Taking her into his tent, he incurred the wrath of a powerful and mad minister, from which he could

On the other side, Murong Shu led Ji Mingyi through a maze of turns, then dismounted in a dark alley and slashed the horse's rump with a backhand stroke.

The horse suddenly felt pain and neighed as it galloped wildly toward the city gate.

Mingyi instantly understood his intention: he had no intention of leaving the city at all!

Despite the stinging pain from the wound on her neck, her voice trembled as she deliberately feigned a timid and weak demeanor: "I am merely a distant relative residing in the Zong family mansion. I am not worth his trouble. Using me as a bargaining chip will only lead to a waste of your efforts."

"Not worth it?" Murong Shu wouldn't be easily fooled again. "He cared so much about your life, dismissing all his guards. You're the woman he cherishes most!"

By now, Murong Shu had relaxed considerably. Looking at her pale face, he felt a bit of cat-and-mouse fascination and slowly said, "Fine, I'll let you die knowing why."

"I didn't come here to kill Zong Xian. The person I've always wanted to kill is you!"

Mingyi's pupils contracted sharply as she was forced back until she had nowhere left to retreat. Her terrified face was filled with confusion: "I have never met you before, we have no grudge against each other, why do you insist on taking my life?"

Murong Shu raised an eyebrow: "I have no grudge against you, but as long as you live, my sister will never be able to live a happy life."

Mingyi was startled, then instantly realized what was happening, her face turning ashen: "Did Princess Jianing instruct you to eliminate me?"

Murong Shu remained noncommittal.

Having said that, he didn't want to waste any more words and immediately raised his knife to stab her to death.

"Wait!"

Mingyi quickly reached out and grabbed his wrist holding the knife, her soft hands tightly clasping his forearm, her voice pleading, "Please don't kill me, I was forced to!"

Murong Shu's gaze swept over the slender, fair hand holding hers, then he tilted his head and asked, "Oh? You were forced into this?"

Mingyi nodded repeatedly, her eyes quickly welling up with tears: "I didn't want to marry him at all. I originally had a fiancé, but he forced me to stay in the Zong family mansion. I've always wanted to escape, but I haven't been able to find an opportunity."

Murong Shu's eyes flickered slightly, as if trying to discern the truth or falsehood of her statement.

Seeing that his attitude seemed to have softened, she quickly pressed her advantage: "Young master, I have never intended to hinder the princess and Zongxian, much less be an obstacle between them."

"If you let me go, I will leave this land and never show myself again. I will tell everyone that I have died in the wilderness, and you will not have to stain your hands with blood. Is that alright?"

Chang Sui, hiding in the shadows, was always ready to rush out and save people.

Murong Shu said with an air of seriousness, "Sounds good..."

Mingyi's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, eased slightly, but then she heard Murong Shu's tone change: "However, my hands are already stained with blood, so one more life doesn't matter. Only the dead can truly bring peace of mind!"

But as he broke free of the girl's hand and prepared to make his move, he suddenly felt a strong wave of dizziness.

The sudden dizziness made him unable to hold the knife properly, and he staggered and fell to the ground.

What's wrong with him?

"Let me tell you, you've been poisoned with 'soft bone powder'."

The girl's tone was cold and steady, a far cry from her previous timid and weak demeanor.

Mingyi picked up the dagger that had fallen to the ground, then squatted down in front of Murong Shu, raised her hand without hesitation, and stabbed it into his body!

Murong Shu's eyes widened: "You...you actually dare..."

"What do I have to be afraid of? You all forced me into this!"

She didn't want to get involved in these troubles; she just wanted to live her own life.

But Zong Xian forcibly imprisoned her in the mansion, and the old lady Zong used the constraints of etiquette to control her. Now even Princess Jianing of the General's Mansion wants to send people to take her life!

They were all pressuring her.

Because she was all alone and helpless, like a rootless duckweed, everyone felt that she could be bullied and treated at will.

She was determined not to let them have their way!

The situation turned around instantly.

Mingyi looked down at him, a faint, sorrowful smile playing on her lips: "I could kill you right now."

The knife just now did not hit the man's vital organs.

Murong Shu was paralyzed with pain, unable to move. He glared at her fiercely, "I am the second young master of the General's Mansion. If you dare to kill me, even Zong Xian cannot protect you!"

