TPSC 16

Chapter 16

Shen Yin immediately sat up and reached for the weapon at his side, “Guiyin.” He was about to draw his blade and strike when, in that instant, he heard a familiar deep voice.

“It seems your injuries have almost healed.”

Chapter 13: His Highness the Crown Prince Wants to Dismember Someone

Shen Yin quickly rose from the reclining chair and dropped to one knee in salute. “This subordinate greets Master.”

Chu Molí walked up close, using the folding fan in his hand to lift Shen Yin’s chin, his eyes quietly studying the sharply defined features of Shen Yin’s face.

“The bruising has faded. It seems you’ve rested well.”

After speaking, Chu Molí withdrew his fan and slightly raised his fingers, signaling Shen Yin to stand.

“Since your injuries are healed, come with me somewhere.”

Shen Yin felt frustrated inside, but did not dare to object. “Yes.”

Hongxiu Pavilion

Shen Yin stood at the entrance of Hongxiu Pavilion, looking rather green-faced at a man dressed in exotic clothing not far away.

Chu Molí in front pointed with the tip of his fan toward the entrance of Hongxiu Pavilion. “That man—you recognize him, don’t you?”

As he spoke, Chu Molí was about to turn around when Shen Yin immediately regained his usual cold, expressionless demeanor. “The Southern Liu envoy. This subordinate recognizes him.”

Hearing this, Chu Molí seemed to recall something and couldn’t help but curl his lips into a smile. “Indeed. With that face, you should recognize him.”

Hearing this, Shen Yin glanced again at the Southern Liu envoy. It was unclear what miraculous medicine had been used to reduce the swelling on that face in just three days. The swelling was gone, but a ring of dark bruising around the eyes was still clearly visible on that otherwise decent-looking face.

“Heh.” Shen Yin was still looking when he heard a suppressed laugh.

Turning his head, he saw the Crown Prince covering his face with a folding fan, his eyes curved with laughter. A face that usually felt distant and untouchable, like a divine beauty beyond reach, now looked unexpectedly gentle.

So much so that Shen Yin found himself unable to look away.

Chu Molí patted Shen Yin’s shoulder with his hand. “Look at that Southern Liu envoy—those dark circles around his eyes probably won’t fade even by tomorrow.”

As he spoke, Chu Molí’s voice carried an uncontrollable trace of amusement.

After he finished speaking, Chu Molí still received no response. He turned his head and saw his shadow guard staring blankly at him.

Chu Molí lifted a hand and touched his own face, frowning slightly. “Is there something on my face?”

Shen Yin quickly snapped back to reality. “No. It’s just that this subordinate has never seen Master smile so happily before.”

Chu Molí paused slightly at the words. “Happy?”

Shen Yin nodded.

Wasn’t it? Although the smile was very good-looking, it couldn’t deny the fact that his lips were practically stretched to the back of his ears.

Chu Molí snapped his fan open. “Those things don’t matter.”

Shen Yin was about to agree when he heard the Crown Prince continue, “What matters is that you will once again disguise yourself as a woman.”

Shen Yin’s eyes widened sharply. “Disguise myself as a woman again?”

Chu Molí nodded. “The wax pellet you retrieved last time used coded language. Without their specific cipher, no one can decode it.”

“I want you to get close to him and see if he has the decryption code on him.”

Shen Yin: “…Can I refuse?”

Chu Molí smiled faintly and shook his head. “No.”

Shen Yin: …

Half an hour later.

At the entrance of Hongxiu Pavilion.

A fragile-looking woman in tattered red gauze stumbled forward from a distance, like a frightened deer, crashing straight into the Southern Liu envoy’s arms.

“Sir, sir, please save me.”

The woman’s face was breathtakingly beautiful, filled with panic and helplessness. Her pair of stunning peach blossom eyes were brimming with tears. “Sir, please save me.”

Just after she spoke, several tall, muscular men carrying wooden sticks approached from not far away.

The Southern Liu envoy Mu Li lowered his head and looked at the woman tightly clutching his sleeve. His amber eyes shimmered faintly in the sunlight. “It’s you.”

The woman looked up, as if just now recognizing him. Her beautiful eyes were full of tears. “Sir, we have met before.”

As she spoke, she reached out and lightly touched Mu Li’s eyes with her slender fingertips, a look of regret appearing on her exquisite face. “Sir, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have suffered like this.”

As she spoke, the group of burly men was already close.

The woman withdrew her tightly clutching hand. “Sir, I already owe you for the last time. If I am fortunate enough to escape this time, I will come find you to make amends.”

She glanced back at the approaching men, then turned as if to flee.

But just as she lifted her foot to leave, she was suddenly pulled into an embrace.

The man before her was a full head taller than her. Held in his arms, she could not break free no matter how hard she struggled.

The woman cried out anxiously, “Sir, let me go! They’re coming!”

Upon hearing this, Mu Li not only did not release her, but held her even tighter. He lowered his head, leaning close to her ear.

“Don’t move.”

Then he tilted her face upward, and in the next instant, his thin lips forcefully pressed against hers.

With a boom, Shen Yin’s mind went completely blank. His shadow guard instincts screamed at him to endure, endure, until the mission was complete—then beat him to death.

On the other side, beneath a distant locust tree opposite Hongxiu Pavilion.

Chu Molí covered his face with his folding fan, his laughter impossible to suppress. From the moment Shen Yin appeared in that tattered red gauze, the smile on his face had not faded.

Until Mu Li forcefully kissed Shen Yin, Chu Molí’s smile suddenly vanished.

The group of burly men walked over, peering at the person in Mu Li’s arms. They only saw a flushed side profile and nothing else.

The men were actually actors. After glancing, they turned away. “Let’s go. Not here.”

After they left, Mu Li slightly loosened his hold, looking down at the woman in his arms. Her cheeks were flushed, her peach blossom eyes shimmering with emotion.

Mu Li’s lips curled into a smile. “Miss, what I said last time still stands this time as well.”