The four masked men stepped forward, and one of them raised his staff.
With a single wave, the space around them was instantly confined.
Qin Yu was shocked, “Instant Spellcasting! He skipped the incantation—this kind of skill only an Eighth Rank mage can pull off.”
Luo Shangyu used magic to subtly probe the surrounding confinement.
The sealing magic was of an extremely high level, at the peak of S-rank.
There was no way she could break it in a short time.
She whispered, “Qin Yu, they’re extremely powerful. Defeating them is impossible. We can only do our best to delay them. I’ll try to break the confinement later; you use Magic of Atmosphere to escape.”
“What about you?”
“It’s my duty to protect you. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Qin Yu froze for a moment upon hearing this.
Looking at the figure slightly taller than herself standing before her, her golden hair flowing without wind, she seemed so upright and unshakable.
Qin Yu opened her mouth as if wanting to say something but finally just nodded, “Alright!”
The four stepped forward in unison, raising their staffs.
Overflowing Elemental Power surged from their raised weapons.
Luo Shangyu lifted her staff, spearpoint facing the enemy, beginning to condense light elements.
Qin Yu hid behind Luo Shangyu, ready to act at any moment.
The two sides were on the brink of battle.
Just as the tension reached its peak, the short-haired man from the other side stepped forward, patting the masked men beside him, signaling them to cease fire.
This man shouted toward Luo Shangyu and Qin Yu, “His Highness the Crown Princess has honored us with her presence. I, your humble servant, apologize for any shortcomings in the reception. Please forgive me!”
Qin Yu peeked out from behind Luo Shangyu, showing only her eyes as she looked at the man before them.
That short-haired man—wasn’t he her uncle, Qin Yi, the Duke of Changning?
Steeling herself, Qin Yu stepped forward and said, “Thank you, Uncle, for coming to greet me!”
Her words were filled with gratitude, but inwardly she scoffed: your idea of a ‘reception’ is quite something. And with their strength, how could she dare complain?
Qin Yi laughed heartily, “Thank you, Crown Princess, for not holding it against your humble servant! Since His Highness has come all the way here, I have prepared a banquet. Please honor us with your presence.”
“Well then, thank you, Uncle.” Caught between a rock and a hard place, Qin Yu dared not refuse.
“Your Highness, the carriage is this way. Please follow me.”
Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu walked ahead, while Qin Yi and the four masked men followed behind, heading toward the carriage he had prepared.
The group remained silent, only the rustling sound of footsteps could be heard.
Qin Yu stared at the Duke of Changning’s smiling face with growing fear.
She recalled the look in his eyes during the last assessment: vicious, fierce, brutal—the ambition in his heart laid bare for all to see.
Sensing the strange atmosphere, Qin Yu reached out to grasp Luo Shangyu’s hand tentatively.
Luo Shangyu glanced back at her, then gently held Qin Yu’s hand and said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here with you.”
Hearing this, Qin Yu felt warmth bloom in her chest and a sense of reassurance settle over her.
But…
“Luo Shangyu, your hand’s a little cold.”
Luo Shangyu’s cheeks flushed slightly, “I’m scared.”
“You, a thousand-year-old ancient being, scared in a situation like this?”
“Well… they’re very strong. Each of the four is at least Eighth Rank, and I sensed one might be Ninth Rank.”
A chill ran down Qin Yu’s spine.
Surely the Emperor’s personal guards didn’t have four Eighth Rank mages!
Just how much had Qin Yi hidden?
How terrifying was his true strength?
The two climbed into the carriage, which sped toward the Duke of Changning’s Residence.
“What should we do?” Luo Shangyu admitted she had no more ideas.
“The chance of them not making a move is slim. But to avoid suspicion from outsiders, they probably won’t strike during the banquet or on the road. Most likely, they’ll act after the feast,” Qin Yu forced herself to remain calm and analyze the situation.
“He’ll definitely want us to stay overnight, then take the chance to strike!”
“Looks like we’ll have to adapt as things unfold.”
The carriage descended the mountain as the sun was setting.
The blood-red sunset cast its glow on the clouds, painting the sky with vibrant colors: orange, pink, red, then deep indigo.
Qin Yu watched the fleeting evening clouds through the window, silently praying this would not be the last sunset of her life.
They had entered the city.
“By the way, were you really ready to fight them back there?” Qin Yu recalled the earlier standoff.
“Yeah.” Luo Shangyu nodded slightly.
“Why? For the Palace Commander’s meager salary? It’s not worth trading your long life for.”
“No, because… we’re friends.” Luo Shangyu’s face flushed bright red.
“Friends?”
