Chapter 13 - Ambushed
The Empress who was burning with anxiety rushed in. When she saw her precious son lying unconscious on the floor with his clothes in a mess and the yellow color on his face and head still intact, her anger instantly rose.
"It is alright if Emissary Qian Mi is unwilling to treat the Sixth Prince…….but you even dare to make him look like this?!"
The pleasant voice of the lady carried a slight suppression of anger. "His Highness, the Sixth Prince is mentally disorientated. Chen had no choice but to make His Highness unconscious."
Both the Empress Dowager Cixiao and the Empress Dowager Duan Mi were not on good terms for a long time and naturally, the Empress did not like Emissary Qian Mi much, let alone at this time and in this frame of mind.
Immediately, she flew into a rage. "Guards! Seize Emissary Qian Mi!"
Qin Sang who had only just suffered great humiliation, really wanted to bath Zhaoyang Palace in blood now How could she still endure? A light flashed in her eyes and they were filled with killing intent. The imperial guards were fearful of Emissary Qian Mi but they also could not afford to defy the Empress"s orders. At this moment, the two sides were in a deadlock and the atmosphere was so tensed that it was near explosion.
Right at this moment, a shout of – "The Emperor had arrived" – fortunately, broke up this hostile scene of drawn swords.
The great and wise Emperor of Ye Kingdom, His Highness, Emperor Murong strode in and everyone bowed down in respectful greeting. The Emperor walked in without stopping and hurriedly threw out the word "Rise" before he went straight in to stand in front of his Sixth Prince.
By this time, the Sixth Prince had been moved onto the couch and had settled down. His appearance was still in a mess since there was not enough time to tidy him up and his face was still the same earthy color. His Highness, Emperor Murong was taken aback and asked with a frown. "What happened to Ah Song?!"
The Empress angrily and resentfully narrated the whole story and finally, she said fiercely. "Emissary Qian Mi is truly hateful! Refusing to treat the Sixth Prince is already a death penalty and she is even brave enough to hurt the Sixth Prince! Emperor, please preside over this matter on behalf of my son!" (做主)
After listening to the whole story, Emperor Murong lifted his eyes and looked at Lord Guoshi.
To have the ability to manipulate this kind of simple situation into chaos, who can it be other than his Lord Guoshi?
But Chen Yubai returned his gaze with an indifferent look and the blank expression on his face did not even show any trace of insincerity.
"After all, Emissary Qian Mi is not a medical doctor nor did she prescribed any medicine. The Empress is overly concerned leading to confusion and was too severe in her criticism. What is important now is Ah Song. Let"s not mention about others things yet." Emperor Murong said in a low voice.
"Everyone retreat temporarily. Guoshi, come with Zhen to take a look at the Sixth Prince"s illness."
After everyone had left, leaving behind the unconscious Sixth Prince together with the two people, the Emperor, and his subject……the helpless Emperor Murong turned to his Lord Guoshi.
"What happened? What had Little Six and Emissary Qian Mi done to offend you?"
Chen Yubai"s coldly replied. "Chen does not dare."
Emperor Murong, who had always been helpless with him, could not pry the reason out of him, so he simply said. "Little Six is still young. Yubai, for Zhen"s sake, try not to be too hard on him."
To Chen Yubai, the most annoying thing in the world is the pair of father and son, Emperor Murong and Second Prince Murong Yan"s affectionate way of calling him "Yubai". He lowered his eyes with disdain and picked up a cup of cold tea that was sitting on the table. Raising his hand, he splashed the cup of tea on the Sixth Prince"s face.
Although his actions were deemed extremely rude and overstepping authority, the Sixth Prince woke up immediately.
"Imperial Father!" As soon as he woke up, he rolled and crawled over to hug Emperor Murong"s big thigh. He shouted as he cried. "Emperor Father, wu, wu, wu……. Lord Guoshi fed me…….medicine……wu, wu, wu……Emperor Father, hack him to death! Hack him! Hack him!"
The Emperor pacified his n.o.ble and arrogant son and looked at Lord Guoshi with disappointment.
With a cold expression, Chen Yubai said. "Sixth Prince, practice caution with your words! Yesterday, Sixth Prince came to my Residence to give this box of medicine to my disciple and told her these are celestial pills. Since these are celestial pills, I used them to treat Sixth Prince. Did I do anything wrong?"
"Nonsense!" Murong Song banged hard on the couch and roared. "I clearly gave her laxative pills! Just now you fed me an aphrodisiac pill! You changed the medicine!"
The Emperor could stop him in time and as soon as he said those words, the Emperor heard an extremely icy laugh from Lord Guoshi.
"The Sixth Prince gave my disciple laxative pills and told her they are celestial pills…….are you bullying my disciple and implying that in her school there is n.o.body else?"
Just now, Murong Song had burst out the truth in a moment of anger and now his mind had turned blank after being questioned. His pupils churned round and round, trying to find an answer to argue back. Lord Guoshi smiled faintly and asked. "The Sixth Prince said that I have changed the medicine and this box contains aphrodisiac pills………what makes you say that?"
