Chapter 769: A Game
In Changying, Sheng Li was still unconscious. It was the third day, and it increased the worries of Jian Guozhi. Many weird thoughts were coming into his head.
"His Majesty will wake up, Your Highness. You should take some rest too. You did not sleep the entire night," Xiao Zhan a.s.sured Jian Guozhi. "Also, His Highness has to make the decision regarding Mingze," he stated.
"Let the Emperor wake up first. Only he has the power to make decisions," Jian Guozhi said, looking at Sheng Li. "Let"s not converse here. Brother Sheng might get disturbed." He left the room, followed by Xiao Zhan.
As they came out, they encountered a man in his 30s with a tray in his hand. "The Physician has sent the tonic for the Emperor," he said humbly.
Jian Guozhi gestured to the soldiers to let the man in and walked away.
The man walked in and placed the tray on the table beside the bed on which Sheng Li was laid. He took out a small, snuff porcelain bottle filled with poison. He removed the lid and mixed it into the tonic.
The man narrowly gazed when felt the dagger"s blade on his neck. "Finally, you arrived," Sheng Li said when the man used his elbow to strike him.
Sheng Li dodged it and pushed him onto the bed. His knee tightly pressed on the back of the man. He quickly took out the ring from his finger, to swallow the diamond on it when Sheng Li caught his hand. He got kicked on his lower back and the man moved away from him.
Sheng Li kicked his hand and the man fell back.
Upon hearing the noises, the soldiers standing outside pushed the door and were shocked to see Sheng Li was fighting with the man, who claimed to bring the tonic for him.
The man punched Sheng Li in the middle of the chest and the wound started to bleed again. He cried in pain and he wavered. The soldiers stepped forward and caught the arms of the man.
"Your Majesty," Xiao Zhan shouted and rushed in.
The soldiers got injured as the man stabbed them with the knife. He thought to run away when Xiao Zhan stopped him. Xiao Zhan caught his right wrist which was holding the knife and with his other hand, he punched in the middle of his abdomen.
Jian Guozhi also entered the room as he heard the noises from the room adjacent to it. He ran to Sheng Li and asked if he was fine.
Sheng Li hummed and put his hand down, which had blood on it.
One of the soldiers came forward and they finally overpowered the man. Xiao Zhan tied the hands of the man, his feet, and made him get on his knees.
Sheng Li sat on t
he bed and took deep breaths.
"Bring the physician," Jian Guozhi ordered and the soldier ran out.
Sheng Li asked for water and Jian Guozhi quickly poured water into a gla.s.s. However, before giving the gla.s.s to Sheng Li, he tasted the water first from the jar. Upon getting a.s.surance that the water wasn"t poisoned, Jian Guozhi handed the gla.s.s to Sheng Li.
He drank the water and handed back the gla.s.s to the First Prince.
The Physician came inside and bowed before Sheng Li.
"Dress His Majesty"s wound," Jian Guozhi instructed him and he quickly sat on the table. After the dressing of wounds, Sheng Li turned to look at the man who had come to a.s.sa.s.sinate him.
"Who sent you?" Sheng Li asked with a menacing expression. However, the a.s.sa.s.sin didn"t utter a word.
"The Emperor has asked you something. Tell him," Jian Guozhi shouted at the a.s.sa.s.sin, who had lowered his head.
"Was it Empress Dowager?" Sheng Li asked straightforwardly, shocking everyone in the room. Jian Guozhi wondered why Sheng Li"s suspicions went to Deng Hui.
"Your Majesty, I will interrogate him in my way," Xiao Zhan furiously said.
"Torturing him will be of no use," Sheng Li stated. "You have a minute to decide. You have to kill yourself if you refuse to tell," Sheng Li told the a.s.sa.s.sin.
Earlier, while fighting with the a.s.sa.s.sin, Sheng Li found out that he did not take poison when he got several chances. Instead, he thought to run away. What a foolish act!
"I only want confirmation. I will spare your life," Sheng Li said.
Jian Guozhi widened his eyes. "Your Majesty, forgiving an a.s.sa.s.sin isn"t wise," he advised him.
"But he wants to live. He has a child," Sheng Li p.r.o.nounced. When he caught the a.s.sa.s.sin"s wrist, he found a blue thread with knots on his wrist.
He remembered the tradition of Changying, where a child would tie a thread around his father"s wrist for his safety.
"Your time has ended," he said and threw the dagger toward the a.s.sa.s.sin. It stopped near the man"s right knee, and he lifted his head.
"Yes, Your Majesty," the a.s.sa.s.sin replied finally. "I was paid to kill the Emperor," the a.s.sa.s.sin confessed the truth. "It was an order from someone from the Palace. However, I do not know from whom. I did what I was told to. I will always remember His Majesty"s benevolence if he spares my life," he pleaded, keeping his eyes lowered.
"Hmm. So, you decided to even kill the Emperor for a few coins." Sheng Li chuckled.&
nbsp;
"Everyone wants to survive, Your Majesty," the man replied.
"Shut your filthy mouth. How dare you take—" Jian Guozhi paused when Sheng Li told him to calm down.
"Let"s play a game. It has been long since I last played a game," Sheng Li stated, bewildering everyone in the room.
"A game?" Jian Guozhi muttered and furrowed his brows together.
"Yes, First Brother," Sheng Li said with a playful grin.
"Go to the person who ordered you to give poison to me. Your child is waiting for you at home, so don"t make any mistake," Sheng Li commanded the man, who nodded his head.