Chapter 911 : "Intricate Plot (2)"
Under Jun Xie's questioning gaze, Lei Chen related everything he knew about the Ring of Imperial Fire to Jun Xie. From the first Emperor of the current ruler's bloodline to the Empress Dowager's unwavering insistence.....
Jun Wu Xie listened to it all silently. Although she had correctly guessed where the ring had originated from, she had not thought that the ring she had innocently picked up would hold such a huge secret of such grave importance behind it.
"Possess the Ring of Imperial Fire, possess the Fire Country? This is the reason the Emperor wants to kill me?" Jun Wu Xie's brow lifted as she asked.
Lei Chen nodded.
"Father must be worried that the fact you hold possession of the Ring of Imperial Fire would be discovered by the Empress Dowager and he had decided to silence you permanently."
Lei Chen paused a moment and then stood up abruptly, the expression on his face highly excited as he looked at Jun Xie.
"This Imperial Decree, was drafted and set by the First Emperor of our line. Hence, even my Father does not have the power to disobey it! At present, the Fire Country's rightful heir to the throne had become one big joke. My Second Royal Brother is unambitious and without merit, my Third Royal Brother hopelessly timid, both lacking the capabilities to become a suitable candidate as heir to the throne, whereas for me and Lei Fan, we both do not even have the right to inherit it at all. Now, little brother Jun, you....."
Lei Chen's voice grew more and more excited, his eyes burning up with fervour.
Without waiting for him to finish, Jun Wu Xie suddenly raised up a hand to interrupt Lei Chen's highly fervent speech.
"I hold no interest for the Fire Country."
"What?" Lei Chen was stunned. "The Fire Country is the biggest and mightiest country throughout the entire land! As the Emperor of the Fire Country, you will hold in your hand half of the world! Little brother Jun! I know that your personality makes you coldly indifferent and detached, but you possess extraordinary capabilities and even if you go out into the world and win a name for yourself, what you will get cannot be more than what the throne of the Fire Country can give you! If you are worried that the people and court officials of the Fire Country will not accept you, then you can undoubtedly rest assured. The Imperial Decree has been passed down for many years and although people gradually stopped talking about it after so long, the original Imperial Edict is still in the hands of the Empress Dowager! Great Grandmother had always placed great importance and emphasis on the First Emperor's decision, and if she brings out the First Emperor's Imperial Edict in person, then all that will no longer be a problem!"
Lei Chen was looking at Jun XIe anxiously. He could not understand why Jun Xie would be completely unmoved when presented with such a rare and incredible opportunity right before her eyes.
It was to become the ruler of the entire Fire Country!
A position that could only be the dream of countless people!
The might of the Fire Country had already surpassed all the various other countries in the land and becoming the Emperor of the Fire Country was as good as sitting atop the entire world. In terms of riches, status, power..... there isn't a more revered and glorious choice than being the Emperor of the Fire Country!
How many esteemed and respected heroes in the world had fought throughout their entire lives, but with their lifetime's distinguished achievements and honour won, they still paled in comparison to the power and influence of the Fire Country's Emperor. No matter what Jun Xie was seeking, in Lei Chen's eyes, the throne of the Fire Country would be able to fulfil that wish.
"Not interested." Jun Wu Xie's reply was still cold and indifferent as always. Status and authourity had never appealed to her in the slightest at all.
"Why?" Lei Chen was still in shock.
"Don't like it." Jun Wu Xie replied.
The throne of the Fire Country, might hold irresistible appeal to others, but to her, it was of absolutely no use. If she had really lusted after power and authourity, the current Emperor of the Qi Kingdom would not be Mo Qian Yuan now.
Lei Chen looked at Jun Xie in stunned silence. His mind completely overwhelmed as countless thoughts and emotions washed over him, never for a moment ever thinking that Jun Xie would reject.
"But..... A innocent man is still guilty just possessing the jade, even if you hold no interest towards the Fire Country's throne, Father will still not let you off. Even if you hand over the Ring of Imperial Fire, to prevent the matter from being made known, he will still silence you just the same!"
*(Chinese Idiom) 匹夫无罪怀璧其罪 pǐ fū wú zuì huái bì qí zuì - "An innocent man is still guilty just possessing the jade" [MistyCloud's own unprofessional almost literal translation inserted above in the last paragraph. Please take with a pinch of salt.]
Chapter 912 : "Intricate Plot (3)"
Jun Wu Xie's brow arched up at that moment as she looked at Lei Chen.
"When did I say I will be handing the ring over to him?"
Lei Chen stared back at Jun Xie in utter confusion.
"If he wants me killed, he can very well try. If I am to die, that will be due to my lack of capability. This ring is the only remnant in memory of my Master and whether it's him or anyone else who comes after me, I will never hand it over." Jun Wu Xie said derisively. Surrender the ring in exchange for her safety? Regardless of the fact that that avenue would not work, as even if it did, she, Jun Wu Xie, would never choose such a cowardly way out!
"Then, you couldn't possibly be just sitting here and wait for death to come right?" Lei Chen asked, beginning to feel anxious for Jun Xie.
Jun Wu Xie replied: "Since he has made his intentions known, why should I remain waiting for him to act? He has initiated the first move, hence I will naturally not have to be cordial as well."
