Chapter 7

Ning Chen raised his head in surprise. Yesterday, he had spent half the night trying to change Mu Chengxue's mind, but today, a single meal had won her over?

Could it really be that when you eat someone's food, you become indebted to them?

"Whatever."

Ning Chen put another piece of meat in his mouth and said indifferently. Yesterday, it was just a joke with Mu Chengxue. Although he envied those who could fly around, it was important to know one's limits. Since Mu Chengxue had said he wasn't cut out for it, it meant his talent was really not that great.

"I can teach you a special cultivation method," Mu Chengxue said.

"Is it powerful?" Hearing the word "special," Ning Chen became interested again and asked.

"How so?" Mu Chengxue asked.

"Can I beat you after learning it?" Ning Chen asked with anticipation.

Mu Chengxue shook her head.

"What about Qingning?" Ning Chen lowered his standards.

Mu Chengxue shook her head again.

"What about the head of the imperial guards who came to arrest people?" Ning Chen's anticipation was almost gone.

Mu Chengxue still shook her head.

"Then why should I learn it?" Ning Chen lost all motivation and said listlessly.

"To strengthen your body."

"Wow, how special," Ning Chen took a bite of the steamed bun and said sarcastically.

"Don't regret it," Mu Chengxue said calmly, not forcing him.

"Huh?" Ning Chen felt that Mu Chengxue's tone was unusual, as if he had missed a great opportunity.

"Is this cultivation method very special?" Ning Chen asked cautiously.

"Uh-huh."

"What's so special about it?" Ning Chen asked again.

"Valuable."

"Why is it valuable?" Ning Chen continued to ask.

"Special."

"..."

Ning Chen painfully realized that this woman was sent by heaven to punish him. Not only had she cut him down, but she was also torturing him mentally.

"I'll learn it," Ning Chen bit into the steamed bun and said through gritted teeth.

"Uh-huh, wait a moment."

"Why?"

Mu Chengxue glanced at Ning Chen and said calmly, "The cultivation method is not on me."

Ah! Ah! Ah!

Ning Chen couldn't take it anymore. He stood up abruptly, his finger trembling as he pointed at Mu Chengxue, his lips quivering with anger.

This was too much!

"But I know where the cultivation method is," Mu Chengxue continued, ignoring Ning Chen's anger.

Ning Chen, who was about to explode, sat down helplessly, feeling as if his heart was bleeding. His mother was right; the prettier the woman, the more dangerous she was!

Ning Chen decided to stay calm, stay calm, stay calm!

Snap! The chopsticks in Ning Chen's hand broke. Well, he admitted he couldn't stay calm or composed.

"Where is it?" Ning Chen decided to ask one last time.

"In the Emperor's study."

"..." Ning Chen slapped himself hard, scolding himself for being so talkative.

"Do you want to learn it?" Mu Chengxue asked seriously.

"..." Ning Chen didn't respond, just buried his head in his food, determined to ignore her.

"Don't regret it."

"..." Ning Chen took a big bite of the steamed bun to stuff his mouth.

"Here, this medicine is for you," Mu Chengxue casually tossed a small box to him.

"What's it for?" Ning Chen couldn't help but respond.

"To save your life," Mu Chengxue said indifferently.

"Why are you giving it to me? Don't you need it?" Ning Chen felt good inside, thinking he must have some status in Mu Chengxue's eyes.

"You're too weak, you need it more," Mu Chengxue said calmly.

"..." Ning Chen slapped himself on both cheeks, scolding himself for being so talkative.

The conversation ended, and Mu Chengxue didn't speak again, eating quietly. Her graceful appearance was far more pleasing to the eye than a certain someone.

After finishing his meal, Ning Chen hummed a tune and went to the back garden. Most of the eunuchs and maids were busy, so the back garden was empty. Compared to being cooped up in the room, suffocated, or angered by Mu Chengxue, he thought it was a good choice to look at the flowers.

However, he forgot that Qingning's room was right next to the back garden.

In her room, Qingning was just about to go to the Empress. Changsun was going out of the palace today, and as the maid who had raised Changsun, Qingning was responsible for the daily arrangements of the Weiyang Palace and Changsun's safety.

Just as she was about to leave, Qingning saw Ning Chen's idle and restless appearance. Thinking of his arrogant face last night when he reported her to Changsun, she was instantly furious.

"Ning Chen," Qingning glared and shouted.

"Huh? Oh, Sister Qingning," Ning Chen immediately put on a smile and ran over to greet her.

"Come with me," Qingning, with nowhere to vent her anger, felt inwardly hurt.

"What for?"

"To accompany the Empress on a trip out of the palace."

Huh? Out of the palace? Ning Chen's eyes lit up, but then he remembered that Qingning was more than a hundred times stronger than him, and his excitement quickly faded.

"Sister Qingning, can you teach me martial arts?" Ning Chen desperately wanted to change the power dynamic.

Qingning looked at Ning Chen in surprise, pondered for a moment, and said tactfully, "What I learned isn't suitable for you."

"Why?" Ning Chen asked, not giving up.

