Chapter 308: Incident at the Hunting Ground
Chapter 308: Chapter 308: Incident at the Hunting Ground
Zhi Wan’s heart pounded in her chest as she listened. She didn’t dare imagine how perilous it must have been for Jiang Shi—stabbed in a vital spot and then thrown off a cliff.
Fortunately, fate was on Jiang Shi’s side, and he managed to survive.
"Jiang Shi, you’ve suffered so much," Zhi Wan said sincerely.
Recalling the danger of that day, Jiang Shi still felt a lingering fear.
If Zhi Ye’s sword hadn’t been off by half an inch, he wouldn’t have survived, even with the large tree that broke his fall and cushioned the impact.
However, he broke an arm and a leg in the fall.
If he hadn’t been lucky enough to be found by a hunter from the mountains, he feared he would have ended up in the belly of a wild beast, even if the fall hadn’t killed him.
The hunter was heading to the city to sell his game, so he brought Jiang Shi along to get medical treatment.
Fearing complications, afraid that Zhi Ye and the mastermind behind him might see him, he begged the hunter to take him to the Zhi Mansion.
The hunter was in a hurry to leave the Capital City, so he dropped him off and left quickly.
Later, Daniu found him and carried him into the Zhi Mansion for treatment.
Now, he had successfully passed the message to Chen Jiu, who would surely report it to the Princely Heir.
With his mission complete, the weight on Jiang Shi’s heart finally lifted.
Before long, he fell into a deep sleep.
Zhi Wan was also tired. She leaned against the carriage wall and soon fell asleep as well.
She was woken by the sudden, urgent sound of hoofbeats.
Curiously, she opened the window and looked out to see a troop of soldiers in full armor, riding away at high speed.
Judging by their direction, they were likely headed to the hunting ground.
Zhi Wan felt a flicker of worry. Although Jiang Shi hadn’t said anything explicitly, she had a vague sense that something was about to happen at the hunting ground.
’I hope everything goes smoothly for Cousin,’ she prayed silently.
The group made it back to the Capital City just before the gates closed.
When they returned to the Zhi Mansion, Zhi Wan’s beggar-like attire gave Shuang’er and Nanny Chen a huge shock; they thought a beggar had wandered in.
"Nanny, Shuang’er, it’s me," Zhi Wan said quickly, seeing the terror on their faces.
"My lady?" Nanny Chen cried out in astonishment.
"My lady, why are you dressed like this?" Shuang’er asked, equally bewildered.
"It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later. Quick, prepare a hot bath for me," Zhi Wan said hurriedly. Right now, all she wanted was to shed these clothes and soak in hot water.
She felt utterly grimy.
She was suddenly grateful that she had come back first. Otherwise, if she had gone to see her cousin dressed like this and reeking, she would have been mortified, even if he wouldn’t have minded.
Hearing this, Nanny Chen and Shuang’er quickly bustled about to make the arrangements.
Zhi Wan washed herself several times before she was finally satisfied.
She changed into a clean dress, had a meal, and then, remembering Jiang Shi’s injuries, decided to go check on him.
However, just as she reached the outside of Jiang Shi’s room, she saw Shuang’er sitting by the bed, holding a bowl and carefully feeding him.
Although neither of them spoke, Zhi Wan could sense an unusual atmosphere between them.
She smiled to herself and decided not to go in and disturb them.
...
「At the hunting ground, night had fallen.」
The savory aroma of roasting meat drifted through the air.
Dancing Girls twirled gracefully in the center of the grounds.
The court ministers were immersed in the song, dance, and fine wine, completely oblivious to the approaching danger.
Everyone drank cup after cup of wine.
Until one minister suddenly collapsed onto a table with a THUD.
Before anyone could react, more people began to fall, one after another.
This time, it wasn’t just the ministers who collapsed, but also the guards standing nearby.
"The wine... there’s poison in the wine..." someone shouted.
Everyone’s expression changed drastically.
But it was too late.
They collapsed one by one.
