As the actors singing on the stage, the audience are having a good conversation. Prince Jin is chatting with Yin Zhen casually with a rare smile. Although both of them have their own ulterior motives, they seem to enjoy their talk apparently, and you feel much relieved seeing this.
Prince Jin: It's a pleasure talking to you, Mr. Yin. It's been quite some time for me to enjoy such a good time!
Yin Zhen: It's my pleasure to meet someone who understands me so well! Your Highness are an extraordinary man! Luckily I didn't miss the chance to talk with Your Highness.
Prince Jin: Forgive my servants' misbehavior. Luckily we both have the chance to talk.
Yin Zhen: At least some of Your Highness's servants know how to behave, such as that lady! It's rare for me to meet a person like her!
Prince Jin: Oh?
Hearing this, Prince Jin's expression suddenly turns stiff. It seems he doesn't want to talk about you with Yin Zhen.
Yin Zhen raises his eyebrows and stops talking about you. You notice Prince Jin is looking at you with some unpredictable gaze, which makes you nervous.
Xiu Ying: (I have a bad feeling whenever Prince Jin looks like this.)
Several arrows suddenly appear out of nowhere and hit the lanterns in the room. The entire hall instantly falls into darkness. The actors on the stage are screaming frighteningly, while Prince Jin's guards immediately draw out their swords in defense.
Dark Guard A: Watch out, Your Highness! Assassin!
Dark Guard B: This arrow... Your Highness! It's an arrow commonly used by hunters!
Hunter's arrow? You can almost guess the assassins' identities. Before you can leave the hall, people start pouring inside.
Male A: Kill Prince Jin! Blood for the innocent blood!
Male B: We can't live as long as Prince Jin lives!
A crowd of mob suddenly pour into the dark hall. You can't see anything, and all you know is the sound of fighting and killing by your ear. Several times you feel someone rushing beside you, and your heart is almost frozen to death. Just are you are carefully trying to figure out the direction and find a safe spot, someone suddenly grabs your hair.
Male A: A woman? Does she work for Prince Jin?
The next moment, someone has taken your hand and drag you out of the killing field.
Yin Zhen: [gently touch your hair] Stay still. Let me check if you are wounded.
Xiu Ying: Hiss... Can you see it in the dark?
Yin Zhen: We military men can see clearly even in the dark.
Xiu Ying: Those people must be the rebels... That means Prince Jin and his guards can still see them in the dark even when they have shot down the lights! They will lose the fight!
Yin Zhen: The Crown Prince wouldn't be troubled so much if Prince Jin can be finished so easily. [gently sort out your hair] Fortunately you haven't been wounded. Does it still hurt?
MC: [shake head] I'm fine. None of those people are gonna survive if they get caught by Prince Jin's men.
Yin Zhen: Just care about yourself. Others' fate is beyond your control.
Xiu Ying: [resigned] I just can't bear to watch them die.
Yin Zhen: I'd like to help them too, but my power alone is far from enough. However, they may still have a chance to live.
Xiu Ying: What chance?
Yin Zhen: The chance is uncertain and yet to come. Stay here. I'll check it out.
Xiu Ying: Yin Zhen!
He turns around and look at you. His silhouette barely recognizable in the dark.
Xiu Ying: Just be careful...
Yin Zhen smiles and suddenly holds you by your neck. You are so close that you can hear each other's breath.
Xiu Ying: [nervous] What... what are you doing?
Yin Zhen doesn't answer your question. Instead, he bows his head, when someone is suddenly shouting outside, "His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"
Xiu Ying: [eyes brightened] Xiao Ze has come!
Yin Zhen: ...Right at this moment.
Xiu Ying: Yin Zhen, did you refer to Xiao Ze for the chance to survive?
Yin Zhen: Someone must be helping the refugees so that they can reach the capital and cause so many troubles.
Xiu Ying: [pause] You mean Xiao Ze is lending them a hand?
Yin Zhen: [gently sigh] Never underestimate somebody just because he is young. You've got to learn this when you are born in the imperial household.
Prince Jin would not spare a single assassin, which is fitting considering their crime. At this moment, the Crown Prince has arrived. He gently appease Prince Jin, as if he hasn't seen the prince's grim murderous intent at all, then turns to look at the captives.
Xiao Ze: Uncle, may I ask you to allow me taking them?
Prince Jin: These ill-intentioned assassins are extremely dangerous. I shall summarily execute them all.
Xiao Ze: They need to be carefully interrogated and trials before being put to justice in accordance with law. Young as I am, I've learned well about the procedure from my late father.
Xiao Ze: Moreover, considering the current turmoil in the capital, shedding more blood may only add fuel to the fire of unrest.
Prince Jin: What if I insist to execute them right here and right now?
Xiao Ze: When father was alive, he always raise your virtue and ask me to learn from you, uncle. That's why I have been trusting you, and I wish you can trust me to act for your benefit, uncle.
Prince Jin stares at the 8-year-old Crown Prince with grim eyes, then sneers coldly.
Prince Jin: If Your Highness insist, I shall not interfere. May I remind Your Highness that people are unpredictable. Don't get yourself hurt, Your Highness.
Xiao Ze: [calm] Thank you for reminding me, Uncle.
Xiao Ze spots you before he leaves and quietly winks at you. You try to return him with a smile, yet your heart is too cold to smile. Prince Jin kicks away the chair in front of him, his face full of rage. People around him all bow their heads standing, fearing his cold fury. Suddenly, he seems to remember something and fixes his gaze at you.
Prince Jin: [sneers] Afu, tell me, how much did you know about what happened today?
As you expected, since Prince Jin is aware of your acquaintance with Xiao Ze, he must believe you and Xiao Ze have planned today's incident together. What are you going to do?
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