Chapter 114
This is an a.s.sa.s.sination that ended before it started!
When Feng Tingye and the others got the news and rushed to Xiefang palace, the first thing they saw was Xia Yuqing holding Xiao Bai curled up on the couch with a look of loss .
Feng Tingye’s face shrank . He took a step forward, quickly picked up Xiao Bai in Xia Yuqing’s arms and threw it away .
“Woo…Wow…” This immoral guy, he threw this uncle out again!
“…” Your Majesty, your jealousy really occurs regardless of time or occasion, but now has it evolved so it’s regardless of race?
“Is there any injury? Where does it hurt?” Feng Tingye looked up and down Xia Yuqing with a worried look . He found that apart from some emotional depression, there were no injuries . He couldn’t help breathe a sigh of relief .
Xia Yuqing shook her head and innocently righted her finger and said aggrieved: “I didn’t mean it, I really didn’t mean it! I didn’t want to kill anyone!”
“Huh?” Feng Tingye listened to Xia Yuqing’s whisper . He raised his eyebrows and turned to look at the girls behind him .
As an eyewitness to this, Lu Rui stepped forward and explained: “My lord, that, there were three a.s.sa.s.sins this time . ”
Feng Tingye nodded and motioned her to continue .
“One of them was unfortunately shot to death by Niang Niang when she was playing with the bow . One was killed by the bow when Niang Niang was getting anxious . ”
“…” Several people were confused when they heard Lu Rui’s words .
Seeing this, Lu Rui hurriedly explained the ins and outs of the matter and said it in great detail, but the expressions of everyone suddenly turned into: “…”
Feng Tingye couldn’t help shaking after hearing the whole story . After a long while, he said: “Is there not a living person?”
“There is one, he was just stunned and is still alive, but…”
“Just?”
“It’s just that the guards who is guarding the a.s.sa.s.sin pa.s.sed a word, saying that the a.s.sa.s.sin is awake, but he doesn’t seem mentally stable… . . ”
“…” So he became crazy?
In an instant, everyone’s eyes moved to Xia Yuqing’s body, with a sense of awe . Three a.s.sa.s.sins, two dead and one crazy, this was completely different from the time when the emperor was being a.s.sa.s.sinated . The person in front of them is clearly an a.s.sa.s.sin weapon!
Xia Yuqing was taken aback when she heard that the little a.s.sa.s.sin was shocked into being mentally unstable . She… she was just anxious and threw the bow out at that time, she didn’t know it would kill two lives! Uuuu… She really didn’t mean it!
“If they’re stupid, then they’re stupid . Throw them into the prison to await their punishment . ” Feng Tingye gave a wink and let Shao Zitong and the others go and see . He wanted to know whether the a.s.sa.s.sin was really crazy or fake, but what matters now is that…
“Your Majesty, I…” She really didn’t deliberately allow the only living one to have a concussion!
“It’s all right, Ai Fei, don’t blame yourself . Those a.s.sa.s.sins deserved the punishment, it is not Ai Fei’s fault . ” Seeing that Xia Yuqing was a little fl.u.s.tered because she killed someone, Feng Tingye hurriedly held her somewhat cold hand to comfort her . “Those people are a.s.sa.s.sins who are here to hurt Ai Fei and our royal son . Ai Fei killed them for her own protection . What’s more, even if Ai Fei doesn’t kill them, their a.s.sa.s.sination failures will only end up causing them to be a prisoner and even getting murdered . If the boss is killed, they will only endure more suffering . Ai Fei allowed them to escape from a sea of suffering in advance and return to bliss . Zhen believes they must be very grateful to Ai Fei in their hearts . ”
“…” Your Majesty, your ability to reverse right and wrong is really getting more and more out of hand, we are amazed!
“…Is that so?” There seems to be a little bit of truth . I did protect myself, but I feel that something is wrong .
“Of course this is the case, otherwise what does Ai Fei think it is?”
“…I!”
“…” Niang Niang, you just moved on so easily? That’s two and a half lives! What about your morals?!
