The Cheng Princess was utterly stunned by the scene before her, her face frozen in shock as the sight of blood-red color filled her vision.
The Dowager Consort…
Was dead?
“Aaah—!”
Before the princess could process the situation, a sharp scream pierced her ears. “The Dowager Consort… Someone, come quickly! The Dowager Consort has been murdered! Nanny Jiang killed her!”
“You…”
The princess turned abruptly, ready to shout in fury, but before she could say anything, the previously meek servant suddenly lunged at her, wielding a sharp weapon.
“Your Highness, watch out!”
Ling Yin, prepared for an ambush, pulled the princess back and pushed her toward the shadow guard from the Gu family. Turning swiftly, she intercepted the attacker, engaging them in combat while shouting to the guard, “Protect the princess!”
The attacker, nimble and fierce, clashed violently with Ling Yin before dodging to make another attempt at the princess. The Gu family’s shadow guard, quick to act, kicked a nearby stool into the attacker, sending them flying backward into the doorframe with a heavy thud.
“You’re courting death!”
The shadow guard growled, stepping forward with lightning speed. Grabbing the attacker as they tried to rise, the guard slammed them back against the door, which gave way with a resounding crash as both figures fell to the ground. Pinning the attacker, the guard caught their knife mid-thrust and pressed it firmly against their neck.
“With this level of skill, you think you can kill someone?”
Driving a knee into their stomach, the guard forced a bloody cough from the attacker, whose pale face suddenly twisted into a grim smile.
Ling Yin’s expression shifted, and she shouted, “Be careful—”
Before the warning was finished, the attacker grabbed the guard’s hands and screamed, “Spare me, Your Highness!”
With that, they violently thrust their neck forward against the blade. Blood spurted out, splattering across the guard’s face as the knife drove deep into the attacker’s throat.
“Damn it!”
Ling Yin cursed under her breath, pulling the princess back and shouting to the guard, “We have to go!”
The shadow guard, jolted back to reality, dropped the bloodied knife and scrambled to their feet, preparing to escort the princess out. At that moment, the previously closed courtyard gates burst open.
Through the storm, the Cheng Prince and his son, Xie Yin, entered with the palace guards and servants in tow. Standing amidst the rain, they stared in shock at the blood-soaked trio of the princess, Ling Yin, and the shadow guard.
“Mother…”
Xie Yin’s eyes widened as he took in the blood covering the group, then glanced past them at the fallen door and the lifeless body on the ground. His face turned ghostly pale. “You… what did you do?”
The Cheng Prince shouted in disbelief, “Rong Yue, what is going on here?”
The palace guards surrounded them, weapons drawn. Feigning panic, the Cheng Prince ordered someone to check the scene. Upon seeing the lifeless body by the door, the guards quickly moved inside. Moments later, one of them returned, his face ashen.
“Your Highness, the Dowager Consort… She’s dead.”
The Cheng Prince stumbled, nearly falling as he hurried inside. Xie Yin followed, only to freeze in place when he saw the Dowager Consort’s bloodied body. Staring at her gruesome, lifeless face, he turned to the princess, his expression filled with disbelief.
The servants who followed behind were equally horrified.
The princess… had killed the Dowager Consort?
“Rong Yue!” The Cheng Prince’s eyes burned with rage as he turned to the princess, his voice trembling with fury. “Why did you bring people here to kill my mother?!”
Xie Yin’s voice shook. “Mother, are you insane? How could you… How could you kill Grandmother?!”
“It wasn’t me!”
The Cheng Princess’s hands were cold as ice. She had expected the Cheng Prince to set her up, but she hadn’t imagined he would go so far as to use the Dowager Consort’s life in his scheme.
“I came here, and the Dowager Consort was already dead when I arrived,” she said, her voice breaking.
“What nonsense are you spouting?” Xie Yin exclaimed, his disbelief turning into anger. “Father was with me earlier, trying to convince me not to argue with you. When a servant told us Grandmother had woken up, we came here together!”
The head steward, trembling, added, “Your Highness, why do you accuse the prince? Earlier, a servant from the Dowager Consort’s courtyard came to me, saying they heard Nanny Jiang arguing with the Dowager Consort. When the prince wasn’t in the courtyard, I hurried over and met him along the way.”
“Your Highness, I know you resent the prince for deceiving you, and you’ve never been fond of the Dowager Consort, but she was your mother-in-law and the prince’s mother. How could you harm her?”
All eyes turned to the Cheng Princess. The Cheng Prince and his son had come from outside, while the princess emerged from the Dowager Consort’s quarters, covered in blood. The servant’s body was still warm, the Dowager Consort’s corpse gruesomely displayed inside, and Nanny Jiang lay unconscious within the room.
Tears filled the Cheng Prince’s eyes as he screamed, “I’ve always treated you well! Even though I deceived you, I never hurt you! I wanted to make amends, but why did you have to kill my mother?!”
“Xie Tianyu!”
The princess shook with rage. She had never expected him to stoop so low. Turning to Xie Yin, she pleaded, “Your father is framing me. He killed the Dowager Consort and is pinning it on me! I never touched her—it was him and Nanny Jiang who conspired…”
“Mother, stop lying!” Xie Yin’s voice was full of disbelief. “Everyone saw what happened. Father would never harm Grandmother, but you’ve always disliked her!”
The princess staggered, disbelief written across her face.
This was her son.
The son she had loved and cherished for seventeen years.
Her pale face twisted in despair as she swayed on her feet. The Cheng Prince wasted no time, seizing the moment to feign anger and grief.
“Arrest the princess and anyone who dares to conspire with her! Take them all!”
The guards closed in, swords drawn.
Clang!
Ling Yin’s whip lashed out, sending sparks flying as it deflected an incoming blade. The shadow guard from the Gu family drew short daggers, quickly engaging the attackers in a fierce battle.
Though they were only two, their skill and ferocity held back the Cheng Prince’s forces, keeping the princess protected.
Amid the heavy rain, the smell of blood thickened. Seeing his men struggle, the Cheng Prince’s expression darkened. This had to end quickly; he couldn’t afford for them to explain themselves or turn the tide.
He glanced at his men, who raised crossbows aimed at the group. The glint of steel reflected in the rain as the bolts were released.
“Watch out!”
Ling Yin threw herself at the princess, pulling her down just as the bolts whistled through the air.
Before a second volley could be fired, a sudden scream pierced the storm. One of the crossbowmen dropped his weapon, his hand severed cleanly at the wrist.
“Military crossbows in the Cheng Prince’s residence? Are you planning a rebellion?”
Dark shadows emerged from every direction, moving like ghosts through the storm.
Xiao Yan stood atop the wall, holding an umbrella. In his arms, Song Tang Ning clung tightly to his waist, her face pale with fear.
At the same time, the gates to the courtyard were flung open with a loud crash.
Gu Helian stormed in, kicking aside the broken wood. His voice was icy as he growled, “Let me see if anyone dare lay a hand on Rong Yue!”
=======
T/N: Gu Helian, I always trusted you
===============
You can read ahead to chapterr 234 (100+ extra chapters) here
Comments
Post a Comment