The smile at the corners of Xi Qingyue’s lips grew wider when she saw Lu Qianning nod in agreement. She loved watching a good spectacle, and getting to take part in one herself was even better.
Her delight was so obvious that Lu Qianning couldn’t help twitching at the corner of her mouth. “You didn’t agree just because you wanted to see me half-dead and miserable, did you?”
The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed. There was no telling what kinds of ideas were packed into this little girl’s head—certainly not the thoughts of an ordinary child.
Xi Qingyue immediately shook her head. “Of course not, Big Sister Lu. I’m happy for you! You’re sneaking into the city right now. Once you’re carried in, looking battered and on the verge of death, all the citizens will see that you were nearly killed in an assassination attempt. Even if His Majesty wants to punish you, he’ll have to consider public opinion. As for the other officials, whoever dares suggest punishing you at a time like this will be seen as being on the Fourth Prince’s side. That’ll help you identify them quickly, won’t it? How convenient!”
Lu Qianning had been thinking along the same lines. She was still saddled with the accusation of killing the Northern Yue Emperor and causing the war between the two nations. She had no intention of suffering such an injustice in silence. The two countries had been bound to go to war sooner or later, yet these people had the nerve to blame it all on a woman. They weren’t ashamed in the slightest.
Documents proving that the Fourth Prince had colluded with Northern Yue had already been posted throughout the surrounding towns, and many people had even hidden copies in their homes. If she appeared even more pitiful, it would further confirm that she had been hunted down all the way here. She would then be seen as the victim, and spreading the contents of the letters would merely be an act of self-preservation.
His Majesty would have no legitimate reason to punish her. Surely he couldn’t blame her for exposing the ugly side of the imperial family? He would probably be forced to swallow his anger.
She also wanted to take this opportunity to see whether the people she had previously arranged would betray her at the last moment, when she was reduced to having only one breath left.
She patted Xi Qingyue on the head and gave her a gentle smile. “Yue, you really are considerate. I’ll leave my life in your hands, then. Just make sure you don’t actually let me die. I haven’t taken my revenge yet.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Xi Weilan, who had been sitting at the table eating, grinned and looked over. “Don’t worry, Big Sister Lu. My elder sister said that as long as you have one breath left, she can save you. She definitely won’t let you die.”
Luo Ling, standing nearby, couldn’t help rolling her eyes. Her princess was only joking. She meant to pretend to be seriously wounded, not actually lie half-dead on the verge of death.
A while later, Mu Jin entered from outside.
She first glanced at Xi Qingyue, then reported to Lu Qianning, “Princess, a large number of Imperial Guards and people from the Jingzhao Prefecture have arrived outside. They’ve come to arrest someone.”
Xi Qingyue remained calm when she heard this. She rose, walked over to Xi Weilan, and picked her up. “Let’s go. We’ll leave the city and meet Big Sister Lu. She said she would arrive in the capital today, but she still hasn’t returned. Something must have happened.”
Lu Qianning also nodded at Mu Jin. “Go ahead. When you leave the city to meet her, make plenty of noise. Let everyone know that I’ll be returning to the capital today—and that I’ll be bringing evidence of the Fourth Prince’s collusion with Northern Yue.”
She wanted the Fourth Prince and Consort De’s people to know that she was returning to the capital with proof in hand. Even if there had been no assassins outside the city before, there certainly would be now.
Xi Weilan wrapped her arms around Xi Qingyue’s neck. Her eyes darted around as she looked first at Lu Qianning, then at her elder sister. No one knew what was going on in that little head of hers.
After Xi Qingyue carried Xi Weilan away, Lu Qianning flew out through the rear courtyard. She and Luo Ling boarded a carriage out of the city, with the same woman as before driving them.
They would have to reenter openly from outside the city—and appear to have survived a deadly pursuit by the narrowest of margins. If they were putting on a show, they had to make it convincing.
Outside the Princess’s residence, Zhao Fenghua, the Left Wing General of the Golden Guard, had brought dozens of Imperial Guards. The Deputy Magistrate of Jingzhao, Wang He, had also led people from the prefecture to surround the gates.
Too many people had witnessed Xi Qingyue killing Wei Da and the others, and Wei Da had been Consort De’s nephew. Naturally, they had to arrest the culprit immediately.
They had originally been on their way to arrest the two children at the Seventh Princess’s residence, but halfway there they learned that the children had entered the Ninth Princess’s residence instead. They had immediately changed course and come here.
Wang He stared at the gates before him, his face full of confusion. “Strange. Princess Wenqing isn’t here. How did those two children get inside? What’s their relationship with Princess Wenqing?”
Zhao Fenghua, standing beside him, shook his expressionless head. “I don’t know. We’ll find out soon enough.”
Wang He shot him a glance. It had been Zhao Fenghua who had just given them two ke of time to bring the children out. Wasn’t he worried that they might escape through another route?
Just as he began to grow concerned, the gates slowly opened, and Xi Qingyue came out carrying Xi Weilan.
“Were you looking for me?” Xi Qingyue asked with a bright smile as she looked at the crowd outside the residence. She showed not the slightest trace of the fear one would expect from a child.
The Imperial Guards and the prefecture officials all tensed the moment they saw the two girls. Xi Qingyue was the ruthless little killer who had beheaded Wei Da and the others, so they were extremely wary of her.
Seeing this, Xi Qingyue waved at them instead. “Don’t be so nervous. I only came to Big Sister Lu’s residence to see whether she had returned. She said she would reach the capital today, but I haven’t seen her. She must have been stopped by people sent by the Fourth Prince. She may even be in danger. I have to leave the city and go meet her, so I won’t play with you for now.”
“What an insolent child! You really don’t take us seriously at all!” Wang He shouted angrily at her.
He had served in the Jingzhao Prefecture for many years and had never seen anyone so brazen—especially not an eight-year-old child.
If they let her slip away right in front of them, the Jingzhao Prefecture would become a laughingstock.
He waved his hand, and the officials from the Jingzhao Prefecture charged toward Xi Qingyue with their weapons drawn.
Xi Qingyue simply stood there calmly, still holding Xi Weilan. Just as the men were about to reach them, she suddenly leapt into the air with Xi Weilan in her arms, flew over everyone’s heads, and disappeared beyond them.
Wang He was dumbfounded. The officials from the Jingzhao Prefecture also missed completely, watching helplessly as the two little girls escaped right under their noses.
Zhao Fenghua remained expressionless from beginning to end, revealing nothing of what he was thinking.
The nearby citizens were equally stunned. Xi Qingyue had flown astonishingly high, gliding away so lightly that she vanished from sight in the blink of an eye.
Wang He gritted his teeth and roared, “After them! They’re heading for the city gate. We’ll arrest them outside the city!”
The group changed direction once more and chased after them. Some of the onlookers followed as well, eager to see whether the officials would manage to catch the two children.
Meanwhile, Lu Qianning’s carriage had already left the city.
Xi Qingyue did not leave immediately. Instead, she led the officials on a chase through the city.
Every time Wang He and the others were about to catch up, she would change direction again. After repeating this several times, she had thoroughly exhausted the entire group.
Just as Wang He’s anger reached its peak, Xi Qingyue finally turned toward the city gate.
She moved incredibly quickly despite carrying Xi Weilan in her arms.
The city gate had not been closed. By the time Xi Qingyue reached it, Wang He and the others were still chasing her from behind.
With a whoosh, she dashed out through the gate. When Wang He arrived, panting heavily, he caught sight of Xi Qingyue’s fleeting shadow.
Enraged, he pointed at the soldiers guarding the gate and cursed, “Idiots! Couldn’t you stop those two criminals?”