Lu Zhan and Duan Ling seemed to have drunk less; they held on for a moment before they, too, fell.
Seeing this, the Emperor, seated on his high throne, turned pale and shouted, "Guards! Someone, get over here!"
"Dog Emperor, prepare to die!"
Just then, a man in black leaped forward, brandishing a sharp sword and thrusting it toward the Emperor’s vital points.
The Emperor’s eyes widened in terror.
CLANG!
At that exact moment, a longsword parried the assassin’s strike.
The Commander of the Imperial Guard, Shen Congrong, stood before the Emperor. "Emperor, your subject has arrived late to protect you. Please forgive me!"
The Emperor breathed a sigh of relief. "Mr. Shen, quickly apprehend that villain!"
"Yes, sir!" Shen Congrong responded, then engaged the man in black in combat.
"Didn’t we agree not to kill the Emperor yet? What were you just doing?" From an angle the Emperor couldn’t see, Shen Congrong hissed, suppressing his anger.
"My only goal is to execute the Emperor. I don’t care about anything else," the man in black said coldly.
"Zhi Ye, if the Emperor dies, Prince Rui will be able to ascend the throne directly. After all you’ve done, are you just going to let someone else reap the benefits?" Shen Congrong said in a low, cold voice, reining in his fury.
The man in black was indeed Zhi Ye.
The other man’s words reminded him of what Lu Zhan had said to him at the inn.
He sneered inwardly and asked lightly, "Then what would you have me do?"
"Capture the Emperor alive, of course. Force him to write an abdication decree," Shen Congrong said.
"Abdicate to whom?" Zhi Ye asked.
"We’ll discuss that after we’ve captured him," Shen Congrong said evasively.
Zhi Ye pondered for a moment, then seemed to come to an understanding. "Fine," he nodded.
Seeing that he had finally agreed, Shen Congrong relaxed and pretended to be overpowered, stumbling back several steps.
Zhi Ye seized the opportunity to leap toward the Emperor.
"Emperor, look out!" Shen Congrong roared, flying forward.
But the tip of Zhi Ye’s sword was already pressed against the Emperor’s neck.
The Emperor had never expected his own Commander of the Imperial Guard to be no match for an assassin. He sat frozen in his seat.
"Who... who are you? Why are you trying to assassinate Us?" After a long moment, the Emperor seemed to find his voice and asked in a low tone.
"Dog Emperor, after all the wicked things you’ve done, do you never have nightmares?" Zhi Ye roared, then postured as if to slit the Emperor’s throat.
"Don’t kill Us! Whatever you demand, We can give you!" the Emperor said hastily.
Zhi Ye snorted coldly. "You rule the entire world, but in the end, you fear death just like any common man."
The Emperor’s expression soured. He said in a low voice, "As long as you don’t kill Us, We will guarantee you a life of splendor and riches. Even if you wish to become an official in the Court, We can grant it."
"Is that so? And what if I said I want your throne?" Zhi Ye sneered.
Hearing this, the Emperor seemed to finally understand. He said contemptuously, "So you’re after Our dragon throne. But a mere ruffian like you could never hold onto it, even if it were given to you."
Zhi Ye flew into a rage. "Now I’m dead set on taking your dragon throne. Let’s go. To your Dragon Tent. Write the abdication decree. Once I become emperor, I can make you the Supreme Emperor and guarantee you a peaceful and worry-free life."
The Emperor passively led him to the Dragon Tent and, following his instructions, wrote out the abdication decree.
But when he got to the part about who would inherit the throne, he paused his brush. "What is your name?"
Just as Zhi Ye was about to speak, Shen Congrong walked in, followed by another person.
"Emperor, you must reconsider! He is just a common thug; how could he possibly take on such a great responsibility? Prince Gao Yang is a man of outstanding virtue and has rendered meritorious service to the Court time and again. Only Prince Gao Yang is worthy of this role! We implore the Emperor to abdicate in favor of Prince Gao Yang!"