The price of the second piece of Xuanbing (mysterious ice) skyrocketed to 60 million taels of gold during the fierce bidding between Murong Wei and Ren Fan.
After Murong Wei made her bid, Ren Fan did not follow suit. Under the gaze of everyone present, he continued to look at Murong Wei from afar, maintaining a gentle smile, so calm.
Murong Wei stood straight, also looking into his eyes from a distance, her brows slightly furrowed, showing no sign of panic. In such a tense situation, she showed no panic whatsoever. If you're going to gamble, gamble big!
"Three..." The man in black robes began to count down, regardless of the price, his speech slow and deliberate.
Ren Fan still didn't move, picking up his tea and sipping it gently. The surrounding onlookers, however, were on tenterhooks. Was Ren Fan going to give up? Was he deliberately driving up the price to prevent the Thirteenth Prince from continuing to the third round?
"Two..." the man in black robes called out again.
Murong Wei's hand slowly clenched, a hint of stubbornness in it. She didn't look at Ren Fan, but at the man in black robes' fingers. Time was running out.
"One..." The man in black pointed to the sky, then lowered his hand, indicating the deal was done.
Ren Fan slowly put down his teacup, then looked away from Murong Wei's stubborn eyes, glancing at her before looking at the man in black's finger.
"I give up."
"Thirteenth Night, why send a woman to bid?"
"I think Thirteenth Master has been tricked by Ren Fan this time. Thirteenth Master is too young and impetuous for Ren Fan's cunning!"
...
The surrounding discussions suddenly arose. There was no suspense anymore; they were just waiting for the man in black to lower his hand.
Ye Bao, clinging to Yin Ling's back, frowned like an old man and sighed, "Mommy has been tricked again this time. Ren Fan must have done it on purpose."
"Sixty million taels, the price is indeed too high." Yin Ling whispered, unable to resist looking at Xuan Yuan Li, whose face was covered in cold sweat and had turned black.
"If there's something inside that stone, it might salvage some of the loss. The worst thing is finding nothing of value, wasting sixty million taels of gold on a mere ice stone," A Bao said calmly.
Just then, the man in black robes suddenly slammed his hand down and shouted, "Sold! Master Xuanyuan Thirteen has acquired the second piece of Xuanbing for sixty million taels of gold!"
Caught completely off guard, the words were met with thunderous applause. The mockery of Xuanyuan Li was extreme. He propped his head up with one hand, his expression hidden, and even his attendants whispered amongst themselves.
Only Ye Bao, Yin Ling, and A Bao looked at Murong Wei with pity. Murong Wei remained motionless before Xuanyuan Li, her hands clenched into fists. Beneath her gold-threaded mask, her clear eyes were cold as she coldly watched Ren Fan, who continued to leisurely sip his tea, seemingly unfazed by honor or disgrace.
Was this guy seeking revenge?
Last time, he was the one who first set his sights on them, a widow and her child. How dare he hold a grudge?
The man in black robes approached, ignoring Murong Wei, and respectfully bowed to Xuan Yuanli, saying, "Thirteenth Master, shall we cut the stone on the spot, or have it sent back to the manor?"
Xuan Yuanli hesitated for a long time before finally uttering five words, "Send it to the Prince Li's manor."
"Wait!" Murong Wei suddenly spoke up. The rules of the game didn't seem to be what she had guessed. Why wasn't there a step of cutting the stone and then bidding?
"Miss, the price has been set, there's no room for regret." The man in black robes kindly reminded her.
"I'm not regretting it. The price has been set, so the matter of this stone is no longer your concern, right?" Murong Wei asked seriously.
The man in black robes nodded. Everyone looked over, not understanding what Murong Wei wanted to do.
"Could I borrow your venue and use your two stone-cutting men during the intermission?" Murong Wei asked again.
Curiosity flashed in the black-robed man's eyes. He nodded, gestured for her to step aside, and Xuan Yuanli, though suspicious, didn't stop her.
Murong Wei walked to the center of the stage. Under the curious gazes of the crowd, she calmly circled the Great Xuan Ice. She whispered something to the black-robed man, and as she took a few steps back, he immediately stepped forward. Unlike the first time, when he chopped down the ice from the very center, shattering it and revealing what was inside, he chopped off a corner of the ice on the right side. The force was just right; the cracks spread into the ice, revealing something wrapped in golden threads, seemingly a cocoon, but its exact nature remained unclear.
At this moment, the surroundings grew even quieter, everyone craning their necks to get a better look.
Murong Wei took a closer look, then breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced around, smiled, and said, "Taking up everyone's rest time, I'd like to share this treasure from the Xuanbing. It seems to be a golden silk cocoon. Anyone interested can come and take a look." As
soon as she finished speaking, the wealthy men around immediately swarmed over. And...and...the ones running in front were actually two people...Xuan Yuanli and Ye Bao!
Everyone in the circle seemed to know Xuan Yuanli's temper, so they deliberately kept a distance of ten paces from him, crowding to the other side to watch. Only Ren Fan remained calmly seated, continuing to drink his tea.
"It's silkworm cocoon golden silk! This color, this cocoon, it must be silkworm cocoon golden silk!"
"Could it be silkworm cocoon golden silk that's been frozen? Legend says that such golden silk can keep the Xuanbing cold even in the sweltering summer!"
"Who told you that? There's never been anything like it! There are only three kinds of silkworm cocoon golden silk in the world! The ones Thirteenth Master's men are wearing are all imitations!" As he spoke, he didn't forget to glance at Murong Wei standing to the side.
Murong Wei sighed. The gold thread on her face was indeed silkworm gold thread, but few people truly recognized its value.
"I heard it from Bai Wushang. I met him in my Shang Kingdom two years ago, and he said it when he was drunk!"
"I don't think this is Silkworm Treasure Golden Silk. None of you have ever seen real Silkworm Treasure Golden Silk, so how can you be so sure? I think this is a Thousand-Year Golden Cicada. Only Thousand-Year Golden Cicadas are this big. This thing is more valuable than Silkworm Treasure Golden Silk!"
"This brother is right. I've also heard that there are no more than ten Thousand-Year Golden Cicadas. Most of them are sleeping in the icy forests of the Shang Kingdom. I think this thing is most likely a Thousand-Year Golden Cicada. If this thing is used in medicine, it can prolong life and preserve one's appearance for ten years!"
Hearing their discussion, Xuan Yuanli and Ye Bao's heads almost touched each other. They carefully touched the Xuanbing, both of them nervous.
"Oh dear, we've all been guessing wildly here. Thirteenth Master, you've really struck gold today! Whether it's a Thousand-Year Golden Cicada or Silkworm Treasure Golden Silk, it's far more valuable than sixty million gold! Hurry up and open this ice stone so everyone can see it!" someone shouted.
Xuan Yuanli looked up, and Ye Bao looked up at the same time. Ye Bao stretched out her little hand and made a "fist-like" gesture with him, saying seriously, "We have to open it! We have to dazzle Ren Fan's dog eyes!"
Xuan Yuanli was a little confused, and imitated Ye Bao, making a fist in front of his chest, also serious, "Murong Wei, open the stone!"
Murong Wei rolled her eyes at the two of them and said, "Until we completely take that thing out, no one can be sure. Even if we take it out completely, I don't think everyone can be completely sure what it is. Opening the stone is risky. How about we play like this? Whoever bids again, the second cut will belong to them. If the owner wants to resell it, they can continue. Every time it's resold, and one cut is made, I will charge you 20% of the service fee. How about that?"
Everyone was surprised, not expecting this woman to be willing to resell!
Meanwhile, a man as composed as a monk finally stood up. "Seventy million!"
Murong Wei looked over and saw Ren Fan slowly approaching, still maintaining his gentle and humble smile. However, she wasn't buying his act and coldly said, "Ren Fan has offered seventy million. Is anyone else willing to bid?"
"Seventy-five million!" someone shouted immediately. If it really was Silkworm Treasure Golden Silk, that would be several times seventy million! If it was a thousand-year-old golden cicada, that would be several times more than Silkworm Treasure Golden Silk. Murong Wei must be crazy.
"Eighty million!" someone else raised their hand.
"Eighty-five million!" someone immediately pressed down.
"Ninety million!" then someone else pressed down again.
"One hundred million!" Ren Fan finally spoke after looking at the blurry, frozen object again.
This time, however, there was no silence after his bids.
"One hundred and ten million!"
"One hundred and twenty million!"
"One hundred and thirty million!"
...
The bidding was fierce and lively. Nearby, Ye Bao had somehow gotten on Xuan Yuanli's shoulders, one hand tightly wrapped around his neck, the other covering his mouth to prevent him from bidding. He was calculating how much commission his mother could extract after transferring the risk. Thirty percent of one hundred and thirty million was three million nine hundred thousand, and this was only the first bid! It was practically a risk-free, zero-cost business; his mother was a genius!
Finally, after an old man shouted one hundred and sixty million, all was silent. Murong Wei glanced at Ren Fan casually, saw he was still relatively calm, smiled, and signaled the black-robed man to make his move.
With a sudden struggle from Xuan Yuanli, Ye Bao was finally thrown off and fell into Yin Ling's arms.
Xuan Yuanli stood behind Murong Wei without speaking, watching quietly. Everyone was tense and silent, especially the old man, waiting for the final blow. Perhaps one strike would make him the richest man in the world, or perhaps, it would leave him with nothing.
"Bang..." The axe fell, accurate as ever. Another corner of the Xuanbing cracked, the fissure spreading to the center, revealing the other side of what lay within. Still blurry, it wasn't gold, but a vibrant green!
"Green! Jade!" someone shouted in the silence.
"Could it be more than one thing?" the old man asked, overjoyed.
"It might just be the same thing, just an ordinary gold-inlaid jade treasure. Grandpa, there's a risk in opening stones. If the third cut reveals a sandalwood surface, it'll be worthless." Murong Wei said with a smile, glancing casually at Ren Fan, and continued, "Of course, there's a high possibility it's a treasure combining old mine ice jade and silkworm gold thread. Again, opening stones is risky, everyone should assess the situation themselves! We're short on time."
Murong Wei's reminder calmed everyone down.
They were all seasoned veterans of the business world, battle-hardened, but human nature is susceptible to temptation, and Murong Wei's encouragement of this novel approach inevitably led to excessive excitement.
What followed was a low point.
The winning old man remained silent, stroking his beard and examining the broken corners of the Xuanbing boulder, while the others whispered and discussed amongst themselves.
Meanwhile, far away on the ground, a large and a small man were fighting.
"Boy! How dare you get so close to me!" Xuan Yuanche grabbed Ye Bao's arm, desperately trying to pull him off his neck, but Ye Bao clamped his legs around his neck, refusing to budge.
"You just said you'd give everything to my mommy, are you going to go back on your word now?" Ye Bao asked. He held a grudge, he was incredibly petty. He grabbed Xuan Yuanli's hair with his little hand and yanked hard, seeking revenge for his mommy and for himself!
