Chapter 228: Abnormal kidnapping (1/2)

Chapter 228: Abnormal kidnapping

“Senior Luo…” Han Yunxi was about to speak when she drew back and took a light breath. Then she looked out the window. Since things had already gotten to this point, it’d be pointless to question the old man. If she wanted to know everything, she should ask Gu Qishao instead. Who knows if he tagged along?

Luo Zuishan had been treating Han Yunxi as air the entire time. When he noticed she stopped her question halfway, he couldn’t help but feel curious and give her a few more glances. He thought that Han Yunxi would speak up again, but she actually went outside, leaving him a little disappointed. After a while, he muttered in low-spirits, “Girl, why didn’t you speak up if you had something to say?”

Hearing this, Han Yunxi and Gu Beiyue were astonished. So this arrogant old man took the initiative sometimes too!

Han Yunxi grinned at Gu Beiyue before slipping back inside the carriage and coming straight tot the point. “It’s just the crown prince’s illness. This junior has a few points she doesn’t understand and would like to consult with senior.”

Luo Zuishan refused her without a second thought. “I won’t discuss the illness with anyone before the consultation time. That includes you two.”

Han Yunxi dearly wanted to roll her eyes. Right now they were all on the same boat. Would she really tell his secrets to Xi Yubo?

“Senior Luo, this junior won’t ask any questions. I just want to verify one thing, and that’s whether this junior’s previous diagnosis was right or wrong,” Han Yunxi said seriously.

Things would be much more complicated once Long Tianmo’s illness was taken to the Council of Elders for consultation. It wouldn’t just be a case between her and Emperor Tianhui anymore, but all of the factions at the medical academy’s Council of Elders. After all, Luo Zuishan and Xi Yubo were representatives of different wings. Since things had come to this point, Han Yunxi didn’t want to find any more trouble for herself. She only wanted to confirm that she hadn’t misdiagnosed and forget about everything else.

Luo Zuishan didn’t reply immediately, but gave Han Yunxi a long, considering gaze before speaking in a low voice, “This old man can give you a clear answer, but you’ll have to answer one of my questions first.”

“Please speak, senior,” Han Yunxi didn’t hesitate.

But Luo Zuishan’s question went beyond her expectations. He asked, “Han Yunxi, what’s your relationship with Gu Qishao?”

It really was Gu Qishao who’d invited him here!

“What’s your relationship with Gu Qishao?” Han Yunxi blurted back, only for the carriage to stop abruptly. The next second, the horses reared up on their back legs and gave a frightened whinny!

“Careful, there’s assassins!” Gu Beiyue cried out as he strove to control the horses. Han Yunxi wanted to look outside but didn’t get the chance. She and Luo Zuishan tumbled about in the carriage, a testament to the severe shaking. Soon enough, the sounds of close-quarter combat rose up from outside and grew more and more intense. Qinwang Rong had brought along a sizable amount of troops, but it looked like there were plenty of assassins too.

Who were these assassins aiming for?

Everyone’s first thought went to Han Yunxi. Who told her to meet with calamities so often? Thus, most of the guards rushed in her direction. Unexpectedly, this time the assassins were aiming for Crown Prince Long Tianmo. In the midst of the chaos, the young medical assistant was knocked off his carriage and replaced with two assassins. By the time everyone realized what was happening, they were already preparing to escape.

“All guards, protect His Highness Crown Prince!” Qinwang Rong shouted as he unsheathed his sword and pushed aside the closest guard. He was the first to charge forward.

Unfortunately, there were simply too many assassins. Qinwang Rong was hopelessly outnumbered and trapped in place, forced to watch with his own eyes as the carriage carrying Long Tianmo drew further and further away.

Once the carriage gained some distance, the assassins scattered. Unwilling to accept this, Qinwang Rong sliced through the halters of a horse and chased after them on horseback. None of the guards dared to ignore him when this happened, but were quick to follow behind. Soon enough, the scene was emptied of all people except for Han Yunxi and company.

Luo Zuishan repeatedly smoothed out his beard without saying a word, but his rapid movements betrayed his inner turmoil. It would be best if Qinwang Rong could chase back Long Tianmo; otherwise, Emperor Tianhui would have full rights to send forces against Medical City. He had taken the lead on this matter, which meant he’d have the most trouble later on if Long Tianmo was lost.

Dammit, what were the origins of these assassins, and why had they kidnapped Tianning’s crown prince?

When a long time passed without Qinwang Rong returning, Xi Yubo couldn’t suppress his impatience anymore. He looked coldly at Han Yunxi and Gu Beiyue before remarking in a peculiar tone, “This…heheh…it’s simply a conspiracy!”

Han Yunxi and Gu Beiyue stood to benefit the most if Long Tianmo was kidnapped and killed. To put it another way, it was highly possibly that Han Yunxi and them had purposely planned out this act! Of course Han Yunxi and Gu Beiyue caught onto his insinuations, but neither could be bothered to retort.

Instead, it was Luo Zuishan who smiled mockingly and jeered, “Are Tianning guards nothing but rice buckets1? Can’t they even protect a single carriage?”

These words implied that Xi Yubo feared the consultation by the Council of Elders and losing as a result, and so had colluded with Qinwang Rong to act out a farce.

“You!” Xi Yubo was enraged. He was full of self-confidence and couldn’t wait for the consultation so he could stomp Luo Zuishan beneath his heel.

“Hmph!” Luo Zuishan sneered. He too, was full of self-confidence and wanted to use the consultation to thoroughly crush Xi Yubo this time.

Very soon, the two old men began to argue. Han Yunxi and Gu Beiyue sat on the carriage while exchanging glances. Besides waiting for Qinwang Rong, they weren’t sure what they should do next. Of course, they were convinced that neither Xi Yubo or Luo Zuishan was the true culprit behind the scenes. Long Tianmo had plenty of his own enemies already. Add that to his identity as the crown prince, and there were plenty of people in Tianning who wanted his life.