. Not even a fly could escape death.
“Your Majesty, this old servant greets you. I’ve failed in my duty; please punish me accordingly!” Although the old eunuch had succeeded in eliminating the assassin, he still knelt before the woman with a look of fear on his face.
“Master Li, you did well. Rise, and burn the palanquin and the corpse together!” The woman’s voice paused slightly, and with a casual wave of her sleeve, she ordered, “Yes, it’s getting late. Let’s return to the sleeping quarters.”
Only then did the tension on the old eunuch’s face ease. Hurriedly, he turned around and commanded the junior eunuchs, “Come, quickly bring the imperial palanquin and send Her Majesty, Empress Jade, back to her palace!”
Empress Jade?! Oh, so the woman was never really Concubine Qiao at all. She was actually Empress Jade, the most favored consort in the entire palace. And that old eunuch wasn’t Master Wang, but Master Li, the chief eunuch of Empress Jade’s palace. Just a simple change of surname had unknowingly led Bold San into a deadly trap!
Brilliant—what an incredibly clever woman!
Cruel—what a heartlessly vicious Empress Jade!
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