Liu Heng found a comfortable position to lie down: "This young master's martial arts skills are terrible. If I went, I'd only hold you back."
The secret guard thought: I didn't expect this playboy to be so self-aware.
"Young Master is being modest. Please rest here for a while. I'll arrange people to protect you, lest you esca... I mean, lest the pursuers discover your whereabouts."
Liu Heng nodded, about to close his eyes, when he suddenly sat up.
"Could you also kidnap Miss Zhuang from the Minister of Personnel's family while you're at it?"
The secret guard: ?
"It's not on the way."
"Then make a detour!"
"This young master originally wanted to marry her properly, but that old geezer in her family kept refusing. At this point, the old geezer definitely won't agree......"
"Anyway, kidnapping one girl or two is the same. Please bring Miss Zhuang here too. This young master must have her!"
The secret guard's face was as cold as water.
"Young Master, the Minister Zhuang is only in his fifties, how can you call him an old geezer?"
Liu Heng gave him an unexpected glance: "Isn't fifty old? Should we wait until he's nothing but bones to call him old?"
"......Fine, I'll refer to him as younger."
"If it weren't for that bastard Minister Zhuang, Miss Zhuang and I might even have children by now!"
The secret guard: ......
"I'll go capture the Cloud Brocade County Princess first. We can discuss Miss Zhuang's matter later."
With that, the secret guard gathered his men and silently advanced towards the Song Mansion.
Inside Qingsong Court.
Old Lady Song was enthusiastically imparting palace intrigue techniques to Qi Huan.
"Huanhuan, based on your grandmother's years of experience reading novels—"
"After entering the palace, you must first investigate the backgrounds of the maids and eunuchs serving you. Check if they have any family members outside, to prevent them from being coerced into harming you. You can't keep greedy ones, and those with ambition are even worse."
"You can teach the silly ones, as long as they're loyal! So you must bring Yan Qing into the palace with you."
Yan Qing: ?
Was the old lady calling her stupid?
She just learned etiquette a bit slowly, that's all......
"Although Yan Qing has good martial arts skills and can protect you, you still can't be careless. Avoid going near lakes and walking at night......." Old Lady Song tried hard to recall the dangerous places from the novels.
"You must be careful with the food you eat. Build a small kitchen in your palace, and have Tao Su cook for you when you want something."
"Give birth to an heir early, they need someone to inherit the throne."
"In the future, if your husband can't be relied upon, you can still rely on your son......."
Just as Old Lady Song was getting into her lecture, terrified screams suddenly came from outside.
"Murder!"
"Ahhhh!"
"Call the officials quickly!"
The maids fled into the courtyard like frightened birds, closing the gate and pressing their bodies against it.
In their panic, they had only one thought: Don't let the assassins in! The old lady and young miss are still inside!
However, the assassins easily leaped over the wall, landing gracefully in the courtyard......
......only to be engaged by Yan Wu and the others who had caught up.
The little maids huddled together, trembling.
Inside the room, Old Lady Song's face had turned pale with fright.
Sure enough!
Being an Empress was a dangerous job!
Huanhuan wasn't even the Empress yet, and she'd already attracted a large group of assassins!
These assassins had such high martial arts skills, they definitely weren't targeting the Song family. Their target must be Huanhuan.
Old Lady Song hurriedly pulled Qi Huan into the inner room, urgently pushing her towards the wardrobe.
"Huanhuan, hide well. Grandmother will protect you."
Seeing the old woman trembling as she held up her cane, Qi Huan's eyes filled with tears.
"Grandmother, forgive me."
She used an acupuncture needle to make Old Lady Song faint, then stored her in her space.
After that, she was about to enter as well, when she suddenly thought of the other members of the Song family.
She took out all her hidden weapons and tucked them away, gripped her gun tightly, and walked out the door.
The two sides were too evenly matched. She calmly took aim.
After a long moment, two gunshots rang out - one hit a chest, the other a head.
The gunshots attracted everyone's attention. Yan Wu nodded at her approvingly.
Miss Qi's marksmanship had improved considerably.
The little maids nearby looked at her with admiration.
The young miss's weapon was so cool!
Qi Huan put away her gun and asked Yan Wu: "Did you send people to protect my uncle and aunt?"