Before Xia Yuqing could come back from Feng Tingye’s comments, several people rushed in: “What’s the matter? What’s the matter? Why is there another a.s.sa.s.sin? Qing Er, did anything happen to Qing Er? ”
“Little apprentice, little apprentice, what d.a.m.n b**tard dare to a.s.sa.s.sinate my little apprentice? It’s best not to let me know who it is, otherwise, I must take his skin to make clothes for my mechanism bird . Little apprentice, little apprentice……”
“…” Master, in fact, your last sentence is the crucial point isn’t it?
“Royal Mother, Xu Lao, why are you here?” Feng Tingye was also startled . Obviously, he didn’t expect Zhang Suns.h.i.+ and Xu Lao to get the news so soon .
He raised his head and looked to the side . Facing the little book boy who was following Xu Lao, his eyes understood something immediately .
“How can Ai Jia not come for such a big thing?” Zhang Suns.h.i.+ quickly walked to Xia Yuqing and sat down . She looked up and down Xia Yuqing several times . Seeing that she was indeed not injured, she was slightly relieved . Still uneasy she asked: “Qing Er is there any place you are feeling uncomfortable?”
Xia Yuqing shook her head, but she put her head on Zhang Suns.h.i.+’s knees without saying a word .
Zhang Suns.h.i.+ looked at her meek appearance, and became more worried . She turned her head and looked at Lu Rui on the side inquiringly .
Lu Rui looked at the sky without a trace and rolled her eyes . She numbly talked about the tragic incident . She did not forget to add a sentence after finis.h.i.+ng retelling the story: “Don’t worry, Niang Niang is not injured, the baby has not been affected . Niang Niang just feels uncomfortable after seeing some blood . ”
“Tsk-tsk-tsk, you really deserve to be my little apprentice, really amazing . ” After listening to Lu Rui’s words, Zhang Suns.h.i.+ hadn’t spoken yet, when Xu Lao had already yelled excitedly from the side .
“…” Xu Lao, this is not the point!
“Um… Mr . Xu is right . This is not Qing Er’s fault . Those a.s.sa.s.sins came to a.s.sa.s.sinate Qing Er and the baby in Qing Er’s stomach . Qing Er protected herself and her child, very amazing . You do not need to be sad about this . ”
“…” As expected of mother and son, what they say is similar!
Lu Rui and Yun Xi, who had seen the scene of the crime, looked at the sky at the same time . They can’t help but feel that these a.s.sa.s.sins who were about to enter the soil were a bit pitiful . These days, a.s.sa.s.sinations are risky, so you need to be cautious when you enter the trade!
After finally coaxing Xia Yuqing to sleep, Zhang Suns.h.i.+ and Xu Lao went out together . When they left the house, Zhang Suns.h.i.+’s face was a little ugly: “Ting Er, how many times is this already? How many times did the a.s.sa.s.sins come back and forth in the palace? What do these imperial soldiers under you do? Do we raise these soldiers for days on end, just for them to become a group of drunkards who lounge at bars?”
This is the first time that Zhang Suns.h.i.+ has ever asked about the court or the harem after Feng Tingye became the emperor . Her face clearly showed her unhappiness at this time .
It seems that his royal mother is really angry . Feng Tingye thought about it, but in his heart he agreed with Zhang Suns.h.i.+’s words . Since Xia Yuqing entered the palace, there has been too many a.s.sa.s.sinations . Those who a.s.sa.s.sinated himself and Xia Yuqing have been killed . Although they made it out of the danger, who knows if there is such good luck next time?
“Er Chen understands . Er Chen will let Wenzhong call out some trustworthy soldiers from his army to strengthen the guards in the palace . What happened today will never happen again . ”
“En . ” After getting Feng Tingye’s promise, her face was slightly better, “Qing Er was a little frightened today . I’m afraid that she won’t be able to sleep peacefully tonight . You should stay with her, Ai Jia will go back . ”
“Er Chen respectfully sends off royal mother . ”
After sending away Zhang Suns.h.i.+, his face immediately sank . He called the eunuch next to him and asked, “How is the a.s.sa.s.sin?”
“Reporting back to His Majesty, the Da Rens sent a letter just now, saying that the little a.s.sa.s.sin seemed to be really crazy . He is not deliberately pretending . ”
Feng Tingye frowned slightly and nodded: “Let the Da Rens continue to investigate . This time, I have to pick out the person behind this . ”
“Yes . ”
“Is there more?” Seeing the eunuch remaining, his brows furrowed together .
