Chapter 31: Injured

Chapter 31: Injured

Without Wei Xun, A Yuan slept soundly.

But she had no idea that just outside the estate, in the royal hunting grounds, the man was facing grave danger.

"Master, you should go first. I'll handle this!"

Both master and servant were dressed in black, their faces covered with black cloth, blending into the night.

Chang Yuan held a sword to block the approaching guards, urging Wei Xun to leave.

There were too many guards, fifty percent more than they had expected.

With just the two of them, forcing their way in would be extremely difficult.

"Shut up!"

Wei Xun scolded in a deep voice, his movements growing even more fierce, with blades flashing and blood flying.

Chang Yuan, emboldened by Wei Xun's example, gritted his teeth and charged forward.

The guards in the hunting grounds were all skilled soldiers from the barracks, but even so, they couldn't stop the pair.

"Master, there's a gap here."

"You hold the rear, I'll charge in."

The master and servant worked together like clockwork. Chang Yuan swung his sword, dispatching several more guards, and Wei Xun took the opportunity to sneak into the hunting grounds.

Today was the easiest day for the guards, as there was a lavish banquet inside.

Prince Jing, the second prince, and his cousin Su Wenxuan, the son of the prime minister, each had a beautiful woman on either arm.

The women were clad only in thin gauze, their bodies faintly visible. In the middle of the hall, beautiful women danced gracefully, the sound of music filling the air.

Su Wenxuan held the woman's waist, drinking the wine from her hand's cup, his fat and bloated face full of lust.

Prince Jing was no different, biting into the fruit held by the woman, muttering, "They're barely acceptable, not as good as the previous ones."

Su Wenxuan gave a sheepish smile, "After all, those before were respectable women, more interesting to play with."

"These ones are throwing themselves at us, naturally less fun."

"When the storm passes, I'll procure some more beautiful women for you, cousin."

Prince Jing, the second son of the current emperor, had a mother who was the most favored concubine in the palace, and an uncle who was the prime minister.

In the court, even the crown prince had to avoid his edge.

He was used to being domineering and always acted with abandon.

The woman in his arms bore several finger marks from his pinching. Her face was pale with pain, but she dared not cry out for mercy, only grit her teeth and endure.

Prince Jing relished seeing women in such a state of torment, as it gave him an outlet for his cruelty.

He picked up a fan and slapped it against the woman's chest and waist. The fan was made of purple bamboo, and each strike felt like being hit with a board, leaving bloody marks.

Both women were humiliated, and only then did Prince Jing vent his frustration. "Cousin, I heard that this Wei Shaoyin has a particularly beautiful concubine. If I could meet her, what a wonderful experience that would be..."

Su Wenxuan and Prince Jing were only two years apart, always sharing the same foul interests and acting in concert.

Both of them enjoyed tormenting beautiful women, and now that Wei Xun had blocked their indulgences, Su Wenxuan harbored a deep grudge against him.

"Oh? How beautiful?" A glint of interest flashed in Prince Jing's eyes.

Su Wenxuan leered, "They say she rivals Xi Shi and Diaochan in beauty. Our young magistrate Wei is as pure as the breeze and the moon, yet he turns out to be a lecher."

"Hmph! How many men aren't lustful? Since he has ruined my fun, I'll play with his woman..."

"Whoosh!"

Before Prince Jing could finish his sentence, an arrow suddenly shot through the window, piercing his palm and pinning it to the table.

"Ah! An assassin!"

Prince Jing screamed in pain, while Su Wenxuan was so frightened that he wet himself, scrambling from his seat to crawl over, shouting, "Where are the guards? Are you all dead?"

Wei Xun, his face cold, leaped onto the roof, his anger so intense it seemed capable of shaking the heavens and the earth.

Prince Jing's words alone warranted death a hundred times over.

But he couldn't!

Regicide was the ultimate crime; he couldn't drag the Anning Marquisate into this.

However, even if he couldn't take Prince Jing's life, Wei Xun wouldn't let him off easily.

The arrowhead was barbed, and as it pierced his palm, it severed the tendons in his hand, likely leaving Prince Jing's hand permanently damaged.

The guards responded immediately, and Su Wenxuan stepped forward and kicked one of them. "What the hell are you doing? You let the assassin in? Go catch him right away!"

"Yes!"

The guards didn’t dare to argue and hurriedly spread out to search for the assassin.

Prince Jing and Su Wenxuan never allowed guards to be present during their banquets. The royal hunting ground was secluded, and they didn’t expect anyone to come. None of them had anticipated the presence of an assassin.

The guards turned pale, as if they had just lost their parents. If Prince Jing had so much as a scratch, they’d lose their heads.

As the guards went out, the guard captain stayed behind.

Su Wenxuan stumbled forward and knelt beside Prince Jing, staring at his bloody hand, sweat dripping down his face.

"Cousin... cousin, are you okay?"

"You idiot! Get me a doctor now!"

The pain made his vision go black, and for the first time, he realized his cousin was an idiot.

Su Wenxuan stumbled out again, and the once lively hall was now filled with nothing but Prince Jing's painful howls.

The beautiful women trembled and huddled in the corner as the guards leered at them.

Wei Xun, after shooting Prince Jing, didn’t stick around. He had come to find out who was abusing the women, but he hadn’t expected to overhear Prince Jing and Su Wenxuan making lustful remarks about A Yuan.

......

The fury in his heart was uncontrollable, and he felt no regret for shooting the arrow through Prince Jing's hand.

This kind of scum deserves to be torn apart piece by piece!

"Search over here! Don't let him escape!"

The guards hurriedly chased after him, and Wei Xun executed a swift hawk flip, moving across the rooftops under the cover of night.

However, the hunting ground was already prepared, with torches and lanterns lit up, making it difficult for him to hide.

"Over here! Shoot the arrows!"

With a furious roar from below, the archers unleashed a volley of arrows at him.

Wei Xun used his sword to deflect the arrows, but one man can't fight off so many at once.

"Thunk!"

An arrow sank into his shoulder, and he grunted in pain.

Wei Xun was hit.

But to avoid being detected, he gritted his teeth against the pain and swiftly leaped across the rooftops.

"Chase him!"

The guards gave chase relentlessly, and the pain in his shoulder hampered his movements.

Just as the guards were closing in, Chang yuan yanked him into a stone cave behind them.

"Sir, are you hurt?"

The black fabric concealed the blood, but up close, the pungent smell of blood was unmistakable.

Chang yuan looked worried; he hadn't followed inside, but he knew his master must have run into danger.

Wei Xun's face remained stoic, "It's just a scratch. We need to get out of here fast."

Only a few of the pursuers had caught up; Prince Jing's main force was still behind.

"Right!"

Chang yuan steadied him, and the two quickly exited the stone cave.

It was a secret passage, known only to Wei Xun and his servant.

He had sealed the passage earlier to guard against assassins during the autumn hunt, but today, during the hunt, he had reopened it, never expecting it would save his life.

In the dead of night, A Yuan was half-asleep when she felt someone pull her into an embrace. As she pushed away, her hand brushed against something sticky...