Chapter 56 Assassination: "Yao Ruyi, great job."
"Fourteen! Fourteen!"
Yao Ruyi didn't care about anything else. He stretched out a finger and pressed it against Fourteen's wrist. After a few breaths, the wound slowly shrank. He exhaled a breath of turbid air with difficulty, and cold sweat kept pouring from his forehead.
For some reason, he didn't feel this way when he was treating Gu Huizhou, but when he was treating Shi Si, he felt that it would take several times more effort.
Yao Ruyi stopped thinking about it. Xiao Dezi had just run to find the imperial physician and was probably on his way here with Wang Ran.
"Fourteen!" Thirteen ran over quickly, paused when he saw Fourteen's wound, and his gaze lingered on Yao Ruyi for a moment before he finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Let's go, take him back to the bedroom first."
"good."
After Thirteen carried Fourteen back to the bedroom, Wang Ran was also brought by Xiao Dezi. The old imperial physician was in a hurry, and before he could even catch his breath, he dragged a large medicine box forward. When he saw the wound, he couldn't help but wonder. He looked up at Thirteen and asked, "Thirteenth Master, may I ask what sharp weapon caused this injury?"
Fourteen's wound was still gushing blood, and Thirteen had just applied the Golden Wound Powder prescribed by His Majesty, which had now stopped most of the bleeding. He was pale and unconscious on the bed, his clothes had been ripped off, and a sharp wound lay across his body, no more than a palm's width away from his chest.
Thirteen remained silent. "It's a rebel force that has gathered in the capital. They have no swords, so they bought butcher's machetes, which are extremely sharp." Thirteen looked at Fourteen with self-reproach in his eyes. If he hadn't been careless, that person wouldn't have succeeded.
Fourteen took the blow himself to shield him.
“But this—” Wang Ran was puzzled. How could the two ends of this wound be round?
Thirteen paused for a moment, then interrupted sharply, "Imperial Physician, please treat him quickly."
"Yes, I will treat the Fourteenth Lord's wounds now."
Basins of bloody water were brought out of the bedroom after the wounds were washed with water. Two eunuchs remained to guard the hall. Thirteen's expression was cold and stern; he truly couldn't believe that the capital had fallen into such chaos. The situation had become increasingly dire in recent days; even the rebels had managed to organize into a faction.
I fear that in a few days, someone in the capital will gather all the rebel forces together, and then they will truly become a rebel army.
Yao Ruyi asked, "What happened?"
The two walked together toward the Imperial Study. Thirteen was silent for a moment, then said, “Today, Fourteen and I went to the capital to investigate. The rebellious forces should not be underestimated. His Majesty may seem indifferent, but he has a clearer understanding of the situation in the capital than anyone else.”
"His Majesty also anticipated that the situation would change rapidly in the next few days, and sent the two of us to investigate in the capital. However, we did not expect to be ambushed."
As they spoke, the two arrived at the Second Imperial Study. Fifteen and Sixteen had returned to the capital a few days earlier and were currently in the Imperial Study receiving the Emperor's orders.
"Let Guan Yunshan lead men to wipe out the rebels. If they surrender, they will be spared; if they insist on opposing me, they will be executed immediately."
Fifteen or sixteen, with a serious expression, replied, "Yes!"
Gu Huizhou waved his hand, and the two of them got up. As they were leaving, they bumped into Yao Ruyi and Shisan. The four of them met each other's eyes, exchanged greetings, and smiled.
Yao Ruyi still had the leisure to think at this moment. Fifteen looked cold and serious, but when she went to Yun Temple Hot Spring with Thirteen, she boasted about how much her skills had improved. In the evening, she broke her leg there.
He thought at the time that Fifteen would be as unconventional as Thirteen.
I never expected it to be like this.
"They're here."
Gu Huizhou rubbed his temples and beckoned someone over. Yao Ruyi stepped forward on her own initiative, intending to massage the emperor's head, but then thought better of it and sat down on a chair to the side.
Thirteen bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Fourteen is currently seriously injured and is recuperating in his bedroom."
The man looked up, his eyes dark as he stared at the string of beads he was constantly fiddling with in his hand. "I have ordered Guan Yunshan to wipe out the rebellious forces in the capital. Leaving some for them is enough."
