Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 516 The Princess Who Wants to Compilation 13

Liu Rufeng was restless and paced around the room.

Sometimes he thought of the thrilling sword shadow, and sometimes he was driven by the sense of responsibility that he might have mastered a shocking secret.

Every minute and every second is extremely painful.

He was waiting for "Qingyunzhai" to send back an equally secret receipt confirmation signal through the predetermined channel (such as a receipt note with a specific pattern, or the shout of "Goods have been inspected" from a specific vendor).

Time passed by little by little and the sun rose higher.

The servant returned, looking his usual self. He also brought back a list of Qingyunzhai's pastries: "The shopkeeper thanked Your Highness for the gift and gave him some freshly baked peach cakes in return. He also attached a list of this month's new pastries for Your Highness's review."

Liu Rufeng snatched the list, his heart in his throat. He searched eagerly, his fingers trembling slightly.

Found it! In an inconspicuous corner of the list, printed was a tiny plum blossom-like pattern—the predetermined "correct reception" signal!

Did it work? A warm feeling welled up in my heart, mixed with the relief of having lifted some of the burden and a hint of indescribable complex emotions.

The message has been sent!

The Second Prince will soon know this shocking secret!

He breathed a sigh of relief, and then a feeling of exhaustion washed over him. He crumpled the list into a ball and habitually threw it into the deep end of the wastebasket in the corner.

At the same time, in the towering arrow tower near the martial arts training ground.

Yun Chu didn't continue practicing swordplay. She stood with her hands behind her back, her gaze cold and piercing the thin morning mist like a hawk, accurately landing in the direction of the side courtyard where Liu Rufeng lived.

Beside her, a secret guard dressed in ordinary guard uniform but with a reserved aura knelt on one knee and presented the opened "Nine Treasures Cake" food box with both hands. The remaining cakes in the box were carefully put back in their places, and a few key dried fruits (lotus seeds, dried plums, etc.) were scattered aside, obviously having been completely deciphered.

"Your Highness," the guard's voice was low and respectful. "As you expected, Master Liu has activated the 'Nine Treasures Food Box' channel. All the information has been intercepted and deciphered."

Yun Chu's lips curled up slightly, a hint of control. "The core content?"

The secret guard quickly repeated, "'Huang Yunchu is hiding his true power, possessing astonishing martial arts, far surpassing that of ordinary people. Please be vigilant! His disguise is very sophisticated, investigate immediately!'"

Yun Chu hummed softly, as if everything was as expected. "Is the replacement information ready?"

"Yes." The secret guard quickly took out another food box from his arms. The appearance, pastries, and arrangement were exactly the same. Even the small bumps on the box were perfectly reproduced.

The only difference is that the position and quantity of some of the dried fruits have been cleverly adjusted.

The newly placed "code," interpreted by the Second Princess's secret guards, had a completely different meaning: "The target, the Sixth Princess, behaves erratically, indulges in pleasure, and possesses mediocre martial prowess. Her daily morning visits to the martial arts training grounds are perfunctory. No abnormalities have been detected, and she poses no threat. Observation can continue as planned."

"Very good." Yun Chu nodded, his voice calm and steady. "Make sure it goes the rest of the way."

"Yes, sir!" The secret guard put away the replica food box and retreated quietly, as if he had never appeared.

Yun Chu's gaze once again turned towards Liu Rufeng's residence, his eyes as deep as a cold pond.

She did not resort to any drastic measures, nor did she expose Liu Rufeng's identity and purpose of surveillance to his face.

She was simply weaving an invisible giant web, turning all of her opponent's information sources into her puppets, and turning everything they saw and heard into her carefully designed illusions.

What Liu Rufeng thought was a "lifeline", the important lifeline connecting him and his backers, had now turned into a rope pulling in the opposite direction, silently conveying the wrong information back to the core of his loyalty.

The "stone" he threw in shock and fear will create "ripples" in the Second Princess's camp that are completely opposite to what she expected.

---

In the side courtyard room.

Liu Rufeng forced himself to calm down, repeatedly thinking about the various reactions of the Second Prince after receiving the secret report, trying to find a way out for his future situation.

A faint sense of accomplishment accompanied by fear supported him.

