The charming widow of the Marquis's mansion: The stable boy carries the flag and raises the dra

Wang Long was taken aback, and his brows furrowed slightly.

Your Royal Highness?

Why are you summoned so late at night? What is the purpose of this sudden audience?

He glanced at Qin Minglan, who was also looking at him, a hint of worry flashing in her almond-shaped eyes.

"Old man..."

"It's alright, I'll go take a look."

Wang Long reached out and patted her shoulder to comfort her.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Xian'er quickly turned around and slipped into the Heavenly Gang Sword.

With a wave of his hand, Wang Long stored the sword box into his spatial storage.

"Young Miss, you should go back and rest. I'll be right back."

Qin Minglan nodded without saying anything more.

The Crown Prince summoned Wang Long so late at night; there must be something urgent.

After watching Wang Long leave, he walked towards his own courtyard.

The Eastern Palace.

Murong Hao sat in his study with a list spread out in front of him, and he knew perfectly well who had made it.

Unfortunately, without evidence, the case could not be closed.

Murong Hao rubbed his temples, feeling utterly exhausted.

"Your Highness."

Gao Sheng walked in from outside the door and bowed.

"Wang Long has been brought!"

"Let him in."

"Yes."

A moment later, Wang Long walked in from outside the door and bowed to the Crown Prince.

"This humble subject pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"No need for formalities, please sit!"

The crown prince raised his hand.

Wang Long responded and sat down on a chair to the side. He looked at Murong Hao and asked directly.

"Your Highness has summoned this humble subject; what is the purpose of your summons?"

Murong Hao remained silent for a moment, then pushed the list on the table in front of Wang Long.

"Take a look at this."

Wang Long picked up the list, glanced at it, and his pupils contracted slightly.

He had already heard about these things from Luo Hanyi, but he didn't expect them to be so serious.

Sixteen high-ranking officials of the imperial court died overnight.

The person behind this is incredibly audacious.

"Your Highness, these people..."

"They are all my people."

Murong Hao interrupted him, his expression grave.

"But what I'm most worried about right now isn't who killed them, but rather..."

He paused, his voice lowering slightly.

"Who will die next?"

Wang Long's fingers tightened slightly.

Murong Hao is right.

The deaths of sixteen people were just the beginning.

The real storm is yet to come.

This is a conspiracy targeting the Crown Prince!

"What does Your Highness need from this humble subject?"

Murong Hao looked at him and remained silent for a moment.

"I want you to take Qing'er away from the palace and stay at the Marquis of Zhenbei's residence for a while."

Wang Long was taken aback.

What?

Bring the princess to the Marquis's residence?

"Your Highness, this..."

"It's not safe in the palace."

Murong Hao interrupted him, his expression grave.

"Those who died last night were all my people. Next time, who knows if it will be Qing'er's turn?"

His voice carried worry and a hint of weariness that was hard to hide.

"She is my only younger sister, and I cannot allow anything to happen to her."

Murong Hao looked at Wang Long.

"I hope you can help me protect Qing'er!"

Wang Long opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then he saw a fleeting plea in Murong Hao's eyes.

The Crown Prince, the future Emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty, is actually begging me.

When Wang Long was summoned, he thought the Crown Prince was going to assign him some kind of mission, but he didn't expect it to be to protect Murong Qing.

He already liked this lovely princess, and she was also a system-certified SSS-level dual cultivation partner.

Wang Long will naturally do everything in his power to protect her!

He took a deep breath, stood up, clasped his hands in a respectful salute, and spoke in a solemn voice.

"Your Highness, rest assured, this humble subject will protect Her Highness and ensure she suffers no harm whatsoever."

Murong Hao nodded and patted him on the shoulder with a smile.

"Go ahead, Qing'er is waiting for you in the back hall, she's all ready."

Wang Long nodded, turned around, and walked out of the study.

The rear hall.

Murong Qing sat by the window, resting her chin on her hands, gazing blankly out the window.

She had changed into a light blue casual outfit, her long black hair loosely tied up with a white jade hairpin, without her usual elaborate palace attire and jewelry.