The rebellion in the capital cannot be ignored, but it also cannot be completely eradicated.
Give them a chance to make a mistake.
The bracelet made a "tap tap tap" sound, and the fatigue between Gu Huizhou's brows became more and more obvious. He seemed to be nonchalant these past few days, but the restlessness in his heart did not diminish at all. For the first time, the man felt that he was not calm enough.
Even though I've already calculated everything perfectly, I still can't put my mind at ease.
"Take good care of them. You can stay in the palace for the next few days." Gu Huizhou's voice sounded a little hoarse. Yao Ruyi frowned, wondering if he hadn't eaten again.
Thirteen withdrew, leaving only the two of them in the hall. Mushroom frowned, displeased, and stepped forward to press her hand on the man's forehead, her expression not pleasant at all.
"Is the 19th Party Congress complaining that I don't serve him well enough?"
The man, though clearly exhausted, still spoke with a joking tone. The white light in Yao Ruyi's hand suddenly brightened, and a cool, soothing sensation flowed into Gu Huizhou's mind like a spring. He smiled faintly, closed his eyes, and let out a long breath.
Reaching out, Gu Huizhou grabbed the wrist of the person behind him, tilted his head, and kissed him. Opening his eyes, he saw that Mushroom still had a stern face, looking displeased with the emperor.
"Could it be that I'm not serving you well enough?"
Yao Ruyi hesitated for a moment, then grabbed the emperor's hand and pulled him hard, her words clear: "Let's go eat."
I see.
The man stood up, like a tyrannical ruler whose soul had been bewitched. He pulled Yao Ruyi, who was walking in front of him, into his arms and buried his face in her neck, inhaling deeply. This reminded Yao Ruyi of a picture in a book, where a monster would perch on a scholar's shoulder, sucking away his yang energy.
But in his case and Gu Huizhou's case, it was the other way around.
Or maybe he can try it sometime...
"how?"
Yao Ruyi was brought back to her senses when someone pinched her earlobe. She looked away and coughed lightly, "It's nothing, let's go."
"Um."
Another half month passed, and Fourteen's injury had mostly healed. He could now carry out his daily activities without any problems. However, because the knife wound was very close to his heart, Wang Ran refused to let anyone lift the sword and would have the physician by his side check on him from time to time.
The situation in the capital has become increasingly severe in the past two weeks. The scholars are numerous and make a great show of force, but after half a month, they can no longer make a ripple. They can only bluff and try to boost their prestige.
However, under the cover of the scholars' disturbances, the rebellious forces grew more and more rapidly. Although Guan Yunshan controlled the situation in the capital, the rebellion had still grown in scale.
At this time, Baili Qingxiao's Wanyou Chamber of Commerce wasn't busy selling goods. Instead, he organized the guild's managers to help appease the people of the capital, indirectly currying favor with the emperor. Han Siwen also returned at this time. She had wanted to return to the capital since learning that Xiao Xiaoyuan was pregnant, but she had been unable to find the time. Now she finally had the opportunity to leave.
As wealthy merchants in the Yun Kingdom, the two would have to lend a hand even if the emperor hadn't said anything. Han Siwen, being a royal merchant, felt she couldn't allow the Wanyou Merchant Guild to outdo her in such matters.
Baili Qingxiao smiled helplessly. There was no need for the two of them to argue about who should go first in this matter.
Nowadays, it's almost impossible to see young masters and ladies from noble families on the streets of the capital. Only the poor, who are struggling to make ends meet, are forced to come out and beg for a living. In the afternoon, Han Siwen looked around at the situation on the streets, bid farewell to Baili Qingxiao, and went to the General's Mansion.
That evening, Han Siwen was about to leave after dinner, but Han Jiqing refused. The situation in the capital had been unstable recently, especially at night, and he couldn't bear to let Han Siwen, a woman, return home alone. He insisted, "Elder sister, you should stay here tonight."
Xiao Xiaoyuan chimed in, her pregnancy was still in its early stages and not very noticeable, but she was very careful in everything she did. When she got up from her chair, she carefully held onto the table, and Qiu Bai quickly went to help her.
