No one in the room dared to utter a sound, watching in fear as the emperor glared angrily at Xuan Yuanche.
Xuan Yuanlie's question silenced the entire room. Indeed, if Xuan Yuanche wanted Bai Lu, he could have simply asked the Nangong family openly; why did he have to ask Consort Si for it?
"Your Majesty, I did ask Lord Nangong, but he claimed he had no medicine at home, so I had no choice but to ask Consort Si," Xuan Yuanche replied calmly, responding with ease.
Consort Si couldn't help but look at him. She had originally thought he was there to see her, but she hadn't expected him to have already personally sought out her father!
"Then why did Consort Si have to personally escort you out of the palace!" Xuan Yuanlie roared again.
Xuan Yuanche remained calm, saying, "Brother, please calm down. As Miss Nangong just said, it was Consort Si who asked her to leave the palace. I never allowed Consort Si to leave the palace personally; I only asked her to find a way to deliver the medicine. As for why Consort Si left the palace, you should ask her."
Upon hearing this, Murong Wei instinctively looked at Nangong Jingsi, only to see her pale, expressionless, and tears welling up in her eyes. The
previously aggressive Xuan Yuanlie was rendered speechless by Xuan Yuanche's words.
A large group of people had come to demand an explanation, but now it had become a public scandal. Xuan Yuanche didn't understand that Consort Si's one-sided affections were common knowledge.
Xuan Yuanlie held Murong Wei tightly, staring coldly at Nangong Jingsi. If this charade continued, he wouldn't just lose face, he would lose all face!
Murong Wei looked worried, her heart filled with thoughts of Ye Bao, but when she looked up, she met Nangong Jingsi's resentful gaze.
Could it be that this woman, like Xuan Yuanlie, also believes that Prince Qi truly cares about her?
"Your Majesty, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave," Xuan Yuanche said calmly, glancing at Murong Wei but showing no intention of rescuing the child.
At this moment, Nangong Jingsi spoke up, coldly saying, "Your Majesty, since you've already investigated this far, why not ask Prince Qi who he used Bailu to rescue?"
"The people in his residence," Xuan Yuanche said calmly, a sharp glint flashing in his narrow eyes, quite terrifying.
"Your Highness, it's best to bring them out for His Majesty to see, lest it leave a bad impression later," Nangong Jingsi said.
"Bring them out!" Xuan Yuanlie shouted sharply, sensing something amiss; Nangong Jingsi seemed to be trying to tell him something.
"Just a child, still unconscious. If His Majesty wants to see, please come this way," Xuan Yuanche said.
"Have someone bring them out," Xuan Yuanlie said coldly.
"Sister Li, go and bring them out," Xuan Yuanche ordered.
Murong Wei was filled with suspicion, and an uneasy feeling crept into her heart. It wasn't just because of the word "child" Xuan Yuanche, but also because of Nangong Jingsi's sorrowful and hateful gaze.
Soon, Sister Li came running away carrying a child. Murong Wei was immediately stunned, recognizing Ye Bao's large blue robe from afar!
What was going on?!
"Ye Bao!" She struggled desperately, but the more she struggled, the tighter Xuan Yuanlie bound her.
"Let me go! It's Ye Bao, my son! Let me go!"
"Prince Qi, what have you done to Ye Bao? Why is he unconscious?"
"Let me go! Let me go!"
She had almost completely lost her mind. Her hands were bound, her legs kicked wildly, she was like a madwoman. Ye Bao had never been in trouble or injured since he was a child; no one could truly understand how much she had devoted to this child.
"Hehe, who do we have here? It's this child." Xuan Yuanlie suddenly laughed, looking at the Empress Dowager, and said coldly, "Empress Dowager, we've found the child."
"It's good that His Majesty has seen him. Sister Li, hurry back and don't let him get hurt again," the Empress Dowager said, her voice clearly suppressing her anger.
Sister Li hadn't even gotten close when she turned to leave.
Xuan Yuanlie said coldly, "Stop. Consort Si is right. Since we've investigated, we should investigate thoroughly. Bring him here so I can examine him properly and see where he needs medicine!" As
he spoke, he gave Xuan Yuanche a meaningful look before continuing quietly, "Let's see if... he really applied Bai Lu."
In that instant, Murong Wei suddenly broke free, pulling out a wolf-proof stick from her sleeve, setting the power to the highest setting, and thrusting it directly at Xuan Yuanlie's abdomen.
Xuan Yuanlie blocked with both hands, not stopping Murong Wei's hands, but instead pressing down on the head of the wolf-proof stick.
No one saw clearly what happened. In that instant, Xuan Yuanlie's long hair flew
wildly, and he immediately let go, retreating a great distance. Murong Wei rolled to the ground, scrambled to her feet, and rushed past the servants who tried to stop her, heading straight for the child in Aunt Li's arms.
The usually lively and mischievous Ye Bao was now extremely quiet, his eyes tightly closed, his thin lips pressed together, his once rosy face now completely pale, and he seemed to have lost a lot of weight. Even his once chubby chin was now pointed.
"Ye Bao, Ye Bao!"
"Ye Bao, wake up! What's wrong? Mommy's here! Ye Bao, wake up!"
"Son, what's wrong? Don't scare Mommy, okay? You're Mommy's only family. Don't scare Mommy, okay?"
"Son, wake up! Tell Mommy who bullied you! Mommy will avenge you! Wake up!" Looking at the tearful Murong Wei, Aunt Li was stunned. She let Murong Wei take the child away, then looked helplessly at Xuan Yuan Che.
Xuan Yuan Lie looked at his hands, then at Murong Wei, his heart still pounding. He couldn't find the words to describe the feeling; he only felt utterly terrified.
"What happened to him?" Murong Wei, holding Ye Bao, glared angrily at Xuan Yuan Che.
"The child was playful and was mistaken for an assassin by me last night, wounding his neck. Fortunately, it wasn't a fatal wound, and it's already scabbed over; it's nothing serious." Xuan Yuanche's tone remained as cold as ever, as if it were nothing more than an insignificant matter to him.
"You hurt him?" Murong Wei suddenly shouted sharply.
"Oh dear, this child is just playful. It's all my fault, all my fault! Why didn't I bring him back to the palace last night!" The Empress Dowager Xi hurriedly stepped forward, reaching out to touch Ye Bao, but Murong Wei immediately dodged. "Don't touch him!" The Empress
Dowager Xi was taken aback and was about to speak when Xuan Yuanche turned to Xuan Yuanlie and said, "Brother, now that I've seen him, may I take my leave?"
"That doesn't count as seeing him. Bring the child here; I need to examine the wound to see if it truly requires the White Dew." Xuan Yuanlie sneered.
Nangong Jingsi, standing to the side, still looked at Murong Wei with resentment, remaining silent.
"What exactly do you want?" Murong Wei turned around and asked angrily.
"Murong Wei, don't forget your place! Is this how you speak to me?" Xuan Yuanlie raised an eyebrow and asked. As soon as he finished speaking, a group of archers who had secretly accompanied him drew their bows and surrounded everyone.
"I didn't intend to do anything, I just wanted to check the child's wounds," Xuan Yuanlie said coldly.
Murong Wei glanced at the group of archers and knew that Xuan Yuanlie had come prepared. It seemed that these archers had originally come for Prince Qi, but now that their purpose had failed, they were using her as a pretext.
He was the emperor, high above all others; this was a society where imperial power was paramount, and she had to suppress her anger no matter how great it was.
All the grievances she had suffered today, she would one day exact upon everyone here!
"Your Majesty, the wound is still bandaged. I will take the child back to the palace in a while. It's not too late to examine him after the wound has healed!" Empress
Dowager Xi couldn't help but speak up. Xuan Yuanlie immediately laughed, "What, Empress Dowager Xi, like Prince Qi, also cares about this child?"
"A child is injured; anyone with a heart of compassion will feel pity," Empress Dowager Xi said coldly.
"What about Seventh Brother?" Xuan Yuanlie looked at Xuan Yuanche.
"Your Majesty, I have important matters to attend to. I'd better investigate quickly and find out what happened," Xuan Yuanche said calmly, avoiding Murong Wei's gaze.
"Bring him here." Xuan Yuanlie squinted at Murong Wei, his previous gloom gone, replaced by smugness.
Murong Wei carried Ye Bao, approaching step by step, her eyes red, but no more tears fell.
"Heh, it really is on his neck!" Xuan Yuanlie said, actually reaching out to lift the white gauze, but Murong Wei immediately grabbed his hand. Xuan Yuanlie reflexively dodged, afraid of a repeat of what had happened before.
"I'll do it." Murong Wei's voice was calm as she carefully lifted the white gauze from Ye Bao's neck. A wound the size of a thumb resembled a centipede crawling on his fair neck. Even though it had scabbed over, it still made Murong Wei grit her teeth.
Xuan Yuanlie glanced at it, then reached out to touch it again, but Murong Wei stopped him, coldly saying, "Did Your Majesty see it?"
"Yes! It was indeed Bailu who repaired the wound. Prince Qi didn't lie," Xuan Yuanlie said reluctantly.
"Then can my son and I leave?" Murong Wei asked coldly.
"What did I just say? Didn't you understand?" Xuan Yuanlie sneered.
"Brother, Doctor Murong is already a member of Prince Qi's household. If you want concubines, you'll have plenty. Why fight with Prince Qi's household for a mere imperial physician?" Xuan Yuanche finally spoke up. Xuan Yuanlie had just said that he had come to ask for Murong Wei as a concubine.
"What if I insist?" Xuan Yuanlie asked again.
"Your Majesty, I'll say it again. The late Emperor decreed that the people of Yanxi Palace are no longer under your jurisdiction," Xuan Yuanche said bluntly, just like back in Yanxi Palace, once again using the late Emperor's edict to protect Murong Wei.
However, this time, this time he was protecting her in front of everyone in Prince Qi's household.
"You!" Xuan Yuanlie pointed at Xuan Yuanche, gritting his teeth for a long time before finally speaking, coldly saying, "Seventh brother, well done!"
With that, he snorted and turned to leave.
"Respectfully seeing off the Emperor," Xuan Yuanche said calmly, ignoring Nangong Jingsi's questioning gaze.
The Empress Dowager, who had remained mostly silent, glanced at the child in Murong Wei's arms, a strange, cold smile flashing in her eyes. She looked at Nangong Jingsi and said, "Consort Si, the Emperor didn't depose you. Is that your blessing or your misfortune?"
"Hate, hatred, a heart full of devotion, all gone to waste. The Emperor not deposing me is not my blessing, but the Emperor's blessing, and the misfortune of certain people!" Nangong Jingsi's words were loaded with meaning, spoken loudly, not afraid of being understood, but rather like a warning. She then glared resentfully at Xuan Yuanche for a long, long time, until Eunuch Liu urged her to leave.
The courtyard was silent. All of Prince Qi's wives and concubines looked at Murong Wei, jealousy replacing their earlier mockery.
Rumors had circulated that Prince Qi had turned against the Emperor for her sake at Yanxi Palace, and now it was undeniable. Anyone could see that Prince Qi cared for her deeply, not just a little, but intensely!
Murong Wei, carrying Ye Bao, walked step by step towards Xuan Yuan Che, questioning, "Prince Qi, is this how you repay my life-saving grace?"
"Ye Bao will be fine, don't worry," Xuan Yuan Che said calmly.
"Your Highness, I haven't had a chance to see you until today. Now that we've met, I wish to take my leave. The position of Imperial Physician in the Prince Qi's residence carries great responsibility, which I cannot bear, nor can my child. I beg Your Highness's permission." Murong Wei's voice was devoid of emotion.
"Alright," Xuan Yuan Che agreed without hesitation.
"Doctor Murong, you are indeed innocent this time. The Emperor's temper..." The Empress Dowager was about to intervene when she saw Xuan Yuan Che and reluctantly shut her mouth.
