Chapter 151: "Know Your Place (2)"
The series of bodily explosions greatly affected the people of the Imperial City. Although with many of the Rui Lin Army soldiers' reassurance, the people were somewhat appeased, for those who witnessed the explosion first hand, it was a gory sight that will haunt them for the rest of their lives.
Many of the eye witnesses took ill from the shock from the frightful sight that very afternoon. They came down with high fevers, and their spiritual powers seemed to churn and boil within their bodies, which brought about great agony. All physicians within the city were sought out, but none could identify the cause.
Burning up with the fever, many were soon bedridden, not knowing that they had been poisoned.
The effects of the poison surfaced later in persons with higher spiritual powers as when the poison amplified the spiritual powers, these people had a higher capacity to contain those powers. On the other hand, very few of the common people even achieved the basic red level of their spirits, and their bodies were not able to contain much amplification.
In the Lin Palace, carts and carts of herbs arrived endlessly. With the Imperial City under the control of the Rui Lin Army, the proprietors of the herbs stores and medical halls had no choice but to comply with their request, especially when fully armoured soldiers were standing in front of their doors, as they hurriedly emptied their warehouses.
And it was not as if they were giving it away for nothing, the Rui Lin Army soldiers had told them the herbs were requested by the Crown Prince and the corresponding payment will be sent to them in a few days.
That had the owners and proprietors do it a little more willingly.
Jun Wu Xie's courtyard was stacked wall to wall full of herbs and the rapidly arriving herbs were carted to the courtyard that Mo Qian Yuan occupied as storage.
Jun Wu Xie had been cooped up in the dispensary all morning till midday, carrying out endless tests and analysis on the poison that afflicted the ten Rui Lin Army guards. From the small cup of blood that she drew from the soldiers, Jun Wu Xie finally made a breakthrough.
Night crept up, and the bright moon peeked out from behind the dark cover of clouds and its light bathed the land in a soft glow.
Jun Wu Xie had finally concocted the antidote and had the soldiers drink it before she checked their pulse. Their pulse had become stable and their spiritual powers no longer thrashed and churned, recovering to its usual calm.
"You are dismissed. And get me Long Qi."
They saluted Jun Wu Xie and left immediately. Long Qi came in a moment later.
Jun Wu Xie had had a hectic day, and her legs were sore. She sat on a chair massaging her knees.
Long Qi walked up to her silently, poured a cup of warm water and offered it to her, head lowered.
Young Miss had always been quiet and did not speak much, her face a perpetual cold mask, generally rather unapproachable. But if she was willing to help, she completes the task beautifully. Long Qi had seen the soldiers before coming here. From their complexion and countenance, he saw that they have indeed recovered and Jun Wu Xie had successfully concocted the antidote.
He had been a military man all his life, and there was not much he can do for his Young Miss. He can only express his eternal gratitude, in his own clumsy way.
Jun Wu Xie did not act aloof but simply gulped down the water. Her dry throat was moisturized by the warm water and she lost a little of the fatigue.
"I had been useless, I made no headway in finding out the identities of the exploding bodies." Long Qi hung his head in shame as he had failed to conclude anything with the investigation into the fifty cases of exploding bodies that Jun Wu Xie had tasked him with.
Jun Wu Xie was not surprised. "They exploded, normal." Even the bones were shattered, unless they used equipment and technology from her past life, no one would be able to come up with anything.
Chapter 152: "Know Your Place (3)"
"I have prepared the antidote, we do not have the exact numbers of people poisoned, hence I prepared enough for everyone. After all the Rui Lin Army soldiers have taken the antidote, get them to deliver it into the hands of everyone."
The poison spread over a very wide area, and Jun Wu Xie was unable to provide a diagnosis for everyone, so it was decided to have everyone take the antidote, which would be more efficient.
"Consider it done."
"I assume I do not have to tell you how to do it?" the cold eyes looked at Long Qi expectantly.
"I will not disappoint you!" Long Qi replied resolutely.
On the day after the exploding bodies, more people fell sick. With the physicians clueless on where to start, the people started to panick.
On that same afternoon, a notice was put up all over the city. The people who read it were furious and the news spread like wildfire to all corners of the city.
The culprits who have been hiding in the city have not given up the fight and have used poison to spread fear in the Imperial City. The fifty exploding bodies the day before was caused by the poison that they used.
Within moments, the people were cursing and swearing everywhere in the city and people with family members taken ill from the poison were sobbing with worry.
While panic ran high among the people, the Crown Prince Mo Qian Yuan brought the Rui Lin Army out, and handed out the antidote to the masses, a concoction in a tiny bottle, that neutralises the poison in their bodies.
