Chapter 193

·

·

·

Characters:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

"…Your Highness, where are we going?"

Wind and rain lashed down; the narrow, uneven mountain path left Qingwu soaked to the skin. Forced to hitch up her skirt and hurry forward, she asked nervously and anxiously.

Five guards cleared the way ahead, and eight more followed behind—all were guards and servants brought out of the city by Liang Wang.

Liang Wang in the middle wore a raincoat and bamboo hat, carried on the back of a sturdy guard, with the Steward closely following. The Steward turned and snapped at Qingwu: "Hurrying is urgent, do not ask more! Walk faster!"

This frail woman should never have been brought along; besides, not to mention that His Highness was reluctant to abandon her, leaving her alone would only cause trouble. And as for being a burden or not, with a His Highness who needed to be carried around, she was hardly the one delaying the journey most, so she was brought along.

But the next moment, this frail woman tripped underfoot and suddenly fell into the mud. She seemed to sense the urgency, and with tears said uneasily: "Xiangzhi is useless… Your Highness, do not look after Xiangzhi anymore!"

"Bring, bring her!" Liang Wang said looking back.

The Steward grabbed and pulled her up, dragging the mud-covered woman forward quickly.

After going up the mountain, all carriages and horses were uniformly placed under guard, and since the mountain road in the heavy rain was muddy and slippery, unsuitable for riding, they descended via a hidden small path, hoping to leave without the knowledge of gods or ghosts.

The men sent to send word and meet them were hurrying over, but they ultimately could not get too close to Lingxing Gong where Imperial Guards patrolled, so this road had to be taken. Once they passed this stretch, the rest would be easy!

Dark clouds surged in the night sky like a vast ocean under the dark night. Plants on both sides were washed bright by the rain, vegetation flourished in the mountains, while people in the mountains fled for their lives—the latter seemed to be going against the will of this heaven and earth.

Then a change occurred. At a very winding crossroads ahead, figures wearing raincoats surged out. Two leaders, one civil and one martial. The martial one wore the narrow robe of an Imperial Guard. The civil one first saluted, then asked: "Your Highness Liang Wang, hurrying out in the rain at midnight, I do not know for what purpose?"

Their path was blocked. The questioner was kind and courteous. The Steward secretly gestured to the guards not to act rashly, and answered loudly in the rain: "His Highness witnessed the Great Sacrifice of the Heavenly Mechanism, received the sweet rain bestowed by heaven, and upon closing his eyes dreamed that the Former Emperor inquired of him. His Highness, out of filial piety, could not rest easy, and wishes to hurry to Changling to pay respects!"

Tang Jia gave a deep salute: "His Highness Liang Wang's filial piety is truly admirable. But the rainy road is perilous; it would be more proper to set out after dawn. If His Highness insists on traveling at night, please allow us to escort you all the way."

As he spoke, more Imperial Guard figures appeared on the crossroad to the side. This escorting formation was undoubtedly overly solemn.

At this time, the Steward had already recognized Tang Jia. This man was no one else but the Changshi of the Sixth Prince's Residence.

The other party's purpose was self-evident, but it was unknown what evidence they had already obtained first.

Originally he thought that with He Pingchun investigating in the city, they would eventually be traced to them through clues. But leaving before that was always safer. However, now that Yin soldiers blocked the road, it was clear that Liu Qi had already targeted other clues directly connected to their Liang Wang Fu… or perhaps even before going up the mountain, this boy had already harbored clear suspicions of Liang Wang Fu!

Both sides' auras quietly became tense with drawn swords and bent bows in the rain curtain. Meeting here and now was already an irrefutable proof. Probing was meaningless anymore. The Steward retreated a step and blew the bone whistle in his sleeve. The sharp whistle pierced through the mountain forest in the rain.

Drawing his blade, the Steward shouted loudly: "Protect His Highness! Liang Guo will surely treat your families well!"

The blocking Yin soldiers had numerical superiority, but the ten-plus guards accompanying them were all picked experts. The signal had been sent. As long as they could delay until the men ahead arrived to meet them, they could surely carve a bloody path out of the mountain and back to Liang for His Highness.

Treachery came out with the swords and blades. Tang Jia hesitated no longer. Retreating behind the Imperial Guards on one side, he shouted in a trembling voice: "Liang Wang harbors treacherous intentions. Quickly seize him and hand him over to His Majesty for disposal!"

