28 Eve of Change I (1/2)

”Had you known, you wouldn't have gotten injured and been forced to hide and seek help, is that right?” Meng Fuyao cast him a glance. ”You're from the Yun Family?”

”Yun Hen. An adopted son,” he introduced simply.

Meng Fuyao's eyes flickered as she thought about the fact that the feud between the Yun and Pei families had been caused due to Yuan Zhaoxu and herself.

Guilt led to digression. ”Isn't Qi Xunyi skillful?” she threw a rhetorical question, flicking the map of the Forbidden City that Yun Hen had given to her. ”He doesn't control the troop, does he? How will he act then?”

”I have no idea,” replied Yun Hen, deep in thought. ”I suspect that someone is assisting him.”

”Who?”

After a brief pause, he answered, slowly and gravely, ”Zhangsun Wuji.”

Meng Fuyai raised her brows in astonishment and asked, ”He's a prince from another nation. Why would he get involved in Taiyuan's matters?”

”The Xuanyuan Nation has been reorganizing its army and feeding their horses with the intention of expanding their territory,” Yun Hen shared. ”However, with Zhan Beiye as their neighbor, Xuanyuan won't be able to touch Tiansha. Their target will most likely be Wuji. They need to borrow Taiyuan's path in order to sneak an attack from Wuji's border. Since the Taiyuan crown prince's concubine is also the princess of Xuanyuan Nation, Zhangsun Wuji would very much want someone else as the crown prince.”

”Does having a different crown prince remove all threat for the Wuji Nation?” asked Meng Fuyao. ”To think that Zhangsun Wuji's known for his wisdom... what bull.”

”He's not as simple as you think.' Yun Hen shook his head. ”He must have his own plans.”

”Aren't you putting him on a pedestal,” Meng Fuyao commented, her eyes flashing suddenly. ”What does he look like? Any distinctive features?”

Yun Hen shook his head again. ”Heard he's ugly and seldom shows his real face.”

”Oh,” Meng Fuyao muttered before getting on her feet. ”Let's go.”

Sunlight seeped in, hitting onto a slightly protruding mirror lens and forming a white beam that illuminated another recessed wall. A relief sculpture of decorative design gradually appeared on it. Meng Fuyao walked over and ran a finger through the veined pattern in a circular motion and clockwise direction.

Squeakish sounds disrupted her movement, and shortly after, a hidden door opened slightly.

There were no arrows, which allowed Meng Fuyao to heave a sigh of relief. A black light flashed by, and countless guns nudged forward like poisonous snakes.

Just as she was about to fall back to evade the situation, she recalled that Yun Hen was behind and defenseless.

That moment of hesitation led her to lose the chance as the guns were already through the door.

The wind whistled sharply, causing their eyes to ache.

Snap.

Someone had darted forward, instantly reaching two guns and opening his arms to clasp them under his armpits. He then whipped around and in the process gained control of the guns, pulling the triggers and filling the place with gunshot sounds.

It was Yun Hen who had made that move. Following which, he slid forward in a smooth motion and twisted the neck of one of the gunmen. Before the victim fell, he had already moved on to the next one. Spine-chilling cries could be heard, one after another, until there was only one head left. Unfamiliar with such a ruthless method of murder, the last man standing was absolutely stupefied, only snapping out of his shock and attempting to flee upon realizing that everyone else was dead.

Yun Hen held his sword horizontally, its reflected light glistening and blinding the man in an instant. He flashed a grin before casting the sword forward and piercing the man's throat.

Fresh blood spurted from his wound as he staggered forward before convulsing and collapsing onto the ground.

The moment he retracted his sword and held it against the ground, he leaned on it, gasping for breath. Meng Fuyao stared at him in amazement. His skills weren't the absolute best, but he was undeniably precise. His footwork was as smooth as flowing water, and his speed and manner of execution were practically an art.

After taking a consecutive line of men down, Yun Hen was exhausted. He breathed loudly, but a dripping sound could still be heard as blood oozed out from a fresh wound on the back of his hand. The color contrast between his skin and blood was piercing.

Meng Fuyao rushed over to him and frowned. ”Split open.”

Yun Hen straightened his body, his pale face suddenly turning flushed. In a slightly hoarse voice, he mumbled, ”Not a big deal. Let's go, quickly.”

Meng Fuyao understood why he was feeling anxious. The gunmen who laid in ambush were proof that someone had already reported their encounter with Yun Hen to Qi Yunxi, who then fortified the security within the palace and made sure that he couldn't get to Qianan palace safely.

”This won't do.” Meng Fuyao shook her head. ”Yun Hen, you probably can tell that my inner energy's been sealed. With this and the fact that you're heavily injured, there's no way we can go far. Instead of risking our lives to guard Qianan Palace, why not think of a way to get the crown prince out?”

Yun Hen's eyes lit up, and he narrowed them. ”It's His Majesty's birthday, so he's expected to stay inside the palace as a sign of respect.”

”What if there's a rebellion?” Meng Fuyao smiled leisurely. ”Who will be in charge of handling it? What are the rules stipulating?”

Yun Hen whipped his head up, his voice strengthening. ”You're saying...”