Chapter 29: The Truth Pierces the Veil, a Total Victory Ushers in a New Journey

Before I could finish my sentence, a chilling breeze swept across my back. Oh no! An ambush!

In the nick of time, He Yunsheng yanked me aside. The glinting blade grazed the tip of my nose, leaving me drenched in a cold sweat.

"That was close!" I patted my chest, still shaken.

The men in black were well-trained, their every move lethal. We fought while retreating, but we were gradually losing ground. A clever idea flashed through my mind, and I shouted, "Yunsheng, let's pull a 'cicada shedding its skin' maneuver!" We feigned defeat, luring the assailants into a secret chamber before quickly slamming the stone door shut, trapping them inside.

Even after escaping, we didn't let our guard down. As long as the mysterious mastermind remained at large, we would never know peace. We continued to investigate his identity, and leveraging my network as the "generous benefactor" of the palace, I finally found a trail leading to a disgraced nobleman—Prince Zhao.

This man had been stripped of his title and property for treason years ago. It seemed his ambition never died; he was desperate for a comeback. Our wealth and influence in the palace had become the prey in his eyes. However, he was deeply hidden, and we could never locate his lair.

That was until one day, several villagers ran to us in a panic, claiming that Prince Zhao had kidnapped their families, forcing us to hand over all our treasures and abandon our power in the palace. Seeing the helpless villagers, I felt heartbroken and filled with regret. It was all my fault; I had dragged innocent people into this!

Yunsheng, furious, charged straight to Prince Zhao’s hideout to confront him face-to-face.

Prince Zhao sat high upon his throne, his face twisted in arrogance. "Little Prince, you are still too naive! Today marks your end!" At his command, countless men in black swarmed out from all sides, surrounding us completely.

"Sister Wan'er, it seems this is where we meet our end..." Yunsheng gripped his sword, his eyes filled with grim resolve.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm. I couldn't give up! I closed my eyes, focusing my mind, feeling the hum of my "golden finger" ability... Suddenly, I snapped my eyes open and stared at an inconspicuous incense burner beside Prince Zhao.

"Yunsheng..." I pointed at the burner. "That incense is poisoned!"

Yunsheng understood immediately. He executed a feint, pretending to strike at Prince Zhao while actually kicking the incense burner over. A strange fragrance instantly filled the air. Prince Zhao’s expression shifted violently; he clutched his nose and collapsed to the ground in agony.

It turned out the burner contained a special hallucinogenic incense used specifically to control his underlings. As the smoke dissipated, the men in black regained their senses, looking around in bewilderment.

"You’ve been deceived by Prince Zhao! He is the true villain!" I seized the opportunity to shout, exposing every one of his wicked deeds over the years.

The men finally realized the truth. One by one, they turned their weapons on Prince Zhao, surrounding him. Seeing that all was lost, Prince Zhao roared like a mad dog, "You traitors! I won't let you get away with this!" But there was no turning back. He was eventually captured by the imperial guards. As for his fate—well, let’s just say it was truly miserable.

With the crisis averted, Yunsheng and I stood together, watching the sun dip below the horizon, the evening glow painting half the sky in shades of red.

He turned to me, his gaze so gentle it could drown a person. "Sister Wan'er, thank you."

I shrugged, feigning indifference. "What are you thanking me for? We’re in this together! Besides, protecting my own treasury is just protecting myself, isn't it?"

He shook his head with a smile and reached out to ruffle my hair. My cheeks flushed warm, and my heartbeat quickened.

The Emperor rewarded our merit, not only bestowing upon us vast amounts of gold and jewels but also elevating my status in the palace. Now, who would dare call me a lowly palace maid? Everyone had to bow and address me as "Lady Lu!" My heart swelled with joy; I felt as though I were walking on air.

The villagers were endlessly grateful, celebrating for days with song and dance. Looking at their happy faces, I felt it was all worth it. Although life had returned to a temporary calm, I was no longer afraid. I knew that no matter what happened, Yunsheng would be by my side, and together, we would face it all.