The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 145

Chapter 145: Taken Home by the Princess Part 33

Qin Yang, realizing what Tao Ning meant, looked at her: “What did you find?”

Tao Ning’s gaze swept across the deserted courtyard, long unoccupied yet spotlessly clean. She walked a few steps, pulled out a fire starter, and blew on it.

The fire starter ignited, illuminating the ground, and she brushed her fingertip against a tile, picking up some powder, which she brought to her nose and sniffed.

Qin Yang quickly asked, “What is it?”

Tao Ning: “Gunpowder, they’ve transported gunpowder here.”

Qin Yang: “Gunpowder? Then there must be something hidden here.”

Unexpectedly, they had stumbled upon something so easily. Qin Yang’s mouth went dry, and she also crouched down, examining the traces of gunpowder.

But unfortunately, it was just a small amount, accidentally dropped, there were no other traces.

Tao Ning, seeing Qin Yang’s anxiety, said softly, “Don’t worry, Changyi, I’ve read books on mechanisms and hidden chambers, the entrance to a secret room, large enough for a person to enter and transport goods, wouldn’t be small, and it has to be concealed…”

Tao Ning concluded, “Let’s check the kitchen.”

Qin Yang never read such books. She could recite the Confucian classics and historical texts, but she knew nothing about these practical matters.

If it weren’t for this habit, her mother wouldn’t have called her a little stick-in-the-mud.

The kitchen door was locked, an old lock with signs of use but no rust, which was unusual for an abandoned courtyard.

Tao Ning used a long hairpin to pick the lock, silently placing it aside, and pushed the door open.

It was a small kitchen, devoid of dust or footprints.

A stove was built on the right side, firewood piled beside it, two large pots placed on top.

Qin Yang asked, “There’s nothing here, where would the mechanism be?”

“Hold this.” Tao Ning handed the fire starter to Qin Yang and lifted one of the pots, revealing a passage large enough for a person to pass through.

Qin Yang’s eyes widened as Tao Ning lifted the other pot, revealing another passage, a faint light flickering below.

Tao Ning silently pointed at the passage with the light, gesturing, “I think this one leads to a secret exit, and this one is a hidden chamber for storing gunpowder.”

A pungent smell came from the other opening.

Qin Yang nodded, also gesturing, “Let’s go down and check this one.”

She was referring to the gunpowder chamber.

Tao Ning nodded, put the pot back, then went outside and found a large, heavy rock, placing it on top of the pot.

She wasn’t sure if the passages were connected, but it was better to block one exit, in case someone tried to escape, they would have to use their head to break through the rock.

They descended into the chamber, which was larger than they expected, filled with weapons, armor, and gunpowder, far more than a prince should possess.

Qin Yang’s lips pursed into a thin line, When did Prince Yong start plotting a rebellion?

After examining the chamber, they quickly left.

Putting the pot back, Tao Ning didn’t wait for Qin Yang and walked out.

A knife suddenly appeared, pressed against her neck, and a cold voice said, “Don’t move.”

Qin Yang froze, staring at the suddenly appearing figure in shock.

Tao Ning also froze, raising her hands.

The person stepped out from behind the door, standing before Tao Ning, his brows furrowed: “Who are you?”

Tao Ning glanced at the gleaming blade against her neck, its owner’s eyes narrowed, seemingly scrutinizing her face.

He was one of the prince’s guards, judging by his disheveled uniform, probably a Jianghu wanderer, bold enough to dress so casually even in the prince’s residence.

Overconfident, not even noticing Li Ji’s frequent visits with the mechanical puppet.

The guard heard a cool, female voice: “I’m not good at fighting, but I never said I wasn’t good at killing.”

As she uttered the word “killing,” Tao Ning suddenly struck, using her proximity to her advantage, hitting a pressure point on the guard’s arm, making him release his grip.

The guard, surprised by this slender woman’s skill, instinctively tried to grab his knife, but he was too slow, disarmed by Tao Ning.

She effortlessly wielded the heavy blade, swinging it towards him, and he saw a flash of cold light before a sharp pain in his throat, blood gushing out.

“Gah… gah…” The guard stumbled, taking two steps back before collapsing.

He realized the flash of light wasn’t the moon, but the blade’s reflection.

A bamboo tube fell from his waist, rolling away, and before Tao Ning could react, a signal flare ignited, shooting into the sky, exploding into a pale yellow firework.

“Whoosh—Bang!”

The loud explosion attracted the attention of everyone in the residence, and even those outside.

Prince Yong’s eyes snapped open, and he sat up abruptly, looking at the firework in the night sky. Daoist Qingxu, performing the ritual, slowly stopped.

The crowd in the front courtyard turned to look at the sky.

Soon, another firework followed, a bright red explosion, forming the character “Yang.”

This kind of signal flare belonged to only one person:

Prince Yong’s eyes widened in fury, and he smashed his teacup: “It’s Qin Yang! It’s her!”

In the secluded courtyard, Qin Yang tossed aside the used signal flare: “We’re out of time, we have to do this.”

She turned to Tao Ning: “Can we hold out until General Qi arrives?”

Tao Ning looked at the knife in her hand, its weight reminding her of the heavy sword from her past: “For a short while, yes.”

The yellow and red fireworks exploded one after another above Yongzhou, seen by almost everyone in the city, the commoners puzzled, unaware of any festival or celebration.

But in the shadows, figures shed their outer robes, revealing embroidered uniforms beneath, drawing their hidden blades, and rushed towards Prince Yong’s residence.

