Chapter 67

Chapter 67

After whispering a few instructions, the palace attendant nodded, steered the small boat, and soon the vessel gently docked.

The boat stopped beside the first lakeside pavilion along the shore.

The six-cornered pavilion had upturned eaves, wooden walls adorned with carvings, and was open on all sides, with several lanterns hanging beneath the eaves.

The attendant asked, "Shall your servant wait here for you?"

"No need, no need." Luo Qianyu jumped ashore, eager to be alone, and instructed, "Go back for now. I'll just wander around."

"Yes."

In his memory, the original owner had indeed visited Bozhou Hall before, though it was quite some time ago—dating back to the reign of the previous emperor. He wasn't entirely sure if this was the same pavilion.

The Young Marquis walked into the central courtyard of the pavilion. Relying on his memory, he approached the swan-neck railing, where a "beauty's rest" seat was placed. Instead of sitting, the youth leaned over, his fingers probing the side of the seat until he found a hidden compartment.

His memory was correct.

Not only had he been here before, but he had also hidden something inside.

Luo Qianyu opened the compartment, his fingers moving slowly as he retrieved the object inside—

It was a telescope.

It felt heavy in his hand. The barrel was exquisitely crafted, with an extraordinary texture, clearly a valuable item. This telescope was an import from the West, a rarity in this dynasty—essentially an ancient version of a telescope.

The Young Marquis had always been mischievous, but such a precious item was not something a court official could obtain. It was likely a gift from someone else. Though his memory was hazy, who in the palace would spoil him like this?

Luo Qianyu brushed the dust off the lens and slipped it into his robe. He then looked up at the pavilion's roof and sighed in frustration.

He hadn't yet learned Lightness Skill from Wen Yu, so now he had to climb onto the roof using just his hands and feet.

A moment later, the youth leaped up along the eaves.

The pavilion's roof was designed in the rolled shed and gable-and-hip style, with overlapping tiles and protruding beams, making it convenient to sit on. Leaning against the flying eaves and bracket sets, he had a clear view of the grand spectacle at the distant lake-center hall.

It was the perfect vantage point.

The Young Marquis had secretly brought a flask of wine and took it out now.

He settled into a comfortable position, casually picked up the telescope, and enjoyed the fine wine paired with the beautiful scenery.

From here, he could see inside the hall. Adjusting the telescope slightly, he noticed that the music and dance had ceased at some point. Following the gazes of the crowd, he gently turned his wrist, slowly focusing on one of the scholars.

"It's Chen Boyu," the Young Marquis murmured, squinting one eye.

Sure enough, Chen Boyu was bowing with clasped hands. After rising, he did not sit back down but instead furrowed his brows, pondering briefly before slowly beginning to speak.

As he spoke, he gestured with his hands, his sleeves swaying, his movements pausing and resuming, appearing quite expressive.

Once he finished speaking, the entire hall erupted in applause.

Luo Qianyu thought disdainfully—these people were indeed composing poems for entertainment!

After the top scholar recited his poem, it was the turn of the second and third-place scholars.

Two other scholars with high rankings were also called upon. Luo Qianyu didn't know their names and, after watching for a while, lost interest. Just as he was about to put down the telescope, his movements suddenly halted.

The Dog Emperor seemed to have called another name. The crowd exchanged glances, looking left and right, all appearing confused.

"..."

Could he be looking for me...?

The Young Marquis broke into a cold sweat. Moments later, as he shifted the lens, he saw the master of ceremonies rise, bow, and whisper a few words. Only then did the crowd stop searching. The emperor's lips curved slightly, as if saying something, and the surrounding officials and newly appointed scholars all lowered their heads, falling silent.

Looking more closely, their expressions seemed as though they were struggling to hold back laughter.

Luo Qianyu: "?"

Thank goodness he slipped away quickly.

Otherwise, he would likely be the one forced to compose a poem right now.

