The next day, in a private room at the Auspicious Tavern.
Jiang Yi was slightly taken aback upon seeing Chu Ruoyan had also come. "Greetings, County Mistress Changle..."
She rose to perform a courtesy. Chu Ruoyan raised her hand. "There's no need for such formality, Sister Jiang. Today, you invited my second sister here for...?"
Jiang Yi glanced up at Chu Ruoyin.
Her features were gentle and refined, soft yet not timid, truly possessing more of the proud bone of a winter plum blossom than Feng Ying ever did.
Her heart filled with admiration, yet also a touch of melancholy. Forcing a smile, she said, "Today's invitation is indeed presumptuous. I do have a matter I wish to inquire about. Miss Chu the Second, please follow me."
Chu Ruoyin looked to Chu Ruoyan, and seeing her nod, followed Jiang Yi upstairs.
In the private room at the far right of the top floor.
No sooner had Chu Ruoyin entered than she heard the door shut behind her.
She hurried after her. "Miss Jiang, what are you..."
Before she could finish her sentence, footsteps sounded from the inner chamber, followed immediately by a voice that absolutely should not have been there—
"Ruoyin?!"
The woman stiffened, turning her head in disbelief.
Dragon-embroidered robe, phoenix coronet, sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes—it could be no one but Murong Jin.
She instinctively stepped back, wanting to flee through the door, but the man was faster. A large hand pressed directly against the door panel. "Ruoyin, it really is you. How did you get here? What about Jiang Huaian? Has he not been treating you well?!"
Murong Jin fired off three questions in rapid succession. Chu Ruoyin couldn't answer a single one, her heart pounding like a war drum.
Just then, a heavy cough came from behind. Changhua said awkwardly, "Y-Your Highness..."
Murong Jin flicked his sleeve. "You go out first. Everyone is to go downstairs and await my command!"
Changhua promptly assented. Before leaving, he cast a gratified glance at Chu Ruoyin.
Look! She's not even wearing a married woman's hairstyle. Perhaps there's still hope for His Highness!
Unfortunately, Murong Jin hadn't noticed this detail at all. His eyes were fixed intently on her face. "Ruoyin, answer me. Has he been treating you poorly? This prince will go and slaughter him right now!!"
Chu Ruoyin hastily grabbed his arm. "No!"
Her delicate fingertips touched the skin beneath his robe. Both shuddered at the contact, separating as if shocked by electricity.
Chu Ruoyin retreated to the window as if fleeing. Murong Jin clenched his fists, breathing heavily, both taking a long time to calm down.
After a good while, Murong Jin spoke. "My apologies. I was too hasty. If you are unwilling to speak, I won't force you..."
A surge of bitterness rose in Chu Ruoyin's heart, and she couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, why must you torment yourself like this?"
This was the first sentence she had actively spoken to him in all this time.
Murong Jin was overjoyed. "No, no, it's all this prince's own willing choice! Ruoyin, you're finally willing to talk to me?"
Chu Ruoyin gave a strained smile. "Spilt water cannot be gathered up. Your Highness, today was Miss Jiang..."
Before she could finish, Murong Jin's pupils constricted violently. He practically lunged forward in a stride, wrapping his arms around her.
Clang!
The sound of clashing blades made Chu Ruoyin swallow her gasp of surprise.
The man pulled her swiftly backward. The clanging sounds of combat rang out incessantly, ending with a muffled grunt from Murong Jin—he seemed to have crashed against the door!
"Your Highness!"
Chu Ruoyin cried out, only to hear a cold snort from the other party. "How devoted. If you weren't injured beforehand and trying to protect this woman, I might not have been able to kill you!"
With that, a ruthless slash descended. Chu Ruoyin broke free from his embrace and, without a second thought, used her own body to shield him—
"Ruoyin! No!!"
Murong Jin's eyes nearly burst from their sockets, watching as that blade was about to land on her slender back.
At the critical moment, the blade stopped.
The black-clad man frowned and barked coldly, "Move aside if you don't want to die!"