“Yeah. You… let me call you by your name, you’re willing to listen to me… tell my story, and even help me move. I’ve already… taken you as… my friend.” Luo Shangyu buried her head in her hands, shy and almost choked up.
Qin Yu wrapped an arm around Luo Shangyu.
She couldn’t believe she had truly found a friend, and one with such equal footing.
Looking at Luo Shangyu’s flushed face, Qin Yu teased, “Even an old soul can blush?”
Luo Shangyu scowled playfully, “If you say that again, no more talking!”
Their cheerful conversation drifted on the breeze, spreading into every corner of the city.
Before the sun had completely set, Qin Yu and her party arrived at the Duke of Changning’s Residence.
The manor was brightly lit.
Stepping inside, Qin Yu felt as though she had entered a prison.
There was no other way—Luo Shangyu’s home lay within the Duke of Changning’s territory, and Qin Yu had foolishly come without any guards.
She had no choice but to accept her fate.
Once everyone was assembled, the banquet officially began.
Luo Shangyu watched her surroundings vigilantly while Qin Yu relaxed, eating and drinking freely.
Having eaten little at noon and shaken by the earlier scare, how could she not enjoy the food?
Meanwhile, Luo Shangyu continued carefully observing the four men.
After several rounds of wine and a variety of dishes, Qin Yi suddenly stood and raised his glass.
Luo Shangyu immediately went into a defensive stance thinking, ‘Is this a signal for attack?’
But Qin Yi merely lifted his glass toward Qin Yu in a toast.
Qin Yu was only fourteen and not allowed to drink alcohol, so she politely declined.
Seeing the peaceful atmosphere around her, Luo Shangyu felt a bit foolish for her earlier caution.
After the meal, Qin Yu prepared to return to the palace, but Qin Yi said, “It’s late, Crown Princess. The journey back to the palace is long and arduous. You would arrive very late. Please stay at my humble residence for the night.”
Qin Yu’s heart skipped a beat.
Was this the prelude to an attack?
She replied, “Thank you for your hospitality, Uncle. Please prepare a room for us.”
Why stay in the same room?
Because Luo Shangyu would protect her—safe and secure.
It wasn’t because she wanted to sleep with Luo Shangyu!
***
Inside a secret chamber of the Duke of Changning’s Residence.
“Sir, will we act tonight?” one masked man asked.
“Yes. All must be killed without exception. If the Crown Princess dies, the Emperor will have no direct heir, and according to the elder-brother-younger-brother succession, it will be my turn. I will create the illusion that the residence was attacked. You take advantage of the chaos to kill the Crown Princess. Also, the guards close to her cannot be spared. After this, wealth and status will be yours.”
“Yes!”
***
Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu entered the room prepared for them.
Luo Shangyu took out her staff and carefully inspected the surroundings.
There was no trace of a Magic Conduit Array.
‘Looks like they’re planning a direct attack,’ she thought.
While Luo Shangyu carefully examined the room’s magical traces, Qin Yu had already climbed onto the bed and called out, “Luo Shangyu, come lie down.”
“Huh? Aren’t you scared?” Luo Shangyu was curious.
The little princess, who had been nervous earlier, now seemed confident.
“I have this!” Qin Yu pulled out a jade cong engraved with a complex magic conduit array.
Inside, it pulsed with spatial Elemental Power.
“This is the ‘key’—it can lead us to instantly teleport away. I just remembered I still have this treasure.”
Luo Shangyu took the jade cong and examined it carefully.
The magic conduit array was especially advanced, equivalent to the peak of S-rank.
With the abundant internal magic, even an Eighth Rank expert’s teleportation wouldn’t surpass it.
Seeing the “key,” Luo Shangyu finally relaxed and laid down beside Qin Yu.
After she slipped under the covers, Qin Yu instructed the servants to extinguish the lights.
Luo Shangyu lay awake, a mix of tension and worry keeping her from sleep.
Beside her, Qin Yu’s breathing gradually slowed and deepened as she fell asleep.
Luo Shangyu turned to look at Qin Yu’s peaceful face.
Her white hair was striking in the moonlight, long lashes twitching slightly, her loose nightgown revealing pale skin and a low neckline that outlined her collarbone.
“So calm,” Luo Shangyu murmured.
“Luo Shangyu…”
A voice called in the dark.
Luo Shangyu turned to see fear on Qin Yu’s beautiful face.
“Luo Shangyu…” Qin Yu whispered again.
“Looks like Qin Yu is having a nightmare.” Luo Shangyu thought as she pulled Qin Yu into an embrace.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here with you.”
“Mm…” Qin Yu’s face gradually relaxed.
Outside the window, the night was dark and windy.
Sleepiness crept over Luo Shangyu, and her eyelids grew heavy until she finally closed them.