NOVEL NEXT Chapter 36
Chapter 36
A month later, at the mid-autumn festival palace banquet, I chose not to sit with Zhong Yelan but was bent on sitting on the side of the Hua Family, ignoring the varying gazes of others.
“A month has passed. Did Father already think about it?” I raised my cup to Hua Xiang, smiling, but my mood was like the rippling wine in the gourd.
Hua Xiang looked at me, but his gaze was far away. After a long time, he avoided my gaze. My heart sank, and I heard him speak: “Qian’er should not mention this matter again in the future.”
The palms of my hands went cold, but my heart quieted down at once. I can’t change the original character. I smiled, drinking the wine in one go, “It’s like that …… then I understand.”
We’re sitting so close, flowing the same blood, but I feel there was an insurmountable gap. Hua Xiang still gave up his last shred of life.
I didn’t have the slightest interest in the banquet. Hua Xiang has made his choice, so I should leave. I won’t have any connection with the Hua Family from now on —
After drinking a cup of wine, I left the banquet and walked outside alone. It was the Hua Family who did not choose me. However, halfway out of the palace, someone stopped me.
“The divorce decree will be sent to your residence later.”
I was slightly relieved as I spoke, “Thank you, Emperor.” After saying that, I was ready to leave, but Zhong Xiwu reached out as if he still wanted to pull me back, yet a silhouette suddenly flashed between us.
I looked at Hua Rongzhou blankly. Zhong Xiwu narrowed his eyes, and I hurriedly pulled Hua Rongzhou away, saying: “Emperor, this is an official road. People are coming and going, and the divorce decree is still confidential. I don’t want to spread any rumors now.”
Such as, I have a secret affair with Zhong Xiwu, so I divorce King Jin, and so on.
Zhong Xiwu’s eyes did not turn away from Hua Rongzhou’s face as he asked, “Who is this?”
“He is just my guard, Hua Rongzhou. He’s too worried about me and offended the Emperor. After all, this moment is critical.” I hurriedly explained. This Hua Rongzhou is usually wooden and mute, so why did he dare to charge Zhong Xiwu today? Am I to indulge him after entrusting him with a heavy responsibility during this period?
“Surname Hua?” Zhong Xiwu’s frown deepened.
I subconsciously shielded Hua Rongzhou behind me and spoke, “It’s just the same surname, not someone from the Hua Family.”
Zhong Xiwu looked at me. His gaze made me shiver. I had to give up my intention of leaving the palace, and after making a sloppy show, I honestly went back to the banquet table to watch the show.
However, before my butt sat on the seat, a few figures suddenly flew out from the dancing girls, attacking straight at a few people, among which was the Hua Family.
Again? Do I have a grudge against a banquet? I never had a good time.
With the scream of ‘assassin,’ the banquet was in chaos. I dodged in time to hide behind Hua Rongzhou with ease.
Who is the target of this assassination that does not exist in the novel? Zhong Xiwu was behind me just now. He didn’t enter the hall when assassins acted and were now tightly guarded outside, so this time, the target wasn’t the Emperor.
I silently observed the surrounding situation and then saw that something was wrong. The assassins seem to be coming from two groups because their moves and collaboration are too — awkward.
Hua Rongzhou blocked in front of me. From the tight protection, I suddenly heard a scream. I saw Cui Zhu fall to the ground. She was a maid, so there was no guard around her.
Looking at the Hua Family guards around me, I told Hua Rongzhou, “You go to Cui Zhu’s side.”
Hua Rongzhou didn’t move as if he didn’t hear me. I was about to speak again when suddenly the assassins’ attack became violent, especially targeting where I was. Could it be that the target was me? But who exactly did it? I looked at Mu Yao’s position and realized her side wasn’t much better than mine. Isn’t this too strange? The guards around me were decreasing gradually, and it seemed they would lay their hands on me. Who exactly had I offended?
But the current situation didn’t allow me to think, and along with the Hua Rongzhou protection, I moved backward slowly. Suddenly, I felt a burst of cold at my back. This feeling is too familiar. It was the same feeling when I accidentally intercepted that arrow for Zhong Yelan. Too late to turn around and look back, I heard Mrs. Hua let out a cry of misery, “Shen’er–”
Hua Shen? Before my mind could react, someone pushed my body, and I fell to the ground. Hua Rongzhou quickly helped me up before I had time to look up.
I saw Hua Shen sitting on his knees, leaning on the ground with his hands, and a long sword pierced his chest in the position where I stood just now. The target of the man in black was indeed me. Seeing he missed a blow, he drew his sword and lunged at me again.
