33 A Shocking Arrow (1/2)
'The long, golden robe should belong to Qi Xunyi, and the other one...' Yun Hen broke into a fierce, cold smile. He was almost certain that the mysterious figure was assisting Qi Xunyi in his execution.
He waved for Meng Fuyao to take notice, but she returned a lazy, dismissive wave and said in a low voice, ”My footsteps are heavy. Not safe.”
Yun Hen knitted his brows, thinking about how they were going to exit the heavily guarded place with Prince Qi around.
Meng Fuyao tumbled toward the quiet room and had her back facing it.
Inside the room, the masked man observed Qi Xunyi.
His eyes were bright yet unfathomable. Even without uttering a word, his meaningful gaze enveloped Qi Xunyi, causing him to waver and lower his head as if about to offer a bow.
It was only until he heard a soft cough coming from his trusted aide that he realized his mistake. The man standing before him was merely a messenger from Wuji and not anyone worthy of his bow.
As he contemplated about the strange effect that man had on him, he extended his hand out to invite the guest to take a seat. Before the guest settled in properly, Qi Xunyi dove right into the topic. ”... it was a failure. He's left.”
”Oh?” the guest picked his brows. ”Why are you still here then, Prince Qi?”
”Eh?” Qi Xunyi uttered, evidently taken aback. ”I've already made arrangements outside the palace. It's more important for me to return to my father's side...”
”Arrangements?” the guest smiled, somewhat mockingly. ”Change is the only constant when it comes to affairs of the world.”
”The diagram you gave me is in his hands now.” Qi Xunyi frowned. ”The lady wasn't able to take action, but the poison on the map has definitely been transferred to him...”
His speech was interrupted as the guest stood up abruptly.
The man leaned over slightly and smiled at Qi Xunyi but spoke in a firm voice, ”2 choices. The first choice; I leave, and you stay here, waiting for your nine-in-ten-shots chance of success, and I'll return to collect your corpse on behalf of our brief association. The second choice; you come with me, and we'll chase after Qi Yuanjing and then collect his corpse.”
Qi Xunyi looked straight at the guest, taking in the splendor of his deep, thoughtful eyes. The latter had such raw confidence that anyone who allowed themselves to fall into his gaze would instantly be free from all doubts and suspicions.
Qi Xunyi gritted his teeth and stood up. ”Let's go.”
Just like that, they hurried out of the door. The guest fell behind a little, pressing down on his chest suddenly and throwing a side glance toward his left.
Shortly after, as Qi Xunyi got onto his horse, he asked politely, ”Your family name, Sir?”
”Yuan,” replied the man faintly, drawing the reins of his horse and turning to the side chamber, that was filled with guards. ”Why not bring them along as well, Your Highness. There's bound to be a battle, so the more, the merrier. You'll benefit from more protection.”
”Alright,” Qi Xunyi agreed before ordering the troops to gather and then departing.
”The imperial guards are all working for Yan Lie, so everything is within my control. Even if my brother heads down to the Xin Palace, he'll be outnumbered. I've already ordered the imperial guards outside of the Xin Palace to get rid of him whenever possible.”
”Oh yeah?” the man smiled and raised his hand, causing a pigeon to plunge into his palm. He gave a flick, and the bird was sent flying, but not before leaving a small scroll with him.
Qi Xunyi's face changed, but he let out a sigh of relief, mumbling, ”What great skills, Sir. You managed to intercept the message...”
”Do you think there's only one such pigeon?” the man derided. ”Let's bet that at least a few dozens of them have been sent from the moment the crown prince left the pavilion. I, alone, will not be able to intercept all of them.”
”Ah!”
”I told you to wait half a month, wipe out the influential people from all corners of the palace and then take action. Why didn't you listen? Now you're left to deal with the aftermath of your pathetic failure.” The man gave Qi Xunyi a look of disdain. ”How can you succeed by acting so rashly?”
”What do you know?” Qi Xunyi retorted in spite of the shame that flashed across his eyes. He had been polite out of respect for the wise, but this man hadn't been saving him any face at all.
'How unbridled.'
Unable to bear it any longer, he finally unleashed that aristocratic arrogance of his. ”Look at the plain robe you're wearing. You're at most a cheap busker, so what do you know about the general situation? Father is severely ill, and the physician had mentioned that he might not live past this birthday. The throne will go straight to Qi Yuanjing if he does collapse. Half a month? How could I have waited?”
The man fell silent. Qi Xunyi's scolding evoked sympathy instead of anger within him.
He offered a slight bow and smiled. ”As you wish, then.”
...
6:45 PM.
Leading a group of imperial guards, the crown prince had no intention of rushing to the Xin Palace. Instead, he galloped toward the area near the Zhengyi Palace Hall and was stopped by Yun Chi, whose head was wrapped like a dumpling. Yun Chi brought the crown prince into the secret passage within the Qianan Palace Hall and escorted him out of the palace.
That unmarked passageway was the only path connecting the palace to the outside streets. When half-opened, a path leading to the inner palace would appear. While fully opened, a path leading to the streets would be revealed.
If Meng Fuyao had known that fact, she would've crushed the trouble-causing brass pot. Yun Chi had planned for them to coerce him and then inform them about the underpass but hadn't expected her to exert so much strength, to the point of knocking him out and rendering him unable to share the secret of the passage door.