Eighty thousand of the Rui Lin Army were deployed, incessantly handing the antidote into the hands of the people. Those afflicted with the poison saw instant improvements after they consumed the antidote and in half a day, word of Mo Qian Yuan's gesture of kindness was on the lips of everyone, singing his praises in deep gratitude. On this day, the Crown Prince's standing and popularity shot high beyond the clouds, support for him even overshadowing the current sitting Emperor.
A state of emergency was again declared, and those who were resistant to the initial lock down of the city had by now hated the perpetrators to the core and became fully supportive of the Rui Lin Army.
The people were in a fervour, not only the Crown Prince had his reputation drastically raised, but the Rui Lin Army were now embraced as the protectors of the people.
The scheme that could have annihilated the whole of the Imperial City was foiled cauldron by cauldron, with Jun Wu Xie's antidote that the Rui Lin Army distributed bottle by bottle into the hands of the people that neutralised the poison in their bodies, totally eradicating this threat to the Imperial City.
The speed at which this was carried out did not allow time for the news to reach the Imperial Palace. Besides the initial fifty deaths on the first day, there were no other casualties from the poison.
In order to identify the culprits' hideout, the Rui Lin Army investigated into the identities of the fifty dead. They were blown to bits and it was impossible to investigate based on their looks. They started to investigate on families with missing persons.
In the Lin Palace, Jun Qing looked on as Jun Wu Xie busied herself with her pills, his expression thoughtful.
"You had Long Qi declare that the people responsible for the poison were the same culprits still hidden within the Imperial City, what was the purpose of that?" Jun Qing was unable to fathom the intentions of his own niece. With the uproar on the poison, it had given the Rui Lin Army a stronger reason to maintain control in the Imperial City, but Jun Wu Xie did not intend to end the issue here, how far does she intend to bring this?
Jun Wu Xie was still busying herself with the pills as she replied: "Things that have been hidden, naturally must be uncovered."
Jun Qing thought to himself, Jun Wu Xie got the Rui Lin Army to investigate into the identities of the fifty dead with the people. But with the way they died, it was an impossible task. With such a big number of citizens in the city, it will not be easy to find that out, even as missing persons.
"Under normal circumstances, it would have been tough to find out their identities. It is different now. With the people worried about the poison, the people will look into the safety of all their family members, including those members who have been conscripted into public service." Jun Wu Xie explained, a bunch of herbs in her hands.
Chapter 153: "Know Your Place (4)"
Jun Qing was startled, Jun Wu Xie intends to divert the people's anger towards the powers that be?
"How can you be sure, those fifty dead were from the Imperial Palace?" Jun Wu Xie was right, under normal circumstances, the families of people working in public service would not get involved. But with the poison affecting the whole Imperial City, they will be worried about family members who stay within the Imperial Palace walls and inquire into their safety.
Moreover, it was made clear by Long Qi and his men, that the antidote was distributed only to the people, and not to the Imperial Palace.
The families of public servants have since carried the antidotes to the Imperial Palace, to ensure they are safe.
In this aspect, Jun Wu Xie had not needed to lift a finger to have news brought to her but the people will do it on their own accord.
"To carry out such an insidious deed, would they dare use the common people?" Jun Wu Xie pointed out matter of factly. A deed that dragged in the whole city's people, even as the Emperor, he will be dethroned by the angry populace. With the stakes, they will not risk it.
If it wasn't palace maids or eunuchs, it had to come from the Imperial army guards, the Yu Lin Army, and Jun Wu Xie was certain of this.
"But if this was found out....." Jun Qing dared not imagine the repercussions if the people found out, that the initial fifty carriers of the poison, had come from the Imperial Palace.
"You would use the anger of the people, against the Emperor?" Jun Qing asked.
Jun Wu Xie shook her head.
"In matters of revenge, I like to do it myself."
If done with the hand of others, it would never be as satisfying.....
And, with a raging mob, against the might of the Emperor, it loses much of the impact.
A shiver ran through Jun Qing as he looked upon Jun Wu Xie. He did not know exactly what Jun Wu Xie had up her sleeve, but he was crystal clear on one thing. Whoever her target was this time, that person was already a dead man walking!
"You said the poison was the doing of Bai Yun Xian? Wu Xie, there is much about the Qing Yun Clan that you might not know, I would like to point out that, if your target is the Emperor, you can achieve it with legitimacy and glory under Mo Qian Yuan's banner as the Crown Prince. But if your target is Bai Yun Xian, you would have to very cautious as she has Qing Yun Clan behind her. Killing her alone would not pose much difficulty, but having to deal with Qing Yun Clan after that will be very tough." Jun Qing cautioned. After Jun Wu Xie told him that both the poison that afflicted Lin Yue Yang and the one that killed the fifty men this time round were from Bai Yun Xian, he knew, Jun Wu Xie would never spare her.