As if in slow motion, Hua Shen covered the bloody hole in his chest with his hand and smiled at me, as silly as ever. Hua Rongzhou blocked the assassin, and I moved in front of Hua Shen, wanting to speak but couldn’t spit out a word.
“Younger sister …… when you took that arrow before …… was it also so painful?” Hua Shen spoke unclearly, and blood slowly formed a puddle on the ground.
I reached out my hand, only to realize that my hand trembled as if I had Parkinson’s. Holding his body that almost fell, I subconsciously asked, “Why do you block that arrow for me?”
Hua Shen’s head resting on my arm, struggling to speak: “Younger sister …… also block King Jin’s sword for me, right? How could I, a brother, ignore — you.”
Hua Shen has lost half his fat and has already manifested a clear and handsome face. When he smiled, he no longer had the nasty appearance of the past days.
I suddenly remembered what I called him before – fat dumpling, playboy, idiot —
But he kept shamelessly coming over even though I disliked him and never had a single complaint against me because of my bad attitude. This man, whom I have always looked down on, is the only person sincere toward Hua Qian in this world.
I took a deep breath, trying to stop my trembling, “Brother, you’ll be fine …… I’ll …….” However, in the next second, my neck hurt, and my eyes went black.
The only thought I had before passing out was – I can’t pass out. I have to see with my own eyes that Hua Shen is fine. When I woke up again, there was a sharp pain in my body. I opened my eyes and almost fainted again. Because under my feet is — a cliff. I was tied up solidly, hanging on a tree at the top of the cliff!
While forcefully enduring the fear of heights in my heart, I look around. I can’t help but be stunned because Muyao is also hanging here with me. We are like two salted fish that have been hung up and dried. She seems to be still unconscious.
At this time, a low voice sounded, “Finally woke up?”
I turned my head to look at the clifftop. It was two masked men in black.
My heart throbbed when noticing the dried blood on my chest, and I looked at them furiously, “Did you guys do this attack? Why did you tie me up here if you wanted me dead?”
I wonder how Hua Shen is doing. The men in black glanced at each other and hesitated for a moment before speaking, “The group that wanted to kill you, it wasn’t us.”
“Then what are you trying to do? What grudge do I have against you guys?”
They, however, did not reply. They only listened before turning away and dropping a sentence, “You’ll find out later.”
A few moments later, Zhong Yelan’s figure appeared, followed by a few guards. When he saw this, his eyes burst into flames, shot at the two men in black.
The men in black didn’t cower. They stuck the long swords in their hands into the branches of the tree so that Zhong Yelan didn’t dare to take a step forward.
“Do you know who the person you tied up is?” Zhong Yelan’s eyes were like two balls of fire.
One of the men in black returned, “Since I tied them up, I naturally know. Prince Jin, please choose one.”
Hearing this, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes in my heart. What a mess, is this person fooling around? Why so childish, coming to the cliff to play extreme challenges?
Before I could say anything, I heard Zhong Yelan say, “What exactly is your purpose?”
“Nothing, it’s just that my master has some issues with Prince Jin and likes to see you in trouble.” The man in black’s tone was full of provocation.
Before Zhong Yelan stormed off, the other man in black spoke again, “As long as Prince Jin chooses one, we’ll keep our word and release one, while the remaining one will go to the bottom of the cliff to feed the fish.”
The bottom of the cliff? My heart fluttered.
At this time, Mu Yao woke up leisurely. After locking eyes with her, I couldn’t help but be stunned. She turned her eyes away and looked at Zhong Yelan.
When those two men in black saw that Zhong Yelan stayed silent, they glanced at each other before stabbing their swords into the tree, making Mu Yao and I swaying with it.
Zhong Yelan’s gaze narrowed, and his feet subconsciously moved forward.
The man in black spoke again, “If Prince Jin doesn’t choose, they’ll die.”
Listened to here, I can’t help but laugh. This black-clothed man is puzzling. Why didn’t they wait one more day for me to divorce Zhong Yelan? Now, they’re so anxious to do this thing, it’s kinda like — childish —
Zhong Yelan has made his choice. The step he nervously took was toward Mu Yao. The man in black — two groups of assassins — cliff — choice —
Synthesizing this information, I had a bold idea, so I twisted my hands that were tied. I said to the man in black, “Hey, is this the first time you guys have done something like kidnapping?”
The man in black froze and looked back at me, his uncovered eyes filled with confusion. I laughed lightly, ignoring Zhong Yelan’s slightly nervous eyes, and said to the man in black, “Don’t you guys know that you have to scour people before kidnapping them?”
Without waiting for the men in black to respond, I turned my head to Mu Yao and said, “Remember, you owe me this time.” Her eyes suddenly widened, then my figure grew smaller and smaller in her pupils. I turned the bracelet into a small knife and cut the rope.