"Heh..." Xuan Yuanli groaned. He was a grown man, but he couldn't pull Ye Bao away no matter what. "I want that thing, no matter the price, I want it!"
It was very likely the Silkworm Treasure Golden Silk. Long Xiao had presented three of these as tribute back then, and he loved them dearly. He had asked his elder brother for them for the first time, but his brother had given them to Xuan Yuanche instead of him. He still held a grudge about it!
"You idiot, my mommy must have her reasons for doing this. You're not allowed to sabotage it!" Ye Bao said, then moved closer, leaning against Xuan Yuanli's shoulder. He drew Xiao Buqing from his sleeve like a dagger. Buqing seemed to have been trained; even with Ye Bao pulling its tail, its body could still straighten and be used as a dagger.
Then, the fanged mouth of Bu Qing's small dagger was pressed against Xuan Yuanli's face. Ye Bao's eyes darkened, and he spoke in a low voice, "Thirteenth Master, if you dare to cut off my mother's source of income, I'll make sure you die from poisoning immediately!"
Xuan Yuanli coldly replied, "Boy, why don't you look behind you?"
Ye Bao was startled, turned around, and was immediately terrified, tumbling off Xuan Yuanli's back and running to Murong Wei's side.
Behind him, the Red-tailed Kite also had its mouth wide open, and its mouth, like Bu Qing's, had two huge fangs and a row of sharp, fine teeth. This Red-tailed Kite must be a demonic beast!
Murong Wei couldn't care less about her son at this moment. Seeing the old man's furrowed brows and growing anger, she smiled and spoke again, saying, "Everyone, we have limited time. Those who are interested can continue to bid, and those who are not can also continue to bid. Offer a low price, and whether he sells or not depends on this gentleman."
"Thirty million, Master Chen, will you sell for thirty million!" someone immediately made a bid.
"Hehe, you can afford thirty million? Even if this isn't completely made of silkworm gold thread, nor is it completely made of old mine ice jadeite, it certainly looks like it's worth more than thirty million. I'll offer fifty million! Master Chen, you're too old for that, there's no need to take the risk!" another person said with a smile.
Suddenly, a steady and powerful voice came, "One hundred and forty million."
Instantly, everyone stepped back to make way for him. It was none other than Ren Fan. He approached, not looking at Murong Wei, but at Old Master Chen, and said with a smile. “Master Chen, we’re straightforward. One hundred and seventy million, I’ll make my third cut.”
“Murong Wei, what exactly is inside?” Xuan Yuanli didn’t rush to bid, asking curiously in a low voice. He knew at first glance that this wasn’t what he wanted.
“Is this what you want?” Murong Wei asked.
“No,” Xuan Yuanli replied.
“If not, then you’re out of the picture. Get out of the way.” Murong Wei was rude. Xuan Yuanli’s eyes darkened, his anger unable to show.
Everyone looked at Master Chen, waiting for his decision. Everyone knew that anything Ren Fan set his sights on wouldn’t be a loss.
Master Chen hesitated for a long time, finally waving his hand and returning to his seat without a word.
Ren Fan smiled gently, then looked at Murong Wei and said, “Please make your third cut.”
Murong Wei returned a slight smile and said: “The 30% handling fee for one hundred and seventy million is five million one hundred and ten million. Please pay it first.” “
Young lady, shouldn’t you be asking Master Chen for this?” Ren Fan asked, pretending to know Murong Wei.
“My surname is Murong, you can call me Madam Murong. I trust Boss Ren, so you can pay me 51 million first, and then pay the rest to Master Chen.” Murong Wei said calmly, seemingly unfazed. Ren
Fan couldn’t help but laugh, saying, “Madam Murong, this deal isn’t over yet, why don’t you be patient?”
“The deal is yours, but the fees are mine. Everyone here is a shrewd businesswoman, you should understand this. Whoever ends up with this treasure has nothing to do with me. But I still have to collect the fees every time I make a purchase, otherwise who am I going to ask for the money in the end?” Murong Wei said jokingly. “Boss Ren,
don’t bully a woman, the fees should be paid first!”
“That’s right, Boss Ren is so generous, he won’t be short of a few fees!” "
...
These people are really kicking me when I'm down, they're all on Murong Wei's side.
" Ren Fan wasn't angry, he smiled and said, "I don't have that much gold on me, how about I write an IOU?"
"Of course." Murong Wei smiled brightly.
Ren Fan wrote the IOU in front of everyone, remaining humble and courteous throughout, showing no tension, no joy, and no heartache. His reaction made it even more unfathomable how valuable the contents of the Xuanbing were.
The Xuanbing, which had already depreciated, was valued even more after Ren Fan's move, and the tense atmosphere returned.
The entire place was silent, as if everything had stopped, except for the black-robed man who slowly raised his axe as time passed.
What would happen when he struck?
"Bang!"
The blade fell, sending up a shower of shattered ice. The third corner of the Xuanbing was cleaved open, the crack spreading once more towards the center. Combined with the previous two cracks, the treasure hidden in the center became even more apparent—it truly was a cocoon !
A golden cocoon tightly clung to a piece of crystal-clear jade!
"Heavens!" A wealthy businessman, who had been in a daze for years, exclaimed in astonishment.
"This...this...this can't be real, impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Another person shook his head, watching Ren Fan retreat step by step.
Yet another person grabbed Ren Fan, urgently saying, "Boss Ren, many of these have been unearthed, but most are fake. You should carefully consider this risk. I'll offer 180 million!"
Murong Wei, her eyes calm, looked at Ren Fan's furrowed brows and coldly said, "I'll offer 200 million to buy it back!"
Ren Fan glanced at her, still hesitant, his previous composure gone.
200 million—this price was probably the highest ever!
"You know what that is too?" Xuan Yuanli stood behind Murong Wei and asked in a low voice. Ye Bao had somehow gotten back on his back, her legs wrapped around his neck, looking just as intently as he was.
"I don't know," Murong Wei said softly.
Ye Bao instantly fell backward, speechless, looking up at the sky... Two hundred million! Dear Mom!
"You...you...you..." Xuan Yuanli was speechless, wondering where that woman got the courage to offer two hundred million.
"Boss Ren, how's it going? Your break time is almost up. Don't delay Hei Tu's business." Murong Wei crossed her arms and reminded him with a smile, calm and composed.
Ren Fan was still carefully examining the contents of the ice. The ice was melting, and the contents were becoming increasingly blurry. Making a decision seemed difficult. He took the tea offered by a servant, took a small sip, and remained silent.
"Two hundred and twenty million!" Murong Wei made another bid, much to everyone's surprise. Xuan Yuanli behind her couldn't help but want to pinch her. This price was too high, and the risk was extremely high!
If he really had to produce that much gold, he'd have to go back to the palace and beg his mother!
Ren Fan looked up, his brows furrowed as he stared at Murong Wei. He wanted to know why this woman had such courage and audacity. Two hundred million was already a considerable sum, yet she'd added another twenty million!
Why did she seem so determined? What had she just said to the man in black robes? Did she know something beforehand
? Or had she figured something out? Regardless of why she was with the Thirteenth Prince, the mask on her face was unmistakably made of Silkworm Treasure Gold Silk! The fourth Silkworm Treasure Gold Silk to appear in the world—this woman must be someone of great importance. What she set her sights on couldn't be fake.
Beneath Ren Fan's seemingly calm and composed exterior, turmoil was finally brewing. This was the first time he'd encountered someone so nonchalantly offering a staggering two hundred million, and a woman at that.
"Mr. Ren, could you give me a response?" Murong Wei smiled, seemingly unfazed.
Ren Fan suddenly laughed and said, "Madam Murong, please make the fourth cut... I'm determined to have this."
Murong Wei shrugged with a regretful expression and waved for the black-robed man to make his move.
"How can Madam Murong be so sure that this is genuine?" Ren Fan asked humbly.
"Sure? I didn't hide it inside, how could I be sure?" Murong Wei looked bewildered.
Ren Fan thought seriously that she must be pretending to be stupid. He smiled and asked, "Then why did Madam Murong look so regretful just now?"
"Because there's no handling fee, so I'll take it." Murong Wei shrugged, and at the same time, with a loud "bang," the last corner of the Xuanbing was finally smashed open. Immediately, the entire piece of broken Xuanbing shattered, and the treasure hidden in the center was finally revealed.
It was indeed a golden cocoon clinging to a jade plate. The burly man in black robes held it up high, making it clearer to everyone. A jade plate, large enough to be embraced by two arms, was entirely emerald green, without any carvings. Within the plate lay a slightly elongated golden cocoon. The contents of the cocoon were unclear; the golden threads were extremely fine, like spider silk, wrapped several times around the jade plate, the cocoon densely woven, obscuring whether anything else was inside.
The treasure was slowly brought before Ren Fan. His changing expression spoke volumes; even if there was something inside the cocoon, it wouldn't be anything valuable.
Ren Fan's face was grim, very grim!
His handsome brows were tightly furrowed, almost crushing the golden cocoon before him.
Everything indicated that this item was of little value.
Everyone fell silent, returning to their seats with secret relief. Many couldn't hide their schadenfreude. Ren Fan, that young man, had achieved early success, and it had been several years now. In his early twenties, he was the richest man in the world—how many people envied him, wishing he'd become penniless overnight?
However, no one expected him to fall for a woman whose true face they'd never even seen. One hundred and seventy million might not be much to him, but it was his only blunder in the business world.
"Mr. Ren, my offer was sixty million, and your final offer was one hundred and seventy million. Please pay sixty million to the Black Thugs, and for the remaining one hundred and ten million, please write an IOU," Murong Wei said calmly with a smile.
Immediately, all eyes turned to Murong Wei again, including the Black Thugs shrouded in black robes.
"Hehe, Mrs. Murong, you've gotten a great deal! We've all been played!" someone suddenly shouted.
Then came a barrage of criticism and mockery.
That's how people are; they laugh at the poor and resent the rich. When you're down on your luck, people will laugh at you; when you're successful, they'll find fault and criticize you.
After Ren Fan became a laughingstock, Murong Wei faced criticism.
"Madam Murong, you dragged us into your scheme, and in the end, you got all the benefits yourself! That's not fair!"
"That's right, that's right, you actually played this trick of getting something for nothing!"
"Madam Murong, you really are not fair. To put it bluntly, you're a swindler, you cheated Boss Ren!"
"I think we should just give you the IOU for 50 million, and forget about the 100 million."
...
"Heh, they've come to bully us so much, they've forgotten that I'm still here!" Xuan Yuanli said coldly, about to step forward, when he saw Ren Fan raise his hand to signal everyone to be quiet.
"A bet is a bet, and I dare not complain if my skills are inferior. Madam Murong, you don't know what's inside this Xuanbing. What you won today was entirely due to your courage and intelligence, which I truly admire! I will definitely return the 161 million taels lost today!" After saying this, he wrote a second IOU and handed it to Murong Wei with both hands, acting like a true gentleman.
