Xiong Ba and the Emperor exchanged a few polites lines and Qu Ling Yue on the other hand was seemingly rather distracted.
That caused the Emperor to be concerned. Xiong Ba might be the one who would be making the report back at the Thousand Beast City, but if their Young Miss herself was still not appeased, the words she might carry to the Chieftain could very well have a stronger impact.
“Is Ling Yue finding this place a little too dull?” The Emperor asked, a wide friendly smile on his face.
Qu Ling Yue glanced at the Emperor and she immediately looked down as she shook her head.
The Emperor then said with a laugh: “You are still young, and it will be very boring for you just having you sit here.”
Volume 10
Chapter 918: “Curtains Up (2)”
“Coincidentally, Lei Fan is feeling much better these few days and I should ask him to accompany you to have a little stroll around.” The Emperor had put it across very nicely, but he another scheme up his sleeve.
The Emperor knew that Lei Chen had certain intentions towards Qu Ling Yue and it was all because of the Thousand Beast City behind her. But the Emperor knew he wasn’t going to hand the throne over Lei Chen and hence he thought if anyone was to be on friendly terms with the Thousand Beast City, he would wish for it to be the prince he loved the most, Lei Fan.
Although Lei Fan did not know Qu Ling Yue as well as Lei Chen did, it could still be said that they at least knew each other. And if he could pull Lei Fan and Qu Ling Yue close to each other, then to the Emperor, that would naturally be a matter that gave him twice the amount of joy. Being highly indulgent of his youngest son and believing in the charm his son possessed, he thought that he could let Lei Fan help him ease the discontent Qu Ling Yue held towards the Fire Country, and at the same time hope that Lei Fan would be able to use the opportunity to make some headway into other developments with Qu Ling Yue.
Qu Ling Yue was silent for a moment before she nodded her head slightly.
The Emperor beamed and he immediately ordered for people to fetch Lei Fan, reminding him to take good care of Qu Ling Yue and to bring her around to see the Imperial Palace.
Upon receiving the Emperor’s orders, Lei Fan knew immediately what the Emperor was thinking. When it came to matters like this, he was very happy to comply. As long as he could snatch something that Lei Chen wanted, he would gladly cooperate.
Added to the fact that Qu Ling Yue was sweet and pretty, he really saw no reason for him to reject the request.
Lei Fan led Qu Ling Yue outside and within the Imperial Palace, they walked shoulder to shoulder, with a few palace eunuchs following behind them.
“Senior Ling Yue, although I am always addressing you as senior, but you seem to be only a few months older than me. It is always said that girls do not like others to always remember their age and detests being addressed as someone older. Can I then address you just as Ling Yue from now onwards?” Lei Fan asked smilingly of Qu Ling Yue. He was thinking that the Crown Prince, Lei Chen was going through a rather rough patch recently and he really would not mind adding on to Lei Chen’s problems.
Qu Ling Yue looked up slightly and glanced briefly at Lei Fan. After a moment’s pause, she nodded her head.
Lei Fan then said with a laugh: “Why is Ling Yue not speaking today?”
Qu Ling Yue pointed at her throat and opened her mouth slightly, and she made a low raspy noise with her throat.
Lei Chen was slightly surprised and he quickly put on a show of concern to say: “Has Ling Yue caught a cold recently? And you hurt your throat? Shall I summon an Imperial Physician to take a look at you now?”
Qu Ling Yue shook her head.
Lei Fan went on to say: “Is Ling Yue still unhappy with the Fire Country regarding the previous incident and you are even going to keep me at arm’s length to avoid us? I had actually heard about the matter from Father before and I must say that it happened due to the negligence of the Fire Country, which gave people a chance to secretly cause Ling Yue harm, making you suffer the unnecessary torment for nothing.” As Lei Fan spoke, he looked at Qu Ling Yue with a highly conscience stricken expression on his face.
But Qu Ling Yue was seemingly unmoved, her expression highly indifferent.
