The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 132

Where, Exactly, Is Your Home?

Half a month later.

Anyone from Prince Fucheng’s Residence in the capital who left the city would mysteriously disappear without a trace. But strangely enough, despite losing so many people, Prince Fucheng chose not to report it to the authorities.

            

On this day, Lin Xizhao returned from visiting Zhao Jiayu and the baby. Seeing that Qu Sheng was still asleep in their room, she walked over and called her name softly a few times.

She had already sent someone to prepare lunch before she came back, estimating it would be served soon. When Qu Sheng heard Lin Xizhao’s voice, her eyes opened a sliver. Seeing the figure moving before her, the corners of her lips curled up slightly.

Seeing that Qu Sheng was unwilling to get up, Lin Xizhao bent down, pressed her lips to Qu Sheng’s, and kissed her. “Eat something before you go back to sleep,” she said gently. Not eating at night and only sleeping during the day wasn’t good.

            

Qu Sheng nodded at her words, but her eyes closed again, and she fell back asleep in an instant. She was truly exhausted. She hadn’t closed her eyes for two days and two nights, and the work she’d been doing was physically demanding.

Lin Xizhao seemed to realize how hard Qu Sheng had been working lately and went outside. A maid brought the food, and Lin Xizhao had her place it on the table before dishing some out and carrying it into the room herself.

Lin Xizhao carried a bowl of congee soup to wake Qu Sheng, who opened her eyes once more. Seeing Lin Xizhao holding the soup, she slowly sat up.

            

Lin Xizhao sat on the edge of the couch and fed Qu Sheng for a little while before Qu Sheng lay down again. It wasn’t just that she hadn’t slept for two days and nights; she hadn’t slept for long on the other days either.

The people who had disappeared from Prince Fucheng’s Residence were all connected to her.

Lin Xizhao held the empty bowl in one hand and tucked the blankets in for Qu Sheng with the other. As she turned to leave, Qu Sheng reached out and grabbed her wrist.

            

Pulled to a stop, Lin Xizhao looked back at her, puzzled, only to be yanked directly onto the couch in the next moment. The bowl in her hand fell to the floor with a crash.

“Sheng’er, the bowl…” The bowl was shattered on the floor. If it wasn’t cleaned up, someone might get cut.

“Don’t worry about it for now.” Qu Sheng hugged Lin Xizhao, who was lying on top of her, her gaze burning with passion.

            

She had been too busy these past few days. It felt like she hadn’t seen Lin Xizhao in a long time, and she felt she had been neglecting her.

Lin Xizhao propped herself up with both hands on the couch. Hearing the desire in Qu Sheng’s voice, she froze for a second before Qu Sheng’s lips pressed against hers.

The touch of their lips could hardly contain the worry and longing they had felt day and night these past days.

            

Someone quickly entered from outside. With a swift movement, Qu Sheng pulled down the bed curtains​¹ from the side. The maid saw the porcelain shards all over the floor, glanced toward the curtained area, and heard Qu Sheng say, “Clean this up and then leave.”

Though she couldn’t see anything, the maid still curtsied, then swept up the broken porcelain from the floor.

Qu Sheng pinned Lin Xizhao beneath her, kissing her porcelain-white and delicate little ears. Lin Xizhao was both shy and anxious, but Qu Sheng was deliberately teasing her.

            

The tickling sensation was almost too much for her to bear. A moment later, after hearing the footsteps recede, Lin Xizhao turned her head and took the initiative to kiss Qu Sheng.

Their breaths mingled. Qu Sheng sensed Lin Xizhao’s ardor and thought she was going to cooperate, but after just a moment of kissing, Lin Xizhao turned the tables and straddled her.

Her soft, supple body was something one could never touch enough. Lin Xizhao ignored Qu Sheng’s teasing now, focused only on how to quickly undo Qu Sheng’s nightclothes.

            

As Lin Xizhao’s soft lips moved, Qu Sheng arched her neck, feeling the warm, ticklish sensation. In an instant, a soft moan escaped her throat.

The palm of Lin Xizhao’s slender hand was slightly cool. The moment it made contact, a shiver ran through Qu Sheng.

