Jun Wu Xie nodded. “Yuan Biao had been careful and highly meticulous. He knew to check thoroughly on those servant boys and girls whose age was similar to me.”
Lei Chen then said: “But he had not thought that you would disguise yourself as a hunchbacked old man. You had even managed to fool me!” After saying that, Lei Chen immediately looked outside the doors and quickly ordered the guard standing at the side: “Get our men out there to stand guard. Do not allow any of the Imperial Guards to secretly sneak into the mansion.”
“Yes!” The guard immediately departed and when he went out the door, he turned to shut them tightly.
“When did you come here?” Without anyone else in the room, Lei Chen immediately went to stand beside Jun Xie and surveyed the still clean and neat Jun Xie up and down.
“Before the Imperial Guards came.” After Jun Wu Xie left the Immortals’ Loft, she had immediately rushed over to the Crown Prince’s Residence, and had gotten here a step earlier than the Imperial Guards.
‘Tap tap tap.’
A series of clear steps sounded out and Lei Chen was startled where he immediately turned to the source of the noise, only to see a tiny round spherical shaped sheep currently walked out proudly from the back of the main hall, its four hooves tapping unhurriedly in approach. Towards Lei Chen’s baffled gaze, it completely ignored it as it came to a rest beside Jun Xie’s feet.
“This is…..” Lei Chen looked highly puzzled as he stared at the little thing, and for no reason, he found that the sheep’s gaze was looking a little strangely at him.
“My pet.” Jun Wu Xie said, her face just as expressionless as she carried Lord Meh Meh into her arms, and went to sit down on a chair at the side.
“This is really brazenly bold of you. You knew very well that they would come here to find you and you still dared to come here.” Lei Chen said, staring helplessly at Jun Xie. That fearlessness, was really incomparable to that of most people, and Jun Xie had even fooled him completely as well.
“I came here because I have something I want to ask Your Highness.” Jun Wu Xie asked calmly.
Lei Chen was surprised and he paused a moment before he said: “You mean to ask me why my Father wants to have you killed?”
Jun Wu Xie answered: “Both yes and no.”
Lei Chen was suddenly rather confused.
Jun Wu Xie raised her hand and showed the ring on her finger before Lei Chen’s eyes.
“Does Your Highness know where this originated from?”
Upon seeing the Ring of Imperial Fire, Lei Chen’s eyes suddenly burned with a scorching flame!
“That is the Ring of Imperial Fire!” Lei Chen’s voice was almost trembling, laced with an excited fervour.
“Oh?” Jun Wu Xie intoned, her eyebrow lifting. Seems like her guess had been right.
“Past generations of the Fire Country’s rulers would take that ring that would be handed down from their predecessors and reforge it into their own spirit rings. It can be said that this Ring of Imperial Fire is symbolic of the Fire Country’s ruler itself. Only the true ruler of the Fire Country has possession of it!” Lei Chen’s eyes continued to look at Jun Xie, his eyes still burning fervently.
Volume 10
Chapter 911 : “Intricate Plot (2)”
Under Jun Xie’s questioning gaze, Lei Chen related everything he knew about the Ring of Imperial Fire to Jun Xie. From the first Emperor of the current ruler’s bloodline to the Empress Dowager’s unwavering insistence…..
Jun Wu Xie listened to it all silently. Although she had correctly guessed where the ring had originated from, she had not thought that the ring she had innocently picked up would hold such a huge secret of such grave importance behind it.
“Possess the Ring of Imperial Fire, possess the Fire Country? This is the reason the Emperor wants to kill me?” Jun Wu Xie’s brow lifted as she asked.
Lei Chen nodded.
“Father must be worried that the fact you hold possession of the Ring of Imperial Fire would be discovered by the Empress Dowager and he had decided to silence you permanently.”
Lei Chen paused a moment and then stood up abruptly, the expression on his face highly excited as he looked at Jun Xie.
