Chapter 413 - 413: Donning Another Disguise

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Qu Xinwei spent the day playing with the young prince, returning to the residence only after dark.

Upon entering her room, she noticed an extra food box on the table.

Smiling, she approached the table, took out the meal from the box – three dishes, a bowl of rice, a pair of chopsticks, and a note that read, “Eat well, I’ll come to see you tonight.”

The meal, still warm, was sent by Jinghong.

Qu Xinwei’s smile deepened. She lit the lamp on the table and sat down to eat leisurely.

Suddenly, footsteps approached…

Qu Xinwei made a hand seal to cover up the things on the table. At the same time, there was a knock on the door. “Guard Qu, His Highness wants you to go over for dinner.”

Reluctant, Qu Xinwei asked, “May I decline?”

The butler’s expression turned solemn. “Guard Qu, His Highness values you.

It’s your honor to dine with him. Don’t push your luck.”

The butler’s voice suddenly softened. “The emperor has sent you a reward. Aren’t you going to receive it?”

A reward? Qu Xinwei, puzzled, opened the door and asked, “Why would the emperor reward me?”

The butler explained warmly, “The emperor cherishes His Highness. Your rescue has shown your loyalty, and thus he rewards you.”

No matter what, there was no reason to push money away. Qu Xinwei followed the butler to the front hall.

The young prince was generous, giving Qu Xinwei a fine dagger and a hundred taels of silver, which was a substantial reward.

“I have another reward for you,” said the prince.

Qu Xinwei raised an eyebrow, jokingly asking, “What reward do you plan to give me, Your Highness?”

The prince mysteriously replied, “I’ll tell you later. First, dine with me.”

Qu Xinwei hesitated, “Is that appropriate?”

Dining with the prince would surely attract envy, and she preferred to keep a low profile.

“It’s fine, let’s go.” The prince reached out to pull Qu Xinwei’s hand.

The young prince’s meal was exceptional, featuring a table spread with dishes, each exquisitely plated.

“Guard Qu, eat as you please,” the prince urged. He usually ate alone and wanted companionship at meals.

Since she was already seated, Qu Xinwei started eating without fuss, planning to eat Jinghong’s meal later.

However, she felt uncomfortable as maids kept staring disapprovingly, as if saying a guard shouldn’t dine with the prince. It was a breach of etiquette.

She turned to them and asked, “You are staring at me like that. Do you want some too?”

The maids hurriedly lowered their heads.

Protective of Qu Xinwei, the prince dismissed them, “Leave us. We don’t need your service here.”

The prince reassured Qu, “From now on, dine with me every day. Don’t mind them.”

Qu Xinwei was speechless. If he dined daily, he’d become everyone’s enemy in the mansion!

Back in her room half an hour later, Qu Xinwei resumed eating Jinghong’s meal.

After eating, she pondered his next move…

Being passive wouldn’t do. She had to be proactive in actions. With opium heading to the black market tonight, would “Yuan” be there too?

She might as well go to the black market and see if she could get any clues.

Qu Xinwei was about to change when a person flew into his room. She turned to see a figure in ghostly attire, a member of the Yun force.

Unsure of the visitor’s identity and not wanting to speak rashly, Qu Xinwei remained silent, fitting her role as the quiet “Jiu.”

The visitor spoke rapidly, “Master Yuan wants you to control the young prince, making him obedient and securing the horse farm and manor for him.” Was this Master Yuan’s messenger?

Fortune favors the bold. Qu Xinwei could now learn more about “Yuan”.

If he were to send a message for “Yuan”, he would definitely know a lot about “Yuan.”

Qu Xinwei flipped her hand and the bell appeared in her hand. In the next second, the sound of the bell spread throughout the room…

The visitor’s pupils dilated slightly and quickly lost focus.

Seated, Qu began her interrogation…

The visitor, “Yuan’s” envoy, was responsible for relaying messages – from others to “Yuan” and “Yuan’s” orders to them.

There were four such envoys, each managing a direction in the capital; this one in charge of the west.

As she asked, Qu Xinwei obtained a very important clue as to how to find “Yuan”.

As an envoy, he had to transmit information at all times. His connection with “Yuan” was no longer one-way, but two-way.

Now he could go straight to “Yuan”.

She also obtained a list detailing the poison incense distribution plan, targeting the capital’s west side, where the elite resided.

The list included the palace, followed by various high-ranking officials. Those already marked off likely meant that they had been poisoned.

If the incense plan succeeded, the Daling Dynasty might face a regime change.

Qu Xinwei looked at the list and thought to himself, ‘Do your parents know that you’re so ambitious?’

She put the list away and thought about the next step. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

She could not let the western envoy go back. After thinking for a long time, she decided to don another disguise. Anyway, she had nothing much to do during the day and could handle the extra task.

With the identity of the western envoy, many things became simple.

Now, everything could wait until she saw “Yuan.”

Checking the time, there was still an hour before the black market opened, so Qu Xinwei sat down and continued to question the western envoy, particularly asking about specific details to better understand the situation, which would make it easier for her to disguise.

Just like that, about five minutes later, Qu Xinwei, who had been monitoring Prince Rui’s mansion, realized that someone had sneaked into the mansion and then into Madam Xin’s room.

She looked at the person carefully but couldn’t identify who it was.

However, the comer’s identity was soon clear to her. She saw Madam Xin welcoming him warmly. Madam Xin was dressed in a red dress, revealing half of her breasts. It was a seductive scene.

Madam Xin called out coquettishly, “Ziming.”

Lu Ziming?