Lin Xizhao looked up at Qu Sheng, a hint of slyness hidden within her gentle eyes.

            

Qu Sheng wrapped her arms around Lin Xizhao’s waist and gently pressed down, preventing her from getting up. Looking at Lin Xizhao, who struggled for a moment but couldn’t move, Qu Sheng smiled and asked, “What is jiejie doing?”

If Qu Sheng had asked her this in the past, Lin Xizhao would have blushed immediately. But today, not only did she not blush, she was full of confidence. She whispered back, “Doesn’t Sheng’er know what jiejie wants to do?” Lin Xizhao pressed a finger to Qu Sheng’s lips.

Hearing her words, Qu Sheng glanced down at her fingertip. As the corners of her lips curled up, her eyes misted over. When Lin Xizhao leaned in to kiss her, she obediently cooperated.

            

The ceaseless pleasure left Qu Sheng’s body utterly sated. Lin Xizhao had someone bring warm water and carefully cleaned her little lover before getting off the couch.

Seeing the blush that had not yet completely faded from those tender cheeks, Lin Xizhao’s eyes curved into crescents, filled with love. She leaned down and planted a gentle kiss.

Lin Xizhao left the room, planning to go see the baby at Zhao Jiayu’s place again. In just half a month, the little girl had gone from thin and frail to plump and fair.

            

Just as she reached the courtyard gate, Lin Xirui arrived.

“Eldest Young Miss, this old slave was just about to look for you. The Heir Apparent has come to see you,” the steward of the Qu Marquis Residence said with a smile.

“A-jie.” Lin Xirui saw Lin Xizhao looking for him and quickly called out.

            

“Why are you here?” There was no joy on Lin Xizhao’s face. If she wasn’t mistaken, Lin Xirui was here to take her back.

Lin Xirui’s mouth opened and closed, his eyes darting toward the Qu Residence’s steward.

Seeing this, the steward smiled. “The Eldest Young Miss and the Heir Apparent haven’t seen each other in a long time. You must have things to talk about. This old slave will take his leave.”

            

Lin Xizhao nodded, and Lin Xirui also raised a hand in a salute. Watching the steward leave, Lin Xizhao looked up at Lin Xirui and said, “Let’s talk inside.”

She led Lin Xirui to a small reception hall in the courtyard. After having someone serve tea, she watched Lin Xirui take a sip and asked, “Did Father send you?”

At her question, Lin Xirui looked up before he could take a second sip. “Yes,” he replied. “Father is ill and bedridden. He wants A-jie to come back and look after the residence.”

            

Lin Xizhao said nothing. Lin Jianhai had always been in good health. Even if he caught a cold, he rarely needed medicine. And now he was supposedly ill.

“What’s wrong with Father’s health?” Lin Xizhao asked, her tone unhurried.

“A cold.”

            

After Lin Xirui spoke, Lin Xizhao just stared at him. Her gaze was gentle, but its piercing quality made Lin Xirui feel flustered.

“Well, it’s not that serious, actually,” Lin Xirui said, sneaking another glance at Lin Xizhao.

Seeing this, Lin Xizhao blinked slowly. “Just say it. What does Father want me to go back for?”

            

“Ah, A-jie, Father told me to trick you like this. I couldn’t help it, so please don’t tell him I told you,” Lin Xirui confessed without being pressed.

Lin Jianhai knew Lin Xizhao was extremely filial and had Lin Xirui use his supposed illness to get her to return. But she was no longer the daughter who obeyed his every whim.

Lin Xizhao lowered her eyes and thought for a few moments. She then left the courtyard and had Feng Qi bring a few capable men to accompany her back to King Wenze’s Lin Residence.

            

Lin Xirui helped Lin Xizhao out of the carriage. She looked up and surveyed the entrance to the residence. The guards standing on either side exchanged glances when they saw her return.

Lin Xizhao and Lin Xirui walked into the residence, but Feng Qi and the other guards were stopped behind them.

“No entry without a visiting card. Outsiders are not permitted.”

            

Feng Qi looked up at Lin Xizhao. She thought for a moment, then gave Feng Qi a slight nod.

