Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 440 - 438

"Forget it, forget it! Don’t burn the quilt tonight, or we will have to compensate with one tael of silver!"

Xiao’er tossed him two pieces of silver.

The shopkeeper, after receiving it, went outside. He had to accompany the bodyguards, in case they really found an assassin.

When the shopkeeper had left, Xiao’er quickly closed the door and asked, "What happened? How did you get hurt so badly?"

Upon mentioning this, Zhao Yong almost felt like crying. The guards of Xiyue country didn’t harm him much, but his own master gave him a stab!

When his master’s sword pierced right through him, he felt as heartbroken as if his parents had died.

"Miss, my master can’t recognize me. He was the one who stabbed me!" Zhao Yong pointed to his wounded chest, expressing his despair.

"Master Shangguan stabbed you?" Xiao’er recalled the dream, causing her concern to grow even more.

Did he really forget them? What exactly happened? How could he have lost his memories?

She denied the possibility of Shangguan Xuanyi becoming a puppet.

Last time, she was almost fooled. Brother Shangguan couldn’t make the same mistake.

"What happened? How could the master lose his memory?" Yang Liu asked anxiously.

Xiao’er came to her senses, looking at Zhao Yong.

"I don’t know why he lost his memory," Zhao Yong proceeded to explain the events that transpired when he snuck into the Xiyue Imperial Palace.

He sneaked into the Xiyue Imperial Palace, first finding where Marquis Shengping and his son were held captive; the security wasn’t too tight. Then he familiarized himself with the entire palace layout and figured out the shift schedule of the guards. Using his martial arts skills, all of these tasks were completed without any hurdles. Finally, he found Princess Xiyue’s courtyard. The moment he saw Shangguan Xuanyi stepping out from a room, he was noticed by his master who started fighting him without uttering a word.

His master’s martial arts skills were beyond his reach. During the entire fight, all he could manage to say was, "Master, it’s me, Zhao Yong!"

He was eventually beaten speechless and only just managed to escape.

"Are my father and my brother alright?" Upon hearing that Shen Chengyao and Shen Jingrui were really captured, Xiao’er frowned.

"Marquis and the eldest young master are not injured, they are simply being held captive," he answered.

"Does Master Shangguan stay in Princess Xiyue’s courtyard?" Xiao’er asked.

"I guess so," Zhao Yong replied hesitantly.

Isn’t the miss getting jealous at a time like this?

"What kind of person is Princess Xiyue, do you guys know?"

"Princess Xiyue is one of the esteemed disciples of the Poison King. She’s recognized for her exceptional expertise in manipulating insects. The shadow elf insect was nurtured by her," Zhao Yong started.

Having been in touch with the information network, he knew quite a lot.

"Could it be possible that the master has fallen victim to some insect spell? Is there any spell that can cause memory loss?" Yang Liu voiced her doubt.

"Love spell!" Xiao’er and Zhao Yong uttered simultaneously.

If it was the love spell, they would confront massive difficulties. It was said that the insects used in the love spell had a certain level of consciousness. They died after consuming all their energy, completely controlling the thoughts of the victim. Hence, there was no antidote after being afflicted with the love spell.

Xiao’er reckoned that the love spell insects either consumed human brain cells or might secrete some kind of hormone to suppress the brain cells that caused memory loss!

Xiao’er frowned, Stresse. Was the love spell insect in Master Shangguan’s brain dead? Could he still be saved?

Xiao’er reflected upon the scene she witnessed between Shangguan Xuanyi and Princess Xiyue during the day.

Brother Shangguan didn’t appear too affectionate towards Princess Xiyue, at least not in the way he conducted himself around her. Could this mean that he wasn’t entirely dominated by the love spell?!

"So what should we do? Simply luring the spell insect out would solve the problem, right?" Yang Liu asked, as she didn’t have any previous interaction with the magic of the spell insect.

"It seems incurable," Zhao Yong had been researching a lot about the spell insect lately.

"What did you guys think when you saw Master Shangguan with Princess Xiyue yesterday? Could there possibly be deep-seated feelings for Princess Xiyue?"

After hearing this, Zhao Yong and Yang Liu exchanged glances and shook their heads.

"Seems a bit aloof."

"Only when the master is with the miss does he display a deep affection."

"Mhmm, my thoughts exactly. Perhaps Master Shangguan can still be saved! Zhao Yong, you sketch out the layout of the Xiyue Imperial Palace, so we can memorize it. Let’s brainstorm a strategy. Then let’s quickly eat something and get a good night’s sleep! Tonight we will first rescue my father and my elder brother, then plan to bring Master Shangguan back, and help him get rid of the love spell!"

Having heard her plan, Yang Liu and Zhao Yong exchanged another look. The two of them, working together, might just manage to bring their master back!

...

The high moon and gusty winds returned with the fall of night.

"Miss, how about we go to save Marquis and the eldest young master, and you stay at the designated spot waiting for us?"

Seeing the "you will only be a hindrance if you come along" look on their faces, Xiao’er pondered a bit before nodding her agreement.

After Zhao Yong and Yang Liu left, Xiao’er whistled, a figure dressed in black appeared before her eyes.

"Your master left four hidden guards to protect me when he left the Imperial Capital?"

An Shier nodded. He didn’t expect Xiao’er to know the exact number; he thought they had concealed their presence rather well.

"Okay, then. You all go to the Xiyue Palace, and bring your master back! The four of you working together should be able to overpower him, right?"

An Shier shook his head, "Our mission is to ensure the safety of the miss. We can’t afford to let her out of our sight."

"If we don’t bring your master back now, there might be no saving him!"

The hidden guard remained impassive, hearing her words.

Seeing him acting like this, Xiao’er was significantly irritated. What a stubborn wooden head! Hmph! There is more than one way to skin a cat!

If they wouldn’t go, she would go herself! Wouldn’t they have to follow her then?

That particular night, the security of the Xiyue Palace was notably stricter than ever before, yet it couldn’t possibly deter the daring and skillful!

Zhao Yong and Yang Liu split up and performed their respective tasks. Firstly, Yang Liu set a fire in one of the Cold Palaces of the Xiyue Imperial Palace, which wasn’t occupied. Assailed by the night wind, the flames quickly spread. Numerous maids and bodyguards rushed to extinguish the fire. Meanwhile, Zhao Yong set another fire in the kitchen, which was also unmanned during the night. Soon, the kitchen too was ablaze.

After setting the fire, Zhao Yong stealthily killed a bodyguard and changed into his clothes, beginning the rescue mission amidst the chaos.

Then Yang Liu started setting fires in other palace courtyards as per the plan. Regardless of whether it would take hold, the goal was to divert the attention of the bodyguards, creating a safe escape route!

The entire Xiyue Palace was thrown into chaos.

Reports of fires being set off were circulating everywhere.

Maids, bodyguards, everyone was running about, fetching water to put out the fires.

Zhao Yong killed the guards posted outside the door.

"Marquis, eldest young master, it’s me, Zhao Yong, quickly dress up as bodyguards. We’ll escape amidst the confusion!"

Zhao Yong took off the bodyguard uniform and handed it to them.

Recognizing Zhao Yong, Shen Chengyao and Shen Jingrui did as instructed without a word.

Zhao Yong threw the two bodies into the room, relocked the door, and set another fire.

Leading Shen Chengyao and Shen Jingrui, he avoided the heavily guarded routes. As comfortable as if strolling in their backyards at home, they fled!