Chapter 7: The Assassin

After planting the potatoes, it was already noon.

To reward Qian Ning, Shu Ruohua personally cooked and made a large plate of potato fries.

Qian Ning had never seen potatoes eaten this way before. She cautiously tried a fry and exclaimed, “Mm, it’s so delicious!!”

…

Main Hall.

The Crown Prince had just returned from discussing state affairs with the Emperor when Zhong Zihan entered respectfully.

“Your Highness,” he saluted Xiao Che, “The maid who framed the Crown Princess has been found.”

Xiao Che’s dark eyes narrowed. “Where is she?”

Zhong Zihan replied, “The dungeon.”

Ever since learning that Shu Ruohua had been banished to the Cold Palace, Xiao Che had ordered Zhong Zihan to investigate the matter in secret.

Side Consort Yang became the first target of the investigation.

Zhong Zihan discovered that a maid named Xiao Yu from Consort Yang’s palace had suddenly disappeared. He searched all available records about Xiao Yu, including her movements over the past month.

Eventually, all clues pointed to Xiao Yu being the one ordered to frame Shu Ruohua.

After several days, Zhong Zihan finally located her at a farmer’s house at the foot of the mountain.

To avoid alerting others, Zhong Zihan secretly brought her back and imprisoned her in the dungeon.

…

Dungeon.

In the dark, damp dungeon, a young girl dressed in rough clothes was bound to a wooden frame. Her black eyes were full of defiance.

Xiao Che and Zhong Zihan entered together.

The moment she saw Xiao Che, her eyes flickered slightly.

Xiao Che had no interest in speaking to someone like her, so all the questioning was handled by Zhong Zihan.

But no matter what Zhong Zihan asked, Xiao Yu stubbornly refused to say a single word.

Xiao Che furrowed his brow tightly.

“Do you think it’s me or your master who’s more capable of protecting your family?”

He already knew that Xiao Yu was merely a pawn of Consort Yang. The true culprit behind everything was obvious.

But sometimes, it wasn’t enough to deduce the answer — you had to hear it aloud.

During this time, he had also investigated Xiao Yu’s family background and discovered that Consort Yang had used her family to threaten her.

After hearing Xiao Che’s words, Xiao Yu’s face changed. The defiant expression on her face crumbled, and she immediately confessed everything.

She had indeed acted on Consort Yang’s orders — planting the needle-pierced figurine in Shu Ruohua’s quarters and framing her for it.

Only then did Xiao Che show a look of satisfaction.

He had already ordered the jailers to record all the evidence Xiao Yu confessed. Once she signed and sealed her confession, he could take it to the Empress and clear Shu Ruohua’s name.

However…

He paused in thought.

Consort Yang was the Empress’s niece, and her father was none other than Yang Dezhen, the current Minister of Revenue.

Given Xiao Che’s current standing in the court, he was still no match for the Empress.

As for Minister Yang, Xiao Che had originally planned to win him over to his side. So for now, he could not move against Consort Yang.

Xiao Che clenched his fists and instructed Zhong Zihan to put away the written confession.

As for Xiao Yu, framing the Crown Princess was punishable by death. Her execution would serve as a warning to both the Empress and Consort Yang.

By the time they emerged from the dungeon, the sky had already turned dark.

Xiao Che had no intention of returning to the main hall. Instead, he headed straight for the Cold Wind Pavilion.

“Your Highness, it’s so late—aren’t you going back for dinner?” Zhong Zihan asked, confused.

Xiao Che ignored him and continued walking silently.

…

Cold Wind Pavilion.

There wasn’t much to do in the afternoon. Shu Ruohua took a nap, and after waking up, she made homemade potato chips with Qian Ning.

The ultra-thin potato slices turned out perfectly crisp and delicious after being fried.

Shu Ruohua lay on the couch, munching contentedly on the chips. Her chubby, round face radiated bliss.

Qian Ning also nibbled while showering her young lady with praise, declaring her amazing.

Night fell, and stars began to fill the sky.

Shu Ruohua finally felt full. She shook her plump body, lazily slid off the couch, and headed straight for the door.

“Young Miss, where are you going?” Qian Ning asked, puzzled, as she saw Shu Ruohua swagger out.

Shu Ruohua stretched lazily at the doorway. “I’ve eaten and drunk my fill, time to take a stroll.”

…

Earlier that afternoon, she had checked on the potato patch and noticed the sprouts were about to break through the soil.

Now she slowly wandered over again, squinting in the faint moonlight to inspect the field.

Suddenly, a cold gust of wind rushed past her, and a shadow flickered by.

Shu Ruohua froze — her instincts screamed danger.

Without thinking, she turned and sprinted back toward the house.

But the shadow was much faster than she was. Before she could even reach the door, several more shadows darted past her.

Shu Ruohua shivered in fright.

…

Qian Ning had also seen the shadows. Thinking they were ghosts, she trembled and cried out, “Young Miss—g-ghosts!!”

Shu Ruohua’s heart skipped a beat.

And then—

Before she could react, a narrow throwing blade was already flying toward her neck.

…

“Watch out!!” a familiar voice suddenly rang out.

Xiao Che, dressed in flowing white robes, dashed toward her like lightning. In a swift motion, he grabbed Zhong Zihan’s sword and blocked the attacker’s strike.

He then tossed the sword back to Zhong Zihan.

Zhong Zihan immediately rushed forward to assist, engaging the black-clad attackers in combat.

Though there were several assassins, none were a match for Zhong Zihan. One of them suddenly turned their blade mid-air and aimed it straight at Xiao Che’s back.

“Look out!!”

Through the chaos, Shu Ruohua’s voice rang out. With a sudden leap, she threw herself behind Xiao Che, shielding him.

…