The moment her voice fell, a chilling glint came into her eyes.
She had held no interest in the internal struggles of the Fire Country. Her initial intention had only been to snatch the map from the Emperor's hands. But now, the Emperor, the Fourth Prince, the Empress, and the Prime Minister were all seeking to have her killed to put an end to their troubles. If she still did not retaliate, wouldn't she greatly disappoint all of them for all the "concern" they had shown her?
"What..... are you going to do?" Lei Chen stared intently at Jun Xie, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Jun Wu Xie waved her hand for the Crown Prince to come closer and he stuck his ear over.
Yuan Biao was sitting within a restaurant, waiting for any news that might come. The Imperial Guards that had remained behind at the Immortals' Loft and the Crown Prince's Residence had come in with their reports earlier. The people from the Zephyr Academy in the Immortals' Loft had been quiet and cooperative. They had not carried out any actions that went against his orders today.
The Imperial Guards outside the Crown Prince's Residence had sent him information saying that not long after Yuan Biao had left, an attendant from the Crown Prince's Residence had left from the mansion. The Imperial Guards had secretly tailed the person and discovered that the attendant had gone to the inn that housed the people from the War Banner Academy. The Imperial Guards had not been able to get closer and they waited outside. Moments after that, the attendant came out of the building with Xiong Ba and Qu Ling Yue from the Thousand Beast City where they boarded onto a horse carriage and headed towards the Crown Prince's Residence.
The Imperial Guard who tailed behind them had then seen with his own eyes when the horse carriage stopped, the attendant stepped out with Xiong Ba and Qu Ling Yue, and there was no one else in the carriage.
"Commander! The Crown Prince had suddenly invited the people from the Thousand Beast City over to his mansion, what could he be planning?" The Imperial Guard asked, unable to fully understand the entire situation.
Yuan Biao said: "The Crown Prince has been trying to win over the Thousand Beast City for a very long time. When Qu Ling Yue had gotten severely injured previously, didn't the Crown Prince invite some Young Miss from the Qi Kingdom to go treat Qu Ling Yue? The people from the Thousand Beast City will remember the kind favour the Crown Prince has shown them then. Now that Jun Xie has been branded a felon, the Crown Prince will naturally not give up on his other target to ally with." Yuan Biao gave a cold laugh and continued to say: "I must say the Crown Prince wastes no time does he? Jun Xie has barely just fallen from grace and he is immediately setting his sight back on the people from the Thousand Beast City already."
"You guys just keep a close watch on them. His Majesty would not want any trouble with the people from the Thousand Beast City. All of you remember this, before any of you discover any sign of Jun Xie, do not let the people from the Thousand Beast City find out that they are being followed."
"Yes!" The Imperial Guard answered and quickly left.
Inside the Crown Prince's Residence, Xiong Ba and Qu Ling Yue were led to come before Lei Chen. Lei Chen dismissed the attendant and Xiong Ba immediately opened his mouth to say: "Your Highness has invited us over here so urgently. May I ask what is it regarding?"
Because of the prior incident where Qu Ling Yue had sustained severe injuries, Xiong Ba really loathed the Fire Country's Emperor highly at that moment but as Lei Chen had invited Jun Wu Xie to help them then, he liked the Crown Prince rather well though. Moreover, Qu Ling Yue and Lei Chen had always shared a rather good relationship all this while and so, he did not feel so distant.
Chapter 913 : "Intricate Plot (4)"
Lei Chen's lifted as he gestured to the chairs: "Please take a seat first. We will talk about it slowly after we're all seated."
Xiong Ba and Qu Ling Yue sat down immediately.
"In regards to the incident with Qu Ling Yue's injury, what does Hall Chief Xiong think about it?" Lei Chen inquired.
Xiong Ba was surprised, not expecting Lei Chen to ask such a question, and Xiong Ba looked at Qu Ling Yue with a rather uneasy glance for a moment.
Qu Ling Yue was made use of and she was put under unnecessary torment. As a member of the Thousand Beast City, he was highly displeased. But in the face of the Fire Country's status and might before him, no matter how unhappy the Thousand Beast City was with the incident, he could not openly declare war against the mightiest country then. Suddenly having Lei Chen, the Fire Country's Crown Prince asking him a question like that, really put Xiong Ba in a tight spot. He couldn't very well just admonish the Fire Country before their own Crown Prince could he?
Qu Ling Yue saw the struggle that Xiong Ba was facing and she went on to say: "Senior's question is really putting my Uncle Xiong in a tight spot. Senior knows very well the entire story behind the incident and if you want Uncle Xiong to say he does not mind it in the least, that would be quite impossible. And as Senior is the Crown Prince of the Fire Country, if Uncle Xiong were to say anything about it, it might not be that appropriate as well." Qu Ling Yue was on more familiar terms with Lei Chen and she didn't need to be that restrained before Lei Chen with her words.
Lei Chen laughed out loud.
"I was being too rude. I had not considered the fact that my question would put Hall Chief Xiong in such an uncomfortable position. Why don't I rephrase it in another way? If given a chance, would you like to be able to seek redress for the injustice shown to you?"
This time, even Qu Ling Yue was stunned.
"What does Senior mean by that?"
