Chapter 1015: Chapter 853, Assassin
The Emperor was injured and fell into a coma, which left everyone who had accompanied him on the hunt unable to sleep, silently keeping watch over the situation at the Dragon Tent.
The next day, as dawn broke, several Imperial Physicians once again entered the Dragon Tent.
The Crown Prince and his brothers also wanted to check on the Emperor, but unfortunately, they were kept outside by the Imperial Guards.
The brothers were very dissatisfied with this.
However, since the Imperial Guards were directly under the Emperor’s command, they dared not challenge them and could only angrily return to their respective tents.
Ti passed slowly, and soon another day had gone by.
Seeing that there was still no news of the Emperor waking up from the Dragon Tent, the Crown Prince and his brothers, along with their respective supporters, beca increasingly restless.
As night fell, the adult princes gathered their family mbers from the Yue Family and other relatives in their tents, discussing in low voices the ‘major issues’ concerning the future.
“If the Emperor really is in peril… we might need to start making preparations.”
Outside the Fourth Prince’s tent, the wife of the Fourth Prince smiled as she saw off her family mbers, then turned back to the tent and saw her husband sitting under the lamp, lost in thought, and silently went to make the bed.
The Third Prince observed the actions of his brothers, and late at night, wearing a cloak, he quietly went to the Jiang Family’s tent.
As soon as he entered, he anxiously asked Duke Cheng’en, “Is Father really near his end?”
Duke Cheng’en glanced at the Third Prince and confird, “The Emperor indeed was seriously injured and fell unconscious during the hunt.”
The Third Prince still found it hard to believe.
Duke Cheng’en knew that the Third Prince was hesitating about what to do next, and could only say, “I had people visit the hunting scene. The place was covered in blood, horrifically grueso, and certainly not staged.”
“Moreover… there are my people within the Jinling Guard. This afternoon, Xiu Xiangchen secretly sent the Jinling Guard back to Beijing to mobilize the Capital Defense Army.”
“Think for yourself, if the Emperor’s injury were not severe, would there be any need to call in the Guard?”
The Third Prince’s face showed struggle.
Duke Cheng’en continued, “Third Prince, opportunity waits for no one. The forces behind the Crown Prince and the others are no weaker than yours. If you, who have prepared in advance, still cannot overco them now, you might never have the chance again.”
The Third Prince clenched his fists, hesitated for a mont, then his expression fird up as he looked towards Duke Cheng’en, “Alright, I agree. When do we act?”
A sly smile flickered in Duke Cheng’en’s eyes, “We need to take control of the camp before the Guard arrives. But before that, you need to collaborate with the Crown Prince and others to do one thing.”
Third Prince: “What is it?”
Duke Cheng’en: “Capture Xiao Yeyang, on the grounds of failing to protect the Emperor. Without capturing Xiao Yeyang, our plans afterward will not go smoothly.”
After a pause, the Third Prince then turned and left the tent to find the Crown Prince and his brothers.
…
anwhile, in the tent of Daohua and Xiao Yeyang, Daohua looked surprised as Gu Jian suddenly appeared, “Master, what brings you here?”
Dongli: “The old master heard that the Emperor was injured at the hunting ground, insisted on coming to see for himself; I couldn’t stop him and had to quietly bring him here.”
Gu Jian looked at Daohua, “How serious are the Emperor’s injuries, actually?”
Daohua lowered her voice, “The Emperor should be fine; please don’t worry, Master.”
Gu Jian frowned, “What do you an should be fine?” After pausing, he added, “Call Yeyang back for . Since I’m here, I should at least see the Emperor.”
Daohua was not in a position to decide such matters and could only send Wang Manman to fetch him, “Rember, don’t alert anyone.”
Soon, Xiao Yeyang returned.
Gu Jian looked at Xiao Yeyang’s expression, and his anxiety relaxed.
He too was scared of the Jiang Family, knowing they were capable of anything when desperate, and was worried that the Emperor had not been guarded against them properly.
Xiao Yeyang quietly relayed the Emperor’s condition to Gu Jian.
Upon hearing that the Emperor had indeed hit his head on a rock, Gu Jian thought for a mont and then said, “I’d better have a look myself, I don’t quite trust the people from the Imperial dical Bureau.”
Xiao Yeyang didn’t object and nodded in agreent.
