Princess, Spare My Life - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Escape Plan Underway (Second Part)

Dissatisfaction spread across Lu Wenfeng’s face.”Princess Minghui is the most beloved daughter of His Majesty. How could he engage his daughter to a pretty much half-dead person?”

“What else can you say that about His Majesty? This Su Qi is the grandson of the Duke of Zhao. As for what the Duke of Zhao’s status is within His Majesty’s mind, everyone knows. The old fox didn’t need to convince the princess to accept the marriage as ten other princesses were also willing! I heard The empress has been meaning to let the crown prince take the Duke of Zhao’s granddaughter as an imperial concubine!”

“Isn’t he just a great general that commanded an army? He may have obtained many military achievements, but how could he be superior to Brother Feng’s paternal grandfather? Back then, the Duke of Chu followed the Gu imperial family and stood next to the first emperor. He had made great war merits to help establish the imperial court of the Dayan dynasty… As for the Duke of Zhao, Su Feng, he only aided the emperor while he was suffering through trials and tribulations while trying to ascend the throne. However, because of that, His Majesty became so partial towards him… Just look at this Su Qi’s sickly appearance. At what point is he worthy of comparing to Brother Feng? Moreover, the princess is only playing along while she is not truly in love with him. But Brother Feng, you are a genius young man with a graceful appearance!”

After hearing those words, Feng Che had a rosy complexion, feeling as if the princess was at his fingertips. At this moment, he suddenly heard a voice from the talented Jiangnan scholar. “How could you say that in the midst of the princess’s banquet?”

Yuan Shang had already processed everything she had witnessed. It turned out that while Princess was present, Murong Qinghua still exercised some restraint. But once the princess left, he immediately gestured towards the female dancers without masking his intentions. As the other duo spoke in a volume that was low yet still audible, the several scholars frowned.

Seeing Murong’s actions, a young candidate for the imperial examinations called Min Hanwen couldn’t help but stand up and mock him on the spot.

A few of the followers behind Murong Qinghua heard someone bad-mouth their general. Immediately, an ominous glint flashed across their faces. Gripping the handle of their blade, they began to unsheath it as a cold light flickered on their weapon. Each and every one of them was strong as not a single part of their bodies had excess flesh. With gazes filled with unswerving determination, they wielded their blades. At first glance, they were the elite soldiers who had killed an army of millions.

Originally, Feng Che and Lu Wenfeng were quietly gossiping, but at this moment, they stared at the scene in shock. Feng Che’s reaction was the fastest as he got up to smooth things over. “General Murong, don’t be angry. Youngsters aren’t that sensible, so don’t take their words to heart!”

Yuan Shang sat on top of the princess’s gorgeous bench and continued to eat and drink without hesitation. The disputes and escalating situation in front of her had nothing to do with her.

At this moment, Murong Qinghua sneered and shouted in a deep voice, “Do it!” The followers behind him promptly drew their swords and charged forward. However, as their blades flickered, they faced an individual within the crowd.

Murong roared like a clap of thunder, “Don’t let him get away!”

Min Hanwen was so scared that his legs trembled; the other scholars could not move either. Instead, Lin Xiu, the leading scholar of the Imperial College of Supreme Learning, was so angry that he glared at the group of soldiers as if he were a wolf eyeing a flock of sheep.

Lu Wenfeng was so scared that he immediately hid under a table behind Feng Che. Feng Che was also alarmed and furious. He knew that this Murong Qinghua was a muddlehead, but he didn’t expect him to dare commit violent acts in the princess’s banquet! Feng Che regained his composure. Although he had always been pampered, he was also a martial artist who served as a former imperial guard. While he only had a few real skills, in the face of soldiers filled with killing intent, he still stepped out with a blade.

Before waiting for him to attack, these soldiers ruthlessly advanced but suddenly changed directions. Rather than moving towards the audience, their target was the group of musicians strumming zithers!

At this moment, Yuan Shang reacted swiftly as she spoke to Su Yin, who was nearby, “Quick! Go to protect the princess!”

Instead, Su Yin hurriedly stayed to guard Yuan Shang and said, “I don’t want to go! I want to protect you! Princess Minghui…”

Who cares whether or Princess Minghui dies or not?