Lei Chen went on to explain: "The incident happened as Junior Ling Yue had just mentioned. It was the Fire Country who had acted inappropriately in this instance, but my Father had not even offered a single bit of explanation in regards to the matter. The Fire Country and the Thousand Beast City had always enjoyed cordial relations and I feel that my Father's actions had gone rather overboard this time. Although I am the Fire Country's Crown Prince, I am also Qu Ling Yue's Senior fellow disciple as well. Having seen my junior being made to go through such unnecessary suffering, how could I feel good about it? Otherwise, why would I have gone to such lengths to invite the Young Miss Jun to help?"
Lei Chen's words caused Xiong Ba and Qu Ling Yue to glance at each other. They had both not expected that Lei Chen would have invited them here today to tell them all this.
And after hearing Lei Chen's words, they had been able to vaguely grasp what Lei Chen really meant.
But they still did not understand why Lei Chen was doing this.
"I guess the two of you must be feeling rather confused by my words today. There is actually something that I had not told the two of you all this while." Lei Chen said.
"What is it?" Xiong Ba asked.
"Actually, I do not know Young Miss Jun that well at all. Before having invited her to treat Ling Yue, you could even say that I did not know her at all. The real person who brought the Young Miss Jun here to give treatment to Ling Yue wasn't me, but someone else." Lei Chen said with a smile.
"Not Your Highness?" Xiong Ba asked, slightly shocked.
Lei Chen nodded.
"The person who got Young Miss Jun to come here is someone you both know as well. It is actually that friend of mine, Jun Xie."
Xiong Ba immediately remembered that youth with the delicately handsome features.
"It was him?" Qu Ling Yue exclaimed, her mouth slightly agape.
Lei Chen continued on: "The incident where Ling Yue was injured had gotten him implicated in it afterall and he would naturally been unwilling to be made the innocent scapegoat. Hence, he had invited Young Miss Jun to come here and he asked me to bring her to Ling Yue and that was how it led to the rest of the things that happened. So, I would like to say in shame that I had been highly undeserving of the gratitude that Hall Chief Xiong's gratitude shown to me then."
Xiong Ba's eyes were still fixed on Lei Chen. "Why would Your Highness then reveal all this to us today?"
Lei Chen then asked with a cold laugh: "Haven't the two of you yet heard?"
"Heard what?"
Chapter 914 : "Intricate Plot (5)"
"That that little brother Jun of mine has now been declared a convict the Imperial Guard Army are out to capture!"
"What! ?" Xiong Ba's eyes immediately opened wide.
"How is that possible? Young Master Jun had just attended the state banquet with us last night, and today he....." Qu Ling Yue exclaimed out in great surprise, her hands covering her mouth in shock.
Lei Chen continued: "This matter is also linked to the previous incident with Ling Yue as well. I do not know from where my Father managed to hear that the news that Young Miss Jun had come her under Jun Xie's invitation. As Ling Yue's recovery from her injuries had wrecked my Father's plans, where he was no longer able to use Ling Yue to achieve his own ends, he decided to vent his frustrations on Jun Xie by falsely accusing him of injuring the Fourth Prince. But I had gone to the Empress' Palace last night and saw that my Fourth Brother had not sustained any injuries. My Father's current actions, is obviously making use of that superfluous reason in order to kill him!"
Lei Chen's words were throwing Xiong Ba and Qu Ling Yue into a state of shock. It was true that when they had found Qu Ling Yue's injuries to be highly bizarre and Xiong Ba was just about to interrogate the physicians when Imperial Physician Li was suddenly murdered mysteriously. Although the incident had not been taken to court, Xiong Ba and his people had been able to gain a rather good idea on what had really happened.
"Young Master Jun has been implicated in this all because of me!" A worried and highly apologetic expression immediately came onto Qu Ling Yue's face. When she had been made an unwitting victim when she had been injured previously, she had already dragged Jun Xie into trouble once, and now, because he had wanted to save her at that time, Jun Xie had been implicated another time.
Lei Chen secretly observed Xiong Ba and Qu Ling Yue's reactions and he was finally able to feel a little more relieved.
His words, were only half true with certain fabrications injected into them. Besides the people who were privy to the truth of the matter, no one would have guessed that the reason that Jun Xie's was being persecuted so severely was all just because of an inconspicuous ring on her hand.
The Emperor had even invited Jun Xie to attend the state banquet last night and he had not shown any animosity then. But the Emperor had suddenly ordered for Jun Xie to be killed the very next day, which had caught everyone off guard.
With just a few lines, Lei Chen had shifted the blame for the Jun Xie's persecution onto Qu Ling Yue and although Xiong Ba and her might have their own reservations about the matter, they wouldn't be able to discover any other reasons for it as the Emperor would never allow any information about Jun Xie holding the Ring of Imperial Fire to reach anyone's ears!
Soon, Xiong Ba and Qu Ling Yue were seen to have fully believed Lei Chen's words as the sequence of events meshed up very well from the beginning to the end, which gave them no reason to suspect anything otherwise.
"Seeing little brother Jun being forced to face such a calamity, I am however helpless to do anything although the heart is eager. To be entirely honest, even as the Crown Prince, I am currently being secretly watched by the Imperial Guard Army and I have invited the two of you here just to ask if you are given the opportunity, would you be keen to seek redress for the injustice you have been made to suffer?" Lei Chen asked once more.