"You saved my life, and I will remember it," Xuan Yuan Che said calmly, then turned and left. Empress Dowager
Cixi glanced at Ye Bao with reluctance before hurrying after her.
Murong Wei, however, didn't linger. Holding Ye Bao
tightly, she held her head high despite her disfigurement, and slowly walked towards the gate amidst the strange gazes of the other concubines. Just as she stepped out of the palace gates, she saw a thin man standing some distance away beside the carriage. It was none other than the Thirteenth Prince, Xuan Yuanli, who, despite being under house arrest, had still escaped.
Upon seeing Murong Wei, he immediately rushed over. Seeing that her mask was gone and Ye Bao was asleep in his arms, he panicked, "Did they bully you and Ye Bao?"
"No," Murong Wei replied calmly.
"The Emperor and Prince Qi both bullied you, didn't they? What happened?" Xuan Yuanli roared in anger.
Murong Wei seemed to finally come to her senses, stopped, and suddenly laughed, "Thirteenth Prince, isn't it funny? The Emperor's concubine is having an affair with Prince Qi, and the Emperor is taking his anger out on me."
Xuan Yuanli was stunned, and it took him a while to recover, while Murong Wei had already walked to the carriage.
"You mean Consort Si and Prince Qi were caught having an affair by the Emperor?" Xuan Yuanli said incredulously.
Murong Wei carried Ye Bao into the carriage and then told Xuan Yuanli everything.
Xuan Yuanli's face was grim, and he remained silent for a long time. He glanced at Murong Wei, then remained silent again.
"Thirteenth Prince, when will we set off to find the military manual? Weiwei doesn't like staying here," Murong Wei said, gently stroking Ye Bao.
"Prince Qi, I do care about you. This matter is not simple," Xuan Yuanli said softly, his face complicated.
Murong Wei laughed and said, "Care about me? Care that I would let the Emperor humiliate me, would let the Emperor drag me by the hair? Care that I would be implicated because of my adultery? Thirteenth Prince, the Emperor is blinded by jealousy. Don't you understand?"
"Weiwei, it's not that the Emperor is blinded by jealousy, but that you are too worried about Ye Bao and have been careless. Even I can see this. Why don't you understand?" Xuan Yuanli asked seriously.
Murong Wei frowned and remained silent.
"If Prince Qi didn't care about you, why did he use the late emperor's edict to protect you again?" Xuan Yuanli countered. Seeing Murong Wei's silence, he continued, "You probably don't know how good Prince Qi's relationship with the emperor was before. Even when the Empress Dowager Cixi and Empress Dowager Dong's relationship was strained, and many difficult matters in the harem, especially financial issues, were handled by Prince Qi for Empress Dowager Dong. Many important matters in court were also decided by Prince Qi behind the scenes. Their relationship actually broke down after the incident at Yanxi Palace."
Hearing this, Murong Wei, who had been expressionless, finally frowned.
"Weiwei, don't you think Prince Qi cares about you but has been hiding it from everyone?" Xuan Yuanli asked.
Hearing this, Murong Wei suddenly hugged Ye Bao tightly, shocked.
"Thirteenth Prince, I really didn't know. I didn't mean to hide it. Perhaps it's because someone discovered that Prince Qi had a long-standing poison in his body, and he wanted to keep me to detoxify him," Murong Wei explained.
The reason the King of Qi cared about her could only be one: he already knew who she was, and he knew whose child Ye Bao was. He wanted to protect the child in this struggle!
He had to protect her, yet avoid attracting attention, but things didn't go as planned, and his plan backfired.
She lied, she lied to Xuan Yuan Li.
Now, Xuan Yuan Lie would definitely not let her and her child go, and Xuan Yuan Che had already done everything in his power to protect them, yet this was all it amounted to today.
Regardless of whether her guess was right or wrong, she had to send Ye Bao away first, to a place where none of them could find him. As for herself, she refused to leave; she insisted on surviving in the capital.
She vowed that one day, she would step over Xuan Yuan Lie to ascend the highest throne of the Xuan Yuan clan, and she would avenge the humiliation she suffered today from everyone!
Xuan Yuanlie frowned, looking at Murong Wei's clenched teeth. "You know how to cure the poison in Prince Qi's body?" he asked.
"If I'm not mistaken, Prince Qi has been poisoned since he was young. The combination of the light summer violet from Liusha Kingdom and the purple wood fragrance from Nanzhao creates a terrible, slow-acting poison. Many years ago, on Prince Qi's birthday, he liked light summer violet. Did your mother give him a purple wood couch?" Murong Wei asked in a low voice.
"Your mother?" Xuan Yuanli was shocked. He had always known that his elder brother had started targeting Prince Qi a long time ago. That's why he had stopped Murong Wei at Yanxi Palace that day. He never expected that the person behind it all wasn't his elder brother, but his mother!
"Prince Qi must have been only three years old then. The late emperor was still on the throne, and the princes were all very young. The struggle for the throne had already begun!" Murong Wei said.
Xuan Yuanli remained silent for a long time, his brows furrowed the entire time, deep in thought, his expression growing increasingly grim.
Murong Wei didn't speak; she had already said enough.
Even after the carriage stopped in front of the Prince's mansion and the gates closed behind it, Xuan Yuanli remained silent, head bowed, quickly walking into the house as if preparing to make a decision.
Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out, "Thirteenth Prince, aren't you watching where you're going? I won't compensate you if you bump into someone."
He finally appeared, dressed in white, leaning lazily against the doorframe. Although he was speaking to Xuan Yuanli, his narrow eyes were fixed on her, smiling broadly, as if even in the midst of a world war, he could still be so carefree, his playful laughter roguish.
Just like Prince Qi, even if the whole world was in chaos, he remained aloof and indifferent, as if it were none of his business.
Bai Wushang stood blocking the doorway, with Xuan Yuanli in front and Murong Wei behind, both staring intently at him.
Just as Bai Wushang was about to speak, Xuan Yuanli suddenly roared, like he'd swallowed a bomb, "Get out of my way!"
Bai Wushang was startled and wisely stepped aside.
Xuan Yuanli strode in, sat down angrily, and gulped down water, as if he were the one being bullied, not Murong Wei. What was going on?
Murong Wei, holding Ye Bao, glared at Bai Wushang for a long time, her eyes reddening, before striding past him without a word.
"What's wrong? Why is Ye Bao still sleeping?" Bai Wushang asked, puzzled.
His question only made things worse; Murong Wei turned back, glared at him, and then suddenly stomped hard on his foot!
No, to be precise, she didn't stomp, but rather stamped.
The single blow caused Bai Wushang's mouth to gape open in pain, unable to even cry out.
"I told you not to show up when you should, and to block my way when you shouldn't!" Murong Wei said fiercely, stomping down again.
Bai Wushang actually tried to dodge, but he couldn't, taking another kick, the veins on his forehead bulging with pain.
"Speak! Who bullied you? I'll avenge you right now!" Bai Wushang shouted, his voice righteous.
"Everyone bullies me, everyone bullies me, even non-humans bully me, the whole world bullies me!" Murong Wei said, handing Ye Bao to him, head down, stomping and stamping her feet frantically, muttering something unintelligible.
Bai Wushang hugged Ye Bao tightly, gritting his teeth and enduring the pain, no longer making a move to retreat.
Murong Wei murmured to herself, her left foot rising and her right, each stomp heavier than the last, continuing relentlessly. The pain on Bai Wushang's face hadn't faded; instead, it was filled with heartache. He let Murong Wei stomp on him, holding Ye Bao high in his arms, his handsome profile gently caressing Ye Bao's pale face, a slow smile playing on his lips—a smile rarely seen on his face.
"Murong Wei, you wait here, I'm going to the palace to ask my mother!" Suddenly, Xuan Yuanli jumped up from his chair and rushed out the door.
Murong Wei stopped, panting.
"Weiwei, what's wrong with you all? What happened to the Thirteenth Prince?" Bai Wushang asked timidly.
Murong Wei continued muttering to herself, lowering her head and pressing it against Bai Wushang's chest, forcing him to go around her and hold Ye Bao in his arms. Luckily, the child was unconscious; otherwise, he would have definitely fallen if he struggled.
"Murong Wei, dare you speak louder?" Bai Wushang asked.
"Yes! Xuan Yuanche has fallen out with Xuan Yuanlie again because of me. There's only one possibility for why he's protecting me like this: he knows Ye Bao is his son, he knows I'm Murong Zi! Murong Lan's scheme back then must have been far from simple!" Murong Wei said loudly.
"Is there another possibility... that he... likes... you?" Bai Wushang asked timidly.
"Impossible! Back in Yanxi Palace, Xuan Yuanlie already suspected it, which is why he made such a big fuss about Consort Si's affair!" Murong Wei shouted again, then raised her head and said, "Bai Wushang, you have many connections, do me a favor and send Ye Bao away! Send him to the ends of the earth, where no one can find him!"
"My lord, I... can't bear to." Bai Wushang said earnestly.
"I'm serious!" Murong Wei still said loudly.
"Ye Bao won't agree." Bai Wushang said.
"Before he wakes up, before Xuan Yuanlie makes a move, send him away immediately!" Murong Wei said decisively.
"What about you?" Bai Wushang asked.
“Stay here, and wait…” Murong Wei narrowed her eyes, gritting her teeth as she spoke.
“Wait for what?” Bai Wushang asked again.
“Wait until the day when I can step on that dog emperor’s head and ascend Xuanyuan’s golden dragon throne!” Murong Wei almost roared.
The next moment, Bai Wushang suddenly covered her mouth, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
Murong Wei’s roar seemed to have used all her strength. Her head was pressed against Bai Wushang’s chest, her hands hanging limply at her sides. She walked forward step by step, forcing Bai Wushang to retreat step by step until he was pressed against the wall.
Murong Wei didn’t speak. Her hands slowly, gently, and somewhat carefully embraced his body. She turned her head away, no longer pressing against him, but her small face against his chest.
Silence fell.
The roguish smile in his narrow eyes gradually softened and warmed. He looked down at her, then looked up at Ye Bao, who was being held in his arms. The doting in his eyes had long since reached its peak.
“Bai Wushang…” Murong Wei suddenly spoke softly.
“Mm,” he replied quietly.
“Bai Wushang, send Ye Bao away, and then we’ll do our best to find the military manual. We won’t fight for wealth, we’ll fight for Xuanyuan, okay?” Murong Wei asked calmly, her voice, though soft, held a stubbornness and strength.
She had once thought that this life would be a little more carefree, but unexpectedly, it was still just a pipe dream.
Since she had to fight, she might as well fight to the strongest and highest position.
“No.” Bai Wushang’s voice was also calm.
Murong Wei suddenly looked up, staring intently at him. Her small face, half-disfigured, could still be so stubbornly beautiful.
“Not fighting for Xuanyuan, but fighting for the world. Xuanyuan, Han Kingdom, Liusha, Shang Kingdom, Nanzhao, do you dare?” Bai Wushang laughed, his voice soft and clear.
Murong Wei also laughed, “If you dare, I’ll accompany you to the end!”
“I have a friend in Nanzhao who sent Ye Bao there. There are many mountains and rainforests there, so finding someone won’t be easy,” Bai Wushang said.
"Who is it?" Murong Wei asked.
"Xue Ling'er, the youngest daughter of the leader of the Hundred Poisons Sect of Nanzhao. She's very loyal and trustworthy," Bai Wushang said.
"Leave immediately. Keep this a secret from everyone, including Xuan Yuanli," Murong Wei said.
"I'll personally see her off, my lord. Remember, when Yinling and Bao'er return, you absolutely mustn't mention it," Bai Wushang reminded her.
"Why?" Murong Wei asked, puzzled. These two personal maids had been missing for a long time.
"Didn't we say we wouldn't let anyone know?" Bai Wushang smiled.
Murong Wei still frowned at him. "Where have you been these past few days? Didn't we agree to go to the Da Ying family together?"
