Chapter 1258: Confrontation Face-to-Face (Part 2)

Xue Lingjun said: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern, but although I managed to escape danger, Dongqing is still imprisoned. You must rescue her as soon as possible."

Yan Dongsheng said: "Princess, rest assured, I will spare no effort to rescue the princess." His main concern was still what happened to Xue Lingjun during her disappearance—what exactly occurred? Why did the kidnappers release only her? Logically, Xue Lingjun should be more valuable than the princess; could this be a premeditated plot, with Xue Lingjun as one of the conspirators?

Xue Lingjun sighed: "Rest assured, how can I be at ease?"

Yan Dongsheng asked: "Princess, may I inquire which faction dared to abduct you?"

Xue Lingjun replied: "How would I know? That day, Zou Yong invited me and Dongqing to go out; I told no one, not even Hu Dafu knew my exact whereabouts." The implication was that Zou Yong is highly suspect.

Yan Dongsheng nodded: "I will certainly confront Zou Yong about this."

Xue Lingjun said: "Zou Yong is a senior official of Bohai, greatly favored by Your Majesty; I believe he would not harm me." Her remark had a double meaning and likely did not reflect reality.

Yan Dongsheng could only respond with a smile; he knew the matter was tangled, Zou Yong was no good person, yet Xue Lingjun might not be innocent either.

Xue Lingjun said: "Just now I met Li Chen Zhou outside the gate; why has he come to see Your Majesty?"

Yan Dongsheng laughed: "Princess, you mean General Li; he is unaware that you have been rescued, and came this time to urge me to dispatch troops swiftly to save Your Highness."

Xue Lingjun said: "He means well." Her beautiful eyes showed no trace of emotion, only a chilling coldness; after speaking she fell silent, and the atmosphere instantly grew cool.

Yan Dongsheng sensed the awkwardness and quickly broke the silence: "Princess, please have some tea."

Xue Lingjun lifted her teacup, gently tapping the lid with her gaze somewhat distracted, as if her mind wandered; Yan Dongsheng was considering a topic when she said: "What is Li Chen Zhou's purpose in coming to Bohai on this mission?"

Yan Dongsheng replied: "To assist Bohai's navy in strengthening its defenses!" He would certainly not tell Xue Lingjun Li Chen Zhou's true aim.

Xue Lingjun smiled faintly, lifted her teacup, sipped the fragrant tea, and said softly: "No wonder the Emperor never mentioned it to me—it is a military matter. I have always heard Your Majesty favors civil governance; are you preparing to change course?"

Yan Dongsheng said: "Do not hide it from Princess, the pirate menace of Python Flood Island runs rampant, repeatedly harassing merchant ships, causing great disturbance to the surrounding seas. Merchant vessels of all nations have been repeatedly robbed; not only Bohai suffers greatly, but merchants of Da Yong and Dakang have also endured much hardship. Therefore, General Li has come this time to discuss joint suppression of the Python Flood Island pirates."

Xue Lingjun nodded: "Is the progress going smoothly?"

Yan Dongsheng replied: "Fairly smooth."

"Your Majesty, do you know the purpose behind my abduction this time?"

Yan Dongsheng's heart skipped a beat; then he answered cautiously: "It is said they intend to use Your Highness to exchange for the pirate chief's nephew, Yan Boguang."

Xue Lingjun said: "It seems Your Majesty has no recourse against the Python Flood Island pirates either."

Yan Dongsheng's face showed embarrassment: "The Python Flood Island pirates are extremely cunning; they are indeed hard to deal with."

Xue Lingjun said: "I have heard that Bohai's Chancellor Yuan Tianzhao colludes with the Python Flood Island pirates, which is why Your Majesty imprisoned him. Is this true?"

Yan Dongsheng nodded: "Indeed it is."

"Have you found solid evidence?"

Yan Dongsheng said: "The evidence is still insufficient..."

Xue Lingjun bluntly interrupted Yan Dongsheng: "If the evidence is insufficient, why seal Gathering Treasure Studio?"

Yan Dongsheng startled; Xue Lingjun finally brought up the matter.

Yan Dongsheng said: "It is because someone reported it. Gathering Treasure Studio has been closely associated with Yuan Tianzhao..."

With a clatter, Xue Lingjun's teacup fell to the ground and shattered, appearing accidental but actually deliberate.

Yan Dongsheng's heart jumped.

Xue Lingjun apologetically said: "Sorry, I was clumsy; Your Majesty, do not blame me."

Yan Dongsheng looked at the shards, pressed his lips, and said: "An unintentional mistake need not be dwelt upon."

Xue Lingjun said: "Your Majesty surely knows whose enterprise Gathering Treasure Studio is?"

Yan Dongsheng remained silent; he certainly knew, but to speak outright would be to tell Xue Lingjun that his sealing of Gathering Treasure Studio was deliberately aimed at opposing Prince Yan Xue Shengjing.

Xue Lingjun did not wait for his answer, lowering her voice: "Your Majesty is a perceptive person; some things I need not say, you already understand in your heart. Gathering Treasure Studio is merely a pretext; if Your Majesty truly believes that sealing it can expose some major figure behind the scenes, you will likely be disappointed."