Without knowing why, facing Qu Ling Yue who was unable to speak today, a strange feeling suddenly came over Lei Fan that day. He felt that Qu Ling Yue at that time somehow felt so similar to Jun Xie.
It was the same situation now as when he had met Jun Xie previously. Lei Chen would be the one trying very hard to strike up a conversation but Jun Xie would always remain cold and indifferent to him.
The thought had just popped into his head when Lei Fan shook his head trying to dismiss it from his mind, finding himself just laughable.
Although Qu Ling Yue was petite in size almost the same height as Jun Xie was, but this was a young girl! How could he even try to compare her to a boy?
He brushed off the ridiculous idea he had in his head, telling himself that Qu Ling Yue was being like this because she had a bad throat today and that was why such a ridiculous notion had gotten into his head.
The two of them had walked a distance under the accompaniment of the eunuchs behind them, and actually come to the Imperial Garden.
Volume 10
Chapter 919: “Curtains Up (3)”
The Imperial Garden in the day was different from it was at night. It was still winter, but it was filled with plum blossoms.
Qu Ling Yue stared at the Imperial Garden before her eyes and without anyone noticing, the corners of her mouth curled with into a chilling smile.
That smile had faded quickly and no one had even seen it.
Just as Lei Fan was about to say something more to Qu Ling Yue, a black shadow suddenly leapt to stand in front of the two of them!
The man was dressed in all black, and a black cloth covered more than half of his face.
He had appeared very suddenly and it caused the eunuchs to scream out in terror!
Lei Fan stared in astonishment at the black robed man who had suddenly appeared. His heart jumped in shock and he immediately shouted: “Audacious infidel! How dare you break into the Imperial Palace! Guards! Take down the assassin!”
With Lei Fan’s shout, all the guards just outside the Imperial Garden immediately rushed in, several tens of them holding long swords in their hands as they surrounded the black robed man completely!
However, at the moment very that all the guards were about to rush at him together to take the assassin!
The man suddenly made his move!
His movements were quick as lightning, and before everyone’s eyes, he suddenly charged at the highly arrogant Lei Fan!
Lei Fan had thought that with the large number of guards protecting them, he had been all prepared to show off in front of Qu Ling Yue. Who knew that the black robed man would be able to move so fast that nobody could even get themselves prepared! By the time he realised what was happening, he found that he had been held hostage by the black robed man, a sharp sword suddenly held against his neck.
“If you dare try anything dumb, I will have your little life.” The black robed man issued him a chilling warning.
Lei Fan turned pale in an instant from fear, the earlier arrogance he exhibited just a moment ago evaporating into nothing immediately!
When the guards saw that the Fourth Prince had been held hostage, they wanted to rush up immediately to save him.
The black robed man pushed the sword against Lei Fan’s neck and said: “Ask them to back away, or the sword in my hand will not be kind to you.”
The moment Lei Fan heard that, he almost peed in his pants. From young, he had been doted upon and indulged by both the Emperor and the Empress in the palm of their hands, how could he possibly be able to withstand such torment now! ?
He immediately shouted: “All of you back away now! Nobody is to take a single step forward!”
The guards dared not defy Lei Fan a
nd they all did not move any further forward.
“Very good.” The black robed man said and gave a cold laugh. He suddenly stretched out his hand and before Lei Fan could even react, an elixir was stuffed into his mouth. Lei Fan was caught off guard and he was force fed an unknown elixir. His eyes quickly widened up in complete horror.
“You! You dare to make me swallow poison! If I die, you will definitely have no chance of escaping from the Imperial Palace alive! Father will make sure that you pay for it with your life!” The terrified Lei Fan started screaming out threats in a shrill voice.
But his threats did not affect the black robed man in the slightly. The black robed man was seemingly intentionally trying to scare him as the sharp sword pressed against his neck moved lightly half an inch. A flash of pain spread out from his neck.
“You can continue to talk more, and it will make me sever your throat immediately.” The black robed man said chillingly.
Lei Fan was so terrified he immediately clamped his mouth shut. Faced with the fear of death, he did not dare make another sound.