“This Imperial Decree, was drafted and set by the First Emperor of our line. Hence, even my Father does not have the power to disobey it! At present, the Fire Country’s rightful heir to the throne had become one big joke. My Second Royal Brother is unambitious and without merit, my Third Royal Brother hopelessly timid, both lacking the capabilities to become a suitable candidate as heir to the throne, whereas for me and Lei Fan, we both do not even have the right to inherit it at all. Now, little brother Jun, you…..”
Lei Chen’s voice grew more and more excited, his eyes burning up with fervour.
Without waiting for him to finish, Jun Wu Xie suddenly raised up a hand to interrupt Lei Chen’s highly fervent speech.
“I hold no interest for the Fire Country.”
“What?” Lei Chen was stunned. “The Fire Country is the biggest and mightiest country throughout the entire land! As the Emperor of the Fire Country, you will hold in your hand half of the world! Little brother Jun! I know that your personality makes you coldly indifferent and detached, but you possess extraordinary capabilities and even if you go out into the world and win a name for yourself, what you will get cannot be more than what the throne of the Fire Country can give you! If you are worried that the people and court officials of the Fire Country will not accept you, then you can undoubtedly rest assured. The Imperial Decree has been passed down for many years and although people gradually stopped talking about it after so long, the original Imperial Edict is still in the hands of the Empress Dowager! Great Grandmother had always placed great importance and emphasis on the First Emperor’s decision, and if she brings out the First Emperor’s Imperial Edict in person, then all that will no longer be a problem!”
Lei Chen was looking at Jun XIe anxiously. He could not understand why Jun Xie would be completely unmoved when presented with such a rare and incredible opportunity right before her eyes.
It was to become the ruler of the entire Fire Country!
A position that could only be the dream of countless people!
The might of the Fire Country had already surpassed all the various other countries in the land and becoming the Emperor of the Fire Country was as good as sitting atop the entire world. In terms of riches, status, power….. there isn’t a more revered and glorious choice than being the Emperor of the Fire Country!
How many esteemed and respected heroes in the world had fought throughout their entire lives, but with their lifetime’s distinguished achievements and honour won, they still paled in comparison to the power and influence of the Fire Country’s Emperor. No matter what Jun Xie was seeking, in Lei Chen’s eyes, the throne of the Fire Country would be able to fulfil that wish.
“Not interested.” Jun Wu Xie’s reply was still cold and indifferent as always. Status and authourity had never appealed to her in the slightest at all.
“Why?” Lei Chen was still in shock.
“Don’t like it.” Jun Wu Xie replied.
The throne of the Fire Country, might hold irresistible appeal to others, but to her, it was of absolutely no use. If she had really lusted after power and authourity, the current Emperor of the Qi Kingdom would not be Mo Qian Yuan now.
Lei Chen looked at Jun Xie in stunned silence. His mind completely overwhelmed as countless thoughts and emotions washed over him, never for a moment ever thinking that Jun Xie would reject.
“But….. A innocent man is still guilty just possessing the jade, even if you hold no interest towards the Fire Country’s throne, Father will still not let you off. Even if you hand over the Ring of Imperial Fire, to prevent the matter from being made known, he will still silence you just the same!”
*(Chinese Idiom) 匹夫无罪怀璧其罪 pǐ fū wú zuì huái bì qí zuì – “An innocent man is still guilty just possessi
ng the jade” [MistyCloud’s own unprofessional almost literal translation inserted above in the last paragraph. Please take with a pinch of salt.]
Volume 10
Chapter 912 : “Intricate Plot (3)”
Jun Wu Xie’s brow arched up at that moment as she looked at Lei Chen.
“When did I say I will be handing the ring over to him?”
Lei Chen stared back at Jun Xie in utter confusion.
“If he wants me killed, he can very well try. If I am to die, that will be due to my lack of capability. This ring is the only remnant in memory of my Master and whether it’s him or anyone else who comes after me, I will never hand it over.” Jun Wu Xie said derisively. Surrender the ring in exchange for her safety? Regardless of the fact that that avenue would not work, as even if it did, she, Jun Wu Xie, would never choose such a cowardly way out!
“Then, you couldn’t possibly be just sitting here and wait for death to come right?” Lei Chen asked, beginning to feel anxious for Jun Xie.
