Chapter 102

Due to the Crown Prince’s status, even as a prisoner, Jian Xiang and the others had not mistreated Nan Gongxuan. He was still provided with fine food and comfortable accommodations, though under strict surveillance, a form of house arrest.
After days of hardship and displacement, he could finally return to a life of luxury, yet Nan Gongxuan’s heart grew heavier.
When he was first captured, Nan Gongxuan was furious at Jian Xiang’s act of insubordination but did not believe Jian Xiang could escape pursuit. With pursuers behind and interceptors ahead, the net would gradually tighten, and these traitors would surely be brought to justice. During this time, his only worry was his own life.
He had never imagined that the prefect of Changzhou, just a few hundred li from Jinling, was also one of Prince of Jiangxia’s men. What about Suzhou, further south?
Nan Gongxuan couldn’t help but consider the worst-case scenario. The conflict between the court and Prince of Jiangxia had become completely transparent. The long-held belief in a peaceful and prosperous empire had turned into an illusion. War was now inevitable.
And the court, due to its underestimation of Prince of Jiangxia, would undoubtedly pay a heavy price.
What he couldn’t understand was why Jian Xiang, already at the pinnacle of power as a high-ranking official, had joined forces with Prince of Jiangxia, becoming birds of a feather.
In the past few days, he had met many people, but the one who visited most frequently was Jian Yuyan. Nan Gongxuan looked at his childhood playmate, momentarily unsure whether to feel heartache or disappointment.
As for Yan Yiming, Princess Ming, this was the first time he had seen her since arriving in Changzhou.
And from the moment they met, it was an unexpected and heart-pounding encounter.
Nan Gongxuan had already witnessed this woman's ruthless, murderous side some time ago. He found it incredibly difficult to reconcile the image of Princess Ming, who had once actively expressed her desire to marry him, with that of the female demon who had killed someone with a single stroke of her blade.
Yan Yiming, dressed in a dark red, form-fitting outfit, looked sharp and agile. Her long hair was tied up, revealing her delicate features. She slipped silently into the room, roughly muffled Nan Gongxuan's voice, paused briefly, and then pulled him by the wrist to leave the place.
Nan Gongxuan saw the guards lying haphazardly outside the door, and his gaze toward Yan Yiming instantly shifted in tone.
She was here to save him.
But why?
Nan Gongxuan couldn't understand, and the urgency of the situation left him no time to figure it out or ask. He stopped struggling and quickly followed Yan Yiming.
Yan Yiming navigated the somewhat intricate rear garden with ease, agilely scaling the wall and crouching atop it, signaling for Nan Gongxuan to hurry. Nan Gongxuan stared at her in disbelief, then shifted his gaze to the wall towering above him. His face tightened with an indescribable expression, and he finally spoke in a muffled, embarrassed tone, “I... can't get up.”
“Hahaha,” Yan Yiming laughed mercilessly. Seeing the Crown Prince, who had always looked down on others, humiliated by a mere wall was utterly delightful. As Nan Gongxuan's expression grew darker, Yan Yiming finally stopped laughing and extended her hand. “I'll pull you up. Hurry, don't, “
Before she could finish, the clamor of voices grew louder in the distance, and the blinding glare of torches seemed to close in on them. Both Yan Yiming and Nan Gongxuan paled. Nan Gongxuan, no longer caring about his pride, grabbed Yan Yiming's hand and swiftly scaled the wall.
The moment he jumped down, he could hear countless voices shouting from behind, “They're over there!”
Only then did Nan Gongxuan realize how thoroughly Yan Yiming had prepared. On the other side of the wall, two magnificent horses were restlessly swishing their tails. Yan Yiming tersely urged him to mount and escape, then cracked her whip and shot forward like an arrow.
How could someone rescue another person so irresponsibly?
Nan Gongxuan truly couldn't fathom Yan Yiming's thought process, but the situation was critical. He quickly mounted his horse and chased after her. The pursuing guards swarmed out from the back gate, but the two had already vanished without a trace.
Wei Xiongjie arrived upon hearing the news and repeatedly confirmed with the guard who had been watching Nan Gongxuan, “Are you certain it was the Princess?”
“I wouldn't dare deceive you, my lord.”
The scout who had gone to investigate returned and reported, “Sir, the princess is indeed not in her room.”
Wei Xiongjie stood silently in place, staring into the pitch-black night where nothing could be seen. His once handsome face gradually twisted into a ruthless and resolute expression.
“Chase them. I want to see her alive or dead. How far could the two of them possibly escape?”
Why save the Crown Prince? Why betray the prince? Wei Xiongjie couldn't understand.
He couldn't fathom the reason for the princess's defection.
