Taking the Princess as My Wife - Chapter 13

Liu Ruheng’s heart hammered against her ribs as multiple sharp arrows tore through the air simultaneously. One of them struck with such precision that it shattered the jasper hairpin atop Jiang Shaojia’s head.

Liu Ruheng shifted her posture, shielding Jiang Shaojia beneath her own body.

Judging by the sounds, the battle outside seemed fierce. Fortunately, the carriage had not been ambushed in a crowded marketplace, so innocent civilians would likely be spared from the crossfire.

Liu Ruheng suddenly asked, “Princess, where are the weapons kept in this carriage?”

Jiang Shaojia was somewhat surprised that Liu Ruheng knew there were weapons inside. She replied, “In the hidden compartment beneath the seat.”

Liu Ruheng raised her head slightly just as another sharp arrow whistled through the air. Had Jiang Shaojia not pulled her back in time, the arrow would have done more than merely graze her cheek.

She uttered a quick word of thanks and, without a moment’s hesitation, moved toward the weapon storage. The weapons Jiang Shaojia kept under the seat were two magnificent short daggers, their sheaths and hilts encrusted with precious gemstones.

Liu Ruheng tossed one dagger to Jiang Shaojia and kept the other for herself. She unsheathed the blade; the cold gleam of the short knife was quickly hidden up her sleeve.

After pulling Jiang Shaojia up with light, cautious movements, the sounds of fighting outside began to dwindle. Liu Ruheng lowered her voice and said, “I do not know which side has prevailed. If someone approaches, stay behind me. I will pin them down while you find an opportunity to escape.”

The scent of blood outside was exceptionally heavy. In her panic, Liu Ruheng even omitted her formal self-references.

Without giving Jiang Shaojia a chance to speak, she moved toward the carriage door, gripping the dagger tightly. Aside from her tension, her only sensation was that the gemstones on the hilt were digging uncomfortably into her palm.

Footsteps approached, mingled with a strange man’s heavy gasping and the thick stench of blood. Liu Ruheng counted silently in her mind—there was only one. The moment the assassin lifted the curtain, she kicked him squarely out of the carriage.

The assassin was fast. Recovering quickly, he tightened his grip on his sword and lunged straight at Liu Ruheng. Amidst the hazy blur of bloodlight, Liu Ruheng blocked the sword with one hand.

Simultaneously, a short dagger whistled through the air. It sheared off a few strands of Liu Ruheng’s hair before burying itself in the assassin’s neck. The red ruby embedded in the dagger’s hilt almost merged with the crimson blood spilling from his throat.

Liu Ruheng released her grip as a stinging pain flared up.

Ignoring the injury, she retrieved the longsword from the assassin’s hand and pulled the short dagger from his neck. Seeing that the assassin had not yet drawn his final breath, she delivered several more stabs to finish him.

Jiang Shaojia, her face grim, snatched the short dagger back from Liu Ruheng’s hand. Without a hint of hesitation for her fine garments, she tore several strips of cloth from the hem of her skirt and wrapped them around Liu Ruheng’s wounded left hand.

The surrounding assassins had vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a mess of corpses. Liu Ruheng stood in a slight daze.

Jiang Shaojia’s aim and strength with the throwing knife just now were impeccable—she didn’t seem like a pampered princess at all.

“Liu Ruheng, you certainly have quite the nerves.”

Once the bandaging was finished, Jiang Shaojia took the longsword from Liu Ruheng. For the first time in a long while, she tucked away her smile.

Her expression was one of suppressed fury. Because her hairpin had been shattered, several locks of raven hair hung loose, a far cry from the crisp and dignified appearance she possessed when they first met.

Liu Ruheng’s palm felt hot and throbbing with pain. She lowered her eyes, looking at the cloth strips on her hand. “The Princess is of a thousand gold worth; you should not have taken such a risk.”

Jiang Shaojia was almost moved to a mocking laugh. She repeated Liu Ruheng’s name once more and said solemnly, “This Palace is not as weak as you think.”

