Chapter 67: Saving the Aloof Crown Prince 18

Jin Chen saw that Xiao Yunye's bloodletting was nearly finished, then he took Xiao Su and rode away.

Xiao Zhuoxian also seized the moment, tore some of his own clothes, dabbed on some dirt, and made himself look like he had been wounded in battle.

Then he shouted at the guards who had just caught up.

"Imperial older brother fell off the cliff! Quickly find someone to rescue him!"

Afterwards, Xiao Yunye's personal guards, in a panic, went to report to Xiao Mi.

Xiao Zhuoxian covered the wound where he had stabbed himself with a dagger, his eyes showing no ripple.

If it weren't for Xiao Su today, I would be the one half-dead.

This older brother... is truly wicked to the extreme.

He was helped down by his own guards to rest, and then he heard his personal guard Amu whisper softly, "Your Highness, the Eldest Princess has also come with two ladies."

"Hmm."

Xiao Zhuoxian responded, and not long after he heard the weeping of Xiao Mi and Yun Yihe.

Yun Jianan followed behind the two; his originally calm expression, upon seeing Xiao Zhuoxian's wound, instantly reddened his eyes, he walked to his side, wanting to reach out to touch the wound, but dared not.

"How... you also suffered such a severe wound."

Xiao Zhuoxian took her hand; now under everyone's gaze, he could not possibly speak the truth, only saying, "We encountered an assassin attack; it just looks severe."

Xiao Mi, seeing Xiao Yunye being carried up from the cliff by the guards, was both startled and frightened, but still retained a shred of reason.

"Quickly take my brother back to the Prince's Residence! Go to the palace to summon the best Imperial Physician! Then go report to the Father Emperor!"

"Yes!"

Xiao Yunye still had a trace of consciousness; he strained to open his eyes, still remembering his treasure.

"... Take it, take Yun Yihe with me..."

Seeing the Eldest Prince, Your Highness, so severely wounded yet still thinking of himself, Yun Yihe's sorrowful tears instantly turned to emotion.

Again came a turmoil of war and horses.

Xiao Mi saw that Xiao Zhuoxian was also wounded; he did not make things difficult, yet he offered no greeting, hastily boarding the carriage.

Only Xiao Zhuoxian and the two of them remained at the cliffside, along with the searching guards.

Xiao Su and his companion arrived late, leisurely.

They stopped beside the carriage.

Xiao Su coughed a few times, "What's going on?"

Xiao Mi shouted angrily, "Move aside quickly! My brother is wounded; we need to hurry back to the palace for treatment!"

Xiao Su glanced, then looked away, feigning surprise.

"Then I will not delay the Crown Prince's treatment."

The carriage driver didn't even have time to greet the Crown Prince before Xiao Mi urged him to hurry away.

Xiao Su's surprise faded.

He leaned back against Jin Chen's chest, "Later, when the Father Emperor summons us, there will still be a role to play."

His tone was weary and vexed.

"It's fine; no one will suspect you."

Jin Chen gently stroked Xiao Su's back, his voice low and soft, "I will arrange everything."

Xiao Zhuoxian was helped back by Yun Jianan and Amu; seeing this scene, he widened his eyes in surprise, then coughed intermittently to show he was still there.

Xiao Su lazily looked over, saw that Xiao Zhuoxian was wounded, immediately straightened up and walked toward him; the worry in his eyes became somewhat genuine.

"The ambushers sent by Xiao Yunye have already left; why is the Crown Prince still wounded?"

Jin Chen: "This place is not suitable for idle talk; follow me."

He led several people to an idle wooden pavilion in the woods.

Xiao Zhuoxian sat down, his expression relaxed a bit.

"Apply medicine to Your Highness."

Jin Chen threw a bottle of Gold Wound Medicine to Amu.

"Thank you!" Amu replied happily.

"This wound isn't serious either; it's just to throw people off."

Xiao Zhuoxian soothingly patted Yun Jianan's arm, "I stabbed myself."

