Ch. 1461..1470

Chapter 1461: 1460 out of the palace

“Yes,” Samiyi said helplessly, “My foolish nephew is only fit to be a carefree Prince, not suitable to be the King of a nation. So I won’t trouble him anymore. Just come at me if there’s any issue.”

She asked, “Rou, if you were in this situation, how would you handle it?”

Tan Rou replied, “I would choose to face the difficulties myself so that my family can live a peaceful life.”

“Good,” Samiyi said. “Since that’s the case, I have another favor to ask of you.”

“Just say it, as long as it’s something I can do, I will help you,” Tan Rou said.

“I want to make a trip out of the palace, but I haven’t been out for many years and am unfamiliar with the outside situation so I need a trustworthy person to accompany me,” Samiyi said. “And this person must possess strong martial capabilities.”

...

Since Samiyi required martial strength, it indicated that her going out wasn’t for leisure; she had important matters to attend to.

“Okay, I can go with you,” Tan Rou agreed, “but I feel it won’t be safe enough on my own, so you’ll need to prepare something for me.”

Samiyi promised, “Don’t worry, I will arrange weapons for you.”

As long as the King was alert, Samiyi had always lived under his surveillance; the King did not allow her to leave the royal city, so she couldn’t go out. But now it was different; the King couldn’t control Samiyi, and she could go wherever she wanted.

Samiyi chose to leave at night because, during the night, people weren’t allowed to roam the streets of the royal city, so the possibility of Samiyi being seen was lower. As long as they could evade the patrol, they would be safe.

At ten o’clock at night, Samiyi and Tan Rou changed into black clothes and quietly left the palace. Without the King’s restrictions, it was relatively easy for Samiyi to leave.

After leaving, Samiyi headed directly east.

Tan Rou was surprised; she thought Samiyi had come out to meet Kas and Agira, but Samiyi didn’t head towards Kas’s place on West Street; instead, she kept walking eastward. Could it be that Kas’s residence was now in the east?

Regardless, Tan Rou only needed to follow Samiyi and ensure her safety; she didn’t need to concern herself with other matters.

They shuffled through the dark night and to Tan Rou’s surprise, Samiyi’s pace wasn’t slow; her ability to scale walls was also very strong — she easily climbed over a two-meter-high wall.

“Your skills are very good,” Tan Rou said softly.

Samiyi replied quietly, “Being royal, we must practice self-defense techniques. Otherwise, we’d die horribly.”

“What about Laka?” Tan Rou felt that Laka didn’t seem like someone who would practice self-defense techniques.

“He’s quite dull and can’t learn anything,” Samiyi said regretfully. “No matter how much the teacher taught him, Laka just couldn’t learn. Eventually, my brother stopped hiring teachers for him and merely arranged more bodyguards to ensure his safety.”

Now wasn’t the time for chatting; after Tan Rou asked her questions, she didn’t inquire further. The remaining doubts would have to wait until they had time to discuss them later.

Samiyi led Tan Rou a long way; they saw many patrolling soldiers along the way. If they couldn’t avoid them, they would squat in hiding until the soldiers left. Sometimes, they could also hear the soldiers complaining about patrolling.

“When will these days ever end?” Soldier A said impatiently, “I don’t want to patrol here; I want to go back and be with my wife and child.”

Soldier B added, “Yeah, my mom wants me to leave the army; she says night patrolling is too hard. From dusk till dawn, we’re just standing around, and it’s unbearable!”

The leader scolded, “Enough talking!”

The complaining soldiers immediately fell silent.

After they left, Tan Rou and Samiyi emerged from their hiding place, and Tan Rou asked, “Will you abolish the patrol system when you become Queen?”

“Once the situation stabilizes, I will abolish the nighttime patrol system,” Samiyi said. “It’s a huge waste of money and human resources.”

Tan Rou suggested, “Day or night are both good times for doing business. If you want to boost the economy of the country, you might support the nighttime economy.”

Samiyi nodded, “Hmm, I’ll consider it.”

 

Chapter 1462: Meet a person 1461 times

Tan Rou and Samiyi dodged the patrolling soldiers and then continued eastward, where the houses became more numerous but seemed older and the environment a bit worse.

“I’m going to meet someone.” Once they entered the alley, Samiyi slowed down, pulling out a hand-drawn simple map, and began looking for the way, “He’s a bit eccentric, I hope you won’t mind.”

Tan Rou asked, “You must not have come out for many years, right? So can you guarantee he still lives here?”

Samiyi nodded, “He definitely lives here, because this is where he and his wife once lived, and after his wife passed away, he’s been living here alone. Sometimes my brother sends someone to check on him, to bring him some stuff, but he doesn’t want to accept gifts from the royal family, throwing everything into the trash bin every time.”

