Chapter 217: Re-exploring the Secret Passage

Yan'er's little heart was pounding like a drum, "thump-thump" ringing out, her mind filled with nothing but fear and unease.

If this matter were exposed, she and Jun Yiyi would both be doomed, with no chance of ever turning things around.

Yet at this moment, she was like a little mouse trapped in a dead-end alley, with no way to turn back.

She could only pray silently in her heart that Jun Yiyi and that man could successfully finish their business.

I do not know how much time passed, but everything ended. Jun Yiyi lay on the bed, her heart filled with a measure of fear and unease.

But soon, the feeling of unease was replaced by secret joy.

If she conceived a child tonight, she could say it was conceived on her wedding night; this child would only be about ten days late.

That would be no issue at all, and everything would fall into place naturally.

Feiyan's efficiency was truly not just ordinarily swift; in just a few days, she had dug up most of the background of that masked man.

That person was indeed the foster son of Grand Chancellor Gao, Gao Yuan!

Ten years ago, Grand Chancellor Gao's horse was startled, and it was Gao Yuan, from among a group of beggars, who risked his life to rush out and save him; afterward, Gao Yuan was taken in by the Grand Chancellor as a foster son.

Yet Feiyan discovered that Gao Yuan had another identity.

He was actually the Second Imperial Prince of the Northern Kingdom, a man who rarely showed his face, named Tuoba Ying.

If Feiyan hadn't happened to hear someone respectfully call him "Your Highness" while tailing him,

and followed the clues, he likely wouldn't have found any leads by now.

Now that it was known Gao Yuan was actually the Second Imperial Prince of the Northern Kingdom, no one would believe he had been lurking in Tianqi all these years without some ulterior motive.

That Tuoba Ying was colluding with Quan Yiyi was no coincidence.

Looking at it now, I fear even Grand Chancellor Gao had been kept in the dark.

"But in that case, things have become complicated."

Jun Zijin said to Quan Aoyu.

"No matter. Since a Northern Kingdom prince is secretly lurking in my Tianqi, we can just finish him off."

Quan Aoyu made a throat-slitting gesture and continued:

"The Northern Kingdom is already at the end of its rope. If they honestly act according to the treaty, I might consider letting him live a few more days. If he doesn't know what's good for him, then don't blame me for taking him out early. As for my third brother... I will hand the evidence of his crimes to the Emperor to deal with."

Quan Aoyu's eyes darkened slightly, and the corners of his mouth curled into a meaningful smile.

"Dandan, the Northern Kingdom is one of the dowries I have prepared for you; for now, it is just temporarily deposited in the hands of Tuoba Hong."

Quan Aoyu's words warmed Jun Zijin's heart, yet she couldn't help but chide him:

"That is a whole country, yet you speak of it as if you're giving away a piece of candy! But this Tuoba Ying, or rather Gao Yuan, cannot be killed yet."

Quan Aoyu frowned slightly, his fingers tapping the tabletop lightly, and after a moment of thought, he said:

"You are right. How the Northern Kingdom's forces entered my Tianqi without a sound—if we don't figure that out, there will be endless trouble."

Just as they were speaking, Feiyan sent word that Prince Yi and Tuoba Ying had entered that empty residence in the south of the city together and had not come out since.

Jun Zijin raised an eyebrow and said to Quan Aoyu:

"Woodhead, that residence is likely the key. Let's go and see what's going on. Now that we have this Phoenix Ring, it is much more convenient to act."

The two rode fast to the south of the city. The empty residence appeared exceptionally eerie in the twilight, its ruined walls casting long shadows in the afterglow of the setting sun.

They stepped inside cautiously; the stone path under their feet was covered in moss, and every step was accompanied by a faint "creak."

Quan Aoyu reached out and gently pushed open a rickety door; the "creak" sound pierced the silence, kicking up a cloud of dust.

They searched everywhere in the residence, not letting a single corner go.

Jun Zijin squatted down to carefully examine some suspicious marks on the ground, and finally, she discovered some faint footprints that seemed to extend toward the corner of the wall.

The two followed the footprints to the corner. Quan Aoyu pushed hard on a seemingly ordinary wall brick, and the brick moved slowly, revealing a pitch-black hole—the entrance to a secret passage.

Quan Aoyu took out a night-luminescent pearl the size of an infant's fist, and in an instant, the secret passage was illuminated.

The two walked steadily along the passage. The passage was extremely long, winding and twisting, becoming more damp and cold the further they went.

They took many turns and walked for about half an hour.

The passage was filled with heavy moisture, and water droplets constantly fell from the walls, making a crisp "drip-drop" sound.

Jun Zijin gripped the dagger in her hand tightly. Quan Aoyu walked by her side, and the two held their breath, moving while pressed against the damp walls.

After walking for about an hour, a corner appeared ahead. Jun Zijin walked a few steps faster to the corner, her gaze suddenly drawn to a totem on the wall.

The totem was carved with extreme precision, its lines fluid, faintly exuding a mysterious aura.

"I have seen this totem before."

A look of surprise appeared on Jun Zijin's face, and she whispered:

"The time we rescued the Empress, there was a totem like this in the secret passage too."

Recalling the experience from last time, Jun Zijin still felt a lingering fear.

Quan Aoyu gently held Jun Zijin's hand, the warmth of his palm conveying silent comfort.

"Since that is the case, we must be even more careful. We don't know what else is waiting for us ahead."

Jun Zijin returned a calm smile to him:

"Now that we have the Phoenix Ring space, hold me tight; we can enter the space at any time. It won't be that easy for others to discover us."

Quan Aoyu nodded, and the two adjusted their breathing and continued to walk deep into the secret passage.

The light of the night-luminescent pearl swayed before them, stretching their figures long and casting them onto the moss-covered walls.

As they walked, the faint sound of trickling water could be heard.

Jun Zijin paused her steps and listened intently.

"Could it be that there is a river down here?"

Quan Aoyu frowned slightly, a flash of thought in his eyes.

The two walked along the passage for about another cup of tea's time when Quan Aoyu suddenly stopped and lowered his voice:

"Wait. There is something on this."

He leaned in to look closely. By the light of the night-luminescent pearl, they discovered some strange symbols carved into the cave wall.

Those symbols looked like some kind of ancient script, or perhaps markings on a map.

Jun Zijin steadied herself and carefully examined the surroundings by the light of the pearl.

The stone wall was covered in fine, dense patterns. She reached out to touch them, and her fingertips felt the uneven texture.

"This is..."

Just as Jun Zijin was about to look closer, footsteps suddenly came from the distance.

The two quickly hid behind a recessed rock wall.

With a thought, Jun Zijin put the night-luminescent pearl into the space.

"Don't make a sound."

Quan Aoyu whispered.

The footsteps grew closer, and the light of torches flickered at the entrance of the passage.

Jun Zijin held her breath, feeling Quan Aoyu's hand gripping hers tightly, the warm sensation from his palm reaching her.

Several men in black passed by them holding torches; in the torchlight, both of them clearly saw the tokens tucked at the men's waists!