42: Chapter 42 Spying in the Dark

Coldness appeared in those beautiful, clear eyes.

Su Xin slowly loosened her grip, letting the porcelain powder slip through her fingers.

Black Wind Demon.

So it was that damn bandit leader.

Every link in the chain connected at this moment. It wasn't that her disguise was clumsy, nor that the guard named Lin Shou had three heads and six arms.

It was because that bandit leader, before he died, had used her secret as a meritorious deed to tell the executioner.

"Saintess?" The black-robed figure felt the coldness that almost froze the air, and his body tightened involuntarily.

"Go," Su Xin spat out a single word, devoid of any emotion. "Kill this Lin Shou."

She did not like variables.

Especially a variable that had escaped her control, caused her plans to fail, and exposed her new identity.

"Yes!" The black-robed figure bowed to accept the order, his figure flashed, and he merged into the darkness outside the temple without the slightest hesitation.

...

Meanwhile, Chen Fan was completely unaware of this.

He was diligently standing guard outside the Princess's pavilion, enjoying this hard-won leisure.

He had been transferred back, his duties had basically stabilized, and he was responsible for guarding the safety of the Princess.

This was also due to the young Prince.

This job, to put it nicely, was that the Prince still had lingering feelings for the Princess and sent a trusted aide to guard her. To put it bluntly, it was just a jailer for an Advanced prisoner.

But Chen Fan didn't care.

Having an independent post meant he didn't have to squeeze in with others; it was peaceful.

Occasionally, the Princess would let him enter the courtyard to help trim the flowers and plants or move some heavy objects.

Princess Li Ronger still spoke very little, but when she looked at Chen Fan, that coldness that kept people at a distance had quietly melted away.

Chen Fan could only pretend not to see this. Each time, he would finish his duties and immediately retreat outside the courtyard, maintaining the distance a servant should have.

In his heart, he secretly slandered, the Princess caring so much for a servant, is she really not afraid of rumors spreading?

Or perhaps she had given up on herself, thinking that since everyone already believed she had lost her purity, she might as well go along with their wishes?

In short, Chen Fan could not figure out the Princess's thoughts.

That afternoon, the young Prince Zheng Xun came again.

As soon as he saw Chen Fan, he walked over affectionately and tugged on his sleeve.

"Lin Shou, my mother says that you have taken good care of the courtyard these past few days."

"It is my duty, your Highness." Chen Fan bowed.

Zheng Xun looked up with his small face, his bright eyes full of seriousness. "You protect my mother well. When I grow up and inherit the throne, I will appoint you as the commandant of the Prince's mansion!"

These were the uninhibited words of a child, but they also carried a hint of the promises unique to royal children.

Chen Fan found it funny; a promise from a young boy was just something to listen to. However, he still cooperated and put on a look of being moved to tears.

"Thank you, young Prince!"

Zheng Xun nodded with satisfaction, then walked into the pavilion with his hands behind his back, like a little adult.

Chen Fan did not disturb the warm time between mother and son.

He just felt that this young Prince was a promising talent, much better than his cold and ruthless father.

Zheng Xun's words seemed to have an effect.

Two days later, the chief eunuch of the Prince's mansion came personally to deliver a message, officially transferring Chen Fan to the inner courtyard. His position remained the same, but his monthly allowance doubled, and he became the exclusive guard of the Princess.

On the surface, it was because the young Prince loved his mother dearly and specially promoted him.

In reality, everyone in the mansion understood that this Lin Shou was a favorite in front of the Princess.

Zhang Cheng and his colleagues were so envious their eyes were red.

"Lin Shou, you kid really have hit the jackpot!"

"When you become successful in the future, don't forget your brothers!"

Even a Princess sent to the cold palace is still a Princess!

Not to mention there was still the young Prince, the heir to the mansion.

Chen Fan just smiled and dealt with them, but his heart was calm.

A favorite?

This position of a favorite is not easy to hold.

Days passed by, one by one.

The turmoil in the Prince's mansion seemed to gradually subside.

Prince of Xiushan Zheng Xian had still not stepped into the backyard once, and that demoness Su Xin had also disappeared like a stone in the ocean, with no news since.

Everything seemed so peaceful.

But Chen Fan keenly sensed something was wrong.

It was a feeling of being watched.

Very faint, elusive.

Sometimes it was a shadow that shouldn't exist, caught in the corner of his eye while he was patrolling the courtyard wall.

Sometimes it was the fleeting sound of footsteps behind him on the way back to his living quarters.

When he turned around abruptly, there was nothing there.

The street was empty, with only the rustling of wind blowing through the leaves.

If it were the real Lin Shou, an ordinary Ninth-grade Martial Artist, he might just think it was his own nervousness.

But Chen Fan was not.

He had crawled out of a pile of dead bodies; whether as Zhao Long or as Black Wind Demon, he had experienced countless life-and-death battles.

His perception of Killing Intent was far beyond that of ordinary people.

Someone was watching him.

A very skilled assassin.

This realization made Chen Fan's heart sink.

Who was it?

Prince of Xiushan Zheng Xian? Impossible, he was just a small pawn, not worth his attention.

White Lotus Sect?

That demoness Su Xin?

This was the most likely possibility. He had ruined her plans and seen through her disguise; with her vindictive personality, she would definitely not let him go.

Trouble had eventually come to his door.

Chen Fan did not make a scene; he continued as usual, standing guard, patrolling, and eating and sleeping on time.

However, his vigilance had been raised to the highest level.

He was like a dormant beast, seemingly lazy, but in reality, all his muscles were tensed, ready to deal with a fatal strike from the shadows at any time.

He was not afraid of death, but he feared the pain of death.

Chen Fan's current state of mind was very strange; he wanted to be reincarnated into a good identity, yet he recoiled from the unbearable pain of death.

It could be said to be quite contradictory.

"Since it has come, I will accept it. Let it be."

Chen Fan shook his head inwardly, thinking of resigning himself to fate.

That day, the weather was fine.

Princess Li Ronger had stayed in the pavilion for too long; she was about to get moldy.

She pushed open the window, looked at the flowers and plants in the courtyard that had been well-tended by Chen Fan, and suddenly wanted to go out.

She called for Chen Fan.

"Lin Shou."

"I am here."

Princess Li Ronger was wearing a simple and elegant dress; although she was not wearing makeup, she still could not hide that mature charm.

She looked at Chen Fan and said in a commanding tone.

"I want to go out for a walk. Go prepare the carriage and horses."

Chen Fan's heart skipped a beat.

Go out?

At this critical moment?

He had just discovered that he was being watched by an assassin; if he went out, wouldn't he be completely exposing himself to the other party's view?

Also, the Princess would also fall into danger.

Princess Li Ronger seemed to see his hesitation and frowned slightly.

During this time, she naturally noticed Chen Fan keeping his distance, which already made her somewhat displeased, but thinking that the other party was just a guard, it was normal to maintain the proper distance.

"What, are my words ineffective on you?" she said in a cold tone.

"I dare not, I will go prepare the carriage and horses now."

Chen Fan quickly lowered his head and agreed.

In his heart, he sighed, this woman's mind is truly complex.

A while ago she was concerned for him, and now she is keeping people at a distance again.

But this is also good; it saves him from having to deliberately keep his distance.