"Weiwei, if you don't let go of me, Ye Bao won't be able to be saved," Bai Wushang said with a smile, changing the subject. He looked at Ye Bao, whom he was holding high in his arms. His hands, not only the backs of his hands but also his arms, were covered in bulging veins and were extremely sore.
Murong Wei was stunned, only then realizing that she was currently in his arms. She immediately let go and stepped back!
Bai Wushang was in a hurry and didn't linger, leading Murong Wei out of the Prince's residence from the back.
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace, Xuan Yuanli and the Empress Dowager were having a huge argument!
"Crack!"
A loud crash suddenly echoed through the quiet Yuhua Palace, as if something had shattered.
Inside, Xuan Yuanli stood ramrod straight, his hair standing on end, his face contorted with rage. At his feet lay the shattered blue-and-white porcelain vase that the Empress Dowager loved most.
The palace maids and eunuchs knelt on the floor, trembling with fear.
Although the Thirteenth Prince had a fiery temper, he rarely lost his temper in Ganlu Palace; the last time was probably a few years ago when he returned to the palace.
The entire main hall of Yuhua Palace was now filled with the Empress Dowager's treasured possessions, all smashed to pieces. The mother and son were locked in their room, and no one knew what had happened.
The room fell silent. Xuan Yuanli coldly swept his gaze across the servants, then suddenly roared, "Where is my mother?"
Everyone immediately lowered their heads, except for Granny Gui, who timidly raised her head and reported, "Thirteenth Prince, the Empress Dowager is with the Emperor. She just returned from Prince Qi's residence and went there."
"Summon her here!" Xuan Yuanli said coldly.
"Thirteenth Prince, the Empress Dowager must have important matters to discuss with the Emperor. Please wait a moment, this old servant will make you your favorite plum juice," Granny Gui pleaded kindly.
"Get out of my way!" Xuan Yuanli kicked her aside, coldly saying, "Tell her to come here immediately! Otherwise, don't blame me for making a scene in the Xuan Yuan Hall!"
Granny Gui fell to the ground, groaning several times. Just as she was about to get up and try to persuade him again, the Empress Dowager Dong's exclamation suddenly came from outside the door, "Thirteenth Prince, what are you doing?" Xuan Yuanli
glanced at her coldly, and with a sweep of his hand, "smash..." a glass cup was destroyed.
"Stop! Stop right now!" The Empress Dowager Dong rushed in and lunged at Xuan Yuanli!
Xuan Yuanli looked at her coldly, retreating again and again, sweeping his hand again and again. In an instant, "smash, smash, smash..." several times, the celadon and glassware on both sides of the hall fell one after another like dominoes, a truly spectacular sight.
"Xuanyuan Li, what's gotten into you this time?" The Empress Dowager stopped, her voice low and menacing.
"The purple wood of Nanzhao, the pale summer violet of Liusha!" Xuanyuan Li murmured, his clear eyes filled with coldness.
The Empress Dowager was startled, glancing at Granny Gui, who quickly dismissed all the servants and closed the door.
Seeing this, Xuanyuan Li burst into laughter, "Mother, you really do know! The poison in Seventh Brother's body wasn't from my brother, it was you!"
"Who told you that!" the Empress Dowager demanded.
"Never mind who told me, just answer me, was it true or not!" Xuanyuan Li said.
"No." The Empress Dowager immediately denied it.
"No? Why are you so nervous if it wasn't true?" Xuanyuan Li asked with a sneer.
"I just know that the poison was from your brother!" The Empress Dowager gave up, avoiding Xuanyuan Li's scrutiny, and sat down.
"You're still lying!" Xuanyuan Li roared, slapping down with his hand. The armrest of the Empress Dowager's chair snapped instantly; luckily, she had gotten up early, or she would have fallen.
"Thirteenth, what kind of attitude is this!" Empress Dowager Dong shouted sternly.
"Heh, you clearly know that Seventh Brother has liked the light summer violet from the Flowing Sand Kingdom since he was a child, yet you still gave him a purple wooden couch for his third birthday! What were your intentions?" Xuan Yuanli questioned sharply.
"Thirteenth, the struggles in the palace are inherently ruthless. If it weren't for Mother's machinations, how could your own brother be sitting comfortably on that Nine Dragon Throne, and how could you have escaped unscathed?" Empress Dowager Dong retorted.
"So you finally admit that you poisoned him?" Xuan Yuanli sneered.
"Yes, what's the difference between your brother poisoning him and Mother poisoning him?" Empress Dowager Dong asked.
"There is!" Xuan Yuanli roared, "Yes! Yes! Yes!"
Then, he looked up to the sky and howled, "Hahaha, how could there be no difference! Mother! How could there be no difference?"
Empress Dowager Dong was inexplicably worried, wondering where her son's anger came from.
"Mother, when Seventh Brother was three years old, I wasn't even a child yet! What did you say when you sent me to Liusha?" Xuan Yuanli laughed, approaching her. That laugh was chillingly cold.
The Empress Dowager was startled, finally understanding what he was angry about.
"Mother! Tell me! How did you lie to me back then? During the struggle for the throne, you sent me to Liusha as a hostage. You said that if I went as a hostage, Father would feel guilty towards you. You also said that if I went as a hostage, it would prevent the struggle for the throne, and since Second Father was disillusioned with all the princes, he would remember me. You also said that I was Father's youngest son, and Father's love for me was no less than that for Seventh Brother. You said you had a way to make Father disillusioned with Seventh Brother. You swore to the heavens that the throne was mine!" Xuan Yuanli laughed uncontrollably.
"Li'er, listen to your mother's explanation, please don't be like this, please listen to your mother's explanation. Your father left suddenly, and you couldn't come back in time. At that time, the situation was very favorable. If your brother didn't ascend the throne, the Prince of Qi would definitely retaliate. Your brother and your mother didn't lie to you on purpose; it was out of necessity. Didn't your mother explain this to you already?" The Empress Dowager Dong explained repeatedly.
"You still lie to me! The one you've always wanted for the throne has always been your brother, not me!" Xuan Yuanli roared, tears streaming down his face. Everyone thought he had gone to the Liusha Kingdom to escape the struggle for the throne, but no one knew that he had gone to fight hostages, and no one knew why he had avoided contact with anyone since returning to the capital, even keeping a few steps away from his mother!
Because, at only twelve years old, he had been a male prostitute in the Liusha Kingdom for three whole years!
Under the relentless torment of the old emperor of the Flowing Sand Kingdom, he repeatedly contemplated suicide by biting his tongue. However, his mother's and brother's words kept him going, enduring the humiliation, all for the day he would return to Xuanyuan, ascend the throne, and unleash Xuanyuan's full power to crush the Flowing Sand Kingdom. But
when he returned to the palace, everything was already over. His father had passed away suddenly, and his elder brother, unable to wait for him, was forced to ascend the throne. He was late.
He said nothing. His mother and brother had done their best; this was his fate. From then on, he developed the strange habit of keeping a distance of ten paces from others, and to this day, he has never taken a wife or concubine.
But now, he found everything was different!
Tears, just like in his youth, streamed down his face. "Mother, when Seventh Brother was three, my elder brother was five. I, the youngest son, was only born later by accident. Didn't Father say that I was an accident bestowed upon him by Heaven? Isn't that right?"
His voice was low and tearful as he approached step by step, questioning her with each step. "Mother, you have been paving the way for my brother all along. My going to the Flowing Sands as a hostage was just another move in your scheme, all for my brother's sake. Mother, I never even thought about the throne. Why did you lie to me? Why did you give me hope?"
"Li'er, don't be like this. Don't frighten your mother. It's my fault. You have no desire for the throne, nor are you suited for it. Isn't that better? Your brother can protect you, and I am now the Empress Dowager. Whatever you want, I can give you. If you want to kill someone, I will kill for you. Isn't that better?" The Empress Dowager panicked and reached out to wipe away Xuan Yuanli's tears, but he slapped her hand away forcefully.
"Don't come near me! Get away!" he shouted sharply, his voice fierce, yet he sounded like a frightened little animal, his usual bad temper not a sign of ferocity, but of fear.
Every night, in the stillness of the night, on the empty bed, he would be awakened by nightmares, trembling and clutching himself until dawn.
"Li'er, please don't be like this. You and your brother have never cried since you were little. Please don't be like this. Let me make you some plum juice, please calm down," the Empress Dowager Dong pleaded, not daring to approach him.
She didn't know when her youngest son had developed this habit of disliking being touched or near.
"Mother, do you know what I want most?" Xuan Yuanli sneered.
"Tell me, what do you want? I'll give it to you. If I can't, your brother can. Tell me," the Empress Dowager Dong quickly said.
Xuanyuan Li's laughter grew louder and louder, a desolate sound amidst the chaos of the hall. His voice trailed off as he said, "Mother, what I want, you can no longer give, and my brother can't give either!"
With that, he laughed maniacally and left, leaving the Empress Dowager Dong staggering several steps, nearly falling. Granny Gui rushed forward to support her. "Your Majesty, don't you think the Thirteenth Prince has changed completely since returning from Liusha?" "
He was so adorable as a child, but now he has this volatile temper, just like his father!" the Empress Dowager Dong said.
"Your Majesty, what if the Thirteenth Prince finds out about that matter…?" Granny Gui asked worriedly.
"I can't worry about that now. I'm too busy with Lie'er's affairs to deal with his little tantrums!" the Empress Dowager Dong said impatiently.
"Your Majesty, does the Emperor still intend to keep Consort Jing?" Granny Gui asked in a low voice.
"Indeed! Tomorrow is the Chrysanthemum Banquet, right? Remember to invite Prince Qi and Murong Wei. I want to see if Nangong Jingsi can still sit still!" Empress Dowager Dong sneered.
"Your Majesty, if you don't invite them, I'm afraid the Emperor will. This time, even if we didn't defeat Prince Qi, at least he still has quite a few weaknesses," Granny Gui said with a smile...
In Lingxiao Palace, Xuan Yuanlie sat with a gloomy expression, while Nangong Jingsi waited quietly beside him, her little face still wet with tears.
The room was silent for a while before a guard rushed in to report, "Your Majesty, a scout reports that Murong Wei and Prince Qi have taken their leave and moved into Prince Li's residence with their son."
"Prince Li's residence?" Xuan Yuanlie asked, frowning.
"Prince Li disobeyed Your Majesty's will and left his residence to enter the palace without permission. I heard that he had a big fight with the Empress Dowager at Yuhua Palace and just returned to his residence," the guard replied truthfully.
"He's always causing trouble. Surround Prince Li's residence. Report any movement immediately!" Xuan Yuanlie said sternly.
"Yes." The attendant acknowledged and left.
The vast hall fell silent again. Nangong Jingsi, expressionless, slowly turned to leave.
"Where are you going?" Xuan Yuanlie asked sharply.
"If Your Majesty has no further instructions, I will take my leave," Nangong Jingsi said expressionlessly.
"Do you think I've settled accounts with you?" Xuan Yuanlie asked with a cold laugh.
"What accounts does Your Majesty still have to settle with me?" Nangong Jingsi asked calmly.
Xuan Yuanlie suddenly stood up, grabbed her collar, and said coldly, "If you hadn't betrayed that child, I would never have spared you!"
"Haha!" Nangong Jingsi suddenly burst into laughter, "Your Majesty, you truly have deep feelings for me!"
"Resent me? You should resent Xuan Yuanche, whom you wholeheartedly support!" Xuan Yuanlie said.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I should blame him. So, I'll tell you everything I know about Cai Zai being an undercover agent, and how many undercover agents are in the entire Qi Prince's mansion. Will you kill me then?" Nangong Jingsi said with a cold laugh.
"You!" Xuan Yuanlie roared in fury, suddenly slapping her hard across the face!
