Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 172 The Endless Night - The Viper Appears

At Guangzhi Gate, a group of eunuchs were gathered under the eaves to take shelter from the rain.

To avoid attracting attention, Granny Gui dared not carry a lantern or even open an umbrella. She wore only a black cloak and had just crossed the large garden outside the inner palace when she suddenly heard fighting outside the door. She quickly hid under a thick flowering tree.

Madam Zhou was skilled with a sword, and at this moment she was already fighting with Ba Nu without saying a word, while several other people with swords surrounded the two people next to Ba Nu.

Neither side knew where the other came from. Madam Zhou showed herself because she knew that Guangzhi Gate was close to the back hall of the Prince's Mansion. Seeing the three people acting suspiciously, as if they were waiting for someone, she hesitated for a moment and then decided to take action directly.

Banu was secretly surprised. Although the person in front of him was wearing a black cloth covering her face, judging from her swordsmanship and figure, she seemed to be a woman. There were only a dozen or so people on the other side, and their actions were well coordinated. They were obviously not bandits or thieves taking advantage of the chaos.

Inside the Prince's mansion, separated by a wall, the eunuchs behind the Guangzhi Gate heard the sounds of fighting and immediately set off fireworks as a warning.

Upon seeing this, Ba Nu quickly turned around, dodging Zhou Niangzi's flying sword thrust, and then suddenly raised his leg and kicked Zhou Niangzi in the abdomen.

"Cheers!" Banu whistled, his punches becoming even faster, creating distance between himself and Madam Zhou.

Of the two men who were surrounded, one had already died on the spot. When the other man, who was carrying a cloth bag, swung his arm to block the sword, his arm hurt, and the bag was thrown out with a sudden force. It flew straight over the majestic gate of the mansion, and more than ten venomous snakes, each only as thick as a thumb, fell from the opening of the bag.

Screams erupted from inside the door.

"So many snakes! Help! Someone come quick! A villain has broken into the palace at night!" The sharp cry for help pierced the night sky. One of the eunuchs quickly hid in a corner. Others did not know, but he knew all too well how potent the venom of these snakes was.

At that time, when the people in the front hall saw the warning fireworks, Chief Secretary Song immediately took the prince's order and sent an eunuch to Ruyi Hall and Yunyi Hall to deliver the message. He also personally led dozens of guards from the Prince's Palace Guard Command to come out from Tiren Gate in the northeast direction and pursued them all the way to the vicinity of Guangzhi Gate.

Hiding in the shadows, Madam Zhou's heart was in turmoil. If the Second Miss and Hua Yan were involved... she would have no face to face the head of the family and the madam.

As for Banu, he had already fled in panic with his surviving men.

Granny Gui, who was under the flowering tree, had just caught a glimpse of the swarm of snakes falling from the sky in a fleeting flash of lightning. She was so terrified that she stumbled and fell to the ground.

After regaining her senses, she only had time to curse Banu fiercely in her heart before she had no time to care about anything else and hurriedly ran to Ruyi Palace to report to the Princess.

Half an hour ago, the Yunyi Palace heard a message from an eunuch, and everyone immediately went on alert.

Spring, summer, autumn, and winter gathered in front of the sleeping quarters as instructed. Yu Heyuan stood guard at the front gate with trepidation. When Yu Jingnian returned from the front hall, Aunt Mei immediately handed him a lantern and instructed him to go to Guangzhi Gate to investigate.

Ruizhu hurriedly told Mengzhu and ran to the side gate to send a message to Mingyue. When Donggua arrived at the bedroom with Mengzhu, holding a rolling pin, Huayan had already dressed the second young lady and draped her in a fox fur cloak. The two of them were staring solemnly outside the palace.

With a look of panic, Jingnian reported to Consort Zhen that the poisonous snake had been thrown into the back hall by the villains. Hua Yan suddenly looked up.

"Venomous snakes? Can you determine the exact number and type of venomous snakes?"

"Reporting to Miss Huayan, it was not clear in the darkness. The people guarding that place only said that there were more than ten snakes, each about the thickness of a thumb. It is unknown whether they were poisonous. The snakes scattered and fled after landing."

As soon as Yu Jingnian finished speaking, Aunt Mei gasped for breath and immediately ordered, "What are you all standing there for? Our Yunyi Palace is not far from Guangzhi Gate. Quickly take the lanterns and check the palace gate and the surrounding palace walls. If there are any gaps, plug them immediately."

Hua Yan noticed something was wrong and looked up to see Consort Zhen frowning and looking at her with concern.

Mengzhu pulled Donggua to the storeroom to fetch realgar and other medicinal herbs. Aunt Mei said to Huayan, "Something's fishy. The prince hasn't returned from the palace. The villains really picked the perfect time. If something happens to the master of the manor, I'm afraid even the imperial physician won't be able to come tonight..."

Consort Zhen sighed, "These are turbulent times. I wonder if the Prince is alright."

Hua Yan frowned, her gaze drifting further and further away as she reviewed the recent events before her eyes. Her expression gradually changed from confusion to realization, and a cold glint flashed in her eyes.

"This matter is probably aimed at us. Does the concubine remember the poisonous scorpion incident at Fengyin Courtyard five years ago on the Double Ninth Festival?"

Consort Zhen's eyes widened suddenly, and her imposing figure trembled for a moment. "How could this be? You mean, could it be that our palace has been filled with incense that attracts poisonous snakes...?"

“My concubine’s embroidered handkerchief.”

“My concubine’s purse.”

The voices of Hua Yan and Consort Zhen rang out simultaneously.