Chapter 580: Uneasy

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Actually, when they first left Luzhou, Xiao Juan sensed that someone was following them, but he pretended not to notice anything and continued on his way.

It was not until after dark that the group stopped to rest.

Only then did Xiao Juan secretly tell the others that they were being followed.

They pretended to be asleep, deliberately giving themselves away.

As expected, the assassins appeared.

It was originally a good plan. As long as they could capture the assassin alive, they could ask who the mastermind was.

In the end, Deng Luyun messed up.

This was the first time he had suffered a setback in his life.

The young man’s confidence fell and he wilted.

Yu Niaoniao walked over and squatted down. She reached out and pulled off the mask on an assassin’s face. She saw that the other party’s face was unfamiliar.

Seeing the quiver on the assassin’s back, she took out an arrow and looked at it. She immediately recognized it.

“This is the assassin who ambushed me last night.”

Xiao Juan asked, “Why do you think so?”

Yu Niaoniao waved the arrow in her hand. “This arrow is identical to the one that was shot at me last night. They should be the same group.”

Xiao Juan looked at the assassin’s corpse on the ground and then at the carriage beside him. He frowned slightly.

“This group of assassins came for you twice, but you don’t know them. Is there something on you they want?” Yu Niaoniao reacted quickly. “It’s that jade bracelet!”

Xiao Juan agreed with her guess.

“The reason Li Niang died back then was very likely related to that jade bracelet. Now that the bracelet is in your hands, the mastermind has targeted you again.”

Hearing him mention Li Niang, Deng Yuchuan could not help but speak.

“Empress Dowager Deng must have sent someone to do it. She didn’t want anyone to know about the bracelet. She’s afraid that her crime of murdering her own sister would be exposed.”

Xiao Juan felt that it was not that simple.

“Assuming you’re telling the truth, the Empress Dowager would not have sent someone to kill Li Niang if she was really afraid of the crime being exposed.”

“Anyway, she was the Empress Dowager. Even if Li Niang complained, she could not do anything to the Empress Dowager.”

“There was no need for the Empress Dowager to do anything unnecessary.

There must be a bigger secret hidden here.”

This was a secret that the mastermind had to hide even if he killed everyone.

There was too little evidence. If they relied on speculation, they would never be able to confirm the truth.

The guards dug a hole and buried all the assassins’ corpses.

At dawn the next day, they set off to continue their journey.

Yu Niaoniao sat in the carriage and looked at the jade bracelet on her wrist in a daze.

Seeing this, Ling Hai could not help but ask, “Did you think of something?”

Yu Niaoniao said, “So many people have died for such a small bracelet. First, my mother and stepfather, then Sun Dalang’s family, and Li Niang. Now that this bracelet is in my hands, will I also…”

Ling Hai hurriedly interrupted her, “No! You’re blessed. You’ll definitely be fine!”

Yu Niaoniao smiled.

She lowered her hand. “Thank you for your kind words. Let’s hope I survive until the truth comes out.”

As it turned out, her worries were not groundless.

Along the way, assassins kept attacking them.

The assassins’ goals were surprisingly the same— They were all coming for Niaoniao.

Once the assassination failed, they would commit suicide without hesitation.

Even if Xiao Juan took precautions in advance and stopped them from committing suicide on the spot, they would still die from the poison before long.

It turned out that these assassins had taken the poison before they took action.

Once the mission succeeded, they would immediately take the antidote. However, if the mission failed, they would die from the poison.

This almost suicidal assassination method was enough to show the mastermind’s determination to kill Yu Niaoniao.

Xiao Juan suggested, “Give me the bracelet.”

If those assassins were really after the bracelet, he would take all the risks.

Yu Niaoniao did not want Xiao Juan to take the risk for her, but she knew her limits. She did not have the ability to protect herself, so the bracelet was even more safe in Xiao Juan’s hands.

Hence, she obediently handed the jade bracelet to Xiao Juan.

Soon, they were attacked again. The assassins’ targets this time were two— Xiao Juan and Yu Niaoniao.

Even though Niaoniao did not have a bracelet on her, those assassins still did not let her off.

After a fierce battle, the assassins were defeated.

Deng Luyun reacted quickly this time and did not give the assassins a chance to commit suicide. He captured them immediately and dislocated their chins and limbs, making them lose their ability to commit suicide.

Unfortunately, it was useless.

After a while, the assassins twitched all over and spat out black blood. Then, right on the heels of that, they kicked their legs and stopped breathing. It was obvious that they had already taken the poison and had died from it.

Deng Luyun gritted his teeth in hatred, but he was helpless. Yu Niaoniao walked up to Xiao Juan and looked at him.

“Just give me the bracelet.”

Xiao Juan stood still.

Yu Niaoniao said, “As you saw just now, their target is not just the bracelet, but me. No matter who has the bracelet, they wouldn’t let me off.”

“Instead of having one more person take the risk, why don’t you put the bracelet on me?”

Xiao Juan knew that she had a point.

But he couldn’t accept it.

“I won’t let you face danger alone. Even if I have to die, I’ll stay with you.”

When the man said this, his tone was extremely low, like a blade stabbing into the ground, exuding a determined aura.

Yu Niaoniao smiled, looking both helpless and happy.

“Well, since you insist on sharing my troubles, I have no reason to refuse you.” At this point, Niaoniao did not mention asking for the bracelet back.

But when she was alone, she couldn’t help but wonder if she was being too selfish.

She wanted to pursue the truth and avenge her mother and stepfather. For this, no matter the risk, she was willing.

However, Xiao Juan did not need to avenge anyone. He could have chosen not to intevene.Now he was going to put himself in danger for her.

The days passed.

They were getting closer to the Imperial Capital. The assassins seemed to know that there was not much time left. Their attacks became crazier.

Once, Xiao Juan was unfortunately injured.

Although it was only a light injury, it made the uneasy feeling in Niaoniao’s heart intensify.

Niaoniao bandaged Xiao Juan’s wound very carefully.

Seeing that she was silent, Xiao Juan took the initiative to comfort her. “It’s fine. It’s just a small injury. I’ll be fine in two days.”

Yu Niaoniao opened her mouth, wanting Xiao Juan to stop investigating. She could investigate the Feng family’s case alone. She did not want Xiao Juan to be injured for her.

But she swallowed the words.

Because she knew that Xiao Juan would not agree.

If she were in Xiao Juan’s shoes, she would definitely not leave him.

Xiao Juan looked at her steadily and suddenly said in a low voice.

“I’ll always be by your side. Don’t even think about getting rid of me.” Yu Niaoniao became a little flustered.

She quickly lowered her head. “Why are you talking about this? Don’t ride for the next two days. Take the carriage or the wound will open.”

Xiao Juan said, “Okay..”