Qu Ling Yue was about to speak when Xiong Ba stopped her.
"In this matter, we have undoubtedly dragged Brother Jun into it. But Your Highness should know this. The Thousand Beast City has absolutely no intention of becoming hostile to the Fire Country. We can help Brother Jun escape from the Fire Country, and as for anything else, I'm afraid we will not be able to comply." Although Xiong Ba was grateful that Jun Xie had lent a hand to help them, and feeling ashamed that they had caused Jun Xie to be innocently implicated, but he had to put the interests of the entire Thousand Beast City at the forefront of his mind. As one of the Clan Hall Chiefs, he could not afford to be emotional when the matters involved the entire Thousand Beast City.
Qu Ling Yue tugged at Xiong Ba's sleeve anxiously, seemingly wanting to say something, but she was stopped by Xiong Ba another time.
Lei Chen was still scrutinizing the reactions of Xiong Ba and Qu Ling Yue secretly and although he
was smiling in his heart, he showed no trace of it on his face.
"I'm afraid that Hall Chief Xiong might have misunderstood me. In this matter, you are not required to do anything else other than to merely bring little brother Jun into the Imperial Palace and nothing else." Lei Chen said.
"Bring into the Imperial Palace? In that regard, I believe that Your Highness is in a much better position to do it than us." Xiong Ba replied warily.
Chapter 915 : "Intricate Plot (6)"
Lei Chen then laughed bitterly and shook his head. "It is not that I am unwilling to do it, but because Father suspects that I have hidden little brother Jun from him and before Jun Xie is found, even if I am to go into the Imperial Palace, I will not be allowed to bring anyone in with me. But it is a completely different case for Hall Chief Xiong and your people. Trust me, you just have to carry out that simple task and the debt that my Father still owes to you will naturally be repaid to you through someone's actions."
Xiong Ba's face creased up in a deep frown in thought. If it didn't involve pitting them against the Fire Country, he would be very glad to help Jun Xie.
Qu Ling Yue could not hold herself back any longer. She ignored Xiong Ba's repeated attempts stopping her from speaking and she blurted out quickly: "What Senior is trying to say is that Young Master Jun is within the Crown Prince's Residence at this moment?"
Lei Chen nodded.
Qu Ling Yue immediately replied: "We can agree to Senior's suggestion!"
Xiong Ba's eyes widened up in shock. "Young Miss! You!"
Qu Ling Yue looked pleadingly at Xiong Ba. "Uncle Xiong, the entire incident had begun all because of me. Moreover, didn't Uncle Xiong say it before? The Fire Country has really gone too far this time and it is only because the Fire Country holds such overwhelming might that it is preventing us from being openly hostile to them. But now, we are presented with an opportunity to help Young Master Jun and at the same time seek redress for the injustice I suffered, why should we reject that? Unless..... Uncle Xiong can really bear to see the injustice Ling Yue suffered go unaddressed?"
As she spoke, Qu Ling Yue's eyes welled up with tears.
Xiong Ba's heart wrenched when he saw that and he immediately tried to comfort the girl. Finally, under Qu Ling Yue's tearful wheedling and coaxing, Xiong Ba found himself completely defenceless and could do nothing but agree to it.
"I hope that Your Highness will think the matter through thoroughly. Although our Young Miss is willing to help, but we still will not wish for this matter to cause any problems." Xiong Ba reiterated his stand, serving both as a warning and a reminder.
Lei Chen nodded instantly.
"Then..... Do we need to bring Young Master Jun away from here first?" Qu Ling Yue asked.
Lei Chen nodded and immediately turned, staring at a certain spot at the back.
Qu Ling Yue and Xiong Ba followed his gaze and at that moment, they froze in place!
About two hours after Xiong Ba and Qu Ling Yue entered the Crown Prince's Residence, the two people finally came back out. The Imperial Guards who were secretly watching checked carefully to see whether there were any additional person with them. All they saw was Qu Ling Yue carrying a little sheep in her arms but they did not see anything else out of place.
After the two people climbed up into the horse carriage, Qu Ling Yue leaned back against the seat and her small hand slowly stroked Lord Meh Meh who was in her arms.
Xiong Ba's eyes were still filled with shock as he sat opposite "Qu Ling Yue".
"Young Master Jun....." Xiong Ba's voice was trembling slightly as he uttered out that strange form of address.
"Qu Ling Yue" who had her eyes and head lowered lifted up her head at that moment, the pair of clear eyes glinting with a cold chill.
"Thank you Hall Chief Xiong." The slightly cold voice said, the words coming out from "Qu Ling Yue's" mouth.
Xiong Ba gulped, trying his very hardest to get himself more accustomed to the unfamiliar "Qu Ling Yue".
And within the Crown Prince's Residence, Qu Ling Yue had changed into a maid's uniform and was seated at the table with Lei Chen enjoying tea, her gaze involuntarily turning to look outside the window.
"I really hope Young Master Jun's plan can be carried out smoothly." Qu Ling Yue said softly. When Xiong Ba and her saw Jun Xie having changed his looks to looked exactly like her, the two of them had been stunned. They had not expected that all of it had been Jun Xie's plan to pose as her in a complete substitution.
