"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—"
An unrelenting rain of arrows ca, as if they were free!
Moreover, these arrows were extrely fierce, launched by crossbows, possessing overwhelming power and unstoppable sharpness.
"Clang, clang, clang!"
The coachman on the carriage drew his longsword and struggled to resist, but he was outnumbered and outmatched by the powerful crossbows.
In the next mont, an arrow pierced through his chest, killing him instantly!
At the sa ti, with the coachman gone, there ca a sharp scream from inside, followed by the frightened cries of a child, which lasted only a short while before fading away.
"Swish, swish, swish," several figures in black erged from the forest, approaching the carriage.
One of them cut open the carriage with a sword, revealing a woman and a child inside, both already pierced with arrows like porcupines.
Their bodies were full of arrows, and dark blood continuously oozed from their wounds, corroding their clothes and flesh, spreading a foul stench.
A black-clad figure stepped forward, turned over the woman to check her identity, and said indifferently, "Go!"
Instantly, all the figures in black withdrew.
As they left, the sound of hooves resounded from the distant official road, indicating many people were approaching.
"Hya, hya!"
An older man was riding on horseback; it was Li Yao, the Capital Commandant of the Imperial Army.
Earlier, Long Yue had said she wanted to leave with Rui’er, and Qi Yun thought it was too dangerous for a woman to travel with a child, so he sent Li Yao and the Imperial Army to protect her. But Long Yue ran so fast, they couldn’t catch up.
Now, Li Yao and his n had caught up.
A strong stench wafted from ahead, causing a jolt in Li Yao’s heart, prompting him to urge his n to quicken their pace.
"Mr. Li, look quickly!"
A sharp-eyed guard suddenly pointed towards the southwest, shouting loudly, and Li Yao imdiately led his n there.
On the ground lay two bodies, one of a woman and the other of a child.
Seeing these two bodies covered in dark, foul blood, Li Yao staggered and nearly lost his voice.
Isn’t this the corpse of the Princess Consort and the little Imperial Grandson? Who else could it be?
They... they were murdered!
"Mr. Li, we arrived a mont too late!"
The guard beside Li Yao shouted in anguish.
Li Yao faltered, trembling as he looked at the two bodies.
"Gather the remains of Princess Consort Mu and her child and bring them back to the Capital City. Let’s go, go..."
Li Yao’s voice was hoarse with grief as he issued the order.
Li Yao returned to the Imperial Palace with the two bodies, and upon seeing them, Qi Yun was deeply saddened and furious, urging Emperor Qi Junlian to find the true culprit as soon as possible, or else he was unfit to be the Emperor!
The statent was so severe it left no room for Qi Junlian, suggesting the Supre Emperor was absolutely incensed.
But since ancient tis, filial piety cos first, and Qi Junlian couldn’t argue against it, promptly issuing a decree ordering the Three Review Departnts to thoroughly investigate the matter, ensuring accountability.
As for what constitutes accountability? Finding the true culprit is ideal, but even if not found, soone must be blad.
The next day, news from Sanqing Palace indicated the Supre Emperor had fallen ill from anger over the assassination of Princess Consort Mu and her son.
Chief Eunuch Chen Zhong imdiately summoned the Imperial Hospital for a consultation. Reportedly, even if he recovered, his vitality would be severely depleted, with implications he couldn’t live long.
...
Seventh Prince Mansion, backyard.
Qi Junchen picked up a wine cup and respectfully toasted the fair-skinned, beardless man opposite him, smiling lightly, "Thank you for your planning, Sir. Now the Princess Consort Mu and her child are dead, and Father has thus fallen into despair, heh, presumably his days are numbered..."
At this point, Qi Junchen could not continue, lest it be deed treasonous, but his aning was clear.
After such a major upheaval, Qi Yun surely wouldn’t live long, and thus, Qi Junchen’s great undertaking could gradually unfold.
...
In a deep, dark underground chamber, suddenly, a light flickered.
It was a giant Luminous Pearl, illuminating the surroundings, improving the visibility.
A middle-aged man stood with one hand behind his back, gazing at a stone door.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
The stone door rumbled and slowly opened.
Behind the stone door, Long Yue slowly erged with Rui’er in her arms.
She glanced at Qi Yun and said indifferently, "Supre Emperor, what’s the point of such deception? It only results in the deaths of two innocents."
"Yue’er, would you be willing to let your Rui’er die?"
Qi Yun looked at her in deep sorrow.
A heart already dead is the most terrifying, for such a person becos desperate, often doing incomprehensible things — like Long Yue’s indifferent attitude towards life and death, which deeply worried him.
Thinking of Rui’er, a fleeting sadness crossed Long Yue’s eyes but quickly vanished.
"Yue’er, others tried to assassinate you and your child this ti; I suspect others from foreign nations were involved; though Shen Chong claims he hasn’t seen this dicine before, I know it’s Beiliang’s secret dicine."
"Beiliang? Again, Beiliang? I have no enmity with Beiliang, why would they harm my child and ?"
Long Yue beca agitated.
There’s no need to say it; certainly, soone from Beiliang wanted to kill her!
If it were just a one-ti encounter with the secret dicine, it would be understandable as originating from Beiliang, but it happens every ti. Beiliang’s secret dicine isn’t a common commodity available in abundance.
"Old Seven has conspired with people from Beiliang; he’s committing treason!"
At this point, Qi Yun spoke with a sorrowful expression, after all, that was his son, whether he’s accomplished or not, he remains his flesh and blood.
Yet, one after another, they either conspire rebellion or engage in fratricide, colluding with foreign powers.
Qi Yun often wondered whether he had failed as the Emperor, leading his children to beco like this.
"So Yue’er, you must leave Shengjing City, letting people outside believe you are dead, ensuring you and your child’s safety."
"Leave? This place has beco my ho, how can I leave? Once gone, where would I go?"
"Xinan, Cao Family, go to your grandfather there; he can protect you."
"Xinan?" Long Yue was montarily stunned and softly laughed, "It is indeed a good sanctuary. Still, soone wants to harm us; leaving quietly, I am truly unwilling! Moreover, Supre Emperor, are you not afraid he’ll harm you?"
Though her words were borderline treasonous, only Long Yue dared speak so.
Qi Yun burst into laughter upon hearing this, "Yue’er, it seems you’re ultimately worried about ; rest assured, I won’t be hard; over the years, many have tried to kill , but have they succeeded?"
Long Yue looked at him and gently shook her head.
The Chen Country rebellion, Pang Wenzheng’s Da Rong spy—you na it, they all wanted him dead but failed.
"So, no one can kill unless I don’t wish to live!"
These words were spoken with such boldness, earning Long Yue a mont of respect.
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