The surrounding guards could do nothing but surround the black robed man. With the Emperor’s most favoured Fourth Prince in his hands, they did not dare make any rash moves.
The black robed man suddenly lowered his voice to a bare whisper and he said into Lei Fan’s ear: “Remember this well. Only the blood of your biological father can save you.”
Upon saying that, the black robed man struck out with his palm and pushed Lei Fan away from him. His figure flashed and he suddenly disappeared before everyone’s eyes without leaving behind a single trace!
Lei Fan was pushed to fall sitting upon the ground, yet to gather back his wits from the shock, and he could only continue to sit there holding the wound on his neck, gasping heavily for air.
Volume 10
Chapter 920: “Curtains Up (4)”
The words that the black robed man had said just before he disappeared caused a sudden feeling of dread to suddenly rise within Lei Fan’s heart.
“Your Highness!” The eunuchs immediately rushed over in a bunch and helped Lei Fan off the ground.
Despite being still caught in a state of panicked terror, Lei Fan managed to stand, and he pushed the eunuchs away from him in annoyance. The black robed man had appeared suddenly and then strangely just disappeared. Besides the small wound on his neck and the elixir that he had been forced to ingest, the push from the black robed man’s palm had no power behind it and it seemed that the black robed man merely wanted to push him away from him.
Having nearly been assassinated in the Imperial Garden and it had happened before the eyes of such a big group of guards, Lei Fan only felt that he had been completely humiliated before Qu Ling Yue today. And what terrified him even more was the unidentified elixir he had been made to swallow!
“Quick! Summon the Imperial Physicians! Get them to have a look at me to see what the man had made me eat!” Lei Fan could not be bothered to concern himself with anything else as the longevity of his life superseded anything else!
The guards immediately went to summon the Imperial Physicians as Lei Chen stood within the Imperial Garden continuing to gasp for air.
But a strange phenomenon suddenly happened. The tiny knick on Lei Fan’s neck started to bleed unstoppingly. The amount of blood that flowed out from that tiny wound had been enough to stained his entire hand. The warm blood continued to flow down his neck incessantly and he realised it was definitely not just a simple scratch!
Lei Fan clasped his hand tightly over his neck and he felt a chill run through his body. He eyes were widened and the unease in his heart grew more and more intense.
“Your Highness! What is happening to Your Highness! ?” The eunuchs were in a state of panic. It had obviously been just a tiny knick but the amount of blood that flowed out was shocking. The strange occurrence suddenly made terror run through everyone’s heart!
“Quickly summon the Imperial Physicians! Quickly summon the Imperial Physicians!” Under the eunuchs’ panicked wails, Lei Fan who had lost too much blood suddenly fainted right over! The eunuch’s and guards in the Imperial Garden suddenly lost their heads and they carried Lei Fan to the Empress’ Palace in a flurry of hysteria.
No one paid any notice to Qu Ling Yue who had stood gravely silent at the side without uttering a single word. The moment that Lei Fan had fainted, the corners of her mouth had curled up into a chilling smile.
Hadn’t the Emperor slandered her for having hurt the Fourth Prince in the Imperial Garden? Then she would turn that slander into absolute truth here today!
Nobody could have thought that Qu Ling Yue who had come to the Imperial Palace with Xiong Ba and the others had been switched out a few days ago, and the person who came here today wasn’t Qu Ling Yue at all but the very person who had caused Yuan Biao to turn the entire Imperial Capital upside down and still remained at large, Jun Xie!
Jun Wu Xie looked on coldly as Lei Fan was being carried away in a panic and she slowly suppressed the smile on her lips. But within that pair of eyes, an icy chill shone.
The curtains had just been raised up!
By the time Lei Fan was carried back to the Empress’ Palace, his body was completely covered with blood. His small face was white as a sheet. Seated right before her dressing table, the Empress was dolling herself up when she saw Lei Fan all covered in blood, she nearly fell off her chair in shock!
