C14 I Am Secretly in Love!

"Don't bother with the Imperial Capital Mansion Director; they probably can't send anyone over. Head to the Ninth Prince's Mansion and have him bring his troops!" Lo Qiuli was certain that sending more people to the Imperial Capital Mansion was futile. Instead, going directly to the Ninth Prince's Mansion was the better option. Xiao Yuhan would never ignore Princess Pingle's plight, especially since their relationship was outwardly harmonious.

"Hurry up!" Even though the reason for the urgency was unclear, the situation was critical, leaving no time for questions. One of Princess Pingle's guards fended off an attack from a man in black, then kicked a trembling soldier nearby, shouting angrily.

"Yes!" The soldier stammered a reply and dashed out of the encirclement, heading for the Ninth Prince's Mansion. Lo Qiuli watched the soldier's retreating figure with a sense of unease, hoping Xiao Yuhan would be at his residence today.

Xiao Yuhan arrived swiftly with his men. Lo Qiuli turned toward the sound of approaching hooves and saw Xiao Yuhan atop a majestic horse, dressed in pristine white, his dark hair flowing. He exuded an almost ethereal presence. Lo Qiuli couldn't help but smile; with him there, her worries faded.

By coincidence, Xiao Yuhan was about to leave when a soldier, looking frantic, ran into him. From the soldier's attire, Xiao Yuhan deduced he was from the palace, though he hadn't heard of anyone leaving the palace that day. It could only be Pingle, he thought. Seeing the soldier's injuries, Xiao Yuhan realized Pingle was in trouble and immediately set out with his men. He hadn't expected to encounter Lo Qiuli here.

"Ninth Prince, don't you think you're a bit slow?" With her worries gone, Lo Qiuli felt like bantering with Xiao Yuhan. She blocked an attack from a man in black with her sword and then kicked him toward Xiao Yuhan.

Xiao Yuhan didn't hold back. In a flash of cold light, no one saw how he struck, but a thin, long wound appeared on the neck of the man in black. As the man fell, blood spurted from the wound.

"You're too kind, Mr. Lo. With you here, I have nothing to worry about. Guards, arrest these assassins! I want to interrogate them personally!" Ignoring Lo Qiuli's teasing, Xiao Yuhan's face showed a glint of determination, and his deep voice unexpectedly brought a sense of reassurance.

As the chaos gradually subsided, Princess Pingle, who had been silent from the start, finally regained some color in her pale face. She walked gracefully to Lo Qiuli's side, bowed, and said, "Thank you, Mr. Lo, for saving my life."

"It was nothing, Princess. Please don't mention it!" Feeling the warning stares around her, Lo Qiuli broke into a cold sweat. She quickly helped the princess up, fearing she might get into trouble. Though she had saved Pingle, as a commoner, she felt unworthy of such a grand gesture from the princess.

"Guards, escort the princess back to the palace!" Xiao Yuhan couldn't risk keeping Pingle there any longer. Those attackers dared to strike in broad daylight, clearly prepared to die for their cause. If anything happened to Pingle under his watch, he'd be in serious trouble. Lo Qiuli really knew how to stir things up for him!

"Thank you, Ninth Brother." Although Princess Pingle was curious about the unfamiliar gentleman, she maintained her composure. After a glance at Lo Qiuli, she gracefully bowed to Xiao Yuhan and, under the protection of his guards, headed back toward the palace.

"Aren't you afraid of causing trouble at the mansion by being out here in broad daylight?" Once Pingle had left, Xiao Yuhan's tense expression finally eased, though he still looked at Lo Qiuli with some concern.

"You're not too fond of her, are you?" The disdain in Xiao Yuhan's eyes was something Lo Qiuli couldn't ignore. In her memory, Pingle was a sensible and obedient princess. When she married into the empire, she never uttered a word of complaint. So why was Xiao Yuhan so displeased after meeting her? Was there a secret he couldn't share?

"It's not about liking or disliking her. She's the apple of our father's eye. If she makes a mistake, I'd be the one in trouble," Xiao Yuhan said, his brow relaxing a bit, though he was still unhappy. The reason for his discontent was something only he knew.

"I think you should send someone to check on the Imperial Capital Mansion Director. It's strange that there's been such a commotion here, yet there's no reaction from them!" Lo Qiuli noted. Xiao Yuhan's reluctance to share more indicated that the matter was still sensitive. Besides, she wasn't particularly interested in the details. What concerned her more was what was happening with the Imperial Capital Mansion Director. If he had been compromised, that would be truly alarming.

"I understand. Leave the rest to me," Xiao Yuhan replied. The teasing tone he had used with Lo Qiuli earlier was gone. The position of the Imperial Capital Mansion Director was crucial in the capital. If there was indeed an issue, it needed to be reported to their father immediately. This situation seemed more complex than it appeared. Although Pingle was favored, she was just a woman. Why would anyone target her?

Seeing that he understood the gravity of the situation, Lo Qiuli decided not to worry further. She had been out long enough and needed to return. If those people discovered she had sneaked out, there would be consequences. She was currently too weak to challenge the Prime Minister's Mansion.

Back at the palace, Pingle's fear finally began to subside. Suddenly, the image of Lo Qiuli flashed through her mind, and she felt a bit regretful. In her panic, she had forgotten his name. However, judging by the way her brother spoke with him, they seemed well-acquainted. She wondered if her brother knew his identity.

Thinking of Lo Qiuli's gallant demeanor, Pingle found herself a bit entranced, her cheeks tinged with a soft blush. The saying goes, "Heroes are matched with beauties," and only a hero like Lo Qiuli could be a match for her, Pingle!

"Princess, what are you thinking about?" Jinshu, the lady-in-waiting, approached, noticing the princess lost in thought, her face glowing with a rosy hue. It was unusual for the princess to be like this—could she be lovestruck? Recalling Lo Qiuli's sudden appearance during the assassin's attack today, Jinshu understood.

"Jinshu, what kind of woman do you think Lo Qiuli likes? Could it be someone like me?" Pingle snapped back to reality, her face reddening again as she caught the expression on Jinshu's face. She suddenly felt shy, unable to meet her lady-in-waiting's gaze. She lowered her head, twisting her handkerchief, a rare display of bashfulness from the usually composed Pingle.