Before Yun Jianan could react, he turned to Xiao Su, "What on earth is going on today?"

Xiao Su took off his fox fur cloak and naturally handed it to Jin Chen.

"Xiao Yunye's purpose today was twofold: first, to obtain Yun Yihe's jade bracelet treasure; second, to wound the Crown Prince so that you couldn't attend the Moving-in Banquet I will hold at the Crown Prince's Residence in a few days."

"After I discovered it, I turned the tables on him."

Xiao Zhuoxian frowned, he comforted the somewhat startled Yun Jianan, then asked, "Jade bracelet treasure? Why didn't he let me participate?"

He was utterly bewildered.

Xiao Su glanced at Jin Chen, signaling him to explain.

Jin Chen then clasped his fists toward Xiao Zhuoxian.

"I am not an ordinary dark guard; my true identity is one of the Four Chief Guardians of the Heaven Moon Pavilion."

"The Heaven Moon Pavilion's intelligence network spreads across the world, so I naturally know much; Yun Yihe's jade bracelet is a rare treasure, but I do not know how to use it."

"As for the Moving-in Banquet at the Crown Prince's Residence..."

Jin Chen raised his eyes; behind the mask, his peach blossom eyes flashed with sharpness.

"Xiao Yunye has placed spies in the Crown Prince's Residence, preparing at the Moving-in Banquet to use the scheme of secretly hiding a dragon robe, so that my lord will be rebuked by His Majesty."

"And you, the Second Prince who is not present, clearly have a good relationship with my lord, yet you do not attend; then you will be considered an accomplice."

Compared to their surprise at the treasure, Xiao Zhuoxian and another were obviously more shocked by his scheme.

"Xiao Yunye is truly… utterly wicked!" Xiao Zhuoxian said, full of anger, "If the plot succeeds, secretly keeping the dragon robe is a grave crime of defying imperial orders; the father emperor will certainly not let it go lightly."

"Good thing you discovered it early!"

Xiao Su let out a light sigh, "Everything he does isn't just for the throne; this one move kills three birds with one stone—obtaining the treasure and directly eliminating our threat."

Hearing this, Xiao Zhuoxian frowned deeply, his expression angry yet complex.

"Even if I had long known the imperial family lacks affection, it's still truly heartless."

Xiao Su's phoenix eyes lifted, his gaze toward Xiao Zhuoxian hinting at probing, "Imperial elder brother, have you ever had designs on that throne?"

"If I said there were none… you wouldn't believe me,"

After the medicine had been applied, Xiao Zhuoxian straightened his clothes and spoke frankly.

"But imperial younger brother, rest assured: the Empress has shown kindness to my mother, and you have saved my life today; if you want this position, I will absolutely not contend with you for it."

"I do not want it."

Xiao Su curled a smile, "Imperial elder brother, since the Li family was ordered by the father emperor to be exterminated to the last man, I have had no lingering attachment to this imperial family."

"I believe the imperial elder brother is the only suitable choice for that position."

"This topic is truly bold."

Amu and the other two guards of Xiao Zhuoxian quickly took their places outside the pavilion, lest there be ears in the wall.

Xiao Zhuoxian stared for a moment, then felt Xiao Su's words were quite right; if it were him, he would probably be heartbroken to the extreme.

Xiao Su continued, "Therefore, imperial elder brother, I will fully support you, but the precondition is that you must be ruthless."

His aloof demeanor mixed with a hint of bloodthirsty killing intent, Xiao Su's tone grew cold, like icy cold, "The father emperor would certainly not agree to your succession; then we can only… force the palace."

Xiao Zhuoxian's expression changed.

Yun Jiannan's face turned even paler.

"... Give me a moment to think," Xiao Zhuoxian clenched his fists, somewhat at a loss.

"There's no rush; imperial elder brother, you can think it over slowly and still be in time."

Xiao Su rose, "I'll take my leave first."

"Your Highness, take care."

Yun Jiannan rose to see him off respectfully.