Chapter 278: Volume 1 Chapter 278 Empress x Courtesan (8)

Jiang Zhi, seated at the main seat, did not realize she had been exposed; she glanced over the people beneath the mat without leaving a trace.

In the plot, the original host was not fond of male-female romance; besides leading troops in battle, practicing martial arts and reading military manuals, her only pleasure was tormenting the villains.

Therefore, even though the male lead, Consort Lian Xu Rui, seated among the concubines, exchanged flirtatious glances with others, she had to pretend not to see.

In this world, she cannot alter the protagonists' plot, or the narrative divine pillar will descend punishment.

So she could only, like the original host, pretend not to have seen; after two cups of wine went down, her throat burned, but fortunately this body could hold its liquor—unless she drank one liter, she would hardly get drunk.

The banquet gradually began, seats full, wine fragrance swirling; the dancing girls stepped onto the stage to the music, the lascivious melody lingering in the air. After one official after another and foreign envoys presented tribute, her expression remained pale, her focus entirely on the protagonists.

The female lead, Leng Qianhan, a special agent who transmigrated, just like in many gratifying novels, found herself in the body of the most inconspicuous concubine daughter at the General's Mansion; her talent was dull, everyone looked down on her, even her mother, General Leng, regarded her as a disgrace and abandoned her in a deserted courtyard to fend for herself.

After more than half of the plot had passed, Leng Qianhan leapt to promotion, becoming the youngest and most vigorous junior general at the General's Mansion.

She was ambitious, wanting far more than this; since it was the matriarchal capital, she aspired to sit upon the Empress's throne, above ten thousand people.

She drank two cups of wine, rose, and left her seat.

Not long after, Consort Lian also withdrew to the palace on the pretext of feeling unwell.

Jiang Zhi was not in a hurry; she slowly swirled the translucent glass cup in her hand, the dark liquor swaying inside, staining her fair fingertips.

Soon after, she found an excuse to leave her seat.

She could not stay away for long, as the host of this banquet; if she left and did not return, Yan Yao would likely nag her for a month.

…

Wen Ci, having just awakened, remembered his unfinished tasks, donned thin plain clothing, lifted a lantern, and came to Yuhua Yuan.

At night, Yuhua Yuan was bathed in faint moonlight; a round bright moon hung in the firmament, layered black clouds could not conceal its brilliance.

The clear insect chirping mingled with the distant, leisurely music from the banquet before the main hall, tranquil and beautiful.

Wen Ci loved such a night; he gripped an iron shovel, walked into the flower bed, and bent over to earnestly pull weeds.

After an unknown amount of time, a faint rustling sound came from the nearby steep artificial hill.

Wen Ci thought it was a palace servant passing by, and lifted his gaze to look.

Under the hazy moonlight, he saw two people hurrying out from the depths of the artificial hill.

Wen Ci recalled a palace servant who had specifically warned him yesterday that the artificial hill was easy to get lost in, urging him to stay far away.

He quickly set down the shovel and hurried over, intending to tell those two people.

Just as he approached, he heard a low panting sound.

「This place… cannot… Qianyan… uh…」

A woman in light white brocade pressed the person in a long skirt against the artificial hill, eagerly kissing them; the kiss was fierce, and Leng Qianhan increased her grip, tearing open the elaborate skirt in one motion.

「Hiss—」

The clothing tore apart, revealing the man's pale white skin.

「Did she touch you? 」 Leng Qianhan kissed him repeatedly, her fingers slipping deep into his collar, feeling the trembling shudder of the man in her arms.

Xu Rui's face flushed crimson; he shook his head slightly in her embrace.

As Leng Qianhan leaned in to go deeper, her sharp ears caught a faint rustle.

She immediately stopped her action and coldly said, 「Who? 」

Wen Ci, standing outside the artificial hill, kindly warned: 「This place is easy to get lost in; do not venture in. 」

Hearing the familiar voice, Consort Lian Xu Rui reacted first, her weak voice trembling anxiously: 「He… he is the young valet brought by Your Majesty from Song Bamboo Pavilion; if he finds out, we… we…」

As she spoke, her voice grew softer, his legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.

Leng Qianhan steadied his body, a flicker of killing intent flashing in her eyes, and said expressionlessly: 「I will take care of it; you stay here for now and look for a chance to leave. 」

Xu Rui guessed what she intended to do, his heart jolted; he dared not speak further and nodded vigorously in agreement.

After Leng Qianhan stepped out of the artificial hill, facing the moonlight she saw a youth standing not far away.

The youth had dark black hair tied behind him, a handsome face like a celestial maiden, innocent and naive, unaware of worldly affairs, his pitch-black eyes devoid of any malice.

「Who are you? 」 Leng Qianhan straightened her collar and asked.

Wen Ci curved his eyes and softly said: 「I am Wen Huan; you may call me Huan. 」

Leng Qianhan drew a sharp blade, gradually approaching him with a gentle expression: 「Is that so? Why didn't you attend Your Majesty's birthday banquet? 」

Although Wen Ci was simple, due to his second personality he was especially sensitive to malice and killing intent; the closer the woman came, the stronger the aura of hostility she emitted, giving him a urge to retreat; he stepped back a few steps, his brows slightly furrowed:

「What do you intend to do? 」

Leng Qianhan smiled: 「Don't blame me; you just happened to run into me. 」

Her affair with Xu Rui must not be discovered by anyone; since he had witnessed it, the only option was death.

Hearing the sound, Wen Ci strode forward, sprinting desperately.

Leng Qianhan did not fear his escape; she drew two throwing knives, aimed at his direction, and swiftly threw them.

Her throwing knife technique was unstoppable; no one could dodge it unless their martial arts far surpassed hers.

Indeed, the fleeing Wen Ci was struck in the back by two knives; his steps staggered briefly, then, enduring the pain, he continued to run.

Seeing this, Leng Qianhan followed at an unhurried pace.

No matter how formidable the prey, after being stabbed it will run for a while, but eventually collapse from excessive blood loss.

She enjoyed the sensation of hunting prey.

Wen Ci did not know how long he had run; his vision gradually blurred, and upon seeing the nearby enclosed beast garden, he stumbled toward it, fell inside, slowly crawled up, and struggled to go deeper.

Upon seeing the beast garden's sign, Leng Qianhan curled her lips in a smile; truly, heaven was aiding her as well.

Within the imperial palace, only this beast garden is unattended, with few people around; disposing of corpses would also be very convenient for her.

Just as she crossed the fence, about to deliver a fatal blow to the youth, a dog's bark echoed across the horizon.

She raised her forehead and saw, standing beside the youth, a strong-built gray wolf, its pair of blood-red beast eyes fixed on her direction, as if it would pounce and tear her apart should she take a single step forward.

Leng Qianyan, seeing the situation, stopped her action.

The blood on the boy's body will attract more and more wild beasts; there's no need for her to act, so there's no need to entangle with this gray wolf now.

She withdrew her gaze and left using lightness skill.

The gray wolf smelled that person's breath disappear, then lowered its head to look at the human lying on the ground, barely alive.

His breath is weak, and his life is gradually fading.

He is about to die.

As Leng Qianyan had expected, more and more wild beasts smelled the blood and rushed over, wanting to tear the boy apart.