Jun Wu Xie knitted her brows in thought. She did not know much about Qing Yun Clan, only through bits and pieces heard from people around her that they built their might throughout the lands with their knowledge on medicine. Qing Yun Clan's medical prowess was acknowledged and revered by many kingdoms and various mighty powers, few went against them, not in fear of their might, but in fear of loss of access to their medical know how.
Everyone fears death, and everyone hopes to receive the helping hand of Qing Yun Clan at these critical times.
This reliance, did not seem like much. But if and when Qing Yun Clan sound a clarion call for borrowed might, what will be scary to their enemies, will be the thunderous throng of answers from all who were indebted to Qing Yun Clan, and from those who seek their expertise.
Besides the various kingdoms, nomad forces in the outerlands were not to be underestimated, and not forgetting the power of revered reclusive hermits.
These were some of the forces and might, at the disposal of the Qing Yun Clan.
If the Qing Yun Clan were to raise its hand against the Jun Family, it would be the toughest battle they had faced, amplified a hundred times!
The might of many armies and various forces closing in from all sides, would not be stoppable by a single army of a mere several hundred thousand!
Chapter 154: "The Show Begins (1)"
Jun Wu Xie's eyes narrowed, thinking that to avoid facing that scenario, there were only two choices. The first one was to give up on the revenge on Bai Yun Xian, and the second was to not let Qing Yun Clan know the truth of the matter.
Spare Bai Yun Xian?
That was impossible for Jun Wu Xie.
Anyone who hurts her grandfather, must die!
"Uncle, don't worry, I have my plans all thought out." Jun Wu Xie had thought the whole thing through.
Jun Qing stared at Jun Wu Xie, hoping to get some clue from her expressions on what she was planning, but the cold expressionless face betrayed nothing.
This girl was too deep, if she refuses to say anything, nobody can guess what she is up to.
"Just be careful, but do remember, if you come into any danger, the Jun Family and the Rui Lin Army will stand behind you!"
"Yes, I know."
And soon, the answer she was waiting for came, from the commoners in the Imperial City.
It was the middle of night, about twenty over families were kneeling in front of the Lin Palace with torches in their hands, crying and sobbing.
Long Qi went up to them and found out that all those families were the families members of soldiers in the Yu Lin Army. When they heard that the poison spread throughout the whole city this afternoon, they got the antidote from the Rui Lin Army. The various families gathered together to deliver the antidote to the Yu Lin Army camp.
Many other families managed to hand the antidote to their family members, but they did not even get to see their family member. They panicked and kicked up a fuss at the gates of the encampment, and were driven away. They were worried after hearing about the potency of the poison and have come here to the Lin Palace, to implore that the Crown Prince help.
When Long Qi presented the families to Mo Qian Yuan, Jun Wu Xie who had received the news was already seated at the side, looking at the sobbing and crying group and she shot Mo Qian Yuan a meaningful glance.
For the initial fifty men who died, all investigations into their identities had yielded no results. And now, the Yu Lin Army suddenly has at least over twenty soldiers missing. Seems to be too much of a coincidence.
Jun Wu Xie had her own conclusions validated and she sat back unmoved at the scene in front of her.
Mo Qian Yuan caught the hint from Jun Wu Xie and expressed deep concern for the families present, and thumped his chest that he would address their concerns. With that, he immediately led a group of Rui Lin Army soldiers, and went banging on the doors of the Yu Lin Army.
Having tasted the mettle of the Rui Lin Army soldiers' prowess in battle, the cowered Yu Lin Army practically invited the group through their gates.
Mo Qian Yuan brought the sobbing families into the encampment, and sat down with his legs propped up and forcibly demanded the Yu Lin Army commander to hand over the army name list.
A detailed check through the list showed that in the past few days, the Yu Lin Army suddenly had fifty soldiers missing for no reason. The commander had been red in the face, as he did not know nor could he explain the whereabouts of the fifty soldiers.
At that moment, the families of the missing Yu Lin Army soldiers created a big ruckus.
It was too much of a coincidence! We just had fifty bodies that exploded in the city, and at the same time, the Yu Lin Army has fifty soldiers missing!?
Before daybreak, the news had reached the ears of everyone in the city!
