Chapter 54: Saving the Aloof Crown Prince 05

When Jin Chen lifted his head, Xiao Su finally noticed the wound on his neck.

He quietly listened to Jin Chen finish speaking, his gaze never leaving Jin Chen's eyes.

Quite sincere.

After he finished speaking, Xiao Su's heart was inexplicably stirred for a moment.

"Also fine, I'll keep you for now."

Xiao Su averted his gaze, his ears slightly red, "Go find medicine to stop bleeding yourself."

Noticing the concern hidden in his tone, Jin Chen curled his lips.

"Your subordinate is fine."

He glanced at Li You, without hesitation, directly taking out the porcelain vial.

"What is this?"

Xiao Su leaned against the headboard, his phoenix eyes filled with doubt.

"While carrying out a mission at Heaven Moon Pavilion, I happened to obtain this medicinal pill; I deemed it precious and kept it all this time. Now I think it might help the master's health."

He poured out the pill, revealing a vermilion medicinal pill that emitted a clear, medicinal scent all over.

Just smelling it makes one feel refreshed and clear-headed.

Having been ill for so long, Xiao Su has become well-versed in medicine; he could tell at a glance that this pill's effects are excellent.

Jin Chen: "This pill is called the Heart-Protecting Pill; ordinary consumption can resist common toxins. If the master takes it, perhaps it can prevent the toxins inside from spreading further."

Li You's eyes brightened: "Your Highness, this is a good thing; please take it quickly."

Xiao Su stared at Jin Chen for a long time.

This person appeared out of nowhere by my side, an existence that never showed up in my previous life; not only does he know everything about Physician Zhong's affairs, he can even produce such a precious pill at a moment's notice.

Could this be an opportunity brought by rebirth?

Otherwise, he really couldn't imagine what use this nominal Crown Prince would have for Ying Jiu to scheme over.

He coughed lightly twice, did not resist the tea Jin Chen brought, swallowed the pill, and washed it down with tea.

At this close distance, Xiao Su again smelled that inexplicably familiar agarwood scent.

He spoke up, somewhat doubtful.

"You, a covert guard, still carry a sachet of incense?"

Jin Chen's eyes held a smile: "Your subordinate has never worn a sachet."

He reached out, wiping the moisture from Xiao Su's lips, "Master, have you caught a scent?"

The warm touch made Xiao Su uncomfortable; he turned his head slightly, fingertips lightly pinching the edge of the blanket.

"Presumptuous."

But his tone lacked any dignity, instead sounding like a spoiled child.

Jin Chen set the teacup down, tucked the blanket corner for Xiao Su, and hearing this, his smile deepened a bit.

"Yes, your subordinate is presumptuous; master, you are magnanimous, please forgive your subordinate."

His low voice fell into Xiao Su's ears, causing a tingling sensation; his heart began to beat uncontrollably again, and in his peripheral vision he once again caught sight of the scabbed wound on Jin Chen's neck.

Xiao Su frowned slightly, fearing it would leave a scar.

"Still not withdrawing?"

He, out of sight out of mind, lay down and turned over, his back to Jin Chen.

"Here."

Jin Chen nodded, not staying any longer.

He also had some things to attend to.

He nodded at Li You as a signal, then left the room.

The room door closed, leaving only Xiao Su and Li You inside.

Just a moment later, the agarwood scent lingering around his nose dissipated.

Xiao Su opened his phoenix eyes.

He slowly sat up, gazing at the teacup in a momentary daze.

"Li You, send someone to investigate Ying Jiu's background, including what happened after he entered the palace."

"Understood."

Li You clasped his fists in acknowledgment, then added.

"Your Highness, news from Chasing Wind Pavilion: the capital has seen no recent movement, and the suburban area you instructed has no private army training units."

"Hmm, keep watching; report any movement immediately."

Xiao Su's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly.

It seems Xiao Yunye is still focusing on his shops for now, and will only start raising private troops once profits become substantial.

Although I don't know where Xiao Yunye has come from these days, nor why Yun Yihe possesses such a strange bracelet that can store things at will, like sorcery.

But in this second life, he will surely make those two pay their debts with blood.

He clenched his fingertips, his gaze gradually turning cold.

——

Using his lightness skill, Jin Chen returned to the drill field in just a few moves.

They indeed had not left yet.

Actually, the twenty covert guards were merely meant to offer choices, not to have the princes pick them all; Xiao Zhuoxian simply picked three at random, just going through the motions, but out of dignity for Xiao Yunye he couldn't leave early.

But Xiao Yunye seemed addicted to picking, having selected eight in a row and still not intending to stop.

Xiao Zhuoxian looked doubtfully at this imperial brother who had recently been making waves.

Six months ago, the eldest prince was still a layabout who never sought improvement—even the father emperor could do nothing with him—but then, out of nowhere, one day he seemed to have opened his mind, becoming far more astute.

Regarding court affairs, he also gained a few unique insights, but he became more smooth and deceitful, hardly concealing his ambition for the throne, and no longer paid attention to propriety.

It's truly strange.

Xiao Yunye noticed his probing gaze, and a flash of ruthlessness crossed his eyes.

He was about to speak up and reprimand when he saw, out of the corner of his eye, a black blade thrusting toward him.

Xiao Yunye had no martial arts skills, and there was no time to dodge.

The hidden guard he had selected noticed it even faster; when he tried to catch the incoming sleeve arrow, his arm went numb from the shock, and his body immediately stiffened in place.

The sleeve arrow flew straight and pierced Xiao Yunye's chest.

He was so frightened that his face turned pale, his legs went weak, and he actually collapsed kneeling beside the chair, his whole body going limp on the floor.

He had not a shred of princely bearing.

The whole incident happened in an instant.

Xiao Zhuoxian reacted, shouting, "Quick! Help the elder prince up!"

The palace maids hurried over to help.

The guards immediately drew their swords, surrounded the area, and began searching for who had tried to assassinate the prince.

When Xiao Yunye was helped up, his legs were still trembling, and he slumped limp in the chair.

After a long while, he finally realized he had lost face.

He kicked the kneeling hidden guard hard in the face.

"Trash! Trash! You can't even protect this prince!"

The hidden guards, knowing they had failed to protect their master, all lowered their heads in shame, while also wondering in their hearts that the person who had just fired the sleeve arrow must possess deep inner strength.

The guards picked up the sleeve arrow from the ground and examined it for a moment.

Then they knelt to report.

"Reporting to the eldest prince, this sleeve arrow does not seem to be an item from the imperial palace; your subordinates will spare no effort to find the assailant."

Xiao Yunye touched his chest.

Fortunately he was unharmed; the sleeve arrow merely shattered the jade pendant.

It wasn't anything valuable anyway, so he casually tossed it aside and stopped worrying about it.

"A bunch of good-for-nothings! With so many people guarding here, you actually let this prince come under attack! Just wait—I'll report this to the father emperor and have your heads cut off!"

Xiao Yunye swore as he got up, flicked his sleeve, and left.

Xiao Zhuoxian watched his back, doubt rising again between his brows.

After a moment, he waved his hand.

"Hurry up and find the assassin, or else the father emperor will not spare you lightly."

Jin Chen hid in the grove, saw that the jade pendant was already broken, his purpose achieved, and left the training ground.

If he wished, no one could find him.

Now that the jade pendant is destroyed, Xiao Yunye's opportunity will likely disappear in a few days as well.

In the original plot, this jade pendant was a gift from his maternal grandfather; Xiao Yunye met a woman versed in poison through the jade pendant, becoming his greatest aid in the harem.

It also tormented Xiao Su for a long time.