Chapter 116 The Conspiracy of the Summer Festival

Chapter 116 The Conspiracy of the Summer Festival

Shen Nanzi only wanted to see Cheng'er safe and sound, so she asked around the whole way.

When she arrived at the Hele Palace, Shen Nanzi breathed a sigh of relief. Cheng'er had recently become close friends with Wei Ji'an, the nephew of Consort Wei.

It must be because the Marquis's residence is quite far away that Consort Wei arranged for her young nephew to come here.

Cheng'er, being playful, followed along.

This is Shen Nanzi's optimistic guess.

There were no guards on duty in the outer hall of Hele Hall today; they must have all gone to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to serve Consort Wei and Xie Yu.

"Cheng'er!"

Shen Nanzi called out in the empty Hele Hall.

Walking from front to back, there wasn't a single palace maid left behind, which made Shen Nanzi feel that something was wrong.

She looked around, became alert, turned around, and walked towards the door of the side hall.

But at the door, she bumped into someone's arms.

I almost lost my balance.

Shen Nanzi was startled and looked up.

"Xie Yu?"

Xie Yu grabbed her shoulder and steadied her, looking equally surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see Cheng'er." Shen Nanzi said in surprise, "Why are you back too? Is the sacrificial ceremony finished?"

Xie Yu didn't say that he saw her leave in a panic, and because he was worried, he made an excuse to leave the sacrificial ceremony.

After she came out, she found her maid and learned that she had gone to find Cheng'er.

He was worried that something had happened to her, so he searched along the way and returned to the Hele Palace.

"Has Cheng'er been found?"

"No." Mentioning Cheng'er made Shen Nanzi's heart race. "Where could he have gone?"

She then added, "Xie Yu, I just searched the Hele Palace, but there wasn't a single palace servant in it."

Xie Yu looked around and found it to be empty, just as Shen Nanzi had said.

Just as I was about to go out to look for her, I overheard someone talking beside me.

"What is Princess Jing doing over there?"

It seems like you can find out her whereabouts along the way.

He was worried about her, and he was willing to step into a trap even if it was one.

Now... it really is a trap.

This trap has even reached the Hall of Harmony!

Seriously!!

"Let's go!!" Xie Yu grabbed her sleeve and pulled her away from the net that was meant to trap them.

Just then, the sound of arrows whistling came from three directions.

Xie Yu's blood froze, fear welled up inside him, and he instinctively tried to avoid it.

The only place to hide was the side hall behind Shen Nanzi.

To avoid the arrows behind him, he pulled her into his arms and threw himself into them.

A moment later, an arrow shot out from where they had just been standing.

Several arrows struck the wall inside the side hall, their fletchings trembling violently and making a buzzing sound.

Xie Yu had long legs, and with a powerful hook of his foot, the door to the side hall slammed shut with a loud bang.

Xie Yu asked Shen Nanzi, who was beneath him, "Are you alright?"

When she fell, Xie Yu rolled her over, and she wasn't injured at all.

"I'm fine," Shen Nanzi asked with concern, "And you?"

With so many arrows coming, it seemed like things were going to turn badly.

Xie Yu released her, quickly turned over and got up, and with a "click," locked the inner bolt.

He then turned to her and said, "I'm fine."

Shen Nanzi also got up, ran to the window, closed it, turned around, and said with her chest heaving:

“There are at least ten people ambushing us outside.”

"Today, almost everyone went to the Imperial Ancestral Temple for the sacrificial ceremony. Who can save us?"

Xie Yu stared intently at the three arrows on the wall.

Shen Nanzi sensed something was wrong and followed his gaze.

Under the light, as the arrow fletched, a lot of white powder floated in the air.

"It's poisonous! Hold your breath!" Xie Yu shouted.

Shen Nanzi quickly covered her mouth and nose with her sleeve and backed away.

Xie Yu also covered his mouth and nose, and kept backing away with Shen Nanzi.

This is a side hall of the Harmony Hall, divided into two rooms, an inner and an outer one. A green bamboo screen is placed in the middle, and behind the screen is a bed.

They retreated to the very back, right in front of the bed.

Shen Nanzi lowered the curtain and sat inside. "Xie Yu, come in!"

Xie Yu stood outside. "No need. This is far enough. I can stand behind the screen."

Having suffered from poisoning before, Shen Nanzi pulled him into the bed curtains.

“What difference is there between standing behind the screen and standing here? Even if you stand behind the door, you still can’t escape the charges they’re trying to frame.”

Xie Yu knew perfectly well what kind of poison it was, but he didn't stubbornly run out. He lowered his sleeves and asked, "I just don't know what kind of poison it is?"

Shen Nanzi had already realized: "They discovered that my relationship with you is not shallow, and in their eyes, they probably think that we have that kind of improper relationship."

"They're going to use us as a sacrifice to the heavens, and incidentally, eliminate your right to be the crown prince."

"What a brilliant two-birds-with-one-stone strategy!"

The two remained silent, and Shen Nanzi felt a bit stuffy.

"Where are your guards?" She pulled up her sleeve to fan the heat from the tent, trying to think of a way to escape the trap.

"They didn't come!" Xie Cheng's voice was somewhat hoarse.

Shen Nanzi frowned slightly. "What's wrong with your voice?"

She turned her head and looked at Xie Yu sitting next to her.

His earlobes were red, his Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and his hands were clenched tightly, as if he was trying his best to endure.

Looking at him, Shen Nanzi felt even hotter, as if her body was on fire, especially her abdomen, which had an indescribable need.

Shen Nanzi, being experienced, quickly understood why she felt this way!

"It's nothing!" Xie Yu suddenly stood up and was about to leave.

"What are you going to do?" Shen Nanzi grabbed his sleeve. "There are assassins everywhere outside."

His jawline was taut, and his cheeks bulged out as his alveolar bone clenched.

He pulled her wrist away, his voice hoarse and barely audible, "I'm going to fight my way out!"

"Nonsense!" Shen Nanzi stopped him. "There are so many people outside."

Xie Yu clasped his hands together, pressing his knuckles to make a crisp "tap-tap" sound.

"Those who dare to murder a prince will not have a good end."

Shen Nanzi, enduring her increasingly intense desire, breathed heavily: "Don't think I don't know that you're afraid of tarnishing my reputation and would rather die."

Xie Yu chuckled softly, tilting his head and glancing at her sideways, a hint of nonchalance in his expression.

“Shen Nanzi, I’m not that great. I just don’t want to sit here and wait to die.”

“You still have Consort Wei. If you die, she won’t be able to live either.”

As a mother herself, Shen Nanzi was just as worried about Cheng'er.

"Your mother is the person who loves you most in this world. Can you bear to see her heartbroken?"

Shen Nanzi gazed at him, almost as if she were looking into his heart.

"It's just a reputation, I don't care."

Xie Yu lowered his eyes to meet her gaze, his eyes red and his voice trembling, "Shen Nanzi, you will die, you will be drowned in spittle!"

Shen Nanzi understood Xie Yu's meaning; if they were caught in the act, it would be considered adultery between the uncle and sister-in-law.

Even if Xie Yan didn't care, this world wouldn't tolerate her.

"And what about Cheng'er?" He stared into her eyes. "He can understand the difficulties you face as a mother, but what about the rumors and slander outside!"

Xie Yu stepped to the side.