Chapter 333 Staring Like Eyeballs

The doctor was deliberately saved by Xiao Yunheng through Xiao Xuanyou's scheme, and was thus an innocent victim of this incident. Xiao Xuanyou was willing to spare his life.

However, Jiang Yunqian's constant antics are extremely annoying. If we don't deal with her now, she will only cause endless trouble in the future.

"Approved." Emperor Xuanzhao also had the same idea.

The doctor was immediately filled with gratitude for saving her life, while Jiang Yunqian turned pale, unable to believe that her life had been decided so lightly.

"No, I am the second young lady of the Minister's mansion. How can you just kill me like that? My father will not let this go!" she cried out.

Emperor Xuanzhao waved his hand impatiently, "Why aren't you dragging it away? Don't get in my way."

What kind of daughter of an official?

How dare she, a daughter of a respectable official, instigate the heir of the Prince of Xiang to enter the Eastern Palace and slander the Crown Prince?

She and Princess Qinghe were from the same family, but their ways of doing things were worlds apart!

Regardless, Jiang Yunqian is doomed to die today.

Otherwise, if this matter gets out, Xiao Yunheng's reputation will be ruined.

"Prince Xiang, please save me! You promised to help me get revenge, that's why I came to help you. You can't just stand by and watch me die!" She didn't know where the strength came from, but she broke free from the imperial guards who came up to her and rushed to Xiao Yunheng.

Xiao Yunheng's face was extremely ugly. "Nonsense! You came to me yourself, saying you wanted to help your sister get justice, which is why I believed you. Now you want to turn around and bite me! You deserve to die!"

He flicked his sleeve, brushing away Jiang Yunqian's hand that was gripping his clothes. "Hurry up and take her away!"

The Imperial Guards were about to come and arrest her again.

Jiang Yunqian looked desperate, having no way out.

Suddenly, her eyes sharpened as she saw the dagger on the table.

That's what Xiao Yunheng placed on top after comparing them.

Before anyone could react, she rushed forward, grabbed the jeweled dagger from the table, drew it from its sheath, and thrust it fiercely at Jiang Zhi.

"You bitch! You're the one who ruined me! Even if I die, I'll drag you down with me!"

Her actions were so sudden that no one could react in time. Jiang Zhi, with her back to her, had no idea what she was doing.

When Shen Ci'an realized it, he only had time to rush forward and hug Jiang Zhi, turning his thin back to the dagger.

"Master!" Jiang Zhi exclaimed in surprise as her nose caught his austere scent, and a sudden panic gripped her heart.

But then, with a "thud," the blade pierced the flesh.

Jiang Zhi froze, then hurriedly turned around to look.

"You bitch, I'll haunt you even as a ghost." What met her eyes was Jiang Yunqian's eyes, filled with extreme hatred, blood-red like a vengeful ghost crawling up from the underworld.

At that moment, a long knife pierced through her chest, and blood stained her clothes.

"Dare to draw your blade in front of the Emperor? You're courting death." Lu Yuan kicked Jiang Yunqian aside, casually wiped the blood-stained Embroidered Spring Blade with her corpse, and sheathed it.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

From Jiang Yunqian's sudden outburst to her being killed by Lu Yuan with a single blow, only a short moment passed.

When Lu Yuan turned around after doing all this, he only saw Jiang Zhi being held tightly in Shen Ci'an's arms, and the panic and worry in Jiang Zhi's eyes had not completely faded. The two were clinging to each other tightly.

Lu Yuan was shocked by the scene, and it felt as if a piece of his chest was missing, letting in a cold wind.

He gripped the knife hilt tightly, suppressing the surging, aching pain, and coldly said, "Someone, why aren't you cleaning this place up?"

Soon, palace servants came in and carried away Jiang Yunqian's unseeing body. The bloodstains on the ground were cleaned up, and apart from the faint smell of blood in the air, it was as if nothing had happened.

A life was lost in the palace.

The doctor was also taken away at the same time.