Tan Rou grew curious about who this person was, someone who dared to throw away His Majesty the King’s gifts. Wasn’t he afraid of being thrown in jail?

“113… 114…” Samiyi muttered the house numbers, “115, found it!”

...

Looking at the pitch-black house, Tan Rou said, “People are probably already resting at this time. What if he doesn’t open the door for us?”

“No choice, I can’t come to find him during the day, so I can only try at night. Let’s go knock on the door first; if he really doesn’t open it for us, then we’ll think of something else,” Samiyi replied.

Unlike the Capital, the population in the King’s royal city wasn’t as dense, so nearly every family had a detached small building with a yard.

Samiyi went to knock on the door, and after a while, no one came to open it for them.

Tan Rou said, “Maybe the person has fallen asleep already. What should we do? Come back tomorrow?”

“No.” Samiyi pressed against the door, declaring with authority, “I’ll take you over the wall.”

Tan Rou was stunned, asking subconsciously, “Samiyi, are you serious? You’re a princess!”

She had never heard of a princess from any country climbing over walls into people’s yards. People who climbed over walls were either bad guys or thieves. Could it be that Samiyi was planning to steal something?

“Don’t worry, I can get over,” Samiyi assured.

Tan Rou wasn’t worried about whether Samiyi could get over the wall. She was worried about getting caught climbing the wall. If she were caught in the royal city for wall-climbing, she felt she wouldn’t have the face to go back to her own country.

“Are you sure you want to climb over?” Tan Rou asked again.

“He’s old, his ears are definitely not sharp,” Samiyi said with certainty, “he definitely won’t hear us knocking like this, so we need to get closer to knock.”

Tan Rou didn’t care anymore; with the princess by her side, if they were caught, she figured the princess would take the responsibility.

The two found a relatively low wall; one climbed over first while the other supported from below, and they quickly made it over. Fortunately, people in the King’s royal city weren’t allowed out at night, otherwise, Tan Rou and her companion would definitely have been discovered.

Once inside the yard, Tan Rou relied on the moonlight to examine the courtyard’s arrangement. The courtyard was very beautiful, with a lot of flowers and plants and a simple pavilion that housed a table and chairs.

Next to the pavilion was a pond, which seemed to contain aquatic plants and fish. As Tan Rou and her companion approached, the fish inside scattered with a splash. Thankfully, this household didn’t have a dog; if they did, Tan Rou suspected it would have started biting them by now.

Samiyi had no interest in observing the courtyard; she went straight to the door and started knocking.

Tan Rou felt a sense of guilt. This was her first time sneaking into someone else’s home, and she realized such behavior was truly not right.

After a while, the person inside woke up. Tan Rou saw a nearby window light up, followed by someone speaking.

“Who’s knocking outside?” the person inside asked.

“It’s me, Samiyi,” Samiyi answered.

There was sudden silence from inside, and after quite a while, the person spoke through the window, “Samiyi, I’ve already left the royal family, and I don’t want to be involved with anything related to the royal family in the future. I’ve mentioned this to your brother, so there’s no need for you to come looking for me anymore.”

“I need to see you,” Samiyi said, “we need your help, Uncle Faler.”

Faler responded cold-heartedly, “Your matters have nothing to do with me. Leave quickly, or I’ll call the police on you.”

 

Chapter 1463: 1462 Special Agent Leader

“Wait…” Samiyi said urgently, “It is I who need your help. I want to become the queen and then change this country. I know your heartache; your aunt’s death has deeply affected you. But have you ever thought about the many people in our country who live under the oppression of the system because they love each other? Don’t you want to change the current situation?”

Due to the urgency of the time, Samiyi said a lot in one breath. She didn’t know how to express herself; she just wanted to let Faler know her thoughts.

After listening, Faler suddenly laughed, “Samiyi, my wife has died, and no matter what I do, she will not come back to life. I am already old and don’t want to get involved in the royal family’s struggle or change the status quo anymore. So, you should leave; I won’t help you.”

“Mr. Faler, is that so?” Tan Rou said, “Can we come in and talk? Don’t worry, we haven’t brought anyone else with us. It’s just Princess Samiyi and me here.”

Samiyi said, “Uncle Faler, we haven’t seen each other for a long time. Even if you don’t want to help us, it doesn’t matter. Just let me come in to see you. I miss you a lot.”

“Mr. Faler, there are patrol soldiers outside. We have come here risking great danger. Even if you don’t want to deal with us, please let us stay inside for a while to avoid the mosquitoes. When it’s daylight, we will leave.”

...

“Yes, yes.” Samiyi said in a very pitiful tone, “Uncle Faler, there really are a lot of mosquitoes outside, and I am almost being bitten to death.”

