Chapter One Hundred and Sixteen: Who do you think you’re fooling?

Heh, heh heh. When Chu Sheng said that, all Ning Susu could feel was disbelief. Who was he trying to fool? With a face like that, he still had the nerve to say he was not a bad man? The seller of fermented tofu always insists he is not selling stinky tofu but fragrant delicacies fit to drift for miles; by the same logic, anyone who keeps declaring himself no villain cannot be much of anything good.

Chu Sheng was instantly embarrassed. The words had left his mouth, and not only did Ning Susu not believe them, even he himself did not believe them. But the situation was desperate. Even if he wanted to explain, there was no time to do so.

The imperial guards were still sweeping through the palace, and a small squad had nearly reached the abandoned palace. Hearing the approaching footsteps, Chu Sheng grew all the more anxious. It was not that he feared death; at worst he could simply die. But what of his son?

He lifted his head and looked at Ning Susu. She still seemed shaken by what had happened moments before. Chu Sheng could only say helplessly, “Miss, there are many imperial guards searching for me in the palace now. I wonder if you could spare my life. Rest assured, once they have passed I will leave at once, and I will not harm a single hair upon your head.”

Chu Sheng had made up his mind. If this young lady refused, he could not force her. At worst, he would throw himself against those guards and fight to the bitter end.

Anyone could see this was no good business. If she truly agreed, it might well bring trouble upon herself. Ning Susu had intended to refuse, but when the words rose to her lips and she saw Chu Sheng’s miserable state, especially his face as pale as white paper, pity stirred in her heart.

Seeing Ning Susu silent for so long, Chu Sheng could only sigh and bow with clasped fists. “Forgive the intrusion, Miss. I have been rash, and I hope you will not take offense. I will take my leave at once.”

He turned to go, but Ning Susu said, “Wait. Do not hurry off. Tell me what I can do to help.”

Relief and gratitude flooded Chu Sheng’s face. “Thank you for your noble kindness, Miss. I shall never forget this great favor, and if I live, I will repay it. I only wish to hide here for a short while. Once those guards have passed, I will leave.”

At this, Ning Susu motioned for Chu Sheng to come inside. Then she turned the little porcelain bottle by the table, and with a soft click, a hidden passage appeared. “I have an underground passage here. It is quite concealed. If you trust me, you may hide there for a while. There is food inside, so staying three or five days will not be a problem.”

No sooner had she spoken than knocking sounded from outside the abandoned palace. “Open up, open the door! By the emperor’s command, we are pursuing an assassin! A palace-wide search is underway!”

Ning Susu exchanged a glance with Chu Sheng. After he slipped into the hidden passage, she sealed it again, then went to open the palace gate.

The guard commander seemed to know Ning Susu. He bowed to her and said, “An assassin has entered the palace. By imperial decree we are searching every corner. I am merely carrying out orders, and if I have offended you, I beg the princess not to be displeased. Has the princess seen any assassin in black?”

Ning Susu’s heart lurched. So the man she had helped really was an assassin. Yet since she had already decided to save him, she merely shook her head. “I have not. I have been in my room embroidering all this time and heard no disturbance.”

The commander hesitated, then said carefully, “Princess, for your safety, we must search inside. Rest assured, we will not touch anything in the palace. I wonder what Your Highness thinks?”

Put so plainly, Ning Susu had no choice but to step aside and let the guards into the abandoned palace. They searched carefully, but the hidden passage was exceedingly well concealed, and they found nothing. After apologizing to Ning Susu, the guards went off to search elsewhere.

Following that road, Liu Ling’er walked onward without once looking back, as though something at the end of the path were drawing her forward.

As she walked, a bright light suddenly appeared ahead. In an instant, her view opened wide, and before her lay a field of flowers, where countless blossoms were in full bloom, breathtakingly beautiful.

What a lovely place. Liu Ling’er did not want to leave. But after staring for a moment, a question struck her: where was this place? How had she come here?

It seemed she had been shielding Bai Lixian from an arrow, and then there had been nothing after that. She appeared to have fainted. But if she had fainted, how had she arrived here? Could it be...

At the thought of one possibility, Liu Ling’er nearly spat blood. Could she have died? Was this some kind of joke? This was too outrageous. Yet the place was so beautiful that perhaps this really was paradise?

The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Though it was said that good deeds were rewarded, she really did not feel she had lived enough yet. Could her life have ended this pitifully?

Just then, Liu Ling’er seemed to notice a figure in the sea of flowers. The person stood with their back to her; all she could see was a cascade of black hair, and nothing of the face. Huh? There had not seemed to be anyone there a moment ago. How had someone appeared in an instant? Could it be an angel? But there were no wings.

As if sensing her gaze, the figure turned. When Liu Ling’er saw that face, she nearly sprang up in shock.

How could it be her?