They all knew, deep down inside, the fifty bodies that exploded, were the missing fifty Yu Lin Army soldiers!
The poison was released by the Yu Lin Army?
The whole city was abuzz with rumours and theories. The Yu Lin Army were too afraid to step out and hid within their encampment.
At the same time in the Lin Palace, Jun Wu Xie was arranging the lotus that was put in the Jade Dew Nectar when Mo Qian Yuan banged the door open, the expression on his face both excited and joyous.
"Success, we did it!"
Chapter 155: "The Show Begins (2)"
Jun Wu Xie raised her eyes and looked at the excited Mo Qian Yuan.
"The Yu Lin Army had been holed up within the Imperial Palace all this time, and the people think that there are traitors within them. They have petitioned for me to go flush them out!" Mo Qian Yuan exclaimed, unable to withhold the excitement he was feeling. He knew Jun Wu Xie's plan. She had held back the Rui Lin Army, and waited as he gathered more support from the people.
In the face of overwhelming odds, having Mo Qian Yuan distribute the antidote to the people and letting him claim all the credit had done the trick. The overwhelming support from the people that the Crown Prince had gained erased all traces of the once fumbling and muddleheaded Crown Prince from their minds.
Jun Wu Xie's had planned for the regime change, but she had also cherished the reputation of the Lin Palace. Hence, she had been waiting for an opportunity. And now, Bai Yun Xian had presented this chance to her on a silver platter, wouldn't it be rude to reject and hurt the poor girl's feelings?
This time, both Mo Qian Yuan and the Rui Lin Army, had a legitimate reason to enter the Imperial Palace!
If the Emperor were to stop them, he would have to face some rather incriminating charges.
The crime of poisoning the whole city's populace, not even the Emperor can stand against charges like this!
"I see." Jun Wu Xie replied coolly, busying with the lotus.
Mo Qian Yuan's face was red with excitement, "How are you so calm? Are you not excited?" For things to take such an unexpected turn was something Mo Qian Yuan could never even have dreamed of. And the one who planned it all, was Jun Wu Xie!
Everything had already fallen in place. The Rui Lin Army had a reason to enter the Imperial Palace legitimately, and the rest would be a walk in the park!
Jun Wu Xie was about to achieve her goals, how can she remain so calm?
"Excited? Why?" Jun Wu Xie tilted her head, her smooth black hair over her shoulder, her eyes tinged with query.
Mo Qian Yuan was speechless.
"This was the plan, nothing to get excited about." Jun Wu Xie went back to her tasks. She did not need emotions that cloud her judgements. She only needed to think through and review every step in her plan and ensure she did not slip up, and that would be enough.
In her eyes, the Emperor was as good as dead, she needed to think how she was going to "repay" Bai Yun Xian's "present" to her.
Mo Qian Yuan did not know what to say. Since that night when the Rui Lin Army stormed the Imperial Palace, he had never seen much of a change of expression on Jun Wu Xie.
The smile he saw that night, brought death and emptiness, so beautiful yet so terrifying.
"When do you plan to lead the troops to the Imperial Palace?" Mo Qian Yuan realised, that the moment Jun Wu Xie leads the Rui Lin Army into the Imperial Palace, the throne of Qi will change hands.
"In two hours." Jun Wu Xie replied.
"So soon?"
"While the people are still raging." The fruit was ripe for the picking, it was time.
Mo Qian Yuan understood. "I will go inform Long Qi." he said and ran off to prepare.
Jun Wu Xie sat back in her chair, her eye tinged in frost.
[Is Mistress going on a rampage again?] The little black cat jumped onto the table, licking its furry paws, its voice pitched higher in unbridled anticipation.
The symphony of death written with fresh blood, just beautiful.
Jun Wu Xie glanced at the little black cat and intoned: "I just want the Jun Family safe."
If left undisturbed, she did not bite. If the uninformed were to step on her toes, she would render them to pieces, scatter their souls, and cease to exist!
Chapter 156: "The Show Begins (3)"
Ever since the founding of Qi, no other army besides the Yu Lin Army had overt access to the Imperial Palace.
But today, things are about to change.
Mo Qian Yuan led an army of five thousand Rui Lin Army soldiers right through the gates of the Imperial Palace, and the citizens in the city lined the sides of the streets in cheer, in a strong show of support for the "intruding" army.
Within the main hall of the Imperial Palace, the Emperor sat in his throne, his face dark with worry and all the palace guards stood anxiously outside, ants in their pants.
"This is all your fault!" The Emperor stared at Mo Xuan Fei through gritted teeth. He had not known of the actions taken by Mo Xuan Fei and Bai Yun Xian in retaliation of Jun Wu Xie. If he had known, he would have stopped them from carrying out such an insidious deed.
