Chapter 127: Deep Sisterhood, these two women are quite cunning.
After listening to Lady Mingzhu, Humeiren did not rush to respond.
Instead, she stared intently at her.
After a while, she finally said, “It seems you haven’t figured something out.”
“The question is not whether we want to go with him, but whether he will take us.”
Humeiren’s words were quite fair.
Because she and Lady Mingzhu were both concubines in name.
Although this title was nominal and only known among the three of them, to outsiders, they were concubines.
If Li Mo took them away, once Emperor Han found out, they would face endless pursuit.
Even if Emperor Han was incompetent, he couldn’t tolerate the fact that his favorite concubines were unfaithful to him.
And it was not just one, but two!
What man could bear that!
So, Humeiren’s point was that she was worried Li Mo might choose to abandon them due to these concerns.
She understood her position in Li Mo’s heart.
But she wasn’t confident enough to think that she held such a high position in Li Mo’s heart.
Lady Mingzhu teased with a smile, “Oh, now you’re worried?”
“When you were clinging to my master back then, didn’t you consider this?”
Humeiren rolled her eyes, “Is this the time for jokes? Can’t you see I’m uncomfortable?”
“You talk as if you weren’t the one clinging to him first.”
Lady Mingzhu replied with a smile, “Yes, yes, my master is so charming, I’m happy to cling to him.”
“But seriously, if the master is willing to take us, would you go with him?”
“Let me tell you first, the conditions won’t be as good as they are now.”
“There won’t be so many palace maids to serve you.”
“And you won’t be the respected concubine anymore.”
“We might even have to hide for the rest of our lives.”
“So, have you thought it through?”
“Will you wander the world with my master, or stay here as the respected concubine?”
Humeiren took a deep breath and said to the eager Lady Mingzhu, “Don’t mess around and cause trouble for your master.”
“He has to deal with Bai Yifei and guard against Luo Network of Qin.”
“If we cause him more trouble and attract Emperor Han’s attention, he really won’t be able to stay in Han.”
Humeiren nonchalantly said, “If he can’t stay, then he can’t stay.”
“The world is so big, as long as I’m with the master, it doesn’t matter where we go.”
“The outside world is exciting and thrilling.”
“I’ve been stifled in this tiny Han palace for so many years, I’m almost bored to death.”
Humeiren looked at Lady Mingzhu in surprise.
She didn’t expect Lady Mingzhu to say such things.
Compared to herself, Lady Mingzhu was the one more greedy for wealth and fame.
But now, for Li Mo, she was willing to give it all up without hesitation.
It seemed that this master held more weight in her heart than she had imagined.
Even more than Li Mo himself might have expected, given Lady Mingzhu’s loyalty and determination to follow him.
Humeiren moved closer to Lady Mingzhu.
Their smooth, white jade-like shoulders touched.
Humeiren nudged Lady Mingzhu with her shoulder.
Then asked, “Do you have a plan to get out of here?”
Lady Mingzhu raised an eyebrow proudly.
She said, “Of course, do you want to know? Call me big sister first!”
Humeiren rolled her eyes in exasperation.
Lady Mingzhu teased, “Oh, still unwilling?”
“I was the first to become the master’s accomplice, so by that logic, you should call me big sister.”
Humeiren was exasperated by her shamelessness.
She patted her forehead and said, “Alright, alright, big sister, you’re the sister, okay? Now can you tell me?”
Lady Mingzhu beamed with joy, her eyes narrowing into slits.
Teasingly, she said, “Haha, good girl Humeiren, listen to your big sister from now on, and I’ll take care of you.”
Lady Mingzhu felt she finally had the upper hand.
After laughing, she said, “Actually, it’s not difficult.”
“When the time comes, we’ll find an excuse to leave the palace, dismiss the guards and attendants, and by the time they realize it, we’ll likely be out of Xinzheng.”
“The excuse of going out to see a play works well. Shall we do that?”
Humeiren was stunned, “Wait, you haven’t told your master about this?”
Lady Mingzhu shook her head honestly, “No, I haven’t. He hasn’t come to us these past few days, so how could I tell him? Can’t we surprise him?”
Humeiren was speechless.
Are you trying to surprise him or scare him?
“What are you doing? If you spring this on him, what if it disrupts his plans?”
