Chapter 103: Chapter One Hundred and Three

Meanwhile, at the center of the camp.

The old National Lord sat atop the High Platform. Seeing Imperial Consort Xue approach with graceful steps, he beckoned her over with a wave.

"Come here, my consort."

"National Lord."

Glancing down at the people tallying the game below, the old National Lord chuckled and stroked his beard, then took her hand.

"Why doesn't my consort take a guess—who will win today?"

Imperial Consort Xue glanced at the platform below, her gaze lingering on the Second Prince for a moment before she drew it back. With a charming smile, she pulled her hand free and turned her head to look aside.

"Without a prize, this concubine won't bother guessing."

"Ha ha!"

The old National Lord laughed heartily, reached out to gather the beauty into his arms, and gently tilted Imperial Consort Xue's chin up.

"Then what prize does my consort want?"

Imperial Consort Xue forced down her disgust and leaned her head against his chest. Listening to the "heh-heh" rattle in his throat, like phlegm stuck in his windpipe, she felt nothing but nausea and irritation.

"I hear the victor this time will receive a Jade Pendant bestowed by the National Lord. This concubine wants that one."

The old National Lord laughed at her words.

"Then we must ask whether those two brothers of his are willing."

Imperial Consort Xue tilted her head up, pouting slightly as if acting coy.

"With the National Lord's word, how would they dare refuse?!"

That look nearly dazzled the old National Lord silly.

"Ha ha, very well!"

"As my consort wishes."

Imperial Consort Xue furrowed her brow slightly, pretending to think.

"In past years the Second Prince always won, so this year, this concubine will bet on the Second Prince again!"

The moment her words fell, the official in charge of tallying came to report.

"Reporting to the National Lord, the Second Prince's game exceeds the Fifth Prince's by some."

"I knew it—the Second Prince would surely win!"

Imperial Consort Xue excitedly clenched her fist.

After shouting, she sensed something was off and looked toward the National Lord.

"The National Lord's word is gold and jade—the Jade Pendant is mine, then."

"Very well."

After announcing the Second Prince's victory, the old National Lord said to Shang Xiao Hui,

"Just now I made a wager with Imperial Consort Xue—she bet you would win, and the prize is that Jade Pendant. Second boy, what say you?"

The Second Prince glanced at the Jade Pendant in his hand, then bowed slightly.

"If that is the case, this Jade Pendant should naturally go to Imperial Consort Xue."

Imperial Consort Xue rose and walked to the edge of the High Platform. Just as she was about to take the Jade Pendant from his hand, something happened without warning.

"Roar!"

"Aawoo!"

Everyone heard a tiger's roar, and the sound drew closer and closer.

"Ah!"

"Guards! Protect His Majesty!"

Two tigers, each two meters long with a one-meter tail, charged to the camp gate in the blink of an eye.

A single sweep of a tail sent a guard flying far away.

The scene descended into chaos.

Outside the camp, hearing the tiger's roar, Cheng Chengxuan's face changed drastically.

"How did this happen?"

Chu Yuan was equally bewildered and glanced in that direction.

"How did the tigers get into the camp?"

"Charging ahead like they don't value their lives—what kind of grudge is that?"

"Send the signal at once. The plan is canceled. Get your people out first!"

After a hurried word, Cheng Chengxuan ran swiftly toward the camp.

Chu Yuan first fired a Whistle into the air, then hurried after him.

"Wait!"

"Put these two on."

After taking them, Cheng Chengxuan looked at him with a grave expression.

"You leave quickly too. Don't be spotted."

Meanwhile, inside the camp, most of the guards were surrounding the tigers, while a small number protected the area around the High Platform.

Shang Xiao Hui, who was fighting the two Tigers with his Imperial Guard, was suddenly sent flying by one of them. A tiger pounced, its massive head closing in on him.

He strained to wedge his Long Sword into the tiger's jaws, resisting with all his might.

The other tiger slapped its paw onto his thigh, its sharp claws digging viciously into his flesh.

Shang Xiao Hui cried out in pain, drenched in cold sweat.

Seeing that perilous scene, Imperial Consort Xue couldn't help but scream.

"Second Prince, be careful!"

She hurriedly called out to the guards around her, her voice no longer its usual gentle and coquettish tone, but rather sharp and grating.

"What are you standing around for? Go help, save him!"

Seeing this, the old National Lord gave her a deep look.

But before he could think further, several guards suddenly leaped out, raising their swords and charging straight toward the High Platform.

The Eunuch Chief waved his horsetail whisk and shouted in panic, his voice nearly cracking.

"Protect His Majesty! Someone come, protect His Majesty!"

Consort Xue was so frightened that she ran behind the old National Lord at once, grabbing his clothes and shrinking behind him.

