Chapter 203 Severed Palm
"Please calm down, young lady. They would definitely try to cover this up after something like this happened. How could it spread so quickly?"
Across from her, a cold and aloof man held his breath and patiently tried to comfort her, but his gaze towards Xiao Yuyao still carried a hint of disdain.
With such impatience, no matter how much Prince Duan protects and flatters her, she will never amount to anything in the future. Sending him to protect such a useless person is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
"You said the same thing two hours ago, and two more hours until dawn with still no sign of it. How can I believe you?!"
Xiao Yuyao stood up abruptly and paced anxiously back and forth in the room, biting her fingernails intermittently.
"Are you blaming me for offering a poor suggestion, young lady?"
The man's face darkened, and his tone revealed his resentment.
Xiao Yuyao paused, suppressing her resentment, and finally softened her voice: "No, it's nothing. I was just worried that something might go wrong..."
"That guard isn't with Qi Yuxuan, and the two guards in Jici Temple are both people we've placed there. There's no way a defenseless little girl like her can escape!"
Xiao Yuyao took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. She glanced at the sky before saying:
"Sir, it's getting late. You should go back and rest. We have to set off early the next morning."
The man didn't say anything more and left in silence.
He wouldn't have said those things if it weren't necessary.
Not long after he left, Xiao Yuyao snuggled into the blanket and drifted off to sleep, her mind elsewhere. But her dreams remained restless, alternating between the carefree joy of her fourteen years and the arduous first few months, tormenting her until she awoke in a cold sweat, her eyes snapping open—
She met a pair of eyes that were completely devoid of emotion!
"ah--!"
Ren Shun picked at his ear.
The servants within a few hundred meters were all asleep under the influence of the sleeping incense, so he wasn't worried that his shout would wake them up. If it weren't for his young master saying that he needed to verify the facts before killing her, he wouldn't have needed to waste any time; he could have just sneaked in, slit her throat, and left.
"Did you kill Qi Yuxuan?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuyao immediately understood why this stranger had come, and also realized that Qi Yuxuan must be in trouble! She had succeeded!
With that important person as her trump card, Xiao Yuyao's fear vanished, replaced by excitement and exhilaration.
Qi Yuxuan must be crying her eyes out right now, wishing she could die!
Thinking of the possible reaction of that face she had resented for countless days and nights, Xiao Yuyao's tone was filled with a delighted smile.
"You're her bodyguard?! It's a pity you weren't by her side today, I wouldn't have found such a good opportunity to make my move..."
She admitted it too quickly. Ren Shun nodded indifferently, listlessly pulled out a dagger, and the movement of stabbing it into her neck was almost a blur.
But Xiao Yuyao twisted her body and dodged it.
When the dagger stuck in the pillow, Ren Shun realized that this was no ordinary person.
"My lord, save me!"
She shouted out anxiously, and Ren Shun realized that things were not going well.
This is no ordinary young lady from a secluded family!
"Arrogant brat, how dare you defy the Grand Duke Jupiter!"
A deep male voice came from the roof, followed by a figure breaking through the roof and descending. Five fingers shaped like eagle claws flew towards Ren Shun. Ren Shun could only crouch down and roll on the ground, barely dodging the fierce palm wind. However, he was caught off guard and was still hit hard on the chest by the other person's other hand, which made him vomit a mouthful of blood!
He mustered his strength and threw the silver needle at a strange angle at Xiao Yuyao, who was lying at the corner of the bed. The needle was coated with poison from Nan Yue, and if it hit her, she would surely die!
"Hmm!"
Xiao Yuyao, lying at the corner of the bed, let out a painful groan, and the two fighting men looked over at her.
"You dare to lay a hand on me!"
Seeing that the silver needle had hit its mark, Ren Shun wasted no more time. He took out a bullet from his pocket and threw it on the ground. Thick, choking smoke rose into the air, blocking all prying eyes. He clutched his chest and slipped away.
"grown ups!"
Xiao Yuyao looked at her right hand, which was pierced by three silver needles, and spoke in a trembling voice helplessly.
"This is……"
The man looked at the needle tip that was glowing with an eerie bluish-green light, and then at the back of her hand that was already purplish-red. He knew something was wrong.
"Click—"
Blood spurted out, and Xiao Yuyao watched in horror as her severed hand, still bearing three silver needles, rolled onto the bedding, staining it a chilling crimson.
"Ah!!! My hand..."
The broken, lingering sound disappeared into the thick, bloody air. Xiao Yuyao's eyes rolled back, and she completely lost consciousness.
The man stared emotionlessly at her severed hand, which was gushing blood, sprinkled some hemostatic medicine he carried with him on it, and then, without any pity, tore off a piece of the quilt and wrapped it tightly.
After bandaging her up, he disgustedly tossed aside the lifeless Xiao Yuyao, who looked like a dead dog, and complained:
"Whether you live or die intact is not a difficult choice, so I've made the choice for you."
His gaze fell on the three silver needles. He wrapped the needles in a handkerchief, slowly pulled them out, examined them in his hand for a while, and then revealed a meaningful smile.
Qi Yuxuan's injuries were not serious. The minor scratches on her back, waist, and body from the branches and thorns were easy to heal and would be completely removed in ten days to half a month, without leaving any scars.
The dislocated right ankle was reattached that night, but he would need to rest for at least two or three months, so the plan to go to Jincheng was put on hold.
The next day, Qi Yuxuan was taken away from the East Palace by the Eldest Princess.
Inside the carriage, the princess kept wiping away tears, heartbroken, and no amount of comforting from Qi Yuxuan could help.
"Mother, I'm sitting right in front of you perfectly fine. I'm alright, I'll be fine soon."
The eldest princess tucked her eyes in, her gaze a mixture of heartache and anger:
"What deep-seated hatred does the person behind this have against you that they would come up with such a vicious method!"
Although this dynasty is not as harsh on women as in the past, how could the murderer be so malicious as to use such a vicious scheme to ruin the reputation of a young girl who has not yet reached marriageable age?!
The eldest princess grew increasingly indignant. She had never tolerated such methods. If they had the guts, they should argue and confront each other face to face, rather than resorting to underhanded tricks and schemes behind people's backs!
Qi Yuxuan handed over her handkerchief and gently advised:
"Didn't His Majesty and my cousin already promise to thoroughly investigate Jici Temple? I believe they will find out the truth and punish them severely."
"That's true, but no matter how you punish them, even killing them won't make up for the injuries you've suffered! If it weren't for my good son's good fortune, his mother would never have..."
As the princess spoke, she thought of that terrible possibility and choked up, tears streaming down her face.
Perhaps out of consideration for Qi Yuxuan, who was injured inside the carriage, the carriage came to an unprecedentedly steady stop, and she only felt a slight sway.
Several maids helped carry Qi Yuxuan down and carried her to the bed in the bedroom.
The eldest princess followed closely behind, repeatedly reminding him to be careful and slow down.
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