Chapter 41 If the prince insists, she will naturally dismantle it...
The hidden guards exchanged glances and nodded slightly. The shadow guard immediately rushed to the Prince's mansion.
The sword shadows were like rainbows, sharp and startling.
Startled birds scattered in all directions in the forest. The girl's pale blue figure moved among dozens of sharp sword shadows, her sword blades turning into afterimages as she stabbed at the man who moved as nimbly as a swallow. Arrows that occasionally pierced through the clouds and dodged as she moved, piercing through bamboo and wood.
Upon noticing the two figures that suddenly darted out, Bie Zhi frowned slightly. Including these two, there were a total of twelve people.
Apart from her trip to Holland, she had not offended anyone else.
Before she could avoid the two who had suddenly appeared, she saw them brandishing their swords and heading straight for the dozens of people she was fighting with.
They came to help her.
Bie Zhi was certain that these two were not from Xianyunlou.
And who planted someone to follow her?
As a sword shadow flashed past her ear, she nimbly raised her leg and kicked the entangled assassin, sending him flying ten steps away onto a rockery. She then spun around to dodge the sword shadow that came from behind, and thrust her sword into the man's chest.
A thick, pungent smell of blood instantly filled the air.
Biezhi dodged the arrow that whistled through the air from the Xu family's eaves once again, and keenly realized that this group of people was not the same group of assassins she had encountered outside the city before. The dozens of people in front of her were all shadowy figures who still used swords, and they were heavily injured but still relentlessly pressed forward. They did not seem like assassins or killers.
Like a suicide squad...
Her pupils narrowed slightly. She spoke to the two men who were still fighting with the assassins, signaling them to stop entangled with them. She immediately turned and ran away from the forest, her body lightly leaping through the dense woods.
The assassins who had fallen behind followed immediately, moving with the speed of the wind, quickly forming an encirclement and surrounding him completely.
Seeing this, Biezhi immediately took out a pouch from his bosom, took out one of the pills and put it in his mouth, stopped his rapid pace, and got back into the fight.
Since the newcomer was a suicide soldier, she no longer prioritized self-preservation as before. The sharpness in her blade had increased considerably, and she swung it resolutely and decisively at the approaching suicide soldier, each blade aimed at a vital point.
Bie Zhi raised her eyes slightly and glanced at the bright moon that had already climbed up the branch. She frowned slightly and dodged the sword blade with lightning speed.
The sharp sounds of clashing swords rang out one after another. She glanced at the four or five assassins who had collapsed to the ground clutching their chests, and a helper who had fallen not far away. His chest had been pierced, and the gushing blood had soaked the soil. Before she could catch her breath, she faced the rest of the group.
The moment the arrow pierced her arm, Biezhi paused slightly, raised her right hand holding the sword to pull out the arrow blade, and dripping blood rippled along the arc of the blade. The numbness instantly seeped into her bones, and she frowned.
The arrow was poisoned.
She couldn't wait for the antidote to take effect. Enduring the pain that coursed through her body, she shouted at the last remaining person, "Go!"
Upon hearing this, the guard turned around and glanced at the girl who was fighting desperately. She seemed to be taking something out of her pocket. Then she took ten steps back and pulled out a pouch. With a flick of her wrist, pale yellow powder instantly scattered in the wind.
The approaching assassin froze instantly, his body sliding uncontrollably downwards.
The three leaders plunged their swords into the mud, barely managing to support themselves. They exchanged glances, desperately resisting the growing weakness that had crept in, and rushed towards the slightly stiff girl with their swords still in hand.
Biezhi instinctively raised her arm, but couldn't lift it even an inch.
His body felt like it was filled with lead, and he couldn't move.
Just then, I heard hurried footsteps again.
Bie Zhi's lips curled up slightly, revealing a smile, before she sighed for no apparent reason.
Honestly, if I had known I would die here, I should have stayed with Ji'er a little longer.
Suddenly, the sword pierced the oncoming assassin.
Biezhi's eyes twitched, and light and shadow flashed across her pupils.
She slightly shifted her gaze and caught sight of the man's cold, tense jaw. Biezhi breathed a sigh of relief, and her tightly held composure began to sink, plunging her into darkness.
In an instant, Fu Huaiqing's eyes narrowed, and a look of panic flashed in Ling Lie's eyes.
He threw away the longsword in his hand, reached out and caught the girl who fell straight down. The girl's body was stiff as stone. Fu Huaiqing's fingertips, which were wrapped around her body, trembled slightly. He said with difficulty, as his throat was gripped by an unknown force, "Leave her alive."
The main courtyard of the Prince's Mansion was brightly lit.
Despite it being summer, the room inside was as cold as a freezer.
The moment Fu Huaiqing carried the person into the bedroom, Xiao Ming, the head of the Imperial Physician's Office, who had already packed up and returned to his residence, rushed over. His body, which had been pulled and stumbled by the guards, straightened up immediately when he saw the prince with a frosty expression in the bedroom. Before he could even greet him, he was pushed to the bedside by the guards.