The face of His Highness, the Sixth Prince suddenly turned very red!
"You! I…….just now……"
"Just now? What happened to the Sixth Prince just now?" Chen Yubai asked leisurely. "Just now, Emissary Qian Mi was treating Sixth Prince…….did Emissary Qian Mi say the Sixth Prince had taken an aphrodisiac pill? Then Chen must go and confront her!"
"No, no, no! Don"t go!" Murong Song instantly bounced up from the bed as if he was p.r.i.c.ked by needles. His small face and neck had turned red. "Nothing happened just now! I just got muddle-headed and said the wrong thing! This box contains laxative pills! This is the box of medicine I gave to Ji Xiaoli yesterday! What I ate was a laxative pill! Aiyo! Aiyo, my stomach hurts! I need to release!"
As he said, he got down from the couch with a thud, then rolled and crawled out to "release" himself.
The next moment, only the Emperor and Lord Guoshi were left in the bedchamber. The Emperor said with a meaningful smile. "Little Six is ignorant and had offended Guoshi"s beloved disciple. Lord Guoshi must be magnanimous to him."
"The Emperor"s words are too serious."
"Looks like the adopted daughter of Zhennan w.a.n.g Residence is truly "n.o.ble and beautiful, talented and smart". She has been a disciple for only a few days and she has already made Lord Guoshi happy. Unexpectedly just to vent anger on her behalf, your Lordship had taken such drastic actions in teaching the Sixth Prince a lesson." Emperor Murong teased Lord Guoshi who had always been lacking in the seven emotions*.
(In Chinese medical theory, the seven emotions are joy, anger, anxiety, yearn, grief, fear, and shock.)
With his normal blank expression, Chen Yubai presented the Emperor with a sachet taken from his waist.
"What is this?" His Highness, Emperor Murong asked with a smile.
"This is the antidote for the Sixth Prince." Lord Guoshi also smiled slightly.
His Highness, Emperor Murong nodded and his smile became more relaxed.
"But my little disciple was frightened by the Sixth Prince yesterday and could not differentiate which one is for the Sixth Prince. There are a total of 12 pellets…….Your Highness will have to let the Sixth Prince try every one of them."
Instantly, the smile on Emperor Murong"s face disappeared and he could not smile anymore.
"The Empress is still waiting anxiously outside. Now that the antidote is in the hands of the Emperor…….Chen will retreat………" Lord Guoshi bowed respectfully and smiled as he withdrew.
**8**8**8**8**
After coming out from Zhaoyang Palace, Lord Guoshi was in a good mood as he walked towards the palace gate along the palace path shaded by trees.
Suddenly, a purple light flashed in the shadows of the green trees. The corners of Chen Yubai"s mouth pulled lightly while still maintaining the normal pace of his footsteps. As expected, the next moment, a purple light flashed in front of his eyes in the form of a sword.
Normally, Qin Sang does not use a sword but in actuality, her swordsmanship"s skill is from a famous martial arts school…….exquisite and peerless. The sword in her hand which is shining with a purple light is extraordinary. When the sword was mercilessly plunged in the direction of Chen Yubai the air was immediately sliced through by the sharp sword.
But Chen Yubai did not dodge this stunning sword.
He straightened his body and at the moment when the sword was about to pierce his body, he turned his body slightly sideways and brushing past the blade of the sword, he smoothly sidestepped the attack. Like a black mist, the smooth thin black ice silk slowly obscured the purple eyes of Emissary Qian Mi and by the time she let a light cry, it was already too late. Her wrist instantly felt numb and the sword was removed from her hand.
The swordplay was only a simple martial arts maneuver just like taking a breath in and a breath out. One figure in purple and the other figure in black, both brushed past each other and the move was so swift that no one could see what happened.
The Lord Guoshi dressed in black robes grabbed the sword with a single move and as he brushed past her, he brought the hilt of the sword down on her back. As a result, when Emissary Qian Mi was struck heavily on her back with the blow, she fell on the ground.
The devastating beauty that could overturn a country or a city, coveted by countless n.o.blemen in the upper capital city was mercilessly knocked down by the person who is the dream lover of thousands of women without showing a tinge of pity.
Not only did Chen Yubai not show her the slightest pity, but he was also too lazy to glance at her.
He bent his fingers and lightly flicked on the blade of the shining purple sword and it emitted a low graceful dragon"s rumble. He flicked the blade two more times to listen to the sound and then he injected internal energy force into his two fingers and……snapped. Lightly and skillfully, he broke the precious and priceless famous sword into half and threw it back at her feet like pieces of sc.r.a.p metal.
"Chen Yubai……." Qin Sang"s voice was low. "Do you think you are really a Zhe Xian? Are you not afraid of endless troubles after offending the Qian Mi Tribe?"
"Of course, I am afraid. The Empress Dowager Duan Mi and the Eldest Prince both are of high status and Emissary Qian Mi"s means are also exceptional. How can I not feel afraid?" When he said those words while he looking down coldly at the person sitting on the ground, there was not even a trace of fear in his sneer.