“Little Fan! Little Fan! What happened to you! ? Don’t scare your mother like this!” The Empress was so highly distraught and flustered that she even dislodged the dangling hair ornament from her hair, which fell to the floor with a crisp and clear tinkle. As she watched the eunuchs carrying Lei Fan onto the bed, she immediately glared at the eunuchs and asked: “What is actually going on! ?”
The eunuch trembled and he quickly spat out to the Empress everything that he saw happened in the Imperial Garden.
The Empress suddenly felt the room spin, never ever having expected that her own son, within the Imperial Palace itself, would actually encounter someone who had dared to carry out the assassination attempt in here.
Volume 10
Chapter 921: “Curtains Up (4)”
The Imperial Physicians rushed over and arrived very quickly. After the Emperor received the news, he couldn’t host Xiong Ba and the others properly any longer and he came straight to the Empress’ Palace with Xiong Ba and his people in tow. Together with them, was Jun Wu Xie disguised as Qu Ling Yue as well.
The moment they went in, they saw an entire troop of Imperial Physicians surrounding the bed while Lei Fan laid upon it, his face pale as a sheet.
The Emperor shot over like an arrow to take a look at Lei Fan who was lying on the bed, at the face who was so much alike to the woman he had loved, that was now completely drained of colour. His heart wrenched up instantly, the scene when his most beloved woman had left the world coming back to his mind, as the pain in his heart intensified.
“What is wrong with the Fourth Prince? Can’t you bunch of quacks quickly cure the Fourth Prince of his condition? If all of you fail in curing the Fourth Prince, the entire bunch of you will be buried together with him!” The Emperor’s face was dark as thunder as he roared, his voice filled with fear and terror.
The whole bunch of Imperial Physicians trembled under the Emperor’s roar, all of them with their heads on the ground, pleading for mercy.
The Empress had lost her usual dignified composure, weeping hysterically by the bedside.
“Your Majesty! You must save Little Fan!”
The Emperor nodded sombrely.
“I will definitely not let anything happen to Little Fan.”
Xiong Ba was secretly shocked when he saw Lei Fan, his gaze then subconsciously turned to look at Jun Xie. He saw Jun Xie standing there cold and indifferent, no one noticing his presence, but Xiong Ba was feeling highly distressed and perturbed.
The Emperor instructed the Imperial Physicians to check Lei Fan’
s condition carefully once more before he summoned the eunuchs who were with Lei Fan earlier, to question them on the events that had taken place at the Imperial Garden earlier.
The eunuchs were all by then so immensely terrified by the Emperor’s fury that all they could do was only tremble in hapless fear as they knelt on the ground, helpless like newborn chicks, relating the sequence of events in the Imperial Garden earlier that day in a series of stutters. When the Emperor heard the story, his face immediately turned dark as thunder.
Lei Fan had been attacked just not long after they reached the Imperial Garden and it had even occurred right before the eyes of a whole group of guards, where Lei Chen had been force fed with any unidentified elixir. That was like a direct slap upon the Emperor’s face.
“Immediately send men to seal the Imperial Palace. No matter what, the assassin must be captured!” The Emperor said through gritted teeth.
The eunuchs all complied, still shivering in fear.
From the eunuchs’ statements, the Emperor was able to gather that “Qu Ling Yue” had nothing to do with the incident and he did not say anything to her, but just sat down on the side, looking anxiously at Lei Fan.
On the other hand, Xiong Ba’s gaze was filled with endless questions as it fell on the figure of Jun Xie. Besides the few of them, no one knew that this Qu Ling Yue before their eyes was actually Jun Xie in disguise.
All that the eunuchs had said earlier, Xiong Ba had naturally heard it all clearly as well. This incident seemed like it had nothing to do with Jun Xie in the slightest. But for no reason, Xiong Ba could not help feeling that this incident where Lei Fan had been attacked was somehow linked to Jun Xie.
It was too much of a coincidence. Of all times for Lei Fan to come to such harm, it had to happen after Jun Xie left together with him and they were attacked shortly after.
Genius Doctor: Black Belly Miss Volume 10 Page 6