Luo Qianyu raised his hand and took a sip of wine. As he set down the flask, his eyelashes glistened under the distant lamplight. Then, his eyes behind the lens suddenly froze, the barrel inadvertently landing on a particular figure.

...It was that masked man.

He was still wearing the same metal mask tonight—pure black with silver patterns etched into it. He hadn't changed it since the martial arts competition, and even now, on the day of his departure from the capital, he insisted on concealing his appearance.

What was he hiding?

As Zhao was undoubtedly the primary enemy nation in the later stages, Luo Qianyu couldn't help but suspect this person's identity. He was likely an important figure from Zhao, possibly even a military general given his skills. Moreover, Luo Qianyu had heard that the crown prince of the King of Zhao was brave and skilled in battle, renowned far and wide. Could this be him?

Yet, during their last encounter, the man had faint scars visible at the edges of his gloves, and he was rough and taciturn—hardly resembling a pampered, noble royal heir.

If he remembered correctly, the man's name seemed to be... Wurle?

Although Zhao paralleled Da Xi in history and culture, it had once been a vassal state of the northern territories. Its people's names were never in such a format, making it clear that this was an alias... Had he come this time to truly probe Da Xi's strengths and weaknesses?

As these thoughts crossed his mind, the masked man in the lens suddenly turned his head, as if sensing something, and abruptly looked in his direction.

"..."

For a moment, Luo Qianyu even felt as though their eyes had met.

Luo Qianyu's arm froze. He couldn't help but lower the telescope, turning his face away slightly, his brows furrowing as his heart raced.

Just then, a sudden, thunderous boom echoed.

The youth was drawn to the sound and instinctively looked up—

A streak of sparks shot into the sky, exploding mid-air into a dazzling firework.

Immediately after, countless more sparks followed, transforming into a sky full of drifting embers, trailing slender tails of light as they plummeted toward the lake.

Luo Qianyu stared, mesmerized, nearly dropping the wine flask from his hand.

He instinctively tightened his grip. When he looked up again, thousands of fiery trails streaked across the night sky, golden and silver specks dyeing the heavens a magnificent hue, nearly illuminating the flying eaves and bracket sets of the entire imperial city.

Outside Bozhou Hall, the lake shimmered, its surface rising and falling with the fireworks' glow. Not only the water but even the willow branches along the shore were bathed in light.

Officials and scholars inside the hall looked up at the sky, while palace attendants and guards on duty couldn't help but pause, captivated by the magnificent spectacle, their eyes filled with awe and admiration.

The Young Marquis felt a stir in his heart and raised the telescope to his eye once more.

The view through the lens was even clearer and more breathtaking. The blooming fireworks seemed within arm's reach, and even the fine, scattered specks of light as they drifted down were vividly reflected.

There really are fireworks tonight!

At least climbing up here wasn't a waste.

Ever since he transmigrated into this book, Luo Qianyu had rarely experienced moments like this—casting aside all worries and simply living in the present. So focused and undisturbed, quietly watching the distant lake and fireworks, he felt as if he were experiencing it for the very first time.

For some reason, he found himself wishing Wen Yu were here too.

However, as he shifted the lens downward, his gaze inadvertently swept over a corner beneath the Bozhou Hall's eaves, where he spotted a figure with a black cloth covering his face.

The masked man didn't hesitate. He leaned forward and dashed out, swiftly slitting the throat of a stationed imperial guard from behind.

Luo Qianyu's brow furrowed slightly, then his eyes narrowed.

Because immediately after, countless more black-masked figures drew their swords and appeared within the lens's view. Their numbers were too many to count, surging from two directions, all charging toward the unprepared imperial guards.

Assassins!

He didn't know if this was a full-scale rebellion, but the situation was critical. Bozhou Hall was surrounded by water on three sides—a double-edged sword. While easy to defend, it was also difficult to escape from.