“Really, what a terrible idea!”
After saying this, she shuffled to the inner side of the bed, turned her back, and wrapped herself in the blanket, as if she didn’t want to deal with Lady Mingzhu anymore.
Lady Mingzhu’s blanket was pulled away entirely by her.
Revealing her slender, alluring curves that her thin nightgown could barely cover.
Lady Mingzhu blinked, staring at Humeiren’s graceful back.
She asked in confusion, “So what are you suggesting?”
“Are you stupid? We’ll leave on our own!”
“First leave Xinzheng, and then figure out a way to reunite with him later.”
“Otherwise, once Bai Yifei is dead, Xinzheng will definitely go into lockdown, and then we won’t be able to leave even if we want to.”
Humeiren turned her head, “Lockdown?”
Lady Mingzhu nodded, “Of course. Bai Yifei isn’t rebelling like Ji Wuye.”
“He’s still a marquis.”
“If he dies in Xinzheng, how can the city not go into lockdown?”
Humeiren suddenly sat up.
Her seductive eyes gleamed, and she flung the blanket off.
She crossed her long, jade-like legs over Lady Mingzhu and started searching around the bedroom.
Lady Mingzhu watched her busy figure in bewilderment, asking, “What are you doing? Are we going or not?”
While rummaging through a cabinet, Humeiren replied, “We can’t leave without taking anything, right?”
“I’m looking for valuable stuff to take. No way am I leaving it all for that old Emperor Han.”
After being a concubine for so many years, if she had nothing else, she did have quite a collection of rare treasures.
Lady Mingzhu was stunned by her words.
Then she burst into laughter, “Haha, look at you, so petty.”
“You haven’t even married him yet, and you’re thinking about bringing dowry for my master?”
“But you’re right, I should go pack too, let’s empty the whole Han Palace!”
Lady Mingzhu changed her clothes and prepared to pack her things.
Tomorrow was the day they planned to deal with Bai Yifei, so they didn’t have much time left.
Just as she opened the palace door, she felt a chilling cold sweep in.
Simultaneously, a cold light aimed straight at her throat.
The speed was so fast that she had no time to react.
She could only rely on her body’s instincts to retreat quickly.
But the long sword followed her relentlessly, not giving her even a chance to call for help.
Hearing the commotion, Humeiren lifted the curtain and ran out, only to be shocked.
“Help…”
She opened her mouth to shout, but the intruder was prepared.
The assailant’s right foot tapped the ground, and a dart shot out from the shoe sole.
Then the attacker kicked.
The dart flew past Lady Mingzhu, transforming into a cold light aimed at Humeiren.
Humeiren’s minimal martial skills were even worse than Lady Mingzhu’s modest ones.
She couldn’t even see the trajectory of the dart.
But while she couldn’t see it, someone else did.
Without thinking, Lady Mingzhu leaped in front of Humeiren.
Humeiren was shocked, letting out a cry, “Mingzhu!”
She never imagined that Lady Mingzhu, who had always been at odds with her, would risk her life to save her at such a moment!
Just as the dart was about to hit Lady Mingzhu, the assassin suddenly frowned.
The long sword flew from her hand, striking down the dart with a clang.
“Mingzhu, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
Humeiren fell beside Lady Mingzhu.
Her cold hands frantically checked her all over.
But she found no wounds on her.
Lady Mingzhu, her gaze serious, also showed a trace of confusion.
Shaking her head, she said, “I’m fine. This person is very skilled; I am no match for her.”
“You go call for help, I’ll hold her off.”
Since the intruder came through the main gate, it was clear that the palace maids outside had already been dealt with.
Judging by her earlier movements, the intruder’s skills far surpassed hers.
Moreover, her strikes were brutal and fierce, indicating she was a rare, highly trained assassin.
Had Humeiren not come out and distracted the assassin, the initial strike would have killed her!
This was an exceptionally strong assassin, impossible to guard against!
But Lady Mingzhu couldn’t understand who wanted Humeiren dead.
Since this was Humeiren’s sleeping quarters, the intruder was clearly here to assassinate her.
Such a professional and powerful assassin wasn’t easy to come by.
“Mingzhu, you…”
Humeiren was deeply moved, standing tightly by Lady Mingzhu’s side.
