Chapter 54 Assassin Assassin

After hastily eating dinner, Qiu Shuzhi led a patrol team outside the camp. The evening wind on the grassland was cool and refreshing, blowing pleasantly on the face.

Ji Mei held a torch, the faint firelight dotting like stars under the dark curtain. Occasionally, lower-class servants shuttled among them, their plain clothes difficult to spot in the darkness.

After patrolling for more than half an hour, the temperature kept dropping. Even the horses underneath became restless, but Qiu Shuzhi showed no intention of returning. On the contrary, they went farther and farther, until reaching a dense forest on the outskirts of the grassland. The vegetation was lush and trees grew thickly, making it difficult for horses to pass through.

Ji Mei soothed the horse: “My lady, these dense forests on the outskirts of the grassland are rarely visited by people. The nobles would not come here. Let’s go back.”

Qiu Shuzhi pulled the reins, the flickering light of the torch reflecting on her beautifully contoured profile.

“Tomorrow Her Majesty and the officials will hunt together. Unlike humans, the prey may flee into the woods when startled. If we slack off even a little, we increase the danger Her Majesty might face.”

Ji Mei was stunned for a moment. Qiu Daren was always meticulous, thinking of everything thoroughly. She had been rash and careless.

As the horses couldn’t enter the dense forest, Qiu Shuzhi dismounted. The hair tie binding her long hair swayed slightly in the gentle breeze, hanging beside her jade-like fair skin, so soft and beautiful it dazzled the eyes.

“My lady, I’ll go in with you.” Ji Mei hurriedly followed behind her with the torch to light the way.

This dense forest looked as ordinary as any other, but Ji Mei vaguely felt uncomfortable, sensing something strange. The forest was pitch black, the foliage blocking out even the moonlight. It was too quiet, without even a bird call.

Qiu Shuzhi moved forward slowly. The fallen leaves underfoot were thick, soft and spongy beneath her feet, as if each step might sink into them.

She surveyed the surroundings of the dense forest in the flickering torchlight, as if trying to memorize everything she saw.

“Give orders that tonight—”

“My lady, watch out!” Ji Mei shouted.

In a flash, Qiu Shuzhi felt a swift chill on her body, a silver light rushing straight at her face.

She instantly dodged to the side, drawing her sword. There was a crisp clash of weapons as she avoided a deadly hidden weapon.

“There’s an assassin!” Ji Mei drew her long knife, shouting as she stood in front of Qiu Shuzhi.

The Yulin Guard outside immediately swarmed in, but the dense forest was pitch black. The enemy, dressed in night-walking clothes, was hidden and impossible to find.

“Who dares to trespass on imperial grounds?” Qiu Shuzhi shouted sternly, her sword gleaming coldly.

Suddenly, thousands of silver needles rained down like swords, rushing towards them. Everyone hurriedly dodged.

Qiu Shuzhi twirled her sword, deflecting the silver needle darts in front of her. Suddenly she sensed the assassin’s aura seemingly about to escape. That person appeared extremely familiar with the terrain of the dense forest, and had excellent lightness skills. Qiu Shuzhi lightly tapped her toes, flipping over as her long sword swept out coldly, slashing across the person’s back.

The person grunted, then threw another hidden weapon at her.

Qiu Shuzhi was momentarily distracted. The hidden weapon grazed her arm, and when she looked again, the opponent had already fled swiftly.

Qiu Shuzhi’s lightness skills were far inferior to the assassin’s. She could only watch helplessly as that person left.

“My lady!” Ji Mei hurriedly chased after her. “My lady, are you alright?”

Qiu Shuzhi’s eyes darkened as she went straight to her horse and galloped towards the camp.

“Qiu Daren? Why have you come so late? His Highness has already retired.” It was deep into the night, and Chang’an was shocked to see Qiu Shuzhi arrive.

“Please trouble Chang’an Gongzi to report. I have an urgent matter to report, of utmost importance. I trouble Chang’an Gongzi.” Qiu Shuzhi bowed deeply.

“Then please wait a moment.” Seeing Qiu Shuzhi’s serious expression, Chang’an felt the situation was grave and hurried in to report.

In no time at all, the large tent that had extinguished its lights was relit.

“Qiu Daren, please enter.”

Qiu Shuzhi didn’t delay, going straight in: “Greetings to Crown Prince Yue.”

Yue Guanyi was dressed in white as snow, his ink-black hair loose, the strands slightly disheveled like light and dark ink. His phoenix eyes were drowsy and hazy, his collar loose and revealing the delicate collarbone on his chest.

Seeing Qiu Shuzhi enter carrying a sword, its tip still dripping blood, splattering blood flowers on the ground with each drop.

“My lady, you’re injured?” Yue Guanyi was greatly alarmed, his cold phoenix eyes filled with terror, his breath almost stopping. Not even bothering to put on shoes, he ran barefoot to her, trembling as he held her shoulders. The blood flowing from the wound stained his hands red.

Yue Guanyi’s eyes reddened with anxiety, filled with panic like collapsing mountains. He frantically used his sleeve to wrap her wound.

“Who did this to you?” Yue Guanyi’s face was pale, his heart pounding wildly.

Qiu Shuzhi shook her head: “It’s just a small wound, nothing serious. But an assassin has infiltrated the hunting grounds. This subject suspects the assassin is hidden among us. We must find them as soon as possible.”

“An assassin? Is that who injured you like this? When this prince finds her, I will have her torn to pieces.” The hatred in Yue Guanyi’s voice was almost enough to grind his teeth.

“Chang’an!” he called softly.

Chang’an hurriedly entered, startled by the blood on the two of them. It had been too dark outside earlier, and he hadn’t noticed Qiu Shuzhi was injured.