"You're not the right material," Qingning had to be honest.

"..." Ning Chen felt like dying.

Unable to run away, he still had to face Changsun. After being forced by Qingning to change into the clothes for going out of the palace, Ning Chen's mood was gloomy, and he followed Qingning listlessly, like a sapling beaten by wind and rain.

When they met Changsun, the sedan chair was already prepared, ready to depart. Changsun was dressed more simply today, without any phoenix crown or jewelry, her beautiful face clean and unadorned, looking less regal and more approachable than usual.

"All illusions," Ning Chen warned himself. His preconceived notions made him believe Changsun was a devious woman, and all her good qualities were just illusions to deceive others.

Fireproof, theft-proof, and Changsun-proof, Ning Chen trusted his judgment and tried to avoid Changsun's gaze.

Changsun had already seen Ning Chen behind Qingning but didn't say anything. She could tell the boy was avoiding her, seemingly afraid but not in the same way as the other palace people. If she had to describe it, it was like a child who had done something wrong trying to avoid their parents' gaze.

Changsun's intuition was indeed frighteningly accurate. Ning Chen had a lot of secrets and didn't want to see her. Every time they met, his heart pounded. Compared to the kind and simple Qingning, the cunning Changsun was no different from a demon in Ning Chen's eyes.

Fortunately, no matter how smart Changsun was, she couldn't possibly guess that Ning Chen was a fake eunuch, nor could she connect him to the assassination attempt.

Changsun didn't bring many guards when she left the palace. There were many people who wanted to assassinate the Emperor, enough to scare anyone, but few wanted to harm Changsun. She was known as a virtuous Empress and was much more popular among the people than the Emperor.

Ning Chen didn't know why Changsun was leaving the palace, but he followed the sedan chair with a sour expression, envying the bustling and lively streets.

Qingning was closest to the sedan chair, and Changsun could give orders by simply lifting the curtain. Ning Chen's position was less noticeable, and since he wasn't wearing palace attire, he could easily blend in with the crowd.

Ning Chen's thoughts of running away flashed repeatedly, but every time he saw Qingning's gaze, he became as obedient as a lamb.

"Whoosh!"

A sudden chill, Ning Chen's pupils contracted. Three arrows, forming a triangular pattern, shot from different directions toward the sedan chair where Changsun was. They came unexpectedly, just like the assassination attempt on the Emperor, leaving no time to react.

"Be careful!"

Before Ning Chen could shout, a graceful figure flashed before his eyes. With a sweep of her clothes, two arrows were deflected, but the brief delay was too short to stop the third arrow.

"Ugh!"

The splattered blood was the most shocking failure. Qingning, unable to block the arrow in time, placed her body in front of the sedan chair. The arrow pierced through her body, and blood spurted, staining half of the sedan chair.

"Thud!"

The arrow feathers trembled, unable to pierce the sedan chair. The blood-stained arrow shaft shook, scattering blood droplets. Qingning, pushed back two steps by the arrow's force, vomited another mouthful of blood.

"Sister Qingning!"

Ning Chen rushed forward in three steps, catching Qingning as she was about to fall. At that moment, she was so close, yet it felt so distant.

"Hold on!" Ning Chen's heart ached as he tried to cover Qingning's wound, but the blood kept gushing out.

In the next moment, blinding sword light appeared from all directions. Twelve black-clothed figures engaged the guards, while four green-clothed figures appeared, their curved swords slashing like the moon.

Seeing the life-threatening danger, Qingning pulled Ning Chen behind her, enduring the severe wound in her chest. She slapped the sedan chair, and a silver spear flew out. She gripped it tightly and swept it to block the sword light from all directions.

"Thud!"

The four green-clothed figures were sent flying three zhang away. As soon as they landed, they leaped again, their sword light seamlessly blocking all escape routes.

"Take the Empress and go."

Qingning knew she couldn't escape unscathed. Pushing Ning Chen away, her eyes flashed with determination.

With a severe wound, Qingning's strength was limited. In the next clash, she was hit again, her hand bleeding, and the silver spear almost slipping from her grasp.

"Go quickly, it's too late if you wait any longer." As she spoke, Qingning tore her clothes and wrapped the silver spear around her right hand.

With a solemn gaze, carrying the last determination of her life, Qingning stood alone in front of the sedan chair, not allowing anyone to pass.

"Empress, go."

Ning Chen glanced at Qingning, then quickly supported Changsun and ran toward the dispersing crowd.

"Want to run?"

The four green-clothed figures abandoned Qingning and chased after Ning Chen and Changsun.

"Hmph!"

With a cold snort, Qingning's silver spear moved like a swift swallow, forcing the four to turn back to deal with her.

"Today, no one will cross this line."

Severely wounded and nearly out of blood, Qingning's will remained unyielding. With the silver spear in hand, she stood alone, determined to protect Changsun, regardless of life or death.

"Qingning!"

Changsun, being dragged by Ning Chen, looked back, tears streaming down her face.

"Ning Chen, save her!"

The pleading voice couldn't stop Ning Chen's steps. He didn't look back, pulling Changsun forward, never once looking back...