Free Web NovelChapter 1679: Chapter 94: Prince Pingjian Leaves Seclusion! (Part 2)
He glanced at the skills section, then moved his gaze upward.
[Source Points]: 93.7
"Not much left to go!" he thought to himself, then looked into the distance, "At this moment, there’s no point in avoiding suspicion anymore! Enhancing strength is fundamental, I hope he can give me what I want."
With these thoughts flashing through his mind, Jiang Ning made up his mind.
The next moment.
His figure flickered and he disappeared from the Marquis Mansion.
.....
The moon was as cool as water.
The night in the Royal Capital was much quieter compared to the daytime, with only the night market on Vermilion Bird Street remaining lively.
Among the staggered heights of buildings, Jiang Ning moved like a ghost.
In just a moment, he appeared in front of the Eighth Prince Ji Minghao’s mansion.
During these days, Ji Minghao hadn’t sought him out once, nor had he visited Ji Mingyue.
He understood that this was Ji Minghao avoiding suspicion.
Ji Minghao clearly didn’t want to implicate his sister Ji Mingyue, nor get Jiang Ning involved.
Because of this, he regarded Ji Minghao even higher in his mind.
Standing before the Eighth Prince Ji Minghao’s mansion, Jiang Ning’s mind raced through several thoughts, then his figure flickered as he sneaked into the Eighth Prince Mansion.
Upon entering the Prince’s Mansion, the Guards were strict, and patrols alternated between light and dark.
But to him, they were just illusions.
His direction was firmly locked onto a study in the backyard.
That was where the Eighth Prince was located and the area he had just swept through with his Divine Thought.
In just a moment.
Squeak —
The slightly ajar door of the study was pushed open by him.
Under the flickering candlelight, Ji Minghao raised his head abruptly.
Seeing Jiang Ning, his pupils contracted suddenly, and then he quickly got up.
"Brother Jiang!!"
At this moment, joy appeared in Ji Minghao’s eyes.
"Eighth Prince!" Jiang Ning cupped his hands.
"Brother Jiang coming at this late hour, no need to be so distant!" Ji Minghao hurriedly walked toward Jiang Ning, not even wearing shoes or socks.
He quickly stepped forward, grabbed Jiang Ning’s wrist, unable to contain his excitement.
"Brother Jiang coming here must have urgent matters; though this is my mansion’s study, it may not be entirely safe from eavesdroppers. My mansion now has gaps filled with my brother’s and my sibling’s confidants, we should talk elsewhere."
As his words fell, he walked toward a bookshelf, skillfully twisting a copper beast ornament on the shelf.
A light sound came from within the wall, and a row of bookshelves against the wall silently slid to the side, revealing a dark passageway that extended downward, just wide enough for one person to pass through.
Fluorite embedded on both sides of the passage emitted a faint light, barely illuminating the steps.
"Brother Jiang, please follow me." Ji Minghao was the first to step into the passage.
Seeing this, Jiang Ning followed closely behind.
The bookshelf behind them slowly merged, blocking out all sounds from the outside.
The passage wasn’t long; descending about a dozen steps led to a small secret chamber.
The room was simply furnished, with only stone tables and stools, and overhead were several bright night pearls, casting a steady and soft light.
The air was cool but very dry, indicating good ventilation.
"This place was built secretly by me; besides me, no one knows about it. It’s absolutely safe." Ji Minghao invited Jiang Ning to sit down, his expression turning serious: "Brother Jiang coming at such a late hour, is it about tomorrow’s court meeting? The Demon Clan delegation has just entered the capital, causing a stir in the court, even the Imperial Uncle had to gather the court for a meeting today."
At this point, he looked at Jiang Ning again.
"Brother Jiang attending the court meeting tomorrow must proceed with caution. Somehow, the matter of Princess Consort Qi has quietly spread within the Imperial Family; now almost everyone inside and outside the Imperial Family knows about Princess Consort Qi."
Hearing this, Jiang Ning furrowed his brows slightly, immediately understanding.
The spread within and outside the Imperial Family must be attributed to those few Princes.
These days, though Ji Minghao hadn’t contacted him.
Ji Mingyue had been by his side.
And Ji Mingyue and Ji Minghao were full siblings; no matter how they cleared their relationship, those Princes could not ignore his existence.