Both sides clashed, wind and rain howling. Swords and blades illuminated the rain lines. Lantern after lantern was knocked down. Killing intent seeped into the mist, blood beads mixed with raindrops.

A guard who fought to the death to protect Liang Wang was pierced through the chest by a long knife. Behind him, Qingwu was splattered with blood all over. Frightened, she could not even cry out. She retreated in panic, fell to the ground, and crawled in a fluster to a large rock by the roadside.

Screams tore her eardrums. The heavy rain could not drown out the stench of blood. Lightning flashed, and Qingwu saw one person after another fall. The Steward also fought fiercely with his blade. Liang Wang, who had originally been carried on someone's back, now sat slumped in the mud, with two people protecting him in front.

The bone whistle sounded again, this time from the direction down the mountain. Presumably the men sent to meet them were about to arrive.

Hearing this noise, the remaining five or six guards in front of Liang Wang counterattacked even more fiercely.

Deng Hu, who came with the Imperial Guards, finally searched out the figure of the woman behind the stone within the range of his dimly flickering sight. The Sixth Prince had repeatedly instructed that if Liang Wang fled with a woman by his side, she must not be accidentally injured, and the person must be brought back safely.

Deng Hu stepped forward with his blade and engaged in close-quarters slaughter with a skilled guard of Liang Wang Fu. In the fight, Deng Hu's left arm was slashed. The long knife in his hand stabbed back into the opponent's abdomen. He drew the blade and kicked that person away. His vision opened slightly, only to see that woman suddenly crawl out from behind the stone, bending over to search and grope in the mud.

Qingwu felt the rope knot that had almost been washed away by the rain. In this moment, amidst the panic, a thought arose in her: she had crawled out, she had thought it through…

She looked at Liang Wang in the mud.

She was used to playing the rescued hostage, and she believed that if she were truly taken back to Liang Guo, Shaowei would surely rescue her. But rescuing people always meant getting injured. For the sake of rescuing the eldest sister of the Jiang family, her sister did not know how many injuries she had suffered…

"Your Highness, save me!"

Another bolt of lightning flashed. Qingwu suddenly cried out in a trembling voice and crawled toward Liang Wang.

This man, who had bravely fought in wars since his youth, now sat slumped and rolled in the mud, exactly at a time of anxious embarrassment and self-hatred. Seeing the beloved frail beauty seek protection from him, it was simply a fatal encouragement.

The word "fatal" was embodied even more thoroughly than this heavy rain. Liang Wang hastily stretched out both arms. Xiangzhi crawled over and threw herself into his embrace, but instead she knocked his powerless body down with force.

A simple, pure fragrance lingered around his nose, but an exceptionally sharp copper hairpin was pressed against the side of his neck.

That copper hairpin had been repeatedly ground by Qingwu. She had originally planned to keep it for herself—for use if she encountered a terrible misfortune that left her no choice but to commit suicide.

After reuniting with Shaowei, the thought of suicide was completely destroyed. She began to regret not practicing martial arts before, so she secretly practiced horse stances in her room and lifted small tables… She was clumsy and without talent. Although she could not develop excellent skills, her strength had increased somewhat. Now gritting her teeth and fighting desperately, she was enough to suppress someone paralyzed for many years.

"You slut, have you gone mad!" the Steward cried out in alarm.

Qingwu's cry was even sharper and more uneasy than his: "Don't come over, stay back, further back! Otherwise I will kill him!"

Liang Wang, pressed beneath her and restrained, had eyes full of disbelief: "Beauty, why do you assassinate this King…"

He believed himself very good at sensing danger, but previously he truly had not detected even a hint of killing intent from her!

"Because I am afraid, I am scared to death… I do not want to go to Liang Guo. I just said not to look after me anymore!" Qingwu bit her lower lip, tears of fear falling from her eyes and smashing onto Liang Wang's face.

She did not want to go to Liang Guo, did not want to keep waiting to be rescued in fear. So many things had happened today. She had not even had time to talk to Shaowei or see the eldest sister of the Jiang family. How could she just leave in a muddle and become a burden again?

Everything that happened at the altar was enough for her to distinguish Liang Wang's good and evil. Therefore, not only did she herself not want to go to Liang Guo, she also did not want Liang Wang to return. Once he returned to that strong den of thieves, he would surely think of ways to harm her sister again… This made her fear from the bottom of her heart.

