My Brother's the Protagonist? Good Thing I Awakened My System!

Chapter 158  To The Royal Palace

Wang Zhiqing watched quietly as the guards dragged the unconscious assassin away.

Her thoughts were a mess.

The idea that her second brother could be involved in such a thing didn't sit right with her.

However, now that the emperor was sick and the succession battle had already begun, it didn't seem impossible either.

But it could be other people as well. It was difficult to draw a conclusion from the words of one assassin alone.

It could even be a ploy, as Feng Chen suggested, to sow discord with the second prince.

Although the Second Prince had never treated her as a sister before, she still refused to believe that he would kill her without any reason.

Ahead of her, Feng Chen walked calmly, his hands behind his back as if nothing had happened.

He glanced at Wang Zhiqing and knew she must be thinking about the assassin who had been sent to kill her.

Well, even he would, if he were in her shoes.

Feng Chen had a sure way of finding out who had actually sent the assassin, but it would cost him System Points—something he didn't want to waste on a complete stranger.

Besides, he had already done more than enough.

If the princess couldn't even handle one assassin and bring out the truth, it was likely she would be killed sooner or later.

When they reached the area where the carriages and guards waited, a guard stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, everything is ready for departure. Shall we head straight to the capital?"

"Yes," she replied, her voice steady again. "Make sure the prisoner is kept under tight watch. He might know more than he's told us."

The guards nodded and quickly secured the unconscious man in one of the carriages.

"Your Highness," Captain Hua approached with a worried expression. "We should move quickly. The longer we stay here, the more dangerous it gets."

Though she hadn't fully recovered, she knew staying there was riskier than moving.

If the assassin's accomplices were nearby, they might already know where she was and send more monsters, just as before.

Wang Zhiqing nodded and stepped into her carriage.

After a moment's hesitation, she looked at Feng Chen. "Senior, would you ride with me in the carriage? It would ease my mind."

Feng Chen gave her a simple nod and followed her inside, taking a seat without a word.

It was much more comfortable than walking and he could also protect her well, in case there was a danger.

Wang Zhiqing settled into her seat, the soft cushions of the carriage offering a brief moment of comfort.

She glanced at Feng Chen, who sat quietly beside her, his presence both calming and mysterious.

The rhythmic sound of the wheels on the cobblestone road filled the silence between them.

After a while, Wang Zhiqing took a deep breath, she steadied her racing thoughts. "Thank you for helping me today," she began softly but sincerely.

"If not for your help, we might have been killed by either the Scarlet Horned Direwolf or the assassin."

Wang Zhiqing had wanted to thank Feng Chen earlier, but being near death and hearing the assassin accuse her brother of being the culprit left her thoughts in chaos.

It was only after calming herself that she finally expressed her gratitude to him.

Feng Chen nodded slightly. "It was nothing!"

Silence fell between them again.

Wang Zhiqing stole quiet glances at Feng Chen, trying to figure out his identity.

With Feng Chen's strength, she was certain he was a prominent figure, yet she had never heard of anyone so young being so powerful.

(Just what is his real identity?) Wang Zhiqing wondered.

Moreover, with how he carried himself even knowing she was a princess, she felt that Feng Chen's background wasn't small either.

There was too much mystery about Feng Chen that she couldn't contain her curiosity. Her thoughts swirled with questions, each one fueling her growing intrigue, until she finally gathered the courage to speak.

"Senior," she began tentatively, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, "if it's not too rude of me to ask… what brings someone like you here?"

Feng Chen's gaze shifted toward her.

He remained silent for a moment before replying in a calm tone, "I am investigating something."

Though vague, the weight of his words made it clear he had no intention of elaborating further.

Wang Zhiqing nodded, sensing it would be unwise to pry, but her curiosity only deepened.

As the carriage rattled along, Feng Chen's expression darkened slightly, thinking about how he couldn't even get a single clue about his parents' disappearance.

Then when he looked at Wang Zhiqing, a thought crossed his mind—Wang Zhiqing was a princess, someone with access to resources and information far beyond what he could obtain alone.

( It was a slim chance, but perhaps she know something about this. )

Feng Chen thought.

He turned to her, his tone casual but laced with subtle intensity. "Your Highness, while we're speaking, may I ask you something?"

Surprised, Wang Zhiqing looked up, surprised and excited. "Of course!"

"In this part of the border," Feng Chen began, carefully choosing his words. "have you ever heard of incidents involving… people disappearing without a trace? Or perhaps something unusual that might have drawn the court's attention?"

Wang Zhiqing frowned, her brows knitting as she thought deeply.

"Disappearances?" She murmured, sifting through her memories.

After a few moments, she shook her head slowly. "I can't recall anything like that off the top of my head. If such cases exist, they might have been handled locally and not reported to the capital."

Feng Chen's eyes dimmed slightly, though his expression remained calm. He hadn't expected much, but the faint hope had still been there.

Noticing his slight change in demeanor, Wang Zhiqing felt a pang of regret as she couldn't help Feng Chen. She thought for a moment, then her expression brightened.

"Senior, if this is important to you…" she started hesitantly, then firmed her tone. "I can help investigate. I may not have the information now, but I can make inquiries. The royal archives or local reports might hold something relevant."

Feng Chen looked at her, slightly surprised by the offer. He studied her expression, noting the sincerity in her eyes.

After a moment, he nodded.

"That would be helpful. Thank you!" Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Wang Zhiqing smiled faintly. "It's the least I can do after all you've done for me."