Qu Ling Yue had changed out of her clothes original clothes and let Jun Xie wear them, and Jun Xie had left the Crown Prince's Residence with Xiong Ba impersonating as her.
Chapter 916 : "Intricate Plot (7)"
Qu Ling Yue had changed out of her own clothes and given them to Jun Xie to wear, allowing Jun Xie to disguise as her to leave the Crown Prince's Residence with Xiong Ba.
Even the Imperial Guards secretly guarding outside would not be able to suspect anything strange going on.
Lei Chen lifted his cup of tea and raised it up towards Qu Ling Yue.
"I am grateful for Ling Yue's help this time. I know that you have no intentions of seeking revenge and you are doing this just to help me and little brother Jun." Lei Chen had once thought of getting closer to Qu Ling Yue to win the favour of the Thousand Beast City, and that had enabled him to know Qu Ling Yue's personality very well.
With Qu Ling Yue's innocent heart, she would not harbour any thoughts of vengeance. She had shown herself to be pitifully hurt and aggrieved earlier before Xiong Ba only to coerce Xiong Ba to agree to the plan.
"Why is Senior saying that? Am I not also doing it for myself?" Qu Ling Yue said, smiling sweetly at Lei Chen.
Lei Chen lowered his eyes. It must be said that Qu Ling Yue was truly a very nice girl and he had once wanted to make use of her for his own revenge. At that moment, he could not help but despise himself for having harboured such malicious intentions against the girl before him.
She was really a fine girl and he no longer had the heart to taint her.
Only wishing that she would live healthy and happy henceforth!
The Imperial Guards outside followed the Thousand Beast City's horse carriage all the way back to the inn the people from the War Banner Academy were occupying. After making sure that only "Qu Ling Yue" and Xiong Ba were the only people who alighted from the carriage, they had even gone to check the carriage after it was parked in the backyard of the inn to make sure that no one was hiding in it before they left to report it to Yuan Biao.
The Immortals' Loft and the Crown Prince's Residence still remained guarded by the Imperial Guard Army.
An entire day had passed and Yuan Biao still haven't found a single trace of Jun Xie. When he had reported the news to the Emperor seated within the Palace, the Emperor had smashed a jade slab on his table in fury.
"Useless trash! With so many Imperial Guards and you still allowed a little brat to escape? Are you telling me my Imperial Guard Army is filled with an entire bunch of useless good for nothings! ?" The Emperor stared furiously at Yuan Biao who was kneeling before him in the Imperial Study. The longer the matter dragged on, the more fearful he grew of the matter about the Ring of Imperial Fire being exposed.
"Have you searched the Crown Prince's Residence! ?" The Emperor roared in rage.
"I have. Jun Xie is not in the Crown Prince's Residence." Yuan Biao answered.
"Then go look around and check everywhere within the Imperial Capital! I want Jun Xie found as soon as possible!" The Emperor continued to roar, and then suddenly having thought of something, he said. "Go to the Grand Adviser's Mansion! Go check there!"
Yuan Biao was shocked as he raised his head in puzzlement, looking at the Emperor almost blubbering in unchecked fury.
"Your Majesty? You are asking your subject to go search the Grand Adviser's Mansion?"
"It must be the Grand Adviser! It must be him! When that pretty face returned to the banquet with Jun Xie, I should have thought of it! He shows himself to be uninvolved in the affairs of the country but he was conferred the title as the Grand Adviser by the elder brother of the First Emperor of our line! He had been very close to that man. It must be him! Must be him! He must have seen the Ring of Imperial Fire as well. He must be wanting to..... Go now!" The fear and terror in the Emperor's heart grew deeper and deeper.
Besides the Imperial Family of the Fire Country, no one else knew that the current Grand Adviser Wen Yu was actually an old man over a hundred years old. From more than a hundred years ago, he had appeared, and the reigning Emperor at that time was still the elder brother of the First Emperor of the current line. He had then conferred the title of Grand Adviser onto Wen Yu and had disappeared after that. The First Emperor had inherited the throne only to carry on his elder brother's will which only further solidified Wen Yu's position.
Through the generations of Grand Advisers, they had always held exemplary good looks, a fully white mane draped behind the shoulders. Towards this unusual occurrence, the generations of Emperors had always told everyone else that it was due to the inheritance of the Grand Adviser's powers blessed by the Heavens. Only those who were part of the Imperial Family through the generations were made privy to the fact that the Grand Adviser, had only been Wen Yu, the one and the same person!
As it was because of this myth passed down through the generations, that made the Grand Adviser's position irreplaceable in the hearts of the people in the Fire Country!
Chapter 917 : "Curtains Up (1)"
"Your Majesty! Throughout the generations of Emperors, none have said that they have the right to search the Grand Adviser's Mansion! If Your Majesty really does that, I'm afraid....." Yuan Biao reminded the Emperor immediately, that the Grand Adviser's Mansion must not be subjected to a search.
Although the Grand Adviser Wen Yu held a position of high reverence in the hearts of the people, he had very seldom interfered with the affairs of the Fire Country. And the air of mystery that surrounded the Grand Adviser had always discouraged anyone from daring to antagonize him.