Poisoning the people of the Imperial City! That was atrocious!
The common people were like water. Water can push a ship, water can also sink a ship. The people had already leaned towards the Jun Family and Mo Qian Yuan in support and had unbridled praise for them, leaving the Emperor and the Second Prince in a state of house arrest within the Imperial Palace and losing control over the Imperial City. At a time of crisis like this, Mo Xuan Fei chose to go along with Bai Yun Xian with a half baked idea like this.
If they had succeeded, he would have had nothing to say. But, the Rui Lin Army came out of it without losing a single man, and they managed to push the blame for the poison onto the Yu Lin Army, giving Jun Wu Xie the perfect excuse to legitimately bring the Rui Lin Army into the Imperial Palace!
Mo Xuan Fei was pale with fear and despair.
Bai Yun Xian might have been a little too vicious with her scheme, but if it had succeeded, it would have gotten them out of the crisis.
He never would have imagined that the poison that had just started to spread, would be doused and neutralised so soon. The scheme did not help their situation at all, and it had instead backfired and fused the peoples' anger against the Imperial Palace.
"I have realised my mistake! Father, please save me!" Mo Xuan Fei knelt in front of the Emperor, shivering in fright.
"Save? How? Mo Qian Yuan, that lowly offspring, has jumped on the opportunity and led the Rui Lin Army to the Imperial Palace and will arrive at this very hall soon. What can I do? I had thought you were one with surpassing intelligence, but you have shown yourself to be worthless thrash! You placed your trust in a woman like Bai Yun Xian!? She is a disciple of Qing Yun Clan, even if the Kingdom of Qi was to be swallowed up, she still has Qing Yun Clan behind her. The Jun Family will have their misgivings in getting into a confrontation with the Qing Yun Clan and leave Bai Yun Xian alone. But what about you and me?" The Emperor leaned back in his throne, never ever this exhausted.
It's over, it's all over.
They could have bided their time and waited for the Qing Yun Clan to arrive, and recover their advantage. But Bai Yun Xian was too naive to think she could defeat Jun Wu Xie herself. What a joke!
"Where is Bai Yun Xian?" The Emperor asked in anger.
"In the Imperial Palace." Mo Xuan Fei said, still shivering. He only found out what was happening out beyond the walls when he came to the main hall. Bai Yun Xian was still oblivious that her scheme had flopped miserably.
"Get her here. She started this mess, and with her being a disciple of the Qing Yun Clan, she can stop the Rui Lin Army from doing anything rash. No matter what, we have to drag this out till the Qing Yun Clan gets here." The Emperor ordered, rubbing his temple. Things are spiralling out of control, Bai Yun Xian might have a strong backing, but that has also brought about her arrogance. If she had released the news to the nearby garrison and not to Qing Yun Clan, they will not be in such a quagmire now. If she had not planned something so malicious, the Rui Lin Army would not have any excuse to enter the Imperial Palace!
Chapter 157: "The Show Begins (4)"
After a short while, Bai Yun Xian was escorted to the main hall. Mo Xuan Fei related the events to her and she was taken aback that her plan had failed before it even began.
"That's not possible....." Bai Yun Xian said in disbelief. "That poison was taught to me by my master. Throughout the lands, only the Elder , my master and his disciples are taught how to concoct the antidote!"
Mo Xuan Fei and the Emperor exchanged a glance at Bai Yun Xian's statement and gave each other a wry look.
The medicine of Qing Yun Clan's was praised throughout the lands for having saved countless lives and helped endless people. They have been revered and sanctified Qing Yun Clan as the holy and unsullied place of healing. Behind that facade, the Qing Yun Clan teaches such vicious knowledge of poisons to their disciples?
Keeping the thoughts to themselves, they did not question Bai Yun Xian on it.
"Jun Wu Xie must have employed the services of an outstanding talent to nullify the crisis. She is currently with Mo Qian Yuan, leading the Rui Lin Army into the Imperial Palace, to confront you. Yun Xian, rest assured, I will do everything in my power to protect you!" Mo Xuan Fei clasped Bai Yun Xian's hands tightly in his, his eyes brimming with adoration.
"Come if she dares! I would like to see what she dares do to me! The Min Butterfly has already reached the Qing Yun Clan and my master has sent men to come here. If she dares hurt a hair on my head, my master will not spare her." Bai Yun Xian laughed coldly. "I had intended to deal with the trouble before the men from Qing Yun Clan gets here, it does not matter that the scheme failed anyway, the Qing Yun Clan will still come."