"Even Emissary Qian Mi dares play such a low trick of sending that kind of drug into the Guoshi Residence by making use of the Sixth Prince……so how can this person dares to claim himself as a Zhe Xian?"
It made sense for Murong Song to send a box of laxatives to Ji Xiaoli to make fun of her. However, that box of aphrodisiac pills that made him unable to suppress his feelings was mixed with the blood of the Qian Mi Tribe and Murong Song did not have any reason to send such a box of medicine to Ji Xiaoli. Moreover, the effect of the medicine that was mixed with the blood of the Qian Mi people was extremely strong. Without the need to guess, he knew who had tampered with it.
The body of the Holy Lady of the Qian Mi Tribe is indeed magical!
During the time of question and answer, Qin Sang who was tapped on her acupoint had already released her locked point. Placing her hands on the ground, she propped up her body and slowly stood up. She smiled faintly at the man dressed in a black robe in front of her.
"I and the Sixth Prince had a dispute in the past. This is just a prank I played on him and I did not expect he would send the box to Lord Guoshi"s Residence."
"If that is so……..regarding what happened inside Zhaoyang Palace just now, Emissary Qian Mi should be satisfied since you got what you wished for. Why then did you set an ambush here to send me to my death?" Lord Guoshi was also smiling.
Qin Sang raised her hands to smooth down the strands of hair at her temple and revealed a dazzling smile. "I heard that Lord Guoshi"s swordsmanship is unparalleled, so I specially came to seek advice and did not know that Lord Guoshi would misunderstand. I should receive the punishment of death for my mistake."
The woman"s cunning ability to turn her words around was even more powerful than her provocative face.
But it is a pity Lord Guoshi did not like her devastatingly beautiful face and he hates her more for her crafty skills in twisting words.
"Yes, you should die but not by my hands." His tone was extremely cold. "Since you have tried your best to send her into my Residence and did everything possible to point out to me about her life……is it because you are entrusting this orphan to me?"
The way he asked it so directly, Qin Sang could not help but have a change of expression. However, very quickly, she began to laugh. "So it was Lord Guoshi who consumed the medicine. No wonder there was such a show of ruthlessness today."
The Heavens pitied her and made her wish come true.
Chen Yubai sneered and then he walked away with a wave of his sleeve.
Aiyo!…….Qin Sang thought happily…….he feels shy!………
"Lord Guoshi!" She ran a few steps after him and called out. "Please halt your steps!"
By this time, she had thrown aside her anger and glamorous appearance. With eyes lowered, she confessed with humility and sincerity in a low voice. "The medicine was indeed changed by me and was indeed mixed with my blood which made the medicine even stronger. If the person who had taken the medicine encountered a person from the Qian Mi Tribe, the effect would be increased by a hundredfold."
Therefore, when the Sixth Prince first took the medicine he only felt uncomfortable. Later, when Chen Yubai borrowed the hand of the Empress to request for her to treat the Sixth Prince, the Sixth Prince suddenly reacted like a beast. She was then forced to hit him senseless.
"She is indeed an orphan and is also a Qian Mi." Her voice was so low it was almost like a whisper. "Zhennan w.a.n.g Residence is no longer safe for her. Now, the only person in this world who can protect her is Lord Guoshi."
Chen Yubai had already deduced and came to a conclusion about this matter. Just now, he had ascertained the facts between the Sixth Prince and her, so now he lacked the interest to listen and his eyes looked dull.
"Qin Sang had heard about Lord Guoshi"s rules…….A person is considered as a life. If you agree, this person promises to complete a task for Lord Guoshi……what do you say?" Suddenly, Emissary Qian Mi asked softly.
Chen Yubai was even more disinterested. "What do you think you can do for me with your abilities? Others may covet your blood but it does not interest me."
"That is natural." Qin Sang smiled. Something slipped out from her sleeve and her purple sleeve lifted lightly. A white jade palm holding a piece of black iron medallion flashed in front of his eyes.
"I wonder if this thing will interest Lord Guoshi?"
The Unicorn Medallion!
The Unicorn Order together with the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermillion Bird and Black Tortoise are the five major orders that formed the Dark Night Valley!
The Azure Dragon Order was pa.s.sed down from generation to generation by the Murong Royal Family and the White Tiger Order was pa.s.sed down through the generations by the First-Ranked Military Ji Family. The Black Tortoise Order was inherited by the successive Guoshi and the Unicorn Order was inherited by the successive Chief of the Martial World Alliance.
(The author did not mention anything about the Vermillion Order here but it will be explained in the latter part of the story.)
These five major orders were destined to guard the Great Ye Dynasty and the medallion was like the life of the Medallion Owner……. How can it have fallen into the hands of others?!
The young Lord Guoshi"s eyes became cold and he stared at her without a word.
"It seems it is enough." Qin Sang said with a sweet smile. "If Lord Guoshi shelters and protects her for a year, 12 months from today, Qin Sang will personally return the medallion to its original owner with both hands*. At that time, the world will still be under the protection of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermillion Bird, Black Tortoise, and Dark Night Valley. Isn"t that good?"
(To hand over something with both hands means to return something or to give something away willingly and respectfully.)