After a while, Faler sighed and said, “Alright, come in and rest for a while.”

Then, as he opened the door, he saw Samiyi right in front of him and asked in great surprise, “How did you get in?” He glanced at the gate of his yard; the lock was untouched. How did these two get in?

Faler’s hearing wasn’t as sharp as it was when he was younger, so he couldn’t judge distances by sound. That is why he had assumed Samiyi was speaking to him from the outermost gate.

Samiyi said sheepishly, “We climbed over the wall.”

Faler’s face turned stern, “Samiyi, this kind of behavior is too dangerous. You must not do it again!”

Samiyi smiled and said, “Understood, Uncle Faler. Uncle is just as strict as before, but also very gentle.”

Faler glared at Samiyi then took out a lot of snacks from his cabinet, “You can eat some food here, but leave after you’re done.”

Samiyi didn’t hold back; she grabbed the snacks and stuffed them into her mouth, “Mmm… Uncle Faler’s snacks are still so delicious.”

Faler seemed pleased; although he didn’t show a smile, his demeanor softened a lot, “Eat slowly, don’t choke.”

Tan Rou also took some snacks, but instead of eating right away, she first looked around Faler’s room.

The room was filled with pictures of a woman with black hair and black eyes, an Eastern-looking woman.

“Is that your wife?” Tan Rou asked, “She is very beautiful.”

“Yes,” when Faler spoke of his wife, a tender smile appeared on his face, “She wasn’t from our country. She first came here as a young girl traveling alone, and I fell in love with her the moment I saw her.”

“I liked her, and she liked me, and so we fell in love,” Faler continued, “But I ended up causing her death.”

It sounded like a romantic yet tragic story, of a Prince who fell in love with a girl from a foreign land, and she loved the Prince too, but it ended in tragedy.

“Why did she die?” Tan Rou asked.

Suddenly, Faler fell silent, his face filled with pain.

Samiyi explained, “Uncle Faler is an inspector. He holds many nobles’ secrets. Being a Prince, nobody could touch him, but my aunt was different; she was just an ordinary girl.”

Oh, then Tan Rou understood. The inspector fell in love with an ordinary girl, which became his vulnerability. Once others discovered his weakness, those who couldn’t harm him would turn their sights on the vulnerable girl, leading to her tragic end.

 

 

Chapter 1464: 1463 persuades Faler

Faler waved his hand, “Samiyi, stop talking about these things, they are all sad stories.”

“I want to ask, how did your wife die?” Tan Rou asked.

Faler didn’t really want to talk about it, he stood up, “You can eat something yourselves, I’m old and can’t stay up late, so I’m going to rest.” After saying that, he went straight back to his room to sleep.

Now only Tan Rou and Samiyi were left in the living room. Tan Rou asked, “Samiyi, what do you want to get from Mr. Faler? The handle over those nobles?”

“Yes.” Samiyi nodded, “Only Uncle Faler has the secrets of those nobles. When he left the palace back then, he also organized part of the secrets into documents and kept them, but there are still some important secrets he didn’t mention, because he also needed something to protect his life.”

“Samiyi continued, “Uncle fell in love with a foreign girl. For that girl, he gave up his Prince status and lived with her. He wrote down half of the secrets he knew and kept the other half, hoping to maintain the stability of their marriage that way.”

...

“But my aunt still died, she was killed in a shootout. Two nobles had disputes over their businesses, and their people started shooting at each other on the streets. Aunt just happened to pass by there and got hit.”

So Faler’s wife died in an accident, Tan Rou had thought that the nobles had discovered them and then assassinated the girl. However, it was still tragic, originally they could have had a good life, but due to that accident, they could never see each other again.

“After my aunt’s death, Uncle Faler completely cut off contact with the royal family because he believed that the royal family was responsible for his wife’s death,” said Samiyi.

Tan Rou didn’t quite understand and asked, “But wasn’t his wife killed by accident?”

“Yes, my aunt indeed died in an accident, but all this could have been avoided,” explained Samiyi. “On the day of the shooting, Uncle Faler was supposed to go shopping with my aunt, but he was summoned to the palace for some matters, so he let my aunt go alone.”

“My aunt didn’t go to the mall she usually visited with my uncle that day but went to a different one, where the shooting happened.”

“My aunt didn’t speak the language of Country J very well. If my uncle had been with her, they would have gone to a closer mall where the salespeople spoke the language of Country J. With my uncle there, my aunt wouldn’t have worried about not being able to communicate with the store clerks.”

Samiyi said regretfully, “That day my uncle didn’t accompany her, so she went to a farther place because the staff there spoke an international language.”