Someone who was past a hundred years of age, but still possessed the looks of a twenty something, could not possibly be an ordinary person!
Even a man like Yuan Biao did not dare go stir up any trouble with the Grand Adviser.
With Yuan Biao's quick reminder, the Emperor was suddenly shocked back to regain his senses and the maniacal expression on his face slowly subsided.
"Forget that..... Forget that..... You just get some men to keep watch outside the Grand Adviser's Mansion and only when they discover any suspicious persons, can they then take action." The Emperor's wild rage calmed, and in his mind, the instructions left behind by his Father, the previous Emperor, suddenly rose up from his memory.
[Never ever show the Grand Adviser any disrespect!]
Those were the last words the late Emperor had told him when he was handed the throne. He had remembered those words for many years after he ascended the throne, but with Wen Yu's nonchalance, he had gradually forgotten all about it. Now that he had remembered it again, he suddenly felt a chill creep into his heart.
The Grand Adviser Wen Yu, was a person even the First Emperor had been quietly respectful of and if he were to openly go against the Grand Adviser.....
The Emperor felt a shudder suddenly crawl up his back.
Yuan Biao saw that the Emperor had finally calmed himself down and he discreetly blew out a breath in relief, immediately asking to take his leave after receiving his orders.
The Emperor was still feeling worried and he dispatched more guards outside the Empress Dowager's Palace. He also sent out his orders, that he must be informed in the first instance if the Grand Adviser or the Crown Prince comes to the Imperial Palace.
After making all the necessary arrangements, the Emperor collapsed in exhaustion, falling back in a slump into his chair.
The Imperial Guards had continued with their search and that had caused much fear and anxiety to spread among Imperial City's people.
And just a few days after that, news that Xiong Ba and the other people from the Thousand Beast City were leaving the Fire Country's Imperial Capital was heard a the Emperor was suddenly reminded of how he had made use of Qu Ling Yue in that previous incident and although his scheme had failed at that time, the Thousand Beast City had remained mum and had not dared openly show hostility towards the mighty Fire Country. The Emperor was nevertheless not foolish enough to leave the matter to fester as he knew that the Thousand Beast City held a highly significant amount of power themselves. Left with no other choice, the Emperor decided that he did not want to establish for himself a potential enemy such as them.
Immediately, the Emperor specially invited Qu Ling Yue, Xiong Ba, Feng Yue Yang and Qing Yu of the Thousand Beast City into come into the Imperial Palace, in an attempt to warm up their relationship a little, or at least convince Xiong Ba to not deliver a report that sounded too harsh when he gets back.
Xiong Ba and the others accepted the invitation and made their way towards the Imperial Palace. The Emperor had already ordered for people to wait at the palace gates and when they saw the guests approaching, they immediately went forward to welcome the guests, quickly leading them in to go before the Emperor.
"I heard that my esteemed guests will be returning to the Thousand Beast City soon and as I was feeling highly apologetic about the incident from before, where something like that was even allowed to occur in the Fire Country, I have taken the blame upon myself decided that it was all due the lack of care the Fire Country had shown to all of you." The Emperor said, looking smilingly at Xiong Ba, then swinging his eyes to look remorseful at Qu Ling Yue standing just at the side.
Xiong Ba and the Emperor exchanged a few polites lines and Qu Ling Yue on the other hand was seemingly rather distracted.
That caused the Emperor to be concerned. Xiong Ba might be the one who would be making the report back at the Thousand Beast City, but if their Young Miss herself was still not appeased, the words she might carry to the Chieftain could very well have a stronger impact.
"Is Ling Yue finding this place a little too dull?" The Emperor asked, a wide friendly smile on his face.
Qu Ling Yue glanced at the Emperor and she immediately looked down as she shook her head.
The Emperor then said with a laugh: "You are still young, and it will be very boring for you just having you sit here."
Chapter 918: "Curtains Up (2)"
"Coincidentally, Lei Fan is feeling much better these few days and I should ask him to accompany you to have a little stroll around." The Emperor had put it across very nicely, but he another scheme up his sleeve.
The Emperor knew that Lei Chen had certain intentions towards Qu Ling Yue and it was all because of the Thousand Beast City behind her. But the Emperor knew he wasn't going to hand the throne over Lei Chen and hence he thought if anyone was to be on friendly terms with the Thousand Beast City, he would wish for it to be the prince he loved the most, Lei Fan.
Although Lei Fan did not know Qu Ling Yue as well as Lei Chen did, it could still be said that they at least knew each other. And if he could pull Lei Fan and Qu Ling Yue close to each other, then to the Emperor, that would naturally be a matter that gave him twice the amount of joy. Being highly indulgent of his youngest son and believing in the charm his son possessed, he thought that he could let Lei Fan help him ease the discontent Qu Ling Yue held towards the Fire Country, and at the same time hope that Lei Fan would be able to use the opportunity to make some headway into other developments with Qu Ling Yue.
Qu Ling Yue was silent for a moment before she nodded her head slightly.
The Emperor beamed and he immediately ordered for people to fetch Lei Fan, reminding him to take good care of Qu Ling Yue and to bring her around to see the Imperial Palace.