Murong Wei also accepted it with both hands, inwardly praising him. After all, he was the richest merchant, and his integrity was indeed commendable. Recalling that he hadn't taken her golden silk mask last time, her impression of him had changed.
“Madam Murong, I have another matter I would like to ask you,” Ren Fan said with a humble smile. His handsome face showed no trace of cunning; if one did not know his identity, one would truly mistake him for a scholar.
“What is it? Please speak, Mr. Ren,” Murong Wei said, as she and he stepped back. The third piece of Xuanbing had already been delivered.
“Two hundred million is no small sum. Aren’t you afraid of such a risk, Madam Murong?” Ren Fan asked earnestly.
Murong Wei beckoned to him mysteriously, gesturing for him to come closer. Ren Fan cautiously approached, only to hear Murong Wei whisper, “Anyway, it’s not my money being spent. The Thirteenth Master is overseeing things from behind!”
Ren Fan froze instantly, only his lips twitching incessantly. Murong Wei stood up, noticing a pierced ear on his head, and couldn’t help but laugh. She said, “Mr. Ren, thank you. We’re even about the slave matter from before.”
With that, she hid the IOU and walked towards Xuan Yuanli. At that moment, the gong sounded, and the final gamble was about to begin!
What Xuan Yuanli had inquired about beforehand should be inside this Xuanbing (mysterious ice), but why is it so small? What exactly is it?
A piece of Xuanbing, less than a meter long and half a meter thick, sat on the central stone platform. Its surface was crystal clear, but the inside was a vast expanse of white, making it impossible to see what was inside.
Ren Fan returned to his seat, seemingly unaffected by the earlier loss, his eyes fixed on the Xuanbing.
"What exactly is it?" Murong Wei asked in a low voice.
"Never mind that. No matter the price, I'm determined to get it," Xuan Yuanli said coldly.
"Where did you get this information?" Murong Wei asked again.
"Never mind that. This time, I'm coming myself. If the first two pieces weren't there, it must be in this third one!" Xuan Yuanli said. He hadn't suffered any losses the first two times, so he had plenty of leverage to fight for the third.
"Have you investigated? Does Ren Fan know about this?" Murong Wei asked again.
"He wouldn't know. The information came from an undercover agent in the Shang Kingdom. One of the pieces was taken from the ancient tomb. Only I know," Xuan Yuanli said in a low voice.
“Let me do it,” Murong Wei said tentatively.
“No need, I’ll do it myself,” Xuan Yuanli insisted.
Murong Wei smiled and said softly, “Then please, Your Highness.” After saying that, she still didn’t leave, keeping her head down as if discussing something with Xuan Yuanli. Ren Fan watched from afar, his handsome brows furrowing once again.
“One thousand taels!”
“One thousand five hundred taels!”
“Two thousand! Two thousand!”
…
The bidding had begun, and the starting price of five hundred taels made the bidding somewhat lukewarm. The first two pieces of Xuanbing didn’t yield any treasures, which disappointed everyone. Usually, Xuanbing was taken from the same place, and since neither piece contained any treasures, it could only mean that the Escape Ice Land wasn’t a treasure-hunting place. Usually, the third piece wouldn’t contain any treasures either.
“Ten thousand taels!” Suddenly, Xuan Yuanli shouted, somewhat impatiently.
Everyone was shocked. The Thirteenth Prince had finally come in person. Could it be something good? Everyone’s interest was immediately rekindled.
"Eleven thousand taels!"
"Twelve thousand taels!"
"Fifteen thousand taels!"
...
Another round of bidding, but Ren Fan remained silent.
Until...until Xuan Yuanli shouted out a high price of thirty million taels, Ren Fan still didn't move.
Xuan Yuanli was puzzled, and they looked at each other from a distance. Ren Fan only returned a slight smile and leisurely sipped his tea.
When it reached thirty million, no one was willing to bid anymore. In their minds, how could the Thirteenth Master, this young and fearless calf, compete with Ren Fan's cunning and shrewdness? Even the things that the big boss Ren had just liked were fake, let alone the things he didn't like.
So, Xuan Yuanli sent his men to take away the piece of Xuanbing for thirty million.
The eccentric and mysterious Hei Tu asked Xuan Yuanli and Ren Fan for IOUs, then packed his things and left without saying a word. The group of people quickly disappeared into the valley.
The merchants all returned empty-handed, whispering amongst themselves. Many wondered if there was anything inside the mysterious ice, but Xuan Yuanli refused to open it. Most were asking each other about Murong Wei's name and identity.
Ren Fan wanted to greet Murong Wei before leaving, but they were escorted by attendants and headed towards Xuan Yuanli.
Attendants on all sides kept a safe distance of ten paces from Xuan Yuanli, while red-tailed kites circled overhead. This time, everything went smoothly; his man-eating eagles hadn't been deployed.
Yinling and Bao'er followed on horseback, not daring to approach, while Murong Wei, carrying Ye Bao, sidled up with Xuan Yuanli's carriage.
"Why are you going so fast?" Murong Wei asked.
"Usually after the jade gambling tournament, bandits and robbers swarm in. My brother is urging me to go to the palace; I don't have time to deal with them," Xuan Yuanli said calmly.
"What good things are hidden inside the mysterious ice?" Murong Wei asked timidly.
"You don't need to know. From today onwards, you and Bai Wushang are both considered members of my Li Wangfu (Prince Li's Residence). The warrants from Han Kingdom will be lifted tomorrow," Xuan Yuanli said.
"Thank you, Thirteenth Prince," Murong Wei said with a smile, too lazy to ask any more questions. Old Bai would probably know eventually; she could ask him then.
Ye Bao, tired of her antics, clutched Ren Fan's two IOUs and nestled in Murong Wei's arms, drifting off to sleep.
The room was quiet. Xuan Yuanli hadn't ridden in the same carriage with anyone for a very long time. He leaned lazily against the high pillow, staring intently at Murong Wei.
Murong Wei ignored her, lifting the curtain to look at the darkening sky. She thought Old Bai must be lost, otherwise why would he stand her up? He couldn't possibly miss something so interesting!
"Murong Wei, why...why didn't Ren Fan bid just now?" Xuan Yuanli had been curious for a long time; he was most wary of him, but the guy remained silent.
"Because he's suspicious, afraid we'd use the same trick again, deliberately setting a high price to trap him," Murong Wei said with a smile.
Xuan Yuanli was stunned, then suddenly realized, "So you let me bid high!"
"Thirteenth Master is wise!" Murong Wei still smiled.
"You're very clever," Xuan Yuanli said, rarely praising someone.
"Just a little cleverness, not as wise as Thirteenth Master," Murong Wei added.
Xuan Yuanli felt guilty; even the exaggerated sounded like mockery. He pursed his lips and asked again, "What's your relationship with Bai Wushang?"
"With him..." Murong Wei really didn't know how to answer for a moment.
Friend? A little more, a partner, yet something seemed to be missing.
Just then, the hurried carriage suddenly stopped, and a servant rushed in to report, "Your Highness, the princess and Princess Yelü are causing trouble again up ahead."
"Keep going. Tell Qixi, if you want to come, come; if you don't, wait for your elder brother's scolding when we get back!" Xuan Yuanli said impatiently.
"Your Highness, Consort De, who is traveling with us, had just recovered from her foot injury, but the two princesses have been causing her trouble and injured it again. It seems quite serious," the servant replied truthfully.
"Has the imperial physician been summoned?" Xuan Yuanli asked, frowning.
"Yes, the imperial physician said that Consort De cannot get out of bed for a month, otherwise her leg will be crippled," the servant replied.
"Then just tell her not to get out of bed!" Xuan Yuanli was fed up. He hated women the most, especially his seventh brother's women!
"Consort De has already been forced to get out of bed several times by the two princesses," the servant said helplessly.
"What happened? Explain yourself!" Xuan Yuanli's bad temper exploded again.
"Consort De revealed her rash and covered her face, but Princess Qixi insisted on seeing it. Princess Lingrong deliberately provoked her and wouldn't let her, so the two of them started fighting over Consort De," the attendant reported.
"What nonsense! Summon them all here!" Xuan Yuanli roared, utterly annoyed.
"What's your relationship with him?" Xuan Yuanli didn't forget this topic.
"Just casual acquaintances, nothing special," Murong Wei replied casually. As soon as she finished speaking, Ye Bao stretched and hugged her arm. "Old Bai... Old Bai... When are you coming back?"
"Your son and he get along well," Xuan Yuanli said, his tone a little stiff.
"Kids will be kids, whoever they spend more time with, they'll become friends with," Murong Wei replied again, wondering what this prince was up to.
"Old Bai... Ye Bao misses you so much... When will you be my daddy?" Ye Bao mumbled again, making Murong Wei extremely embarrassed, wishing she could cover his mouth. Xuan Yuanli ignored
him and said, "After we return to the palace, temporarily place your son in foster care elsewhere. I need your help with something." This wasn't a discussion, but an announcement.
"Old Bai... When are you coming back to marry Mommy!" Ye Bao closed his arms tightly, burying his head in Murong Wei's chest, his sleep-talking always perfectly timed.
Murong Wei's hand was already pinching his arm, but he still didn't want to wake up from his dream.
"This child is so clingy, he's never left my side since birth. Is there anything Your Highness needs my help with?" Murong Wei asked, immediately covering Ye Bao's mouth with her hand.
"To be my concubine, I can..." Before Xuan Yuanli could finish speaking, Murong Wei suddenly cried out, "Ah... Ye Wuming! Let go!" She
was in so much pain that she even called out his original name. She forcefully flung Ye Bao away, blowing on her palm repeatedly.
"Impossible! Thirteenth Master, you can't marry my mother without my consent. You... I won't allow it!" Ye Bao raised his chubby index finger and shook it in front of Xuan Yuanli, his face serious.
In the chaos, the carriage curtain was suddenly lifted, and Xuan Yuan Qi Xi poked her head in, exclaiming, "Brother, you actually brought a woman on board!"
Xuan Yuan Qi Xi immediately recognized Ye Bao as the girl who saved the Thirteenth Master that night, but she didn't recognize the masked Murong Wei. She looked at the three of them blankly, having rushed over immediately upon hearing the exclamation. It was indeed a woman, and a girl too!
Murong Wei was stunned, as was Xuan Yuan Li. Ye Bao reacted quickly, immediately withdrawing her hand, tidying her clothes and hair in a few moments, sitting up straight with her chest out and stomach in, a gentle smile as warm as a spring breeze on her face as she looked at Xuan Yuan Qi Xi. Although her impression of her had been completely ruined last time, seeing her up close again, she still quite liked her. After all, she was the most beautiful woman in the world. The Xuan Yuan royal family had produced countless handsome men, but only Xuan Yuan Qi Xi was truly beautiful.
"Get off! Who let you on board!" Xuan Yuan Li, regaining his composure, roared, like a lion.
