The dagger glead with a silvery white light, seeming to shimr under the moonlight, with strands of coldness perating the air. As it approached the skin, it felt as if it could freeze flesh and blood, clearly a very sharp object.
Huangfu Jingchen hurriedly sidestepped to dodge, simultaneously reaching out to block.
In the midst of the fight, a vase on the shelf—whether knocked, swept by the fist wind, or shaken by their movents—fell from the shelf.
The shelf was only about a ter above the ground.
Huangfu Jingchen was greatly alard.
Once the vase hit the ground, it would surely shatter, and the sound of breaking would inevitably alert the patrol below.
Although this masked person was also a patrol, since the other party had no intention of calling for help from the patrol below, Huangfu Jingchen still had a chance to fight. If those patrols and guards ca at the sound, surrounding him heavily, even with the silk booklet in his possession, it would not be easy to escape unscathed.
Thinking of this, he disregarded the possibility of being wounded in the leg by the masked patrol’s dagger and was about to snatch the vase.
However, sothing unexpected happened. Exposing an opening, the masked patrol could have continued attacking, leaving a wound on his leg. Yet the masked patrol withdrew, rolling to the ground to catch the falling vase with both hands.
Huangfu Jingchen swiftly retracted his hand, seizing the opportunity to grab the silk booklet.
The masked patrol returned the vase, only to turn and see the silk booklet already in Huangfu Jingchen’s hand, a flash of anger crossing their eyes. They raised the dagger, ready to snatch it back.
This masked patrol also didn’t want to alert the people downstairs?
Huangfu Jingchen quickly tucked the silk booklet into his arms, saying, "Wait! What just happened was a misunderstanding, I didn’t an to offend. Sorry! But don’t co any closer. If you take another step, I’ll smash things, alerting the patrol downstairs, and we’ll part ways without gaining anything!"
A hoarse, low voice replied, "Shaless!"
Huangfu Jingchen was very curious; this person had been disguising their voice all along, sounding like a man’s voice. Even caught off guard earlier, nothing was revealed, indicating she was very alert, and seemingly had more strength left. He hurriedly said, "I have the evidence, I won’t let that corrupt official escape justice! Pestering further won’t help, I won’t let you have it, we’ll just end up both losing since I can break the net!"
The masked patrol had been poised to grab the booklet but now paused, glancing at Huangfu Jingchen with a complex gaze.
Huangfu Jingchen had retreated three steps earlier and had an antique shelf beside him, on which there were not only vases but more porcelains.
Now, one of Huangfu Jingchen’s hands was on a porcelain bottle, demonstrating with his action that he ant what he said to the masked patrol.
The masked patrol was five steps away from him. Beside him, there were five porcelains. Even if the masked patrol reacted extrely quickly and rushed to catch one or two, it was unlikely all five would avoid falling to the ground and making noise.
The anger that once filled the masked patrol’s eyes gradually subsided as she slowly backed away, then darted up to the third floor.
Huangfu Jingchen breathed a sigh of relief.
Since this patrol also didn’t want to alert others, that was his assurance.
In fact, he was gambling just now.
What if this patrol only wanted to take credit alone without alerting others, but at the critical mont, seeing the situation uncontrollable, she still calls for help?
Luckily, she didn’t.
This also indicated that this patrol might not be a true patrol.
This person was here for the sa purpose as him, aiming for the silk booklet.
Perhaps he arrived even earlier, having searched once but found nothing, hiding himself after Huangfu Jingchen arrived. Not until he found the silk booklet did this person suddenly appear, intending to claim it for herself.
Maybe her purpose was the sa as his?
After all, there must be many who want soone like Governor Wang to et his downfall.
No matter what, now the silk booklet was in his hands, and that person had retreated. Best to leave here first.
While Huangfu Jingchen was searching for the silk booklet, two shadowy figures appeared stealthily in the western garden of the Governor Mansion, dressed in black nightwear with black cloth covering their faces, carefully avoiding the guards’ sight and patrol routes.
They had been wandering here for a while.
The Governor Mansion was indeed vast, and as they kept turning, they got lost.
Looking at a garden much like others, they rembered having been to a similar one before; if not for the different flowers, they would’ve thought they were trapped in a labyrinth.
Finally, one person whispered in exasperation, "Do you even know the way?"
"Of course I do, why wouldn’t I? These rich people’s mansions all look the sa. We’ll find it soon!"
"We’ve been looking forever. Maybe we should grab soone and ask. How much longer are we going to search? It’ll be morning soon; how will we strike when it’s daylight?"
The other retorted, "Shut up!"
As the guide, not knowing the way himself was frustrating, but to save face, he couldn’t admit it outright, while the other idiot was rubbing his face in the dirt without any sense.
"Fine, I won’t say. But morning really is coming!"
Listening to his companion’s complaints, though unwilling, the man had to admit they had no choice. The security here was too tight. After all the effort they spent, it would be in vain once morning ca.
The two of them hid in the neatly trimd flower bushes by the roadside.
Previously, they avoided people, fearing getting seen, dodging one after another.
Now, wanting to catch soone to ask, the road was empty and eerily quiet.
Both felt suffocated.
Disagreents arose again: one wanted to head elsewhere to catch soone lest they spent a whole night waiting in vain; the other insisted on staying put as the mansion was too dangerous to wander about.
The argunt ended with no resolution, continuing to wait!
The one who wanted to leave grumbled, "This job really isn’t worth it, lost three brothers! And one got crippled!"
The one who insisted on staying replied sinisterly, "Isn’t splitting the silver between two better than six?" The crippled one couldn’t fend for themselves anyway, so certainly couldn’t expect to share the silver.
The first person was stunned but then sounded joyful, "Why didn’t I think of that?" He worriedly added, "Never thought that boy’s uncle was the prefectural governor, living directly in the Governor Mansion. Don’t you think it’s troubleso? We’re here doing a job in the Governor Mansion, killing the prefectural governor’s nephew, won’t it cause problems?"
"Since when have our jobs been without problems? Just take what we need and leave, we aren’t here to kill the prefectural governor, where’s your endless nonsense coming from?"
The first person sulked into silence at the reprimand.
Endless issues inherently co with their risk-free endeavors, silver wasn’t easy to earn!
After quite a bit more waiting, finally, a small maid carrying tea passed by.
The one who stuck to his plan felt a sense of relief, smugly looking at his companion.
The other turned away defiantly; if they’d gone elsewhere as he wanted, they would’ve found soone long ago.
Nevertheless, finally finding soone, they couldn’t risk scaring her away. The pair crouched quietly in the flower bushes by the roadside, not even daring to breathe audibly.
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