Chapter 262 - Chapter 262: A Step Too Late

Chapter 262: A Step Too Late

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Water-soaked calligraphy and paintings were no longer valuable. The most valuable thing was still jade.

Chu Qingzhi searched and found a Hetian Jade, a few pieces of suet jade, four imperial jade bracelets, two Hetian jade pendants, and a Hetian Jade Pearl.

These were all priceless treasures. She took a box and packed them all before handing it to Tang Jinghong. “This is all.”

Tang Jinghong found a piece of cloth and tied the box diagonally to his body. Then, he held Chu Qingzhi’s hand and waited for the water level in the stone room to reach the outlet before swimming out.

“Cough, cough, cough…” The fake Princess Consort woke up from choking on the water.

When she saw the secret room filled with water, she was so frightened that she hurriedly ran up the steps. “Help, help…”

Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong looked in her direction. No one said anything. It had nothing to do with them. Whether she could escape depended on her luck.

As soon as the fake Princess Consort’s cries for help subsided, there was a knocking sound from a small black box in the corner…

In such an environment, the knocking sound was especially clear. Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong looked at each other and walked towards the box warily.

The water level was only at their calves now. It would be a while before the water level reached the outlet.

Tang Jinghong protected Chu Qingzhi behind him and took out his sword to open the box…

“It’s you!”

The person in the box surprised the two of them. It was Tong Yujie.

Tong Yujie’s hands were tied behind his back, and his feet were tied together. His mouth was stuffed with a cloth, and his body was curled up in the small box. He looked pitiful.

When he saw that it was the two of them, his eyes lit up. “Boohoo…”

Tang Jinghong was not in a hurry to go forward. Instead, he asked, “Qingzhi, is he real or fake?”

Chu Qingzhi looked at Tong Yujie sympathetically. “He’s real.”

Only then did Tang Jinghong step forward and save Tong Yujie from the box. “Why are you locked up here?”

“I was ambushed.” At this point, Tong Yujie suddenly reacted and asked in a hurry, “Why are you here?”

Tang Jinghong said, “We followed you here.”

Tong Yujie quickly said, “I’ve been locked up here since yesterday. The person who brought you here can’t be me.”

Tang Jinghong said, “We already know.”

“You already know?” Tong Yujie heard the sound of water and looked at the rising water level. His expression changed. “Are they planning to drown us here?”

Tang Jinghong nodded. “You guessed right.”

“I’m sorry. It’s because I’m not capable enough that we are trapped here. I’ll go find the exit immediately.” Tong Yujie was very apologetic. He quickly lowered his head and looked for the exit.

Tang Jinghong said, “We’ve already found it.”

Tong Yujie immediately looked up “Where?”

Tang Jinghong raised his hand and pointed. “There.”

Tong Yujie looked over, and his furrowed brows instantly relaxed. “Water outlet?”

The three of them walked over together.

The fake Princess Consort heard everything they said. At this moment, she was curled up at the top of the stairs. She held her breath and tried her best to be invisible.

Tong Yujie could not help but praise, “You guys are really smart. No matter what danger you are in, you can always find a way out.”

Tang Jinghong looked at Chu Qingzhi. When he was with Qingzhi, everything was smooth sailing. No matter what problem it was, it could be easily resolved.

Thinking back, if not for Qingzhi, he would probably have drowned here.

Meeting Qingzhi in this life was his greatest blessing.

Chu Qingzhi understood what Tang Jinghong was thinking. She took the initiative to hold Tang Jinghong’s hand.

After accepting Tang Jinghong’s confession on the night of the Dragon Boat Festival, she had regarded Tang Jinghong as her man. She naturally had to protect him with all her heart and not let him suffer or be hurt…

A smile appeared in Tang Jinghong’s eyes. They would definitely be able to face everything hand in hand forever.

When Tong Yujie saw the two of them like this, some bad memories surfaced in his mind. He felt terrible and regretful.

He also wanted to find such a woman to protect and love, but after what Qin Yajun had done to him, he felt that he was dirty and was not worthy of a good woman.

Time slowly passed, and the water level in the stone room gradually reached the outlet…

Tang Jinghong said, “Qingzhi, let’s go.”

“Okay.” Chu Qingzhi swam out of the water, followed by Tang Jinghong and finally Tong Yujie.

Chu Qingzhi poked her head out of the water and immediately saw the Princess Consort drinking tea in the pavilion. She looked relaxed, as if she was waiting for them to drown.

“What a coincidence!” Chu Qingzhi formed a hand seal with one hand. A few beams of spiritual light flew over and knocked out everyone in the pavilion.

Now, all the guards in the mansion were gathered in the courtyard where the Princess Consort lived. There were basically no guards at the pavilion, so it was convenient for them to do things.

Chu Qingzhi jumped out of the water and flew into the pavilion. She grabbed the Princess Consort and flew out of the mansion. Tang Jinghong and Tong Yujie came out of the water a few steps later. When they saw Chu Qingzhi fly away, they hurriedly followed.

There was a forest behind the mansion. Chu Qingzhi broke a branch and hung the Princess Consort up from behind.

The Princess Consort was a lady in her forties. From her headdress to her shoes, everything was exquisite. However, after being hung on the branch, she looked like a female ghost.

Her hair was a mess, her clothes were dirty, and she was missing a shoe…

Chu Qingzhi snapped her fingers beside the Princess Consort’s ear. “You can wake up now.”

The Princess Consort felt that her body was very tense. She quickly opened her eyes. When she saw Chu Qingzhi and the other two and her miserable self, she was so angry that she almost fainted. “You…”

Chu Qingzhi made a shushing gesture. “Stop. You’re in our hands now. Don’t struggle. It’ll be useless. Just be cooperative.”

The Princess Consort quickly calmed herself down. “What do you want?”

Chu Qingzhi moved aside and let Tang Jinghong do the talk.

Tang Jinghong asked directly, “Princess Consort, where is the name list?”

The Princess Consort said honestly, “I have already sent the name list to my husband.”

Tang Jinghong frowned. “How did you know about the name list?”

“My husband told me.” The Princess Consort’s eyes were filled with tears. Why couldn’t she stop herself from answering?

“Have you seen the list?”

“I have.”

“Who are the names?”

“I don’t remember. I only remember that there are 50 names written on the list. They are people scattered in every corner of the northern border.”

These 50 people were spies planted by the An Huai Kingdom. The king of the An Huai Kingdom gave the list to the Lord of the Northern Border. In other words, he was letting the Lord of the Northern Border command this group of people to his use..