"I'm getting off, why are you being so fierce?" Xuan Yuan Qi Xi glared at him unhappily, then suddenly grabbed Ye Bao, who was smiling at her, and pulled him backward off the carriage.
"Ye Bao!" Murong Wei exclaimed in surprise and immediately chased after her.
"Hehe, so it was you and your son who were disrespectful to me that night!" Xuan Yuan Qi Xi said arrogantly, grabbing Ye Bao's collar.
Ye Bao looked up at her so closely, and his disappointment plummeted once again.
"He's just a child, come at me if you dare!" Murong Wei said sharply, unable to bear seeing Ye Bao being mistreated, especially emotionally, as he had been kidnapped by Qi Xi, who was like a dream girl. "
Hehe, you're quite arrogant, weren't you the one who pushed me that night? You choose, do you want your left hand or your right hand crippled?" Xuan Yuan Qi Xi raised an eyebrow and asked calmly.
"Qi Xi, my brother is urging me, no more trouble, set off for the palace immediately!" Xuan Yuan Li's tone was still commanding.
However, aside from being ten steps away from him, Xuan Yuan Qi Xi wasn't afraid of him at all. She glanced at Yelü Ling Rong beside her and smiled, "Is it to urge you to marry this Western Region barbarian?"
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Xuan Yuan Li roared like a lion! He didn't want this kind of woman sent for a political marriage.
"She'll probably marry you. My brother the emperor has always refused women sent for political marriages. Seventh Brother already has so many women that the Qi Prince's mansion can't hold them all. Only your mansion is empty. This time you can't escape!" Xuan Yuan Qi Xi looked gloating. As a princess, she had been pampered since childhood and never knew how to consider other people's feelings. Coupled with her dissatisfaction with Yelü Ling Rong, she blurted out everything she should and shouldn't have said.
This was tantamount to a public slap in the face to Yelü Lingrong. However, Yelü Lingrong didn't get angry. She stood silently, quietly watching Xuan Yuanli. Xuan Yuanqi Xi's unreasonable behavior had pushed her to her breaking point; otherwise, she wouldn't have so easily revealed her fierce side.
Men in the Central Plains preferred gentle women, and she still needed to secure her position in the Xuan Yuan royal family!
"Release Ye Bao and get back to the carriage immediately," Xuan Yuanli said coldly. He didn't want to get involved in any womanly matters; he had already planned his escape.
"A person in my hands isn't your decision. Make that old woman kowtow and apologize to me, and I'll release him!" Xuan Yuanqi said arrogantly.
Murong Wei was stunned. Although her son was already quite grown up, this was the first time someone had called her old. It was heartbreaking. She helplessly turned her head away and leaned lazily against the carriage.
Suddenly, Yelü Lingrong cried out in alarm, "Snake!!!"
"Snake?" Xuan Yuan Qixi was shocked. Her greatest fear in life was her emperor brother, and the second was snakes. She turned her head sharply, her eyes widening immediately. She saw Ye Bao holding a small green snake, stiff as a dagger, pointing it at her. The flat snake head was flicking its tongue at her in a very unfriendly manner. Its little master's expression was even less friendly than the snake's. It muttered, "My mommy isn't old at all!"
Xuan Yuan Qixi's mouth formed an "O" shape, as if she wanted to shout but couldn't make a sound. Her hand, which was holding Ye Bao's collar, loosened, and she fell to the ground, unconscious.
"How embarrassing!" Xuan Yuan Li muttered unhappily
. Ye Bao didn't look at her anymore. He coughed a few times, haphazardly stuffed the limp Xiao Buqing into his wide sleeve, and dejectedly and aimlessly headed towards Yelü Lingrong.
"Snake!" Suddenly, Yelü Lingrong screamed again and lunged at Xuan Yuanli, her arms clinging to him like an octopus!
"Get out!" A deafening roar followed, and Yelü Lingrong was violently thrown aside, landing heavily at the feet of Consort De who had just arrived. A mouthful of blood spurted out instantly, staining Consort De's white embroidered shoes red!
Xuan Yuanli's handsome face was now marred by a chilling, blood-red, murderous glint in his eyes.
Murong Wei and Ye Bao were stunned. After several days together, they had long since forgotten about Xuan Yuanli's strange quirk. Seeing his suddenly sinister face filled them with dread!
"Mommy, when is Lao Bai coming back? It's a bit dangerous following this person," Ye Bao murmured. He didn't know when it started, but whenever something happened, the first person he thought of was Lord Wushang.
"Who knows?" Murong Wei murmured as well, her eyes filled with complex emotions. She felt that Xuan Yuanli's strange quirk must have some hidden reason!
Xuanyuan Li finally looked directly at Yelü Lingrong. This time, his usual roar was gone; his handsome face displayed a coldness completely out of character for his age and temperament. He spoke each word clearly: "Yelü Lingrong, even the princess of Liusha Kingdom is afraid of snakes? Do you think I'm a fool? Let me tell you, you will never be the mistress of the Li Prince's mansion. If you take another step closer, don't blame me for showing no mercy!" With that, he slammed down the carriage curtain and ordered the driver to leave.
Xuanyuan Qixi, who had just regained consciousness, was stunned. She had never seen her thirteenth brother with such an expression. This kind of coldness seemed to only be seen on her seventh brother and her emperor brother's faces. What was wrong with her thirteenth brother?
The carriage had traveled a long way when it stopped again. The driver rushed over and bowed respectfully to Murong Wei. "Madam Murong, His Highness wants you and the young master to hurry over. He's on his way."
As soon as he finished speaking, not only Yelü Lingrong but even Consort De looked over. She recognized Ye Bao at a glance. Seeing Murong Wei's gold-threaded mask, she immediately thought of the assassins who had been blown up. So it was her that time too!
Regardless of whether what she had was explosives or not, its power was the same. This matter had to be brought to the attention of Prince Qi. How could Prince Qi, or even the Emperor, allow a woman to possess a weapon with the same power as explosives?
Murong Wei couldn't help but twitch her lips. She didn't even look at Yelü Lingrong. Without a doubt, she had already made another enemy before even reaching the capital of Xuanyuan.
Even so, facing Yelü Lingrong's hostile gaze, Murong Wei returned a cold glare without flinching. Holding Ye Bao's hand, she walked confidently towards the carriage. She couldn't avoid the inevitable; she couldn't afford to lose face first.
The carriage slowly drove away. Xuan Yuan Qi Xi glanced at Yelü Lingrong, sneered, and said, "Consort De, aren't you leaving?"
"Your Highness, please go first." Consort De was extremely respectful, not daring to let her maidservant help her, enduring the pain in her feet, and performed a deep bow.
"You're so sensible!" Xuan Yuan Qi Xi smiled contemptuously, mounted her horse, and rode off after Xuan Yuan.
As soon as Xuanyuan Qixi left, Consort De immediately bowed to help Yelü Lingrong, her face filled with anxiety. "Someone! Quickly summon the imperial physician! What are you all standing there for? Don't you want to..."
Before she could finish speaking, Yelü Lingrong stopped her, stood up herself, placed a hand on her chest, looked Consort De up and down, and sneered, "You opportunist, if you have something to ask of me, just say it directly. I can't accept anything ambiguous."
"Your Highness is too kind. I only overheard Qixi's words from afar and felt indignant on behalf of Princess Lingrong. Princess Lingrong is the most noble princess of Liusha Kingdom. To marry Xuanyuan, she should naturally marry the powerful and influential Seventh Prince, Prince Qi. How could Qixi have said the Thirteenth Prince?" Consort De said with a smile.
"Whose consort are you? You're much more sensible than that girl Qixi." Yelü Lingrong smiled coldly, her smile carrying a deeper meaning.
"I am Consort De, Murong Zi, a concubine of Prince Qi's residence." Consort De replied in a low voice.
The tranquil moonlight draped the mountain night in a mysterious veil. The faint sound of wheeled carts could be heard along the forest path, mixed with voices, like timid whispers.
"Won't Prince Qi just fall ill like this and never recover?"
"I think it's not an illness, it's poison."
"Ha...you mustn't say such things!"
"What are you afraid of? Eunuch Sun is right there with him!"
"Exactly, exactly! It's rare to have a chance to speak. Yesterday, I heard from the people in front that the Prince fainted several times a day, and his skin is practically rotting all over." "
Pah, pah, pah! Don't talk nonsense! The Prince is a lucky man, watch your mouth, or you'll lose your head!"
"The skin practically rotting is an exaggeration, but it really is a skin problem. Several imperial physicians have been dispatched from the palace, but no one can diagnose it. They say it's a strange illness...it won't last long."
"Stop talking nonsense! I think it's because of those things that old scoundrel Sun ate that day. His Highness Prince Qi has always been careful with his food, preferring vegetarian meals. Wasn't it that old scoundrel Sun who forced him to eat such delicacies all at once? I think those things are the problem, I guarantee it!"
"Shh... shut up. If this gets back to Eunuch Sun, you might as well not go back to the palace. When Eunuch Sun does business, does he think he can get away without the Emperor behind him?"
...
Only those at the very back of the procession dared to whisper amongst themselves. Since His Highness Prince Qi suddenly fell ill during his meal, no one except Eunuch Sun and the imperial physicians had seen him again.
Half a month had passed, and Prince Qi remained in his carriage, sometimes lucid, sometimes unconscious, and the servants had no idea.
Traveling at night, the air was cool and still. The carriage at the head of the procession was very large, and they had to drive with extreme caution on the mountain paths. Several maids and eunuchs jogged alongside, ready to serve at any moment. Several of them were panting, but they had no choice but to keep up, not daring to slacken their pace.
Even with the imperial physicians coming and going, the carriage did not stop.
Just then, another imperial physician came out, urgently calling to the maid, "Ice water, quick!"
The maid, already prepared, hurriedly brought it over; the ice in the basin hadn't even completely melted yet.
A moment later, another imperial physician came out, sweating profusely, and asked urgently, "Is the medicine ready?"
"Yes, here you go." The eunuch ran along, presenting it with both hands.
Just as this physician went back inside, the first one came out again, shouting, "Go and boil some mung bean soup, use ice to cool him down, and bring it within three cups of tea's time. His Highness Prince Qi is waiting!"
"Yes!" The maid was overjoyed; hearing this, she could finally be certain that His Highness Prince Qi was temporarily alright.
He had fallen ill early this morning, just like the other day, suddenly fainting and foaming at the mouth. Several imperial physicians had been busy until now, unable to rest, much to the dismay of Eunuch Sun, who had personally attended to him the entire way.
Those serving him all understood that His Highness Prince Qi could be sick, but he couldn't die.
If His Highness died on the road, Sun Desheng would be the first to lose his head.
The guards behind might be unaware, but Eunuch Sun's trusted confidants saw through it all.
When the cool mung bean soup arrived, all four imperial physicians finally disembarked from the carriage, leaving only Eunuch Sun to guard it.