As she spoke, several guards clad in light armor finally arrived. Seeing the carnage on the ground, they looked on in shock and knelt in unison to beg Jiang Shaojia’s forgiveness.

Liu Ruheng stood to the side, her gaze suddenly drifting to the carriage. It was bristling with numerous arrows. The sight made her scalp tingle.

If it weren’t for the hidden mechanisms within the Princess’s carriage, they would have likely become ghosts beneath the arrows long before the sword-wielding assassins ever reached them.

Two days had passed since the assassination attempt. Liu Ruheng sat in her study, staring blankly at a sheet of xuan paper she had scribbled into a mess.

The small alley where they had been ambushed had already been washed clean; not a single trace remained of the tragedy that had unfolded there.

In recent days, the capital had been under martial law, and everyone was on edge. If even the Emperor’s most beloved princess could be assassinated in broad daylight, then the common people were surely in even greater danger.

Because of the injury to her hand, Lu Shaoqing had granted her a month-long leave of absence. Today was only the third day of her recovery, and Liu Ruheng was already feeling restless.

While it was still early, Liu Ruheng decided to head out; perhaps she could seek out Miss Mi Jing.

Last time, if it hadn’t been for Gong Fan’s insolent remarks, Miss Mi Jing might have shared some useful clues then and there.

Just as Liu Ruheng struggled to change into her clothes and was about to head out, she happened to run into her mother, who was bringing her medicine.

Liu Mother’s gaze lingered on Liu Ruheng. She let out a soft sigh and carried the tray into the room. Although she didn’t say a word, Liu Ruheng instinctively followed her inside.

“Sit down. I will change your dressing. Go about your business after the medicine is applied.”

Liu Mother said nothing else. Only after finishing the dressing did she look at Liu Ruheng with heartache, her fingertips gently brushing the scabbed wound on her daughter’s cheek.

“Does it hurt?”

Liu Ruheng shook her head, her eyes curving slightly. “With the ointment provided by the Imperial Physician, it naturally doesn’t hurt.”

Liu Mother stared at Liu Ruheng for a long time before murmuring, “Ruheng, letting you take your brother’s place… was a mistake after all. The Six Arts of the Gentleman, the literature, and the martial training—these are not hardships you were meant to endure.”

Liu Ruheng lowered her eyes and sat back down. She said softly, “Mother, do you remember when I was a child?”

“How could I forget? You’ve had a stubborn streak since you were little. Your elder brother used to say every day that you were too competitive and headstrong, and that no one would be willing to marry you in the future.” Recalling the past, a glimmer of tears flickered in Liu Mother’s eyes, and a wave of nostalgia washed over her.

Liu Ruheng replied, “I began my schooling at the same time as my brother, and I excelled in every way compared to him. But simply because I am a woman, I lost the opportunity to attend school with him after the age of seven.”

“I do not regret dressing as a man. I only lament why the world is so unjust to women—that one must masquerade as a man just to keep what rightfully belongs to us.”

Liu Ruheng looked up, her eyes becoming increasingly determined. “Mother, I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn the Six Arts, to study literature, and to practice martial arts.”

She softened her tone again. “I know you worry for me, but why must women be confined only to the inner quarters? Mother, I truly cannot accept that.”

With those words, Liu Ruheng walked toward the door. Liu Mother watched her back, momentarily lost in thought.

Because the injury was to her hand, Liu Ruheng thought it over and decided to ride her horse slowly. When she arrived at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, she found its doors tightly shut.

After inquiring with nearby vendors, Liu Ruheng learned that she had arrived too early. The ladies of the house were still resting; if she wanted to find someone, she would have to return later in the evening.

Liu Ruheng glanced at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion and sat down alone by the riverbank. The Pavilion bordered the river, and many flower boats were moored nearby. When night fell, the area would become a sea of shimmering lights and bustling activity.

After watching the rippling river for a long time, Liu Ruheng suddenly thought of Jiang Shaojia. On the day of the assassination, she had prepared herself for a life-and-death struggle. An assassination arranged in an alley surrounded by residents would surely prompt someone to report it to the authorities.