Tears fell drop by drop, warmer than rainwater. Liang Wang, struck by the tears, understood even less—a frail beauty, just because she was afraid, did something that made others afraid. Because she was scared to death, she came to take someone else's life. That was truly what made people scared to death!

Without warning, the frail Xiangzhi suddenly became a dangerous ferocious branch. How could there be such a hidden assassin in the world?

But seeing her eyes full of deep emotion, perhaps assassinating out of love and not wanting to leave. He thought she was a soft-hearted, emotional person. Liang Wang hastily shed tears and said in a trembling voice: "This King truly treats you well and loves you!"

Qingwu cried and shook her head: "Where do you truly love me? You only truly love your own past might!"

These words could not fool her. Although she had not read many books and did not understand all principles, she had been truly loved. The true love and care given by Shaowei was absolutely not like him!

The lies in his mouth were exposed, and the flesh on his neck was also pierced. Everything was just within the span of these two short sentences. But it was precisely this brief hesitation from facing each other that was enough for Deng Hu and the others to quickly take control of the situation.

The men sent to meet them soon arrived. They were elite death warriors like the assassins of Nanshan. But no matter how many elites, upon seeing their Master already captured, none could act rashly.

Deng Hu half-knelt on the ground, his blade held horizontally before Liang Wang. The Imperial Guards drew their blades and leveled their crossbows.

Prince Liang trembled, closing his eyes, and said: "I want to see Imperial Brother……"

The next moment, he opened his tear-filled eyes and repeated again, shouting loudly: "I want to see Imperial Brother!"

This voice resounded in all directions, leaving no trace of stuttering or dullness, nor any guilt or fear; instead, he spoke with conviction.

The assassins lying in wait retreated like the wind amidst this resounding shout; a fierce battle was avoided by a sharp copper hairpin, and its owner trembled, unable to walk, being helped all the way back to Lingxing Gong.

Deng Hu was pondering how to arrange this meritorious and extraordinary person when he heard her beg tearfully with a trembling voice: "Kind person, please, take me to find Jiang Sister……"

She was like a frightened green bird in urgent need of having her soul called and spirit steadied; Deng Hu, out of caution, still asked in a low voice: "Are there any of your treacherous spy companions here?"

Qingwu shook her head, sending tears flying.

Deng Hu then nodded and handed her over to the unconscious Great Wu God.

Although news concerning Prince Liang had not been deliberately spread, the matter still successively alarmed various places, causing a great commotion.

Rui Ze's expression was tense: "Truly extraordinary talent, suffering grave injuries, relying on a single Royal Decree, without even showing his face, he managed such a great matter overnight……"

Liu Cheng lowered his eyes and said nothing, as if distracted.

Unlike usual, Rui Ze no longer spoke, sinking into a long and strange silence, with only the rain outside the window unceasing.

After an unknown duration, Liu Cheng rose and walked outside.

Rui Ze was vexed and restless, unable to sort out his myriad thoughts; he raised his head and frowned, asking: "Where are you going?"

"To see the Great Wu God," Liu Cheng said without looking back.

Under normal circumstances, Rui Ze would surely stop and rebuke him, but now he pressed his lips tight and said nothing more.

Before dawn, Prince Lu stood by the window estimating the time, then walked softly to the bedside.

Feng Zhu leaned against the outer side of the bed, supporting a hand covered in wounds and wrapped in Divine Bandages.

On the innermost side of the bed, Qingwu huddled after changing clothes, clinging tightly to Shaowei; even though Shaowei was unconscious, she dared to close her eyes and rest.

A not-large bed was packed full, with an additional arrogant little bird sleeping soundly.

On another temporarily moved bed lay quietly a woman with snow-white skin and hair, with two Wu Nu guarding beside her.

Prince Lu said in a low voice: "Zhu'er, the time is about right; if you wish to stay here, then stay, and your Mother and I will return first."

Setting out now, they could just enter the city when the city gate opens; there is a family matter in the mansion that needs handling.

Although Feng Zhu's consciousness had recovered, it was not yet very stable; her performance at the altar was more out of urgent protection for her daughter, and now in quietness, she still nodded with two parts of wooden dullness and distraction.