The girl on the couch had a serene and obedient expression, as if she were not the one whose arm was occasionally oozing thick black blood.
With the patient in front of him, Xiao Ming didn't even have time to greet her; he immediately bent down to check the girl's breathing.
A faint breath lingered on his knuckles, and his furrowed brows relaxed slightly. He then examined the wound from which black blood was gushing out. It looked like a fresh wound, but the exposed flesh was like dead flesh, even bubbling.
He caught his breath, turned around, and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Highness, this young lady is suffering from a severe poison and may need to have her flesh cut off to treat her bones."
Fu Huaiqing hummed in agreement, his ink-black pupils growing even deeper.
He realized it when he wrapped his arms around the other branch.
Bridge Stones Scattered.
It's not fatal, but it can make a person as stiff as a stone.
If not dealt with in time, one will be unable to move like a stone for the rest of one's life.
Having received a clear answer, Xiao Ming immediately took out the tools from his medical kit, then turned and instructed the guards on the side to prepare ten basins of spring water and a sufficient amount of anesthetic powder.
The guards left after receiving their orders, and as they walked out of the bedroom, they bumped into Cheng Jin, who had been left to clean up the mess, rushing back. Accompanying him was a man with a stern face, and the two of them quickly stepped into the bedroom.
Upon receiving the news, Ling Feng rushed over and saw his disciple lying on the couch. His hand, hanging by his side, trembled slightly. Meeting Fu Huaiqing's eyes, which were as calm as a lake, he asked in a slightly hoarse voice, "How is she?"
"The arrow is poisoned; cut flesh to heal the bone." Fu Huaiqing's voice was calm and indifferent. He paused, then said, "Bridgestone Powder."
Ling Feng was stunned, and immediately walked past him to the bedside.
The girl's lips were pale, and her breath was weak.
It's like an old man on his deathbed.
He bent down to examine the wound on his arm, frowned as he made way for the imperial physician who was already prepared, and looked at the man who stood quietly to the side, his gaze fixed on the branch.
The man's eyes grew increasingly deep, as if he were trying his best to suppress the surging undercurrents beneath the surface of the lake, disguising himself as a tranquil and boundless lake. If anyone were to accidentally fall in, they would be instantly swallowed up by the surging waters.
On his way here, Ling Feng had heard Cheng Jin mention that the dozens of people who fought against Bie Zhi were all suicide soldiers, including the archers standing on the eaves of the Xu family's house.
The bounty notice in Hezhou has been posted for nearly half a month, and countless assassins have come to answer the call. Everyone in Xianyun Tower has already received instructions, and no one has shown any mercy. Anyone who tries to take a life is killed on the spot.
But the assassins...
They were a group of organized and premeditated suicide bombers.
Ling Feng's eyelashes trembled: "They came for her?"
Fu Huaiqing remained silent, his eyes fixed on the dead flesh under Xiao Ming's knife. He carefully examined the small amount of dead flesh he had pried open with his knife. Bie Zhi, lying quietly on the couch, remained calm and composed, as if she felt no pain whatsoever.
He closed his eyes briefly. "They're all dead?"
The deep, cold voice echoed in his ears, and Cheng Jin nodded with a forced smile: "Yes."
The moment the prince left, the remaining two immediately drew their swords and committed suicide, as did the archers in the distance.
Jiang Yue's brow twitched violently as he watched Xiao Ming cut off the dead flesh. He asked, "Is someone planning to harm Xu Wenche, and that's why they were thinking of eliminating Miss Biezhi?"
Ling Feng frowned upon hearing this.
If someone intended to harm Xu Wenche, they would have already discovered that Biezhi was secretly protecting him. By eliminating her, who had been following Xu Wenche for so long, they could directly take his life.
Fu Huaiqing's face was deathly pale, and he tugged at the corner of his mouth: "Her mission is over, find someone else to follow her."
“No!” Ling Feng hurriedly said. He knew Bie Zhi very well. She might accept ending the mission midway for other reasons, but if it was because she was worried about his safety, she would definitely doubt his abilities. “If she doesn’t change her mind, how about sending two more people to accompany her?”
“No one has made a move against Xu Wenche,” Fu Huaiqing said.
When Xu Wenche came to the capital, he not only gave orders to Xianyun Tower, but also had two other groups of people accompanying him. They acted alone and did not offend each other.
At present, there is no news of being hunted down from the other two sides.
His voice was extremely calm: "Have someone investigate to find out if anyone other than Xu Wenche has been seen around her recently."
After a moment of silence, he asked again, "Where are the bodyguards who are with her?"
“He is currently being treated in the outer courtyard.” Cheng Jin frowned as he thought of the bodyguard who was lying limp on the ground, looking as if he had no bones. “Besides the Bridge Stone Powder on Miss Biezhi, there seems to be another poison. He was weak and powerless and fainted on the way back to the outer courtyard. He has not yet woken up.”
