It seemed like the man in grey had finally convinced him; Xiao Bojian pressed his lips together tightly and followed the man out.
As he passed by the entrance screen, he couldn’t resist turning back to look at Chu Lian, who was still standing by the table. At the same time, Chu Lian just happened to direct her gaze towards him. Their eyes met.
In his mind, Xiao Bojian felt like he would never forget Chu Lian’s current expression.
It was an expression that conjured a piercing pain inside his heart, numbing him to all other feelings.
Chu Lian’s almond-shaped eyes were opened wide, a trace of confusion in their depths. Her eyes were bright and crystal-clear, like sunlight shining through glass. There was also a tiny little bit of contempt that she was trying hard to conceal. That’s right, contempt! Contempt towards Xiao Bojian!
Xiao Bojian felt as if he had been stabbed directly through the chest. His brows furrowed in pain.
A layer of frost glazed over his eyes. It froze even his strong, beating heart, turning it into a sculpture so fragile it would shatter at a single touch. He would’ve rather not understood that look in Chu Lian’s eyes then.
However, there was still the looming risk of pursuers urging him on. He gritted his teeth and mouthed something to her; then, in the span of a second, he left without turning back.
‘Lian’er, I’ve disappointed you this time. Wait for me. I’ll definitely make it up to you and give you the best in the whole world!’
Xiao Bojian disappeared just as quickly as he had appeared.
When Xiao Bojian left, a bunch of thoughts ran through Chu Lian’s mind.
That smidge of contempt in her eyes had not been faked; she really looked down on him.
She could surmise from the sudden appearance of Xiao Bojian’s subordinate that something bad must have happened in Defeng Teahouse, something that would affect even the lives of bystanders!
However, at such a dangerous time, Xiao Bojian had followed his subordinate and left all by himself, leaving his ‘beloved’ Chu Lian behind in Defeng Teahouse. Heh! Someone who only cared for himself in the face of danger wasn’t qualified to be spouting romantic words like that! Chu Lian suddenly pitied the original female lead.
By falling in love with and following a man like that, the original female lead would’ve surely been backstabbed by him someday.
After this whole event, Chu Lian felt even more disgusted by Xiao Bojian. She decided that she had to be more careful next time and avoid meeting such a terrifying man in the future.
The most important thing right now was to protect herself!
Chu Lian didn’t want to be someone who could only helplessly await her fate.
Luckily, the soul that resided in the original female lead’s body was now Chu Lian. Otherwise, how would she have calmly considered all this? It would’ve been good enough if she didn’t lose her wits over that man.
Xiao Bojian didn’t know that his shameless, lone escape had earned him the label of a self-centred rat, something that he would never be able to remove for the rest of his life.
Chu Lian tugged at Xiyan, who had almost lost her soul from the tension just now. “Xiyan, what are you blanking out for? We have to leave now! Didn’t you hear what that man in grey said!”
Xiyan was only a maidservant in the end. No matter how loyal she was, with everything that had just happened, her spirit had already been completely shattered since Xiao Bojian’s mysterious appearance in the private room. After Chu Lian pulled her into motion, she became completely flustered. However, upon seeing how calm Third Young Madam was, she seemed to have found her backbone. She watched Chu Lian closely and forcefully nodded.
Chu Lian patted her arm and led her towards the exit. The fighting sounds from next door had become even louder, accompanied by the sounds of porcelain shattering on the floor.
Since Chu Lian was in such a rush, the jade amulet she had at her waist got hooked onto the screen and fell to the carpet silently. Chu Lian and Xiyan didn’t notice it at all.
When she reached the door, she found the unconscious Wenlan. Chu Lian’s expression turned solemn. No wonder Wenlan hadn’t even warned her about Xiao Bojian’s visit. She had already been taken care of.
When Xiyan saw Wenlan collapsed against the wall, she almost shouted in fright. However, upon receiving Chu Lian’s warning glare, she hurriedly covered her mouth and silenced herself.
Chu Lian and Xiyan were both women, and their strength was limited. There was no way they would be able to carry the unconscious Wenlan with them.
Xiyan tried her best to suppress her building anxiety, but she couldn’t hold back the tremor in her voice as she asked, “Third… Third Young Madam, what should we do now?”
Chu Lian looked at the unconscious Wenlan and then back at Xiyan, who was clearly frightened out of her mind. Her hands clenched into little fists, hidden under her wide sleeves. When she felt her nails dig into the palm of her hands, she forced herself to calm down.
Chu Lian didn’t reply Xiyan immediately. Her clear, determined eyes made a sweep of the area outside the private room. When she noticed a rack of basins nearby, she hurried over to it and took up one of the bronze basins. Then, in a single quick movement, she upended the basin, pouring cold water all over Wenlan’s face.
Chu Lian had no idea if this would work. If they couldn’t wake Wenlan up, she and Xiyan would have to leave first.
Perhaps Wenlan’s senses were more developed than most due to her martial arts training, because right after the cold water hit her, Wenlan quickly woke up. Her eyelids trembled as she fought to open her eyes. The first thing she saw upon regaining consciousness was Chu Lian squatting in front of her with a solemn expression. Afterwards, it didn’t take long to recall what had happened before she had been hit.
