Liu Chuang only brought a few trusted followers for the escort. Traveling day and night with one man and two horses, they rushed nonstop.
Although Chen Chu had been able to bring the Heir out of the imperial city, it showed that Emperor Wuzhao had agreed to let the Heir return to the Northern Plains, so he probably would not send anyone to intercept them.
But just because Emperor Wuzhao would not do it did not mean other forces would not.
To ensure the Heir’s safety, Liu Chuang did not dare be the least bit careless.
After two days and one night, the fast-moving convoy reached Fengling Ferry, the border of Chen Territory. Crossing it would put them in Northern Plains territory.
At that moment, the tension in Liu Chuang’s nerves finally eased a little.
However, just as the main force was about to cross the ferry, the lake water by the roadside suddenly seemed to boil, gurgling with bubbles that kept spreading.
“Heir, go quickly!”
Liu Chuang and his trusted men drew their battle sabers in perfect coordination, leaped from their horses, and charged at the boiling lake at the same time.
Boom!
A huge water dragon spiraled up out of the water, its head smashing toward Liu Chuang, while its claws shredded his men alive one by one.
At the exit of Fengling Ferry, a cripple leaning on a crutch appeared, his face hideously twisted.
Faced with such enormous danger, Fang Lingqiu did not dare slow down at all. Instead, he pushed the warhorses to their limit, trying to break through in one burst.
The cripple lifted his crutch and pointed it at the charging warhorses from afar. Cracks of irregular blood-red patterns appeared on the horses’ bodies, and in the next instant they exploded on the spot, turning into a pool of blood.
Carried by momentum, Fang Lingqiu crashed to the ground, rolled more than ten times before coming to a stop, and felt as if his internal organs were being torn apart.
Behind him, a mustachioed man in a blue robe stood atop the water dragon, closing the trap with the cripple.
By then, only Liu Chuang and Fang Lingqiu were still alive. They huddled together, with no way to escape.
“Come with us.”
The cripple’s voice was hoarse and sinister.
Fang Lingqiu, both shocked and terrified, asked, “Who exactly are you?”
“Heir, if I’m not mistaken, they’re from the Hall of Anomalies!”
Liu Chuang had basically figured it out.
“The Hall of Anomalies? The Imperial Preceptor wants to capture me?”
Wasn’t the master of the Hall of Anomalies the Tianchen Imperial Preceptor?
At that moment, Fang Lingqiu could not help thinking: could the person behind the scenes who used the Imperial Grandson to cripple him and stir up conflict between the royal family and the Northern Plains also be the Imperial Preceptor?
“That’s right, we are from the Hall of Anomalies. Heir Fang, if you want to live, you can only cooperate.”
Fang Lingqiu looked helplessly at Liu Chuang, who could only nod in resignation.
If they were taken to the Hall of Anomalies, they would at least still have a chance to survive and think of a way out.
If they died, then nothing would remain.
Just then, a proud, cold voice seemed to come from beyond the heavens.
“With this Grand Director here, two petty scoundrels at the Heavenly Official Realm still want to take Heir Fang away? Dream on.”
As the words fell, a streak of afterimage swept into the woods. It was Yu Chenghua.
A famous name carries a formidable reputation. The moment Yu Chenghua appeared, the two twelfth-rank experts in ambush did not dare utter a single boast and turned to flee.
Both of them were twelfth-rank Heavenly Official Realm experts, and anywhere they went they would count as major figures.
But in the eyes of Yu Chenghua, Grand Director Eunuch of the Tianchen imperial palace, they were nothing at all.
He had already stepped into the fourteenth rank twenty years ago.
“Trying to leave? Not that easy.”
With a light chuckle, Yu Chenghua spread his five fingers slightly. A massive sucking force caught the two fleeing men. After a few awkward flailing motions, they were forced backward through the air and slammed into each other back to back.
Yu Chenghua could not even be bothered with these two assassins. He politely cupped his hands toward Fang Lingqiu. “His Majesty guessed that the Heir might encounter an ambush on the way back to the Northern Plains, so he specially ordered this old servant to escort you in secret.”
“Thank you, Grand Director Yu. Thank you, His Majesty.”
Fang Lingqiu thanked him, still shaken.
“Your subordinate dares to ask Grand Director Yu one question. Since Grand Director Yu was escorting us secretly, why didn’t you act in time? Then I wouldn’t have lost several brothers!”
Liu Chuang was somewhat indignant.
