Chapter 32: Rescue effort, racing against time (2/2)

Princess Changping was so angry that she couldn’t run anymore, huffing and puffing as she walked up to take multiple deep breaths. Then she commanded, “General Mu, open the door for the princess right now!”

“Princess Changping, these are my son’s chambers. What do you wish to do so early in the morning?” General Mu asked unhappily.

Princess Changping jerked in surprise, amazed by the reply. What was wrong with General Mu? Didn’t he loathe Han Yunxi as well? It was Han Yunxi who’d hurt Qingwu gege to this extent!

“General Mu, are you crazy? You let that murderer Han Yunxi inside! What do you mean by this?” Princess Changping was in a rage.

“Imperial Physician Gu is treating him, don’t you dare interfere!” General Mu was very blunt.

Princess Changping seemed at a loss before breaking into a shout. “General Mu, you’ve been possessed! You’re still pretending when I saw you let Han Yunxi inside with my own eyes. The princess is telling you that Han Yunxi’s a fugitive! Do you want to be accused of harboring a criminal?”

“Princess, you saw wrongly. Qin Wangfei’s locked up in the jails of the justice courts, how could she be here?” General Mu was quite bold and self-assured when he lied. For the sake of his son, he was willing to risk everything and speak blatant falsehoods. As long as his son woke up, then he would do anything.

“You!” Princess Changping fell into a gloom. “I know what I saw! You’re lying!”

“Yes, General Mu is a first rank high official, you can’t just open your eyes and speak lies!” her guards chimed in.

General Mu gave them a stormy glare. “So you all know that this general’s a first rank high official. What right do you have to talk to me? Dismissed!”

Ashen faced and pale, the attendants could only retreat until they were standing behind Princess Changping. Her mouth stuck up into a sneer. “Hmph, I don’t care! I saw her so I want to go in!”

As she spoke, she prepared to rush inside, but General Mu braced himself against the door and spread open his arms. “Qingwu’s severely ill and needs his rest. Who dares to charge in today? Without the emperor’s orders, I won’t open this door even if I die!”

Inside the room, Han Yunxi was currently racing against time to scan for poison, verifying the the strength and location of the toxins. Hearing General Mu’s words made her relax a bit. At least this old fellow had finally stopped being muddle-headed. She only had 30 minutes left and no time to look for ingredients or boil the medicine. Since she was here, she’d use acupuncture to expel the poison. The detox system scanners swept back and forth as it quickly determined its location.

By the door, Princess Changping was pulling at General Mu’s hand with all her strength without success. “General Mu, you’ll end up killing Qingwu gege!”

“No matter what, you can’t just leave Han Yunxi by herself in there. I’ve brought an imperial physician, so you should let him take a look!”

“Han Yunxi treated him twice without effect. She said he’d wake up but he still hasn’t! You really can’t believe her! General Mu, I’m begging you, let the imperial physician in!”

……

“The imperial physician? Sent by the empress dowager, is he?” General Mu had a cold smile in his heart, his body unmoving like a mountain. Princess Changping could neither move nor persuade him. Just when she was getting desperate, Mu Liuyue arrived with a group of men in tow, the North Court Official He Ze at the head. She’d given the North Court Official a marvelous plan: arranging an assassin to break Han Yunxi out of jail. Then they’d chase after him, find her body, and brand her as an escaped fugitive after her unfortunate murder. Nobody expected such a weak woman to escape from the assassin herself. If Mu Liuyue hadn’t tipped him off, the North Court Official wouldn’t know where to start looking for her. Seeing them arrive delighted Princess Changping.

“North Court Official, Han Yunxi’s inside that room! Hurry up and arrest her!”

General Mu felt uneasy as soon as he saw the North Court Official. He was ready to hang Mu Liuyue up and hit her right there and then! Soldiers had dominion over turbulent times, officials ruled over peaceful days. A soldier couldn’t fight with an official, or else he’d be accused of conspiring against the state!

Within the room, Han Yunxi had already approximated the acupoint leading to the Ten-Thousand Snake Poison. Much of it had amassed in his chest, originating from a point deep down. This acupoint was very, very close to the heart and needed immediate action without delay. Han Yunxi rejoiced over the fact that she’d actually arrived a bit early. She tried her best to block out the noise outside, stilling her senses to concentrate. The necessary needles were retrieved and placed in rows by her side as she undid Mu Qingwu’s robes to search for the acupoint.

“General Mu, I have a duty to apprehend fugitives. Please make things easier for me,” He Ze of the Northern Court was still very polite in this situation.

“The fugitive isn’t here. Please take your leave, North Court Official,” General Mu didn’t give him any face as he blocked the door.

“Princess Changping clearly witnessed the fugitive go inside. Unless General Mu thinks Princess Changping was telling a lie?” the North Court Official asked.

General Mu didn’t reply, but turned his head to look away.

“Since General Mu refused to cooperate, then don’t blame this official for his lack of manners!” When his peaceful means failed, He Ze of the Northern Court decided to use force and commanded, “Men, move General Mu aside and enter the chambers!”

In a flash, various officers surrounded General Mu and prepared to take him away. The North Court Official was different from Princess Changping because he had the authority to arrest escaped fugitives. His command and use of officers to fight was well-known.

“You all dare!” General Mu roared, scaring everyone so much that they could hardly move. He was a great general who could command tens of thousands of men under his hand!

“The empress dowager ordered the arrest of the fugitive. Why are you all still hesitating?” the North Court Official said angrily.