Nangong Jingsi fell to the ground, blood trickling from her lips, but she laughed even louder. "Xuan Yuanlie, so this is your deep affection! You want to know how many of your undercover agents have been exposed? Tell the Empress Dowager to stop targeting the Nangong family! Otherwise, I'd rather die than tell!"
The desolate forest path in the suburbs was deserted at night. Although Xuanyuan was located in the south, even in late autumn, leaves were falling and the vegetation was withered.
The carriage slowly came to a stop by the roadside. The driver, Liu Jian, always had a sullen expression. He got out of the carriage and waited quietly.
Inside the carriage, Murong Wei held Ye Bao, her reluctance unspoken.
Ye Bao's tender little face was gradually regaining its color. Murong Wei's fingertips gently stroked his delicate features. This child, his nose was a nose, his eyes were eyes, and he was getting more and more handsome as he grew up.
She had to admit that, looking at him so closely, she could vaguely see a resemblance to Prince Qi.
Even if today's events hadn't happened, if she had stayed in the capital for a long time, something good would have happened before she could investigate.
Bai Wushang watched silently from the side.
Murong Wei wiped Ye Bao's face again with her sleeve, smiling as she said, "I love this kid's smile the most. He has two sharp, mischievous tiger teeth when he grins!"
Bai Wushang laughed as well, "Indeed, his smile is even more charming than mine."
"Of course!" Murong Wei immediately replied.
"Haha, I wonder how charming he'll be when he grows up!" Bai Wushang added.
"This trip might last a long time. If he were a little older, ten years old, I definitely wouldn't send him away!" Murong Wei said, gently stroking Ye Bao's face.
"Why don't we just stay?" Bai Wushang teased.
"Aren't you reluctant to part with him?" Murong Wei blurted out, utterly annoyed by his smile.
"If you're reluctant, then let him stay. I'll find a way to protect him, sir," Bai Wushang said.
"Open flirtation is easy to avoid, but hidden treachery is hard to guard against. Aren't you just like Prince Qi, unknowingly becoming poisoned?" Murong Wei rolled her eyes at him, as if he were Prince Qi himself.
"Alright, send him away, save me the trouble!" Bai Wushang waved his hand and was about to get out of the carriage when the sound of horses' hooves fell outside the curtain, and the people to pick him up had arrived.
Murong Wei still didn't move, her hand reaching for Ye Bao's wrist, her brows slightly furrowed.
Seeing this, Bai Wushang sat down again and said, "The Prince Qi's dart should be poisoned, probably some kind of sleeping potion. Even after the antidote, he'll need some explanation to wake up, otherwise he wouldn't be sleeping so soundly."
Murong Wei raised an eyebrow at him and asked, "How do you know?"
Bai Wushang smiled and narrowed his eyes, saying, "I'm used to using poisoned darts, do you think I wouldn't know such a little trick? Let's go, let's go, the people of the Hundred Poisons Sect don't like waiting."
Murong Wei hugged Ye Bao even tighter, her big, watery eyes looking pitifully at Bai Wushang, without saying a word.
Bai Wushang also looked at her, remained silent for a long time, then turned and said calmly, "Liu Jian, back to the capital."
"Wait!" Murong Wei stopped him, carrying Ye Bao as she got out of the carriage.
Before them stood a man and a woman, their faces veiled in black. The man, slender and named Qinglong, wore a noble blue robe; the woman, tall and elegant, named Huofeng, wore a cold red robe. Both were adorned with silver ornaments and led horses, exuding an eerie aura.
Bai Wushang dismounted and said calmly, "These are Xue Ling's attendants, Qinglong and Huofeng, here to fetch Ye Bao."
"Does this mean I can see Ye Bao anytime?" Murong Wei asked.
"Yes," Qinglong replied.
"Could we find a nanny to take care of Ye Bao?" Murong Wei asked again.
"No," Qinglong answered.
"Why?" Murong Wei asked.
"Even the nobles of the Nanzhao royal court don't receive such treatment when they join the Hundred Poisons Sect," Huofeng said.
"My son isn't going to be a disciple!" Murong Wei said, looking at Bai Wushang.
Bai Wushang smiled helplessly and said, "Weiwei, this is good for Ye Bao. He should learn to take care of himself outside."
"He's not even six years old!" Murong Wei gritted her teeth, extremely stubborn. She had never been lenient with Ye Bao since he was little, but after all, it was her training. No matter what, she wouldn't really hurt him. How could she feel at ease teaching him to someone else, especially a complete stranger?
"Liu Jian..." Bai Wushang deliberately dragged out his words.
"Wait!" Murong Wei stopped him again, "Bai Wushang, if anything happens, I'll hold you responsible!"
"You can rest assured that the child is in Zhao Xueling's care. I guarantee he'll be even more clever when he comes back. I swear on my life." Bai Wushang had to say seriously.
Murong Wei hesitated for a long time, then gently kissed Ye Bao's forehead before stepping forward. Just as she was about to hand the child over to the woman, she couldn't bear to part with him and planted another heavy kiss on his cheek.
Finally, just as it was time to hand the baby to the woman, Bai Wushang suddenly snatched it away, smiling and saying, "I want a kiss too, Master! Otherwise, when I grow up, I won't kiss you anymore!"
Murong Wei rolled her eyes at him, took out a large bag from her backpack, and instructed Qinglong, "Give this to him when he wakes up so he can open it himself. It must be him opening it himself!"
"Okay." Qinglong nodded and took it.
Beside him, Bai Wushang's handsome profile was gently stroking Ye Bao's little face, looking even more reluctant than Murong Wei!
"Stop pretending, send him away!" Murong Wei said angrily.
"Fire Phoenix, take him away, take him away." Bai Wushang still smiled jokingly, finally handing the unconscious Ye Bao to Fire Phoenix.
Just then, Liu Jian suddenly shouted, "Master, be careful!" As soon as
he finished speaking, countless dark figures suddenly surged out from both sides of the road, each holding a bright arrow, clearly assassins!
"You're courting death!" Murong Wei was already annoyed. She shouted, "Back off!" and immediately took out a small bomb from her backpack, hurling it into the woods.
"Boom!" A huge explosion shattered the night's tranquility. Not only the trees were blown away, but everyone hiding in the woods was also blown to pieces. The smell of gunpowder mixed with the stench of blood was extremely strong.
The black-clad assassins by the roadside immediately went on alert. Their leader shouted, "Attack! Thirteenth Master ordered that none be spared!"
Several assassins then charged forward with swords, their attacks incredibly brutal.
Bai Wushang immediately grabbed Ye Bao and used one hand to protect Murong Wei as they retreated. Qinglong and Huofeng stepped forward side by side, about to make their move, but Liu Jian beat him to it. He drew his sword and swept it across the room. The sword light was like a sharp blade. With a single move, he killed all the assassins. It was swift and clean, each one dying instantly.
"Heh, Lord Wushang, the assassins of the Xuanyuan Royal Family are far too incompetent!" Huofeng sneered.
"Bai Wushang, who exactly is Liu Jian?" Murong Wei was astonished. Even with her excellent eyesight, she couldn't see clearly how Liu Jian had drawn his sword.
"Quickly send the child away to Shang Kingdom, bypass the east coast and return by sea!" Bai Wushang said earnestly, handing Ye Bao to Qinglong without hesitation.
"Yes!" Qinglong took the child and immediately mounted his horse.
Seeing this, Huo Feng dared not utter a word and hurriedly mounted his horse. "Don't worry, Lord Wushang, my master instructed that the child will be delivered safely!"
Bai Wushang nodded, pulling Murong Wei back from her journey.
Soon, the clatter of hooves echoed, disappearing into the distance at the edge of the night.
Murong Wei, her hand held by Bai Wushang, looked on with longing, tears welling in her eyes.
Her child, whom she had protected with such difficulty, the child she had relied on for so many years, was gone without even a goodbye.
"Let's go, our whereabouts have been exposed," Bai Wushang advised.
"Old Bai, will Ye Bao blame me?" Murong Wei asked calmly.
"Yes," Bai Wushang replied.
"Then what should we do!" Murong Wei murmured.
"He'll resent his father even more," Bai Wushang muttered to himself, but Murong Wei couldn't hear him at all.
"Let's go, let's go settle accounts with the Thirteenth Master," Bai Wushang advised again.
"The Thirteenth Master? Heh, this self-introduction trick, does he think we're idiots?" Murong Wei sneered.
Back at the Qi Prince's residence, Bai Wushang and Murong Wei searched almost the entire place but couldn't find Xuan Yuanli.
"Doctor Murong, the Prince's face was so dark when he returned. I've served him for so many years and only seen him like that once. I was just about to pour him a cup of tea when he vanished in the blink of an eye," the old steward said.
"Dark face? Isn't he always so dark-faced?" Murong Wei asked, her mind preoccupied with how long her self-defense stick would last, how long the things in her bag would last, and how to recruit soldiers to find Xuan Yuanli's military manual. That way, she wouldn't think about Ye Bao or regret chasing after the Azure Dragon and Fire Phoenix.
"No way! Doctor Murong, something must have happened to the Thirteenth Prince. Last time he returned to the palace, he had the same expression. The Empress Dowager searched for three days and three nights before finally finding him by a stream in the mountains. He wouldn't say what happened," the old steward said.
"Did she report it to the palace?" Bai Wushang asked.
"I was just about to report when you returned," the old steward said.
"Hurry up and go. The Thirteenth Prince's health isn't good. If something happens to him, the entire manor will be implicated!" Bai Wushang said.
The old steward nodded repeatedly and turned to leave.
"Let's go find Guiguzi!" Murong Wei said anxiously.
"What's the rush? He'll come to us himself." Bai Wushang smiled and handed her a cup of water.
Murong Wei drank it all in one gulp and said calmly, "The treasure box in the Xuanbing is fake. Could it really have been in Heitu's hands all along?"
"Unlikely. I believe someone tampered with it," Bai Wushang said.
"You mean..." Murong Wei was puzzled. Apart from Xuan Yuanli, no one else had touched the thing that Heitu had taken from them, and the ice was only broken after entering the palace. Xuan Yuanli didn't have that much of an opportunity.
“The Black Path always values integrity. They want money, not goods. It can't be a Black Path. Either Xuan Yuanli's information is false, or the original item is in Xuan Yuanli's hands!” Bai Wushang said.
“This kid isn't simple either!” Murong Wei sighed.
“People in the royal family are destined to be anything but simple. Even those who aren't in the royal family are even more treacherous in our Taobao business. Sending Ye Bao to the Hundred Poisons Sect might be the best choice.” Bai Wushang sighed.
“Don't mention Ye Bao!” Murong Wei suddenly shouted sharply, “From now on, you are not allowed to mention Ye Bao!”
“Weiwei, your heart is ultimately not ruthless enough!” Bai Wushang said with a smile.
“Lord Wushang, you don't have children, so you can't understand!” Murong Wei said disdainfully. Now she finally understood why the old master always told them that assassins must be without relatives or ties, and most importantly, they cannot have children.
Bai Wushang smiled without saying a word and went to the garden.
“Where are you going?” Murong Wei followed.
"Let's find out Xuan Yuanli's background first. If this kid is hiding the real thing, it will be more advantageous for us," Bai Wushang said with a smile.
Just then, a servant ran over excitedly, "Doctor Murong, Lord Wushang, the Prince has been found! He's at the hot spring in the back mountain!"
"Hot spring?" Murong Wei was suddenly shocked.
"That's right, it's been abandoned there for many years." The servant replied.
"Oh no!" Murong Wei cried out, turned around and left. Bai Wushang frowned and followed suspiciously, leaving the servant looking bewildered.
In the hot spring, the water vapor was thick and the mist was swirling. Xuan Yuanli, completely naked, was leaning back against the shore, his handsome face showing little expression, only his handsome brows were slightly furrowed, furrowing with a pain that no one could understand.