Inside the carriage, Prince Qi leaned weakly against the high pillow, his handsome face still pale. A few red rashes on his perfectly sculpted cheeks couldn't conceal his unparalleled elegance. His disheveled black hair and clothes, along with his frail figure, diminished his seemingly innate aloofness, adding a touch of approachability and authenticity.
His large, smooth hands were dotted with red rashes; the skin beneath his white robes must have been a terrible sight. His narrow eyes were slightly open, looking at Eunuch Sun squatting beside him, merely watching, expressionless, with no intention of speaking.
Since the onset of his illness, apart from answering a few questions to the imperial physicians, he hadn't said a word. When Eunuch Sun asked him questions, he would occasionally respond; sometimes, even if he clearly heard him, he would just look at him without answering.
Eunuch Sun, holding a bowl of cold mung bean porridge, respectfully whispered, "Your Highness Prince Qi, please drink some, or your body won't be able to withstand it."
He didn't speak, shifted his gaze, and slowly closed his eyes, his breathing so light it was almost imperceptible.
"Your Highness Prince Qi?" Sun Desheng anxiously probed, fearing he might faint again, a responsibility he couldn't bear. The imperial physician couldn't diagnose what was wrong, and they had already reported it to the Emperor, who only gave him one sentence: "If Prince Qi dies, bury yourself on the spot."
Xuan Yuanche didn't react; his hand, which had been resting on the couch, slowly fell to his sides.
"Your Highness Prince Qi!" Sun Desheng exclaimed in alarm, rushing forward to push him, shouting, "Imperial physician, call the imperial physician! Quickly! Imperial physician!"
At this moment, Xuan Yuanche slowly opened his eyes again, so weak it seemed a gust of wind could kill him. He merely glanced at Sun Desheng before slowly closing them again, without speaking.
“Your Highness, please hold on! We’ll be in the capital in three days! Your Highness, it’s my fault for not taking good care of you. I kowtow to you! Please hold on!” Sun Desheng was almost in tears. None of the seafood the Emperor had asked him to send was poisonous. How could he have contracted this strange illness after eating it?
His body was covered in red rashes that would disappear and then recur, and he hadn’t been conscious for a single moment.
All four imperial physicians boarded the carriage. One quickly took his pulse, while another was about to examine Xuan Yuanche’s eyes when he suddenly opened them, startling the physician so much that he stumbled and immediately knelt down. “This humble servant has overstepped his bounds! This humble servant knows his crime!”
“Sun Desheng…” he finally spoke, slowly looking at the kneeling eunuch Sun beside him.
“This servant is here! This servant is here!” Sun Desheng crawled over like a dog and knelt.
“How many more days until we return to the palace?” Xuan Yuanche’s voice was very soft, and the carriage was utterly silent.
“Three days, at the latest three days, Your Highness, you must hold on. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager are waiting for you to return!” Sun Desheng replied hastily.
"What...what's wrong with me?" Xuan Yuanche asked calmly, this being the first time he'd inquired about his condition after being ill for so many days.
"Your Highness, your illness came on suddenly. It's like eczema, but not quite. I initially thought it was an allergic reaction to seafood, but you've been unconscious for several days and haven't recovered. Many medications haven't worked. I'm too dull to be sure; a consultation at the Imperial Hospital is needed after we return to the palace," the head physician hurriedly reported.
"So, it has nothing to do with the seafood from that day?" Xuan Yuanche's voice remained weak and faint, almost indifferent, yet it made everyone present's hearts race.
What did Prince Qi mean by asking this?
Did he suspect Eunuch Sun, or the Emperor? Suspecting Eunuch Sun was tantamount to suspecting the Emperor!
Prince Qi had always been a carefree and unassuming man, never getting involved in court intrigues. Although not born of the same mother, his relationship with the Emperor was like that of brothers.
Three days later, at the crack of dawn, the vast army arrived at the east gate of the Xuanyuan Imperial Capital.
The guards at the back of the procession were still relatively energetic, but those at the front were drowsy and listless. Since Prince Qi's illness, none of them had rested along the way.
At this moment, the imperial physicians were dozing in the carriage, while Eunuch Sun was still stubbornly serving Prince Qi in his carriage.
That day, after Prince Qi's nonchalant remark, "So, it has nothing to do with the seafood that day," he hadn't asked any further questions, and his illness had begun to subside. He had remained silent the entire way, either resting with his eyes closed or reading. Eunuch Sun served him with trepidation, fearing that if he wasn't careful, his master would faint again, or suddenly utter something that had puzzled him for days and nights.
The emperor was difficult to serve, but Prince Qi was even more so!
At this moment, he was lazily leaning against a high pillow, having just woken up. The redness and swelling on his face and arms had subsided, but he remained weak, seemingly without any strength.
His long, handsome hand slowly lifted the curtain, glancing at the slowly opening city gate, and he said indifferently, "Is the Thirteenth Prince also in the city?" "
Why is Your Highness suddenly asking about the Thirteenth Prince?" Sun Desheng greeted him with a smile, his pale face full of hypocrisy. As long as Prince Qi was alive, he could rest easy.
"Am I asking you, or are you asking me?" Xuan Yuanche retorted, neither angry nor annoyed, calmly looking out the window.
"This servant wouldn't dare. The Thirteenth Prince was ordered to take Princess Yelü on a trip, and it's about to be ruined. I heard Princess Qixi went along too." Eunuch Sun still smiled, showing no sign of panic.
"Whom did His Majesty assign Princess Yelü to?" Xuan Yuanche asked, seeing a group of people approaching the city gate from the other side at great speed.
"It's not decided yet. Everyone's guessing it's the Thirteenth Prince. Otherwise, why would they send him as their protector?" said Eunuch Sun.
"Didn't the Flowing Sand Kingdom specify which prince they wanted this time?" Xuan Yuanche asked again. He already had two princesses from the Flowing Sand Kingdom in his household.
"Your Highness, how can we always ask them to specify their names? Please don't say that in front of the Emperor, lest he get angry," Eunuch Sun kindly reminded him.
"Go see who's here so early," Xuan Yuanche said, watching the approaching carriage from afar, his eyes still cold and indifferent, showing no extra emotion. Eunuch
Sun then looked out the window, his previous forced smile immediately turning into a fawning one. "It's the Thirteenth Prince! Your Highness, what a coincidence! This servant will go and pay his respects right away." After saying that, without waiting for Xuan Yuanche's permission, he hurriedly got out of the carriage, as happy as if he had seen a god of wealth.
After all, the Thirteenth Prince was the Emperor's own brother and the Empress Dowager's beloved son. Who in the palace wouldn't flatter him?
It seemed that no matter what Eunuch Sun's reaction, Xuan Yuanche didn't care. He quietly watched the slowly coming to a stop, a faint, warm smile appearing on his usually cold lips. He actually smiled; it had been a long, long time since he'd smiled.
The city gates had opened, revealing the thrones of the two princes. All the servants knelt by the roadside. Sun Desheng happily trotted over, calling out from afar, "Greetings, Thirteenth Prince! This servant, Sun Desheng, greets you!"
The person inside the carriage didn't show his face, but an impatient voice came through, "Is that Seventh Brother up ahead?"
"Thirteenth Prince, you have good eyesight. It is indeed the Seventh Prince," Eunuch Sun replied, not forgetting to flatter him even in his first sentence.
"Tell him that his... Yu... no, De! Consort De is with me. I bumped into her on the road; she injured her foot. Have him send someone to take her away," Xuan Yuanli said, exhausted from the journey and eager to return home to sleep.
"Yes, Thirteenth Prince, please wait a moment." Eunuch Sun replied respectfully, then hurried over to Xuan Yuanche and reported, "Your Highness, the Thirteenth Prince said he encountered Consort De on the road and took her with him, saying that Consort De was injured and asked you to send someone to bring her here."
However, before he finished speaking, Consort De herself alighted from the carriage and, supported by her maid, limped towards Prince Qi's carriage. She bowed before the carriage, saying, "Your Majesty, I greet you. Your Majesty has had a long journey."
For a long time, no one answered her.
"Your Majesty, I greet you. Your Majesty has had a long journey." Consort De repeated, not daring to rise. Sun Desheng sneered silently to the side.
It was unclear what Xuan Yuanche was saying, but he still did not answer.
Xuan Yuanli's carriage slowly approached, almost alongside Xuan Yuanche's. It wasn't Xuan Yuanli who cautiously lifted the curtain, but Ye Bao, who was still half asleep. Upon hearing that they had bumped into Prince Qi, he immediately woke up. He remembered his mother and Lao Bai's analysis: he looked remarkably like Prince Qi when he was little, and Prince Qi was very likely his biological father!
He had to see what Prince Qi looked like.
Xuan Yuanli crossed his arms, looking at Ye Bao with disdain, and coldly said, "You're not a woman, why are you looking at him?"
Ye Bao glanced at him curiously, not understanding what he meant.
"Usually, it's women who like to watch him, stupid women!" Xuan Yuanli said dismissively, seemingly not on good terms with his seventh brother.
"So, those who don't look at him aren't women? I'll take a look too." Murong Wei smiled, moving closer to Ye Bao, only to see a tense scene outside the window.
Consort De was still bowing, ignored by everyone; it seemed her life in Xuan Yuan wasn't as pleasant as the rumors suggested.
"Mommy, is Prince Qi in the carriage?" Ye Bao asked in a low voice.
"Yes," Murong Wei replied.
"Why doesn't he acknowledge Consort De?" Ye Bao asked.
"Don't swear!" Murong Wei frowned.
"Mommy, why isn't Prince Qi seeing her?" Ye Bao changed his question.
"How should I know? Go ask him." Murong Wei rolled her eyes at him, a complex expression flashing across her eyes, but she still sat back down. She didn't care about Prince Qi, whether he was Ye Bao's biological father or not, or what schemes he might have. Anyway, Old Bai said Ye Bao wasn't Prince Qi's son, and that was enough.
She laughed, amused, her eyes brimming with amusement, and with her other hand, she forcefully pulled Ye Bao down from the windowsill. "Don't look, there's nothing to see."
Xuan Yuanli looked at her suspiciously, finding her smile somewhat eerie. How could such a rough, strong woman have such beautiful eyes?
"Mommy, he got off the carriage, don't pull me!" Ye Bao broke free and climbed back onto the windowsill. Upon seeing the man before her, she was immediately shocked. "Mommy, I've seen him before!"
He was still dressed in white with dark hair, neatly arranged, without any adornment, so pure and clean. His tall, slender figure gave him an unapproachable aura, even as he approached, so aloof.
He brushed past the bowing Consort De, his eyes calm and focused, and slowly walked towards them…
“Mommy, it’s the man we saw at the pawnshop!” Ye Bao murmured, peeking through the crack in the window.
The man was already standing by the window, and it was unclear whether he had noticed him or not. He was still so handsome, but he seemed sick and very weak.
Murong Wei pretended not to hear and desperately pulled him down.
“Mommy! Don’t you remember? It’s the man you were so mesmerized by!” Ye Bao shouted as he was pulled down.