Bai Yun Xian, in her rage, did not catch the smiles on the faces of the Emperor and Mo Xuan Fei.
Pushing Bai Yun Xian to the forefront was the best move they can make now.
"The ignorant knows no fear." A cold voice rang out at the doors to the main hall and the three of them turned to look.
They saw Jun Wu Xie standing at the doors with Mo Qian Yuan beside her. The Rui Lin Army behind them had taken down the whole Yu Lin Army guards without a sound!
The Emperor's heart skipped a beat, the shock coursed through him and he could not find his voice. Jun Wu Xie's cold and expressionless eyes chilled him to the bone, and he could not raise his head to look into them, shrinking back into the throne.
"Imperial Father." Mo Qian Yuan greeted, composed and politely distant, as he walked into the main hall with Jun Wu Xie.
Bai Yun Xian clenched her teeth at the sight of Jun Wu Xie, and if it was not for Mo Xuan Fei who was holding her hands down, she would have walked up to that slut and given her two tight slaps.
"You are h..here....." His voice did not have his usual tone of authority, and was tinged with a slight tremor. The Emperor heard his own voice and quickly rearranged his emotions and tried to regain his composure.
"Imperial Father, I hereby report that there is a traitor among the Yu Lin Army who committed violent treachery with the intention to inflict harm upon the common people. Your son, my heart fraught with worry for your safety, has taken the initiative to bring troops into the Imperial City. I do not dare ask for your forgiveness, but to allow me to identify and apprehend that traitor who used poison in an attempt to destroy the Kingdom of Qi and to harm the innocents. Once I have apprehended the traitor, I will present myself to you, Imperial Father, to punish as you will!" Mo Qian Yuan knelt down with a loud thud, his clear resounding voice had every word echo within the hall.
The Emperor tried to squeeze out a smile. as the corners twitched slightly. 'Punish as you will', what empty words!? With Mo Qian Yuan having led such a big troop of Rui Lin Army soldiers into the Imperial Palace, how is he, though the Emperor, capable of punishing him!?
Chapter 158: "The Show Begins (5)"
What really ticked the Emperor off was that Jun Wu Xie had just stood there without a single word. Even if he chose to overlook that she arrived in the main hall without a bow or salutation to his Majesty as the Emperor, she did not even offer a single word of greeting! What an outrage! However, all he could do was to offer an amiable smile to his best ability.
The Emperor could not figure out what went wrong. He was almost rid of the Crown Prince, and even if he disregard that he had suddenly made a complete recovery, he had despite the odds garnered the total support of the common people! It had baffled him for a long time, but thinking back on it after seeing the pair standing in front of him, it all started after Mo Qian Yuan and Jun Wu Xie began to get close!
An obnoxious Young Miss from a declining Lin Palace, and an incompetent Crown Prince who was heavily poisoned.....
Put these two people he could have snuffed out with a snap of his fingers in the past together, and they had somehow brought upon him disaster as he had never encountered, practically placing his head on the guillotine.
And here they are, all the way in the main hall of the Imperial Palace, steps away from his throne.....
The Emperor would have roared with rage at their impunity, but he realised that the situation was not the same as before.
"Rise to your feet, you were doing it all in the interest of the kingdom, how would I place blame upon you?" The Emperor spat out those words and they left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"Your son here am ill versed in the ways of medicines and poisons, hence I have specially invited Jun Wu Xie here. The fact that the people were able to overcome this crisis in the poisoning incidents was all due to the efforts of Jun Wu Xie." Out in the city, Jun Wu Xie had given the credit to Mo Qian Yuan to win him support, but here within the Imperial Palace, Mo Qian Yuan would give credit where it was due.
Hearing that, the Emperor was taken aback.
But to the ears of Bai Yun Xian, it prickled her she could not help but sneered condescendingly: "Her efforts?" Nobody here knew the poison better than she did, who was Jun Wu Xie to claim she could neutralise the poison?
Jun Wu Xie's cold stare turned on Bai Yun Xian, her seemingly expressionless eyes made the hair on the back of Bai Yun Xian's neck stand, as a chill ran through her.
"Suffering, Deglaze, Mandela....." Jun Wu Xie recited offhandedly a long list of over ten herbs' names, and besides a handful of common herbs, the majority were names the others in the main hall had never heard of.
The others were uncertain, but Bai Yun Xian paled noticeably as the names of the herbs were fully listed out by Jun Wu Xie.
How did she know!?
How is that possible!?
Bai Yun Xian listened in disbelief. Jun Wu Xie had just listed all the components to the exclusive Qing Yun Clan poison. The complete list, without variation!