“When Mr . Xu pa.s.sed by the palace maid who cleaned up the room just now, he took away a small piece of jade shaving that the palace maid found . His face was a bit ugly . Before he left, he said something about that kid doing it and he will definitely get an explanation for Consort Qing . ”
“That person?” Feng Tingye frowned . He was silent for a while then said, “Zhen understands, you can go . ”
“Yes . ” After sending away the Ya Tous from the palace, he looked at Xia Yuqing’s sleeping face . He laid down beside Xia Yuqing and held her in his arms .
Xia Yuqing felt the warmth by her side, and spontaneously wrapped around Feng Tingye’s body, but her stomach was too big in front of her . There was no way to stick her whole person on Feng Tingye’s body .
Xia Yuqing snorted with dissatisfaction, making Feng Tingye laugh uncontrollably . He reached out and grabbed Xia Yuqing’s restless hand, then cautiously held Xia Yuqing tightly into his arms from behind . Xia Yuqing felt warmth all over her body and settled down .
Feng Tingye’s hand was just resting on Xia Yuqing’s round belly, feeling the heartbeat from her belly . His eyes gradually softened . He lowered his head and dropped a kiss on Xia Yuqing’s forehead, muttering: “This is the last time . ”
The last time I put you in danger, the last time I allow you to face blood . From now on, I will not put you in danger!
As he made these promises in his heart, Feng Tingye slowly closed his eyes .
In Feng Tingye’s warm embrace, Xia Yuqing had a rare night of good sleep . When she woke up early the next morning, Feng Tingye had left Xiefang Hall already .
There was no helping it . Even if he wanted to stay and comfort Xia Yuqing, there were some things that needed to be dealt with urgently, such as the visit of the King of Shu .
On the tenth day after the a.s.sa.s.sination, the Lord of the Kingdom of Shu arrived in Ye Kingdom . Feng Tingye personally picked him up . However, Xia Yuqing was only able to see the legendary Lord of Shu for the first time at the reception banquet .
Unexpectedly, the confident man was not as fierce as Xia Yuqing thought . He was a giant . Although he was taller and had darker skin than the men of Xia and Ye, it didn’t seem uncouth at all . Instead, it made people feel that there was a compelling heroic force . It is not difficult to see that when he was young, he must be a master who fascinated thousands of young girls . He also spoke in a forthright manner, he didn’t seem to be the type to secretly plot or instigate Jiang Feizao and the general Ji to cause discord and trickery . Tsk tsk tsk, you really can’t judge a book by its cover!
“Consort Qing will soon give birth, right?” When the banquet was in full swing, the emperor of Shu Kingdom, Yun Zhongli, suddenly moved his eyes to Xia Yuqing beside Feng Tingye and asked with a smile .
“There are still about two months left . ”
Yun Zhongli nodded and said with a smile: “King Ye is so lucky that he has children at such a young age . The Ye Emperor is talented in literary and martial arts, while Niang Niang has an outstanding appearance . The child born in the future must be a dragon or phoenix amongst the people . ”
Feng Tingye smiled, “As Shu Emperor states . ”
“Um, Qing Jiejie, my stomach suddenly feels a little uncomfortable, so I will retire first . ” Yun Xi glanced at the talking man with a guilty conscience and whispered behind Xia Yuqing .
Xia Yuqing turned her head and glanced at her, complaining: “I told you not to sneakily eat too much, but you don’t listen . Now look, you have an upset stomach . Go go go go now . ”
Lu Rui, who was pouring wine for Xia Yuqing felt her hand shake . The wine in her hand almost spilled out . The corner of her mouth twitched slightly . The one who stole the most food just now was you!
“…En . ” Yun Xi didn’t care about this . She put the tray in her hand against her face, and walked out sneakily .
At that time, the attention of everyone at the birthday banquet was on the two emperors . They did not notice that Xia Yuqing was missing a person, nor did they notice that after Yun Xi left, there was another person from the Shu country who secretly followed . They slipped out and quickly followed Yun Xi .
“I’m saved . ” Yun Xi ran out without daring to look back . She only breathed a sigh of relief when she hid in a small quiet courtyard . The Xiao Long Bao directly turned into a red bean paste bun .
