The abstinent prince, practicing Buddhism, is seduced by a voluptuous beauty into breaking his vows.

Chapter 162: A Group of 4

When Jiang Jingchen woke up, he found himself lying in an unfamiliar bed.

The wound had been bandaged, and the blood-stained clothes had been changed; the clean undergarment carried a faint medicinal fragrance.

He propped himself up and sat up, looking around.

It was a small room, simply yet elegantly furnished. A desk stood by the window, with several books and a pot of orchids on it.

The door opened, and Chu Qingzi walked in carrying a bowl of medicine.

Seeing that he was awake, she paused, a hint of relief flashing in her eyes.

"Awake?" She placed the medicine bowl on the small table beside the bed. "Drink your medicine first."

Jiang Jingchen looked at her.

She was dressed simply today, in a plain white dress, her hair loosely tied up, without any makeup. There were faint dark circles under her eyes, clearly indicating she hadn't slept well all night.

"You took care of me all night?" he asked.

Chu Qingzi turned her face away.

"...The doctor came to see me; I was just helping to prepare the medicine."

Jiang Jingchen looked at her profile and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

He didn't expose her, picked up the medicine bowl, and drank it all in one gulp.

Chu Qingzi took the empty bowl and was about to get up when he grabbed her wrist.

"Miss Chu."

Chu Qingzi's body stiffened slightly.

Jiang Jingchen looked at her with a serious gaze.

"Thank you for last night."

Chu Qingzi kept her head down and didn't look at him.

"No need to thank me," she said softly. "You saved me. If you hadn't stood in front of me, I would be dead."

Jiang Jingchen shook his head.

"It's my duty. What about that woman?"

Chu Qingzi raised her head and looked at him.

"Still not awake..."

Jiang Jingchen's heart sank.

"Miss Chu," he looked at her, "this matter is of utmost importance, you can no longer interfere."

Chu Qingzi raised an eyebrow.

Why?

"The Empress Dowager is not someone you can deal with," Jiang Jingchen said seriously. "Although your father is the Prime Minister, the Empress Dowager holds a very high position. If she finds out you are investigating her..."

"So what?"

Jiang Jingchen was speechless for a moment.

Chu Qingzi looked at him and suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint, yet it softened her cool and aloof features.

"Jiang Jingchen," she said seriously, "her actions are very likely detrimental to the Crown Prince. To deal with the Crown Prince is..."

Jiang Jingchen looked at her and understood what she wanted to say.

As the two were talking, a commotion suddenly broke out outside.

"Brother Chen! Brother Chen, are you there?!"

Xie Yu's voice was full of energy.

It was Xie Yu's voice.

Then came Ashina Lie's voice.

"This place is really remote. Do you people from the Central Plains all like to build your houses in these kinds of secluded corners?"

Jiang Jingchen: "..."

Chu Qingzi: "..."

The two exchanged a glance and sighed simultaneously.

Xie Yu peeked in and saw that Jiang Jingchen was awake; his eyes lit up.

"Hey, Brother Chen's awake?"

Ashina Lie also squeezed in, carrying two jugs of wine.

"Perfect timing, let's have a drink—oh, you're injured, never mind, we'll drink it and you can have it."

Jiang Jingchen: "..."

Chu Qingzi: "..."

Xie Yu squeezed to the edge of the bed, plopped down, and scrutinized Jiang Jingchen's expression.

"You look alright, looks like you won't die."

Jiang Jingchen said expressionlessly, "Thanks to you."

Ashina Lie also sat down on the other side and placed the wine pot on the table.

"Who were those people last night? Have you found out?"

Jiang Jingchen and Chu Qing exchanged a glance.

"The investigation is still ongoing," Jiang Jingchen said.

Xie Yu glanced at him, then at Chu Qingzi, his eyes becoming ambiguous.

"What exactly happened between you two last night?"

Chu Qingzi remained expressionless.

"It's nothing."

Xie Yu did not believe it.

"Nothing much? Nothing much? You two are out on a date in the middle of the night? And with a woman who's unconscious?"

Ashina Lie chimed in from the side.

"Yeah, isn't this kind of 'funny' thing a bit too weird?"

Jiang Jingchen took a deep breath.

"It's not a date."

"What is that?"

Jiang Jingchen remained silent.

Chu Qingzi also remained silent.

Xie Yu and Ashina Lie exchanged a glance and simultaneously said "Oh".

"I understand, I understand," Xie Yu waved his hand, "If it's inconvenient to say, then I won't say."

Ashina Lie leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"But don't worry, we'll keep this a secret. We won't tell anyone."

Xie Yu nodded: "Yes. Especially His Highness the Crown Prince—"

Jiang Jingchen interrupted him: "His Highness already knows."

Xie Yu was taken aback.

"what?"

Jiang Jingchen sighed.

"Do you think His Highness's men are all useless? He must have already found out everything about last night."

Xie Yu scratched his head.

"That's true."

Ashina Lie seemed to be deep in thought.

"So what are you planning to do now?"

Jiang Jingchen looked at Chu Qingzi.

Chu Qingzi remained silent for a moment before speaking.

"Investigate further."

"Investigate what?"

Chu Qingzi did not answer.

Xie Yu suddenly slapped his thigh.

"Okay! Count me in!"

Ashina Lie nodded as well.

"Me too."

Jiang Jingchen looked at the two of them, his brows slightly furrowed.

"What are you getting involved in? This has nothing to do with you."

Xie Yu raised an eyebrow.

"How can it be nothing? Brother Chen is my brother. If my brother is in trouble, how can I not care?"

Ashina Lie also spoke with righteous indignation.

"Exactly. Besides—" He put his arm around Xie Yu's shoulder, laughing heartily, "Our Northern Desert is now a vassal state of Yong Kingdom, we're family!"