The two of them entered the residence, and Lin Xizhao went straight to Lin Jianhai’s courtyard.

Hearing the steward’s report, Lin Jianhai stopped reviewing his memorials and slowly stood up.

            

When Lin Xizhao entered and saw the perfectly fine Lin Jianhai, she said nothing. After greeting him with a curtsy, she said, “I heard Father was unwell, so this daughter came back specially to see you.”

Lin Jianhai nodded. “Mm, I did catch a cold a few days ago, but I’m better now.”

Lin Xizhao met his gaze. Seeing his calm and unhurried expression, she lowered her eyes for a moment. “This daughter is relieved that Father is well. This daughter has returned this time to discuss a matter with Father.”

            

“As it happens, this father also has a matter to discuss with you. While you were away, Her Majesty the Empress has selected—”

“Father, please let this daughter speak first,” Lin Xizhao interrupted, her voice gentle but devoid of warmth.

Lin Jianhai lowered his eyes to look at her.

            

Seeing him silent, and thinking of how he always deflected her with great skill, she looked down and spoke directly. “This daughter knows that a young lady should be reserved, but Sheng’er is also a young lady. One of us must step forward.” Lin Xizhao looked up at the simmering anger her words had provoked in Lin Jianhai’s expression, unafraid and unflinching. “Today, this daughter wishes to discuss with Father the matter of this daughter’s and Sheng’er’s marriage.”

“Don’t even think about it,” Lin Jianhai ground out, his voice changing as he suppressed his fury.

“This daughter has already received the betrothal gifts from the Qu family. Father agreed to it back then, so the marriage should naturally have Father’s approval.” Lin Xizhao ignored his words. “Of course, if Father disagrees, the Qu family will likely make it known throughout the capital. This daughter knows this would benefit neither family, but you know what Sheng’er is like.”

            

Lin Xizhao knew Lin Jianhai had been investigating whether Qu Sheng was a fool, but even if he found out the truth, it wouldn’t matter.

He had already mentioned it once, but the Empress had been somewhat skeptical. After testing Qu Sheng that one time, she hadn’t summoned her to the palace again, so she had likely given up.

Seeing Lin Jianhai remain silent, Lin Xizhao lowered her eyes for a moment. “If Father has nothing else to say, this daughter will be leaving.”

            

Lin Xizhao waited a moment, but Lin Jianhai still said nothing, so she turned to leave.

“Where, exactly, is your home?” Lin Jianhai demanded angrily at her half-turned back.

Lin Xizhao turned back around, her brow furrowed slightly. “This is naturally this daughter’s home,” she replied. “But where Sheng’er is, that is this daughter’s final destination.” She wasn’t going to the Qu family; she was going wherever Qu Sheng was.

            

For years, Lin Xizhao had harbored a faint resentment toward Lin Jianhai for helping the Emperor protect the Imperial Noble Consort’s family. It had always been just a suspicion, one she hoped wasn’t true. But after the Qu family confirmed it, the weight of this imagined resentment had crushed the image of Lin Jianhai in her heart.

Her mother had died so tragically, and the main culprit was still at large. Yu shi’s death was what she deserved, but the fact that Lin Jianhai had killed her with his own hands showed his blind loyalty to the Emperor. If Lin Xikuan and Lin Xirui ever found out that Lin Jianhai had personally killed their mother, what would they think?

Lin Jianhai had been forced by circumstances, but with the Qu family’s protection at the time, he could have survived no matter how difficult it was. How had it come to this, to being threatened by the Qu family with evidence to marry off his daughter?

            

Lin Xizhao had also considered that if the one threatening him hadn’t been Qu Sheng, Lin Jianhai probably would have agreed anyway. To think that a man like Lin Jianhai, so well-read in the classics of sages and so obedient to propriety, would be forced to agree to marry his daughter to a woman. It meant that anyone in the world with a bit of power, anyone who could have escalated the situation, Lin Jianhai would have likely agreed to their demands at the time.