Everyone knew who Yu Chenghua was. His martial realm had already reached an unfathomable level.
Marshal Fang himself had said that in terms of martial realm alone, he was no match for Grand Director Yu in the imperial palace.
That was why he was so angry.
“Sorry, this old servant just dozed off for a moment.”
Liu Chuang: “…”
He had definitely done it on purpose!
Liu Chuang clenched his fists, his anger with nowhere to vent.
Yu Chenghua had no desire to deal with Liu Chuang. He still looked at Fang Lingqiu with a warm expression and said, “Heir Fang, these two people may not necessarily be from the Hall of Anomalies. Of course, it is also not certain that they are not from the Hall of Anomalies. This old servant will take them back and interrogate them, and then we’ll know.”
“However, regarding the matter of Heir Fang being crippled, the Imperial Grandson was only a blade that was used; he was also a victim. I believe Heir Fang can tell the difference.”
Fang Lingqiu was not so dull that he could not think of that.
But the sword was Chen Fengyi’s sword, and Chen Fengyi had held it to injure him.
How could he possibly not hate Chen Fengyi?
Still, Fang Lingqiu was not a stubborn fool. If he wanted to return alive to the Northern Plains, he certainly could not contradict Yu Chenghua.
What’s more, Chen Chu had promised him that after His Majesty passed away, he would personally hand Chen Fengyi over to him.
He said he understood: “Lingqiu understands.”
In truth, Yu Chenghua did not care about Fang Lingqiu’s answer at all. He was merely the man who delivered the imperial will.
“His Majesty asked this old servant to carry a message to the Frontier Marshal, and I hope Heir Fang will pass it on.”
“Please speak, Grand Director Yu.”
“His Majesty says that once a crack forms, it cannot be made whole again. If the right opportunity arises, he will personally go to the Northern Plains to apologize. In addition, His Majesty also said that Marshal Fang should marry another wife to continue the family line.”
Fang Lingqiu gritted his teeth in anger, but could only burn with rage and remain unable to strike back.
“Lingqiu will relay His Majesty’s imperial decree!”
“Sigh… Heir Fang, it’s time to go.”
It was only after Liu Chuang and Fang Lingqiu disappeared from sight that Yu Chenghua raised his hand and killed those two twelfth-rank experts before turning around and heading back.
…
Yu Chenghua returned to the imperial palace’s Imperial Study, intending to report to His Majesty, but he stopped in his tracks from far away.
The reason was simple: the noble Empress was arguing with His Majesty.
Inside the Imperial Study, the normally elegant and dignified Empress Du Lin’er had a fiercely twisted expression, and her jade finger was almost poking Emperor Wuzhao Chen Qing in the nose.
“Chen Chu must be severely punished! No, he must be stripped of his commoner status and driven out of the imperial city! Otherwise, I will have no way to answer for my poor grandson!”
It was obvious that Chen Fengyi had come to the Empress to complain.
Chen Qing remained unmoved. Even the way he looked at Du Lin’er was extremely cold, with no trace of spousal affection in it at all.
“What kind of look is that, Your Majesty? You still can’t bear to punish Chen Chu? Your heart still can’t forget that witch from the Longevity Sect, can it? If you have the guts, go to the wasteland and rekindle your old flame with her!”
Du Lin’er said jealously.
“Empress, it’s not your place to lecture me on how I handle things.”
Chen Qing showed an irritated expression.
Du Lin’er finally understood.
His Majesty had already decided to abandon Fengyi.
Otherwise, how could he ignore such humiliation suffered by the Imperial Grandson?
But she had only one son and only one grandson.
The other princes were not her children.
If Fengyi could not inherit the grand throne, how could she sit securely in the position of Grand Empress Dowager?
Her emotions gradually steadied, and she looked at Chen Qing with a sneer, her tone full of provocation. “My eldest brother is coming to the imperial city.”
Chen Qing was slightly surprised, but after a moment’s thought he understood that Du Lin’er had clearly invited him here to remove obstacles for Fengyi.
Du Hanhai had entered the Land Immortal realm last year. His strength was indeed formidable, but it might not be enough to impress anyone.
He said rather impatiently, “If the Empress’s brother wants to come, I won’t stop him.”
Du Lin’er’s expression turned sinister. “If my eldest brother learns how Chen Chu dealt with Fengyi, he might kill someone.”
Chen Qing gave her a stern look. “Let him kill.”