"My Lord, this concubine is afraid."

The old National Lord was also doing his best to maintain composure.

"Don't be afraid, Imperial Consort."

Amid the chaos, almost no one noticed that several guards had quietly slipped away.

Below the High Platform, Shang Xiaomin watched as Shang Xiao Hui's thigh was injured, then was helped up and shielded by his Personal Guards, and felt a pang of regret.

Why didn't they just snap his leg clean off?

What a pity.

He hurried up toward the High Platform with his guards.

"Father Emperor, be careful!"

He stomped hard on the steps, channeled his Lightness Skill, leaped into the air, and landed beside the old National Lord. With a swing of his Long Sword, he drove back two assassins.

"Father Emperor, are you all right?"

The old National Lord gripped his hand tightly.

"Fifth, thank heavens you're here."

"Father Emperor, rest assured, your son…"

After a moment's hesitation, he added Shang Xiao Hui into the promise.

"Your son and Second Brother will surely see you safely out of this."

And below the platform, Shang Xiao Hui, who was shielded in the middle by his Personal Guards, watched this touching father-and-son scene and grew frantic.

"Father Emperor!"

He raised his sword and tried to charge over as well, but the wound on his leg was too severe—he couldn't move at all.

Watching Shang Xiaomin on the High Platform block a sword for Father Emperor, he gritted his teeth and sneered inwardly.

Damnable!

Fifth Brother really plays a clever game!

"Fifth Brother, are you all right?"

The old National Lord looked at the person collapsed on the ground with both anxiety and deep emotion.

"Imperial Physician! Summon the Imperial Physician at once!"

Shang Xiaomin clutched his chest and gave him a weak smile.

"Just a minor wound, your son is fine. As long as Father Emperor is safe, your son can rest easy."

By now, all the assassins had been subdued.

The old National Lord pointed at those men and roared, his voice brimming with killing intent.

"Drag these scoundrels away and interrogate them under heavy torture. I want to see just who is so audacious!"

Hearing this, Shang Xiaomin silently clenched his fist, his eyes sweeping sharply over those assassins,

The seven assassins exchanged a glance, then all bit through the Poison Pills hidden between their teeth. In just a few breaths, they foamed at the mouth and fell dead.

Seeing this, the old National Lord pointed at the guards and cursed.

"Useless lot! You can't even keep watch on a few men!"

Just then, the tigers below the platform suddenly went mad for no apparent reason, charging toward the platform as if they didn't care about their lives.

"Aowu—"

Two Tigers, one on each side, lunged straight at the old National Lord.

More precisely, at Consort Xue behind him.

"Ah—help!"

Consort Xue was so terrified she lost all presence of mind, and in her panic shoved the National Lord in front of her away.

Seeing this, everyone present stared in horror.

"National Lord, look out!"

"Father Emperor!"

Both brothers, Shang Xiaomin and Shang Xiao Hui, clutched their wounds and struggled to run over.

How much of that worry was real, how much feigned—only they themselves knew.

But it was too late.

Staring at the massive tiger head before him, at the gaping maw lined with sharp fangs, the old National Lord could almost smell the stench of blood in its mouth, and froze in terror.

Just as everyone thought the National Lord was about to perish and be devoured,

At the critical moment, two short arrows struck the two Tigers in their ears.

The Tigers, in pain, shifted their target.

They turned toward the one who had hurt them.

Masked Cheng Chengxuan held up the Young Tiger in his hand and shook it at them.

He gave Shang Xiaomin a deep look, fury burning in his eyes.

He could indeed have ignored it, but letting two tigers brawl here would only mean more people getting hurt, and in the end those two big tigers and the little one would all die as well.

He swiftly swung himself onto his horse and, carefully shielding the cub, rode out of the camp.

The two tigers let out a furious roar and chased hard on his heels.

Everyone present felt as though a great weight had been lifted, and collectively exhaled in relief.

Consort Xue threw herself at the old National Lord's legs.

"My Lord, this concubine did not mean to just now — I was truly far too frightened."

The old National Lord kicked her away.

"Guards!"

"Send down an imperial decree: strip Consort Xue of her title and have her put to death this instant!"

"No! I beg the National Lord to spare this concubine's life!"

After Consort Xue was dragged away, the old National Lord, who had narrowly escaped death, could hold on no longer — his eyes rolled back and he fainted on the spot.

"My Lord!"

The camp once again sank into utter chaos.

Shang Xiaomin stared fixedly in the direction Cheng Chengxuan had left.

Why had the men he arranged never shown up?

And that sleeve arrow.

If he hadn't seen wrong, he had fired the second arrow without the slightest pause.

Such a novel hidden weapon capable of firing in rapid succession — why had Cheng Chengxuan never once mentioned it to him?