Click!
In the palace hall, a flash of light appeared, and the assassin disguised as a member of the Western Regions delegation had his arm severed by Xiao Po, the commander of the Golden Guard.
ah--
Immediately following was the assassin's agonizing scream, which echoed throughout the palace hall.
The severed arm, still bound with a hidden dart, was twitching its fingers.
Almost at the same time that Xiao Po swung his sword to slay the assassin, the Eighteen Riders of Dragon City, who had been hiding on the beams of the palace hall, also emerged from the shadows, forming a silver barrier around Prince Chen Huai'an, wielding swords and knives.
Subsequently, a large number of Jinwu Guard soldiers, dressed in golden armor and wielding ring-pommel short swords, poured into the palace and completely surrounded the delegations of envoys from the thirty-five countries present.
All of this happened in the blink of an eye.
Even Chen Huai'an was stunned for a moment.
It wasn't until Yue Qiluo's soft, light body collapsed into his arms that he suddenly realized what was happening.
At this moment, Yue Qiluo, who had been shot in the back, had fallen into a coma.
Clearly, the arrows fired by the assassin were coated with some kind of deadly poison, and were clearly intended to kill Chen Huai'an.
In that instant, a fierce killing intent flashed in Chen Huai'an's starry eyes.
However, he forced himself to calm down.
He immediately ordered, "Mo Yanchuo, what are you waiting for? Quickly summon the imperial physician!"
Under Chen Huai'an's reprimand, the valiant Khan Moyanchuo, who had been stunned by the sudden turn of events, finally came to his senses.
He stammered, "Come, come here! Summon, summon the imperial physician!"
Then, she scrambled to Chen Huai'an's side, sobbing uncontrollably, "Qiluo, Qiluo, are you alright? You must hold on, Father, Father, waaaah—"
Chen Huai'an handed the unconscious Yue Qiluo to the valiant Khan Mo Yanchuo.
He only said one sentence: "Save her at all costs!"
"Your Highness, the assassin attempted suicide by swallowing poison, but I have subdued him!"
As they were talking, Xiao Po, the commander of the Imperial Guards, hurriedly came to Chen Huai'an, knelt down and asked him, "Your Highness, should we immediately mobilize the Imperial Guards to seal off the entire city and search for the assassin's accomplices?"
As he said this, a fine layer of sweat appeared on Xiao Po's forehead.
He was scared!
As the commander of the Imperial Guard, protecting the safety of His Highness Prince Jin is my primary responsibility, and I cannot afford to make any mistakes.
This was the second time the Prince of Jin had been assassinated since he set out to conquer the Western Regions.
If it was because Xiao Po took pity on Gu Yinazha and her group, disguised as refugees, and allowed them into the army camp the first time Gu Yinazha attempted to assassinate Chen Huai'an, it would be because Xiao Po took pity on them.
Therefore, Xiao Po, as the commander of the Golden Guard, is undoubtedly to blame for the assassin's attempt to assassinate the Prince of Jin in the palace hall by disguising himself as a member of the Western Regions delegation.
Faced with Xiao Po's request, Chen Huai'an's expression returned to normal, and he said, "Xiao Po, I order you to use whatever means necessary to get the assassin to talk."
"The arrow he used to assassinate me must have been coated with some kind of poison!"
Chen Huai'an continued without any emotion, "If you cannot obtain the antidote from the assassin within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, you need not come to see me!"
Go!
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Xiao Po immediately accepted the order and led several Imperial Guards soldiers to drag the unconscious assassin out of the palace hall.
Chen Huai'an waved his hand, signaling the eighteen riders of Longcheng to step down, and then ordered the Jinwu Guard soldiers in the main hall: "You, all of you, step down!"
At a single command, the armored and sword-wielding Jinwu Guard soldiers all withdrew.
In the blink of an eye, the vast Uyghur royal palace returned to tranquility.
It was as if nothing had ever happened.
Chen Huai'an smiled and said, "Everyone, it's just a small incident, don't take it to heart!"
With that, he clapped his hands and ordered, "Keep the music playing, keep dancing!"
Inside the main hall, the tense and fearful musicians and dancers, upon hearing His Highness Prince Jin's order, had no choice but to resume their music and dance with trepidation.
However, after such a major event, the kings and members of the delegations from the thirty-five kingdoms of the Western Regions were no longer in the mood for drinking, merrymaking, or enjoying songs and dances.
Attempting to assassinate the Prince of Jin in court is a serious crime!
An assassin has appeared within the delegation. All the kings of the thirty-five countries present are suspects, and none of them can escape responsibility.
Not only them, but also the lives and fortunes of the people of the thirty-five kingdoms of the Western Regions are entirely at the mercy of His Highness Prince Jin's will.
For a time, panic gripped the royal palace, and everyone felt insecure.
On the contrary, Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin, who had just escaped death, sat upright in the main hall as if nothing had happened, poured himself a glass of fine wine and drank alone, enjoying the song and dance with great interest.
At this moment, the kings of the thirty-five kingdoms of the Western Regions present felt an unprecedented sense of oppression and deep fear from the young Prince Jin before them.
This invisible psychological pressure was even greater than that many of them had felt when they went to the capital of the Great Xin Dynasty to meet Zhao Mang, the founding emperor of the Great Xin.
This powerful aura might just be the legendary imperial aura of a true dragon emperor.
The group of kings and envoys from the Western Regions, filled with trepidation, finally made it to the end of the banquet.
Until the end of the banquet, Chen Huai'an never mentioned the assassination attempt.
He simply instructed generals such as Lan Yu, Pang Xianchu, and Fan Wuji to see off the kings of the thirty-five kingdoms on his behalf.
He then left the scene.
No sooner had Prince Chen Huai'an of Jin left than King Tibis of Wusun immediately approached General Lan Yu, pleadingly saying, "General—"
"I implore the General to put in a good word for our Wusun Kingdom before His Highness Prince Jin!"
Tibis continued, "The hearts of Tibis and the million subjects of Wusun are steadfast in their submission to the King of Jin, a sentiment that heaven and earth can attest to. I urge Your Highness to investigate thoroughly and ascertain that the assassin who attempted to assassinate the King has absolutely no connection whatsoever with the Wusun Kingdom. I am willing to guarantee this with my life—"
"General—"
"My Parthian Kingdom..."
"My great Yuezhi..."
For a time, the kings who had returned to the Uyghur royal palace from the Western Regions with Lan Yu regarded him as a lifeline, hoping that he could say a few good words for them to the King of Jin.
The crime of assassinating the Prince of Jin in court is a serious offense that none of the small Western Region countries can afford!
If this is confirmed, it could mean the destruction of the entire country!
However, this matter is of great importance.
Even with his rough and unrefined personality, Lan Yu dared not make any promises on this matter, and could only laugh it off to the other kings.
After finally seeing off the delegation of envoys from the Western Regions, Lan Yu finally had a chance to talk to Pang Xianchu and Fan Wuji.
Lan Yu asked, "General Pang, General Fan, what are your thoughts on this matter?"
Pang Xianchu sneered, "Isn't this as obvious as a louse on a bald man's head?"
Um?
Lan Yu's expression froze, and she looked at Pang Xianchu with a completely bewildered expression.
The latter did not give him an answer, but turned around and left.
Lan Yu then turned her gaze to Fan Wuji.
Fan Wuji shrugged, spread his hands, and turned to leave.
Lan Yu was left alone, bewildered in the wind, muttering to himself, "What lice on a bald man's head? This general just can't understand it."
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