The eunuch presented the tea.
On a red sandalwood tray covered with bright yellow brocade, tea was served in enamel fine porcelain covered bowls, Golden Sand crabapple tribute fruit was arranged on small silver-white dishes, and the brocade was folded according to palace regulations with all four sides slightly upturned.
Because the sacred carriage was away from the palace, and because of Gu Nanyi’s earlier incident, the attending guards were especially careful. At the entrance, they had already checked that there was nothing under the brocade before allowing it through.
The Crown Prince personally went to receive the tea, smiling as he presented it to the Emperor. “Your favorite Changfeng melon slices…”
Before the words finished.
He suddenly felt a brilliant flash before his eyes.
That flash was silver-white and bitterly cold, like a flying lightning bolt instantly striking into one’s eyes. The extreme brightness created extreme darkness—in an instant he suddenly couldn’t see anything clearly.
Cold light suddenly burst from the tray.
Golden Sand crabapple fruits scattered and flew in all directions, bright red as blood drops in mid-air, trailing a silver-white sword light. The silver-white small dish from before had vanished!
A specially made folding soft sword, folded into the shape of a dish, filled with Golden Sand crabapple tribute fruit, carried in so openly under everyone’s watchful eyes, deceiving everyone!
Once the sword light emerged, the Crown Prince was presenting tea to the Emperor, blocking the guards’ line of sight. In that instant no one could rescue him in time. The sword tip was about to pierce through the Crown Prince’s shoulder bone first, then stab into the Emperor’s chest!
Extremely close distance, extremely fast strike—even a celestial immortal couldn’t rescue in time.
Yet the assassin’s soft sword in hand suddenly trembled. The soft sword turned like a ribbon, instantly bypassing the Crown Prince and going straight for the Emperor.
With this tremble, the speed slowed slightly—slow enough for someone to rescue in time.
A moon-white silk gauze robe flashed, swirling up overlapping and turning silver thread and green bamboo patterns, with an almost recklessly desperate speed, instantly blocking before the Emperor.
“Tssss.”
The sound of the thin, sharp sword piercing flesh was slight, but the blood that splattered was brilliantly dazzling like brocade. At this time, those vermillion crabapple fruits accompanied the shooting blood drops flying several zhang away, splashing on the jade-white and gold-threaded screen, dyeing it all a blazing vivid red.
The red light reflected the mess all over the ground, making one person’s face even paler—it was Ning Yi—at the moment of the assassination attempt, he had blocked before the Emperor.
The wind stopped, a blue shadow flashed, the assassin missed with one strike and didn’t linger in battle, turning to flee. Then a moon-white figure flashed by—Ning Yi pursued relentlessly. The assassin fled to the doorway and suddenly twisted around greatly, raising a hand to shoot a golden light that was still aimed at the Emperor!
No one had anticipated this move. Ning Yi, who had pursued despite his injury, couldn’t react in time. Just as the Emperor was about to suffer misfortune again, a brownish-red figure suddenly silently entered through the window. The pitch-black heavy sword in hand slapped down to intercept that golden light.
It was the mysterious black-robed person behind Xin Ziyan, finally arriving to rescue the Emperor. But the distance seemed still a bit short. The golden light was dazzling, about to reach between the Emperor’s brows. The Emperor desperately closed his eyes.
Gu Nanyi suddenly moved.
So many things had happened before, yet he had always stood indifferently before Feng Zhiwei. Though others were being assassinated, he seemed to think danger would only occur beside Feng Zhiwei and didn’t leave her side for a step. However, when this black-robed, brown-clothed person appeared, he suddenly raised his hand.
With this raise, a wind thick and heavy as a wall arose from the flat ground, striking the golden light. Silently it pushed and shifted the golden light, causing it to collide with the black-robed, brown-clothed person’s heavy sword. A stream of sparks shot out, and faster than before, it rebounded toward the assassin.
The assassin had already fled far, but the rebounding golden light seemed to have eyes as it shot straight back. In the midst of chaos, the assassin struggled to twist aside. The golden light pierced through the arm bone, trailing a stream of blood beads before embedding itself with a thud in the door lintel of the front hall.
By this time the guards had reacted and rushed forward, but the assassin’s lightness skill was superb. In a flash he had escaped. Then a moon-white figure swept past—Ning Yi pursued despite his injury.
As he swept past Feng Zhiwei, blood drops scattered on Feng Zhiwei’s lapel like a peach blossom fan. Feng Zhiwei lowered her head to look at such vivid red, her eyes showing a complex expression.
Part of the guards followed Ning Yi in pursuit. Most rushed forward, surrounding the Emperor and Crown Prince tightly. The Emperor, having just recovered from his shock, sat with an iron-blue face. But the Crown Prince was pale as paper, trembling as he looked around in all directions. Feeling that even this iron-barrel protection wasn’t safe, he turned his eyes and saw Gu Nanyi. Immediately seeing him as a savior, he urgently beckoned, “Sir! Come here! Come here!”
You’re calling Young Master Gu like a dog!
Feng Zhiwei cursed inwardly. Before Young Master Gu could react, she quickly rushed over first herself. Gu Nanyi always followed her closely and naturally moved with her. At least it appeared that he had been summoned by the Crown Prince.