After marriage, the woman became even more beautiful. The couple had a deep affection for each other and no worries about domestic matters. Xiao Xiaoyuan was even a little fatter than before. Perhaps it was because she was pregnant. She ate more than usual. Han Jiqing was worried that she wouldn't have enough to eat, so he had people search for all kinds of food from Yun Kingdom.
Xiao Xiaoyuan and Han Siwen hadn't met often, but the two women felt an instant connection from their first meeting. Xiao Xiaoyuan sighed helplessly, "Elder sister, we're worried about you leaving on your own." She added, "If you really don't want to stay, let Ji Qing escort you back to your residence."
Han Siwen was both amused and exasperated by the two's display of concern. She quickly waved her hand, "Elder sister has guards by her side, why are you so worried?"
But the two still wouldn't budge. Han Siwen thought about the account books at home that she had to look at, so she could only say, "Then Ji Qing will take me back."
"Okay," Han Jiqing turned to Qiu Bai and Chun Ya and instructed them, "Take good care of Madam."
"Yes, General."
Watching Han Jiqing and Han Siwen leave, Xiao Xiaoyuan said softly, "Let's go back."
She reached out and took Qiu Bai's hand, and slowly walked into the courtyard.
As darkness fell and the stars shone brightly, Xiao Xiaoyuan's face showed no signs of leisure. The situation in the city had become increasingly tense in recent days. On the surface, she and Han Jiqing did not discuss the matter, but neither of them could put their minds at ease.
Xiao Xiaoyuan lowered her eyes, her gaze falling on her slightly plump waist. Originally, she didn't want to marry a stranger, but she didn't expect to meet Han Jiqing. This man's smile was both simple and silly, which she liked.
"Madam," Qiu Bai suddenly spoke, and the two stopped in their tracks.
A figure appeared before her, causing Xiao Xiaoyuan's eyes to turn cold. She hadn't seen this person for so long, and she thought he had already returned to Xiao Kingdom. "Xiao Han."
Given the current situation in the capital, Xiao Han's appearance at this time forces Xiao Xiaoyuan to speculate about what Xiao Guo has done behind the scenes.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Eldest Princess."
The man remained expressionless, bowing respectfully and neither servile nor arrogant.
"What are you doing here? You should know that I do not wish to see you."
Xiao Han took a step back, handing a package to Chun Ya. "This subordinate has come to convey His Highness's greetings to the Princess and presents this to His Highness." Before Xiao Xiaoyuan could speak, he took a few steps back, flashed onto the roof, and disappeared.
Even the soldiers in the mansion were unaware of it.
Xiao Xiaoyuan clenched her fist. The woman glanced coldly at the bundle, then turned and went into the room. "Bring it in."
On the round table, the package was opened and laid out.
"Madam, these are all snacks and trinkets from the Kingdom of Xiao." Qiu Bai flipped through them, "and there's a note from His Highness the Crown Prince."
Xiao Xiaoyuan's relaxed expression froze, and her slender, elegant fingers tightened around the cup. "What did you say?"
"His Highness the Crown Prince told his wife to rest and recuperate, and he was also delighted to await the birth of the little prince."
His finger paused. "That's it?"
Qiu Bai chuckled awkwardly, "That's all."
"Um."
Xiao Xiaoyuan let out a long breath and leaned back on the soft couch, which was covered with cushions. But Qiu Bai was still worried, so she and Chun Ya went up and stood on either side of Xiao Xiaoyuan. Seeing that she had closed her eyes to rest, they quickly brought over a blanket from the side.
"Madam, please take a ride. Although it's hot in the summer, there's a cool breeze at night."
"Hmm." Xiao Xiaoyuan reached out and pulled the blanket over herself. She frowned slightly. Her younger brother, the Crown Prince, had always been unpredictable. Now she felt that the chaos in the city must be his doing.
The capital city is desolate and quiet at night, but in the hidden alleys and back alleys, hungry and vicious dogs lurk, waiting to pounce on passersby when they are not paying attention and bite them to satisfy their hunger.
Outside the city.
The stifling heat of the summer nights had made Yao Ruyi uneasy for the past few days. He rode slowly behind the emperor. He had thought the chaos in the city should have ended, but it continued unabated. When the emperor went out to investigate, both the thirteenth and fourteenth emperors wanted to go with him, but Gu Huizhou wouldn't allow it.