“Mesmerized?” Xuan Yuanli looked at Murong Wei with disdain and asked.
At the same time, someone outside spoke, “Thirteenth Brother, please stay and discuss something.”
“No interest. If you’re not coming into the city, I’m leaving!” Xuan Yuanli said coldly, without any politeness.
Xuanyuan Che ignored his rudeness and continued, "My brother is hosting a family banquet in the Empress Dowager's palace to discuss your marriage..."
Before he could finish, the effect was obvious. Xuanyuan Li immediately flew into a rage, abruptly lifting the carriage curtain and rushing out. "Sun Desheng, come here!"
"Thirteenth Prince... His Majesty... His Majesty forbade me to speak." Sun Desheng quickly explained.
"When is the family banquet?" Xuanyuan Li asked angrily.
"After entering the palace, it should be ready by now." Sun Desheng replied.
"His Majesty is in such a hurry to summon him back just for this family banquet?" Xuanyuan Li pointed at Xuanyuan Che and asked angrily. His Majesty never accepted women for political marriages, and Yelü Lingrong could only choose between him and his seventh brother. It seemed that his brother made decisions at banquets, and whenever there was a problem, it was always his seventh brother who came up with ideas to resolve it. This family banquet was nothing short of a trap for him!
"Thirteenth Prince... Actually... This servant... His Majesty also..." Sun Desheng stammered, not daring to answer.
Xuan Yuanli glared at him fiercely, then abruptly flipped off his horse and galloped into the city alone, ignoring the entire troop.
Everyone was shocked; they hadn't heard what the Seventh Prince had said. Sun Desheng stared at Xuan Yuanche's back, his gaze filled with malice.
Inside the carriage, Ye Bao peeked through the cracks and whispered, "Mommy, he must have deliberately angered the Thirteenth Prince."
Murong Wei remained silent.
"Mommy, he made Consort De rise," Ye Bao added.
Murong Wei remained silent, her brows furrowed in thought.
"Mommy, he had Old Whiteface escort Consort De back to her residence," Ye Bao continued.
Murong Wei then asked suspiciously, "What Old Whiteface?"
"That old eunuch, his foundation is so heavy," Ye Bao said with a disgusted expression.
"Ye Bao, this Thirteenth Prince is young and impulsive. Staying in the palace with him isn't a long-term solution. We need to find Old Whiteface," Murong Wei said seriously.
"Mommy, he's coming again," Ye Bao exclaimed in surprise.
"Tell Yinling and Abao not to go into the palace yet. There's a backup outside. We need to..." Before Murong Wei could finish the word "escape," Ye Bao pounced on her, covering her mouth and whispering, "Mommy, he's really here." As soon as she finished
speaking, the carriage curtain was lifted. Murong Wei was stunned, not knowing what the people outside were doing or where they had gone. Suddenly, she had a feeling that she and Ye Bao were being held captive in the carriage. At that moment, the bandit leader entered.
He seemed to have known they were in the carriage all along. He got in and sat down, saying calmly, "Let's set off. I will escort the two princesses to the palace."
"Yes," the coachman obeyed, and the carriage slowly began to move again.
Ye Bao released his grip, carefully slowing his movements, and gently buried his head in Murong Wei's arms. He didn't know why, but he just didn't like this man, even feeling a sense of fear. He was too mysterious, too cold. Even riding in the same carriage, he still felt like he was on a distant horizon, unreachable.
Xuan Yuanche sat quietly, raising an eyebrow at Murong Wei, his deep eyes devoid of emotion.
Murong Wei also looked at him, her heart involuntarily tightening, her hands clenching. What was wrong with him? His face was so pale and haggard. Was he ill? For some reason, she seemed to have little immunity to this man; every time she bumped into him, her heart would suddenly race.
If the first time was because Ye Bao resembled him as a child, then what about in the Han Kingdom's palace? And now? Why was her heart still racing? Hadn't she already decided not to care so much?
Seeing his aloofness and indifference, his haggard and pale appearance, seeing him sitting right there with them, yet his white robes and dark hair still exuded an overwhelming sense of sorrow, she felt a pang of heartache once again.
Was it more panic or heartache? She didn't know.
Xuan Yuanche, what kind of person are you? Why, even looking at you face-to-face at such close range, do you seem hopelessly lonely?
"Mommy! Mommy! Stop daydreaming, Mommy!" Ye Bao tugged at her clothes, urgently whispering a reminder.
Murong Wei finally snapped out of her daze, pulling Ye Bao to her feet and bowing, "This commoner, Murong Wei, greets Prince Qi, may Your Highness be well!"
"Murong Wei?" His handsome brows furrowed slightly, his voice extremely calm, gesturing for her to sit down.
"Yes." Murong Wei slowly sat down, a hint of disappointment in her voice; he seemed to have forgotten her.
"The Thirteenth Prince intends to take you to the palace?" he asked casually.
"Yes," Murong Wei replied, bowing her head. He indeed didn't remember.
"It's rare for the Thirteenth Prince to ride in the same carriage as someone else," he said softly, a faint smile almost imperceptible. He seemed exhausted, closing his eyes as soon as he leaned back on the high pillow, seemingly not intending to ask anything more. He didn't even ask who Ye Bao was.
A silence filled the room. Ye Bao and Murong Wei exchanged glances, not daring to speak.
They waited for a long time, but Xuan Yuanche didn't speak again. He seemed to be resting with his eyes closed, or perhaps he had already fallen asleep. His face was deathly pale, his eyelashes were incredibly long, and his features were exquisitely sculpted, possessing a desolate beauty, like fragile glass, so delicate that one couldn't bear to touch it. Only at this moment did he seem less lonely, yet he still made everything else pale in comparison.
Murong Wei and her son Ye Bao still dared not speak, afraid of disturbing the silence.
Everything in the world disappeared, except for the carriage rolling along, carrying them through vicissitudes of life, over mountains and valleys, slowly heading towards the end of their destiny.
It wasn't until the guards' voices rang out, the palace gates opened wide, and the carriage lurched into the palace that Murong Wei suddenly snapped out of her daze, her heart skipping a beat.
He was still unconscious.
"Mommy, he's acting strangely," Ye Bao finally dared to speak.
"His complexion isn't good; it is a bit strange," Murong Wei said softly, unconsciously moving closer.
“Mommy, he doesn’t seem interested in us,” Ye Bao said again.
Murong Wei didn’t speak, but boldly observed his quiet and pale handsome face, and couldn’t help but worry. His complexion was getting worse and worse; he was probably quite ill.
“Mommy, after we enter the palace, will the Thirteenth Prince come to pick us up?” Ye Bao was more concerned about this question.
“Shh…” Murong Wei gestured for him to be quiet, and slowly knelt down beside Xuan Yuanche. She carefully pressed her fingertips on his wrist, and after a moment, she was shocked and almost cried out!
The pulse was extremely weak; only a dying person would have it!
“Ye Bao, remove the needle! Quickly!” She shouted, disregarding everything else.
Under normal circumstances, Murong Wei is very ladylike.
In special circumstances, such as when using seduction to kill, she is very gentle, yet with a swift and decisive strike, the mission is accomplished.
In even more special circumstances, after using seduction to kill, she is even more composed, leisurely taking a bath, packing her things, and then leaving.
People often say she lacks the ruthlessness and assertiveness of an assassin. Well, that's just who she is . What about
when she's saving someone?
"Hiss..." Xuan Yuanche's shirt was instantly torn apart. Murong Wei turned the unconscious man over onto the warm couch, her small hand accurately grabbing his collar. Her eyes darkened, and she ripped it all the way down. With another "hiss," the back of his shirt was completely torn.
Ye Bao had already laid out a complete set of silver needles of various sizes and even took out a heart-saving pill to keep aside. Mommy's serious face indicated that Prince Qi's condition was not ordinary. If Prince Qi died in this carriage, they, mother and son, would be doomed.
Murong Wei placed her hands together, her thumbs pressed against Xuan Yuanche's back, and made a sweeping motion down to the back. Then, she pressed her right thumb against his spine, grasped his right wrist with her left hand, and made another sweeping motion with her thumb. Instantly, a black, bloody trail appeared on his spine as her thumb moved down.
"Poison!" Ye Bao exclaimed, knowing this basic fact.
Murong Wei remained silent, sweat beading on her forehead. With one hand, she counted upwards along Xuan Yuanche's spine, segment by segment, while with the other, she took a silver needle. Stopping at the third segment, she tilted the needle to the side and decisively inserted it. Instantly, the once gleaming silver needle turned a dull black!
"Such potent poison!" Ye Bao exclaimed again, as he had never seen a silver needle turn black so quickly.
Murong Wei didn't speak or pause. She continued counting upwards with one hand, and with the other, she took another silver needle—a medium-sized one—finding the acupoint and immediately inserting it. The needle turned black instantly as well.
The carriage was quiet, the atmosphere tense to the extreme. Ye Bao held her breath, carefully wiping her mother's sweat. The third silver needle pierced through, but this time, it wasn't black; it was a pale bluish-black.
Ye Bao couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. However, Murong Wei's brows remained furrowed, her lips bitten as she continued upwards, replacing the needle with a larger one, working her way up until she reached Xuan Yuan Che's neck. She stopped there, but continued, straightening his arms, spreading his hands wide, and pressing the base of his thumbs against Xuan Yuan Che's neck. Finding the right spot, she forcefully pressed the needle against the sides of his neck, turning the once icy white skin bright red.
Murong Wei glanced at the flushed skin, seemingly remembering something. She looked closer, but nothing seemed amiss. Without further ado, she put away the silver needles from his spine, straddled him with her right leg, and sat directly on his back. She clenched her fists and pressed them against his shoulders, pressing hard against his palms, her body instantly close to his.
She quickly rose and repeated the action, seemingly massaging his meridians.
Ye Bao put away the black silver needles, replaced them with a new set, and arranged them in the same order. Both mother and son were focused and tense, not noticing the carriage slowly slowing down and gradually coming to a stop.
Only when Xuan Yuanche's arms were completely red, and his fingers swollen and red, did Murong Wei stop. She took a deep breath and was about to get down when a servant's voice suddenly came from outside the curtain, "Your Highness, we have arrived at the East Gate, Qinglong Gate." Except for the Emperor
and Empress Dowager, no nobles or princes were allowed to enter the palace by carriage; they had to be carried in sedan chairs.
"Mommy, if only Old Bai were here, he knows voice-changing magic," Ye Bao said with a mournful face.
"Try to stall him, I can't stop!" Murong Wei said, then took five silver needles and pierced them directly into Xuan Yuan Che's fingernails!
"I... how... can I do something?" Ye Bao watched in horror, muttering to himself.
Murong Wei didn't answer him, but pulled Xuan Yuan Che's other hand and, without blinking, pierced it with five silver needles as well. Xuan Yuan Che seemed to have fainted, showing no reaction at all.
"How did he get poisoned so deeply?" Murong Wei said, turning him over and lifting him up, supporting him against a high pillow.