“This father had no choice back then. How can you debase yourself over such a thing? Right now, all you have to do is tell Her Majesty the Empress that Qu Sheng is not a foolish girl. She will surely take her into the Eastern Palace. Then this marriage contract will be void, and the Qu family will not cause any more trouble.”

Lin Xizhao had long guessed Lin Jianhai’s intentions. His sudden proposal now put her on guard.

            

Her gaze swept across the room, and she saw a shadow behind a bookshelf.

“This daughter doesn’t think Sheng’er is a fool, but Sheng’er still needs someone to restrain her. A while ago in the palace, she hit His Highness the Crown Prince. It was only by the grace of Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness that she was not punished. When Sheng’er is unsupervised, she acts on her whims at the slightest displeasure. If her life-and-death impulses were to seriously injure His Highness, wouldn’t Father be forcing this daughter to push Sheng’er to her death?” While questioning him aggressively, Lin Xizhao also conveyed her true message.

Qu Sheng was indeed not a fool. But if someone with ill intentions overheard this, wouldn’t she become the executioner who pushed Qu Sheng into the deep sea? A person who couldn’t even control her own temper, how could she enter the palace, let alone be by the Crown Prince’s side?

            

Hearing Lin Xizhao’s words, Lin Jianhai’s brow furrowed, and his gaze also flickered toward the side of the bookshelf.

Lin Xizhao followed his gaze, then lowered her own for a moment. “Sheng’er will get anxious if she doesn’t see this daughter for too long. This daughter will take her leave now.”

After speaking, Lin Xizhao walked out, but Lin Jianhai did not stop her. Lin Xirui, at her side, wanted to see her out, but as they stepped out of the room, he was startled by a group of guards who swarmed forward.

            

Lin Jianhai intended to put Lin Xizhao under house arrest.

Lin Xizhao glanced at the approaching guards, then looked up at a distant rooftop.

A moment later, Feng Qi and several others descended from the roof, ran to Lin Xizhao, and saluted. “Feng Qi has come to escort the Eldest Young Miss back to the residence.”

            

Lin Xizhao nodded. Feng Qi then looked up and glanced at the Lin Residence guards surrounding her.

Lin Xizhao took a step forward, and the guards moved to block her, but Feng Qi swiftly pushed them away.

Though the motion of his arm was small, he used one-inch power.​² The two men he pushed stumbled backward and fell, sitting hard on the ground.

            

They clutched their chests, their faces contorted in pain. The other guards immediately went on alert.

“How dare you cause trouble in my Lin Residence! Marquis Qu has certainly raised a bunch of worthless things.” Lin Jianhai came out just in time to see his own guards knocked to the ground.

He had clearly ordered his men to block the people with Lin Xizhao outside the residence. How dare they climb over the walls?

            

Lin Xizhao turned at the sound of his voice, her expression turning ugly. “Father, please speak cautiously. Feng Qi has protected this daughter since childhood. He is like an older brother to this daughter. By speaking of him this way, are you implying you think the same of this daughter?”

“You—” Lin Jianhai was choked with anger.

Lin Xizhao had never heard Lin Jianhai insult others before. He had always been gentle. She never thought he would vent such anger on a subordinate.

            

“If Father has no other instructions, this daughter takes her leave.” Lin Xizhao curtsied, then turned and glanced at Feng Qi.

Feng Qi bowed his head and followed by her side, while the other guards pushed aside the Lin Residence guards near her.

Lin Xizhao had anticipated that Lin Jianhai would pull a stunt like this. Before leaving the Qu Marquis Residence, she had already informed Feng Qi.

            

Before they could leave the residence, someone walked out from a room.

“I never thought King Wenze’s gentle daughter could have such a rebellious side. Hehe, this one​³ is truly seeing you in a new light.”

Hearing the voice, Lin Jianhai turned and hurriedly bowed. “I have made a fool of myself before Lord Wang. I hope Lord Wang will help cover for this lowly king before His Majesty.” As he spoke, he had someone bring two gold bars and place them in the hands of the Emperor’s Attending Eunuch Official.

            

Eunuch Official Wang knew perfectly well what Lin Jianhai wanted him to cover up.

Emotional entanglements between women… he had seen plenty of that in the palace. It was nothing new.