Even Wang Qianshan was brought to live in the palace, supposedly for the convenience of teaching.
"Gu Huizhou, where are we going?"
"Enjoying the flowers."
"Flowers to admire in the middle of the night?" Mushroom wondered, but silently followed behind. He knew the emperor was in a bad mood, but admiring flowers in the middle of the night... his mood must be extremely annoyed.
Gu Huizhou always does unpredictable things when he's extremely angry.
The two slowly made their way up the mountain, the same mountain where the man had taught him swordsmanship. Yao Ruyi didn't know what flowers were on the mountain. The man gently held his wrist, his large hand stroking each of Yao Ruyi's fingers. The two horses moved slowly, allowing Yao Ruyi to see the dark circles under the man's eyes.
He frowned. "Did you not come home to sleep again last night?"
Gu Huizhou chuckled, "Is it because I didn't serve the Nineteenth Prince well enough? Shall I apologize to him?" He raised an eyebrow, leaned forward, and brought his lips close to Yao Ruyi's ear, "I'll help you..."
"how?"
"don't want!"
A hand was pressed against the man's neck. Yao Ruyi stretched out his hand and pushed the man away. His cheeks were slightly flushed. Thinking about what the other man had just said, he felt a surge of heat in his heart.
A few days ago, he tricked me into lying in bed, saying he was helping him, but in reality, he was just letting me have a taste of the sweetness first...
This man wouldn't shortchange himself in something like this.
The two tied their horses to the side and slowly made their way up the mountain. It was a bit chillier up there than in the capital. The peach blossoms hadn't all fallen yet, but they weren't in full bloom either. "Shall we admire these flowers?"
Gu Huizhou clicked his tongue. "Then I'm just bored."
What else is there?
The man led Yao Ruyi deeper into the mountains. After walking for about half an hour, the road became muddy and difficult to traverse, likely due to the rain of the previous two days. It seemed that no one had ever been to this place before.
With fewer lush trees, the moonlight shone directly onto the ground. Following the direction the man was pointing, Yao Ruyi was startled. "This is... a rose?"
A whole sea of flowers covered the hillside on the other side of the mountain. The red and purple flower balls were one after another, and the fragrance was carried by the breeze. Yao Ruyi liked this smell the most.
His eyes crinkled with laughter. "So there really are flowers to admire."
"Hmm," the man hugged her from behind, "When have I ever lied to you?"
Yao Ruyi was too engrossed in the beautiful scenery before her to nitpick the statement; otherwise, she would have endless stories of men lying to her...
He crouched down and gently touched the delicate petals with his hand, his gaze lingering on the pink expanse on the hillside. For the past few days, he had finally felt a sense of tranquility at this moment; his movements were gentle and slow, and he knew better than anyone how to treat fragile flowers and plants.
"Then I'll be just as careful next time I touch you."
The mushroom turned and met the man's gaze, gave a cold snort, and ignored him. Back when it was still a mushroom, the man hadn't been so gentle either, always rubbing its cap like he was stringing beads, "almost rubbing it bald..."
Gu Huizhou chuckled. He thought the fragrance of the flowers was not as pleasant as the person in his arms. He buried his head in the side of the person's neck and rubbed against him.
"itch--"
Yao Ruyi dodged back and forth, and he withdrew his hand from the flower, afraid that the movement would damage the petals. Suddenly, he paused and nudged the person beside him, "Your Majesty, did you hear anything?"
"Never."
But the more Yao Ruyi listened, the clearer it became. He quickly pushed away the person next to him and looked at the flowers in bloom. Under the night sky, they trembled slightly in the wind. The sound he had just heard was definitely not like that.
The "rustling" sound seemed to be...
The sound of footsteps.
Yao Ruyi immediately focused her attention, and at the same moment, a cold light flashed in front of the two of them. Gu Huizhou frowned, reached out and pushed the person in front of him away, and suddenly retreated to avoid the cold sword. The two of them were agile and quickly retreated, putting some distance between themselves and the others.
Her heart was still pounding. Yao Ruyi coldly watched the three burly men emerge from the bushes. Each of them was strong and powerful, and the force of the sword strike just now showed that these men were exceptionally skilled.
