Chapter 73 (1/2)

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Chapter Seventy-Three: Mentality

The attempted a.s.sa.s.sination of Hua Xi Wan caused huge waves to go through Jing. Yi'an Marquis Fu sent several groups of people to deliver objects. Even though the Hua Family knew that Xian w.a.n.g Fu did not lack in anything, this did not stop their actions.

Even Yao s.h.i.+ of Third Master Hua's family who was a bit of a cheapskate sent some replenis.h.i.+ng items. According to her, no matter how much of an eyesore she found Hua Xi Wan, she did not want the other to die needlessly. At most, Yao s.h.i.+ just wanted to see her in an unfortunate situation or to not live as well as her own daughter. However, she did not want the other to lose her life.

The Hua Family sent things to the w.a.n.g fu, and the other members of the Imperial Family also did the same. Prestigious families that could find a connection to Xian w.a.n.g Fu or that were close to the Hua Family also mimicked those people and sent things over. No matter how insincere they were, at least they expressed the regret they felt about the attempted a.s.sa.s.sination of Hua Xi Wan.

After this matter was publicized, the atmosphere of Jing became even tenser. It was not that these people were afraid they would also be a.s.sa.s.sinated, but they guessed the even more terrifying truth—someone wanted to get rid of Xian w.a.n.g.

Everyone knew that Xian w.a.n.g had great love for Xian w.a.n.g Fei. If he did not have any matters, he never wandered outside the w.a.n.g fu, and if he had free time, he liked to return to the fu to keep his w.a.n.g fei company. The day when someone attempted to a.s.sa.s.sinate Xian w.a.n.g Fei, he had been delayed by the officials at the palace gates. The a.s.sa.s.sin had clearly not predicted that Xian w.a.n.g who usually returned at a regular time would not appear on that day, and then decided to act against Xian w.a.n.g Fei instead to affect Xian w.a.n.g's emotions. This would cause him to lose his mind and intelligence when he competed for the throne.

It was the greatest fortune that Xian w.a.n.g Fei had two servant girls who protected her with their lives, and that the guard of Xian w.a.n.g Fu had been patrolling nearby. If any of these circ.u.mstances were lacking, Xian w.a.n.g Fei would have undoubtedly died.

No one guessed that this matter had been one which Xian w.a.n.g Fei had directed and acted in herself. This was because many people in the w.a.n.g fu had heard the ruckus that came from the main yard, and the screams. The spies whom certain people had inserted into the fu had heard them. Also, Xian w.a.n.g Fei had been wounded in the arm. The rumor was that it was a serious wound and it would leave behind a scar.

Xian w.a.n.g Fei was such a beautiful and delicate woman. Could she cut such an ugly scar on her own arm? Also, Xian w.a.n.g and Xian w.a.n.g Fei were not people who liked to pursue power. What was the aim if they were faking this?

They disliked having too much blood in their bodies, and decided to cut open a wound to play?

Even more people leaned towards believing that someone wanted to attack Xian w.a.n.g while the Emperor was not in a good mood in order to eliminate this hidden opponent.

If it was related to the matter of succession, then it would never be a simple matter. When they thought of the presently chaotic state of affairs, they couldn't help but sigh. The next while in Jing would probably not be peaceful.

Ever since the effects of the laudanum had pa.s.sed, Hua Xi Wan experienced the feeling of pain. She didn't even dare to move her arm freely, and she had to take care with what she consumed. This was what was most painful to her.

The two most important things in life were eating and sleeping, and now she could not do either of them well. When she slept at night, she did not dare to flip over, and she could only eat some dishes that were beneficial for wound recovery. It was difficult to bear.

In the last two days, Yan Jin Qiu had requested a vacation and spent almost the entire time around Hua Xi Wan. He told her interesting news, or humorous things about certain officials. This was all to divert her attention so that she would be less sensitive to the pain

This was something the grand doctors had said to him. It seemed far-fetched, but when he saw Hua Xi Wan absorbed while listening to the interesting news of the officials of Jing, he, a w.a.n.g ye who was never interested in the gossip of other families, had servants search for humorous and interesting news. He tried to have Hua Xi Wan maintain her interest.

”What do you think this Baron Jing Ping is thinking?” Hua Xi Wan sighed. ”He raised the son of his first wife to be timid and without abilities, and the son of his second wife to be arrogant and domineering. I heard that the other is also a wastrel.”

”He only made a gamble and lost.” Yan Jin Qiu sighed and said, ”Otherwise, he would not have immediately married his second wife just after she came out of her first marriage, right after his first wife died.”

”Many men are greedy for beauty. Baron Jing Ping will not be the first man to do this, and will not be the last.”

Emperor Jing of the Han was so powerful that he could have Empress Dowager w.a.n.g, who had married previously and had a child, come into the palace, and then had Empress Dowager w.a.n.g's son by him become the crown prince in the end. Then this son had succeeded the throne and became the famed Emperor Wu of Han.