Upon hearing this, Ling Feng glanced at his disciple on the bed and said in a deep voice, "Bone-dissolving powder."
The Bone-Dissolving Powder is unique to Xianyun Tower. It was invented by Biezhi during her seclusion some time ago. Making the Bone-Dissolving Powder is not difficult; the difficulty lies in its antidote, which is why she locked herself up for more than half a month.
“She must have taken the antidote before using the poison,” Fu Huaiqing said.
Ling Feng nodded, agreeing with this.
When using poison, Biezhi always acts cautiously and will not act rashly. If he does use it, he will definitely have a backup plan.
Fu Huaiqing lowered his gaze, which fell on the girl's quiet and obedient face. Her usual liveliness was nowhere to be seen. She was like a lifelike picture book, sitting there quietly, which was breathtaking.
"Master." The shadow guard who was going to the Magpie Fan Pavilion quickly stepped into the bedroom, holding the medicine box in both hands and handing it forward, "The antidote."
Fu Huaiqing opened the box, and inside the palm-sized box lay a small, brown pill.
To avoid leaving the wound lingering, Xiao Ming had already neatly cut away the dead flesh on the outside of the wound, even going so far as to cut away the parts that were connected to the dead flesh but showed no signs of poisoning. When Fu Huaiqing walked to the side of the bed, he was stitching up the wound. After finishing the last stitch, he reached out and said, "Scissors."
He finished cutting the thread, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw the prince standing beside him. He quickly got up and made way for him.
Fu Huaiqing glanced at the beads of sweat on his forehead and said, "Take Lord Xiao down to rest for a while."
Xiao Ming bowed and thanked him, then wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and retreated.
Fu Huaiqing reached out and put his arm around Biezhi's shoulder, deliberately pausing her wound. He raised his body slightly by half an inch, pinched the pill between his fingertips and placed it into the corner of her slightly parted mouth. Then, his knuckles touched her chin and lifted it up for a moment, his gaze fixed intently on the girl's Adam's apple.
After a long while, there was still no sign of the pill rolling.
Fu Huaiqing frowned, pinched her cheek with his fingertips, and gently pried open her tightly closed lips. He saw that she had the pill in her cheek and showed no intention of swallowing it.
He pressed his little finger against his cheek, which was holding the pill, and pushed it in an inch, but the pill in his mouth didn't move at all.
Seeing this, Ling Feng, who was standing behind him, frowned and said, "I'll do it—"
Upon seeing the man suddenly lean over him, his voice abruptly stopped, and his eyes widened in shock.
Fu Huaiqing probed the girl's lips with his tongue, pressed it against the pill, and pushed it further in.
With the push, the pill immediately went down the throat.
Fu Huaiqing stood up, took the teacup Jiang Yue handed him, sipped some water, and then placed it on her lips before feeding her.
Ling Feng stared in astonishment at the scene, and then saw the nonchalant expressions on Jiang Yue and Cheng Jin's faces, clearly indicating that they were already used to it.
He has been by Fu Huaiqing's side for nearly twenty years, and has been teaching him martial arts since he was five years old. He can be considered one of the people in the world who understands Prince Su the most.
Naturally, she understood that Fu Huaiqing was not a frivolous person. The fact that he could kiss another branch without hesitation meant that he had feelings for her and had already decided that she was the woman he wanted to walk hand in hand with.
only……
Ling Feng's lips moved for a long time before he calmly asked, "Does Biezhi know?"
"What?" Jiang Yue asked, puzzled.
Ling Feng frowned as he glanced at the two figures overlapping in front of the bed and said, "Does Your Highness know about Biezhi's actions?"
He seemed quite adept at it, as if it were his first time.
It's obvious that they've been intimate many times before she made such a decisive move. But right now, Biezhi is concerned about Jiran. According to her personality, although she might say that this man is handsome today and that that man is also good tomorrow, it's all just talk, nothing more.
The only exception is silence.
The fact that the prince is acting this way clearly indicates that it couldn't have been her own choice.
Ling Feng looked at the only child left behind by his junior sister, hesitated for a long time before meeting his gaze. After a moment of silence, he reminded him, "She has someone she wants to marry."
Fu Huaiqing stood up and handed the teacup to Jiang Yue.
He gave a lukewarm "hmm": "So what?"
Even if the person who wanted to marry Biezhi was referring to himself, he was not Jiran himself. As long as he was around, the two of them could not get married.
Even being husband and wife in name only is not acceptable.
Ling Feng: "..."
He calmed the turmoil in his heart and reiterated, "She has a man she likes."
It is certainly not acceptable to force someone to do something they cannot do.
"Given Biezhi's temperament, if Your Highness insists, she will simply tear down the palace."
She is not the type to be easily manipulated.
They're all very respectful now, but if pushed too far, they might just jump over the wall.
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