More flustered than Ye Jiao was her maid, Shui Wen."You can't go out, Miss! The porters will recognize you!""But you must also make it clear that you're not the one inside the carriage!"
She could neither step out nor allow Fu Mingzhu to ruin her reputation.Ye Jiao crouched inside the carriage, her gaze darting about until it landed on a bow. Her grandfather had once been a decorated war hero, ennobled as a Duke. While Ye Jiao's martial skills were modest, her archery was exceptional.
Grasping the bow, she lifted the curtain slightly and peered out.The Imperial Avenue was broad. She was at least twenty zhang away from Fu Mingzhu, with noisy commoners, curious court officials, and a few patrolling imperial guards between them.No one noticed her—every eye was fixed on Fu Mingzhu.
Only three arrows lay within the carriage. She notched them all at once.Straightening her back, she drew the bowstring with her right arm and took aim.
She had to be swift—so swift she wouldn't be noticed.She had to be precise—so precise no innocent would be harmed.She had to be ruthless—ruthless enough to terrify her target.
Swish!Three arrows flew at once—One sliced through the gap between two bystanders,Another brushed past the waist of a child perched on his father's shoulders,The last grazed Fu Mingzhu's earlobe.
Fu Mingzhu cried out, clutching his wounded ear, as three loud crashes erupted behind him—Bang! Bang! Bang!One arrow tore through the carriage curtain,One splintered a panel,And the final arrow embedded itself into the carriage wall, a mere foot from the door.
The moment the arrows struck, a shrill scream rang out from inside the carriage.A woman stumbled out in panic, wrapped haphazardly in a veil nearly two zhang long, barely managing to keep her skin covered.Pale-faced and trembling, she clutched Fu Mingzhu's sleeve."Who—who tried to kill me?"
No one had.She believed it to be a chaotic ambush, but in truth, only three arrows had flown—all meant to force her out.
"Qin Baiwei?"The voice was both shocked and enraged, rising from behind the Prime Minister. It was Qin Luohui, Assistant Minister of Personnel, who until moments ago had been among the amused onlookers.The woman fleeing the carriage was his daughter.
Striding forward, Qin Luohui delivered a resounding slap to her face.She collapsed to her knees, quaking as she covered her cheek.
Qin Luohui turned to leave, took two steps, then returned.Tearing off a cloak from his attendant, he tossed it over her head."Go!"
His face flushed crimson with shame and fury, he dragged her away, leaving behind a bewildered Fu Mingzhu and a Prime Minister on the verge of collapse.
"So it wasn't Miss Ye after all!""That one—judging by his robes, he's a fifth-rank official. The Ye family has no such connections."
The crowd buzzed with gossip, their eyes mocking as they glanced at the Prime Minister.
"You—"The imperial guards had forced their way through.The Prime Minister seized a blade and charged at his son.
"Prime Minister Fu," the guards hastily blocked him, reminding him,"You are on the Imperial Avenue, My Lord."
Beneath the Emperor's watchful gaze and the eyes of court censors, how could he invoke clan punishment?
Snapping out of it, the Prime Minister reined in his wrath, ordered his attendants to compensate the porters with silver, then addressed the guards in a low voice.
"Please investigate—who dared to loose arrows on the Imperial Avenue?"
Shooting arrows here could result in anything from a flogging to charges of treason.
His gaze swept the scene before settling on Fu Mingzhu. His face had regained calm, leaving only a sharp decisiveness.
"Kneel at home until summoned."
Fu Mingzhu meekly obeyed, his face like a funeral, and left.The commoners, satisfied with their compensation, began to disperse.Ye Jiao also prepared to leave, keeping her face hidden, she instructed Shui Wen to take the reins.
Shui Wen poked her head out, then quickly turned back with a grimace."Miss, the imperial guards are coming."
A dark-skinned guard stepped up to the carriage."Who's inside? Are there any weapons present?"
Ye Jiao saw his black helmet and armor and knew he was one of the Left and Right Guard Corps.Without a flicker of emotion, she hid the bow behind her and answered from within.
"Are you with the Left Guard? I've come to see Commander Yan. Might I inquire if he's available?"
Hearing she was looking for their own commander, the guard's expression softened.
"I'm afraid not," he replied, shaking his head. "The commander's still on duty. Please return at dusk."
Ye Jiao thanked him with a smile and signaled Shui Wen to drive on.
Just as the guards stepped aside, one of them suddenly remembered something."Wait," he said, halting them again."Please step out of the carriage, Miss. I must take a look inside for the record."
His tone was polite but left no room for argument.
There was no dodging it now.Ye Jiao's heart pounded wildly.She carefully pushed the bow beneath her skirt, preparing to claim a leg injury and invite the guard inside.
If he insisted, she would have no choice but to flee.
Just then, a voice rang out from outside."Your shift today, eh?"
It was clear and youthful.
"Ninth…"The guard turned, adjusted his helmet higher, took a few steps to speak with the newcomer—and laughed as he walked away.
Ye Jiao pressed a hand to her chest, relieved beyond words.She urged Shui Wen to move quickly—but a face appeared outside the curtain.
It was the man who had just spoken to the guard.Pale—unnaturally so, as if untouched by sunlight—yet clad entirely in black, which made his face seem even whiter.Delicate—his features striking and refined, hair like polished obsidian, skin like porcelain.But there was a frailty to him, one that seemed deliberate, concealing an innate grace and commanding presence.
Just one glance, and Ye Jiao knew—this man was not to be trifled with.
"Please step aside," she said cordially.
The man remained unmoved.With a cool expression, he said,"Miss, perhaps a hush fee is in order?"
"A hush fee?" Ye Jiao's fists clenched. "Are you robbing people in broad daylight?"
He smiled faintly."I admired your decisiveness just now, Miss. But what if the guards learned it was you who shot those arrows…?"He glanced at the soldiers questioning pedestrians, as though ready to report her at any moment.
Ye Jiao nearly punched him.She restrained herself and growled,"How much?"
"One hundred taels."
"Who carries that much silver around?" she snapped, then paused—Hadn't Fu Mingzhu said the same thing when asked to pay for the porters?
"If not silver, gold will do."His eyes flicked to the jeweled blossoms in her hair.
She wore a flying fairy bun, unadorned by hairpins, only two golden pearl flowers at the base.
Hesitating, she saw the guards approaching again.Gritting her teeth, she yanked off a blossom.But to hand it over as-is would be too generous.
Each golden petal cradled five pearls.She quickly plucked off the pearls, crushed the gold into an unrecognizable lump, and only then extended it.
As he reached for it, she snatched it back and spat on it—twice—before holding it out with defiance.
Shui Wen stared in disbelief.The man, however, remained unbothered.
"Thank you, Miss."He examined the mangled gold flower and seemed genuinely pleased.
"And may I ask your name…"
"Out of my way!" Ye Jiao snapped."I'll remember you! Don't let me catch you again!"
The carriage pulled away from the Imperial Avenue.Through the window, Ye Jiao glimpsed the man standing still, a chill radiating from his figure.
"What sort of person is that?"Ye Jiao trembled with rage."If I ever see him again, I'll beat him senseless!"
After circling through a few streets, the carriage finally returned to the Duke An's estate.Her grandfather had earned the title through merit…