GBP Chapter 539 The Girl is Trapped
Chapter 539 The Girl is Trapped
The heavy stone door of the secret chamber in the Qin mansion blocked out most of the sounds of fighting outside, but it couldn't stop the stench of blood that permeated the room.
Shi Wanxia huddled in the corner, her fingertips tightly gripping the copper whistle given to her by Cui Zhihao, the whistle burning hot from her body heat.
The secret room was lit by only a small oil lamp. In the dim light, the old steward Qin Fu was hunched over, holding a rusty woodcutter's knife in his hand, but his eyes were frighteningly bright, like an old beast protecting its cubs.
"Sir, please don't be afraid."
Qin Fu's voice was hoarse, with a slight tremor, yet unusually firm.
“This old servant has guarded the Qin mansion for thirty years. Only this old servant knows the mechanism of this secret room. Those traitors will not be able to find this place.”
Shi Wanxia nodded, but her throat tightened, and she couldn't speak.
She knew in her heart that if the Prince of Rongyang really came to the Qin residence, he would not give up easily.
But the sounds of fighting outside didn't sound like a large army pressing in; they sounded more like small-scale skirmishes—something's not right.
Before leaving, Cui Zhihao said that Rongyang Wang had a large army. If he really came to arrest her, why would there only be this little movement?
"Uncle Qin, listen."
Shi Wanxia suddenly raised her hand, signaling Qin Fu to be quiet, "Isn't it too noisy outside?"
Qin Fu listened intently, then frowned: "It sounds like... quite a few people are shouting battle cries, but I haven't heard the sound of horses' hooves or the heavy clashing of weapons. It sounds like... they're making noise on purpose?"
Shi Wanxia's heart sank, and a terrible thought popped into her head: "A diversionary tactic! They're not here to arrest me at all; they're deliberately having Eunuch Liu trick Cui Zhihao into coming to the Qin residence to lure him away from the palace!"
No sooner had the words been spoken than a loud "boom" came from above the secret chamber, followed by the sound of the stone door being pried open, and dust falling down in a flurry.
Qin Fu's expression changed drastically, and he gripped his wood-chopping knife tightly: "Oh no! They've found the entrance to the secret chamber!"
Shi Wanxia took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.
She couldn't panic; Choi Ji-ho was still on his way, and she had to hold on until he arrived.
She took out the hairpin hidden in her hair bun. It was specially made for her by Cui Zhihao. The tip of the hairpin was coated with a small amount of anesthetic. It was for decoration on ordinary days, but could be used for self-defense in critical moments.
"Uncle Qin, there is a secret passage behind the secret room that leads to a small alley outside the mansion. You should go through there quickly."
Shi Wanxia gave Qin Fu a push, "Tell Cui Zhihao that the palace is the real target, and tell him to return to the capital immediately to save the emperor!"
Qin Fu shook his head and held the wood-chopping knife in front of him: "My lord, this old servant cannot leave! You are General Cui's weakness and Lord Qin's hope. This old servant must protect you! You go through the secret passage yourself, this old servant will hold them off here!"
"Lord Qin!"
Shi Wanxia panicked, "Staying here is suicide!"
"This old servant is just an old man with bones; it's no pity if he dies."
Qin Fu grinned, revealing his few remaining teeth. "Lord Cui has treated the Qin family well. Lord Qin is still waiting for his name to be cleared in the imperial prison. Even if it costs me my life, I will make sure that you get out safely!"
The gaps in the stone door, pried open wider and wider, came from outside: "Listen up, you inside! Come out and surrender now! Otherwise, once we break down the door, we'll tear you to pieces!"
Qin Fu glanced back at Shi Wanxia, his eyes filled with determination: "My lord, let's go! It'll be too late if we delay any longer!"
After saying that, he rushed towards the stone gate and used his body to hold it in place.
Looking at Qin Fu's hunched but determined back, Shi Wanxia's tears welled up instantly.
She gritted her teeth, turned and ran towards the secret passage, silently praying: Cui Zhihao, you must be safe. Lord Qin, you must live. Uncle Qin, I will come back to save you.