"Your Highness, the sedan chair has arrived," the guard outside the carriage reported again.
Ye Bao stood in front of the curtain, not caring about the consequences. Since Xuan Yuan Che didn't speak, the servants wouldn't dare to come forward. He'd just hold out for now.
Facing Xuan Yuanche's broad, strong chest and clearly defined abdominal lines, Murong Wei was momentarily captivated. Despite his seemingly frail appearance, his physique was anything but weak.
She bit her lip to calm herself, decisively placing her hands on his burning chest. Just moments before, she had remained composed, but now she felt a surge of panic, as if he were staring at her with open eyes. Involuntarily, she looked up, only to see his pale, handsome face.
She released her lip, gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, and placed her hands, palms facing each other, against his chest, slid them down to his waistband, and then repeated, over and over again.
As the conversation continued, the attendant urged again, "Your Highness, the Emperor is being pestered by the Thirteenth Prince. Both the Eastern Palace Empress Dowager and the Western Palace
Empress Dowager are calling." The Eastern Palace Empress Dowager, Lady Liu, was the birth mother of Emperor Xuanyuan Lie and Xuanyuan Li. A former imperial concubine, she was made Empress Dowager after her son ascended the throne. The Western Palace Empress Dowager, Lady Li, was the original Empress and the birth mother of Xuanyuan Che. Rumor had it that the two old ladies were always at odds and almost never met; they would even take a detour if they encountered
each other on the road. Since the Emperor had not yet established an Empress, the nominal head of the harem was still the original Empress Dowager, Lady Li, but the real power lay in Lady Liu's hands. Receiving no answer, the attendant grew uneasy. With Eunuch Sun absent, no one dared to board the carriage rashly, and could only hope that the two Empress Dowagers would arrive quickly.
As Murong Wei repeatedly applied the needles from top to bottom, Xuanyuan Che's delicate skin was already burning red and frighteningly hot.
"Ye Bao, turn your head," Murong Wei suddenly said, taking out a silver needle.
"Why?" Ye Bao asked, puzzled.
"Stop talking nonsense, hurry up!" Murong Wei snapped.
Ye Bao sighed helplessly, turned to face the carriage curtain, gripped the doorframes with both hands, and stood facing the wall.
Murong Wei took a deep breath, decisively unbuckled Xuan Yuanche's belt, and although... although her hands were trembling a little, she still resolutely ripped off his robe and pulled down his trousers.
Just a little bit, really, only up to where you could see his navel. This guy's skin was truly amazing, even better than a woman's, especially this area, so delicate she almost couldn't bear to put the needle in.
"The Empress Dowager of the West has arrived..." Suddenly, a servant shouted, and a grand procession approached from afar. Then, on the other side, the same pomp and circumstance was displayed, but with the addition of a phoenix palanquin, a symbol of the supreme authority of the harem. The servant couldn't help but gasp, "The Empress Dowager of the East has arrived!"
These two empress dowagers had actually arrived at the same time! The Empress Dowager of the West, who had only recently returned to the palace, had heard of her son's serious illness; how could she not come? But what was the Empress Dowager of the East doing here?
Amidst the servants' repeated shouts, Murong Wei couldn't stop the silver needles in her hands!
Ye Bao braced her arms against the doorframe, seemingly ready to block any enemies rushing in! Her small back was straightened.
Five silver needles simultaneously pierced the acupoints on Xuan Yuan Che's abdomen, instantly turning black, even emitting white smoke. What kind of poison was this, so potent!
Fortunately, the poisoning hadn't been there long, less than a month, allowing them to be forced out in this way.
Murong Wei looked at the silver needles and examined the red marks left on Xuan Yuan Che's body from the recent scratches. Her brows furrowed; there were still traces of poison, seemingly more than one type.
"Greetings to the Eastern Empress Dowager! Long live the Empress Dowager! Long live the Western Empress Dowager! Long live the Empress Dowager!" The shouts rang out in unison, the sounds of kneeling and kowtowing clear and distinct.
"Mommy, what do we do!" Ye Bao suddenly turned around, looking at his mother who was still about to continue using the needle. But as soon as he finished speaking, he froze. He saw Xuan Yuanche's eyes slightly open, staring at Murong Wei, who was buried beneath him. In his long, cold eyes were emotions Ye Bao couldn't describe, seemingly... seemingly a kind of suppressed anger, though he couldn't tell if he was suppressing rage or something else.
"Ye Bao, something's strange. It seems like he has two kinds of..." Murong Wei murmured, her head still lowered, her small hand gently stroking the red marks on Xuan Yuanche's abdomen.
"Mommy! We don't need to... worry anymore." Ye Bao was dumbfounded. No, at this moment, he thought his mother was the biggest fool in the world.
"Che'er, why aren't you getting out of the carriage? Are you feeling unwell?" The Empress Dowager's cold voice rang out, and Xuan Yuanche glanced coldly at Ye Bao before returning his gaze to Murong Wei.
"Mommy!" Ye Bao stepped forward, cautiously tugging at his mother's clothes. Murong Wei finally came to her senses, saying uncertainly, "He still has poison in his body, but it seems different from the poison he forced out!" "
Mommy, you've won the lottery, look..." Ye Bao deliberately elongated the word "look," pointing his chubby index finger upwards.
Murong Wei looked bewildered, then looked up and was instantly jolted awake. She finally recovered from her earlier tension and saw Xuan Yuan Che, whose clothes were disheveled and covered in red marks. She immediately knew something was wrong.
"Che'er? What's wrong?" The Empress Dowager's voice approached.
"Run or pretend?" Murong Wei asked decisively, this was the tactic they always used.
Ye Bao had goosebumps all over, staring at Xuan Yuan Che with a chilling look. This guy had clearly woken up just now, could he have been mistaken?
"Che'er, what's wrong with you?" The Empress Dowager had already reached out to pull back the carriage curtain.
Ye Bao, regaining her senses, didn't have time to think and, in perfect unison with Murong Wei, shouted, "Quickly summon the imperial physician! The Prince has been poisoned!" She abruptly lifted the carriage curtain.
"Ah..." The Empress Dowager, already at the door, was startled by the suddenness of the attack and cried out, staggering several steps. If her servants hadn't rushed to support her, she would have surely fallen.
The carriage door opened wide, revealing Xuan Yuanche slumped disheveled beside the high pillow. Murong Wei and Ye Bao jumped out of the carriage, immediately panicking, grabbing people and shouting, "Quickly find the imperial physician! Prince Qi has been poisoned!"
Murong Wei immediately recognized the elegantly dressed woman before her as the rumored Empress Dowager, the cold beauty most favored by the late emperor. She rushed directly to the Empress Dowager, her face filled with alarm, "Your Majesty, Prince Qi has been poisoned! He just forced out a considerable amount, and now he's fainted! Quickly summon the imperial physician!"
Ye Bao, sweating profusely, also came over, saying, "Prince Qi was just forcing out the poison and couldn't concentrate, that's why he didn't answer." "Your Majesty, summon the imperial physician immediately, or Prince Qi will not be able to hold on!"
The Western Empress Dowager was stunned for a long time before she could recover. However, the Eastern Empress Dowager, who had rushed over, heard this and hurriedly said, "Someone, summon the imperial physician! All bystanders, disperse!"
The servants dared not discuss and all withdrew. The Western Empress Dowager, having recovered her senses, did not care about anything else and hurriedly got into the carriage. She personally picked up Xuan Yuanche, her eyes instantly welling up with tears, but she was powerless to do anything. Only after the imperial physician arrived did she get out of the carriage. Her brows were furrowed the whole time. Time had not left too many marks on her face; her cold and aloof demeanor remained unchanged.
The Empress Dowager Dong was five years older than her, heavily made up, and dressed in brightly colored clothes even in her early fifties, more flamboyant than any of the concubines in the harem. She didn't get into the carriage, but stood aside, frowning as she watched, not even glancing at the Empress Dowager Xi. She asked the eunuch beside her in a low voice, "Isn't this the Thirteenth Prince's carriage?"
"Reporting to the Empress Dowager Dong, the Thirteenth Prince got off at the city gate and went straight to the Imperial Study. The Seventh Prince is taking this carriage to escort the two princesses into the palace, and Sun Desheng is escorting the concubine back to her residence," the eunuch replied respectfully.
"That mother and son, were they brought into the palace by the Seventh Prince?" the Empress Dowager Dong asked lazily, looking at Murong Wei and Ye Bao who were guarding the carriage.
Before the eunuch could answer, Xuanyuan Qixi landed in front of her in a few flips, anxiously asking, "What happened, Mother?" Their carriage had just arrived at the palace gate when they saw the incident from afar. Xuanyuan Qixi immediately and casually flipped over, while Yelü Lingrong obediently trotted along. Once inside the palace, she couldn't act recklessly.
Xuanyuan Qixi's mother was a favored concubine of the late emperor and a follower of the Empress Dowager Dong. She had died young, and Xuanyuan Qixi was quite favored by the Empress Dowager Dong. Coupled with the emperor's affection for her, she had become known for her domineering ways in the palace.
"Your seventh brother is in trouble. They say he's been poisoned." The Empress Dowager Dong's tone was still languid, as if it were none of her business. She wished Xuanyuan Che would die sooner so that her son's throne would be more secure. Although Xuanyuan Che hadn't participated in the struggle for the throne, she knew about the late emperor's earliest decision. If the late emperor had lived two more years, the throne would now belong to Xuanyuan Che, the prince born to the empress.
"Seventh Brother?" Xuan Yuan Qi Xi exclaimed in surprise, quickly looking into the carriage. She saw the imperial physician taking her pulse with a grave expression; the situation seemed dire.
"Isn't this Thirteenth Brother's carriage?" Xuan Yuan Qi Xi asked suspiciously. They were at the back of the convoy, unaware of what had happened ahead.
"That boy has bothered your Emperor brother again. Let's go, your mother has something to discuss with you. Where is that Princess Yelü?" the Empress Dowager said with a smile.
"Ahead, Mother, that woman is utterly hypocritical. Don't be fooled by her docile appearance now; she's fought with me quite a bit along the way!" Xuan Yuan Qi Xi whispered.
"Is that so? Hypocritical women are the most useful." The Eastern Empress Dowager sneered, turning around. "Qi Xi, bring her to my palace. I have something to discuss with the family banquet tonight." The Western Empress Dowager said, turning and leaving without giving Xuan Yuan Che and his mother a second glance, and not caring about Murong Wei and Ye Bao at all.
"What are you talking about!" Xuan Yuan Qi Xi didn't understand the Eastern Empress Dowager's words, but dared not disobey. She glanced worriedly at Xuan Yuan Che, who was unconscious in the carriage, and instructed the eunuch beside her, "Go and tell the Emperor that Seventh Brother is in trouble." After saying that, she hurriedly followed the Eastern Empress Dowager.
"Mommy, the two old ladies don't seem to get along very well." Ye Bao whispered.
