Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Perhaps we can make a deal...
Wu Jingxun had seen Pei Huaiguang many times. He had seen him wearing a felt hat and wolf fur, wearing a guard's armor, and even his cold, pale, and thin body under his clothes.
But at first glance at his witch attire, Wu Jingxun was still a little hesitant to recognize him.
The two people's eyes met and separated immediately.
Emperor Zhou Qing was surrounded by numerous assassins wielding swords, but his expression remained unwavering. He simply gazed at the faintly frantic Prince Rong and sighed, "Prince Rong, how could we, brothers, have come to this? I have never treated you harshly, and I have cherished the Crown Prince and the Princess as if they were my own flesh and blood. Now that you have suddenly rebelled, have you ever considered what will become of them?"
Prince Rong's son Zhou Changyu had previously led the military generals, marquises, and young men from aristocratic families into the forest to hunt. Only Princess Changyi stood aside. She looked coldly at the Empress Dowager, the Emperor's uncle, the Emperor's aunt, and Jincheng who were forced to huddle together by the bursts of cold light and sword shadows, with a faint smile on her face.
Prince Rong never looked back, only saying, "As a father, I will naturally make plans for them."
"Really?" Emperor Zhou Qing chuckled as if he had heard some ridiculous joke. "For so many years, I've been childless, doting on the Crown Prince and the Princess." Unfazed, he gazed at Prince Rong with a look of pity, satisfaction, and the composure of a confident victory. "Prince Rong, you actually know why I cherish Changyu and Changyi as if they were my own children..."
The stand built for the royal family to watch the men hunting and enjoy the scenery of the grassland was extremely spacious. Even the musicians and dancers from the Ministry of Education would not feel crowded. Now, most of the prominent families in Jinling City gathered on this stand. The court officials and female relatives were originally in a panic because of Prince Rong's sudden madness and rebellion. After hearing Emperor Zhou Qing's meaningful words, they had not yet reacted when they heard the sound of clanging. When they looked closely, they were scared to death.
Prince Rong suddenly drew out a long sword, the sharp blade pointed directly at Emperor Zhou Qing, his eyes bloodshot: "Shut up!"
The sword tip was hanging in front of his neck. If Prince Rong thrust the sword forward in excitement, Emperor Zhou Qing would be killed on the spot.
Emperor Zhou Qing remained straight-backed, his posture graceful. "What is Prince Rong afraid of? Is he afraid that I might reveal that Changyi might be my bloodline? Or is he afraid that Wanniang, in her afterlife, would refuse to see you in the afterlife if she knew that you not only failed to protect her in life but also failed to preserve her reputation in death?"
These light words fell on everyone's heart like thunder from behind the clouds, making them dizzy and dazed, and for a moment they didn't know how to react.
Wu Jingxun quietly raised his eyes and looked at Pei Huaiguang, who had an indifferent expression and did not seem surprised.
But she quickly looked away before he looked back. Wu Jingxun had had enough of being a clay Buddha, and now she also wanted to see the fun of Princess Changyi.
Emperor Zhou Qing's words naturally caused a great stir among the royal ladies. Princess Jincheng looked at the Queen who pursed her lips and remained silent, feeling somewhat embarrassed. She then looked at the Queen Mother who lowered her head and whose back looked even more hunched over in the blink of an eye. Finally, she fixed her sight on Princess Changyi who was outside the assassin's circle and had a bewildered look on her face.
Princess Jincheng said bitterly, "How could I have a sister as vicious and mean as you? You don't deserve it!"
Princess Changyi came back to her senses in a daze. She heard Princess Jincheng's curse and felt the fearful and contemptuous gazes from the people present. She felt as if ants were crawling all over her body, making her uncomfortable and not knowing what to do for a moment.
Wu Jingxun looked at Pei Huaiguang's amber eyes, his lips moving slightly, but in the end he said nothing.
Everyone present was drawn to the sudden voice of Emperor Zhou Qing.
"Wanniang gave birth to Princess Changyi for me, continuing the royal family's lineage. Prince Rong has also burdened you with raising my daughter for so many years... You've endured so much, and I feel guilty towards you and Wanniang." As Emperor Zhou Qing uttered these words, Prince Rong, whose face had been as sullen as water, suddenly lit up like a pile of dead wood, his whole body shrouded in unmistakable anger. His once portly frame suddenly became nimble, and he snatched the assassin's sword from the side, swinging the thin, sharp blade straight at Emperor Zhou Qing: "Shut up!"
The blade was so close at hand, but Emperor Zhou Qing did not move, and there was even a slight smile on the corner of his mouth.
Just as the blade was about to touch Emperor Zhou Qing's neck, the sound of horse hooves came from below the platform, accompanied by a few exclamations.
"Prince Rong... is rebelling!"
"Your Majesty! Let Your Majesty go!"