The secret passage was narrow and dark, covered with cobwebs and dust. Shi Wanxia stumbled and fell as she ran, tearing her skirt in several places and scraping her calves with stones, which stung painfully.
But she dared not stop. A cracking sound came from the stone door behind her, followed by Qin Fu's scream, a sound that pierced her heart like a knife.
She bit her lip hard to stop herself from crying out, and just ran even faster.
Meanwhile, on the official road outside the Qin residence, Cui Zhihao's horse galloped so fast that its hooves flew, the wind stinging his cheeks, and the anxiety in his heart felt like it was on fire.
His mind was filled with images of Shi Wanxia. He remembered her saying she would make peach blossom pastries before she left, the look of dependence in her eyes as she clutched the copper whistle, and the way Zhao Hu died protecting her. His heart felt like it was being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, and he could hardly breathe from the pain.
"Wanxia, wait for me, I'll be there soon."
Choi Ji-ho muttered to himself, then suddenly spurred the horse's belly. The horse, in pain, ran even faster.
Just then, a group of men in black suddenly rushed out from the intersection ahead. Each of them was holding a long knife, and their faces were covered with black cloth, revealing only their fierce eyes.
The leader was a burly man with a hideous scar on his face, holding a ghost-head knife, who blocked their way.
"Choi Jiho, how have you been?"
Scarface sneered, his voice rough and hoarse like a broken gong, "My general anticipated your arrival and specifically instructed me to wait here!"
Cui Zhihao reined in the horse, and it reared up with a neigh.
His cold gaze swept over the man in black before him, and his heart skipped a beat—
These men appeared to be highly skilled, far from ordinary bandits; it was clearly an ambush meticulously arranged by the Prince of Rongyang.
"Where is Prince Rongyang?"
Cui Zhihao gripped the sword at his waist, his voice low and thunderous, "Didn't he go to the Qin residence to arrest Lord Shi? Tell him to get out here!"
"Seize the late summer?"
Scarface laughed heartily, doubled over with laughter, "Cui Zhihao, you're too naive! His Highness the Third Prince and my general's target has always been the palace. Capturing Shi Wanxia was just a ploy to lure the tiger away from the mountain!"
"If you rush to the Qin residence now, you'll probably only find a cold corpse!"
"you wanna die!"
Enraged, Cui Zhihao drew his sword, its cold light flashing, and slashed at the scarred man.
His mind was now filled with concern for Shi Wanxia's safety. Hearing Scarface's words, he was even more enraged. His sword moves were fast and ruthless, carrying a world-destroying momentum.
Scarface didn't hesitate either, slashing out with his ghost-head knife to block the attack. With a loud "clang," sparks flew everywhere.
Scarface was so shocked that his hands went numb, and he was secretly surprised—Cui Zhihao was indeed living up to his reputation; no wonder the general had set up an ambush to eliminate him.
"Go! Take him down!"
Scarface shouted and waved his hand.
The men in black immediately swarmed forward, brandishing their long swords to form an impenetrable net of blades that enveloped Cui Zhihao.
Cui Zhihao rode his horse, charging left and right through the crowd, blood splattering wherever his sword passed.
There were simply too many men in black, and each one of them was a suicide soldier, fearless of death. Even if they were hit, they would use their last bit of strength to drag him down with them.
During the fierce battle, a long sword slashed from the side. Cui Zhihao dodged to the side, but another person took the opportunity to punch him in the chest. He groaned and blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
He didn't bother wiping the blood; with a backhand slash, he killed the man in black in front of him, his anxiety growing ever stronger.
I wonder how things are at the Qin residence. Is Shi Wanxia alright?
Can Qin Bo protect her? And what about the palace? Shen Yanzhou and Su Wanqing are still inside. How long can they hold out against Rongyang King's army?
These thoughts came flooding in like a tide, distracting him considerably.
Just then, Scarface seized an opening and slashed at his horse's leg with his ghost-headed dagger.
"not good!"
Alarm bells rang in Choi Ji-ho's mind; it was too late to dodge.
"puff"
With a thud, the horse's leg was severed, and the horse let out a mournful neigh before collapsing to the ground.
Choi Ji-ho was thrown away and crashed heavily to the ground, feeling a sharp pain in his chest and his vision going black.