Upon hearing this, Mingyi laughed even harder, his laughter chilling even more than the moonlight.

"My worthless life doesn't matter anymore."

"You think I'm blocking Princess Jianing's marriage to Zong Xian, so you've come to take my life. Well, if I kill you today, the General's Mansion will suffer the loss of a beloved son, and that debt will be settled with Zong Xian."

"At that time, the General's Mansion and the Imperial Clan Mansion will be completely at odds, and the Princess will have even less chance of marrying him. You will fight to the death, and no matter who loses in the end, I will be sincerely happy!"

Murong Shu finally realized that the woman in front of him was not just making threats; she truly intended to kill him!

"You crazy woman!" he roared in exasperation.

The more beautiful a woman is, the sharper and more poisoned she is. Only now did Murong Shu truly understand this.

...

Ji Mingyi really wanted to kill him, but at the crucial moment, Chang Sui appeared.

He promptly knocked the dagger from Mingyi's hand with a pebble.

"Girl, you can't kill him."

If he were an ordinary assassin, his death would be insignificant.

But he was Murong Shu, the biological son of the General Who Guards the North.

Even though Zong Xian had given orders beforehand, and Chang Sui knew his identity, he would never dare to kill him.

Seeing Chang Sui appear, Mingyi was not surprised at all. The emotions on her face gradually faded until there was no expression at all.

She didn't say anything, turned around and left.

Unable to abandon the seriously injured Murong Shu, Chang Sui quickly took out a specially made whistle, put it to his lips, and blew it to attract the nearby guards to deal with the situation.

Night fell, and it was past midnight.

Mingyi walked alone on the empty and quiet long street.

There wasn't a soul in sight on the street.

She was hastily abducted by Murong Shu and didn't have time to put on shoes. Now, her bare feet are on the cold, hard bluestone slabs, and she has long since lost all feeling from the cold.

They just kept walking forward.

She wore only a thin, moon-white nightgown, wandering aimlessly alone, like a lost soul.

If someone were to witness this, they would be scared half to death.

"girl!"

Chang Sui finally found her and caught up with her. He quickly said, "This is not the way back to the clan residence."

Mingyi looked at him coldly, her face expressionless: "I know."

Chang Sui choked.

He had heard Mingyi's shocking words.

Mingyi looked at the boy in front of her and asked, "Will you tell him?"

The "he" here naturally refers to his master, Zong Xian.

He often purses his thin lips, his heart wrestling with inner turmoil.

Just as he had initially told her, Zongxian had given him a second life. Loyalty to Zongxian was a belief etched into his very bones.

He could not, and should not, hide the truth from Zong Xian.

But if Zong Xian finds out, her fate will be terrible.

Faced with the girl's indifferent gaze, Chang Sui finally gave in and lowered his head: "Chang Sui didn't hear anything."

Mingyi then looked away with relief and continued walking forward.

Chang Sui stopped her again, "Miss, let me take you back."

His tone was filled with reluctance as he gently said, "You're surrounded by the Zong family's secret guards, and Second Master will be here soon. You can't escape."

Yes.

As long as she's still in Kyoto, still under that person's nose, how can she possibly escape?

Mingyi resignedly followed Chang Sui back, remaining silent.

Seeing that she had finally stopped being stubborn, Chang Sui breathed a sigh of relief and led the way.

After taking a few steps, Mingyi suddenly groaned and squatted down: "It hurts!"

Seeing this, Chang Sui quickly went to her and asked with concern, "Miss, what's wrong...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Mingyi suddenly raised his hand, and a cloud of white mist shot straight toward his face.

Chang Sui was caught off guard and inhaled it, instantly collapsing to her knees: "You..."

Mingyi straightened up as if nothing had happened, showing no sign of weakness. She met Chang Sui's shocked eyes and said, "It's a rare opportunity, I have to give it a try."

"Tell him that I have died at the hands of bad guys and that he should stop looking for me."

Chang Sui could only watch helplessly as that beautiful figure walked away and completely disappeared from sight.

An unknown amount of time passed.

The rapid, chaotic sound of horses' hooves grew louder as they approached.

Zong Xian, wearing a black cloak, landed with a somersault. He stepped forward, grabbed Chang Sui's collar, and forcefully pulled him up from the ground, his eyes surging with rage and panic.

"I ordered you to stick close to her! Where is she?!"