This handsome face was neither as domineering as Xuan Yuanlie nor as aloof as Xuan Yuanche, but had an indescribable charm.
A man's true aura, not the scent of perfume, should be the mellow smell of time. He was so young, his smile so spirited and dashing, yet now, he exuded a desolate air.
Murong Wei rushed into the courtyard, abruptly stopping not because of the desolation, but because she noticed a red-tailed kite standing guard on a large rock by the pond on her right. Above the pond, the entire sky was filled with a dark, menacing swarm of man-eating eagles, a chilling and terrifying sight, faintly carrying the stench of blood!
Bai Wushang followed, also stopping, and said irritably, "He's bathing, what are you doing here?"
"He has asthma. If he soaks in this steamy air for too long, there's a 90% chance he'll have an attack! If he has an attack in the mist and isn't treated in time, he'll surely die!" Murong Wei frowned, looking at Xuan Yuanli, who was faintly visible in the mist.
"Someone, pull your prince up! Immediately." Bai Wushang was unusually serious.
"Wait!" Murong Wei immediately called out to stop them, but the servants beside her, having heard her words, couldn't wait any longer and rushed to the edge of the pond in two or three.
"Caw! Swoosh..." The red-tailed kite suddenly spread its wings and flapped them in place, making a strange and eerie sound. At the same time, several man-eating eagles swooped down from the sky, their sharp talons grabbing at the two servants!
Murong Wei was alarmed and was about to step forward when Bai Wushang immediately stopped her, "There are too many man-eating eagles, we can't handle them."
As soon as he finished speaking, two miserable screams were heard, and several man-eating eagles were seen tearing the two servants apart!
Bai Wushang immediately covered Murong Wei's eyes, his brows furrowed.
In a short while, the two servants' bodies were nowhere to be seen, the man-eating eagles had already flown back into the sky, and Xuan Yuanli in the pond remained motionless, undisturbed!
"Thirteenth Master! Get up!" Murong Wei shouted.
"Thirteenth Master! You can't stay in the hot spring for too long, it'll be dangerous! Thirteenth Master, get up quickly!"
Bai Wushang shouted helplessly, while the servants beside him were already terrified by the nightmarish scene they had just witnessed.
"Xuanyuan Li, get up quickly, are you out of your mind?"
"Xuanyuan Li, come up here! Xuanyuan Li!"
...
However, despite their shouts, Xuanyuan Li remained unmoved, as if asleep.
"He should be able to hear... Could it be..." Murong Wei exclaimed in shock.
Bai Wushang remained silent, watching the sky filled with man-eating eagles, seemingly pondering a solution.
"Old Bai, use your hidden darts! Hit him, wake him up! Pain is better than death! Hurry!" Murong Wei said urgently.
"Report to the Eastern Empress Dowager! Neither of us can bear this responsibility, especially at this time!" Bai Wushang said calmly.
"Don't you have any humanity? By the time the Eastern Empress Dowager arrives, he'll be long dead!" Murong Wei said angrily.
"Show him humanity? Have Xuanyuan Lie and the Eastern Empress Dowager ever shown you any humanity?" Bai Wushang retorted.
"That's them. Xuanyuan Li has nothing to do with them! This child is naive!" Murong Wei blurted out.
"Who just said he wasn't simple?" Bai Wushang continued to retort.
"I don't care, all I know is that he was the one who came to pick me up when I left the Qi Prince's mansion! He was the one who gave me this veil!" Murong Wei said, pulling out a pistol and aiming it at the wall beside Xuan Yuanli!
"You're making too much noise, you'll anger those demons above! Before you can even save him, you'll be torn to pieces!" Bai Wushang warned.
Murong Wei was startled, about to speak, when she saw Xuan Yuanli move in the mist!
He pressed one hand to his chest, suddenly flipped over, and immediately disappeared into the water!
Seeing Xuan Yuanli fall into the water, Murong Wei abruptly broke free from Bai Wushang and rushed towards him.
"Murong Wei!" Bai Wushang shouted sharply, without thinking, soaring high into the air. At the same time, the old steward, supporting the Empress Dowager, rushed over, stopping at the stone gate of the courtyard. Seeing what was before him, his face turned deathly pale.
However, Murong Wei didn't rush into the water. Her figure flashed in front of the red-tailed kite, and before it could react, she shouted sharply, "Your master is about to die! If you don't let me through, I'll roast her!"
The red-tailed kite was completely different from before; it didn't cry out or spread its wings, staring blankly at Murong Wei, seemingly stunned by the threat.
Bai Wushang landed behind her, still panicked and wary.
"Keep those bad things in check!" Murong Wei warned sharply, and without waiting for the red-tailed kite's reaction, plunged headfirst into the hot spring.
Unexpectedly, the man-eating eagle in the sky continued to circle high, showing no sign of swooping down.
Bai Wushang stared in disbelief at the red-tailed kite nodding like a chick pecking at rice, not at him, but at Murong Wei who was entering the water.
This woman, could she even understand bird language?
He didn't care about anything else, hastily taking off his large outer robe and throwing it to Murong Wei.
Soon, Murong Wei pulled Xuan Yuanli, still wrapped in the robe, out of the water. Bai Wushang rushed forward to help, while the Empress Dowager and the old steward also arrived.
"What happened? What happened? What happened to Thirty? What did you do to him?" The Empress Dowager was frantic and at a loss. Xuan Yuanli
was motionless, his face pale, showing no signs of illness!
"Summon the Imperial Physician!" Bai Wushang said quickly.
"Yes! Summon the Imperial Physician, quickly, someone, summon the Imperial Physician!" The Empress Dowager hurriedly said, bending down to touch Xuan Yuanli, when Murong Wei suddenly slapped her hand away forcefully. "Get out of the way! Don't block him! He's suffocating!"
"What?" The Empress Dowager staggered back, unable to stand steadily.
Bai Wushang was also shocked. He stepped down to check Xuan Yuanli's breathing, but Murong Wei forcefully pushed him aside,
saying, "Get out of the way!" She quickly laid Xuan Yuanli flat and pressed her hands together, fingers interlaced, against his abdomen.
Xuan Yuanli still didn't react. The Empress Dowager, tears streaming down her face, cried, "What happened? What have you done to my son?!"
"Your Majesty, the Prince disappeared as soon as he returned from the palace. Doctor Murong and Lord Wushang searched for him for a long time. Later, I found the Prince here. Doctor Murong said the Prince has asthma and shouldn't go to the hot springs. He hasn't been saved yet; he's drowned!" a servant hurriedly said.
Murong Wei continued pressing on Xuan Yuanli's abdomen, but after several unsuccessful attempts, she grabbed his mouth, took a deep breath, and bent down to perform artificial respiration!
Bai Wushang instinctively tried to pull her hand to stop her, but seeing her focused and serious expression, he withdrew his hand.
After several breaths, Murong Wei's eyes remained calm and composed, her movements swift and precise as she rhythmically pressed on Xuan Yuanli's lower abdomen, her fingers still interlocked.
The noisy Empress Dowager Dong fell silent, noticing water spitting from Xuan Yuanli's mouth.
Murong Wei wiped away her sweat and continued pressing. Xuan Yuanli vomited more and more blood, and everyone held their breath, watching anxiously.
No one knew why. The Empress Dowager Dong, wiping away tears, anxiously asked, "Is he alright? Is he alright?"
Murong Wei ignored her, collapsing to the side, exhausted. Two sleepless nights, coupled with such intense concentration, had left her utterly exhausted.
"Is he alright? Speak! Speak!" the Empress Dowager Dong roared at Murong Wei like a shrew.
Murong Wei ignored her completely, pulling Xuan Yuanli's hand to take his pulse.
"Cough...cough...cough..." Just then, Xuan Yuanli suddenly coughed violently, choking on water.
"Son! Son, wake up!" Son, what's wrong? The Empress Dowager ignored Murong Wei's indifference, kneeling beside her and pulling on Xuan Yuanli's hand, urgently calling out.
"Cough...cough...cough..." Xuan Yuanli continued coughing heavily, showing no signs of waking.
"Li'er! Li'er! It's your mother! What's wrong? Wake up!" The Empress Dowager panicked, forcefully pulling on Xuan Yuanli's hand.
"Be gentle! He's alright!" Murong Wei suddenly shouted angrily.
"Alright? Why isn't he awake?" the Empress Dowager questioned, moving forward, excessively close to Murong Wei.
"Have you ever seen someone who has drowned immediately regain consciousness?" "Murong Wei asked instead of being curious.
"It's alright, it's alright...it's good that it's alright..." Empress Dowager Dong slumped down.
Murong Wei was panting, and checked Xuan Yuanli's pulse and eyes again. She was extremely puzzled. He hadn't been soaking for long. From his skin, she could tell he hadn't had a relapse, but had drowned!
She had seen it clearly just now. He closed his eyes, rolled over, and slid into the water.
How could this be? He had drowned himself!
She had felt something was wrong with him before. What had happened to him in the palace? But judging from Empress Dowager Dong's appearance, it didn't seem like it.
"Why haven't they woken up yet?" Empress Dowager Dong asked anxiously. It hadn't even been half a cup of tea's time!
Murong Wei gave her a cold look without saying a word.
Suddenly, Empress Dowager Dong stood up abruptly. "Guards! Arrest these two!"
Murong Wei frowned suddenly and stood up as well. Bai Wushang sighed helplessly and whispered behind her, "I told you not to meddle in other people's business. If she doesn't bite back, she's not a dog." "
Lord Wushang, I suddenly realize you're quite sharp-tongued!" Murong Wei laughed.
"Still laughing? Xuan Yuanli should be awake by now. He should have woken up long ago after being rescued from drowning!" Bai Wushang said in a low voice.
"His breathing is becoming increasingly erratic," Murong Wei said calmly.
"Guards! Seize him!" The Empress Dowager roared angrily, but all the servants in the mansion were in a difficult position. They all knew that the Thirteenth Prince treated Doctor Murong differently, and that Lord Wushang was his honored guest.
"Seize him now, or do you want me to chop you all up?" The Empress Dowager looked at the steward and questioned loudly.
"Your Majesty, I saved the Thirteenth Prince's life, and you didn't even say thank you, yet you want to seize us?" Murong Wei asked.
"You saved him? I think you're the one who harmed him. Why hasn't Li'er woken up yet? The backyard of the Li Prince's mansion has been abandoned for a long time. Why is Li'er here? Moreover, he has never liked soaking in hot springs since he was a child. Why did he suddenly come here to soak in hot springs? You are the imperial physician of the Qi Prince's mansion. Why are you here?" The Empress Dowager questioned repeatedly.
"Because the Thirteenth Prince hired me!" Murong Wei said calmly.
"You're lying! You're the imperial physician of the Qi Prince's residence. Why would Thirteen hire you? Guards! Drag this liar, this vile woman who murdered Prince Li out! Issue my decree: execute her by slow slicing!" the Empress Dowager said coldly, her powdered old face filled with malice.
The old steward, under duress, had no choice but to order the guards to carry out the execution. At the same time, Imperial Physician Lin arrived hastily.
Murong Wei stood still, while Bai Wushang simply crossed his arms and leaned against a rock behind him.
"Your Majesty, you can take me to be executed by slow slicing, but please ask Imperial Physician Lin first why Prince Li hasn't woken up yet!" Murong Wei said coldly.
The Empress Dowager suddenly realized, and shouted, "You vile woman, what have you done to Thirteen? How dare you!"
Imperial Physician Lin strode over, unaware of the situation. Upon seeing Xuan Yuanli, he immediately exclaimed in alarm, "Your Majesty, this is the onset of an asthma attack!"
"He soaked in the hot springs and then drowned. There are many possible causes for this attack. How can you administer medicine and acupuncture?" Murong Wei asked coldly.
"This..." Imperial Physician Lin hesitated, looking at the Empress Dowager. "Your Majesty, is what Physician Murong said true?"