"Yes! I originally thought that in extraordinary times we should use extraordinary measures, so I was going to drug them all unconscious and hide them in the secret passage first, then let them out after the danger had passed."
"But the guards at your Song Mansion said I looked more like a bad guy, and they chased after us instead......."
"We wasted some time, and then the assassins poured in."
Yan Wu was very frustrated. He had clearly told the guards he was one of the good guys!
But no one believed him. They all stared fixedly at the smoke bomb in his hand and the sword at his waist, surrounding him.
It wasn't until the second batch of real assassins arrived and started killing without a word that Yan Wu said: "See? Those are the real bad guys! We who wear black clothes and look handsome are the good guys!"
He quickly assigned the secret guards, leading a team to protect Qi Huan.
After hearing his explanation, Qi Huan breathed a sigh of relief.
The elites Li Shuchen had assigned to her would certainly be able to protect the Song family.
At this moment, Yan Wu suddenly slapped his forehead: "Oh no!"
"What?"
"I forgot there's still a little person in your Song family!"
Qi Huan frowned. Little person?
Did he mean Ximen Ye?
He wasn't in the Song Mansion, and his martial arts were excellent. If the assassins encountered him, they'd be the ones in trouble.
She wasn't worried about him.
However, Yan Wu said with a bitter face: "I forgot your cousin's wife gave birth to a little person. I didn't arrange protection for her."
Qi Huan's heart immediately leapt to her throat.
So the "little person" he meant was Song Nian'en!
"Then hurry over there!"
By the time Yan Wu arrived, it was too late.
Although his subordinate secret guards had excellent martial arts, they were single-minded.
It was precisely because of their single-mindedness and lack of distractions that their swordsmanship was outstanding.
But the downside of being single-minded is — they lacked flexibility.
Song Jingcheng and Young Madam Song had both been knocked unconscious and were being firmly protected, but Song Nian'en's wet nurse lay on the ground covered in blood.
The wet nurse, clutching her continuously bleeding chest, said with her last breath: "Please save the little miss, she's only three months old......"
Yan Wu ordered the secret guards to fetch a doctor, then quickly chased after the assassins.
In Qingsong Court.
Qi Huan waited anxiously, but instead of Yan Wu, an assassin arrived holding Song Nian'en.
"Everyone stop, or I'll snap her neck right now!"
In the cold wind, little Nian'en cried "Waa waa waa".
Qi Huan's nails dug into her palms as she said coldly: "Stop."
The assassin said smugly: "Quickly call the Cloud Brocade County Princess out. We'll trade this baby for her!"
Qi Huan tightened her grip on the gun in her sleeve and exchanged a glance with Yan Wu, who was crouched on the wall.
"I am the Cloud Brocade County Princess."
The assassin's scrutinizing gaze swept over her face: "Don't try to fool me!"
"The Cloud Brocade County Princess's face is full of freckles and acne. Your little face is as smooth and delicate as a peeled egg. How could you possibly be the Cloud Brocade County Princess?"
Qi Huan: .......
"The freckles and acne are......."
Before she could finish speaking, the courtyard gate was suddenly burst open.
Tao Su entered wearing her clothes, her face made up in the way she usually helped Qi Huan apply makeup.
"I am the Cloud Brocade County Princess! I've come to exchange myself for Song Nian'en!"
When assassins suddenly entered the mansion, they coerced a servant to lead them to Qinghuan Court, where they searched thoroughly but couldn't find the Cloud Brocade County Princess. Then they rushed to search the other courtyards.
Tao Su knew they had come for the County Princess. Unlike Yan Qing, she didn't know martial arts, but she did know how to apply the County Princess's public makeup.
After disguising herself, she put on a mask intending to go to Qingsong Court to find the County Princess, just in case.
.......Fortunately, she arrived in time.
When she removed her mask, the assassin looked at her. Though her features were delicate and charming, the spots all over her face ruined her beauty.
That's right, this was the genuine Cloud Brocade County Princess!
With one glance from the lead assassin, a hidden assassin swung his sword at Tao Su, but was blocked by Yan Wu.
Tao Su angrily said: "My mother says those who don't keep their word turn into toads!"
