Even women who travel through time can become prime ministers and nobles.

Chapter 403 Yuan Xiaomiao Appears

Wang Qinian's lips curled into a cruel sneer. He didn't answer, but simply raised his hand slightly.

This subtle movement drove the masked men even crazier.

A masked man of exceptionally tall stature broke through the blockade of two guards, wielding a heavy broadsword that whistled through the air.

It bypassed Shi Zhanyuan's defenses and stabbed straight at Shi Wanxia's heart! The speed was so fast that no one had time to react.

Shi Zhanyuan's eyes widened in horror, but it was too late to rush back to help. He could only let out a desperate roar: "My lord—!"

Shi Wanxia's pupils contracted sharply, and the shadow of death instantly loomed over her. She could even feel the bone-chilling coldness brought by the blade.

She closed her eyes, a flicker of resentment passing through her heart.

At this critical moment, a figure rushed out from the side like a ghost, seemingly casually waving a folding fan, but with perfect precision, striking the back of the broadsword.

"clang!"

A crisp, loud crash resounded, the force of which was so great that it made the tall, masked man's hand go numb, and his broadsword was deflected by an inch.

"Who?!" The tall, masked man exclaimed in shock and anger.

The newcomer did not answer. With the opening and closing of his folding fan, he cleverly entangled the masked man's movements, and at the same time, he turned to the side to block and protect Shi Wanxia behind him.

Shi Wanxia opened her eyes, still shaken, and was stunned to see the back of the figure blocking her way: "Brother Cui... what are you doing here? Weren't you resting at the inn?"

The person who arrived was none other than Cui Zhihao, who should have been recuperating at the inn.

He was dressed in a moon-white casual outfit today, his face still looked a little pale, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, and the folding fan in his hand seemed to have transformed into the most formidable weapon.

"Don't be afraid, Miss Shi, I'm here."

His tone was calm, but his movements were decisive, and in just a few moves he forced the tall, masked man to retreat repeatedly.

Almost at the same time that Cui Zhihao appeared, he was followed by several capable attendants. The person being "escorted" by the attendants was a middle-aged man with a refined appearance, dressed in the official robes of a prefect.

"Yuan Xiaomiao?!"

Wang Qinian's previously confident expression changed drastically in an instant. When he saw the middle-aged man's face clearly, a look of disbelief and panic flashed in his eyes.

He never expected that Yuan Xiaomiao, the prefect of Chuzhou whom he had secretly placed under house arrest, would appear here, and even be brought here by Cui Zhihao!

Yuan Xiaomiao didn't seem to have been mistreated. Her clothes were slightly disheveled, and she had a perfect amount of fatigue on her face, but her eyes were clear.

Seeing the chaotic scene before him, he did not panic. Instead, he cupped his hands to Cui Zhihao and said with gratitude, "Thank you for your help, Young Master Cui. I am deeply grateful."

Wang Qinian's heart skipped a beat. Yuan Xiaomiao was in the other party's hands, and his plan had been exposed.

If Yuan Xiaomiao were taken back and exposed for his house arrest of high-ranking officials, coupled with the assassination attempt on the Minister of Works during the southern tour, each of these events would be catastrophic! He knew that things were beyond saving today.

"withdraw!"

Wang Qinian made a decisive decision, a fierce and unwilling look flashing in his eyes. He glared at Cui Zhihao and Shi Wanxia, ​​then looked at Yuan Xiaomiao, and finally gritted his teeth and gave the order to retreat.

Upon hearing the order, the masked men, though somewhat unwilling, were well-trained. They immediately feinted and retreated swiftly like a tide, disappearing into the surrounding streets and alleys in the blink of an eye, leaving behind only a mess and a few corpses that they couldn't take with them.

The sounds of fighting suddenly ceased, and a heavy stench of blood filled the air.

The surviving imperial guards, all wounded and exhausted, leaned on their swords and cautiously looked around.

Shi Zhanyuan breathed a sigh of relief and, despite his injuries, knelt before Shi Wanxia on one knee, saying, "This subordinate is incompetent and has caused you, my lord, such distress!"

"Captain Shi, get up quickly," Shi Wanxia hurriedly stepped forward to help him up. Looking at the wounds on him and the other guards, she felt both heartache and gratitude. "Thanks to you all today, you are all great. Quickly, let's treat the wounds first."

Cui Zhihao put away his folding fan, walked to Shi Wanxia's side, glanced at the scene, and frowned slightly: "Wang Qinian's actions are so rampant. It seems that the waters of Chuzhou are deeper than we imagined."

At this moment, Yuan Xiaomiao straightened her clothes and stepped forward.

He was in his early thirties, with a handsome face and a gentle and refined demeanor. His every move exuded the elegance of a scholar and the competence of an official, making him the epitome of a refined gentleman.

He first bowed to Shi Wanxia with his hands clasped, and said respectfully, "This humble official, Yuan Xiaomiao, greets Lord Shi."

"It is my dereliction of duty to frighten you, sir. Please punish me."

Shi Wanxia looked at him, her heart filled with doubts, but since he had just been rescued, she said gently, "Prefect Yuan, there's no need for such formalities. You are also a victim. Today's events are all thanks to you and Young Master Cui."

Yuan Xiaomiao then turned to Cui Zhihao, a sincere smile on his face, and bowed deeply once more: "Young Master Cui's great kindness is something I will never forget. If you hadn't arrived in time, I'm afraid..."

He shook his head, his tone filled with lingering fear and gratitude.

Cui Zhihao smiled faintly and returned the greeting: "Prefect Yuan, you are too kind. It was nothing. Wang Qinian's house arrest of an official of the imperial court is tantamount to treason. How can we sit idly by?"

Yuan Xiaomiao smiled warmly as she chatted with Cui Zhihao and Shi Wanxia, ​​speaking politely and behaving with composure, showing no sign of the distress she had just experienced from being placed under house arrest.

However, no one knew that this seemingly gentle and grateful prefect of Chuzhou had other plans in mind.

Behind his seemingly gentle smile lies a deep and complex mind.

He was not entirely unaware of Wang Qinian's actions; in fact, it could be said that some of Wang Qinian's actions were only taken with his tacit approval or even encouragement.

He was indeed placed under house arrest by Wang Qinian, but it was more like a tacitly agreed-upon act, used to lull certain people into a false sense of security and to test the reactions of all parties.

As for Choi Ji-ho's sudden appearance and "rescue," although it was somewhat unexpected, it did not disrupt his overall plan.

At this moment, he greeted Cui Zhihao and Shi Wanxia with a smile, but in his heart, he had already quietly issued new instructions.

These two individuals, one exceptionally shrewd and the other carrying an imperial mandate, were both obstacles in his plan.

Wang Qinian failed, but it doesn't matter. The forces he secretly cultivated were far more covert and deadly than Wang Qinian's group.

The assassinations haven't ended; they've just taken a different form.