But Chu Ruoyin sensed he didn't truly want to kill her and shielded the Prince of Qin even more desperately. "Who are you? Assassinating a prince is a capital crime!"
The other man sneered. "Capital crime? My entire family died at the hands of the Murong dogs. What's one more life?" He then grabbed Chu Ruoyin's long hair and yanked her away violently. The searing pain on her scalp made her grit her teeth, but she didn't utter a sound.
"Ruoyin!— Don't touch her! Deal with me if you have business!"
Murong Jin roared. The black-clad man pointed his blade at him. "Naturally, it is aimed at you. Murong Jin, Murong Jin, go to the underworld and atone for your crimes!"
Two breaths earlier, downstairs.
Chu Ruoyan was chatting idly with Jiang Yi. "...So you asked my second sister out to let her meet with the Prince of Qin and clear the air? But how did you know about their past?"
Jiang Yi was momentarily stunned. Que'er hurriedly interjected, "The night before last, after leaving the Prince of Qin's residence, our young lady met a man, surnamed Song. He was the one who told her!"
"Surnamed Song? Song Jia!"
Chu Ruoyan's expression changed instantly, and she stood up abruptly. "This is bad! The Prince of Qin! Shadow!"
As her words fell, a gust of wind passed. The youth guarding in the shadows had already rushed upstairs.
Just as he reached outside the room, he saw the broadsword descending towards Murong Jin—
Clang!
Another piercing screech of tearing silk. Shadow's sword intercepted the blade with pinpoint accuracy!
Immediately after, Changhua's furious shout came from outside. "Your Highness! Protect His Highness!"
The black-clad man desperately tried to escape through the window, but Shadow's sword remained stuck to him like a shadow, never leaving the vital points around his waist.
Seeing no hope of escape, a flicker passed through his eyes. He laughed heartily. "Fine! You have great luck! The Hall of a Hundred Insights will avenge me!"
With that, he directly drew the blade across his own neck. Blood spurted wildly, even catching Shadow somewhat off guard.
In the stairwell, Chu Ruoyan, hearing these words, felt her entire body turn cold.
So that's it!
Song Jia's target was actually the Hall of a Hundred Insights!
What a vicious scheme! Assassinate the Prince of Qin, frame my elder brother... Now, even if the Hall of a Hundred Insights had a hundred mouths, it couldn't explain itself clearly!
"Your Highness, how are you?" Changhua rushed in swiftly to support him.
But Murong Jin stared intently at Chu Ruoyin. "See to her first!"
Changhua had no choice but to go over and check. "Your Highness! The Second Miss Chu is fine, only some minor scrapes!"
These words seemed to set his heart at ease. Murong Jin relaxed, then suddenly opened his mouth and vomited a mouthful of blood—
"Your Highness, Prince of Qin!"
"Your Highness!"
He collapsed straight onto the floor. Changhua was horrified, hoisted him onto his back, and headed straight for the palace.
Chu Ruoyin wanted to follow but was stopped by Chu Ruoyan. "Second Sister, you're injured too."
Chu Ruoyin's face was full of frantic anxiety. "But he's gravely injured, he lost a lot of blood. Elder Sister, will he die? Will he die?"
Her trembling voice was filled with panic. Chu Ruoyan grasped her hand and said gravely, "Second Sister, the Prince of Qin will be diagnosed by the imperial physicians. I believe he will be fine! But you must calm down first and tell me exactly what happened!"
The Prince of Qin being assassinated, and in broad daylight no less.
This matter would surely shock the entire court!
At the time, only he and Chu Ruoyin were present. Therefore, once the Dali Temple officials arrived, she would be taken away for questioning.
Before that, Chu Ruoyan had to get a clear account first!
Chu Ruoyin gradually calmed down as well and recounted everything that had just happened in detail. "Oh, Elder Sister, one thing was very strange just now. He clearly could have taken the Prince of Qin's life, but he hesitated because of me. It was as if... he didn't want to kill me?"