Shocked and anxious, the Young Marquis felt his brow twitch. He heard faint, deliberately softened footsteps behind him, almost imperceptible, masked by the sound of fireworks. They had already closed in on him, accompanied by the sharp whistle of a sword slicing through the air.

Before he could turn around, in a flash, Luo Qianyu dodged sideways.

The attacker reacted instantly, swinging horizontally again. The young man's eyes narrowed as he used the telescope to block the fierce strike, only to hear a cracking sound—the telescope had been split in two!

He spun to face his attacker and stood his ground, finally catching a glimpse of the man's face in the flickering light of the fireworks.

—It was one of the masked soldiers he had just seen through the telescope, storming into the lakeside pavilion!

The man held a sword, only his eyes visible, gleaming with a cold, murderous light. Seeing his first strike fail, he continued to press his attack toward the young man.

Luo Qianyu's brow furrowed slightly. In the blink of an eye, his folding fan snapped open with a sharp swish, deflecting the incoming sword strike.

Carrying a sword was forbidden in the palace, so the gilded fan gifted to him by the Crown Prince had now become a lifeline.

The Young Marquis took a deep breath, his fingertips unconsciously tightening around the fan's handle. He spun, tapped, flicked, and then slashed.

The fan's ribs were forged from dark gold, hard as a short rod when closed, but when opened, they resembled a sharp blade or even a curved iron shield. When the assassin's sword clashed against it, sparks flew, but ultimately, the attacker failed to dodge in time, and a bloody gash appeared on his chin.

The man grunted, the veins bulging in his sword-wielding fist, as if thoroughly enraged.

But the next moment, several more masked assassins leaped onto the waterside pavilion's roof. Judging by their stance, they intended to surround the young man completely.

Luo Qianyu had already sensed that these assassins were no ordinary foes. In the original book, Liu Cixue possessed exceptional martial skills, and he had barely managed to evade her earlier move. Yet the leading assassin had escaped with only minor injuries.

These individuals not only carried swords but were likely all masters.

The situation was perilous, especially since he was isolated and without aid. One misstep could cost him his life.

...

What to do?

Luo Qianyu could hear his own heart pounding like a drum. The more critical the moment, the calmer he became. He knew he couldn't escape unscathed tonight, so he might as well fight with all his might.

The next moment, the folding fan moved in response.

On the waterside pavilion, flashes of light from blades danced, their speed nearly impossible to track, interspersed with the clashing sounds of hard metal.

Beneath his feet were steep stone tiles. While fending off the assassins, he also had to be careful not to lose his balance and fall.

Before long, the young man's upper arm had been slashed, blood quickly staining his robe red. Distracted by the intense pain, his movements slowed slightly.

Unnoticed, another assassin had climbed up behind him, tiptoeing closer. Seizing the opportunity, they swung their sword in a sneak attack. Just as the blade descended, the assassin's body suddenly froze, their sword-wielding hand suspended mid-air, as if petrified.

Then, Luo Qianyu heard a cough mixed with the sound of blood from behind.

Turning to look, he saw a throwing dart embedded in the sneak attacker's throat, blood splattering onto the Young Marquis's cheek.

Luo Qianyu's pupils trembled. Glancing at the black dart, his heart skipped a beat.

The assassin staggered and fell, sliding down the waterside pavilion's roof with the force of gravity. Blood stained the stone tiles, leaving a shocking trail in its wake.

A figure walked over from where the assassin had fallen, stepping over the corpse and across the blood-soaked tiles, leaving a series of fresh footprints.

The person wore a Flying Fish Robe, with a Xiuchun Sword hanging at their waist. They appeared youthful in appearance, yet carried not a hint of youthful innocence. Tall and slender, with a black luan belt tightly cinched at the waist, it accentuated the cold, bone-chilling malice in their eyes.

The previously silent assassins now showed strange expressions in their eyes. They glanced at each other and whispered:

"Imperial Guards?"

"Why is there an Imperial Guard Battalion Commander here!?"

...

How could anyone have noticed this place?