Yan Dongsheng laughed: "Princess, I do not quite understand your remark."

Xue Lingjun said: "The leader of the Gold Scale Guard, Guo Zhenhai, was assassinated; in fact they wanted to kill me. Recently Da Yong has seen many events; some feel their wings have grown full, think I and Prince Yan block their path, and thus wish to use this opportunity to eliminate us."

Yan Dongsheng's smile vanished completely; Xue Lingjun stating this to his face was tantamount to laying all cards bare, leaving him unsure how to respond.

Xue Lingjun said: "The Empress Dowager gave the Phoenix Dance Nine Heavens token to Hu Dafu to have him protect me, precisely because she has already seen through this matter. Does Your Majesty know who backed the new emperor of Da Yong's smooth succession?"

Yan Dongsheng said nothing; he had heard of this—Xue Daohong's victory over the most outstanding prince, Xue Daoming, was entirely due to the full support of Prince Yan and the Eldest Princess, and shortly after ascending the throne Xue Daohong began purging his Imperial Uncle and Imperial Aunt, indeed showing signs of repaying kindness with enmity.

Xue Lingjun said: "During the late emperor's reign he once contemplated conquering Bohai; had it not been for Prince Yan's strong remonstrance, the late emperor would have already sent troops to Bohai. Does Your Majesty think Bohai's current naval strength can withstand Da Yong's navy?"

Yan Dongsheng was speechless.

Xue Lingjun said: "Leaving aside whether the east wind overpowers the west or vice versa, even if Gathering Treasure Studio implicates Prince Yan, do you think the Empress Dowager would idly watch this happen? Someone wishes I cannot return alive to Da Yong; who plots behind the scenes, I know clearly in my heart. Does Your Majesty think that as long as I come to no harm within Bohai's borders I can escape involvement?"

Yan Dongsheng's forehead beaded with cold sweat; he whispered: "Princess, I harbor no intention to harm you."

Xue Lingjun said: "What you think, I am well aware; I say these things not because I suspect you will act against me, but lest you be misled and drag Bohai into fire and water."

Yan Dongsheng said: "I understand what I ought to do."

Xue Lingjun nodded: "Two senior officials of Bohai's Ministry of Justice have died successively; the reason behind this, Your Majesty should know full well." She rose: "I have said all that needed saying; in two days I will return to Da Yong. Other matters I cannot control; as for Gathering Treasure Studio, Your Majesty should weigh it carefully."

Yan Dongsheng rose to see her off, at a loss for words.

Xue Lingjun left the royal city; carriages and horses awaited outside, and Hu Xiaotian personally came to fetch her. She boarded the carriage and could not help but smile: "I have never seen you so concerned for me."

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "I have always cared; I am simply not accustomed to showing it."

Xue Lingjun gave him a bewitching glance that turned heads, then lazily sighed: "How I detest these scheming intrigues."

Hu Xiaotian felt a thought arise unbidden: "A petty affectation," he wondered why Xue Lingjun seemed to relish such machinations.

Xue Lingjun seemed somewhat weary; she leaned into Hu Xiaotian's side, resting her lovely head on his shoulder, closing her beautiful eyes and murmuring dreamily: "Let me lean awhile, rest properly."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Lean as you like, however you like."

Xue Lingjun's cheeks flushed, two spots of rose appeared, making her look ever more lovely and unmatched.

After the carriage had traveled some distance, she whispered softly: "Yan Dongsheng that good-for-nothing must already be frightened; I see the Gathering Treasure Studio affair will not stir up great waves."

Hu Xiaotian said: "This man need not worry; his original motive was merely to use Da Yong's strength to suppress the Python Flood Island pirates, but now he realizes he cannot control events, and in the end he will not profit and may even invite disaster."

Xue Lingjun nodded: "I have seen Li Chen Zhou."

Hu Xiaotian said: "He is the true threat; even if the Bohai king decides to desist, Li Chen Zhou will not let go easily."

Xue Lingjun whispered: "I have already had someone secretly report this to the Empress Dowager; it won't take long before she pressures the Emperor. Even if Li Chen Zhou had great abilities, he would not dare defy the Emperor's will." He who tied the bell must untie it; this matter arose because of Xue Daohong, so in the end it should still be settled with him.

While they were speaking, a tragic cry came from outside: the Goldscale Guard driving the carriage was pierced through the chest by a feathered arrow, fell from the front of the carriage, the carriage lost control, the two fine horses let out terrified neighs, flung their hooves and galloped madly forward.

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought it was bad and lifted the carriage curtain. Whoosh! Whoosh! Two flashes of cold light swooshed past, striking the Goldscale Guard on either side who were responsible for guarding, right next to the carriage. The well-trained Goldscale Guard, facing these airborne cold arrows, had no power to resist; all were shot in the throat and died.

Xue Lingjun's pretty face turned deathly pale from fright; she never expected someone to be so bold as to launch an assassination against her outside the royal city.

Hu Xiaotian grabbed Xue Lingjun's slender waist, leapt into the air, and burst through the carriage roof, flying upward.

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