Chapter 200: Assassination

Chapter 200: Assassination

The night was dark and the wind howled like a knife. In a dilapidated ancient temple on the outskirts of the capital, Jiang Yaozhen tightened the cloak around her, her brows furrowed with impatience.

She stared at the delicate yet stern man across from her, and said irritably, "In this freezing weather, you had to choose this desolate temple in the wilderness to meet. What's so important that we couldn't have talked about it in a private room at the Laifu Restaurant?"

Han Ying sneered coldly, his handsome face looking even more sinister under the dim candlelight.

He stepped forward, his gaze pierced into Jiang Yaozhen's heart like a knife: "Third Prince's Consort, do you really think I called you here for a friendly chat and drinks? You ordered the Death Warriors of the Night Shadow Pavilion to assassinate Jiang Shuning at Youlan Lake. Why did you conceal the fact that Prince Jing was also on the pleasure boat? Do you know that to protect Jiang Shuning, he received a sword wound and is now severely injured and unconscious? He also has Nanyue blood in him. As a descendant of Nanyue, how could you harm your own kin?"

Jiang Yaozhen's heart trembled, but she forced a calm expression onto her face, avoiding his aggressive gaze, and defended herself: "My sources only told me that Jiang Shuning was going to Youlan Lake for a rendezvous. How was I supposed to know she was secretly meeting Prince Jing? Besides, it was your people from the Night Shadow Pavilion who mistakenly injured Prince Jing. What does that have to do with me?"

"What does it have to do with you?" Han Ying laughed in anger, his voice suddenly low and carrying a chilling murderous intent. "Third Prince's Consort, don't think I don't know—you wanted to use the Night Shadow Pavilion to get rid of Prince Jing! I advise you to put away those clever tricks of yours. The Night Shadow Pavilion's bottom line is not something you can push. If there's a next time, don't blame me for being rude!"

With that, Han Ying flicked his sleeve and turned, his steps resolute as if to leave.

Jiang Yaozhen's heart tightened, and she shouted at his retreating figure unwillingly: "Prince Jing's birth mother was nothing but a lowly Nanyue maid. So what if he's injured? My aunt is the Nanyue Princess, of noble blood. Am I not more noble than him? Even if I were to take his life, it would be perfectly acceptable!"

Han Ying abruptly stopped, turned around, and a mocking expression appeared on his delicate face: "Nanyue Princess? Is that what she told you?"

Jiang Yaozhen was taken aback by his sarcastic tone, her brows slightly furrowed: "What do you mean by that? Would my aunt deceive me?"

"If so, do you have the token of the Nanyue Royal Family—the jade plaque? Take it out and let me see!"

The jade plaque?

Xiao Lingchuan had also demanded it from her.

But her aunt had never mentioned the jade plaque to her.

Seeing her hesitation, Han Ying sneered even more, his tone full of contempt: "You can't even produce the Nanyue royal jade plaque, and you still dare to call yourself a princess's descendant? Jiang Yaozhen, I advise you to stop daydreaming and focus on practical matters!"

Before his words faded, his figure flickered and quickly disappeared into the night.

Jiang Yaozhen stood alone in the dilapidated temple. The cold wind rushed in through the broken window frames, making her cloak flutter loudly.

She thought to herself: It seems my aunt didn't carry the jade plaque on her. Otherwise, after Xiao Lingchuan killed her, it would be impossible for him not to have obtained it.

But where could the jade plaque be now?

Just as she was pondering, a hurried sound of footsteps came from outside the temple.

Jiang Yaozhen suddenly looked up and saw several black-clad figures rushing into the temple like ghosts. The sharp swords in their hands glinted coldly under the moonlight.

"Who... who are you? What do you want?" Jiang Yaozhen's heart leaped in fright. She instinctively stepped back, her voice tinged with panic.

The leader of the black-clad men sneered, pointing his sword straight at her heart: "We are death warriors sent to send you on your final journey!"

