Zhu Chen's original intention was that as long as the two imperial physicians and the new prefect saw him being loved by the people and seeing them off, and they said this to his father, the position of crown prince would be a sure thing.
In short, it was a hundred times more grand than when Lu Yuyan and the others left.
However, ideals are beautiful, but reality is cruel.
The common people had long known that the Third Prince was not a good person. The relief grain, winter quilts and clothes were dug out, and who knows if it was his doing? The court has not given a definite answer yet.
What's most despicable is that he deliberately infected Princess Ruoling with the plague. Perhaps this great plague in their Mu City was caused by him.
If it weren't for his status as the Third Prince, the common people would have loved to throw rotten vegetables and eggs at his head.
Zhu Chen sat in the carriage, waiting from Chenshi (7-9 AM) to Wushi (11 PM-1 PM), but he didn't see a single commoner come to see him off.
The two imperial physicians were puzzled: "Is His Highness waiting for someone?" one of the physicians asked.
Another imperial physician shook his head: "I don't know. We can't leave without His Highness's permission."
"If we delay any longer, we won't make it to the first inn. Are we going to have to spend the night in the wilderness?"
The newly appointed Prefect of Mucheng, mounted on his horse, glanced at the two men indifferently. Were all imperial physicians so clueless?
"Have you sent out the message yet?" Zhu Chen asked his head guard in a cold voice, his mood at its lowest point.
The head guard felt a chill run down his spine: "I did send it out. Not only that, I also had people tell you all about what Your Highness has been doing for the people of Mu City during this time, in major restaurants and teahouses. But, but I don't know what exactly happened."
Apart from a few soldiers guarding the city gate and the people coming and going, there was no sign of anyone seeing him off.
Some people even looked at them with a fierce glint in their eyes.
Zhu Chen was so angry he could have a toothache. If he had known this would happen, he would have left with Lu Yuyan yesterday.
Who knows if they were seeing Lu Yuyan off or seeing him off?
"Depart!" Zhu Chen coldly ordered, but one day when he ascends to that supreme position, he will surely punish the people of Mu City for disrespect and exile them all to the frontier!
The grand procession then slowly left the city.
"Your Highness, news has arrived from the capital." After traveling more than ten miles, the head guard whispered to the small window of the carriage.
Zhu Chen parted the curtains: "Speak."
"The Crown Prince has awakened."
Zhu Chen sneered: "A short-lived, sickly fellow, nothing to be afraid of."
The head guard lowered his voice and looked around: "Imperial Physician Chen said that the Crown Prince's weakness shows signs of recovery."
Zhu Chen was startled: "What happened? Didn't you say he was about to die?"
The head guard was also unsure, and could only report the truth: "Physician Chen said that this is called 'putting oneself in a life-or-death situation to survive.' Perhaps it is because of the death of the Crown Prince's wife that the Crown Prince was stimulated and has turned misfortune into blessing, and now he is showing signs of recovery."
He paused, then continued, "Imperial Physician Chen carefully examined the pulse and said that there was indeed nothing wrong with the Crown Prince's pulse. However, his body is still very weak and he needs to recuperate for several months to fully recover. But he can confirm that there is no longer any danger to his life."
Zhu Chen stroked the jade thumb ring on his hand. "You little beast, instead of dying with your mother, you dare to block my way!"
Why did you have to force him to take action when you could have just died peacefully?
"Where is Zhu Dan?"
"His Majesty is unwell, and the Fifth Prince has been handling state affairs in the Imperial Study. Third Prince, you have been away from Shengjing for too long, and the Duke of Yingguo has been exiled to the northwestern border. If His Majesty were to pass away at this time, the Crown Prince could rightfully ascend the throne, and the Fifth Prince would be the rightful regent!"
Zhu Chen clenched his fist tightly into his sleeve. Whether it was Zhu Zixuan, that brat, becoming emperor, or Zhu Dan becoming regent, neither of them would have a good life for him, Zhu Chen.
Three months ago, he escaped the palace coup launched by Zhu Heng. Now that he has returned to Shengjing, he fears a bloody storm awaits him.
Zhu Chen's eyes were deep as he said to the head guard, "Come closer."
The head guard leaned his head out of Zhu Chen's carriage window.
Zhu Chen whispered two instructions in his ear.
The captain of the guards paused, but said nothing, nodded in agreement, and spurred his horse to the rear.
The ten-mile journey took the head guard less than half an hour to cover, and he caught up with Zhu Chen's carriage.
"Your Highness, I have retrieved the items. Should we send them to Shengjing immediately, or wait a little longer?"
Zhu Chen thought for a moment and shook his head, saying, "Let's wait two more days and see how things go after we get back to Shengjing before we make a move."
The head guard nodded, carefully wrapped the tea set that Princess Ruoling had used in her room in several layers, placed it in a small box, and then covered the small box with a large box.
Zhu Chen watched as the head guard packed up his things.
The methods used on Ruoling can naturally be used on Zhu Zixuan as well.
Zhu Zixuan has been physically weak since childhood; if he were to contract the virus, he would surely die!
Even with Lu Yuyan's exceptional medical skills, he might not be able to save him.
Besides, it's still uncertain whether Lu Yuyan will even make it to Shengjing City alive.
...
Because Ruoling was physically weak, the carriage traveled very slowly, covering only about fifty li by the time of You in the afternoon.
It was a dense forest.
But it was unusually quiet, and Lu Yuyan vaguely felt that something was wrong.
It was late May, but there wasn't a single bird chirping.
Wu Chuan and Xi Yi naturally sensed something was wrong: "Princess, Mr. Lu, there might be an ambush."
Lu Yuyan held Ruoling in his arms and whispered comforting words in her ear: "I'm here, don't be afraid."
Ruoling nodded emphatically: "Yes, I'm not afraid."
The next moment, more than a hundred men in black suddenly emerged from the depths of the dense forest.
Lu Yuyan lifted the carriage curtain and looked out; it was a dark, dense mass of people.
Ha, Zhu Chen thinks highly of him.
The arrows rained down precisely on their carriage, swish, swish, swish, covering the sky like a storm.
Wu Chuan and Xi Yi flanked the carriage tightly, drawing their swords to knock the arrows to the ground.
Physician Jiang and the others were terrified, crouching low inside the carriage: "My God, what's going on?"
Another imperial physician turned pale with fright: "Imperial Physician Jiang, could they be remnants of the Second Prince's faction? Why are they killing us? The Third Prince isn't in our group."
"Yes, Imperial Physician Jiang, should we go out and tell the assassins that the Third Prince is not leaving until tomorrow? We don't want them to kill the wrong person."
Physician Jiang twitched his beard and said, "What's the use of saying all this now? Quickly lie down properly and don't get accidentally injured."
Although Lu Yuyan had studied martial arts with his older sister and Feng Yan and others for a period of time, he was not like his older sister, who had the muscle memory of Zhu Yu's body and was able to learn such high-level martial arts.
His martial arts skills were sufficient to deal with ordinary guards, but not to professional assassins.
Lu Yuyan naturally knew this, so he simply held Ruoling tightly in his arms and did not leave the carriage to cause trouble for Wu Chuan and Xi Yi.
There were many assassins in black, but Lu Yuyan only had a dozen or so guards with him.
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