“My uncle was called back to the palace to deal with matters which actually weren’t that significant, just some files that didn’t match up and he needed to sort them out.”

Samiyi was a bit angry, “Those in charge of the files are all useless. If they hadn’t lost some of the files, Uncle Faler wouldn’t have had to go back.” Samiyi was very angry, “Once I become King, I’ll fire all those incompetents!”

She got more and more excited as she spoke, and inadvertently raised her voice. Seeing her so agitated, Tan Rou reminded her, “Keep your voice down, it’s night time, let’s not disturb others from sleeping.”

Samiyi sighed deeply, “I thought that by coming in person, Uncle Faler would see my sincerity and then help me out once, but it seems I was wishing for too much.”

Tan Rou didn’t understand what she meant, “Samiyi, why do you think Mr. Faler would help you?”

Samiyi replied, “When I was young, Uncle Faler once told me that he hoped to change the country, to make it stronger. He opposed what the nobles did and detested their privileges, so I thought he would stand by my side.”

Tan Rou said, “Maybe he’s just old now and doesn’t want to get involved in trouble anymore.”

“Yeah,” Samiyi said loudly again, “Uncle Faler is old now, he just wants to live quietly in this small courtyard, as for those dreams of his youth, he has long forgotten them.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Faler’s room door opened from the inside, and he said sternly, “Samiyi, what exactly are you trying to say?”

 

Chapter 1465: 1464 can help

Samiyi smiled and responded, “Uncle Faler, I was just chatting with my friend. If you’re worried that we might disturb your rest, we can speak more quietly.”

Dressed in slippers and pajamas, Faler came out and sat on the sofa again, but this time, he did not show his affectionate smile. Instead, he appeared quite angry.

“Samiyi, I’ve-made it very clear. I want nothing to do with your affairs. I just want to live an ordinary life and lead a simple existence,” Faler said.

Seeing Faler sit down, Samiyi guessed his mood, “I know, Uncle Faler doesn’t like trouble, so I won’t cause any for you. I was wrong to come here so abruptly today and hope you don’t mind. Don’t worry, we won’t be staying here long. We’ll leave after dawn.”

Faler, with his head lowered and deep in thought, took a while before he said, “Samiyi, what do you want from me?”

Tan Rou thought Samiyi was going to ask Faler for the nobles’ secrets when suddenly, Samiyi changed her demeanor, showing a relaxed posture, as if she was not there for help but merely to enjoy some snacks.

...

“Uncle Faler, don’t be nervous, let’s sit down and talk slowly,” Samiyi said with a smile.

“Hmph!” Faler also shifted his attitude, “Samiyi, do not test my patience.”

“Uncle Faler, you know, even without you, we can obtain the nobles’ secrets. It might take some time, but that’s okay, we are young and can afford to spend decades discovering their secrets,” Samiyi said.

“So why come to me now?” Faler asked.

“Because I can now come out,” Samiyi replied, “It’s been ten years, and this is the first time I’ve ventured outside in that period. Naturally, I want to do something significant to show my brother that I have the strength to be king! I am more suitable for kingship than Laka!”

Faler seemed shocked by Samiyi’s words, “You want to be king?”

Samiyi asked with a smile, “Uncle Faler, do you think I can’t be king?”

Faler gently shook his head, “No, you’re a smart and brave child. I believe you would make a good king, but if you pursue the kingship, you will face many hardships.”

“Hence why I need Uncle Faler’s help,” Samiyi continued, “As long as I control those nobles’ secrets, I can command them. Once the nobles agree to let me be king, then I’ll have the chance to do much more.”

“The nobles are greedy. If you want them to support your kingship, it will come at a cost,” Faler stated.

“Not required,” said Samiyi, “As long as all the nobles’ power is taken back, they won’t pose a threat to me.”

Faler admired Samiyi’s idea, but he did not trust her, “Samiyi, you are too young and don’t understand how troublesome those nobles can be. If not for their meddling inside, I would not have had to leave the palace.”

The nobles opposed Faler marrying a foreign woman; if they were to marry, then Faler had to renounce his title as Prince.

Faler could have owned an estate after marriage, but since he did not marry a noblewoman following the royal customs, the strong opposition from the nobles forced the then King to make him leave without a penny to his name.

Had Faler owned an estate with servants to take care of them, his wife would not have needed to go out shopping herself, and perhaps she could have avoided that disaster.

“Sigh, Samiyi,” Faler sighed deeply, “Since you wish to be king, then I will help you. However, I must remind you of something—you must not expose me. I just want a peaceful life now and don’t want to stir up any trouble.”

“I know,” Samiyi nodded, “That’s one of the reasons I chose to come at night. There’s no one around at night, even if I come to see you, nobody will notice.”

