The Little Princess's Secret Guard - Chapter 8
Chapter 8: Betrayal
“Your Highness, please step aside!” Lin Xiao’s voice was extremely cold.
Shen Panyan’s mind was a mess. She didn’t understand why Lin Xiao, who had gone to catch a snake, would emerge from the woods carrying a dripping, bloodied long saber.
He must have killed someone!
And now, he wanted to kill Qiushuang.
Shen Panyan was confused. “Why? You have to give me a reason. Qiushuang is my personal maid…”
Lin Xiao’s brow showed impatience, and his voice was even colder. “She is your personal maid, but do you know she is disloyal to her Master?”
“She used every scheme to try and send this subordinate away, intending to strike at you.”
What?!
Shen Panyan’s mind went blank from the sudden news. She hadn’t processed it at all, murmuring, “Impossible. Qiushuang is not like that…”
“Lin Xiao, are you lying to me…”
Lin Xiao had no intention of arguing with the Princess anymore. He planned to bypass her and strike directly at Qiushuang. Qiushuang cowered behind Shen Panyan, trembling violently, immense fear and panic gripping her heart.
She was discovered?
When did he find out?
Qiushuang couldn’t figure it out. Seeing the sharp blade, mixed with the smell of bl00d, rushing straight toward her, her pupils constricted, and she let out an uncontrolled scream. “Your Highness, save me!!”
Seeing the blade was just inches away, Shen Panyan panicked. “Lin Xiao, are you disobeying me?”
The strong smell of bl00d stopped the moment it neared Qiushuang’s heart. The surrounding environment seemed to quiet down instantly. Qiushuang could only hear her own frantic heartbeat.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
It was beating incredibly fast.
Shen Panyan spoke rapidly. “Lin Xiao, you say Qiushuang is disloyal. Where is the evidence? Without evidence, how can you expect me to believe you?”
Lin Xiao’s face was as cold as frost, his eyes filled with irritation.
Why would this need evidence? If he saw it, he killed it.
He looked at Qiushuang with an incredibly sharp gaze, as if intending to see right through her. Qiushuang was shaking with fright, crying and shaking her head. “Your Highness, this servant has been by your side since you were ten. You know best what kind of person I am. Back then, when you angered the Empress, and she refused to let the Imperial Physician treat you, this servant knelt for a whole day, begging the Empress for an entire day, until she finally granted permission to summon the Imperial Physician. Have you forgotten?”
Shen Panyan certainly hadn’t forgotten.
Although Qiushuang was fond of petty tantrums and had been somewhat negligent towards her recently, on matters of great importance, she had never made a mistake.
She could not allow Qiushuang to be slandered by Lin Xiao like this. Shen Panyan’s gaze toward Lin Xiao also became increasingly firm.
“Lin Xiao, if you cannot give me an explanation today, I will not allow you to touch a single strand of Qiushuang’s hair.”
“You accuse Qiushuang of disloyalty, so present the evidence.”
“If you have no evidence, then you must apologize to Qiushuang.”
Apologize?
Preposterous.
Lin Xiao’s irritation intensified.
How many people had he killed in his life? When had he ever apologized to anyone, let alone a disloyal maid!
Lin Xiao let out a cold laugh and sheathed his long saber. “Please forgive this subordinate, but I find it difficult to comply.”
He had thought the Princess was special, unlike other Masters, but it turned out he was mistaken.
Not only is she weak, but she can’t even distinguish right from wrong.
Very well. If I can’t kill her, then so be it. In any case, the Emperor’s assignment was only for four months. Once the mission was over, he would have no further entanglement with her.
As for her future, it was none of his concern.
She only needs to be alive while he is here.
Lin Xiao had no desire to explain further. He bowed. “This subordinate takes his leave.”
Seeing him depart, Shen Panyan wanted to call him back, but then she saw his utterly distant and indifferent gaze directed at her. She felt both wronged and sad, struggling to hold back tears.
He wanted to kill Qiushuang without saying anything. There could be no reason to take a life without cause in this world. If what he said was true, and he produced evidence, she certainly wouldn’t stop him.
But he offered no evidence and remained so cold towards her, refusing even to apologize.
Shen Panyan’s nose stung terribly.
She had thought Lin Xiao was different from everyone else, that he would care about her, but now it seemed he was arrogant and unruly, completely unwilling to listen to her, and had never truly respected her.
She wouldn’t talk to him anymore either!
Shen Panyan turned around, reaching out to grab Qiushuang’s hand, her voice choked and angry. “Qiushuang, let’s go!”
Qiushuang was completely overwhelmed by fear at that moment.
She was discovered! She was discovered!
From their very first meeting, Lin Xiao had been threatening her. Later, he tried to harm her several times, and now, he had almost killed her.
If not for the Princess, she would be dead by now.
The two seemed to be at odds now, but Lin Xiao was still by the Princess’s side. Her actions would eventually be exposed. When that happened, and the Princess no longer protected Lin Xiao, she would certainly die.
She didn’t want to die.
Qiushuang’s mind was consumed by immense panic.
No! She couldn’t go back!
