The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1342 - 1342 654 taels of the second watch

Chapter 1342: 654 taels of the second watch Chapter 1342: 654 taels of the second watch At this hour, the night market was bustling with activity, the streets crowded with carriages and pedestrians, which slowed Nangong Li’s carriage to a pace that made it easier for Gu Jiao to follow.

Nangong Li had lost an arm and was seriously injured. Rumors said he was dying, yet he looked very much alive. How then did the rumors of his imminent death come about, and what was their purpose?

Gu Jiao speculated that Nangong Li had failed in his mission to assassinate Xiao Hen and had pretended to be gravely wounded to lessen his punishment.

But who had assigned him this task? Was it the head of the Nangong Family or someone else?

Regardless, Nangong Li was by no means innocent.

His carriage first made its way along the main street and then turned right into a small alley.

On the other side of the alley was a quieter street.

This street was lined with antique shops and calligraphy stores, not nearly as lively as the main street with its brothels and lanterns.

But the sparser crowds increased Gu Jiao’s chances of exposure, so she had to tread even more lightly.

Nangong Li’s carriage stopped in front of an antique shop.

The coachman set down the footstool and helped Nangong Li alight.

Gu Jiao hid herself behind a pillar diagonally opposite.

From the second floor, she had been too far away to see clearly. But now, as the lantern light shone directly onto Nangong Li’s face, Gu Jiao noticed his injuries were indeed severe.

His complexion was very pale, and his steps lacked the steadiness she had seen in Zhan Country.

It seemed that Chang Jing’s sword had not only cost him an arm but also damaged his vitality. A full recovery was almost impossible.

After Nangong Li entered the shop, Gu Jiao approached and wrestled with whether to go in directly or to stealthily climb onto the roof.

She had seen Nangong Li before, both in person and in portraits, but she was unsure if he had seen her or had taken the opportunity to investigate her while looking into Xiao Liulang.

If he hadn’t, then there was no harm in entering openly.

But if he had—

Gu Jiao looked down at her clothing. In her haste to leave, she hadn’t changed. She was wearing the uniform of Tianqiong Academy.

“Never mind, I’ll scale the wall,” she decided.

Gu Jiao walked into the alley, kicked against the wall, and climbed up to the rooftop.

The night provided the perfect cover for her figure, and following the sound of Nangong Li’s voice, she gently lifted a roof tile.

Nangong Li was seated in the main chair, with a man who seemed to be around fifty, dressed as a merchant and likely the shopkeeper, standing across from him.

Now at level ten in the Yan Country language, Gu Jiao had no trouble understanding their conversation.

She heard Nangong Li ask, “How are things on that end?”

The shopkeeper sighed, “His Highness is very angry, asking why even such a small task couldn’t be accomplished.”

Nangong Li replied, “This is no small task! I’ve lost an arm!”

The shopkeeper quickly said, “Your hard work and meritorious service are recognized, and His Highness has said that you should focus on healing.”

“Hmph, I fear if I hadn’t been so severely injured, His Highness would be punishing me now, wouldn’t he?”

“His Highness spoke in a moment of anger. Would he not know of the general’s loyalty?”

Listening to this, Gu Jiao figured out that the ‘small task’ Nangong Li mentioned must be the assassination of Xiao Hen, but it seemed that the idea wasn’t just from the Nangong Family—there was a ‘His Highness’ behind it.

The only one that could be referred to ‘His Highness’ had to be from the imperial family of Dayan.

Why would Dayan royalty want Xiao Hen dead?

Could Xiao Hen have some connection with the Dayan imperial family?

Nangong Li, growing impatient, said, “Enough about that, how’s the investigation I had you undertake coming along?”

It seemed that this shopkeeper had three identities: the first as a shopkeeper, the second as an informant for the ‘His Highness,’ and the third as a confidant of Nangong Li.

The shopkeeper replied, “Years ago, the young master of the Dark Night Sect left home after a quarrel with the old sect master and has been missing ever since. The elders who went to Zhan Country must have been looking for the young master. Who would have thought they wouldn’t find the young master but would coincidentally save the general instead.”

Nangong Li frowned, “At that time, I was unconscious and couldn’t tell them that it was the Dark Night Sect’s young master who injured me. By the time I woke up at the Nangong Family’s, they had already left.”

Wait, wasn’t it Chang Jing who injured you?

How did it become the master of the Dark Night Sect?

And what exactly is the Dark Night Sect?

Gu Jiao was utterly confused.

The shopkeeper hesitated, “Then… should we inform the Dark Night Sect about the young master?”

Nangong Li snorted coldly, “What good would it do to tell them? Could they really kill their own young master to avenge me? The young master injured me, but their protector also saved me. Given the old sect master’s penchant for coddling his offspring, he would likely say the actions cancel each other out. He certainly wouldn’t kill his kin for justice’s sake.”

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