Jun Wu Xie replied: “Since he has made his intentions known, why should I remain waiting for him to act? He has initiated the first move, hence I will naturally not have to be cordial as well.”
The moment her voice fell, a chilling glint came into her eyes.
She had held no interest in the internal struggles of the Fire Country. Her initial intention had only been to snatch the map from the Emperor’s hands. But now, the Emperor, the Fourth Prince, the Empress, and the Prime Minister were all seeking to have her killed to put an end to their troubles. If she still did not retaliate, wouldn’t she greatly disappoint all of them for all the “concern” they had shown her?
“What….. are you going to do?” Lei Chen stared intently at Jun Xie, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Jun Wu Xie waved her hand for the Crown Prince to come closer and he stuck his ear over.
Yuan Biao was sitting within a restaurant, waiting for any news that might come. The Imperial Guards that had remained behind at the Immortals’ Loft and the Crown Prince’s Residence had come in with their reports earlier. The people from the Zephyr Academy in the Immortals’ Loft had been quiet and cooperative. They had not carried out any actions that went against his orders today.
The Imperial Guards outside the Crown Prince’s Residence had sent him information saying that not long after Yuan Biao had left, an attendant from the Crown Prince’s Residence had left from the mansion. The Imperial Guards had secretly tailed the person and discovered that the attendant had gone to the inn that housed the people from the War Banner Academy. The Imperial Guards had not been able to get closer and they waited outside. Moments after that, the attendant came out of the building with Xiong Ba and Qu Ling Yue from the Thousand Beast City where they boarded onto a horse carriage and headed towards the Crown Prince’s Residence.
The Imperial Guard who tailed behind them had then seen with his own eyes when the horse carriage stopped, the attendant stepped out with Xiong Ba and Qu Ling Yue, and there was no one else in the carriage.
“Commander! The Crown Prince had suddenly invited the people from the Thousand Beast City over to his mansion, what could he be planning?” The Imperial Guard asked, unable to fully understand the entire situation.
Yuan Biao said: “The Crown Prince has been trying to win over the Thousand Beast City for a very long time. When Qu Ling Yue had gotten severely injured previously, didn’t the Crown Prince invite some Young Miss from the Qi Kingdom to go treat Qu Ling Yue? The people from the Thousand Beast City will remember the kind favour the Crown Prince has shown them then. Now that Jun Xie has been branded a felon, the Crown Prince will naturally not give up on his other target to ally with.” Yuan Biao gave a cold laugh and continued to say: “I must say the Crown Prince wastes no time does he? Jun Xie has barely just fallen from grace and he is immediately setting his sight back on the people from the Thousand Beast City already.”
“You guys just keep a close watch on them. His Majesty would not want any trouble with the people from the Thousand Beast City. All of you remember this, before any of you discover any sign of Jun Xie, do not let the people from the Thousand Beast City find out that they are being followed.”
“Yes!” The Imperial Guard answered and quickly left.
Inside the Crown Prince’s Residence, Xiong Ba and Qu Ling Yue were led to come before Lei Chen. Lei Chen dismissed the attendant and Xiong Ba immediately opened his mouth to say: “Your Highness has invited us over here so urgently. May I ask what is it regarding?”
Because of the prior incident where Qu Ling Yue had sustained severe injuries, Xiong Ba really loathed the Fire Country’s Emperor highly at that moment but as Lei Chen had invited Jun Wu Xie to help them then, he liked the Crown Prince rather well though. Moreover, Qu Ling Yue and Lei Chen had always shared a rather good relationship all this while and so, he did not feel so distant.
Volume 10
Chapter 913 : “Intricate Plot (4)”
Lei Chen’s lifted as he gestured to the chairs: “Please take a seat first. We will talk about it slowly after we’re all seated.”
Xiong Ba and Qu Ling Yue sat down immediately.
“In regards to the incident with Qu Ling Yue’s injury, what does Hall Chief Xiong think about it?” Lei Chen inquired.
Xiong Ba was surprised, not expecting Lei Chen to ask such a question, and Xiong Ba looked at Qu Ling Yue with a rather uneasy glance for a moment.