“Hmph, you want to bring me back, don’t think about it! But strange, I obviously appeared today in front of him several times, but he did not notice at all . Maybe he has another new interest!”
“If he really had a new interest, how can he personally go deep into the enemy country for danger? Instead, he would have taken his new interest to play long ago, rather than think of you who have no conscience . ”
“That’s not necessarily true, maybe he didn’t come for me at all!” Yun Xi snorted coldly . Then her eyes widened as if she had noticed something . She looked at the dark shadow not far away with a look of horror .
“What…Where is this evildoer? Quickly report your name and kowtow to this girl to apologize, otherwise…this girl is proficient in all sorts of martial arts . It will definitely make you not want to live and will show you how death would be better than living . This lady will make you regret coming into this world . ” Yun Xi put on a fighting pose, looking defensively at the dark shadow not far away .
“…” the black shadow paused suspiciously for a moment, then his whole body trembled violently . “Xi Er, you have only left the palace for less than four months, how come you have become…”
The black shadow was obviously considering his own wording, but Yun Xi was already frightened by his address: “What did you call me just now? Xi Er?”
When they were in Shu Kingdom, those people called her Your Highness . After coming to Ye Kingdom, she was used to Xia Yuqing and the others calling her Xiao Xi . There were only two people in the world who would call her Xi Er . But this one had to be…
“Recognize your father, the king?” The black shadow hidden in the darkness slowly walked out, revealing a completely unfamiliar face under the moonlight . There was a doting expression on his face that was unusually familiar .
“Royal father?” Yun Xi tentatively walked over . As soon as she approached, she heard a familiar aegyo, “My lovely little Xixi doesn’t want her father anymore, she has a temper and ran away from the palace! It really hurts your father’s heart . I’m hurt . ”
This voice, this manner, and this way of acting like a baby as if wasn’t wrong, it must be her father .
Yun Xi’s eyes were s.h.i.+ning, she quickly stepped forward to grab the mustache under Yun Zhongli’s chin, and said in surprise: “Father, it’s really you? Come, let me see . Is this… Is it the legendary human skin mask? OMG, this is amazing! Let me touch it . ”
Yun Xi rushed towards Yun Zhongli . Jumping on the person, she raised her hand against Yun Zhongli’s face .
“Oh, my spirit, don’t touch it, don’t touch it . If it falls off later, royal father won’t be able to go back to the banquet . ” Yun Zhongli really could not do anything about this pearl in the palm of his hand since she was a child . He could only whisper while grabbing her hand, with helplessness on his face .
“Oh, okay . ” Yun Xi then remembered that this was not the Shu Kingdom’s imperial palace but the Ye Kingdom . She hurriedly took her hand back . She really couldn’t get accustomed to looking at this strange face .
“Father, since you are here, who is the one outside?”
Yun Zhongli stretched out his hand to smooth his long beard that was almost pulled off by Yunxi, and said with a smile: “Your Uncle Hao . ”
“Uncle Hao? Royal Father, why do you want Uncle Hao to pretend to be you?” Yun Xi asked with a puzzled face . Her eyes lit up and she grabbed her father’s s.h.i.+rt and smiled, “Royal Father, are you hiding something from Er Chen?”
“No…no…” Yun Qianli’s* face was rarely embarra.s.sed, he was guilty of thinking about other things, “You still want to speak, if it wasn’t for you, do you think your father would come to such a place? Did you see how the few people outside besieged your Uncle Hao? If the person sitting inside was really your royal father, there would be nothing left . You pack up quickly and go back with your father, otherwise you will be in danger if they know your ident.i.ty . ”
* not sure why they switched names, but still Emperor of Shu Kingdom
Yun Qianli’s words did not bring back his daughter’s heart, but instead caused her to give him a blank eye, as if saying, “Father, why are you so useless? Just because you can’t bear the bombardment of those people, you made Uncle Hao block the gun, I was really wrong about you!”
“I don’t want to go back, the people here are so kind to me! Although Qing Jiejie instigates things and likes to pinch my face casually, she is very kind to me . There is also Cui Er Jiejie, Lu Rui Jiejie, and Li Yuan Jiejie, they are all good people . Also the Da Rens and the emperor you just mentioned are not like how Third royal uncle and aunt said, they aren’t that bad, especially the emperor . Besides being jealous usually, he is kind to Qing Jiejie and because we are under her, he also takes good care of us . How could a man who can be so good to Qing Jiejie be a bad person?”
