"This consort specifically came to visit Miss Ye, but Miss Ye is so impolite?" After a pause, she glanced at Lan Murou, "Miss Lan is also unwilling to accompany this consort for a stroll?"
Lan Murou was truly not good at witty banter. Her willow brows furrowed slightly, and she lowered her head.
A chill flashed in Ye Luan's eyes. "Your Highness is in a good mood. Please."
Gao Yue smiled and immediately assumed a harmless and dignified demeanor.
"The plum blossoms in this plum garden are blooming so beautifully."
The two followed behind without speaking.
"By the way, this consort heard that Concubine Han's eye was gouged out at the last palace banquet, and she died a tragic death. Have the two of you heard about this?"
Damn it!
Qi Lin chen, this useless wretch, dared to hook up with that slut Han behind her back, and he was almost discovered by His Majesty. Now she still has to clean up his mess. What utter trash!
Trash!
"Your Highness jokes. We stay in the inn most of the time and do not venture out, so we have not heard."
Ye Luan frowned slightly. Wasn't Concubine Han the consort who was caught hooking up with Qi Lin chen by the rockery in the imperial garden at the last palace banquet? And she had died?!
Gao Yue dared to speak of such imperial palace secrets so openly. What was she trying to do?
"Was there a thief who infiltrated? Your Highness should be careful when going out."
Gao Yue chuckled, "Does Miss Ye truly not know?"
Ye Luan's eyebrows rose. What did she mean by this?
"Oh, this ice lake is truly beautiful."
Emerging from the path of the plum garden was an endless ice lake. A thin layer of ice had formed on its surface, like an irregular mirror, pure and lustrous.
"I've heard that people from Da Liang enjoy skating on ice. Do the two of you know how?"
The ice was so thin, one would fall into the water before even stepping on it.
Ye Luan said directly, "Your Highness is talented in all arts, so you must know how to skate. We admire you and truly wish to witness your grace."
Gao Yue's brows twitched, and her hand holding the handkerchief tightened slightly. She smiled and walked forward, and the two could only follow her.
The surroundings were desolate. Beside the ice lake was a bamboo forest.
Ye Luan's ears twitched, and she cautiously scanned her surroundings.
"After the New Year, spring will bring the grand wedding day of the Prince and Miss Ye. The Nine Provinces will celebrate. Congratulations."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
This Ye Luan was truly unyielding, blocking every word.
Gao Yue's gaze turned cold, and she led the two towards the ice lake.
"Come and see, there are fish swimming beneath the ice. They are so beautiful."
Ye Luan immediately grabbed Lan Murou's hand and subtly signaled to her.
"Your Highness, the ice is thin. Please be careful."
"What are you afraid of? We won't fall in."
As they were talking, a commotion suddenly came from the bamboo forest.
Ye Luan immediately turned her head, only to see over a dozen black-clad figures suddenly leap out and pounce towards them.
"Assassins! Assassins! Quickly call for help!" Gao Yue's face turned ashen.
This place was so secluded, there was no one around.
A few accompanying maids and nannies scrambled to run away.
"Help! Assassins! Assassins!"
Ye Luan saw that Gao Yue did not seem to be faking it. She quickly pulled Lan Murou and retreated slowly, launching hidden weapons without hesitation.
However, these assassins were highly skilled. They directly killed the fleeing maids with a few strokes and then turned their attention to them.
"Go hide in the back."
Ye Luan pushed Lan Murou away and ran towards the front right, holding her belly.
"A'Luan."
These assassins were clearly targeting her, and several of them immediately pursued her.
How audacious! They dared to commit murder in public at the inn.
The blade flashed, and a strong killing intent instantly enveloped her.
Ye Luan kicked away the foremost black-clad man, her posture incredibly strange as she maneuvered behind him. She inserted a silver needle into the man's back and snatched his saber, plunging it into him.
The fight on this side was fierce.
Gao Yue, seeing Ye Luan's considerable skill, had long since lost her fear, her eyes narrowing slightly.
She had indeed been careless.
However--
Looking at the black-clad figures surrounding them, a sinister glint flashed in her eyes.
How dare assassins intrude into the inn and commit violence? She would definitely investigate this matter thoroughly. It was truly detestable.
"Don't go."
Lan Murou's eyes were filled with anxiety. Seeing Ye Luan caught in the bloody battle, she wanted to fetch help but was tightly held by Gao Yue.
"What does Your Highness intend to do? Can't you see A'Luan is struggling?"
Gao Yue did not want to miss this opportunity. She held Lan Murou tightly, hiding behind a rock.
"If those assassins find us going for help, they will kill us. Wait patiently here."
Lan Murou was not foolish. It was obvious Gao Yue had brought them here with ill intentions. These assassins appearing so suddenly, and with A'Luan being pregnant, what if something happened to her?
"If Your Highness is afraid, then wait here."
After speaking, Lan Murou directly pried Gao Yue's hand open and rushed out.
But as soon as she stood up, her back was suddenly struck, her vision went black, and she fell directly to the ground.
Gao Yue's gaze was cold. She dragged Lan Murou behind her. After dealing with that unfortunate soul, she would deal with Ye Luan.
She stood up and looked at the black-clad men fighting by the ice surface, narrowing her eyes slightly.
This Ye Luan was quite skilled.
But her moves and techniques were so strange. How had she never seen such moves before?
Such a good opportunity to make Dingbei Wang and the Crown Prince fall out, thereby helping her husband in the succession struggle. She absolutely could not miss it.
As the thought crossed her mind, a sharp blade whistled towards her.
She immediately dodged, and a saber suddenly appeared in her hand, which she quickly threw.
These black-clad men were also targeting her.
A killing intent instantly surfaced in Gao Yue's eyes.
She would settle the score with these black-clad men later. When she found out who was behind them, she would surely tear them to shreds.
For now, the priority was to use these black-clad men to kill Ye Luan and frame Qi Lin zhou.
She immediately took out an arrow, dealt with a few black-clad men around her, and then shot towards Ye Luan.
Ye Luan glanced over and instantly saw her movement. She grabbed a nearby corpse and used it as a shield.
She then rolled to the back.
A sharp pain suddenly came from her abdomen. She frowned slightly, daring not to make any excessive movements.
"Miss Ye, run quickly! Behind you!"
Gao Yue's reminder came from behind. Ye Luan's eyes were cold, and she drew her saber and looked back.
These assassins were highly skilled with profound internal energy. She was finding it somewhat difficult to fight them.
Seeing Gao Yue running towards her, she immediately retreated.
This Third Prince's Consort had ulterior motives and wanted to use these assassins to harm her. Why shouldn't she play along?
"Up! Kill them! Hurry!"
A hoarse voice, laced with intense killing intent, struck.
A sly glint flashed in Ye Luan's eyes as she ran directly towards Gao Yue.
As the legitimate daughter of a general, her skills must be formidable.
Since she wanted to deal with her, she might as well make good use of this opportunity.
"Your Highness, run! Run quickly!"
Gao Yue saw the young woman running towards her and a cold smile curved her lips. She inverted the saber in her hand and stabbed forward directly.
But unexpectedly, Ye Luan suddenly dodged to the right, and the saber pierced the forehead of a black-clad man behind her, splattering her with blood.