Upon receiving the Emperor's orders, Lei Fan knew immediately what the Emperor was thinking. When it came to matters like this, he was very happy to comply. As long as he could snatch something that Lei Chen wanted, he would gladly cooperate.
Added to the fact that Qu Ling Yue was sweet and pretty, he really saw no reason for him to reject the request.
Lei Fan led Qu Ling Yue outside and within the Imperial Palace, they walked shoulder to shoulder, with a few palace eunuchs following behind them.
"Senior Ling Yue, although I am always addressing you as senior, but you seem to be only a few months older than me. It is always said that girls do not like others to always remember their age and detests being addressed as someone older. Can I then address you just as Ling Yue from now onwards?" Lei Fan asked smilingly of Qu Ling Yue. He was thinking that the Crown Prince, Lei Chen was going through a rather rough patch recently and he really would not mind adding on to Lei Chen's problems.
Qu Ling Yue looked up slightly and glanced briefly at Lei Fan. After a moment's pause, she nodded her head.
Lei Fan then said with a laugh: "Why is Ling Yue not speaking today?"
Qu Ling Yue pointed at her throat and opened her mouth slightly, and she made a low raspy noise with her throat.
Lei Chen was slightly surprised and he quickly put on a show of concern to say: "Has Ling Yue caught a cold recently? And you hurt your throat? Shall I summon an Imperial Physician to take a look at you now?"
Qu Ling Yue shook her head.
Lei Fan went on to say: "Is Ling Yue still unhappy with the Fire Country regarding the previous incident and you are even going to keep me at arm's length to avoid us? I had actually heard about the matter from Father before and I must say that it happened due to the negligence of the Fire Country, which gave people a chance to secretly cause Ling Yue harm, making you suffer the unnecessary torment for nothing." As Lei Fan spoke, he looked at Qu Ling Yue with a highly conscience stricken expression on his face.
But Qu Ling Yue was seemingly unmoved, her expression highly indifferent.
Without knowing why, facing Qu Ling Yue who was unable to speak today, a strange feeling suddenly came over Lei Fan that day. He felt that Qu Ling Yue at that time somehow felt so similar to Jun Xie.
It was the same situation now as when he had met Jun Xie previously. Lei Chen would be the one trying very hard to strike up a conversation but Jun Xie would always remain cold and indifferent to him.
The thought had just popped into his head when Lei Fan shook his head trying to dismiss it from his mind, finding himself just laughable.
Although Qu Ling Yue was petite in size almost the same height as Jun Xie was, but this was a young girl! How could he even try to compare her to a boy?
He brushed off the ridiculous idea he had in his head, telling himself that Qu Ling Yue was being like this because she had a bad throat today and that was why such a ridiculous notion had gotten into his head.
The two of them had walked a distance under the accompaniment of the eunuchs behind them, and actually come to the Imperial Garden.
Chapter 919: "Curtains Up (3)"
The Imperial Garden in the day was different from it was at night. It was still winter, but it was filled with plum blossoms.
Qu Ling Yue stared at the Imperial Garden before her eyes and without anyone noticing, the corners of her mouth curled with into a chilling smile.
That smile had faded quickly and no one had even seen it.
Just as Lei Fan was about to say something more to Qu Ling Yue, a black shadow suddenly leapt to stand in front of the two of them!
The man was dressed in all black, and a black cloth covered more than half of his face.
He had appeared very suddenly and it caused the eunuchs to scream out in terror!
Lei Fan stared in astonishment at the black robed man who had suddenly appeared. His heart jumped in shock and he immediately shouted: "Audacious infidel! How dare you break into the Imperial Palace! Guards! Take down the assassin!"
With Lei Fan's shout, all the guards just outside the Imperial Garden immediately rushed in, several tens of them holding long swords in their hands as they surrounded the black robed man completely!
However, at the moment very that all the guards were about to rush at him together to take the assassin!
The man suddenly made his move!
His movements were quick as lightning, and before everyone's eyes, he suddenly charged at the highly arrogant Lei Fan!
Lei Fan had thought that with the large number of guards protecting them, he had been all prepared to show off in front of Qu Ling Yue. Who knew that the black robed man would be able to move so fast that nobody could even get themselves prepared! By the time he realised what was happening, he found that he had been held hostage by the black robed man, a sharp sword suddenly held against his neck.
"If you dare try anything dumb, I will have your little life." The black robed man issued him a chilling warning.
Lei Fan turned pale in an instant from fear, the earlier arrogance he exhibited just a moment ago evaporating into nothing immediately!
When the guards saw that the Fourth Prince had been held hostage, they wanted to rush up immediately to save him.
The black robed man pushed the sword against Lei Fan's neck and said: "Ask them to back away, or the sword in my hand will not be kind to you."
The moment Lei Fan heard that, he almost peed in his pants. From young, he had been doted upon and indulged by both the Emperor and the Empress in the palm of their hands, how could he possibly be able to withstand such torment now! ?
He immediately shouted: "All of you back away now! Nobody is to take a single step forward!"
The guards dared not defy Lei Fan and they all did not move any further forward.
"Very good." The black robed man said and gave a cold laugh. He suddenly stretched out his hand and before Lei Fan could even react, an elixir was stuffed into his mouth. Lei Fan was caught off guard and he was force fed an unknown elixir. His eyes quickly widened up in complete horror.
