Chapter 8
I sent an order to the Shadow Guards, commanding them to compile a list overnight of every rebel and traitor at court who carried even a trace of concubine-born blood, then deliver it to Jiang Huai.
Along the way, I used a minor trick to send General Zhenyuan away, preventing him from returning to the capital for a while.
Freed from his restraints, Jiang Huai became a runaway horse.
For a time, every court official lived in fear that a hint of concubine blood might get him sold.
Naturally, the commotion in the capital drew the attention of the surrounding princes.
When they saw their spies being purged, some of them decided there was no turning back. They declared independence and pointed their swords at the capital.
I stared at the frontier intelligence assembled by the Shadow Guards, my mind in turmoil.
Well, well. Was it time to return to my old profession?
But just as I packed my things and began devising strategies, someone abducted me.
Ah. I should never have sent all the Shadow Guards away!
“You’re sure everything happening in the capital was her doing? This one woman?”
A man’s mocking voice reached my ears.
“You used too much drug. She’s been unconscious for five days. Don’t scramble her brains, or how will we answer to Prince Su?”
“Relax. I know what I’m doing. If I’d used less and she woke up halfway, we’d be the ones in a world of pain!”
How rude could a man possibly be?
The carriage rolled toward the border. I silently edged closer to the side of the compartment.
These men were wary of me. Showing my hand recklessly would be a terrible idea.
But if Prince Su truly got hold of me—
I recalled the smug delight with which I had purged his allies.
Right. I still had to escape!
As I searched for an opening, I heard a troop passing outside the carriage. I poked my head out and saw a band of muscular men, dusty from travel, heading toward the capital. Their clothing, those muscles…
They looked familiar…
Could they be the people of that willow-uprooting queen?
One of my abductors realized I was awake. Frowning, he rose to shove me back into the carriage.
An idea flashed through my mind. I shouted to the brawny travelers, “Help! I’m a friend of Ning Rou!”
In a heartbeat, the men spun around at the sound of her name and came face-to-face with me.
“A woman.”
“Small and skinny.”
“Southern accent.”
“Knows little Rou.”
“Damn, isn’t this the rich sucker Rou told us about?”
The man who blurted that out immediately took a smack to the head. A brawny fellow who looked like their leader scolded him.
“Show some respect to the person who’ll be feeding us from now on!”
“Gentlemen, could you argue later and rescue me first?”
Weak, pitiful, and helpless.jpg