“…” Yun Qianli’s expression changed drastically as he listened to Yun Xi’s rhetorical retort . He reached out his hand and touched Yun Xi’s forehead, and muttered, “Weird, she doesn’t have a fever . Why is she talking nonsense?”
“Father, what are you doing?” Yun Xi raised her hand and pushed away the hand, “Father, Er Chen is serious . ”
“My dear, you won’t be fooled by the people in this palace with their demonic techniques, right? Quickly, royal father will take you back immediately and let the imperial doctor treat you . Don’t worry, nothing will happen . ”
Yun Xi looked at her father as if the sky was about to collapse . With a panic expression, she couldn’t help rolling her eyes: “Father, calm down . I’m really fine, I just understand things now . ”
“What’s the matter?” Looking at Yun Xi’s sinking face, he was startled .
“Seeing is believing and hearing can be misleading . We used to listen to third royal uncle and aunt in the palace talking about how abhorrent this Ye country is, but father, Er Chen has lived here these days and found the people here are completely different from our impressions . I can’t help but wonder… which of the words said by third uncle and aunt are true and which are false . ”
Yun Zhongli* frowned: “Xi Er, how do you know that they didn’t pretend to be like that on purpose? What if they were using you to subdue my Shu country?”
* changed back
“…” Yun Xi looked at her royal father like a fool . She stretched out her hand to caress Yun Zhongli’s forehead as Yun Zhongli did to her just now, “Weird, no fever! Father, you just said to take me back before they found out who I was . Now why would they want to use me? In their eyes, I am just a little palace lady . Why is it necessary to pretend in front of me? Father, you’re being prejudice . ”
Seeing Yun Xi’s seriousness, he was stunned . He stared blankly at this baby girl who had been protected under his wings this entire time . He was reluctant to let her get hurt . His expression was complicated .
Seeing that Yun Zhongli hasn’t responded for a long time, Yun Xi was a little confused . As soon as she raised her head, she saw the tearful and pitiful look of Yun Zhongli . She immediately panicked: “Father, what’s the matter with you? Oh, don’t cry! You are a big man who is still the lord of a country, don’t shed tears casually . What will you do if people see?”
“Woohoo, anyway I’m wearing someone’s face now, who cares . ”
“… ” Father, you are so irresponsible, how were you raised? Uh…it seems like I belong to his family, well, whatever!
“Wuuu, royal father is just very happy and sad . Royal father’s darling has finally grown up, and can say such a reasonable thing!”
“…” It turns out that royal father could still be reasonable . If she knew this before she would curse at him a little bit earlier .
“Oh, to think back then, when royal father’s little baby was just born, she was so meaty and soft, sooo cute . Now she has grown into such a slim and lovely appearance . I still remember when royal father’s little baby just learned to walk, it was this royal father who led her to stand up step by step . Now she can leave the palace and run around . I still remember when this royal father’s little baby just learned to speak and called out their first word, “royal father” . Now she has reached the age to be able to marry! To marry? No, who would dare to plot against my baby, I will definitely not let her go! If you want to marry my baby, you have to pa.s.s my round first… ” Yun Qianli was caught in the fear that his daughter would marry and be a wife after she grew up, and couldn’t help himself . He didn’t notice Yun Xi’s face becoming as black as the bottom of a pot standing beside him .
Yun Xi listened to Yun Qianli’s increasingly exaggerated self-talk, with blue veins jumping out of her head, and groaned unbearably, “Shut up . ”
“…” Yun Qianli’s voice fell silent . There are only two people in the world who can yell at him like this without being punished to death by him . One was his wife who was left behind in the imperial capital, Situ Jiao, the Queen of Shu . The other was his only precious daughter, Yun Xi .
Yun Xi ignored the sad eyes projected by Yun Qianli, and took a deep breath: “Father, don’t change the subject . You haven’t answered me about what I asked you just now . ”
“Huh, what?” Yun Qianli pretended to be stupid .