This sentence was left unsaid as Yuan Shang admonished in retort, “Why are you speaking nonsense? If anything happens to the princess, will I still be able to live?”

Su Yin stared blankly. “Young Master, this is the first time I have ever seen you acting so fierce…”

“Even now, you’re still saying drivel!” Yuan Shang said with anger, “Murong is here…so he will protect me! You should go to protect the princess!”

Su Yin snapped back to reality and solemnly nodded. He immediately turned around and leaped away, landing on the ship’s guardrail midway before jumping several more times with a few meters in between each landing

Yuan Shang watched him in amazement and thought to herself, “Is he using martial arts?”

Surveying the surrounding commotion, Murong and his followers began to fight the group of assassins. All the scholars began to miserably flee, Lu Wenfeng hid under the table, Feng Che joined the battle, and the female dancers shrieked. Su Yin had already gone to find the princess.

Better than planned! Everything was ready! Yuan Shang took advantage of the fact that everyone wasn’t paying any attention to her, she bent over and climbed onto the boat’s railings. After sweeping her gaze around, she prepared to jump off the boat.

At this moment, she suddenly heard a voice coming from behind her, “Prince Consort, be careful!”

Yuan Shang felt a chill run down her neck. Immediately, she rolled to her left. A flying knife brushed past her neck, cutting strands of her hair. As it flew past her, it deeply inserted itself into the wooden guardrails, making the sound of a dull impact.

Yuan Shang rolled about on the ground while her body was simultaneously doing irregular movements to dodge. This set of actions was originally used to circumvent gun bullets, so it was more than enough to avoid flying knives. Even if the aggressor was an expert at using flying knives, the knives would not necessarily be faster than bullets.

Yuan Shang perceived a familiar murderous intent; it was the assassin bro whom she waited a long time for him to act. But calling him ‘Assassin Bro’ was not correct as the assassin should be termed ‘Assassin Sis’. She noticed that the assassin was wearing a palace maid’s attire. Although she did not know how smart the princess known for her intelligence was, how could the princess allow so many assassins mingle in her group!

As Yuan Shang was dodging, she always paid attention to her location. She relied on her intuition and experience to evade expert assassin’s attacks. Since she had gone through countless similar crises in the past, it could be said that she could narrowly escape from almost any danger. So after surviving through many close calls with death, couldn’t she get away from this crisis as if it were a child’s play?

After training before she came here, Yuan Shang nearly obtained the same physical capabilities as an ordinary civilian. Although she was still somewhat sickly, her internal force made up for this shortcoming. Even now, while escaping from the assassin sis’s assault, she did so without breaking a sweat. When she found a chance, Yuan Shang rolled towards a table near the performance stage. At this moment, the table had already been overturned. Since Yuan Shang discovered that the flying knives could not change directions midair, she tenaciously hid behind the table. As long she didn’t go out, could the assassin still hit her? The moment when the assassin becomes entangled with others would be when she would flee.

Sure enough, the guards on the boat had arrived. The princess’s guards also seemed fierce and strong as they were weaker than Murong Qinghua’s entourage. Observing the enemy’s technique, Yuan Shang thought, “Could it be that the Su family assigned guards for the princess? In order to have a closer relationship with the Duke of Zhao, Princess Minghui was willing to hand over her own safety to the Su family.”

Yuan Shang scanned the flying knife assassin. She was a woman in her twenties who appeared average in looks and was dressed like the maids on the boat. While her face was covered in black, her wrists occasionally exposed some white skin. 

Yuan Shang’s secretly laughed at the other’s unprofessional skills. To perform their missions, assassins must disguise and let no flaw appear on their entire body. When necessary, they should go through plastic surgery and not just use some light makeup to change their appearance.

In close distances, it was not advantageous to use flying knives. The flying knife assassin equipped a long sword and joined the fights in the bow of the ship. From time to time, she would cut down one or two guards. In the meantime, Yuan Shang snuck away under the cover of the table while crawling past the musical instruments and towards the borders of the ship. Right now, there was no one around, so she considered jumping off the boat from here. Suddenly, someone at her side called out to her, “Prince Consort! Are you okay?”

“…”

In Yuan Shang’s mind: Princess, Your Imperial Highness, if you want me to survive, just let me run away already! I’ll be fine! How about you stop acting like some kind of evil spirit that’s attached to me?