Wenlan’s pupils abruptly shrunk and her eyes turned clear. Worried, she asked, “Third Young Madam, did anything happen to you? Someone ambushed me!”
Chu Lian let out a sigh of relief and helped Wenlan up with Xiyan’s support. “There’s no time to explain. Wenlan, we have to leave this place right now!”
The sounds of combat from the next room hadn’t ceased while they were talking. Conversely, it sounded like the fighting was actually getting worse. Chu Lian wasn’t sure when the fight would spill over into their room, so it was best to leave right at this moment.
With her experience, Chu Lian’s words, and the fact that she had been ambushed by someone, Wenlan’s reacted quickly after the fuzziness in her mind cleared up. She noticed the situation they were in and understood that Third Young Madam was right. Wenlan’s expression turned serious. “Third Young Madam, this servant will head out first in a moment. Please follow behind this servant together with Xiyan.”
Chu Lian nodded in acknowledgement. After Wenlan finished speaking, she wiped off the water on her face and took out a whip from where it had been hidden in her belt. She kept it in her hands as she moved. First, she leaned against the door to the room and listened for some time. Then, when she believed it was clear, she signalled over to Chu Lian and Xiyan.
Wenlan carefully opened the door and led them out slowly. It was just after 1pm, so there weren’t many people occupying the private boxes in Defeng Teahouse. They didn’t see anyone else at all upon leaving their room.
“Third Young Madam, let’s leave quickly. House Jing’an’s carriage is at the back of this building!” Wenlan whispered a reminder.
Chu Lian forcefully nodded. Her heart was beating furiously.
Just as she and Xiyan were about to move, the door behind them burst open with a huge bang. An assassin dressed in black had been kicked out of the room; he took down the doors with him as he landed. Right after, a few men in black appeared suddenly, and the sounds of clashing swords rang out.
All of this happened right before their eyes. The assassin who had broken the door was only two to three meters away from Chu Lian.
Her heart thumped even faster. The participants in the fight that had spilled out of the room and into the corridor all glanced in Chu Lian’s direction. Cold sweat broke out on the girls’ backs as time seemed to freeze.
In the next second, two masked men in grey and two richly dressed men dashed out from the room in pursuit. One of them was wearing a jade crown, protected in the center of the three other men.
That man’s gaze couldn’t help but turn towards Chu Lian; Chu Lian’s gaze also coincidentally met with his.
Azure eyes! A sharp look!
Chu Lian’s entire body shivered.
Tons of details rushed into her mind like a flood. So it was him!
Chu Lian stomped her foot fiercely. How could she be this unlucky! She managed to bump into such an important figure while out for a simple cup of tea. No wonder they had suddenly been dumped into the middle of this once-in-a-blue-moon assassination attempt.
As much as Chu Lian hated the situation, the more anxious she got, the clearer her mind became. She ordered the two maidservants to leave right now.
She turned and left; in her peripheral vision, she noticed that the azure-eyed man simply glanced at her before continuing his fight with the men in black. Another seven or eight more assassins rushed out from the room, each of them highly skilled in martial arts.
Chu Lian was absolutely frightened. She hadn’t expected to bump into an assassination, let alone one with so many assassins.
And there were only three guards around that azure-eyed man!
Chu Lian shut her eyes tightly. Although she wanted to help him, she knew her own limits. If she were to try to help him, she would only be a burden. There was no way she would be able to assist him.
Chu Lian ran even faster. Luckily, the assassins were fixed on their target. Although they noticed her running away, they didn’t send anyone to chase after her. Thus, she was able to heave a great sigh of relief.
Just as Chu Lian thought that the three of them were finally clear of danger, she heard heavy footsteps coming from the stairway to the second floor of Defeng Teahouse. When Chu Lian looked up, she met with Royal Princess Duanjia’s eyes.
Royal Princess Duanjia clearly hadn’t discovered the intense fighting going on just beyond the corridor. She smiled a little weakly and asked, “Chu Liu, why did you come out of the room?”
Chu Lian knew that things were going to turn bad; she turned back in a panic. As expected, the assassins surrounding the azure-eyed man noticed Royal Princess Duanjia. One of them made a gesture towards two others, and those two men came chasing after with their swords raised.
In that short moment, Royal Princess Duanjia had also discovered the strange events going on not far down the corridor. Her pupils shrunk and she shouted anxiously, “Fourth Brother!”
Immediately after her shout, the man trapped in the middle of the assassins got slashed on his arm. Royal Princess Duanjia’s heart grew heavier with worry. She decisively ordered the two people following behind her to help.
Chu Lian felt a headache coming on. She walked up to the princess within a few strides and tried to pull her along as she ran downstairs.
Chu Lian tried to pull with all her might, but she realised that she couldn’t even move the princess. Her expression turned serious and she snapped in a fit of anger, “Princess! You can’t save Fourth Prince even if you stay here. You’ll just become a burden for him. If you don’t leave now, there might really be no hope left for Fourth Prince!”