"Prince Rong, your father has become a traitor, how can you sit on your horse so calmly? Why don't you quickly persuade Prince Rong to surrender? Don't cause unrest to the emperor and unrest to the empire!"
Zhou Changyu sat on his horse, looking directly at the scene where Prince Rong was standing on the high platform, holding a long sword and shouting at Emperor Zhou Qing. For a moment, he was in turmoil and didn't know what to say.
The officials and female relatives present had been abducted by the assassins arranged by Prince Rong. Most of those who returned at this time were military generals, marquises and the younger generation of aristocratic families.
Seeing them come back, the assassins stood up and surrounded them, looking like they were going to catch them all in one fell swoop.
Prince Rong didn't care about being labeled a traitor, but he was extremely sensitive to the whispers on the podium. He only cared about Wan Niang.
Why did he make her unhappy in life, and shamed again after her death because of him, and why should she not rest in peace in the underworld?!
Wanniang... Wanniang...
Seeing the fierce look of pain and pleasure flashing in Prince Rong's eyes, and taking advantage of the moment when he raised the knife above his head and was about to chop it down, Emperor Zhou Qing calmly took a half step back, exerted force with the hand hanging by his side, and shot out a silver needle from the small tube in his palm, heading straight towards Prince Rong.
Seeing Prince Rong's body stagnate slightly, the long sword in his hand slammed heavily to the ground. The dull sound seemed to be a signal. The guards who were originally firmly clamped by the assassins suddenly became the masters. Not only that, many assassins "rebelled" on the spot and killed their companions by surprise.
The situation on the platform seemed to be reversed in an instant.
Pei Huaiguang had the task of protecting the emperor and capturing Prince Rong alive, so he had to leave first, but he still took the time to search for Wu Jingxun's figure in the panicked crowd.
Before leaving, his lips moved silently.
'Step aside.'
He would get her away safely.
Prince Rong was tortured by the poison in the silver needles to the point that he could no longer stand. His fat and bloated body fell to the ground, his face purple and an unpleasant hoarse sound coming from his throat.
Emperor Zhou Qing was relieved of his predicament. He ignored the fact that Prince Rong had been secretly preparing for so many years, and was just waiting for this day to get rid of his younger brother who was much better than him when he was young. By the way, he accepted his favor and asked those assassins to "accidentally" kill some useless ministers.
He walked to Prince Rong's side, looked down at him from above as he was poisoned, and smiled: "Changyi is not my child. But I do like my sister-in-law Wanniang. She serves me very well. Third brother, I should thank you very much."
The emperor's condescending mercy and arrogance forced Prince Rong to utter a hoarse sound from his throat. His eyes, filled with blood and tears, stared at Emperor Zhou Qing.
From his constantly opening and closing lips, Emperor Zhou Qing could also read what Prince Rong wanted to say.
"Not a good death? No, I will live forever and prosper forever."
After tying up Prince Rong and ensuring that he had no chance of escaping, Pei Huaiguang stood up, untied the long sword from his waist, and cleanly and neatly dealt with a pair of escaped fish that had pounced on him.
In the next moment, his eyes, which were extremely cold because of the bloodshot, suddenly widened.
Princess Changyi picked up a blood-stained sword on the ground and walked straight towards Wu Jingxun.
There were no guards around her. Such a frail and thin girl faced the sword blade that flashed with a bloody light. Amid the screams of others, she was suddenly pulled into an embrace with a bitter smell.
She fell into a solid yet soft darkness.
There was the sound of swords cutting into flesh.
He said nothing, but just told her: "Close your eyes."
I'll take you home.
·
Pei Huaiguang really did what he said. He only stumbled after he brought Wu Jingxun into the gate of Pingning Marquis Mansion. If Wu Jingxun had not supported him, both of them would have fallen to the ground.
The steward came forward to see the only child of the Pei family, and Wu Jingxun stood aside somewhat exhausted, watching the skirt stained with his blood and the plain orchid blooming with blood-red splendor.
The steward hurriedly asked someone to carry the second master inside and asked the doctor to come quickly to take a look at his injuries. Oh, he lost so much blood, he must have suffered a great pain!
Pei Huaiguang was already half-conscious at this time, but he still subconsciously tightened the soft and slightly cold hand.
“…Home?”
Everyone's eyes fell on the two people's hands tightly held together, and their expressions were somewhat puzzled.
Pei Huaiguang still looked at her stubbornly. Even though the pressure on his eyelids was getting heavier, he didn't want to close his eyes.
Knowing his stubbornness, Wu Jingxun had no choice but to gently hold his fingers back.
Cold and tall, even in such a weak moment, he did not forget to hold her hand tighter.
"Home."
The girl's soft and helpless voice rang in his ears, and the young man, whose black clothes were almost stained with blood, seemed to pull out a satisfied smile at the corner of his lips.