“You are a very clever child. I realized this when you were little,” Faler said with a touch of regret, “Had you not been a girl, the kingship would have been yours by now.”

 

 

Chapter 1466: 1465 has been discovered

“It’s not too late now,” Samiyi said with a smile, “I’m definitely more mature now than I used to be, calmer, and now I have the ability to handle tough problems, so I can now compete for that position.”

Faler reminded her again, “Your brother loves you dearly, and I don’t want to see you stand against him. If your brother wants to leave the position to his son, then I still hope you would step down. The person who takes that position gets very tired and it’s extremely dangerous. You shouldn’t have to face such dangers.”

“It’s precisely because the person in that position would be in great danger that I need to compete for it. Only if I take that position will my relatives be safe from harm,” Samiyi responded, “In my heart, Laka is like my own son, and I can’t bear to see him in danger. So, let me handle the responsibility and the crisis alone!”

Sitting on the side, Tan Rou quietly observed this woman. It was the first time she felt that Samiyi appeared so imposing. Samiyi didn’t want to be King, nor did she want to shoulder too much responsibility. Her thoughts were the same as Faler’s — as long as she could live a peaceful and free life, she would be satisfied.

However, Samiyi ultimately chose to compete for the throne. If she didn’t compete, the throne would eventually fall into someone else’s hands. When someone else became King, would their family still have a chance to survive?

For her family, for herself, and for the people living in this country, the young princess chose to sacrifice her own freedom, thereby chaining herself for life.

...

“It’s very late, we won’t disturb your rest any longer,” Samiyi said after finishing her meal, getting up to leave. “I’ll come to see you again. I hope that the next time I come, you will have prepared the things I need.”

Seeing Samiyi about to leave, Faler said, “It’s still dark outside, and there are patrol teams on the streets. Don’t rush off. Stay here for the night and leave tomorrow.”

However, Samiyi replied, “Uncle Faler, since I managed to evade their patrol to get here, I am capable of returning. There are important matters waiting for me inside the palace, so I must rush back tonight.”

“Alright, you two be careful. There are quite a few patrols around this area,” Faler said, “Do not let them catch you. If you really run into a patrol team, run south!”

Samiyi didn’t think much more about it; she nodded, “Alright, then we’re going. You should rest early as well.”

Tan Rou and Samiyi left Faler’s house. They had climbed over the wall to get there and did the same to leave. Faler initially wanted to open the gate to let them out, but Samiyi disagreed, saying that climbing the wall would help improve her physical fitness.

Tan Rou did not stop Samiyi, considering that Samiyi wouldn’t have many opportunities to climb walls anymore, she let her enjoy it a few more times.

However, their luck was indeed bad. Just as they climbed over the wall, they encountered a patrol team. Perhaps the noise from their climbing was too loud, for the patrol team discovered them immediately.

“I’ll cover you, run fast!” Samiyi instinctively shielded Tan Rou behind her.

Tan Rou felt a moment of gratitude, “Thank you, but you should run fast. I’ll cover you.”

Saying that, Tan Rou pushed Samiyi away.

Just then, another patrol team arrived, and they surrounded Tan Rou and Samiyi, guns pointing directly at them.

Tan Rou felt her scalp tingle. It was her first time being pointed at by so many guns; it was thrilling but more terrifying. If she were to die here, her family would be devastated.

“Shall we fight?” Samiyi’s back was pressed against Tan Rou’s, she asked, “Can you shoot?”

Tan Rou flexed her wrists and then said, “I can try to grab a gun.”

Samiyi nodded, “Good, I’ll distract them. Although they all have guns, they can’t open fire randomly, especially since it’s late at night. If they were to shoot near residential areas, they would definitely run into trouble.”

With that, Tan Rou felt much more at ease. As long as the other side didn’t shoot, she would not lose, “Alright, I got it.”

 

Chapter 1467: 1466 battle

Just as Tan Rou and her companion prepared to seize the guns, they suddenly discovered that several patrolling guards were pulling something out of their pockets, shaped like silencers.

“Not good!” Tan Rou became alert, “They really plan to shoot us here.”

With some regret, Samiyi said, “Rou, I’m sorry, it’s my fault for dragging you down.”

Tan Rou was a bit nervous, but also somewhat excited. She had indeed fired guns before, but it had always been minor scuffles. She had never faced a situation where she was up against a group of people.

“Samiyi, do you believe I can get us out of this encirclement?” Tan Rou asked with a smile.

Samiyi was blaming herself when she heard Tan Rou’s question. She immediately answered, “If you can get away, then just go by yourself. I’ll stay here. After you’ve safely left, I’ll surrender. They probably won’t do anything to a princess like me.”

...

However, Tan Rou said, “You’re meant to be queen, you can’t be caught here.”