Lady Shentu, sitting nearby, was helped to stand, but said: "Zhu'er, you must also return."

Feng Zhu turned to look at her mother.

"This is your important matter; you must personally come to settle the accounts," Lady Shentu said: "We will clean up the household affairs properly, so we can welcome such a good child home."

Feng Zhu recovered her senses, her expression regaining firmness; she leaned forward and stroked her daughter's fluffy head, saying softly: "Qingniang, sleep in peace; Mother will go handle a matter first……"

As she rose, Feng Zhu instructed the maidservant: "Pei, you stay and guard her."

Pei glanced at the girl on the bed and nodded with a spirited gaze: "Miss, rest assured, Pei will surely guard the young master well."

Feng Zhu looked back at every step, supporting her mother out of the Inner Chamber, only to meet Crown Prince Cheng coming again to visit and inquire.

Crown Prince Cheng Liu Cheng had a gentle expression; hearing Prince Lu say he was returning to the city to handle family matters, he only thought he was going to see that impostor, so he did not ask further, had people escort him down the mountain, and also guaranteed: "I will surely take good care of Tai Puzhe; once dawn breaks and the rain stops, I will bring Tai Puzhe back to the city."

Feng Zhu saluted him with thanks, and he also bowed his head slightly, his attitude especially respectful.

As the city gate opened, countless tidings surged into Chang'an City with the damp rain.

At night, nearly every household brought out urns, basins, and jars to catch the rain; seeing the rainwater fill and overflow, the commoners' joy overflowed again and again; at this moment people were still immersed in the great joy of this heavenly sweet rain, understanding only half of the chaotic tidings from outside the city, only knowing that the Great Wu God prayed for rain, the demonic Daoist had been sacrificed to heaven, as for what heavenly secrets and the Teacher of Heavenly Secrets were, for now they were lost in clouds and fog.

In the mansions of officials and the wealthy, the news obtained was more timely and clear; at Lu Hou Fu, in the front hall, Feng Xu sat cross-legged drinking hot tea, listening to a young servant say somewhat uneasily: "Now everyone says the Great Wu God is the true Heavenly Secret……"

Feng Xu's expression was one of astonishment.

What does true Heavenly Secret mean? Is it having the same Eight Characters, and that Great Wu God bears more the appearance of Heavenly Secret, or is it that this Great Wu God is Zhu'er's child?!

Astonishment was only surface; inwardly he was rapidly calculating: if it is the latter, he should only recognize the person as soon as possible……

As for the one at Xian Tai Gong, of course he was unaware; since she still had not awakened, then she need not awaken again……

While pondering, Feng Xu drove the young servant to go inquire for more detailed news; however, before the servant could retreat, footsteps sounded outside the hall; wind and rain had not stopped, mist everywhere; maidservants and attendants held umbrellas, footsteps mixed; Feng Xu subconsciously thought it was his wife and children arriving; he did not look up, only set down his tea bowl.

"Bear Di, the Great Wu God is Shaowei." A skirt brushed past the Hall Gate, a female voice rang out: "Bear Di personally went to fetch her back then, how could you mistake her?"

?? (Manually organized the list, thanks to the babies for their rewards: freepenguin, Congcong Baobao, Umbrella Red, This person only reads books and leaves no comments, Let you not expect, Shui Yue Wu Jian, Yun Mu Xiang Feng, I am the Sister, Yu Ying Feng, Mu Di Ji Yin, Si Yang 611, Mao Zhua Yin Mi Mi, Fog Island sss, sisy0328, Su Xin Yin, Man Chang Jia Qi, billgbo, Ai Ling, Yao Yao Ling Xian, Yan Zhi Hu 1, Stars and Moon Ten Thousand Miles, Crane Cry in the Mountains, Pigeon Tiffany, Explorer does not love to go to Five Finger Mountain to grow flowers, Sigh Bridge Joan, Yun Shui 98, Xiao Yu Lv Yang Yan, Fans Not Transparent, Zi Ye Tong momo, Vegetable Sister, Cats and Dogs Family, Book Book Book Book Friend 001, xxnong, 7k7kboss, Much luck lucky child, Universe's number one cat strongly recommends, fox, Book Friend, Book Friend, Book Friend, Book Friend, Book Friend, Book Friend, Book Friend, Book Friend, Book Friend, Book Friend, Book Friend, Book Friend)