The Empress Dowager sensed something was amiss, but had no choice but to nod through gritted teeth.
Imperial Physician Lin suddenly frowned. "This is troublesome. The usual treatment method is to prescribe medicine and acupuncture based on the symptoms, but this... Your Majesty, you should quickly send the Thirteenth Prince to the Imperial Hospital and have all the imperial physicians consult on his case! We must be quick!"
"Quick? How quick can you be? If he falls ill and dies on the way, will you be held fully responsible?" Murong Wei asked coldly. Imperial
Physician Lin hesitated. Having witnessed Murong Wei's medical skills, he naturally understood that this woman had a solution; otherwise, she wouldn't be so calm. However, if he spoke up and things didn't turn out well, the Empress Dowager would definitely hold him accountable afterward. In any case, with the Empress Dowager present, it was best for her to make the decision herself.
"Indeed, Your Majesty, this matter is extremely risky. You should make the decision!" Imperial Physician Lin said with a troubled expression.
At this moment, Xuan Yuanli's breathing became noticeably rapid, faster and faster, with long exhales and short breaths, his entire chest heaving violently!
"What should we do? What kind of imperial physician are you?!" Empress Dowager Dong roared angrily, kneeling beside Xuan Yuanli in a panic, not daring to touch him, her hands trembling.
Murong Wei gripped her hands tightly, unable to bear looking at Xuan Yuanli; she had to save herself before she could save others.
Seeing this, the steward, disregarding the Empress Dowager's anger, hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the Prince has fallen ill again. Last time, it was Doctor Murong who saved him. I wonder if Murong Wei has any other ideas?"
Empress Dowager Dong immediately looked up at Murong Wei, "You have a solution?"
Murong nodded, remaining silent.
"Save him now! Quickly! Immediately!" Empress Dowager Dong commanded. At this moment, Xuan Yuanli's face turned pale, and with each breath, not only his chest but his entire body trembled!
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! If this continues, the Prince won't be able to hold on!" Physician Lin said urgently!
"Save him! Hurry!" The Empress Dowager suddenly stood up and grabbed Murong Wei's sleeve through Xuan Yuanli. "You can save him, right? You even saved Xuan Yuanche, you can save him, right? Hurry up!"
With that, she forcefully pulled Murong Wei's hand down, and Murong Wei fell to her knees. She looked up at the Empress Dowager and asked seriously, "Your Majesty, how can the person who harmed Prince Li save someone?"
"Why are you talking so much nonsense? Save her now! I order you to hurry, or I will kill you right now!" The Empress Dowager was so anxious that she didn't understand the meaning behind Murong Wei's words. She warned sharply, and her raised hand almost fell, but was stopped by Bai Wushang standing to the side.
This fellow, indeed, sometimes doesn't act like a man at all, resorting to violence against women, especially older women. He grabbed the Empress Dowager's hand and violently flung her aside. Although the force wasn't great, it caused the Empress Dowager to stumble several steps. If the steward hadn't been there to support her, she would have fallen flat on her face!
"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, what Doctor Murong means is, since you said we harmed Prince Li, is there still any need for us to save him?" Bai Wushang asked with a smile, as if it were a trivial matter.
"You!" The Empress Dowager was furious, almost unable to catch her breath. She finally understood that this guy was threatening her!
...
"You're threatening me?" The Empress Dowager had probably never been threatened so openly in her life.
But Bai Wushang wasn't satisfied; he still wore that exasperating smirk. "It is I threatening you, threatening you with your son's life, Your Majesty. Or you can consider it that your son's life is in your hands!"
He pointed to Xuan Yuanli, who lay trembling on the ground, struggling to breathe.
Murong Wei was about to remove the needles, but Bai Wushang grabbed her hand, urging her to calm down.
The Empress Dowager looked at Xuan Yuanli, then at Bai Wushang, her face filled with anger and sharpness, yet she still hesitated!
"If you don't save him, he'll die. Even a celestial being couldn't bring him back to life!" Murong Wei said softly. She didn't know how the Empress Dowager acted as a mother, but she admitted that even she, a former assassin, had lost to this old woman.
No matter what the Empress Dowager wanted, she had to save him!
"Save him! Quickly! I won't pursue the matter further!" Finally, just as she removed the silver needles, the Empress Dowager spoke with bitter resentment.
Without hesitation, Murong Wei quickly took out the silver needles and had Bai Wushang help her sit up.
"Old Bai, use the method I used before, make sure he can hear me breathing!" Murong Wei said earnestly.
Bai Wushang glanced at the Empress Dowager, smiled, and said, "My lady, I really don't know how, but I'll give it a try."
"If Thirteen dies, you will all be buried with him!" The Empress Dowager trembled with anger at Bai Wushang.
Imperial Physician Lin quickly came over to help, carefully placing the silver needles in Murong Wei's hand and meticulously observing the acupuncture points she would apply.
"Medium size!" Murong Wei said.
Imperial Physician Lin quickly handed them over, whispering, "Doctor Murong, needles are generally not very effective at these acupuncture points!"
"Give me both the small and large sizes!" Murong Wei said sternly.
"Both needles together?" Imperial Physician Lin was astonished.
"What nonsense! Didn't you hear me? If Thirteenth Master doesn't survive, you'll die too!" Murong Wei said coldly, taking two extremely fine silver needles and simultaneously inserting them into two acupoints, one above and
one below. Xuan Yuan Li was only wrapped in an outer robe, and with her pulling it, his back was completely bare. After Murong Wei finished the acupuncture, she noticed that Xuan Yuan Lie seemed to have whip scars on his back, very faint, but still visible upon close inspection.
Bai Wushang was guiding him to slow his breathing; the two were working together perfectly. Although Xuan Yuan Lie's breathing was still rapid, it no longer seemed as if he might suffocate at any moment.
"Old Bai, protect him!" Murong Wei said, interlocking her fingers and pressing her thumbs together gently into the acupoints between the several silver needles on his back! Immediately, she knelt before Xuan Yuanli, gently pressing her small hand against his chest, and whispered, "Thirteenth Prince, it's alright, relax." The Empress
Dowager Dong breathed a sigh of relief, but soon, hatred flashed in her eyes. Imperial Physician Lin, watching from the side, was utterly bewildered, wondering what kind of emergency treatment Murong Wei was using. She had clearly inserted all the silver needles into useless acupoints .
Xuan Yuanli's breathing gradually stabilized, and Murong Wei's heart, which had been pounding, finally settled.
Using Xuan Yuanli's life as a threat was not her intention, but the Empress Dowager Dong was so aggressive.
She gently patted his back while whispering, "Thirteenth Prince, I'm sorry."
"You...you didn't need to save me...save me." Xuan Yuanli actually spoke, very softly. He had been awake but hadn't opened his eyes. As soon as he finished speaking, he threw himself into her arms.
Murong Wei was startled, and everyone turned to look at her. She instinctively turned to Bai Wushang, who was still smiling. "Thirteenth Prince, you're awake."
Murong Wei nodded but didn't speak.
Bai Wushang immediately stepped forward and, without a word, pulled Xuan Yuanlie from Murong Wei's arms, forcing the weak Xuan Yuanlie to stand. He looked at the Empress Dowager, "Thirteenth Prince, Your Majesty, Doctor Murong and I are your honored guests, yet your mother insists we are assassins plotting against you. Shouldn't you pull yourself together and seek justice for us?"
"You're slandering us!" the Empress Dowager immediately retorted. "Guards, bring the Thirteenth Prince here!"
"Weiwei, Your Majesty thought I was already quite untrustworthy, but I didn't expect there to be something even more outrageous!" Bai Wushang laughed loudly, seemingly very familiar with the Empress Dowager.
Murong Wei immediately understood his meaning and turned to look at Xuan Yuanli.
However, Xuan Yuanli still refused to open his eyes. "What are you all standing there for!" Empress Dowager
Dong coldly looked at the steward, and with a sudden flick of her sleeve, a group of archers appeared on the back wall. "She really isn't a person of her word." Murong Wei said coldly. "She doesn't even keep her word to her own son, let alone you?" Suddenly, Xuan Yuanli spoke, his eyes slowly opening. His once clear eyes were now bloodshot. He seemed to have found strength from somewhere, and coldly opened Bai Wushang's hand. "Don't touch me!" He staggered several steps, then fell heavily to his knees. Murong Wei couldn't even catch him in time. "Li'er, these two people are trying to harm you!" Empress Dowager Dong said, immediately trying to help him up, but after only a few strokes, she met Xuan Yuanli's extremely angry eyes and stopped involuntarily! "Mother, I'm alright. Doctor Murong is my savior, and Lord Wushang is a distinguished guest whom I hired at great expense. You've misunderstood." Xuan Yuanli said quietly. "Thirteen, you need to know what you're saying!" Empress Dowager Dong frowned and said. "Mother, you should go back. These two will remain at the Prince Li's residence, as my brother promised me," Xuan Yuanli said again. "Nonsense! Guards, the Thirteenth Prince is still not sober. Take him back to his room!" the Empress Dowager shouted.
The old steward stepped forward to help, but Xuan Yuanli raised his hand, and instantly, a flock of man-eating eagles hovering in the air swooped down one after another, all screeching excitedly as they charged towards the archers on the wall.
"Thirteen!" The Empress Dowager's face turned ashen.
"Mother, you've already gone back on your promise to me. Does my brother also intend to go back on his promise? If so, I will let the whole world know what kind of emperor Xuan Yuanli truly is!" Xuan Yuanli knelt on one knee, one hand pressed to his heart, speaking earnestly, word by word.
Murong Wei and Bai Wushang exchanged glances, remaining silent. Clearly, there was some secret between this mother and son and the emperor!
"You dare!" The Empress Dowager roared in anger.
"Angry now? You get angry as soon as you threaten my brother, don't you? Mother, your son has already died before your eyes, do you think I dare to do this? Hahaha!" Xuan Yuanli suddenly threw his head back and laughed loudly.
Amidst his desolate laughter, the piercing cries of the man-eating eagles seemed all the more mournful. In an instant, the entire wall was covered with shattered corpses, devoid of any sign of life.
The eagles, seemingly sensing their master's sorrow, circled low, crying out, refusing to leave.
The Empress Dowager stood motionless, watching her youngest son laugh so loudly, her long, slender fingernails digging into her palms. After a long, long time, she finally relented, "Guards! Return to the palace!"
Even after the Empress Dowager's figure disappeared through the courtyard gate, Xuan Yuanli continued to laugh, his voice hoarse.
Murong Wei was about to step forward when Bai Wushang pulled her hand, whispering, "Let him laugh; it's better than him crying."
Bai Wushang dismissed all the servants in the courtyard, leaving only Murong Wei to accompany Xuan Yuanli.
Gradually, he finally calmed down, kneeling on one knee, head bowed.
Bai Wushang leaned against a large rock, arms crossed, a complex emotion hidden in his eyes. Murong Wei stood to the side, hesitating for a long time before finally whispering, "You really know that old Empress Dowager."
"Even Xuanyuan Lie is more trustworthy than her," Bai Wushang said with a smile.
"How do you know?" Murong Wei asked suspiciously.
"When I was swindling and cheating in the palaces of various countries, you and Ye Bao weren't even born yet!" Bai Wushang laughed.
Murong Wei rolled her eyes at him, gestured towards Xuanyuan Li, and said, "What do we do now?"
"I'll go get him some clean clothes. You stay away from him!" Bai Wushang smiled and turned to leave.
Before he had gone far, Murong Wei immediately rushed forward and knelt before Xuanyuan Li.
Bai Wushang glanced at her, his warm smile still on his lips, shook his head helplessly, and then left.
"Hey," Murong Wei turned her head and called out, still unable to see Xuanyuan Li's expression.
"Hey, are you awake?" Murong Wei asked softly.
Xuan Yuanli remained motionless, unresponsive.
"Your Highness, in the prime of your youth, why seek death?" Murong Wei asked calmly.