As she spoke, Tan Rou pulled a silver needle out of her pocket. Luckily all her tools had been brought along, or she wouldn’t have known how to fight tonight.

The clash between cold weapons and firearms was about to see who would come out on top.

Tan Rou wrapped an arm around Samiyi’s shoulder and pushed her to the side, then, as the enemy attacked, she pulled Samiyi back.

Although the patrol soldiers had fitted silencers to their guns, they were hesitant to shoot, just like Samiyi had said. At first, they only dared to aim at non-vital parts like legs and arms.

As the patrol soldiers shot, they shouted, “Don’t make any unnecessary resistance. If you resist further, we will have to shoot at your heads.”

Tan Rou guessed that none of them had passed their shooting exams because, so far, these armed people hadn’t hit a single shot, not even a graze.

She had a rough idea of the level of these patrol squads. They were not the elite of the military; in fact, they were the worst. She wondered how J country trained their new recruits in the military. Did they even have shooting exams?

Samiyi also seemed to realize this, and she moved closer to Tan Rou before saying, “Let’s deal with them together, and then split up to escape. We’ll head towards the place Uncle Faler mentioned.”

Faler had said that if they were discovered, they could head south. What place was that? Was there a way to escape pursuit there?

No time to think! Tan Rou and Samiyi couldn’t afford to hesitate, so they split up to fight the patrol soldiers. Tan Rou had silver needles, and with a “swoosh,” she knocked down an armed patrol soldier.

This frightened the remaining patrol soldiers who yelled loudly, “Our man is injured, the enemy has weapons!”

The patrol soldier who came to check on the fallen man exclaimed, “This is bad, it’s some kind of creepy magic. Our comrade has been taken down by magic!”

Hearing them speak, Tan Rou was at a loss for words. She’d already said she didn’t know magic, why would no one believe her?

“Foolish humans…” Samiyi spoke in an eerie tone, “You are in the presence of noble messengers of the gods, and by offending us, you shall receive divine punishment! If you don’t believe it, just look at the man lying on the ground, he has already been punished!”

After hearing that, the attack from the patrol soldiers slowed down a bit, as they seemed to hesitate. But even a moment’s hesitation in combat could turn the tide of battle.

Seizing the moment of their doubt, Tan Rou knocked down two more armed patrol soldiers. She dashed over to the fallen soldiers, snatched a gun from one of them, and pointed it at the patrol.

“Ceasefire!” Tan Rou said, “If no one wants to get hurt, then let’s stop shooting!”

The patrol soldiers had been fearless only because they had guns, but now that their opponent also had a gun, they started to worry. They didn’t want to lose their lives here.

“Don’t be afraid. She might not shoot!” yelled a leader of the patrol soldiers. He then aimed his gun at Tan Rou and said, “Die!”

“Ahhh—” Tan Rou didn’t move, but the leader of the patrol soldiers screamed and fell to the ground, clutching his thigh, “I’ve been shot!”

Tan Rou called out loudly, “Anyone else want to give it a try?”

Another person shouted, “Don’t be scared. They’re only two people; they can’t beat us!”

 

Chapter 1468: 1467 Escape

His words boosted their morale, and the patrollers, who initially hesitated, gathered around again. Tan Rou didn’t want to hurt anyone, so she could only fire her gun towards their feet.

The noise from outside awoke the sleeping people, who turned on their lights to see what was happening. Seeing that it was the patrol team making arrests, they immediately turned off their lights and windows.

The lights, when turned on, would blind anyone for a moment. Tan Rou took advantage of this brief interval to empty her gun. She was an accurate shooter; the bullets merely grazed by the bodies, severely injuring none but incapacitating them for the time being.

Once her bullets were spent, Tan Rou’s gun was of no use. She swiftly dismantled it into pieces and hurled them as hidden weapons while yelling, “Get down, it’s a grenade!”

Her usual voice was quite fine, but this time it came out hoarse, almost sounding like a man’s if one didn’t listen closely.

All the lights were out, and the moonlight wasn’t bright, with no street lamps around. Thus, the patrollers couldn’t tell in the dark whether it was indeed a grenade. Hearing the shout, they really thought there was one and immediately scattered to the ground.

...

The gun hit the ground but did not explode. Only then did the patrollers realize they had been tricked.

They looked up only to see that the two culprits had already run far away. How could they swallow such humiliation? They had so many men and guns, yet these two unarmed women defeated them—it was utterly humiliating!

Oh, not exactly unarmed; they knew magic.

If Tan Rou knew what the patrolmen were thinking, she would probably have scoffed at them. But right now, she had no chance to scoff; she was busy running away

With patrollers behind and unknown roads ahead, Tan Rou felt her heart might leap out of her chest. This was the most thrilling experience in her life. Once she reached a safe place, she would tell Zhuang Liu about it to give him a thrill. She just hoped it wouldn’t scare him too much.