She looks clean and refreshing, with a bit of a girl-next-door vibe.

Hearing footsteps, she turned around, saw Wang Long, and her eyes lit up instantly.

"Uncle!"

She jumped off the chair, ran to Wang Long, and looked at him with clear eyes filled with unease.

"Did your brother tell you everything?"

Wang Long nodded.

"Your Highness, rest assured, this humble subject will protect you."

Murong Qing bit her lip, glanced back at the palace where she had lived for more than ten years, and her eyes reddened slightly.

"This princess...this princess has never left the palace for an extended period of time."

Her voice was soft, filled with fear and reluctance.

"I hope my brother will be alright?"

Looking at Murong Qing's anxious face, Wang Long's heart softened, and he said gently.

"It's safe. With the First Madam in charge of the Marquis's residence and me here, I won't allow anyone to harm Her Highness the Princess."

"His Majesty the Crown Prince is the heir apparent of the Great Qian Dynasty. With the Emperor's support, any villains will be dealt with. Your Highness need not worry!"

Murong Qing nodded, forcing a smile.

"Then... let's go."

She understood that if she stayed in the palace, she would become a burden to the crown prince.

Wang Long took the bundle from her hands, slung it over his shoulder, and led her toward the inner palace gate.

Along the way, the eunuchs and palace maids they encountered all bowed their heads in greeting, and no one dared to ask a single question.

The Crown Prince had already made arrangements, and the journey was smooth and unimpeded.

The palace gates of the inner palace were already open, and an inconspicuous carriage was parked at the entrance, without any ceremonial guards or attendants.

"Your Highness, please get in the carriage."

Wang Long lifted the carriage curtain and helped Murong Qing into the carriage.

Murong Qing got into the car, clutching her bundle, and huddled in a corner, looking somewhat nervous.

Wang Long lowered the carriage curtain and sat on the edge of the carriage.

"drive!"

The carriage slowly started moving, heading towards the Zhenbei Marquis's residence along the alleyway outside the palace walls.

Sitting in the carriage, Murong Qing looked at the palace walls getting further and further away through the gap in the curtain. Her nose tingled and tears almost fell.

She worried about her father and brother, and she hated her own weakness, feeling powerless to help them...

Murong Qing took a deep breath, held back her tears, hugged the bundle in her arms tightly, and closed her eyes.

A horse-drawn carriage drove down a street.

This place is usually bustling, but today it's unusually quiet; there's not a soul around.

Wang Long frowned, warily surveying his surroundings.

The shops on both sides of the street had long since closed and boarded up, with only the lanterns under the eaves still lit, their orange glow swaying gently in the night breeze, casting the shadows of the carriages long and short.

Wang Long sat on the edge of the carriage, the Heavenly Gang Sword at his waist trembling slightly, as if reminding him of something.

He had walked this street countless times. Although there were few pedestrians after the curfew, it had never been eerily quiet as it was tonight.

There wasn't even the sound of insects chirping.

The only sound was the wheels rolling over the stone slabs.

Wang Long placed his hand on the sword hilt, his spiritual energy slowly flowing through his body, and his Chaos Saint Body activated on its own, maximizing his perception.

"Uncle..."

Murong Qing's voice came from inside the car, tinged with unease.

Why is it suddenly so quiet?

Wang Long did not turn around; his voice was calm and steady.

"Your Highness, please don't worry, we're almost there."

Before he could finish speaking, the carriage suddenly jolted violently!

boom!

The wheels seemed to have hit something, and the entire carriage jolted violently and tilted to one side!

Wang Long reacted quickly, grabbing the carriage shaft to steady himself, and at the same time shouting back.

"Your Highness, be careful!"

Inside the car, Murong Qing was caught off guard and fell to one side.

Murong Qing tried to grab onto something to steady herself, but her hand grasped at nothing in the air.

"what!"

Amidst gasps of surprise, a corner of the carriage curtain was lifted, and Murong Qing's body rolled out of the carriage, crashing to the ground!

Wang Long reacted extremely quickly. Just as Murong Qing was about to fall to the ground, he reached out and grabbed her waist, lifting her up completely.

Hold him tightly in my arms!