He was completely unaware that at the moment when he thought he had conveyed a shocking secret, a web of "surveillance" and "misguidance" tailor-made for him had quietly tightened.

The calls for help and warnings he sent out were quietly replaced by a "mediocre report" that drastically reduced his own value, in a place he could not see.

The sunlight outside the window was just right, shining on the crumpled snack list in the trash basket in the corner. The small "plum blossom" pattern that confirmed receipt was like a silent mockery.

When Liu Rufeng's "secret transmission" network was firmly controlled by Yun Chu, the shadows in the arrow tower retreated, and only the cold morning breeze remained on the martial arts training ground.

Yun Chu sheathed his sword and stood still. Suddenly, an invisible voice penetrated the depths of his frozen mind—the familiar, emotionless notes of the system:

[It is detected that the host's current plane meets the conditions. 】

[Hidden mission activated: Gain love points.]

[Target Personnel: Shen Ji, Bai Mo, Liu Rufeng, Gu Tingzhou. Love Value Requirement: 80% for each. Mission Reward: Points, one designated skill card, and one special mission card.]

【Task duration: unlimited.】

[Accept or reject the selection countdown: 10, 9...]

Yun Chu's pupils shrank slightly.

Love value?

This word caused ripples in her consciousness - she had just been stripped of her emotional memories, and only rationality and survival instincts were left. "Love" was an unfamiliar territory for her, like a flame burning on an ice field, seemingly passionate but untouchable.

Memory Fragments Flooding: The core of the mission is to compile a book, but the hidden mission uses love as bait.

This is no coincidence.

She knew very well that in the Phoenix Jade Kingdom, one's heart's desire could dismantle defenses - if she controlled the "love" of the four people, she would have an invisible shield that could buffer the poisonous arrows of the imperial sisters and better protect her ambition of traveling across the mountains and rivers.

The countdown ticked: 5, 4... Her eyes were stern, and her mind was as hard as iron: accept it.

Survival comes first, rationality should be the forerunner, and emotions can be used as a tool.

"Love value? It's an interesting task." Yun Chu raised the corners of his lips slightly, and the smile seemed to be worn deeper like a mask.

In the morning light, she brushed the dust off her sleeves and signaled to the guards, "Pass the word. Add Shen Ji, Bai Mo, Liu Rufeng, and Gu Tingzhou to the list of people accompanying us on the autumn hunt in ten days."

The guard bowed and accepted the order, but he did not see the calculating ripples in her eyes: the autumn hunt is approaching, and the enclosure is full of dangers. Bringing them in can not only observe people's hearts, but also create an opportunity to spend time together.

Love arises from nowhere and is tempered on dangerous peaks.

***

The sound of messenger guards' footsteps echoed throughout the courtyards of the palace. The news that the Sixth Princess had personally selected four young masters to accompany her on the autumn hunt was like a stone dropped into a deep pool, stirring up ripples in everyone's hearts.

The secluded Danqing courtyard.

He was copying a detailed flower and bird painting in white ink in front of the window when his wrist faltered slightly and a drop of thick ink almost stained the plain silk.

He slowly raised his eyes and looked at the guard who announced the decree. A hint of incredible sharpness flashed in the depths of his eyes, which always contained a cold and distant look.

Autumn hunting?

Accompanying?

This is so unlike the Sixth Prince who only knows how to enjoy himself and has no political acumen.

His expression quickly returned to its usual calmness, and he even gracefully put down his pen, nodding slightly to acknowledge the message. "Thank you, guards," he said, his voice as calm as a lake in early winter.

However, when the guard turned and left, his fingers unconsciously tapped on the table.

What does Huang Yunchu mean this time?

Is it a spur-of-the-moment pleasure?

Or...is it a test against these spies?

Or noticed something?

In any case, this means that the opportunities and environment for him to pass on information to the Third Prince have become complicated.

He looked at the unfinished painting, but his mind was already wandering far away.

It seems that the values ​​and behavior patterns of this "dissolute" princess need to be re-evaluated.

The autumn hunting grounds, with their bustling interpersonal relationships, might also be an excellent window for observing the dynamics of other forces. A trace of cautious calculation flashed across his eyes.