She hadn’t completed the Empress’s task, and the Empress wouldn’t let her go. Lin Xiao wouldn’t let her go either!
She had to figure out a way to save herself.
Qiushuang forced herself to suppress her fear. She followed Shen Panyan’s movement to leave, pretending to be compliant, trembling all over, and looking terrified. “Your Highness, I’m so scared! What exactly did I do wrong that Guard Lin Xiao tried to kill me repeatedly? Why?”
Shen Panyan saw her face full of fear and comforted her softly. “Qiushuang, don’t be afraid. I won’t let Lin Xiao harm a single hair on your head.”
“We’ve been Master and servant for years. I know your nature; you’re just a little willful.”
“Don’t be afraid!”
With that, Shen Panyan hugged Qiushuang’s trembling back and patted her gently.
“Your Highness, you truly are the best Princess in the world!” Qiushuang looked at her with a touched expression.
Shen Panyan felt embarrassed by the compliment and turned her head away. Just as she was about to speak, Qiushuang’s pleading voice sounded again.
“Your Highness, could I possibly not return right now? I’m so terrified!”
“The thought of going back and running into Guard Lin Xiao makes my heart pound with fear…”
Shen Panyan was inherently kind-hearted. Seeing Qiushuang both frightened and pleading, she naturally agreed.
“Then I’ll stay and walk around nearby with you, and we’ll return later.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Qiushuang broke into a grateful smile.
Shen Panyan patted her hand reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Qiushuang, I’m here.”
“Mm-hmm,” Qiushuang nodded, looking at her with gratitude. “Your Highness, can we go to West Mountain? In previous years, you loved picking the winter plum blossoms there to make sachets. I want to go to West Mountain to pick some for you to make sachets.”
Shen Panyan was slightly surprised by this request.
She’s still thinking of me, even though she’s so shaken.
Shen Panyan was a person easily satisfied. Whoever treated her well, she would believe unconditionally.
She looked at Qiushuang, and the earlier events brought a sudden surge of guilt.
It was all her fault for not protecting her, which led to such a shock.
“Alright, then we’ll go to West Mountain.”
“Thank you, Your Highness!”
“Why thank me? I should be thanking you…”
The two walked together toward West Mountain, chatting as they went. Shen Panyan’s eyes were curved in a smile. It had been a long time since she felt this happy.
West Mountain was not too far from the Imperial Retreat, but the walk was tiring. Shen Panyan’s health had only recently improved, and after walking for a while, sweat beaded on her forehead from exhaustion.
Qiushuang encouraged her. “Just hold on a little longer, Your Highness. We’ll be there soon.”
“Mm,” Shen Panyan nodded, walking with her through the forest.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, when Shen Panyan was panting with exhaustion, Qiushuang suddenly stopped and turned to Shen Panyan.
“Your Highness, we’ve arrived!”
“Arrived?” Shen Panyan had been focused on climbing and hadn’t paid attention to the path. Looking at the cliff not far ahead, from where the distant mountains were stacked, clouds curled softly, and the ground was covered in white frost, looking like a fairyland. Thinking Qiushuang meant to show her the beautiful view, she smiled. “Qiushuang, let’s go pick the plum blossoms first!”
“Once we’ve picked the plum blossoms, we’ll come back to appreciate the scenery here.”
To her surprise, Qiushuang said, “Your Highness, please follow this servant.”
“When this servant came to West Mountain to pick plum blossoms last year, I saw a particularly beautiful plum tree here…”
She hadn’t finished her sentence when a sharp blade of wind struck from behind. Qiushuang turned and saw the familiar figure. Her breathing stopped, and her heart pounded uncontrollably. “Your Highness!!!”
Shen Panyan hadn’t expected Lin Xiao to suddenly reappear, his target aimed directly at Qiushuang. His speed was too fast. She had no time to shout a warning, so she could only use her own body to shield her.
Lin Xiao used a dagger this time, not the long saber. Shen Panyan completely blocked the path with her body. Even Lin Xiao couldn’t retract his dagger in time, so he had to quickly use internal energy to change the trajectory of the dagger, shifting the target from the heart to the shoulder.
“Pfft!”
The dagger plunged violently into Shen Panyan’s left shoulder. Bl00d instantly soaked her clothes.
The white fox fur dripped with bl00d.
Shen Panyan’s face visibly paled, and she stumbled back two steps.
Her eyes were filled with disbelief as she looked at Lin Xiao.
“Lin… Lin Xiao…”
“Your Highness!!” Qiushuang cried out, looking completely stunned with fear.
Shen Panyan’s body was swaying precariously.
It was at this exact moment that Qiushuang suddenly reached out and shoved her forcefully.
In an instant, Shen Panyan’s body plunged down the cliff like a light butterfly…
The mountain wind howled past her ears, and her dress flapped violently. She looked at Qiushuang’s face, her own filled with disbelief.
“Why… why…”
She believed she had never treated her badly. Why did she do this…
The pain of betrayal and the physical pain came simultaneously. Shen Panyan coughed violently, almost drowning in it. In a blur, she seemed to see a black figure leap down, rushing toward her.
It looked like… Lin Xiao!