Chapter 735

Xue Shengjing narrowed his small eyes, a sly glint appearing: "The relationship between Dakang and Da Yong is already settled; whether the marriage alliance succeeds or not cannot change the overall situation. What matters in this alliance is certainly not the marriage itself, nor Princess Anping."

Ma Qingyun said: "If Princess Anping meets with an accident, it will surely stir up a great commotion."

Xue Shengjing said: "The bigger the fuss, the better—I, the prince, can't be bothered to wade into this muddy water. Go find out exactly what happened last night at Qichen Palace."

"Yes!"

After Ma Qingyun left, Xue Shengjing took a jade box from his sleeve, opened it, and inside was a pure white mountain frog—this was the Black Ice Clam Hu Xiaotian had come to request. Xue Shengjing glanced at it, then closed the box again, muttering: "Those two brats are really too impatient, stirring up such a disaster; I want to see how they'll deal with it."

In the early morning, dark clouds still covered the sky, the dim light making one feel somewhat breathless. Kunyu Palace steward Fang Lianhai hurried into the palace; Consort Dong had just finished washing up and was sitting before the bronze mirror, a palace maid combing her hair, when Dong's shoulder twitched slightly, and the maid, frightened, stopped her motion.

The consort slowly turned her face, her phoenix eyes wide open, glaring angrily at the maid combing her hair; the maid, terrified, fell to her knees with a thud.

Dong Shufi raised her hand and slapped her hard across the face, snapping: "Useless trash, are you trying to harm this consort?"

That palace maid kowtowed repeatedly, pleading: "Your grace, spare me, your grace..."

In the rear palace of Da Yong, Consort Dong Shufi's difficulty in serving is notorious; over the years, countless palace maids and eunuchs have suffered misfortune under her.

Consort Dong was about to erupt when she heard Fang Lianhai's shrill voice: "Please calm yourself, Consort! Please calm yourself!"

The consort coldly regarded Fang Lianhai, while he wore a full-faced smile.

The consort snapped: "Where have you been this early morning?" Usually Fang Lianhai combs her hair; if he weren't absent, this maid wouldn't have been called upon—her technique cannot compare to Fang Lianhai's, she trembles while combing and accidentally pulled out a few of the consort's hairs; the consort always treasures her hair like her life, so her anger is understandable, and of course her recent ill mood also contributes greatly.

Fang Lianhai took the ivory comb from the little maid's hand, gave her a glance, and the maid, relieved, withdrew.

When no one was around, Fang Lianhai finally whispered with a smile: "Congratulations, Consort! Congratulations, Consort!"

"What joy is there?"

Fang Lianhai chuckled: "I just received the news—last night Qichen Palace was attacked. There were many casualties, and Princess Anping also suffered serious injuries."

The consort's body shuddered, she abruptly turned to Fang Lianhai, ignoring the pain from the comb pulling her hair: "What did you say?"

Fang Lianhai said: "The Dakang Princess Anping is said to have been seriously wounded, apparently poisoned. Both Xu BaiChuan of the Imperial Medical Institute and Liu Changsheng of the Shen Nong Society have gone there, and it's said this time the odds are grim." He smiled: "Isn't this great news for the Consort?"

The consort bit her lip, rose, and paced back and forth uneasily. After a few steps she asked: "Was Princess Anping assassinated?"

Fang Lianhai nodded: "Consort, you can finally relax now."

The consort snapped: "Damn it, what does this have to do with me?"

Fang Lianhai then realized he had misspoken. He hastily bowed: "I spoke rashly in my excitement; please don't hold it against me, Consort."

After a moment's thought, the consort said: "This is no trivial matter; arrange it immediately—I will personally go to Qichen Palace to visit."

"What?" Fang Lianhai stared in disbelief.

The consort snapped: "Hurry up and do it!"

"Yes!"

At this moment Consort Dong's mind was in turmoil. Hearing the news of Princess Anping's assassination, she felt no joy at all; this was not her plot. To have risen to her position in the treacherous rear palace relies not only on her family's influence but also on her own abilities. Consort Dong immediately considered the possible repercussions—her earlier actions against the Dakang envoy had already annoyed the Empress Dowager, and she had personally intervened. After this incident, she has reconsidered how to handle the matter; since she cannot stop the marriage alliance, she will let it run its course, and once Princess Anping marries in, as mother-in-law she will have countless ways to deal with her.

The assassination that occurred last night at Qichen Palace has completely thrown off Consort Dong's plans; although she had often wished for Long Xi Yue to die on the way to Yongdu, now that Long Xi Yue's life is actually in danger, she realizes this is terribly problematic. Even Fang Lianhai, that servant, considers it a great boon for himself, so most people will assume she is the one who most wants Princess Anping dead, meaning many will surely suspect her.

When Hu Xiaotian returned to the Rising Imperial Palace, the sky was already fully bright, a crowd of people waited in the courtyard; seeing Hu Xiaotian's dejected expression, everyone understood that his trip to Prince Yan's mansion might have been in vain. Xu Bachuan, upon hearing that the Black Ice Clam had been stolen, also couldn't help sighing, and comforted Hu Xiaotian: "Actually, even if we borrowed the Black Ice Clam, we couldn't completely cleanse the toxin inside the Princess's body; we have already found out that the Princess has been bitten by at least seven different kinds of poisonous creatures, and someone has also put poison in the tea she drinks."

