Madam Shen’s only thought right now was that it would be best to have no further dealings with Prince Qin in the future.
This man possessed overwhelming power and was decisive in his killing; he did not look like someone easy to get along with by any measure.
As the assassins retreated, the servants of the Prime Minister’s residence, who had originally scattered in flight, gradually began to return.
Everyone busied themselves with counting heads and checking the carriages and belongings. Fortunately, there were no substantial losses, save for a few servants who had accidentally tripped and injured their legs while running away.
As for those assassins, they likely belonged to the righteous sects of the martial world.
Otherwise, had they truly been unscrupulous and intent on a massacre during the earlier chaotic battle, most of the servants would have been injured or even killed. The reason they had charged the carriage was probably because they mistakenly believed Prince Qin’s family was inside and wanted to use them to force him to submit.
Those who suffered the most serious casualties were the Prince’s guards; several were heavily injured and needed their comrades to construct stretchers to carry them back.
Xie Zhaofan looked at all of this and couldn't help but feel that this world was truly a bit ridiculous. They had merely gone to a temple to offer incense, yet they actually encountered a martial world assassination attempt.
She suddenly missed the safe and free days on Blue Star, where she could run out in the middle of the night to shop and eat midnight snacks.
Since the matter was resolved, the convoy was quickly reorganized and continued toward the capital.
This time, Prince Qin did not ask for Madam Shen’s opinion. Instead, he directly ordered his guards to flank both sides of the Prime Minister’s residence’s convoy.
Madam Shen did not refuse. After all, no one knew if those assassins had any more accomplices or if a second group was lying in wait ahead. With a top-tier expert like Prince Qin following them, it at least provided an extra layer of security.
On the journey back, having experienced such a fright, Madam Shen’s spirit was clearly not as lively as when they had arrived. She soon leaned against a soft pillow and fell into a deep sleep.
Xie Zhaofan, however, remained quite energetic.
She lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and leisurely watched the scenery outside, her gaze occasionally falling upon Prince Qin, who followed the carriage on horseback.
It had to be said that while this Prince’s character was temporarily pending observation, both his appearance and temperament, as well as his personal strength, were top-tier. Especially when he was on horseback, with his xuan-colored robes fluttering slightly in the wind, he appeared exceptionally tall, straight, and handsome.
It wasn't until the convoy arrived safely at the capital that the two parties separated near the city gates.
Prince Qin sat atop his horse, watching the Prime Minister’s residence’s carriage slowly move away.
Those deep eyes followed the carriage until the curtain completely vanished from his sight, only then did he slowly withdraw his gaze.
Even he himself couldn't understand when he had started to care so much about that woman. Clearly, when he first met her, he had found her somewhat annoying for demanding all sorts of conditions just to purge his poison. Yet now, whenever he thought of her, his state of mind would invariably fall into a strange, inexplicable turmoil.
Inside the carriage, Xie Zhaofan happened to capture this scene.
She looked at Xie Jinyi, who was secretly lifting the carriage curtain beside her, and then at the distant Prince Qin standing still on his horse, her expression gradually becoming peculiar.
Good heavens! This scene was far too classic.
Xie Zhaofan’s mind even began to automatically fill in the shots from a Blue Star television drama. The lingering glow of the setting sun, the long street stretching out, the handsome Prince stopping his horse to look back, and the stunning woman in the carriage lifting the curtain to gaze at him. The background music would have to swell slowly, the camera would zoom in, and there would be a big close-up of their smoldering, lingering gaze.
If a breeze happened to blow the carriage curtain, it would practically be the standard ending for an episode of an idol drama.
Xie Zhaofan couldn't help but click her tongue in her heart. Although this ancient world was a bit chaotic, the quality of the plot and the configuration of this suspected male and female lead couple were not bad at all. She just didn't know if she, the fake daughter who had inexplicably transmigrated here, would eventually become the most miserable cannon fodder in their love story.
Thinking of this, she narrowed her eyes.
That wouldn't do.
Since she was already here and possessed a mysterious system, she didn't intend to obediently follow the original body’s destiny. Some Prince, some true and fake daughters, some broken engagement, and all those messy potential plots—whoever wanted to act them out could go ahead. No matter the time or space, no matter her identity, she only wanted to live her life well, carefree and unrestrained.
...
By the time they returned to the Prime Minister’s residence, the sky had gradually darkened. The last glow of the setting sun slanted across the tall doorframe of the residence, casting a layer of faint gold onto the stone steps before the entrance.
Xie Chongshan had returned home earlier than usual today. He had originally been handling official business in his study, but hearing that his wife and daughters had returned from Gangen Temple, he thought to go and greet them.
To his surprise, as soon as he entered the inner courtyard, he learned from Madam Shen about the attack in the outskirts of the capital today. His expression immediately darkened.
“Prince Qin was attacked, so why were you all caught up in it?”
His brow was tightly furrowed, his tone carrying suppressed displeasure. His gaze swept over his wife and daughters, and only after confirming that the three of them were uninjured did he breathe a small sigh of relief.
Madam Shen knew her husband was worried about her. After dismissing her daughters, she hurried to recount today’s events from beginning to end. She held nothing back, including Prince Qin’s sudden appearance, his initiative to escort them back to the capital, and the encounter with the assassins along the way.
After finishing, she instead began to frown, asking in a low voice, “My Lord, what do you think Prince Qin’s intention is? Is he trying to win you over? Does he want you to be his support in the struggle for the throne?”
As the wife of the Prime Minister, Madam Shen did not directly participate in court affairs, yet she was not entirely ignorant of such matters. The struggles of the imperial family were never something ordinary people could interfere with, let alone their Xie family, which already stood at the head of the officials. One word from Xie Chongshan was sometimes enough to influence the situation in the imperial court; if any Prince could gain his support, it would be equivalent to gaining a very heavy bargaining chip.
But after hearing her, Xie Chongshan merely shook his head slowly.
“It shouldn't be.”
He pondered for a moment, his expression gradually returning to its usual composure. “Although Prince Qin uses heavy-handed methods and has always done as he pleases in the court, he has never actively sought to associate with me over the years, nor has there been any private contact. His dealings in the court have always been strictly business. If he truly wanted to win me over, he wouldn't wait until now to suddenly show such intentions.”
Hearing this, Madam Shen’s heart did not relax; instead, she seemed to suddenly think of something, and her expression changed slightly.
“Reflecting on it, he seemed to keep mentioning the two children today.”
Xie Chongshan was startled.
Madam Shen did not beat around the bush further, carefully recalling everything that had happened recently, especially the various details in Gangen Temple today. The more she thought about it, the more she felt something was off.
“I didn't think much of it at first, but looking back now, he seems to be a bit overly concerned with Jinyi and Zhaofan.” At this point, she paused and added somewhat hesitantly, “Could it be… he is after our daughters?”
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