Chapter 596: The imperial clan orphan still exists (1/2)

Chapter 596: The imperial clan orphan still exists

Ning Cheng was already losing his patience and getting ready to leave by the time Chu Yunyi personally arrived with a white-robed man. This was the first time that Ning Cheng had seen Gu Beiyue, but it didn’t leave any lasting impressions. His arrogant gaze swept the man from head to foot, taking in the injuries on his shoulder and leg without much thought. They probably struck him there when they captured him.

Gu Beiyue’s head was bowed, his entire figure listless. As he stood there dejectedly, he looked weak enough to topple over at any moment.

“A famed physician?” Ning Cheng asked disdainfully. He couldn’t figure out why Han Yunxi would be on good terms with a man like that. It was extraordinary enough that she’d catch Long Feiye’s eye, so her friends had to be remarkable as well, right? But this Gu Beiyue looked less like a doctor and more like some weakling scholar!

“This is the man you wanted,” Chu Yunyi said simply without revealing a thing.

Ning Cheng naturally understood his words. He wouldn’t reveal his identity lightly either. With a nod, he personally grabbed Gu Beiyue by the collar and prepared to haul him away. But Gu Beiyue abruptly raised a hand to push his away.

“I can walk by myself!” he declared. His voice was very low and sounded depressed, lacking its usual calm and warmth.

Ning Cheng stared at his hand, which had been shoved aside, with a look of disbelief. Then he said coldly, “Keep up, or I’ll have you roll the entire way back.”

So speaking, he strode off with large strides towards the door. Gu Beiyue turned back to look at Chu Yunyi one last time, his glare incisive enough to kill. Chu Yunyi subconsciously backed away a few steps at the look and couldn’t help but wonder whether he’d made the right choice.

Gu Beiyue’s right hand was dangling by his side, his shoulder wound making it impossible to lift his arm. He used his left hand to press against the piercing pain in his dantian region before following after him. The most important thing for him now was to lie down and rest to refrain from any strenuous physical activity. But he still persisted on taking large steps, walking faster and faster until he caught up and then surpassed Ning Cheng.

He didn’t want to become a waste—nor was he one, yet!

He still had his life, which meant his mission as the Shadow Clan and his promises as Gu Beiyue still held!

Ning Cheng gave a scornful chuckle at the sight of the frail figure hurrying ahead of him. He disdained these weakly bookish types the most. Their bones weren’t made of any hard stuff, and all their declarations came for naught in the end. Why show off your skills? How long can you last like that? Do you think that just by walking a few steps, you’re suddenly strong and capable? What a joke!

If not for the fact that Gu Beiyue could threaten Han Yunxi, Ning Cheng would never waste his time on such a useless thing.

“Someone come, keep him under close watch. Without my orders, no one’s to get near him!” Ning Cheng ordered coldly.

His retainers immediately appeared out of thin air. The moment Gu Beiyue turned around to speak, they struck him in the back of the neck and rendered him unconscious. Ning Cheng had ended up taking Gu Beiyue away, but whether he’d actually give the man a chance to speak to him was unknown. In Chu Yunyi’s eyes, Ning Cheng’s personality would ensure that he didn’t waste words with the man. Even if the two really started talking, their own precautions would keep their personal secrets hidden. He exhaled a long breath once they were gone.

Now all he needed to do was wait. Once Ning Cheng’s cavalry forces arrived, they could join with the Chu Clan troops to attack Western Zhou. Then after Emperor Tianhui died, Witch Aunt could help the young crown prince take the throne. Without the Ning Clan meddling in their affairs at the capital, it would only be a single night’s work for Witch Aunt to place the baby on the throne.

“We need to be living in Western Liang before the end of the year!” he told General Chu.

General Chu didn’t get to reply before a soldier hurried over with a message. “To report to the general, a special envoy’s arrived from Western Zhou. He’s waiting right by the gates with a matter for consultation!”

Chu Yunyi and General Chu exchanged glances. Their armies had been facing off against Western Zhou for ages. Why would their enemy send over a messenger to talk now? It was impossible that they were pleading for peace, so could it be related to Empress Xue instead? Very soon, General Chu went to meet with the envoy while Chu Yunyi sat on one side to listen.

Seeing the room full of servants, the Western Zhou envoy gave a meaningful look to General Chu, who promptly dismissed them all.

“You can say whatever you have to now,” General Chu said brusquely without even inviting the man to a seat. Typically speaking, the etiquette of war dictated that all envoys were to be kept alive and treated with respect. The Western Zhou envoy had looked down on the Chu Clan rebels to begin with, but this only cemented his bad impression.

With a lofty tone, he replied, “General Chu, this envoy has come to deliver the emperor’s words today. First, if General Chu surrenders, the emperor will look upon your years of hard work and service and treat you leniently. However, if—”

“Go back and tell Emperor Kang Cheng that this is just a waste of words!” General Chu interrupted.