---

Lin Xizhao had been gone from the Qu Marquis Residence for a long time. When Qu Sheng woke up, she asked where she was. Hearing that Lin Xizhao had returned to the Lin Residence, all her sleepiness vanished. When a maid relayed the message Lin Xizhao had left, her heart grew even more unsettled.

            

Lin Xizhao had taken Feng Qi with her. If she wasn’t back by sunset, Qu Sheng was to bring people to get her.

Qu Sheng dressed in her outer robes and sat waiting. The sky outside was still bright, but she was already growing restless.

She gathered her people in the courtyard. Just as she was about to head over early, Lin Xizhao returned.

            

“Jiejie.” Qu Sheng strode over and embraced Lin Xizhao.

Lin Xizhao rested her chin on Qu Sheng’s neck and smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m back.”

She had been prepared to have Qu Sheng go to the Lin Residence to demand her return, but she knew it would be putting Qu Sheng in a difficult position. That was the worst-case scenario, however.

            

Lin Jianhai cared about his reputation; he wouldn’t let the Qu family cause a scene outside and would most likely compromise.

“Did Uncle Lin give you a hard time?” Qu Sheng loosened her arms slightly to ask.

Seeing Qu Sheng’s nervous expression, Lin Xizhao reached out and stroked her fair, smooth cheek. “No, but…” Lin Xizhao trailed off, her eyes lowering for a moment.

            

Seeing this, Qu Sheng glanced at the guards around them. “Let’s talk inside.”

Once they were in the room, Lin Xizhao briefly recounted her conversation with Lin Jianhai at his residence, and also mentioned the person hiding behind the bookshelf in his study.

Lin Xizhao guessed that the person was most likely from the palace.

            

The Empress hadn’t made any moves recently, so this person was probably one of the Emperor’s men.

After hearing this, Qu Sheng said, “It’s no matter. The border war hasn’t started yet. Fourth Uncle and Third Brother hold military power on the Northern Frontier. Even if His Majesty issues a decree, as long as Father doesn’t agree, he won’t dare to act rashly for the time being.”

Qu Sheng wasn’t worried about this right now. Even if the Crown Prince was no longer afraid of her and wanted to marry her, it wouldn’t be that easy.

            

She was, however, a little worried that Lin Jianhai would resort to unscrupulous means, finding some other way to take Lin Xizhao away from her.

Qu Yu, under Liu Wuxiang’s treatment, was no longer comatose all the time, but as long as the poison in his body was not neutralized, it could still take his life. Qu Yu’s body only gave her one month. If she couldn’t find the antidote in that month, the damage to his body would increase and become irreversible.

Although Liu Wuxiang’s medicine temporarily suppressed the poison’s circulation, how could a foreign substance in the body not cause harm? When the time came, even he would be powerless to reverse the situation.

            

“Are you still going out of the city later?” Lin Xizhao asked worriedly.

Every time Qu Sheng went out, she was on tenterhooks. Only when Qu Sheng was by her side, even if she was just sleeping, could she feel at ease.

Qu Sheng nodded. “The shadow guard on surveillance just reported that a strategist left the city after wushi.​⁴

            

“A strategist?”

“Mm. That seamstress said the man spoke with a southern accent, and this person’s accent is southern. I think—”

“Sheng’er, I don’t think you should go tonight,” Lin Xizhao said, her eyes filled with even more worry.

            

“Why?” Qu Sheng looked puzzled.

“If it’s confirmed that this person is the same contact the seamstress mentioned, then this is most likely a trap. Prince Fucheng’s Residence has lost so many people, yet we haven’t heard of him reporting it to the authorities. He probably already knows we’re behind it. For him to send this person out, it’s highly likely a lure to draw out people from our Qu family. And he’s confident he can… catch us all in one net.” As Lin Xizhao spoke, she herself grew frightened.

If the poisoner was really Prince Fucheng, and as Qu Sheng had said before, the poisoner kept a large number of deathsworn, to be so brazen and lawless even in the capital… if they were outside the city, she couldn’t imagine what would happen.