“Don’t pretend to be stupid, do you have something you are hiding from Er Chen?” Yun Xi squinted slightly and shouted coldly .
“…” Yun Qianli looked up at the sky and was uncooperative .
Yun Xi rolled her eyes and said, “Since the emperor doesn’t want to say it, then Er Chen can’t help it . ”
Yun Qianli was overjoyed, and was just about to say something, when Yun Xi continued: “Last time when playing hide and seek with cousin Hao, I happened to see that there were a lot of pictures of beauties hidden under royal father’s couch . I don’t know if the queen has seen it…”
“Hold on!” Hearing Yun Xi’s words, Yun Zhongli with a panicked look, stepped forward and grabbed Yun Xi’s hand and said, “Father will speak, Father will speak . Don’t tell your mother, or Father will have to sleep in the study room for another half year!”
Yun Xi’s plump face showed a treacherous smile . She said compa.s.sionately: “Well, let’s talk…”
“…Xi Er, why does royal father feel like you have been corrupted since going out this time?”
“Thank you, father, Er Chen will work harder . ”
“…”
Yun Xi looked at Yun Zhongli’s crying expression and her heart was refreshed . Sure enough, she had profited since following Qing Jiejie . Seeing her royal father’s expression, it’s so… so funny . She must tell her royal mother about this when she goes back, hahaha!
“In fact, it’s nothing, but some people in the capital have become restless recently . Your mother suggested that since they are restless, it’s better to take this opportunity of picking you up to lure the snake out of the cave and kill them all . ”
Yun Xi was startled . After a moment of contemplation, she understood the purpose of the disguise . Her eyes changed slightly: “It turns out that royal father did not come this time to pick up Er Chen, so Er Chen will not go back with father . Please have a safe trip, I will not send you off!”
“…” Yun Zhongli was startled, his face sagged . He hurriedly stepped forward to hold Yun Xi, and coaxed: “Daughter! Father’s dear daughter, don’t have a temper and follow your father . Let’s go back!”
“Won’t go back! I won’t go back . If I go back, you will force me to marry that sissy . ”
“Sissy…Oh, you mean the fourth prince of Xia? He has gone back a long time ago, he won’t bother you anymore . Your third uncle will no longer force you to marry him, so you can go back with your father . For this, your mother has punished me enough, father really doesn’t want to sleep in the study room anymore . Have pity for your pitiful father, and go back with your father . You may be discovered here at any time and be in danger, how could your father leave you alone and go back?”
“Don’t worry about that father, Er Chen is safe here . Humph, and even if it wasn’t him, there would be someone else . Third Uncle would not let me go . Every day, he wants to marry me out . Humph, how could I not know his thoughts? Once I get married, then the heir of the Kingdom of Shu… . ” Yun Xi was shocked that she slipped out a few words . She hurriedly stopped, and muttered, “Anyways, I will not be at the mercy of you . I will not marry a man I do not like and be depressed for a lifetime . Hmph…”
“…he will marry in, you won’t marry out!” Yun Zhongli retorted . How could his baby girl marry to a foreign country?
My baby girl is so n.o.ble and lovely . Naturally, I want to find a gentleman with an extraordinary appearance and an extraordinary personality . Only a dragon of men can be worthy of her . The most important thing is that the son-in-law must enter the family so that he can be under his watch to take care of his daughter for a lifetime .
“Hehe, but third uncle doesn’t seem like they want to let the husband become our family?”
Yun Zhongli’s face was dark, as if he had also noticed the strangeness in this matter .
Yun Xi didn’t wait patiently for him to recollect the key points . She folded her hands on her chest and said with a proud face: “Anyways, Er Chen will not go back with my father . Er Chen has already found someone Er Chen likes here . If royal father urges Er Chen, Er Chen will cook the rice with him and settle in Ye Kingdom, and never go back to Shu Kingdom . You can figure it out . ”
Boom- Yun Zhongli felt lightning crash down on him, almost abruptly splitting him in half . His hands were shaking when he asked, “Xi Er has someone they like?”
Yun Xi nodded firmly, and his face sank in the cloud . He could no longer hold back . He screamed: “d.a.m.n it, who is it? Who is it? Which beast dares to have thoughts about my baby girl… woo woo woo…”
“…”