noffsinger Chapter 2315 Falling into the Trap
Chapter 2315 Falling into the Trap
The myna bird landed on Yan Ruyu's shoulder, keeping its voice down.
"Walk and walk."
Yan Ruyu sent Linlang outside the woods to keep watch. Then she put the horse and other things into her spatial storage, and took out a rope grappling hook and three masks.
"go!"
Under the cover of night, the three of them headed towards Chongzhou City.
The myna bird led the way, guiding them to a less guarded area. Then it flew over the city wall to deliver a message to the silver ingots on the other side.
Huo Changhe threw the grappling hook onto the city wall, where Yin Ding caught it, and the three of them successfully flipped over.
“Your Highness, Your Highness, we’ve settled in an inn,” Yin Ding said in a low voice. “This subordinate will lead the way.”
Yan Ruyu waved her hand and said, "No need."
She looked at Huo Changhe and said, "Your Highness, first contact the secret guards left in Chongzhou and find Mingzhao."
Huo Changhe nodded: "Okay."
Within half an hour, a bodyguard came to see Huo Changhe.
Why are you the only one here?
The guard greeted him and said, "Your Highness, Princess Mingzhao has a plan tonight. She has taken the two of them and Mu Chen with her. I will stay behind to keep watch."
Yan Ruyu asked, "What operation?"
"Your Highness, Princess Mingzhao has discovered that the shop assistants and doctors at the He family's pharmacy are dishonest."
The bodyguard recounted the events of the past two days in detail.
Yan Ruyu frowned slightly: "Something's not right."
What a coincidence!
Where are they?
"At Shi Mao's home."
"lead the way!"
Inside the small Buddhist hall.
Mu Chen's slap landed on Shi Mao's face, the crisp sound echoing in the Buddhist hall. After several slaps, the pain finally dispelled Shi Mao's dazed state.
Half of his face was throbbing and numb from the slaps, his ears were ringing, and his eyelids felt as heavy as if they were glued on. It took a lot of effort to open them a crack, and his vision was blurry. The first thing he saw was a blood-covered figure on the blue brick ground.
It's Wang Liu.
The strong smell of blood mixed with the smell of smoke wafted over, and his body, which had just woken up, instantly went limp, his head tilted to the side, and he was about to faint again.
Upon seeing this, the "ghost messenger" on the left pulled over the iron chain and wrapped it around his neck.
The icy touch seeped into Shi Mao's bones through his neck, making him feel as if he had been doused with ice water.
He suddenly shuddered, his muddled mind instantly clearing up, and the drowsiness vanished completely.
"Tell me, what have you done?" The guard disguised as a ghost officer gripped one end of the chain, tightening his grip so that the cold iron ring pressed even closer to Shi Mao's neck.
He glanced at Wang Liu: "Otherwise, you'll end up like him."
The coldness of the chains made it hard for Shi Mao to breathe. He looked at the glaring red on Wang Liu's body, and then at the cold, dark eyes of the guard hidden behind the candlelight and mask. His soul felt like it was about to fly out of his head.
He dared not hide anything any longer, stammering, his tongue twisting, "I'll tell you, I'll confess everything... I'll confess everything..."
"Tell the truth!"
The ghost messenger's chains loosened slightly, and Shi Mao breathed a sigh of relief.
"I am a doctor at the He family's pharmacy. My job is to treat and maintain the pregnancy of pregnant women."
“Taking advantage of this, I…”
Shi Mao hesitated, and the ghost guard tightened the chains again: "Speak quickly!"
"Speak, I'll speak."
Shi Mao was so scared he almost cried: "Actually, I was in their pregnancy-preserving medicine..."
Before he could finish speaking, the courtyard outside the Buddhist hall suddenly lit up.
A blinding flash of light pierced the night, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps and shouts.
As the impact drew closer, it caused the wooden door of the Buddhist hall to tremble slightly.
Princess Mingzhao, who had been standing in the shadows of the Buddhist hall with her gaze on Shi Mao, moved slightly upon hearing the sound, leaned against the carved wooden pillar, and lifted a corner of the curtain to look outside.
Mu Chen immediately stepped forward, stood beside her, gripped the hilt of the knife firmly, and glanced warily toward the door.
Hearing the commotion outside, Shi Mao stopped talking, his face full of astonishment.
The two guards also turned to look outside instantly, their hands pausing for a moment.
The firelight in the courtyard grew brighter and brighter, and a familiar voice pierced through the night, entering the Buddhist hall.
"Shi Mao, are you out of your mind? Stop talking nonsense!"
It's Master He's voice!
Shi Mao grasped at a straw as if it were a lifeline, instantly forgetting the iron chain around his neck and the "ghost messenger" in front of him.
He yelled at the top of his lungs, "Second Master! Save me! Second Master, please save me! There are ghost messengers here trying to capture me!"
His voice was trembling and filled with sobs.
Upon hearing this, Master He in the courtyard sneered, his voice rising several decibels, each word clear: "What ghost messengers? They're all villains in disguise, deliberately trying to scare you!"
Look carefully and don't let these people manipulate you into spouting nonsense and ruining your reputation!
Master He's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Shi Mao's head. He was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously looked up and, by the light of the torches coming in from the courtyard, looked at the face of the "ghost messenger" in front of him.
This time, with his vision clear, he could see that the so-called blue-faced fanged creature was nothing more than a mask covering its face.
The mask still had thin gaps along its edges, revealing the skin underneath; it was hardly the ghost messenger from the underworld.
He suddenly turned his head and looked at the jade Buddha in the center of the Buddhist hall.
The candlelight still flickered, and the jade Buddha's eyes were lowered, its kind and gentle features clearly reflected in the firelight.
Where is even a trace of the rage and ferocity from before?
That terrifying appearance just now seemed as if it had never happened.
Shi Mao's heart was pounding. He sniffed hard and, in addition to the sandalwood, blood, and smoke, he caught a faint, almost imperceptible scent of herbs.
The scent was faint, yet it instantly reminded him that it was a herb that could induce hallucinations. When ground into powder and mixed with incense, prolonged exposure would cause one to see their deepest fears.
He suddenly regained consciousness, and the iron chain around his neck no longer seemed so cold. He raised his hand, pried off the chain, took two steps back, and leaned against the altar.
He looked at the group of people in front of him, the fear in his eyes gradually fading, and questioned, "Who exactly are you people? What are you up to by playing tricks?"
Upon hearing this, the two bodyguards disguised as ghosts exchanged a glance, a hint of surprise flashing in their eyes.
They didn't expect to be exposed so quickly.
Princess Mingzhao, seeing that her scheme had been exposed, stopped hiding in the shadows and stepped out from behind the wooden pillar.
She looked out at the brightly lit courtyard, a cold smile curving her lips: "They came so fast, it's as if they knew we'd be here."
The two guards removed their masks, and one of them said in a deep voice, "There's no time to lose. We shouldn't stay here any longer. You come with us first, and we'll cover your retreat."
Even if Master He brings men, with our skills, protecting you and rushing out shouldn't be difficult."
Before Princess Mingzhao could answer, Second Master He in the courtyard spoke up again.
His voice was chillingly resolute, like a poisoned knife piercing the Buddhist hall: "Today, none of you will leave here; you will all die here!"
"Men, fire the arrows!"