Chapter 827: The first step to exposure (1/2)

An assassin?

A complicated look flickered past Ning Cheng’s eyes before he demanded, “What’s going on?”

“To report master, they discovered an assassin by Yanling Palace. It was only one person, but their martial arts skills are expert!” the guard replied.

Ning Cheng turned towards Bai Yanqing, who was looking straight at him. He smiled coldly and said, “Must be another one sent by Long Feiye to kidnap the princess again. Why is he so convinced that the princess is by my side?”

He used the “again” for Ning An’s sake so she knew he was doing it on purpose for Bai Yanqing to hear. After bringing the princess back, this was the first time they’d encountered any assassins charging in. It remained to be seen whether they were really aiming for the princess.

Ning An quickly added, “Clan Head, it’s obvious that the princess isn’t in the palace. How about you issue a proclamation declaring the truth? Suppose Long Feiye spreads news some day to slander us? The people of the world wouldn’t know the details. They might even assume we really kidnapped the princess!”

Bai Yanqing smiled. “That’s a bad way of putting things. Even if the princess was in the Ning Clan’s hands, they’d be rescuing her. Where does the concept of kidnapping come in? Long Feiye can’t smear the Ning Clan.”

Ning An broke into a bitter smile. “Uncle Bai, gossip is a fearful thing! Long Feiye has his ways to win over human hearts! If the people of the world believed him and we still don’t fly out the West Qin flags, then we’d be cursed for putting the princess under house arrest while harboring evil intentions!”

Bai Yanqing chuckled. “Too anxious, too anxious. Why not fly out the flags first? Place the symbol of the imperial jade seal on them instead, it’ll definitely convince the masses.”

Ning Cheng immediately rejected the idea with a chilly face. “The vertical banners with the imperial jade seal are the prerogative of the imperial clan. Neither the Di or Wind Clan have the right to hang them! Uncle Bai, this clan head will just pretend not to have heard those words. By no means should you make such irresponsible remarks again!”

Bai Yanqing had no way to retort. If he did, then it’d be gross disrespect towards the West Qin imperial clan. A cold laugh filled his heart. Sooner or later, that brat Ning Cheng will fall to his ideals of “loyalty” one day.

Hidden within the secret chamber, Han Yunxi heard their words loud and clear. If she wasn’t wrong, then Ning Cheng wasn’t just any wolf, but one who was as sly as a fox! The unexpected appearance of the assassin was used to his and Ning An’s advantage. His words now would only convince Bai Yanqing further that the West Qin princess wasn’t in Ning Cheng’s hands.

The first step to exposing Bai Yanqing’s plots was to make him trust them! After all, Ning Cheng was more impatient than anyone else to hand up the West Qin battle flags. Bai Yanqing would never believe he could remain so prudent on such an issue without cause. The saying went that those who lost something precious could gain something more valuable in return!

Just as Han Yunxi exhaled in relief, a horrified cry made her heart stop.

“Master, master, the assassin is that Little Qi from Medical City. He’s killing his way here!”

Gu Qishao!

Han Yunxi’s first thought was to rush out to meet him and run away together so he could bring her to Long Feiye. Her body reacted before her brain and dashed to the stone door before Ning Cheng’s words stopped her in her tracks.

Ning Cheng said, “He came just in time. This clan head will let him search as he likes! It’s better than having Medical City misunderstand our Di Clan for disrespecting the princess!”

Despite all of these sudden upheavals, Ning Cheng could still maintain his composure. Han Yunxi silently leaned against the door and shut her eyes. She told herself, “Calm down!”

Once she left the room, Bai Yanqing would see through Ning Cheng’s lies and waste not only their previous efforts, but lead to extremely frightening consequences. Bai Yanqing just said that Jun Yixie would be bringing over 100,000 horses. In other words, Bai Yanqing had enough troops in his hands to go south and destroy Ning Cheng and Long Feiye both! No matter whether she was the West Qin princess or Han Yunxi herself, she had to remain calm. As the princess, she had to protect Ning Cheng; as Han Yunxi, she had to protect Long Feiye.

Both of them were facing the same enemy, the Wind Clan!

Moreover, how would Ning Cheng see her if she just charged out like this? He would definitely see through her ulterior motives. How could a single Gu Qishao face off against the thousands of assassins hidden within the palace? Neither she nor Gu Qishao would be able to escape. In truth, Han Yunxi wasn’t calm at all. More than anything else right now, she desperately wanted to see Long Feiye, but she grit her teeth and endured it.

If the love between two sides was everlasting, what difference would dawn to dusk make?

But Long Feiye, do you have feelings? Have you grown any?

Gu Qishao’s come, but where are you, Long Feiye?

Han Yunxi shut her eyes with a weary expression. She had to yield to Ning Cheng now to avoid rousing his suspicions, then figure out a way to make him delay hanging up the official flags. She also had to figure out a scheme to expose the Wind Clan while hiding the presence of the dark-robed assassin that used Celestial Mountain sword arts. She needed to take a risk and do some machinations with one of Long Zun’s retainers so she could send out the question she insisted on asking.

How could she be anything but tired?

Who else in this world could she really trust?

Gu Beiyue? When had the protection of the Shadow Clan began? Was it during their first meeting at the Skypit, or even earlier than that?

Gu Qishao? He had been so insistent at Pill Fiend Valley, but in the end he had lied to her about Mute Granny anyways, right?

Despite her exhaustion, Han Yunxi remained standing straight without falling down--if only because she wasn’t the West Qin princess, but herself! She wanted the truth and an explanation. Only then could she choose without regret!

Han Yunxi, hold on!

Outside the secret room, Ning Cheng had already gone to meet Gu Qishao before he killed his way in. Ning An chased after him, purposely ignoring Bai Yanqing and Bai Yuqiao who followed after the duo. As soon as Gu Qishao saw Ning Cheng, he unsheathed his sword, which Ning Cheng met in turn.

“Hand over Han Yunxi, or else this old man will slaughter your entire palace!” Gu Qishao’s rage dashed to the skies after completely losing his cool.