Dapeng's Time Travel Life

Chapter 5 Fragments of Truth and New Mysteries

In the dungeon of the Prince's mansion, candlelight flickered, casting a dim, yellowish light that danced on the damp walls, creating an eerie atmosphere. Zhang Peng, dressed in a long black robe, his face cold and stern, slowly walked to the chained prisoners of the mysterious organization. He crouched down, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing directly into their eyes: "Speak, who is behind you? How many accomplices do you have?"

The prisoner hung his head, his disheveled hair obscuring his expression, and let out a hoarse, maniacal laugh: "Your Highness, you think capturing a few of us will dismantle the entire organization? How naive..." Zhang Peng's eyes sharpened, and he raised his hand to signal. A guard beside him immediately stepped forward and delivered a powerful punch to the prisoner's abdomen. The prisoner groaned, a trickle of blood escaping from the corner of his mouth, but he still gritted his teeth.

Zhang Peng stood up, his brow furrowed. He knew this organization was not to be easily broken. He turned and walked out of the dungeon. The chilly night wind swept over him, but it did nothing to dispel his anxiety. As soon as he returned to his study, he saw Xia Lijuan standing anxiously at the door, clutching a blood-stained silk handkerchief tightly in her hand.

“Your Highness, you’re finally back.” Xia Lijuan’s voice trembled slightly. “I just found this in the courtyard. It looks like it flew from the direction of the dungeon.” Zhang Peng took the handkerchief. On it were a few crooked words written in blood: “Save me, or all secrets will be revealed.” Although the writing was blurry, he had an ominous feeling. This might be related to a key figure in the manor.

As the two were deep in thought, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door. Zhang Peng's trusted aide rushed in, holding a secret letter in his hand, his expression grave: "Your Highness, this is a message just intercepted by carrier pigeon. It seems to be internal communication within the organization." Zhang Peng quickly unfolded the letter, but its contents only deepened his confusion. The letter mentioned an operation called "Project Jade Hairpin," but didn't elaborate on its details, only repeatedly emphasizing the need to complete crucial steps before the full moon.

Xia Lijuan leaned closer, looking at the letter, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes: "Your Highness, the full moon is just around the corner, what exactly are they planning to do?" Zhang Peng rubbed his temples, trying to piece together a clue from the chaotic threads: "The jade hairpin... I remember hearing some court officials chatting about how the Emperor's most favored concubine possessed a peerless jade hairpin, could it be..." At this point, he was startled. If the mysterious organization's target was the concubine's jade hairpin, then it was likely involved in a shocking palace conspiracy.

To uncover the truth, Zhang Peng decided to secretly enter the palace and contact his informant. Late at night, he changed into black clothes, scaled the wall, and headed towards the palace. The palace was heavily guarded, but Zhang Peng, relying on his superior martial arts skills and familiarity with the terrain, skillfully evaded the patrolling guards. Finally, near a secluded spot by the palace wall, he met his informant—a lowly eunuch working in the imperial kitchen.

The young eunuch trembled with fear upon seeing Zhang Peng: "Your Highness, what brings you here? If I were discovered, I'd be dead." Zhang Peng handed him a silver ingot and whispered, "Don't panic. I'll only ask you a few questions. Has anything unusual happened in the palace lately? Especially regarding the Consort and her jade hairpin." The young eunuch looked around to make sure no one was watching, then whispered, "Your Highness, these past few days, the head maidservant beside the Consort has been acting strangely and frequently contacting people outside the palace. I found it odd and kept a close eye on things. I heard that someone is trying to steal the Consort's jade hairpin, but I don't know the specifics."

Zhang Peng's heart sank; it seemed his guess was correct. He bid farewell to the eunuch and prepared to leave the palace, but around the corner he heard a familiar voice. He hid in the shadows and saw Xia Lijuan talking in hushed tones to a man dressed in black. Xia Lijuan looked anxious, while the man kept shaking his head. A surge of anger welled up in Zhang Peng's heart. He never imagined that Xia Lijuan would be in contact with the mysterious organization behind his back again.

He suppressed his anger and crept closer, trying to overhear their conversation. He heard Xia Lijuan say, "No, I can't go on like this. The Prince is starting to suspect us." The man sneered, "So what if he suspects us? Don't forget, your life is still in our hands. On the night of the full moon, you must proceed according to plan, otherwise..." Before he could finish, the man suddenly became alert and turned to look in Zhang Peng's direction. Knowing he had been discovered, Zhang Peng stopped hiding and leaped forward, engaging the man in combat. Xia Lijuan stood to the side, her face filled with terror and helplessness.

After a fierce fight, the man was no match for Zhang Peng and turned to flee. Zhang Peng didn't chase after him, but looked at Xia Lijuan, his eyes filled with disappointment: "How many things are you still hiding from me?" Xia Lijuan knelt down with a thud: "Your Highness, I... I was forced into this situation. They said if I didn't cooperate, they would kill my family in the countryside." Zhang Peng looked at her, his heart filled with mixed emotions, unsure whether to believe her or be deceived again.

Just then, the distant sound of watchmen's drums reminded Zhang Peng that time was of the essence. The night of the full moon was drawing ever closer, and the conspiracy of the mysterious organization was about to surface. Yet, he felt as if he were shrouded in a fog, every clue a trap, a single misstep could lead to utter ruin. He helped Xia Lijuan up and took a deep breath: "Whether what you say is true or false, on the night of the full moon, everything will come to a close."

Back at the Prince's residence, Zhang Peng summoned everyone to redeploy their plans. He knew this would be a life-or-death struggle, concerning not only his and Xia Lijuan's fate but also the safety of the entire court. Moonlight streamed through the study window, illuminating his resolute face. In this turbulent situation, he was determined to take a desperate gamble and uncover the truth behind the conspiracy.