Chapter 193: Chapter 193: 193: Prince Longevity (23)

Chuzheng: “…”

What are these two doing! Why are they undressing?!

Emperor, your beauty has crowned you with a green hat, hey!

Chuzheng almost witnessed a live version of the lesson on the inheritance of life.

The reason she didn’t see it was because someone came, startling the two uncontrollable protagonists and making them leave quickly.

Chuzheng squatted in the bushes, waiting for the people outside to leave before standing up slowly with an air of aloofness and departing.

Chuzheng didn’t find Yan Gui.

Xiao Guizi said Yan Gui was still praying for blessings.

Chuzheng could only return to her own chamber.

As soon as she entered the chamber, she saw the Little Taoist Priest dressed in eunuch’s clothing, sitting crookedly in a chair, munching away at something.

This Little Taoist Priest, ever since he said she had a calamity coming her way, she hadn’t seen him again.

She didn’t know where he had hidden himself.

And now, he had actually run into her room.

Does he run this travel palace or what?

“Miss Chuzheng.”

Seeing what appeared to be sacrificial offerings in the hands of the Little Taoist Priest, Chuzheng asked, “Did you steal the Sacrificial Offering?”

The Little Taoist Priest laughed with a mischievous ‘hehe,’ taking that as a yes.

“What are you looking for me for?”

“Can’t I find you if there’s nothing up?”

“No one visits without a reason.” Chuzheng’s face was full of indifference, as if her face were about to display the words ‘Speak if you have business, get lost if you don’t’ in big letters.

“…” The Little Taoist Priest sat up straight, his eyes flickering twice: “Was it you who did that to Prince Rong?”

Chuzheng: “Don’t talk nonsense.”

The Little Taoist Priest clicked his tongue twice: “There’s no one else here, I’m on your side, aren’t I? You don’t need to be so wary, right?”

Chuzheng gave him an ice-cold look: “It wasn’t me.”

The Little Taoist Priest didn’t believe her: “… Other than you, I can’t think of anyone else.”

“What do you want?” Chuzheng was getting impatient, and the “annoying” bullet comments started popping up in the background.

“Don’t be so fierce.” The Little Taoist Priest shrugged helplessly: “Really, it’s nothing. Just came to see my big boss.”

Chuzheng, with a face of ice, kicked the Little Taoist Priest out.

It wasn’t long before Chuzheng heard shouts of ‘catch the thief’ from outside.

Chuzheng: “…”

The damn thing came to take refuge in her place!

–

The prayer ceremony, amid everyone’s fright and trepidation, finally ended.

Usually, they would stay at Qi Mountain for a while, but this year, with such a big incident, the Emperor didn’t have the mood for it, nor did anyone else.

The procession set off for the Imperial City.

The road downhill was terribly bumpy, and Chuzheng sat stiffly in the back, looking every inch the noble and aloof beauty.

In reality, Chuzheng was full of despair.

How much longer until they were off the mountain!

She was about to be jolted into an idiot!

And she couldn’t make any sudden movements!

She didn’t remember the ascent being so bumpy!

“Miss, the road down the mountain is rough, please bear with it,” Lv Zhu said, comforting Chuzheng by her side.

“Hmm.”

Fearing Chuzheng might feel uncomfortable, Lv Zhu came over to pad the seat again.

Chuzheng leaned against the carriage, maintaining an airy face of indifference, her heart filled with longing for death as she watched the swaying curtains.

“Whoosh——”

An arrow flew in from the carriage window, nailing the curtain to the opposite wall.

Lv Zhu was completely petrified with fear, and it took her a few seconds to let out a terrified scream.

The chaos and screaming outside almost coincided with Lv Zhu’s scream.

Chuzheng looked at the arrow indifferently, No more jolting!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh——

Arrows hitting the carriage’s outside wall made a thudding noise.

“Assassin!”

“Protect Your Majesty!”

The clash of weapons and the Imperial Forest Army’s shouts to protect the Emperor mixed together.

With the curtain gone, one could clearly see the outside situation.