They had been waiting for this day, summoned on short notice, but not panicking.

Torches flowed like a river of stars as the hidden soldiers converged, General Qi on horseback, raising his arm and shouting, “Soldiers, follow me! We shall apprehend the traitor!”

“Yes!!”

The sound of hooves and heavy, rhythmic footsteps echoed through the streets.

The two patrolling guards, startled by the commotion, looked up at the imposing general on horseback and asked nervously, “Who are you? This is Prince Yong’s territory, his residence is just ahead!”

“Prince Yong has rebelled! We’re here to eliminate the traitor!”

“Prince Yong has rebelled?!” The guards’ eyes widened, their fear momentarily forgotten, and they exchanged glances.

The general’s lieutenant said, “We’re here on imperial orders, get out of the way!”

The two guards quickly stepped aside, their backs pressed against the wall, watching as the soldiers marched past.

Torches blazing, their fighting spirit high.

One guard nudged the other, pointing at the rooftops: “Did you see that? Shadows, moving on the rooftops.”

The other guard replied, “I saw them, not just one, but many.”

“I never thought Prince Yong would rebel.”

“Who would have thought?”

At Prince Yong’s residence, Daoist Qingxu had been captured, but not yet killed.

Not because Prince Yong was merciful, but because the Daoist priest, throwing down his peachwood sword, had burst into tears, confessing he was a charlatan, only interested in money, and there was no need to scare him with fireworks, he had already wet himself.

Prince Yong, finding him disgusting and embarrassing, had him restrained.

He had gathered his troops, with reinforcements stationed in the forest outside the city, ready to enter upon receiving his signal.

His priority was to find Qin Yang. Prince Yong said, “If it weren’t for my father’s injury, preventing him from walking, with his virtue, he should have been the emperor, and this kingdom would be mine! Why should I bow to a mere child?!”

His eyes narrowed, he raised his sword towards the sky: “Seal off the city gates, defend the residence, anyone who disobeys will be executed!”

“Those who defend the residence will be rewarded with a hundred taels of gold! Capture Princess Regent Qin Yang alive, and you’ll be promoted!”

A fierce battle began, the cries of fighting echoing through the residence.

Daoist Qingxu, who had been restrained, suddenly ripped off his fake beard and wide sleeves, drawing a soft sword from his belt and slashing a guard’s throat.

The tip of his sword aimed for Prince Yong’s heart, but a whip cracked, deflecting the attack with a serpentine maneuver.

The fake Daoist priest, seeing his attack fail, pulled back his sword, and they separated. He looked at the young woman in a maid’s uniform, her delicate features and alluring eyes familiar.

Fake Daoist Priest: “Ling Jiao Long, Song Yao, it’s you.”

He had heard that Prince Yong, plotting a rebellion, had recruited many skilled individuals, like the legendary Lord Mengchang, and they had finally revealed themselves.

“Since you know my name, why not kneel and beg for mercy?” The woman smiled, and as she uttered the words “beg for mercy,” she swung her whip towards him.

The fake Daoist priest, knowing her skill, rolled on the ground, dodging the attack.

The whip, made from black crocodile skin, struck a stone lantern in the courtyard, shattering it like tofu.

“Crash!!!”

The courtyard gate burst open, and the rushing soldiers expected to find several opponents waiting, ready for battle.

But there was only one person standing there, a lone figure.

Dressed in black, tall and slender, her hair tied up, a dark ribbon wrapped around her braid, everything indicating she was a young woman.

Tao Ning glanced at them, her gaze sweeping across their faces, each filled with apprehension.

She chuckled softly, startling them, and someone shouted, charging towards her with his sword.

“Attack! She’s alone!”

As if awakened from a dream, the others also charged.

“His Highness said, capture Princess Regent Qin Yang alive, and you’ll be promoted! Kill!!!”

Tao Ning moved like a black arrow, piercing through their ranks, disrupting their formation, and unleashing a flurry of attacks.

Sensing a blade approaching from behind, she turned, her sword slashing, almost cutting the attacker in half, then, without pausing, she spun around, her blade piercing another’s chest.

The blade was stuck between ribs, impossible to pull out, its edge chipped, and Tao Ning ducked, dodging another attack.

Grabbing a discarded sword, she kicked the attacker away and continued fighting.

A few managed to break through and rushed towards Qin Yang’s hiding place, kicking the door open, their swords raised.

Soldier: “Don’t move!”

Qin Yang calmly raised her wrist, her hand flipping over, an arrow shooting from a hidden crossbow in her sleeve, hitting the soldier’s neck.

A fatal blow, and he collapsed.

Qin Yang frowned slightly, taking a few steps back, thinking, You told me not to move, so I didn’t, does the Princess Regent have no dignity?

She looked towards the door, worried.

She didn’t know when her reinforcements would arrive.

Outside, more and more soldiers were approaching, along with Prince Yong’s advisors.

Although they were just a disorganized mob, she knew that even ants could kill an elephant if there were enough of them. Tao Ning seized the opportunity, as an advisor landed to join the fight, and threw a lit bamboo tube.

The advisor, seeing the tube rolling towards his feet, instinctively jumped back, shouting, “Everyone, scatter!!!”

But it was too late.

The explosion rocked the entire residence, and the princess’s reinforcements, worried about her safety, quickened their pace.

Li Ji, leading the way, pointed towards the west side of the residence: “That way, follow me!”

Behind them, General Qi’s troops broke through the main gate.