With these thoughts flashing by, Jiang Ning shook his head: "Regarding the court meeting, I’ll face whatever comes. I didn’t come here tonight for that. To be honest, I urgently need a batch of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to break through barriers and enhance my strength. Time is tight, and it’s hard to obtain them in time, thinking carefully, only you can calm my urgent needs. I wonder if your mansion’s inner treasury has such rare treasures?"
Upon hearing this, a look of understanding flashed in Ji Minghao’s eyes.
He knew well the pressure Jiang Ning would face at the court meeting tomorrow.
And to counteract these pressures, the best strategy is improving strength.
Ji Minghao decisively said: "Though I gifted Brother Jiang with some Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures earlier, my mansion still has some accumulations over the years, since Brother Jiang has this need, I will certainly assist with all my might. There’s no time to lose, let’s go now."
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Jiang Ning cupped his hands, feeling moved.
Ji Minghao waved his hand, his expression solemn: "Brother Jiang, don’t mention it. Though we met in humble circumstances, having stood shoulder to shoulder multiple times, our friendship is extraordinary. Moreover, the stronger Brother Jiang becomes, the more hope for Shiqi, for me, and even...for the Great Xia itself. If some external items can help Brother Jiang ascend further, that’s their greatest value."
After saying this, he stood up and went toward the stairs: "Brother Jiang, please follow me."
Jiang Ning raised and followed.
Returning to the study.
"Brother Jiang, please wait here for a moment. I’ll send servants to bring a cloak to prevent exposing your presence here at my mansion! My mansion now has many of my royal brothers’ confidants; it’s difficult to distinguish them. If you walk out without concealing your face, it’ll quickly spread throughout the mansions of my royal brothers tomorrow, wouldn’t be favorable to you, and wouldn’t be desirable for Shiqi either!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning shook his head and said.
"No need for such trouble!"
As these words fell, Ji Minghao’s pupils shook.
He watched as Jiang Ning directly in front of him started to gradually conceal himself.
In just a breath, there was nothing in front of him.
"Your Highness, can you still see me?" Jiang Ning’s voice echoed from the empty space.
"Brother Jiang... remarkable skills!!" Ji Minghao sighed softly.
Then he composed himself.
"Brother Jiang, please follow me!"
Leaving behind these words, he tidied up his attire, then put on the long boots placed beside him, and opened the door of the study.
Walking through the mansion.
The patrols intersected, and gazes swept toward Ji Minghao, seeing the owner of the mansion, the current Eighth Prince, those eyes stealthily retreated.
On the way.
From time to time, maids and servants came across Ji Minghao, each retreating aside and bowing in greeting.
Ji Minghao passed through several courtyards in succession, arriving at a tall rockery.
"Greetings, Your Highness!" With Ji Minghao’s appearance.
From the shadow behind the rockery, two people suddenly emerged, saluting Ji Minghao.
Ji Minghao waved his hand, then took out the token from him, tossing it toward the two: "Open the inner treasury, I need to go in."
"Yes, Your Highness!" the two replied.
Receiving the token Ji Minghao threw, the two each took out a token from their bosoms.
Then pushed aside a piece of rock; on the flat stone wall behind the rock, there were three palm-sized imprints.
The three tokens were embedded one by one into the depressions on the stone wall.
Rumble——
The rock slowly moved, revealing a passage ahead.
On both sides of the passage, dim fluorite was also embedded, and the air faintly smelled of decay due to lack of ventilation.
"Stand guard outside, no one can approach!" Ji Minghao ordered.
"Yes, Your Highness!!" the two outside the rockery hurriedly cupped their fists in salute to Ji Minghao, then retreated ten feet away, fully alert.
Ji Minghao also strode into the passage ahead.
Passing through the narrow passage of about two yards length, a stone chamber roughly three yards square lay before them.
The surroundings were forged of black fine iron, the walls embedded with night pearls of varying sizes.
"Brother Jiang...?" Ji Minghao whispered.
"I am here." Jiang Ning’s calm voice sounded by his ear.
Hearing this, Ji Minghao’s heart shook.
On the way here, he had been unable to completely sense Jiang Ning’s aura.
However, with the voice echoing, it confirmed Jiang Ning’s unerring following.
This also made him realize Jiang Ning had means to kill him at any moment without being detected.
Instantly, numerous thoughts arose in his mind.