"You! You dare to make me swallow poison! If I die, you will definitely have no chance of escaping from the Imperial Palace alive! Father will make sure that you pay for it with your life!" The terrified Lei Fan started screaming out threats in a shrill voice.
But his threats did not affect the black robed man in the slightly. The black robed man was seemingly intentionally trying to scare him as the sharp sword pressed against his neck moved lightly half an inch. A flash of pain spread out from his neck.
"You can continue to talk more, and it will make me sever your throat immediately." The black robed man said chillingly.
Lei Fan was so terrified he immediately clamped his mouth shut. Faced with the fear of death, he did not dare make another sound.
The surrounding guards could do nothing but surround the black robed man. With the Emperor's most favoured Fourth Prince in his hands, they did not dare make any rash moves.
The black robed man suddenly lowered his voice to a bare whisper and he said into Lei Fan's ear: "Remember this well. Only the blood of your biological father can save you."
Upon saying that, the black robed man struck out with his palm and pushed Lei Fan away from him. His figure flashed and he suddenly disappeared before everyone's eyes without leaving behind a single trace!
Lei Fan was pushed to fall sitting upon the ground, yet to gather back his wits from the shock, and he could only continue to sit there holding the wound on his neck, gasping heavily for air.
Chapter 920: "Curtains Up (4)"
The words that the black robed man had said just before he disappeared caused a sudden feeling of dread to suddenly rise within Lei Fan's heart.
"Your Highness!" The eunuchs immediately rushed over in a bunch and helped Lei Fan off the ground.
Despite being still caught in a state of panicked terror, Lei Fan managed to stand, and he pushed the eunuchs away from him in annoyance. The black robed man had appeared suddenly and then strangely just disappeared. Besides the small wound on his neck and the elixir that he had been forced to ingest, the push from the black robed man's palm had no power behind it and it seemed that the black robed man merely wanted to push him away from him.
Having nearly been assassinated in the Imperial Garden and it had happened before the eyes of such a big group of guards, Lei Fan only felt that he had been completely humiliated before Qu Ling Yue today. And what terrified him even more was the unidentified elixir he had been made to swallow!
"Quick! Summon the Imperial Physicians! Get them to have a look at me to see what the man had made me eat!" Lei Fan could not be bothered to concern himself with anything else as the longevity of his life superseded anything else!
The guards immediately went to summon the Imperial Physicians as Lei Chen stood within the Imperial Garden continuing to gasp for air.
But a strange phenomenon suddenly happened. The tiny knick on Lei Fan's neck started to bleed unstoppingly. The amount of blood that flowed out from that tiny wound had been enough to stained his entire hand. The warm blood continued to flow down his neck incessantly and he realised it was definitely not just a simple scratch!
Lei Fan clasped his hand tightly over his neck and he felt a chill run through his body. He eyes were widened and the unease in his heart grew more and more intense.
"Your Highness! What is happening to Your Highness! ?" The eunuchs were in a state of panic. It had obviously been just a tiny knick but the amount of blood that flowed out was shocking. The strange occurrence suddenly made terror run through everyone's heart!
"Quickly summon the Imperial Physicians! Quickly summon the Imperial Physicians!" Under the eunuchs' panicked wails, Lei Fan who had lost too much blood suddenly fainted right over! The eunuch's and guards in the Imperial Garden suddenly lost their heads and they carried Lei Fan to the Empress' Palace in a flurry of hysteria.
No one paid any notice to Qu Ling Yue who had stood gravely silent at the side without uttering a single word. The moment that Lei Fan had fainted, the corners of her mouth had curled up into a chilling smile.
Hadn't the Emperor slandered her for having hurt the Fourth Prince in the Imperial Garden? Then she would turn that slander into absolute truth here today!
Nobody could have thought that Qu Ling Yue who had come to the Imperial Palace with Xiong Ba and the others had been switched out a few days ago, and the person who came here today wasn't Qu Ling Yue at all but the very person who had caused Yuan Biao to turn the entire Imperial Capital upside down and still remained at large, Jun Xie!
Jun Wu Xie looked on coldly as Lei Fan was being carried away in a panic and she slowly suppressed the smile on her lips. But within that pair of eyes, an icy chill shone.
The curtains had just been raised up!
By the time Lei Fan was carried back to the Empress' Palace, his body was completely covered with blood. His small face was white as a sheet. Seated right before her dressing table, the Empress was dolling herself up when she saw Lei Fan all covered in blood, she nearly fell off her chair in shock!
"Little Fan! Little Fan! What happened to you! ? Don't scare your mother like this!" The Empress was so highly distraught and flustered that she even dislodged the dangling hair ornament from her hair, which fell to the floor with a crisp and clear tinkle. As she watched the eunuchs carrying Lei Fan onto the bed, she immediately glared at the eunuchs and asked: "What is actually going on! ?"
The eunuch trembled and he quickly spat out to the Empress everything that he saw happened in the Imperial Garden.
The Empress suddenly felt the room spin, never ever having expected that her own son, within the Imperial Palace itself, would actually encounter someone who had dared to carry out the assassination attempt in here.