Xuan Yuanli stiffened, then slowly raised his head; she had seen through him.
"Your Highness, do you know how terrible it is to drown? After death, you become a water ghost, and to be reincarnated, you have to drag someone down with you as a substitute," Murong Wei said earnestly.
Xuan Yuanli stared at Murong Wei, expressionless.
"Your Highness, do you know that committing suicide at such a young age means you won't be reborn into such a good family!" Murong Wei added. Xuan
Yuanli still didn't react.
"Your Highness, do you know that if you die, Bai Wushang and I will both be executed along with our entire families!" Murong Wei finally snapped!
"Cough! Cough!" Xuan Yuanli coughed several times, his voice cold, "Is this why you saved me?"
"Half of it," Murong Wei replied truthfully.
"Only half?" Xuan Yuanli laughed.
"If you want to hear the whole story, I'll tell you everything," Murong Wei said helplessly.
"And the other half?" Xuan Yuanli asked.
"The other half, because...we're friends, so if Your Highness doesn't mind Weiwei's ambition," Murong Wei said with a smile.
Xuan Yuanli looked at her for a long time and said, "Don't worry, stay at the Li Prince's residence. No matter who targets you, I will protect you. However, don't interfere in the feud between Prince Qi and the Emperor."
"I only accidentally saved him last time. From now on, Weiwei will definitely listen to Your Highness's advice," Murong Wei said innocently.
Xuan Yuanli snorted coldly and turned to leave.
Murong Wei followed for a few steps, hesitating, and finally spoke, "Your Highness, is there anything you can tell me?"
"Nothing," Xuan Yuanli said calmly.
"Your Highness, Weiwei may not be able to help you much, but I can share some of your burden. One share of pain becomes half when shared by two, isn't it?" Murong Wei stopped joking and said seriously. Xuan Yuanli's suicide was definitely a huge matter.
"You're wrong. When I was little, my mother often told me that happiness should be shared with my brother, and good things should be shared with my brother. One share of happiness becomes two shares of happiness. Pain is the same; one share of pain shared with two people doesn't just become half, but two shares." Xuan Yuanli said calmly, and quickly left.
Heading north, the autumn chill was fading as the north wind
swept across the desolate plains. Two fine horses galloped across the desolate fields; the woman was dressed in fiery red, the man in flowing blue.
But they weren't heading north, they were heading south.
Not far away, a child of about five or six, dressed in a loose blue robe, his face pale, was desperately trying to escape, gritting his teeth. After running a short distance, he used his toes to propel himself into the air. But he couldn't hold on for long and landed again, continuing to run!
Who else could it be but Ye Bao?
"Qinglong, go ahead and intercept him! I'll block him from behind!" Huo Feng shouted, pulling on the reins to stop.
"Don't hurt him!" Qinglong immediately leaped from his horse, landing easily in front of Ye Bao with a few somersaults, grabbing him.
Ye Bao stopped, glaring at him fiercely. Without a word, he immediately turned around, but soon Huo Feng appeared, leading her horse to block his path.
"I have no grudge against you, why are you kidnapping me?" Ye Bao asked angrily, panting.
"Little brat, didn't I explain it to you clearly? Your Master Wushang sold you to our Hundred Poisons Sect, and he even took the money. How can you say we kidnapped you?" Huo Feng asked with a cold smile.
"You're lying! Old Bai would never sell me!" Ye Bao was so angry that he was like a little beast, almost ready to bite.
"Little brat, how long have you known Bai Wushang? How can you be so sure he wouldn't sell you? Our master has known him for over ten years, and every transaction with him is always in writing. Do you know that when he sold you, he even brought your mother along? Your mother personally handed you over to me!" Huo Feng said.
"Lies, lies, lies!" Ye Bao said, lunging at Huo Feng.
Old Bai loved him the most; how could he sell him to the Hundred Poisons Sect of Nanzhao? His mother was so smart; she couldn't have been fooled. These two must be lying!
Huo Feng was about to attack when Qinglong quickly stopped her. Just then, Ye Bao found an opening and darted into the bushes on the right!
He couldn't just be kidnapped like that; he still had questions for King Qi!
He still had questions for Old Bai!
If Old Bai really sold him, wouldn't Mommy be in even more danger!
Unfortunately, a child is still a child; how could he escape the two great protectors under Zhao Ling'er of the Hundred Poisons Sect in Nanzhao?
Before Huo Feng could even make a move, Qinglong quickly brought Ye Bao back, letting Ye Bao struggle in his arms, kicking and biting, but he wouldn't let go.
"Little one, going to the Hundred Poisons Sect is your good fortune. Be good, and perhaps when you get there, my master will see how clever you are, and out of respect for Lord Wu Shang, he might take you in instead of making you a lowly servant," Huo Feng said with a smile, mounting her horse.
Her master did indeed have a deep relationship with Bai Wu Shang, but she wasn't one to adopt children casually. This child was naturally sold to the Hundred Poisons Sect.
The Hundred Poisons Sect could protect him, but he would have to abide by all their rules! They could even decide his life or death; there was no distinction between adults and children there.
Qinglong let Ye Bao struggle and leaped onto his horse.
"Ye Bao, don't be like this. Actually, Lord Wushang had your mother's consent to entrust you to my master, but that's the rule of the Hundred Poisons Sect. The transaction is still necessary." Qinglong coaxed him gently, showing his affection for Ye Bao.
"Liar! Let me go back! I want Lao Bai to tell me in person!" Ye Bao roared, kicking his legs hard against the horse.
Qinglong quickly held his legs and coaxed him gently again, "Ye Bao, it's dangerous for you to stay in the capital. The emperor wants you dead. We've escaped many assassins along the way. Your mother sent you away for your own good. Be good, and when we get to the Hundred Poisons Sect, I'll ask my master to teach you how to use poison. Then you can go back to the capital and take revenge, okay?"
"No! Why does the emperor want my life? Is it because I'm the son of Prince Qi? Because Lao Bai is..." Before Ye Bao could finish speaking, Qinglong immediately covered his mouth and glanced warily at the Fire Phoenix scouting ahead.
Fortunately, Huo Feng didn't notice. He breathed a sigh of relief, but still covered Ye Bao's mouth tightly. "Ye Bao, let me put it this way, I'm one of Lao Bai's people left at the Hundred Poisons Sect. I guarantee you won't suffer there. Can you stop making a fuss?"
Ye Bao's eyes widened, realizing that this matter was far more complicated than he had guessed.
"Don't make a fuss, and I'll let you go," Qing Long said softly. Fortunately, Master Wu Shang had instructed that the package given by Murong Wei could only be given to him at the Hundred Poisons Sect, otherwise, who knows how much trouble this child would cause.
Ye Bao nodded obediently.
Qing Long still didn't let go. After thinking for a long time, just as he was about to speak, Huo Feng turned around and said impatiently, "Qing Long, feed him a pill. Give him the antidote when we get to Nanzhao. Why waste so much time talking to him?"
"His sedative has only just worn off. Giving him medicine now would be too harmful to his body!" Qing Long immediately said. The child hadn't woken up yet not because of poisoning, but because he had been given a sedative unique to the Hundred Poisons Sect. He wouldn't wake up for several days.
"You're so fond of him, even though he's no relative!" Fire Phoenix said with a smile.
"Didn't Master instruct us? The person sent by Lord Wushang must not be mistreated, otherwise, if Lord Wushang holds a grudge, she'll be in trouble." Azure Dragon replied with a smile, gently pressing Ye Bao's pressure points before releasing his grip.
"Let's go, we'll be in Shang Kingdom in a few days. If we're late, the port will be completely frozen, and we won't be able to travel by water." Fire Phoenix said, reining in her horse and galloping away.
"Young Master Ye, I'm sorry. Once we get to Nanzhao, I'll tell you what you want to know." Azure Dragon said, taking off his outer robe and wrapping it tightly around Ye Bao, then touching his forehead, breathing on his little hands to warm them, and hiding it inside his robe before chasing after Fire Phoenix...
In the capital, Murong Wei and Bai Wushang sat in the courtyard. A whole day had passed, and Xuan Yuanli still hadn't come out of his room.
"Could he have a fever?" Murong Wei asked worriedly.
"Hasn't Weiwei always only cared about me, sir?" Bai Wushang asked earnestly.
Murong Wei ignored him, resting her chin on her hands and frowning slightly. The assassins chasing them claimed to be Xuan Yuanli's men; how could she not tell him?
"Don't worry, look!" Bai Wushang said, handing her a secret letter.
Murong Wei opened it and saw it was a letter from Qinglong. They had traveled safely, and Ye Bao had woken up, crying for his mother, but Huo Feng had soothed him.
"I didn't expect Huo Feng could soothe him. Hehe." Bai Wushang said with a smile.
"He said he was tricking him into learning many poison techniques, including how to brew poison, so he could make a lot of money." Murong Wei said, looking at the letter.
"He really understands this child's mind, hehe." Bai Wushang smiled warmly.
"As for Ye Bao, although he's a bit naughty, he always listens to me." Murong Wei said proudly, putting the letter away, and then said, "Why didn't you mention the package I gave Ye Bao? That child will definitely be happy to see it!"
"Maybe he forgot to write it down. I'll write back and ask." Bai Wushang said with a smile.
"Remember to tell them that Ye Bao needs someone to stay with him while he sleeps at night," Murong Wei said hurriedly.
"Yes, yes," Bai Wushang nodded with a smile.
At this moment, the steward rushed in from outside, holding a letter in his hands, looking troubled.
"Old steward, what's wrong?" Murong Wei asked.
"Originally, because of the Thirteenth Prince's matter, this year's Chrysanthemum Banquet was canceled, but who knew the Emperor wanted to hold it again. So, the invitations were sent out this afternoon," the old steward said, glancing at the tightly closed door on the right, looking helpless.
"Can't we just say the Thirteenth Prince is unwell and cancel it?" Murong Wei asked.
"No, this is an invitation personally written by the Emperor. In previous years, it was just an imperial edict from the Empress Dowager. I don't know what happened this year. I heard that the invitations from the Qi Prince's residence were also sent out. The Emperor not only invited members of the royal family but also many noble families! We can't cancel this," the old steward said with difficulty.
"Let me see," Bai Wushang said.
The steward hurriedly presented the invitation. Bai Wushang opened it, his smile faltering slightly as he looked at Murong Wei.
"What's wrong?" Murong Wei asked suspiciously.
Bai Wushang unfolded the invitation before her; the five characters, written by Murong Wei and Ye Bao, were beautifully written in a flowing, elegant style!
Murong Wei's lips twitched slightly. "The Emperor really cares about us widows and orphans!"
It turned out the Emperor wasn't inviting the Thirteenth Prince, but her!
"Poor sir, I'm going to be all alone. I'd better find a place to have some fun!" Bai Wushang laughed, rising to carefully straighten his clothes.
Murong Wei chuckled and asked, "What are the consequences of not going?"
"Anyone in the capital who doesn't go is guilty of disobeying an imperial decree," the old steward replied truthfully.
Murong Wei shrugged, glanced at Bai Wushang, took the invitation, and strode towards Xuan Yuanli's room, knocking on the door.
"Steward, do you have any nice fabrics in the manor?" Bai Wushang asked with a smile.
"Lord Wushang, there are no women in this manor, where would we get nice fabric?" The old steward immediately understood what he meant. Murong Wei's clothes were too plain and a bit old, hardly suitable for formal occasions. Wouldn't she be a laughingstock?
"My lord, I'll find her a set myself. Hopefully, it'll be in time!" Bai Wushang smiled and turned to leave.
"My lord, take her measurements first. If you go back and forth, you definitely won't make it in time," the steward hurriedly said.
Bai Wushang smiled without turning back. How could he not know the measurements?
Meanwhile, amidst Murong Wei's persistent "bang bang bang," Xuan Yuanli finally emerged with a dark face, roaring, "Murong Wei, are you courting death?"