Seeing this, Daohua seed sowhat surprised, “Aren’t you afraid of being discovered?”
Xiao Yeyang smiled faintly, “Now, I’m only afraid that they won’t make a move. You should also go to visit the imperial uncle with the old master, I’m not at ease with you staying here.”
Imdiately, Xiao Yeyang, along with Gu Jian and Daohua, headed to the Dragon Tent.
The ones left behind hurriedly relayed this information to their masters.
Inside the Dragon Tent, the emperor had a thick white cloth tied around his head and was reclining on the bed. Seeing Gu Jian enter, he quickly tried to get up.
Gu Jian swiftly walked over, pressed the emperor down, and sternly unwound the white cloth on the emperor’s head, examining the wound carefully.
The several Imperial Physicians left in the tent, witnessing Gu Jian’s boldness, couldn’t help but take a deep breath. Seeing that both the emperor and Xiao Yeyang did not stop him, they began to quietly wonder about the identity of this newcor.
Gu Jian, after confirming that the emperor’s injuries were minor, admonished sternly, “There are plenty of ways to deal with those people, why must you harm yourself?”
The emperor touched his nose sheepishly, “Uncle, this really was an accident. How could I commit such a foolish act of self-harm?”
Hearing the emperor’s reference, the expressions of the Imperial Physicians changed and their hearts began to pound.
The emperor looked at Gu Jian, “Uncle, I want to deal with the Jiang Family openly and not give anyone any reason to talk. Just wait, it won’t be long before I can vindicate both mother and you.”
Gu Jian looked indifferent, “Vindication doesn’t matter, just don’t put yourself in danger anymore.”
At this mont, the Imperial Physicians wished they were deaf, hearing such secrets left them wondering if they might be silenced.
Just then, a commotion ca from outside the tent, followed by the voices of the Imperial Guards.
“Crown Prince, Second Prince, Third Prince, Fifth Prince, the emperor is resting. Why have you brought so many people here? What is this?”
The voice of the Third Prince rose, “We just had a Guard report a sneak attack into the camp, we rushed over, concerned for our father’s safety.”
The emperor, glancing at Gu Jian and Dongli, chuckled softly, “My sons really seem eager for sothing to actually happen to .”
Gu Jian snorted, “Those sons of yours really haven’t been taught well.”
The emperor remained silent.
Xiao Yeyang said, “Imperial Uncle, I will go out and take a look.”
The emperor nodded.
Outside the tent, because the princes had gathered with their entourage, officials who heard the commotion also hurried over.
As Xiao Yeyang lifted the tent curtain to step out, he overheard the Crown Prince asking to enter the tent to see the emperor.
When he erged, the princes all fell silent.
Xiao Yeyang surveyed the crowd expressionlessly, his gaze finally falling on the princes, “Imperial Uncle is resting. What is the aning of this disturbance?”
The Crown Prince frowned at Xiao Yeyang, “Xiao Yeyang, how seriously injured is father?”
Xiao Yeyang replied, “Haven’t the Imperial Physicians told you? The emperor is unhard and simply needs rest.”
The Third Prince said, “Since father is unhard, we would like to go in and pay our respects.”
Xiao Yeyang, brow furrowed, looked at the Third Prince, “I said the emperor needs rest.”
The Third Prince retorted, “We will be silent, just quietly pay our respects and leave.”
The Crown Prince quickly nodded, “Right, we’ll just take a look at father and won’t disturb his rest.”
Xiao Yeyang’s face hardened, his reluctance clear, “The emperor is resting and has asked not to be disturbed. If you want to pay your respects, wait until we return to the palace.”
As the Third Prince and his voice rang loud and clear, with no reactions from inside the tent, he beca even more convinced that the emperor was seriously injured and yet to awaken. He blurted out, “Xiao Yeyang, why is it that you can go in, but we, his own sons, cannot?”
The Second and Fifth Princes chid in, “Exactly.”
The Third Prince continued, “Xiao Yeyang, if you’re preventing us from seeing the emperor, are you hiding sothing from us?”
At that mont, a patrol of soldiers ran over.
The captain saluted the princes, “Princes, we have searched everywhere else and found no sign of the assassin. The only place left is…” He glanced at the Dragon Tent.
His implication was clear without a full sentence.
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