They were on the steepest part of Qi Mountain, and on the other side of the cliff, assassins leaped down from the mountain walls, drawing their weapons to slash.

“Miss!” Lv Zhu screamed as she threw herself towards Chuzheng.

An arrow shot straight towards them from outside the window.

Lv Zhu flung herself into Chuzheng’s embrace, while Chuzheng protected her with one arm and reached out to catch the arrow.

The swiftly shooting arrow, as light as a feather, was gently held by a pale hand.

If anyone could see, they would notice that what caught the arrow was a silver thread stretched across the air.

Those silver threads, like a spider’s web, ensnared the arrow, and Chuzheng merely needed to raise her hand at the right moment to grasp it.

“Miss…” Lv Zhu’s eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at her own mistress.

How did her mistress manage to catch an arrow with her bare hands?

Chuzheng glanced outside and pressed down on Lv Zhu’s body, “Stay here.”

“Miss…”

Before Lv Zhu could finish speaking, Chuzheng had already leaped out of the carriage.

The assassins and Imperial Forest Army were in combat, with most of the Imperial Forest Army gathered at the front to protect the Emperor and the royal family members.

Chuzheng made her way through the crowd to reach where Yan Gui had been.

Yan Gui’s carriage was nowhere to be seen.

All around were the chaotic palace maids and eunuchs; amidst the turmoil, Chuzheng found the injured Xiao Guizi.

“Where is Yan Gui?”

“Prince… The Prince is in the carriage.”

“The carriage is gone.”

Xiao Guizi in surprise, “I just saw it…”

Xiao Guizi looked in that direction, and now most of the assassins were concentrated on the Emperor’s side, with the others fleeing in their carriages.

“I…I don’t know.” Xiao Guizi scrambled up from the ground, his voice filled with panic, “Prince Rong was definitely over there, I just saw him, how can he be gone!”

Chuzheng: “…”

Not a problem.

Not a big issue.

He’s just lost, and needs to be found.

Still, it’s safer to keep the Good Person Card close.

Chuzheng grabbed a horse, swung herself up, and landed gracefully on its back.

Xiao Guizi hadn’t even reacted before his face was smothered by the hem of Chuzheng’s skirt. By the time he looked again, Chuzheng was already dashing forwards, disappearing into the chaos.

–

Crackle—

There was a soft sound from the burning of the campfire.

Yan Gui propped himself up to sit, looking around with a bewildered expression.

He looked down at the coat covering him, and with the light of the campfire, he recognized the color and style of the garment.

He remembered that she was wearing this dress today, wasn’t she?

Yan Gui held his forehead, his head throbbing with pain.

When the assassins attacked, his carriage had been pushed forward uncontrollably.

The horse, spooked, could not be stopped.

Behind…

It seemed like the carriage had been struck, knocked off the mountain path, and fallen down the cliff.

Yan Gui’s head hurt terribly; he only remembered her figure catching him as he fell, but nothing after that.

Rustle, rustle, rustle…

Yan Gui quickly turned around.

A girl dressed only in her undershirt emerged from the bushes. Her sleeves were casually rolled up, and the excessively long skirt of her dress was knotted, giving her somewhat the air of a wandering heroine.

Chuzheng came over, dragging a branch behind her, squatting down, and reaching out to poke Yan Gui’s face.

“Are you okay?”

Yan Gui gazed at her with tranquil eyes, showing no reaction.

Chuzheng thought for a moment, then leaned in to kiss him, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

Her voice remained cool and detached.

Yet it carried a certain reassurance.

That feeling that with her, nothing was a problem…

Yan Gui’s headache was severe, and his reaction slow, until Chuzheng poked his face again, which finally brought him back to the present.

His body lurched to the side, his cheeks suddenly burning up, the heat spreading all the way to his ears.

“Be careful.” Chuzheng pulled him back as the flames, fanned by the wind, flared up on his side.

With Chuzheng’s palm against his cheek, Yan Gui felt the heat, his heart rate suddenly accelerating. The whole world went silent except for the loud beating of his heart in his ears.