"If not assassins, then what do you think they are, Lord Chen?" Ye Jingyu's voice was dark, like a cold blade.
He exuded an aura of chilling detachment, his killing intent spreading outwards.
Chen Guoxing's heart tightened.
This was his first encounter with the Imperial Prince. He hadn't thought much of the rumors he'd heard.
Now, it was clear why Prince Lian and the Empress feared him.
Despite his youth, this man possessed a depth of character and presence that marked him as exceptional, no less than His Majesty in his youth.
Chen Guoxing cupped his hands and said, "This humble minister is merely curious why Your Highness is out so late alone. I have no other intentions, I beg Your Highness not to overthink it."
Prince Lian's setup was flawless. He surmised that the blood蛊 within him must be acting up continuously.
As long as he could hold on a little longer, he was sure to witness the prince's bloodthirsty transformation!
Su Yunmo turned and crashed into Ye Jingyu's embrace, her arms wrapping around him, directly covering the lotus that appeared on his chest. "Brother Yu isn't alone,沫沫 is here!"
Chen Guoxing frowned.
Who was this child?
Ye Jingyu narrowed his brows and embraced Su Yunmo. "This King is escorting General Su's little girl back to her residence."
Her calling him "Brother Yu" tonight wasn't as pleasant as it had been that other night.
"General Su?" Chen Guoxing frowned, then realization dawned.
Su Yunmo!
This was bad!
Though she was a child, if she testified that these people were indeed assassins, even His Majesty would likely believe her, out of respect for Su Qingtian.
However, it was unlikely that the Imperial Prince would be escorting her home tonight; this must be just an excuse.
"Master!" Ziyuan arrived driving the carriage from another road.
She stopped the carriage by the roadside, jumped down, and her gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Su Yunmo.
Su Yunmo's eyes flickered.
Ziyuan immediately understood. "Master has been playing at the Imperial Prince's residence so late and hasn't returned. Your subordinate is here to pick you up. What is happening here?"
Chen Guoxing's heart sank completely.
Ye Jingyu said coldly, "Lord Chen, do you have any further questions?"
Chen Guoxing stiffly pulled at the corners of his mouth. "This humble minister dares not. Your Highness Imperial Prince, please rest assured, I will send these people to the capital's prefecture."
What else could he possibly ask?
Prince Cheng's efforts were all in vain!
"Then I shall trouble Lord Zhao." Ye Jingyu stood up, lifting Su Yunmo as he did.
Ziyuan lifted the carriage curtain for them to board.
Once inside the carriage, the curtain was lowered.
Ziyuan drove the carriage away.
Su Yunmo watched Chen Guoxing recede into the distance, and a breath of relief slowly escaped her.
Fortunately, Ye Jingyu had woken up quickly, and Ziyuan had arrived in time. Otherwise, this hurdle would not have been so easily overcome.
Her face was cupped by a pair of slightly cold hands.
Su Yunmo looked up, meeting Ye Jingyu's worried and regretful gaze.
"You coughed blood, does it hurt?"
Su Yunmo said helplessly, "Don't worry about me. It's not an internal injury. It's just my body's instinctive reaction to using my abilities too much."
As long as she didn't misuse her abilities wildly for a while, there would be no serious issues.
Only when Ye Jingyu heard her say this did his expression ease. Then, he slumped forward rigidly.
Su Yunmo was shocked!
"Ye Jingyu!"
She quickly pulled open his clothes. The blood lotus on his chest had begun to ooze blood.
A worm could even be seen wriggling near his heart.
He had been forcing himself to hold on!
"Ziyuan! Faster!"
If he didn't get into ice-cold water soon, the蛊 worm would drill a bloody hole through his heart!
"Yes!" Ziyuan whipped the horse fiercely.
The carriage sped back to the Imperial Prince's residence.
Ying Xiao led his men out to meet them.
The cold water had already been prepared.
Ying Xiao quickly took him to Qingliang Hall.
Su Yunmo remembered the time she had stumbled upon him bathing during the day.