She had been eighty percent certain she wouldn’t die.

But what surprised Liu Ruheng was that Jiang Shaojia possessed such skill. A single throwing knife for a lethal blow—after all, throwing knives require not just accuracy, but also power. Without days of practice, it is impossible to reach that level.

Liu Ruheng silently repeated her name. What else was Jiang Shaojia hiding? She had a faint premonition that whatever Jiang Shaojia was concealing was certainly not simple.

“Lord Liu.”

Liu Ruheng turned around. Miss Mi Jing was carrying a bamboo basket, dressed very inconspicuously. Liu Ruheng stood up and bowed to her, saying slowly, “Miss Mi Jing, I have come to find you.”

Mi Jing was startled. She became alert inwardly, but remained calm on the surface. “For what matter does Lord Liu seek this humble woman?”

“It is still regarding the case of Minister Pang. I ask that you tell me everything you know.”

A flash of playfulness crossed Mi Jing’s eyes. She flashed a gentle smile and looked directly at Liu Ruheng. “Lord Liu, if I tell you, what benefit is there for me?”

Liu Ruheng was stunned. She scanned the surroundings and lowered her voice. “I wonder what Miss Mi Jing requires? If it is within my power, I will certainly do it.”

Liu Ruheng was not afraid of her making demands; she was most afraid of someone who wanted nothing. Hearing this, the smile on Mi Jing’s lips deepened. She said without changing her expression, “I want the Crown Prince dead.”

Liu Ruheng’s brow furrowed. She said cautiously, “I must ask Miss Mi Jing to watch her words.”

Mi Jing shook her head and feigned a chuckle. “I was merely joking to tease Lord Liu. I only require a personal favor from you—that you lend me a hand if I encounter trouble in the future. Otherwise, a woman of the demimonde like me can only wait for death when disaster strikes.”

After a long silence, Liu Ruheng said, “Please, tell me.”

Mi Jing understood that the Lord Liu before her had agreed to the condition. She mimicked Liu Ruheng’s posture and sat by the riverbank, telling her story.

Minister Pang and the Crown Prince often held secret meetings at the Manjiang Pavilion. During these meetings, they would usually call for a “qingguan” (a non-prostituting entertainer) to play music as a cover. There was a screen between them, and since Mi Jing was playing music, outsiders could not hear what was being said inside.

However, because Mi Jing was close by, she could occasionally overhear a few words. Before Minister Pang’s death, they had engaged in a fierce argument. The Crown Prince had even smashed the tea set.

“Inside the Left Minister’s manor, there is suspected to be an account book.”

Liu Ruheng’s expression remained unchanged. After seeing Miss Mi Jing off, she slowly headed home. As expected, this matter involved the Left Minister.

Pang Jitong and the Crown Prince had long been in collusion. However, Liu Ruheng could not understand why, as the Crown Prince, he would conspire with a Minister who embezzled disaster relief funds and military pay.

The water that floats a boat can also overturn it. Even setting aside the common people, embezzling military funds while the Xiongnu were invading… none of these were small matters.

The key now was the account book that Mi Jing mentioned was still in the Left Minister’s manor. It likely contained scandalous secrets that the Left Minister had accidentally obtained, which led to his fatal trouble.

That would explain why the Left Minister’s death was being kept a secret.

Liu Ruheng pondered further on how to approach the Left Minister’s manor. The Left Minister was already dead, but the death had not been announced. As a witness who had seen the Left Minister die, Liu Ruheng could not pretend to be a student who had received great kindness from him, nor could she go to offer condolences openly.

Furthermore, the Left Minister had lost his wife in his early years and his son in his middle age; now, only a young granddaughter remained in the world. The route of a female guest visiting was also closed to her.

However, for now, the enemy was in the light while she was in the dark. As long as she acted with caution and did not alert them, there was no rush.

She only needed to inform Jiang Shaojia of this matter.

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