            

Listening to Lin Xizhao’s analysis, Qu Sheng lowered her eyes in thought. It was true. The description of the man matched what the seamstress had heard, and the seamstress also believed this was most likely her contact. It was too great a temptation for her to ignore.

Since Prince Fucheng had sent this person out as bait, he must have devised a way to deal with them. This person was the key for their Qu family to find evidence and the antidote. How could she give up?

“Think about Second Brother.”

            

Seeing Qu Sheng tempted and seemingly about to decide to go, Lin Xizhao brought up the deceased Qu Ming.

Qu Ming had been unable to resist temptation back then, which was how someone had taken advantage of him, costing him his life.

Hearing Lin Xizhao mention Qu Ming, Qu Sheng’s heart suddenly calmed. This matter needed to be considered carefully, but the opportunity might not come again.

            

They had captured people from Prince Fucheng’s Residence precisely because he had been biding his time, forcing them to take a desperate measure. Now that he had made a move, Qu Sheng felt she shouldn’t give up such a chance.

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On a dark and windy night​⁵, a hundred li outside the Capital City, a dilapidated wilderness inn was shrouded in silence.

Qu Sheng, dressed in black, looked up at the swaying lantern above the inn.

            

It had been autumn for some time now. The leaves were starting to turn yellow, and it was normal for the chirping of insects to lessen at night. But for there to be no sound at all was a bit abnormal.

“The two of you, just focus on taking him away later. Don’t worry about the aftermath. Remember that,” Qu Sheng instructed the two guards Qu Jinian had assigned to her in a low voice.

“Yes,” the two replied in unison.

            

Qu Sheng glanced up, and Feng Qi stepped forward to knock on the door.

“Hey, coming, coming,” an inn-hand’s voice called out hastily from inside.

Hearing the voice, the group outside exchanged a look.

            

“You, mmmph…” The inn-hand had just opened the door and hadn’t even finished his question when he saw Qu Sheng and the others in their night-travel clothes. Feng Qi immediately clamped a hand over his mouth and knocked him unconscious.

They had intercepted many people these past few days, but most were on the road. Only one person had taken them a full two days to track down. Those people were now locked up elsewhere, being interrogated.

Qu Sheng and her group entered the inn and ran upstairs with great speed. Qu Sheng led her people to kick open a door and charged straight for the bed. But when she threw back the covers, the bed was empty.

            

Failing to catch her target, Qu Sheng frowned. “He’s not here. Let’s go.”

The group followed Qu Sheng out, but just as they left the room, flaming arrows shot toward them.

“Come on, kill them for me! Don’t let a single one escape!” The man shouted in a southern accent. It was the very person Qu Sheng and her group were there to capture.

            

“Leave him alive,” Qu Sheng ordered, and the men beside her shot forward like arrows.

Immediately, a large number of people swarmed out from all directions inside the inn, including assassins dressed as commoners who emerged from the rooms.

Qu Sheng’s group was surrounded, but they didn’t retreat immediately.

            

The men around Qu Sheng formed a protective circle as they fought, and the assassins couldn’t get close to her. But when another row of archers entered from outside, Qu Sheng frowned. “Go dismantle the bed planks.”

One group used their swords to parry the incoming arrows, while another group went into the rooms.

The beds in a wilderness inn were mostly just simple wooden planks, so it didn’t take much effort for them to dismantle some from the nearby rooms.

            

Seeing that Qu Sheng’s group now had shields, one of the men below had several people with torches light their arrowheads.

Qu Sheng sneered at the man for a moment, then glanced at the two guards who were still fighting to carve a path out. “Capture him and get out together.”

The moment she finished speaking, she took the lead and charged toward a corner of the second-floor corridor.

            

With everyone working together, and her men being far more skilled than ordinary fighters, they quickly carved out a bloody path.

The man who had been shouting orders was now so frightened by Qu Sheng’s sudden charge that he tried to run.

“Don’t let him get away!” Qu Sheng had risked coming here precisely to capture this man. How could she let him escape?

            

At her command, two of her men shot out, while the flaming arrows below also took aim at them.