And if that were the case, was the previous exposure also related to the princess? Was she the biggest flaw in this entire plan?
Wei Xiongjie clenched his jaw tightly. Upon hearing the news, Chancellor Jian and Jian Yuyan hurried over to ask him if it was true that the princess had rescued the Crown Prince. After receiving confirmation, their expressions shifted differently.
Chancellor Jian immediately realized why the Emperor had detected their intentions, it was all thanks to Princess Ming. Thinking of how his years of planning had been ruined because of her, his face turned ashen with rage, wishing he could tear Yan Yiming into pieces.
On the other hand, Jian Yuyan's expression was subtle.
He had originally planned to release Nan Gongxuan in the near future but was hesitant because he worried that Nan Gongxuan would lack the ability to protect himself after leaving. He never expected that Princess Ming would rescue His Highness.
Wasn't she the daughter of Prince of Jiangxia? So why would she risk her life to save the Crown Prince? Didn't she know what kind of situation she would face in the future?
Jian Yuyan suddenly felt that he had never truly understood this Princess Ming. However, the benefit for him now was that Princess Ming had drawn everyone's suspicion, allowing him to proceed with his next moves without restraint.
But before that, Jian Yuyan's expression softened slightly. He wrote a letter, carefully sealed it, and summoned his hidden guards as usual, instructing them to deliver it to A’Ming in the northwest.
The hidden guard took the letter but was momentarily confused.
In the past, the princess had ordered them to infiltrate the young master's side, becoming his hidden guards under the guise of their roles, using their positions to convey messages for the princess. All the letters delivered to the young master were from the princess, and the letters the young master wrote also ended up in the princess's hands.
There was no so-called Miss A’Ming in the northwest, it was all part of the princess's scheme.
But now, the princess had fled, taking the Crown Prince with her. Even the hidden guards were beginning to feel lost, unable to discern their master's intentions, and somewhat uncertain whether the princess was still their master.
Jian Yuyan noticed the hidden guard's hesitation and sensed something amiss. His refined brows furrowed. “What is it?”
The hidden guard hesitated for a moment before speaking uncertainly, “Young Master... actually, there is no Miss A’Ming in the northwest...”
“What!” Jian Yuyan snapped sharply. “How can that be?”
He refused to believe it. “If she doesn't exist, how did I know her appearance? How did I receive her letters? Where did you deliver my letters?”
The hidden guard knelt with a thud. “The portrait and letters were all given to me by the princess to deliver to you, Young Master. Your letters... were also sent to the princess.”
Silence.
After a long while, Jian Yuyan's gloomy voice came from above. “So, from the very beginning, you were all her people.”
“This subordinate is guilty,” the hidden guard lowered his head without defending himself.
Jian Yuyan remained silent for a long time before collapsing weakly into a chair.
How could this be? A’Ming wasn't in the northwest at all. So where was she? He had received her letters, so she must be alive.
“Where did the portrait and letters the Princess had you deliver to me come from?”
“This...” The hidden guard pondered for a moment. “All the letters were given to me by the Princess to deliver to you, Young Master. As for their origin, I truly don't know.”
Seeing Jian Yuyan's expression growing increasingly grim, the hidden guard could guess that after being manipulated by the Princess for so long, the Young Master would naturally be furious. Now that the Princess had already left, he couldn't help but desperately recall some details from back then in order to survive, and he actually managed to remember something.
“Ah, that's right,” the hidden guard's eyes lit up. “I don't know where the letters came from, but I do know about that portrait.”
“Speak,” Jian Yuyan was on the verge of erupting in rage.
“That portrait was drawn by the Princess herself. However, she had me take it to a painter and asked him to recreate it based on the original. She specifically instructed the painter to make it simpler and rougher.”
Jian Yuyan's breath hitched abruptly. “What about the original painting?”
“The original was burned by the Princess.”
The painting was done by Princess Ming. She could paint, and she knew what A’Ming looked like, yet at the time she had complained that he never told her A’Ming resembled Jian Yu'er.
Since she had already drawn it, why have another painter imitate it? Was it because she was afraid someone would recognize her brushwork? The painting was meant for him, so Princess Ming must have been worried he would recognize her handwriting.
But they had never met before, had no prior acquaintance, so how could he possibly recognize her brushwork?
“...Are you certain the painting was drawn by the Princess herself?” Jian Yuyan asked with difficulty.
“I'm certain. I was waiting nearby while the Princess was painting.”
Jian Yuyan sat stunned in his chair, the fury on his face completely gone, replaced only by endless confusion and bewilderment.
What was she hiding? Why did she understand A’Ming so well?
What in the world was going on?