Wu Hen said, "Your Highness, you said so."
"Wu Hen, ten years ago, it was precisely when my Father Emperor and Mother Empress went missing that I felt the Assassin Pavilion might also have had a connection to them."
As she thought of this, she found it all rather perplexing. Who exactly wanted to kill her Father and Mother Empress? And now that her Imperial Brother was not dead, what role did he play here?
The more she thought, the more her head ached. It seemed the only way to understand it all was to find the Dragon Pendant and become the Pavilion Master of the Assassin Pavilion.
As night fell, Qin Er Niang returned, looking travel-worn, but without the 'brother' she had mentioned.
Upon seeing her, Qin Er Niang appeared somewhat weary. "Young Master, brother is in Yanxia Pass of Yu Kingdom. It is said that the Dragon Pendant has appeared in Yanxia Pass of Yu Kingdom."
After half a month of continuous travel, Si Zhou, the closest prefecture to Yu Kingdom, was finally reached.
Xue Xing Yue and the others found an inn to rest, while Qin Er Niang went to find her brother.
After half a month of recuperation, Shen Qing's health had almost recovered. Ever since Qin Er Niang mentioned that the Phoenix Pendant was beneficial to health, Xue Xing Yue had directly placed the Phoenix Pendant on Feng Qing. Feng Qing refused several times, but in the end, Qin Er Niang devised a method, asking Xue Xing Yue to spend half a day in Feng Qing's room each day.
During the journey, they traveled in a carriage. It was unclear if the Phoenix Pendant had played a role, but Feng Qing's injuries steadily improved, and he could now stand and walk a few steps.
However, due to his shattered meridians, it would still take time to recover to a normal state, and to regain his martial arts would be exceedingly difficult.
But Xue Xing Yue was content. To see the people of Feng Wei, to see those she had spent her days with, she was truly grateful.
She and Wu Hen were more than capable of protecting Feng Qing. If there was any danger, she would ensure Feng Qing was arranged for first.
In the evening, Qin Er Niang returned alone, looking utterly exhausted, her gaze tinged with an indescribable sadness.
"Where is your brother?" Wu Hen spoke first. In truth, she had always held some suspicion towards Qin Er Niang. Unlike their Highness, she did not trust people easily. Now, the only person their Highness could trust was herself, so she had to watch over this Qin Er Niang for her Highness, especially since Qin Er Niang was an assassin from the Assassin Pavilion.
Qin Er Niang's face immediately turned pale. Looking at Wu Hen, she said, "Take me to see the Young Master."
Wu Hen cast a sharp glance at Qin Er Niang and said in a voice only they could hear, "Qin Er Niang, I don't care what you were before! Be it the Assassin Pavilion or any other, now that you have pledged loyalty to the mistress, do not entertain other thoughts. Otherwise, if I discover anything, I will kill you first."
Her voice was as cold as ice that had never melted, chilling one to the bone.
Qin Er Niang raised her head and looked at Wu Hen, nodding. "Don't worry, I will not harm the Young Master."
"Remember your words," Wu Hen said coldly.
Xue Xing Yue was practicing her internal energy in Feng Qing's room.
Looking at Feng Qing on the bed, even just his profile was so perfect. An indescribable feeling welled up within him. He had never been this happy in such a long time.
He could remain by his Highness's side, watching over his Highness at all times.
In the past, he was merely a member of the Feng Guard. Because his martial arts were not outstanding, nor did he possess the remarkable medical skills of Feng Jiu, he only got to see his Highness when completing missions, and even then, it was but a few fleeting glances. Moreover, at that time, his Highness was a noble lady of the heavens, a dignified princess.
And he was merely a small Feng Guard.
Humble to the dust.
Back then, he had never spoken a word to his Highness, because even if he spoke, it was never his turn.
Therefore, at that time, he had always thought, if one day he could also speak before his Highness like Wu Hen and the others, even if it were just one sentence.
Then, he waited and waited, but he never expected that what he would wait for was the eventual demise of his Highness. His world suddenly collapsed. At that moment, he felt somewhat lost, because his world only contained his Highness, no one else. What was he to do!
He had nothing, just wandering aimlessly. And now he knew.
His life's goal was his Highness. He wanted to grow into someone who could protect her.
However, he was somewhat troubled. He knew his meridians were shattered. How could he protect her in such a state?
He didn't want to be protected by his Highness; he didn't want to become her burden.
The door was pushed open, and Xue Xing Yue, who was circulating her energy, withdrew.
Opening her eyes, she stood up and gestured towards the adjacent room.
Wu Hen understood and took Qin Er Niang to the next room. Xue Xing Yue glanced at Feng Qing; he seemed to have fallen asleep.
She tucked him in, then left.
She went into the adjacent room, which was her own.
Looking at Qin Er Niang, who was alone, Xue Xing Yue had already guessed part of the story.
"Where is your brother?"
Qin Er Niang looked up, her eyes holding back tears.
"Brother... Brother was captured," Qin Er Niang covered her face, trying to prevent tears from flowing.
Wu Hen, standing by, couldn't help but twitch her lips.
How could someone like this be an assassin? Why was she so willing to cry?
"Do you know who captured him?" Xue Xing Yue asked.
Qin Er Niang heard this and said, "I heard it was people from the Song family."
"The Song family? How did your brother provoke the Song family?" Xue Xing Yue asked Qin Er Niang, puzzled.
Qin Er Niang bit her lower lip and said, "Brother found out that the Dragon Pendant might be in the Song family, so he prepared to sneak into the Song mansion at night. Who knew he would be caught."
Xue Xing Yue's lips twitched upon hearing this. The Song family was a foremost aristocratic family. To dare to go alone as an assassin, she truly didn't know whether to call Qin Er Niang's brother foolish or mentally deficient.