Xie Yu slapped his hand away.

"Who says we're family!"

"My sister will be your Lady of the Marquis sooner or later. In a way, we'll be family."

Xie Yu: "..."

Xie Yu: Aren't you going a bit too far with that rounding?

Ashina Lie patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't be so formal. Besides, since I'm helping you investigate the case, you'll have to help me in the future."

Xie Yu: "Help you with what?"

Ashina Lie thought for a moment.

"Help me chase after them... never mind, I won't." He waved his hand. "Help me drink some wine, that's fine too."

Xie Yu: "..."

This person is really...

Looking at the two of them, Jiang Jingchen suddenly felt his head ache even more.

Chu Qingzi couldn't help but smile.

The smile was faint, yet it softened her cool and aloof features.

Jiang Jingchen saw it and his heart stirred slightly.

---

Just then, footsteps came from outside.

Jiang Jingchen's expression changed. "Someone's here!"

Xie Yu stood up abruptly and stretched his wrists.

"Perfect timing, I've been itching for a fight."

Ashina Lie also stood up and put the wine pot on the table.

"It sounds like there are only a dozen or so. Is that enough to go around?"

Xie Yu glared at him.

"Mind your own business first!"

The two walked out while arguing.

Jiang Jingchen tried to get up, but Chu Qingzi held him down.

"Your injury hasn't healed yet!" she frowned.

Jiang Jingchen looked at her.

"And what about you?"

Chu Qingzi bit her lip.

"I'll go with you."

Jiang Jingchen remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

"it is good."

---

In the courtyard, a chaotic fight had broken out.

Xie Yu wielded his sword with great force, single-handedly holding off three men in black.

Ashina Lie's punches and kicks were even more domineering, one punch after another. The black-clad men he hit were sent flying and couldn't get up for a long time.

However, the other side had a large number of people and was well-trained, clearly not ordinary assassins.

"Xie Yu!" Ashina Lie shouted, "How many are on your side?"

"Three!"

"I have four here!"

"What about the other five?!"

No sooner had they finished speaking than five men in black bypassed them and rushed into the house.

Xie Yu's expression changed, and he tried to stop them, but he was entangled by the man in black in front of him.

"Brother Chen!"

Inside the room, Jiang Jingchen stood protectively in front of Chu Qingzi, holding a sword in his hand.

His injury hadn't healed yet, and his movements were noticeably slow.

Five men in black rushed in, saw them, and started slashing without saying a word.

Jiang Jingchen gritted his teeth and met the attack head-on, blocking two swords, but was slashed on the arm by the third sword.

Chu Qingzi's face turned pale, but she suddenly took something out of her sleeve and threw it at the face of the man in black.

White powder scattered in the air, catching several men in black off guard, who were choked and forced to retreat.

"Let's go!" Chu Qingzi grabbed Jiang Jingchen and rushed towards the back door.

The two stumbled out the back door, only to find that there were also people lying in ambush in the alley.

A pincer attack from both sides.

Jiang Jingchen shielded Chu Qingzi behind him and gripped his sword tightly.

"I'll hold them off for a bit, you run to the back."

Chu Qingzi shook her head.

"I won't run."

"obedient."

"No."

Jiang Jingchen turned to look at her.

Chu Qingzi met his gaze, her usually aloof eyes now filled with stubbornness.

"We'll die together."

Jiang Jingchen was stunned.

at this time,

Ling Feng arrived with his bodyguards.

"Your subordinate is late."

Xie Yu and Ashina Lie also rushed out from the back door.

"Brother Chen! Take Miss Chu and leave!" Xie Yu shouted. "We'll hold them off here!"

Ashina Lie punched one of the men in black away, then turned around and grinned at them.

"We're family, it's only right!"

Xie Yu rolled his eyes but didn't refute.

Jiang Jingchen gritted his teeth, grabbed Chu Qingzi, and ran.

The two men walked through the alley, circled two streets, and finally shook off their pursuers.

Chu Qingzi was panting heavily as she ran, and stopped by leaning against the wall.

Jiang Jingchen also stopped, panting heavily.

The two looked at each other and suddenly laughed at the same time.

"What are you laughing at?" Chu Qingzi asked.

Jiang Jingchen looked at her with gentle eyes.

"Laughing at you."

Chu Qingzi blushed slightly and turned her face away.

"What's so funny?"

Jiang Jingchen didn't say anything.

He just stared at her for a long time.

Chu Qingzi's heart raced as he stared at her. Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly heard footsteps behind her.

The two of them turned around alertly at the same time.

Xie Yu and Ashina Lie walked over, supporting each other, looking disheveled but with smiles on their faces.

"Is it resolved?" Jiang Jingchen asked.

Xie Yu nodded.

"It's resolved. We left one alive and had Ling Feng send him to the Dali Temple."

Ashina Lie plopped down on the ground.

"I'm exhausted... Why are there so many assassins in the Central Plains?"

Xie Yu also sat down, leaning against the wall.

You'll get used to it.

The two looked at each other and then laughed at the same time.

Chu Qingzi looked at them, then at Jiang Jingchen beside her, and suddenly felt a warmth in her heart.

"Thank you," she said softly.

Xie Yu waved his hand.

"Don't mention it. Brother Chen's friends are my friends too."

Ashina Lie nodded.

"Yes. We're family."

Xie Yu did not refute this time.

Jiang Jingchen smiled and sat down next to Chu Qingzi.

As the sun set, its afterglow bathed the four of them.

Footsteps could be faintly heard from the alleyway in the distance—it was the people from the Dali Temple arriving.

The crisis is temporarily over.

But everyone knows that this is just the beginning.