She was choked with emotion, unable to speak.
Lady Mingzhu telling her to go was essentially exchanging her life for Humeiren’s.
With such a skilled assassin targeting her, there was no way Lady Mingzhu could survive until the guards arrived.
This wasn’t the Emperor of Han’s sleeping quarters.
The defense here was lax.
The imperial guards patrolled outside the palace.
By the time they arrived, Lady Mingzhu would likely be dead!
Lady Mingzhu didn’t dare be distracted, glancing at Humeiren.
She suddenly smiled, “You called me sister, so isn’t it right for me to protect you?”
“Run away. Just serve our master well from now on.”
Lady Mingzhu seemed to know she wouldn’t survive the day.
Her only regret was not being able to serve Li Mo and enjoy that feeling of conquest again!
Damn this assassin!
She hadn’t had enough fun yet!
The assassin’s sharp gaze swept over the two of them and suddenly spoke, “Mingzhu, are you Lady Mingzhu?”
Lady Mingzhu proudly lifted her head, “That’s right!”
The assassin merely asked, then turned her gaze to Humeiren.
Coldly, she said, “Then you must be Humeiren?”
“She’s not.”
“I am!”
Lady Mingzhu, trying to cover for Humeiren, was speechless and cursed, “Are you stupid? It’s obvious she’s here for you and you still admit it!”
Humeiren shook her head, “She wants to kill me, so I stay. You go.”
“What are you saying?”
Lady Mingzhu was stunned.
Humeiren looked at her resolutely, “You go, take good care of the master for me.”
Lady Mingzhu felt a twinge in her heart, “If you stay, you’ll die.”
“I know, but I can’t drag you down with me.”
Lady Mingzhu was so angry she could hardly breathe, “Are you… are you stupid?”
Given a chance to live, you don’t take it?
Humeiren retorted, “You’re the stupid one. The assassin wants to kill me, not you.”
The assassin, suddenly intrigued, folded her arms and watched their argument.
Lady Mingzhu turned to argue with Humeiren, “With your meager skills, you can’t even block one of her moves. What’s the use of you staying?”
Humeiren retorted sharply, “What can you do besides act seductive?”
Lady Mingzhu sneered, “I can do much more than that.”
Humeiren folded her arms and sized her up, “Oh really? Show me then.”
Lady Mingzhu gritted her teeth and reached into her bosom angrily, “Fine, I’ll show you today.”
The assassin looked on with curiosity, wondering what Lady Mingzhu intended to show.
At that moment, a sly gleam appeared in both women’s eyes.
Lady Mingzhu pulled out some powder from her bosom and flung it at the assassin!
The assassin’s eyes showed a hint of surprise.
So the argument was just a ruse to catch her off guard!
She even marveled, “You two have quite the coordination.”
Facing the powder, the assassin remained unperturbed.
She grabbed the tablecloth, catching every bit of the powder.
Lady Mingzhu and Humeiren’s faces turned pale.
This was truly the end!
The opponent was far too skilled for them!
“Done arguing? If so, come with me!”
The assassin tossed the tablecloth aside and commanded without allowing refusal.
Lady Mingzhu, like a bristling porcupine, was defiant even in the face of death.
“Hmph, who do you think you are? State your name if you dare!”
The assassin picked up the sword embedded in the floor and gave her a sidelong glance.
She coolly uttered two words, “Jing Ni.”
*
A carriage stopped in front of Purple Orchid Pavilion.
The coachman lifted the curtain, and a distinguished man stepped out.
Ying Zheng looked at the “Closed for Business” sign from yesterday and strode in without hesitation.
Gai Nie followed closely behind him.
Not long after they entered, a shadow appeared across the street.
Then a second, and a third…
One by one, assassins emerged like ghosts.
“Sir.”
One assassin respectfully addressed the darkness, “Everyone’s here.”
“Surround them, kill them all!”
A figure slowly emerged from the darkness.
Glancing at Ying Zheng’s carriage, he issued the ruthless command.
The assassins, agile and silent, surrounded Purple Orchid Pavilion.
Soon, another group arrived.
“Lord, this is the place.”
The leader looked up at the dark Purple Orchid Pavilion.
A sinister smile crept across his face, “Kill, leave no one alive!”
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