Chapter 286: The Eve of the Second Storm (Part Ten)

Chapter 286: The Eve of the Second Storm (Part Ten)

The same news reached YueHua not long ago, as he was on his way to Danliang.

Inside a guest room at the post station.

The message delivered by the Cloud Guard was identical to what the envoy from Yunlang had told Su Rao, stating that Emperor Wei had granted the marriage of the Seventh Princess and Su Si, with their wedding scheduled for the end of July. However, it omitted the part about Su Rao's father writing her a letter.

Yun Ji held the slip of paper in his hand, removing the silk blindfold from his eyes. The words before him were blurry, yet he read them as if he were a normal person.

"Master, is something amiss?"

Seeing that Yun Ji had been staring at the message for over a moment, Yun Feng and Yun Ling exchanged glances, and Yun Feng asked.

"Something must have happened in the Capital."

Yun Ji spoke.

Though the message mentioned nothing, Yun Ji sensed something behind this imperial marriage...

Because Yun Ji understood Emperor Wei better than anyone else. If Emperor Wei hadn't abandoned him and Su Rao, why would he suddenly grant the marriage of the Seventh Princess to Su Si? Something must have happened...

But Yun Feng and Yun Ling couldn't understand.

What could possibly happen in Yunlang now? If anything, it would only be between the Seventh Prince and the Crown Prince...

"Master, the Emperor's decree."

Shiba's voice came.

He walked in, holding a lacquered bamboo tube sealed with yellow lacquer, indicating a secret message from Emperor Wei.

Yun Ji put down the slip of paper and looked at Shiba, or rather, at the secret message in Shiba's hand. His phoenix eyes, though blind, seemed empty, but his heart felt unusually heavy.

In a moment, Yun Feng took the bamboo tube and opened it, revealing just one sentence.

Emperor Wei wanted Yun Ji to return to the Capital.

Nothing more was said.

"This..."

Yun Feng furrowed his brows.

"Why would the Emperor suddenly summon the Young Master back to the Capital?"

Handing the secret message to Yun Ji.

"Yun Feng, you and Shiba take the men and head to Danliang first."

Without taking the secret message, Yun Ji covered his eyes with the silk blindfold and left.

Yun Ling followed him.

Clearly, Yun Ji intended to return to Yunlang, even without Emperor Wei's secret decree. A terrible premonition weighed heavily on his heart, filling him with fear.

...

Time passed swiftly, and night fell quickly.

Tonight, the sky was filled with countless stars, though the crescent moon wasn't as bright as a full moon, the light from the stars was dazzling.

The starlight illuminated the red-clad figure galloping through the forest path clearly.

Her red robe fluttered, and her black hair danced in the night, as she continued her journey without showing any sign of fatigue.

Hooves pounded the mountain path, stirring up a layer of dust and causing leaves to rustle and fly through the air.

When Su Rao came to Zhu Xian, she traveled day and night without rest.

Now, returning to Yunlang, she still rode with urgency.

Her speed was so fast that only a streak of red could be seen cutting through the sky, the night wind whipping her red robe and black hair continuously, revealing her urgent state of mind.

Su Rao didn't know that Yun Ji was also returning, nor did she know that her father's letter was fake. She was unaware of the turmoil she would face upon her return.

At this moment, Su Rao only thought of reaching Yunlang as quickly as possible, determined not to let her fourth brother bear the burden that should have been hers, her destiny.

As Su Rao left, Xian Yi and Shao returned to the Capital Region. Though Empress Rong never left the palace, everything was within her sight.

Once again, Empress Rong visited Emperor Wei's chambers, carrying a jade bowl, personally delivering it to him.

"Wei Lang, Lady Ronghua has left. Shao watched her depart from Shanjian Village, seemingly worried that I might harm Lady Ronghua. He even had the Yunlang envoy, who had already left, return, truly a deep affection."

This time, Empress Rong fed Emperor Wei herself.

She brought the jade spoon to Emperor Wei's lips.

"Emperor Wei, please take your medicine obediently! There will be many dangers on the way back to Yunlang. Although Shao has taken precautions, whether the group of misfits from Yunlang can protect Lady Ronghua is up to me. In a scene where beasts surround, how many times do you think Shao can save her, and how often can he arrive in time..."

The implication was clear: if Emperor Wei did not take his medicine properly, the incident in the maple forest of Guanyang Peak would happen again.

Not just once, but twice, thrice, if Shao knew Su Rao was in danger again, he would surely go to rescue her, he must.

"Wei Lang, Su Rao has left, but she is etched in Shao's heart. It took Shao so much effort to fall in love with a girl; as his sister-in-law, I am truly happy for him. He is no longer young..."

What did these words mean?

Xian Yichi Shao's principal consort...

Empress Rong threatened Emperor Wei with both soft and hard tactics: either send Xian Yichi Shao into the tiger's mouth, or fulfill his heart's desire. The choice was entirely up to what Emperor Wei decided at this moment.

Snap...

The sound of a brush breaking.

Emperor Wei stared fixedly at Empress Rong, looking at her gentle smile, seeing that she had already gone mad beyond redemption. After a long time, he picked up the jade cup and drank directly from it.

After finishing the white jade porridge without leaving a drop, he threw the jade cup away, the clatter of its shattering, a piece of the broken cup splashing onto Empress Rong's hand, immediately seeping with blood.

Emperor Wei paid no attention, showing no ripples on his face, and took a new brush to continue painting.

"Xian Yichi Wei, remember, your life is in my hands. Without my permission, if you dare to die, I will replace you with your brother. You should understand me."

Empress Rong looked at the blood on her hand for a moment, then took out a handkerchief to wipe it away, and then stood up and left.

The ripples in those cold, beautiful eyes vanished as quickly as they appeared, restoring her nobility.

Whether there was any love in her heart for Emperor Wei, perhaps even she did not know now!

After Empress Rong left, the imperial chamber fell silent. The chief eunuch, who had been guarding outside, finally walked in.

"Your Majesty, your illness is severe, be sure not to easily become angry, as it can affect your lungs and organs. To detoxify from this pill, it must be done gradually..."

Though he looked like the chief eunuch, the voice was Mr. Zhu's. He tore off the human skin mask on his face and handed a pill to Emperor Wei.

"Your Majesty, this pill is extremely poisonous. Once taken for the first time, one becomes addicted. I have confidence in curing Your Majesty's addiction, but to thoroughly heal Your Majesty's withered body and organs, I need to know the source of the pill to truly treat it."

"Mr. Zhu, how could I not understand what you are saying?"

Emperor Wei took the pill from Mr. Zhu without any doubt and swallowed it with water, then gave a bitter laugh.

"For the past two years, Shao has run around for me, yet even now, he does not know the origin of the pill in the Empress's hands."

Unknown origin...

A trace of disappointment flashed across Mr. Zhu's face, but only for an instant.

"Your Majesty need not be so pessimistic. I will do everything in my power as a doctor to ensure Your Majesty's safety."

"I am grateful for Mr. Zhu's efforts. If I remain safe, I will keep my promise to the Crown Prince. Our Zhu Xian and Yunlang will remain friendly neighbors, and there will be no war."

Inside the hall, the two conversed; outside, Xian Yichi Shao leaned against the pillar, his hanging hand clenched tightly, the veins on the back of his hand bulging prominently.

Even if his elder brother could detoxify from the pill, his body was already...

The formula for the pill, ultimately, still needed the formula for the pill. He knew his elder brother had not told him the truth.