Seeing this, Qu Sheng took out the bow and arrows from her back, firing three arrows at once, striking three of the archers. The others immediately turned their flaming arrows back toward her group.

Although the flaming arrows didn’t hit her, the inn was made almost entirely of wood. The places that were hit slowly began to burn.

            

The wooden planks her men had dismantled were now also on fire, so hot that they could no longer be held.

Just then, because Qu Sheng had bought them an opportunity, guards Chen and Li cut down the men around their target in a few moves. Seeing the man try to run, Li Jin kicked a corpse from the ground, sending it flying into him and knocking him down.

The two guards then flew over, hauled him up, and held a blade to his neck.

            

“Leave no one alive!” a man below shouted when he saw their target had been captured, ordering the archers to aim at them all.

Seeing this, Li Jin said to Qu Sheng, “We’ve got him! We can retreat!”

Hearing this, Qu Sheng’s group eased their attack and began to look for a way to escape. Qu Sheng scanned her surroundings. Behind them was a sea of fire, and another large group of assassins had swarmed in downstairs, waiting for them to come down so they could kill them all.

            

Qu Sheng glanced at the door of a room. “Out this way.”

At her word, the group crowded around her and entered the room. Feng Qi went down first to scout the path ahead, and then Qu Sheng and the others followed, jumping down.

One by one, they all jumped down, but the people inside the inn did not give the order to pursue.

            

Qu Sheng had her men support the wounded guards as they retreated, but before they had gone more than a few dozen yards from the inn, another massive group of people swarmed out from the surroundings.

These men held lit torches, completely encircling them.

Qu Sheng sized up their numbers. There were at least two hundred of them. Had he sent out everyone?

            

She really was something, to force Prince Fucheng to deploy so many people.

“I advise you to surrender without a fight. Don’t struggle anymore,” one of the men said, a hint of pity in his voice as he looked at their large group surrounding a mere twenty-odd people.

Qu Sheng’s lips curled into a cold smile. “We’ll see if you can beat us first!” The moment she spoke, her sword flicked up and thrust toward the man. The others followed suit, clashing with the men who, seeing the situation turn sour, charged forward to fight.

            

Qu Sheng wielded her double-edged sword like a coiling dragon. Combined with her naturally nimble body, she killed several deathsworn in a row, forcing them to stop underestimating her.

A group of them swarmed her. Qu Sheng used the flat of her blade with one-inch power to flick a corpse from the ground, sending it crashing into the oncoming men. She then swung her sword over her left shoulder to block a descending curved blade.

The clash of weapons rang out. Feng Qi noticed that Qu Sheng had been separated and surrounded. He fought his way through, came to her side, and they fought back-to-back.

            

“These people are no disorderly mob. We need to find a chance to get out of here. We can’t drag this out,” Qu Sheng said, pressing her back against Feng Qi’s.

There were too many of them. Although her men were all elites, if they were worn down by waves of attacks, they would die sooner or later.

Feng Qi nodded. “I’ll launch a fierce attack at one point. Young Miss, watch for the right moment.”

            

“Alright,” Qu Sheng replied, cautiously watching their surroundings.

As they spoke, more deathsworn charged forward to fight them to the death. After Qu Sheng and Feng Qi killed several more, the attackers all became ferocious.

The two of them slowly moved as they fought, rejoining their men. But the enemy’s numbers were simply too great. If they kept fighting, they would likely suffer a major loss.

            

Feng Qi fixed his gaze on a weak point in the deathsworn’s encirclement. He swung his sword behind him, stabbing a deathsworn who was trying a sneak attack, and shouted, “Follow me and break out!”

Feng Qi charged toward that point, and the rest of his men stopped holding their ground, surging after him.

Soon, Feng Qi had carved a path. Qu Sheng followed, leading her people as they ran forward. But they had only run a hundred meters when horsemen appeared ahead, blocking their path.

            

Qu Sheng looked closely. These people were with the ones chasing them from behind.

“Release the signal,” Qu Sheng said in a low voice, glancing back at the pursuing deathsworn.

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The author has something to say:

            

Qu Sheng: “My wife is a love-brain, too. Only when a love-brain is with another love-brain will they not be let down.”

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