Qu Ling Yue was made use of and she was put under unnecessary torment. As a member of the Thousand Beast City, he was highly displeased. But in the face of the Fire Country’s status and might before him, no matter how unhappy the Thousand Beast City was with the incident, he could not openly declare war against the mightiest country then. Suddenly having Lei Chen, the Fire Country’s Crown Prince asking him a question like that, really put Xiong Ba in a tight spot. He couldn’t very well just admonish the Fire Country before their own Crown Prince could he?
Qu Ling Yue saw the struggle that Xiong Ba was facing and she went on to say: “Senior’s question is really putting my Uncle Xiong in a tight spot. Senior knows very well the entire story behind the incident and if you want Uncle Xiong to say he does not mind it in the least, that would be quite impossible. And as Senior is the Crown Prince of the Fire Country, if Uncle Xiong were to say anything about it, it might not be that appropriate as well.” Qu Ling Yue was on more familiar terms with Lei Chen and she didn’t need to be that restrained before Lei Chen with her words.
Lei Chen laughed out loud.
“I was being too rude. I had not considered the fact that my question would put Hall Chief Xiong in such an uncomfortable position. Why don’t I rephrase it in another way? If given a chance, would you like to be able to seek redress for the injustice shown to you?”
This time, even Qu Ling Yue was stunned.
“What does Senior mean by that?”
Lei Chen went on to explain: “The incident happened as Junior Ling Yue had just mentioned. It was the Fire Country who had acted inappropriately in this instance, but my Father had not even offered a single bit of explanation in regards to the matter. The Fire Country and the Thousand Beast City had always enjoyed cordial relations and I feel that my Father’s actions had gone rather overboard this time. Although I am the Fire Country’s Crown Prince, I am also Qu Ling Yue’s Senior fellow disciple as well. Having seen my junior being made to go through such unnecessary suffering, how could I feel good about it? Otherwise, why would I have gone to such lengths to invite the Young Miss Jun to help?”
Lei Chen’s words caused Xiong Ba and Qu Ling Yue to glance at each other. They had both not expected that Lei Chen would have invited them here today to tell them all this.
And after hearing Lei Chen’s words, they had been able to vaguely grasp what Lei Chen really meant.
But they still did not understand why Lei Chen was doing this.
“I guess the two of you must be feeling rather confused by my words today. There is actual
ly something that I had not told the two of you all this while.” Lei Chen said.
“What is it?” Xiong Ba asked.
“Actually, I do not know Young Miss Jun that well at all. Before having invited her to treat Ling Yue, you could even say that I did not know her at all. The real person who brought the Young Miss Jun here to give treatment to Ling Yue wasn’t me, but someone else.” Lei Chen said with a smile.
“Not Your Highness?” Xiong Ba asked, slightly shocked.
Lei Chen nodded.
“The person who got Young Miss Jun to come here is someone you both know as well. It is actually that friend of mine, Jun Xie.”
Xiong Ba immediately remembered that youth with the delicately handsome features.
“It was him?” Qu Ling Yue exclaimed, her mouth slightly agape.
Lei Chen continued on: “The incident where Ling Yue was injured had gotten him implicated in it afterall and he would naturally been unwilling to be made the innocent scapegoat. Hence, he had invited Young Miss Jun to come here and he asked me to bring her to Ling Yue and that was how it led to the rest of the things that happened. So, I would like to say in shame that I had been highly undeserving of the gratitude that Hall Chief Xiong’s gratitude shown to me then.”
Xiong Ba’s eyes were still fixed on Lei Chen. “Why would Your Highness then reveal all this to us today?”
Lei Chen then asked with a cold laugh: “Haven’t the two of you yet heard?”
“Heard what?”
Volume 10
Chapter 914 : “Intricate Plot (5)”
“That that little brother Jun of mine has now been declared a convict the Imperial Guard Army are out to capture!”
“What! ?” Xiong Ba’s eyes immediately opened wide.
“How is that possible? Young Master Jun had just attended the state banquet with us last night, and today he…..” Qu Ling Yue exclaimed out in great surprise, her hands covering her mouth in shock.
Genius Doctor: Black Belly Miss Volume 10 Page 4