“Hey, this way!” Suddenly, a girl’s voice reached their ears, and the girl said, “If you want to avoid the patrolmen, come this way—it’s safe here!”

Tan Rou and Samiyi instinctively ran toward the voice, confident that someone calling them over at this time wasn’t one of the patrolmen.

“Let’s go!” Tan Rou scooped up Samiyi and quickened her pace toward the source of the voice.

Caught by surprise, Samiyi only clung tightly to Tan Rou. It wasn’t the time for heroics. Her skills couldn’t match those of Tan Rou, so she had to follow Tan Rou’s lead. Since Tan Rou carried her, it indicated she had enough confidence to escape pursuit.

“Follow me!” the girl continued.

Tan Rou and Samiyi followed her. Despite Tan Rou’s fast pace even while carrying an adult woman, she kept up with the girl.

The girl knew the area well, weaving through alleyways without fear of obstacles.

By contrast, Tan Rou was much more tired; she had to keep a close eye on the girl and watch her step. One misstep could cause them both to fall.

“I’ll guide you,” said Samiyi. “Turn left. There’s a half wall up ahead…. Turn right and pick up the pace—she’s getting further away…”

It was their first time working together, yet their cooperation was flawless, as though they were naturally meant to be partners.

Guided by the girl, Tan Rou and Samiyi escaped the patrolmen. They hid beside a wall for a while until the patrolmen had completely moved away, then they emerged from hiding.

To Tan Rou and Samiyi’s surprise, the girl who had helped them looked quite young, perhaps only thirteen or fourteen years old, and not even up to Tan Rou’s chest in height.

The girl pulled out a small lamp, switched it on emitting a faint light, and said, “Please, follow me, big sisters!”

Shielding Samiyi behind her, Tan Rou asked cautiously, “Who are you? Why are you helping us?”

The girl didn’t speak. She just chuckled as she looked at them, then turned and walked away.

 

 

Chapter 1469: 1468 Dawn Society

Tan Rou and Samiyi hesitated for a moment before finally deciding to catch up with the girl. The girl seemed to have anticipated that they would follow her, so she kept walking ahead without ever looking back at them again.

The two followed the girl for about five minutes and came to a villa. It was large, but quite old. By the moonlight, they could see the mottled walls of the villa.

“This place is a bit creepy,” Tan Rou thought of the man-eating haunted houses in movies, feeling as though the moment they walked in, they would encounter all sorts of horrifying things.

Samiyi was also feeling uneasy inside. Everything that had happened that night had already been beyond their expectations. They had originally intended to go straight back to the palace, but they had been discovered by the patrol as soon as they climbed over the wall, then got into a fight with the patrol soldiers, and when they could not win, they ran, ending up in this godforsaken place.

As a princess, Samiyi had never encountered such thrilling events. It made her feel as if she had lived the past thirty-odd years in vain. Had she known the outside world was so exciting, she certainly would have fought tooth and nail to leave the palace.

The girl stopped walking and turned around with a smile, saying to them, “Big sisters, we’re home.”

...

Tan Rou took a close look at the place the girl called “home.” It was not a home; it was a haunted house. She thought she already saw black bats flying in mid-air. If a few black crows were to fly out at that moment, the scene would become even more terrifying.

As Tan Rou’s mind wandered, the villa’s front door opened a crack from the inside, and a hunched old man came out. He spoke with a hoarse voice, “You’re back, little Ina.”

Ina greeted the old man warmly, “Yes, I’m back, Grandpa Bata.”

Bata looked up at Tan Rou and Samiyi and said, “Come on in, children of the night.”

Tan Rou and Samiyi were confused. What did he mean by “children of the night”? Was this place the base of some cult?

“Follow me, big sisters,” Ina said to them, tilting her head.

Samiyi was somewhat worried. “Rou, should we go inside? If they are bad people, might we end up dying horribly?”

Tan Rou shook her head. “I don’t know if they are bad people, but we don’t have anywhere else to go now. If we’re discovered by the patrol again, I guess it will be very difficult to escape the pursuit.”

If a patrol encountered troublesome people, they would definitely call for backup. By now, there were likely many people surrounding the area. As soon as they showed their faces, they would be shot full of holes by the soldiers.

Samiyi mustered her courage and said, “Alright, let’s go.”

So the two of them followed the girl into the eerie villa, and, after they went inside, the old man closed the door tightly behind them.

Tan Rou surveyed the villa’s walls, which were taller than those of the Faler family but not as high as the palace’s. If she wanted to climb over, she felt she could do it. But she was not alone; she couldn’t leave Samiyi behind.

