Mei Qingxue had no intention of poaching. She just believed that good steel should be used for the most crucial tasks. Her elder brother, although a royal guard, was a military officer with a rank. It was only a matter of time before he went to the battlefield. A capable and loyal military officer would make her brother's job much easier.
"Is what you said... true?" Xiao Lu said in surprise. As a guard of the prince's mansion, he would remain so for his whole life. However, it was a pity that he had never experienced a battlefield.
Mei Qingxue nodded. Looking at the still-innocent face of the young man beside her, she didn't understand where his passion came from. "Let's go back to the prince's mansion. The prince should be back from court."
"Yes!"
Xiao Lu returned to his previous expressionless self as a guard. He was only one step away from his dream of the battlefield, and Mei Qingxue had given him this opportunity.
Sure enough, as soon as they entered the prince's mansion, they saw Han Chao. "Where is the prince?"
Han Chao quickly knelt on one knee. "Reporting to the princess, the prince is already in the Qingxue Pavilion!"
Now, as soon as the prince returned from court, he would surely be there. In the past, he wasn't even as diligent when paying respects to Concubine Qin. He was sickly, but when he saw the princess, he didn't seem sickly anymore. The chief guard was quite speechless.
Du Gu Qing was lying lazily on the imperial concubine's couch in Mei Qingxue's pavilion, basking in the sun. "You're back?" Du Gu Qing knew where she had gone.
"Yeah!" Mei Qingxue waved the food box in her hand. "Get up quickly. There are all kinds of delicious food."
She added silently in her heart, all my favorite food... Mei Qingxue secretly smiled.
Seeing the playful smile on Mei Qingxue's face, Du Gu Qing knew that she was in a good mood today.
"What do you plan to do with that ten thousand taels of gold?"
"Do you trust me?"
"I do."
Seeing Du Gu Qing's unconditional trust in her without even asking a single question, Mei Qingxue felt a pang of sourness in her heart. She really wanted to tell him about her Bihai Pavilion, but she felt that this wasn't the right time.
"Tonight, you go to the hot spring villa first. I'll go later. Come and pick me up at the foot of the mountain. You said you trust me." Mei Qingxue gave him a heavy look but still didn't tell him her plan. It would be better if he knew nothing, making it more realistic.
Thinking that Du Gu Qing would have to suffer a little pain tonight, Mei Qingxue felt quite uncomfortable. She couldn't bear to cause more harm to his sickly body, but there was no other way. All eyes were on the three princes, and he couldn't stay out of it.
"Okay, I'll pick you up." Du Gu Qing thought that Mei Qingxue might have some plan, but he never expected that Mei Qingxue would send the assassin to him.
Wasn't the employer trying to buy the life of the Sixth Prince? It was impossible not to do it. How to do it was up to Mei Qingxue.
Mei Qingxue silently apologized to Du Gu Qing in her heart. For their safety and his life, she had to let him suffer this pain. She had discussed with An Ying to knock out the guards and only cause some skin injuries.
According to the plan, Du Gu Qing went to the hot spring villa first.
When the time was about right, Mei Qingxue got into the carriage and slowly drove down the mountain. The carriage curtain fluttered, and a ghostly figure flashed in.
An Ying sat beside Mei Qingxue and nodded at her.
"Everything is ready, Sect Master!"
Mei Qingxue nodded. She also felt a bit strange in her heart.
The carriage was bumping along the mountain road. An Ying looked at Mei Qingxue. He had followed her for so long, always silently helping others. An Ying was willing to guard her like this, even if he got nothing in return, just to be able to watch her.
"Thud!" A stone rolled down from the mountain. The horse went crazy, and the carriage was bounced high into the air. Mei Qingxue was caught off guard and was jolted out of the carriage. An Ying tried to grab her but missed. He quickly rushed over and hugged her. There was a sloping grassy slope beside the road. During the rolling process, accidentally, Mei Qingxue's lips touched An Ying's. It was just a fleeting kiss, but it was seen by someone!
Du Gu Qing watched the man holding Mei Qingxue, feeling extremely angry. He wished he could chop that man down on the spot with his sword.
"Sorry!"
An Ying quickly stood up. He would remember this fleeting kiss for the rest of his life. This was as far as he and she would go, and he wouldn't overstep the line even a bit. Mei Qingxue didn't seem to care.
"Thank you for saving me."
An Ying grabbed Mei Qingxue's arm involuntarily and was about to speak.
Then he heard a loud shout: "Let go. She's my woman."
Du Gu Qing stood under the moon. His white robe fluttered in the mountain wind. His long sword was out of its scabbard, and his face was filled with a cold chill.
"Your Highness, let this subordinate go!" That man dared to desecrate the princess. He really deserved to be cut into pieces. Han Chao drew his sword and was about to rush over. But now Du Gu Qing was extremely jealous. How could he let others do it for him?
Immediately, he lightly leaped into the air, floating down from the mountaintop. His white robe fluttered, looking like an immortal descending from the nine heavens. Mei Qingxue was stunned. She didn't know that the sickly guy had such amazing lightness skills. It was really like what was written in the books, like walking on snow without leaving a trace. An Ying also drew his sword and didn't forget his mission.
The two figures, one black and one white, fought under the clear moonlit sky. The sword lights flashed, the robes fluttered, and the swords clashed with a loud clang. Every time their sword tips met, sparks flew.
