Murong Ke had just finished handling military affairs and was preparing for bed when Han Bing entered from outside.
"Your Highness, there is movement at the dungeon."
While changing his clothes, Murong Ke nodded. "Understood." His fingers paused for a moment. "Are there any results from the people sent to investigate Baixue's identity?"
"The findings so far match what that young lady told us. There shouldn't be any issues with her background."
Murong Ke straightened his collar and said calmly, "A wanderer from the pugilistic world, yet so concerned with affairs of the Northern Frontier. If her identity is legitimate, it is likely she has another purpose. Investigate further!"
"Yes."
Han Bing exited the room, and shortly after, Murong Ke also went out, walking straight toward the guest courtyard where Su Mingyu was staying.
Just moments before, Su Mingyu had accidentally triggered a mechanism in the dungeon. In the nick of time, she performed a nimble roll, dodging the incoming barrage of arrows. Yet, no matter how agile she was, how could she withstand a rain of hidden weapons? A concealed blade grazed her waist, slicing into her skin. Her movements had already alerted the guards of Prince Ning's Estate; if she did not leave immediately, she would never be able to explain herself. Without a hint of hesitation, she retreated, sprinting all the way back to her own quarters.
Su Mingyu had just removed her outer garments when she heard movement outside her door.
"Is Miss Baixue in?"
"I am here. Is there something you need?" Su Mingyu asked nervously.
"An assassin may have entered the estate. We are acting under orders to search the premises."
Seeing a basin of water already prepared for her bath, Su Mingyu deliberately reached out to splash the water, maintaining a composed tone. "I am in the middle of a bath. Can you wait a moment?"
There was a silence outside the door for a while; it seemed no one dared to enter. Su Mingyu let out a sigh of relief. But before she could feel too pleased, she heard the voice of Murong Ke: "Open the door."
For some reason, Su Mingyu always felt a sense of tension when facing Murong Ke. Upon hearing his voice, she immediately submerged herself in the washbasin. "Does Prince Ning have a penchant for watching women bathe? What kind of habit is that?"
"I have no time to waste words with you. Will you open the door yourself, or shall I go in?"
*As if,* she thought. *Am I crazy to open the door?*
At that very moment, the door was kicked open with a bang, and a gust of cold air rushed in.
Su Mingyu let out a sharp scream: "Ah! You degenerate!"
Murong Ke’s expression remained unchanged as he scanned the room. Everything was in order, and there was nothing suspicious to be found. Su Mingyu was currently in the inner chamber, separated by a curtain, and the scene inside was not clearly visible.
Murong Ke took two steps forward. Su Mingyu immediately reacted defensively: "If you dare take another step closer, I will kill myself! I’ll let the people of Liangzhou see exactly how you forced a decent woman to her death!"
Hearing the sound of splashing water, Murong Ke finally stopped. He asked tentatively, "An assassin entered the estate earlier; did you hear any commotion?"
Su Mingyu retorted crossly, "I have been bathing the entire time, and the biggest commotion has been you. If you don't welcome my presence, I can leave immediately; there is no need to humiliate me like this!"
Su Mingyu’s words were resonant, her voice laced with a genuine hint of grievance. What Murong Ke did not know was that Su Mingyu’s wound was stinging painfully in the water; that little, aggrieved tone of hers was certainly not feigned.
Hearing this, Murong Ke finally stepped back toward the door. "My apologies. An assassin attempted to break into the prison, and since this matter concerns the safety of Liangzhou, I overstepped."
In the inner chamber, Su Mingyu rolled her eyes so hard they almost disappeared. *I believe you, you big pig! If I hadn't seen those Jurchens eating and drinking like kings in that cell, I might have actually believed you were a loyal and patriotic prince!*
Su Mingyu sank her body into the water, burning with fury. "Get out!"
Murong Ke’s lips moved as if to say something, but ultimately, he obediently closed the door.
Su Mingyu breathed a sigh of relief and stood up from the tub. Pale pink blood swirled on the surface of the water; she had truly been terrified that the Prince would act unreasonably and enter to inspect. She treated her wound once more, wrapped it tightly in layers of bandages, and put on fresh clothes.
Just then, a knock sounded again. "Miss Baixue, have you finished your bath? We are here to clear the water."
The hand Su Mingyu was using to dry her hair trembled. *Is there no end to this? Again? Is this Prince not planning to let me go?*
Su Mingyu hastily twisted her hair up and flung the door open in a fit of rage, berating the two guards who stood there.
"Does your Prince Ning have such a fascination with looking at a woman’s bathwater? Fine! Let him come and look! If he doesn't find something, I’ll drink the whole basin dry!"
The two guards lowered their heads in embarrassment, not daring to meet her eyes. Yet, just as Su Mingyu was exerting her full fury, a figure slipped in through the window on the other side.
Su Mingyu looked at the man who was elegantly using a ladle to scoop up the bathwater and was almost amused to the point of laughter. "Prince Ning, are you perhaps thirsty and looking for a taste?"
Su Mingyu tightened the sash of her robe and walked toward Murong Ke, wearing a playful expression. The Prince tossed the ladle back into the water, ignoring the contempt in Su Mingyu’s eyes.
"I have heard that the person who attempted to break into the prison tonight was injured, and the assassin's blood remains on the hidden weapons in the cells. The security in my estate is strictly enforced; if we are to speak of anyone who has the capability and the opportunity to reach the dungeons, when it all boils down, it can only be you, Miss."
Murong Ke stared at Su Mingyu, his powerful pressure closing in step by step. An ordinary person would likely have been frightened into kneeling long ago. But what kind of high-ranking figures hadn't Su Mingyu seen? She met Murong Ke’s gaze head-on, offered a bright smile, and reached out to hook her arms around his neck.
"So that’s how it is." Su Mingyu tilted her head, looking at Murong Ke with feigned tenderness. "I actually thought the Prince had taken a liking to me and was just finding a poor excuse to get close!"
Su Mingyu reached out as if to tease his face. *This damn face of his—how can his skin be so perfect despite the wind and sun of the Northern Frontier?*
Murong Ke, however, had stiffened, his face as dark as charcoal. He wanted to throw this baffling woman out immediately, but if he did that, wouldn't he have been teased for nothing? Where would that leave his pride?
Murong Ke batted away Su Mingyu’s hand, but his other hand, as if to prove a point, wrapped tightly around her waist. He looked down at her, scanned her form, and said with disdain:
"Over the years, there have been plenty of women who wanted to seduce me, but someone like you—who has nothing to offer—is quite a rarity. Where do you get the confidence to think I would ever take a fancy to you?"
Su Mingyu frowned, so angry she nearly jumped. "Where do you get the idea that I have 'nothing'? Murong Ke, are you blind?"
Murong Ke merely brushed the dust off his clothes and said sharply:
"You are a clever person; you should know that my patience has its limits. No matter who you are or what your purpose may be, once you are on my turf, you had best put away any wayward thoughts. Otherwise, I will ensure that you come in standing, but are carried out horizontally!"