Seeing Gu Nanyi come over, the Crown Prince’s expression brightened. Feng Zhiwei smiled at him, then walked past him.
She stood three steps to the side of the Emperor. Gu Nanyi, who followed after, very naturally blocked before the Emperor.
The Tiansheng Emperor raised his eyes and glanced at Feng Zhiwei, saying nothing either way, but his brow relaxed somewhat. The Crown Prince’s expression stiffened, then he smiled awkwardly and said, “This prince was just about to summon Master Gu to protect Father Emperor. Master Gu is truly thoughtful and considerate.”
Feng Zhiwei gave him a gentle smile—Big brother, it’s not that I won’t give you face, but there’s no need to side with someone about to fall from grace.
Safe and sound, everyone slowly quieted down. Listening to the distant sounds of pursuit and shouting for killing, looking at the blood on the ground not yet dry, hearts that had just settled from the dangerous situation finally realized the problems to come, and suddenly palms broke out in sweat.
Once a great case of treason and imperial assassination arose, it would surely stir up torrential bloody rain. When the dust settled, how many heads would roll? How many living lives would be buried?
The shouting and killing sounds were first in the distance, then slowly drew closer again. Obviously the assassin hadn’t managed to escape. Outside the white gauze, great winds flew and the sounds of clashing swords and sabers continued endlessly. Inside the white gauze, everyone held their breath, knowing that every minute and second people were dying. Because they couldn’t personally witness the slaughter, it was all the more thrilling and shocking.
Only the Tiansheng Emperor in the center of the crowd slowly drank tea, his eyes continuously watching those scattered Golden Sand crabapple fruits.
The sounds of killing drew near. Faintly someone screamed miserably at length, then Ning Yi’s voice was heard urgently saying, “Leave him alive!”
Everyone’s expressions immediately tensed.
Leave him alive meant they would definitely trace the mastermind behind this. Prince Chu clearly knew this matter was suspicious, clearly knew that once he pursued it relentlessly it would surely implicate the entire court situation, yet he refused to let it go lightly!
The various princes looked at each other, all seeing speculation, vigilance, and defensive expressions in each other’s eyes.
Yet the Tiansheng Emperor only looked at the Crown Prince and suddenly smiled, saying, “Sheng’er, if this assassin is captured, how about letting you conduct the interrogation?”
The Crown Prince was stunned, not expecting the Emperor to trust him so much. He immediately said joyfully, “I respectfully obey Father Emperor’s decree! This son will definitely trace out the true culprit!”
Outside the crowd of guards, several Eastern Palace Gentleman Attendants who couldn’t squeeze in, after hearing this statement, looked at each other and silently stamped their feet in long sighs.
The expressions of the others changed—the Crown Prince was foolish to this extent! Earlier the assassin had foregone the Crown Prince to assassinate His Majesty—obviously His Majesty’s heart had already become suspicious. This statement was fundamentally a test. If the Crown Prince were smart enough, he should have declined this hot potato, best to push it to one of his political enemy princes to show he had nothing to hide in his heart. Now by accepting it, what would His Majesty think?
The Tiansheng Emperor’s expression remained normal. He even seemed to approve with an “mm” sound. Only Feng Zhiwei noticed that the old man’s fingers holding the teacup were slightly trembling.
Feng Zhiwei sympathetically stole a glance at him—being an emperor was truly pitiful. No matter how great the fury, it had to be suppressed. No matter how disappointing the heir, it had to be endured.
Actually, there was something even more pitiful waiting for him, but presumably the old man wouldn’t discover it.
Suddenly there was a dull “bang” as a person was heavily thrown before the hall, blood splattering the green stone ground. Then someone stepped on the fresh blood and slowly approached, moon-white brocade robes with green bamboo stained by blood, yet his divine countenance remained completely unruffled.
He bowed outside the screen and said, “This son has fortunately not failed his mission and has captured the assassin. I await Father Emperor’s judgment.”
The Tiansheng Emperor’s expression cleared slightly. “Remove the screen,” he said, his tone somewhat warmer than before.
Feng Zhiwei glanced sideways at Ning Yi’s figure, thinking what medicine was being sold in this gourd? In this chain of stratagems, besides the borrowed blade stratagem and the self-harm stratagem, what other stratagems were to be played?
Frame someone? There seemed no need—the old man already suspected the Crown Prince.
The person covered in blood on the ground raised his head—it was indeed the earlier assassin. Ning Yi, to avoid suspicion, handed this person over to the Eternal Tassel Guard commander and withdrew himself.
“Have Imperial Physician Zhang look at your wound.” The Tiansheng Emperor gave an instruction. Facing the rare concern and warmth from his imperial father, Ning Yi didn’t show a flattered expression. His attitude remained as before—he bowed slightly and calmly departed. The Tiansheng Emperor glanced at his retreating back, and his expression became a few degrees warmer.
Feng Zhiwei looked admiringly at Ning Yi turning behind the screen—Your Highness, you truly are a born actor!
Before one thought finished turning, she suddenly heard Ning Yi speak indifferently from behind the screen, “His Majesty has been frightened. Imperial Physician Zhang should still attend at His Majesty’s side… I’ve heard that the Unparalleled Talent Master Wei is also proficient in medical principles. Why don’t you demonstrate your marvelous skills on this prince’s minor injury?”