The night was hazy. The guests, having finished their drinks, emerged and were picked up one by one by sedans and carriages.
Wang Nie, clutching his head, was helped into a sedan chair by his servants. Even Qi Xiong, who had always been a heavy drinker, was so intoxicated that he looked as if he would pass out the very next second.
On the roof opposite Prince Ying's mansion, a sister and brother lay on their stomachs behind the semi-circular tiles, peeking out.
Song Qiming raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"They hadn't even had two cups when I left. How did they get this drunk in such a short time?"
Song Jinzhao's calm gaze swept over the two men's faces, a profound look flashing in the depths of her eyes.
"If you were an envoy drinking at Prince Wei's mansion, would you get this drunk?"
Song Qiming shook his head without hesitation. "Of course not."
As soon as he said that, realization dawned on him. He looked at Song Jinzhao in astonishment. "Is there a problem with them?"
No wonder they were so drunk in such a short time. Without anyone forcing them to drink, there was no need to fake being drunk. Could they have been drugged?
Just as the sedan bearers lifted the chairs to leave, two servants helped Prince Qi out of the doors.
Xiao Rongche, who was blind, stood motionless in place.
The attendants on his left and right watched the sedans gradually disappear into the darkness and whispered a few words into Xiao Rongche's ear.
"Your Highness, they have left."
Digging his nails hard into his palms, Xiao Rongche took a slight step forward. The carriage parked at the mansion's entrance immediately drove over.
Watching the three people leave one after another, and considering how Prince Qi's group had stood there watching them depart, Song Jinzhao turned and jumped down from the roof.
The instigators who caused Xiao Rongche's condition to worsen were Qi Xiong and Wang Nie. Could it be that he wanted revenge?
After moving away from Prince Ying's mansion, the guests gradually dispersed.
Seeing the sedans and the carriage separated by only one intersection, Song Jinzhao became even more certain that Xiao Rongche's targets were Wang Nie and Qi Xiong.
The waning moon hanging high in the sky was gradually obscured by dark clouds, making the night even darker, leaving only the candlelight from the lanterns shining.
Suddenly, a gust of cold wind blew through the street, letting out a howling sound.
Amidst the flickering candlelight, four masked assassins rushed out from the alleys on both sides of the street.
The snow-white flash of blades swept past the sedan bearers' eyes. Caught off guard, four of the eight men were instantly hacked to death.
Behind a pillar, Song Qiming covered his mouth, unable to hide the shock in his eyes.
To make a move against the envoys of the Shuobei Kingdom on the day Princess Shuwan married Prince Ying, Prince Qi was too audacious.
"Help!" The remaining four sedan bearers fled in a panic, but before they could run a few steps, they were pierced through the heart from behind.
All eight sedan bearers lost their lives. The four masked assassins split into two teams and dragged the unconscious Wang Nie and Qi Xiong out of the sedan chairs.
Despite such a huge commotion, the two men had no reaction at all. They had undoubtedly been drugged.
"Sister, what do we do now? Should we save them?" Song Qiming turned his head with a conflicted expression and asked Song Jinzhao.
Wang Nie and Qi Xiong could die, but dying in the capital would have too great an impact and would very likely lead to an early war.
Facing the enemy without certainty, regardless of whether the Dongzhao Kingdom could win, they would pay a heavy price.
On the right, Prince Qi's carriage was approaching. Song Jinzhao stared at it with a dark expression.
"Wait a little longer."
After the carriage stopped, Xiao Rongche was helped down from it.
"Your Highness, they are already unconscious."
Xiao Rongche expressionlessly opened his hand, and the servant supporting him immediately placed a sword in his grasp.
Then, they dragged Wang Nie and Qi Xiong in front of Xiao Rongche.
"Your Highness can make your move now."
The words drifted with the wind, carrying a chill.
Xiao Rongche raised his foot and kicked forward. After confirming the distance, he gripped the sword in his hand and prepared to thrust it forward.
Song Qiming instinctively wanted to rush out and save them.
But Song Jinzhao's arrow was faster than him.
A sharp metallic clang rang out, and the sword in Xiao Rongche's hand was instantly sent flying.
"Who is it!" The four masked assassins immediately raised their swords and faced the direction the arrow had come from.
Xiao Rongche was tightly protected behind the two subordinates he had brought.
"Except for Prince Qi and those two from Shuobei Kingdom, silence all the rest," Song Jinzhao said, her voice lowered so deeply it sounded like a man's.
Xiao Rongche could not die, otherwise the Emperor would definitely investigate thoroughly.
As long as the three most important people were fine, the impact of this incident would not be significant.
"Who are you?" Before the man's words could finish falling, his throat was pierced by Song Jinzhao's arrow.
Song Qiming picked up a sword from the ground and charged at them.
The opponents were no match for the sister and brother at all. In just a few blinks of an eye, all of their throats were slit.
The sounds of fighting disappeared. Unaware of the battle's outcome, Xiao Rongche tentatively called out, "Where is everyone? Are they all dead?"
Song Qiming walked up to his side, covered his mouth, and said faintly, "They are all dead, and you are next."
The gloomy voice sounded like the grim reapers jumping straight out of the underworld.
Xiao Rongche retreated repeatedly in terror, screaming at the top of his lungs, "Who are you? I am a prince, you cannot kill me!"
"Somebody, come quickly!"
Watching him run around blindly like a headless fly, Song Qiming glared at him wearily.
Assassinating envoys without regard for the big picture, and he still dared to call himself a prince? Killing him a hundred times wouldn't be too much.
The screams would soon attract people. With a dark expression, Song Jinzhao kicked Xiao Rongche squarely in the knee, then grabbed Song Qiming and swiftly vanished from the spot.