Jiang Zhi glanced at Jiang Yunqian's body as it was carried outside, her eyes showing no emotion whatsoever.

She didn't have much of a sisterly bond with Jiang Yunqian, and besides, Jiang Yunqian had genuinely wanted to kill her just now.

Now it can only be said that she brought it upon herself.

She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Shen Ci'an was safe and sound.

She looked up and saw Lu Yuan's cold, hard face, silently watching her.

"Thank you for saving me, Lord Lu." She didn't know what else to say, so she nodded slightly to him.

"It's alright." Lu Yuan's expression softened slightly when he saw that Shen Ci'an had finally let go of Jiang Zhi's hand, and he stepped back behind Emperor Xuanzhao.

Emperor Xuanzhao glared at him with a hint of disappointment.

Are all women in this world dead?

He was staring at a married woman like she was his eyeball.

They wouldn't be ashamed if word got out!

"Father, all the other unrelated people have been dealt with, but what about the Prince of Xiang's heir?"

Xiao Xuanyou suddenly spoke up at this moment.

Emperor Xuanzhao pondered for a few moments, "The heir of the Prince of Xiang was also misled by treacherous people and misunderstood the Crown Prince. Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, to avoid hurting your brotherly relationship, a small punishment will suffice as a warning."

Xiao Xuanyou felt a chill in his heart.

He knew his father would say that, and had long since given up any hope for him.

But he had other methods.

Xiao Xuanyou turned his gaze towards the outside of the hall.

Soon, a majestic and aged voice came from outside the hall, "So this is how His Majesty usually indulges the Prince of Xiang's heir?"

Following the sound came an elderly man, thin and with white hair, dressed in a dark blue brocade robe with gold trim, who was being helped in by a eunuch.

Everyone present knelt down and kowtowed upon seeing him, and even the crown prince was helped off his bed.

"Greetings, Prince Gong."

Even Emperor Xuanzhao bowed to him, saying, "Uncle, what brings you to the Eastern Palace?"

Prince Gong was the late Emperor's brother during his lifetime. He fought alongside the late Emperor on the battlefield and shared a deep bond of brotherhood.

When the late emperor passed away, he held tightly to the hands of Prince Gong and Emperor Xuanzhao, who was then the crown prince, asking Prince Gong to take good care of Emperor Xuanzhao for him.

Emperor Xuanzhao always treated Prince Gong with great respect, and specially arranged a quiet yet prosperous place for him outside the palace so that he could live out his remaining years in peace.

Seeing that Prince Gong was about to bow to him, Emperor Xuanzhao immediately supported his arm, saying, "Uncle, you are not well, please sit down."

After Prince Gong sat down, he asked everyone to stand up.

"I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince had fallen from his horse and was injured. I was worried and came to visit him. I never expected to encounter such a thing."

"It is my fault for causing my uncle worry," Emperor Xuanzhao said with shame.

"Does Your Majesty truly intend to let the Prince of Xiang off lightly?" His sharp gaze swept over Xiao Yunheng.

Emperor Xuanzhao looked somewhat embarrassed. "After all, we're all family. Blood is thicker than water, so it's not good to be too harsh on us."

“Your Majesty, you are confused,” Prince Gong sighed. “The Prince of Xiang’s heir embezzled the court’s disaster relief funds first, then colluded with the Northern Barbarians, and now he is framing the Crown Prince. His ambitions are not small. If you let him off lightly, the entire Great Qi Dynasty will be thrown into chaos. The Crown Prince will not act like a Crown Prince, and the heir will not act like a heir. How can the court be stable?”

Emperor Xuanzhao naturally understood this principle, but he owed Xiao Yunheng a great deal and simply couldn't bring himself to be ruthless. "Then, according to my imperial uncle, how should I deal with him?"

"If His Majesty trusts me, then hand over the Prince of Xiang to me."

"this……"

"His Majesty is reluctant to part with it?"

Emperor Xuanzhao was caught in a dilemma.