Liu Changsheng sat in the corridor, his face extremely solemn; Hu Xiaotian came to his side and respectfully said: "Mr. Liu, this is a bottle of Hundred Herbs Return-to-Spring Pills given to me by Prince Yan; do you think it will be useful?"

Liu Changsheng sighed and said: "It's useless; the toxin that has afflicted the Princess has already penetrated her five viscera and six bowels; even if we could borrow the Black Ice Clam, it wouldn't change anything."

Hu Xiaotian's face changed upon hearing this; even in front of Liu Changsheng he had to act his part to the fullest: "Mr. Liu, you mean, my Princess..."

The door opened from inside, and Huo Shengnan walked out slowly; her face was as pale as paper, and she looked utterly exhausted.

The female guard outside the door hurried forward to support her, but Huo Shengnan waved her hand, indicating she was fine. She said to Liu Changsheng: "Mr. Liu, I have already done as you instructed, but the effect is not obvious."

Liu Changsheng had already been mentally prepared for this result; he nodded and said: "General Huo, you should go back to rest as soon as possible."

Huo Shengnan glanced at Hu Xiaotian, then whispered, "Lord Hu, I have something I'd like to say to you privately."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and followed Huo Shengnan into her room.

Just now, Huo Shengnan had used her inner energy to drive the poison from Xi Yan, draining her strength greatly and making her breathing ragged.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Thank you for your hard work, General Huo."

Huo Shengnan locked eyes with Hu Xiaotian, her gaze sharp and piercing like a blade, and asked, "Does Princess Anping know martial arts?"

Hu Xiaotian immediately understood; she must have discovered something while circulating her qi to heal her wounds—a martial artist's meridians are clearly different from an ordinary person's, and noticing that is not difficult. Hu Xiaotian said: "I should know a bit, but I have never seen the Princess make a move!" His answer was flawless.

Huo Shengnan said: "Just now, while I was forcing out the toxin and treating the Princess Anping's wounds, I found two injuries on her back, caused by heavy blows; if she were an ordinary person, she would probably already be dead, so it's quite a stroke of luck that the Princess has survived until now."

Hu Xiaotian knew she had deep doubts about this; he sighed softly and said: "Anything is possible, General Huo, and since you don't understand medicine, your judgment may not be accurate."

Huo Shengnan said: "Although I don't understand medicine, I have practiced martial arts since childhood and have some understanding of wounds caused by fists, feet, and sticks; just now, Sir Hu said that when you returned, the Princess had already collapsed from poison in the room, but from what I can see, she actually went through a fierce fight."

Hu Xiaotian said, "General Huo, are you doubting me?"

Huo Shengnan said: "Sir Hu, if you really want to dispel my doubts, why don't you just tell the whole story exactly as it happened?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "What should I say? I have already told you everything I saw and experienced; if you still have doubts, go look for evidence."

Huo Shengnan said: "Do you think I really can't find evidence? Although Princess Anping has changed her clothes, her shoes haven't had time to be thrown away, and the soles are covered with a lot of flower mud."

Hu Xiaotian's heart skipped a beat—Xi Yan actually was that careless? Leaving such a big loophole for Huo Shengnan to seize? Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "General Huo, are you saying that before the assassination, the Princess couldn't even go out for a stroll? Your words leave me somewhat confused; my Princess is afflicted with a strange poison, her life hanging by a thread, have I ever uttered a single complaint against you? You were ordered by the Empress Dowager to take charge of the security of the Rising Imperial Palace; last night such a major incident occurred—if it weren't for your subordinates colluding with assassins, how could such huge losses have arisen?"

Huo Shengnan bit her lip and snapped, "Hu Xiaotian, do you think I'm trying to avoid responsibility?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Such a huge responsibility—I doubt General Huo can bear it."

Huo Shengnan slammed the table and rose in anger: "Hu Xiaotian, if this is my responsibility, I, Huo Shengnan, will bear it myself; I will never shift the blame to others..." Her emotions were so agitated that she suddenly felt her vision go dark, her legs went weak, and she fell backward.

Hu Xiaotian hurriedly reached out and wrapped his arms around her slender waist.

Huo Shengnan was on the verge of fainting because she had just exhausted her inner strength and, moreover, the argument with Hu Xiaotian had made her furious, so she snapped: "Let go of me."

Hu Xiaotian sighed: "Sit down and speak." After helping Huo Shengnan sit, he gazed at her pallid face, inwardly sighing; Huo Shengnan is not having it easy either—after this ordeal, even if the Empress Dowager favors her, she must still bear some responsibility, otherwise she cannot justify herself before Dakang. Regardless of whether he intended it, he has effectively trapped Huo Shengnan once. But at this crucial turning point of fate, he absolutely cannot allow any mercy or leniency. (To be continued~^~)