But now that it was just him and Gu Huizhou, Yao Ruyi immediately sensed something was wrong.
The man gently grasped his hand and squeezed it twice, which reassured him a lot.
"Ha! You dog emperor, today we brothers will act on behalf of Heaven!" One of the burly men laughed wildly, his long sword reflecting the shadows of the trees under the moonlight as he swung it. The crisp, short sounds of the sword cutting through the air sent shivers down everyone's spines.
The other two echoed, but the smile on one of their faces seemed superficial. Yao Ruyi couldn't help but keep looking at that person's face. He felt that the person didn't want to smile; he wanted to cry.
As Yao Ruyi drew his longsword, his face was stern. He saw that the emperor had also drawn his sword, and the two nodded to each other.
"Whoosh—"
"Clang—"
The three people opposite rushed forward with a cry of "Ah—". They were dressed in tattered clothes and smelled a sour stench when you got close, but the long swords in their hands looked brand new.
Yao Ruyi's heart sank. These three people didn't look like ordinary people or refugees who harbored resentment towards Gu Huizhou. Instead, they looked like desperate criminals who had been bribed to commit violence!
In the blink of an eye, dozens or even hundreds of rounds had passed. Those people were skilled in swordsmanship, and the two of them couldn't gain any advantage at this point.
"His Majesty!"
Yao Ruyi's heart trembled. Gu Huizhou was actually forced to retreat step by step by the two men, and was about to crash into the tree trunk behind him. His pupils contracted, and his long sword clashed with the long sword of the big man in front of him. His sword sheath struck the man's knee, but the man seemed not to feel any pain and rushed forward again in the blink of an eye.
He was completely entangled and couldn't break free; his heart was pounding.
Yao Ruyi suddenly swung her hand, and her long sword slashed through the lower abdomen of the person in front of her, hot blood splattering everywhere. "Ah—" A shrill scream echoed through the mountains and forests, startling a flock of birds.
He quickly flew to Gu Huizhou's side. The emperor had several wounds on his hands. Yao Ruyi frowned, "Your Majesty!"
He tried to stand in front of the man, but Gu Huizhou pulled him behind him forcefully. "Take care of yourself," he said, then turned and smiled. "If I were to die here today, I would ask the Nineteenth Prince to collect my body."
Having said that, the man went to meet him.
He could actually laugh!
With a "whoosh," Yao Ruyi struck out, meeting the sword wind that swung from the side, and the three were once again entangled in combat. Although the three were tall and strong, they were agile and swift, and their skills were superb.
Even though Yao Ruyi was incredibly fast, he could still be blocked by several people. He was getting anxious as he watched the burly men coming at him one after another.
But the tip of the sword never quite reached their necks; he slashed at them again and again.
Yao Ruyi's eyes reddened; he couldn't bring himself to do it—
Her lips were pressed tightly together, and Yao Ruyi was extremely anxious.
Suddenly, he heard a burst of wild laughter, then whirled around. His heart seemed to stop beating with a "whoosh," and he cried out, "Your Majesty—"
"Hahahaha! I killed the emperor! I killed the emperor!"
The burly man's longsword was stuck straight into the man's chest, about to pierce his heart. Blood stained the blade. The burly man suddenly pulled the sword out, intending to stab it again, but instead, it struck another silver longsword.
The burly man scoffed, "What are you struggling for, you pretty boy? You don't even dare to kill anyone, so just obediently wait to be stabbed to death by us brothers!"
Yao Ruyi's eyes were red. He watched the emperor stagger down the tree trunk, his heart aching. But he had to deal with these three people first!
"Yao Ruyi, kill them!"
Gu Huizhou was weak, but he still wore a wild and unrestrained smile, as if he hadn't been the one who had been stabbed.
"I—" Facing three opponents alone, Yao Ruyi could have been evenly matched with them, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it. His longsword stopped just a finger's width from the throat of the person he was trying to persuade, and instead slashed the side of their face.
"Hahahaha! Just as I thought, he's a pretty boy who doesn't even dare to kill anyone!"
The laughter grew even more rampant. Yao Ruyi kept a straight face, his eyes growing increasingly red, but his lips remained taut and he didn't utter a word. His sword strikes became faster and faster, and even without aiming for vital points, he still managed to slash the flesh of several people, leaving them with gaping wounds.