He immediately closed his eyes, and the pulling force of Wu Jingxun's other hand suddenly became stronger.
He fainted.
But even so, he held her hand tightly and did not let go.
Now everyone's eyes were filled with almost undisguised shock.
Wu Jingxun was remarkably calm about the rumors he might encounter in the future: "Send him back to Xupingyuan first."
The stewards seemed to have just woken up from a dream, and they hurriedly arranged to carry the seriously injured and unconscious Second Master back to Xuping Courtyard.
When Madam Qiong heard the news, she stumbled over with the help of someone and happened to see Wu Jingxun with his brows downcast. His other fair and slender hand exerted a little force to separate her hand and the young man's hand that were clasped together.
Madam Qiong did not leave with her seriously injured young son, but walked to Wu Jingxun. The sick woman raised her hands high. The other people present almost couldn't bear to look away, unwilling to see the prince's wife, whose fate was already tragic, being beaten.
The crisp sound of slapping never came.
Madam Qiong was just mad at herself. Seeing her young son, who had just returned home, covered in blood, she felt almost heartbroken. If it weren't for this woman, why would her Erlang fight so hard?!
But she actually blocked the slap lightly.
Wu Jingxun's dark and silent eyes stared at her closely.
"Instead of getting angry at me, why not do something practical for your son?"
"Ma'am, perhaps we can make a deal."
·
When Pei Huaiguang woke up, the pain in his body was extremely torturous, but he did not show any sign of weakness. Although his face was pale, his eyes were clear and he looked around, obviously looking for someone.
This made Mrs. Joan, who had been sitting by the bed watching over him, feel a little sad.
There are so many good girls in the world for him to choose from, why is he so obsessed with a widow who has been married and has a close relationship with him?
But it was no use thinking about it now. Madam Qiong looked at the boy's eyes, which had obviously dimmed, and her heart ached. She stepped forward and asked with concern, "Erlang, how are you feeling now? Are you still in severe pain?"
Pei Huaiguang nodded, but didn't want to speak.
Until the door creaked open, and a beam of sunlight came in, followed by a strong aroma of rice porridge.
Wu Jingxun came in carrying a small tray with a bowl of steaming porridge on it.
Perhaps she hadn't expected Pei Huaiguang to wake up so soon. Wu Jingxun was startled for a moment, meeting his intense, focused gaze that seemed to register nothing. She subconsciously turned her head, her reddish fingertips brushing against the strands of hair dangling from her bun. "I made some meat porridge. Now that Erlang is awake, have some."
In fact, Pei Huaiguang had no appetite at the moment, but the girl in front of him with a calm and gentle expression, and the bowl of steaming porridge in her hands, were scenes that only appeared in his dreams.
He couldn't tell for a moment whether he had woken up or was still in a dream.
When Pei Huaiguang came back to his senses, his lips touched something warm and soft.
The aroma of meat and vegetables mixed with the cooked rice. Pei Huaiguang subconsciously opened his mouth, and a warm feeling tracked down his abdomen. Only then did he clearly realize that he was awake.
The girl in front of him, holding the bowl and patiently feeding him with her eyes lowered like butterfly wings, was not delusion either.
"Are you... pitying me?"
Wu Jingxun didn't say anything, just remained silent and fed him the bowl of porridge one mouthful after another.
Considering that he might have just woken up and had a poor appetite, but his severely injured body was in urgent need of nutrients, Wu Jingxun did not dare to cook too much. He only gave him half a bowl, telling him to fill his stomach with it and drink some blood-replenishing and essence-strengthening medicinal soup later.
She didn't say anything, but just quietly fed him the bowl of porridge. Pei Huaiguang also lowered his eyes silently, cherishing the rare moment of solitude between the two of them, which could be considered a little close.
Mrs. Joan had already retreated with her people without knowing when.
There were only the two of them in the room.
"Don't worry, there's news from the palace telling you to take good care of your injuries."
Pei Huaiguang shook his head: "You know, I don't care about this."
Wu Jingxun didn't know what to say for a moment.
It was a long while before Pei Huaiguang got her response, just as the light outside the house gradually darkened.
"I'm not pitying you."
Just doing something she was supposed to do at the end.
Pei Huaiguang looked at the slender white hand that covered him, and for the first time, an emotion that could be called astonishment appeared in his amber-like eyes.
"You should take good care of your injuries first. As for the rest...we can talk about it later, okay?"
The girl's voice was as gentle as a beautiful dream.
Pei Huaiguang heard that his own answer was as light as the tip of a floating cloud, and he was afraid that any louder noise would instantly break this dream.
"good."
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The author has something to say: Come back and rehabilitate TVT
After thinking for a long time, I decided to pick up this article and continue writing it. I am really sorry for the little angel who is following me. I will definitely work hard to finish it.
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