She’d have to improvise. If something seemed off inside, she was prepared to tear down the villa if necessary to get out.

Samiyi was also observing the surroundings. She whispered, “Rou, if something’s not right, just run and don’t worry about me. If you get back, please help me heal my brother, and ask him to nurture Laka. If Laka truly isn’t suited to be king, then my brother should find someone more suitable within the royal family.”

Tan Rou replied softly, “You should say that to your brother yourself. If he learns that I left you behind to escape, do you think I could still survive?”

Samiyi: “Uh… my brother wouldn’t be that unreasonable, would he?”

Tan Rou replied, “Don’t you know your own brother?”

Just as Samiyi was about to retort, the inside door of the villa opened, and a burst of blinding light almost blinded both of their eyes.

But Ina, seemingly having anticipated this, covered her eyes.

“Children of the night, welcome to the Dawn Society!” several people in robes walked out from the light. One of the men with a large beard said warmly, “Come on in, lost children!”

Tan Rou and Samiyi were both stunned. What on earth was the Dawn Society?

 

Chapter 1470: 1469 Embracing the Dawn

“Children, the wind outside is too hot, this place is nice and cool, come back to our embrace!” The bearded man, like a gentle priest, reached out his arms, trying to hug these children of darkness into his chest.

Tan Rou and Samiyi took two steps back, and only after they adapted to the bright light did they ask cautiously, “Who exactly are you? And what is the Dawn Society?”

Just then, a large group of people burst out, collectively shouting, “Join the Dawn Society, embrace the dawn, and obtain a beautiful future!”

Tan Rou and Samiyi were startled, for they didn’t encounter ghosts here, but they did come across a cult, complete with organization, slogans, and even a base of operations.

Samiyi was perplexed, why had they never received any intelligence about the Dawn Society? These people dared to go out at night, had a base, and so many followers; they must be quite conspicuous usually. So how come no one at the palace knew of their existence?

After careful thought, Samiyi realized the problem: the current inspector at the palace was incompetent, which led to the ineffectiveness of his subordinates—they couldn’t find out anything. How could you expect them to investigate other matters when they were even capable of losing files?

...

Incidentally, the current court inspector was Jimi, who had been at odds with Tan Rou from the beginning.

“We would like to ask, what exactly does the Dawn Society do?” Tan Rou asked with a curious expression, “Could it be an association for observing the sun?”

“No, no, no.” The bearded man shook his head gently, then said, “Children, if you want to know about our home, then come with us!”

Regarding the bearded man’s invitation, Tan Rou and Samiyi had only one thought—they must go and see for themselves.

“Sure.” Tan Rou said with a smile, “Since you saved us, you must not be bad people, right?”

Ina chuckled, “We are the best people in the world, only members of the Dawn Society can lead everyone to a beautiful and happy future.”

Tan Rou snuck a glance at Samiyi, wanting to know her thoughts on the Dawn Society; this organization didn’t look legitimate at all. Plus, listening to their doctrine, it seemed like they expressed dissatisfaction with reality. So, how would the princess, being part of the ruling class, view these people?

Samiyi remained very calm, she asked, “Why are you so sure that you can create a beautiful future?”

The bearded man asked her, “Child, are you satisfied with society as it is now? Or rather, do you agree with the royal governance?”

Tan Rou crossed her arms, a look of eagerness to watch the scene unfold as she observed Samiyi. The bearded man really knew how to pick his target for questioning, going straight for the most revered princess of J country, who was about to become the queen of the kingdom.

She thought no one was more suitable to answer that question than Samiyi, “Hey, how will you answer this question?”

Samiyi was momentarily speechless, not often at a loss for words. Who would discredit her right in front of her? And asking if she agrees with the royal governance? Could she disagree? She certainly couldn’t stab herself in the back, could she?

“I don’t know.” Samiyi responded, “That’s the royal family’s own business, whatever they do is none of our concern. I just need to do my own thing.”

The bearded man apparently anticipated her answer and continued, “If you submit to their rule and follow their system, then why did you go out at night?”

Samiyi’s mind worked quickly, and she immediately said, “I ventured out to meet my friend, she came from abroad to see me. But we didn’t communicate properly beforehand, so she didn’t know that you can’t go out at night, and I had no choice but to come out to meet her then.”

The bearded man didn’t believe her, “You say you came to meet her, then why are you both wearing black clothes, and where is her luggage?”

Samiyi obviously hadn’t anticipated this question, but Tan Rou quickly responded, “The black clothes were brought for me by her, to make it easier for us to move around at night. As for my luggage, unfortunately, it’s all gone. I don’t think anyone would drag their suitcase while running for their lives, right?”