The Trick to Teasing a Noble Family's Son - Chapter 23

After turning back into the room, Ran Mo immediately reported to Wei Lan in a low voice, “The Fourth Young Master Xie has gone with the Sixth Young Master Xie.”

“Are our people in place?” Wei Lan raised an eyebrow. “If the Black Wind Fortress bandits don’t show up, you act directly.”

“Yes.” Ran Mo nodded and replied, “I’ll take care of it right away.”

“Wait.” Wei Lan stopped Ran Mo, suddenly remembering, “Didn’t the Crown Prince ask Fourth Young Master Xie to see him earlier? Did he go?”

“It seems…he didn’t?,” Ran Mo frowned in thought, and Wei Lan’s expression changed slightly. He hadn’t gone to see the Crown Prince, so it wouldn’t be long before the Crown Prince sent someone to look for him. How could he leave with Xie Jie then?

But what if he never intended to leave the hunting grounds with Xie Jie?

Thinking this, Wei Lan sat up abruptly and told Ran Mo, “Quick! Go to the hunting grounds and find Xie Zichen!”

Although she didn’t know why Wei Lan suddenly wanted her to rush to find Xie Zichen, Ran Mo knew there must be a change in plans. She immediately got up and headed for the hunting grounds, inquiring about Xie Zichen’s whereabouts and chasing after him.

Wei Lan, lying on her side with injuries, seriously analyzed Xie Zichen’s intentions.

If Xie Zichen wasn’t leaving the hunting grounds, he clearly had another plan…one he hadn’t shared with her, meaning he didn’t trust her. If he didn’t trust her, he wouldn’t risk following her plan to leave with Xie Jie. What if she were in league with Xie Jie?

She knew he wouldn’t trust her so easily, but she hadn’t expected him to play his part so convincingly that she hadn’t noticed a thing.

This man…

Thinking of Xie Zichen’s usual stoic demeanor, Wei Lan felt a bit troubled. She patted her forehead and sighed, “He truly is difficult to handle.”

But the difficult a man was to win over, the more excited Wei Lan became.

Love was like climbing a mountain, the steeper the slope, the greater the challenge, the more enticing the conquest. A romance too easily won lacked allure. If she had initially been drawn to Xie Zichen for his beauty and status as a noble’s illegitimate son, now she was finally taking him seriously.

Ran Mo left for a while and then hurried back, anxiously reporting, “Young Master, a group of assassins is chasing the Fourth Young Master Xie! I’ve sent shadow guards to follow them. What should we do now?”

“Where did he go?” Wei Lan sat up, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. Ranmo couldn’t fathom her master’s mind—never had! In such chaos, her master showed no worry, her eyes sparkling as if watching something amusing.

“Where did he go?” Wei Lan pressed, seeing Ran Mo dazed off. Ran Mo hurriedly said, “According to the plan, he went to the outskirts where our people are ambushed.”

He doesn’t trust her, so why did he go to the outskirts…

Wei Lan couldn’t fathom Xie Zichen’s intentions anymore. She stood up, saying, “Let’s go and see.”

“Young Master, your injury…” Ran Mo exclaimed, but Wei Lan was unfazed by the pain. Compared to the hardships she’d suffered over the years, this was nothing. She smiled, shaking her fan as she walked out, “As a woman, what’s a little injury?”

If Wei Lan was unbothered, Ranmo wouldn’t play the emperor-not-anxious-but-the-eunuch-is. She hurriedly fetched a horse, and the two galloped toward the ruined temple.

皇上不急太监急 (huáng shàng bù jí tài jiàn jí) – Literally: “The emperor is not anxious, but the eunuch is.” It means someone is more worried about a situation than the person directly involved, often used to mock misplaced urgency.

According to the original plan, Wei Lan’s people were hidden in ambush. If the Black Wind Fortress’ bandits showed up, great; if not, they would kill the target themselves.

