My Years in the Jianghu with the Prince: A Time of Unethical Conduct

Chapter 144, Flashback 11 - Assassination

Ah Ning didn't know what the debts Xie Yan was talking about were, but he knew that the day of revenge might be coming soon.

Wang Youdao still did not appear, but the surrounding security had been strengthened considerably without anyone noticing.

In order to prevent these people from escaping and causing him trouble.

Time flies—

Wang Youdao stood atop the city wall, watching the army recede into the distance below, and let out a disdainful sneer.

What Second Prince? In the end, he's just a brat.

They treated him to good food and drink, gave him some military pay, and then left satisfied.

He was so misled that he thought they had discovered what he had done and had come to confront him.

Fortunately, nothing happened; it was a false alarm.

Wang Youdao turned around and gently exhaled.

Seeing this, the guard beside him stepped forward and said, "Master, now that the Second Prince has left, should we recall those people hiding outside the city?"

But Wang Youdao shook his head. "No, just in case, let them stay there for a few more days."

"Also, send someone to follow him and keep a close eye on the Second Prince's movements. Report back to me immediately if there is any disturbance."

"Yes."

Just as the guards were about to take their orders and leave, Wang Youdao stopped them.

As if suddenly remembering something, he revealed a lewd smile and said impatiently, "Oh, right, prepare another carriage for me. I need to go outside the city tonight to meet someone."

"Yes."

The two were completely unaware that, while they were talking, several figures on the street below were silently watching them.

The night was deep and there was no one around.

The city gates, which should have been strictly closed, had quietly opened a passageway.

Several guards escorted a carriage as it quietly drove out of the city.

The carriage drove through a quiet grove of trees, where all was still except for the gentle evening breeze rustling through the treetops and the sound of the wheels rolling over the leaves.

The sound of wheels faded into the distance, all was quiet, and the woods fell silent once more.

After a long while, a rustling sound suddenly arose from the bushes, and two heads suddenly peeked out from the darkness.

"What is Wang Youdao going out of the city to do so late at night?"

"Could it be that he's hiding something outside the city? Why is he so eager to check it out as soon as the prince left?"

As they spoke, the two exchanged a glance, both noticing a hint of seriousness in each other's eyes.

“It’s possible. Yu Bai, go and inform the Prince quickly, I’ll go and check it out.”

Seeing that Wang Youdao's carriage was about to miss its chance, one of them could only whisper an order before chasing after the carriage.

Wang Youdao rushed back to his "golden house" tent, and before he could even catch his breath, he impatiently pushed open the curtain.

The sound of Xie Yan snoring loudly came from the front.

Wang Youdao: "..."

Suddenly, I felt like all the positive images I had of myself had shattered.

Wang Youdao silently cursed in his heart, "What a spoilsport."

He twitched his lips, his expectant steps slowed down instantly, and his worldly desires subsided considerably.

But his hands, which were unbuttoning his robe, never stopped for a moment.

"Clap."

The sound of robes falling to the ground rang out, and Xie Yan's snoring stopped abruptly. He opened his eyes sharply and looked at Wang Youdao.

Wang Youdao shivered involuntarily when he saw him, and he hesitated and stopped in his tracks.

"Master Wang?!"

But the next second, Xie Yan's expression suddenly changed.

His voice trembled slightly, and he stretched out one hand to grip the blanket tightly, as if facing some kind of monstrous flood.

It was as if the murderous look on Wang Youdao's face just now was merely his imagination.

He frowned and began to re-examine Xie Yan.

But after observing for a while, he couldn't find any difference between Xie Yan and the other boys who usually trembled on his bed.

Wang Youdao finally breathed a slight sigh of relief, and the wariness in his eyes slowly faded.

Indeed, what kind of trouble can an unarmed child possibly cause?

Wang Youdao chuckled a few times, slowly walked to Xie Yan's side, reached out and pinched his pale face, which was pale with fear, his voice low and hoarse.

"It's been several days, haven't you come to terms with it yet?"

"You've seen Ah Ning yourself. If you come with me, you'll enjoy endless wealth and luxury. Isn't that better than that life where you were beaten and scolded at will?"

Xie Yan trembled and shrank back, clutching the blanket tightly with both hands, without replying.

Seeing this, Wang Youdao grabbed Xie Yan's chin and revealed a sinister smile.

"If you continue to be so stubborn and insist on resisting, then don't blame me for being ruthless."

Upon hearing this, a hint of struggle flashed in Xie Yan's eyes, which were already slightly red.

But Wang Youdao smiled coldly, clearly having no patience to wait for his response. Just as he was about to make a move, Xie Yan spoke, her voice trembling and choked with sobs.

"Ah, Ah Ning, I want to be with Ah Ning..."

Wang Youdao paused his outstretched hand, and looked at Xie Yan with surprise upon hearing this.

I never expected this child to be so creative with games.

But after hearing him say that, and imagining that scene, Wang Youdao couldn't help but swallow hard, and readily agreed.

After an incense stick burns—

Wang Youdao looked at Xie Yan and A Ning sitting on the bed with satisfaction. Just as he was about to reach out his hand, he suddenly heard a commotion coming from outside.

Wang Youdao's expression changed, and his years of vigilance made him immediately want to get up and run away.

But before he could make a move, a thin veil was torn open and hung down in front of him, strangling his neck.

Wang Youdao's eyes widened, and he immediately reached out to grab the person behind him.

But the other person reacted even faster.

In that instant, Ah Ning yanked a sharpened wooden hairpin from her hair and plunged it fiercely into Wang Youdao's hand.

Wang Youdao convulsed in pain, only managing to utter a hoarse, inaudible sound from his throat, "You...you all..."

Ah Ning sneered, pulled out the hairpin, and, under Wang Youdao's furious gaze, forcefully stabbed it into his face!

However, at that moment, hurried footsteps and shouts from Wang Youdao's personal guards came from outside the door—

"Master! Someone has broken in!"

The curtain was suddenly flung open, and Wang Youdao's throat was being tightly strangled, rendering him speechless. A look of wild joy at surviving a calamity flashed in his only remaining eye.

But the next second, a voice that should have belonged to him came from behind, shattering his illusions—

"What's all the noise about? I was having so much fun! Get out of here!"

"Do you think I'm keeping you around for free? Someone broke in, so hurry up and arrest them all! Do you expect me to do it myself?"

Wang Youdao's pupils contracted sharply, and his neck made a "crunching" sound as it was being strangled.

He turned his head to the side, and the last thing he saw reflected in his vision was Xie Yan's condescending smile.