"I haven't seen Yin Ling and A Bao. They must have gone to see Lao Bai." Murong Wei was more concerned about this matter. Xuan Yuan Che was handed over to the imperial physician and his life was not in danger, so she could breathe a sigh of relief for the time being.
"This young lady..." The imperial physician glanced at Ye Bao, then changed his words, "This lady...may I ask how you forced the poison out?"
Murong Wei was still watching the magnificent figure of the Eastern Empress Dowager in the distance when she heard the word "lady," and reflexively turned around. She saw everyone, including the Western Empress Dowager, staring at her.
"This lady, may I ask how you forced the poison out of Prince Qi's body?" the imperial physician asked again.
"I didn't force it out, Prince Qi forced it out himself!" Murong Wei immediately defended herself. Often, doing good deeds is done anonymously, not because she didn't want a reward, but because she wanted to avoid trouble, especially in this situation.
"The red marks on Prince Qi's body are clearly caused by external force. All the acupuncture points are along the red marks. Prince Qi is still unconscious, how could it be self-rescue?" the imperial physician countered.
"Who are you, and what are you doing in this carriage?" Suddenly, the Western Empress Dowager spoke coldly, without a trace of gratitude.
"Your Majesty, the important thing now is not who I am, but to save Prince Qi as soon as possible. If the poison remaining in his abdomen is not expelled in time, it will seep into his bloodstream and spread throughout his body. At that point, it won't be as simple as just expelling the toxin; we'll need to find an antidote. Prince Qi was escorted back to the palace by Eunuch Sun, so the antidote may be hard to come by," Murong Wei said calmly. Fortunately, along the way, Ye Bao had curiously inquired about Prince Qi from the Thirteenth Prince.
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager frowned suddenly and was about to speak when Murong Wei added, "Imperial Physician, there are five acupoints in his abdomen. I left needle marks when I used the needles just now. The remaining poison should be expelled within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Try it if you don't believe me."
The imperial physician hesitated and looked at the Empress Dowager.
Murong Wei, holding Ye Bao's hand, smiled confidently. Only her son knew what she was planning when she appeared like this. Empress Dowager
Xi boarded the carriage, wrapped herself around Xuan Yuanche, and let his head rest on her lap. Decisively, she said, "Use needles!"
"Your Majesty, I obey!" The imperial physician accepted the order and immediately began administering acupuncture. Unlike Murong Wei's earlier practiced skill, he carefully inserted each needle one by one.
Everyone watched silently, not daring to breathe. Empress Dowager Xi's hands clenched tightly, her usually cold face filled with worry.
When the fifth silver needle was inserted, suddenly, all five needles changed color. Initially bluish, they gradually darkened, finally turning a dull black.
"Indeed, it's poison!" Empress Dowager Xi said coldly.
"Such a method of expelling poison!" The imperial physician exclaimed in amazement, quickly replacing the needles and repeating the process several times until all the poison was expelled from Xuan Yuanche's body. By this time, several cups of tea's time had passed.
"Your Majesty, he's alright now. The poison has all been expelled." The imperial physician, wiping away sweat, respectfully pushed the carriage away.
"If the Imperial Hospital doesn't have any of the medicines you need, just come to my palace to get them," the Empress Dowager said, her tightly furrowed brows finally relaxing.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand! I have a question for this lady..." the imperial physician said, slowly turning to look at Murong Wei, but where was Murong Wei?
Huh... where's Weiwei?
It was autumn, and only two colors remained in the Imperial Garden: the golden chrysanthemums and the fiery red maple leaves, their contrast surpassing the vibrant hues of a hundred flowers—truly a sight to behold.
The empress dowagers, the emperor, and his concubines all adored the auspicious golden chrysanthemums. Throughout the vast garden, groups of maids could be seen picking chrysanthemums.
Murong Wei, alone and breathless, stood amidst the flowers, exhausted and unable to catch her breath. Ye Bao was not beside her.
She rose, placing her hands on her knees, and crouched low, hiding among the blossoms. Only after dodging a group of maids passing by did she turn to look behind her.
Behind her, panting with his arms propped on his knees, was a one-eyed guard. Dressed in blue, with his black hair tied high, he was tall and imposing. Even with his left eye covered, his features were strikingly defined, his lines sharp, and his expression clear and aloof. He didn't look like someone from the Central Plains.
From the moment she and Ye Bao sneaked away from the carriage until now, this guy had been chasing her for a full six hours, passing through several palaces and circling the Imperial Garden three times. The sun was almost setting. What did he want?!
As Murong Wei watched, she suddenly made a running motion. The one-eyed guard immediately went on alert, but Murong Wei immediately relaxed and laughed heartily. This guy was such a fool! He was clearly skilled in light-footed martial arts, yet he insisted on chasing her throughout the entire harem, exhausting himself like a dog. Her stamina was unmatched.
She straightened up, raised her eyebrows, and said provocatively, "Want to continue?"
The one-eyed guard didn't speak, his quiet eyes filled with seriousness.
Murong Wei smiled and began to do stretching exercises on the spot. The one-eyed guard was somewhat suspicious, but he still watched without showing any emotion. Unexpectedly, as Murong Wei was exercising, her figure suddenly flashed and she disappeared into thin air. After
six hours of wandering around the harem, she roughly knew the overall layout. She should go find Ye Bao. That brat was like a wild horse once he broke free from her grasp, treating this palace-filled harem like a vast grassland. She wondered where he had run off to.
If she didn't find him quickly, he would definitely cause trouble. She also needed to find the Thirteenth Prince as soon as possible; that prince was their guardian angel in the harem.
Thinking this, Murong Wei nodded to herself and waited patiently for the one-eyed guard to leave. She didn't go far; she hid in the flower bushes next to him, curled up like a ball.
The one-eyed guard, fully alert, slowly scanned his surroundings with his sharp eyes, utterly focused.
Murong Wei's playful expression vanished, her gaze hardening, her body tense as she watched his gaze slowly sweep towards her, drawing ever closer. This guy was no ordinary man; he seemed to have guessed she was nearby.
Suddenly, her heart skipped a beat. The one-eyed guard's gaze had stopped in front of her, obscured by the flower bushes. She wasn't even sure if he had seen her.
He remained there for a long time, showing no sign of looking away. After a while, he began to walk towards her, almost face to face.
Murong Wei gritted her teeth, her brow furrowed with tension. Either escape, or he would catch her red-handed—only these two choices. She decisively lowered her head, closed her eyes, and listened intently to the approaching footsteps, her hands braced on the ground, ready to leap at any moment.
Suddenly! The footsteps stopped. She hadn't even reached the flower bushes yet! Why had he stopped?
Just as she slowly raised her head in bewilderment, a sudden, deafening crash came from nearby, growing ever closer, seemingly heading straight for them. Startled, Murong Wei leaped into the air, landing behind the one-eyed guard. In
the distance, flowerpots were shattering one after another, collapsing like a tidal wave, raising clouds of dust. The crashing sounds came from this overwhelming mass.
Through the dust, two figures were vaguely visible, one small and one large, chasing each other.
"Son…ah…" Murong Wei's jaw nearly dropped in astonishment. She immediately recognized the small figure as her beloved son, Ye Xiaoshao.
The larger figure was a guard, dressed in blue like the one-eyed guard, but shorter and thinner, desperately chasing after Ye Bao.
All the maids and eunuchs in the Imperial Garden, including the surrounding guards, turned to look, whispering amongst themselves, but no one dared to make a move. Soon, all the flowerpots on the stone platforms and corridors in the center of the Imperial Garden were shattered, dust flying everywhere, the crackling sounds continuing, a scene of utter chaos.
Murong Wei's heart trembled as she timidly glanced at the one-eyed guard standing to the side. She felt that these two blue-clad guards must be of special status; otherwise, how could no one dare to make a move amidst such a commotion?
She watched timidly, then began to cautiously back away, her left foot moving back, her right foot following, step by step…
Suddenly, the one-eyed guard disappeared.
She immediately stopped, sensing someone behind her. He hadn't grabbed her; he had simply been following her, watching her.
Murong Wei sighed helplessly and turned around. "What do you want?"
The one-eyed guard didn't speak, only looked at her, his eyes filled with silence.
"Actually, I wanted to find Thirteen..." Before Murong Wei could finish speaking, she was suddenly pulled aside by One-Eyed. At the same time, a flowerpot crashed down at her feet, scattering many shards.
"That was close
!" Ye Bao's figure suddenly appeared beside him, and the blue-clad guard immediately caught up, reaching out with his long arm to grab him. Ye Bao quickly dodged and shouted to Murong Wei, "Mommy, the Thirteenth Prince is in the Imperial Study, hurry up and run!"
"You brat! You still..." Before the blue-clad guard could finish speaking, Ye Bao picked up a flowerpot and smashed it over his head, forcing him to retreat. After taking a step back, he flipped up and ran towards Ye Bao while turning to roar at the one-eyed man, "You brat, why aren't you arresting him? The Empress Dowager has ordered his arrest!"
Upon hearing this, Murong Wei's figure dodged again and disappeared. Ye Bao retreated again and again, unable to turn and run, and unable to use his ninjutsu. The blue-clad guard was so close that he couldn't afford to be distracted. He could only retreat hastily, retreating and retreating again. Fortunately, he had been specially trained as a child, and he didn't fall even after retreating hundreds of steps.
The blue-clad guard chased after Ye Bao, but the one-eyed guard was more skilled. With a few flips, he was already behind Ye Bao. At the same time, Murong Wei appeared out of nowhere in front of him and kicked him in the groin. In that instant, she finally saw pain in the shy one-eyed man's eyes. He fell to his knees in pain, unable to chase her anymore!
"Mommy, she's so immoral!" Ye Bao said earnestly. Murong Wei glared at him, grabbed him, and was about to escape to the side when the blue-clad guard chased after them again, roaring, "What are you all standing there for? The Empress Dowager said that capturing them alive will be a reward of a thousand
taels of silver!" In an instant, palace maids, eunuchs, and guards all rushed forward. It was utter chaos. The flowers and plants in the entire imperial garden were trampled to pieces. A group of people swarmed in and out, trampling on them continuously. The blue-clad guard and the one-eyed guard could no longer see Murong Wei and the others.
In the chaos, Murong Wei and Ye Bao crawled forward like earthworms through a patch of flowers that hadn't yet been broken.
"Mommy, there seems to be gold ahead!" Ye Bao exclaimed excitedly.
"Concentrate, which direction is the Imperial Study?" Murong Wei whispered.
"It's just ahead, not far. Mommy, I see it clearly, that's not gold, it's gold thread!" Ye Bao said again, stopping in his tracks.
"What gold thread? How could that be..." Murong Wei caught up, but before she could finish speaking, she froze. That wasn't gold thread at all; it was clearly a pair of long boots embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon and trimmed with gold thread!
Even the fat dragon of the Han Kingdom could only wear four-clawed golden dragons; the five-clawed golden dragon was the exclusive totem of the Yellow Emperor.