Before the words were out, his figure moved, and the sword flashed down like lightning with deadly intent.

Although Jiang Yaozhen had learned a few self-defense martial arts moves from her aunt, facing the black-clad man's fierce sword, she could only narrowly dodge the fatal strike.

She carried no weapon, retreating step by step in a sorry state, seemingly about to die under the sword.

At this critical moment, several sword-wielding guards suddenly charged into the ancient temple. The sword light flashed like lightning, and in an instant, the black-clad men all fell in a pool of blood.

The leading guard quickly stepped forward and asked in a low voice: "Third Prince's Consort, are you all right?"

Jiang Yaozhen, still shaken, nearly collapsed to the ground.

Fortunately, she had taken precautions. When going to meet Han Ying, she had secretly arranged for guards from the Lingge Palace to ambush near the temple, ordering them to appear immediately if they detected any agitation.

Otherwise, she would have already lost her head!

A burning hatred flared in her eyes, and she gritted her teeth: "Han Ying, how dare you make a move against me! Just wait and see!"

As a descendant of the Nanyue Princess, how noble was she?

The Night Shadow Pavilion had dared to draw swords against her for the sake of a lowly maid's son!

Once she got back the jade plaque and proved her Nanyue royal blood, she would make Han Ying pay!

Jiang Yaozhen dragged her exhausted body back to Lingge Palace.

As soon as Xiao Xiuzhan saw her return, he quickly stepped forward to greet her: "Zhen, you're finally back! How is that bastard Xiao Lingchuan? Is he dead?"

Jiang Yaozhen's eyes reddened, and she looked as if she might cry: "Your Highness, I almost never saw you again!"

She threw herself into Xiao Xiuzhan's arms, her delicate body trembled slightly as she tried to calm herself from the terror of a moment ago.

Xiao Xiuzhan frowned, his hand tightening around her waist, and asked in a deep voice: "What happened? Did the head of the Night Shadow Pavilion want you dead? Why?"

Jiang Yaozhen's heart tightened, but she feigned an innocent expression, lowering her eyes to hide her panic: "I don't know either... Perhaps someone hired the Night Shadow Pavilion to kill me! Fortunately, I was prepared and brought guards along, or the consequences would have been unthinkable!"

She absolutely could not let Xiao Xiuzhan find out about any connection between the Night Shadow Pavilion and Nanyue, nor did she dare reveal the secret that she had Nanyue blood.

Otherwise, given Xiao Xiuzhan's temperament, he would surely become estranged because of her foreign blood, or even cast her aside like a worn-out shoe.

Hearing this, the suspicion in Xiao Xiuzhan's eyes slightly dissipated. He patted her shoulder gently and comforted her: "It's good that you're safe. Don't be alarmed, Zhen."

Then he pressed further, "So what about Xiao Lingchuan now? Is he really dead?"

"Han Ying said that he was severely injured protecting Jiang Shuning and has been bedridden ever since. I suspect that since he hasn't left the pleasure boat, his injuries must be too severe, and he won't live long!" Jiang Yaozhen paused, then asked in confusion, "But I don't understand. Since he was so gravely wounded, why didn't he report it to the Emperor and ask him to thoroughly investigate the perpetrator?"

Xiao Xiuzhan sneered, his eyes growing even more sinister: "His group of Personal Guards are probably worried that the news of his severe injuries would leak out, attracting more jackals to take advantage of the situation. That's why they are deliberately suppressing the information. However, Father probably has no time to care about his life or death recently."

Jiang Yaozhen's heart quivered slightly, and she probed: "Your Highness, why do you say that? What happened to His Majesty?"

"Let's not talk about that!" He brushed it off, a vicious grin curling at the corner of his mouth. "But since my fourth brother is now on the verge of death, as his elder brother, how could I not go and 'visit' him, to send him to paradise early?"

Jiang Yaozhen beamed with a radiant smile, a hint of malice flashing in her eyes: "Your Highness is wise!"