An Ying's pupils shrank slightly. He originally thought that this task would be easily accomplished, but he didn't expect that Du Gu Qing was actually hiding his strength. That seemingly sickly and weak guy was actually the number one master in the martial arts world!
Du Gu Qing naturally knew that this was the number one assassin in the martial arts world and a member of the Bihai Pavilion. Mei Qingxue must have a plan for bringing him here.
"Stay away from my woman."
An Ying said coldly, "Following her is my own business. Mind your own business."
Taking advantage of an opportunity, An Ying cut Du Gu Qing's shoulder, and blood seeped out.
Du Gu Qing immediately understood Mei Qingxue's intention. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the pain in Mei Qingxue's eyes, and his movements slowed down. He remembered what Mei Qingxue had said - trust me!
When his sword moves paused, An Ying took the opportunity to leave several non - fatal wounds on Du Gu Qing's body.
Han Chao said anxiously, "Your Highness..."
"Damn thief, take your life!" This bastard dared to hurt the prince. Han Chao attacked An Ying desperately.
He was no match for An Ying at all. An Ying didn't engage in a real fight with him. He just casually blocked a few attacks, then stepped forward and struck Han Chao hard on the back of his neck with a hand knife. The guard fell to the ground as planned. An Ying just flashed a few times and disappeared.
"Qing..." Mei Qingxue rushed over, crying heart - rendingly. She quickly tore the corner of her skirt and bandaged the bleeding wounds on his body.
"Does it hurt?"
"Sure it does!" Seeing the pain on Mei Qingxue's face, Du Gu Qing quickly said, "It doesn't hurt as long as you're here."
"Sweet - talking." Mei Qingxue was "sobbing" while bandaging his wounds.
"I won't be able to accompany you in the mountain villa this month. Later, ask Han Chao to send me back to the mansion. I'll dispatch guards to protect you." Mei Qingxue just said a few words casually, and Du Gu Qing immediately understood her feigned - injury plan.
But that man had just kissed her lips. Du Gu Qing looked at her red and tempting lips jealously, and a look of grievance appeared on his face. "That man kissed you."
"It was an accident. Why are you so petty?" Mei Qingxue didn't care and pouted.
Du Gu Qing said dissatisfiedly, "No one is allowed to..."
The ancient man's domineering and male chauvinism started to surface again. Mei Qingxue held back her laughter and nodded. Just as she was about to speak, Han Chao got up from the ground.
"The thief..." But he saw the prince and the princess standing beside him, holding hands and looking at him. He immediately knew that the thief had already left.
"Han Chao, it's dangerous here. The thief will surely come back if he fails. You escort the princess back to the mansion first and dispatch guards to search the mountain." An Ying had long since disappeared, but Du Gu Qing gave the order to search the mountain. He just wanted to make this incident as big as possible tonight.
The moon had risen to the middle of the sky, and the coldness on his body was sweeping over. Now he had to go to the cold spring.
"Han Chao, quickly escort the princess back to the mansion."
He was afraid that his body would start to tremble uncontrollably in a while. If he was reluctant to leave Mei Qingxue now, wouldn't the injury he suffered tonight be in vain?
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Han Chao wasn't stupid. He immediately stood up. "Princess, please..."
"Qing, take care of yourself." As smart as Mei Qingxue had already seen his slightly trembling hand. She even saw the faint white air rising from his body, just like in the TV shows. She knew that he was going to soak in the hot spring. So she didn't delay. Her heart was still worried about him. Letting him be alone tonight would be the last time... From now on, she would accompany him every month.
Mei Qingxue quickly got back into the carriage.
Han Chao whipped the horse hard and didn't dare to stop for a moment. He had to escort the princess back to the mansion personally and also dispatch people to search the mountain. Although he didn't know why that man had come with the princess, tonight's incident must be very complicated. Moreover, judging from the current situation, the prince seemed to want to make the matter even bigger.
"Don't worry, Princess. The prince's mansion will be here soon." Han Chao comforted Mei Qingxue.
Mei Qingxue in the carriage lowered her head. She wasn't in a hurry at all. She was heart - broken for Du Gu Qing. He had suffered a sword injury and would have to soak in that hot spring later. The new wound hadn't healed yet, and it would be hard to recover if it got wet. The injury was on his body, but it was she who felt heart - ache.
Although Mei Qingxue wasn't by Du Gu Qing's side, her heart was tightly concerned about him.
"Yeah, quickly search the mountain and catch the assassin." Mei Qingxue's voice involuntarily showed her anxiety. Only when they got back to the prince's mansion quickly could Han Chao spare time to take care of him.
There was no one around him. What if a real danger came at this moment? Mei Qingxue, who couldn't let go of her worry, wished she could grow wings and fly back to the prince's mansion immediately.
Han Chao was also extremely anxious. He knew that the prince was the weakest during the middle of the month. He was afraid that someone would take advantage of this time. If something happened to the prince, he would surely not live on!
A carriage was galloping on the empty street. The sound of the horse's hooves indicated that this moonlit night was not peaceful, but no one knew what had happened.
The undercurrents in the court would become more and more intense. Mei Qingxue wasn't worried about the emperor's thoughts now, because the information revealed to the Third Prince was from the First Prince's people, and it wasn't accidentally leaked.