Thinking back carefully now, the water that day had indeed been very cold, otherwise, she wouldn't have fallen ill so easily.
After being infected with the blood蛊, one had to soak for a full day and night starting from each full moon.
This cycle of suffering was not something everyone could endure.
Qian Xue, having bandaged his wounds, walked up to Su Yunmo and knelt on one knee.
"Tonight, we are greatly indebted to Young Miss. It is our fault that a scout was able to slip in and alarm Master, causing him to leave Qingliang Hall. We shall be more vigilant."
If anything had happened to Master today, a hundred deaths would not atone for it.
Su Yunmo looked in the direction of Qingliang Hall, took a deep breath, and frowned, "Tell me the truth, why did the Empress plant the blood蛊 in him?"
Given his current condition, this blood蛊 had been in his body for at least four years. At that time, he was six years old and still under the Empress's care within the palace.
Back then, if the Empress wanted to get rid of him, she could have used any method. The blood蛊 was not something easily obtained.
Qian Xue gave a wry smile. "The blood蛊 was not planted by Her Majesty the Empress; Master planted it himself."
Su Yunmo's heart jolted. "What?!"
Qian Xue lowered his brows. "Young Miss, although the blood蛊 has many drawbacks once planted, it has one advantage: it can rapidly enhance martial arts and inner strength, and one's physical functions are also stronger than ordinary people."
Moreover, at that time, Master had no other choice.
Su Yunmo's eyes gleamed, and she clenched her fists tightly, exhaling a breath. "Take good care of him. I will pretend I heard none of what was said today."
She turned and left the residence.
Qian Xue watched her retreating back, his gaze complex.
Young Miss is ultimately special to Master. I hope Young Miss can help Master overcome this trial one day.
Su Yunmo did not sleep well that night. As soon as she closed her eyes, she saw Ye Jingyu standing amidst corpses.
His clothes were stained with blood, and his exposed skin was covered in wounds, yet his eyes were devoid of emotion, filled only with killing intent.
Ye Jingyu was a prince. When he was born, he was hailed as an omen of good fortune by everyone in the capital. He had even been considered for the position of Crown Prince by the Emperor.
Yet now, to protect himself, he had to struggle for survival within the palace, had to conceal his true strength, and had to plant the blood蛊 within his own body.
He should not have had to live such a life.
"Master hasn't slept all night?"
Ziyuan's voice reached her ears.
Su Yunmo snapped back to reality, only to realize she had been lost in thought the entire night, and now the sky had dawned.
"I couldn't sleep much," Su Yunmo rubbed her temples and sat up. "How is the matter I asked you to investigate?"
"Everything has been investigated. The person you met in the palace yesterday was the Fifth Prince. His birth mother, Consort Mei, committed suicide at Chaoyang Terrace when he was four years old."
"Consort Mei had a very good relationship with Consort Liang back then. Later, after Consort Liang was imprisoned, she poisoned His Highness the Imperial Prince."
"His Majesty was furious. Consort Mei, fearing that her actions would implicate the Fourth Prince, committed suicide before her punishment, leaving behind only a suicide note."
Su Yunmo frowned. "Was there no official ruling from the palace regarding the poisoning?"
If they were such good friends, why would she harm her son?
Ziyuan shook her head. "Since Consort Mei is dead, no matter the reason, it cannot be verified."
Su Yunmo sighed.
Never mind, she knew what Ye Jingge had meant after all.
Ziyuan set out the food.
Su Yunmo stood and sat at the table, then suddenly remembered something. "How old was Ye Jingyu when he was poisoned?"
"Around six years old. He was poisoned with 'Blood Seal Throat'."
Su Yunmo's hand, which was holding chopsticks, paused. She gritted her teeth in frustration. "I think I know the real reason he planted the blood蛊."
Qian Xue had only told her half the story.
Blood Seal Throat, a poison that guaranteed death upon contact, left him with only one way to survive.
The blood蛊 entering his heart, using poison to fight poison.
It was either death, or becoming a monster.
There was no third option!