Zhao Shuning had never met Gu Hanxun.
However, she first heard this name from Xia Qingyan.
It was said that the Second Prince, Gu Hanxun, was far more outstanding than the Eldest Prince. Yet, the Eldest Prince, Gu Xingran, was the future crown prince.
A little over a month ago, Gu Xingran had an accident and died at Changkong Academy. According to the normal rules, it should have been Gu Hanxun who became the crown prince of Cangwu Kingdom.
But the current king of Cangwu Kingdom didn't agree. He seemed to dislike this son from the very beginning. He even specially invited important figures from the other seven countries to discuss the matter of the crown prince of Cangwu Kingdom.
Previously, Luo Hao had also come to Cangwu Kingdom upon this invitation.
"Is Gu Hanxun very terrifying? What does he look like?"
Qi Yue didn't stop her work. While busying herself with Zhao Shuning, she said, "The Second Prince is extremely good-looking. It's a pity that his legs are disabled."
His legs were disabled?
"So, the Second Prince is usually extremely irritable. Some time ago, those two maids didn't actually look the Second Prince in the eye. But the Second Prince was sitting in a wheelchair, so his line of sight was a bit lower than others, and he thought they did."
"He's really unreasonable."
Qi Yue hissed.
She got closer to Zhao Shuning.
"The Second Prince wasn't born like this. Before, I heard my father say that when he was a child, he was good at horse - riding and archery, and was both literate and martial. He was the most favored prince by the king at that time."
"Then, how did he become paralyzed?"
Qi Yue said, "I heard it was done by the Eldest Prince's birth mother, and the Eldest Prince was also involved."
"Ah?"
"Shh—"
Qi Yue carefully glanced around, then continued, "I've only heard about it. I dare not spread such things around randomly. What my father knows may not necessarily be the truth."
What the duke knew was probably true.
Qi Yue skillfully washed the clothes and scrubbed the chamber pots.
Zhao Shuning had great strength, so she fetched water beside her.
"By the way, Xiaoyue, I'd like to ask you something. Is there a ninth - rank alchemist in Cangwu Kingdom?"
" Ninth - rank?"
"Yeah."
"I'm not very sure about this. However, the most talented person in Cangwu Kingdom was the Second Prince. But since his legs were disabled and he's been sitting in a wheelchair all day, being moody, it's said that he stopped cultivating later. So, I'm not sure if there's a ninth - rank alchemist in Cangwu Kingdom now."
Zhao Shuning nodded.
After trimming the flowers and plants, she casually asked, "In two days, for the memorial service of the Eldest Prince, should all the ministers attend?"
"Yeah."
"Where will they gather?"
"Chenghuang Hall."
"The Laundry is a small place. Will there be any arrangements for us at that time?"
"Yes. We maids need to kneel at the outermost periphery. Only after the whole memorial service is completed do we have to clean up the waste left in Chenghuang Hall."
Zhao Shuning nodded.
There were quite a few maids in the Laundry. At that time, if she slipped out to check if there were any secret passages in the various palaces, no one should notice, right?
Thinking like this, a plan slowly emerged in Zhao Shuning's mind.
Two days later, it was the memorial service for the Eldest Prince.
Zhao Shuning was woken up early in the morning by everyone. She quickly put on her clothes and shoes, and then was taken to Chenghuang Hall early by Granny Lan and the others.
Zhao Shuning wasn't fully awake yet. Yawning, she kept her head down.
When they arrived at Chenghuang Hall, it was just dawn.
They could only kneel at the periphery of Chenghuang Hall, waiting for the nobles and officials to enter.
Pair after pair of gorgeous shoes passed in front of Zhao Shuning. She didn't really care.
After everyone had arrived, most of the officials knelt down.
In front of Chenghuang Hall, there was a coffin, inside which was Gu Xingran himself.
Zhao Shuning couldn't raise her head, but she could hear a woman crying very sadly. It seemed that this was the king's wife that Qi Yue had mentioned.
The grand ceremony began.
Everyone held their breath.
At this solemn moment, the minister read the obituary. The sobs of the king's wife could be faintly heard. Now, the ministers began to step forward one by one, kneel, offer incense, and burn paper.
Taking advantage of the fact that everyone's attention was on the stage, Zhao Shuning slowly backed away.
When she came, she had already chosen a place. Behind her was a wall about ten feet high.
With Zhao Shuning's skills, it would be no problem at all to jump over this wall lightly.
She backed away.
Flipped over nimbly.
Zhao Shuning disappeared without a trace.
On the other side of the palace wall, Zhao Shuning finally let out a sigh of relief. She didn't know if the rumor was true. Was it really the Princess Wu Xuan of Tianli Kingdom who poisoned the Eldest Prince?
If the people of Cangwu Kingdom knew that the real culprit was Wu Xuan, would they start a war between the two countries for the sake of the Eldest Prince?
Spring had come, and the weather was getting warmer.
The place Zhao Shuning arrived at seemed to be another palace.
However, this palace was rather desolate. The yard was full of pear trees. It was early spring now, and the branches were covered with white pear blossoms.
Zhao Shuning was quite active, so she liked red and festive flowers like peach blossoms.
She carefully shuttled all the way. She had to seize this opportunity to take a good look if there were any secret passages or hidden secrets in this palace.
Zhao Shuning casually took out a veil from her Qiankun Bag and tied it on her face. If something happened, she couldn't implicate Granny Lan in the Laundry.
Around the corner.
She faintly heard someone talking.
Just as Zhao Shuning was about to avoid them, she saw a dark shadow flash not far away.
On such a special day, how could there still be someone like her, wandering around the palaces?
A suspicion arose in her heart, and Zhao Shuning immediately followed.
She kept going forward.
Zhao Shuning felt extremely strange. The place the black - clothed person was going to seemed very secluded. If it weren't for Zhao Shuning's top - notch skills, she might have lost him accidentally.
Passing through the pavilion, crossing the rockery, and also skimming over quite a few lotus ponds in the middle.
Finally, the black - clothed person came to a quaint but gloomy palace.
Zhao Shuning looked up.
"Chengxun Hall."
Chengxun Hall?
It was the palace of the moody Second Prince. What was this black - clothed person doing here?
Zhao Shuning followed him in.
But in just a blink of an eye, the black - clothed person disappeared in front of her.
Just as she was about to give up and go back to do her own thing, the sound of a fight came from a room inside.
"Forget it, it has nothing to do with me. Zhao Shuning, don't meddle in other people's business."
"Gu Hanxun, where on earth have you imprisoned the leader of my Qianji Assassins? If you don't explain clearly, today I will surely take your life and send you to hell to accompany your dead brother."
Qianji Assassins?
The leader?
Ye Feng?
Grandpa!
Zhao Shuning immediately stopped in her tracks.