Royal Princess Duanjia stared blankly at Chu Lian for all of two seconds before she recovered her senses thanks to Chu Lian’s shout. Now back to her rational self, she was the one who took up the task of pulling on Chu Lian’s arm while running away.
Chu Lian froze for an instant before finally sighing in relief. The servants accompanying Royal Princess Duanjia had already gone to help Prince Jin, so the princess didn’t have any servants left with her.
Wenlan was the only one who knew martial arts, and the men in black were gaining on them from behind.
Chu Lian and Princess Duanjia were only weak young ladies after all. After running for a while, their legs were already out of strength. When they reached the first floor and headed towards the back of the building, Chu Lian gazed at the unfamiliar surroundings. She abruptly made a decision in her heart.
She tugged Royal Princess Duanjia to a corner, before instructing Wenlan and Xiyan, “Wenlan, you’re faster on your feet. Go and get some help! Xiyan, find a place to hide. Don’t come out, no matter what. Do you understand?”
Third Young Madam’s usual soft and gentle tone had morphed into one brimming with determination and unshakeable resolution. Although her voice sounded the same, there was an unseen power that made others want to obey.
Wenlan was about to reject her orders, but when Chu Lian’s moist, determined eyes met her gaze, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.
Royal Princess Duanjia peeked at Chu Liu from the side, her own eyes filled with both amazement and a trust that she hadn’t realised she held towards Chu Lian.
Wenlan pressed her lips together in worry, but quickly turned and left. Without Chu Lian and the others holding her back, Wenlan’s speed increased twofold. In a few seconds, she had already vanished from their sight.
Chu Lian cast a single glance at Xiyan before completely ignoring her. She tugged Royal Princess Duanjia towards a narrow doorway.
Chu Lian smiled bitterly inside. It would actually be pretty easy for her to stay alive. All she had to do was to abandon Royal Princess Duanjia. She could sense that the assassins were only targeting members of the imperial family. However, she couldn’t do that.
Setting aside her burgeoning friendship with Royal Princess Duanjia, even if she really abandoned the princess here, she would definitely be affected no matter the outcome of the events today. The rage of the current emperor and Prince Wei would not be easy to bear. Besides, she and the princess had already had the good fortune to meet. Whether or not that was through cosmic design, their compatible personalities still meant something. Abandoning the princess was not something she could ever do.
Chu Lian was a little frustrated with herself, but she couldn’t suppress her sense of righteousness. She could only get angry at herself. Her face also turned cold due to her inward tussle with her thoughts.
The faster the two girls ran, the more tired they became. The sound of footsteps behind them had grown louder and louder, like a countdown to their deaths. Chu Lian’s heart was beating fast; there were no other entrances in the little courtyard they were in, so they couldn’t escape. She urgently scanned the area for something that could help.
Her gaze paused at two particular areas of the courtyard. Chu Lian could feel her resolve strengthening.
She pulled Royal Princess Duanjia to the side of the well in the courtyard, and with a grave voice, said, “Princess, take off your outer coat!”
Royal Princess Duanjia’s pupils abruptly shrunk as she looked right into Chu Lian’s eyes. She seemed to understand immediately what Chu Lian was trying to do. “Chu Liu! You can’t!”
How could Chu Lian possibly allow the princess to object now? She was already undoing the ties of the princess’s coat. “Princess, trust me. Hurry up, we don’t have any more time left. It’ll all be over if they catch up to us!”
Tears gathered in Royal Princess Duanjia’s eyes. She bit down hard on her lower lip before she stripped off her outer coat without any more hesitation.
Chu Lian threw her own outer layer of clothing to the princess before quickly putting on the outer coat that Princess Duanjia had taken off. Upon hearing the sounds of their pursuers talking, she tensed, and without waiting for Royal Princess Duanjia to put on her coat properly, Chu Lian pushed the princess into the well.
There was the sound of a huge splash! The princess stifled her cry of surprise by covering her mouth tightly. The water surrounding her was slightly cold. Before she could react, Chu Lian threw something into the well and the princess hurriedly dodged.
Chu Lian stood by the well, fretting as she looked down into the dark confines. Royal Princess Duanjia could hear her soft voice calling out a reminder: “Princess, hold on to that piece of wood! Hide in the water!”
In the next second, the mouth of the well was covered, plunging the world within into an unnatural silence.
Royal Princess Duanjia did as Chu Lian had said, hugging tightly onto the round piece of wood as she floated near the surface of the water. Her eyes were already damp from the water in the well, but it felt like something hot was about to gush out of them.
She smacked the surface of the water hard, raging in her heart. “Chu Liu! If you didn’t throw this piece of wood in after, I would have thought you were trying to murder this princess! You idiot! Do you even know how to save someone? Aren’t you lucky that this princess is so brave and knows how to swim? If I were one of those delicate little noble ladies who couldn’t even lift a handkerchief, wouldn’t I have been frightened to death by you before ever getting close to being assassinated?!”