The formula for the poison was only known to Qing Yun Clan! How did Jun Wu Xie come to know it!?
After Jun Wu Xie unhurriedly recited the list of herbs, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, and her cold gaze fell upon Bai Yun Xian's face. "Do not humiliate yourself by conducting child's play such as this."
Bai Yun Xian's face darkened and she started trembling in indignation as she stared at Jun Wu Xie.
Child's play!?
Mo Xuan Fei upon seeing the trembling Bai Yun Xian, went up and embraced her. He then saw the eyes of Jun Wu Xie and froze.
Those eyes! Eyes he would never forget!
He had seen those same eyes on the night of the massacre. Jun Wu Xie had stood with those eyes in the sea of blood, looking like the devil come from the pits of hell to claim those lives.
With just that one glance, Mo Xuan Fei almost fell to the floor. But with Bai Yun Xian pale as a sheet and still trembling, he gritted his teeth and stood up to Jun Wu Xie.
"Jun Wu Xie. What impunity! Yun Xian is an honoured guest of the Kingdom of Qi, and is to be treated with respect!" He had to protect Bai Yun Xian! Till the Qing Yun Clan gets here and saves them.
Jun Wu Xie looked at Mo Xuan Fei who was standing up for Bai Yun Xian, and her smiled widened.
That smile, made everyone in the main hall cringe and the hair on the back of their necks raised in warning!
Chapter 159: "Playing Judge (1)"
"Kneel." Jun Wu Xie's amused voice echoed in the main hall.
Mo Xuan Fei stared in disbelief at what he thought he just heard and was stunned, unable to retort.
Not just Mo Xuan Fei, even Mo Qian Yuan who was on Jun Wu Xie's side was caught unawares and stood in silence.
"You....." Mo Xuan Fei continued, but Jun Wu Xie did not want to hear any more of the rubbish he would have spouted and released two red flashes of light from her fingertips that streaked towards Mo Xuan Fei's knees.
Before anyone could react, Mo Xuan Fei screamed out, his legs felt as if they had been broken, and he fell to his knees with a crack in front of Jun Wu Xie. Bai Yun Xian who was in his arms was dragged down with him and she fell to the floor on her behind with a bump.
Jun Wu Xie looked down from her higher vantage point upon the face of Mo Xuan Fei.
"Whatever you have to say, say it kneeling down."
Jun Wu Xie was smiling so much, she was practically beaming. Blood started to flow out from the knees of Mo Xuan Fei, staining the shiny marble below his legs.
The imperious royalty, had all subjects kneel in respect of the distinguished Imperial Family. Since they liked having kneel, they should try it out themselves.
The air in the enormous main hall was deadly still as everyone stared tongue tied at Jun Wu Xie, with eyes wide open.
Bai Yun Xian stood up disheveled. The blood from Mo Xuan Fei's knees had stained the hem on her dress. Her tightly tied hair had slightly loosened and she pulled on Mo Xuan Fei's hand to help him stand. The slightest movement made Mo Xuan Fei howl in pain.
"Jun Wu Xie! You've gone mad!" Bai Yun Xian had not met anyone so barbaric and unreasonable, she made him fall to his knees without so much as a single word.
Jun Wu Xie glanced at Bai Yun Xian with a brow raised, taking that as a compliment.
Bai Yun Xian hurriedly checked the pulse for Mo Xuan Fei, and found the spiritual power with him choked, and his tendons, veins and both his blood and spiritual arteries below his knees sealed completely, which made him unable to feel his legs.
How did Jun Wu Xie do that!?
What were those two suspicious streaks of light?
Mo Xuan Fei was still moaning in pain, and the Emperor cringed and looked away. Although Mo Qian Yuan had led an army into the Imperial Palace, and his words filled with barely veiled threats, he had at least maintained a semblance of civility.
Who would have thought, the moment Jun Wu Xie made her move, she would be so vicious and unrestrained.
A high and mighty Second Prince of Qi, had to go down on his knees before he could speak!
The Emperor gripped the arm on his throne tightly, forcing the words threatening to burst forth back in, and gritted his teeth, trying his hardest to maintain his composure.
He had better not rattle that lunatic any further!
Jun Wu Xie smiled radiantly.
"I sealed the blood flow in both his legs, if the pressure points are not released in two hours, he will never stand up again."
