Chapter 18

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

The three women got along quite harmoniously in the remote Wuyuan of the Xiao Manor. However, looking at Zhu’er’s pouting mouth every day, Yin Chujin rubbed the space between her eyebrows and took out a silver tael to pass to Leng’er. She pointed at the wall and instructed, “Buy some food for that girl. Looking at her aggrieved face, you would think I abused her.”

Leng’er took the silver and nodded in agreement. She had just taken two steps when she was stopped again.

“Since you’re out, buy some seeds and clothes…”

Leng’er nodded silently. In the next moment, her body rose into the air and quickly disappeared behind the wall.

“Princess, Leng’er’s martial arts are amazing.”

“You want to learn?”

Zhu’er shook her head like a billowing drum.

In less than two hours, Leng’er returned with a pile of things. She stuffed the pastries into Zhu’er’s hands with a numb expression and handed the rest to Yin Chujin.

Zhu’er was grinning from ear to ear as she held the food. Then, she saw Yin Chujin digging at the corner of the courtyard with several bags of seeds. Her jaw almost dropped to the ground in shock.

“Princess, do you want to plant flowers and plants?” In the past, the princess was very pampered and her fingers never touched dust.

“Yes, it’s quite boring here. You two can come and help after eating.”

“Yes, Princess!”

Thus, the three of them used all their strength to prepare a piece of land in the small courtyard. They carried water, dug up soil, and scattered seeds. They were very busy.

Zhu’er was a glutton. After getting to know Leng’er, she would pester her to go out of the residence to buy pastries. Leng’er looked cold on the surface, but she would not reject her. Zhu’er’s requests would definitely be granted. This continued until one time, Leng’er climbed over the wall and returned. The expression on her face was different from usual. After placing the pastries on the table, she took the initiative to report to Yin Chujin, who was practicing her calligraphy…

“I met the Prince on the street just now. Steward Wang was also there.”

It was a short sentence, but Yin Chujin understood everything. Xiao Yelei had never seen Leng’er before, but Steward Wang had. Leng’er was just a maidservant, but she could come and go freely in the Manor. Steward Wang would definitely tell Xiao Yelei about this…

Zhu’er was frightened by Leng’er’s words and Yin Chujin’s solemn expression. The joy she felt when she saw the pastries had long disappeared. “Princess… did I make a mistake?”

“Don’t think too much. What will come will come.”

Steward Wang knocked on the door of Wuyuan and looked at Leng’er meaningfully. He conveyed Xiao Yelei’s words and asked the three of them to go to the hall.

Yin Chujin didn’t stop practicing her calligraphy at all. Without looking up, she said to him, “No! Please go back and tell Prince Xiao that he should come himself if there’s anything.”

A trace of surprise flashed across Steward Wang’s face. Then, with a wave of his hand, several guards holding halberds stood out.

“Princess Consort, please cooperate with me,” Steward Wang said to Yin Chujin expressionlessly.

Yin Chujin remained unmoved. She turned to Leng’er and ordered, “Leng’er, send the guests out!”

Leng’er’s eyes were cold as she lifted the long sword in her left hand. The sword left its sheath and her figure flashed past. In the blink of an eye, the tip of her sword had already swept towards the guards standing at the entrance of the courtyard. Her dress fluttered as the guards cried out in pain and the halberds fell to the ground. In the next moment, the guards flew out of the courtyard one by one, leaving Steward Wang standing alone. Leng’er raised her long sword with no warmth in her eyes. Seeing the tip of the sword stabbing towards Steward Wang, Yin Chujin spoke up at the right time to stop it…

“Leng’er, stop! No matter what, Steward Wang is still a senior. He was the one who let you into the residence back then. Let him go!”

Leng’er forcefully stopped the sword in her hand and did not look at the frozen Steward Wang anymore. She turned around and returned to Yin Chujin’s side.

“Chief Steward Wang, please leave!”

Steward Wang had seen all kinds of storms and waves. He quickly came back to his senses and turned to leave Wuyuan.

In the time it took to finish a cup of tea, there was a commotion outside Wuyuan. Leng’er, who practiced martial arts, had sharp hearing. Her ears twitched as she said to Yin Chujin, “There are dozens of people surrounding this place.”

Yin Chujin smirked. She took out a packet of medicinal powder from her sleeve and handed it to Leng’er. “To capture the bandits, we have to capture the leader first. Our target is… Xiao Yelei.”

Leng’er nodded and took the powder, hiding it in her sleeve.

As soon as he finished speaking, the door in the courtyard was slammed open and dozens of guards rushed in. Immediately after, Xiao Yelei’s figure appeared at the door. Unfortunately, before he could stabilize himself, Leng’er’s long sword stabbed at him. Xiao Yelei dodged to the side.

“Very well, Yin Chujin. You’re quite bold. You actually have the ability to bring someone with such powerful martial arts into my residence. I’ve underestimated you!”

Yin Chujin slowly walked to the door and looked at Xiao Yelei coldly. “You’ve underestimated me more than that. Leng’er, attack!”

Leng’er held her sword in her hand and held her breath in concentration. It was as if she could not see the guards around her. Her eyes were fixed on Xiao Yelei. Her feet flew, and at the same time, the body of the sword transformed, turning into countless shadows and approaching him. Xiao Yelei faced her barehanded. There was no panic in his eyes. He gathered Qi in his palm and resolved the sword shadows around him.

The guards wanted to step forward, but when they saw that the two of them were fighting to the death, they could not interfere. They saw Yin Chujin and Zhu’er standing by the hut and decided to start with them.

Seeing that they were getting closer and closer, Zhu’er screamed and hid behind Yin Chujin. Yin Chujin frowned slightly at Zhu’er’s scream, but she was not afraid of the guards surrounding her. When they approached, she flicked her sleeve gently. In the next moment, the guards could not even hold their halberds and fell to the ground.

When Xiao Yelei noticed this scene, he was distracted for a moment, but Leng’er took advantage of it. Leng’er scattered all the medicinal powder hidden in her sleeve at him. When he was no longer able to resist, a cold sword pointed at his throat.

Yin Chujin walked past the weak guards and stood in front of Xiao Yelei. Her lips curled up as she looked at him mockingly. “Prince Xiao, it looks like you’ve lost!”