In contrast, his own white robe was stained with the blood of others.
"Damn it!" the burly man cursed angrily!
With a scabbard in his left hand and a longsword in his right, Yao Ruyi was managing to hold his own against three men, but when a burly man suddenly stepped back, he sensed something was wrong and quickly turned to look.
The emperor had closed his eyes at some point, his hand pressed against his wound. He had just seen the emperor apply gold powder to the wound; treating him later wouldn't be a problem, but now—
The two burly men in front of him prevented Yao Ruyi from getting away. "Swoosh—" He thrust his sword into the thigh of one of the men, who instantly fell to the ground, clutching his leg and howling incessantly. Yao Ruyi's face lit up with joy.
He can just stab them in the leg!
But a sudden pang of fear gripped his heart. He took several steps back, and in the blink of an eye, he saw the man he had just pushed aside, long sword in hand, laughing wildly as he charged toward Gu Huizhou, who lay sprawled on the ground, yelling, "You dog emperor! Die—ah—"
The burly man could not believe it. His longsword was less than half a palm's distance from the emperor, but another longsword pierced through his chest, the tip of which emerged from his chest, blood flowing down.
Yao Ruyi gripped the sword hilt with trembling hands. With a "whoosh," he forcefully pulled the longsword back. With a "thud," the burly man fell solidly to the ground, his eyes open and a faint smile on his lips.
He died.
Swallowing hard, Yao Ruyi had no time to process that he had killed someone; his mind was filled with the ecstatic joy of saving the emperor. But the sound of the sword cutting through the air continued, and his hand moved faster than his mind; in an instant, the sword pierced the heart of a second person.
"ah--"
The shrill scream was cut off midway. Yao Ruyi's dark eyes were cold and sharp. He pursed his lips tightly, his chest heaving.
"Bang—bang—bang—" He could even feel the sword piercing his heart, and after a few vibrations, there was complete silence.
"Whoosh—"
The longsword was withdrawn, spraying blood everywhere.
Only one person is left.
The man glanced at the two dead bodies on the ground, his hands trembling as he backed away, his face filled with terror. His gaze towards Yao Ruyi was as if he were looking at a grim reaper from the underworld. The burly man's expression was panicked, his lips pale. He swallowed hard, "I...I...I...I quit! I don't want the money anymore, I don't want it—"
But it couldn't stop the white-robed impermanence from his tracks.
A single sword strike to the throat.
The man stared wide-eyed at the handsome man with an expressionless face. He couldn't understand how the man who had just been so weak and afraid to kill could suddenly turn into a vengeful ghost coming to claim his life.
"Thump—" He fell to the ground.
Looking dazed, Yao Ruyi was panting heavily.
With a clang, the longsword fell to the ground and smashed into its scabbard. He hurriedly ran to Gu Huizhou's side. White light spread from the corners of their lips where they touched, enveloping the wound on the man's chest.
Yao Ruyi remained like that for a quarter of an hour, but only a small patch of the wound had healed. He panicked, "How could this be!"
Why is it so slow...?
His eyes grew increasingly red, and Yao Ruyi was so anxious that he didn't know what to do. He frantically took the medicine bottle from the emperor's hand and poured all the powder onto the wound. In his haste, he licked the wound on the man's chest.
He ate one bite after another, like a fox devouring its prey.
"Hmm—"
With a muffled groan, Yao Ruyi felt a large hand rubbing his head. Overjoyed, he looked up sharply, "Gu Huizhou!"
The man's smile was weak, his gaze fixed on the three dead bodies on the ground in the distance, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Great."
"Don't speak." Yao Ruyi grabbed Gu Huizhou's hand. Perhaps because he had just used his blood, the white light soothed most of the man's wounds within a quarter of an hour.
He gasped for breath, wanting to bend down again to lick the blood from Gu Huizhou's chest, but was stopped by someone, "Ruyi."
Looking up blankly, the man said softly, "I'm alright, don't worry."
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, it's nothing."
Yao Ruyi went to pick up her sword in a daze, and helped the man walk down the mountain. Suddenly, she saw something, but her face showed no emotion.
Is it thirteen?
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[Qingxin] I'm late! [Let me see]
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