People have mocked her uncle for his paralysis for a decade, the Imperial Family had made a show of their concern and gifted ginseng and lingzhi unendingly. But they had never done anything to stop or admonish the people who threw insults and hurled abuse at the him. His uncle had been paralysed for the Kingdom of Qi for a decade, if the Imperial Family had appreciated the sacrifice, they could easily have stopped the wagging tongues. They had instead turned a deaf ear to them and condoned the malicious lies and theories to spread and take hold, leaving my uncle to live on in torment and abuse.
Today, she will make the Emperor's favourite Second Prince, have a taste of the same.
"Such a superficial wound, for an esteemed disciple of Qing Yun Clan, it should be easily cleared right?" Jun Wu Xie narrowed her eyes and looked at Bai Yun Xian.
Whatever they hold most dear to their hearts, she will crumble it into dust before their eyes to let them feel despair.
Chapter 160: "Playing Judge (2)"
Since Mo Xuan Fei had always regarded himself far superior above the others, with his snobbish persona and high almighty attitude, from now on, let him have a taste of looking up at others instead.
"Jun Wu Xie! You're mad! When are you going to stop being so crazy? My master will soon arrive in the Imperial City, at that time, I'll make sure you...."
*Slap* *Slap* *Slap*
Before Bai Yun Xian could finish scolding, Jun Wu Xie raised her hands and ruthlessly slapped her delicate hands across Bai Yun Xian's face three times!
This time she held nothing back as she gave three resounding slaps across Bai Yun Xian's delicate face.
The three slaps were so loud and sudden that even Mo Qian Yuan who was standing nearby shrank his neck back in response.
How merciless!
"I asked you to save someone, why are you still sprouting so much nonsense?"
Bai Yun Xian reeled back in shock, never had she thought that in this world, someone actually had the audacity to hit her!
Bai Yun Xian had her hand on her burning cheek, as she stood there momentarily stunned, yet to wake from the shock of being hit.
The Emperor was dumbfounded, this Jun Wu Xie was really crazy! She actually dared to hit Bai Yun Xian?!
"You...You dare to hit me?!" Bai Yun Xian's voice was trembling, full of indignation as she pointed at Jun Wu Xie, her whole body shaking with anger.
Jun Wu Xie looked at her indifferently as she stepped forward and gave another tight slap across Bai Yun Xian's face, raised her leg and ruthlessly kicked Bai Yun Xian's chest which sent her flying.
"Would you like me to verify that again?" Jun Wu Xie's lips curled up into a blossoming smile.
Bai Yun Xian's mouth hung a trace of blood, by now her hair was completely disheveled, gone were her haughtiness and elegance, they were replaced by dread and fear. She was looking at Jun Wu Xie with eyes that reflected terror in them, she felt as if she was looking at the devil.
In Qing Yun Clan, Bai Yun Xian always had an exalted status and no one had ever dared to even touch her as they all held her in reverence.
However, all that had changed ever since she met Jun Wu Xie.
Jun Wu Xie simply answered with her actions that not only did she dare beat her, she was not going to go soft on her as well.
For the first time in her life, Bai Yun Xian finally understood the word fear as she experienced it first hand, crumbling all her defences and washing away all her pride.
"Drag her over." Jun Wu Xie turned her head slightly her head and looked at the two Rui Lin soldiers behind her.
They both took uniform strides towards Bai Yun Xian, each held one arm of hers and dragged her over to Jun Wu Xie.
Bai Yun Xian attempted to struggle free but to no avail. Her opponent was the Rui Lin Army as each man held her firmly with an iron grip in front of Jun Wu Xie.
"You... you... you cannot touch me! My master is Qing yun Clan's Sovereign..." Bai Yun Xian was like a trembling little mouse standing in front of a cat. Bai Yun Xian looked at Jun Wu Xie with a pair of pleading eyes, this was the first time she had ever met such a crazy person who completely disregarded Qing Yun Clan. Despite using such tactics, Bai Yun Xian could feel that in the eyes of Jun Wu Xie, Qing Yun Clan was like an ant.
"Oh?" Jun Wu Xie narrowed her eyes, raised her hands and landed another resounding slap across Bai Yun Xian's face.
"Qing Yun Clan, was is it?"
Bai Yun Xian stared at Jun Wu Xie with her mouth agape, she felt her scalp go numb, feeling as if she was falling deep into the depths of hell.
"Get up and save your lover. He can't stand now and all he can rely on is you, Qing Yun Clan's disciple." Jun Wu Xie sneered as the two soldiers immediately grasped her intentions as they dragged Bai Yun Xian over to Mo Xuan Fei's side.
Bai Yun Xian was scared witless from Jun Wu Xie's sudden change in disposition and when she looked at Mo Xuan Fei's knees she could not help but tremble even more.