Xie Zichen, being chased by assassins, dragged Xie Jie towards the ruined temple. As they ran, Xie Zichen asked, “Sixth Brother, where is Miss Wang?”

“Fourth… Fourth Brother,” Xie Jie was being jostled on the horse, the saddle stabbing his stomach, his face pale with pain. Seeing they had reached the ruined temple, he said quickly, “Here!”

“Here?” Xie Zichen reined in his horse just as an assassin swung a blade at them. Xie Zichen rolled off the horse, pulling Xie Jie along, saying, “Sixth Brother, don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you!”

He dodged left and right, using Xie Jie as a living shield with such skillful finesse that, despite Xie Jie repeatedly facing the blade, he had to admit… Xie Zichen seemed to be protecting him?

But these assassins were clearly targeting him!

If he just let him go and dodged, would he need protection?

Saying so would seem too unbrotherly, especially since he’d lured Xie Zichen to the temple. If Xie Zichen realized, it’d be trouble.

And damn it, where did these assassins come from? Wouldn’t they scare off the Black Wind Fortress’ men?

Which boss was so ruthless, hiring assassins without telling him? Did they know how much trouble this caused?

As Xie Jie pondered, pale-faced, being pulled by Xie Zichen to dodge the blades, they suddenly heard the sound of horses. A group of rugged men rode up, and a small man pointed at Xie Jie and Xie Zichen, saying, “Boss, those two must be rich! Hey, you two being attacked, are you Xie family sons?”

“Yes, yes!” Xie Jie, seeing the Black Wind Fortress’ men, felt like he had found saviors. He cried out, “Help…”

“Sixth Brother, you know them?” Xie Zichen turned sharply. Xie Jie’s face changed. Before he could say anything, Xie Zichen shouted, “Sixth Brother, run!”

Then he threw Xie Jie towards the Black Wind Fortress’ men.

Instinctively, they caught Xie Jie. Xie Zichen, fighting the assassins, yelled, “Heroes, take care of my Sixth Brother! He is the legitimate son of the Xie family’s third branch. We will reward you handsomely in the future!”

Hearing this, Xie Jie’s mind went blank. Before he could react, a Black Wind Fortress man knocked him out with a blow.

“Boss, this guy’s a legitimate son? The letter said a bastard!” The short man tied Xie Jie up tightly.

Xie Zichen, watching, narrowed his eyes and shouted, “What are you doing! Let go of my Sixth Brother!”

He made a move towards the Black Wind Fortress’ men. The assassins followed closely behind. The Black Wind Fortress’ men frowned, and the short man said, “Boss, one legitimate son’s enough. That one looks worthless,” he looked Xie Zichen up and down and sneered, “and troublesome.”

“Let’s go.” The burly leader nodded, hoisting Xie Jie and riding away towards the mountains.

With Xie Jie captured, Xie Zichen’s demeanor turned cold. He was already wounded, and without reinforcements soon, he feared he wouldn’t hold out.

He had intentionally been attacked in the hunting grounds to draw people to notice and follow them. Yet, so much time had passed without any sign of help. Did he miscalculate?

Thinking this, Xie Zichen broke into a cold sweat. But then he realized, no, he didn’t miscalculate. The Crown Prince was observing, waiting to see if the assassins genuinely intended to kill him.

Xie Zichen tightened his lips, throwing caution to the wind, fighting the assassins with all his might.

His wounds increased, and he noticed someone nearby, yet they remained hidden. Blood loss made him dizzy, and just then, he saw a figure riding towards him.

White robes billowed, a black cloak flared wildly, a sword hung at the waist, and a curved bow in hand.

Sunlight glowed behind her, casting a halo. Sweating and struggling to look up, he saw her draw the bow like a crescent moon. Then, the wind stirred, the arrow flew.

An assassin behind him was struck and knocked back. Her chestnut steed leapt high, weaving through the crowd to reach him.

She extended a hand, flashing her usual refined, gentle smile, shouting from afar, “Fourth Young Master Xie, did you miss me?”