“Give orders that tonight, no one, whether palace servants, guards, or officers of the Five Districts Command, is allowed to enter or leave. All are to be uniformly inspected by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Those who violate this will be beheaded on the spot!” Yue Guanyi’s voice was icy cold, without a trace of human emotion.

“This subject obeys!”

“Your Highness, I wounded the assassin’s back. I recognize that wound. May I go with Chang’an Gongzi?”

“Don’t go!” Yue Guanyi grabbed her hand, his long perfect fingers white without a trace of blood. “Your wound is still bleeding. Let me bandage it for you.”

He took some gauze and wrapped it around her arm, round and round. His hands were shaking violently, as if the wound had been cut on his own body. His lowered phoenix eyes had unknowingly filled with tears, the teardrops rolling down, his thin shoulders seeming to sway in the cold wind, about to collapse.

“I’m fine.” Qiu Shuzhi lifted his lowered face, her bloodstained fingertips inadvertently touching the corner of his eye.

Yue Guanyi raised his head, the upturned corners of his eyes spreading a peach blossom color like blood, the rippling water containing light, beautifully enchanting beyond compare.

Qiu Shuzhi concealed the amazement in her eyes, coughing lightly. “It was too dark, this subject couldn’t see if the assassin was male or female. Why don’t we investigate separately? Your Highness can investigate the male attendants, while this subject investigates the female officials. Is that alright?”

Yue Guanyi paused, then nodded silently.

“Then this subject will go first.” she said.

Suddenly, Yue Guanyi grabbed her collar, his eyes filled with shattered, spilling light. That light came closer and closer to her, crashing into her eyes. A gentle touch filled with deep emotion fell on the corner of her lips, warm and soft, like a delicate flower blooming on her lips.

“……” Qiu Shuzhi froze, taking a step back.

Yue Guanyi’s phoenix eyes were like ink jade rippling in the night, the watery charm seeming to immerse her in his intoxicating gaze, silent yet speaking volumes.

“……This subject takes her leave first.” Her mind went blank for a moment, not knowing if Yue Guanyi was still groggy from sleep and hadn’t fully awakened, why he suddenly made such a gesture. She didn’t know how to respond to him.

Like a defeated general, she lifted the curtain and fled in panic. This counts as a confession, right? Her mind was still a bit muddled.

The assassin matter was most urgent. She closed her eyes, temporarily setting aside her feelings for Yue Guanyi, and focused entirely on searching for the assassin.

An assassin in the imperial hunting grounds was a matter of losing one’s head. Even court officials dared not obstruct the search teams, fearing they might be linked to the assassin. They wished the officers would search more thoroughly to completely clear them of suspicion.

All along the way, Qiu Shuzhi’s searches of the female officials went smoothly, until she was obstructed at Jiang Si’s tent.

Ji Mei led a pair of officers surrounding Jiang Si’s tent, with several Miao-dressed attendants refusing to let them enter no matter what.

“What’s going on?” she came forward to ask.

“Our Miss is bathing. She loves cleanliness most. You stinky women are not allowed in.” The attendant said petulantly.

Qiu Shuzhi recalled her few encounters with Jiang Si. Each time she was exceptionally well-groomed, her clothes scented with high-grade perfumes, too exquisite to seem like a woman.

“You think we’re stinky women? Then is your Miss not a woman?” Ji Mei frowned and got straight to the point: “We’re here to search. Once we’ve searched and found nothing, we’ll leave.”

“Which household’s soldiers are you, daring to speak to our Miss like that?” The Miao attendant scolded coquettishly.

“Young sir, don’t be angry. An assassin has appeared in the hunting grounds tonight. This is a major matter concerning Her Majesty’s safety. We are only carrying out orders.” Qiu Shuzhi said gently.

The Miao attendant bit her lip, looking troubled: “Th-that’s still not allowed.”

“A Man, don’t be rude.” A slender figure was silhouetted on the tent, the curtain lifting slightly to reveal a pair of enchanting eyes.

“Qiu Daren, please come in.”

Qiu Shuzhi nodded and entered the tent. Ji Mei wanted to follow Qiu Shuzhi in, but the curtain hit her face, neither lightly nor heavily.

A Man laughed lightly: “Didn’t you want to search? Isn’t it enough for your mistress to go in alone to search?”

Ji Mei pouted, waiting outside with her knife.

Inside the tent was a haze of mist. Jiang Si wore a thin inner garment casually, with a crimson side-fastening jacket heavily embroidered with gold draped over her shoulders. On the back was embroidered a cluster of white peonies. Her long hair seemed to have just been pulled from water, dripping wet.

“My lady, search if you want to. No need to let others gossip about me.” She reclined sideways on the imperial concubine’s chair, her eyes full of allure.

Qiu Shuzhi was silent for a moment: “Please disrobe, Miss Jiang.”

“What?” Jiang Si laughed softly, her eyes and brows seeming to have a hint of the demon concubine Lan Xuezhao’s shadow, with the same captivating exotic charm.

“The assassin’s back is wounded. All female officials must be inspected tonight. I ask for Miss Jiang’s understanding.”

The warm yellow lamplight in the tent swayed, the shifting light and shadows concealing the unusual color in Jiang Si’s eyes.

“Sigh— I’ll undress then. We’re all women, so I don’t mind.” Jiang Si sighed helplessly.

She turned around, facing away from Qiu Shuzhi, and untied her belt. The red robe slowly fell to her hips. Her thin, fair back looked even more delicate against the red robe, more exquisite than the white peonies embroidered on the clothes, without a single scar.

“Qiu Daren… have you looked carefully?” Jiang Si’s voice was faintly unsteady, perhaps because it was her first time undressing for a woman to see. Her face was already flushed red.