Murong Wei was delighted to see his lion's roar return; he had recovered.
Since the wound couldn't heal completely, she would hide it and not reopen the wound.
"Thirteenth Prince, this was sent from the palace," Murong Wei said with a forced smile, handing over the invitation.
"Mother is really in high spirits!" Xuan Yuanli sneered, tearing the invitation in half and tossing it away.
"Your Highness, refusing to go is tantamount to disobeying an imperial decree," Murong Wei reminded him. "
Who said I'm not going?" Xuan Yuanli said, looking Murong Wei up and down with disdain. "Where's Ye Bao? Take him with you to make some decent clothes."
"Your Highness, Ye Bao went to his uncle's house. He just left a couple of days ago," Murong Wei said with a smile.
"What?" Xuan Yuanli frowned.
"Yesterday, when we saw him off, we encountered a group of assassins. This is the assassin's sword; he claimed to be one of the Thirteenth Prince's men." Murong Wei said, taking out a sword and handing it to him.
Xuan Yuanli immediately knocked it away, approaching her and asking, "He really went to his uncle's house?"
"His uncle's house is safe," Murong Wei said.
Xuan Yuanli frowned, then laughed loudly, "Prepare for the banquet, Murong Wei. If you don't die at the banquet, I'll share something important with you when we get back!"
"Tell me first, otherwise I won't be interested," Murong Wei quickly said.
"The Great Emperor Xuan Yuan's military treatise!" Xuan Yuanli whispered, his tone meaningful...
, let's go. It won't be good to be late," Murong Wei said. She would rather have her clothes worn and be the subject of gossip than be late and get punished with a drink. Xuan Yuanli
glanced at her and said, "You wait here!"
Without waiting for Murong Wei to reply, he hurried inside.
"Doctor Murong, hurry up! This chrysanthemum banquet was originally a family feast hosted by the Empress Dowager, but now the Emperor has changed it and is personally presiding over it. The etiquette is quite complicated, and many princes and ministers have already arrived at the palace to wait. Please persuade the Thirteenth Prince not to be willful. If he's late in front of all the ministers, even if the Empress Dowager is biased, the Emperor won't let him off easily!" the coachman advised.
Murong Wei smiled and nodded, but inwardly she scoffed. The Empress Dowager being biased? Then she'd definitely come from the north! After
a while, Xuan Yuanli strode over, dressed in simple, somewhat worn clothes, just like Murong Wei's elegant white gauze dress.
The accompanying steward was immediately shocked upon seeing him, "Oh dear, Your Highness, where did you find these clothes? This...this...this is hardly presentable!"
"Enough nonsense, let's go!" Xuan Yuanli said, pulling Murong Wei into the carriage with a nonchalant air.
Murong Wei sat opposite him, scrutinizing him thoroughly three times before finally speaking, "Are you trying to make me stand out enough?"
"If I'm just like you, no one will dare laugh at you," Xuan Yuanli said nonchalantly.
Murong Wei's heart tightened, then she smiled, saying, "Thirteenth Prince, if you really get laughed at, you can't hold it against me."
"I'd like to see who dares to laugh at me!" Xuan Yuanli said confidently.
Murong Wei smiled without saying a word; this guy probably didn't know there were countless ways to laugh.
"You'd better be careful later, don't let the Emperor catch you doing something wrong. There are many rules at the banquet, and I don't know where to begin. Just do what I do, and you can't go wrong," Xuan Yuanli said earnestly.
"It would be great if Lao Bai could come along," Murong Wei said.
"With me here, what are you afraid of? Bai Wushang knows the rules better than I do," Xuan Yuanli said.
"Thirteenth Prince, about what we were talking about earlier... about the Xuanyuan Military Manual..." Murong Wei hesitated, probing.
"We'll talk about that when we get back," Xuanyuan Li said.
Murong Wei wisely didn't press further, secretly suspecting that her and Bai Wushang's guesses were correct—the real jade box was probably in this guy's hands!
He harbored ill intentions towards Xuanyuan Lie!
"Thirteenth Prince, is the Empress Dowager of the East..." Murong Wei continued, hesitating.
"What are you trying to say?" Xuanyuan Li's voice was clearly off.
"Actually... sigh... it's nothing." Murong Wei played hard to get.
"Speak!" Sure enough, he roared, a somewhat frightening roar, yet she found it rather endearing.
"Is the Empress Dowager of the East your biological mother?" Murong Wei asked, knowing she was being shameless; she was merely testing, not trying to sow discord, really!
"Yes," Xuanyuan Li replied, then coldly retorted, "Yes, so what?" "
We're both mothers, so I'm more sensitive," Murong Wei continued, keeping him in suspense.
"What exactly do you want to say?" Xuanyuan Li asked impatiently.
"If it had been the Emperor in the backyard yesterday, would the Empress Dowager have been so flustered that she forgot everything?" Murong Wei asked.
Xuan Yuanli glanced at her, snorted coldly, and remained silent.
Murong Wei didn't press further, roughly guessing why Xuan Yuanli harbored resentment towards Xuan Yuanlie. Even brothers had to settle scores in the struggle for the throne!
She looked out the window, passing by the Qi Prince's residence. She wondered which concubines the Qi Prince would bring to the banquet today. She hoped he wouldn't bring Consort Xi; the Chrysanthemum Banquet would inevitably involve poetry, and she didn't want to see Consort Xi's masterpiece a second time.
"Murong Wei, do you think I want to be Emperor?" Xuan Yuanli suddenly asked, his voice low.
Murong Wei quickly turned around, somewhat surprised, but remained silent.
"Do you think I want to obtain Emperor Xuanyuan's military treatise and usurp the throne?" Xuan Yuanli asked again, very seriously.
"Isn't that right?" Murong Wei retorted calmly. This guy had absolutely no cunning; how could he say something like that to her?
“No,” Xuan Yuanli smiled, “because the throne was originally mine.”
Murong Wei frowned suddenly, immediately sensing a conspiracy. Something must have been suppressed about the brothers' struggle for the throne back then!
At this moment, the carriage slowly stopped; they had reached the palace gate and needed to switch to a sedan chair.
Xuan Yuanli didn't say anything more and was about to get out when Murong Wei quickly grabbed him. “Why are you telling me so much!”
“Two reasons,” Xuan Yuanli said.
“What?” Murong Wei asked.
“Half is because you saved me twice, and half is because…” Xuan Yuanli, who had been serious, smiled now, “because you said half of it is because of friendship.”
Murong Wei was stunned, not by Xuan Yuanli's words, but by the sincerity in his eyes, a childlike sincerity.
“Then, why are you only allowing me to get close?” Murong Wei asked again.
"I don't know either!" Xuan Yuanli said, getting out of the carriage.
Upon exiting, he saw the palace gates were empty except for a sedan chair.
"What are you dawdling for? You're late!" Xuan Yuanli said impatiently.
Murong Wei dared not delay any longer and quickly got out of the carriage.
Only one sedan chair had been arranged; Xuan Yuanli carried it, and Murong Wei could only follow quickly with the steward on either side.
It wasn't that the emperor had done this intentionally, or that they were truly late; her name was on the invitation, yet there was no sedan chair. But it didn't matter; this short distance wouldn't be difficult for her.
However, she soon realized the seriousness of the problem.
Heading towards the Imperial Garden, she was met by a large, dark crowd.
The sedan chair stopped, and the accompanying eunuch shouted loudly, "The Thirteenth Prince has arrived!" As soon as
these words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent, all eyes turned to him, and many people stood up and bowed their heads in respect.
In the center of the Imperial Garden, facing north, stood the Emperor's grand banquet table with a golden dragon design. To the left and right were the two Empress Dowagers' banquet tables with golden dragon designs. Both
Empress Dowagers were present, but Xuan Yuanlie was nowhere to be seen. Below five or six steps, on the flat ground, tables were arranged in a row, east and west. The west side was entirely occupied by women; the head table was for Nangong Jingsi, followed by Madam Gu, Yelü Lingrong, and Consort Xi. Behind them were
likely the ladies and young women of the royal family, and the last seat was empty. At the two tables on the east side, in two rows, Prince Qi, still dressed in his elegant white robes, sat at the back. Though understated, his
white attire was undeniably striking. The seat in front of him was empty, presumably for the Thirteenth Prince. The east side was entirely occupied by men. Those in front were clearly court officials, each dignified and imposing. Behind them were young men in fine clothes, of high status.
Even the steward couldn't enter. Murong Wei followed behind Xuan Yuanli, walking step by step along the central red carpet under the watchful eyes of everyone on both sides.
In the silence, whispers began to rise, many expressing surprise, and even more mocking laughter, all laughing at her attire for being unsuitable for the occasion. All the women present were dressed in fine clothes or gorgeous gowns, adorned with jewels, even the most prestigious international jewelry exhibitions were no more extravagant.
"The rumors are true! The Thirteenth Prince allowed this woman to get close!"
"My God! There are women like this? She already has a child, and she's still trying to seduce the Thirteenth Prince! An old cow eating young grass, shameless!"
"Look at her clothes! Even the maids in my household dress better than her.
" "Such a shabby look! I think the Thirteenth Prince is just after something new!"
"That's Murong Wei! My husband said she's the one who saved Prince Qi at Yanxi Palace!"
"Prince Qi saved her, right?"
"I wonder what kind of seductive tricks this vixen used to bewitch both princes!"
"I heard she's incredibly beautiful. Even with a veil, her face is so pretty, attracting all sorts of suitors!"
"Really? Wasn't she disfigured?"
"No way! It's news from Prince Qi's residence. A maid from Consort De's courtyard said she saw her without her veil at Prince Qi's residence. She was so beautiful! You don't know? It's all over the capital, even more sensational than when she saved Prince Qi!"
"Heh, beauty is fleeting, it won't last. Look at her
, what official title does she have now!" "Exactly! I think she's just a joke the Emperor has made for us today!"
...
Murong Wei overheard some of this, but remained composed, head held high, eyes forward, walking forward. Let them talk, let them laugh,
but she hadn't even reached halfway
when a noblewoman approached, deliberately keeping a ten-step distance from Xuan Yuanli. "Your Highness, this is something my daughter asked me to deliver. I hope Your Highness will accept it!"
Indeed, the banquet was a good place; women sought marriage partners, and men busied themselves with socializing.
Xuan Yuanli didn't even glance at it, taking a detour. When he got closer, the lady had to consciously push him away.
Murong Wei followed behind, glancing at the item. It was an embroidered chrysanthemum design, the craftsmanship quite impressive.
Just as they were about to reach their seats, another minister stepped forward to stop them. "Thirteenth Prince, this is a gift from my son. He went to the Flowing Sand Kingdom for training when he was young. He unexpectedly obtained a silver dagger and specially sent it by express courier. We hope Your Highness will accept it!"
"Get out!" Xuan Yuanli roared without any politeness, his anger exactly the same as when he had dealt with Yelü Lingrong!
The minister retreated sullenly. Xuan Yuanli strode forward, bowed to the two empress dowagers, and then sat down, his expression somewhat strange.
Murong Wei followed suit, bowing but not speaking. Suddenly, she realized something: there were no extra seats!
She had been so focused on following Xuan Yuanli that she had forgotten that seats couldn't be chosen randomly! Whether in modern times or ancient times, large banquets have very strict seating rules. As
soon as Xuan Yuanli sat down, everyone else followed suit, and for a moment, the entire hall was silent except for her, who remained standing.
Murong Wei, with her back to Prince Qi, didn't see his expression, but she noticed that everyone in the room was staring at her, including the two empress dowagers above, and Nangong Jingsi, Madam Gu, Yelü Lingrong, and Consort Xi opposite her.
Only then did Xuan Yuanli notice something amiss. At his brother's banquets, regardless of the occasion, the women were always seated to the left of the men; today, they were sitting opposite each other!