Chapter 214: Is the Crown Prince Plotting a Rebellion?

Once these words were out, Xiao Mingyu could not help but take two extra looks at Nan Lizhu, smiling slightly as he said, "No wonder Nan Xueyin likes you and is closest to you. Compared to your timid, quail-like brother, you are indeed more likable. You are also very much like her."

When Xiao Mingyu first found Nan Xueyin, she was about this same age; at that time, Nan Xueyin was also like this—appearing fragile and beautiful on the outside, but actually extremely sharp and keen.

Later, Xiao Mingyu gradually realized that what attracted him most was precisely this quality in Nan Xueyin.

Nan Lizhu glared at him with displeasure, feeling that the name of Sister Xueyin being spat out of his mouth truly dirtied Sister Xueyin.

Wu Zhui clenched his palms, "Prince, she is still young after all. If you truly want a hostage, you might as well take me. I was, after all, once a colleague of Miss Nan; to keep me from dying here, she would also soften her heart."

Nan Lizhu looked at him in surprise.

Xiao Mingyu, however, only said coldly, "There is no need to use such methods to scheme against this Prince. Your intentions are crystal clear to this Prince; you merely want to save this Nan Lizhu first. As for you, you know some martial arts and could break free at any time—"

He twitched the corner of his mouth, his tone sounding like a command, "Now, go pass the word to the entire Armory; from now on, the Armory belongs to this Prince!"

On the other side.

Emperor Yongzheng woke up, and the Virtuous Consort stepped forward tremblingly, supporting him as he sat up.

Emperor Yongzheng frowned and spat out one word: "Stench."

The Virtuous Consort was stunned and subconsciously smelled herself, "Your servant... bathed today before coming, how could there be a stench?"

Nan Xueyin let out a cold laugh: "So many people have died, how could there not be the stench of blood?"

These words echoed in the empty hall, making it hard not to hear them clearly.

Emperor Yongzheng's brow furrowed even tighter, and as he looked around the surroundings, his murky eyes were instantly veiled with a layer of astonishment, "This... what is the meaning of this?!"

He didn't even think, staring straight at Nan Xueyin, "It's you?!"

He recognized the face of the woman standing not far from the bed; such outstanding beauty was, in fact, very rare—once seen, it would not be forgotten.

Of course, Emperor Yongzheng also kept her identity firmly in mind—Xiao Mingyu's Assassin.

It was precisely because of her that he and the Crown Prince had erupted into arguments and conflict.

He hated this woman.

Upon seeing her, endless fury erupted in Emperor Yongzheng's eyes, as if he wished to burn Nan Xueyin to ashes.

Catching his gaze, Xiao Youlan moved forward two steps without a change in expression, blocking exactly in front of Nan Xueyin.

"Imperial Father," Xiao Youlan's voice was flat and slightly cold, "Xiao Mingyu is rebelling."

Concise and to the point, just that one sentence.

Emperor Yongzheng was suddenly startled.

The Virtuous Consort's heart pounded wildly, and her fingers could not stop trembling.

She had just finished supporting the Emperor to sit up and was tremblingly about to pull back her hand, but Emperor Yongzheng suddenly grabbed her wrist. Clearly a man who had just experienced a coma, his five fingers were like eagle claws, tightly gripping her wrist, causing the Virtuous Consort to arch her willow-leaf brows in pain.

Emperor Yongzheng had no concern left for cherishing the fair and protecting the fragile, sternly questioning: "Is what the Crown Prince said true? Has Mingyu rebelled?"

The Virtuous Consort's features were somewhat distorted by the pain; facing Emperor Yongzheng, she felt fear from the inside out.

Facing the interrogation, she revealed a sorrowful expression, "Your Majesty has truly misunderstood. Mingyu is the most filial child; how could he plot a rebellion? Even if given a hundred guts, he would not dare. Your Majesty must absolutely not be misled by the Crown Prince."

Emperor Yongzheng did not fully believe her words, still watching her with a cold gaze, and asked again: "Then how do you explain these Assassins on the ground?"

The Virtuous Consort sighed: "Your servant has no strength to truss a chicken, as Your Majesty is well aware. Who in this hall is the true Assassin who kills without blinking—where is there any need for your servant to say more?"

In a few words, she turned the topic back to Nan Xueyin.

"Moreover, Your Majesty knows that the Crown Prince likes that female Assassin. Previously, he argued endlessly with Your Majesty for her sake, and later, he even formed a faction in the court for her..." The Virtuous Consort lowered her voice, "Your Majesty, what has happened here—can you not understand it yet? All of this is a trap set by the Crown Prince to obtain that female Assassin."

She wore the appearance of having suffered a great injustice, which made Emperor Yongzheng inexplicably believe her a little.

Xiao Youlan raised his eyebrows: "So the Virtuous Consort means that it was I, the Crown Prince, who forced the palace to obtain the throne for the sake of Little Xue, bringing people here to kill everyone around Imperial Father, and even framing you and Xiao Mingyu, claiming that you mother and son are rebelling?"

The Virtuous Consort did not have the courage to look at him, hanging her head in a submissive manner, "I... I did not say that. Crown Prince, how you wish to think is not something I can control, is it?"

Emperor Yongzheng slightly loosened the force with which he gripped her wrist and looked at Xiao Youlan.

Xiao Youlan knew that his Imperial Father was more inclined to believe the Virtuous Consort than him.

His Imperial Father had determined that it was the Crown Prince who was rebelling.

Actually, this was not hard to understand.

After all, in these years, the Virtuous Consort had often accompanied him by his side and had gained much of his trust.

As for Xiao Youlan, he might have been sensible and obedient in his early years, but this year, Xiao Youlan had already caused trouble many times because of Nan Xueyin.

Xiao Youlan did not feel particularly angry; he only found it laughable.

"Cough, cough!"

Emperor Yongzheng stared at Xiao Youlan for a while, then suddenly began to cough.

The Virtuous Consort hurriedly stroked his back, smoothing his breath for him, "Your Majesty, do not be angry. It is said that the Crown Prince is a romantic, and it is not incomprehensible that he would do foolish things for the sake of his beloved..."

After offering a few words of comfort, she asked again: "Your Majesty, this medicine has gone cold before you could drink it. Shall your servant take it to be heated up for you to drink?"

Emperor Yongzheng gave a grunt of assent.

Nan Xueyin spoke coldly at this moment: "No one is allowed to leave."

If the Virtuous Consort left this place, she would certainly send word to Xiao Mingyu.

If Xiao Mingyu learned that the Emperor had awakened, he would certainly terminate the operation immediately.

By then, all the blame would turn onto Xiao Youlan, and she absolutely could not tolerate such a thing happening!