Chapter 399 Assassination Attempt

Chapter 399: Assassination Attempt

Xiao Lingchuan ordered the group to set off back to Daye. The procession was grand, but the atmosphere was suffocatingly tense.

Xiao Huaijin was bound hand and foot, and roughly shoved onto a crude carriage.

His handsome, jade-like face was flushed red; veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes burned with fury.

“Xiao Lingchuan, do what you will with me! Why humiliate me in such a vile way?”

“Kill you?” Xiao Lingchuan’s lips curled into a cold sneer. He leaned down slowly, his gaze like a knife piercing Xiao Huaijin. “How could I? Since I promised Consort Dowager Rong, I will bring you back to Daye safe and sound. If you seek death, ask your mother first!”

Xiao Huaijin ground his teeth: “Xiao Lingchuan, you despicable scoundrel! You're using me as a bargaining chip to get something from my mother and her clan. I tell you, you won't get away with this!”

His gaze shifted abruptly to Jiang Shuning, who was holding Little Yejun nearby. His voice carried a complex emotion, half questioning, half resentful: “Shuning, are you really willing to marry such a scheming man?”

“Shut up! Who gave you permission to call your sister-in-law by her name?” Xiao Lingchuan's face suddenly darkened, his voice as piercing as ice, with unquestionable authority. “Xiao Huaijin, do you think I care about the meager wealth of your mother's Cui clan? I now own a gold mine—far richer than them! However…”

He paused deliberately, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes, and continued: “What you said isn't wrong—as a bloodline of the Daye imperial family, you do have some use. Now Xizhou wants peace with Daye and is willing to send a princess for a marriage alliance. Fifth Brother has no princess consort, so I've taken it upon myself to arrange this match for you. Consider it your contribution to the peace between Daye and Xizhou!”

“Dream on!” Xiao Huaijin's face turned livid, fury almost bursting from his eyes. “My marriage is none of your business! You don't rule Daye—His Majesty will never allow it!”

“Oh? So you mean you only follow the Daye Emperor's orders?” Xiao Lingchuan raised an eyebrow, the curve of his lips growing more meaningful as he stared at him with a half-smile.

“Of course!” Xiao Huaijin lifted his head, his tone full of stubborn defiance.

“Very well.” Xiao Lingchuan let out a low laugh, his voice concealing meanings others couldn't fathom.

He naturally would not tell Xiao Huaijin at this moment that Xiao Zhengxian had already abdicated.

No matter. Once back in Daye, after he ascends the throne, it wouldn't be too late to arrange the fifth brother's marriage.

This man still pines for Jiang Shuning. If he isn't tied down by a woman, he might develop improper thoughts again.

Meanwhile, the Beiling Emperor approached with a fawning smile and a cautious, probing tone: “Regent Prince, since you're leaving for Daye, could you tell me exactly where in the palace you buried the gunpowder? So I can deal with it quickly and avoid trouble later.”

Every day Xiao Lingchuan stayed in the Beiling palace, the emperor felt like he was sitting on a bed of needles, unable to eat or sleep.

He had even secretly planned to evacuate with his empress and consorts if Xiao Lingchuan didn't leave, terrified that one day the whole palace would suddenly go up in flames.

Xiao Lingchuan turned leisurely and said with an almost mocking nonchalance: “Your Majesty, I was just exaggerating before. In fact, I only planted gunpowder in one spot on the city wall that day. My shadow guard, pressed for time, only managed to bury it there. He was hiding under the wall and lit the fuse at my signal. There is no gunpowder anywhere else in the palace. If you don't believe me, search every inch.”

The Beiling Emperor's face stiffened, and his mouth twitched a few times.

He, a dignified ruler, had been made a fool of by Xiao Lingchuan—rage surged to his head.

But seeing the murderous aura around Xiao Lingchuan, he dared not speak up and could only swallow the humiliation.

Well, Beiling still relied on Daye's aid to maintain its rule, and absolutely could not offend this powerful Daye regent prince at this critical moment.

The Daye Empress took Jiang Shuning's hand, her eyes full of worry: “Miss Jiang, my pregnancy is unstable. If you leave, what will I do?”

Jiang Shuning patted her hand reassuringly: “Don't worry, Your Highness. The prince has arranged for Divine Physician Sun to stay here until you safely deliver a prince.”

She paused and added, “My third brother, Jiang Tianze, is also staying in the Beiling palace to recover from his injuries. Please have someone look after him until he's healed.”

The Daye Empress relaxed her tense shoulders upon hearing this and nodded: “That's good. Thank the Regent Prince and Divine Physician Sun. Rest assured about your third brother—I will have someone take good care of him.”

After setting off, Xiao Lingchuan did not return to Daye directly via the original tunnel but took a detour.

They lingered along the way, as if in no hurry to return. The group was filled with mixed feelings, and even the horses lazily flicked their tails.

Late at night, they settled into an inn.

In the middle of the night, suddenly, screams rang out and flames shot into the sky—the inn had caught fire!

Xiao Lingchuan and Jiang Shuning ran out of their guest room, and within moments, they got separated.

Jiang Shuning, clad in a thick cloak and clutching a swaddled baby tightly in her arms, stood helplessly in front of the burning inn.

Unaware, two men with swords were closing in on her step by step from behind...

Xiao Lingchuan searched through the panicked crowd for Jiang Shuning. "Shuning, where are you?" he called.

A voice came from behind: "Your Highness, I'm here..."

Xiao Lingchuan spun around. In the firelight, a figure wrapped in a cloak rushed toward him.

He felt relieved, and he instinctively opened his arms.

But as the figure ran with head lowered, the flames illuminated her face—and her lips curled into a sinister smile.

Her hand was hidden inside the cloak, and a cold glint flashed between her fingers—it was a dagger!

Her eyes revealed sheer ruthlessness as she thrust the dagger straight at Xiao Lingchuan's heart.

But Xiao Lingchuan dodged the fierce attack with lightning speed, and reached back and clamped his hand around her throat like an iron vise, holding her firmly in place.

His eyes were sinister and piercing like an eagle's, as if they could see through all disguise. A cold, cruel curve twisted his lips and he uttered in a low voice: "Jiang Yaozhen, I've been waiting for you all along!"

Jiang Yaozhen's heart jolted violently. Her eyes widened in shock, her pupils filled with disbelief.

She was clearly wearing a human-skin mask identical to Jiang Shuning's, even imitating her subtle expressions to perfection. How on earth had he seen through it?

Forcing herself to stay calm, she feigned weakness and said, "Your Highness, what are you saying? I am Shuning..."

"Enough! Drop the act!" Xiao Lingchuan cut her off coldly, his gaze pierced through her, leaving her no place to hide. He tightened his grip abruptly, his voice low and dangerous. "In my eyes, your disguise is laughable! Do you know the punishment for attempting to assassinate me?"

As if completely oblivious to the excruciating pain in her neck, Jiang Yaozhen curled her lips into a sinister smile, a flash of madness and triumph in her eyes.

Her voice was hoarse, and her laughter was full of defiance. "Xiao Lingchuan, so what if you dodged my assassination attempt? The Jiang Shuning you so cherish has already been surrounded by my secret guards. She must have perished by now! Just wait to spend the rest of your life in regret and anguish!"